Chapter 68:
Mara grappled with the locking mechanism of the storage hold. She wiped away a bead of sweat with her sleeve, and glared at it, darkly. Closing her eyes, she attempted to get inside the door with the Force, to see what was hindering her progress. The surreal, out-of-body sensation overloaded her senses, and she retched violently, sinking to the floor.
Padmé entered a few minutes later to check on her, and immediately went to her side. Mara struggled to rise, and murmured, "I… I'm fine…"
Padmé gently pushed her back down. "No, Mara, you're not. You're going to hurt yourself, and the babies, if you keep this up. You have to rest. Stay here and I'll get someone to help you to your room."
"No. I… I can take care of myself. I have to finish this." She sat up, and retched again, one hand going to her stomach in an attempt to still it.
"Mara." The word cut into her clouded thoughts, and she stared at the older woman. "What would Luke say?"
She lowered her gaze. "He wouldn't want the babies to be hurt." She sighed, and grimaced. "Very well."
"Do you think you can stand?" Padmé asked softly.
She winced. "Long enough to get where we're going. Let's… let's go."
She got to her feet, shakily, and was forced to lean on Padmé for support as they made their way back to the sleeping quarters. Once she had helped Mara into bed, Padmé left to get her something to eat, and give orders that she was not to be disturbed under any circumstances.
When she returned, Mara looked wan, but better, and a bit exasperated. "Is all this really necessary?" she grumbled.
"Yes." Padmé said sternly. "Luke would never forgive me if something happened to you and there was something I could do to prevent it. Now drink this, and try to rest. I'll be right outside if you need anything."
She left Mara, who stared into the cup of tea with distaste. After several moments, Mara finally grumbled to herself, realizing she was finally beaten… for now, and took the cup and began to sip its contents until the cup was empty. With a sigh, she sank back onto the bed and closed her eyes, passing at once into a dreamless sleep.
A few minutes later Padmé slipped into the room to check on her, and smiled. She picked up the cup from where it had fallen, and left Mara to sleep and regain her strength.
The first thing Dan was aware of was the toe of a boot digging into his side. He rolled over, and rubbed his eyes to clear them.
Atrox looked down at Dan's waking form, nudging him with his boot again. "Get up, it's time to move out," he said, then walked over to the other troops and began to forcefully use his boot to wake them up. "Get up," he said coldly. "We're moving out."
"It's not even dawn yet," Dan grumbled as he blearily began rolling up his pallet. Most of the men worked in silence, knowing better than to complain about Lord Atrox's orders.
Vader glared down at the boy, coldly. "This is not the Rebellion. We do not wait for dawn."
Dan glared back at him. "Neither does the Alliance," he ground out under his breath.
When they finished packing up the camp, it was as if no one had ever been there. Reluctantly, Dan led them down the path towards the base, glad it would take them most of the day to reach it.
A few hours later, Mara woke, feeling much better than before. She glanced around the room, then silently slipped out of bed and dressed, before she cautiously slid the door open. She gave the hall a piercing stare, stretching out with her senses for any sign of a guard posted. Finding none, she made her way back to the makeshift cell, only to find Padmé waiting for her, and scowled.
Padmé locked her eyes on Mara's approaching form. "Good morning, Mara. Did you manage to get any rest?" she said softly.
"Yes, thank you," Mara replied stiffly, mentally seeking a way to get out of the situation.
"Did you even think of having a proper breakfast before coming here Mara?" Padmé asked sternly, a note of concern in her voice.
"I was going to have it after I finished working on this door," Mara responded, irritably.
"Mara Jade, you are not carrying only your own life now!" Padmé snapped back, determined to make her see reason. "You are carrying twins. You have two others inside you that your body is trying to care for. Do you want to put your babies at risk?" she continued sternly, her expression leaving little room for argument. "Right now your children are developing, and it's a crucial time for them. Do you want them to suffer from birth defects because you cared more about working on a door than taking proper care of yourself?"
Mara lowered her eyes. "No, I don't want that," she admitted quietly. "I'm just… not used to any of this, and I don't like being incapable of my job."
Padmé stepped forward and wrapped Mara in a tight embrace. "I remember those days vividly. You and I are a lot alike when it comes to our jobs, Mara. You have to keep reminding yourself that not only are you caring for yourself now, but the twins as well."
Mara gingerly returned Padmé's hug. "You seem to be doing a good job of that yourself," she responded dryly.
Padmé chuckled and gently backed out of the embrace. "Come on, let's get you some breakfast, Mara."
On their way to the officer's mess they encountered Admiral Piett, who was just coming off his shift. "Miladies," he nodded, giving them a slight bow.
Padmé smiled at the Admiral. "Would you care to join us for some breakfast, Admiral?"
"Certainly, milady," Piett smiled in return.
"What is the ship's status, Admiral?" Mara asked brusquely.
"The Tardon is running at close to maximum capacity, milady. There's a small amount of hull damage that will have to be repaired when we return to Imperial Center, but nothing serious."
"Good." She fell silent, reflecting on her own thoughts.
As they arrived in the dining area, Padmé glanced over her shoulder towards Admiral Piett. "How long have you been serving under An… Lord Vader?" she asked, curious.
"I've been serving under Lord Vader's personal command for the past three years, milady. I was assigned to the Executor after the Battle of Yavin." Piett replied.
"Three years is a long time." Padmé replied as she gathered things to make their meal with. "You must have gotten to know him fairly well over that time."
A cautious look appeared in Piett's eyes for an instant before vanishing. "I suppose I knew him as well as any, milady."
"Survived under him longer than most, at any rate," Mara muttered under her breath.
Padmé turned from the multiprocessor and looked towards Piett. "I would say you know him a bit better than most actually, given that you served under him for so long and he trusts you enough to place us under your care."
"Perhaps," Piett conceded, with a slight smile.
As the smells of the cooking food wafted toward them, Mara paled, and rushed from the room. Concerned, Padmé followed her, only to find the refresher door securely locked. A few minutes later, Mara emerged, still looking a little green. "Er, nothing against your cooking, milady, but I… I think I'll just have some tea."
Padmé still looked concerned, knowing that she was hiding something. "It's the twins, isn't it?"
Mara nodded, her expression bordering on grim. "I… I don't know why the smell affected me so."
"It's a normal stage of pregnancy, Mara, and it will pass soon. I'll get some tea, and turn off the processor. You go in and sit down," she ordered gently, but firmly.
Mara grudgingly followed her back in to the officer's mess and resumed her seat at the table. A few minutes later Padmé brought them each a cup of tea, which Mara sipped gratefully.
Finally, Piett spoke, having sufficiently collected his thoughts. "Lord Vader is a leader of men, his… methods of inspiring loyalty are very efficient, and his tactics are above reproach."
"I'll bet they are," Mara muttered into her tea.
Padmé thought about this, and the brief time she had come to know her son, as well as the person whom her husband had become. "They are so much alike, father and son. Perhaps that is why they are always bumping heads... they're too stubborn to realize how similar they truly are."
"Perhaps," Piett agreed, thoughtfully. "Lord Atrox shows every sign of following in his father's footsteps, though I've only served under him a short time."
"It's more than that. He wants to make his father proud of him." Mara spoke up, understanding her master better than anyone else present. "It's all he's ever wanted."
Darth Atrox walked alongside his master as the rest of the troops marched on, secluded in the Myrkr forest. "Master how do we know he is not leading us into a trap?" Atrox muttered accusingly.
Vader's voice was cold. "If he is, he and his family will suffer. A mere boy will not stand in our way."
A dozen paces ahead, Dan came to an abrupt stop. He turned, his sharp eyes picking out Vader and Atrox from the shadows. "The base is just up ahead," he said tightly.
Vader's gaze pierced into the young man's eyes. "Come here."
Increasingly uneasy, Dan made his way back towards them, stopping a foot or two away.
Vader's gaze shifted to his apprentice for a moment. "You know what to do, Lord Atrox."
"Yes, master." Atrox replied softly, unclipping his saber staff and handing it to his master. "I do not want this falling into Rebel hands." He glanced over towards Leia, and back to Vader. "Before I go, Father, can I talk to you and Leia... in private?"
"Of course," Vader replied, sensing this was a personal matter. He led his children a short distance away, out of earshot of Dan and the troops. "What is it, son?"
Atrox looked at both his father and his sister as he prepared to reveal what he and Mara recently found out. "Mara is carrying twins." Atrox said softly, a tone that was completely different from the tone he had spoken in earlier.
Leia's eyes widened with surprise as she stared at her brother. "Why… that's wonderful! Congratulations," she murmured.
Vader's eyes pierced straight into Atrox's, searchingly, stunned. Finally, he said, "How long have you known?"
"A while. We sensed it around the time her morning sickness began. Mara tells me that when I blocked her out, that there was a noticeable change in their presence... as if they missed me." He said softly, a slight smile forming on his face at the memory.
Leia smiled wistfully in response, and embraced her brother lovingly. Vader stared at his son, a strange ache in his heart as he suddenly recalled the day Padmé had first told him she was pregnant. "Congratulations, son," he said. "I… I'm happy for you."
"I wanted you both to know before I set out... If Mara were here, we would have had to sedate her just to get this plan to work." Atrox muttered softly, as he backed away from Leia's embrace. He nodded and then slowly turned around to set out on his task.
As he stepped out into the path, Leia joined him, silently moving to walk by his side.
As Atrox walked out to be visibly noticed by the suspected Rebel patrols, he heard Leia walking next to him. He glanced towards her. "What are you doing?" he asked softly,
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, continuing to walk alongside him steadily. "I made Mara a promise, and it's even more important I keep it now. Your children need you, and if my presence will persuade them not to shoot first and ask questions later, then that is what you will have."
"Thank you, Leia." Atrox said softly, as he began to hear footsteps in the distance approach them, and drew his blaster.
Leia tensed with apprehension, her eyes darting through the shadows, intently. When they were little more than a hundred paces from where Vader and his men waited, they were suddenly surrounded by armed men, each with a blaster rifle aimed in their direction. "Drop the blaster," one commanded, sternly, with a signal to others of his men.
Atrox glared back at the troopers, a savage expression of pure hate on his face that slowly turned into a dark smirk as he dropped his blaster.
The patrol captain waved several of his men forward to pick up the blaster and take Atrox and Leia into custody. "Check them," he ordered, shortly. As one man bent to pick up the blaster, he fell with a shot to the throat, fired from the dense foliage of the jungle. Immediately several men fired, stunning Atrox and Leia, knocking them to the ground. "Take cover!" the captain barked. "Get them back to the base!" Two others fell to sniper attacks as they began to retreat, using the cover of the forest as much as possible.
Several men fired back in the direction of the shots as they backed away, and were rewarded with the occasional cry of pain that followed.
The reinforcements arrived quickly, and ushered them into the base. The perimeter was secured, and Atrox and Leia were searched for weapons and then placed in separate cells.
Atrox awoke to a dull ache in his head. He was in a sealed room, and General Airen Cracken stood across from his cot with an armed guard. He began without preamble, his voice dispassionate. "I understand you choose to call yourself Darth Atrox now. Is that correct?"
Atrox slowly sat up and locked is cold ice blue eyes on to the general's as he glared at the General so dark that it would have made his own apprentice shiver. His thoughts slowly shifted to how his… interrogation, if it could even be called that, given the Rebel's views, would proceed which amused him to say the least. "Luke Skywalker is dead." Atrox hissed in a deadly, cold whisper.
"So it seems," Cracken commented. He glanced down at the datapad he held in on hand. "They tell me you prefer a direct approach, so I'll be blunt. What was your plan in coming here?"
Atrox chuckled darkly. "If by direct, you mean that I crush your skull with sheer thought alone, then by all means I would be more than happy to force you to watch Pash and Dena go through one of my own interrogations, you and poor Josta absolutely helpless to prevent your children any more suffering. Then I will destroy your wife while you are forced to watch. Finally, I would be sure to give you a slow, painful death."
Cracken's knuckles turned white as his fist clenched. He took a step forward, staring into Atrox's eyes with a cold fire. "By all rights you should be dead," he ground out. "Why they're bothering to go through with this I don't know, but after all you've done, you don't even deserve a trial. And here you sit, hurling threats against us, when the Alliance has shown you nothing but mercy! I don't know how Leia endures it, brother or not," he added under his breath.
Atrox immediately stood and grabbed the general's tunic, bringing his face mere centimeters from the general's. "What mercy does the Alliance show when they expect a son to destroy his father!" Atrox hissed before taking a step back and kicking the man as hard as he possibly could in the groin.
Both guards immediately fired, sending their stun rays directly towards Atrox as Cracken crumpled to the ground in agony. One of them hit the emergency response switch while the other kept his weapon trained on the fallen Sith.
Medical personnel as well as additional soldiers rushed in a few minutes later, to move the general to the med center and Atrox to a cell in solitary confinement.
Leia looked up as Carlist Rieekan entered her cell, a bemused look on his face. "Hello, Carlist," she greeted gravely, both of them knowing why he had come.
"Leia," he nodded, wearily. He took a seat across from her, and after a moment of awkward silence, said, "What are you doing here, Leia?"
She was silent, eyes downcast. Finally, she said, "I'm here with my family."
"Why?" She didn't respond. "Why is your… family here, Leia?"
"I can't tell you, Carlist!" she burst out, anguish in her eyes. "I'm… I'm sorry. But… I can't."
Rieekan started to reply, when there was a tap on the cell door. He opened it, and held a whispered conversation with the aide. When he finally turned back to her, his expression had changed, almost forcedly neutral. "Tell me about your… family, Leia."
"What about them?" Leia's tone was cautious, almost guarded.
"Your brother. What caused a hero of the Alliance to so violently hate us almost overnight?" The general leaned forward, a hard edge in his eyes.
"That is a question you should ask him." Leia said firmly. "It's not something I can answer."
The interrogation continued, with each question deflected with a refusal to answer. Finally, Rieekan got to his feet. "With all due respect Leia, I think you're making a mistake. Airen is unconscious in the med center right now because your brother attacked him. And you're protecting this 'Sith Lord', I'm not sure why. But I advise you to consider very carefully where your loyalties lie. Sometimes… sometimes families cannot be reconciled. Just ask Crix Madine."
He left the room without another word, leaving Leia alone with the conflict in her heart.
Dan sat on the edge of the camp, trying to stay out of sight as much as possible. He'd learned quickly to stay out of Vader's way when he was angry. And at the moment, angry was an understatement. Apparently Leia's departure had been unplanned, and Vader wasn't pleased. He took his frustration out on the troops, whom he berated for not having killed enough of the rebels, and Dan would rather not be another target for the Sith Lord's rage.
As if he had heard Dan's thoughts, Vader turned suddenly, and stalked towards him. "I have an assignment for you, boy."
Dan winced, and nodded, glumly. I have a bad feeling about this…
Carlist Rieekan stared at the young man behind the energy field across from him, trying to read his expression. He had been assured there was no danger at all, and so had waived the guard detail that had been assigned for the questioning.
"Why do you hate the Alliance?" he began abruptly. "What happened to you that changed you from our hero to our enemy?"
Atrox locked his cold eyes on to Rieekan, staring at him, wishing he had control of the Force so he could put this Rebel in his place. "Why do you want to know?" He hissed, coldly. He paused a moment before continuing, "I trust Cracken has learned his place," he said coldly, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Rieekan raised an eyebrow at the Sith. "Airen Cracken has recommended you for evaluation at a top security mental health center. It will take more than an underhanded blow such as you used to break him."
Atrox chuckled darkly, amused by this interrogation. "Your feeble attempts to break me will fail. The will of a Sith Lord is not easily manipulated. You're right about Cracken… I'm sure forcing him to watch the deaths of his children and wife as I slowly and painfully kill them, would be far more effective. I'll be sure to give you the same pleasure as his, however." Atrox hissed, gritting his teeth. After another moment, his expression hardened. "Now, as to why I am your enemy, why the kriff do you want to know, e chu ta? Is it because you are looking for a way to redeem me? If so, then you are wasting your time because I do not want to be redeemed. Or is it because you are longing for understanding, if that is the case, let me out of here… and I will make it painfully clear to you." Atrox snarled, his eyes never leaving Rieekan's.
"Sudden and erratic behavior leads to questions," countered Rieekan. "You and other heroes of the Alliance disappeared without a trace, and you reappear on the enemy's side. What reasonable being wouldn't want to know?"
Atrox smirked. "I am not going to tell you." He said coldly. "However, if you accompany me off of this planet, I would be more than willing to show you what happened." Atrox whispered, just barely audible, so as to not be detected on the security feed. He paused for a moment, his features hard and unforgiving. "I hope one of the heroes you are referring to is not Admiral Solo."
"Solo, the Wookiee Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker were all heroes to the Alliance, whether or not they wish to be thought of as such." Rieekan said flatly.
Atrox laughed, darkly. "I tortured the walking carpet for hours before I finally killed him because he refused to join us. Admiral Solo no longer cares about your Rebellion, and my sister will not betray her family, if she does, I'll kill her myself… after I make sure she has suffered for her crime." Atrox said darkly. "As for your precious Luke Skywalker, that weak fool embraced his destiny… joining his father who began his training and became me. Skywalker is a part of me, as I am now a part of him… and always will be. The man you knew has been obliterated."
"Then we shall mourn our dead, and ensure that such things can never happen again!" Rieekan snapped. "This is why we fight, to stop monsters like you from breaking and destroying innocent lives. We do not torture or kill beings in order to compel loyalty. You have become everything you once despised, and I pity you for your blindness."
Atrox's face showed the dark rage that was coursing through him. "It is a good thing that your family died, because if they didn't, I would personally make sure they suffered," he ground out. "It is unfortunate that I am in this damned cage, because if I wasn't, I would kill you with my bare hands. You can shove your pity up your ass!" Atrox roared as he attempted to stretch his hands through the energy barrier of the cell, not even screaming from the pain that was coursing through his body. He continued to lock his eyes with Rieekan's, determined to force his way through the energy field.
Rieekan stared at the furious young Sith, his eyes like chips of ice. "You're lucky I'm a merciful man. If it was your family that I had spat upon, you wouldn't hesitate to kill me." He turned away, but paused in the doorway. "One thing you are correct about. The good man Luke Skywalker is dead. All that remains is a twisted fiend possessing his body. Sooner or later someone will exorcise the spirit, and then we can mourn Luke's memory in peace." He left the room, and gave orders for the guard around Atrox's cell to be doubled, on the off chance that the force cage shorted out and he managed to escape.
He headed to Leia's cell, knowing that what he was about to do would be frowned upon, but certain that if anyone could snap Atrox out of it, it would be her.
Leia listened quietly as he told her of their confrontation, and stood. "I'll try to reason with him. I don't know if it will do any good, but we must do something."
On their way, they were stopped by Wedge Antilles, who drew Rieekan aside and said in a low voice, "Sir, we found Dan Kyo just outside the west entrance. We've got him in one of the empty conference rooms for debriefing. If you have a minute, High Command wants you to debrief him."
Rieekan suppressed a sigh. "I'll be there as soon as I'm done here."
They entered the maximum security block, and reached Atrox's cell. The Sith was much as Rieekan had left him, struggling to break through the energy field. Leia looked at him, then at Rieekan, and quietly asked, "Can I speak with him alone for a little while? Please? He won't talk while you're here."
He looked uneasy. "I'm not allowed to leave you unattended."
"Then lock me in with him," she pleaded. "He's a danger to himself when he's like this."
He sighed. "Very well. I hope you know what you're doing." He left the room, and the durasteel door clanged shut behind him.
Leia approached her brother, cautiously, suddenly unsure how to begin.
Atrox's eyes never left Rieekan until he left the room, then they slowly moved to Leia as he continued to try to break free of the force cage. "They are still listening, even though they are not here." Atrox ground out, his voice strained.
"Please, stop this. You're only hurting yourself." She moved up to the edge of the force field, as close as she dared. "What would Mara say?" she asked softly, mindful of the security cameras.
"She would break their limbs one by one until they let me out of this damned cage." He ground out as he tried even harder to reach for Leia's hand, his eyes never leaving hers. "Then she would try to beat sense into me."
"You're—" She gasped and jerked back as the energy field finally shorted out, overloaded from the interference. She caught her brother as he fell forward, and pulled him to the ground. "Look what you've done to your hands," she scolded gently, examining the burns.
Atrox looked up at her, allowing her to assess his wounds. "A small price for freedom, and it's well worth it." He whispered back to her, a slight smirk on his face.
"Would Mara agree?" Leia countered, looking up from his hands. "They're going to need bacta patches, at least. Maybe bacta immersion. I can't tell yet." She was reluctant to touch them, knowing it would hurt.
"Not as bad as losing a limb." Atrox replied. "And I'm not about to let these fools anywhere near me." He said coldly, his rage still evident in his voice and in his eyes. "They seem to think that they can break the will of a Sith Lord. The next person who walks in here and calls me Luke Skywalker will experience a painfully slow death."
Leia frowned, but ignored the comment. "Maybe they'll be willing to give me some bacta patches for you. These burns can't go untreated."
Atrox snorted. "Don't bother. They will just throw me back in there." He said with a deadly calmness, one which he finally understood was what his master had meant by controlling his emotions. "Besides, they will most likely drag you out of here in a few moments. What have you told them?" he demanded, his eyes boring into her own.
"Nothing," she answered quietly, meeting his gaze for a moment before looking away. "I won't betray your secrets, or your plans."
Atrox reached up and took Leia's hand, hissing from the pain that flared through him, but did not let go. "It means a lot to me, sister," he said softly, trying to ignore the pain that was coursing through his hand.
She gently released his hand, knowing it pained him, and put an arm around him, drawing him into an embrace. She looked him in the eye, seriously. "I can try to have you released from the force cage, but you have to promise me you won't attack anyone else while… while you're in their power. Please," she pleaded. "I know you… hate them, and what they say, but if you value your freedom, please, don't provoke them."
Atrox glared at her, his cold eyes meeting hers. "I will attack them if they do or say anything that deserves it in my opinion." He stated coldly.
Her eyes filled with sadness mixed with frustration. "Then I cannot help you. My influence is not what it once was. I'll get some bacta for your hands, if they permit it."
Atrox snorted again at her."Forget it. I don't want any medical help. I am capable of healing myself." he said coldly, bitterly.
It was Leia's turn to snort. "Not in this state you're not. You don't even have the use of your hands. Mara will kill me if I let you come back like this, and just wait till she hears how you got that way."
Atrox glared up at her, anger flashing through his eyes. "Just what makes you think I'll let you?" he demanded coldly, anger evident in his voice.
Leia's eyes were just as hard. "Because I'm your sister, and I made a promise that you would come home safely, and it's a promise I intend to keep."
"You're not doing anything for situation. You are only healing the damage from this time. There is nothing you can do about the problem." Atrox stated harshly, glaring at her.
"What do you expect me to do? I'm more of a prisoner here than you."
A moment later, the door slid open and several armed men entered the room, backed by Wedge Antilles. He stared at the Sith Lord briefly. "The Alliance has no further questioning for you at this time. For now you will be allowed to remain here. However, Leia, I'm here to escort you back to your cell."
"He needs medical attention," Leia responded, determinedly. "Look at his hands."
Wedge glanced at the burns on Atrox's hands. "I'll report to security and see about having a medical team up here."
Atrox instantly sprang to his feet, nudging his sister out of the way as he did so. His eyes locked with Wedge's, rage burning through them. When he spoke, his voice was as cold as ice. "You can shove your medical team up your ass, e chu ta." He held Wedge's gaze and continued, "And if you do send a medical team, it will be them who will need medical attention."
"You will do nothing of the kind," Leia snapped, jabbing a finger at her brother. "Just because you're too stubborn to accept help from these people when you need it. You've chosen to blind yourself to anyone who isn't on your side, and if they won't join you they should die. Now you can accept their help, and let them heal you, or you can keep your maimed hands for all the good it will do you and your vaunted cause!" She turned and stormed away, angry fire burning in her eyes.
Atrox glared daggers towards his sister. "I prefer to keep my maimed hands. I don't give a damn what you think about it, Leia." He roared after his sister, punching the durasteel wall, ignoring the pain he felt flaring through his arm.
Leia spun on her heel, a furious expression on her face. "You're as stubborn as your father. It's either this, or your apprentice, and quite frankly, for both our sakes, I prefer this." She seized a blaster from one of the guards, and shot her brother. He crumpled to the ground, stunned, and Wedge and the others stared at her, shocked, as she handed the weapon back to its owner. "Take him to the medbay and have him sedated. Get those burns taken care of, and put him in a cell where he can't hurt himself like that again." She turned away, allowing herself to be led back to her cell. Wedge, still dumbfounded, gave instructions that her orders be carried out, and took Leia back, wondering how he was going to explain all this to High Command.