Chapter 29:
The Executor dropped out of hyperspace at Imperial Center and began to orbit the planet. At the same moment, at Imperial Palace, Mara Jade was on her way to seek out Darth Atrox. She felt a curious combination of trepidation and uncertainty about seeing him again, trepidation because of the circumstances of their last meeting, and uncertainty because of what the Emperor had told her. She didn't know what to feel about the newly-christened Sith Lord, who could infuriate her one moment, and draw her closer the next. She stopped automatically, and looked up to realize that she had already arrived at Darth Atrox's quarters. Taking a deep breath, she rapped on the door and waited to see if she would be admitted.
A few moments after Darth Atrox sensed Mara Jade outside of his doorway, he used the Force to slam them open. He crossed his arms and turned to look at her from under his dark hood. He waited, expectantly, for her to enter his quarters and do what was expected of her in the presence of a Sith Lord.
Mara stepped into the room, tentatively, and met his eyes, realizing what he wanted from her. Gritting her teeth, she knelt at his feet, reluctantly, and muttered, "I- I apologize for my conduct earlier, Lord Atrox. It was not my place to take up arms against you."
Darth Atrox stood there watching Mara's kneeling form, sensing her intentions. Finally after several minutes he spoke in a cold voice. "Swear your loyalty to me and my father."
Mara bit back a retort, sensing that it would be very unwise at this moment, and muttered, "I swear to serve you, and Lord Vader, to the utmost of my ability."
Atrox started digging through Mara's mind, more carefully this time, sensing truth behind her words. "Good. You may rise, Mara. I can sense your feelings, the very same feelings that enabled me to begin my destiny. Your destiny now lies with me and my father. You will learn over time that passion will fuel your strength, as it did for me a while ago. I look forward to the future a great deal, as I am sure you do as well if you want to become great." He paused, sensing his father in orbit, "As for now, come with me."
Atrox lead Mara out of the room and quickly strode to a shuttle and commed Han. "Admiral Solo, you will meet us at the Executor in half an hour."
"Er…. yes, Lord Atrox. I'll be there."
Atrox then took the shuttle up to the Executor. Mara remained silent throughout the short ride, contemplating what both Atrox and the Emperor had told her.
When Darth Artox's shuttle landed in the hanger bay of the Executor, he saw that both Admrial Solo and Lord Vader were already waiting for him. Once the boarding ramp was lowered, he stormed down and knelt in front of his father while Mara followed.
"You have done well, Lord Atrox. You have finally been given your Sith name. You may rise, both of you." He paused, waiting for them to be standing, and then continued. "Now, it is time to have a change in leadership in the Empire."
"Not quite, father."
"What do you mean?!" Vader snapped.
"Can we talk in your quarters… alone?"
"Very well." Vader said as he turned around and stormed off to his quarters with Atrox trailing behind.
One they had arrived at Vader's quarters, Atrox continued. "You know how powerful I have become? If you are to be the Dark Lord of the Sith, you need to be out of that… suit." Atrox did not wait for his father to respond before bending the Force to his will. He drew so much of the Force to himself, his eyes began to glow a sickly yellow and his skin turned ghostly pale. Once he had attained the peak of his connection to the Force, he blasted it through his father.
In an instant, Darth Vader was slammed against the wall, and was knocked unconscious as the sheer power of Darth Atrox's dark Force energy coursed through his body. His last thought, before he lost consciousness, was that his son would pay for this….
Atrox continued to channel the Force through his father's body, ridding it of impurities and healing its deformities and injuries. It dissolved Vader's internal implants on the molecular level, as the organs were repaired, and the external implants were ejected from his body entirely.
Bending down, Atrox gently removed Vader's mask and breathing apparatus, and then stepped back, and waited.
When Darth Vader finally regained consciousness he opened his eyes, then frowned. Opened his eyes? He saw Darth Atrox standing across from him, breathing heavily, and just as he was about to reach out to strangle the younger Sith Lord, he noticed that the arms of his suit had been completely ripped off. In their place…. were new limbs, real, flesh-and-blood arms. He looked at them, blankly, for a moment, then looked up at his son, who looked particularly pleased with himself, despite his exhaustion.
Atrox walked up to Vader and knelt in front of him. "Father."
"Son, what have you done to me?" Vader asked in his normal voice.
"You have been completely repaired, father. You are fit to be the Dark Lord of the Sith now, and I suggest we make our move."
"Indeed. You may rise, Lord Atrox."
Atrox did as he was commanded and waited for his father to be ready. Vader went into a closet and changed into a pair of Sith robes that were similar to Atrox's. While he was changing, Atrox explained what had happened with Mara Jade.
"The Emperor gave his Hand to us as a… servant, father," Atrox told him, rather curious to see his reaction.
"That is… most curious." Vader said as he reached into the Force and felt Mara's Force-presence. "Ah, I see. Such a pity, she has a very strong connection to the Force. Nowhere near as strong as ours, but she could make a… promising Sith one day," he said as he was putting his cloak on and raising its hood.
"I agree. I must say, she…. intrigues me," Atrox admitted, opening the door for his father. "Shall we go find her?"
"No. The Dark Lord of the Sith does not find anyone, learn this… my apprentice." Vader said as he began to reach out to Mara Jade's mind. Come to my quarters, Jade.
Atrox turned and stepped back behind Vader and replied, "Yes… master."
Mara had been waiting in the passageway near where they had arrived, quietly fuming. Vader's comment about the leadership of the Empire had left her very disturbed, but not really surprised. Keeping her feelings tightly under control, she stormed off to Vader's quarters, to see what it was he wanted of her now. After winding through several quarters, she finally arrived outside Vader's quarters. She waited several moments to be admitted, once she had entered the room the doors slammed behind her. She saw two dark, hooded figures in the room and walked towards them. Her eyes roved about the room, coming to rest on the black suit lying shredded on the ground, amidst the other debris, and she turned to look at the two dark-clad figures, eyes narrowing.
Lord Vader eyed Mara and crossed his arms. "Kneel and swear your loyalty to us… Jade."
Mara crossed her arms, as well, and retorted, "What is this, the Imperial farmboys' convention?"
Vader eyed her with a deadly glint in his yellow eyes. After a moment, both Atrox and himself blasted her with Force Lightning, gritting their teeth in their rage. As they shot the lightning, Vader's voice boomed throughout the entire room. "HOW DARE YOU INSULT A SITH LORD! UNLESS YOU SWEAR YOUR LOYALTY TO US RIGHT NOW… YOU WILL DIE A SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH!"
Mara was thrown against the wall by the blast, and collapsed, her nerve endings screaming pain from every inch of her body. She managed to grind out between clenched teeth, "I- I don't even know who you are! Haven't I sworn enough loyalty for one day? I already swore to serve both Lord Atrox and Lord Vader. W- why isn't that good enough?!?"
Both of the Sith Lords stopped their attacks and lowered their hoods. Lord Vader stepped forward and loomed over her. "I am Darth Vader and you will swear your loyalty to me personally." He said in a cold, deadly voice. Both Sith Lords preparing to blast her again with lightning if she did not comply.
Mara raised her head, slowly, to look up at Vader. Her eyes narrowed. He looks just like Luke. Slowly and painfully, she raised herself to her knees and muttered, "I swear that I will serve you, Lord Vader, to the utmost of my ability."
Atrox and Vader lowered their hands. Vader stared at Mara, sifting through her thoughts. After several moments, he was convinced that she was telling the truth. "Good. You may rise. I can sense your curiosity as to my… current condition."
"Yes, my lord."
"Lord Atrox was able to completely repair my damaged self. Now nothing stands in the way of destroying my master so I, and my son, can rule the galaxy!"
Mara didn't say anything to that. Her grave misgivings gave way to certainty, and she was unsure what to do, or what Vader wanted her to do. "Y-yes, Lord Vader."
Vader continued to look at Mara, finally satisfied. "You will serve me with the same loyalty and dedication that you gave Palpatine." He paused, sensing Atrox's thoughts about her. "When he feels like it, my son will begin to train you in the ways of the Dark Side of the Force. However, he has his own training to complete as my own apprentice."
"Yes, Lord Vader." Mara wasn't sure what she thought about that, but she knew what the Emperor had commanded her at their last meeting, and she would obey.
Lord Vader sensed her thoughts about her former master. "Your will prove your loyalty in time, Jade, but for now, you will come with us."
Darth Atrox stepped forward a little behind Vader. He glanced at his father beneath his hood, then they both swept out of the room, Mara trailing after them. She noticed with apprehension that they were heading back to the docking bay. They were stopped at the entrance, however, by an Imperial Officer, who was looking particularly self-important. Just promoted, Mara guessed.
"Who are you, and what are you doing on board an Imperial vessel?" he demanded, standing square in the doorway with his arms crossed.
Admiral Solo was guarding the shuttle when he saw the foolish officer attempt to cut off two dark figures. He instantly knew who they were out of some sort of instinct and watched.
Darth Vader smiled twistedly as Atrox began to choke the officer. "I find your incompetence is disturbing." He paused as he began to lift the officer up with the force as he was being strangled. "How foolish are you to attempt to stop Darth Vader?"
The officer's eyes began to bulge, and he choked out, "F-forgive me, my lord."
Atrox's eyes smoldered, and the man's chest began to contract, slowly crushing his lungs. He could see the fear and desperation in the man's eyes, and this further fueled his rage, which he took out on the officer. He watched dispassionately as the man's bones began to snap, and continued crushing him, even after he was clearly dead. Finally, he tossed the body aside like a limp doll, and glared out at the rest of the docking bay. The remaining occupants of the bay, mostly techs and pilots, murmured quietly among themselves. Clearly, Lord Vader's son was much like his father, not one to cross.
After a moment, Vader's son spoke up. "IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD DARE DEFY THE DARK LORD OF THE SITH?!"
No one said anything. Finally, Han walked up in front of the two Sith Lords and knelt in front of them, lowering his head in respect. "Your authority is unquestioned, Lord Atrox. As is yours, Lord Vader, if you are to be the next Emperor, I will gladly pledge my complete loyalty to you." The sight he had just witnessed left him feeling dazed, and rather sick. It wasn't the most pleasant experience.
Darth Vader looked at Solo and skimmed through his thoughts to know that he meant every word. "Rise, Admiral Solo. I wish to speak to you while we are en route to the palace."
"Yes sir." The Admiral said as he got up and headed towards the shuttle.
Mara, knowing that the two Sith wanted to talk to Solo, seated herself at the controls of the shuttle and began to maneuver it out of the docking bay. Vader and Atrox led Admiral Solo to the back of the shuttle, and turned to face him, coldly. Vader slowly lowered his hood, which Solo realized was an honor, a sign of respect on Vader's part. He guessed he'd made a favorable impression on Vader back in the hangar. Atrox noting his father's gesture of respect, followed suit, slowly lowering his own hood.
Vader finally spoke to the Admiral. "I can sense the depth of your loyalty, Admiral. I am giving you a new assignment. You are hereby given the task of being my son's advisor when needed, and personal guard. You will receive the same training as a royal guard would."
Han's eyebrows shot up, slightly incredulous. "Lord Vader…. no offense intended, and I don't mean to question your orders, but from what I've seen, Lord Atrox can take care of himself. I-I'll be happy to serve in any way I can, of course, but…."
Lord Atrox agreed with the Admiral. "Father-" he was immediately cut off by Vader who turned around immediately and the expression on his face was so cold that it made Atrox back down.
When he spoke, his voice was like ice. "Your overconfidence will be your downfall, Lord Atrox."
"F-forgive me, father…" Atrox said as he knelt down, submissively in front of Lord Vader.
Mara's voice cut in, breaking the tension. "We're arriving at the Imperial Palace now," she informed them. As soon as they landed, Vader swept out of the spaceport, leaving Atrox, Mara, and Han to exchange glances and hurry after him.
Mara was rather surprised not to meet any interference as they sped towards the throne room. Strangely, even the Royal Guards remained impassive to their presence. Surely the Emperor was aware of Vader's intent? Any further speculation was cut off as they reached the entrance to the throne room.
Darth Vader and Darth Atrox stood outside the entrance to the throne room and Force pushed the entrance open so with such force that the door shattered against the walls. They stormed in, Atrox igniting his saber staff, and Vader igniting his lightsaber, both stopping in front of the throne.
The throne slowly turned to face them, the Emperor's brooding eyes taking in their every move. So…. the time has come, he reflected, grimly amused. It has been long in coming, but it has finally arrived. "Well, Lord Vader, I see you have managed to… heal yourself, not to mention regain your connection to the Force." With a hiss, his lightsaber was in his hand, and Atrox immediately struck towards him with his saber staff. The Emperor merely chuckled, and batted Atrox's blade aside, while stabbing towards his legs. Vader then made his move, coming at his former master from behind, with terrible ferocity.
"Good! Both of you have mastered your anger, your rage, letting it flow through you." His blade moved at almost undetectable speeds, as he moved from between Vader and Atrox in order to have a better advantage. Atrox's mind raced, concentrating only on keeping his blade one step ahead of Palpatine's, and not striking either his father or himself. Vader made a stab towards their enemy, and was knocked across the room with a Force push for his trouble. Atrox whipped his blade towards the Emperor's shoulders, but found his slash blocked, the blades crackling as they touched.
Mara finally snapped herself into action, and began moving stealthily in the direction of the throne. Atrox caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, momentarily distracted. The Emperor, noticing Atrox's distraction, took advantage of his weakness. "You must learn to keep your mind where it belongs, Lord Atrox. You desire her, don't you…. I can sense your feelings for her deep down in the core of your being… they distract you, don't they?"
Atrox's eyes blazed, rage filling them, and he forced his saber through the lock, pushing Palpatine's blade back, and spinning the double blade towards him in a deadly arc. Vader, recovered from his fall, leapt towards the battle, his blade rushing towards the Emperor's unprotected back.