Star Destroyer Redeemer

The Chiss delegation had departed after the Grand Admiral was sure he extracted as much information as possible from the Navigator. Luke and Thrawn were now on the bridge of the ship as they prepared to make their final jump. The Grand Admiral turned to Luke. "I will return to my ship. Would you like the Chimaera to take lead?"

Luke shook his head. "We go in together. I sent a message to my father and Admiral Pellaeon instructing them on a safe route to our destination. The 501st and 3rd Fleet shouldn't be more than a few hours behind us." He looked to the Admiral questioningly. "Unless you think it is best to wait and go in force?"

Thrawn ran a hand over his chin in thought. "Normally I would suggest doing so, but Navigator Vah'nya was very insistent that something...was wrong at our destination."

"Not evil?"

The Grand Admiral thought for a long moment. "She was unsure what she felt. When I questioned her about the 'evil presence' she demurred and said it was more a feeling of wrongness. She said she was taught about ripples or scars in the Force. It felt like that."

"Like a disturbance in the Force?" Luke asked.

"Possibly," Thrawn said after some consideration. "We might be walking into a trap, but I believe it is far better to have two Star Destroyers reconnoiter the area instead of leading entire fleets into an ambush. I am confident that we will either defeat the threat or find a way to disengage and fallback until reinforcements arrive."

Luke nodded. "I agree. You best get back to your ship. Let us know when you arrive, and we will commence with our jump."

"Yes, Supreme Commander." Grand Admiral Thrawn said as he turned and left the bridge.

Luke turned to Commodore Vanto. "Inform me when we are ready to go. I will be in my quarters."

Luke walked to his quarters at a quick pace. He wanted to contact Mara before he made the jump. If he was flying into an ambush, he wanted the chance to talk to her one last time.

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Lord Vader's Private Shuttle

"If you think it is a trap then wait for more backup," Mara implored Luke.

"We don't know that it's a trap. The Navigator simply said she felt a disturbance in the Force. That can mean anything," Luke said calmly in an attempt to assuage Mara's fears. "That's all."

"That's all? You do know that it takes a lot of evil or death just to make a ripple in the Force! A disturbance is something on a whole new level."

Luke started to regret calling. He should have waited until they reconnoitered the area and was able to report results. All he managed to do was unset her. "It's going to be fine. I have Grand Admiral Thrawn with me."

She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at the projected image of Luke hovering over the transceiver base. "What if you come out of hyperspace and find a fully functional and totally manned Katana Fleet?"

He made on expression of incredulity. "If Ewon Klanto had more than three functional Dreadnaughts he would have used them by now." He heaved a sigh. "Mara, I don't want to argue. I just wanted to talk. I miss you."

Her brow knitted together. "Does your father know your plan?"

A loud booming voice shouted from the front of the shuttle. "Don't involve me in your argument!"

Luke laughed at Mara's startled expression. "You heard my father. He doesn't want you involving him in our conversation."

Mara looked toward the flight deck and made a dismissive sound, "Pffft." She returned her attention back to Luke and whispered. "He's just trying to stay neutral because he thinks I'm pregnant."

Luke's eyes went wide as his jaw dropped. "What?"

She waved him off. "I'm not pregnant. It's your father's theory to explain how he and I can now communicate through the Force. According to him, my imaginary Skywalker embryo is acting as a Force communication amplifier and signal relay."

It took a second for Luke to regain his voice. "Have you...did you take a test to find out?"

She made a face. "Surprisingly your father doesn't carry a supply of pregnancy test kits on his shuttle."

Luke took a few calming breaths before smiling. "If you're pregnant...I wouldn't mind. I mean, as long as you are happy." He paused trying to gauge her mood. "Are you happy?"

Her expression was one of frustration. "I'm neither happy nor sad...because I'm not pregnant."

He knew he should drop the subject, but he needed to know. "But if you were...would you be upset?"

She rolled her eyes and groaned. "To be honest Luke, I never imagined becoming a mother. Palpatine would have never allowed it...and if he did, I don't think he would have permitted me to keep the child. He would have trained it to be another Hand or some other type of sycophant. Because of that I never allowed myself to dream of having a family."

"What about now?" He gave a small, hopeful smile.

She sighed wistfully. "If I was to have children...I would want them with you." She glanced down at the floor in thought before continuing. "I guess my answer is no, I wouldn't be upset. But I don't want you to get your hopes up. It is very unlikely that I'm with child. I mean we have only been intimate..."

"Stop talking!" Darth Vader shouted.

Both Luke and Mara laughed. When she caught her breath, she grinned at the image of Luke. "Be safe and let us know what you find at your destination. I love you."

The Supreme Commander smiled back. "I love you too."

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Star Destroyer Redeemer

Commodore Eli Vanto turned to his Supreme Commander sitting in the Captain's chair on the flight deck. "We will be exiting hyperspace momentarily, Sir."

Luke nodded. "Shields up and weapons systems at the ready. Stay alert. We don't know what to expect."

The helmsman pushed a series of buttons and the long bright lines reverted to points of light. Luke immediately went on alert when he caught sight of hundreds of Dreadnaughts floating in space. Most of the ships were dark and looked inoperable, but a few had small repair ships buzzing around them. "Focus on the activity on the port side of the view screen. Scanners! Are those robotic repair droids with supply ships or do we have living beings in the area?"

A young female ensign reviewed her screens before turning to Luke. "Droids on the outside. Sensors have detected a few lifeforms onboard. None of the ships have activated their weapon systems or shields."

The Supreme Commander turned to the communications officer. "Hail them on all frequencies, especially the more common Old Republic channels."

"Aye, Sir." The young male lieutenant carried out the orders. "No response yet, Sir. I will continue monitoring."

Luke saw moment on the starboard side and was relieved when he realized it wasthe Chimaera coming out of hyperspace. "Notify Grand Admiral Thrawn what little we know at this point."

The lieutenant on the comms acknowledged the command.

"Sir," the officer running the sensors called out. "There are life forms on the planet below. It appears there are pockets of civilization. One major city, but other small municipalities scattered throughout the northern hemisphere."

"What planet?" Luke's searching gaze crisscrossed the front view port until he noticed a burst of what looked like chain lightning illuminating a dark, cloud covered planet momentarily before it plunged back into darkness. He focused his attention on the sphere while reaching out with the Force. It was then he felt something reaching back...a darkness...something evil. The feeling of hate and despair was so intense he took a step back and he sucked in a startled breath.

Eli turned to his Supreme Commander looking concerned. "What is it, Sir?"

Luke took a few calming breaths before turning to the man. "I don't know. Something is wrong... something involving the Force. Contact the Grand Admiral and inform him that I am turning over command of the recon operation to him while I make contact with Emperor Vader. I'll be in my quarters."

Luke felt terrible about leaving the bridge, but the planet below reminded him of the cave on Dagobah. So much so, that he practically ran to his quarters. When he was behind closed doors, he opted to wait on telling his father in preference to somebody who might be able to sense what he was feeling at the moment. "Obi-Wan!" He looked around the sitting area of his quarters trying to catch a glimpse of the specter. "Damn it! Make yourself useful for once!"

After a moment the blue, shimmering image of his old Jedi Master materialized. Luke rushed to the Force ghost. "You said you can't ghost recon around the galaxy...but how about the planet below?"

"I thought you didn't want my help." He gave Luke a defiant gaze as he sat on his couch.

With some effort Luke managed to not reply acerbically or lecture the spirit about sitting on his furniture. "Ben, are you going to put the galaxy in danger just to spite me?"

The spirit looked offended at the suggestion. "Of course, not...but an apology might be in order."

"Fine, I'm sorry for yelling at you. Can you tell me what I am feeling from the surface of the planet?"

The old Jedi closed his eyes, but almost immediately his eyes popped open. "Oh."

"Oh? What do you mean by oh?"

The Force ghost's expression was one of apprehension. "I have never felt anything quite like it. I must investigate." Obi-Wan's image vanished leaving Luke alone in the room. He wasn't sure what to do. If he called his father, he was positive his old master would reappear at a very inopportune moment and probably in full view for his father. As the minutes crept by, he became more and more anxious. Eventually he saw a shimmering in the corner of his eye. "What did you..." He stopped mid-sentence when he realized he was not looking at Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Master Yoda?"

The green, diminutive Jedi was standing on a side table holding his glimmer stick.

"Master Yoda," Luke repeated while staring at the semi-transparent spirit. "You're dead? Did...did my father find you? I never told him about you. I would never have put your life in danger."

"Hmmm," the Jedi Master muttered. "Dead, I am. Return to finish your training, you did not. For years I waited. Of boredom, I died."

Luke gazed at his old master slack jawed. "Are you really joking at a time like this? I may have stumbled upon...I don't know...some darkside vortex. I need help. What should I do?"

Master Yoda shook his head. "Never learned patience I see."

"Yes, It's true. I'm impatient. I have a fleet of Dreadnaughts floating over a planet that feels... evil."

"Yes, yes, the planet. Ixigul, it is called. The Jedi historian Kli the Elder described it. A Sith bastion, it is. Hmmm."

"The cities," Luke choked out. "Are they entire cities of Sith? Did I bring my crew to a kriff'n Sith planet?"

Before Yoda could answer, Obi-Wan suddenly reappeared prompting a startled yelp from Luke. "Shavit! Give me a warning before you materialize centimeters from me."

"Sorry," the old Jedi actually sounded apologetic. "I thought it best that I returned post haste. We have a problem."

"Master Yoda told me," Luke said apprehensively. "We're in orbit above a Sith planet."

"Oh, it is much worse than that," Kenobi said ominously. "I felt a familiar presence down there." He turned to Master Yoda. "Palpatine."

Yoda's eyes went wide before they slowly fluttered shut in concentration. After a minute his eyes slowly reopened. "Palpatine it is, but different he feels."

"Maybe because he is dead," Luke ventured. "My father killed him. He must be floating around as a ghost down there."

Kenobi shook his head. "No, he is very much alive...for now. He is not looking well, though."

Luke shook his head while pacing nervously. "I saw him get sucked out into the vacuum of space." He stopped when a thought came to him. He turned to the two Jedi spirits. "Could it be a clone? My father found a cloning facility in the emperor's palace."

The two Jedi Masters exchanged looks. "Possible, it is." Yoda ventured.

"We need to retreat," Luke muttered. "Wait for reinforcements."

"You will simply allow Palpatine time to prepare for your return," Obi-Wan advised. "Destroy the ships in orbit while they are not manned. Take away his ability to strike in force."

Luke nodded numbly. "I need to discuss this with the Grand Admiral." He then turned on his heel and left his quarters.

Obi-Wan looked over to Master Yoda sadly. "We lost him to Vader."

"Underestimate the boy, do not. Anakin and not Vader, perhaps he found."

Master Kenobi scoffed. "Darth Vader is far too evil to have returned from the darkside."

"Possible all things are." Yoda said before his form slowly dissipated leaving Kenobi alone to contemplate his words.

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Emperor Vader's Private Shuttle

The closer they got to their destination, the more troubled Mara became. The cause of her unease was a tremor in the Force and she knew the source: Lord Vader. For some unfathomable reason the Dark Lord was becoming more and more anxious as the hours passed. She couldn't comprehend what would put Vader on edge, but it must be something horrific. She sat next to the man in the copilot seat, wanting answers but not daring to ask.

Fortunately, it was the emperor that broached the subject. "I have kept something from my son...a secret. I want your advice before telling him. I wish to avoid his...disapproval. Perhaps you will know the best way for me to inform him of my deception...or whether I should tell him at all."

She sat silent for a moment before answering. "Are we talking about a big secret?"

"Yes, it is what you would call...big."

"What is it?" When he didn't answer she tried another approach. "Why did you hide...whatever it is...from him?"

"There are many reasons. But one reason is I told him I had changed. I wasn't the same person who choked Admirals and blew up planets."

She raised an eyebrow. "And that's not true?"

"It is true enough."

She shook her head. "Sorry, I can't help you if I don't know what you are talking about."

Vader switched a couple buttons and pulled back on a lever taking the ship out of hyperspace prompting Mara to gasp at what she saw through the viewport.

Vader pointed out the transparisteel window. "That is one of the things I have been hiding from my son."

Mara Jade was rendered speechless, her jaw slack with surprise. A planet, a blue gas giant, filled the view screen. The large world was surrounded by numerous moons. In orbit above one particular green moon was... the Death Star.