Spirit of the Shifting Sands

Disclaimer - The characters in this story are owned by Lucasfilm. I've just borrowed them for a short while. No bartering for Nubian parts was involved at any time. Comments welcome, but please be kind, I bruise easily.

Chapter 16

Coruscant

Winter hushed the children as she led them quickly through the maze of hidden corridors in the Imperial Palace. Jacen and Jaina's wide eyes told the story. These children were too used to this kind of an existence but then, Winter's own life had been little different. Still, she had managed some sort of a childhood. It was testament to the love in the family that the Solo children were as well adjusted as they were.

"Winter," whispered Anakin. "It will be okay - won't it? The Force isn't telling me anything this time."

"Ssh!" she replied, anxious despite herself. Mara had told her these tunnels and passageways were shielded but it was a long time since they'd been in use. Suppose someone was monitoring the family and found out they were being moved just as a precaution. Winter sighed. She wondered if she were being over-apprehensive. It was better to err on the side of caution in the meantime.

The twins shot their little brother a quelling look, which he ignored. Winter knew they were having a fierce debate about something, but because it was an argument between Force strong twins, it was a silent one.

Jaina brushed a delicate cobweb from her hair and held onto Jacen as they descended the narrow stairs. As they reached the bottom Winter relaxed and Anakin gave her a little smile of understanding.

"Is it okay to talk now?"

Winter nodded. "Yes, we're under the palace."

"Why do we have to go anyway?"

Winter hesitated a little but knew she had to be as truthful as possible. "There are people who don't want peace in the galaxy because it gives them power and money. Your mother and uncle are working towards peace and the other beings are not happy about it. It I used to work in intelligence during the war - now I work for your mother…"

"But you still have contacts, right?" asked Jacen thoughtfully.

"'Course she has," insisted Jaina roundly.

Anakin's blue eyes gleamed in the half-light. "They still don't know Mother is away, but they'll find out real soon."

"Yes, I think so."

Jaina gave her twin a silent message then spoke calmly. "When they find out they won't be pleased."

"So it's best for us not to get into trouble by staying here," stated Jacen roundly. "We've been kidnapped before. These bad people might make mother and Uncle Luke sad by hurting us."

Winter could have cried. These children accepted their dangers as normal.

"Are you coming with us?" asked Anakin. "Is small Corran?"

Winter shook her head. "We can't all disappear. It would look a bit strange, don't you think?"

The children nodded. "People are watching us all the time," said Jacen.

"We'll have the Noghri and we have the Force," murmured Jaina thoughtfully.

A silent shape detached itself from the wall. Winter started a little in surprise, but the children had already turned to the fearsome looking warrior and held out their hands to have the being catch their scent.

"I am Baskhirokh. These are the children of the Lady Vader and General Solo. We will serve them until death."

Winter groaned to herself. The Solo children didn't need that reminder on top of everything else.

Anakin tugged at her sleeve. "It will all be fine, Winter. Yavin is a good place to go until Father comes for us."

"We like it there. It's the best place and you know that. Otherwise you wouldn't be sending us there." Jacen looked up at her reassuringly.

She hugged them, all three of them, tears blurring the vision in her grey eyes and nodded gracefully to the Noghri as he ushered the children to the waiting unmarked ship. 'Take care of them,' she thought and watched until the ship disappeared from her sight.

Winter rushed back up the stairs and through the twisting passageways until she returned to the Solo quarters. Mirax had collected small Corran a couple of hours earlier and now she was on her own. She would just have to wait. From what she had heard through her sources there were certain beings getting rather edgy.

She didn't have to wait long. The com on her desk buzzed loudly. Seating herself at her desk she switched on the vid-screen and activated the link.

General Airen Cracken faced Winter across the vastness of the galaxy, but still she looked serene and unruffled, her long white hair coiled intricately on her head, grey eyes steady.

"What can I do for you, General?"

"I need to speak to Leia."

"That could prove to be difficult."

"Difficult?"

'Here goes,' she thought and lifted her head a little higher as she uttered the lie they had so carefully prepared. "Leia cannot speak with you at the moment as she is indisposed."

"Indisposed to what?" he barked testily.

"She has come down with a case of Darpan Fever."

"I don't care what she has come down with," he bit out, his green eyes narrowing. "I have to speak with her now. It's about Luke and Han. We've lost control of the situation. They've gone back in against orders and the Rogues have rebelled."

"Tycho?" Winter questioned, her heart in her mouth.

"Him too," he replied, the fire going out of him. Cracken smoothed his white hair in place. "He's a Rogue, he's gone with Antilles. I asked them to pull out and they refused. Did you expect them to do anything else? Rogue Squadron is still tied to Luke Skywalker."

"Oh, stars!" Winter closed her eyes.

"Exactly," Cracken let out a heavy sigh.

"What about Luke and Mara?"

He closed his eyes. "I don't know. That's one of the reasons I wanted to speak to Leia. Surely she would sense if her brother is still alive. I haven't heard from intelligence because we've had a communications black out. When Skywalker turned up with Jade in Mos Eisley I had to let him into the planning with the others. Then I thought he would return to Yavin or Coruscant. I was a fool. The Jedi master and Jade are very... close at the moment. I couldn't forbid him. He'd have been far too suspicious otherwise."

Winter said nothing, but something in her silent condemnation must have reached Cracken.

"Look, I'm not happy with what I've been ordered to do and why am I justifying myself to you, Winter? No offence intended."

Winter's cultured voice was frosty. "None taken, General. Have you contacted the rest of the council?"

"No, I wanted to speak to Leia first."

"Well you cannot," she replied flatly.

"You cannot deny me access to the Councillor. The New Republic employs you - I am your superior." His tone had turned chillingly cold. This was unlike Winter Celchu, to obstruct him in such a fashion.

"May I speak freely, General?"

"You mean are we being monitored?"

"Something like that."

"It's safe to talk."

"I am employed by the Solo family, not the New Republic. Yes, I am a citizen of the Republic, but my loyalty is to the Solo family first."

"I can still order you."

"I didn't think you would do so. Governor Fey'lya and Admiral Ackbar both tried to set up meetings with the Councillor yesterday and they failed to get longer than a couple of minutes each." 'I didn't know how long I could keep a deception going.' "I also had to fend off several holo-reporters. You wouldn't believe the tactics they used to try and get in."

"Just let me speak to her, Winter." Cracken paused and enquired slowly. "What deception?"

The Alderaanian studied him hard - it was rather unnerving. Winter checked her chrono; the children should be well on their way by now. She squared her shoulders. "I can't let you speak to Leia, because she's not here."

"I thought you said she was sick; reports have her as being sick."

"If you knew that why did you ask to speak to her?"

"It's urgent." His sudden intake of breath made Winter aware that he'd realised what she'd just told him. Leia wasn't there.

"Where is she? Is she at home?"

"She's off planet."

"Where?"

"Where do you think she is?"

"No, she can't be." His eyes closed and he bowed his head. "Then she could be in danger too. She was supposed to keep Luke occupied here on Coruscant."

The white-haired Alderaanian beauty snorted delicately. "Then she failed months ago because Luke had already guessed what she and the rest of you were trying to do to him."

"Sithspawn. You're certain?"

"Of course I am. I have observed Luke each time he has been on Coruscant. It is clear to me, General. You are dealing with the Jedi Master." Winter knew it was time to state her opinion on this. There was a chance Cracken might just do something which would make a difference. She didn't want him alerting Gavrisom and Fey'lya until it was too late.

"Where is Leia exactly?"

Winter ignored the question – she had to try and make him rethink his orders. "General, please listen to what I have to say and then think about it. You don't have long, but you owe it to us."

Airen Cracken rubbed a weary hand over his eyes. Somehow it wasn't the face of Winter Celchu he saw but the accusing stare of Mara Jade. Winter was correct - he had to give them the chance. He had to ignore his suggested orders from the Council and do all he could to get them out of there. He'd gone into the talks with the expressed interest of doing nothing. He had to change that decision. Had he subconsciously used Mara Jade so that Luke would follow her? 'Had he?'

"Okay, do your best. I'll listen."

"Luke Skywalker is right, General Cracken. He's always been right on this. The speech he gave last year touched a chord with the people - they want the war to stop. You must respect his position as a Jedi Master. He will fight for truth and justice for the galaxy whether they are Imperial or Republican. You cannot control him - he wouldn't be the man he is, if you did."

"You speak well in defence of your employer's brother, Winter."

"He's more than that to me and you know it. He saved Leia Organa's life and that of the whole Rebel Alliance. Where would you be without him and the likes of Mara Jade?"

"Did you really think that he would get himself into such a situation?" He asked quizzically.

"No, but the Imperials have been given highly classified information on him and Mara Jade. Information that could get them both killed. He's been turned into a target and might as well have a death mark tattooed on his forehead."

"How do you know?"

"I also still have channels of information open to me and, no, I'm not divulging them. You'd better find some way to get him out of trouble. Because I know some people who will go public with what they know."

"Is that a threat, Winter?"

"What do you think? If it is the Bothans stirring up trouble again, we'll suddenly be in a situation of their making. Fey'lya and his cabal will intrigue and meddle until some sort of incident occurs which will give them the upper hand. To a Bothan, the war is often not on the battlefield. That last message you sent Leia had been tampered with and the message was worded in a speech pattern that is common to the Bothan language. I became very suspicious after that and did some digging. Remember that I never forget anything. But we will never be able to accuse them because they will bring up the sacrifice the Bothans made to get the plans for the second Death Star. How dare we accuse them of conspiring to murder one of the New Republics greatest men because he cannot be controlled by a bunch of Bothans - because he's above such politicking?"

"I'm not a politician, Winter, and I was trying to protect him."

"No, but Fey'lya is and he wants to be Chief of State. I realise you've been trying to do what you think is best but I think you've been wrong on this one. Gavrisom hasn't got the mettle to counteract the way these Bothans work."

"But Leia does?"

"I don't think that remark deserves an answer. Anytime now there will be a Republican force coming along to protect the Councillor and her family at the instigation of the Bothans. They will find no one to protect or should I say imprison. Just me. We need to re-open those talks with the Empire. The Bothans, the Mon Calamari, the Ishori and the Diamala can intrigue just as successfully in a peaceful galaxy. Or don't they want to?"

"Clever, Winter," he chuckled without humour.

"I've been around too long, General, not to spot the dianoga in the trash compactor. These talks have to get going again. Remember Alderaan because I do?"

"All right, you win."

"I'll wait to hear from you," she said and cut the connection. The last view he had was of her unsmiling face.

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

Luke and Mara's cell, B'Omarr Monastery

Mara's astonished expression made Luke smile lop-sidedly, even though his bruised and battered face made that task almost impossible and he was really starting to feel pain throughout his entire body. Most of his pain suppression tricks weren't working now, but he couldn't let her know. He had to stop Mara from worrying.

"Worrying about what?"

"How we're getting out of here, Jade," he whispered. "We have to get out."

"You're telling fibs, farmboy. I told you, you can't lie to me and get away with it. I will know."

"I can try."

"No lying in front of the children then."

"Yes, Ma'am." He moved a little and Mara knelt beside him.

"I worry about you."

"I don't want you to," he mouthed the words carefully.

"I know, but I do." She gently kissed his brow. Tenderness from Mara Jade. He hadn't known she could be that way. Funny, sarcastic, strong, irritating and bright - he knew she was all of these but the caring shone through her sense - caring for him.

Luke grabbed her hand and held on firmly. "So Leia's here after all. That will make things interesting. We can expect some back up eventually, probably not soon enough, though." His voice slowed and Mara suspected he was dealing with a wave of pain. "You still need to get out of here."

Mara curled her lip. "I'm not going anywhere without you. I told Corran about the state that you've managed to get yourself into. I don't think he was too impressed."

"Hell! Leia will worry. But you must go."

"I told you already, you come with me."

"I can't move just yet. With any luck they'll have forgotten about us and it will give me a chance for a couple of hours rest. Then you can come back for me with Karrde and the others."

"I thought there was 'no such thing as luck'?" Mara muttered but acquiesced unwillingly. She knew he was right. It would be difficult to move him without aggravating his injuries further. "I thought I was supposed to be the practical one."

"It's something we can share," he muttered impatiently. "Now - how are you getting out?"

Mara levelled a green-eyed stare at the locking device and with a snap and a sizzle something ignited in the mechanism and the door swung slightly ajar. Mara gasped and turned to Luke. "What did you do?"

"Me? I didn't do anything. You managed that entirely on your own."

"Me…?" She gave him a glare, but he turned blue eyes on her, dark with pain he couldn't hide and the hardness faded from her eyes.

"You'll need your lightsaber," he reminded her.

But they took away our…" Mara's glower turned into a swift grin. "Good job they returned our water bottles. That was a good move, Skywalker. Even I would have never thought of that one." She picked up the cylindrical containers and gave Luke a drink of the warm liquid, before pulling the centre of the tube downwards. She held her saber comfortably in her hand for an instant before attaching it to its accustomed place on her belt. "Here you go." She did the same to the second water container and Luke's saber also rested in her hand. Mara fastened it to Luke's belt and then, bending, placed her lips on his. His were warm and dry and clung.

"Mara?"

"Yes." She had curved herself into his body and tried to offer him some more of her strength.

"When we get out of here.... could I interest you in something permanent?"

She stopped, her eyes widening in surprise. Luke lifted a shaky hand and placed it carefully on her stomach. "I love you and want what you want. A family, a home, someone of my own to love and protect."

"I think..." She ran her tongue carefully around her own dry lips. "I think that could be arranged. If only for the sake of the children." She placed her hand over Luke's.

"Then he pulled away a little and shuffled carefully into a seated position, his movements agonisingly slow. "Now go and find Karrde and Page."

Mara gave him a brief, desperate kiss and ran from the cell, not looking back. Luke sighed, his head spinning and lights beginning to flash in front of his eyes. He hoped he'd got this right.

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

Tosche Station

"I have to go to him, Han. I'm not leaving my brother or Mara Jade there."

"I can't let you go, sweetheart. It's too dangerous."

"I've faced danger before, far worse than this."

"Sure you have and so have your three children."

Leia blanched. Her children.

"Excuse me," Corran coughed lightly to gain their attention. "Can I input a little perspective here?"

"No!"

"Yes," corrected Han firmly. "Go ahead, Corran."

The Corellian Jedi sat up a little. "Leia - you need to stay here to thrash out a peace treaty with the Admiral. Or get to a holonet access point and wake up Gavrisom, without involving the parts of the council that want rid of Luke and Mara."

"They don't want rid of Luke and Mara," Leia put in bitterly. "They just want them where they can see them."

"And if Luke doesn't do what they want…" Corran left the sentence hanging.

"Of course," Han guessed. "Luke can make his way around unnoticed now. They could find where he went to before, but he's too good for them now." He slapped his hands on the wall in satisfaction. "It's the Bothans - has to be."

Leia finally wilted, tears beginning to seep from under closed eyelids. "No, Han. It's not just the Bothans. I was as much at fault and there are others who fear and envy the power he has. I was too blind and didn't try to see what all this could mean to us. And I, of all people, should. I've been fighting for peace since I was a child. You were right, Han. Luke is my brother, but I cannot control him."

"Princess… Councillor... Is that what I call you?" Fixer looked embarrassed but pressed on. "Most folks only want to be fed and see their families are safe."

"Fixer's right," said Corran. "In the past, Luke has on occasion wielded too much power and could have been dangerous but, somehow, I think he may be in danger of doing the opposite. Mara will look after him. She's got a level head to counteract his idealistic tendencies. They're better together, Leia."

"That's why you have me, sweetheart," grinned Han at his wife who ignored him.

"What do we need to do, your Highness?" asked Camie softly.

"I have to contact Gavrisom - he's the Chief of State - and General Cracken - he's head of Intel. Then I must introduce myself to Admiral Pellaeon. It's been many years since last we met." She smiled wearily. "And call me, Leia."

"'Atta girl," crowed Han jubilantly. "And we..." he waved at the men, "…go get Luke."

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

Ardiff took a long draught of the bitter lum. "What's happening through there?"

Wedge shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"You didn't say Horn was a Jedi."

"You didn't ask." Wedge grinned and then sobered again. "He likes to keep it quiet, even in New Republic circles. He has a wife and family and he wants to keep flying without the fuss. But he's not that experienced a Jedi yet and I think he suffered what we might term an information overload."

Ardiff smiled faintly. He'd never been around Jedi at all and even though he was a level headed officer, he owned to being apprehensive around them.

Han marched back into the bar. "Admiral Pellaeon?"

"Yes, General Solo."

"I have someone here who would like to be introduced to you."

The voice was soft, yet he'd heard it on many recordings and broadcasts. "We once met many years ago, Admiral. You were long held to be one of the Empire's finest soldiers."

For a moment he was dumbfounded. The small woman stood before him with a dirty face, dressed in a shapeless tunic, but he knew instantly who she was. Her fire and beauty had inspired millions upon millions and he wasn't disappointed. Leia Organa Solo had a presence he'd only noticed belonging to very few beings. Rusty court skills came to his aid and he kissed her small hand. "Princess."

"It's 'Councillor Organa Solo' these days, Admiral."

Backed against the wall, Venner, Kapass and Leggin could only watch in amazement. They were living through history.

Han gave Wedge a signal and he and Tycho moved to the door, Corran walked slowly through with Camie, Fixer and Arnek. Han grinned. He felt useful again. This was what he did best - living on his wits, not being tied to a desk and wearing a fancy uniform.

Leia spoke quietly but her words had the power of a mighty shout. "I think we're all here because we want peace, Admiral. But there are others who would try and steal it away from us."

"Councillor, I see we're of like minds."

She inclined her head gracefully. "But we still have the problem of a Twilek crime Lord, I believe?"

Corran had very quickly filled her in on the bits she'd missed. She'd known about the being who had murdered Karrde's crew, but not that he was responsible for increasing raids against settlers on this planet and others in the system. She had known and had been increasingly concerned about the cargoes removed from several New Republic ships in the last month and there were reports of heavy armaments being shipped somewhere. Captain Ardiff confirmed that Imperial transports had also faced a similar problem. They had lost some major shipments in the past year. It had sounded as if someone had very ambitious plans to stir up trouble.

Han clicked on his comlink. "Chewie, I believe we need you and the Falcon here smartish. Remember the former Chief of State's updated computer and holo-access system? Well, I think she needs to see if it works properly." He narrowed his eyes slightly at Chewie's reply. "The Falcon is working, isn't she?"

"What do you mean you tuned it up a little? Now listen here, you big hairy...." Han turned and smirked. "He was joking - honest. Trust me. Wookiees - real sense of humour. In other words, Chewie will fly the Falcon here and park out the back. I take it all the stormtroopers you have at your disposal are on their way to B'Omarr?" He turned his head and grinned at the dumfounded expressions on Kapass and Leggin's faces. "I put a lot of work into that ship..."

Leia rolled her eyes.

Wedge surveyed the people in the room. Corran still looked a little white, but was recovering quickly. "How far are we from B'Omarr?"

"A couple of hours in a top class speeder. Double that in the ones we have here," answered Fixer.

Vash Ardiff stepped forward. "Our vehicle is one of the newest Imperial models. We could use that. It can carry four."

"Good," said Han. He paused and looked at the Admiral. "With our track record it might not come back as it went."

Pellaeon smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter. Major Venner, you take Kapass with Commander Antilles and Captain Celchu"

Leggin's face fell. Pellaeon regarded him steadily.

"I'll need you, Lieutenant and Captain Ardiff to aid me in the negotiations and also to act as security."

Leia smiled carefully and looked at Corran. "Would you mind staying and doing the same thing for me?"

Corran shook his head. "It would be an honour. Besides, I think I need time to recover. Mara can be overwhelming. I hadn't realised she was so strong in the Force. I knew she was powerful but she almost blew me away back there. Her power is almost equal to Luke's I think."

Han looked at Fixer and Arnek. They were almost begging him with their eyes. He glanced at Leia and then towards Camie.

"Let them go with you, General. I trust you'll keep them safe. The children and I will look after our guests. I think Luke fixed one of our speeders as well as the R-5 droid. It will probably go now with a little extra something. He always souped up his means of transport when we were young."

Han nodded decisively. "Okay, you two are with me, but any nonsense - I leave you outside and you do what I say. No arguments."

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

Pii 3

The steady thrum of the starship engines could be heard in the peaceful sky above Pii 3. General Airen Cracken listened to their comforting sound, but it failed to ease his tension. He paced from one end of his office to another. 'Peace'. Was it such an alien concept? To him it was. He'd been at war for most of his life. Winter was right. Luke Skywalker was a good man and he had a lot of time for Mara Jade. She'd agreed to find information on Firith Olan without too much persuasion. She'd gained them valuable insights into his operations and if she did manage to destroy him from the inside, they would have the necessary information to cripple his off world operations too.

There was a buzz on his com channel.

"Sir, Commander Toryn Farr to see you."

"Send her in." He pressed the button to open the door and it slid smoothly aside.

"Toryn, good to see you." He held out his hand and the dark-haired woman shook it before retiring to a seat in front of the desk.

"What brings you here?"

The woman looked troubled, then dug in one of her pockets and produced a data card. "I was asked to give this to you."

"By whom?"

"By Commander Skywalker, Sir." Toryn had been with the New Republic since Yavin and had known Luke then. She still referred to him as 'Commander' and not as 'Master' as many as his fighting comrades did. She quickly recounted the story of how he'd recognised her in Mos Eisley and handed her the data card.

"I've no excuse for the delay. I just forgot about it. I found it yesterday and came here as quickly as I could."

"You forgot about it?"

"I can't explain it, General. It's not like me at all."

Cracken reassured her and spoke meaningless platitudes as she left. He put the card in the slot and waited. Luke's serious face appeared on his view-screen.

"General Cracken, strange as this may seem, this is a warning. I'm not sure what's going to happen or who is behind it, but there will be an attack on this or a planet very like it in a very short time. I have my suspicions - the Twilek crime lord, Firith Olan," Luke frowned. "That name is wrong, don't ask me why I feel it. It's the name he's known as. Olan is in collusion with an Imperial Governor left on his own for far too long out on the rim. I only ask that you be prepared for any eventuality and do not dismiss this totally out of hand. I've never been wrong before - the Force is, after all, a very powerful tool."

Cracken hit the pause button and rubbed a hand over his suddenly perspiring forehead. 'Damn!'

 I am also aware of the sentiments regarding the Jedi by several members of the inner council and their plans to control me - including my own sister. Although Leia only thought to keep me safe, others had more sinister plans, most of which included the deaths of myself and my friend and colleague, Mara Jade. If I do not return, Mara will have access to data which will keep these individuals under control. Palpatine's New Order left behind a legacy of suspicion and mistrust regarding the Jedi Order. There are individuals who do not have confidence in my actions and want to see me with my hands tied. I will do what I have to do, not what they expect. I am only a threat to evil." He seemed to hesitate for a second then leant forward, his blue eyes almost hypnotic. "We need this peace, General. Surely you can see that, more than anyone. I'm counting on you. May the Force be with you."

Cracken switched off the now silent viewer. "Damn, damn, damn!" He rose stiffly on suddenly tired legs and listened to the sound of the engines. Then a thought struck him. 'Bib Fortuna! Luke must have slipped up somewhere. Or had the Jedi Master found out information that no-one else knew.' Whoever had conspired to send an attacking force was of no consequence – if there was one on the way. He had a choice to make and that choice had to be made now. He only hoped he was making the right one.

He switched on his communications console and contacted Ponc Gavrisom, the current Chief of State. The conversation was brief and to the point. Gavrisom accepted the inevitable.

His com buzzed. "There are reported sightings of a Star Destroyer about to enter the system, Sir."

"Where is it heading?"

The com officer sounded confused. "I beg your pardon, Sir?"

"Where is that ship heading?" he repeated.

There was a muffled sound of what could only be shock before the officer's voice could be heard shakily announcing. "It's coming here."

Cracken rubbed his hand across his brow. It just wasn't his day. "All right, prepare to defend."

He moved from his office and went to stand on the veranda of the building. There was the sound of frantic, but well-organised activity as men, women and various alien species ran to their defensive positions. From centres of small groups of trees, various ground mounted laser cannons were wheeled into place and portable shield generators carried into position. Cracken's face remained impassive but inside he knew Luke Skywalker was right. They hadn't the resources or the will to fight anymore and no amount of conniving behind the scenes in the senate or the Inner Council would change it. As usual the politicians were far away from the fight, whereas he and his people were sitting targets.

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

Main Audience Chamber, B'Omarr Monastery

The Twilek stood in the deserted chamber. Tonight he would be in charge. Not only in the underworld, but also in this sector. Then he would build, bit by bit, world by world. Power would be his.

He stood with his arms aloft, imagining the scene of triumph and his purple eyes glowed. No one would dare defy him. He would rule like a veritable king.

The B'Omarr monk watched from the shadows. The foolish being had wasted their gifts to him. It was time to end it all, but first he must speak to the Jedi. He alone had the power.

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

Lower Audience Chamber

There was an air of tense anticipation. Beings of all shapes and sizes huddled in dark corners waiting for whatever was going to burst upon them. In the darkest corner of all Karrde, Aves and Page fiddled with the tracker. "Are you sure this thing was working?" Aves muttered. "It's not picking up anything."

"Of course it works. You're not using it correctly." Page grabbed the device and tightened a connection.

Karrde frowned under his unkempt beard. "It's receiving nothing and…"

"That's because I'm standing next to you." The voice was hostile but indisputably Mara's. "Probably shorted out."

She stood hugging the shadows, a bruise on her beautiful face, but otherwise she seemed unharmed.

"Where's Luke?" asked Karrde quietly. "Is he…?"

"He's alive," she murmured. "He's in a cell on the lower level but he's been hurt rather badly. He doesn't look good." Her voice trembled just a little and Karrde gave her a look of understanding. He knew that she hadn't wanted to leave the Jedi but only extreme circumstances would prompt her to do so.

"How badly hurt?" wondered Page.

"I think he has several cracked ribs and a broken ankle. But he sustained numerous blows to his head and I'm worried about internal bleeding. He keeps losing consciousness and seems confused. He can't be moved yet. I couldn't do it on my own as I would probably cause more damage. He's gone into a healing trance, but we have to go back for him. I'm not leaving without him."

Karrde put a careful arm around her and she accepted the brief wordless comfort.

"We don't have very long," said Page in a low tone. "In approximately two hours the Twilek will make some sort of announcement. In three hours the combined Imperial and New Republic secret coalition will start an aerial bombardment of this structure. Firith Olan won't know what's hit him."

"About Firith Olan." Mara's eyes took on a strained expression. "That's not who he is. He's actually Bib Fortuna."

"What!"

"Somehow Bib Fortuna persuaded the monks to transfer him into another body. That is why the lekku are scarred, not because he survived an accident. Firith Olan is probably dead. Fortuna wants what Jabba had. He's creating an exact replica of the way this place used to be."

"Bib Fortuna!" Karrde exclaimed. "That's why everything is so familiar. He was Jabba's second in command."

"And was probably scheming to finish Jabba off," Page concluded.

Mara shrugged. "When I was here the last time everyone was trying top finish Jabba off. Luke and Leia succeeded."

"So he's working with the B'Omarr?" Aves looked to Karrde for confirmation.

"I don't know," answered Mara.

"It would seem that way," remarked Karrde thoughtfully. "What do they have to gain?"

"That's just it. I don't know what they get out of it. The B'Omarr do not interest themselves in worldly things. They aim for enlightened thought. They can go for days without speaking at all. Eventually they become so enlightened that their brain is removed and exists without the body," mused Page.

"Would they be wanting a source of brains?" asked Aves in horror.

Mara shook her head. "That doesn't seem right. I don't think they see enlightenment in that way."

Page agreed. "They've always appeared peaceful and I've never heard of them using force. They did want to speak to Luke."

Mara's eyes grew cold. "They know he's here?"

"I denied it, but I think they are very aware what is going on."

"So the B'Omarr are in league with Fortuna and they know Luke is here. What's to stop them telling the Twilek about him?"

"I don't know." Karrde gave Mara a concerned glance.

"They haven't said anything yet. They stopped Luke from being beaten up even more than he was. I wonder why." Mara swayed on her feet and Karrde and Aves were quick to steady her and gave her a seat.

"You're still not going to dance, are you?"

"I was, but I feel really strange." Her face whitened.

"Aves get her something to drink," Karrde said urgently. "Come on Mara, take a deep breath." He turned to Page in disgust. "Not that this air is the cleanest."

Aves returned with a tall tumbler. "Here Mara, drink this."

She grabbed the thick glass gratefully and drank thirstily of the water.

"Hey, slow down. You'll make yourself sick," Aves cautioned. "Take a little time."

"We don't have time, not any more." Her voice was low and bitter.

Karrde gestured to her cheek. "You cannot dance with that bruise on your face."

Mara closed her eyes and placed her hand over the discoloured area of flesh. Page watched mesmerised as she glowed briefly and when she removed her hand, the mark was gone."

"Now I must get ready."

"We will be close by, Mara. The honour of killing the man is mine." Karrde's eyes were cold, his voice hard. "Page, I suggest you start moving your people out."

"Will do," the intelligence man said becoming the grey anonymous figure of before and drifting into the faceless crowds.

They were all gathering, ready for the festivities...all the scum the Twilek had gathered around him. The emotions were swirling, a cacophony of sounds and faces and peoples. All there waiting for something to happen. Mara felt the Force shift and change as it caught the ever-changing pattern of life and death.

"Be careful, my love."

"I will. I love you."

"I know."

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