WANTED
(Mara Jade is wanted by the NRI. A new law was passed that all former friends of the imperial empire were to be put to death because they were considered too much of a threat, leaving Mara on the hit list. She is on the run, but runs into some very bad luck. Her ship crashes, and she's injured. But the planet she crashes on is Yavin VI, home of the Jedi academy ran by Luke Skywalker, brother of new republic leader Princess Leia Organa Solo)
Chapter One
Luke Skywalker was out for his daily run, when he felt the disturbance in the force. It was a hot searing wrinkle that made him stop and look around because he has felt that presence once before. Only one time did he feel that red-golden searing hear run through his mind. Mara. Mara Jade must be nearby. But that was impossible because she was on the run. If caught by himself or his twin Leia or any other authority belonging to the new republic, she'd be locked up and scheduled for execution.
Maybe the disturbance wasn't real. Maybe he was making it up out of boredom. Things did get pretty rhetorical on Yavin IV at times. Maybe his mind needed to create a disturbance to make things interesting. The groan was what made Luke realize that the disturbance was very real. Following the presence he came upon a cruise ship wreck and right at the edge, knocked on conscious was the fugitive Mara Jade. Dark bruises marred her cream colored skin, her normally pink lips matched the color of her chalk white face. From the look of her broken ship, the crash was a bad one.
Sighing he looked down at his former enemy. What was he to do? If he turned her into the planet hospice, she wouldn't have a chance. She'd be arrested and set for execution immediately and for a reason Luke couldn't explain, he didn't want that to happen. He wanted Mara to live. To have the freedom she deserved. She had worked so hard to redeem herself, and none of it mattered. The new law said regardless, Mara had to die for her past duties as the hand of Palpatine.
Shaking his head, Luke bent down and lifted her up in his arms. He tried his best to ignore how good she felt in his arms or the smell of flowers in her hair. He stridently headed back for the academy and took her to his chambers.
*
Mara woke up with a groan, noting how it hurt to even do that. Her memories of what happened were all jumbled up. One minute she's going into hyperspace to outrun the new republic authorities, and the next thing she knew she's in an asteroid field. She remembered how the ship jerked and shook as it collided with an asteroid and how darkness overtook her as they entered the atmosphere of a planet she couldn't see enough to name. She moaned once again as she felt something cold press against her head. She forced her eyes open to find herself in a warm bed, a droid was pressing a cold compress to her head. She narrowed her eyes, wondering how she got there and who was responsible? Surely it couldn't have been anyone from the new republic. They'd turn her into a hospice and then she would be set for execution. This obviously was a private bedroom and nurses were yet to show up.
"Ugh, where am I," She groaned.
"Jedi training academy Miss," The droid answered. "Master Skywalker left strict instructions that we were to get you everything you need when you awaken. Can we get you anything at this time?"
"Skywalker? As in Luke Skywalker?" Mara trieed to set up but thought better of it when her head exploded with stars.
"Please stay still Miss. That was a bad spill you took," The droid gently pushed down into the bed. "Master Skywalker says it's imperative that you get your rest."
"I have to get out of here," Mara mumbled. Luke Skywalker was once her enemy and best friend, but she's sure it's back to enemy status considering his twin sister Leia was the head of the New Republic and was more than determined to execute the ex-hand of palpitine. All Luke had to do was call and Leia would be on her way. In fact she probably already was.
"Negative Miss. Jade. Strict orders were left that you remain here and recover."
"Where is Master Skywalker anyway?" Mara asked.
"Training his students. He shall return to check on you shortly. Please try to relax Miss. You are quite safe here," The droid nodded, before leaving the room, leaving Mara alone to her thoughts.
Luke. Mara filled with warmth at the name. Even though he was once her enemy and she was determined to kill him, things had changed. They had slowly become best friends. Mara had felt like she could tell Luke anything and vice versa. They had done a lot of missions together and spent time at the academy together. At one point she had thought their relationship was going to evolve into something else. But then Princess Leia passed this new law saying that all ex-imperials were to be put to death and everything changed. She had to disappear quickly, without a word. She hadn't even bothered to tell Luke good-bye. Since then, he had filled her thoughts. That blond hair and brilliant blue eyes…how strong he was in the force was amazing. It was obvious that he was strong in the force and was a brilliant teacher. At the time she had thought she was never going to see him again.
But now…she was definitely nervous. She had left Luke without a word. Was he angry? Was he going to turn her in to his sister? Why did he help her? What was his motive?
"You're awake I see," the all too familiar voice spoke, bringing Mara back to attention. She looked up and her heart began a rapid beat as she stared into the brilliant pair of blue eyes. Only one person had those eyes…Luke Skywalker, Jedimaster.
"Luke," Mara tried to set up, but a fit of dizziness forced her down.
"Stay still Mara. That was a pretty bad crash you had there. What happened?"
"Asteroid field," She groaned.
Luke just nodded in understanding. She tried to read his emotions, what he may have been thinking, but ran into a brick wall. He was shielding his thoughts from her.
"Those can get pretty nasty. So tell me. How long has it been? Two years? Three since we saw each other last?" Luke sat in a chair up against the far wall. His face was blank of emotion but his eyes, the windows to his soul was full of activity, but Mara still found it impossible to read him. She's been gone for that long.
"Luke…I had to go…you know that…" She stammered.
"You could have at least said good-bye. We owed each other that much," Luke crossed his arms, his voice betraying nothing.
"I didn't have time…you're angry at me aren't you?"
"…I was. But I got over it. It no longer hurts to think about you anymore Mara. When I think about you now it's all about the good times. You were the only person I could really open up with. That actually understood in a way Leia never could. Losing that was hard."
"Oh Luke…I'm sorry. Hurting you….that was never my intention. I never wanted to hurt you."
Luke smiled sadly, first sign of emotion. "I know Mara. Our friendship…it was just a victim of bad timing and circumstances."
"I guess so," Mara sighed. "So, when is her highness coming? Or is she here already? Ready to begin my execution."
"If I was to call Leia and tell her you were here, don't you think I would have done it by now?" Luke asked, getting to his feet.
Mara narrowed her eyes. "Exactly how long have I been here?"
"A month," Luke shrugged. "Give or take a couple of days."
"A month! I've been out for a month?!"
"You had me worried there. I thought you were never going to wake up," Luke laughed at the expression of pure terror on Mara's face. "I came in everyday and sat with you, talked to you, urged you to wake up. But today was the first time you did."
Mara was speechless. A month. A whole month she had laid defenseless. Leia and her officers could have just waltzed in here and performed her execution without any fight from herself. But Luke protected her. He didn't go running to his sister…yet anyway. Plus he stayed by her side and nursed her back to health. There was no way she'd be able to repay that.
"So when are you going to call her?" Mara asked.
"I'm not. Mara…are you forgetting I was there during your whole reformation. I know first hand that you're sorry for the past. It's unfair to be punished for them now…after all the work you've done to get your life back together. I'm not going to be the one to take that away from you."
"…Thank you," Mara barely whispered, a tear leaked from her eyes. She had forgotten how kind-hearted Luke was and his belief that no one is completely evil. That there was some good in everyone and all it took was love and patience to bring it out. There was a rumor that Luke had helped Lord Vadar reform before he died. But of course that was a rumor. No one but Luke knew the answer to that secret. But she had proven him right. He was the one person who saw the goodness she had kept hidden away and brought it out. Made her a better person, a happier person. For a little while anyway.
Luke only smiled. "I'll let you rest," He got up and left Mara to her thoughts.
Mara sank deeper under the blankets and sighed. She knew she was treading in dangerous waters again. If she wasn't careful she'd fall in love with Luke Skywalker. Someone she could never have. It would only lead to heartache and she's had enough of that to last a lifetime.
*
Luke sat on the floor of his training center, his eyes closed, attempting a force meditation, but it was useless. No matter what he did he couldn't become one with the force because his mind was stuck on the person upstairs in his bed. It's been this way for a full month and it was driving him crazy. Mara. How fast she left his life and how even faster she reentered it again. Uninvited. He closed his eyes, remembering how her green eyes sparkled with tears of gratitude. Making them seem like two precious jewels to be savored forever.
He wondered if she knew. If somehow she knew he was in love with her and has been for the past two or three years. She had haunted his thoughts like a beautiful phantom. Slipping in and out in a haze of smoke. But now that phantom was flesh and blood. He could reach out and touch her, hold her, kiss her if he dared to make such advances. Upstairs it was a struggle to keep his mind closed off so she'd remain in the dark. It wouldn't do for her to know since they could never be together. He was a celebrated hero of the new republic, brother of the leader of the new government. And she was a fugitive. On the run from the law. If his sister caught up with her, she'd die.
Right now he was the only thing standing between Mara and her execution. If anyone found out that he had harbored her here and didn't inform the authorities, he would be in big trouble. Of course Leia would pardon him, but still. Plus he couldn't bare to see Mara executed.
"Master Skywalker," the medic droid wobbled into the room. "Mistress Jade is insisting on getting up and leaving. Whatever should I do?"
"Stay here. I'll take care of this," Luke got up and headed for Mara's room. He got there just in time to find her fully clothed, clutching onto his nearby dresser. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Leaving. If I'm caught here it'll be big trouble for the both of us," Mara straightened up.
"No Mara get back in bed. You're not going to get caught I promise," Luke wemt over and tried to lead her back to the bed.
"You can promise no such thing. Your sister has a connection with the force as well may I remind you. She can spot my presence ten miles away."
"Not while I'm shielding your presence she can't," Luke grabbed both her arms and pulled her back to the bed. "Now get those clothes off and get back in bed. Besides, you're not well enough to travel. You have no choice."
"But Luke…"
"Mara don't argue with me ok. Get back into the bed," He stared her down. "Or do I have to use the force on you. And you know I will."
Mara sighed irritably. "Ok. Fine. I'll get into the bed. But this doesn't mean I'm staying."
"Like I said. You don't have a choice. Now be nice for the medic droid and stop trying to escape," Luke patted her head before leaving the room. She angrily threw a pillow at him and wasn't surprised when it hitted the closed door.