Title: Unfinished Business.
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au
Rating: R (sexual content)
Authors' note: This is an alternative ending to Return of the Jedi that I wrote one night when I was bored and couldn't sleep. It added a few twists to the tale, and the character of Mara Jade isn't like what's depicted in the novels but she fitted in to this tale. A special thank you to my beta reader, you're the best Kazzy.
Kazzy: Thanks for the encouragement and I'm glad you like the plot line.
Smeagol's preciousss: I'm glad you liked the last two chapters; I hope you enjoy the following.
Unfinished BusinessChapter three: Making the most of it
Han wandered down the corridor, boredom having brought him out of the apartment he shared with the Princess Vader. He wondered for what could have been the millionth time if Chewbacca and the droids had made it. If Lando was still alive and the Falcon still in one piece-he'd been promised the old girl would not get a scratch, and he was holding Lando to that. Sighing, he continued down the corridor, and saw Luke and Mara up ahead. A glass sphere was floating just above the young woman's hand and the light caught the glass object and sent shades of color all over the corridor.
"Nice trick kid," he jeered lightly.
She started the glass sphere spinning, smiling. "I have a good mentor."
"Yeah, he's not bad," Han, said, teasing.
Luke also smiled. "And I have an exceptional student."
"She's not bad, either." Han remarked keeping things cheerful.
Mara used the Force to float the ball over to Han, keeping it spinning. He held out his hand and it dropped into it. "So how does the Emperor feel about this?" He inquired.
"We haven't seen him," Luke revealed. "We get told everything by Leia or Lady Amelia."
"There's something going on between those two," Han stated. "The other night..." he stopped before he said anymore. Feeling embarrassed. Not about saying it in front of Luke, but Mara.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Both of them?" She said, shocked, having received his thoughts though the Force. "Together?"
Luke chuckled. "I don't think Han wants to talk about it."
"Oh, sorry," she apologized.
He shrugged, suddenly solemn. "Could be worse, I suppose."
Mara glanced at Luke, who shook his head. She retrieved the sphere, putting it back on its stand and then linked arms with Han. "I think you need to spend some time with friends, not lovers."
"I think you're right, kid." he agreed.
Luke also linked arms with Mara and they walked down the corridor together to the Palace gardens, which in a sense was a large arboretum. Mara laughed at the stories the two men told her of their adventures together, as they sat on the green grass.
"What about you kid?" Han asked her, stretching out his legs. "Did you make it to Hoth?"
She nodded. "Briefly. I was in and out long before the Empire made an appearance," she responded. "I didn't even know what had happened until I returned to the fleet. I heard Luke was on the medical frigate and you were missing."
"I have a fuzzy memory of you coming to see me not long after we had arrived," Luke recalled.
She took his right hand, the artificial one. "I came in and you were sedated," she remembered. "They were preparing you for surgery to fit your hand. I asked for a minute, which they gave me. I put my hand on your forehead and passed some of my Force strength to you. Then I quickly left."
"Just how much training did your mother give you?" Han asked. "Vader seems to think you didn't receive any."
"She'd been training me from the time I was two. She left when I was five," Mara revealed. "I never realized you two had met. She never said anything in her communiqués home."
"Siri was looking for passage, we were available, Chewie and I," Han told her. "We ended up in a dogfight, she took the belly gun and blasted everything in range. I asked her to stay with us and she did for six months, we became close enough to be lovers. I woke up one morning and she was gone, she left a message asking me to pass on a package onto Naboo if anything were to happen to her. A few months later word was passed from smuggler to smugger that Vader had killed Siri, so I followed her wishes and sent the package to Naboo. I didn't even know she had a daughter."
"That was the way she wanted it, I suppose."
"Did you get the package?"
Mara nodded. "Thank you,"
"You're welcome, kid."
For a moment none of them spoke.
Mara moved closer to Luke, snuggling into him. "I want to go home," she said in a whisper.
"I know," He slipped his arm around her. "I want to go home too. We all do."
The Rebel briefing room became quiet and the lights dimmed.
Mon Mothma stepped forward. "We've received Intel from Coruscant. Darth Vader has announced himself Emperor and has undergone a number of physical changers." She paused as a holographic image appeared before her for all to see. "This is Emperor Vader now."
There were a lot of whispers and murmurs among the Rebels.
The Rebel leader continued. "Beside him on his right is our undercover agent, Amelia Jarrad. To his left is Princess Leia, who, according to Commander Jarrad, has convinced her father she's turned to the dark side."
General Madine came to Mon Mothma's side. "Our Intel has also received these images." The holographic image changed to show three people, the image was then enhanced to give a clear view of their faces.
Lando and Wedge looked at each other, Chewbacca howled and Threepio exclaimed "Oh my!" as Artoo whistled and beeped beside them.
When everyone had settled down, Madine continued. "As you can see, we now have evidence General Solo, Commander Skywalker and Lieutenant Mara Jade are still alive."
"Are they working for the Empire?" Someone asked.
"No. They're prisoners within the Palace. Vader keeps them alive and confined to break their spirits."
Mon Mothma took over. "The Emperor is gathering his forces to attack us at Kalrath. This includes the now-finished Death Star. It will leave Coruscant unprotected. While the main bulk of our forces attack the Death Star and the Imperial fleet, a task force will attack the Imperial Palace and bring the Empire down."
Lando stood. "I'd like to volunteer for the Coruscant mission."
"Thank you, General Calrissian. Accepted."
Chewbacca also stood and volunteered, as did Wedge and the rest of Rogue Squadron. They were all accepted.
To be continued.