Spirit of the Shifting Sands

Disclaimer George Lucas and Lucasfilm own these wonderful characters and locations. I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement. No Republic credits were exchanged in any form.

Ash

Chapter 5

Luke threw the bar into the air and Mara swiftly cut it into three equal pieces.

"Good," he smiled approvingly.

Mara let his approbation sink into her soul and flashed him a cheeky grin. "But...." she drawled mockingly.

"It should have been in at least seven pieces."

"Oh come on..."

"Watch!" Luke launched another bar into the air, then ignited his saber. "See."

"Show off," she muttered sourly, her mood evaporating.

"It's all a matter of control."

"Yeah, yeah."

Luke had spent most of the day tutoring Mara. She was bright and quick and had a strength in the force that he'd rarely seen. The Emperor had trained her in many things as she'd learned to be his Hand. How she'd remained grounded in the light side of the force he knew not, but for that blessing he gave thanks. She'd also picked up things from Luke over the years. Mara already had a lifetime of accumulated knowledge. This was no raw beginner that he was dealing with.

He watched critically as she spun and parried the remote. Her fitness level was extremely high, her saber skill was graceful and her place in the force grew daily. As for her place in Luke's heart, that was something that the young Jedi Master hadn't dealt with yet. He felt her presence with him so strongly it was almost as if Mara herself was joined with him.

Memories of her origins hadn't resurfaced through their brief explorations of meditation techniques and there was a strong possibility that they wouldn't. The probability of Palpatine even leaving anyone alive to tell was unlikely. Luke had told her there were ways of accessing suppressed memories and he could try if she so wished but it was not something to be undertaken quickly or lightly.

"It's all right, Luke. Now is not the time. Whatever past life there was is most likely gone forever. I can live with it. I have to move beyond what Palpatine did to me and make a new life for myself." She looked him hard in the eyes. "And so do you."

Luke lifted his hand dismissively, but he knew she was right. She knew him almost as well as she did herself and slowly the frozen memories he held in the deepest part of him began to thaw and trickle into his conscious thought.

"I'm going to check on the x-wing," he muttered abruptly indicating the large object covered with a camo-net. "I suggest you work on some fitness in conjunction with the living Force". He pointed to the floor of the canyon, far below the place where they stood. "Why don't you climb down? Then we'll work on getting you back up."

Down below them was the entrance to a cave. The way they had come in last night, she realised and now he wanted her to go down the hard way. "There are stairs," she muttered under her breath.

"Surely you don't want it too easy." The look he threw at her was challenging.

Mara threw him a look of thinly veiled dislike and lowered herself carefully over the edge. When she finally reached the bottom of the cliff, she was tired, hot, thirsty and gritty. That sand got absolutely everywhere. She swore it had migrated into places in her underwear.

**************************************

Luke wandered out from the cave the speeder had been parked in. His mood had partially been restored, until he saw the look on the trader's face. 'Uh-oh!' he grimaced inwardly. He recognised that face she was sporting. 'Jedi-trainee Jade is looking distinctly irritable.' He proffered a water bottle and was rewarded by a thin smile.

"I might forgive you," she bit out crossly. "It's cold..... I forgive you." She took a grateful swig and wiped her mouth with the back of her wrist. Putting the lid on the bottle she assessed the Jedi Master carefully. They still hadn't spoken about what had happened between them the previous day. Her own mind shied away from even thinking about it. Something was bothering him, but she didn't think it was.... that.

"What is it?" she asked unable to ignore the feelings emanating so strongly from Luke. "Something's bothering you."

A flicker of something crossed his face, then was wiped and Mara felt a little ache of something approaching pain.

"Skywalker!"

Luke smiled a little forlornly, but didn't answer her. "It's nothing," he said.

The flushed face Mara presented him with darkened a little. She was damned if he was going to fob her off with excuses. She knew this man better than she knew herself sometimes. "Skywalker! It's obviously not 'nothing'. I want to know."

'Uh-oh,' he thought again. 'The lady is looking somewhat impatient.' Rarely did he manage to fool Mara. She knew him so well. Sometimes he thought she was the only person in the entire galaxy that did. Not even Leia…'

Mara's temper rose. "Look Skywalker - I know you better than you think. Whatever is worming around in your sun-frazzled brain is affecting me. I can feel it. So spit it out."

"You know me better than anyone, Jade. It's just.... I've got to......." He clenched his fists with frustration. "It's not so easy to just… spit it out. I can't just…"

"Are you always this incoherent around women or am I the sole person picked for the honour." Sarcasm dripped from her tongue.

Annoyance loosened his tongue. "This is my business, Mara," he snapped then softened his voice a little. She was trying to help him in her own way. "Look - it's just something I have to do and it's hard for me. I've put it off a long time and I've never told anyone about this."

"Leia?"

"Not even Leia. She has enough burdens to carry without assuming mine too."

Mara crossed to him and put a gentle hand on his cheek. "But you don't have to do it alone. I can help you. I want to help."

Luke closed his eyes and lifted his hand to cover hers. "If you're sure," he whispered." Something shifted in the Force and Luke let Mara in to share one of his most painful memories.

The Lars' Moisture Farm

The boy's face blanched under his tan as he faced the awful truth in the sad, wise gaze of the old man.

"Home..." he gulped and leapt into the speeder.

"Luke, wait ... wait, Luke! It's too dangerous! You'd never...!"

But the boy heard none of the older man's cries. The pounding of his heart and the panic in his brain meant that the all too short journey passed in a blur. "Let them be alright, let them still be there." he prayed.

The vehicle stopped and the boy ran towards the dwelling. Black, acrid smoke billowed out from the dwelling and then....

Mara felt the terror, bewilderment and the anguish as if it was her own. The emotions threatened to choke them both. The burning skeletons didn't look like people anymore.

Luke's voice was remote. "They were dead before I even jumped in my speeder and Ben knew it too."

"Oh, Luke…"

"I didn't have time to mourn them properly. I never grieved for them. I sorrowed more for Ben when he died on the Death Star. They were the only family I had ever known and the Empire had destroyed the only home I'd ever had. I wasn't there when they needed me most. I failed them. I failed my family."

Mara felt as if she really had been there. The hurt and the sheer agony he suffered was so immediate and so.... raw. The wound had opened up and Luke Skywalker's soul bled. His capacity for love had always been tremendous. As it was for pain.

"There was nothing I could have done. As I said, Ben knew they were dead even before I rushed to save them. It was the will of the Force and it was the first time I experienced the capriciousness of this power I had within me and around me."

Nothing had prepared the boy Luke for what fate or destiny - call it what you will - had dealt him. Beru and Owen had kept him safe from the real world. He'd had to grow up in an instant and each subsequent blow had immured these memories deeper into the most hidden part of his psyche. Ben, then Biggs, then finding out the people he'd trusted in his life had lied to him about who he was. Trying to rebuild an ancient order - on his own. Luke had had no time to cleanse himself from his past. It had been there - just waiting. Waiting for when he was at his most vulnerable.

"Luke," Mara whispered softly intruding into his private pain. "Come and sit for a moment - please," she entreated and led him to sit on an outcropping of rock near the entrance to the cave. Luke stumbled in her direction like a sleepwalker.

"Obi-Wan was right. If you'd been there you would have been dead too, or in some Imperial prison. You'd never have hired Han and made it off Tatooine. He would have ended up dead in some hellish smugglers den. Leia wouldn't have made it off the Death Star. She was due for termination wasn't she?  Because you failed to escape the Imperial forces on Tatooine there would have been more Alderaans. Beru and Owen Lars must have known the risks when they accepted you. They weren't stupid. Owen did everything he could to keep you safe - even to the extent of overprotecting you."

"Yes." The hurt in the blue eyes tore at Mara's heart.

"It wasn't your destiny to die with them, with Obi-Wan or even at my hand." A small chink of humour surfaced. "If you survived that - well, what can I say - you can survive anything. Luke, you don't want to know what else might have happened had you died. I, too, would be dead. Dead to the light side of the Force." She withdrew carefully from the visions in his mind and sat gazing up into his face. "Pay your respects to your family now, Luke. I'm here to help you through it."

A spark of awareness lit the depths of his pained blue eyes. "I'm going back to the homestead. I'm going to visit my old home. I've never been back since...."

"I'm coming with you."

"Thanks." He gripped her hands gratefully.

The Former Skywalker Moisture Farm

Mara remained in the speeder as Luke walked towards the small clump of buildings he'd once called home. This truly was in the middle of nowhere. The horizon stretched for hundreds of miles in any direction she turned. Flat - just sand and sky. He'd given the land to an alien called Throgg, but Tatooine had become an Imperial stronghold and many alien species found themselves unwelcome. Gavin Darklighter's father, Jula, had purchased the property and the family had run the farm ever since. She sighed. Being strong in the Force had brought her and Luke many hardships, but what did they know of anything else?

Luke pulled the hood of his Jedi cloak further over his head and descended into the courtyard. Jula Darklighter waited expectantly beside the techdome.

"Commander Skywalker."

"Citizen Darklighter," he bowed his head. "But it's just Citizen Skywalker now, or Jedi, if you prefer. I resigned my commission a good few years ago."

"Gavin tells me you still fly with them occasionally."

Luke smiled. "If I'm needed. It's nice to be asked. Gavin is well, I believe?"

"Yes, we saw him not too long ago."

Luke coughed slightly. "I'm glad to see you, I've not been back here since the...."

"I understand," Jula's dark eyes gleamed sympathetically. "Any time you want to come here to pay respects you're very welcome."

"It's time,"

"I appreciate that it's hard for you."

"I've been so caught up in other things that I pushed this aside. I have allowed this to continue for too long." He gazed at the immaculate courtyard. "It's still a working farm?"

"One of my sons and his wife manage it, but they are away at present. When I received your message I decided to honour your visit myself. You are welcome to stay."

"No. I don't need to do that. Too many memories, but now not all of them are painful. I just wanted to pay my respects. I was brought up here, after all. The sand gets to you after a while."

Darklighter grinned until the light footstep behind him had the older man's hand going automatically for his blaster.

"It's a friend of mine, sir." Luke inserted quickly "Mara, this is Jula Darklighter. Sir – Mara Jade."

Mara nodded to the older man then recognition lit her features. "Gavin's father?"

Darklighter inclined his head. "That is correct."

Mara relaxed. "I can see the resemblance."

"Gavin has mentioned you, but didn't say how pretty you were."

Luke laughed. "Gavin thinks of two things. Flying and Asyr."

There was a momentary silence. Then Jula led the couple towards a small stone in the corner of the courtyard. "I'll leave you now." He shook Luke's hand and quickly departed, leaving them alone.

"I can go and wait if you'd rather...." Mara offered.

"No," he replied quickly. "Please stay." He stood looking down at the stone, which bore the names of his aunt and uncle. Mara remained back for a second and then moved forward, her arms going around him. She had sensed his sorrow and pain. It had flowed into her as she sat waiting in the speeder. A single tear hovered at the corner of Luke's eye before he buried himself in Mara's embrace. Mara was surprised to find it was so natural to offer comfort. She felt Luke trembling and through the Force she absorbed his grief and gave her warmth to heal his loneliness. She'd never found it easy to be close to people, but all she wanted to do was to be there for Luke.

"Come on, Jedi Master. It's getting late and time we were getting out of here. I have enough problems with you without adding desert scavengers to the list."

Luke disentangled himself from Mara and took a last look at his folks' memorial.

"Come on. Let's go home."

He nodded wordlessly and taking her hand in his they trailed towards the speeder and returned to the house on the edge of the Dune Sea.

******************************

As Luke switched on the power in the house he glanced apologetically at Mara who was in the process of tiredly removing her cloak. "I said we'd go to Anchorhead tonight, but I don't think I'm up to it."

"It doesn't matter, Luke. Let's sleep on it. It's been a very long and emotionally draining day for us both. All our problems will wait for us. They always do. But it's good to hear you say that you need a little time. Before you would have gone no matter how tired you were and then mistakes might be made."

"Yeah… Mara." The seriousness in his voice made her stop what she was doing, her face turned to the wall. "We never talked about..."

She turned swiftly and placed her hand over his mouth. "Don't," she whispered.

He grasped her wrist and turned it until he could place a kiss in her palm. Letting out a long unsteady breath Luke began to let his mouth travel slowly up the soft inner flesh of her arm. All of a sudden they were locked mouth to mouth and she felt him stir against her. Breathless, she moved in his arms feeling the tension in his body. Gazing up into his intent, possessive face Mara sighed in agreement before the urgency began. Her body was on fire for him. Luke raised his hands and slowly circled his palms on the peaks of her breasts. She leant against him as they divested themselves of tunics and jumpsuits and then they were lying, limbs tangled round limbs. Someone moaned softly. Mara couldn't be sure which of them it was. Luke was caught up in a storm of feeling he'd never experienced in his life. He kissed her mouth, her eyelids, her cheeks, her throat, frantically trying to keep pace with the excitement which flooded both their bodies and, with it, the very essence of the Force. They surely had merged both mind and spirit, body and soul. Luke cried out hoarsely and listened, elated, as Mara's cry joined his.

****************************************************************

Mos Eisley

Han landed the Falcon carefully into docking bay 620. "Chewie, switch off all power." He grinned at his first mate. "It's a good job Leia doesn't know about the new fake transponder codes."

The Wookiee snuffled a barking laugh.

"What do you mean she knows? Not about this one, pal. I only got it yesterday."

**************

Han and Wedge had flown to Pii 3, met with Cracken, picked up a couple of the Rogues and one or two of Page's Commandos. The General had been unusually reticent about their mission. "Just find Jade, get her into one of the gaming establishments where she can pick up information on crime activity and how it fits with the Imperial activities."

"You want us to go undercover too?" Wedge asked.

Airen Cracken stood up and moved from his desk until he was able to stare out the window at the crimson foliage of the greel wood trees. "I don't want you turning up as yourselves. Do I? The Empire will turn a blind eye to allow us to help them, but if we do it openly they will act against us."

Han had turned to Chewie. "I don't like this," he'd whispered. "There's an awful lot of gaps in the plan."

The Wookiee raised a hairy eyebrow.

"All right, pal. So some of our plans weren't exactly thought out… they worked, didn't they."

General Cracken had turned and stared hard at Han, as if he'd heard their muttered comments. "Page will fill you in on anything else you need to know," he had said.

***************

"A safe landing again, boys." Han leant against the bulkhead.

Corran laughed. "The Falcon still holding together?"

"How can you doubt it?" Han patted the bulkhead with affectionate pride. "She still has it where it counts."

"Not looking forward to putting this on." Wedge again placed the cybernetic prosthetic across half of his face, giving him a distinctly inhuman appearance. "What do you think? Half man, half droid, that's me," he joked. "Just call me Lowry Brance. Ex-Imperial, now turned mercenary, smuggler… Whatever will pay."

"I know the type," Han said "I think I was that man once."

Chewbacca growled an agreement and whuffed a chuckle as he took in their reactions. He had dyed part of his fur white just to throw any suspicious minds off the scent.

"Looks different, Chewie." He gestured to his own disguise. "What do you think, fellas?" Han had started a beard and stained his face a dark colour. Surface Inserts had changed his eye colour and with the all-enveloping robes of a type worn on Tatooine he looked most unlike himself.

Tycho Celchu and Corran Horn, being fairly anonymous in this part of the galaxy, had worn desert dwellers garb and stained their faces to look as if they'd been on the dry world for a long time. Then there was Cullen Page. He looked as he usually did, but somehow without changing much about himself he was as anonymous as ever.

"What are we looking for?" asked Han.

Page sighed. "We're not too sure. Something strange is happening. I've to meet with a representative from Imperial intelligence. They are very worried about the activities of a Twilek who goes by the name of Firith Olan."

Han sat upright in shock. "I know him - or I used to. I thought he was dead. Most of these guys met a grizzly end when Jabba met his. I haven't seen any of them since. Mind, I'm not knocking around the cesspits of the galaxy quite as frequently as I used to."

"According to reports he's set up in the B'Omarr monastery on the edge of the Dune Sea. I believe, General Solo, it's a place you are not unfamiliar with."

Han paled under his disguise.

"The Empire are concerned because he is stockpiling weapons and supplies. We are concerned for the exact same reason. He is attacking all independent shipping unfortunate enough to cross his path. The Imperial Governor in the area was murdered last week, but no one can produce any evidence to pin it on Olan. And for some reason they are reluctant to arrest him without proof."

"I don't like it. I've got a bad feeling about this," Corran whispered in an aside to Tycho.

"You and me both, buddy." answered the Alderaanian pilot.

"Can't they just arrest him and take him out of the game altogether?" wondered Wedge.

"Unfortunately not. The Empire doesn't have the forces or resources in this area any more and the populace are getting very restless. There are also doubts about the local Imperial Prefect's honesty."

"How often do we hear that one?" Corran muttered to no one in particular.

Page continued calmly. "In some ways Olan's been good for the area. The economy has picked up. Smuggling can be profitable."

Han guffawed loudly. "How come no-one told me that?"

Chewie snickered and growled a wisecrack.

"I was just unlucky, pal."

"We're hoping to have one or two agents undercover in the Twilek's stronghold, but we're still waiting for them to make contact. In fact, we are hoping that Master Skywalker is still in the area."

"So you knew he was around too, eh Page?"

"Your wife kindly passed the message onto General Cracken. But I do try to keep informed. It would be better if he wasn't around."

Wedge spoke up, his voice sounding tinny behind the vocabulator. "I can't understand why Mara denied knowing Luke's whereabouts."

Corran glanced at Tycho. Of course, he remembered. Mara Jade was in this too. That meant Karrde wouldn't be far behind or, in his usual case, ahead of them.

Han shrugged. "Luke had persuaded her to stay for training, then Karrde's people were killed on the Prada Predator. She had to divert her attentions to whatever she was needed to do. She's still Karrde's second in command. I don't think she does know where Luke is. Stars, none of us do for sure. He just took off. We still don't know if he's definitely in this system, but Leia seems to think he's here."

Corran shrugged. "It's home," he murmured simply.

"Of course it is… to Luke." Page nodded and grinned, which suddenly made his forgettable face recognisable. "Actually - I only began to suspect his whereabouts when our contact on Pii 3 gave us the nod. Luke's got rather good at avoiding even us these days. It could be a problem if we don't locate him soon."

Wedge looked at Page. "We've asked Mara to help us and she agreed, but so far there has been no word from her. She didn't mention that she was going to Luke. We thought she was working for Karrde."

Page shrugged. "She is."

Han thought hard for a second. "I vote we try and find Luke. Corran's right. Tatooine was the only home he's ever known and he's not been himself lately. I don't want to be disloyal to my wife, but she's been trying to get him into the Senate."

"Luke would hate that," muttered Corran.

"I know he would, but try and convince Leia." He shook his head. "She's also concerned about all the statements he made in his last public address."

Wedge made a face. "Oh, that one. Peace in our galaxy and such like. We're tired of fighting and are our leaders really fostering accord between worlds?"

"Yeah," Han's tone was dry. "That one. You must admit – he had a point."

Wedge frowned. "He does, but it didn't gain him any extra popularity from some of our more politically minded sentients."

Corran stood up, a strange expression on his face. "Find Luke and we find Jade. They're together I think. General Solo - you know where they are likely to be."

"No, I don't. He could be in Mos Eisley or Mos Espa or…"

Corran shook his head. "You do. I have this feeling.... The Force… He has…"

Han gave an exasperated sigh. He'd forgotten that Corran was Force sensitive too. The Corellian pilot liked to keep it very quiet.

"No.... wait...." he said, as Chewbacca uttered a series of short barks. Han opened his mouth to argue. "He's never said anything about it…"

Chewie growled some more and waggled his head to emphasise his point.

"You forget, pal, I never ended up there. Why? A small matter of being frozen in carbonite at the time. You think Anchorhead might be a good place to start. Why Anchorhead there's nothing there?"

Page smiled in satisfaction and Wedge voiced what he was thinking. "Of course. That's near where Luke was brought up and it's not too far from the Western Dune Sea which is as close as we can safely get to our target."

"Would he go back there, Chewie?" Han asked the Wookiee.

Chewbacca barked an assent.

Page took control. "General Solo, you and Wedge go to Anchorhead and try and find out anything you can about Luke. Corran and Tycho, I'd like you to start staking out some of the less salubrious dives in Mos Eisley. There must be some we can infiltrate easily. I'm going to see if the Twilek needs any smugglers for hire and Chewbacca will remain with the Falcon and co-ordinate efforts. He's also back-up in case any of the teams get into trouble. There are other agents around and Chewbacca knows about them too."

Tycho grinned. "Guess you and I, Horn, get all the best jobs."

I hope no-one tells our wives," Corran muttered glumly.

***********************************************

Tosche Station

The power station was quiet as Luke and Mara entered. It was early in the day so the evening drinking crowd hadn't arrived. Camie and a cleaning droid moved carefully around the room.

"You wouldn't have known there was an all out fight yesterday," Mara spoke in his mind.

"Oh, I don't know, Jade. That chunk of stone where a blaster bolt just missed me looks pretty obvious." He pulled the hood from over his head and Mara did the same.

"Camie," he called softly. He didn't want to startle her.

She turned reluctantly to face the two silent Jedi, her face reserved.

"We need to talk. We," he indicated himself and Mara, "…need information."

Camie assessed Luke carefully. He'd shaved off the beard and now looked little different as to how she remembered him. Something had changed though. It was in his eyes. He looked as if he'd all the worries of the world on his shoulders. Camie felt a little uncomfortable as she met the sharp green eyes of the woman by his side. She seemed to know what Camie was thinking and it was unsettling. But Fixer and herself owed these people. They'd probably saved their lives two days ago.

Resigned, she nodded. "Come on through. Fixer and Arnek are in the workshop through the back."

"I spent some of my youth in the back here," Luke murmured to Mara. "There used to be a pool table and a holo-game."

She raised skeptical eyebrows. "Were you old enough, Farmboy?"

He grinned. All of a sudden he was the boy he'd been back then and Mara felt the glow of his impulsive smile in her heart.

"Just. I was rather impetuous in my younger days."

"You don't say," Mara muttered dryly.

Camie listened to the good-natured banter between the two and cautiously ventured a comment of her own. "He was full speed ahead, Ma'am."

Mara pulled a face. Camie was older than Luke and herself and was addressing Mara as if she were her maiden aunt."

"Jade will do," she growled, then brightened to ask, "You mean he acted first and thought later?"

"I suppose so - yes. He was rather reckless when his uncle let him off his leash. He was always being grounded because he'd banged up his skyhopper in some stupid race or other."

"Will you stop talking about me as if I wasn't there," Luke whined crossly. "And it wasn't a stupid race."

"Did someone say something?" asked Mara of Camie.

"That's it, Jade. I'm not cooking for you again. Tonight you can function on New Republic rations and they don't qualify as food."

"I think we've hurt his feelings." Mara eyed the simmering Jedi Master with amusement. "Should I be frightened?"

"Sometimes I wish you could be. A healthy dose of fear, in my opinion, doesn't lead straight to the darkside, despite what we've been taught." Luke snapped.

Camie gulped. Whatever game these two were involved with she didn't really want to be a part of it. She felt unsure of this new Luke Skywalker who wore an aura of calm power with comfort.

As they turned to enter Fixer's office, Camie was startled to notice that both Luke and his companion had raised their hoods again. Luke wore a dark brown cloak over a black tunic and pants. The woman, Mara Jade, wore a bottle green cloak over a green jumpsuit and tunic. Black knee boots completed their attire. What was with these people?

Arnek shuffled over to Luke and clasped his hand warmly. "Lukas, my boy."

"Luke will do. It's what I'm used to."

"That's possibly because it's your proper name," Mara inserted shortly.

Luke pulled back his hood angrily and turned to face her, his finger raised at a lecturing angle. "Right, Jade, and you didn't have the occasional name change. You're not the one with a price on your head."

"My, my, Jedi Master," she bit out scornfully. "You don't..." She pulled her hood down and they faced each other nose to nose.

Camie raised her voice. She was used to dealing with children and the squabbling reminded her exactly of Anni and Marn. "Will you two leave it?"

The sudden silence totally unnerved Camie. Her head dropped a she stared at the floor. "Just like my kids," she mumbled. "Squabbling."

The two Jedi broke off the heated exchange. "I told you it would work, Skywalker - you owe me."

"Alright Jade, I'll think of something." Luke winked.

"You cook tomorrow."

Camie lifted her head. Both the Jedi had wide grins on their faces.

Fixer moved out from his desk, his face sullen in the half-light. "Why are you here?"

Luke stared Fixer in the face. "I was brought up here; why shouldn't I return?"

"You haven't before."

"Oh, but I have, on several occasions. It's not much over nearly twenty years. I have the right."

"But not here."

"Would I have been made welcome?" Luke's expression was difficult to gauge.

Camie put a calming hand on Fixer's arm. "Wormie... Luke. You didn't come and see us before - so why now? I know we weren't always very nice to you, but..." she trailed off limply. "Twenty years is a long time."

"It wasn't my right. I would have put you and your family in danger. I couldn't do that to you."

Luke glanced quickly at Mara and they sat on a couple of misshapen chairs. "I don't want to go over the complete story of my life after I left Tatooine. It's not always very pretty and is far too long and complicated. I joined the Alliance as a pilot and fought in the war. When I joined the rebellion I became an enemy of the Empire and I couldn't risk your safety. Anyone I associated with could have been rounded up for questioning or worse. Besides, I had a price on my head. All the rebels had. I'm pretty sure the Empire would have had someone watching you once they knew there was a connection between us."

"Nonsense," Fixer said dismissively.

Mara stared at Camie. "Well?"

"I think we were for a time. It wasn't open but I would turn around and someone was staring at me. I got the feeling that I was…"

"Being watched?" Luke asked.

Camie nodded. "I thought it was just the Empire. I thought they watched everybody."

Mara sighed. "In a way they do, but not this far out on the rim. There aren't enough troopers. If you were being followed it was because of your connection to farmboy here."

"Empire's most wanted," Luke gave a dry chuckle. "That was me."

"That is true," Mara agreed. "He was worth a lot if caught and we're talking big credits."

"Beru and Owen Lars died to keep me safe. They knew the risks. You did not."

"Are you still wanted by the Empire?" Camie was wary.

"If I dropped in their laps there are some factions that still want me dead. I fought against them. I killed their people. I fought their evil. In some ways we're still fighting evil. The Empire is still here on Tatooine. Your homes and your lives are being threatened by criminals living at the B'Omarr Monastery. I can help you."

 "How can you help?" Fixer's voice was dismissive.

Luke continued as if Fixer hadn't spoken. "I discovered family I didn't know I had and also that I had skills that were different." He hesitated and then ploughed forwards. "I'm a Jedi Knight."

Arnek had been right. Fixer snorted. This was too much. Wormie and those silly dreams of his. There was no way he was going to be taken in by that two bit....

Luke smiled. "I can sense everything you're thinking, Fixer. It is true." He gave Mara a quick glance. "Why would I lie? You can believe or disbelieve. It makes no odds to me anymore. At one time it might have made me feel more accepted, but I don't need your approval. Oh don't worry, I can't read your mind - not unless you give me free access. I wouldn't do that anyway. It's not ethical."

"And a bit too near the dark side, farmboy." Mara sent the comment to Luke via the Force.

Mara spoke up. "That silly game we played as we came in was to make you feel more at ease with us." She looked at Camie and grinned. "It stopped you ma'aming me every two seconds. The Jedi are rising again in the galaxy and Luke is more than just a Jedi Knight. He is head of the order. Strange for you to adjust to that, I think. But Luke isn't there for you to boss around anymore."

"Then why do you do it Jade?" Luke sent to her through the Force."

"Skywalker!" she warned. "Stop interrupting."

The Windriders looked confused at hearing only half a conversation.

Luke gave Mara one of his special glares, but it only worked on his other Jedi trainees. Mara was different.

Luke fiddled with the lightsaber at his waist. "I couldn't contact you before now. I would have been stupid to do so. I would have put all your lives at risk. Beru and Owen Lars paid for raising me with their lives. You would have met a similar fate. My… my.... father was very high up in the Imperial government. He didn't know I existed for years. If he had done, I would have been dead."

"You don't have a father. Your uncle and aunt brought you up," Fixer scoffed. "Lady, he's delusional. He has his head in the clouds."

"Luke is a modest man most of the time," Mara couldn't resist the little dig at Luke but she felt her anger rise at Fixer's dismissal of her friend. "He's unusually modest for a pilot. But he is one of the New Republic's most revered and decorated war heroes. 'Though you might not know it to look at him."

"You?" Fixer shook his head with incredulity. Was the woman as deluded as Skywalker?

"What Mara should really say is that I have a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. Trouble finds me or I locate it. I'm a good pilot. You should know that, Fixer. I thought my father was dead. Turns out he was very much alive and on the opposite side to the one I believed in."

"I suppose you want to know what's happening round here," Arnek said quietly.

"We have our suspicions. Things have been happening throughout the sector. I've unwittingly dragged Luke into this." Mara didn't look at him.

"I said I'd help, Jade, and I meant it. Danger is our sphere of choice. I'm not letting you go through it alone. I can't."

"What about all that rubbish about being calm and at peace?"

"I am at peace, Jade, or hadn't you noticed."

"I think I would have managed to stumble into this myself without your help, Mara," Luke offered quietly.

Camie brushed a stray wisp of hair from the side of her cheek as she struggled to absorb all that she was hearing. "Please come and share a meal with us. Arnek is our talebearer around here.

Mara and Luke followed her out of the office and made their way across to the dwelling. Fixer caught Arnek by the arm. "Do you believe him?" he asked curiously.

"He's got no reason to lie. He hasn't said much about what he's done. If anything, it's the girl who's done the boasting. But I don't think it was that. She just stated the facts as she saw them. All Luke has said is that he was a pilot for the Rebellion, has a price on his head and is now a Jedi Knight. Owen Lars was mighty protective of that boy. He never had the freedom the rest of you had."

"Are they.... Jedi?"

Arnek considered the question carefully. "I've not seen the Jedi in our part of the galaxy in many years. Not since the Clone Wars have there been Jedi in any number. But I had heard they were rising. They were considered to be good, wise and just until the Empire came. Then they were supposed to be feared and mistrusted. Look at the facts. They both carry lightsabers. I was impressed by their usage of them when they came to our aid the other night. The clothing they wear is remarkably similar in style and if you notice they communicate without speaking. It's as if they can talk to each other without anything being said. Cloudrunner...I mean Skywalker...healed Camie's face just by touching it and suppressed the pain when those barbarians kicked in your ribs." Arnek put a comforting hand on Fixer's shoulder.

"Who said he made the pain go away?"

"Your face said it for you."

Fixer scowled. "I was in shock."

 But, most of all, can't you sense it?"

"Sense what?" he muttered peevishly.

Arnel shrugged stooped shoulders. "The aura of power he has. It's just ...there."

"I hadn't noticed," he grumbled as he made his way home. But he had. Luke's power covered him like a mantle. The redheaded female had it too. Fixer followed them to his dwelling, resentful and mistrustful. Skywalker turns up and everyone follows him. He didn't have to stay here on this miserable world and scratch out a living.

*************************************

Camie anxiously surveyed her table. "The children are still at my parents. I thought it might be safer."

"A good idea," approved Mara.

"Do they still sell hydroponic plants?" asked Luke.

She stopped ladling steaming hot food into bowls, surprised at him remembering. "Yes, but my father will retire soon. Hurry up" She chided Fixer and Arnek as they wandered into the dining area.

For a while there was desultory conversation and the consumption of Camie's plain but excellent food. Luke pushed his bowl away and sighed with satisfaction. Grabbing his glass of lum he looked at Mara. "We want to know anything you can tell us about the Twilek. I think he'll leave you alone for a while, but it would be better to be prepared. There are people who can help you. I think even the government may get involved eventually. You should not have to tolerate such treatment from anyone."

Camie's brown eyes clouded. "Things were really good for a while. A lot of folks passed through. After you.....left, there were a lot of Imperial types asking questions, but business was good." She lifted her eyes to Luke's face. "We were being watched, weren't we?" Realisation had set in.

"Then," Luke prompted.

"We got married and Fixer bought over the station from HiCar."

Arnek picked up his glass and took a long gulp at the liquid. "I'd worked for HiCar years before, but I retired and moved to stay with my daughter in Mos Elras. It was boring so I moved back and Fixer gave me my old job again."

"I let him back, the interfering old...." Fixer grumbled.

"You couldn't get anyone else to work for what you pay."

"I think we're moving off the subject." Mara's voice was sharp.

"Then Jabba died."

"Sorry," murmured Luke.

"You had a hand in that," sneered Fixer. "I don't believe it."

"Believe it," Mara growled. "I was there and he had."

"She was trying to kill me at the time," put in Luke helpfully.

"Don't remind me, Skywalker. There's still time to finish you off."

Fixer glared at the Jedi before grudgingly continuing with the story. "When Jabba died business slowed down - real slow. No strangers travelling to do the Hutts' business. Folks didn't want to come out this far for nuthin'. I mean it wasn't bad - just not as good as it had been."

"We made a living, like anyone on Tatooine," put in Camie quietly.

Arnek glanced at Camie and sensed she was getting upset. "About a year after Jabba died, there was some sort of incident. Trouble somewhere. There were imperial troopers everywhere and various rough types from Mos Eisley."

"Like a power struggle?" asked Luke. He thought for a second and then nodded. "That would be about right. Check with the Rogues – they got involved with that situation."

"The Rogues?" asked Fixer curiously.

"Luke's ex-squadron." Mara explained.

"After that there was nothing until last year. Oh, there might have been something going on. It was strange how the properties were all bought up and some folks had a new landlord who increased the rent. We started getting these aliens again travelling through. Low-lifes generally, but they stopped for a drink and a meal before heading off somewhere.

Then one day this Twilek arrived with his back-up crew. Threats were made. We paid protection money. It's not unusual – but things got worse."

Fixer slammed his fists on the wooden table. "Then one of the locals was found bludgeoned almost to death in the middle of the street. He'd fallen behind with his rent. They made an example of him. He died three days later."

Camie's eyes filled with tears. "Then they came more often, they threatened me and the children, demanded more money or the station. One of the townspeople stood up to them. He disappeared. We've been so scared. Life is hard enough out here..." She covered her face with her hands.

Fixer, for once, looked helplessly at Luke. "What can we do? We don't know that standing up for ourselves the other night may bring some catastrophe down on our heads. I'm not cut out for this," he admitted honestly. It was probably the first time in years he'd admitted anything like that. "The customers are scared – heck, we're scared. Deak was attacked on his way home from work. He's still in the medicentre and I'm losing business because my mechanic is unable to work."

"Do you know this Twilek's name?" wondered Mara.

"He goes by the name of Firith Olan."

Both Luke and Mara jerked their heads up at that. Something crawled up their backs. "It's not right," he whispered, blue eyes wide and staring.

Mara put out a shaky hand and grabbed Luke's. "I agree."

Arnek and the Windriders shivered despite the heat. Finally – Fixer did believe there was something about the Jedi.

*******************************************************

Mos Eisley

Karrde paced the length of his cabin on the Wild Karrde. He was getting really worried. Mara had never been this late checking in before. What in Vader's name was she doing? The door chimed suddenly, intruding into his anxious thoughts. Wiping away any trace of an expression he called. "Come."

Aves stood grim-faced in the doorway. "We've just picked up someone paying a little too much interest in the ship. He is demanding to see you personally."

"He is, eh!"

"How can I put this boss? He looks very familiar. In fact I would say he might even be…."

"Han Solo?"

Aves blinked, surprise etched on his features.

"Bring him in. This is becoming a regular party. Oh, and Aves - have a look for his back-up."

"Now look here, Karrde..." Han protested as he was manhandled into Karrde's office.

"Welcome aboard, General Solo." He stared hard at the crew man restraining Han. "Let him go."

Han sighed. "Thanks. Han will do, I don't hold much to the General part these days. In fact, in this part of the galaxy I don't even recognise such a person. It's better not to."

Karrde nodded; he understood. "Have a seat, Han. Leia did say you were in the vicinity, I didn't expect you to discover us quite so soon."

"It was a piece of luck, Karrde. We're in the docking bay just along the street and I recognised Dankin. He has this way of moving that is peculiarly his own." He paused and brushed some dust from his robe. "I'm sorry about your people on the Prada. They were good men."

Talon rubbed his hand wearily over his face and winced in disgust as some of the staining smeared itself over his palm. "They were good men. Whoever did this will pay. Nobody harms my people."

"Talking about your people...you haven't heard from...."

"Mara? No. I'm admitting to being a little anxious. She was supposed to meet me here four days ago."

Han shrugged. "Did Leia mention that Luke..."

"Was possibly in the area? Yes." Karrde sighed heavily. "There's been no sign of him either and that is unusual. Luke can't keep hidden for long - it's not in his nature. If Luke isn't here I'm very concerned about Mara's whereabouts. He's the only thing that  might delay her from contacting us unless she's run into trouble…"

"And if she turns up where the hell is Luke?"

A light flashed on the console. "Yes?" Karrde muttered into the machine.

"Commander Antilles will be joining you."

"Ah, the back up."

"Come on, Karrde, you didn't think we'd be here alone."

"No.I would be surprised if you were. Chewbacca, for instance. He can't be easy to persuade to remain at home. How many people are here?"

"I'm afraid that's classified." Han's hazel eyes twinkled.

Karrde twisted his lips in a thin lipped smile of satisfaction. "So if I was to make a few speculative guesses I wouldn't be upsetting state secrets because they would be merely guesses."

"Of course. If I was to show a little reaction now and then it doesn't mean to say that I'm agreeing or disagreeing with you."

The look the two shared was grim.

**************************************************

Luke and Mara drove into Mos Eisley under cover of darkness, but as usual the city spaceport was alive. "I sometimes think this place is busier in the dark of night than during broad daylight," Mara mused thoughtfully.

"It is," Luke said. "A lot of these people are wanted in several systems. They only show their faces at night. We need to get to the rooms I've booked for us. I don't like the idea of what you're going to be doing, Jade."

"I told you it would be alright if you're there too."

Luke felt her flicker of unease - it matched his own, but knew there was nothing he could do about it for the moment. Eventually they reached the boarding house Luke had used before. The bored female still sat glued to the vid-screen and paid the two Jedi not a scrap of attention.

"I didn't even have to use the Force to disguise our presence," he showed white teeth in his tanned face as he smiled. "Pity about the beard. I'll have to use a false one tomorrow."

Mara wandered to the bed and threw herself across it. Leaning on her chin she gave him a dry look. "I didn't like it. It made you look.... different."

Luke gave her an equally dry glance in return. "That was the general idea, Jade - to look different. I didn't want to use the Force as much – you know, create a Force disguise. I just wanted to be myself for a while, like I was before I became a Jedi. I realise now that I can't escape from who I am, nor do I want to, but it is nice just to be anonymous." He pulled off his cloak. "Shove up." Mara moved aside a little on the bed.

"Have we got a cover story for tomorrow?"

"Mm-hm." She lay back on the bed, her eyes closed. "I'm a dancer and I've fallen on hard times, running from creditors. Everyone is around here. Or they were when I worked for Jabba. You are my...agent...for want of a better word."

"Lover," inserted Luke thoughtfully.

"Oh no, Skywalker. We're not going down that route."

He turned his head towards her on the pillow. "We're on that route, Jade, or hadn't you noticed?"

Something flashed in her eyes and there was an answering flare in his. "Luke…"

"It makes sense. It will explain why I'm there with you, jealously watching your every move. We could have some spectacular fights. You threaten to walk out but you have a fatal fascination for me." He propped himself up on his elbow, his hand outlining the idea, blue eyes shining with enthusiasm. Mara gave a strangled groan of horror, screwed her face up and started to disagree - violently. "Come on Mara," he leant over her and grinned down at her disgruntled expression. "It'll be fun. I'll be a has-been smuggler."

"Well that'll be right enough," she gibed nastily, still rather unsettled by his words.

Luke ignored the taunt, blue eyes alive. "Like you I've fallen on hard times and I'm using you to get money."

Mara couldn't help it; she laughed. "I'm sorry, Luke. You're so noble and damned idealistic. To think of you as such a character is....." She giggled lightly. "Funny."

Luke tried to appear offended, but failed miserably and soon he was laughing as much as Mara was. "It'll work," he promised. Mara reached up and ran a hand down the side of his face. Mirth forgotten, his head lowered closer and closer. Mara almost stopped breathing as her lips parted and her eyes fluttered closed.

"Sithspit!" Mara jerked upright and dislodged Luke from his position.

"What is it?"

"What day is it?" She peered at her pocket chrono. "I was supposed to contact Karrde four days ago. He'll be livid. See what you've done to me?" Rolling off the bed she grabbed her cloak. Luke sighed deeply and reached out for his. "Come on then. Where do we go?"

The two of them wandered the twisted alleyways until they reached a peculiarly shaped small courtyard. It was completely empty apart from a couple of stone benches and what might be market stalls during the daytime. Burning sconces gave off a feeble light. Mara sat awkwardly on one of the benches, glanced at her chrono and pressed some sort of button. "Now we wait."

"If Karrde is still here this should get someone from the organisation to meet us as soon as possible."

"Someone's coming, but it's not Karrde. Stormtroopers!"

Swift panic flared through their senses before Luke acted. Leaping from his bench he grabbed Mara round the waist and pushed her against the wall, just under the burning sconce. She looked up into his shadowed eyes and felt him lightly probe her senses. 'A Jedi feels peace; well, this Jedi isn't feeling peace!'

"Got you," he muttered and his mouth covered hers. She didn't even struggle. The few days and nights they had spent together had wrought in them both a powerful chemistry.

A jawa scuttled by in the dark and another detachment of stormtroopers, but Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker forgot time and where they were. Mouths clung, hands touched.

To anyone coming round the corner they were just another male and female involved in a mating ritual. Suddenly Mara pounced and tickled.

"Ow, Mara! Cut that out."

"Now Jedi Master, I thought we were working on our split level concentration."

"I was until you started that caper. Jade!" his voice rose. Then he tried a couple of sneaky moves, pinned her hands behind her back and resumed kissing her with enjoyment. She made no protest.

*******************************************************

The Wild Karrde

Ghent looked up, startled. "We have a signal. Sir, we have Mara's signal."

Karrde gave Han a relieved look and they raced to the communications centre. "About time."

Aves looked up from the display unit. "No doubt about it. She's in Mos Eisley."

"Come on, Solo. Let's go and find her."

"Sure."

"She's a good girl, Solo. Deep down." Karrde muttered gruffly. "But she'll kill you if you ever suggest that to her. And so might I."

***************

The two men crept carefully round some of Mos Eisley's seamier back alleys and that was saying something. Han pulled a scarf over his mouth and nose. Some of the smells he was experiencing just didn't bear thinking about. Something slipped past making for the lighted doorway of a dodgy looking cantina.

"Solo!" Karrde whispered urgently. They backed into a shadowed alcove as a group of stormtroopers went by.

"Whew!" Han exclaimed. "I think I must be allergic to all that white armour. I always think they're looking for me."

"Usually they are, I would expect." Karrde added dryly. "There is a small courtyard up ahead. She should be waiting there. If she runs into trouble there are seven alleyways leading from it, but it's normally deserted this time of night. This is not a good area for a female alone."

"But then this is Mara Jade we are talking about."

"Exactly," Karrde stated with satisfaction.

Cautiously the two men approached and eased themselves round into the appointed place and... Han and Karrde both went for their blasters until they realised that the female being kissed wasn't protesting. Mara Jade was in the arms of a fair-haired man. Luke stopped and moved away from her while still keeping both arms around her. "We've got company, Jade. I told you to be more aware of what was happening around you."

"Skywalker!" the anger in her voice died as she turned slightly in Luke's arms to meet the completely shocked expressions on the faces on Talon Karrde and Han Solo.

Mara sent several descriptive threats through the Force to Luke, before turning to face the two men. "You look like a couple of nerfs standing there with your jaws scraping the ground."

"We're rehearsing our cover story," Luke added quickly moving his hand strategically away from parts of Mara's anatomy. "If we fooled you, we can fool the newest crime lord in the galaxy. Or - I think it's Lady Valarian first."

"The whiphid!" Han's voice rose to a squeak.

"The ugliest one I ever saw," answered Luke, "…and most of them were unattractive. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all."

Talon Karrde gave Luke and Mara a narrowed glance. "Come on. We'd better get out of here." Then he stared fully at Luke before saying quietly. "There are an awful lot of people interested in your exact whereabouts Master Skywalker."

"More than even you think," Luke murmured cryptically.

"Yeah, kid," Han added. "Where have you been?"

"We've rooms at one of the underground hotels, but I wouldn't suggest it for a meeting." Mara said, still unable to properly meet the eyes of any of the men. 'Luke Skywalker, I may kill you yet.'

Luke stopped and caught Mara's hand unseen by either Han or Karrde. 'Promise?'

He felt her smile in his mind and a swift caress of her fingers over his before they separated.

************************

Han shook his head to clear it from the shock. Coming round the corner he'd seen the embracing couple and then he had realised that the woman was Mara. It had taken a second longer for the credit to drop on the man's identity. Mara and..... Luke engaged in what could only be described as a hot, passionate clinch. He'd never seen his brother-in-law so involved. Luke was no monk, but a relationship with Jade? The idea was ludicrous and Leia would go ballistic.

The pair of them separated and stood waiting for him and Karrde to approach. They didn't seem perturbed about being caught in such a compromising position. Luke gave him a self-satisfied smirk as he explained it was part of their cover story for getting inside the B'Omarr Monastery. Mara's expression at that point was harder to read, but she hadn't throttled Luke. She explained how she was auditioning to dance at the Lucky Despot Hotel and Casino. Luke was going as her back-up and minder.

Luke grinned at Jade. "She's not too fond of the idea, but it makes perfect sense. She may want to kill me afterwards though."

"May want to, Skywalker?" she sent to him. "There's no 'may' about it."

"Well, what do you want me to say? I'm sleeping with Jade and we've had scorching, passionate se....."

"Don't think about it."

"Trying not to. It won't stay that way for ever. We will have to discuss it sooner or later. We can't pretend it didn't happen. I, for one, don't want to."

"It was a stupid idea. Self-destructive."

"It didn't seem stupid at the time."

Her voice and sense in his mind gentled. "No, I guess not."

"We have to move forward as you reminded me the other day. No looking back. We've done it now." Luke gave her a quick glance from the corner of his eye. Mara walked beside him and it seemed right that she was there. They had always dealt well together. This was just unexpected.

Han shot a look at the two Jedi over his shoulder but there was no sign on either of their faces that some internal struggle was taking place. Their story was plausible after all. They walked quietly without looking or speaking to one another. Of course, he couldn't hear their silent conversation, but there was no evidence of it in their impassive expressions. Han was almost disappointed. But Leia would not approve of Luke taking up with Mara Jade. She liked Mara and trusted her up to a point but not with her beloved brother.

Karrde was not as convinced as Solo was. He'd seen more of Luke and Mara together than Han had recently and something continually drew them together. Their explanations about the kiss were a little too glib and for a moment, Mara had seemed genuinely disoriented as Luke covered for her. It wouldn't have surprised Karrde in the least if there was more than just a cover story between them, but he wasn't sure if they were a good combination – or if he approved.

*************************************

Karrde sat at the head of the long table in the boardroom of the Wild Karrde. Han, Mara, Luke and Aves seated themselves wherever there was room. Wedge had gone, still sporting his half-cybernetic face, to check some of the cantinas to see if he could find Corran and Tycho.

"What have you found out so far?" Karrde went straight to the point.

"Probably not much more than you," answered Mara shortly. "I got sidetracked."

"You got what?"

"I got sidetracked but it all fits together, believe me."

Luke put the tips of his fingers together in a praying motion and closed his eyes. "Mara! What can you remember about Jabba's court when you were there?"

She frowned and reached into her mind for memories she knew were deeply hidden. "It was always dark and smelly. The beings there were among some of the worst in the galaxy and I've been in many of the absolute worst places. I danced for hours at a time, without a break, trying to please the Hutt, but he had a favourite. Oola, then when she wouldn't give him what he wanted - Leia. I didn't want to please him too much but then I had to try to fulfil my real master's command. I pleaded to go on the skiff, but I was not allowed." She glared at Luke. "Otherwise you would not be here, Skywalker."

Luke smiled, his eyes still closed. "Mara, who didn't go on the skiff? Anyone really important? Most of the people who went on the skiff died. So we need to know who survived."

Karrde dipped his head in satisfaction. He now saw where Luke was going with his questioning. Mara was the only one, after all, who had worked at the court of the Hutt for any length of time. Han had been a key employee, while in favour, but dumping a load of spice and then joining the Rebellion had taken him far from Jabba's court for several years until he'd ended up as a slab of carbonite. Luke had been there only briefly. Karrde had visited the place once or twice, but it offended every sense he possessed and he'd decided to do business without using any Hutt if he could help it and he'd managed just fine.

"The dance director, Melina Carniss."

Karrde's face tightened grimly. "Hasn't the brains for such an operation." She'd briefly worked for Karrde, but was found to be less than trustworthy.

"I would agree," remarked Mara pithily.

Han frowned. "But we know who's in charge - Firith Olan."

"It's not right, somehow." Mara cast her mind back. "He was never there in Jabba's day. Not on Tatooine."

"Funny you should mention that. I can't ever recall him being there when I was still running spice for Jabba. But that was a long time ago. I couldn't tell who was there when I came out of the carbonite."

Karrde called up a holo of the alien in question. Mara stiffened. "This is the leader of the group which massacred the Prada's crew. So we have him right enough."

"He was involved in a little incident about a year after Jabba's death, then he very much went to ground. It's only in the last few years that he's begun to move."

"Why?" asked Han. "I knew Olan and he didn't deal with Jabba. He was a small time crook working out of Ryloth. Jabba would have nothing to do with him apart from Rancor bait and Olan knew this. He wasn't too bright either. Mean, vicious, whatever, but he could not mastermind a project to take over a planet under Imperial control. I'm sure he wasn't there when Jabba died. I was, if you remember," he said to Luke. "…suffering from hibernation sickness and my eyes weren't too good. I'm not a reliable witness." He looked at the assembled company. "Mara?"

The red-head frowned as she sifted through her memories. "I can't recall him being there – no."

Aves cleared his throat. "So what you're saying is - we have the right man, but he shouldn't have the ability. Nor was he present at Jabba's court when it all blew."

Han sighed. "I'll have to check with Leia, to confirm if Olan was present when Jabba died, but I don't think she knows who he is. I'll need up-to-date holo footage. But I'm sure Olan was never near Jabba; therefore, he shouldn't be re-creating Hutt methods."

Karrde nodded "I'll send a coded sub-space message to Leia. I ran a check on any of Jabba's former employees still in operation, but I haven't all the results yet. Aves, go and see if Ghent has finished with that...oh... and ask Ghent if he can unearth any of the financial accounts. Ones which are not being accessed and ones which are - even though they shouldn't be. Also, check on Olan's current financial holdings."

"Yes, boss."

"There is something telling me that things are not as clear as they seem." Luke jumped to his feet and the chair fell backwards to lie on the floor. He paced back and fore, eyes shut, brow furrowed in concentration. Mara too closed her eyes to see if she could see what Luke was trying to, but there was nothing she could grasp. Luke stopped and caught his breath. There was something elusive just out of his reach, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't see any further.

Han picked up the chair. "Come on, Junior. I suggest you and Jade go get some rest."

Luke nodded. "I don't think things are clear at all."

Karrde stood up. "You can both stay here if you want to or, Mara, perhaps you would prefer to go to the 'Fire'."

"No. I want to go from the boarding house. I don't want to be seen leaving here in the morning just in case there is anyone watching us. And I have to do something with my hair."

The men shook their heads in disbelief, apart from Han; as the only married one among them, he thought he knew what she meant. "A nice style?"

"No Solo, on this occasion you're wrong. I have to change it completely. The last time I went undercover on Tatooine no one had a clue about my identity. But now, I'm Mara Jade, trader, the second-in-command in Talon Karrde's business operation. I'm not quite so anonymous and my hair makes it hard for people to forget me."

"I wouldn't want to, Jade."

"Skywalker!" She didn't bother with the Force link. "Shut up."