The Emperor stared at his pet.
"Now, Skywalker, are you ready to fulfill your destiny?" Palpatine rasped.
"Yes, Master." Luke intoned, head bowed.
The aged Sithlord smiled grimly.
"I believe we might have a guest soon."
"I have felt her." He murmured low.
"Have you now?" An eyebrow raised then cackled. "It matters not…she will come and bring forth a new generation. Yes, she will suit my plans nicely. You will surpass Vader and become my right hand, and she…will be the brood to a new legacy."
Luke did not respond to this, leaving his head low.
"Come, we must prepare for your love's arrival." He said mockingly. "She will soon see her dreams crushed to dust."
Luke finally spoke, "She will not go willingly, Master."
The Emperor smirked.
"I had not anticipated she would…but I think this will be no feat for you."
He said nothing at first, but simply lifted his eyes and stared past his master.
"I will break her." He said, trancelike.
A brittle cackle soon followed his words: the dry cough like the rattle of death.
The shield generator was sealed behind a blast-door. R2 plugged into the exterior door's computer socket and scanned for override codes. Once these were input, the strike team entered and took out the guards in a quick volley of blaster fire.
"Were they able to get off an alarm signal?" Leia asked.
"I don't think so. But let's slag the comm-board just in case." Han suggested.
A flurry of activity outside alerted them to trouble.
They exited hurriedly to find a squad of Rebels engaging stormtroopers with assistance from a bunch of Ewoks.
R2 tootled as 3PO emerged from behind a clump of nearby bushes.
"The leader of the Ewok troop says they've been lying low waiting for rescue from the stars. It appears there's some ancient prophecy at work." The droid related.
Leia frowned. "We need all the help we can get. I only hope Home One is making out as well."
**
Mara scowled to herself in perplexity as she and Vader made their way to the Emperor's Throne Room. She had no idea what Vader's explicit plans were, and how things would play out if things came to a crisis. Would he leave her twisting in the wind once he felt his own objective was reached?
And how definite was she anyway that she could get through to Luke? Perhaps the things he had claimed to feel for her had all been a sham, at the worst, or at the very least - expendable and less intense than her own feelings.
There was a lot riding on this bold move, Mara realized. A lot more than just her and Luke's future together.
The Alliance's victory versus defeat hung in the balances, as well.
For his part, Vader scrutinized Mara carefully as they made their way through the phalanx of Royal Guards to the throne room. Her outward calm masked a tumultuous jumble of emotions, but she was determined and resolute. He felt a begrudging admiration for her fortitude.
He touched the door release and strode purposefully into Palpatine's audience chamber, Mara close behind.
Mara and Vader entered the audience chamber, with the Jedi trailing behind him. Decked out in her camouflage outfit, her wrists cuffed in front, with measuring eyes, she looked very much like the defiant rebel misfit the Emperor assumed her to be. She cast her glance up and her eyes fell upon the dais. She could barely make him out but she saw him, an aging figure in a hooded cowl. She tried not to project her loathing.
Mara glanced at Vader's back briefly as she followed his lead, crossing the bridge which hung precariously above what appeared to be a reactor core. She almost laughed. Seriously, what sort of idiot put a reactor core in their chamber? It was almost as stupid as leaving a two meter opening in the middle of a massive station of death.
Now's not the time. She chided herself, snapping out of her private joke. Vader had already made it to the stairs and was beginning to mount them. She followed suit and tried to keep pace with him. He didn't slow down but she could feel him making sure she was keeping up. Not through the Force though. As far as Mara knew, Vader was holding Mara's ability close to his vest. They needn't tip the Emperor off and that was fine with her.
When she and Vader finally made it atop the dais to face the Emperor on his throne, Mara caught sight of something that made her heart almost stop and her breath still.
It was Luke.
He was kneeling beside the Emperor, not out in front, but to the side with eyes cast downward. It was as if he was some dog awaiting his master's command. The image was further cemented by a gnarled hand laid on the man's bowed head. Mara could barely see Luke's eyes, but she did see a brief glimpse of them when he flicked them upwards.
They were vacant. Dead.
This time, her heart went cold in her chest.
Luke...
She took an involuntary step forward, a choked exclamation almost escaping her.
"Lord Vader," The Emperor rasped, "Are you bringing me a new trophy?"
Vader's voice was as cold as the deepest glaciers on Hoth. "What my purposes were in coming here, Your Majesty, I shall keep to myself." He gave Luke a measuring, contemptuous look. "Your invaluable Hand is little more responsive than a deactivated droid. He is of little use to anyone in this deplorable state."
"What I do with my servants is no concern of yours." Palpatine snarled. He leveled a glare at Mara who had barely collected herself. She met his odious look straight on. He cackled. "This one has spirit, my Hand." He commented to Luke, who had barely seemed to be aware of what was going on, or even of the undercurrents in the chamber.
Luke's eyes finally settled on Mara, with barely a hint of recognition.
"What have you done to him?" Mara said, barely registering that she had spoken.
"Done?" Palpatine parroted. "I have done nothing. A wayward child has simply seen the error of his ways."
She faught back the urge to yell at the man.
"Not him. He would never break so easily."
The Emperor let out a raucous cackle, clearly laughing at Mara's blind faith.
"He was broken way before you came into the picture, child." He curled his fingers on the arm rest, then pushed himself steadily upward. "He will do as I command-as always. And if I commanded him to kill you, he would."
Mara stiffened. Not because of the thought of death, but the reality of how twisted the man was to inflict such suffering on Luke.
"But that is not in my plans...I have greater ambitions for you."
She went cold, a feeling of dread snaking through her.
Mara didn't like the sound of that at all-but she tamped down her feelings lest the Emperor be able to sense them.
"What're you talking about?" She demanded firmly, eyes narrowing.
He chuckled, ignoring her question. "You are meant for far greater..." Palpatine paused for a moment then concluded, "Ms. Jade." He said it almost as if he had plucked it from her mind.
Yet, Mara suddenly arrived at a different conclusion, altogether. The Emperor had gotten that bit of information from Luke! Perhaps as early as her "rescue"/escape... She had believed Luke when he declared his love for her, with actions and words. But perhaps he'd been playing her, toying with her for his own dark amusement and the Emperor's own despiccable goals!
Her blood seethed. Never, ever again. She vowed. She'd never be so gullible.
Vader, for his part, was watching and listening behind his inscrutable mask.
A broken Luke ... no! That did not fit in with his plans, at all. He stifled a scowl. This changed everything.
He cast Mara a sideways glance. It would not do anyone any good if she succumbed to the anger he could feel roiling beneath her outer calm.
He had no illusions that the Emperor wanted her capitulation and participation in some scheme to populate the next generation of Force users - Sith-centric Force users.
Mara's outrage would lead her to forget her friends and her lofty goals of the restoration of peace and liberation for the peoples of the Galaxy.
**
Palpatine drummed his fingers against the arm rest then turned to Luke.
"Rise, my pet." He gleefully rasped.
He knew he had to change the flow of this moment, but all he could do was watch as it slowly unfolded.
Luke pushed himself up from his kneeling position "Yes, My Master." He murmured, very trance-like.
Mara could only watch emotionlessly, a cold feeling like ice sliding through her body. She clenched and unclenched her fists. Time seemed to stand still.
She didn't know what to do, all she felt was a torrent of emotion rolling through her, crashing inside. She was cold and hot all at once.
Mara felt dread at the reality of it all of where it had left them all. Had she doomed the Alliance through loving such a man?
Skywalker is not to blame…
Mara almost jerked at the voice in her head. It was Vader.
Who is? She thought desperately.
If Luke was not the kind of person who could betray her, because she felt deep-down that he had meant all that had passed between them, she could feel angry because of his not being strong enough to resist the Emperor's machinations.
"You misunderstand." He said allowed, startling her.
Time started to move forward again, as Vader took control of the situation.
What was he doing?
"You think to trick me." Rasped the Emperor. "You think I do not know when I'm being deceived. You plan to rule in my place...but without Skywalker your plan is for naught."
"What?" Mara said.
Vader felt a cold, startled chill go through him. Somehow...he'd known he'd felt it.
"Yes, you knew didn't you. You sensed it." The Sith lord said gleefully. "It was but an easy task to keep the child hidden from you. Obi-Wan and Yoda thought they could hide them from me."
"Them?" Mara was ignored once again.
"Twins.." He offered. "Separated at birth...but twins none the less. She will soon see her rebellion crushed to dust...and you will have seen the completion of it." He leveled this at both Mara and Vader.
"She will soon know despair when her only brother destroys all she holds dear."
Mara was still unable to process the Emperor's words. Her Vader's son...and Leia...his daughter, Impossible. Improbable. Her mind reeled.
Wait...I can't do this now. I have to focus, have to get Luke back.
The Emperor's plan wouldn't succeed if Luke were out of his grasp. She had to reach her lover.
All the while, Luke knelt hearing but unable to voice any words beyond his Master's deamnds. He felt trapped in his own body, completely terrified yet unable to free himself. Sister…Father… He blinked slowly, focusing his gaze upon the red-haired siren that had ensnared his heart and surely still did. Mara. He thought, but couldn't do anything more.
Was this what he had become in the end? Nothing but the Emperor's docile pet? He hadn't wanted this! He avoided it at all costs. He served the Empire not the Emperor himself regardless of what the man thought. He focused on Mara once more.
But…what did she think?
Mara decided it was best to give the Emperor what he would doubtless not be expecting.
Taking a long stride forward, Mara laughed boldly. "If you think I have any interest in that limp rag of a minion," she goaded, "You're sadly mistaken. And if you think that I'd even think for a split second to bring your filthy Sithspawn into the galaxy - you're sadly deluded." Her disgust was unfeigned towards the Emperor. She winced at the thought that Luke seemed so far out of it that he didn't realize she was defying the Emperor for a reason, that her antipathy towards Luke was just for show. Apparently, Vader was also taken off guard.
She could feel Vader's incredulous eyes upon her as if to say loud and clear: "What are you doing?"
Trust me. She sent the thought to him, not in so many words but conveying the request nonetheless.
Palpatine gawked at Mara in undisguised approval. He liked an adversary with fire, made their downfall that much sweeter.
"So, Luke," Mara turned to face Luke straight-on, "Tooka got your tongue? Maybe you don't care about me or the rest of the Alliance, but you certainly cannot sit idly by and watch your sister be destroyed!"
She braced herself. Hopefully, that last dig would suffice...?
Mara. It wasn't true. It's NOT true. He insisted, trying to reach her.
Luke could have started at her audacity. He felt the loathing in her words-and the challenge as well.
She must've thought him such a pet...a pawn. But he was no one's one's pet. And certainly not anyone's tool.
Not Vader's and certainly not the Emperor's.
"Mara...it's not true." He finally said, finding his tongue at last.
He felt Mara reach back, breaking into his consciousness.
Good. She seemed to say. I thought you had more starch in your spine than that. There was a biting playfulness. Now, c'mon, Luke. I can't do this without you.
Luke was not beaten by far. He gave a silent assurance.
Pushing through the fog that was his mind, he reached out for her tendril of Force energy-a power that burned brightly and so fiery. Upon, touching her, his consciousness broke through the prison of his mind.