Chapter 75:

Mara curled herself up in the corner of the room she had chosen, shutting the rest of the galaxy out. Doubts and fears filled her mind, Invisus's words still haunting her despite Anakin's attempts to soothe them. She was afraid to reach out to touch her children, feeling tainted by the darkness she had embraced before Anakin was able to give her peace.

Atrox walked up to Mara and knelt before her. "You have every right to touch their presence, Mara. It is I who is unworthy," he said softly, pushing a strand of fiery red hair out of her face.

Mara slowly raised her tortured eyes to meet his, a tear trickling down her cheek. "What if the damage has already been done?" she asked bitterly. "If their father is not worthy, then I certainly am not."

"You are no longer touched by the darkness as I am, Mara. Do not hide from your children, they love you. However, they fear me because of what I am." Atrox replied as he lifted a hand and wiped away the tear trailing down her cheek.

"You're wrong. The dark side has marked me, I will never be free of it. I can feel it, even now, muttering on the edge of hearing," she whispered, averting her eyes. "Your children love you, even if they cannot reach you through the darkness that you embrace. If… if only…" she trailed off, subsiding into silence.

"If only I let go of it?" Atrox finished for her softly, moving to embrace her. "Believe me, Mara, I have been trying, more than you know. I want nothing more than to be able to sense my children, and them me, for us to be a strong family once again." Luke managed to slip out quietly, his eyes turning blue once again.

She melted into his arms, tears flowing freely as he held her close. "I… I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly.

"Reach out to our children, Mara, do not let them feel alone." Atrox replied softly as he held her against his chest.

Hesitantly, she opened herself again, tenderly touching the fragile life inside her. Immediately their presences seemed to brighten, as if responding to her familiar touch. Newfound wonder filled her at the tiny miracles she carried, bright and filled with life, eclipsing the doubts she felt. She raised her eyes to meet Atrox's, a new wave of bitterness threatening to take her as she realized he was cutting himself off from them, unable to share in the precious gifts they had been given.

Tears formed in Atrox's eyes as he locked his gaze into Mara's. He pulled her once more into a tight embrace, kissing her forehead. "I am not meant to touch the life inside you with my tainted presence, my love." He whispered against her, before pulling back, tears freely flowing from his eyes.

Angry tears filled her eyes as she shook her head at the injustice of it. "They're your children, you deserve to be able to reach out to them. And they… they miss you, I can feel it." Her eyes lowered to her womb, and she whispered, "Will we never be a family? Will we never be one again?"

"We will be, Mara. I promise you." Luke said determinedly, pushing her head up to meet his eyes. "How do you know they would… accept me? I don't want to taint them. You know what happened last time."

"Let me help you," she urged. "If you are… concerned, at least feel them through me, let me take the… taint from you." She looked into his eyes, softly. "Our children need a father."

"Very well, it will be nice to feel their presence once again." Atrox said softly, opening himself to Mara and his twins.

Mara reached out to him, entwining his consciousness with hers. Gently, she guided him to their children, filtering out as much of his darkness as she could.

Cautiously, he reached out to touch each of them in turn, sensing their Force signatures, and how much they had grown since he had last reached out to them. Even as he did so, he felt a shift in their presences as they responded to his touch, as if recognizing him. Atrox smiled for the first time in a while. I'm here, my children, he whispered softly to the babies.

Mara smiled as well, touched by the love for his children she sensed in Atrox. One hand dipped down to touch her growing belly, feeling for a moment that they truly were a family. There was another shift as they responded to their mother's touch. I'm going to be a mother. Though she had always been aware of the fact, she had never truly paused to consider the full impact of its meaning. She wrapped the tiny beings in her love, as well as their father's, and had a fleeting sensation of utter contentment which she could have sworn was from one of the twins.

Atrox locked eyes with Mara at that, sensing the same thing. "Did you sense what I just thought I sensed from one of the twins?" he asked, shocked.

She nodded, too surprised to speak. Her emerald eyes shone with a happiness she had seldom known. "Do you need further proof that they love you?" she asked softly.

"No," Atrox whispered, basking in his children's love for him. Slowly, he reached out to touch Anakin's mind, inviting him into this… family gathering.

Anakin was surprised by the invitation, but hesitant to intrude on their special moment. He nevertheless reached out to his son, and was amazed by how weakened the dark side's hold on Atrox had become. He could sense Luke slipping through, whether or not Atrox was aware of it, as he bonded with his children.

Father, Luke sent to Anakin as he sensed his presence, opening his mind to him.

My son, Anakin replied, allowing Luke to feel how proud he was of him.

How is his suffering? Atrox growled as he regained control of Luke, burying him in layers of mental shielding, rapidly constructing safeguards for himself in the event his former self managed to escape again.

Anakin frowned. He is under sedation while the possibility of being fitted for artificial limbs is taken under consideration.

If artificial limbs are to be implanted, I do not want him… sedated. Atrox growled in return, a dark smirk forming on his face.

I will not have such brutality forced upon anyone so long as I breathe. Anakin snapped, remembering all too well the horrendous experience Palpatine had forced him through.

Mara shivered at Atrox's sudden transition from tenderness to cruelty, cautiously rebuilding her own shields to protect her children from the dark side.

Then I will make sure you are unable to… breathe during the procedure, Skywalker. Atrox roared into his father's mind, focusing dark energy into his pain center as he did so. He slowly rose to his full height, locking his now burning eyes onto Mara and swiftly left the room.

Durasteel walls went up in Anakin's mind, shutting Atrox out of it and cutting off the pain. He immediately gave orders for the medical wing to be sealed off, and braced himself to defend it against the coming onslaught.

Atrox reached one of the sealed blast doors which lead to the medical wing and began to use the Force to tear through them. Pressure began building, and eventually after several minutes he tore through it, forcing an opening for him to storm through.

Anakin stood calmly in the doorway to Invisus's room, arms folded across his chest. "Look at what you are doing, son. You're becoming another Palpatine, is that what you want? To raise up another Vader by your side?"

"You don't know what he said to her… to my children." Atrox growled, stopping in his tracks, locking eyes with Anakin.

"I do." Anakin said quietly. "I was there."

"He deserves it for what he has done to her, for the pain he has caused her." Atrox growled as a bacta tank and several droids were crushed from his fury.

"Haven't you already punished him for that?" he asked his son gently. "Perhaps in showing mercy, you can inspire obedience."

"And if it doesn't?" Atrox demanded.

"You will never know unless you try," Anakin countered. "You know as well as I what it is like to be an apprentice, and an insubordinate one at that. What made you want to be obedient?"

"Knowing that my master was proud of me… that he loved me as my father." Atrox replied softly.

Anakin nodded. "Does your apprentice have such incentive?"

"Wake him." Atrox commanded, storming past Anakin and walking up to his apprentice.

The medical droids took Invisus off the sedatives, warning that it would take time before the current dose would leave his system. Anakin looked on with concern, hoping his words had had some impact on his son.

A couple of hours later, Leia walked into the room, looking disgruntled. "Where have the two of you been?" she demanded. "Mother and I have…" She broke off as she noticed Invisus. "What happened?" she asked gravely, fearing she already knew.

Atrox did not turn to look at his sister, still fuming over what to do about his apprentice. "My apprentice attempted to attack Mara, and insulted my unborn children." He stated coldly.

Leia was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Anakin's eyes narrowed suddenly. "He's coming around."

Invisus's first sensation was that of pain. His head ached, his body ached, and he couldn't move. Groggily, he opened his eyes and found himself staring straight into Atrox's lethal gaze.

"I have decided on a course of action which I believe you might find to your liking, my apprentice." Atrox said gently and softly, his voice soothing.

Disconcerted, Invisus struggled to clear his head and focus on what his master was saying. He was still too groggy from the sedatives to respond, or be fully aware of his surroundings.

"Do not be alarmed, my apprentice, I will not harm you." Atrox said again calmly both aloud and in Invisus' mind as well. "You are going to be healed; I now see that I took the wrong approach to your training and hope you can… forgive me." Atrox continued, both in his mind and aloud.

Still confused, and unsure what to make of Atrox's apology, such as it was, Invisus could only manage a small nod. He tried to push himself up into a sitting position, but was still unable to move. Uneasily, he tried to twist his head to get a better look at himself, but couldn't quite manage from his position. All he remembered was pain, intense, blinding pain, and falling.

Anakin and Leia looked on, stunned, as Atrox knelt down by his apprentice's side and began to channel the Force through Invisus at astronomical levels, as he had done in the past to restore his father to full health. When he finally finished, he stepped back, exhausted by the effort, but leaving Invisus whole and unscarred.

The young Sith apprentice sat up, slowly, turning his hands over and examining them in shock. Finally he looked up at Atrox and murmured, "M-master, I…"

Atrox collapsed, crumpling to the floor with exhaustion. Invisus, himself still weak from his ordeal, tried to reach out with the Force to catch him, but it was not enough. Leia rushed to his side, and Anakin summoned one of the medical droids to attend to him.

Moments later, Mara stood in the doorway. Eyes wide with shock, she ran to him, taking him from Leia and cradling him in her arms tightly, fear and concern in her eyes.

"Tell… tell my apprentice… that, I realize… I took the… wrong approach towards his training. I… I should have treated him… like a son, rather… rather than a… slave." Atrox whispered weakly to Mara and Anakin before he finally passed out from exhaustion.

Anakin slowly communicated Atrox's words to Invisus, who stared down at the unconscious man with a bemused expression on his face.

A tear trickled down Mara's cheek as she held him tighter, awed by his words and filled with a newfound hope.

Invisus's thoughts were in a tumult as he tried to process everything that had happened in the past day. He had been tortured so many times, repeatedly, with words and actions that the only way he had been able to cope was to do something, anything, to hurt Atrox in return.

He could feel the hatred still pulling on his mind, reminding him of everything Atrox had done to him, his family, the Alliance. And yet, in light of what had just happened, he grudgingly allowed himself to give Atrox another chance. Not meeting Mara's eyes, he muttered, "I… I should not have said the things I did to you."

Mara nodded, shortly. "And I should not have raised my blade against you." She paused, looking down at Atrox's still features. She stood, using the Force to help her lift Atrox. "We need another bed," she commented to Anakin. "And we need to keep him there till he recovers. Force burnout can be deadly."

Anakin shook his head. Easier said than done. He reached out to help her carry him to another room, and glanced at Invisus. "Stay here until the droids check you over and give you a clean bill of health. Ask if there's anything you need, they'll see that you get it."

The young Sith nodded, and watched them go, left to ponder the sudden change in his master's treatment of him. He wasn't sure he could trust Atrox, his actions were so unlike everything he knew of his master that he wondered if it wasn't a trick to make him let his guard down. He would have to be… cautious, if slightly more respectful than he had been. Only when Atrox awakened would he know where he truly stood with his master.

Mara looked up as the door slid open and Invisus stood in the doorway. She raised an eyebrow at him, questioningly.

He nodded toward the bed. "I wanted to check on him."

She eyed him. "Weren't you supposed to be under evaluation?"

He shrugged. "Not… anymore…" he said vaguely.

She rolled her eyes, and waved a hand toward a chair in the corner. "Sit."

He did so. Neither said anything, but the atmosphere between them was tense, guarded. It was apparent that neither trusted the other; their only connection was the man lying unconscious in the bed.

Leia came in a few minutes later, nodded to Mara, and walked over to the bed. "Mother's on her way. Father went to tell her," she said softly, stroking his hair for a moment. She glanced up at Mara, and asked, "Any word on when he'll wake up?"

Mara shook her head. "There's no telling. His energy levels dropped so quickly that it's a wonder he didn't pass out before he did. And only plenty of rest will help him." Her eyes betrayed the worry she couldn't voice.

Leia looked down at her brother, sighing. "You are so loyal to those you care about, you would die to save them, and I fear that one day you may go too far. You are becoming more and more like the man I used to know... yet you are so different." She straightened, and turned to Invisus. "You must mean a great deal to him for him to have said and done the things he did," she told him, gravely.

Invisus had no reply. He didn't know what had caused Atrox's sudden generosity, but it seemed simply too good to be true.

Atrox stirred for the first time, and muttered softly under his breath, still asleep. "Mara."

Mara moved closer to him, and stroked his hair tenderly, wanting him to know she was there. He began to toss and turn under her touch, growing more restless. Concerned, she placed a hand on his chest, trying to calm him. "Shh," she murmured soothingly.

He stilled almost immediately, growing peaceful again. She smiled a little in spite of herself, and kept her hand there so he would feel her presence.

Padmé rushed into the room, with Anakin close behind. She came up next to Mara, a haunted look in her eyes as she stared down at her only son. "Oh, Luke. Why?" she murmured, remembering vividly the vision Anakin had experienced when Atrox sacrificed his life for hers.

Anakin stood beside her and put his arms around her, supportively. "He will be fine, Padmé. All he needs is rest," he reminded her gently.

"I know," Padmé whispered. "It's just... he gives so much of himself… the next time he may give too much…"

Atrox stirred again at the sound of his mother's voice, and turned towards them, his eyes fluttering open. His gaze focused on Padmé, and she smiled at her son gently, though with sadness.

"Mother," Atrox whispered softly, reaching towards her.

Padmé took her son's hand in hers and squeezed it, lovingly. "How are you feeling?"

"Drained," Atrox replied weakly, slowly turning his head towards Mara. "I guess I need to endure your... displeasure." Atrox joked quietly, chuckling.

She gave him a mock glare, though it was impossible to hide the twinkle in her eyes. "You better believe it, farmboy," she scolded teasingly.

Atrox locked eyes with Anakin next. "How is... my apprentice?" he asked, genuinely wanting to know how he was faring.

Anakin glanced toward the corner where Invisus was sitting. "Disobedient as always," he said. "I thought I told you to stay in bed, boy."

Invisus shrugged. "I wanted to see how my… master was doing."

Atrox looked towards the corner, seeing the dark form of his apprentice. "How are you feeling... my apprentice?" Atrox whispered.

"Well enough, thanks to you," Invisus answered, taking a few strides toward the bed. "I could ask you the same thing."

Mara watched Invisus tensely, allowing the apprentice to approach, but ready to take him out the moment he tried anything.

Atrox locked his eyes onto his apprentice. "True enough, my apprentice. True enough. How did you manage to... escape your medics?"

The young man's expression turned a trifle sheepish. "Well, master… I sort of… short circuited them… I think I crushed their circuit boards."

Anakin cocked an eye at him. "It must have taken some effort on your part to pull that off."

Atrox nodded in agreement. "He has a very strong will. It has been difficult bending him to my own." Atrox chuckled afterwards. "But he is turning out okay." Atrox added, smiling.

Unsure quite how he should take Atrox's statement, Invisus gave a hesitant nod. "Thank you, master."

Mara gave a quiet snort. "That's obvious," she muttered, remembering the number of times Invisus had rebelled in the short span of his apprenticeship.

Invisus ignored her, instead moving to help his master into a sitting position. Mara's reaction was instantaneous.

"Back off, Kyo," she snarled, slamming the young Sith into the wall across the room.

Invisus picked himself up off the floor, nursing a bruised shoulder. "My name is Darth Invisus," he spat, furious.

"Stand down, both of you." Atrox ordered coldly, the room's temperature crashing with his displeasure. "Jade, allow him to approach." He snarled, appreciating her protectiveness, but annoyed by her forbidding his apprentice to assist him.

"As you wish, milord," she answered, just as coldly.

Invisus returned to his master's bedside, helping him to move into a sitting position, feeling strangely pleased that Atrox had defended him.

Mara looked on resentfully, her eyes cold and hard. She stood abruptly, and said softly, "Since you appear to be in such capable hands, milord, my presence is no longer needed. Unless there is something further you require of me I'll be meditating in my quarters."

"Mara," Padmé's voice was gentle. "You are needed, more than you think. But you are not the only one who cares for him."

"I know that." Mara snapped.

"Mara," Atrox whispered, "please stay. Your presence is soothing," he continued as he reached out for her.

She looked at him, her expression softening slightly. "As you wish," she murmured, returning to his side. She took his hand and held it, tightly, remembering how weak he still was and cursing herself mentally for causing him unnecessary effort when he needed to be resting.

"Mara, I love you... I always will." He whispered as he drifted back to sleep, never letting go of Mara's hand.

"As will I," she murmured, her eyes resting on his peaceful features.

Mara poured over the archives in the Emperor's personal library, looking for records of female Force-sensitives who might still be living. She felt sure the Emperor would have kept track of such people, lest they prove a threat to his power in any way. But so far her searches had turned up nothing, even in his private files.

The hours ticked by, and still she poured over data, determined to find something. She would not let anyone harm her children, or her lord. In all the searches she ran, one file kept coming up, but it was restricted, and none of her slicing techniques could crack it. It required security clearance she didn't have; she suspected that no one had it except the Emperor's inner circle.

A thought struck her. Vader. Vader might well have had clearance to those files. He was, after all, Palpatine's apprentice, and second-in-command. With a sigh, she commed Anakin, hoping he was still up and would give her the codes.

Anakin's tired voice echoed through the empty library. "What is it, Mara?"

She winced. "Sorry to bother you, but I'm researching something, and I need to access one of the special files in Palpatine's library. Do you—"

"What file?" Anakin's voice was suddenly wary.

She frowned. "If I knew that, I wouldn't be asking for clearance to open it. Please, Anakin, it's important."

She heard him sigh. "Very well. I'll upload the codes to your comlink. Be careful, Mara, not everything in those files is… safe."

"I understand. Thanks for your help." She frowned again, puzzled by his reluctance. She was used to atrocities, what could be so bad that he would warn her against it?

Keying in the clearance, she finally opened the file. Her eyes widened. It contained profiles of various men and women, all of them deadly.

Maarek Stele…

Sa Cuis…

Sarcev Quest…

Roganda…

Her eyes narrowed suddenly. Roganda Ismaren? What was she doing on a list of assassins?

It was the first name she recognized, to her surprise. Roganda Ismaren was rumored in the Imperial Court to be one of the concubines Palpatine kept around him, for what purpose Mara had no idea. If she was in here, though… perhaps her presence at court made more sense…

She scanned the list of names, mentally noting the females so she could come back to them.

Vess Kogo…

Sheyvan…

Mara Jade…

She froze, staring numbly at the screen. She wasn't supposed to be on file anywhere in the galaxy. Her name was kept off the records, no one save the Emperor and a select few knew who and what she was. She opened the profile and began reviewing it.

Mara Jade

Emperor's Hand

She quickly realized that the file contained everything about her. Her skills, her abilities, her strengths and weaknesses, every assignment she had been on.

A dark seed of suspicion took root within her, and she opened the other profiles, one after another, with mounting rage. All of them were the same, each was a case file of the person's identity, and each had the same title.

Arden Lyn

Emperor's Hand

Cronal

Emperor's Hand

Jeng Droga

Emperor's Hand

Shaking, she downloaded the file to her datapad, and closed the terminal. She clung to the edge of control, numb except for one thought running through her head, taunting her.

He had other Hands.

Rage tore through her like a hurricane, causing the Force to swirl around her dangerously. The data file cabinets rattled as she stormed past, threatening to spill their contents to the floor. The door burst open before her, and she stormed down the hall back to her own quarters, slamming anyone she encountered out of her way.

All the Force-sensitives in the building could feel the sudden change in the Palace's atmosphere. Invisus sensed a change, but couldn't tell what had caused it. Leia felt it, and wondered what had happened. Anakin felt it, and knew.

Atrox felt Mara through their bond as he slept, and immediately awakened. Rage tore through him as he felt Mara's own rage, wanting to make anyone who had done this to her pay dearly.

Mara could scarcely bear to look at the room that had been her home for most of her life. She had dedicated her life to Palpatine and his cause, and he had used her, alongside others, perhaps dozens of others. She had thought she was special, that her work meant something and made a difference, but her whole life had been a lie.

Angry tears filled her eyes, and she hurled the fatal datapad onto the bed. She dimly sensed Atrox through her rage, and a small part of her mind wondered what he was doing up. Sealing the doors, she dropped into a corner of the room, the Force still raging around her uncontrollably.

Atrox jumped off of the biobed instantly, rushing off towards Mara's quarters. Anyone he passed was slammed into a wall with such force that they were knocked out. As the minutes it took to get to her quarters ticked by, he became increasingly worried for her and his rage continued to build. When he finally reached her quarters, he found the doors sealed. Releasing a portion of the building dark energy within him, the door exploded into her quarters, revealing Mara Jade in a corner of the room, sitting on the floor crying uncontrollably.

Her head jerked up, startled, as the door burst inward, and she saw her lord sanding in the doorway. She glared at him through her tears, too filled with rage to contain it even if she wanted to. "Go away," she whispered, turning away from him.

Mara's words only made Atrox even angrier, whoever had done this had hurt his love... his Mara, and his anger was becoming uncontrollable. Various objects in the room began to shatter, their debris floating around the room in an unpredictable pattern. Atrox strode up to her, kneeling before her once he reached her. "Mara, what happened? Who did this to you?" he demanded, pulling her into a fierce embrace.

She broke down in his arms, clinging to him for support as the tears continued to flow. "He told me I was the only one," she whispered against his shoulder, her voice hoarse and strained with emotion.

"SIDIOUS!" Atrox roared, his voice no longer human, completely taken over by the Dark Side of the Force, as though his voice had turned into the dark side's own voice. The debris began to explode once more and more objects around the room were ripped to shreds. Lightning emanated from his entire being, hitting all of the debris, forming a web of dark energy as the lightning hit everything in the room except Mara herself.

Everyone in the near vicinity heard his scream, and the explosion of darkness was almost tangible for Force-users and non-Force-users alike. Padmé and Leia, already on their way after he rushed out of the medical wing, hurried in the direction of his cry, Anakin and Invisus on their heels.

They were stopped in the doorway, the Force storm too strong for them to enter, forcing Padmé and Leia to simply look on, shocked.

Invisus looked on from the door, awed by his master's display of power.

Mara lifted her head, almost frightened by his reaction. "Mi-milord, you're… you're going to hurt yourself again." Mara managed to say quietly between sobs.

Anakin tried to enter the room, but was thrust out, the lightning leaving deep burns on his exposed skin. His wife and daughter pulled him to the ground, as Leia began trying to at least lessen the extent of his injuries.

Atrox couldn't her as the storm continued to rage around them, the dark side ravaging his body, mind, and soul at the same time. Pain in her eyes, she reached up with the hilt of her lightsaber and struck him in the temple, knocking him unconscious. The dark energy in the room immediately dissipated, the debris falling to the floor. The roar of the storm was replaced by an eerie silence.

Shakily, she rose, and Invisus helped her carry their lord back to the medical wing, as Leia and Padmé did the same for Anakin. They laid Anakin in a bed near Atrox's while the medical droids treated Anakin's burns.

Mara buried her face in the sheets of Atrox's bed as she once more sat by his side. Too drained to even cry anymore, she fell asleep in her chair, dreamlessly.

Leia glanced at the young Sith apprentice as he watched his master, and said quietly, "Come here, you can help me heal Anakin. I can't do it alone."

Invisus turned to her, curious. "Heal him? How?"

She gave him a wry smile. "You're going to need to know this, come on." She led him over to Anakin's bed, and explained softly, "This isn't something the dark side can handle, you're going to have to do something else."

Invisus eyed her, doubtfully. "Is this a… Jedi technique?"

Leia's expression was stern. "Your master would approve of this ability, if that's your question. Now open your mind, and feel this."

She opened herself to the Force and channeled it into her father's burned arm, willing the flesh to knit itself back together. "Now you try."

Invisus frowned. "I don't know what you're doing. I've never felt anything like it before."

Leia sighed, praying to the Force to give her patience. "Reach out to my mind, feel what I feel."

Invisus reached out through the Force to touch Leia's mind just like he had done with his master before.

She began again on another burn, giving him the opportunity to feel how she drew on the Force and let it flow through the burned flesh. "Now try," she said, patiently.

Still doubtful, he tried to imitate what she had done, and managed to heal one of the lesser burns on Anakin's arms.

"Good!" Leia smiled encouragingly.

He frowned. "I… that was… more peaceful than I had expected."

She smiled. "It is a peaceful experience. Come, let's do the rest."

Together, they finished healing the rest of Anakin's burns, save the most severe, to which Leia applied bacta patches so they would heal.