CHAPTER TEN

Beneath the durafabric roof of the sturdy open tent the glowlamps flickered on as the dimness of evening began to fall over the base camp.  Leia looked across the small table and smiled.  "You won't regret this."

The dark-skinned young man seated opposite her frowned.  "We'll see."

She appraised the Colonel again.  The rebel leader was much younger than she had expected – her age, or at most only a few years older.  Still, the weariness in his eyes and the battle-hardened edge to his face showed clearly the toll the long insurrection in the Vyhrragian forest had taken on him.  He had suffered far more than anyone his age should have to experience, and she couldn't really blame him for being cynical well beyond his years. 

"Tell me something, if you don't mind," she said as amiably as she could.  "How did you end up out here?  There must be quite a death mark on your head for it."

The Colonel nodded slowly.  "That there is, Senator.  As for all this…  It started with my father."

Leia could hear the wistfulness in his voice.  "Your father?"

"Yes," he replied.  "He was one of the best generals in our army.  Our defense force.  The real Army of Vyhrrag, the one that protected our people – not that perversion Argis has created; not those conquering legions making war against you."

She met his somber gaze.  "And he couldn't support what Argis became."

"At first we all believed in Argis," he said, nodding again.  "We believed in the principles he stood for.  We believed in justice for the weak and the impoverished.  We believed in equality in the Republic and for our people.  How could we not?  Have you ever read about what our planet was like a decade ago?  Before the tyranny?"

"Only a little," Leia admitted.  "Enough to know why Argis' message was so seductive here."

"Then you understand," he said.  "My father had such high hopes.  A young king, motivated to seek a better future for our planet.  It all seemed so promising.  But soon it became clear to him that Argis wasn't interested in justice – only in power.  Aggression.  Domination."

Leia knew what was next.  "How did your father die?"

The Colonel closed his eyes.  "About a year into Argis' reign all the officers who opposed his plans were rounded up in the middle of the night.  They were executed on the grounds of the royal palace at dawn.  Their families too.  Every last one of them."

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you."  The young man opened his eyes and met her gaze again.  "I wasn't home that night.  I was with a girl, the daughter of another general.  Our mischief put us out of harm's way, you see.  Otherwise we'd have died right along with them.  We went into hiding together, and took up arms against the king.  Eventually we found others who thought as we did, and slowly we formed an underground resistance.  The forests have been our best place to hide."

"And…"

"Three years ago in battle.  She died in my arms."

"I'm so sorry."

He tipped his head in acknowledgement.  "She's a martyr to our cause.  One of many.  Far too many."

"Five years of guerrilla war…"  Leia shook her head.  "I can't even imagine."

The Colonel actually smiled a little.  "But now it seems our struggle finally may be at an end.  Tell me, Senator, how did this invasion come about?  I find it difficult to believe the Galactic Senate would have acted in such a decisive manner after all its failures in the war thus far."

"They didn't," Leia said firmly.  "Not the Senate."

"Of course not.  This is why the people of Vyhrrag – the real people, the citizens – lost faith in the Republic."

"I hope someday we can earn their respect again," Leia said.  "But you're right.  In the year since the Declaration of War was passed, the Senate has done nothing but hinder military strategy.  The politicians think they know better than generals and admirals how to fight Argis – when they even were concerned about the fighting at all."

The Colonel chuckled grimly.  "Yes.  That sounds very much like the Senate I remember."

Leia sighed.  As much as she believed in democracy and the Senate, in moments like this she couldn't blame the man for his feelings.  "A few days ago it became clear the war effort was hopelessly stalled.  Alliances in the Senate were blocking the military's ability to deploy the full range of forces to the front – deployments that would defeat Argis once and for all.  Decisive action was necessary, so my mother invoked a rarely used power of the Supreme Chancellor to adjourn the Senate indefinitely.  Without the Senate in session, there was no way for the Senators to stop her from ordering the deployments.  But of course what she really authorized was this invasion."

The Colonel leaned back in his chair and blew out a deep, hissing breath.  "No lack of irony there."

"No."

"Nonetheless, the symbolic value of her action is important."

Leia raised her eyebrows.  "How so?"

"The Supreme Chancellor adjourned the Senate," he said slowly.  "She did not dissolve it and call new elections.  She did not disband it and claim unilateral executive authority.  She invoked the power with the least possibility of tyranny.  And that, Senator, is a testament to her integrity."

Leia knew there was a look of disbelief on her face, but she couldn't get rid of it. 

"We may not admire the Senate and the Republic," he said with a wink, "but we teach our children its laws and its history all the same.  And now we have seen the alternative first hand.  Did you know that for centuries Vyhrrag had convened a parliament of its own, until Argis disbanded it entirely months after his coronation?"

"No, I didn't know that."

"Now you do."  The Colonel rose from his chair and strode around the small table.  He offered Leia his hand.  "If you inherited your forthrightness and honor from your mother, Senator, then it would appear the Republic is in very good hands indeed."

Leia accepted his gesture and pulled herself to her feet with his leverage.  "It is, Colonel.  I promise you that.  We won't let you down, and neither will my mother."

He nodded.  "Then I will have nothing to regret." 

She shook his hand firmly, then released her grip.  "I think it's time I introduced you to my brother, Colonel.  You and he have much to discuss."

"That we do, Senator," he said.  "Lead the way."

---

Anakin clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair.  He stretched out his legs and propped up his booted feet on the front edge of the Supreme Chancellor's elegant formal desk. 

Padmé must have heard the soft thump, because she stopped her pacing at the wide window behind the desk and turned to face him.  "Are you comfortable?"

"Very."

"Put your feet down, Anakin."

"Stop pacing, Padmé."

She paused, frowning.  "Fine.  But if you scuff it, you're polishing it."

"Deal."  He watched her resume her methodical trek, her small form a solemn shadow moving slowly across the sparkling nighttime cityscape of Coruscant far beyond the window.  "Ackbar's report was reassuring, at least," he said.  "No problems yet.  No leaks.  Victory Strike is working."

Padmé was gazing aimlessly out the window as she walked.  "I know it is."

"So why are you so anxious about it?"

"Because I'm worried it's too late.  I'm worried it's not enough.  I'm worried it won't matter."

He furrowed his brow.  "By tomorrow night Argis will have surrendered."

"Yes," she said.  "But what about the Sith?  They're the real enemy.  Not Argis.  And Victory Strike doesn't do anything to defeat the Sith."

"I suppose not," he admitted quietly.  "But their end is coming soon too, angel.  I promise."

Padmé briefly glanced over at him.  "How can you be certain, Ani?"

"I can feel it in the Force," Anakin said, smiling warmly at her before she looked out the window again.  "When I meditated earlier I could sense the pull of destiny like I never have before.  Everything is coming together.  Not just the war, angel.  Everything.  It's almost over."

She continued to pace and gaze into the night.  For a long moment she didn't reply.  "I believe you," she finally said.  "I believe you.  I just hope the price isn't too great."

"As do I," he said.  "That's something even I can't foresee."

She turned to face him again and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.  "How much higher can the price be, Anakin?  How much more do we have to sacrifice?"

"I don't know."

"It's been almost two years since it started."

He nodded, and lowered his arms to cross them over his chest.  "Since Jarren was murdered."

"Yes."  She shook her head.  "He was so young.  Like Millius.  They were both so young."

"I know, angel.  I'm sorry."

"And Obi-Wan.  And Jenny.  Who else are they going to take from us, Ani?  Who else?"

"If I could foresee it, would you really want to know?"

Padmé snapped her eyes to his, but didn't say anything.

"No, angel," Anakin said.  "I can't see the future.  And it's better that way.  It's better without that burden."

She blinked, then nodded.  "When I think back to Gimna 3… We almost lost three of our children at once, Ani.  Oga could've killed Danaé.  Bryon shouldn't have been able to survive those injuries.  And if… if… Obi-Wan hadn't given his life, Luke would be dead.  I can't even imagine what that would've been like."

"I can't either," he said.  "I try not to think about it."

"Sometimes I can't help it, though.  Sometimes I can't help but worry about the future.  About their future."

"I know.  It's only human."

With a deep sigh she stopped pacing and lowered herself into her chair across the desk.  "At least when this war is over Bryon and Sarré will finally be able to just be parents.  Without all the rest getting in the way."

"Yes," he said.  "And they'll be good at it too.  Really good."

She smiled for the first time in hours.  "Better than us, you think?"

He grinned too.  "Possibly."

"How many children do you think they'll have?"

"Three."  Anakin nodded decisively, and lowered his feet to the floor so he could see her face better.  "Yes.  Three."

Padmé gave him a confused look.  "That sounded awfully definitive."

"Well, we have four," he explained, "and Sabé and Alain have two.  So they'll split the difference."

She laughed.  "Can't argue with logic like that."

"See, angel?  The future will take care of itself."

"I know.  And we're doing our part to make it as bright as it can be."

"Exactly."

She scooted down in her chair and stretched out too.  "I know you enjoy tormenting Captain Solo," she said, "but he's a good man.  I think he's right for Leia.  I just have a feeling about it."

"I don't doubt it," he chuckled.  "But she's my little girl.  I'll always look out for her."

"Even if she doesn't want you to."

Anakin grinned.  "Yes.  Think about it this way – if Han can't handle me, there's no way he can handle Leia."

Padmé laughed so hard she cried.  "When you put it that way," she sputtered when she found her voice, "it makes a lot of sense."

"Not to mention it's fun."

"Obviously."  She took a deep breath, then got comfortable in the chair again.  "Do you think Danaé will ever fall in love that way?"

He looked out at the multitude of brilliantly colored nighttime lights of the skyline.  "No.  She has the spirit of the old Jedi Order, angel.  Like Obi-Wan or Yoda."

She nodded.  "Not like Luke or Mara, you mean."

"Or like me," he said with a wink.  "You're right about Luke and Mara, though.  The Jedi are in transition.  It's gradual, of course, but it's there all the same.  The Order is very different now than it was when I joined.  It will continue to change.  And we're seeing that in our own children – and our grandson."

Padmé gazed off thoughtfully into the room.  "One of the last of the old, and some of the first of the new.  Right in our little family."

"It's not so little any more, you know."  Anakin smirked when she glanced over in surprise.  "It used to be just the six of us.  Then Sarré.  And Nyklas.  Captain Solo is well on his way.  Mara even sooner than him, probably.  And before you know it we're at ten.  Then eleven, and twelve.  Then –"

"I get the message," she laughed, cutting him off.  "I guess I'd better start getting used to the idea."

"Yes.  You'd better."

"While we're on the subject of Luke and Mara," she said, "why are they being so secretive?  They can't possibly think we don't know what's going on, can they?"

"I wish I knew," Anakin confessed.  "It's Bryon and Sarré all over again, and it's driving me mad."

Padmé shook her head in frustration.  "No kidding."

"Whatever it is," he mused, "I know one thing for certain.  They may be destined to become powerful Jedi, but they can't deny the will of the Force.  No one can."

For another long moment she closed her eyes, then opened them again.  "I trust in the Force.  I've played my part in these events.  Now all I can do is wait, and have faith in the future – and in tomorrow."

"Well said, angel."  He pushed off from the armrests of his chair and rose to his feet.  "It's late, and you've worried enough for one night.  It's time to get Nyklas, and go home."

"No," she said, standing up across the desk from him.  "He's probably asleep already.  We should let him be."

Of all the things she might have said, that would have been the very last one he would have guessed.  Anakin raised his eyebrows.  "Angel?"

Padmé strode quickly around the desk and took his hands in hers.  "The future is his, Ani," she said quietly.  "The present is ours.  I want to forget the future, and forget the past, and spend tonight in the moment.  You and me.  Just the two of us."

He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her toward the office door.  "I like the sound of that."

There was a sudden flush to her face.  "I knew you would."

He pulled her a little closer – and their pace quickened just a bit as they headed into the corridor and straight toward his airspeeder.

---

Mara glided swiftly through the corridor of the royal palace, constantly scanning her surroundings in the Force and trying to determine the best strategy for finding Argis.  Occasionally the blaring of alarms broke the eerie silence in the hallways, and now and then she had to duck into an alcove or doorway to conceal herself from passing groups of panicked officials or squads of brownshirts.  The chaos from the devastation of the south wing apparently even had prevented the Vyhrragians from mounting an effective search for intruders.  That meant for the most part her transit through the palace was unimpeded, and already she'd made it from the south wing into the more heavily guarded central chambers. 

The problem was that she still didn't know her next move.

Mara stopped and leaned back against the wall.  She needed a plan, and quickly.  Time was short, and she couldn't afford to waste it on a room-to-room search.  She needed answers, and she needed them now.

Mara closed her eyes and extended her perceptions in the Force from her immediate corridor into the surrounding spaces of the palace.  She pushed aside the surging terror she felt from Argis' minions and focused on the locations of the various individuals nearby.  Considering the possibilities, she made a choice.

A short distance down the next hallway she found the door and tapped the keypad.  The door to the small security post swished upward and Mara strode through.  Standing just inside the portal was a brownshirt with his blaster rifle held at attention across his chest; across the room at a data station an officer in a gray uniform was monitoring a series of security cam viewscreens.

The door began to swish closed behind her, and the brownshirt glanced over at the new arrival.

"Hey," the enemy soldier said, "you're not –"

His words were silenced when Mara's shimmering violet laser sword decapitated him with a single violent, one-handed arc.  His head thumped to the floor simultaneously with the door's closing clang.

The officer already had sprung to his feet and was facing her with his hands held up in surrender.  "Please don't kill me," he begged.  "I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

How boring…  Three quick strides brought Mara right up to him, and she leveled her lightsaber across his throat.

"Please don't kill me," the officer yelped, sweat already beading on his face.

Mara put her energy blade even closer to the skin of his neck.  "Where is Argis now?"

"What?"

"You heard me.  Where's Argis?"

The officer swallowed hard.  "I don't know."

Mara narrowed her eyes.  The Force told her he wasn't lying – but he didn't know that.  "You don't know?"

"No," he said.  "He's not in my sector.  That's all I can tell you."

"Really?"

The man was trembling now.  "Yes.  Really.  I swear."

Mara drew her thrumming purple lightsaber back just a bit.  "Your best guess, then.  You're under attack.  Where would he go?"

"I… I'm not sure."

"A bunker?  A command center?  Flee the palace?"  Mara extinguished her weapon.  "Your best guess.  That's all."

The officer sighed loudly and his shoulders slumped in relief.  "The throne room.  He'll probably be in command from the throne room."

Mara nodded.  "And that's where?"

Without hesitation he told her, and for that Mara let him live. 

---

"I'll give the orders now," the Colonel said.  "With a head start of an hour or two, we'll have Argis' forces in the entire province in disarray by the time we hit the generator."

"Good," Bryon said.  "We need every advantage we can get."

"I couldn't agree more," the rebel commander replied.  "After I send the transmissions I'll gather up my squads and have them get the extra bikes ready.  We'll be on our way soon."

Bryon saluted crisply.  "You know where to find me."

"That I do," the Colonel said, already jogging off.

Bryon paced over to the nearest massive tree trunk, flopped his back against it, and slid ungracefully to the ground in a heap.  He crossed his arms over his bent knees and let his forehead thump to rest on them.  He closed his eyes and breathed slowly.  Somehow he had to find a way to restore his energy.  But there was so much to do…

He was jolted back to reality by the fingers of a small hand brushing through his hair.  "Bryon?"

"Hey there, you," he said to Sarré as he turned to look at her without lifting his head.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm worried."

"About what?"

He sighed deeply.  "About everything."

She tugged him toward her, and he put his head on her shoulder.  "The planning seemed to be going well when I left," she said.  "Did something go wrong?"

"No.  The rebels have small squads of soldiers throughout the forest and quite a few near the capital.  They're going to execute simultaneous attacks on targets as soon as the orders can go out.  They'll hit outposts and convoys and landing pads.  Whatever they can.  And the rest will strike deep into the city."

"Sounds very distracting if you're Argis."

"It will be."  Bryon took a deep breath, and wrapped his arms around her.  "It's a good diversion."

"And what about the attack on the generator?"

"There are enough speeder bikes for all of us, and two-plus squads of the rebels."

Sarré tightened the embrace and leaned her cheek on the top of his head.  "Plus the three squads of ours who are waiting for the signal.  That's nearly a hundred!"

"Yes."

"And we'll still get there in plenty of time.  Right?"

"Right.  Probably even before Winter's squad does."

"So what's the problem?"

He blew out another deep breath.  "Too many things can still go wrong."

Shockingly, Sarré burst out laughing.  So hard she doubled over.  And gasped for air.  And had to wipe her eyes. 

Bryon scowled.  "What's so funny?"

"You… and… it's just… oh… and…"

He glowered even more sternly at her, and waited.

"I'm sorry," she said after she'd controlled herself.  "I really am."

"Care to explain the humor in this?"

"Bryon, I love you dearly," she said.  "But you really are an idiot."

"Thanks for clearing that up."

"Keep quiet and listen, General."  She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, then sat back against the tree at his side.  "We're on schedule.  We have a diversion.  We have new allies.  Everything's fine.  Maybe it's not the way you drew it up, but if anything we're better off."

Despite himself, Bryon smiled a bit.  "I suppose you have a point."

"Of course I do."

"And?"

"And besides," Sarré said with a wink, "you're a Skywalker."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning even if things do go wrong, you'll still find some absurdly crazy way to turn it to your advantage."

He chuckled.  "That's my father's specialty, my love.  Not mine."

She rolled her eyes.  "Right.  And I suppose all those stories of amazing victories against ridiculous odds – you know, the ones you have all the medals for?  The ones that got you made a general at twenty? – I suppose those are all just a bunch of lies?"

He grinned.  "All of them.  Deceits and falsehoods to lure you into my bed."

She smacked him on the back of his head.  "Shut up, Bryon."

"Oww!"  He rubbed his hand over the smarting spot.  "That one hurt!"

"Good," she said.  "It'll give you something to think about instead of your stupid fears."

"That's not very nice."

"I don't care if it's nice," Sarré said, smirking unrepentantly.  "I only care if it works."

"If you weren't my wife… well, you'd never get away with this, I assure you."

"Probably not."  She kissed him.  "But I am, so I can get away with anything."

Bryon laughed helplessly.  It was truly remarkable how in a matter of minutes she'd made all his anxieties disappear.  He didn't know what he'd have done on this mission without her.  "I know," he said, pulling her into an embrace again.  "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

---

Han was stretching out his arms and back against one of the huge tree trunks along the perimeter of the rebel base camp when a familiar laugh interrupted his concentration. 

"You sure you're up to this, old man?"

"You bet your life, kid," he said over his shoulder as he finished the stretch.  "I've never been better."

Luke shrugged.  "If you say so."

"Let me tell you something," Han shot back, turning around to face Leia's twin brother.  "When you don't have anything to do all day but sit around and stare at a wall, you learn real quick that pushups and sit-ups and stuff like that can get pretty interesting after all."

Luke raised an eyebrow.  "Sit-ups, huh?  What's the most you ever did in a row?" 

"Hundred sixty-two."

"No way."

"You don't believe me?"  Han took two long strides forward and pointed to his abdomen.  "Come on.  Take a shot.  They're like durasteel now."

Luke shook his head.  "That's all right.  I'll pass."

"What?  Think you'll hurt me?  Come on.  Just one punch."

"I don't think so, Han."

"Why not?"

Luke grinned.  "Because you're wearing body armor under those fatigues."

Han smirked right back at him.  "Can't get anything past a Jedi Knight, huh?"

"Not that easily, anyway."

"Too bad."

"Not that I don't believe you.  I'm sure you're in excellent physical condition."

"That's right I am," Han said.  "I'm probably stronger than you, if you don't cheat and use the Force."

Luke cocked an eyebrow.  "That sounds like a challenge."

"Maybe it is."

"All right, then.  I'll remember."

"So will I."

"Good," Luke said.  Then he gazed off into the forest around them.  "So, you're going inside the generator building with the demolitions team?"

"That's the plan," Han said.  "I'm pretty good at the close-quarters shooting part of it, with all the shipboard combat drills and action I've seen."

Luke nodded.  "Makes sense.  Do you have any demolitions training?"

Han shrugged.  "Some.  Chewie more than me.  Bryon's demo guys are the real pros."

"No doubt about that."

"So what's your part of the plan?"

"It's left open," Luke replied, still looking off into the forest.  "Wherever I'm needed most, that's where I go."

Han laughed.  "Sounds about right for a Jedi."

Luke glanced over at him.  "The Force will guide me.  I'll know what to do."

"Sure, kid, whatever you say."

"How about this?  You trust me to follow the Force, and I'll trust you not to lose Leia again."

"That wasn't my fault!"

"Whatever you say."

Han glowered.  "Don't press your luck, kid."

Luke smirked.  "And you keep track of my sister or you'll be –"

"Or he'll be what?"  Leia's voice startled them both.  "Do I have to keep you two separated?"

Luke smiled innocently.  "Of course not, Leia."

"Yeah, no need for that," Han said.  "Your brother here was just backing up your dad."

Leia narrowed her eyes at Luke.  "Really."

"That's right," Han continued.  "The whole 'would be a shame to have to hunt you down and kill you' routine."

Leia kept staring at her twin.  "Is this true?"

Luke swallowed hard.  "Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Um… well, more like yes."

When the kid couldn't even hold his sister's gaze and looked down at his boots, Han chuckled.

And suddenly Han was the victim of the same blistering stare.  "Tell me, Han," said Leia in a low voice, "does something amuse you?"

Han swallowed hard and did his best to frown solemnly.  "Nope, Princess.  Nothing at all."

"I thought so," Leia said, still fixing him with that stare. 

And then, when she was sure Luke wasn't looking, she winked at him – and Han laughed.  On the inside.

---

Leia found Luke standing at the edge of the bank of the small river that ran through the forest a few dozen meters from the perimeter of the rebel's base camp.  Her twin brother had his arms crossed over his chest, and he was staring off into the gloomy blackness of the forest beyond the rushing water.  Here and there around him the orange glow of dusk trickled through the leaves of the towering trees, but where he gazed there was only darkness.

"I saw them set aside the fastest speeder bike especially for you," she said.  "What's going on?"

He didn't turn around.  "I'm leaving."

"You're leaving?  Now?  Why?"

"I have to go."

She strode to his side and put her hand on his shoulder.  "You can't leave.  We need you."

He shook his head, and still wouldn't look at her.  "You don't need me.  You have Danaé."

"Luke," she barked, "tell me what's going on right now!"

"I sensed her.  I know where she is."

"Who?  The Sith Master?"

"No."  He finally looked at her, and his eyes were bloodshot from crying.  "Mara."

Leia blinked.  "She's here?  On Vyhrrag?"

"Yes," he said, his wavering voice barely audible.  "At the royal palace."

"Why?  The Council didn't send her, did they?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"She's killing them, Leia."  Her brother took a slow, shuddering breath.  "Argis' commanders.  Argis.  She's hunting them down like animals.  All of them."

Leia snorted.  "I don't see why that's an upsetting thought."

"Think about it, Leia."

"What?"

He only held her gaze in an intense stare.  The usually bright blue in his eyes seemed dull.  Indistinct.  Clouded. 

It didn't take her more than another few heartbeats to figure it out.  "The dark side.  She's using the dark side."

Luke nodded, and he uncrossed his arms and wrapped one around her shoulders. 

"Oh," she whispered, because it was all she could think of to say.  "Oh.  Oh, no."

"I have to go to her," he finally said.  "I don't have a choice."

"Luke, I don't –"

"No," he interrupted.  "No.  I have to go.  This is my fault."

Leia scowled.  "It's not your fault.  Mara has to make her own choices.  She knows better."

"Yes," he said.  "But that's not enough sometimes.  You know that."

She was about to keep arguing with him, but then a frightening chill ran down her spine.  The terrifying feeling made her shiver.  "I know.  I'm sorry."

Luke looked hard into her eyes.  "I can save her.  I just hope I get there in time.  I have to try."

Leia smiled weakly.  "Do or do not.  There is no try."

"I'll save her."  He smiled back as best he could while leaving unsaid the price of failure.

She couldn't help herself, and slammed him into a fierce embrace.  "Don't go," she pleaded.  "Stay here with us." 

"You know I can't do that," he said tenderly.  "Any more than you could have given up on Han."

"But the mission, Luke," she said frantically.  "It depends on you."

"No, it doesn't, Leia." 

"We need you!"

Luke kissed her forehead.  "Mara needs me more."

All of her desperation drained out of her, and Leia collapsed into him.  She sobbed into his chest until she found her voice again.  "Be careful.  Be safe.  Be strong."

He squeezed her tightly.  "I will."

She released him, and gave him a gentle push back toward the base camp.  He had made such an awful decision – and her letting him go paled in comparison.  "May the Force be with you."

"And also with you."  Her twin brother turned and began to walk away.

Just before he was out of sight, the most horrible thought occurred to her.  Her body quaking with fear, she called out to him.  "Luke!  Wait!"

He stopped, and turned back over his shoulder to look at her. 

She fought back her tears.  "Could you do it?"

"Could I do what?"

"If she's gone to the dark side…  If you had to…  Could you kill her?"

Luke shook his head.  "No," he said as he disappeared into the darkness of the forest.  "No, I couldn't."

---

Han was starting to think he'd gone crazy.  He couldn't possibly have lost Leia twice in one day.  No way.  That would make him pretty much the worst guy ever, and he knew he wasn't that bad.  Was he?  No, he wasn't.  He just had to find Leia before anyone realized she was missing.  Otherwise, Bryon was going to kill him – or Luke would turn around and come back to do it himself.  Yeah, that was certain, all right.  Han had better find Leia, and fast, or he was a dead man.

He was at the edge of his wits when he thought to check the riverbank. 

And sure enough, there she was.  Han had never felt more relieved at anything in his entire life. 

"Hey, Princess," he said as he walked up to her.  "Don't go disappearing on me like that."

Only when she turned to face him did he realize her body was shaking with sobs.  In the dappled orange glow of the setting sun that fell on her face he barely could see the tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"I'm sorry," she rasped.  "I didn't mean to worry you."

He stopped in front of her.  "What's wrong?  What's the matter?"

"It's Luke," she said.  "He left."

"Yeah, I know."  Han had tried to find out what was going on, but the kid had been in such a hurry he'd only muttered something about saving Mara before he'd hopped on the speeder bike and zoomed away.  From what Han could figure, Mara was about as powerful a Jedi Knight as it got.  So the idea of her needing saving seemed pretty silly.  "I'm sure he'll be all right.  I'm sure he's just upset over nothing."

"It's not nothing, Han," she growled, spinning away from him.  "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Look, sweetheart," he shot back, "I may not have grown up in a family of Jedi, but I know a thing or two about people.  And I don't care what your brother thinks – Mara's no lightweight."

Leia didn't say anything.

"Fine," he spat when he got tired of waiting.  "If you don't want to tell me, I'll just see you later."

He started to turn away from her when she spoke again. 

"Don't go," she whimpered.  "Don't you leave me too."

Han's anger faded the instant he heard the stinging pain in her voice.  He reached out and pulled her into a tight, heartfelt embrace.  "I'm sorry," he said.  "I'm not going anywhere."

Leia cried in his arms for a while until she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and looked up at him.  "I'm so scared," she said hoarsely.  "I can't explain it."

"Luke's strong, and he's smart," Han replied softly.  "I'm sure he'll be fine."

She swallowed hard.  "Then why do I have this awful feeling I'm never going to see him again?"

He pulled her closer, and rubbed his hands along her back.  "I don't know, Princess.  I don't know."

---

It turned out that Argis' throne room was only a quick jog from the security station, and Mara had no difficulty getting there without encountering any obstacles.  She spun on her heel around the corner and marched straight toward the room's massive doors, igniting her lightsaber again as she went.

The four brownshirts guarding the entrance opened fire immediately with their rifles. 

Mara flicked her blade back and forth effortlessly in her two-handed grip, trusting in the Force to guide her hands and deflect away each and every blaster bolt.  She didn't break stride for even an instant as she advanced on them – and with a quick burst of concentration she plunged her mind into the deep combat intensity of Vaapad.  She felt the deadly tranquility of the battle focus descend over her thoughts.

Two powerful arcs struck down the four enemy soldiers. 

Mara felt a surge of triumph pump through her veins, and she flicked her left palm outward and blasted open the thick gilded doors of the throne room with a thundering pulse of energy in the Force.  Dancing her shimmering violet laser sword with her right hand, she swatted away more shots fired by some of the brownshirts inside – and flicked her left palm again to send half a dozen more sprawling backward into violent collisions with the wall that broke their backs or snapped their necks. 

The remaining troopers charged her – and died. 

Mara stood motionless in the center of the room with her weapon thrumming at her side, and waited.

Seated on the enormous golden throne atop a low, raised dais was a tall, black-bearded man in elegant royal-purple robes.  He kept his hands on the armrests as he held her gaze for a long moment.  Behind him the tall, wide windows revealed an expansive vista of the black, star-speckled sky of night. 

Finally Argis smiled.  "Welcome, Mara Jade."

She smirked.  "I guess this is where I'm supposed to say that it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Highness."

Argis chuckled, pushed off from the armrests, and stood.  "So undiplomatic for a Jedi.  I expected more from you, my dear."

"Diplomacy's not my strong suit."

"So I see," he said, indicating the slain brownshirts with a wave of his hand. 

Mara grinned.  "You're next, you know."

"That remains to be determined," Argis said flatly.  He snapped his right hand outward and a crackling burst of blazing blue Force lightning shot straight at her. 

With a nonchalant flick of her wrist Mara whipped her blade in front of her torso, and the laser sword absorbed the onslaught with a hiss of sparks and vapor.

For an instant a stunned look crossed Argis' face. 

"You're a Sith," Mara said, smirking at him again.  "Now tell me something I don't know."

The look vanished, and Argis' hand retrieved a glittering silver lightsaber handle from behind his back.  The scarlet blade ignited with a snap-hiss, and her opponent strode deliberately down the five stairs of the dais and onto the floor a few meters in front of her. 

"It has been far too long since I last killed a Jedi."  The Sith Lord sighed regretfully.  "And I had so been hoping your Master would be my next." 

"My former Master," Mara hissed. 

"Jedi technicalities," he said with a snort.  "I hear he's withdrawn from the war effort.  What a shame.  The Republic could have used a leader of his talent the last few months.  Perhaps then I would not have defeated them so easily."

Mara's grip on her lightsaber tightened to crushing strength.  "His decision was an honorable one," she said in a low, fierce voice.  "He's needed elsewhere."

"To protect his little grandson, you mean?"  Argis advanced two strides.  "Indeed.  My Master is very much looking forward to beginning the training of her newest apprentice."

A chill ran down Mara's spine.  "What?"

"Oh, yes," the Sith Lord said.  "The rest of you will die, but he will be ours."

"No, he won't," Mara spat.  "Never.  Anakin will stop you."

"We'll see."  Argis strode forward again, stopping just out of striking distance.  "In the meantime your Master is cowering in fear on Coruscant when he should be here, facing his destiny."

Mara took a two-handed grip on her blade and set her feet in a combat stance.  Her mind remained fully immersed in Vaapad, and her muscles tensed in preparation.  "He doesn't have to be," she said.  "I am."

Argis raised his eyebrows.  "You?"

"Me."

"So… you're what, exactly?  His little lieutenant?  His pet assassin?"

Mara narrowed her eyes.  "You might say… I'm his right hand."

"Interesting," he said.  "You think you can do his dirty work."

"I don't think," Mara growled.  "I know.  I've killed two of your friends already."

Argis laughed.  "You will find I am much stronger than they."

"Prove it."

In a blur Mara charged, her violet blade pounding into her enemy's scarlet one with swift, powerful strikes.  Argis retreated under the barrage, backstepping rapidly as he parried blow after blow.  He was quite a bit taller than she, but after over a decade sparring against Anakin it didn't come close to mattering.  Mara didn't let up, sending attack upon attack at the Sith Lord.

His defenses held, but not by much.  Mara struck high and low, left and right, over and under, each swing and arc more precise than the last.  Her hands followed the guidance of the Force, and the brilliant might of Vaapad unleashed all its terrible fury against her opponent.

Argis lunged with all his strength to shove her blade off his, then spun away to gain a few meters' distance between them.  The Sith Lord set his feet and readied his scarlet lightsaber again.

Mara spun the tip of her violet laser sword in a small circle and locked her opponent in a penetrating stare.  She had killed many enemies already today, and it was time to kill again.

"The first two were far too easy anyway," she told him in a quiet, cold, calm voice that sounded nothing like her own.  "I'm going to enjoy this one."