Chapter 7- The Palace is Built
Jonathon ran as fast as he could to the AT-AT graveyard that sat there since the Rebels fought the Empire. He began to shiver as the cold was getting to him. He kept running and…
“Snowspeeder!” There was a spare Snowspeeder hidden under the snow that barely worked. “Hopefully its at least enough to get me to a safe place.”
Jonathon climbed in and turned on the controls. He started forward and found a small Imperial building with several guards. He unclipped his lightstaff.
“Well… here goes nothin’…” Jonathon clicked on his lightstaff and stepped into view. He choked one Stormtrooper with Force Grip and sliced two others in half with a sideward swipe. He Force Pulled the blaster out of another’s hand and did an overhead swipe, chopping off his head. Jonathon clicked his lightstaff off and opened a comm-frequency.
“Kel, follow this signal and pick me up. We need to get out of here as fast as we can.”
“I’ll see what I can do. But, Johnny, there is a mass of life forms about five miles from where you are. See if you can find it from there.”
“Sure thing. Jonathon out.” He pulled his micro-binoculars out and looked into the distance. “What is that? Some kind of palace?”
The Death’s Hand landed in the small Imperial landing bay. Palpatine walked into the bay and walked over to Darth Vader. “My palace is complete?”
“Yes, my Lord. Your quarters are on the top floor, as is your throne room.”
“Good. You dispatched of the Jedi?”
Vader hesitated. “We lost track of him. Blume attacked me and I defended myself. But, in the attack, the Jedi escaped.”
Palpatine snarled. “That is too bad for you and Blume. I told you not to let it interfere. Do not let it happen again or you will have no more chances.”
Vader bowed his head. “Yes, my Master.”
“Emperor’s black bones!” Jonathon couldn’t believe what he saw. The Emperor had walked out of that shuttle! He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Still there. An Emperor’s palace… I should have known…
Jonathon walked back to the building as the Peregrine was landing. The hatch door opened and Kelly came out. She was about 5 foot 5. She was slender and curved in all the right places. Her long, brown hair stood out against her green jumpsuit. Any man could get lost in her sky-blue eyes, and her nose and smile were just the right size. Blaster at her side, she had a small bag of thermal detonators on the other. It was easy to see how Jonathon had fallen in love with her.
Kelly smiled. “Hey, big guy. What’s up?”
Jonathon smiled in reply. “Waiting for you.” His smile faded and a serious look formed on his face. “The Empire’s base is here… and the Emperor is alive…”
Kelly went-wide eyed. “What?”
“I saw it myself. He talked to Vader and went into that palace.”
The Emperor sat on his throne, his back to Blume. Blume nervously played with his lightsaber, knowing that Palpatine was angry. His blue robe wrinkled as he tugged on it involuntarily.
“My apprentice. I ordered you to help Lord Vader, not to attack him. Remember he has higher rank than you. Be glad I told him not to punish you.”
Blume nodded, knowing all too well that Palpatine could not sense him but could sense that he understood.
“If it happens again, you will be punished. Do not lose that Jedi again!”
Blume hesitated but answered. “Yes, my Master. I understand.”
“Good. You may leave.”
Blume gritted his teeth and stomped out of the throne room. If only I was fully trained…I would strike him down and take over!
Blume walked hurriedly past Vader, who entered Palpatine’s throne room. Blume continued to his quarters, smashed a few lights, and went to bed.
Vader brushed past Blume, who had anger in his eyes. Vader smirked as he entered the Emperor’s throne room and waited for Palpatine to speak.
“Lord Vader. I want you to take our fleet and attack a small Republic base just outside the Inner Rim. Take the base. Then take the few bases in the Inner and Outer Rim. From there, we will move back to Coruscant.” Palpatine smiled. “Where we will rule again.”
Vader nodded in reply. “We will have the base soon, my Emperor.”
“Yes. And I see your son… You will confront him again soon. But this time, we will be triumphant. And again you will find and destroy the new Jedi.”
