Chapter Two
Mara sat down at the table after bringing over their drinks, "So why did you want to know if I'd follow you Jade?"
She looked at him "You know where to put those feet of yours don't you?" Solo grinned.
"That he does doll that he does -but it's a good question"
Mara shrugged "Maybe I was testing his loyalty, maybe I was seeing if he was too gullible, but wouldn't you like to know"
She raised her drink to her lips then lowered it, time to let a little truth come out "I was sent to find you and make sure you'd follow me -don't even ask for details that was more than I should of said"
Skywalker nodded and picked up his own glass, Mara looked over to the doors and kept an eye on them as they all finished their drinks in silence.
"Come on let us walk you home -as a thank you" Han offered and Mara nodded.
"Sure -me and my family are staying in our ship until we can find somewhere temp to live"
Solo nodded "Of course" they walked out into the sunshine and Mara grimaced -how anyone could abide this heat she did not know.
"Give me the cool seas of Alderaan any day" she whispered under her breath but Skywalker heard.
"What you say?"
She shook her head "Nothing just muttering to myself" they walked down the road to the small spaceport and Mara mused over the past week -it'd been the most eventful in her life as far as she could recall.
When they reached the spaceport she saw Leia and Padmé standing by their bay and Mara stopped "I can find my way from here"
Solo nodded "Alright see you around" she nodded and Skywalker smiled at her.
"Thanks for the drink"
Mara couldn't help but smile "That's okay Farmboy"
Then her smile fell and Mara Jade -trained Emperor's Hand- leapt into action!
Just as unexpected as last time Jade lunched herself against them knocking Han over and behind a land speeder as another bounty hunter started to fire at them.
While somehow holding onto Luke's shirt slammed him into the recess her body pressed against his the shock raged through him like earlier and a blue tinge came to the air.
But it wasn't long till it was broken her right hand went into her shirt again and pulled out a long metal cylinder.
She pushed herself off him then walked out into the middle of the fire "Hello Boba Fett -remember me?" she asked.
Luke shot a look at Han -who was watching from behind the speeder with narrowed eyes- then craned his neck to get a better view.
The Bounty hunter had stopped firing and was staring silently at her then answered "Of course Hand -no one could ever forget such a great warrior as you!"
Han stepped to Luke's side and shook his head "She must be better than I thought -to survive a battle with Boba is one thing… but to be called a great warrior by him? Respect!" He whispered as Jade neared the bounty hunter.
Then Boba rose his blaster and opened fire -Luke was sure she'd be dead- but she just hit a button on the cylinder and blade snapped out of one end and up to swat away the bolts -before they'd even come close!
Luke and Han watched fascinated as she expertly handled the weapon "Mara!" a shout came from one of the bays and a young girl was watching looking immensely worried.
Then a storm trooper walked out of the bay and would have been felled if it was for the girl somehow holding out a hand and catching it in mid-air with an invisible one.
Then she ran forward, Fett discarded his blaster and held up his hand a blast of fire erupted from it.
But as with earlier a blue tinge came to the air- not just around her this time but shot up to the ceiling and to the sides -as if she didn't want anyone behind her to get hurt.
Then after that burst she jumped landing on top of the bounty hunter, her thighs straddling him across the waist.
She then held her blade in strike position and pulled off his helmet with her free hand.
Luke's eyes widened when he saw the guy, his face was covered with multiple scars.
He saw their eyes battling then she spoke breaking the eerie silence that'd taken over the hanger.
"Remember this?" she asked holding the blade closer "Tell me? How does it feel to wake up every morning and stare at your face -your fathers face every single morning?"
He stared at her "Haunting!" he growled and she nodded.
"I know, but every morning I look at myself and wonder whether or not I'm like my mother or my father!"
Luke frowned -she was having a conversation with a hunter who'd just tried to kill them.
"You are not your father -there is no need for you to wear this armor to live this life, haven't me and Ani shown you that much?"
She asked and Luke's mind jumped -Ani!- she looked over at them then back to Boba "Go to Jabba -tell him he's going to get paid and then go home rethink your life and start again"
The Bounty Hunter eyed her for a moment then nodded "Alright Hand -and I won't say anything about your mini Rebellion either"
She nodded "Thank you" she closed down the weapon then stood and helped Fett up "May the Force be with you Boba"
He bowed "And with you Hand -I'm sure you're gonna need it!"
Jade nodded "I have a feeling I will!"
And then with that Fett left, she turned to him and Han as a group of people approached her.
She smiled then turned to them "Good thing I didn't forget it this time" she said as she embraced a tall man who kept his back to him and Han.
"Yeah -Kenobi would kill you otherwise"
She smiled "Thanks for the boost Ani -I'll come to you when I need the next one"
"Hey cut the sarcasm Mara!" she flicked her green eyes to him and Han Hey haven't I heard that name before?
"Come here Skywalker"
He frowned -Nah- and looked at Han -nether of them had given her their names, but they walked over.
As they neared Luke saw she'd missed one of the blaster bolts and her shoulder was burnt -but she acted like she didn't even notice it at all.
But the man did as they approached and pulled away the clothing around it and inspected it.
"It's fine Ani" she looked at Luke again "Okay time for the truth -the whole truth-as I said earlier I was sent to find you and make sure you'd follow me, I used to work for the Empire, top assassin -Emperor's Hand they call me- but me and a rather large group defected secretly. But that's straying off the path -I came here with your family to ask if you'll come with us"
Luke froze on the spot -his family! They were dead! "No, you've got it wrong, my parents are dead"
Jade looked at the man standing next to her and nodded, he turned round. Luke gasped with shock -It was his father! Like from the holo Luke had back at the farm! Luke even looked very much like him!
"No! This has to be a scam!"
"It's no scam" a young female voice said and the younger brunette -who was Luke's age- stepped forward. "I've only had four hours to come to terms with having our parents back too" Luke rose an eyebrow -now they were saying he had a twin!
"If you're my father than where have you been for the past nineteen years!" the man's face saddened and Jade sent him a glower.
"Ani didn't know you'd been born! He thought you'd died with your mother! Who as a matter of fact is here too!"
He noticed the other brunette -who looked like the younger one- Luke grabbed his head. This was all too much!
He turned and ran from the hanger.