Bulk Freighter Wild Karrde currently berthed within the ventral docking bay of the Star Destroyer Redeemer

Talon returned to his ship's cabin with a towel wrapped around his waist and holding two cups of caf. He closed the door behind him and stopped to gaze at the beautiful nude woman lying belly down on his bunk. After a long moment she turned her head to look at him. "What are you staring at?"

He grinned widely as he moved forward to hand her a cup. "My dear Karrina, I'm gazing lovingly at your back dimples. I find those lower back indentations above your perfectly formed bottom... absolutely mesmerizing."

"Why, thank you Captain Karrde." She looked him up and down appreciatively. "And I find your bilateral inguinal crease particularly sexy."

His brow furrowed. "My what?"

She cocked her finger indicating for him to move closer. "The inguinal crease runs from the right and left iliac spine to the pubic bone." She ran a finger from his hip to groin. "It makes a 'V' shape." She grinned lovingly. "A pharmacist does have to know something about anatomy and physiology."

He chuckled as he sat down on the bed next to her. "I didn't know there was an official name for that. I just called it my groin cleavage or sometimes my happy trail to paradise."

"Groin cleavage? That's a new one." She shook her head in disbelief before sitting up and sipping her caf. "I've really enjoyed our time together." She looked at him sadly. "The Redeemer arrives at Corellia today. Will you be leaving?"

"I have a job." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I was able to stay as long as I did because your ship was going in the same direction that we planned to travel."

"Yeah." She averted her eyes and tried to hide her disappointment. "I'll miss you."

"Hey," Talon took her cup out of her hands and placed it on the end table along with his. "I'm going to see you often." He leaned in and gave her a long passionate kiss before pulling back to gaze into her wistful hazel eyes. "Your Supreme Commander is smitten with my second-in- command. I'm sure he will make sure we make frequent supply runs to his flag ship."

"What if Jade decides to marry him? What if they go off to live in the Imperial Palace?"

The thought that Mara Jade might leave his employment never crossed his mind. "Oh." He didn't like the thought of losing his best employee, but at the same time he couldn't help but want the best for his friend. "I'm sure Commodore Vanto will continue to order items we can provide for his crew."

"And if he doesn't?"

Talon smiled at his lover. "If Mara leaves my employment and Vanto no longer orders supplies through my organization...well, then there will be a job vacancy that I need to fill."

She looked at him blankly.

"You! You could become part of my crew," he explained.

She shook her head. "My college was paid for by the military. I have a six-year service obligation of which I have only done two. I will be under Imperial contract for the next four years." She reached down to the floor and retrieved her civilian tunic she discarded the night before in the heat of the moment. "Besides, I'm a pharmacist. What would I do as a crew member?" She pulled on her clothing and then looked at Talon waiting for an answer.

"Well," he said slowly. "We often smuggle pharmaceuticals."

She gave his shoulder a playful shove. "Be serious." She picked up his boxer briefs and tossed them in his direction before hunting down the remainder of her clothing.

"I am serious. Haven't you heard of pharmaceutical representatives? I can adjust my business plan for pharmaceutical sales and delivery."

She stared at him in disbelief. "You'd do that?"

"Yes." He sighed deeply knowing he was rushing things...but he had never felt this way about a woman before. She was special. So much so, he was ready to rearrange his entire life to spend more time with her. "Either that, or I'm going to have to join the Imperial Navy."

"Oh no." She walked over and ran a hand over his bearded face. "They would make you shave, and you look way too sexy with that beard." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. "We have four years to think about the future. I have an obligation that I must complete unless the military starts offering early outs for Navy downsizing."

"You're right." He pulled on his trousers and tunic before wrapping Karrina in his arms. "Are you getting any shore leave while in orbit? I'm going down to the planet to pick up cargo, but we can stay for the day if you want to do some bar hopping."

"Yes, I would like that very much." She leaned in hugging him tightly. "How about we meet tonight. There is a club called the Hard Nights Tavern. It is a few blocks from the Imperial Training Center. It caters to Imperial service members, but they don't mind the occasional sexy smuggler."

Talon smiled broadly. "It's a date then."

.

.

Imperial Palace, Coruscant

"If the clone that escaped wasn't a Force adept...can Palpatine use him...you know to occupy his body," Luke asked his father after they left the laboratory and returned to the emperor's quarters. The Sith Lord's apartment was sparse with most of the space occupied by a black metallic meditation chamber that allowed Vader to survive without his helmet. Luke had never been inside the chamber and had yet to glimpse his father's true face. His father never offered to show Luke... most likely because he was seriously disfigured in his fight against Obi-Wan. The closest he came to seeing his father's true form was a fleeting glance of him floating within a bacta cylinder before the transparisteel chamber's privacy setting switched from transparent to opaque.

Other than the meditation pod there was a couch and a few chairs along with a long conference table with a large holoprojector in the center. The first time Luke entered the apartment he went to the kitchen and found no plates, pots or utensils. There was also no food or beverages in the cooling unit. It was a stark reminder of his father's grievous injuries. Darth Vader would never eat normally. All sustenance was provided by a feeding tube that pumped nutrients from a storage container underneath his armor. Luke didn't know where his father went to replace the nutrients and he never asked. He really didn't feel comfortable discussing his father's bodily functions when it came to the suit. Luke did notice that after that first meeting together, the emperor stocked beverages and nonperishable food for his son.

Luke and Mara were currently sitting on the lone couch while Vader occupied a large, cushioned chair.

"It is doubtful that the clone's body would be of any use to him. The only thing it was good for was carrying on the Palpatine line. More than a dozen women were impregnated. The Cloners said most of the offspring had mediocre Force abilities."

Mara shifted in her seat. "Where are the children now?"

"It has been over twenty years since the first were born; they are no longer children." Vader turned to Mara, his ominous black lens focusing on her, pinning her to her seat. "You grew up with some of them. Inquisitor Valglorius, Imperial Guardsman Ratten, Agent Kanonfort. The remainder didn't have much Force potential and were placed as Imperial Stormtroopers or Tie Fighter pilots."

Luke looked at his father questioningly. "Did they know they were related to the emperor?"

"No, and most are now dead by the hands of the rebels." Vader leaned back in his seat. "There are a few younglings born a year or two before Palpatine's death. They were adopted out to families. They were deemed 'unsuccessful offspring' by Palpatine. They were not Force adepts." Emperor Vader fell silent for a long moment before continuing. "I considered tracking them down and... eliminating them...but..." He looked over to Luke. "But I know that would meet your disapproval and jeopardize our relationship."

Luke's brow went up in surprise. "Thank you, father."

Vader's discomfort could be felt through the Force. He wasn't used to being merciful and he especially was not accustomed to gratitude. "Much has been taken away from me. I will not lose my son...not again." Vader took a deep mechanical breath before awkwardly shifting in his seat. He looked down at the floor and then back to Luke and Mara. "So...you and the former Emperor's Hand are now dating?"

Luke cleared his throat before answering. "Yes."

"After she kidnapped and tried to sell you to the highest bidder?"

Luke looked over to Mara and gave her a nervous smile. "What can I say, Father, I like dangerous women."

"You may have gotten more than you can handle." Emperor Vader gazed at Mara Jade for long pause before chuckling. "Mara Jade is the most dangerous woman that ever served the Empire."

"So," Luke ventured jokingly. "Are you saying she could do better?"

Mara bit down on her lower lip, wondering if this type of banter was the norm between Luke and Vader.

"If Palpatine put a command deep into her subconscious to kill you or me...she could be very dangerous." He turned to face Mara. "But Palpatine always underestimated you and your power. I do not believe you will harm my son. I can sense..." Vader took in a deep breath and let it out. "I can sense you are both protective of each other. And there is that bond. I wonder..." Vader trailed off leaving the sentence unfinished.

"Wonder what, Father?"

The Sith Lord straightened in his seat. "I wonder if Palpatine was wrong in thinking he would be part of the prophesied Dyad. Perhaps the Dyad is here, now, within you two."

Luke looked over to Mara and back to his father. "Does that mean I'm the Chosen One?"

"No!" his father shouted adamantly. "I am the Chosen One. It was the Jedi who were confused as to how the prophesy would play out. If Palpatine does live, I will find him and destroy the last of the Sith."

"Aren't you Sith?" Luke questioned his father.

"Obviously not! A true Sith Lord would be tracking down baby Palpatines and Force choking them!" Vader made a wide gesture with his arm. "I have created homeless shelters, free undergraduate college education, and Galactic Health Care! Do you really believe that is the work of a Sith!"

Mara looked back and forth between the two men but remained silent. obviously not wanting to get into an argument between the two Skywalkers.

"No, Father," Luke said slowly. "You are a changed man. You are as formable as any Sith but with a soul. You are a man I am proud to call my father."

Luke felt his father become guarded and he realized he shouldn't have had this conversation in front of Mara. It embarrassed his father. He was relieved when the holoprojector beeped indicating an incoming message.

"Projector on," the emperor commanded and a holographic image of Commodore Vanto appeared.

"Emperor Vader," Vanto said, his voice strained. "There has been a rebel attack on Corellia. A Rebel Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser came out of hyperspace and hit the Redeemer with quad ion cannons temporarily disabling our weapon systems. They then utilized a dorsal superlaser to destroy the Imperial Training Center. By the time our systems came back online they had made the jump to hyperspace. Grand Admiral Thrawn will be joining us within the hour and will take command and organize our response."

"Where did the rebels acquire a Dreadnaught? We supposedly destroyed them all in our last conflict!" Vader bellowed as he rose out of his seat.

"Unknown Emperor Vader. None of our Dreadnaughts are missing...and the ship appears to be an older model...possibly from the Galactic Republic era."

"Clone War Dreadnaughts do not have dorsal superlasers capable to destroying planetary targets," Vader pointed out.

Luke could see Eli Vanto swallow hard. The man had to know Darth Vader was capable of Force strangling people across the vastness of space. "Your Highness, the superlaser could have been retrofitted onto an older ship." There was a pause. "Do you have orders for me Emperor Vader or should I continue to wait for the Grand Admiral?"

Vader shook his head, obviously frustrated. "Get me a casualty report and any information on the rebel ship. Send hourly updates to my intelligence division."

"Yes, Emperor Vader." Commodore gave a curt nod of his head before the signal disconnected.

Before the Emperor could say more Mara's commlink beeped. She gave a cursory glance at the scrolling text before doing a double take. "Oh kriff."

Luke felt her shock through the Force. "What is it?"

When Mara faced Luke, he immediately knew the situation was bad...Mara was crying. "It's from Aves. The Wild Karrde was on Corellia when the rebel assault happened. Talon was meeting his lady friend near the attack site, and they are currently missing...they may be dead."

.

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Coronet City Medical Center, Corellia

Luke and Mara barged into the hospital room assigned to Talon Karrde only to find an empty bed.

"Where is he?" Mara's voice rose to a near screech as she grabbed the closest nurse in the hallway. "Where is Talon Karrde, room fifty-six?"

The nurse was a middle aged, human female with a resting face that said, "Don't kriff with me". It looked like the healthcare worker was about to make a derogatory comment before she spied Supreme Commander Skywalker next to the irate redhead. At that instant her demeanor changed to one more accommodating. "He's not in his room?" She walked over to room 56 to confirm her patient was absent before sighing deeply. "He's an escape artist, but he doesn't go far." She motioned for Mara and Luke to follow her. "He's probably down by the bacta immersion tanks."

She led the couple down a maze of hallways before she pushed open a set of double doors and entered a huge room, revealing rows and rows of immersion tanks filled with survivors of the rebel attack. Near the end of one row was Talon Karrde in a hospital gown standing with his hands and head leaning against a tank.

"Talon!" Mara ran up to her boss and enveloped him in a warm hug. "I'm so glad you survived."

Luke stood back for a minute before he approached the smuggler and put a hand on his shoulder. "If there is anything you need, Talon, anything...just let me know."

Karrde pulled out of Mara's embrace and drew in a deep breath. "You can hunt down the rebels that did this and kill them!" He motioned to the woman floating in the bacta tank her modesty protected by a white sleeveless top and briefs. "Look what they did to her!"

Luke gazed at the young Lieutenant and winced. The once beautiful woman was now missing her right forearm, a foot and had severe lacerations on the right side of her face and skull.

"I'm sorry Talon," Luke whispered, trying to keep his voice even. "I'm missing a hand. Cybernetic limbs today are amazing. I'll make sure she gets the best care."

Karrde pulled in a ragged breath before clenching his teeth. "She lost an eye and has brain damage."

"We'll do neural reconstruction," Luke said quickly.

"I want the rebels dead!" The words came out of Karrde as a hiss. "Dead." He turned to glare at Luke. "Can you do that? Or are you going to go the touchy-feely route and simply exile them? Tell me now, because if you plan on making them promise to stay out of Imperial space and be good boys and girls...well then...I'm going to track them down and kill them myself."

The power of Karrde's wrath was so strong in the Force that Luke took a step back. "Talon, I'll bring them to justice...no more exile."

"Justice." The word came out scathing.

"We may not execute, but we do have Imperial prisons," Luke assured Talon. "We'll get justice for Karrina."

Karrde turned away from Luke and gazed up at his lover floating in bacta. "Prison then." He sighed deeply. "Sorry Luke. I didn't mean to be harsh. I..."

"You don't have to explain yourself. You've been through a terrible trauma." Luke put a comforting hand and the Talon's shoulder. "I'll take care of everything."

"Meanwhile," Mara said while giving her boss a disapproving look. "You have to get back to your room." She pointed to various bandages on Talon's arms and legs. "You need to let those bacta patches work."

"Okay," Talon's voice oozed with exhaustion. As he walked past Mara, she groaned while covering her eyes with her hand. "Luke can you please tie up the back of his hospital gown."

Luke chuckled when he realized the smuggler was nude under the robe and exposing his backside to anybody looking in his direction. "Hold on." He knotted the cloth ties on the back. "There," Luke said with a grin. "All clear, Mara."

"It's nothing she hasn't seen before," Talon muttered.

"What?" Luke gazed as Mara questioningly.

"It's not what you think," she said shaking her head in disgust. "I've had the displeasure of seeing all of the Wild Karrde crew...out of uniform at one time or another because I am apparently the only person onboard capable of locking the 'fresher door when in use."

Karrde playfully put an elbow to Luke's ribs. "She has the Force, you know. She knew when somebody was inside showering."

Mara was now seething. "We travel with Force blocking tree lizards!"

Luke gave her a sideway glance. "Tree lizards? Is that what blocked the Force?"

Karrde knitted his brow. "She never told you?" He looked back to Mara. "I'm impressed." He winced in pain when one of his injuries flared up.

"Go back to bed," Mara pleaded with her boss. "Just get better." He nodded as he walked to his room.

When Karrde was out of hearing range, Mara turned to Luke, her eyes narrowing. "Are you going to keep your promise? Are you going to play tough with the rebels?"

He met her steady gaze before looking away. "I'll do what I must."

She didn't press for a more detailed answer. She knew Luke didn't want to hurt his former friends, but she also knew he was terribly disappointed that after showing the rebels mercy they repaid him with further attacks.

She smiled sadly. "Okay."

"Why don't you stay here and watch over Talon and Karrina, and I'll join my crew on
the Redeemer." He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips. "I'll keep you posted on the search for the rebels."

Mara could feel Luke's heart breaking at the thought of hunting down his friends. "I'll do that." She managed to hold back her tears as Luke turned and walked away.