Hey, here's chapter 2. I don't own Star Wars or characters I only own the plot and any OCs. This chapter did not turn out as planned so please bare with me. Anyway, read and review and tell me what you think. Reviews keep me updating :) Luke takes Mara to Coruscant, walks her to the med bay and tells her something that she is not pleased with.
A/N: At this point Luke and Mara have known each other for 1 or 2 years. Hopefully that's not too confusing :) ~Serria Spell23.
Ch.2-Small Talk
I scowled. "I don't know, Skywalker maybe the reason is I couldn't afford to be picky at a time like this…my life was hanging in the balance!"
He chuckled, muttering under his breath. "And still is if you haven't noticed." Glaring at the Jedi, I turned my chair slightly—enough so that my ability to steer was not affected but I did not directly look at him.
"Isn't that why you're here," I retorted, barely having the courtesy to make eye contact as I spoke, my tone exasperated. "To save me."
Skywalker rolled his eyes. "I'm only here to assist you, Mara…and I'm only came because you asked me."
Instinctively, I fingered my blaster my muscles tensing. "I know! Don't make me use this and could you possibly help me with these Stormtroopers? If I damage his ship beyond repair Karrde will never forgive me." The man nodded, rising to his feet. I hit the autopilot and stood up as well we switched seats and prepared to finish off the rest. The coordinates were programmed into the navcomputer so we didn't have worry when distractions captured our attention.
My enemy smiled. "You ready, Mara?" he asked, running a hand through his blond hair.
"Promise me you won't make us crash?" I smirked, gripping the control for the lasers. Sometimes I did not understand the dynamic between Skywalker and me. My hatred for him often was so palpable that it blinded me— I'd stewed in its negative aura so continuously that I needed it to survive. However, his aura radiated pure calmness, compassion and forgiveness it nearly choked me. I had no problem seeing why the Emperor desired Skywalker dead he weakened the Empire and he must be silenced.
"I won't."
"Skywalker," I droned, tone an equal combination of boredom and sarcasm. "There's one heading right for us. Go left!" The Jedi banked hard in the indicated direction as I fired the laser, blowing up the cruiser. I gazed out the window checking to see if there were any stragglers. "I think we scared them off." The confrontation didn't last longer than five minutes on account of the squad was rather small to begin with and when I did not have to focus on steering, the number of targets I hit doubled.
I fired one last round from the weapons to ensure that we were in the clear, eliminating any self-doubt. I heard the man whistle beside me, an amused grin spreading across his face. "Well that was an adventure. Don't you think?"
I eyed my enemy incredulously. "If you say so, Skywalker we could have crashed. And I don't know your preferences but I don't want to die in a fiery ship explosion."
"Mara, nothing happened. Don't you trust me?"
I frowned, wishing thoroughly I could gather the courage to use my blaster for something constructive: shooting Skywalker in the head. "This is a forced partnership, Skywalker the need to escape the current situation is all that governed my choice to call you…and no I don't!"
Hitting the autopilot, he faced me, meeting my intense gaze. "I know however, that does not exclude that you specifically called for me, can't you at least attempt to trust me?" As our eyes locked, I sensed the Jedi's patience wearing thin—not that he showed it—his appearance all formal as he maintained his calm composure. It made me sick. The fact he never seemed to crack and was always surround by the sickeningly sweet presence of his aura. I sighed, glowering tapping my finger on the laser control.
"I thought you said there is no try," I mocked, sending the saying of my enemy's long-dead Master back in his face. He visibly tensed at the verbal sting, shaking his head.
"I suppose Yoda has a point you can either trust me or not I have no intention to force you."
Glancing at Skywalker from the corner of my eye, I crossed my arms. "Thank you." The man smiled tentatively toward me, leaning closer to examine my leg, his hand on his chin.
"Your leg doesn't seem too bad. Do you think that we can hold this conversation until we arrive on Coruscant?"
I nodded. "Yes, Skywalker."
About twenty minutes later, we began the descent onto Coruscant. Once we landed, he turned off the engine, gave me a quick glance and headed out the door. Following behind the Jedi, I kept my blaster at the ready just in case. After few moments, Skywalker broke the silence. "You never gave me a definite answer, Mara. Why did you call me?"
"I told you as much as I'm going to tell you. Why is your ego a bit sore?"
My enemy rolled his blue eyes. "That has nothing to do with this discussion but I can just sense a conflict within you."
"No more than usual," I muttered, waving a dismissive hand. "Anyway, why do you care I'm assigned to kill you, remember?"
The Jedi shrugged unconcernedly, a knowing glint in his eye. "You haven't yet though something is stopping you."
"The only thing preventing me is that you were actually being useful today…and if I had I would be floating dead in space!" I grumbled as Skywalker shushed me with discreet hand signal, my words echoing down the hall, alerting two passing Jedi. My escort mumbled a greeting to the others, bowing slightly. We hurried past them as he backed me into a corner.
"Keep your voice down when discussing your plot for conducting my murder and did you admit you need me?" he countered, his voice serious, teasing and sarcastic all at the same time.
"Well maybe if you didn't frustrate me to no end I would not be driven to yell and as I've told you multiple times I don't need you." My back connected with the wall, my eyes bore into Skywalker's the intensity of them momentarily distracting me. I shook myself, putting the tip of my blaster against his chest. "Get the hell away from me, Skywalker!"
"Of course, Mara, forgive me. However, at least allow me to take you to the med bay?"
"Fine," I sighed, "but only to get you off my back."
The rest of the journey was quiet mostly because I refrained from speaking to my escort. When the clinic came into view, I extended a hand toward him and shook his hand rather roughly hoping he'd leave. My trick proved faulty though as he remained in step beside me. Inside, the medical droids glanced causally at my enemy and then started assessing my injures.
"What happened?" asked one of the droids, voice mechanical and chilling.
"Nothing important." I felt a touch on my mind—an intrusive prod. I glared at Skywalker, anger seething in me.
Get out of my head!
Mara, do you need me to tell them?
No they might get impression that I have converted to your side that's last thing I want!
The Jedi sighed. Mara, let go of your damn pride you require medical attention. By the way, you're staying with me.
My eyes widened as the last part of his thought clicked. Fine. What?! I never agreed to that.
He smirked slightly. Well it looks to be 'your only option' you wouldn't want to the Empire to find out about your traitorous tendencies.
I scowled, wising fervently that I could Force-choke my enemy in that moment but knew it would not help anything.
Skywalker's tone softened. Get checked out then meet me back at the Imperial Palace, okay?
Frowning, I replied reluctantly—wondering how I'd managed to be roped into sleeping over at the man's apartment—crossing my arms over chest. All right, Skywalker. However, do not become dependent on me because I'm not sticking around not to mention your days are numbered.
He left and my examination began. The lengthy process permitted me time to contemplate how being in the same house as Skywalker would work to my advantage and how many ways I could kill him over the weeks or months however long I happened to stay.
