The next day Mara didn't show up.
She didn't show up the next day either...
After a week had passed, Luke began to become concerned. When he asked his father about it, the Sith Lord had merely told him that she had asked the Emperor to allow her to return to her old routine. After he had inquired further, Vader had told him that she was sending supplies to a planet in Imperial territory that Rebels were blockading. Luke had expressed his skepticism at her doing so, and Vader had told him that she was desperate to get away and that the blockade mission was the only mission the Emperor had available for her.
Luke had tried reaching out to Mara through the Force, but he had been violently pushed away.
Then, he had been forced to reluctantly accept that she wasn't having anything to do with him.
The two Imperial leaders were still trying to get himself to pour his whole self into the Dark Side, but Luke's opinion of using the more aggressive side of the Force changed as often as Leia's hairstyles.
One day, as Luke was pulling on his boot, he felt a brief flash of pain from Mara. He hurriedly used the Force to try to figure out what happened to her, but he was merely greeted by a void that had replaced the place where her brilliant presence had used to shine.
He felt himself about to panic, but with great effort he managed to calm himself. It was best not to jump to conclusions.
He would go ask the Emperor.
After putting his remaining boot on, he decided to skip breakfast and go straight to Palpatine.
The Emperor's head was lifted when Luke entered, as if he were expecting the youth to come to him.
"My master," Luke bowed his head. He didn't like showing respect to this fiend, but he knew what the consequences would be if he didn't.
"Young Skywalker," the ruler merely stated.
Luke could sense that Palpatine wanted him to speak his mind, so he did. "I have come to inquire of Jade's fate," he said calmly, trying to make his relationship with her seem impersonal.
But the Emperor knew better. "Ah, yes, my Hand." The title was said with hidden distaste. Palpatine had been very displeased when the girl had come to him and practically begged to be given a mission, claiming that she would continue trying to seduce Skywalker if she could just have a small break. But Palpatine had other plans.
The tyrant lowered his head sadly. "I'm afraid she is no longer among us." He could feel the shock and distrust radiating from Luke, but the emotions were abruptly cut off.
Eyes narrowed, the boy demanded, "What happened to her?"
Palpatine considered reprimanding Skywalker for his disrespectful demeanor, but then he decided that it could only play into his hand. "Young Jade was quite a pilot, but even the best of pilots can fall when faced with overwhelming odds." He paused for effect. "Your Rebellion ambushed her. She took out quite a few of them, of course. But she was not immortal..." the Emperor trailed off, making sure to place a sorrowful look on his face.
Denial was the first impulse that came to Luke, denial that the Rebellion would actually stop a helpless planet from getting supplies and denial that Mara was dead.
Uncertainty came close on Denial's heels. Was Mara really dead? Had the Rebel Alliance's morals changed?
Following Uncertainty was The-Need-For-Proof, proof that the Rebellion would do something so cruel and proof that Mara was no longer alive.
Palpatine gleefully watched the emotions cross the farmboy's face, patiently waiting for his acceptance.
Proof. He needed proof. Luke took in a deep breath to calm down. Don't jump to conclusions, the youth reminded himself.
Luke Skywalker closed his eyes and reached out to the Force, searching relentlessly for Mara's life-force. He could sense alien presences...a few auras that seemed vaguely familiar...Then he felt his sister's presence and recoiled from her as if stung. She was worried about him. He inwardly cursed his carelessness, hoping that she hadn't felt him. It was best if she believed him dead. He quickly put up a mental block. She mustn't find him.
He continued his mental journey through the galaxy, carefully avoiding the area where Leia was. Mara wouldn't be near her, he knew.
But, try as he might, he couldn't sense Mara...And the haunting memory of that spark of pain from her still lingered persistently...
With a last, brief mind scan he gave up. Her feisty presence was nowhere to be found.
His confused blue eyes lifted up to meet the Emperor's orange-flecked eyes, a silent question in them.
It is true, Palpatine's eyes seemed to answer.
"No!" Luke whispered loudly, suddenly feeling like the walls were closing on him. Despite Mara's harsh attitude, she had been the only real comfort in his coerced situation. And now she was gone.
Mara Jade had been like a friend to him, someone who had brought him back to reality. She was intelligent, had a sharp wit...There were many things he would have liked to learn about her...Given time, he was sure that she would open up to him.
But now that opportunity was no longer available to him.
And to think, that he might even lo—
No! He couldn't afford to care for his enemy.
But that didn't change the fact that he felt something for her.
And yet...
What if Mara and the Empire weren't really the enemy?
After all, she'd been killed by rebels on what was basically a harmless mission...
What if he were meant to be on the Imperial side?
That disturbing thought was shoved to the back of his mind as Denial came back and took its place.
It couldn't be true! She had to be alive!
A panicked expression on his face, Luke's eyes moved unsurely from side to side. Time. He needed time. Time to think. Without a further word, Luke spun around and fled from the room.
Once the youth was out of the room, Palpatine let out an evil cackle. Things were falling into place...As they always did when he orchestrated their fall.