NaNoWriMo Project Note: As a NaNoWriMo Project, expect updates throughout November… if I am unable to find a satisfying conclusion by December I may place this on hold as my work load with both Original and Fan Fictions will require my attention once again.

Disclaimer: Star Wars and its expanded universe are the intellectual property of Disney, yes Disney… we know it seems crazy but it's the truth.

CHAPTER 2:

The bridge of the Imperial-I Star Destroyer Devastator was deathly quiet as the turbolift hissed open. Officer after officer glanced up at the menacing figure of the Dark Lord of the Sith as he stepped onto the bridge, his heavy boots clacking against the polished durasteel decking.

In the communications suite at the back of the bridge Captain Nevik glanced away from the holographic images of his fellow captains in Death Squadron. Captain Ozzel looked disgruntled and nervous, while Captain Piett stood straight, tall, and proud.

Nevik knew each of them, and he knew that amongst the group only a handful could truly be called competent. Among them was Nevik himself and Piett.

"Lord Vader, the reports from yesterday's armed reconnaissance of the Yavin System are ready for your perusal." Nevik said as the Dark Lord of the Sith stepped onto one of the holoprojector pads. "Each of the captains is ready to make their initial report."

"Very good, Captain." Vader said before turning to the other holographic figures and studying them carefully. "Your reports."

"Lord Vader, we have completed our patrol of Sector 97, thus far with no hostile contacts." Admiral Ozzel said swiftly.

Piett swallowed, "I regret to report that two ships slipped through to Yavin IV my lord, a Lambda shuttle bearing an Imperial Transponder and a TIE Advanced. Both ships proceeded toward Yavin IV and have not been spotted since."

Vader stared at Piett for a long moment. "You have disappointed me Captain."

"Both ships bore Imperial transponder codes. I was not informed of their transit until it was too late, my Lord." Piett stated.

"I wish to see the sensor records, Captain." Lord Vader stated and after a moment the holographic projection of the Accuser's sensor logs appeared. Lord Vader studied the identification tags on the two imperial vessels for a moment. "Interesting, and no ship has reported these vessels attempting to escape to hyperspace since then?"

"No Lord Vader."

"I want you to redesignate those codes as rebel transponders in your ship's computers." Vader said coolly and Nevik watched him step to a console and tap in an access code. "I will transmit a list of backdoor codes in the ship's systems to each of you. You will then remove those codes."

"Yes Lord Vader." Captain Nevik said quickly. "What are they?"

"They are override codes for one of the personal agents of the Emperor. Until her loyalty can be assured I do not want my ships hamstrung by her treachery." Vader snapped coolly.

"Yes, Lord Vader." Captain Nevik said before turning back to the command console and setting to work. "Shall I transmit the codes to Admiral Griff for distribution throughout the fleet?"

"No."

Mara sighed as she woke on the dank ground. She'd balled up the top of her flight suit to make something akin to a pillow for herself for the night. It wasn't much.

Her head throbbed as she felt the faint touch of the Emperor's conscious mind, checking on her. Instantly what shields she had went up knowing that her current situation was one that the Emperor would surely disapprove of.

After a few moments a flash of pain built behind her temples and she growled in frustration, didn't he realize that if she was in the thick of battle it could cost her life? Then it began to ease as she rubbed her temples and let out another growl.

"Something wrong?" Luke asked groggily from where he lay on the opposite side of the small shelter they'd made from debris and refuse. He rubbed his forehead to get rid of the layer of sweat that had built up from the heat and humidity and glanced at her.

She could feel him reaching out to her with his untrained senses. Maybe for someone with such power it was instinctive or something. Mara let out a sigh and glanced over at him. "I'm alright, it's nothing."

Mara felt her shields flicker a bit as Luke stared at her a moment, those two bright blue eyes of his piercing through her. She swallowed nervously before taking a deep breath. "I am fine." An edge slipped into her voice and Luke backed away, his presence retreating from her as he did.

It hurt. She could feel his unbridled powers simmering beneath the surface and felt her own abilities stretch taut as if reaching out toward his. Something in her wanted that connection, that link, to the powerful person underneath the farmboy exterior. Part of her longed to help him, a part that she knew had been carefully trained and nurtured by her master. It was the same part that desperately wanted to please her master.

She wanted to serve someone greater than herself. It wasn't like when she was in the presence of Vader. Vader radiated a menace and self-loathing that made her insides grow queasy, but he was as powerful as Luke was. Only the Emperor felt stronger in the force than the two of them. It frightened her.

It frightened her almost as much as how the part of her that craved the Emperor's approval seemed to celebrate at Luke's expression of concern. They were still enemies, and yet the farmboy didn't seem to want her dead.

"Shavit." She muttered to herself before lying back down and immediately regretted it. It drew his attention. Luke stared at her for a long moment. "What?"

"I don't appreciate being lied to Mara." Luke said quietly. "Now, what is wrong?"

"It's him… he wants me to contact him." Mara gritted her teeth in frustration.

Luke sat up, his blue eyes wide. "Who?"

"Him… my… my master." Mara snapped before pushing herself upright and ducking out of the shelter and into the rain. Then she broke into a run, intent on getting as far from the farmboy as she could.

"Mara!" Luke yelled as she disappeared into the underbrush and start climbing up a set of rocks. Mist from a nearby waterfall blew across her skin and she wiped away the sweat from her forehead. Then as she came to peak just beside the waterfall she sat down and gasped for breath. Then she opened the connection.

Palpatine sat alone in his throne room, his hands clasped the sides of the ornate chair he'd chosen for the room and stared at where the immense double doors stood. The normal lighting he used for discussions with his subjects was off, bathing the whole room in darkness.

He'd grown concerned, his precious hand, the experiment, had become more and more unpredictable of late. At first, he blamed the events of Alderaan, sitting alone in the throne room he remembered sensing the distress that feeling the world's destruction had brought her. Still it had been unthinkable for her to turn on him, her master, his child… at least of a sort.

Now though he knew something was different, the connection between them felt taut, constricted, and more fragile than it ever had before. Only a few things could cause the weakening of the connection considering how it had been built. In many ways it was a construct maintained by his hand's own mind… and if it was weakening it meant something was wrong, wrong with her or her faith in him.

Master? Her voice echoed in his mind and Palpatine knew instantly that something had happened. It sounded timid, almost afraid, like a small child caught with a hand in the cookie jar.

My child, I am concerned… You have not arrived at Geedon V as commanded. Palpatine thought quietly. Your mission to eliminate the traitorous Governor is complete, is it not?

It is my Emperor. She answered and he could imagine her swallowing nervously before continuing on. I have been delayed in my efforts to return to your service.

Why have you been delayed? Palpatine asked, carefully maintaining the parental façade he always used with the impressionable girl. It was only recently that she'd grown hardened by serving as his agent.

Her thoughts seemed to stutter. I… I pursued the governor to Yavin IV and destroyed his shuttle, but before I could withdraw I was drawn into battle with the Rebels and… shot down.

Palpatine's control slipped and a flash of rage burned through the bond. Shot down? You are on Yavin IV! The Emperor's mind raced to find some way to correct the situation, to remove his precious hand from the rebel held world.

He did not notice how the bond seemed to cower as well as her presence from his flash of anger.

Master? Her thoughts sounded distant and confused. I am trying to return to you.

Palpatine's anger flared again and he felt the connection close with a snap. For a moment he sat froze, unsure of what just happened. Then he interlaced his fingers and stared at the door. "More is going on, isn't there my child… you have found someone." He clenched his jaw at the realization. "He must be eliminated."

Palpatine knew that the bond would take time and effort to restore, as it was based upon an ancient Jedi technique, long abandoned by their Order. The bond was forged on compassion, a need to serve by one member of the relationship. He had forged it, coddled her to ensure the bond's stability, and programmed her to be a loyal servant. She could not have attachments to others beside him, as the bond could transfer and if it was with a willing force sensitive could strengthen and deepen beyond mere communications…

The results could be disastrous. If that happened, he doubted his hand would ever return.

Pain flooded Mara's temples as she was snapped back to reality and nearly toppled from the top of the rock she'd clambered up. Spray covered her face as she rubbed her temples and groaned in pain. It hurt… his anger and rage hurt. She knew she deserved it.

She'd failed to arrive on Geedon V as ordered thanks to Luke. A snarl slipped from her lips and she considered for a moment killing the pilot, but the thought died within moments. She'd been matched by him, and didn't deserve to be killed for it. Glancing back over her shoulder she saw him climbing up after her. She could sense his worry and confusion rolling off him in waves. He cared, and that fact hurt too.

Mara gasped for breath and whispered to herself. "I'm going as fast as I can…"

Then she froze as another realization echoed in her mind. She hadn't told him about Luke, about the Rebel that'd shot her down, about the Jedi the Rebels had. Why?

"It's not my mission, it's Vader's." She muttered to herself, but she knew she was lying again and that there had to be some other reason.

Luke pulled himself up next to her and settled on the boulder, carefully balancing himself on the top. "You okay?"

"Yes, for now at least." Mara said quietly before glancing at him.

"Who… who taught you about the force?" Luke asked quietly. "Was it Vader?"

Mara swallowed and shook her head. "It wasn't Vader."

"So… who else is there in the Empire?" Luke asked quietly.

"The Emperor taught me." She said before she could stop herself and stared at Luke in horror at her own admission.

Luke looked stunned and confused. "He… he's a Jedi?"

"No." Mara said.

"Then what is he? Mara, I don't know anything about the Jedi let alone other force users. Is that what being a Sith means?" Luke asked.

There are always two, a master and an apprentice. Mara felt her eyes widen as she remembered the words from an ancient text speaking of the Sith. Her heart hammered in her chest, even she was horrified by what the Sith had done in the ancient history of the Republic, and tales of Vader's temper were legendary… and Vader had a master.

"Gods…" She groaned. "I don't understand… it doesn't make sense, none of it really makes sense."

"Mara?"

"The Emperor I know would never…" She gasped for breath and clutched her chest, and then her voice dropped to a whisper. "Never allow Tarkin to destroy a world." She hugged her chest and closed her eyes. "But he did… I… I've been such a fool."

"Mara?" Luke asked again.

She stood unsteadily at first and took a deep breath. "We should get moving…"

Luke stared after her, confused and uncertain as to what he should do.

Han Solo sighed as he clambered down the ramp of the Millenium Falcon, pulling off his piloting gloves as he did so. Chewie leaned against one of the hydraulic pistons that locked the ramp in place watching the hangar bay quietly.

"It seems quieter, doesn't it?" Han said as he hung the gloves on his belt and glanced around at the ground staff at work before Leia Organa walked into view and headed their way. A grim expression was playing across her face as she approached and Han furrowed his brow. "Something's not right."

Chewie quietly agreed. [The warrior spirit isn't as strong.] Then he glanced between Leia and Han.

"Highness, did something happen while I was away?" Han asked as he strolled down the last few meters of the boarding ramp.

"Luke's missing." She said coolly and Han froze.

"The kid's missing? What happened?"

"He got into a dogfight with an imperial yesterday. It seems they managed to shoot each other down. We found the crash site but both pilots weren't in their ships." Leia glanced up at him. "Captain Solo, losing him has been an immense blow to base morale."

"Shot down you say..." Han observed quietly. "You think he might have been captured by the imperial that shot him down?"

Leia grimaced for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes... I'm worried Han."

Han Solo stared at Leia for a long moment. It was a surprise that the Princess had used his first name. So often, she fell back on titles and formal last names almost all the time. He took a deep breath, since a band of pirates had stolen his payment for Jabba the Hutt he'd been forced to play errand boy for the rebellion, hauling weapons, ammunition, and other supplies for a few thousand credits a haul. At least it was steady work.

"Highness, what do you want me to do? I'm no expert on finding someone in a forest and..."

[I am] Chewbacca said firmly.

Han froze as Chewie let out a low rumble, and then spun on his first mate. "Right... I should have thought of that, fuzzball. You really think you can track down Luke and whoever this Imperial is?"

Chewie nodded enthusiastically and gave him a toothy grin.

"Alright your Highness, I guess you found your rescue team." Han said. "Just tell him where the crash site is and we'll get going."

Wedge Antilles sighed as he closed the locker in the ready room and finished pulling on the orange jumpsuit. Beside him, Hobbie kept his dour mask on while the other Rogues suited up. Wedge glanced at Zev and saw the older pilot look almost ill, he knew that Rogue Two was blaming himself for what had taken place, that as Luke's wingman it was his responsibility to keep him alive.

It was a bit of an irony that Zev was the Rogue Leader's wingman in that he was the oldest and most experienced in the group. Traditionally the post went to the least experienced pilot, so that the leader could ease them into flying combat sorties. In Luke's case, it seemed that the opposite had happened.

"Zev, you alright?" Wedge finally asked as he strapped a DL-44 to his calf.

"I'm fine Wedge." Zev said immediately before deflating a bit. "Okay, maybe I'm a bit worried about Luke."

"There was nothing we could do Zev, you saw how those two fought. None of us could keep up." Wedge said.

Zev sighed. "I know that, but it doesn't make it any easier."

"You know what we need..." Wes suddenly said before draping his arms around Zev and Wedge. "A party."

"Wes." Wedge growled. "Now isn't the time."

"What? Any time is party time." Wes said.

Zev brushed off his arm and scowled. "Janson, shut your trap... if you want to plan a party, plan it for when Luke gets back."

"Aww man... but its boring waiting and you guys really look like you need a good party." Wes said.

"No Janson, or you'll have kitchen duty for a month!" Wedge snapped.

Wes slumped in defeat as the rest of the Rogues stared at Wedge nervously. Finally Wedge slammed shut his locker in frustration. "I hope Luke gets back here soon."

They trudged through the jungle, and Luke finally was ready to admit that the humidity made the planet almost as uncomfortably hot as Tatooine. Mara had taken the lead, slashing through dense brush with her lightsaber. He found his gaze drawn to her as she worked. There was a dancer's grace to her movements and his heart hammered in his chest as he saw how her well-toned arms glistened with sweat, how her hair seemed to be frayed and frizzy from the humidity, and sweat drops ran down her face as she finished eliminating the obstacle before her.

"Stop staring." Mara snapped suddenly and Luke found himself staring at a very vexed looking imperial pilot with a lightsaber in hand.

"Sorry..." Luke said and swallowed a lump in his throat.

She turned away from him and shook her head looking irritated. "Come on, you don't want Artoo to get way ahead do you."

Luke glanced down the path and saw that Artoo was rolling along the rough trail, already half a dozen meters ahead of them. He sighed and rolled his eyes before walking after the little droid. Then Mara fell into step beside him and smirked at him. "What's the matter Luke, never seen a pretty girl before?"

"Not as pretty as you." Luke said before he could stop himself. Mara stopped in her tracks and stared at him for a moment. "Sorry."

"Don't compliment me and apologize!" Mara snapped and stomped off toward the droid, brushing past him as she did. "Idiot farmboy." She muttered to herself.

"Sorry."

Mara growled in frustration, "Are you trying to get me to kill you Luke... just... just... shut up and stick with me and the droid."

Luke nodded and wondered if the girl really would kill him if he irritated her that much.

Han Solo stood by the edge of the boarding ramp of the Millenium Falcon and looked out over the peat bog that was marred by two long tracks dug by the crash of the fighters. Chewie stood with his bowcaster at the ready and glanced around for a moment before heading off toward the treeline.

Solo swore as he adjusted the survival pack on his back and followed his friend nearly at a run. "Chewie! Slow down!"

[This way.] Chewie answered as he pointed toward a set of three tread tracks on the ground. [It is the astromech, it'll make them easier to follow.]

"Why would the Imperial... maybe they got it wrong! What if Luke's got the Imperial hostage and not the other way around?" Han said as he followed behind his furry friend, dodging branches that the taller wookie dislodged as he moved through the forest.

[Is there anything dangerous in this forest?] Chewie asked as they pushed through the woods.

"I didn't ask Chewie. Are you sure you can track them in this?"

Chewie let out a soft laugh at that. [It is not as dense as Kashyyyk, my skills are up to it.]

"That's good to know..." Han grumbled. "If we ever crash on a Jungle Plant, you'll find dinner."

Chewbacca's laughter echoed through the woods as they pressed on. Soon the dense foliage made going difficult but Chewie seemed to find a path that had been carved out of the Jungle. He stopped by one tree and saw the blackened scorch mark on a stump and glanced at Han.

"What?"

[Luke must be in charge, the branch has been cut by a lightsaber.] Chewie said pointing to the burn mark.

"How do you know that?" Han asked quietly.

[I remember the Jedi.] Chewie said faintly. [I'm far older than you are my friend.]

Han laughed quietly. "You'll never let me forget that, will you?"

[Nor will I let you forget our record on the Kessel Run was thanks to my coordinates.] Chewie said smugly.

They had gone perhaps three kilometers when they found the remains of a simple shelter made of woodcuttings and ferns. Chewie knelt by the shelter and stopped as he spied a large track in the muddy forest floor.

[Perhaps there is something dangerous out here.] Chewie rumbled to himself as Han watched him, nervously tapping the blaster.

A howl echoed in the jungle and Han swallowed. "What was that?"

[I do not know.] Chewie said, but there was no mistaking the high-pitched feminine scream that followed seconds later.

Mara spun on her heel when she heard the howl, drawing her pistol as she moved. Behind her Luke froze, his blue eyes going wide. He glanced around wildly looking for the source of the sound.

"I have a bad... MARA!"

She didn't sense it. She didn't even feel it until the pain slashed across her arm and a heavy body slammed down onto her back, knocking her to the forest floor. The armored part of her flightsuit sparked as claws scratched across the armor.

She screamed. Her chest ached as the weight pressed her face first into the ground. "No..." She moaned as she felt the creature's hot breath behind her ear.

Slowly she turned and looked over her shoulder and found herself staring into twin glowing red eyes. It was a hound of some sort, but looked as if it'd been summoned from one of the hells of Corellia.

It let out a low guttural growl and pushed her into the earth. Suddenly one of the lightsabers on her belt strained against its clip, pointing skyward. The hound snarled and snapped at the saber just as it slipped from her belt and leapt into Luke's outstretched hand.

The hound howled and leapt toward him, just as a snap hiss filled the air and a blue blade of energy appeared before him. With a yell of rage Luke slashed the hound, cutting its chest open and it fell in pain before him. Reversing his grip his slashed across its stomach.

The hound gave an unearthly wail of pain before stumbling to the ground and twitching for a moment. Mara felt her heart hammer in her chest as she slowly stood. A sense of terror flooded her after a moment and she gasped for breath. "Force... by the Force..." She muttered as her hand began to shake.

Luke stared in shock as Mara shook like a leaf, her eyes wide with fear as she looked up toward him. She began to hyperventilate as blood ran down from the gash in her arm and she glanced at the disemboweled corpse of the hound.

"Luke…" She finally stammered. Then she looked at the lightsaber in his hand. "Umm… does that mean, I… you… am I your prisoner?"

"We'll worry about that later." Luke said as he shut down the lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. Then he walked up to her and grabbed her arm, ripping a strip of cloth from his tank top to make a crude bandage. He quickly wrapped her arm even as she shook from the shock of the attack. Unnerved he slowly hugged her and the girl froze looking totally stunned. "It's okay." He said quietly in her ear and Mara suddenly burst into tears and buried her face in his tunic. "What's gotten into you Mara?"

"I… I didn't even feel it coming." She said quietly. "I almost died and… you… you…" She looked up at him, her green eyes searching his. "You saved my life. Why?"

"It was the right thing to do… until we get to Base One, think of it this way, the war's on hold." Luke smiled faintly at her. "You would do it for me, wouldn't you?"

She stared at him, her mouth agape for a long moment before swallowing. "I…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Yes, I would."

Luke could sense the truth in her statements but also a wave of confusion and frustration that poured off her. She suddenly pushed back from him and hugged herself. His ability to sense her mood evaporated in an instant and Luke swallowed. She was rebuilding her defenses.

Something inside of him stirred, and feeling a confidence that seemed totally at odds with his emotions, Luke suddenly stepped up and hugged her.

Mara stiffened at the touch and let out a long breath. She felt her face flush as his arms tightened around her middle. Then she shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

She didn't know what to do... Sure she'd delt with men on her missions, even used her looks to loosen tongues and manipulate others, but this didn't feel like that. That was acting, pure and simple. She had a job and did it.

Luke wasn't acting, for some reason the farmboy was honestly worried about her. That thought alone made her insides twist and knot up as her head swum in confusion. Then she slowly leaned back against him, her heart fluttering in her chest. What is wrong with me?

"Mara... when we get back to Base One, why don't you defect?" Luke asked quietly and she chewed her lip before violently pushing him away.

"I CAN'T!" She snapped and spun on him. "Don't you understand... I'm the Emperor's Hand! I can't just decide to switch sides for some foolish farmboy, no matter how strong in the force he may be!"

"And that makes it fine to support him when they killed two billion people just to prove a point?" Luke snarled and Mara suddenly backed away from him, feeling a righteous fury pouring out from him. "The Death Star was Palpatine's personal project, more than

Tarkin's wasn't it? Is that the sort of man you want to serve?"

No... Mara thought to herself and shuddered. "No, I CAN'T!"

"I'm glad I blew the damn thing up." Luke shouted. "Even if the Empire kills everyone in this system, people know that it's not futile to fight the Empire."

"You... you were the one?" Mara gaped at him, her eyes wide with shock. Suddenly so much made sense. This was the force user that had destroyed the Death Star, this was the person every Imperial soldier was supposed to be on the lookout for, and here she was stuck with him in the middle of the Yavin IV jungle.

It was absurd! The full absurdity of the situation finally began to weigh her down until a low chuckle slipped out from her lips. Luke stared at her as she began to laugh. "You... you're the most wanted person in the galaxy, and you're just a stupid farm boy!"

"Mara?"

"And you just had to shoot down the Emperor's personal agent?" Mara said with another snort. "You... you don't see how absurd that is?"

"Ben would call it the will of the Force." Luke said quietly.

"Really... the force wants me to bring you in?" Mara snapped and glared up at him. "Do you know how many people you killed with that single shot Luke? Huh?"

Luke stared, his eyes wide. "What?"

"There were a million people on that station Luke! How many do you think got out?" She snarled at him. "How can you ask me, the Emperor's Hand, to defect when you killed so many others?"

He just gaped at her for a long moment.

"Am I interrupting anything, kid?" A voice called out and Mara spun, drawing her blaster pistol and centering it on a man with a Blastech DL-44 pointed straight toward her.

Beside him was a wookie who glanced between Luke and her before rumbling something in his native language.

"Yeah I hear you Chewie. They sound like a married couple roaring at each other like that." Han smirked but didn't take his aim or eyes off her.

"Han? Oh thank the force, what are you doing out here?" Luke asked.

"Looking for you, kid. Her Highness cornered me when I got in this morning." Han kept the blaster on Mara while she did the same. "So... who's the redhead?"

"Mara, meet Han Solo." Luke said, and she froze as his hand grabbed hold of the pistol and pushed it out of line. "He's my friend."

"That doesn't make him mine." She growled but lowered the pistol and glared at Han. "Put that away."

Han lowered his blaster and holstered it. "Well Chewie, we found them. Let's get them back to the ship."

Mara swore under her breath. "What will happen to me?"

"That's completely up to you red." Han said. "If you don't defect I'd expect a nice long chat with General Cracken... and an explanation for the whole 'Emperor's Hand' thing."

She swallowed and felt her face pale at the thought of being put through a thorough interrogation about it. "I... you kriffing farmboy, this is all your fault!" She whirled on Luke and stomped up to him. "All I wanted was to get off this damn planet and..."

A familiar howl echoed from the Jungle foliage and she froze, dread pooling in her stomach. "No..." She grabbed the lightsaber from her belt and peered into the depths of the woods.

The wookie howled and lifted his crossbow nervously as Luke readied his saber. Artoo slowly lifted up his sensor dish and scanned the woods. Then a squeal of alarm came from the droid and he began to roll up the slope toward a Massassai Temple.

A hound leapt out from the underbrush and charged, followed by another. Han and the wookie opened fire as it leapt toward Luke and plowed into his side, knocking the lightsaber from his grasp.

"Sith!" Mara swore before lighting her blade and hurling it toward the hound. The beam sliced through the creature just as it reared up to claw Luke. Then it spun through the air and returned to her hand.

More hounds bound from the forest and her eyes went wide. "Luke! RUN!"

He snatched up the lightsaber as he ran past her. Han fired into the mass as he ran up the hill and Chewie was firing into the group with his crossbow. Mara broke and ran after the others, her senses reaching out around her, desperate to grasp what she was facing.

As one of the hounds bound after her, she felt a familiar taint in its force signature, a taint that felt of darkness and insatiable hunger for blood. It chilled her to the core. She knew then that these were not any normal hound.

With a snarl, she pulled her blaster and fired offhand into the running creature, burning through the back of its skull. It fell with a whimper as she ran, desperate to catch up to the others.

The droid led them to a set of double doors that Luke skidded to a stop beside as Mara watched.

"Bar the doors kid!" Han yelled, firing his blaster into the group of hounds.

"What about Mara?" He yelled as she ran toward them, stumbling over shattered bits of rock and rubble before running toward the safety of the heavy doors.

"Hell!" Han snapped before firing his pistol into the mass of hounds. Mara could feel the heat from each plasma bolt as they passed shockingly close.

Mara skidded to a stop beside the doors. "Close them Luke!"

The wookie pulled shut one of the double doors as Luke did the other leaving just a small enough gap for Mara to slip through.

Then he pulled it shut completely while the wookie barred them as best he could.

"What... are they?" Luke asked just before the door banged against its hinges. All of them could hear the snarl of the hounds on the outside of the temple. They waited.

"I'm not sure, but... I don't think they're natural." Mara said quietly and shivered in the dark corridor. "Can we get some light?"

An affirmative beep from Artoo echoed in the room before a spot light turned on from the astromech, illuminating an interior lined with red marble stone and statues clad in long capes. Staring at them, Mara felt a flood of unease, as if she'd seen them before.

"So... I guess we're not getting out anytime soon." Han said as the door shook again. "Maybe you'll have a bit more time to think about Luke's offer, eh red?"

She flinched at the smuggler's words and glanced at Luke staring at the ruins. "This place is amazing..."

Mara swallowed. Of course the farmboy would be impressed. "We don't have any food or water... I hope those creatures leave soon, and this place... don't you feel like it's a bit creepy?"

Luke arched an eyebrow at her. "Creepy?"

"Dark... morbid, evil..." Mara suggested before turning toward Han and the wookie. "Please tell me you brought some camp supplies with you?"