Author's notes: Yes, we finally get to the Death Star! I know it took very long, but it's here!
Pandora-Moo – Okay, okay! I'm updating, I really am!
Lightman - thanx
SithKnight-Galen – I'm not insane enough to buy all the books. But maybe this won't be my last Mara fic, who knows?
Urazz – Yes, a surprise awaits. Read on.
Amylion – oh, you're not getting any spoilers! And this chapter is a bit short, so you'll really have to wait for the ending!
X X X
Chapter XV
X X X X
Since Vader wasn't going to lower himself to being our personal pilot (even though he was probably the best pilot of the three of us), I was delegated with the "honorable" task of transporting us to the Death Star – whatever crew came with Vader stayed at the outpost. They needed every man they could get. Considering that there was a rather large bunch of Rebels and furballs waiting to ambush them, I pitied them. They might die of laughter.
I transmitted the landing codes easily and landed the shuttle in one of the more "classy" hangars – a few of the Emperor's personal bodyguards were already there, probably waiting to escort us. But Vader just stormed out of the ship, ignored them completely and stalked away in his usual arrogant manner, Skywalker following obediently. I came last, nodded to the nearby staff – they immediately began attending to the shuttle – and marched to the turbolift to the throne room, which was several floors above us.
The few painful seconds of being in one small space with Vader and Skywalker went rather quietly. And then, the doors opened once more, revealing the large throne room, the large circular window showing the galaxy outside… and the assembling Imperial fleet. But we ignored the impressive architecture, the fine technology in the room. Of the three of us, only Skywalker seemed oblivious to the pitch-black throne in front of the window (which was, to some degree understandable, since it was turned away from us).
Vader and I stopped at a safe distance away from the throne – Skywalker did the same once he finally noticed what was ahead of us. In what seemed an eternity, the throne gracefully turned to us… as did the hooded figure sitting in it. Even from the distance, I clearly saw the gleaming golden eyes of the Emperor, his corpse-like skin and malevolent but satisfied smirk.
"Welcome, young Skywalker. I have been expecting you." He said simply, his intense gaze forcing Skywalker to finally look up. To the farmboy´s credit, it was quite a defiant glance he spared the Emperor. Impressive – few dared to do that. No one that I knew, actually. "You no longer need those." The Emperor motioned ever so slightly with his finger and Skywalker's binders fell away, clattering to the floor. Skywalker looked down at his own hands, as if seeing them for the first time, really. He was free to fight now, free now to reach out and grab the Emperor's neck. But he did nothing.
"Guards, leave us." While I didn't turn, I could hear the soft swishing of fabric and the soft footsteps echoing as the guards left without question. The Emperor smiled gleefully, his eyes never leaving Skywalker. "I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me Master."
"You're gravely mistaken. You won't convert me as you did my father." Skywalker still didn't seem to be frightened. Well, at least until the Emperor got down from his throne and walked up very close to him, looking into his eyes. My gaze dropped to the floor.
"Oh, no, my young Jedi. You will find that it is you who are mistaken...about a great many things." The Emperor noted, with mock pity.
"His lightsaber." For the first time, Vader made his presence known, extending his hand and holding out the aforementioned saber to the Emperor, who took it, glancing at it.
"Ah, yes, a Jedi's weapon." He noted, almost nonchalantly. "Much like your father's. By now you must know your father can never be turned from the Dark Side." I sense those gleaming eyes try to find mine… but I knew better that show such defiance. At least, I think it would be defiance. "You have seen glimpses of the Dark Side in yourself ever since you met another faithful servant of mine, haven't you?"
Finally, I was brave enough to risk a glance up. It was a bad idea – the Emperor was still gazing directly at me and his smile (if it could be called that) widened at the flash of fear I felt passing through me like electricity. "Loyalty can only be rewarded, Mara." There was something… something like pride in his voice. Or at least I thought so. He seemed content that I passed this test. "But do not forsake your fear. It leads to anger, anger to hate, hate to suffering… suffering to power." His gaze became even more intense, if that was even possible.
"That is the single line that old fool forgot to imprint into your mind, isn't it?" Venom was dripping from his words when he mentioned Yoda. I quickly looked back down – I was frightened. I wasn't sure what he wanted to do with me. "He has succeeded in preserving the teachings of the weak… through you, hoping that you would understand them in time, hoping that when he would show you the past, you would forsake the future." His voice was a hiss… and the pause that followed was just as terrifying. "Now you know what could have been. And still you have returned." His eyes finally moved back to Skywalker. I exhaled quietly. "So will it be with you."
I completely ignored the situation for the next few moments – not that anything interesting happened, really. I was too busy trying to comprehend what had just happened. Was this… mercy? No, not mercy. This was a test. He was testing me, just as he was testing Skywalker.
"Your overconfidence is your weakness." I heard Skywalker saying.
"Your faith in your friends is yours." Was the Emperor's accurate reply.
"It is pointless to resist, my son." Vader noted, quite tonelessly. I turned my attention to him – I wasn't sure what the Emperor intended to do, but it doubtlessly involved both Skywalkers in the room.
"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design." The Emperor was beginning to sound angry… angry because Skywalker was more naïve than he seemed at first glance. "Your friends up there on the Sanctuary Moon..." The farmboy´s neutral expression wavered for a split second. Naturally, the Emperor noticed it. "...are walking into a trap. As is your Rebel fleet! It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them."
Skywalker's look darted from the Emperor to Vader, to me and, finally, to the saber in the Emperor's hand. "Oh...I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive." I was almost certain that Skywalker would crack after hearing this mocking tone. Through the round window behind the Emperor's throne, the distant flashes of the space battle in progress were visible. The Emperor sat down, Vader standing at his right, I at his left. If Skywalker would try anything, he wouldn't have an easy job doing it. "Come, boy. See for yourself."
Almost obediently, Skywalker moved to look through a small section of the window. "From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance, and the end of your insignificant Rebellion." I could clearly sense Skywalker´s torment. So much for Jedi calmness and keeping one's emotions off their face. The Emperor watched with a smile as Skywalker once again glanced at his lightsaber, and touched it slightly. "You want this, don't you?" It wasn't really a question – he knew it. "The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger. With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant."
Vader and I were silent, motionless, expressionless, like two statues, both watching Skywalker mercilessly. "No!"
"It is unavoidable. It is your destiny. You, like your father, are now mine!" Another Rebel ship exploded against the protective shield. More fireworks. "As you can see, my young apprentice, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station." Palpatine pressed a button on his throne, activating the commlink. "Fire at will, Commander."
I was almost as shocked as Skywalker – I knew the station would soon be operational, but this soon? We both looked out across the surface of the Death Star to the Rebel fleet beyond. What happened a few seconds later was almost incredible. Several piercing green laser beams, combined in one, shot out of the Death Star, destroying a Rebel cruiser with a single shot. My eyes widened a bit. This wasn't a battle… it was a massacre.
Out of the window and on the view screens, the Rebel fleet was being decimated in blinding explosions of light and debris. But in here there was no sound of battle. It was terrifying, in a sense. As if everything fell silent… now that I was able to feel the Force strongly, I sensed the lives that were being ended, the screams of dozens… hundreds… and then, only silence. And the sounds echoed too loudly. I couldn't shut them out, even as I closed my eyes to focus.
"Your fleet has lost. And your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. There is no escape, my young apprentice. The Alliance will die... as will your friends." I saw only through the Force now, but I suppose I didn't really need to see more. I saw anger, rage, coming from Skywalker. "Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenseless." If the situation wasn't so serious, I would have snorted out loud. "Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the Dark Side will be complete." The last resistance dropped at that moment. In an instant, I could hear a lightsaber igniting. I reached for my own, but I could feel a cold hand grasp mine, like a command to stop. And I obeyed, even as Vader's lightsaber flashed to life, blocking Skywalkers's blow before it could reach the Emperor. The two blades sparked as their battle began.
"This is not your battle, Mara." The Emperor noted, quietly, almost softly, as he let my hand go. "Not yet." I wasn't sure I wanted to know what he meant by that.
