Spirit of the Shifting Sands
Disclaimer - The characters and locations used in this epic are owned by Lucasfilm. I only pay homage to such as they. I am gaining nothing from this it is purely for my own enjoyment.
Chapter 7
Docking Bay 620
The inside of the Millennium Falcon was blessedly cool after being in the hot glare of the noonday suns. Chewie barked a question at Han.
"I don't know pal. I'm waiting for some of the others to turn up. From the look I got from the kid I'm assuming he will be along at some point or other."
The Wookiee shook his head vigorously from side to side. "Yeah, the Imperial agent made contact." He waved a thin strip of duraplast in Chewie's face. I'm hoping Cracken has something that reads this material."
Chewie snarled something incomprehensible.
"Slow down pal. Run that past me again."
Chewie growled slowly as if speaking to an idiot. "We don't need Cracken. We do have something which reads that."
"What do you mean we do? We don't!"
Chewbacca waved a macrospanner.
"We do? Since when? Ah.... Since the computer was upgraded for the use of the Chief of State, since she travels in this bucket of bolts rather than more upmarket transport." Han's tones sounded aggrieved. No one messed about with his ship. Chewie growled happily.
"What do you mean, you agreed to it? I was too busy. Now look here, pal. Just 'cause you've been with me more years than you care to remember."
The Wookiee laughed and pointed to a slot on the console.
"Okay, okay. But we'll wait till whoever is supposed to join us - joins us."
Han peered through the cockpit window. A group of people moved purposefully into the docking bay. Han breathed a sigh of relief. He managed to recognise most of them. Luke - bearded and intense, Mara Jade - exotic in heavy makeup, Wedge in his metal prosthetic, with Tycho and Corran taking up the rear, hands on blasters. He activated the door.
"Welcome aboard, lady and gentlemen." He bowed mockingly.
The Falcon's cramped passenger area seemed even more so as they all tried to find seats.
"We're waiting for someone higher up, either Page, Cracken or maybe both." said Wedge.
"It'll be Cracken," answered Luke.
"I would agree," Mara chimed in. "He was sitting just along from Luke in the casino. Didn't you see him, Wedge? You were just to his right."
"No Jade, I'm wearing this stupid thing." He eased it carefully off his face. "It cuts off a good deal of peripheral vision."
A lone man with white hair and eyes, only slightly less green than Mara's walked casually up the Falcon's ramp.
"General." Han waved him to the only seat remaining. Luke shifted to sit on the floor next to Mara and, unnoticed by any of the others, placed a careful arm around her. He felt the tiredness rolling off her in waves. She'd been literally dancing all night and without sleep wasn't going to be much use. Dancing in any of the dubious venues in Mos Eisley was no sinecure and fit as she was, Mara wasn't used to it any more. Luke sent her a little Jedi strength and support through the Force. But it was a real effort for her to keep her eyes from closing.
"Shall we begin?" Cracken took the proffered strip of duraplast from Han and inserted it into the machine. A series of encoded figures scrolled down the vid-screen. Wedge looked at Cracken and nodded. It was the data they were looking for all right. Corran squeezed out from his seat at the Falcon's gaming table and tapped a few digits into the command panel.
"Here it is. They're suggesting that we meet the aide to the Imperial prefect here on Tatooine. I've worked in a similar position when I first left Corellia and believe me it can be 'fun'. Especially if your superior is inept or corrupt."
"The main Imperial base is at Bestine Township which is nearer to Anchorhead than Mos Eisley. However the Mos Eisley one is bigger than I remembered." Wedge offered thoughtfully.
Chewie barked something into the conversation.
"He thinks Mos Eisley might be better, more anonymous," Han translated.
"Possible," put in Tycho. "But I get the impression the Imperials don't want to meet here."
"Mos Eisley has that effect on people," Han threw in for good measure.
"Bestine is smaller and far more remote," Cracken said.
"Therefore you might be more noticeable there," concludedTycho.
"To the locals, yes. To off-worlders – no." Han rubbed his chin.
"I don't suppose any of you degenerates realise you're maligning my home planet?" Luke sat up a little straighter, which was difficult to do as Mara had finally given in and had fallen asleep, her head neatly tucked onto Luke's shoulder.
Chewie guffawed and pointed out Luke's difficulty.
Luke stiffened. He felt oddly defensive on Mara's behalf. "She's been constantly awake for most of the past week - investigating for Karrde and the New Republic during the day," he threw an accusing look at Cracken, "…and dancing in the evening at the Lucky Despot. Wouldn't you be tired? I won't let her take any more of those stimulant pills. She pops them far too often and she doesn't eat properly half the time."
Han gave his brother-in-law a very direct stare. 'You sure there nothing going on, brother-in-law?' he thought to himself.
Corran smiled inwardly while keeping his mental barriers up. The Jedi Master sat propped up against the bulkhead with Mara fast asleep, her head on his shoulder. They looked so right somehow. He remembered when Mara had told him to 'keep an eye on Luke'. Even though Mara Jade could take care of herself Luke was beginning to sound rather protective of her. She'll kill him when she realises he's let her fall asleep on his shoulder. But Luke Skywalker in a nutshell was protective, caring and wanted to do his best for everyone. It had only taken him until recently to realise that he couldn't do it all but he still tried and Mara would find that out - if she hadn't already. She must also trust the Jedi Master. No matter how tired Mara was - how little sleep she'd had - if there was danger of any sort, Mara would not have let down her guard.
Cracken chuckled. He had a lot of time for Mara Jade - she was beautiful, resourceful, intelligent and deadly. A perfect combination, which he was quite happy to use when it suited him. Exactly what her relationship was with the Jedi Master would in time bear some consideration. There were those in the New Republic who wanted Luke Skywalker as far from Mara Jade as possible. But they'd been dancing around each other for so long now, he thought that if anything was to happen it would have by now. But at the moment she was fast asleep – completely harmless. Luke eased her into a healing trance and stood up carefully with Mara now in his arms.
"If you'll excuse me for a second, Han, I'll put her into the spare cabin."
Han waved a careless hand in acknowledgement as Luke carried the sleeping girl out of the Falcon's passenger area. Luke returned almost immediately and thought for a second. "Can we arrange a meeting at Tosche Station?"
"Where?" asked Han.
"Tosche Station. A power and distribution outlet. It used to be my haunt when I was a bit younger than I am now."
"Where's that?" Cracken perked up.
"It's on the outskirts of Anchorhead. Not too far from Bestine, but on the edge of the Dune Sea."
"Sounds just what we need. Is it safe?" Wedge asked.
"As safe as any place round here at the moment. It was hit not too long ago. It should be okay. The owner is a... friend of mine."
Han looked a bit perplexed. Luke had never mentioned this before.
"I grew up not far from there. No one ever goes there. Only the people belonging to that isolated farming community."
Han suddenly realised he had heard this before - but from Leia, not Luke. For someone who'd seemed so direct and open when he first met him, Luke had actually been rather close mouthed about certain things. Of course he knew Luke's history. He was the one who had got the kid off this dustball in the first place, but somehow knowing and connecting were two different things. Luke had just never mentioned still knowing people in Tosche. Yet it made sense to Han. He'd done the same thing himself - countless times - leaving the past behind you when you moved on. Luke's life on Tatooine had been so ordinary until the day he'd found his family murdered, a different history to the one he'd been told and a lifelong mission to re-establish the Jedi Order.
Luke took a deep breath. "General. Get in contact with Prefect Talmont's Aide and give him the co-ordinates. Han, I'm going to collect our things from the boarding house and I'll be with you in half an hour."
Chewie barked a question at Luke.
"No, Mara is finished at the casino. She starts in three days at the B'Omarr monastery."
"First objective gained," murmured Wedge to Tycho quietly.
Luke's keen hearing caught the softly voiced comment. "Maybe, Wedge, but first hint of any trouble, I'm getting her out of there. There's something dark happening there." He gave a quick look to see if General Cracken was listening but the General was giving Han a list of instructions.
Corran gave Luke a cryptic stare. "She won't thank you for your protection."
"I know - but she has it nonetheless. She told you to keep an eye on me, didn't she?"
"How did you...?"
"She did, eh?" Luke grinned. "I didn't know that. Thanks." He gave them a level stare. "Keep my part in this as quiet as you can."
"Luke…" Wedge began to say.
General Cracken handed Luke a data chip. "That will give Mara all the info she needs for the moment. We'll see you at Tosche. If you can persuade your friends to let us use the facility?"
"It's not much of a facility. It's a water and power distribution outlet. It has a small cantina and a workshop. The locals meet there. I should think there won't be a problem."
Cracken coughed awkwardly. "That would be most helpful. We'll arrange the rest once we get permission. They'll be missing you at the Jedi Academy. I presume you will be returning to Yavin after you've spoken to your friends?"
Luke's eyes hardened momentarily, but it may just have been a trick of the light. "Probably," he replied calmly leaving the 'not' unspoken. For some reason General Cracken wanted him out of the picture. He nodded at the General and then turned to Han. "I'll be back shortly. Wait for me."
"Why should I do that, kid?"
"I know where we're going, just in case this heap of junk has any problems. Can I leave Mara here?"
"No, you have to carry her.... Of course you can leave her here, Junior." He looked at the ceiling. Chewie snickered. He was enjoying himself. It was just like old times, especially having Luke with them.
*******************************************************
Keeping an eye out for anybody or anything watching him. Luke slipped from the docking bay and, melting into the crowds, returned to the boarding house and collected his and Mara's paltry belongings. The female at the desk gave him a swift, single glance as he passed. Luke noted that it was the second of the two receptionists and this time he felt her interest. When he exited she spoke into a comlink clipped to her collar. "General Cracken. Jedi Skywalker has just left. No problems this end. I was getting fed up watching the holo-vid dramas. Do you know how brainless they are?"
"Thanks Toryn. Get yourself to Anchorhead please."
"Excuse me?"
The receptionist glanced up in shock. Luke grinned and handed her a data card. "Give this to the General for me and, Toryn; it took a while to recognise you – nice disguise."
*************************************************
Docking Bay 620
Luke rushed up the Falcon's ramp. "Okay, Han, get us out of here."
"Problems?"
"No. Just Cracken thinking he's one up on me and he's not."
"Prepare to take off. Chewie?"
Luke threw a data card to the large Wookiee. "Here's the co-ordinates."
"Where?"
"I have a place out there. You've been once, but it was in a real state."
"Ben Kenobi's house."
"Yes. I've set up camp there."
Chewbacca gave Luke a quizzical stare and let out a string of barks and growls.
"Sure, Chewie. I know you've been there loads of times, but that was years ago. Han was masquerading as a block of carbonite."
Han gave Chewie one of those sideways glances and Luke pretended not to notice.
"Trust me. It's habitable. I've been here for quite a few months after all. More or less since I left Coruscant."
Han winced silently. He was getting too old to rough it. Even if the Jedi Master wasn't.
"You can help me, in fact. I need to put up a dividing wall."
'I won't ask.' Han told himself. 'I'm beginning to prefer Luke when he was morose. This is too much like old times.'
"Han?"
"Yeah!"
"It'll be alright."
"Ohhh. I feel better now."
Chewie snickered softly and Luke just smiled.
"Mara?"
Luke stretched out with the Force for her presence in the Falcon's cabin. "Still asleep."
Han grinned. "Okay, Chewie. Let's go."
**********************************
A Hut on the Edge of the Dune Sea
Mara awoke to the feel of someone carrying her. She couldn't remember dropping off, but she felt much better. Wait-a-minute. She was being carried? "Skywalker! Put me down. Skywalker...." she warned. "Now!"
"In a second or two, Jade. Just keep still. I can't carry you down these stairs unless you stop wriggling and if you keep wriggling I won't put you down gently. I'll drop you."
She opened her eyes just a fraction and gave him her best assassin's stare.
"Doesn't work on me, Jade. So don't get worked up. You're probably contravening some Jedi Code."
She gave him a fulminating glare as he placed her gently on her feet keeping his arms around her. She was still in a bad mood with him. How dare he keep up such a convincing act as her 'lover'. He'd been doing it all week. Putting his arm around her, kissing her with passion. Jealously glaring at any other man who went near her. It was almost as if this relationship was real. 'It's because.... No.... No! I don't want it to be real. What am I doing? What have I done? I should never have gone to bed with him in the first place.' Mara shied away from the term 'making love'. It wasn't convenient. 'I don't fall in love. I can't. I'm not.'
Luke felt the shift in her mood. "What is it?" he asked. "What's wrong?"
She gave him a look of pure dislike. "Nothing's wrong. Leave me alone." She twisted from his loose hold.
"Leave you.... Mara, what is it with you? You've been acting damn unreasonable for the past few days. Am I not paying you enough attention? I told you we couldn't go back to what we were before."
"This is not about that!" she shouted furiously.
"No? I think it is," he challenged, blue eyes sparking.
"What do you know, Jedi Master? You're stuck on that silly planet away from real life.... and…."
"I'm more in touch with myself than you are, Jade. I know what I want." And he suddenly realised that he did indeed know.
"And you think I don't. Well let me tell you, you…. you."
Luke yanked her into his arms and covered her mouth with his own. Mara struggled for just a moment then caved in. All her defences fled and Luke was assailed with a maelstrom of emotions, most of which were too complicated for him to fathom there and then. Not when his own were so involved. He stopped thinking and just felt. Her lips softened under his and he gathered her closer.
*********************************
Han grabbed his stuff from the Falcon and headed towards the little adobe hut. Luke had carried a still sleeping Mara into the building, while Han and Chewbacca had secured the Falcon and disguised it with a larger version of the camo-net Luke had over his x-wing.
"Hey, Chewie! This looks bigger than I remember and it has a roof." Well, well. The kid had been doing more than Jedi meditations and exercises in the Force. The Wookiee barked softly. Chewbacca had to admit he was impressed. They had all lost sight of the fact that Luke had once been a hardworking boy off the moisture farm. He was no stranger to hard work. In fact, if what Kyp and Tionne told him was true, Luke worked harder than any Jedi trainee did at the Academy. No wonder he'd taken time out. The problem was, time out in Luke's mind only meant hard work of a different kind and here they were again. He wandered past a clump of medium sized boulders. It was only then that the sound of raised voices reached him. The large Wookiee looked at Han and made a gesture with his head.
"Yeah, I think we do need some more things from the Falcon. If this gets any worse we may all be sleeping there, providing those two don't kill each other first. I don't think we should get involved." Han was amazed. Mara must be good for Luke. He couldn't remember the last time Luke had actually raised his voice, let alone shouted at another person. Leia may not be quite so annoyed after all. The anesthetized Luke was becoming a flesh and blood man again. "'Bout time too." he muttered under his breath.
The sound of a slap and something hitting a pile of something else changed Han's mind. Shouting at each other was one thing, but violence. That had to be the dark side. "I bet I know who is doing the violence. Come on, Chewie." He took off at a run.
The Wookiee held up his hands. "What was that about 'not getting involved'?"
Luke lay sprawled in the corner where he'd ended up. Slowly he shifted his legs and tried to clear the sense of slight shock he felt. Mara stood, her hand over her mouth, wide green eyes filled with horror. "Sithspawn!" She exhaled sharply and dropped to her knees in front of him. "Oh Luke, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. I've been overdoing it – haven't I? "
"No!" She interjected anxiously.
Luke took both of her hands with his. "Yes," he insisted firmly, sitting up. "I've been going at you a little too hard. You have so much potential, Mara Jade." He leant his head forward, his lips parted as did hers, their breathing quickened.... Mara jerked to her feet and retreated to the far side of the room.
"Don't start that again Skywalker... I...." Her expression darkened.
"Hey, Luke. You alright....?" Han clattered to a standstill. Chewbacca, following his friend, crashed into Han and nearly sent him flying. "Will ya watch it, ya big furry oaf?"
The Corellian took in the scene in front of him. Luke was sitting in a corner surrounded by cooking utensils. Metal ones. That must have been the main source of the noise. Mara stood as far away from Luke as it was possible to be. Their faces were red and Mara's eyes shone pure green fury. Luke's face had an obvious red slap mark and an enigmatic expression. If Han had been a split second later, he might have interrupted something. The cover story? Maybe it was becoming a fact. The tension in the room was so thick, even Chewie could feel it. Two startled expressions turned to face the Corellian and his Wookiee companion, then Mara flushed even more scarlet. Luke's blue eyes watched Han carefully gauging his mood.
"I tripped. Mara was just about to give me a hand up," he offered smoothly.
"Yeah." She muttered and pulled Luke awkwardly to his feet. "I'm.... going to have a shower," she said and fled.
"Hey kid!" Han remarked conversationally, as Luke moved and began to prepare food in the kitchen area. "I thought Jedi didn't lie."
Luke steadfastly continued to put things into an airtight container. "This is an old recipe my Aunt used to make here on Tatooine. I remember how to make it pretty well."
********************
Mara finally returned looking more like herself, apart from the dyed hair, but the tension between her and Luke was still strong. Neither would catch the other's eye and the pair of them spoke only in monosyllables. Han sighed. Maybe Luke was right and Han was imagining things. These two could be the moodiest pair on Tatooine. Mara had a reputation for being feisty, which Han knew was deserved. She was as hard on herself as she was on others. Very much like Luke. He was harder on himself than he was on others. He had gained a reputation for never giving away his emotions.
After they had eaten Mara excused herself on the pretext of being tired and lay wide-eyed in the darkness behind the curtain. When she had gone Han could see Luke begin to relax even though he knew that just on the other side of the makeshift dividing curtain Mara could hear everything that was said. Luke, Chewie and Han sat swapping stories until the Wookiee left to sleep in the ship and she heard Luke foraging for extra blankets and pillows for Han.
"Chewbacca could have stayed here, you know."
"Don't worry about him. There isn't really the room and he wants to sleep there because he wants to keep an eye on the ship. Chewie doesn't trust a pint-sized Jawa not to come creeping up the ramp and take off. He loves that ship almost as much as I do."
"I wonder why he went off with my fusion welder." Luke remarked with a warm smile then glanced around at his spartan living arrangements. "I'm sorry about the lack of sleeping facilities and creature comforts, but I haven't gotten round to doing anything about that yet. I've more than enough room in the downstairs chamber where the water tanks are to have several rooms. But up here it's only partitioned off with this old curtain and Mara has that while she is on this mission. You could say that it's the guest bedroom." He cast a swift look towards the curtain.
"You sound as if you're putting down roots, Luke."
His brother-in-law shrugged lightly. "It's just somewhere at the moment to gather stock and have a break from the rest of the galaxy wanting me to do things. Most of which I have no desire or am not ready to do. I won't stay here for ever."
Han lowered his voice. "About you and Jade… What's happening, Luke?"
"At the moment? Nothing." That was technically true. Mara was on one side of the curtain and Luke was on the other side, with Han present. And Luke wasn't suicidal enough to say 'Yeah, old friend. Mara Jade and I are engaged in this passionate sexual affair and it's getting to the stage that I can't keep my hands off her and she is finding the same. Although in Mara's case the urge to do me some bodily damage has been the stronger of late. The fact that she is lying inches away from us here and she's still wide-awake may also influence my decision to say nothing.'
"In fact, we haven't been getting on very well at all this week. She may renew her contract to kill me."
"That bad, huh?"
Luke stretched out with the Force and probed Mara's sense lightly. She slammed down her mental barriers and, feeling the Jedi wince, smiled grimly in the dark.
Han remained unconvinced. "I don't want to accuse a high up member of the Jedi order of telling little white lies, kid, but I do have eyes in my head."
"Han, we're on an undercover mission. We have to be convincing – otherwise we're dead. That's one of the reasons Mara's so ticked off at me. I've been overdoing it and it's driving her mad. Every time she turns round her old archenemy Skywalker is there. Would you be as happy in the same situation with.... with.... Boba Fett?"
Han took a quick sudden breath in surprise. Giving his brother-in-law a shrewd look he rubbed his hand thoughtfully over his chin.
"Eh? Luke I don't think that's the same at all. Boba Fett is the wrong sex and is not too pretty under the armour, not with the Sarlacc scars. I don't have to pretend to be sleeping with him. If you haven't noticed by now, hurry up. Mara is quite a stunner. Fierce and scary, but a real knockout."
"Yeah," Luke agreed softly. "Beautiful."
"Anyway," Han continued. "I'm married."
"Doesn't stop some people," Luke interposed.
"I love your sister. I couldn't look at anyone else after being with Leia, even with her Skywalker stubbornness."
"I like that."
"Luke, I don't know what kind of game you and Mara are playing underneath all that playacting, but it's dangerous."
"Not in the way flying an x-wing into battle is dangerous, Han. We're pretending to have a relationship for our mission."
"There can still be casualties. I tell you, kid. This could be dangerous"
"Not for us. Mara would never harm me." Luke's voice rang sure and strong, so that even Mara in her self-imposed little exile behind the curtain heard him as clear as a Tatooine morning. "She knows I would trust her with my life. As I do you, Leia and Chewie. I know how Mara thinks in some ways better than I do Leia." Luke's demeanour changed and appeared sad in the light of the single lamp he'd lit. "I'm not exactly a good investment to take on, am I? You and Leia will carry on the Skywalker line, except it'll be a better strain. It'll have some good Corellian blood in there too. With regards to Mara and I..." he shrugged. "It's not a game. We're friends and friends look out for each other."
Han glanced at his chrono and shook his head. "I don't believe it, kid." He yawned. "You and I always end up having these talks in the middle of the night and I'm getting too old to cope with them. I need my sleep." He grabbed the blankets and retreated to the far corner of the hut and within minutes was sleeping.
"Skywalker!" the hushed whisper alerted Luke. He slithered out of his bedroll and crept behind the curtain. The glitter of Mara's eyes was visible in the dark. "I heard what you said about us.... I mean, about me. I only wanted to say that I was sorry."
"What again?" he teased softly.
She sat up and pulled back the bedclothes. "It's cold."
"Mara, I can't. Han's out there and only a few feet away. He could awaken at any time. He's already suspicious about us."
"He knows you too well," she whispered. "You could never be this successful in this kind of operation unless you felt something.... for...."
"Ssh, Mara." He eased in beside her and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "We always seem to fall out over trivial things," he murmured in an undertone. "But I'm never going to let you get as far away as you did."
"I won't let you." She kissed him and to Luke it was sweet and somehow purifying. "Luke?" she asked, her voice a thread of sound in the night. "I'm scared of what's to come. I've never felt like this...it's the going back."
"You have to face your destiny, we both know it and accept it. But it doesn't make it easier. Fear is of the dark side and you will conquer it. You've admitted your fear to me. It doesn't make you any less of a person. I'll be there to support you whatever happens." There was silence as they both considered what was said and unsaid.
"Luke," Mara said in hushed tones. "Do you regret what we did?"
He didn't have to ask what she meant.
"Do you?"
"I asked first," she countered defensively.
"Then my answer is... No. I don't regret it at all. Both times were so special. I've never been so moved as by what happened between us. You're an extraordinary lady with an inner soul that's unique and beautiful. You just hide it well."
He felt her unwilling laughter as she shook silently in his arms. "A beautiful compliment like that and then you have to spoil it, Skywalker."
"Hey, I'm a simple farmboy at heart."
"Yeah! That would be right, Jedi. 'Simple's' the word."
"If my brother-in-law were not sound asleep a matter of feet away from us I would..."
"Would what, Luke?" He felt her sense shift into something deeper than the teasing and although he knew it was risky he found her mouth in the darkness and covered her lips with his own. Parting her lips she let Luke's tongue drift in and caress her own. Drinking in her sweetness they kissed until Luke felt his body begin to react with her closeness. Mara too, was being aroused. The flimsy shift had ridden up her body and Luke found his hands touching her breasts, the nipples hardened as his questing fingers made contact. Mara closed her eyes and revelled in the temperature increase. "Yes, Luke oh yes," she breathed throatily completely caught in the spell Luke was weaving with his fingers and his mouth
"Mara!" he finally managed to get out between kisses. "We have to stop... We... have... to... ahh...!" Mara's hand had closed round his manhood. "Mara, we have to... please... Stop!"
"Why?"
"Han..."
"Sithspit!" The feeling of horror acted like a cold day on Hoth and they jerked apart, both breathing fast.
"I'll have to keep my distance from you, Mara Jade. My thinking processes vanish like the mist over the salt flats when you kiss me. Must be my hormones." He chuckled softly. That comment made him sound like a randy teenager.
"Hormones, huh?" She gave his groin a fleeting caress. Luke stopped breathing.
"Yeah, Jade. Hormones." His voice strained. He crawled out of the bed while he was still able to.
"'Night Jade. Sleep well."
*************************************************
The Imperial Garrison - Mos Eisley
Deep in the habitation sector of the Imperial Garrison the atmosphere in the small lounge was solemn. Captain Vash Ardiff brushed a speck of lint from his immaculate uniform before he turned to the older man sitting slumped in the corner shadows. "Do you think contact was made, Sir?"
"I don't know." The lined and careworn face of Admiral Gilad Pellaeon hardened.
"We know that there are members of Alliance Intelligence on Tatooine at this moment. But we don't know if they are taking our overtures and concerns seriously or not."
"It has to be and I hope they are. We're not ready for a truce yet, though by the stars in any galaxy, I'm sick of war and I don't know how long we can go on fighting."
"But we're not ready for another fight either, Sir."
"Captain Ardiff," the Admiral nodded, the resignation easily audible in his voice. "According to our friends in Imperial Intelligence, neither are the New Republic. It's in both our interests to keep things under control here." He gave a weary sigh. "When I talk of 'we'. It's not me I'm thinking about."
"With due respect, sir, is this place actually worth holding on to?"
"I don't know," Pellaeon admitted honestly. "This planet has a special place in the history of the New Republic, but it is worthless with regards to raw materials or even recruits for the Imperial war machine."
"So why is it so special?"
Pellaeon gave a dry chuckle. "Come, Captain. Surely you have heard tales about Tatooine before?"
"I have heard things," the younger man admitted, "But I was hesitant to believe them."
"Apart from its place in the nexus of hyperspace routes which makes an ideal refuelling, trading and smuggling point. Tatooine hid one of the Rebellion's greatest secrets and one of the Old Republic's former heroes."
"You mean Skywalker and Kenobi, sir. Is that really true?"
"Oh yes. Somewhere in a vault there is reputed to be holofootage of an old man and a boy leaving on board a starship which is certainly the Millennium Falcon. I saw it once. I don't know if it still exists. It was the security holocams footage and it was the property of Lord Darth Vader."
Vash Ardiff's eyes widened. Even an Imperial soldier dreamed of emulating escapades reputed to surround the legendary ship - from an Imperial perspective, of course.
"I could call up Skywalker's school records if I wanted to, Ardiff," Pellaeon stated, his voice laced with dry amusement.
"And have you?" asked Ardiff his own voice touched with answering humour.
"Oh yes. It does make interesting reading. He was bright, but a dreamer. Did nothing for eighteen years, then woke up in time for his final exams and posted marks that were almost off the scale. Marks that could get you into the first school on Raithal."
"They were that good?"
"Oh, yes. When it came to piloting and starship mechanics, the boy exhibited near perfect scores – textbook stuff. According to files, Imperial recruitment agents were sent to his home, but were not allowed to see the boy. They left application disks and there are records of an application, which was cancelled a few months later. Something about family difficulties."
"Somebody didn't want the Empire to gain control of Vader's son."
"Exactly. They did not, of course, know that he was Vader's son."
"Neither did Vader back then."
"True, or there might have been a very different outcome to later events. That was a secret undiscovered for many years. Even I did not know about it until well after the death of Vader and the Emperor. Prince Xisor discovered the secret and tried to capture Skywalker. The boy was a source of great power."
"His Jedi heritage."
"To be used for good or evil." Pellaeon's face aged slightly. "He could be our only hope now. This planet was put under Imperial control due to extreme lawlessness after the first Death Star was destroyed."
"By Skywalker? He was the pilot that fired the shot."
"Yes, Captain. Tatooine had become a focus for the Rebellion. The Emperor got Lord Vader to deal with that - immediately. They had recruited far too many from these dusty wastes. Being so far out on the rim it was difficult to get to and there was, and still is, unfortunately, a thriving underworld presence. We've been in control ever since - although of late, I would say nominally."
"That's why we're here – to regain control."
Pellaeon rubbed a weary hand over his eyes. "If we lose Tatooine it's a real blow to morale. It would s what might happen. I personally couldn't care less who has it. It's the wider implications. The ensuing anarchy would cost far more in lives and resources than the struggle to keep it. Tatooine is on an important hyperspace route - one of the reasons it is so beloved by petty criminals and other filth." He turned to face Ardiff. "We don't need the rise of another homicidal maniac like Zsinj and that's what's happening. Our people want peace - they're just not ready to admit it. We need to be able to build up our defences, define our territories and be ready to negotiate a truce on an equal footing with the New Republic if that ever happens and lead our people gently to peace. The New Republic are here to stay. There are still Moffs skulking in the background with a greedy lust for power. They want to resurrect the Empire as it was. They might see problems in this sector as an excuse to fight and they would lose. I have no doubt on that score. They would lose and we would all lose.
The New Republic are trying hard to stabilise their government. They've gone from a terrorist organisation into legitimate government. It is very hard for them right now. What they are trying to do is a good thing. I don't believe that the senate wants to continue the fight. They've a different kind of war to wage now. Some of them would still like to see us as the enemy but we're no threat. Skywalker knows that. His last speech called for the New Republic to consider peace with the Empire."
Ardiff looked at his superior officer with a measure of sympathy in his gaze. Pellaeon had been at war all his life. He just wanted peace for the worlds remaining loyal to Imperial ideals. He didn't want power; he never had. "This new crime organisation, sir." He cleared his throat. "We've managed to get hold of some figures. In the last six months, they've increased in size by about three hundred percent and that's only in legal terms. That's what we can see - just shipping and cargo profits. However.... according to our sources...." Ardiff peered at the data pad in his hand. "Attacks on shipping in the area have increased, so they're using the 'Tatooine Shipping Company's Security force' to escort freighters."
Pellaeon sighed heavily. "It reminds me of Black Sun. The same organisation acting as threat and saviour."
"That's what I thought. I agree we must smash it before it gets as dangerous - if it hasn't already. None of the Moffs are bankrolling this?"
"No? I can assure you they have their beady little eyes on what's happening. But that's all they'll get." Pellaeon spoke grimly.
A light blinked on the console. Ardiff crossed to the desk and pressed a button. "Yes?"
"Major Venner to see you, Sir."
"Good. Send him in." Ardiff turned to Pellaeon. "Venner's one of our best operatives in this sector. He's been here for several years and knows the territory well."
The door slid aside and a tall tanned man strode with military precision into the darkened room. "Major Venner reporting, Sir."
Venner squinted towards the single light on the desk. He recognised Captain Ardiff, but the other man sat hugging the shadows against the wall.
"At ease, Venner. This is Admiral Gilad Pellaeon."
"Admiral Pellaeon," stuttered Venner. "The leader of the Imperial forces – that Admiral?" He drew himself stiffly back to attention.
"Relax, Major," Pellaeon's gravelly voice interrupted. He waved a lazy arm towards the other sofa in the room. "Please sit down. No-one knows I'm here."
Venner recovered his equilibrium. "I've made contact with one of the New Republic operatives." He produced a small holo-recorder.
"Proceed," instructed Ardiff.
Venner took a small disk from his pocket and placed it into a slot on the recorder. A few seconds later, a small image hovered in mid air. The interior of the Lucky Despot hotel hovered in miniature in front of their eyes.
Venner coughed nervously before speaking. "The contact spent time talking to an apparent small-time operator who has been identified as one, Gorez Melosh. I found little information about him on file, save that he's fairly unsuccessful. He could be anyone working for anyone. On Tatooine and in Mos Eisley that's not unremarkable. However we think he must have something to do with the New Republic.
The contact was in his late forties, spoke with a Corellian accent and definitely looked familiar, but I couldn't place him at first. He cleans up better in the files."
"It's Solo," stated Pellaeon.
"Yes," agreed Venner, surprised. "The descriptions fit exactly. The contact then crossed to a group of men engaged in conversation at the bar and joined them for a lomin-ale. We've definitely identified one of them as Tycho Celchu, former Imperial TIE pilot and now with Rogue Squadron. We assumed there might be more of the Rogues around and the smaller man to his left could be Lieutenant Corran Horn, former Corellian Security officer, also with Rogue Squadron."
Ardiff squinted at a face at a table in the corner. "I've just spotted Commander Wedge Antilles. I think they've sent in some of the big guns."
"They wouldn't have sent that calibre of people if they'd not been taking it seriously. Solo likes these one off missions, apparently, even though he's not technically with the Intelligence group."
"His wife is on Yavin IV with her brother at his Jedi School. Or she was until last week. Our most recent reports have her back on Coruscant."
Pellaeon rose to his feet slowly and crossed to shake Major Venner's hand. "Thank you, Major. Your reports have been invaluable to us. Please return to your current duties. You will be briefed on your next assignment shortly."
The two senior officers waited until Venner had swiftly exited.
**************************
"He's a good man - Venner. Thinks on what he does. Very capable."
Pellaeon paced stiffly across the grey carpet trying to ease movement into his legs. 'One of the problems with the Empire. Everything is grey.' he thought soberly. "Who do we have then, Ardiff?"
"Antilles, Horn and Celchu from Rogue Squadron - possibly more. Then we have the New Republic Royalty - Solo. Well, he married into it."
"Mm.... The three Rogues have more than just being good in an x-wing in their favour and then we have General Solo. What he is capable of is exactly what you'd expect from the hype. Some reputations have been exaggerated over the years. In Solo's case.... most of it is true. And if we have Solo then I would bet that Chewbacca of Kashyyyk is somewhere around too."
"The Wookiee?"
"Yes."
Ardiff checked the report again. "There have been no sighted reports of the Wookiee."
"We are assuming there are other members of the New Republic intelligence around. Just not how many of them there are. General Cracken will have sent in a team."
"Run the holo-vid past me again," instructed the Admiral slowly. "I'm sure Imperial intelligence will have scrutinised it thoroughly. But there might just be something they've missed."
Ardiff started the recording and the flickering images again came to life. Venner had made a good sweep around the entire casino. Most of the people held no interest for the Admiral and he recognised few. He was looking for those who seemed even slightly familiar in the crowd. A profile, here - a turn of the head, there.
"Stop! Now rewind.... there."
The camera had crossed the stage and something about one of the dancers jogged on his memory. He couldn't quite place her.... but he had a hunch she might be one of Cracken's people too.
The door com sounded.
"Enter."
One of Ardiff's junior officers quietly entered with a couple of data pads and, with a quick salute, smiled and exited.
Ardiff ran the info and grinned triumphantly. "We have a time and a place."
"Where?"
"It's on the outskirts of Anchorhead. We've been given the co-ordinates for a small water and power distribution outlet known as Tosche Station. It's on the edge of the Dune Sea. Right on the limits of the planet's Temperate Zone."
Pellaeon smiled. "Not too far from Olan's base of operation. This is good. See that no one else knows about this. Go yourself, Ardiff, and report back directly to me."
"Yes Sir. Oh.... and Admiral..." Ardiff tossed a data cube lightly into the air.
"Yes, Captain."
"This is a new report from intelligence. It may be important. Skywalker was supposedly seen on Pii 3 at the NR training base recently, but this is only a rumour."
Pellaeon raised his eyebrows. "Find out if it is rumour or fact. I want to know. He's supposed to be tucked away safe on Yavin. If he's not we need to contact him somehow." He placed the data cube in its slot on the console and scanned the details on the monitor. Suddenly the location jumped out at him and he paused, rubbing a gnarled finger lightly on the bridge of his nose. "These co-ordinates," he said. "Where exactly are they again?" He pursed his lips and nodded slowly as recognition dawned. "Curious."
*****************************************************
The B'Omarr Monastery
The silence of the lower chambers was deafening to Bib Fortuna's ears. Once he'd relished its quietness away from the filth Jabba entertained above. Once he'd truly been enlightened. He'd even sensed the thoughts and the emotions of others around him. It had saved his life. But enlightenment had come to him at a price. One that he hadn't been ready to pay - would never have been ready to pay. He dug a long fingered talon into his own flesh and watched the bubble of ruby blood spill. Pain - he could feel it. Flesh - he could enjoy. He could experience his own pleasure and his own pain. All the pleasures were his once more. His sandaled feet made only a faint swishing sound as he stepped lightly over the mini sand dunes, which had piled against the stone walls of the dark corridor. The subtle click of the muffled legs of a brain-walker was heard ahead. Fortuna opened his senses to the truly enlightened subject before him. He raised his blaster and levelled it at the object in front of him. He felt the begging and the pleading from the pitiful object but a dark cloud obscured his mind and vision. When the haze cleared, the dying brain lay in a mass of nutrient, metal and glass.
"Now you've truly reached enlightenment, Olan. Enjoy it if you can." The sharp teeth bared in a satisfied grin and the purple eyes glowed – almost red.
********************************************************
A small hut on the edge of the Dune Sea
Mara propped up the pillow and pulled the blanket over her knees. She'd actually enjoyed herself today. It was the last thing she might have admitted. But the evening especially had been fun. Mara Jade wasn't used to the idea of having fun.
It was late. The two suns had long been down and the sunset had been, as usual, a spectacular stream of colours across the sky. Chewie, Han and Luke had spent the day alternately fiddling with something on the Falcon and helping Luke add interior walls to the house. They'd also increased the security field around the perimeter of the property. Mara had been dispatched to work on her Jedi studies in one of the new downstairs rooms. There was room for saber practice and a temporary home for Luke's extensive and rapidly growing library of disks. She had her head deep in an article on using the Force to increase strength when Luke persuaded her to help him with the evening meal. Han produced a very good wine from Borleias and talk and mood had mellowed. Mara had never expected to feel so relaxed with Luke and his family. At one point during the meal, she had caught Luke's eye while Han had outlined some nefarious scheme he'd entertained during his smuggling days to get rich. Blue eyes shining with laughter had met sparkling green and again, as always, something sizzled in the Force.
"I'm actually tired tonight, Skywalker." Mara admitted, leaning her elbows on her knees.
Luke was perched on the bottom of the bed. The curtain had been pulled back and Han and Chewie sat sprawled in a couple of form fitting chairs Luke had procured from somewhere.
"What's happening tomorrow?"
"We go to Tosche Station.... You did contact your friends - right?"
Luke nodded.
"And we wait for someone to contact us. I just hope this is genuine."
"I think it is. I've not felt anything anomalous with this part of the proceedings." Luke gave Mara a speaking glance and she immediately understood.
Han did too. It wasn't what Luke was saying - it was what he left out.
Han reluctantly nodded. "Okay, kid. Now this meeting…"
Chewie barked an inquiry.
"According to General Cracken, Imperial Intelligence will pass on to us what they already know and it will be a joint operation clearing them out. Now I may be overly suspicious, but I'm presuming they'll have people there they won't be telling us about."
Chewie growled indignantly, his fur ruffled.
"You got it, Pal. I remember the backstabbing at Bakura too. We helped them out defeating the Ssi-Ruuk and as soon as we'd done that, they immediately turned on us. Luke was going to be handed over to those aliens as a one-off payment and nearly died as a result."
"My participation in this, may be a surprise. I want it to be a surprise."
"What do you mean, kid?"
"There are schemes within schemes," was all that Luke would say.
Han frowned. "Just make sure we don't show all our sabacc hands at once."
"That's about it. Han…" Luke hesitated. "Remember what I said before. Just keep my part in any forthcoming ventures very quiet. If the General thinks I've headed dutifully back to Yavin like a good little Jedi Knight don't enlighten him unless you have to."
"Kid… What's going on?"
"I'm not sure. Just think about it."
"I'm thinking, kid," he said.
Mara bit her lip. "Won't he realise you've gone with me?"
"Eventually - when I don't arrive on Yavin."
"You don't trust General Cracken, kid?"
"Yes I do. I don't trust some of the people he gets his orders from."
"Okay. I'll do it – but if Leia asks I'll have to tell her."
Luke nodded slowly and gave Mara a quick glance. She was thinking the same as he was. The New Republic also had unexpected backup. Two Jedi with Karrde and his people. Luke retreated from their shared link in surprise. For the first time ever, Mara had allied herself with him - not Karrde - and she'd called herself a Jedi. It gave him - hope. The feeling he held deep in his heart, the hope that never went away, no matter how many knocks he took, unfurled and began to come to life. It was young and green, but with hope it could grow. He turned his vivid blue gaze on Mara again. She sat relaxed, leaning forward and her eyes focused suddenly on him. He didn't look away.
Chewie was the first to notice that the Jedi were no longer paying attention. Han was now telling another old smuggling story.
The Wookiee barked softly and interrupted the Corellian's wild tale.
"This is a good bit...I know you've heard it......." His voice trailed off. Chewie wuffed a few more pithy comments and Han also noticed the man and woman's eyes locked on each other.
"Yeah, pal, I do feel a little…. in the way. Guys! Kid, Chewie and me'll go check the Falcon for the night."
Two faces acknowledged him, but the departure didn't really register.
*******************
"What do you mean they've been staring at each other all evening like that? I never noticed." Han muttered indignantly as he made his way towards the Falcon.
"How could you not notice?" grumbled Chewie. "I thought you were good at reading signs, even Jedi masters."
"Leia isn't going to like this."
"It's got nothing to do with her. Luke is a man, not a boy. Are you really surprised, friend? Are you?"
Han plopped himself tiredly into the pilot's chair. "No. I'm not."
"The Princess is an astute woman. Do you think Leia will really be surprised either?"
"I don't know, Chewie. She kinda gave up for a while on Luke after Callista left. Oh, she liked her very much, but there was a nagging feeling that Callista shouldn't have been there at all and then when she left Luke… We all understood why, but it didn't make it any easier on the kid. He just wants a home and a family. We're the nearest he has, but he's always looking in. Jacen, Jaina and Anakin are my children, not his. Leia's obligation is first to me and he knows it, no matter how close they are. He's been so distant from us all - even Leia. But Mara must be doing something right. I've never seen him like this."
"Honestly, Han. When did you suspect there might be something?"
"From the moment they clapped eyes on each other."
Chewie gave a surprised little growl. "As long ago as that? Ten years is a long time."
"You remember the twins' birthday? Luke was there for the first time in ages, but was tired and thin. We didn't know, but he'd been overworking, not sleeping and was coming down with an infection. He just looked wiped out. Mara also turned up on Coruscant at the same time and the pair of them talked for the first time in over a year. They'd had this big fight. I mean, they always did have a strange relationship, but they work well together and they trust each other with their lives. You can't get closer than that. Luke trusts Mara with our lives too which, to me, says a lot more. Luke became ill and Mara rushed to his bedside and Leia was rather put out about it. I thought it was funny at the time. Leia wasn't so sure but she urged Mara to make her peace with Luke and go for training. So I suppose Leia did guess something had happened between them, but I don't know if she will be so happy with this scenario. I hate to be disloyal about my own wife but she's trying to get Luke to become an adviser to the Senate and it's not his scene. Sure he's learned politics but his heart isn't in it. He wants to be out there, like I do – spreading peace and saving lives. Not stuck in endless meetings."
"What about you? What do you think about them being together?"
Han blinked with some semblance of dawn breaking over his rugged features. "Do you know something? I've been thinking about how Leia would react and not what I think." He smiled the familiar lop-sided grin and his eyes lit up. "She's very attractive. Stunning in fact. Is Force strong - intelligent. Can take care of herself in a fight and will put up with no nonsense from Luke either. He can be very Skywalker about a lot of things. As can his sister. Now that you put it in that way........ I'm delighted. But it's not going to be easy for them. Mara is decidedly strong willed and Luke, although you wouldn't think to look at him, is just as bad. Did you see his face yesterday?"
"You mean the one with the hand print on it?"
"Yup. Also the lip paint. Which I'm pretty sure he's not into wearing. It happened to be the same colour as Jade's. She's good for him. He has this energy back."
Chewbacca chuckled wisely. He knew Han would come 'round eventually, as would Luke if the Force willed it.
"Remember old friend - you might have to convince Leia. That's if Luke decides he really wants Mara Jade. Because the problems you and Leia had getting together will be miniscule in comparison to what these two will have to go through."
"You may well be right. But I think they're already experiencing the difficulties. Any couple that takes ten years to even be comfortable in the same sector together are gonna have some obstacles to overcome. Plus the individuals in question are Luke and Mara. What more can I say?"
The Wookiee nodded his head vigorously in agreement. "Somehow my friend, I get the feeling your wife won't be averse to the idea in the end. Not when you point out all the benefits to her beloved brother. But she's going to be jealous."
"I don't know, pal. I just hope you're right on this one. Leia likes Mara but not when she's too close to Luke."
"She will have to learn to give way. The pheromones in there were working overtime."
"Even I noticed that by the end. Leia has always had first call on Luke's time and affections. Mara is the only girl I know that could challenge that. We'd better give them some time alone. Now that you've drawn it to my attention, I don't know how I could have missed the feeling of being surplus to requirements."
***********************************
The two remaining occupants sat and continued to stare at each other. Mara's defences were completely down. The whole evening, plus her continued proximity to Luke over the last few weeks, had contributed to the heightened emotional resonance between them.
"Mara!" It was the only word Luke got out before he moved into her outstretched arms and fastened his mouth onto hers.
