Chapter Three

By: Drama_Princess87

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Dedicated to the fans and other wonderful StarFantasy members! ^.^

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As Mara stared in shock at the imposing figure, she felt her heartbeat accelerate.

"No! You're dead! I felt you die...Skywalker killed you," she whispered hoarsely. "YOU'RE DEAD!"

Bolting upright, Mara sat in her bed, the distant stars spilling light through the porthole and over her coverlet. Lifting one pale hand, she pushed back a lock of crimson hair from her sweat dampened brow, trying to catch her breath.

It was just a dream… just a dream. She told herself, falling back on a Jedi relaxation technique to still her racing heart.

Looking over, she saw Ben sleeping peacefully in his crib. Letting out a sigh, she stood from the bed and walked over to him, wrapping her robe around her as she went. Gazing down, a small smile graced her usually impassive features, and she pulled up his blanket, tucking it more securely around him.

"You look just like Skywalker." she whispered down to her son. As if he heard her, he turned in his sleep and gurgled softly.

Remembering the conversation she had had with Han earlier that day, Mara stretched out with her mind, searching for her husband's presence in the Force. After a moment, or perhaps an eternity, she gave a sharp jerk of her head, swearing softly under her breath. There was nothing.

Grabbing a pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt, she dressed quickly, tying her long hair back into a braid. Taking one last look at Ben, she walked briskly into the other room and pulled out her comlink.

"Antilles." Came a weary voice from the other end.

"Iella, I'm sorry to bother you like this, but could you watch Ben for me for a little while?"

"Sure Mara. Is something wrong?" Iella asked, sounding worried for her friend.

"No. Something just came up that can't wait." Mara replied, her hands reflexively clenching by her side.

"I know you Mara. It's never 'just something' with you." There was a tinny sigh. "Just let me know if you need help, ok?"

Mara smiled, despite herself. It was times like this, when she realized just how many friends she had, that she also realized all that she had missed out on as a child.

"I will, Iella. And thanks."

Clicking off the comlink, she walked back into the bedroom and gathered up her son, careful not to wake him, and left their quarters.

*****

As Mara walked into the hanger bay, she spotted a familiar pair of legs sticking out from under the Falcon. Smirking, she made her way silently over to the ship and crouched down so that she could see underneath more clearly.

"SOLO!" She yelled, her voice echoing around the empty hanger bay.

A loud bang was heard from under the ship, along with a muffled curse, as the owner of the legs made his way out from under the ship, one hand on his aching head. He took one look at her and groaned.

"I should have known it was you Mara. Why aren't you in your quarters terrorizing your own family? I'm sure Luke would love to see you." He grumbled, picking up the hydrospanner he had dropped when she startled him.

Frowning, Mara leaned against the side of the ancient ship.

"That's why I'm here Han. I can't sense Luke anywhere in the Force."

Han looked up at her quickly. "Are you sure?"

Mara resisted the urge to glare at him, and nodded. "I've tried everything I can think of to sense him. He's nowhere in this system."

"It could be that he's near one of those ysalamiri creatures." Mara shook her head.

"If that were the case, I would have sensed a bubble of Force negative space when I searched."

Han put down the hydrospanner, sighing. Running a hand through his salt and pepper hair, he looked every bit his 53 years. This war with the Vong had already claimed all but one of his children, and now he had lost the rest of his family to some... thing.

"What do we do now?" he asked wearily.

Han felt a hand on his shoulder. As he looked up, his tired eyes met Mara's fierce gaze.

"We get them back." She softly replied, steel resounding in her words.

*****

Luke and Leia desperately looked for a place to hide. The troopers would be marching down the hallway any minute. Jaina felt her heart racing as the troopers approached. We've got to get out of here, she thought, desperately searching, when she suddenly spotted an open door a short way down the hall.

"Mom, Uncle Luke, over here!"

Grabbing her mother's hand, Jaina sprinted down the hall. Darting into the room, she turned to see her uncle close the door. Holding their breath, they could feel as well as hear the stormtroopers passing the door, their steps a steady beat on down the hall.

"What do we do now?" Leia asked, her soft voice breaking the stillness of the room.

Turning around, Luke took his sister in his arms, comfortingly and looked over her head at Jaina, his voice firm.

"We wait."

*****

"So, what's your plan Mara?" Han asked as they exited the hanger bay.

"Well, I haven't figured out a plan yet. But Iella's watching Ben, so we can work on this for a while yet." Mara said, easily matching Han's long strides. She let out a sigh. "Honestly, I don't know what to do, but if we don't work fast, there will be nothing left to do. I don't suppose you have any ideas?"

"No." Han replied shortly. Walking in silence, they came upon a door. "What's this?"

"This is Jaina's meditation room that Wedge gave her. Luke was using it the last time anyone saw or heard from him. I'm hoping to find a few clues."

Stepping forward, Mara entered the security code. As the doors slid open, Mara thought about her husband. You'd better come back to me alive Farmboy, or I'll kill you.

*****

"Are you sure it's safe, Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked, standing up in the darkened room. She felt, rather than saw him nod.

"I no longer sense them." As Luke rose up to open the door, his elbow brushed a switch. Suddenly, the room was bathed in light. "What the…?"

The room was revealed to be some kind of communications/conference center. In the center of the room was a round table with several chairs, one of which Jaina had been sitting in. A large counter was placed along the back, with several screens spread along the back wall. Large and small buttons and dials were distributed on top of the counter.

As Leia walked up to the back console, she saw a small blinking red button on the counter. Reaching over with one hesitant hand, she pressed the button. Suddenly, a familiar face filled the screens.

"Luke!" Leia called out hoarsely, one hand clutching at her throat. She was really beginning to hate this place, wherever they were. It held too many unpleasant surprises.

As he turned to look at her, Jaina sucked in one quick breath. "Mom… is that?"

Too numb, Leia could only nod.

*****

"Damn it! I can't find anything!" Han's voice broke the uneasy silence as he slammed his hand down onto a table.

"Han," Mara grit out, trying to keep her cool, "If you don't be quiet, I won't be able to access the Force and find out what the hell is going on. Now, if you would so kindly, shut up!"

"Sorry." Han muttered, calming the Jedi, and Mara let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm just worried about Skywalker and Jaina and…"

"I know. I am too. I'll just sit her quietly. Why don't you try to access the Force again."

Sitting down, Mara opened herself to the Force. Trying to calm her frantic heart, she focused and searched for Luke's Force-signature. Suddenly, she was transported to the place of her dream.

She was standing in the middle of a hallway, looking at pillars of marble. I feel like I've been here before, she thought, her eyes scouring the deserted place for signs of life. Suddenly she could feel Luke and the girls nearby. Looking around quickly, to be sure she hadn't been spotted, Mara made her way toward her family's presence.

Turning a corner, she spotted a group of troopers standing at attention. Ducking down, she watched them carefully. After interminable minutes, she decided to take her chances and crept out toward them. By the time she stood right in front of them, she had come to the conclusion that they could not see her for some unknown reason. Not one to look a gift right in the face, she boldly made her way through the door.

Inside, Mara saw Luke and Leia standing by a table, with Jaina standing by the door, her eyes scanning the room. Luke seemed to be comforting Leia, but other than that, the three of them seemed fine. Turning, she was about to leave when she felt a strong disturbance coming from down the hallway. Curious, Mara followed it, curving her way through the intricate maze of hallways.

As she walked through a large archway, she came upon a series of immense doors, each with a symbol carved over it. Looking at them, she remembered a time long ago, when she hadn't been Mara Jade Skywalker. A time when she had been… the Emperor's Hand. Reaching up, she traced each of the carvings, with mixed feelings of reverence and revulsion.

Stretching out with the Force, she felt the disturbance more clearly, and turned toward it, facing the largest of the doors. Reaching out her hand, she felt the cool metal of the door handle. Pushing it open, she stepped through…

and caught her breath.

*****

Han's eyes scanned the room, still searching for the tiniest of clues. Sighing, he turned to ask Mara a question when he stopped at the sight of her. She was poised perfectly still, her eyes closed and her breathing calculated. Her arms lay folded at in her lap as her legs remained motionless, crossed in the lotus position. Han walked over to her and stared intently. If she hadn't been breathing, he would have mistaken her for dead. Laying a hand on her arm drew no response. Shaking his head, he moved to sit back down, when he heard her gasp.

*****

Walking over to her mother, Jaina clasped Leia's hand as the screen flickered to life. Luke felt his heart freeze as he stood next to Leia, his eyes riveted to the screen. A familiar image came onto the screen, as a loud mechanical breathing fell on their ears.

"Luke, I hope this finds you well. Leia and I have arrived on Alderaan, and we are to begin negotiations soon." Darth Vader's voice seemed to fill the room. Leia quivered at the mention of her name, and Luke swallowed hard as he squeezed her shoulder.

"We should have no trouble getting Organa and the planet to surrender. We have suffered a malfunction to the ship, so tell your mother that we will be delayed in returning. In the meantime, there is something I want you to look into. I felt a disturbance in the Force before we left. If it is still there be on your guard, and find out what it is. I'll expect a return message immediately. I want to know what you did about the Emperor's traitorous Hand." Luke felt his heart constrict as he remembered the dead body of this universe's Mara.

As quickly as the message had begun, it was over. As Vader's familiar face faded from view, Luke sat down heavily. Looking up at her mom, Jaina's head spun.

"So that's grandpa." She said, her voice heavy with irony.

Leia's eyes filled with tears as she thought of Alderaan, Bail Organa, and the father she barely knew except as a Sith Lord. Luke shook his head.

"No. Our father died before we were even born. That was the man who killed him. That is Darth Vader." he said, voice heavy with sadness.

*****

Mara's eyes widened as she saw many troopers and officers walking around. This must be a command center, she mused as she walked into the immense room. Looking around, she found no sign of a high-ranking officer. Coming up behind a random soldier, she looked over his shoulder at the console he was working at. The information she saw shocked her.

Negotiations for the surrender of Alderaan? What was going on? Blinking, she resisted the urge to rub her eyes, and re-read the information. It remained as it was.

Stormtroopers roaming the halls, Alderaan still in one piece? What other surprises could she expect here? Shaking her head, Mara walked away from the trooper. Seeing another door at the far end of the room, she walked up to it and looked behind her. Mentally shaking her head as she remembered that no one could see her, she made her way across the room.

That same strange glimmer in the Force seemed to be right ahead of her. She felt drawn to it. She knew she had to see what was in that room. Stepping up to the door, she paused, suddenly unsure if she was prepared for what lay behind the door.

Oh, get on with it she chided herself, and keyed the door, stepping through as it slid into the walls. What she saw made her stop, breath catching in her throat.

*****

Han sat down next to Mara's motionless form. She had gasped before, but her breathing had since evened out again. He sighed, looking around the room again. It was extremely boring waiting for Mara to return from, well, wherever she had gone. All these Jedi matters still confused and perplexed him. It still irked him sometimes when his family knew things before he did, all because of the Force. This wasn't the first time Han wished he could be a Jedi just for one day to see what all the fuss was about.

His mental rantings were put on hold when he heard Mara catch her breath. Moving closer, he waited for her to speak or move.

"Oh my… it can't be!" she breathed harshly.

*****

Mara's hand reached up to cover her mouth as she spoke.

"Oh my… it can't be." Her emerald eyes widened as she saw... herself. Mara's own body lay in the middle of the room. She was dead. Taking a step back, she swallowed hard and forced herself to focus on what else was in the room. Or rather, who.

It was Luke. But it wasn't her Luke. This Luke looked different and was dressed all in black with an evil sneer on his face. This Luke reeked of the Dark Side.

He leaned down and sneered at Mara's dead body.

"Stupid whore. I knew when I first met you that you weren't qualified to be the Emperor's Hand. It was my greatest pleasure killing you. I only wish I could have do it again. This time more slowly so you could experience even more pain."

Glaring at her, he kicked her twice in the ribs. Mara reflexively covered her own chest, watching herself be kicked.

Luke's eyes rose as he prepared to kick her body again, but sensing something foreign in the room, he stopped. Looking forward, his eyes widen and his mouth gaped. One shaking hand rose as he pointed straight at Mara's heart.

"You."

*****


The viewing screen in the darkened room dimmed as the fading image of Lord Vader vanished from the screen. A shadowy figure reached out one hand to press a button. The image popped back on the screen as the message repeated itself.

"Luke, I hope this finds you well. Leia and I have arrived on Alderaan, and we are to begin negotiations soon. We should have no trouble getting Organa and the planet to surrender. We have suffered a malfunction to the ship, so tell your mother that we will be delayed in returning. In the meantime, there is something I want you to look into. I felt a disturbance in the Force before we left. If it is still there be on your guard, and find out what it is. I'll expect a return message immediately. I want to know what you did about the Emperor's traitorous Hand." "

Stepping forward, the shadowy figure pressed another button. A computerized voice echoed that the message had been deleted. Turning, the figure stood to leave. Looking over its shoulder, it stared at the dimmed screen.

"Leia did not return." The quiet voice echoed off the walls of the room as the mysterious figure walked out, it's purpose unknown.