Chapter Eight

"So she does have red hair?" Leia spluttered out, turning on her heel and pointing at Luke. "Jayne is another Hand!"

"She hasn't done anything wrong," Luke shot back. "We can't arrest her because Father and Obi-Wan have accused her based on a Force feeling!" Luke turned to Obi-Wan. "Why couldn't I tell she's Force-sensitive? Why couldn't I tell that she was lying? We didn't have any creatures around us when we were eating lunch with her."

"It's not always easy to sense if someone is telling the truth, or not," Obi-Wan explained gently. "Palpatine managed to fool the entire Jedi Order. The same holds true for sensing someone that is able to access the Force. My Master, Qui Gon-Jinn, believed young Anakin was Force-sensitive when he first met him, yet he still needed to confirm his feelings with a blood test."

"If I didn't know Mara Jade personally, it's unlikely I would have sensed her, either," Anakin added. "Once you know someone, they emit a distinct signature through the Force. They don't even have to be Force-sensitive themselves."

"Sorta like recognizing someone based on their cologne," Han mused aloud.

"Exactly, Captain Solo," Anakin said, nodding. "Perhaps there is more to you than just a pretty face plastered over an empty head-like container."

Han raised his eyebrow. "Did I hear that correctly? Your father called me pretty?"

"I don't know, Flyboy," Leia replied. "The only part I heard was 'plastered' and 'empty head.' That description is pretty apropos, don't you agree?"

"Funny," Han groused as everyone laughed at his expense.

"In any case," Talon said after the snickering died down, "we should at least bring her in for questioning, and allow Va.. err, I mean Skywalker, to do a visual identification."

"Agreed," Obi-Wan said. "I'll come along, since she's a Force-trained assassin."

"I'm coming, too," Luke grumbled. "Even if she is Mara Jade, she can't remember it."

"Or she can remember, and she's as good an actor as Brie was," Talon stated.

"She's not faking it," Luke protested. "That's one thing I'm absolutely positive about."

Padmé put her arm around Luke's waist. "No one is suggesting we should harm the girl. If we could get through to Anakin, it's very possible we can get through to Miss Jade, too."

"My brother and mother," Leia said with a weary sigh. "Champions for all the Poor Misunderstood Sith Lords and Confused Auburn-haired Assassins."

"Well," Luke stated. "Someone has to do it."

The red-head was on her hands and knees, peering under her ship's cockpit control panel, when a calm, distinguished voice interrupted her search.

"Looking for something?"

She twisted around to look at the speaker, and saw that Luke was standing behind the man. There were also two other, older men standing in the burned-out corridor, as well. She scrambled to her feet, trying unsuccessfully to wipe the soot off her face and clothes. "Um, yes. I was trying to find some clue to my identity. Maybe something that might have survived the fire."

"Something like a weapon? A lightsaber, perhaps?"

"A lightsaber? What's a lightsaber?"

Luke stepped closer. "This is Obi-Wan Kenobi." He waved at the two, obviously armed men behind him. "That's Garm Bel Iblis, and Talon Karrde."

"I've already met Garm," she said warily. "What's with the blasters pointing at me?"

"Step out of the cockpit, Miss Jade," Talon said, waving his weapon.

"My name is Jade?" she questioned, carefully obeying the order, watching as the robed man bent down and looked under the control panel. "How did you find that out?"

No one answered her, and a moment later, Obi-Wan reached up and gave a hard tug. He turned around, holding a charred cylinder in his grasp. "This is what we call a lightsaber."

The woman shook her head. "That's not mine and I don't know how to use it. I was only looking for the ship's log disk." She turned her dazzling green eyes toward Luke. "You have to believe me. I never saw that thing before in my life."

Luke's expression grew sad and grim. "You'd better come along peacefully, Mara Jade. We don't want to hurt you."

Mara was hustled out of the ship with Talon holding tight to one arm while Garm grasped the other. She twisted her neck to look back at Luke, her voice sounding desperate. "This is some terrible misunderstanding, Luke. Please believe me!"

"I want to believe you," he whispered sadly as she disappeared around the bend in the grimy corridor.

It was the first time since the accident that Anakin had left his infirmary room. The doctor had allowed this short trip with the firm promise that Anakin would return in a few hours, since he was still not completely healed. With Padmé holding his arm, he walked cautiously to the detention area as Han and Leia trailed behind. "I'm not quite as tall as I was inside the suit."

Padmé glanced up. "You're the same height as before…you know."

"Mustafar," Anakin said. "You can say the word. I promise I won't start twitching." He grinned down. "But you're every bit as short as I remember."

"I'm not short."

"Like mother, like daughter," Han said.

"I'm not short, either," Leia protested.

"Delusions of grandeur," Anakin said, laughing.

He stopped being amused as a door slid open. Inside the stark room was a narrow table with a row of four chairs on either side. Luke, Obi-Wan, Talon and Bel Iblis sat on one side, while the Emperor's Hand sat alone on the opposite side. Her face was pale, and to Anakin's surprise it appeared she was struggling not to cry. Not once, in all the long years that he'd known her, had Jade cried, and it wasn't that Palpatine had never given her cause or reason. "It's definitely her." Jade looked over at the newcomer blankly. "You probably don't recognize me without my helmet."

She frowned. "You're a stormtrooper?"

"She's sticking to her amnesia story," Talon informed them.

"It's not a story!" the red-head shouted in frustration. "The name Mara Jade does sound familiar, but I never saw that lightsaber before in my life."

"Have you told her any more details?" Padmé asked Luke.

"No," he replied. "We thought you should be here."

Padmé moved around the table, and took a seat next to Mara. "This is my husband, Anakin Skywalker. He worked directly for Emperor Palpatine not that long ago."

Mara shot a look toward Leia. "So that's what you meant by being related to a mass murderer."

"Yes," Leia answered shortly.

"Anakin is the one who identified you," Padmé continued. "He said you work directly for the Emperor, too. As something called a Hand."

"Exactly like Shira Brie," Han put in. "I hope you two weren't bosom buddies."

"I said it before, and I'll say it again," Mara growled. "I've never heard of the term, or of Shira Brie."

Anakin spoke up, "Jade wouldn't have known about Brie. Palpatine never told them about each other. That way they all believed they were special and that he held them in high esteem."

Luke leaned forward. "Did you hear that, Mara? The Emperor doesn't truly care about what happens to you. It's time to reject his teachings and realize what an evil man he actually is."

"Good Stars," Mara snapped. "Do you people have any clue what you sound like? I'm NOT an evil minion of the Emperor! I've never even met the Emperor, despite what Anakin Skywalker, the actual former evil minion here, claims. Maybe - since he's already admitted to serving Palpatine - he's got an ulterior motive for wanting you to focus on me, instead of him. Maybe he's still working for Palpatine, and this is his way of distracting you from that fact."

Han rubbed his chin. "As convoluted as that sounds, it could be true."

"If that were true, I'd have Force-choked the life out of you at least two days ago, Solo," Anakin grumbled.

"Can you tell if she's speaking the truth, Obi-Wan?" Bel Iblis questioned the Jedi Master.

"Unfortunately, no," Obi-Wan responded. He looked down at the blackened lightsaber hilt. "However, she certainly could be shielding."

"Or telling us the truth," Luke insisted. "If she does have amnesia, why lock her up? She's not a threat to us, and by trusting her we could make her realize we're the good guys."

"Her memory could return at any moment," Leia said. "And with it, her devotion to Palpatine."

"Both valid points," Obi-Wan said.

"I'll bet the see-saw plank was your favorite piece of play equipment as a child," Han remarked. Anakin grinned, but Obi-Wan only scowled at the Corellian's jibe.

"So we have a decision to make," Talon stated. "What to do with her?"

Luke waved his arm in the air. "Let her stay in the room next to mine. I'll take full responsibility for her."

"No! She's an assassin," Padmé said, horrified. "It's too dangerous."

Talon sighed. "How about this, then. We allow her to stay in a locked room instead of a prison cell, yet put guards outside her door."

"Throw in a ysalamiri, and then you might be lucky enough to hold her," Anakin said.

"She won't try to escape," Luke stated confidently. "Trust me."

"Do you really think the Emperor is so terrible?" Mara questioned Luke as they sat next to each other on a sofa in her room.

The young man seemed offended by the question. "Of course he is. He's busy building a machine to wipe out entire planets. It's a good thing we've gotten a hold of the plans, so we can find a way to destroy it."

"What if you can't find a way, even after your people look at the plans?"

"We'll be able to," Luke said confidently, leaning back and cautiously placing his arm around her shoulders. "Do you hate me?"

"Why would I hate you?"

Luke seemed uneasy, even though he had asked the question. "Because I'm a Rebel, and you're loyal to the Emperor."

"I only have your word that I'm loyal to the Emperor," Mara whispered, looking up into Luke's amazing blue eyes. "What do you think?"

"About what?" Luke whispered, moving closer.

"Can a boy like you, and a girl like me…?"

"Yes," Luke breathed as he kissed her tenderly on the lips.

Mara shut her eyes and leaned into the kiss. Amazing, she thought dreamily. Simply amazing. She felt Luke pull back, then slowly she opened her eyes. Then her blood ran cold. The person sitting next to her, grinning manically, was no longer the sweet farmboy from Tatooine. It was her Master.

She sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest. She was Mara Jade, Emperor's Hand, she reminded herself firmly. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this mission. Not the faulty ship, or her very temporary memory lapse. Not the growing, gnawing fear that perhaps these Rebels were right, that the Emperor was truly evil. Not the realization that Darth Vader had once been a Jedi Knight who had made the terrible mistake of believing Palpatine, and had been turned into a pawn of Palpatine's by both mental and physical trauma. And especially not the knowledge that Luke Skywalker was too kind hearted and gentle to be true, and this naïve young farmboy was occupying her every thought.

I have to accomplish my mission. Mara pushed herself out of bed, and quickly got dressed in Padmé's clothes. She was supposed to kill Luke's mother, and then contact Palpatine for further instructions. There were quite a few obstacles to this plan, since everyone knew she was an Emperor's Hand, and she had no way of contacting her Master as long as she remained on Myrkr. I'm an Emperor's Hand, Mara realized bitterly. Not just one unique servant, but one of many, according to Anakin Skywalker. What else has Palpatine failed to mention, she wondered as she looked around the room for a weapon. Flipping up the mattress, she worked at removing the wires around the edge of the bedframe. Wires always made good weapons. Killing Padmé right now was out of the question, but Mara's mind worked quickly to replace this with a new, better plan.

If losing Vader as his right hand man was a bitter pill to swallow, what could better replace that bitter pill with the sweet taste of revenge than turning one of Vader's own children into a Sith? Having Vader's own offspring serving the Emperor, hunting down the 'reformed' Lord Vader? Mara briefly thought about Luke, but knew that the young Jedi was too pure of heart to ever become a Sith. Leia, on the other hand, had a great deal of anger boiling under the surface, and Palpatine would be able to use that anger to his advantage. The young Jedi woman could be kept under control with the right motivation. Mara considered Solo, before quickly discarding the idea. The man was too unpredictable, and she didn't want to have to kill him too quickly. That wouldn't be useful at all. She couldn't deal with more than one Jedi at a time, that was certain. Then it occurred to her - what would make her Master even more pleased than Mara simply killing the wife of the traitor, Lord Vader? Why, if Palpatine himself could kill her, of course! She could use Padmé by keeping her under threat of imminent death if Leia disobeyed, or made any attempt to escape. Mara was very grateful that Luke had seen fit to give her such a complete tour of the base, which included the rooms where everyone was staying, as well as the hanger. That battered old freighter that sat alone off to one side would work well for her escape, since Vader's Imperial Shuttle was surrounded by too many guards.

Mara stretched the wire out, pleased at its strength and length. The Jedi were sadly mistaken if they believed two guards and a single ysalamiri parked outside her door were enough to keep an Emperor's Hand from her goal.

Leia spooned sweetener into her caf, and sipped the hot liquid. "I have an uneasy feeling that I can't shake."

Glancing up from the holo smashball game he was watching, Han smiled. "One of those Force things, huh? I thought you renounced all that hocus pocus stuff."

"It's womanly intuition," Leia responded. "That has nothing to do with the Force."

"If you say so," Han replied, turning his attention back to the game.

A few moments later, Leia's private comlink gave a soft beep, and the Princess picked it up. "Yes?" she spoke into the small device.

"Leia? It's your mother." There was a slight pause. "Padmé."

"Yes, I figured that out," Leia said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

"Can you come meet me? Alone?"

"Sure," Leia answered, curious about Padmé's odd request. "Are you in your husband's infirmary room?"

"No. No. I'm…with… Garm and Chewie. We're in the Falcon, and there's a thing we want you to see.. hear. Hear."

The mystery deepens, Leia thought. "A thing?"

"No, not a thing," Padmé said breathlessly. "A holo-message from Bail Organa. We need you here because it's encrypted. Can you hurry?"

"Sure."

"You need me to come with you?" Han questioned, his eyes never leaving the holo.

"No, she asked me to come alone," Leia replied, moving toward the door. "Did she sound strange to you?"

Han leaned forward, giving a disgusted grunt as one of the smashball players had a penalty tossed at them. "Who?"

"Oh, never mind," Leia said, annoyed. "I'll be back in a few minutes." How could men become so distracted by a simple-minded game, anyway?

Hanger bay, inside the Millennium Falcon

"Now, wasn't that simple?" Mara asked a terrified Padmé, as she pointed a blaster at the older woman's chest. "It was much easier than me killing the Wookiee, wasn't it?"

A tied up Padmé glanced at the floor, where the stunned and drugged Chewbacca lay in an unconscious heap. In the corner sat both Artoo and Threepio, their power turned off. Padmé herself had been called to the Falcon by Threepio, who had been obeying Jade's orders on the threat of Chewbacca's death. "How did you escape?"

Mara almost laughed. "I was being guarded by two morons. I'm a highly skilled assassin. It was no match, believe me." She gave a quick nod to the ysalamiri she'd brought into the ship. "I'll have to thank your husband for suggesting that creature keep me company. Its presence kept all those nosy Jedi from knowing I was out and about."

"You killed the guards?"

"They should still be alive," Mara replied, uninterested. "The wire around their necks will tighten and choke them to death a little bit at a time if they try to free themselves. I warned them about that detail before I took off, so if they're dead, it's their own fault."

Padmé gave a quick nod toward the Wookiee. "How did you overpower Chewie?"

"A stun shot with my new weapons, courtesy of those Rebel guards, and a quick dose of powerful sleeping meds that had been stored in the cockpit of my ship." Mara grinned. "Poor Kenobi was only concerned about finding that lightsaber."

"So you were faking your amnesia?" Padmé said accusingly.

"When I first woke up, I was confused," Mara replied. "Then my memory came back pretty quickly, but I decided the amnesia act could work to my advantage." Mara glanced toward the corridor. "I do hope your daughter comes without her boyfriend. She might be irritated if I have to kill the guy."

"What do you want with Leia?"

"She's full of rage, just like her old man. The Emperor needs a new Sith Lord, and he'll be thrilled when I bring him Vader's child as a replacement for that cyber-freak you call your husband." Mara grinned, her expression taking on that of a predator. "You'd better keep her in line during the trip, or I'll be forced to kill both of you. That was my original assignment, you know – kill Vader's Rebel wife."

Padmé frowned. "Won't your Master be angry that you disobeyed?"

"Not when he can kill you himself," Mara responded. "Now shut up. I hear someone walking up the ramp." The assassin stood and placed herself behind Padmé, and pressed the blaster to the woman's temple. It will be interesting to see how much the Princess actually cares about the woman who gave birth to her, Mara thought dispassionately.

When Leia entered the Falcon, she felt a warning tingle from the Force, and then the Force faded away. Something was wrong, and for the first time since she'd so casually discarded her lightsaber, Leia wished she had it back. There definitely had to be a ysalamiri onboard, but why would Chewbacca have done that? As she rounded the curve of the corridor and entered the main hold, Leia abruptly stopped short as she took in the scene.

"What have you done to Chewbacca?" Leia demanded, glaring at Mara. "Where did you get that blaster?"

It was her mother that replied, "She's drugged Chewbacca, and stole the weapon from the men who were guarding her."

"Are you alright?"

"So far," Padmé replied tightly.

"Be a good girl and come sit next to your mother," Mara ordered sharply, waving her blaster toward the board table where Padmé sat, bound. "Put those binders around your wrists, and let me hear them click shut."

As the Princess obeyed, she asked warily, "What are you planning on doing to us?" She weighed her chances of trying to grab for the blaster, but decided the only thing that would accomplish would be a fast and painful death.

"Taking you on a nice little visit to see the Emperor," Mara answered, shifting over to the droids. She reached up, and switched on Threepio.

"Luke is going to be so disappointed," Leia mumbled to her mother. "His first two crushes turned out to be rotten to the core."

"Mistress Leia! Mistress Padmé!" the frightened droid cried out. "Whatever shall we do now?"

"I'll be the one telling you what to do," Mara ordered firmly. "First, switch on your buddy, then move the Wookiee onto that replusorlift."

Threepio quickly turned on Artoo. "Artoo, place Chewbacca on the replusorlift immediately."

The little droid gave an annoyed whistle, and Threepio turned to address Mara. "Artoo says he is too short to lift Chewbacca. Not to mention he has no arms."

By this time, Mara was getting angry. "I meant YOU put the Wookiee on the lift. Unless you give me lip. In that case, I'll just kill the Wookiee, blast the two of you, and be done with it."

"No! Not at all," Threepio said hurriedly. He quickly pushed the heavy tools off the bed of the lift, then awkwardly bent down to hoist the limp Wookiee onto the replusorlift. "Now what?"

"Now all three of you leave the ship before I decide I'm being way too soft, and blast you into a million pieces, anyway."

Threepio quickly grabbed the edge of the lift, and pushed it forward. "Hurry, Artoo. We don't want this kind lady to change her mind, do we?"

"Shut the exit door on the way out," Mara called after the hustling droids. She turned her attention back to her prisoners. "Now, get into the cockpit. Too bad neither one of you will ever get the chance to kiss your lover-boys goodbye."

Death Star, over Despayre

"Fire!" Tarkin practically screamed, although it was unnecessary to speak above a whisper considering the eerie silence inside the Command Center.

The beam flashed out from the Death Star, striking the wobbly and barren shell of Despayre. The planet exploded, disintegrating into billions of small rocks.

"That is more like it," Palpatine stated, nodding his approval. "Now we can proceed to Myrkr."

Tarkin gave a hard jerk of his head. "Engage the hyperdrives!"

The young man sitting at the hyperdrive controls pressed a series of buttons, and an ominous hum reverberated throughout the entire Station. He quickly pressed another button, effectively cutting off the power. "Sir, the third hyperdrive unit is showing signs of instability. I had to abort the jump… Sir."

Bevel Lemelisk hurried over to peer at the read-out. "It must be a faulty sensor control. I'll have – ." He got no further in his remarks, grasping his throat as an intense, invisible pressure cut off his oxygen. In the quiet room, everyone could hear the bones and tendons snap as blood flowed from the Engineer's nose. Then he dropped noiselessly to the floor, his lifeless eyes still wide open.

Grand Moff Tarkin's hand went automatically to his own throat, looking fearfully at his Emperor. "I am truly ashamed of Lemelisk's failure, My Lord."

"As well you should be," Palpatine said with a snarl. "Now, how shall I end your life? Perhaps I shall tie you up inside the laser shaft, and when we arrive at Myrkr you shall see firsthand how the laser operates. Or, perhaps…" The Emperor suddenly paused in his tirade, tilting his head to one side. "I shall deal with you in a few moments, Tarkin."

With those words, he turned and walked out of the Command Center and went into a private suite nearby. There, he was able to 'send' back. "Why have you failed to contact me as I ordered, my Hand?"

Having killed the ysalamiri that she'd brought with her inside the ship immediately after making the jump into hyperspace, Mara's thoughts came through clearly. "Master, my ship crashed upon landing. The creatures called the ysalamiri cut off my ability to contact you through the Force. I have left Myrkr, and I believe you will be most pleased with what I am bringing to you."

The Emperor was not pleased, however. "Left? Have you finished your mission?"

"Vader exposed my identity, and I was unable to do as you ordered, My Lord."

"Then whatever you are bringing me must be of equal value to your mission."

Back on the Falcon, Mara smiled. "I am bringing – alive- to Coruscant Vader's wife…and his daughter. His Force strong daughter."

This news startled the Emperor. "Then you have redeemed yourself, my Hand. But do not go to Coruscant. Come to the Death Star over Despayre. I will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of my next apprentice."

"She is impatient, impetuous, and has much anger inside," Mara thought back, knowing Palpatine was no longer angry at the failure of her mission. "She will serve you well."

"I look forward to training her. As well as seeing Senator Amidala once again."

Less than fifteen minutes after the Millennium Falcon had blasted off Myrkr, both Han and Luke burst into Anakin Skywalker's hospital room.

"Father! Wake up!" Luke yelled as he switched on the overhead light.

Anakin flung off the blanket and struggled to stand, his eyes wide, and blinking against the onslaught of the light. "Wha…What?"

"Threepio just woke us, and … and…"

"And, what!?"

"Jade has kidnapped your wife and Leia, and used my ship to do it," Han snapped bitterly. "We should have locked her up in a cell when we found out her identity. Amnesia, my afterburners."

Anakin rubbed his head, and fumbled for his clothing. "It is unlikely a simple cell could have contained her for very long, either. Why didn't I sense what was occurring?"

By this time, Obi-Wan and Talon had also hurried into the room. "The ysalamiri in her room had been removed. She must have used it to cover up what she was doing."

"Bright girl," Talon stated. "We've started evacuating the base, and in two or three hours most of our personnel should be on their way to another location."

"I'm going after Jade," Anakin stated. "I'm not losing Padmé again."

"And I'm not losing Leia," Han added stubbornly. "So count me in on any rescue operation."

"Father, do you feel well enough to go on this type of a mission?" Luke asked, concerned over his father's health.

"It's Leia's and Padmé's health you should be concerned with, Luke," Anakin responded. "The Force will strengthen me, and help me to accomplish whatever I need to do."

"This is madness," Talon argued. "Jade will undoubtedly take her prisoners to Coruscant."

"She'll take them to the Emperor," Anakin said in agreement. "So I'm going to Coruscant."

Former Senator Bel Iblis entered the room, looking grim. "Then you'll be going to the wrong place. Our spies have told us the Emperor is overseeing the last stages of construction on the Death Star personally. Apparently he's gotten tired of all the construction delays."

Luke was stunned. "We'll never be able to get onboard the Death Star."

"Has the Death Star left Despayre yet?" Anakin questioned.

"Not as of a few hours ago," Garm replied. "Things can change quickly, which is why we're not wasting anymore time with evacuating."

Anakin turned to his son. "I still have my old suit, and the Imperial shuttle I arrived with. We may be able to get onboard easier than you think."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I think I have some idea what you are planning, Anakin. It will be very risky."

"I'd like to hear this plan," Han grumbled.

"First we go back to my Star Destroyer, the Devastator, and then, acting as Darth Vader, I order my ship to head to Despayre. Once we arrive, I go onboard the Battle Station, try to convince the Emperor that I was a prisoner of the Rebellion, and only now managed to escape in the chaos of the base being evacuated."

"But didn't you defy his orders to start with by coming to Myrkr?" Luke questioned his father. "Won't he decide to kill you on the spot?"

"It's possible."

"This isn't a bad plan," Talon spoke up. "Our technicians have analyzed the plans to the Station, and there is one major weakness. If the main generator can be blown up, and it would cause a chain reaction which would destroy the entire Death Star. We were planning on sending our pilots to try and put a torpedo into the exhaust port, but if a thermal detonator could be placed on the generator from inside it would have the same effect."

"And it may save a lot of our X-Wing pilots' lives, too" Garm added.

"By the time we get there, Jade will have already arrived and told him what she saw," Han pointed out to Anakin. "So it'll be your word against hers."

"Very probably," Anakin agreed. "I'm willing to listen to any better plan you might have."

"I don't operate well with plans," Han stated. "How will Luke and me fit in to this?"

"You can hide on the shuttle while the Devastator is in hyperspace," Anakin said, frowning in thought. "There are two sets of extra stormtrooper gear inside the shuttle, and once we arrive at the Battle Station, you can be my armed escorts."

"Do you go around with stormtrooper escorts all the time?" Luke asked.

"Very seldom," Anakin admitted.

"Then you need a reason to use them," Obi-Wan said. "I will come along, and act as your prisoner. The stormtroopers – Luke and Han - can escorting me toward the detention area. Before we arrive, we'll separate and I will place the detonator inside the generator and set the timer."

"Good idea!" Luke said enthusiastically. "Then Han and I can continue on to the prison section to free Mother and Leia." Then his face fell. "But that will leave Father to confront the Emperor all by himself."

"That is how it should be," Anakin replied. "After you find Leia and Padmé, you will need to hurry to the Falcon and get off the Station before the detonator blows while I distract Palpatine."

Luke looked incredulous. "You intend to sacrifice yourself for us?"

"I will do whatever is necessary to save my family from Palpatine," Anakin said sadly. "Perhaps Leia will finally be able to find it in her heart to forgive me."

"I don't want you to die!" Luke protested. "I want to keep my family together, now that we've finally found each other."

"We don't always get everything we want and desire, Son. I will try to make it back to the Falcon, but I make no guarantee. All I am certain of is that I must distract the Emperor for us to have any hope of successfully rescuing Leia and Padmé."

"What about Chewie?" Han asked in the uncomfortable silence that followed. "He won't want to let me do this without his help."

Anakin shook his head firmly. "A Wookiee wandering around the Battle Station would draw far too much attention and my shuttle can only hold four people. Whether Chewbacca likes it or not, he must stay behind and help with the base evacuation."

"He ain't gonna like it one bit," Han groused, unaware just how true that statement would turn out to be.

The men wasted little time as they hurried to get ready for their mission, pausing to grab a few supplies, including the thermal detonator. They also took a copy of the Death Star plans to allow them to study the routes to the detention blocks as well as the exhaust port location during the trip. Han had taken a few moments to explain the situation to Chewie, who roared his disapproval over being excluded from the mission, then stalked away in anger.

Anakin entered the Imperial Shuttle first, looking around at the tiny hold located behind the cockpit as he held a satchel which contained his Sith armor. A small cot lined one wall, while a row of lockers lined the opposite wall. Next to the lockers was a narrow door, behind which was a very small refresher, consisting of a sani and a tiny sink which practically sat over the commode. A person of Leia's stature would find it difficult to maneuver within this room. Anakin had basically ignored the room, since turning around while wearing his armored suit would have proved to be extremely awkward. Fortunately, he'd never been forced to spend much more than a few hours at a time in the shuttle.

The former Sith pulled open a locker. "Here's the extra stormtrooper gear."

Han made a face as he sniffed the locker. "Has this stuff been sanitized?"

"The Empire does not care about such irrelevant matters," Anakin replied, his lips twitching in amusement.

"That's why they can't keep good help," Han said in all seriousness.

Luke tugged a white helmet over his head. "No wonder stormtroopers can't shoot straight. I can barely see out of this thing." He pulled it off, swiping at his hair. "Why do they make them wear helmets at all?"

"Several reasons come to mind," Obi-Wan replied. "Helmets repress individuality. The Emperor prefers his minions to be of the same mindset. And during the Clone Wars, all the stormtroopers looked exactly alike. It was less upsetting for citizens to see lifeless masks, rather than hundreds or thousands of dead faces, all alike."

"We should get going," Anakin said, waving the men toward the cockpit. "Who is planning on co-piloting?" He sat down in the pilot's seat, and watched in interest as Luke and Han eyed each other.

"You can co-pilot, Han," Luke finally said. "You've got more flying experience."

Han shook his head. "You're a plenty good pilot, kid. 'Sides, the pilot's your father."

"And here I was worried that there'd be arguing about who wanted the seat, not who didn't," Anakin said to Obi-Wan. "That goes to show what kind of side-effects being an ex-Sith Lord has on people."

"I'll be co-pilot," Luke stated. He plunked down next to his father, then turned and shot a smirk over his shoulder at Han. "I was only trying to be polite to my elders."

"Who you callin' elderly?" Han muttered, slouching down in the seat behind Luke.

The shuttle received clearance, and they lifted off. Soon the planet was a distant ball. "I'll be happy if I never have to see that planet, or another ysalamiri again," Anakin said.

"I'd have to agree with you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "Those creatures will never make good house pets." He watched as the shuttle made the jump into hyperspace. "How far is the Star Destroyer from here?"

"We'll be there in half-an-hour."

"I never thought I'd willingly head toward a Star Destroyer," Han said. "And inside an Imperial Shuttle, no less."

"I think it's sort of exciting," Luke said.

"You would."

A second later, a thumping noise could be heard from the small hold area.

"Did you hear that?"

Luke glanced down at the controls. "All the read-outs are normal."

"Someone's inside the hold," Anakin stated. "Now that we're totally clear of Myrkr, I can sense him."

"I can, too," Obi-Wan agreed, spinning his chair around to face the entryway, and pulling out his lightsaber.

"Aw, this is just great," Han grumbled, grasping his blaster. "How many Hands does the Emperor have, anyway?"

Luke stood up, pushing past the seats. "Where would anyone be able to hide? We can see everything."

"We can't see inside the refresher," Anakin pointed out as the thumping noise became louder, and somewhat frantic sounding.

All four men cautiously approached the narrow refresher door, and Anakin reached over and gave the handle a tug. The door swung open, and a blur of chestnut hair fell out, crashing on the floor.

"CHEWIE?" Han yelled in disbelief. "How did you get inside there?"

*It wasn't easy,* Chewie replied with a groan as he held his ribcage.

The Millennium Falcon, approaching the Death Star

The Emperor's Hand was truly impressed with the massive size of the Space Station. She spared a glance over at Leia, sitting in the co-pilot's seat, and still wearing binders. The older woman was securely trussed up, and locked inside of a storage unit, since Mara decided it was safer than having to constantly watch both of her prisoners while flying the ancient spacecraft at the same time.

Leia could barely tear her eyes away from the Station. "All that debris," she whispered, "used to be a living planet. All those lives… gone." She turned her stunned gaze toward the Hand. "This is the person… the thing, you serve so blindly. Someone so evil he can snuff out a billion lives and laugh. I don't understand beings like you."

"The Emperor took me in when I was a homeless child," Mara said, suddenly feeling the need to defend herself. "He took care of me. He trained me."

"Trained you to KILL people! To serve HIS twisted desires!" She lifted her bound wrists and waved toward the viewport. "Don't you see what he's done? How can you justify this? How can you defend mass genocide?"

Mara's eyes tracked to the screen, and she felt a cold chill run down her spine over the incredible scene of destruction. How can I justify genocide? Have I really been blinded?

A voice sounded over the com-unit, snapping Mara out of her stupor. "Incoming craft, you will follow the TIE escorts into the proper Hanger."

The Hand swallowed, and gave her response, "Acknowledged."

Leia shook her head sadly as the Death Star's huge exterior filled the screen. "You truly are beyond hope, Jade."

Devastator

Lord Darth Vader strode purposefully off the shuttle, and locked the craft behind him. He turned to the stormtroopers on hanger duty. "Do not allow anyone to board this shuttle."

"Yes, M'Lord!" If the troopers thought the order was odd, they would still never dare to question the Sith.

Inside the suit, Anakin tried not to feel claustrophobic. He despised having to wear the armor, and the only thing that kept his mind focused was the thought of Padmé and Leia suffering at the hands of Palpatine. The unexpected appearance of the Wookiee had altered their plans, so now Luke and Han were going to 'escort' Chewbacca to the detention block as Obi-Wan headed to the exhaust port with the bomb. This would still leave Anakin alone to confront the Emperor, and allow everyone the necessary time to escape.

Captain Wermis was waiting for him on the bridge. "Sir! We've waited here, just as you ordered."

"Have you maintained complete silence?"

"Yes, M'Lord. We have not sent out any signals."

"Has anyone tried contacting the Devastator since I left?"

"Your private code received several messages from Coruscant approximately two days after you left. Then Imperial Command sent the Devastator an 'acknowledge and respond' code. This code has been incoming, once every hour. We have not responded, per your orders."

"You have done well, Captain. You are hereby promoted to the rank of Admiral."

The man's eyes widened, and a huge grin split his face. "Thank you, M'Lord!"

"Set course for Despayre and depart immediately," Vader hissed out. "The Emperor awaits our arrival at the new Imperial Battle Station."

"Yes, Lord Vader." The new Admiral watched as Darth Vader left the bridge, and then allowed himself to give a huge sigh of relief.

Inside the Shuttle

"I'm tired of playing sabacc," Luke complained, throwing the cards on the floor. He glanced over at a snoring Chewbacca asleep on the cot, his long arms and legs dangling over the sides. "Isn't it my turn to sleep yet?"

"It's Kenobi's turn after Chewie wakes up," Han replied, tossing a ration bar at Luke. "Here…have something to eat."

Luke frowned at the dry bar. "Why didn't you pack decent food? These Imperial rations must be five years old. If you could remember to bring a deck of sabacc cards, why couldn't you bring food?"

"Well, cards are more important," Han said, chewing the tough cube. "'Sides, they still have another ten years before the expiration date."

"Perhaps you'd like to practice with your lightsaber, Luke?" Obi-Wan suggested.

Han looked appalled. "In this tiny space? Are you trying to get us all killed?"

"You may be right," Obi-Wan responded, then addressed Luke again, "Would you like to meditate, instead? It will help get your mind off the food and Chewbacca's snoring."

"Yeah," Han agreed. "Not to mention, if you're meditating nice and quiet-like, then you won't be complaining non-stop."

"I do NOT complain non-stop!" Luke complained.

"Right," both Obi-Wan and Han said at the same time.

Death Star

"I am not pleased that you allowed the Rebels to discover your identity," Palpatine growled out as Mara knelt before him in the newly built throne room. Off to one side, stormtroopers firmly held her two prisoners. The Emperor had listened in silence to his Hand's entire story without comment until she'd reached the conclusion.

"It was Vader that betrayed me, Master."

"Is that so?" Palpatine asked. "Whether that is true or not, the Rebels will be long gone from Myrkr before this Station can arrive."

"Yes, Master."

"That angers me. I could have used this Station to destroy our enemies. You failed, Hand."

Mara risked a quick glance up at Palpatine. His eyes glowed yellow, and she knew he was furious. "I have brought you Vader's wife, and his daughter."

"Yet you left behind his Force-strong son."

"Yes, Master."

"Why did you not kill the boy?"

"I…" Mara stopped. How could she explain what she didn't understand herself? The idea of killing Luke was simply incomprehensible. This emotion wasn't anything she'd ever felt before in her entire life. "I temporarily could not recall my own name, Master."

"That is your excuse for failure? It is a pitiful excuse, indeed."

"I am sorry."

"Yes, you are." Lightning shot out from the Emperor's fingers, and Mara once again felt the burning agony of Force-lightning. Deep down she knew, this time it wouldn't stop until she was dead.