Chapter 47:
Vader watched, helplessly, as the shot penetrated Mara's heart.Atrox cried out her name, desperately, even as he saw the vibrancy fading from her eyes. Her hand went limp in his, and Vader felt his son's very soul shatter into a thousand pieces. Atrox turned, then, and advanced toward the doorway, where once again the outline of a woman was visible, but her face was still in shadow. She muttered something to Atrox that only he could hear, and Vader could swear that she seemed familiar, somehow. Atrox ignited his lightsaber…
He and Padmé went to him, soon afterwards, and found him meditating alone, in darkness. Padmé took a few steps toward him, cautiously, and murmured, "Luke, I'm… I'm so sorry."
Atrox was on his feet in an instant, and both of them could see how his face was ravaged by pain and the dark side. Vader could feel it, eating away at what was left of Darth Atrox; there was nothing remaining of Luke Skywalker. Before Vader could move, Atrox blasted her with Force lightning, and hissed, "That is not my name."
Vader stepped into the path of the attack, almost without thinking. His first thought was to protect Padmé from the Sith Lord who stood in place of their son, and his second was to defend her further. Scarlet blade met scarlet blade, and as he looked into Atrox's hollow eyes, he was forced to realize: there was nothing left of the man who was his son, all that remained was the shell of a Sith Lord, consumed by the dark side.
Vader's eyes burst open, and he sat up, covered in cold sweat. Padmé turned beside him in her sleep, and he brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, gently, feeling the need to touch her, make sure she was safe. He kissed her forehead, and then rose, pulling on his tunic as he left the room. He exited their apartment, and took to pacing, up and down the halls aimlessly, trying to work out a plan of action, some way, any way, to keep the dream from becoming a reality.
Padmé found him there, still roaming the halls. She fell into step beside him, quietly, already having an idea what the problem was. "You had the dream again?"
"Yes."
She was used to his noncommittal replies, and pressed further. "Tell me?"
He stopped pacing, and turned away from her. Finally, he sighed, and said, "It… showed after Jade's death. It… it destroyed our son, there was nothing left of who he was. He was… nothing but a shell, an empty shell for the darkness to inhabit." He broke off, and turned back to look into her eyes. She could see how haunted he was by what he had seen, and, though she dared not say anything, she thought he was starting to realize the full consequences of giving in to the dark side, what it would mean for their family. She looked into his eyes, their intensity muted, somewhat, by something akin to grief, or despair, and he said, "He… he was killing you."
Padmé's eyes widened, as she realized what had changed him. "He killed me?" she asked, in a small voice.
Vader looked away again. "I… I don't know. I tried to stop him, but… it ended as we began to duel."
She reached a hand up to touch his shoulder. "Would you… would you have killed him?"
He didn't respond for a moment. "I don't know."
Leia was awakened from a dreamless sleep by her father's turbulent emotions. She dressed, quickly, and tried to push open the door, only to find it securely locked. She frowned, and sighed as she sensed two guards outside the door. This whole I-don't-trust-you thing is becoming very frustrating. I feel some sort of rebellious teenager who's been grounded.
She sat down on the floor of her room and began to meditate, since she knew she couldn't go back to sleep. Perhaps when her father came back she could ask him what had happened, though she already had a pretty good idea. She sensed a great deal of fear from him, both fear for his family, and fear of the future. Father… is something wrong?
After a few moments, he responded, I'll tell you about it shortly. I'm on my way back.
She looked up as the door slid open, and Vader entered. She rose to meet him, and gave him a closer look. "What happened?"
He sighed, and waved at her to take a seat. She sat across from him, and waited for him to begin. "I saw the vision again tonight. It was the same as before, only… It extended past the end of the last one. Atrox tried to… I think he killed your mother. It ended as I began to duel him, trying to protect her."
Leia simply sat there, in stunned silence, as she took in what he told her. Finally, she asked, "Is there any way to prevent it from happening?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know if it's a vision of the definite future, or a possible future. Do our actions really make a difference to the future, or does it shape itself around them?"
"Always in motion, the future is," Leia said, with a wistful smile. She sighed. "There's no way to find out who the assassin is?"
Vader frowned. "She seemed familiar, somehow. But I couldn't get a good enough glimpse of her, or hear her words." He cursed himself, mentally. Why in blazes couldn't he remember?
"Keep working on it," Leia advised. "Perhaps it's a bounty hunter or something. Go through Imperial records, pull anything that rings a bell."
"Yes. Perhaps." It seemed too improbable to him, but they had little else to go on. "I think I'll assign extra protection to Jade, as well. Just as a further buffer between her and whoever is after her."
Leia hid a smile. The thought of Mara Jade, such as she'd seen of her, being followed around everywhere by bodyguards was rather comical, despite the gravity of the situation.
Padmé made her way to Atrox's apartment, wanting to talk to him, and perhaps Mara, about… recent events. It wasn't too early in the morning, so she hoped they would be up. She knocked on the door, and waited for an answer.
They went to answer the door, Atrox gently pushing Mara behind him as he hit the release. She glared at him, annoyed. Don't you start getting all protective on me, Skywalker. I can take care of myself.
Atrox shot Mara a glare, Last time I checked, Jade, you were my apprentice and you are carrying our child… I will be protective if I wish to.
He stepped back to allow his mother in. She smiled at both of them, and said, warmly, "Congratulations, to both of you." To Atrox, she added, "Your father told me the news."
Mara cast Atrox a side glance. "Er… thanks." She wasn't sure how to respond to Padmé's words, or what she expected of her. "Won't you… sit down?" She pulled Atrox down into a seat next to her, and Padmé sat across from them.
"I remember when I first told your father that I was expecting…" Padmé sighed wistfully. "He was just back temporarily from the war, in the last days of the Republic. I was so scared, and yet… so happy."
"What was Lord Vader's reaction?" Mara asked, curiously.
She smiled. "He held me, and told me not to worry, that this was a happy moment." She laughed. "Of course, we didn't know, then, that you were twins. We were waiting to find out…" she trailed off. "No one knew, except Bail, and Obi-wan, and Master Yoda, and I." Her face smoothed over, and she continued. "But we're together again, all of us, and that's what's important."
Atrox smirked at his mother's words. "He has been acting… differently since we told him the news."
Padmé raised an eyebrow. "Has he? Perhaps it's the thought of having… grandchildren. He never saw you or Leia grow up, I'm sure he must regret that. Like I do," she added, softer.
Atrox sat for a moment in thought and eventually replied after several moments. "Perhaps, but what I sense is… fear. He is afraid of something, but I cannot tell what."
She sighed. "He's worried about you, I think. He… has not had the best experiences with family and childbearing in the past."
Atrox looked Padmé in the eyes and began to read her expressions. She seemed… unsettled by something, but preferred her be honest about it than take the information he wanted. "You are unsettled by something." It was a statement, not a question.
Padmé nodded, once. "I suppose I am. So much has happened in the past few days… and now you and Mara… well, I suppose I wouldn't be a mother if I didn't worry about my children, whether there is cause for worry or not. I spent the past twenty years worrying about you and Leia, never knowing what you were doing, if you were safe." She gave him a wry smile. "I guess old habits die hard."
"Perhaps, but I feel that it might be something else, that it might be connected with father's caused for being unsettled. You are worried about him," Atrox said, concerned about his mother. "If it is about Leia… she got what she deserved back in the cellblock," he added coldly.
Padmé sighed. "I can't say I'm happy about that, no. I don't ever like to see my children hurt. But I can't take sides against either of you." She looked at him, and there was a note of pleading in her voice. "Please try to understand that."
Atrox's cold glare remained locked on Padmé for several moments. "Very well. Just know the only reason I am accepting that is because you are family. If you were any other person…" he trailed off, not wanting to go into detail at the moment.
She bowed her head. "Thank you. I… I couldn't ask for more than that." She rose. "I appreciate your taking the time to talk to me. I'm always glad of the chance to get to know you better." She turned her gaze to Mara, briefly. "You know where I am, if you need anything. Both of you."
There was an almost courtesy tap on the door, and Vader entered the room, followed by a detachment of crimson-robed Royal Guards. He gave his wife a nod, and then turned to Atrox. "I felt that since your… apprentice is becoming a part of our family, and carrying your child, she should have special protection." He waved a hand at the Royal Guard detachment, expressively.
Mara's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I do not need to be babysat by a bunch of vainglorious stormtroopers."
Atrox knelt before his master's feet and lowered his head. "Master." He sent Mara a message through the Force. Kneel before the Emperor and you will do as he says, apprentice
She flicked a glare in Atrox's direction. As you wish, masterShe knelt at his side before the dark lord, still fuming.
Vader nodded at his son, appreciatively. "You may rise." He turned to contemplate the guardsmen, knowing full well that Mara was just as familiar with their capabilities as he was. "What is your opinion, Lord Atrox?"
Atrox got up to his feet when his master requested him to and folded his arms across his chest. "I will trust your judgment on the matter, master."
"Very well." Vader turned to the Royal Guards. "I charge you with the protection of Mara Jade. Effective immediately. Know that if you fail in this task, the consequences will be… severe. And permanent."
The detachment saluted as one. "We will not fail you, Lord Vader."
He nodded. "I trust you will not."
Atrox turned to face the Royal Guards, his eyes a sickly yellow. He Force pushed several of them into the wall and advanced on them. "If you fail my master, I will ensure that all of you are kept in a constant state of agony… for the rest of your lives." He paused and added, "And know that I will keep you alive by any means necessary."
The guardsmen maintained their stiff composure, despite Atrox's advance, a testament to their thorough training as the Emperor's personal protectors. One of them spoke for the entire detachment: "Lord Atrox, if ever we fail, I guarantee you that we will no longer be alive to suffer punishment under your hands, though we would be no less deserving of it if we did."
Atrox nodded to the guardsmen and turned to look his master in the eye. "They will do, my master." He paused, a smirk forming on his face. "I am sure that my apprentice is grateful for the protection that you have offered her."
Mara glared at the back of his hood, sensing the look on his face. "I… thank you, Lord Vader."
Vader gave her a slight smile. "Consider it a… repayment for your devotion to Lord Atrox."
She forced back a biting retort, and said simply, "Yes, Lord Vader." She continued to fix her gaze on the back of Atrox's head, determined to make sure he knew just what she thought about the whole situation. Bad enough you getting all protective, now I've got a couple score of professional bodyguards haunting my footsteps. I'll never have a moment's peace again, and you know what that means, Skywalker.
Darth Atrox turned around to look his apprentice in the eyes. We will still have our private time, I assure you. But you will learn to put up with their presence, my apprentice, or I could always request more of them for you.
She eyed him, darkly. You could. And then I wouldn't be the only one who wouldn't have a moment's peace. She held his gaze, stubbornly, for a moment, then lowered it. Very well. I will… put up with them, as long as they stay out of my way.
Vader chuckled as he watched Atrox and his apprentice, sensing their argument, even if he couldn't detect the words. Finally, he turned to his wife, who had been watching their interaction with a bemused expression on her face. "Come, my lady. Let us leave our son and his apprentice to… train." He offered Padmé his arm, and she took it, giving the younger couple one last look before leaving them alone with Mara's Royal Guard detachment.