Chapter 57:
Admiral Solo made his way to Atrox's quarters and knocked on the door, cautiously. The door slid open to reveal the young Sith Lord meditating in darkness. "Uh… you wanted to see me, sir?" Solo asked.
Atrox did not move from his position. "Enter, Solo."
He took a few steps into the room, wondering what it was Atrox had in mind for him. "I informed the… recruit about the necessary regulations, as per your orders, sir."
"Good work, Admiral." Atrox said vaguely, standing while he did so. He turned towards the Admiral. "Kneel before me." He demanded coldly. Solo complied immediately, again wondering what all this was about. "Open your mind to me," he commanded softly.
Han did not resist as Atrox inserted his will into his mind, but recoiled as a sharp pain pierced his head. Through the pain he heard Atrox's voice. Calm yourself; I'm not trying to harm you. Atrox finished altering the barriers that Palpatine had erected around Han's memories, restoring everything but his history with Chewbacca, and his hatred of the Empire. Having finished, he withdrew from Han's mind, allowing him to sink to the floor unconscious.
After a moment, he nudged Solo's mind with the Force, causing him to awaken. Han sat up, a crushing headache temporarily pushing out any rational thought. "Wha… what happened?" he muttered thickly.
"Remember." Atrox muttered.
Memories began tumbling into place, particularly his encounter with Emperor Palpatine. "Leia!" he exclaimed. "Where is she?" His thoughts were still jumbled around in his head, and he was severely disoriented, but he had to know.
Atrox chuckled. "With her father."
Han frowned. "With her… with Lord Vader?" He ran a hand through his hair, overwhelmed by the confusion in his mind. "She was captured? When did that happen?"
"She was not captured, Solo. She gave herself to us, and in doing so, was reunited with her father." Atrox replied coldly.
Han shook his head. "I don't understand… sir," he added, almost as an afterthought. "Why didn't I know about this? Why does my head feel like it was ripped off by a Gundark?"
"Because your reward was for me to repair your memories which the Late Emperor took away. If you are unsatisfied with it... I am sure I can remove them again if you wish." Atrox replied
"Uh… no sir, thank you sir." Han said hastily.
"Are you going to remain loyal to me, Solo? Or will the brig be... needed?" Atrox asked, gazing into Solo's eyes.
"I'm still your man, sir, I just…" he hesitated. "I'd like to see Leia when she arrives, if there's an opportunity."
"Smart choice, Solo. I will allow it... after I have spoken with her." Atrox said. "Consider it part of your reward."
"Thanks again, sir. For everything." Han said, gratefully. "Uh… if there's nothing else, sir, I'd like to take the rest of my time off-duty to get some sleep, try and clear my head before my next shift on the bridge."
"Dismissed."
Leia sat with her parents in the cockpit, passing time until they reached Myrkr. She was quiet, lost in thought while her parents chatted. She was astonished to have reconciled so well with her father, and immensely glad that he was so understanding. If only her brother would be as willing to listen.
Padmé turned to smile at her daughter. "You know, your father always insisted our child would be a girl. I was convinced it would be a boy." She laughed. "I guess we were both right."
Vader continued to pilot the shuttle, engaging in the conversation while he did so. "We will be arriving soon."
Leia felt a little anxious as she sensed the approaching meeting with her brother. She suspected he would not be pleased to see her.
Atrox suddenly sensed his master and sister approaching and set off for the hanger to greet them. He waited in the shadows of the hanger, nobody noticing his presence. He reached out to Mara. Come, apprentice.
Mara reached his side a few minutes later. Lord Vader is arriving? she asked quietly.
Yes, he replied.
Minutes later, Vader's shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, and was pulled in by the larger vessel. Soon after it set down, Vader swept down the ramp, accompanied by his wife and daughter.
Once the shuttle had touched down, Atrox moved out from the shadows and knelt in front of the boarding ramp, waiting to be acknowledged by his father and master.
"Rise, my son," Vader said, summoning him to join them.
The young Sith apprentice did as he was ordered and accompanied them, following just behind Vader. Mara silently fell into step by his side.
As they passed the crew's mess hall, the new ensign emerged. Vader frowned. "He is not one of the men I sent with you."
Atrox stopped in his tracks, meeting the ensign's eyes. "I... persuaded him to join the Empire. I have shown him that we can be... merciful." He said, opening his mind to his father, allowing him to see just what exactly had happened.
Beron's eyes widened as he caught sight of Leia behind them. Princess Leia… He shifted his gaze away from them, suddenly uncomfortable.
Amused, Atrox reached out to the ensign's mind. You better get used to her presence... ensign. She is my sister. If you tell anyone, I will personally end you.
Beron raised his eyes to meet Atrox's, allowing him to see that he understood. He gave them a nervous salute, and left to continue carrying out his duties.
Atrox turned back towards Vader to see what his reaction would be to his turning of the ensign would be.
Vader raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. Well done, apprentice."
Atrox shot Leia a glance from beneath his hood, smirking. She returned his gaze evenly, vowing he would not cause her to become angry, not yet. He broke their gaze and continued on down the corridor.
Leia touched her father's mind, gently. When would it be acceptable for me to speak with him, father?
I will dismiss him in a few moments. Vader replied.
She nodded her acceptance, and continued to follow her father up to the bridge. Vader paused a short way down the corridor, and opened one of the doors. "These will be our temporary quarters while we're here," he told Padmé. "I'll return shortly, after I finish with my apprentice on the bridge."
Padmé nodded, and Vader and Atrox left. Padmé began arranging their quarters, but Leia was restless, and slipped away, her mind still dwelling on what she would say to Atrox when they talked. Unnoticed by the others, Mara hung back from Atrox and Vader, staying hidden in the shadows, but never allowing Leia out of her line of sight. She sensed the direction of Leia's thoughts, and remained guarded, but poised to strike if Leia tried anything.
Unaware of this, Leia wandered back down the corridor, her eyes downcast, and bumped straight into one of Atrox's officers. "Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized. "I wasn't loo—"
"Leia?"
Darth Vader and his apprentice reached the bridge. Vader took a cursory glance around the room, and commented, "You seem to have put your time and energy to good use, apprentice. Breaking the Rebel agent was an impressive feat."
Atrox gazed out the window, "Thank you, master. It was satisfying to finally turn the scum to our cause. He has even attempted to break his former colleague to our will, but without success."
Vader shook his head. "Spies often receive in-depth training against being broken. It's unlikely that you will be able to convert him, if he hasn't already."
"Then he will suffer." Atrox said coldly.
"Indeed." Vader replied. "I am sure your apprentice will be visiting him while we are gone on the surface." He paused. "Before we leave on this mission, we will need to further your training. You have not experienced anything like what we will face down there."
"Yes, master." Atrox replied. "I do not know much about this... planet. Is there anything of note that I should be aware of?"
"The planet is home to indigenous wildlife, much of it hostile, particularly to Force-sensitives such as us. Myrkr is unique in my experience, in that its native creatures use the Force as a vital part of their ecosystem. The dominant predator, the vornskr, hunts using the Force to sense its prey. In a response to this, the ysalamiri developed the ability to create bubbles around themselves, wherein the Force does not exist. When we make our approach to the planet, you will be unable to touch the Force. Hence the brilliance of the Rebellion in hiding from us on this planet. In the past, other criminals such as bounty hunters and smugglers made Myrkr their base, as the Jedi Order avoided the planet like the Candorian Plague." He shrugged. "Such is what I was able to discover from Palpatine's archives."
"If I were to guess, my upcoming training will... deal with this." Atrox said bitterly. He clenched his fists in anger at the fact.
Vader chuckled. "Very good, apprentice. Yes, you will need to learn how to cope without the Force as your tool. Otherwise, you may as well remain here with your apprentice."
Atrox's eyes flashed as he locked eyes with his master. "Never. The rebels must pay for their betrayal; my former friends will beg me for mercy, mercy which I will not give them."
Vader merely nodded, unsurprised by Atrox's vehemence. "Then you will simply have to excel at your new training. You won't live long enough to exact your vengeance otherwise."
"Yes, master. I will not fail." Atrox said.
"I know you will not," Vader responded. "Now, as regards other aspects of the mission. How goes your progress on that count?"
"I have been thinking it over, master." Atrox said. "It will be complete by the time we are ready to depart."
"Han?" she asked, her voice hushed.
"Leia, I…" he paused, suddenly at a loss for words.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, looking him over carefully and taking in his Imperial uniform.
"I'm an admiral in the Imperial fleet. Under Lord Atrox's command." he said carefully.
She nodded, a flicker of pain crossing her face as she remembered how her brother had claimed Han's allegiance.
"Aren't you needed on the bridge, Admiral?"
They both turned sharply, startled by the unexpected voice. Mara Jade stood there, eyes narrowed coldly.
"Sorry, milady," Han muttered. His eyes moved to Leia, and he said softly, "We'll talk later."
She nodded, and Han hurried away.
"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere, princess?" Mara stated without emotion.
Leia met her stare, calmly. "I was not aware that I am needed elsewhere."
Vader, having concluded his discussion with his apprentice, left the bridge and came upon the two women, facing each other down. "Mara Jade, come with me," he said, coldly.
Mara gave Leia one last look, and then followed the Dark Lord.
Leia watched them leave, and turned away. She braced herself, knowing the upcoming confrontation was not going to be pleasant, but it had to be done. She reached out with the Force, seeking her brother's presence, and finding it, dark and filled with barely contained rage. With a sigh, she followed the sense to its source, Atrox's quarters. She knocked on the door, steeling herself for whatever his response would be.
Using the Force during his meditations, Atrox opened the door to his quarters, allowing Leia to enter, and then slamming it closed as soon as she was clear. He did not acknowledge her presence in the room; instead he continued to meditate, waiting for her to begin speaking to him.
She hesitated, then began. "It has been some time since we last met, brother."
Atrox finally looked up at her, ending his meditations. He met her eyes with his own. "Are you here to kill me? Are you going to turn on me and father to rid the galaxy of the Sith?"
She stared at him. "I can't kill my own father. Or my brother. Even if I was powerful enough to do so."
Atrox stared at her, truly shocked by her words. After a moment, he rose, opening himself to her. "Yoda would be greatly disappointed in you, sister." Atrox said, smirking afterwards.
She merely looked at him. "Then I suppose we have something in common now, don't we?"
"Indeed we do, Leia." Atrox said, his voice no longer cold, but inviting.
Leia met his eyes, genuinely surprised that he was being… friendly towards her. She paused, not sure what to say.
Atrox took several steps forward towards Leia, closing the gap between them. "You are my sister, my father's blood, I cannot destroy you." He said quietly.
Tentatively, she drew him into a hug. "Perhaps we can both give each other a second chance," she said softly.
Atrox hesitated, but returned the hug. "Perhaps. But not until you explain to me why you hurt my master earlier." He replied.
She sighed, regret clear in her voice. "We had a misunderstanding, and exchanged words that we both regretted. However, we were able to sort out our differences on the trip here."
"Very well." Atrox replied, stepping back as he did so. "Tell me what you know of this planet." He said, turning towards his viewport.
She frowned. "Almost nothing. I believe father said it was the Alliance's new base, but I don't know anything about it besides that."
'Very astute, I discovered that information from the prisoner in the brig, and from our new Ensign." Atrox replied bitterly. "What are you planning to do during my mission?" he asked, curious.
She shrugged. "You'll have to ask father that. It was his idea for me to come."
"As you wish." He turned towards her, "How is mother?"
"She is well." She paused. "I can see how happy she is to be with father again. You… didn't see her before she returned, but I could feel the pain she carried."
Atrox nodded. "I will see her before I check in with father for my next training session. I have a feeling that if you are attending this mission as well... you will want to come too."
She returned the nod. "Father mentioned something about training on the way here, though he didn't specify. I guess I'll see you then."
"Count on it." Atrox replied. "It's... good to see you again, sister."
"It's good to see you, as well, brother." Leia gave him a small smile, and left him to his meditations. She then headed for the crew's mess, to wait for Han Solo.
Mara followed Vader to an empty room of the ship, wondering what Vader wanted with her. She could feel a touch of nausea rise up, and promptly quelled it again.
Vader eyed her, then ignited his lightsaber.
She glared at him, her own saber lit as well. "Why are you incessantly drawn to placing my child in danger?" she accused.
"I know what I'm doing, Jade. Why would I place my own grandchild in danger?" he snapped as he approached.
"I can't pretend to be able to explain how your twisted mind works," she snarled, lunging forward suddenly. Vader parried it, and countered with a slash towards her face. She deflected the blow, barely, and pushed him away using the Force.
Vader scowled, pleased by her use of the Force, but angered by her sharp comment. He closed the distance between them, twisting his blade around hers to flick it out of her hands. She tensed, instinctively reaching into the Force to blast him with lightning. Vader caught the blast on his lightsaber, dispersing it, and smirked. "I see that Lord Atrox has been training you well, you have improved since our last… duel." He sneered, calling her lightsaber to his free hand.
She glared at him, ripping her lightsaber from his hand with the Force. She ignited it again, and snapped, "You mean your last assassination attempt."
"Your former master is no longer here to protect you, Jade. Watch your tongue." He aimed a slash at her, forcing her back onto the defensive. She blocked the sudden flurry of blows he rained down on her, quickly becoming more difficult for her to defend against. A sudden wave of nausea hit her, causing her to break concentration, and her saber was knocked out of her hand.
Atrox knelt back down in a meditative position just after his sister left his presence. Instantly, he became just as cold and cruel as he was before she had walked into the room, his dark presence being felt throughout the ship by those who could sense it. He continued to meditate for several more minutes before finally getting up and leaving his quarters, his dark cloak billowing behind him. Crew members attempted to remain as far away as possible when passing him in the corridor and dared not interrupt him from what he was doing. He finally arrived outside the temporary quarters where his mother was staying and used the Force to activate the door chime, glaring at passing crewmembers as he did so.
Padmé left her unpacking and went to answer the door, surprised to see her son standing there. "Luke," she greeted him with a smile. "Come in."
Atrox smiled in return, walking into their quarters. "It is good to see you again, mother," he said.
"What brings you here?" she asked, laying away what she had been doing and turning to survey him. She was a little taken aback by his features, ravaged as they were by the dark side of the Force. Nevertheless, she maintained a pleasant expression on her face as she beckoned him to sit down.
Atrox sat down next to Padmé, picking up on her thoughts, but not pursuing them. "How was the journey here?"
"Uneventful, fortunately," she said. "We made very good time getting here, thanks to your father's piloting skills."
Atrox chuckled. "I'm sure. However... I sensed… pain coming from father. Why?"
A shadow crossed her face. "He and Leia… exchanged harsh words. Leia has found it difficult to let go of the past, lately. However, they were able to forgive each other during the trip."
Atrox nodded. "We had our own exchange as well... it was resolved." He replied, vaguely.
Her eyes narrowed. "Resolved how?"
Atrox met her eyes, staring into them. "We… talked. We no longer see each other as Jedi and Sith… but brother and sister, father's blood, as well as yours." He answered quietly.
She smiled at him, relieved. "I'm glad. Our family has been divided for too long."
"Indeed. Kenobi did not help with that, and got what he deserved." He said bitterly.
She frowned. "Obi-wan did the best he could under impossible circumstances, and was a great help to me when I had nobody else to turn to."
"Then he stabbed you in the back, separated me and my sister from our mother, and had attempted to destroy my father beforehand." Atrox interrupted.
"He was trying to protect you both from Palpatine."
"He was trying to keep me from my father." Atrox interrupted again.
"Your father—" she broke off. "I'm not going to argue with you about this. You have no idea what any of us were going through then. I tried to do what I could to keep you safe. It… none of this was what I wanted for you."
Atrox was about to respond to his mother when he sensed Mara in danger from Vader. "Mara is in trouble." He said, then walked out, his lightsaber drawn and ignited, its red glow causing Padmé to take a step back, intimidated by his dangerous demeanor. After a moment, she told him, "Be careful."
"As you wish." He said coldly while walking out of the room and into the hallway heading for Vader's presence in the Force.
Mara glared at Vader, her back against the wall. She felt another wave of nausea rise up, and tried to fight it down while never taking her eyes away from the menacing figure coming towards her. She pushed at him with the Force, desperately, only able to knock him back a few steps. He was halted for an instant, then continued towards her.
She braced herself for another confrontation, when another wave of nausea hit her, and collapsed.
"Get up," Vader snapped, coldly. "I'm not done with you yet."
Suddenly, the doors to the room exploded open, revealing Darth Atrox. A split second passed before Atrox lunged towards Vader, attacking him furiously. "LEAVE HER ALONE!" He roared, infusing the Force with his raw fury.
Vader turned at the last moment, startled by the deadly attack. He deflected the blow, attempting to drive Atrox away, but was unable to gain an offensive because of the sheer power of Atrox's rage. Atrox sensed Mara's desperation and knocked Vader back, pinning him against the wall with the Force. After making sure Vader was secure with enough force, Atrox rushed over and knelt down next to Mara. "I'm here, love. What's wrong?"
Mara retched, doubled over and shaking. Vader's wrath cooled suddenly as he realized what had happened. Atrox released Vader, and he took a few steps towards them, only to be physically thrown across the room.
Leia sensed Atrox's turmoil through the bond they shared, and sought out her mother. "They need you," she told her, seriously. Padmé hurried away, anxiously, wondering what new disaster had befallen them.
When she arrived, Vader was pacing at the far end of the room. He started towards his wife, only to be repulsed again as he neared Atrox and Mara. Padmé knelt down by Mara, and asked, gently, "What happened?"
Atrox did not look up to meet Padmé's eyes, "Ask him." He said coldly, anger evident towards Vader.
Padmé turned to Vader, questioningly. Vader began to move towards them, but was thrown back again. "Just wait until later, apprentice. You'll regret your defiance." Vader seethed.
"What happened?" Padmé asked her husband.
Vader continued to glare at Atrox, his anger growing within him. "I was assessing her training." He answered shortly, coldly.
Padmé gently helped Mara into a sitting position. "You're feeling nauseous?" she asked quietly. Mara nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "Ani, how could you do that to a woman in her condition?" she scolded him.
Vader glared in return. "Her training is adequate, apprentice. She has learned to rely on her aggressive emotions, and does not hesitate. Continue training her in the ways of the Sith." After another moment he addressed Padmé. "It needed to be done, she wishes to go on our mission. She proved that she is not up for the challenge. She will tend to the prisoner while Lord Atrox, myself, the guards, and any other personnel, including Leia if she so chooses, tend to the Rebels below."
"What!?" Mara glared at Vader, and tried to rise. "I will not just sit here while the rest of you are planetside."
"Are you challenging me, Jade?" Vader demanded darkly. You fear me harming my own grandchild… yet you wish to put it in danger yourself by going to Myrkr. Vader's presence flooded her mind, using the Force to compel her to obey him.
She continued to glare at him, furiously. If you are so 'powerful' Lord Vader, surely you and your apprentice can provide adequate protection should it be required.
Lord Atrox's presence stormed into Mara's mind, knocking Vader's out as he did so. You will remain here, apprentice. You are not placing our child at risk. Atrox bellowed inside her mind.Give into your rage, Mara, let it flow through you. Release it upon the prisoner in the cell block. Continue to improve your training. When we return you will have more than an ample chance to make the Rebels pay for their betrayal.
Mara bowed her head submissively, quelling her resentment. Forgive me, master. I will do as you command.
Watching the exchange between the two, Vader was thoroughly impressed with Atrox's control over his apprentice. "Impressive, most impressive. You have managed to tame her."
Mara's head shot up, and she glared at Vader. Her fingertips crackled, and suddenly shot a blast of lightning towards Vader.
Vader's lightsaber almost instantly was ignited and raised, blocking the lightning, deflecting the energy somewhere else in the room. After several moments, Atrox touched his apprentice's mind once again. Save your rage, apprentice, this is not helping our assignment.
She turned her glare on him, anger in her eyes. Apparently I am more of a hindrance than a help regardless.
Atrox locked his eyes with her. You know that is not true apprentice. I do not want our child placed in any unnecessary danger… nor do I want you in unnecessary danger in your current condition.
What makes you think I will be safer here than by your side? She retorted bitterly. I don't have to leave the ship for our child to be placed in unnecessary danger. Your master has seen to that.
And I came, didn't I. Tell me… would you be able to protect yourself without the Force… on a planet where you would be hunted by creatures who prey on Force users? You would be put more at risk… currently you have two Force presences. Atrox warned.
My former master taught me how to survive. I am not defenseless, even without the Force. She snapped.
"No." Vader said suddenly, walking towards them. "We need to tell you something… something important." Vader said.
Padmé rose and walked over to Vader, putting her arm around him supportively. "For the past month, I have been experiencing visions…" he said. "Visions of the future." He looked at Mara. "You will be killed in childbirth by an unknown assassin, and the baby will be lost." He turned towards Atrox, looking him dead in the eye. "The loss will drive you to destroy everyone around you, including everyone you have feelings for, in an attempt to deaden the pain."His voice conveyed the seriousness of his words.
Atrox and Mara looked at each other, shock in their eyes. Neither could speak for a moment, then at last, Mara exclaimed, "You mean you've been having these visions for a month and you've only just now bothered to tell us?!?"
"When they began, you had only just learned of your pregnancy, and we didn't have the heart to tell you," Padmé broke in, gently. "After that… well, things have been busy."
"Who else knows?" Atrox asked, his eyes moving to Vader as a dark, powerful rage began burning inside of him.
"We have only told Leia." Vader said quietly, understanding his son's anger.
"Show me." Atrox demanded, anger in his voice with a deadly chill.
Vader hesitated, but opened his memory to his son, allowing him to see the events that transpired in the vision. When Atrox had finished, Vader withdrew from his mind again, unwilling to reveal the emotions invoked within him.
Atrox stormed away, violently using the Force to shove the doors out of his way, causing them to be ripped from the wall and thrown into the adjoining bulkhead, rupturing it, causing klaxons to go off throughout the entire ship. Any crew member which passed him in the hallway got shoved into bulkheads as well, knocking them unconscious. Once he reached his quarters, his eyes were burning red from his pure rage, and he assumed a meditative position, sinking into a deep meditative trance, the dark side flowing through him like blood.
Mara got up and followed Atrox from the room, her eyes taking in the destruction left in his wake. She came upon Leia a little ways down the hall from Atrox's quarters, more or less unharmed, but stunned by the violence of her brother's wrath.
Leia remained sitting down, leaning against the damaged bulkhead and looked up into Mara's emerald eyes, entwined with yellow. "He knows… doesn't he?" She managed to whisper between breaths.
"He knows." Mara responded shortly, confirming Leia's suspicion, then continued to walk down the hallway and entering Atrox's quarters when she reached it. Once inside, she stood observing her master from inside the door. Once it was closed, she used the Force to lock it. She walked over to him, silently, kneeling down by his side. She reached out to touch his mind, tentatively. Are you alright? she asked, knowing that he wasn't.
Atrox did not respond to Mara's call within his mind. In reality, he did not even know she was there. He deepened his meditations further, the dark side continuing course through him with an immense power which others could not hope to comprehend.
Traces of worry appeared in her eyes as she sensed him retreating deeper into the darkness churning around him like a hurricane. She carefully wrapped the spark of life inside herself in an impenetrable shield of the Force, guarding it from the overwhelming power of the dark side. Satisfied that their child would be safe, she forced her way through Atrox's meditation, joining herself alongside him. She immediately felt a surge of the same power he felt, flowing through her like quicksilver.
Darth Atrox felt Mara Jade's distinct presence enter his mind, his meditations. What are you doing here, Mara? He asked, gently, the pain evident in his voice.
I want to help you, if you'll let me, she told him, his pain tearing at her heart. I won't let you bear this burden alone.
How can you help me if you or our child dies, Mara? I swear we will make the Rebels pay for this. We will personally make them suffer He paused. You have not seen what I become when you die… We must double your training immediately… in order to insure your survival. Atrox raged, finally figuring out what his father was hiding from him all this time, which only increased his pure rage.
She hesitated. Show me what you saw. She asked him. Maybe I can help.
Atrox opened his memory, allowing Mara to access the visions his father showed him, reliving them as she witnessed them.
Once she finished, she was silent, at a loss for words, horrified by the destruction wrought upon Atrox. Gradually, as she recovered, she began replaying the vision of her death, analyzing it as she had been taught. She paused over the assassin, straining for whatever the vision had to offer. I sense… incredible hatred towards you. Strange… I did not detect it before she attacked, did you?
Atrox thought over the question, letting the dark side of the Force guide his thoughts, eventually clearing any doubt he had over the matter. I did not.
Strange.She probed the question, seeking an answer. If someone was to use a stealth generator, could they still be sensed with the Force? she asked him.
Yes. Came his reply. What are you getting at?
Emotion that strong can't just be shut off. She said, still running scenarios in her head. Could the assassin be able to use the Force?
Most likely. He answered. But they are trained extremely well in the arts of hiding themselves... just like you are. He mused to himself, allowing Mara to hear his thoughts.
Mara frowned. But who are they, and why do they show up now, and why are they targeting you? I've seldom felt such hatred.
Hatred is of the dark side of the Force, my apprentice. You know this already, the answer is self evident. Atrox stated. Could there be someone else... trained by the late Emperor?
She shook her head.The Emperor made a point of eliminating any threats to his power. He had an apprentice, and a Hand. His only other interest was you, as far as I'm aware.