"Master, you were like a father to me..."
She curled her hands into fists.
"... And you were like a son to me, young one..."
She cursed under her breath. If Obi- Wan wanted Anakin to be his padawan, then she would let him have what he wanted. She stormed off towards Obi- Wan's room in anger.
Once she got there, she entered the room and ignited her light saber. Yes, Obi- Wan would get exactly what he wanted.
With her other hand, Mara took her padawan braid between two fingers. She stretched it out as far from her head as she could, and took her light saber and cut it off. She turned her light saber off. Tears started to well up in her eyes, but she shook her head. She wasn't going to cry. All she had ever wanted had been to be trained as a Jedi, but if this wasn't what her fate was, then so be it. She looked down at her padawan braid that was clutched in her fist. She set it down on a table in the corner of the room.
She looked around for Obi-Wan's data pad, and found it. She stood for a moment, typing something in, and then set it down beside her padawan braid. She stopped. Was this really what she wanted to do? If she left, then she would be leaving not just Obi- Wan, but the whole Jedi order. She narrowed her eyes, yes this was what she wanted to do. She left the room, closing the door behind her.
She started to make her way towards the docking bay when a thought struck her. She had never flown a ship by herself... Maybe Luke would come with her, and he could help her fly it.
~*~
After walking around for a little while, Mara finally found Luke.
"Hey Luke," she said.
"Oh, hi Mara," he said smiling at his friend. He looked at her, noticing she didn't have her padawan braid, "Mara, how come you don't have your padawan braid?"
Mara shrugged, "I cut it off."
Luke raised his eyebrows, "Okay," he said uncertainly, "Why did you cut it off?"
"Obi- Wan," she said simply, "He wants your dad to be his padawan, not me,"
"What are you going to do, Mara?" he asked.
"I'm going to leave this planet. I'm not sure where I'll go, but I'm not staying here. I've never piloted a ship into space before, will you come with me to help?" she said.
"How long would be gone for?" he asked.
"Forever. Or at least away from your dad and Obi-Wan forever,"
Luke looked at his friend, "I can't go Mara. I have to stay with my Mom, and My Dad, and Leia," he said. "I'm sorry,"
"Okay then," said Mara, "But I could use your help,"
"I know, its just I can't leave them," he said, "And you shouldn't either! Go talk to Obi- Wan,"
Mara shook her head, "No, I don't want to talk to him, Luke."
"Why not?" he asked, "If you talk to him, then maybe he'll stop."
"I'm not gonna talk to him! He's stupid!" she shouted.
"You should," he said.
"No, Luke, I'm not going to!" she said, tears starting to form again. She shook her head, "I have to go before he realizes I'm gone,"
"Bye Mara," he said, hugging her, "You're my very best friend... Will I ever see you again?"
"Maybe not soon, but eventually," she said quietly, "Bye Luke,"
Mara turned around, and walked off.
~*~
After Mara said goodbye to Luke, she headed off towards the hangar bay they had brought their ship down in. She looked around. There were so many ships. After a moment, she settled on a small freighter. She walked up the extension ramp and onto the ship. She sat down in the cockpit. Now what was she supposed to do? She shut her eyes and called on the force. She let the force guide her hands to different buttons, and before she realized it, she was flying. Still using the force, she guided the ship up through the atmosphere.
Mara opened her eyes and looked down at Alderaan. This was it... 'Now I guess I'm supposed to put the ship into hyperspace,' she thought. She looked around the cockpit, there were so many buttons. She recognized a small view screen as a nav computer, but where should she go? She had learned about piloting ships back at the temple, but had never gotten to fly one herself... Maybe she would just choose a random planet and go there.
Mara punched a few numbers in on the nav computer, and then told it to take her to those coordinates. She had no idea where she was going, but she knew it was away from Alderaan.
~*~
"Dad!" Luke shouted, running up to him.
"What is it, Luke?" asked Anakin.
"Mara, she's gone! She was mad at Obi- Wan and she left!"
"What do you mean she left?" Anakin asked.
"She left this planet. She didn't say where she was going, but she left."
"Why was she mad?"
"She said that Obi- Wan wanted you to be his padawan instead of her, so she left!"
Anakin raised his eyebrows, "No he doesn't... We better go tell Obi- Wan what happened, though,"
Luke nodded.
As they walked towards Obi-Wan's room, Luke spoke, "Dad, she was my best friend," he said, "Will see her again?"
"I honestly don't know," said Anakin.
"Oh," said Luke.
"But- cheer up" Anakin started to say as they entered Obi-Wan's room.
Obi- Wan was standing in one of the corners of his room, staring at a datapad.
"Mara left," he said shakily.
"I know," said Anakin, "Luke told me,"
"I know I told you and Padmé that I would go with you to Courescant tomorrow, but I've changed my mind. I'm going to go after Mara," said Obi- Wan, handing Anakin the data pad.
Anakin looked at it. It said:
Hello Master Obi- Wan,
Over the past week you have paid less and less attention to me, and after what I heard today, I know that you want Mister Anakin to be your apprentice, not me. I'm going to leave Alderaan. I don't know where I'll go yet, but I know I'm leaving. I hope your happy,
Mara Jade
"I'm sorry, Obi- Wan," said Anakin. "This is all my fault,"
Obi- Wan shook his head, "No, it's mine. I should have paid more attention to her. At one time you were, my closest friend and padawan. Now, she's my padawan or at least I hope she is, and you're my closest friend. I have to go find her," he said. "Luke, did Mara tell you where she was going?"
"No," Luke replied, "She asked me to go with her, and then left when I said no... She said that she didn't know where she was going, but that she didn't want to talk to you,"
Obi- Wan nodded. "I'm going to go talk to Bail, and leave as soon as possible,"
_*_
AN: What do you think? I hope you like what I did... Also, when this fanfic is completed, there will be around 25-26 chapters, AND a sequel... ^ - ^... Please review!
- Sarah -