A Jedi's Return
Chapter 9
PG
By Maara
Once pre-flight was complete, Luke flipped the COMM switch. "This is Janda One, requesting permission to depart"
Luke sat back, awaiting a response, and was surprised to hear Leia's voice over the COMM. "Janda One, this is Home One, permission granted. And take care of yourselves."
"We will, Leia. And thanks." Luke replied softly. Han's voice came over the COMM "Yeah and thanks, Kid. Thanks for coming after me. Now, I owe you one."
Luke just laughed as he heard Chewie in the back ground and switched off the COMM.
Mara watched him a moment. She was touched by the emotions she felt coming from him. "Your friends really care about you, don't they?" Her voice cut into Luke's reverie, "What did Solo mean when he said 'now, he owes you one'?"
Luke couldn't stop the smile that crept up on his face. "When I first met him, he had to haul me out of a few jambs." A small chuckle escaped him, "He still thinks of me as a naïve farm boy."
Mara smiled, "Farmboy, huh?"
Luke turned to see an amused expression on her face. "What?" Luke demanded in mock indignation.
Mara continued to smirk at him, "Well, you do have that air about you." She had sensed something about him too, but couldn't put a name to it until now. "Farmboy, yes it fits."
"Not you too." Luke laughed, shaking his head, "What have I gotten myself into?"
Mara smacked his arm, "Not anything you didn't ask for."
"True enough." Luke commented as he turned to enter the final program on the navi-computer. With that done, he turned and pulled back the levers, watching the star lines streak by as they entered hyperspace.
"So where exactly are we going?" Mara asked Luke.
Luke looked over at her with a lopsided grin on his face. "A small planet I know." Luke's expression became apologetic. "I can't tell you more than that right now. There's still a chance the Emperor could break through my shielding and find out where Master Yoda is."
"It's ok, Luke." Mara pushed back her initial feelings of anger at his lack of complete trust but she quickly realized he was right. "I understand. If the situations were reversed, I'd do the same."
Luke smiled and reached across the gap between their seats, laying his hand atop hers. "Thank you."
Mara smiled in return then gently pulled her hand from his, "How about I get us something to eat?" Mara rose from her seat, "They did stock the galley didn't they?"
"Yes, they did." Luke answered back. "Now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry."
"Good. I'll be right back." Mara made her way to the galley. Luke was such a warm open person. Why wouldn't he have someone he cared about? Mara stopped suddenly, realizing that he did. He cared about her. He seemed to feel as drawn to her as she was to him. And for the first time in her life, she cared about someone, too. Smiling, she resumed walking. Reaching the galley, she looked around for something to eat, and began pulling items out of the cupboards, setting them on the counter.
Just then, she felt a malevolent presence fill her mind. //You thought you could escape me.// Mara heard her former master's voice thunder through her mind. Mara pressed her hands to her ears, as if trying shut him out. She thought she heard Luke's voice, but couldn't concentrate on anything except the building pressure in her mind.
//You have betrayed the Empire and me! //
Mara grunted at the pain in her head, trying hard to block it out. //You were wrong. You were the one betraying the people of the Empire.//
//How dare you speak to me in that manner!// The pressure increased rapidly along with the intense anger the Emperor was projecting at her. //No one can help you now Jade! No one!//
Mara screamed and dropped to her knees. She continued screaming until a welcome blackness claimed her.
Luke was smiling as he watched Mara. Turning to face the view port again he heard Artoo twitter a question at him. Luke looked at the display, getting the translation. "Yes, Artoo. We're going to the Dagobah system. I want to see if Master Yoda can help Mara."
Artoo beeped at him again.
"I think he may be able to break the hold the Emperor has on her." Luke stroked his hand lovingly over the little droid's dome.
Artoo gave a long whistle. Luke smiled, "I'll give her your good wishes Artoo."
Just then, Luke felt an evil presence knock his barriers aside and grunted at the pressure he felt.
Luke jumped up from his seat, "Keep a sensor on things Artoo." With that he ran back towards the galley, calling Mara's name. By the time he got there, Mara was screaming uncontrollably, curled into a ball with her hands over her ears. Luke reached her in time to throw her into a hibernation trance. He had to put her in deeper than before and finally felt the evil presence slip away.
Looking down at Mara, his heart went out to her. He wanted so much to help her. Luke picked Mara up and carried her to the sleeping berths. Placing her in one he decided it would be best to leave her in the trance until they reached Dagobah. It would be safer for her that way. Master Yoda should be able to shield better than he could.
Luke sat by her for what seemed like a very long time, stroking her hand. He had come to care a great deal for this woman. Hopefully, they were both strong enough to survive whatever it was, they had to face.
Artoo's trill little voice came beeping at him over the COMM. Getting up he gently placed her hand at her side and went to the cockpit to see what was up, only to be surprised to find they were there. He had been sitting with Mara much longer than he thought. "Thanks Artoo." Luke took his seat and prepared for landing.
The droid beeped another question at Luke. "I think she'll be ok. She was assaulted again and I had to put her into a deep hibernation trance."
Artoo beeped again. "No, I'll wake her up when we land."
Using the Force, Luke executed a perfect landing on solid ground near Yoda's hut – if only if first landing on Dagobah had gone so well. Luke shut down all systems and went back to wake Mara.
Luke watched as Mara's eyes fluttered open and immediately fill with tears as the recent assault came back into memory. She looked up at Luke a moment, then threw her arms around his neck as he pulled her close to him. She was still rather shaky and Luke insisted they sit a moment until she got her bearings back.
Mara pulled away from Luke and stared into his blue eyes, glad that he was here. Her voice still shaky, she asked, "Are we there?"
Luke nodded. "Yes, Artoo got us here much sooner than I anticipated, but we are still not long on time."
"Ok. Let's go and see this master of yours." Mara swung her legs out of her bunk, "I just hope he can help me." Mara stood up on shaky legs and grabbed Luke's arm for support.
Together they exited the shuttle and stopped at the bottom a moment. Mara looked around at the fog settling in the swamp and was surprised to find she felt safe here. As if she were protected somehow.
Luke looked over at Mara, sensing her emotions, and took hold of her hand, "Come on." Luke smiled at her, pulling her forward into the mist, "Master Yoda's this way."
As they moved through the fog, a small dwelling appeared, and a light glowing from a small hole in the side, acting as a window, seemed to beckon them in. Bending down, they entered the dwelling. A strange little green creature was rummaging around a large kettle. "Come back you have, I see." Yoda stirred the contents of the kettle, "and a guest you have brought." Yoda crackled lightly at his own words.
"Yes, Master Yoda. This is…" Luke had extended his hand indicating Mara, when Master Yoda cut him off.
"Know who this is I do." Turning to Mara, Yoda hobbled over to greet her. "Yes, know you I do." Yoda prodded her with his cane, causing her to jerk back slightly. "You are fortunate you came now with Luke or on your own you would be."
Mara studied the strange little alien, "Can you really help me?" She whispered. When she first saw him she thought this would be a waste of time, but it only took a moment for her to realize the power this being held.
"Yes, help you I can, but time is short. Eat we must, then begin." Yoda turned to the kettle and began to dish a stew of some kind into a bowl. Backing away he gestured for Luke and Mara to help themselves.
"But I'm not hungry. If time is short, then shouldn't we get started now?" Mara wanted to get on with this. She had to get away from the Emperor's influence.
"Patience, child. A Jedi must have patience." Yoda continued to eat. "The Jedi also needs strength. Eat, eat."
"But I'm not a Jedi. I only have an adeptness to the Force." Mara started to continue, but was cut off by the little Jedi Master.
"The Emperor would have you believe that. Strong you are with the Force" Yoda's gaze seemed to penetrate her soul. "My words be marked, Mara Jade. A Jedi will you be." Yoda said no more and began to eat his stew.
Mara thought about what Yoda had told her. Had the Emperor lied to her about her potential? Why would he… of course. He wanted to keep her under his control, he couldn't have her grow so strong that she would become a threat to him.
Luke watched as Mara struggled with what Yoda had just said. He wished there were something he could do to help her, but this was something she had to figure out herself. Besides, if she needed help she would ask for it.
Just then Mara got up and went out into the swamps. She felt as if the walls were closing in on her. She needed air. Incredulously, the scope of the Emperors lies grew continually. Engulfing everything she had believed about the galaxy – about herself. She could see it clearly now. She just didn't know what to do about it. The pain of the betrayal was immense. She had loved the Emperor. He was the only father figure she had. Everything in her life had revolved around trying to please him. But he had used her. Had used her all her life.
Mara took in a deep breath. It wasn't exactly a cleansing breath, considering the dankness around her, but it calmed her mind somewhat. Sitting down on a fallen log, she stared off into the night mist. Now she just had to figure out what to do.
TBC…
Chapter 9
PG
By Maara
Once pre-flight was complete, Luke flipped the COMM switch. "This is Janda One, requesting permission to depart"
Luke sat back, awaiting a response, and was surprised to hear Leia's voice over the COMM. "Janda One, this is Home One, permission granted. And take care of yourselves."
"We will, Leia. And thanks." Luke replied softly. Han's voice came over the COMM "Yeah and thanks, Kid. Thanks for coming after me. Now, I owe you one."
Luke just laughed as he heard Chewie in the back ground and switched off the COMM.
Mara watched him a moment. She was touched by the emotions she felt coming from him. "Your friends really care about you, don't they?" Her voice cut into Luke's reverie, "What did Solo mean when he said 'now, he owes you one'?"
Luke couldn't stop the smile that crept up on his face. "When I first met him, he had to haul me out of a few jambs." A small chuckle escaped him, "He still thinks of me as a naïve farm boy."
Mara smiled, "Farmboy, huh?"
Luke turned to see an amused expression on her face. "What?" Luke demanded in mock indignation.
Mara continued to smirk at him, "Well, you do have that air about you." She had sensed something about him too, but couldn't put a name to it until now. "Farmboy, yes it fits."
"Not you too." Luke laughed, shaking his head, "What have I gotten myself into?"
Mara smacked his arm, "Not anything you didn't ask for."
"True enough." Luke commented as he turned to enter the final program on the navi-computer. With that done, he turned and pulled back the levers, watching the star lines streak by as they entered hyperspace.
"So where exactly are we going?" Mara asked Luke.
Luke looked over at her with a lopsided grin on his face. "A small planet I know." Luke's expression became apologetic. "I can't tell you more than that right now. There's still a chance the Emperor could break through my shielding and find out where Master Yoda is."
"It's ok, Luke." Mara pushed back her initial feelings of anger at his lack of complete trust but she quickly realized he was right. "I understand. If the situations were reversed, I'd do the same."
Luke smiled and reached across the gap between their seats, laying his hand atop hers. "Thank you."
Mara smiled in return then gently pulled her hand from his, "How about I get us something to eat?" Mara rose from her seat, "They did stock the galley didn't they?"
"Yes, they did." Luke answered back. "Now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry."
"Good. I'll be right back." Mara made her way to the galley. Luke was such a warm open person. Why wouldn't he have someone he cared about? Mara stopped suddenly, realizing that he did. He cared about her. He seemed to feel as drawn to her as she was to him. And for the first time in her life, she cared about someone, too. Smiling, she resumed walking. Reaching the galley, she looked around for something to eat, and began pulling items out of the cupboards, setting them on the counter.
Just then, she felt a malevolent presence fill her mind. //You thought you could escape me.// Mara heard her former master's voice thunder through her mind. Mara pressed her hands to her ears, as if trying shut him out. She thought she heard Luke's voice, but couldn't concentrate on anything except the building pressure in her mind.
//You have betrayed the Empire and me! //
Mara grunted at the pain in her head, trying hard to block it out. //You were wrong. You were the one betraying the people of the Empire.//
//How dare you speak to me in that manner!// The pressure increased rapidly along with the intense anger the Emperor was projecting at her. //No one can help you now Jade! No one!//
Mara screamed and dropped to her knees. She continued screaming until a welcome blackness claimed her.
Luke was smiling as he watched Mara. Turning to face the view port again he heard Artoo twitter a question at him. Luke looked at the display, getting the translation. "Yes, Artoo. We're going to the Dagobah system. I want to see if Master Yoda can help Mara."
Artoo beeped at him again.
"I think he may be able to break the hold the Emperor has on her." Luke stroked his hand lovingly over the little droid's dome.
Artoo gave a long whistle. Luke smiled, "I'll give her your good wishes Artoo."
Just then, Luke felt an evil presence knock his barriers aside and grunted at the pressure he felt.
Luke jumped up from his seat, "Keep a sensor on things Artoo." With that he ran back towards the galley, calling Mara's name. By the time he got there, Mara was screaming uncontrollably, curled into a ball with her hands over her ears. Luke reached her in time to throw her into a hibernation trance. He had to put her in deeper than before and finally felt the evil presence slip away.
Looking down at Mara, his heart went out to her. He wanted so much to help her. Luke picked Mara up and carried her to the sleeping berths. Placing her in one he decided it would be best to leave her in the trance until they reached Dagobah. It would be safer for her that way. Master Yoda should be able to shield better than he could.
Luke sat by her for what seemed like a very long time, stroking her hand. He had come to care a great deal for this woman. Hopefully, they were both strong enough to survive whatever it was, they had to face.
Artoo's trill little voice came beeping at him over the COMM. Getting up he gently placed her hand at her side and went to the cockpit to see what was up, only to be surprised to find they were there. He had been sitting with Mara much longer than he thought. "Thanks Artoo." Luke took his seat and prepared for landing.
The droid beeped another question at Luke. "I think she'll be ok. She was assaulted again and I had to put her into a deep hibernation trance."
Artoo beeped again. "No, I'll wake her up when we land."
Using the Force, Luke executed a perfect landing on solid ground near Yoda's hut – if only if first landing on Dagobah had gone so well. Luke shut down all systems and went back to wake Mara.
Luke watched as Mara's eyes fluttered open and immediately fill with tears as the recent assault came back into memory. She looked up at Luke a moment, then threw her arms around his neck as he pulled her close to him. She was still rather shaky and Luke insisted they sit a moment until she got her bearings back.
Mara pulled away from Luke and stared into his blue eyes, glad that he was here. Her voice still shaky, she asked, "Are we there?"
Luke nodded. "Yes, Artoo got us here much sooner than I anticipated, but we are still not long on time."
"Ok. Let's go and see this master of yours." Mara swung her legs out of her bunk, "I just hope he can help me." Mara stood up on shaky legs and grabbed Luke's arm for support.
Together they exited the shuttle and stopped at the bottom a moment. Mara looked around at the fog settling in the swamp and was surprised to find she felt safe here. As if she were protected somehow.
Luke looked over at Mara, sensing her emotions, and took hold of her hand, "Come on." Luke smiled at her, pulling her forward into the mist, "Master Yoda's this way."
As they moved through the fog, a small dwelling appeared, and a light glowing from a small hole in the side, acting as a window, seemed to beckon them in. Bending down, they entered the dwelling. A strange little green creature was rummaging around a large kettle. "Come back you have, I see." Yoda stirred the contents of the kettle, "and a guest you have brought." Yoda crackled lightly at his own words.
"Yes, Master Yoda. This is…" Luke had extended his hand indicating Mara, when Master Yoda cut him off.
"Know who this is I do." Turning to Mara, Yoda hobbled over to greet her. "Yes, know you I do." Yoda prodded her with his cane, causing her to jerk back slightly. "You are fortunate you came now with Luke or on your own you would be."
Mara studied the strange little alien, "Can you really help me?" She whispered. When she first saw him she thought this would be a waste of time, but it only took a moment for her to realize the power this being held.
"Yes, help you I can, but time is short. Eat we must, then begin." Yoda turned to the kettle and began to dish a stew of some kind into a bowl. Backing away he gestured for Luke and Mara to help themselves.
"But I'm not hungry. If time is short, then shouldn't we get started now?" Mara wanted to get on with this. She had to get away from the Emperor's influence.
"Patience, child. A Jedi must have patience." Yoda continued to eat. "The Jedi also needs strength. Eat, eat."
"But I'm not a Jedi. I only have an adeptness to the Force." Mara started to continue, but was cut off by the little Jedi Master.
"The Emperor would have you believe that. Strong you are with the Force" Yoda's gaze seemed to penetrate her soul. "My words be marked, Mara Jade. A Jedi will you be." Yoda said no more and began to eat his stew.
Mara thought about what Yoda had told her. Had the Emperor lied to her about her potential? Why would he… of course. He wanted to keep her under his control, he couldn't have her grow so strong that she would become a threat to him.
Luke watched as Mara struggled with what Yoda had just said. He wished there were something he could do to help her, but this was something she had to figure out herself. Besides, if she needed help she would ask for it.
Just then Mara got up and went out into the swamps. She felt as if the walls were closing in on her. She needed air. Incredulously, the scope of the Emperors lies grew continually. Engulfing everything she had believed about the galaxy – about herself. She could see it clearly now. She just didn't know what to do about it. The pain of the betrayal was immense. She had loved the Emperor. He was the only father figure she had. Everything in her life had revolved around trying to please him. But he had used her. Had used her all her life.
Mara took in a deep breath. It wasn't exactly a cleansing breath, considering the dankness around her, but it calmed her mind somewhat. Sitting down on a fallen log, she stared off into the night mist. Now she just had to figure out what to do.
TBC…