Day 4 Aboard Grand Admiral Thrawn's Flagship Chimaera

Mara looked up from the combat hologame she was playing against Luke. "So...I'm the only person who knows you are the son of Vader?"

"As far as I know...but I am fairly certain that Thrawn has his suspicions."

"What happens when Vader discovers that I know? Will he try to silence me?"

"No. I am going to convince him to announce to the galaxy that he is my father and formally pick me as his heir apparent. That is the only chance I have of keeping control over the galaxy once he passes on."

Mara looked away from the game to ask, "You keep saying that, is he sick?"

"Yes," Luke said softly. "He's always sick. The suit Palpatine put him in was subpar and keeps him in a constant state of agony. I've talked to him about upgrading, but he's not sure if he will survive the switch. His body may go into shock."

"He doesn't really need a body," Mara suggested. There are droids that can house a human brain."

Luke shivered at the thought. "I think that would totally devoid him of any humanity."

"Well, we don't want that," she said with a snarky tone. "He's bad enough as it is."

Luke paused the game and looked over at Mara. "He isn't the same Sith Lord you remember. Once Palpatine was gone he was free to become his own man. Wasn't it the same for you?"

She scowled. "No, when Vader killed Palpatine any protection I once had vanished. I ended up on the fringes of the galaxy working demeaning jobs and planning for the day I would kill the man who turned my life upside down."

Luke gave her a wary glance before unpausing the hologame. He maneuvered his hologram soldier to an area where he could get a good shot at the enemy. "That urge to kill is gone, isn't it?"

Mara gave an evil grin. "No, the urge is growing, and growing. Soon you will be dead, and I shall rule."

"What?" Luke muttered in confusion.

He jumped when Mara yelled out. "Bam! You are dead!" She laughed as she motioned toward the hologame. "I win. Sniper shot to your head and I am now the High Commander of this holoworld!"

Luke blew out a breath. "Oh, yeah. You got me there."

She set down the game controller and picked up a glass of fizz-water. "We'll be there in a few hours." She didn't expound on that thought and she didn't need to. Luke knew she was worried about her fate.

"Yeah, don't worry. I'll accompany you. My father will interview...interrogate...perhaps thank you and you can go on your way."

She took a sip of her drink and set it down. "Can you do me a favor?" Luke looked to her and smiled. "Yes, of course."

"You mentioned that Thrawn probably already sent a message to your father, so that means you have a hyperwave transceiver...can I use it to contact my crew? Knowing Talon, he's probably worried sick and planning a rescue mission. I don't want him getting hurt by doing something stupid."

Luke nodded. "Sure, there is a transceiver in this room. I will input the codes to allow its use." He stood and walked over to communication nook, turned on the transceiver and punched in a security code. He turned to Mara. "I assume you want me to leave."

He was surprised when she demurred. "Not necessary."

"Maybe I should, so you will feel free to talk to Karrde privately about...I don't know...private matters."

"Private matters?" Mara smirked. "Do you think Talon and I are romantically involved?"

"No, no!" Luke said quickly.

"Talon is like a father to me and Chin and Aves are like very annoying older brothers...but I they are the closest thing to family I have. I assume they are concerned about my welfare." She turned and waved Luke off. "Just move to the side so they don't see you."

She walked over to the communication unit and sat down in front of the holoprojector. She inputted Karrde's communication code and initiated the call. It took a long minute before Talon's image appeared. A broad smile crossed his bearded face and a look of relief colored his expression. "Mara! I'm so glad to see you. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I've been staying in the dignitary wing of the ship. I got to use their hyperwave radio, which is probably monitored, but I thought I'd give you a call anyway. Are you surviving at work without me?"

Talon shrugged. "It's tough, but we are managing. The reward money Skywalker transferred to us is a big help."

Mara couldn't help but give a sideward glance to Skywalker who averted his eyes. "He told me he was planning to send one hundred thousand credits."

Talon's grin grew wider. "He did and don't worry, I put your hundred thousand in the bank for safe keeping."

"We got one hundred thousand credits EACH?" Mara turned to Skywalker again and this time talked. "You really do want to impress me." She returned her attention back to the holoprojector only to find Talon smirking.

"He's in your quarters? He's there to monitor your conversation, I assume." Karrde's voice was playful and sarcastic at the same time. Obviously, he believed something was going on between the two.

"He's been my personal guard since I boarded this ship. He's sticking to me like glue." Karrde laughed. "I'm glad things are going well. When are you coming back to work?"

Mara hesitated slightly. "As soon as possible...unless I am given a job offer that I can't refuse. The Emperor has invited me to Coruscant so he can personally thank me."

"Ah," Karrde muttered, sounding nervous. "I hope everything works out for the best. Please keep in contact."

"I'll contact you as soon as my meeting with the Emperor concludes. I should know by then what my future holds."

"I look forward to hearing from you again."

"Same here. See you soon." With that said, she signed off. She turned to Skywalker. "That is a hefty reward."

"It is," he admitted. "But I'm worth it."

She made a scoffing sound. "I see becoming Supreme Commander didn't go to your head."

"I'm sure my father is going to take it out of my pay. Fortunately, the pay for a Supreme Commander is a lot more than my Rebel Alliance stipend."

She turned in her seat and gazed at him questioningly. "Do you miss being a Rebel?" He shrugged slightly. "I miss my friends...but I know there is no going back."

"And why would you go back? I have no idea what they are still rebelling against? Galactic Health Care? Universal Sentient Rights? Or maybe the abolishment of slavery?"

Luke smiled. "I think they are basically rebelling against my father. I understand it. Darth Vader is responsible for the death of billions. The fact that he remains in charge is abhorrent to them."

"Well, there is not much they can do about that." Mara said. "Darth Vader is one of the most powerful Sith Lords that has ever lived, and he has the 501st Legion protecting him. There is no getting to him." She thought about it for a pause. "You know, maybe that's why the rebels wanted you alive."

"What do you mean?"

"I think they wanted to flip you...bring you back to their cause. You have access to Darth Vader... they don't know you are kin...so they probably believe you can be swayed to return to the rebellion. They could use you to kill Vader and then they believe they can step into the leadership void."

Luke knitted his brow. "Why would they think they could fill a leadership void? We have a chain

of command. If I killed my father, I would be shot and then Grand Admiral Thrawn would take over the government."

"Exactly, but that's how you rebels think. When you blew up the Death Star did you believe the Imperial government would collapse on itself?"

He looked away, remaining silent.

Mara let out a barking laugh. "You did, didn't you? I guess you forgot about all of those hundreds of Star Destroyers and thousands of frigates and cruisers, and maybe a million of Tie Fighters and let us not forget an Imperial army and navy of over four billion people. Your rebellion didn't have the manpower to take over the Empire."

"I know. That point was discussed in depth by my father. It was one of the reasons I decided to join him. He showed to me the futility of what we were trying to do." Luke walked to the door. "We will exit hyperspace shortly. I have some things to do before we get to Coruscant."

"Okay, I'll be here," she muttered as he left. "Hopefully I will still be around after our meeting with Darth Daddy."

.

.

Imperial Palace, Coruscant

Luke walked out of his father's office feeling exhausted. He told Vader his fake story about how he purposely didn't contact the Empire in order to spend more time with a woman he found fascinating. His father asked a number of questions before dismissing him and telling him to escort Mara Jade inside.

"He's ready to see you." Mara rose from a corridor bench and entered the Emperor's throne room. When Luke tried to follow the Royal Guards brought down their Force pikes barring his entrance. He looked back and forth to the guards. "What's going on?"

"Emperor's orders," the red helmeted guardsman said in a low voice. "He wishes to see the former Emperor's Hand alone."

"No!" Luke went to push his way past the guards, but one guardsman's frantic whisper gave him pause, "Sir, if we fail to follow orders...our lives are forfeit." Luke took a step back, knowing he was now left in an impossible situation. He could force his way into the throne room to protect Mara...and in doing so condemn two loyal soldiers to death. Or he could let her meet his father alone and hope his ruse worked. He gazed at Mara sadly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Mara said softly. "I knew this would happen." She turned and strolled into the Emperor's throne room, the door silently sliding shut behind her. She moved without hesitation; her head held high. Sitting on what was once Palpatine's throne was Darth Vader. Everything about him was as she remembered with the exception that his once matte black cape was now trimmed with gold fringe indicating his new rank as Emperor. She moved forward until she was only four meters from the man and centered upon his throne. She dropped down to a knee, something she had done hundreds of times for Emperor Palpatine. As she bowed her head, she greeted the new ruler. "Your Majesty."

Vader looked to the guards surrounding his throne and waved them off. "Leave us."

They did not hesitate but filed out of the room immediately. When the doors were shut, and privacy assured Darth Vader rose out of his seat. "The Supreme Commander debriefed me about his rescue. It was a very interesting story...unfortunately the Supreme Commander is not skilled at deception. The only thing he was truthful about was the fact that he told you I am his father." He stepped down from throne platform and moved toward Mara. "I am giving you one chance to tell me the truth."

Mara sighed deeply as she rose to her feet. She knew she was dead, so there was no reason to hold back. "I captured your son after sensing him call out through the Force and tried to sell him to the highest bidder. The purchase was interrupted by the untimely arrival of Admiral Thrawn."

Mara kept her eyes down waiting for the killing blow, but it never arrived. All she heard was the coarse mechanical breathing of the Sith Lord. Eventually the Emperor spoke. "You heard him call out through the Force?"

Mara was confused by the question. "Yes, Lord Vader. I am a Force Adept."

Her eyes remained down, but she heard him return to his throne. She glanced up to find the Sith Lord gazing down at her. "Force communication was always your strength."

"It was Emperor Palpatine's strength," Mara corrected. "Skywalker's voice was the first I have heard since my master's Death. I suspect he is the one with a talent for Force communication."

Mara heard a strange rumbling sound coming from Vader. It took a few seconds before she realized he was...laughing. "You underestimate your power in the Force. Emperor Palpatine could not communicate with me across the galaxy as he did with you." He sat down, still regarding her; his expression hidden by his dark mask. "That type of communication is rare and usually only possible between two people with a strong Force bond...such as Master and apprentice or two closely related individuals. I heard my son's call for help. It is strange that you heard it as well."

Mara shrugged. "As far as I know I am no relation to you or your son." "That is what makes your connection as curious as it is rare."

"Your son and I do not have a connection. He was dying in space and was practically screaming out through the Force. Probably every Force user in a hundred parsec radius heard his call."

"That is doubtful," Vader said slowly. "Reach out in the Force and call to him."

"Why? There's no bond between us," she insisted.

She jumped back when Vader quickly stood and shouted at her. "Call to him!"

'Luke!' she shouted out through the Force. To her surprise Luke's voice immediately popped into her head.

'Mara! Are you alright?'

Her jaw went slack as her eyes widened with surprise. She truly believed it was a fluke when she heard Skywalker's frantic call for help through the Force, but evidently, she could communicate with him just as clearly. She didn't know if Emperor Vader was privy to their thoughts, but it was obvious that he knew he had proven his point when he chuckled and sat back down. She swallowed hard before allaying Luke's fears. 'I'm okay, Luke'

"The Force binds us all together," Vader said in his deep baritone voice, "but some bonds are greater than others."

"Well...that's just great." Mara wasn't thrilled with all this talk about bonding. She waited for Vader to continue, but when he remained silent, she asked, "So...am I free to go?"

"What are your intentions when it comes to my son?"

This question caught Jade completely off guard. "Intentions? I have no intentions when it comes to Luke Skywalker."

"Then why did he sleep in your quarters?"

She blew out a frustrated breath. "To make his concocted story more believable. He didn't want it discovered that I kidnapped him. He needed a compelling reason to explain why he didn't contact

you for a few days. He thought if you believed we had romantic feelings for each other, you might spare me."

"Do you have amorous feelings for him?"

"Aggghh," Mara groaned. "I just met your son less than a week ago. I haven't had time to develop any feelings for him. Does that mean you're going to kill me?" She glared at Vader. "Do I need to kriff your son and give you a grandchild in order to live? Because I can do that. A year out of my life in exchange for my freedom. You got it. If that's what you really want."

There was a very long pause before Vader leaned back in his throne. "That is not a decision I can make."

She was confused by that comment. "You're the galaxy's all-powerful Emperor. Of course, it is your decision."

"No," he said softly before pausing, his mechanical breathing sounding harsher then she remembered. "That is a choice you must make freely. I cannot interfere with the will of the Force." He shifted his weight on his throne before making a shooing motion with his hand. "Go." When she didn't move, he repeated himself in a much louder voice. "Go!"

Mara turned and rushed out of the throne room only to be intercepted by Skywalker in the corridor. "What did he say?"

Mara pushed past him intent on getting off the planet as soon as possible. "He said he knew you were lying. He asked me for the truth, which I told him."

Luke followed her, increasing his pace until he was next to her. "What did he say then?"

"He said I was free to go."

Luke made a face. "You are lying about something. What exactly did he say?"

Mara stopped and whirled around on her heel to face Skywalker. "He hinted that our ability to communicate through the Force means we have a Force bond."

Luke looked confused. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know. He also asked if I had any romantic feelings for you."

"Oh..." Mara could sense his unspoken question. He wanted to know that answer to that particular query but was too shy to ask.

"I told him we haven't known each other long enough to develop any type of relationship." Mara turned and started walking again. "I need to get back to my crew."

Luke caught up with her. "Can't I convince you to stay?" "No, I am getting out while I have a chance."

Skywalker looked disappointed but didn't argue. "We'll take my shuttle up to the Admiral's ship and you can leave in your Skipray."

Mara didn't want to go back to an Imperial ship, but she also didn't want Karrde to lose a valuable Skipray. "Fine," she said with a nod.

She was still a little shaken as they walked down the palace corridors to the shuttle bay. She faced Darth Vader and lived, but she knew the Sith could change his mind at any moment and she wanted to be out of the Emperor's reach in case that happened. She turned to Luke. "Are you going to get in trouble now that I told your father the truth?"

He pulled out a key fob as they neared his Imperial shuttle and pushed a button to lower the ramp. "I doubt it. As you said, he knew I was lying."

She got halfway up the ramp before she stopped and turned. "But he doesn't know the real reason why you lied."

Luke gazed at her in confusion. "To protect you."

She shook her head adamantly. "No, to protect your precious Princess along with your own ass. I really doubt you care about what happens to a bunch of cutthroat smugglers."

He turned and walked the rest of the way up the ramp. "That is not entirely true. I would like you to join me. I could use a Force adept on my side."

"But you mainly did it for the Princess," Mara bit out. She didn't know why, but the fact that he cared so much for a woman who was willing to pay to have him thrust into a stasis cylinder irritated her. This was especially confusing because last week all she wanted to do was murder Luke Skywalker. Why did she suddenly feel protective of the man? "Am I wrong?"

A blush warmed his face. "It is true, but what I told you was the truth. I love Leia like a sister and Han is like a brother to me. Leia and I never...we were never romantic. I thought something might happen between us at first, but...I don't know...things changed...feelings changed. I think I was picking up her attraction to Han. Han is this older, cocky guy, with a ship of his own. He's the kind of guy who always gets the girl."

She raised a slim eyebrow. "You are now in command of fleets of Imperial ships. What's your excuse now?"

Luke blew out a frustrated breath. "I don't know...you tell me. You're a woman who just can't wait to get away from me. Why?"

Her usual stern facial expression softened. "There is nothing wrong with you. I've actually grown to like you...as a friend, but you have to understand, I am just overcoming my recent misplaced hatred for you and your father is a Dark Lord Sith that I fear might choke me to death on a whim. It is a bit overwhelming."

Luke sighed deeply as he looked down at the deck. "When we announce that I am the son of Vader it will be a bit overwhelming for any woman. It won't matter how many fleets I command. I'll be seen as a dangerous Force-adept...a freak of nature...something to be feared...like my father. No one will feel truly comfortable in a relationship with me."

Mara gave a roll of her eyes as she moved to the shuttle's flight deck. "Please, don't get all gloomy on me. Hell, if you desire female companionship you can always visit your royal pleasure harem."

"I don't have a harem," Luke groused as he sat the pilot's seat.

"Maybe you should get one," Mara teased. "I'm sure a lot of women would sign up voluntarily. Many ladies are attracted to men in uniform and in position of power despite the eerie Force abilities. As long as there isn't emotional connection, they may feel safe enough kriff'n the son of Vader."

"I doubt it," he said slowly. "I don't see many women throwing themselves at my father."

She laughed as she sat in the copilot seat. "Can he even have a physical relationship? I mean, I never seen him out of his suit."

Luke laughed harshly. "It's nice to know you haven't seen my father in the nude."

She gave a disapproving glare. "You know what I mean...in regular clothing and not his leather domination outfit. Have you seen him in something other than his leather suit?"

He remained silent for a long time. "Yes, when he does his bacta immersions. He wears bacta shorts with weighted belt. He is missing his arms and legs. He would have just gotten cybernetic limbs if it wasn't for his respiratory problems. His lungs are shot...something about breathing in Sulphur dioxide and extreme heat damaging his lungs. The suit has an artificial lung. The only reason he can get out of it for the bacta dips is he is in a special hyperbaric chamber. He explained it to me...something about the high oxygen content and pressure in the chamber can increase the oxygen levels in the blood plasma. Also, he has special bacta with high oxygen levels. I don't think a normal person would survive any of this though. He relies heavily on the Force when he is out of the suit."

"Kriff, that was more than I wanted to know. I was just curious if he could have sex."

"Oh," Luke thought about it. "I don't think so. Most of his flesh is burnt off. The damage is so severe I assume all protruding parts of his body suffered the same fate."

"Okay," Mara said slowly. "Now I know why he is always so pissed off."

"And why he doesn't want to lose me," Luke added. "He can never have more children." Luke looked down at the flight controls and started the shuttle pre-check.

Mara went silent when he brought up the subject of children. Vader's words confused her. Why was he so...nonthreatening...insisting that her relationship with his son had to be completely consensual? It was like he knew something...perhaps a vision of the future.

"Mara?" Luke said softly. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." She blinked a few times pulling herself out of her musings. "I like your father's new cape," she said, deliberately changing the subject. "Was that your idea or his?"

"I think it was Grand Admiral Thrawn's idea. Since my father can't wear a military uniform, that was the next best thing. It looks a little more military and less..." Luke paused, looking for the right word.

"Sithy?" Mara suggested.

He laughed as he powered up his shuttle. "Yes, Sithy." The green light on the console panel indicated the ship was ready to fly. Luke put both hands on the steering yoke before turning to her. "Are you sure you want to leave? I can pay more than Karrde can."

"You don't know what Karrde pays me," she pointed out. "It doesn't matter," he replied. "I can pay more."

She averted her eyes as she drew in a calming breath. "I just want to go home. Perhaps under different circumstances I would have given you a different answer...but right now I want to return to my crew."

Luke heaved a sigh as he maneuvered the ship up and out of the docking bay. "Maybe we'll meet again. Please consider my offer until then."

She glanced over to him and smiled. "I'll consider your offer." He nodded. "That is all I can ask."