When a person comes in and starts shooting, the first impulse one has is usually not to stand there and ask stupid questions.
And so Luke said not a word as he ducked behind his furniture and started shooting random blasts at the individual, who had an ysalamir nutrient cage on his back...A few moments later, another ysalamir-bearing humanoid with a weapon came in.
Taking a quick peek over the couch, only to duck back into hiding when a bolt nearly singed his head, Luke managed to see that out in the hall were even more humanoids, and they appeared to be shooting at what was probably Security.
Mara had gotten up to grab a ration bar from the kitchen when it felt like a portion of her brain had abruptly shut off...
Confused, she tried levitating the ration bar, and she found no problem in doing so. But when she tried reaching out through the Force to where her best friend was...she could feel nothing.
She was about to panic when she realized that she couldn't feel anyone around him either. Almost as if...
"Ysalamiri," she sighed out loud. She grabbed a vibroblade, Luke's old lightsaber, and her blaster of choice, and then she went tearing out of her apartment.
The men were coming closer to Luke, and he looked around for cover. He then began crawling towards his bedroom quickly, hiding behind various pieces of furniture. But evidently one of his attackers wasn't using stun bolts, for a very painful and very real laser blast hit his shin, causing him to wince in pain. He didn't slow down, however, and he rushed into his bedroom through the kitchenette, locking the door, though he knew it wouldn't hold for long. Dimly, he heard one of the humanoids shout angrily at the other in a reprimanding tone. Probably for blasting my leg, Luke thought angrily.
Trying to ignore the throbbing of his leg, Luke rushed to his window and tried to open it. But the window was firmly welded shut, and so, lightsaber held out in his hand, he started slicing.
The cut was slow, however, and he could hear the door beginning to strain close to the breaking point. When he knew that he wouldn't be able to get out in time, he dove under the bed, turned his lightsaber off, and waited.
Sure enough, the door didn't last much longer, and the assailants, who had shed their ysalamir cargo (although Luke was still in the Forceless bubble), had entered with weapons drawn. They didn't spy Luke directly since he was in hiding under the bed, and just when Luke was about to jump out and slice them apart, the two slumped to the ground with smoking holes in their backs...and a very smug-looking Mara standing behind them.
Turning around, the robe-clad Mara shot the two ysalamiri, and the Force returned to Luke. "You all right?" she asked, sounding concerned.
Luke nodded. "Thanks to you."
"Well, you can just add it to your tab. You owe me quite a few," Mara smirked.
"How did you get past the guys in the hall?"
"Security had already taken care of most of them by the time I got here."
"Ah," Luke started to get to his feet, but he was back on the ground when his foot refused to hold his weight.
"You're hurt," Mara slitted her green eyes at him, almost accusingly.
"It's just a scratch—"
Mara glanced at his rather nasty-looking leg wound, and then she brought her eyes to his face. "Obviously."
A Security member jogged into the room. "Is everything all right? We've already taken the survivors into custody..."
"He needs to go to the medbay," Mara pointed out.
Luke threw her a glare. "I'm fine."
The man glanced down at the Skywalker's leg, wincing in sympathy. "I think she's right," he stated simply.
Another NRS member entered the room and surveyed the two dead bodies on the floor. Eyes still on them, she asked, "Any idea why you were attacked, Master Skywalker?"
Luke shook his head. "I haven't got a clue."
"I'll escort you to the medcenter," the man stated, and he did so, despite Luke's continuous protests. Mara smugly followed the two.
"That 21-B has some major wires twisted," Luke grumbled as he and Mara left the medcenter. "A week was way too long to stay in the hospital for a leg that was completely healed by the Force and bacta on the second day."
Mara rolled her eyes at him. "Maybe the droid thought you needed a little rest and relaxation time."
"All I did was eat, sleep, talk, and watch outdated holovids about some primitive civilizations that don't even realize that there are other inhabited planets in either their solar system or their galaxy!...And what's worse, they have doors with handles on them that don't open automatically!" Luke's voice elevated a few notches.
Mara put her hand on his arm. "I think you've watched one too many holos."
Soon enough, they reached his apartment, and Mara looked at Luke sternly. "Now, I want you to go inside, rest, and not get into too much trouble."
He glared at her. "It's not me that gets into trouble...It's the trouble that gets into me!" Then he got a confused look on his face, as his statement didn't really quite work out as well as it had in his head.
Mara gave him a strange look. "Now I know you've watched way too many holovids!"
She pushed him inside, gave him a few more instructions, and then left him alone. She had a few things to do.
Ignoring all of Mara's instructions, Luke immediately went to his computer. The blasted thing was addictive.
After booting it up, he settled down in his chair, contented.
But after connecting to the Psych Lounge, Luke noticed that CluelessOnCoruscant was absent. He decided that he would chat with other people in hopes that she would soon appear. Before he started, he glanced at all the names and was somewhat surprised and somewhat unsurprised that he recognized and knew two of the names very well: lilgreenmanami and SpiritsareREALQuothI. They must not have very interesting lives, he thought. Not that my life is that much more exciting...
lilgreenmanami: borin ur life would b 2 if in hiding u had 2 remain
lOvErOfThEuNoRtHoDox: so what is the mamooshka?
SpiritsareREALQuothI: YOBA! Dost thou NOT understandeth that thou must watch thou fat little fingers and thou eavesdroppingith mind?
mam00shka: havent u evr seen the faddams family?
lOvErOfThEuNoRtHoDox: ooo yeaaaaahhhhh
lilgreenmanami: realize it he did not
4EverAndADay: i love you traatn
SpiritsareREALQuothI: that shant b true for eternity
incrediblyhotstuff2330: i luv u 2 honey
SighKo: germs...they're all over our bodies
4EverAndADay: can we elope tomorrow?
ZeldaARudeAwakening: shuddup pyscho, thats nasty
incrediblyhotstuff2330: uh, let me go ask my parents...
SighKo: we can never rid our body of all of those crawl;ing creatures...eatin our flesh...not a care in the world..
KraytDracheDeAmour: wuz up every1?
PINKYISINSANEnotthebrain: the ceilings above my hed but otehr than th nuttinz up
KraytDracheDeAmour: ...
lilgreenmanami: hey krayt. choose would you what: invisible or fly?
SighKo: they just crawl and eat...and eat and crawl...theyre in ur shorts...in ur bed...and even in ur food...
KraytDracheDeAmour: fly definitely.
lilgreenmanami: HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!! TOLD YOU I DID KENNY!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: ...?!
SpiritsareREALQuothI: thou shouldst close thee mouth
call8me8love88buddy8love: any ladies wanna chat w/a hottie? pm me. hu,manoids preferd
lilgreenmanami: give me empty threats you should not
call8me8love88buddy8love: who u callin empty?
Pulpatine1248: SHUT UP ALL OF YOU OR I SHALL BEAT YOU TO A BLOODY PULP
Gary50 entered the room.
Gary50: la meow?
Pulpatine1248: launches at garys throat and grabs hold w/teeth
Gary50: LA SHRIEK!
Gary50 left the room.
KraytDracheDeAmour: ...um has ne1 takled to cluelessoncoruscant?
Pulpatine1248: gets out lightsaber and prepares to slice krayts throaat
lilgreenmanami: busy she is
KraytDracheDeAmour: really?? do u know how i can get ahold of her
lilgreenmanami: since this i do
SpiritsareREALQuothI: the correct spelling beith "sense" dimwit
SighKo: all over u...and they crawl all over u..over every part of u...all of those microscopic bacteria...making a meal of ur body...
lilgreenmanami: DIMWIT I AM NOT, GRAYBEARD!! :( unhappy am I!!
SpiritsareREALQuothI: well thou art not exactly gray hair free theeself DIMWIT!!
incrediblyhotstuff2330: mom said im not rdeay for that kinda commitment
lilgreenmanami: AT LEAST BEARD I HAVE NOT!!
SpiritsareREALQuothI: thou wouldst never make it as an engish teacher
4EverAndADay: SOB I CANT LIVE LIKE THIS!! I AM GOING TO HATE YOU 4EVERANDADAY!! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN TRAATN!!
4EverAndADay has left the room.
lilgreenmanami: engish teacher to be i would not like. hehehe. engish. engish. engish. engish. oppose bology it does eh? Hehehehhehehehehheheheheheh
incrediblyhotstuff2330: NO!! COM EBACK!!
incrediblyhotstuff2330 has left the room.
SpiritsareREALQuothI: its called a typo freakface.
KraytDracheDeAmour: do u know how 2 get ahold of clueless?
achooblessyou: You put your right foot in…
itzjusbootyful: i think u all r a bunch of lozers.
lilgreenmanami: because i'm green it is isn't it?
achooblessyou: u shud talk. "bootyful"? please. that is sooooo last millenium.
SpiritsareREALQuothI: aww i didst not meaneth it yobe.
lilgreenmanami: talking I AM!!
lilgreenmanami: sniffle
Luke stared at the computer. The chatters were acting even stranger than normal.
He glanced at the chrono and then back at the computer. Then he did a double take. He was supposed to be at Leia's for lunch!
KraytDracheDeAmour: g2g, c u l8er!!
lilgreenmanami: bye lukie!!
lilgreenmanami: good LUCK i mean!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: good luck w/what??
SpiritsareREALQuothI: thats real genius yoba.
lilgreenmanami: good luck w/ur life. :D
KraytDracheDeAmour: o... k...
Looking a little alarmed, Luke shut down his computer and rushed over to his sister's.
"Sorry I'm late," Luke said breathlessly. "I got tied up."
"Doing what?" Leia inquired.
"Playing Rebels and Imperials with the kids?" Luke quickly changed the subject, "Something smells good."
And so Leia went along with it, but not after giving her brother a long, calculating look.
Later, when he got back from his sister's home, Luke logged on to the computer. Sadly, CluelessOnCoruscant was not in the Psych Lounge. But maybe she would come soon...Luke hoped so, at least.
SuzyQamI: 15/f/human. ne1 wanna talk?
DejaVuoftheMostExtremeKind: havent u asked me that b4?
smugglingspicesniffsniff: i like womprats. they taste good. they smell good. they look good. they r neat. i want a womprat. mom says no. but i say yes,. theres so much u can do w/em... womprat suop. womprat stew. womprat gumbo.
inotherwords43: 0o oooooooohhhhhhhh
NannerOfGold: #(ô¿ô)# clown
inotherwords43: hehehehhe
NannerOfGold: £¤£
smugglingspicesniffsniff: womprats with noodlez. womprat w/soy sauce. womprat meatloaf.
NannerOfGold: /O-O\ cool
anzatoftheanzati: worm
pisatheHutt: snot vampire
anzatoftheanzati: fatty
pisatheHutt: nasty
smugglingspicesniffsniff: womprat w/veggies. womprat w/kerosene. womprat w/toilet water...
anzatoftheanzati: dumb
pisatheHutt: reclusive
anzatoftheanzati: is that s'posed to b an insult!?
CluelessOnCoruscant entered the room.
"Yes!" Luke exclaimed softly. It was about time. He sent her a pm.
KraytDracheDeAmour: hey!!1 i've been waitin 4 u!
CluelessOnCoruscant: srry. ive been a bit busy
KraytDracheDeAmour: no prob! :)
CluelessOnCoruscant: what happened the other night?
KraytDracheDeAmour: power problem. i believe we were about to exchange names?
CluelessOnCoruscant: yep!! i've been thinkin about it allllllllllllllll day!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: you go first...you might not believe me.
CluelessOnCoruscant: fine. Chicken.
Luke leaned in closer to the screen, not wanting to miss the name in the case of another freak accident. He might want to meet her someday...And he was curious.
CluelessOnCoruscant: know what? i changed my mind. you go first flyboy.
KraytDracheDeAmour: hey thats not fair
CluelessOnCoruscant: So? lifes not fair.
KraytDracheDeAmour: how about i give a letter u give a letter i give a letter u give a letter, etc.
CluelessOnCoruscant: thats not fair. i have a short name.
KraytDracheDeAmour: how many letters?
CluelessOnCoruscant: enough. now come on!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: what if i just give u one of my nickname?s
CluelessOnCoruscant: u give me a nickname i'll give u a letter
KraytDracheDeAmour: sheepishly farmboy.
CluelessOnCoruscant: ...a...
KraytDracheDeAmour: no fair!!1 thats a common letter!!
CluelessOnCoruscant: sorry. too bad.
KraytDracheDeAmour: sorry doesn't feed the pittin.
CluelessOnCoruscant: it doesn't feed me either. now come on!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: i still say that's cheep.
CluelessOnCoruscant: that's what the all say.
CluelessOnCoruscant: they
KraytDracheDeAmour: fine. if ur gonna b a sore loser...
CluelessOnCoruscant: hey i am not the loser here!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: sure.
CluelessOnCoruscant: the only reason i havegn't told u my name is cuz if i did i would scare u off
KraytDracheDeAmour: right.
CluelessOnCoruscant: u'd b surprised.
KraytDracheDeAmour: i'm sure... now come on!!
CluelessOnCoruscant: fine!! how in space can one person be so annoying?!
KraytDracheDeAmour: oh so now i'm annoying huh?
CluelessOnCoruscant: well if the boot fits...
KraytDracheDeAmour: buy it!!
CluelessOnCoruscant: i'md not buyin ur boots!
KraytDracheDeAmour: who said anything about MY boots?
CluelessOnCoruscant: who said anything about saaying anything?
KraytDracheDeAmour: geesh ur stalling longer then a beat-up corellian freighter!
CluelessOnCoruscant: after that comment I SHOULDN'T tell u.
KraytDracheDeAmour: fine.
CluelessOnCoruscant: fine.
KraytDracheDeAmour: fine.
CluelessOnCoruscant: FINE!
KraytDracheDeAmour: ...pweese? whimpers
CluelessOnCoruscant: stang. i can't stanad a man who begs.
KraytDracheDeAmour: who said anything about begging?
CluelessOnCoruscant: shut up now if u want me to tell u
KraytDracheDeAmour: shutting up sir.
CluelessOnCoruscant: GLARE
KraytDracheDeAmour: MA'AM!! I SAID MA'AM!!
CluelessOnCoruscant: im gonna let it go this onec
CluelessOnCoruscant: My name is Jade.
Luke's eyes widened to the point that if they were holes they could have swallowed the Falcon easily.
Jade...
She'd said Jade.
She did say Jade, right?
What if it was a typo, and she'd meant Pade?
Or Jane.
Definitely Jane...
Well...
What if Jade was her first name?
And what if the Falcon was one hundred percent reliable all the time?
You'll never get anywhere with what-if's, Luke told himself, looking back toward the screen.
CluelessOnCoruscant: well?
KraytDracheDeAmour: well what?
CluelessOnCoruscant: ur turn.
KraytDracheDeAmour: u didnt give me ur full name. and is that ur first or last name?
CluelessOnCoruscant: gimme part of your name first.
Luke thought about it. If it were Mara Jade and he lied to her about his identity, then there were several jokes that would be opened up to him that he could play on her...But he couldn't bring himself to do it. There had to be fairer ways to be humorous.
KraytDracheDeAmour: lucas
The minute he typed it and pressed the ENTER key, he slapped his hand to his forehead. He'd argued with himself, and decided not to not lie...And yet he'd lied anyway.
Well, technically it wasn't a full lie. He was 'Luke S.' He had just spelled it wrong. He could be truthful in a moment if he felt like it...And if it was Mara...
KraytDracheDeAmour: u go
CluelessOnCoruscant: all right. but i warned u.
CluelessOnCoruscant: my name is Mara Jade.
Luke could have sworn that his jaw dropped all the way down to the floor and that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. It was her, it was!...Wasn't it?
CluelessOnCoruscant: ur turn.
KraytDracheDeAmour: is that "Mara Jade" as in the ex-emperor's hand? as in possessor of luke skywalker's father's lightsaber, "Mara Jade"?
CluelessOnCoruscant: yeah.
CluelessOnCoruscant: heeey...how did u know that!?s
KraytDracheDeAmour: b/c this is ur boyfriend.
CluelessOnCoruscant: ..i dont have a b/f...especially one named "lucas"
Luke looked hurt...But then she had typed it in rather quickly.
KraytDracheDeAmour: i'm surprised you would disown me so quickly
CluelessOnCoruscant: prove it
KraytDracheDeAmour: we're supposed to go out and "socialize" sometime sooon...that is, when i "heal"...according to u and that stupid droid tsht should go have its gears analyzed
CluelessOnCoruscant: LUKE SKYWALKER? ALL THIS TIME YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ME TO A COMPLETE STRANGER?!
KraytDracheDeAmour: but ur not a complete stranger
CluelessOnCoruscant: but what if I was?
KraytDracheDeAmour: i never mentioned ur name
CluelessOnCoruscant: but what if u had?! shavit Skywalker you are in sooo much trouble!
KraytDracheDeAmour: cant we just kiss and make up? evil grin
CluelessOnCoruscant: those expressions arent gonna work on here, farmboy...but i suppose if u worked on that "kiss and make up" thing very hard...
KraytDracheDeAmour: is now a good time??
CluelessOnCoruscant: forget it, Skywalker. ur still healing!!
KraytDracheDeAmour: but Maaaarrrraaa