Author's notes: I have never read any of the EU novels (because they don't sell them where I live and I'm too lazy to order them via ), but I absolutely adore Mara Jade. So, here's my version of RotJ, from her POV.

Please review if you want to see more of this.

Oh and please forgive any glitches about the storyline... as I said, I only know what I read in Mara's many bios. And that's quite a lot. :-)

Please note that ´Veil of shadows´, my KoTOR story, is my primary concern, but I will try to update this story when I finish VoS or earlier. But don't freak out it this doesn't get updated soon – I haven't forgotten it.

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Chapter I

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I was lost in thought as I guided my TIE-fighter away from Coruscant. My personal ship remained in the Imperial Palace, though only because I may have to abandon any vessel to the desert. And I wasn't about to let those damn Tuskens take my ship apart while I´m gone.

I was fully aware of the importance of my assignment, though it would require a rather degrading disguise. I would have to pose as a bimbo-style dancing girl in the Hutt's palace to get close enough to my target. My Master told me of the importance of the task.

He summoned me to the Palace throne room earlier today, to tell me about the Rebel I was to eliminate.

"His name is Luke Skywalker, a dangerous rebel and a semi-Jedi," my Master said, showing me a hologram of the man, "And he will come to Tatooine to rescue his friends soon. You will kill him once he arrives, whatever the means."

"As if he was already dead, Master." I said, bowing low to the Galactic Emperor. I sensed he eerie golden eyes of the Sith Lord bore into me.

"I know, Mara Jade." I was effectively dismissed.

I knew better than to smirk. Emotions are to be kept off one's face. But I knew my Master sensed my pride. The pride that he thought so highly of me. And I can, in all truth, say that I've earned it. My life is to serve him, his loyal Hand and trained assassin. I knew better than to retort. Instead, I bowed low once again and left the chambers, as quietly as I came.

Even among the Imperials, few knew of me. And few of those few knew I was more than just 'Lianna, the Emperor's favorite dancer' or some other cover-up for my real identity.

As an assassin, I would be royally screwed if my victims knew I was coming to take them out. But my Master thought highly of me. How could he not? I was practically his creation. His Hand. I have few childhood memories, except those of my training. He taught me how to use a lightsaber well enough to challenge the greatest of the Jedi Masters, if they were still alive. My purple saber was one of my most prized possessions. It could be crucial for this mission, too. But no self-trained semi-Jedi was a match for MY power!

I considered it an honor to learn of the power of the Force and its Dark Side, even though I knew my Master didn't show me everything it could do, by far. That infuriated me, though I knew of the Rule of Two. That was why Darth Vader is the one I truly despise.

A thinking machine that can use the Force. I doubted he could even feel anything, it was a miracle he was still alive. The Emperor´s apprentice. The last of the Sith Lords. That was too good for him. He was once the Master´s enemy – a Jedi Padawan, before he turned his back on the Light Side teachings. I never knew the reason, nor did I actually care. What mattered was that he was here, alive and powerful. Therefore, he was higher on the food chain than me. I knew all too well that should the Master consider him a threat, he would move to eliminate Vader and seek out a new apprentice. I also knew I was the first and perhaps only candidate for the position.

I constantly kept hoping Vader would betray us at some point. The battle of Hoth was a good chance... but any sign of betrayal was buried deep in the ruins of the Rebel base. And I had to retreat into the shadows and wait for my time, the time when I would take his place at my Master's side, would come.

The desert rock came into view as my ship dropped out of hyperspace. I guided it carefully through the atmosphere, careful not to land near a city. I needed time to get into my disguise.

But my day would come... very, very soon...