Author's notes: 10th chapter already. Whoa. Thanks for all reviews – praise or criticism is welcome, so keep on reviewing!
SithKnight-Galen – thanks. It's tough, but worthwhile.
Sithspawned – Read the chapter to get your answer for the first question. As for the second, yes, there will be changes, certainly. Many thanks and read on.
Maralover –I probably went a bit overboard with that, huh? Time to get back to the safe haven of realism! But don't worry – things get a little less focused on Mara from now on. Mara is more of an observer, though she does have an impact. You think I hate Luke? I don't hate him. I actually like him. Mara doesn't. Not from the start, anyway. And I actually thought I was going soft on him…
Urazz – double review, yes? Well, I appreciate the encouragement and the criticism as well. I'll try to balance it in the later part of the fic. I want them to be – as you said – equal forces.
X X X
Chapter X
X X X X
From the mud ball to the traitor pit. I guess that's what the trip to the Rebel "base" could be called. A moving base at that – it was a cruiser. Naturally, the presence of an Imperial TIE struck the perimeter guards as suspicious, but Skywalker told them a little story about a detour, an ambush and how he rescued the "damsel in distress". So I had to keep gritting my teeth all and biting my tongue while he spoke. I suppose I also left some marks on the ship's controls when I was gripping them tightly.
I've seen Rebel bases before, but it still was somewhat fascinating to see this one intact and filled with people. Some gave me quizzical (and some of the less sane men even interested) stares. My cold glare silenced any possible remarks. Some seemed to be on the verge of cheering for Skywalker. At least the farmboy himself seemed quite uncomfortable with that, even though he didn't let it show on his face. I smirked slightly at that.
"Why do I get the feeling I won't like the reason for that smirk?" he suddenly asked, though he kept walking and his gaze was fixed on the end of the corridor.
"Because you won't." I said bluntly. I didn't tell him the reason, though. I think he figured that out fine on his own. We didn't talk at all from the moment we gained entrance to the base – Skywalker just introduced me. Hearing my real name being told to an enemy unsettled me slightly, but then I realized that I wasn't on a mission for the Empire anymore. These were my allies now. Useless and incompetent allies, but allies nonetheless.
Before we left Dagobah, we discussed many things about the Jedi. Obi-Wan explained the entire process of creating and using a Force Bond to me – something I was quite interested in. It was how Yoda imprinted some of his memories into my mind, after all. And also the way the Emperor contacted me.
A Force bond can only be forged between two people strong in the Force, either by an important event or when one person decides to form it, though they have to be extremely strong in the Force. I suppose I realized soon enough that my bond with the Emperor and the temporary link with Yoda that overshadowed it later were the results of the second possibility. Obi-Wan also explained why I felt so confused. The memories Yoda gave me were, well, memories – it was like a holonovel, really. I could see them as my own memories, recall teachings, events or people, but it was beyond my capabilities to reproduce any of the "miracles" Yoda did. Like, oh say, absorbing Force Lightning. So, in short, I was better when it came to theory, Skywalker was better in praxis.
It was actually amusing. I knew he's probably stronger in the Force than me, being the son of Vader and all that, but it was me who would get to boss him around, not the other way around. Well, for the most part. Our shaky truce was reformed – so long as the whole thing about Vader, the Emperor and the fate of the galaxy ("Ooh, destiny!" as Yoda would probably joke.) wasn't resolved, we'd stick together and try not to kill each other. That doesn't mean that I won't tease him, however. I suppose he's more use to me alive than dead - while he could probably take on Vader, I'd probably end up hovering five inches in the air, choking. Vader would have no qualms in killing me. Killing his son, however, was a different matter entirely. Especially after what Skywalker told me about their encounter on Bespin. Since he did tell me something new, I also gave him some info – I told him about the Emperor and what I knew of Vader's "loyalty" to him.
We finally got to what I supposed was the audience chamber, since there were a lot of people in there. I could sense the Force within one of them… but I shrugged that thought off. The person probably didn't know and if they did, they were just some Jedi wannabe. Skywalker stopped and finally glanced at me. He didn't even need to say it – I could practically see the question in his eyes. "Are you ready for this, Mara?"
"Ready for fraternizing with the enemy and giving away top secret information to a bunch of Rebels? As ready as I'll ever be, Skywalker." He didn't seem to mind my teasing, judging by the small smile he gave me before turning away and walking into the chamber. A funny thought came to me – we were both dressed completely in black, with the exception of my cape, but the frosty light violet wasn't too comforting, either. I'm sure Palpatine would be proud of us right now.
I walked into the chamber just in time to see Organa lunge herself at Skywalker. Considering their relationship, it wasn't surprising. When the embrace ended, I had to step out of the background, since Skywalker beckoned me closer. One didn't need the Force to watch the surprise appear in the room. There was no hostility in it, however, which struck me as odd. Imperials wouldn't reply… non-violently… to strangers.
"I'd like you all to meet Mara Jade – another student of Master Yoda." Skywalker said, not so formally. Obviously, most of the people around us were either friends of his or respected him. Meanwhile, I scanned the room. If by any chance I'd get uncomfortable and try to massacre my way to the control room and fly the ship to the Empire, I'd have a chance of taking out at least half of the people in here.
Why wasn't I surprised when Skywalker´s group were the first to get up and come greet me?
Solo was the first to get to me – Organa drifted into the background, eying me slightly suspiciously. Well, I suppose stupidity doesn't run in this happy family completely, huh? The mother's genes must have kicked in.
"Han Solo. I'm a friend of Luke's." Oh really? "Nice to meet you." We shook hands. He was a typical scoundrel, really. Kinda like me in some ways, but he didn't have the… charm I do. That sounded a bit egoistical, but when you compare a merc to an Im… a Jedi, this is what you find out. But otherwise, I thought we might get along fine.
I knew Wookiees don't shake hands, but the ear-shattering roar Chewbacca let out nearly knocked me out. I can understand Shyriiwook, so I knew he greeted me. I have to remember not to stand so close to him. I'm not sure I could handle another roar… or another dose of his breath. It was one of those moments when you really regret that Wookiees don't brush their teeth, either.
Next was Calrissian, whose smile I didn't trust for a second. Does he really think I can't tell when a guy's hitting on me? "I'm Lando Calrissian, charming to meet you, Mara." He said, and actually kissed my hand.
I couldn't help it, I really couldn't. "Try that again and you just might find yourself kissing a lightsaber blade." I replied sweetly. Solo snorted with laughter – Chewbacca didn't bother holding back a chuckle. Skywalker smiled, but looked at his boots. Even Organa´s glare softened – obviously, I wasn't the only victim. So, probably fortunately, she stepped in front of Calrissian and also greeted me, before he had a chance to say anything else.
"Leia Organa, pleased to meet you." She then arched an eyebrow. "Pardon me if I seem suspicious, but the Jedi Purge took place years ago. I would assume a Jedi would make herself known to the Rebellion. That's the only little detail that doesn't fit into Luke's little story." I suppose that was the inevitable remark.
"I became a student of Yoda´s about two days ago, Galactic Standard." I said flatly. "Without going into too much detail, I was an Imperial… specialist." I noticed some of the security guards´ hands move for their weapons – they were more stupid than I thought. I was outnumbered and outgunned here. "That is, until Yoda kicked the crap out of me and beat some sense into my thick head." I said flatly. "I don't expect you to believe my word for it, but I'm willing to help you here. And if your guards haven't noticed, I'm showing no signs of hostility, so could you tell them that the riffles pointed at my head are unnecessary?" There was no riffle pointed at me yet, but I could really see they were on edge of doing so.
Organa´s eyes moved through the room and I could sense a silent command. They actually obeyed her – I wasn't surprised. When comparing common sense to the fear of the resident ice princess´ temper, I could guess what had the greater value.
I could finally see the holoprojector in the center of the room – and the image of a familiar space station hovering a few inches above it. I smirked. "So, you've finally received the information? I always knew Bothans were slow messengers, but this was really sluggish."
The Mon Calamari admiral (I noticed the admiral pins on his uniform quickly) seemed really surprised. But it was the mid-aged human female that was one of the few people I recognized in the room that spoke. "How did you know Bothans brought us the Death Star's location?"
"The same way I know that you've been told about the shield generator, the defense systems, and the Emperor's visit, Senator Mothma." I said calmly, holding back my widening smirk. Somewhat unsuccessfully, I might add.
Mon Mothma was the only one in the room who maintained a calm face… with the exception of the Mon Calamari, perhaps. Their faces were hard to read. "Who else knows about this?" the Rebel Senator asked, obviously using all her willpower to keep her voice beyond the level of a terrified shriek.
"The man who came up with the entire idea of this little trap, of course." I paused, but received only blank looks. I rolled my eyes. Such ignorance. Who, pray tell, had enough strategic sense to come up with a plan to destroy the Republic and the Jedi both? And now wanted to destroy the Rebellion? Isn't that hint enough? "The Emperor." The "duh" look I gave everyone went unnoticed. They were too busy being terrified. The waves of horror I felt through the Force were interesting – shows just how perfect the Imperial plans were. Makes you wonder what the Rebels´ reaction to the trap would be, if I hadn't told them about it.
"So you are saying we're walking into a trap, but if we don't, we'll be crushed anyway?" Solo asked. My sweet smile confirmed that theory for him. "This saving the galaxy thing just keeps getting better by the minute." He muttered, sitting down once again.
"We can't use our plan, then." the Mon Calamari admiral noted. "It's too risky."
"And it's not certain whether our code is intact, either." A human officer noted.
"Unless…" I thought out loud. The idea I've thought of was risky, but it could very well work. "May I suggest something?" I asked the admiral. He nodded. "I'm not sure about your "code", but I know the most up-to-date Imperial sequences. I could get you past the blockade without drawing much attention.
"And how would you manage that?" the human officer asked, raising an eyebrow. "Even most Imperials have no idea of the newest codes. And forgive me my doubts, but I'm not sure you're close enough to the Emperor not to draw attention." Sexism. Another of those idiots who can't imagine a female Imperial.
"One – the TIE fighter I flied here could make you seem to be believable Imperials. Two – that's true, but my source is most reliable and three – few know of my existence in the Empire… but I would assume the Emperor knows his Force trained agents." I said with a sweet smile.
"Force trained agents? So the Hands exist after all?" Mon Mothma inquired with interest.
"You're speaking with one right now." After that statement, several hours of going through Rebel plans and strategies followed. I found some mistakes in them, but as I said, the Emperor was bound to find more. If there's one thing I found out about the Rebellion during those few hours, it was that subtlety wasn't their strong side.
Some of them remained skeptical, either because of my background or my behavior… but I suppose they didn't doubt me anymore, after all those procedures. They certainly saw I knew what I was doing. I actually had a fun time, teasing the lower ranking Rebels (mainly Skywalker) and correcting the higher ranking ones.
Several hours later, I guess I became an official Rebel and got a "tour" of their plans. And it felt… right. That was weird. But the feeling instantly disappeared when I finally sat down in a quiet place in the hangar.
"Mara Jade." On a Rebel starship, on an Outer Rim dustball or in the Imperial Palace – it didn't matter. The Emperor's booming voice always sounded the same. I shifted on the spot, glanced around me to see if anyone was watching before nervously closing my eyes.
"Yes, my Master?" The following silence seemed to last for an eternity.
