Chapter 11-Unlikely Allies
Everyone was surprised to see Vader's son walk off the ramp of the Millennium Falcon, but what really surprised them was what Leia had to say. "To be honest Mon Mothma Darth Vicious...Luke Skywalker helped us escape being taken aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer and tried to help us save Han from Boba Fett. He said he wants to join the Rebellion," said Leia as they all were still in the hanger when it should probably have been done in the Flagship's Conference room.
"He wants to what?" said General Rieekan whose heart felt like it was either going to stop then and their frozen in shock or have his head explode from anger.
"As she said I wish your Rebellion...again," said Luke calmly as if what Leia said was the most casual thing in the word.
"I heard what Princess Leia said, but none the less I think I would like to hear it again without you around Sith Lord," said Mon Mothma with a hint of anger in her voice.
"Indeed Mon Mothma indeed. That is why I was heading for the Mess Hall so you all could talk in private without me being a burden to you. I don't know what the problem is, but I can assure you as well as Leia, Chewie, and your newest member other then myself Lando Calrissian will tell you whether I'm here or not that I no longer serve the Empire. If I did I would have killed them all and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Now if you'll excuse me I'm getting something to eat," said Darth Vicious who turned around to face the Rebel squad in front of him that had their weapons raised at him.
"As far as were concerned Darth Vicious or whatever you liked to be called you're going in a cell before you get a meal. Place him under arrest," said Admiral Ackbar to the Rebel squad that was now moving slowly towards Luke.
Luke sighed at the ignorance of the Rebel commanders and their fear of him though he didn't mind the fear in all truthfulness. "Leia I think that maybe you should tell them the promise I made to you that I would not harm anyone unless provoked. A promise that I had made...that these fools are flirting with at a very dangerous level. You above all people know what its like to aggravate a Sith Lord. And if they don't stop? I will show them the horrible wrath of a Sith Lord...that only I can produce," said Darth Vicious as his left hand was now a big ball of light of Force Lighting surrounding his fist as he raised it to chest level making everyone of the guards back off.
"Princess Leia what is he talking about?" said Mon Mothma who never saw such power being used or even generated by someone before in that manner.
"Darth...Luke made a deal with me on a promise on his word as Luke Skywalker and NOT as the Sith Lord Darth Vicious that he wouldn't harm anyone here...unless he was provoked. The fact that you are even trying to arrest him falls under the lines of possible provocation Mon Mothma. I have already been given a warning for provoking him earlier aboard the Falcon so I know what I speak of is true," said Leia seeing the Rebel soldiers take a few more steps back and lower their weapons to indicate that they didn't want to provoke the young Sith Lord.
"So Mon Mothma the shock ball is in your court it would appear in the form of choice of what to do next with me. Let me pass and get a meal from the Mess Hall? Or have me create a slaughter so gruesome that only a Sith Lord could handle seeing the carnage that might befall this ships crew? Choose!" said Darth Vicious raising the fisted hand of Force Lightning energy slightly higher above his neck line so they could all see he was still in complete control of the situation.
What Mon Mothma said next was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made in her life and she knew she would probably regret it later "Let him...pass," said Mon Mothma who couldn't believe she just said those words for a Sith Lord.
"Thank you Mon Mothma I appreciate it and I think your fellow Rebel followers do to from the expressions on their priceless faces," said Luke who lowered his hand and disengaged the Force Lighting in his now open hand as he walked passed the slightly frightened guards and headed to the Mess Hall by using the Force to sense where the food was.
"I've been here for less then a standard hour and already I think I lost a few years being here on this ship," said Lando who wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Oh Sith spit no one else, but us here know about the promise! Get on the internal comms of the ship and tell everyone not to engage the Sith Lord. Tell them Darth Vicious has for the moment temporary...immunity," said General Rieekan who could imagine saying that for a Sith Lord as several Rebel soldiers ran to the nearest internal comm. system to start broadcasting the news.
"While that is being take care of Princess Leia you and you're associates are going to tell us what happened after Hoth," said Mon Mothma who didn't like the fact that the son of Sith Lord who was also a Sith Lord lose on the Rebel Flagship.
"We'll tell you everything Mon Mothma, but to be honest I can barely understand it all myself and I think the only people who could are either Sith or Jedi at the moment in time. Unfortunately, we don't have the latter of the two so I can only tell you what I know form what Luke told me," said Leia as they hurried to the Conference room knowing it would be the most appropriate place to go.
(The Mess Hall-23 floors down)
When the word got out that Darth Vicious was on the ship and had been given temporary immunity from all forms of harm for fear of provocation and retaliation, all hell basically broke lose. When Luke entered the Mess Hall he found that heads had turned and ran clear out of his way for fear that simply being near him was possibly enough to provoke the unpredictable Sith Lord. "Man people are so paranoid these days. All I want is to just get a bite to eat...not destroy all things everything around me. I do have my priorities you know," said Luke walking over to the food displayed before him as he used the Force to retrieve a tray from a nearby rack and began taking what he wanted both food and drink.
Ever so casually he walked over to the once full table turned empty and sat down and began eating as if nothing was wrong. "Mind if I join you?" said a man in orange pilot suit who also had his tray of food as he sat across from Luke.
"By all means my friend it is after all...it is a nearly empty table. Even a Sith Lord like me needs some form of company and as long as you don't piss me off you'll do nicely. What's you're name since you already know both my normal and Sith ones?" said Luke looking at the man now with interest as he knew he had seen the pilot before by the voice he just couldn't remember where.
"It's Wedge Antilles. Remember I help save you against a TIE fight that was on you're tail during the Death Star incident? How I was you're wing man during the last run that helped destroy the battle station? Remember? Luke!" said Wedge getting slightly angry at the Sith Lord for staying so calm.
"Ah! Wedge Antilles! You'll have to forgive me I had nearly forgotten since I have been so busy with my training all this time with my father and the Emperor has prevented me in keeping track of people I once called friends. Ironic that I'm here now with one of those very same friends fighting once more by you're side," said Luke taking a sip of his drink staying calm though the part of him that was Sith screamed at him to do something.
"We may have been friends once Luke, but were not friends now and just so you know, the instant you're life is in danger you are on your own as no one here will help you," said Wedge who left the table feeling aggravated that he couldn't shoot the man with the pistol in his pocket.
"Wedge! For the record my old friend...I don't won't want anyone's help in defeating the Empire. Nor will I require your help when I free Han from Jabba the Hutt in his palace on Tatooine so you can take your threats, your fears, and shove them all up your black hole. Got it?" said Darth Vicious whose eyes were once more Sith eyes as he turned and stared at Wedge with them making the Rebel pilot very nervous, but still angry and arrogant.
"Why you little..." said Wedge instinctively reaching for his blaster pistol only to find that he could breathe as Luke pointed his fingers slightly at Wedges throat and using the Force caused the throat to close making the Rebel pilot to start choking even though there was nothing in his throat.
"I gave Leia a warning and I'm giving you a warning now Wedge seeing as I don't want my tools dead before their use has run out. However, if you ever do something like that little stunt again Wedge I'll do something even worse then close your wind pipe," said Darth Vicious releasing his hold on Wedge before getting up and leaving a stunned Rebel pilot on the floor gasping for breath.
(Imperial Palace-Several Days Later)
The Emperor was many things in his time of life and was known by many of them to be apprentice, Sith Lord, master, Senator, Supreme Chancellor, and Emperor. However, this was knew to the Emperor as it was to Vader who was kneeling at the moment had never seen his master angry at such news that his greatest apprentice that he had ever trained had just betrayed him. "How? How can he do this to me? I trained him, I taught him, and I shared with him all I know in the ways of the Dark Side of the Force. This is an outrage even if he is abiding by Sith traditions in betraying this is a whole new form of betrayal that has not existed since the Mandalorian Wars and the Jedi Civil Wars that existed during the days the Old Republic!" said Emperor who was literally foaming at the mouth as if he had been plagued by a disease.
"Should I pursue him my master and make him come back to us if not kill him?" said Vader to appear innocent in this whole affair.
"NO! You will oversee the Second Death Star Project at Endor Lord Vader while I send in a professional to handle this matter," said the Emperor who was now smiling an evil smile that Vader knew all too well.
"Professional master? You mean Mara Jade?" said Vader as he realized that she was only true threat at the moment of turning this against him.
"Yes my old friend. She may not be as strong in the Force as you're son at the moment, but her skills are then up to the task of killing the boy. Such a shame really it is...I really hoped it would be him that killed me to take the throne, but alas we can't always get what we want," said the Emperor feeling his action for retribution for Darth Vicious's betrayal was adequate.
"My son can tell when his life is in danger my master and he has seen Mara Jade before during his training from what I recall," said Darth Vader remembering what his son had told while on Hoth and onboard the Super Star Destroyer Executor.
"Indeed my old apprentice, but that is what disguises are for and Mara Jade has many disguises at her disposal whether she uses the Force or not," said the Emperor knowing just how well he trained her to be "The Emperor's Hand".
"She may find her feelings are in conflict with her mission my master as my son told me she seemed quite taken with him. She may find that when the time comes she may not be able to deliver the final blow that you hoped for," said Vader knowing he was stepping slightly outside his boundaries, but then again...boundaries were being crossed so it didn't really matter.
"Are you implying that Mara Jade is unable to do her job Lord Vader?" said the Emperor looking suspiciously at Darth Vader.
"No my master it's just that Mara Jade despite all her skills, techniques, and knowledge of the Force cannot compare to my son's powers. It is my belief his wits are sharper than hers master since my son's wits have been sharpened under both our tutelage's and our teachings," said Vader knowing he was making a very valid point.
"Regardless of all you say Lord Vader it makes no difference to my choice of who I send to kill your son for his betrayal. Mara Jade is a tool and always be a tool till the she is either broken or her skills start to become dull. I trust that Mara Jade will be mindful of her feelings when she is about to kill your son down whether it be by Lightsaber, sword, or blaster," said the Emperor ending the discussion as he waved Darth Vader away from him.
"Of course my master you always know what is best," said Darth Vader as he rose from his feet and left the room knowing that if his son could turn this around it would work out for the both of them.
(Two weeks later-The Rebel Flagship Righteousness)
Mara Jade was an expert in multiple fields of her employment to the Emperor as his "Hand" as she was called. She had been trained by the Emperor to a degree in the ways of the Force and the ways of the Lightsaber, but not to a degree to where she could in fact challenge him or his Sith Lord Enforcer that was Darth Vader. She had been trained by the best at sabotage, slicing, fighting, and above all else assassinating from the 501st ARC Troopers who were the most experienced during the Clone Wars. However, despite all her training with the Emperor and all the previous work she had done in the past to keep the Emperor from dealing with enemies within she found that this was the hardest. It was the hardest because she never thought she would have to kill someone like Darth Vicious. Especially since she had somewhat of a secret crush on the young man who wielded the Dark Side of the Force like master way beyond his years. No...not a master of the Force, but a being that was just shy of a God as a single strand of hair was thin. As she was she was currently dressed as a Rebel soldier being transferred onto the ship to receive orders and such as were always the case on ships whether they were Rebel, Imperial, or other. 'Stang! Everyone is so alert and so uptight like they were about to be executed within a few days by Darth Vader himself. No. This is much worse and I think my intended target is responsible for it,' thought Mara Jade as she walked along the corridors like she was heading somewhere when in truth she had been walking around looking for her prey.
It was then as she was so deep in thought that she didn't realize she walked into a dark skinned man with scruff hair and clothing only a scoundrel of a gambler would wear. "Hey watch were you're going lady!" said the man who to Mara's point of view was tired from the lack of sleep he so desperately need.
"You look tired pal if anyone needs to watch it it's you," said Mara like she as a regular person aboard the Rebel ship.
"Sorry. Names Lando Calrissian I haven't gotten any sleep nor do I think has anyone else for the past two weeks since Vader's son has been here. Everyone is either too afraid to sleep or too afraid of him entering our dreams and killing us their making us scared out of our mines," said Lando slightly chuckling at the though only to stop realizing that it could in truth actually happen.
"Vader's son? Where is he on the ship if I may ask?" said Mara as she seemed to sound interested and as if she did want to know where he was, which was in truth she did, but she had to make sound like she was on the Rebel's side.
"You really want to know? Well if you want to know and see him I won't stop you. He's about 3 floors down the workout/training room where he has done nothing, but meditate, train, and mediate some more. At first when I heard about the Sith I thought they were a bunch of wimps with anger issues that with some counseling could have their issues, but after seeing Luke train the way he does with that Lightsaber he has I say they are MUCH more then that," said Lando remembering how he saw Luke spar with the training droids that shot blaster fire at him.
"Oh then I better hurry and see it for myself before he stops. Maybe I can study him long enough to find a weakness in him," said Mara trying to find an excuse to see him.
"Well he's only going to be on this ship for at least two more days since he's going with Princess Leia, Chewie, and myself to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt," said Lando making Mara's eyes widen slightly from surprise.
"Interesting way for a Sith Lord to act. I guess I better get to my research and report it Alliance High Command," said Mara who nodded her head slightly and went to the nearest Turbo Lift she could find.
"Strange woman. Though I guess everything on this ship is pretty much sane compared to the way Luke...Darth Vicious...or whatever he's called acts. One moment he's seems alright, but the next he has a look that would make you think he was someone else all together. I seriously really need some sleep even if Darth Vicious enters my head at least my body can relax," said Lando who decided to take his chances and get some sleep so he could at least be somewhat awake when he and the others tried to rescue Han.
(3 Floors Down-Moments Later)
Mara watched from the shadows of an open door as Luke had twenty droid sensor balls with their laser rounds power level set at near lethal all around him both above and below his knee area less then two feet away from him. With his Lightsaber in hand the balls were waiting for the weapon he was holding to be ignited knowing that once it was they could attack. "With all that's going to happen in the next few days I should have twice as many, but unfortunately for me the Rebel's aren't what I call the most financially well budgeted resistance organization that ever came to life," said Luke knowing that Mara was there and was watching him as he parried, blocked, and countered every shot from all twenty sensor balls tat he in matter of moments had destroyed.
"I expect no less then the son of Darth Vader...Darth Vicious as she ignited her own Lightsaber that the Emperor let her create to use for extremely dangerous missions.
"It is good to see you again Mara Jade. Also known as 'The Emperor's Hand'!" said a slightly anxious Darth Vicious as he turned to face the young woman just in time to block her Lightsaber swing with his own defensive maneuver to push the "Emperor's Hand" back.
"I must admit I have missed you since I last saw you before I left to take care of that Black Sun lizard Prince Xizor. After all the Emperor needed to gain his resources to aid in the Second Death Star's creation," said Mara as she tried to attack low at the legs with her Lightsaber to put Luke on the defensive.
"So the old man of an Emperor you call a master is trying to build another one of those? Pathetic! Any true ruler of an Empire doesn't need such a station and creating one just proves how weak he truly is. Do you really want to serve such a weak master Mara or do you want to be apart of something better? Something...stronger!" said Darth Vicious as he countered her a few more times and hit her hard with his leg sending her flying into the nearest wall as her opponent picked up her Lightsaber that was on the ground.
"What...what do you mean?" said Mara as she got up from the ground slowly as Luke came up to her with his Lightsaber blade pointing at her with the heat from it making her whole neck sweat.
Just then Rebel soldiers came in weapons raised at both Luke and Mara not sure exactly what was going on when seeing the Holo-security cameras on the ship/ "I mean when all this is over the Emperor will no longer be in charge of things and the Empire is going to be quite different from what you and me have known. To be honest Mara I want you by my side and I want to teach you things that the Emperor taught me because of the great potential. Besides...you and I both know you wouldn't and couldn't strike me down Mara. You like me too much to do that," said Darth Vicious smiling wickedly at the surprise filled face of Mara Jade.
"Can you really defeat the Emperor?" said Mara hoping her question would quash her embarrassment at the fact that he knew that she like him.
"Follow me and you'll find out," said Luke disengaging his Lightsaber and lifting Mara up through the Force.
At that moment in time Leia, Chewie, and a still tired Lando appeared staring at the two fighters wondering what the (ironically) Sith had happened. "Luke! What is going on? We had a deal don't you remember?" said Leia reading to pull out her blaster on them.
"Don't worry Leia I haven't forgotten, but for now I want you to say hello to Mara Jade. A.K.A 'The Emperor's Hand' and as of right now...my 'Hand'," said Darth Vicious as he handed Mara her Lightsaber before stepping back to give her space.
"Talk about unlikely allies right Princess?" said Lando, who got an angry look from both Leia and Chewie.
'This just keeps getting worse,' thought Leia who could only sigh as she then ordered the Rebel soldiers away saying it was nothing even though she knew it was far from it.
'Hmmm. Maybe betraying the Emperor won't be so bad,' thought Mara as she was now in the presence of her crush that stirred her heart on more then one occasion when she had thought of him and how he acted.