Lord Vader wasn't exaggerating about Imperial early mornings, Mara noted wryly. Anne was already awake and dressed as Mara Jade crawled out of the bed; it was so soft she didn't want to leave it. Anne was rather self-sufficient for being only nine years old. She was wearing a black, long-sleeved, Empire-style dress that reached her ankles. Her hair was pulled into a braid and she was brushing her teeth.
"We have classes first thing in the morning." Anne spoke to Mara's mind.
"Who's the teacher?"
"Lord Vader, he gets impatient if I'm late; so you better hurry."
Mara Jade didn't know what would happen if they were late, she certainly didn't want to find out either. She quickly pulled on a similar dress as Anne. Both girls made the bed and left the chamber with only five minutes to spare.
Mara sat at the conference table following Anne's lead.
"I hate math." Mara heard Anne complain.
Lord Vader entered the conference room noting the disgusted look on Anne's face. "What is your favorite subject, young one?" Lord Vader sardonically asked, already knowing the answer.
Mara watched intently as a black marker rose and started making marks on the white board. "Telekinesis, Mind Tricks, and stealth are my favorites."
"Force abilities that she is almost too talented." Lord Vader replied.
Mara Jade was handed a data pad with several tests, so Lord Vader could see where she was in her education.
Anne finished the math assignment as Mara continued to work on the tests. Ascaron requested permission to board the Executor in Lord Vader's private bay and when he landed the ship, an ensign brought him before the Dark Lord.
Ascaron drew his weapon when he heard a commotion emanating from the conference room. Anne was levitated in the air with her feet kicking wildly; Lord Vader was also holding her pad. Words didn't need to be exchanged; Ascaron could notice the uncomfortable coldness to the room.
"Milord, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have some news for you." Ascaron stated.
Anne was lowered into a sitting position and admonished to not move. She nodded her head, she knew what she did was wrong. She knew he was trying to be patient but it wasn't easy especially since she was incredibly stubborn.
Mara shook her head at Anne's antics, "Was it really necessary to crumble the data pad through the Force? He's only trying to teach you."
"Yes, I know but I hate math and science."
Mara sighed again finding little else to say.
Ascaron handed the data pad to Lord Vader whose ire was felt through the Force and the temperature dropped dramatically.
"Mara Jade could be a plant; to see if I'll obey his commands and kill Anne."
"She seems a nice enough girl." Ascaron noted.
"Looks can be deceptive, Ascaron. Tell me what you found."
Ascaron sat in the chair sighing heavily, "Just remember, Lord Vader, please do not choke the messenger."
Lord Vader was not really surprised by Anne's reluctance to give into the dark side, the only reason he had was to save Padmé's life, because he loved her. Despite everything that Lord Vader had gone through there was still that annoying light that would appear bursting through his darkness, despite the fact that he hadn't been Anakin Skywalker for nearly two decades. The part of him wanted to protect Anne and Luke from his perfectly dark Master. No light ever came from that cesspool of pure evil. Lord Vader knew that he would have to train both Mara Jade and Anne in the arts of hiding their Force signatures from not only the Jedi but more importantly his master.
"Very good, Ascaron; you will now find Luke Skywalker and tell me of his whereabouts."
"He's with the Rebellion, milord. They are currently moving again to another planet."
"I am aware of this, find him. Inform me."
Ascaron rose to his feet and dared to ask a question that he would probably regret but it came to his mind and flew out of his mouth before he could stop it.
"Does Luke know you are his father? Does he realize the reason you are after him?"
"No and I've said it before Ascaron it is not any of your business."
"With all due respect, milord you are making it my business. You want to overthrow the Emperor, only you need a strong warrior to help you."
"You are treading on thin ice, Ascaron. Do not fail me."
Ascaron felt a warning go through his head and once again the words tumbled out.
"Why don't you just join the rebellion and be done with it." Ascaron mumbled.
The Dark Lord of the Sith approached Ascaron with a grace that amazed him, until he realized that he couldn't breathe and he was being lifted with one arm.
"Do not question me and do not question my motives."
Ascaron saw dark angry circles swirling in his line of sight. "Yes, milord." Ascaron choked out.
Lord Vader released him and Ascaron fell into the chair unceremoniously clutching his throat.
Ascaron was given a glass of ice cold water which he greedily accepted; being choked by a Dark Lord tends to leave one's throat sore and agonizing.
"Thank you, milord."
Ascaron wasn't fearful of Lord Vader, but he certainly didn't like being choked either.
"One more thing, milord; that you may find interesting as to why Anne never succumbed to the Emperor's will and intent, according to the Emperor's notes, she has the unusual ability to heal, but she has to love the person she is healing. Her love is her greatest strength and according to him, her greatest weakness."
"Thank you Ascaron, stay for dinner and then you may go." Lord Vader stated in deep thought.
Anne and Mara were dismissed and sent to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, as Lord Vader spent his time either on the bridge or in his meditation pod, pondering Ascaron's words. But even if what he said were true, his wounds were too old and like he told her he was beyond any hope of returning to normalcy.
"It is never too late, Chosen One."
Lord Vader turned around and saw a ghost of Qui-Gon standing in front of him, smiling.
Admiral Piett saw Lord Vader suddenly leave the bridge and returned to his quarters. Lord Vader entered his pod as the light that was Anakin Skywalker returned and weak tears poured from his dark blue eyes.
"Damn Jedi, always coming at the worst moments." Lord Vader replied.
"You are still the Chosen One, Lord Vader."
"Give me a break, that title has only brought me pain and suffering. I should have been left on Tatooine."
"Perhaps, but it was the will of the Force that has brought you here."
"I am not your savior, but your enemy and have murdered your kind for the last twenty years."
"Yes there is no denying that Lord Vader you have done many atrocious things, but in the beginning it was all for the love of a woman."
"A woman that I murdered thanks for the reminder, Jedi."
"You didn't murder her, Lord Vader; I would think that presence of Luke Skywalker would preclude that."
"Look Master Qui-Gon; it is too late for me, I do not deserve a second chance, I have betrayed you, my family, and even my mother."
"Lord Sidious has vile plans for you and your offspring, surely you know this. Mara Jade will murder Anne and become a Lady of Darkness, Luke will kill the Emperor and become the Master of the Sith. You and only you can stop this transformation as you are fully aware treachery is the way of the Sith, you have very little time three years at the most. If you do not change all will be lost, my friend." Qui-Gon left Lord Vader's presence.
"Master Qui-Gon, gone to him you shouldn't have." Yoda meditated.
"Since when did I always follow the rules, Master Yoda? Anakin still resides in him, there is still good in Lord Vader. When Luke comes to visit you tell him the truth and not from a certain point of view either."
Mara Jade always enjoyed the gym but especially now since she had a friend to play with, even if Anne was six years younger than herself. Lord Vader entered his sparring room to enjoy a respite from the ordeals of command. Ascaron decided to go swimming.
Mara Jade was balancing on a high beam, practicing walking on her hands, she was quite agile. Anne was practicing cartwheels, back flips, and somersaults. Mara lost her concentration for a moment and slipped to fall on her wrists as she tried to catch herself, one of them snapped from the pressure and momentum of the fall.
Anne immediately ran over to her and placed her hands around the wrist gently healing it through the Force. Mara at first began to cry but then she received a dark order, "Kill her, Mara. Do it now. Do not hesitate, show no mercy." Emperor ordered.
Anne soon found herself with Mara Jade's blade at her throat. Anne knew that she only had a moment before Mara would plunge that knife into her throat. She prayed it was enough.
Author's Note:Sorry for the short chapter and if it seems convoluted. Real Life is causingmy writers' block. Thank you, Son of Anakin, for the suggestion of Lord Vader teaching both Mara and Anne the importance of hiding one's presence in the Force. It helped develop this chapter a bit more.—Darth Gladiator45. (PS I've updated my profile if you are interested; I have a website through myspace.)