Double Double Desire and Trouble
By Rhea
Part Nine
The comlink beeped.
Luke was in the 'fresher and Mara tugged on her tunic and combed her hair with her fingers. Just before she activated the monitor she saw Skywalker's shirt lying across the back of the couch. She grabbed it and threw it though the open bedroom door. Composing herself, she hit the switch.
"Mara!" Talon Karrde said exuberantly.
"Hello, Karrde. I was just about to call you." she lied.
Talon waved his hand and said, "Don't worry. How were you and Skywalker on the trip back? Did either of you fall to the Dark Side?"
Mara laughed and said, "Things have been worse."
Just then a bare chested Luke walked in saying, "Mara have you seen my shirt?" He was drying his hair in a towel. He was unaware that she was communicating with Karrde and oblivious to the fact that Talon could see him behind Mara on the monitor. Mara felt her face flush and she tried to block Karrde's view with her body. She used the force to tangle the garment around the Jedi's feet and he fell with a muffled "oomph!"
"Was that Skywalker?" Talon asked, his eyebrow raising.
Mara silently cursed. Luke took in the situation, hearing Talon's words. Out of the line of sight from the monitor he raised his head to look beyond the towel, realizing what was happening.
"Yeah. He thought we should do some Jedi exercises." Mara said sardonically.
Luke chuckled from the ground and slipped on his shirt.
Talon looked dubiously at Mara and said, "Couldn't you find the time for that on the long flight back?"
A look of dawning comprehension came across his face. From his expression, Mara could see that the smuggler was beginning to suspect that something was going on.
"You know Skywalker. All work and no play." Mara quipped, lightly.
Talon shook his head, not quite accepting her words. He changed the subject. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your success at Janus."
Mara was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean? I walked out on the negotiations."
Talon Karrde smiled ironically, "It was obviously the right thing to do. They agreed to our terms. They must have respected your refusal to give into their demands."
"I should have walked out weeks ago." Mara said ruefully.
Luke rose to his feet and approached the monitor. "Hi Talon." Luke was the image of the ideal Jedi Master, cool and in control. Not a hair was out of place, his shirt lay smoothly across his chest. In the face of his demeanor, Talon seemed to doubt his original assessment. Mara could usually sham her way through situations, but she knew that her disheveled appearance detracted from her presentation as the collected trader.
"Luke." Karrde replied. Talon glanced from Luke to Mara.
Mara wished the Luke had remained hidden but realized that to do so would only inflame Karrde's curiosity.
"I see you've been keeping my second in command busy." A sly smile slipped free before he too composed his features.
Mara flushed and turned her head.
Luke smiled and said coolly, "Thanks for those coordinates. We're planning on checking them out tonight."
"Do you need any backup?'"
"I didn't think you were on Coruscant." Luke said.
"Not yet, but the Wilde Karrde is about a day away."
"We should be fine, but I'll keep you posted," Mara replied.
"Very good." A smile edged the ends of his mouth. "Try not to kill Skywalker." He mildly admonished Mara.
Mara shot Luke a look full of meaning. "It might be a struggle, but I think I'll manage."
"I'll com you when I arrive. If you need anything be sure to let me know."
"Thanks Talon, I really appreciate it." Mara said sincerely.
He nodded, smiled, and cut the connection. When the monitor was dark, Mara turned to regard the Jedi. He raised an eyebrow at her. She opened her mouth to rant at him, berating him for walking in plain sight unclothed. Her mouth closed, a smile she could not suppress tugging the edges of her mouth.
"Do you think we fooled him?"
"Nope." Luke said, amusement evident in his voice.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Mara accused.
Luke tilted his head to the side considering. Then he straightened, "Yep!" He picked her up, gave her a hard kiss before setting her back on her feet. Mara swatted at his chest without any force. She left the room muttering and shaking her head, secretly amused.
Luke had once again donned the Jedi black outfit. Mara wondered if it was the very same clothes she had seen him wear when he had entered Jabba's palace all those years ago. Probably, she smiled wryly to herself. He didn't give up on anything easily, including an outfit. He sure took devotion to another level. He didn't look much different, a little older, but he still had that intensity about him that seemed to eclipse everyone else.
Mara returned shortly dressed in a black leather outfit. It clung to her figure, leaving her arms bare. Her lightsaber hung on her utility belt. Her red gold locks were twisted in a simple braid that hung over her right shoulder.
Luke felt his cool composure warm at the sight of her and eyed her appreciatively. "How did you get dressed so fast?"
Feeling the heat of his gaze, Mara smiled wickedly. "Maybe I'll show you later. Come on Master. Let's go."
Luke followed, shaking his head and silently laughing.
Luke rented a two person air speeder and Mara did not say a word when he took the helm. He flew with a speed that was both breathtaking and exhilarating. Mara had always know Luke was an excellent pilot, but she never really realized how alive he became when he was flying. She enjoyed seeing him so happy and free, and she shared this with him. Luke dazzled her with a smile and it was with brilliant grins on both their faces that they landed on the lowest habitable level of the city.
The gleaming ship stood out in the dark grime of the level, where sunlight never penetrated. They cautiously exited the vehicle and were joined shortly by the Solos and the Wookie. They could see a similar vehicle parked behind a pile of rubbish. Leia was dressed in a practical off white jumpsuit with numerous pockets. A heavy utility belt seemed like it weighed the petite woman down, but she moved with ease. Han wore his Corellian blood stripe pants and his customary brown vest. Chewbacca held his bowcaster at the ready.
"Nice place." Leia said dryly.
"Only the best for you, sweetheart." Han said.
"Any trouble?" Luke asked reaching out with the force. Danger seemed to surround them, but was not directed at them.
The walls seemed to leak engine oil and ancient refuse littered the narrow alleyways and hung precariously from narrow walkways crisscrossing the sky overhead. Vermin scurried across the ground, but there were no sight of sentient life.
"Nah, you kidding? Nothing a few well placed blaster bolts couldn't handle, but I'd secure your ship and don't count on recovering your deposit." Han warned.
Chewbacca said something and Han added, "I was just about to tell them, fuzzball. Chewy suggests that you remove the main motivator switch."
Mara showed something in her hand. "Or the drive stabilizer works just as well." Han laughed.
Luke smiled as Mara pocketed the small object. "Standard procedure." She muttered.
They picked their way cautiously through the refuse hearing the low buzz of neon lights and alien voices. When they rounded a corner they discovered a disreputable tapcafe. The placard read in both Bocci and Basic, "Final Resting Place."
"Oh, I feel so much better now." Leia commented.
"Don't tell me the coordinates are in there." Mara said.
"Fine. I won't tell you." Luke replied dryly.
"If we all go in together, we'll look like we're a part of the Freedom Day Parade." Mara said.
Luke nodded and said, "I'll go in first."
"Oh no, your not going in there alone. I distinctly wrote on my agenda for today, 'No pulling Skywalker's butt from the fire'." Mara commented.
Chewbacca chuckled.
"We'll all go together." Han insisted.
Chewbacca growled agreement while Mara said, "Okay, but not all at once."
"Agreed." Luke said.
"Han and I will go first. Mara and Leia wait ten minutes before you join us. And where are the noghri?" Luke asked.
Leia looked around concerned, she said, "Maybe they're inside?"
"I hope so." Luke said. "Chewbacca, you do a sweep of the area, see if you can find any sign of the noghri."
After they all agreed, Han gave Leia a quick kiss, saluted Mara and Chewbacca jauntily and turned to go inside. Luke shot Mara a long look, then turned to follow Han. Once they were gone, Chewbacca growled at Leia reluctant to leave her.
"We'll be fine, Chewy, go on." Leia encouraged.
The Wookie left grudgingly.
Mara and Leia regarded each other and Mara said "Let's move away from the entrance. I feel like a Camino jellyfish on the sands of Tatooine."
They walked away from the doorway and into a small alley. Mara busied herself with checking her power pack, knowing full well that it was completely charged. Leia watched her, sensing the woman's discomfort in her presence.
"I won't bite, you know." She soothed.
Mara shot her a scornful look and said, "You don't actually think I'm afraid of you?"
Leia shook her head. "No, but you're uncomfortable being with me. Han told me about you and Luke."
"Is this the part where you tell me to stay away from your brother?" Mara asked.
Genuine shock radiated from Leia. "No this is where I ask you how you really feel. I'm not blind. I can see that there is something between you two. Luke positively glows in the force whenever he's near you."
Mara considered her words, touched by them and by her admission. "Luke always glows." Mara said softly.
"You're in love with him, aren't you." Leia said. Her words were so low, her demeanor so inviting that Mara almost confessed to her.
"I can see how you've succeeded as a diplomat." Mara commented.
"I just want to be friends. I love him too, Mara."
"I know. You mean the world to him."
Leia's mouth tipped upward in a sardonic smile, "Yes. But I believe you mean even more. I'm not jealous, if that's what you're thinking. I just don't want to see my brother get hurt again. I don't think he could survive another heartbreak."
Mara's respect for Leia went up a notch and she smiled the first true smile at this beautiful, brown eyed woman.
Leia returned the smile. The warmth flowed between them through the force. "My brother is an amazing man. He's strong and loving, but he's thick headed like most males." Leia said, "Tell him. I guarantee you won't regret it."
Mara considered her advice, "I'll think about it."
The comlink chirped. Mara swore, realizing that they were late.
Leia answered it, "We're coming."
"What's the hold up? Do you want us to come out?" Han's voice was concerned.
"No. We were just having so much fun we lost track of time." Leia said sarcastically to her husband, rolling her eyes at Mara.
Mara smirked.
"Well, why don't you come in here and share some of the fun." Han said.
"We're on our way." Mara said into the comlink.
The minute Han and Luke stepped into the tapcafe, the place grew silent. The majority of the patrons were seated in a large group off to one side. There was a disreputable looking human behind the grimy bar. The air was dank with moisture and smoke. Music emitted from some speakers, there was no live band in sight. Luke's hand hovered over the hilt of his lightsaber still attached to his belt. He stretched out with the force, but did not sense immediate danger. Han swaggered into the darkness and claimed a small booth off in one corner. Luke joined him, sliding across the cracked leather seats.
A black metallic server droid rolled up to the table and said, "What's your order?"
"Nothing right now." Luke replied.
"If you don't order, you have to leave." The droid said.
"What my friend here meant to say is that we'll both have the house draft." Han said, leaning back into the worn cushions.
The droid left without another word.
"Polite server droid." Luke said sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, I don't think the locals notice." Han replied, indicating the group on the opposite side of the room. They were eyeing them with malevolent interest. Luke sat ramrod straight in the chair opposite Han. "Relax, kid. Blend in a little. You look like an easy mark."
Luke immediately slumped into the seat and Han suppressed a smirk. Luke still looked out of place, and now he appeared vulnerable. Luke smiled sheepishly up at Han and said, "No good, huh?"
"Don't worry, Luke. I don't think this crowd is use to strangers anyway."
Luke glanced around the room, noting the layout. There was an opening toward the back, probably a storeroom. There were numerous unoccupied tables scattered around the room, and a broken down turbolift door off to one side. It had probably been out of service since the clone wars.
"So you told me to ask you again later, so I'm asking. What's with you and Mara?"
"Hmmm?" Luke asked, pretending to be too distracted to answer him. His mind was racing trying to think of what to tell his brother-in-law.
"Come on, kid. I saw that kiss. That wasn't two friends exchanging a friendly peck on the cheek."
Luke blushed and kept his head turned away. He regained his composure quickly and turned to meet Han's gaze. "I don't really know."
Han waited patiently for the Jedi to continue.
"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. We seem to be connected somehow, through the force. I've never wanted anyone more in my life." Luke blushed again at this last comment, embarrassed that he had revealed so much. Han always made him feel young again. He was never the Jedi Master with him. He wondered if he would ever feel like more that a moisture farmer with this seasoned ex-smuggler.
"Passion's good. Does she feel it too?" Han knew the answer to this, but he wanted to make sure and besides, he enjoyed seeing the kid squirm.
"Yeah." Luke said dreamily.
Han cleared his throat and said, "I know Mara Jade, or at least I know her type. Now, don't get all defensive on me and let me finish." Han said the moment he saw the Jedi sit up straight, his eyes becoming ice blue chips.
"What I mean is, that women like Mara feel deeply but never like to let it show. If you've managed to go to bed with her and you're still breathing, I would bet that you're pretty special to her." Han said earnestly.
His sincerity immediately put Luke at ease and he smiled at the man, "She's a pretty special woman." Luke agreed.
"So. . .uh. . . . Did you . . .uh . . . Oh hell, you know what I mean." Han asked the blond man.
Luke smiled secretively and said, "Hey isn't it about time that Leia and Mara join us?"
Han glanced at his wristchrono and swore, "They should have been in here five minutes ago." He activated the comlink and said, "What's the hold up? Do you want us to come out?" Han's voice was concerned.
"No. We were just having so much fun we lost track of time." Leia replied sarcastically. Han shot a questioningly look at Luke and he shrugged hiding a smile behind the back of his hand.
"Well, why don't you come in here and share some of the fun." Han said.
"We're on our way." Mara said.
"Wonder what they were up to. I sure hope it was safe to leave them together." Han said.
"Mara would never harm Leia." Luke said with a slightly injured tone.
"I mean, Mara might not survive Leia when she's determined to get to the bottom of something."
Luke laughed, "I knew you two had a lot in common."
Han had the grace to stay quiet. When the two women entered the tapcafe door, the room descended into quiet again. The women made there way to another booth next to Luke and Han's. Mara made a show of flirting with the two men and Leia caught on and smiled invitingly to Han. Han leered suggestively at her and motioned for them to sit with them in their booth.
"Subtle." Luke said to Mara.
"You had a better plan?" Mara asked archly.
"Hey, I thought it was pretty effective." Han said.
Leia pretended to caress him, and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ow!" He suppressed his outrage quickly when he saw that they had an audience.
"So this is the famous Jedi Vault." Mara said jokingly, eyeing the place speculatively.
Luke snorted and Leia said with mock seriousness, "It doesn't seem worthy enough to come back from the dead for."
"Oh. I don't know. Maybe that bartender is an ex-Jedi Master or something." Han said.
Luke stood up and approached the man.
Mara whispered fiercely, "Way to go, Solo."
"I was just kidding. Can't anyone take a joke around here?" Han asked.
After a brief conversation with the bartender Luke returned to the booth. Just as he slid beside Mara and put his arm around her flamboyantly, the serving droid arrived with their drinks.
"We'll have the same." Mara muttered to the droid.
It disappeared without a word. Han picked up his drink and after sniffing it, left it untouched on the table.
"Aren't you going to tell us what happened?" Mara asked the Jedi.
Luke shook his head when a group of five aliens rose from the corner and approached their booth. The music stopped.
"I don't like the look of this." Han commented.
Three out of the five of the group were some reptilian race Luke did not recognize. Their faces reminded him of scaled down Dewbacks. The fourth was a Hammerhead and the fifth, an oversized human with red cybernetic eyes.
The man spoke, "You're strangers here."
"We're just passing through." Han said, flipping the switch on his comlink under the table.
"We figure you're moving into our territory. This grid is ours and we mean to keep it that way." His voice was dripping with menace.
"We mean you no harm," Luke soothed, using the force to convince them.
The man repeated, "You mean us no harm."
One of the lizard creature hit the man in the back of his head with his two fingered fist and spat, "Jedi."
A Wookie growl caught the group's attention, and three shots came from the doorway before they could even react. Luke pulled the blasters out of the remaining two's hands with the force. They hardly had any time to realized they were disarmed before Leia and Han stunned them into oblivion. Mara had slipped from the booth and had her blaster held to the bartender's head, who was cautiously lowering his weapon.
"It's okay, Mara." Luke said.
"Listen to your boyfriend, girl." the bartender said. "I was just providing back up if things got ugly."
She jabbed him in the head for calling her girl, took his weapon, and only then lowered her blaster.
Han shut his comlink down and said, "Nice going, Chewy."
Chewbacca sound a satisfied growl and lowered his bowcaster.
The bartender said, "They're gonna' be none too happy when they wake up. Better if they do that someplace else."
They worked together to move the unconscious bodies in to the side alley that Mara and Leia had only recently vacated. Chewbacca and Han huddled in a private conversation while Luke and the bartender exchanged a few private words.
Luke returned and told Leia and Mara, "He says that besides the storeroom the only other place to check would be the turbolift."
Han and Chewy had grim expressions on their faces.
"What is it, Han?" Leia asked.
He shook his head minutely, indicating that now was not the time. The bartender opened the back room for them. Han, Leia, and Chewbacca searched the storeroom under the Bartender's watchful eye.
Luke and Mara forced open the turbolift doors to peer inside. After a protesting groan, the dusty alcove received the first light in years. Mara directed a small hand held spotlight into the empty turbolift, shining it on the etched walls and slime covered floor. Insects scurried away from the illumination.
"Doesn't seem like a likely place."
"Maybe it goes up somewhere?" Luke said.
After a lengthy inspect they finally gave up.
"Maybe if we studied a detailed map we can see where this once led." Mara said, but doubt tinged her voice.
Han and Leia had even less luck. Aside from discover a rather old bottle of Alderaniaan wine that Han purchased surreptitiously, they found nothing. The Solo clan returned and shook their heads regretfully.
They left the tapcafe in silence. Chewy led them down a few narrow passageways leading them to the end of an alley. It did not take them long to determine that what first appeared to be a pile of rubbish was actually a pile of dead bodies.
Six dead noghri.
"Who could have done this?" Leia asked in horror.
Mara bent down to examine the bodies. After a moment, she stood up. "They died in different ways." She pointed at one, "This one was stabbed. This one has blaster burns. And I think these other three have been poisoned." She examined the sixth and then said, "I can't figure out what killed this last one."
Han examined the three poison victims and said, "Trulark poisoning, it looks like someone convinced them to drink it. There around the edges." He pointed to some green foam that was still visible around one the dead noghri's mouth.
Luke said, dully, "The last was killed by a lightsaber."
Leia said, "I'll make arrangements for someone to do an investigation and notify their families." Her eyes filed with tears and Han hugged her.
"Shhh." He whispered.
"I sent them here, Han."
"It's not your fault." Han reassured.
"It's mine." Luke said gravely.
Mara grew angry and glared at them, "I'm not going to let any of you take the blame for this. The Sith lord beaten us here. He's responsible for their deaths. And we have to face the possibility that the reason that we didn't find anything, is that there is nothing left to find. It's already been taken."
Chewbacca moaned mournfully.
The stood silently for a moment until Han urged, "Come on, Let's get out of here."
Chewbacca and the Solos left for their ship. Luke stood staring at the dead bodies as if unwilling to leave the alone.
Mara watched him and when she saw that they were alone, she put her arms around him. "Hey." She said, peering deeply into his eyes. It took a moment for the shuttered looked to leave Luke's face and when Mara knew that he was aware of his surroundings again, she said, "Come on, Skywalker, let's go."
Luke nodded reluctantly and put an arm around her. Mara's heart ached for him, knowing how much this had meant to the Jedi, aware of how hard the noghris' deaths were for him. They walked slowly, wearily back to their ship.
Han and Leia watched them pass without a word. Chewbacca powered up their ship while Mara moved to take control of their rented vehicle. She quickly replaced the drive stabilizer and started the ignition.
They left the Final Resting Place far behind.
(Thanks again to Jayde Star)
By Rhea
Part Nine
The comlink beeped.
Luke was in the 'fresher and Mara tugged on her tunic and combed her hair with her fingers. Just before she activated the monitor she saw Skywalker's shirt lying across the back of the couch. She grabbed it and threw it though the open bedroom door. Composing herself, she hit the switch.
"Mara!" Talon Karrde said exuberantly.
"Hello, Karrde. I was just about to call you." she lied.
Talon waved his hand and said, "Don't worry. How were you and Skywalker on the trip back? Did either of you fall to the Dark Side?"
Mara laughed and said, "Things have been worse."
Just then a bare chested Luke walked in saying, "Mara have you seen my shirt?" He was drying his hair in a towel. He was unaware that she was communicating with Karrde and oblivious to the fact that Talon could see him behind Mara on the monitor. Mara felt her face flush and she tried to block Karrde's view with her body. She used the force to tangle the garment around the Jedi's feet and he fell with a muffled "oomph!"
"Was that Skywalker?" Talon asked, his eyebrow raising.
Mara silently cursed. Luke took in the situation, hearing Talon's words. Out of the line of sight from the monitor he raised his head to look beyond the towel, realizing what was happening.
"Yeah. He thought we should do some Jedi exercises." Mara said sardonically.
Luke chuckled from the ground and slipped on his shirt.
Talon looked dubiously at Mara and said, "Couldn't you find the time for that on the long flight back?"
A look of dawning comprehension came across his face. From his expression, Mara could see that the smuggler was beginning to suspect that something was going on.
"You know Skywalker. All work and no play." Mara quipped, lightly.
Talon shook his head, not quite accepting her words. He changed the subject. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your success at Janus."
Mara was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean? I walked out on the negotiations."
Talon Karrde smiled ironically, "It was obviously the right thing to do. They agreed to our terms. They must have respected your refusal to give into their demands."
"I should have walked out weeks ago." Mara said ruefully.
Luke rose to his feet and approached the monitor. "Hi Talon." Luke was the image of the ideal Jedi Master, cool and in control. Not a hair was out of place, his shirt lay smoothly across his chest. In the face of his demeanor, Talon seemed to doubt his original assessment. Mara could usually sham her way through situations, but she knew that her disheveled appearance detracted from her presentation as the collected trader.
"Luke." Karrde replied. Talon glanced from Luke to Mara.
Mara wished the Luke had remained hidden but realized that to do so would only inflame Karrde's curiosity.
"I see you've been keeping my second in command busy." A sly smile slipped free before he too composed his features.
Mara flushed and turned her head.
Luke smiled and said coolly, "Thanks for those coordinates. We're planning on checking them out tonight."
"Do you need any backup?'"
"I didn't think you were on Coruscant." Luke said.
"Not yet, but the Wilde Karrde is about a day away."
"We should be fine, but I'll keep you posted," Mara replied.
"Very good." A smile edged the ends of his mouth. "Try not to kill Skywalker." He mildly admonished Mara.
Mara shot Luke a look full of meaning. "It might be a struggle, but I think I'll manage."
"I'll com you when I arrive. If you need anything be sure to let me know."
"Thanks Talon, I really appreciate it." Mara said sincerely.
He nodded, smiled, and cut the connection. When the monitor was dark, Mara turned to regard the Jedi. He raised an eyebrow at her. She opened her mouth to rant at him, berating him for walking in plain sight unclothed. Her mouth closed, a smile she could not suppress tugging the edges of her mouth.
"Do you think we fooled him?"
"Nope." Luke said, amusement evident in his voice.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Mara accused.
Luke tilted his head to the side considering. Then he straightened, "Yep!" He picked her up, gave her a hard kiss before setting her back on her feet. Mara swatted at his chest without any force. She left the room muttering and shaking her head, secretly amused.
Luke had once again donned the Jedi black outfit. Mara wondered if it was the very same clothes she had seen him wear when he had entered Jabba's palace all those years ago. Probably, she smiled wryly to herself. He didn't give up on anything easily, including an outfit. He sure took devotion to another level. He didn't look much different, a little older, but he still had that intensity about him that seemed to eclipse everyone else.
Mara returned shortly dressed in a black leather outfit. It clung to her figure, leaving her arms bare. Her lightsaber hung on her utility belt. Her red gold locks were twisted in a simple braid that hung over her right shoulder.
Luke felt his cool composure warm at the sight of her and eyed her appreciatively. "How did you get dressed so fast?"
Feeling the heat of his gaze, Mara smiled wickedly. "Maybe I'll show you later. Come on Master. Let's go."
Luke followed, shaking his head and silently laughing.
Luke rented a two person air speeder and Mara did not say a word when he took the helm. He flew with a speed that was both breathtaking and exhilarating. Mara had always know Luke was an excellent pilot, but she never really realized how alive he became when he was flying. She enjoyed seeing him so happy and free, and she shared this with him. Luke dazzled her with a smile and it was with brilliant grins on both their faces that they landed on the lowest habitable level of the city.
The gleaming ship stood out in the dark grime of the level, where sunlight never penetrated. They cautiously exited the vehicle and were joined shortly by the Solos and the Wookie. They could see a similar vehicle parked behind a pile of rubbish. Leia was dressed in a practical off white jumpsuit with numerous pockets. A heavy utility belt seemed like it weighed the petite woman down, but she moved with ease. Han wore his Corellian blood stripe pants and his customary brown vest. Chewbacca held his bowcaster at the ready.
"Nice place." Leia said dryly.
"Only the best for you, sweetheart." Han said.
"Any trouble?" Luke asked reaching out with the force. Danger seemed to surround them, but was not directed at them.
The walls seemed to leak engine oil and ancient refuse littered the narrow alleyways and hung precariously from narrow walkways crisscrossing the sky overhead. Vermin scurried across the ground, but there were no sight of sentient life.
"Nah, you kidding? Nothing a few well placed blaster bolts couldn't handle, but I'd secure your ship and don't count on recovering your deposit." Han warned.
Chewbacca said something and Han added, "I was just about to tell them, fuzzball. Chewy suggests that you remove the main motivator switch."
Mara showed something in her hand. "Or the drive stabilizer works just as well." Han laughed.
Luke smiled as Mara pocketed the small object. "Standard procedure." She muttered.
They picked their way cautiously through the refuse hearing the low buzz of neon lights and alien voices. When they rounded a corner they discovered a disreputable tapcafe. The placard read in both Bocci and Basic, "Final Resting Place."
"Oh, I feel so much better now." Leia commented.
"Don't tell me the coordinates are in there." Mara said.
"Fine. I won't tell you." Luke replied dryly.
"If we all go in together, we'll look like we're a part of the Freedom Day Parade." Mara said.
Luke nodded and said, "I'll go in first."
"Oh no, your not going in there alone. I distinctly wrote on my agenda for today, 'No pulling Skywalker's butt from the fire'." Mara commented.
Chewbacca chuckled.
"We'll all go together." Han insisted.
Chewbacca growled agreement while Mara said, "Okay, but not all at once."
"Agreed." Luke said.
"Han and I will go first. Mara and Leia wait ten minutes before you join us. And where are the noghri?" Luke asked.
Leia looked around concerned, she said, "Maybe they're inside?"
"I hope so." Luke said. "Chewbacca, you do a sweep of the area, see if you can find any sign of the noghri."
After they all agreed, Han gave Leia a quick kiss, saluted Mara and Chewbacca jauntily and turned to go inside. Luke shot Mara a long look, then turned to follow Han. Once they were gone, Chewbacca growled at Leia reluctant to leave her.
"We'll be fine, Chewy, go on." Leia encouraged.
The Wookie left grudgingly.
Mara and Leia regarded each other and Mara said "Let's move away from the entrance. I feel like a Camino jellyfish on the sands of Tatooine."
They walked away from the doorway and into a small alley. Mara busied herself with checking her power pack, knowing full well that it was completely charged. Leia watched her, sensing the woman's discomfort in her presence.
"I won't bite, you know." She soothed.
Mara shot her a scornful look and said, "You don't actually think I'm afraid of you?"
Leia shook her head. "No, but you're uncomfortable being with me. Han told me about you and Luke."
"Is this the part where you tell me to stay away from your brother?" Mara asked.
Genuine shock radiated from Leia. "No this is where I ask you how you really feel. I'm not blind. I can see that there is something between you two. Luke positively glows in the force whenever he's near you."
Mara considered her words, touched by them and by her admission. "Luke always glows." Mara said softly.
"You're in love with him, aren't you." Leia said. Her words were so low, her demeanor so inviting that Mara almost confessed to her.
"I can see how you've succeeded as a diplomat." Mara commented.
"I just want to be friends. I love him too, Mara."
"I know. You mean the world to him."
Leia's mouth tipped upward in a sardonic smile, "Yes. But I believe you mean even more. I'm not jealous, if that's what you're thinking. I just don't want to see my brother get hurt again. I don't think he could survive another heartbreak."
Mara's respect for Leia went up a notch and she smiled the first true smile at this beautiful, brown eyed woman.
Leia returned the smile. The warmth flowed between them through the force. "My brother is an amazing man. He's strong and loving, but he's thick headed like most males." Leia said, "Tell him. I guarantee you won't regret it."
Mara considered her advice, "I'll think about it."
The comlink chirped. Mara swore, realizing that they were late.
Leia answered it, "We're coming."
"What's the hold up? Do you want us to come out?" Han's voice was concerned.
"No. We were just having so much fun we lost track of time." Leia said sarcastically to her husband, rolling her eyes at Mara.
Mara smirked.
"Well, why don't you come in here and share some of the fun." Han said.
"We're on our way." Mara said into the comlink.
The minute Han and Luke stepped into the tapcafe, the place grew silent. The majority of the patrons were seated in a large group off to one side. There was a disreputable looking human behind the grimy bar. The air was dank with moisture and smoke. Music emitted from some speakers, there was no live band in sight. Luke's hand hovered over the hilt of his lightsaber still attached to his belt. He stretched out with the force, but did not sense immediate danger. Han swaggered into the darkness and claimed a small booth off in one corner. Luke joined him, sliding across the cracked leather seats.
A black metallic server droid rolled up to the table and said, "What's your order?"
"Nothing right now." Luke replied.
"If you don't order, you have to leave." The droid said.
"What my friend here meant to say is that we'll both have the house draft." Han said, leaning back into the worn cushions.
The droid left without another word.
"Polite server droid." Luke said sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, I don't think the locals notice." Han replied, indicating the group on the opposite side of the room. They were eyeing them with malevolent interest. Luke sat ramrod straight in the chair opposite Han. "Relax, kid. Blend in a little. You look like an easy mark."
Luke immediately slumped into the seat and Han suppressed a smirk. Luke still looked out of place, and now he appeared vulnerable. Luke smiled sheepishly up at Han and said, "No good, huh?"
"Don't worry, Luke. I don't think this crowd is use to strangers anyway."
Luke glanced around the room, noting the layout. There was an opening toward the back, probably a storeroom. There were numerous unoccupied tables scattered around the room, and a broken down turbolift door off to one side. It had probably been out of service since the clone wars.
"So you told me to ask you again later, so I'm asking. What's with you and Mara?"
"Hmmm?" Luke asked, pretending to be too distracted to answer him. His mind was racing trying to think of what to tell his brother-in-law.
"Come on, kid. I saw that kiss. That wasn't two friends exchanging a friendly peck on the cheek."
Luke blushed and kept his head turned away. He regained his composure quickly and turned to meet Han's gaze. "I don't really know."
Han waited patiently for the Jedi to continue.
"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. We seem to be connected somehow, through the force. I've never wanted anyone more in my life." Luke blushed again at this last comment, embarrassed that he had revealed so much. Han always made him feel young again. He was never the Jedi Master with him. He wondered if he would ever feel like more that a moisture farmer with this seasoned ex-smuggler.
"Passion's good. Does she feel it too?" Han knew the answer to this, but he wanted to make sure and besides, he enjoyed seeing the kid squirm.
"Yeah." Luke said dreamily.
Han cleared his throat and said, "I know Mara Jade, or at least I know her type. Now, don't get all defensive on me and let me finish." Han said the moment he saw the Jedi sit up straight, his eyes becoming ice blue chips.
"What I mean is, that women like Mara feel deeply but never like to let it show. If you've managed to go to bed with her and you're still breathing, I would bet that you're pretty special to her." Han said earnestly.
His sincerity immediately put Luke at ease and he smiled at the man, "She's a pretty special woman." Luke agreed.
"So. . .uh. . . . Did you . . .uh . . . Oh hell, you know what I mean." Han asked the blond man.
Luke smiled secretively and said, "Hey isn't it about time that Leia and Mara join us?"
Han glanced at his wristchrono and swore, "They should have been in here five minutes ago." He activated the comlink and said, "What's the hold up? Do you want us to come out?" Han's voice was concerned.
"No. We were just having so much fun we lost track of time." Leia replied sarcastically. Han shot a questioningly look at Luke and he shrugged hiding a smile behind the back of his hand.
"Well, why don't you come in here and share some of the fun." Han said.
"We're on our way." Mara said.
"Wonder what they were up to. I sure hope it was safe to leave them together." Han said.
"Mara would never harm Leia." Luke said with a slightly injured tone.
"I mean, Mara might not survive Leia when she's determined to get to the bottom of something."
Luke laughed, "I knew you two had a lot in common."
Han had the grace to stay quiet. When the two women entered the tapcafe door, the room descended into quiet again. The women made there way to another booth next to Luke and Han's. Mara made a show of flirting with the two men and Leia caught on and smiled invitingly to Han. Han leered suggestively at her and motioned for them to sit with them in their booth.
"Subtle." Luke said to Mara.
"You had a better plan?" Mara asked archly.
"Hey, I thought it was pretty effective." Han said.
Leia pretended to caress him, and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ow!" He suppressed his outrage quickly when he saw that they had an audience.
"So this is the famous Jedi Vault." Mara said jokingly, eyeing the place speculatively.
Luke snorted and Leia said with mock seriousness, "It doesn't seem worthy enough to come back from the dead for."
"Oh. I don't know. Maybe that bartender is an ex-Jedi Master or something." Han said.
Luke stood up and approached the man.
Mara whispered fiercely, "Way to go, Solo."
"I was just kidding. Can't anyone take a joke around here?" Han asked.
After a brief conversation with the bartender Luke returned to the booth. Just as he slid beside Mara and put his arm around her flamboyantly, the serving droid arrived with their drinks.
"We'll have the same." Mara muttered to the droid.
It disappeared without a word. Han picked up his drink and after sniffing it, left it untouched on the table.
"Aren't you going to tell us what happened?" Mara asked the Jedi.
Luke shook his head when a group of five aliens rose from the corner and approached their booth. The music stopped.
"I don't like the look of this." Han commented.
Three out of the five of the group were some reptilian race Luke did not recognize. Their faces reminded him of scaled down Dewbacks. The fourth was a Hammerhead and the fifth, an oversized human with red cybernetic eyes.
The man spoke, "You're strangers here."
"We're just passing through." Han said, flipping the switch on his comlink under the table.
"We figure you're moving into our territory. This grid is ours and we mean to keep it that way." His voice was dripping with menace.
"We mean you no harm," Luke soothed, using the force to convince them.
The man repeated, "You mean us no harm."
One of the lizard creature hit the man in the back of his head with his two fingered fist and spat, "Jedi."
A Wookie growl caught the group's attention, and three shots came from the doorway before they could even react. Luke pulled the blasters out of the remaining two's hands with the force. They hardly had any time to realized they were disarmed before Leia and Han stunned them into oblivion. Mara had slipped from the booth and had her blaster held to the bartender's head, who was cautiously lowering his weapon.
"It's okay, Mara." Luke said.
"Listen to your boyfriend, girl." the bartender said. "I was just providing back up if things got ugly."
She jabbed him in the head for calling her girl, took his weapon, and only then lowered her blaster.
Han shut his comlink down and said, "Nice going, Chewy."
Chewbacca sound a satisfied growl and lowered his bowcaster.
The bartender said, "They're gonna' be none too happy when they wake up. Better if they do that someplace else."
They worked together to move the unconscious bodies in to the side alley that Mara and Leia had only recently vacated. Chewbacca and Han huddled in a private conversation while Luke and the bartender exchanged a few private words.
Luke returned and told Leia and Mara, "He says that besides the storeroom the only other place to check would be the turbolift."
Han and Chewy had grim expressions on their faces.
"What is it, Han?" Leia asked.
He shook his head minutely, indicating that now was not the time. The bartender opened the back room for them. Han, Leia, and Chewbacca searched the storeroom under the Bartender's watchful eye.
Luke and Mara forced open the turbolift doors to peer inside. After a protesting groan, the dusty alcove received the first light in years. Mara directed a small hand held spotlight into the empty turbolift, shining it on the etched walls and slime covered floor. Insects scurried away from the illumination.
"Doesn't seem like a likely place."
"Maybe it goes up somewhere?" Luke said.
After a lengthy inspect they finally gave up.
"Maybe if we studied a detailed map we can see where this once led." Mara said, but doubt tinged her voice.
Han and Leia had even less luck. Aside from discover a rather old bottle of Alderaniaan wine that Han purchased surreptitiously, they found nothing. The Solo clan returned and shook their heads regretfully.
They left the tapcafe in silence. Chewy led them down a few narrow passageways leading them to the end of an alley. It did not take them long to determine that what first appeared to be a pile of rubbish was actually a pile of dead bodies.
Six dead noghri.
"Who could have done this?" Leia asked in horror.
Mara bent down to examine the bodies. After a moment, she stood up. "They died in different ways." She pointed at one, "This one was stabbed. This one has blaster burns. And I think these other three have been poisoned." She examined the sixth and then said, "I can't figure out what killed this last one."
Han examined the three poison victims and said, "Trulark poisoning, it looks like someone convinced them to drink it. There around the edges." He pointed to some green foam that was still visible around one the dead noghri's mouth.
Luke said, dully, "The last was killed by a lightsaber."
Leia said, "I'll make arrangements for someone to do an investigation and notify their families." Her eyes filed with tears and Han hugged her.
"Shhh." He whispered.
"I sent them here, Han."
"It's not your fault." Han reassured.
"It's mine." Luke said gravely.
Mara grew angry and glared at them, "I'm not going to let any of you take the blame for this. The Sith lord beaten us here. He's responsible for their deaths. And we have to face the possibility that the reason that we didn't find anything, is that there is nothing left to find. It's already been taken."
Chewbacca moaned mournfully.
The stood silently for a moment until Han urged, "Come on, Let's get out of here."
Chewbacca and the Solos left for their ship. Luke stood staring at the dead bodies as if unwilling to leave the alone.
Mara watched him and when she saw that they were alone, she put her arms around him. "Hey." She said, peering deeply into his eyes. It took a moment for the shuttered looked to leave Luke's face and when Mara knew that he was aware of his surroundings again, she said, "Come on, Skywalker, let's go."
Luke nodded reluctantly and put an arm around her. Mara's heart ached for him, knowing how much this had meant to the Jedi, aware of how hard the noghris' deaths were for him. They walked slowly, wearily back to their ship.
Han and Leia watched them pass without a word. Chewbacca powered up their ship while Mara moved to take control of their rented vehicle. She quickly replaced the drive stabilizer and started the ignition.
They left the Final Resting Place far behind.
(Thanks again to Jayde Star)