Chapter 31
The Dagger returned to where it had left Coruscant, on the same isolated landing platform. The ship landed the Mara walked out. She looked around but saw no one nearby, and when she reached into the Force there was barely anyone at all nearby. She reached out further into the Imperial Senate building. She felt the clones throughout the building and she even felt Nexus inside. Her son however was no where to be found. She quickly entered the building, the clones not giving her any trouble as she was the Emperor's hand. She did not need secrecy now. She made her way to her Master's presence. He was not in his traditional throne room, the room that had once belonged to the Chief of State. He was sitting in a different throne overlooking the outside through a window. Twilight was falling outside.
"Welcome back, my Hand," Nexus said.
Mara kneeled right behind her master's chair. "I am sorry, my master, but Solo still lives," Mara said. "I have failed."
The throne swiveled around. "Do not worry," Nexus said and put his hand under Mara's chin, lifting her head up. "You will never fail me again."
"Yes, master." Mara said.
"Rise." Nexus commanded and Mara stood.
"Go lead our squadrons in the coming battle," Nexus said. "With you there we cannot fail."
"I will master," Mara said. "But first there is something I must do."
"What is that?" Nexus asked.
"Destroy you!" Mara said as her lightsaber ignited and she brought it down on Nexus in a flash. A red blade intercepted hers. Fier appeared next to Nexus, his red blade blocking Mara's own.
"I do not know how you broke my hold over you," Nexus said as the blades crackled together. "But it no longer matters. I felt your change of heart as you approached. Strange that I did not feel it sooner." Fier pushed Mara blade back, allowing Nexus to stand. "I am leaving to oversee the coming battle. I am looking forward to it. Lord Fier, I leave you to finish off the last Skywalker." Nexus left. Fier and Mara stood still for what seemed an eternity and stared into each other's eyes.
"What this your plan all along?" Fier asked. "Make it seem your were still loyal, then kill the Emperor behind his back? That's pretty low and dirty for a Jedi."
"You would know," Mara said. "Ben, let me help you. I know you have done terrible things but we can make things right."
"Is that the best you can do?" Fier snickered. "All the Jedi that have tried to help me have failed; they are all dead. And soon, Skywalker, you will join them!"
The lightsaber clashed against each other, sizzling with each strike. Fier pressed the attack but Mara did not go completely on the defensive. While blocking the attacks she Force pushed Fier's lightsaber briefly out of the way and attacked with her own. Fier brought his back before she could strike him. Fier Force pushed as well but Mara's blade intercepted the Force and blocked it. Fier started to attack again, coming wildly at Mara, who somersaulted over the Sith and brought her lightsaber down from above. Fier blocked the attack at the last moment and then swiped at Mara with his blade. She dropped down to the ground and Fier readied to bring his blade down to skewer him. Mara saw the blade coming and instinctively brought her leg up in between Fier's legs. His light saber stopped and Fier doubled over in pain. Mara took the chance to crawl out of the way. She stood close to the window.
"Just like a Jedi," Fier wheezed. "To take a cheap shot."
"I don't want to fight you." Mara said.
"You don't have a choice," Fier said as he recovered. "Prepare to join your husband." Fier's blade connected with Mara's and they stood there for a moment. Both tried to overcome the other by pressing their blades against each other but neither worker. Mara twirled her blade out of the lock, slicing the window in the process. Glass shattered and rained onto the street below. Fier attacked Mara, who Force pushed him out the window to the ground below. Mara felt something pull her body and then she was falling as well. Fier used the Force to slow his descent and fought with Mara as they fell, but the ground was still approaching very rapidly as their blades connected.
Knowing that there was not much time left, Mara had to do something. She pushed Fier away and then aimed herself for the side of the Senate building. She slowed herself down as much as she could as she tried to grab the hard, rough sides. Outcroppings sliced up her hands and blood came from many cuts, but somehow Mara was able to grab onto a ledge and stopped her fall. Using the Force she brought herself up to stand on the ledge and looked over the side for any sign of Fier, but he was gone. Mara turned around and brought her blade up to block Fier's attack.
"I saw what you were trying to do, Skywalker," Fier said. "Impressive but futile. Today you die." Mara was close to the edge and without anywhere else to go she dropped off a held onto the ledge again. She jumped to another part to avoid Fier's swining blade. Fier jumped down as well, holding on with one hand and attack Mara with the other. Their lightsabers clashed as they jumped from one part to the next. Mara knew she had to get to the ground, if she was to survive. She saw the approaching freighter and jumped off, aiming her descent for the freighter. She fell on it with a thud. She then jumped onto another passing vehicle and then another, constantly jumping. Her path took her ever closer back to the landing platform.
She felt Fier right behind her. The next car she jumped into she pushed the alien driving, she didn't get a chance to see what alien it was, out of the way and took over the controls. The alien yelled at her in its own language as she sped back to the landing platform, ignoring the alien's yells until the car thumped. Mara turned around and saw Fier crouched on the back part of the car and made her way to the front. He knew as well as Mara that she was a sitting target. The alien yelled again but was suddenly lifted out of the car and dropped. Mara increased the speed to the maximum and rushed to the landing platform, going in a mad dive for it as Fier brought his lightsaber down on her.
The car crashed on the platform, sending both occupants flying away but still on the pad. Both got up and stared at each other.
"That was quite a chase," Fier said. "But you have no where else to run."
"I'm not running anymore." Mara said. Fier attacked her but Mara brought up her blade once more to block the attack. Fier started to attack again but found that he couldn't move. He was wrenched in place and realized Mara had a Force grip on him, preventing him from moving.
"You have caused so much pain," Mara said. "And you must be stopped. But I still want to help you. I will not kill you."
Fier was suddenly able to move again and aimed for Mara went blue lighting erupted from her fingertips. Fier was wracked with pain and his lightsaber dropped from his hands. His body smoking, but still very much alive, Fier dropped to the ground unconscious. Mara then picked up her son and carried him to the waiting ship.