A Jedi's Return
Chapter 11
PG
By Maara
Later, after eating their fill of Yoda's odd stew, Mara and Luke decided to retire for the evening as Master Yoda had. They would need plenty of rest, as Mara's training would start early the next morning.
Mara lay there on her bedroll, finding it hard to sleep. Her mind, terrified of the Emperors ever-possible invasion, fought a tug-of-war with her body's growing exhaustion. So she lay there listening to the steady rhythmic breathing of Luke and Yoda. Occasionally, Yoda would turn in his bed, making a rustling noise.
With all that had happened over the last few days, Mara was surprised she had held up as well as she had. When the Emperor first forced his way into her mind when she was a child, he had not been gentle, but he hadn't intended to kill her then.
Mara remembered those days long past vividly. She had developed an inner strength as a result, learning how to overcome the pain. And as Mara thought about all that had happened to her throughout her life, she realized that the Force had been her ally throughout it all. The Emperor had only warped her perspectives.
"Very good, child," Yoda turned over in his bed to face her. "Most do not realize that as quickly as you." Yoda leaned towards Mara, lowering his voice to a whisper, and nodding towards Luke's sleeping form, "Even Luke did not realize this as quickly."
Mara looked over at a peacefully sleeping Luke. He exuded an amazing power, yet he had a gentle peace surrounding him. Mara turned back to face Yoda as he spoke once more.
"The Force is a very powerful ally. Now learn to use it you must. Help you it can." He leaned back on his pillow.
Mara contemplated his words, hearing the wisdom behind them. She knew she needed to learn to control the power within her, if she were ever to break the hold the Emperor had on her mind.
Once again her eyes turned to Luke's peaceful form, and she found the words to ask an important question. "Yoda? Why is Luke involved?" Mara turned back to face Yoda's crinkled wise old face, "Was he just meant to bring me to you?"
"His own path, Luke has," Yoda closed his eyes a moment. When he opened them again, his gaze held hers. "Runs close to yours it does. He too must face his destiny"
"So what now?" Mara sighed. "It's only a matter of time before the Emperor finds me and enters my mind. And when he does, he`ll kill me." Mara shivered slightly and pulled her blanket up higher.
Yoda sighed, "While you are here, the Emperor will find you not."
"How can you be so sure?" Mara was terrified at the prospect of the Emperor finding her.
"Shielding this world I have been." Yoda's tone was low, yet serious. "The Emperor has thought me dead for many years." Yoda lay back in his bed, "And soon, will it be so."
Mara froze at his words. "What do you mean? You're dying?" Mara dropped the volume of her voice so she wouldn't wake Luke. She knew this was news that would hurt him.
"Yes, child, I am." Yoda looked at her, "Waiting to train you I was. Once my work is complete, so will be my time."
Mara sat up at that, "But Yo..." she started.
But the old Jedi cut her off, "No more questions. Clear your mind and sleep will come." His voice was no more than a whisper as he gently spoke, lulling her senses.
Taking a deep breath, Mara sank back down onto her bedroll, and letting it out slowly she cleared all extraneous thoughts from her mind. Closing her eyes, Mara calmed her breathing and soon was deeply asleep.
Slowly, Mara awoke to the sound of shuffling feet. Feeling very groggy, she kept her eyes closed and listened to the sounds around her. The shuffling feet had to be Yoda walking or hobbling about the hut.
Then a new sound closer to her head made her senses become more aware. It was Luke. His Force sense was strong. It was amazing the connection she felt to him. Something seemed to be happening to them. Everyday she spent with Luke made the connection even stronger.
Luke reciprocated the connection, as he sensed she was awake. "Good morning Mara," He chirped.
Reluctantly, Mara groaned, shading her eyes from the light of the morning, or what passed for it on Dagobah. "It's too early, I'm still tired." Mara rolled over to escape him. Luke just laughed and moved closer to her. Shaking her shoulder gently, Luke tried once more to cajole her awake. "Come on sleepyhead. It's time to rise and shine."
Mara slowly sat up, feeling her body protest as she moved stiff muscles. "How can you be so chipper this early in the morning?" Mara rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to wake up completely. Suddenly the scent of caf entered her awareness. Her eyes snapped open to see Luke kneeling in front of her, holding a steaming mug out to her.
"Is that for me?" Mara asked, hoping the answer was yes.
He smiled and nodded, "I thought this might help you wake up faster."
Mara took the cup and taking a long drink, she let the hot liquid flow through her. "Oh thank you," Mara said gratefully, feeling a little more human. Looking up through the steam of her drink, she found Luke still staring at her. "What? Do I look that bad in the morning?" she joked.
"No actually, you look pretty good," Luke laughed lightly. "I'm going on a run. Master Yoda asked me to wake you." Luke sat down on the floor near Mara and began to stretch his muscles, warming up for his run.
"What's on the agenda for today?" Mara sipped her caf watching Luke Warm up.
"I have no idea what you will be doing, but I will be out in the jungle on a run then I'll be concentrating on my own training." Luke saw Mara's face tighten. Putting his hand on her shoulder, his voice softened somewhat. "Hey, this is something you have to learn on your own. Your training is a personal thing. I would only be getting in the way, distracting you from what you need to learn."
Mara knew he was right. Reluctantly, she agreed, nodding her head. "Plus it will keep me from distracting you in your training." Mara sighed, "I feel like I am already distracting you from your training though. I am taking Yoda away from you, so he can train me."
" Well, I've been training on my own for quite awhile now. I can continue to work on the skills I have and those I have yet to discover. That is what is so wondrous about the Force, Mara, it continues to guide and teach you." His quiet voice contained such passion it captivated her. "I'll be gone most of the day. Go with Master Yoda. He's waiting for you outside."
Mara put down the cup and pulled on her boots, a nervousness running through her mind. She knew this was the right path, but was unsure of just what she would be doing.
Luke picked up on her uneasiness, "Are you ok?"
Mara finished putting her boots on and looked up at Luke. "Yeah, I'm ok. Just a bit nervous."
Luke smiled and stood up, "Don't worry, you'll be fine." He held out a hand to help her up. "I'll see you later."
Mara followed him outside and found Master Yoda, sitting on a rock, waiting for her to emerge. Luke touched her shoulder, with a last gesture of reassurance, and set off on his run. Mara watched him leave, and then walked slowly over to where Yoda sat. "Yoda?"
He just sat there, his eyes closed. Mara studied him as she sat down, wondering if he had fallen asleep. Finally she decided to lean forward to tap him on his shoulder, when his eyes opened and focused on her.
"Awake I am." Yoda stirred and turned himself to fully face his new apprentice.
"What's the plan for today?" Mara asked.
Yoda closed his eyes a moment, and sighed. As he reopened them, he asked a question. "Why do you not call me Master?" His little green head tilted to the side. "What is it you are afraid of?"
Mara's gaze dropped to the ground. She wondered if she should tell him what was going on in her mind. What would be the use of not telling him? He could very easily find out by entering her mind.
Looking up at him, she realized he would not do that. He would not force himself into her mind. He could read her sense, but would not read her mind without her permission. He would wait patiently for her to answer. Sighing, Mara knew she should tell him. If she wanted his help, she had to trust him.
"All my life, I called someone master. He took care of all my needs, trained me and raised me from a child." Mara's sense tightened, "I believed in him, even loved him. He was the only family I ever knew. Now I find out that my whole life was a lie." Mara forced herself to hold it together. "He tried to kill me over one failure. He feels I betrayed him because I didn't kill Luke and didn't obey his orders to have no contact with him." Mara turned her head away, trying to hide the pain even though she knew he could feel it. "I don't want to let anyone control me anymore."
Master Yoda watched Mara as she answered his question. And in that moment, her training had begun.
She needed to release her anger. By talking about it, she would be able to do that and take her first steps towards becoming a Jedi. A powerful Jedi. Yoda climbed down from the rock he sat on and hobbled over to Mara. "Child, you must let go of your anger. Consume you it will." He circled Mara, moving at a pace she never expected from the feeble looking creature. "Break the Emperor's hold on you, you will not, unless you put aside your anger. It will lead you to the Dark side of the Force."
"How can I let go of my anger? He's done so many things to me over the years, just to keep me under his control and to do his bidding." Mara protested.
"First you must learn to meditate." Yoda hobbled over to her and sat down. "Stretch out to the Force. Immerse yourself in it. This way you can learn to let go of your anger and find peace in your soul."
Mara started to protest, but Yoda stopped her before she could utter a sound. "No more talk. You must let the Force guide you. Once you listen to what it has to tell you, you will understand." Yoda's voice was surprisingly soothing. "Close your eyes, child," Yoda instructed. "Feel the Force flow through you. Open yourself to it."
Mara did as instructed. Clearing her mind she felt the Force flowing around her and opened her mind to it, she felt it flow into her more powerfully than she had ever felt before. Mara heard Yoda speak to her, but his voice sounded far away. //Open your mind to me, and guide you I will, in your first meditation.//
Mara hesitated a moment, then reluctantly opened herself up and felt Yoda's presence fill her mind. Her past experience with the Emperor entering her mind had always been a painful experience, but was surprised at how gentle Yoda was. //Do you hear it, Mara?//
Mara did indeed hear something. //It sounds like chattering.// She thought at him.
//Yes Mara Jade. The Force is always talking to us. Guiding us in what is right. Quiet your mind and you will hear its words.// Mara silenced her mind and the chattering began to form into words. She opened her mind more and a kaleidoscope of colors began swirling around in her mind. Sometimes forming into pictures, but never staying long enough for her to see what they were.
//That is the future you see before you. Always moving it is.// Mara marveled at what she was seeing. //The Force, when it speaks to you, shows you many things. These you must interpret in order to know what must be done.//
Mara reached out with the Force towards Yoda. In the physical world, Yoda was small and frail looking. But in the Force, he shined brightly with a hot white light. Yet it wasn't blinding. His essence was strong, honorable and true.
//Look around, keep your mind calm, and listen to what the Force says. See what it has to show you.// Yoda's essence faded away from her and Mara let herself fall deeper into the Force's comforting embrace. And she watched and listened to what it had to tell her.
The pictures came into view, some staying longer than other, but all fading too quickly to see. Then she saw the Emperor and Vader. In what appeared to be one of the Emperor's control rooms. Then suddenly, the image changed to Luke, lying on the floor - in great pain. Mara tried to reach out to him, to help him, but the harder she tried the more the images only swirled and faded away.
TBC...
Chapter 11
PG
By Maara
Later, after eating their fill of Yoda's odd stew, Mara and Luke decided to retire for the evening as Master Yoda had. They would need plenty of rest, as Mara's training would start early the next morning.
Mara lay there on her bedroll, finding it hard to sleep. Her mind, terrified of the Emperors ever-possible invasion, fought a tug-of-war with her body's growing exhaustion. So she lay there listening to the steady rhythmic breathing of Luke and Yoda. Occasionally, Yoda would turn in his bed, making a rustling noise.
With all that had happened over the last few days, Mara was surprised she had held up as well as she had. When the Emperor first forced his way into her mind when she was a child, he had not been gentle, but he hadn't intended to kill her then.
Mara remembered those days long past vividly. She had developed an inner strength as a result, learning how to overcome the pain. And as Mara thought about all that had happened to her throughout her life, she realized that the Force had been her ally throughout it all. The Emperor had only warped her perspectives.
"Very good, child," Yoda turned over in his bed to face her. "Most do not realize that as quickly as you." Yoda leaned towards Mara, lowering his voice to a whisper, and nodding towards Luke's sleeping form, "Even Luke did not realize this as quickly."
Mara looked over at a peacefully sleeping Luke. He exuded an amazing power, yet he had a gentle peace surrounding him. Mara turned back to face Yoda as he spoke once more.
"The Force is a very powerful ally. Now learn to use it you must. Help you it can." He leaned back on his pillow.
Mara contemplated his words, hearing the wisdom behind them. She knew she needed to learn to control the power within her, if she were ever to break the hold the Emperor had on her mind.
Once again her eyes turned to Luke's peaceful form, and she found the words to ask an important question. "Yoda? Why is Luke involved?" Mara turned back to face Yoda's crinkled wise old face, "Was he just meant to bring me to you?"
"His own path, Luke has," Yoda closed his eyes a moment. When he opened them again, his gaze held hers. "Runs close to yours it does. He too must face his destiny"
"So what now?" Mara sighed. "It's only a matter of time before the Emperor finds me and enters my mind. And when he does, he`ll kill me." Mara shivered slightly and pulled her blanket up higher.
Yoda sighed, "While you are here, the Emperor will find you not."
"How can you be so sure?" Mara was terrified at the prospect of the Emperor finding her.
"Shielding this world I have been." Yoda's tone was low, yet serious. "The Emperor has thought me dead for many years." Yoda lay back in his bed, "And soon, will it be so."
Mara froze at his words. "What do you mean? You're dying?" Mara dropped the volume of her voice so she wouldn't wake Luke. She knew this was news that would hurt him.
"Yes, child, I am." Yoda looked at her, "Waiting to train you I was. Once my work is complete, so will be my time."
Mara sat up at that, "But Yo..." she started.
But the old Jedi cut her off, "No more questions. Clear your mind and sleep will come." His voice was no more than a whisper as he gently spoke, lulling her senses.
Taking a deep breath, Mara sank back down onto her bedroll, and letting it out slowly she cleared all extraneous thoughts from her mind. Closing her eyes, Mara calmed her breathing and soon was deeply asleep.
Slowly, Mara awoke to the sound of shuffling feet. Feeling very groggy, she kept her eyes closed and listened to the sounds around her. The shuffling feet had to be Yoda walking or hobbling about the hut.
Then a new sound closer to her head made her senses become more aware. It was Luke. His Force sense was strong. It was amazing the connection she felt to him. Something seemed to be happening to them. Everyday she spent with Luke made the connection even stronger.
Luke reciprocated the connection, as he sensed she was awake. "Good morning Mara," He chirped.
Reluctantly, Mara groaned, shading her eyes from the light of the morning, or what passed for it on Dagobah. "It's too early, I'm still tired." Mara rolled over to escape him. Luke just laughed and moved closer to her. Shaking her shoulder gently, Luke tried once more to cajole her awake. "Come on sleepyhead. It's time to rise and shine."
Mara slowly sat up, feeling her body protest as she moved stiff muscles. "How can you be so chipper this early in the morning?" Mara rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to wake up completely. Suddenly the scent of caf entered her awareness. Her eyes snapped open to see Luke kneeling in front of her, holding a steaming mug out to her.
"Is that for me?" Mara asked, hoping the answer was yes.
He smiled and nodded, "I thought this might help you wake up faster."
Mara took the cup and taking a long drink, she let the hot liquid flow through her. "Oh thank you," Mara said gratefully, feeling a little more human. Looking up through the steam of her drink, she found Luke still staring at her. "What? Do I look that bad in the morning?" she joked.
"No actually, you look pretty good," Luke laughed lightly. "I'm going on a run. Master Yoda asked me to wake you." Luke sat down on the floor near Mara and began to stretch his muscles, warming up for his run.
"What's on the agenda for today?" Mara sipped her caf watching Luke Warm up.
"I have no idea what you will be doing, but I will be out in the jungle on a run then I'll be concentrating on my own training." Luke saw Mara's face tighten. Putting his hand on her shoulder, his voice softened somewhat. "Hey, this is something you have to learn on your own. Your training is a personal thing. I would only be getting in the way, distracting you from what you need to learn."
Mara knew he was right. Reluctantly, she agreed, nodding her head. "Plus it will keep me from distracting you in your training." Mara sighed, "I feel like I am already distracting you from your training though. I am taking Yoda away from you, so he can train me."
" Well, I've been training on my own for quite awhile now. I can continue to work on the skills I have and those I have yet to discover. That is what is so wondrous about the Force, Mara, it continues to guide and teach you." His quiet voice contained such passion it captivated her. "I'll be gone most of the day. Go with Master Yoda. He's waiting for you outside."
Mara put down the cup and pulled on her boots, a nervousness running through her mind. She knew this was the right path, but was unsure of just what she would be doing.
Luke picked up on her uneasiness, "Are you ok?"
Mara finished putting her boots on and looked up at Luke. "Yeah, I'm ok. Just a bit nervous."
Luke smiled and stood up, "Don't worry, you'll be fine." He held out a hand to help her up. "I'll see you later."
Mara followed him outside and found Master Yoda, sitting on a rock, waiting for her to emerge. Luke touched her shoulder, with a last gesture of reassurance, and set off on his run. Mara watched him leave, and then walked slowly over to where Yoda sat. "Yoda?"
He just sat there, his eyes closed. Mara studied him as she sat down, wondering if he had fallen asleep. Finally she decided to lean forward to tap him on his shoulder, when his eyes opened and focused on her.
"Awake I am." Yoda stirred and turned himself to fully face his new apprentice.
"What's the plan for today?" Mara asked.
Yoda closed his eyes a moment, and sighed. As he reopened them, he asked a question. "Why do you not call me Master?" His little green head tilted to the side. "What is it you are afraid of?"
Mara's gaze dropped to the ground. She wondered if she should tell him what was going on in her mind. What would be the use of not telling him? He could very easily find out by entering her mind.
Looking up at him, she realized he would not do that. He would not force himself into her mind. He could read her sense, but would not read her mind without her permission. He would wait patiently for her to answer. Sighing, Mara knew she should tell him. If she wanted his help, she had to trust him.
"All my life, I called someone master. He took care of all my needs, trained me and raised me from a child." Mara's sense tightened, "I believed in him, even loved him. He was the only family I ever knew. Now I find out that my whole life was a lie." Mara forced herself to hold it together. "He tried to kill me over one failure. He feels I betrayed him because I didn't kill Luke and didn't obey his orders to have no contact with him." Mara turned her head away, trying to hide the pain even though she knew he could feel it. "I don't want to let anyone control me anymore."
Master Yoda watched Mara as she answered his question. And in that moment, her training had begun.
She needed to release her anger. By talking about it, she would be able to do that and take her first steps towards becoming a Jedi. A powerful Jedi. Yoda climbed down from the rock he sat on and hobbled over to Mara. "Child, you must let go of your anger. Consume you it will." He circled Mara, moving at a pace she never expected from the feeble looking creature. "Break the Emperor's hold on you, you will not, unless you put aside your anger. It will lead you to the Dark side of the Force."
"How can I let go of my anger? He's done so many things to me over the years, just to keep me under his control and to do his bidding." Mara protested.
"First you must learn to meditate." Yoda hobbled over to her and sat down. "Stretch out to the Force. Immerse yourself in it. This way you can learn to let go of your anger and find peace in your soul."
Mara started to protest, but Yoda stopped her before she could utter a sound. "No more talk. You must let the Force guide you. Once you listen to what it has to tell you, you will understand." Yoda's voice was surprisingly soothing. "Close your eyes, child," Yoda instructed. "Feel the Force flow through you. Open yourself to it."
Mara did as instructed. Clearing her mind she felt the Force flowing around her and opened her mind to it, she felt it flow into her more powerfully than she had ever felt before. Mara heard Yoda speak to her, but his voice sounded far away. //Open your mind to me, and guide you I will, in your first meditation.//
Mara hesitated a moment, then reluctantly opened herself up and felt Yoda's presence fill her mind. Her past experience with the Emperor entering her mind had always been a painful experience, but was surprised at how gentle Yoda was. //Do you hear it, Mara?//
Mara did indeed hear something. //It sounds like chattering.// She thought at him.
//Yes Mara Jade. The Force is always talking to us. Guiding us in what is right. Quiet your mind and you will hear its words.// Mara silenced her mind and the chattering began to form into words. She opened her mind more and a kaleidoscope of colors began swirling around in her mind. Sometimes forming into pictures, but never staying long enough for her to see what they were.
//That is the future you see before you. Always moving it is.// Mara marveled at what she was seeing. //The Force, when it speaks to you, shows you many things. These you must interpret in order to know what must be done.//
Mara reached out with the Force towards Yoda. In the physical world, Yoda was small and frail looking. But in the Force, he shined brightly with a hot white light. Yet it wasn't blinding. His essence was strong, honorable and true.
//Look around, keep your mind calm, and listen to what the Force says. See what it has to show you.// Yoda's essence faded away from her and Mara let herself fall deeper into the Force's comforting embrace. And she watched and listened to what it had to tell her.
The pictures came into view, some staying longer than other, but all fading too quickly to see. Then she saw the Emperor and Vader. In what appeared to be one of the Emperor's control rooms. Then suddenly, the image changed to Luke, lying on the floor - in great pain. Mara tried to reach out to him, to help him, but the harder she tried the more the images only swirled and faded away.
TBC...