Oh how she hated this place. The room, the palace, the very planet was a cesspool of misery, fear and despair. Suddenly, a call from Jabba the Hutt brought Mara Jade, alias Arica, to her feet. With a winning smile, a sway in her hips and an internal sigh of resignation, she began to dance. Of all the missions Emperor Palpatine had sent her on, this was, by far and away the most miserable. Still, she was the Emperor's hand and his wish was her command. When the Emperor had said, "Find Luke Skywalker and kill him," she had obeyed without question. Now here she was in the palace of the most infamous Hutt crime lord alive today dancing on and waiting for the vaunted Luke Skywalker, supposed Jedi Knight and hero of the Rebel Allience, to arrive and rescue his friend – well, now it was actually 'friends'.
The first to arrive at the palace on Tatooine had been a pair of droids – an R2 astromech droid and a 3PO protocol droid. They were an odd pair, too. The astro droid had carried a message from the so-called Jedi Knight that, in the most diplomatic and polite tones had demanded for the release of Han Solo, the smuggler turned Rebel hero who had failed to pay a large some of money owed to Jabba the Hutt. Skywalker had even included the droids as gifts to Jabba. Of course, the massive green slug had laughed and refused but had kept the droids.
Next, Princess Leia Organa and the mighty wookie warrior Chewbacca had showed up in disguises. The princess was in the armor of the Ubeze bounty hunter Boussh and the wookie was shackled. The night that they had arrived the princess had deftly managed to get herself caught after freeing Han Solo from his carbonite frame. Now, instead of the smuggler being rescued, he, the princess, the wookie and the droids were all held by Jabba.
Mara chuckled inwardly at the development. At this point, Skywalker would have to come himself because there was no one else who could possibly come and save the captive rebels. The Rebel Allience was far to busy conduction raids and fighting pointless battles against the mighty Empire. As she swayed and twisted and moved to the music the band played, she settled in to wait, even enjoying herself. She loved to dance. It was one of the few pleasures in her life. When the song finished, she slipped over to the side and languidly stood next to one of the guards. He looked to be a dark skinned human in battle armor and carrying a vibroaxe. She smiled and winked at him. "So what's your name and how long have you worked here?"
She saw a flash of white teeth under the masked helmet and the guard answered in a thick outerrim accent, "Skreej. Tamtel Skreej – and who might you be, beautiful?"
Mara imitated a sultry giggle and leaned against the man. "Call me Arica, Tamtel. How long have you worked for the mighty Jabba the Hutt?"
The man allowed his arm to casually find its way around her until she felt his hand on the small of her back. If she hadn't had a roll to play, she would have ripped his arm out of socket and beaten him to death with it. "Oh I'm fairly new. Less than a standard year in fact but the pay is excellent and it seems like no one ever messes with the boss so it appears to be a safe job – providing you keep your nose clean and don't draw attention to yourself."
Mara smiled winningly. "Well maybe we'll be able to get to know one another as time goes on. Right now, though, I need to sit down for awhile and rest my feet. I hope I'll see you later, Tamtel."
To her surprise, the man took her hand, raised the masked helmet and kissed it graciously, "I hope so too, Arica."
Mara smiled sweetly on the outside but on the inside, she was rolling her eyes. Men. She found a small seat in the corner and sat down, crossed her long, shapely legs and waited. The hours crawled by. Mara only knew that the suns were setting by feel as her body became fatigued and her mind became sleepy. Several times, she stood and moved around the throne room, both to stay awake and to find the best position by which she could get an angle to attempt to kill Skywalker when he arrived. She had just settled in to another corner within view of the entrance to the room and an escape path she could most easily fight to when she felt a ripple in the force. Someone was approaching – someone powerful. Reaching out towards the presence, she brushed it with her own. The presence noticed her and she was amazed at its touch. It was so bright! The only consciousness she had ever touched were the Emperor's and Darth Vader's. They were vast clouds of dark power but this one was like looking into a star - every bit as vast as the others but bright and full of life. She wanted to plunge herself into it. She wanted to experience the feelings and emotions of it. Instead, she withdrew hastily. This must be Skywalker. Within minutes, a dark robed figure came into view lead by the twi'lek majordamo Bib Fortuna. The hood of his robe covered his head and cast his face deep into shadow though Mara was certain she had seen a flash of blue from within as they focused momentarily on her. Calmly, she began to inch towards one of the guards. Skywalker was speaking to the recently awakened Jabba the Hutt. Mara didn't listen to what the wanna-be Jedi was saying. She didn't care. Her mission was to kill him and she would. Suddenly, a blaster barrel poked her in the spine and a hiss came from behind her. "And just what do you think you're doing, Arica?"
Mara recognized the voice. It belonged to another dancer - and apparently security operative - Melina Carniss "Melina? What are you doing? Why are you pointing a blaster at me?"
Melina snorted at the sound of Mara's mock-frightened voice. "Nice try, assassin. It's my job to recognize threats. You're coming with me."
Melina grabbed Mara by the back of her neck and lead her away to the dungeons. They stank. They smelled of mildew and rot and death. Three gamoreans were lounging around the processing room. Mara already had a plan formulated in order to escape. Calling on the force, she caused Melina's blaster hand to jerk towards the gamoreans and the weapon fired, killing one of them. The other two leapt up in rage and attacked Melina while Mara simply slipped away towards where she was certain Skywalker would end up - the rancor pit below the throne room. From the dungeon was a way to a small door that led into the pit. She pushed and shoved her way through the group until she could look through the grate. Skywalker looked like he was in trouble. The rancor had him backed against the wall. It slowly stalked towards him. Suddenly, Skywalker bent down and picked up something - a rock or perhaps a skull - and threw it. The throw was good. It hit a switch that dropped the massive door right onto the rancor's huge shoulders, crushing it. It gave a single strangled sob before dying. Mara cursed and slowly eased back through the crowed. She had to give the Jedi wanna-be some credit. He knew how to get himself out of tight spots. She slipped discretely back into the throne room where Jabba was throwing a fit, demanding the presents of all the prisoners. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca were all brought there before him. The princess was trussed up in a very revealing dancer's outfit and was forced to lounge before Jabba, a chain around her neck. Mara couldn't help but feel the very smallest pang of sympathy for a very short moment. When this was all over, Leia Organa, once proud member of the now disbanded Imperial Senate, would be left alone with the giant slug and be forced to do his every disgusting whim. The gold protocol droid was explaining Jabba's plans for his prisoners. "You will, therefore, be taken to the Dune Sea and cast into the pit of Carcoon. There you will experience a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years."
Mara winced. That was a hell of an execution - or was it torture? No matter. Slowly, the guards gathered and took the prisoners towards the hanger where a sail barge and a dozen or so skiffs were maintained. Mara tried to stay close to Jabba, pretending to be a loyal and dutiful servant and praying that he either wouldn't notice or would invite her along if he did. Suddenly, one of the guards grabbed her arm. "What do you think you're doing, Arica?"
It was Tamtel Sweej. She smiled brightly. "I'm one of the master's dancers. After the excitement of the execution, I'm sure a dance is just what he'll need to calm down, don't you think Tamtel?"
The guard's white teeth flashed under his mask. "I know it helps me relax for sure. Well, let's make sure the boss is okay with that."
Mara cursed inwardly as the guard caught Jabba's attention. The golden droid translated his words. "The mighty Jabba demands to know why you are here in the garage, Miss Arica."
Mara cursed inwardly again but smiled and cocked her hip seductively, "I'm one of your dancers, mightiness. I was hoping to come along and see the execution."
"The exulted Jabba says that there is no reason to take you along since the execution and the princess will be entertainment enough for him."
"Your greatness, please. I wish to see these fools die. Could I not come along? I'll do anything if you'll let me." Mara ran one hand along her curvaceous form suggestively, trying to entice the mind of the disgusting Hutt. He sat there quietly as if in though. Suddenly, he laughed and spoke again. "The great Jabba admires your loyalty and zeal. He grants your request to accompany him, Miss Arica."
Mara suppressed a sigh of relief as she hurried on board with the guards and prisoners.
The sarlacc pit gave Mara a bad feeling. It was a terrible sight - a giant, tooth lined whole with a strange, beak looking thing in the middle and tentacles or tongues or whatever sticking out of the sand, grasping at anything that came too close. She felt another tiny pang of sympathy for the rebels, even if they were about to receive justice for their treasonous actions. She by the window close to Jabba and the princess, watching as Skywalker, Solo and Chewbacca were positioned, awaiting the orders that would send them into the great pit. The droid began to speak again. "Victims of the almighty sarlacc, his excellency hopes that you will die honorably. But should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your plea."
The smuggler shouted something about Jabba being a slimy piece of worm-ridden filth and the execution was put in motion. The first of the rebels to be forced onto the plank was none other than Luke Skywalker himself. On the very edge, he gave a salute and Mara frowned. Was that just a last good-bye or a signal to someone? The Hutt gave his command and Luke Skywalker stepped off the plank, only to spin, grab it and use it as a spring board to leap into the midst of the guards. Mara's eyes caught a sparkle of something in the air and she reached out instinctively for it with the force. She grabbed it, recognizing the cylindrical hilt of a lightsaber. Suddenly, it was seized in a grasp of great power and pulled to the Jedi's hand. With the familiar snap-hiss, a brilliant green blade leapt to life and Mara knew that everything had gone terribly wrong for the Hutt and his guards. Skywalker was cutting through them with ease. Cursing, Mara whirled around, looking for anyway to ensure that she could complete her mission. She attempted to run up onto the deck but rough hands grabbed her and dragged her back to Jabba. The Hutt said something but the droid was no longer there to translate. The meaning in it was clear, however. She wasn't going anywhere. She could only wait and listen as blaster fire and screams came in through the view ports. Mara lost track of time as her frustration grew. Suddenly, the last guards ran topside and the Hutt released Mara and began to utter strangled noises. Princess Leia Organa had climbed behind the Hutt and through the chain around his neck and was strangling him with it. Mara nodded in grim satisfaction and ran topside.
Up on the deck of the barge was chaos. Skywalker had somehow managed to climb up there and was decimating the guards. Mara picked up one of the vibropikes and hefted it, testing its weight. It was a little bulky but useable. Mara wanted to attack immediately but there were still too many guards around Skywalker. Suddenly, from behind her came the princess. Princess Leia ignored Mara, probably thinking her another escaping slave. Mara paid her no mind. "Get the gun," yelled Skywalker. "Point it at the deck!"
Mara began to advance on him slowly as he cut down the last guard. He ran to a cable and the princess met him there. Mara bolted for him and swung her weapon. Skywalker must have sensed her coming. He pushed the princess and dodged to one side. Leia Organa swung out over the pit and was grabbed by the wookie. Luke faced Mara, a determined look on his face. "Lando, Chewie, get them out of here."
Mara stared at him coldly, assessing him. He was calm and held his lightsaber with obvious skill. This was going to be a hard fight. The skiff with the other rebels sped away but they were not Mara Jade's concern. Luke Skywalker was her mission and she would complete it or die trying. With a flourish, she attacked with her vibropike, trying to cleave him in two. Skywalker dodged and spun, retaliating with his own attacks. Not sure how her weapon would stand up to the lightsaber, Mara avoided blocking or parrying, choosing instead to dodge the attacks. When Skywalker blocked an attack, it was clear that the weapon was resistant to lightsabers to at a small degree at least. After a flurry of blows and counter-attacks, Mara leapt back and placed the deck gun between them. Skywalker wasn't even breathing hard but Mara, wielding a weapon of substantial weight, was sweating and gasping for breath. Taking the opportunity granted by the laps in the fight, Skywalker asked, "Who are you? Who sent you?"
Mara didn't answer. She simply glared coldly at the man. He began to make his way around the deck gun as if to get at her. Mara circled with him, letting him get no closer or further away from her. After several moments, Skywalker was behind the gun and she stood before it. Mara took a brief moment to look down the dark barrel of the huge gun and that's when she realized she had made a serious mistake. Skywalker leapt onto the gunner's cradle and kicked the trigger. Mara leapt out of the way as a massive bolt of pure energy shot far too close to her head. Skywalker bolted over the back of the sail barge while Mara was forced to leap off one side of it - the side that did not have the pit on it. In a gout of fire and shrapnel, the barge exploded. Mara used the force to leap as far away as possible but even so, the explosion carried her high into the air and far out into the sands. She had no idea were Skywalker had gone but she knew that he had survived. Gritting her teeth, she stood and steadied herself, ignoring the ringing in her ears. Four skiffs had accompanied the great sail barge. One had been taken by the rebels and one destroyed in the explosion. As she watched, a dark figure took another and it sped back towards the palace. Mara exerted herself in the force and bolted onto the last remaining skiff, powering it up and following. The other skiff was only a tiny speck in the desert but it was enough to follow.
Mara wasn't surprised when Skywalker passed by the palace altogether and headed into the canyons. She followed him as closely as possible but lost sight of him a few times, only able to follow do to the dust trails that his skiff kicked up. It was some time before she found the skiff parked near an opening in the walls of the canyon. The whining roar of an Incom T-65 X-wing Starfighter firing up was heard and Mara gunned the engines. Just as she came into view, the X-wing was taking off. Thinking fast, she pulled a tiny, coin sized tracking device from the single hidden compartment on her revealing dancer's outfit and threw it, using the force to guide it onto the fuselage. Then it was gone, streaking towards the atmosphere. Mara watched for several minutes before cursing. Things just got even more difficult.
Two hours later, Mara Jade strode back aboard the Suwantek TL-1800 Freighter she had requisitioned for this mission. "R3, run the ship through pre-flight checks and get ready to take off. We need to leave as soon as possible."
A red, black and silver astromech droid tweatled in affirmative and rolled off to follow her master's command. Mara quickly changed from her dancers outfit into a black, synthleather jumpsuit and threw a black cloak over her shoulders. She hooked a lightsaber to her belt, attached a holstered DL-44 blaster pistol to it and also attached a hold out blaster and sleeve holster to her left forearm. That done, she went to the cockpit. All the systems were green for take off. Mara punched in the frequency of her tracking device and immediately received a signal. A cold smile crossed her full red lips. "We're taking off, R3. Set course for the Dagobah system."
Updated May 23, 2016