Double Double Desire and Trouble

By Rhea

Rating: R (sexual content, please don't read if this if this offends you. It isn't any different than modern romances.)

Timeline: Sometime before VOTF

Disclaimer : I make no claim on the Star Wars copyright. I have not nor will I ever make any money from the sale of this story. This is written with the intent to support the fan base and not in an effort to make money. This work is based on characters and situations that are owned by George Lucas and Lucasfilms Ltd and Timothy Zahn.

Part One

Luke was beginning the fourth consecutive hour of deep meditation. The Jedi was reluctant to emerge, rarely achieving such a oneness with the force. He was sitting on a flat rock deep in the forest of Yavin. He could easily sense the Jedi back at the Academy. He effortlessly brushed Leia's sleeping mind on the distant planet of Coruscant. Not wanting to intrude on her rest, Luke retreated briefly checking the twins to find them equally immersed in slumber. His mind swam the galaxy riding the ebb and flow of life until he saw a brilliant light. He traced it to its source, to Mara Jade.

She was in her ship the Jade's Fire, and she became aware the moment his force presence neared her own.

"Skywalker?" She sat upright in the pilot's chair glancing around the cockpit of her ship. Before he could respond, another presence intruded on his consciousness, one right next to him. It was incredibly strong in the force. As he pulled back, he felt as if his connection to Mara remained. He turned his attention to the small field in front of where he sat and saw a small green alien shimmering in front of him.

"Master Yoda!" Luke exclaimed. He made a move to stand up, but a gesture from Yoda halted his motion.

"Stay long, I can not and much to say." The diminutive Jedi Master said.

Joy filled Luke, not realizing until this moment how much he had missed his old master and a twinge of regret quickly followed knowing that this contact would be brief.

"During the Jedi purges, much was lost. Recover what is left, you must. Destroyed, the Emperor did, the first key. Forever eliminating the way to the Jedi Trust, to the Hidden Catacombs."

"What's the Jedi Trust?" Luke's eyes lit up.

"A vault of archives, artifacts, things that were hidden from the Sith. Found the first clue the Emperor did. But knew not the way to proceed. Go to the Androden Caves you must."

"But they cover the entire planet, Master Yoda. How will I ever find the vault?"

"You must bring Mara. Show you the way, she will." Mara Jade became visible, sitting next to the master. Luke realized that she had been there all along. The mention of her name just made him aware of her presence.

Yoda continued to warn them, "Blood will flow and tears. But together find the way you will." He began to fade away. "Remember, the force is strong in you and in your children. Pass on what you learn." And he was gone.

Luke opened his eyes to find himself alone. The bird calls echoed deep in the forest of Yavin. He was tired and his thoughts were racing. A storehouse hidden from the Emperor. It was almost a dream come true. Luke stood up, his legs cramped from sitting immobile for an extended period. The Jedi did a few stretches and began to make his way back to the Academy. He had a trip to plan and a friend to contact.

A few hours later, Luke entered his room to find a message waiting for him. It was from Mara. A smile stretched across his face. He keyed in her code and within moments, Mara's face appeared on the flat monitor.

"Skywalker. What happened to you? Did you get in a fight with a quicksand bog and lose?"

At her words, he glanced down and saw that his shirt was torn and dirty. He could feel the sting of mild abrasions on his cheek and the stiffness of caked mud in a strip above his left eyebrow. He had spent a good portion of the day running through the forest of Yavin, unheeding the many branches that tore at his skin and clothing. He had been oblivious to the muddy streams he crossed in his determination to continue undeterred. He ran his fingers quickly through his hair, just making the ends stand up.

Mara smiled and said, "Don't bother. I've seen you look worse."

"Thanks." Luke commented wryly, his smile losing some of its intensity.

Mara enjoyed teasing the Jedi, but she did not want to put a damper on his exuberant mood.

"I just had the strangest dream. Although I don't remember falling asleep." Mara began.

"It wasn't a dream." Luke interrupted. "Yoda came to both of us."

Mara nodded silently. "I thought so, but I wasn't sure until now. I'm on my way to Janus to finalize a deal for Karrde. It should only take me a day or two. I can swing by Yavin to pick you up since that's on the way to Androden, then we can go on this Jedi quest of yours."

"Okay." Luke said, surprised despite himself that Mara agreed to do this so readily.

"I figure the sooner we go, the sooner we can get back. I don't want some backwards talking alien dictating my destiny."

Mara's green eyes sparkled and Luke sensed the humor in her words.

"At least you didn't have to eat his cooking."

"Yeah, well it can't be worse than mine."

Luke laughed and replied, "Tell you what, I'll do the cooking on this trip if you promise not to argue with me most of the time."

"No deal, Skywalker. If you do the cooking, you are ensuring your own survival, and I can't let you get off so easily."

"So. I'll see you in about a week?" Luke smiled.

"Yeah."

Luke was about to cut the connection but he felt her mood shift faster than a Tatooine sand storm. "What is it?"

"Something Yoda said. About blood and tears."

"I know. I kept thinking about that all the way back to the Academy."

"I hope it doesn't mean what it sounds like."

"All we can do is be careful and watch our backs."

They regarded each other silently. For a moment, their force sense were open, their mutual regard flowing freely. Then Mara sat up abruptly and said, "What is it with you Jedi? Why can't any prophecy every say 'smiles and laughter are in your future?'"

Luke sighed, "Maybe because we don't need to be warned about those things?"

"I guess. Well, See you later. I'll call you when I'm in orbit."

Mara cut the connection.

Luke continued to gaze at the blank monitor for a few minutes before leaving the console. He had a lot do and he wanted to be prepared. He decided to get cleaned up before he left a message with Leia informing her of what had happened. No use upsetting his sister, he smiled catching his reflection in the mirror. He began removing his clothes to step into the 'fresher.
One Galactic Standard Week Later
Mara's call came over his comm. unit when he was in the middle of handing over some administrative details to Tionne. Luke answered the call, oblivious to the fact that he interrupted a list of duties Tionne was reciting.

"Skywalker here."

"You ready to go stir up some trouble?" Mara's voice filled Tionne's office, causing the pale woman's eyebrows to draw together in disapproval.

Luke smiled broadly, "Wouldn't miss it. Meet you at the landing pad shortly."

"Don't keep me waiting too long, Jedi."

"Eager to see me, Jade?" Luke teased.

"Hardly. Just being too long on a planet full of Jedi makes me rethink my decision not to kill you."

"Just think of this as a test of your endurance. You're going to need it, to put up with Artoo for the trip."

"We never agreed . . ."

Luke cut the connection before Mara could protest further.

Tionne said, "Are you sure you can trust her, Master Skywalker?"

Luke turned to regard Tionne, just noticing the waves of displeasure coming from the woman. Luke's smile slipped from his face and he said seriously, "I would trust her with my life."

"Isn't that what you are doing?" There was a definite edge of jealousy in her sense and Luke wondered not for the first time exactly how Tionne viewed him.

"I know you don't like Mara, but she's a good person, and a good friend. I wish you could try to be more accepting of her."

Tionne slowly shook her head, "We are like fire and water. We can't exist in the same place at the same time."

Luke was about to protest and then decided that perhaps she was right. They were complete opposites and it was futile to pursue this further.

"I trust you too, Tionne. I know that the Academy is in good hands, and I'm grateful for your devotion to the Jedi."

Her countenance brightened at this compliment and she said, "Thank you Master Skywalker."

He cringed at the title, but knew it was useless to remind her not to use it. He turned and left the office. The Jade's Fire was still venting gasses on the platform, so Luke knew that Mara could not have been waiting long. He swung the bag he had picked up from his room and gestured for R2D2 to stay behind him as he cautiously approached the vehicle.

Mara stepped onto the lowered ramp and tried to give Skywalker a glare when she saw the silver domed astromech droid following in his wake. A small smile slipped past her guard, despite her ire. Luke could sense that her feelings toward Artoo were really more for show than anything else.

"Do you want to come out and stretch your legs before we head out?" Luke asked. Mara's hair blew around her face, the wind was beginning to rise. She was dressed in a figure fitting green jumpsuit that accented her female form.

"No. I have a feeling that we should get there as soon as possible." The Jedi was momentarily caught off guard, mesmerized by the image she presented. R2D2 whistled mournfully, and Luke patted his metal dome comfortingly.

"It's alright, Artoo. I promise that she won't throw you into the nearest trash compactor."

Mara chuckled and said, "Sure. chrome dome. Now there's nothing stopping me from converting you into a trash compactor."

The droids head twisted frantically and Luke soothed, "She's just kidding." He threw Mara a look, "Aren't you?"

"Come on, make yourself at home." Mara said. A tech approached them with a crate of supplies and Mara showed him to the storage compartments. Luke followed Artoo as he rolled up the deck. Luke set his bag down and eyed the pilot's seat. After a moment of debate he judiciously sat in the co- pilot's chair and strapped in.

Mara threw him a look, that seemed to say that she was surprised that she did not have to throw him out of her seat and sat down in silence. Artoo rolled to the back of the ship, attempting to give the red haired woman a wide berth. Mara pulled the safety strap, secured it, and started flipping switches.

She leaned back into the seat and asked, "Ready?"

Luke nodded his agreement.

They left Yavin behind.