Chapter 8
Luke Skywalker sat in the pilot's chair, watching the star lines as they streaked past the cockpit windows. They were moments away from their destination and Luke was looking forward to seeing Master Yoda once again.
He snorted lightly, thinking of the irony in such a sentiment - he could hardly have expected to become so attached to the irascible little Jedi upon their first meeting. Yoda had been so difficult, so adamant in Luke's unsuitability for Jedi training; Luke remembered vividly the trial it had been simply to elicit the desired agreement from the ancient Jedi, though Ben's timely visit had certainly worked to tips the scales in his direction. Now, Luke did not regret the experience in the slightest, although he did regret the impulsiveness which had led him to abandon his training in the ill-fated attempt to rescue his friends. He had lost much that day, the least of which had been his hand...
More by habit than anything else, Luke glanced down at his hand, peering through the hole in the back at the intricate mechanism which had been exposed by the blaster bolt on the sail barge. It was strange... in the past six months, his body had adapted, had accepted the hand as part of him. Even now, he could tell no difference between it and the original, other than a feeling of numbness where the hole was. It was in every way his hand - the fact that it was not the original was secondary... unimportant.
Still, it would not do to go down to the surface of Dagobah with the internal mechanism exposed to the elements. In such a hostile, wet and dirty environment, he would be risking further damage. He was no surgeon - he did not know if the hand needed to be replaced, or if a piece of synth-skin could be fashioned to replace the part that had been lost, but he knew it was unlikely he could have the repairs completed any time in the near future. That meant protecting it.
He pulled out a black glove which he had taken from his travel bag and pulled it on over his hand. The glove was leather and fit snugly over his hand, neatly covering the hole in the back. Satisfied with the result, Luke returned to his contemplation.
He was not certain of the welcome he would receive from his master. Yoda had not been pleased when he had left Dagobah behind in the middle of his training and while reason stated his master would be happy and relieved to see him back, a part of him remembered the difficulty he had had in convincing his master in the first place. What would Luke do if his master decided he would have nothing further to do with his recalcitrant student?
And what of his current situation? He knew full well he did not have the time to stay with Yoda and finish his training. The Alliance was prepared for a strike against the Empire's newest Death Star and all other considerations must wait until that threat had been dealt with. The Emperor would certainly not repeat the mistake in the construction of the second doomsday weapon which had been made on the first - this one would have no weaknesses, meaning it would have to be destroyed before its completion, while it was still vulnerable.
Would Yoda understand the need for him to leave again so soon after his arrival? Or would he see it as more evidence of Luke's unsuitability for becoming a Jedi?
Unfortunately Luke had no answers.
The door behind Luke abruptly slid open and Arica stepped into the cockpit. She surveyed the room, before crossing and sitting down next to him in the co-pilot's seat.
Luke attempted to give her a welcoming smile - it was not returned.
Sighing, Luke returned his gaze to the outside of the craft, aware it would now be impossible to avoid the thoughts of the one subject he had thus far been successful in keeping at bay.
"How long?"
"We'll be coming out of hyperspace in a few moments," Luke replied. He could tell she was in a foul mood - the question had been short and only barely civil and she exuded waves of displeasure and hurt. After the first day of hostilities, he had thought he had begun to break through her reticence, but the kiss had undone the progress he had made.
What possessed me to kiss her? he berated himself angrily.
But deep down, he knew what had possessed him - it seemed he was falling for the beautiful, but sometimes temperamental redhead. Han would have laughed at the thought and told him women were all temperamental, in that knowing, smarmy tone he could sometimes adopt. Sometimes it seemed to Luke the worldly Corellian had seen and done it all in the course of his travels across the galaxy.
The kiss had been so wonderful at first. He could tell Arica had initially been astonished at his audacious move - in fact, he had amazed himself - but then had seemed to respond with equal fervor to his own. And then it had all fallen apart. The picture of her pulling away from him caused him unfathomable pain; the way she had hugged her arms around her body, then turned away from him and rushed from the room - the rejection.
He had spent the entire night thinking about it, going over it again and again, reliving the sweetness of the kiss, the rightness of the feel of her in his arms and then the desolation of her rejection. Suspecting she would not want to see him again that night, he had avoided his bunk, instead attempting to find some rest on the old sofa in the common area, but sleep had been elusive and memories intrusive.
Still, if she was to stay with him, anything but a certainty if the events of the previous evening were any indication, he would not allow them to remain as they were. He would apologize and allow her to make the decision of whether or not to stay based on his sincerity.
He turned to address his companion before he completely lost his nerve. "Arica, about last night..."
His words died in his mouth as Arica turned toward him, her eyes blazing with anger. "For someone who claims he hasn't gone to Calrissian's charm school, you're certainly giving a good impression of exactly the opposite."
"Is that what you think?" Luke asked, all thoughts of apology forgotten in the face of her accusation.
"What am I supposed to think?" she snapped in response. "You take liberties without asking and then attempt an insincere apology after to assuage your guilt. Sounds like a remarkable Calrissian impression to me."
Luke could not believe his ears. That she could believe him capable of playing with her emotions in such a manner was appalling.
"That's not what it was, Arica."
"You sure could have fooled me. And anyway - it wasn't even a good kiss." Her tone and manner were contemptuous... dismissive.
By now Luke was furious. "Well then, I guess I'm not the only one who can give a good impression," he responded with some venom. "Given the manner in which you responded, it seemed to me like it was a very good kiss!"
She flushed in response to his statement, her eyes lowered to the deck, telling Luke all he needed to know. His anger at her drained as he felt the hurt, anger and confusion radiate out from her suddenly and uncharacteristically transparent shields. For the first time since the previous evening he had hope they would be able to work this out.
"Arica, we're both adults, can't we discuss this in a rational manner?"
For a moment she said nothing. When she finally spoke her voice was quiet, but her eyes never left the deck. "Fine. Speak."
Luke once again experienced a spasm of frustration, but calmed it immediately. He knew by now he would gain nothing by showing his anger with her. A calm, adult discussion was what was needed.
"You have accused me of toying with your emotions; nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, I'm guilty of impulsiveness - something most of my friends would claim is my most endearing fault. Maybe I should have warned you or gotten your permission first, but I would never toy with your feelings."
Her eyes lifted to his face immediately and she studied him, while seeming to consider his words. "You're not sorry for kissing me?"
"Should I be?" he asked bluntly.
She seemed surprised at his question and stared at him for several moments. Her shields were back up full strength and at times like this she was so difficult to read, he sometimes felt he was sinking in deep water. She had a way of mystifying him which gave him a definite sense of unease.
"I don't know," she finally responded.
Luke, however, suspected he had finally seen through her and understood that whatever it was she was angry about, it was not the kiss.
"Arica, I will apologize for surprising you and invading your personal space without permission. But I will not apologize for kissing you."
"Why?" she asked him, her voice quizzical and confused. He was unable to get any reading at all of her, as her shields were tighter than ever.
"I don't know, Arica. I guess because it felt right - no, more than right... It felt amazing. I enjoyed it and I suspect you did too. In fact, I wouldn't mind doing it again..."
She flushed once again and her gaze fell to the deck.
"What is so interesting about the deck?" Luke asked gently, amused at her reaction to his declaration.
She glanced back up at him with a slight smile. "You would?"
"Yes. But next time, I will wait until I have your permission. Now tell me... you obviously aren't angry because I kissed you. Why did you leave so suddenly last night?"
Arica seemed to consider his question as she stared back at him. "Because I thought you were going to apologize for kissing me."
Luke pondered her statement - if she had been afraid he was about to apologize for the kiss, then than meant...
"I was afraid you were going to tell me it was a mistake."
"And do you think it was a mistake?"
She gazed at him briefly before returning her gaze to the floor. The silence stretched out interminably between them, but Luke was determined to hear how she felt. He was attracted to her - incredibly so - but he was unwilling to attempt to move further with this relationship without some encouragement from her.
"I... I don't know," she managed at last. "I don't think it was a mistake... I... I hope it wasn't a mistake."
Luke was filled with relief. Her halting way of expressing herself told Luke he would need to take care in his future dealings with her. But for now, he could simply enjoy the moment and feel relief that she was not angry with him. He reached out and grasped her hand in his own.
"No Arica, I don't believe it was a mistake to kiss you - how could something that felt so right be a mistake? I was merely afraid I had offended you."
"I was not offended... just afraid. Remember I don't have a lot of experience in matters such as this."
"I'll keep that in mind," he responded wryly, as the proximity alert began to ring. "But now, I suppose we'll have to suspend this discussion for the time being. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
She glanced sidelong at him, but made no further comment. Luke eased them out of hyperspace and immediately began to pilot them down through the atmosphere of the planet which had appeared before them.
Mara continued to watch Skywalker out of the corner of her eye; her turmoil had abated somewhat, although her motives and wishes remained firmly beyond her ability to define.
After a sleepless night, Mara had decided to follow her master's instructions to the letter. He wanted her to stay close to Skywalker and seduce him? Fine - that is what she would do. And since he was obviously physically attracted to her, seducing him would be that much easier; all she need do was encourage him until the situation resolved itself in the usual manner.
Her determination had lasted until she entered the cockpit, then all the hurt and anguish of the previous night had washed over her again, leaving her angry and waspish, barely able to remain civil with him.
Arica watched him as he intently guided the ship down through the atmosphere, her emotions in a jumble. He was not sorry for kissing her. The thought ran over and over in her mind, while the part of her which remained the rational, cool assassin reminded her that this was even better than beginning a physical relationship. If he were growing emotionally attached to her, the mission just became all that much easier - she simply needed to encourage his affections, play up the role and make him dependent upon her. She could tease him, tempt him with what it could be, all the while binding him tighter to her. In fact, beginning a physical relationship under such circumstances would almost be counter-productive - she could keep a far greater hold on him by playing to his lust, while denying him the culmination of the physical act.
The other part of her, the part which seemed to have sprung into being since meeting him, warned her that as he was becoming attached to her, she was starting to become attached to him. It was an unsettling thought and one which frightened her.
Then her mind slipped back to the evening before and the feelings his kiss engendered and her face grew hot.
But this is what I wanted, isn't it?
The landing was executed perfectly in the clearing where his X-wing had stood after Yoda had removed it from the swamp, with none of the drama or excitement of his previous visit. As he shut the engines down and prepared to exit the craft, Luke glanced over at his companion, noting the dubious look on her face as she peered out at the gloom of the swamp.
"Seems like a pretty strange place to find a Jedi master," she commented.
Luke grinned at her. "Well, with the Empire's laws against Jedi, he could hardly stay in the swankiest hotel on Coruscant now, could he?"
The comment brought a slight smile to Arica's face. "No, I suppose he couldn't at that. So are you going to tell me about this master of yours, or do I have to wait until I meet him?"
Imagining what her reaction to the aged master would be, Luke shook his head. "Sorry, Arica, but I'm rather interested in your reaction to him. I think I'll let you meet him without any preconceived ideas getting in your way."
Her face tightened slightly, but Arica made no further comment, merely following as he exited the craft.
Dagobah was exactly the same as he remembered it - sodden, dirty and without any redeeming qualities. Having been on Tatooine for as long as he had, with its dry, dusty heat, he immediately felt the difference in the level of humidity, which was already uncomfortable.
Luckily, Yoda's hut was not far from the landing site. He stepped from the gangway of the shuttle and motioned for Arica to follow, noticing for the first time she had her lightsaber strapped to her belt where it bumped against her leg as she walked.
Noticing his glance, she regarded him impassively. "If I'm training to be a Jedi, I should look the part, don't you think?"
Luke said nothing in response. He simply smiled at her and reached out to take her hand, while guiding her through the swamp. He was surprised how quickly his memory of the environment returned. He knew every the innocuous looking place in which one would rapidly sink from sight and never appear again and the safe and dry areas which would lead them on the quickest path to the master. It was only moments before they were approaching the hut.
There, seated on top of a log outside his hut, sat Yoda, regarding them curiously as they approached, but making no attempt to greet them.
"Master Yoda," Luke began, immediately feeling tongue tied and hesitant in the presence of the master. He had not forgotten the circumstances of their parting. "As promised, I have returned."
"So you have," was the reply. "And brought someone with you, you have. Most intriguing, this is."
Yoda's eyes moved to Arica, his gaze frank and appraising and out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw Arica return the look with some amusement.
"So this is your Jedi master?" she asked, her voice light and ironic.
"Need to take that tone with me, you do not," Yoda sniffed disdainfully. "Judge you by my size or appearance do you? Surprising then it is not, that come with him," Yoda jerked his cane in Luke's direction, "you do."
Arica stared incredulously back at master Yoda. Luke, feeling a need to control the situation before the two clashed, intervened.
"Master Yoda, this is Arica. She has asked to accompany me in order to be trained."
Yoda's eyes left his companion and once again focused on Luke, who felt like a schoolboy once again, caught in some prank by a strict and unyielding teacher.
"So great a master you have become, you think, that now train another, you can?"
Luke felt his cheeks burn at the censure in Yoda's voice. "No Master. I am well aware of my own abilities as well as my failures. I have told her I will pass on what I can of my training, but I was hoping you could handle her training while I am away. I must return to the Alliance soon."
Luke felt rather than saw Arica's eyes blazing into him, but he ignored it, knowing this was for the best. Yoda could teach Arica far better than he himself could ever hope to. Neither of his companions said anything for a long moment. Arica, he could tell, was seething, while Yoda seemed content to scrutinize the two humans, chuckling under his breath at something only he found amusing.
"Much anger I sense in you, Arica. Need that, you do not. Only looking out for your best interests, young Skywalker was."
"Maybe he could have asked for my opinion first," she grumbled.
Yoda chuckled again, but this time his laugh turned into an angry cough which wracked his small frame before he was able to control it. Luke was dismayed, never having seen his master in such a state before.
"Come, inside we must go, much to talk about we have."
He shifted his position and hobbling away from the two humans, he trudged away into the hut, leaning heavily on his stick the entire way. Luke exchanged a glance with Arica, noting that she had not missed the master's condition any more than he had. He was struck forcibly by the change in his master - gone was the old, but energetic and powerful creature and in his place was this old and sickly, frail creature, who looked every year of his age.
Inside the hut was much as Luke remembered it - small and cramped, yet dry and cozy. With a third person, it seemed even smaller than before. Yoda puttered around for a few moments and then turned and faced them.
"That face you make, look I so bad to young eyes?"
"No, Master... of course not," Luke hurried to assure him. Something was not right here.
"I do, yes, I do!" Yoda cackled. "Sick I've become. Yes. Old and weak." He seemed to take delight in such morose statements, much to Luke's chagrin.
Yoda straightened and jabbed his cane at Luke for emphasis. "When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not."
Luke smiled in spite of himself, amused at the audacity of the statement. "No master, I suppose I won't at that."
Yoda peered at him, looking for some sense of irony, Luke suspected. Finding none, he painfully made his way to his small bed, lying down and pulling the covers over his frail body with Luke's assistance.
"Soon will I rest. Yes, forever sleep. Earned it, I have."
Luke felt the first fluttering of panic erupt in his chest. "But Master Yoda, you can't die - I won't let you."
Again Yoda chuckled, his voice a wheezing cough which was becoming worse by the moment. "Trained well, and strong with the Force are you - but not that strong. Upon the last of the old Jedi, twilight now reigns and soon night must fall. That is the way of things... the way of the Force. And now from the first of the new Jedi, the light must now emerge. In your hands now, the destiny of the Jedi and the galaxy is."
Luke was desperate. "But I need your help! I haven't completed my training yet."
"No more training do you require. Already you know that which you need."
Luke was stunned. "Then I am a Jedi?" Yet even as he said it he felt a premonition, a sense of something yet to come... something unfulfilled. There was something still which must be done before he could call himself a Jedi.
All this, Yoda watched impassively. "Yes. Do you credit your insight does. One thing remains. Vader... Vader you must confront. Only then a full Jedi will you be. And confront him you will, sooner or later."
The time had come to ask the question which had been on his mind all these months, yet Luke hesitated, glancing over at Arica, who was watching the scene with wide eyes.
Yoda seemed to sense his hesitance. "Young Arica, this discussion, I fear, is not for your ears. Between young Skywalker and me it must stay. Wait outside you must. When finished talking with young Luke I am, other things to say to you, I have."
Arica looked as though she wanted to argue the point, but she relented and slipped from the hut.
Alone with the master, Luke searched for a way to broach the question which had been foremost on his mind for the past six months. He was certain he already knew the answer, but the question must be asked. Yoda's eyes were on him, his manner curious and knowing - Luke knew the master must suspect the reason for his hesitancy and immediately resolved to ask without further delay.
"Master Yoda... is Darth Vader my father?"
Yoda was silent for several moments. "Told you, did he?" Yoda finally asked.
"That's what he told me, yes. At first I thought it must be a falsehood designed to put me off balance, but I realized soon after he had no reason to do so. I was at his mercy and all he needed to do was to finish me off, or capture me for whatever purpose he had in mind. He must have been telling the truth."
"Your father he is," Yoda finally answered. "Most unfortunate this is."
Luke was incredulous. "Unfortunate I know the truth?"
"No! Unfortunate that you rushed to face him - that incomplete your training was... that not ready for the burden were you. Told you everything I would have, when ready you were." The ancient Jedi master paused and snorted, which again turned into a hacking cough. At length he gathered himself and continued, "Obi-Wan would have told you long ago, had I let him... now a great weakness you carry. Master it you must, if to succeed you are."
"I don't know what to do," Luke responded dejectedly. "How can I face my father again? How can I kill him?"
"Face him you must and you will. But to other matters we must move and time is short. Soon another old friend will you see and of him, more of your father you may ask."
Luke was intrigued by his comment about the visit of another friend, but knowing Yoda as he did, he remained silent on the subject. He was still uncertain how he could ever face his father again, but further discussion on the subject would not, Luke was certain, yield the answers he craved, if any such existed. "Other matters?" Luke echoed at last. "What else do we have to discuss?"
"Your companion. Tell me about her you must."
Luke was perplexed, but gamely agreed. Starting from the beginning of their acquaintance, Luke related the story of his meeting with Arica in the throne room of the Hutt's palace, the confrontation on the sail barge and her contribution to the battle, the subsequent retreat to Ben's hut, the visit to the Lars moisture farm and their experiences in Anchorhead. Of the voyage to Dagobah he was deliberately vague and completely left out any mention of what had happened between them the previous night. But as the tale progressed, he could see a look of sly amusement appear on the face of the wizened old Jedi.
"Hmm... a strange tale this is," Yoda commented when Luke had finished. "Brought you together with young Arica, the Force has. I wonder; told me all have you?"
The comment was more of a statement than a question, Luke knew, but he was not about to tell his master of his growing attraction to the inscrutable redhead - some things still remained his own.
When he did not respond, Yoda snorted to himself. "Yes, told me all you have not. Developed feelings for Arica you have. And in so short an acquaintance, most interesting this is."
"How could my feelings be of any importance?" Luke asked with some exasperation.
Yoda regarded him as if he were the densest student he had ever had the misfortune to be stuck with. "Everything. Not by chance did you happen to meet young Arica. A guiding hand I sense in this business, although see more clearly I cannot. The will of the Force it may have been, for you two to have been drawn together. More to say on this subject, I cannot."
Then Yoda glanced slyly at Luke before continuing. "Perhaps, a good time this is not, to inform you of the Jedi rule against attachments."
Luke stared at the Jedi master incredulously - was his master seriously suggesting what he thought? "Are you saying Jedi are not to have relationships? Not allowed to marry or have families?"
"A rule of the old Jedi this was."
Scarcely able to believe his ears, Luke stared at his master, completely dumbfounded at the revelation. He had given up so much already, had sacrificed and was willing to sacrifice even further for his family's debt to the galaxy, his father's debt... Was he required to continue to give up even more? Forego the hope of ultimately having the same relationship with a woman his closest friend now enjoyed? The anger began to build in Luke's mind as he stared at his master in consternation.
"Hmph," Yoda grunted sourly. "Your anger, you must control, if stay on the correct path you will."
With an effort, Luke forced his feelings of anger deep down within him and willed himself to be calm. "But Master, I have fought and struggled for my heritage, for my father's debt, because it was the right thing to do... But I don't thing I want to remain alone for the rest of my life."
"Remember our discussions, do you not?" Yoda responded with some exasperation. "Told you I did, that the rebuilding of the Jedi order, your responsibility would be. For this reason, told you little of the old Jedi I have. Your own judgment and the guidance of the Force you must use, when setting up the new order you must. The Jedi prohibition on relationships this includes."
Luke was silent while he digested this little piece of information. It was obvious Yoda had been amused at his attraction to Arica and had been equally curious as to what his response would be. Obviously, Luke was not yet as much in control of his emotions as he wished to be.
"Why were relationships forbidden, Master?"
"Thought, it was that the way to the dark side, emotions were. Taught the Jedi were that to control and suppress their emotions, the way of the light was. To be a Jedi, give up all and dedicated oneself to the task, one must be. Thought to be a life one could not share with a companion, it was. Perhaps in error this policy was."
"Master, I don't think I could suppress my emotions even if I tried."
The wry smile once again appeared on Yoda's face. "Noticed this I had. However, control your emotions you must. Negative emotions, such as anger and hate, can lead down the path of the dark side and avoid that fate at all costs you must."
"I understand, Master. But what of Arica?"
"Tell you more of her I cannot, for her origins I know not. Possible her story of a mother who was a Jedi is, but who her mother was I cannot say. However, tell you this I can - clouded her future is and a choice she must make and soon. Help her you must to make the correct choice, or dark and dismal the future may become."
"I'm sorry Master, but that's very cryptic."
Yoda chuckled. "Always clear the Force is not and know this by now you should. Was it not you who, seeing a vision, without completing your training, left to rescue your friends? And to help them were you able?"
Luke bowed his head, knowing the master was correct.
"Too hard on yourself you must not be, for make mistakes, all beings do. Now learn from them and shoulder the burden you must. Teach her, learn from her and guide her as well as you can. Already know you, that much depends upon you. Remove this burden from you I cannot. Your destiny this is."
Luke knew his master would tell him more of the young woman if he could, so he did not question his master's wisdom. The thought of going on by himself without Yoda filled him with dread, but he had always known this day would come. Yoda was a member of the old order, while he would become the first of the new. The responsibility had always been his.
"I understand, Master. Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Two things more I would let you know. First, tell young Arica of your heritage you must."
Luke regarded his master in shock. "Tell Arica about my father? Why would I want to do something like that?"
"The reason, I know not. The Force tells me that necessary it is for her to know. You must learn young one, the will of the Force is never to be questioned, only to be obeyed. In you exists the potential to be everything your father was not. If hide from this destiny you do, dire the consequences will be. A secret this business you will not be able to keep forever - eventually come out it will. Do not be afraid of your father's destiny - before sided with the Emperor did he, a great and compassionate Jedi he was. Be as he should have been."
Greatly relieved by his master's words, Luke nodded his head. He had never considered the situation in such a matter and the conflict and ambiguous feelings he had felt in his father now made sense for the first time, giving Luke the first semblance of an idea. Whatever the Emperor had done to convince his father to betray the Jedi, he was certain all the light had not been extinguished. There may yet be a way to bring him back...
"I understand, Master. I will not fail."
Yoda nodded in approval. "Good to hear you say that it is - now fear for you a little less I do. Now, the second thing I must tell you is, before you leave this planet, into the tree young Arica must go."
Blanching at the thought of the tree and his failure all those months ago, Luke swallowed the questions rolling through his mind, knowing his master would not have said anything if his prompting had not been important. "She is to be tested too?"
"Understand that face the dark side of themselves, all must - Arica as did you. True this was even among the old Jedi." Yoda sighed and his eyes closed in remembered pain. "Too secure were we - too complacent. Disappeared for many generations the Sith had. See the danger we did not. Even when we knew the Sith had returned, to their true nature blind we were. With the new Jedi order, this must never happen. Ever vigilant must you be."
"But Master, I had been training for some time before I went into the tree. Isn't it a little soon for this?"
"Help it, I cannot. Time you do not have and things to see young Arica has in the tree."
Luke did not like it, but he knew his master would not insist unless the need was great. "I understand, Master. I will make certain Arica goes into the tree." Luke paused for a long moment before continuing hesitantly, "Master Yoda, I know of my father now... can you tell me anything of my mother? Did you know her?"
"Know her I did. Strong willed and decisive she was. Padmé Amidala of Naboo was her name - first a queen, then a senator. More than this I cannot tell you, for time is short."
"I understand, Master," Luke replied gratefully. "At least with a name and a location, I can look up further information about her. Thank you."
"Proud of you she would be. But speak of this more I cannot. Quickly my strength ebbs and talk with your companion I must. Please, tell her I wish to see her. Call you back in when we are finished. But the things I have told you, remember you must."
Mara paced outside the old Jedi's hut, her mind a mass of roiling emotions and fears. Why did the master want to talk to her and in private? If he suspected her of being the Emperor's agent, why not simply tell Skywalker? The two of them could surely deal with her. And what were they talking about in there? The way they talked about Vader just before she left, it was almost as though there was some dark secret about the Sith Lord which they did not want her to know about. But what it could be, she could not fathom.
She stopped and glanced around, willing herself to calm. The Jedi master would undoubtedly be able to sense her fear if she did not reel in her emotions and she was well aware of the price to be paid for failure. By now she was convinced they would not kill her out of hand - no matter what her master had to say on the subject, Skywalker was not the brutal killer he had been made out to be. But even if they did not execute her out of hand, she had information which would certainly be of use against her master. Surely they were ruthless enough to force her to talk if they suspected her of subterfuge.
Sighing, Mara sat down on the bench and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. The worst part of the situation was the waiting, which allowed her mind to wander in many different ways, torturing her with thoughts of the schemes and plans they could be hatching, the ways the master would try to trap her in her 'interview' with him.
And if that was not bad enough, trying to think of anything else inevitably led to the previous evening and how good it had felt to be in Skywalker's arms, returning his kiss.
This caused her thoughts to continue down another path - one she would have denied if she could. Given her continually strengthening and increasingly undeniable attachment she was forming for him, could she hand him over to the Emperor? Could she allow her master to go through with whatever scheme he had hatched? Whatever her master had in mind, it would not be pleasant for the young Jedi she was certain. How could she possibly avoid it? And how could she even be thinking such things in the first place?
"Arica?"
Startled, Mara surged to her feet, her hand going to her belt, before realizing it was only Skywalker. He regarded her with some amusement as she fought to bring her emotions under control.
"Master Yoda would like to speak to you," he said.
Mara frowned, still unsure about this. "What does he want?"
"I don't know," Skywalker responded with a shrug. "He wouldn't tell me anything."
That reassured Mara to a certain extent, but she was still uneasy about facing the Jedi Master by herself.
All of this Skywalker noted and he raised his hand, squeezing her shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Don't worry, Arica, Yoda might bark a little, but he doesn't bite."
Aware of her continuing unease, but grateful for Skywalker's attempt to reassure her, Mara nodded and allowed her face to display a brief smile, before taking a deep breath and entering the hut.
"Come closer, for many things to discuss have we and time is short.
Mara made her way to the old Jedi's bed and sat down beside it. He glanced at her, a piercing, intense stare which made Skywalker's uncomfortable looks pale to mere glances by comparison.
"Very strange story have you," he began without preamble. "Trained generations of Jedi have I - knew your mother I may have. Her name, can you tell me?"
Mara was ready for this question. "She went by the name Cetia, Master, but I know it was an assumed name. She never told me what her real name was - I assume because it would be safer if I didn't know."
The master regarded her in silence for several moments, an uncomfortable silence in which she could not determine whether he had believed her story, or was contemplating the best way for Skywalker to take her into custody.
"I sense that told me all you have not," Yoda finally responded. "Seems that to secrecy you cling. I wonder why, if nothing to hide you have, confide in us you will not."
The conversation was moving dangerously close to forbidden territory and Mara responded in the only way she could think of - with bluster.
"If you don't trust me," she snarled in response, rising to her feet, "why don't I leave you Jedi to pontificate over the nature of the Force?"
"Sit down!"
Startled by the power of his command, Mara found herself instantly obeying. She had only ever heard one other speak with such power and authority.
Yoda eyed her suspiciously for a moment before closing his eyes wearily. He looked old and tired to her eyes and she knew she was gazing at the last great Master of the old Jedi order, one who must be looked up to with respect.
He was also dying.
"Intriguing you are," he said, opening his eyes once again to study her. "Sense about you a darkness I cannot penetrate. Touched are you by this darkness, yet in you it is not. Swirl around you this darkness does."
Mara watched him as he spoke - his eyes were mere slits as he considered her. For a moment she felt a panic - he knew what she was!
But the old master ignored her and continued his ruminations. "Balanced between light and dark you are - so finely balanced. Which way you will fall, I do not know. Before a precipice you stand. Will you fall off into that pit of darkness and despair from which you can never return, or will you the temptation resist and into the light emerge?"
"What are you saying, Master?" Mara asked, her voice reflecting all the trepidation she felt in her soul.
Yoda opened his eyes fully and gazed at her, his eyes filled with frank appraisal. She did not like the look in his eyes as he considered her.
"Trust me, do you young one?"
Mara was taken aback by the question, but as she considered it, she realized that she did. This kindly old creature would never use her - never keep her in the dark. He had hers - and Skywalker's - best interests at heart and she knew she could trust him.
"I do, Master," she responded simply.
"Good," Yoda responded, his answering smile radiated approval. "Tell you I will what I see, but accept my word alone you must not. The guidance of the Force you must seek; help you young Skywalker will."
At Mara's answering nod he continued, "A choice you must make. Upon this choice, your fate will rest. And maybe the fate of the entire galaxy."
Mara was confused. "A choice, Master? What choice? How will I know?"
"You will know. Trust young Skywalker - far greater is his strength and knowledge of the Force than he realizes. A great Jedi he will become and in you also, the potential for greatness I sense."
Mara's eyes widened at the master's words - no one had ever said such things about her, praised her in such a way. It was completely beyond her understanding to be held to such an ideal, to be considered as having so much potential. She had always been a tool to be used by her master - nothing more.
Yoda was watching her with compassion. "What ails you, young one? So surprised are you of your own potential? So lacking in confidence are you?"
Not knowing what to say, Mara took a moment and attempted to compose herself. She stared down at her boots, her mind awhirl with emotions, her thoughts and suppressed dreams. Everything she was, seemed focused on this moment.
Finally she glanced up to find the master still regarding her. "My..." she began, "my... mother... never saw fit to speak to me in such a way. She... gave me things to do, ways in which I could help our situation, but I was never more than a tool to her. She didn't even train me."
"Believe your story of your mother, I do not," Yoda responded with a snort.
Mara stared back at him incredulously. "Then, why..."
"Because, young one, I told you - in you the potential for greatness I sense. Brought you and Skywalker together the Force has and entwined your lives have become and this in such a short time. Whatever purpose for you the Force has, interfere with it, I cannot."
She wanted to laugh out loud at the preposterous statement - it had not been the Force, but her master's machinations which had brought about their being together. But something stopped her. A premonition of events yet to come perhaps... but certainly of more immediate import was the memory of her attempt to kill Skywalker, her failures on the sail barge, the changes in her orders, the alteration of her perceptions and opinions... the memory of being in Skywalker's arms. She had been thrown so off balance by this man, had failed so completely to complete her mission where she had always been successful in the past. If she were to look in the mirror now and compare herself to the person she had been before this mission, she was not certain she would even recognize herself. Surely there was more going on here than simply her master's plans and hopes, just as she had hope she was more than just an arm of her master's will. Perhaps there was more going on than her master knew.
It was a comforting thought.
"But if you suspect me of lying," she managed at last, "why would you take the chance?"
"Lying, are you?"
"No, of course not!" Mara rejoined angrily.
"Then nothing to fear you have," the master responded with a knowing glance.
She knew she had not fooled him in the slightest, but she could not fathom why he had not challenged her on it or even told Skywalker. Then again, Skywalker was no fool either. He had said nothing to give her concern, but something told her he was no more fooled by her story than his master - he had simply not challenged her on it, nor had he made his disbelief as plain as Yoda had. Neither were behaving as she would have expected, to say nothing of what she had been taught about Jedi all her life.
"Listen to me you must, young Arica. Finely balanced on the edge you are. No darkness in you I sense, but touched you the darkness has. If let it in you do, dire the consequences will be. A choice, I told you, you have. Once made, forever dominate your destiny it will - light and happiness on one side, darkness and despair the other. Trust in Skywalker you must, for your guiding light he will be. Nothing further to say on this subject I have."
"But, master, how will I know?"
"Know you will, when your mind is calm, at peace. Fear, anger, hatred - to suffering and the path the Emperor and Vader now walk, all these lead. Deny these things and right your choice will be."
His reference to her master made her breath catch in her throat, but she had no time to dwell on it as the master seemed to shrink, with the effort of these words seeming to become too much. His eyes fluttered closed and for a moment she thought he had fallen asleep - there was no movement from him, other than the shuddering gasps which passed for his breath. She could sense he would not live much longer.
At length, his eyes opened again and he regarded her, his eyes bleary and unfocused. "Call in young Skywalker, please. Almost spent, my time is."
Nodding her head, Mara rose and left the hut. She immediately spied Skywalker where he sat, in almost exactly the same spot she had occupied previously. His head was bowed over and he appeared to be deep in thought - she could feel his sorrow and despair at the prospect of his master's impending death and the crushing weight of the responsibility which was now his, almost seemed like a physical weight on his slender shoulders. Her heart opened slightly and she felt a rush of compassion and not a little pride in this man.
"Skywalker," she called softly, "Master Yoda wants to see you again."
"I know," he replied simply, though for the moment he did not move. She wondered if he had overheard some of their conversation, or if he sensed through the Force that the end was near.
At length he roused himself and approached, giving her a smile of thanks. Mara moved aside to allow him entrance into the hut, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"Please come, Arica. I think he means for you to be there too."
She was able to do nothing more than nod her agreement shortly, sensing the pain and heartache he attempted to hide from her. She suddenly realized she wanted nothing more than to be there for him, to comfort him.
They entered the hut once again, Skywalker immediately moving to sit to the side of the ancient master, while Mara sat silently a little to the side and behind him. At their presence, Yoda roused himself once again.
"At hand the time is. Once gone am I, the last of the Jedi will you be - or the first. Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. Luke, remember you how you felt when left to face Vader you did?"
At Skywalker's nod, he continued, "When left to rescue your friends you did, revenge you had in your heart. Beware of anger, fear, and aggression. The dark side they are. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. Once down the dark path you start, forever dominate your destiny it will."
"I remember Master; I will not fail again."
Yoda nodded with some difficulty and turned his attention to Mara. "Arica, the things I said, remember you well. The path you will walk, determined by your choice will be. Choose well."
Mara nodded her head, not trusting her voice to speak, lest he hear the falsehood she was certain would shine through.
The master peered at her through increasingly watery eyes, before his head fell back down upon his bed, spent. He mustered the strength for one more exhortation, but his head did not rise again.
"Luke - of the Emperor beware. Underestimate his powers you must not, or suffer your father's fate you will."
Mara blinked at the statement. His father? What has his father to do with this? And who is his father anyway?
But the Master continued on, heedless of her questions. "When gone I am... last of the Jedi will you be. Luke, strong in your family the Force is. Pass on what you... have... learned..."
His voice began to falter, his breaths coming in shorter and shorter gasps until there was almost no movement from his lungs. But summoning one last breath he murmured, "There... is... another... sky..."
He slumped at last against the bed and his last breath fled his now lifeless body - whatever he attempted to say going unspoken. As the air around him stilled, Mara gazed at his body through damp eyes, surprising herself with the depth of emotion she felt at his passing. She realized immediately the effect the old Jedi had had on her, though her acquaintance with him had been measured in mere minutes.
As she watched, the master's body suddenly faded from view and the blanket fell inward upon itself till it rested on the bed where the body had lain. She gasped in surprise, turning her wide-eyed attention on Skywalker, who merely reached over and squeezed her hand in reassurance. She had the distinct impression this was not the first time he had experienced this phenomenon. Tears ran down his cheeks unabashedly, falling like precious diamonds on to his boots.
They sat there together, both silent, each taking comfort in the other's presence, their hands clasped in a light grip.
At length, Skywalker attempted a tremulous smile. "Arica, I need to be alone for a short time," he said, his voice wavering with emotion, "to think and come to grips with this. Please wait here - I will be back shortly."
Mara nodded her head and slipped her hand out of his grasp, watching as he rose from his position on the floor and made his way out of the small hut. The dust motes in the air stirred with his passing and settled back to the floor and still Mara sat unmoving and unresponsive as she struggled with her increasingly chaotic thoughts, trying to process all she had seen and heard.
A/N: Thanks to everyone to read and review. As you can guess, then next chapter is pivotal - perhaps the most important chapter in the entire story. I have a discussion question to pose to everyone who reads this. Mara will go into the tree in the next chapter and I would like to know everyone's opinion - what will she see in the tree? I have the whole sequence pretty much planned out in my mind, but I am very interested in other opinions. Consider this a chance to influence the direction of the story and let me know what you think!
JE
