Chapter 50:
"So you didn't tell him," Padmé said, softly.
Vader turned. "No, I didn't. If he had asked for the information, then perhaps… perhaps not. But I will not give in to demands, or threats."
She nodded. "I know you won't. You never have."
Mara found Atrox in his quarters, and could feel the anger still pouring off him. She came up behind him, and touched his shoulder gently. "Come, my lord. I need to get you patched up."
Atrox did not respond to Mara and continued to stare off into space, arms folded, allowing his anger towards his master fuel his connection to the dark side of the Force.
Mara pulled on the sleeve of his robe more insistently, abandoning what little formality she had adopted. "C'mon, Skywalker. You're injured, and I need to make sure you're okay. To say nothing of the fact that you look like you've been processed in a power plant," she added under her breath, looking over his singed robes.
"My pain will give me strength, apprentice," he said absently, continuing to immerse himself with the dark side of the Force, feeding on his pain and anger.
Her eyes narrowed, and she took his shoulder and turned him around to face her. "No, I think you've had enough of that for one day. You're coming with me, whether I have to lock you in a bacta tank for a week or not."
Atrox smirked at his apprentice's boldness. "No mere bacta tank will be able to hold me." He paused, stubbornly. "Very well, you will proceed, apprentice."
"Good. Come on." She gave him a cursory inspection, then led him down the halls to the Emperor's medical wing, knowing he needed more care than she could provide. She dialed a control panel in the wall, activating a Too-Onebee medical droid.
"What do you require?" the droid asked, calmly.
"He needs treatment for severe electrical damage," Mara said, firmly, giving Atrox a glance.
"Bring him here immediately," Too-Onebee said, at once businesslike. Mara steered Atrox over to the examination table, despite his protests, so the droid could assess the damage. After completing the preliminary scans, the droid announced, "He is suffering from severe internal and external burns, as well as trace fractures in his skeleton. To be honest, I'm surprised he's still conscious. I recommend from two to several sessions in a bacta tank to bring him back to full health."
Atrox locked eyes with his apprentice. The power of the dark side of the Force gives you strength that you would not normally have. You would do well to remember this.
Mara met his gaze. I will remember, master. She flicked a glance towards the droid, and said in an even voice, "If any harm befalls him under your care, you'll be lucky if you wind up as scrap metal."
Atrox's mouth formed a dark smile at his apprentice's protectiveness. Too-Onebee seemed a trifle affronted when he said, "Lady Mara, I assure you, I provide only the best and most complete care to my patients."
Mara nodded, shortly. The 2-1B series of droids had never given her cause for concern in the past; he was right, they generally provided the best care possible. But nevertheless, she felt the need to ensure that her master would be safe, after so much pain and punishment. "See that you do."
Leia and Padmé were talking, quietly, about what had happened. Both were in general agreement that the whole situation was terrible, but differed on which side was justified.
Vader listened to them, for awhile, still angry, though he was calmer now. Suddenly he flinched, startled. His son's presence was gone, like he had fallen unconscious somehow. His eyes narrowed, and he left the room abruptly, needing to know what had happened.
Mara looked up as Vader entered the wing, and a scowl clouded her expression. "What do you want?" she asked, darkly.
"I came because I sensed that my apprentice is no longer conscious," Vader snapped in response.
Mara's eyes flashed, angrily, and she snarled, "He's in medical because you almost killed him!"
The temperature seemed to plummet as Vader said, coldly, "I do not brook insubordination from anyone. Not my son, and certainly not from you. Take me to him at once."
"No." Mara said flatly. "I'm not letting you interfere with his treatment." Her hand tightened around her lightsaber hilt.
"You are not in a position to let me do anything!" Vader thundered, towering over her. He moved to pass her, and her magenta blade ignited with a hiss.
Vader's blade met hers, crackling on impact. Mara disengaged and swung at his hip, which he parried easily. She struck again, harder this time, her anger fueling the power of her blows. He countered that one, as well, and sneered, "Fool girl, you really think you can stop me from seeing my apprentice?"
She forced back his assault, and snarled, "You certainly don't seem to think so."
Vader glared at the young woman battling him furiously. Even if she couldn't actually strike him physically, her verbal barbs could be just as deadly. He pushed her harder, forcing her to give ground, but was unable to knock her off balance.
She managed to fend off his blows, and even return some of them, but was slowly tiring. Dueling Vader forced her to give every ounce of herself trying to stay one step ahead, for if she fell behind, she was lost. She brought her blade around to block his attack, but his blade was not there. Stupid, stupid, stupid! A feint! She cursed herself mentally even as she was thrown backwards with the Force. She glared up at Vader, furiously, as he brought the tip of his saber to rest at her throat.
He glared down at her, his blade shaking as he tried to control his anger. She looked up at him, an accusing glint in her eye. "Going to kill your grandchild, Lord Vader?" she asked, filled with barely restrained emotion.
Vader stared at her, her words freezing him in his tracks. He reached out, tentatively, towards her, seeking… he knew not what. He felt her presence, like a fiery flame in the Force. He probed deeper, more delicately, and felt… a tiny presence, barely identifiable as separate from Mara herself. So fragile, so… innocent. He touched it, gently, and could feel the barest movement of its heartbeat. Shaken to the core, he withdrew, shutting off his lightsaber as he did so. He turned and left the room, moving deeper into the facility to where his son was.
Vader stood with his back to the door, arms folded across his chest, as he watched his son floating in the bacta tank, oblivious to his surroundings. Mara entered the room behind him, guardedly, still untrusting, and still emotional. She didn't want to even be in the same room with Vader, but she was even more unwilling to leave him alone with Atrox.
Vader observed his son, noting the burns covering his body. After a moment, he asked, "How severe are his injuries?"
Mara glared at him, darkly. "He has severe external and internal burns, not to mention numerous skeletal fractures. He was barely holding it together after you were finished with him."
"He deserved his punishment. He is a Sith apprentice; he defied the will of the Dark Lord of the Sith." Mara started to interrupt, and he cut her off. "Our former master did punish us when either of us defied or failed him. My apprentice will not get special treatment... he has been punished for the same act multiple times and this time was the last I would have of it… he has learned his lesson."
Mara simply glared. There was nothing she could say to deny the truth of his words, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging that he was right. "And if you had lost control and he had died?" she muttered, resentfully.
Vader glared back, tired of her questioning him. "I was in control the entire time. It only seems that I was not to you because you have feelings for him." He changed the subject, remembering his visions. "Where is your security detail?" he demanded.
Her scowl deepened. "I don't know. I was too busy trying to save my master from you to bother with them. I agreed to tolerate their presence, not to babysit them or wait around for them to show up."
Atrox awakened slowly, first noticing Mara's presence, then his master's. His anger returned in a rush, and he lifted his yellow eyes to lock with his master's, an angry glare on his face.
Too-Onebee finished running the post-bacta scans, then queried, "My scanner reports your skin and eye colors as being abnormal. How long has this been occurring?"
Atrox slowly turned his head to face Too-Onebee as he Force pushed him into the wall, though not hard enough to destroy him. "That is none of your concern, droid," he said coldly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"As you command, Lord Atrox." the droid said simply.
Mara looked him over, appraisingly. His hair seemed an odd tint, maybe slightly whiter than its normal sun-bleached blonde. She handed him a fresh set of robes, and laid a pair of black leather gloves on the bed. "Your boots are down here," she jerked a thumb in the direction of the foot of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
Vader eyed the two of them, and left the room, leaving behind an unspoken promise that he would return soon. Atrox pulled on the robe, and lifted the hood over his head, covering most of his face. "Well enough to ensure that you are rewarded for your loyalty to me, my apprentice," he said, as he bent down to pull on his boots. He sensed the dark side was stronger with her than when she had brought him into the medical bay. "The dark side is stronger with you now than it was before, my apprentice. You have learned to embrace your anger, and will not hesitate to use it. You have taken your first step to becoming a Sith Lord," he said as finished putting on his boots, looking into her eyes, noting that they were flecked with gold.
Mara gazed back at him, her eyes captivated by his. "Thank you, master." She could feel he was still in some pain from his injuries, some of which were not completely healed, but he was better. She passed him a glove, and he pulled it on.
At that moment, Vader entered the room, casting a cursory glance over his son as he did so. Atrox was completely clad in black, hiding his so changed features, but Vader could feel his apprentice's complete embrace of the dark side. Atrox pulled on his second glove, and rose, taking a few short steps forward to kneel at his master's feet. "You seem to have recovered well, my apprentice."
At that moment, Vader entered the room, casting a cursory glance over his son as he did so. Atrox was completely clad in black, hiding his so changed features, but Vader could feel his apprentice's complete embrace of the dark side. Atrox pulled on his second glove, and rose, taking a few short steps forward to kneel at his master's feet. "You seem to have recovered well, my apprentice."
Atrox looked up to meet his master's eyes, a cold expression on his face. "Yes, my master," he said in a hoarse voice.
Vader nodded, satisfied with his apprentice's submission. Mara eyed him, darkly. "He needs at least one more bacta session before he's through."
Vader spared her a glance. "He will have time for that before his next assignment." He looked down at his apprentice. "There is a mission I need you, your apprentice, and Admiral Solo to carry out."
"As you wish, master… we will leave immediately after my next treatment." Atrox replied.
"Very well. I will brief you about it before you leave." Vader gave him a nod, and departed, needing to make certain necessary arrangements for the upcoming mission.
Atrox rose, and he and Mara returned to his quarters, having gathered his remaining possessions from the medbay. Mara watched him, critically, for any signs that he was in pain, and asked him, "What do you think our assignment is?"
Atrox turned around and met her gaze. "I'm sure it has something to do with the Rebellion." He said the word with absolute disgust, the room's temperature dropping as he said it.
Mara nodded, silently. Her former master had been obsessed with rooting out the Rebel Alliance; far more so than she felt was justified. True, they managed in the end to destroy the Death Star, but the hero of that battle was present in the room with her.
Atrox took several steps forward and embraced Mara, sending his love for her through their bond. Thank you, my love. He paused, reaching out to their child, sensing its Force presence had grown and had a… heartbeat now. Our child is growing, I can sense its heartbeat, and its Force presence is stronger.
She slipped a hand down to rest over her womb, reaching out with him to feel her child. Our child… She felt safe in Atrox's embrace, safer than she had in some time, particularly given their recent confrontations with Vader.
Atrox sensed his apprentice's thoughts and pulled her chin up gently with the Force so that he looked her in the eye. "What happened to you while I was out? You are… troubled by something."
She hesitated, not wanting to ruin his unusually tender mood, but knowing better than to lie to him. "I… your master and I had a… philosophical disagreement."
Atrox continued to look at her, not satisfied with her answer. "What is that that supposed to mean? Elaborate."
She looked away, fearing the anger she knew would come. "He came into the medical wing while you were out, and demanded to see you. I wouldn't let him, I didn't… I didn't want him to hurt you again. We had… words, and he tried to force his way past me. I- I fought him, and… he would have killed me if it hadn't been for the baby." Her voice broke a little, as she thought about how their child had nearly died, because she wasn't strong enough to protect it. She was fiercely protective of her loved ones, and she would willingly sacrifice her life to protect them, but now she felt torn.
Once Atrox had heard Mara mention his master he became instantly enraged, and pulled her closer to him, holding her protectively. "I will make sure he never harms our child again." Atrox muttered.
She took comfort in his strong embrace, and knew that he would do everything in his considerable power to ensure their child's safety. "What will you do?" she asked, softly.
Atrox looked at her, determination in his eyes. "For now… my master's will... but I will not stand for my master harming you, or our child."
Mara rested her head against him, her fears assuaged somewhat. "I know you won't." She closed her eyes, content only to feel his tight embrace, his determination, and the love they shared. After a moment, she asked, "How are you doing? Your injuries aren't bothering you, are they?"
Atrox met her eyes. "No, they are not affecting me. I don't see why you think I need another round of bacta, I will be fine."
"I- I don't know what Lord Vader has planned for us, but I want you to be completely healed, just in case something… something happens." She looked away, unsettled by the mix of feelings swirling within her, but unable to voice them to him.
"I will heal myself, apprentice." Atrox hissed, not wanting to go back to the med bay.
Mara glared back at him, stubbornly. "Then be sure you do it, master. I don't want to find you neglecting your injuries just because you have things you'd rather be doing than spend a few more hours in a bacta tank, no matter how bad it tastes."
Atrox glared back at her for moment, and motioned for her to follow him. Let us see what my master has in store for us… I want your full guard detachment with you.
Her scowl deepened, and she muttered under her breath, "If they don't have the sense to follow me of their own accord, you sure can't expect them to be much use as protection." Nevertheless, she followed her master from the room, shooting a glare at the guards, as if defying them to stay or come.
The guards accompanied her, silently, as they left for the throne room. Mara walked a step behind her master, her irritation simmering inside her.