I do not own any of these characters or anything. I am just using them to amuse others and myself. So, if someone wants to sue me, then go right ahead. I am a poor college student with about $60 in my bank account. It's not worth the waste of time.
A continuation of my first fanfics, Never the Same Again: Part One, Part Two, and Transitions. I try to listen you all of your suggestions, so please help me out by reviewing my work and telling me what you would like to see in the next parts of the series. I was considering expanding this series to include some Luke/Mara interaction too. What do you guys think?
Never the Same Again: Part Three
By Jessika Solo
Han Solo awoke early on Galaxy Day, a day to celebrate the diversity of the galaxy. Most people speculated that the holocard industry made up the holiday to get people to send holocards. However, it was a galaxy wide holiday, which meant the closing of all government agencies. Rubbing his eyes, Han sighed and rolled over to go back to sleep. His arm flung across the bed and did not land on his pillow. Shocked, Han slowly rolled over. His surprise melted into a smile when he saw Leia lying right next to him in his bed. Both were fully clothed, and Han had not been drinking the previous night, so he was sure that she had simply fallen asleep at his apartment.
Han's movements woke Leia and she gasped when she saw Han staring at her. "What happened?" she asked, groggily sitting up in the bed. "I think we fell asleep. Don't worry, I didn't get you drunk," Han said, smiling his crooked smile at her. She acted mad but could not keep a straight face. "That's more like it," Han said, wrapping his strong arms around her. They lay back down on the bed to sleep and hold each other, but then both heard a noise. Leia's eyes filled with terror as she whispered, "Han! There's somebody out there!" "Stay here," Han said, grabbing his blaster that was on the floor beside the bed. He slowly crept into his living room, blaster drawn. He saw a shadow and jumped out yelling, "Who are you?!" A shocked Luke held up his hands and cringed. Mouth hanging open, Han stared at Luke. Leia ran to the door of the bedroom to see what was going on. "Luke!" she said surprised to see her brother, "What are you doing here?" Han put his blaster back in his belt. Surprised, Luke said, "You don't remember what happened last night?" Han and Leia looked at each other in confusion and shook their heads. Sighing, Luke said, "You'd better have a seat."
Luke walked into Han's kitchen to make some kaffe while Han and Leia sat in the sparsely decorated living room. "Do you remember anything?" she whispered to Han. He shook his head and then paused. "Well, I do remember a few things," he continued in a sexy voice. Leia smiled flirtily and said, "Oh. What might that be, General?" He leaned over to whisper in her ear just as Luke walked back out with three mugs of steaming kaffe. Han sighed in exasperation and said, "Dammit, kid! How do you expect me to put the moves on your sister if you keep barging in on us?!" Luke's serious look dissolved temporarily and he laughed along with the couple. "Han, what makes you think that you are good enough for my sister?" Luke said between giggles. Han smiled and put his arm around Leia's shoulders and said, "Well, she seems to think I'm good enough for her." Leia raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh, I do?" For a second, Han thought she was serious, and he looked down at his feet. "Hey," she said, throwing her arms around his neck, "just kidding, you scoundrel!" Han's smile returned and he pulled her closer to him on the couch.
"I really hate to spoil all the fun, but I have to tell you what happened last night," Luke said after taking a sip of his kaffe. Han and Leia looked at him curiously and he continued. "I feel that we are all in some sort of danger. Last night, I sensed a very strong presence of the dark side of the force near here, and it only got more intense as I came to warn you. Someone is around us, watching us…" Luke said, his voice trailing off as he looked to the window. "Who is it, Luke?" Leia asked, her voice like that of a little girl. Han tightened his arm around her and she put her arm around his waist. Looking right into her eyes, he said, "I have felt her." "Her?" Han asked, a bit taken back. "Yes," Luke said, looking at him, "Mara Jade has returned to kill me."
"No. No, it can't be," Leia said, shaking her head. "Leia, it is she. She is here! The Emperor commanded her to kill me, and she is attempting to fulfill his orders. She failed once, and now she has come back to finish the job. She will do anything to get to me, including killing you two. And the worst part is, no one can stop her but me," Luke said, leaning forward across the small table. "Run away Luke! We will all run as far as we can from her and maybe someone will kill her!" Leia exclaimed, begging him in the same way she had the night before Luke went to face their father on the Second Death Star. "No, Leia. I must face her. I meditated on this last night while you were sleeping, and the Force wills me to turn her back to the light side. I can not kill her, I must turn her," Luke said to his sister.
Han, who had been staring at the brother-sister pair in awe, finally spoke up, "Is it safe for Leia to be here on Couriscant? I could take a short leave and we could go hide until this thing is over. I am sure Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar would understand that Leia's life could be at stake." Tears filled Leia's eyes as she looked up at Han lovingly. He had a determined look on his face as he and Luke stared at each other. Luke reached out to his friend and put his hand on his shoulder, "Han, I would not trust my sister with anyone but you. Before you two make arrangements to leave the planet, I need to confront Mara Jade to find out exactly how bad this situation is. I will let you know." Luke stood up to leave and reached out to hug his sister. "Luke, be careful," Leia whispered in his ear. Luke smiled at her and sent reassuring feeling through the Force. Reaching out to shake Han's hand, Luke said, "Thank you, Han." Han smiled, looking over at Leia, and said, "Oh, no thanks needed, kid."
When Luke was gone, Han and Leia sat on the couch in silence. Neither knew what to say or do, and it was too late to eat breakfast and too early to each lunch. "I hope this thing gets fixed real quick," Han finally said, looking over at Leia. She nodded, and her eyes filled with tears. It killed Han to see her cry, so he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. "It's okay, sweetheart! Luke is a Jedi Master! He will be fine! It is you that I am worried about," he whispered into her ear. They sat silently for a few minutes as Han held her close to him and rubbed her tense shoulders and back. She sniffled, her tears subsiding, and said, "You know, I never cry. Call me heartless, like everyone else does, but I just don't cry in front of many people. But these past few weeks have been so different. I think I have cried every day since I arrived on Couriscant." Han smiled and said, "You missed me, didn't you?" He expected a slap or some smart remark from the Princess, but she surprised him. "Yes, I did. I missed you a lot," she admitted, looking into his eyes. His stunned look made her laugh and she said, "What Han? Surprised that a princess like me could actually miss a scruffy-looking smuggler like you?" Han smiled and said, "Nah, I knew that you couldn't stand to be away from me for a day, let alone a whole standard month. Plus, I know you don't think I am as scruffy-looking as you act like you do." She laughed and said, "I need to get back to the Blink's place to take a shower and gather my things. I have a new apartment near here, and my belongings are being transported there today." Han smiled slyly and said, "How about you take a shower here?" Leia smirked and said, "Nice try, flyboy. The Senator is probably worried because I didn't return last night, so I better get back." Han pouted and Leia continued, leaning forward to whisper in his ear, "Maybe later on tonight I can come back over." Han's eyes widened as she got up and walked to the door. "You'd better come over tonight! No one likes a tease!" Han said, winking at her. She smiled, walking out the door with her cloak across her arm. "Women," Han said, shaking his head.
Luke briskly walked down an alley in the older, filthy section of Couriscant. Mara Jade, I know you are here! Han and Leia are not who you want, you want me. You have come to kill me, but you will not succeed. I will turn you from the dark side, and you will become my ally! Luke calmly said to Mara through the Force. Near him, he heard a woman's laugh. "You will not turn me, Skywalker. It is true that I am not after your friends, but if I can not get to you, I will kill the people closest to you," she said from a dark corner behind Luke. He sensed her presence and smiled with determination. You will not kill me or my family, Mara Jade. You will be turned, Luke said, inching his hand to his light saber on his belt. The smoggy atmosphere of Couriscant did not allow much light through on the currently rainy day, but that did not hinder Luke's ability to feel Mara Jade close to him. He heard the hum of her light saber, and he ignited his own. "If this is the way I must turn you, Mara Jade, then let's begin," Luke called out to her in a confident voice. He was stronger than her in the Force, and they both knew it. "Do not be so sure, Skywalker," Mara called out, stepping out of the darkness and dropping her black cloak on the pavement. Luke felt the Force surging through him as Mara brought her saber up. He smiled as she began attacking him. You will not win, he told her through the Force.
Leia, sitting in her new apartment, sensed the battle between Luke and Mara. Her body filling with anxiety, she paced around her living room as several employees of the New Republic carried her things into her apartment. "Your Highness, are you ill?" a young man asked her, stopping to look at her in concern. Waving her hand, she said "No, sir. I am fine. You may leave now. Your payment is on the table by the door." The young man smiled and left the apartment.
Suddenly, all through the Force, someone called out for help. Help me! I am being murdered! the woman's voice called out. Gasping, Leia frantically attempted to answer. Who is this? Where are you? Leia called, breathing erratically. My name is Mara Jade! the voice called and Leia almost spat. I will not help you! You are the one who is trying to murder my brother and I! Leia replied angrily. Leia Organa, a Jedi? the voice asked, disgusted by the thought that she had asked Leia Organa for help. Knowing that a battle was going on, Leia replied by saying, Mara, you sound weak. If you turn from the dark side, people will help you, provide shelter and friendship. You must turn! Spitting out a response, Mara said, I will never turn from my master. Your brother will soon be dead, and you will be next.
To be continued if the reviews are positive!
Give me some suggestions as to what you would like to see next.