"Supreme Commander Skywalker, the Emperor will be pleased to hear you are well," Grand Admiral Thrawn said evenly as he gazed at the transmitted holographic image of his commander. The blue skinned Chiss scrutinized the man closely, his red eyes narrowing slightly. "You have been missing for days. The emperor was quite concerned."
"Ah, yeah, my radio was broken. When I was rescued, I was a bit dehydrated and disorientated. I was about contact the emperor when you showed up."
"Ah," Thrawn said slowly, suspicious of the story given to him. "I will immediately dispatch a shuttle down to retrieve you."
"No need," Skywalker replied quickly. "I'm aboard a GAT-12 Skipray Blastboat on the way to your location. I should be exiting the atmosphere in the next ten minutes. I'll transmit the ship's transponder code." Skywalker paused. "It's piloted by one of the people who saved me when I was stranded in space."
"I see." The Admiral muted the communication line before addressing his crew. "Lieutenant Loddki, scan the incoming Skipray for weapons."
"Yes Sir," the female bridge offer acknowledged while pressing buttons on her console. "The ship has the standard armaments for that class of ship, but weapon systems are currently offline, and shields are down."
The Admiral gave a curt nod of acknowledgement before unmuting the communications line. "May I inquire as to the identity of your...pilot?"
The blond man smiled widely. "One of the people who rescued me was a former Imperial...who I'm trying to convince to return to active service."
Admiral Thrawn clasped his hands behind the small of his back, his narrow gaze sharpening on the young man's face. Thrawn noticed Skywalker's jaw tense and his eyes kept glancing to the left as if looking at somebody just out of the projector range.
'Supreme Commander Skywalker is lying', he thought. 'But about what?' Unlike the Emperor, the best way to acquire information from Skywalker was simply to ask. "Sir, may I inquire as to the name of this former Imperial?"
A broad smile crossed the young man's face. "Mara Jade." He beckoned to somebody to his left. "Mara," When he got no response, he called out louder. "Mara, put it on autopilot for a minute and come here, please."
Thrawn could make out the sound of an irritated groan, followed by somebody unbuckling crash webbing and footsteps to the communications sections of the ship. "What do you want Skywalker?"
A young woman with reddish gold hair moved into the projector's view, her eyes growing wide when she realized she was now part of a ship-to-ship call. "Oh, I didn't know you were using the comms."
Luke gestured toward the transceiver holo image. "Mara, I'd like to introduce you to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Admiral, this is Mara Jade, the woman who saved me from certain death and to whom I owe a great amount of gratitude."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Grand Admiral," the redhead said curtly. She placed a hand on the Supreme Commander's shoulder as she looked at the transceiver camera. Thrawn noticed her touch caused an immediate reaction within his Superior. Skywalker blushed slightly as a small smile curved his lips.
'Mara Jade'. The name didn't mean anything to Thrawn, but he knew his people were probably doing a records search at that very moment. The Admiral analyzed the woman's body structure and facial features and noted they were what most humans would consider aesthetically pleasing. Skywalker was young and unattached; a beautiful woman might explain his silence for the last few days. Curiously, the woman did not have the same expression of excited pleasure as Skywalker did. Her facial features were tense, her eyes hard and inscrutable. Thrawn was sure the woman was not accompanying Skywalker willingly, which was an enigma. Luke Skywalker despised slavery and had exhibited compassion, honesty, and integrity in all his dealings with friends and foes. So why did he now have a woman on this ship, who, by all appearances, did not wish to accompany him?
Those answers would have to wait until he could talk to the Supreme Commander in private.
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Jade." He shifted his attention to Skywalker. "Sir, you may dock in bay fifty-six."
Skywalker turned off the transmitter, before turning to Mara and smiling brightly. "See, no problem."
She smacked him on the shoulder. "You told him my real name? What's wrong with you?"
He looked up at her confused. "Why wouldn't I use your real name?"
"Because I probably have a bounty on my head. I worked for Palpatine, and I am fairly certain Darth Vader hated me. I think he saw me as competition for Emperor Palpatine's attention. He might have thought I planned to kill him in order to become the emperor's apprentice."
"Did you plan on killing him?"
She laughed at the question. "I'm not suicidal. Darth Vader was extremely strong in the Force. I wouldn't have stood a chance of defeating him." She returned to the pilot seat and rolled her eyes with a shake of her head. "I am so kriff'd. I will probably be hauled off to the brig once we dock. Even if the emperor isn't told about my existence, I can tell you right now, your blue-skinned Admiral didn't believe a word you said."
He gazed at her questioningly as he rose and moved to the cockpit. "Why wouldn't he believe me? I'm his superior officer."
"You may be his Supreme Commander, but you are a lousy liar. Your voice rose an octave when you gave him your concocted story. He probably thinks you are under duress."
He shook his head as he sat down in the co-pilot seat. "We have code words that I could have used to indicate duress. I didn't use any of them."
She shrugged. "He must know something's amiss. Maybe if I'm lucky he'll just think you kidnapped me to be your pleasure slave."
Luke threw his hands up in disbelief. "Why would you say that? My officers know me better than that." He gazed at her intently. "Are there horrible rumors about me going around the galaxy?" He pointed to his face. "Look at my eyes. I'm not a Sith. I don't tap into the darkside."
She looked away, not wanting to answer.
"Really, are there rumors about me?" Luke persisted.
"No," she said reluctantly. "Not about the darkside. You are reviled as a traitor by former Rebels, but overall, the people on Imperial held planets welcome your reforms."
A disarming grin colored his face. "That's...well, it's nice to hear people appreciate the things I've done."
"Don't let that go to your head; Tarkin and Palpatine set a low bar. The people would appreciate anything that didn't involve their planet being destroyed or a bioweapon decimating their village." Mara throttled down reducing the ship's speed as they approached the Star Destroyer's massive ventral docking bay. "Almost there."
He motioned to her belt. "By the way, can I have my lightsaber back? If you walk off the ship with it on there will be questions."
She didn't like the idea of him being armed after she spent days threatening to kill him, but what choice did she have? She unhooked it from her belt and handed it over.
"Thank you." He snapped it back onto his black leather belt. "When we dock let me exit first. I'll talk to the deck officer and then call you down. They may check you for weapons." He glanced over to her. "You do have a holdout blaster somewhere, don't you? You might want to leave it on the ship. Some of my men might be a little trigger happy after my absence. I am sure the emperor threatened more than one senior officer with violence if I wasn't found."
She heaved a sigh before reaching down to a side pocket of her jump suit and retrieving a holdout blaster. She placed it on the front console. She turned to him. "Please tell me you are going to keep your word. My crew won't be harmed."
"I'm not going to hurt them. In fact, I'll make sure they get a nice reward for my safe return. How about one-hundred thousand credits?"
Her eyes went wide. "You'd do that? Are you crazy or are you just trying to impress me?"
He grinned widely. "Impress you, of course. I'm hoping I can lure you away from your current employer with the possibility of working for the Empire once again...for a substantial wage, I might add. But I can't do that if you don't trust me."
She made a humph sound. "Why would I trust somebody who coerced me to accompany him off planet in order to ensure the welfare of my friends."
"It was more for the welfare of my friends, Han and Leia." Skywalker's jaw tightened. "It is amazing how you have somehow become the victim in this situation when it was methat was stunned, drugged, and kidnapped by you and your friends. It was you who stunned me twice with a blaster and it was your organization who attempted to sell me to the highest bidder. Despite all that, I agreed not to retaliate. I intended to give your friends a reward...a substantial reward...for my safe return and I am offering you a high-profile job with great pay and benefits." He paused for dramatic effect. "But somehow you're the victim and I am the big bad Imperial."
Her expression hardened as she looked him up and down. "You're not that big."
He chuckled darkly. "I'll tell you what, just help me convince the Grand Admiral that I am a lonely Imperial that became mesmerized by a beautiful and Force-strong woman. So much so that I would do anything, include not notifying my command of my rescue, just so I could have a few more hours basking in her beauty. Once he is convinced you can take your ship and leave. If you change your mind about working for me, just let me know. I'll give you my contact information."
She sighed as she maneuvered the ship to the proper docking bay and settled the Skipray down onto the Star Destroyer's deck. She unbuckled her crash webbing and turned to Skywalker. "So, all I have to do is convince your highly intelligent and extremely perceptive Grand Admiral that his Supreme Commander is unlucky in love and he spent the last few days desperately trying to woo a woman that is way out of his league...that shouldn't be difficult."
Luke looked crestfallen. "Ouch...but yeah, that would be good, and you probably only need to convince the deck officer. I doubt you will even see the Admiral."
"Do you want me to hang all over you like we are lovers? Should I try to sell the story that after one look at the Supreme Commander I fell madly in love, and we spent the last three days kriff'n the days away?"
"I wish," she heard him mutter under his breath. When he noticed her murderous gaze, he gave her a sheepish smile. "Just joking. We'll make it look like I am the one interested in romance, but you want none of it. You are just giving me a ride back to my ship."
She gave a noncommittal shrug. "I think I can manage that."
.
Luke walked down the Skipray's boarding ramp fully expecting to meet the deck officer, instead he found himself face-to-face with Grand Admiral Thrawn accompanied by a platoon of Stormtroopers.
"Admiral," he said, forcing a smile on his face. "You didn't need to come in person to meet me."
Luke always felt uneasy around the Chiss officer. He may outrank the Admiral, but Luke knew he would never be the man's equal in the strategy room. He also knew his crew had an almost cult- like devotion to the Chiss officer. So far, Thrawn has been satisfied with his place in the Empire, but Luke knew as soon as Emperor Vader died it was Thrawn that would most likely move into the position of Emperor. Luke just didn't have enough backing of the people. He destroyed the Death Star and slaughtered a million Imperials in doing so. His reforms had ingratiated himself to a large percentage of the populace, but there was still a very vocal minority that thought he should be executed for his actions during the rebellion.
The Admiral's face remained stoic, his red eyes regarding Skywalker inquisitively. "The emperor insisted that I am to be present to welcome you home...and to meet your guest." He looked up the ramp. "Is she joining you?"
Luke mouth suddenly went dry. Mara was right, the Admiral didn't believe a word he said earlier. "Yes, of course." He turned and called up the ramp. "Mara, you can come down."
The redheaded woman walked down the ramp, head held high, eyes unflinching, as she approached the Admiral. She came up next to Skywalker and stopped before addressing the officer. "It is a pleasure to meet you Grand Admiral Thrawn."
Luke noticed the corner of Thrawn's lips turned up slightly and that scared Luke. Thrawn usually only smiled when he was about to spring a trap.
"I am pleased to meet the person who rescued our Supreme Commander. If you would be so kind as to accompany us back to Coruscant, the Emperor wishes to thank you in person." He turned to an Ensign behind him. "Inform the Captain that we are ready to depart." He returned his attention back to Mara. "And I am honored to meet the legendary Emperor's Hand."
"Kriff," Mara muttered under her breath. She was confident that her name wouldn't come up in any Imperial database, but Thrawn didn't need to search historical records...all he had to do was tell Emperor Vader.
"The emperor has ordered me to confine you during our journey for the safety of all on board this ship." Thrawn motioned to his Stormtroopers who quickly surrounded the smuggler.
"Stop!" Luke ordered his men before turning to his Admiral. "I'm in charge here and I won't have her treated like a criminal."
"Supreme Commander," Thrawn said slowly. "The order came from the emperor himself. I cannot disobey."
Luke was flustered at their predicament. "Then confine her to the visiting dignitary quarters. Post guards outside. I don't want her in the detention facility."
Thrawn hesitated for a moment before giving Skywalker a curt nod. "Of course, Sir." He motioned to the troopers. "Carry out the Supreme Commander's order."
Mara glared at Luke as she was led away by a squad of Stormtroopers.
He sighed deeply knowing he was a fool to think he could lie to Thrawn convincingly.
"Supreme Commander," Admiral Thrawn whispered. "Can I have a word with you in private?"
Luke gave a frustrated nod.
"Excellent," Thrawn said with a slight smile. "If you would be so kind as to join me in my Ready Room."
"Sure," Luke said softly as he followed the admiral down the main ship corridor. It was obvious that Thrawn knew Luke was lying about what happened during his stay on Myrkr, but there was no way he could possibly know what truly happened. All he had to do was deny any accusation.
When they arrived at the Admiral's Ready Room, Thrawn punched in his security code and, as the door slid open, he gestured for Luke to enter first. The Admiral followed closely behind closing the door behind him. "I am relieved you are unharmed," Thrawn spoke first. "The emperor was very adamant that we locate you." He hesitated slightly before adding, "He is very protective of his second-in-command."
Luke settled down on a small couch as the Admiral took a seat across from his Supreme Commander.
"I'm glad I was found by a former Imperial and not Rebels."
"It was quite fortunate. Did she tell you her title and profession within the Empire?"
Luke shrugged. "She told me she worked for Emperor Palpatine and that she was a Force-user. She never mentioned a title."
"Ah," Thrawn said noncommittally. "Do you believe her a threat? After all, you and the emperor killed her former Master."
Luke glared at the Chiss. "Palpatine was also your Master...are you a threat to me and Emperor Vader?"
A cold smile crossed Admiral Thrawn's lips. "Point taken, Supreme Commander." He folded his arms across his chest before reaching up with one hand and stroking his chin while in thought. "Why didn't Miss Jade contact the Empire upon locating you?"
Luke averted his eyes, not wanting to gaze into Thrawn's eerie red orbs. "I lied to her. They gave me access to their communications room and some privacy. I told her I made the call, but I didn't. I wanted some time to get to know her."
Luke didn't look up, but still felt Thrawn's eyes were upon him. "And why is that?"
Luke kept his eyes down as he shuffled his feet nervously. "You're the master of observation. I don't need to tell you why." He was stalling, hoping the Admiral would fill in the blanks himself.
Unfortunately, Thrawn, the master strategist, knew exactly what Luke was doing.
"You must forgive me, Supreme Commander. I don't know you well enough to form a conclusive hypothesis as to your motives."
Luke grimaced, knowing that was a lie. He looked up and gave his best convincing smile. "She's beautiful and a Force-user." His smile faltered somewhat. "And I'm lonely. My former friends hate me, and my current subordinates don't quite trust me."
Thrawn stared at him stone faced for a long moment before he spoke. "I experienced similar circumstances when I first joined the Empire. Although there are more non-humans in positions of power now, that was not the case twenty years ago. I was an oddity...and to some...an abomination. A blue-skinned alien from a previously unknown civilization working his way up the ranks in a very human-centric military. For many years the only person I truly trusted was my former Imperial Academy roommate, Commodore Vanto."
Luke's jaw went slack with surprise at Thrawn's admission. Usually, the Chiss was very tightlipped when it came to his personal thoughts and history.
The Admiral obviously picked up Luke's astonishment from his body language. "Supreme Commander, I am a master of observation...and what you have said is partially true. I suspect you are thin on the details to protect the former Emperor's Hand. I trust you enough not to put this ship and crew in jeopardy. I must warn you though, the emperor will have the same suspicions that I do." He stood and walked to the Ready Room door which slid open with a push of a button. Thrawn turned to Luke as he gestured to the exit. "You probably want to freshen up and put on a new uniform. Thank you for granting me an audience."
Luke stood and straightened his uniform tunic. "Thank you for retrieving me." He looked down at his cybernetic arm. "How did you find me anyway? Is there a tracker inside my prosthesis?"
"Not that I know of Supreme Commander. We found your abandoned shuttle floating in space. A check of the onboard computer showed you had been scanning for any nearby ships. Data records indicate you were picked up by a cargo ship named 'Wild Karrde'. It didn't take long to discover the name of the ship's owner and where it is usually berthed."
"Oh," Luke said softly as he stood and walked to the doorway. "Thank you, Admiral." Luke exited and immediately moved to where Mara was being held prisoner.
.
Myrkr Base
"You let him go?" Han Solo's fists clenched at his sides as he glowered angrily at Talon Karrde. "We gave you twenty-five thousand credits and dragged a stasis cylinder across the galaxy for you to deliver Skywalker to us."
"Well, plans changed once a Star Destroyer dropped into orbit and demanded the return of their Supreme Commander." Talon gestured toward one of his crewmen. "Chin will return your credits."
He turned back to Solo and his companion Leia Organa. "We'll load the stasis cylinder back to your ship...but I'd suggest you not leave until the Imperial's depart orbit."
"The Imperials aren't going to leave!" Princess Leia said hotly. "You gave away our only bargaining chip. As soon as Luke is on that Star Destroyer there is nothing stopping the Imperials from doing a planetary bombardment." The petite woman threw her hands up in disgust as she paced back and forth in frustration. "How could you be so foolish? You kidnapped the Supreme Commander of the Empire, a man who is a Sith apprentice to Lord Vader, and then let him go because he promised to keep your confidence? You have killed us all. The Imperials aren't going to leave until we're dead!"
"I don't think that's true," Karrde replied heatedly. "What he was worried about is your safety. We had to come up with a cover story as to why he didn't contact his command and my second-in- command accompanied him off planet to help convince the Imperials of our story's validity."
"Then she is a dead as we are," Leia shot back. "The Imperials won't leave until they have us... alive or dead."
There was a knock on the office door before Karrde's communications officer, Aves, poked his head in. "Boss, the Imperials are gone."
Karrde almost laughed at the look of total astonishment on Solo and Organa's faces.
"It looks like you are wrong about the Supreme Commander." Karrde said with a smirk. "I don't think you are giving Skywalker enough credit. Haven't you noticed the changes in the Empire? You should want Skywalker to continue his work instead of killing him."
Leia shook her head adamantly. "We don't want to kill him. We..." Her voice cracked with emotion.
"We want to deprogram him," Han continued for Leia. "He's under Darth Vader's control and influenced by the darkside."
Karrde scoffed. "I really don't think Skywalker is being influenced by Darth Vader...I think it is the other way around."
"Why would you say that?" Han asked.
His brows arched in clear amusement. "You two must have been hiding out on some rimworld rebel outpost way too long. I'm considering leaving the smuggling business and becoming a legitimate Imperial trader just to get the newly offered Galactic health care. Do you really think Darth Vader was the person who instituted the sweeping reforms in the last couple years? The rebels would be foolish to try to change the political system at this point."
"Vader made me watch the destruction of my home world of Alderaan," Leia words came out in a hiss. "He's a monster."
Talon threw his hands up in defeat. "I agree with you on that point, but right now your friend Skywalker seems to be keeping Vader in check." He cocked his head to the side inquisitively. "Have you ever thought that maybe your former friend is possibly doing a Jedi Mind Trick on Darth Vader? How else could you explain the emperor's actions in the past two years?" He leaned against his office wall. "You may have a man on the inside and you just didn't know it. Skywalker may be the man in control of the Empire." Karrde glanced over to Aves. "Is Mara on her way back?"
The man lowered his head. "No. She was on the Star Destroyer when it made its jump to hyperspace."
Talon ran a hand over his face in frustration before looking up to Han and Leia. "Aves, Chin go carry this stasis cylinder to Solo's ship." He pointed at the two rebels. "You two need to keep your mouths shut about what transpired here. My second-in-command accompanied Skywalker to protect you two and now she's gone. Your rebellion depends on smugglers, and I have a lot of friends in high and low places. If you let it be known that we captured Skywalker, you'll get the reputation of being chin-wagging rebel scum and then you can forget about further shipments from the smuggler's guild."
Han glared at the man. "You don't have to tell me. I'm still part of the guild. Just give us our money and cylinder back and we won't need to discuss this again."
"You'll get your money," Karrde sneered before he stomped out the door.