The Rule of Two [RP for emperors_hand]

[the_starkiller]

The box shook as Starkiller slowly guided it across the training room. It didn't weigh more than a few dozen kilograms, but he found himself straining with the effort of simply keeping it off the ground and moving. It was ridiculous. Months had passed since he'd awoken on the medlab table, once more saved from death by the will of a Sith Lord intent on using him and his strength for evil deeds. Months since he'd had to begin getting used to the mechanical right arm and leg that had replaced his ruined limbs.

The Force didn't reside in his hand, and yet when Starkiller tried to focus through gestures with his artificial arm, the result was a weak echo of his former ability. With his left hand, it was as though nothing had changed. His Master had punished him time and again for such weakness, and Starkiller had improved, but he was far from the warrior he had been.

Finally, the box crashed to the floor. Before Starkiller could curse himself, he was slammed to the floor, onto his knees with the Force. The double doors to the training room hissed open and his Master, the Emperor Palpatine entered. "Starkiller, you continue to disappoint me. You will need to do far better if you wish to take a true place at my side."

Starkiller bowed his head. "I am sorry, my Master."

The Emperor circled near, and Starkiller's flesh chilled. "I care nothing for your apologies, only for your usefulness. Which brings me to your first assignment as my operative."

"What is your bidding, my Master?"

"You are to pilot a cloaked Sith Interceptor to the planet Correllia. There you will rendezvous with one of the Emperor's Hands on a mission I wish completed immediately. Thus, you and the Hand both have orders to assassinate the same individual, to see who will prevail. You will fulfill my wishes or both of you will perish."

"Yes, my Master."

Palpatine was gone a moment later, and with one last hateful look at the box on the floor, Starkiller left, boarding the Sith Interceptor and heading toward Correllia.

Comments

[emperors-hand.insanejournal.com]

Mara Jade was ready to assassinate someone of no importance to her, but because her Master had ordered it, that was all the mattered. Of course, that was when she heard her new summons.

"My Hand, you have new orders."

She hated it when she couldn't finish a job because she heard his voice in her mind. Sighing, she placed the blaster back in its holster and waited.

"You must go to Corellia. There, a man named Kandar Cee needs to die. You will meet another man, one of my agents..."

"Another Hand?" She spoke aloud to no one, knowing he would hear her. It was one of her gifts that made her favored among his other Hands. They did not know the names of one another to keep things safe, so it was highly unusual...

"No. Another... operative."

Hmm. She heard the pause in his 'voice' and kept that in mind as she headed to her ship, ready to go on her new mission. "It will be taken care of, Master." She fired up the ship and set a course for Corellia. Mara knew of the man named Kandar. Supposedly, he was someone important to the budding Rebel Alliance. Once she was in hyperdrive, she showered, changed, and got into her clothing that would allow her to hopefully blend in with the locals.

She stretched out with the Force and felt another one, strong, nearby. Not a Hand? Odd. Still, orders were orders. Mara walked up to the agent and smiled her flirtatious grin. "Hey there, handsome. Your ship or mine?"