They arrived at sundown, just an hour before the deadline.

The Gamorrean guards stacked before the entrance eyed them up and exchanged looks as Barriss came forward, her cape flapping in the wind.

Her hood was drawn to her face, hiding most of it under a veil-like thin fabric. Ever since her escape, she had been careful not to let anyone see her markings, for they were her primary identifier and could cost her her newfound freedom, something she valued more than her culture's ancestral traditions.

''State your business,'' one of them told her.

''We've been instructed to let no-one enter the place until-''

''I'm here to see Darth Vader,'' she said defiantly.

When they didn't budge, she sighed and took out her lightsaber, flicking it open before them in a threatening manner. They gasped and after a deliberation that lasted too long for Barriss' taste agreed to let her pass, though not without trying to put up a fight first. Luckily Barriss had more tricks up her sleeve than she let on, and knocked them both out in no time without even using her lightsaber. Alerted by the guards' cries for help, some back-ups emerged from within the palace and posted themselves before the entrance, blocking their way.

''You really want me to kick your butts, don't you,'' she mused as the Gamorreans prepared themselves to strike, drawing their clubs in sync and advancing towards Barriss in long strides. Before they could act, she kicked the first one as hard as she could in the stomach and punched the other one in the face, injuring his snout. The bigger one tried to retaliate, but she immobilized his weapon with the Force, challenging him with her piercing gaze.

You're no match for me, big guy.

Her punches were lethal and her moves too quick for the porcines to counter. Despite their efforts, Barriss anticipated each one of their attacks with ease and neutralized them in a matter of seconds, igniting her weapon as she passed by the ones lying on the floor, reminding them that she was in charge and that they'd better let her do what she wanted if they cared about their lives at all.

Despite all odds, they still refused to let the droid in, one of the remaining standing guards restraining him with his enormous hands. So this is how you want to play, huh? She took him by the collar and smeared his armor with the tip of her blade, urging him to release C-3PO from his grip.

''If I can come, the droid comes too.''

C-3PO expressed his gratitude as they walked past the guards towards the palace's main room, Barriss purposely bumping into them as they went. I'll have a word with Vader about that.

On her way to the throne room, she encountered a male Twi'lek standing in the middle of the corridor. His skin was abnormally pale and his bloodshot eyes that wandered lustfully over her small frame gave her the shivers.

''Follow me, miss Offee,'' he said, looking her right in the eye this time. ''Lord Vader awaits you''

Barriss had no choice but to obey and followed the man to what seemed to be a sort of dungeon located deep underground. She found that even without any direct source of light, her eyes could see perfectly through the dimness of the corridor, having been used to accustom themselves to worse conditions for so many years.

It was not uncommon that she be blindfolded when she was interrogated by her jailers and the worst interrogation sessions could go on for days on end, spent in a small isolation cell without viewports, starved until she could do nothing but beg for sustenance. She'd been there all too often and as a result knew how to orient herself in the dark using her other senses coupled with her ultimate ally - the Force.

She sensed Vader's presence rather than saw him: his Force signature alone was enough to let her know that he was real - and more angry than she'd ever seen him, though she admitted to never have witnessed the extent of his rage as a Sith lord. Surely his increased power would have quite the effect on his already rather quick temper.

''I can't see a thing in here,'' C-3PO lamented as he tagged along behind her.

''Quiet,'' she murmured rather harshly, motioning for C-3PO to wait behind her as she entered the dimly-lit room.

Vader was sitting in a chair, his back to her. His tall shadow was projected on the wall, and as he stood up to face her it disappeared behind him, stretching in a long figure that Barriss was barely able to identify.

''You sure took your time,'' Vader began. ''I was about to leave when you arrived.''

She fought the urge to roll her eyes, not wanting to give him that satisfaction. Can't he just get to the point already?

''I see you're impatient,'' he remarked as she unconsciously tapped her foot on the duracrete floor. ''As you wish. I won't hinder you much longer, Barriss.''

There was a certain irony behind his overly polite words and Barriss caught up on it as she was sure he had intended. Once again she felt the urge to roll her eyes and clenched her teeth. Hard.

''It has come to my attention that my son,'' Vader took a pause to let Barriss process the new information. ''has been captured by my... former Master, with the help of a certain Darth Maul if I recall correctly.''

''You have a son?'' she asked, bewildered. She had never known any Jedi who had offspring, but then again, she had never mixed with any Dark-side Force-user before. I bet you've never even met him. I bet you would have killed him if he hadn't been your kin. And even better, I bet he hates you more than anything for abandoning him. What a pathetic excuse for a father.

She wanted to shout at him, to let him know how painful it was to grow up without knowing one's parents, to grow up in an environment where it was taboo to mention them and where one was discouraged to ask questions about the very beings that brought them to existence. Life is unfair to the most gifted, Barriss thought bitterly. Such was the price to pay to possess the power of the Force.

''His name is Luke. Luke Skywalker.'' He took an inspiration through his mask. ''I want you to find him - and bring him to me.''

She nodded, quickly regaining her usual blank expression.

''As you wish, Lord Vader,'' she said, trying her best not to snort at the title. ''Do you have any idea where he might be?''

''Wherever Darth Maul is you shall find him also.'' He turned around to face the wall once again. ''Your task is simple. Find Skywalker and bring him to me. Unharmed. Any failure to accomplish the task at hand shall be met with death.'' At the end of his sentence, he turned around, this time looking Barriss in the eye and holding his gaze.

''Yes, Master,'' she heard herself reply, almost obediently.

''Good,'' he said simply. ''I have something for you.''

He picked something up from his belt and held it out before Barriss, who took it and hung it on her own, on the opposite side of Ventress' other saber. She caressed it with her gloved hand, sensing the flow of power tingling on her fingertips through the fabric.

The twin sabers were hers now and nothing could stop her from accomplishing the task Vader had bestowed upon her, not even her own desire for vengeance. She resolved herself to let the thought lay dormant for the time being, concentrating her forces on her new mission: rescue and recruit Anakin Skywalker's son from the most powerful Sith lord of all time.