In the Hands of Time Chapter 5, a star wars fanfic

IN THE HANDS OF TIME
(Part 5)
by Darth Pipes and ami-padme
joesw77@aol.com, ami_padme@yahoo.com

It was still nightfall when Mara Jade, dressed in the uniform of a technician, made her way back to the utility shelter.

The shelter was a massive structure with all sorts of equipment in it. She headed for the end of it and stopped by a pile of used equipment. Using the Force to brush the equipment aside, she could see the cracks of a small door. Mara opened it and crawled in to it.

Inside was a small room where Mara had made camp the last few days. She closed the door and sat on the floor. It was there that she would stay at night until it was time to execute her plan and kill Queen Amidala.

During sunlight, she would assimilate in the resistance group. She had acquired the uniform of a technician that had suffered an unfortunate accident. Nobody suspected that the technician had been murdered and Mara had gone on her way, helping these rebels as if she were one of them. Little did they know.

Nobody would look for her because they did not know she existed. If they did, Mara could deal with them.

Having spent the time here, she was able to observe the main players here and analyze them. Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi Master who had trained two generations of Skywalkers. Ki-Adi-Mundi, a member of the Jedi Council and leader of this insurrection. Finally, she had observed her target, the Queen Amidala. The woman pregnant with the Emperor's greatest enemy, Luke Skywalker.

Luke Skywalker. He was here on Drayos. As was Darth Vader. She had sensed their arrival on the planet. They could sense her because they were looking for her. They could not find her though. She had learned the Emperor's technique of cloaking one's appearance. They would never be able to pinpoint her exact location until she wanted them too. If she had her way, they wouldn't.

The appearance of the three on this planet might help Mara. In this timeline existed Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Three violate elements. If they were to come upon each other, chaos would ensue. If it happened soon, Mara could speed up her plan and dispose of the Queen soon. She could then return to the present, and take her rightful place at the Emperor's side.

Yes, she would wait and watch. When order turn to chaos, the Emperor's Hand would strike and the Queen would be dead. Luke Skywalker would forever be erased from the history books. If Vader survived, Mara would dispose of him too.

She had foreseen it.

Morning

Obi-Wan Kenobi walked through the outside of the military base. In his hand were Daylian flowers, which he intended to give to Sylvn. He was arriving several minutes early so he could spend some time with her before they were to get back to their duties.

Obi-Wan smiled. For the first time since he reached Drayos – for that matter, for the first time in the last six months – he was happy. He had made amends with Amidala and they were once again friends. And now he had developed an unexpected bond with Ki-Adi-Mundi's daughter, Sylvn.

It had been a long time since Obi-Wan had had a true relationship. Sylvn was a remarkable woman. She was intelligent, beautiful, and wise beyond her years. Spending time with her had made Obi-Wan happy. He had missed that feeling so much. He had lost it in the months of blood and battle. But now, it was returning and Obi-Wan was eager to embrace it.

The fact of the matter was, he loved...

Suddenly, the flowers Obi-Wan had been carrying fell from his hand and he stiffened. A dark presence had wash over him. A presence of evil that he knew all too well.

The Sith were here.

Obi-Wan quickly withdrew his lightsaber and activated it. The blue blade snapped to life, hissing around him. He spun around, looking for the Sith Lord. He saw nothing. But the Sith was here, on Drayos.

How was this possible? Palpatine had lost Anakin as his apprentice six months ago. How could he possibly have another one, let alone one that could discover their presence? Could it be another fallen Jedi?

Anger washed over Obi-Wan. Again, again, he would have to do battle with a Sith. Again, the possibility of innocent blood spilling might become reality. Is this how it would be...Obi-Wan fighting another apprentice, again and again? The apprentices were being shipped out quicker and quicker by Palpatine to come after him and Amidala. Is this what his future was destined for?

What is the Sith here for? To discover the location of the resistance cell or to kill Amidala?

Obi-Wan shook his head. It didn't matter why the Sith had come to Drayos. He was here and he knows it was up to Obi-Wan to stop him.

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber. The Sith was not near him but he was somewhere in the base's vicinity. Probably waiting to strike, waiting to execute his plan. Waiting, just as all Sith Lords do.

Obi-Wan began a search of the base, looking for any sign of this evil creature. He would do it alone. Too many innocent people had lost their lives to the Sith because of his stupid mistakes while training Anakin. He would be damned if any others would die.

Obi-Wan promised himself one thing though. He would find this Sith, whoever he was and destroy it. No matter what he had to do, no matter how he did it. This Sith would die.

No matter what.

Darth Vader stared out at the rebel base from the forest overlooking it. It was bustling with activity as it usually was.

Vader had been there for three days, lurking from behind the shadows and observing the activities. He was looking for any sign of Mara Jade but was unable to find one. She was here, he knew that, but he couldn't pinpoint her exact location. Vader was forced to admit that his adversary was more cunning then he thought.

He also had been unable to locate the person she had been sent back in time to eliminate – Anakin's wife. And he was surprised that he was unable to sense the location of his old master. The bond between he and Obi-Wan had long since been served, but he still should be able to locate him.

Vader would have to be careful when it came to Obi-Wan. As much as he would like to fight him once again, he knew he couldn't risk altering the timeline. Still, if Kenobi forced his hand...

Suddenly Vader snapped alert. A felt the presence of a familiar individual, an...intimate one.

Vader reached out with the Force to discover whom it was. But he already knew. It could only be the one person he was ever intimate with.

Amidala.

Her presence everywhere – enveloping, surrounding him. The feeling was at once both unsettling and comforting. He had wondered if the connection would still be there after so many years. And now...the feelings resurfaced so easily, just because she was in close proximity to him.

And she was nearby, although he hadn't narrowed down her exact location. Vader opened himself up to her completely, allowing to Force to move him towards her. He realized that Amidala wasn't the only person he could sense...Who else is with her? he wondered.

Luke. Of course. His son was reaching out to him, even though he wasn't born yet. He is powerful, Vader mused to himself. He had been impressed with Luke's unpolished power at Bespin, but the fact that he could manipulate the Force at all at this stage was remarkable. No wonder the presence he sensed was so strong.

No, he thought to himself, there's still something else. Or someone else. Not Luke or Amidala, but someone connected to the both of them in a way he couldn't easily identify. Strange...

But he would have to worry about that later. Mara Jade couldn't be far behind him; it wasn't going to be easy to convince Amidala to come with him. He had to hurry.

Vader moved stealthily through the woods near the base. He tried not to think about what he would do when he saw her...tried not to think about what she would say...tried not to think about his son, no more than an innocent child...tried not to think about everything he had left behind. If he was successful here, he would finally be able to overthrow Palpatine, with his son at his side. That was all that mattered.

He slowed to a stop, hearing someone nearby. He was careful to hide himself as he searched the area.

Amidala was meters away from him. Vader stood there, watching her from a distance. He was overcome by disbelief. Can this really be happening? He hadn't simply traveled to a different time – she symbolized a whole other life, a separate existence. The thought of returning to it frightened and immobilized him. So, he just continued to stare.

She was beautiful. Obviously, she had no need for the complicated, ceremonial look she had maintained as a monarch. Her hair flowed freely about her shoulders, and she was dressed simply in a loose-fitting red gown that made her pregnancy even more pronounced. Her face, even without make-up, was strikingly gorgeous.

Yet, her beauty could not hide her sadness. It radiated from her, had become a part of who she was.

Vader had never truly known what had happened to his wife after he left. There were rumors and stories of course, but never anything reliable. At least, not until she died. Her ties to the Alliance, her role in founding it were indisputable – she had chosen to side against him, to betray him as everyone else had.

But, nearly two decades later, he found out about Luke. The shock of finding out he had a son was almost nothing compared to his shock that she had managed to keep such a secret. While he had dismissed her as a traitor, she was alone, bearing his son. He allowed himself to begin to consider how difficult it must have been for her.

And he could see it for himself now. Besides the physical strain of the pregnancy – she looked further along than he had expected – everything about the way she carried herself spoke of a burden that would have easily overwhelmed a lesser person. A burden that bore his name. I did this to her, he thought angrily. I abandoned her, betrayed her –

Vader shook himself from those thoughts. This wasn't going to help him keep Amidala safe or find Mara. But he still hesitated. He didn't want to see and feel her reaction once she took a good look at him. She would never believe that the man she married could become such a hideous –

Stop it! Vader took a moment to calm himself. He had to maintain his focus. He was saving Luke's future – not changing his past. Regrets were useless.

Vader stepped out of his hiding place and headed over to his wife.

Amidala walked through an area of greenery near the base. She didn't know why she constantly felt compelled to be alone. Maybe she was finally becoming accustomed to it. That was probably for the best.

Besides, she liked it out here. In a way, the forest reminded her of Naboo...before it was destroyed. The sterility of the base bothered her to no end. At least she could breathe fresh air outside.

Amidala closed her eyes and moved into the sunlight, hoping to warm up a bit. She should have brought Obi-Wan's robe with her. She truly was glad that they were talking again. It made things just a little easier; in the end, Obi-Wan was the only person with any comprehension of the pain she was going through. She shook her head, thinking back on how close her husband and Kenobi had once been. Almost like father and son...

Amidala jumped and quickly scanned the area. Had she heard something? No one seemed to be around...but that feeling was back. The one she had associated with Anakin. No, it's not him; Anakin is dead. She had to stop being so anxious – she had enough problems without worrying about nothing. She slowly looked around again to confirm she was alone. Relax, you're fine. She closed her eyes again and tried to focus on the sun's rays. But she was still cold.

Maybe I should go back inside... She turned towards the base.

A gloved hand clamped over her mouth and another hand grabbed her arm. Fear spiked through her, she was about to scream, when a voice said, "Do not speak. You must come with me."

The voice was strangely mechanical. Amidala shuddered and tried to turn around. Her captor held her still, but she managed to catch a glimpse of him.

What...is he? A black demon stared back at her. His face – no, that wasn't a face. It was a dark void of a mask. No eyes, no mouth...he didn't need a mouth, some device was doing his breathing for him.

Beyond his face was a sea of black machinery and armor. Was there a man underneath all of that? What did he want with her?

Amidala trembled violently, unable to stop herself from staring. She realized that he hadn't spoken since his admonition of silence. He hadn't moved. What is he waiting for?

He seemed to come to the same realization. "Do not attempt to escape." He led her by the arm towards a seldom-used entrance on the far side of the base.

Amidala had no intention of trying anything, not now. She was in no condition to pick a fight, and there was no one nearby to hear her scream. She would have to wait for a better opportunity.

They quickly headed through a dark corridor. Once they reached the end, he lifted a rug off the floor. It revealed a door with a short flight of stairs that led to an unused bunker. He obviously knew the place well; Amidala doubted that any of the Rebels had found this room.

He stood back so she could enter the room first. As he moved, his cape pulled away from him.

There was a light saber attached to his belt.

Amidala's heart sank in utter despair. He was a Sith Lord. He must have been sent by the Emperor. Now Palpatine would know about the pregnancy.

She gingerly headed down the stairs as he followed. He shut and locked the door, then whisked past her, headed to an old computer console in the corner of the room. He made a few attempts to reboot it.

She took a deep breath. "I'm sure you were sent by Palpatine. What do intend to do with me?"

He didn't acknowledge her.

Amidala fought the panic rising within her. She had to remain alert and look for a way out of this situation, no matter how hopeless it seemed.

"You will not be able to escape. I suggest you remain calm for the time being." He didn't bother to turn to look at her as he said it.

Amidala shored up her resolve. I'll find a way out of this. I have to.

Several hours later...

Vader cursed silently as another one of the computer's functions failed. He was trying to track Imperial movements and narrow down the current position of Mara Jade. Of course, he had to do this without any of the other computers on the base picking him up. It was proving to be a time-consuming task.

He and Amidala would be safe in the meantime. The Rebels didn't know of this room, and he was able to shield his presence from the Jedi on the base. He would have to be on guard though – Kenobi was always extra-sensitive to his presence. He would deal with his former master in due time.

Vader turned towards the back room. Amidala hadn't made a sound in quite some time. He knew she was scheming constantly, trying to find a way out. But there wasn't a way out; he had made sure of that. Pregnant or not, he wasn't going to underestimate her abilities. He had seen her get out of problems much more difficult than this.

He was surprised she had been so quiet though. His curiosity was tweaked.

There was a time that he could read her with little or no effort. The two had been so close the he could sense her almost instantly. He probably could do so now, if the way he had reacted to her in the forest was any indication.

But he wouldn't allow himself to. With quite an effort, he had shut that connection off. It had to be done. Anything they shared, any information exchanged could have a profound impact on the timeline. The fact that she had seen him had most likely done too much damage already.

Would it really matter, though, if I simply read her thoughts? That wouldn't give her any foreknowledge of the future...

No. He couldn't do that. What good would it accomplish anyway? He knew what she was thinking...or at least, he knew what he had always assumed she thought.

But those assumptions had not taken the pregnancy into account. How had that changed things? Had it changed things at all? Had she been relieved to hear of his "death"? Or had she wanted him to come home…

This is pointless. He was angry with himself for traveling down this path. He had done it before, decades ago. It was over. It had been for a very long time.

Amidala sat quietly in the next room, deep in thought. She had essentially given up thoughts of escaping. There was no discernable way out of the room besides the door they had entered. She knew she was too far below the surface to be heard. Her only options were to send a distress signal from the computer, or to waltz through the front door.

She sighed. Those aren't options at all. Yet, a part of her wondered if she should just risk it. If she was going to be taken to Palpatine anyway, she certainly didn't have anything to lose.

But, as always her decision came down to the children. Right now, she had no reason to take such a perilous action. And that, in and of itself, was a curiosity.

Despite his frightful appearance, her captor was not what she expected from a Sith. He hadn't shown the slightest intention of hurting her – he hadn't even been rough with her. He hadn't made any threats or demands, hadn't bothered to ask a single question about her or the Rebellion. There had been no taunting or efforts to frighten her. He almost seemed...disinterested in her.

But she knew that wasn't the case.

He had spoken a few times, and he had called her by name. That, by itself, wasn't unusual. He had been hunting her; he would have some basic information on her. Yet, there was something in the way he had said it…

Earlier, when she had headed for the back room, she felt a cramp in her abdomen. The pain was brief, but she paused and held her stomach. She knew these twinges were common in the late stages of pregnancy, so she simply needed a moment to steady herself.

She hadn't heard him move, but he was suddenly next to her, holding her arm. He walked the remaining distance to the bed with her. She sat uncertainly, waiting...for what? She wasn't sure what she expected him to do. Finally, he turned away and headed for the computer.

It's nothing, she scolded herself. He's still a Sith. A few odd moments didn't mean much. She was only projecting.

If Anakin could become a Sith…she probably couldn't help but look for redeeming qualities in this one. And that was an absurd way to deal with this situation. She had to remain on guard.

Amidala sat up a bit straighter. This…man…might have known Anakin. Maybe he could tell her what had happened to her husband. If she was going to be killed anyway…it was worth a try.

She stood from the bed and marched into the main room.

"Have you informed your master that you've found me?"

This was becoming unbearable. A few minutes ago, she had reentered the room, assuming the royal, determined air he had once known so well. He had immediately gone on guard, thinking she had something up her sleeve – that she was preparing to make some sort of move against him.

Now, Vader almost wished that had been her plan. Instead, she had been asking questions nonstop. He had completely ignored every one of them, and it hadn't deterred her in the slightest. He was sorely tempted to blow up at her – one angry and loud display; just enough to intimidate her into even a temporary silence. But Amidala had never intimidated easily, and her current behavior made him think that she had already stopped being afraid of him somehow. He didn't really mind that. So he remained silent.

"Does Palpatine know...about my pregnancy?"

Her voice faltered when she said it. Vader had to admit that her fear was well placed. He knew what Palpatine might do to a fully-grown Luke in the present…what would he have done to Luke as a baby?

"Are you planning to kill me?"

"No." Damn. The answer was out before he could catch it. He couldn't help it – the thought sickened him.

"Why not?"

If he were able, Vader would have heaved an angry sigh. He wished he could just talk to her. "I have no plans to harm you or the child, Amidala. But your questions are pointless. I cannot give you the information you seek."

"So, I should...simply believe that you won't hurt me and wait here quietly in the meantime?"

"Yes," he said, in the most authoritarian tone he could muster.

"A Sith who insists on being taken at his word. Interesting." She paused. "I do believe you though."

Vader froze. She can't sense who I am...

Amidala almost laughed to herself. "Nevermind. I must be the only person in the galaxy with a...generous disposition…towards the Sith. I can't help thinking of Anakin..."

Vader jumped. No...It's over, she hates you...you don't care.

"Did you know my husband?" Her voice dropped to a whisper; she stared down at her hands. "Did he...is he dead?"

Yes. Your husband has been dead for a long time. He couldn't say it. Instead, he said, "You must have been relieved when you heard of your husband's fate."

Amidala's head snapped up, but she didn't say a word. She stood from her seat, walked deliberately across the room, and sat in the chair right next to him. He turned to her and realized that her proximity made him…nervous. He waited.

"How dare you say that. Relieved?" Her voice shook with anger and sorrow. "Is that...what he…is that what he thought before he died?" Her eyes shone with tears. "Please, if you know, please tell me that he didn't actually believe that. He must have known, somewhere inside him, that I hadn't…abandoned him that way."

Vader was shocked to see her on the verge of crying. She almost never did. Focus, he ordered himself. Nothing's changed. He decided to go on the offensive. "You did abandon him. You turned on him...in the end, you were no different than anyone else."

A tear slipped down her cheek. She impatiently wiped it away. "No. I never turned on him. I hated the choices he made, what he did...but all I ever wanted was for him to come home. To realize the wrong he had done and leave it behind. Is that betrayal?"

"You never went after him. You joined the fight against him."

"I think it should be clear to you now why I could not go after him," she responded angrily, motioning to her stomach.

Vader paused. "Had you planned to go after him?" This he needed to know, damn the timeline.

"Yes." Another tear fell. "I'm sure Obi-Wan would have tried to stop me...but I was never afraid of sacrificing myself. I owed him that much."

"You thought he was...retrievable?"

"Always."

Vader turned away from her, his mind racing. This was too much. The thought that he could change, could go back to the way he was...he had never truly been confronted with that possibility. That was his own fault, of course. He had taken every measure to isolate himself from anyone who would have bothered; he had surrounded himself with Imperials who did nothing but reinforce his loyalty to the Emperor.

Still, there were moments when that voice called out to him from the smallest recesses of his mind. Vader silenced it ruthlessly every time. He told himself that he couldn't go back. He had made his decisions; they couldn't be undone. He told himself that he didn't want to go back. What would be waiting for him on the other side? Nothing. He would have to give up everything for nothing.

Then he found Luke. A son. Their son. A family. Something to go back to...but no, his son already hated him. Luke would be no more interested in his redemption than Obi-Wan and Amidala had been.

But...he had been wrong. His wife now sat inches away, tearfully telling him that she had never given up.

"Amidala," he began, "you must not feel responsible for your husband's fate. He...found it too hard to turn away from what he became...He couldn't have accepted your forgiveness or your strength." A short pause, then, "In truth, a part of him longed for you...but to make that decision, to leave Palpatine...he convinced himself that it was impossible."

Amidala didn't answer. Vader, lost in his own thoughts, continued. "You made the right decision, protecting yourself and the child...I wish your husband had justified your faith in him."

"If he had lived, I believe he would have," Amidala replied.

Vader felt the bond between them reassert itself; he stopped trying to fight it. He stared at her, wondering if she could sense it as well.

Tentatively, she reached out to touch his hand. "Tell me," she whispered, "who are you?"

He found himself honestly unable to answer the question. Across their bond, he almost unconsciously sent her a reply.

Amidala gasped and jumped back, stumbling as she tried to get out of her chair. He reached out to steady her, but she jerked away.

"No, you can't be..." She was crying in earnest now, and looked more than a little panicked. "You can't be…"

"Amidala...It is me...I know this must be –"

"No, you are not my husband," she insisted, mostly in an effort to convince herself. "What happened to you? I don't even recognize you." She leaned against the wall for support. "Why are you wearing that...mask...and your voice..."

Vader fought a wave of nausea that rolled through him as he felt her revulsion. He couldn't look at her; he couldn't listen to this.

"You survived the fall?" she continued. "There was no way possible for you to survive. This…machinery is all to keep you alive?"

He barely heard her. You are a fool, he scolded himself. You allowed yourself to be rejected. Again. She despises you. You deserve no less.

A long moment of silence followed. Amidala seemed to calm a little, although she was still pressed against the wall in fear.

Finally, she spoke again. "Ani," she whispered, "I'm so sorry...that you..."

"That is enough Amidala," he snapped. She was stunned into silence. "You now know the truth. I do not need you pity – or your disgust." He stood from his chair and walked over to her. He stopped a few inches away, towering over her. She didn't move. "I am Darth Vader. I am a Sith Lord. The man you knew as your husband is dead. There is nothing more for either of us to say."

She glanced up at him for a long moment. Then she turned quickly and retreated to the back room. Vader soon heard her sobbing. He responded by shutting himself off from her again. This wasn't about them. He needed to stop living in a fantasy.

Mara Jade slowly made her way through the weapons armament of the military base. She moved quickly, without even a hint of a sound.

Breaking into the weapons armament was not what Mara Jade had in mind. Earlier, she had sensed that Darth Vader was now in the presence of Queen Amidala. She wasn't sure quite where. Vader's control of the dark side was strong. But she knew that he was now with her target.

This had surprised Jade for two reasons. First, she had not anticipated Vader to make the first move. She had thought that Vader would allow her to make the first move and then he would strike. Even though Vader's style was more direct, this had still surprised her.

The other surprise was that he would even want to be anywhere near Amidala. She had heard from the Emperor on how he had manipulated Vader into thinking his wife did not truly love him and would reject him. How she really thought of Anakin Skywalker as weak and inferior. The two of them had a falling out. From what she had gathered, Vader had developed a deep hatred of her.

Mara Jade knew the truth of why Vader would do this. He feared her abilities and knew she was capable of carrying out her duty.

Mara quickly moved out from behind a crate and descended up a flight of stairs. When she reached the top, she walked a little further until she reached a door marked Rifle Armament. The door was locked and could only be opened by code command. For an average person, this would present a challenge. But for one strong in the Force such as Mara Jade, this would be too easy.

With a simple flick of her wrist, the doors unlocked and slid open. She entered the large room where she found six Bothan soldiers. Two of them were standing while the other four were sitting at a table playing sabacc.

The lead solider, surprised to find someone in the room who wasn't supposed to, raised his weapon to Mara.

Moving with considerable grace, Mara kicked the rifle out of his hand and punched the Bothan in the stomach, doubling him over. She then moved behind him, grabbed his head and twisted it. His neck broke instantly. The guard to her right tried to shoot her but Mara responded with a palm-shoot to the Bothan's nose. The bone in the Bothan's nose was sent straight into his brain, killing him instantly.

The other four Bothan's had jumped out of their chairs and had their blasters drawn. By the time they were prepared, Mara Jade had already drawn her lightsaber and ignited it.

She easily cut down the first Bothan. She then flipped over the other three, confusing them for a moment. When the first one turned around to face her, the crimson red blade of Mara lightsaber found its way through the soldier's body. The one to her left fired off a quick shot but Mara deflected it with her blade, sending the shot straight back at the Bothan's face. When the smoke cleared, his face was gone and replaced a giant burnt mark.

The last solider trembled in fear as Mara turned to face him. Mara liked it. She always enjoyed it when her victims showed their fear of her.

The solider dropped his weapons and decided to charge her. Mara sidestepped and tripped him, sending the Bothan crashing to the floor. The Bothan tried to get up but Mara dug the heel of her boot into his back, pinning him to the floor. As he struggled in vain to get up, Mara took the blade and swung downwards, severing the Bothan's head. In less than a minute, she had disposed of her enemies. The bloody carnage she had left behind brought a sadistic smile to Mara's face.

She deactivated her saber and hooked it back to her belt. She looked around at the room. It was rather large, and as it was named, filled with various types of rifles. This is where she would carry out her back-up plan.

Now that Vader was with Amidala, Mara knew she couldn't attempt a frontal attack at the Queen. Her disappearance was likely to prompt Obi-Wan Kenobi and the others in the base to go searching for her. Obi-Wan would most likely find Vader first because of the fact they had once been master and apprentice. With Vader, Obi-Wan, and potentially numerous base officers there, she couldn't dare make an attempt at the Queen. Now it was time for her to rely on more...traditional assassination methods.

She began to look at the numerous rifles on the shelves. She would need something effective that would take the Queen out with one quick shot. It did not have to be overly elaborate or destructive, just effective.

The rifles were from several different worlds. After several minutes, her eye caught one of the rifles.

A Corellian long-range L-10 rifle. She picked it up and began to examine it. These rifles were used in this timeline by snipers in the Corellian militia. They Corellian government had claimed that these rifles were used for long-range fighting but Mara knew better. They were really used for assassination.

She examined it further. This rifle emitted a powerful beam. Not only would this kill a target but also it leaves it without a head. Mara smiled as she thought of the look on Vader's concealed face as he saw his wife slain and his future end.

She checked the rifle's eyepiece. It worked and could be used to find an opponent over a mile away. It was a good weapon, worthy of an assassin. This is exactly what she would need.

Suddenly, a huge roar rang out behind her. Mara spun around to find a Wookiee. He was dressed in a Jedi robe and held a lightsaber in his hand.

Mara regarded the Wookiee for a moment. He had long, shaggy, black-brown fur and appeared even taller than most Wookiees. She recognized him from the Emperor's files. Tubocca the Wookiee, Jedi Knight. He was a resourceful opponent and a master with a lightsaber.   He was also deadly. He had been killed when the Empire attacked this base. That would not be the case. Now the hand of Mara Jade would kill him.

The Wookiee roared at her again. He was demanding to know what she was doing hear. Mara smiled and she stared down the Wookiee.

The Wookiee again roared, asking the question again. He ignited his lightsaber, the green blade coming to life.

"Fulfilling the will of the Emperor," Mara said, igniting her lightsaber at the shocked Wookiee Jedi and charging him.

The Wookiee was ready and their blades slammed together with considerable force. Mara took the offensive, slashing forward, attempting to cut the Wookiee down quickly.

But Tubocca proved to tough for that. He fought off her attacks and counterattacked. The power of his attacks pushed Mara backwards and now she was on the defensive.

Tubocca's swing became more and more powerful. He kept pushing Mara back until they reach the back wall. He then had her pinned against it. He raised his blade with the intention of striking her down.

He didn't get the chance as Mara thrust her heel book right into the Wookiee's right knee. Tubocca roared and began to back away limping. Mara quickly took advantage of this, attacking once again. She slashed to the Wookiee's left side, which was unprotected. Her blade clipped the Tubocca's side, opening a gash.

Tubocca roared as he grabbed his ribs from the searing pain. Mara pressed her advantage and now had the mighty Wookiee backing up.

But Tubocca was persistent. He continued to defend against her attacks. Then he suddenly feigned a cut at Jade's legs, lifted his blade over his head, and thundered his saber down with brutal force.

Mara barely got her blade up to block the overhead blow. The force of the mighty swing sent Mara backwards, causing her to stumble backwards and to the ground. Her blade fell out of her hand and rolled several feet away from her.

Now with the advantage once again belonging to him, Tubocca again raised his blade with the attention of striking Mara Jade down once and for all.

But Mara wouldn't allow that. She quickly raised her hand at the Wookiee, sending Force energy at him. Tubocca's body flew backward and slammed against the wall, crashing against the various rifles. The Wookiee slumped to the ground, clearly dazed and battered. Now was Mara's chance to end this once and for all.

Rising to her feet, she reached out with the Force to obtain her lightsaber. The blade once again came to her hand and she stalked over menacingly to the fallen Wookiee Knight.

Tubocca looked up at Mara Jade's smiling, sadistic face. He tried to rise but could not find the strength. Mara lifted her blade and then slammed it down through the Wookiee's body.

Tubocca's body slammed to the ground lifeless. He was dead and his body was now pouring out blood.

Mara turned away from the dead Wookiee and went back to the armory. She cursed herself for her carelessness. Now she would have every Jedi and solider in this base looking for her. She would find it more difficult to work from the shadows now.

She noticed Tubocca's lightsaber lying near his body, still ignited.   She picked up the saber. Deactivating it, she put it inside of her tunic. She might need it later.

Mara Jade picked up the rifle she had planned to use to kill the Queen. She checked the weapon out, looking for any damage. She found none and turned away, looking to exit the armory.

She would have to be very careful now. Events were moving quickly and she would have to be on top of it.   If she did not, she would lose her chance to destroy the Queen. She would not allow that to happen.

Are you an angel?

That sweet, generous little boy. That adorable face...Is this what he had become? That monstrous, droid-like creature that sat in the next room? Amidala couldn't stop trembling. Was her husband truly in there somewhere?

Yes, yes he is. As upset as she was, she had no doubt of that. Anakin Skywalker was definitely the man behind the mask. She had felt the bond between them; the bond she had missed for so long. It was reassuring in some ways…but it was also very different. And it wasn't just his physical change, or even his conversion to the dark side.

Amidala couldn't shake the feeling that something else was going on. She thought back to Obi-Wan's concerns, to the disruptions in the Force he and the other Jedi had sensed. Could Anakin's presence alone cause that? She doubted it.

But she couldn't put it together; the larger picture stayed just out of her reach.

Amidala sighed heavily. She wasn't sure she could take another shock; she cringed at the thought that more bad news could be waiting just around the corner. And once again, she was helpless against it.

Or am I? She hated being so defeatist, even in a situation such as this one. She needed to decide what to do next. And that came down to one simple fact.

Her husband was not dead – he had come back to her. How many times had she prayed that Anakin would do that? Whether these particular circumstances were what she had in mind was beside the point. This was the opportunity she wanted.

Now, he really could be saved. He had sounded so full of regret during their conversation. Maybe he was finally having doubts about what he had done.

She could only hope so. Still, if that was the case, she wasn't helping matters any. Amidala stared at him in the other room, and felt her chest constrict. I won't push him away again. She had unwittingly done that last time, and he left, certain that she had given up on him. He had never understood that she still loved him.

But now she had been given another chance. This wasn't the time for anger or fear. She had to be strong enough – patient enough – to reach to him this time. For all their sakes.

Vader heard her stirring again, heard her footsteps behind him. She stopped right next to his chair – she was so close they were almost touching.

He felt her move, and turned to see her kneeling beside him.

"I'm sorry, Ani."

He turned away. He would not go through this again.

"My reaction was mostly shock. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Amidala, do not bother with these platitudes. Your feelings are quite clear."

She seemed determined to be patient. "Anakin, I am sorry for everything that has happened to you...to us. But I...we...have a chance to fix it now."

He continued to stare at the monitor. "There is nothing left to fix."

"I don't believe you."

"It makes little difference what you believe, Amidala."

She shook her head. "Earlier, you said that I had turned against you. That wasn't important?"

He didn't answer her. I won't do this again.

"I think it was very important," she said softly. "I wish I had known how you felt, Ani…I would have done so many things differently. I always loved you, even when I was horrified by the things you had done. I never meant for you to think otherwise." She reached out to touch his hand, but he moved it away. "I'm grateful that I'm able to tell you that now."

You shouldn't be grateful...It is too late. Vader wanted to tell her that; he was exhausted from trying to keep things from her. Yet, all that came out was, "We cannot change the past."

"No. But you're here now. That has to mean something. You came back for me."

No, I came back for Luke...I came back for Luke. "You know nothing of my motivations, Amidala. But I certainly know something about yours. If you believe that I will allow you to escape, you are mistaken."

"It's not you I'm trying to escape from, Ani." She reached for his hand again. This time, he didn't move it back. "I want you to come with me. Please."

Vader found himself wishing he could accept her offer. Something to go back to...It was ludicrous. "Too much has happened. And there is much more to this than you understand –"

"Then explain it to me."

He made the mistake then of turning to face her. Her eyes were pleading desperately with him; he was lost in them for a moment. "I can't, Amidala..."

"You aren't going to turn me over to Palpatine...what happens next?"

"I don't know what will happen next. But I promise that I will keep you safe for now, and that our child will be kept out Palpatine's reach. Anything beyond that is impossible to speculate about." Vader knew he probably shouldn't – when will I ever get another chance? – but he reached his hand up to caress her face. "Our paths...must go their separate ways, Amidala. I will always regret that."

She closed her hand over his, and whispered, "Why? Why must they?"

Vader suddenly jumped and pulled back from her. He sensed someone. A threat. But it wasn't Mara.

It was Kenobi.

He was finally able to sense his old master. It seemed that all of his connections from the past were reasserting themselves. He calmed himself for a moment, gaining control over his emotions in order to continue to hide himself from Obi-Wan.

Vader sensed a desperation in Kenobi that he had never felt before. Not even in that final, dreadful duel. Most likely, Kenobi had felt the disruptions in the Force caused by the time-travel...could sense the dark presence on the base. But he couldn't tell exactly who or what was waiting for him.

Vader sneered to himself. Kenobi was at a great disadvantage. The time was now for the revenge he craved.

"Anakin? Anakin, what's wrong?" Amidala watched him guardedly, wondering what had changed in the last few seconds.

"Amidala, it is critical that you remain in this bunker until I return for you. I have business that must be attended to immediately."

"You're leaving? Anakin, I don't understand –"

"Ami, it is too dangerous for you outside. You must believe me. Stay here, I will return shortly." With that Vader headed up the stairs towards the exit, leaving a stunned Amidala standing alone in the room.

Obi-Wan Kenobi moved swiftly through the base, looking for any sign of the Sith Lord. He had been searching for quite a while but was still unable to locate him. He was here, Kenobi knew, but it frustrated the Jedi that he could not pinpoint his exact location. Whoever this new Sith was, one thing was for certain. He was powerful and he would prove to be a dangerous adversary.

Obi-Wan's thoughts were broken by a wave of commotion. Something had happened.

He turned the nearest corner and found numerous people in front of the weapons armament. Armed guards, ordinary soldiers, Jedi…they were all there. Obi-Wan didn't need the Force to know something terrible had happened.

Obi-Wan walked swiftly to the armament. He wanted to see just what had happened. Because of his high stature, the guards let him in without questions, and Obi-Wan entered the building. He noticed most of the commotion was going on upstairs, in one of the long-range weaponry room. He quickly ran up the stairs and headed to the room marked Rifle Armory, where there was a flurry of activity. He entered it and discovered a grisly site.

The body of the Jedi Tubocca the Wookiee was lying dead on the ground in a puddle of blood. He could tell by the chest wound on the Jedi that he had been run through with a lightsaber. He also saw the bodies of six dead Bothan soldiers. They had been brutally killed. Obi-Wan knew who had butchered them. The Sith.

As Obi-Wan's eyes remained focused on the bodies, his mind tried to stay focused on the Sith. He was caught by surprise when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Obi-Wan spun around and withdrew his lightsaber, quickly igniting it.

"Obi-Wan!" yelled Ki-Adi-Mundi from in front of him. It took Obi-Wan a moment to register what he was doing.

Slowly, he deactivated his blade and hooked it back to the belt.

"I thought you were..." Obi-Wan began.

"The Sith," Mundi finished. Kenobi nodded.

"No, but now we know that a Sith is here," Mundi said. "Whatever it was, it has made its presence felt."

Obi-Wan nodded. His senses came back to him as he noted that he and Mundi were not the only two people in this room. There were others, in charge of removing the bodies. Obi-Wan's eyes once again found the fallen Jedi.

He hadn't known Tubocca all that well but he had served with him during the Clone Wars. He was a good and brave being. He would be a tremendous loss for the resistance. For Obi-Wan, he viewed the death of the Jedi as more blood on his hands. Once again, others had died because of his failure to destroy the Sith Order.

"Master Mundi, General Kenobi," General Ter'lya said, approaching the two. Both turned to face the Bothan.

"We've investigated the room. Lightsaber wounds had killed several of them. We also found that the Sith apparently stole a long-range Corellian rifle."

"What would a Sith want with a rifle?" Mundi asked.

"Unknown. I have put the base on full alert and posted guards at vital areas. All the Jedi are on alert to look for any signs of this Sith. We'll find him."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Obi-Wan said.

As Mundi and Ter'lya turned to look at him, a Bothan sergeant whispered something in Ter'lya's ear. When he finished, the Bothans eyes went wide.

Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi-Mundi could sense the concern in the Bothan.

"What is it?" Mundi said.

"The sergeant has just informed me that Queen Amidala is missing. They cannot find any sign of her," Ter'lya said.

Mundi's mouth opened wide with concern. Obi-Wan just stood there in silence, looking as if he was off in another world.

"Obi-Wan," Mundi said. "Do you know where the Queen is?"

"No," Obi-Wan said in an emotionless voice.

Mundi was surprised at Obi-Wan response. It almost sounded as if Kenobi wasn't concerned about the Queen; that her safety had become secondary to him. He turned back to Ter'lya. "I want your team to begin an immediate search of the base," Mundi said. "Tear this base apart if you have to. I will lead a team to search the outlying areas of the base. Inform Sylvn that I will require her help. As for the Sith..."

"I...will handle the Sith," Kenobi said in a hard, stern voice. Mundi looked at him for a moment, as if to argue but instead just nodded his head.

"Of course my friend," Mundi said. "You do have more experience with the Sith than any Jedi in recent memory."

Obi-Wan just stared.

"We will find the Queen, Obi-Wan," Mundi said. "I promise you."

"Of course," Obi-Wan said, turning away. He had barely heard what Mundi had said to him. His mind was focused on just one thing, and that was the Sith.

Several minutes later, Obi-Wan had left the base and began the walk to the forest.

His mind continued to race. He had to find a way to draw the Sith out of hiding. If he could, he would destroy this creature of evil. One more pawn of Palpatine would fall before him. He didn't care how many more Palpatine sent after him. He would destroy every one until he was able to get his hands on Palpatine. Then he would wipe out the Sith once and for all. He would make them pay for every life they had taken. Most of all, Obi-Wan would have his revenge.

But first, he would have to deal with Palpatine's new apprentice.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and emptied his mind. Reaching out with the Force, he focused on locating the dark presence that had infested the base. He continued this for a long time until he located the Sith. The presence was familiar but Obi-Wan was still unsure of its identity. Only that it was the evil he had been looking for.

He sent a telepathic message to the Sith. A message to meet him in the forest and settle this once and for all. He broke the message off and now he waited in the forest. The winds were beginning to pick up but that did nothing to deter Obi-Wan. He would wait forever if necessary to confront this Sith and to destroy him.

Luke and Leia quietly made their way through the rebel base. It was past midday and the base was swarming with activity.

The two weren't sure why. He knew though that they had not been sensed by any Jedi on the base, although there were quite a few of them. The two could also sense the presence of Darth Vader and Mara Jade. Pinpointing their location was proving very difficult.

They were both Sith. At least Vader was. But the Emperor, who had mastered concealing his identity, had trained them both. It might take a long time to find one or both of them. It was time which Luke and Leia did not have. The Empire would be attacking by tomorrow night. They had to find their mother now.

Luke and Leia ducked behind one of the small shuttlecrafts in a tiny hanger deck. They were now on the far side of the base. Since they arrived to the base, they had been in and out of the main area, looking for some sign of their mother, Mara Jade, or Darth Vader. They had found nothing.

Luke pulled a ration from his vest and handed it to Leia. Letting out a yawn, he took out another one for himself. Neither of them had had much to eat in the past week. The rations weren't that good but they would have to do. They ate quietly for several minutes. Finally, Luke said "We're running out of time."

"I know," came Leia's reply.

"I still don't understand why we haven't been able to locate mother," Luke said. "We can't afford to lose any more time. Mara Jade is still lurking around here somewhere and the Empire is on the verge of striking this base. If we can't find them..."

"We will Luke," Leia said, fiercely determined.

Luke smiled at her resolve. Leia had always been the strongest person he had ever known. No matter what was thrown at her, she always found a way to persevere and face it down. This was no different.

Suddenly, Luke and Leia heard something crash. Something was nearby. They were still hiding behind the shuttle. It would not be good if they were caught like this. Now the two could hear a voice. A prissy voice, arguing about something. The two quickly realized who it was.

"I told you to be more careful, you clumsy glop of grease!" See-Threepio yelled out at Artoo-Detoo. "Your lucky that Master Kenobi or Master Mundi have not deactivated you yet with all the trouble you've been causing."

Artoo beeped back something indignantly to Threepio.

"Why you no-good ingrate, if it hadn't been for me..."

Luke and Leia smiled at each other. One of the more interesting surprises they had learned from Obi-Wan Kenobi was that their father, Anakin Skywalker, had built See-Threepio. Talk about a small universe! Having Threepio here was an advantage to Luke. Granted, he and Artoo had yet to meet him in this timeline. But Luke knew how to use the droids to his advantage.

"You would be nothing without me!" Threepio continued to shout at Artoo. "People wouldn't even know what you were saying. While I just bet..."

"See-Threepio," Luke said, emerging from behind the shuttle followed closely by Leia. He had a huge smile on his face as he approached the droid. "I have been looking all over for you. It's so very good to meet you."

Threepio turned to Luke, surprised to find anyone else at this side of the base.

"Oh well, thank you sir. It is very good to meet you," Threepio said cheerfully, happy that somebody actually wanted to meet him.

"This must be Artoo-Detoo," Leia said with a smile as she turned to face the droid. She patted the astromach droid on the head. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

The droid beeped cheerfully at her.

"If you don't mind me saying sir, I am embarrassed that I do not know your name or that of your companion," Threepio said.

"My name is Luke...Luke Starkiller. This is my sister Leia. We are aides for the command staff. We have been sent by Ki-Adi-Mundi himself to find Queen Amidala. We have some important information to give her."

"Unfortunately, we don't know where she currently is," Leia said, stepping forward. "But we have heard great things about the two of you and we knew if anyone could help us find Queen Amidala, it would be you."

"Oh, why thank you very much, Mistress Leia," Threepio said, clearly grateful for the kind words of the two. "I will be most happy to help you find her majesty, Queen Amidala. She shouldn't be far, probably just in her quarters. If you'll follow me..."

Threepio and Artoo turned away from the two and began to head north. Luke and Leia quickly followed.

"You know Master Luke," Threepio said. "You look very much of my old master. That reminds me of a time where Master Anakin and I were sent to barter goods with a couple of Jawas. The Jawas are such disgusting creatures. Anyway, like I was saying..." Threepio went on and on.

Luke and Leia turned to each other and smiled. With the uncertainty facing them in the future, it was good to see that some things, like See-Threepio and Artoo-Detoo, never change.

Amidala gave the door another violent push upward. And she took another slip down several of the stairs. After she regained her footing, she wearily climbed back up to the door. She had moved it a little. A very little.

She had hoped that Anakin would forget about the door or the computer when he left in such a hurry. But he was never that clumsy. He used the Force to disable the computer - a quick wave of his hand, and all the systems failed. The door couldn't be locked from the outside, so she heard him moving something heavy over the door before he ran down the hallway.

Amidala had seen a box of medical supplies near the door when Anakin first led her to the room. If that was what he had used to block the door, then it might be possible for her to move it.

Still, her efforts had met with limited success so far; the box was clearly heavier than it had looked. The door had only lifted an inch or two. She had yelled and screamed for help continuously without being heard. She wondered if anyone had even noticed she was missing.

She took a deep breath, and tried to lift the door again. This time, she tried to fit one of her hands through the sliver of opening and push the box clear of the door. She could feel it move a little, felt the door give a little more way...

Then she slipped again. It's all right, she thought to herself. She was making progress, even if it was slower than she'd like. She would eventually get out of here.

Ami, it is too dangerous for you outside.

Amidala had considered staying...for a minute or two. His concern for her safety seemed genuine. Of course, he should know me well enough to realize I wouldn't just stay here, she thought to herself as she gave the door another shove.

A part of her wanted to trust Anakin completely, and wait for his return as he asked...but it made more sense to find Obi-Wan or another Jedi and assure her safety. She could only hope he would stay out of trouble...she prayed that the Jedi hadn't been alerted to his presence yet. But the bond between them was strengthening, and she could tell that neither was the case.

Amidala braced herself more securely against the handrail and held the door open. If she could move it a little more...

It doesn't matter what he's doing, she told herself resolutely. She would escape this room, find him, and go from there. They had made too much progress to turn back now. She wouldn't lose him again.