I have had several people ask me about Mara and Leia – what they are doing while Luke is taking an impromptu tour of the afterlife in Transcendence. I wasn't planning on getting into much with Mara and the rest of the gang (Trans in convoluted enough, don't you think??) But I thought that a supplemental story might be fun. So this is meant as a companion piece to Transcendence, but I think it can also stand alone. Sort of. :)
IT'S A JEDI THING
The pilot of the shuttle made a few final adjustments in preparation for the transition from Lightspeed. He casually flicked the comlink switch above his head and cleared his throat before announcing to his passengers that they would soon be re-entering normal space.
"This is the Grayson. I would like to advise everyone that we are approaching our destination." He paused a moment before continuing. "Please use your seat restraints."
He clicked it off, smiling to himself. He would have preferred not mentioning the last part of that statement. His current 'guests' were a stuffy bunch of New Republic big-shots - political types, all tricked out in layer after layer of pretentious clothing not suited for several days travel through space. The group had complained incessantly about everything from the temperature in the shuttle to the lack of some odd sounding beverage the pilot had never heard of. Grayson thought it would probably do the pontificating little bunch a galaxy of good if they were to get tossed around the passenger area of the shuttle for a while. But, rules were rules - it wasn't worth him getting a demerit on his license.
A few minutes later the streaking stars outside began to slow and the shuttle made a perfect transition from Hyperspace. Grayson watched his instrument panel for a few minutes and frowned. He then leaned forward, visually scanning the area outside for any signs of the escort ship that should have been right beside the shuttle. Nothing.
Grayson sighed, irritation building rapidly. This really topped off the trip. Getting stuck in a shuttle for 3 days with a group of politicians and now having the escort fighter out of its proper position.
"I thought Skywalker was supposed to know how to fly.'' He grumbled to himself, leaning back in the seat and trying to decide what he should do. Any minute now the planetary government would be signaling him with the landing coordinates and he was pretty sure his passengers weren't the types to like waiting.
As if reading his thoughts, a hum of static came from the ship's video panel and an image appeared on the viewscreen of a reptilian being with hard scales and wicked looking teeth. Grayson instantly recognized the creature as a Barabel - one of the two groups that were engaged in a civil conflict that was dangerously close to escalating into war. Grayson hoped the Republic dignitaries he had on board were better at negotiations than they were at space travel.
"New Republic Shuttle," the Barabel spoke with a heavy accent "I am Chutar. It will be my honor to greet you when you land. Are you prepared to receive the coordinates?"
''Blast it!" Grayson cursed, his mind working frantically for an excuse to delay. Finding none, he decided to try the truth.
"Uh yea - Chu-tar. Go ahead with those numbers. But -see - it looks like one of our ships is having a little trouble. Not sure what exactly, but he hasn't come out of hyperspace yet."
Chutar's eyes blinked and he seemed to be concerned -- at least Grayson thought he looked concerned -- he hadn't dealt with the species enough to properly interpret their body language.
"I see. That is most unfortunate. We can discuss the situation after you land."
With that, the video screen went black and Grayson was left alone to decide how he was going to break the news to the delegates. His plan had been to simply drop his passengers off and find a nice place to kick back and have a drink. Looked like now he would have to put those plans on hold. He shook his head, once again cursing the bad luck that had dogged him on this trip.
"Damn Jedi." He mumbled to himself, shaking his head. "Probably fell asleep meditating."
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Mara Jade Skywalker was lying in bed at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin. It was long past midnight and she had been trying to get to sleep for several hours, so far quite unsuccessfully. She had tried every trick she could think of to no avail and she had come to the conclusion that pregnancy was simply not conducive to a good night's rest.
"Just wait 'till the baby is born."
Leia had told her with a smile "Then you will know what not sleeping is really like."Mara turned on her side and rearranged the multiple pillows once again -- pushing one behind her back and sliding another between her knees. She had read that this position was supposed to help support her bulging belly and keep pressure off her back, thus assisting in relaxation. She couldn't say that she was very impressed with that advice, and she wondered how in the worlds she would make it through another 2 months in this compromised state.
Her son took that moment to give her a quick kick in her ribs. She was surprised at how strong his kicks and punches had become lately. Once again she could almost hear Leia's voice:
"Just wait - you haven't felt anything yet!"
She wished for a moment that Luke was there - she had gotten into the habit of pressing her belly up against his back as they slept. It was rather comfortable for her, and Luke got to experience some of their son's acrobatics first hand. He had asked her once how she could sleep through all that moving around, and the truth was that she really couldn't. But she knew Luke would be home soon - and he had desperately needed a break from the Praxeum. His workload had increased in the past months and combined with the added stress of their impending parenthood it had begun to take its toll. She herself had taken a few weeks away with Mirax Horn and it had greatly rejuvenated her. It was a pity that they could not afford to take some time off together - but it was going to be hard enough to arrange time after the baby was born. There were simply too many pressing issues at the Praxeum for both of them to just up and leave. The baby interrupted her thoughts with another firm kick. She closed her eyes and reached down to stroke the taut skin on her rounded stomach. She smiled as she sensed her son's delicate presence in The Force. It was so much like Luke's.
"Don't worry little one." she murmured "Mommy is not upset with you. Mommy just wants to sleep."
Mara had taken to talking to her tummy several months earlier, when she had first felt the baby's gentle movements within her. She had felt a little silly at first, but Leia had insured her that not only was it quite normal - but it would also help the baby recognize her voice after he was born. She smiled, her thoughts once again drifting to an image of her holding the baby in her arms. She held that image in her mind and willed her body to relax.
She had finally managed to find a semi-comfortable position, and was on the edge of sleep when she heard a faint but insistent knocking on the door of her quarters. She lay there a moment longer, trying to gather the energy to get out of bed, secretly hoping that whoever it was would go away. But the knocking only got louder and she sat up, tossing a pillow against a far wall in frustration.
"It's a conspiracy." she mumbled, grabbing her robe and pulling it around her. She pushed her hair out of her face and padded through the room barefooted. She sensed the identity of the person on the other side of the door even before she opened it.
"I'm really sorry to disturb you." Tionne said apologetically before Mara could speak, "But there is an urgent call for you in the Comm room. Something about Luke."
Mara sighed and nodded, only half listening. "It's okay Tionne. I wasn't asleep anyway. I'll be right there." She turned, walked back to the bedroom, and slipped on a pair of soft shoes. She took a quick glance in the full-length mirror as she passed it, and chuckled to herself. If anyone had told her a year ago that she would be parading through the Temple halls in her bedclothes and a robe, hair unkempt - she would have laughed. But that was before pregnancy had given her a slightly new perspective on priorities. Besides, Luke had seen her look worse.
She caught up with Tionne in the Comm center a few minutes later and stood in front of the View Screen, expecting to see her husband. Instead, to her chagrin, she was greeted by not one but two individuals she had never before seen.
"Can I help you?" she asked, slightly embarrassed by her current attire. The men she was looking at were dressed in ornate and obviously expensive clothing.
"Are you Mara Skywalker?" one of them asked her. He was short, rather round and his voice held a tone of self-importance. She pegged him for a politician immediately.
"That's right. What I can do for you?"
"Well, we were hoping that you could help us." He replied, casting an annoyed look at the second man who was shouldering him out of the way.
"We want to know what has happened with Master Skywalker." The second man said, his voice sounding definitely agitated. "He was supposed to be here with us and……."
Mara held up a hand, cutting him off. "Luke didn't show up?" she asked, her mind quickly deciphering what was happening. These two were obviously members of the delegation group Luke had agreed to accompany.
But she knew very well that Luke had met them - she had seen him off the day they departed.
"Well - we have his X-Wing here……." The first man said, trying to push his way back in front of the view screen.
"What?" Mara said, anger beginning to build. She despised people who refused to express themselves in a concise manner. "Just tell me plainly what is going on."
From somewhere behind the two men, out of range of the video monitor, Mara heard a gruff voice, filled with barely contained contempt.
"Get outta the way. Let me talk to her……." A strongly build man suddenly appeared on the screen, a few days growth of beard on his face. His clothes marked him as a pilot. His face told her he was a pilot who would rather be somewhere else.
"Ma'am -- my name's Grayson. I'm the shuttle pilot that was flyin' with Master Skywalker. Look - here's the story. He didn't come out of hyperspace with the rest of us. We thought maybe he'd - you know - fallen asleep or somethin'. But then a little while ago his ship showed up but he wasn't in it. The R2 unit was still there - we guess he must have piloted it in. So we were kind of wonderin' if you knew where your husband might have run off to."
Mara rarely found herself speechless, but she was absolutely at a loss for words. She immediately checked the bond she had with Luke - it was still there, very much intact, and she was almost certain that Luke was all right.
"You are telling me that Luke was not in his X-Wing when it came out of hyperspace?" she asked, wanting to make sure she had heard clearly.
"No - all we have is the ship. We thought maybe he had gone back there but I guess not.."
"Come back here?" she asked incredulously. "And how would he have done that when the ship he was flying is there with you?"
The man shrugged. "Well - none of us really know a whole lot about Jedi. We thought maybe this was something that you people did. I've heard all sorts of crazy stories 'bout Master Skywalker doing some pretty weird stuff. We thought maybe this disappearin' was just some - you know - some Jedi thing."
"I assure you" Mara said, speaking each word slowly "That Luke did not make himself vanish. And Jedi Master or not, he certainly did not fly back here under his own power."
She could see that the conversation was getting nowhere. She was exhausted, exasperated and pregnant. Not a good combination.
"Mr. Grayson" she said, regaining control over his growing irritation. "I will do my best to figure out what has happened to my husband. If you hear anything - anything - I want you to contact me immediately."
"I can do that." He promised her.
"Thank you."
She reached out and switched off the monitor, her mind spinning. She turned around and saw Tionne standing by the door with her mouth agape.
"Can..I help with anything?" Tionne asked tentatively.
Mara shook her head. "No. I'll deal with this." She strode out of the room and back down the hall. She knew Luke was fine - he had to be. She would know if anything had happened to him. There had to be an explanation and she intended to find it. The baby gave another monumental kick and Mara smiled in spite of herself.
"It's alright little one" she said softly. "We just have to go get your father out of another mess."
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Well - there it is. If you like it I may continue to update it while I work on the rest of Transcendence. Please let me know!!
Thanks for reading!