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"I hate dealing with the Council," a twelve year old Anakin Skywalker complained as he glared at the Jedi Temple in front of him. Him and his master had just returned to Coruscant that morning after spending several months on a mission in the Unknown Regions. "Can't you report to them on your own?"

Obi-Wan shook his head, starting to feel a pain behind his eyes from frustration alone. Even though Anakin had been his Padawan for almost three years, the boy seemed just as reckless and disobedient as the day Obi-Wan found him on Tatooine. They had been arguing in front of the Jedi Temple for nearly half an hour with Anakin refusing to go in.

"The Council likes to hear from Padawans. Having multiple perspectives gives them the best insight to what happened on the mission," Obi-Wan said. "When you become a full Jedi Knight and eventually a master, you will have to deal with the Council even more than you do now. You best get used to it."

"I rather shove my lightsaber down my throat then have to deal with a bunch of old masters who thinks they're better than everyone. I'm tired, Master! I just want to go to my quarters and lay down."

Obi-Wan was about to give in and excuse Anakin from his duties when they heard a kindly voice behind them. "Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker, how nice it is to see you back on Coruscant," Chancellor Palpatine said, smiling as he approached the two Jedi. "How was your mission to Zonama Sekot?"

"Hello Chancellor, it is always a pleasure to run into you," Obi-Wan said, though there was no real emotion behind the statement. "The mission had some hiccups but turned out alright in the end. I was just about to report back to the Jedi Council, but my Padawan refuses to go in."

"Is that so?" Palpatine gave Anakin a disappointed look, making him feel guilty. The Chancellor had been a great mentor and disappointing him felt worse than disappointing Obi-Wan. "How about we take a short walk, Anakin? It might help you feel more prepared to face the Council."

Anakin silently nodded, walking with Palpatine away from Obi-Wan and the temple. Many people stared at the odd pair, wondering why the Chancellor would want to hang out with such a young Padawan, but he didn't pay them any mind.

"You know, when I first entered politics, I was extremely intimidated by the Jedi," Palpatine said, smiling as he thought of his youth. "During my first ever meeting with Master Yoda, I was sweating buckets because of how nervous I was! Needless to say, I understand your hesitation to stand in front of the Council."

It was hard to picture such a composed figure like the Chancellor be a nervous mess, the thought making Anakin smirk. "Did it become easier to confront them over time?"

Palpatine nodded. "Most definitely, to the point that I now consider some members, such and Master Yoda and Master Windu, good friends of mine. It's always comforting to know that such powerful Jedi Masters are on your side. That's why it's important to confront them, despite any intimidation you might feel."

Anakin frowned. "It's not that I feel intimidated, sir. I've faced the Council many times before, no problem. I'm scared to report my last mission. I did something I'm not proud of."

"And what might that be?"

"I killed someone," he blurted out. It felt easier to say in front of Palpatine than any of the Jedi. "An assassin was attacking me and I killed him."

"I understand." Palpatine stopped walking and placed a supportive hand on Anakin's shoulder. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with acting in self-defense. As a Jedi, I'm sure that it is a reality you'll have to face often."

"That's what Master Obi-Wan said, but… it's not just that." Anakin stared at the ground, no longer able to look into Palpatine's kind eyes. "At the time, I was mad. Like, really mad. In a fit of rage, I did something I still don't quite understand. I-I think I used the Force to boil him from the inside out."

Anakin thought he saw a glint of pride in Palpatine's eyes, but brushed the thought aside. He misunderstood the man's expression, for there was no reason to be proud of the awful act he had committed.

"Did you have your lightsaber on you?" Palpatine asked.

"No, sir," Anakin said quietly.

"Then you did what had to be done." The Chancellor shrugged. "There is no shame in self-preservation."

"But I'm afraid I used the dark side! If the Council found out, I'm afraid I would be expelled from the Order!"

Palpatine's expression suddenly turned stony and serious as he clasped Anakin's arms tightly. "Listen to me, my boy. If the Council is faulting you for defending yourself in a life or death scenario, then that is their wrongdoing, not yours. You have only been training for three years, yes? How were you to know that what you did was wrong?" His expression turned pleasant once more. "Now run back to your Master and walk into the Council Chambers with your head held high."

"Thank you, sir," Anakin said. He did as he was told, not even stopping to talk to Obi-Wan before walking into the Jedi Temple.

When Anakin woke up from his dream, he had to take a few moments to shake the memory from his mind, and several more to remember that he wasn't that little boy anymore, nor was Palpatine ever really that kind man.

Anakin groaned as he tried to sit up off the floor of the tiny closet he was locked in. His mind was fuzzy after three days of pure torture. The Emperor had drained so much life force from the Jedi, using Anakin's pain for his own longevity, Anakin didn't even know how he was still alive.

When he tried use his remaining left hand to push himself up, he only tumbled back to the ground. While he could still operate his prosthetic right hand, he could not feel his left hand or his legs below the knee.

He clumsily used his prosthetic to feel if there was something wrong with his limbs, only to feel nothing at all. Instead, he felt bandages at his elbow and knees, then nothing below them.

No, Anakin remembered now. His throat was still sore from screaming in agony as Palpatine used his lightsaber to severe the Jedi's remaining limbs, cackling as he grew stronger from Anakin's suffering.

The Jedi was in so much pain, both physically and emotionally, his dream still fresh in his mind. He missed the old version of Palpatine, even if it was a lie. He missed the man who he could always confide in, the man who always cared about him like a son. Palpatine had always told Anakin just what he needed to hear.

But it was all a lie. The betrayal burned like hot embers in Anakin's mind, even though he had known of Palpatine's true nature for a long time. Mixed with the screaming of his residual limbs, it would be so easy to fall to the dark side. He could use the pain to harness the darkness and kill Palpatine with his mind, just like he did with the assassin as a twelve year old on Zonama Sekot.

No, he couldn't. Anakin was a Jedi; he refused to give in and fall back into the darkness. He made that mistake once before and he rather jump headfirst into the lava lakes of Mustafar before making it again.

Palpatine may have survived the Death Star, but he it had left him barely clinging onto life. The only reason he was still standing had to be because of the dark side.

The troopers lined the four Rebels up side to side— Leia, then Luke, then Mara, then Han, all of them being forced to their knees. None of them said a word. Whatever they said would only make the situation worse.

The four Rebels were so focused of the decrepit Emperor that none had noticed the Chiss standing in the corner, a vibrant green ysalamiri curled up on his shoulder.

"Welcome to the Chimeara," Thrawn said, moving to stand in front of the Rebels, next to Palpatine. "You have all made quite the mess, I'd say."

"They did more than simply made a mess! They ruined over a decade worth of valuable scientific research and destroyed a military base!" The Emperor sneered. "They're lucky I don't execute them on the spot!"

"That would be hard to do considering you lost your lightsaber on the Death Star and don't currently have access to your powers," Thrawn said a bit too smugly.

Palpatine gritted his teeth. "Don't test me, Mitth'raw'nuruodo. I'm not in the mood for your bantha poodoo."

With difficulty, the Emperor pushed himself off the desk and took a few wobbly steps before stopping in front of Leia. He pushed up her chin so she had to look at him.

"Don't you kriffing dare touch her," Han growled, gritting his teeth.

The Emperor ignored them both, not moving his eyes away from Leia. He stared at her the way a predator stared at its prey. "You had so much potential, young lady. With the power of your father and the political skills from your mother, you no doubt could have made a name for yourself in the Empire. Yet instead, you steal my only family and run away to join the Rebellion."

Leia's brown eyes locked onto the Emperor's, not a hint of fear showing on her face. "I didn't steal Rey. She came with me willingly. She has no desire to be turned into a monster of your liking. We are her family now. If you really do care at all about her, then know that she is far, far away from you."

"You say that now, but she is a Palpatine. It is her destiny to take her place at my side and rule the galaxy with me." The Emperor moved on, stepping in front of Luke.

Before he even spoke, Luke could smell the coppery blood on the Emperor's breath. He didn't bother to hide the disgust on his face. "And then there's you, young Skywalker. I was looking forward to you becoming my Sith apprentice. It was my biggest mistake. I saw your weakness, you're kindness—" Palpatine said the word as if it were a hateful slur. "—but chose to ignore it. I thought that with time, you'd give in to the dark side. Only now I see how pathetic you truly are. Just like your father."

"Only those without morals can see kindness as a weakness," Luke said, keeping the anger from his voice. "You're evilness is not welcome in this galaxy, Your Highness. More and more people join the Rebellion every day. They refuse to tolerate your regime any longer. The Empire is reaching the end of it's life," just as it seems you are, he almost added, but decided not to resort to insults. Not only would it not do him any good, but he refused to stoop down to Palpatine's level.

Having no response for Luke, the Emperor instead moved to stand in front of Mara, his lips turning down into a scowl. "You are probably the most disappointing of all. My biggest failure. I saved you from a meaningless life and raised you as if you were my own. And yet you run away to the enemy after allowing yourself to be persuaded by pretty boy, over here." He gestured to Luke.

Mara was trembling out of anger, her muscles straining as she struggled not to give in and attack Palpatine. She knew that he was trying to get a reaction out of her, that she would be shot by a stormtrooper the moment she stepped out of line. Luke wanted to comfort her, at least reach over and take her hand, but his restraints kept him from doing so.

"You took everything from me," she hissed through gritted teeth. "My parents, my home, my sanity— All gone! You didn't raise me, you made me into a tool! A weapon, just like your Death Star! You never cared about me, so don't act for a second like you ever had! Getting away from you, from your stupid Empire, was the best decision I ever made. Because it was the first decision I made that was truly my own and not you commanding me!"

Luke could tell Mara had more to say, that she'd chew him out for the rest of the day if she could. But they both knew nothing she could say would make a difference. None of it was new information to the Emperor. None of it would make him care. He knew he was a monster. The more she gave into her anger, the more satisfaction he got, knowing he still was a virus invading her mind.

All he had to say in return was, "I will enjoy watching you die once we get to Coruscant."

As the Emperor moved away from Mara, Luke dared to nudge her shoulder with his, a small gesture to comfort her. It was all he could do at the moment. She gave him an appreciative look as she shifted slightly closer to him. She wanted to cling to him just as much as he to her.

The Emperor stood in front of Han last. "And you…." He looked Han up and down, searching for something to say. "I haven't any idea who you are."

Instead of responding, Han simply spit in the Emperor's face.

The Wayland jungle ended one-hundred meters from the mountain the Imperial outpost was built into. From that close, it was easier to see the numerous windows and antennas that stuck out of the steep ground. Surrounding the mountain was a line of stormtroopers guarding the base.

"Did you hear the latest order from the Emperor?" One of the troopers asked. "We're supposed to be keeping an eye out for some supposed Rebels that might be running around here."

The trooper next to the first shook his head. "We're not lucky enough to have something that exciting happen here. This is just a glorified security job."

"I know it is. The order sounded prerecorded, too. The Emperor doesn't even care enough to command us directly." Suddenly, the first stormtrooper saw a hint of movement in the jungle ahead of him. He turned back to his buddy. "Did you see that?"

"I saw something," the other trooper said, just as there was a large crashing sound coming from beyond the trees. "That's them! Get them!" Four troopers total went out to investigate. None of them ever came back.

As soon as the troopers wandered inside the jungle, out of sight of their companions on guard, a violet lightsaber swung at them from behind, decapitating them all in one swing. They fell to the ground, their heads detached from their bodies but their armor untouched.

"I told you it would be a clean kill," Mara said, picking up one of the severed heads. With some difficulty, she pried off the helmet and tossed the head to the side. "Hopefully the armor will fit us."

"It will have to do," Leia said, trying not to cringe at the the thought of wearing a dead person's armor. "We have four sets of armor, so Luke, Han, Mara, and I will sneak in while Chewie and Rey will stay here."

Rey immediately started to whine. "But I want to go in!"

"Of course you do," Leia said. "But we need to blend in and neither a six year old or a Wookiee can do that very well. Besides, if we run into trouble in there, we need someone who can go and get help. It's important for you to stay out here, alright?" The girl nodded, smart enough not to argue. Of course Leia knew Rey would try to follow them anyway, but she trusted that Chewbacca would keep her put.

Luke was awakened by the sound of rain hitting the canvas tent above him. The group had previously walked until the sun set on Wayland, still finding no signs of the Empire or Palpatine. It was too hard to walk through the jungle in the dark without tripping, so they set up a small, three tent camp for the night.

It still was mostly dark outside, the sun only barely starting to rise. The small amount of light was enough for him to see Mara still asleep next to him, her face half obscured by her mess of red hair. Careful not to wake her, he brushed the hair away so he could better see her face.

The movement was still enough for her to open her eyes. "Please don't tell me it's morning already."

"It's pretty close to it," Luke said, moving to lay closer to her. "The sooner we get moving again, the sooner we find whatever it is we're looking for."

Mara groaned, wiping the sleep from her eyes. "I'm starting to think we should go home, instead. We can sense that the Emperor's here. It's better to go and get help, instead of the six us facing what might be a whole Imperial outpost head-on."

"We're not here to fight, we're just here to find out what the Empire is doing on Wayland and then report back." Luke paused for a moment. "Why are you so certain that it is Palpatine you sense? I saw what happened to him, and there's very little chance of him surviving that."

"Because if he really died, I think I would have felt it," Mara said. "Palpatine and I had a telepathic connection similar to what you and Leia have, albeit not as strong. It's how he gave me orders, even if we were half a galaxy apart. I don't know if that connection is still there, but I still think it would be enough to feel his death."

Something about Mara and the Emperor having a connection like that made Luke's skin crawl. "And did feel that connection start to dwindle after you left the Empire?"

"Before that, actually." Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "When we went to Tanalorr and were in each other's minds— That changed something. Until then, I could feel my connection to Palpatine like a constant presence in the back of my mind. But when we did that exercise, it went away and never came back. It was replaced by your presence. That's when I knew you were special. That you weren't just an annoying traitor that just happened to have an occasional good point about the Emperor's flaws."

"You think I'm special?" Luke asked. It wasn't the only thing that he got out of what Mara said, but it was what made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. "I… think you're special, too. From the moment I saw you, I knew that there was more to you than a hardened assassin. And I understand that feeling of a presence in the back of your mind. I've always have had it with Leia, like a piece of her has claimed a part of my psyche. And now, it feels like you have claimed a part of me, too."

"I prefer not to think about it as you claiming a part of my mind, but that is what it feels like, yes." Mara smiled at Luke, her green eyes sparkling even in the dim tent. She moved to snuggle against him, her head resting over his heart. "It's scary. I've always been taught to not get close to people. I even get mad at myself sometimes. Being close to you, being in love with you… It goes against how I was raised."

"You were raised by a mad man," Luke said. "Every time that you go against what Palpatine taught you, you are choosing to go down the path of light and good."

"So you keep saying," Mara said, her fingers tracing his jawline as she bit her bottom lip. "You know, we have about an hour before we have to start walking again. Maybe we can use that time… to let off a little steam?" She smiled, reached down, and tried to pull up the hem of his shirt.

This time, it was Luke's turn to blush. He quickly pulled the hem of his shirt back down, moving to sit up as he tried not to laugh at her boldness. "Are you serious right now? These tents are not soundproof! Anything we do, there will be potentially four other people listening, including my sister and a literal child!"

Mara rolled her eyes as she sat up. "I'm well aware of how much we can all here each other. I had to listen to Leia and Han going at it in the middle of the night last night."

Luke cringed, being happy for once that he was a heavy sleeper. "Just because they don't care about privacy doesn't mean I don't either. And I'll have to have a tal—"

She abruptly shut him off. "Luke, shut up," she whispered.

"No, you don't get to just—" Mara covered Luke's mouth with her hand, using her other hand to touch her index finger to her lips.

They sat in silence, neither of them moving. There was a rustle of footsteps somewhere outside a tent, but Luke didn't think much of it. "It's probably some animal."

"No, I swear I heard voices," she said, her voice barely audible.

Luke listened again, this time using the Force to enhance his hearing. But he really didn't have to as a loud, unmistakable voice sounded from right outside their tent. "Over here! I found a small camp!"

The two of them quickly and quietly got dressed, then hung their blasters and lightsabers on their belts. They could hear more footsteps and voices outside, though it was hard to tell exactly how many people there were.

"Judging by the campfire, it was definitely set up recently," another voice said. "Should we open the tents one by one?"

"That would be best," the first voice responded. "Let's just wait for the other guys to catch up. If there are Rebels in there, we're safer in numbers."

"If you want to be so safe, then stop being a loudmouth," Mara whispered to herself. She peaked out of a tiny hole in the tent. "Stormtroopers. Only three of them that I can see."

The room that the Alliance was able to spare for mental health services was barely big enough for two chairs facing each other, but Doctor Chavani did her best to make the space relaxing, draping a rug over the icy ground and hanging various planets from across the galaxy in planters on the walls. While the decorations weren't enough to disguise the inherent ugliness that came with a military base made mostly out of ice, they still showed that Chavani cared enough to try to look inviting.

"This one—" Leia carefully touched the petal of a red blossom that hung at eye level. "It's a millaflower. They're native to Naboo. My mother used to keep a bouquet of them on the dining table when I was growing up."

Doctor Chavani nodded as she sat in her chair, her fish-like eyes carefully watching Leia. "That's right. It was a gift that Queen Dalné sent the Alliance to thank us for saving the planet." A pause. "It must had been scary for you, for the Empire to almost destroy your mother's homeworld."

"It was at first," Leia said, lowering herself into the empty seat. "But after I got into my X-wing, the fear was replaced with determination. I knew I had to stop the Death Star at all costs."

"Even if it killed you?" Chavani asked. "If I recall, you were still recovering from injuries you sustained from the previous attack on the Death Star."

"I was strong enough to fight," Leia said sternly. "If me dying meant taking away the Empire's super weapon and saving billion of people, then I think I'm okay with that."

Chavani jotted down some notes in her datapad, which only made Leia uneasy. "If you died fighting the Empire, you might be okay with that, but would the people back here? Would your family be okay with it?"

Leia defiantly shook her head. "My family would understand. They're just as devoted to this fight as I am."

"And what about that little girl you look after— How would she feel if you never came back home? She has become like a daughter to you, has she not?"

"She's… something like that," Leia hesitantly admits. Sure several people around base take turns watching over Rey, but Leia and Han were the two the girl was most attached to. "I do try to think about how my actions effect Rey and my family, but the war takes precedent before everything else. Especially now that everyone thinks that Emperor is dead. We need to attack the Empire while it's still weak."

"And what about when the war ends? Then will you think about your family? Do you think that after the Empire is taken care of the galaxy will magically become peaceful with no conflict you'll need to attend to ever happening again?"

Growing frustrated with how the doctor was speaking to her, Leia gripped the arms of her chair while she struggled to keep her expression passive. "What's the point you're trying to make?"

Chavani twisted her aquatic face into the closest it could get to resembling a kind human smile. "You have made fighting your life, throwing everything else that's important to you aside and forgetting exactly what you're fighting for. Besides helping whatever government comes after the Empire, do you have any plans for what you'd do after the war?"

Even though the conflict between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance has been going on for only a few years, it felt like Leia had been fighting the war her entire life. Everything her family did revolved around defeating Palpatine and the Emperor, which left little time to develop other interests. "I'm going to finish my Jedi training," she finally said. The Force was one of the only consistent things in her life, so it felt right to serve and use it.

"That's a good goal," Doctor Chavani said. "Why wait until after the war to work towards it?"

It was something Leia had considered before, knowing how much she could help the Rebellion if she was a fully-fledged Jedi. The idea of finally finishing training excited her, though that excitement was always snuffed out when she remembered her reality. "I have nobody to train me, not after my father's little mental breakdown."

The Jade Sabre dropped out of hyperspace, starting to twist and flip around imaginary hurtles. It was one of the fastest ships Mara had ever flown and had already became more loved than her previous Jade's Fire.

She had a giant smile on her face, more than impressed that Luke actually built this ship, and as a fifteen year old no less. "If I knew that being friends with you would mean getting a ship like this, then I would've befriended you years ago."

"Did you even know I existed before we met?" Luke asked as he drizzled some oil into the socket of one of Artoo-Deetoo's legs.

"I knew of you, yes," Mara said. "Most higher level Imperial officers know of you and your sister, but rely on just rumors to know what you two are really like. I was under the impression that you were stuck up and spoiled, and thought you could get whatever you wanted just because you were Darth Vader's son."

While Artoo gave a humorous beep at Mara's impression, Luke just shook his head. "Our mother would have never allowed us to be stuck up. She had always taught us to be kind and compassionate, despite the government we were raised to be a part of. We were spoiled to a certain degree, just because our parents cared about us so much. But we were always thankful for what we had."

"Both your parents cared about you?" Mara asked. "Even Vader? I mean, I know he was still secretly working with the Jedi and planning on betraying the Emperor all along, but it's still hard to think about the version of Vader that I've always seen care about his children."

"Of course he cared. For him, his love for me, Leia, and our mother always came first. Darth Vader was always just a front." Luke set the oil can down and wiped his hands off, his expression becoming troubled. "As years went on, he was forced to use the dark side more and more, just to keep up appearances. It slowly corrupted him, until a few weeks ago when he actually turned for a short while. That's why my mother wants us to bring him back to the Rebellion. She doesn't want the dark side or Palpatine corrupting him any longer."

"You're mother is a smart woman; she's right to want him to leave. For someone to be a part of the Empire without believing in their values is torture, as I recently found out." Mara frowned, suddenly growing quiet. She activated the autopilot so she could close her eyes and turn the other way.

Luke watched her, not knowing if he should try to help her. While his heart ached knowing the mental pain she consistently dealt with, he also knew how resistant she could be to accepting help. "You're… doing the right thing by leaving, you know."

"I know," Mara said without looking at him. "It's just that my life so far has felt like such a waste. For most of my seventeen years I have been brainwashed by lies and propaganda, doing terrible things for a man who never really cared about me."

"You were a child when Palpatine took you from your parents. It's not like you had a choice to be the Emperor's Hand," Luke gently said. "And while you may think that your years serving him were a waste, you wouldn't be who you are now if it wasn't for him."

"You mean a traumatized former child soldier who's killed hundreds of people?" Mara rolled her eyes. "Gee thanks, Skywalker."

Luke frowned, spinning her seat around so she was forced to faced him. "I mean a wonderful, talented, strong woman who happens too be one of the bravest people I know."

"I'm a monster, Luke." Mara glared at him, her voice losing any and all sarcasm. Her hands gripped the arms of her seat as her teeth clenched together. "Do you know what I felt each time Palpatine had me murder someone? Nothing! I became so used to violence and murder, I just stopped feeling anything. That's why, even now, I'm so hesitant to leave the Empire. Because that's where a monster like me belongs!"

It hurt Luke too much to listen to Mara's awful words. How he wished she could see what he saw in her. "Is that why you refuse to get closer to me?" He eventually asked, his voice filled with both of their pain. "Because you think of yourself as a monster?"

Mara didn't say anything, eventually just nodding as she looked into her lap.

"Mara, we've been inside each other's heads," Luke reminded her. "Do you really think I'd have these feelings for you if you were as monstrous as you say? Do you think my standards are that low? I know you don't want to believe me, but I need you to know that you aren't your past. You may not feel anything when Palpatine forces you to take someone's life, but that's only because your own mind was trying to protect you. You said it yourself— You have a lot of trauma. That much trauma can alter how you view the galaxy and yourself."

He reached forward and placed a hand on top of hers. "Mara Jade, I am in love with you. I will continue to love you when you can't love yourself, and I want to help you discover who you really are, who you've never been allowed to be before. I want to help you heal from your past."

Mara stared at Luke a long time, her expression unrevealing to what she was thinking. Finally she said, "We're being followed."

"Mom, what happened after I crashed?" Leia asked. "The first thing I remember after trying to evacuate was waking up in a bacta tank."

Padmé frowned. "Well, everyone started panicking because even though your ship crashed and was on fire, the cockpit was still intact, so there was still a chance you were alive. None of the other squadrons ships could get to you, let alone have enough space to bring you back home. Just when we thought all hope was lost for you, the Millennium Falcon swooped in and was able to land on the surface of the Death Star. None of us had even realized Han Solo and Chewbacca had left the base. They got there just in time. Han had to pull you out of the fire, himself."

"Han saved me?" Leia's eyes widened, not believing the smuggler would put his own life on the line for her.

"Wait," Luke cut in. "Who's Han Solo and Chewbacca?"

Leia sighed, realizing how much her brother had missed. "They're smugglers that I hired to get me and Rey off of Coruscant. Chewbacca seems like a good man, but Han is a cocky bastard who likes to get on my nerves. I prefer to think he's too bad deep down. I mean, he swears he doesn't want to join the Rebellion, but keeps finding reasons to stay."

"Right now, we all owe him a galaxy of thanks. Without him, we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now," Padmé said, looking down at her wrist comlink as it beeped. She leaned down and kissed Leia's forehead. "I have some duties to attend to. But I'll come visit again in a little while."

The twins watched as their mother left the medbay. "She seems different," Luke said.

"She's happier here," Leia nodded.

Luke couldn't help but smile. "I hate to say it, but I think both our parents are happier away from each other. Even if the whole thing between them on Alderaan didn't happen, they needed a break apart." He paused for a moment. "Do you think their relationship is salvageable?"

Leia shrugged. "Only time will tell. That is, if we all make it out of this war alive."

"We will," Luke said immediately, as the medbay door opened once again.

"About time you woke up," Han said when he saw Leia. "How, uh, are you?" Clearly, he wasn't used to showing that he cared.

"I'm still alive, all thanks to you, I heard," Leia said. "Han, this is my twin brother, Luke. Luke, this is Han Solo."

Luke didn't say anything when he turned to look at Han, but he didn't have to. It was as if he was looking at a sexy Twi'lek dancer instead of a rugged smuggler. His mouth hung open slightly as his blue eyes sparkled, not being able to help but stare at Han's shirt and the way its top two buttons were undone, some chest hair poking out.

When Luke realized that he was staring, he quickly looked away. "It's nice to meet you. And thank you for saving my sister's life."

Han couldn't help but smirk at Luke's tiny crush. "It was nothing. I just happened to be in town, that's all. I will say, it's nice to put a face to your name. Leia told me all about you. You're an Imperial loyalist, huh?"

"I never said that!" Leia said. "I already told you, Han. Luke is a mole for the Rebellion. He doesn't have a corrupt bone in his body."

"His Imperial officer uniform says otherwise," Han teased. Even if he was kidding, it still made Leia mad.

"I don't have the energy to deal with your sithspit," Leia huffed. "Thank you for checking in on me, but I'd appreciate it if you left us. I have a lot to catch up with my brother on."

"Don't worry, I was just planning on leaving anyway. Rey's worried about you but can't visit because of her age, so I need to report back to her that you're doing okay," Han said, backing towards the door. Before he left, he gave Leia one last look, clear concern in his eyes.

"Well, he's…" Luke started.

"…A lot?" Leia suggested. "Trust me, he sort of grows on you after a while. Though judging by the way you were looking at him, he doesn't need to grow on you at all. Trust me, Luke, you shouldn't even think about making a move on him."

"Oh— no!" Luke shook his head, his cheeks turning red. "I wasn't even thinking about that, honestly. From the way you talk about him, I just wasn't expecting him to be so… attractive, that's all. You're right, he's not the kind of person I'd ever go after. I much prefer people who don't smell like a bantha's asshole."

Suddenly, there was a four note jingle that played on the Holonet News, one reserved for when there's about to be an important announcement from the Empire, getting everyone's attention. The projection cut to the Emperor, his black hood obscuring the top half of his face. The common room quieted down all at once, everyone grimly looking at the broadcast.

"Citizens of the Empire," Palpatine began. "I'm afraid I have terrible news. My granddaughter, the heir to my throne, has been kidnapped by none other than Leia Skywalker, the daughter of Darth Vader and now member of the Rebel Alliance. We have evidence of the Rebel swiping the princess during the Imperial Fair, days ago."

The broadcast cut to cam droid footage of Leia leading Rey away from the Imperial Palace, and then cut back to the Emperor. "I know the Rebellion is watching this, so I need them to pay close attention. You are to return my granddaughter to me, alive and unharmed, immediately. Otherwise, the Death Star will destroy one planet for every day that she is gone. And to the loyal members of the Empire— anyone who finds her and brings her back to Coruscant will receive an award of ten million credits. This is a dark time for the Empire, but if we work together, we can bring our princess home."

As the broadcast went back to the regular Holonet news, the room was silent, everyone looking at Rey. Han was eventually the first to speak. "Ten million credits…"

Leia jumped to her feet. "Don't you even think about it, Han!"

"I'm not, I'm not!" Han said quickly, patting Rey on the top of her head. "I'm just saying that that is life changing money. That's retiring young type of money. A whole lot of people are going to be going after the kid, especially bounty hunters."

"Forget about the money," Padmé cut in. "If we don't do something fast, the galaxy will have one less planet in twenty-four hours."

"Are you suggesting we turn her in?" Leia asked, looking at her mother in shock.

Suddenly, the room erupted into people yelling out their opinions. It seemed half the Rebels wanted to keep and protect Rey, while the other half was in favor of turning her in.

"Enough!" A voice commanded from the doorway, Mon Mothma walking into the room. Her presence was enough to quiet everyone down. "We are not throwing a six year old girl back to the Emperor because we are being threatened. Rey is one of us, now; we're going to keep her safe. Our problem continues to be the Death Star. The Emperor was going to continue to use it regardless of us having the girl or not."

As Mon spoke, Leia noticed Padmé typing on her datapad, only half paying attention. "Mom, what are you doing?" She whispered, but her mother only shushed her.

"Commander, we have less than a day until the damn thing destroys another planet, killing who knows how many people!" Another Rebel shouted out from the back of the room. "We don't have to make plans on destroying it, especially when we don't even know where it is or what its next target is!"

"Their next target is Chandrilla," Padmé said, looking up from her datapad. When everyone stared at her, waiting for an explanation on how she knew this, she continued. "I just got a message from my husband saying so."

"At least Dad is good for something." Leia muttered to herself.

Mon looked at Padmé in disbelief, obvious fear in her eyes for her home planet. "I'll send a transmission there to evacuate immediately. We don't have many pilots left, but we'll send who we can."

"I'll go too," Leia quickly said, getting to her feet.

"No," Padmé said, pulling her daughter back down. "If the Empire catches you, they'll kill you. You must stay here and protect Rey." Before Leia could object, she doubled down. "That is an order."

"I don't care if it's purely cosmetic, either. Even if the paint is scratched, you're paying to fix it," Mara said, talking with her left hand, her right stabilizing the Jade's Fire's yoke as they dropped out of hyperspace. "The Emperor doesn't give me nearly as big of an allowance for ship maintenance than he used to."

"I already told you that I'd pay for any damages," Luke said, shifting his weight in the copilot seat. He'd been jittery the whole flight, his nerves surrounding this mission finally getting to him.

Other than the vague directive from his father to 'search for Rebel activity', which could have meant anything, he had no idea why he needed to go to Tanalorr. Anakin said the Force would guide Luke once he was there, but that didn't help him prepare in the present. He could only guess that this mission had something to do with either his Jedi training or helping the Rebellion, or else Anakin would have been more specific in his instructions.

Thankfully, Mara hadn't asked too many questions about the mission. If he was going to Tanalorr for Jedi or Rebel stuff, then he needed to keep her far away from all of it. Despite the many holes forming in her loyalty to the Empire, he didn't believe she could be trusted with the truth about his family and where their own loyalties lied.

"If you're so worried about your ship, then why'd you volunteer to come with me?" Luke asked.

"Because of that thing." Mara nodded her head to the clouds of blues and oranges that the ship was flying towards. "The Koboh Abyss is known for being a graveyard. You need either a special compass or the Force and a damn good ship to get through. You may have the Force, but you'd be lost without the Fire's navigation system."

"And to think this was supposed to be my first solo mission," Luke sighed, crossing his arms. He wished Artoo was there to help them. He wanted to take the droid, but Artoo was busy updating himself so he was capable of more dangerous missions in the future.

"Which also makes me suspicious, if not of Vader himself, then of his parenting abilities." Mara turned in her seat to fully face Luke. "This would be a dangerous mission for any seasoned pilots, even if they were Force sensitive. So why the hell would Darth Vader send his nineteen year old son out, especially when this mission is supposed to be just a simple sweep for Rebels? Unless you are keeping something from me, this doesn't add up."

Luke shrugged. "I told you my exact instructions. And while I do often doubt my father's parenting abilities, I do think he sent me here for a good reason. I just have to trust the Force to find out what that reason is."

"Well, we're about to do a lot of trusting in the Force," Mara said, guiding the ship into the first clouds of the nebula, wisps of blue starting to cloud the viewport.

Besides their vision being disrupted, there was no other initial signs that they were in the Kobah Abyss. Once through the outermost cloud of gas, everything around them turned a light pink. It's like they flew into an infinitely large room made of pastel clouds, with an occasional bolt of light stabbing through space in the distance.

Luke found himself leaning forward in his seat, his eyes huge. "It's beautiful," he muttered.

On the bridge of the Executor, Stormtroopers and other subordinates saluted to Luke as he walked by. It made him feel weird, especially knowing he did nothing to earn his new title. He officially was a commander, though didn't have the same duties as others of his rank. There was no single fleet he was in command of, though everyone on the ship was recommended to listen to him, knowing who he was the son of. He also had the freedom to leave the Super Star Destroyer whenever he liked, mostly to go on missions assigned by either his father or the Emperor.

Anakin stood in front of a viewport on the far end of the bridge, watching TIE fighters return from a mission to scout the area where Alderaan used to be, searching for any survivors. He had just gotten the reports that they found no one.

If the Emperor knew of this mission, he would most certainly disapprove. But thankfully he was on the Death Star, lightyears away. Anakin was as free as he could be in his position.

Even though they've only been off of Coruscant for a couple of days, Luke had already noticed a change in his father. Anakin's mood was much better and he seemed more relaxed. Part of it was the fact he wasn't using the dark side anymore, but a lot of it was also being away from Palpatine. All of Luke's life, he had been aware that Anakin had a reputation among other Imperials to be moody and intimidating. Now, he jokes around with his subordinates (much to their initial confusion), and praises them frequently. Already, the crew of the Executer had started to respect him more.

"You wanted to speak to me, Father?" Luke asked in a quiet voice, keenly aware of how out in the open they were.

"I have a mission for you," Anakin nodded. "Have you ever heard of the planet Tanalorr?"

"I think so. It's in the Outer Rim, right?"

"Correct. You are to go there and search for any signs of Rebel activity, letting the Force guide you to where you're needed most. There is no hurry, so be sure to take your time and stay there for as long as you need. You are to report to me and only me." He nudged his son with his elbow. "Do you think you can handle it?"

Luke crinkled his nose in confusion, trying to read between the lines. He guessed Anakin wanted more than for him to just search for signs of Rebels. "Tanalorr is inside a nebula, right? It will be hard to get there; can I take someone with me?"

"No," Anakin said firmly. "It's important that you go alone. You're a good pilot, Luke; I know you can handle yourself. Like I said, just let the Force guide you."

"I understand, Father," Luke said, even though he did not really understand. Still, he would do as he was told and trust in the Force.

"Good." Anakin's expression turned to one of a mix of sadness and concern. "Have you heard from your mother or sister at all?"

"I have. Leia's almost at her destination." Luke mumbles his answer so the other Imperials nearby couldn't hear if they tried. "She should be arriving tomorrow. I haven't heard from Mom since the day of the fair."

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" The Emperor asked as he looked over Monument Plaza where dozens of hovering platforms were being set up, all attached by a bridge system so people could get around. Even though the sun wouldn't rise over Coruscant for another three hours, tall hairy beings worked as fast as they can to set up exhibitions and booths to display the power and the glory of the Empire. Star Destroyers loomed in the sky, including the new Executor-class Star Dreadnought, which would serve as Darth Vader's flagship.

"The fair will be a success," Vader nodded from beside his master, his eyes focused on his new ship.

Palpatine frowned. "Of course it will be a success, but that's not what I asked, Lord Vader." He turned around to look at Luke and Leia. "What do you think, my children?"

"It is quite beautiful," Leia smiled, though her stomach felt like it was twisted into knots. Her and Luke had just received a message that the Rebels would attack the Death Star during the fair, expecting it to be present. However, the space station was nowhere to be seen.

Luke's eyes narrow as he tried to better see the people setting up that fair. "They're all Wookiees," he eventually said to himself.

"The beasts are valuable workers," The Emperor replied. "That's all they're good for. When they were free, they were causing too much disruption to the Empire. It was either enslave them or wipe out the species. It's best to pay them no mind; it's not like their mind's are as advance as those of humans', anyway."

Both Luke and Leia had to keep actively fight to keep their anger at bay. While they were used to the xenophobia that the Emperor spewed and acted on, it was rare that they saw the effects this up close. So many species had been forced into slavery, while others, such as the Lasats, had experienced genocide.

Tears stung Luke's eyes as he felt the Wookiee's pain through the Force before he blinked them away. "What are our orders for once the fair starts, Your Highness?"

Palpatine didn't seem to care about the sudden change in subject. "Luke, you are to be stationed on the rooftops right above me, watching out for trouble. You are my own personal bodyguard, remember, so my safety while I'm out with the public is your main priority. Leia, you are to stay inside the Palace, watching the Holonet and comm frequencies for any trouble. We are expecting some kind of Rebel attack, considering the importance of today. Both of you are to alert me immediately if you find anything amiss. Is that clear?" When the twin's wordlessly nodded, he continued. "Good. Now, wait inside until the fair begins."

Once Luke and Leia had left, the Emperor turned back to Vader, who now watched the Wookiees work. "Lately, I've been sensing a new darkness within you, my apprentice. One that hasn't been there before. It seems like your Rebel scum wife leaving you has done you some good."

Vader's jaw clenched at the way Palpatine talked about Padmé, but he didn't dare speak up about it. "Yes, Master."

"You must hate her for what she did. She betrayed you and your children." Palpatine dramatically sighed. "Most likely, she was using you to gain information to give to the Rebels. Her leaving was certainly the plan all along. You were just too blinded by love to see it."

"That's not true." Vader quickly turned to face his master. "Padmé lost faith in the Empire, that's all. She was doing what she thought was best for her and our children. Don't act like she had some big plan to betray me all along." He was careful with his words, not wanting to accidentally reveal that he previously was planning on betraying Palpatine.

"Is that so? Before recently, she never showed any interest in any Rebels, suspected or confirmed? What about her frequent trips to Alderaan and Chandrila, both planets who are suspected of being Rebel sanctuaries?" When Vader didn't respond, the Emperor continued. "You made a mistake trusting her, Lord Vader."

Did I make a mistake trusting her, or did I make a mistake ever trusting you? Vader asked himself, already knowing the answer.

For the first time in days, Luke had a smile in his face. He practically skipped down the corridors to his family's quarters, several Stormtroopers and other Imperials staring at him but not daring say anything to the son of Vader.

He had just received an encrypted message from his mother. The Rebellion had managed to retrieve the Death Star plans and were forming a plan to proceed in taking down the space station. It gave him a spark of hope.

On top of that, he had also just spent the afternoon with Mara. They had to co-write a report on their mission. While talking it through and to Mara's dismay, Luke thoughts started to wander and he started to ramble, mostly about ships. It just happened to be a topic she also was passionate about, and she started to open up to him. He could sense her loneliness she tried hard to hide, and the impenetrable walls in her mind that kept him from reading her started to crack. Even though he couldn't talk to her most things, too scared he'd reveal one of his family's many secrets, it still felt nice to talk to someone his own age besides Leia.

Maybe he was all that Mara had to talk to, too. She never mentioned any other friends, and she had been kidnapped from whatever family she had. Though he wouldn't describe her in their time together as nice per se, it was a much different side to her than the cold Emperor's Hand he had seen before.

When he arrived home, Luke's smile immediately disappeared once he saw his father sitting and waiting for him. "Sit."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Luke sat down on the sofa, sitting straighter than he naturally would. Ever since his father truly turned to the dark side, Vader had barely spoke to his children. It was preferable to whatever this was.

The Sith Lord looked over Luke, his face expressionless. "The Emperor has an assignment for you. You are to be a part of his personal security detail at the Imperial Fair in a few days."

Luke nodded, his eyes locked on the floor. "I understand, but may I ask why did the Emperor personally not talk to me about this assignment?" Vader stood up, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. He moved closer, towering over his son. "Because you are my child and my apprentice. If you kriff this assignment up, it will negatively effect our who family, which I absolutely will not stand for. I am trying to please the Emperor, not disappoint him like you always seemingly are!"

"Yes, Father," Luke said, not letting his stoic expression waver. He refused to let his anger or fear show. "Is that all?"

The Sith Lord didn't say anything at first, not until his expression softened and the gold hue in his eyes slightly faded. "Listen, I don't mean to be so harsh on you, Luke. I know your feelings towards the Emperor and I'm not asking you change them. I just ask that you hide your hate towards him a little better. Is that clear?"