Spirit of the Shifting Sands
By Ash Darklighter
Disclaimer - The characters and situations in this story are owned by Lucasfilm. I am not making an Imperial Credit out of them.
Chapter 9
Mos Eisley Garrison - Tatooine
Ardiff slammed his fist on the desk in frustration. "Damn!"
He reached forward and pressed a switch on his console. Sighing, he sat himself down and waited for anyone to reply,
"Yes, Captain," the tinny voice answered from the speaker.
"Open a secure channel to Admiral Pellaeon. Now - this is urgent. And I mean a secure channel."
********************************************
Tosche Station
Fixer watched gloomily as the men who'd been working with Luke made his office into a kind of operations room. They kept pulling bits of wiring and electronic components and arranging them into circuits. He thought he was pretty good with stuff like that, but most of the equipment was unfamiliar to him. It began to seem more and more as if Skywalker had been telling the truth. But why would he lie? To impress them? That was possible - but the calm man of now was light years away from the dreamy boy Fixer had known. He was simply someone special and he'd taken time to help Fixer and his family without expecting thanks. He shifted restlessly. Who was he trying to kid? Luke didn't need to try and impress anyone - you just were impressed.
Arnek wandered in and gave Fixer a dirty look, then wandered slowly back out again clutching a few empty glasses. Fixer's gaze strayed curiously to an older man with rugged good-looking features, greying hair and a charming lop-sided grin. Arnek had pointed him out as Luke's brother-in-law. Strange - Luke hadn't said he was married. Luke had called the man 'General Solo' with an air of mocking amusement, but there was affection and great respect there too - on both sides.
The rest of the men were obviously friends and close colleagues, but clearly were military types. They hid it well, but there was something about their straight-backed awareness of their surroundings. Luke had it too, Fixer noted with surprise. He had said he'd gone directly into the Rebel Alliance as a pilot, so it would make sense. He snorted in disgust. They'd always taunted Luke about his dreams. Seems like he'd achieved what he wanted. But at what cost? The little voice rang in Fixer's head.
Camie ducked into the room carrying a loaded tray. "Oh man, real food." Tycho and Corran grinned cheekily at her. "Thanks, Ma'am," they chorused like small boys. Camie blushed and pushed a plate towards Fixer and Han. Solo gave her his famous lop-sided smile and she blushed again.
"Pretty girl," remarked Han ignoring the tired lines around Camie's eyes and the air of perpetual worry lining her forehead.
Fixer regarded him suspiciously.
"She's your ... wife?"
Fixer looked up at the Corellian. "Yup."
"Kids?"
"Two." Fixer waited a second then grudgingly added. "A boy and a girl - you?"
"Three." Han took a mouthful of food. "Twins, a boy and girl and a younger son." He pulled out a holo picture of his smiling family.
Fixer nodded, then pointed to Anakin who stood curled into Leia's side, his dark hair slightly ruffled by an invisible wind, blue eyes steady in his small face. "He looks like..."
"Luke. Yeah. He's like him in a lot of ways - all the annoying ones too. It's the way he single mindedly zeroes in on you."
Fixer felt a little confused. If Han was Skywalker's brother-in-law, what exactly was the relationship if the youngest son resembled him so strongly? And where did the woman, Jade fit into this?
"Luke's married then?" he asked casually.
Han laughed. "No – not him. Leia parades all these glamorous women past him but he's extremely wary. I can understand that. He was in a relationship a while back - didn't work out well for him. He took time to get over it. Besides, it's difficult for him. He's so high profile that any woman would have to put up with the media circus that follows him around when he's on Coruscant. Being on the arm of Luke Skywalker wears off after a while. He doesn't like fancy parties and official functions and attends them reluctantly. Then there are his Jedi responsibilities and he takes them very seriously. It's his thing, you see. The title of Jedi Master isn't just in name only. Luke has undertaken the task of rebuilding the Jedi Order and it is a lifetime's work."
"Leia?" Fixer repeated the name.
"My wife. Luke's sister."
Fixer chewed slowly. "But he doesn't have a sister. I knew him all his life here - went to school with him. His aunt and uncle brought him up on his own. What's the pile of Hutt dung you're feeding me?"
Han eyed Fixer carefully. Luke said he could be trusted and that was enough for Han, even though Luke could still display a lot of naïve faith in people. But as Luke had said ' We can't tell them the complete story of the rebellion and my part in it'. Han added one word in his mind - yet. "It's a long and very weird story. But it involves the Jedi and the powerful and...." Oh what am I saying? It would just take too long, Luke was right. He decided to give the man the condensed version – the seriously condensed version. "Luke and Leia… They were twins separated at birth to hide them from some people who might destroy them."
"Destroy whom?"
"Luke and Leia. They're Jedi, you see. Put all that power in the wrong hands and...." Han shuddered.
"Power?"
"Luke is a Jedi – they wield considerable power." Han shrugged and took a mouthful of his food. "I don't understand it, myself. His father was a powerful Jedi who went bad. To protect Luke from his father and the Emperor, he was sent to live with the Lars family on the most out of the way place they could think of - Tatooine. His sister, Leia, was sent to Alderaan and brought up by the ruling family there."
Fixer looked confused, but obviously decided to let it pass. "Oh! He watches her."
It was Han's turn to look perplexed. "Who watches?"
"Wormie, I mean Luke. Watches Mara Jade - never takes his eyes off her."
Han's face tightened for a second, and then a fleeting expression of amusement crossed it. "He does, eh?"
Camie came in to collect their empty plates and caught the tail end of the conversation. "She watches him too. When she thinks he's not looking."
Han chuckled softly. "Now there's a thing." He smiled again. 'Well, Chewie, you were definitely right. This could get interesting.' He lifted his glass of lum. "Here's to tomorrow."
***********************************************************
Luke's home on the edge of the Dune Sea
The lights and power buzzed to life as Luke and Mara stood blinking, tense and awkward in the main living chamber. Gradually they relaxed without looking at one another.
"It's good to be home," Mara breathed in relief. The cool desert house had somehow taken on Luke's wonderful air of calm and Mara craved that serenity. She hadn't realised until now, how much she did so.
"Damn!" she muttered. It wasn't just the peace of mind she yearned for. Mara craved Luke full stop. Still refusing to face a puzzled Luke, she prowled edgily around the room her peace shattered.
"What is it?" he asked gently.
"Nothing." She bit out suddenly uneasy with her feelings.
"Something's wrong, Jade. Tell me." He probed cautiously.
"I told you it's nothing, Skywalker. Keep out of my mind for sith's sake."
"Mara," he entreated. "Please tell me. I want to help - if I can." He threw his brown cloak over a chair and crossed to where she had finished her pacing. Mara stood, eyes fixed on the floor in front of her - shoulders tense.
"I would never intrude." He shrugged expressively. "Not intentionally, I assure you. I just thought you were upset about something and just in case it was my fault..." He gave a half-whimsical smile. "It's often my fault. I didn't pick up on your thoughts - I didn't have to. You're betraying your mood for any half-way sentient species between here and Mos Eisley."
"I'm fine," she ground out defensively between clenched teeth.
"Mara!" He moved to stand behind her and placed a careful hand on her shoulder, waiting to see if she would reject him. He paused, opening his mind to her, letting her see he was no threat and finally felt her stretch out and enter his mind slowly.
"Oh, Luke..." Her eyes lifted and shone pure green fire into his.
Luke's expression was reassuring as he felt her begin to relax again. "Mara - It's gonna be fine. Honestly - whatever happens we'll face it together." He still had no real idea what had upset her so much.
"I suppose it will have to be. Think of the children..." She gave a strangled giggle. "I nearly decked you with that one. I thought you were serious."
"But Mara..." he stepped closer his hands moving deftly to untie her cloak, fingertips brushing her hair from her neck. They stood chest to chest, their eyes wide and locked upon one another. "I was," and just before his arms slid round her slender form and his lips descended on hers - he whispered softly. "I am."
Luke released Mara and stepped back slightly. Mara stared at him her pupils dilated in shock. Up until this very moment Mara had still thought that Luke could walk away from her and thought that she could let him. She now knew that she could not let him go - ever. But how did he feel? How did she want him to feel?
Luke picked up her hands and carefully threaded his fingers through her own. They stood silently each guardedly searching the other for the truth. The truth of who and what they were with, or without the other. Suddenly it was clear to both. Luke opened his mind to Mara and she revealed her desire to him. Mara glanced at their linked hands and Luke brought her hands to his mouth and kissed them reverently he then bowed his head against them as if in prayer. Mara looked at the tousled, darkened head as he continued just to stand there, his hands gripping hers.
"Luke," the whisper loud in the silence as Mara found her voice. "Please."
He stripped her slowly, savouring the moment, then guided her down onto the bed. When he joined her there Mara sensed the barely suppressed passion beneath the control and the gentleness Luke mastered so well. Mara closed her eyes and without consciously making the decision, set out to make him lose that control in her arms. Luke felt Mara's breathing change - felt his own heartbeat accelerate. He kissed her as if he'd been starving for her touch and in a way he had. All through those long and lonely years Luke Skywalker had desired Mara's touch. He had craved her like the dunes of Tatooine yearned for a drop of water but he'd been unaware of that fact. He hadn't realised that his needs could be met by the passion of the girl in his arms. His much-vaunted control began to fray at the edges. Breathing ragged, desire-mounting, Mara felt the need to merge with Luke utterly. They had no notion of their surroundings. They could only see and touch the other. It was as if they had developed an extra sense through the Force. Mara for an instant tried to regain her sanity and opened green eyes, dark and sultry as they met Luke's bright blue gaze. Cheeks flushed she averted her eyes and focused on his strongly muscled chest, but a light finger underneath her chin brought her head up and again Luke's steady regard exposed her innermost needs. Luke braced himself above her, kissing her soft mouth and worked his way down to her soft, taunting breast.
"I.... want.... need... now." Mara's plea to Luke was totally incoherent, but he knew what she wanted. The heated bodies undulated, slick as the excitement rose. Force sensations added to the heightened experience and Mara finally did get her wish and she watched Luke lose control in her arms, but she couldn't glory in that victory. In making him lose that which he prized, she was also ceding the victory to him. Her own control had also gone. Every part of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade was totally focused on the other.
Outside the little house a wind sprang up and sand shapes entwined in the air. It spun and twirled in total accord with the emotions of the lovers.
*************************************************
Imperial Base - Bestine Township, Tatooine
Prefect Eugene Talmont coughed weakly, the sound a dry rattle in his weakening body. He gave a wry smile at the figure standing on the other side of his desk.
"My men have searched every cantina in the vicinity and interviewed many of the locals. We have to be careful and cannot alienate everyone, although I'm beginning to think that is what you wish."
"You lie."
"I'm telling you. The stormtroopers found nothing."
"The Jedi are here." The long nailed talons dug viciously into the grey desk leaving pale gouges.
"I've better things to do with my time than sit here and listen to this." Talmont gestured in disgust.
"They are here and it could be your ticket off Tatooine if you found them."
For the first time during the interview the Prefect's watery blue eyes showed some spark of interest but it faded rapidly and he turned his head wearily. "No - they're not here and I'm stuck on this backwater world with no reprieve."
"Believe me, they are." The figure leant forward, scarred lekku curled over his shoulder. "Enlightenment comes at a price and I've paid it. This time I mean to win."
"But the Jedi can't be interested in you." Talmont dismissed abruptly. It was important that he persuaded Olan there were no Jedi on Tatooine. Luke Skywalker was his to kill when he found him.
"Oh but they are. I can't decide whether to kill them or thank them for finishing Jabba the Hutt and ultimately paving the way for my triumphant return to power."
"But Olan..."
"Firith Olan is dead," snarled the Twilek. "He's dead and if you don't do what I say you will be too."
The Prefect lifted his despairing, faded eyes. "You don't frighten me, Olan. I'm dying anyway. There's nothing can stop that. I'm dying, the Empire is dying. If you don't curtail your activities it's you that will be in trouble. No one is too important, Olan. Remember that. No one. I've had it with your threats and anti-Imperial ways and I don't believe you can help the Empire build a stronger power base on this god-forsaken world. I've grown soft," he bit out angrily. "For even entertaining the notion that what you say could be believable. I deserve to be here and the Empire will not give up Tatooine without a fight. Not even to you. There is no way they would leave you in ultimate control. Jabba the Hutt is dead and you haven't the mind he had."
The Twilek stepped back stung, fury rising swiftly. Leaning over the grey standard Imperial desk he hissed at Talmont viciously. "You'll regret that insult, human. If you were not expiring I would finish you off." He jabbed a vengeful talon into the prefect's chest. "As for control of Tatooine – I have it. I've had it for several years now. In fact I've been running the sector for years and you never even noticed. Jabba the Hutt, Firith Olan, all the Jedi on Yavin – all underestimated me. I will be a crime lord like no other – more than Prince Xisor ever was. Black Sun's efforts will look puny in comparison to mine. I will make the name of Bib Fortuna live long throughout the galaxy and it will terrify those who dare to oppose me. You pathetic excuse of a man. The Empire hasn't the resources to hold Tatooine and you know it. Control..." He barked a bitter laugh of exultation. Leaning forward, purple eyes glowing madly, he hissed malevolently in the fading man's face. "Control. The Empire has never had it here. They only thought they did." With a swirl of his black cloak he stormed from the room leaving Talmont sitting almost indifferent to the threat.
Talmont's body sagged as the Twilek left. There was no escape for him now. If he was honest, which he wasn't usually, there never was any escape for him once he'd reached Tatooine. He only hoped that the disease ravaging his body took him before the Twilek exercised some form of revenge because Talmont knew that Olan would do so and he would fail. No – it wasn't Olan. He'd said Olan was dead and he was Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt's second in command. He was dead too – wasn't he? The Twilek must be suffering from some sort of madness. He pulled up the file he had on Olan. The profiles fit the character he'd had in his office, apart from the scarred lekku. He updated the holo-image; then something occurred to him. It couldn't happen – could it? Perhaps there was a way.
A light on his desk console began to flash urgently and he stared at it in confusion for a moment. Then a sense of panic seeped into his thin frame. "Emperor's bones!" This was a priority signal.
"What the hell are you playing at, Prefect?" The gravely voice boomed through the receiver.
Talmont went whiter than he already was if that was humanly possible. "Admiral Pellaeon," he stuttered. "This is not a good time to contact me."
"Expect my aide, Captain Ardiff, to be with you in a couple of days. You have questions to answer."
The connection was severed suddenly leaving Prefect Eugene Talmont wondering if things could get any worse. The Jedi had been seen on Tatooine but there were two of them. The reports from the attack on Tosche Station had come to his attention despite his words to the Twilek. The contact had spoken of two humans wielding glowing swords – lightsabers. That meant only one thing. There were Jedi here on Tatooine and given the history of the planet it could only mean one thing. The head of the Jedi Order himself had returned to the place of his upbringing. The identity of the other still remained a mystery, but by all accounts she was beautiful with hair the colour of the sunset and eyes which shone with emerald green fire. He had to find out. This could help him out of the mess he was in.
*************************************
Luke Skywalker's home on the edge of the Dune Sea
In the little house a small tempest rocked the very walls. The blue-eyed man and the slender brown-haired girl in his arms were oblivious to all but each other. The man and woman in the throes of their passion had ceased to be aware of anything belonging to the world about them. Naked flesh brushed sensuously against naked flesh. Mara and Luke had never known such rapture, not in anyone else's bed. Luke had assumed he'd found his other self with Callista, but he knew now that that had been a preparation - a testing of his emotions. Mara had always been there for him, but he hadn't been ready to accept the total commitment he would have to give her. There were no half-measures with Mara Jade, and Luke Skywalker knew that too.
"Mara..." he said softly, his voice sounding rough and unused. "Mara, I..." he stopped tongue-tied. Could he say it? His gaze covered the beautiful face of the girl he held so tightly against him.
Mara turned to face him, her sharp green gaze quizzical. The tips of her breasts brushed against Luke's chest and hardened in response. Luke's indrawn gasp of breath showed his tenuous grip on his control and he couldn't help but recall the moment Mara had turned into a column of fire in his arms.
"Mara.... I..."
"What, Luke - what is it?"
"I... " He closed his eyes and muttered something unintelligible. Then, gathering his courage together he fixed his clear blue eyes on her and let the words out in a rush of air. "Mara, I love you." There - he'd finally said it. Finally after all those years he'd said what really was in his heart. Fastening his eyes tight shut Luke erected his barriers and waited for the fall-out. He didn't want to feel her laughing at him or, even worse, her pity. She was beautiful and intelligent. She could have any man in the galaxy after all.
The emerald glance widened and then closed briefly as she breathed a prayer in thanks to whatever deity in the Force looked after them. Suddenly Mara realised the Jedi Master had emotionally locked himself up waiting for the rejection and the heartache that in Luke's world had inevitably followed such an admission.
The little shoot of hope began to wither as still Mara said nothing and Luke mutely eased his way from her embrace, his eyes resolutely shut. The hard outer casing from Mara's heart broke away as she witnessed this phenomenon and brought graceful hands up to clutch at Luke's shoulders.
"No, Luke..."
But he didn't hear her. He'd put up his strongest barriers and cut himself off from Mara through the Force. She shook her head. She was going to have to convince him that rejection wasn't what she wanted to do to him. It would hurt her as much as it would him. Luke's heart was bruised from the long lonely years but Mara, too, had lived a solitary existence by cutting herself off from others, refusing to trust and relishing her independence. It wasn't independence - it was cowardice. Mara had been afraid to love, but with Luke - it was different. It was their destiny.
She reached up and pressed a light kiss to his throat, pressing her softness against his firm maleness and the Jedi stiffened. Something cracked in his barrier. She planted another soft kiss along his jaw line and finally gently kissed his lips and a wall in Luke's mind began to collapse.
"Mara?"
"Let me in, Luke." Her fingers trailed across his lips and over the contours of his face as if she'd been blind and was learning his features by touch alone. "Listen with your heart, Skywalker. You're hiding from emotion again and I told you never to do that. It's your openness that's drawn me to you. It's annoyed the hell out of me too, but... let me in, Luke. The eyes may deceive, the heart can be false, but I never am. Not to you."
Luke regarded her warily from half-closed eyes and Mara could have cried at the expression in them. This was the unimaginable depth of pain that she'd felt before when he'd been ill and vulnerable on Coruscant.
"Luke," she whispered again. "Trust me. Listen to me - look into my heart. What do you see?"
He opened blurry blue orbs and squinted into her face. As his vision cleared Luke saw her beautiful face, the strength and the courage, but mostly he saw her love for him mingling with the very essence of her life force.
"I see..." he began, then stopped, blue eyes at last clear.
"Yes..." she urged. He had to believe her - he just had to. Mara didn't know if there had been a more important decision made anywhere in her life.
"I see... I see... myself."
Mara leant her head against his chest and sighed with relief. "Thank the Force."
Luke gazed at her in wonder. What he felt for her, amazingly, was reciprocated.
"Believe it, Luke. Please, for both our sakes." Mara propped herself up on her elbow and pinned him to the mattress with the fierceness of her expression - green eyes blazing. "I may not say it or show it often Luke, but believe in it and me. I do love you. I don't know if I wanted to, but believe me I do."
"Oh I do." Luke reached up, his confidence returning in full force and placed a gentle hand on the nape of her neck propelling her downwards until her lips met his and all talking ceased.
*******************************************
The B'Omarr Monastery
Talon Karrde retreated into a dank corner and shuddered. Aves, catching his look, grimaced in sympathy. Karrde was fastidious so this place went against everything he believed in. The names he put to faces scurrying down vermin infested corridors would fill every cell on Kessel with extras to spare.
"Well?" he hissed.
Karrde shook his head. They're not here yet, but should be shortly. The big meeting with the Imps is supposed to happen tomorrow. But some of the New Republic guys are already here. I saw Page carousing with one of the murderers. It's funny but every time I see that man he's different. He gave me a level grey look and then switched back into character. I've not seen Olan yet."
"You're sure this guy was involved?"
"Oh yes. Mara described them all in great detail. We were able to identify quite a few from Imperial data bases and my own extensive knowledge of people you don't do business with."
Aves took a nervous glance round behind him. "I checked with the skiff guards. They were involved in quite a few hit and kill exercises. In fact one of them had the brass neck to show off his trophy room. He's got a macabre collection of little objects taken from every ship he's plundered."
Karrde suddenly got a sick feeling in his stomach. "What?"
Aves held out a data pad. It was battered and bloodstained but Karrde recognised it. It was one of his detailing the cargo manifest from the Prada Predator. A chilling rage filled his soul and the pale eyes grew icier. Aves took a step back from his boss.
"I know exactly how you feel. Let's say he won't be adding to his collection ever again."
************************************************
Tosche Station
Fixer watched carefully as a heavy set white haired man addressed the assembled company of new Republic Operatives squashed into his back office. Each man, woman or alien was in charge of their own small group, but it was impossible to fit them into the office too. It would also draw attention to the fact that they were on Tatooine in greater numbers than the Empire originally supposed. Fixer noted that the time for laughing and joking had vanished and the people in front of him had turned into the dedicated military officers Luke had indicated they were. This was no delusion or fake scenario to get back at Fixer. He supposed he was mad even to consider it. After all, he knew Luke - or thought he did.
"I want to come along."
Han gave Fixer a calculating stare. "No dice, pal. I'm afraid we cannot allow that. We don't want to jeopardise you or your family. The Imperials will arrive here for the meeting. It's risky enough having it here, but we'll explain you are in no way involved in this."
"But I am involved. I became involved as soon as Wormie stuck himself back into our lives with his high ideals and his stupid dreams. I became involved as soon as I sat back and let that Twilek bastard take from me what was mine and threaten what was mine."
Corran spoke quietly, but it cut through the room. "You are doing something, just by letting us be here. You let Luke get out of here by buying time with the Imperials. We need you to act as if nothing is happening. Life must continue as near normal as it can."
Camie took a relieved breath. "Fixer!" she entreated. "Please. You know they are right."
Fixer opened his mouth to protest then glanced at his wife. She was begging him. He smiled sadly at Camie. "I know. But it would be nice to be a hero too."
Fixer glanced up and caught Corran's narrowed green gaze. The Jedi smiled without humour. "Being a hero is all very well, but often they're dead men and that doesn't feed and protect your loved ones."
She put her arms around him her grey eyes shining with relief. "I don't think any less of you if you don't go. I'd feel safer if you didn't. We have the old blaster and Luke left us a newer one. Arnek's quite good with these things." She held up a blastech rifle dubiously. "Mara's been giving me one or two tips. She said I should be able to hold off a several Tusken Raiders with this thing," and then Camie pulled back her tunic sleeve to reveal a wickedly effective little blaster strapped into a sheath.
Corran surveyed the Windriders and just caught the last part of the conversation. 'Well, well,' he thought. 'Mara's given Camie her blaster. Now that's a turn up. She'll be relying on her lightsaber alone. Luke will be proud of her. Prouder than he already is. I wonder if the pair of them has realised yet...'
"Lieutenant Horn! Are you with us on this mission?"
Corran blushed. "Aw Sith. Sorry General. I was nerfgathering for a second. It won't happen again."
The ops slipped from the back room, silently and in-groups of twos or threes. Finally all that was left were the three Rogue pilots, General Solo and the white haired man.
"Windrider - This is General Airen Cracken, head of New Republic intelligence."
Fixer gaped. "Please to meet you, eh... Sir."
"The pleasure's all mine. We're very grateful for the use of your facility as a place for our meeting. It's perfect."
"Who are we meeting exactly?" asked Corran.
Cracken sighed. "Unfortunately the Imps are up on us in this respect, but we think it is a representative of Admiral Pellaeon."
"The Admiral!" murmured Tycho thoughtfully raising an arched eyebrow towards Wedge. "Interesting."
Fixer excused himself to go and clear up. These names meant nothing to him. Corran watched him go a frown forming on his forehead.
"Fixer!" Corran called softly walking slowly towards him.
The man stopped, turned round and looked pointedly at the pilot.
"Don't mention Luke and Mara please - to anyone."
"I won't."
"Thanks and may the Force be with you."
'Bantha dung! The Force.' Fixer scowled.
******************************************************
Luke's home
Luke lay wide-awake watching Mara as she slept in his arms. She muttered something and moved restlessly. He carefully twirled a lock of hair around his finger. The brown dye was holding and Luke knew she couldn't return to her own colour of living fire until all of this was over. There was something about all of this that bothered him. 'Wheels within wheels,' he mused idly. He'd tried stretching out with the Force, but the kaleidoscopic images gave him no clue whatsoever. This was Mara's fight after all, not his. He wanted to assist her in every way possible, yet leave her to make that final important step in the Force on her own.
"Luke..." The muttered word came from Mara as she moved again. "Be careful. Luke..." She was sound asleep. "Don't leave me, Luke. Not here in the dark on my own..."
"Ssh, it's okay, Mara. I won't leave you," he whispered. "Ssh…." he soothed.
"Luke..." She began to move again.
The Jedi frowned and reached into Mara's mind to see if he could gauge what bothered her. He hated doing this but something was worrying her. Luke entered her mind carefully touching on her sense lightly, shifting against her unconsciousness. A picture began to form in his mind and Luke knew he was seeing what Mara was experiencing. She was back in Jabba's palace and she was dancing for Jabba, but the carbonite block was no longer Han Solo. It was Luke himself. All around her faces jeered and laughed and lusted. She was powerless to control what was happening. She could do nothing. He felt her fear, her hatred and her anger. It was locked so deep within her soul that he wondered if she realised it was still there. But this wasn't a vision of the future. It was a vision from Mara's past - almost. Something that might have been.
Mara in her dream gave a final spin and ended, her red-gold head bowed before the carbonite Luke. But as she raised her eyes to the statue and reached to release him from captivity a figure interposed itself between Mara and Luke, lightsaber drawn, grey eyes serious.
"Callista!"
Luke heard the despair in Mara's voice.
"I'll never get past her… ever."
"Mara..." Luke reached out to her. "She has no power to hurt me any more. I gave you that power the first time we made love. Mara... she's not important to me any more, but you are. Callista is only a barrier in your mind." Still, he had to watch as the dream unfolded. Callista stood ready to bar Mara from reaching Luke. Mara also drew her lightsaber and struck and Callista ... vanished. Jabba's laugh boomed in his ears, but Mara reached up and activated the statue. Luke watched as he tumbled barely breathing to the floor and Mara took him in her arms. "It will be all right, Luke. I promised I'd look after you and I will." She kissed him and activated the lightsaber once more.
He felt her resolve and her determination and when she put herself between Luke and one of Jabba's henchmen, he felt his muscles stiffen, even though he knew this was a dream.
Mara blocked shot after shot, the blue blade flying until tiring one shot managed to get past her guard. "No!" she screamed. "No," she whimpered. "I promised I'd look after him."
Luke watched as she turned to him and cradled him again in her arms. The dream Luke opened blue eyes and smiled. "I'm fine Mara...."
"Luke!" She pleaded.
Luke suddenly became aware that the dream Mara wore a choke collar on the end of a long chain. He watched as his other self tried to sit and overcome the weakness that he felt. But Mara was being pulled from him and he couldn't let that happen. He could see her hair as it framed her lovely face. Then a chill settled in his gut - it wasn't hair. Mara had somehow acquired lekku like the Twilek dancer, Oola, and she sat chained to another Twilek with glowing purple eyes. Then the Twilek's visage transformed and the Emperor's yellow eyes gleamed maniacally out of sunken folds of skin.
Mara threw herself gasping from the vision. Luke, still entwined with her mind, felt the sharp ache of separation. "Aargh!" he yelled and slipped out of the bed to land with a thump on the floor. Green eyes pierced blue as Mara jack-knifed to an upright position, her expression terrified.
"What's wrong?" She gasped. "Why are you on the floor?"
"I slipped… Nothing's wrong..." Luke panted. "You were dreaming and I got drawn into it. Are you okay?"
Mara rubbed her eyes wearily. "I think so."
"I don't think it was a premonition of anything. It seemed to be a whole lot of issues from your past mixed up with an awful lot of fear."
"That's relief," she muttered sardonically.
Luke rubbed his elbow ruefully. "Ouch, that hurt." Then he tried to penetrate the darkness as he stared at her. "We've both been held back by something. Me - by my need to re-establish the Jedi and you by your service to the Empire. Callista perhaps stood between us from becoming closer, but maybe we weren't ready for it. Fear is of the dark side, Mara Jade. Don't let fear back into your soul." Luke got slowly to his feet and climbed back into bed. Mara sat tensely, her whole body rigid.
"Come on, relax. Ssh, Mara," he soothed taking her into his arms. Mara's eyes shut briefly then opened and fixed him with a penetrating stare.
"I feel safe in your arms," she murmured. "I really do. It's as if you'll do your best to keep the bad guys away."
"I will, Mara. You know I will. There was one thing though."
"The Twileki thing?"
"Yeah. It could be significant, but I don't know. It was the guy who killed Karrde's people, wasn't it?"
"I've never met him, Luke. I only glimpsed him through Hinden's eyes."
Luke gave her a diffident glance and Mara sensed curiosity coming from his sense in the Force. "In your dream you said..." he hesitated.
Mara rolled her eyes. "What?"
"You said…." Luke stopped.
Mara sat up again. "Look, farmboy. I'm tired, stressed out. I'm going to a place I've no desire to go to - to be able to join an order of monkish individuals who have a strange urge to save everything and everybody. Well, maybe not monkish..." she drawled letting her keenly possessive gaze travel over his firm, naked body.
Luke blushed. She had a point. She couldn't label him that in a million years, not after the night they'd just had.
"Out with it."
"You promised you'd look after me. Who did you promise?"
Mara smiled gently and closed her arms round him. "I told you before, farmboy. I promised Jacen and Jaina on Coruscant. They were most concerned about your propensity for getting into trouble. That way their mother wouldn't worry so much." She kissed him. 'I also promised myself that I'd keep you safe.
"Sith…. Leia!"
But that was the last word the Jedi Master was going to say, as Mara took the initiative and kissed him again. It was easier in some ways to involve themselves with each other. There were the children to consider after all. And one thing was clear if that ever in a million years she was ever to even consider it - Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade would have spectacular children. The last coherent thought Mara had before Luke's skilful fingers and mouth brought her to a peak of wanting him, was that a son with his looks and her spirit might not be a bad thing after all.
