Chapter 4 Sometime before the Events of STAR WARS: A New Hope She stood there, her long red/gold hair gleaming in the morning sun. She was bored and she needed so much to talk to Palpatine, but that girl, Vaneesi, was getting in the way of her plans. Her Father was Palpatine; he was not Vaneesi's Father. Jealous as she was, she kept her calm. Still, the rage flowed through her to do something to show Palpatine that she was able to do anything Vaneesi was able to do. Perhaps it was Lord Vader fault that Vaneesi was getting the attention, he was the one who killed her mother years ago, that much she knew. An Imperial Officer passed her with out even acknowledging her existence. No one in the Empire knew of Mara Jade, if they had they would've bowed down before her like they did Vaneesi. They would praise her for all the things she had done for the Empire to get them to where they are today. If it wasn't for her they would've have Coruscant as their head quarters. Mara looked down. Someone passed her quickly, throwing a gust of wind off to the side. Mara looked up to see the back Vaneesi's head. She hurried after her. "Vaneesi, wait up!" she called. The girl stopped, and turned around. Her cape catching the wind and blowing to side. "I don't have time for commoners." She said and started off. "Well excuse me your worhipfullness." Mara bitterly said. "But I am not a commoner." Mara grabbed Vaneesi by the shoulder and dug her fingernails into her skin. The girl meant to let out a cry, but Mara's eyes warned her to keep her mouth shut. "What do you want?" whispered Vaneesi. "I want us to be friends. See, I am the Emperor first daughter and so much better then you." She added coldly. "Right. I'll just have to ask Father about that one. Vader would disagree. He thinks the world of me. He loves me." Vaneesi started off again. "Vader might care about you. I could careless. I don't know where you got you Force powers, I don't care if you got it from you Uncle Louise. Vader only takes care of you because he killed your mother, and then he had you kill your father." She looked at the girl and stopped. Vaneesi was crying. "Vader Killed my mother?" she asked, tears streaming down her face. "He said a Rebel Alliance attack killed her." The girl was taking deep breaths now, unable to breathe normally. "Hey, hey, hey. Slow down Vaneesi. Take a deep breath, let the Force relax you." Mara said helping her along, using her own powers to help. "He lied to me." She said once she caught her breath. "I know a way to get back at him." Mara said, with a cruel expression forming at her lips. "Yeah?" "Yeah…. Death Star plans." Kyle Katarn moved about his ship the Mold Crow in search of his blaster that he needed before he could down to Danuta to find the Death Star plans he got ready to leave his ship on Automatic. General Mohc stood before the Dark Lord, Darth Vader, with a data disk in his hands. He handed it to Vader and watched as he popped it into the view screen. Some impressive plans joined onto the screen along with some bright colors and dark ones. "That is the Dark trooper." Mohc said, taking the dick out. "I would like to test my newly designed Dark trooper in a matter of time." "I'll see what I can do." Vader said, snatching the dick from the general and walking away into the Grand Chambers of the Imperial Palace. Kyle dropped from the roof of the base through an air duct into the base itself. A duct grate opens automatically, and a strong gust of wind blew him against the back wall. He stepped out side the air duct, sneaking carefully around the corner. An Imperial officer was waiting for him, but his back was turned. Kyle took this chance and shot the officer in the back. A Storm trooper saw him from behind and started shooting; Kyle in turn whirled around shooting the Storm trooper and the commando next to him. Quickly conjuring up some plan of getting past these Storm troopers; Kyle made his way for the door leading into the next room, where he found the Death Star plans and an untimely guest. A woman stood beside the Death Star plans, her short brown hair freely flowing down beside her chin, her grass green eyes looking him the face she whispered: "No Fear!" Kyle pointed his blaster at her, ready to shoot. The woman didn't flinch, she just stood there as if daring him to shoot her, and did he really have the guts? She drew her lightsaber and ignited it. She ran full speed toward him, slashing at him, but never hit him. "Take the plans!" she screamed to Kyle. Kyle only stood and stared unaware if she was trying to trick him or not. The Alliance's existence relied on him. He ran forward to the nava console, downloaded the file and took out the data pad. He saluted the woman and ran out to the landing pad where he called his ship. Once in his ship he was able to transfer the data over to the Tantive IV. On board the Super Star Destroyer, Lord Vader met with General Mohc. He walked around the General, watching him twitch and sweat, while Vader waited for his holo message from the Emperor. An Imperial officer from one of the main consoles called for Vader. "Yes, Captain?" Vader asked. "There is a message from the Emperor." Replied the middle-aged man. "Very well, open it." He demanded. The Emperor's face appeared in the view screen, "Lord Vader, I have received General Mohc's request for his demonstration. Since our plans for the Death Star was now spoiled, I see no reason why not." "Yes, my Master." Vader said signing off. He thought about Vaneesi, how dare she betray him and let the rebel spy retrieve the Death Star plans. He knew she did it, and that she went into hiding because of it. The Emperor knows too, but wasn't too worried at that moment. "General Mohc," called Vader, "The Emperor has approved your test demonstration." "Thank you, Lord Vader. What I unveil today will mark a new era for the Empire. We will be able to decimate the Rebels just as we did the Jedi Knights. At last the Emperor's war will be filled only with glory and beauty of decisive victory." He said with all his heart put into it, or so he wanted it to seem. "A noble cause, General. I hope the demonstration lives up to your claims." Vader stopped, "Proceed." "With pleasure." Mohc pressed a button on the side of a computer console. "Dark Trooper release, NOW!" Several canisters dropped from the ship's cannon relay system, falling like bombs to the planet of Talay. The canisters broke open when they hit the ground releasing something so hideous that no one would dare go up against it. Red eyes gleams into the think grey smog of the landing. "Very impressive General. The Emperor will be most pleased. Continue your project." Vader said watching the canisters leave. "Certainly, Lord Vader." Mohc said, smiling. Vader turned from the General, and walked out his cape flowing behind him. Kyle Katarn stood laid up against a wall, his hand steady on his blaster. Mon Mothma was standing by a hologram unit looking at Kyle and everyone else around him. She seemed to stop when her eyes met his, again. "Thank you, Commander, for responding, at such short notice. The Empire has been keeping us on the run since the destruction of the Death Star." She motions to the hologram, where a Rebel commander is looking into the holo camera. He starts to say something, but static breaks up his words. "Five days ago," Mon Mothma started, "the Empire attacked one of our secret bases in the city of Talay. Listen to this recording." she stood back from the hologram. The rebel in the hologram says: " This is Tak Base to anybody out there…please…we are under Imperial attack…they're everywhere, there was no warning at all…" the screams of millions could be heard with out the room. Kyle winced in pain to here the voices. "…Total devastation…they broke through our shields…THEY BROKE THROUGH OUR SHIELDS!" Kyle looked at the screen and watched as the figures disappeared. He looked to Mon Mothma, who told him: "Tak Base was destroyed in minutes. Many people in the surrounding city as well as the Rebel staff were killed. Intelligence thinks that this may be an act of retaliation for the destruction of the Death Star." "What is my mission?" Kyle asked. Mon Mothma turned the view screen off, "To find some evidence of what caused Tak Base to be destroyed." "I think I'm going to need some help on this. I'd like to take Jan Ores along with me." Kyle adjusted his jacket. "Very well, Commander. May the Force be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youorce be with youu, she prefers Lord Vader." Mara said. She threw Vaneesi's limp body onto the ground. Vaneesi jumped awake, she stood rubbing her back. She turned to Palpatine, "Father…" she bowed. "Vaneesi you disgrace me. You betrayed Me." he lowered his eyes, "For that, you must… die." He zapped the young girl with his Force lightening. Vaneesi cried out in pain, her head ached. She looked up to Mara for help, but saw that she only stood there grinning mischievously. Why? Vaneesi thought. She had thought Mara was her friend, but no she was wrong. Mara was a traitor out to get things her way, and only her way. "STOP!" boomed a voice that startled Mara and Palpatine. Vader stood over in a far corner. "She is my daughter, is not by birth, then by love and loyalty." Mara froze in her tracks to walk up to Vader. She realized what he said and knew that a bond like that would destroy her. She turned to Palpatine, who stood over Vaneesi, crackling at her. "Lord Vader, you don't know what you're saying." Palpatine said. "This young woman betrayed us." "She might have betrayed us, my master, but she is your daughter now. What would the people think of you?" Vader persuaded. "If they found out, they would know that the Empire means business. Killing only happens if I'm betrayed." The Emperor's eyes glowed with rage. He turned to Vaneesi, "Now young Empress, you will die." He zapped her again with lightening. "NO! Wait!" Mara shouted coming out of her deep thought. "Don't kill her, please. I only meant her to be punished. See what she did was wrong, yes, but does she really deserve death?" she questioned. Palpatine seemed to think it over, "Perhaps not. She is my daughter." He said looking to Lord Vader for a rise. "Still, this can't go with out being punished. Vaneesi, you are ordered off Coruscant. You're do be sent to…"he stopped to think, " Barkuu where you'll stay until I'm in need of your service again." Vaneesi tried to stand, her tattered and torn clothing falling slightly off her shoulders, and the rim of her dress torn in ten different places. She seemed relived. She looked to Mara; she was her friend after all, even if she did get her in trouble. Vaneesi turned to Darth Vader was she was escorted out. She spat on his polished boots. She walked out with out as much as a good-bye. After being locked away for so many years, Zerix Quian was finally freed from the cave that he had been banished to. First thought that crossed his mind was Obi Wan Kenobi will die for putting me here. It had been only 18 years ago, and Zerix was suppose to be locked away for ever, but a small child has released him from her somberness sleep. He looked to the child with much care; he was now the slave to the child and must do as commanded until the child died or passed him on to another owner. The boy had a pudgy round face red from lifting and moving stones, his eyes were like blue diamonds sparkling in the moonlight on Bakura, and his hair was the color of brandy. "Child, I am at your command." He said, he blacken face smiling slightly. "Who are you?" or what the boy meant was what are you? "My name is Zerix Quian. I am the Devil of the Force. You freed me, I shall not hurt you, even if you decide to let me go" "Why would I let you go? I could use you. See I have this 14-year-old sister, and she really bugs me. Could you kinda scare her a bit?" the boy asked hopeful. "Well, where is she?" asked Zerix. The boy started walking off, "Follow me." When they reached the boy's house, there was no one home except his sister. She was making lunch and talking to her friend, who happened to be a Beruk. The boy walked inside the house, his friend right behind him. His sister looked up; she felt a tremble in the force. "Who is that, Derek?" she asked her brother. "This is Zerix, he's my new friend." "Derek, mom told you no more friends over for lunch." She said. "Well, I can't really get out of this one, I found him in a cave, and I freed him. He said I was his to command now. See I have to keep him." Derek whined. "You are nuts!" she exclaimed. She looked to the man; he was pulling his hood over his head, hiding his face in the shadow of it. His eyes glowed in the dark. She shrank back from her brother and stood next to her Beruk friend. "Zek, let's go out side." She said. Zerix ran in front of her, blocking her only exit. "Calesta, stop. We need to talk." His snake like tongue slid from his mouth nearly touching her cheek with it. Calesta shivered. This man was purely evil, her Jedi instincts told her that much. She forced her lightsaber into her hand; she ignited it lifting it above her head, "Stay away from me." She said. "Now, come Callie. I am your friend too. Just as long as you join me, become my little she-devil." He grabbed hold of her with the Force, and pulled her near him. She was crying now, trying to get away. Zek was flapping his wings now, trying to attack Zerix but he was held back by the Devils strong grip. Zerix touched Calesta's face with is long, untrimmed fingernails. "Such soft skin, how I haven't felt such bliss for 18 years." He wiped the tears from her face. He bent and kissed her soft tender lips, wrapping his arms influentially around her body. Her arms and hands gave way first, dropping her lightsaber on the ground. Then her knees gave in; she had no control over her body now, she was his for the liking. He stopped kissing her. He picked her up into his arms. His long tongue slithered out from his now smooth lips, and touched her neck. "Yessss, a wonderful she-devil you will make." He started out the door. "STOP!" called Derek. "That's my sister. You cannot have her. She's not ready for marriage, Mama said so." He cried. "If you let me be free, I'll give your sister back." Zerix said, turning around, quickly. The boy nodded, "Alright, you are free." He said. "Thank-you." He said. "Now I can do as I please." He walked out still carrying Calesta. "Hey, give her back, Zerix!" the boy shouted. "I did give her back, but only for a moment. I am free to do as I please, so I took her. That pleased me." He walked further into the sun-domed hills. Derek looked at Zek; "I shouldn't have trusted him. I should have known he was no good when he said he was the Devil of the Force." The boy whined. "Don't blame yourself, he has a Force power so strong that he could persuade you with out even being aware of it." Zek said, hoping Derek had his translator hooked on in to his ear. "Well, let's go find my mom. She'll know what to do." Derek packed his lunch of nerf pie into his satchel and walked out the door. Zek followed quietly behind, aware that Zerix could be hiding anywhere.