Mara tugged at Luke's heavy form, struggling to lift him, catching sight of his lifeless face and slack lips. She heard Vader shuffling along, barely able to make his way to them. She watched and realized he was no more able-bodied than she was; she couldn't carry Luke on her own though.
The Death Star shook as a salvo hit it, shaking the scaffolding and beams. She looked toward the window.
"The Alliance is almost through," She whispered, looking back to Vader then down at Luke. "We have to get him out of here. There's not much time." Getting Luke to a transport was the only hope in saving his life.
She felt tears blur her vision and the station rocked again and a gantry loosed from its place above their heads and came crashing down. She winced and Vader stumbled. He stood there for a moment, staring up at them, his black cape billowing. He touched it briefly and pulled it off, offering it to her as he mounted a few steps.
"Take this and use it."
Mara eyed the cloak, a light clicking on in her head. "As a litter." She murmured, "That's a good idea."
Mara bent down, picking up Luke under the arms and hauling him with all her strength to the steps. If Vader could meet her even half way, they could get Luke down from there and to the turbolift. As she reached the edge of the dais, she saw the Dark Lord had reached the top of the steps. He was now wheezing harder and Mara felt a snag of guilt.
He reached her and laid the cloak out on the steps below. Mara tugged and pulled at Luke until she managed to maneuver him onto it. Luke's body bumped and jolted down the steps and she winced. She mentally shook her head. His life was on the line. Vader still had a grip on his end of the cloak and Mara straightened up, her muscles and body itself crying out in pain.
"On my count," She gritted out. "One, two three."
They lifted the inert body up, half carrying half dragging Luke down the steps. It was the best they could do given the circumstances. It took at least five minutes to get him all the way down the steps. "I can handle it from here." She assured and hauled him the rest of the way into the waiting turbolift.
Once inside, she checked for signs of life; it was even fainter, she looked up at Vader.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"I've overridden the system. This will take you straight down to the hanger without stopping."
"Aren't you coming with?" Mara's voice trembled.
Vader shook his head. "My strength is gone." He explained then sort of stumbled and caught himself against the wall. "Now, go."
He triggered the turbolift.
"What!?" was the last thing Mara uttered before the door shut.
-
Mara made it down to the hangar and the Death Star shook again, the blaring alert filled the air as the doors opened. She hurriedly pulled Luke across the floor, watching as crewmen dashed about, attempting to flee the imminent destruction of the spacestation. They paid no mind to the girl dragging the lifeless male form. Mara finally made it to a Lambda class shuttle, and with all her strength pulled him toward its lowered ramp. Somehow she managed to pull Luke up the ramp and toward seating in the back, the ship and the spacestation shaking.
She eventually got him strapped in and felt for a pulse a second time before leaving his side. As she ran to the cockpit, slapping the hatch closed as she did, another rattle rocked the ship. She knew time was closing in. This was it, she thought, entering the cockpit.
Within seconds, Mara had the ship powered up and lifting off the trembling hangar bay, as she maneuvered her way around the collapsing wreckage.
-
A brilliant explosion appeared in her peripheral as the Death Star destructed in on itself. She was far enough out so as to escape the blast. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked back behind her. Mara unstrapped herself and rushed to the back. She dropped down next to her lover and felt for his pulse once more. She could feel his Force signature waning more, even before she felt for the pulse.
"Hold on. Just hold on." She whispered close to his face.
_
Some hours later, aboard Home One, Mara was relieved that Luke was finally in the hands of the best of the Alliance's medical staff. She was fuming, on the other hand, because they had insisted she should wait in the outer lounge. Never one to cool her heels in the best of circumstances, Mara could not and would not sit still!
"You will come get me as soon as he's awake?" She had asked urgently. "He'll wonder where I am."
"Of course, Ma'am." The response had come with crisp professionalism.
Leia and Han entered, having noticed her waiting not so patiently, after being checked out themselves per routine following their groundside mission.
"Mara?" Leia rushed over and hugged her briefly. "Where did you go? What happened? Were you on the Death Star when it blew? We heard so many things and all the details contradicted one another."
Han scowled. "You look fine, Jade. Who's in the ICU?" He asked, indicating the sign above the doors Mara had so recently vacated.
Mara paused, before replying. "It's a very long story." She sighed.
"If it's something that needs to keep for the general debrief, we'll understand." Leia answered. "It can wait."
Han was bursting with curiosity. "Well, I for one want to know."
Leia shot him an amused look.
Mara made up her mind with her usual alacrity. She told them of the day's unbelievable events.
She told it in such a way as to emphasize Luke's emotional manipulation by the Emperor. Leia's eyes shone with sympathy. She knew firsthand how cruel the Imperials could be.
Mara downplayed somewhat Vader's role. She was not sure how much they would wish to believe.
At that point, a 4OneBee droid entered and told her succinctly that Luke's heart had stopped , twice within a 45-minute span.
Mara's heart froze. "Were you able to ..." She began and stopped, unable to finish.
"Yes, ma'am. Each time. The worst of the crisis seems to be over. The next 48 hours are critical, but he is stable. You do not need to wait here any further. If you check in tomorrow, that should suffice."
Mara felt suddenly drained. She realized she hadn't eaten all day and like she could sleep for a week! She would not do Luke any good if she collapsed, so she agreed.
But she promised herself that first thing in the morning - even before breakfast, she would check on his status.
Mara arrived the next morning bright early. She entered the room with trepidation and looked upon Luke's sleeping face. He had an oxygen mask over his face and a monitor clamped to his finger. She'd spoken to the medic's early and they'd told her they'd both been necessary to Luke's recovery and observation. They needed to make sure he didn't flatline again.
"His heart has become scarred by the…electricity." The medic managed to say. "Frankly, he's lucky to be alive from what you described is accurate, Ms. Jade."
Mara knew these next 48 hours were critical. The medics hadn't made her any promises and had only told her that Luke was out of the woods "for now".
She took a seat next to his bed, watching his chest rise and fall, the steady beep of the heart monitor to her right. She reached out and tentatively touched his hand then his face.
"Luke, I'm not sure you can hear me, but please come back to me." She whispered. "This isn't right." Tears were welling up in her eyes.
This waiting, wondering when he would wake up, toyed with her emotions. She probably wouldn't be able to get a proper night's rest until he woke up.
-
Mara returned every morning and every evening for the next few days. Leia and Han joined her on occasion along with Chewbacca. Even Artoo and Threepio had come along for visits. Various friends dropped by to inquire about Luke only to be told the same thing over and over again.
Then, on the fifth day during midafternoon, something startling happened. She was pealing a piece of fruit when the monitor began to beep loudly and rapidly. Startled she dropped the fruit and rushed to Luke's side. Eyeing the heart monitor, she moved to hit the call button when a team of medics and nurses entered the room.
"What's going on?" She asked, fright in her voice.
One of the medics examined the monitor, not answering her yet.
"Well? Someone tell me."
"His brain is showing large amounts of activity," A nurse said to the medic.
"Is that good?" Mara inquired.
The medic looked at her, acknowledging her for the first time. "Quite good." He nodded, "I think this may be the day." He paused. "Why don't you try talking to him? We'll monitor his brain waves as you do."
Mara nodded and bent down.
"Luke. Are you there?" She whispered. "The docs say you've got life." She looked to both monitors. "I mean…stronger anyway. Luke? Please open your eyes…" Mara's voiced trembled. "Please."
"That's it, Ms. Jade, keep talking to him."
"We're not finished. You've still got a long way to go. We've never even dated." She smiled as she said that. "I thought my life was okay until now..." She felt awkward, knowing people were listening, but continued, "But now that you're in it. It's even better."
Both monitors let out loud blips and Mara' gasped, her eyes widening as two pairs of blue eyes stared back up at her weakly.
"Mara.." He croaked.
"Luke. Oh Luke." She fell to her knees practically and draped herself over him. She was careful not to jostle his breathing mask. "Oh, Luke. I thought I'd lost you. Don't you scare me like that! Doing something so reckless!"
"I'm sorry..." He whispered.
"You'd better be."
"What's going on?" A male voice said behind her
Han Solo stood in the doorway, curiously looking in, accompanied by Leia.
"Come in! Luke just came to!" Mara exclaimed. The worry that had been so in evidence in her expression was quickly being replaced by an air of tangible relief.
Leia came and greeted Luke warmly. She was genuinely glad he was better, for Mara's sake as much as Luke's.
Han teased Luke about Mara's preoccupation with his well-being. "Not the best way to find out a lady cares about you, though." He added, "But whatever works."
Mara rolled her eyes.
Luke's gaze drank in Mara's smile and vibrant green eyes - practically oblivious to the things Leia and Han were saying. His mind was clearing, and the last few moments aboard the Death Star were a blur still. But he figured that would ease in time.
**
Luke's health gradually returned over the coming days. He tired more easily than before the grievous injury, although the medics said that would improve given time and therapy. He was doing some strength retraining, not one to lie around and be inactive.
Luke was now in a private room near the therapy wing. His health status was such that staff came in to check only twice daily. Visiting hours were also extended.
Mara, Leia, and Han came by regularly to chat and between what he heard from them and was coming to recall on his own he was able to piece together the exciting details of all that had happened over Endor and even the continued sense of palpable victory.
-
Two weeks later, Luke was convalescing in his private hospital suite. He was talking with Han, Leia and Mara. Han was doing his best to give Luke a hard time all the while playing a card game called Sabaac. It turned out Luke was very good at it and could surprisingly easily wipe the floor with Han.
"Read 'rm and weep, kid." Han crowed victoriously
Luke pulled a frown. "I'm pretty sure you cheated."
Han gave him a challenging look. "Those are fighting words you know." There ribbing was done all in good fun.
Luke shrugged "Could be. But what are you going to do about it?" He said, eyebrow raised. "I'm still a very sick man." A minute smile twitched at his lips.
"Sick man, my arse."
Luke grinned, before laying back against his pillow.
"All right, you win."
"I knew you'd come around."
"For now."
Mara and Leia were grinning over the scene of the two friends sparring verbally. Friends. Yes, that was what they all were. Friends.
"Okay, boys," Mara chided playfully. "Play nice."
"I am playing nice." Han said quite seriously.
"Yeah, right." Luke snarked.
Just then, the door whooshed open and a cadre of Alliance troops barged into the room. Mara sat up abruptly, back rigid. Han reached for his nonexistent weapon and Leia had a hand on his arm.
"Luke Skywalker, you are under arrest by order of General Madine." One trooper said in a monotone.
"What!?" Erupted Han, Leia and Mara.
"On what charge?" Leia demanded, standing up.
"What's going on here?" Han demanded to know.
"I'm sorry, Princess Organa, but that's not your concern." The soldier said in a very clipped tone.
Mara for her part was dumbstruck, she had subconsciously moved toward Luke as if to protect him. "You can't do this." She insisted.
"We can. Ms. Jade, move out of the way of Skywalker." He made a move as to reach for his sidearm. And gestured for one of his subordinates to move forward. "Ms. Jade, we don't want to hurt you. Move out of his range; he's dangerous."
Han snorted.
"Dangerous. Are you totally barmy?"
"I wasn't made aware of this." Leia looked imperiously upon them. "I want to speak to General Madine."
"You will get your chance." The head soldier said.
Two more soldiers approached the bed at their commander's gesture and were now flanking Luke. They were totally blocking Han and Leia's access. Mara hadn't removed herself from beside her lover. Han and Leia protested all the while, while the commander trained his sharp gaze on Mara.
"I won't say this again, Ms. Jade. Stand down or we'll arrest you as well for obstruction."
Luke reached up and laid a hand on Mara's shoulder.
"Mara, stand down." He gently prodded. "I won't have you be charged as well."
"But, Luke!" She barely protested.
Her green eyes found his blue ones, looking beseechingly. He shook his head.
"We both knew this would come sooner or later. Please."
Mara's face fell and Luke could feel her spirit droop. She hesitantly stepped aside and was jostled slightly as the soldiers approached. Luke had his wrists out and waited as they clamped the binders around them.
"Be careful." She cried out, "He's still hurt."
If the soldiers heard her, they didn't show any hint of it. They led Luke past them and out the door; the commanding soldier casting one more look at the trio before disappearing himself.