Disclaimer: Not mine, don't want 'em.
Author's Note: You guys are slacking on the reviews...I don't feel loved at all.

RETURN TO SELF--Chapter 7

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous," Mara finally declared after another week of sitting around
staring at other Force-sensitives. There had been no new arrivals, and they hadn't seen any of the Vong.

Callista looked up from her spot on the floor where she was moving sand around to form
pictures. "What do you propose we do?"

The others looked at Mara with eager, questioning eyes. Slowly, the Jedi Master she had
become slipped away and she was a smuggler again, desperately trying to avoid a lot of
attention.

"I think its fairly obvioius we need to find out why we're all here. Their call for Jedi
indicated torture and death for those Force-sensitives handed over." She grinned. "Other
than the food and the light beating when I first got here, I haven't been tortured." She looked
around. "Any deaths that we know of?"

All those around her shook their heads.

"Okay then. So what do they want from us?"

*****

Luke Skywalker looked over his nephew's plan to attack the Vong. Or rather, non-attack the
Vong. It had merit. He had even made up a list of level-headed, well-trained Jedi who
could probably fly the mission.

Luke noticed that his own name wasn't on there.

"Anakin, where's my name?" he asked, suddenly 18 seasons old, whining at his Uncle Owen
about the various injustices he'd been served.

Anakin looked down at the floor and moved his foot around a little. "Well, Uncle Luke,
with Mara gone and all...Jacen and I didn't really think you were the best person to go out
against the Vong." There was a long pause. "Sir."

Luke, although hurt, saw the logic in his nephew's comment. Could he put the disappearance
of his wife into the back of his mind to save the galaxy? Being a Jedi Master, he certainly
hoped so.

"Where do I fit in then?" he asked the nervous young man in front of him. Anakin looked up
smiling.

"You need to go back to Yavin IV and train more Jedi."

Luke blinked. "Anakin, the Praxeum is rather self-sufficient at this point..."

The younger man interrupted. "Yes, I know, but I know I'd feel more confidence in the Jedi
if the *SUPREME* Jedi, Master Luke Skywalker, was there teaching me how to understand
the phrase 'size matters not'." He paused again. "Besides, Tionne needs some sleep."

Luke found himself chuckling sadly. The Jedi bard had been taking care of his son for two
weeks now; Luke wondered if Ryft would even recognize him.

"Maybe you're right, Anakin; maybe you're right."

*****

"Mara?"

The voice was soft and a little uncertain above her. Mara opened one green eye and saw the
face of Callista looking down on her.

"Problem?" she asked groggily, slowly starting to sit up.

"I'm sorry to wake you but...I have an idea."

Mara raised an eyebrow. "Talk to me."

Callista looked around nervously, whether for Vong guards or other awake Jedi, Mara wasn't sure.

"We need to get organized."

"Against what? The Vong haven't touched us since we've been here."

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared; basic lesson of the Jedi."

Mara coughed uneasily. "I never finished my training."

Callista's face was at first shocked, but she covered it quickly by nodding. "I remember
Luke talking about that."

Silence fell over the two women, both staring intently at their feet.

"I do remember some of it," Mara said. "Most of my knowledge I picked up along the way.
Or learned when I was very little." She paused. "I don't know who decided I was a Jedi
Master."

Callista shrugged. "Regardless, you and I are the two of the better trained Jedi here; we're
going to have to do something."

*****

Leia wanted very much to huddle in the corner and disappear into the woodwork. The
Senate was a chaotic combination of anger and praise at what the Jedi were going to do.

*Not that anyone are supposed to know,* Leia thought bitterly. *Who in the name of the Sith
let it out that there was a plan?*

"They will not have our help, Ambassador Organa Solo," Borsk said. "The Jedi are
becoming too impulsive; they do not represent the will of this Republic."

A senator from Calamari stood up. "Don't they? The Jedi are trying to rid us of the Vong;
that's what the New Republic wants."

"They are trying to save their hides!" said another, anti-Jedi senator.

"Do you blame them?" another asked. "If my group was being targeted for extinction, I'd be
trying to find a way to save my people."

The yelling went on and on. Leia noticed that one woman, Viqi Shesh, was saying nothing.
She was watching with great interest, but didn't seem to have a strong opinion on the fate of
the Jedi. Or the New Republic for that matter.

Threepio came scurrying over to Leia, who was once glad for the interruption.

"Mistress Leia," he said quietly, "I believe Mistress Jaina has a lead as to where Mistress
Mara might be."

Leia's eyes went wide. "Where? Where's Mara?"

Threepio did his best to shrug. "Mistress Jaina asked that you meet her at the NRI complex
when you are finished here."

The golden droid scurried off again, leaving Leia antsy for the debates to end.