Chapter 5: Rage and Grace

Darth Maul was in a foul mood as he rode out into the desert, returning to his ship. He felt conflicted; he had found Skywalker, but failed to apprehend him. Sidious was adamant Skywalker not be harmed, therefore, Maul had refused to use violence to subdue Skywalker. Maul recognized his mistake at the time immediately: he went alone. Backup would have been helpful. Maul growled at himself, shaking off his regret, and focused on reaching his ship.

Once there, he would take off and head to his base of operations for Tatooine. He needed to contact Sidious, to relay what Maul had found at the farm. It was not going to be a pleasant conversation, Maul already knew, as Sidious would certainly not be pleased with the outcome. But hopefully, he might have some insight into how Maul should proceed. It was a delicate situation now. Skywalker and Kenobi, Maul shuddering with hatred at the name, would surely be planning to leave.

Arriving at his ship, Maul flicked his hand out with the Force, and a parking pad lowered out from underneath his ship, unveiling a parking spot for his speeder.

Once parked, with another flick with his hand, the pad raised back into the ship, stowing the speeder, and at the same time, the loading ramp descended. Wasting no time, he sat in the pilot's chair and initiated takeoff.

Flicking a switch on the instrument panel to open a secure comms channel, Maul spoke in a stern tone, "Commander, this is Lord Maul. I need to make a secure communication with the Emperor. Perform the required arrangements. I need a clear signal. I will be docking shortly."

Without hesitation, Maul heard a quick confirmation from his destination: an Acclamator-class Star Destroyer, The Redsol, a relic war ship from the Clone Wars, which Sidious had assigned to Maul as his personal Command Ship.

The Redsol was an old ship, which had started it's life serving the Republic built at the start of the Clone Wars. Following the end of the war and the formation of the Empire, the ship was retrofitted as a prototype Star Destroyer, with many upgrades and changes to better match the newly built Star Destroyers the Empire had commissioned. However, even with the upgrades it paled in comparison to its newer counterparts, as it was simply outdated. Maul believed he had it because it was all Sidious was willing to give. Nonetheless, it was functional.

In no time, Maul arrived at The Redsol. Making haste, he quickly landed and departed the ship, heading immediately to the specialty designed communication room that was built to facilitate communication directly with the Emperor's personal office, a privilege few held.

As Maul walked up to the secure doors that enclosed the Comms room, the two guard troops outside the room gave the Imperial salute, and opened the doors for him.

Once inside, Maul approached the control panel, and entered the secure code that would attempt communication with the Emperor. He waited, watching the screen for a response - maybe Sidious was not in his office.

No such luck - the screen flashed a response indicating a completed connection.

Maul approached the holopad, and knelt, awaiting the arriving of his Master's hologram before him.

"Rise, Lord Maul."

Maul stood, and faced his Master.

"My Master, I have news from Tatooine."

Sidious, his face shrouded by his hood, looked pleased - but only momentarily.

"I sense...that you do not have good news for me." Sidious' face tightened, looking less pleased by the second. "What happened? Did you find him?"

"Yes, my master. He was there. He is with Kenobi."

Sidious scowled. "And? I can sense he is not in your custody."

Maul looked down, "He refused to come into custody. He said he would rather die. And I did not wish to engage him, my Master, as per your wishes."

Without looking up, Maul could feel the change in Sidious' demeanor. Cold rippled through the Force, chilling Maul to his core. Sidious...was not happy.

"And you let him GO?" Sidious said, nearly yelling at the last word.

"He cannot get off planet, we have his ship-"

"He could take any ship!" He - !" Sidious stopped mid-sentence.

Maul looked up. The fury was fading from Sidious' face.

"My expectations were much higher, Lord Maul. Much higher." Sidious said, calmly.

"You were so promising when you were younger."

Ignoring that, Maul continued, "Master, if he resists-"

"I've told you. He must not be allowed to die. Subdue him through any means, but do not kill him or inflict significant damage."

"Master, it will not happen again. He won't be lost."

"I hope so, for your sake, Lord Maul." Sidious said, icily.

As Maul made eye contact with his Master, he swore he could see Sidious' eyes start glowing yellow through the blue tinted hologram.

"Because, if you fail me once more…" Sidious closed his eyes, extended his arms around himself, then pulled them into his chest, as if to gather the air around him.

Sidious's eyes opened. Glowing yellow, Maul clearly saw now.

Then, Sidious snarled and pushed forward with his hands, and Maul watched as the holocam was crushed on Sidious' side of the connection

For a few seconds, Maul stood waiting, unsure of what exactly happened, then, without warning, Maul felt it hit him.

BOOM!

A Force wave hit Maul and pushed him back, through the closed doors, ripping both of them off the hinges and sending the two guards to the ground. Maul flew through the air and hit the wall in the hallway opposite the communication room hard enough to dent it. The residual shockwave broke many screens and control pads in the surrounding area.

After recovering from their initial shock, the two guards quickly charged into the Comms room, as if the attacker might be in the room. Finding nothing, they retreated out and went to Maul's side.

"Sir, are you alright?" one of the guards asked Maul.

Maul nodded yes, while groaning. He tried to get up, when he realized his cybernetic legs were not responding.

Maul grabbed the guard's arm, "Actually, get me a technician."

The guard nodded and was about to leave, when both he and Maul, were surprised by the static filled voice that emanated from the now smoke-filled communication room.

"...next time, I will not be so forgiving, Lord Maul. Do not…fail me again."

Ben and Anakin reached Ben's homestead just after dusk. It took time to bury the Lars' bodies and orchestrate the demolition of the residential buildings on the farm. The speeder ride back had been long and quiet, much to Ben's surprise. Ben expected Anakin to bombard him with questions and accusations, but none came. Anakin piloted in silence. Ben sat, cradling Luke, who was still in a Force induced sleep state.

Once the speeder was parked, Anakin and Ben exited, and walked to the hut. Anakin checked Ben's vaporator on the way past, and finding it full of water, pumped some on his hands and splashed his face. Ben continued on, entering his home, and deposited Luke on his bed. Once again, Ben used the Force to ensure Luke slept until morning - the boy needed the rest, especially once he woke up in the company of strangers in a strange place.

Ben heard Anakin enter the hut behind him, and close the door.

"There's something I should tell you, Master." Anakin said, his voice firm but low, so as not to wake Luke.

Ben turned, "What's that, Anakin?"

"I think I was followed here. To Tatooine, I mean. Or at least tracked." He grimaced, acknowledging the repercussions.

"You think Maul knew you were here, then."

"Yes. It's the only reason he would have been there. He knew I was here, and guessed I might go there. Funny thing is, I didn't even think about visiting them."

Ben frowned, concerned. "That does make sense. It would be a pretty wild coincidence otherwise."

"Yeah." Anakin nodded, in agreement. "Yeah, it would."

"We are going to need to get off Tatooine, then. Sooner the better."

Anakin nodded again. "Tomorrow."

Ben nodded in agreement.

Silence. Without warning, the room filled with unease, and both men looked at Luke, who was sleeping peacefully.

"I'm sure you have questions for me, Anakin." Ben said, addressing the silence.

"None, actually." Anakin said, then frowning slightly, "Well, just logistical ones."

"Really?" Ben asked, incredulously.

"I knew as soon as I saw him, Obi-Wan." Anakin said, staring at Luke. "And after that, nothing else mattered."

Ben raised his eyebrows, "Did you feel it? In the Force?"

Anakin scrunched his face up with hesitancy, "I'm not entirely sure. I think so. But I also think...well, just kinda knew." He looked back to Ben. "I just knew." Anakin repeated.

"His name is Luke. Luke Skywalker." Ben said to Anakin, who grinned in response.

"Best way to hide somebody is to not change their name, I guess." Anakin said, chuckling. "But Luke. I like that. That's a good name."

Ben resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Beru and Owen chose to keep the name Skywalker. You have them to thank. And Padme chose Luke, of course."

As Anakin smiled at the mention of Padme's naming of Luke, Ben continued his train of thought.

"Anakin, I apologize for not telling you about Luke before. I didn't know, well, if I could-"

"Trust me, yeah, I figured that. I guess now, you have no choice." Anakin said, still smiling.

"I was given the duty to protect him, Anakin. My final task as Jedi." Ben said, a mix of defeat and sadness entering his tone.

Anakin smirked. "Final? You say that like you're retired. You're not that old. Not yet."

"Very funny. Now come on, it's time to rest. We're going to have a busy day tomorrow."

Commander Diyu sat waiting, in a small room in one of the many offices located in the Imperial Federal Building. Growing more impatient by the minute, Diyu had arrived at the time requested, and a half hour later his meeting still had not started. He was somewhat annoyed, partially because it was not customary to run behind schedule, partially because Diyu was asked to get to Coruscant as urgently as possible. If this info is so urgent, why keep me waiting? he thought.

Shortly after informing his commanding officer of the information Diyu's Data Acquisition and Analysis branch had found, Diyu's presence was requested as his department's representative to directly make a presentation to "top Imperial brass" - Diyu's Admiral had told him it was a honour to be selected, and to not mess it up. Diyu didn't even need to disclose the entirety of the information found: he simply mentioned the tag word Amidala, and his Admiral said to say no more. He didn't want to know.

Diyu shifted in his chair, growing more impatient. He looked around - the room was small and plain, containing only a few chairs with bare, steel grey walls. No windows, no flash, pure business. At the end of the room near the entry door, a desk was placed, and sitting at the desk was a well decorated and greying Imperial Officer, a receptionist of sorts. The officer sat there, reading on his datapad. Probably his retirement gig, Diyu thought.

"Excuse me, when is this meeting going to happen?" Diyu asked, trying to mask his impatience.

"When he's ready for you." The man at the desk didn't even look up as he replied.

Diyu scoffed to himself. He sat quiet for a few moments, and studied every detail in the room again in mere seconds. His grey garments. The grey walls. The chairs.

Diyu spoke to the officer once more.

"Who am I meeting? They didn't tell me." Diyu couldn't shake the feeling that he was meeting somebody extraordinarily important; the secrecy, the waiting, the nondescript room.

"They never do." The officer replied monotonously, pressing buttons on his datapad. He looked over at Diyu, with uncaring, bored eyes, "Don't worry, you haven't been forgotten."

Almost immediately after, as if on cue, the doors slid open, revealing two masked, red armoured figures, who stood there, waiting.

Diyu looked at them, bemused, before quickly realizing -

"My meeting is with the Emperor?" Diyu asked, barely masking his surprise.

"Yep," said the officer nonchalantly, "Better go with them now; he doesn't like to be kept waiting." The officer motioned towards the guards, and nodded at them. "Gentlemen," he said in acknowledgement. The guards ignored him, and the officer turned his attention back to his datapad.

Diyu got up and walked towards the guards. Once standing in front of them, they turned, and began walking down the hallway. Diyu followed.

The guards walked briskly with matching pace. The three of them made a series of turns and corners through the office building, passing a variety of Imperial staff, troops and offices, before reaching a lift. Two white cladded troopers stood guard, who gave Imperial salutes.

Without warning, the lift doors opened, allowing the three in. The guards entered, and Diyu followed, standing in the middle.

The lift doors slid closed, and immediately after, the lift started by itself. The guards did not input a destination - there were no buttons to press. It was likely remote controlled, Diyu thought.

On the outside, Diyu knew he appeared calm and collected. Years of training and service to both the Republic and Empire gave him the skills to operate with ease under pressure. But even so, on the inside he felt nauseous. Emperor Palpatine was fearsome. The man had survived an assassination attempt by the rogue Jedi, was gravely injured, and still had the strength to muster the crumbling Republic into a flourishing Empire. Anybody with that kind of willpower was not to be trifled with.

Ever since the transition, only a few short years ago, Palpatine, who was once always in the public eye, became very private. Hologram recordings of him addressing the people popped up here and there. A select few were selected to have meetings with him when needed, via Hologram. Even fewer saw him in person. Senate visits were the most rare.

Diyu speculated he kept to himself either because he was ill, or ashamed of his appearance, or just very busy. Or possibly because he simply liked to. Diyu didn't know.

The lift stopped and the door opened. One of the guards motioned at Diyu to step out, and Diyu complied. He stepped off the lift and stopped. Diyu stood in a large, well decorated atrium.

Windows showcased the view, high above the city below. Gold and red drapery, covering titanium pillars, were placed in aesthetically pleasing patterns around the room. Below from the lift, down a set of stairs, was a large desk, with various screens and datapads scattered about on it. Behind the desk was a large chair, the back of the chair facing the lift. The evening sun was spreading a warm, orange glow all throughout the room. It looked regal.

"Guards, leave us," came a gritty, deep voice from the other side of the chair.

Behind Diyu, the two guards turned and walked away behind the lift, disappearing out of sight.

"Come Commander, we need to have a chat," came the voice again. The chair slowly sun around, revealing the source of the voice.

Emperor Palpatine.

Diyu bowed respectfully upon seeing the Emperor, and started walking down the stairs towards the desk. As he walked down the stairs, he could see that Palpatine was wearing a dark robe, with a hood obscuring most of his face. Of what Diyu could see, Palpatine's face was scarred and damaged, the obvious results of the attempt on his life.

Once Diyu reached the desk, he bowed again.

"My Lord, it is an honour to meet you." Diyu said.

Palpatine smiled pleasantly, revealing damaged and yellowed teeth, "Please Commander, the honour is mine. Have a seat."

Diyu sat in the chair opposite Palpatine. It was remarkably more comfortable than the chairs in the waiting room.

Palpatine continued, "I appreciate your hard work. You've done remarkable things for the Empire."

Diyu felt some of the tension he was feeling loosen. "Thank you, my Lord."

"Relax, my friend," Palpatine said, as if he knew Diyu was stressed, "There is no ill will, here. I am hoping this meeting will be beneficial to the both of us.

"I understand that your team has come across some information that is of great importance to the Empire. Surrounding one Senator Amidala. I trust you can fill me in on the details." Palpatine said, his tone becoming more business.

"Of course, sir. I brought the datafiles on this datapad, if you'd like to look. I had my team convert the transcript to audible recording, as well." Diyu said, producing a small datapad from his pocket.

"I will take the datapad, but I would like you to explain to me, in your own words, Commander."

"Yes sir," Diyu said. He took a breath, "In short, I found evidence that indicates that Senator Padme Amidala's children did not die in childbirth, as official reports stated. Evidence from a medical droid that delivered the children, on Polis Massa."

Palpatine's eyebrows raised, "Children?"

"Yes sir, she was carrying twins, a boy and a girl. Named Luke and Leia by Amidala in her last few breaths, but I believe it's likely the names were changed after the fact, to hide their identity."

Palpatine looked past Diyu, as he processed the information. For a second, he almost looked giddy, almost manic, before regaining composure. He brought his hands together in an arch, "Well, this is unexpected. And undoubtedly, very useful information." Palpatine looked at Diyu. "Well done, Commander. Are there any other details I should know?"

"No sir, that is pretty much the bulk of it."

"Who else have you shared this information with?"

"Nobody, sir."

"Very good, Commander. Excellent work." Palpatine said.

"Thank you, my Lord." Diyu began. Feeling bold, he asked, "My Lord, if I may, why are these children important? If they are still alive, are they problematic?"

Palpatine did not react poorly to the question, as Diyu half-expected him to. Instead, he seemed almost pleased that Diyu asked.

"As you are undoubtedly aware, these children are spawn of a Jedi," Palpatine spat at the word, "And since the Jedi were a threat to the Empire and its people, the children of Jedi could pose a similar threat, given enough time. We cannot allow that to be, Commander. They must be apprehended, or eliminated if necessary."

Killing children? "I understand, my Lord. But wouldn't they need to be trained? Jedi need to become Jedi, don't they?"

"Yes, this is true, Commander, but you must understand, Jedi are nothing if not resilient, and there are survivors. We recently located one in the Outer Rim, for example." Palpatine said, his voice growing more saturated with hatred with every word, "If one of these children is found by a Jedi, the threat increases greatly."

Diyu nodded, and he felt himself feeling hesitation. "Understandably, my lord. But what if...they are not found by a Jedi? Would they still be a threat? Or..."

Palpatine raised his head up, his eyes scanning Diyu. He squinted, and Diyu felt like he was being scrutinized by tiny invisible lasers.

"Do I sense," Palpatine began, "discomfort in performing certain acts, if they become necessary, Commander?"

"Acts, sir? Like -" Diyu was cut off.

"Following orders, Commander. I ask you, will you follow the orders you are given?" Palpatine said briskly.

Diyu knew what he was being asked. It was simple. It was do or die, so to speak.

Or perhaps more literally.

"Yes, my lord."

Palpatine smiled. "Good." he said, "In that case, we have work to do. Let's start by examining this datapad."

Hope you enjoying the story so far! As usual, apologies if I misspelled or have a few typos. I always miss stuff and will correct any mistakes I find when I reread this for the 48th time.

Chapter 7 will be called...Nebula's Edge.