The Emperor's Hand
Chapter 4: The Mission
After three days of working in the dingy cantina, Mara was finally accustomed to the bad smells and fringe-types. She had always thought that she was a very adaptable person.
She'd been wrong. Very wrong.
For as long as she could remember, she'd lived in the luxurious Imperial Palace. To be suddenly thrown into the real world was a bit of a shock to her system. Luckily, she was very good at hiding her true feelings and was making a passable effort to fit in.
As she tended to the customers, she kept an eye on the group that the Emperor had told her was part of the gang he wanted to make an agreement with. Why he wanted to make a deal with such scum, Mara had no idea.
"Where's my Alderaanian ale?" a voice snarled.
"I don't think so. You've had enough," Mara said firmly to the drunk. He looked up at Mara in disbelief, glaring at her with blood-shot eyes.
"I thinks you not heard me rightly," he slurred, confusing his words. "I drinks whenever I wants."
"I don't think so," Mara repeated, turning to another customer. A large hand darted out and grabbed her by the wrist.
"I said--" the old drunk never got a chance to finish his sentence. Mara swung her other fist into his face. He fell backwards off his bar-stood, unconscious. Shaking her head in disgust, Mara looked back over at the waiting customer.
"Nice job," he commented conversationally. "Sambo's a regular in here. Always ordering more drinks than he can stomach, then he never pays his tab. I'll have a Correlian brandy, thanks."
Mara nodded and poured out some of the brown liquor. As she passed it back to the man, she focused for the first time on his face. He was young with a bright, but wary expression on his face. On his head was a thick shock of hair that was an even brighter red than Mara's.
There was something familiar about him. He reminded Mara of someone who she had seen not long ago. She couldn't quite put a finger on it.
Pushing it from her mind, she focused on her work. It probably wasn't important anyway.
* * *
Emperor Palpitine was an intimidating sight, even though it was only a hologram. It took all of Tsan Ranger's willpower not to shrink back from the giant image of his Master's head.
"What is it, my servant?" the Emperor asked. His voice was laced with impatience.
Ranger swallowed hard, his earlier confidence melting away. What if the Emperor didn't think his news was worth interrupting him for? It was too late to back down now.
"My Master, one of my contacts has spotted one of the rebels that we are searching for -- Pash Cracken -- in a cantina on Coruscant. It's the same cantina that your Hand, Mara Jade, is currently on a mission in."
The Emperor actually smiled. A shiver ran down Ranger's back. "I know," he cackled. "Not only is young Cracken in the area, but so is his father, Wedge Antilles, Jan Dodanna and many others."
"Should we send some commandos down to capture them?" Ranger asked. "Having them near Jade could endanger her mission. If they recognise her--"
The Emperor interrupted him mid sentence. "My spies already knew that they would be there. That is why I assigned my Hand to that mission. They will certainly recognise her."
"But why?" Ranger breathed, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"They are the rebels that Lee Ghan went to see when he joined the Rebellion. He will almost certainly be hidden away somewhere. If Antilles, Cracken or Dodanna sees her, they will go straight back to Ghan and tell him about her. He has already spared my Hand's life once, so I suspect that he will try once more to approach her and convince her to join the Rebellion."
Ranger nodded, finally understanding. "So you're using Jade to draw Ghan out of hiding. Then your commandos will kill him and the rest of the rebels."
The Emperor nodded. "You will not speak of this to Jade. She can go about her mission without knowing about the Rebels. My commandos will intercept Ghan before he reaches her."
Ranger bowed low. "I understand, my Master." When he rose again, the image of Emperor Palpitine had disappeared. He walked from the com room, back to his quarters.
A hard lump formed in his chest. What if the Emperor had miscalculated? What if Ghan and the rebels got to Mara before the commandos could intercept them?
He wondered if the Emperor even cared if something happened to Mara. Ranger thought back to what had happened on the day that they had taken Mara from her home. It was an awful memory.
He quickened his pace and pushed the doubting thoughts from his mind. The Emperor would never miscalculate.
* * *
"Hey Pash," called out a familiar voice. Pash Cracken twisted his head to the side, glaring at the young man who was seating himself by his side.
"What in kreffing Kessel do you think you're doing? No names," Pash hissed.
The newcomer winced. "Sorry. I'm not used to all this secret stuff."
"It's all right," Pash sighed, relaxing a little. His friend, Kent Torz had been born on a backwater planet. The farm-boy had joined the Rebellion when his parents had been killed by the Empire. Their small band of Rebels had been on Coruscant for nearly a month now, searching for new recruits in the heart of the Empire.
"Who's that?" Kent asked, interrupting Pash's train of thought. With a frown on his face, he looked across the bar to where Kent's gaze was fixated.
"Oh, her," Pash said, running a casual hand through his fiery hair. "Her name's Teenie something." Kent didn't respond. "Hello," Pash said, regarding his friend with amusement.
"Huh?" he snapped out of his trance-like state. "Did you say something?"
Pash rolled his eyes. "I said that's Teenie. She's a new barmaid. I think she only started a few days ago. You should have seen her before. She knocked out old Sambo half an hour ago. " He paused, seeing the all-too-familiar look on Kent's face. "Don't even think about it. She's not the talkative type. I had to talk to the bartender just to get her name."
"Maybe not to you," Kent countered. He turned back to the bar, gazing at the young woman with the red-gold hair. She wasn't the most beautiful girl that he'd ever seen, but there was something about her...
"Can I help you," she asked coolly, noticing that his eyes were on her. Her green eyes bore into Kent.
Flashing her a smile, Kent leaned forward across the counter. "I've been told you're new here, Teenie. My name's Ken--" Pash drew a sharp breath and nudged Kent hard in the ribs. "Kenny Jag," he finished quickly, his face turning scarlet as he realized what he'd nearly said.
"Can I get you something, Kenny?" Teenie asked overly patiently. Pash could tell from her weary expression that she'd been putting up with a lot of guys like Kent lately. He pitied her.
"Oh no, I'm fine. It's just that--" she turned away before he even got a chance to finish his sentence.
There was a chuckle from Kent's side. He spun around on his stool, eyes flashing. "Shut up," he snarled.
"Hey," laughed Pash, "I didn't say anything."
* * *
"Teenie," came a gruff voice. Mara turned around at the sound of her false name. Her new boss, Wentill stood behind her.
"Yes," Mara said, forcing a smile. The scowl on Wentill's face deepened. He cocked his head to the side, his brown eyes boring into her.
Grudgingly, the old man forked out a few measly credits. "Here's your wages for today," he said. "You can go home now. I have a different barmaid taking the night shift."
Mara had the sudden urge to tell her new boss that she could have a hundred times the amount he had given her if she snapped her fingers. But instead she merely said, "thank you," and walked out the door, taking off her apron as she went. She couldn't afford to do anything that would make people suspicious that she wasn't really a barmaid.
It had been a very bust day for her. The Cantina had been full. She'd had to break up four fights and prevented numerous ones from occurring. There'd been hardly any time to keep an eye on that fringe group Emperor Palpitine was interested in. And of course, there'd been that Kenny kid.
All day he'd been bugging Mara. No matter what she did, he just kept trying to chat her up. There had been many times when she'd considered sticking her vibroblade in his side.
She was half way to her temporary apartment when she heard a familiar voice cry out from behind her. "Hey Teenie!"
Gritting her teeth, she picked up her pace, hoping that Kenny would go away.
He didn't.
Within a few moments he was beside her. His face was slightly red and he was panting as if he'd been running for a long time. "Teenie! Remember me, Kenny?"
"You're a little hard to forget," Mara said, glancing at him and lengthening her stride. To her annoyance, Kenny had no trouble keeping up. He grinned broadly at her. He was tall with brown eyes and brown hair. Despite his hulking height, he had a young and roguish look to his face.
"Good. When I heard that you'd knocked off work, I thought I'd catch up with you and walk you home."
Mara paused in mid step, turning to face him. "You can think again," she said coolly. "I'm perfectly capable of walking myself home."
"Come on Teenie," Kenny scoffed. "It's very dangerous out here. You never know what scum hangs out this deep in the city."
"I can take care of myself. Worry about yourself," Mara sneered and started walking away.
"I didn't mean it that way," Kenny assured her, following her like a faithful pet. "I saw you get in on quite a lot of action back at the cantina. My friend told me that you knocked out Sambo before I arrived."
"I'm glad we understand each other," Mara muttered. "So why are you following me?"
Kenny was silent for a moment, taken aback by her bluntness. "I thought I'd like to get to know you," he said quietly. His earlier confidence had been shattered.
Instantly, Mara felt guilty. It was not an emotion that she was used to feeling. But there was something about Kenny's big brown eyes...
"Look kid," Mara sighed. "I'm not staying in this neighborhood for long. It's not just you. I don't really have time to get to know anyone."
Kenny nodded. "I know just what you mean. I've been on Coruscant--um, I mean Imperial Center, for a few months now. I haven't really had time to make any new friends. I'll probably be leaving the system soon. I don't know...it depends on what happens."
Mara eyed him curiously. "What do you do for a living that makes you move around so much? Are you a smuggler or pilot or what?"
"I'm a pilot," Kenny said quickly. Mara's curiosity turned to suspicion. His answer had been hasty. Far too hasty. "And what about you? I know that you're a barmaid now, but you don't seem to be the type. There's something different about you."
Inwardly, Mara groaned, but she kept her face a steel mask. She hadn't been able to blend in as well as she thought. She forced a smile. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. I was a barmaid in another cantina, but I lost my job and found work here."
Kenny raised an eyebrow. "I can't imagine anyone firing you. You're very good at your job."
"Enough about me," Mara changed the subject. "Do you hang around the cantina often? I didn't see you on my first few days."
"I was sick, but I'm feeling much better now," Kenny told her briskly. "I'll be in there tomorrow. What time do you leave for work?"
"Why do you want to know?" Mara asked warily, shooting a narrow-eyed glance in his direction as they walked.
Kenny let out a sigh. "I was only wondering if you wanted some company walking to the cantina tomorrow morning. Why are you so suspicious of everything I say?"
"It's a rough galaxy out there, Kenny. No one really trusts anyone."
"Maybe they should," he said softly.
"What was that?" Mara asked in suprise.
The teenager shrugged. "I just think that the galaxy would be a better place if people trusted each other; if people were more open and shared their problems. Maybe then many of the problems we face would be solved"
Mara rolled her eyes. Didn't that kid know anything? "That's not the way things work, Kenny."
"I know," he said under his breath, "I know. It's a rough galaxy out there, Teenie. Two of my friends were killed over a week ago by some trigger-happy Imperial." His fists clenched at his sides. "They didn't even shoot at her first. I wish I knew who she was."
Mara's heat skipped a beat. She stared straight ahead, not daring to look at her companion. Could it be that she was the one he spoke of? No. It couldn't be. There were many Imperials around. And whoever had been friends with those rebels she had killed would have left Imperial Centre with Lee Ghan and the others.
"I'm sorry," she managed to say.
"Yeah," he said, his words tight with emotion. "So am I. But I'm gonna find who did it to them and she's going to pay."
"This is my apartment," Mara said, suddenly realizing that they were at the end of their short trip.
Kenny nodded. "Nice place," he lied, looking up at the shabby skyscraper.
"Sure," Mara laughed humorlessly. "It's a dump. But it's all I can afford on a barmaid's wagers."
"Before I go, could you please answer my question," he asked, taking Mara's hand in his.
To her suprise, she didn't draw away, but moved closer to him. "What question?" she asked.
"When do you leave for work?" he asked, his soft gaze melting away her hard exterior. There was a youthful earnestness and idealism in his face, but at the same time there was a hard mature edge to him.
"Seven," she found herself saying automatically.
He smiled slightly. "Tell me your apartment number and I'll meet you at six thirty."
Mara recited a string of numbers and letters. "Are you sure you can remember all that?"
"For you," he said, "I'd memorize anything."
"Goodbye Kenny," she smiled. "It was real nice talking to you." And she meant it. A long time had passed since she'd last been in a conversation outside of business.
"The pleasure was all mine. I'll see you tomorrow, Teenie." With those last words and another shy smile, he dropped her hand and turned around. Mara leaned against the door and watched as he walked down the crowded streets.
Her cheeks warmed as she imagined what it would have been like if instead of letting go of her hand, he'd drawn her into a kiss. She shook her head in disbelief. Back at the cantina she'd thought he was an annoying vermin. Now she was actually beginning to really like him.
Reminding herself that there was much work to do, she keyed open the door and headed towards the turbolift. She still had to plan how she would go about initiating the negotiations.
Her apartment was on the top level. There was a nice view from her window, but it was not nearly as impressive as the one from the roof of the Imperial Palace. The Emperor often sent her there to watch for certain transports and convoys.
As Mara settled into her seat beside the transparisteel window, she reassured herself that in a few days it would all be over. She'd meet with the fringe group for her Master and then would return to the Imperial Palace for more important duties.
Maybe then she'd be able to convince the Emperor to allow her to hunt down lee Ghan and kill him.
* * *
Lee Ghan prided himself on his patience, but being cooped up in a basement for over a week was starting to get to him. The Rebel Alliance headquarters on Imperial Center -- or ?Coruscant? as the Rebels called it -- was buried in the depths of the city, hidden away from prying eyes.
He had plenty of company but he longed to go outside into the fresh air. Of course, that was impossible. The bounty on his head was so large that he'd be sure to be recognised by someone.
Every now and then his thoughts would drift back to Mara. He almost felt guilty for what he'd done to her. The fact that she hadn't found him already pointed to the conclusion that she hadn't survived.
No. He knew deep inside that she was alive. Mara always survived , one way or another she would have come out on top of the situation. She always did.
A burst of laughter broke through his train of thought. He turned his head to see Kent Torz storm from the room, a determined expression on his face. His friend, Pash Cracken -- son of Airen Cracken -- shook his head in amusement.
"What's the joke?" asked Lee, getting up from his seat.
Chuckling, Pash gestured towards the door. "Kent's the joke. Last night he walked the new barmaid home and now he thinks they're made for each other. He's just gone to take her to work."
Lee found himself grinning. From what he'd heard from the other rebels, Kent was always finding new women to suddenly fall in love with. "So what's this one like?"
"Well...I can understand why Kent likes her," Pash admitted. "She's quite pretty. She has wavy red hair -- not red like mine, but a lighter, almost golden colour."
"Sounds like it's you who likes her, not Kent," laughed Lee.
Pash made a face. "No. Teenie's not my type. When she glares at you with those incredible green eyes of hers, it makes you wish that you were anywhere else in the galaxy. She's so cold and emotionless. I could tell that she didn't belong in the Cantina. She's not like any of the other flirty, bimboish barmaids there."
Lee frowned. There was something about that name, Teenie, that triggered off an old memory.
"While I was there," Pash continued, "she stepped in on quite a number of situations that could have been very messy. I wonder where she learned to fight like that."
Like a bolt of lightning in the black sky, a sudden, awful thought struck Lee. Everything came together in his mind. The red-gold hair, the combat skills, the cold green eyes and the name Teenie.
Mara.
Teenie had been one of Mara's code names many years ago. Perhaps she was working at the cantina under that same false identity. The thought sent a shiver running down Lee's spine. If it was Mara then she would surely have only one object in mind -- to kill Lee.
"Lee? What is it?" asked Pash, seeing his friend's expression.
"When did 'Teenie' start working at the cantina?" Lee demanded, his brow furrowing.
"About three days ago...why?" Pash frowned, taken aback by Lee's behavior.
"Sith! It's her," he cursed. "I'm sure of it."
"Who?" asked Pash.
"Mara. The Emperor's personal assassin, messenger and spy. The girl who killed your pals Kilc and Wesley a few weeks ago."
"Are you sure?" the young rebel raised his eyebrows skeptically. "A lot of people could fit the description I gave you."
"No," Lee muttered darkly. "It's her. I'm almost certain of it."
"Uh oh!" gasped Pash, suddenly remembering an important detail. "What about Kent? He's gone to her apartment. If she knows he's a rebel--"
"Did he give you her address?" Lee cut him off.
"Yes." Pash recited the building's name and Mara's apartment number.
Lee gave a grim nod. "Good. I know the area very well. I used to go there all the time before I joined the Rebellion. I know some shortcuts that'll get me to Mara at least ten minutes before him."
"Couldn't we just warn him?" Pash asked nervously. The idea of anyone going to see that cold assassin didn't particularly thrill him.
For a long minute, Lee stared coldly at Pash. Memories of when he was still in Imperial service wafted back to him. Memories of the respect people had once given when they talked to him.
"No," he said finally. "I'm going to have a little chat with our young assassin. She needs to learn who's in control around here. I will not be treated by her as prey."
"Fine," Pash stammered, trying to stand tall under Lee's withering glare. "But what about bounty hunters? You really can't afford to be seen by anybody."
"Let me worry about bounty hunter scum. I'm going to need some weaponry and equipment to get into Mara's apartment. She won't be happy to see me. I'm going to need to be ready for whatever she's got to throw at me."
Inwardly, Pash shivered at the thought as he led him to the armory. He had a very bad feeling about Lee being alone with his former student.
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