A Jedi's Return
Chapter 16
PG
By Maara
Once in the Ewok village, Luke and Han were trying to figure out a way to get out the mess they had gotten themselves into, when Leia came out of one the huts. The commotion when they were brought in had caught her attention. When she saw her friends tied to spits, she rushed forward to untie them when spears were thrust in her face. Leia looked at the furry creatures that had befriended her like they had just ate her favorite pet. "But these are my friends." She turned to address all the Ewoks around her, "They must be set free." Looking up at C-3po, Leia implored him to help her make them understand. "3-po, tell them they must be set free!"
As C-3po translated Princess Leia's words, Han was desperately trying to blow out the torch that had stopped next to him while he waited for the leaders orders. When he waved a hand for them to continue with the preparations, C-3po wailed, "They won't listen to me!"
Luke chimed in suddenly, "3-po, tell them if they don't set us free, you'll become angry and use your magic."
"But Master Luke…" C-3po started to protest.
Luke didn't want to hear it this time. Interrupting the golden droid he said impatiently, 'Just tell them."
Reluctantly the droid repeated Luke's words and brought the little village to a halt. The leader just waived aside his words and ordered them to continue once again.
"You see; they don't believe me." C-3po yelled to his master.
Luke just put his head back and closed his eyes and drew the Force around him. In his mind's eye, he envisioned C-3po, on his crudely made throne, wailing at him. Then he was rising in the air, shrieking fearful protests to be put down.
The Ewoks, for their part, thought they had angered the golden 'God' and that he was yelling curses at them. They immediately flew into action and cut them all loose. A gasp was heard among them when Han swung Leia around and kissed her soundly, while R2 chased another one with his electrical connector arm extended, shocking him as he ran from him.
Once the 3 heroes were reunited, they all looked to C-3po. "Thanks 3-po."
"I never knew I had it in me." He said as he slumped back into his 'throne'.
Later that night after the evening meal, C-3po regaled them all with the story of what had happened since they had all come together. He was animated and even mimicked some of the sounds of the battle in his tale. When all was said and done, the Ewoks understood the fight they had gone through. Much the same as their own; just on a grander scale. The respect of the Ewoks for their bravery in their fight made them decide to welcome them into the tribe.
Luke slipped outside, a feeling inside of someone he knew, close by.
Vader.
He could feel his presence drawing slowly nearer. He wasn't on planet yet but soon would be. Luke knew he had to do something if he was to help the others succeed in their mission. Master Yoda was right. He would have to face Darth Vader again. Only this time, he may not come back. It was time to tell Leia the truth.
Later on that night, after they had eaten and C-3po had told the Ewoks their story, Luke made his way through the forest to turn himself in to Darth Vader. His father. It weighed greatly on his mind. So many things happening at once, he was surprised that he hadn't lost his mind by now. What kept him going were his father and the flash of good he had sensed in him; and his sister. Luke was ecstatic he had a sister. He had loved Leia from the start. At first he thought it was a crush. Then he realized that it was only as a friend, but stronger. His thought turned back to when he had told her. He had told her everything. She had hidden her pain at knowing Darth Vader was her father and let him know she loved him too. It had torn them both apart when Luke had left. They had only just found out the truth in their relationship and now, may never see each other again.
Before he left, she had asked him about Mara. "Luke, what's happened to Mara?" She knew she wasn't dead, but wherever she was it couldn't be good. The look on Luke's face told her that much. She couldn't believe her ears when Luke finally spoke.
"She went off to face the Emperor." Luke watched the expression of horror cross over his sister's face. Luke had then told her more about Mara. She understood that Mara needed to face her destiny, but why alone? Why didn't she ask for help? Then Leia asked a question Luke hadn't seen coming.
"You don't think she'd try to turn him back to the light do you?" Luke's eyebrows rose a moment in contemplation of that thought, but then his thoughts drifted back to the conversation he and Mara had had. She thought Luke was crazy for trying to turn Vader, so there was no way she would even make the attempt to do the same for the Emperor.
Leia listened to Luke as he explained all this and somehow knew it to be true, but she just needed to hear someone say it. As Luke spoke of Mara, Leia came to a realization of her own. "You love her don't you?" She had interrupted him, but Luke stopped and looked directly at her.
A smile crept up on his face. He never could hide his feelings from Leia. "Yes, I do." He looked away a moment, "I'm not sure how she feels though." Luke turned and took Leia's hand in his. "I don't want to push her. She's been through so much already." Luke's smile widened, "I'll tell you this much though. If we both make it through this, I'm going to tell her how I feel."
Luke felt Leia start to say something, but raised a hand to stop her, "I'll tell her how I feel, but make it clear that I expect nothing in return. I just want her to know."
"Ok, brother, but I have to tell you, she'd be crazy not to love you." She reached up and pinched his cheek. "You are so cute."
Luke couldn't help but smile as he pushed her hand away from his face. "Thanks a lot." Sighing, Luke stood. "I have to go now."
Leia jumped up and grabbed his arm. "Please don't go. I just found you. I can't lose you now."
Luke's face grew serious, "You won't lose me. I have to try Leia.' He leaned over and kissed her cheek, and let her hands slide from his as he slipped away into the forest.
Luke came back to reality with a start; the sound of a speeder bike's engine not too far away. Putting his thoughts of Leia to the back of his mind, Luke stretched out with the Force and found the Troopers presence. Not too far away. Blowing out a breath, he headed in that direction, ready to face his father once again.
Leia turned back to the railing after Luke left and looked out among the forest, finally letting her sadness out at the true identity of her father. A moment later she felt large warm hands on her shoulders and turned to see Han's concerned face looking back at her.
Han. Her rock. The man she loved more than anything else in the galaxy. She'd already risked so much for him and would give everything she could to him. She buried her face in his chest and felt his strong arms wrap around her. "What's wrong?"
Leia pulled away a bit. She looked up into Han's face. Vader had tortured him. Could she tell him that he was her father? So many things were going through her head; too fast to make any sense out of. No. She couldn't tell him. Not now. "I can't tell you." Han pulled away from her.
"What do you mean you can't tell me?" Han's face showed his pain plainly. "Could you tell, Luke? Is that who you could tell?" Jealous feelings shot through him. He thought they could tell each other anything. Why could she tell Luke and not him?
Leia could feel Han's emotions and was helpless to change them at the moment. How could she tell him? The confusion overwhelmed her, "Oh, Han!" she cried as she turned away from him. She didn't think she could deal with jealousy right now. She felt like she would explode. "It's not that I don't trust you Han. I…am just having a hard time with it all myself. I…" Leia broke down in tears and threw herself into Han's arms, "Just hold me please."
Han wrapped his arms around Leia and held her as tightly as he could, letting her cry, not knowing what else to do. She would tell him when she was ready. He just had to have faith in her.
Mara snapped the data pad off and slid it into a leg pocket on her jumpsuit. She had found the throne room and mapped out the best way to get there unseen. It wouldn't be easy, but she had to see it through.
She headed off in her chosen direction, moving as silently as the Emperor had always trained her. Keeping her barriers in place she could not use her Force senses to keep an eye on her surroundings. Instead, she put to use, everything she had ever learned. Using every sense she had, she could hear, see or smell if her surroundings changed in anyway.
After a time she came to the shaft opening that over looked the throne room. Now she had to decide the best course of action. She knew she couldn't hide among the other women. They knew who she was and that she was not to be trusted. The Emperor had taught her everything she knew about being covert. Now maybe it was time to be more overt and try to throw him off guard.
Before she could do that she had to know everything she could to form a plan of action. Looking around Mara saw the throne empty. He must be resting or attending to something outside his domain. Quietly taking the cover from the ventilation shaft opening and slipped out onto a catwalk high above the room. She replaced the cover and moved slowly along looking at everything and seeing what advantages she could gain from it. Staying in the shadows she walked the perimeter, making her way to the throne's controls.
She began to make her way down the cat walk stairs, trying to see the back of the room that had been hidden from her view from the top. As she came slowly down, she slid deftly in the shadows and caught sight of a Royal Guardsman, standing along side the turbo lift doors, leading to the throne. ~ Uh-oh. That could mean only one thing. ~ Just as the thought raced through her mind, Mara heard an evil chuckling drifting towards her.
Mara cursed under her breath as she heard her former master speak, "You shouldn't lurk in the shadows my dear. You may find yourself in a very bad spot some day." He broke out in full laughter.
Soon she heard the rustling of his robes as he made his way towards her hiding spot. "You will learn my dear, not to try to outsmart me." He spoke to her as he walked slowly down the walkway. "Did you really think you could shield your presence from me?"
Mara looked up to see the Emperor's yellow gaze staring straight through her, "You will soon find out how very dangerous a practice that could be." Mara felt the power emanating from him, gathering around him, ready to do his bidding. Then, before Mara could see what was happening, blue lightning shot from the Emperor's fingers, hitting the metal rail she was gripping, sending a painful shock through her.
Mara jumped up and realized just how close he was to her and what he could do. She felt a power wrap around her, holding her in place. The Emperor walked right up to her. She couldn't move. She wanted to strike at him and bring him down but couldn't move. Taking her chin in his hand, he forced her to look into his evil eyes. "You will soon understand, that you should not disobey me." He disgustedly flipped her chin away from him. "You will have to be punished for your misdeeds." Turning away from her and walking away, he held his grip on her, preventing her from fighting at all.
Mara was angry with herself. She should have known she couldn't win against him by herself. "Why don't you just kill me then and get it over with?"
The Emperor turned quicker than Mara thought he could. "Oh no." He looked at her with more hatred than she thought possible, "I have something else in mind for you." He smiled at her, a strange look coming over him. "If he will not be turned, he will die. As will you. Either way, you are in for a long, painful night."
Mara started to protest but the Emperor just waved a hand and, as darkness claimed her, Mara's heart broke as she realized she had played right into the Emperor's hands and could very well be Luke's down fall.
TBC…
Chapter 16
PG
By Maara
Once in the Ewok village, Luke and Han were trying to figure out a way to get out the mess they had gotten themselves into, when Leia came out of one the huts. The commotion when they were brought in had caught her attention. When she saw her friends tied to spits, she rushed forward to untie them when spears were thrust in her face. Leia looked at the furry creatures that had befriended her like they had just ate her favorite pet. "But these are my friends." She turned to address all the Ewoks around her, "They must be set free." Looking up at C-3po, Leia implored him to help her make them understand. "3-po, tell them they must be set free!"
As C-3po translated Princess Leia's words, Han was desperately trying to blow out the torch that had stopped next to him while he waited for the leaders orders. When he waved a hand for them to continue with the preparations, C-3po wailed, "They won't listen to me!"
Luke chimed in suddenly, "3-po, tell them if they don't set us free, you'll become angry and use your magic."
"But Master Luke…" C-3po started to protest.
Luke didn't want to hear it this time. Interrupting the golden droid he said impatiently, 'Just tell them."
Reluctantly the droid repeated Luke's words and brought the little village to a halt. The leader just waived aside his words and ordered them to continue once again.
"You see; they don't believe me." C-3po yelled to his master.
Luke just put his head back and closed his eyes and drew the Force around him. In his mind's eye, he envisioned C-3po, on his crudely made throne, wailing at him. Then he was rising in the air, shrieking fearful protests to be put down.
The Ewoks, for their part, thought they had angered the golden 'God' and that he was yelling curses at them. They immediately flew into action and cut them all loose. A gasp was heard among them when Han swung Leia around and kissed her soundly, while R2 chased another one with his electrical connector arm extended, shocking him as he ran from him.
Once the 3 heroes were reunited, they all looked to C-3po. "Thanks 3-po."
"I never knew I had it in me." He said as he slumped back into his 'throne'.
Later that night after the evening meal, C-3po regaled them all with the story of what had happened since they had all come together. He was animated and even mimicked some of the sounds of the battle in his tale. When all was said and done, the Ewoks understood the fight they had gone through. Much the same as their own; just on a grander scale. The respect of the Ewoks for their bravery in their fight made them decide to welcome them into the tribe.
Luke slipped outside, a feeling inside of someone he knew, close by.
Vader.
He could feel his presence drawing slowly nearer. He wasn't on planet yet but soon would be. Luke knew he had to do something if he was to help the others succeed in their mission. Master Yoda was right. He would have to face Darth Vader again. Only this time, he may not come back. It was time to tell Leia the truth.
Later on that night, after they had eaten and C-3po had told the Ewoks their story, Luke made his way through the forest to turn himself in to Darth Vader. His father. It weighed greatly on his mind. So many things happening at once, he was surprised that he hadn't lost his mind by now. What kept him going were his father and the flash of good he had sensed in him; and his sister. Luke was ecstatic he had a sister. He had loved Leia from the start. At first he thought it was a crush. Then he realized that it was only as a friend, but stronger. His thought turned back to when he had told her. He had told her everything. She had hidden her pain at knowing Darth Vader was her father and let him know she loved him too. It had torn them both apart when Luke had left. They had only just found out the truth in their relationship and now, may never see each other again.
Before he left, she had asked him about Mara. "Luke, what's happened to Mara?" She knew she wasn't dead, but wherever she was it couldn't be good. The look on Luke's face told her that much. She couldn't believe her ears when Luke finally spoke.
"She went off to face the Emperor." Luke watched the expression of horror cross over his sister's face. Luke had then told her more about Mara. She understood that Mara needed to face her destiny, but why alone? Why didn't she ask for help? Then Leia asked a question Luke hadn't seen coming.
"You don't think she'd try to turn him back to the light do you?" Luke's eyebrows rose a moment in contemplation of that thought, but then his thoughts drifted back to the conversation he and Mara had had. She thought Luke was crazy for trying to turn Vader, so there was no way she would even make the attempt to do the same for the Emperor.
Leia listened to Luke as he explained all this and somehow knew it to be true, but she just needed to hear someone say it. As Luke spoke of Mara, Leia came to a realization of her own. "You love her don't you?" She had interrupted him, but Luke stopped and looked directly at her.
A smile crept up on his face. He never could hide his feelings from Leia. "Yes, I do." He looked away a moment, "I'm not sure how she feels though." Luke turned and took Leia's hand in his. "I don't want to push her. She's been through so much already." Luke's smile widened, "I'll tell you this much though. If we both make it through this, I'm going to tell her how I feel."
Luke felt Leia start to say something, but raised a hand to stop her, "I'll tell her how I feel, but make it clear that I expect nothing in return. I just want her to know."
"Ok, brother, but I have to tell you, she'd be crazy not to love you." She reached up and pinched his cheek. "You are so cute."
Luke couldn't help but smile as he pushed her hand away from his face. "Thanks a lot." Sighing, Luke stood. "I have to go now."
Leia jumped up and grabbed his arm. "Please don't go. I just found you. I can't lose you now."
Luke's face grew serious, "You won't lose me. I have to try Leia.' He leaned over and kissed her cheek, and let her hands slide from his as he slipped away into the forest.
Luke came back to reality with a start; the sound of a speeder bike's engine not too far away. Putting his thoughts of Leia to the back of his mind, Luke stretched out with the Force and found the Troopers presence. Not too far away. Blowing out a breath, he headed in that direction, ready to face his father once again.
Leia turned back to the railing after Luke left and looked out among the forest, finally letting her sadness out at the true identity of her father. A moment later she felt large warm hands on her shoulders and turned to see Han's concerned face looking back at her.
Han. Her rock. The man she loved more than anything else in the galaxy. She'd already risked so much for him and would give everything she could to him. She buried her face in his chest and felt his strong arms wrap around her. "What's wrong?"
Leia pulled away a bit. She looked up into Han's face. Vader had tortured him. Could she tell him that he was her father? So many things were going through her head; too fast to make any sense out of. No. She couldn't tell him. Not now. "I can't tell you." Han pulled away from her.
"What do you mean you can't tell me?" Han's face showed his pain plainly. "Could you tell, Luke? Is that who you could tell?" Jealous feelings shot through him. He thought they could tell each other anything. Why could she tell Luke and not him?
Leia could feel Han's emotions and was helpless to change them at the moment. How could she tell him? The confusion overwhelmed her, "Oh, Han!" she cried as she turned away from him. She didn't think she could deal with jealousy right now. She felt like she would explode. "It's not that I don't trust you Han. I…am just having a hard time with it all myself. I…" Leia broke down in tears and threw herself into Han's arms, "Just hold me please."
Han wrapped his arms around Leia and held her as tightly as he could, letting her cry, not knowing what else to do. She would tell him when she was ready. He just had to have faith in her.
Mara snapped the data pad off and slid it into a leg pocket on her jumpsuit. She had found the throne room and mapped out the best way to get there unseen. It wouldn't be easy, but she had to see it through.
She headed off in her chosen direction, moving as silently as the Emperor had always trained her. Keeping her barriers in place she could not use her Force senses to keep an eye on her surroundings. Instead, she put to use, everything she had ever learned. Using every sense she had, she could hear, see or smell if her surroundings changed in anyway.
After a time she came to the shaft opening that over looked the throne room. Now she had to decide the best course of action. She knew she couldn't hide among the other women. They knew who she was and that she was not to be trusted. The Emperor had taught her everything she knew about being covert. Now maybe it was time to be more overt and try to throw him off guard.
Before she could do that she had to know everything she could to form a plan of action. Looking around Mara saw the throne empty. He must be resting or attending to something outside his domain. Quietly taking the cover from the ventilation shaft opening and slipped out onto a catwalk high above the room. She replaced the cover and moved slowly along looking at everything and seeing what advantages she could gain from it. Staying in the shadows she walked the perimeter, making her way to the throne's controls.
She began to make her way down the cat walk stairs, trying to see the back of the room that had been hidden from her view from the top. As she came slowly down, she slid deftly in the shadows and caught sight of a Royal Guardsman, standing along side the turbo lift doors, leading to the throne. ~ Uh-oh. That could mean only one thing. ~ Just as the thought raced through her mind, Mara heard an evil chuckling drifting towards her.
Mara cursed under her breath as she heard her former master speak, "You shouldn't lurk in the shadows my dear. You may find yourself in a very bad spot some day." He broke out in full laughter.
Soon she heard the rustling of his robes as he made his way towards her hiding spot. "You will learn my dear, not to try to outsmart me." He spoke to her as he walked slowly down the walkway. "Did you really think you could shield your presence from me?"
Mara looked up to see the Emperor's yellow gaze staring straight through her, "You will soon find out how very dangerous a practice that could be." Mara felt the power emanating from him, gathering around him, ready to do his bidding. Then, before Mara could see what was happening, blue lightning shot from the Emperor's fingers, hitting the metal rail she was gripping, sending a painful shock through her.
Mara jumped up and realized just how close he was to her and what he could do. She felt a power wrap around her, holding her in place. The Emperor walked right up to her. She couldn't move. She wanted to strike at him and bring him down but couldn't move. Taking her chin in his hand, he forced her to look into his evil eyes. "You will soon understand, that you should not disobey me." He disgustedly flipped her chin away from him. "You will have to be punished for your misdeeds." Turning away from her and walking away, he held his grip on her, preventing her from fighting at all.
Mara was angry with herself. She should have known she couldn't win against him by herself. "Why don't you just kill me then and get it over with?"
The Emperor turned quicker than Mara thought he could. "Oh no." He looked at her with more hatred than she thought possible, "I have something else in mind for you." He smiled at her, a strange look coming over him. "If he will not be turned, he will die. As will you. Either way, you are in for a long, painful night."
Mara started to protest but the Emperor just waved a hand and, as darkness claimed her, Mara's heart broke as she realized she had played right into the Emperor's hands and could very well be Luke's down fall.
TBC…