Imperial Palace, Imperial Center
Vader strides confidently into the throne room, knowing his Master is waiting for him, waiting on news of the death of Nejaa Halycon's son. He walks towards the throne and kneels before the Emperor.
"Rise my friend."
Vader stands. "Halycon is dead."
"I felt the disturbance."
Vader stands there, not saying anything. Palpatine looks at him. "Is there more my apprentice?"
"What was felt was not his death, but his response to his wife's death."
"His anger was great then, did you try to get him to join us? To become one of our executers?"
"No, my Master."
Palpatine leans forward in his throne, his disfigured face showing interest. "And why is that?"
Vader can feel Palpatine brush his thoughts with the Force. "He offered himself up, without a fight on one condition. That I not kill his daughter."
"I see. I am most disappointed in you Lord Vader for that weakness." Palpatine turns away from Vader a sneer crossing his face. "You are dismissed Lord Vader."
"Yes, milord." Vader bows his head, and turns leaving Palpatine sitting on his throne.
A few moments after Vader has left, he presses a button on his chair. "Director Isaard."
The reply comes immediately. "Yes, your majesty."
"There is a child on Corellia, the daughter of a Jedi who Lord Vader recently killed. Have her brought to me."
"It will be done milord."
Palpatine closes the connection, and allows a twisted smile to stretch his ghastly features.
----------------------------------------------
Two weeks later
Director Isaard walks into the throne room. In his arms a small bundle, with a fist poking out of the swaddling clothes. As he arrives at the proper distance, he kneels before Palpatine. Palpatine gets out of his throne, and walks the few steps to where Isaard kneels. His smile is lecherous as he takes the baby from Isaard. He probes her with the Force, and laughs.
"Yes, yes, she will do perfectly. She will be the first of my Hands. I will call her Mara Jade." Palpatine notices the Director still kneeling. "You are dismissed, and bring me a child nurse for her."
He turns his attention back to the small infant girl, the lecherous smile still pasted to his face and a malignant gleam in his eyes. "Yes, yes, you will make a splendid assassin."
----------------------------------------------
Six months after the birth of Ben Skywalker
Mara is holding her six-month old son, smiling, happy at this brief respite from the war. She can hear Luke in the refresher, getting cleaned up from the day's activities. As she watches the boy, she thinks of a song, one that she is not certain where she has heard before, but one which she instantly loves. Softly she begins singing.
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made