Spirit of the Shifting Sands

Disclaimer - The characters and situations in this sorry tale are owned by Lucasfilm. I'm only borrowing them for my own amusement. I haven't bartered or swindled any Toydarian out of hard needed credits. My thanks to the girls as always especially the lovely Monalee.

Chapter 17

Luke's Cell, B'Omarr Monastery

Luke sensed the two minds approaching even as he tried to slip into a healing trance. He needed to heal. If he was going to help anyone he had to make a start on these injuries now. In fact, his best course of action would be to get himself out if here and get to the nearest and best-equipped medicentre. There was also the relatively unimportant matter that these injuries were possibly life threatening if left untreated. He could sense the minds coming closer - they'd helped him and now they wanted to be repaid. He understood that much. He'd been with Han and the rebellion for a long time and knew that if someone did you a favour you returned it. The minds he sensed were unlike any others he'd encountered. Yes… Luke decided. One of them was curiously free.

Luke trusted that Karrde and Page would get Mara out. He knew Karrde still counted Mara as one of his own and there was no way he would abandon one of his people. The only danger there lay in Mara's general obstinacy. Mara would not leave without Luke. Karrde could always stun her and drag her out by the hair - which could present a problem. Luke smiled wearily. Mara had already been taken down by one stun bolt. It would be difficult to catch her out twice, but Luke couldn't see any other way. He knew his girl too well. He only hoped she'd listen to reason but he didn't hold out much chance of that.

He assessed his situation and it wasn't hopeless - not by a long shot, as long as he got time to heal. He was in a small room on the far side of the fortress. The monastery was built on top of a bluff and could be seen for miles around. Behind the vast ancient edifice was a sheer cliff, dropping to the endless desert sea below. A narrow slit in the wall gave out a thin sliver of light, but he'd barely been able to access the view. All it would show would be immeasurable stretches of golden wasteland with no sight of humanity. No it wasn't hopeless but it wasn't too good either.

The monastery had been built down into the cliffs and it would be nigh well impossible either to climb up or down. Sheer rock face in his condition wasn't to be attempted - he hoped. A wasted dilemma, as he could barely move. Without Mara there with him in the cell Luke had let down his guard and the physical and mental strain the Jedi Master was labouring under was only too apparent. The tanned face was grey with pain and fatigue and his mouth tight. The famous blue eyes, if examined closely enough, were dark with haunted shadows. He so much wanted to live. For the first time in many years he had something to cling to. It was warm and had an inner core which burned for him. He had Mara.

"Will he die?"

"Eventually - he is human and therefore mortal. But it is not his time."

"He is in great pain."

"He tries to subdue it – to conquer it. It is the way of the Jedi."

"He is alone – the female is no longer with him. She must have escaped."

"She is also Jedi, if you recall. He could also have left if he so desired. Walls cannot keep such as they confined if they do not want to be kept. She will not be far from him."

"So he knows we want to speak with him."

"Yes – it is time to end all of this. We have grown weary."

The monk nodded deferentially while passing several enlightened beings as they contemplated life and the universe in their nutrient jars. His companion skittered behind him on dainty metallic feet, moving carefully over the sand strewn floor.

"It's where I should be also. I take time from important thought to deal with a problem we have let expand until it intrudes upon our reason for being."

"Let us go and speak to the Jedi and you can then fulfil your true vocation."

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

New Republic Base, Pii 3

General Airen Cracken stood tensely in the communications centre, his green eyes snapping fire as he waited for some sort of communiqué from Admiral Pellaeon. He couldn't believe the Empire would attack when all his intelligence reports told of their perilous position. They didn't have the means to start another conflict. Tricked into it or not. They had an agreement and this wasn't part of it.

"Sir! We've identified the Star Destroyer. It's the Hammer Vex."

"Not the Chimaera?"

"No, Sir."

"What the hell's going on?" he muttered grimly to himself. He raised his voice and barked at a young officer wearing a lieutenant-commander's uniform. "Any word from Pellaeon?"

"We cannot raise anything on that frequency, Sir."

"Sithspit!" He swore and stared without seeing through the transparent screen used for plotting ship manoeuvres. The operator entered data into a pad, techs ran back and fore, slicers slid into position - a well ordered machine rolled into operation and readied itself for battle.

Spotting a familiar humanoid, Cracken clicked a signal on his hand held com.

"General?" Cawdor enquired softly.

"Everything in place?"

"Of course, yes," the orange eyes blinked.

"Good!" Cracken turned and spoke into a voice amplifier. "Jaett – Activate the shield generators."

A small Sullustan chattered quickly into his translator. "Deflector shield online."

Cracken smiled with a small sense of satisfaction. "Brodie – keep trying to contact the Chimaera and use the Admiral's personal channel." He added data into a terminal in front of him. "Cawdor..." He began to move towards the open door of his office, "I want you to try and contact Antilles, Solo or Karrde's man, Ghent. The last one is a slicer, one of the best. He's on a ship in Mos Eisley. Keep trying until you raise one of them and then keep going until you get the others. Clear? Any questions – No? Good. Keep me informed."

Cawdor blinked leathery eyelids and hissed a quiet affirmative.

Cracken took a couple of swift strides, then turned. "And Cawdor... Get Pii 4's defences on line. I believe the rest of Rogue Squadron are there awaiting orders."

The General picked up another couple of pads and then returned to the centre of the ops room before plugging in a headset, keeping keen green eyes on the viewscreen in front of himm. The ops room was cluttered with equipment and personnel, none of it silent. But Cracken felt isolated – completely alone amongst the bustle, the chatter of electronics and people. Things were not going according to plan.

Somewhere in the Dune Sea

Wedge turned his head to avoid the choking sand as it swirled around the speeder. It had still managed to infiltrate his clothing and ease into his mouth and eyes. His eyes were red and irritable and his throat felt scratchy. He took a swig of his water bottle and wasn't surprised when Venner did the same. He glanced across at the other speeder flying over the Dune Sea just behind the Major's. Han sat stiffly in the front beside Fixer willing the machine forward – willing it to be there on time. Wedge wondered why they had let themselves get into such a situation.

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

Tosche Station

Leia stood outwardly calm at the side of Admiral Gilad Pellaeon as the two vehicles roared into the distance. Suddenly Leggin dived for his rifle as a familiar shape appeared on the horizon.

Corran pulled out his lightsaber ready to parry any shot Leggin might make as a reflex. "It's all right. It's the Millennium Falcon." He helped Leggin up.

"The… the Millennium Falcon?"

Corran grinned. "None other."

Eventually the ship landed to the rear of the station and Leia moved towards it flanked by Corran.

Leia turned to the Imperials. "It will be quite safe, I assure you."

A familiar roar greeted her. "Chewie!" she exclaimed thankfully.

The large furry humanoid waited beside the ramp into the Falcon all the while keeping a hand on his bowcaster.

"Let me introduce Chewbacca of Kashyyyk," Leia projected proudly and watched with approval as Pellaeon took a step forward and bowed.

"Ah, the famous Chewbacca."

The Wookiee roared something unintelligible and Ardiff hoped it was a greeting and not a threat.

Leia smiled again. "Chewbacca asks you to follow him into the ship. I'll reiterate my promise to you. We mean you no harm."

Corran nodded and tried to extend calming Force tones into the atmosphere. "The Councillor is correct. The Falcon has a communications centre, newly installed, and we have President Gavrisom, our Chief of State, very anxious to talk with you."

They seated themselves round the Falcon's gaming table apart from Corran and Leggin who preferred to stand. Chewie excused himself to work on something in the cargo hold and as he left he barked something in Leia's direction.

"Really?" she said and grinned delightedly as Artoo rolled towards her beeping and whistling in a cascade of tones, all of which indicated his indignation at being left behind. Chewbacca had collected the little droid from Luke's home where he had been chaffing at his imprisonment by the restraining bolt.

Leia's eyes widened at the language. "Not now, Artoo. You can take all that up with Luke later."

The little droid moved to the communications console and attached himself securely to the information outlet with something which, in a human, could be termed a disdainful sniff.

"Artoo, that's quite enough." Leia put her hands on the table. "As you can see I am unarmed. Now Gentlemen – let us talk peace."

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

Luke's Cell, B'Omarr Monastery

Luke opened clouded eyes and completely disoriented in the half-light, couldn't work out exactly where he was for a minute. He knew who he was, just not precisely where. He also couldn't work out why he ached in so many places. Then real feeling returned to his lower limbs and a gasp of pain escaped him.

'This has to stop,' he told himself severely. 'Use the Force, Luke...It's part of you...remember Yoda's teaching. You won't do anyone any good if you die. At least work on the internal stuff for now.'

Focusing deep within himself, Luke visualised ruptured blood vessels and damaged organs. He became aware of life at its most basic level and beyond life to the planet, which nurtured life and drew strength from the brilliant double suns. Tatooine was parched from lack of moisture, but still, life beat at its centre. He felt his own heartbeat - slow and measured. He felt the passing of time and the change of each grain of sand and slowly he felt his body heal little by little. Hopefully he'd done enough. Gradually Luke slipped into a restless sleep.

The two B'Omarr stopped in front of the now open cell. The door gaped ajar and the corporeal monk bent to examine the damaged locking mechanism. It would never work again. They entered the cell and observed the quiescent body of the Jedi Master. His face was bruised and pale and his eyes closed in sleep. The shallow rasping breaths indicated the damage he'd taken to his ribcage.

They moved carefully deeper into the cell, the B'Omarr picking the hem of his robe up as he moved and his companion covering the ground on tiny metal legs. The Jedi's eyes flew open with an abruptness that was as sudden as it was shocking. He gazed at them curiously. Eyes as blue as the skies above their heads held wisdom, pain and something they couldn't fathom.

"Gentlebeings," Luke said. "I'm sorry to greet you in this fashion." He struggled slowly to a sitting position. It was a little easier - he breathed a still careful sigh of relief, mindful of his ribs.

"Jedi?"

"Of course."

"We've heard of your coming - a return to the place where the some of the Jedi once came to be. We are the B'Omarr. I am still in my corporeal form. I have not reached the level of enlightenment like the being before you." The lights on the brain's nutrient jar flashed in a sequential pattern. Luke closed his eyes as they induced in him a feeling of intense dizziness. He had to concentrate.

"Were you once Jedi?" asked Luke.

The brain in the jar seemed to glow and the other monk smiled showing yellowing teeth. "No, we were completely different. We search for enlightenment through thought but have no powers like yours. At one time our order co-existed with your kind. We were compatible. But that was millennia ago. Now all we seek is our solitude."

Luke gazed curiously at the brain in the jar. "Do you communicate?"

"Oh yes. We are telepathically linked. You also could try this. This… Force that you utilise will enable you to converse with the enlightened being."

Luke cocked his head to one side and thought deeply. "Greetings enlightened one. What do you want from me?"

"Solitude," was the answer. "We want to be left in seclusion. Once we thought that would happen, then the outlanders came. They came, they departed then more arrived and were driven out in their turn."

"What my comrade is saying perhaps is unclear to you. These others came and took over our abode, but they left us in peace to exist as we sought fit. Then the Hutt came and they drove us deep underground. But their people didn't leave us alone. They came to seek us out."

"I see," Luke mumbled, feeling that he had to say something.

"You drove them out and made it possible to reclaim our right. But we had taken one of their own because we thought he had reached enlightenment. We made a mistake. He was not ready. His mind is weak."

Luke nodded in understanding. "Bib Fortuna."

"Somehow he found a way to contact the outsiders again and they started to return. One by one, but they kept returning. He persuaded us to restore him to his frailty. Enlightenment had paid too heavy a price for him. Now he wants to get rid of us forever. He has plans to drive us out. We have been here longer than the deserts."

"A long time," said Luke.

"Yes, you helped us once before by getting rid of the Hutt."

"He was given a choice," Luke said a little defensively. He hadn't exactly been too sad at having to finish off Jabba the Hutt and that knowledge rankled at his Jedi soul.

"We want you to get rid of his successor."

"What!"

"We know that killing in cold blood is not the Jedi way, but we want you to destroy this building from the inside so that it can never be used by these people again."

"You have the powers. We know you do."

"But I cannot use those powers for destruction. If I did that I would using my abilities for evil." Luke felt distraught. He wasn't healed enough for this - he had to stay strong. Mara needed him to be strong. "What about your order? I would be condemning you as well as the people in the upper levels. I cannot do that."

"You have the ability to protect us all?"

His voice rose weakly in shock. "I cannot... It is not our way. I try to achieve things by negotiation. Attack only as a last... resort... " Luke's voice trailed off limply as he passed out.

"I told you it was too soon."

"He is a good man, but not enlightened."

"Neither am I."

"In time you will be. You strive for it."

"I do and one day…" The monk moved to where Luke's water bottle sat, minus the hidden saber which was now re-attached to his belt and poured a little of the water on the Jedi's face. Luke opened his eyes.

"Here you must drink. Try and get your strength back. You will need it if you are to help us."

Luke's eyes blinked in confusion. "I thought I said I was unable to help you. I want to preserve life, not kill it."

"We want that too. You misunderstand us, Jedi."

"I'm not so sure that I do," replied Luke stubbornly. "My friends are up there."

"Ah yes, the female. She is special to you - your mate? She will not be harmed - by us."

"You don't understand what you're getting in to," Luke raised his voice in protest.

"We understand very well. We have been working both sides of the credit chip, as your saying goes."

Luke sensed the satisfaction from the enlightened being. "In what way?"

"We have allies on both sides."

"But… but you'll be killing innocent people," Luke's spinning head was awash with panic. 'Calm… peace,' he told himself.

"We would like you to help create a little illusion. We have been reading up on the Jedi."

"Wh-where?" asked Luke faintly. If there was information he wanted to see it.

"Some holodisks were deposited in our library a few hundred years ago. Or was it thousands? No, I think it was hundreds."

'Hundreds."

"Library?" the Jedi echoed feebly. Luke ran his tongue over very dry lips. "I know this could be termed some sort of bribe and Jedi should not be able to be bought, but is there any chance I could see what you have?"

"If you help us, I don't see why not."

"But if he does help us, he may not get out again - alive."

"If he doesn't help us, the story is the same. We cannot treat his injuries, we do not know how and when the task force arrives to bombard this place into rubble. He may not be alive anyway. His best chance is to help us. In fact it is his only chance."

"Task force!" Luke probed - a sinking feeling of dread pooling in the pit of his stomach. "It's still coming?" He'd hoped Page was wrong - he really had.

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

Coruscant

Winter was escorted to the Chief of State's office. It was funny to think that she was by all intents and purposes under arrest. Still, she'd kept calm and cool and had raised no demur when asked to accompany the security detail to Gavrisom's office. As she walked sedately down the main corridor, she resisted temptation to make a face at an astonished Borsk Fey'lya. He would have been expecting Leia to be here. So the Bothan spynet did have flaws and Mara Jade knew how to circumvent them. An interesting piece of data to file away.

She smiled at the Chief of State as he closed the door behind her and with a soft whinny indicated to the viewscreen. Leia smiled worriedly at her from a planet on the other side of the galaxy. "Winter," she said tremulously. "It's going to happen - for everyone and for the memory of Alderaan. We're going to have peace."

"Peace?" Winter repeated, her grey eyes wide.

Leia nodded. "Peace at last."

"You're all right?" she remembered to ask.

"I'm fine…"

"What about Han?"

Leia suddenly smiled with understanding. "Tycho's fine too. He's with Han and is missing you and the baby."

"When you see him, give him my love."

Leia nodded. "I'll be in touch."

The Chief of State whinnied softly. "Don't stray too far from the com centre, Councillor. I will speak again to you shortly."

The screen faded to black.

Gavrisom's secretary buzzed. "Sir, Senator Fey'lya is demanding to see you. He says it is urgent."

"He is, is he? Send him in," the Calibop folded his wings with a certain amount of satisfaction. "I'd be delighted to put his mind at rest on certain matters. You do still have that recording General Cracken sent?"

"I do," she returned composedly. "It really should be checked over by an independent party. Say...Talon Karrde's slicer, Ghent. He's the best one I've ever come across. But that can be done later."

"It's enough that we have it and will express doubts about its authenticity."

Winter tipped her head thoughtfully. "It's a pity Admiral Ackbar couldn't be here also. You know how he loves to see Fey'lya squirm."

"Now, Lady Winter, I think that is unkind. Then again, he has been interfering in our lives. Although it was my job he was after, he seems to have tried to discredit the Skywalker and Solo families. No one has done more for the New Republic than they have. Now when he comes in, be a good girl and play dumb, so to speak. Let me show my main talent – the art of discourse. We will say nothing yet, of the peace negotiations but could express worry over the disappearance of the Jedi Master and Councillor Organa Solo. We could even suggest foul play and that we have several pertinent leads…"

"They've not found Luke?"

"I believe they know where he is and efforts are being made to extract Master Skywalker and his team from their location. Now to matters at hand. It will be interesting to find out how much the Senator for the Bothan homeworlds can discover on his own."

Winter smiled warmly. Ponc Gavrisom was not the fool the Bothans wanted him to be. He was no one's puppet.

"As you wish."

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

The Western Dune Sea - Tatooine

"How much longer to go?" asked Arnek.

"About another half hour or so. Slow down - we need to get in round the back. We can't be seen arriving just like this." Han gave Wedge a signal and the other speeder drew to a standstill. They were in a narrow rock channel just before the next section of open desert. This was the last of their cover from now on they were out in the open until they reached the monastery itself. "We should be able to see the building shortly."

Jarl Venner tipped his hood back and looked carefully at Han. "The attack force will arrive at sunset. I have to assume that the Prefect, sith take his rotten little soul, is no longer alive to control the troops that will undoubtedly arrive."

"Can't you stop them?" asked Tycho.

"I don't know. They may have been told only to accept orders from Talmont or Firith Olan. From what I read on the data disk the Prefect was also conferring with the B'Omarr about a suitable donor..." He let his voice fade away as the men took stock of that piece of information. They all knew what he meant. Arnek climbed stiffly out of the speeder and walked to try and exercise the arthritis from his legs.

Han swallowed. "Well, my brother-in-law would say that that smacked of the dark side."

Wedge shuddered. "I don't like it. I get a bad feeling about it and I'm not a Force user. Your superior is going to get them to remove his brain and...." He grabbed his water container and took a swallow. "It doesn't bear thinking about."

"But it means he could still be alive." Han said slowly. "We have to consider it."

Arnek climbed back into the speeder. "So we don't know who's in charge."

Han grimaced. "We do. The Twilek is and he's obviously dangerous."

Fixer looked more and more terrified. This hero stuff seemed okay on a holovid, but in real life he wasn't so sure. These people Wormie had joined were totally out of his league.

"Have you anyone to get out?" Han asked Venner quietly.

"I have to find what happened to the Prefect. We have a few intelligence guys dotted around, but they don't answer to me. I'm only a very minor cog in this."

"Hey kid, don't sell yourself short. The Admiral obviously trusts you."

Venner felt a wave of something like pleasure sweep over him. He'd been complimented by one of the Empire's greatest enemies and it had felt good. "The Prefect has people inside. I could order them out. Whether they will obey me rather than the Prefect I'm not so sure."

Han assessed the group. "We need to get into the building and just get our people out before the proton torpedoes start dropping. If I could contact Lieutenant Page or... Talon Karrde." Han drew out the name with slow satisfaction. Pulling out a remote caller he fiddled with something in the back. "Come on - we need to get nearer I don't think the signal is strong enough." He sighed with frustration. "Or I could..." He moved to the speeder and began happily yanking wires from its communications device. He turned to Kapass with a wicked grin. "You good with wires?"

Wedge grinned at Kapass and Venner's bewildered expressions. "Don't worry about it. You've never been in the Millennium Falcon. It's held together by tangled cable and luck. After Han has ruined your com unit, we'd better make a move. Dusk is fast approaching."

The message sent and hopefully received, Kapass started the speeder and Fixer followed suit with his.

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

Pii 4

"Commander Cracken, is your squadron ready?"

"Yes Sir," Pash Cracken spoke into his comlink. He checked the display in the cockpit of his A-wing. "Yes, we're ready to go."

"Rogue Squadron?"

"Have been alerted, sir," Pash answered. "They'll follow us up to provide a second defence wave."

Wes Janson wandered casually into the hangar and ran a careful hand over the fuselage of his X-Wing. He wished Wedge, Tycho and Corran were here. But they weren't. In fact, he had a sneaking suspicion they were somewhere in the middle of the building that was shortly going to turn into a pile of rubble. He spoke into the comlink clipped to his collar. "Rogue Squadron are suiting up and will be ready to go in five minutes."

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

Pii 3

Cracken sat alone in his office watching the projections of the Star Destroyer, which had just entered orbit. He'd tried hailing it on Imperial frequencies and on the frequencies he was trying to contact Admiral Pellaeon. Nothing. Something about this Star Destroyer made him feel distinctly uneasy. If he'd been Luke Skywalker he would have put it down to promptings in the Force.

He put through a call to Coruscant and the face of Borsk Fey'lya appeared in front of him looking a little subdued.

"What can I do for you, General."

"It's wrong, Senator, what you want to do - and I don't know why I ever considered it, even for a second."

"Considered what?" was the smooth reply.

"Controlling the Jedi."

"Now, you know I would never do that. The Jedi are needed in our universe to be the observers and to add their wisdom and learning to solve our problems."

Cracken snarled angrily at the screen. If he'd been within an arm's reach of the manipulative Bothan, Senator Fey'lya would not be showing the same equanimity. "The Jedi Master is quite aware of what you've been trying to do. The problem is you may yet succeed. If you do and Luke Skywalker doesn't return I will hold you responsible. There are a lot of people keeping score."

Fey'lya's expression didn't change. "Threats, General?"

"Of course not. I would never threaten one of the species that made it possible for us to win the war."

"I'm glad we understand each other."

"I don't know if we do."

It was a stand off and they both knew it.

An agitated Lieutenant Brodie entered, his face white. "Sir! They've attacked the logging company's headquarters. I think they've made a mistake."

"What!" Cracken was on his feet cutting the transmission to Coruscant without a word and left a very uneasy Borsk Fey'lya sitting in front of the monitor. The Bothan got to his feet. It was time for some damage limitation. Time for a word with the Chief of State. His fur rippled - Lady Winter Celchu had been marched under armed guard to Gavrisom's office. Where was the Senator? Why hadn't Leia Organa Solo appeared also? She was supposed to be ill. Unless the illness the Alderaanian had been suffering from had been a ruse. It was time he found out. The thought that Skywalker had known all along what he was up to, made him distinctly nervous. 'He can prove nothing,' he thought.

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

Lower Audience Chamber, B'Omarr Monastery

Talon Karrde had sent Faughan and Dankin back to the Wild Karrde the previous day and he'd made sure that Aves had not gone on any of the most recent trips for the Twilek. They were going to have to leave in a hurry and Karrde wanted to make sure Aves and Mara were ready too. Page had drifted in and out of view as he began to mobilise any NR agents. Mara had returned to the dance troupe, but clearly wasn't well. She was worried about Luke and that was something she'd never experienced before. Not even her loyalty to the Emperor had instigated such feelings of helplessness. When you finally decided to love a person it made you weak, but yet so strong.

"That's it!" she told Karrde irritably when they'd met during one of her breaks. "I've tried contacting him several times through the Force and I'm not getting a reply. He's still alive, but he's terribly weak. I'll have to try and get him out."

"Mara..." Karrde sighed and inwardly his nerves quailed. "Luke told me if you got separated I had to get you out of there. To stun you if necessary."

"He didn't," she told Karrde flatly. "He wouldn't." Then her tone grew menacingly icy. "He daren't. He'd better get his butt up here and out into that sithspawned sand dune he's so fond of or I'll kill him." She pushed back her stool and rose to her feet.

Putting out his hand to stop her, Karrde felt the power flowing from her petite frame. 'Okay', he told himself. 'If she's not going to go - she could make herself useful.'

"Mara, you have to get near Firith Olan. He's got some sort of console up there. But I don't know if it's a communications array or an explosive device. You can get near to him. We cannot."

"What about Page?"

"I don't know. He's got more people here than we have. I didn't tell him that you and Aves are the only two I've got left."

"What about Faughan?"

"I sent her out yesterday. When you got caught in that stun blast and went down without Page being able to help. I decided it was becoming foolish to subject our people to more than I had to. You, as you've told me often enough, know the risks."

"Dankin?"

"He left this morning, after delivering a supply of weapons and ammunition to me. It's well hidden, but I told him to dump the stuff with me and get back to the ship in Mos Eisley. Enough of our people were slaughtered needlessly. I couldn't guarantee the same thing wouldn't happen to those who came here with me."

"I agree," she muttered surprisingly calmly. "But I still have to do something to help Luke. For all that he's been round the galaxy and back, he can and does get himself into these situations."

"Nothing to do with the fact that you're sleeping together is it?"

Mara sent him a venomous glare. "That has nothing to do with it."

"I think it has. But I'll apologise if it makes you feel better."

But Mara wasn't feeling better. She was worried about Luke. It had been over three hours and she'd not heard a peep from him. Suppose he was unconscious; suppose the Twilek's men had come back and finished the job of beating him to a pulp. Her stomach churned again. Here she was - worried sick about Skywalker... Actually she did feel sick, but in the condition she was currently in it was to be expected. Hold on! 'The current condition' and....pregnant!! Mara went green with shock.

"Karrde, I'm going to..."

The smuggler alarmed at her sudden change of colour, pushed the water he was drinking in her direction. "Drink this." He watched as she returned to something approaching her normal hue as she took a careful sip.

"That's it," she muttered, a bite in her voice. "I've had enough. You are going to find Page; he will have explosive devices around. He is going to blow the place. I am going to find Luke and kill him myself. Enough is enough."

Karrde watched as the febrile glitter in her eyes threatened to spark out of control. She was worried about Luke. Talon Karrde was worried about Mara. But she was right. This had gone on long enough. Tonight something was going to happen. Page was rigging the place up to blow from the inside out as soon as the joint Imperial and NR task force arrived in the sky. Hopefully they were out of there before that happened.

Suddenly Karrde experienced a tremor next to his skin. "Hold it, Mara," he whispered. "I'm getting a signal through on my tracking device." He surveyed the lower audience chamber, which was beginning to fill up with creatures of all descriptions. "Can we go to your quarters? They're fairly central."

Mara nodded, "Sure," while all the time her heart was calling out to Luke. She pushed her unexpected discovery to the farthest depths of her mind and concentrated on the task in hand. Now was definitely not the time to dwell on her impending motherhood.

Karrde pulled out the tiny device and fed it into the macro binoculars on his belt. As he looked through the viewfinder he gave a grunt of satisfaction.

"What is it?"

"It's from Ghent, via Han Solo."

"Don't tell me. The next shuttle is arriving and they will be there for the party with their specially engraved invitations."

"Something like that with a free ride home. I'm going to find Page. He'll need to know that we have unexpected backup. You go and extricate yourself from tonight's set but Mara, be flexible. They may not let you. Not tonight."

"They will let me or I'll take their insides out with my lightsaber."

Karrde took a step backwards. "Isn't that overdoing it?"

Mara tapped her lightsaber. "I mean business."

"That doesn't sound flexible to me and you'll blow your cover."

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

"I don't think I'm going to be able to perform for the Lord tonight, Master Hjarn. If I'm not at my best I cannot do it. He deserves nothing but my most supreme efforts." Mara tried to look penitent and below par, which was surprisingly easy to do. She felt as if she was in shock. "Luke, where are you?"

The Twileks entertainment procurer was surprisingly sympathetic for a low life crook. "Your sentiments are to be admired, Arica."

"I'll be better tomorrow. Is that too late? Have I ruined my chances of ever being employed by the Lord again?"

"Not for one who moves as you do. The Lord has great plans for this place, Arica. It is better that you are part of it. There are others who will not be as fortunate"

Mara bowed her head low in a gesture of subservience and backed away. Once out of sight, she ran to her room and got changed. All this gilding of the Tallien flower had to stop. Picking up her spare blaster, she fixed it to her usual wrist holster and hung her saber on her belt. Time to go. She would bet her life on it that the rascally Jedi Master was keeping something important from her. She'd bet her life he knew about the state he'd got her into too.