The Emperor takes a Hand
By Maara
PG for Violence

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, the evil Emperor, with
Lord Vader at his side, vowed to purge the galaxy of the Jedi and
unleashed a reign of hatred and violence against the peaceful knights.

The destruction of the Outbound Flight project, sent the Jedi
scrambling into hiding. A contingent of Jedi Masters, undertook a
mission to chart the unknown regions and explore the galaxy beyond.
They never made it. Somehow, they were found out, and destroyed.

Many of the Jedi who stood to fight, did so knowing they would die.
Still they knew many of the others would make it away and survive.
The Jedi knew someday, one would rise to defeat the Emperor.

Those who fled, changed their names and abandoned their use of the
Force, for fear of discovery. Others were more confident in their
abilities to shield themselves, and continued the ways of the Jedi.
One by one, they were hunted down and eliminated by Darth Vader.

One Jedi, who chose to go into hiding, was Marcus Jadera. He gave up
all use of the Force, in order to conceal his identity. He lived his
life on the run, moving form planet to planet. Until one day, he
came to an Outer Rim world, called Tatooine. He decided to settle
there because the Empire didn't seem to pay too much attention to
it. Only a small contingent of storm troopers were stationed at the
main spaceport.

Changing his name to Marcus Jasper, he took a job in a supply yard,
and did his best to start a new life. One day the time would be
right for him to do what needed to be done. He trusted in the Force
and knew it would guide him and the other Jedi to safety if he just
had patience. Until that time, he was just Marcus Jasper, supply yard
worker.

Marcus was a rugged man, with reddish brown hair, and blue/green
eyes. After working hard in the hot Tatooine suns, he soon became
very tan, blending in with the locals. He attracted the eye of many a
woman in Mos Eisley, but had no interest in any of them.

Not until he met Mira. She had just gotten a job at the market two
dwellings over. He first saw her for the first time on a supply run.
Marcus had walked in just after an irate customer trashed the shop
for the 5th time that week, leaving the shop a shambles. Mira was on
her knees, cleaning up the mess. Wanting to help, Marcus came in and
bent down to help clean up the mess.

"Thank you." Mira smiled softly back at him. She was tall and
had reddish blonde hair and the most amazing green eyes he had ever seen.

Marcus handed her a packet of ration bars, "you're
welcome." She took the ration bars and turned to put them back on the shelf. When
she turned, Marcus was still standing there.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Marcus Jasper." Marcus
extended his hand in greeting to her.

Mira hesitantly slid her hand in his, "I'm Mira." smiling
she let his hand go. "I've seen you walking around, delivering supplies.
Do you work for Watto?"

"Yeah, I do. He's getting old, but he can still bargain with
the best of them." Mira laughed, and they talked for quite awhile, as she
continued to work behind the counter. She captured his interest
immediately. He began to visit that market exclusively, just so he
could see her.

Mira thought it was sweet the way he came in all the time. Mira
often had that reaction before from other men, but Marcus was
different. Something about him made her want to know him.

Soon Marcus and Mira we're inseparable. Marcus knew she was the
woman for him, but wondered if he should get too deeply involved with
her. Part of him feared that eventually, he would be found out, and
he was unsure, if he was willing to put her in that kind of danger.
It was then, that he realized that he loved her and did not want to
be without her.

One night, after being together for only a few months, he asked Mira
to be his wife and she happily accepted.

Marcus told Mira the truth about himself; he loved and respected her
too much to lie. He had to give her a chance to decide if she wanted
to live life continually looking over your shoulder, wondering if the
day will come that he will be hunted down and killed. She was very
understanding, and did her very best to make them a happy life
together.

A few years after their marriage, Mira found out she was pregnant.
Marcus was extremely happy. He had always wanted to have children,
and now with his love, his dream came true. They had a baby girl.
They named her Mara, a combination of both her parents' first
names.

They couple wanted her to always have a part of them, in one form or
another.

Mara was a beautiful child, with a thick hair of the most beautiful
red-gold color either had ever seen, and her mother's startling
green eyes. Most importantly, she inherited her father's power of the
Force. Marcus tried his best to shield her, but knew that someday,
he wouldn't be able to, and that they would be discovered.

One day Marcus developed an uneasy feeling. It was the Force telling
him of something yet to come. Something bad. Marcus told Mira of his
feelings, and began to prepare for the inevitable battle. Mira
packed a few emergency bags and put them in the speeder's storage
compartment, just in case they had to leave in a hurry.

As the days flew by, and the feelings of foreboding grew, Marcus
trained harder and harder, knowing that the day was fast
approaching. They didn't know how much longer they would have
together as a family and cherished each moment with their daughter,
who grew quickly before their eyes oblivious to the looming danger.

Little by little, Marcus began teaching a now five-year-old Mara,
about her Jedi powers. She loved how she could talk to her daddy in
her mind. All she had to do was think about him and say what she
wanted to say, and he always heard her.

One day, while at the supply yard, Marcus was suddenly overcome by a
strong feeling of evil and hate. It was very close. Dropping his
load, Marcus took off running towards home. //Vader was here. By
the stars, so was the Emperor! They must have been shielding their
presence, too!// Marcus thought, a cold fear stabbing through his
heart. He called out to Mara, **Mara, tell mommy to run! Now!
They're here!** At first Mara didn't respond, then when her
response did come, it wasn't what he wanted to hear.

**Too late, daddy.**

He ran faster, putting the power of the Force into his legs.

Mara was helping her mommy clean up the lunch dishes, when she
started to frown. Mira had just put away a dish she finished drying,
and turned to see Mara's face pinched in a deep frown.

Mira put her hand on Mara's shoulder and gave her a gentle shake.
Turning to face her mother, Mara said, "Mommy, bad people are
coming." That one flat statement caused Mira to jump, grab Mara
and run towards the back exit of their dwelling. She stopped suddenly
when Mara grabbed her arm. "We can't get out that way mommy.

They're out there."

Looking at Mara, Mira tried to think what to do next. The small girl
had a far away look on her face. "What is it, Mara?"

Looking up at her mother, Mara answered, "Daddy says to run, but
I told him it was too late."

Fear stabbed Mira's heart. "What do you mean it's too
late?"

"The man outside told me. They want us to come out." Mara
replied. She looked at her mother, "I don't like him mommy, he feels
mean." Mira hugged her daughter tightly, as she tried to think of a way out.

Marcus ran as fast as the Force would carry him. When he approached
his dwelling he saw the Emperor and Vader, standing ten meters from
their shuttle. Coming to a halt, Vader turned and started towards
him, pulling out his lightsaber. Marcus closed his eyes and took a
deep breath, letting the Force flow freely through him. He had to
protect his family. He started towards Vader as he stretched out
his hand, calling his lightsaber to him from it's hiding spot
outside in the speeder shed.

Vader ignited his red saber as he advanced, clearly intent on
murdering the Jedi. Marcus ignited his blue bladed saber as Vader
struck. He fended off blow after blow from the Sith Lord, fighting
for all he was worth. He saw the Emperor standing back and watching
the battle as if it was a dance, a malevolent grin on his face and an
demonic laugh echoing across the sands.

Mira and Mara heard the snap hiss as lightsabers were activated, and
went to the window to peak out. Marcus was fighting a big man
dressed from head to toe in black, a flowing cape twisting around his
body as they fought.

She willed whatever she could towards her husband, wishing she too
had the Force as her ally, so she could help him. Mira decided to
try to sneak out to the speeder while they were all preoccupied. She
snuck through the dwelling and opened a window. After setting Mara
down on the ground, she climbed out herself. She scooped the little
girl up and turned to run, coming face to face with the hooded man.

He stood five meters away from her and Mira stood rooted to the spot
with fear. "Going somewhere?" The hooded man asked,
laughing maniacally.

"What do you want?" She demanded, even though deep down she
feared she knew the answer. "I just want to leave with my daughter."

"Ah, but it's not him I want." he pointed to Marcus
" I want the girl." , he laughed again, reveling in the feeling of terror he
felt course through her.

Fear shot through her once again. "What do you want with
Mara?"

"That is of no concern to you, I have long had plans for her. I
have no need for you, however." He turned to look at Mara. "Come
here child." Mara immediately clung to her mother. The hooded man
looked at her hard. "Now," he said firmly, in a deep threatening
voice.

Mira tried to hold onto her, but couldn't move. Something
restrained her. Mara slowly slid down her mother, clinging to her like a
Tuskeon Raider trying not to fall into the Rancor pit.Moving in a
strained manner, clearly making an effort to stay with her mother.

When she reached the hooded figure, she looked up at him, "Who
are you?" She asked defiantly.

The man pulled back his hood and stared at her with his piercing
yellow eyes, "I am your Master, you will be my Hand." He
placed a crooked hand on her forehead and she fell to the ground unconscious.

Picking her up the Emperor handed her over to a waiting guard, who
then headed towards the shuttle with her. He turned to follow, when
Mira screamed, breaking loose from his slackening hold, running up to
him from behind intent on getting her child back. He had expected
this, so he was ready. When she got closer he turned around and
lightning shot from his fingertips, penetrating her heart and killing
her slowly and painfully.

He heard a scream and turned to see the fight between Vader and the
Jedi Jadera.

Marcus and Vader fought hard, each trying to gain control over the
other. Marcus hadn't had much practice in the Force, so it was
easy for Vader to best him. He managed to avoid a few of the flying
objects thrown at him by his opponent mentally, but was growing
weary, and knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. He just
hoped Mira could get away with Mara.

Suddenly, he heard Mira scream. He turned in time to see her cut
down by the Emperor's powerful lightning bolts. As his wife's
lifeless body fell to the ground, he could see a guard boarding the
shuttle with Mara. Grief pierced his heart, as did Vader's
saber.

With his last living thought he begged the Force to be with his
precious child.

Then he was gone, and Mara was beginning her new life, as the
Emperor's Hand.