Redemption Part 10

Redemption
Part 10: Always in Motion is the Future
By SJ 12-23-01/05-02 (skyjade@globetrotter.net)

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to George Lucas. I'm only writing stories for fun.
See my homepage for more details.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/3702

Special thanks to my shy, secret beta-reader and best friend, Adrianne, for her
help with the final editing of my new stories. Thanks for giving
me some of your precious time, my friend :)

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When the Emperor entered the youth's 'cell', two weeks and a half after his
arrival on Coruscant, he expected him to be recovering from yet another normally
impossible physical challenge. Hence, he wasn't totally surprised when he
discovered that he was slumbering. He smirked coldly at the perfection of his
opportunity. Considering that the boy wasn't aware of his presence at the
moment, he could finally study him as he pleased without any risk of
interference from the still slightly wary boy. He first scrutinized his body; it
had always been strong, he conceded, but now, it was becoming even stronger and
more agile. However, he noted clinically, his muscles hadn't begun to bulge
yet; instead, they were only more sinewy and defined. It was the same for his
torso, he continued his scrutiny as he stepped closer to the unaware youth.
Still, he reflected seriously, his reports were satisfying.

As he had meant to achieve, he had first determined the boy's true limits, of
his resistance and stamina, then had ordered his trainers to devise a program
that would push the youth to those limits. Then, while his trainers forced the
young dark Jedi to fight for his life day after day, he himself had slowly begun
to take possession of his mind for real this time, allowing the youth to get
used to their slowly growing bond until he would be irremediably bonded to him,
thus becoming his, in every sense of the word. He had been 'gentle' up to now,
he conceded, not wanting to worry his 'subject', but now that the youth was
definitely shedding his care to focus solely on remaining alive and pleasing
him, he decided that he would do it with more intensity.

Starting, he thought more greedily as he rested his hand on the boy's forehead,
now---

The moment that he probed the boy, he felt a most disgusting particularity that
had been well and truly hidden from him. Instantly forgetting about his plans
for the boy and giving into his hatred for the spying Jedi, he lashed out at
him.

Luke, who had almost fallen unconscious after his latest session, suddenly felt
a cold hand on his forehead, then before he could understand who was there, felt
a similarly cold probe in his mind. Unfortunately, given his tired state, his
shields had lessened slightly--- and the Emperor caught whiff of his true self.
Before he could shield himself, or pretend to crush it for him, the other
assailed him with mental pain that practically knocked him out.

"Cursed Jedi," the Emperor spat in the distance, then attacked him again.

Suddenly, Luke felt himself fly off his bunk--- and crashed hard on the floor
when a new torment assaulted him: the Emperor's lightning bolts.

This time, Luke shrieked in agony even as he dimly understood that the Emperor
had discovered his double play. He was done for, he barely thought--- then the
fiery torment went away, leaving him in a barely alive state; it didn't seem
enough for the Emperor. Instead of leaving him to his torment, he wrapped a
Force-leash around his neck, practically strangling him with the strength of the
hold, then forced him back to his knees and in front of him.

"So you were only pretending," the older man spat in his face even as he clasped
his head. Meanwhile, the noose around Luke's neck continued to tighten, as if
it was about to strangle the life out of him... efficiently forcing him to focus
all his remaining strength on not passing out instead of shielding his mind, he
realized in horror. Before he could think about shifting his focus, the
Emperor speared in his mind, painfully shoving aside everything that met his
presence--- until he found his secrets.

"Please... I didn't---" Luke tried to choke out, but it only resulted in a
tightening of the invisible noose around his throat.

"A Jedi," the other finally snarled in his face while not letting go of his
head. "A total waste of talent and power!" he hissed viciously to the now
barely conscious youth.

Luke wanted to hiss back, scream, or merely express his pain, but he couldn't
produce a single sound, instead trying to save his breath for a last attempt to
save his life. Before he could do anything though, the Emperor freed him from
his hold, then while he had barely begun to recover his breath, knocked him
unconscious before he had even had time to rub his throat with his hand, let
alone mount a defense.

Once the disgusting Jedi was knocked out, Palpatine finally calmed down and
considered his options. The little brat had freed himself from his vicious hold
and had even managed to hide it from him and his family. He was dangerous, he
surmised with finality.

However, he reflected more calmly as he probed him again, he wouldn't waste that
kind of power. The youth had already proven to him how perfect a tool he could
be if properly groomed. He would have to kill his spirit while keeping his body
and clever mind alive, he decided with finality. And one way to do so, he then
reflected meanly as he pulled his comlink from his robe's pocket, was to make
his life miserable until he had enough.

"Prince Xizor," he called in the comlink. "I have a gift for you," he sneered,
throwing a glare at his disappointing subject.

******

When Luke recovered his senses, the first thing that crossed his mind was that
his last training session had been worse than his previous ones. He ached
everywhere. He brought his hand to his eyes---only to discover that his two
hands were bound behind his back and that he was laying on his left side.

Awakening thanks to the following surge of adrenaline, he opened his eyes--- but
saw nothing but darkness. He instinctively tried to call out for someone, and
became aware that he was gagged as well. What was going on?, he wondered----

The suddenly well-remembered choking noose reappear around his throat, then it
forced him back to his knees despite his bonds. While Luke prepared himself for
the end this time, the noose slackened, disappeared--- then he was assaulted by
his returning hearing and eyesight as whatever was covering his head was ripped
away. He winced despite himself at the harsh light, then heard a gasp of
surprise that belonged to an unfortunately familiar voice.

Xizor, who had hurried to answer the Emperor's summon, followed him in a side
room of the throne room. He had to admit that he was curious as to which gift
the old man was saving for him. It would be a first such experience for him.

They entered a non-descript door, then the Emperor stepped toward the sole
prisoner of the empty room. A young human male was laying on his side; his
hands and feet were securely bound while his features were covered by what
seemed to be an isolation hood. He was regaining consciousness, he noticed as
he studied his useless shifts to free himself from his bounds.

"As I was saying, my friend," the Emperor continued in his dry voice even as the
youth suddenly, unexplainably forced himself back to his knees despite his
bonds, "I have a very unique gift for you to thank you for your loyal services
despite our little problems in the past."

While it didn't take a genius to understand what the Emperor meant to give to
him, he had to admit that he was puzzled as to why. He conceded that the young
man seemed well-built and healthy enough to be worth a small fortune on the
slave market, but money was of little consequences to him, as it was to the
Emperor. No, he reflected as his eyes riveted themselves on the hood that hid
the man's features, it was something else. Then, the Emperor viciously pulled
the piece of fabric from the prisoner's head and he understood exactly what was
going on.

The son of Lord Vader had somehow fallen from grace. Even as the youth pulled
his head to the side in reaction to the harsh light of the room, the Emperor
grabbed hold of his hair and forced him to look at him. The blue eyes, which
had always been hard and cool, were suddenly frightened as they rested on him.
He allowed himself to smile meanly at the horrified youth.

"As you can see," the older man smiled meanly, "it is a very unique gift which
will have to remain secret for the time being."

"Of course, my Master," he bowed respectfully while the beleaguered child tried
to complain about this predicament.

He himself sneered viciously at the struggling youth. Oh, he would certainly
not sell this young man, he promised himself.

"What about his Force powers, Master?" he suddenly inquired as he remembered
just why he himself had never attacked again the younger dark lord.

"They are of no concern for the moment," he reassured him even as he glared down
at the furious youth.

Just what, he wondered suddenly, had the Emperor's youngest protege done to
irate him this much? He then made a note to himself to never upset the Emperor.

"May I ask what happened?" he inquired as suavely as he could while he stepped
closer to his new property.

"What I always suspected," the other sneered, then tightened his grip on the
youth's scalp as if in deep frustration.

"I see," he himself nodded, not entirely sure that he understood. He could only
deduce that it was a Force thing this time.

"Given the son's talent to hide his true nature from me," the Emperor continued
more seriously, "I shall not take any chances with his father and ascertain his
true devotion, which means that for the time being," he finished more solemnly,
"you shall be my right hand, Dark Prince."

Xizor, who had only had eyes for the furious youth for the past minutes,
registered the Emperor's words and looked up at him.

Second in command of the Emperor. He had finally gotten closer to the throne.

"It shall be a pleasure, my Emperor," he bowed his head, then threw a mean smirk
at the glaring boy.

"Of course," the Emperor continued, "this will be efficient only after I have
taken care of Lord Vader. I will summon him but he is still a day or two away
from here. For the moment, enjoy your gift as you see fit, but keep him alive,"
he added warningly, freezing Luke's blood with his words.

Both Xizor and Luke threw a glance/glare at the older man. Great, Luke thought,
he hadn't given up on him just yet. He only meant to punish him with Xizor's
help. Well, he wouldn't---

"In time, I will take him back," he informed them.

Xizor bowed in acceptance of the Emperor's conditions while Luke desperately
wondered how he would get out of this one; he couldn t even feel the Force
anymore.

******

Aboard the Executor, which was now in transit in hyperspace, Anakin Skywalker
awoke with a jolt from one of the most horrible nightmare that had ever assailed
his senses. In it, his son had failed to fool the Emperor and had been turned
into a prisoner and slave once again.

Feeling yet another icy shiver run down his back, he suddenly understood that it
wasn't a nightmare but a vision of the future. For a few, terrifying minutes,
he even convinced himself that it had already happened, then he remembered what
Master Yoda had used to say about the future; 'Always in motion is the future,'
he had warned his young students over and over again during meditations. Back
then, he had assumed that it meant that the visions were quicksilver, but now,
he understood. Nothing was determined about the future; they themselves 'made'
their own future. Setting his mind on finding a way to reach Coruscant faster
than his actual pace, he stepped out of his bed and had barely begun to
straighten up when his comlink went off on his night table.

The moment he rested his eyes on the inoffensive device, an icy shiver ran again
down his spine; he instantly understood that whatever 'it' was about, it was
linked to his vision. Hesitantly, he picked it up and activated it.

"Yes," he rumbled to cover his non-enhanced voice.

"The Emperor commands that you contact him immediately, my Lord," Ozzel's voice
answered in one breath.

"Tell him I will call him in five minutes," he commented as walked toward his
nearby armor, then shut down the transmission.

As he changed into his armor, two thoughts crossed his mind. First and
foremost, he had the horrid premonition that his son had been uncovered, and
second, that he himself was running out of time. He did his armor as fast as he
could, then went in his anteroom and established the connection. As was his
habit, the Emperor left him to wait nearly twenty minutes on his knee before he
deigned to activate the communication. How typical, he sneered to himself.

"Rise my friend," the other invited him.

"What is thy bidding, Master?" he inquired like his usual self.

"Your presence is required on Coruscant, Lord Vader. Events have developed; I
need your assistance with your son."

Before he could ask any question, the communication was cut, leaving him with
worries, unanswered questions and growing hatred at the dark monster who was
still ruling his life. What had he done to Luke?, he asked the unseen Force.
Unlike all the other times that he had tried to establish contact with his
defunct daughter, he didn't manage to connect this time.

Instead, he remained alone with his emotional torment until he snapped into
action, gathered what he needed for his face-off with the Emperor, then headed
for the hangar bay. He had the perfect alibi to reach Coruscant without anymore
delays, and once there, he thought as he strode down the black-tiled metal
corridors, he would strike whether he knew the Emperor's secrets or not.

They were truly running out of time now.

******

In the Force's plane, neither Leia nor Padme heard Ani's call. Instead, both of
them worked on the Emperor's block over Luke's abilities. While her brother
couldn't reach out anymore, Leia could still touch his soul, but he was deaf to
her presence now. He didn't know that he wasn't alone in his fight; Leia also
knew that no matter how strong her brother was, he wouldn't hold on forever
before beginning to crumple mentally.

Hence, while she and her mother did their best to block out what was happening
to their uncovered last hope and family member, they both channeled, in their
respective ways, the power of the Force to open a rip in the dark veil that was
now surrounding Luke's center of power.

Since they were not nearly as powerful as the young man was, it was a very long,
arduous work that stretched into hours, then days...

Luke didn't know how long he had been in Xizor's claws. The only thing he did
know was he hadn't given him much respite since he had taken him out of the
Emperor's palace and stashed him somewhere deep in his own castle. At least,
that's what he thought had happened, but with the isolation hood back on his
head back then, he couldn't be sure. However, he dimly conceded that this was
what made the most sense to him. What worried him the most at the moment though
was not his bad predicament, nor even his loss of power and the Emperor's anger,
but how his father would react to his treason.

More than anything else in his life, even more than his love for Mara, which he
had undoubtedly lost now, he didn't want to disappoint his father... nor put him
at risk. He knew now what the Emperor would do once his father would report to
him; he would attack him just as he had done him, and if he didn't like what he
found, or found his hopes to someday supplant the Emperor and rule in his place,
he would kill him or worse... give him to Xizor... his new protege. As if, he
sneered in foreknowledge, the Forceless alien would ever satisfy the evil dark
Jedi. He had been serving him long enough to know that sooner or later, his
cunnings wouldn't suffice and he would lack the edge that the Force had given to
both his father and himself. His father... no matter how devoted to the Emperor
he was, no matter how much he had hurt him in his name, he forgave him
everything and didn't wish him ill fate. He was a slave, just like he himself
had been, but he himself would never allow himself to be one again, he resolved
with all his might.

Now that he didn't have to pretend to be a bad man anymore, he had completely
rid himself from his anger and hatred, instead holding onto the opposite of what
the Emperor wanted him to be. Now, he reflected tiredly, if only he could find
a way to escape. His current situation wasn't just to pretend, and unlike when
he had been a 'rebel', he couldn't count on rescue of any kind.

Just as he barely begun to analyze a possibility of a plan, his cell opened once
again, allowing entrance to the green-skinned alien that he disliked just as
much as his father did. The alien, not because of his race but because of his
machiavellian brain, thoroughly disgusted him, even more now than before.

"Ah, I see you've recovered," he smiled meanly at him, baring his fangs to
express his dark contentment.

Luke ignored him, not even giving him a defiant glare. He wasn't worth the
effort, he sneered inwardly.

Xizor didn't appreciate his cold reception.

"I just received word that your father is expected in a few hours," he informed
him as he forced him to gaze at him.

"Great..." he muttered sarcastically.

"Oh yes," the other agreed as if they were both best friends and mere merely
chatting about the choice of a dessert or which music to listen to. "That gives
us just enough time to make you presentable for the Emperor," he added more
seriously.

Luke braced himself for more unpleasantness.

******

While Anakin's shuttle exited hyperspace and prepared for his landing, another,
smaller ship also reached its destination, equally answering an imperial summon.
However, since the little ship was entering the atmosphere from the opposite
side of the planet, the ex-dark lord didn't notice it. Instead, he focused on
his upcoming face-off with the Emperor.

Fifteen minutes later, he was standing in the Grand Corridor outside the
Emperor's throne room, awaiting his turn with the ruler. While he stood there,
ominously discouraging anyone who would want to open a conversation with him, he
tried yet again to locate his son. He couldn't find his presence anywhere.
Either he was shielded, he reflected sadly, or he was already...

No, he objected the thought that crossed his mind. He would not lose another
child to the Emperor's bid for power. Luke was alive, and he would soon be free
from whatever had been done to him.

The ward finally announced his turn; he stood tall and walked past the Emperor's
court, a court that would soon lose any reason to exist, he reminded himself.
Then, he focused on the crucial moment.

From the darkened alcove on the left of the throne, Luke was recovering from the
knock out drug he had been given just before leaving Xizor's palace. Even now,
he was barely conscious enough to identify the silhouette of his father against
the white and purple backdrop of the Grand Corridor, but he wished, oh he wished
that he could warn him of the Emperor's ploy. The despot had cleared the room
of everybody except them, which meant that he was suspicious of his father. He
himself had to admit that he didn't know what to expect from his father; the
only thing that he knew at the moment was that he was held aloft by Guri and
that he couldn't escape her. He also couldn't make a sound to express his pain;
the Emperor had taken away his voice. Beside the droid and himself, Xizor was
grinning evilly.

In short, he moaned inwardly, he could only watch as his father reached the
upper platform--- then collapsed to his knees when the Emperor suffused his body
with agony before he invaded his mind as he pulled his lightsaber from his
person. Even without the Force, Luke knew that this was what was going on.

He felt for his father.

The moment that he noticed the absence of guards in the room, Anakin grew wary
for a trick---- but he never expected the attack to come as it did. Even as he
was caught unprepared by the searing agony of molted lava, a probe of dark
energies speared right through his mind, demolishing whatever blocks he was able
to maintain when not in pain... Then he was bared to the Emperor's eyes... and
paid with even more pain.

"As I thought," Palpatine sneered over his shrieks of agony. "Like Father, like
Son, both conniving traitors!" he spat even as he himself felt a renewed surge
of excruciating pain, then he was left alone; he crumpled to his knees and
hands, spent of any energy he had had just moments ago.

No, he tried to rouse himself, he couldn't falter now. Luke needed him. A
thudding sound suddenly attracted his attention to his left--- and he found
himself staring in horror at the sight of his barely conscious, injured son---

"Luke," he whispered, meaning to go to his side, but he quickly became aware
that he couldn't muster even a little energy to move.

Beside him, his son moaned as he fought to recover his awareness.

"He was a nice appetizer, Vader," an alien voice hissed from somewhere above
the two of them.

Anakin weakly craned his neck, and wished that the Falleen could see his eyes so
that he could glare at him and see him falter under his sulfurous disgust.

"There will be time for this, my friend," the Emperor interrupted their face-
off, stepping closer to them. "But for the moment, I have a score to settle
with the Skywalkers," he snarled, then flicked his hands in an upward motion.

Both Luke and himself were instantly gripped by the neck by invisible leashes,
then they were both pulled up, up, up---- until they were both hanging in the
air as if they were dangling from nooses, then the ropes moved to their arms,
painfully pinning them against their sides; there, they tightened even more
until he was sure that his bones would soon snap under the pressure, dangerously
threatening his own apparatus in the process.

"Now," the despot began ominously as he walked closer to his two prisoners, "I
believe that the time for secrets is over. First, you," he glared at the older
man. "Tell me everything you hid from me or the boy shall pay."

Before Anakin had debated whether to obey or not, Luke screamed beside him,
obviously caught in some torment or another. Nearby, Xizor watched, a satisfied
sneer plastered on his face.

Meanwhile, in the plane of the Force, a fight was still proceeding.

"Hurry, Leia," her mother urged her even as she herself continued to physically
pull on the veil that was still cloaking Luke's Force's senses.

"I am, I am," she barely commented, then focused once again on the ethereal
fabric of the veil, thinning it with sheer will--- Then a rip opened in it,
allowing Luke's Light to spill free.

At last!

Even as his body became suffused with agony that only the Emperor could conjure
up in anyone, Luke dimly understood that his father had hidden things from him.
What did the Emperor mean by his father sabotaging the fleet?, he wondered in
confusion. Another 'attack' cut off his thought--- then the warmth of the Light
side of the Force poured once again into him--- and he knew what he had to do.

He freed his right leg from the Emperor's Force bonds, and kicked the nearby
despot hard under the chin. The other, who had felt his sudden return to his
Forceful status, had turned toward him and was thus in perfect position to take
the full toll of the kick right where it hurt most.

The impact naturally cut through his concentration, and the following rough
landing temporarily dazed him; both Luke and his father fell more or less on
their feet on the deck. Then, while sending to his father a quick thought which
was filled with everything that he had learnt from the Emperor, Luke turned
around to face Xizor and Guri--- and barely had time to duck her swift round
house punch before he himself kicked out with his less painful leg and shoved
the droid away from himself and his father. Unfortunately, he barely retained
enough equilibrium to avoid her sweeping kick without falling on his ass, but a
quick if awkward flip backward and he was back in a more solid stance. It saved
him from her next attack.

He warded off her following kick with his left elbow, then blocked her second
one with his injured ankle and knee while keeping an eye on the nearby dark
prince. As he jumped yet again away from her to give himself a short relief, he
tried to open his cuffs... and discovered that even with the Force, he was
trapped in them. It was up to his abilities and weakened legs to do the job, he
accepted glumly, then forced himself to refocus on the present. Guri was
already on him, meaning to knock him off his feet. He shifted sideways and let
her fly by him, then switched to the offensive and took advantage of her turning
her back to him; he chained up a series of kicks that surprised his robotic
enemy with their Force-enhanced strength and speed. His direct kick in the
droid's knee managed to snap its armature, forcing her to her knee.

Meanwhile, Anakin, who had been as surprised as the others by his son's swift
recovery, didn't waste any time and called his lightsaber to his hand before he
attacked the vile tyrant. As Luke's quick teaching had led him to foresee, the
despot called on his lightning powers, but since he himself now knew how they
were generated, he reached out and blocked the other from producing anymore of
them, using the Emperor's arrogance against him. Unable to believe what was
happening, Palpatine lost another precious decimeter to him before he reacted...
and hid his physical presence in the Force. Well two could play that game,
Anakin thought seriously as he immersed himself in the Light side... and jumped
away from his son's blade which was now in the Emperor's hands. He parried a
second attack, then barely shifted his blade in time to block a third one.

At the same moment, on the other side of the platform, Xizor had come to his
droid's help, forcing the dangerous youth away from his prized servant; he
pummeled the young Jedi with powerful hits. Whirling on the ball of his foot,
he landed another kick against the head of the weakened boy, drawing another
moan from him as he steadily backed him toward the nearby stairs. If he
couldn't kill Vader, he thought in hatred, he would satisfy himself with the
brat. He kicked forward/upward again, catching the boy under the chin and
forcing him back up, then he gathered his momentum for the 'coup de grace' that
would send the beleaguered, dangerously balanced child tumbling down the long
stairs. He took a step closer to the now harmless child, gathered all his
strength to finish him for real--- but even as he straightened his leg to hit
his target, the youth jumped and tumbled away from him. He himself was already
too advanced in his movement to stop his forward progress; it was his turn to be
precariously balanced on the lip of the first step--- and then it was too late
to think.

Luke barely landed on the higher platform of the stairs, strengthening his
Force-braces around his injured leg, then jumped again, this time forward and
toward the tall alien. He hit him straight on the solar plexus, forcing him
down on his back, then, before the other could recover from his rough landing,
jumped again and finished him.

Somewhat like what had happened to his droid when he himself had forcefully
deactivated her, he reflected dimly. This danger being dealt with, he gazed up
to focus on the other danger--- just in time to witness the Emperor's demise.

The moment that he felt the other's oppressive mind disappear completely from
the Force, his adrenaline receded and he crumpled to his knees with a barely
contained wail of pain. His body, he understood even as he worked extremely
hard on himself to not pass out, hadn't appreciated his recent work out. He was
so focused on keeping the blackness at bay that he missed the presence of a new
threat that came from behind.

While Luke finished both Xizor and his droid, Anakin pressed his advantage
against the Emperor. Now, he thought in satisfaction, it was his turn to cast a
veil over the other's unsuspecting, overconfident mind; it proved to be the
Emperor's undoing. Without the Force, the old man was nothing but a furious
fool.

Despite his vows to serve the Light, Anakin allowed himself the pleasure of
relishing the moment when he plunged his blade of light in the heart of the
darkness of his life.

"For Leia and Padme," he said victoriously, then reached out and crushed the
Emperor's shocked mind under a vise of condensed Light, just like his son's
quick sending had taught him to do.

The other died, body and soul; since he was cut off from the Force, he went
without grand explosion as was the custom with the darksiders. Once Ani was
sure that his enemy was dead, he allowed himself to refocus on his surroundings
and grew aware of the moaning that was coming from his son's location. He
swiftly turned around--- and stopped short in surprise.

Mara Jade was standing behind his kneeling son, viciously gripping his hair
while her other hand was primed to finish him with her vibroblade---but
something seemed to still her hand, he instantly realized in brief relief.

"Mara, don't," he begged her, immediately recovering from his horrified shock;
he ran to his son's rescue.

The young woman gazed up at him, her eyes confused at first, then they hardened
and she prepared to strike again.

"No!!!!!" he pleaded with her, reaching out to pull her weapon from her hold.

Unfortunately, she was shielding herself from such attacks and kept him from
taking her weapon away from her. At her feet, his son was barely conscious once
again.

When Mara had answered her master's summon, she had expected it to be of a
regular nature... A report, then a new mission.

However, she arrived just in time to witness his demise at Vader's hands while
Luke dispatched Prince Xizor and his droid in a most efficient way. Her
reflexive fury and hatred naturally blinded her and she attacked her friend,
forcing him into a semi-conscious state before she viciously pulled his head
back up to expose his throat and chest to the blade of her assassin knife.

For her Emperor, she whispered hatefully--- then stopped as her eyes met Luke's
barely opened ones. What was she doing?, she suddenly asked herself as she
gazed at the injured features that she knew almost as well as her own...

A sudden warning cut off her moment of doubt; she raised her eyes just in time
to see Vader rushing toward her. Her hatred returned in a flash and she
tightened her grip on her ex-boyfriend.

"You betrayed us," she spat vehemently even as she pulled harder on Luke's head
until his jugular was visible against his skin.

Luke, who was still more or less aware of what was going on, moaned in
complaint, but given his cuffs and different injuries, she knew that he didn't
present any danger for her.

"He betrayed us all, Mara," Luke's father tried to reason with her, slowly
approaching her as if she were a frightened child.

"No," she objected, implicitly warning him off by bringing her blade very close
to Luke's throat. Her ex-lover, who was still fighting hard to regain
consciousness, barely winced when her blade bit slightly in his skin. "He gave
us everything that we ever wanted," she defied, using her grip on Luke's hair to
let out more of her anger. "And that is how you serve him in return?"

In front of her, the youth moaned more loudly this time.

"Ah, Mara..." he tried, but shut up when she brought her blade near his ear so
that he could hear its dangerous humming.

Like herself, she knew that he 'knew' what that sound meant: his death was
imminent now.

"Mara, listen to me," Vader tried again, throwing his lightsaber behind him in a
gesture of good will. "He was only giving us what 'he' wanted, and he didn't
want you to be with Luke anymore," he lied suavely--- yet somehow truthfully,
she felt despite herself.

"That's not true!" she defied more out of frustration than belief. "I would
have returned to Luke after my next mission," she continued half-hopefully,
half-seriously.

"You wouldn't have found him," Vader shook his head in compassion, taking a
small step closer to her.

She tightened her grip on her weapon, slightly pushing it closer to Luke's
throat until he expressed his pain once again; Vader stilled his progress
forward.

*Mara, please,* her lover tried through the Force, *don't let the Emperor cloud-
--,* he sent, but she cut him off before his feelings of love and despair could
reach her heart.

"Luke was here, on Coruscant" his father seemed to continue his son's thoughts.
"and had the despot not found his Light Side, he would have turned him into
someone who wouldn't have been allowed to love you anymore."

That did struck a chord with her. No matter how much she wanted it to be false,
she knew that the Emperor 'could' do what Vader was saying.

"You lie," she still defied although her blade had already moved minutely away
from her lover's throat.

"I do not," Anakin continued hopefully, gently. "Look at Luke, you'll know what
I say to be true," he invited her, aware that her bond with Luke might just save
his son's life.

The young woman hesitantly lowered her sight, reluctantly gazing down at her
captive... The two youths remained still for a long while, as if paralyzed,
then the young woman's hand fell back to her side and she let go of Luke's hair
before she stepped away from him. Anakin instantly rushed to his son's help.

"Are you all right?" he asked him even as he called Jade's knife to his hand to
free his son from his cuffs.

The young woman didn't react at all to the loss of her weapon; she remained
silent, her eyes devoid of life. In his arms, he felt his son relax against him
as he welcomed his support.

"I've felt better," the youth half-whispered, then flicked his gaze upward to
look at him, ready for action once again, he noted. "Guards are coming!" his
son warned him even as he strained against his hold to recover a standing
position. Ani pulled him back down.

"Let them come," he answered seriously, then cut the cuffs free from one
another. "We're safe here."

"Safe?" his son gaped in disbelief.

He nodded in answer and drew his transmission device from his pocket. It was
time to end it once and for all, he thought as he punched in his authorization
code, then activated it.

The sudden wave of Force-driven pain and agony hit both his son and himself as
the sabotaged ships disappeared from the galaxy... then the waves of torment
ebbed from their senses.

"What..." Luke gasped as he caught his breath, "what was that?" he finally asked
in worry.

Anakin, who was slowly straightening back to a more upright position, noticed
that Mara had also felt the wave; the young woman's hand was still covering her
heart.

"Your work and our last kill," Ani answered seriously, then helped his son in a
less painful position.

"Our last---" his son wondered out loud, then gasped again, this time in
reaction to his touch on his right leg.

"Sorry," Ani apologized contritely--- then flicked his gaze upward when he
noticed a movement from the corner of his eye.

He barely had time to catch Mara's reflexive step toward his son before she
caught herself and forced herself away from him. She still loved him, he
understood sorrowfully, but as he had feared, his and Luke's recent action had
dug a deep trench between the two youths. He could only hope that they would
work it out, he reflected then tried to soothe his son's physical pain with the
Force. The effect was instantaneous; Luke sighed in relief and was finally able
to add his power to his own.

"Not... to break this up, Father," he then commented in a drowsy voice as he
remained in a semi-trance, "but what about the troops outside and the Fleet?"

Suddenly remembering that his son didn't have a single clue as to what had just
happened, let alone what their plan was, Ani silently moved his probe from his
boy's injured knee to his forehead and gave him back his memories.

Luke's third gasp in less than five minutes told him everything that he needed
to know: it had worked. He slowly opened his eyes and met with his son's awed
features, then he said three wonderful words: "We did it!"

"Yes, we did" he answered, then hugged him in relief.

They had won, and had both survived the challenge. They were free. The galaxy
was free. He hugged his son tighter, an embrace that was returned despite the
youth's injuries.

"It's over, at last," the young man whispered against his shoulder, then pulled
away from him to gaze at him, as if waiting for confirmation that the nightmare
truly was finished now.

"Yes, it is," he reassured him, gazed a little longer at his injured features,
then helped him to stabilize his position before he stood up to his feet.
"We're safe from the conscripts; they will help us maintain safety in the
galaxy. In the meantime though, let's clean-up a little," he smiled to himself,
then threw a glance in his back at the still silent young woman.

He himself still didn't know what to do about her, but judging from what he felt
from his son's heart, he knew that he wouldn't be allowed to threaten her.

Mara, who was now thoroughly confused about her life and her friend, noticed the
glance that Vader gave her, then she shifted her eyesight and met with Luke's
eyes. She instantly understood that he didn't hold a grudge against her. She
had almost killed him, had meant to take his life to avenge her master, but he
didn't love her less than before.

Whereas her mind had been a blank up to now, it was suddenly a jumble of worries
and thoughts which were threatening to drive her insane. How could he still
love her after all this? How could she let him live after what he had helped to
do to the Emperor? How could she even think to raise a hand on him? And what
was she going to do now? She couldn't stay and betray the Emperor, nor could
she avenge him and kill Luke... She had to leave, she realized even as she
slowly backed toward her hidden entrance.

With each step though, her heart literally screamed out in growing agony, trying
as hard as it could to keep her from leaving the only man who had ever made her
happy in her dark life, but she didn't listen to it. She 'couldn't... listen to
it, she reminded herself sternly, taking yet another step backward. Neither
Vader nor Luke made any gesture to keep her with them, but she felt Luke's
senses try and reach her... she didn't let him. She had almost reached the
safety of the secret alcove when her lover's voice drew her out of her almost
trance-like state.

"Mara, I love you," he told her softly, gently... irresistibly.

Had she listened to her heart at that moment, she would have run back beside him
and forget the events that had just happened, but she didn't allow her true self
to decide. Instead, she followed the rigid code of her training and kept
herself from giving into her emotions.

"My door will always be open for you," Luke tried again, and this time, she felt
his desire to come after her; she was somewhat relieved that his incapacitated
body didn't want to cooperate because she knew that his close presence would
have melted her heart once again, but no...

She wouldn't allow it ever again. She left her former life behind... but not
before gazing one last time at her lost lover... who still meant the universe to
her. Then, she barreled down secret corridors, trying hard to ignore the fact
that tears of sorrow were streaming down her face.

Up in the throne room, similar tears were running down Luke's cheeks.

She was gone. He hadn't had any chance to speak with her, let alone explain to
her why he had done what he had. She was just gone, and as he knew her, he
wouldn't see her again.

"Perhaps it's better this way, Son," his father's gentle voice offered from
behind him as he stepped closer once again.

"I love her," he answered, aware that those three words were enough to carry the
loss and sorrow that he was dealing with at the moment.

Mara was gone. His life would never, ever be the same... He would never be
able to find someone like her ever again.

"I know, Son," Anakin comforted him as he crouched back beside him. "I wish it
were different; you seemed to
be meant for one another," he reflected out loud.

Luke could only nod slightly, unable to do anything else thanks to his broken
heart. His father rested his hand on his shoulder, a silent support in this
difficult moment, then he stood back to his feet.

"I'll give orders to clean the room and free the prisoners of war," he said
seriously, then reminded him: "we won Luke."

Luke barely nodded, then shrugged. The Emperor was dead, the galaxy was finally
free as were his father and himself were, but Mara was gone.

How would he go on?

He was so lost in his sorrow that he was barely aware that his father set in
motion the new phase of their plan, even less when he knocked him out for his
painless transfer to the medical wing.

TBC in A Whole New Life (with Luke, Ani and Mara).
(parts 1 to 10)

Well, hope it entertained you once again. Unfortunately, I didn t manage to
post the two sequels, so more for you next week-end (if The Force wills it ;)
Till then, hope you ll continue to have fun and enjoy yourself!

Love and care
SJ: Skyjade@globetrotter.net (any positive stuff is welcome, but negative or
mean comments will be thrown down the Sarlacc s throat without being read.)