~Leia's POV~

It was fairly easy to sense the unease that clung to Han and Lando as if a fog. They traveled through the desolate halls of the Sith Palace silently. Light from the outside city leaked in from the window, creating squares of orange glow. The halls were strangely empty, but that did not stop them from sneaking along the ground, keeping down.

Lando and Han led the way, Luke and Leia traveling behind, obviously perfectly aware of where they were going. Leia wondered what her parents would say if they knew that she and Luke were out doing this.

Half of their silence was due to that they were actually sneaking through the darkened halls as opposed to technically moving, and the other half was that both Han and Lando were reluctant to provide detail about where they were headed. A fact that irritated and worried her both.

Luke was grumbling in the Force. He did not like this plan. Leia rolled her eyes, she preferred it to listening to him and Han talk mechanics and cable wires. Besides, Mara had never been late before.

"Here we are," Lando knelt next to a small ventilation shaft in the floor. Leia exchanged a look of surprise with her brother. She and Luke had only ever explored the vents in the ceilings. It had never occurred to them to ever use the ground ones.

Kneeling before the vent, Lando took out a small screwdriver and started unscrewing the nails keeping the vent bars into place. "Get ready," he told them softly. "Stay close to me and Lando," Han added. Leia nodded, surrendering control in this instance.

She still had no clue where they were going, but if these informants were what the force told her they were, then she needed to be ready to let Han and Lando handle the negotiations. We are the aggressive negotiations this time, Luke agreed in her mind. Leia managed a weak grin just as Lando succeeded in coaxing the vents open. Without another word, he quickly vanished into the darkened hole. Leia assumed that they were expected to follow.

Hesitantly, she stepped into the vent. Leia held backa scream of surprise when her stomach did a backflip asshe fell in a sharp vertical. Sucking in a deep breath to avoid screaming, she closed her eyes as air streamed past her, smelling of exhaust fumes and oil…

Then she landed on the ground with a jolt.

"Oof!" She cried, rolling from the vents. Her head spun dizzily. "Nice landing," a voice above her chuckled. She opened her eyes to see Lando standing above her, an amused smile on his dark face. Or, maybe he was smiling. Leia could not see him veryw ell. The darkness around them kept his dark skin shrouded in shadow. She could merley see his outline.

"Talk about being blind," she remarked, as she stood to her feet. Luke and Han followed a second later. Han springing to his feet as if he had been sliding down vents his entire lifetime. Leia wondere dif he had.

Luke lade dmuch as she had. "Where are we?" Leia queried with considerable malice as she gazed around…. And she gasped aloud. They were outside. They were outside the Palace.

"Well," Luke said, as he also gazed around with wonder. It had been years since they had been to Courascant, but it felt longer that they had been outside of the Palace. They were in an alley, a very dirty alley that reminded her unpleasantly of Tabby and her Termites. All the same, it was a freedom that Leia had not been expecting to feel anytime soon. "This was unexpected," he stated the obvious.

"You don't think my contacts are inside that place, do you?" Had Leia not been able to sense Lando, she was relatively sure that she would have thought him a passing shadow who breathed.

Han chuckled as well. "Welcome to the underworld, Jedi," he said to them as he followed Lando into the darkness.

"Its so cozy," Luke snorted sarcastically.

"That's the word for it," Leia agreed distastefully as she stepped in a puddle. "Has it rained lately?" She asked, then wondered why she thought Han and Lando would know. She was wondering a lot of stuff lately.

Lando ansered from soemwhger ein the darkness. He seemed to have become part of it. Han was easier at least to see. "Its always dank down here," Han replied patiently, not turning around to look at them.

Leia's bad feeling grew. "Hey guys…Not that I doubt you or anything, but how is this place supposed to help us find Mara?" Luke wondered.

"Its not. The people that live here will, though," Lando halted, holding up a dark fist to signal for them to do the same. Leia tensed. We're being watched she told Luke. He gave a terse nod. But before any of them could move an inch, a new voice chuckled darkly from around them, though not even the air stirred.

"You've brought company, Lando," it sneered. In a move that even in the dark was blurred by speed, Han suddenly shot out a hand and grabbed a fistful of fabric brutally. The creature let out a cry of startlement as Han dragged him over by the shirt. Lando tsked beneath his breath and walked over as Han slammed their companion into the hard wall of the alley.

"Go easy, Han!" Luke cried, appalled by their friend's behavior.

Leia watched, but instead of being appalled she was captivated. "You know this creep?" Han demanded, ignoring Luke's order as he held the prisoner steadfast against the wall, face obscured by shadow.

"He's one of my informants. Put him down, Han," Lando agreed, walking up. Han complied, though he did not step away, his body effectively trapping the other against the wall, escape minimized. Luke pushed his way to Han's side, studying the pariah. Leia looked over Han's shoulder and was surprised to see a boy no older than Lando. He was Quaren, one of those squid types from the planet of Mon Calamari. She wondered what he was doing on land with no water sheidling in place, then decided that she really did not want to know.

"Inkjet," Lando identified casually, as he leaned against the wall at Han's side.

"Lando," was the standard answer. Despite the fact that these were the streets of Courascant, Leia had a feeling that this was the established diplomatic way of addressing someone, whether ina tight situation or not. No wonder father hates politics. Leia was beginning to see that they wer not all held ina posh palace of some monarch ona civilized world. Politics was politics, even if it was in the underground monstrosities of Courscant.

The boy did not seem at all frightened of Han's hard gaze or their superior numbers. He glanced at Leia, and she could feel his beady eyes measuring something about her. "Who're your friends?" He inquired in a harsh, reedy voice. Han took a step forward threateningly,. And Leia knew that he had every intention of removing this guys head. Lando made a quiet noise of protest, and Han backed away again.

"None of your business," Was the mild reprimand. "I need you to answer something for me," Lando stated.

The boy crossed his arms stubbornly. "Am I getting paid for it?" he growled deep in his throat. Leia a flash of gold colored currency pass from Lando's hand into the grasp of their informant.

"What do you need, buddy?" Well, that was easy, Leia thought. It occurred to her that maybe not all of Lando's informants gave him information for the ideals of the Rebellion…And not all of them were not friends bought and paid for.

"A fiery red head girl. Follows the Bounty Hunter Ventress around. Comes through here sometimes, I think. Do you know where she is?" Lando asked curtly.

"Tarkin's kid?" he clarified simply. Lando nodded warily.

The boy shrugged. "Haven't see her since the last time she came through here to get into that Palace. That was…Hmm…Yesterday, I think. A lot has happened since then," he let out a sour laugh. Luke turned his head away, holding his nose. "Whatever. I do have something though. I have it on good account that Boba Fett and his gang of troublemakers was headed towards where Ventress's hangout is. He has something against her, hearsay," the Force blazed down Leia's spine. She gasped as suddenly the world seemed to twist around her.

Luke grabbed her arm in his own tightly. Their eyes met. He felt it too. "That's the key," Leia told Lando and Han quickly. "Boba Fett. Mara is in trouble," she could feel it as surely as she could feel the wind in her hair.

"Big trouble," Luke testified anxiously.

"What sort of weapons was his pack carrying?" Han then asked, seemingly calm. Leia could sense his concern and anxiety rip through the Force. She admired his restraint.

"The usual. Blasters. Pistols. Daggers and neuro darts. A few bombs, I think," that was not good. Lando cursed beneath his breath.

"Okay. Thanks Inkjet. See ya later. Let's get out of here," Lando directed. The others followed him without scruple. Told you so, Leia directed at Luke through the Force. One out of five, was Luke's quick reply.

"What are we going to do?" She gasped once they were far enough away.

"I don't know," Lando admitted as they ran back to the Palace.

"We don't even know where Mara is," Han gasped.

"No," Luke agreed, his voice hard in the dark, determined. "But we know where Ventress is. She can help Mara," he said confidently.

"Let's find her then," Lando agreed. Leia cringed as the Force flummoxed with a surge of danger.

"Let's make it quick," she asserted.


~Mara's POV~

Mara Jade fought like a wildcat. Her saber flashed on and off, the flickering tail of a glow-fly, like a shooting star fling to targets, slicing through planets and hyperspace lanes without mercy or break, just going forever.

Demonic red illuminations shred the air with its wrathful fury. Mara twisted, twirled and ducked, flying and flipping with a flexibility that was the Force's design on her exhausted body. She howled war cries, the Force itself running through her in waves of pain so excruciating that it bordered on extreme pleasure.

Mara backflipped over the droid assassin behind her that had been aiming a blaster at her back. With a snag of the Force, she grabbed the droid's foot and slammed him against the adjacent wall.

The room was in complete chaos and darkness, thrown out of control. The only light came from the green blaster bolts being fired at her and the red glow of her lightsaber. The only sound that of yelling, buzzing, howling, fighting and whistling.

She laughed aloud when Boba growled, rushing her again. Her mind was frought with the need to protect those who could not protect themselves. His mind was frought with a vicious, animal need for revenge and dominance. No matter what, she could not let Boba set that bomb. And no matter what, he would not let her stop him. Heart screaming as loudly as the screech of her saber in her ears, she sailed through the air and slammed a foot into Boba's face, not registering the pain this action caused. She had never been so lithe before.

The Force was a powerful ally, the only ally.

"Come on, losers," she muttered, defiant until the end, as she sensed them stalking towards her. They were more cautious now. She had inflicted some wounds with her saber, and even more with her punches and kicks.

She swiveled on her heel and carved a straight line, slicing the droid in wondered what lightsaber technique that was called. Her enemies had been brought down to only five now. She had not escaped unharmed though. A blaster bolt had torn through the meat of her side, setting her entire body aflame with agonizing pain that Mara pushed aside in her mission.

One of the attackers had managed to inflict a deep gash on her left calf with her knife and dark bruises adorned every limb she could count. "You're one tough kid," Boba gasped. She could smell his sweat, heard the rasping of his breathing, but Boba Fettt was no quitter.

"I'm a fighter, and you aren't doing so well yourself," she replied, dancing out of the way of a barrage of blaster volley from another blind attacker. I'm a fighter, just like my father always wanted. She smiled bitterly at the thought. The Force washed away the resentment of this thought, counting it as minor detail.

"Yeah? Well, how do you like this?"Down! The Force commanded without giving her a chance to register the threat. Mara dropped to the ground, feeling the scorch of fire soar above her head, roaring. He was using a flame-thrower!Mara deduced numbly that that was just not right.

She yelled in pain as a flame caught unto the sleeve of her shirt. Well, that can't be good. Quickly, Mara cut away the fabric before it could spread to anything else, more particularly her hair. The momentary distraction served her attackers well. Agonizing pain shot through her as suddenly a booted foot rammed into her back from behind, sending Mara crumbling to her knees.

She growled, desperate to surge to her feet. The Force surged, smacking away the person atop her. They went flying with a shriek. Before Mara could rise however, someone else kicked her roughly in the ribs. A sharp pain caused her head to spin woozily.

Panicked in earnest now, she used the Force to push them away, jumping to her feet in time only to deflect a blaster bolt aimed at her head. Clutching at her ribs, Mara whirled away and clashed blades with the assassin behind her. He was swift, like the Shadow.

The Shadow. Mara tripped over the memory, falling to the ground. The dagger that had pushed her aside as if she were a rag doll sliced a thin gash into her chest, echoing the same cut that Saji had painted there weeks earlier by mistake. Mara screamed.

Irately, she raised him in a choking hold. "Ugh!" The bounty hunter yelled as she choked the pathetic, desecrating life from him, trembling with strain. Before she could snap his neck however, a blaster bolt rang past her ear, singeing it. Mara swiveled around, calling her fallen saber to her hand.

"Give up, you worthless brat!" Boba yelled, advancing. Mara dropped to her knees, sliding beneath the legs of one attacker. With a twist of her wrist, she had amputated the creatures legs. Two down, then. Or maybe three. She had not only lost count, but also couldn't see very well. Everything was starting to blur. Blackness was not good.

"You won't stop me," she mumbled determinedly. The Force chimed in unspoken agreement and deep command to stand and fight. Mara pushed herself to her feet, and felt a searing pain as someone suddenly smacked her clean across the face, splitting open her lip. Mara tasted blood in her mouth, but did not fall. Her saber flashed before her eyes, so fast that she only saw the haze of red and felt the slight tug of flesh in her fingers.

A single scream told her that she had just bested three of her attackers. A whistle of air signaled darts. They just won't stop, will they? Mara groused, as she dove for the ground.

One of the darts bit into the back of her leg. Mara could only moan in pain as electricity danced inside of her nervous system, shocking her brain into near unconsciousness. Her saber fell from her grip and a vigorous kick by Boba's foot sent it skittering across the room.

No. I have to stop them from hurting those people. But how? She was losing ground and the ability to fight fast. The Force's currents could only carry one so far before the body's limits were finally to the limit. And Mara's limits were coming up soon.

"Stay down, vetch!" A booted foot slammed into her back, grinding her spine and ribs into the ground. Mara choked on the blood trickling from her mouth. Chest heaving, she struggled, screaming in fury and pain beneath the boot. Hey Force?I think my limit is here. Boba landed a swift kick to her right arm. Mara screamed as she felt bones snap.

Spots swam before her eyes. The world spun on its axis, ground and ceiling converging into one and yet none. Mara fell limp, unprotesting. "Thank you," Boba breathed as the boot moved from atop her. The relief of weight was minor, she could still taste blood in her mouth and feel the exhausted agony of her wounds.

The Force crept away slowly, balance and concentration broken by the pain. Mara miserably leaned over, onto her stomach, holding her arm, teeth clenched to keep in sobs of pain. No matter what, abandoned by the Force, beaten by Boba, at Death's mercy or not, she would not let them hear her cry.

"Now can we blow this place and leave please?" One of the women suggested hopefully.

Mara had the sudden urge to slam her head into the toilet. "What'sa matter? Can't take a little girl, Hellsa?" Boba taunted.

"You don't look so good yourself, pal! She could have been useful in our gang, as well as she can fight," the woman observed tiredly.

"I don't want any Ventress minion in my gang. Hand me the damn explosive, would you? I'm ready to go," Mara's mind spun. She couldn't fight them, not anymore, but perhaps she could still save the building. Mara wanted to slam a fist down. Maybe there was still a way. There had to be a way, blast it! And if there wasn't a reasonable way, there had to be a way that she could create an unreasonable one. Mara did not intend to give up now. If fighting wasn't the answer, what was?

Sacrifice.

Sacrifice. What in the blasted blazes did that mean? If it was along the lines of sacrificing the Building to these monsters, then Mara voted hells no…But what if…? A sudden idea struck her mind.

That was it, of course! It would cost her the last reserves of energy she had, and it was risky, but it was the only chance she had. She dared not think about the consequences of the plan. "Here," she looked up, eyes blurred by tears narrowing on the box-like object held in Boba's hand. He typed something into the passcode before gently setting it down on the ground.

Mara's eyes caught sight of a number. Five seconds and counting. She barely registered the tiny bleep it made on countdown. "Lets get out of here!" I don't think so, losers. She had five seconds then.

Mara held her breath, calling, pleading with the Force to hear her just one more time. I started this, now help me finish it. Please, please come…

Foggily, it answered, she could feel the last reserves of its strength fill her body. Thankyou. Three…Two ….One! Grunting with pain and exertion, Mara shoved with all her might. Boba Fett and his bounty hunters flew out of the room with astonishing speed, taking the bomb with them.

Mara felt the bomb fly from the room and away from the building, taking with it the bounty hunters. A second later, the ground rocked theatrically as the explosive went off in a blaze of fire and debris. Distantly, she heard the sound of things crumbling…A few shards of ceiling landed near her.

Mara was too weak to care. She exhaled achingly, relieved. She had saved the building. The people….Her mission was done. And with that last assurance, she surrendered herself to the pain.