I do not own Star Wars... etc...etc... Read and Review. To enjoy or not to enjoy is entirely up to you.
***
Her pulse was pounding in her veins. Over tree roots, over brush, through vines... her feet hammering the earth, just her and the feral. Something was bothering her and she couldn't quite pinpoint it. Mara tugged at her clothing as she raced tossing tunic and pants over her shoulder as she dove head first into the lake. Pull, push, breathe... she turned onto her back gazing lazily at the sky above. It was early morning on Yavin 4. She'd risen before the sunrise, as the gas giant Yavin hung low on the horizon and Luke still lie sleeping in their bed. She'd been restless. Five years of marriage and four children; Amydala, Alden, Vaiya and Lelila... her babies. She missed her children. They were on Coruscant awaiting the arrival of their parents. She laughed softly, 'Mara Jade, domesticated!' She thought wryly to herself. Luke and Mara were on Yavin 4 setting up the training and interviewing of three new students. They were due back on Coruscant in two days, leaving Kam and Tionne in charge of the academy once again. She tucked under and began swimming once more. Luke's consciousness brushed hers lightly, there was concern buried beneath his layers of awareness. He was approaching.
***
Luke stalked the underbrush of Yavin 4, soundly yet inquisitively, marveling at the beauty of nature and the force. Her presence drew him to her. Her soft laughter echoing in the very caverns of his spirit, he sat down at the edge of the lake, eyeing up the figure swimming towards him in the distance.
Mara Jade swam up near him and stood in the shallow end of the lake, her gaze caressing his face, a look of concern in her eyes. His mind was troubled.
"What's going on farmboy?" She asked, apprehensive.
"Stay out of my mind Jade." He murmured affectionately.
They faced off, both silent, gauging the other. Finally, Mara shook her head. Was it easier dealing with a husband when you couldn't tell what he was going to do or say next?
"Leia commed this morning. There's trouble in the Farlax sector."
Mara rolled her head back and sighed. What was new? When wasn't there trouble somewhere needing the great Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to come to the rescue?
"And?" She asked.
"We need to return to Coruscant immediately for a briefing. The Advisory Council is requesting our services. Jacen is prepping the Sabre as we speak. He'll be returning to Coruscant with us."
Mara grasped his hand in hers. "Do you have any idea what it is?"
Luke ran a hand through his tousled sandy blonde hair. His voice heavy with uncertainty. "All Leia said was that Han and Chewie were there doing some negotiations and inquiries. Leia said Han's last report was three standard weeks ago. She's been unable to raise the Falcon and the New Republic's contact on Niivi has disappeared." He sighed wearily.
Mara took his hands in hers. So much for some downtime with their children.
***
Chief of State Leia Organa Solo stood at her desk; her arms crossed her chest as tears coursed down her cheeks. Han.
Where was he? What was he doing? Was he taken? She had little doubt in her mind that Han Solo and Chewbacca had found themselves in another muddle of intrigue and disaster. It seemed that just as they were able to take a deep breath and relax another calamity forced itself upon their lives. Would there ever be peace for her and her family? She looked out of the window at the magnificent view before her. Coruscant. The traffic lanes were brimming with impatient traders, politicians and civilians. The horizon filled with various structure designs built upon each other millennia over. Her family was spread throughout the galaxy. Her only daughter with rogue squadron off on dangerous mission after dangerous mission, Anakin and Jacen at the academy on Yavin 4... Han somewhere... alive... or...
"Madame Chief of State."
The buzz of Winter's voice on her com unit startled her out of her funk. Luke was here. She could feel his presence as he entered the atmosphere.
"Yes Winter."
"Master Skywalker, Jade and Jacen are in system and should be docking shortly. You are to meet them in the Advisory Council's inner chambers at 0600. In addition, Leia, Winter's voice softened as she spoke her friend's name, "We lost another NRI agent in Farlax this morning."
***
Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker sat uneasily in the chambers of the Advisory Council. Borsk Fey'lya and the Bothan spy network had discovered a great deal of information leading up to the disappearance of Han Solo, Chewbacca and the NRI contact. The details were sketchy. Sketchier yet after the point of Han Solo's last report.
An uprising? Mara asked herself dubiously. The Farlax sector had long been a hot spot for smugglers and so called "liberation and peace groups." Mara saw them as nothing more than dirty thieves with dirty ends. Each group was lead by idealistic fanatics who claimed to be the reincarnation of this person or that. They were here to save the people of the galaxy from an "undesirable, destructive fate," To "put subordinate species in their place" or some other cause such as that. These organizations were usually brushed aside with little notice due to the lack of interest or danger in them from public and governmental viewpoints. The Farlax sector had become more respectable since the Smuggler's Alliances infancy, with only the Hutts and a few other parties refusing cooperation in such a venture. Mara's stomach turned with uneasiness at the thought of another uprising.
"The NRI began to suspect several groups of covert espionage in the Farlax Sector six months ago. We sent in two agents with discrete identities to investigate. Reports came back of an organization calling itself, The Black Sun Reborn." Said NRI head General Airen Cracken.
The council members murmured amongst themselves at the revelation of the former Black Sun Organization. Mara had dealt first hand with the former Prince Xizor. Interesting indeed. A look of terror crossed Leia's face.
Mara watched as Luke reached out and grasped Leia's hand in his own. They'd had quite the run in with Black Sun before the destruction of the second Death Star. Mara had read reports of the destruction of the Black Sun palace and it's overlord and underlings. She made a mental note to ask Luke more about it.
Ayddar Nylykerka-chief of Fleet Intelligence- stood beside a three-dimensional galactic map that gleamed over the table's modulasers. The Farlax sector was highlighted in red. Nylykerka handed Cracken a small data chip.
Airen Cracken swept his laser pointer through that sector. Pointing out worlds with NRI infiltrators.
"Niivi is our primary concern. This is a small temperate planet on the edge of Wild Space. There is no local government established. General Han Solo and Chewbacca were sent on a peaceful delegation mission to begin deliberations on instituting such an administration. They were sent on behalf of the New Republic and at the request of many local groups interested in joining the New Republic. General Solo was chosen for his former experience in smuggling and his image as an Alliance hero. Our contact was a Twilek by the name of Undoola Funtorna. The records we have been able to acquire on Funtorna have been vague, and with further investigation have found to be tampered with approximately two standard years ago."
Councilor Narik of Rodia shook his head in anger, while Cal Omas, formerly of Alderaan, slammed his fist onto the conference table for attention.
"You are telling me that it was after the fact that it was discovered that our contact was counterfeit. After we have sent four valuable NRI agents in and two high ranking officers to perhaps their immanent deaths?" The human asked.
Mara heard several intakes of breath and regarded Omas with a slight curiosity. Point for the military types, she observed.
The NRI head and the two agents, Showolter and Belindi remained expressionless. Luke Skywalker spoke up.
"So what are we going to do now? My primary concern is figuring out where Solo and Chewbacca are."
Councilor Pwoe indicated with a slight nod at the highlighted galactic map.
"You are to go to the Farlax Sector." The Squid Head said.
Kalenda Belindi stepped forward.
"I am to accompany you and Master Jade Skywalker in the investigation."
***
So? Was is fun? I hope to hell you enjoyed yourselves or I wasted incredible amounts of my time. Just uh, don't get your undies in a bundle waiting for the next installment. It'll be soon. Till next time boys and girls!
Jae
***
Her pulse was pounding in her veins. Over tree roots, over brush, through vines... her feet hammering the earth, just her and the feral. Something was bothering her and she couldn't quite pinpoint it. Mara tugged at her clothing as she raced tossing tunic and pants over her shoulder as she dove head first into the lake. Pull, push, breathe... she turned onto her back gazing lazily at the sky above. It was early morning on Yavin 4. She'd risen before the sunrise, as the gas giant Yavin hung low on the horizon and Luke still lie sleeping in their bed. She'd been restless. Five years of marriage and four children; Amydala, Alden, Vaiya and Lelila... her babies. She missed her children. They were on Coruscant awaiting the arrival of their parents. She laughed softly, 'Mara Jade, domesticated!' She thought wryly to herself. Luke and Mara were on Yavin 4 setting up the training and interviewing of three new students. They were due back on Coruscant in two days, leaving Kam and Tionne in charge of the academy once again. She tucked under and began swimming once more. Luke's consciousness brushed hers lightly, there was concern buried beneath his layers of awareness. He was approaching.
***
Luke stalked the underbrush of Yavin 4, soundly yet inquisitively, marveling at the beauty of nature and the force. Her presence drew him to her. Her soft laughter echoing in the very caverns of his spirit, he sat down at the edge of the lake, eyeing up the figure swimming towards him in the distance.
Mara Jade swam up near him and stood in the shallow end of the lake, her gaze caressing his face, a look of concern in her eyes. His mind was troubled.
"What's going on farmboy?" She asked, apprehensive.
"Stay out of my mind Jade." He murmured affectionately.
They faced off, both silent, gauging the other. Finally, Mara shook her head. Was it easier dealing with a husband when you couldn't tell what he was going to do or say next?
"Leia commed this morning. There's trouble in the Farlax sector."
Mara rolled her head back and sighed. What was new? When wasn't there trouble somewhere needing the great Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to come to the rescue?
"And?" She asked.
"We need to return to Coruscant immediately for a briefing. The Advisory Council is requesting our services. Jacen is prepping the Sabre as we speak. He'll be returning to Coruscant with us."
Mara grasped his hand in hers. "Do you have any idea what it is?"
Luke ran a hand through his tousled sandy blonde hair. His voice heavy with uncertainty. "All Leia said was that Han and Chewie were there doing some negotiations and inquiries. Leia said Han's last report was three standard weeks ago. She's been unable to raise the Falcon and the New Republic's contact on Niivi has disappeared." He sighed wearily.
Mara took his hands in hers. So much for some downtime with their children.
***
Chief of State Leia Organa Solo stood at her desk; her arms crossed her chest as tears coursed down her cheeks. Han.
Where was he? What was he doing? Was he taken? She had little doubt in her mind that Han Solo and Chewbacca had found themselves in another muddle of intrigue and disaster. It seemed that just as they were able to take a deep breath and relax another calamity forced itself upon their lives. Would there ever be peace for her and her family? She looked out of the window at the magnificent view before her. Coruscant. The traffic lanes were brimming with impatient traders, politicians and civilians. The horizon filled with various structure designs built upon each other millennia over. Her family was spread throughout the galaxy. Her only daughter with rogue squadron off on dangerous mission after dangerous mission, Anakin and Jacen at the academy on Yavin 4... Han somewhere... alive... or...
"Madame Chief of State."
The buzz of Winter's voice on her com unit startled her out of her funk. Luke was here. She could feel his presence as he entered the atmosphere.
"Yes Winter."
"Master Skywalker, Jade and Jacen are in system and should be docking shortly. You are to meet them in the Advisory Council's inner chambers at 0600. In addition, Leia, Winter's voice softened as she spoke her friend's name, "We lost another NRI agent in Farlax this morning."
***
Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker sat uneasily in the chambers of the Advisory Council. Borsk Fey'lya and the Bothan spy network had discovered a great deal of information leading up to the disappearance of Han Solo, Chewbacca and the NRI contact. The details were sketchy. Sketchier yet after the point of Han Solo's last report.
An uprising? Mara asked herself dubiously. The Farlax sector had long been a hot spot for smugglers and so called "liberation and peace groups." Mara saw them as nothing more than dirty thieves with dirty ends. Each group was lead by idealistic fanatics who claimed to be the reincarnation of this person or that. They were here to save the people of the galaxy from an "undesirable, destructive fate," To "put subordinate species in their place" or some other cause such as that. These organizations were usually brushed aside with little notice due to the lack of interest or danger in them from public and governmental viewpoints. The Farlax sector had become more respectable since the Smuggler's Alliances infancy, with only the Hutts and a few other parties refusing cooperation in such a venture. Mara's stomach turned with uneasiness at the thought of another uprising.
"The NRI began to suspect several groups of covert espionage in the Farlax Sector six months ago. We sent in two agents with discrete identities to investigate. Reports came back of an organization calling itself, The Black Sun Reborn." Said NRI head General Airen Cracken.
The council members murmured amongst themselves at the revelation of the former Black Sun Organization. Mara had dealt first hand with the former Prince Xizor. Interesting indeed. A look of terror crossed Leia's face.
Mara watched as Luke reached out and grasped Leia's hand in his own. They'd had quite the run in with Black Sun before the destruction of the second Death Star. Mara had read reports of the destruction of the Black Sun palace and it's overlord and underlings. She made a mental note to ask Luke more about it.
Ayddar Nylykerka-chief of Fleet Intelligence- stood beside a three-dimensional galactic map that gleamed over the table's modulasers. The Farlax sector was highlighted in red. Nylykerka handed Cracken a small data chip.
Airen Cracken swept his laser pointer through that sector. Pointing out worlds with NRI infiltrators.
"Niivi is our primary concern. This is a small temperate planet on the edge of Wild Space. There is no local government established. General Han Solo and Chewbacca were sent on a peaceful delegation mission to begin deliberations on instituting such an administration. They were sent on behalf of the New Republic and at the request of many local groups interested in joining the New Republic. General Solo was chosen for his former experience in smuggling and his image as an Alliance hero. Our contact was a Twilek by the name of Undoola Funtorna. The records we have been able to acquire on Funtorna have been vague, and with further investigation have found to be tampered with approximately two standard years ago."
Councilor Narik of Rodia shook his head in anger, while Cal Omas, formerly of Alderaan, slammed his fist onto the conference table for attention.
"You are telling me that it was after the fact that it was discovered that our contact was counterfeit. After we have sent four valuable NRI agents in and two high ranking officers to perhaps their immanent deaths?" The human asked.
Mara heard several intakes of breath and regarded Omas with a slight curiosity. Point for the military types, she observed.
The NRI head and the two agents, Showolter and Belindi remained expressionless. Luke Skywalker spoke up.
"So what are we going to do now? My primary concern is figuring out where Solo and Chewbacca are."
Councilor Pwoe indicated with a slight nod at the highlighted galactic map.
"You are to go to the Farlax Sector." The Squid Head said.
Kalenda Belindi stepped forward.
"I am to accompany you and Master Jade Skywalker in the investigation."
***
So? Was is fun? I hope to hell you enjoyed yourselves or I wasted incredible amounts of my time. Just uh, don't get your undies in a bundle waiting for the next installment. It'll be soon. Till next time boys and girls!
Jae