As we know all things must come to an end. Welcome to the second to last chapter, penultimate of whatever.

Chapter 19: The Two Day Party

At ten in the morning the next day the Emperor had told Vader and Ravan the party would begin with Bail Organa's execution, and that they would broadcast it live on the HoloNet, though the Emperor never actually told them where he planned to kill him. And the place was where only someone as twisted and cunning as Darth Sidious could go. The grand balcony of the Imperial palace. But Vader might have guessed that. He walked out into the mid morning light of Coruscant with his son at his heels and Sidious in front. The Emperor walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down at the thousands of people below on the streets or on other building roof tops trying to get a good seat for the start of the festivities. One of the Emperor's red robed royal guards walked up to him and clipped a tiny microphone to the collar of his blood red hooded robe.

The Emperor smiled again and looked down over his people. Little droid cameras floated around everywhere broadcasting the huge crowd and the Emperor to the other people on Coruscant who could not come to see the execution. Vader stood back in the shadows of the balcony and Ravan took the hint that he should as well. He slipped back and leaned on the somewhat curved wall next to a red robed guard. As soon as his back came in contact with the solid durasteel he quickly sensed Mara Jade and a few other life forms approaching. He snuck a peek into the palace, four robed guards were headed his way, Mara was one of then, she turned her masked head to his and made a rude gesture. Ravan narrowed his eyes and finally noticed why there were four red robed guards, Mara one of them. They were boxed around a rugged looking Bail Organa, hands bound behind his back.

Ravan turned his head away as the guards came onto the balcony with Bail, they forced him to the edge of the balcony to look out on the people who all began a roaring cheer. The Emperor waved away the four guards and cleared his throat to speak. Three of the exited the balcony but one of them, who Ravan sensed was Mara came to him and leaned against the wall to his right. She turned her helmeted head to him.

"You've never seen an execution, have you farm boy?" She asked.

"No," Ravan said and it sounded as though he had just snapped at her. "And I'm interested in how the Emperor is going to do it so let me watch."

"Hmpf! That's it? No inquiry as to why I happen to be wearing one of these robes?"

"You plan to assassinate someone the Emperor gets close to?" Ravan guessed.

"I wish, but wrong. I'm here as the Emperor's secret bodyguard."

"Well, I liked you just fine without the red robes."

"I like myself better like that too, these things are hot and they smell like oil."

"Oil?"

"I don't know, they smell bad."

The Emperor cleared his throat again and began to speak.

"People of this Empire!" His voice boomed from huge speakers Ravan just noticed. "We gather here today to begin the festival in light of the defeat of the Rebel Alliance at the hands of Darth Vader and his apprentice."

The crowd cheer loudly.

"And to begin our festivities I will personally execute Bail Organa, retired senator of the Old Republic and leader of the rebels."

The crowd roared, some small groups shouted for the Emperor to kill him and make his suffer.

"And now, the grand death of Bail Organa!"

The Emperor turned to Bail who looked at him and scowled. The Emperor just smiled and stretched his long clawed fingers, a flicker of light appeared at each tip and grew bigger until it finally began to lash out and bite Bail as Force lightning. The retired senator bit back screams of pain and crashed against the rail of the balcony trying to escape the lightning which simply lashed out harder. Waves of white blue electricity flowed up and down his body, curling a whipping in places and circling back again. Burn marks began to form on Bail's skin.

The Emperor shot him with one last hard dose that probably killed him but Ravan didn't have any time to see. Bail hung there for a moment, limp and about to fall backwards but a ripple in the Force gave him and slight push and he slipped over the guard rail and tumbled down. The hem of his robe caught fire as Sidious zapped him with one last minor dose of lightning. The flame engulfed him as he fell and people cheered and laughed. The Emperor waved a hand for silence.

"And let this be a lesson to everyone in the galaxy. Traitors will be punished."

XxX

The civilian parties the Emperor, Vader, and Ravan did not attend. Everyone royal, political, or military used this time to rest up for tomorrow night's Imperial ball or relieve themselves from the stress of Imperial politics and whatnot.

Ravan again found himself sleeping with an underwear clad Mara that night. And this time she didn't really seem to care how close he was to her. He didn't mind of course because Mara was what the teenagers of Tatooine would call hot, times fifty for Ravan. Vader would never approve of him loving her but still, while he could he might as well stare.

XxX

The Next Night

The formal Imperial ball had begun, and it was… extremely boring. It took place in a very large ball room which took up three stories exact from the ground to the middle point of the black bowl roof on which hung a grand chandelier. The ball room had two balconies in it to which a row of stairs carved into the marble wall led up on either side. One was place on the western side, the other on the east. To the southern part of the room was a grand arch with two doors leading out of the ball room under it. To the north was another arch that led outside to a domed balcony where guests looked upon the partying citizens. Ravan found himself sitting on a large black leather chair atop the eastern balcony, looking down upon formally dancing guests.

Tonight he wore a long black satin robe he had purchased with racor leather boots. It was simple, yet elegant as were all the clothing the male guests wore. The female guests wore black robes too, but more so with fashion designs and elaborate head dresses.

Ravan looked over to the western balcony where the Emperor stood conversing with a white uniformed Grand Admiral. The Emperor's robes were about as elaborate as any of the male robes got. They were jet black and hooded as usual, with long flowing sleeves, and overcoats stamped with Imperial insignia. Vader stood somewhere to the side of the Emperor, dressed as usual, in his black suit in helmet which was so polished guests could probably use it as a mirror to check their hair and face, that is if they were not strangled.

Ravan sat back in his chair and sipped a non alcoholic drink he had purchased, it was bitterly cold and sweet tasting, with fizz on the top. He sighed after he drank another mouthful and glanced at his write chrono. An hour until midnight when the Emperor would make his announcement and the party would be over so Vader and he could kill him and take over the Empire. Thank god.

Ravan sensed a presence climbing the stairs and nearly to the top to the right of him. He wished other people were on this balcony because he was potentially the only one to talk to up there, and he had no desire to mingle with governors or military men. To his surprise though, a fiery red head sat down next to him. Mara Jade.

"You like the party so far farm boy?" Mara asked dully.

"Would you stop calling me that." Ravan groaned.

"Yep, I hate the party too."

He turned his head to her, she more a long gown with nothing holding it over the shoulders, it was very simple and her red hair had down on her back as usual.

"You look good." Ravan said.

"Better than every other stuck up broad here?" Mara asked.

"Yeah."

"Perfect, and I was trying to be simple and blend in."

"You do, but still you look nice." Ravan said. Mara looked at him as he expected her to reply.

"My patience is in short supply and I don't have a complement for you sadly." She hissed.

"Whatever." Ravan murmured taking a big gulp of his drink and wishing it would render him unconscious, or maybe Mara could do it. It wasn't as though he was nervous about the plot to kill the Emperor, he was fine with it in fact. It seemed as simple as pouring a glass of water, he was just so board with the ball.

As if Mara could read his mind (maybe could) she spoke again. "This is really boring."

"Mm hmm." Ravan hummed. He turned his head to her again. "Want to dance?"

"I am not your wife! Just because we were forced to sleep together doesn't mean a thing." Mara snapped. Though she wondered if she actually meant it.

"We were not forced." Ravan replied calmly. "If you took better care of the guest bed we wouldn't have had to sleep together."

"Oh yeah, I should have taken care of the guest bed because I always get company." Mara snapped sarcastically. "Why don't we just walk around, listen to the jerks down there?"

"No, that just makes me mad. Like your attitude."

"Well if you would stop trying to be friends with me then maybe I would be a little nicer."

"That makes no sense."

Mara seemed at a loss for words and could not retort. Instead she shoved a cake from the table next to her in her mouth, stood up and walked back down to the ball. Ravan glanced at his chrono again, that had killed ten minutes. Only forty to go.

XxX

Ravan opened his eyes as two soft hands shook his roughly. After a few seconds he realized he had been sleeping, from boredom really. He looked up to see Mara Jade who brought her fist down hard on his shoulder.

"I up!" Ravan hissed.

"No, you're still sitting down." Mara retorted. Ravan grumbled and stood up. The people were still dancing, and the Emperor was now talking to Vader. "Emperor said he wanted you to come to his balcony, he's going to make his announcement."

"Yay." Ravan muttered in sarcasm.

"Deal with it." Mara snapped. "Follow me."

She turned her back sharply, flinging her fiery hair into his face which he found enjoyable, it smelled nice and felt soft. He followed Mara as she walked down one set of stairs, and climbed the next to the Emperor's balcony, just as Ravan's booted foot hit the floor of the balcony all the lights went out, even the chandelier. Everyone looked around and shouted in confusion, including Ravan. Mara slapped him in the shoulder hard.

"Shut up." She hissed.

"You are starting to annoy me." Ravan said, rather playfully.

"Perfect." Mara replied. Ravan could sense the smile on her face. And then part of the room lit up again. Lights that Ravan had not noticed before lit up, there was a row on the rail of the balcony, they lit up and cast light on the Emperor who was now standing at the edge. Ravan could see the dark silhouette of his father a few paces behind the Emperor.

"My guests," The Emperor boomed. "This ball is now over, but I have an announcement to make."

Little yellow droid cameras began circling the Emperor's head.

"I am getting old. When I die I appoint Darth Vader as my successor." The Emperor announced. "Long may he uphold this glorious Empire!"

The crowd of fancy politicians and military men cheered and clapped, Vader stepped up beside the Emperor and said loudly; "I accept."

The crowd cheered once more and the lights on the balcony went off, the chandelier flickered to life again lighting the whole room. The guests slowly began to file out and go home. The party had been tiring. Once half the room had emptied of people the Emperor turned to Mara.

"It is time." Was all he said. She nodded and ran down the steps to the floor of the ball room. Disappearing in the sea of people the exit the ball room.

"Time for what?" Ravan asked curiously as the Emperor began to descend the stairs. Ravan and Vader followed.

"I have given her a task." The Emperor said simply. "She is to assassinate someone. They live off planet and she will likely be gone until sometime tomorrow."

"And we'll have killed you by then." Vader thought.

"But come, we shall go back to my throne room."

Viola, second to last chapter. Penultimate or whatever. You'll never guess though, what the last one'll be about. Thanks for all the reviews people. And as I probably should have said when I first started writing; I do not own any star wars characters, they belong to George Lucas and his company and stuff, I am merely bending them and twisting them and alternating them for my own amusement and hobbies.