DISCLAIMER: I don't own Star Wars, they belong to Mr. Lucas and I have made
no money- I've only earned a little bit of fun. :)
Warning: Mara does get a little bit emotional in this one- so she might not exactly be in synch with what the official people do with her.
--
Chapter Four
Mara slowed down and worked to get her bearings. The collapsed walls and piles of junk that littered the passageway made it difficult to figure out if she was in indeed in front of her docking bay and hence her ship. Mara glanced up and down, trying to find some type of landmark that would tell her if she was truly where she wanted to be. She found it, by spotting a piece of graffiti that said. 'Death to Humorzio.' Mara didn't know or care who or what Humorzio was; it just told her that the bay door was to the immediate left of the writing.
With very keen eyes, Mara was able to find the line that marked out the entrance to her ship and hopefully help. She instructed Chrika to step back and drew the lightsaber that Skywalker had given her two years ago. Making short work with the weapon, Mara opened a hole that was large enough to allow the two women to pass.
Mara entered first and did a quick survey of the docking bay. She could tell right away that her ship wasn't going anywhere. The back was crushed by concrete that had fallen and it looked as if the glass for the cockpit window was shattered. Mara sighed and walked forward slowly, the door to the ship looked as if it was in working order and when she pressed for it to open it did, but only a quarter of the way.
"Chrika, come over here and help me get this open."
Mara glanced back at the young woman, she had been quiet since their last conversation. Not the kind that Mara had put up with when she first met her, but the kind of someone deep in thought or a realization had struck them. Mara thought it was the latter and knew how it felt. The Emperor had played his own mind games with her and she had to admit that she herself was angry at him for doing that to her. She just needed someone, like Skywalker, to open her eyes and see what the Emperor had really done to her. Mara guessed that what she was doing for Chrika, Skywalker had done for her. 'Mara Jade- the savior.' In all honesty, she thought it was funny. She had never thought that she would have played that type of role in her life.
Chrika pried open one side of the door open, while Mara worked on the other. After a half-hour struggle the two got it open and Mara stepped inside. She was relieved when she found that the comm station wasn't smashed and looked like it would work. Mara started making her way to it, hopping over some fallen equipment. "Chrika, bring that battery over here."
Chrika walked over and placed the battery at Mara's feet, stepping back to stay out of the way.
After a quick glance Mara knew what she would have to do and it wouldn't take long. Hopefully the Imperials in the spaceport would be too busy someplace else to come along this way. Rewiring a couple of connections and hooking the battery up to increase power she was soon able to get a signal. She adjusted it to one of Karrde's emergency frequencies and started to send out a message asking for help.
"Alpha-Delta this is Beta-Nero. Do you copy?"
A relieved voice immediately came over the station. "I've been waiting for hours!!" Mara thought it was one of Karrde's new crewmembers. "I'll get Alpha-Delta right away."
The reason that Mara had not used her and Karrde's name was obvious. There were Imperials in the sector and she didn't want them to know who had survived the blast. Especially if they were after her in the first place.
Mara waited for a few tense seconds and hoped that the Imperials would be too dumb to notice that there was a transmission going on and wouldn't be able to pinpoint it. She'd move after this transmission anyway- just in case.
Karrade's calm voice filtered through. "Beta-Nero. are you all right?"
"A little bruising." she didn't want the Imperials to know the real nature of her condition. It was best to leave them guessing if they were listening in.
"Is there anyone else alive?"
"Affirmative." Again she didn't give any elaborate details.
Karrade paused a moment and it sounded like he was talking to someone else. "I have an escort ready to pick you up. Rendezvous at seven-nine-two- two," which just meant one of the main entrances, "escort will be there in half an hour," which actually meant one hour.
Mara would have to rely on Karrade that where he instructed them to go was accessible for a craft to come in. and that it wasn't open to space. She couldn't help but ask a question. "Who's the escort."
Again Karrade paused and she swore he was smiling. "An old friend."
She tensed when she heard the word 'friend'. It only meant one thing and that was Skywalker along with Solo. She would never live this one down and she'd never forgive Karrade either- he was doing this on purpose.
Mara signed off and began a quick search of her ship to see if there was anything that she should bring with her. She found another medkit and since that one had bandages and bacta in it, she didn't feel afraid to use some of the other 'kit's accessories on her leg.
Chrika watched her silently and got up when Mara told her to. It was time to move to the rendezvous.
***
After a quick run through of her mental map of the spaceport, Mara turned towards the 'rescue' point- thankfully away from the Imperials. She glanced back at Chrika and saw that she was following her. Her head cast down as if she were ashamed. Mara felt a stab of sympathy towards the young woman and wanted to do something for her, something that Mara had never in her life thought of doing before. She just didn't know how to start.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Chrika looked up, startled and slowly nodded.
"Why are you so angry at me for leaving the Empire?"
Chrika slowed her walking and Mara stopped to wait for her. She wanted to be right next to her, she didn't know why.
"I guess it was because when I was little I looked up to you. I wanted to be you."
Mara snorted. "Why?"
Chrika shrugged. "You always seemed to know what you were doing. Nothing scared you. And you were beautiful and you seemed like you knew a lot about the world." Chrika laughed a little. "Do you remember Lord Gribun?"
Mara slowly nodded her head. He was a very large, obnoxious and wealthy man. Someone Mara deeply despised during her time in the Emperor's court.
Chrika continued. "I remember when you were part of the entertainment at one of the courts functions. Lord Gribun wanted a private dance and started to harass you. when he tried to touch you, you just turned around and twisted his arm. He fell on his knees and started balling like a baby."
Mara felt a slight smile tug at her lips. She did remember that and was glad that she had done it. After that episode Lord Gribun never touched or harassed a woman in the Emperor's court. Listening to what Mara had told him. 'Never let me see you touch, speak or look at a woman that doesn't want your attention. If I do see it, I'll make sure that you won't be able to touch, speak or look at a woman.'
Chrika continued laughing. "I hated that man! But my father told me never to act that way. ever. I so wanted to be the one who did that to him. He just gave me this really awful feeling whenever he looked at me."
Mara continued on a little in silence. "What are you going to do now?"
Chrika shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I could go waitress at another restaurant. There's nothing else much for me to do. Belonging to the Emperor Palpatine's court doesn't exactly get you very far in life right now."
"Well, what sort of stuff were you good at."
Chrika thought a bit. "My father said I was always good at negotiating and reading people. I used to sit in on his meetings and tell him what I thought about a proposed deal and stuff like that. My father's business always worked out for the better when I told him what I thought. I guess I was his lucky charm."
Mara was silent for a while. What kind of negotiations?"
"Anything- trade, equipment, investments. I researched on some of the stuff my father was interested in. So I guess that I know a little about everything."
Again Mara was silent for a while. She stopped them for a bit just to get her bearings. They were near the rendezvous point and Mara spotted the entrance to the bay. It was caved in a bit, but a person could slide through with little trouble.
Mara pointed to the entrance. "That's it." She walked over and started to make her way into the bay and almost fell on her head when she reached the other side. She gave a warning to Chrika to watch the last little bit. It was high up and ended rather abruptly. Mara glanced down at her knee and saw that her little tumble had opened the wound again. She found a place to sit and applied a thin layer of the synth-flesh to it.
Chrika made her way through the opening and landed with a little more dignity than Mara had. She glanced around. "It's not as bad in here as the other places." She glanced out the viewport. "There's a bunch of ships out there. do you know which one is coming to pick us up?"
Mara nodded. "It's the one that looks like it's gonna fall apart." She glanced at her chrono. "They're not going to be here for at least another 20 minutes." She patted beside her. "Have a seat."
Chrika looked a little bewildered at the suggestion, but sat down beside Mara anyway. Mara too was surprised at her invitation. But didn't let it show.
They sat in silence for a bit, each trying to look like they were busy with something. Even though there was nothing to keep busy with.
"What's the New Republic like?"
Mara was a little caught off guard with the question. "Complex, big and noisy."
"But is it better than the Empire?"
Mara sighed. "A lot of ways yes, in fact the majority yes. Of course there's a whole bunch of bickering in-systems and even in the Senate. But people get a voice in how they want things done and I think they're happier being able to shout and call each other names rather than being bombarded with turbolasers and stormtroopers beating them."
Chrika nodded. "How long did it take you to see that?"
"A long time. And it doesn't mean that you should have the same view as well. It's all right to be a critic of something, but so long as you can support it."
"I think I've always known that the Rebellion and now the New Republic was right in why they wanted things to change."
"Why didn't you follow through on it."
"I wasn't brave enough. Looking back now, I was always the follower and never questioned anything. I wish I had now."
Mara smiled and squeezed the young woman's shoulder. "It's never too late to start." She paused a bit. "I think I might be able to arrange a job for you."
Chrika's eyes glanced at her in surprise.
"I can't say yes now, but I could talk to my boss when we get out of here and I think I can arrange for you to be one of our crew members. It won't be easy, 'cause we do a lot of traveling and you'd probably have to learn some extra stuff, like flying ships and how to shoot a blaster."
Chrika giggled. "I've always wanted to shoot a blaster and anything that you could do for me would be enough, even if I didn't get a job."
"Don't mention it." Mara said gruffly.
They talked more, about Chrika's life and Mara's. Both were a little cautious about revealing anything significant about their past, but Mara was surprisingly having fun talking about her old court days. There was some stuff that she missed, but most of it she didn't. Mara was happy with her life right now and didn't want to turn back to her old ways.
Glancing at her chrono, Mara stated. "They should be here soon."
"Who's they?"
Mara made a face. "Acquaintances."
Chrika pressed on. "Who?"
"Han Solo and Luke Skywalker." Mara snarled the last name.
The young woman's eyes shot up. "The *Han Solo* and the *Luke Skywalker*?"
"Unfortunately." Mara turned to the woman. "Don't make such a big deal about it. they're men just the same."
Chrika looked uncertain. "But what do I tell them? What if they ask who I am and what I did?"
Mara shrugged. "Don't. I'm sure there's stuff they won't tell you. Do it only if you think it's the best thing."
Chrika got up and started to pace. "What if they figure it out and decide to jettison me out the ship?"
Mara rolled her eyes. "They won't." Her leg started to pound again.
"But Luke Skywalker's a Jedi! He'll read my mind and figure me out." She started wringing her hands together.
"Despite what Imperial propaganda has put out. Skywalker is not someone who runs around prying into people's minds." Mara secretly wished he did, it would give her a reason to hate him.
Chrika stopped and looked at Mara uncertainly. "You sure?"
Mara nodded and shifted her leg, trying to get comfortable again.
"Let me look at that." Chrika knelt down and Mara allowed her to look at her knee. She got the medkit out again and started to put more synth- flesh on it.
"Don't do that. We might need it later."
Chrika shook her head, "You even said that they'd be here soon, so you won't need it." She started applying the stuff to Mara's leg and spoke quietly. "I'm sorry for what I said before."
"About me dying?"
Chrika nodded.
Mara shrugged. "Don't think about it. I get lots of those and I'd be surprised if I didn't hear it at least once a day."
"I still shouldn't have said it. I won't have known the first thing to do to get out of here. I'd probably still be in the café waited for someone to pick me up. I'm not really up-to-date with survival skills."
Mara shrugged. "In my line of work you get used to it. It's something I'd have to know. You didn't have the same life as me."
Chrika shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I should have known what to do. I've been dependant on people all my life."
"We can change that." Mara told her. She cocked her head to where the 'door' was. And motioned for Chrika to be quiet.
Chrika nodded and quickly put the medkit away. "What is it?" she whispered.
Mara nodded her head to the door. "Someone's coming." She glanced at her chrono and fervently hoped that Solo and Skywalker would get there soon. Looking around for cover, she pointed to a pile of canisters. "Get behind those."
Chrika nodded and quickly made her way to where Mara indicated, being careful to make as little noise as possible.
Mara got up slowly and hobbled to the opening. There was more than a someone, it sounded like a group of them. They were talking and Mara could hear the metallic click of boots hitting the floor. She didn't want or need to guess. They were stormtroopers and they were close.
Above the opening Mara saw a bunch of rubble that looked ready to collapse. She'd bring that down if worse came to worse. But not now, it would draw more unwanted attention that was not needed.
She glanced down at her chrono. Solo should be here by now. She glanced behind her and saw a ship that was heading directly towards them. Hopefully it would be their ride.
Taking out one of her blasters she limped over to where Chrika was hiding. "There's stormtroopers out there." She paused. "You can go to them if you like." She studied the woman's face and waited for an answer.
Chrika shook her head. "You've shown me what they're really like. I don't want to be apart of something evil like the Empire."
Mara nodded her head and gave her the blaster, taking another one out and holding it herself. "You don't have to shoot them. I know it'll be hard for you. But please just try to buy us some time to catch our ride."
Chrika slowly nodded and held the blaster like it was going to bite her. "I've never used one before."
"Just point and shoot." Mara looked out to space again and saw that the vessel coming towards them was indeed the *Falcon*, it would land in seconds. Mara pointed to it and whispered. "That's our ride there. Hopefully the Imperials will move on and not bother with this place."
Voices rose outside their area and Mara cursed when she heard the order for them to move in. Either they were being very meticulous or they'd been alerted to a craft that wanted to get into the bay.
The *Falcon* itself seemed to be having problems, three TIEs were swarming around it and taking potshots. It drew near to the opening and was soon settling in the bay. The TIEs waiting for them outside.
Mara hoisted Chrika up. "Our ride's here." And shoved her over to the *Falcon*. She turned around and saw that the first of the stormtroopers were climbing through the opening and thought that caving in the hole was as good as time as any. She raised her blaster and shot the overhanging debris and watched as it plunged down on the invading force.
The *Falcon's* ramp lowered and Luke came out with his lightsaber drawn and hurried over to her. "Nice to see you Mara."
Mara grunted. "Same to you." She *was* genuinely happy to see him.
Luke's eyes grew wide and pushed her down, igniting his lightsaber at the same time. Blaster bolts filled the air, Luke doing his best to cover them. He shoved Mara behind the canisters that Chrika and her had shared before.
Mara sat up and peeked over their cover and glanced at the troopers flooding into the bay- apparently her little cave-in hadn't done the trick.
"What did you do to make them so angry?" Luke questioned.
"Nothing!" She hissed. "Well. besides deserting the Empire and still being alive. nothing else."
Luke grunted and looked around. "Who's that?"
Mara looked to where he was pointing and saw Chrika hiding behind a flipped over table that was halfway to the *Falcon's* ramp. "What the hell is she doing? I told her to get to the *Falcon*!"
Chrika couldn't even move, because of her small hiding space. Mara didn't even think the Imperials knew she was hiding there. But there was so much going on that she didn't dare poke her head up to look around. She saw her wince when a blaster bolt went 'ting' just above her head.
"We have to help her."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you the Good Samaritan?"
"I am not heartless and shut up! You do that little Jedi lightsaber thing and cover me. We'll all go and get to the *Falcon*."
Luke nodded and they moved on three. Standing up, Mara shot and Luke blocked the blaster bolts that followed wherever they moved.
They reached Chrika and Mara grabbed her, pulling her towards better cover and closer to the *Falcon's* ramp. They slumped down behind a pile of concrete rubble.
"Are you all right?"
Chrika shakily nodded her head.
Mara turned to Luke again. "Why doesn't Solo blast-"
The underbelly of the ship opened fire on the troopers and they watched as the people in white started falling over the place.
"You were saying?" Luke smirked at her. He turned to Chrika and hauled her up. "Come on. While they're distracted." He shoved her towards the ship and then turned to Mara. "Ladies first." He smiled.
Mara grunted and slowly got up. Her knee was really hurting, the run over had seriously done something to it.
Luke frowned and looked down at it. "Can you make it?"
"How much do you want to bet?" she put up a brave face, but inside her body was cursing her in every language to sit down.
Luke nodded slowly and wrapped an arm around her. Mara started to protest, but he started to carry her to the ship before she could even start.
Chrika waited for them at the bottom of the ramp and turned to hold Mara on her other side. Instead of immediately carry Mara, she drew her blaster and fired.
"I shot him." she mumbled and glanced at the blaster in her hand.
Mara glanced back and saw a fresh body laying 10 feet from where they stood, a smoking hole in between the eyes. "A good shot too."
Chrika slowly looked at her and lowered the blaster. "I didn't mean to."
Luke started hauling Mara up the ramp and yelled at Chrika to follow. Mara already felt the ramp lifting and the *Falcon* drifting in the air. Solo was a very impatient man.
Chrika stepped forward and then threw herself at Mara. "Watch out!" she knocked Mara down flat on the ramp and Mara watched as Luke again ignited his lightsaber and blocked shots that were coming in from the side.
The ramp closed and the *Falcon* immediately took off for open space.
"KID!" Mara recognized it as Han's voice. "Get your Jedi butt up to the gun turret!"
Mara sat up and caught a glimpse of Luke heading towards the gunner compartments. She could hear Han and the Wookiee Chewbacca cursing and howling in the cockpit.
She wanted to get up and help, but her leg refused to move. She reluctantly gave up and looked down at Chrika.
"Hey Chrika, we made it." She crawled over to the young woman and rolled her over.
Mara gave an audible gasp when she saw what she had come to think of as friend. Her stomach was smoldering from a blaster wound and the stench it gave off was terrible, Mara felt like retching.
Chrika's face was pale and she slowly opened her eyes. "I think it's all right. I've never been shot before. somehow I thought it would hurt more."
Mara gazed sadly down at her friend. No one would be able to survive a wound like that. Not a chance. Chrika's body shuddered and Mara felt her eyes starting to moisten. The ship rocked from a hit and alarms started shrieking from the cockpit.
"Almost there!! Luke vap that TIE!" Han swore and pulled a hard maneuver right. "Damn tourists!"
Chewbacca roared and Mara thought it sounded like agreement.
"Buckle up kids!! We're going hyper!"
Mara grabbed onto the nearest solid thing and held on to it and Chrika. The hyperspace pull ended and no more shaking occurred in the ship. Mara knew that they were safely in hyperspace.
Looking back down at Chrika, Mara's throat tightened and she felt tears running down her cheeks. Chrika's breathing was becoming more erratic and she felt cold to the touch.
Mara glanced up when she heard someone enter the room. Chewbacca stood over hear and meowed a question.
"I need a medkit." Mara mumbled. She knew that it wouldn't do anything for Chrika, but she needed to do something to try to help.
Chewbacca wordlessly left the common area.
Chrika gave another shudder. "It's so cold on this ship." Her voice was raspy and her eyes wandered about her. She gave a slight smile. "This is the *Millennium Falcon*?"
Mara nodded her head.
"I always wondered what it was like in here." Chrika's breath caught in her throat and she coughed, shaking her entire body when she did so.
A medkit was placed beside Mara and she wordlessly opened it up. Taking out bacta patches and other medical equipment. She started applying the medicine to Chrika and stopped when she asked a question.
"Did you make it?"
Mara's heart broke when she heard 'you'. Chrika knew she was going to die, but Mara didn't have the heart to tell her. "We made it." She corrected.
Chrika shook her head and coughed again. She tried to push Mara's hand away from her wound. "That's not gonna help and you know it."
Mara didn't stop what she was doing. "Thank you Chrika. you saved my life."
Chrika shook her head. "You saved *me* more than I saved you. It's I that should be thanking you." She started coughing again. "You made me see straight."
Mara brought her friend close and hugged her. "It was an honor to meet you." She whispered. "You taught me a great deal too."
Mara held her for a long time and felt her cheeks dampen with tears, something that she had not done in a long time.
She felt a heavy paw on her shoulder and she glanced over to see Chewie's brown eyes filled with concern. He groaned something.
"Chewie says that we should look at your knee." Han's voice came from behind her.
Mara shook her head, she didn't want to move and she didn't want to talk to anyone. Looking down at her Chrika, she saw that she wasn't breathing anymore and the light in her eyes had disappeared. Mara let out an uncontrollable sob and lowered her head again. "I'm so sorry." She whispered.
Someone came and sat on her other side and she felt another hand on her shoulder and arm. "Mara. she's not here with us anymore. we have to take care of your leg."
Mara saw Luke sitting beside and quickly tried to wipe away her tears. "My legs fine!" she hissed.
Luke shook his head. "No it's not." He slowly told her. "You can't do anything else for her Mara. and it's okay to cry." He gently unwrapped her arms around Chrika's body. "We'll take care of her."
Han stepped forward with a blanket and covered Chrika. "We'll make arrangements for her when we get back to Coruscant."
Luke guided her over to a couch and made her sit down. He worked quickly on her leg and dressed it with clean bandages. "May I ask who she was?"
Mara nodded. "She was a friend."
--- Writer's blurb: I know that 'crying Mara' isn't really the norm in the Expanded Universe, but. she's gotta let loose a couple of times!! Do they think she's made out of stone?? I also know that someone like Chrika could turn from one attitude to the next (Empire to New Republic), but I also know that it being that fast may not entirely be feasible. but it could happen. Again, I'm sorry for anything Star Wars'y' that I didn't use right. I like Star Wars, but I don't know everything about it. PS. Reviews are good ;P
Warning: Mara does get a little bit emotional in this one- so she might not exactly be in synch with what the official people do with her.
--
Chapter Four
Mara slowed down and worked to get her bearings. The collapsed walls and piles of junk that littered the passageway made it difficult to figure out if she was in indeed in front of her docking bay and hence her ship. Mara glanced up and down, trying to find some type of landmark that would tell her if she was truly where she wanted to be. She found it, by spotting a piece of graffiti that said. 'Death to Humorzio.' Mara didn't know or care who or what Humorzio was; it just told her that the bay door was to the immediate left of the writing.
With very keen eyes, Mara was able to find the line that marked out the entrance to her ship and hopefully help. She instructed Chrika to step back and drew the lightsaber that Skywalker had given her two years ago. Making short work with the weapon, Mara opened a hole that was large enough to allow the two women to pass.
Mara entered first and did a quick survey of the docking bay. She could tell right away that her ship wasn't going anywhere. The back was crushed by concrete that had fallen and it looked as if the glass for the cockpit window was shattered. Mara sighed and walked forward slowly, the door to the ship looked as if it was in working order and when she pressed for it to open it did, but only a quarter of the way.
"Chrika, come over here and help me get this open."
Mara glanced back at the young woman, she had been quiet since their last conversation. Not the kind that Mara had put up with when she first met her, but the kind of someone deep in thought or a realization had struck them. Mara thought it was the latter and knew how it felt. The Emperor had played his own mind games with her and she had to admit that she herself was angry at him for doing that to her. She just needed someone, like Skywalker, to open her eyes and see what the Emperor had really done to her. Mara guessed that what she was doing for Chrika, Skywalker had done for her. 'Mara Jade- the savior.' In all honesty, she thought it was funny. She had never thought that she would have played that type of role in her life.
Chrika pried open one side of the door open, while Mara worked on the other. After a half-hour struggle the two got it open and Mara stepped inside. She was relieved when she found that the comm station wasn't smashed and looked like it would work. Mara started making her way to it, hopping over some fallen equipment. "Chrika, bring that battery over here."
Chrika walked over and placed the battery at Mara's feet, stepping back to stay out of the way.
After a quick glance Mara knew what she would have to do and it wouldn't take long. Hopefully the Imperials in the spaceport would be too busy someplace else to come along this way. Rewiring a couple of connections and hooking the battery up to increase power she was soon able to get a signal. She adjusted it to one of Karrde's emergency frequencies and started to send out a message asking for help.
"Alpha-Delta this is Beta-Nero. Do you copy?"
A relieved voice immediately came over the station. "I've been waiting for hours!!" Mara thought it was one of Karrde's new crewmembers. "I'll get Alpha-Delta right away."
The reason that Mara had not used her and Karrde's name was obvious. There were Imperials in the sector and she didn't want them to know who had survived the blast. Especially if they were after her in the first place.
Mara waited for a few tense seconds and hoped that the Imperials would be too dumb to notice that there was a transmission going on and wouldn't be able to pinpoint it. She'd move after this transmission anyway- just in case.
Karrade's calm voice filtered through. "Beta-Nero. are you all right?"
"A little bruising." she didn't want the Imperials to know the real nature of her condition. It was best to leave them guessing if they were listening in.
"Is there anyone else alive?"
"Affirmative." Again she didn't give any elaborate details.
Karrade paused a moment and it sounded like he was talking to someone else. "I have an escort ready to pick you up. Rendezvous at seven-nine-two- two," which just meant one of the main entrances, "escort will be there in half an hour," which actually meant one hour.
Mara would have to rely on Karrade that where he instructed them to go was accessible for a craft to come in. and that it wasn't open to space. She couldn't help but ask a question. "Who's the escort."
Again Karrade paused and she swore he was smiling. "An old friend."
She tensed when she heard the word 'friend'. It only meant one thing and that was Skywalker along with Solo. She would never live this one down and she'd never forgive Karrade either- he was doing this on purpose.
Mara signed off and began a quick search of her ship to see if there was anything that she should bring with her. She found another medkit and since that one had bandages and bacta in it, she didn't feel afraid to use some of the other 'kit's accessories on her leg.
Chrika watched her silently and got up when Mara told her to. It was time to move to the rendezvous.
***
After a quick run through of her mental map of the spaceport, Mara turned towards the 'rescue' point- thankfully away from the Imperials. She glanced back at Chrika and saw that she was following her. Her head cast down as if she were ashamed. Mara felt a stab of sympathy towards the young woman and wanted to do something for her, something that Mara had never in her life thought of doing before. She just didn't know how to start.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Chrika looked up, startled and slowly nodded.
"Why are you so angry at me for leaving the Empire?"
Chrika slowed her walking and Mara stopped to wait for her. She wanted to be right next to her, she didn't know why.
"I guess it was because when I was little I looked up to you. I wanted to be you."
Mara snorted. "Why?"
Chrika shrugged. "You always seemed to know what you were doing. Nothing scared you. And you were beautiful and you seemed like you knew a lot about the world." Chrika laughed a little. "Do you remember Lord Gribun?"
Mara slowly nodded her head. He was a very large, obnoxious and wealthy man. Someone Mara deeply despised during her time in the Emperor's court.
Chrika continued. "I remember when you were part of the entertainment at one of the courts functions. Lord Gribun wanted a private dance and started to harass you. when he tried to touch you, you just turned around and twisted his arm. He fell on his knees and started balling like a baby."
Mara felt a slight smile tug at her lips. She did remember that and was glad that she had done it. After that episode Lord Gribun never touched or harassed a woman in the Emperor's court. Listening to what Mara had told him. 'Never let me see you touch, speak or look at a woman that doesn't want your attention. If I do see it, I'll make sure that you won't be able to touch, speak or look at a woman.'
Chrika continued laughing. "I hated that man! But my father told me never to act that way. ever. I so wanted to be the one who did that to him. He just gave me this really awful feeling whenever he looked at me."
Mara continued on a little in silence. "What are you going to do now?"
Chrika shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I could go waitress at another restaurant. There's nothing else much for me to do. Belonging to the Emperor Palpatine's court doesn't exactly get you very far in life right now."
"Well, what sort of stuff were you good at."
Chrika thought a bit. "My father said I was always good at negotiating and reading people. I used to sit in on his meetings and tell him what I thought about a proposed deal and stuff like that. My father's business always worked out for the better when I told him what I thought. I guess I was his lucky charm."
Mara was silent for a while. What kind of negotiations?"
"Anything- trade, equipment, investments. I researched on some of the stuff my father was interested in. So I guess that I know a little about everything."
Again Mara was silent for a while. She stopped them for a bit just to get her bearings. They were near the rendezvous point and Mara spotted the entrance to the bay. It was caved in a bit, but a person could slide through with little trouble.
Mara pointed to the entrance. "That's it." She walked over and started to make her way into the bay and almost fell on her head when she reached the other side. She gave a warning to Chrika to watch the last little bit. It was high up and ended rather abruptly. Mara glanced down at her knee and saw that her little tumble had opened the wound again. She found a place to sit and applied a thin layer of the synth-flesh to it.
Chrika made her way through the opening and landed with a little more dignity than Mara had. She glanced around. "It's not as bad in here as the other places." She glanced out the viewport. "There's a bunch of ships out there. do you know which one is coming to pick us up?"
Mara nodded. "It's the one that looks like it's gonna fall apart." She glanced at her chrono. "They're not going to be here for at least another 20 minutes." She patted beside her. "Have a seat."
Chrika looked a little bewildered at the suggestion, but sat down beside Mara anyway. Mara too was surprised at her invitation. But didn't let it show.
They sat in silence for a bit, each trying to look like they were busy with something. Even though there was nothing to keep busy with.
"What's the New Republic like?"
Mara was a little caught off guard with the question. "Complex, big and noisy."
"But is it better than the Empire?"
Mara sighed. "A lot of ways yes, in fact the majority yes. Of course there's a whole bunch of bickering in-systems and even in the Senate. But people get a voice in how they want things done and I think they're happier being able to shout and call each other names rather than being bombarded with turbolasers and stormtroopers beating them."
Chrika nodded. "How long did it take you to see that?"
"A long time. And it doesn't mean that you should have the same view as well. It's all right to be a critic of something, but so long as you can support it."
"I think I've always known that the Rebellion and now the New Republic was right in why they wanted things to change."
"Why didn't you follow through on it."
"I wasn't brave enough. Looking back now, I was always the follower and never questioned anything. I wish I had now."
Mara smiled and squeezed the young woman's shoulder. "It's never too late to start." She paused a bit. "I think I might be able to arrange a job for you."
Chrika's eyes glanced at her in surprise.
"I can't say yes now, but I could talk to my boss when we get out of here and I think I can arrange for you to be one of our crew members. It won't be easy, 'cause we do a lot of traveling and you'd probably have to learn some extra stuff, like flying ships and how to shoot a blaster."
Chrika giggled. "I've always wanted to shoot a blaster and anything that you could do for me would be enough, even if I didn't get a job."
"Don't mention it." Mara said gruffly.
They talked more, about Chrika's life and Mara's. Both were a little cautious about revealing anything significant about their past, but Mara was surprisingly having fun talking about her old court days. There was some stuff that she missed, but most of it she didn't. Mara was happy with her life right now and didn't want to turn back to her old ways.
Glancing at her chrono, Mara stated. "They should be here soon."
"Who's they?"
Mara made a face. "Acquaintances."
Chrika pressed on. "Who?"
"Han Solo and Luke Skywalker." Mara snarled the last name.
The young woman's eyes shot up. "The *Han Solo* and the *Luke Skywalker*?"
"Unfortunately." Mara turned to the woman. "Don't make such a big deal about it. they're men just the same."
Chrika looked uncertain. "But what do I tell them? What if they ask who I am and what I did?"
Mara shrugged. "Don't. I'm sure there's stuff they won't tell you. Do it only if you think it's the best thing."
Chrika got up and started to pace. "What if they figure it out and decide to jettison me out the ship?"
Mara rolled her eyes. "They won't." Her leg started to pound again.
"But Luke Skywalker's a Jedi! He'll read my mind and figure me out." She started wringing her hands together.
"Despite what Imperial propaganda has put out. Skywalker is not someone who runs around prying into people's minds." Mara secretly wished he did, it would give her a reason to hate him.
Chrika stopped and looked at Mara uncertainly. "You sure?"
Mara nodded and shifted her leg, trying to get comfortable again.
"Let me look at that." Chrika knelt down and Mara allowed her to look at her knee. She got the medkit out again and started to put more synth- flesh on it.
"Don't do that. We might need it later."
Chrika shook her head, "You even said that they'd be here soon, so you won't need it." She started applying the stuff to Mara's leg and spoke quietly. "I'm sorry for what I said before."
"About me dying?"
Chrika nodded.
Mara shrugged. "Don't think about it. I get lots of those and I'd be surprised if I didn't hear it at least once a day."
"I still shouldn't have said it. I won't have known the first thing to do to get out of here. I'd probably still be in the café waited for someone to pick me up. I'm not really up-to-date with survival skills."
Mara shrugged. "In my line of work you get used to it. It's something I'd have to know. You didn't have the same life as me."
Chrika shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I should have known what to do. I've been dependant on people all my life."
"We can change that." Mara told her. She cocked her head to where the 'door' was. And motioned for Chrika to be quiet.
Chrika nodded and quickly put the medkit away. "What is it?" she whispered.
Mara nodded her head to the door. "Someone's coming." She glanced at her chrono and fervently hoped that Solo and Skywalker would get there soon. Looking around for cover, she pointed to a pile of canisters. "Get behind those."
Chrika nodded and quickly made her way to where Mara indicated, being careful to make as little noise as possible.
Mara got up slowly and hobbled to the opening. There was more than a someone, it sounded like a group of them. They were talking and Mara could hear the metallic click of boots hitting the floor. She didn't want or need to guess. They were stormtroopers and they were close.
Above the opening Mara saw a bunch of rubble that looked ready to collapse. She'd bring that down if worse came to worse. But not now, it would draw more unwanted attention that was not needed.
She glanced down at her chrono. Solo should be here by now. She glanced behind her and saw a ship that was heading directly towards them. Hopefully it would be their ride.
Taking out one of her blasters she limped over to where Chrika was hiding. "There's stormtroopers out there." She paused. "You can go to them if you like." She studied the woman's face and waited for an answer.
Chrika shook her head. "You've shown me what they're really like. I don't want to be apart of something evil like the Empire."
Mara nodded her head and gave her the blaster, taking another one out and holding it herself. "You don't have to shoot them. I know it'll be hard for you. But please just try to buy us some time to catch our ride."
Chrika slowly nodded and held the blaster like it was going to bite her. "I've never used one before."
"Just point and shoot." Mara looked out to space again and saw that the vessel coming towards them was indeed the *Falcon*, it would land in seconds. Mara pointed to it and whispered. "That's our ride there. Hopefully the Imperials will move on and not bother with this place."
Voices rose outside their area and Mara cursed when she heard the order for them to move in. Either they were being very meticulous or they'd been alerted to a craft that wanted to get into the bay.
The *Falcon* itself seemed to be having problems, three TIEs were swarming around it and taking potshots. It drew near to the opening and was soon settling in the bay. The TIEs waiting for them outside.
Mara hoisted Chrika up. "Our ride's here." And shoved her over to the *Falcon*. She turned around and saw that the first of the stormtroopers were climbing through the opening and thought that caving in the hole was as good as time as any. She raised her blaster and shot the overhanging debris and watched as it plunged down on the invading force.
The *Falcon's* ramp lowered and Luke came out with his lightsaber drawn and hurried over to her. "Nice to see you Mara."
Mara grunted. "Same to you." She *was* genuinely happy to see him.
Luke's eyes grew wide and pushed her down, igniting his lightsaber at the same time. Blaster bolts filled the air, Luke doing his best to cover them. He shoved Mara behind the canisters that Chrika and her had shared before.
Mara sat up and peeked over their cover and glanced at the troopers flooding into the bay- apparently her little cave-in hadn't done the trick.
"What did you do to make them so angry?" Luke questioned.
"Nothing!" She hissed. "Well. besides deserting the Empire and still being alive. nothing else."
Luke grunted and looked around. "Who's that?"
Mara looked to where he was pointing and saw Chrika hiding behind a flipped over table that was halfway to the *Falcon's* ramp. "What the hell is she doing? I told her to get to the *Falcon*!"
Chrika couldn't even move, because of her small hiding space. Mara didn't even think the Imperials knew she was hiding there. But there was so much going on that she didn't dare poke her head up to look around. She saw her wince when a blaster bolt went 'ting' just above her head.
"We have to help her."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you the Good Samaritan?"
"I am not heartless and shut up! You do that little Jedi lightsaber thing and cover me. We'll all go and get to the *Falcon*."
Luke nodded and they moved on three. Standing up, Mara shot and Luke blocked the blaster bolts that followed wherever they moved.
They reached Chrika and Mara grabbed her, pulling her towards better cover and closer to the *Falcon's* ramp. They slumped down behind a pile of concrete rubble.
"Are you all right?"
Chrika shakily nodded her head.
Mara turned to Luke again. "Why doesn't Solo blast-"
The underbelly of the ship opened fire on the troopers and they watched as the people in white started falling over the place.
"You were saying?" Luke smirked at her. He turned to Chrika and hauled her up. "Come on. While they're distracted." He shoved her towards the ship and then turned to Mara. "Ladies first." He smiled.
Mara grunted and slowly got up. Her knee was really hurting, the run over had seriously done something to it.
Luke frowned and looked down at it. "Can you make it?"
"How much do you want to bet?" she put up a brave face, but inside her body was cursing her in every language to sit down.
Luke nodded slowly and wrapped an arm around her. Mara started to protest, but he started to carry her to the ship before she could even start.
Chrika waited for them at the bottom of the ramp and turned to hold Mara on her other side. Instead of immediately carry Mara, she drew her blaster and fired.
"I shot him." she mumbled and glanced at the blaster in her hand.
Mara glanced back and saw a fresh body laying 10 feet from where they stood, a smoking hole in between the eyes. "A good shot too."
Chrika slowly looked at her and lowered the blaster. "I didn't mean to."
Luke started hauling Mara up the ramp and yelled at Chrika to follow. Mara already felt the ramp lifting and the *Falcon* drifting in the air. Solo was a very impatient man.
Chrika stepped forward and then threw herself at Mara. "Watch out!" she knocked Mara down flat on the ramp and Mara watched as Luke again ignited his lightsaber and blocked shots that were coming in from the side.
The ramp closed and the *Falcon* immediately took off for open space.
"KID!" Mara recognized it as Han's voice. "Get your Jedi butt up to the gun turret!"
Mara sat up and caught a glimpse of Luke heading towards the gunner compartments. She could hear Han and the Wookiee Chewbacca cursing and howling in the cockpit.
She wanted to get up and help, but her leg refused to move. She reluctantly gave up and looked down at Chrika.
"Hey Chrika, we made it." She crawled over to the young woman and rolled her over.
Mara gave an audible gasp when she saw what she had come to think of as friend. Her stomach was smoldering from a blaster wound and the stench it gave off was terrible, Mara felt like retching.
Chrika's face was pale and she slowly opened her eyes. "I think it's all right. I've never been shot before. somehow I thought it would hurt more."
Mara gazed sadly down at her friend. No one would be able to survive a wound like that. Not a chance. Chrika's body shuddered and Mara felt her eyes starting to moisten. The ship rocked from a hit and alarms started shrieking from the cockpit.
"Almost there!! Luke vap that TIE!" Han swore and pulled a hard maneuver right. "Damn tourists!"
Chewbacca roared and Mara thought it sounded like agreement.
"Buckle up kids!! We're going hyper!"
Mara grabbed onto the nearest solid thing and held on to it and Chrika. The hyperspace pull ended and no more shaking occurred in the ship. Mara knew that they were safely in hyperspace.
Looking back down at Chrika, Mara's throat tightened and she felt tears running down her cheeks. Chrika's breathing was becoming more erratic and she felt cold to the touch.
Mara glanced up when she heard someone enter the room. Chewbacca stood over hear and meowed a question.
"I need a medkit." Mara mumbled. She knew that it wouldn't do anything for Chrika, but she needed to do something to try to help.
Chewbacca wordlessly left the common area.
Chrika gave another shudder. "It's so cold on this ship." Her voice was raspy and her eyes wandered about her. She gave a slight smile. "This is the *Millennium Falcon*?"
Mara nodded her head.
"I always wondered what it was like in here." Chrika's breath caught in her throat and she coughed, shaking her entire body when she did so.
A medkit was placed beside Mara and she wordlessly opened it up. Taking out bacta patches and other medical equipment. She started applying the medicine to Chrika and stopped when she asked a question.
"Did you make it?"
Mara's heart broke when she heard 'you'. Chrika knew she was going to die, but Mara didn't have the heart to tell her. "We made it." She corrected.
Chrika shook her head and coughed again. She tried to push Mara's hand away from her wound. "That's not gonna help and you know it."
Mara didn't stop what she was doing. "Thank you Chrika. you saved my life."
Chrika shook her head. "You saved *me* more than I saved you. It's I that should be thanking you." She started coughing again. "You made me see straight."
Mara brought her friend close and hugged her. "It was an honor to meet you." She whispered. "You taught me a great deal too."
Mara held her for a long time and felt her cheeks dampen with tears, something that she had not done in a long time.
She felt a heavy paw on her shoulder and she glanced over to see Chewie's brown eyes filled with concern. He groaned something.
"Chewie says that we should look at your knee." Han's voice came from behind her.
Mara shook her head, she didn't want to move and she didn't want to talk to anyone. Looking down at her Chrika, she saw that she wasn't breathing anymore and the light in her eyes had disappeared. Mara let out an uncontrollable sob and lowered her head again. "I'm so sorry." She whispered.
Someone came and sat on her other side and she felt another hand on her shoulder and arm. "Mara. she's not here with us anymore. we have to take care of your leg."
Mara saw Luke sitting beside and quickly tried to wipe away her tears. "My legs fine!" she hissed.
Luke shook his head. "No it's not." He slowly told her. "You can't do anything else for her Mara. and it's okay to cry." He gently unwrapped her arms around Chrika's body. "We'll take care of her."
Han stepped forward with a blanket and covered Chrika. "We'll make arrangements for her when we get back to Coruscant."
Luke guided her over to a couch and made her sit down. He worked quickly on her leg and dressed it with clean bandages. "May I ask who she was?"
Mara nodded. "She was a friend."
--- Writer's blurb: I know that 'crying Mara' isn't really the norm in the Expanded Universe, but. she's gotta let loose a couple of times!! Do they think she's made out of stone?? I also know that someone like Chrika could turn from one attitude to the next (Empire to New Republic), but I also know that it being that fast may not entirely be feasible. but it could happen. Again, I'm sorry for anything Star Wars'y' that I didn't use right. I like Star Wars, but I don't know everything about it. PS. Reviews are good ;P