The Emperor's Hand
Chapter 2: The Traitor
Three years and countless missions later, Mara stood in the same place in that same training room. Only this time there were two differences.
The first was that she was no longer an inexperienced child. She was a young woman of seventeen. The year before she had been introduced into the Emperor's court as one of his dancers. It was really just a cover, of course, but it still made Mara feel more important.
The other was that Lee Ghan was no longer her combat trainer. As of that day, she would have a new teacher. One who was more experienced and skilled, the Emperor had told her.
Letting out a gentle sigh, Mara seated herself on one of the benches along the wall. Running her hand along the wooden surface, she wondered how many times she had sat there while Lee had given her examples of fighting skills.
Her hand brushed against a familiar object.
Frowning, Mara picked it up and turned it over in her hand. It was Lee's small throwing vibroblade. He had taught Mara how to use it and many other weapons like it. In that same room he had trained her in the use of lightsabers, vibroblades, force-pikes, blasters, larger blaster rifles, wrist darts, stun rods, hand to hand combat and many other skills.
And now he was gone from her life. She wondered briefly if she had a crush in him. He was certainly very handsome with fair hair, blue eyes, a perfectly chiseled -- yet serious -- face and well developed muscles.
Mara pushed that thought away. He was ten years older than her, more of a big brother than anything else.
He would still be one of the Royal Imperial Guards, but it was unlikely that Mara would ever see him again. Or if she did, she wouldn't know that it was him behind the mask.
A target was pinned to the wall opposite the bench. It was a fist-sized circle with a small dot in the middle.
Mara held the vibroblade in a ready position. Normally she would use the Force to aim. That was something that Lee frowned on. Mara had always thought it was because he was jealous that he couldn't do things that way.
This time she decided to find out how skilled she was without the Force. She took careful aim and flung it. To her delight, it hit the tiny dot right in the centre, sticking into the wall with a soft thud. It was the first time that she had ever been so accurate without using the Force.
She leapt to her feet to go and collect it...
...and came to a halt at the sound of quiet applause.
Reflexively she whirled around and dropped into a crouch, grabbing her blaster from her left sleeve holster and tracking it towards the noise.
"Well done--if you didn't use the Force," came a wonderfully familiar voice. "I've never seen you get it so spot on." The tall, red-clad figure stood in the doorway.
Mara snarled something in Rodian that her language teacher hadn't taught her. "Blast you, Lee," she snapped, masking the fact that she was glad to see him. She holstered her tiny sleeve blaster. "Don't sneak up on me like that. I could have shot you or anything."
Lee removed his Royal Imperial Guardsmen helmet and raised an eyebrow. "I doubt that. You know better than to shoot before looking first. And I didn't sneak up on you. I was just watching you from the door." He walked into the room, glancing around him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Ignoring her question, he walked over to where two force-pikes were propped up against the wall. "I'm sure going to miss this place," he muttered, inspecting one of the weapons.
"What are you doing here?" Mara repeated, trying to keep her voice patient.
Lee looked over at her. "I just thought I'd say goodbye. Don't tell anyone. I'm not supposed to have any more contact with you."
Mara walked over to his side. "Do you know why you can't be my trainer any more?" she asked. "The Emperor told me that it was because there was no more you could teach me. He said that I need a more skilled teacher. But there is still more that I can learn from you."
A sad and haunted expression came over Lee's face. "Mara," he said softly, putting an arm around her shoulders, "there's something you need to learn. Something that everyone under the Emperor learns eventually."
"What?" she asked as he herded her over to the bench and sat down. She seated herself next to him.
"We've grown into more than just student and teacher. We've become..." he hesitated, looking into her eyes, "friends."
Mara nodded. "Yes," she agreed. "We certainly have. What does that have to do with anything?"
He pulled his arm away from her and rubbed his temples thoughtfully with his gloved hands. "Everything. The Emperor can't allow his agents to have friends. This is his way of forcing us apart."
"Are you sure?" Mara asked. Lee gave her another one of those empty looks that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Let me tell you a story," he said in a low voice. "I once had a best friend. We trained together, both of us hoping that one day we would become members of the Royal Imperial Guardsmen. We made it up to the final test. As you could imagine, we were very close. We told each other everything and I grew to love him as a brother..." his voice trailed off.
"And?" Mara asked, a knot forming in her stomach. It didn?t take a Force-sensitive to know the outcome of this story would not be positive.
"We went before Palpitine so that he could make the final decision about whether or not we would become his guards. At the time, we wondered why he asked for us to go to him together. We soon found out why. He forced us to fight each other to the death; the winner becoming the guard. My best friend laid down his force-pike and told the Emperor that he'd rather die than fight me."
Lee fell silent and looked down at his knees. For a moment Mara wondered if he would continue the story or not. Finally, he looked up again. There was a new hardness to his eyes as he said the final sentence, "I cut the traitor down."
"I'm sorry," Mara breathed, the words catching in her throat.
"Don't be," Lee muttered. "I've put it behind me."
"Why was he a traitor?" she asked. "It seems to me that all he was doing was being loyal to you."
"Exactly," Lee said. "That's something that I thought you've already learned. His loyalty didn't belong to me. It belonged to the Emperor."
"Which is why the Emperor separated us," Mara concluded thoughtfully. "He must have thought that we were becoming too close."
Lee stood up and looked down at her. "He was right," the tall warrior said briskly. "We are Imperials, Mara. We have no need for friends. We have no need for each other. We live to serve the Emperor."
"You should go now," Mara told him, suddenly feeling very cold. "It's been great, Lee. You taught me more than I would have thought possible. But I'm afraid we'll never see each other again."
Lee nodded. "If that's what the Emperor wishes, that's how it'll be. Goodbye Mara." He turned to leave. Mara gazed at him sadly as he walked over to the door.
"Wait," Mara cried. Something had been bothering her after he had told his story. Pausing, Lee looked over his shoulder at her. She took a deep breath. "If duty called for it, would you kill me, like you did your best friend?"
Lee's eyes narrowed. "Kirt and I were much closer than you and I are. If the Emperor requested it, I wouldn't have to think twice.?
Mara swallowed hard. "I understand."
Lee replaced the blood colored helmet over his head. "No you don't," he said calmly, his voice noticeably altered "But one day you will. One day you'll become like me, ready to give your all for the Emperor." With that, he turned around and swept out of the room, his scarlet cape flowing freely behind him.
The door slid shut with a bang.
Mara straightened herself up, realizing how much Lee's appearance had shaken her up. She stretched out a hand. The force-pike he had been looking at earlier flew to her.
Grabbing it in a two handed position, she moved into a combat stance. "You're wrong, Lee Ghan," she growled. "I understand perfectly." With a smooth and fluid movement she jabbed at her invisible opponent.
A distant memory came to mind: three years ago, when Lee predicted how Mara would someday become greater than he was.
Perhaps that time had come.
* * *
The walls in Lee Ghan's room were bare except for a few holographic awards. He sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his forefingers. He had shed his uniform and was now wearing normal civilian clothing.
What on Imperial Center had come over him?
How could he have spilled everything out to Mara?
Six years ago he had been twenty-one years old, the youngest and newest member of the Royal Imperial Guardsmen. As his first assignment he had been instructed to train Mara.
At first he had been angry at the proposition. He was one of the highest ranking troopers in the Empire. Yet his talents were being wasted on the training of an eleven year old girl.
But it seemed that she had taught him just as much as he'd taught her. Not that he'd ever admit that to her. She'd taught him patience and self-control, two qualities vital to a warrior. He had watched her slowly transform from a hot-headed child to a cold and calculating killer.
For a long time Lee had wished that he could move on to something more important than teaching Mara. Now that time had come and he wasn't ready for it.
Lee let out a curse directed at her.
He had been so careful to put his memories of Kirt aside. But Mara had undone everything. Becoming close to her had reminded him of his last friend.
The traitor to the Empire.
For a few seconds, Lee felt like he was back in the Emperor's chambers waiting anxiously with Kirt beside him, wondering what their final test would be. Then came that command that changed his life: "You must fight to the death to prove yourself worthy to serve by my side."
Lee had looked from the Emperor to Kirt, a look of horror on his face as he struggled to take control of his emotions. Kirt stayed unmoving, staring fearlessly at the evil ruler. "No," he said defiantly. "I won't fight Lee. I'd rather die than kill my best friend." Carelessly, he had tossed his fore-pike to the side.
The Emperor had stood up from his chair, his face twisted with anger. "Traitor," he hissed. Then he turned to Lee, a thin ghastly smile taking over his withered features. "Strike him down. You are not like your weak companion. I can sense it."
Kirt turned to face Lee. He spoke with a calm voice that Lee could not forget, even after all these years. "Go ahead, Lee. I don't know why it took me so long realize what a mistake it was to join up with the Empire. If this New Order is one that requires the death of your best friend to prove loyalty, I no longer wish to serve it."
"What are you waiting for?" Emperor Palpitine's rasping voice boomed, echoing through the chamber. A drop of sweat trickled down between Lee's shoulder blades. His force-pike suddenly felt heavy in his hands.
"Come on," Kirt said quietly. "It'll only mean death for both of us if you prolong this any more."
He made it sound so simple.
Lee raised his weapon up in an attack position, trying to provoke Kirt into taking up his own force-pike. But his friend remained motionless.
Unable to stand there for any longer, Lee thrust his blade forward, jabbing it into Kirt's chest. His eyes shot wide open as the mortal blow was delivered and his mouth opened up into a silent scream.
From his raised dais, the Emperor chuckled. "Well done, my servant."
Lee snapped out of his reverie, the images fading like mist in the morning sunshine.
But his friend's words remained, as clear as if his ghost was standing before him, speaking them once again.
If this New Order is one that requires the death of your best friend to prove loyalty, I no longer wish to serve it.
"Kirt was a traitor," Lee growled to himself. "Nothing more than a traitor." The words sounded hollow and empty to his own ears, as if he didn't really believe them.
He had served the Empire faithfully since he had been a teenager. Why was he only having doubts now? Deep down he knew he could waste all the breath he wanted telling Mara about his loyalty to the Empire, but when it came down to it...
He sat down in a chair and switched on the holo-vid, eager for something to do other than go through things that he'd rather forget.
A familiar image appeared. It was the inside of the Imperial Palace's large banquet hall. In the centre of the holo amidst hundreds of elegantly dressed officials and dignitaries was a well known ambassador. And on his arm was...Lee sucked in his breath.
It was Mara.
She was hardly recognizable in a long formal gown with her red-gold hair piled on top of her head. What a transformation from her usual no-nonsense flightsuits.
He turned up the volume. "Ambassador Raiju was found dead in an alleyway after last nights function at the Imperial Palace. The Authorities are still looking into the matter. So far, no leads have been found."
Lee paused the image on the screen and enlarged the section of the holo which Mara and Raiju were in. He frowned deeply. There was no doubt in his mind that Mara was the mysterious assassin.
She had to learn to be careful of holo-cameras. If the authorities decided to try and find out who she was when they saw the picture, it would mean trouble. Then again, it might not. The Emperor would be able to protect her identity. Whether or not he would bother to do so was another matter entirely.
He set the screen running again, trying to suppress his frustration. There was so much more that Mara needed to know. Lee felt a burning desire to be the one to continue her training. He had started it and felt that it was his duty to complete it.
The scene on the holo-vid flickered to a picture of a middle aged woman's face. She had a painfully thin face and her hair was graying, but her eyes were young and defiant. The woman looked strangely familiar.
Lee paid careful attention to the words spoken. "This woman is the leader of a group of terrorist rebels. Imperial forces have not yet been able to track down the former Imperial Senator."
Then Lee remembered. She was Senator Mon Montha, a woman who had recently defected from the Empire. His lips tightened into a straight line. So she had finally decided to go into action against Emperor Palpitine.
Instead of feeling anger or hatred about her, Lee felt admiration. His own emotions suprised him. He couldn't help but think of how brave she must be to go against thousands of Imperial forces with her small band of rebels. He almost pitied her, knowing that soon she would probably be captured and then executed for treason.
Lee turned off the holo-vid, his mind filled with confusion. An hour ago he had been preaching about loyalty to the Emperor. Now he found himself thinking sympathetic thoughts for a leader of a rebellion. It didn't make sense.
Rising to his feet, Lee walked over to where his uniform hung in his closet. The scarlet uniform which he was so proud to wear. He touched the rich fabric gently.
A fresh surge of emotion washed over him. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, he willed it away.
But nothing could stop the loneliness.
* * *
The two silent guards nodded respectfully at Mara as she approached the door to the Emperor's chamber. She kept her face straight and inclined her head in return.
There was a time years ago when they wouldn't have even acknowledged her presence. To them, she had been just been another courtier. But now they had come to know her as someone who had real authority, even as much as the Lord Darth Vader.
"Are you here to see the Emperor?" one of them asked. Kir Kanos, if she remembered correctly.
"He summoned me here," she confirmed.
"He's with Director Isard right now," Kanos told her.
Mara nodded, feeling a bit uneasy. Ysanne Isard, the Director of Imperial Intelligence had already expressed her mistrust for Mara. Although she didn't know about Mara's real role as the Emperor's Hand, she was sure that Mara was more than just a dancer.
The door slid open and an attractive tall woman with ebony hair stepped out. Her eyes, one icy blue and the other molten red, met with Mara's and narrowed. "Hello Mara...or whatever your name was. I assume you're here to give the Emperor a little private dancing display?" she asked bitterly.
The sadistic look on her face gave Mara a reminder of exactly how cruel Isard could be. She had even had her own father killed to obtain her high position in the Empire. She was not an enemy Mara wished to make.
"I'm here for whatever my Master wishes of me," Mara replied sweetly. She hated playing the role of the bimbo courtier, but it was often necessary to hide her identity.
Isard sneered at her. "You're not fooling anyone with that act. I'm warning you, the moment you slip up, I'll be there to make sure you pay." Mara didn't reply, smiling innocently at her.
The Intelligence Director spun on her heel and strode away. As soon as her back was turned, Mara's smile fell and she glared at Isard's back.
Remembering what she was there for, Mara looked away and entered the Emperor's chambers. As usual, the room was dimly lit and the Emperor was seated upon his throne.
Mara knelt down before him. "You may rise," he said regally. "Did Director Isard give you any trouble?" he asked, sensing her emotions.
"No, my Master. She just doesn't trust me," Mara said as she stood.
Emperor Palpitine smiled to himself. It was a ghastly sight. "She will learn to trust you. Tell me, my Hand, how do you find your new trainer?"
Mara hesitated. "He's...different."
"Is he not skilled enough?" the Emperor frowned. ?You do know that he was one of my Guardsmen.?
"He's very skilled, my Master," Mara assured him. "He's a more than adequate teacher. It'll just take me a while to get used to him."
"Change is good," Palpitine reminded her. "It teaches us not to get too comfortable. If you get into patterns, it makes you vulnerable."
"Yes, my Master," Mara agreed.
"Please tell me about you former teacher, Lee Ghan."
"He was also a highly skilled warrior," she told him.
"That's not what I meant," the Emperor said, peering at her with his reptilian yellow eyes. "Was he loyal to me?"
Mara couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Of course he was loyal to you, my Master. He even killed his own best friend for you. I can truthfully say that he is one of your most loyal servants."
"No," her master snapped. "In the last few days I have sensed a stirring in him. Even though he will not admit it to himself, he no longer fully accepts me as his master. In fact, deep down he is beginning to despise me. I have foreseen that in times to come he will leave my service."
"Are you sure?" Mara asked. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them.
The Emperor rose from his throne, glaring down at her from his raised dais. She could sense the enveloping dark energy radiating from him. "Do you question my wisdom?" he snarled.
Mara shrunk back, remembering the last time her master had become angry with her. "No, my Master," she said quickly.
"Good," he said with barely veiled threat in his voice. "I want you to keep an eye on Lee Ghan. The moment he makes a move against me, I want you to kill him. Make sure he doesn't ever see you again."
"Why not kill him now?" Mara asked, hoping that she wasn't pushing her luck by questioning him again.
"We are at a delicate stage right now," the Emperor informed her. "With Mon Montha's traitorous acts, some of my subjects are beginning to have second thoughts about my leadership. If I order the execution of one of my own men without any apparent reason, more will stir up against me. You may leave now.? He waved an idle hand towards the door.
"Yes my Master." She bowed once more and left his chambers, trying to think through the twisted haze of emotions.
Everything that she had been sure about Lee was no longer so clear. The Emperor had all but accused him of treason. And it would Mara's job to try and catch him in the act before he did any damage to the growing Empire.
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