Saga - OT Raised in Darkness (OT AU; Canon/EU; Vader versus Sidious; Luke, Leia)

Palpatine played Padmé like a harp.

You make that very clear in your latest update, showing us all his sinister genius & sithly games.

I hope Luke & Mara have the advantage of youth, surprise & true character against the chess player from hell.

 

Yes, after reading Darth Plagueis it was hard to see Padme as anything other than just a pawn. Plus, I did not like how weak she became, going against her very morals and just comforting Anakin after the murder of the Sand People. That part always bothered me, and she lost me as a fan right there. I wish she had been stronger, and I wanted to show that in my story, where she wishes she had been more in line with her ethics as well. Glad her daughter has stronger convictions. Definitely enjoying writing Leia.

Thank you for reading!

 

You feel the same way about Padmé as I do.

And this is why I appreciate fanfic so much. It gives a fresh view on the PT, helps to play around with possibilities and character building.

 

Loving this story so far, everything blends together so well. I hope Vader puts 2 and 2 together soon and kicks Sheev's arse to the curb, so to speak.

 

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like the story. Got some plans for Vader...he needs to get some game so he can go up against the master.

 

No kidding, as we all know Yoda's the only one who can do that.

 

Chapter Seven

The Smuggler and the Ambassador


The Imperial fleet hovered around the planet of Ryloth, the space battle over, the Rebellion having taken refuge on the planet’s surface. Several ships tried to leave the system but failed due to the mass armament of the Empire.

This was it. The end of the Rebellion. And all the Empire needed was for that damn Death Star to show up and blast the planet to rubble.

In his private quarters, Darth Vader stood over his completely dismantled personal com unit, assessing the problem. He had been unable to contact the capital since arriving on Ryloth, and he wanted to inform his children to be prepared to begin their Sith training as soon as he returned. He’d begin with the construction of their lightsabers and…

A trilling sound came from the other side of the unit. Vader ducked his head around to acknowledge R2-D2, his personal droid.

“Still no signal?” Vader said, starting to feel his blood boil. Unfortunately, the Dark Side proved little help with this problem. His and Artoo’s vast tech knowledge should be sufficient. Should be…

Artoo tweeted again, and Vader shook his head. No Death Star, no communication, no….

Another loud beep sounded, and Artoo screeched a positive note. Vader grinned. A light on the screen indicated he now had access to messages sent over the past several days from Coruscant. He scrolled through them quickly. His usual contacts, informants, business dealings, and…Leia. He accessed this message, and his daughter appeared on the screen. The date indicated several days ago, almost immediately after he left the capital for Ryloth.

The message took a moment to load, and he stared at Leia, his thoughts drifting to Padmé. They looked so much alike, and his heart ached for a moment, his mind flashing back to holding his wife’s body, surrounded by rubble, the lake in Naboo still aflame from the Rebel attack.

Leia’s image came to life. “Hello father…um, dad. I wanted to let you know the embassy sent me out on a mission as a temporary ambassador. I should not be gone long and will return to begin my training soon. If you need to contact me, I’ll be on Be…”

His daughter’s image disappeared, and Vader watched as all his messages blinked out, somehow deleted. Then the screen was blank.

Gritting his teeth, he turned to Artoo. “What happened?”

The droid tweeted a negation, and Vader clenched his fists. “Did you get the name of the system?”

Artoo tweedled a negative.

“How many systems begin with B, in Basic?”

Artoo slid over to another terminal, not dismantled, and plugged in. After a moment, several thousand locations began scrolling on the screen, all beginning with B.

“And we still have no contact with the capital?”

Artoo’s response indicated another negative along with a regretful moan.

Reaching out his hand suddenly, Vader used the Force to blast apart the dismantled com unit. The millions of pieces hovering in the air soon crumbled to dust, but Vader only felt slightly vindicated. He glanced back to see Artoo having taken refuge behind a sofa.

“Artoo, begin a diagnostic on those systems and…”

“Lord Vader?”

The voice came from the overhead intercom. The captain.

“Yes?”

“The Death Star has arrived in system.”

“I’ll be on the bridge in a moment.”

Vader swept from the room quickly, leaving Artoo to work. Entering the bridge, he saw Grand Moff Tarkin on the view screen. He stared dead pan at Vader as he entered.

“There does not seem to be a problem here, Lord Vader,” Tarkin said dryly.

“Destroy Ryloth,” Vader demanded, then turned to the captain. “Prepare the ship to return to Coruscant.”

“Lord Vader, I see no need to destroy a mineral-rich world because…” Tarkin began.

“And I see no need for you to argue with me when you’ve been out of civilized space having your way with one of your female officers,” Vader said back. A communal gasp went out amongst the bridge staff of the ship, followed by deathly silence.

Tarkin’s eyes flashed, but Vader continued.

“You are now within range for me to kill with the Force, Wilhuff. I suggest you power up the Death Star now or your beloved Admiral Daala will be mourning the passing of her lover,” Vader said, keeping a level voice, his glare penetrating Tarkin.

For perhaps the first time ever, Tarkin appeared afraid of him, and this satisfied Vader immensely. Vader disconnected the transmission.

“The Death Star is warming up the laser,” reported a tactical officer.

Vader just nodded. His ship stayed long enough to watch the planet’s destruction, then whisked into hyperspace to return to the Imperial Center.

Han Solo studied himself in the mirror of his ‘fresher, taking a moment to smooth out his eyebrows with the tips of his fingers. Was he really scruffy-looking? She’d said that the evening before, as they laughed over dinner, but she’d been smiling, teasing.

Maybe he was just being too sensitive, and if there was one thing Han Solo never wanted to appear to be was sensitive.

And yet, something about this ambassador, this Leia, made him want to suddenly reveal himself, who he was, and he found himself telling her everything, about his past, Dewlanna, who’d been like a mother to him. About Garris Shrike. Just about everything. And she’d listened, holding her breathe, as he recalled his adventures. Their first evening together, he’d been the braggart, trying to impress the pretty aristocrat he could not take his eyes off of at the casino. The story of the Kessel Run always got the desired reaction from the ladies, the looks of awe. But he soon discovered he enjoyed being with Leia, being himself for once, not just flirting in hopes of getting her into bed or making Lando jealous. Or both. No, Leia just made him feel happy.

They’d danced that first afternoon, to loud fast numbers, to soft, slow songs, and talked about everything. But then a stormtrooper entered the cantina, which made Han’s hackles rise. He’d whisked Leia away, ambassador business, and Han hadn’t seen her until the next day, the second round of the tournament, with her aged human partner, Ben. He’d been at the table next to them and glanced over from time to time. They played well together, and Han had to admit they seemed shrewder than he and his Gran partner, Utem.

But after this round, in which they’d both won, Leia went immediately over to him, apologizing for leaving in a rush, hoping they could pick up where they left off the day before. And they had, this time walking all around Cloud City, Leia telling him bits and pieces of her life on Coruscant, a life quite different from his own. Banquets, balls, fashion. Nothing like Han’s life in the hyperlanes. And later, when Chewbacca found them at a tapcaf along the main promenade in Cloud City, Leia embraced him like a friend, seeming fascinated by the Wookie, funneling questions through Han, who noticed his friend kept some of his more political views on the Imperial treatment of the Wookies to himself, Leia an ambassador and all.

But for all his past run-ins with the Empire in his smuggling game, he had no problem with Leia. She was different…and she kept some things hidden. One didn’t need to practice those hocus pocus Force tricks to figure that out. She never spoke of her family, with the exception of her brother, who she obviously adored. No…friends, co-workers, brother, droids, but parents, not a whisper.

“So you had a bounty on your head?” she asked that afternoon, leaning over her caf and pastry, eager for his story.

“Yeah. Jabba the Hutt, that worm out on Tatooine. But I got it worked out. Payment plan. Trying to earn some credits here,” he said.

Chewie roared a response.

“Yeah, yeah…one more standard year and we’re free,” Han said. “Not gonna mess with the Hutts again. You ever been to Nal Hutta?”

Leia laughed. “No. This is the first place I’ve been off of Coruscant since the attack….” Her voice faded away.

“Attack?”

“Yes…um…my mother was killed in a Rebel attack and…Luke and I have just been at Galactic Center and…what is Nal Hutta like?” she stammered.

Rebel attack? Mother killed? Han felt a sudden connection with Leia, despite their differences in social standing. Both lost parents, growing up without mothers.

“I’m sorry about your mother,” Han said, reaching across the table and placing his hand over hers. “When did that happen?”

“When I was eight,” she said quietly, her brown eyes sad, now studying her cup.

Chewie softly growled a response.

“Um…Chewie is sorry too,” Han said quietly.

Leia looked up and smiled warmly. “So, do tell me about the Hutts. I met one at a diplomatic symposium a few months ago. They are certainly interesting creatures…”

And they’d spent the rest of the afternoon together, walking along before she once again headed back to her offices for work.

And yesterday, the third round of the tournament, both of them winning once again, they’d met later in the evening for dinner at one of the higher-end restaurants on Cloud City, Han donning his best outfit, not much but he’d been told by others he looked handsome, and begging Chewie to spend a few extra credits to treat Leia. Of course, he needn’t worry, as the proprietor of the restaurant, a chef trying to make it big in the capital, comped their bill.

“To free food and a beautiful woman,” Han toasted the laughing Leia, relieved he would not receive further chastisement from Chewbacca on wasting money.

Later, he’d walked her back to her suite, Leia on his arm in a simple golden shift, her long, shining brown hair spilling down her back. They arrived to her door and Han paused, unsure what to do. Normally, he would grab her and kiss her, then hopefully be pulled into her room for a little fun. But something about Leia made him hesitate; she was different, not just another woman. Han couldn’t explain it, but he soon found himself staring down at Leia, lost in her deep eyes.

She spoke first. “Well, I had a lot of fun, Han. These last few days. I’ve never met anyone like you and…I really like you.”

“I know,” he said, then stopped. He wanted to turn off the cocky flirt. He wanted to be real with Leia. Again, he didn’t know why, but he wanted Leia in a way he hadn’t felt before with any other woman, human or otherwise.

But to his surprise, she laughed, one of her hands clutching his bicep.

“I mean…I like you too Leia. A lot and…” but he stopped as she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his, snatching the words from his mouth. Han’s whole being lit up, and he snaked his arm around her, clutching the small of her back and pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. Soft, warm, lovely…Leia.

“Ambassador Leia?” came a voice from behind, and the couple parted quickly, stepping back from one another. A stormtrooper approached. “You have a communication from the contractor set to work on repairing the orbital and…”

“Oh, yes. I will take it in my room. Did he send over the prices? I needed to send them to the capital and…”

Han took the moment to slip away, elated from the kiss, but also feeling a strange sense of defeat. Leia…Imperial ambassador. Definitely out of his league. Not even in the same sector of the galaxy.

Now, the morning after their kiss, he stood back from the mirror, satisfied with his look as well as his resolve. Yes, he and Leia might only have this time, this tournament, together, and he would not let his insecure feelings get in the way. He’s always lived in the moment. Why change now?

A knock sounded at his room door.

“Come in, Chewie!” he called, starting to roam around the room, looking for where he’d kicked off his boots the evening before. He heard the door open and close behind him. “I’m almost ready. Oh Chewie, I need to tell you about last night. Leia kissed me and…”

“What?!” cried Lando, and Han spun around.

“You’re not Chewie,” Han said.

“And I thought I told you to stay away from the ambassador,” Lando hissed, his face still handsome despite the growing anger.

“Hey, Lando,” Han said, raising his arms in a surrendering gesture. He smiled smugly. “You can’t stop fate.”

Lando grew silent, eyeing Han with a dangerous look.

“First you steal my ship…”

“Won your ship, buddy. Fair and square.”

“You know Ambassador Leia is too good for you, space bum,” Lando said. “You don’t have a chance.”

While he and Lando had exchanged banter many times over the years, this final comment gave Han just enough pause for Lando to notice. Suddenly, Lando’s face lit up, and he threw back his head in a loud, jovial laugh.

“Oh kriff, Han,” he said, calming down. “You’re falling for her.”

“No…I’m just having a good time,” he said unconvincingly.

“You are falling for her,” Lando repeated. “And what are you going to do when she and the old man beat you and your Gran?”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re in the final four today,” Lando said, now seeming in good spirits. “If you win, and she wins, you go up against each other in the championship round tomorrow.”

Han hadn’t considered this.

“And the old man, Ben…he’s played here before, periodically over the years. Honestly, I’d say he was the best player on the floor right now,” Lando said. He moved toward the door. “Can’t wait to see you get that next kiss, Han. Only this time, kissing your money good-bye.”

Lando opened the door just as Chewie came into view. Chewie roared a greeting to Lando, then turned to face Han, now distraught. Lando paused.

“Take care of him, Chewbacca. Han’s playing a wicked game of hearts,” Lando said.

Han found his boot under the chair in front of him and pitched it at the laughing Lando as he left.

Near the casino, eating breakfast before the tournament, Leia and Ben discussed the strategy for the day.

“I’m afraid Force persuasion will not work on these opponents,” Ben said, sipping his caf. “Both are very strong-willed. They would have to be to last this long. Perhaps we should…Leia?”

“Hmmm?” Leia mumbled, then straightened. She’d been half listening to her partner, remembering kissing Han the evening before. His tall, strong body pressed against hers. How he pulled her close, and she could feel his passion for her. Exciting. Things she’d never felt before.

“Han Solo,” said Ben, smiling warmly at her.

Leia could feel herself blushing. “We’ve…we’ve been having a nice time.” She sat up. “Nothing serious,” she added quickly.

Ben shrugged. “Not my business. But I do like him. There’s something genuine about this Han Solo.”

“I think so too,” Leia said. Then, she surprised herself by asking, “Have you ever been in love, Ben?”

Ben raised an eyebrow. “Are you…?”

“No…I don’t know…I never really get to date. Being Darth Vader’s daughter is a bit…off-putting…and…have you?”

Leia suddenly realized she felt comfortable talking to Ben. Needed to talk to Ben about this, since her usual confidante, Luke, was so far away.

Ben seemed to consider for a moment. “Yes. I used to deny those feelings but…that’s foolish. I see that now. And once I embraced those feelings…love…attachment…physical, well…um…” Now he blushed. “Yes. The answer is yes.”

Now Leia smiled warmly. “Anyone special? What’s her name?”

“Well, we are…what do they say?…on again, off again. But I love her. She saved my life…in many ways,” Ben said, now studying his mug.

“Tell me your story,” Leia said leaning forward. “I love a good romance.”

Ben looked up, and Leia could feel his discomfort. “Maybe later,” he said, taking a bite of his pastry. “But we do need to talk about the final round. And what about if we need to go up against Han in the final? Will your feelings get in the way?” Ben gave her a sly smile. “I do not like to lose.”

Leia thought for a moment. She never considered this. Oh dear…

And a few hours later, it happened. She and Ben won their round, and as all eyes turned to Han’s table, Leia watched as the smuggler and his Gran partner took out their competition in one, long, tense hand. He turned to her, giving her a lopsided smile.

“Well, sweetheart, this should be interesting,” he said.

Leia couldn’t help but grin. She extended her hand to Han. Yes, this would be interesting indeed.

Author’s Note: Next time, Mara and Luke explore the archaeological site on Yavin 4, confronting more challenges than even Sidious planned.

Thank you for reading. May the Force be with you!

 

Oh, happy happy wriggles!!!!!!!!!! Luke and Leia being raised together having warm sib bonds to one another and yet and still their wonderful personalities are intact. They're still them. As are Mara and Han. This fic is like chocolate, sweet ooey gooey chocolate. Thanks for keeping two of my OTPs alive and kicking high.

 

Oh my..... What she said. Chocolate! This is just so.....squee!

And is Obi-Wan talking about Satine?

 

The entire update was gorgeous, but it was a bit confusing that you did not separate scenes from another. The wonderful Vader/ Tarkin scene ends and suddenly we are with Han & Leia.

Vader just nodded. His ship stayed long enough to watch the planet’s destruction, then whisked into hyperspace to return to the Imperial Center.

Han Solo studied himself in the mirror of his ‘fresher, taking a moment to smooth out his eyebrows with the tips of his fingers. Was he really scruffy-looking? She’d said that the evening before, as they laughed over dinner, but she’d been smiling, teasing.

And the Han & Lando scene switched over into the one with Leia & Ben:

Han found his boot under the chair in front of him and pitched it at the laughing Lando as he left.

Near the casino, eating breakfast before the tournament, Leia and Ben discussed the strategy for the day.

The writing itself was excellent. I liked that Vader mentioned a certain lover of Tarkin in just a menacing way:

“And I see no need for you to argue with me when you’ve been out of civilized space having your way with one of your female officers,” Vader said back. A communal gasp went out amongst the bridge staff of the ship, followed by deathly silence.

Tarkin’s eyes flashed, but Vader continued.

“You are now within range for me to kill with the Force, Wilhuff. I suggest you power up the Death Star now or your beloved Admiral Daala will be mourning the passing of her lover,” Vader said, keeping a level voice, his glare penetrating Tarkin.

But I also loved the way the "boys" quarrelled about Leia and the Falcon.

Please continue with this outstanding AU story!

 

Chocolate?! Oh my, thank you so much. What a wonderful thing to say. You are so sweet (pun intended). I'm glad you are enjoying the story, as I am having such a good time developing it.

My story is canon up until that moment on Mustafar, so Satine is gone. And honestly, never really connected with the whole Obi-Wan/Satine thing. First, I've never been a big Clone Wars viewer. Second, her character was a bit flat and dry, and she was a poor leader for her people. Third, Star Wars already did the whole "royal with a Jedi" plot line, so...meh. Always thought Obi deserved someone more interesting.

We will meet this mysterious woman in a few chapters. Obi-Wan has been busy in more ways than one over the past few decades, especially since he didn't have to hang out on Tatooine. He's made some interesting choices that will have some big consequences, for better or worse.

Thank you for reading and responding!

Thanks so much for letting me know! I usually change POV two or three times in a chapter, as I am writing in third-person specific, and I normally put some sort of text indication of the shift. I see that didn't happened when I pasted in this chapter. I will make sure to double check next time.

I appreciate you following my story. More to come!

 

There is nothing wrong with 3rd PVO, I actually like that. Just messing around with my own texts these days!

And I am always looking out for more, lurking in the shadows...

 

Chapter Eight

Yavin 4


Mara Jade took a deep breath of the thick jungle air of Yavin 4, eyeing the ancient temple complex suspiciously. What did her master want her to do here exactly?

Arriving an hour before, Mara changed quickly into more appropriate attire for this world and their task of exploring the archeological sites. Brown cargo pants with a simple green tunic to wick away the inevitable sweat, her lightsaber hooked to her belt in case any Sith traps still existed around the excavated tombs, Mara began to shift back and forth from impatience, waiting for Skywalker to change into similar garb and emerge.

Her irritation surged in her again the longer Luke took. She did not need this city kid along with her. She’d done artifact retrieval before for Sidious, visited far more dangerous worlds, confronted ancient teachers and nemesis through holocrons and booby traps. Did Sidious have some plans for Luke she did not know about? Was he planning on taking another apprentice?

That final thought made her stomach churn. Had she disappointed the Emperor in some way? Yes, she knew he had other apprentices besides her and of course the universally known Darth Vader. But Mara felt like Sidious considered her more…perhaps his heir for the Rule of Two? But did this rule still apply when the Sith reached such power? She and Sidious spoke of it before in a past training session and…

“Sorry, had some trouble with the boots,” came Luke’s voice from behind, breaking Mara’s train of thought. “They’re new and…whoa!”

Luke came up beside Mara and admired the temples.

“This is incredible,” he said. “I’ve seen holopics and…and the Dark Side is rich here.”

Mara nodded. “Many of the very powerful ancient Dark Side practitioners came through here from time to time,” she said. “Exar Kun. Naga Sadow. Freedon Nadd. Temples and crypts and treasure troves have been found all over the world. But excavations have been going on for centuries. Millennia. And when the Empire got this world back when we ousted the Rebellion, the sites reopened.” She shrugged. “Well, let’s go into the southern temple. That’s where my master said to look.”

Luke trailed Mara as they headed toward the site, Mara pulling out her data pad and reading the most recent notes on the dig. An eerie quiet descended upon the complex. Everyone had been sent away, in a hurry it seemed. Ground transports still parked around the perimeter, a table still set for lunch, the food decaying or gone completely, feeding some local scavenger. She bent down and picked up a hat laying on the ground near the entrance.

Turning to Luke, she saw his face serious, thoughtful.

“I sense…” he began.

“What?” Mara asked.

“Something.”

“Oh, that’s helpful,” Mara said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

“I think I’m…do you mind if I go to the top of the temple?” he asked.

“Be my guest,” she said, and she watched him turn and head toward the steep, almost vertical stairs along the side near the entrance she walked toward.

Shaking her head, she moved into the temple, seeing the familiar evidence of a dig. Reaching out through the Force, she concentrated on the space, on the Dark Side, on recent activity.

Nothing.

Turning on the lights around the perimeter, the auxiliary power kicking in with a loud bang, she studied the space. The ceiling dozens of meters above, the stone walls still showed evidence of the Rebellion, with hangers for monitors. The floor, completely dug up, showed meticulous labeling, dates and descriptions, mostly related to Exar Kun. She checked her notes again. The lead archaeologist showed nothing new to report in his last entry, mere days before.

She thought for a moment about reaching out to Darth Sidious, as she’d been taught to do even across vast space. As his Hand, this capability was essential. But to do so now…perhaps he was testing her. Yes, like when he’d dropped her off on that ice world, left her to her own devices, for that standard month when she’d been fifteen.

She searched the Force again, walking slowly around the site. Still nothing.

Looking up at the ceiling far above her, she considered Luke Skywalker, now close to the top of the temple. Maybe a Skywalker could sense something she could not. Had this been why Darth Sidious sent Luke with her? The thought made her blood boil. She’d been trained by the Emperor himself, and Luke didn’t even have a lightsaber. Still, she knew enough about the legend of Darth Vader to know the Skywalkers might be a special family.

“Well, stang,” she cursed aloud to herself, then walked out to the stairs, heading to the top of the pyramid as well.

She arrived at the top of the temple winded and sweating. Before approaching Skywalker, she took a moment to regain her breath. The last thing she wanted to appear was week in front of the boy.

He stood at the ledge of the temple, staring off to the east, unmoving.

What in the Force?

Mara approached him and stood by his side, seeing him staring intently at a fixed placed out in the jungle. He raised his hand and pointed.

“There…something…there,” he said, his voice sounding distant.

Mara narrowed her eyes at him, then turned toward the placed he studied and reached out through the Force herself. A small ripple came through, tickling the edge of her brain. Yes…something lingered out there.

She turned back to Skywalker, considering the situation. Was he more powerful than her in the Force? She’d gotten to know him throughout their journey here to Yavin 4, small talk she first found a bit painful, but got used to and actually enjoyed after a time. Maybe she needed to get Skywalker on her side, establish him as her partner…no, an assistant. Maybe this would please her master. Or maybe Skywalker would prove a good ally if Sidious ever decided to dispose of her. One never knew with a Sith, even one who said he thought of you as a daughter. One only held allegiance to one’s self. Mara knew this well.

Mara pulled out her data pad again and brought up the history of the archeological digs in the area.

“There is nothing in the direction you are looking, no history of any findings,” she said, Luke finally turning to look at her. She grinned at him, suddenly feeling excited. “But that doesn’t mean nothing is there.”

Luke’s face lit up in a smile Mara had to admit was rather charming. “Really? Wow, if we find something, Uncle Sheev and my dad would be amazed. Proud.”

If they find out, Mara thought.

Three hours later, Luke and Mara decided to take a break from their jungle trek for a small lunch. Pulling out their rations, they sat side-by-side on a fallen tree, munching away and studying the world around them.

Despite the sultry air and the new boots that began to hurt his feet two hours before, Luke felt elated. He actually began to feel like a Sith, using his Force sense to discover what Mara indicated to be a new find. He imagined returning to the Skywalker home, Sith artifacts and holocrons in his arms, his father smiling genuinely, praising his son.

Not only could they be on the cusp of a great Sith find, but he also got to be with Mara. He stole a glance in her direction as they ate silently. Her red gold hair swept up in a sloppy knot on her head, sweat and dirt staining her clothing, Luke found her stunning. If only he could get her to smile at him more often.

“So…what holoshows do you watch?” he asked.

Mara looked at him, an eyebrow raised. “I’m usually a bit busy,” she said condescendingly.

“Oh.”

“But I do try to catch that competition show where they abandon sentients in harsh conditions and see if they survive,” Mara laughed. “I would so win that if I went on. Those people are fools.”

“Yeah, Survivor Planet is great,” Luke laughed. He was pretty sure Mara would win that show. Luke, not so much.

Mara stood and brushed the crumbs from her shirt, Luke still eating.

“Let’s go, city boy,” she said, moving on.

Luke scurried behind her. Uncle Sheev had been right – she moved quickly.

Another hour passed, the duo exchanging words from time to time, but mostly listening for predators they could hear at a distance but never came near. Small native semi-sentient primates and squawking birds regarded them from afar, but no one approached.

Coming to a small clearing in the forest, the Dark Side of the Force hit Luke hard, and he stumbled back.

“Whoa,” he said, grabbing his head to ward off the dizziness.

“Yeah…right,” Mara said, indicating she felt the same. She looked around. “Do you see anything?”

“I…” Luke began, stepping forward, toward an unusual-looking tree. A scream came from him as the earth under his feet fell away and he plummeted through the ground.

He fell several yards at max velocity before he felt his descent slow. He seemed to float the rest of the way, another twenty feet, to the ground. He looked up to see Mara peering down a hole in the ground far above him.

“Skywalker!” she shouted.

“Here…here…did you do that? Slow my fall?”

“Yes. You okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you,” Luke said, bringing out a lantern from his pack. Switching it on, he saw he’d fallen down a rudimentarily dug shaft into an underground tunnel. Mara shimmied her way down, using the tree roots as leverage. She soon came to his side, her lantern helping illuminate the space further.

“This looks like a fresh dig,” she said, pointing to the dirt. “And someone just covered it up with leaves and branches.” She pointed to the sides. “And I don’t think it was an archeologist or scholar. The work is uneven, untrained. Some of my master’s researchers would have a fit.”

“Treasure hunters? Tomb raiders?” asked Luke excitedly, thinking of all the adventure stories he’d read and seen over the years.

“I think so. Look,” Mara shined her lantern up, revealing a door at the end of the narrow and haphazard cave.

A shining metal, the door featured etchings in the language of the ancient Sith. Mara and Luke approached cautiously, both knowing Sith tombs and troves more often than not housed deadly traps.

Luke could feel his heart racing in excitement. What lay beyond the door? Days ago he’d simply been excited to leave Coruscant. Now he got to enter the lair of an ancient Sith lord, beside the Emporor’s Hand herself no less.

Mara suddenly froze beside him, grabbing his arm.

“Someone has already been here,” she whispered. She pointed toward the door.

A giant lock, elegant in its ancientness, was completely, and neatly, sliced through. Mara crouched beside it, running her fingers along the cut.

“Lightsaber,” she said, looking up at Luke, perplexed. “And recent too.” She stood, Luke watching her stare at the door for some time. Finally, she turned to him. “Can you sense anything? Perhaps who it was that came here before?”

Luke furrowed his brow at Mara. How would he know? He didn’t associate with other Sith very often. Wasn’t she the one who went on secret missions for the Emperor?

“No,” he said finally, unable to read her face in the minimal light or her emotions through the Force. “I just sense the Dark Side.”

“Okay, Skywalker,” she said, unclipping her lightsaber and placing her palm on the door. “You ready?”

Luke grabbed his blaster from the holster, eyeing Mara’s lightsaber with a twinge of jealousy. Why hadn’t his father helped him and Leia make their own?

But Luke had little time to think as Mara pushed in the door. Deathly cold air shot from the room beyond with a gust of wind that turned up the soil in the poorly excavated tunnel. Then…nothing.

The duo waited, and Luke realized he held his breath. Mara’s body remained tense, like a predator stalking her prey. After several long moments, she moved cautiously into the chamber, Luke close on her heels.

Their lanterns illuminated a very small room, no larger than Luke’s refresher at home. Three stone pedestals stood at center, all with nothing atop. The rest of the room was in shambles, ancient mosaic tiles shattered about, many looking as if they’d been thrown. Luke noticed more evidence of a lightsaber presence, as many of the tiles looked sliced and cauterized.

Mara knelled beside him, rummaging through her pack and pulling out a small device.

“Grabbed this from the temple site,” she explained, turning on some sort of sensor. “Carbon dating indicator. Can see dates of digs, bio presence, you get it.”

She held the device close to a large patch of tiles and waited. After a moment, the screen gave a date.

“The room is thousands of years old…these tiles…but the lightsaber marks…just weeks,” she looked up at Luke. “Someone Force sensitive was in here and the archaeologists don’t know.” She looked back at the ground, almost angry.

“Well, I know Uncle Sheev has other people, like the Inquisitor or…”


“But my Master doesn’t know about this site and…” she stopped, slipping into her thoughts again. “This is unregistered,” she said finally.

Luke began to understand. Could there be a renegade Sith in the galaxy? This could pose a problem to the security of the Empire.

“Ah ha!” Mara exclaimed, grabbing a broken tile. “Blood!”

She showed the tile to Luke, the latter wondering how she’d spotted the very small drop on the decorative tile in the low lighting.

“We can take this to an Imperial facility, run a DNA scan,” she said, Luke hearing the excitement in her voice. The feeling was catching. This was turning into a great mystery, just like the holodramas.

Mara pocketed the tile fragment and scurried from the chamber, on the move again, Luke scrambling to keep up.

“We go back to the transport,” she said, as they reached the area where Luke fell, beginning to climb the root system to the top. “We call Darth Sidious and tell him. Then we head to the Imperial facility. The nearest is the orbital around Korriban.” She paused and looked down at Luke who struggled along behind her. “Korriban is a good place to go, especially if we have a Sith tomb raider on our hands.”

Tomb raider? Luke smiled. Yes, he’d certainly found himself on an adventure.

Light years away, on Coruscant, Darth Sidious switched off his comm and sat, puzzled. He had not experienced this sort of bafflement in years, and the report from Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker from Yavin 4 truly surprised him. He’d sent them there to get Luke off-world to anger Vader, but now…someone breaking into ancient Sith tombs? No, not only that, but finding tombs no one else had in several thousand years.

Sidious rose and began to pace. Who could this be? He thought of his accolades, but he couldn’t think of one skilled enough to do this except Mara, who was obviously just as perplexed as he.

Or Vader.

Darth Sidious stopped short, staring at the ground in thought. Could Vader be seeking Sith artifacts as part of his plan to take out the Emperor? Palpatine grinned suddenly. He liked this idea indeed, made the game with his apprentice a bit more fun and interesting. And yet…this did not seem Vader’s style. And the fallen Jedi rarely surprised Sidious over the years.

No, no, Sidious would need to consider the options, including the fact this might not even be the work of a Sith. The old anger arose in him, his one great failure…Yoda. But would the little green moron seek out Sith memorabilia. No, that did not seem his style either. Still, desperate times call for desperate measures…

But right now, Sidious was anything but desperate. No, he still had everything in control, and what would life be really without little unexpected complexities. And he’d always dealt with everything to his benefit, even as a young man on Naboo.

A chime sounded and he turned toward the door, seeing one of his aides enter.

“My Lord, Darth Vader and the Imperial fleet will be returning by mid-day tomorrow,” the aide reported.

“Ah yes, thank you,” Sidious said with a dismissive gesture. The aide left.

Darth Vader returns, to an empty home. Yes, he looked forward to greeting his apprentice, seeing where the two most powerful men in the galaxy now sat in their game of Sith chess.

Author’s Note: Who do you think raided the Sith tomb on Yavin 4?

In the next chapter, Han and Leia face off in the championship round of the sabacc tournament on Cloud City.


Hope you are enjoying the story! Please leave a comment. Take care.

 

Quite the intriguing puzzle. And love that Mara and Sidious both don't know who's behind it. Wow. And Luke and Mara - nice teamwork there & "Survivor Planet". LOL

 

Answer to your question: Indiana Jones? Melody Pond/ Doctor Song? Ah, spoilers!

Also liked that there is not only bleakness on the dark side of the Force, but fun, too.

Darth Vader returns, to an empty home. Yes, he looked forward to greeting his apprentice, seeing where the two most powerful men in the galaxy now sat in their game of Sith chess.

 

I always loved how Luke and Mara worked as a team, even when they were enemies.

Thank you for reading!

The Dark Side has always been fun. Remember, they have the cookies!

And nice to meet another Doctor Who fan!!!

 

Chapter Nine

Lunch with the Lords of the Sith


Thirty minutes into the championship game of the Cloud City sabacc tournament, Han Solo knew he’d lost to old Ben and Ambassador Leia. And Lando knew it too, giving Han a smug smile from the first row of spectators, the audience surrounding the four players silent except for the occasional cough or whisper.

Han glanced directly across from him to his Gran partner, Utem. Han could see Utem’s eyestocks quiver, a sign Han knew, from the past few days of playing with him, meant trouble. But Han already knew they were in trouble. There was no way to regain the lead now.

Arriving earlier for the event, Han felt an unusual amount of anxiety over this final hand, which surprised him. He usually handled his gambling as he did everything else in his life, with a casual air of cockiness. But Lando’s comments about him falling for Leia, and now playing Leia herself, threw him off balance.

Once Leia and Ben arrived and the game began, he focused on the cards, and soon, it was like he wasn’t playing with a woman he felt a deep attraction for, but just another player. Unfortunately, while Leia herself proved to be an above average sabacc player, her partner Ben was exceptional. In fact, the man could not seem to lose, and Han noticed Leia herself seemed surprised by a couple of hands. Calm and focused, Ben seemed to know exactly what would come next, making the right bets at exactly the right time. And despite him beating Han and Utem, demolishing them really, his kind blue eyes and warm smile put Han at ease. Sitting between this old man who radiated peace and the beautiful Leia who Han hoped to be kissing later, this game of sabacc turned out to be the most delightful loss Han ever experienced.

The game ended suddenly, as all good sabacc matches do, and Han rose with the rest of the players, shaking their hands, lingering on Leia’s to run his finger across her wrist, rewarded with a blush and an intense, longing look.

“Excellent game, my friend,” Ben said as he shook Han’s hand, Han noticing the hand to be ice cold, Ben himself looking a little pale as Lando brought up the lights in the casino, dimmed earlier to bring the spotlight on the final round.

Ben and Leia turned to Lando, who began making some speech about Ben’s prowess and Leia’s beauty and their skills as a team and the amenities of Cloud City. Goodness, that man loved to hear himself talk, mused Han.

“I must say, Pilot Solo,” said Utem, coming up beside Han. “We lost terribly, but I just don’t feel so bad about it.” He shrugged. “I’m usually bitter but…I’m…just…not.” Turning to Han directly, Utem opened his arms to embrace the human. “Well, I am off. Enjoy your final day with your lady. You head out on a job tomorrow, right? Corporate Sector? I am out that way myself often. Perhaps we will meet again.”

Utem disappeared into the crowd, and Han felt a sudden lump in his throat. He’d almost forgotten about the next job. These were really his last hours with Leia.

He turned to find Leia standing right in front of him.

“Ben is collecting the credits,” Leia said. “You’re not angry you lost?”

“No,” Han said honestly. “That Ben is a great player. How does he know what comes next? I’d swear he was some sort of seer.”

He saw Leia bite her lip, averting her eyes.

“Well, um, wanna go to the dance hall again?” she asked.

“Anywhere with you, sweetheart.”

Just before he left the casino, his arm draped over Leia, Han turned to give a triumphant smirk at the scowling Lando.

Back on Coruscant, marching down the halls of the Imperial Palace towards the Emperor’s private rooms, Darth Vader attempted to get his emotions under control. He’d returned the previous evening from Ryloth to an empty apartment, a message from Luke blinking on the house comm stating he’d been sent on a mission by Uncle Sheev.

No Leia. No Luke. Nothing but the usual service droids, although he would need to replace the second floor housekeeping unit as he’d crushed the one the Skywalkers owned for years in his anger.

Uncle Sheev…sending Luke on a mission. Leia receiving a posting. Both these events occurring during his absence, after he proclaimed to his children the desire to begin training them in the ways of the Sith.

Suspicious indeed. Could his master know his desire to take over as the lead Sith, the ruler of the galaxy, the keeper of the Rule of Two? Yes, very possible. Sidious embodied the Force in a way Vader never saw in another being, not even during his time as a Jedi. Sidious simply seemed to be everywhere.

His master requested lunch, so now Vader found himself at the entrance of the private banquet room, a servant opening the door for him, averting her gaze. Vader found Sidious at the large windows, surveying the Imperial City as numerous servants set an elaborate table for two.

Sidious turned and grinned broadly at his apprentice.

“Ah, Lord Vader, so glad to have you back,” Sidious said jovially.

Vader fought the urge to pick the older man up with the Force and throw him across the room. He needed to be covert, keep his feelings suppressed, something he’d never done well, but knew this was important for a Sith ascending to power. He’d seen as much with Darth Sidious, a man who never seemed to reveal his true self.

“I am glad to be back, master,” Vader replied, joining Sidious at the window. “But I come back to an empty home. Both my children…”

“Yes, yes,” Sidious said as if expecting this conversation first. “I sense great power in Luke. He’s on a secret mission for me, gathering Sith artifacts.”

Vader studied the cityscape without really seeing it. Sith artifacts? Perhaps this might not be so bad. Luke would return with more knowledge of the Dark Side.

“And Leia…Bespin for her. Emergency transfer. She will return when we have a more permanent arrangement,” Sidious said, brushing off the conversation with a wave of his hand. He looked toward the table. “Ohhh…lunch. We have an award-winning chef in the palace now and…”

Sidious rambled on about some new cook and a competition holoshow, but Vader began to reflect. Bespin…yes, he’d go there and fetch Leia immediately and…

Darth Vader refocused his attention on Sidious as the two sat down, and he almost gasped aloud. Sidious looked remarkable, as if years disappeared from his face, from his body, even from his Force signature which Vader now knew well. His face, normally lined with deep crevices, appeared smoother. His hair, which had receded greatly over the years to exist in just a few white wisps in the back appeared fuller, with the reddish hue Vader remembered on the man when he first met him decades ago.

Sidious looked younger, and this unsettled Vader greatly.

The first course arrived, a selection of vegetables drenched in a creamy sauce, quite flavorful, and Vader found himself famished. When had he last eaten? He often forgot when he got sidetracked by his plots and schemes.

“Tell me about Ryloth, my friend,” Sidious said.

Vader explained about the attack on the planet, the arrival of the delayed Death Star, not revealing his displeasure. The servants removed the first course, bringing in the main dish, a nerf steak, cooked to perfection. Vader glanced at Sidious’ vegetable plate as it left the table, noticing the man hardly ate, and as Vader downed his steak, he watched Sidious pick at his, taking the occasional small bite.

So it wasn’t diet and exercise making his master’s youth reappear, mused Vader. Sith sorcery could be the only answer, and not a good one as far as Vader was concerned.

Sidious began to laugh, and even his voice sounded stronger, less raspy.

“Well, you certainly angered Wilhuff,” Sidious said, putting down his utensils after eating only a quarter of his steak. “Thank you for that, Lord Vader. An angry Wilhuff is always amusing.” Sidious took a moment to sip his wine. “Now tell me, my apprentice. What is next for you now that the Rebellion is gone? That has been your sole focus since our dear Padmé’s death.”

Our dear Padmé? Vader could feel bile in the back of his throat. But he suppressed his feelings, using almost all his will to do so.

“I’m not sure,” he lied, knowing full well his next project sat before him at this moment. “Perhaps visit Leia on Bespin.”

“You must be quite proud of your two children,” Sidious said, waving to the servants to remove the main course.

Vader considered this. He did not know his children well enough to feel pride in them. He knew them both to be accomplished individuals, Leia with her work in the embassy, Luke at the academy, but beyond that…No, he’d only thought of them as possible tools in his impending war against Sidious. And keeping them alive, for Padmé’s sake. She did die for them, after all.

A momentary memory flashed through his mind, holding the body of his beloved wife, the lake estate, as well as the lake itself, aflame around him. He could feel the Dark Side of the Force rising within him, boiling his blood. Not now. Play smart.

Caf and cake arrived, and Vader again watched Sidious pick at this dessert as Vader himself plunged in, the confection truly delicious. The older man regained his strength somehow, through some arcane Force knowledge unknown to Vader. Perhaps he should not wait to train his little army of Skywalker Sith. Urgency filled Vader suddenly.

“Perhaps you can continue your search for your old Jedi masters,” Sidious said, the suggestion startling Vader. The two Sith had not spoken of the Jedi in ages.

“Yoda and Obi-Wan?” Vader said, the two names feeling like sand on his tongue. “They are most likely dead.”

“Perhaps not,” said Sidious. “Particularly Yoda. He’s a sturdy fellow.” The tone of Sidious’ voice caught Vader’s attention.

“Have you heard something new?” Vader asked.

Sidious hesitated for a moment, enough time to puzzle Vader further.

“No…just remembering that evening…the little wretch slipping away,” Sidious hissed, his eyes darkening momentarily, but then he smiled again. “But Bespin, to see Leia. I’m sure she would love to show her father her work.”

Vader just nodded, sipping his caf. Sidious plotted, just like Vader himself. And Vader needed to get a head start on his plan to take over the galaxy.

Upon returning home, Vader logged onto his private comm channel, triple-checking that no surveillance could be found, that his personal firewalls covered his tracks. Dialing in a number he’d only used a few times before in dealing with some of the leaders of the Rebellion, he waited a full minute for the call to go through before a familiar face filled the screen.

“My lord?” the man inquired.

Darth Vader smiled. Yes, just the man for the job.

Light years away, back on Cloud City, Leia found herself once again walking up to the door of her suite, holding hands with Han. Despite her and Ben winning the tournament, she and Han spent a marvelous day together, both seeming to know this would be the end of their little fling.

He would be leaving the next day, off to another job, trying to pay his debts. Leia felt a twinge of remorse; she should have persuaded Ben to throw the game, although she knew the older man needed the funds as well.

They arrived at Leia’s door, and she turned to Han, looking up into his handsome face. Her heart began to race. This might be their only night together…

“Would you like to come in?” she asked without thinking, but she knew instantly that is what she wanted.

She watched him swallow hard and lick his lips, two actions which sent a wave of heat through her.

“Yes,” he said simply.

She turned and unlocked the door with her keycard, entering the suite as all the lights came on for her. Han followed close behind.

He whistled in amazement. “Wow, so this is what Lando has squared away for the better half,” he said.

Leia just smiled, feeling nervous, but those nerves soon dissipated as Han wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and kissed her deeply. Time seemed to stop, and Leia allowed herself to get lost in the kiss, the feel of his hands running along her back. They both separated to catch their breath, and Leia giggled.

“What?” Han asked.

“It’s just…this is so…crazy…I mean…I’ve never…and…” she felt flustered and turned toward the small kitchen. “I’ll get us some wine. You have a seat.” She pointed to the sofa in the living space.

“Sounds good, sweetheart,” Han said with a wink.

Leia pulled out two wine glasses with shaking hands, feeling a little giddy. Her whole body felt alight for Han and…

Suddenly, a pressure in her head made her dizzy, and she doubled over, dropping both glasses. She heard them shatter to the floor as if from a great distance.

“Help me, Leia Skywalker,” a man’s voice, very familiar, filled her brain. “You’re my only hope.”

Ben.

“Leia! Leia!” Han shouted at her as she kneeled on the floor of the kitchen, both palms pressed to the sides of her head. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

The pressure was gone, but the urgency of Ben’s tone remained. Leia leapt to her feet.

“It’s Ben!” she said, grabbing Han and pulling him toward the door. “He needs help.”

“How do…”

But Leia didn’t listen. Still clutching Han’s hand, she ran down the corridor to the lift. She knew Ben’s room number from having to comm him, but she never visited him there. Yet, she could feel the Force guiding her to exactly where she needed to be. She needed to help her friend. Something was dreadfully wrong. She flashed back to the first evening she met Ben, him clutching his chest in pain. Could he be ill?

Ten floors and three corridors later, Leia found the room, the door slightly ajar. Pushing her way in, she gasped. Ben lie on his back on the floor near the door, wearing only his trousers. He seemed unconscious, but he soon opened his eyes groggily at her arrival.

“Leia?” he murmured weakly.

But Leia’s attention was drawn to his chest, in which a mechanism sat in the place where the heart should be.

“He’s got a mechanical heart,” said Han as he and Leia sat beside Ben.

“Yes,” Ben said, barely above a whisper. He winced. “And something is wrong. I need to return to Epione…she…she…” He groaned loudly, his hand coming up and pressing on the heart machine.

“Lando’s buddy Lobot is an expert on implants and …” Han began.

“I don’t know, Han,” Leia said, looking closer at the bionic device. “This doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen, not even on a holodoc…”

“Epione…Epio…” Ben whispered and then lost consciousness.

“Do you know who this Epione is?” Han asked.

Leia shook her head. “He never spoke too much about his life.” She leaned her face closer to Ben’s. “Ben. Please tell me how I can help.”

The older man’s eyes fluttered and flew open, their brilliant blue shining up at her despite his weariness. “Epione. Medical station. A couple systems over. She…she can help. Please…please take me…Leia.” He tried to sit up, then gasped in pain.

“Whoa, old man. Take it easy,” Han said, grabbing Ben’s shoulders and gently guiding him back to the ground. “I’ve got a ship. I can take you. I just need to know the way.”

“Data pad. Contact one,” Ben said, then let out a pained, sudden scream. He curled up in the fetal position, moaning, tears streaming from his closed eyes.

“Okay. Okay,” Leia said, trying to remain calm. But seeing Ben, her friend and mentor over the past several days in such deep pain, made Leia herself want to curl up and cry. Her gaze met Han’s.

“Leia, it’s okay. I’m going to comm Chewie to meet us here, help Ben to the Falcon. I can take him and…”

“I need to come too. I need to make sure he’s okay,” Leia said. She could not let Ben go without her. She handed Han the information on the data pad, which he regarded quickly with a nod.

“Not too far,” he said. “A couple of short jumps. Listen, go tell your cronies…um, staff…you’ll be back in a few days. And pack a few things. Meet me here in a couple minutes. Chewie will come soon.” He turned to Ben. “We’re going to take care of you, pal. Promise.”

Ben nodded weakly.

Leia dashed from the room, comming her staff to meet her at her suite.

Fifteen minutes later, Leia returned to Ben’s floor with a hastily packed bag and a data pad filled with contact information for her staff, who seemed rather indifferent of her leaving. She stopped short at seeing both Han and Chewie walking toward her, Ben cradled in the Wookie’s arms, looking small and weak. Leia felt relieved to see Han gathered Ben’s things, got a robe and boots on the older man. Still, Ben seemed completely unconscious. She reached out and brushed him with the Force, but recoiled, feeling only pain.

They moved to the hanger where Han parked his ship, the Millennium Falcon, days before. Upon approaching the freighter, Leia stopped short.

“That…bucket of bolts…that is your ship?” she asked, uncertain about the safety of getting on such a vehicle.

“Hey, she’d got it where it counts,” Han said defensively, the line well-rehearsed. He’d heard such criticism before.

She hesitated only a moment before following Han, Chewie, and Ben up the ramp and onto the Falcon.

Author’s Note: Next time, Luke and Mara arrive at Korriban, the Sith world, and Darth Vader hatches a plot to destroy Sidious.


Thank you for reading. Hope everyone is enjoying a lovely summer.

 

First scene after the match, SQUEE! Lunch with Sith LOL. How intriguing Sidious' unexplained sudden rejuvenation is, and worrying too! Final scene with Han/Leia — scrumptious until what is that with Ben? Yikes! Happy that H/L will be spending more time together, but when Daddy Vader gets to Bespin, she won't be there.

 

If I would not know any better, I would guess that old Sheev is some kind of (Force) vampire.

I am worried for Luke and Mara now and certainly for Ben.

 

Leia's reaction to the Falcon hasn't changed.

 

More Han and Leia moments to come. I love writing them!

Ooohhh, Force vampire! I love that. Perhaps a Dracula/Star Wars crossover.

 

Oh please feel free to do that for a "Spike-Lestat-Eric" fan! Fire at will! Erm, write at will!

 

Chapter Ten

Korriban


Darth Vader walked around the Skywalker home, packing the few items he needed for his trip to Bespin to fetch his daughter. His brain swam with ideas to begin Leia’s training, despite the absence of Luke. He also waited for a call from Boba Fett.

Just as he folded up the last of his clothing, the comm pinged. Vader settled himself in front of the screen, and soon the familiar face of the assassin and bounty hunter Boba Fett, a face he’d seen on hundreds of others during the Clone Wars, appeared. Fett’s scars differentiated him from the clones Vader fought alongside decades ago, when he’d been an ignorant, foolish Jedi.

“Lord Vader,” the man began. “I have gathered the resources necessary to carry out your orders.”

Vader nodded but sensed apprehension in the man, a bounty hunter he used on several occasions over the years for dealings with the Rebellion, various crime cartels, and even getting rid of an obnoxious Sith or two.

“Something is wrong,” Vader said.

Fett bit his lip and averted his eyes. “It’s just that…the Emperor? Sir, he is…formidable. The security surrounding him, the Imperial Guards themselves…”

“Are you not the most sought after bounty hunter in the galaxy?” Vader asked.

“Yes, my lord. But…”

“Do you not have a team of highly trained Mandolorians to back you up?”

“The best of the best, but…”

“Did I not send you a complete detailed map of the palace as well as personnel postings, passwords, and secret corridors and traps?”

“Yes, and we’ve made a plan and…well…”

“Am I not paying you ten million credits for the hit?”

“And a generous sum, Lord Vader. But you see…”

“If you do not complete this job, I will be forced to kill you and your team,” Vader said matter-of-factly. “You know of my desire to remove the Emperor. You know too much already. I believe you should take care of Emperor Palpatine, take your money, and move on. Or you will die.”

Fett stared at Vader, his mouth slightly hanging open. After a few moments, his face once again turned to steel. “Yes, my lord.”

“Good,” Vader said. “I am heading off world. I expect the job to be done within a few days.”

Vader disconnected with the bounty hunter, and suddenly felt a sense of apprehension himself. Was he doing the right thing, passing off the job? Didn’t the Rule of Two require the apprentice to kill the master himself? But with Sidious and Vader in front of the whole galaxy, in the political limelight, Vader knew he could not put himself in the role of assassin of the Emperor, whom many in the Empire saw as the kindly old man. They would never accept Vader’s rule. No, better to make it an unconnected assassination. He’d already set up several annoying senators as possible culprits. He’d swoop in, take over…the mourning friend.

Vader smiled to himself. Yes, Sidious, you taught me well, he thought. Play the intrigue. Don’t be rash…plan, think things through.

Still, smiling, Vader picked up his bag and headed to his ship for his journey to Bespin, snapping his fingers for R2D2 to follow.

Light years across the galaxy, Luke Skywalker regarded the foreboding landscape of the Sith world of Korriban with awe. The Dark Side, thick in the air, reminded him of his impending training with his father. He felt grateful to Mara for finally giving in, after an almost embarrassing degree of whining on his part, to allow him an aerial tour of the world before docking at the research orbital above.

Zooming over the cold, rocky planet in their transport, sometimes daring to slip into a canyon, Luke saw evidence of the old Sith training academies as well as the various Valleys of the Dark Lords. Many of these locations looked active.

As they flew over one such ancient temple in the southern hemisphere, Mara seemed to sense his question. She pointed out the window to the temple, surrounded by tents, at least a hundred sentients moving in, out, and around the ancient structure, which had scaffolding in various spots.

“After years of desolation, Korriban is becoming more active. More and more Dark Side practitioners are surfacing,” Mara explained. “My master authorized a few who showed potential to rebuild here. Now there are mostly excavations, but who knows, maybe a new academy someday.”

Luke smiled. Maybe he would be here one day, training with others powerful in the Force. He glanced over at Mara to see her face serious.

“What?” he asked.

Her voice sounded distant when she answered. “It’s just…sometimes I don’t understand his plan. I know he still believes in the Rule of Two…but he also sees the need for the Sith to be legion again…but…and…I don’t know.”

“Are you talking about Uncle Sheev?” Luke asked, desperate to pull more information from Mara. She always seemed to know exactly the moment to withdraw, usually when things got interesting.

Now proved to be no different. She snapped back to the moment, glaring at Luke with those piercing green eyes.

“Enough, Skywalker,” she said firmly. “Let’s get to the orbital.”

They spoke no further as he pulled out of the Korriban atmosphere and headed toward the Imperial facility, a small orbital. After docking, the duo headed toward the main lab, occasionally passing a being, although Luke noticed the station to be sparsely populated. They entered the labs, immediately greeted by a tall Muun in dark brown robes, rising from a computer terminal. Luke tried to hide his surprise at seeing the Muun, a species who mostly kept to themselves while running the galaxy’s banks. The lanky creature with the long face approached, glancing for a moment at Luke, showing disinterest, then regarding Mara.

“Emperor’s Hand,” he said, bowing slightly.

“Chet,” Mara replied, not bowing but getting down to business immediately, pulling out the piece of mosaic they found in the tomb on Yavin 4, the one with the blood from the thief who’d stolen the Sith artifacts. “We need this sample checked. I need to know who this blood belongs to as soon as possible."

Chet took the piece from Mara, nodding. Luke looked beyond to the lab, typical of ones he’d seen on holoshows with chemical and computer equipment. As the Muun moved into the work space, several computers turned on, and devices rose and moved to Chet’s side. He brought the mosaic shard up to his eyes.

“Give me two standard hours,” he said, turning his back to them.

Mara grabbed Luke’s arm and pulled him down a hallway.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“There is a small training facility here. I want to use the time to train you in a few combat moves. Who knows what we may be up against with this treasure thief,” she said briskly. “Your skills are lacking.”

“Hey, I learned some hand-to-hand and blaster combat at the Imperial Academy,” Luke said defensively, getting a bit tired of Mara always ragging on him. Yes, he did not know how to wield the Force, but he wasn’t completely useless.

Mara looked back at him with raised eyebrows and a sneer. Even with the displeasing look, Luke still found her attractive. As she turned back around and walked ahead, he tried not to blatantly stare at her backside. She could probably sense his attraction through the Force. Change the subject, he thought.

“I didn’t know Muuns could be Force sensitive,” he said.

Mara stopped short, Luke almost running into her. She whirled around.

“What?” she said, looking at him in confusion.

Luke knitted his own brows. “Um…huh?”

“You don’t know the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?” she asked, sounding truly baffled.

“Um…no. Well, yes. I know he was a Lord of the Sith and…”

“Your father never told you the story?”

“No.”

Mara faced him, looking very serious. “Darth Plagueis was the master of Darth Sidious, your Uncle Sheev. And he was a Muun. A very powerful Sith Lord.”

Mara turned and continued down the hall, leaving Luke a bit shamed. Shouldn’t he know this? Why hadn’t his father shared anything with him and Leia? After a moment, Luke shrugged, deciding to take advantage of Mara’s offer to train him, and also thinking he would confront his father about his lack of information when he returned.

The training facility, a large empty space with one side a window facing the planet and the other a wall with a variety of weapons mounted, radiated the Dark Side. Luke stared at a blood stain on the floor, the deep color indicating it had been there awhile, perhaps left behind as a warning or inspiration. Scorch marks cracked the wall near the door. Force lightening.

“You said you’ve never used a lightsaber,” said Mara, approached some shelves featuring several blades of different types.

“Well, I have…” Luke hesitated.

Mara turned, giving him her attention. “Yes, your father’s. But you haven’t really…”

“And Uncle Sheev’s,” Luke finished, hoping to impress Mara.

She looked skeptical. “My master’s? When?”

“Well, Leia and I stayed two nights with Uncle Sheev when we were little. My mom and dad went on a trip to the northern pole, to the snow resort,” Luke said, now seeing how silly the story was, but he couldn’t stop now. She would just question him. “Uncle Sheev showed us some moves, let us hold the blade.” He laughed. “I remember he let us eat candy and watch the scary holoshows mom wouldn’t allow.”

“My master watched holoshows?”

“Yeah.”

Mara snorted a laugh. “How old were you?”

“Um…maybe…six.”

“Mmm hmm,” mumbled Mara with a heavily sarcastic air. She turned her attention to the lightsabers.

Luke reached for the handle of the nearest one, but Mara slapped his arm.

“No. We’re not starting with a real blade. Do you want to lose a hand?” she scolded. She moved down and grabbed two poles made of a light plastic fiber. She threw one in his direction. “Here. Let’s learn some basic stances and defensive moves.”

“Then some offense, right,” Luke said, joining Mara in the middle of the room.

Mara shook her head. “Waste of time. We’re going to assume our thief is more skilled than you. He did beat the traps in an ancient Sith tomb, after all. You will most likely be on the defense.”

“Well, what about you?” he snapped.

“If you get scared, you can stand behind me,” she said with a sly smile. “You like that view anyway.”

Luke’s face burned red, but he shrugged it off, gripped the plastic rod, and focused as Mara began her lesson.

Ninety minutes later, dripping with sweat, Mara finally admitted to herself that Luke Skywalker could possibly be a master lightsaber duelist, with a lot more training. But he certainly had some talent. In fact, he seemed to anticipate her moves, something she heard to be a strength of his father, probably accounting for both father and son being excellent pilots.

Still, he needed more training, his blocking sloppy. She dived into a simple move, smacking his arm harder than she intended.

“Damn!” he shouted, throwing down his training rod in pain and frustration. He was getting angry, his eyes stormy with increasing rage. A nice look for him, mused Mara.

Luke marched over to the area along the wall, grabbing up a cup of water. He then pulled his sweaty green tunic off over his head, casting it aside before again gulping water.

Mara swallowed hard and felt flushed. Luke was still turned away from her, and she could see the muscle definition along his back, his strong shoulders and arms. He was in excellent shape, probably due to working out at the Imperial Academy, disciplined training. His nicely sculpted body, as well as his growing anger, made her feel slightly aroused. Yes, she admitted to herself, Luke Skywalker was attractive. Even his ignorant and misplaced optimism about his Sith training was a little enduring.

And the last thing Mara needed was Luke knowing how she felt. As he turned around to reveal a well-toned torso, Mara moved away to avoid him seeing her blush, walking toward her own cup of water, also pulling a towel from the shelf to wipe sweat from her brow.

“Okay…try that move again,” Luke said, his voice a bit deeper in his seriousness.

Without waiting, Mara threw the towel on a nearby peg, spun around, and darted toward Luke with the training rod, her speed seeming to startle him. Soon, Luke lay sprawled on the floor, Mara standing over him. She watched his fists clench as he rose.

“You’re angry,” she taunted. “Good! Use that anger! Use it against me! Strike out at me!” She made sure to use many of the phrases her master employed when training her. Sidious’ goading always seemed to bring out the rage.

She backed away as Luke rose, and she watched him wave his arm. Suddenly, something soft and wet struck her in the face. Startled, she looked down to see the towel she just used lying on the floor at her feet. She slowly glanced up at Luke, who stared at the towel.

“Did you just use the Force to throw a towel at me?” she asked.

“I…yeah…” said Luke, still staring at her feet, his face falling.

“You used your rage…you touched the Dark Side with your anger…and threw a sweaty towel at my head?” she continued, a giggle rising from her with the last words. This was simply ridiculous. And hilarious. She burst out laughing. She laughed so hard, her stomach began to hurt. But it felt good, to laugh. She actually could not remember laughing this hard.

Through the tears in her eyes, she saw Luke’s face soften, and he began laughing as well. They both stood together, filling the training room with their laughter.

A loud beep sounded, and a deep, slow voice came over the intercom. The Muun Sith researcher Chet.

“Emperor’s Hand, my analysis is complete. Please return to the lab.”

Mara wiped the tears from her eyes. “C’mon, Skywalker.” Using the Force, she swept up his tunic from the floor and deposited it over his head as she exited.

Chet sat at the table at the center of his lab, several data pads as well as the bloody mosaic chard in front of him. His long fingers intertwined, his back straight, his flat face serious and patient, Chet looked simply elegant. Not for the first time Mara wished she could have met Darth Plagueis. What a formidable presence he must have been.

Mara and Luke pulled up chairs across from Chet.

“Alright, what have you got for me?” Mara asked.

“There is no DNA record of the individual in any Imperial database,” Chet said.

“How can that be?” snapped Mara, irritated. Imperial databases never failed her before.

Chet shrugged. “Any number of reasons. Avoided coding when the planets were audited by the Empire. Maybe from an unincorporated world.” He paused. “I do have some interesting information, however.”

“Tell me,” Mara demanded, becoming impatient with the Muun’s calm and slow demeanor.

“The amount of midichlorians in this sample indicate someone very powerful in the Force,” Chet said. “Which may tell us a few things. The individual may be a higher level Sith. I do know some of the Inquisitors do not have their DNA on file.” The Muun raised an eyebrow. “Nor does the Emperor’s Hand.”

Mara nodded. She’d already suspected a fellow Sith. Of course the thief had to be Force sensitive, to tackle a Sith tomb.

“Something else,” Chet continued, interrupting Mara’s thoughts. “When I first began my training, I was charged with putting together a new library, combining Sith resources with items rescued from the ruined Jedi Temple. During the Jedi purge, someone in the Temple destroyed the personnel records, all biological information on those in the Order.”

“So maybe…a Jedi?” Mara said. She knew the possibility of surviving Jedi, in fact could think of two in particular her Master occasionally lamented over. Both she and Sidious knew the existence of others to be highly probable, considering the size of the galaxy.

Luke suddenly chimed in. “Why would a Jedi break into a Sith tomb? My father told me the Jedi shunned the Dark Side…lied about it to their padawans in fear of the power…the power they could never understand enough to wield.”

“I’m just telling you the possibilities,” Chet said. “I am a simple Sith scientist. My job is problem-solving and research.” The Muun made a few clicks on his data pad. “The only other traits I could gather from the sample is it is recently spilt blood, not more than three standard months shed, and belongs to a human male.”

Mara grew quiet. A human male. She needed to speak with her master, figure out the next step…but no…no, she also needed to establish herself as one worthy of her apprenticeship to the most powerful Sith in the galaxy. She’d continue on her own…well, with Luke in tow. She would find the thief, the artifacts, and return to the Emperor a success.

But what to do next?

An idea suddenly occurred. Perhaps they could enter the thief’s own game.

“Chet, I was thinking about the excavations on Korriban and Yavin 4. Are there any other worlds that show potential for Dark Side treasures, that we’ve surveyed but haven’t had a chance to explore yet?”

Chet clicked away on his pad, then brought up a holographic map of the galaxy on the table between them. He pointed around.

“Jomark. We have a small base there, but the world shimmers with the Dark Side, yet no archeological digs at this time. I’ve visited myself. Something is definitely there,” Chet brought his long face closer to the map, looking at a spot on the opposite side of the galaxy from Korriban. “Ah yes. Here it is. The records also say Dagobah. Files from the old Jedi library. Planet a Dark Side nexus, yet no explorations yet, not since the Empire’s inception. On a to do list for the archeologists it seems.” Chet laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. “Of course they don’t seem to be in a hurry. The place is a swamp world. Unpleasant.”

“Dagobah,” Luke said next to Mara, his voice sounding distant. She turned to see him gazing ahead, eyes glazed. He blinked, as if suddenly awakening, and grabbed her arm. “We need to go there!”

“Why?”

“Just…it sounds right,” Luke said, his voice confident. “I can feel it.”

Mara studied him for a long time. She’d been skeptical of him on Yavin 4 and yet… There was something special about this Luke Skywalker, and Dagobah was as good a place to start as any.

“All right,” she said, rising. “Why not?” She turned to Chet, retrieving her blood-stained mosaic from the table. “Thank you, Chet.”

“Safe journey, Emperor’s Hand,” said the Muun, rising, uninterested, moving on to his next task. “May the Force serve you both.”

Turning to Luke as they entered the corridor, Mara said, “Well, we have a very long flight ahead of us. Dagobah is on the opposite side of the galaxy. Several jumps. Let’s hit the galley and the supply room to stock up.”

“Will you continue my training?” Luke asked.

“One thing at a time, city boy,” Mara said, quickening her pace to get the ship stocked and ready for the long flight to Dagobah.

Author’s Note: Next time, we return to the Millennium Falcon where Ben tells Leia a love story. Also, Sidious senses a threat.

Thanks for reading! Comments encouraged. May the Force be with you.

 

Intriguing scheme Vader has involving Fett. Seems like it could work. Unconnected assassination that he apparently had nothing to do with.

Awesome scene with L/M training. Love their mutual discombobulation with one another.
Love the fact their exploration and investigation as a team is continuing.

Eagerly awaiting the next installment.

 

I sense that we will soon be saying hello to our little green friend.