This is a Collaboration Story co-written with WarmNyota_SweetAyesha from the Jedi Council Forums.

Thank you for reading! :D


.

Heart's Destiny

Chapter 12

.

The moment she arrived on Endor, things had felt out of place right away. The TIE Fighter squadron escorting her down towards the landing deck was not standard procedure. Her orders were to not change speed or course, or she'd be taken down immediately. Mara did as she was told and assessed the situation.

Had Admiral Thrawn orchestrated this? No, this was not his style… Mara thought while surrounded by the tight escort. No, Thrawn would have openly confronted her and would have made her suffer before coming forth with everything he knew to the Emperor. This was Palpatine's doing! All of it.

Somehow, the Sith had found out. Maybe she hadn't been shielding in the Force as good as she'd thought.

Mara ran the normal procedure in her mind. Once she landed she'd be taken into custody by a unit of Stormtroopers. They would keep her locked up until her ride back to Imperial City arrived – if it had not arrived yet, surely a unit of Royal Guards would be assigned the job of taking her before the Emperor. The closer she got to Coruscant, the slimmer her chances of escaping and survive would get. To think of what the Emperor would do to her once he had her, sent a chill down her spine. No! She would not give him the satisfaction!

Soon Mara came to the conclusion that her best and only chance of survival was to engage the TIE fighters and then make a run for it. She was already in the moon's atmosphere; all she could see were vast expenses of trees down below. 'Nowhere to land without making a mess,' she thought.

Mara braced herself and pressed some switches, changing her velocity and putting the ship's controls on manual. "Phantom fighter, stay on course or you will be shot down!" A voice cracked in the cockpit's speakers when her custodians realized the changes in her ship's readings.

"Here I go, boys!" Mara muttered.

The Phantom class starfighter veered abruptly in an evasive manoeuvre, breaking formation. The TIEs immediately compensated and moved into pursuit. But Mara's plan was not just to escape, her plan was to take them all down or they would never leave her alone. Without second thoughts, she engaged the Imperial fighters.

The TIE pilots never expected an attack.

The fight was fast and vicious. In her first try, using the advantage of her surprise manoeuvre, Mara took down one of the four without much effort. But Imperial pilots were well trained, and soon they realized what was going on and adjusted accordingly making laser cannon fire rain on the Phantom from every angle.

The Phantom's deflector shields sustained the first wave of fire without losing much power. But this wouldn't last long, a second and third wave would definitely do major damage.

Following her thorough training, Mara manoeuvred, trying to get the advantage position, but the other pilots matched her move for move every time. It was obvious that these were not just regular TIE fighter pilots, just as she was not any regular Imperial Agent. Mara realized the pilots were actually Imperial Royal Guards.

Palpatine had thought out everything.

All right, it was time to try and pull out one of the oldest diversions in the book. She would fake her own demise.

It was a very high-risk measure, to be performed in complete manual settings, thus rarely tried; but if she did it correctly, they wouldn't even notice. This would make crap of her ship, but would give her the chance to get rid of her pursuers and try her chances on the surface of the moon forest.

Mara set the shields to their highest power, and put the ship into security lock down – this would isolate the charges in the cannons so these would not blow up on its own; leaving just one charge available, set to its lowest power setting. This low-level set charge would do the charm. She aligned the ship into the right trajectory and waited for the right bolt of enemy fire to hit her… When it did, everything was set into motion.

The Emperor's Hand held the helm of her ship tightly, making her bend trajectory into an awkward position. The screeching of metal panels and bolts when resisting the G forces and wind resistance made her teeth grit. When the timing felt right, she pressed the fire button in her controls.

The Phantom came down in a huge ball of fire. To anyone witnessing the ship's rapid descent, would undoubtedly appear as if the ship had been taken down by laser cannon fire.

It was more of an emergency landing than anything, but engulfed in a spectacular blaze that gave all the dramatic effect that Mara needed. After skidding several hundred meters, leaving a trail of heavily raked soil and broken and burned trees behind, the wrecked ship stopped.

Mara's pursuers passed, flying rapidly over the crash site, scanners at full power. The heat of the wreckage would cover any heat signature of their prey's body. Knowing this and following standard procedure, they would go back to the Base and suit up to come back and do an on-site search, looking for her remains; but Mara's second part of the plan was that they would not find her. What they would find would be expertly set up charges. So when the Royal Guards came near the ship looking for her, they'd become part of the wreckage.

Freeing herself from the safety harness and the security foam that had blasted out at the moment of the crash, Mara climbed out the doomed star ship. She felt a bit battered, but there was no time to rest; she'd administer herself medical aid on the go if necessary.

Retrieving the compass from her survival kit, Mara searched the coordinates. She had all the information on the Rebels Palpatine had given her, thinking that she would not make it without being captured by his Royal Guardsmen. The Emperor had underestimated her, and she would make sure he paid for that dearly.

It looked like it was time to ask for that asylum Luke had insisted on so much.

And in order to do that, she had to walk right into enemy's reach.

.

oOo

.

In the darkness of the forest, Luke walked away from the Ewok village. His movements mixed with the nocturnal sounds and activity of the creatures of the night of Endor. He didn't need the light of his emergency lamp, extending his Jedi sense ahead of him, he was able to clearly discern the way. His steps were light, but his heart was heavy; heavy with sorrow, aching for Leia because of what he'd just revealed to her.

The Princess of Alderaan knew everything now.

The young Jedi knew it had been all too much too fast, but he hadn't had much of a choice. Leia had to know. He still hadn't fully recovered from his own shock at finding out that they were siblings, twin brother and sister. This knowledge remained a pristine source of comfort, despite the task ahead. Facing Darth Vader and his Emperor was a dreadful prospect, but it was where his path led, the Force was very clear on that. He still had his own trials to face.

After his visit to Dagobah and his return to the Alliance, things had fallen into a fast spiral, and the end of it meant that the final show down he'd been sensing in the flow of things for some time now was right ahead.

Tonight, many things would be decided.

Luke felt fear slowly creeping in, like an invisible predator trying to find the right opportunity to jump on its prey. Yes, he was afraid. Afraid of facing his father again, of facing the darkness of the Emperor… Afraid of never seeing Leia and Han ever again, of what could happen to any of them… They were all walking into insurmountable danger. Afraid of losing Mara, his Mara. And in the middle of all this, fear of losing himself and to never come back from a fate more horrible than dying.

As he moved farther and farther apart from the Ewok village, Luke's thoughts felt heavy in his mind. Then, a faint sound of something or someone brushing past nearby foliage… He snapped out of his musings and stood in alertness. It had been a very muted sound, but his senses were permanently enhanced by his connection to the Force, and in a very short time he'd learnt to trust these little nudges. He knew what he'd heard.

Luke prepared himself. Taking cover behind the trunk of one of the massive trees of the Endorian forest, using the Force he tracked and located his objective. It was sentient, and the energy signature was definitely human… but he could not get anything else, like if a soft veil of blurred energy was in place around it; a human figure moving stealthy towards the direction he'd come from, the Ewok village. What did this stranger want with the Ewoks? He'd better find out and make sure he or she didn't mean any harm.

In a stealthy manner too, he followed the trail the stranger followed in a parallel trajectory, narrowing the distance. There was nothing he could pick up with his normal senses, it was very dark all right, but at this distance he should be able to make out at least a silhouette, but there was nothing… so probably this visitor was using some sort of personal cloaking device. These devices were rare and highly illegal, but existed. Luke kept at it, until he left the unknown figure a few meters behind. Once he felt the distance was appropriate, he cut the mystery figure off.

Standing a few meters in front of it, Luke raised his hand and created a thin Force wall, something that would not harm the intruder, but would definitely slow it down. To his surprise, the figure stopped just centimetres away from the etheric wall before bumping against it. Had it sensed it? The figure turned around, trying to take cover; but Luke was faster. With the will of his mind he extended the thin Force wall around his target, like if it were a long piece of flowing silk, imprisoning it inside a tubular invisible wall of energy.

"I don't mean you any harm," Luke called as he walked towards the cylinder, holding it in place, "Show yourself!"

"I don't mean any harm either, Luke," the other's voice called when recognizing him.

His heart skipped a beat. How had he missed her?

"Hello, Farmboy," Mara greeted with relief, while tuning her cloaking device off. The very moment she felt the Force trap vanish, she walked fast towards the Jedi to meet him in a fierce kiss.

Luke held her tight, kissing her back with unrestrained passion. He felt giddy of having her back in his arms. It felt like her thing now, to pop up like this, in such unexpected ways; but he didn't mind, for as long as it meant he'd have more of his beloved, she could pop into his life any way she pleased.

Mara broke their kiss. Trying to catch her breath, she explained, "I didn't know it was you. I didn't sense you until I almost bumped into that thing you put in front of me."

Then something occurred to him, "Perhaps we were both shielding too hard?" Luke wondered. He knew he was. He'd been doing it since he'd sensed his father's presence so he would not put the others in danger.

Mara frowned. Probably that was it… She'd been shielding very tightly since her escape from those Royal Guards, hiding her presence from any Force sensitives, particularly from Palpatine.

"That was a very impressive barrier you erected - quickly, too," Mara complimented him. It was beyond doubt that he was becoming more and more powerful in the Force by the day.

"I wondered if you'd show up before my next mission," he gently teased with warm affection.

"You know me, I'm an expert at the unexpected."

Putting his delight of seeing her aside, then Luke noticed she looked a bit battered. "Are you hurt?" He asked in concern. "What happened?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle. I had a run in with some Guards."

Mara had shed her spoiled flight suit and sported the dark Imperial Uniform she'd been wearing underneath.

"So they know," Luke stated, clear worry in his words.

"Yes, but I covered and disguised my tracks well enough to buy some time. But there's something you need to know."

Luke became totally engrossed in things beyond the personal. "What?"

"On Endor there is a secondary power station and 8 relays, besides the main shield," she started.

Luke's blood chilled at her revelation. It would take a lot more of what the Alliance had planned to take down the Death Star's shield generator.

"It is a secondary but vital objective. I can slice into it and link everything to the controls in the main bunker," she explained further.

Luke listened attentively, the main bunker was Han and Leia's primary objective.

"Once linked, all the terminals, secondary power stations and relays will explode together," she finished.

So Mara knew about the extra generators that the Rebel's weren't aware of. Luke's mind raced, if Mara could only reach Leia and tell her this. But Mara should put herself far away from Imperial forces, not dwell amongst them. If her Master found out she was still around, the Force only knew what he'd do to her if she got caught. The thought made Luke terribly uneasy. He could tell his love for her was blinding his judgment, but he had to insist, "You should stay away from this. Tell Leia what you know and then go as far away from here as you can," he begged, "You can help us, but you must put yourself out of the Emperor's reach first."

"Oh sure," Mara retorted. "While you walk right into the Rancor pit?"

Luke kept quiet. She was right, here he was urging her to get out of Imperial territory and he was determined to walk right into it. But his path lay on a different line than Mara's, this he could sense.

He met her fierce emerald glare.

"I have to face my father…" Luke started, "I can turn him back to the light, I don't know how, but I know I can!"

"You think you can face down two of the most ruthless and adept Force users?" She demanded.

"I know it's risky, but I must do it!" His sincerity was overwhelming.

Mara sighed. She hoped this wasn't just Luke's consistent optimism at work, that he really had a chance to succeed.

Luke looked at Mara with soft, loving eyes… He sighed softly and granted her a reassuring smile. Amongst all of the gloomy prospects, all that was left for him to do was to hold on to hope, to the light within. He had to believe… No, he needed to believe. Believe that his father could be turned back to the light, that the Emperor wasn't as treacherous as rumour had it, that Leia and Han would be all right and that he'd see them and his other dear friends again… He needed to believe that, once this was all over, Mara would be back at his side again, to never part. He needed to believe that, no matter what, he'd survive this. And the most important part of all this was that, he had a reason to.

Yes, Mara was his reason.

So no matter how deep into darkness he'd go, the beacon of Mara's love would always show him the way back.

Somehow, Luke felt the fear that had taken a hold of him moments before vanishing within, like meek snow melting under the first rays of the morning sun.

The sound of running vehicles reached them.

"Those must be Imperial patrols," he muttered.

"No doubt," Mara agreed, feeling a sense of urgency.

"Find the Rebels," he told her. Then taking her hand he placed his Alliance Commander insignia in her palm. "Take this and ask to see Leia… When you meet with her, she'll want proof. Tell her that the day she and I met, she told me I was too short for a Stormtrooper."

Mara gave him an odd look.

"I'll tell you the full story sometime."

"I have a feeling it'll be a good one," she quipped.

The Imperial vehicles were up close now. Luke gave her a meaningful look. She took the hint. Without words, they understood what they must do.

Before putting their unspoken plan into motion, Mara reached out and kissed him once more, infusing all of her love in their exchange. Luke returned the kiss, promising to himself that he'd survive just to kiss her again.

"Make sure you come back to me," she warned.

"I will," he promised.

Suddenly, both were aware that the patrol party would soon arrive. There wasn't much time left.

The vehicles would soon close in on them. Quickly, Mara retrieved the handcuffs she carried in her utility belt and bound Luke's hands with them. When the patrol party reached their location, they were ready.

It was a larger than usual patrol team, consisting of an assault vehicle full of stormtroopers and a dozen speeder bikes. The bikes followed a circular formation surrounding their quarry, tracking lights blazing in the dark night. Soon all blasters were pointing at the couple. A tall, dark haired, thin faced man descended the vehicle and approached them.

Mara eyed the man, measuring his character just like she only knew how. Palpatine should never trust his Senior Officers to deal with her. "This is a Rebel spy," she stated with authority, "He's surrendered."

"And you are?" The Senior Officer asked with a hint of despise in his question.

"Sleeper Fenix Aurek-Besh-Seven-Zero-Two," Mara stated, "Run that in you data base, Lieutenant," she ordered while recognizing the man's rank, and moving in a way she made sure her own Imperial insignia showed on her uniform.

The Emperor's Hand had several aliases or code names, all unknown to any high-ranking officials, some unknown even to the Emperor. Names she'd given herself and were out of anyone's reach, precisely to avoid any high-ranking Imperial to mess with them, and there was no way Palpatine had had access to all of them just yet. She'd kept them very well hidden for security reasons, although she'd never thought she'd need to use them against the very master she once served. These aliases were inputted in the Imperial Military records, laying dormant until she needed them and call them up, and all entries would self-delete a short time after being used. Right now, Mara was using one that granted her a rank equivalent of a Captain General in the Imperial Military.

Showing too much arrogance, the Officer ran what he'd been given in his datapad; when the data came back, his eyes went wide with surprise. With clear shock on his face, he looked back at her and stiffened.

"Give me that!" She ordered. Probably her biometrics will rise a flag in the Emperor's private intel systems, but by the time they realized it she'd be long gone.

The Officer extended his datapad and Mara placed her hand on the screen. The system beeped green. When looking at the results of the scanning, he then extended a sharp military salute. "Madame! What are your orders?" The Lieutenant stated, trying to show more confidence than what he was really feeling.

With awe, Luke watched Mara fall with ease into her Imperial role. She was so good, no wonder she'd had such an extraordinary career within Imperial ranks.

"Give me a quick debrief of the situation in the area, Lieutenant," she commanded.

"Fargis, Madame… Lieutenant Fargis," the man gave his rank and name, then proceeded to provide Mara with the information she'd asked for. This would give her a clear notion on where the Rebels stood, and then she could plan to their favour.

"Take this rebel directly to the Lord Darth Vader," Mara ordered, "Make sure this scumbag gets to his lordship expeditiously and unspoiled."

"Yes, Madam." The Lieutenant made a signal with one hand and the prisoner was taken into custody by a group of Stormtroopers.

Afraid of risking being detected by his father too soon, instead of communicating through their Force bond, Luke only gave Mara a faint smile.

The Emperor's Hand didn't smile back, she could not have her façade fall, but in her eyes she made sure he could see everything she wished for him.

Mara watched as Luke was taken away, right into harm's way. She wished she could do something. She wanted him back, soon and unharmed… but she understood that for now all she could do was to stick to their plan. So much depended on that.

With the Imperial patrol gone, Mara focused on what she needed to do to further their plans with the single-minded resolve that was second nature to her.

She resumed her route towards the Ewok village, losing herself in the darkness of the forest.

.

.

To be continued…