I trust you'll all want to know why this chapter includes the word beds. Its actually a funny story, read and find out.

Chapter 18: Despair, Annoyances, Beds…

The Imperials were not heartless, well perhaps the Emperor was but not his prison regulations, which included that at least one hour out of a week a prisoner had to get some time out of the cell. That was mostly to prevent them from going mad with boredom rather than compassion or concern for them, or just trying the be nice. As standard demanded a storm trooper came into her cell when it was her day, and another dozen prisoner's day aboard the Executor to come out of their cells. As standard protocol the storm trooper ran his gloved hands over every single part of her body to check for anything she might have obtained and concealed, like that was possible, there was after all so many things she could use in a bare cell.

Finally after running his hands over certain parts of her a few more times he appeared satisfied and snapped a pair of binders on her wrists. He pulled her roughly out of the cell and led her down the bay, out of the main cell… lobby and out into one of the gray and white halls of the super star destroyer. He led her about halfway down the hall, opened a door to the right and shoved her in. She tripped and fell on the hard floor of the prisoner activity room which didn't have much in it. One bolted down table and chairs for talking. And a few more tables just like it used for the card games sabacc or pazzak, neither of which she enjoyed, but there was one more choice. There was a holonet screen embedded in the wall. She walked up to it and flicked it on, it had two channels, a news station or the Imperial crime and punishment channel, everything else was locked. She switched it to the news channel, the face of a grim looking woman came into view.

"In top news today," the woman began in a dull boring voice. "The Emperor is hosting a two day festival in Imperial City and everyone is invited. This party is being thrown in honor of the defeat of the rebel alliance at the hands of Darth Vader and his fleet…"

A knife stabbed into her heart, she knew about the space battle, though she had no idea where they actually were when it happened, but that must have been the entire rebel fleet and Vader did go to Yavin, just like she knew he would, so everyone then was dead, even her father Bail. A hot tear trickled down her face as the reported continued.

"… the festival will have several public events starting on the first day with the execution of Bail Organa, leader of the defeated rebels, no word on who will perform the execution or where it will take place, only that it will be the start of the festivities and will be broadcasted live on the HoloNet."

"WHAT!" Leia shouted, not being able to help herself. Her father was alive, and they were going to kill him in front of the whole galaxy, all prisoners eyes were fixed on her, she didn't care, she cried as the reporter continued about an announcement the Emperor planned to make and finally until a storm trooper hand smacked her in the back and forced her up to go back to her cell.

XxX

In the next few hours Vader's fleet arrived in orbit above Coruscant. Piett was ordered to stay behind as he and Ravan headed down to the metal planet. Piett was told the prep the crew on the festivities and designate who would go down to the planet and when. Captain Kagi expertly guided Vader's and Ravan's Lambda class shuttle down onto a landing pad attached to the mushroom shaped Imperial palace and the former Chancellor's office. Ravan walked into the cockpit as the shuttle touched down, he could see a person waiting for them on the platform, all he needed was one glance to know who she was. Once he saw her fiery red hair he knew it was Mara Jade. Interesting that the Emperor would send his personal Force wielding assassin to greet him and Vader.

He had barely noticed that the ramp had lowered and Vader was already walking down it with a small honor guard of storm troopers. Ravan jumped up and scrambled to follow. The honor guard spread out and Ravan and Vader approached Mara Jade who bowed in what Ravan thought was a good imitation of respect.

"Greeting Lord Vader," She said in the most formal voice he had ever heard from her. She turned her head in his direction. "How's it going farm boy?"

She didn't give Ravan the chance to answer before she introduced herself to Vader.

"Milord my name is Mara Jade, I am the Emperor's personal assistant." She said.

"You mean apprentice?" He asked glancing at her belt. Luke looked at it too, noticing for the first time the silver tube that was a lightsaber hilt hanging from it. Mara looked down at it too.

"Oh no, no, he is teaching me how to use one, I am not becoming a Sith." She explained disguising some bitterness in her voice. Ravan knew exactly what the Emperor was training her to be, a cold blooded assassin, and he was almost certainly not light about it.

"I see," Vader replied. "And I would ask you not to call my apprentice farm boy. You will address him as Lord Ravan."

Mara cleverly disguised a snort as a sneeze before she replied. "As you wish Lord Vader."

"Now you are here to take us to the Emperor I presume."

"Yes, follow me."

She turned and began walking towards the palace. Vader let her get a little distance before he started to follow. He turned his head to his son.

"I don't like her," Vader said. Ravan stared at Mara's rear end as she walked softly across the platform. He turned to his father quickly.

"What?"

"I don't like her." Vader repeated a little more forcefully. "And neither do you." He added which clearly meant that he should forget his childish crush and focus on their plan to kill the Emperor, the might have to kill her as well.

XxX

As he always did the Emperor smiled toothily as Vader and Ravan entered his throne room, flanked by Mara who stayed behind as Vader and his son climbed the stairs to where the Emperor stood in front of his chair.

"Welcome Lord Vader, Lord Ravan." He inclined his head to them and sat down. "Please have a seat."

But there were no other seats. Ravan summoned the right words to ask what the Emperor met but before they could escape his lips he saw two chairs float down from the ceiling and landing behind them. He took a seat first followed by Vader.

"The party will begin tomorrow." The Emperor began. "It will start at exactly ten in the morning Coruscant time with Bail Organa's execution, I want him in the Coruscanti prison immediately."

"I'll contact Admiral Piett and tell him milord." Vader replied.

"After that," The Emperor continued. "The parties in the streets and buildings for civilians will begin, it will last all day. The day after all parties will resume and at exactly noon the formal ball will begin in the Imperial palace ball room, it will last until midnight and then I will announce you as my successor."

"Sounds excellent milord." Vader said.

"And now you will both need sleeping arrangements tonight." The Emperor stated.

"I can use the room I had when you trained me." Ravan suggested.

"Sadly you cannot." The Emperor replied. "It is being renovated."

"Why?" Ravan inquired before he could stop himself. The Emperor's yellow eyes glowed brighter.

"And assassin planted a bomb in it, thinking it was my room."

"Then where shall I sleep?"

"In Mara's room." The Emperor replied. Ravan felt his heart skip a beat and his lower instincts kick in. Vader repressed an annoyed sigh and Ravan could practically taste his displeasure. "And you Lord Vader, will stay in the specially designed guest room I have under this floor."

Vader nodded, he had stayed there before, it was a room with the same atmosphere his mask provided allowing him to take it off, as well as his suit.

"It is settled then. Head to your room Lord Vader," The Emperor commanded. Vader stood up and began walking down the stairs, Ravan could feel his frustration through the Force.

"Mara!" The Emperor called. Mara sprang into action and leaped up to them, skipping every other step. She bowed when she reached the Emperor.

"Yes master?" She asked.

"Show your guest to your room."

She glared at Ravan with her emerald eyes. "Yes milord."

XxX

Mara's room was defiantly different from the room he used under the Emperor's tutelage. It had the same basic layout though. The walk in was a living room and kitchen, and there were two doors, one that led to the sleeping area and the other that led to a refresher. In the living room area there was no sofa, or chairs, only a HoloNet screen and one cushion used for sitting on. The kitchen was bare, the countertops looked like they had never been used before. Maybe Mara never needed to prepare food and she got it out of the refrigerator.

"Listen farm boy." She began. "You are going to sleep in my guest bed."

"Okay." Ravan replied. "Where exactly is your guest bed?"

Mara strode up to the sleeping area door and opened it, she beckoned him in. He followed and came into a relatively small room that was completely bare, completely. Though he noticed two small control panels mounted to the wall. Mara walked up to one a pressed a red button. Almost immediately an unnoticed slot under it, pulled back and slid up, about five seconds after that a huge rectangular slab of metal shot out, a bed, Ravan noticed its purple mattress and light purple sheets.

"That's the guest bed?" He asked.

"No, it's mine." Mara snapped. She walked over to the other control panel and pressed the red button. Somehow more sluggishly the small slab of wall pulled back, then up, and about five seconds slower the guest bed shot out. It had not mattress, just a while pillow.

"Mattresses are in short supply I am afraid." Mara said with sarcasm evident in her voice. And just after she finished her sentence there was a small pop and the metal slab the was Ravan's bed fell to the floor and literally cracked in two. He looked at Mara.

"What now? Where am I supposed to sleep!"

"On the roof? I hear there's supposed to be a storm tonight." Mara said very sarcastically.

"Can't I sleep in your bed?" Ravan asked. It did look as though it could easily accommodate two people.

"No." Mara replied flatly. "You can sleep on the floor."

Ravan looked down at his feet, Mara's bedroom floor was pure marble.

"It's marble!"

"Come on, your young, you can sleep on it for just a night. I am sure it will not screw up your back."

"You're the same age as me! Why don't you sleep on the floor?"

Mara stroked her chin as though she were in deep thought. She angled her eyes up into space, after about two seconds the snapped back into focus on Ravan. "No."

"Its just for one night," Ravan said exasperated and slightly desperate. "And I swear I'll sleep on the edge of the bed and as far away from you as possible."

"Well," Mara replied stroking her chin again. "I suppose we are both mature young adults, or at least I am."

Ravan sighed.

"Yeah, sleep in my bed, just stay away from me farm boy."

"Thank you." Ravan replied relieved. "Now can I use your shower?"

"Nope." Mara answered, she put one of her hands behind her back and in one quick movement slipped off her entire tightly fitting suit, wearing nothing under it. Ravan could not help but stare. She was flawless, except for a few ugly burn marks around her stomach.

"W-where did you get those?" Ravan asked with fake sympathy drinking in every detail of Mara.

"Eyes up farm boy." Mara snapped. Ravan grudgingly followed orders. "Now ask me again with real sympathy while you're not staring at my chest."

"Where did you--?"

"Emperor, I'm taking a shower now." Mara snapped cutting him off, she turned on her heel and walked the length of the room and out of the door to the refresher.

XxX

When Mara said she was going to take a shower Ravan assumed it would take ten minutes, far from it, she was in there for a whole hour. A whole hour! She emerged into the room again, wearing nothing but a thin layer of hot water, a bra and underwear. She looked at Ravan with cold eyes as he found himself staring again.

"Eyes up farm boy." Mara snapped getting into bed.

"You're going to sleep like that?" Ravan asked.

"Yeah, do you have a problem because the roof is still unoccupied."

"No problem." Ravan replied quickly discarding his shirt a boots and lying down in Mara's bed, he glanced at the chrono. Ten at night, hmm, maybe she was in there more than and hour.

"Back away farm boy." Mara growled. Ravan followed her orders, backing away until he was literally on the edge of the bed.

"Turn around and stare at the wall." Mara hissed once more. Ravan inwardly groaned and turned over on his side. Facing the blank black wall. He could sense Mara's pleasure in toying with him like this. He sighed and gradually fell asleep.

He rolled over in his sleep several times that night and was woken with a slap in the face and an order to turn around. Mara was defiantly a light sleeper because Ravan wasn't even aware that he rolled into her. The last time he was woken up with a slap was at one in the morning. Mara seemed very agitated now and she called for a change of positions. She made Ravan stand up and she spread her covers out over the bed, then she told him to lay down on her side, he complied and the moment his body touched the mattress she rolled him over all the way to the edge of his side so that he was on his stomach with his head facing the wall and totally unable to move.

"This is uncomfortable." He groaned. He felt Mara lay down next to him.

"So is sleeping next to you in my underwear."

Hmm, this chapter is quite long. I know it has a lot of Mara but I was kind of tired of Vader and Luke, Vader and Luke, and I wanted to have a little more of Mara, this'll probably be the last chapter she stars in unless I do a sequel.