Chapter 44:

REPORTING LIVE FROM IMPERIAL CENTER

Imperial Intelligence has determined that former Senator Mon Mothma has been killed, possibly by one of her own. Intelligence sources confirmed that the Rebel leader was assassinated by unknown person or persons, upon which the Rebels left the system immediately. The assassin's identity is currently unknown. Mon Mothma served in the Imperial Senate for several years before her Rebel sympathies were discovered by the Imperial Security Bureau. ISB has been attempting to gain custody of her for several years.

Padmé shut off the Holonet, deeply disturbed. Mon Mothma had been a close friend of hers when they had served in the Republic Senate together back before the days of the Empire. They hadn't been in contact since, but Padmé admired her courage in outright defying the Empire.

Vader turned his head to look at her, puzzled. "What's the matter, Padmé?"

"Mon Mothma is dead," Padmé said in a low voice. "She was one of my closest friends in the Senate."

Vader sighed, patiently. "Padmé, she was a traitor. She betrayed the Empire she swore to serve. You should be glad that she's dead, one less Rebel to worry about."

Padmé looked even more upset. "How can you say that? How can you expect me to be happy about it? She was my friend!" She stood up and stormed out of the room, fighting back tears.

"Padmé—" Vader frowned. He had forgotten how unreasonable his wife could be sometimes. With a sigh, he rose and went to look for her.

Atrox went in search of his father, with Mara at his side. He could hardly refrain from letting a smug smirk play across his features, as he made his way to his parents' quarters. He was certain his father would be pleased with him, how could he not be?

They reached the door to his parents' quarters and were nearly run over by Vader as he was leaving. "Have you seen your mother?" Vader asked, pausing for a moment. "I can't find her."

"No, I haven't, father." He paused, "I do have something I want to tell you… more of an accomplishment."

Vader raised an eyebrow. "Is that so… tell me."

Atrox smirk grew as he prepared to tell his father what he had done earlier that day. "It will be better if I show you, father." Atrox did not give his father anytime to respond to his statement before he gently reached into his father's mind, and began sharing his memory of earlier that day.

When the memory ended, Vader looked up at his son, amazed at his ingenuity and the extent of his hatred towards his sister. "Your skills are truly becoming impressive, my son."

Atrox smiled in return, filled with the warmth that his father's approval brought. "Thank you father. As for mother, where would you think she would least expect you to find her. Try where you think that will be, and you may be surprised."

Vader frowned. Where I would least expect… he stalked off down the hall, absently, still thinking. Atrox and Mara exchanged looks, and followed him, thinking maybe they could help look.

Padmé had run blindly down the halls of the palace, too upset, too disturbed to even care where she went. Now she was lost, and had no idea what part of the palace she was in. She began trying doors, looking inside the ones that were open, and moving on past the ones that were locked. She found herself in a very different wing of the palace than she'd been in previously. She started down a corridor, when she heard a voice behind her. "Milady?"

She whirled around to find a youngish man in a crisp white uniform standing at the end of the passage. He gave her an ingenuous smile, and asked, "Can I help you with something?"

She gave him a small smile, and admitted, "I seem to have lost my way. Can you direct me to the Emperor's wing?"

His smile broadened. "Of course. I just need to return these papers to my office, and I'll take you there myself."

Padmé shook her head. "Oh, I don't want you to go to any trouble… I'm sorry, I don't think we've been introduced."

"Grand Moff Tigellinus. But I'd appreciate it if you called me Rufaan." He flashed her a tantalizing smile. "And it's no trouble at all, in fact, it's on my way. Allow me," he offered her his arm, and after a moment's hesitation, she took it. "So what brings you to the Imperial Palace? I don't believe I've seen you around here before…"

"I'm here with my husband…"

Vader swept down yet another hall, his senses stretched to the maximum for his wife's presence. He had combed most of the areas of the palace that Padmé had visited, and she wasn't there. There was still the stormtrooper barracks, the janitorial level, and the wing reserved for the staterooms and quarters of the various moffs and other politicians that the former Emperor had deemed necessary for the stability of the Empire. He started to discount the barracks, then paused. His son had said to look in places he would not expect… with a sigh, he turned off down towards the barracks, hoping that this search wouldn't prove fruitless, as well.

Atrox was walking behind his father by a few paces until he saw him storm off towards the barracks. I will look in the staterooms and moff's quarters, father. Atrox said through the Force as he stormed off towards his destination. His dark cloak rippled behind him, and anyone who was near as he approached fled in his wake.

Mara trailed after him, readjusting her new cloak, the edge of which kept trying to trip her up. The hood slipped off her head… again, and she ignored it, annoyed.

Atrox glanced back at her. "Put up your hood, my apprentice. You are a Sith Apprentice… not one of Palpatine's mediocre servants any longer."

She scowled further, and yanked her hood upwards. It slipped down over one eye, strands of red-gold hair showing from underneath it, and she gave him a slightly rebellious glare.

Atrox smirked at her rebelliousness, "Don't make be retract your reward later, my apprentice… I could always turn it into a punishment."

Grand Moff Tigellinus unlocked the door to his stateroom with a quiet click. "Come in," he invited. "It'll only be a minute."

Padmé allowed him to lead her into the elegantly furnished chambers, and took a seat in one of the chairs he indicated to her as he headed into an adjoining room with his sheaf of documents. She jumped as the lock on the door clicked shut without warning. "Rufaan?" she called, uneasily.

Atrox quickened his pace as he thought he sensed his mother in one of the staterooms, his rage building at whoever is deceiving her. He completely opened himself to the dark side of the Force, feeling its power coursing through his very being as he began to think of what he would do to the fool who would dare touch his mother. "This way, apprentice. Let the dark side flow through you, feel its power coursing through your very being… eradicate the light within you!" Atrox said coldly, his voice almost unnaturally deep, imbued with the power of the dark side.

"Y-yes master," Mara said, doing her best to follow his commands. She was stunned by the malevolence she felt emanating from her master, it seemed to permeate everything in his wake with fear and darkness.

Suddenly, Darth Atrox sensed his mother on the other side of a locked door in front of him, and moments later, he heard her scream. Immediately, he bent the full power of his will against the door, ripping it down the middle and blowing the sides apart with dark energy.

Padmé screamed again, only to find a hand clamped tightly over her mouth. "Not another sound, milady, or you'll suffer for it," Tigellinus warned, in a low voice. She bit his hand, fiercely, and he drew it back with a curse. He slapped her across the cheek, angrily. "Have it your way," he snarled. "This could have been a pleasant experience for us both, but if you want to play this the hard way, I can certainly accommodate you." He began to rip her shirt aside, as she struggled to get free of his powerful grip, pure terror filling her mind.

At that moment, the shockwave of Atrox's entrance washed over them, and Tigellinus whirled, only to be hurled clear across the room and smashed through the wall into the adjoining chamber. There was silence for a moment, broken only by Padmé's quiet sobs, then Tigellinus groaned and attempted to sit up. Atrox stood framed in the rubble of the destroyed wall, looking the epitome of vengeance and darkness. He slowly moved into the room and glared at Tigellinus. "You are the one who is going to suffer, Moff, for what you even thought about doing to her!" He said, as various objects in the room began to fly around the room, slamming in to walls and other objects.

Mara ducked as an ornate sculpture narrowly missed her head. This Moff had done it now, and big time. She'd never seen Atrox so angry; it seemed to fill his entire being. She knelt down at Padmé's side and gently placed her cloak around her, covering her torn clothes and shielding her from the flying debris. Part of Mara hoped that Vader would get there soon, she knew he could help Padmé, but the other part feared he would be too bent on revenge to notice his wife needed him.

Atrox at once entered the hapless Moff's mind, and began blasting his pain centers with dark power as he started taking complete control of his mind, forcing him to relive his worst memories while at the same time keeping him conscious. He then lifted the man into the air by his throat, and smashed him up against the wall and held him there. Tigellinus gurgled something that might have been a plea, and Atrox smirked. "We are only just getting started, Moff. I am going to enjoy causing your suffering!" Atrox said dispassionately, enjoying the man's fear.

Padmé slowly raised her eyes to look at her son, his back turned towards her as he exacted retribution for Tigellinus' crimes against her. "Luke," she whispered, still shaken.

Atrox continued to look Tigellinus in the eye with his burning, rage-filled eyes as he continued to lift him higher. "How dare you attempt something on the Empress of the Galactic Empire!" he said, cold and dispassionate as he tightened his grip on the Moff.

Tigellinus was turning grey in the face from lack of air, but he managed to choke out, "I… didn't… know…"

Mara winced. That was no excuse for the man's behavior, but she felt rather sorry for him, just the same. Her master was decidedly not a forgiving man, not anymore. She glanced down at Padmé, who was making a visible effort to pull herself together, but was not being very successful. Mara left her alone, knowing she probably wasn't going to want any physical contact so soon.

Vader stopped in his tracks as he felt his son's towering rage. At once he knew that Padmé must be in trouble, and he broke into a run, heading towards the beacon of his son's wrath.

Atrox's voice became unnaturally dark again as he hurled the Moff across the room, sending him crashing into a far wall. "Does it look like I care if you knew or not?!" He began to hurl various objects at Tigellinus with the Force, heavy bookends, ornate ceramic vases, datapads, all the while drinking in his terror in the moments before each item struck him.

Mara watched in fascination as her master exacted his revenge from the Grand Moff. He had such raw power…

Tigellinus weakly tried to shield himself from the debris being thrown at him, and gasped, "Please! I- I can… I can be of great service. I have… contacts…"

Atrox stalked towards him, slowly, menacingly. "I have seen enough of your… great service." He said, as he reached the Moff's side, and towered over him, imposingly. He cowered at the Sith Lord's feet, recoiling from his presence. Atrox called his saber staff to his hand and ignited it, slowly bringing the tip down towards Tigellinus. The man's eyes widened, as he pressed himself as close to the wall as he could, away from the blade. "Please, no… I'll… I'll do anything…"

A dark, twisted smile formed on Atrox's face as he felt the Grand Moff's terror, taking great pleasure in it. "Very well… you will suffer!" Atrox said as he continued to bring the end of his saber staff slowly closer to the Moff's cheek. The man screamed in agony as the tip burned into his cheek, scarring his once refined features. Padmé flinched as she heard his cries, trying not to think about what her son was doing to Tigellinus. She knew he deserved it, but… part of her pitied him.

Vader paused as screams echoed down the hall. He allowed himself a grim smirk. There was no need for the Force in order to determine his son's location. He hurried in the direction of the screams, wanting to make sure Padmé was safe.

After several moments, Atrox lifted his blade off of Tigellinus' cheek and began to crush the wound with the sole of his boot, pinning his head against the wall. Atrox moved his blade over towards the Moff's chest and began to agonizingly slowly lower his blade onto his chest, relishing the man's fear and agony while his own eyes glowed a sickly yellow.

Vader entered the room just as Atrox let the tip sink into the Moff's chest, barely touching it… but touching it all the same. The man let out a gasping, tortured scream as the young Sith Lord began moving the tip of the blade across his chest, slicing long gashes in his uniform and lacing his chest with burns.

Vader took in the scene in a moment, then knelt at Padmé's side, brushing Mara out of the way. "Padmé," his voice was filled with concern as he reached out to take her into his arms. "Are you all right?"

She clutched him, desperately, and burst into tears. "Oh, Ani, I was so frightened…" she whispered, burying her face in his shoulder.

He held her, tightly, comforting her, as he shot Mara a look. "What happened?"

Mara looked grim. "When we got here, we found…" she groped for words to describe it. "We found that," she indicated the general direction of Atrox and Tigellinus, "trying to take advantage of her. He'd locked the door. Don't worry," she said quickly, noting the look on Vader's face, "he didn't have a chance to do anything serious. Your son got to him before he managed to get that far."

Vader's mouth set into grim lines as he held his wife the tighter, feeling her sobs against him, and he looked over to see what his son was up to.

Atrox took a few steps back, deactivating his saber staff as he did so. He continued to stare at the Moff and chuckled. "If you think that is pain, we need to redefine pain for you. You have yet to feel true pain… but you will." He said, his smile growing larger as he turned to his apprentice. "Assist me, apprentice. Keep him from being killed." He said darkly, then turning back to look the Moff in the eyes. "I am going to enjoy this."

Mara got to her feet and stood by her master's side. She could see that the man was close to passing out, very close. She wasn't sure how she was going to keep him alive, she knew that Atrox was far from being finished with him. Uncertainly, she began to heal his injuries, starting with the ones on his chest. She eyed her work, dubiously, feeling that it hadn't really worked as well as she wanted it to, but she'd learned only rudimentary healing techniques, not designed for something of this magnitude.

Atrox, meanwhile, unleashed a wave of Force lightning at the Moff, increasing its power dramatically with each scream, quickly becoming more powerful than it had ever been.

Vader felt the power his apprentice was containing within himself building to critical levels, even as he converted it into lightning. He'd better be careful…

Mara's expression became more intense as she fought to keep the prisoner alive and conscious. He was slipping away fast, too fast, and she knew that Atrox would be less than pleased if she failed in her task. So, with a grimace, she forced herself into the Moff's mind, searching for the stimulus to keep him conscious. It was hard to find through the terror and agony screaming through his sensations, but she thought she had it… maybe.

Vader, with some small amount of difficulty, touched his son's mind through the Force. Be careful, Lord Atrox. The dark side of the Force is far more powerful than mere physical bodies can safely contain on their own.

Atrox shot his master an annoyed look, then looked back at the Moff. He will still suffer anyway, I will just be sure it is for longer… he replied through the Force as he decreased the amount of power he was channeling back to a safer level, but still insured that the Moff was in utter agony. If it were not for Atrox's own apprentice keeping him alive, the Moff would have died within seconds.

Vader gave his son a small nod as he stroked Padmé's hair. Obedience was an important lesson for his apprentice to learn, albeit one of the more difficult ones. Finally, he spoke again, making sure his son heard him. "You will stop now, my apprentice."

Atrox continued to shoot the lightning as he shot his father an angry glare for a moment. Then he slowly turned to look at the Moff before him and stopped the lightning. "As you wish, master," he said coldly, then looked at his apprentice. We want him to him suffer, my apprentice, not to be healthy, he said through the Force as he blocked her from being able to heal the man crumpled before them.

Y-yes, master. Mara stepped back, sensing how angry her master was. It annoyed her that he was taking his anger out on her, when she was trying to do as he asked.

Vader gently released Padmé, and strode over to the broken man lying in a heap on the ground. Tigellinus looked up at him, his eyes glazed by pain. "Emperor? No… you're too young. Who…"

Vader allowed himself a smirk. "Yes, I am the Emperor. You might know me better as Darth Vader." He paused, taking in the man's vague realization and, at the same time, confusion, and also fear. "You are either very arrogant or very foolish to think you had any right to press yourself upon my wife," he said, his voice darkening considerably.

The Moff's voice was very dry as he spoke. "L-lord Vader? But… how?" His eyes widened as the second part of Vader's statement struck home. "Your… wife?"

Vader's expression grew very grim. "So you did not know who she was? You didn't even ask her name?"

"I- no," Tigellinus muttered. He looked up, suddenly, and his eyes darted to Atrox. Most of his face was concealed by his hood, but what he could see… looked strikingly similar to the man who stood before him. "Is that your… son?"

Vader raised an eyebrow, and glanced at Atrox, wondering if he wished to speak for himself.

Atrox smirked at Tigellinus, his burning eyes digging down into his very being. "You actually thought you could bribe the Prince of the Galactic Empire? You truly are pathetic." He replied coldly.

The Moff cringed still more at Vader's feet. "F-f-forgive me, my lord." He didn't know what else he could say. He knew that he could not expect mercy from the Dark Lord of the Sith, he only hoped now for a swift death.

Vader nodded towards his son, "Proceed, my apprentice."

Atrox stepped forward quickly, giving his father a meaningful look. Vader nodded, once, and turned away, gathering Padmé up in his arms and taking her out of the room. Atrox then turned back to Tigellinus, whose expression grew despairing at the knowledge that Vader's son would be performing his execution. Atrox gave him a twisted smile, and began to leach the life from him, as slowly as he could, wanting to cause him as much pain in his final moments as he could.

Grand Moff Tigellinus let out a noiseless scream of agony as his very life-force was drained from him bit by bit. But gradually, he noticed, the pain began to grow dull, and fade. Atrox frowned at him, contemplating.

Mara could feel his dark resolve hardening, and knew he would take it too far. She stepped forward, quickly. "Master, let me finish it."

He turned to look her in the eye, sensing her determination. "Very well, my apprentice. You could use the training. Let the dark side flow through you, let it course through your being," he said coolly as he took a step back and began to observe his apprentice.

Mara frowned in concentration. The dark side opened itself more easily to her than before, though it did not flow very well. A shiver raced down her body as she felt the energy of the dark side around her, awaiting her command. M-master?

Darth Atrox smiled as he sensed his apprentice open herself up to the dark side and… noted her skin had turned paler, and her eyes were beginning to change. Good, my apprentice, you can feel the power of the dark side. Now, let your aggressive emotions guide your hand.

Yes, master. Mara tapped into the dark side, willing herself to be as indifferent as when she carried out assassinations for Palpatine. She still felt a little uncomfortable with it, as she always had, but she knew it was something she needed to do. She unleashed a burst of energy, shoving the Moff up against the wall in another corner of the room, before lifting him with the Force and smashing him down to the floor again. She began to pace slowly towards him, almost like a predator stalking its prey, glaring down at his battered body. She allowed her expression to lighten, just slightly, and she smirked at him. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. At least," she paused, considering, "easier than either of my former or current masters would."

The Moff's face couldn't grow any paler, or it probably would have. "I… suppose… I should be grateful for that," he whispered, faintly.

She eyed him. This guy didn't have too much more left in him. Finish it! a part of her ordered. It came from the darkness in her own heart, but it sounded almost like Atrox, like part of him was inside her. Come to think of it, he probably is, she thought to herself, dryly.

Do it! Kill the wretch! The voice was back, and more insistent, demanding. She hesitated, looking down at the helpless man before her. She knew that he was going to die, one way or another, so wouldn't it… be almost… merciful, for her to do it now? Stop debating, just do it! You know he deserves it.

Her hand slowly went to her lightsaber, and ignited it, almost before she knew what she was doing. Her hand trembled as she brought it down to the Moff's throat, and held it there for a long moment. KILL HIM! The blade swept down, fueled by her sudden burst of aggression, and she felt the rush of energy as his life force was silenced. She turned to look at Atrox, shaken, slightly, by her own impulses.

Atrox walked towards his apprentice, a smile on his face. "Very good, my apprentice. You have done well. I will be sure to reward you later."

She gave him a small smile in return, still feeling unsettled. "Thank you, master."

Meanwhile, Leia tried to meditate. It was difficult, because she kept feeling her brother's rage slipping through their bond, a sign that she still had not succeeded in shutting him out. She wasn't sure what had happened to make it so strong; before it had always been the faintest of connections. Perhaps their growing connection to the Force, coupled by Atrox's determination to contact her, had strengthened it. She could feel, outside her meditation, that the ship had dropped out of hyperspace, and within minutes, a unit of armed men arrived, led by Wedge, who had volunteered for the task. She looked up as he entered. "Time to go, isn't it?"

Wedge grimaced. "Yeah. The Falcon's been prepped for launch and everything."

She rose, slowly, and emerged from the cell. Wedge and his men led her down to the docking bay. "What will you do?" Wedge asked, quietly.

Leia's expression hardened, slightly. "I think it's time I sorted out some… family difficulties."

They reached the Falcon, and Leia turned for one last goodbye. "Take care of yourself, Wedge." She tried to smile.

"You too. Here…" he fumbled in his flight jacket for a moment, and drew out a silvery cylinder. "I have a feeling you'll be needing this where you're going."

She took it from him, feeling its cool handle like an old friend returning. Now she did smile, gratefully. "Thanks, Wedge. Thank you… for everything." She hugged him, briefly, and turned and walked up the Falcon's ramp. She felt another pang of sadness as she sat down in the pilot's seat… Han's seat. Oh Han, I hope you're okay. Forcing herself to push such thoughts from her mind, she brought the Falcon out of the docking bay, and entered the coordinates for Imperial Center. As the stars streaked into lines, she thought to herself that she would use the trip to meditate; she would need a much greater connection to the Force if she was going to stand a chance against her brother.