Imperial Dominance
By Kate Jinn

"Lady Tarkin." The deep, mechanical voice behind her made her turn
quickly and bow, her face, which always looked pale against her black
Imperial uniform, turning a distinct shade lighter. She lowered her
eyes from the masked face, ashamed.

"Lord Vader, forgive me. I did not sense your approach," Alys Tarkin
greeted him with a smile, an attempt at penance.

"Your mind is troubled." The Sith Lord, one of the last of a dying
race, fell into step beside her. She glanced over at Vader, who had
been her teacher in the Force since her father's return from the
outer colonies to greater power.

"A dream, my Master," she admitted.

"What did you see, child?" he asked her. She sighed inwardly—she
hated being called "child" and suspected that Vader used the term
specifically to irritate her.

"I saw… I saw the destruction of this station, my Lord. I fear we are
in danger from the Rebel Alliance." She paused. "I tried to tell my
father, but he laughed at me."

"Never underestimate the power of the Dark Side, my young apprentice.
Your dream may have some merit to it—perhaps warning us of an
impending attack. The Alliance will not be able to destroy this
station," Vader stated confidently.

"Are you certain, my Lord?" she asked. He let out a loud breath—his
version of a sigh.
"Of course I'm certain."

"Then I trust your judgment, my Lord." She bowed. Continuing down the
hallway, they soon reached the door to Vader's quarters.

"Come. It is time for your lesson."

"Yes, my Lord." Obediently, she followed him into the darkened room,
where the only furniture was the huge pressurized globe that
gradually was allowing Vader to breathe without his machinery.

"Open it," Vader commanded her. Closing her eyes, Alys called on the
Force and, lifting her finger slightly, easily opened the pressurized
dome. She held the cover suspended above them. "Well done. Now close
it." This was her daily exercise. She gently lowered the lid back
into place and it settled there with hardly a sound.

"Good." Vader was silent a moment, then she heard his voice speaking
in her mind, through the Force. *There is a question on the edge of
your mind. Ask it. Use the Force.* She looked at him, surprised, for
a long moment. Never had he permitted her to question him in any form—
and yet, she knew he must know what the question on her mind must be.

*My Lord, it's personal. It's not my place--*

*You may ask me what you wish. I grant you this privilege today.*

*Thank you, my Lord.* she paused and bowed slightly to him. *My Lord…
what happened to you? Why must you wear that armor—why can you not
breathe?* she asked. Vader was silent for a moment and she could feel
anger, rage—and resentment—emanating from him, but it was not
directed at her.

*My Lord, if I have upset you--*

*I have told no one,* he interrupted. *No one has ever asked. They
have
always responded with fear, instead. No one has ever cared enough TO
ask. Even your father does not know the whole truth.* Vader's voice
in her mind was soft and gentle—human, not mechanical—and full of
emotion. He reached out a gloved hand to touch her cheek, and she was
stunned at the shiver of excitement that shot through her at even
this gloved, brief contact, astonished at her body's reaction to his
sudden nearness. She fought to cover it, but he noticed.

"You shivered. I disgust you," he said aloud, withdrawing from her
mind and stepping back from her. She immediately missed his presence
there, his closeness. Once again there was a chasm between them. He'd
been about to open up to her, she was certain of it… and then he had
stopped, throwing up the walls around his heart before he could be
hurt.

"No, my Lord!" she protested at once. "It was—I'd say as far from
disgust as you can get. Scan my memory if you like," she said,
lowering all of her
shields. He was silent again for a moment and then she felt the
slightest,
tentative brush against her mind. She reached for his hand, and to her
surprise he allowed her to take it. "Please, my Lord. Know the truth.
My
heart is yours," she told him. Still, he said nothing, but his
presence in her mind grew more certain. Then, he withdrew…and drew
her roughly to him, his armor pressing against her, but she didn't
care. Suddenly her mind flooded with imagery, a lightsaber battle, a
lava pit… pain. Pain so intense she couldn't breathe, but always his
presence there, ready to pull her out should she fall too deep into
his memories. For they were his memories, she was certain. She saw
children, a boy, a girl, a woman, beautiful—looking very much like
her, Alys realized. She had the same soft brown hair, the same
slender build, roughly the same height, the same eyes. And a name,
his hatred for this name obvious. Obi-Wan Kenobi. His former master,
who had done this to him.

"By the Force," she whispered. "My Lord, I… it's horrible, what he
did to you." She was breathless-she could still feel his pain, the
incredible, intense pain. He had nearly died, and by the time he had
dragged himself out of the molten pit, Obi-Wan was gone.

"Is this what you wanted to know?" he was angry—she could feel his
rage within the very depths of her being. "Is this what you wanted to
see? Answer me!" He grasped her hair, holding her captive, close to
him.

"My Lord… Ani." The name fluttered across her mind, a stray, scattered
thought, but she could feel the force of it hitting him like a slap
and his
grip on her hair tightened, pulling, hurting her.

"Never call me that!" he hissed angrily, and she bowed her head
despite his grasp on her hair.

"Forgive me, my Lord." His grip lightened and she fell to her knees
before
him. "No one should have to go through what you did. I want to help
you." She could feel tears coursing down her cheeks, but he remained
still, stiff, silent. A statue… except for the rage he was fighting
to control. Silently, she gave up on her stumbled attempt at speech
and lowered her shields on her mind again, reaching out with her own
mind to touch his, communicating without words through the Force what
she wanted to say. She laid her heart bare before him, offering
herself to him to do with her what he pleased. She let him take
whatever memories from her mind he wanted—let him see all of her
life… and suddenly, he reached out and grasped her arms, lifting her
to her feet. His rage, tightly bottled again and controlled, had
faded, replaced by something else, something stronger, which he had
kept hidden well over the years he'd been teaching her. Desire.

No more words were necessary between them. Master and Student ceased
to exist—they became only man, and woman. Slowly she lifted the cover
off of his pressurized dome again, pulling him towards it. He
followed willingly, allowing her to lead him. Usually, it was the
other way around, and Alys found she liked this change. They entered
his dome together, and he sat, as she knelt before him and gently
lowered the cover over them. She heard it click softly into place,
sealing them in.

Slowly, she reached up and lifted the mask off of Vader's face. She
could feel him quieting his mind, enough that he could breath on his
own, and suddenly the rage which she had felt was replaced by an
elation, an intense feeling of pure joy as he removed the apparatus
that allowed him to speak. He didn't need it, not with her. If words
were necessary, which they weren't, they could use the Force to speak.

Taking the machine that covered his chest, she gently lifted it off,
laying it aside, unclasping his long black cape. Soon, there was no
machinery, no clothing between them. His body, scarred horribly but
still recognizably human, hers, young and undamaged. Something
changed in his Force sense, she realized. The pure joy, the
happiness, the elation she felt were of his ability to breathe—and to
be with her, with no barriers between them. When he was here… he was
of the Light Side, she realized. Here, he was completely Light Jedi,
not Dark—and it was drawing her in, too… as his lips covered hers for
the first time. The sensation was incredible. Wrapping her arms
around his shoulders she gave herself into the sensations, allowing
him to worship her body the way she realized now that he'd wanted to
from the first time they'd met.

When it was over, she lay in his arms, breathing heavy for a few
moments, as he held her silently, tears coursing down his cheeks. She
reached up to brush them away, and he cried soundlessly into her
shoulder. She held him, without a word, finding herself fighting
tears herself. She wondered, idly, how long it had been since he'd
last been with a woman.

*More years than I care to think about, my love* he told her through
the Force, and they held each other in silence until at last they
both slept.

<><><>

She awoke to find herself in Vader's arms, surprised to find herself
perfectly at peace. Noticing she was awake, he smiled.

*We must get up. Your father will be expecting our presence,* he
said. *Your lesson was scheduled to end two hours ago.* She looked at
him, surprised.

*Two hours? How long did I sleep?*

*I'm not certain. I slept as well.* He brushed a finger against her
cheek, sending a shiver of excitement through her. *Alys… you've
given me back something tonight… something I thought I'd lost… and I
don't know how to thank you. You've given me back the ability to
love.* His words touched her heart and she drew him close to her,
holding him silently for a long moment. At last, reluctantly, he rose
and donned his clothes, then his armor and machinery. He became Darth
Vader again, instead of Ani, the name that had floated across her
mind, the name she had screamed at the height of her pleasure,
despite his instructions never to call him that. He was, for those
few short moments, Ani. Not Lord Vader. She rose and donned her own
clothes, shaking out a few wrinkles in the jacket of her Imperial
uniform, which she fastened quickly and he lifted the cover off of
the dome. Taking her hand, he led her out of it, into the blackness
of his quarters. She quickly combed her hair into some semblance of
order, using the light spilling in from the door he'd opened for her.
She secured her hair into a tight ponytail with an elastic and nodded
in satisfaction at her reflection. Feeling unaccountably happy for
the first time in months, Master and Apprentice walked down the
hallway to meet Grand Moff Tarkin on the Bridge of the Death Star.
They were
entering orbit of the Rebel fortress on Yavin 4…

<><><>

Part 2

"Evacuate?" Tarkin roared, his blue eyes sparking fury as he stared
incredulously at the officer who dared to call for evacuation. "In
our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances—now,
get out!"

"Yes, Governor." The subdued officer turned and retreated from the
room. Alys felt her heart sink as the officer met her eyes
apologetically. She was the one who had told him to ready her
father's ship and suggest the evacuation—her bad feeling about this
still had not receded. She turned and looked at Vader but he was
staring silently out the view screen at the approaching Alliance
ships. She sighed.

"Papa, I beg you to reconsider. Their plan of attack seems to
indicate that the Rebels have found a weakness in the station."

"And we've had our people analyze the blueprints for this station.
The only weakness they could exploit would require a suicide run down
one of the caverns," Tarkin said. "The Rebels couldn't be so
desperate."

"The survival of the Alliance depends on the destruction of this
station, Papa. When people are desperate, they do desperate things.
Even suicide runs."

"Even if they make the run, the shot is impossible, even for a
computer!"

"Not for a Jedi. Skywalker is with them," Vader said softly. "She is
right, Tarkin. There is a danger. We must evacuate."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this, from you, of all people!" Tarkin
cried incredulously. "Damn it, Vader, the last remnants of the
Alliance are--" Tarkin's voice ceased abruptly as Alys used a simple
method taught in the Imperial Academy's defense courses to knock him
out. Vader glanced at her and she could almost feel his smile.

Vader hit the intercom system and announced the call for evacuation,
sounding the station-wide alarm. Alys used the Force to carry her
unconscious father to his ship, while Vader quickly boarded his own.

<><><>

Imperial Base
Endor
Three years later…

Her father had not said a word since he'd learned of the destruction
of his precious battle station. Not even the word that plans for a
second, more powerful Death Star were in the works and preparing for
construction could satisfy him. He sat there, glaring at Alys as
though she had betrayed him, and wouldn't say a word to anyone.
Concerned but unable to do anything, Alys reluctantly left her father
under the care of two Imperial soldiers while she went to meet Vader
for her lesson.

They had not continued their relationship, though every so often she
could feel his mind against hers, a whisper, a caress… a comfort.
There simply had not been the time—even their lessons had ceased.
This was the first time they would be able to spend more than five
minutes alone together in three years. He was almost never on the
base—he spent most of his time in space, on an Imperial Star
Destroyer somewhere. He came back occasionally to check on their
progress, relaying orders from the Emperor, keeping them on schedule,
but other than five minutes here or there she had not been able to
see him on his visits.

Alys smiled to herself as she headed down the corridor towards his
quarters. She had missed him… especially with her father speaking to
no one, she had felt, at times, more alone than she had ever thought
she would be. It was at those moments when she felt most alone that
she often felt his mind touching hers across the light-years, and he
had saved her. More times than she suspected he knew. She reached his
quarters and rang the chime impatiently.

"Enter!" she heard from within. The door slid open and she stepped
into the darkened room. She couldn't see him, but she could feel his
presence there, and as her eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness she
could see him, standing by the window, a blacker outline against the
blackness of the room. She felt the tentative brush against her mind,
the darkness of his presence making the room seem even blacker. She
stepped fully into the room and the door slid closed behind her.

"Secure door," he commanded. His voice sent shivers down her spine
this time. She crossed the room to him and knelt at his feet.

"My Lord," she said quietly. His presence seemed darker than it had
in the past, more intense. He'd been drawn back into the Dark Side,
she realized, since his brush with the Light when they were last
together. It had been so long since they'd seen each other that she
hadn't noticed, the few times their minds had touched, she'd been so
glad to feel his presence.

Vader, without a word, took her hand and drew her back to her feet,
taking her in his arms. They held each other in silence for a long
moment, content to feel, not think, not speak. It was the first
physical human contact she'd had since they'd last held each other
two months ago, just before the last time he'd left the base, and she
found herself fighting tears. He noticed.

*Your father has not responded yet,* Vader realized the reason she
was ready to cry, speaking in her mind.

*I don't know how to reach him, Vader. I've done everything I can
think of and more. I even tried to use the Force—he will not reply,
they have to have him hooked up to a tube because he refuses to eat.
I hate seeing him like this!* her eyes filled with tears as she spoke
to him through the Force. He held her tighter, and she rested her
head against his armored chest. She closed her eyes, feeling
exhaustion seep through her. She hadn't slept in weeks, months… maybe
even years—not for more than two or three hours a night. She would
get up every hour after that to check on her father.

*Sleep, my dear. You need it.* He took her hand and led her down a
corridor to a large, decorative room with a huge king-sized bed in
it. She'd never seen a room look so welcoming.

*But our lesson…*

*Your mind will not be able to focus on training if you can barely
stand up! Sleep, Alys. I'll stay with you, if you like,* he told her.
She nodded.

*Please stay,* she returned. He nodded and she climbed into the bed.
He lay down next to her, drawing her into his arms. He pulled the
blankets over them and she was asleep within minutes.

<><><>

The next day…

"Where is she?!" the shock of hearing her father's voice from down
the hallway startled Alys as she returned to her quarters after her
shift. Exhausted despite her few hour's sleep next to Vader
yesterday, it did not immediately dawn on her whose voice it was.
Then the familiar deep, accented voice clicked and she ran the rest
of the way to her quarters. "Damn it, don't make excuses, you
bumbling idiot, I want my daughter!"

"I'm here, Papa," she called from the doorway as she ran into his
room.

"It's about time! Where have you been?"

"On duty, Papa."

"On duty! Where have you taken me? Where are we?" Her father's voice
was harsh, his face angry—but at least he was speaking. Alys smiled
as she sat down next to her father.

"How are you feeling, Papa?"

"I'm fine! Answer my question."

"We're on an Imperial base, Papa."

"Yes, but where? What Imperial Base? Don't treat me like a dotard old
fool. Answer me straight, will you!"
"Endor, Papa," she replied quietly. He looked at her curiously.

"Why in the world are we on an outpost so far out of our
territories?" he questioned her, calming suddenly. Something was up,
or else his daughter would not have dragged him out here.

"Secrecy, Papa. It is imperative that the Rebel Alliance not know of
our activities here."

"What activities?" he questioned, pinning her with that damned Tarkin
stare that always set her on edge—one that she often used herself
with those below her to send them racing off to do what must be done.

"The construction of the new Death Star," she told him cautiously,
afraid that the reminder that his precious battle station had been
destroyed might send him back into his previous state. He blinked in
surprise.

"How long since… how long have I been…" he couldn't even say it. He
studied his daughter's face—she was older, he was certain of it.
There were thin strands of gray scattered throughout her hair that
had been purely brown. She looked exhausted, too. She smiled gently,
trying to reassure him.

"It's been three years, Papa," she said softly. "You haven't spoken
since we brought you here," she told him. "Your last spoken word was
protest at the thought of evacuating your precious station."

"And you say they're building a new one?" he asked her, staring
intently at her face. She nodded.

"Yes, Papa, in orbit of the planet on the far side. As far as we know
the
Rebels have know knowledge of our presence here." She walked over to
a filing cabinet and pulled out a rolled blueprint. She unrolled it
before him and studied his face as he looked at it.

"Impressive," he said after a moment. "When can I see it?" he asked.
She
smiled.

"I have a ship that can take us there now, Papa," she told him. "My
troops could do with a surprise inspection." He looked up in surprise
at the words "my troops" and was surprised to see that she now bore
the rank of Admiral. He smiled and she could see pride in his eyes,
though he said nothing.

"Hmm—give me an hour," he said. "I want to take a sonic shower, and
I'm so hungry I feel as though I could eat that station," he said,
handing her back the blueprint. She smiled.

"Take your shower, Papa. I'll have food brought up for you." The
relief she felt was overwhelming. Not only was her father talking
after more than three years of silence, but he was hungry and wanted
to eat real food for the first time in three years, and the better
part of a fourth.

<><><>

Part 3

Alys sat between Vader and her father in the transport headed up to
the new Death Star, watching her father's reaction as they approached
the station. Though he rode in silence, she knew it was a different
kind of silence—one of anticipation, not shock, or whatever had
caused him to be silent before. The medic droids weren't telling her
a thing, claiming confidentiality despite her attempt to pull rank.

She heard the pilot requesting—and receiving—permission to board the
station, and watched her father give a small smile as he saw the size
of this new battle station—her battle station. Well, it was the
Emperor's battlestation really, but she was the true commander. She
closed her eyes for a moment, drawing her focus away from her father
to the inspection close at hand, knowing she must be focused on work
if she was to complete the inspection with any degree of success, and
have the whole thing not be a waste of everyone's time. She reached
out with the Force, touching the Dark Side for a moment, and could
feel Vader's smile next to her. His hand touched hers almost
imperceptibly, careful not to draw her father's attention to it. She
hadn't told Tarkin yet and wasn't certain she was going to tell him—
at least, not right away.

The transport docked and Alys and Tarkin stood, but waited for Vader
to deboard first. He moved swiftly but not so fast that they had
difficulty keeping up, stepping off the transport to face the
kneeling Admiral, Alys's second in command, before them.

"Lord Vader," the man greeted. "A pleasant surprise, we are honored
by your presence."

"We can dispense with the pleasantries, Admiral. The Emperor is
concerned about your progress."

"My people are working as fast as they can, Lord Vader. I assure you
the construction will be completed on schedule."

"The Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the
situation," Vader stated, as Alys watched with some satisfaction the
man's already-pale face turning a shade lighter.

Alys smiled to herself as the conversation continued and Vader moved
off. The Admiral stayed kneeling before the transport and was
surprised when Alys and her father were the next to step off.

"Grand Moff Tarkin!" he exclaimed in surprise before remembering
himself, leaping to his feet and saluting stiffly. Tarkin smiled
thinly.

"Admiral," he greeted softly. "I have come to check on your progress."

"Everything is on schedule, the station is almost fully operational,"
the Admiral said quickly. He turned to Alys and bowed slightly, out
of respect for her reputation as a student of Vader's as well as her
rank. She nodded in response.

"Get on with it, Admiral. As Vader said, the Emperor is concerned
with our progress."

"This way, Lady Tarkin," he acknowledged, and motioned with an
overdone sweep of his hand. She smiled inwardly and walked beside her
2iC, her father following a step behind.

<><><>

Much later that night, Alys saw that her father was comfortable in
his quarters and went to see Vader. He had been waiting for her—she
was almost half an hour late, but her father had wanted to talk about
the station and it was only after he fell asleep that she was able to
leave without questions. After all, she could go where she pleased on
the station.

"You're late," he greeted her as she stepped into his quarters. He
saw the smile she'd been hiding all day finally form on her face and
she started laughing.

"I'm sorry, Lord Vader—I'm just so happy that he's finally talking!"
she told him, and he could see the relief in her eyes, the pleasure
at having her father back. Tarkin indeed had, throughout the day,
shown himself to be his old self again, and Vader couldn't help but
smile himself at Alys's happiness. There had been many times that he
had been grateful that his mask hid the smile he wore, watching Alys
and her father banter back and forth. To his surprise Tarkin had even
teased his daughter mercilessly, bringing a blush from her. He hadn't
thought Tarkin capable of such… humanity. Vader, for his part, was
pleased at the reaction her father's recovery had given Alys, for she
was fairly glowing with happiness, he could see it even in the dim
light of his quarters. She was laughing still as she explained the
conversation she and her father had had just before she came here.

*I'm glad to see you so happy, my dear,* he told her through the
Force, reaching out to caress her cheek. *I haven't seen such
pleasure in you for almost four years.*

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to enjoy his touch for the
first time, really, in four years. Three and a half years, she
reminded herself, but three and a half very long years. She smiled
slightly.

*I have my father back, Vader,* she told him. *He's his old self
again—I was beginning to wonder if he'd ever be the same, but he is.*

*Much to the chagrin of the Rebel Alliance, I fear,* Vader agreed,
and she could feel his smile. She laughed.

*Yes, I imagine they won't be happy to learn Tarkin is alive,* she
sent back. *I understand they still believe he died with the first
Death Star.*

*Then, my dear, they're in for a surprise. Are you ready for your
lesson?" he asked her. She nodded, and he resumed his teaching of the
Dark Side and how she was to wield its power.

<><><>

Part 4

Alys smiled as she stood next to Vader on the Bridge of her
technological terror, watching with some satisfaction as the test
warm-up began.

"Countdown complete, Lady Tarkin," the weapons officer informed her.
She glanced over at Vader, who nodded. Behind her and to the right,
her father stood watching, silent but proud. Since his recovery two
weeks earlier, he had consistently shown the old Tarkin again,
picking up where he left off as though nothing had happened, as
though he hadn't refused to speak, eat or even move for nearly four
years.

"You may fire when ready," she acknowledged, the Tarkin in her
evident in her slightly accented voice. She heard the sounds of the
weapon warming up, then a beam of light and energy shot out of the
bowels of the Death Star and disintegrated the planet on the
viewscreen with cold efficiency. Smiling thinly, looking very much
like her father in that instant, Admiral Alys Tarkin nodded her
immediate approval. She turned to her father, who also nodded.

"Impressive," he stated simply. She turned to Vader.

"I will inform the Emperor that the station is fully operational,"
was all he said. He turned and strode out. Confused, Alys looked
after him for a moment and turned to Piett.

"The station is yours, Admiral."

"Yes, Lady Tarkin," he acknowledged as she followed Vader out and
quickly caught up to him. He was waiting for her, standing by the
window, staring out at the debris where the planet had once been. He
turned as she approached.

"My Lord, are you not pleased?" she asked, barely able to contain her
smile as she spoke. Vader remained silent, and she sighed. "My Lord,
have I done something wrong?"

*No, my dear. You've done everything right, and that's the problem.*
His voice in her mind was anything but calm and she realized with
surprise she could feel *fear * emanating from him. There was only
one being in the universe with the ability to strike fear into the
heart of Darth Vader, she knew—the Emperor Palpatine. She didn't
realize he had been reading her thoughts until she saw him give an
almost unnoticeable shudder. She blinked in surprise.

"Lord Vader," she questioned softly, "What is it? What has upset you?"

"The Emperor," he answered. "I had almost hoped your test would fail,
Alys-for now the Emperor will want to do an inspection." She blanched
at his words, her skin turning deathly white.

"The Emperor is coming *here*?" she questioned, her voice shaking
slightly for the first time since he'd met her. He nodded.

"I suggest you prepare your troops," he said, then turned and stalked
off down the hallway, leaving Alys to plan. So much to do…

"Piett, we need to get ready for an Imperial inspection," she said,
walking back onto the bridge. Piett blanched visibly and even Tarkin
turned to her in surprise.

"The Emperor is coming here?"

<><><>
Kneeling next to Vader and Piett, her father behind them, Alys could
feel fear seeping through her at the sight of the black-robed terror
standing before them. On either side, ranks of stormtroopers stood at
attention unmoving, newly polished armor sparkling in the harsh
artificial lighting. Hiding her fear, Alys bowed her head as Vader
and the Emperor spoke. The Emperor must have sensed her, as he came
up to her and trailed a finger along her jawbone. She could sense
Vader stiffen beside her, though he said nothing.

"The Force is strong with you, young Tarkin," the Emperor said
softly. "So, you are Vader's apprentice I've heard so much about,
hmm?"

"Yes, my Master." How she managed to keep her voice steady to answer
him, she would never know.

"I can feel the darkness in you, though it is not complete. Part of
you fights the darkness," he told her. She nodded stiffly, saying
nothing.

"Yesssss," the Emperor hissed. "The Force *is * strong with you. I
wish to give you a lesson in the Force that Vader cannot. Come," he
said, taking her hand. She rose, feeling an alarm clanging at the
back of her mind. She glanced at Vader, who indicated with a nod that
she should go with the Emperor. She stifled a sigh as she followed
the Emperor out.

He led her to the Imperial chambers-he'd obviously seen a blueprint
of the station and knew where he was going, for he never once asked
for directions. The guards who had accompanied them waited outside
when they entered. Alys felt her heart sink as the doors closed
behind them and felt a cold ball of fear settle into the pit of her
stomach.

"I sense you are afraid."

"Yes, my Master," she admitted.

"Good… good. Embrace your fear. Give yourself to the Dark Side,
Tarkin. Embrace it. Feel the power I know you desire to wield."
Despite herself, Alys closed her eyes, listening to his words,
feeling a surge of power flow through her that elated her.

"Yes," he said softly. "Good… Let the power flow through you. Become
one with the Force, Alys. Yes," he said softly, hearing her gasp with
pleasure as the darkness overcame her. "Yes. Vader is a fool—months
of lessons and he never brought you to this point. He never let you
let the Darkness become you," he said. He reached out with his mind.
She was quivering, on her knees before him now, her body shaking with
the pleasure from this new power Vader had never let her wield. She
felt a surge of unnatural anger. He had never let her leave the Light
Side completely like this, never let her feel the pleasure he did in
the evil that filled her now. He had brought her to the verge but
never let her go all the way. She allowed a bitter smile, her eyes
sparking with rage. She didn't understand what was happening to her,
but she loved it. Still shaking, she turned to the Emperor and knelt
before him.

"I am your servant, my Master," she told him. He nodded.

"Good…good. You have felt only a part of the Dark side, my dear. I
can show you more power than you've ever dreamed of. Touch my mind."
Obediently, she reached out to touch the mind of the Emperor, a mind
of such blackness she could no longer see. Letting down her shields
she let his mind enfold hers, drawing her father into a darkness she
never knew existed. She felt his mind caressing hers, darkness beyond
description filling her with a sudden desire, craving, need for more.
She cried out—and just as suddenly, it was gone. Blinking in dismay
in the sudden light, she looked up at the Emperor, her protest plain
on her face though she said nothing. He chuckled.

"That'll be all for today. Dismissed." Swallowing a protest she got
to her feet and bowed.

"Yes, my Lord." Disappointed, she turned and strode out of the room.
Behind her, the Emperor allowed himself a small smile. *I have you
now,* he thought with an evil laugh.

<><><>

Outside the Emperor's chambers, Alys nodded to the guards and walked
a safe distance down the hallway, where she leaned against the wall
and closed her eyes, reflecting on what had just happened in
Palpatine's chambers. The pleasure she had felt in the blackness that
had taken over her had been absolute. She had, in fact, been close to
orgasm when the Emperor had pulled her back. Why had he, she
wondered? Why pull her back and leave her shaking, craving more? Why
was that significant? Shaking her head in confusion, she went to see
Vader and, alone with him in his quarters, told him of the experience
she'd had. He stared at her incredulously.

"He WHAT?" he demanded. She repeated her story, and he was
practically seething with rage.

"I don't understand, Vader, what did he do?" she stared at him in
confusion.

"He prepared you for a--a--" his voice broke off. He couldn't even
say it.

"A *what,* Vader?" she cried, impatient.

"A *MARRIAGE CEREMONY,* he roared, then stormed out of his quarters.
Alys stared after him for a moment, still not sure what was going on,
then quickly returned to her own quarters.

<><><>

*Master, may I speak with you?* Vader called through the Force. He
stood outside Palpatine's quarters. The only response from within was
for the door to slide open. Vader entered and knelt before the
shadowy robed figure.

"She told you of her lesson, did she?" Palpatine questioned. Vader
nodded.

"My Master, I mean no disrespect… but I told you of my feelings for
her. Why do you wish to marry her?" he questioned. There was silence
for a moment, and then, to Vader's astonishment, Palpatine began to
chuckle. Vader stared at him.

"Master?"

"Vader—it was not the rite of marriage that I used on her. Rather,
the step before. She never realized it, Vader, but she chose her life-
mate today-and it certainly wasn't me!" the Emperor gave another
light chuckle at the thought.

"Master?" Vader questioned again, genuinely confused.

"When I told her to touch my mind, Vader-she inadvertently touched
yours. I had nothing to do with the feelings she experienced. She did
that on her own… and she chose you. She loves you, Vader, and I
suggest that the two of you wed as quickly as possible." Vader almost
couldn't believe his ears, but he bowed anyway.

"As you wish, my Master," he said, though now he was smiling.

<><><>

Three Days Later…

The room was completely black except for the candles held by every
Imperial trooper and officer in the room. There were thousands of
them, stormtroopers and officers alike, as Darth Vader stood at the
head of the aisle they formed. Black velvet carpeting had been rolled
down the middle of it. Behind Vader and to his left, the Emperor
stood before the entire room, disappearing inside his hooded black
robes. The door at the end of the aisle opened, the sound deafening
in the silence, and Grand Moff Willhuff Tarkin entered, a black-robed
figure on his arm. Her face completely shrouded by the hood of her
robes, Alys had to trust her father to guide her, as she couldn't see
a thing. Tarkin carried a candle in his other hand, as did Vader.
Despite the thousands of people in the room, the silence was
absolute. Slightly nervous, Alys took comfort in Vader's presence in
the room, and her father's. They reached the base of the Emperor's
throne, and Tarkin released Alys's hand. She moved to
stand across from Vader, next to the Emperor. She remained shrouded,
protected by her hood.

Without a sound, Vader handed his candle to Tarkin, who walked up to
a solid gold bowl on a stand before them. Tarkin silently took each
candle and poured the melted wax from each into the bowl, where the
liquid mixed. Walking back to the base of the throne, he handed
Vader's candle to Alys and Alys's to Vader, then walked back to the
gold bowl. He lifted the now-solidified wax out of the bowl, noticing
in the dim light that it was a solid color now. He nodded and handed
the piece of wax to Palpatine, who snapped it in to, keeping one
piece as a representative of Vader (in the absence of any family
present) and handing the other back to Tarkin as Alys's father. When
this was done, Vader walked up to Alys and took her hand. Together,
the now-wed couple walked out of the room. Not a sound was heard as
the huge chamber emptied, the stormtroopers returned to their posts
and Vader and Alys went back to their quarters.

~Finis~