A/N: By this point I hope thanks for reading this story are simply implied, but I'll say it again anyway. I also owe an apology to anyone confused by the reference to Arthur Miller in last chapter's title; I was referring to the Crucible, and the terrible witchcraft trials it depicts. My own story was a pathetic attempt at mimicking that. Apologies all around. This chapter, I'm afraid, does get a bit more serious: I've tried to keep the humor, but plot is definitely driving this baby now, especially as it will be over it not too many chapters. Hang on; it's gonna be a wild ride . . .



Now, I would like to extend thanks to everyone who's reviewed thus far, and who continues to read. To those of you I know, I send my love; to those of you I don't, my especial thanks for reading this. (And, I would just like to point out, if you care to read the reviews, LAURA is one lovely reviewer's favorite character. Snerk.)





SOUNDTRACK: Back by popular request! Stirring Mexican guitar music (think 'Once Upon A Time in Mexico' or something similar); The Hall of the Mountain King; and, at the end, the Emperor's theme and Light of the Force. (Many thanks to everyone who howled for Mr. Zevon, as well. I'm sure he's howling back from his grave as I write.)









Hold on to your hats, everyone; you ain't seen nothin' yet.













SEVENTEEN











Danielle felt the breath leave her in a rush. She opened her mouth to speak, to shout a denial, or maybe to scream, but no sound emerged, so finally she just shut it again. Across the room, Laura met her burning gaze with an emotionless one, and then she gave Danielle a quick, fleeting smile, like a reassurance, that startled her into returning it.



For a moment, no one spoke, then Obi-Wan tilted his head slightly to the side, eyes narrowing.



"Funny, but I've never met you, and I'm acquainted with his other assistants. Besides, Palpatine is a very public figure these days. How could it be I've never heard of you?"



Laura met his gaze evenly, her expression revealing no hesitation or uncertainty. "I'm his personal aide, and consequently there is no need for me to attend the Senate or appear in public more than is absolutely necessary. I've no need of publicity."



"I see," he said evenly; then silence reigned for a moment more. Certainly it was not the kind of atmosphere Danielle would have expected.



At last, Danielle said, slightly choked, "So . . . how long have you held this office . . . ah . . . Laura?"



A ghost of a smile touched Laura's face, and it showed genuine warmth for the first time in the conversation. "About three years," she responded quietly. "And it's Aide McGregor to the likes of you."



"'McGregor'?" Danielle echoed, amused in spite of herself.



Laura shrugged. "Well, when one is in a pinch . . ."



Now Qui-Gon interrupted. "Pardon me, but I should very much like to know exactly what you are doing here in Danielle's company and what you have to do with her recent kidnaping."



Laura's expression turned frosty again. "Stuff the suspicion, Jedi. You don't need to worry about me--and even if you did, I'm certainly the least of your worries. I had nothing to do with kidnaping Danielle--in fact, I'm the one who rescued her . . . or, rather, helped her rescue herself. Ask her."



"She's telling the truth," Danielle hastily added. "Laura's another old friend of mine."



Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged glances. At last, Obi-Wan burst out, "Danielle, don't you think it's time you dropped the amnesia charade? All these people you remember who remember you . . . it's becoming rather clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your memory."



Before Danielle could reply, Laura looked at her quizzically. "Amnesia?"



Danielle sighed. "When I first . . . arrived here, they found me lying unconscious in a street nearby the temple. I couldn't remember where I was or how I got there . . . only my name." She looked at Laura significantly.



Laura blinked. "But you're from Naboo, right?" she said in a strange tone of voice.



"Well, yeah, I remember that now." Suddenly she realized something. "But how do you . . ." Remembering this was a thing she shouldn't discuss in front of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, she recovered rather poorly. "Uh . . . never mind."



Laura's eyebrow soared skyward. "And again I intervene to tell you, dear Jedi, that Danielle is definitely on your side. Sometimes the truth, however, actually impedes the right thing being done. Even when Danielle herself can't articulate well enough to tell you that."



Obi-Wan's suspicion turned into unwilling interest. "All right. I'll accept that for the moment. So, Danielle, why shouldn't we go on this extremely important mission the Chancellor himself requested of us?"



Danielle struggled for an answer that wouldn't give too much away. "Because . . . because it's a set-up, I'm pretty sure. That evil man who held me captive talked to me, and since he didn't think I was going to escape he implied all these things: that he intended to attack you on this mission, that there was something evil behind the trade federation--" Abruptly she gasped, remembering something. "Oh my God, Krista and Annie! He said--he told me they were in trouble, they were dying--!"



Everyone in the room instantly snapped to attention. Qui-Gon said soothingly, "Danielle, he can't possibly--" as Obi-Wan cried, "What's happening to them?" and Laura asked grimly, "Where are they?"



Ignoring them all, Danielle fumbled frantically for the lightsaber which was not, of course, at her belt. "We have to go to them, help them! That man doesn't lie--he certainly doesn't need to. He can do things, he knows things--we have to find them!"



"I certainly hope," a blessedly familiar voice drawled from the doorway, "that you weren't speaking of us. Because we are, as you of course know, perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves."



They all turned incredulously to face the door . . . and there, sure enough, were a rather worse-for-wear Dru, Annie, Krista, and Wes, the latter of whom was regarding the proceedings with resignation. Dru, who had spoken, cocked an eyebrow with a grin.



Danielle choked, "Krista! Annie!" and a very sloppy hugging reunion ensued. Over the melee, Wes remarked coolly, "I should like to point out that their concern was merited--if not for my as always timely intervention, you would undoubtedly be crispy martyrs right now."



Dru patted him on the arm consolingly. "We know, Wes, we know. We're all in awe of your skills. All hail the mighty Wesley and all that. We're just too busy to grovel at your feet right now."



As the three girls separated, the room's other occupants looked on in wonder. "You're all right," Danielle said tearfully. "I was so worried . . . that evil man said . . ."



"Man? What man?" Krista said, bemused. "There weren't any men where we were. Just spindly people and munchkin werewolves. Kinda made me miss just plain old 'evil men,' really."



This statement was generally ignored. "You've returned early," Qui-Gon said to Wes in some surprise. "The Council didn't think you'd be back for another month at least."



"Well, our darling prophet here convinced me to return home in all haste," Wes replied, gesturing at Annie. "And we all know not to ignore her advice."



Danielle, meantime, had discovered an interesting thing. "Uh, guys? Why is your clothing singed? And--Krista--I think some of your hair--"



As Krista examined her hair in alarm, Annie simply laughed. "We didn't even have time to change, we pell-melled it back here so quick," Dru said, with no small amount of annoyance. "To, of course, meet some emergency situation of which I see no evidence. Well, ladies?"



"We made it in time," Annie said, relieved, pointing to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. "They haven't left yet."



"You're trying to stop us leaving, too?" Qui-Gon said, amazed. "How many people in this group can see the future, exactly?"



"In this particular circumstance," Laura drawled, speaking for the first time since the others' arrival, "I believe that would be all of us."



The newcomers turned and looked at her, surprised that they hadn't noticed her earlier--and Annie's jaw dropped slightly as Krista's eyes bugged.



For a moment, no one spoke--then, finally, Laura cracked, a faint smile appearing on her face and her eyes glistening suspiciously. "Hey, babes. How's it going?"



Annie whispered, "Laura!" at the same time Krista choked, "Buddy!" They stared at her for a moment longer; then, with the momentum of a shotgun, Krista launched herself at Laura, knocking the much larger girl clean off her feet. Annie wasn't much behind.



"You're alive, you're here, you're alright!" Krista yelped joyously, gleefully strangling her friend. "We thought--Goddammit, Laura, you gave us a scare!"



Annie wrapped her arms more gently around the mass entity that Laura and Krista had now become. "I'm so glad you're all right," she agreed, beaming. "Now we're all here at last."



Laura, naturally, replied, "Ughhmmafffuggff!" which was all that she was capable of replying while Krista had her in such a tight grip.



Krista drew back slightly, allowing Laura to both breathe and use her arms to hug her friends back. "Gods, you guys don't know how much I've missed you."



Annie drew back, looking suddenly indignant. "Don't you? So you were here all along, huh?"



Laura looked at her, surprised. "Well, most of the time, yes."



Krista narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute. Do you mean to tell me we went on that freaking mission--did all that crappy stuff like fighting squirrels and being burned at the stake--for *nothing*? You were here THE WHOLE TIME?"



Laura was fighting a snarky grin with little success. "All this," she gestured at their crispy-fried and otherwise unkempt appearances, "because you went looking for me? I'm touched, really I am. I was gallantly rescuing Danielle here at the same time you were trying to rescue me. My knights in shining armor! So it's love all around then. Yay."



Dru scratched her head, a rather comical effect on the haughty-featured young woman. "Uh . . . I thought we went on that mission to investigate Kamino, not to look for some girl. And last time I checked it was *my* mission." When they all just stared at her, Dru turned to Wes. "I'm not crazy, right, Wes?"



"No, I though that too, Dru. Guess we're just out of the loop."



"Anyway," Obi-Wan said rather loudly, "don't you think it's time we got back to the point at hand? Young Aide McGregor here--" He was cut off mid-sentence as Annie guffawed and Krista snorted loudly. "What?" he asked, mildly irritated.



"It's just--Aide McGregor?" Krista giggled evilly, a feat which she was astonishingly good at. "Gettin' a little ambitious, aren't we, Laura? And since when are you an Aide?"



Laura shrugged. "As I told Danielle, I was inspired by my . . . unusual circumstances. And I've been an Aide for no less than three years."



Again there was silence as the newcomers absorbed this fact. "Three years?" Annie said quietly. "Oh, Laura. We . . ."



"I know," Laura said, waving her aside. "Danielle and I have already discussed all this."



"Wait a minute," Krista said suddenly. "Aide . . . ?"



"To Senator Palpatine," Laura returned expressionlessly.



Krista just looked blank as Annie stared. "Oh," she said at last. "Okay. Good to know."



"Wait a minute," Krista cut in suddenly, her voice unwarrantedly loud. "Isn't that the dude who--?"



"Yes!" Danielle cut her off sharply.



"Well," Krista said, a little annoyed, "it sounds like we've been missing all the fun. What's been happening while we were gone?"



"Quite a bit," Laura shrugged, amused. "Too bad you were off rescuing me."



"Since," Wes suddenly cut in loudly, "there doesn't seem to be any particular emergency at this moment, would anyone mind if we reported to the Council? I believe they need to hear of this unusual chain of events?" He looked pointedly at Laura, who met his gaze with some surprise. "And you, young lady, have quite an interesting story to tell, I think."



A strange, almost hunted expression flickered across Laura's face. "No. I . . . I'd rather not meet the Council, at least not yet. I have business elsewhere anyway, so if no one minds--"



As she began edging sideways toward the door, Krista's arm suddenly shot out and grabbed her, holding her fast. "I don't think so," Krista said threateningly. "You're not going anywhere, not after we just found you."



When it seemed Laura was making a sincere effort to free herself from Krista's grasp, Danielle immediately went to her other side, penning her in. "No, really. You can stay here in our apartment and rest up a while." As Annie joined them, effectively entrapping Laura, Danielle said, "We insist."



Laura looked at them all, a vaguely panicked expression on her face, before she suddenly straightened, shrugging. "Well. It's all the same to me. I'll be here when you get back."



"We're not quite that stupid," Danielle said warningly. "I think we'll just stay here with you, if you don't mind."



For a moment Laura looked at them, astonished, before she suddenly grinned. "Well, I seem to have been outmaneuvered. Very well, ladies. We'll have a little chat."



"Jolly good," Wes drawled, clearly impatient with the proceedings. "If everyone is now thoroughly satisfied with the state of affairs, let us proceed before we are removed from the active duty roster for being remiss in our duties."



Qui-Gon shot Danielle a worried look. "Danielle--"



"It's all right, Qui-Gon," Danielle said soothingly, "we'll explain when you get back." She gave Laura a little jostle, making the other girl jump slightly. "Won't we?"



Laura smiled feebly. "Hoo boy, yeah."







As soon as the Jedi had departed, not without a lingering stare at Laura from Wes and Dru, the three girls released Laura.



"So," Krista said, serious for once, "three years, huh? How does that work?"



"Well, I was thirty or so years in the future," Annie said with a shrug.



Laura looked at her in shock. "Wait a minute. You were in the *future*?"



"Well, yeah." She beamed at Laura. "I was a diva, on Tatooine. And, oh, oh! I met Luke!"



Laura stared at her in shock and what probably was jealousy. "Luke *Skywalker*?"



"The very same. And ghostly Obi-Wan, too. They were both really nice."



"That's cool, but . . . how did you get here? Or now, I suppose is the right question."



"Funny, I wondered that myself. We think the scary man who kidnaped Danielle sent me back, because he's the last thing I remember before waking up in this time. Then I met Dru and Wes, and now I'm here." She shrugged.



Laura's eyes narrowed. "That man does get around, doesn't he? Ah, well. And you, Krista? What have you been up to?"



Krista scowled, but her eyes were sparkling. "I have been a handmaiden, thank you very much."



Laura stared for a moment, then a grin fought its way to the surface. "No, really."



"I'm not kidding. Fancy dresses, makeup, and the whole shebang. Wanna see a pirouette?"



"Very much!" Laura said enthusiastically, but Danielle cut her off sternly. "Maybe some other time. We have more important stuff to talk about now."



Laura looked appropriately abashed, but Krista was unrepentant. "So that's where we were all sent, I guess. But why? "



Annie shrugged. "Apparently we were just sent to whatever time our necklaces felt like sending us."



"No," Laura said, and the decisiveness in her voice startled them all. "They sent us to exactly where we were needed, and nowhere else."



They stared at her. "You sound so certain," Danielle said, suspiciously.



"Well, that's because I am." When Danielle remained skeptical, Laura sighed. "Look, I've been here a while longer than you guys, right? I've had a fair amount of time to research, and I pretty much know what's going on."



"You do?" Krista said, shocked. Then, deciding there was no use in beating around the bush, she asked, "Well, what *is* going on?"



Laura looked shifty again. "That's . . . really complicated to explain."



"But you know how we can get home!" Annie said suddenly, the shock of it overwhelming her.



"Well, that one's pretty obvious," Krista snorted. "Now that we're all here, we just join our pretty necklaces together again and ZAP!--we're right back where we started, at home on earth."



"Oh, no," Laura said warningly. "It's not half so simple. If we joined these lovely necklaces together, we *would* go back where we started--but not on Earth."



When everyone just looked at her, Laura sighed impatiently. "Oh, for heaven's sake. Haven't you noticed? Annie, your pendant has a sun. Where did you go? Tatooine. Pretty appropriate, don't you think? Krista, your flower sent you to be a precious little handmaiden on Naboo. Danielle's go the symbol of the Jedi Temple--and that's exactly where she ended up. They're like homing beacons, programmed to go to exactly one spot. If we put them together again, activated them, we'd just go back to the exact location and time where we first arrived in Star Wars. And, personally," she grimaced, "I don't have any desire to relive the last three years before finding you guys again."



"So, what's it been like, living with Mister Evil Emperor himself?" Krista asked, lightly. "Maniacal laughter all the time? Black leather and spandex and chains when you're not in public? Nefarious schemes? Oh--" her face turned rapturous. "Did you have minions?"



Laura rolled her eyes deprecatingly. That single expression told her companions everything they needed to know, and they relaxed. "Torturously boring and just otherwise hideous. The man is a slimeball, but he's not an especially evil slimeball yet, so it's not like I can turn him in or anything. And even if I did have anything on him, who would believe his lowly aide? He'd snuff me out before anyone even paid me any attention. So, the last three years have been really, really bad, thanks for asking."



"I'm sorry," Annie said, genuinely sympathetic. "You don't seem to have been having as much fun as us."



"Oh, I've had my share of fun, don't worry," Laura said with a wicked grin, "but it's been tempered, let me tell you. Research, monotony, blah blah blah. It just figures I'd get the worst deal of the lot, doesn't it?"



"You did get us into this, after all," Krista reminded her. "But what I want to know about is Danielle being captured. You mentioned something about it earlier. What happened? Who captured you?"



Danielle frowned. "I was trying to research our necklaces myself and I went to this one professor's house to ask him about it, but there was an ambush waiting for me there. There were these people without faces, and they got me and took me to that same scary dude you met on Tatooine, Annie."



Annie went white. "Wait. You mean he's *here*?"



"Yes," Danielle said grimly, "living just a few minutes away from the Temple, in fact. Anyway, when I woke up he was in the room with me and he told me he knew who I was and where I was from, and that he was going to use me to get back to earth and take it over. He wants to rule the galaxy here, too, and he's got a whole bunch of the faceless people working for him--explain what those are, Laura."



Laura's face was blank. "You must know by now that he has unnatural skills, such as time travel and the ability to metamorphose. Well, that power comes from his primary ability--to strip the humanity from a person and claim it as his own. In this manner, he gains all the knowledge, intelligence, and skills of every person he strips, while he leaves them as a mere husk, only worthwhile when he commands them to take the form of someone he has previously consumed."



Annie stared, unbelieving, as Krista looked ill. "That's . . ." she began, but trailed off, unable to think of a word bad enough. "Shit," she finally whispered at last.



"Yeah," Danielle said, feelingly. "Well, he left and I tried to escape, but a bunch of his guys caught me and would have taken me back to him when Laura showed up, out of the blue. It wasn't a very good rescue," she smirked at Laura, who rolled her eyes, "but it got the job done. So here we are, now."



"Wow," Annie said reverently. "And I thought we were in trouble, being burned as witches by werewolves."



"That's pretty bad too," Laura said, eyes wide. "You'll have to tell me that whole story some day."



Danielle's expression was intent. "Not right now, though. It's good to hear you're all right, Laura, but I think we need to know what you know about these necklaces. What are they? Who made them? How do they work? How did they end up in Earth? And how do you know so much about that--that Armand character?"



"His name is Atharca, but I'm sorry," Laura said firmly. "I'm afraid there's no time for that now. Just how long do these debriefings with the Council usually last, Danielle?"



Danielle blinked. "Uh . . . Well, they're different. For a mission this long, though, they'll probably be an hour or longer."



"Perfect. Guys, I'm sorry, but this just isn't the time for explanations. We have to do something."



There was a little pause as the other three girls exchanged glances. "Do something?" Annie finally asked. "Do what?"



"There are documents, in Palpatine's estate, that pretty well incriminate him--or at least they get the ball started rolling. We need to go get them."



An instant outcry of protest rose up at this. "Us? Go there? Are you crazy?" Annie demanded. Krista asked, "What documents?" and Danielle asked, "But why now? Didn't you just say no one would listen to you if you accused him? What's the point?"



Laura blinked, but assimilated the questions fairly well. "Yes, us, Annie," she responded somewhat irritably. "I know where they are, and I know he's away from the estate for a few days, dealing with the Nubian crisis. I want you guys to go with me to watch my back and also to give me some sort of excuse for skulking around--I can pretend I'm giving some friends a little informal tour. Bad me, but no nearly so bad me as if I get caught and all I have to say is, 'well, I'm stealing incriminating documents to get your ass in jail where it belongs, so sorry', if you catch my drift."



"What documents?" Krista repeated.



"That's--well, in general, they're pretty boring. He's better at hiding the really bad stuff. They're purchase receipts, communiques with suspicious individuals, etc. But it should be enough to head this thing off for a while."



"What thing?"



Laura looked at her. "Why, the war, of course. This--the invasion of Naboo--it's the first of the chain of events that lead to the Empire and the Jedi Purge. That," she glanced at Danielle, "is the answer to why we need to do this now. Right now, Palpatine's just a little fish, and no one would understand his motivations. But with all this mess with the Trade Federation--and some of those documents include communiques with them--people will start to realize there's more going on on Naboo than they'd thought. So that's why we go, now."



"But why *right* now, while we're alone?" Annie asked. "Why not wait and take Wes and Dru with us? They seem to be pretty good at getting out of tight spots."



Laura waved her hand. "Just think about it. For one thing, if I'm just caught with a few young women my age, I can pass you off as my friends no problem. If I show up with several Jedi in tow--that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish. Besides--what if they were caught there? Do you really want Obi or Qui at Palpatine's mercy? Or those other two Jedi, for that matter?"



"No," Danielle said vehemently, and Annie and Krista remembered how she had prevented them from letting Obi-Wan meet Darth Maul. "That can't happen."



"Then you understand why I want to go now?" When their expressions remained wary, her tone turned wheedling. "Come on, it's barely a fifteen minute flight. We'll be in, out, and back again before the Jedi ever know we're gone, and we might be able to keep everything from going to Hell."



"I'll go," Danielle agreed at last. "It sounds like a good idea to me. Besides, we can all take care of ourselves."



"I will too," Krista said, loyal but clearly still unhappy with the situation.



At last, Annie sighed. "Well, if you guys are all going, I guess I will," she conceded uncertainly. "I still don't think this is a good idea, that's all."



Laura's face lit up. "Thank you guys so much," she said, and her eyes glinted with what was either tears or wicked amusement. "Come on; we need to leave as quickly as possible."



"I guess we don't need to change, then," Krista said, a little sulkily.



"No, you're fine as you are. Come on!"



As Laura beckoned them to hurry, Danielle went into her room, opened a small drawer she kept locked, and drew out her old practice lightsaber. Buckling it to her waist, she emerged, feeling somehow much more prepared.



Laura, noticing what she'd retrieved, looked at Danielle curiously. "You really do know how to use it, then?" she asked, a faint note of surprise in her voice.



"I really do. I'm a fast learner."



"Very well," Laura said. "If no one else has any weapons handy, let's go."







In the hangar bay, a brief but important scuffle ensued over who would fly the speeder. When it was finished, a sulking Krista had been stuffed into the back seat and Laura, who actually knew the way, was flying. She took them off very smoothly and soon they were on their way, seemingly as though Laura did this quite often.



"How long did you say it would be?" Annie asked, over the roar of the wind.



"About fifteen minutes. We need to park a little ways away, though, so our speeder isn't spotted, so we'll have a tiny walk."



Thirteen minutes later, in fact, Laura pulled the speeder up in a parking lot outside an extremely posh neighborhood and they exited. Palpatine's estate was on a hovering plot of land reserved only for the insanely rich, being little more than a sod and grass-covered sheet of metal on repulsorlifts that gave the illusion one was actually living on the ground. At the center of the ground was the man's house, and various other buildings were scattered nearby. The entire thing was surrounded by a huge metal fence with security cameras posted at the main gate.



After so long living in humble circumstances, the magnificence of the land was intimidating to them, and it was odd seeing trees and grass again. Laura, however, was unfazed, and led the way to the hugely and very much locked gate surrounding the entire property. Within lay green grass, lovely flower gardens, and enchantingly pruned trees. Beyond all that lay a hugely sprawling house, complete with elegant veranda, white marble columns, overlooking balconies, and excessive wings--all of which indicated enormous wealth.



Before they could ask how she meant to get them inside, Laura beckoned them over to a very tiny and well-hidden side door and opened it with a key from inside her pocket. The girls filed through onto a well-manicured lawn, and she locked the door again behind them, pocketing the key.



"Follow me," she whispered. "The man himself isn't at home, but the estate is still staffed and guarded, so we're going to take a back way."



They nodded acknowledgment, and Laura led them on a winding path behind a row of decorative bushes along the out wall. After a few minutes' walking they came to the back of the magnificent house, which had a vast porch and a perfectly trimmed emerald lawn. They darted across the open grass up to the house itself, and Laura showed them an entrance that led into the kitchen; the cooks used it to take out trash after preparing meals.



This door, being so small and inconspicuous, was unlocked, and they made it inside with little difficulty. The kitchen, an intimidating room full of modern cooking equipment which could easily have passed as torture devices, was luckily deserted at this time of day, and they passed through it unharmed.



From here Laura led them into a small passage the droid servants took the food along to the dining room, where it would be served. The dining room itself, a room vast as a ballroom with a magnificent oval table of some carved wood, was also empty except for innumerable Nubian portraits, many of Palpatine himself. When she spotted one of Amidala, Krista, disconcerted, half expected there to be a painting of the handmaidens as well. Luckily, there was not, but there was a marvelous suit of armor that Annie had to be physically dragged away from.



From the dining room Laura led them very cautiously into a long, thickly carpeted hall, also empty. The house itself seemed to be utterly deserted, and when Krista commented on this, Laura explained that not very many people remained when the Senator himself was absent. Most of his personal servants and clerks traveled with him, and extraneous members of the day staff remained at home. The droid cleaners remained, but few were programmed to even notice any intruders.



Down the hall was a staircase which Laura led them down for what seemed an eternity. At last, they reached the bottom, where there was a huge metal door with a keypad. Again, however, this proved no impediment, as Laura easily entered some type of code. The door swung open, soundlessly, and she beckoned the other three before her where they finally emerged, blinking, into a large, dimly lit room. It seemed to be utterly empty, and the far walls were so distant their exact contours were lost in shadow.



"Okay, where are we now?" Danielle asked irritably. "Don't tell me you're lost again."



Behind them, the huge door slammed shut as Laura allowed it to close. "Don't worry, we're not lost."



"Well, this isn't his office," Krista said, amused.



There was a strange rustling noise, and from behind them, Laura's voice was fathomless. "No. It isn't."



Krista turned, surprised, her mouth open to speak--and it simply stayed that way, no words emerging, when she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun.



For a moment none of them could comprehend what was happening. "Laura?" Annie said, her voice very small and unhappy. "What's going on?"



Laura, her hands unwavering on the gun, let her eyes flicker for a moment, but otherwise no emotion crossed her face. "I'm sorry," she said flatly.



Those two words were like a death knell. Instant understanding slammed into all three of the girls, and they stared at Laura in stunned horror, unable to even voice a protest through the shock. The world seemed to darken around them, as if they had strayed into a nightmare--for the sight of Laura pointing a blaster at them was simply not one that belonged in the real world, nor even this one.



Heart leaden inside her, Danielle stepped back, disbelieving. "No," she said, slowly, feeling the words catch in her throat and come out only with great difficulty. "No, this isn't right. Laura--"



Krista finally managed to tear her eyes away from the gun and look at Laura. "Laura? Buddy, have you gone nuts? What are you doing?"



This time Laura could not stop herself. An expression of genuine remorse and horror flickered across her face and was gone, nearly instantaneously. "I'm sorry," she whispered again, voice slightly ragged. After a moment, however, she recovered, and when she spoke again her voice was hard and unconcerned. "I'm afraid it was necessary to deceive you to get you here."



"Here?" Annie asked stupidly. "Why?"



Laura's eyes were cold and unforgiving--the eyes of a stranger, looking back at them from Laura's face. "You'll soon see. Now, I want all of you to step away, very slowly, and put your hands in the air."



Krista could take it no longer. "Laura, what *is* this? What's going on? Put that damn gun down and explain!"



Laura's eyes, as harsh as the winter wastelands of Hoth, flickered to hers. "What's going on is I'm taking you prisoner. You see, I'm afraid I lied to you--there are no important documents. There is no incriminating evidence. I just had to get you here without a fuss--and without those damn Jedi knowing where you'd gone. Thankfully," she smiled grimly, "you were all quite trusting, and I was quite successful."



"But why?" Annie asked, desperately. "Laura, please--"



"Enough," Laura said, and her voice was still calm but now malevolent. "No more questions. Step away, and put your hands in the air!"



For a small eternity, no one moved--then Danielle did, very rapidly. In the space of a heartbeat she stepped back and drew her lightsaber, holding it disengaged but ready before her.



Laura's expression, if it were possible, turned even blacker. "You don't want to do that, Danielle."



"Don't I?" Danielle asked, harshly. With a gesture, the gun was torn out of Laura's hands as she fumbled after it in astonishment. Sending the gun clattering into the distance, Danielle looked at Laura with equal cold fury. "You see, I really am a Jedi now, Laura. We're pretty hard to trick."



Laura stared at her, and her expression was bleak for a moment before it turned emotionless again. "I don't want to fight you, Danielle."



"Since I have a lightsaber and you're unarmed, I bet you don't," Danielle said harshly. "But we're not going to fight. You're going to lead us out of here, nice and slow, and we're all going back to the Jedi Temple, where you will tell us exactly what is going on."



Laura looked at her undaunted. "No," she said at last, "I think not." And, through the silence, she reached within the folds of her robes and drew forth a black cylinder disturbingly similar to the one Danielle carried.



Krista stared at her, uncomprehending, as Annie stepped back with a cry. Danielle, however, felt like she'd been dealt a physical blow. "Why do you have a lightsaber?" she spat, even though she feared she knew the truth. "How did you get it?"



Laura held the small cylinder disengaged in her hand, the position clearly a familiar one. "I'll say this one last time, Danielle. I don't want to fight you. Just put down your lightsaber and this can all end right now."



Danielle raised the hilt warningly, eyes fierce. "Never."



Laura's expression was equally unyielding. "Then I'm afraid you leave me no choice." And, with a strange feeling of finality, she depressed the button on her lightsaber, and a scarlet blade sprang forth.



"No," Annie said, raggedly, as Krista stared in comprehension but still disbelief. "Laura, no! What's happened to you?"



Laura glanced at them, and for a moment pain flickered into her eyes. "What happened is that the Dark Side is a tad more seductive than I might have guessed," she returned evenly. "Once you let it in, just once, it never stops whispering to you, taunting you, telling you what you really are and your true worth. After so much time, I think everyone would eventually succumb." Her smile was hard-edged and cutting, like broken glass. "And I've had a great deal of encouragement, let me tell you." Her gaze returned to Danielle, and there was little sanity in it. "Trust me when I say it's easier to just embrace it."



Danielle stared at her in utter horror, still somehow unable to comprehend what was happening. "Laura," she said at last, hating the realization that tears trembled underneath her words. "Laura, please don't do this."



"The choice whether or not to fight is yours," Laura said, coldly.



Danielle stared across the room at her friend, and for a moment the years fell away. Dreamily, she saw herself and Laura, so much younger and neither clad in black, romping on the playground at recess in first grade, playing games of animals and magic. In sixth grade, she and Laura and Krista dressed up together to celebrate the release of Star Wars and launched balloons for science class into a clear sky. In eighth grade, they and Annie frolicked together on field trips to Union Station and the art gallery, going to the movies and parties together. At graduation, they threw their caps into the air with laughter and tears, and her pictures showed them with their arms slung over each other's shoulders, grinning and laughing for the camera. In the field outside Panera, as they celebrated their last summer before college, Laura's grin, so open, loving, and familiar, sparkled as she held fourth four necklaces, and her eyes danced with the knowledge of a job well done.



Now, those same eyes stared coldly at Danielle over the blade of a lightsaber, and there was no love in them, no acknowledgment of friendship and memories shared. A sense of unreality, of pain so fierce she could barely acknowledge it, struck Danielle then . . . and with a feeling of death in her heart, she stepped forward and raised her lightsaber against Laura's own, igniting the blue blade.



And so the fight began.



Krista and Annie hastily backed away, horror and helplessness evident on their faces, as the duel began, knowing to keep well away of the lethal blades. Unarmed, they could do nothing but watch as the two swordsmen circled each other, warily, each waiting for the other to strike the first blow. Annie especially writhed because she and Laura had fenced together for many years and the memories were happy ones, lending this scene an air of cruel mockery--and beyond this, although Laura had been good, when they fenced each other Annie had always won.



Today, perhaps, that might not be the case.



Laura had spent three years in Star Wars and clearly she had spent them well. She knew the origin of their necklaces and the nature of their enemy. She knew the lay of the land and the ways of its citizens. She could pilot a speeder and she could fire a gun. Now, it became apparent that she could also wield the Force, as well as the lightsaber she held so familiarly.



Laura gave in and moved first, feinting, but Danielle was not deceived. She responded with a blow of her own--not aiming for her torso, for Danielle did not think she could hurt Laura--but a glancing one at her shoulder, which Laura effortlessly parried. Drawing back, they acknowledged the skill the other possessed, then the pace picked up in a mad flurry of thrusts, parries, and ripostes which Annie followed with knowledgeable eyes and Krista stared at slack-jawed and thunderstruck. Never before had she seen two such skilled opponents fence--and skilled they certain were. Danielle had not been training long but already the knowledge seemed to have become ingrained within her, making her movements fluid as the Force guided her actions. Good though she may be, however, she again found herself with an opponent that outmatched her--for Laura had three years on her side instead of three months, and her years of Earth fencing on top of that. For all that Danielle held her own, it became readily apparent that Laura was the more skilled of the two, and that Danielle was doomed to lose.



Danielle, however, acknowledged no such thing. When she sensed that Laura had taken her measure and was closing in to disarm or perhaps even kill her, she drew on something Obi-Wan had told her and lashed out with her foot, catching Laura squarely on her torso. Laura gave an "ooomph!" of surprise and staggered back slightly with pain, clearly caught off guard. Her face quickly returned to its usual grimness, however, and the battle resumed in earnest.



Krista could not shake the feeling that, instead of seeing two of her best friends clashing swords, she was watching an actual Star Wars film, for the crackle of the blades and the skill of the opponents seemed utterly impossible--all too real and yet unreal at the same time. Laura, adapting to Danielle's new strategy, was now kicking and dodging herself, and so the battle raged across the floor and deeper into the shadows.



After several minutes it became clear Laura intended to end the fight, and her blows suddenly became fiercer, more merciless. Danielle, in turn, stopped trying to ensure she did not injure her friend and struck out viciously, taking Laura by surprise. Danielle's thrust scored a long line of fire across her friend's side and Laura sprang back with a yell of pain and shock. Before Danielle could press her advantage, however, Laura recovered and attacked with sudden vehemence, unleashing the ruthlessness that had made her formidable in bouts on earth. When Danielle hastened to parry one thrust, Laura kicked her in one breath and slammed the hilt of her lightsaber onto Danielle's fingers in the next, making Danielle cry out in pain and nearly drop her blade. Swirling around in defense, she gave a hard, baseball-bat-like swing at Laura's undefended side, and in her haste to defend Laura did not divert the blow so much as meet it, bringing the two lightsabers locked together in a crackling strain for dominance.



Danielle, shoulders straining and sweat running down her face, glanced across the crossed blades to where Laura was equally pressed. Neither girl could claim advantage and neither would yield, and so for a timeless moment they remained locked in position in a desperate struggle for power.



Then, over the sudden lull, they heard an abrupt scream, and Danielle looked over Laura's shoulder to see the door closing behind a new arrival. She looked over at Krista and Annie, and suddenly all the breath left her body in a rush. Throwing herself back from Laura, she stood, panting, and stared in horror as Darth Maul held his double-bladed lightsaber aloft, one tip pointing directly at Krista and Annie.



Laura glanced over her shoulder, saw what had happened, and turned back to Danielle. "It's over," she said coldly. "Drop your lightsaber, now, or he will remove portions of their anatomy one by one until you decide to yield."



For a moment Danielle stood frozen, unwilling to acknowledge defeat--then with a hiss of rage she dropped her lightsaber, disengaging it as she did so.



Laura disengaged her own blade and extended a hand, calling Danielle's lightsaber to her effortlessly. "Join the others," Laura ordered.



Danielle stared at her. "Laura, is this really you?" she asked, voice shaking with rage and sorrow. "Are you still in there, or is something making you do this?"



Laura's expression seemed to crack for just a moment, but almost instantaneously the cold mask slammed back into place. "Trust me, Danielle, when I say I'm still at the helm. What? Did you really think three years living in the hell that is the household of a Sith wouldn't affect me? Well, then you are a fool. I had the great misfortune to show up out of nowhere in this house with no explanation for my arrival and an inexplicable talent for the Force--and Master Sideous is never one to waste opportunities." She cocked her head, and for a moment Danielle could see a glint of the Laura she knew within those eyes. "One can only hold out for so long, survive so much. Everyone has her breaking point." She shrugged, placing the lightsabers in her pocket, and though her voice was cool Danielle could hear the hatred and despair in it. "He found mine."



"Although I will say," a voice filled with crackling amusement came from behind them, "it was not an easy thing to do."



Neither Laura nor Darth Maul turned as Palpatine approached, glee shining out from his features, and Danielle realized with a sinking stomach he had been there, watching, all along. This had been doomed from the beginning: Laura had set a pretty trap, and they had waltzed right into it.



Walking up to Laura, Palpatine stroked her hair as one might a pet cat, and she endured it silently--Laura who hated to be touched by strangers. "Yes, this one took a while to break, but the result was worth it, don't you think? Perhaps she is not so fine a pupil as my other, but she serves her purpose, after all. And in this case, my darling," he turned Laura's head to look at him, "you have done exceptionally well."



Laura's face still held no expression. "I live to serve you, my lord."



"Indeed you do. Now, Maul, you will take the prisoners to the appointed holding cells and see that they remain there. Laura, you will come with me and we will contact our friend Atharca and give him the good news."



At this, Danielle could feel the death of every hope she had failing. Palpatine, then, was in league with the other villain instead of at odds with him. They truly were doomed, then. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon would never be able to find them before Palpatine shipped them to Atharca and he sacrificed them as planned. They would die, and this galaxy would be plunged into hell--and then, the unthinkable: so would their own.



The thought made her physically ill.



Krista and Annie stared at Laura again, incredulous, and for a moment when Krista met her eyes something in her friend's expression broke, and she could see the Laura she'd always known. She stared at them, rage, helplessness, and sorrow entwined in her gaze, and for a moment Krista felt hope clutch at her; then Palpatine gestured, and Laura's head snapped away, that same coldness settling onto her features once more.



As Darth Maul stepped forward to lead them away, malicious amusement dancing in those demonic yellow eyes, Annie cast one despairing look at her friend. "Laura!"



Laura turned, but it was Palpatine who answered. "Don't fear, ladies. She's in good hands--as are you. I'll see you when it is time for the sacrifice." Without a backward glance, he left.



Laura remained for a moment, staring at them, but her eyes were empty. Then, abruptly, she turned on her heel and strode after Palpatine, as though she no longer acknowledged their presence.



When the door closed behind her, the sound echoed in a silent room, and despair fell like a curtain of night.