Dark Angel

By Serena Kenobi

Author's Notes: Once again, I thank you for your extremely wonderful reviews!! Without your support, this story would not be what it is today.

No Torturing Sith Lords in this chapter again, sorry. I also think it was taking away from the story, and I think that I need to focus more on the plot and characters. I may have a few snippets here and there, but otherwise, I will probably stop eventually.

Another thing. Someone mentioned that they liked the Jix/Elena relationship. Well, I have to admit, I do as well. However, I have another plan for Elena, even though I think that the two make a great pair. Hmm... well, we'll see how things transpire. Maybe I'll throw some Jix/Elena mush in there somewhere...

Enough of my ramblings.

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever will, own Star Wars. I do, however, own Elena. Lucky me!


Chapter 12
The girls parted ways, Mara and Elena to Vader's palace, and Keira and Becé going home. As the Emperor's Hand and the Imperial Princess drove in the speeder, Mara hounded Elena with questions about Luke and Leia.

"So, how long have you known that you had a brother and sister?" she asked.

"A while now. For about three years, I guess," Elena answered.

"When did they know?"

"Luke, I told him as soon as I met him; Leia, not too long ago."

"How did Skywalker take it?"

Elena sighed, flexing her hands on the wheel. "Luke took it fine," she replied. "A little shocked at first, but who wouldn't be if you just learned that your father was one of the most powerful and dangerous people in the galaxy?"

Mara shrugged. "I don't know, I'd probably feel the same way," she said. "But what would a Farmboy know about anything?"

"M.J.," Elena said, "if you're going to be my best friend, you have to get along with my brother. True, he can be incredibly annoying sometimes - and I'd know that firsthand - but he is a very experienced Force user. Trust me, he knows what he's doing. He's a smart young man."

Her friend just sat there sullenly, and Elena gave her a sideways glance, a grin forming. "I think you like him," she remarked, smirking when she saw the look on Mara's face.

"What? No I don't!" Mara defended herself. "I've only just met the guy… of course I don't like him! He's, well, he's arrogant, rude, irritating–"

"Whatever you say, Mara dearest," Elena replied airily, knowing that her friend was lying.

Mara shot her a glare. "Speaking of boys, why don't you tell me what happened with Jix? You were saying something about it at the Academy."

Elena's face turned a bright red. "Well," she started hesitantly, "He sort of… told me that he had a crush on me."

The Emperor's Hand gaped at her friend. "You're kidding."

"Not by a long shot," Elena replied dryly.

"Then what happened?" her eager friend demanded, leaning forward.

Elena sighed and said, "I told him we can't be together, because we can't. We're not meant for each other, Mara, and both he and I know that. I hope I didn't disappoint him too much, cause I don't want to damage our friendship."

Her friend's reply startled her completely. Mara quickly raised a hand and slapped her on the back of her head. Hard.

"Ow! What the heck, Mara!" Elena said, rubbing her head.

"What's wrong with you?" Mara demanded.

"What?"

"I said, what's wrong with you? The guy obviously is head over heels in love with you and you go ahead and break his heart!" Mara said vehemently.

"I didn't break– "

"Did he tell you that he loves you?"

Elena blushed. "Er…"

"I'll take that as a 'yes'."

"Mara, come on. We're so… different."

Mara snorted. "Yeah, sure. Here, let me paint a picture of your life and his. You're the young, beautiful daughter of a powerful Lord, and he is Lord's top secret agent. Said agent falls in love with beautiful daughter of Lord but can't get her because he feels he's not good enough for her. Then, when he finally tells her, beautiful daughter just wants to be 'friends'."

"Mara, it's more complicated than that. I will admit," Elena shifted in her seat, obviously uncomfortable with the subject at hand, "that I've had a crush on him for a long time, but we're… from different worlds. Plus, it would be awkward, him working for Dad and all."

Mara sat back in her seat thoughtfully. "I'm sure you did what you thought was best, of course," she stated mockingly.

"Oh shut up," Elena scowled.

When they arrived at the palace, they brought their backpacks in and headed towards the room in which Elena and Anakin usually spent most of their evenings.

Father, we're back and I've brought Mara with me, Elena sent to her father, who was at that moment in a meeting.

Very well, he replied.

Oh, she knows about my powers, so you might as well show your real self, Elena continued nervously, wondering what her father's reaction would be.

There was a pause before he answered gravely, I knew it wouldn't be long before she knew; she's smart and clever. Sometimes too much for her own good. I think, however, we can trust her with this information.

Yes, I know we can. When will your meeting be over?

When I strangle Admiral Motti, he retorted dryly. Elena couldn't help but sigh.

Fine then, but try not to lose your temper. See you soon. The link then ended as the girls entered the room.

They dropped their backpacks on the floor and opened them up, finishing up their homework.

"So the Jedi betrayed the Senate and tried to assassinate the almighty and ever-glorious Emperor," Elena said in a sarcastic tone. "I've heard that story one too many times."

Mara studied her. "You don't seem like you believe it, Elena."

"I don't."

"Why not?"

"Because I know exactly what happened."

"Oh, really?"

Elena nodded. "Yeah. I had a Force vision. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but it's the truth."

"I'm not laughing," Mara said in a serious tone.

Elena shrugged. "I'll talk about it later. You want to try out the latest holo simulation I have?" Eager to get off the subject, she threw down the history datapad and winced when it cracked. "Dad blast it! That's the third time this week," she complained, staring at the now sizzling datapad.

Mara shot her friend an amused glance. "I see. Well, in any case, I've been waiting for ages for the newest version to come out." She looked at Elena's fingernails. "When they come out… does it hurt?" she asked hesitantly.

Elena studied her hands. "Sometimes," she said quietly. "But most of the time I just don't notice them anymore."

"Can I see them?" Mara asked, a bit uncertain.

"All right," Elena responded, and slowly drew her claws out, holding them up for Mara to see. The adamantium shone in the light; and Mara stared at them, transfixed. She reached out to touch one, and cut her hand, pulling back.

"Force," she cried, "Those are sharp!"

Elena grinned. "That's why they're called claws," she reminded her friend, putting her claws back in. "Now come on, let's bring the sim into the training room."

"Do you have wings like Angel?"

"Yes."

"Can I see those, too?"

"I don't see why not." Elena stood up and morphed her back so her wings would appear. She opened them and flapped them slowly, showing them off in front of Mara. "Angel also has his own kind of healing power," she continued, "It's his bloodstream or something. He also can fly up to over 150 miles per hour at top speed, and can fly for almost an entire day without stopping. But I can fly without wings, too. By either Silver Surfer's powers, or Storm's, or Rouge's, or the Human Torch's. Actually, there are a lot more people who can fly, I just can't think of them right now." She then morphed back into her wingless self.

Mara shook her head. "You are one unique person, Elena," she managed to get out.

"I know," Elena replied, smiling. She telekinetically called the sim to her and walked out of the room.

Mara rolled her eyes and followed her. They entered the training room, where Elena popped the chip into the holoproj; and the two began the simulation. Soon, they were drawn in a heated battle, when unexpectedly, the doors opened.

"Oh, hello, Dad," Elena said nonchalantly, giving her father a quick glance. "Mara and I are just trying out this new simulation."

Mara's jaw dropped, and she turned nearly as pale as a Force ghost. Her mouth moved, but no words came out.

"Ah, I see," Anakin replied, Force-calling the instruction datapad to him. He was, of course, not in his suit, but was wearing a black tunic, black pants, and high black boots. "So, which level are you on?"

"Five," Elena answered, taking no notice of Mara. Her friend was still staring at Anakin as if he had just grown four arms and three heads.

Elena finally glanced at Mara, who was trying to speak. "But… you're… you're not Darth Vader!" The Emperor's Hand finally blurted out disbelievingly.

Anakin looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" he said in an even, smooth tone. "Perhaps you should ask Elena."

"Oh yes, it's true," Elena said airily, looking back to her friend. "He's my father."

Mara's eyes widened more, if that were possible. "But… how?" she asked, "Is this what you looked like under your suit the whole time?"

Elena shook her head. "No, he couldn't breathe without it before," she continued, "But just as I healed you, I figured out that I could heal him and make him look like he was when he was a lot younger."

"Twenty-three, to be exact," Anakin spoke up, scrolling down the manual.

"You sure, Elena?"

"Mmm-hmm."

Mara continued to stare at Anakin. "You're really Lord Darth Vader?" she said, just beginning to get over the shock.

Anakin raised an eyebrow; Elena just laughed quietly, finding the entire situation quite humorous.

"I, I mean," Mara stammered, something that was rare with the usually cool Emperor's Hand.

"Do you need my assistance or not?" Anakin interrupted irritably, "I have some other work that needs finishing."

Elena raised her hands in defense. "All right, just chill," she returned. "Mara just needs a second to recover."

"I've recovered," her friend put in automatically.

Anakin merely shook his head; and the three finished the simulation with some added direction from him. After that, he went back to doing his work, Elena and Mara ate some dinner, and then Elena walked her friend back to the hangar.

"So I'll see you tomorrow," Mara said as they walked slowly past the ships.

Elena nodded. "Tomorrow at school," she confirmed. Or tonight, she sent to her friend mentally.

Tonight, then, Mara said. She gazed rather solemnly at Elena for a moment before jumping into a speeder and zooming away. I won't tell, Elena, she continued before breaking the link.

Elena smiled. Mara Jade was turning out to be a very trustworthy friend.


So, Mara's in the family now. But what about the Emperor? What new scheme will he concoct next? Will the Skywalkers be able to foil his evil plot? Will Vader ever return to the Light Side? Will the triplets end up turning to the Dark Side?

Will the author ever shut her trap?

Probably not.

Don't forget to R&R! Well, you actually only need to R if you've gotten this far, cause you've already done the first R: reading. So go do the second R. Review.

Shutting up now.

MtFbwy,

-Serena Kenobi