CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The next morning was bright and shiny. A horrible day for someone to meet their sentence. Ben and Ami were left with Jacen and Jaina as Luke, Leia and Han left for the imperial throneroom where the carbonite chamber was being prepared.
"Are they going to let me see her before the process?" Luke turned to his sister, who was staring straight ahead.
She nodded. "It was approved. A officer should be out any minute to take you to her."
Luke nodded. "Leia…I just want you to know that's all's forgiven. I know you tried your best and I thank you. This is better than her being dead. At least I'll get to see her once in a while…even though she won't know I'm there."
"Luke Skywalker?" A tall man stood in front of Luke, staring down sternly at the Jedi Master.
"I'm ready," Luke stood up, ready to say good-bye to his wife. "I guess I'll see you in a couple of minutes Leia." He nodded to his sister and follows the guard into the room at the lower right corner.
The room was brightly lit and Mara stood in front of the door that used to be her cell. She was wearing a black prisoner's suit, indicating that her days as a walking member of society were numbered.
"Luke!" She rushed into his arms and held on as tight as she could, as if holding on to him would save her from her fate. "Luke I'm sorry! I'm sorry for my past actions you have to believe me!"
"Shhh Mara," Luke comforted his trembling wife, understanding that her brave front had crumbled completely and now all she wanted to do was go home with him and be with their children. "I know you're sorry. I've always known. Don't cry."
"I don't want this Luke! Please just make this day disappear so we can go back to Earth and return to our lives."
Luke pulled away from her to stare into her eyes. He wiped a tear away from her eyes. "I'm sorry Mara. I can't make it go away. I've tried and tried, but I just can't. It's out of my hands. If I could I'd take you out of here right now and disappear from the galaxy again, but I can't. But I'll be out there Mara. When you're scared just look at me and I'll give you my strength. Ok."
Mara weakly nodded.
"I love you," Luke kissed her again.
"I love you too Luke. I'll always love you," Mara ran a hand threw his blond hair before the guards returned to escort him back to his seat.
"Be brave Mara," He glanced one last time at his wife, tears streaming from his eyes. He couldn't believe that this moment was the last time he'd touch her, or hear her voice, or feel her lips against his own.
"Are you okay?" Leia glanced at his brother.
"I can't let her go Leia. I thought I could, but I can't," Luke clenched his hands in tight fists. I have to get her out of this."
"Luke no!" Leia hissed. "I managed to get the council to drop the charges against you this time…if you do something crazy again…there'd be no way I can get you out of it."
(Listen to Leia Luke. Don't get in trouble over a cause that's doomed from the start) Mara's voice appeared in his head.
(But I can't let them do this to you. You've done nothing wrong!)
(I can't let you risk being taken away from Ben and Ami. They're losing their mother Luke. They can not lose their father. Luke please stay put. I'm going to need your strength.)
Luke didn't reply back. He just stayed in the chair, tightly holding his sister's hand.
Two minutes later, the guards escort Mara into the room. She's led to the carbonite chamber and her eyes immediately went to Luke who thoughtfully fingers his lightsaber.
(Just say the word) He sent to his wife. She didn't answer; she just shook her head, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Place the prisoner in the chamber," The executioner demanded.
(Mara please…)
The guards roughly grabbed Mara's arms and forced her to step onto the platform that will lower her into the chamber.
(Don't do anything Luke. Please…)
"Lower away!" Came the command.
Luke intently watched his wife be lowered to her doom. Choking back a sob he couldn't resist himself. He unhooked his lightsaber and was about to activate it when he felt Leia's firm grip grabbing his arm.
(Think about the twins Luke. They need you) She sent her brother, who grumpily placed the lightsaber back on his belt.
"Activate!" The order resounded throughout the room and suddenly Luke was hit with a blast of painfully freezing air. He had never felt temperatures as cold as this, not even on Hoth. He grabs his head in pain as his wife's scream of agony resounded throughout his head. (Luuuuke!)
(Mara!!!) His heart cried out for her as puffs of frost bellowed up to the ceiling. All too soon her cries fell silent. He still felt her life force, but it wasn't alert. She was in complete hibernation.
"Mara," He buried his head in his hands, his heart breaking into a thousand pieces.
"I'm so sorry Luke," Leia squeezed his hand in sympathy
"Bring her up!" The executioner demanded.
Luke gasped in horror as he laid eyes on his encased wife. Her expression was one of unbearable pain. Much like Han's had been.
"Her vitals are stable. She's survived but she's in deep hibernation," the coroner reported.
"Take her to the palace and lock her up. No one without clearance will be allowed to see her!"
"Who has clearance?" Luke asked his sister.
"The members of the council. No one else. I'm sorry Luke."
Luke only nodded, and stared straight ahead. He wasn't even allowed to see her encased in carbonite.
(My heart will always be with you Mara) He sent his sleeping wife. He stood up and followed his sister back to her quarters, where he packed up his children and headed back for Yavin IV, wanting to put as must distance between himself and his wife's tormenters as possible.