Chapter 3:

Three weeks later, Luke and Ben walked out of a small shuttle that had docked in the heart of Coruscant. Smiling, Luke paid the space pilot and ducked behind a building to watch the crowd for the correct opportunity to slip in and appear nonchalant. Placing a cloak around himself to hide his Jedi robes and beckoning Ben to do the same, Luke waited and then walked out into the crowd and let himself flow along with the mass of sentient creatures that often populated the streets. The last thing he needed was to be recognised as a Jedi, especially on this mission where the Sith still lurked in the city. As they passed the deserted Imperial Palace, Luke paid it no heed, focusing on the structures around them and watching the weather as it began to turn gloomy and lightning flashed through the sky.

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Ayaavath stood outside in the training circle and let the rain wash over her like she had a week ago. Her blindfold was nowhere to be seen, her eyes open and glowing in the moonlight as they sparkled. She had arrived quietly at the Palace and her master had blessed her. He seemed to have been pleased at her progress and had given her his approval, a thing she treasured whenever he bestowed it on her. It was rare for him to show approval or emotion to anyone, this she knew to be fact. So, an occurrence such as this show of emotion boded well for her stay.

She heard the slow scrape of an Imperial Admiral walking towards her on the path. He stood there nervously and she could feel the emotional static burst out from him as he tried to steady his ragged breathing. She smiled, she always made the underlings fear her to keep them under her thumb and it worked. Most were terrified of her mere presence and those who said they were not tried to hide it whenever she walked past. It never worked, they always got nervous or their hands started shaking. Her master had once told her during her training that "if this crew didn't not know her or she allowed them to see her simply as an equal then she would lose her power as his Hand. She had to make them fear her for what she could do, not how she looked."

She had threatened a man with a dagger during one of her sessions, scarring him on the shoulder with the blade. He had lived with the tale of what she had done to him and the word had soon spread through the Palace, clearly exaggerated but it had helped her terrorise the crew. They quickly learnt who they obeyed, especially when she had learnt the skills of choking people with the Force. They had to be reminded every now and again but they soon learned that it was not only her master they had to fear but most importantly her. The Sith Lord rarely visited the area so they mainly contended with her or her immediate underling who was less scarier than herself. She relished the fear, drawing on it to have the advantage.

Figuring the Admiral had received enough mental torture; she turned and raised an eyebrow at him measuredly before speaking directly to the quivering mass of human flesh.

"Good evening Admiral. What is it that is so important that you must disturb me this evening?"

Bowing, the Admiral stuttered out his message. "My Lady, the Emperor requests your presence in his audience chamber."

Ayaavath ignored him, except for a slight nod to dismiss him and then strolled into the Audience Chamber to kneel at her master's feet. As he placed his hand on her head, she rose and bowed with her eyes averted.

"What is my master's will?"

Chuckling quietly, the Emperor nodded before speaking. "There are two Jedi, one is a mere apprentice and other one is the Master Skywalker himself. I want you to follow them and take them for me. That is your mission, capture the Skywalker pair and bring them to me."

Standing, she bowed her head low and nodded slowly before speaking. "My Lord, I am quite honoured to do your will. I am happy to serve only you, My Master..."

Approaching, she bent down on one knee and waited for her master to place his hand on her head in blessing. Then, she walked off and melted into the darkness as she pulled her hood back on...