Disclaimer: Not mine, not now, likely not ever. Who knows, maybe I'll
marry Hayden Christensen, meet George Lucas and he'll give me the actual
rights, but the chances of that are slim to none (even though Hayden is
'single' and looking for a marvellous intelligent 19 year old girl, which I
would happen to be…)
A/N: Yay, longer part for you all. Enjoy, I love you all(
Jf/Js: If you wanna write an alternate ending for me…feel free ( I can post it at the end if you want…
1 Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams, Part 15
By Aleese Sundancer
The courtroom was filled. Mara was in complete disbelief that so many people actually cared about what happened to this man, not for his sake but for hers. Half the seats were occupied by Luke's family and friends, and the other by a good deal of Karrde's organization. Mara would have thought it was a wedding or something, how they'd split into respectable and unrespectable. In the far back corner, there were a couple of the men and women from the Duke's estate, watching to see what would become of their Master. Mara took her seat beside the lawyers and took everything in. Leia sat down beside her and patted her hand gently.
Leia couldn't take her eyes off of Mara's face; it was set in stone like when they'd first met. Her smooth features were turned to the man sitting a table away from them, her eyes distantly focussed. Leia was slightly worried; Mara hadn't been able to eat much these last few days, especially since she'd been so cold to Luke. Her thoughts dwelt on getting revenge for the rape, and her hormones changing through her body didn't help. Though Mara hadn't confirmed that the baby was indeed Luke's, she was definitely pregnant. It worried Mara that if it were the Duke's, Mara wouldn't keep it to term, being more likely to rid herself of the product of his rape. Somewhere deep down though, Leia was pretty sure that Mara was holding her niece or nephew, the Force just screamed it out to her. But Mara had to start eating again, and getting back into her old routine, for the baby to be all right. This was stressful though, Leia understood.
"All Rise. Court will now come to session." The bailiff called out. Everyone stood up. "The Honourable Judge Harjam now presiding." The Judge entered the room and sat down, then motioned for everyone else to sit. Mara looked over at her lawyer and visibly drew a breath and let it out silently.
"The case of the People of Naboo vs. The Duke of Juanit is on the docket." The clerk said, putting it in front of the Judge. The Judge nodded and looked it over. He then looked at the defence.
"How do you plead?" He asked.
"Not guilty your honour." The Duke said, obviously trying to look important. The Judge raised an eyebrow and made a small note.
"Alright, lets get on with it." He said, sighing.
"With all due respect, your honour, this isn't in your jurisdiction to preside over." The Duke's lawyer called out. "The Duke isn't a citizen of this planet, and these 'crimes' are not illegal on his own home world. This prosecution is just a way for a wife to run away with her little boyfriend." He accused. Mara frowned.
"Your Honour, Ms. Jade has no formal home planet to live on, and so has chosen to go under Naboo law. Because she was taken away as a child and never had a home, does that deny her the right to be safe from assault and rape?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with the prosecution. Furthermore, since Mara Jade's own mother came from Naboo, I feel that it would be justified to use our system. Your motion to dismiss is denied." The Judge said, looking over some more information. Mara was actually glad Padme had included that fact in her documents.
"But your honour, if he was acting legally on his own planet, he had no idea he would be tried for something he thought was fine. The laws of his own planet dictate that slapping a wife is a common recourse for punishment. It wasn't assault." He argued again.
"He did not make Ms. Jade aware of such laws, and perhaps she wouldn't have married him. But you are correct, I will drop the charge of assault, but if I ever hear of him touching another person in such a manner, he will not be so lucky. Assault charges dropped." The Judge said. Mara's lawyer moved to stand, but saw that the Judge wouldn't change his mind again. All they had left was the rape charge."Lets get going, if you please?"
"The prosecution calls Mara Jade to the stand." Mara's lawyer called out. Mara stood up and went over to the box. Her eyes found Luke in the crowd, he was hiding in the back, shy of her since she'd become so cold. He smiled reassuringly at her, and held her gaze. She nodded to him and turned to the lawyer who had already begun his questioning. "Ms. Jade, please describe the events under which you were forced into marriage with the defendant."
Mara licked her lips and took a breath. "Well, I was on a mission for Karrde, and it ended up that Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo and the rest of their family were out vacationing. I ran into them just outside of a bar, where I ran into the Duke for the first time as well. He started harassing me, and Luke intervened. Eventually he left, but a couple of days later, I was taking a break with Skywalker at this field, and then suddenly we were surrounded by all these men, and the Duke was at the centre of it. He threatened to kill all of them, if I didn't go with him and marry him. I…I love Luke, and I couldn't let him die because of my selfish need for freedom. He means more to me than I even admit to myself." She whispered, staring at him. Luke smiled at her silent apology and sent her love through the Force. "So I went with him. He kept me locked up in this suite, and was constantly bugging me. Eventually, with the help of…this girl, I escaped. Luke and I fled to Endor, and then here to Naboo. He found us, and held us at gunpoint. I had to, I didn't want to, but I had to. He practically dragged me to the church and made me marry him. Then he…he…." Mara closed her eyes and fought back tears.
"He what, Ms. Jade?" the lawyer asked, his not wanting to make Mara live through it again reflecting in his eyes, but the judge needed to know. Mara acknowledged them silently and bit her lip.
"He took me to his ship where he made me read books on being a housewife and…sexual positions he would enjoy. Then he came to my room and…" She said, closing her eyes again and taking a deep breath she continued. "He had some of his men hold me down and give me some knock out drug. While I was unconscious, he raped me." She whispered, shuddering slightly.
"So you didn't consent to marrying him or having sexual intercourse with him?" Her lawyer clarified
"No, never." She whispered.
"Ms. Jade, you are seeking a divorce, are you not?"
"Yes, I am." She replied.
"Thank you Ms. Jade. That is all, your witness." Her lawyer turned to the other lawyer. The other lawyer was a stout man and came waddling over to her.
"Ms. Jade. You say you were unconscious when he raped you. Correct?" He asked in his high-pitched voice.
"Yes, that is true." Mara said, frowning.
"But, how did you know if you were unconscious?" He asked
"I can feel it." She said, confused. She knew what had happened to her body.
"No, you do not know. You weren't awake. What you feel could be previous pain from your sexual escapades with Luke Skywalker. Pain from being his little sex toy! You don't even know if the Duke touched you, and you scream rape!"
"No, he did rape me, I know!" Mara said, shocked that he was saying such things. "He raped me!"
"And you have no evidence! You weren't even awake!" The lawyer laughed, and turned to the judge. "Your honour, there is no evidence that there was any form of rape. I move to dismiss this charge!"
The Judge frowned deeply and turned to Mara's lawyer. "Do you have any proof?"
"Mara Jade is a trusted and respectable woman, she says he raped her. She would know your honour…" he said, not having any lab reports since it had been at least a week.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Jade. Until there is more evidence, I'm going to have to dismiss the charge." The Judge said, frowning.
"But he raped me. You can't let him make me go back with him. Please your Honour." Mara said, standing up and pleading slightly. She hated pleading, but her pride could take a backseat to her need to be rid of him.
"You can continue with your divorce, but the defendant is free to go." The Judge said sadly, and pounding his gavel. "Case dismissed."
Mara slumped down in her seat and cried. Luke rushed forward through the crowd, jumping over railings and took her into his arms. "Mara…" he whispered and let her cry on his shoulder.
A/N: Another fun little twist for you guys. Hehehe….
Lets say… I dunno…umm…125? You guys are WAY too wonderful for me…
A/N: Yay, longer part for you all. Enjoy, I love you all(
Jf/Js: If you wanna write an alternate ending for me…feel free ( I can post it at the end if you want…
1 Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams, Part 15
By Aleese Sundancer
The courtroom was filled. Mara was in complete disbelief that so many people actually cared about what happened to this man, not for his sake but for hers. Half the seats were occupied by Luke's family and friends, and the other by a good deal of Karrde's organization. Mara would have thought it was a wedding or something, how they'd split into respectable and unrespectable. In the far back corner, there were a couple of the men and women from the Duke's estate, watching to see what would become of their Master. Mara took her seat beside the lawyers and took everything in. Leia sat down beside her and patted her hand gently.
Leia couldn't take her eyes off of Mara's face; it was set in stone like when they'd first met. Her smooth features were turned to the man sitting a table away from them, her eyes distantly focussed. Leia was slightly worried; Mara hadn't been able to eat much these last few days, especially since she'd been so cold to Luke. Her thoughts dwelt on getting revenge for the rape, and her hormones changing through her body didn't help. Though Mara hadn't confirmed that the baby was indeed Luke's, she was definitely pregnant. It worried Mara that if it were the Duke's, Mara wouldn't keep it to term, being more likely to rid herself of the product of his rape. Somewhere deep down though, Leia was pretty sure that Mara was holding her niece or nephew, the Force just screamed it out to her. But Mara had to start eating again, and getting back into her old routine, for the baby to be all right. This was stressful though, Leia understood.
"All Rise. Court will now come to session." The bailiff called out. Everyone stood up. "The Honourable Judge Harjam now presiding." The Judge entered the room and sat down, then motioned for everyone else to sit. Mara looked over at her lawyer and visibly drew a breath and let it out silently.
"The case of the People of Naboo vs. The Duke of Juanit is on the docket." The clerk said, putting it in front of the Judge. The Judge nodded and looked it over. He then looked at the defence.
"How do you plead?" He asked.
"Not guilty your honour." The Duke said, obviously trying to look important. The Judge raised an eyebrow and made a small note.
"Alright, lets get on with it." He said, sighing.
"With all due respect, your honour, this isn't in your jurisdiction to preside over." The Duke's lawyer called out. "The Duke isn't a citizen of this planet, and these 'crimes' are not illegal on his own home world. This prosecution is just a way for a wife to run away with her little boyfriend." He accused. Mara frowned.
"Your Honour, Ms. Jade has no formal home planet to live on, and so has chosen to go under Naboo law. Because she was taken away as a child and never had a home, does that deny her the right to be safe from assault and rape?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with the prosecution. Furthermore, since Mara Jade's own mother came from Naboo, I feel that it would be justified to use our system. Your motion to dismiss is denied." The Judge said, looking over some more information. Mara was actually glad Padme had included that fact in her documents.
"But your honour, if he was acting legally on his own planet, he had no idea he would be tried for something he thought was fine. The laws of his own planet dictate that slapping a wife is a common recourse for punishment. It wasn't assault." He argued again.
"He did not make Ms. Jade aware of such laws, and perhaps she wouldn't have married him. But you are correct, I will drop the charge of assault, but if I ever hear of him touching another person in such a manner, he will not be so lucky. Assault charges dropped." The Judge said. Mara's lawyer moved to stand, but saw that the Judge wouldn't change his mind again. All they had left was the rape charge."Lets get going, if you please?"
"The prosecution calls Mara Jade to the stand." Mara's lawyer called out. Mara stood up and went over to the box. Her eyes found Luke in the crowd, he was hiding in the back, shy of her since she'd become so cold. He smiled reassuringly at her, and held her gaze. She nodded to him and turned to the lawyer who had already begun his questioning. "Ms. Jade, please describe the events under which you were forced into marriage with the defendant."
Mara licked her lips and took a breath. "Well, I was on a mission for Karrde, and it ended up that Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo and the rest of their family were out vacationing. I ran into them just outside of a bar, where I ran into the Duke for the first time as well. He started harassing me, and Luke intervened. Eventually he left, but a couple of days later, I was taking a break with Skywalker at this field, and then suddenly we were surrounded by all these men, and the Duke was at the centre of it. He threatened to kill all of them, if I didn't go with him and marry him. I…I love Luke, and I couldn't let him die because of my selfish need for freedom. He means more to me than I even admit to myself." She whispered, staring at him. Luke smiled at her silent apology and sent her love through the Force. "So I went with him. He kept me locked up in this suite, and was constantly bugging me. Eventually, with the help of…this girl, I escaped. Luke and I fled to Endor, and then here to Naboo. He found us, and held us at gunpoint. I had to, I didn't want to, but I had to. He practically dragged me to the church and made me marry him. Then he…he…." Mara closed her eyes and fought back tears.
"He what, Ms. Jade?" the lawyer asked, his not wanting to make Mara live through it again reflecting in his eyes, but the judge needed to know. Mara acknowledged them silently and bit her lip.
"He took me to his ship where he made me read books on being a housewife and…sexual positions he would enjoy. Then he came to my room and…" She said, closing her eyes again and taking a deep breath she continued. "He had some of his men hold me down and give me some knock out drug. While I was unconscious, he raped me." She whispered, shuddering slightly.
"So you didn't consent to marrying him or having sexual intercourse with him?" Her lawyer clarified
"No, never." She whispered.
"Ms. Jade, you are seeking a divorce, are you not?"
"Yes, I am." She replied.
"Thank you Ms. Jade. That is all, your witness." Her lawyer turned to the other lawyer. The other lawyer was a stout man and came waddling over to her.
"Ms. Jade. You say you were unconscious when he raped you. Correct?" He asked in his high-pitched voice.
"Yes, that is true." Mara said, frowning.
"But, how did you know if you were unconscious?" He asked
"I can feel it." She said, confused. She knew what had happened to her body.
"No, you do not know. You weren't awake. What you feel could be previous pain from your sexual escapades with Luke Skywalker. Pain from being his little sex toy! You don't even know if the Duke touched you, and you scream rape!"
"No, he did rape me, I know!" Mara said, shocked that he was saying such things. "He raped me!"
"And you have no evidence! You weren't even awake!" The lawyer laughed, and turned to the judge. "Your honour, there is no evidence that there was any form of rape. I move to dismiss this charge!"
The Judge frowned deeply and turned to Mara's lawyer. "Do you have any proof?"
"Mara Jade is a trusted and respectable woman, she says he raped her. She would know your honour…" he said, not having any lab reports since it had been at least a week.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Jade. Until there is more evidence, I'm going to have to dismiss the charge." The Judge said, frowning.
"But he raped me. You can't let him make me go back with him. Please your Honour." Mara said, standing up and pleading slightly. She hated pleading, but her pride could take a backseat to her need to be rid of him.
"You can continue with your divorce, but the defendant is free to go." The Judge said sadly, and pounding his gavel. "Case dismissed."
Mara slumped down in her seat and cried. Luke rushed forward through the crowd, jumping over railings and took her into his arms. "Mara…" he whispered and let her cry on his shoulder.
A/N: Another fun little twist for you guys. Hehehe….
Lets say… I dunno…umm…125? You guys are WAY too wonderful for me…