These characters belong to George Lucas. I am only borrowing them for my own entertainment. Please be kind. This is my first fic.
Chapter 15
Knosp City, Chiaase - 2 Months earlier
The early morning sun streamed through the hexagonal window, the light splashing onto the two occupants of the room. One was the beautiful Princess from Deegan and the other was a tall spare man with grey eyes, thin features and a pronounced limp when he moved.
"I don't like it Gtrec. Not at all".
The man raised a pair of supercilious eyebrows.
"No-one should have known; no-one".
He looked bored.
"I was followed", she insisted forcefully.
"My dear Taara," he smiled thinly. Everything about Admiral Gtrec Joulwe seemed thin. His face , his physique and his spirit.
"You are the leader of a visiting delegation setting up a trade agreement and possible inclusion within the NR framework of a wealthy but obstinately neutral world. Someone was bound to follow you. Besides, you are extremely decorative my dear. Although it is unlike you to fail to complete an assignment successfully. Skywalker and his sister are lucky individuals, especially the boy."
"Luck had nothing to do with it. The force was with him or whoever stepped in front of him and he's no boy." She remembered the feel of his firm chest muscles under her hands when they'd danced together. "He's all man, even if he is Jedi."
Gtrec smiled, flatting his narrow lips further. "You are Jedi too, if a little darker around the edges and making me jealous won't work."
Antaara tossed her head petulantly and changed the subject. "You've read my report on the NR reactions to the destruction of Durros and Miocene. Very satisfying and the threat towards the pathetic little outpost on Hoth was most amusing."
"Yes, you did well there I admit."
The comlink buzzed. "Councillor Rivn to see the Princess of Deegan."
"Send him in to the outer room." She turned to the Admiral "I'd better go and see what he wants." She kissed Joulwe and glided from the room. He stared after her thoughtfully, his grey gaze flint.
"Your Highness we really must return to Deegan. Your royal father has been most insistent on this matter."
"My royal father is a waste of time. Why he cannot commit himself to any decisions is beyond my comprehension. He's a fool."
"Your Highness, by the length of our stay here we have compromised our identity. We will have been tracked here or possibly a spy on board will have reported back to the NR that you are rather friendly with people in Imperial circles."
"Probable Janss."
"It means that you, or rather we, cannot return to Coruscant. Princess Organa-Solo still wants you as a consort for her brother. But if we return there you will surely be arrested."
"I'm not going back to Coruscant. I have most of the information I need. The assassination attempts will continue, but I will not make them. You are correct in this matter. Although I doubt if they have the proof or Organa-Solo would not still be working on the treaty negotiations. I'm returning to Deegan where we will get rid of Jereon the Third and Gtrec and I will assume control. Perhaps Organa-Solo will come to the funeral." She laughed evilly.
Rivn bowed his head in acknowledgement of the Princesses strategy.
"I'm hypothesising here Princess, but the discovery of your assassination plans. How could this happen?"
"I was followed."
"By the usual protection squad or was there more?"
She closed her eyes and searched deep into her feelings and memories. "Yes, the usual guards were there and.......no." Antaara blinked into Rivn's fat face. "There was a presence there on the edge of my consciousness. Hidden from me, yet there. I only realised someone was present the night I failed to get information from the secret computer terminal. But this presence has always been there."
"Therefore it must be someone with force ability."
"It is not Skywalker or Organa Solo, but they are the only ones apart from myself."
"I would think that there are more people with force ability in the galaxy Your Highness. It would be presumptuous if not stupid to assume the existence of others with a similar gift. Remember, Kenobi hid himself and the Skywalker twins for twenty years before discovery."
Rivn strolled over to one of the picture windows and gazed out at a panorama of spires and towers interspersed with stretches of green parkland. Almost conversationally he dropped a small nugget of information into Antaara's ear. "One of Organa-Solo's most trusted aides collapsed at the wedding. Skywalker was very quick on the scene and carried her off somewhere blathering on about some viral infection."
"Oh!"
"I'm sure she was the aide assigned to us for most of the trip and I'm convinced she was often in Skywalker's company."
"When did this take place Janss?"
"Oh, I think it was late in the day, before the Solo's left."
Antaara remembered the sudden strange wind blowing through the palace and the feeling of pain and unease she had felt. "Who?"
"That's the peculiar thing about it Your Highness. I know this aide was in our presence constantly, but I cannot remember anything about her. Small, pale.........ordinary." he shrugged his shoulders. "Very pale, in fact looked dead or dying to me."
Antaara closed her eyes and pictured a small white face with dark eyes dressed in a green cadets............ Her eyes snapped open and she barked into her comlink before striding from the room. Rivn shook his head; bewildered.
Darklighter Farm - Tatooine
Luke shifted slightly as he came to full consciousness. For a moment he resisted the pull of his awakening, slightly disorientated at the feel of an unaccustomed weight across his waist. Maija lay curled against him, with her arm curved around him and her hair spread over the pillow, a shining dark mass. He reflected on the night they had shared and he was amazed and elated. Luke's relationships had been fleeting and few, he just hadn't advertised them to Leia and the New Republic. They had been his business and his only, but this was worth anything. It was the nature of things in his life that relationships were transitory, even those of his own family. Constantly on the run, fighting or training since he'd been eighteen, how could he expect to form a bond with anyone was surprising to say the least. Leia, Han and Chewie were the only family he had now and it had been threatened many times. Comfort in any form was always something, but this had gone far beyond comfort. This had been desperation and need and they had both wanted it badly.
Dawn had arrived and he knew his time in this idyllic situation was running out He opened his eyes and gazed round at the curved walls. There was a picture which looked as if it had come from Alderaan and one from Ubesk. A holo showed a smiling couple with a child of about seven and other holos of the Darklighter family graced the walls. The room was completed with a matching Tatooine woven comforter and floor covering. It reminded him of his own room on his Uncle's farm.
Maija stirred and Luke turned his attention to her, noting the faint traces of panic on her face. He put a finger over her lips and the dark eyes widened. Luke shook his head. "Don't say it Maija."
They stared at each other, a little awkward, a little embarrassed. A true case of the morning after the night before.
"You know I have to leave tomorrow, don't you?"
"Yes," she answered quietly. "Luke.....perhaps it would be best if we forget that this ever happened. I cannot really understand why." she stopped.
"You think so?" He questioned gently and shook his head. "I owe you my life, but this is not about that. The way of the force is our destiny but first we have to clear your name."
"Luke, Leia will never accept me. She believes I am a traitor to the New Republic and I was Imperially trained. I am a very minor cog in a very big wheel and I still have these ........things in my body, they could move at any time." her voice rose slightly in pitch. "Plus I have work to do that will take me far away from you..."
"Bestine. I am aware."
"How did you.....?"
"My sister may be all powerful, but even I know when she's telling fibs. I was there not long ago. It has a good library which the empire didn't manage to destroy when it evacuated the populace. There's tons of stuff on Jedi training methods and teaching concepts."
He rose from the bed and gathered his clothes quickly. She averted her eyes, suddenly shy as she realised her own state of undress and with a quick tug of the force pulled her robe towards her. Luke stared. She knew far more than she'd been letting on. He tossed her a data card.
"What is it?"
"It's an exercise programme of sorts. Follow it and I'll see you on Bestine".
When the Darklighters returned later that evening. The two young people were ensconced in the old couch arguing about the terrible acting in an old holodrama. "Why are the rebels always the bad guys?" asked Maija crossly.
"Why are the Imperials always such rotten shots" countered Luke. "This is a classic, every time it was shown the recruitment for the Imperial Forces increased quite a bit. When I saw it first I dreamt of becoming a pilot and flying the galaxy."
"Oh please Commander."
"It's true. I had a model of an Imperial shuttle which I'd built myself. It got destroyed when my family were killed."
Luke's sun-tanned face took on a solemn cast as he recollected the burning homestead and Maija moved tentatively along the couch and put her arm on his shoulder.
"Hey Commander, it's ok," she soothed gently.
Luke put his arm around her and drew her head down on to his shoulder. He was going to miss her so much when he left and there was no guarantee they would even meet again.
Kendra stuck her head round the door frame. At least they no longer seemed to be fighting which was something. But she could have sworn that they'd been nearer each other when she'd first walked in. Putting her head quickly round the door again she was unsurprised to see the Jedi kissing her niece and the normally prickly girl didn't seem to be objecting.
"Typical," she thought shaking her head. 'He's leaving tomorrow for goodness knows where and by the time they meet again, if they do meet. She'll have the barriers up so high that it will take a whole army of Jedi Knights to get past her defences.'
Three weeks later Maija returned to Bestine. Thinner with haunted shadows in her eyes, caused by the knowledge of her growing force skills and the two objects in her body which might move at any time. "Once you begin to grow in the light you must seek out others of your own kind." Her Grandfathers' words echoed in her ear as she moved briskly from the transport shuttle onto the space station.
Chapter 16 - Believe in the Light
General Xenon sent the urgent report to the Inner Council on Coruscant when Maija approached him. "I'm, sorry Sir, but I had to see you about this, we're in real trouble otherwise. We have to move the station away from the planet. I.... I...have a sort of feeling..."
Xenon raised his eyes from the data report on his desk and scanned the unusually anxious face in front of him. "Feelings Lieutenant? How can I put that in a message to the military High Command?"
"But Sir.........!"
The General shook his head and glared at her from beneath his bristly eyebrows. "Now now young Darklighter, there's no use you getting into a tangle just because some fine folks on Coruscant are looking for a scapenerf. If you think that the Imperials know about the base I'll take your word for it. They've probably known about us for some while but haven't decided to use the information until now."
"Can't I take my X-Wing up to see?"
"Maija....... you're not fit enough to fly yet. I cannot allow you to jeopardise your well-being on a whim."
"General, you know that's not true. I managed to retrieve, shall we say, my medical file from the computer yesterday. It states categorically that the probes haven't moved and I am fit to fly. What the report doesn't state, but my new file does contain, is that I have to be kept safe out of harms way and well away from anything which might compromise security. As far as Leia Organa-Solo is concerned I'm one big security leak, but I'd never do that. I can feel something and the last time I felt that way our bases were pulverised. I don't want to be accused of being the cause again. You know me well Sir. I don't want to be open to the force. I'm not, I can't be."
"Lieutenant, what did I tell you about fiddling with confidential information from the main computer, and it's not your X-Wing. The fighter in question is one of a group of spares for the use of the fighter squadrons. You've just used it so often that you think it's yours. I've never totally understood the Force, but I've seen it in action many times and believe me you exhibit all the classic signs of a force adept. So get used to it."
The Lieutenant reddened slightly and had the grace to stare at her black polished boots for a second. "General Xen, the feelings I've been having are as real as the ones I had before and I nearly died because I didn't believe them. The people on Miocene and Durros weren't as lucky."
Fighting for control of her emotions the Lieutenant turned to stare at the various ships through the window as they brought supplies to a station as large as a floating city. At the height of the war against the Empire the station had been the main home for many of the Inner council. Indeed Commander Skywalker and Princess Organa had come here after the battle of Hoth.
"I came here because I spied for the Alliance against the Empire and I worked hard to build up trust and serve the NR. I did the occasional mission for the Special Operatives. I've seen the inside of more Imperial Bases than the New Republic has X-Wings. Never has one security leak been traced to my door unless it's been an Imperial one. The Empire killed my family, I can't forgive that and now I'm exiled here on suspicion of murder. It's not fair."
Xenon lifted grey clad shoulders in resignation. he'd always wondered about her. She anticipated so well in battle it had reminded him of Commander Skywalker and also of his father Anakin. But she had a way of analysing things that reminded him of Kenobi at his best. "Are you convinced of this Maija. ?"
"Yes Sir. There is an Imperial base in the next system and the plans are to move in on Sybren and Farbyn. I.....I had this nightmare, everything was in flames but I remember the main briefing room on Sybren because it had a painting of Mon Mothma, but the paint was peeling and bubbling with the heat of the flames. If they hit Sybren it stands to reason that they hit Farbyn too because the bases are so close."
The General walked over to stand next to Maija and put his hand on her shoulder. "My poor child, this isn't easy for you, is it?"
"I'll tell the Princess this when she arrives next week, if she believes me. I have to be as honest and give her the answers she needs. I can't go on with this just hanging over my head I've arranged rooms to be prepared and the Falcon will need work on the sublight engine." Maija saluted and left, a far away look in her eyes.
Xen looked after her departing figure thoughtfully. Princess Leia was not expected. In fact she was still on Coruscant. 'Skywalker will turn up next,' he joked to himself.
If he moved the station it would be a major undertaking. The place was the size of a small city and almost functioned as one.' He was getting too old for this,' he thought as he flicked a switch. "This is General Xenon. All personnel move to designated areas and prepare for hyperspace."
The bomb went off in Maija's old quarters in the palace on Coruscant, but they'd been empty for months. Han moved carefully round the remains of the room, stepping over the debris. He scratched the scar on his chin thoughtfully. Chewie barked at him.
"I know pal, it doesn't make sense. This place has been deserted since the Lieutenant was wounded in that incident. If she was an Imperial spy would they get rid of her in this fashion?"
The Wookiee barked impatiently at his partner and gestured to the investigators arriving on the scene.
"Yeh Chewie, I'm coming." he took a last look at the devastation and indicated to Page with a tilt of his head.
"Do we tell her?"
"General Solo.... it might be better not to. We've assigned extra protection for her. She spied for the Alliance you know."
Han hadn't known, but it made sense. She'd always been so secretive. He thought about himself and how difficult it had been to trust others. "Leia doesn't trust her, because there is no information about her in the files" he whispered to Chewbacca, who whuffed a comment in return. "Leia doesn't like anyone upsetting her plans, especially with regards to her brother." Han considered it and ruefully decided Chewie was right. "But Maija wasn't interested in Luke she avoided him like the Krytos virus and he didn't know who she was until recently. But someone is interested in Lieutenant Maija but not in a positive way." he considered the enigma that was his brother-in-law, Luke was only interested in building the Jedi Order and gathering information on it's history and training methods. Despite the number of eligible girls Leia trailed past him, he was rather single-minded about it. Han knew Luke would settle down when he was ready and not before and he couldn't see Luke slowing down much anyway. The fortunate girl, whoever she was, would just have to keep up.
"General Solo! General Cracken needs you to go to Efbask with the Princess and then possibly on to Efik Minor. But if you could try and talk her out of Efik Minor there are funny things going on. King Zereon of Deegan died unexpectedly and although she is set on going, try and have the Falcon break down."
"The Falcon is in prime condition Lieutenant and..." The Wookie snickered softly.
"There is nothing wrong with the sublight engine. I had it fixed."
Page turned to go, thought for a second, then spoke quickly and quietly. The urgency of his tone all too apparent. "Sybren and Farbyn were hit two nights ago, but we received a tip-off from the Bestine Space Centre and the bases were evacuated in good time. The Empire are on the move again."
"Why mustn't Leia get to Deegan Page?"
"We think Zereon was disposed of quietly and efficiently, not naturally. According to my sources the Empire will be welcomed with open arms there."
Han for once was speechless.
Han manoeuvred the Falcon as it streaked through space. This was supposed to be a routine trip, but Han's danger senses were playing overtime.
"Whoah! What was that. Something hit the Falcon. Shields up. Leia strap yourself in. We seem to have gatecrashed a little party here, let's leave. The Falcon lurched as another shot splashed off the rear deflector shield.
"Unidentified ship please state business" the tinny voice filled the cockpit. "This is a restricted zone."
Up ahead of them a Star Destroyer laid in wait and TIE fighters buzzed around it like insects at a sugoze stick.
"Sith," Han swore. "We've landed in the middle of a pitched battle, they seem to be attacking those supply vessels. The star destroyer has caught one in the tractor beam."
"Can we help?" asked Leia.
"I don't think so. We're outnumbered, the best thing we can do is get you out of here Highnessness and no committee."
"Unidentified ship state who you are and your business in this sector!"
"They're getting a little impatient aren't they?"
Han banked the Falcon sharply causing Leia's lunch to momentarily make itself felt in her stomach. Chewie ran to the gun turret and let off a few shots. One of the TIEs exploded in a ball of orange flame. Han muttered under his breath
"Can we contact the ships," Leia asked.
"It's too dangerous, we have to make the jump to hyperspace". A red light blinked frantically on the dash. "Come on old girl."
"But we need to help them. It could be supplies vital to some isolated community."
"I'm sorry Leia. There are too many of them and we can't risk being captured or stranded this far out on the rim." Han steered with the innate skill of a madman. "We need more power to the rear deflector shields or we're gonna be space dust."
Chewie fired and hit the wing of another TIE fighter, it spun crazily out of control and cannoned into two of the others, bits of metal impacted harmlessly against the Falcon's shields. Something beeped wildly and a smell of singed circuitry filled the cockpit. I don't think we have the power to get very far. The lights flickered unsteadily.
"Just get us out of here old girl," Han alternately threatened and cajoled his beloved ship. "Come on now, hold together, please." He flicked a switch and another set of guns blasted a path through the TIEs that were increasing in number. "Leia set the co-ordinates for the jump to hyperspace."
"Aye General," she smiled as she spoke. The funny thing was, she was enjoying herself. The ship juddered and the feeling passed into one of fear. They were hopelessly outnumbered. Another shot rocked the ship as Han put it into a controlled spin.
"It's now or never......... punch it."
Chapter 17 - The light brightens
Maija stood quietly at the back of the briefing room, her hat pulled on firmly over her glossy hair, the brim shielding her eyes. Feeling safely anonymous, she surveyed the hundreds of other major personnel, their focus the wiry figure of Camus Xenon. For a non-force user he had a vibrant presence. She could feel it. A light flickered on the communicator in her hand and she signalled silently to the General.
Unfazed, Xenon concisely finished his part of the briefing and handed the rest of it over to Captain Daviot. Maija let her gaze run round the room one more time connecting for an instant with that of her cousin and Wedge. Gavin smiled and wiggled his eyebrows at her. He'd done that to make her laugh when she'd been small and it had usually got them into trouble. For once she let a small smile creep onto her face, then slipped out after the General. Wedge turned to Gavin in surprise. "Maija?" he mouthed silently. Gavin nodded.
Xen Xenon was in the main bridge and communications centre. He gestured out of the viewscape. The Millennium Falcon hung limply attached to a connection tube. It looked more ramshackle than ever.
"They've been having problems with the hyperdrive motivator, causing the Falcon to re-enter realspace in the middle of an Imperial attack on some supply shuttles. That didn't help the sublight engine" he gave his slight assistant a wry look. "Solo's next calculation nearly took them out on top of this station's new position. Since we are not supposed to be here it gave them somewhat of a surprise."
Maija laughed. "I can imagine. Lucky for them we were here then. Sir."
"Hmm. I did wonder why you picked this particular spot in the galaxy."
"No reason Sir, apart from the safety aspect. But you better not tell the Alliance High Command that their alleged security leak is um, involved in defending their military installations."
"I don't hold with that and you know it Lieutenant. Besides you're the best I have and it would be suicidal not to use your specific skills. Now go and meet them."
"I just knew you would say that," she moaned softly.
"Meanwhile I'll arrange for Arrow squadron to go and check on those supply vessels".
Pulling the grey peaked cap further over her eyes. Maija and Lieutenant Gaelen Norpath, a blue skinned Meris, took one of the small shuttle tubes to meet the Falcon's crew.
"Welcome to the New Republic Borderland Station. If you would come this way, rooms have been allocated to you for the duration of your stay and a meal will be brought to you shortly."
Han scrutinised the small figure in front of him. he knew her, he was sure of that. She was wearing a Lieutenants uniform with the grey peaked cap pulled well over her eyes. Han never forgot a good figure and this one was definitely trim.
"I believe Chewbacca sustained a light head wound in your altercation with the Star Destroyer. If he would care to follow Lieutenant Norpath to the medical facility it will be attended to." She repeated the information in gentle, but halting Wookiee. Amazed the Wookiee snuffled his thanks, then barked a comment at Han.
"I know pal. It's nice to hear the effort being made."
Maija jumped quickly into the front of the shuttle, leaving Norpath to make polite but stilted conversation with the Princess and the General. It was only a ten minute trip to the accommodation complex, but to Maija it felt like a trek which went on for days.
The door to the Solo's rooms swished open and she bowed, only to have her hat knocked from her head and tumble to the floor. Stricken, she panicked and turned to run, but a kindly hand on her shoulder made her stop.
"How ya doin' kid?"
"Maija!" Leia's surprise filled her senses. There was an embarrassed silence. The offending piece of headgear lay accusingly between them.
"Your Highness," she shuffled nervously, her eyes darting away from the warm regard of Solo's and the more invasive one of his wife's. There was only one thing to do.
Making a lunge for the cap she ran down the corridor and disappeared from sight leaving the Solo's gaping behind.
"Why didn't I say something. Why did I turn and run as if I had something to hide. I could have pleaded my case, told the truth; anything. I'm a trained member of the NR forces. I've never panicked like that in my life before. This doesn't bode well for whatever is to come." She resumed her pacing. "What truth. I'm her guardian Jedi and Darth Vader was kind. She has to listen this time. If we don't stop that, that.... woman it could mean a resurgence of Imperial aggression and she would be in charge. She's obviously been training and is far stronger than I'd thought. The problem is I'm not strong at all and I don't think I have the power I need to get me through this." Wearily she readied herself for bed. A familiar presence inserted itself into her thoughts. Maija groaned and shook her head. "Oh no! Not you too."
The locked door opened.
"Commander Skywalker, I might have known. Can anything else go wrong for me today?"
Luke stepped into Maija's cramped quarters. With a flick of his fingers the door shut silently. He leant against the door and watched her. What was he thinking, why was he here? She felt so tired and crumpled, her hat on the floor and her boots tossed into the corner. She sat in her tunic, bare feet curled under her and her hair coming free from it's tight confinement. Maija wished herself elsewhere.
Luke thought he had never seen anyone more beautiful or more uptight. He kept his expression neutral and waited for her to explode. He didn't have to wait long.
" You have to leave Lu...., Commander. I must insist. What if you're seen? I could get into trouble. I've been in enough trouble lately and I don't need more."
"No-one saw me."
"Oh, the all powerful Jedi!"
Luke's eyes flashed suddenly. He had learned to control his patience most of the time, but sometimes even he had to admit defeat. This was so important to him.
"Since we're being so formal - Lieutenant." the blue eyed Jedi intoned sarcastically and bowed. "You managed better than that on Tatooine."
"That was a mistake, it should never have happened. You're one of my superior officers."
"But it did and you enjoyed it."
"That was a low blow Commander."
"I will use any means at my disposal to remind you of it. I seem to remember........"
"Commander Skywa....." the words were cut off as Luke rapidly lost control of his dwindling patience, hauled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his own. Some time later she pulled herself from his arms with difficulty and sat on her bed.
"Commander...." he took a step forward, but she held up her hand as if to ward him off. "The Falcon arrived here a few hours ago."
"I know."
"But no-one expected you. You're on Coruscant."
"I am?"
"Of course you are."
"I'm a holograph!"
"I wouldn't be at all surprised," she snapped. "Come to torture me and to get me into more trouble."
"Oh!"
"You shouldn't be here," she ground out in frustration.
"So you keep saying."
"In my quarters, this floor houses the female quarters. I shouldn't have members of the opposite sex in this part of the complex."
"You've remembered that much about me then?" he queried gently.
The images filled her mind and she knew he was seeing them too. Luke and Maija on a desert world, two setting suns and a need that they both acknowledged truly for the first time.
"Stop it Commander!"
"I'm not doing anything, I'm merely seeing what you do."
"You're putting images in my brain."
"Am I?"
"Why won't you argue with me?" Maija cried baffled and turned her back on him to face the durasteel wall.
"I don't want to argue with you Maija." The bunk creaked as it took his weight and a hand rested on her shoulder.
"Then why are you here?"
"I thought you might need me." the defeat in his voice drained away the rage that had gripped her at his appearance. Maija turned and faced him. Blue eyes met brown and she closed her eyes, then nodded. Luke sighed partly in relief and partly because he was tired. He lifted a trembling hand and trailed it down her cheek, wiping a small drop of moisture which had trickled down from her eye. Luke pulled the comforter from the bottom of the bunk and pulled it around them and wrapping his arms around her they closed together in comfort.
"I missed you. Is that so hard for you to understand?" Luke asked quietly. "I've only felt like half a person since I left Tatooine and you."
"But Luke, I am supposed to be acting as a bodyguard for Princess Leia and yourself. I cannot do that if I get involved with you."
"Get involved!" he shouted abruptly and sat up. "Sith girl, there's no getting involved. We are!"
"Ssh! Keep Your voice down Commander. This is a female only corridor and you are definitely not that. Now, if you are staying I'm on an early shift and I need to rest."
"Lieutenant Darklighter you have to face the truth. You need me so I came to you. I'm not sure who is protecting whom at this time. I guess we look after each other." He lay down on the bunk and pulled her down with him and held her until sleep claimed them both.
Lieutenant Page lifted his ear from the recording taken from the hidden microphone in Maija's rooms. This was not what he had expected, but it wasn't a problem as far as he could see. What had happened on Tatooine? Judging from what was said and unsaid, Page decided quite a lot had happened and you didn't need to be an intelligence man of many years standing to work that one out. Luke was still supposed to be on Coruscant, not on the station. Although it did mean that he could ask Luke to accompany the Special Ops on a mission to Deegan. Maija had to go as she was now part of the bait. How the Empire had found out about her he hadn't worked out, but he knew she would agree, she always had before. The situation on Deegan was far more serious than he'd originally thought. With the death of King Zereon, the Princess Antaara was now the supreme ruler and she had already invited the Empire, via her lover Gtrec Joulwe to her home world.
Page knew that the New Republic couldn't strike at the Knosp system as it was too far into Imperial held space, but the Deegani system was well into the borderland region and would prove a ready supply of raw materials and manpower, plus a more central location to stage raids from. The Imperials could then start to take over the Borderlands and that might prove catastrophic for the still shaky NR. Several of his operatives had reported a decrease in the freedom of the non-human population and a general tightening of basic laws. It was possible, he acknowledged to himself grimly that they would be unable to do anything.
Leia paced the floor in her suite while Han watched. "Listen Sweetheart, why don't you go and see the Lieutenant and get some answers. She can't run away from you, there's no-where to go apart from the other end of the station. Luke trusts her, General Xenon trusts her, even Chewie trusts her and you know how suspicious he is about humans with an Imperial past."
"Imperial past?"
"Leia, you can always tell, especially if you've gone through the training. Most of the High Command are Imperially trained and that doesn't make them traitors."
"I guess you're right Han. I just couldn't believe anyone could even get so close to Luke and I felt this darkness all around me. It was cold and deadly and I lost it. Luke was correct, I over reacted and stopped thinking rationally."
"Go and see her, talk to her. Use your Jedi training skills that Luke tries to get you to learn."
"I'd such high hopes of Luke and Antaara, she was just right for him....."
"..and the New Republic?" Han cut in.
Leia felt ashamed of herself. "Yes."
"If the kid is interested in the Lieutenant, what gives you the right to interfere."
"He's my brother and......"
"And nothing. He's a grown man, even if I can't always see it. Sith! I don't know what he gets up to these days. He never tells any of us anything. I never saw him take any greater interest in young Maija than any other girl you've paraded past him recently."
"I know Han, but I have this feeling. It's a Jedi thing I guess. He was so protective of her and you know how single minded he can be about things. Perhaps wishful thinking is making me see things which aren't there. He was really interested in her well-being, Han."
"Leia, sweetheart. Luke is always concerned about others. That's what brought him into the rebellion in the first place. But he's never noticed her in two years and you get all anxious because the Alliance Hero and Jedi addresses a little concern about a colleague of his sister's who was mysteriously shot and nearly killed defending you." "We can't prove that."
"We can." Han tossed his wife a data cube. "This has the results of the analysis of the Lieutenants wounds and the probes they removed from her abdomen. It proves beyond reasonable doubt that she stepped in front of Luke and warned yourself. I also had a statement from Helas Qrax-Uit about a little incident on Migravan."
"Oh!" Leia sat heavily on the repulsor couch. "I'd better go and see the Lieutenant then. But Han I still feel there are things she hasn't told us, important things."
"You may be right. I'd go with Luke on this one and trust her, we may have to. Remember it is Luke we're discussing here and he's never let us down. All we need to do is be there when he rushes into a situation that not even a Jedi can get out of."
Luke glanced at the holobook on Maija's reader. It was a book on planets in the Efik systems. She was plaiting her hair and pinning it behind her, reading as she did so. Luke pulled at it and the shining fall of hair slipped from it's braid. He ran his fingers slowly through the gleaming strands and Maija closed her eyes with pleasure. "Please Luke, let me get ready for my shift duty."
He smiled and replaited it for her, then kissed her on the cheek
"What's this in aid of or should I already be able to guess." he motioned to the holobook.
"We will be going there sooner or later and I want to be prepared. Ow!" she rubbed at a spot below her left breast.
"Are you alright Mai?"
"Fine, I think, just a little twinge I'm not used to sharing my bunk with a Jedi, I'm just a little stiff."
Luke wasn't convinced, as she was still rubbing the area and wincing just a little. He didn't want to let his concern show too much and worry the girl. Funny, Luke thought to himself. 'I can feel a slight ache in exactly the same area.'
"I'm going to nip down to my quarters, change and get some more information for you. We need to do some work if you are to go."
"I'll go Commander. I'm part of the bait."
Luke gazed steadily into the brown eyes, kissed her lightly on the forehead and left silently. As soon as he got out of Maija's quarters he reached for his comlink. "This is Commander Luke Skywalker to the Medbay. Prepare for code blue. I repeat, prepare for code blue." He then returned unnoticed to his own rooms to meditate and prepare for the task ahead, but he was already linked through the force to the beautiful girl, who sat working at her place in the Command centre and would sense the minute she was in trouble.
General Xenon glanced in Maija's direction as a message for Commander Skywalker came in. He had been told to keep his favourite aide and the Jedi Knight apart, but Luke wasn't on the station, or was he? If he was, did the Lieutenant know about it and did Senator Organa Solo know. If Maija was force strong she would have to deal with the young Commander sooner or later, but Xen had a hunch that Luke and Maija were better acquainted than most people realised. For no other reason than the desire of Organa Solo to keep them apart. It did seem rather strange behaviour for the Princess to display, normally Leia Organa Solo was one of the most level headed of the Inner Council. Mon Mothma held great trust in the young woman's sound judgement, but her current behaviour bordered on paranoia.
"Could I speak to you please Lieutenant."
Maija turned to see the Princess standing behind her computer console. Maija had been plotting a routine course through an asteroid field for some of Arrow Squadron.
"Of course your Highness."
"Perhaps we could go somewhere private?" Leia glimpsed Xenon giving her a thoughtful stare.
The young Lieutenant considered for a second and suggested her own quarters. Leia acquiesced and the two women made their way back to the residential complex. Maija winced as they left the bridge area .
"Is there anything wrong?"
"No, I must have a touch of indigestion or something. Is it my imagination or are the lights very bright in this corridor?" Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. Leia looked concerned.
"Are you sure you're alright Lieutenant? You do look pale."
When they reached Maija's rooms, she offered Leia the only chair, but remained standing herself.
"I need some answers Lieutenant and I need the truth."
"What is the truth. From what perspective do want to see. In your mind your Highness I'm guilty. What can I say that would make you believe me?"
"Are you an Imperial spy?"
Maija grimaced. Leia was going straight for the jugular. She would have to tell the truth or as near as she could. Besides, she was nervous. Her hands felt clammy and she found she was shaking slightly.
"No."
"Do you know the identity of the person who is?"
"Of course."
Leia shook her head in frustration. This girl was very good at giving nothing away and Leia felt her blood pressure rise. "Who is it?"
"I think you know the answer to that already. Trust your feelings Princess, don't be influenced by the Darkside."
Leia took a deep breath and ran through some Jedi exercises Luke had taught her. "You sound like my brother." She watched Maija carefully but the neutral, bland face never changed.
"May I ask you a question, your Highness? In two years you've never had any reason to doubt my loyalty and I have seen more classified pieces of information than most. Yet in a matter of a few days you completely turned against me. None of the information was discovered to have been lost from your office, or in any way traced to me."
Leia looked confused for a second but geared herself to attack mode. "You are clever Lieutenant Maija, if that is your name, I'll grant you that. But it takes time to build up trust within an organisation."
"Ten years worth, your Highness?"
"I don't know how you lasted this long, but did you have to involve my brother?"
"Princess Leia!" Maija all but cried "I am innocent of all of this. I barely know the Commander. It's you I was assigned to protect. I'm working for Page."
A sharp pain lanced it's way across her stomach and she winced. "Commander Skywalker is more than capable of looking after himself, but you won't take the time to improve your Jedi skills. You are strong in the force but are dangerous because you are only half trained. The legacy of Vader is a powerful one, but you are afraid to deal with it properly."
"How Dare..."
"You must grow in the light of the force. Once you start to grow in the light the journey....must.... be ....completed." Maija stopped suddenly in the realisation that the words could equally apply to herself. "You deny that the force in you even exists and thus you deny your own existence" she whispered.
"What!" Leia didn't catch the muttered final remark.
Maija shook her head and took a shaky breath, subsiding onto the bunk she looked at her former employer and groaned as a wave of pain came from nowhere. The probes, they must have moved. "Luke, help me!" she sent out silently through the force.
"Leia watched Maija as she curled up into a little ball on the bed. "Han thinks you are Imperially trained."
Maija finally cracked. "I was," she yelled. "But my parents were murdered on Alderaan with the rest of your family, my Grandfather was murdered by the Empire two days later and then my cousin was killed at the Battle of Yavin. So yes your Highness I work for the Empire as a spy. For the sake of the Sandpeople, your Highness please wake up and face reality." Maija's face turned red, then white as frustration and pain gripped her.
"Alderaan," Leia echoed stupidly. "I never knew."
Luke bent over double and retched. He washed his mouth out and stumbled out of the refresher. Picking up his comlink he tried to contact Maija in vain. I might as well try the force. Leia will have to know I'm here sooner than later. Closing his eyes he held on to a chair as a wave of dizziness claimed him. "If I'm feeling this way how is Maija? I'd better get down there, fast."
"Luke, help me!"
He felt the words form in his mind and dashed to the turbolift.
"I trained at Raithal, as did Princess Antaara Deegan."
"That's not true, you're lying."
"Search your feelings, you know this to be true." The time honoured phrase spilled from Maija's parched lips.
"It can't be. I would have known."
"I was only fourteen, stuck on a planet away from any family I had left, doing a course I had no desire to do and had to watch that woman as she laughed at my family's misfortune and yours. I couldn't grieve I wasn't allowed to. One of my friends disappeared in mysterious circumstances after an exam. She'd gained better marks than the Princess, her body was never found. Why won't you believe me."
Leia suddenly felt a familiar sense approach. Her brother's presence seemed so near, he'd grown more powerful since the last time they'd been together. It couldn't be Luke, he was still on Coruscant, but it was. The recognition of his force presence, calm and reassuring filled her mind. She tried to contact him but found the way blocked. She turned an accusing stare on the younger girl and found her lying on her bunk, eyes closed, breathing shallowly. Her lips formed a single word.
"Luke."
The door slid open and Luke rushed in. Ignoring Leia he picked up Maija and turned to go. "Come on Lieutenant, I'm getting you to the Medicentre and you're expected this time."
"But Sir!" she choked.
Leia finally realised that the girl needed medical help, but Luke had known. Somehow he had known. She looked closely at her brother and wondered if he was in perfect health himself, his complexion had turned grey under his tanned face. She gave him a little of her strength and he thanked her silently. The door slid shut again leaving Leia alone in Maija's room. "He almost ignored me. He was there to see Maija and he knew she was in pain. I am a Jedi and I should have known. Maija was right, I am neglecting my heritage. If I am wrong about that, what else have I wilfully ignored?"
She gazed round the room with interest. It was not unlike any of the rooms on the station. Space was not in plentiful supply. The personnel didn't live in these rooms the way that you would in a home. The single bunk was pushed against the far durasteel wall to give room to a desk and shelves. A few holos grabbed her attention and she peered closer at them trying to gauge a clue to Maija herself.
A smiling family stood on a street corner in what looked like Aldera. It had to be, because Leia knew Aldera in her soul. Looking closer she scanned the happy faces and stiffened slightly. She knew the couple from somewhere, the image tugged at something in the dim recesses of her brain. Winter would remember. The smiling child had to be Maija, because even though she was happy there was a watchfulness about the dark eyes and a hint of foreknowledge. Another holo showed a desert landscape and a building not unlike a moisture farm. It could be Tatooine or Aridus. The middle aged couple squinted bravely into the holorecorder. Was Maija from Tatooine and was that the connection with Luke, because there was one, no doubt about it. Luke had known she was ill. Her comlink buzzed.
"Leia sweetheart," it was Han. "General Xen wants a short meeting could you come now and I think your brother just showed up."
"I know Han, I've seen him very briefly. I'm on my way." Grabbing the holo of the family in Aldera from the wall she left the room.
Leia missed possibly the most important holo hidden behind some of the others which showed a couple completely absorbed in each other against a spectacular sunset involving two suns. A young girl with shining dark hair and a man with tousled fair hair and the bluest eyes this side of Anchorhead. Kendra sensing romance had sneaked topside and taken the holo the night before Luke had left. She'd sent a copy to her niece, but also one to Luke and he carried it with him.
The medical centre on Bestine Station hummed with activity when Leia and Han finally arrived. Luke talked to the medical droid, but excused himself when he felt his sister's presence.
'He looks better,' she thought. 'Tanned and well. He'd looked pale and grey three hours ago. But that had been replaced by a drive and energy he hadn't had in a long time.
"How is she?"
"Surprisingly well. Complaining bitterly about the dunking in the bacta tank and having to drink the bacta solution........"
"Yeugh!" Leia shuddered. The sweet sticky smell of bacta stayed with you for days.
"....to help heal any internal injuries caused by the last two probes. But Two-One-B states that he's removed them and she is completely clear. He's going to knock her out for a few days, otherwise she'll try and go back on duty and that would do her more harm in the long run."
Han smirked. Maija reminded him more and more of his wife and her brother every time he saw her. "Now that's the solution they should have used on the Skywalker twins a few times. How many medical centres have you visited Luke?"
"Would you like to see the inside of the Bestine one General Solo? I believe it is very well equipped, but I don't know if they can cure problems of the mouth."
"Hows about I get Chewie to put you straight on a few things kid."
"Why are you here anyway Luke?" Leia asked. "I thought you had research to finish on Coruscant."
"I did, but I knew Wedge and the boys had moved out here for six months, then I heard reports on Sybren and Farbyn being hit with no casualties. It seemed weird so I came to investigate and found that General Xenon had been listening to the worries of a staff member who is reported to have force sensitive powers. She arranged for the evacuations of these facilities, then moved the position of the space station because it was felt to be under threat and wouldn't be so easy to defend. This Lieutenant arranged the new position which incidentally helped the Falcon when it had a little bother. The General also knew that you would be coming a week before you arrived. Even you didn't know that you would end up exactly here; did you? Think about that Leia." His sister looked surprised. "I'm sorry Luke."
"That's ok, but this time I don't want her moved from this station. She's well guarded and we think the Empire is at present unaware of her current location ."
"You are correct as ever, Commander." the voice remarked placidly behind them. The non-descript figure of Lieutenant Page dressed in a grey uniform stood watching them. Luke smiled. "It's good to see you again Cullen, although I was not aware of your presence in the station."
"Well Luke, ever since you started meddling in this affair I've had to try and keep up with you."
"I thought you were one step ahead of me, you were last time."
"I'm trying to keep it that way." Cullen Page lowered his voice so that Han and Leia couldn't hear. How is she Luke? When we sent her to Tatooine I didn't realise you had gone too."
"That was pure coincidence. I'd gone to Kenobi's house to do some work in peace and I agreed to do a favour for Rogue Squadron and deliver a citation to Biggs' family."
"Ahh, I see." Page turned to Han and Leia. " I've a favour to ask you, General Solo, your Highness. I need some important dignitaries to accompany a team of my special operatives to a planet in the borderland region. I also need these people to be more than politicians. Things could get nasty."
Han brightened, things had been a little dull since the wedding, apart from their journey to the borderland station and a little off the record, undercover scouting job was just what he needed. Leia would go. There was no doubt in his mind and he would go to keep an eye on her. Chewie would go to keep an eye on the both of them and if Luke was also to go, all three of them would keep an eye on the young Jedi. Luke never knew when to leave things alone, plus an obsessional desire to save all beings in the galaxy, meant that he never thought about his own general safety.
"When?" enquired Luke unsurprised. They all turned to stare at the Jedi. Luke shrugged his shoulders. "I knew we had to go." was all he said. Leia marvelled at her brothers prescience.
"When she is fit to go," answered Page.
"That will take at least another week," warned Luke. He stared at the Solo's. You'll be here for at least another ten days, can the NR spare you that long Leia?"
"They'll have to," she murmured with a dry look at her husband. "It'll give flyboy here a chance to fix the Falcon."
"We could get in a little saber practice. I'll be off station for a couple of days, but then we can get in a little training. Excuse me, I must go and check on the Lieutenant."
He turned and strode from the waiting room towards the chamber Maija had been placed in. She lay sleeping but already looked better. He picked up her slim hand and closing his eyes reached out to her through the force, focusing inward he spoke to her.
"Maija it's Luke. I'm here for you, don't forget that. The treatment is complete, all you have to do is concentrate on getting well and regaining your strength. It's not over yet. I'll show you a form of self healing it's the Jedi way." For a moment Luke seemed lost and defenceless as he sat beside the sleeping girl, his blue gaze troubled, then he bent over and kissed her forehead, brushed her hair away from her face then resolutely turned and left. Wedge standing unseen and perhaps unsensed by the door smiled.
Wedge retreated a little, then walked swiftly forward, his boots clattering on the metal floor. "Luke! I've been put on supervision duty by Page. Who's in the medicentre that's so important, we have to mind?"
"It's Maija Darklighter again. She spied for the alliance when she worked for the Empire and we think she is force strong. A bomb went off in her old quarters on Coruscant, she doesn't know this but we think it is a warning."
"Darklighter!" Wedge raised dark brows.
"Gavin didn't tell you about the family relationship either?"
"No. But it does explain why he was anxious about her. I thought I was going to have to tell him that you wanted her for yourself and how hard it was to fly an X-Wing without parts of your anatomy. " Wedge grinned and directed a glance at his friend's lightsaber. Luke jerked his head up at the mention of 'interest' in Maija.
"I'm only teasing Luke. But for those of us who are your friends, Maija's probably good for you and it's been clear to me, at least, that you've been interested in her from the first, she's a nice girl and I think you'll be good for her too."
The young Commander blushed and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Thanks Wedge. Just keep an eye on her for me please. I've some business to take care of and will be back before she wakes up. Don't let anyone move her or transfer her. She forms a link to a rather intriguing plot."
The two men were joined by Cullen Page, his keen grey eyes never missing a heartbeats worth of attention to detail. Seeing that Luke and Page wanted to talk Wedge excused himself.
"Will this work Cullen, will she be alright?"
"You are a Jedi Luke, can't you see the way forward from here."
"I......"
"Well, well, Commander Skywalker and Lieutenant Page." the ironic tone in Xen's voice was not lost on the two men. "This is getting to be quite a party. I hope I'm not being presumptuous gentlemen, but as the officer in charge of this base, should I not have been notified of your arrival?"
Luke's expression didn't change. "I'm sorry to have offended your sense of dignity, General, but I'm here on a private matter. Xen turned to Page. "I suppose there is absolutely no point in asking you anything at all, Page?"
"You know me so well, General. I'm here to act as protection for Lieutenant Darklighter."
"....And I'm flying to Tatooine to fill in the missing gaps in her records."
"All I can say Gentlemen is.... May the Force be with you. I'm very fond of the child."