Spirit of the Shifting Sands
Lucasfilm owns the characters in this story. Many thanks for letting me borrow them. I'm only using them for my own amusement and as such do not gain Imperial credits. Many thanks to Mona for her care of my grammar and the holes in my plot.
Ash
Chapter 4
The lone landspeeder travelled swiftly over the desert's sandy and rocky terrain. The suns had completely set and the darkness was only relieved by moonlight. Like its twin suns, Tatooine had two moons. Crescent shaped, they shed silvery light over curved dunes and carved rock. The golden land had turned to silver. Little pinpricks of light dotted over the heavens. The stars seemed more vivid here where they could be seen without interference.
Silver light kissed the two silent individuals in the speeder. Shadows revealed bone structure, the curve of a cheekbone, the determined point of a chin, like carved stone. Both busy with their own difficult thoughts. The silence wasn't comfortable - exactly.
Mara roused herself finally to break the silence. The desert around them emitted strange unearthly sounds, but between the man and the woman there was nothing. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Where are we going?"
Luke took his time replying. "Home. I guess."
The wordlessness stretched again betwixt them.
Mara sighed. "And where is that exactly?" She drawled.
"Alpha - 1733 - Mu - 90033 - 1st Quadrant."
Mara tried to discern his features in the darkness and failed. She wasn't able to pick up anything from his sense in the Force either. "I suppose that's exact."
"Pretty much. If it hadn't been I don't know where Artoo and Threepio might have ended up." He glanced at her quickly then looked away. "Ben left me his home here on Tatooine if I ever needed somewhere to hide.... Those are the co-ordinates of his hiding place.
"His hiding place and now yours?"
Luke ignored the question. "I've been here for several weeks now. It's habitable."
"Habitable?"
"Not perhaps by your standards, Jade, but we have a roof over our heads." He didn't add that the dwelling had only been with a roof for a week.
"You don't know everything about me, Skywalker."
"No, I don't." His teeth shone white as he threw a smile in her direction. "But that's what makes life interesting." Luke concentrated on piloting the speeder. There was a tricky portion just... about... now.
All Mara could see were black shapes and what seemed to be an impenetrable wall of rock ahead. The occasional touches of moonlight lit up something – a cleft in the mesa wall.
"There it is," Luke muttered. He was piloting them through a narrow rock channel without any navigational aids as though it was broad daylight. Mara was secretly impressed, although she too could do similar tricks. It was part of being Force strong. She felt the man beside her relax and until he did, Mara hadn't realised how tense he'd been. His level of concentration and control these days was phenomenal.
The speeder gradually slowed as Luke manoeuvred into some sort of underground tunnel. Mara deduced that they were in a cave of some kind. Luke pulled a caller from his tunic and activated a forcefield.
"Just in case the sandpeople decide to visit. They're superstitious, actually, but I don't want to take too many chances."
Mara looked confused. Her bewildered face turned to him in the gloom.
"They used to think Ben was some kind of magician and that really spooked them so they kept away." He cut the engine on the speeder and jumped out. Diving into the back of the vehicle he pulled out a couple of glow rods and handed one to Mara. It gave her a chance to gauge her surroundings. But all she saw were the irregular walls of a natural cave. Luke helped her out of the speeder and motioned with the luma to a handful of narrow steps cut into the wall of the cave disappearing upwards.
"I didn't see the steps," Mara murmured.
"That's the intention. My.... home...." he said hesitantly. "Is up there and I'm not hiding – not really."
Mara gave him one of her indecipherable looks and began, carefully, to climb. The first level contained a spacious cellar. But it was empty apart from some crates and obviously newly installed water storage tanks.
"I just put that in - it's very efficient. It's really good to have a supply of real water and hey.... I'm still a moisture farmer at heart." He waved the glow rod with enthusiasm and Mara rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, right. How many times did you tell me that you couldn't wait to get off Tatooine?"
Luke gave a little embarrassed twist of his shoulders. "You have to have somewhere you call home."
Mara nodded. That was still something she didn't have but she understood what Luke was getting at.
"I came here after Bespin. I used this place as a kind of haven. You know – licked a few sores, waited till my artificial hand settled down and I could control it properly. I discovered the lower caves and hired some machinery to cut the steps and prepare this cellar. I haven't really been here since we came to get Han." Luke scuffed the dusty floor with his desert boots. "The last time I visited – the upper property was in such a state of disrepair I couldn't stay."
"So what made you come back?"
Luke grinned. "I needed a challenge and I wanted to have somewhere I could go where no one could find me unless I let them." He smirked at her. "Hiding – maybe I am after all. It took me all of three days solid work to clear all the rubble and debris from in here. I think it must have been had at least ten years worth." He waved the glow rod again. "I've not gotten the lighting working down here yet, but I plan to shortly. The vaporator has to work first. It's still getting settled in."
He turned to the back of the cavern and climbed another set of stairs cut into the rock and they emerged into Luke's home properly. He flicked a switch and the power hummed into awareness.
Mara didn't think she would have been quite so curious to see what Luke considered home. She'd been in his anonymous apartment on Coruscant many times, but it wasn't home. His small set of bare rooms on Yavin had been the nearest thing he'd had to a home in a long time, but something had always been missing. Mara knew how he felt. Her home had been the heart of the Empire and now it was gone.
Luke shrugged lightly. "Home, they say, is where the heart is. It's not a building or even possessions. You and I both know that more than most. Up until now it's been where Leia and Han have been. This is maybe not my real home either, but I'm making sure that it is there for me to come back to whenever I need. I'll always be part of this tenth rate dustball. You can't take the sand from my veins."
"Come on then," she spoke briskly. "Give us the grand tour."
Luke smiled boyishly and swept his arm out in an exaggerated gesture. "As you can see, Madame, the walls are a tasteful…. er….stone, roughly appointed to give that uneven look which is all the rage in the best Coruscant dining rooms."
"Skywalker!" she warned laughing. "It's bigger than I thought it would be – even without the cellar."
Luke's abode was in fact, a typical desert home. The walls were thick enough to keep it cool even in the hottest part of the day, but would also keep in any heat on the cold clear nights.
"I've not had time to decorate or put in any dividing walls yet that might make it seem bigger, there were things that were more important – like a roof."
Mara arched a graceful eyebrow.
"There were holes in the roof – big ones. So rain isn't a problem but I liked the idea of cover. The power and lighting didn't work and the plumbing came out of the clone wars. As I said, it's habitable… just. But I don't need much."
Mara sighed. "You never do."
The inside of the house consisted of one main large room divided into a kitchen area, a sleeping area and a working area. The other smaller room was the 'fresher. Mara stood wrapped in her cloak in the middle of the general living section. Artoo beeped from a portable power source in the corner and Mara whirled round to see where the noise came from.
Luke suddenly remembered his rules of hospitality. "You must be tired."
"I…. yes…." The awkwardness flared between them. Even though the droid was there. Luke and Mara felt very much alone.
Mara pulled the hood from over her bright hair and Luke watched mesmerized as it curled round her face and shone in the artificial light source.
"Here…. you can use this area. Luke pushed aside a curtain to reveal a sleeping pallet. "'Scuse me a second." He grabbed a few things and pulled some blankets from a chest in the corner.
"Skywalker! This is your room."
"Jade! If you'd look around here properly there only is one room. My Aunt Beru would have my hide for not treating a lady rightly. Calling it a room is a bit ambitious anyway."
"I'm not a lady," Mara muttered, embarrassed.
Luke's voice lowered and he fixed his stare on the ground. "In my view you are – and a guest."
"But you're hurt." She referred to the various burns he'd got from the earlier blaster fire.
"I've healed," he replied brusquely. "Now Mara…" he moderated his voice. "I insist."
"Spare me the Jedi routine, farmboy. But thanks." She glanced up. "Luke…. We have to talk – there are things happening out here."
"I know. We'll do it tomorrow. Goodnight."
Again the awkwardness. "Night then," Mara mumbled avoiding looking at him.
Luke had crossed to Artoo and deliberately busied himself with the little droid. Mara stood for a second more, her gaze filled with a longing she herself didn't understand, before pulling the curtain aside and slipping behind it.
Once she'd gone Luke let his own gaze travel to the spot where she'd stood. His face unknowingly held the same expression Mara's had. Artoo twittered beeped and rotated his little head.
"I'm fine. Yes…" Luke tried to interest himself in the little droids chattering and not in Mara readying herself for bed behind the curtain. "I'll tell you tomorrow, Artoo. Did the diagnostic go okay? Good… Have you run figures with the x-wing yet? Yeah! I'm sure Threepio is fine…. and missing you."
Mara lay in the darkness listening to Luke's gentle tones as he fussed over Artoo before she drifted off to sleep.
"That man and his droids.…"
***************************************
Luke tossed some remotes into the air and Artoo let out a stream of electronic gibberish.
"Okay, Artoo.... You have control." He grinned and activated the green blade of his lightsaber.
Mara struggled to consciousness with the sound of a saber. Where was she? She hadn't slept this well for a long time. Showering and dressing quickly she moved towards the sound. The main door was open and through it she glimpsed Luke's faithful droid.
"Morning sleepyhead."
"Shut it, Skywalker," she growled.
"Uh oh. Not a morning person, eh, Jade?" Artoo twittered a laugh.
Luke spun and parried as the remotes shot multiple bolts at him. He let the Force guide him again and again and blocked each shot with ease.
Mara gaped, her temper forgotten. He wasn't even breathing heavily and why did he persist in parading about in front of her without his shirt on. Not that she didn't like to look. She did and that was the problem. She shouldn't be finding Skywalker attractive after all these years but she was. At least the beard had gone. He must have taken her at her word and shaved it off.
It was a beautiful morning. The kind of day on which even non-desert dwellers saw its true beauty. Tatooine's two suns were still low in the sky and the horizon stretched clear into the blue. The panoramic desert vista caught Mara's eyes and for an instant distracted her away from Skywalker and his morning drill.
Luke deflected some more shots but watched his new student carefully. With satisfaction he noted the lightsaber at her hip.
The warning to her danger sense was immediate as Luke's remote turned and started firing at Mara.
"Not fair, Skywalker."
"Since when do you give an attacker an appointment, Jade?"
Her saber flew from belt to hand and she activated the blue blade to block the barrage of bolts now aiming in her direction. The thick mass of her hair glowed like swirling fire as she rotated swiftly, the blade of her saber flying in the stillness of the morning.
Luke scrutinised the slender, compact figure as vivid as a flame in the dark. He had never seen anything more beautiful. Moving to sit on a boulder beside Artoo, Luke rested his hand comfortably on the droid's head. He sent one or two technical ideas to her through the Force and nodded with satisfaction as she took them on board. But with her natural dancer's grace and athleticism little adaptation was needed.
"Correct your position there, Jade," he cautioned as one of the blasts singed the tail end of her overtunic. "You have to react before it happens."
"What! I'm already too late." She swivelled and poked her saber at the remote.
"Yup! He sent another seeker ball into the air.
"Skywalker!" Mara's voice rose in indignation.
"Come on, Jade, let the Force flow. It's like a dance."
"Ow!!" Her green eyes darkened as anger began to brew.
"We don't need anger or frustration. Remember... the dark side.... Free your ability. Let go, Mara." He remembered that piece of advice very well. It was fitting that he pass it on to Mara. She was certainly fitter than she'd been three months ago. The guys on Pii 3 had certainly aided him in that department. Although Mara was the kind of person who would keep herself in good condition. "You've been working out, Jade - that's good."
"Among other things," she panted as her blade flashed to intercept the seeker balls.
"Well done." Luke called the remotes to his hand and threw her a rough towel.
Wiping the sweat from her face and neck, oblivious to Luke's steady regard, she gazed at the view from the top of the bluff where the simple house was situated. She could see for miles. Cliffs and canyons gave way to rocky mesas and finally to the impenetrable desert itself.
Luke handed her some bread, fruit and a glass of water. He came and sat beside her.
"My first lightsaber lesson took place on the Millennium Falcon on the way to rescue Leia. I remember being sore from the stun bolts because they kept hitting me. Ben kept telling me to feel the Force and let go my conscious thought. I've never been keen on losing my control. I have to keep practising because I was such a late starter."
Mara pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I can't remember my first lesson clearly. But I know I was very small. I had training in all aspects of weaponry, martial arts, piloting. Everything I needed to become the Emperor's hand I was taught, I suppose."
Luke put out his hand and carefully covered Mara's.
"I don't need your pity, Skywalker." She shot at him defensively. But she didn't remove her hand from under his.
********************************************************
Yavin 4
"Someone's coming." the small boy announced composedly.
"Eh! What?" Han blearily opened his eyes and ran a hand through his already tousled hair. The figure of his mother in the bed next to Han rolled over and squinted at her son through the gloom. Shifting the covers Leia shuffled to a sitting position and Han did likewise. The solemn small face stared at his parents.
Leia reached out with the Force and switched on low-level lights. As her eyes adjusted she gazed at Anakin in disbelief. "What?" She squinted at the bedside chrono. "It's the middle of the night."
"Someone's coming. Now." Anakin replied resolutely.
Han groaned quietly and fell back on his pillow. At times his youngest son looked more like his Uncle Luke than anyone else in the family. The blue eyes had the same clarity as Luke's and that uncanny effect Luke had developed of seemingly seeing inside of you. But his son's resemblance to his best friend was not appreciated at this point in time. "So!" he mumbled sleepily.
"This one is important. I can feel it."
Han swung his feet on to the stone floor and gradually got himself out of bed. "No – you stay here." He said to his wife. Leia had been totally shattered that evening after extra gruelling training runs through the Yavin jungle. "I'll go and see what's happening." He knew Anakin would be right. For such a small person he was amazingly accurate in his predictions. He grabbed his robe and held out his hand to his son. "Come on, Junior. Let's go see."
*******************************
The communications centre at the Jedi School was unusually busy for the middle of the night. Kyp rubbed his eyes wearily. An incoming ship was broadcasting to land. Nothing for weeks and then it was like Coruscant at rush hour."
"It's an x-wing!" the little voice exclaimed.
Kyp didn't need the disturbance in the force to tell him that Anakin Solo had found out about the ship. He glanced down at the small wide-awake person. Then looked into the bleary eyes of his father.
"Don't ask. We found him at the bottom of the bed. It's very disconcerting at three in the morning. He looks like Skywalker at that time."
Kyp laughed. "I hate to point this out to you Han, but he looks like Skywalker most of the time, apart from the hair."
"Is it an x-wing?"
"I don't know yet. It's not Luke." He jerked his head towards Anakin who was gazing at the view screen. "We would know if it was."
"I think most of the Jedi in the building would know. Luke has this signature in the Force that shines out to everyone."
The pilot transmitted his clearance codes and was given his permission to land.
"Hey…. It's Wedge. Anakin…. back to bed."
"But!"
Han's hazel eyes twinkled for a second then his voice warned. "Anakin. You'll see Wedge tomorrow."
*************************************
Wedge Antilles was tired. He felt as if he'd flown from one end of the galaxy to another. Waiting for him at the end of the ramp were two figures. One in a dressing gown and the other in a Jedi robe.
"Well, well, Commander Antilles."
"Han... Kyp."
"I don't suppose you're here on a pleasure trip."
"No, I'm not. Han I need your particular skills. Where's Chewbacca?"
"Kashyyyk."
"How soon can you get him here."
"I'll call him immediately. Where do want me to go?"
Wedge glanced at Kyp, who bowed slightly and left.
"Did you have to do that? He could get the information from you if he really wanted to."
Wedge had the grace to look a little shamefaced. "General Cracken said to tell only you and Leia. Oh... and I don't suppose you know where Luke is?"
"No," Han drawled slowly.
"That's funny. Because nobody does."
Han felt he was going through a bad time loop. "What do you mean 'Nobody does.'"
"Last time I saw him was in Coruscant about three, four months ago. I've not heard from him since, so I thought he was here. Then I heard he'd been on Pii3. But Mara told me he was off doing some Jedi thing and she didn't know where he was."
"Oh, no. I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Mara seemed a little uneasy about the whole thing."
Han sat up a little at this. "Well she was supposed to be going to train with him." He grinned wickedly. "He's finally worn her down."
"I'm just glad I wasn't there when that was happening. Mara can be.... fiery. But I'm not totally convinced that she is completely unaware of his whereabouts. There was just something... She did mention a place called Dagobah."
Han shrugged. "Dagobah was where Luke trained. It's not on any of the star charts. So it's possible. Mara can be funny about Luke. I've never totally understood their relationship, but one thing I do know. If either one of them is in trouble the other will help. They may moan about it - a lot - but they'll help. Where did you run into Mara?"
Wedge hesitated. "Pii 3. She's been pulled off going to Luke for training and is helping us with some enquiries. It would help if she knew where Luke was. There are things happening… but I can't say more just now."
"Why?"
Wedge gave a tired grin, dark eyes dancing. "I wasn't told anything else."
Han chuckled. "Good a reason as any."
They made their way to the suite the Solos used on Yavin 4. Leia had given up on sleep and was waiting for the two men with mugs of hot caf.
"Wedge, it's good to see you, but it's business isn't it?"
"I'm sorry, Leia, to interrupt your sabbatical like this, but I need to borrow your husband. You don't fit into the territory we're visiting. Or should I say, you're needed on Coruscant."
"Where are you visiting?"
"The Arkanis Sector."
Leia nodded sagely. "Is there still trouble out there?"
Wedge blinked. The former Chief of State was remarkably well informed. "Did Cracken inform you of this already?"
Leia shook her head, glancing at Han as she did so. "No. It was Karrde."
Han scratched his chin. "Of course," he muttered.
Wedge sat down and grabbed his drink. "I don't want to know how Karrde knows about this. But seeing as I'm here I suppose I'd better find out."
Leia pushed her hair back over her shoulders, plumped herself down on the sofa and pulled Han down beside her.
"Karrde contacted me just before we left for Yavin asking if one of his men could be transferred to the Coruscant Imperial Medicentre. He'd been involved in an incident out in the Arkanis sector." Leia could see Wedge turning the space wheels in his brain and his eyes widened slightly.
"Go on."
"One of his freighters was attacked, boarded, the cargo stolen and the crew butchered, apart from one man who was left for dead on Piroket. Karrde thinks it was some sort of warning. Life out on the Rim is lawless and dangerous but this incident is particularly savage."
Han continued. "I know the old guy who survived. Karrde says he may never recover unless his memory is wiped. Something's wrong out there."
Wedge's mouth firmed slightly. "You have no idea. General Cracken would like for you to return to Coruscant if possible. I know he said you could have this time away, but Gavrisom is not coping well with this and he respects your council – say, from a Jedi perspective. Bel Iblis will send a shuttle for you. His flagship is in this area. I know we're asking a lot but I would like Han and the Falcon. He's used to the territory and is good at poking about and asking awkward questions."
"Will you be with the Rogues?"
"Eventually, but we have Cracken, Page and his commandos already in that sector – based on Pii3."
Leia sat up, her face perplexed. "You're saying that you want Han to go.... where.... Tatooine?" she guessed sagely. "But Arkanis Sector is still under Imperial control."
"Barely. There are major difficulties out there. In fact, that area of space is in great danger of descending into complete lawlessness."
"It was bad enough before," muttered Han with a fond grin. He had fond memories of the Mos Eisley and Ryloth spaceports.
Wedge spoke quickly. "We've been contacted by intelligence from the Empire...."
Leia's jaw dropped.
".... they don't think they can hold the area for much longer."
Leia swallowed. "And we don't have the resources to fight for it at the moment or do very much about it," she whispered. "We're almost in a worse shape than we were after the battle of Endor."
Wedge sighed. "Here's the difficult bit. New Republic intelligence would rather that the Empire held on to the Arkanis sector and Imperial Intelligence have asked for our help to do just that."
"Stars of Alderaan," murmured Leia. "Is there to be a truce?"
Wedge grew a little uncomfortable at this. "No. Not according to Bel Iblis. This is a very quiet operation. It's in the interest of the New Republic that the Empire stays strong for a lot longer. They're not interested in fighting us any more but we haven't the resources to do so anyway."
"Why can't we declare a truce and have a peace treaty?" asked Han.
Leia shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think everyone on the inner council would be in favour."
"Why Tatooine?" asked Han.
"All the trouble in the area is being controlled from there. Rumour has it a new crime lord has arisen. In fact some of the more superstitious say Jabba the Hutt has been reincarnated. Someone on Tatooine is undermining the stability of the whole sector. It's worse than when the Hutts ruled. All the petty gangsters are stockpiling weapons and spoiling for a fight. We could have a really powerful warlord, someone worse than Zsinj. The NR doesn't need that kind of problems just now."
"It hasn't the resources to handle it." Leia closed her eyes. "I don't like it."
"None of us do. Can you get to Pii 3? There is the base there."
"Yeah I'll go to Kashyyyk and pick up Chewie. Is Mara still there?"
"She was when I left. I can send a subspace message to find out. The General and Page were going to ask her to help. She knows the situation. She's done it before."
"But she was going to Luke."
"Maybe," voiced Leia thoughtfully. "I think she was going to do some scouting around for Karrde first. I gave him codes so she could get clearance on Pii3. I'll send a message to Karrde and then we'll see. Come on hotshot. Go and get some sleep. Wedge, there's a room for you just down the corridor and I suggest you get some rest too."
Wedge nodded, his pale face indicating how tired he really was.
Leia tapped her fingers impatiently as she waited for her call to be put through to the New Republic base on Pii 3. When connection was finally established she found herself facing a humanoid creature with leathery skin and pale orange eyes.
"Cawdor. It is good to speak with you."
"And you, Princess. It has been a long time. I received your earlier communication about the Fire's Hand. An interesting female – yes, I think."
"Is she still there?"
"I'm afraid not. She left only a few days ago. She's gone to Tatooine."
Leia mouthed a rude word under her breath. 'Damn, she'd missed her.'
"But may I say it was a pleasure, yes, to finally meet Jedi Skywalker."
"What! Luke's on Pii 3."
The alien sighed. "I'm also regretful that he is not present. After he cleared the arrival of the Fire's Hand, he left. But I do not know where."
"Oh, I think I do," Leia muttered grimly. Luke was just the living end. "Did he and Mara leave together?"
Cawdor looked surprised. "Oh no, Princess. Jedi Skywalker has not been in our presence for at least two months."
"Then how did he know about Mara..... Forget that." He knew. 'Dagobah! My hairy bantha…' She cleared her throat. "My husband, General Solo, and his first mate, Chewbacca of Kashyyyk, will be arriving shortly. Tell General Cracken they will meet him there."
Cawdor smiled. "I will do as you ask, Princess."
Leia leant back in her chair in the communications centre. She'd given up on sleep but it was still the depth of the night, and the place was finally quiet. Well, Mara may have put her training with Luke on hold, but his twin had few illusions about what was going to happen. Mara was going to Luke whether she liked it or not. It was inevitable. In fact it was their destiny. They'd always been linked by something. Not as strong as the bond Leia shared with her twin, but something had always been present. There was an emotion – Leia didn't know what it was and she thought they didn't either. One thing had been cleared up. She could now, roughly give the population of a planet, tell where Luke was hiding himself. This wasn't good and it could ruin everything.
Han clattered into the room. "I take it you're finished there, sweetheart." She lifted her eyebrows. "Wedge? Oh, he's out for the count in one of the guest suites. I don't even think he took in the decor. These guys are still napping where and when they can. I don't think I could do that for very long these days."
"We've cleared up one mystery. Well, I think we have."
"We have - great. What?"
"Luke."
"Where is he?" relief was evident in Han's voice.
"We think he's on Tatooine and Mara's headed off there too."
"Tatooine! I might have known. I think there's gonna be quite a party out there. I would bet that Karrde will be in the area too." He pursed his lips. "I should have guessed that the kid would be where the trouble was. He attracts it."
"Doesn't he just," Leia's voice was resigned. "Come on, flyboy. You better get some sleep. I get a feeling it will be in short supply on Tatooine. I'll stand guard just in case Anakin decides to visit." Her voice sounded bright, but her face held a troubled expression that Han did not see. Tatooine was the last place she wanted her brother to be.
Tatooine
Mara's fingers tightened round the glass of water and she gulped at it gratefully. It gave her an excuse to remove her hand from under Luke's. Strange - she still felt it tingle where he'd touched her.
"What is it, Mara?"
"Luke.... I... can't stay here. I have to go." She felt the disappointment, regret and..... hurt emanating from him before it all disappeared behind a wall of impenetrable Jedi calm. Emperor's bones - she hated him when he went all emotionless Jedi Master on her. Especially now that she knew him so well. Luke's problem, or his strength, was his emotion - his caring for others.
His face a mask, Luke enunciated clearly. "Any particular reason? Is my teaching not satisfactory?"
Mara's temper began to bubble at his lack of faith in her. "Mistress Mara," the little voice in her head said. "You'll find him and look after him. He's depending on you." Jacen's serious face in the apartment on Coruscant swam into her mind, followed by Leia's anxious face. "Be kind to him, Mara". Then a voice she didn't recognise - deeper, more serious. "I'm depending on you, Mara Jade. Don't let your anger stand between you. Don't let him down. He needs you." Mara wasn't sure how she knew but she was certain. It was Obi Wan.
"Mara! I thought you were finally going to stop being a coward about your heritage and face up to reality here."
Wham! The next thing Luke knew was the hard wall of his home behind his naked back and furious green eyes glaring at him, a blaster at his throat.
"I could kill you, Skywalker. I don't take that from anyone - even you."
"What - coward?"
Luke waited for Mara to answer as part of him began to die inside. He'd begun to hope, to dream, to really feel that life was something you participated in to the maximum. Training Mara to knighthood was something that had become of paramount importance to him and again she was leaving before she completed her training. She didn't trust him to do it correctly.
"You have no right…" she snarled into his face. "No right…"
"Mara?" Luke kept his voice cold. He could hear it and his heart and soul cried out to stop. But the blaster was still at his throat, the rough walls of the adobe hut digging into his back.
Mara stood rigid as if in a trance - her green eyes wide and staring. Luke fidgeted in her grasp. He could have gotten out of it if he'd wanted to. Then suddenly, she let him go and fled into the dwelling.
'Go after her' his mind prompted him. 'Don't be a fool. Listen to what she says. If you listen, she'll explain'.
Luke subsided onto his boulder. "Damn!" he swore. He could feel her distress from here and it had to be him that had caused it. Mara Jade didn't upset easily.
Slowly, feeling as if he'd aged ten years in the past few minutes, Luke made his way into the house. Mara sat on the sleeping pallet with her face to the wall. He could see her shoulders give a tiny tremor.
"Mara...."
"Go away."
"I'm sorry. We should know by now that we hear out what the other person says before we, or rather, I jump to too many conclusions. Why is it that with you I descend into the kind of juvenile behaviour a ten-year-old wouldn't be proud of? Don't you know you're one of my best friends? Apart from Han and Leia you're about the only one I can truly be myself with - nasty temper and all. Mara… please don't shut me out. Look, I'm sorry for calling you a coward." His voice quickened anxiously as she continued to shut him out and face the wall. "I was just disappointed. I'd hoped to… ah hell, you know what I've hoped. For ten years I've hoped. Please Jade, tell me why you can't stay. Is it me? Do you think I can't train you properly...?"
She came back into the present and turned to face him. Her green eyes were luminous with the gleam of unshed tears.
"Aw, Sith." He pulled her roughly into his arms and she sobbed into his bare shoulder. When the storm of weeping had finished he tilted up her chin and gazed into her face, his blue eyes just inches from her own. Lifting his hand he shakily chased a tear from her cheek with a gentle finger. He'd never seen her cry before - hadn't thought she could.
He opened his mouth to apologise yet again when she forestalled him by placing her finger in front of his lips. "Ssh," she whispered. "It's me who's sorry. I pick the worst times and I tell you in the worst way...."
Luke felt the touch of her hand and, succumbing to temptation, kissed it softly. He was rewarded when she pulled it away. Her head buried back in his shoulder.
"Mara! You know that I'd hoped from the moment we met that eventually I could be granted the privilege and the honour of training you to knighthood. It would definitely be an honour and a priviledge."
"I don't want to go." The admission seemed to surprise her. "I want to stay here and complete my training. I don't want anyone but you to train me – I never have." She looked him in the eyes again. "But I've things to do. Promises I want to keep.... I need...."
"What do you need?" It struck Luke that it wasn't something Mara Jade said very often. To hear her say it now sent some feeling to his frozen heart.
"I need your help, Luke."
Luke squeezed her shoulders in what he hoped was a reassuring, friendly, Jedi Master type of squeeze. "Then you have it."
A quick hint of her old asperity crept over the suddenly expressive face. "Skywalker!" she drawled. "Hadn't you better consider it first?"
He appeared confused for an instant. "Why? You asked for my help. It must be important. What's to consider?"
Mara rolled her eyes. "Oh, never mind." Reckless that's what he was – reckless. She disentangled herself self-consciously from his embrace.
"I get the feeling I'm involved anyway. You will tell me what it is. As long as it doesn't involve me breaking any of my bones..."
"Skywalker," Mara managed a genuine smile. "Shut up." And kissed him.
Something sizzled through the Force. Mara stared at Luke aghast at what she'd done. Luke sat stunned, his mouth open in complete stupefaction. Whatever he'd expected it wasn't that. Eyes met, faces flushed, breathing quickened and hearts pounded loud in their ears. They both glanced away nervously. On Coruscant it had been a game. I dare you. The game had been to push each other to a reaction. How far would they go before they backed down. In the desert wilderness there was no place for these false emotions and pseudo-sophisticated games. Everything had been stripped bare. One wrong move and the emotions would bruise and hearts would bleed.
"Oh Sith!" Mara whispered. "I shouldn't have done that.
"Maybe not," Luke answered quietly. "But you did."
It had been such a simple open kiss – direct and to the heart. Their previous encounters had been more involved but shallower in nature.
"Why, Mara?"
"I don't know – it was an impulse."
Luke's gaze fell as he turned away from her. "Don't play with my feelings, Jade. They're kinda fragile."
"I'm sorry, Luke." Mara put a tentative hand on his 'still' bare shoulder. The skin was warm and smooth. Mara closed her eyes and a storm of 'something' slammed into her gut. Luke, as attuned to Mara as he unknowingly was, groaned. Her hand moved, caressed, stroked....
"Mara...." Luke pleaded. "You have to stop this now.... ahh....!" He tried to visualise in his mind's eye all the things that would dampen the ardour of any man. But the idea of Threepio, all the snow on Hoth and the Death Star's garbage compactor, failed miserably to have any effect on his now out-of-control libido.
Mara paid him no heed, caught up in the hedonistic spell of his flesh. He still faced away from her so she continued her exploration of his shoulders and back.
When she replaced her stroking fingers with her lips, kissing the scratches she'd inflicted on him earlier by pushing him against the wall, Luke shuddered. Abruptly he turned to face her and fiercely covered her lips with his own. Then he pulled himself away and stood at the open door, his shoulders heaving with the effort.
"Luke..." She watched as he struggled for control. Finally he turned to face her, his blue eyes shuttered, his expression remote.
"I have to be sure this time, Mara. I…." his voice cracked. "You have power over me Callista never, ever could have."
Mara closed her green eyes and when she opened them the seriousness of the knowledge was there in her expression for him to see. "I know Luke – I know."
*************************************************
Yavin IV
"Mistress Leia!" Threepio's stilted metallic tones rang down the corridor.
"Ssh! Threepio. People are sleeping."
"Oh, I do beg your pardon. But I wanted to know. Is General Solo to be in contact with Artoo Detoo?"
"I don't know. It depends if they locate Luke."
"Master Luke!" Threepio's voice rose in panic. "Is he missing?"
"Not exactly," Leia hedged carefully. "He's just keeping out of sight for a while." 'I would know if anything was wrong,' she told herself. 'I would know'.
"Can I give General Solo a message to take with him to give to Artoo?"
"I think that will be fine, Threepio." Leia smiled. She never stopped to marvel at Threepio's affection for his counterpart, when everyone said that droids could not have feelings. Leia, in the case of Threepio and Artoo, begged to differ.
She watched from the door of the chamber as Han kissed each of his three sleeping children. Anakin had finally given up on seeing Wedge properly as the pilot had either been sleeping or in contact with Coruscant. Anakin had remarked to his mother in a lofty tone that he would see Wedge when he came back and to tell Mistress Jade to look after Uncle Luke. "'Cause he never does it for himself and it wasn't good for mummy to worry so much as he was a terrible one for getting into trouble." Leia had blinked back a quick tear at that. Anakin was definitely more like his Uncle Luke than anyone else in the family. The sense of obligation Luke had as part of his character must run in the genes.
Han came to his wife and engulfed her in his arms. "I love you."
"I know."
Their standard method of farewell they'd perfected over the years. It didn't make the parting any easier, but it sustained them over vast distances.
"When do you leave for Coruscant?" Han asked as they waited for Wedge to arrive
"The ship should arrive in Yavin's orbit in five days time. But I think I'll leave the children here. It's probably the best place for them. Winter will come and supervise. After all Tycho will be flying out to join Wedge. So Winter and small Corran will come and stay on Yavin."
Winter had finally married Rogue Squadron's second-in-command, Tycho Celchu, and two years ago had borne him a son known affectionately as small Corran. Not that Corran Horn, his namesake from the Rogues, was particularly large, but when trying to distinguish which Corran was being talked about the appellation was helpful.
The orange garbed figure of Wedge Antilles wandered slowly along the hall. "My x-wing has been secured to the Falcon. Next stop - Kashyyyk."
"Give my love to Chewie and Malla, Han. Apologise for the interruption. I don't think Chewie's ever had Solo-free-time on his break with his family."
"Chewie won't mind. He'll have itchy feet by now. Malla loves to have him home, but is kinda relieved when he takes off again. That's why they've been together for…. must be about a hundred years."
"Don't even think about adding a comment to that nerfherder, because I would know," Leia warned darkly while Wedge smothered a laugh.
Han embraced his wife one more time then turned to go up the Falcon's ramp.
"General Solo, General Solo," Threepio's voice called out urgently. "Could you take this message cube and data disk to Master Luke and Artoo?"
"I might not see them."
"Could you take it just in case you do?"
Han rolled his eyes. "If I must, Goldenrod."
"Dear, oh dear, oh dear…" Threepio huffed as if he was out of breath.
Han grabbed the messages from the droid and disappeared from sight. Leia watched until the Falcon vanished into space. "Come on Threepio. It's time to get the children up for lessons."
***********************************************
Tatooine
"Tell me," Luke stared at the dusty floor. "Why do you need my help?"
Mara grimaced. She'd almost gotten a reaction from him. One that she wasn't sure she could handle, but it had felt wonderful. She'd never felt like that in her life before. She steadied her breathing, reaching for calm where she could. "One of Karrde's ships was attacked not far away from this system. The whole crew was killed, apart from the pilot who was practically beaten to death." Her voice darkened as she again relived the horror. Luke came back inside and sat beside her again. Unconsciously his arm went back around her shoulders offering comfort. The pilot, Calas Hinden - a good man, has been severely traumatised by this. They butchered his friends in front of his eyes. All were good men."
"You tried to help didn't you."
"Yes," she whispered. "I can't understand why I was so sickened by the whole thing. You know I haven't exactly had a spotless career. I've killed my fair share, but never..."
"So cruelly without feeling. You were merely carrying out orders for Palpatine. You were what he made you. It was never really you,"
"Thanks for that, Luke. It doesn't absolve me, but this was so repugnant. I did what I was commanded to do, but I never revelled in it. These creatures were glorying in their evilness. And all around them was the darkness. That's one of the reasons I needed you so badly. I tried to help him reach some light and I failed. I wasn't strong enough."
The green eyes fell guiltily. Luke tightened his left arm round her shoulders and picked up her hand with his right hand. "Karrde wants to find the people who did this and make them pay."
"Yes," she whispered.
"But Mara, revenge is of the dark side."
"This isn't about revenge. These people must be stopped before they do the same to others. Before they harm your friends at Tosche station and other innocent people like them."
"What?"
"Yes, Luke – your friends. Some of the thugs we encountered there at Anchorhead were also on the Prada. I saw them in Hinden's mind. But something feels wrong about it all. Something in the Force... I don't know what it is."
Luke stretched out his feelings towards Mara. "I agree," he said faintly. "I've felt something dark just shimmering out of sight ever since I arrived here" He turned her more fully to face him and drew her into him. "We'll sort it out. Tomorrow we work on some exercises; then we go to Tosche station. We need as much information as possible. I know where we will have to go, Mara." He looked her square in the face. "Do you?"
"Yes. Funnily enough I was going there anyway. The Force moves in mysterious ways and all that. I had a little chat with General Cracken while I was on Pii 3. They have a little undercover investigation for me to carry out. I've done it before."
Luke blanched. "And you agreed. You didn't have to."
"But I won't be alone, Master Skywalker. You'll be there with me and I know I can't do it without you."
"Too damn right. You're not going there without me." His blue eyes blazed fiercely into hers. "Aw Sith..." Luke was fighting a losing battle, one which didn't involve the dark side or any imperials. It was one with himself. He leant forward towards Mara and kissed her.
Mara drew back from Luke, green eyes wary. "Don't play with my feelings either, Jedi Master. Fragile ain't the half of it."
Luke's eyes blazed as if something inside them had just ignited. "Who said anything about playing, Jade? Playtime's over - this is serious."
There was a moment of silence as a question was asked and answered. This time there was no stopping, there was no going back. This time they would take the consequences. It was their destiny. Mara traced Luke's freshly shaven jaw with one fingertip. "Are we being foolish?"
"I don't know, Mara. If this is foolishness then I want to be the fool." He kissed the sensitive point at her throat, then pulled the tunic carefully over her head. Mara clutched at his shoulders as he bent his blond head once more and his mouth covered hers. He parted her lips with such hunger she was shaken to her heart's centre. When did he aquire the power to do this to her? She had no defence left against this onslaught. Luke gathered her slender body closer and began to peel away the remainder of her clothing. Green eyes flashed into blue, skin cleaved to skin. Mara knew Luke wanted her. The sensation of his desire was a physical certainty. The surge of her own response bathed them both as their bodies joined. Neither noticed Artoo rotate his head in something which resembled satisfaction and very quietly close the outside door leaving them in their own private world.
The escalating hunger between them drove them to seek that final fulfilment. Luke's breathing grew hoarse and laboured as his fingers learned every curving contour of Mara's body. She gave herself over to him totally. The power of the Force added sensation and true joining to the lovers who already were closer than they knew. Their rhythm rose until it was too much to bear and, finally, it tipped them over the edge and ultimately into sleep.
*************************
Mara opened one eye. Had she just done what she thought she had? Pulling the cover over her naked body she regarded the still sleeping man. Luke in repose wouldn't strike anyone as powerful. His handsome, tanned face - relaxed. His zest for life, which was reawakening - calmed. Placing her head on his shoulder she curved herself into his body. The son of Vader and the Emperor's hand. Yet they fit like two halves of an Elgorian clamshell. Luke muttered something and turned to face her. She made her own vow there and then. She would protect him with her life, for without him she was empty.
******************************************
Mos Eisley
"Where the hell is she?" Karrde demanded quietly to Aves. "She should have contacted me two days ago." The two men quickly dodged out of the way of a passing dewback. Karrde's face had been stained a dark brown and dressed in rough homespun clothing, he blended in with the natives. The smuggler chief wanted no one to know that he was on the planet.
"When did she leave Pii 3?"
"A week ago according to Cawdor, but he didn't tell us that certain members of NR Intelligence were there and spoke with her."
"How did you find out about that?"
"Contacts, Aves."
"You don't suppose," he lowered his tone even further. "She's managed to find Skywalker."
Karrde froze. "You may have hit the nail with the vibrohammer. But the system Mara mentioned containing Skywalker's whereabouts was not in this sector. Nowhere near this sector in fact. I just hope she hasn't landed herself in serious trouble."
A light flashed on his communicator. "Someone's trying to contact me. Back to the ship," he ordered. The two men covered their heads and fused with the mass of citizens rushing through the rapidly darkening streets of the city. For once, Tatooine's network of spies had failed to recognise Talon Karrde. Mos Eisley was still a place where, at times, you could be truly anonymous.
Pulling the cloth bindings from his head Karrde moved with purpose into the fully mobile communications centre aboard the Wild Karrde.
"Anything from Mara, Ghent?"
"No. But I've managed to locate her ship. It's well hidden but she's here."
Karrde breathed a small sigh of relief. "Good – it's a start. But she should have contacted me by now."
"There's an incoming message for you. Heavily encrypted, but I got through it easily enough. New Republic codes... Here it is. Should have visuals in a second.... There."
The beautiful calm face of High Councillor Leia Organa Solo filled the viewscreen. "Greetings, Talon."
"Leia. It is good to hear from you."
"The pilot, Calas Hinden, has been installed in the Imperial Medicentre. They are going to do what they can for him. It will be slow process I'm afraid."
"Many thanks. Now what can I do for you?"
The face on the viewscreen smiled. "I sometimes think, Talon, that you have a certain amount of ability in the Force."
"No. Just a very wide network of people who owe me favours and keep me informed." He smiled at the thought. "It works in politics too."
"I wanted to know if you would keep an eye out for my brother. I believe he is a resident of these parts. I don't doubt that he will get himself involved in something or other. If you find him could you let General Cracken know? Luke's never been out of touch for so long before without checking in. We must know where he is."
"Ahh!" Karrde glanced at Aves in satisfaction. "We wondered if he might be around."
"You did?" Leia shook her head. "Can I give you a little piece of information as a bargaining credit."
"That would be very useful. I take it this is in complete confidence."
"I'm alone here, yes. I'm returning to Coruscant tomorrow. You already know there are problems in the sector you now find yourself in. These are higher up than you think. The New Republic is sending in an investigative squad. Wedge came for Han last night. Can you find and contact my brother if he's there? He might be able to help. He's part of Tatooine after all. He can pick up nuances, which would pass by anyone else, even other Jedi. Luke is part tusken raider I sometimes think. If you find him - tell him to be careful. And to get in contact with me immediately. I need to talk to him as soon as possible. It is very important that I do."
"I will Leia. Thanks for the tip. I spotted one of Cracken's people on Pii 3. But I mistakenly assumed it was because of the training base."
Leia terminated the transmission and returned to spend the last evening for a while with her children. Meanwhile Karrde turned to Aves and Ghent. "Do we have many informants left in the area?"
"Unfortunately not."
"Pity. But sooner or later Skywalker will show himself. He can't help it. When we find him – we find Mara. I hope."
***********************************************************
In a hut on the Edge of the Dune Sea
Luke shifted slightly in his bed. There didn't seem to as much room as there normally was. And he was all tangled up with something. Then he recalled what he'd spent most of the day doing. Mara really was going to kill him this time. But it would have been worth it.
"Stop thinking so loudly, Skywalker," the voice murmured gently in his ear.
He swivelled into position and wrapped the sheet firmly around his body, before he faced the beautiful woman beside him, her eyes the colour of the new leaves on Ithor and hair the colour of the sunset on Tatooine. Mara chuckled as the Jedi Master actually blushed.
"This isn't a morning after the night before, Luke. So there's no point in getting embarrassed." Then she spoiled the effect and coloured herself. All of a sudden it was difficult to meet his steady regard. Luke lifted his hand and trailed it down her cheek. "Thanks, Jade. That was.... special," he finished quietly.
"I know – it was," and she laid her bright head on his chest. Luke drew her close and just for a short time they lay in total peace.
*************************
The suns were moving into position for their gradual descent into darkness when Luke and Mara decided it was time to move. After Luke cooked something to eat they sat and talked late into the night. Luke told her tales of Jedi long gone and of what his own research had found out about their training. Mara told of her instruction in various martial arts by the best tutors the galaxy had to offer. They then discussed what Mara required for her Jedi training, but didn't talk about the passionate hours spent in Luke's bed. When they felt the urge to sleep the two of them, by mutual consent, climbed into the bed and fell asleep again in each other's arms.
