Spirit of the Shifting Sands

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer - The characters used in this story are owned by Lucasfilm I'm only borrowing them for a short while. Please understand I am making no money or Republic credits from this tale.

Chapter 14

Tatooine

Camie rushed to the main bar and peered anxiously out of the window.

"I can't see anything. Fixer are you sure?"

"Something landed just to the left and it was bigger than a speeder. Then it took off again."

Fixer pulled out a rifle Leia could only remember seeing in very old holodramas. If there was a problem it wouldn't help much. Arnek on the other hand held a much more up-to-date weapon and Camie had pulled from her sleeve a rather familiar wickedly effective little holdout blaster.

Leia had her saber in her hand and a blaster in the other, as did Corran. The Rogues immediately went into a fighting stance as running footsteps pounded outside.

Suddenly Leia stood up. "Don't, it's okay." She ran to the door and threw it open, tears starting to fall down her face.

"Leia!"

Wedge leapt to his feet and was after her in an instant, but Corran closed his eyes, smiled and relaxed. "It's okay guys. It's Han."

Han's reflexes were fast but not so fast that a madwoman attacking him left him passive. He struggled as the figure clung to him.

"Han, it's me!"

The Corellian stopped dead in his tracks as his ears registered the sound of the familiar voice.

"Leia?" he stammered disbelievingly. "But… but I spoke to you only yesterday on Coruscant. You're sick with Darpan fever," he accused.

"No," she whispered. "That was a ruse to get me out of the palace without anyone knowing I'm here…anyone in the Government that is. You actually spoke to Winter."

"Han - get inside. This place may still be under observation."

"Wedge?"

"Get inside, Solo."

The door shut behind them and Camie watched these strange people who had entered her miserable little life and made it more dangerous but somehow exciting. She looked pointedly at Arnek who was still waving the blaster he'd begun to favour as a constant companion and he shuffled out of the room with ill-concealed grace to put it away.

"Would somebody like to explain a few things to me?" Han demanded belligerently, hands on hips, blaster worn low.

"Han, I..." Leia looked around the assembled company and closed her mouth.

Corran spoke up. "It's like this, General - we were none too happy about returning to Pii4 as ordered but orders are orders and we are still employed on a regular basis by the New Republic. We just delayed a little just in case we were ordered back in again to get you out."

"Hey guys what can I say? Chewie dropped me off in the Falcon and he's gone back to Luke's place." Han looked a little embarrassed, then thought suddenly and turned an accusing stare on his colleagues. "So how come you're still here?"

"Corran discovered your wife in Mos Eisley and we thought we'd better stay with her since she's on her own. By the time we'd made that decision we reckoned that the General might expect us to rebel in any case so it didn't matter what we did."

"I'd better let Cracken know you're here, Leia," muttered Han.

"No!" Leia interrupted. "I went to a lot of trouble so that people would still think I was on Coruscant. Luke's bound to be in trouble by now and he's pulled through for us so many times..."

"Luke will be fine, Leia. He doesn't let on half the things he gets up to these days and besides, he's got Mara. She'll keep an eye on him."

Leia's face flushed with annoyance. "But we're his family and he needs us. He hasn't 'got' Mara. He's gone in because he's hoping to train another Jedi, that's all. He's been unwell, his judgement has been impaired. Luke and… Mara? It's ridiculous."

Tycho looked at Wedge. Corran narrowed green eyes and stared hard at Leia. The woman almost sounded jealous.

"Uh… Leia," Han began.

Corran's eyes flashed warningly. "Mara is my friend and if Luke wants to help her, it's none of your business, even if he is your brother. Of course he wants to train her now that she's actually agreed to the training. He's no fool and she's exceptionally Force strong. The Jedi Order needs Mara Jade and so does Luke Skywalker. He's a Jedi Master, for sith's sake and don't forget it was him who got you out of the first Death Star. If he hadn't we probably all would be dead – you included. I don't think there's much wrong with his judgement especially if he wants someone like Jade in the Jedi. What's so wrong about Luke wanting to train Mara?"

"I'm not forgetting anything and you're way out of line on this one, Lieutenant Horn. She wanted to kill him." Leia's voice rose militantly.

"Leia!" Han's voice raised in anger towards his wife wasn't something anyone had heard in years. "That's enough!"

She turned white with frustration for a second and opened her mouth to splutter a reply, but Han forestalled her.

"Luke and Mara are..."

"Involved. Yes, we know." Camie's soft voice interrupted as she came forward and gently moved Leia away from Han towards a seat where a plate of food was steaming gently.

"What!" exclaimed Wedge. "We thought it was just a cover story. You mean involved involved?"

Corran gave the ceiling one of those 'and I thought these guys were bright' looks. "Wedge, those two have been involved for years but haven't done anything about it."

"I know that," exhaled Wedge.

"Well, now they have," grinned Corran with satisfaction.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Wedge demanded.

"It wasn't my business to," he replied with a careful look at Leia.

"You can't be sure." Leia dropped her spoon with a clatter, a scowl on her face. "Luke surely has better judgement."

"Leia!" Han's warning tone brought his wife to her senses. "I was only going to say that they're friends and they'll help each other out."

"I'm sorry," she apologised reluctantly. "I don't mean anything against Mara, or Luke, but..."

"Leia, you can't run his life for him. Now this is not the time or place for such a discussion. The Solos and the Skywalkers do not normally air their differences so publicly."

"But Han..." She put her hand to her mouth and carefully weighed up the expressions of every person there.

"No, Leia." Han's expression was implacable.

Arnek chose that moment to return to the room with Anni fearfully clutching his hand.

"Marn's in the workshop again, boss and I would say that the R5 Skywalker fixed might need him to sort it again."

"Gravel maggots!" Fixer took off for the workshop at a run. "That boy needs a good..."

"We got a couple of those at home too," observed Han with a dry look towards Leia. She watched with something akin to pain as Fixer came back dragging a sullen Marn and dispatched him in the direction of the family living quarters.

Leia dropped to her knees in front of the little girl. "Hello."

"Lo,"

"I've a little girl at home."

Anni clutched at Arnek's tunic and stuck a finger in her mouth, then in the way of small children gabbled something very fast.

Leia looked towards Camie for interpretation.

"What is it Anni? Get your finger out of your mouth. It's not nice to talk to visitors that way. Where are your manners?"

"Sorry Mama," she whispered, still shy. "But the men are coming."

"Which men?"

"The ones that live in the house across the street."

"Show us, sweetheart," instructed Arnek gently. "Where do they stay?"

"Over there." Anni pointed to one of the squat sandstone buildings half buried by the shifting dunes. "They move just like the soldiers do."

"What else do they do, sweetheart?" coaxed Leia softly.

Anni raised eyes almost as blue as Luke's and whispered. "They just watch."

"Imp surveillance team," gritted Han softly.

"I don't like it," murmured Wedge.

"I got an awfully bad feeling about this."

Tycho groaned. "You just had to say that, Horn. Didn't you?"

Han turned to Arnek. "Get Camie and the kids outta here now. You too, Leia, and don't argue for once. We'll talk later." He motioned to Wedge but the Rogues already had moved into position and Corran was sliding out of the front door, lightsaber and macro-binoculars in hand.

The Corellian's eye alighted on the clumsy, ancient firearm the station owner was wielding. "Fixer! Haven't you anything better than that blast rifle?"

"No I don't. We've had this one in the family since before Skywalker left us twenty years ago and it's done us just fine."

Tycho pulled a modern standard New Republic issue one from a case and threw it towards him. "I trust you can shoot straight?"

"Taught Skywalker everything he knows."

"I doubt that but there's hope for you yet, Fix," Han grunted approvingly.

Arnek came back into the room wheezing slightly and took his usual position behind the bar. Tycho and Wedge lay flat along side him and Han pressed back behind the wall just at the entrance.

"Rogue leader." The tinny sound of Corran's voice disturbed the tense atmosphere that had filled the room.

Wedge clipped his comlink to the collar of his shirt. "Yes, Rogue 9."

"Some sort of craft has just landed. According to my macro-binoculars it's an imp shuttlecraft and heading our way."

"How long until they arrive in Anchorhead?"

"I estimate fifteen minutes."

"Get back inside, Nine."

"Copy, Rogue leader."

Wedge got up from behind the bar. "With any luck they won't be coming here."

"Come on Antilles, since when did that kind of luck fall into our grateful laps?" questioned Han sarcastically.

"We have to appear as if everything is normal, but be ready to act." Tycho had also decided that lying under the bar was also a pointless exercise.

Han pursed his lips and tapped his chin. "Do you have any more of these cloak things with hoods that Arnek is wearing?"

"Yeah, I got several but they're kinda past it."

"Get them and we'll set up a scene. These things could have any species underneath them, let alone some of the Empire's most wanted."

"Camie!" Fixer bellowed. "Quick!"

Camie stuck a nervous head round the door and when it was explained what was needed came back with several old brown desert cloaks. Leia walked back in and sat down next to Han.

"I'm sorry flyboy, but I've never been the little woman in this relationship and I'm not going to start now. If we're in trouble we deal with it together."

Han grinned and his eyes lit up with the familiar twinkle she loved so much.

"I love you."

"I know."

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

Wedge's comlink crackled slightly. "Go ahead, Nine."

"The little girl was right. Seems to be an observation post right across the street. Three coming over."

"Maybe they just want a glass of lum?"

"Since when would things be that easy? Hold on..." Corran's voice had a strange tone to it.

Leia could feel the unease from his sense in the force.

"I'm coming in."

An instant later Corran's compact frame edged through the back entrance. Leia could tell he was agitated.

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure because I've only seen him on Imperial holo-footage but the man being transported into Anchorhead this very moment resembles Admiral Gilad Pellaeon rather strongly. In fact, I would say, he is Admiral Gilad Pellaeon."

Leia's mouth opened in shock. "Admiral Pellaeon?"

"It's just as well your Noghri guard is keeping well out of the way."

"Noghri!" Leia shut her mouth then opened it again, but no sound came out. 'Winter Celchu, I'm going to have words with you about this when I get home.'

Han chuckled silently. 'I owe you one, Lady Winter.'

The door to the machine shop slid open and three men entered. All were wearing desert cloaks but the military posture gave it away to the disguised New Republic personnel.

Fixer recognised them as they'd often come in for a glass of lum over the last few weeks. "What can I do for you gentlemen?" He grunted irritably. He'd never been pleasant before and he wasn't going to start now. His gaze caught the nervous one of his wife as she walked past with a cloth and a tray.

'They'd all told her to go to the cellar with the kids.' She shot him an 'if you think I'm going to do that, you've another thing coming and then you can sleep with a bantha' type of look.

The men inspected the bar. It was shabby, but clean. A couple of beings in hooded cloaks sat drinking glasses of lum and a man was charming a female in the corner if the soft giggles were anything to go by.

"What are we waiting for?" muttered Kapass in an undertone. "All the New Republic guys moved out."

Venner shook his head. "No they didn't. We're going to wait till they show up again and they will show up again. But we're waiting for someone else too."

"Luke Skywalker," snickered Leggin caustically.

"Leggin, that's enough," Venner rebuked his friend quietly. "Could you forget you're in a military backwater and turn into a professional soldier because that kind of attitude just won't cut."

"Whoa, boss!" Leggin held up his hands in mock horror. Venner rarely lost his cool. "I'm sorry."

"It so happens that we do think Skywalker is on the planet, but the person we're waiting for could be much more important to our careers and I'm not passing up on the opportunity." He paid for three glasses of lum but none of them touched it.

"Well?" asked Kapass. "Who are we waiting for, besides Luke Skywalker."

The last was said as a joke and Venner managed a smile. "It's…"

The door slid aside and two men walked in wearing concealing desert robes and hoods. Venner stood, his stomach tightening and walked over to greet them. "We waited till you arrived, Sir."

"Well, it's a good thing that you're not going to have to wait too long isn't it?" The blaster covered them quite effectively.

They looked up into the grimly smiling face of Han Solo.

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

Pii 3, New Republic Base

The sunlight streamed through the trees, casting early evening shadows on the ground. General Airen Cracken kicked a rotting branch at his feet. The low building up ahead looked like a holiday home. Attractive, it nestled on the edge of one of the Greel Wood Logging Corporation's boundaries. One of the more pleasant spots in the galaxy to be posted to, if a little off the beaten track. He held out his ID chip to the guard at the gate.

"General."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

"There's a message for you in your office, Sir."

Cracken nodded and increased his speed towards the front door. 'At last. Word from Antilles.' He'd never doubted that they would obey orders, not really. The entrance hall of the old house had been turned into a completely up-to-date operations room and com centre. He appreciated the order and yet the chaos produced by grey suited NR operatives. He threaded his way past a couple of monitors and made his way to his temporary office. Cracken removed his cap and smoothed his thick white hair into accustomed neatness.

Pulling his data pad from his pocket he plugged it into the console and waited for any messages to download. But the one he wanted didn't please him the way he had hoped. All it said was

'Sorry – Antilles'

"Damn!" Cracken slapped his hand on the desk making it rattle. There was no word from Han Solo and if he'd been really honest with himself he didn't expect one either.

He switched on his comlink. "Get Cawdor in here now and put me through to High Councillor Leia Organa Solo."

He sighed and put his head in his hands. "We have to talk, Leia. Then I have to speak to Pellaeon. Time's running out."

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

B'Omarr Monastery

Her presence sang sweetly to him through their Force bond. She was coming. Luke glanced up from the speeder he was still working on and gazed into Mara's green eyes. "Hi," he murmured huskily.

Mara actually blushed. The sexual undertones in his lowered voice had been unmistakable. "Hi," she whispered back.

"What kept you?"

"I had to change." Mara indicated the all encompassing desert robe and hood. Underneath was her usual jumpsuit and tunic. "Page is just coming. He's checking one of his spy cams."

"Fine by me. But if he doesn't appear in the next couple of moments we're going without him." He picked up her hand and pulled her slowly towards the mouth of one of the tunnels. As they moved out of view Luke pulled Mara into his arms and covered her mouth with his own.

"Luke..." Mara moaned his name as his lips left hers. "This isn't the time to do that."

"I disagree. It's been too long since we really were together. This Jedi craves you." He bent his head and nuzzled her neck, his senses leaping as she gasped. "Now that we've begun to - you know."

"Page is coming. I don't think he needs to know we're together."

"I suspect he does know, but we don't have to advertise it. Still, I would like everyone to know eventually."

"Are we really together, Luke? Are we?"

"I'm counting on it, Jade. You, me and a Jedi praxeum full of those kids." His lips found the pulse in her neck and kissed it. Mara stretched to accommodate him and moaned quietly.

"We'd better stop - Luke!" She pulled her hood over her head. "I didn't think I was so far gone that I'd be having kids with you."

"No-one else will have you Jade."

"Skywalker. If you think that after a crack like that I'd even consider..."

"You two still arguing," Page's quiet voice made Mara jump.

"Tsk, Tsk Jade. We will have to work on that split level concentration won't we!"

"Skywalker - shut up," she gritted.

Page rolled his eyes. He'd never understand Skywalker and Jade. Part of him still wanted to keep the blaster to hand. She'd threatened to kill the Jedi Master once before long ago, but it had never seemed to bother Luke. Page would trust the beautiful trader before a lot of people. She had helped him out on the quiet a few times over the years. Mara always expected some form of payment but usually it was information she sought. She'd never taken a credit from the New Republic despite what some people thought. Luke was right to trust Jade, he should be worrying about people closer to home.

"What's the news?"

Luke's face turned grave. "The Prefect of Tatooine is here - alone."

Page went still and his face took on a blank shuttered expression. Mara had seen Luke do something similar, but Page didn't have the Force. Probing the intel chief gave little away apart from the fact that the news had disturbed him a great deal. "Are you sure?"

"Cullen, I was brought up here. His was a frequent face on the local holovid network."

Page nodded. If Luke said it was the Prefect, then it was. "No sign of the Twilek?" he asked.

"No, not yet," Mara answered quietly.

Page pursed his lips for a moment.

Luke could see he was coming to a decision.

"It all makes sense, you know. The Prefect has been working with Olan for at least a year."

Mara straightened her shoulders. "That's about the length of time the shipments have been attacked, but they've been growing in viciousness until this time. The Prada was only one in a long line of stolen cargo vessels. Somehow what happened to it was more evil than any of the others."

"You're sure the Twilek isn't here?"

"No," Luke replied. "It's as Mara says, there's been no sign of him. But it's strange - the Prefect came in the back door, caped and hooded."

"He wouldn't have wanted anyone to see him, Skywalker," Mara interrupted. "That's not so strange."

"But he was met by one of the B'Omarr."

Something flickered in Page's grey eyes. It was minuscule but Luke caught it.

Mara shivered. "These little guys give me the creeps. I don't care what anyone says."

"Page…." Luke drawled.

"Nothing. Mara's right. These little guys give me the creeps too. If you want to lead on, Skywalker, we'd better go see what they're up to."

"I haven't got long," Mara whispered. "The Twilek is supposed to be attending the big bash that's being laid on tonight. So he should be on his way from wherever he is. I'm supposed to be dancing in the cabaret."

"Stay, then. Luke and I will go on our own."

Mara gave Luke a glare which, to the Jedi, spoke volumes. "I'm not letting you out of my sight farmboy. I don't trust you not to go and do something silly on your own. Page doesn't know how to cope with you."

"Unfair, Jade. I worked with him before I worked with you. Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you to get into some sort of trouble without me to look after you."

"Hah!" Luke snorted disdainfully. "And I thought Solo had a mothering complex. Looks like we'll have to get started on those kids sometime soon, Jade." He couldn't help baiting her. She responded so beautifully.

"Nerf," She hissed explosively between perfect teeth.

Page knew there was some sort of conversation going on, but hesitated to get involved and continued to inch his way along the dark passage, stepping over fallen masonry and debris. Mara stretched out her fingers in the dark and curled them into Luke's. They continued down the passageway in silence until Luke stopped.

"What is it?" asked Page.

"I get the feeling we're being watched. I think you'd better turn back."

Mara shivered and tightened her grip on Luke's hand. He squeezed her fingers then disengaged and Mara sensed him grasp the hilt of his saber. Page pulled out his blaster, but it was so dark it was impossible to see anything.

"Come on," Page insisted. "If you think I'm turning back now, you can forget it, Skywalker. I'm as experienced as Jade or you. If I have to get out I know the drill, better than most I think. In the Intel operatives' guidebook, I wrote the drill."

"He has you there, Luke," put in Mara mockingly.

Luke felt the darkness all around him, but with the Force it was as if daylight shone in his heart. Every rock and uneven step in his path seemed to be smooth and easy as he led the way.

"Ouch!" Luke tripped over something unexpected and crashed clumsily to the floor.

"Luke!" Mara was on her knees beside him instantly. "You okay?" She reached out with the Force, but sensed no presence, only the vague shimmering hint of danger she'd felt for months.

But the Jedi Master was running his hands across his unseen and unsensed obstacle. Why hadn't he seen it?

Mara felt his confusion as for once, the Force had let him down. Then she sensed his growing horror and a dawning realisation, which flooded, into his mind. His mental barriers slammed down before Mara had a chance to discover anything. She put her hand out to feel what had brought him to his feet.

"Mara - Run!"

"What!"

"Get out of here. You too, Page. Now!" The gentle tones of the Jedi had gone and in their place was the battle hardened Commander from the worst times of the war.

Her hand touched cloth then Luke's hands were on her pushing her roughly towards Page "Go on. This is no time for doubt. Mara, get the hell out of here! That's an order!"

Page took a step neared then something shimmered out of the darkness and caught Luke full in the centre of his back. With a cry he collapsed and lay still.

"No!"

Mara looked at Page in something close to panic. "I didn't feel anything in the Force. I have a well-preserved danger sense. I…." She turned back to the Jedi Master. "Luke, Luke...!"

"Come on Mara." Page grabbed her by the arm and tugged but with a deft twist she was free and had his arm locked.

"Never try anything like that on me again. Or I'll..." She looked up as something scratched in the corridor in the dark. "Go find Karrde…. I...."

"Suddenly a bolt of light shot out of the darkness and Mara went down without a sound."

Page wondered if it was worth trying to pull the Jedi to safety but he couldn't manage two of them. He pulled a tracker from his pocket in the shape of a jewelled pin and placed it securely in Mara's hair.

Another stun bolt missed him by the thickness of his cloak. Page flattened himself against the wall as he drew his own blaster. Aiming a couple of random shots into the dark, he ran back towards the way they had come in. He had to find Karrde.

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

They'd beaten him severely and then threw him in a cell. Luke closed his eyes and slipped into unconsciousness. It was easier than trying to hold on to the pain. "Callista," he murmured as he fell into the blessed darkness waiting to receive him.

Mara crawled over to where he lay on the floor and pulled his head into her lap. How many times had she watched him while he lay in some sort of coma? She just hoped it was a healing one. He was in great pain - she could feel it. He needed proper medical treatment and quickly.

"Why oh why, Skywalker, do you choose to be so noble and not use the Force when it matters? I wouldn't have said preventing from being beaten to death counted as unnecessary usage."

He moaned and a wave of pain swept through them both. I wish I'd stayed to hear the lesson on healing then I could have helped you. I didn't help Calas Hinden much either and now you. If we don't get you to a medicentre soon you might die. I don't want you deserting me because of a silly reason, do I farmboy? I really need someone to annoy me. Her lips trembled and tears pooled in the green eyes that were brighter than anyone had ever seen on another.

Luke shifted in her grip and moaned again. She bent her head to hear what he said then came upright, her face stricken, and the tears spilled over. The one audible word Luke had spoken.

"Callista!"