Chapter 11: Chapter 11
"Get rid of Palpatine? Yes of course" said Luke
"I thought you'd never ask" said Isis
"I should have listened to you so long ago" said Vader
Luke snorted "don't give her a swelled head dad she already thinks she's right about everything already" said Luke
"Hey! I do not!" said Isis.
She huffed indignantly and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Most women do son, its easier just to agree with them" said Vader.
Isis put her hands on her hips. Both guys chuckled at the look on her face.
"So how were we going to go about doing this?" said Isis.
"Well I had several ideas in mind" said Vader
He glanced at the tree line as if he were expecting someone. Isis grinned at him.
"And they were?" said Isis
"Well for one I was going to pretend to bring my son to my master" said Vader
Isis stifled the urge to chuckle. Vader glared at her or at least she thought he was. "What?" said Isis.
"I see, it appears my plans must be altered," said Vader.
Luke grinned at his expense.
"Well we can always arrange a place to get caught," said Isis.
"Yes but as I said before I want you nowhere near Palpatine" said Vader
. "So long as you're free of him why should it matter?" Luke argued
"On this you will listen to me" said Vader.
That did elicit laughter from her. Vader/Anakin glared at her again and started outlining his plan to them. He was using a stick to draw the death star's lay out in the dirt.
Then he vetoed Isis' plan to join them.
"Father she may come in useful in the escape afterwards." Said Luke
"Yes she would be provided she stays away from Palpatine" said Vader
"I thought you told him I was dead?" said Isis.
Vader sighed "he may have not believed me" said Vader
"I still say it would be easier to get you both off the base if I was already on board it" said Isis
"He will know you are there," argued Vader.
"Not necessarily most of my spells don't even use the force," said Isis.
Vader growled in frustration.
"Why do you always have to be so stubborn?" said Vader
"Ditto" said Isis
"Say what?" said Luke
"Ditto it means right back at you" said Isis
"I am not being stubborn, I am merely concerned about your safety" said Vader.
"Yes you are, you always are and I can take care of myself remember," she argued back
."Ah guys perhaps we should concentrate on the plan," said Luke.
"We are" said Vader
"No you're not your arguing with me" said Isis.
Luke threw up his hands and growled in frustration.
"Dad she wants to help just let her" said Luke
"No, I don't want her placing herself in harms way" said Vader
"We already are just by planning this now will you both please stop" said Luke.
They both grumbled like sullen kids.
"I'll be careful I promise," said Isis.
Vader sighed in defeat; he wasn't going to win this argument. He never was able to win one against her before, why should now be any different.
"Besides we might need her there in case something goes wrong." Said Luke
"Fine very well but you will be careful I mean it no chances at all" said Vader.
She snorted at his answer but reluctantly agreed.
"Please give a girl some credit I avoided you for seventeen years" said Isis.
That seemed to quell any future protests from his side
. Some time later.
"We need to be getting back before they start looking for us," said Luke.
"Yes and I must be doing so as well" said Vader
"Until later than?" said Luke
"Yes later son" said Vader
r "and son one more thing that you must share with your friends, the death star is operational already" said Vader
Luke looked completely shocked by his words.
"Have a good evening son, my lady," said Vader.
Then he walked towards the glades edge. He disappeared in the undergrowth.
"Oh shit, Leia's going to flip" said Luke
"We have to go warn them now before they launch" said Isis
They headed towards the opposite side of the glen and also vanished in the tall brush.
Vader came out of the bushes. Where the hell were his men. He told them to stay right at his heels. They were supposed to take both Luke and Isis into custody. Luke he would present to the emperor as promised but Isis he would hide from him. He had intended to force Luke to accede to his plans. Their agreement was more beneficial.
More dangerous but with far more benefits if it succeeded. If it didn't they would all be dead. Palpatine would see to it personally. They couldn't afford to make a mistake. Everything would hinge on Luke's capture and distraction of Palpatine.
He hated the idea of letting Isis anywhere near that old snake. He just hoped she could be as careful as she claimed she could. He didn't relish the idea of fighting Palpatine and trying to rescue her at the same time. He was still puzzled that they had even approached him. He thought he was dreaming when he walked into that glade.
She had forgiven him, it made him feel almost giddy thinking about it. He walked to where he had parked his own speeder bike. That is where he found his men. They were apparently trying to locate him this entire time.
"My Lord where were you we looked everywhere" said the trooper.
Apparently not, he thought.
"It was a false alarm, we need to return to base" said Vader.
He started up his speeder and drove off. One of the benefits he liked about being in command. He didn't have to answer underling's questions. Soon he would be free of Palpatine's hated presence and he would be able to run things his way.
With his son and Isis by his side the rebellion would crumble and his new empire would be stronger than ever. All he had to do was a little house cleaning, namely snake removal. Little did his son know but he was Palpatine's heir, according to Sith practice's he was expected to eliminate the old bag of bones anyways. Then after he did he would eliminate his need for this hated suit once and for all.
He smiled his troopers had obviously been a victim of Isis's skills. He thought it was funny that they had been less than a few feet away the whole time. Only one thing bothered him though, Isis still distrusted him. Not that his track record deserved anything less. It was disappointing that she still held her feelings back from him.
"Soon my love you will learn to embrace all that you feel without the fear the Jedi forced upon you," said Vader.
Luke and Isis flew a circuitous route back to the Ewoks village. They reached it as Leia was putting the finishing touches on the plan.
"Leia can we talk real fast" said Luke
"Can it wait because were about to move out?" said Leia
"No it's important, it's about the death star" said Isis
"What about it?" said Leia Luke looked at Isis uncertainly.
"We did some impromptu spying while we were out," said Isis
"And? What's that got to do with our plans?" said Leia
"Leia we overheard Vader tell one of his officers that the death star was already operational" said Luke
"You overheard Vader?' said Leia
"Yeah and we came that close to getting caught" said Isis
She held up two fingers in a pinching swore,
"Do you believe him, he could have know you were listening?" said Leia
"Why would he give away an advantage like that?" said Isis
"I don't know, with Vader even a trap could conceal two more traps" said Leia
"I'm going to go tell the others, we'll treat it like its true just in case it is" said Leia
"Just on the off chance he's telling the truth?" said Isis
"Not likely but you never know" said Leia.
They watched Leia walk away towards the group of generals in charge of the plan.
"Are you going to tell her?" said Isis
"No not yet, I don't think she'll like it," said Luke
"No I doubt she will," said Isis.
The original battle plan was scrapped in light of the information they provided.
"I've only got one question?" said Leia
. Luke stiffened "why were you anywhere near the imperial base?" said Leia
"We found your father Leia, we were hoping to rescue him" said Isis.
Well it was close to the truth anyways.
"Really where is he?" said Leia.
She sounded excited until she saw the sad look on Isis' face.
"Leia honey, it's not all good news, he's been Palpatine's slave for almost seventeen years" said Isis
Leia's hand went to her mouth in horror.
"Oh my lord, how awful" said Leia
"But he's still alive and sane as far as we can tell" said Luke
"Your planning to rescue him aren't you?" said Leia
"Yeah but it involves me getting captured first" said Luke
"Luke we can't afford for you to be captured" said Leia
"It will only be for a short while" said Isis
"What about Vader have you thought of him?" said Leia
"I've beaten him before I can again" said Isis
"What about Palpatine, you know he's not just going to let you waltz out with a prisoner of his?" said Leia
"Him we were planning on dealing with a bit more permanently" said Isis
"How doesn't he have powers like Vader's?" said Leia
"Actually he's stronger than Vader, he's a Sith lord" said Isis
"So you're going to take out Vader and Palpatine and rescue our dad at the same time?' said Leia.
Her voice was betraying her total shock and disbelief.
"Yes" said Luke in a matter of fact voice.
Isis grinned wickedly at the boy's confidence. "
Oh I don't know, can't you just grab dad and run away?" said Leia
"Leia even if we did we would never be able to stop running" said Luke
"We have to face them Leia, please understand it's a Jedi thing" said Luke
Leia growled in frustration and Isis was reminded of Padme. She must have borne that same expression hundreds of times with Anakin.
"Why wasn't I informed that you two were planning this?' said Leia
"We thought you had enough on your plate already" said Isis
"We figured we could handle it ourselves because you were already involved with planning the attack" sad Luke
"Still I would have liked to know that you found our father at least" said Leia.
Her voice sounded hurt and Luke hugged her.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you Leia I was just trying not to add to your stress levels," said Luke.
"So I suppose I should look for another pilot to take your place?" said Leia.
