Chapter 12: The Falcon's Departure

Vader stood on the bridge of the Executor side by side with Padmé. His apprentice and someone he secretly loved. Both stared out into open space past the vast super star destroyer. There was a glint to the right of Hoth and a ship burst out of hyperspace with a silent sonic boom. It looked like an X-wing from a distance but it got closer and Vader could tell it was an old model Z-95 Headhunter. It was driven by Mara Jade and modified for her old smuggling needs. She did a few flybys of the bridge never going to the back so Han Solo could see her. Comm officers worked frantically to establish a connection with her but as a precaution Vader ordered it scrambled.

Finally they got it and an image of the upper torso of Mara Jade appeared behind Vader. He turned to face it. Today Mara Jade's outfit consisted of a tight fitting black pilot's suit and a hooded cloak over it.

"Hello Vader." She said.

"Hello Mara." Vader relied. "You know your mission."

"Follow the Corellian smuggler to whatever planet he goes to right?"

"Yes, get in position under the garbage airlock."

"Will do. And maybe you and me could indulge in some more fencing later. Got a new form down Vaapad."

"Picked up a few things from Sidious then?" Vader asked, and noticed a somewhat jealous looked on Padmé's face. "But no, complete your mission."

"As you wish."

Mara cut the connection and flew out of sight. Admiral Piett stepped up behind Vader.

"Milord we are ready."

"Dump the garbage at will Admiral." Vader said, it sounded awkward coming from him.

"Dump the garbage." Piett commanded.

"Garbage dumped sir." An officer replied.

"Good set a course a parsec away, now."

After several seconds the officer answered. "Course set, estimated time for arrival fifteen minutes. Jump!"

And every star turned into a line and all seemed to come at Vader. Then the lines blurred completely and they were gone. Swirling around in the cosmos of space. Vader turned to Piett and Padmé did to.

"We are going to my quarters. Once we reach out destination come back over Hoth. We still have salvage teams down there. When Mara contacts you send word to me."

"As you wish milord."

"And contact the Emperor's shipping yards for an order of two new star destroyers. I want them called Phoenix II for captain Stryker and Eclipse II. Sidious already has the Eclipse and I would like to have a replica, I'll be promoting a captain and I want a good one."

"Yes Lord Vader."

Vader did not reply but strode away from Piett towards his quarters with Padmé.

XxX

Four standard hours later

Piett stood on the bridge hands folded behind him staring down again on the snowy planet Hoth. This was such a boring job. The bridge was quiet though so he could let his mind wander freely. It was ruined though when he heard buttons being pressed on a console. He literally heard the electronics hum and turned around to face the noise. It was coming from the comm officer's terminal. He looked up to Piett.

"Admiral, we have an incoming transmission from Mara Jade. Shall I patch her through?"

"Yes, immediately."

Seconds later an image of Mara appeared again in the exact spot Piett stood on, he leaped off the holo pad and walked into camera view. Mara looked somewhat stressed and in a bad mood.

"Mara Jade, it's a pleasure to be talking to you face to face, I am Admiral Piett of Vader's fleet."

"That nice, and I am Mara Jade. I am very frustrated right now so a I need to talk to Vader. Please put him on before I rip my hair out!"

"Vader is currently in his private quarters and not to be disturbed."

"Fine, tell him I had to drive my ship four hours through space behind the hunk of junk because it didn't have hyperspace capability! And it touched down on some floating city on the planet Bespin. I don't know what it is."

"Please remain in orbit of the planet miss Jade. We will set a course there immediately." Piett shot a look at the hyperspeed monitoring officer. He quickly began calculating. "I will personally alert Lord Vader."

"Fine, just get here, my legs are falling asleep and I hate sitting in this cockpit."

Mara ended the communication abruptly and the Executor lunged into hyperspace as Piett ran to alert Vader and Amidala.

XxX

Padmé and Vader sat on his sofa extremely close watching a holonet program. Each had something on their mind but neither was really brave enough to bring it up. Finally Padmé plucked up her courage and broke the silence between the two.

"Master, what… should we…do?"

"What do you mean?" Vader asked.

"I mean, the… other night, you know. When we…"

"I don't think we should talk about it again."

"But… what if there are… side effects?"

"You won't become pregnant Padmé."

"Yes, you're right. And we just shouldn't discuss it again."

"No."

"But, master I still…"

"So do I."

"How long can we keep it a secret? We're living a lie."

"No we are not. We both know we love each other."

"But we cannot show it… or do anything."

"We have to… ignore our feelings. If we… can."

"I can't." Padmé said leaning in closer. Vader was about to give in, he was so close to it but then someone knocked at the door. His eyes flashed yellow.

"Come in!" He called but it sounded more like a threat. Piett entered and there was no way Vader could be more angry with him.

"What?" He asked. Piett seemed to stare at them for a second, being so close together but he regained himself and answered.

"Mara Jade has advised us on the destination of the Millennium Falcon."

"Where is it?" Vader asked slightly losing his irritation with Piett.

"Bespin."

"That's just a gas planet."

"Mara said there was some sort of floating city."

"Floating city?"

"A gas mine." Padmé said thoughtfully. "Are there any gas mines on Bespin."

"An Imperial one perhaps." Vader said. "But they wouldn't dare land on one, it has to be illegal."

"We have set a course for Bespin milord." Piett stated as it seemed Vader and Padmé completely forgot he was in the room.

"I'll go tell the Emperor." Vader said. "Padmé go to the bridge."

Sorry this chapter is so short compared to the last.