Star Destroyer Redeemer

Luke rejoined Commodore Vanto on the flight deck as he fought to hide his unease. "Report," he ordered a little more curtly than usual.

Eli Vanto didn't seem to notice Luke's apprehension as the apprised his Supreme Commander of the situation. "Grand Admiral Thrawn has deployed two squadrons of Tie Fighters. They are doing a reconnaissance of the fleet. None appear operational at this time. Our long-range scanners show no evidence of planetary shields or defense cannons. There is also no indication of orbital planetary defense platforms."

"Good, good." He took a breath before continuing. "We'll let the recon team continue their work. Keep monitoring the planet. They may have hidden warships planetside." He gestured to Vanto to follow him. "A word in your Ready Room."

"Of course, Sir." He called over his shoulder. "Commander Dekkei, you have the bridge."

Vanto followed his superior into the Ready Room. As the door slid shut behind him, he asked, "Did you talk to the emperor?"

Luke shook his head. "I decided not to notify him until I confirm my suspicions."

Eli's brow went up. "And those suspicions are?"

The words came out of Luke in a whisper. "I sense Palpatine on the planet below."

That was obviously the last thing Commodore Vanto was expecting to hear. His jaw went slack as he stammered out his questions. "What? I thought he was dead?"

Luke ran a hand through his blond hair as he started pacing the room nervously. "I thought so too. I think it might be a clone. There was evidence in the Imperial Palace that he was working on cloning himself. He believed he could transfer his consciousness into a clone body and live forever."

"Sir," Vanto said slowly. "You can't let this information get out."

Luke stopped his pacing and turned to the older man. "Why not?"

Commodore Vanto looked extremely uncomfortable. "Sir, I have the upmost respect for you...but you did blow up the Death Star and hundreds of thousands of loyal Imperials with it. Some see your father as a usurper of the throne and you as former rebel scum. Many Imperials might welcome the return of Emperor Palpatine."

Luke was shocked by that revelation. "How can you say that? The man was evil! Look what good I have done since I was promoted to Supreme Commander."

Vanto put his hands up in a calming gesture. "Yes, Sir. I know that and probably deep down your citizens know that also...but you and your father..." He trailed off hesitantly.

"Oh, for kriffsake, Eli, speak freely. I need somebody to be brutally honest with me now."

Commodore Vanto looked like he wanted to be anywhere but having this particular conversation. "Sir, before I continue, I need you to know I have the upmost..."

Luke cut him off. "Yes, I know...the upmost respect for me, but..."

Vanto sighed deeply. "People fear you and your father. You two are the last known beings capable of wielding the Force. That makes you laser-sword carrying wizards. You have killed just under a million Imperials and your father likes to slaughter Admirals that disappoint him. It is hard for the common Imperial soldier to put those things aside just because they now have a good health care plan."

"They hate me so much that they would welcome back a Sith Lord? You do know that makes him an evil wizard!"

Vanto blew out an exasperated breath. "Emperor Palpatine never really showed off his Force abilities. Most people had no idea. Palpatine used your father to do his dirty work. Imperial citizens didn't see Palpatine as the villain. He was an elder statesman and leader of the Empire that got murdered by his second in command."

Luke pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Okay, I don't mention Palpatine to the general population. What about Grand Admiral Thrawn?"

"Of course, tell him," Vanto said adamantly. "He is the most brilliant commander I have ever worked with. He will give you sound advice."

Luke looked the man in the eye. "Will he? He's not scared of me or my father? If he got rid of us, he'd be next in line for the throne."

Vanto laughed. "Grand Admiral Thrawn has no aspirations of sitting on your father's throne. He is brilliant, but he has no patience with the overly emotional and irrational species populating our galaxy...especially humans. The Chiss are empirically minded. To him, leading the sentients of our galaxy is like herding loth-cats. It is more trouble than it's worth. He wants a binding alliance between governments. If the Empire remains in competent hands and doesn't attempt to attack the Chiss Ascendancy...he is more than happy to leave command and control of the Empire to others."

Luke nodded, feeling the truthfulness in Commodore Vanto's words. He also knew Eli Vanto has served with Thrawn since they were cadets at the Royal Imperial Academy on Coruscant. If anybody knew the Grand Admiral, it was Commodore Vanto. "Okay, let's contact him."

.

.

Emperor Vader's Private Shuttle

"You ordered the construction of another Death Star!" Mara exclaimed. "After your son blew up the first one?"

"No, Emperor Palpatine ordered it built. I did not know about it until I became emperor. He didn't trust anybody after the plans of the first Battle Station leaked. He kept the workers isolated with multiple layers of security."

She shrugged. "Why keep this from Luke? I think he would understand."

"I will show you shortly." He maneuvered his shuttle to one of the battle stations huge docking bays, landed smoothly, and powered down the ship. He then gave out a mechanical sigh as he stood while lowering the front boarding ramp. "I wasn't hiding the Death Star from Luke as much as something inside. I can't explain. You will have to see it yourself."

At the bottom of the ramp a squad of Stormtroopers stood at attention. The emperor walked past them without a word and moved into a turbolift where Mara joined him.

"Throne room," he instructed the turbolift computer.

The doors slid shut and they started to move, first horizontally at a high rate of speed, and then it slowed before moving vertically. Eventually the lift stopped, and the doors slid silently open.

They were in a grand throne room. A black cushioned chair was centered on an upraise platform with a large round window behind it. Vader walked toward the throne but didn't move up the steps leading up to the chair. Instead, he went to the left of the seat of power and activated a panel causing a door to slide open. He stopped at the entrance as Mara positioned herself next to the Dark Lord and peered inside. There was a long corridor with metallic beams spaced every three or four meters with some strange looking reflective walls in between.

"Does this lead to another laboratory?" she asked.

"No." He stepped into the room. "On the Death Star schematics this room was designated at Room of Mirrors." He stood in between two beams and stared at his reflected image. "It took some research, but I eventually discovered its purpose." He turned to Mara who moved to stand next to him. "These mirrors," Vader motioned to the reflective metallic wall in front of them. "They are not mirrors...they are portals...doorways between time and space of different realities...worlds between worlds. You can see the past, present and future of alternate universes...if you know how to manipulate the Force into showing you its secrets, that is."

Mara clamped down on her emotions to hide her disbelief, but the emperor must have sensed her incredulity. "I don't expect you to take my word. I didn't believe it myself at first...but I have seen things...things I have kept from my son."

"Like what?"

The Dark Lord reached out with his hand and touched the reflective metal. Mara jumped back when a vision of a dark forested area appeared. She took a tentative step forward and regarded the image in disbelief. It was far too detailed to be a hologram. She extended her hand to touch a nearby fir tree, but Darth Vader grabbed her wrist, preventing her. "No, do not interact, simply observe."

She gazed at the image and realized she wasn't looking at a forest floor, but somewhere high up in giant trees. There were elevated wooden paths connecting primitive huts built onto the branches. "Is this Kashyyyk?"

"No, this is the forested moon of Endor. We are currently in synchronous orbit above it."

She was going to ask another question when movement caught her attention. "Luke?" Luke Skywalker, wearing black clothing walked briskly down a pathway until he reached somebody. Mara couldn't see who he was talking to because Luke stood between her and the mystery person.

After a few moments he took a step closer to the unknown individual and dipped his head down to what could only be a kiss. Eventually the two parted and Mara was finally able to see Princess Leia. "What the Kriff! He said they were just friends! Was he kriff'n her because if he..."

"No!" Vader interrupted her tirade. "They were never romantic...not in this reality...not ever." He took a deep mechanical breath and blew it out. "It appears my wife was carrying twins. Princess Leia is my daughter. She is Luke's twin sister."

"Oh," Mara said, relieved that her spike of jealousy was unfounded. "A sister?"

"This is what I was hiding from Luke." Vader turned and gazed down at Mara. "I feared if he discovered the existence of his sister, he would betray me and return to her cause."

Mara thought about it for a long moment. "I don't think Luke would risk losing all the reforms he has established."

"That is why I approved all his reforms! Do you actually believe I have suddenly become compassionate and selfless? No, I am looking out for my own self-interest. I want to keep a good relationship with my son, and I am willing to indulge his charitable and humanitarian instincts to do so."

Mara wasn't sure if she should be irritated with Vader for manipulating Luke or not, since it appeared that Luke was getting more out of the emperor's machinations than Vader was. "What about me?" She asked. "Am I part of your manipulation?"

"Yes, you are!" Vader said as he motioned her down the hall. "There are dozens of different universes. Some turn out well for my son and in others his fate is forlorn." He stepped in front of another mirror and placed a hand on it. It shimmered and revealed an image of what appeared to be the throne room on Coruscant. Luke was dressed in a strange black and red armored uniform. It was reminiscent of the armor worn by the now defunct Inquisitorius, but with a crimson cape and chest plate. In Luke's arms, he carried a toddler. It was a blue-eyed boy with a mop of bright red hair and wearing a nondescript jumpsuit. "You want to see grandpa?" Luke asked the child. As Luke approached the throne, the seat spun around revealing Darth Vader. Luke lowered the boy to the floor so he could run to the emperor. To Mara's surprise Emperor Vader stretched out his leather clad arms and scooped up the boy placing him on his lap. Vader's grandson reached up and tried to push the buttons on the emperor's chest plate. Darth Vader gently redirected the boy's hands. "No, no...do not touch." He looked up to Luke. "I would not be surprised if your wife is teaching him to be an assassin."

Mara's jaw dropped as she turned to Emperor Vader in her reality. "Is that my son?"

Vader nodded. "Yes, in this universe and time. It does not mean it will happen to you here." He moved further down the corridor. "There are timelines...alternate universes where Luke does not have you in his life."

He touched the mirror and an image of a stony shore appeared. Waves were breaking against rocks causing sea spray to hit a half dozen portly creatures currently lounging on an unknown beach. They had leathery gray skin, long necks, flipper feet and four large teats near their hind legs. A decrepit old man walked down to the shoreline to one of the creatures and places a bottle to one of teats and milked the beast. He then turned and drank out of the bottle, green lactate secretions dripping down his unkempt beard. Mara focused on the man and gasped. "Luke?"

"Yes," Emperor Vader said, his voice dripping with disgust. "He is an unmarried, childless hermit whose diet is primarily fish and sea cow milk."

Mara shuddered. "He looks ancient."

"I have watched this timeline many times." Vader's motioned to his son. "I believe he is in his early fifties."

"Fifties!" Mara made a face when the bearded Luke took another swig of green milk. "He looks terrible."

"His sister has not aged any better." He stared at the ragged Luke for a moment. "This universe is difficult for him. He does not have his father or you."

"Where am I in this alternate universe?"

"In this particular reality..." Emperor Vader made a 'who knows' gesture. "Not in my son's life. Perhaps with practice you can find yourself...but it can only give you an indication as to how different decisions can affect your life...it cannot foretell your exact future."

"Knowing that Princess Leia is your daughter...have you considered reaching out to her? You talked Luke into seeing you in a different light...why not Leia?"

Vader shook his head. "I tortured the Princess and forced her to watch the destruction of her planet and with it the death of almost everybody she has ever known or loved. She will never truly come to terms with what I have done. Not enough to fully forgive me."

"Are you sure? There must have been some alternate universe where she forgives you."

Emperor Vader stood silent for a very long time before he spoke. "In one timeline I died saving Luke. He and Leia become Jedi...and Leia finds a way to forgive me."

"Then there is hope."

"In almost all alternate realities it is Leia's son who goes to the darkside. Having me in her life will most likely only hasten the inevitable."

He walked down to another portal, but Mara stopped him before he could touch the mirror. "Stop, I don't want to see any more." She ran a hand over her face. "What do you want from me?"

He turned and walked down the corridor to the exit. "I only want your advice. None of the alternate scenarios have me alive and him knowing Leia is his sister. Should I tell Luke about his sister? Will he turn on me?"

She followed him out to the throne room. "He won't turn on you. You are his father. I think you should tell him about Leia, though. He was angry at the Jedi for lying to him...he doesn't like people lying or omitting the truth. His life has been full of falsehoods."

Emperor Vader looked out the large transparisteel window. "I will tell him." He walked over to the throne and touched a button on the armrest. "Admiral Fel bring us to the coordinates along the route I specified earlier." He didn't wait for a confirmation but turned and gestured for Mara to follow him. "Come, I will show you to your quarters. We should rendezvous with Luke in the matter of hours."

.

.

Star Destroyer Redeemer

Luke's discussion with Commodore Vanto was enlightening. He never considered the populace could possibly want the return of Emperor Palpatine. Upon reflection he realized Eli was probably right. Very few people truly knew Palpatine...the man who fell to the darkside and reinvented himself as Darth Sidious. No, most Imperial citizens remembered Sheev Palpatine as the well-liked senator from Naboo and a man that was promoted to Supreme Chancellor by popular vote. He was an elected politician who, during the height of the Clone Wars, was granted emergency war powers that eventually devolved into a dictatorship and the creation of the Empire. Once secure in office there was no need for Palpatine to pander to the voters like most politicians do. He could become the recluse dictator and for most people...out of sight, out of mind. Palpatine was crafty enough to deflect the blame of any war crimes onto the late Grand Moff Tarkin, Darth Vader or some other military official.

That was a concern for Luke, but the resurfacing of the Sith Lord brought with it other worries... problems that only another Force user could solve. Luke had a strategy to eliminate the threat of Palpatine, but when he voiced his plan to Grand Admiral Thrawn he met resistance.

"Supreme Commander," The holovid projection of Grand Admiral Thrawn said slowly. "Although I cannot order you to abandon your plan... if you are correct...if Emperor Palpatine is alive, either as a clone or through some other mysterious aspect of the Force...facing him alone is extremely ill advised."

Luke visibly bristled, somewhat offended at the lack of confidence his subordinate exhibited. "I am a skilled Force user."

"Of that I have no doubt, Supreme Commander." Thrawn paused in thought before continuing. "But, by your own account, when you and your father confronted the emperor years ago, you barely escaped with your lives."

"I wasn't fully trained," Luke said emphatically. "My father completed my training."

Admiral Thrawn heaved a sigh before trying another argument. "Sir, we have not sensed any troop movements from the planet below. There is no reason to act at this point." Thrawn pointed toward Commodore Vanto standing next to Luke. "At this time, the Commodore and I do not have the authority to stop you, but I will notify the emperor and he can extend that authority to me." When it looked like Luke was going to argue Grand Admiral Thrawn quickly added. "Please take into consideration that your father will undoubtedly execute me and possibly Commodore Vanto if we allow you to put your life in jeopardy."

Luke's shoulders sagged in defeat. "He would...wouldn't he." It was not a question, but a statement of fact.

The tension in Commodore Vanto's face and body visibly relaxed with Luke's words. He looked at his Supreme Commander curiously, "Sir, why are you so anxious to go planetside alone?"

Luke's hand went down to his lightsaber absently. "As you pointed out earlier, there is a concern about how the Imperial population will react to the reemergence of Emperor Palpatine... meaning they might prefer being under his rule than that of my father. Knowing Palpatine is alive might cause unrest, therefore, the less people knowing he's alive the better. If I bring a battalion of men to the planet's surface to hunt him down the news will eventually leak out. If I go alone then that won't be a problem. I can sense his presence...I can find him. Second, we currently have the element of surprise. Every second that passes is more time for Palpatine to plan his attack."

"Sir, I doubt additional time will be of any help the former emperor," Thrawn assured Luke. "The Dreadnaughts are currently not functional. Otherwise, they would have pressed an attack while we only have two ships in orbit. They undoubtedly know we called for reinforcements immediately after locating the fleet. What can the emperor do to us without ground-to-space weapon systems or orbital platforms? We should wait for reinforcements. They will be here within the hour."

Luke shook his head. "I think it would be best that I take care of the Palpatine situation before my father arrives."

"Sir, your stubborn refusal to see reason is somewhat unusual. You have, in the past, displayed some nonsensical behaviors and each time I have discovered they were desperate attempts to obfuscate the truth." Admiral Thrawn's red eyes bore into Luke's blue orbs. "Supreme Commander I cannot make informed decisions when you are obviously concealing relevant information from me. I will reiterate Commodore Vanto's question and I hope you will answer truthfully this time. Why are you determined to go planetside before reinforcements arrive?"

Luke threw his hands up in frustration. "I haven't told my father about Palpatine yet. I fear what will happen when he finds out. Mara Jade is with my father." Luke blew out a shuttered breath. "My father had already voiced his concern that Palpatine might have placed a subconscious command into Mara's head. We have discovered one subliminal order already..." He trailed off before looking up at the hologram image of the Admiral, his eyes pleading. "I have two fears: one is Palpatine can resume control over Mara Jade and second, my father might do something to her to preemptively diffuse that danger."

Vanto's eyes widened. "You mean kill her?"

"No...he'd probably try to imprison her as a safety measure...but knowing Mara she would resist...and things could turn dangerous."

"Sir," Thrawn began slowly. "It is my opinion that your father will not harm Miss Jade."

Luke's brow furrowed. "How can you say that with any certainty?"

The Admiral straightened his white uniform as he cleared his throat. "Because after your rescue from Myrkr and the subsequent capture of the former Emperor's Hand...your father was very adamant that she was not to be harmed...very adamant. In fact, he appeared just as concerned for her welfare as yours. When I notified him that you two shared a room...his interest in your relationship was so intense that I immediately knew your connection with the emperor was familial."

Luke let out a scoffing laugh. "I suspect you knew we were father and son at the onset. You probably figured out Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker were one-in-the-same as soon as you two came face-to-face."

A faint smile crossed the Grand Admiral's lips. "I had my suspicions. The point is, everything the emperor has said and done since Mara Jade arrived in your life has indicated that she is of great value to him. It is my belief the emperor wants Miss Jade in your life. His motives are still unclear. Perhaps he believes she will be a suitable mate or effective bodyguard. Either way, I cannot see him hurting Miss Jade unless she attacks the emperor."

Luke threw up his hands in exasperation. "Which she may do if Emperor Palpatine had implanted a suggestion to kill me or my father."

"Supreme Commander, you are determined to risk your life based on a string of assumptions. Contact your father and Mara Jade. If your fears are reasonable, I suspect Miss Jade would voluntarily isolate herself in a detention cell in an effort to prevent Palpatine from using her. If Emperor Palpatine is indeed alive, it would be better that Miss Jade and the Emperor are forewarned."

.

.

Death Star II Mobile Battle Station

Darth Vader rang the entry bell to the dignitary quarters he assigned to Mara Jade. After a few moments she opened the door wearing a clean, borrowed flight suit and hair wet from a recent shower. She stared at the emperor with a surprised expression on her face. "Ah...did we reach the Katana Fleet already?"

"No, we will be there within the hour. We should arrive shortly after the 501st and 3rd Fleet rendezvous with the Chimaera and Redeemer."

"Oh," was all Mara said as she stood in the doorway for an awkward pause. Vader cleared his throat, making a deep booming sound. "May I come in?"

Mara looked flustered as she moved away from the door entrance and gestured for the man to enter. "Of course, Emperor Vader."

She fiddled with her wet hair. "Sorry, I just came from the shower."

Vader nodded as he walked over and lowered himself on a cushioned seat in the sitting area. Mara, looking nervous, sat down on a couch across from the Dark Lord. "Can I help you with anything? You need more...advice about talking to Luke."

He sighed deeply. "I just received a message from my son."

"Oh, did you tell him about the Death Star and the Room of Mirrors?"

"No, not yet. I didn't want to get sidetracked. He thought I was aboard my flagship, the Executor. He asked for you, but I told him you were resting."

There was another pause. "What did he want? Is he alright?"

Emperor Vader gazed at Mara. "He is worried about your safety. He said he senses the disturbance in the Force foretold by the Chiss Navigator. He believes Palpatine is on the planet that the Katana Fleet is currently in orbit above. He worries that the former Emperor might have placed a subliminal command in your mind. He suggested that you'd be confined for the good of the crew and yourself."

Mara looked at Vader dumbfounded. "How can this be? Is it a clone?"

"Perhaps."

She fell silent before nodding her head. "If Luke thinks that is wise, I'll go willingly."

"I doubt there is a detention facility that can hold a trained Force User. You could influence the guards and even if we surrounded you with droid security you could use the Force to short circuit them or tamper with the electronics of the field generator."

Mara's posture stiffened. "Then what do you suggest?"

"You stay by my side. I am confident that I could stop any danger you posed to me or the crew."

"By killing me if I did attack?"

"That would be a last resort. My son needs you. Of that I am certain."

"And you also think I am carrying his child," Mara said distantly.

"Of that, I am not certain. You could go to the Infirmary and take a pregnancy test."

"Is that an order?"

He shook his head. "No."

"What are we going to do about Palpatine...or clone Palpatine?"

"I will deal with him." He rose from his seat and started to move toward the door. "It is my destiny."

"What should I do?"

"Do not speak of Palpatine to others. He may still have a loyal following within the Empire." He turned back to her. "Notify me when your hair is dry, and I will come for you. We should exit hyperspace shortly. I want you near me in case Palpatine attempts to gain control over you."

She stood and stared at him in silence.

"Do not worry," Vader said. "I assured Luke I would protect you. I intend on keeping that promise."