At point blank range
Part 8: Aftermath
By SJ (skyjade@globetrotter.net)
02-02-02/
________________
Disclaimers: Nothing in the Star Wars Universe belong to me; everything belongs to George Lucas. Also, everything related to the spoken parts of Heir to the Empire belongs to Timothy Zhan. I'm only borrowing it to make more sense with Mara's or Luke's missing thoughts (when we follow Luke's thoughts in the novel, this story will cover Mara's, and vice versa ;). Naturally, everything related to the events of Heir to the Empire also belong to T. Zhan. Please don't sue me, it's only for fun; I'm not making any money out of this.
See my homepage for more details.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/3702
Special thanks to my shy, secret beta-reader and best friend, Adrianne, for her help with the final editing of my new stories. Thanks for giving me some of your precious time, my friend :)
__________________
After the dust had settled on the main plaza of Hylliard City, Mara hadn't had much time to think about what had happened there. The moment that Karrde had joined her and the rebels, he had herded her away from Skywalker and put her in charge of getting the injured back to camp, then, once this had been done, had told her to oversee the evacuation procedures.
Hence, she had been unable to remain true to her promise of the previous night and keep Skywalker from returning to his friends.
As she watched the Millenium Falcon lift off with Skywalker's X-wing attached to it, she felt a twinge of anger burn in her chest, but it was short-lived and disappeared with a sigh of resignation.
With his presence amongst them being a public knowledge now, she conceded to herself that it would have been impossible to keep him stashed away as she had first meant to do. The men, especially those who had helped him escape, wouldn't have cooperated with her plan, and especially not Karrde. Thus, she would have had to leave the group... or to let 'him' go anyway.
Either way, she sighed in acceptance, she lost; however, the actual way of losing him was less costly than if she had had to leave Karrde's group. She had failed once again in her mission for the Emperor, but her master was dead, couldn't punish her anymore for her failure. On the other hand, had she left Karrde, she would have destroyed her potential future as a trader; she would have undoubtedly resumed being without much means of anything, no matter how much money she had saved.
Money could only buy so much... and certainly not the pride she felt at being a successful woman in command in Karrde's group.
Up ahead, the two ships finally turned on their main boosters and flew up and away from the forest.
She had managed to capture Skywalker, she reflected seriously, but this captivity had turned out to be full of surprises for her; she even had a new respect for her arch nemesis.
She also knew for sure that the Jedi had never been a cold killer. What he had told her about his past earlier in the morning had finally convinced her that he was a caring man.
She had also seen for herself that even powerless, he was resourceful. If he wanted, he could take a commanding place in the Republic that would be as prestigious as Vader's had been, or, she estimated, he could even easily supplant the government and rule in their place.
But no. That wasn't what Skywalker wanted, she admitted as her eyes continued to track the small, bright point that was the slowly disappearing ships in the higher atmosphere. What motivated the Jedi was to help the others and do what he could to make the galaxy a better place for everyone.
He was also aware of his limitations, that much he had revealed to her through his numerous hesitations when he had breached that subject. However, deep down, he wanted to make his visions of peace and justice come true, and unlike the Imperial values she had always supported, Skywalker's values were not backed by control and ruling.
They were backed by respect of differences and care.
Yes, now she knew all that about him, but, she hesitated slightly, it still didn't make any easier the fact that she had failed for the second time in regards of Skywalker's demise. Her old master had given her the same order twice before dying; he still haunted her mind when she wasn't on Myrkr. She had failed him today... she had failed him ever since she had walked into Karrde's office after they had captured the Jedi.
Normally, she would be boiling mad with anger and deep-seated hatred, but strangely, she admitted as she turned away from forest and returned to her barracks, she couldn't conjure up any of those feelings at the moment.
Not with their usual intensity anyway.
She did feel a twinge of anger, although it was thoroughly dissipated, and she always sneered slightly at the thought of Skywalker's disgusting goodness... but those two emotions were now very diffuse in her heart thanks to feelings she had never experienced before: confusion, doubt... and great interest.
Never in her life had she felt as she did at the moment, not even with her farmboy. Throughout the past years, everything and everyone had always been clear-cut, black and white, and mostly despiteful; no one had ever captured her interest the way that man, who inhabited her nightmares, did. Even worse, she wasn't entertaining only a cold interest or curiosity; instead, she was truly wondering what his tales had been hiding from her, if he were the same with the others or if it had been only with her, how he could be so gorgeous, and... how he could be as nice and kind as he seemed to be.
Even Solo, despite his friendship and his well-known union with Skywalker's sister, had come through to her as slightly rough on the edges... but not the Jedi. Even when she had been on the edge of killing him, he had been all smoothness and warmth... as was his body, which still haunted her memories.
All those strange thoughts truly puzzled her... and already affected her in ways she was most uncomfortable with.
Had the Jedi done something to her after all?, she wondered dimly while she shooed away her latest memories of the bathing man in the shadows...
Seconds later, she sighed to clear her mind of questions, then recovered her cooler composure and focused on her actual duty.
Karrde was counting on her to prepare the Starry Ice for hasty departure.
******
In transit to Sluis Van, Luke took Han's advice seriously and retired to his quarters to rest from his latest misadventure. However, he couldn't find sleep; his mind couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious woman who had just crossed his path.
He eventually sighed heavily and accepted that he liked her, no matter who or what she used to be.
From the foot of his bunk, his faithful droid swiveled its head at that and fluted a comment.
Luke smiled tiredly at the droid's worry about him; even though he had insisted that he would be safe in his quarters, his mechanical friend had been adamant about staying with him and keep him out of trouble.
"Yes, I'm fine," he reassured him. "I guess there's just too much on my mind at the moment," he admitted although he winced at his own words.
Normally, a Jedi shouldn't let his thoughts affect his need to rest like this, but it wasn't a normal situation, he reminded himself seriously.
He had been cut off from the Force for nearly a whole week, something that had never happened to him even when he had been untrained, then he had gotten to know a self-appointed assassin... whom he couldn't help but find captivating.
"I think we beat our record of sticky jams back there, Artoo, don't you think?" he tried to joke.
His droid agreed mirthlessly with him, then trundled closer to the head of the bunk until he could see his face.
"I can't stop thinking about Mara," Luke half-whispered truthfully, gently petting the head of his friend with his left hand. "I mean, I know she wants to kill me, and that trying to see her again would be suicidal, but,..." he slightly hesitated, then lifted himself on his elbow even as he turned himself on his side until he could gaze into Artoo's 'eye'. "Am I turning crazy or was she softening this morning?" he asked him earnestly.
Artoo took a moment to consider his question, then reluctantly agreed with him but instantly added that being saved from certain death might do this to even the most hardened of assassins.
"I know," Luke sighed once again, leaning back on his bunk and crossing his arms behind his head. "It might just have been an after effect of the adrenaline," he tried to reason with himself.
However, his heart continued to object to his rational explanations. No matter how many times she had wedged her blaster against his body, or all the venomous glares she had given him... "She saved my life, Artoo," he commented in the silence. "Why would she do that if she truly wanted me dead?"
His stout little friend couldn't answer anything to that, he seemed to hesitate before saying something.
"What?" Luke prompted him, getting back to his elbows. "What is on your mind?" he asked him although he knew that his droid didn't have a 'mind', only processors.
However, considering how much of a being his droid had become ever since he had first met him, he didn't have any problems with considering that he did have a mind of his own. He certainly thought for himself at any rate.
"Come on, Artoo," he prompted him. "Did you see something I didn't?"
After all, he reminded himself, he had mostly been turned away from Mara whereas Artoo had always been facing her... and had seen her in very peculiar situations like when she had used his heater to dry herself.
As if reaching the same conclusions, the droid began his explanation with a comment about being probably mistaken, but... he admitted, he had seen a wide range of expressions cross her face throughout the past four days...
"Would you say kinder expressions?" he asked him, now sitting half upright.
Artoo shook his head at that, but tentatively identified surprise, curiosity... and interest.
So he had been right, Luke smiled to himself as he lightly plopped back on the bunk and took a deep breath in happiness. Whatever had happened to Mara before they had met, meeting him for real had softened her dispositions toward him; he hadn't been deluding himself this morning.
Artoo whistled a grim warning at that, bringing him back to the present.
"Don't worry," he reassured him, "I won't try to see her again; she still wants to kill me."
However, he admitted to himself, it made a very important difference for him to know that he hadn't aggravated her while they had been together.
Perhaps, some day, their paths would cross again... and they would be on better terms than on Myrkr.
At least, he admitted to himself, 'he' hoped so.
Had fun, liked it? Hope so :)
2002, SJ (skyjade@globetrotter.net)
Any positive stuff is welcome, but any mean stuff will be thrown down the Sarlacc's throat without even being read.)
Part 8: Aftermath
By SJ (skyjade@globetrotter.net)
02-02-02/
________________
Disclaimers: Nothing in the Star Wars Universe belong to me; everything belongs to George Lucas. Also, everything related to the spoken parts of Heir to the Empire belongs to Timothy Zhan. I'm only borrowing it to make more sense with Mara's or Luke's missing thoughts (when we follow Luke's thoughts in the novel, this story will cover Mara's, and vice versa ;). Naturally, everything related to the events of Heir to the Empire also belong to T. Zhan. Please don't sue me, it's only for fun; I'm not making any money out of this.
See my homepage for more details.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/3702
Special thanks to my shy, secret beta-reader and best friend, Adrianne, for her help with the final editing of my new stories. Thanks for giving me some of your precious time, my friend :)
__________________
After the dust had settled on the main plaza of Hylliard City, Mara hadn't had much time to think about what had happened there. The moment that Karrde had joined her and the rebels, he had herded her away from Skywalker and put her in charge of getting the injured back to camp, then, once this had been done, had told her to oversee the evacuation procedures.
Hence, she had been unable to remain true to her promise of the previous night and keep Skywalker from returning to his friends.
As she watched the Millenium Falcon lift off with Skywalker's X-wing attached to it, she felt a twinge of anger burn in her chest, but it was short-lived and disappeared with a sigh of resignation.
With his presence amongst them being a public knowledge now, she conceded to herself that it would have been impossible to keep him stashed away as she had first meant to do. The men, especially those who had helped him escape, wouldn't have cooperated with her plan, and especially not Karrde. Thus, she would have had to leave the group... or to let 'him' go anyway.
Either way, she sighed in acceptance, she lost; however, the actual way of losing him was less costly than if she had had to leave Karrde's group. She had failed once again in her mission for the Emperor, but her master was dead, couldn't punish her anymore for her failure. On the other hand, had she left Karrde, she would have destroyed her potential future as a trader; she would have undoubtedly resumed being without much means of anything, no matter how much money she had saved.
Money could only buy so much... and certainly not the pride she felt at being a successful woman in command in Karrde's group.
Up ahead, the two ships finally turned on their main boosters and flew up and away from the forest.
She had managed to capture Skywalker, she reflected seriously, but this captivity had turned out to be full of surprises for her; she even had a new respect for her arch nemesis.
She also knew for sure that the Jedi had never been a cold killer. What he had told her about his past earlier in the morning had finally convinced her that he was a caring man.
She had also seen for herself that even powerless, he was resourceful. If he wanted, he could take a commanding place in the Republic that would be as prestigious as Vader's had been, or, she estimated, he could even easily supplant the government and rule in their place.
But no. That wasn't what Skywalker wanted, she admitted as her eyes continued to track the small, bright point that was the slowly disappearing ships in the higher atmosphere. What motivated the Jedi was to help the others and do what he could to make the galaxy a better place for everyone.
He was also aware of his limitations, that much he had revealed to her through his numerous hesitations when he had breached that subject. However, deep down, he wanted to make his visions of peace and justice come true, and unlike the Imperial values she had always supported, Skywalker's values were not backed by control and ruling.
They were backed by respect of differences and care.
Yes, now she knew all that about him, but, she hesitated slightly, it still didn't make any easier the fact that she had failed for the second time in regards of Skywalker's demise. Her old master had given her the same order twice before dying; he still haunted her mind when she wasn't on Myrkr. She had failed him today... she had failed him ever since she had walked into Karrde's office after they had captured the Jedi.
Normally, she would be boiling mad with anger and deep-seated hatred, but strangely, she admitted as she turned away from forest and returned to her barracks, she couldn't conjure up any of those feelings at the moment.
Not with their usual intensity anyway.
She did feel a twinge of anger, although it was thoroughly dissipated, and she always sneered slightly at the thought of Skywalker's disgusting goodness... but those two emotions were now very diffuse in her heart thanks to feelings she had never experienced before: confusion, doubt... and great interest.
Never in her life had she felt as she did at the moment, not even with her farmboy. Throughout the past years, everything and everyone had always been clear-cut, black and white, and mostly despiteful; no one had ever captured her interest the way that man, who inhabited her nightmares, did. Even worse, she wasn't entertaining only a cold interest or curiosity; instead, she was truly wondering what his tales had been hiding from her, if he were the same with the others or if it had been only with her, how he could be so gorgeous, and... how he could be as nice and kind as he seemed to be.
Even Solo, despite his friendship and his well-known union with Skywalker's sister, had come through to her as slightly rough on the edges... but not the Jedi. Even when she had been on the edge of killing him, he had been all smoothness and warmth... as was his body, which still haunted her memories.
All those strange thoughts truly puzzled her... and already affected her in ways she was most uncomfortable with.
Had the Jedi done something to her after all?, she wondered dimly while she shooed away her latest memories of the bathing man in the shadows...
Seconds later, she sighed to clear her mind of questions, then recovered her cooler composure and focused on her actual duty.
Karrde was counting on her to prepare the Starry Ice for hasty departure.
******
In transit to Sluis Van, Luke took Han's advice seriously and retired to his quarters to rest from his latest misadventure. However, he couldn't find sleep; his mind couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious woman who had just crossed his path.
He eventually sighed heavily and accepted that he liked her, no matter who or what she used to be.
From the foot of his bunk, his faithful droid swiveled its head at that and fluted a comment.
Luke smiled tiredly at the droid's worry about him; even though he had insisted that he would be safe in his quarters, his mechanical friend had been adamant about staying with him and keep him out of trouble.
"Yes, I'm fine," he reassured him. "I guess there's just too much on my mind at the moment," he admitted although he winced at his own words.
Normally, a Jedi shouldn't let his thoughts affect his need to rest like this, but it wasn't a normal situation, he reminded himself seriously.
He had been cut off from the Force for nearly a whole week, something that had never happened to him even when he had been untrained, then he had gotten to know a self-appointed assassin... whom he couldn't help but find captivating.
"I think we beat our record of sticky jams back there, Artoo, don't you think?" he tried to joke.
His droid agreed mirthlessly with him, then trundled closer to the head of the bunk until he could see his face.
"I can't stop thinking about Mara," Luke half-whispered truthfully, gently petting the head of his friend with his left hand. "I mean, I know she wants to kill me, and that trying to see her again would be suicidal, but,..." he slightly hesitated, then lifted himself on his elbow even as he turned himself on his side until he could gaze into Artoo's 'eye'. "Am I turning crazy or was she softening this morning?" he asked him earnestly.
Artoo took a moment to consider his question, then reluctantly agreed with him but instantly added that being saved from certain death might do this to even the most hardened of assassins.
"I know," Luke sighed once again, leaning back on his bunk and crossing his arms behind his head. "It might just have been an after effect of the adrenaline," he tried to reason with himself.
However, his heart continued to object to his rational explanations. No matter how many times she had wedged her blaster against his body, or all the venomous glares she had given him... "She saved my life, Artoo," he commented in the silence. "Why would she do that if she truly wanted me dead?"
His stout little friend couldn't answer anything to that, he seemed to hesitate before saying something.
"What?" Luke prompted him, getting back to his elbows. "What is on your mind?" he asked him although he knew that his droid didn't have a 'mind', only processors.
However, considering how much of a being his droid had become ever since he had first met him, he didn't have any problems with considering that he did have a mind of his own. He certainly thought for himself at any rate.
"Come on, Artoo," he prompted him. "Did you see something I didn't?"
After all, he reminded himself, he had mostly been turned away from Mara whereas Artoo had always been facing her... and had seen her in very peculiar situations like when she had used his heater to dry herself.
As if reaching the same conclusions, the droid began his explanation with a comment about being probably mistaken, but... he admitted, he had seen a wide range of expressions cross her face throughout the past four days...
"Would you say kinder expressions?" he asked him, now sitting half upright.
Artoo shook his head at that, but tentatively identified surprise, curiosity... and interest.
So he had been right, Luke smiled to himself as he lightly plopped back on the bunk and took a deep breath in happiness. Whatever had happened to Mara before they had met, meeting him for real had softened her dispositions toward him; he hadn't been deluding himself this morning.
Artoo whistled a grim warning at that, bringing him back to the present.
"Don't worry," he reassured him, "I won't try to see her again; she still wants to kill me."
However, he admitted to himself, it made a very important difference for him to know that he hadn't aggravated her while they had been together.
Perhaps, some day, their paths would cross again... and they would be on better terms than on Myrkr.
At least, he admitted to himself, 'he' hoped so.
Had fun, liked it? Hope so :)
2002, SJ (skyjade@globetrotter.net)
Any positive stuff is welcome, but any mean stuff will be thrown down the Sarlacc's throat without even being read.)