"Rise Lord Vader, you have a new assignment." The old and horrid voice of Darth Sideous now Emperor Palpatine rang through the room.
The Imperial Palace on Coruscant had a very important meeting of Darth Vader and his Master in his Master's main chamber. The room held Darth Vader encased in his mechanical prison and also held Emperor Palpatine, now leader of the galaxy, plus the two dismissed Royal Guards.
"You are to locate and exterminate any Jedi who escaped the in the middle of the night Great Jedi Purge or Order 66. They are to be killed on sight. Prove to me your new powers Lord Vader, show me that you are worthy of being my apprentice." His distorted old withered voice demanded his apprentice.
"Yes my Master," Lord Vader's mechanical sounding voice answered obediently. "It will be done." As Emperor Palpatine dismissed Darth Vader from his throne room, Vader's mechanical breathing could be heard down the corridors of the Palace.
…
Mari sat up to find Shadow asleep in a chair next to her. His eyes were closed and he was snoring quite loudly. Mari stifled a giggle listening to him. She looked around and it took her a moment to remember where she was. Then she sniffed the air.
"Ugh," she thought, "Smells like bacta." Then she looked over to sleeping Shadow again.
"Oh," she continued to speak to herself through thoughts, "He is so handsome," and then Shadow rolled over in the chair and almost fell out. She suppressed a fit of laughter.
"He is my hero; I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for him." Her face broke into a grin as Shadow flicked open his eyes and saw her sitting up and looking very refreshed and healthy. He smiled happily upon seeing her so alert and awake.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"So much better." Marilee replied with a grin.
"Can you walk?" he asked her and she replied, "I haven't even tried it yet." T
hen together with some help from Shadow, Mari began to walk, slowly but surely down the hallway of the Med Center. As her rejuvenated muscles started to work properly again, her footing became steadier and within just minutes she was able to walk around on her own.
…
"Goodbye! And thank you so much!" Mari called behind her as she and Shadow left the Med Clinic. The kind Dr. Bruce covered the cost of treatment and told them that no debt needed to be paid, he was glad to help some foreigners out.
Once out in the Plaza again, Mari began to scan the area for restaurants. It felt good to walk again, flexing her muscles. Her arm hurt something awful, even after the treatments. Dr. Bruce had explained that she had come in contact with after the explosion.
Marilee eventually discovered a building with a crude sign that read, Clay's Creations: A Dantooine Dining Experience. Eagerly Mari tapped Shadow's shoulder and said to him.
"Look, restaurant, straight ahead!" She slipped her small slender hand into his strong muscular one as they started off down the dirt road to the restaurant. A bell dinged as they opened the door to the warm and cozy dining establishment. A fairly young man, probably around 18 years old greeted them upon walking in the door.
"Welcome to Clay's how may I serve you today?" he asked pleasantly.
"Hello," Mari said sweetly to him, "We would like a table for two please, and a favor." The young man winked and picked up two menus and started to move towards the depths of the restaurant.
"Table for two with a side of favors, ah, our specialty" Mari and Shadow clasped hands again and started off after the animated and enthusiastic young man. After seating them at their table and offering them some drinks, the young man brought up their favor.
"So, you ordered the favor special, hmmm, very popular these days, very popular. Now, I can tell that you two are from out of town. I know everyone from within miles of here and I would have remembered a beautiful lady such as you," he said nodding towards Mari.
"So what brings you to Dantooine?" Shadow and Mari told them their story and explained why they were in town. Upon hearing how injured Mari had been, he felt somewhat understanding to their situation.
"Ah, I see," he said once their story was through.
"So this local woman, what was her name?" Mari looked into his eyes and said, "Marlinda Sunstar. And I am her long lost daughter, Marilee Sunstar." The boy's face went from curiosity to shock. He paled and stared at Mari with wide eyes.
"Marilee?" he gasped, sounding almost afraid to say her name, "You are my…Sister? I mean, my mother always talked about my big sister who became a Jedi Knight, but she would always be so sad that I learned to never say her, or your, name. I-I just can't believe it. This is incredible! Are you really a Jedi, have you been to other worlds? Can you tell the future? Do you have a lightsaber?"
"Whoa, slow down!" Mari laughed at her excitable newfound brother's reaction.
"First of all, yes, I am a Jedi, yes I've been to other worlds, I can't tell the future but sometimes I have visions or feelings of what are to come." Marilee smiled and winked at her Shadow.
"Also does this answer your question?" She unclipped the lightsaber from her belt and held it over the table for the young waiter to see. She flipped the switch that activated the precious weapon. The boy's mouth dropped open in awe as he saw the Jedi weapon in action.
"No…way…" he breathed as Mari expertly maneuvered the lightsaber. She deactivated it and clipped it back onto her belt.
She looked at him and said, "You said that Marilee was your sister, and if you know my name that would probably make me a terrible sister for not knowing yours."
The boy smiled and said, "Oh, yes, well, my name is Clay. I am the owner of this restaurant and my mother and I have lived on Dantooine for well, pretty much ever. She never left after she had to give away you to the Jedi temple, and then after I was born, she would tell me stories of my big sister who would become a Jedi. You don't know how long I have wanted to meet you!"
The siblings hugged and Mari noticed that the Force surged from Clay. He had a lot of Force potential. Then Mari remembered to introduce Shadow.
"Oh and this is my friend Shadow. He is a Clone Trooper who rescued me from a certain death more than once." She leaned her head on his shoulder lovingly and smiled up at him. He put his arm around her shoulders and smiled back.
"Oh, I see what's going on... You two are in love." Clay said knowingly. Mari looked up and was slightly embarrassed that she and Shadow were so easily read. Shadow blushed too. Then they both busted out laughing.
"Wow, that was a bit obvious, wasn't it?" said Mari laughingly.
"Yea…" Clay said now clearly confused. "I was just assuming, but the way you looked at each other it made me think that…"
"Ha-ha, its ok Clay, you are right. I suppose that there is no point in hiding our love anymore. You see Clay, when someone saves your life multiple times and takes care of you in some of your weakest moments in life; you begin to fall in love with them."
Clay nodded and said, "Well, in that case, I'm happy for you. Mom will be very pleased. She'll want to plan the wedding." He smiled and Mari laughed and nodded and then frowned slightly.
"Clay," she asked, changing the subject, "Does Dantooine gets any news from the outside worlds? Is there any way we can find out what is happening on Coruscant?" Clay looked thoughtful for a moment and then replied.
"Yes, Market day. On Market day a big freighter comes into town carrying visiting passengers, news of the galaxy, and takes people off the planet too. If you want I suppose that you could leave the planet and head to Coruscant or wherever you are going." Mari and Shadow both nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, I supposed that would work" said Shadow. "But your mother is expecting us to come back home. When is market day?"
Clay answered, "Three days from today. You can stay with me if you'd like. My apartment is small but it'll fit all of us."
"Thank you brother," Mari said, "But most of our few possessions are at Mom's house. If we go there tonight, explain to her what are plans are, and then come back tomorrow, we can stay with you for one more night until it is Market day. Does that sound all right?"
"Sounds great. Now how about I get you some food for the road?" Mari and Shadow nodded gratefully, they hadn't eaten a decent meal all day. Now as they filled their hungry stomachs with delicious food, the two smiled at each other thinking that for the first time in quite a while they had a plan as to what they should do next.
…..
Yay! Mari has a brother! Actually, I invented the character of Clay for my 'irl' (in real life) best friend, who has a crush on this guy we know named Clay. I thought it sounded Star Wars-y enough, and since (at the time) she was my only proofreader of this story, I put Clay in to mess with her. I didn't expect him to become a major character, nor for him to get a girlfriend…..who will show up later on. And yes, Clay's girlfriend will be after my best friend. ;-) Well, enough blabbing. Thanks to my girlfriends again for reviewing! I love y'all! *hugs* Fallon.