Disclaimer: Most of the characters featured are the property of G. Lucas.
No copyright infringement intended. I am NOT making any money with this.
ONLY TO BE ARCHIVED AT FANFICTION.NET
Timeline: Post- Vision of the Future, replacing Union
To M. For feedback, excellent company, fellowship in SW-madness and fun around the clock ;=) (Especially behind the wheel - I sure would like to see you with an X-wing!)
SPOILER ALERT: Planet of Twilight, Showdown at Centrepoint, Specter of The Past, Vision of The Future, Vector Prime as well as some later New Jedi Orders. (And naturally the Thrawn trilogy, how can anyone possibly avoid that? ;=)
WARPED UNIVERSE ALERT: For the sake of storytelling, Isard's not dead at all. Condolenses to those who get stomach cramps from the woman. I know what you're going through. Just thank the stars of Alderaan I didn't bring Callista back.
Star Wars: The Rising
By Heidi Ahlmen (siirma6@surfeu.fi)
CHAPTER I:
Coruscant
A split second of unguarded stance sent her stepping backwards, the narrow practice beam underneath her feet gave way at the joint - there were three joints on the long beam, for balance development- but she managed to hold up. With another cross-strike, she took the lead and plunged forward. Her adversary hesitated, but not long enough for her to accelerate into another strike. The incessant humming of two lightsabers quieted down - calm before the storm.
Then, almost simultaneously, as two connected minds in unison lunged forwards, they began their simultanious attack - somethin only a somewhat daredevil Jedi would attempt.
Sabers rattling together, the momentum of their attacks crashed like a wave. It was beyond them now, all they could do was to keep striking, keep pushing on, waiting to see who had tapped more strongly into the Force.
It was over in a split parsek. Amarice Rieekan lost her balance as usual, and fell down hard onto the stone floor, cursing silently and wondering why she could hold out in strenght, but never in effort. It took a moment for her to notice her lightsaber had clattered away between to supporting pillars.
A few feet away, Ceela Caet pushed a sweaty lock of blonde hair off her triumphant face and shut off her saber.
"Very good, both of you. Now, shower," came a male voice with a hint of a smile.
Amarice got up, fished her lightsaber back, and walked past her sparring partner. "Thank you, Master Durron." However hard she tried, she just couldn't keep defeat off her voice.
And the nagging feeling, the doubt came back as she made her way to her quarters later. She still hadn't realized a reason as to why she never pushed herself far enough to find that true connection to the Force. One that would make her a Jedi.
It was the same doubt that must've plagued most of the students at some point. But somehow Amarice knew she should've gotten past it by now. She just couldn't help feeling helplessly curious.
She usually felt very tranquil during training, which was claimed to be ideal. But surely some of the best students prevailed with the help of a little bout of anger? Surely anger was related to passion, a love of what you were doing and yearning to do it well, which evidently must've been the missing link, as she'd tried all the others. She was careful, aware, calm and compassionate. What else was needed then?
The others, Ceela included - they were peers and friends of some sort - would be leaving soon for Yavin IV with Master Skywalker, who had hinted he actually had a reason for delaying Amarice's final initiation into the order.
Shaking her head, she entered her quarters and slumped down on the bed.
There was a tap on the bare left shoulder blade of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
"Mm-hmm?"
"And you're supposed to have Jedi instincts?" a suprisingly unraspy - considering the early hour - female voice interrupted her drift back to sleep. He turned around.
"I knew it was you."
'I'll never get used to this,' Mara Jade chided silently as she faced Luke Skywalker, who she'd been playing hide and seek with in all possible meanings for ten years. Now lately they'd taken up a habit of waking up in each other's close proximity. Not that she complained, though.
"Still, you should be more alarmed. Even if I'm nearby it doesn't mean someone can't be tapping you with a sithspawn blaster."
Luke sat up, running his fingers down Mara's side. Mara grunted and buried herself deeper under the covers. "I don't have to, now that I know you'll be watching my back," Luke commented.
Mara shrugged off his hand and climbed out of bed. "Watching out alright, you toss and turn like an enraged bantha. I should've gone and slept with the slugs near the treatment plants. At least I would've gotten some sleep. And could you really tell that little bucket of yours-" Mara nodded at Artoo, warbling happily in the midst of a systems check "- that I don't really appreciate the feeling I have all the time that we're being watched." She turned her back to Luke to clip on her holster belt - they slept fully clothed in case of emergencies. And there had been enough of them recently.
She felt Luke smiling. "Raving b- - "
Artoo emitted a disapproving beep and went to plug into the mainframe. Luke guessed the little droid considered it easier to find something to do than land in the middle of their usual morning banter.
Mara looked confused for a moment, then nodded. "Leia's at the door."
Not that Luke needed telling. He reached out with the Force and opened the door to let his sister in.
"Morning," Councilor Leia Organa Solo stepped, taking a careful look around.
"We'll be ready in a second," Luke assured, picking up his robe.
"More like a parsek," Leia heard Mara grunt from behind the bed, from where she emerged in her usual attire: tight-fitting black jumpsuit complete with a blaster holster belt, her lightsaber clipped onto it. Mara paused as she saw the look on Leia's face.
"I'm sorry Mara, but no."
"No?"
Luke tried to send his sister a warning not to meddle with Mara in the morning, but Leia ignored him. "That won't do. You know what they'll be expecting."
"And you seriously think I'm going to give them that? Not in a million light years, I'll say."
"They're bureucrats. They want to see both what they're expecting and a lot less. Trust me."
"Not the first time I've heard that." Mara disappeared into the other room.
Leia turned to the door. "3PO, you can come in now."
Mara rolled her eyes.
"Excuse me," 3PO said, advancing past R2. He passed a bag to Mara. "I do apologize for the inconvenience, Master Jade, but I suggested this little token to help you to return to similar of duties."
Not in the mood for taking consolence from a droid, Mara looked into the bag, and understood. She glanced at Luke and disappeared to the balcony. When she returned, wearing the clothes passed to her by 3PO in the bag, Leia was inspecting Luke's outfit, which had also been changed, probably as per Leia's instructions. At least the lightsaber had stayed, as had Mara's.
Mara caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Memories flooded back. She now wore a modestly embroidered long dark violet colored dress with a heavier violet dress underneath to give it support. On top of it all she had a dark blue hooded robe with tight-fitting sleeves and a low neck.
On her forehead she wore a delicate, dewdrop-shaped jewel. Modest but elegant. But it didn't please Mara. She'd wanted to face the High Council of the Republic as the new her, Master Trader and outlander rebel Jedi, not a remnant of the empire.
But the lightsaber did give the dress a slightly different composition. She did look like a Jedi.
And so did Luke. He wore something similar to the black outfit Mara had seen him in in the last vision, the last memory the Emperor had sent her through the Force. Handsome and confident. If she looked like a Jedi, he looked like a Jedi Master. And Mara wasn't sure she liked the comparison.
"Let's go then," Leia commented cheerfully. Luke and Mara followed her into the Imperial Palace's neverending corridors.
"The meeting has been summoned to discuss the future relationship of the Republic and the Jedi. But be warned, there are a couple of senators who wish to address the possible public relations problems you two getting together might bring for the administration."
Luke sighed. "Fey'lya?" The Bothan senator had been rather talented in stirring up trouble in the past. Now, as it had become obvious to half of the galaxy that Jedi Master and war hero Skywalker had fallen for a certain former Emperor's assassin, he'd just been waiting for the shoe to drop.
Leia sighed in unison. "Need you ask?"
Mara hurried her steps to catch them. They had left the east wing and advanced into the central parts of the palace. Towards the parts she hadn't been to in a long time. "How're the kids?" she asked, taking secret joy in the fact that Leia had left C-3PO with Luke's droid. The only thing she and Leia's husband seemed to agree on was the annoyance factor of the gold- coloured walking compliment.
"Great, Chewie's with them as Han's got something going on with Lando. Probably has to do with the Horns' invitation next week."
Luke groaned as Leia stepped in front of an ID panel to let them into the antechamber of the formed throne room. "I don't think we'll be coming along. I'll have to be in Yavin with a few students."
"You're not leaving until next week, and it's just friends." Leia's tone was stern enough not to argue with.
Mara had lost all interest in the conversation. The throne room doors opened, and she let herself remember. How many times she'd stood in the room on the right side of the intricately decorated chair with Imperial emblems that had given way to an oval table? In fact, all she remembered of childhood was this hall, along with the rigorous training she had undergone under the emperor's direct supervision.
She walked in with the others, sensing in her mind Luke's silent confusion at her turmoil.
************************************************'
Thank you for reading. Reviews and feedback would be greatly appreciated - they're the fuel that feeds this creative furnace.
Heidi Ahlmen siirma6@surfeu.fi
ONLY TO BE ARCHIVED AT FANFICTION.NET
Timeline: Post- Vision of the Future, replacing Union
To M. For feedback, excellent company, fellowship in SW-madness and fun around the clock ;=) (Especially behind the wheel - I sure would like to see you with an X-wing!)
SPOILER ALERT: Planet of Twilight, Showdown at Centrepoint, Specter of The Past, Vision of The Future, Vector Prime as well as some later New Jedi Orders. (And naturally the Thrawn trilogy, how can anyone possibly avoid that? ;=)
WARPED UNIVERSE ALERT: For the sake of storytelling, Isard's not dead at all. Condolenses to those who get stomach cramps from the woman. I know what you're going through. Just thank the stars of Alderaan I didn't bring Callista back.
Star Wars: The Rising
By Heidi Ahlmen (siirma6@surfeu.fi)
CHAPTER I:
Coruscant
A split second of unguarded stance sent her stepping backwards, the narrow practice beam underneath her feet gave way at the joint - there were three joints on the long beam, for balance development- but she managed to hold up. With another cross-strike, she took the lead and plunged forward. Her adversary hesitated, but not long enough for her to accelerate into another strike. The incessant humming of two lightsabers quieted down - calm before the storm.
Then, almost simultaneously, as two connected minds in unison lunged forwards, they began their simultanious attack - somethin only a somewhat daredevil Jedi would attempt.
Sabers rattling together, the momentum of their attacks crashed like a wave. It was beyond them now, all they could do was to keep striking, keep pushing on, waiting to see who had tapped more strongly into the Force.
It was over in a split parsek. Amarice Rieekan lost her balance as usual, and fell down hard onto the stone floor, cursing silently and wondering why she could hold out in strenght, but never in effort. It took a moment for her to notice her lightsaber had clattered away between to supporting pillars.
A few feet away, Ceela Caet pushed a sweaty lock of blonde hair off her triumphant face and shut off her saber.
"Very good, both of you. Now, shower," came a male voice with a hint of a smile.
Amarice got up, fished her lightsaber back, and walked past her sparring partner. "Thank you, Master Durron." However hard she tried, she just couldn't keep defeat off her voice.
And the nagging feeling, the doubt came back as she made her way to her quarters later. She still hadn't realized a reason as to why she never pushed herself far enough to find that true connection to the Force. One that would make her a Jedi.
It was the same doubt that must've plagued most of the students at some point. But somehow Amarice knew she should've gotten past it by now. She just couldn't help feeling helplessly curious.
She usually felt very tranquil during training, which was claimed to be ideal. But surely some of the best students prevailed with the help of a little bout of anger? Surely anger was related to passion, a love of what you were doing and yearning to do it well, which evidently must've been the missing link, as she'd tried all the others. She was careful, aware, calm and compassionate. What else was needed then?
The others, Ceela included - they were peers and friends of some sort - would be leaving soon for Yavin IV with Master Skywalker, who had hinted he actually had a reason for delaying Amarice's final initiation into the order.
Shaking her head, she entered her quarters and slumped down on the bed.
There was a tap on the bare left shoulder blade of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
"Mm-hmm?"
"And you're supposed to have Jedi instincts?" a suprisingly unraspy - considering the early hour - female voice interrupted her drift back to sleep. He turned around.
"I knew it was you."
'I'll never get used to this,' Mara Jade chided silently as she faced Luke Skywalker, who she'd been playing hide and seek with in all possible meanings for ten years. Now lately they'd taken up a habit of waking up in each other's close proximity. Not that she complained, though.
"Still, you should be more alarmed. Even if I'm nearby it doesn't mean someone can't be tapping you with a sithspawn blaster."
Luke sat up, running his fingers down Mara's side. Mara grunted and buried herself deeper under the covers. "I don't have to, now that I know you'll be watching my back," Luke commented.
Mara shrugged off his hand and climbed out of bed. "Watching out alright, you toss and turn like an enraged bantha. I should've gone and slept with the slugs near the treatment plants. At least I would've gotten some sleep. And could you really tell that little bucket of yours-" Mara nodded at Artoo, warbling happily in the midst of a systems check "- that I don't really appreciate the feeling I have all the time that we're being watched." She turned her back to Luke to clip on her holster belt - they slept fully clothed in case of emergencies. And there had been enough of them recently.
She felt Luke smiling. "Raving b- - "
Artoo emitted a disapproving beep and went to plug into the mainframe. Luke guessed the little droid considered it easier to find something to do than land in the middle of their usual morning banter.
Mara looked confused for a moment, then nodded. "Leia's at the door."
Not that Luke needed telling. He reached out with the Force and opened the door to let his sister in.
"Morning," Councilor Leia Organa Solo stepped, taking a careful look around.
"We'll be ready in a second," Luke assured, picking up his robe.
"More like a parsek," Leia heard Mara grunt from behind the bed, from where she emerged in her usual attire: tight-fitting black jumpsuit complete with a blaster holster belt, her lightsaber clipped onto it. Mara paused as she saw the look on Leia's face.
"I'm sorry Mara, but no."
"No?"
Luke tried to send his sister a warning not to meddle with Mara in the morning, but Leia ignored him. "That won't do. You know what they'll be expecting."
"And you seriously think I'm going to give them that? Not in a million light years, I'll say."
"They're bureucrats. They want to see both what they're expecting and a lot less. Trust me."
"Not the first time I've heard that." Mara disappeared into the other room.
Leia turned to the door. "3PO, you can come in now."
Mara rolled her eyes.
"Excuse me," 3PO said, advancing past R2. He passed a bag to Mara. "I do apologize for the inconvenience, Master Jade, but I suggested this little token to help you to return to similar of duties."
Not in the mood for taking consolence from a droid, Mara looked into the bag, and understood. She glanced at Luke and disappeared to the balcony. When she returned, wearing the clothes passed to her by 3PO in the bag, Leia was inspecting Luke's outfit, which had also been changed, probably as per Leia's instructions. At least the lightsaber had stayed, as had Mara's.
Mara caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Memories flooded back. She now wore a modestly embroidered long dark violet colored dress with a heavier violet dress underneath to give it support. On top of it all she had a dark blue hooded robe with tight-fitting sleeves and a low neck.
On her forehead she wore a delicate, dewdrop-shaped jewel. Modest but elegant. But it didn't please Mara. She'd wanted to face the High Council of the Republic as the new her, Master Trader and outlander rebel Jedi, not a remnant of the empire.
But the lightsaber did give the dress a slightly different composition. She did look like a Jedi.
And so did Luke. He wore something similar to the black outfit Mara had seen him in in the last vision, the last memory the Emperor had sent her through the Force. Handsome and confident. If she looked like a Jedi, he looked like a Jedi Master. And Mara wasn't sure she liked the comparison.
"Let's go then," Leia commented cheerfully. Luke and Mara followed her into the Imperial Palace's neverending corridors.
"The meeting has been summoned to discuss the future relationship of the Republic and the Jedi. But be warned, there are a couple of senators who wish to address the possible public relations problems you two getting together might bring for the administration."
Luke sighed. "Fey'lya?" The Bothan senator had been rather talented in stirring up trouble in the past. Now, as it had become obvious to half of the galaxy that Jedi Master and war hero Skywalker had fallen for a certain former Emperor's assassin, he'd just been waiting for the shoe to drop.
Leia sighed in unison. "Need you ask?"
Mara hurried her steps to catch them. They had left the east wing and advanced into the central parts of the palace. Towards the parts she hadn't been to in a long time. "How're the kids?" she asked, taking secret joy in the fact that Leia had left C-3PO with Luke's droid. The only thing she and Leia's husband seemed to agree on was the annoyance factor of the gold- coloured walking compliment.
"Great, Chewie's with them as Han's got something going on with Lando. Probably has to do with the Horns' invitation next week."
Luke groaned as Leia stepped in front of an ID panel to let them into the antechamber of the formed throne room. "I don't think we'll be coming along. I'll have to be in Yavin with a few students."
"You're not leaving until next week, and it's just friends." Leia's tone was stern enough not to argue with.
Mara had lost all interest in the conversation. The throne room doors opened, and she let herself remember. How many times she'd stood in the room on the right side of the intricately decorated chair with Imperial emblems that had given way to an oval table? In fact, all she remembered of childhood was this hall, along with the rigorous training she had undergone under the emperor's direct supervision.
She walked in with the others, sensing in her mind Luke's silent confusion at her turmoil.
************************************************'
Thank you for reading. Reviews and feedback would be greatly appreciated - they're the fuel that feeds this creative furnace.
Heidi Ahlmen siirma6@surfeu.fi