3: Defeat…Or is it?
It took five more hours to break Luke. He just couldn't take the torture any more. Mara stood beside the Emperor's throne as Vader entered the throne room, two guards dragging Luke along behind him.
"Vader, what is the word?" The Emperor nods towards Luke.
"My son is broken master…well as broken as he can be at this point. But do not fear. I will work the rest of his defiance out of him once I have him back at the palace."
"Good. What do you say to this boy? Are you willing to serve me?"
"No…Master," Luke muttered, wincing in pain at the tight grip the guards held him in.
"Well…at least he's not as disrespectful as he was. Vader, Mara will be the one to train him in hand to hand combat. You will train him in the dark side of the force. Show him the true power of the Sith."
"Yes master," Vader nodded.
"You three shall depart at once. The sooner this young Jedi's training begins, the better!" The Emperor commanded. Both Mara and Vader nod as the guards take Luke to Vader's ship.
Mara was about to place her bags aboard her ship when Vader's strong hand grasped her arms.
"What do you want now?" Mara narrowed her eyes.
"What was the real reason you were with my son in the torture chambers. I know what you told me is a lie. The Emperor said he sent you on no such mission and that he is greatly displeased."
Sith! She hadn't expected Vader to check up on her story. Sighing, she came up with an idea. "Ok. The truth is that I wanted a good look at the son of the mechanical monster. Happy now?"
Mara cried out as Vader backhanded her. "My son is not on display for your entertainment Jade. Stay away from him. That's an order. Also, once my son has been fully turned, the Emperor wants to have a word with you about secrets."
"Do that again and you will be missing a hand," Mara growled.
"Just heed my warning Jade and keep your distance from Luke. It's bad enough that you'll be living in my house and training him in hand to hand combat."
"Don't worry Vader. I'll no more corrupt your son anymore than you will," Jade glared at her nemesis. Believe me when I say I hate this idea more than you do. I rather face a tribe of Rancors than live with you."
"You may just get your wish Jade," Vader whirled around and leaving her alone with her ship.
Sith! A verbal warning to stay away from Luke. But she couldn't do that. She had to somehow protect her farmboy from being corrupted by Vader and the master. Perhaps even return him to the rebels if need be…even though she'd hate to do that since doing so meant giving him up for good.
It was a two-day trip to the planet that contained Vader's palace. Mara was given her own wing while Vader whisked Luke off to his quarters at the opposite side of the palace, making it clear that he wanted Luke as far away from Jade as possible.
Luke by now was fully recovered from his torture. He was quiet and but not subdued. His mind was continuously at work thinking of ways to escape his prison. There was no way he was going to turn to the dark side, betraying Ben and Yoda and his friends in the process. Especially Leia. They were still in the process of searching for Han and now this kidnapping was slowing down the process.
"Are you comfortable my son?" Vader entered the chamber.
"I would be if you took off these cuffs," Luke held up his bound hands, glaring at his father.
"Sorry son. But those don't come off until you're ready to train. And even then they go right back on afterwards."
"I will not turn to the dark side, nor will I betray my friends."
Vader turned to Luke. "Son, never say never. Do not underestimate the power of the dark side."
"Is that what you did? Underestimate the emperor? If you truly are Anakin Skywalker…what changed you? What made you betray my mother? And me?"
"Luke…the emperor opened my eyes to the true nature of the force. He made me see that the dark side was nothing to fear like Yoda and the rest had taught me. Your dear mother couldn't deal with my new power so she had obi-wan take her from me, in the process takeing you away from me as well. Son, do not resist the pull of the dark side. Join it. Become one with it"
Just then Mara stuck her head inside the room. "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt. But where's the kitchen. Two days of ration bars can make one sick."
Luke's eyes widened in recognition. Hers was the face he never expected to see again. "M.J?"
Vader glared at her from behind his mask. "Downstairs. Down the corridor to the right. Now excuse me this is a private conversation." Using the force he slammed the door in her face. "That was Mara Jade my son. You will be training with her in hand to hand combat. You know her?"
Luke didn't answer. He just ignored his father curious stare and stared at the door.
Mara had just gotten done making herself a sandwich when Vader entered the kitchen.
"Yes?" Mara asked, when he didn't say anything.
"How do you know my son?" Vader glared at her. "What is your relationship with him?"
"What? There is no relationship. We met years ago when I was fifteen. I was on a mission for master when the ship broke down. He was kind enough to pay for parts for my ship. Then I left after thanking him. That's all," Mara nonchalantly explained. She gasped in pain when Vader grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.
"You knew of his presence in the force and you didn't alert the master! You kept his existence to yourself!" Vader shook her violently.
"I didn't know he was force strong! I was too busy buying parts for my ship to notice such a thing. In fact I'm surprised the kid recognized me since I didn't even recognize him until now."
Vader obviously didn't believe her. "You will pay for this Jade. All of this trouble could have been avoided if we had reached him before those blasted rebels did."
."Get your hands off me Vader!" Mara shrugged his hands off her shoulder. "I told you, I had no idea he was force strong! If I did I would have brought him to the Master myself! Really you should be thanking me. I mean it was you bringing him in that brought you so high up in the emperor's favors."
"Just keep your distance Jade," Vader coldly replied, leaving the kitchen.
Two days later, Luke's training began. The training with Vader was rather easy, but the Sith got angry when it became clear that Luke was refusing to use the dark side of the force. So he sent Luke back to his quarters up 'til it was time for his combat training. Mara was just taking a swig of water when he arrived.
"Behave," Vader glared at his son then turned on his heel and disappeared back down the hall.
"You've been giving the old man some trouble today have you?" Mara wiped her face with a towel, keeping her back to Luke.
"You can say that. I remember you. You were the imperial on Tatooine, looking for imperial parts," Luke stepped deeper in the room and was not surprised that his cuffs came loose, freeing his hands.
"And you were the nice farmboy who brought the parts for me. Who would have thought you'd become a powerful Jedi," Mara turned to face Luke.
"Who would have thought you'd work so closely with that monster Palpatine."
"Well you're Vader's son so that makes us even," Mara smiled crookedly. "Are you ready for training."
"He's not my father," Luke's voice turned cold and his blue eyes were stone at the mention of Vader.
"That's not what he claims. But anyway, enough chit chat about families. We're here to fight. Take your stance."
For one whole hour, Mara trained Luke in basics of hand to hand fighting. She was pleased to find that he was a quick learner.
"Very good farmboy."
"It's Luke," Luke wiped his face with a nearby towel.
"Ok farmboy."
Luke's eyes widen when he notices the view from the large window. "The stars are bright tonight."
"I guess," Mara shrugged.
"My friends are out there somewhere. Fighting for freedom. I should be out there with them," Luke sighed. "I will be out there with them again and free the galaxy from Palpatine and Vader's tyranny."
"Luke…you might as well forget all that now. The Master and Vader will never let you go. You belong with us Imperials now. Get used to it."
"Were you always this pessimistic M.J?"
"Only when someone's head is in the clouds," Mara crossed her arms.
Cold determination burned in his gaze. "I will see my friends again. You'll see. I'll get back to the rebels and free my friend Han and then come back and free you by killing both Palpitine and Vader."
"Delusions of grandeur," Mara rolled her eyes. "No one can kill master or Vader and I sincerely doubt that a wet behind the ears farmboy can accomplish the feat."
"Well then you obviously don't know who you're talking to. I blew up that death star your emperor was so proud of," Luke prideful smiled. "Not a easy feat."
"Careful Jedi. Pride is of the dark side," Mara laughed at the site of Luke losing that prideful smile.
"Of course."
"Time to go," Vader appeared in the door, glaring at Mara. Luke was not surprised when the cuffs are replaced. "I hope the time was productive."
"He's a fast learner," Mara didn't take her eye off Luke who was angrily glowering at Vader.
Vader didn't answer. He just motioned for the guards to take hold of Luke and then they were both gone, leaving Mara alone in the gymnasium. She can't help but be secretly happy that Luke had remembered her after all and he didn't seem as resentful with her as he was with Vader.
Vader stood outside Luke's door, watching his son sleep. He didn't want to be tough on his son, but the boy was going to have to learn respect and obedience to both him and his master. Then there was Jade. What was he going to do about her? That girl had been a thorn in his side for too long. Every where he went she was there foiling his endeavors to please the master. He will not have her doing the same with his son. He didn't like the way the two of them were staring at one another when he had retrieved Luke earlier after his lesson. Maybe Vader will talk to the Emperor about having Jade replaced.
Mara laid awake that night, thinking of her short time with Luke. He hadn't changed very much. Oh he was a lot surer of himself and quick on his feet, but deep down he was still that farmboy. She sighed. She sure would like to get to know him better in friendlier settings, but that wasn't going to happen…not with Vader around anyway. She'll just have to make the most of that hour they get. Maybe she can even get the kid to trust her, something she doubted that Vader could do. Plus she had an advantage, Luke said it himself, he wanted to save her. She could use that compassion against himself and Vader. Well…against Vader anyway. She didn't want to do anything that would hurt Luke. He was still an innocent in this fierce competition between Vader and herself. It was just that now, the competition had changed. Instead of the Emperor's favor they were competing for, it was the affection and trust of a powerful young Jedi Knight and this was a competition that Mara was planning to win this time.