"Yes, it is good to see you too. I had a feeling that it wasn't a social call, but I didn't expect this. I thought you'd be needing help with tracking down someone." Mara replies. "Also, you're the only person I know that has plenty of Alderaanian ale hiding around." She adds, downing her drink and holds her glass out for a refill, which Xanthe happily obliges. "So, the wrinkly old kriffing bastard is back from the dead? How did this happen?" Mara asks as she takes a sip from her glass.
Instead of answering, Xanthe asks her, "Have you heard of the Emperor's Shadow?" Mara puts her glass down. "Yes. It was a title in the making. We had Shadow Guards- as you well know- being part of them yourself. The rumour was the person would be an extension of the Emperor himself. But to my knowledge, no one was even given the role."
"Well apparently there was. Jeng Droga. I saw him on the Sanctuary Moon of Endor and he had Palpatine's essence in him. That is how Palpatine remained in existence. His ghost was bound to the Death Star remains and Jeng came to reclaim the rest of Palpatine after he finished whatever work the Emperor had for his "grand master plan"." Xanthe states.
"Shavit, Jeng? Really? I always thought it would have been Cronal. Well I guess it explains why the Emperor's voice has always been in the back of my mind. I thought it was a ghost of the past that was haunting me because of my failed mission against Luke Skywalker. Seems like he really was trying to track me down, it wasn't just my paranoia."
"And here I was thinking you purposely left the poor girl and purposely ran away just to get away from him." Xanthe remarks. Mara turns to her with a serious look. "How much do you know about that? Anyone who would have known have been eliminated...Save one of course. And I'm sure he would've directed you to me. So obviously you didn't learn of this from him."
"No. The Emperor tried to peer into Rey's mind, but I stopped it before it got too far. I suspected something had happened, so I checked for myself after our… meeting with Palpatine." Xanthe replies remembering her conversation with Rey-
As they walked up into the ship, Xanthe asks Rey, "Rey, the Emperor wanted to see how you got to Jakku. Apparently you weren't meant to leave a particular place. May I look into your memories and see what he wished to see? I feel that your hazy memories as a child were intentional."
Rey looks back at Xanthe in surprise, "That… never occurred to me. I just assumed… Neveemind. Yes. Ok. Will it be painful? Rey asks. "No, as long as there is no resistance, it might feel uncomfortable, but not painful. I will not keep anything back if you do not wish me to afterwards."
"I trust you. You can check."
Xanthe comes back to herself and asks Mara, " Why did you take Rey from the Emperor's research facility on Wayland?"
Mara takes another sip before answering. "I saw what they had in mind for her… They wanted at least one of them to rule the Empire. They had a Sith holocron in the vicinity as well, so I knew they weren't just going to raise them as Imperial officers. After what I went through, I didn't want to see them go through that too. They were innocent kids. I was taken around four years old by the Emperor and I was only made to be a tool for him. I can only imagine what would have been in store for them. I never wanted to raise kids, but I did want to protect them. Unfortunately, a guard showed up unexpectedly and I wasn't able to take both. I had to make a choice, so I grabbed one and ran. I had hoped to come back later, but of course they then went offworld. At that point, I was no longer part of the crumbled Empire and whatever was left went to the Unknown Regions. Despite it all, I kept hearing the Emperor's voice in my head, so with Lando Calrissian's help, we hopped from planet to planet, but it kept feeling like the Emperor was trying to find me. Eventually I thought it'd be best to hide Rey. I felt that one of the other Hands would find her through me. So reluctantly, I picked Jakku. Plus she seemed to like tinkering, so I knew she would at least have something she enjoyed there… Despite it being a barren place. Also, I had to block her memories for her own safety. If anyone realised who she truly was, she'd be in a lot of danger."
Mara trails off taking another sip, not looking at Xanthe.
Xanthe looks at her in confusion. "You said "both". Rey wasn't the only one?"
Mara shakes her head.
"Wait, even though I am aware of this project, how much do you know of the Wayland Genesis project?" Xanthe inquires.
Mara visibly hesitates and leans forward resting her elbows on her knees. "It was rumoured to be different things by different people. What I knew for certain was that it was a cloning experiment personally overseen by Palpatine himself. It was rumoured that even Vader didn't know of it. Only the Emperor's Hands, Grand Admiral Thrawn, certain advisors and selected guards were aware of the project.
The cloning tanks were taken from Kamino as well as some of the technicians and stationed on Wayland.
The Emperor had wanted to create an army of perfect Force Sensitives. He then realised that having so many- despite their unwavering loyalty- may become a threat, so he decided to only create a handful of ideal Force Sensitive beings to be extensions of his will.
His eyes and ears. To replace the Inquisitors and eventually the Emperor's Hands as well. They were to be his elite force. They were initially going to be clones of himself, but he decided that having a combination of human genes from talented Force individuals would be better and more likely to create the outcome he wanted. As you know, he died before his plan come to fruition, but the test subjects were already ready but in stasis… Along with his own clones. Why are you asking what you already know Xrysi?"
Xrysi hums. "I was aware of a cloning project. I had assumed it was cloning actual Force sensitives and of Sidious and Vader, I didn't realise it was also creating or engineering Force sensitives."
"So the "reborn" Palpatine knows of her existence?"
"Yes. So why two of them? I thought there was meant to be a group?"
"Apparently someone authorised the continuation of the project and the test subject somehow split into two. Twins basically. The scientists were going to create more, but the Imperial- who I assume was Jeng- told them to only focus on the twins and to keep clones of Palpatine on standby and the rest of the time it was to create a clone army. Unfortunately, I don't know if he used the original genetic material from the Clone Wars, or if he used Force sensitive subjects."
"He told me about the Wayfinder."
Mara almost chokes on her drink. "The Wayfinder?" she asks. Xrysi nods. Mara sighs, shaking her head. "Did he say which one?"
"No..."
"Well, there is one for Palpatine and one for Vader. Vader's would still most likely be on Mustafar. The Emperor's I hid on Pasaana. Which is wonderful because Lando is there, and I heard Leia is going to meet him there." Mara says sarcastically and then groans.
"There is only one way to destroy Sidious now, you know that." Xrysi states. Mara nods, "I have heard of it, apparently some Rebels in the past had come across something about it. The Dagger of Mortis."
"You wouldn't happen to know where it is, would you?"
Mara laughs, "Do I look like an archeologist or historian to you? I would have thought Jedha, but the Emperor wouldn't have destroyed those areas had it been there."
"Alright. I will check Yavin Four… and in an ironic twist of fate, I wouldn't be surprised if I find it where it all began- Tatooine." Xrysi says, taking a sip as well.
"Farmboy would have been thrilled to go back there…" Mara remarks.
"He was disappointed you left Mara, but he did- to a degree- understand why you had to." Xrysi tells her sympathetically. "He did care. Remember that."
"Thanks Xrysi. I cared too. That's why I had to leave."
"I know." Xrysi nods and smiles in understanding. "I need to find the Dagger and then meet Rey. She is going to meet Ben Solo- now known as Kylo Ren on Pasaana to find the Wayfinder and do some intense training to prepare for the showdown with Sidious. I think you should come with me."
So the Light and the Dark are joining forces… Temporarily at least." Mara comments. "Darth Ren or Lord Kylo I understand, but Kylo Ren? Seriously?"
"I know… Tell me about it." Xrysi agrees, chuckling. "So. Will you come along?"
"Yeah, why not? Lando's been wanting to catch up for a while now and I would like to see what kind of person Rey has grown up to be. Plus, I have been hiding for way too long. Since I wasn't there for Luke, I will help Leia as best I can."
