Revealed Identities

Chapter 17: How to Piss Off an Emperor

Leia couldn't believe their luck. Peumla was a neutral planet that traded with both the Empire and the Alliance, but they mistrusted all races besides their own. The Pemulaps who resided on Peumla all had light coats of black fur that covered them head to toe. They reminded Leia of walking blankets. Han and Leia had been asked by the local government to wear cloaks to make them look like the Pemulaps. It was a perfect place for anyone to blend in.

It hadn't taken them long to pinpoint Nekem, and it had taken even less time for them to find him. Apparently, upon his arrival, he had upset some locals by refusing to wear the cloaks; he had been allergic to the fur. Leia and Han had located Nekem in less than a half an hour because he stuck out like white paint against a black background.

He had been among a bunch of nervous looking Pemulaps at a small market area, discussing the Force knew what in hushed voices. Han and Leia had then followed the group to a deserted ally. Now all Leia and Han had to do was to figure out how they were going to get Nekem.

"What are they saying?" Han muttered to Leia.

"I can't understand their accent any better than you can, but if you would shut-up, then I might be able to comprehend what they're saying." Leia snapped.

"You're beautiful when you're angry." Han whispered in her ear. Leia glared at him, wondering whether or not she should slap him or kiss him.

"Shut-up!" She hissed. Her brain was thinking furiously of what they should do.

"Look, the Pemulaps don't look like they have any weaponry on them, and it only looks like Nekem has a small blaster on his belt. I think we might actually be able to take them by surprise." Han surveyed the situation as well. Leia sighed.

"I don't have any better ideas, but the thought of hurting the Pemulaps when we don't know where they stand in this makes me feel-"

"Listen sweetheart," Han interrupted, "if they're innocent, then they won't attack us." Leia wished that they had more time to think about what was going on, but she reasoned that they really didn't have much time. She wanted Nekem captured as soon as possible so that they could go back to check on Luke.

"Fine. Tell Chewie what we're up to." Han nodded as he pulled out his comlink and informed Chewie of what they were doing. Leia kept watch. Han switched off the channel and motioned to Leia that he was ready. Leia switched her blaster to stun.

"Don't move!" Han bellowed, pointing his blaster at the suspicious looking group. The Pemulaps all positioned themselves against the closest wall. Leia recognized it as a defense mechanism. Nekem, on the other hand, reached for his blaster. Leia shot him, her stun blast getting him right in his stomach, causing him to fall over.

"Gotcha." Leia smirked. Her smile faded as she saw all of the furry creatures pull out their own weapons. Han looked around at all of them.

"Hands up." One of the Pemulaps ordered.

"I should have known it couldn't be this easy." Han muttered to himself as he threw his weapon down at the beckoning motions of the Pemulaps.

Leia threw her weapon down, hoping Luke was doing better than they were.

Luke sat at the front of the ship as he tried making contact with his father again. His father was blocking their link for some reason.

'Father, what's wrong?' Luke tried again, but still he received no response.

Anakin felt his son trying to contact them through their link, but he knew that if he were to try and send a message to Luke that way, Luke would be dead in an instant. The only comforting thought that Anakin had was that Luke had somehow managed to get away from his attackers. The problem was, Anakin had felt the presence of their attacker.

The Emperor had managed to find them, and he was here. His old master's presence had come so suddenly that he knew that he had just jumped out of hyperspace. Anakin had immediately stopped contacting Luke, and hoped that Luke would have the good sense to stop trying to contact him through the Force, for the Emperor would surely be able to sense Luke's power.

"Obi-Wan! Protect Luke." Anakin whispered.

The Emperor looked out at Pemula. His old apprentice was here; he could sense his presence. And for a glimmer of a second, he had felt an incredible tremor in the Force. It could only come from the raw potential of a Force user.

Anger surged through the Emperor. He had an awful feeling that Anakin had already made contact with his son, and that Luke had welcomed him with open arms. That's not quite what the Emperor had foreseen. He had thought that Luke would be angry, hateful, or at least scared at the thought of Darth Vader being his father, but it seemed that he had been wrong.

The Emperor hated being wrong.

He sat on his throne, strumming his fingers on the arm of his chair, feeling disappointment wash over him. He didn't like the feeling, and decided taunting his ex-fellow sith lord would make him feel so much better.

'Pity the boy has accepted you, Anakin.' The Emperor sent through the weak link that he still had to his old apprentice. There was no response, but he knew that he had been heard. He continued, smiling as he imagined the discomfort on Anakin's face.

'I would have given him everything you once had, and more as well, but now, I must kill him.' The Emperor smiled as he felt the ripple of anger coming from Anakin's Force presence.

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering," Yoda had once said to the newly liberated slave boy.

Those words had had no meaning on young Anakin. He had suffered so much as a slave; he hadn't understood how his fear would ever lead to suffering like what he had been through as a slave, but now he understood; he understood that it was the worst kind of suffering one could experience.

Anakin could not let his anger cloud his judgment again. He let his anger flow through him, and yet not consumed him as Obi-Wan had tried to teach him so many years ago. With a smile, Anakin realized that he could do it much easier now.

'You've pushed me far enough wrinkles. I think it is time you get your own.' Anakin sent through their bond. Straining heavily, Anakin severed all ties he had to the Emperor and blocked his Force presence from his old master.

The Emperor was pissed.

Next part...Hiding and Finding