RELEASED: sequel to wanted
Summery: This is the sequel to wanted. At the end of wanted, a plan to resurrect the emperor was underway. Mara Jade had been released from her carbonite prison. Meanwhile her husband Luke felt her presence but dismissed it as his wishful thinking, amazed with how much their now teenaged children have grown in the force.
1
Mara found herself standing in a bright steel room, containing a bed, a table and two chairs. Her hibernation sickness was now lifted and she stared at her surroundings, suspicion filled her senses. Her rescuers had told her that she was still on Coruscant. Of course she would still be here on that accursed planet. But what about her family? Luke and the twins? In fact, how long was she under? Were Luke and her family still alive. There was only one way to find out. Closing her eyes, she reached out with the force and gasped. She found Luke's warm presence, but with him were two very powerful even bright presence's that can only belong to two people. Her children. Ben and Amidala. They must have grown in the force.
"Madame Jade," a cloaked figure appeared in the doorway. "We hope you find your accommodations quite comfortable. We're sorry that it's not more colorful, but for right now this is all we can afford."
"How long has it been since my…imprisonment?" Mara asked turning to face the figure.
He cleared his throat. "Fifteen years Madame."
"They're grown up. Nineteen years old to be exact," Mara sighed. "Tell me…does Luke Skywalker still run that Jedi academy?"
"Yes Madame," The figure's voice filled with disdain. "It's a very powerful academy mam. So is the teacher and his son and daughter. Very powerful indeed."
Mara smiled. Of course she knew all of this.
"Where is Skywalker staying these days?"
"On planet Madame. Visiting his sister and brother in law. He's staying at the Skywalker apartment he uses when he does visit," The cloaked figure nodded. "But enough about such boring subjects. We have come to ask for your help. In bringing back our Emperor. Restoring him to his rightful throne. You of course was his right hand."
Mara sighed tiredly. Again. Even now her past was haunting her. Will it ever end? "Was is the right word. I'm no longer that Mara. I've changed a great deal from then and I no longer serve the emperor."
"Oh but you see Madame Jade, it's most necessary that you join us. Only a subject of his, with power of the Jedi may bring him back."
"Well then you definitely have the wrong person because I no longer serve the emperor. Now if you'll excuse me…there's some people I have to see," Mara hopped off the cot and headed for the door only to find it blocked by one of her rescuers, a short man with curly blond hair and muddy brown eyes. "What do you think you're doing?" Mara narrowed her eyes angrily.
"Sorry Mistress Jade, but we can't allow you to leave. We need you to help in our resurrection of the Emperor. Plus you're still a wanted woman. News of your escape has already reached the council."
"Escape? I didn't escape I was kidnapped! Now out of my way!" Mara reached out with the force and pushed the man out of her way, knocking him unconscious in the process. "Sorry. But you gave me no choice," She glared at the man. "Anyone else want to stand in my way?"
The other men quickly shook their heads. No one wanted to go against the fiery red head again and meet the same fate as their partner.
"Good," Mara strolled out of the room. She spotted the lightsaber Luke had given her all those years ago setting on a nearby stand, and one of those hooded cloaks the men were wearing hanging in a nearby closet. "I'll just take these and be on my way," Mara smiled and headed out of the building finding herself in a nearby alley. Looking around she automatically knew where she was and where she was going. Hooking the lightsaber to her belt and pulling the hood over her head, she headed for the Palace that housed the Skywalker quarters.
*
Skywalker quarters…
Nineteen-year-old Ben Kenobi Skywalker dunked out of the way of the descending lightsaber, wielded by his twin sister Amidala Skywalker and brought up his own to block her move.
"Got to do better than that to beat me dear sister," His blue eyes laughed with merriment.
"Oh don't worry dear brother. I will," She growled, bringing the saber up again just to be blocked once again.
"Face it Ami, I'm just the better Jedi. No one can beat me."
"Ben what have I told you," A calm voice spoke up from behind his sister.
Ben looked down at the ground, his blue eyes filled with shame. He had been told this time and again but yet he always found himself pushing the lines. "Pride is of the darkside. Sorry father."
Luke Skywalker laughed, ruffling his son's blond hair. "Yes it is son. But none of us are perfect. Just remember when you find yourself pushing that line, just step back. Force knows I've had to do that."
Ben had to smile. No matter what the situation his father always knew how to be stern, yet reassuring.
"Father…the New Republic gala is tonight, and Alian Calrissian has asked me to go," Ami shut off her lightsaber and wipes the sweat from her face, all the while her green eyes studied her father's reaction. She knew he didn't care much for Alian Calrissian because he had inherited his father's reputation as a womanizer, but she couldn't help but be fascinated.
"I don't know Ami…Whatever happened to Wedge's son Xander Antilles? I thought you two were quite the couple?"
"It's not that I don't like Xander, I do. But I also like Alian. Besides father, you know as well as I that I can take care of myself if he steps out of line."
Luke laughed. Of course he knew that Amidala's green eyes and golden-red hair was not the only thing inherited from her mother. She had inherited Mara's temper as well. Unlike Ben who took after his father in all things, from his blond hair and intense blue eyes to his calm temper and gentle mannerisms. "Ok Ami. If you want to go to the gala with Alian, you may. Not that you would have listened to me anyway."
Ami just smiled and headed for her room to call Alian and accept his invitation.
"Father, are you sure that was wise?" Ben asked, furrowing his brow. He trusted his sister and knew she could take care of herself, but a part of him couldn't help being a little protective of her.
"She'll be fine," Luke laughed, but suddenly stopped when he felt the familiar presence again…a presence that he hasn't felt for fifteen years.
"Father? Are you ok?" Ben asked, noticing how his father's face had gone blank all of a sudden.
"What?" Luke came back to himself.
"Are you okay? It looked like you were somewhere else just now."
"Oh. I'm fine. Listen Ben, take care of things here. I have to see your aunt Leia for a minute. I'll be back," Luke ran out the door without another word.
"That's strange," Ben shook his head. His father had never acted like this before.
*
Leia has just hung up with the head of the NRI when Luke arrived.
"Good, you're here. I was just about to come over to see you," Leia greeted her brother.
"What's going on with Mara? I felt her presence awaken in the force. I felt it last night but thought it was my imagination. But twenty minutes ago I felt it again…stronger this time," Luke sat on the couch.
"Someone broke her out Luke. We don't know who or why they did…or even how. At first I thought it was…"
"You thought it was me right?"
"Well…after all the other attempts Luke," Leia helplessly shrugged, recalling the first two years of Mara's imprisonment and how she always had to come get Luke out of jail for trying to release her.
"Leia, those were years ago. I haven't tried that ever since they threatened to take Ami and Ben away from me and throw me in prison. I couldn't do that to them."
"That's what I told the NRI leader. But he's not convinced. Luke…if you see Mara…if she tries to contact you…you have to turn her in. Or else it'll be you in prison."
Luke glared at his sister. "I had nothing to do with this Leia. And if Mara was to contact me, she would have done so by now."
"Just keep an eye out Luke. That's all I'm saying," Leia hugged her brother tightly. She prayed that this time he'd listen to her and didn't go running off again. She didn't want to spend another five years without her brother.
*
Mara scaled the building until she reached the balcony just outside the Skywalker apartment. Peaking in she gasped at the beautiful red head girl setting on the couch, deep in a Jedi trance. The girl looked like Mara so many years ago. Except her face was less hardened, her features more gentle and serene. "Amidala." She instantly knew the girl was her daughter. She gasped when a boy the same age as the girl came out and plopped down beside her and leafed through a book. The boy was the very image of Luke. "Ben."
The boy looked up as if he heard something. He stared at the balcony. "Hello?" He asked, standing up from the couch, his hand resting on his lightsaber. "If anyone's there speak up!"
Of course he had felt her. He was as strong in the force as his father. Luke must be so proud of both of them. She knew she was. Quietly she slipped off the balcony and back down the building to run straight into Han Solo.
"I thought this would be the first place you'd come," Han shook his head. "Too bad Luke's not here."
"How is he?" Mara asked. She knew how devastated Luke had been when she was imprisoned. She wished with all her heart that he had never went through that.
"After a number of attempts to release you, he fell into a depression. But we thought he was better. Obviously not since he's succeeded this time in busting you out."
Mara stared at Han in disbelief. He thought Luke was the one that released her. She could only wish. "Sorry Solo, but Luke had nothing to do with this. Listen can we go somewhere to talk."
"The falcon's available if you want," Han shrugged. "But if Luke didn't bust you out…who did?"
"That's what I want to tell you. But not here. I'm sure they're out there looking for me," Mara glanced behind her shoulder and motioned for Han to lead the way.