Chapter 6: I Don't Have to Answer to You, Pretty Boy
Endor's sun was just rising over the trees while Luke and Anakin sat cross-legged on the grass facing each other, meditating. A warmth began to grow within Anakin's chest as Luke reached out through the Force to touch his damaged lungs. It grew and spread until the heat was almost uncomfortable, but Anakin didn't protest. He sat very still, concentrating on his breathing, praying that Luke would be successful. He was so tired of wearing the mask.
A piercing siren interrupted them, breaking their concentration. Anakin sighed in disappointment as the warmth faded. He and Luke sprinted towards the main buildings.
They emerged from the forest into panic and chaos: rebels were running in all directions, and at first it was impossible to see the reason for the uproar. Then Luke pointed to the right, and shouted, "There!" The flash of a red lightsaber blade made Anakin's blood run cold.
Luke took off running, and Anakin followed close behind. A dark Force user here? But who could it be? Then it hit him, and he stumbled, barely keeping his feet. He had forgotten the Emperor's Hand.
And yes, it was her. Red hair flaming in the early morning sun, red blade pointed at—his heart almost stopped—Leia! His daughter stood unflinching, looking down her nose at one of the most dangerous people in the galaxy: Mara Jade, the Hand of the Emperor. Han stood behind Leia, his hand hovering near his blaster.
"I will tell you nothing!" Leia's voice was imperious, and Anakin was powerfully reminded of Padmé.
His heart clenched and, without even thinking, he raised his hand and pushed with the Force. The red-haired assassin was caught off-guard, and she lurched back away from Leia, almost falling. Anyone else would have lost their footing completely, but the Emperor's Hand had been trained in more than the use of the Force; she was proficient in several styles of combat, and comfortable with the use of many different weapons. She was one of a very few people Darth Vader had respected.
Now she turned those intense green eyes on him, and they widened in shock. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.
Luke stepped forward. "Who are you? What do you want?"
She sneered at him. "I don't have to answer to you, pretty boy. Just tell me where Luke Skywalker is, and the rest of you can do whatever the frack you want."
"I'm Luke Skywalker."
She looked him up and down with interest. "Is that so? I thought you'd be taller."
Anakin unhooked his lightsaber from his belt but didn't activate it yet, hoping it wouldn't be necessary. "What do you want with Luke?"
She turned back toward him and frowned. "He killed the Emperor. Why haven't you dispensed justice already?"
"He didn't kill the Emperor. I did."
"I see. Well, that changes things." She raised her blade. "I would suggest that you submit to justice."
"What justice?" Leia demanded. "Palpatine deserved death many times over for his crimes."
"Who are you to decide that?" Mara demanded. "Besides, by that logic, Lord Vader also deserves death several times over."
"But Darth Vader is dead," Luke said, putting his hand on his father's shoulder. "The man before you is Anakin Skywalker." Luke was so earnest and sincere, as though he actually expected her to accept what he said.
Mara narrowed her eyes. "It makes no difference to me. Stand aside and I won't have to kill you too."
"I'm sorry." Luke activated his lightsaber, the green blade coming up into a defensive position. "I can't do that."
Anakin's stomach clenched. "No!" He stepped forward, his own red blade extending. "Let me handle this, Luke."
Luke smiled, and Mara raised a hand as if to shade her eyes from the blaze of light. Anakin almost did the same. Every time he thought he had gotten used to Luke's radiance, something like this happened, reminding him of how incredibly powerful his son really was.
"That isn't how it works, Father," Luke said. "We stand together."
Mara gaped at them, then grinned and shook her head. "Oh, this is rich. The Sith Lord is a daddy." She passed her lightsaber from her right hand to her left, and stretched out her right towards Luke. "Sorry, pretty boy. Nothing personal." Lightning burst from her fingertips, and Anakin's heart nearly stopped. Once again, he watched that deadly electricity reach out towards his son.
To Anakin's relief, Luke managed to block with his lightsaber, catching the energy on the emerald blade, which sparked madly as it absorbed the onslaught. Anakin stepped forward to intervene, but Luke put a hand out as if to stop him. "Father, no! You haven't completely recovered from last time."
Before he could think what to do, Anakin was surprised at the sound of a blaster shot. Mara's eyes went wide, and she crumpled to the ground, her lightsaber falling beside her. He reached out with the Force and caught it before the blade could touch anything. Bringing it back to his hand, he deactivated it.
Luke knelt at Mara's side and checked for a pulse. "She's alive." He stood and turned to where Han was putting away his blaster.
"Of course she is," Han said with a grin. "I'm an excellent shot."
A/N: For those unfamiliar with the Star Wars extended universe novels: I didn't invent Mara Jade. Look her up on Wookiepedia for more info.