Authors: Co-written by rhonderoo and Jedi Trace
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Lucasfilm, Ltd. No money is being made and no infringement is intended.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Feedback is appreciated.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Red-clad Royal Guards shoved Mara to her knees in front of the Emperor's throne before departing at his command. Mara gritted her teeth and struggled to control quivering muscles in her legs. Exhausted to the point of collapse, she refused to allow Palpatine the satisfaction of watching her tremble.
The Emperor spoke slowly, calculating, "So tell me, my Hand. Have you completed your assignment to terminate the life of young Skywalker?"
"No, Master." He had not asked for an explanation and she didn't offer one.
"You do not often fail, Mara Jade," he continued with a hint of mockery. "What prevented your success?"
"He escaped." An inaudible vibration of dark energy was gathering around them. Even if she had wanted to elaborate, speech was suddenly difficult in the oppressive air.
Palpatine leaned forward for emphasis, taunting her, "You will be interested to know that my spies tell me you made no attempt against the boy whatsoever."
Mara stared at the floor in front of her. There was nothing she could say that would not condemn her further. Now she simply clung to the hope of a swift retribution.
"Do you presume now to choose which of my commands you will follow?"
Again, she remained silent. Icy contempt descended from the throne like a fog and licked at her mind with poisonous fingers. Her pulse pounded against her temples, her vision tunneling before her.
"Ah," the Emperor straightened. "Perhaps Lord Vader can offer some enlightenment here."
Mara was peripherally aware of her master's presence as he entered the room silently and took his place at the right hand of the Emperor.
"We are discussing the fact that your apprentice here has taken it upon herself to blatantly disregard a direct order. I would have thought that you had already instructed her about the hazards of disloyalty." Palpatine's voice grated in a menacing crescendo. He turned his attention to Mara, "Get up, girl."
Her legs felt oddly detached from her body as she struggled to her feet and straightened her shoulders in quiet determination.
The Emperor's ominous voice pierced her with open contempt, "It is time to end this pathetic farce. You do not serve two masters, Mara Jade. You will do as I command or you will face the consequences."
Mara glared at him, green eyes burning. "I will not betray my master," she answered calmly, proud that her voice did not shake. "And I will not destroy his son."
Palpatine's yellow eyes flared briefly with understanding before narrowing to dangerous slits. "I see," he hissed. "It is not treason that compels you."
Rising slowly from his throne, the dark sovereign raised his hands threateningly, "Unfortunately, girl, your devotion is sadly misplaced!"
Mara felt the first vicious assault of force lightning as her vision went white.
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As much as he would have liked to deny it, his apprentice's life was worth something to him. He inwardly cursed the weak man that still dwelled inside of him, the man that insidiously whispered that the ends did not always justify the means. In an intrepid moment of weakness, Vader stepped forward as if to intervene.
The lightning stopped abruptly. Palpatine looked up at his servant with malicious intent. "Do you wish to save this upstart, Lord Vader? I think it is time that we discuss where your loyalties lie, my friend."
Vader started cautiously, "My loyalty is to you only, my Master. She is nothing but a girl. We wished merely to bring Skywalker before you, so that you may turn him to the dark side."
"Do NOT patronize me, Lord Vader!" the Emperor spat, and Vader felt the weight of his master's vengeance on his mind, probing and ripping through his thoughts. The Emperor was powerful; the most powerful force user in the galaxy, but Vader had become accustomed to his probes over the years and threw the appropriate shields up. He wished fervently for something to hold on to while fighting the malicious encounter with the Emperor's inquisition.
It was over as soon as it had begun. Suddenly calm, the Emperor stepped towards Vader, leaving Mara convulsing on the ground. "You wish to save her, don't you, Lord Vader?" He said the word "Lord" as if it were an insult.
Vader could feel Mara's pain, the memory of the damage lightning could do was never far from his thoughts. He could almost smell the stench of melted circuits that would permeate the mask and bring him helpless to his knees. There was a disadvantage to the life that had been given back to him so long ago.
Again, the Emperor invaded his thoughts, "If you intervene, you will die."
He continued with sinister finality, "I will then place your armor and mask on your son. He will rule the galaxy at my side. He will have all of the pleasures and comforts that you have born, Lord Vader. All of them."
Cold dread settled in the pit of Vader's stomach as he realized what his master meant: his son's mutilated body entombed alive. Luke would share his fate, and his injuries. He would be forced to live his life in the armor that had plagued his father since his birth as the Dark Lord. An image of Luke's face in his own helmet flashed before his eyes. The image from the cave.
Vader weighed his options, but in the end, he had no choice. If Luke was to live and rule by his side, then he must live. He stepped slowly away from Mara and the Emperor and the scene before him, the girl's horrified expression searing itself into his mind. With one last look, he turned to leave.
He drew the Dark side around him; its cold comfort would soon make him forget the agonized screams that followed him down the corridor. It would soon make him forget his apprentice.
You are fooling yourself...
He chose to ignore the voice. There was nothing more he could do.
