~One month later~

Mara Jade barged into Talon Karrde's office onboard the Wild Karrde. "You joined the Imperial Trade League?" Mara gazed at Karrde in shock. "Why?"

Talon had been going over ship manifests on his datapad when his second-in-command had interrupted his work. He lowered the device and looked at her perplexed. "Why not? The money is better than smuggling and we got exclusive high-end product shipping rights to the various fleet's flagships."

She looked at him knowingly. "And you may get a chance to see your Imperial girlfriend...the one you met at the Redeemer's Officer's Club. What's her name again...Karla?"

"Karrina," Talon corrected her.

"Karrina, a woman who happens to be stationed onboard the same Star Destroyer Skywalker frequents."

Karrde smirked. "So? I thought you got along well with our exalted Supreme Commander."

"I do, but that doesn't mean I want to see him on a regular basis."

Karrde put his arms out, palms up, in an apologetic gesture. "I guess we shouldn't have kidnapped the second most powerful man in the galaxy and got into this strange position in the first place." He ran a hand over his bearded face. "Or should I say Skywalker is the one that got you in a strange position." There was a look of devilment in his eyes. "Did you ever find that subcutaneous tracking device we suspect he is carrying?"

She rolled her eyes and groaned. "You know there is nothing between me and Skywalker."

He chuckled. "I know. I must say, he is a very patient man. It's been...what...four months that he's been trying to woo you?"

"Knock it off, Talon."

"Come on, give me a hint as to how close he's getting to his objective. Has he gotten a kiss?"

Her face pinched together in irritation. "Watch it!"

"Hand holding?"

She glared at her boss as she leaned against the wall. "You know...after I finally admitted to you that I was Emperor Palpatine's personal assassin you would think it would give you some pause before antagonizing me."

"Oh, it does," Karrde struck a smug smile. "I paused, thought about the repercussions, and decided it was worth the risk." He returned his attention to his datapad. "Now if you don't mind, I need to go over these Imperial procurement requests. I think we can purchase most of the items on Hapes."

"What do the Imperials want?"

He looked over the list. "High end wine and whiskey, fresh fruit and ten thousand units of male repress meds."

"Ten thousand units of birth control? How much sex is going on that ship?"

"Not much I assume," Karrde said drolly. "That was a private order from Skywalker." He winked at her. "I guess he has big plans for your reunion."

Mara pushed away from the wall. "You are so dead." As she moved around his desk Karrde jumped out of his seat and ran off in the opposite direction before making his escape out the office door.

Mara poked her head outside his office and yelled, "You have to sleep sometime, Karrde. I'll get my revenge eventually. Skywalker isn't the only patient person in this galaxy."

~Hapes~

Mara walked down the ship's boarding ramp and observed the bustling spaceport. She was always pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of Hapan public facilities...but she supposed that shouldn't be shocking knowing how much image means to the Hapan people. They value beauty over everything, and the result was a population of near-humans that were exceptionally attractive. Hapan citizens unfortunate enough to be born homely left the planet as soon as they were able since they were often deemed unemployable and finding a mate was an even more daunting task. She turned to her boss as he walked down the ramp to join her. "Do you want to bring the speeder transport or just have everything delivered to the ship?"

Karrde took in a deep breath of highly filtered air before addressing his second-in-command. "Delivered. We can leave Chin on board to show the delivery people where to stack the wares."

"I guess I will call for a ride to the shopping warehouses. We can..." Mara's words were cut off by a huge explosion at the other end of the massive docking bay. As dust and ash billowed through the building Mara and her boss ducked back into their ship and secured the doors. She looked at Talon. "I'll contact port authority to find out what's going on."

Mara ran up to the flight deck where Aves and Chin were already in contact with the docking bay supervisor. "What happened?" Mara asked.

Aves turned around where he was sitting in the communications area. "There was an explosion that took out an Imperial Gozanti-Class Cruiser docked at the far end of the building. Everybody is in lockdown for now. Terrorism is suspected."

Karrde entered the flight deck. "Damn rebels. They can't leave well enough alone." He looked at his crew members. "After our first Imperial cargo run, we are probably going to be a target for rebels. I want operational security tight. Make sure no one gets near the ship when in port without proper authorization."

"Maybe we're better off staying smugglers," Mara muttered. "At least all we have to worry about is custom Patrols."

Talon blew out a breath as he walked down the ship corridor to the galley with Mara following close behind. "Let's not get jumpy. The Rebel Alliance has to be on its last leg."

"We wouldn't have a problem if Skywalker dealt with the rebellion like a real Imperial," Mara groused.

Karrde's brow rose. "You mean kill them instead of exile?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I mean or at least put them in prison. They are rebels...they are not going to remain in exile."

Karrde threw his hands up. "They were his friends and comrades. You can see why he couldn't do what you are suggesting...not unless he went dark like the Emperor."

"If they keep blowing up things, he'll eventually have to deal with the rebels with deadly force."

"Is that what you would do?" Karrde asked. "If we found ourselves on the other side of a conflict...would you kill me, Aves or Chin?"

She gave him a hard stare but eventually she averted her eyes. "Probably not."

"Probably not?" Karrde said with a ting of amusement. "That really makes me feel comfortable when I am flying around the galaxy with the former Emperor's top assassin. 'I probably won't kill you'." He snorted. "Very reassuring."

"Well, I haven't killed you yet...despite your teasing...like asking me if I ever polished Skywalker's lightsaber." She blew out a frustrated breath. "Okay, I definitely, positively wouldn't kill you...unless you were trying to kill me. And mark my words, there will be a time when Skywalker becomes a target of assassination and then...then he will have a change of heart."

"Maybe." He gestured toward the ship's caf maker. "Want to get a drink until the lockdown ends?"

"Sure." She went to the kitchen counter and poured a couple cups of caf and sat down at the table. When Karrde slid in the seat across from her she handed the second cup over to him. "So, tell me about your Imperial girlfriend. I didn't see you return the night you and the crew went to the Officer's Club. Can I assume you did the walk of shame down a Star Destroyer corridor?"

Karrde blushed slightly. "Her name is Lieutenant Karrina Shotts. She is eight years younger than me...and very beautiful. She is a Medical Service Corps Officer...specializing in pharmaceuticals."

Mara laughed. "You have so much in common...we sometimes smuggle pharmaceuticals."

"Joke all you want, but I'll have you know, she likes my rugged, bad boy looks." He ran a hand over his facial hair that Mara noticed was now carefully trimmed. "She especially likes the beard... among other things."

Mara rolled her eyes unaccustomed to hearing Karrde brag about himself. "I'm happy that you found someone...I just wish she wasn't stationed on the same ship that Skywalker is usually traveling on."

Karrde sat back in his chair and regarded her thoughtfully. "You know, you two seem like a good match. Both of you are Force adepts, you are a former Imperial and he is an Imperial. You worked for a Sith, he works for a Sith...hell, he's not a bad looking guy and he didn't have us executed us for treason when he could have easily. He's a hell of a lot more forgiving than I would be if I was the one kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder. You can't do much better than dating the Supreme Commander of the universe." He grinned when Mara blushed. "I guess you can hold out for a celestial, but I was told those are few and far between."

"Shut up, Karrde."

"Admit it you like him."

"Sure I like him. He is a nice enough guy, but he has way too much baggage. He is hated by half the Imperials, or at least that is how he tells it, and he is hated by all the rebels. I don't think I want to get involved with somebody that everybody in the galaxy knows and most hate. You might as well paint a target on my back."

"True, but if anybody could survive having a target on her back, it's you. Could that be one of the reasons he's so interested. He perhaps doesn't want to put normal women...you know, those who are not Force strong assassins...into harm's way. He has to be lonely...especially if what you say is true. He has no friends...just the Emperor. Can you imagine what that feels like?"

"Yes," she said slowly. "I know exactly what that feels like. I used to be just like him with only Emperor Palpatine as an ally."

"But now you have friends. Would you go back to having nobody but a Sith Lord as a friend?"

"Palpatine was my Master. He was never a friend."

"Still," Talon continued. "Would you ever want to go back to that existence...the loneliness?"

She didn't want to admit that Karrde was right, but he was. "No."

"Think about that the next time you see him."

She gave an unenthusiastic grunt as an acknowledgment. "So, are you going to see Karrina again?"

A huge smile spread across his face. "I hope so. I really hope so."

He rose and walked over to the holonet projector and flicked it on. "Let's see if there is any news about the bombing." There was a slight delay before an image of the Emperor's Media Briefing room appeared over a scrolling banner that said, 'Breaking news from the office of the Emperor.'

"That's quick," Talon muttered. "The bomb just went off. How does the Emperor already have a response?"

"I don't think this has anything to do with the bombing," Mara said as she stared at the image. "This isn't local Hapan news and with the briefing room as crowded as it is this had to be planned much earlier today."

The projected image showed a podium with the Imperial seal embossed on the front and located on a small stage at the front of the room. Emperor Vader's public relations representative, a middle- aged human female with dark skin and wiry black hair, walked to a podium facing a crowd of reporters. She cleared her throat before addressing the various journalists. "I want to thank all the members of the various news media outlets for attending today's briefing. There will be no questions after my announcement. All inquiries are to be sent via electronic messaging to the Emperor's office. Lord Vader will personally respond to any questions."

There was a soft moan of disappointment and Mara had a chuckle. It seemed that no media correspondent wanted to ask Lord Vader a question directly.

"This briefing today is straight from the Emperor's desk. As of today, Emperor Vader is officially declaring Supreme Commander Luke Skywalker as his anointed successor and heir apparent." The room remained quiet. Mara assumed the reporters were wondering why call a press conference to tell them the obvious. "The Emperor would also like to announce the reason he chose the Supreme Commander as his successor. Luke Skywalker is the birth son of Lord Vader, born of his blood and conceived within marriage. That is the end of the briefing, thank you." That announcement put the reporters in an uproar as they screamed out questions despite the warning that the PR representative wouldn't respond to any queries.

"What the hell?" Talon said as he turned to Mara, his face slack with surprise. "Did you know about this?"

"Yes," she said softly.

"Oh," Talon blew out a breath before flicking off the projector and returning to his seat. "Is this why you've been avoiding Skywalker?"

She shook her head. "No, that doesn't matter to me."

"How can it possibly not matter?" Worry darkened his expression. "He's a Force adept and son of a Sith. He could end up like his father."

She sighed deeply. "He's nothing like his father...otherwise we'd have been dead long ago."

"Still...you were right, he has too much baggage and this is just another thing added to the list. Your decision to avoid him is probably the right one."

She let out a scathing laugh. "First you try to play matchmaker and now you are acting like an overly protective father."

"I have reason to be protective."

She gave him a withering glare. "No, you don't. Skywalker is the same man that you were praising for his patience and forgiveness just minutes ago." She shook her head sadly. "Luke was worried that this would happen...that people would run from him once they knew his relationship to Darth Vader. Kriff!" She drummed her fingers on the galley table as she thought about the situation. "After we deliver our cargo, I would like to see Skywalker. He has been very good to us; we should be there for him." She gazed at Karrde. "What do you think?"

Karrde paused for a long moment before answering. "I think you're right." He sighed deeply as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Sorry about my reaction. It just caught me off guard."

"That's okay. I was a little taken aback when I first heard the news."

"Understandable and you are right...Skywalker has been very good to us...you should date him."

"What? I didn't say that?"

He tried to contain his smile. "You have to be the only woman in the galaxy that doesn't care that Darth Vader is his father...face it, you two are meant for each other."

"Karrde, stop joking."

"Come on!" Karrde said with a laugh. "Do you want ten thousand units of male repress meds to go to waste?"

She picked up her steaming cup of caf. "Stop talking or you're going to be wearing my drink."

"Fine." He clicked his tongue in mock exasperation. "There is no pleasing you. First, I say date him and you get mad, then I say don't date him and you get irritated and then when I change my mind..." He quickly rose to his feet when he saw Mara motion her cup at him in a threatening manner. "Okay, okay, I'm knocking it off." He walked up to the flight deck of the ship while calling out to his crew. "Aves, Chin, see how much longer we'll be locked down. We got cargo to buy and repress meds to deliver."

~One week later~

Star Destroyer Redeemer

Mara was somewhat surprised when she didn't find Skywalker waiting for her at the docking bay. She could sense he was aboard the ship brooding. Obviously, the disclosure of his paternity was still causing him some angst.

She strolled down the loading ramp to locate the docking master and was intercepted by a handsome human male in an Imperial officer's dark grey naval uniform and wearing the rank of Commodore. The man was probably in his late thirties or early forties, with a few streaks of gray in his dark brown hair giving him a distinguished look. He stopped in front of Mara and smiled warmly. "Miss Jade, I assume." He extended his hand out in greeting.

She looked him up and down warily before grasping his hand and shaking it. "I am. You must be Commodore..." she reached back in her memory and came up with the proper response. "Vanto, isn't it?"

He gave a nod. "Yes, I am sorry that we haven't met earlier. Supreme Commander Skywalker talks about you fondly."

"He's talked about you also," she said as she released her grip and brought her hand to her side.

The man's smile widened. "All good, I hope."

"Yes, in fact it was." She regarded him quizzically. "Does he intend on joining us."

"Ah," he looked down at the deck and then back to her. "The recent press release has upset him greatly...he has remained in his quarters for the last few days. He's asked me to escort you to his quarters...if you would be so inclined to accept his invitation."

"Yes, of course."

Relief colored his expression. "Thank you." He motioned to a corridor across the bay. "If you would be so kind to follow me."

"Lead the way." Mara fell in step next to Commodore Vanto. "I thought Emperor Vader's press release might cause him some problems, but I didn't think it would make him a recluse."

He gave her a sideways glance. "That is not what he's upset about, it was response from the Rebel Alliance."

"What response? You have to excuse me, but we've been in hyperspace for the last four days and we don't have a hyperwave radio."

"Oh," Commodore Vanto said softly. "If you like, I can have one installed on your ship...at no cost to you."

She realized he was stalling. "What was the Rebel's response?"

He took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly, at the same time he slightly increased his pace in order to get them to Skywalker's quarters quicker. "I think the Supreme Commander would like to tell you personally."

She sighed. "That bad, huh?"

"It has...upset the Supreme Commander in more ways than one."

"Okay, I'll ask him myself." They continued down the corridor until they stood in front of the lavish double doors of Skywalker's quarters.

Commodore Vanto turned to Mara and smiled. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Same here." She went to knock on Skywalker's door but stopped and turned to Vanto. "Were you kidding about the hyperwave transmitter?"

"Not at all. I will have my men install one today."

"Thank you." She knocked on the door as Commodore Vanto quickly turned and walked down the corridor. She waited for a moment and then knocked again.

Eventually Skywalker opened the door and Mara was taken aback by his appearance. He wasn't in his usual dress uniform but sleep pants and wrinkled undershirt. There were dark bags under his eyes and his hair was sticking up in various directions. He managed a small, sad smile as he motioned for her to enter.

"Commodore Vanto said you were upset over the Rebel's response to your parentage. What happened?"

He sighed deeply before padding over barefoot to the holonet projector. "It is easier to show you." He pushed a few buttons and played something he obviously recorded from an earlier date. "This is what happened."

Mara watched as the image of the former Princess of Alderaan appeared above the projection base. Underneath scrolled the words: Former Princess talks to reporters from place of exile.

The princess looked straight at the camera and started her speech without preamble. "I just hope all the citizens of the Empire realize how they have been deceived over the years, but you are not alone, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker deceived us all. It is now obvious that Skywalker was an Imperial infiltrator from the start. He wormed his way into the rebellion and acted as a spy the entire time. In hindsight, it is so very clear. He is able to walk onto a supposedly impregnable battle station, rescue me, and escape easily. Dozens and dozens of stromtroopers were firing upon us and not one blasterbolt hit its mark. Imperial Stormtroopers are known for their deadly accuracy, but the day of our escape not one shot came close to hitting us. It was all preplanned. His job was to rescue me so I could lead him to the rebel outpost.

"I know many of you may ask yourselves, 'If he is an imperial, then why did he blow up the Death Star?' I'll tell you why. Darth Vader allowed his son to destroy the battle station to not only fortify Skywalker's position in the rebellion, allowing for his promotion and access to intelligence information, but it eliminated many of Lord Vader's rivals-Grand Moff Tarkin, General Trech Molock, General Moradmin Bast. Chief of the Imperial Navy Admiral Conan Antonio Motti, Chief of the Imperial Army General Cassio Tagge, and Chief Major Siward Cass.

"This is the only obvious explanation for Luke Skywalker's ability to fly in and out of a combat situation without a scratch while most of his flight wing was decimated. Meanwhile, your current Emperor, Darth Vader, was safely off the Death Star and far enough away from the scene that he didn't get destroyed in the explosion. Darth Vader sacrificed over a million loyal Imperial citizens in order to eliminate political rivals and secure his son in a position of power among the Rebellion. Once Skywalker had enough information on the rebels he returned to his father and together they murdered Emperor Palpatine. Is this who you want leading your Empire? Rise up and join us in dethroning a brutal dictator!"

Luke clicked off the holonet and turned to Mara. "I can't believe Leia thought I was a traitor from the start."

His words irritated Mara to no end. "You're worried that your old crush now hates you? Is that what is disturbing your sleep? What the kriff is wrong with you? You need to worry about what your people think about you! You are lined up to be Emperor eventually and you can't do that if Imperials think you and Vader are capable of such deception and cruelty to your own people." She pointed to the projector. "And how in the hell did that message get through Imperial holonet censors? I know Palpatine and Vader were experts at controlling the narrative. How did this get onto the holonet?"

Luke looked down and shook his head. "Somebody sliced into the system. It was taken down almost immediately, but not before trillions of Imperial citizens saw it."

"Your father better figure out where that signal is coming from or find a way to block the transmission in the future. You can't have the rebels using propaganda to destabilize the government."

"I know. You're right." Luke slowly sat on his couch, his face a mask of pain. "I can't believe the lies that my friends are telling the galaxy. I was never an Imperial plant. I joined the rebellion because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to make this galaxy a better place to live in. I fought hard toward that goal. At first, I thought the rebellion was the only way, but my father showed me another path. And I've succeeded in making a difference. I've pushed through more government reforms than any previous leader. And I did it in only two years. Why can't Leia can't see that? How can she think I would lie to her like that?"

Mara rolled her eyes. "I know it is none of my business and I really don't care, but you need to realize that you and the princess are no longer friends...not anymore! So, forget about her and concentrate on how you are going to respond to these allegations because it doesn't bode well for the galaxy. Your father has been trying to do things your way...the nice way. But if there's an uprising he will crack down on people...hard. You have to give a response to this."

His brow knitted. "Like what? If I deny it people won't believe me."

"Use your own propaganda. The Jedi took you from your father. It was Leia that got you involved in the rebellion, not the other way around. You need to spin this in a way that the you are no longer the villain but the victim of the Jedi and the Rebel Alliance."

Luke threw up his hands. "I don't know how to do that?"

She sat down next to him. "It's not that hard. Imperials want to remain loyal Imperials, just give them something slightly believable."

Luke dropped his head in his hands in frustration. "Mara, you were right when you said I was a naïve rimworld...bumpkin. I don't have the head for politics, and I have never been good at lying." He looked up her, his eyes pleading. "Please help me. I don't want my father hunting down the rebels in exile and slaughtering them."

Mara blew out a frustrated breath. "There you go again...worrying about the rebels and not your constituents. Listen to me—the rebels are NOT your friends!"

Luke ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. "It is difficult not to think of them as friends. They were my only friends since I left Tatooine. When I became an Imperial, I was at best... tolerated. You are the closest thing I have to a friend now...and even you don't want to spend time with me."

Mara closed her eyes and for a moment contemplated leaving Skywalker to stew in his despair. It was obvious that his concern rested with the rebels and specifically Princess Leia...a woman who publicly denounced Luke as a traitor to the Empire and the Rebellion. The thought rolled around in her mind for a second or two before she remembered Talon's words about how lonely Luke must be having only his father as a friend.

"I will help you," she said after much contemplation. "But you have to do what I say...and it will be difficult. Princess Leia is playing hardball and so must you. You can't waiver." She gazed at him, challenging him to make a firm decision. "Will you follow my advice and not quibble over my instructions? If you can, I will arrange with Talon to stay a few days."

Luke gazed at her warily. "Will I have to kill people?"

She shook her head. "No, just piss them off."

He looked at the ceiling for a moment before returning his gaze to her. "Yes, I promise to do what you say. Just help me."

"Okay," she stood and moved to the door. "I'm going back to my ship to talk to Talon and pack a bag. While I'm gone clean up. Take a shower and put on a starched uniform. You are the Supreme Commander...look the part!"