Beneath The Ice
Disclaimer: The usual thing, all the characters and everything belong to Lucas and all the Star Wars universe author and so on and so forth.
Mara Jade comes to visit and train with Luke Skywalker on Yavin Four 3 years after their first meeting when she was set on ending his life. On the outside, she still seems as cold as ice towards Luke, yet secretly inside, her heart begins to melt.
Chapter 1
Talon Karrde gazed at the fiery redhead, trying to gauge her intentions. Mara Jade was truly as hard as steel. Karrde greatly admired his second-in-command, yet sometimes he wished she'd be a little more open emotionally.
"Mara, I though you hated him," he commented.
"Stay out of it, Karrde," Mara snapped, "I never said I didn't hate him anymore. Its just…I should develop my force skills, you know? Its pure business."
Hmm…she sounded a little unsure. That is so unlike her. Oh well. She was always a little strange when it came to the topic of Luke Skywalker.
The Jade's Fire slowly settled to Yavin Four's ground. Mara saw Skywalker standing outside waiting for her. Oh please, she thought, he's probably going to give me some gushy welcome and say how happy he is that I "finally came to my senses." Goodness, that man drives me mad sometimes.
Luke Skywalker felt a little hesitant and he didn't blame himself. After all, he was dealing with Mara Jade, ex-Emperor's Hand. He could already sense her turmoil and he hadn't even said anything yet! If he didn't do the right thing, she would be gone in a flash. To his surprise, Luke realized that sounded unbearably painful. Calm, calm, calm. He repeated to himself quietly. How can one person mess me up like this when I have to deal with tons of people each day? Luke sighed. This was going to be interesting. Things always were when Mara Jade is around.
"Hey Skywalker, long time no see," Mara said coolly as she stepped out of her ship. Luke's heart dropped a little. Calm, he told himself. I can handle her. Oh heavens. Every time Luke sees her, he gets the notion she still wants to assassinate him. Deep down, he knew that somehow, that didn't make sense. There were lots of people in the galaxy who want to murder him; some could do it a lot easier than Mara Jade. So what was he so afraid of?
"Hi Mara. How have you been?" Luke put on his calm Jedi demeanor even though he was shaking underneath.
I hate that calm, serene look of his. He must be the one and only person immune to my coldness! Mara thought.
"I'm fine. I got a leave from Karrde so I can refine my Jedi skills. Don't get any silly ideas about me becoming a wacko Jedi and running around the galaxy trying to save it," she said with a warning glint in her eyes. Luke laughed.
"You mean like me?" he grinned.
"Precisely."
"You never know, Mara. I was once a naïve farm boy on Tatooine that didn't even know what the Force was once. Now look at me: A Jedi. Who would've thought?"
"Skywalker, I in no way wish to follow in your footsteps, thank you very much. If all Jedi are as maddening as you, I am thanking the Force a million times over that I did not live during the Old Republic era."
Mara intended the comment as an insult trying to break Skywalker "never get angry" policy for himself. To her surprise and unhappiness, he doubled over laughing. Mara shook her head. Maybe she should've killed him…
To Be Continued…
This is the first story I'm working on. Hopefully you'll like it. Oh, and reviews please. ;) (I prefer nice one…but I welcome constructive criticism )