Obi- Wan shook his head, "No, it's mine. I should have paid more attention to her. At one time you were, my closest friend and padawan. Now, she's my padawan or at least I hope she is, and you're my closest friend. I have to go find her," he said. "Luke, did Mara tell you where she was going?"
"No," Luke replied, "She asked me to go with her, and then left when I said no... She said that she didn't know where she was going, but that she didn't want to talk to you,"
Obi- Wan nodded. "I'm going to go talk to Bail, and leave as soon as possible,"
~*~
"... So you'll be leaving at once?" asked Bail.
"I'm afraid so. Anakin and Padmé won't leave until tomorrow though," said Obi- Wan.
"We will provide you with a ship then. Follow me please,"
~*~
Mara's ship dropped out of hyperspace about 9 hours after she had left Alderaan. A planet loomed into view. She looked at the nav screen. This planet didn't show up on any of the charts. She looked at near by systems. She didn't know what any of them were!
"Unidentified ship, please state you business in this sector," came a voice over the comm channel.
"Uh-oh," Mara murmured under her breath. She looked at her ship's sensors, there was an Imperial star destroyer just over head.
"Unidentified ship, I repeat: please state you business in this sector. If you do not comply, we will bring you on board,"
Mara was just about to respond, saying she didn't even know where she was, when she felt the ship shake! "Sith!" she cried. The Imperial ship had her in its tractor beam! There was nothing she could do to get out of it! Within moments, Mara's ship was pulled in. What was she supposed to do now? She was inside an Imperial ship, had no idea where she was, and the only weapon she had was her light saber.
"Come out now. If you have any weapons drop them now."
Mara sighed, maybe she could get out of here if she cooperated with whatever it was they wanted. She fingered her light saber. If something went really wrong she could always use it. She walked to the exit ramp and extended it.
~*~
"Come out now. If you have any weapons drop them now." said the Admiral looking at the docking bay.
The ship's exit ramp was extended and... A little girl walked out. The Admiral frowned. A squad of stormtroopers rushed up, their guns pointed at her, while another squad rushed into the ship to make sure there weren't anymore passengers. One of the troopers took a metal cylinder from her belt. The troopers brought her to him.
"She was the only passenger on the ship," said one. "The only weapon she was carrying was this. She says that she has no idea where she even is,"
"A light saber," the Admiral identified. "Are you a Jedi?" he asked the girl, narrowing his eyes.
"I was," she said, "My master betrayed me so I left him. I punched random numbers in on my nav. computer so now I'm here,"
This was an interesting situation. The Admiral wasn't sure of what to do. "Take her to the interrogation chambers,"
"Yes sir," said one of the troopers.
The Admiral looked on as they left. "I'd better alert the Emperor of this,"
~*~
"... And then they took her to the interrogation chambers,"
"Bring her to me," said Palpatine.
"Yes, My Lord,"
Palpatine cut the transmission. He had found this planet. It had absolutely no civilization other than a few native tribes. He had had a storeroom built there, and then stationed C'baoth there to guard it. It was one place he had known the rebels would never find, yet somehow this child- this Jedi child- had found it.
This was absolutely perfect. He didn't know why he hadn't thought of something like this before. All of his past apprentices had been turned when they had been older. If he could sway this child, then she would start her training earlier, and would be much more powerful by doing so.
Soon, the huge doors to his throne room opened.
"Here is the child My Lord," said the Admiral bowing to the Emperor. "She was armed only with this light saber,"
The Emperor outstretched his hand, drawing to light saber to him. "Good. Now leave, Admiral,"
"Yes My Lord," he said bowing again, he turned and left.
Mara began to tremble. What was going to happen now? Was that man going to kill her? She was beginning to wish she hadn't left Alderaan...
"I can read your thoughts, my young apprentice," said Palpatine, "And I suppose you want this?" he said, using the force to give Mara her light saber.
Mara looked up and grasped her light saber. "Who- Who are you?" she asked startled.
"I should be asking you the same question... Nevertheless, I am the Emperor,"
"I- I'm Mara," she said her green eyes bolting around fearfully, "Mara Jade,"
"How did you find this planet, Wayland?"
"I- I didn't me- mean to I typed in ra- random numbers on my nav computer as I was leaving Alderaan," she stuttered.
"Why were you on Alderaan?"
Mara swallowed, "My stupid Master and I rescued a senator from you, and got mister Anakin to help us. We were on Alderaan to get their daughter,"
Anger boiled up inside the Emperor. He knew where this was going, "Who was your master and why did you leave Alderaan?" he asked.
"Master Kenobi. I left because he wanted Mister Anakin to be his apprentice... Not me..." she replied.
Vader had betrayed him completely. He would get revenge on Vader no matter what it would take.
"Um, Mister Emperor sir, are you going to kill me?" Mara asked.
Palpatine narrowed his eyes, "That depends," he said.
"Depends on what?" she asked timidly.
"It depends on if you will or won't join me," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"It depends on if you will or won't join the Empire. Become my apprentice. If you do, you can get revenge on Kenobi, and the whole rebellion," he said, "If you don't, I will kill you,"
Mara looked up, if she didn't agree to this she would be killed! "Okay. I- I will join you," she said after a moment.
~*~
Obi- Wan snapped out of his meditation with a start. He had had the most startling vision. In his vision, Mara had joined the Empire! He shook his head. This wasn't a true vision. It just couldn't be. He looked at the chrono, he had left Alderaan 2 hours previously. He had put the ship on auto pilot in the direction the had found Mara had headed towards. There was no way to know exactly what system she had gone to so he would have to find her the hard way.
Before he had left a homing beacon had been stationed on his hull so that he could be found if needed. He didn't know exactly where Mara would have gone, but he did know that he had to find her.
_*_
What do you think? Do you like how I made Mara join the Empire? Review please! Also, does anyone know how many years apart Han and Leia are in age? I need to know that for this story's sequel ^ - ^ If you know, please email me at TrumpetGirl0590@aol.com.
- Sarah -