Mara Jade woke from her all-too short nap to the sound of her Astromech droid R3-L9 beeping an alarm to her. With a low groan, she woke up and stretched. Of the seven hours of potential sleep she could have gotten, she only managed about two and a half hours. Her anxiety over the unknown reception she would receive at the rebel fleet had not allowed her to sleep, despite Skywalker's reassurance. It wasn't that she didn't believe or trust him. Even in the short time they had known each other, she had concluded that she could trust him. Skywalker was just very naïve and Mara was worried that translated into his expectation of her reception by rebel high command. He was just so young and was only a commander in their chain of command. She chuckled. Mara herself was even younger by at least two years.

Would the fact that he was a Jedi and hero make a difference? With a sigh, she stood and dressed herself a pair brown leather cargo pants, a short cropped gray shirt and a blue leather jacket with gold striping down the outside of the sleeves. She threw her red-gold curls up into a ponytail. Suddenly, she felt Skywalker's consciousness touch hers. It felt a little concerned and curious about her thoughts. His gentle mental voice whispered, Is everything okay, Mara? Are you still worried about Alliance Command?

She sent back to him, A little, Farmboy. I didn't sleep great either. I'll be okay.

Luke replied, we'll make them see, Mara. If men like Crix Madine can defect and become an integral part of the Alliance, so can you.

Mara sent him her gratitude over their link before she eased her mental shields back up. She strapped on her regular weapons, though she chose a Wester-34 Blaster Pistol instead of the DL-44, deciding that she would prefer a more precise, accurate weapon. Her holdout blaster she slipped into her sleeve holster and her lightsaber she clipped on her belt. All that done, she headed to the cockpit. In less than ten minutes, they would be dropping out of hyperspace. The door to the cockpit hissed open and Skywalker stepped in, once again dressed in his black tunic and pants. Mara glanced up at him and asked, "You sleep okay, Skywalker?"

Luke nodded. "I slept alright. Those beds are surprisingly comfortable. Nothing but the best for the Emperor's personal strike force, huh?"

Mara nodded, "When it was first commissioned, the Emperor would have it used by one of his Shadowguards. They were elite royal guards who were discovered to be force sensitive. They would be sent out with Shadow Stormtroopers or Imperial Security Bureau commandos to hunt down Jedi or even renegade force adepts. Since then, I have pretty much made it my own. The Emperor even reserved it for me and allowed me to modify it how I chose though he would loan it out to some Inquisitor or other dark sider just to remind me that it was still his."

She gave a slightly malicious smile and said, "Now it looks like it's actually truly mine; never thought that that would happen."

Luke chuckled. They were silent for a few minutes until an alarm went off. Mara took a deep breath and said, "We're here. Coming out of hyperspace in three, two..."

The blue tunnel turned to brilliant white lines and then to shining stars with a great fleet in the foreground. Mara had known what the strength of the gathering forces had been but to see it up close filled her with awe. Over a hundred ships were gathered. Mon Calamari Cruisers and Frigates, Correllian Corvettes and Gunships, Rendilli Star Drives Assault Frigates and Nebulan-B Frigates gathered into a large formation with fighter patrols sweeping the perimeter. One of those patrols turned to intercept them and Mara stiffened ever so slightly. Luke reached across and gave her hand a gentle squeeze with his own. "It will be okay, Mara. I know this is your ship but I think it would be best if I took us in."

Mara was about to vehemently object but Luke cut her off. "I know how uncomfortable it can be but they may think you have me prisoner and are using me to get to another target if you are piloting."

With a disgruntled sigh, Mara switched seats with Luke. He was pleasantly surprised to find that the controls were very easy to use. Luke had flown a ship of this kind before and they tended to have sluggish controls but this one operated perfectly. The comms system crackled as they were hailed by the patrolling fighters. "Unidentified freighter, this is Lieutenant Keyan Farlander of Rebel Alliance Starfighter Command. Please state your identification and a clearance code or you WILL be fired upon."

Luke chuckled and Mara gave him a rather surprised look. "Keyan's a hell of a pilot but he would never just shoot at us unless he was sure he had too."

Using the comms transmitter, he replied to the rebel pilot, "Lieutenant Farlander, this is Commander Skywalker with an Imperial defector. That's why my X-wing is clamped to the bottom of the ship. Clearance code is Tallahs Haroon Ten dash Eleven Thirty-eight."

After a short moment, the fighter pilot replied, "Good to hear from you, Commander. I don't know how you get away with running off on your own so often and whatever the reason, Command doesn't feel the need to pass it on."

Luke chuckled and replied, "Someday I'll tell you about it, Keyan. Can you alert Home One that we will be arriving shortly and that my X-wing is going to need to be towed into place? We're going to have to just drop it on the deck with these clamps."

Lieutenant Farlander sent back an affirmative and Luke brought the Suwantek into the main hanger of a MC90 Star Cruiser several minutes later. Mara tried to maintain an aura of calm be she was so anxious that she couldn't concentrate on keeping her breathing steady, her heart from pounding and her fingers or feet from nervously drumming all at once, not to mention she was apparently broadcasting her thoughts because Luke looked a little exasperated as he said, "Stars, Jade! You're going to start making me nervous if you keep doing that. What's eating at you?"

Mara sighed and slumped into her chair. Finally, just as they set the X-wing down, off to the side in the main hanger, she said, "I'm not just nervous about trying to convince Rebel High Command. It's just hitting me that I am literally working to destroy so much of what I fought to protect – that I'm fighting against an Empire that I had served with such loyalty and that many Imperial citizens may die in the process. I'm struggling with feelings of guilt and betrayal against them."

Luke nodded. It was something that had bothered him since he blew the first Death Star, not to mention the dozens of battles with Rogue Squadron where he either had personally destroyed factories, facilities and bases or failed to protect civilians from the Empire's wrath. Reaching across again, he patted her arm and said, "Hey. How would all the people in the galaxy be better off: with a New Republic based off the values and morals of the old one before Palpatine or with and Empire where Palpatine is the soul and ultimate authority?"

Mara knew the answer and sighed. "I know, I know. That doesn't make it any easier though, you know."

"I know, Mara. Sometimes I doubt even absolute victory will convince me that all the death and destruction was worth it;" said Skywalker with a sigh.

Mara was surprised at that. She looked hard at Luke as he expertly set the freighter down. She didn't only see the great hero and Jedi in training now. She saw a man with his own fears and doubts and hurts. To Mara's surprise, it made her want to know that man and care less about the Jedi and the hero.

Looking out the transparasteel viewport of the cockpit, Mara and Luke noticed a group of six or seven uniformed individuals coming towards the ship. After powering everything down and collecting the droids, they headed to the ramp. Luke turned to face Mara, a kindly smile on his face but a serious look in his eyes. "Take a deep breath and hand over your weapons when you're ready."

Mara took a deep breath and handed her belt and sleeve holster to Luke. Luke threw them over one shoulder and asked, "Ready?"

Mara nodded and the ramp lowered. By the time they had reached the bottom of the ramp, the seven uniformed figures were less then twelve meters away. Six of them were armed with heavy blaster rifles and the seventh was a figure Mara recognized immediately: Airen Cracken, General of Alliance Intelligence. Aside from this welcome party, there were dozens of technicians, fighter and shuttle pilots and security personnel who wanted to see the new ship and the defector that Commander Skywalker had brought back. Seven fighter pilots separated from a group of mixed pilots and techs, all of them with the top halves of their orange, red and green flight suits tied around their wastes and grease stains on the grey undershirts beneath.

"Hey Luke. Where the Correllian hells have you been? We've been waiting for you. You know that Princess Leia insisted that we wait to start the briefing till she heard that you were okay? By the time she heard, command decided waiting a few hours till you got here. Who's your new friend, boss?"

Luke turned to his old friend, Wedge Antilles and smiled. "A lot's happened, Wedge. Still doing maintenance on your own fighter, huh? This is Mara Jade. She's defecting from the Empire. I'll catch up to you boys later. I think General Cracken wants to have a word with us."

The grim looking man with his six guards, all Alliance Special Forces Marines, surrounded Luke and Mara. Cracken proffered his hand to Skywalker. "Commander, it's good to have you back. Why command keeps letting you disappear whenever you say 'Jedi stuff' I don't know but I'm glad your back. This is the defector?"

Luke shook the hand and replied, "Yes sir. This is Mara Jade. I'll let her tell you about herself, though. Is there a chance I can have the ship locked down. I already had it swept for spyware and other nefarious gadgets and it's clean."

Mara forced her expression to remain neutral but she sent her thoughts to Luke. You swept my ship? When did you have time for that?

While Cracken was telling Luke that he would make sure no one disturbed the ship and that Luke could observe Mara's interrogation, Luke sent his answer through their link. As soon as R2 went aboard, I had him stand in a corner and scan the whole ship. I may be a Farmboy and a little naïve but I'm not stupid.

Mara suppressed a smile. Cracken turned to her and asked, "Are those your weapons Skywalker is carrying, Miss Jade?"

Mara replied respectfully, "Yes sir. I surrendered them and my ship to him with the intent of defecting. I would like to aid the Rebel Alliance in any way that I can. My R3 unit is at your disposal. Feel free to check her for spyware. You will find some but it is all dormant and non-functioning. In my belt, I have a number of data cylinders that will have very important information considering that you are planning on attacking the new Death Star."

Cracken flinched and stared levelly at Mara. "Right this way, Miss Jade. We have quite a bit to discuss. Lance Corporal, take the droid to the intel workshop. Skywalker, you can observe from inside the conference room. The weapons stay outside, though."

Luke nodded. When they reached the interrogation room, Luke locked up Mara's belt and forearm holster in the lockers outside but pulled some code cylinders from her belt. Cracken motion Mara into the room. "One moment please, Miss Jade."

Cracken turned to Luke and said, "What do you know about her, Skywalker?"

Luke stood at parade rest and replied, "Most of it, she really should tell you herself and I shouldn't disclose it. She is strong with the force. Other than that, it's up to her to tell. She told me she will disclose whatever she has to in order to be accepted and I believe her, General."

Cracken cocked an eyebrow and the corners of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly. "The fact that she is a very attractive woman has nothing to do with it, does it, Commander?"

Luke blushed slightly and smiled, "She is sir, but no. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but it's a Jedi thing."

Cracken scowled. That's exactly what command would tell him every time Skywalker ran off on random missions that no one, not even Alliance Intelligence, knew about. "Fine, Commander. Come on. Let's start working on your prisoner."

Mara sat a chair, her legs and arms crossed. She knew what was going on. Cracken was trying to establish a good cop – bad cop routine. Luke wouldn't go along with it – probably couldn't play along with it. Mara smiled at the idea of Luke interrogating anyone. Farmboy probably couldn't convince a child to share a bag of candy. The door opened and in strode Cracken and Skywalker. Cracken sat down but Luke just stood in the back corner. "Please state your name and position in the Imperial hierarchy for the record."

Mara cleared her throat, which had gotten very dry. "My name is Mara Jade and my official position was the Emperor's Hand."

Cracken didn't betray any outward sign of anxiety but his heart rate and core temperature rose. "The Emperor's Hand – fascinating; I haven't heard much about you, just rumors and hearsay. Tell me, what was your mission as the Emperor's Hand?"

"I was tasked with investigating and eliminating corrupt government and military officials. Moffs, Admirals, Generals and Governors – all of them were under my microscope and whenever any of them showed signs of corruption, I made a thorough investigation. If they were guilty, I either reported them or simply took them out. As the war progressed, I was sent to hunt down defectors too. My last mission was to hunt down and kill Commander Luke Skywalker. As you can see, I not only failed but decided that I had better options than killing him. This was my only failed mission and I haven't regretted it yet."

General Cracken nodded with a kind smile. "Well we're glad you had a change of heart. Skywalker is irreplaceable as a pilot, a Jedi, an officer or a soldier. Can you give me the details of your training, Agent Jade?"

Mara leaned forward and crossed her forearms on the table. "I certainly can and will but please don't call me agent. I am not an agent anymore. The Emperor himself trained me in the ways of the force and in lightsaber combat. I learned all the niceties and etiquette of court from those who taught the children of nobles and high ranking officials. My combat training was handled by the Royal Guard Academy's head master; he taught me everything I know with the exception of the lightsaber. I was trained by the best and most highly decorated instructors in piloting, survival techniques and interrogation. If I wanted to know it, I learned it to complete my mission."

General Cracken nodded. His heart beat had only risen as she had continued. "You must be a formidable woman then, Mara Jade. The Alliance would be fortunate to have you. I just can't seem to figure out what would make you leave a position at the Emperor's knee where you got everything you wanted and needed to join a rebellion that has looked doomed for failure since day one. Can you explain that to me?"

Mara took a deep breath and said, "After Skywalker escaped me on Tatooine, I tracked him to another planet. On that planet, I found him in the company of a Jedi Master named Yoda, who has since passed away. Before Master Yoda died, he opened my eyes. He educated me on what the Emperor truly is – a corrupting, evil, force forsaken son of a kath hound who slaughters billions, kidnaps and brainwashes children and has manipulated the entire galaxy since well before the Clone Wars!"

Cracken's eyebrows rose. Mara's voice had gone from entirely under control to fierce and angry throughout her narrative. She was glaring as Cracken and her small hands were in tight fists. Luke looked just as relaxed as he had before but he sent her soothing thoughts through their mental link. Easy, Mara. If you scare the man, he probably won't put in a good word for you. Take a deep breath.

Mara did just that and sent a rather amused reply back to Luke. Get out of my head, Skywalker.

Aww… you don't mean that. A small smile was at the corner of his mouth and he gave her a wink. General Cracken had stood up and said something into a comlink and then sat back down. "Well you sure do give a compelling argument, Mara Jade, but considering you have been playing to my responses this entire time, it's hard to read your sincerity."

Mara smiled at him. "Old habits die hard, don't they general? Even if I have geared my responses towards a more favorable response, they have been the absolute truth. Luke…" turned to him. "…did you get the code cylinders from my belt before you stowed it?"

Luke pulled six code cylinders out his own belt and laid them on the table and placed a datapad next to it. Mara explained, "Those contain everything that is most relevant to you at this point in time and are current up to about twelve hours ago. The first has the location of every Imperial Fleet from here to the unknown regions. This second one has the technical schematics of the new Death Star – where it was at twelve hours ago and what it will be as a finished station. The third has the locations of most of the Imperial Army units from the regular to the highly classified –"

Cracken interrupted her. "Wait a moment, Jade. Why would you have all this information just stashed on your ship? What purpose would an Emperor's Hand have for it?"

Mara gave a small, one shouldered shrug, "I hunted down the corrupt. If I needed to infiltrate an Imperial Garrison on some remote moon in Wild Space, I had to be able to study up on the specs of the base. Besides, quite a few Admirals and Generals have either defected or gone rogue. After the first couple, Palpatine wanted me to keep an eye on all of them so I had the access."

Cracken nodded and scooped up the cylinders. "Well, Jade, I am going to send these to our analysts and I'll be back soon. Do you need anything?"

Mara was trying her best to retain patience but she was getting frustrated. "I'm a little hungry and something to drink wouldn't be bad either."

Cracken nodded. Luke said, "Can I have a word with you, General?"

Mara looked at the farm boy's eyes. He was just as irritated as she was getting but he could sure hide it. Mara smiled slightly. Skywalker would probably make one hell of an intel agent after all.

"General, I don't understand. Between Jade's R3 unit and those cylinders, we have a wealth of information. What else do you need from her to trust that she is sincere?"

General Cracken shook his head. "I don't know, Skywalker. The truth is I have heard a little about the Emperor's Hand and what she says doesn't completely line up. They all answer to Palpatine yes and they are supposedly force users yes but what little intelligence we have on them, her duties don't line up - intel gathering, assassination and infiltration were but not to eliminate 'corrupt' Imperials. Do you think you can get to her? You already have a rapport, Skywalker and maybe your force will come in handy. Leia mentioned that you contacted her at Cloud City. Do you think you could do that?"

Luke shuffled uncomfortably. "Sir I can ask if she's willing by I won't force her. That's what the Emperor does and even if it means she sits in a cell, I won't force my way into her head if she says no. Besides, I don't think I could. I'm still pretty new to the whole 'mental communication through the force' thing and she's been doing it her entire life."

Cracken sighed and rubbed his temples as if he were trying to ward off a headache. "Do what you can, Skywalker. For the record, I really hope she's sincere. Someone with this kind of knowledge and more training than one of Madine's commandos would be a massive asset."

Luke nodded and went back into the room. Mara looked at him expectantly and said, "Skywalker, I will kiss you if you just tell me that I'm good to get out of here, get my weapons and take whatever oath required to join the Alliance."

Luke sat down and chuckled, "Temping. I could tell you that but it wouldn't quite be honest. Would I still get that kiss then?"

Mara scowled and said, "No, I would, on the knuckles of my right hand when I belt you across the mouth, Farmboy. Come on! What gives?"

Luke rubbed his own temples and said, "They want me to read your mind. They want me to get the information straight from the source without filters of any kind."

Mara's face was stormy now and her voice was cold as she asked, "And if I refuse, then what? You force your way into my head if you can just like the Emperor would? You toss me into a cell?"

Luke stiffened, affronted that she would suggest he would do something like the former. "I know we haven't known each other long at all, but I hope you know me well enough to realize I would NEVER do anything like that! I'm not the Emperor and I refuse to be like him. Most likely, they would continue interrogation until they are satisfied or they simply decide to toss you in a cell under extremely heavy guard."

Mara cursed and stood, pacing back and forth. The idea of anyone, especially Skywalker, learning her most intimate and darkest secrets scared her a little. She didn't want Luke to know all the dark and horrible things she had done or that had been done to her during the course of her career. Finally, she sat down again with a low groan. It took every ounce of her will to keep tears from rolling down her cheeks. "Luke, you don't know what you're asking me. I know it seems like such a simple thing but it isn't. You are asking me to reveal my entire being to you – my first real friend and we only just met less than twenty-four hours ago."

Luke was about to protest when she lifted a hand with a small smile and said, "Me trying to kill you on Tatooine does not count as meeting you, Farmboy. I know this is necessary but…" she suddenly felt so vulnerable and hated it but she needed to make Luke understand this. "…Luke I'm so scared." She whispered. Luke was shocked. He reached his left hand, the real one and lay it before her, palm up. Hesitating, she placed her own hand in it. The feeling of his rough, warm hand was comforting to her. "Mara no matter what you have done in the past, I won't think any less of you. Let me make you a deal. If you decide that I can look through your mind, I'll let you do the same to me."

Mara snorted out a short laugh. "I don't find that an even trade, you know. The only embarrassing thing you have in your life is where you came from."

Luke's eyes were dead serious as he uttered two words. "My parentage;"

Mara sobered and sighed. Giving his hand a squeeze, she whispered. "Go ahead, Skywalker."

Luke took a deep breath and pushed out his feelings toward Mara's consciousness. The shields around her mind were completely down. Luke was as gentle as possible as he went through all of her memories from start to finish at the speed of thought. He saw her first lessons with her instructors, a four year old girl fighting, dancing, hunting, surviving and even training in a flight simulator. Luke saw her crying and bleeding as Palpatine and others scolded and punished her for her failures and weaknesses and he felt his own heart beginning to ache for the poor girl. Luke saw her growing up and going out on her assignments. At one point, he noticed that she had seen a much younger him years ago, very shortly after the battle of Yavin. He continued on through her memories and witnessed all of her assignments up until her last one. With each memory came a torrent of different emotions. Luke couldn't witness her actions without being moved with emotion: angers, sadness and disgust. When he had finally finished going through her memories, he looked at her intentions. Even though he had believed her from the moment she had told him, Luke was relieved to see that she was utterly sincere. Suddenly, her voice was in his head, pleading with him. Please don't hate me. Please don't hate me.

Luke pulled away from her mind and tried to look her in the eye but her head was down. He also noticed two small pools beneath her head on the table. Luke was surprised to realize that his own cheeks were damp with tears. "Hey." He whispered. "I don't hate you, Mara. I'm sorry you felt my anger and disgust but it isn't meant for you. It's meant for the man who did all this to you. No, only my sadness is for you."

Mara looked up and wiped her face. "I don't want your pity, Skywalker."

Luke nodded his head. "It's not pity, Mara, just a little sympathy. I am going to tell Cracken and command that you can be trusted utterly. First, though, you can go through my mind if you'd like."

Mara wanted to know the man across from her. She had seen his file so many times and knew about his service record but so little about the man beneath all the glamor and glory. She realized with a jolt that they were still holding hands. Luke looked down and smiled a little sheepishly before giving a small squeeze and retracting his hand. Mara looked into his piercing blue eyes and said, "Lower your shields. I promise, I'll be gentle."

Suddenly, Luke looked worried, "Was I gentle enough? I didn't hurt you did I?"

Mara chuckled. "I don't think you know how to cause pain yet, Luke."

Luke closed his eyes and felt her consciousness against his shields. It took concentration to lower them fully. Mara dove straight to his furthest memories and began to go through them as if going through files in a cabinet. He was with her the whole time. She went through his childhood with his uncle, learning to work on the speeders they owned and the moisture vaporators and the droids. She watched as he met Ben Kenobi, an old hermit who saved him from trouble a number of times while he was growing up. Mara saw his friends and the races they had with their Skyhoppers through the Tatooine canyons. She saw him seeing a rebel ship attacked by an Imperial Star Destroyer and then buying two familiar droids shortly after. She witnessed Luke returning to the farm only to find it burning and his aunt and uncle dead. Mara felt herself gasp at the pain she felt from him. Deciding to speed things along, she rifled through the memories from that point forward. She saw the escape from the first Death Star and then its destruction. Mara saw all his flights and battles with Rogue Squadron and other missions leading up to Hoth. She witnessed all the missions leading up to this point. During all of this, Mara noticed points of pain and joy and she avoided both of them. What she did pay attention to were Skywalker's hopes and dreams and also a huge shadow of guilt. He hoped to help defeat the Empire and establish a New Republic. He hoped to defeat the Emperor. To her great shock, Mara found deep within his mind a belief that DARTH VADER still had good in him and Luke hoped to draw him back from the dark side. Mara pulled herself away from his mind. For several moments, she wrestled with that last piece of information. Struggling with the idea that the towering monstrosity or black armor could have good in him, she looked Luke in the eye. "I know what you hope for, Luke and I'm sorry but there is no good left in him. Anikan Skywalker is dead. Darth Vader is all that remains."

Luke looked her in the eye and said, "If that is the case, then I must defeat him."

Mara was about to reply when Cracken entered again. "What's the verdict, Commander?"

Luke looked at Mara and then at the General. "Sir, I would place my life and our cause in her hands right now. She is utterly sincere."

Cracken nodded as if expecting the outcome. "Well then, Miss Jade, you will be given the rank of Lieutenant and quarters, uniforms and equipment will be placed at your disposal as needed. Of course, your weapons will be returned along with your droid and your ship. Understand this, though: You are on probation and Skywalker is your supervising officer."

Cracken turned to Luke. "Commander, she is not to leave your sight except for the obvious needs. Anywhere you go, she better be tied to your hip and if she is found alone anywhere, you will be reprimanded and she will be incarcerated. Her quarters will be right next to yours. Do you both understand?"

Luke saluted but then looked a little confused, "Uh, General, where are my quarters? This is my first time on this cruiser."

Cracken chuckled and shook his head while he tapped on a datapad. After a moment, the General said, "They have quarters for you in the living area with Rogue Squadron. Jade, your quarters will be between Commander Antilles' and Commander Skywalker's." He turned to walk away but then paused one last time and said, "Oh and Commander Skywalker –"

Luke turned to him, a question in his blue eyes. The General's smile became big and genuine. "Between your furlough after Hoth, the mission to save General Solo and this last random run-off, General Reikan and Admiral Ackbar has decided that you have spent your leave for the rest of your career."

A huge grin crossed Luke's face as he saluted and Mara smiled too. Happily, Luke went to the locker, unlocked it, pulled out her belt and holster and handed to her. "Thanks, Farm boy."

Cracken chuckled and left the area. Luke blushed and said, "You know if you keep doing that, everyone is going to start too."

Mara smirked, "Nope. No one gets to call you Farmboy but me."

Mara was so grateful to Luke for helping her and for accepting her. She had never had a real friend, a true friend before this and was having trouble deciding how she wanted to show him that gratitude. Skywalker was heading towards the door. "Luke…" He turned to her and she embraced him and kissed him lightly on the cheek before whispering, "…thank you so much - for everything."

Luke hugged her back and blushed deeply at her kiss. "I didn't do much, Mara. It was all you. You made the right choice and it's already paying off for you, Lieutenant."

Mara leaned back so she could look at his face. "I meant for accepting me, despite all the terrible things I've done for such a terrible person."

Luke smiled kindly and said, "Everyone has baggage, Mara. It would be hypocritical to judge you for yours."

Mara snorted in amusement. "You don't have enough dirt on you to fill a flimsyplast lunch bag, Farmboy. That's why it means so much for you to accept me. Someone as innocent and – and just GOOD as you are would have every right to despise me."

Luke was about to reply when they heard a throat clearing nearby. Clearing her throat, Mara hastily let him go and looked around. Mara and Luke froze at the sight of a group of people staring at them from near the entrance to the detainee storage room. Luke groaned and grinned at the same time.

"Don't let us interrupt, kid. We can wait." Said a tall man wearing a white shirt, black vest and blue pants with a blood stripe and a smirk on his chiseled face. Around him were a dark skinned man in a uniform with a hip cape, a short woman with brown hair, a wookie with blue eyes and the pilot who had greeted Luke in the hanger. Luke walked up and hugged each of them in turn. The wookie roared and gave him a rough wookie hug. The black haired pilot nodded towards Mara and said, "Are you going to introduce us, Luke?"

Luke chuckled. "She can introduce herself. Mara?"

Mara walked up and proffered her small hand to each of them in turn. "Name's Mara Jade. I'm a Lieutenant now I guess and I'll be going where the Farmboy goes."

The tall man in the vest burst out laughing. "Farmboy? Damn, Kid. You gonna put up with that?"

Luke retorted, "I put up with you calling me 'kid' all the time."

Han took Mara's hand. "Han Solo, Captain of the Millennium Falcon and General in the Rebel Alliance Special Forces. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Jade. This furball is Chewbacca, my copilot."

Mara smiled. She knew who Han Solo was. The short woman took her hand next. "Leia Organa. Glad to have you. General Cracken said you gave us a treasury of information. High command thanks you."

The black haired pilot smiled and took her hand next. "Commander Wedge Antilles, at your service, Lieutenant. Hope to get to know you better."

Last of all, the dark skinned man took her hand gently and, instead of shaking it, lifted it to his lips and kissed it. "I think me may have met before though neither of us were really ourselves, were we? I'm General Lando Callrissian though you met me as Tamtel Sweej and I met you as Arica, I think."

Mara's eyes widened as she remembered an armored guard in Jabba's palace. "I do remember you; Pleasure to meet you again, General."

Luke stepped in and said, "Well we haven't eaten in a while so I'm going to take Lieutenant Jade to the dining hall. We can talk while we eat. I want to hear what's been going on."

Mara sent a thought towards Luke. Can we talk later Farmboy? There are a few things I want to discuss in private if possible.

Of course, Mara. Let's go get something to eat first.

Updated Mat 23, 2016