Tattooine: Four days later:
Luke walked down the boarding ramp of the Falcon in silence followed by Han, Chewie and Leia.
"Lando will stay with the ship while we do business in Mos Espa," Luke stated.
"What's your plan?" Leia asked.
"We will get the parts from Watto for the Falcon and then we will head off to Jabba's Palace," Luke replied.
"I understand," Leia replied.
Luke at the same time spoke, "Don't end up out of our sight for even a minute Leia, this planet is no place for women."
"You act so paranoid, all because you're my older brother."
"Don't take his statement lightly, I've seen some horrible things happen on this planet," Han commented.
Leia said nothing as she followed her brother and her boyfriend into the city.
At the same time, Luke stared at the sign ahead of him in disgust, "This Slave Market must be new. I don't remember it when I was last here."
"When were you here last?" Leia asked.
"Ben sent me up here on a mission when I was seventeen," Luke replied.
Leia at the same time stared towards the large stage noticing a large line of chained women being marched across the stage.
They all were well groomed and dressed in fairly revealing outfits, it made her sick that men made their living conducting such a lucrative business.
"Luke, how can anyone sleep at night after doing such an evil?"
Luke shook his head, "Do you see why even our Father hates men like this? Slavers have no morals or honor."
"I really feel bad for him after hearing about everything. I had no idea that he had such a horrible life."
Luke didn't respond, something had caught his eye.
Mara Jade stared down from her position with a smile, everything had worked out as planned. Even better, the men that had kidnapped her were in truth one of the main suppliers of the Mos Espa Slave Markets.
Now, here she was dressed in almost nothing. She had a simple silk outfit that did nothing more than cover her most sacred areas, while leaving her legs, her back and nearly all of her body exposed to the eye. Even better, Skywalker was among the crowd. After growing up with his Holoimages, and his wanted posters she knew all to well what he looked like.
The only thing that she hadn't anticipated was her transmitter being reactivated. Escape from Tattooine was impossible at this point. She knew that had her plan failed she would have had to wait to be sold to escape, since the seller (who was far from weak minded) only had to press a button to temporarily paralyze her.
She looked towards Luke, and at that moment her eyes were locked with his.
Luke noticed a slimy man, of around forty approaching him.
"Do you see something that interests you Sir? The Girls here are well fed and they haven't been touched by any of my associates or myself. Is there one that you would like to take a closer look at?"
Luke stared at the beautiful redheaded girl noticing the way she stared at him as she moved as close to him as her chains would permit.
"Take me with you!" She screamed.
"Please buy me! Please buy me!"
The man started to laugh, "It looks like someone wants to be sold."
Luke looked at the girl a second time, she was beautiful, so beautiful he thought. At the same time, he did his best to control his eyes, he didn't want the lust to overtake him. The lust that he was feeling just by examining her slender body that was displayed perfectly by her skimpy outfit.
Either way, it was obvious that she wanted him to buy her. Any girl would want him before ending up with some sick man that was as old as their grandfather, he thought as he stared towards the girl. There was something else about her though, while all of the girls on display were very attractive, there was something that stood out about the redhead. The way she carried her head was far different than that of the other girls. She carried her head higher and she appeared to have a far stronger spirit, despite the fact that she was a slave.
"How much does she cost?" Luke asked.
"Let me check my datapad," The man stated.
Leia looked at her brother in shock, "You're buying a slave?"
"Do you think that I'm really so eager to be a slave owner? I can free her once we're away from this place," Luke whispered.
"You have a point," Leia replied.
The slimy man approached Luke with a smile, "I will give her to you for thirty grand. She has a transmitter that is in her vertebra. It was already in her when some of my suppliers brought her. She's probably been in the trade most of her life based on how faded the scar is. She's all yours for thirty thousand."
Luke immediately pulled out a valid credit chip, "You have a deal."
Within moments, he noticed the girl being removed from the line of captives as she was led towards him.
Luke continued to examine the girl, hating the images that were entering his mind. He was human after all and he knew that he couldn't help it.
The moment that the girl was brought to Luke clad in a set of binders he spoke, "What is your name?"
"Mara, Mara Jade," the girl replied as the seller handed him the control for her transmitter.
Luke smiled, "Do you really need these binders Mara?"
Mara shook her head, "No, not now that you have bought me."
Luke wordlessly raised his hand and Mara's binders fell to the ground.
"Follow me," Luke stated as the seller walked away from him.
Mara looked at Luke with a smile as she spoke, "Thank you so much for choosing me."
Mara breathed in deeply as she continued, "You're Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Rebel who fights to free this Galaxy."
"I am," Luke replied.
Mara moved forward and hugged Luke tightly.
Luke merely returned the embrace while Han and Leia exchanged glances.
Leia smiled, "It looks like this girl likes him," She whispered.
Han gave Leia a nod, "It will be interesting to see what happens," He whispered back.
Mara immediately fell into step alongside Luke as they walked towards Watto's shop.
Luke entered the run down junk shop in shock as he stared towards the counter. He looked towards the far side of the room and noticed a doorway leading into the junk yard.
He breathed in deeply as memories of his Father telling him stories of his mother started to flow through him, this was where his Father and Mother had first met.
He looked at Leia and spoke, "This is where our parents first met," Luke whispered.
Leia nodded as she heard the sound of flapping wings.
Luke looked to see an old Toydarian approaching him, "Ah, what can I do for you today?" the creature asked.
Luke smiled, "We need parts for a YT 1300 freighter."
"Ah yes Corellian, we've got lots and lots of em."
Luke nodded as he gestured towards Han, "My friend here has a list of what we need."
Watto said nothing as he stared Luke over in silence.
"Y-You're little Ani's boy aren't you? I've seen you on the holonet a few times. Vader got a big price on your head."
Luke smiled, "I certainly am."
Watto moved closer and looked Luke over as he spoke, "You ah look just like him. Is Ani still alive? Or did he die in the Purges?" Watto asked.
Luke grimly shook his head, "He died when I was fifteen, I've been on my own since then."
"Well, make him ah proud. If anyone can take down this Emperor Vader, I know that Ani's boy can do just that," Watto stated with a smile.
Watto then looked towards Han and spoke, "Come on back, I will help you find what you need," Watto stated.
As Skywalker and Captain Solo left the room, Mara looked at her surroundings in shock, the junk shop was the exact junk shop that her Master had described to her. He had described Watto's voice to her perfectly as well as the environment that he had grown up in.
She had seen the environment through his eyes just within the time that she had spent in the Slave Market as well as the time that she had spent walking through the streets with Skywalker and his friends.
Knowing that Luke was most likely distracted, she reached out in the Force as she sent a message to her Master, "I'm with Luke right now, and I will gain his trust easily."
Luke walked out of the junk yard that his Father had worked in with Han and Watto at his side as he spoke, "How much do I owe you?"
"One hundred credits will ah cover everything," Watto replied.
Luke nodded as he pulled out a valid credit chip.
A few minutes later, after paying Watto, Luke left the shop and headed into the streets of Mos Espa with Mara at his side.
He looked at Mara from the corner of his eye, noticing just how much she was watching him.
Leia was also watching Mara, it was obvious that the girl was interested in her brother, and Leia was far from surprised. In truth, Luke had gained the attention of multiple girls over the years. She had seen plenty of them offer themselves to him and weather Luke accepted or not, she did not know.
She in truth didn't want to know just as she didn't want to know about Han's past girlfriends.
As the group approached the Falcon, Luke noticed Lando walking down the boarding ramp, "I've got the Falcon running. Are we heading to Jabba's Palace?"
Luke nodded as Lando noticed Mara at Luke's side, "Who is she?"
"This is Mara, we picked her up in the Market, we're going to get her off of this planet."
"I see, pleased to meet you Mara."
Mara gave Lando a smile in response as the group boarded the Falcon.
Han and Chewie then headed to the cockpit with Luke, Leia and Lando while Mara sat down at the nearby table next to 3PO and R2.
Leia at the same time, headed into the cockpit.
Once the door was closed Leia spoke, "Luke what are your real plans for her?"
"Just get her some real clothes once we are safe to go into Theed, give her some money and set her free."
"What about your Father? What if she finds out that you're Vader's kid?" Lando asked.
"I honestly haven't thought of that," Luke replied.
"She likes you Luke," Han stated.
"All the girls have always liked me and the same is for you Han," Luke calmly replied.
Leia shook her head, "Just be careful about what you tell her, the fact that she recognizes us is dangerous enough."
"At this point, there are very few in the Galaxy that don't know my face, you have to be in the middle of nowhere to not recognize me," Luke stated.
"But I never heard of you until a few days ago," Lando commented.
"But you haven't left Bespin in years and you're in a sector where almost nothing happens," Luke replied.
"You got to give me credit for knowing who the Galactic Emperor is though," Lando replied.
"I would be very worried if you didn't know that," Luke stated with a smile as the Falcon touched down just a few feet from Jabba's Palace.
Han looked at Leia and spoke, "I would really prefer to have you stay on the ship," Han stated.
Leia in response revealed the hilt of a lightsaber and within seconds, she had produced a blue blade.
Luke looked at his sister in shock, "You finished it?"
Leia smiled as she handed the saber to her brother, "Do you want to see it?"
Luke nodded as he examined the hilt, "You're a Jedi now," Luke stated with pride.
"What are you going to do since you lost your lightsaber in the fight?" Han asked.
Luke in response folded his black robe back and revealed a lightsaber hilt, "I just picked up Ben's lightsaber, I will use it until I can make a new one."
Once the Falcon had landed, Han followed his friends towards the boarding ramp as he prepared to enter Jabba's Palace.
Luke looked at Mara with a smile, "Just wait here, we will be back in a few minutes, we just have to do some business."
"I understand Master," Mara replied as Luke turned and wordlessly walked down the ramp.
Vader watched through a set of Electrobinoculars as his Son and Daughter approached Jabba's Palace along with their companions.
He reached for his comlink as he spoke to Jixton who was within the Palace, "It certainly looks like things are going according to planned."
"I'm just asking myself how the hell Jade ended up onboard the Falcon when she never met up to make a plan with me."
"She's a very sharp one, she must have made her own plan," Vader stated.
Jix laughed, "I wonder just how easily a girl with her looks will do in terms of manipulating him."
Vader shook his head, "Only time will tell, be ready and make sure that Fett is ready. Vader out!"
Vader then reached for his comlink as he spoke, "Commander, I want you to march the squad towards the Palace. The time has come, I want you to surround the Palace and see that nothing leaves," Vader stated.
"Yes your Majesty," A young Officer replied from the other end.
Vader then headed towards the road leading to Jabba's palace as a squad of battle hardened stormtroopers from the 501st Legion marched up behind him.
Leia looked at her surroundings as she walked through the Palace, noticing how unsurprised Luke was by the Palace and the Gamorrean Guards that were leading them towards Jabba's Throne Room.
Leia at the same time, found herself less than impressed with the Twi'lek servant of Jabba's that was leading them, she could sense his sick and evil mind just by looking at him.
As they entered the Throne Room, Leia noticed the disgusting Hutt sitting on the Throne with a Twi'lek Slave Girl sitting on the Throne in front of him, with a collar on her neck that was connected to a leash, along with a skimpy outfit that showed most of her body to the scum that were throughout the room.
She looked at Luke in disgust, "How barbaric," Leia whispered.
"The same thing could have happened to Mara had I not purchased her. In a Hutt's Palace, only the Hutt matters, no one else matters."
Leia cringed in response.
As Luke took his position behind his friend, Han spoke, "Jabba, I'm here with the money I owe you plus an extra thirty percent. Consider us even," Han stated as he offered out a valid credit chip.
Bib Fortuna immediately snatched the chip out of Solo's hands as he carried it towards Jabba.
"Solo, it has been almost four years," Jabba yelled out in Huttese.
"I've been running from Imperials for all of that time. It took until now to return," Han replied.
"It is to late for restitution Solo, you may have been a good smuggler but now you're Bantha Fodder," Jabba stated.
Jabba at the same time, rested his eyes on Leia with a smile as he spoke, "While you will not live, I will keep your girlfriend. Bring her to me!" Jabba stated.
Han, Chewie and Lando all raised their blasters as Luke and Leia activated their lightsabers.
At the same time a dark voice spoke, "It looks like I came just in time for the fun."
Leia turned to see her Father walking into the room with his usual yellow eyes which she could see despite how dimly lit the room was.
At the same time, Han stepped forward as a trap door opened.
"Han!" Leia screamed.
Luke immediately discarded his robe as Vader spoke, "Take this!"
Luke caught his lightsaber in mid air and gave his Father a smile before jumping into the pit.
Chewie and Lando immediately started blasting the oncoming rush of bounty hunters, smugglers, and killers as Vader sent a storm of lighting into the crowd.
Leia at the same time started to use her lightsaber to decapitate several Gamorreans as Vader fell into step alongside you.
"If you have been learning the ways of the Force, why didn't use use your lightsaber against me on Bespin?"
"It wasn't finished yet, and Luke told me that under no circumstances could you know who I was."
Vader sneered as he beheaded a Rodian thug, "All because he doesn't want you to know who I am, just as Padme didn't want you to know."
"Luke said that I wasn't ready, I'm still trying to accept the fact after all of the pain that you caused me," Leia countered as she impaled a hideous looking alien thug.
"Try living with the pain that I have carried everyday since the day that I was born."
"I know, Luke was telling me. I-I had no idea," Leia replied.
"It seems like you're having a nice conversation but we need help back here!" Lando screamed as he was thrown to the ground by a large Trandoshan.
Vader immediately released a fearsome storm of lighting, that engulfed the creature.
Leia at the same time, noticed Chewie tossing a human male against the nearby wall.
At the same time, she noticed a strong muscular man in the far corner of the room dueling two of Jabba's with a vibrostaff.
She also noticed Boba Fett in the far side of the room, casually picking thugs off with his blaster rifle.
Luke looked at Han as the doors in front of them opened to reveal a rancor that was moving towards them.
"This way Han," Luke stated as he pointed towards a hole that was under some debris.
The two men climbed under as Han fired his blaster at the creature.
"Blasters don work on them," Luke stated.
"What does?" Han asked.
"My Lightsaber will."
Luke then looked towards the far side of the room behind him as he spoke, "We can make it to one of those rooms and trap him."
"Trap him?" Han asked.
Luke nodded as he noticed several large fingers reaching for him as the rancor attempted to seize himself and Solo.
He quickly took a nearby skull and started beating on the beast's fingers as he spoke, "Just get to that room and wait for me!"
Han immediately ran as his friend was picked up by the creature.
As the Rancor picked Luke up, Luke activated his lightsaber and sliced into the creatures thumb.
He then pulled out Obi-Wan's lightsaber which he used to slice into the creatures fingers.
within seconds, the Rancor dropped Luke to the round as it roared in agony.
Luke then ran towards the nearby room while noticing that Han already had the door open.
He entered the room while using the Force to call a skull to his hand.
As the Rancor stepped under the durasteel door, he used the Force to send the skull crashing into the controls of the door and the door collapsed upon the unsuspecting beast.
Luke then activated his lightsabers as he spoke, "Start blasting the thugs in front of us."
"You got it kid," Han stated as he looked ahead of him at the group of armed thugs.
As the cage was sliced open, blasters started firing. Luke easily was able to protect himself and Solo with his two lightsabers as he charged into the mob and started to cut the mix of humans and aliens into pieces.
Han ran in behind Luke as he spoke, "Let's get to the Throne Room."
Luke nodded as he ran with his friend.
As he entered the Throne room, he noticed Leia killing two thugs as Chewie and Lando continued to fire their blasters.
He noticed his Father, Fett and Jix all continuing to fight, as he heard his Father's sick laughter echoing through the room
He spoke, "Come on, we're done here!"
Leia immediately moved from her position and ran to her brother's side as Lando and Chewie joined them
"Let's get out of here while we can!" Luke exclaimed.
Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and Lando then ran through the chaotic Palace and towards the main door.
As they came out of the Palace, Luke noticed a large phalanx of stormtroopers standing in front of him and his companions.
"Hands up Rebels!"
Luke in response jumped forward with both lightsabers activated as he landed in the center of the phalanx. He then started to swing his blades as he brought the Imperials down.
Within seconds, the entire squad was decimated as Luke rushed towards the Falcon followed by Leia and their faithful friends.
Vader impaled Bib Fortuna as he turned towards the now helpless Jabba, "Your time is up Jabba. This planet is now going to be under full Imperial control."
"That won't be easy Vader," Jabba replied.
"Once you're dead it will be," Vader replied as he noticed Fett and Jix standing at the far side of the room.
Vader then raised his flesh hand as he released a deadly storm of lighting.
Jabba immediately let out a horrifying scream as the lighting engulfed his slimy body.
Luke and Leia ran onboard the Falcon as Han and Chewie rushed towards the cockpit followed by Leia and Lando.
"I'll get us out of here!" Han exclaimed.
Luke looked towards Mara as he sat down, "Buckle in, it's going to be one bumpy ride."
"Ok," Mara replied as she slid into the seat, Luke then sat down next to her as the Falcon lifted off.
Mara at the same time stared at Luke as the young Jedi found himself captivated by her emerald eyes.
Without thinking, Luke moved closer and captured Mara's lips with his own in a passionate kiss.
Luke then wrapped his arms around Mara as he started to run his hands through her hair. Within seconds, he was feeling her soft skin as his hands up and down her sides and her bare back.
As they broke the kiss Mara spoke, "Thank you so much for buying me. I promise you that I will serve you well and that I will give you what you want."
Luke shook his head in disgust, "Let me get something straight, I'm only saying this once, I don't believe that anyone should have the right to own another being."
Mara looked at Luke as though she was shocked, "What will become of me then?"
"You will be freed," Luke stated as he gave Mara a second kiss.
Mara looked at Luke in disbelief, "Freed? that is something that I have always dreamed of."
"How long have you been a slave for?"
"All of my life," Mara replied.
Sounds familiar, Luke thought. Was it possible? History did repeat itself. Thirty five years ago, his mother found a young slave boy in Mos Espa who became her future husband, his Father. Now, here he was with a slave girl from Mos Espa. Was she destined to become his wife? Luke asked himself.
Alright, that's it for now, Thank you for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate the reviews. I made this chapter extra long because it will be the last time that I will be able to update this week. I have a very busy week , but I will update once I can. Until then, there is this chapter and the new chapter for Always In The Hands Of Destiny.
-Fallen Jedi 79