[Short Stories] - Dark Emperor 1(26)
Mara looked him straight in the eye, her own expression as grave as she could make it. “Don’t be mislead by my appearance, Captain. I’m an agent of the Emperor on a vital assignment. I need a fueled TIE fighter released to me at once.”
Some of the stormtroopers emitted muffled snickers. The Captain frowned at them, then glared down at Mara. “This is not amusing me. You are in serious trouble here. Now tell me your name and show me some identification at once. I don’t have time for this juvenile nonsense.”
Mara smiled tightly. “I’ll show you some identification. Give me your data pad. Program it to accept the security code for the Emperor’s covert agents. And do it quickly. The Emperor will not be pleased if you delay me.”
The Captain continued to frown deeply, uncertain now what to make of this. After a few moments, he grumbled in irritation and punched a few commands into his data pad. Reversing it, he handed it to Mara. She took it gracefully, and quickly entered her security code, which identified her as the Emperor’s Hand. The security program confirmed her code, and flashed its acceptance on the small screen. She handed it back to the Captain with a small flourish.
He stared at the readout, then stared at her. Abruptly, his resistance crumbled. “Very well…this seems to be in order…and it instructs me to supply you with whatever you shall require.” He stared straight ahead, looking over the young assassin’s head to avoid her satisfaction filled face.
“A fueled TIE fighter, as fast as possible,” she repeated. “Fully charged weapons, of course.”
One of the stormtroopers in the back quietly commented, “She could use some clothing, too…”
“And a vacuum-sealed flight suit,” Mara added to the Captain. “In my size.” She smiled in the trooper’s direction.
The Captain briskly gave the orders, and ImpSec personnel scurried to make her fighter ready. He stayed with Mara while she waited, a grain of suspicion remaining in him. She pretended not to notice as he called up her detailed image on his datapad, and checked her identification numbers against the list of rogue agents. Finally, he sighed. “What is your mission…what did you say your name was?”
“I didn’t say,” Mara replied. “And my mission is classified. However, I can tell you that you did the right thing here. What I’m doing is very important.”
“Yes, well,” he said uncomfortably, “it’s not the usual kind of occurrence around here, Miss…”
“Just call me the Emperor’s Hand,” Mara said with a small smile.
After what felt like a long time to Palpatine, his holocomm received the signal he had been waiting for. He peered eagerly at the image of one of his red armored and robed personal guards. “What is your report?” he asked immediately.
“My Emperor,” the guard said, “a man exactly matching the visual data we were given has been seen approaching the Palace. He was observed riding a tube car on line twenty seven. At the fiftieth grid exchange, he boarded a car on the Imperial Palace line. He should arrive in thirty minutes.”
“Good,” replied Palpatine. “The Jedi is on his way to me, as Vader thought. I wish there to be no impediments to his journey. I am instructing you to have the Grand Corridor cleared. This will provide a path from the visitor center, through the Grand Corridor, to the assemblage auditorium throne room where I will await him. The Jedi is not to be interfered with, provided he follows that path. From the time he enters the throne room, I will take charge of him. There are to be no interruptions or communications. That is all.”
“Your orders are clear,” the red guard said. “We hear you, and obey.” The transmission terminated, leaving Palpatine to feel pleased at the efficiency of his guards. The officer had not hesitated for a moment at the daunting command to clear the Grand Corridor. It was a huge task, but he had no doubt it would be done before the half hour had elapsed.
The Emperor was also pleased with his upcoming meeting with the mysterious Jedi. He hoped Boda would present a challenge. It had been far too long since he had been given the chance to destroy a Jedi. Thus, he was not overly disturbed that events had unfolded as they had. Yes, it would have been better if Vader could have captured the Jedi for him. But Vader’s participation had held the worrisome risk of betrayal. Now, however, the Jedi was going to come directly to him, as if considerate of Palpatine’s inability to personally hunt him down. It was going to be a very satisfying night, with a Jedi to vanquish, and the prospect of learning of a way to cheat death itself. It was time to get to the throne room and prepare to meet the immortal man himself. Palpatine felt hungry for it.