A series of encounters…
Chapter 1
It was dark outside and in. There was not just the absence of light but a profound stillness that dampened even the natural sound of the wind in the tall trees or the calling of the nocturnal creatures to one another. Two silver blue moons shone brilliantly, their reflected light bathing the woods and low lying buildings in an eerie beauty. Light gleamed from the pools of moisture on the ground that had collected from a recent rainfall. The forest around a small clearing was deep and thick, giving off a strong, pleasant scent. Four unremarkable buildings stood half under the shade of the strong trees. A sleek silver craft sat in the center of the clearing, with two smaller vessels flanking it. They were powered down, and appeared quite vacant.
Inside the largest of the structures a woman moved. Quickly and silently she exchanged her night shift for a dark gray jumpsuit and thick-soled boots. She strapped on a utility belt equipped with all the essentials: blaster, vibroblade, comm, and after a moments hesitation she added a lightsaber. She bound her long hair in a thick knot low on her neck and grabbed a dark cloak, pulling it around her as stepped into the night. She debated briefly whether or not to inform her second in command of her absence. She decided against. This would be a brief detour anyway, just something of curiosity.
As she headed roughly North through the trees the foliage got more and more dense, only occasional glimpses of light made it through to reflect off her dark hair, the rest of her invisible. After only a few minutes she reached a very small, metal storage unit. She punched a seven-digit code into the keypad next to the door and there was a small popping sound as the door unlatched. She entered the garage, which held a surprising array of equipment, and selected a slender hoverbike, relocked the building behind her, and sped almost noiselessly on. After about a half hour she slowed and left the bike behind to continue on foot. She would stop every few minutes and close her eyes, frowning in concentration. Sometimes after doing this she would change direction slightly.
As she walked on the sound of moving water became closer, until she could hear water slapping rocks and gurgling rhythmically. She ran into a thin river with a strong current. The woman frowned. She hoped she wouldn't have to cross it. Inconveniencing herself wasn't the plan here. Glancing up at the night sky she caught a glimpse of white smoke trailing on a breeze slightly ahead of her. She followed the bank of the river for a while, but didn't have to go far. As she moved closer she caught sight of a small fire through the trees ahead, burning its last embers.
A clearing opened in front of her and she noticed for the first time a pleasant aroma, coming not from the trees, but the smell of good food roasting. There was a bulky pack lying against a tree, a sleeping bag was laid out a few feet away from the remnants of the fire. A fallen tree limb was serving as a seat to the man who regarded her calmly as she stepped out of the shade of the forest. "You didn't have to leave your bike so far away." He said, pulling an extra cloak out of his pack and laying on the limb next to him like a cushion. "Make yourself comfortable". As she crossed the fire she noticed that there were two mugs heating on a metal stand.
"I thought I was shielding better than that," She said ruefully.
He smiled, "You were shielding just fine, Mara."
"Yeah," Mara Jade settled down comfortably, "well, you weren't, now were you? I came all this way just to tell you to stop being to damn elated so I can get some sleep."
Luke Skywalker's eyebrows registered his surprise and he laughed. "I didn't realize I was disturbing you, I'm sorry." He leaned forward and pulled the mugs off the fire handing one to her. Mara sniffed it.
"Hot chocolate? Aren't you a bit old?"
Luke kept his smile. "Nonsense. Its homey."
Mara cocked an eyebrow but let his choice of words pass choosing an earlier tack instead. "So what's so damn exciting about the middle of the forest in Illiamnadoor? I felt you arrive yesterday."
He sipped his drink. "Research. I had a good lead that one of the pre-Clone War Jedi had set up camp for a while here." He shifted a bit, "I didn't find any evidence of that yet but I did discover a breed of salamander here that uses the Force for communication and protection, its quite fascinating. I really wish I had more knowledge of animal biology so I could determine if there's some sort of higher brain function that allows…" He trailed off as she started laughing at him. He didn't think he'd ever heard her laugh like that before.
"You're…you're, well" Mara almost spilled her hot chocolate on herself in her amusement at the Jedi's childlike fascination with a salamander. "Whatever does it for you," She finished, shaking her head. They drank in silence for a while.
"What brings you out here? You're pretty far out of the way from trading lanes,"
"Some cargo to be transferred, that's all" she said. Illegal cargo, she thought. Luke picked up the hint and changed the subject. "I'm impressed you felt me arrive on world. Have you been working on your sensitivity."
No, she thought, but ever since Wayland I can tell when you are in the same planet system. "Well there's not a whole lot of other stuff out here," Mara said. "Less noise I guess."
Luke nodded. "It's wonderful how quiet everything is, not like Coruscant. Here there aren't billions of beings to block out, no endless noise in the Force. It's no wonder the masters exiled themselves in such secluded planets as Tatooine and Dagoba. Sometimes I envy Yoda's dirt hut." Mara watched the intricate patterns escaping sparks made as they flew into the air above the fire that glowed warmly. She knew that would never happen. Luke Skywalker would never live a life of solitude. The galaxy wouldn't let him. Someone somewhere always needed saving and everyone even his own sister was all too quick to thrust each task at him. Luke looked over at her curiously as if sensing her train of thought.
Mara shifted uncomfortably," Not me," she said. "I'd get bored real fast. Anyway, you have family, something those guys didn't have."
Luke face softened at this. "Have you seen them lately?" He meant the twins, Jacen and Jaina. They were almost two now.
"Yeah, Karrde and I were on Coruscant for a meeting with one of the Republic's trade committees. We had dinner with your sister." She almost smiled, "I have no idea how your sister has enough energy to run a government and manage those two."
"Yes." Luke's eyes sparkled. "They're very…energetic." Mara snorted indelicately, the vestiges of humor returning to her face
"You might say that."
They stayed that way talking of nothing and everything as the fire died away and slowly the sky began to turn gray signaling the approaching sunrise. There were moments of silence and some moments of awkwardness. Yet they both felt a reluctance to part ways that surprised them. Mara at last stood. "I have to get back, I didn't tell Chin I was stepping out and I don't want him to be alarmed."
Luke got up as well, "thanks for the company." He wanted to offer to walk with her back to her bike but wasn't sure why and he knew she wouldn't let him anyway.
Mara stood there awkwardly, looking as though she wanted to say something more but settled with a quick "safe travels".
Luke reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder; she tensed a bit but didn't pull away. "May the Force be with you," he corrected. Mara made a face and stepped back, breaking the contact. She found her way back to the compound just as first rays of sunlight were breaking over the treetops.
There was steady activity as some of her team loaded up the ships. An older human male was emerging from one of the smaller buildings and caught sight of Mara as she crossed to her ship. "Morning Chin," she said as he approached her. "Is the crew on schedule for the meeting?"
"Yeah, we're actually ahead," He looked at her quizzically. When he saw no explanation forthcoming of her absence in the wee hours, he shrugged and handed her a datapad. "Here's our itinerary, Karrde just sent it about twenty minutes ago."
Mara gave it a cursory glance. "Fine, we should still be able to rejoin him in two standard days." She paused, "I'll be in the control area if you need anything."