The Rescue

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Mara sat in the darkened shuttle watching the blurred stars from the window. It was reminiscent of the off world missions she had participated in before… before HE had died. Her master.

She had avoided even thinking about it, because thinking about it would make it real. She was the Emperor's Hand. That role had been the cornerstone of her existence since she had gone on her first mission when she was nine years old. She was important, she made a difference in the universe, she executed her master's will.

But how could she be the Emperor's hand when her Emperor was dead? And Lord Vader had denied her the opportunity to avenge him, saying that an executioner would take care of Selden and Tarkin. He hadn't even let her near the traitors, to see them confess. Oh, well. Maybe she could get the security vid's later.

Mara felt adrift, wondering who she was, where she was going. Lord…Emperor Vader had promised her a place as Leia's bodyguard, and it would be nice, she thought, to be with her friend. But she had been meant for greater things, she was the Emperor's Hand, she should be shaping the world.

And then Lord Vader had sent her on this, this pointless mission to rescue a Force strong farm boy, who was probably her replacement. Lord Vader clearly didn't think she was worth much, Mara thought, frowning. Maybe it was because she couldn't really use the Force anymore.

Oh, he had told her it would come back, but who knew how long it would take. And it was exasperating to watch Leia's Force powers growing while hers were at their worse. She couldn't even feel flashes of the Force anymore, Mara thought looking resentfully at the small furry animal attached to the branch of a tree. Ysalamiri, it was called but as far as Mara was concerned it was a major nuisance.

Oh, Mara thought, how she wished things were back to being the way they were.

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Luke Skywalker wandered aimlessly, enjoying the cool wind ruffling his hair. The moon was bright, and in the dark, the depressing swamps weren't very visible. And maybe, his rescue would be tonight. Leia had told him that a friend was on the way. Suddenly, a dark figure swept into the clearing and joined him.

"Ben" said Luke, nodding at the Jedi.

"Luke" Ben greeted him, and then was silent. There was something wrong with the boy. He showed no enthusiasm for learning and was often surly and withdrawn. Something, clearly, had happened to make him unhappy. Maybe, Ben thought, it would help to motivate the boy.

"The galaxy is in chaos, now, Luke" he said, his voice deep, his manner sincere. "Lord Vader had ascended the Imperial Throne and promises to be as brutal as Palpatine".

Luke let the old man drone on, thinking wryly that a few days ago he would have lapped up every word Ben was saying. Now though, it was easy to see through Ben. His father's murderer was setting him up to kill his father's friend and even someone with Luke's minimal training in the Force could sense his duplicity. The anger suppression techniques Master Yoda was teaching Luke always got a workout around Obi-Wan.

"Luke, are you paying attention?" Ben demanded harshly.

"I'm sorry" Luke said, seeming abashed. "I was just thinking of my father"

The hermit put a hand on his shoulder and it was all Luke could do not to bite it. "You will avenge him, Luke" the Jedi said.

"Yes" Luke affirmed passionately "I will".

"Don't stay out long" Ben said paternally, tousling Luke's hair and walking towards the hut. It was all Luke could do not to shudder. It twisted his insides to not pull away from the man who had killed his father.

"I won't" Luke called out to him, hoping his rescuer would come soon.

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Frowning down at the mudball below her, Mara Jade ran a surface scan. Nothing. She moved her ship to a lower orbit and turned on the new, top secret, ultra sensitive ship identifier. For a while there was nothing and then… there.

Through Leia, the Skywalker kid had said that the landing area was some distance from the Jedi's hut. And he had promised to wait there each night.

Mara looked down and sighed, wondering whether she could just go back and tell Lord Vader she hadn't been able to find him. But if she did, he'd probably demote her further and make her Leia's maid.

Well, she thought, here goes.

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The dark shuttle hovered over the swamp with a quiet whush, it's dark, sleek mass a strange contrast to the greenery and calm of the Dagoban swamp. The ship's quiet power radiated from it, it seemed almost menacing in it's quiet efficiency. As Luke watched in fascination a rope ladder was thrown out.

He stared at it as if it were a poisonous snake. He hadn't really thought that this would actually happen, and now that it had it occurred to him that he could be making a big mistake. Maybe this wasn't the right thing to do. Then a small voice inside him said "Ben murdered your father".  Unless…unless the princess was lying. But no, she couldn't be. She seemed so pure, so innocent. And Luke had noticed that Ben twitched when he talked of avenging his father.

A hard young voice shouted "Hurry up, kid, can't wait forever". That voice crystallized his decision and he grabbed the rope firmly hoping he wasn't making a big mistake.

In Yoda's hut, Ben Kenobi paused in the middle of a sentence. Luke's force sense had disappeared. Yoda got up, with a speed one would not have expected from someone his shape. They both ran into the clearing and found… nothing.

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            "Hello" a tentative voice called into the cockpit. Mara hated it the instant she heard it. It was so… so trusting, so young. Mara wrinkled her nose. She was younger than Skywalker, according to her briefing, and she didn't sound like that. At least she hoped she didn't.

            "In here" she called back, allowing some of her annoyance to be heard in her voice.

"Ow". With a bump against the door, Skywalker awkwardly stumbled into the cockpit.

Luke stared at the occupant of the ship in surprise. "You're just a kid" he blurted out, shocked. She didn't look like she was much older than him. Everything about her, though, from her manner, to her professionally clipped red hair and black jumpsuit spoke of age and experience

"I am the Emperor's Hand" the girl snapped, her voice full of confidence and power, her hair seeming to blaze as she whirled her chair to face him and stare at him with hard green eyes. Then she seemed to wilt before him and, as she turned her chair away from him, Luke heard her mutter "at least, I was".

Luke stood silent a moment, respecting her obvious grief. "I'm sorry" Luke said, not sure what he was apologizing for, feeling out of his depth.

The girl fiddled with the console, not acknowledging his presence.

"I'm Luke Skywalker, by the way" Luke offered lamely, after an uncomfortable silence. 

The girl snorted and looked at him disdainfully. "I know" she said in a voice dripping with contempt.

Luke blushed, unable to help himself.

"Your room's the one to the left" the girl said dismissivly, not looking at him.

Luke turned and left. He had liked it better on Dagobah, he thought glumly.

Luke glumly stared at the grey wall in front of him, feeling sleepy, yet too keyed up to lie down. The room was bland, with no personality and nothing to do. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten. It was ridiculous to be afraid of that girl, even if she was prickly. He got up and, gathering his courage decided to find her.

Mara looked at the Skywalker kid. He was braver than he looked, she conceded grudgingly, to come out here again. She looked him up and down. He was rather scruffy, with long hair and soiled clothes. And Emperor Vader seemed to intend this to replace her.

Well, thought Mara smugly, he wouldn't be able to.

The kid seemed to gather his courage. Then he walked into the small lounge and asked, "Is there anything to eat?"

Mara tossed a ration bar at him, deciding not to talk. Let's see what he makes of this, she thought gleefully.

"What's your name?" Luke asked, siting down opposite her.

Mara made no reply.

The boy stared at her as he bit into the ration bar and Mara felt herself grow irritated. He had no right to examine her in that fashion, as if she were some interesting bug.

She decided to return the favor and looked him up and down slowly, before staring into his eyes. Green eyes met blue and a silent battle was waged briefly before Luke looked away, blushing. All too easy, Mara thought with a smirk.

The smirk seemed to irritate the boy and he said angrily "The princess said you were nice".

Mara winced. She had forgotten that the kid might complain to Leia. "Look Kid" she began, only to be interrupted.

"You're not much older than me, don't call me kid". Luke glared at her, his patience at an end.

"Ok" said Mara, lounging back in her chair and deciding to be nice to the kid "Farmboy. And the name's Mara Jade".

Luke scowled, but decided not to pick a fight. "So," he asked "How well do you know the princess?"

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Leia felt a flash of recognition as the red head and blond one drew closer. Mara and Luke, she knew. They advanced through the stately corridor slowly, making their way around the people cluttering it, and Leia stifled the impulse to walk towards them. It was with great reluctance that the captain of her bodyguards had allowed her even this far into the public area of the palace.

As they drew closer their features grew distinct and she felt a shock of recognition. His hair was unevenly bleached by the sun, his face was tanned, he walked with something less than grace and his eyes were a piercing blue. And she loved him on sight. "Luke" she breathed, caught up in an emotion she could not name.

Earnest blue eyes examined her eagerly. The princess was lovely and regal, coldly aloof, and Luke couldn't believe that she was the girl from his dream. She looked more polished, more dressed up. As he got closer, he could see her eyes and felt again the strange pull he had in his dream. Luke broke into a run, slowing down self-consciously as he got near Leia's bodyguards.

 Leia took the final steps towards him and paused, feeling unaccountably shy.

They stood at arms length, both silent, just looking at each other, sizing each other up. They did not introduce themselves; that would have made a mockery of the occasion. Finally, Leia reached out a hand and said gently "Welcome home, Luke".

He tentatively touched her fingers and she felt a brief shock run through her. It was like finding home, after having forgotten it. Luke seemed to carry with him half remembered safe places, and memories of being cherished and safe. I feel like I know him, Leia realized. And she felt like she could trust him and count on him. Something deep within her spoke firmly "Mine". She reached out and clasped both of his hands firmly, trying to maintain her composure.

Luke looked at the princess in awe. Now that he was close to her, that impression of aloofness had gone. She was the girl from his dream again, albeit with makeup on. She clasped his hands and he smiled foolishly. There was something about her that made him want to laugh for sheer joy. It was all he could do to not hug her, but he knew she would probably be shocked if he did. Afterall. Luke reasoned, he didn't want her bodyguards to kill him. She was even more wonderful then he'd thought she would be. It was almost like he knew her, he thought as he returned the pressure of her hands.

"We're going to be friends, I can tell" Leia said lightly. "Let me show you your rooms."

Mara stood watching as her only friend walked off with the farmboy after giving her a quick greeting, feeling very lost.

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  Vader sat on his throne, feeling strangely nervous as the doors to the audience chamber flew open and a slim black figure walked in. This was the first time he would see the boy…, his son, Vader corrected himself, in person. He'd been too busy establishing his rule during the past week; he hadn't even had time to see Leia, except over the comm, and at night when she was already asleep. He watched curiously as the boy approached. Luke was different from the pictures he had so carefully studied, clearly Leia's influence at work

The hair was neatly cut, forming an umbrella over the forehead and cut close against the sides of the face, highlighting delicate bone structure. The sandy hair had been bleached a perfectly even blond.  The black shirt was Anteran silk, like the cloak . A silver belt around a slender waist held a lightsaber. The overall effect would have been effeminate, had it not been for the firm set of the mouth.

He looks like I did, was his first thought on clearly seeing his son.

 This boy evoked no buried memories of his mother or grandmother. Rather, he reminded Vader of a face he had seen often in mirrors, of bright blue eyes forever hidden from the world.

He approached the dais and bowed. "Your Highness" he said in a clear, ringing tone.

Vader beckoned him closer and said "Welcome, young Skywalker", feeling a twinge of distaste at mouthing a name he'd hoped to never hear again.

The boy walked up, seemingly fearless, though Vader could feel how nervous he was. "It is good to have you on Coruscant" Vader said, examining the boy closely. It was a pity Luke had not inherited his height, along with everything else. At least with the mask, no one would see the resemblance.

"It's good to be here" the boy said sincerely, his relief at being on Imperial Center ringing in his voice. 

"Your father was my dearest friend" Vader said, lying with practiced ease. "It is my hope that you will be happy here".

Luke blushed and remained silent. Then, visibly gathering up his courage he asked "What was he like?"

Vader was silent a moment, remembering. "He was young, enthusiastic, powerful in a brash, untrained manner". And then "He loved your mother very much".

Vader left his throne and walked over to the boy, who had stood up. He put a hand on his shoulder and examined him closely. Not one beautiful, capable child kept from him but two. His old friend's betrayal was enormous. And then to try to set his child up to kill him. Vader felt a flash of protectiveness and, unconsciously, his hand tightened on Luke's shoulder. Luke shifted uncomfortably, and Vader let him go. "So, Luke" Vader asked "What do you want to be?"

"I want to be a pilot" the boy said, his enthusiasm overcoming his awkwardness.

"Your father was a pilot" Vader observed, feeling a faint hint of pride that the boy wanted to be like him. "But Kenobi will be coming for you and you must learn to defend yourself as well".

"Why would he come?" Luke asked.

"His sole ambition" Vader said, prompted by a sudden insight "is to punish me for choosing a path he did not set me on." And he would have, Vader thought, if he had managed to successfully conceal Leia from him. Or if he had arranged for him to kill his own son. Suddenly Vader wondered if that had not been Kenobi's plan; not to have Luke kill him, but to have him kill Luke. He turned his attention back to his waiting son and said "I will instruct you, Leia and Mara on how to handle lightsabers. Jade will also be able to help train you and Leia"

Luke suppressed a groan at the thought of spending more time in the company of the abrasive girl.

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A/N: I'd like to thank  Teekoness, Krystal, BladeRaider, Renee and Quamzim  for reviewing the last chapter.

Teekoness: There're fourteen

BladeRaider: Ik!! Yuck!!! They're only 14. I donm't mind Luke/Mara in general but I don't think I can write them.

Next chapter: Kenobi and Vader. And how long do you think a secret can be kept?