Pestage realized that Boda’s return gave him another piece of evidence that Palpatine was in fact his lost son…but as usual, it was not proof. There was no proof to be had, despite all of Pestage’s efforts. But the Grand Vizier refused to let that fact undercut his loyalty to the Master. There was no proof because the Emperor simply did not want Pestage as a father. He wanted him as a Vizier, and that was enough…because Sate Pestage knew the truth in his heart. He would stay by his Master’s side however he could, and as long as he could. His greatest fear was that he would live to see his son die before he did.
As Pestage poured glass shards into the waste container, he heard his comm signal beckoning to him. He found it to be a message from the Emperor, a single line of text glowing on the screen. The few words made Pestage’s heart beat fast with sudden gratified relief.
They read:
Everything is going to be all right, old friend.
Pestage understood what they meant. The Emperor was going to live, and Pestage was going to stay by his side for the rest of his life. Pestage’s eventual death would separate them someday, but part of him would live on in his Master. Exhaling a great tension that had held him for three days, Pestage fell back onto his bed, arms outstretched, a large smile on his wrinkled face.
Vader turned from his worktable where he was adjusting his lightsaber, at the hesitant knock on his door.
“Come in,” he said, already aware of who it was. The door swung open, and Mara Jade entered the small room. She was wearing some kind of formal gown, the color of her eyes. It made her look older, which was probably the intended effect. She had come, perhaps, from an Imperial function where her youthful beauty would be on display. It was part of her cover, Vader knew, to be seen as one of the Emperor’s female trinkets, rather than as an assassin and spy. Mara shifted nervously in the fancy dress, trying to find the words to begin.
“You wished to see me, Mara Jade,” Vader prompted.
“Yes…I realized I never thanked you for saving my life.”
“It was my duty,” Vader replied with a slightly impatient tone. “Nothing more.”
“But it meant a lot to me, obviously…and I took it as a sign that you cared about my well being, and my future. So I came here to ask you if…whether I can continue to learn from you.”
Vader’s reply was curt. “The answer is no, assassin. We were instructed to work together, but that assignment is now over. We each have our separate jobs to do for our Master. And I have no time to entertain a student.”
“Entertain!” Mara said, hurt. “You still think of me as a child, don’t you? I thought I earned your respect while we were after Boda.”
“You have my respect. Mara Jade. What you do not want is my wrath. Never forget what I can do to those who displease me…Emperor or no Emperor. Let Boda be your reminder. Right now, it displeases me to repeat myself. I work alone, and I take no apprentices. Is that clear?”
Mara stiffened. “It’s clear, my Lord. I’ll be going, now. I’m sorry to have disturbed you.” She turned, and walked out of the chamber, not bothering to shut the door.
Blast Vader, Mara thought as she left. Treating me like I’m so far beneath him now. The encounter had soured her satisfaction at having been a heroine a few days ago. She had been a fool to march into Vader’s Castle like that, expecting so much. Still, she regretted that he would never be her teacher. There was something almost noble about him, that she wanted to understand better. And she had seen the value of having an ally where the Emperor was concerned. What she had learned about her Master was all unpleasant. He was an unpredictable and dangerous man to work for, as Vader seemed to know well already. Mara knew that she and Vader were both Palpatine’s tools. Separate, they were weaker than they might have been together. She saw Vader, and recognized the bitter chains of his long servitude. She wondered, then, what her own service would lead her to. Would she be haunted with regrets, as Vader was? Mara prayed she wouldn’t. The path ahead of her was a long and dangerous one, and regrets would only weigh her down.
Darth Vader gripped his lightsaber as he watched Mara Jade leave. The weapon was one he had constructed at the beginning of his service to the Emperor. Mara was in that position now, but Vader knew he really could not help her. Despite Vader’s honest respect for the young assassin, he was a loner with his own agenda, and she was his Master’s tool who told Palpatine everything. He could never trust her not to compromise his plans. He regretted the necessities that kept him alone and unable to admit anyone else into his dangerous game of ambition, but he had no choice.