Disclaimer. The world of SW Luke and the gang all belong to Lucasfilm. I'm only borrowing them for a while. Please be kind this is my first fic, long and involved though it be.
Chapter 18 - Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through hardships)
Tatooine - Darklighter Moisture Farm
The Darklighters were pleased to see Luke, but confused. He had come alone this time, there was no citation to deliver and no niece to save. Luke wanted information, pure and simple. After reassuring the couple that their niece was in no immediate danger the talk turned to other things.
"Sir, Ma'am I want to ask you about Maija. She's a force adept isn't she."
Kendra looked nervously at her husband and he shook his head wearily. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then waved a tired hand at his wife.
"We've never been entirely sure, but it would make sense I guess. She was always such a sensitive, fearful girl. She always looked at you as if she were the adult and you the child. There is something about those big, dark eyes.."
"I know," Luke said. "But she has demonstrated on several occasions an uncanny gift for prophecy and pulling objects across a room is not easy when you are sick." The older couple glanced quickly at each other. Luke frowned and asked " Why the lack of surprise?"
The couple stared nervously at the young Jedi.
"I could make you tell me, if I wanted to. I need to know for her own safety. We may be dealing with dark forces and I need to keep her safe. It is important for the NR that the Jedi rise again."
"She made us promise not to tell. She doesn't think she is truly open to the force and it would just cause her family more hardship than they had already suffered. But there were incidents in her childhood and her father was very concerned about her. She had to have skills to protect herself"
"You only have to tell me. I won't divulge this to anyone, not even my sister."
'Sister!'. The Darklighters looked completely baffled at this.
"Maija worked for my sister on Coruscant, until she was shot in an assassination attempt on my sister and myself. My sister is a very important woman and thought that Maija was to blame, in fact, still does. I'm trying to clear your niece so that she can function again in the NR."
"We didn't know you had a sister." murmured Kendra.
Luke smiled fondly. "Neither did I, but it's a long story. I was here because Obi Wan brought me to Owen and Beru. Leia went to Bail Organa on Alderaan."
Merdom finally spoke. "So what you're saying is, that all this is a Jedi thing. Damn Obi Wan and his meddling."
"If it wasn't for Obi Wan I'd be dead and so would Leia." Merdom Darklighter's attitude reminded Luke of Owen's towards the same wily Jedi.- Why?
Kendra seemed to come to a decision in her head. She put her hand on her husband's shoulder. "I think Mon Mothma knows some of it."
Merdom shut his eyes. Luke could physically feel the battle taking place inside the older man. He leant across the table and looked deep into the older man's troubled soul. "Tell me what you know. I won't let anything happen to her if I can help it."
"You don't know Maija," Merdom bit out savagely. "She lives a life devoted to some sort of code, almost as if she wants to get herself killed."
Blue piercing eyes fastened on Maija's Aunt.
"Her Parents?"
Kendra shook her head. "No," she whispered, "Not Jedi. Not even force strong. The skill skipped a generation."
Luke began to see something. He brought his head up sharply. Kendra assessed the young man. Tousled blonde hair and the bluest eyes this side of Anchorhead, yet by all accounts this boy was the light of the force, the saviour of the NR and her niece was in love with him.
"Her Grandfather..?"
"Yes, he was Jedi. He married very young, before he trained, but the marriage didn't last. They had a son, but he proved to have no talent for the force. The boy was brought up on Reltooine with his mother, but eventually joined a communications corporation and he ended up travelling the galaxy. On a rare visit to his father, who was by then in hiding, he met Merdom's sister Jerna and they fell in love. She had been training in an Imperial Home Defence Squadron, but wanted out. When she got married this was allowed, as she had to travel with her husband. They ended up on Alderaan and started to work for Bail Organa and the Rebellion. Maija spent the early part of her life with them, but things got more and more dangerous as the rebellion rose and the Empire grew ever more corrupt."
"When did she come to live with you?"
"When she was ten years old. However she was put on the accelerated learning programme when her routine school tests were so high as to be almost off the national scale. She transferred to one of the top schools on the planet and from there finally went to Raithal at fourteen. The youngest cadet ever to be sent for training. None of us wanted her to go there, but it was the law if your test scores were that high"
"We sent her through school on her mother's name. Her father didn't use his real name because of the risk to himself and his family."
"And..." Luke prompted carefully, when Kendra became lost in her memories..
"He taught his daughter certain skills to get her through life on Raithal. None of us wanted her to go there," she repeated "but the Empire gave us no choice and then her Grandfather supported the idea. He thought she would be safest there. We didn't want her background delved into too deeply, just in case she disappeared. So we let her go. She never saw her parents again. they lost their lives when Alderaan blew."
"Her Grandfather?" Luke asked. Certain ideas had begun to take shape in his mind and he wondered if it could be possible from any point of view, but why?"
"The old man was killed taking part in some crazy fool stunt not long after your folks were killed and you disappeared." Merdom 's voice echoed loud from the back of the kitchen. "In fact we don't know if he is dead, he just disappeared one day."
"Another Jedi hiding on Tatooine. It's just not possible, or..." Luke's eyes narrowed suddenly, "the same one."
The tension in the room increased as Merdom stalked round and round the room. Kendra sat wringing her hands while the evening meal congealed in front of them. Luke felt something stick in the back of his throat and coughed, the sound unnatural in the tense quietness. He picked up his beaker and swallowed a mouthful of the nutrient rich blue milk. 'Boy', he hadn't tasted this stuff since the day he'd left home, or it had been taken away from him. He'd gone to find old Ben and had left the only life he'd ever known. Something seemed to call to him from the mists of his memory, an overheard conversation when he'd been very small.
"Maija's father. Was he called Petros? I've heard the name before but the surname was ......Kenobi, not Darklighter." he breathed.
The stunned silence from the older couple made Luke realise he'd just matched the sandperson with the bantha. Kenobi had still been protecting him from the grave, or from the oneness of the force, but this time he'd been sacrificing more than just his own blood to do so. He'd nearly sacrificed the life of his Granddaughter.
"Maija is the Granddaughter of one of the most powerful Jedi's in the known universe. No wonder she's running around removing her name from files and living a double life. How could you and he do that to her. She's little more than a child with a life of her own to live. How could Ben burden her with this. How could he, and how could you let him do it." He ran out of the room and up to the dark desert night. A Jedi should be calm, but being calm for your own sake was one thing. When it concerned the life of the woman you were in love with, things were different.
"Luke, Luke!" the Darklighter's called after him, but he ignored their pleading and ran helter-skelter into the night. When the rush of anger subsided he stood brooding in the darkness.
His poor, poor girl. Perhaps Leia and himself were the only people who could understand what had been done to Maija. Robbed of her family and her childhood by the Empire and nearly of her life because of an ancient order and an expectation that she would sacrifice her self for it. Merdom's words returned to haunt him. "She lives her life by some sort of code."
"She shouldn't have to," Luke yelled into the night "....and neither should I, but I will and so will Maija. It's in our blood." he knew now that Maija was his girl, had always known. "But this time we'll do it together!" he yelled defiantly at the stars.
His danger senses prickled, where was he. "I must have run miles." he mused and looked around. The familiar shape of the stone needle loomed above him. "Beggars Canyon." Boyhood memories crowded into his brain and he smiled. Luke had made peace with his past and the last dregs of his anger drained away into nothingness. We do what we have to do to survive. He was strong and so was Maija. Born and formed out of a hostile environment, following the light path of the force.
He flicked on his comlink. "Skywalker to Darklighter. I'm sorry Sir, I lost it for a second. I'm at the stone needle."
"Thank the force you're safe, boy. There are times when you do remind me of Kenobi. I'll come and get you. Jedi or not I don't put up much hope for you against a tribe of Sandpeople."
Kendra explained "Petros took his mother's name for business purposes and because Obi Wan didn't want his son put at risk. As Petros was not force sensitive his father knew that he could live a relatively obscure and anonymous life. They had a good if distant relationship. Petros always said Ben and Nita should never have married."
"Did Ben know about Maija?" Luke asked huskily as he pictured her face in his mind.
"Of course,"
"No, I meant - did he know about her force ability?"
"When Jerna was expecting Maija, Obi Wan encountered her alone in Anchorhead. Jerna stated that he touched her belly and said 'Look after her, for she is part of the Light of the Force'. He'd also said that the baby would be strong."
"It must have seemed a little unfair to you that Ben was on Tatooine to watch over me."
"We didn't realise that, because we didn't know that you were also from a jedi family."
"Oh, that is an understatement. Did you ever meet my father Anakin/" he asked carefully.
"Yes, but he died before you were born, so Beru said."
"That's not quite true. He turned to evil and became Vader."
"Obi Wan knew this?" asked Merdom soberly. "That's some inheritance, boy."
"It was the reason he and I were here. I have been trained in the ways of the Jedi and they have to rise again for the good of the New Republic. Your niece is very strong in the force and ..."
"Luke Skywalker! stop edging round the most important issue. That girl loves you."
"I know. She doesn't realise it yet."
"Lord, you're stubborn boy. What do you feel about her." This man could have been Owen's real son. The closed stubborn face gave no clue to his feelings.
"I don't know where she will be posted next, but I'll try to keep an eye on her for you."
"Luke, you're missing the point here."
"Am I? I know that without her I'm only half a person and when she hurts, I bleed. I feel her pain Kendra. Don't you understand?" he put his head in his hands.
Kendra put her arms round the young man. He had been burdened with such a legacy, even more than Maija had. Yet he kept going.
"Take time to be together. You both need it."
"The thing is Ma'am, we don't have much time. We have to move against an enemy of the force and none of us know what is going to happen. But I do thank you, because now I can clear her name and get Leia to understand. Leia's my twin and it's been so difficult being at odds with her."
Kendra studied the handsome young Commander who sat head bowed in front of her. What kind of life had he led since his guardians were killed, the force only knew. "Luke," she said quietly. "You cannot do it all. You must take the time to refresh and heal your emotions. Things will work out with your sister, but you need to sort out things with Maija too." Luke brought his head slowly upwards and Kendra brushed his hair away from his face, just like Beru had once done. "What is it they say 'Ad astra per aspera', to the stars through hardships. You and Maija could take that as your motto."
Luke finally smiled and Kendra relaxed.
The Darklighter's watched as Luke's X-Wing cleared the planets atmosphere and disappeared from view. "We can only pray for them." murmured Merdom.
Luke landed on Coruscant and requested an interview with Mon Mothma. She graciously agreed to see him at very short notice, because he was an alliance hero and the only Jedi. Besides she was fond of him.
I want any information you have on Lieutenant Maija Darklighter..." Luke paused, then inserted smoothly "Kenobi. I believe you might have information for me."
Chapter 19 - Following the Code
Borderland Space Station
Leia paced the corridor in front of the medbay, she was seriously annoyed and had threatened Wedge, Corran and Gavin several times with a court martial.
"No can do, your Highness," Wedge cheerfully resumed his position in front of Maija's room. "Commander Skywalker gave me his orders and you were not on the visiting list."
"But Wedge!" Leia protested. "Luke would let me in to check on the Lieutenant ."
"He might, but General Xenon does not. You're being kept out on his orders. Until Commander Skywalker returns only medical staff, the General himself and family are allowed in."
"Family!"
"I think that means me," remarked the large figure of Gavin Darklighter quietly. "I have to send word to my Aunt and Uncle on Tatooine, if possible. They've been so worried about her."
Han rolled his eyes. They'd been hanging around this corridor for days now, with no sign of Luke. Leia was getting really impatient (another Skywalker trait). Now Gavin Darklighter drops a proton torpedo into the conversation and his wife practically foamed at the mouth with frustration. Han also suspected that some of it was guilt. Leia had confessed to trying to get answers from Maija when the Lieutenant had collapsed.
"Gavin is Maija's cousin." explained Wedge.
"What!!" the Solo's screamed in unison. Han marched up to Gavin and grabbed him by the lapels of his grey shipsuit. "Couldn't you have told us this earlier?"
"It wasn't my place, Sir. Maija had not given me leave to do so. We hadn't seen each other for years until she started working for the Princess. I didn't recognise her at first and she made no move to acknowledge the family connection, so I just respected her wishes. Even Asyr didn't know until two days ago."
"So we wait until Luke gets back from wherever he's gone to. Fine!" Han humphed with exasperation. "Come on Leia, you have to contact Winter and Mon Mothma, and sweetheart you need to rest."
The group dispersed until Wedge was the only figure left in the medical centre. The medical droid finished checking his patients. "Goodnight Commander Antilles," the metallic voice droned softly.
Wedge bent over Maija's prone figure. Was it his imagination or was she more aware of her surroundings. "2-One-B, what is the current state of Lieutenant Darklighter's condition?"
The droid looked quizzically at Wedge, if that was the expression assigned to the medical droid. "The Lieutenant will be out of sedation in approximately twenty-four hours, which is why her sleep seems more natural."
"That's good to know," remarked Luke as he sneaked up behind Wedge.
"Commander Skywalker, how good to see you again and fully functional I hope?"
"Luke! It's about time. Where have you been?"
"Oh, here and there. Tatooine, Coruscant. You know, places like that." Luke smiled at his friend. "Go and rest Wedge, because next week you've to earn some credits. My opinion as your ex-commanding officer is that you've been spending too much time loafing."
"Hah!" exclaimed the Corellian pilot. "Didn't you used to be good at flying Skywalker? I'll have you know that I've been trying to keep your sister away from young Maija. I think it might have been easier facing the rancor. "
"Bye Wedge," Luke grinned. He settled down in the form-fitting chair beside Maija's bed and closed his eyes. Focusing inward he reached for the sense that belonged to Maija.
"Mai. It's Luke. I'm here for you now and I'm not leaving you again." The young man opened his blue eyes and smiled in satisfaction. He settled to wait until the girl beside him opened her eyes. A little calm and tranquil meditation never hurt a Jedi Knight.
The light hurt her eyes. That was all she could think about. She didn't know who or what she was, or where she was for that matter. 'No' that wasn't quite right, she knew who she was - Maija. Lieutenant Maija Darklighter.
A voice called out to her, not within her self as before, but from the outside, but it was known and loved. Loved? She rejected the idea firmly in her mind.
"Come on girl, come back to the real world." Squinting brown eyes met blue. She frowned and shut her eyes tight.
"What are you doing here?" she grumbled, still with her eyes closed.
"Saving your butt, lady. Again"
There was a silence. She risked a peep.
"I'm still here."
There was another pregnant pause.
"Go away then."
"I can wait Mai."
Silence greeted that remark. She lay with her eyes squeezed shut.
"I will wait. The Jedi are famed for their patience."
"It's a trait you missed out on then."
Luke breathed noisily through his teeth and muttered his way through an entire set of Bocce swearwords. Why couldn't she just give in.
"I know what those words mean, Sir and I think the inner council would not approve of such language."
"Would you stop calling me Sir. How can you call the man you love Sir?"
Furious blue eyes met indignant brown. "Perhaps because I don't?"
"I don't think so. You do you know and I feel the same way about you."
Unable to cope with the Jedi's confident assumption the girl in the bed shut her eyes firmly and turned her back on him.
"You can be so childish Maija Darklighter. I could throttle you," he threw over his shoulder as he stormed out of the medical centre. Kendra Darklighter was correct, they did need some time alone. "If only for me to shake some sense into her."
General Xenon emerged in the direction of the medical centre just in time to hear the last comment and see Luke march off angrily in the other direction. "So the boy has returned without us knowing again." Amazing how the Jedi moved around the galaxy but this one moves around my station almost undetected. I really will have to check security." Luke had just confirmed Xen's other hunch that Luke and Maija knew each other far better than anyone suspected. You didn't want to throttle polite acquaintances and the tone of Luke's voice indicated a lot of emotion involved. He chuckled. Maija would keep the Jedi on his toes, that much was clear.
Lieutenant Page called a briefing to discuss events on Deegan. His face was grave, things had turned serious. "The diplomats representing the New Republic have been arrested on spying charges. One of our agents has disappeared completely and we are not hopeful of his fate. Admiral Joulwe has arrived on Deegan to offer his aid to a people in crisis. He brought along a Super Star Destroyer with a full complement of TIE fighters and stormtroopers. The SSD hasn't made it's presence felt yet, as the people are still in mourning for King Zereon."
"Is it true he was murdered?" asked Wedge.
"We are almost certain that he was," answered Leia. "The operative that disappeared worked in the lab that carried out the post mortem. He disappeared after he managed to send us a copy of part of the results."
"The results which were published were completely different from the set we received." said Page
Leia leant forward, her pretty face strained. "I've agreed to go to Deegan as a personal friend of the Princess's to try and intercede on behalf of the diplomatic staff. Han will of course come with me, as will Chewbacca."
"The Rogues are to fly escort duty for the Falcon, but won't land on Deegan unless absolutely necessary." put in Wedge.
Xen looked sideways at Skywalker, who up until then had been silent, as if he was wrestling with something in his mind. "I will be joining Page and his men on the ground as an assault crew, we have to get those people out."
Page cleared his throat "General Cracken feels that the planet joining the New Republic was perhaps always out of the question, but we cannot remove the government or Princess Antaara."
Leia looked upset. She'd worked so hard on getting things correct for the trade delegation. "So you're saying that it was never on the cards."
"Any information we gained showed the trade delegation more interested in sabotage than joining us." added Page. "The conference was set up with the idea that it might draw out the Deegani pro-Imperial faction. They,ve managed to do a lot of damage to New Republic Sites, but up until now we have been unable to prove that it was definitely them."
"I'm sorry Luke. I was very wrong wasn't I?" Leia turned to her brother full of contrition. "Maija was spying for Page and Cracken wasn't she? And acting as an unknown bodyguard, a sort of backup. I blundered in without thinking things through. It's not like me."
Page shook his head. "It was vital that you negotiated in good faith with the Deegani delegation. Antaara was unable to pick up on any negative feelings you would otherwise have unwittingly displayed."
Luke crossed to his sister's side and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "It's ok Leia, your control needs a little work that's all. Lieutenant Darklighter's is better, but it makes her difficult to warm to. Maija brings a lot of it on herself. But she's had a hard time of it too. If she gives permission I'll tell you about it, but suffice to say she has a Jedi background and was given a task to do. She had to protect the Light of the Force against the darkness."
"The Light of the Force?"
"Yes Leia. You and I and any others that come our way. You had to be unaware of Antaara's deception. She has a force ability too" He smiled his reckless farmboy grin. "We would never have suited. Can you imagine me following her around the Relentless Warrior.?"
"I guess not."
"Do not underestimate her. She is working for the dark side."
"I won't oh great Jedi." she smiled and wrapped her arms round his shoulders.
"Hey! What's going on here?" the suspicious voice of her husband intruded into the twins' conversation.
"Remember he's my brother." Leia quipped. "It's a Jedi thing."
Han laughed. "It's great to see ya kid. Although I don't know if I trust you to go off on your own with Page's guys. You always get yourself into some sort of scrape and we have to come and rescue you."
"I like that. I thought it was the other way round." Luke answered good naturedly.
"Boys, boys, please." interrupted Leia mock sternly.
The two men turned and stared at the tiny Princess. "Perhaps we could put her in a cell somewhere. She's a committee all by herself." Han joked.
Luke's expression turned serious. "Could you do something for me Leia?" he asked .
"Of course."
"I want you to practise some combat training with Page at the centre here and work on lightsaber training. Han has agreed to go through fitness training with you. We don't want to take any chances. Maija has agreed to go through some basic Jedi training with me because she will also be going to Deegan. We think that Antaara has now worked out part of her identity and should be able to sense her if she gets close."
"So she's going as .....bait." stated Han.
"We're all going as bait Han."
"She's done it before." None of them, apart from Luke had heard the intelligence man coming up beside them. "Obviously not to Deegan, but she was part of my original scouting mission to Jabba's palace when Han was there in his carbonite phase of life."
The Solo's stunned faces made Luke and Page smile and Luke used the gap in the conversation to make his move.
"I'll see you in a few days." Luke waved his hand at the group and left the room hurriedly.
"Where's he off to now?" Han raised his eyes in exasperation. "You know something sweetheart, that brother of yours gets worse and worse."
"I could tell you, but you'll see him there in a few days, so I won't." Page's grey eyes smiled and he too left the briefing room.
"You know where he's going?" Han shouted after Page. "Couldn't you let us in on it, I mean...." his voice trailed off. "Aah! Sith."
"I'd like to speak to Lieutenant Darklighter, Han. Do you think that might be possible? I've a very big apology to give her and thanks, because I'd have been dead otherwise."
"Yeh, I'd like to add my thanks to yours. She's cool in a crisis. Maybe coming from that backwater planet has something to do with it. Ask the General, Leia."
Xen walked briskly up to the couple. "There should be no problem, now that I know you're not trying to upset her. She's like a daughter to me you know. But perhaps later, give her a chance to recover properly from the sedative. However, there has been a call for General Solo from General Madine."
"I'll deal with that first, if you don't mind, General, Leia?"
"No problem General Solo. Now your highness, would you join me in some refreshment before you start the stringent exercise programme young Skywalker and Lieutenant Page have put together to torture you with."
Luke walked into the medicentre to find Maija up and dressed, perched uncomfortably on the end of a repulsor bed.
"I'm sorry Sir .....er...Luke," she added hastily as he moved threateningly close. "I apologise for any trouble I may have caused."
He stood and surveyed the room including the pretty girl nervously chewing on her nails. Maija flushed and turned her head away, but kept a wary eye on the Jedi's position. Luke crossed over to where she sat, bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He held her gaze for a second, then turned her face fully towards him and kissed her deeply on the lips. Maija laughed shakily remembering her brief history with this man. A kiss in the desert, a night together on dusty Tatooine and again on the station, a snatched kiss in a components cupboard. "Commander..........."
"Just Luke," he said.
"But you'll never be just Luke to me." she breathed gruffly at him, then immediately turned scarlet with mortification.
Luke grinned and kissed her hard. "Come on Lieutenant, let's get you to a safe house for a little training." He pulled a cloak from the duffel bag he carried and covered Maija with it. Hood up and all. He put on his own black cloak and pulled the hood firmly over his own head. Putting his arm firmly round Maija's waist for support he walked her to the door. "Just trust me and keep quiet until we are out of here. The holocamms will not pick us up if I've disabled the correct ones, but I don't want the hidden microphones doing that either. Use the force to mask your presence. You can do that can't you?"
Maija nodded, the feel of his strong arm around her waist giving support to her still shaky legs. But as Luke had said, everything went according to plan and the pair found themselves boarding a very undistinguished shuttle.
"Are you ready for take off. I need you to co-pilot here."
"Where are we going Luke?"
"I've a small accommodation unit on Bestine, near Kestic Station. I bought it a couple of years ago mainly because I was tired of not having a home. But I haven't had time to turn this into a home either. It's near enough Kestic Township for supplies, but isolated. I use the library there fairly frequently, so it made sense. There is a large stock of holodiscs on the Jedi which somehow escaped detection during the purge."
"Oh!"
"Leia and Han don't know I have it, although I would suspect Page and the other intelligence guys might know I have one somewhere. It's in the middle of nowhere on the side of a cliff cut into the rock itself. There are lots of rock pools, fast flowing rivers and tall trees. But it is completely private."
"But I thought Bestine was made up of small rocky islands?"
"It is mainly, but the largest land mass has a great deal of unexplored territory. That's where the base is. In the Southern Wilderness. Kestic Township is on the edge of the Southern Wilderness"
"I've been there many times, but never explored outside. There is some beautiful scenery, but it's different from Tatooine."
"Just about everywhere's different from Tatooine."
"Come on Maija, you need the rest, we both do. My unit is three days travel from the base and I told Page I'd meet him there in just over a week. "
She raised her hooded head and her brown eyes gazed into his trustingly. "Yes."
Maija trailed round the unit. It was actually very pleasant, not luxurious, but roomy and comfortable. Luke was correct on one thing. It had little of his personality stamped upon it and looked as if no-one had lived there.
"No-one has really," said Luke reading her thoughts as he watched her, his handsome face impassive. "But I did bring some of your things from Tatooine and from the Station. I'd rather have returned to the dustball, he smiled wryly and Maija shared with him a memory of long hot days, but it's too far out on the rim." He busied himself by laying out some provisions. "Now we eat, then you must rest. We have a busy schedule tomorrow."
Maija awoke several hours later to the feel of a muscular body next to her own. "I didn't think this was the plan," she said gasping, as his hand moved leisurely over her body. Luke smiled, rolled over and said "Oh yes Lieutenant, this is the plan. We need a little re-acquaintance time." She wound her arms around his neck and murmured "Whatever you say....Commander." There was no talking for some while, just the sounds of two people making love.
The next day Luke started Maija on a light training schedule to build up her strength and improve her fitness. He also made her start lightsaber drill. She was a natural.
"I have a confession to make Luke. I have a lightsaber. My father gave me one when I was very small. He said he'd got it from his father, but unfortunately had not been born with the skill. Father taught me some drills and always said I had the gift, but it's been years since I did them, but it's strange, the feeling comes back almost instantly."
Luke could only shake his head in wonder at the jewel he had uncovered. She reached deep into the bottom of her bundle of belongings which Luke had collected from Tatooine and produced the Jedi's weapon of honour. Luke extended the blade and a pale lavender beam of light hummed. "You never cease to amaze me." he murmured as he shut off the blade. "Come on. We've got to go into town. So into the shower Lieutenant, you look distinctly in need of one."
"Look who's talking Commander. I think you need it more than I."
Luke grabbed her by the waist and tickled. "I suggest Lieutenant that we save water, being from a desert planet and all and take it together." Maija blushed, smiled and let herself be led into the refresher.
When she came out of the shower Maija was interested to see that Luke had dressed himself in his grey robe, the one he'd worn at Leia's wedding. The tunic was of a soft fabric over a black undershirt and trousers. His boots had been polished until they shone, with his Jedi cloak completing the ensemble. Commander Skywalker, Jedi Knight stood before her, instead of Luke. Maija swallowed nervously, her throat suddenly dry. She peered into the cupboard in which hung her own meagre wardrobe.
"Could you wear this Mai?" Luke asked diffidently holding out her crimson silk dress.
"Why did you bring that? Isn't it a bit grand for Kestic Township?"
"Please, I always think of you wearing it, or your robe of the same colour. That day when you fell asleep in the courtyard holds a special memory for me. So please Mai wear it. I thought we might go for a meal or something. No-one will know us there, but it's nice to get dressed up occasionally."
Kestic Township had been evacuated by the Empire when it had set a base on the planet, but when the rebellion had grown the empire had abandoned the base and the alliance had taken it over. Gradually some of the people returned and the town, if not what it was before, was bustling during the day. They reached the town quickly and Luke took the speeder near an official looking building. "That's the library, but we're going next door."
"Why?"
"Patience my girl, you'll see."
They walked into some sort of office, where a droid sat at a terminal. "Citizen Skywalker and Mistress Kenobi?" it enquired.
Maija jumped in shock. "What!"
Luke tightened his grip on her arm. "That's right." 'Don't worry it'll be alright' he sent to the frightened girl through the force. 'But Luke' she sent back 'What are you doing. I never use that name." Maija froze in terror, she'd just given herself away. She slowed her thumping heart and looked warily up at him. "How......how did you know...?"
"I guessed most of it and your Aunt and Uncle supplied the rest."
"Do you have the required papers and results of the tests?" the droid asked.
"Of course. Here."
"Thankyou. Proceed to room B056. You are expected."
Luke hustled Maija from the reception droids office and through a door into a carpeted corridor with several sets of turbolifts stood empty and waiting. "Come on," Luke pulled her into the first one and as the door closed, covered her mouth with his own. "Gosh I needed that."
Maija was completely confused and not a little angry by this time, especially when she realised the Galaxy's role model and sole Jedi Knight had managed to undo her hair from it's tight bun at the back of her head.
"Luke, what on Tatooine is up with you. I look a mess."
He laughed down into her worried face, blue eyes shining with enthusiasm. Leia would have recognised the expression, even though she hadn't seen it for ages. "No you don't." He smoothed the shining strands away from her face. "You are so beautiful." He bent his head to kiss her again.
A dry cough interrupted the proceedings. Maija jerked away from Luke, scarlet faced with embarrassment. The turbolift had stopped and several people stood watching proceedings with indulgent faces.
"You get out here." an elderly man pointed to the open door. "many good wishes."
"What did he mean by that Luke?"
The blue eyed Jedi turned her to face him. "It was what he said it was. He wished us well."
"Why?" she began to feel she was in a bad holodrama. A frightened expression flitted over her face. "Does he know who we are?"
"No, of course not." Luke soothed. "We're on our own, no military titles. Nobody ever knows much about outside happenings here." He took her hand, kissed it, held it firmly within his own and marched her towards room B056. Maija began to drag her heels. "Luke I'm not going in there until you tell me what I have to prepare myself for."
"That's easy," he wrapped his arms round her again.
"Luke people are staring."
"Let them."
"But I'm supposed to be an undercover operative and you are ...."she whispered fiercely. "Just tell me."
Luke grinned "Trust me." and pulled her into the room. "We're getting married."
This is the bit with the disclaimer. I own none of these characters but George Lucas does and I will not make an Imperial credit out of any of it. Starwars is a wonderful universe and I am only borrowing them for a while. Many thanks to all who have encouraged me in this and to the people at Fanfix who do sterling work.
Anna.S.Hamilton@BTInternet.com
Chapter 20 - The way things must be
Kestic Township - Bestine
Varis Fotwell examined the faint, but unmistakable sense of anticipation he felt at finally, after several years being able to perform another wedding ceremony. When the Empire evacuated the towns many of the populace rather than leave, had gone deep into the wilderness, the rocky crags and many small islands providing shelter. Now that the Empire had gone, they were returning slowly to the towns, but the young people had mainly stayed away.
This wedding was different for another reason. He never thought that he would ever get to meet Anakin's boy. Luke Skywalker, rebel hero and Alliance Commander. Of course, as First Councillor of Kestic Township there was always a chance to meet visiting dignitaries, but somehow this was different.
Varis was a longtime friend of Camus Xenon's, they had fought together in the clone wars, oh...... way back. When the Empire had quit Bestine, Varis had offered sanctuary to the New Republic. Struggling to keep together, hounded from pillar to post, the band of fighters that were aiming for freedom in the galaxy gladly accepted the respite Bestine offered. The base had always been a top secret one, with the mobile space station not too far away as the focal point. As the Empire had been pushed from the Core, the Bestine planetary base had come into it's own. It was to be found deep in the Southern Wilderness, probably on the largest land mass the planet possessed, also it's most difficult terrain. Deep ravines and small pools, swift flowing rivers and sheer cliffs, along with areas of vegetation so thick as to be almost impenetrable.
'It's quite a while since Xen and I had that game of Sabacc, must be more than six months.' He shuffled into his ceremonial robes of black trimmed with blue and gold threads. He had to look the part, the important one. Would the young Jedi be impressed by this? On reflection, Varis supposed he would not. The Jedi had a way of seeing through you as if you were transparisteel. The Jedi - Luke Skywalker. He knew Luke Skywalker had purchased an accommodation unit some two hours journey out of Kestic Station, but didn't know if he ever stayed there. He made it his business to retain pertinent facts, but he doubted any of the other natives knew who Skywalker was. He wheezed cheerfully into a chuckle. "Just one of the most pivotal beings in the known universe." But of late the young man had tried to retreat into anonymity, hiding behind his more politically orientated twin.
The young Jedi entered first, pulling a bewildered girl with him. A quick, heated conversation whispered between the two, ended as the blonde-haired man advanced purposefully to the desk, dragging the girl with him. She seemed completely stunned. There were no attendants, family or guests. The couple were alone. Varis fathomed that this was a surprise to Skywalker's fiancée, even though all the paperwork was in order, including medical profiles and birth-data cards.
So it was to be a secret, so secret in fact that one half of the couple had been completely unaware of the plan. Knowing who and what Luke was, Varis understood perfectly. But she was a beauty, there was no denying that. The girl's shining dark hair shimmered down her back reaching well past her slender waist. The rich crimson of her dress glowed in the light and rustled over the carpeted floor as she shifted nervously.
Luke put his arm around Maija. "Married," she whispered again. "But what about our families, the New Republic, your duties as a Jedi"
"Ssh," he placed his finger briefly on her lips and followed it quickly with his mouth. "We can work all this out later. But there is no way we are going to be apart again without me knowing where you are and if you're well. I need to know so I can protect you if need be."
"I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself"
"Mai. You know what I mean. I love you. Independence is one thing, but we have to be together, it's that simple."
The first Councillor stood at the greel wood door of the chamber and cleared his throat gruffly.
"Citizen Skywalker and Mistress Kenobi!"
Luke nodded and stepped forward. Varis was surprised at how unassuming the man seemed, but he never underestimated anyone. The young man hesitated and glanced down at the girl by his side, she stared at the floor fixedly. Varis wondered at the strange mood of the pair, but he did sense a deep love flowing from Luke to the petite figure of Mistress Maija Kenobi. Now that was a name from the past, there wouldn't be any connection of course, but it was coincidental that the two famous names stood side by side. The Councillor wasn't sure, how the girl felt about the proceedings until she lifted her head and dark eyes bored into the face of her fiancé. Varis nearly gasped aloud. These two were almost a single being, so closely were they connected. Whatever had drawn them together was powerful indeed.
"Citizen, you have a gift for your bride?"
Luke dipped his head solemnly and brought out a crystal tear shaped pendant on a gold chain. Placing it around her neck, he explained it's significance.
"Councillor Fotwell, this was forged from the sands of our home world, so it carries great importance for us both."
Maija took a shaky breath and fumbled her hands into Luke's. Trembling she gave the traditional response. "I accept the gift Luke, not for it's value but for the giver, but I have nothing for you save my love and I....... I..... do.... love."
Luke sighed with relief, it would be fine. The old words from Tatooine meant that she'd accepted him.
"Han!, Wedge!" Leia spoke hurriedly into the comlink. "Maija's gone."
"Gone!"
"Gone, vanished, disappeared."
"Is Page still here?"
A sudden impending sense of disaster made Leia bolt out of the medbay room. Just as it blew. She crashed to the floor and covered her head, while debris rained down upon her.
"Leia!" The agonised shout from Han echoed in the now silent corridor and the Correllian pushed other soldiers out of his way in his haste to get to the still form of his wife. He tore at the wreckage frantically with his bare hands, scrabbling at the rubble. "Leia! Leia!"
There was a faint moan as the figure shifted slightly. Han bellowed at Chewbacca to come and help him move some of the metal plates which were trapping Leia.
"I'm fine, I think. Thank the force for my Jedi danger sense." She winced as Chewbacca lifted the last of the larger pieces covering the tiny Princess and Han picked her up, despite her protestations that she could walk. Wrapping his arms around her petite dusty form, he glared fiercely at anyone who came within two feet of her.
Page and some of his operatives clattered to a halt in front of the Solo's, followed by a harried looking Xenon.
"Your Highness!"
"I'm fine, General. Honestly it's just a few scratches."
"Maija?"
"Wasn't in there to begin with, if she had been she would be dead."
Page stifled a quick smile. 'Sith, Skywalker' he thought. 'I should have locked you up before you started meddling, If I possibly could.'
"What do you mean 'she wasn't there'?" General Xenon turned his fiery gaze on the dishevelled Solo's.
"The room was empty. She wasn't there." explained Leia simply.
Wedge ran up quickly. "There are things missing from her quarters. Clothes and other personal belongings."
Silence. Awkward as no-one knew what to say.
Page sighed and shook his head. "It's ok, I have a pretty good idea of where she has gone and with whom.
Leia brushed something from her ruined white senatorial gown. "She's alright?" she questioned anxiously.
"Oh, I would think so," Page drawled dryly.
"She's gone with Luke," Han guessed. "He sneaked her out of here."
"Without permission!" inserted the General testily, but he was relieved that Maija had come to no harm.
"They'll have gone down to the planetary base, it's safer than here." Page offered.
"He did say he would give her Jedi skills to protect herself," Wedge remarked thoughtfully. "I take it, there's a good gym facility on the base?"
Page rubbed the back of his neck, the stress Skywalker put you through. "The terrain is most suitable for military exercises. We've done a lot of training for the specials on Bestine planet. There is every kind of topography, apart from desert, but especially rock and water. Is that suitable for training Jedi?"
"Excuse me if I draw your attention to a little matter that's bothering me." Han's insolent tone drew stares from all present. "But my wife just happened to be visiting the medbay and it blew up. Who's in charge of security here?"
"We won't find anything." Page asserted. "The blast investigators tell me it's a standard Imperial device, as were the decoys."
"Decoys! Strewth!" Han exploded.
"What has Lieutenant Darklighter done to be so singled out by our Imperial friends?"
"I have my suspicions." answered Page "but we intend to find out for sure."
The Skywalkers left their home two days later and travelled in their small two-seater shuttle craft, under cover of darkness to the Southern Wilderness. It wasn't a particularly dangerous journey, but it was better to err on the side of caution. They flew over lakes with small islands and rocky valleys containing fast flowing streams, but as they travelled further inland the terrain grew more rugged. Steep wooded gorges and impenetrable chasms made for impressive but lonely scenery. It was a perfect location for the base, surrounded as it was on all sides by rocky hills and enormous trees made it invisible from the air. Of course, most of the complex was underground. The small shuttle craft landed some way from the base shields and Luke set up camp.
"We'd better get some sleep tonight," murmured Luke as he wrapped his arms round his wife. "Tomorrow we're both back in uniform. Me in my robes and you in your NR grey." He turned her to face him and gazed urgently into her brown eyes. "One day Maija, you too will be a Jedi Knight. The force is strong in you."
Maija smiled sleepily. "I know," and laid her head on his shoulder. Luke also smiled in the darkness. It was the first time she'd admitted to being a force adept without a struggle. He stiffened suddenly. He'd heard in the echo of the breeze the chuckle and sigh of a crazy old wizard. Luke relaxed, if he wanted a sign that Obi Wan blessed their marriage, he had it now. Drawing his wife closer into his embrace he closed his eyes and slept.
The row the pair got when they finally reached the planetary base could be heard in the staff lounge, several layers below. They had gone the last part on foot to safeguard security and had arrived tired and dirty. Leia had taken one look at her brother and let rip verbally. Luke spoke to his wife through the force. "You can see why she is such a good politician, she has a way with words."
Han was puzzled. He'd been closely watching both Luke and Maija since they'd arrived, to see if what Leia suspected was true, that Luke was interested romantically in Maija Darklighter. Leia had to admit that the alliance with Deegan was out of the question, but she was not reconciled to someone coming from nowhere. Leia had not approved a union therefore it shouldn't take place. But Han had found that there was no reaction at all. There was absolutely nothing. In itself wasn't that strange? But Han found it difficult to understand his brother-in-law recently. He'd never had difficulty in charming the females, whereas Luke had blushed and stammered and looked awkward. Even with his Jedi robes on he'd just kept out of the way.
Luke worked with his sister and members of Rogue Squadron on stamina and fitness, and Maija had been trying to slice some Deegani codes, they'd had little contact with each other during the day. Everything had seemed so normal. Leia had tried to make her peace with the young Lieutenant, but had been kept at a wary distance.
Xenon watched the lovers too, but he knew more about them and he had been around a long time. Nature being what it was. He admired their professional behaviour, but shook his head over it. If they were involved why the secrecy, he shook his head again. Only once did he see Maija look to Skywalker for some sort of reassurance. The rest of the day they'd been apart, but that quick glance had told the old soldier a lot. These two were involved all right, very involved. Their behaviour was almost comical, as they distanced each other and everyone else out.
Leia gave up trying to talk to Maija and tried her brother instead. What she got from him was his watchful blue gaze turned on her and that maddening Jedi calm. "Give her time, Leia. Trust must be earned on both sides."
Maija returned early to her quarters. She felt like a bug under a scope. Solo watched her, Leia watched her, hell, even Xen and the Wookiee watched her. What was she supposed to do. Tricks? She sensed Luke's mind giving comfort and opened the door.
"I've been placed next to you. Xen's doing I think!" he raised his eyebrows and smiled at his frazzled wife. "He may not use the force, but he doesn't miss a thing." Luke walked past Maija as she stood rooted to the spot and began to remove his clothes.
"Luke!"
"Shut the door Mai." The door hissed shut.
"Next door Skywalker."
"I thought I'd just stay with you. You have the extra bunk."
"Luke!" she wailed as he stripped down even further. "I thought discretion was the order of the day."
A bare tanned back presented itself and he bent to remove his tunic pants and boots, giving her a view of his very trim rear. He turned and advanced on his wife, backing her into a corner. Maija looked down his body, then quickly looked up a red flush covering her cheeks.
"Let me help you get ready for bed." His blue eyes twinkled at her as he edged closer.
"Luke!" Maija wailed again. "Oh jumping Jawas," she muttered crossly. His arms wound round her waist and drew her to him.
"You seem tired Lieutenant, you'd better lie down." Luke rested his forehead on hers and felt her small hands move over his bare back and encircle his neck. Her tunic eventually landed somewhere on the floor behind them, but neither were concerned with it's fate. His head came nearer and his mouth covered hers. Maija gasped as Luke's tongue penetrated her mouth. Her knees buckled and she grasped his bare shoulders tightly. Pushing her back against the wall he removed the pins from her hair and watched mesmerised as it tumbled down. Flicking the light off with the force he pulled Maija down onto one of the beds. "Sorry sweetheart, I never gave you a choice of bunk." he chuckled in the darkness. Then the mood changed as his teeth grazed the tip of a bare breast and streaks of fire shot through their bodies. The force heightened their awareness of each other as they kissed and loved, then his hands were beneath her hips and they cried out as their bodies joined. It was always this way between them.
Your Highness," Threepio called. "A message from Coruscant."
Leia turned to Han. "That could be from Winter ."
The dignified visage of the Lady Winter of Alderaan filled the holoscreen.
"You were correct Leia, the holograph is indeed from Aldera and I remember the couple. They worked for your father...... and for the rebellion.
The man had several identities, the main ones being Petros Nethwan of Reltooine and Petros Darklighter, which I believe was the name of his wife's family."
Han shrugged his shoulders. He would never get over the way life's patterns shifted and joined together, especially with the way certain families seemed intertwined.
"I don't know why I never spotted the resemblance between Jerna Darklighter and Maija before because it's very strong, But they never brought the child to court."
"So she has told the truth."
"I think the phrase is 'from a certain point of view'." Winter's expression turned more serious. "There is more you should know."
"What?" asked Leia.
"Petros Nethwan's mother was called Nita."
"All very interesting, but tells us nothing." Han butted in impatiently. "And can't be important."
Leia had a funny feeling, a tingle in her force sense. "Ssh Han. Go on Winter."
"Nita Nethwan was once married to Obi Wan Kenobi."
Han sat down heavily and closed his eyes. The crazy old guy had been dead for years, but still managed to make his presence felt. Leia nodded slowly.
"The marriage ended before Kenobi trained as a Jedi, but I can find no record of Petros Nethwan or Petros Darklighter/Kenobi. They've all been removed." Winter's voice came to Leia as if from far away. "But Nita died long before Petros came to Alderaan. I've worked out that much."
Han opened his eyes. "So it's just possible that Lieutenant Darklighter is Obi Wan's Granddaughter." He stressed the word possible hitting it ever so lightly with sarcasm.
"Yes Han. It's 'just' possible. If I find out anything more I'll let you know."
Leia looked at her husband. "What do you think?"
Han pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I like her Leia. Does Luke know?"
"I think he does." She closed her eyes and reached out with her senses as far as she could. "Yes. He knows."
The door chimed and opened swiftly. Luke Skywalker stood serenely at the portal, his face with the inscrutable expression he seemed to adopt these days. "Hi Han, Leia," he crossed to his sister and kissed her on the cheek. "What do you want to know?"
"Sith! I hate when you do that."
"Sorry Han." He looked quizzically in his sister's direction. "Leia?"
"There's a possibility that Maija Darklighter is some relation of Obi Wan's."
"Yes, I know."
The Solo's looked at each other and Han frowned. He felt further away than ever from his brother-in-law."
"It's true, she is. I've always felt close to her. When her force awareness began to return she shone like a lantern in the night. Force strong and from Tatooine......"
"What's that supposed to mean?" griped Han.
Luke ignored him and glanced again at his sister.
"How long have you known."
"A few weeks, but it's not important. We have other things to consider."
"Like!" threw in Han sarcastically.
"Our little jaunt to the Efik Minor system. We have to get those people out of Deegan. Who can guess what's going on there at the moment. Maija is our best shot. She is linked to Antaara via some history of Imperial training in a way that you and I are not. Plus she's the best slicer we have outside of the smuggling fraternity."
Leia you have to go in from the official point of view, even though I don't think we will have success."
Leia frowned. "You're right Luke, the NR cannot be seen to overthrow a legitimate government. We would fail in any case and far more harm than good would come out of it. If what Gavin Darklighter saw was correct." Luke's head jerked abruptly and Leia detected a shifting in his emotions, was it guilt? "Luke?" she broke off what she was saying.
"It's nothing Leia."
"If what Gavin saw was correct, Antaara is in cahoots with an Imperial Admiral by the name of Gtrec Joulwe."
"Yeah," broke in Han. "From her ankles to her neck."
Leia shot him a very wifely look. "Han!"
"What about Roet?"
Han looked grave. "Reports about his whereabouts have ceased. We don't know if he's alive or dead."
"Blast!" swore Luke fiercely. "He was one of our best men." He sighed and rested his hand on top of the little R2 unit's domed head. The droid twittered reassuringly. "I don't know anymore Artoo......" he stopped abruptly as a new sense approached.
The chime of the door sounded loud in the stillness. Leia stretched out with her developing abilities. "Good." said Luke softly. He knew who it was.
It's Maija," Leia exclaimed in surprise. "She should be resting."
"Try telling her that," Luke remarked dryly.
Han opened the door to a different Maija than the one the Solo's were used to. Luke could have told them she was hiding under a bland facade. The old desert robe of dark green bantha hair covered her in enveloping folds and her shining dark hair was loosely tied back from her face by a piece of cloth. Luke could have sworn that it was the cord from his old Tatooine clothes. He sent a quick message to his wife through the force and a little gleam entered her dark eyes. Leia looked suspiciously from one to the other, but hadn't managed to catch the message. Leia searched her emotions and realised that she was pleased to see the younger girl. Leia wanted to make amends for her previous distrust but she knew it would take time as Maija was slow to trust, but loyal to a fault once that trust was given. Leia had yet to earn that trust.
"Paman Roet should still be alive if he is on Deegan, if not...." she let her voice trail off and looked towards Han. "General Solo, you know as well as I do Imperial procedures for punishing traitors."
Han swallowed. "Yeah, I know them. Imprisoned, tortured, drugged and interrogated. Just to squash any information or spirit left out of you." He reached over to Leia whose face had whitened. She still couldn't speak openly of her time in the first death star all those years ago. Her hand tightened in his grasp and she managed to smile.
"Roet will either be sentenced to death on Deegan or will be transported to the slave mines at Kallinn. They make Kessel seem like a holiday resort. The outcome in either case is the same, I'm sorry to say, and I do fear the worst."
"How do you know about Kallinn?" Leia asked.
"I visited it once on an inspection tour, when I'd completed my training. We have to hope the diplomats are not given a new posting there. They wouldn't last five seconds and if Kallinn is the destination there is no way we'd get them out."
"Lieutenant Page has suggested I go with Luke and the special operatives team, rather than assume my usual place in the diplomatic entourage. If that meets with your approval Your Highness?"
All Leia heard was her brothers name slipping easily from Maija's lips. "She called him Luke and not Commander."
"My problem is that Antaara has blown my cover. It's lasted ten years I should be grateful for that. I just hope she has only linked me to Raithal and not to 'Sandstorm'"
"You were 'Sandstorm', I don't believe it." mumbled Han.
Luke closed his eyes. 'What else are you keeping from me?' he sent to her through the force.
"What I have been has no importance."
"To Antaara it has," inserted Luke quietly. He glanced at his sister. He was seriously worried and for once it showed.
"So I did a little spying for the Alliance. That's not what has upset her Serene Highness. She cannot fathom why she couldn't sense me until it was too late. Antaara is clever I'll admit, but with typical dark side impatience she looks for the easy solution. I ruined her mission and blew the gracious Princess facade sky high. If you'll excuse me your Highness," Maija nodded at Leia. "She was trying to copy you and not succeeding. Antaara has a personal grudge now, against me."
Her voice trembled a little. Han and Leia had to admire her spirit because she tried so hard to appear unconcerned. Luke being attuned to her emotions more closely, crossed the room and put his arms around her.
"Luke, I know....about the explosives."
He shut his eyes briefly, sent a small prayer to whoever listened to these things, then looked at his brother-in-law. A muscle twitched in Han's cheek and the gaze he directed back to the Jedi was grim.
"The computer files gave me the information."
Luke placed his hands on either side of Maija's face. "We wanted to protect you from that knowledge. You've gone through so much recently on our behalf and what has Xen told you about tampering with the main computer, huh?"
Maija forgot about Leia and Han as Luke filled her consciousness. She covered his larger calloused hand with one of her own. "But I'm still here, because of you," she assured him earnestly. Luke pulled her back into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Leia and Han looked at each other in complete stupefaction, before turning away, guilty at intruding into such a private moment. For a timeless instant, the Jedi and the Lieutenant communicated with each other, blue eyes holding brown.
Maija came to her senses with a little gasp of horror and struggled from Luke's arms. "Stop wriggling Mai." Her eyes slid towards Leia, but the Princess evinced no reaction whatsoever. Han smirked, as he enjoyed her embarrassment. Luke's face was difficult to read, but he welcomed the feel of her in his arms. Her face flamed and she stood rigid in his grasp.
"Commander Skywalker! Let...... me.....go."
"Not on your life....Lieutenant............." he sent through the force.
"No!" she exploded.
"Yes, Maija." Luke stressed gently.
"No!" she repeated stubbornly. Luke removed his arms reluctantly and she shot him a look that spoke volumes, before sweeping from the room, her head held high.
The door snapped shut, leaving Luke grimacing apologetically at his confused sister. "I always seem to say the wrong thing where the Lieutenant is involved. Was she this touchy when she worked for you?"
Leia lifted her hands in a gesture of resignation. "I don't know what all that was about Luke, but Maija never was one for being the life and soul of anything. She always observed from the edge. I suppose I didn't know her well, but she didn't invite you to get to know her."
"What was that all about Luke? Are you and she involved or..... What about Antaara?"
Luke groaned. "Han... I...."
"I thought you hit it off pretty well, I know you denied it, but we all," he glanced at his wife, "hoped something might come of it."
"It was never on Han." Luke said simply.
"Luke." his sister spoke warningly and watched as her brother blushed in apparent confusion. The polished Jedi Knight disappeared and the gauche Tatooine farmboy stood shifting nervously from one foot to the other. "I....., I have to go." With an abrupt swirl of his black cloak he turned and practically ran from the room.
Han shook his head. "I don't understand, do you?"
Leia had to admit that she did not.
"If he's courting the girl, why not leave him to it? He's been focusing on this Jedi business for so long, that he never had a chance to succeed with the female of the species. Maybe I should give him some tips."
Leia laughed as she leaned into her husband's side. "Maybe you should."
"Well I didn't do so badly."
"No, I suppose you did far better than expected, nerfherder."
Han turned serious hazel eyes on his wife. "Leia, be reasonable. Young Darklighter is single, pretty and force strong. We assume she is loyal to the NR. She's saved your life on several occasions, apparently and she's saved Luke's life. Surely she deserves a shot at your brother? And besides, I like her."
"Yes, but I wanted him to have someone his equal. But if Antaara is what they say...."
"Maija is his equal. With her pedigree there can be no question of that if Kenobi is a relative. Anyway, he's admitted nothing. We've seen them together in official areas. He's kissed her once in comfort, not passion. She saved his life and was nearly killed in the process, it is quite understandable that a bond will grow, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a love affair. Many of the NR hierarchy don't think I'm your equal." Han's features took on a mischievous cast. "they say," he whispered, "that I'm far superior."
"Your ego is certainly larger flyboy. But Luke doesn't deal with women that often. Much of the farmboy remains along with the Jedi and this girl is so different from the others."
"Wait till he confirms something. I've seen him be friendlier to Wedge!"
"Han!" Leia looked startled, then began to laugh huskily. "If you've fixed the bucket, we can get on our way. I've a bad feeling about this."
"Watch." Page addressed the command group. Maija stood at the front dressed in flowing blue and green robes in a style currently popular on Caaper Ginnohlm, the Deegani capital. As he fired questions at her she changed in front of them, gradually adopting the speech patterns of one of the natives. All trace of Maija disappeared, even her facial features seemed to alter, so completely immersed was she in the new identity. Luke sat dumbfounded as his wife achieved the effect without the use of a force illusion. Then Page did the same without even altering his uniform. His posture changed, his speech pattern slowed and he looked ill at ease in the clothes he wore. Most people there would have walked past them. Then with a click of his fingers the pair suddenly returned to their NR personas. Luke swallowed his mouth dry. "I have a blending in skill" she'd said.
When the session had finished, ignoring the curious gazes, Luke put his arm around his wife to check that she was real and began to lead her from the room. Only to be called back by Page.
"Luke, I'm pairing the two of you together. Keep an eye on Maija will you." Maija opened her mouth to complain. "......and Lieutenant carry on with your orders concerning the Commander here. I'm relying on you to watch out for each other."
"Yes Sir," Maija nodded before Luke pulled her from the room. Page shook his head, there was a change in the relationship. General Xenon's eyes also followed the couple as they left. "Well Page, what do you think?"
"About those two? More open in the relationship, a definite shift, but they're definitely sleeping together. He's never been that interested in any female before, not publicly. There has been the occasional quiet one on the side, but not recently and not since Maija came to his notice."
The wily older man chuckled. "I didn't think sleeping came into it much." There was an answering laugh from Page. "You're correct Sir, but what the Princess will make of it I don't know."
Xen frowned, he was fond of Maija and wasn't sure if he wanted her mixed up with Skywalker and the Solos. "It's none of her business. Maija's a good girl and Skywalker a nice lad. Leave them to it I say, she hasn't found out so far."
"They've barely been speaking to each other, there's been nothing to observe until now, but I would wager that his colleagues in Rogue Squadron have begun to twig that something is up. Skywalker and Maija ended up in the same region on Tatooine at the same time. Need I say more."
"No. These Jedi families do seem to have some sort of pull towards each other. It will be the force at work. I don't pretend to understand it, but I've been alive in this life too long to discount it."
"You're certain she's from a Jedi family?" asked Page with a peculiar tone in his voice.
The General chuckled. "Oh, yes. I always wondered about her, there was just something, but if you look closely she has a sweep of her Grandfather as a young man about her expression."