A/N: Sorry for the short chapter this week. I'm off to my first vacation in almost two and a half years, and I wanted to get something up before I go. As always, please R&R, you are all appreciated!

XxXxX

Luke Skywalker stared out of the cockpit of his imperial shuttle as the Death Star loomed closer and closer. He could easily sense his father already onboard, and when he reached out a little further, he found Leia down in the lower levels. I'm almost there, he called silently to her. In response he felt a warmth that conflicted with his own bleakness.

As the captain began the docking protocol, Luke brooded. Details had been sketchy, but his father had summoned him from Kashyyyk awfully quickly. Something about rebel spies and a battle over Tatooine. Luke had been overseeing the redistricting of the Wookiee homeworld after yet another attempted revolt. The Wookiees that had surrendered had been rounded up and put into camps with conditions so horrible that it made even Luke's skin crawl. Keeping order in the Empire was one thing, but Luke was glad for an excuse to get away from the horrifying bloodshed.

The hatch opened slowly, and as Luke exited the ship he saw a lone figure waiting for him. Small, lithe, and with a haughty expression on her face, she scoffed as Luke walked towards her. "What are you doing here, Skywalker? I told them I could handle this."

Luke rolled his eyes. "When I heard about the skirmish over Tatooine, I thought the reports must be wrong because you were sent to track down the stolen plans, not give the rebellion more cause to organize."

Mara Jade crossed her arms almost petulantly. At a mere sixteen years of age, she barely reached Luke's shoulders. She was small and thin, with fiery red hair that cascaded down her back to her waist. She wore a plain black tunic and leggings, with a lightsaber strapped to her waist. She looked almost delicate, but Luke knew better. She was the Emperor's Hand and personal assassin.

"Senator Organa didn't have the tapes, and I searched everywhere. It was hardly even a battle because we must have outnumbered them four to one and it was over in a matter of minutes."

"How could he not have them? We traced the rebel spies to him. He was the last possible link!" Luke exclaimed.

The look Mara fixed on him was blazing. "I did everything that I could, alright? For what it's worth, he thought he had them. He had the drive and everything but when we accessed it, it was blank. Besides, he may yet be of some use to us. I brought him back for interrogation, he's the best chance we have of finding their secret base."

"You did what?!" Luke exclaimed. He grabbed Mara's shoulder and jerked her close. "Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea what the Imperial Senate will do when they hear you attacked a diplomatic ship and kidnapped the ambassador?"

"As far as the Senate is concerned," Mara spat. "The Tantive IV sent out a distress beacon, and when I answered it I found that everyone on board had been killed. So tragic. And by the way, bringing the senator here was Lord Vader's idea, so if you have a problem, you can take it up with him."

She shoved his hand off of her. "And if you ever touch me again, you'll think your father got off easy when Kenobi finished with him."

She stalked off with a haughty flip of her hair.

XxXxX

Down in the training levels of the death star, an assassin droid dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

Leia hardly heard it fall as she held her lightsaber at the ready. The last assassin droid hovered above her, swerving back and forth as though deciding which way it wanted to strike. Suddenly it shot down towards her and Leia somersaulted as it began firing blaster bolts. She turned and easily parried the shots. One of the reflected shots hit the side of the droid and it faltered. Leia took the opportunity and mercilessly sliced through it. The droid crackled as it dropped to the floor. Leia exhaled softly.

Suddenly her senses pricked. She turned and swung her lightsaber, only to be stopped by a glowing red blade.

She looked up into her brother's teasing eyes. So he wanted to play, did he? The twins raised their lightsabers high, perfect mirror images, and then Leia swung down at her brother. The crimson blade met the blue with a crash. Luke parried with a twist of his wrists and spun away from his sister.

For a moment they stood there, daring each other to make a move. Then Luke deactivated his lightsaber, but Leia kept hers ready. Amusement flashed across Luke's face. "Leia?"

She suddenly grinned. "It is unwise to lower your defenses." She said in a perfect imitation of their father.

The twins began to laugh. Leia deactivated her lightsaber and ran towards her brother. He caught her in a fierce embrace and spun her around. "I've missed you." Leia said as he sat her down.

"I've missed you too." Luke said. "I guess you've heard what's happened?"

"Yes. I can't believe the rebellion would be so bold." Her voice changed slightly. "And there's still no clue where the data is?"

Luke shook his head. "None. I haven't spoken directly to anyone yet, but all reports agree that the rebels really believed their mission had been a success. It's strange how it could just disappear like that."

Leia nodded noncommittally. "Father brought me here in case the Hand brought back any captives."

"She did. It's Bail Organa, of Alderaan."

Leia stopped dead. "The Senator? He's here?"

Luke raised an eyebrow. "What's the big deal?"

She shook her head. "I just know him from the Senate. He has a lot of ties to the rebellion that I couldn't ever get a handle on."

"Well, he just showed his hand. We were able to trace the rebel spies to him and he was caught flying in restricted airspace."

Luke could feel, rather than see, his sister's distress. Luke looked at her. "Are you worried about the mess you'll have to sort out in the Senate?"

Leia looked away. "I guess the news hasn't gotten around yet. Apparently the Emperor is dissolving the Senate."

Luke whistled. "So where does that leave you?"

She shrugged. "Interrogating Senator Organa, I suppose. Father mentioned something about my 'skills in diplomacy'. "

Luke grabbed her arm. "You don't think this is some plan of the Emperor's…"

"No." Leia cut him off. "Not even he would dare. You know what Father would do if he even tried."

Luke did know. The Emperor's hatred of the twins was no secret, but he had never made any attempts on their lives. And now with the growing threat of the rebellion, the Emperor's hold on power didn't seem as solid as it once had. They both knew that whatever the Emperor said, he still needed Darth Vader to direct his anger at the galaxy, and not the other way around.