By JediGirl
CATAGORY: New Republic
SPOILERS: Tim Zahn's Hand of Thraw duology
RATING: R
SETTING: Those missing chapters that Mr. Zahn forgot to write in Visions of the Future. Luke and Mara have just taken off from Nirauan and heading out to meet up with Leia, Han and Karrde. This is my version of what happened between Luke and Mara during those days alone on their "borrowed" Chiss ship. And of course how the "family" hears about the pending nuptials.
DISCLAIMER As always, these charcters do not belong to me. They belong to wonderful people such as Mr. George Lucas and Mr. Timothy Zahn, among others. They inspire me to make up my own tales and share them with others....just for pure enjoyment. There is more to life than just money :)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: A huge big THANK YOU to my wonderful beta reader,
Michele. This story would never have happened without her. She completely
inspired me and helped to make it as good as it could be. Plus, if it wasn't
for her, the "challenge" would never had happened
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CHAPTER 8
"This is Pabos," an image announced as it appeared on his screen several
minutes
later. "What can I do for ya, boss?"
"Hi Gerri," Karrde answered smoothly. "I'm in need of some information,"
he said,
getting straight to the point.
"Sure, about what?"
"Actually, it is more of about a 'who'," he replied slyly. "Two whos, to be specific."
"I see," Gerry responded, a cocky grin starting to form on his face.
"Would these
'whos' happen to be an 'all-business redhead' and a 'goody-good blond?'"
"Hmmm..." Karrde pretended to ponder, stroking the hair on his chin.
"That could be
them. What can you tell me?"
Gerri turned his head away from the screen a bit as if looking at someone
who might
be standing near by. He had a glint of mischief in his eyes. He looked
back at Karrde
on the screen. "Well, what do you want to know?" he said with the same
mischievous
grin.
"When did they arrive?" Karrde replied straightforwardly.
"About 3 hours ago, give or take," Gerri answered.
"What did they arrive in?" Karrde continued his questioning.
"A ship,' Gerri replied cockily.
Karrde ignored his employee's teasing. "Something you recognized?"
"Actually I have never seen anything like it," Gerri answered. "I was
kind of hoping
you had something to do with it and would share the information."
Karrde nodded to himself as he contemplated the report. "I only know
a little more
than you Gerri, that is why I'm calling.
"Did you talk with them after they landed? Did they say anything to
you, maybe about
where they had been?" Karrde continued with his questioning.
Gerri's attitude darkened a bit as he realized he wasn't going to get
any information
from his boss on the mystery ship. "Yeah, I met them in the bay," he
said. "They
wouldn't say much. Seemed like they just needed a place to freshen
up. All they
wanted was a shower and a hot meal."
"Where are they now?"
The glint in Gerri's eyes returned at this question. "In your suite,"
he responded with
a slight curl of his lips.
Karrde noticed the change in Gerri's mood. Seemed Karrde wasn't the
only one
speculating. He leaned back into his chair and folded his arms over
his chest. "Have
they been there the whole time?" he asked.
"Yeah," Gerri responded the smile growing on his face. "Like I said,
they wanted to
take a shower and get rested up and such." Gerri's face then took on
a bit of a
concerned look. "Don't blame them though, they were pretty haggard
looking. Must
have been through alot wherever they were."
Karrde's eyes also creased in concern. "Were either of them hurt?" he
asked
pointedly.
"Lots of bumps, bruises and scrapes, but nothing that looked too serious,"
Gerri
answered while thinking back to when he met the travelers in the docking
bay.
"Red did look a little more banged up than blondie though. There was
a big blaster
hole in the shoulder of her flight suit." Gerri got the hint early
on in the
conversation that Karrde didn't want Jade's and Skywalker's names used,
even over
this 'secure' channel. "But they both looked strong, though a bit tired."
"I see." The concern eased from Karrde's face as he took in the information.
"So, are
they still in the suite?" He continued his interrogation.
"Ohhh yeah," Gerri responded smugly, mischief crossing his face once
again. His
eyes glanced away from the view screen and winked at the person who
stood out of
view.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Karrde asked.
"What is what supposed to mean?" Gerri replied faking a defensive attitude.
"Come on Ger," Karrde said in a 'matter-of-fact' voice. "What are you
and your people
speculating?"
"Come on Karrde, you know I don't get involved with the personal lives of others."
"I must be talking to the wrong Gerri Pabos," Karrde replied with a smirk.
A hurt expression formed on Gerri's face. "What are you insinuating?"
"I know you Gerri, and I know your people." Karrde leaned in closer
to the view
screen. "There was probably a pool going 15 minutes after they landed.
Now spill it.
What's going on?"
"Ok, ok," he said putting his hands up in surrender. "But there really
isn't much to
tell."
Karrde motioned with a hand for him to continue. He leaned back into
his chair
again and listened to Gerri tell of what had transpired over the past
3 hours since
Mara and Luke had landed on Carva III. Gerri told him how one of his
men, Krin, had
stopped by the suite to drop off a lunch tray. How Mara had peeked
her head out of
the bedroom, looking a bit flustered, and told him she was getting
dressed so he could
just leave the tray on the counter. Krin had said that when he moved
to place the tray
on the counter he thought he heard Mara talking to someone and when
he glanced
back at the bedroom door it looked as if she was distracted by something,
or someone,
inside the bedroom. He said he didn't see signs of anyone else in the
suite as he left.
"Anything else?" Karrde asked.
"Oh yeah," Gerri responded without any pushing from Karrde, "about a
half hour
later, when I finally got your location I buzzed the room. Red answered.
She was
wearing what looked like a robe, which she was trying to hold in place
and her hair
was pretty wild. I'd say she was out of breath, though she was hiding
it pretty well. I
asked if I woke her and she said she had been taking a nap, claiming
it had been a
rough couple of days.
"But you don't think she was napping?" Karrde responded with a raise
of his
eyebrow.
"Karrde, I've known enough ladies in my day and spent enough time with
them to
know what one looks like when awakened from a nap. And I know what
they look
like when doing other things too," Gerri chuckled. "That girl was definitely
NOT
napping. She may have been tired, but it wasn't because of sleep."
Karrde desperately tried to keep a smile from forming on his face. "Thanks
Gerri,
that's all I needed to know. I knew I could count on you."
"I live to serve," Gerri said sarcastically, bowing his head.
Karrde chuckled merrily. "So, how does the betting stand?" he asked casually.
"Three to one," Gerri responded not questioning his boss's meaning. "You want in?"
"Not at those odds, but thanks for the offer. Karrde out."
Karrde clicked off the comm unit and swiveled his chair back around
to look out the
view port once again and let a full smile blossom on his face. "Well
kids, it is about
damn time," he said aloud and chuckled to himself merrily.
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