"You never did know when to exercise discretion, did you, Skywalker?"

At the sound of a cool female voice, Luke Skywalker turned from the feeble view his cell window allowed him. Though his emotions were raging inside, his face was perfectly impassive. He reflected no response to her comment at all. Gritting her teeth, the Emperor's Hand stalked further into the room and narrowed jewel-bright eyes at him in unabashed hatred.

Luke was in no mood for company, not after surrendering to Darth Vader on Endor, nearly turning to the Dark Side on the second Death Star, and then being dragged to Coruscant to be thrown into a cell, probably to await his own execution. Now his heart was clutched with regret and despair, and darkness deeper than he'd ever previously experienced. The woman, obviously an Imperial, was stalking the edge of his cell eyeing him like a hungry tiger. She had a glorious, full mane of red-gold hair, and piercing emerald-green eyes; eyes that were colder than the ice plains on Hoth. He sighed and didn't offer her the satisfaction of a response.

"Are all Jedi mute?" she snapped impatiently, but again was met only with silence. She snorted in disgust. "I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that the Emperor is dying," she finally bit out, glaring at him as if she could kill him through her intense gaze. Luke whirled around to face her, searching her eyes for deception, even probing the edges of her mind slightly—to find she was shielding him out, something he'd never encountered before. He shoved that thought out of his mind and focused instead on her last words. Was it really true? Could the Emperor truly be dying? Or was it a ruse to get Luke's guard down? The latter sounded more likely, but he couldn't sense any deception from her. Still, that didn't mean it wasn't there.

"Dying?" he repeated hoarsely, then swallowed and said more forcefully, "How?"

The woman nailed him with a gaze that clearly said, 'As if you don't know.' Aloud, she snapped, "Vader."

That was a curve ball. Luke gaped at her for a moment, his shock evident on his suddenly pale face. "…Vader? What do you mean?"

"Vader attacked him with a lightsaber. He said he couldn't allow you to be killed…I knew you were manipulating him," she returned harshly. "It's your fault he's dying. Your fault that Vader escaped my Master's wrath."

"I…see," he managed, still recoiling from the shock of it all. "So…he escaped?"

"He escaped my Master, but not the Guard. They killed him." There was a note of grim pride in her voice, and she watched as the great Luke Skywalker, Rebel Commander and Jedi Knight, crumbled. Funny, she didn't think that Vader's death would get to him so easily. Still, it was satisfying to see him as broken as she was. The Hand stalked closer.

"He's dead…" Sudden tears welled up in his eyes, tears of deep regret and despair, tears that made his crystal-blue gaze all the more intense as he turned it on her. "Thank you for…telling me."

The Hand gaped at him, completely taken aback. Had he just…thanked her? How insane could he be?

"Yeah well…You're execution's in one week," she snapped, and turned sharply on her heel. Luke nodded, though he knew she couldn't see.

"I…if I may ask, who is in control now?"

Her fist visibly clenched, and her sense swelled with anger. "A Grand Admiral. His name is Thrawn." Then she stomped out.

Why'd you tell him that, stupid? she snapped to herself as she left. You don't go announcing the name of the Empire's new leader to your sworn enemy…but then, it doesn't really matter. He'll be dead in a few days.

//My Hand…// The Emperor was calling to her, albeit weakly, through the Force. And when the Emperor called, Mara Jade carried out his will. It had always been so.

But it wouldn't be so for very much longer, and it was all Skywalker's fault. Damn that Jedi.

//I am coming, my Master,// she answered, and walked briskly toward his chambers.

The Emperor's private chambers were a group of elaborate and beautiful throne rooms. Though dark, there was an air about the chambers that spoke of power and grandeur. The rooms were large and very carefully decorated. Few had ever seen them from the inside, as Mara herself did. In the center of it all were the living quarters, where the Emperor bathed and slept. It was there that her Master was resting.

She approached his bedside and kneeled before him, quietly struck by how small her Master looked surrounded by pillows and dark sheets. But his yellow eyes were burning unnaturally bright, and they blazed into her with unusual intensity.

"My Hand…I have one last request. One last mission," he told her, and she bowed her head in compliance.

"Whatever you wish, Master," she replied softly. He smiled wistfully, touching the silky red-gold strands of her hair.

"I want you to seduce Skywalker to the Dark Side. He will turn for you, if you make him love you," he rasped, and Mara's astonished emerald gaze rose to meet his.

"Master?"

He continued as if he hadn't heard her. "He must take my place as Emperor. When he has turned, he will kill Thrawn and reclaim my throne. You will be his Hand," he told her, then as he glanced over her body, he added, "or maybe his Empress."

"My Master…"

"He will teach you in the ways of the Sith, my Hand, and you will become powerful. There must always be two, you know…two Siths…" The Emperor's voice was weakening. "Promise me, Jade. Promise me you will turn Skywalker and make him the new Emperor, as I have forseen."

He clasped her hand, and Mara knew then that she would do as he asked. But she would never be Luke Skywalker's Empress, not while there was still breath left in her body.

"Of course my Master. Skywalker will turn, and he will crush the Rebellion."

"You were always my best…and most faithful…servant, Mara Jade…" And it was then that the Emperor took in his last breath, and his heart stopped beating, and Mara Jade was left alone in the galaxy with only his last command to give her purpose in life.

After a moment, she rose and lifted her chin, then walked resolutely to her chamber, determined that she would not allow herself to grieve simply because she'd been orphaned for a second time.

A few days later…

"On your feet, Skywalker. You're moving," Mara announced as guards shuffled in to yank him to his feet. Luke Skywalker rose before they could reach him, and did not struggle when they clasped his arms securely.

"He's gone," he said simply, stumbling as the guards jerked him past her and toward the door. Mara glared daggers at him.

"Yes, he's gone," she confirmed, and followed the trio down the hall and to the turbolift. She keyed it for a nonstop trip to the 113 level of the Imperial Palace. Then Luke was dragged down a carpeted hall to a beautiful suite. His eyebrows lifted as he glanced around the room, and his head swiveled around to lock eyes with Mara.

"Looks cozy," he commented, and she resisted the urge to cuff his smart mouth.

"Well," she snapped acidly, "I should hope so." Then she waved a hand and the guards dropped his arms and disappeared. "Now then…"

Luke regarded her silently, thinking in spite of himself that she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She shoved a hand through her hair and met his gaze, looking almost uncertain.

"You're not to be executed," she told him after a long pause. He could see her agitation, and she was so tense that the air around her seemed to be as compressed as her muscles surely were.

"Any…particular reason?" he asked, but she didn't answer. Instead, she changed the subject.

"Refresher's that way," she said, jerking a thumb over her left shoulder. "The room is fully stocked."

Her hatred was there, but compressed, along with a pain that she was fighting almost constantly. He frowned at her, but resisted an inquiry. She wouldn't answer anyway, and he could guess at the source of her pain. Instead he nodded and bowed, then locked gazes with her once more. Something about those intense blue eyes rattled her more than she cared to admit, even to herself. She tore her eyes away and turned back toward the door.

"And Skywalker," she added as she strolled out, "the walls can't be penetrated by a lightsaber. Have a nice day."

"Fat chance," he muttered as he headed for the 'fresher. He hadn't been able to cleanse himself since before the mission on Endor, and he was feeling very grubby. A shower sounded like a godsend at the moment, and he keyed the door open. The interior was very, very ritzy, complete with a huge Jacuzzi and a luxurious shower. The Empire certainly new how to treat its higher-ups. Feeling suddenly lowly and very dirty, Luke stepped into the shower and proceeded to clean himself. The room was indeed fully stocked, down to a razor for shaving—which he took advantage of. Then he crawled into bed and tried to lull himself to sleep. Thankfully, it didn't take him long.

Mara let out a long sigh and paced in the hallway outside of Skywalker's room. It had only been a few hours since they'd last spoken, but she knew she had to start her mission right away. Not that she wanted to see his face so soon again, but she had a job to do. With a long sigh, she entered the room.

He was there, of course, sitting cross-legged on the bare hardwood floor of the common room. He was meditating, strangely at peace for a man stuck on an enemy palace on an enemy planet at the heart of enemy territory. He'd shed his Jedi blacks for one of the silky blue shirts that he'd found in his stocked wardrobe, and he had on sandy colored slacks that were only a few shades lighter than his ruffled dirty-blonde hair. He'd showered and shaved, even somehow managed to trim that unruly hair, and the overall effect was quite appealing, though Mara would have died before admitting such a thing out loud. She was gazing at the shirt when he opened his eyes and looked at her face, seemingly not surprised to see her there at all.

Mara sucked in a breath, noticing the way the blue of the shirt made his eyes electrifying in both color and intensity. He was about her age, but his eyes held knowledge and maturity that most 20-year-old men did not possess. Snapping herself out of her trance and back into reality—where she still hated him—she casually walked closer and sat directly in front of him, meeting his eyes with her own steely gaze.

"My Master said that I should…train with you. He said you would teach me the ways of the Force," she murmured, unable to think of any other excuse to be talking to a man that she'd openly admitted to hating—practically to his face. Luke regarded her for a moment, then seemed to buy it and nodded.

"Then I shall. You have great potential. But I have one condition," he warned her, quite somberly. She eyed him suspiciously.

"What's that?" she ventured, tempted to get up and leave right then. Sitting so near him was unnerving and unpleasant.

To her surprise, he actually smiled. "If you want me to teach you, you have to tell me your name."

She could have punched him for worrying her like that. Instead she glared daggers at him again and snapped, "Mara."

"Is there more to it than Mara?" he asked, gesturing.

Don't hit the stupid Jedi, don't hit the stupid Jedi, she chanted to herself, and added, "Jade," quite icily. His smile widened.

"Well then, Mara Jade, my name is Luke. Though I get the impression that you knew that already," he mused, and his eyes sparkled. She managed to keep her jaw from dropping, but only just. How the man could be smiling and joking when he was sitting across from a woman who wanted nothing more than to kill him was beyond her. She mutely nodded.

"Mara…that's a pretty name," he told her, and she glared at him.

"Just get on with it, Skywalker," she snapped.

"Means 'bitter', doesn't it?" He tilted his head. "Though…I don't think that suits you."

"Skywalker," she growled warningly, and he chuckled.

"All right, all right, you win," he conceded, lifting his hands in defeat. "What do you want to know?"

Mara was nearly overwhelmed with an urge to smile back, and berated herself for it. After all, he was the reason her Master was dead. It was his fault she had to seduce him anyway. She hated him. Even when he was complimenting her name.

"I have trouble controlling small objects…like lamp switches," she answered truthfully enough.

"What works for me is visualizing the object in my head…like…this." He closed his eyes, and she suddenly found herself levitating about two feet off the ground.

"Skywalker!"

"Can't blame me for trying to have a little fun. You're the only company I've got, after all," he added.

Did nothing dampen his spirits?

"Don't do that again," she said aloud, firmly. He grinned but made no promises, and again Mara had to fight her urge to maim him in some way.

Luke, on the other hand, was feeling a lot better after his shower and short nap, and getting his captor all riled up was more fun than he'd anticipated. He felt somehow as if he could trust her, though only the Force knew why. She was his captor after all…but while she obviously hated him, she'd made no threatening movements whatsoever. And by teaching her the Force, maybe he could steer her toward the Light Side…maybe even draw her into the Rebellion. He'd have to be careful though, and patient. And patience was never one of his strong points.

"You try now," he instructed.

"I am not lifting your ass off of this floor," she growled, and to her growing rage, he chuckled again.

"All right, leave my 'ass' where it is and try to move one of the pillows on the couch," he replied. Damn that infuriating sense of humor…

She smiled in satisfaction as she launched the pillow forcefully at his head on only the second try. He lifted his hand and stopped in a few inches from his face, much to her disappointment, but he seemed to be amused and pleased.

"You learn quickly," he said in praise. "I couldn't do that to Ben until after he showed me a couple of times."

"You launched a pillow at Ben Kenobi?" Mara asked, incredulous. Luke laughed.

"Sure did. Or tried to, anyway, but he turned it around and hit me with it instead," he told her, grinning impishly. She shook her head.

"I see he had the right idea," she retorted, and he levitated her again, laughing when she shouted, "SKYWALKER!" loud enough to wake half a city.

"You know…I have a first name. It's easier to say, too—only one syllable," he told her. She shook her head. If Skywalker thought that she was going to be on a first name basis with him, he was gravely mistaken. Using his first name was a bit too intimate, considering she was still harboring a desire to kill him.

Though, damn it all, even that was fading. Losing the Emperor had softened her, but she wouldn't let it stay that way.

"Skywalker doesn't sound as corny," she shot back at him, and stood. "I'll be back tomorrow to check on you."

"Okay…we'll continue then," he agreed, rising to his feet as well. The grin was gone, but he still had a lighthearted air about him. Mara shook her head and headed toward the door. She was laughing as a pillow smacked into his face from its once dormant spot on the couch. The door shut before she could hear his laughter as well.

Who knew being held captive could be so…fun? Not that Luke was particularly fond of the idea of staying in Imperial territory, but on the bright side, at least he had plenty of entertainment. Still, he needed to think of an escape plan. Though they were desperately trying, the stormtroopers and guards could not hide the fact that losing their two most senior officers had thrown them through a loop. He wasn't worried about bypassing them…it was Mara Jade that worried him. Sure, she was fun to bait, but she was also dangerous. He could sense it, and could see it in the very way she held herself. The way she conducted herself told him that she was used to lavish surroundings and power. It also told him that she was an assassin. And a good one, at that. Yep, he thought lightly, no doubt about it. I've been hanging around with Han too much.

What there really was no doubt about was that everyone at home was planning a massive rescue mission, and there was also no doubt about who was at the head of the committee…his twin sister herself, Leia Organa.

Without any way to contact them, there was no way to tell Leia that he didn't need to be rescued. So he'd have to be quick with his escape. Though not knowing a thing about the palace was a hindrance. Sighing, he slid back into meditation and hoped a feasible plan would reach him in a short amount of time. Hopefully before the cavalry arrived to find an empty suite and a certain hot-tempered redhead with a death wish for him, charging after him in a fighter.

Mara leaned against the inside of her door when she got back to her room, itching to go back and shoot him just to be done with it. He'd softened her, more than she cared to admit, and she couldn't afford that. Still, her appearance of warming to him would probably help her carry out her orders of making him love her and then turning him to the Dark side. He was certainly warming up quite easily, but then he was way too trusting. This was something she'd heard Vader tell the Emperor over and over, and she agreed now that they'd met. He genuinely believed that she wouldn't hurt him. Well, he was in for a rude awakening, naïve farmboy-turned-Jedi that he was.

And damn it all, she hated him and she hated his stupid Force lessons, and that was that.

But blue eyes haunted her dreams that night.

The next morning…

Of all the things Mara Jade expected Luke Skywalker to be, none of them had much to do with being a gentleman. From her extensive studies on him back when the Emperor had ordered his death, she knew he grew up on a moister farm on a backwater planet about as far from the galaxy's center as it could be and maintain life. She also knew he was an excellent shot and a skilled if untrained pilot. She knew he lacked formal diplomatic training, knew he avoided formal balls, and knew that he'd grown up with an aunt and uncle without much interaction with the opposite sex. She knew that farmers lacked manners in most cases, and knew that Jedi didn't take extensive edict classes, either. So when she walked in balancing a tray in one hand and a box of his old clothes in the other, she hadn't expected him to jump up, bow, and relieve her of her heaviest burden, the clothes.

"Didn't one of the guards help you?" he asked as he set the box down. Mara blinked at him and shook her head.

"My well being is not your concern, Jedi. I can managed a tray and a box on my own just fine," she told him. He shook his head, mimicking her, and replied, "That doesn't mean they shouldn't offer."

"And how do you know they didn't?" she shot back, and received a crooked grin in return.

"I am a Jedi, Mara." Then he shrugged, turning serious. "They were amused…seemed to enjoy watching rather than helping."

"And this bothers you, Skywalker?" She put one hand on her hip and tossed her vibrant red-gold hair, looking proud and defiant. He sighed and nodded.

"I'm coming to realize that you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, Mara, but I don't agree with the fact that they didn't offer their assistance."

"I'm a woman, Skywalker. Inferior," she stated blandly, though his admonition of faith in her abilities was rather shocking to hear. She hoped he couldn't break through her barriers. She was surprised to see that he looked confused and rather upset.

Not that she had any misconceptions of him. The Emperor had not lied to her about him. Mara knew that the Rebellion's precious Luke Skywalker was kind, bashful, even innocent. She was fully aware that he had a weakness for people in need and a great amount of ability in the Force. His compassion and warmth, the depth of his loyalty, all of his interesting and naïve personality quirks were quite easy to read. She knew he wasn't some slimy murder, or some lowlife scumbag. But he was a threat, a potent one, and one that the Emperor had once wanted removed. The tables had turned, however, though her hatred for his leading to her Master's death was strong. They wouldn't be friends, but she would be his Hand, and that was that.

"Inferior? The Emperor didn't think so," he said. Mara slammed her hand down sharply on his table, a clear sign that he should not bring that particular subject up again.

"No…he didn't, because he raised me," she growled through clenched teeth. "The guards don't know who I am. They think I was the Emperor's plaything, not his Hand."

"I see."

Everything in her screamed for a fight, for some action. She almost wished that he would make a move to escape, just so she'd have an excuse to attack. Realizing the stupidity of such rash thoughts, she tried to reign in her anger and control herself again, and had almost forgotten she was still in Skywalker's room until he spoke.

"Why don't we?" he asked softly as his sober and calm presence flooded the room once more. Mara looked up sharply at him. Had he forced his way into her mind? She hadn't felt it, but then, she'd only been touched by the Sith, never by a Light Sider…and then he smiled thinly. "No, Mara, I didn't rip the thoughts from your mind. You're simply broadcasting your restlessness and suspicions. Quite loudly, at that," he added with a wince. Mara glared daggers at him.

"If you think for one second I'm just going to hand you your Jedi weapon, you're crazy," she told him, cooling her temper immediately. His thin smile returned and he nodded.

"No, you're no fool, Mara," he agreed, and sat down on the edge of his bed. "In that case, I guess we should get to your next lesson. What would you like to learn this time?"

"I can't meditate," she replied automatically, then bit her tongue. Damn, if that didn't sound stupid. Luke's eyebrows raised fractionally.

"Ah. Well, let's give it a try now. I assume you know you have to clear your mind and be at peace."

"Yes," she agreed, gritting her teeth at the "teacher" tone in his voice. He moved to sit cross-legged on the floor and she followed him. They lapsed into a companionable silence, neither in the mood to talk anymore. Soon he was lost in a trance, but still Mara could not clear her mind. She opened one eye and glanced at his still form. There was power beneath the exterior, power she hadn't really sensed from him before. All in all he was a pretty fascinating guy—in one of those infuriating-type ways—and as humble as everyone said he was. But there was something of his father in him…impatience, she felt it when they were snapping at each other. That was one of the weaknesses she could use to turn him. She closed her eyes again and tried to wipe her mind clear, but the peace wouldn't come. Stubbornly, she repeated the attempt. Focus, Jade, and just relax…

There was a shock as a warm hand contacted the skin at her temple, and then peace came flooding through her. The freedom of it made her feel as if she were soaring in the clouds high above the long-destroyed planet of Alderaan, and suddenly a vision of just that came to her. Her breath caught in joy and her hand came up to cover the one at her temple without her even thinking about it—and then, abruptly, she realized whose hand it was and jerked away. Her emerald eyes shot open and she glared accusingly at him. He only gave her a wary smile.

"You were doing well. You just have to find your center of calm," he told her. "It took me a while to find mine, too. Yoda was always smacking me with his walking stick, yelling, 'Center of calm you must find! Find it you must!' You'll find yours, too."

She stood, shaking, wondering what had just happened, too rattled to really be paying attention to him. He let her pace for a moment, then stood up and wandered toward the suite's kitchenette.

"Would you like a drink?" he called over his shoulder.

"No."

"Hungry?"

"No."

He strolled out of the kitchenette empty-handed and shrugged. "Me either."

"Well, Skywalker…tomorrow."

He smiled again, and nodded. "Tomorrow." He paused, then added, "And Jade…find your center of calm, you must."

"Are all Jedi nutty?" she tossed over her shoulder teasingly, and they both laughed as the door slid shut. It wasn't until a few moments later that she realized she'd left his suite laughing for the second day in a row.

Oh yes, there was a bond between them. There could be no doubt of that. The real question was, what to do about it. Mara Jade was unlike any other woman he'd ever met, and against his own better judgement, Luke was genuinely starting to enjoy her company. Except for when they were yelling at each other. But even then, the way he could so easily sense her emotions made it all rather comical. With training, she'd be able to sense him the same way. Perhaps their bond would strengthen.

Still, he still felt lingering suspicions that she was luring him into a trap. Which, he thought with a wry smile, was probably exactly what she was doing, but why? She hated him, he could sense that, so why didn't she just kill him? It wasn't just the Force lessons, nor was it their fledging Force-bond. No, his new bondmate was attempting something different. Perhaps trying to turn him? That was the most likely reason, though it was hard to imagine her trying to turn him due to the rage for him she still harbored.

He thrust the thoughts away from his mind, realizing there was little he could do at this point, and stretched out as hard as he could in the Force, reaching for his sister. He hoped she could hear him over the vast expanse of galaxy that separated them.

//Leia…can you hear me?//

//Luke? Luke, are you alright?// Her Force-voice was frantic with worry, but there was relief there as well. He smiled a little.

//Yes, I'm fine. Listen, Leia, I don't want you and Han to come after me, all right? I'm fine. I'm not in any danger. But there's something here I have to take care of before I come back.//

//Luke, there's been rumors that Vader and the Emperor are…dead…//

//Yes, it's true. A Grand Admiral is in charge now, someone named Thrawn.//

//Oh, Luke, I can't stand the thought of leaving you there…//

//Don't worry,// he sent reassuringly, //nothing's going to happen to me. I've got everything under control.//

He felt her wry touch of humor and nearly laughed himself as she sent back dryly, //How many times have I heard that before.//

//I love you, Leia…take care of yourself. And make sure Han doesn't do anything stupid while I'm gone.//

//I'll do my best, anyway. I love you too. And for heaven's sake, be careful!//

He was still grinning when they broke contact.

Mara slid into bed that night in a near panic. Skywalker was really starting to get to her, and that was quite scary. She wasn't supposed to be having second thoughts about killing him, or turning him. She wasn't supposed to be thinking about him at all, unless it was planning to turn him. But more and more often over the past two days he'd been slipping into her thoughts and dreams with that intense blue gaze of his. Not only that, but she could feel a strong bond beginning to form between them. This was something she wanted to avoid at all costs. Still, if she wanted to carry out her Master's last command, avoiding it would be impossible, just as avoiding him would be.

So how could she turn him without compromising her feelings? This was by far going to be the most difficult task the Emperor had ever given her. With a sigh, she rolled onto her back and tried to think, and then the Emperor's words drifted back to her…

Seduce Skywalker to the Dark Side…

So she stood and walked down the corridor to the turbolift, intent on seducing the Force out of him. A few moments later, she was standing in front of the door to his room, firming her resolve. Hopefully his farmboy modesty would kick in before they got too far, and then if she kept at it for a couple of nights, maybe he'd turn without their ever doing anything, and she wouldn't have to sacrifice her one true asset to the mission. Besides, she wasn't about to admit to Skywalker that she was still a virgin. Finally, taking a deep breath, she slid into the room.

He was a light sleeper, so when she slid the door to his bedroom open he jerked awake. Almost immediately he recognized the presence as hers and frowned in confusion.

"Mara…what's going on?" he murmured sleepily, trying to clear his hazy vision. She didn't answer, opting to move closer instead. This was getting very weird very quick. "Mara?" he repeated.

"I…Skywalker…why can't I get you out of my head?" she whispered, her eyes bright in the dim light of the room. He choked back his shock at her words.

"Mara, I don't understand," he began, but she cut him off.

"Your face is in my dreams. Your eyes follow me. And your hands…" she trailed off for a moment, leaving him to speculate wildly for half a second before continuing, "Your hands are so gentle in my dreams."

"I…" He was absolutely speechless. Her hatred was gone, leaving only uncertainty and confusion. Her green eyes searched his blue, and he felt their bond intensify. "Mara, why are you here?"

"Because…because I can't stop thinking about you, damn it! I didn't ask for this…"

The emotions, the words that were coming from Mara were true. She should have known that she wouldn't be able to just walk in and seduce him. Already there was too much between them for that. She couldn't hate him when all he did was look at her like she was something special. No one ever looked at her that way. She didn't like him, but she couldn't hate him. And he wouldn't leave her alone, either. Then there was that damnable bond they were somehow sharing, and the sudden urge to seduce him anyway just to see if her suspicions were right. Because she was starting to suspect he'd be a very gentle and giving lover, if given half the chance. This whole line of thought was new to her, wild and unexpected, and for the most part, unwanted.

"Mara, I'm sorry…I can't explain it either. I have dreams of you too," he admitted, flushing noticeably. "Perhaps it's because we're bondmates now."

She looked at him again, blinking. "Bondmates?"

"Yes. Can't you feel it? We're linked together somehow…and I think that's why we can't…well…why we're so in tune," he explained awkwardly. "Mara, I…perhaps you should go back to your room."

Her eyes widened as she realized what he was saying. He wanted her to stay. He wanted her. But he wouldn't let himself do that to her, because she knew he could sense her confusion. Her reluctance.

"Yeah. Get some sleep, Skywalker," she muttered, turning to stand. He tugged on her hand and she swiveled back around to meet his gaze.

"Sleep well, Mara," he whispered, and wished with all his might that she'd give him some sort of sign to let him know that she didn't truly hate him. She didn't disappoint him.

"You too, farmboy," she replied with a wry smile, and ruffled his already tousled hair. Then she left without another word.

Two days later…

Mara was back to her cool self when she returned, but Luke was happy to see her anyway. He'd made definite progress with her. At least he knew she wouldn't slay him in the dead of night. Perhaps she was even the tiniest bit attracted to him. Then he laughed at himself.

Yeah right, Skywalker…in your dreams.

"What's so funny?" she asked him, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. He chuckled again and shrugged.

"Nothing. So, why don't you tell me what you're up to?" he said amiably. The question was so unexpected that for a moment, Mara wasn't sure she'd heard him correctly. Then she realized she had.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Mara…I may be a farm kid, but I'm not that stupid. What did the Emperor tell you to do with me?"

She sputtered indignantly. "He didn't tell me to do anything with you, Skywalker."

He rolled his eyes and nailed her with a look that clearly said, Yeah, and you're related to a Wookie, too.

"As if I'd tell you anyway!" she snapped.

He continued to stare.

"Damn you, Skywalker."

And damn the way those blue eyes lanced right into her soul.

"All right, fine. I'm supposed to turn you. Then you become a Sith lord, and I become your Hand and your apprentice. Then you rule the Empire and crush the Rebellion. Oh, and I'm supposed to get you to kill Thrawn, too."

Luke smiled wryly and asked, "Is that all?"

Mara didn't know why she found that comment so amusing, but she had to fight to keep an answering smile off of her face. Instead, she snapped, "Yes, Skywalker, that's all."

"So you'd be my Hand, huh? And you'd do whatever I told you?"

She gritted her teeth. "That's the job description, yes…" Suddenly she hated her job.

"Anything? Like…if I asked you to…I dunno…play strip-tease for Wedge, you'd do it?" he asked, laughter lighting his crystal-blue eyes. Mara ground her teeth together again.

"Yes, I'd play strip-tease for your little pilot friend. If you ordered it."

Then a mischievous grin lit his features and set Mara further on edge. "Would you play strip-tease for me?"

Well, that took the prize. She didn't think Mr. Aw-shucks-farmboy-slash-Jedi Knight had it in him. At that moment, she would have gladly shot him right between the eyes if she'd had a blaster ready. Unfortunately, she figured earlier that with her tempter, he'd stay alive longer if she left it in her suit. She hated it when she was right.

"If…you…ordered…it…" she choked out through a tight throat. The Emperor's voice sounded in her head as if he were whispering in her ear, saying, Or his Empress. Abruptly she stood and broke off the thought. "I would also kill anyone you wanted, seduce anyone you wanted, and keep your troops in line. But you'd have to turn, first."

He laughed and said, "Well, it's a lot more tempting now," and dodged the shoe she threw at his head.

"It's not something to joke about!" she shouted at him. He ran a hand through his hair and nodded.

"I know, but I had to say something. It was too good to pass up." He could have sworn he heard her mutter, "Damn Jedi," and he grinned all the wider.

"You won't turn, will you, Skywalker?" she asked softly after a pause. He sobered and looked away from her.

"No, I won't. I can't do that, Mara."

"Thrawn will have me kill you."

Luke smiled, still staring at the wall, and returned gently, "The Emperor already tried that. You didn't succeed then."

"I know you better now," she warned, and he turned finally to meet her gaze.

"That's why you won't succeed now," he finished, and smiled at her, his crystal-blue eyes as warm as a summer afternoon.

"I wouldn't count on it," she said a moment later, tearing her gaze from his. His smile widened ever-so-slightly.

"I think I'm willing to take that chance."

"I think you're a fool," she snapped. He laughed quietly.

"So what else is new?" he asked, and this time, she laughed with him.