RESCUING HER HEART Ch. 4
Mara sat in her pilot seat her feet up on the control panel as she watched the starlines flash past. It had been two days since she had rescued Luke and he had been in a healing trance for most of that time. She had checked on him a few times and noticed the visible signs of his injuries were rapidly disappearing. Mara was quite impressed at this obvious evidence of the power of the force and decided she would have to ask Luke to teach her how to use a healing trance.
When Mara checked on him she could not help her eyes lingering over his boyishly handsome face, his toned athletic physique and the extraordinary mantle of innocence that rested so easily on him. Mara had considered herself a cynic for so long that his innocence rankled her somehow. She could not understand how after everything he had been through, learning Darth Vader was his father, losing his hand and his recent near fatal run in with the insane clone Joruus C'boath, how he could retain that wide eyed idealism. Mara knew it was the biggest character difference between them. Her years of serving as a personal assassin for a tyrant removed any trace of innocence and idealism she had possessed.
A sound interrupted her musing, she turned her head to see Luke smiling down at her. He was standing comfortably on both legs and his left hand was hooked casually over his gunbelt. Mara could feel herself colour slightly as a reaction to that smile so she swung her feet down and stood hastily looking away from him;
'All healed up I see,' she commented finally.
He nodded; 'The arm is still a little stiff but it will loosen up once I start using it. R2 woke me, he knows that code phrase that brings me out of the trance.'
Mara nodded then moved past him saying over her shoulder, 'You must be hungry, I'll get us something to eat.'
Luke laughed slightly; 'I hope whatever it is tastes better than ration bars.'
Mara turned to glare at him, 'I don't always just survive on ration bars Skywalker, believe it or not I can cook.'
0(0(0(0
Half an hour later the two sat across from each other in the small galley eating a passable chilli Mara had made. Silence stretched out between them and finally Mara couldn't take it anymore;
'Who do you think it was?'
Luke looked at her with his eyebrows raised clearly not understanding her question. Mara rolled her eyes;
'Who do you think hired the Pandallians to make you disappear.'
Luke shrugged casually taking another spoonful of chilli then swallowing; 'I have no idea but let's face it, it's not exactly a new problem that an abundance of people want me dead.'
Mara shook her head in exasperation; 'Listen farmboy has it occurred to you that whoever did this will probably try again seeing as they didn't succeed.'
Luke shrugged again, 'I can't live out my life tucked away in a glass case, I have to take my chances and live my life as I see fit.'
Mara stood suddenly collecting the dishes from the half eaten meal, 'Well if you insist on sticking your neck out you need to find yourself another rescuer because I almost got fired this time.'
Luke looked at her in surprise, 'Really Karrde threatened to fire you?'
Mara stood with her back to him, 'Not in so many words but the message was pretty clear.'
Luke moved behind her suddenly bringing his glass. He lightly brushed against her back as he moved to place the glass on the sink. Mara tensed instinctively. Luke noticed her reaction and stepped away from her not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
'Mara you know I appreciate everything you do for me but you don't need to risk your job for my sake.'
Mara just nodded then headed back to the cockpit, there must be more starlines to gaze at she thought.
0(0(0(0
The Jade's Fire landed in its allocated space in the main hangar bay of Coruscant palace. Mara was not completely surprised to see the Solo clan lined up ready to welcome Luke and check he was still in one piece. She would not have been at all surprised if Leia thought Mara was capable of rescuing her brother only to finish him off herself. She hit the release valve and followed Luke down the hatch. Jacen, Jaina and Anakin squealed in excitement and raced to their uncle's arms. Mara watched in amusement but could not help a small pang of jealousy at the easy affection of this family. Physical affection was not a concept Mara was familiar with, as this thought passed through her mind she remembered Luke kissing her hand when she rescued him. The thought brought back the ripple of chills that had raced up her arm when she felt his lips on her skin.
'Mara thank you so much for bringing Luke back to us,' Leia gushed clearly over her anger from their encounter a few days ago.
Mara simply arched a cynical brow; 'It's no problem, the usual credit amount into Karrde's account should cover my expenses.'
Leia simply nodded then grasped her brother's arm ready to drag him back to the warmth of her family home. Luke hesitated turning to Mara he grasped her hand squeezing it as he gazed into her eyes;
'Thank you Mara, I hope it isn't quite so long until I see you next time.'
Mara nodded and watched the family walking away noticing Han lifting young Anakin onto his shoulders. For reasons she could not explain a lump rose in her throat and she blinked away tears as she headed back onto her ship ready for her rendezvous with Karrde.
0(0(0(0
Mara sat in her familiar spot at the helm of the Wild Karrde as they headed for Ukio ready for the transport negotiations. Talon Karrde sat in his command chair gazing at the back of her head. His relief at her prompt return was tempered by the knowledge that the boy hero had survived yet again.
To be continued….
