Masquerade

Part Two

The Sur' Jet was the biggest dive in Mos Eisley- and that was saying something. It didn't have good booze, like the Paradise. Nor was it backed by a spaceport like the Blockhouse. In fact, the only thing it had going for it was that its scummy clientele were all either too drunk or too spaced to notice anyone coming or going.

And that suited Ash just fine. She wasn't here to make friends. All she needed was to finish this one job and then she could fly off this Sith-cursed rock. She hated Tatooine, hated the heat and the wind and the Hutts that controlled it all with an iron fist. She'd like to find the man who killed Jabba and give him a medal. She'd like to plunge into the freezing waters of home and not come out until her skin was blue. She'd like to see her son's smiling face again.

But wishing wasn't going to make her five million credits, so she pulled her cloak tightly around her body and drifted casually into the cantina. She appropriated a drink from a waiter's tray and slid into a seat in the shadows next to the door.

"Where the hell have you been?" the man seated opposite her whispered furiously.

She shrugged. "Streets are hot, Imps all over. I heard Vader was here."

"Yeah, and the Emperor's showing up next week," her companion said sarcastically. "Do you have it?"

"Of course." Ash snorted contemptuously. She pulled a small cube out of a pouch hanging at her side and showed it to Ellifrit. He reached for it but she snatched it back and returned it to her pouch.

"What's the plan?"

Ash would normally never let a tri'vek, particularly a male, tell her what to do. She worked alone and liked it that way. But Ellifrit had offered her a share in the bounty if she could get the item for him and Ash needed that money. She watched him now, as he outlined him plans to her. He had the wild eyes and fervent voice of a fanatic. Stars, why did I agree to this? Ash asked herself for the millionth time. But she knew why. That many credits could buy a lot of medicine. It might even buy a cure for Hylen. She would do anything for her boy, anything.

"Fine," she said when he finished. "Just make sure you keep your end of the bargain."

"Five million credits," Ellifrit said, baring yellowing teeth at her. Ash stood up, revolted.

"I'll meet you at the hanger at the arranged time."

"Don't be late," Ellifrit warned her retreating back.

Necessity makes you pick strange bed-partners, Ash reflected as she walked into the bright Tatooine sun. Still, it wouldn't be too much longer.

Then I'll be home. Then I'll be with Hylen, she promised herself.


Darth Vader stepped into the throne room and approached his master, who sat regarding the pale green moon of Endor out of the viewport window. The Emperor gave no sign of acknowledgement, though he must have sensed his apprentice's presence; he just sat gazing out at the vista beyond him. Vader knelt behind his master's chair and waited. He did not mind waiting. It gave him a chance to open himself to the powerful Force-energy that swirled around his master like electricity around a conduit. It was darkness of the densest sort, a black hole of power, and Vader longed to immerse himself in it, to dispel the doubts and confusion that lurked in the corners of his soul.

But he dared not. He was not ignorant of his master's plot to capture his son, to turn the boy himself and replace his old apprentice with a newer one. He was not hurt by this knowledge; loyalty was an alien emotion to a Sith. But he must be on guard. He dared not lose control, for to lose control was to lose power and a loss of power now, at this critical junction, would be worse than reckless. It would be suicide.

So Darth Vader buried his disquiet deep down and waited.

And waited.

It was he who broke the silence first. "What is thy bidding, my master?"

He had been careful to keep the impatience from his voice but the Emperor heard its echo nonetheless. He turned his chair slowly to face his apprentice, a small smile playing on his thin lips.

"Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for."

"And what of the reports of the Rebel fleet amassing near Sullust?"

The Emperor made a negating gesture. "It is of no concern. Soon the Rebel fleet will be crushed and young Skywalker-" Vader tried not to flinch at that hated name, "-will be one of us. Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders."

"Yes, my master." Vader rose and exited, striding down the corridors to his shuttle. In short order he was back on the Executer. He made his way to the command deck and stood gripping the handrail and staring into the infinity of space. He had hoped that he would be given permission to go after his son again. He knew, as the Emperor did, that the boy was too powerful to be left to his own devices. He must be turned or destroyed. And yet Vader found a strange comfort in the boy's defiance. It had been a very long time since he had faced an equal in combat. Now that the boy's training was complete, well...

"Lord Vader?" The Dark Lord turned to see a junior officer rushing up to him, holding a data pad.

"Lieutenant Florin."

The man fumbled mid-step, surprised that his superior knew his name. Vader felt himself smile beneath the mask. It wasn't as though he had either the time or the inclination to memorize the named of all the officers under his command; he had simply plucked it from the man's mind.

"My Lord," Florin said, recovering quickly. "Command has just received a communiqué from the unit commander on Tatooine. It contained a name on your flagged list, sir. Here are the details." He handed Vader the data pad.

Vader scanned the contents, his eyes stopping on the name -Anakin Skywalker.

"Lieutenant." The vocoder did not allow the snarl in his voice to make its way through. It didn't need to. The junior officer paled. "Who is the commander of the base on Tatooine?"

"Ensign Madrick, sir." Vader's eyes narrowed. An ensign?

"Very well. Ready my shuttle. And inform Ensign Madrick that I will be arriving shortly."

"Yes sir." Florin rushed away to do his commander's bidding, leaving the Dark Lord alone to contemplate his fury. Vader had never thought to visit Tatooine again. He hated that place and the memories it evoked. To think of someone in that place using that name was intolerable. He would have to go there himself to deal with the interloper.

Oh yes, Vader vowed to himself. The pretender will pay for this outrage.


Leia Organa put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples, trying to get rid of the headache that had plagued her for days. She had arrived at the rendezvous point four days ago and the problems had been non-stop. Preparing a fleet of this magnitude for battle was a massive undertaking, and Admiral Ackbar had relied heavily on her organizational skills. Mon Mothma had informed her on her arrival of the capture and subsequent torture of a half dozen of their Bothan spies. General Madine was worried about a prison break that had occurred nearly a month ago from the Alliance prison on Zanabar. They had hoped to use the captured Imperial officers as hostages in an exchange for the Bothans, but Zanabar was an ice world and all the escaped officers were lost and considered dead.

And then there was Luke. Leia knew that Luke would act on the information that she'd given him; he would follow his father to Tatooine. Leia did not blame him. He had dreamed for so long of his father, the brave Jedi who had been a hero in the Clone Wars. But time was running short. They needed him and his abilities for this battle. She needed him.

It was strange how close she felt to him. There were times that she almost thought she could hear him speaking in her dreams. In waking moments, she knew this was foolish. She was no Jedi. Luke had a power she did not possess and could never understand. But sometimes...sometimes she felt something, a strange buzzing on the periphery of her consciousness. And right now she felt that buzzing like a ship beacon in an asteroid field. Something was wrong.

Leia sighed. It would do no good to worry about Luke. He would join them when he could. She just couldn't get past the feeling that he was in danger somehow.

"Hey Princess, have you seen-" Han broke off as he came around the corner of the rec room and saw her. "You okay?" he asked uncertainly.

"I'm fine," she said, lifted her head and giving him a wan smile.

"You don't look fine. You look tired." Leia gave him a look that clearly said drop it and changed the subject.

"General Madine was looking for you earlier. What is that about?"

Solo managed to look embarrassed. "Nothing. Just something we're working on. No big deal."

She gave the smuggler a skeptical look. "Uh-huh." She turned back to the data pad in her hand, which showed Mothma's plan for the attack force on Endor. The lines of text swam in her vision. Leia switched the pad off and set it back down on the table with another sigh. She felt strong hands on her shoulders, gently massaging.

"Han?"

"Shhh," he said softly. He increased the pressure on her sore muscles and Leia felt her tension ease, her tired body finally relaxing. She allowed her eyes to fall closed. Those magic hands were pulling her back into Han's body and she did not resist. She felt his arms come around her, holding her tightly. She sat in the circle of his arms for a long time.

Luke was gone. The fleet was not ready. But it didn't matter. Nothing could touch her here. The Princess allowed herself to be soothed and finally fell into a deep sleep.