Yoda1976--Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. I always enjoy writing scenes with naked women. I was pretty proud of the old code as well, glad it worked for you.

Tilius--Thank you.

master cheif rulz--Adria won't be born for another 150+ years. However, within this story at least, I take the position that just as the Ori can create new Priors and Docis, they can also create new Oricis.

Kahless21--Thank you. A little reprieve before the final battle. But Ragnarok is coming, have no fear.

murdax--Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

So here is Chapter 34, a brief respite before the final battle hits. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Eye of the Storm

The liberation of Coruscant was met with universal acclaim among the systems of the Alliance. Kir Kanos, Baron Soontir Fel and Jedi Knights Kyle Katarn and Ekria were held out as heroes of the people. Kir, Ekria and Kyle shunned the fame. But Fel, who was married to a stunningly beautiful holonet star, accepted the role of celebrity with grace.

"People need heroes," he explained to Ekria. "Better to have one with some sense of honor, wouldn't you say?"

With the restoration of the capital on Coruscant, governments that had previously refrained from joining now petitioned Alliance One in droves. The Hapes Consortium and the Corporate Sector Authority both petitioned, as did hundreds of smaller systems. With the flood of systems came a flood of logistical support, supplies and personnel.

Star destroyers ran at full capacity for the first time since the death of the Emperor. Ship yards were repaired or in some cases constructed from scratch, and new ships began rolling off production lines. And with almost unlimited resources, the super star destroyers were converted to each carry one of the remaining five superlasers from the Death Star prototype. It all happened in just a matter of weeks.

And everywhere tiny, extragalactic gray aliens were tinkering with and advising shipbuilders and engineers, improving drive system efficiency, and installing new shielding. The shields were the greatest innovation the galaxy had ever seen. Although not as strong as the shields of the combined Ori phalanx of destroyers, the shields nonetheless were more powerful than any ship-borne shield ever seen, and eliminated the need for separate ray and particle shields. For the first time, those in command looked upon their combined forces and felt they had a real chance at complete victory.

During that time, Luke rested and recovered. And Mara Jade stayed by his side the whole time. With Mara ruthlessly running off anyone who stayed more than a few minutes, it was the closest thing to a vacation Luke had ever experienced.

It was certainly the most wonderful. Because when Mara had run any visitors away (and it was a sight to see Mara Jade browbeat and intimidate even the great Chewbacca!) she crawled right back into Luke's bed and snuggled up against him. She was there when he woke up in the mornings, and there when he fell asleep, and each time he opened his eyes and saw her there, his heart skipped a beat and he realized how truly, completely in love he was with this woman.

"We need to get married," he said on the fifth day of his convalescence.

"Yeah," Mara said.

"I mean, we need to get married now."

She propped herself up on her pillow and stared at him. "Luke, it's a little late for the whole 'waiting until marriage' thing. We lasted about a day, if I remember."

He giggled. He couldn't help it. The thought of that first time made him feel giddy. And the second. And third. And, well, he'd lost count. It had been five days, after all. Even weakened, she strengthened him enough for that and more.

"So, why this sudden rush?"

"Because the idea of not being married to you is unbearable," Luke finally said. "And because this is likely going to be the closest thing to a honeymoon we're going to have anytime soon. And…" He didn't want to finish the last thought, but she was so close to him now, physically and in the Force, that she didn't need him to say it to know what he meant.

"You want to make sure we're married before we start the final push against Corellia."

He nodded, somber now. Although he was still pale, and likely would be the rest of his life, and his voice was still thin and scratchy, and would be the rest of his life barring surgery, his color was better, and he had proven his strength was returning many times. Still, the ordeal on Centerpoint had changed him in ways Mara knew she would never truly understand.

"So, how do Jedi get married?" Mara asked.

"I don't think they did," Luke said. "But I had a dream not long ago. An ancient Jedi was reciting the code to me, but it was different than what Yoda taught me. Our code states 'There is no emotion, there is peace.' But this Jedi said 'Emotion, yet peace'."

"So, what's the difference?"

"I think somehow, at some point, the code was changed from what it originally meant. The code Yoda taught me seems to want to either deny, or at least severely control emotions. No emotional attachment, hence no marriage. But what if that was a perversion of the original code? Maybe the truest expression of a Jedi is love and attachment."

"Maybe. So, what's your point?"

"That we should get married. Today. Tomorrow at the latest."

"So, are you going to propose?"

"I thought I just did."

"You suggested. You haven't actually asked me to marry you yet."

"Hmm, you're right."

Luke pulled himself out of bed, his legs weak but much stronger than before. He looked down and made sure he was properly dressed, and then stepped out of the room. Mara watched in surprise, and then sat up further when Luke returned with Cilghal in tow.

"Master Skywalker, I don't understand what is so important that it couldn't wait for me to finish my paperwork," Cilghal was saying.

"It's important. I need a witness."

"A witness?" Mara asked.

"A witness?" Cilghal asked.

"A witness," Luke said, firmly. "It's another Naboo custom I read about a few months back. And since technically I'm Naboo…"

"A custom for what?" the Jedi healer demanded.

Luke, however, had eyes only for Mara. He guided her off the bed, holding both hands, and still in his sleeping clothes, kneeled on the floor before her, looking up at her with adoring eyes. "Mara Jade, will you be my wife?"

"I don't know," Mara said, though her voice was thick with emotion. "I heard Kyle was still available."

Luke knew the answer too well to be stricken, though Cilghalshook her head. "I have it on great authority that Kyle is committed to a long term relationship," he said. "He's pledged his life to a potential Jedi named Kaylie."

"She's only six months old. That's a long time to wait. I'm sure he'll get lonely in the meantime."

"Mara, the floor is really hard and my knees are starting to hurt," Luke said plaintively.

She laughed, leaned down and kissed him passionately. "I will be your wife." She kissed him again slowly, passionately. After several moments of the lingering kiss, she looked up at Cilghal. "Leave now. Please."

Cilghal, knowing Mara, merely clucked her tongue in a Mon Cal chuckle and left.

"You know what," Mara said when they were alone. "I've never made love to a fiancé before."

"Me neither."

"Better get to it, then!"

That evening, Luke and Mara left their quarters for the first time since returning to the fleet to join Anakin for dinner. The only other guests were Han and Leia, and Tallisibeth. The older Jedi wore her brown robes as always, but sat near Anakin's side with a patient look of happiness on her face. All the Jedi and most of the crew knew of their relationship, but the two acted with such reserve and dignity that no one felt any need to comment on it.

Anakin was the first to lift a glass when all were seated. "To Luke and Mara. And to Han and Leia. May you all live in happiness and joy."

"Here, here," Han said, and they toasted each other before drinking the fine Naboo wine. "So, Luke, you and Mara are really getting married tomorrow?"

"No time like the present," Luke said.

"Besides," Mara added with a smirk, "we're not presidents or anything, so we don't have to have a big fancy ceremony."

Leia muttered, "Force preserve us. If ours gets any bigger we're going to have to rent a planet."

"Will you consent to marry us, Father?" Luke asked.

"It would be the greatest honor I have ever had," Anakin said. He looked at Leia and smiled. "As would it be for me to give you away, Leia. I can't tell you what it meant to me that you asked."

Nothing more needed to be said; everyone knew exactly what it meant for Leia to ask the former Darth Vader to give her away at her wedding.

The food came, and they ate while talking. Anakin began talking about the many adventures he had as a young padawan. His audience was amazed, especially when it came to his courtship and marriage to Padmé Naberrie

"I don't know," Han said after hearing the tale. "First time I mentioned kissing around Leia, she said she'd rather kiss a Wookiee."

"Chewbacca's still waiting, from what I understand," Luke said.

Leia blushed and elbowed him. "I have kissed him, on the cheek. I got a mouthful of fur for my trouble."

They laughed and settled back in their seats. Beyond a transparisteel window, the distant sun lifted over the Coruscant horizon, lighting the many swathes of green the Ori had carved into the ecumenopolis "So what happens next?" Han asked.

Anakin's expression darkened slightly. "From what Luke has said, we have to take Centerpoint, and we have to do so soon."

"And what assets do we have?"

"By the time we're ready to move, we'll have six Eclipse-class converted dreadnoughts with superlasers and Asgard shields. We have resonance torpedoes designed by Admiral Daala's development staff that even the Asgard believe can render Ori shields vulnerable to attack. And the combined fleets of the Galactic Alliance."

"And the Ori have at least ten thousand ships, possibly more, to fight back with," Han pointed out. "And their destroyers are easily as powerful as our dreadnoughts, and a lot smaller."

"And there's something else," Luke said. His rasping voice still made Leia wince. Anakin merely nodded.

"The glowpoint," the elder Skywalker said.

"It is where the Ori would emerge into our universe," Luke said. "It draws and focuses the power from the gravitation fields of the twin planets. The Ori will be able to replace the Doci quickly, but when I killed the first one I sensed that I had undone his work. It will take weeks for the new Doci to resume what his predecessor started. But time is short. More than anything else, our first responsibility has to be the destruction of the glowpoint."

The table was silent for a moment before Mara nodded. "We need to infiltrate the station in force and destroy the glowpoint first and foremost," she finally said.

"Yes," Luke said. "And not just with soldiers. The Jedi, all of us, must go."

"Our numbers have increased since you and Mara left," Anakin said. "Ferris discovered two former padawans who had survived on Ord Mantell. They have joined the cause and are nearly at the level of knights."

"And don't forget Kir Kanos," Mara said.

Anakin nodded. "Yes, Kir. I will have to discuss any operations with him personally."

"Let me guess, Darth Vader did bad things to Kir," Han said.

"Darth did bad things to everybody," Anakin said with a sad sigh. "Kir is another good man the Imperial machine turned bad. I hope we can make it right. He is powerfully force sensitive and would make a good Jedi, if his soul is still repairable."

"So who would lead the assault on Centerpoint?" Han asked.

"I would," Anakin said. "This is too important for me to stay behind. In fact, the only Jedi not to go should be you, Leia, because of your other responsibilities. And Cilghal."

Leia was too practical to protest, though she looked unhappy at the idea of being left behind.

"Overall fleet command should be coordinated between Admirals Piett and Ackbar," Anakin continued. "We will have to draw up very specific plans of attack and we will require extraordinary coordination."

The discussion went on for a long time as plans were laid. They all knew the admirals and generals would truly finalize the plans, but everyone realized the true leadership of the free galaxy was in that room.

They also realized the possibility that not all of them would make it out of the mission alive.

The next day, with only the Jedi and afew close friends such as Colonel Wedge Antilles and Grand Admiral Piett, Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade were married by Anakin Skywalker on the surface of Coruscant. Anakin surprised them all by wearing the traditional brown and tan robes of a Jedi, and what could only be described as a beneficent smile.

Luke wore the robes of a Jedi as well. Mara, however, wore a traditional Naboo wedding dress with a veil thrown over not just her face, but the whole of her head. The dress was a white silk native to Naboo that caressed the curves of her body, but left her back bare to the base of her spine. It was a gift from Leia, who upon seeing the taller woman in it realized now she could never have worn it herself. "I just don't have the right shape," she whispered to Han.

There were no attendants, as that was not the Naboo custom. Rather, it was the bride and groom standing alone before the priest, or Jedi in this case. Nor did they marry on a ship, but instead stood at the base of the Manarai Mountains on Coruscant, under a cloudless blue sky at the shores of an artificial and yet still beautiful sea.

When Luke spoke the traditional Naboo responses, his voice came out thin and weakened, but he said them with a firm, loving expression. Mara spoke hers with quiet dignity and strength. And when the traditional scarves were laid across their wrists to symbolize their union, they kissed each other so intensely those in the front row actually smiled and looked away at the heat generated. Leia wiped tears from her eyes, and smiled when the young Jedi Darana handed her a cloth. Darana cried openly and seemed to be filled with all the emotions of the crowd. She was also staring unabashedly at Wedge, who was starting to get a little warm under the collar himself.

Until, that is, Han elbowed him in the ribs and held out a hand. Wedge rolled his eyes, pulled out a credit disk, and handed it over. It had seemed like such a safe bet, too. Surely Luke would never marry an ex-imperial assassin.

Three days later, as the amplified light of the Coruscanti sun rose over those same Manarai Mountains, the combined fleets of all the free galaxy left orbit to join in the greatest battle the galaxy had seen.