"I guess we should start out with the basics," Mara said as she pulled up a hospital table to Mark's bed. She then laid out various objects that she scrounged from around the room: a tongue depressor, protective gloves, a packet of bacta patches, a tube of bacta cream and a RFX/K Medisensor.

The clone gave her a wry look. "This looks like it is going to be an interesting session."

She grinned, "I don't have anything sinister in mind. I just want to see if we can get you to move objects," she explained. "We'll start with the lightest to the heaviest."

Mara pulled up a chair next to the bed. "You have to feel the Force before you can use it. It is energy that surrounds us and flows through us. What I want you to do is close your eyes and try to feel the energy and then I want you to picture the tongue depressor in your mind and see it move."

Mark closed his eyes trying to do as Mara asked. Mara could feel the Force flowing and swirling around him. Something was definitely happening in the Force, but could he control it. After a few moments Mara finally saw the depressor moved slightly.

Mark opened his eyes. "Did it work?"

"You did it. You're a fast learner," Mara said proudly. This was almost like having her first apprentice…that is if she were actually a Jedi.

"I'm not a fast learner," Mark corrected her. "I just have a amazing teacher that inspires me."

"Ah, Thanks," Mara murmured, not knowing how to react to such praise. "Umm…let's try moving the gloves."

The instruction went fairly well for a first lesson. Mark was able to nudge the objects around the table. Skywalker came by a couple times to check their progress. He would stay about a minute and then quickly leave usually rubbing his temples and complaining about a headache.

After lunch, a nurse came in and checked Mark's vitals and cleared him to move around the medical bay. Mara decided it was time for a break from Force training and for Mark to get some exercise. He'd had been in a cloning cylinder and then a stasis pod for so long that his muscles were weak from lack of use. Mara decided to bring him to a small physical therapy gym she discovered in the MedWard.

With her arm around his waist, Mara helped Mark walk down to the gym. It was an odd feeling for the former Emperor's Hand to act like a nursemaid to anyone, let alone the clone of the man she wanted to kill. But somehow Mark brought out the best in her. In the Force he felt younger than Luke, much younger. She couldn't help but feel a little protective of this man who had no past, no family and had a questionable future.

They entered the gym, which was nearly empty with only a one crewman utilizing an upper body hand cycle, probably for a shoulder injury. Mara moved Mark to the parallel bars used to assist people with leg difficulties and positioned him between the bars. "Grab hold of the railings on each side."

Mark placed his hands on the bars. Mara grabbed a leather belt from a basket on the side of the equipment and secured it around his waist.

"What's the belt for?"

She notched up the belt tightly. "It is a handhold in case you fall. If I pulled you up by your pajama waistband it would result in a major wedgie." Mara grinned as she positioned herself behind Mark. "Okay walk."

He took a few tentative steps trying not to lean heavily on the bars for support. After a few runs with Mara spotting him she left him to walk on his own.

"Once you feel comfortable with that we can get you on a treadmill."

"My legs feel strong, it's just the balance that I need to work on." He turned and walked back without using the rails this time.

"Don't show off," Mara warned him. " I don't need you falling on your face."

Mark grinned. "Don't worry, I won't mess up this handsome mug." He winked at her.

Mara just rolled her eyes as she paced along side of him.

Mark glanced over to her surreptitiously. "So, are you married or seeing anyone?"

Mara's eyebrow shot up, surprised at that question. "No, why?"

The clone attempted to shrugged his shoulders but found it difficult while leaning on the bars. "No reason, just curious. So, you're not dating Skywalker?"

Mara's eyes closed to narrow slits. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just trying to find out more about the people around me and their relation to each other—especially Skywalker because he is the template for my creation," he paused for a moment. "It's unsettling to be totally dependent on people that you barely know."

Mara thought about it and realized it had to be a confusing to be thrust into the world so unceremoniously. At least a newborn didn't have the cognitive wherewithal to understand how dependent he or she was on caregivers. It had to be frightening to Mark.

"Sorry, you're right, you should know the people you are interacting with. You know my first name, but my last name is Jade. I served under the Emperor until his death about six years ago. Now I work for a man named Talon Karrde. He's in the trading—some say smuggling—business." She paused for a moment. "Luke is a Jedi, he is attempting to rebuilt the Jedi Order after Emperor Palpatine facilitated their annihilation two decades ago. Recently I fought with Luke to defeat a dark Jedi and prevent the creation of a clone army to attack the New Republic."

Mark turned within the parallel bars and started walking the other way. "So you and Luke were enemies, but are now friends."

Mara shrugged. "Yes, I think we're friends."

Mark looked confused. "You think?"

Mara went to the far wall and picked up a chair and brought it over where Mark was working out. "Sometimes it's hard to know."

The clone looked at her intently. "Mara, are you my friend?"

She sat down on the chair. "Sure, why not."

The clone scoffed. "See, it's not hard at to figure out at all."

She glowered at him. "I don't have a long and complicated history with you. That makes friendship considerably easier."

"You said you would be honored to be his friend." Mark smiled at Mara as he walked down the path between the bars.

"When did I say that?"

Mark stopped and looked at her with keen blue eyes. "Remember when you thought it was Luke in the hospital bed, instead of me?"

"Oh yeah," Mara said quietly. "I think I was a little shell shocked from one too many Force lightning strikes."

Mark started walking again. "So you never told him, what you told me?"

She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"I don't know…second thoughts, I guess." Green eyes locked on to his. "Mark, I really don't like talking about my personal life."

Mark sulked and continued pacing back and forth. "Okay, enough about you and Skywalker, let's talk about me. Are there many of clones in the galaxy?"

She looked at him calmly, even compassionately. "Mark, most cloning operations are illegal. There are a few worlds such as Khoom where it is allowed, but to answer your question…no, you might go your entire life and never meet another clone."

"I'm illegal? What happens to illegal clones?" His eyes went wide. "What happened to the other clones at the facility where I was taken from?"

His question made her heart constrict. Mara turned away with a troubled look on her face.

"Mara?" there was a pronounced hitch in his voice.

She kept her back to him, staring at the floor.

"I see," was all Mark said. "I think I will go back to my room."

"I'll help you," Mara offered.

"No need," he unhooked the belt. "I want to be alone to think for a while."

She nodded sympathetically.

He dropped the belt to the ground and slowly moved out of the gym.

Guilt crept into her conscience. Days ago she didn't think twice about destroying the clones on Wayland, but she now realized she had seen them as less than human. They could have all been like Mark. Luke was right, when your victim has a face, killing was much more difficult.

"Hey," Mara poked her head into Marks room. He was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. When he didn't respond she let herself in and sat next to him.

"Mark, the galaxy is technically still at war. The major battles have been won, but there are skirmishes breaking out between the New Republic and the remnants of the Empire all over the galaxy." She waited for a response but when none came she continued. "Those clones and the stormtroopers that guarded them were enemy combatants."

"So does that make me an enemy prisoner of war?"

Mara was not good at consoling people. This was more Luke's territory. Mark didn't understand the situation and what was at stake for the galaxy.

"Stop the pity party Mark," Mara was starting to get annoyed. "I know you are confused and upset over the circumstances of your life, but you are not any worse off than most of us."

"At least you were born to a family and had a childhood," he muttered. "I was grown in a tube."

"Oh yes, my childhood," he voice took on an indignant tone. "I don't remember my parents, for all I know the Emperor had them murdered and abducted me. I was raised by an evil Sith Lord, trained under extremely harsh conditions to do his will, and was severely punished when I failed." She glared at him. "Is that the childhood you were talking about?"

Some of the harshness went out of his eyes. "How about the mighty Jedi?"

"Hmmm, let's see," she said mockingly, pretending to be deep in thought. "From what he has told me, he never knew his parents while growing up, but was raised by relatives. When he was a teenager, his guardians were brutally murdered by Imperial Stormtroopers. He fought in the Rebellion since their deaths and has yet to stop fighting. He was reunited with his father who tried to kill Luke but only succeeded in slicing off his hand. Oh yes, more recently he was nearly killed by a crazed darksider and a Luke Skywalker clone." She folded her arms across her chest and shook her head ruefully. "I really don't see his life as idyllic either."

Mark looked deflated, the anger in his eyes replaced with regret. "It looks like there's a lot of pain in this universe."

Mara nodded. "Mark, I looked up some information. Cloning facilities are illegal, but clones are not. You don't have to worry about being thrown in the brig.

The corners of his lips curled upward slightly. "Thanks for looking out for me."

"That's what friends are for," she put her hand on his in a heartfelt gesture. Showing this much compassion felt foreign to her, but for some reason she was protective of Mark.

"And I do see you as a friend," she hesitated in thought. "I don't know why, but you are much easier to talk to than anybody I have ever met."

Mark grinned "Even Skywalker?"

Mara gave a half smile and her eyes wandered in thought, "Especially Skywalker."

"Why is that?"

She took a cleansing breath and let it out. "I think I have trouble opening up to most people because I don't know what they want from me. I distrust their intentions and motivations," she looked at Mark with unflinching green eyes. "But with you Mark, you're an innocent, yes you have basic military training, but when it comes to your interactions with people you are guileless."

He smiled. "Is telling a man he's guileless really a compliment? Isn't that another word for naïve?"

She only laughed.

Mark turned to his side so he can look at her straight on. "So Luke is not like that? He's not guileless?"

Mara frowned in thought. "No, he's like that, but in a different way. He's worldly, but he always sees people in their best light. He wants me to train as a Jedi, but I'm not sure at all about that path."

"It's your life," Mark said.

She cast her eyes down. "That's true."

This conversation was getting way deeper than she was comfortable with. She decided to change the subject. "I forgot to tell you, I found a recreation room in this ward, would you like to go?"

"Sure."

They moved down to the recreation lounge located at the end of a quiet hallway. It had on-demand holovideos and a couple hologame tables.

"Do you know how to play Dejarik?" Mara asked.

The clone thought for a moment. "Yes, I appear to know the rules to a dozen or so games. I don't know why though."

"Maybe the cloners discovered bored clones cause trouble." Mara suggested.

Mark shrugged as he sat down in the booth and activated the hologame. He moved around his characters quietly. After a while he looked up at Mara with a forthright gaze.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," she said as she positioned her Molator and Mantellian Savrip holograms for the start of the game.

"What is going to happen to me?"

She gave him a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

"I'm your friend's clone; what are his plans for me?"

"You are not property. Luke doesn't own you. I don't think he has any plans for you other than trying to find a way that he can interact with you without getting a migraine." Mara said.

He gave her an incredulous look. "Please, Mara, I wasn't born yesterday." His face suddenly broke into a smirk. "I guess that is not the best phrase to use."

Mara had to smile at Mark. He had Luke's boyish personality without the Jedi attitude.

"Seriously, I must be a major complication to the Jedi," he said, "If I were him I wouldn't want me around."

Mara furrowed her brow. "Why not?"

"Well, how would you like it if it was a clone of you in that cylinder?"

Mara never really thought about it that way. How would she feel? She would feel uncomfortable, for sure. She probably wouldn't want to be working in the same social circles as a Mara clone.

She gave Mark a reassuring smile. "I would probably feel awkward, but Luke is different. He is a remarkable man. He wants what is best for you."

"Remarkable, huh? That's a step up from guileless," he had a toying smile. "I really think you have a thing for him."

"What!" Mara sputtered. "Why would you think that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it could be that touching little speech you gave to me when you thought I was him. Also you light up whenever he comes around to check my progress."

"I do not light up when he comes around!" Mara protested.

"Oh come on," Mark snickered. "I am sorry, but my trooper flash training did teach me how to spot deceit, and you are lying!"

Mara was getting irritated now. How dare this Skywalker wannabe tell her what's she's thinking. "Listen buddy," she said while sticking a finger into his chest. "Even if there was something between me and Skywalker, which there isn't, it would be none of your business."

Mark put his hands up in a surrender gesture. "Sorry, sorry." Mara got out of her seat intent on leaving the Dejarik table and letting the insolent clone play by himself. "I must have hit close to the mark for you to get all bent out of shape," Mark muttered under his breath.

Mara swung around. "The only 'Mark' that's going to be hit is you in a minute!"

The clone chuckled at her discomfort.

It became obvious to Mara that there was one huge difference between Mark and Luke. Mark didn't have the same sense of self-preservation that Luke had around her.

Mark laughed. "I'm sorry, I think I was being a little too guileless."

"What is your fixation with me and Luke?" Mara's voice was edged with irritation.

Mark looked faintly amused. "Well, I think it has something to do with the Force."

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes I get flashes of emotions. I can sense when you are frustrated or angry even when we're not in the same room." He leaned back in his seat and gave her an appraising look. "Often when you look at me I get distinct feelings of attraction coming from you. I figure you are either attracted to me or Luke."

Her face flushed furiously. "I think your synapses weren't attached correctly while in that cloning cylinder. You're imaginings things."

"I wouldn't blame you if you were attracted to me," Mark rubbed his face with his hand. "I have a handsome face with brilliant blue eyes."

Mara snorted.

Mark stood up and lifted up his pajama top. "I have great abs." He gave her a wicked grin as he used his other hand to pull the elastic waistband away from his body as he glanced down his pajama bottoms. "And I am anatomically correct." He let go of the elastic allowing the waistband to snap back in place.

She responded through clenched teeth. "That's it. I'm done for the day" She turned and stormed out the door. She barely cleared the entranceway when she collided with Skywalker.

She stumbled backwards, but was quickly caught by the Jedi. He grabbed her around the waist and steadied her on her feet.

She looked down at his hands on her hips. She could feel the heat of his hands radiating through her clothing. Luke noticed her gaze at the positioning of his hands and quickly disengaged and took a step back.

"Sorry about that," He looked at Mara and then to his clone sitting within the room. "What's going on? Is something wrong?"

Mara almost smiled at Luke, but then she remembered the clone's comments about her beaming around the Jedi and clamped her mouth to a thin line.

"What is wrong," she said slowly trying to regain her sense of calm. "Is Mark is just as annoying as you." With that she walked off leaving Luke bewildered.

The Jedi turned to his clone who was sitting at the gaming table with an amused look on his face.

"Mark?" he said curiously.

The clone smirked. "She named me."

"Mara named you." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah," the clone was grinning like he was laughing at some inside joke.

"What did you do to upset her…Mark?" Luke asked trying to get used to his double's name.

Mark gave Luke a 'who me?' gesture with his hands. "All I said is I thought she liked you."

Luke stood silently for a moment trying to digest his clone's words. "What did she say?" he asked trying to sound unconcerned.

Mark just laughed. "She said no, but I think she's lying."

"Really?" Luke said surprised. He wanted to sit down and quiz his clone about what Mara said and did, but the pain in his head was starting to reappear and he knew the buzzing also bothered Mark.

"I can't stay long with this humming in my head," Luke said as he rubbed his temple. "I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable and the training was coming along alright."

Mark smiled. "It couldn't be better. Mara is a wonderful instructor. I enjoy being under her tutelage."

By the way the clone grinned Luke wasn't sure what to make out of that comment. His head was hurting too much to question Mark further. "Good, good," he muttered as he backed out the door. "Let Mara know if you need anything?" Luke said.

"Will do, Jedi Skywalker," the clone said.

Luke thought he saw a mischievous glint in Mark's eye, but it probably was the pain in Luke's head making him see things. After all, this was his clone; Luke should know him better than anybody.