**See "author's note" under reviews section....
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Lucas films and Timothy Zahn. I am making no money nor claiming any rights to characters.
Chapter Seven: When One Door Closes...
Luke and Mara stared down at the body of Anakin Skywalker, still holding hands. His face seemed peaceful and serene. A loud explosion nearby brought them back to reality as the blast ricocheted through out the room, nearly toppling them over. Remembering the battle beyond the station, they quickly dropped hands and stood up.
"We've got to get out of here!" Mara yelled over the noise of the explosions.
Luke nodded. "I'm not leaving him," referring to the body of this father. "He doesn't deserve to be left here."
Luke expected Mara might argue, but she seemed to consider his request, then said, "We can take Palpatine's escape shuttle. It's close and I have the security codes to fly it."
Luke stared at the woman before him and wondered how deep she had been involved in Palpatine's empire. But his father had trusted her and she was willing to help him, so without debate, he too placed his trust in her. It felt right somehow.
Together they half carried and half dragged Anakin's body toward the far left at the base of the stairs as debris began to fall around them. They reached a metal wall and Luke looked questionably at Mara. She motioned to a small crack in the wall that he would never have noticed had he not she not pointed it out. As Mara placed her finger in the crack in the wall, Luke heard a small click. A panel in the wall slid away to reveal a short hallway. Mara urged them on and Luke followed.
They came to a small room that housed a rather plain looking shuttle one might expect a merchant or a trader to own. Luke was confused why someone of the Emperor's stature would possess such an ordinary ship. Mara seemed to read his thoughts and with a shrug offered, "He didn't want to attract attention to himself if he needed to escape."
As they entered the shuttle, Mara raced to the front and began entering codes into the computer commanding the ship power up for flight. Luke laid the body of his father on the deck of the shuttle as there was really no where else to put him. He gave on last longing look at his father, then headed up to Mara and took the copilot's seat strapping himself in. Together they navigated the shuttle safely off the space station and headed at a reckless pace toward the planet below. Before they reached the planet's atmosphere, they heard tremendous explosion and felt a torrent of energy propel them forward as the Death Star gave way to a decisive hit from rebellion fire. A silence followed that seemed to echo the finality of Palpatine's evil rein.
______________________________________________________
Standing together they watched as Anakin's pyre burn into the night casting a warm glow of light around them. Luke stared at was once his father and couldn't help but feel a little alone. He had been so close to having at least one parent in his life.
Beside him, Mara shared his loss as well. Vader had been part of her life for as long as she could remember. Most of the years she had been spent hating him; the final moments she had admired him. He had been her confidant, her mentor, and in the end, he had given her freedom.
Wordlessly Mara slipped her hand into Luke's and he turned to face her. As he looked into her eyes, he knew that somehow she understood everything he was feeling. This woman who was really no more than a stranger to him, who was once an imperial, who risked her life to save him was now offering him comfort. Silently he pulled her into a fierce embrace, feeling some of the sorrow dissipate as he did.
Mara stiffened in surprise as Luke hugged her. She couldn't remember every being hugged. At first it made her feel awkward and vulnerable, but as he held her, she felt the loneliness begin to seep away. Tentatively she returned the hug. Somehow, it just felt right to be in his arms.
As the two held each other longer, they shared a single thought. They knew that many trials would lay ahead of them, but they knew that whatever may come, they could face it. They weren't so alone after all.
The End
I want to thank everyone for reading &/or reviewing my story. I especially want to thank Elizabeth for being my beta reader. I've almost completed another story, which is a comedy. I will post it in the new year. Merry
Christmas.....Jayden
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Lucas films and Timothy Zahn. I am making no money nor claiming any rights to characters.
Chapter Seven: When One Door Closes...
Luke and Mara stared down at the body of Anakin Skywalker, still holding hands. His face seemed peaceful and serene. A loud explosion nearby brought them back to reality as the blast ricocheted through out the room, nearly toppling them over. Remembering the battle beyond the station, they quickly dropped hands and stood up.
"We've got to get out of here!" Mara yelled over the noise of the explosions.
Luke nodded. "I'm not leaving him," referring to the body of this father. "He doesn't deserve to be left here."
Luke expected Mara might argue, but she seemed to consider his request, then said, "We can take Palpatine's escape shuttle. It's close and I have the security codes to fly it."
Luke stared at the woman before him and wondered how deep she had been involved in Palpatine's empire. But his father had trusted her and she was willing to help him, so without debate, he too placed his trust in her. It felt right somehow.
Together they half carried and half dragged Anakin's body toward the far left at the base of the stairs as debris began to fall around them. They reached a metal wall and Luke looked questionably at Mara. She motioned to a small crack in the wall that he would never have noticed had he not she not pointed it out. As Mara placed her finger in the crack in the wall, Luke heard a small click. A panel in the wall slid away to reveal a short hallway. Mara urged them on and Luke followed.
They came to a small room that housed a rather plain looking shuttle one might expect a merchant or a trader to own. Luke was confused why someone of the Emperor's stature would possess such an ordinary ship. Mara seemed to read his thoughts and with a shrug offered, "He didn't want to attract attention to himself if he needed to escape."
As they entered the shuttle, Mara raced to the front and began entering codes into the computer commanding the ship power up for flight. Luke laid the body of his father on the deck of the shuttle as there was really no where else to put him. He gave on last longing look at his father, then headed up to Mara and took the copilot's seat strapping himself in. Together they navigated the shuttle safely off the space station and headed at a reckless pace toward the planet below. Before they reached the planet's atmosphere, they heard tremendous explosion and felt a torrent of energy propel them forward as the Death Star gave way to a decisive hit from rebellion fire. A silence followed that seemed to echo the finality of Palpatine's evil rein.
______________________________________________________
Standing together they watched as Anakin's pyre burn into the night casting a warm glow of light around them. Luke stared at was once his father and couldn't help but feel a little alone. He had been so close to having at least one parent in his life.
Beside him, Mara shared his loss as well. Vader had been part of her life for as long as she could remember. Most of the years she had been spent hating him; the final moments she had admired him. He had been her confidant, her mentor, and in the end, he had given her freedom.
Wordlessly Mara slipped her hand into Luke's and he turned to face her. As he looked into her eyes, he knew that somehow she understood everything he was feeling. This woman who was really no more than a stranger to him, who was once an imperial, who risked her life to save him was now offering him comfort. Silently he pulled her into a fierce embrace, feeling some of the sorrow dissipate as he did.
Mara stiffened in surprise as Luke hugged her. She couldn't remember every being hugged. At first it made her feel awkward and vulnerable, but as he held her, she felt the loneliness begin to seep away. Tentatively she returned the hug. Somehow, it just felt right to be in his arms.
As the two held each other longer, they shared a single thought. They knew that many trials would lay ahead of them, but they knew that whatever may come, they could face it. They weren't so alone after all.
The End
I want to thank everyone for reading &/or reviewing my story. I especially want to thank Elizabeth for being my beta reader. I've almost completed another story, which is a comedy. I will post it in the new year. Merry
Christmas.....Jayden