Obi- Wan wasn't quite sure how many days it had been since he had been taken prisoner. He knew that not to long ago they had tried to interrogate him and had failed. He also knew that getting out of this place would be an incredible feat, and that it was quite unlikely that he would do so without assistance. And although he was sure Anakin or Padmé had noticed his comm. and ship had been destroyed, he was on a star ship so it was unlikely that they would ever find him here. The star ship had probably gone into hyperspace and was in a totally different location. He shook his head. He would just have to deal with things as they came.
~*~
Padmé clutched her daughter tightly. What had they been thinking? There was nothing Luke could do for Mara, and there was no reason Leia shouldn't have told her what Luke was doing. She closed her eyes, blinking back tears, she had just got her family back and now it was possible that- No I'm not going to think that!- Padmé shook her head and stood up.
"Mom?" said Leia, quietly.
"Yes, Leia," said Padmé, careful not to show that she had been on the verge of tears.
"Luke and Daddy will be back soon. And so will Obi- Wan."
Padmé nodded, "I know." she said, "And Mara will be too."
Leia shook her head, "I know Luke, Daddy, and Obi- Wan will be back, but I don't think Mara will be...." she trailed off, "I'm not sure how I know, but I know."
Despite herself, Padmé smiled, Leia had a lot of Anakin in her, although Leia looked a lot like she had when she had been a child, Leia definitely had more of Anakin's personality. Leia- as well as Luke- seamed to be sensitive to the force, just like Anakin. "I'm sure they'll all be back safe and sound." Padmé replied.
~*~
Anakin sat wearily at the controls of the ship. Every hour or so he and Siri switched off on who would pilot. He had just started his turn, and he was already sick of it. He glanced at the controls it was about 1 more hour until they would arrive at the sector they were supposed to. There was a planet in the sector, but there was no information on it. As far as the records went it didn't even have a name. Maybe it was just him, but it seemed like there was something important going on. Why wouldn't this planet have a name?
~*~
Mara brought her ship out of hyperspace. She had made it back without trouble. She keyed in a request to land, and the tractor beam just pulled her in. She rolled her eyes, she had gotten here and back without trouble, why should landing be any- her thoughts stopped. Obi- Wan was on this ship. She put up force shields instantly. Maybe he hadn't sensed her yet, but when she felt him try to touch her mind and find out what was going on, she knew he had realized she was going to be on the ship too.
The docking bay closed behind her. She opened the cockpit and wasn't surprised to see several stormtroopers and an Admiral- the same one whom she had seen when she had first arrived here- stood waiting for her. "Lady Jade," the Admiral said, "The Emperor has requested to speak with you."
Mara nodded to him and followed as he led her to the Emperor's throne room.
~*~
"Ah, Mara, have you a new weapon?" Palpatine asked.
"Yes, Master," said Mara, igniting her new, red blade.
"Good, good, everything is going as planned." he said.
~*~
Luke sighed, in 75 minutes he would reach the place he was supposed to. Where that place was however, he had no clue.
Luke? called Anakin with the force.
Yes Dad?
I want you to be careful. I know there is nothing I can do to get you to go back right now, but if we do get into trouble, I want you to pull out and head right back to Courescant, okay?
Okay, I will.
Thanks. So, how do you like having to sit for so long? Are you bored of it?
No, not yet. I like flying! I like piloting even more.
Luke could almost hear his Father laughing through the force, That's good to know.
~*~
Obi- Wan was startled out of his meditation. Mara was in this sector. She was being brought upon this ship. He reached out with the force to see if he could tell what she was doing. He nearly gasped in surprise. She wasn't surprised that she was being pulled on board. In fact she was happy about it. She was also... He wasn't sure how to put it... Almost completely Engulfed with the Dark Side of the force and only a little of her old self remained. He shook his head. He had been a fool. He now knew that it was more than likely that she had chosen the same path that Anakin once had, but he had managed to get Anakin back, hadn't he? Maybe just maybe, he could get Mara back too. But in his heart, Obi- Wan knew that this was very, very unlikely.
~*~
Siri and Katana danced across the passenger part of the ship. They were having a spar so Katana could practice her dueling techniques. Both out of breath, the two collapsed onto the ground. "Good- Job- Padawan," Siri said, between breaths. "You're- Getting- Better,"
Katana grinned, "Thank- You- Master," Katana replied.
It was then that Anakin walked in, "Siri, its you're turn to pilot." he said.
Siri nodded, still out of breath, "Okay." she said, "Hey, why don't you two spar? I'm sure you both could use the practice."
Katana stood up eagerly, no matter how tired she was, she was never to tired to fight.
Anakin grinned, and ignited his light saber. His old, blue light saber, from before he had turned to the Dark Side. The one Obi- Wan had given Padmé to keep.
Siri shook her head, grinning, and went into the cockpit.
Katana ignited hers as well and quickly met his blade with hers.
Ten minutes later, neither had faltered a bit.
"You're- Good- At- This," he said, with each blow he blocked.
"Thanks." she said, blocking his blows in turn.
_*_
AN: Sorry that took so long! I started school on August 27th, so you can expect updates on weekends only now :( Also, this should be over within... 2 or 3 more chapters I would guess. Please Review!
- Sarah