Luke followed the Dark Lord and the red-haired woman reluctantly. If he had understood correctly this Mara Jade wanted to take them to some Imperial commander. What for he could only guess at. Some secret. It always came down to that, didn't it? First Yoda, then Vader, and now this. But Luke was determined to get to the bottom of this affair. He had noticed the scars on the Sith's face. They had healed well, but were still visible, and somehow the symmetric pattern looked almost serene on his broad features, not disfiguring in the least. Strange that he was thinking of something like that at a time like this. And yet, Luke did not feel fear, even though he was walking straight into the hands of his enemies. But Vader did not seem to be concerned by that prospect, despite what had gone before. It was somehow astounding how the Dark Lord was dealing with stress and danger. They just seemed to pass him by.
For a second the young Jedi wished he could say the same of himself. He tried to be calm, but all of his instincts were screaming at him that this was madness. This deal sounded all too much like a trap. What could Torlok have that Vader wanted? And would the Admiral stay true to his word even though the Dark Lord had been hunting his troops relentlessly? Somehow Luke doubted it. Torlok had not yet demanded anything in return for giving Vader whatever it was he wanted. Groaning inwardly he stopped at the lowered ramp of the ship that would take them to their destiny unknown. Mara Jade turned toward him with a frown.
"You have a choice," she told him quietly and Luke gave her a tight smile and a grateful nod.
"Well, there is something to be gained here, secrets to be uncovered."
"Some secrets are best left untold," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. Before he could answer though a dark shadow crept between them and Darth Vader's cold eyes fixed him in an icy stare.
"I have warned you before. If you choose to leave now I will kill you."
"Why?"
"Except for Jade you are the only one who knows just who has proposed this deal. Secrets, as she said, remain secrets only until they are revealed. And some are not to be revealed. Ever."
Nodding slowly Luke signalled his aquiesance. "I am a Jedi, Lord Vader, and I feel that I have to do this, even if it means my death."
"You know nothing of death, Skywalker. Yet. Maybe it is time that you learn."
Dagobah was proving to be more excrutiating than Corran would have thought. The daily training was demanding enough and somehow the Corellian was deeply frustrated because he could sense that Yoda was disappointed in him. He understood that Luke may be more talented than himself, but on the other hand Corran did not like being a past-time for his master. Yoda's heart was not in his training, that much was clear, but nevertheless he was patient and critical with his student. Perhaps though, Corran thought, he was interpreting too much into the Jedi Master's behavior. The ancient teacher was thoughtful, very much so, and with Vader on the loose and Luke hunting after him that seemed not surprising. But the sadness lingering between mentor and student conveyed much more than mere concern. Corran remembered Luke's complaints about Yoda and the Dark Lord keeping so many secrets. And somehow he believed that this was connected with the events back on Yavin 4. The Jedi Master had been truly shocked by his report.
It was that image, the reptilian features frozen in surprise, moss-green eyes large and startled, that hovered before Corran's inner eye when he sat down at last at the end of a long day to meditate. He had studied the star chart and scriptures over and over again and had made a very strange uncovering. It had been accidentially, really, when he had displayed the scriptures a few days back and the sun had broken through the foliage and through the transparent display. Corran had sat there and blinked into the light when he had realized that the scriptures were falling onto his own features. Suddenly curious he had concentrated and closed his eyes to project his mind outside of his body to look at himself. Rising slowly he had watched the scripture wrap around his body and the resemblance to the Dark Lord's scars had been unmistakable. But there had been differences too. Intriguing. But it still remained a riddle. What was the meaning of these scriptures and what did they have to do with that ritual suicide?
"Worry you should not, Corran."
He looked up to meet the ancient Jedi's gaze: "Vader said I would make a nice gift for a friend of his," he said, frowning. Why had he remembered this just now?
"Met him you have before?"
"On Coruscant. Vader was there, but I do not know why."
"If two Sith there are ... Impossible."
"But you told me that you could feel the darkness grow in strength, Master."
"The Dark Lord's doing that is. A sacrifice he has made in three places."
"Then you know what is going on!" Corran exclaimed and jumped up from his seat.
"Untrue that is. But felt I have the Dark Side gathering." Master Yoda's calm was unbroken. "But even if know I did, not for me secrets are to reveal."
The Corellian sighed. He would not get an answer, that much was sure. Then he would have to find them for himself. Somehow.
Looking at his student thoughtfully Yoda pondered the implications of this new information. If there were two Sith ... But, no, he knew that Vader was the last, the only one left after the gruesome genocide initiated by Palpatine. He shuddered at the remembrance of the shockwave the Sith's demise had sent through the Force. A necessary evil? Despite everything he could not sanction this, but on the other hand there was no way to change the past. And in his opinion the Sith should never rise either. Corran understood that, but unfortunately Luke did not. Yoda had hoped that by talking to Vader the young Jedi would understand too. The Dark Lord was a model example of the dangers the Dark Side posed. He was so caught up in a philosophy full of revenge and violence. Of course, the Jedi Master knew that his life had been partly shaped by the Jedi's politics toward his people. But he refused to acknowledge that there was more to Vader than met the eye. Yoda simply could not admit to the flaws in his reasoning. Else the Jedi would perish too. And maybe he was just afraid of change. Sighing deeply he looked back up at Corran and smiled:
"Old I am, Corran. But a fool I am not. Go you will back to Coruscant and find Vader."
"And if I find him?"
"Assess the situation you must. If still a danger he is, then eliminate that threat you will."
"Kill him? Me? Alone?"
"Alone succeed you will not. Help you must enlist."
"I see," the Corellians eyes narrowed slightly. "Master Yoda, if I may say so, some secrets are not worth keeping. I can feel your conflict. Please, I know that this is a difficult time and the Force knows that I do not care for Vader, but somehow I have the feeling that there is more behind thsi conflict."
"Your mind, your best weapon it is."
"That was no answer, Master."
"No? Know that, do you?"
Corran blinked at him, then nodded once. "I will do as you have asked. But please, Master, secrets are always dangerous and one never knows what they might spark."
Admiral Torlock looked all too pleased to Mara's eyes as she led her two passengers down the landing ramp of her ship onto the star destroyer's polished deck. He had his hands crossed behind his back smartly and was standing very straight, yet relaxed, an arrogant posture that usually would enfuriate the Dark Lord immensely. Mara had witnessed quite a lot of cocky officers being taken down a notch or two by the Sith's harsh words. He did not like this at all and Mara could see the disapproval plain on his face. On Vader's heels Luke Skywalker wore a slight frown on his forehead. Undoubtedly he was regretting his previous decision. But it was too late to run. For any of them.
"Mara Jade, you have accomplished your mission perfectly. I am highly pleased with your efforts."
Her cheeks heatened with embarrassment and anger. Who did he think he was? Her master? "Thank you so much, Admiral," she replied icily.
"And who do we have here?" He arched an eyebrow at the young Jedi, who nodded at him curtly.
"My name is Luke Skywalker."
"Ah, the famous rebel pilot. Lord Vader has been searching for you almost everywhere, I hear. It looks as if you two have finally gotten together," Torlock added with an acid smile and turned his head ever so slightly to glance at the Sith Lord, who had kept uncharacteristically silent thus far.
"I wonder why you are still alive, Skywalker," the admiral whispered pensively. Still, Vader did not react. Torlock stalked around him slowly, taking in his tall, black-clad frame and the pale, scarred face. Finally he came to a halt directly in front of him: "An honor, Lord Vader."
Mara watched the Dark Lord lower his gaze ever so slowly to look at the admiral, who shied back involuntarily. "I doubt that, Admiral. Jade has proposed a deal in your name, but you have not yet made your end of the trade clear. What do you want from me in exchange for the files?"
"Your power, what else?"
The Sith quirked a mirthless smile: "I fear that this is indisputable."
"Then you refuse?"
"Yes."
"Unfortunate. For you, that is." Torlock took a step back and snapped his fingers. Immediately the troopers assembled in the huge hangar bay rushed forward to line up next to him, their blaster rifles aimed straigh at Vader. "I know that you were behind the attacks on Gyndine and Carida. Additionally I suspect that you also helped the rebels take Coruscant. That is high treason, Lord Vader."
The Dark Lord shook his head slowly: "Not really. If you do have the information you claim to have you know why it is untrue."
"Who cares? You will die, despite everything. Is that not what you want? To vanish from this galaxy without leaving behind traces? To die just as uselessly as -"
"Enough!"
"Ah. So you do care after all."
Mara flinched when Torlock flew into the ranks of storm troopers assembled behind him unceremoniously. The Dark Lord's face was a mask of cold rage, but his eyes flickered with doubt. "You do not know what you are talking about," he hissed viciously as Torlock climbed back to his feet, rubbing his aching jaw where Vader's fist had connected. The admiral frowned deeply at the Sith, then shook himself once.
"What is it with you, my lord? No Force choke? Nothing?"
"No."
"I see. Then that was what you meant when you said that I could not use your power for my ends. You have lost it, am I right? What has happened?"
Vader bared his teeth at him in a humorless smile: "I am dying Torlock, that simple. My power is spent and even if it were not so I would not let you take advantage of that force either. Now, either kill me or else give me what I want and let me go."
The Emperor's Hand felt her jaw drop open. "What?" she yelped, disbelieving. When the Dark Lord's head snapped around to face her she jumped, startled at the heat in his glare. She could feel his power, for Force's sake! Oh, damn. He was - bluffing? Hopefully so. Or maybe he was truly dying and what power he had he had to spend to sustain himself. Mara swallowed hard. But then her eyes unconsciously wandered over to rest on Luke Skywalker's suspicious features.
But this wordless exchange had not gone by unnoticed. Frowning slightly Torlock let his greedy gaze wander over each of them, but in the end it seemed as if Mara were non-existent. The Admiral barked a short laugh: "The last of the Jedi and the last of the Sith. Who would ever have thought that they would meet under these circumstances? As for you, my Lord, I remain unconvinced. Somehow I suspect that you want to goad me into killing you. It won't happen. Not yet, that is." Nodding at Mara he took a long step back. "Guards, take them away," he ordered sharply, his face turning grim. To the young woman's surprise neither Skywalker nor the Dark Lord tried to fend off the soldiers who came forward to take them into their custody. "Mara Jade, maybe you would care to join me for dinner? Then you could report in detail. "
She gave Torlock a weak smile: "Of course. Sir."
Eyeing Vader doubtfully Luke pondered the implications of the other's words. He had lied, that much was clear. The question was though, what he had lied about. Obviously he did not want to let himself be used by Torlock, and that tied in well with the fact that Vader had been attacking Imperial troops. Somehow the Empire must have betrayed him gravely. And that must have happened before the battle of Endor. Back then he had apparently not had the opportunity to exact his revenge. So, what was different? The answer came to the young Jedi's mind immediately: Palpatine. He remembered Yoda telling him to never underestimate the Emperor's power. Could it be that the man had controlled Vader? Had used him as the Dark Lord feared the Admiral would use him too? Luke groaned inwardly. For every clue he could gather five new questions seemed to pop up out of the blue. If only Vader would talk to him! Fat chance of that happening. Still, they were in this together now and the Dark Lord had told him that he would learn something here. But what? Would he finally shed light on the secrets he and Master Yoda were keeping?
"In here," one of the guards snapped and pushed the Jedi inside a cell. A force-field generator was activated and suddenly Luke felt his mind grow numb. Somehow the power field seemed to dampen the Force. Well, he thought wrily, that's one thing I have learned now. Great. To his surprise Vader joined him presently and he could hear one of the guards laugh nastily. Hopefully they did not really believe that the two of them would try to kill each other in here. Without sparing him a second glance the Sith dropped down in one corner and leaned his head back against the wall. The young man's heart skipped a beat: here they were, together and at peace. Maybe now was the time to finally talk.
"Lord Vader?"
"What."
"What files are those?"
"Private ones."
"Ah." Luke hesitated. "And what is so important about them? I mean, memories do not fade, do they? So it must be something more substantial, right?"
"The files concern the Sith. You are a Jedi and they are not for your eyes."
"But Torlock has read them, hasn't he?"
"And do you think he understood even half of it? Besides, your Master would not approve."
"Why not? I bet he knows all about it." Vader chuckled softly, but did not reply. Luke decided to try a different approach: "Is it true? That you are dying?"
"This is an Imperial prison block, boy. Do you want to share some intimate memories with them, maybe? Go ahead. But spare me."
"Sorry," was all the young man could answer to that. Sheepishly he smiled at the other occupant of the small room. "You know, I just thought, because you did not even try to kill me on Mara Jade's ship ..."
"Thought what?"
"That there might be some truth to that ... you are not feeling well."
"Perhaps there are different reasons."
"The files."
Vader sighed. "Listen, Skywalker, why don't we forget about this?
"Master Yoda claims that you are desperate and that I should help you."
"And you took him seriously? Astounding."
"He is my master."
"But not mine."
"Well, I for one trust his judgement. What about Palpatine? Did you trust him?"
There was only silence. And Luke decided not to push it. For a long time neither of them spoke and after a while the Dark Lord's regular breathing was all that filled their confined quarters. he was positively asleep. Moving very quietly Luke stalked over to him, and sat down on hsi haunches to regard the tall Sith's relaxed face pensively. He did not look like a mass murderer or a monster, did he? Not even the scars could disguise the regalty of his features. The young Jedi smiled a bit when he reached out to trace the scar running down the left side of Vader's face, but he had only gotten as far as the brow that those icy eyes snapped open. Luke flinched back, his heart stopping for an instant.
"Did it hurt much?" he managed at last, very quietly.
"Yes," the other answered, but the Jedi understood that the cut itself had not caused the majority of the pain.
"What were you trying to accomplish? Did you really want to kill yourself, like Torlock hinted at?"
"I-," Vader hesitated. But then he blinked those pale blue eyes and smiled warmly. "Such sincere innocence in a Jedi. I have not met that for a long time. In fact, the last to treat me like you do was General Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Ben!" Luke exclaimed at the mention of is old teacher. But then his face darkened. "You killed him. If you saw him as a ... friend, why did you kill him then?"
"It was not as if I had a choice in the matter," Vader replied wrily. Luke decided to file away that comment for later study but not to implore on the topic further. Instead he laughed softly.
"Corran thinks that you tried to perform some ritualistic suicide," he explained his sudden mirth when the Dark Lord arched his eyebrows at him questioningly.
"In a way he is right in assuming that."
"Really?"
"Yes, -" But whatever Vader had wanted to tell him was interrupted by the door sliding open to reveal the slim figure of Mara Jade. She threw a hard glance at both of them, but knelt down at Vader's side in an instant, frowning slightly.
"Torlock knows," she whispered, startling both men.
"Knows what?" Vader inquired coolly.
"The cell has been outfitted with sensors and the readings on your metabolism and such do not look good. You really are dying, right?" To Luke's shock the Dark Lord simply nodded. Mara bit her lower lip hard. "Then we will all die. If you do not come with me right now."
"Where to?"
"We are doing a stop-over for refueling and that's where we could get off. It's a small planet, but maybe you could call some friends?" she added, looking at Luke hopefully.
"I could contact Han," he mused.
"Perfect! Let's go."
"Wait. Why are you doing this, Jade?" the Sith's voice was tinged with betrayal.
"I want to help you, just that."
"Yet you must know that you cannot save me."
"No, until now I was not aware of that. But why?"
"We do not have the time," was all Vader replied as he rose with difficulty.
Stalking the hallways of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant Corran Horn pondered Master Yoda's words. He had to find Vader, that much was clear, but kill him? No way. The Dark Lord had escaped justice so far, but that would change, if Corran ever caught up with him. What worried him more though was the fact that Luke was out there, hunting that Sith alone. Suddenly he sensed someone coming up from behind him. Turning around he smiled at the Princess warmly, wondering if she knew that she was fairly glowing in the Force.
"Commander Horn," she said, her expression grave. "Have you heard anything from Luke?"
"No, I am sorry."
"What did Master Yoda say?"
"Nothing much. He wants me to find our fave Dark Lord and get rid of him."
She arched her eyebrows coolly: "Really. All alone?"
"If I have to," he shrugged, prompting her to laugh.
"Corellians!"
"Indeed."
Both stopped laughing when they heard someone approach rapidly. Han Solo was pounding along the corridor, breathing hard. He stopped in front of them and gasped pitifully before he could finally speak again:
"Out of practice," he wheezed. "Gotta ... do .. something more than ... sit around in meetings."
Leia wrapped an arm around his waist and drew him closer. "You don't say. And what was on your mind?"
"Actually I thought about a short trip to Kuthan. Luke has called. He needs someone to pick him up." Now Solo was looking straight at Corran.
"What?" the Princess exclaimed, totally surprised. "How - Why is he on Kuthan?"
"Yeah, a real shock. But wait 'til I tell you where that transmission was sent from."
"Well?"
"An Imperial Star Destroyer."
"A trap?" Corran asked quizzically.
"I am not sure."
"But it could be one."
Solo spread his arms wide: "Where's the fun in that? Come on, Horn, this will be great. Chewie is coming along and a special unit, of course. I think Mothma wants you to lead it."
"A special unit? I don't even know what you are talking about!"
"Vader, who else? He's with Luke and apparently they are on the run form those Imps they hiked a ride with. So we better hurry before the bad guys catch up with them, right?"
Kuthan had turned into chaos. Literally. They had landed their stolen shuttle a bit apart from any settlements, out of a very simple reason. The TIE-fighters sent after them had blown up their ship without hesitating, and laser fire had followed them during their hasty flight towards the precarious shelter of the hills. And yet, they did not have enough supplies to last long. Sooner or later the trio would need to help. Right now, three days later, Mara Jade was cursing herself for ever having decided to help those two bickering maniacs. Skywalker was constantly trying to get information out of Vader and the Dark Lord in turn did not miss any chance to pick on the younger man. The former Emperor's Hand was surprised that there hadn't been any bloodshed yet. But then, they were all too tired to fight among themselves. Even though Mara sometimes would very much love to smack one or both of her companions.
Take the latest incident for example. It had started with the last ration bar ending up with Vader. Or rather, ending up in pieces at his feet after Skywalker had tried to stuff it down the Sith's throat, a Sith who had refused this treament quite vehemently. Damn his stubborn, foolish pride. No, he didn't need any help and yes, he was okay, and he maintained that air of control even though his face looked ashen and his eyes were gleaming with fever. And then, after they had shouted at each other Vader had started to pummel his Jedi counterpart with the Force. With unforseen consequences. Right now he was sick by the bushes and Skywalker was hoovering at his side, wringing his hands in worry. Unbelievable. Vader was still ranting whenever he managed to take a breath. Did he just call the young man an incompetent nerd?
"He is a bit agitated," Skywalker told her as he joined Mara.
"Really. I hardly noticed," she shot back sarcastically. "Why can't you just leave him alone?"
"Because he still ows me some answers."
"Just that?"
His face fell. "No."
"He is dying, Skywalker, and no wonder he's not happy."
"Call me Luke. Please."
"All right. I am Mara. Or Jade, if you prefer."
"Mara is fine."
They stared at each other, falling silent all of a sudden, as if something had just happenedthat could not quite be grasped. Luke's eyes went blank.
"Well."
"Yes, well."
"JADE!"
Mara jumped at the Dark Lord's angry shout. Hurrying over to him she dropped down on her haunches beside him, frowning. His blue eyes were fixed straight ahead and the fever had been replaced by silent fury.
"What?"
"Is that smoke over there?"
Following his gaze she felt her breath catch in her throat. "Yes," she whispered." I think there was a small town in that direction."
"'Was' is exactly the right term." Heaving himself upright he did not even look at Skywalker before he held out an arm to intercept the young Jedi's path as he charged ahead. "If you want to get yourself killed, please be so good and don't run off now. You'd only betray our position."
"They are killing innocent people!"
"Better them than us," the Dark Lord replied harshly.
"What? You can't be serious!" That from Skywalker. Mara was aghast. Hadn't Vader lost his own people. Why could he not relate to the fate of those down there? It seemed strange and all too cruel.
"Lord Vader," she began sternly. But he held up a hand imploringly.
"No. I know what you are going to say. The answer is easy. There is no way to replace what I have lost. If we go down there we will die too. But we have a chance to warn the other villages."
"That is madness. Far too dangerous for us too."
"We need supplies anyway, Jade. What's your problem?"
"No problem," Luke answered in her place. "We will do what you say. That is, Mara and I will do what you say. You will stay behind."
"I-"
But Mara could see that he had turned even paler than before. She patted the Dark Lord's shoulder gently, then smiled at him. Maybe she had really misjudged him there. "Please, Luke is right. You can be our back-up, should anything go wrong. Force knows I hope that nothing will though. But we had better find another place for you to stay."
He gave her a mirthless smile: "So sure of your victory. That is the Mara Jade I know. Thank you for your concern. I thank both of you."
"Phew!" Luke breathed, flushing red with embarrassment. Mara grinned at him.
"Don't think too much of his praise. The last time he told me something like that he thanked me for the exercise and then took me apart with his practice saber!"
"I would have loved to see that match."
The sudden silence in the Force hit them all like a hammerblow and Mara watched Vader's eyes grow cold. "You had better hurry and warn the others."
"Will you be all right?" the young Jedi asked him sheepishly.
"As all right as can be, Skywalker. Now go."
