//------------------------------// // 56: Reunited // Story: Empire and Rebellion // by Snake Staff //------------------------------// The Star Destroyer Devastator was a place Luna had grown, if not comfortable, then at least familiar with over the preceding weeks. Whenever Vader wasn’t on the front lines massacring any and all who stood before him, he haunted this ship to plan his latest assaults on the dwindling Wookiee resistance. At the moment, she knelt before her cyborg “master” in Vader’s personal chamber, while he employed a holoprojector in his latest lecture. “The campaign on Kashyyyk is drawing to a close,” he said in his booming bass voice. “Our foes numbers dwindle, and their hearts grow heavy with fear. Every day brings them news of a fresh slaughter, every night brings proton bombs raining down upon them. There is no rest from the Imperial onslaught, there is no sanctuary that our forces cannot find, there is no brave leader that we cannot cut down, and there is no beloved home that we cannot put to the torch. As these fools have discovered, there is no hope in opposing the inevitable.” Luna felt nothing but vindication at Vader’s words. Here then, was concrete proof of all that she had said to the wretched, defiant whelp. The Wookiees had had every possible advantage in their bid to push the Empire from their homeworld. They had a great familiarity with advanced technology and veterans forged in the vicious Clone Wars. They had terrain utterly ideal for guerilla warfare, and an Empire unwilling to simply burn their pathetic planet to the ground. And yet, for all that, for all their bravery and defiance, for all their skills and martial prowess, the cold hard reality was that they had lost. Badly. In a mere handful of weeks. This was the might of the Galactic Empire. To crush all that opposed it without compromise or pity, while barely noticing that they were there. Then to enslave the broken survivors to build yet more weapons for their war machine. Thousands of Imperial soldiers had died throughout this campaign, hundreds of fighters and bombers had gone down in flames, and the burnt-out shells of walkers and armored vehicles littered the forest floor. Yet such was the merciless grind of its machine that, unlike her own devastated homeworld, it would emerge from this war stronger than ever. The ability to simply power through where her own people had been brought to their knees was, in its own way, admirable. Equestria had a lot to learn. “But the war itself is of less relevance than the opportunities it presents to us,” the cyborg continued. “The presence of another Jedi has been confirmed.” The holographic display shifted from an image of the planet to an unremarkable human male. “This discovery presents an opportunity to test your skills against a true foe, not a glorified nurse or a tribe of primitives. You will seek him out and destroy him.” “I won’t fail you, master,” Luna bowed her head. “Good. You leave at once.” Vader already had his back to her. “Return with his lightsaber for proof.” “As you wish.” As the alicorn turned to leave, the holographic display changed one more time. This time it displayed Orion, the ship’s captain. He stood ramrod straight and tried to appear businesslike, but Luna could sense his fear. “What is it, Captain?” said Vader without turning. “My lord…” he swallowed. “We have received a transmition. A summons from Imperial Center.” “I see.” The massive black cyborg faced the officer’s projection. “Inform the Emperor that I am on my way.” “Beg your pardon, my lord, but… the summons… was not for you.” “Then who?” “The Lady Inquisitor, Lord Vader. The Emperor commands her presence.” Luna felt her heart skip a beat, as instantly Vader’s soulless masked face focused all its attention on her. She could well imagine the thoughts racing through his head, wondering if she had betrayed him, or was about to. Undoubtedly, he was weighing the benefits of simply killing her on the spot. Seconds passed, but it felt like hours. “Very well, Captain.” Vader said, and Luna let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Inform the Emperor that the Inquisitor is on her way.” “Yes, my lord.” Orion’s hologram exuded relief as it saluted and vanished. “Go,” Vader said to her. “It would not do to keep my master waiting. See to it he hears what is appropriate for him to hear. And keep your mind under guard.” “Of course.” Luna hesistated. “And… the Jedi?” “I will deal with Kento Marek personally.” The Imperial Palace on Coruscant made a powerful statement. To the ordinary beings of the galaxy, the Emperor’s residence was a symbol of the triumph of reason over mysticism, a strong leader over a cloistered order of fanatics, and of an ordinary human from Naboo over secretive magicians. To Luna, who understood a bit more of the deeper truths, it stood as a symbol of the triumph of darkness over light. She sensed a faint electrical undertone to the air, felt a shiver run down her spine. Just to be so close to such a monument to the dark side was energizing. The two red-robed Royal Guards that waited at the bottom of her shuttle’s ramp said nothing as the armored princess strode down. They merely flanked her and, force pikes in hand, silently herded her through the vast rows of ships that were also touched down in the vast landing field. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of dignitaries from across the galaxy represented here, some being shuttled back and forth by Stormtrooper or Royal Guard escort, most already inside. Luna allowed herself to be swept along, mentally rehearsing her story for the thousandth time since leaving Kashyyyk. A small part of her brain, and the computer system in her helmet, devoted itself to the guards escorting her, analyzing what little she could see of them, measuring strengths and calculating weaknesses. Neither were Force sensitive, though, and so posed no real threat to her. But envisioning the best ways to kill them if necessary calmed her nerves as they marched up a great stairway towards the entrance. As the great archway opened before her, Luna swallowed, plucked up her courage, and prepared to meet the most evil being in the galaxy. “I do apologize for the delay, Governor,” Emperor Palpatine said kindly. “You may rise.” “Think nothing of it, your majesty,” Celestia said as she rose to her hooves. “I understand that these things can take to accomplish, especially when there is an entire galaxy to oversee.” “Nonetheless, you have been quite cooperative over the preceding months, and it ill becomes a man to fail to keep his word in a timely manner. I do hope none of our experiments have been uncomfortable or inconvenient.” “None at all,” the princess assured him, truthfully. While they had been uncomfortably sterile, invasive, and more than a little bit creepy, none of the procedure had yet been painful or debilitating. “That is good to hear.” Palpatine smiled a little, then let it fade. “Though the lack of results thus far has been disappointing, I am certain that we shall find this secret.” “I’m certain we will in due time, your majesty,” Celestia said, though in truth she doubted it. “Yes… Well, enough with these unhappy subjects. I called you here today to honor my side of our agreement. It would not do to keep you waiting any longer.” “She’s here?” Celestia couldn’t quite keep a note of excitement from her voice. “Now?” “Oh yes,” the Emperor nodded. “In fact I’ve been informed that my guards have collected her from her shuttle already. Your sister should be arriving shortly.” “I…” the princess swallowed, unable to keep her eyes from growing moist. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, your majesty.” “I do not see what is so extraordinary about simply keeping one’s word, Governor,” he replied. “The corruption and dishonesty that plagued the Republic were a large part of what necessitated its reformation into the Empire, and I will not see my own system fall prey to such vices while I yet live. Still, I accept your gratitude in the sincere spirit in which it is offered.” And it was sincere. Celestia had been half expecting that she would be betrayed, for what could she do if the Emperor of the galaxy decided to go against her? The other half had been expecting to hear that Luna was dead, for Vader did not seem the type of man who would long tolerate a crippled alicorn amongst his ranks. To find out that Lulu was not only alive but about to be restored to her after paltry months of waiting was far more than she had allowed herself to hope for. “Ah,” said Palpatine as the office door chimed softly. “I believe that is her now.” The door slid open. Celestia blinked. “Sister?”