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)
The day had gone to evening on Coruscant as well. Luke wandered down the stairs of the Senate, coming from to see Wedge, still serving as Commander- in-charge and the High Council's Military Advisor. He'd wanted to see Luke to hear his opinion on recent reports of rising Imperial activity in the near space of Ithor. It hadn't been much to look at and in Luke's opinion it was probably some drill as Yaga Minor who usually handled diplomatic channels hadn't informed the Senate of any notable movements.
As Luke crossed the second floor elevator landing, a movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. Something little had just raced past him into a corner. In the background Force noise of thousands still at work in the building, Luke couldn't trace anything that small by its Force presence, so he decided to take a look.
He jogged in the nearest maintenance corridor where the flash had been headed to, and after turning a corner caught sight of something quick, light brown and furry.
A ysalamiri? In the Intergalactic Senate?
Luke quickened his pace and took another turn. The furry creature disappeared into a vent shaft next to a door left ajar. This was no maintenance room but an office. Spur of the moment, Luke stepped in.
"Master Skywalker," came a voice from the shadows near the window. "How good of you to come. Senator Mendya Gann stepped to the centre of the room. This time she wore green instead of black - a conscious choice.
"Senator Gann," Luke nodded politely as he recognized her from the picture, but his tone betrayed him. So this was the woman so against the Jedi. Her disapproval of their lot must've been quite sizable if she desired to keep ysalamiri as pets. The creature was still lurking in there somewhere, Luke reasoned, as he could not feel the Force. Nor read the Senator.
"You seem in contempt of me. Not a very good trait for a Jedi Master to judge people so quickly."
"I've heard of your opinions."
"From your little spy nevertheless," The Senator commented quickly.
Luke was flabbergasted. It was her who'd asked for help. Either she was an idiot or there was more to this just as Amarice had said. But before Luke could voice his suspicion, the Senator passed his something - an old holocard with no labelling on it.
"What is this?"
"Something that will, perhaps strenghten the opinions of some flaying Senators as to whether there are dark forces at work within the Jedi. I do not believe in absolute changing of people, Master Skywalker." It was no honorary title coming from her.
It wasn't hard to come to understanding as to who she was referring to. "So this is what it's been about all along. Did you send the files to Fey'lya?" Luke questioned, his tone gaining more aggression.
"Oh no. I did not. Why all the blame? It is not I who once was the Emperor's Hand."
"That matter's been more than vastly overstated," Luke shot back.
"See for yourself then," Gann commented, faking a yawn, and Luke wondered how much more theatrical she could possibly get.
After shooting a maliceful glance not very becoming of a Jedi at Gann's direction - she sure was aggravating, Luke began watching the holo.
First the image was grey - time had gotten to the old recording.
It was dated two years prior to Endor, which more or less seemed to have become the focal point for calendars in the New Republic. Luke wondered if the matter was so also for the former Imperials.
The holo rattled, and the picture steadied. Luke recognized the settings - the Throne Room in the Imperial Palace, in all its glory. Murals and flags hung on the walls, and the massive chamber was packed with human and aliens - less of the latter, though. The Emperor's racial bigotry had visibly taken its toll on the multiethnic systems. Luke felt sad. Such thinking had never manifested itself in the Republic, which had always lain on the base of tolerance, equality and justice.
The camera angle soon fastened on the throne itself, with Palpatine engrossed in conversation with Moff Tarkin - easy to recognize from the expression, if not from anything else. It was obviously a formidable gathering, with many prestigious military leaders present. Thrawn was absent, though, and Luke made a mental note to find out why.
"It was the memorial day for giving of emergency authorities to Palpatine, apparently. Just the right occasion to puff his power and glory."
The transfer of power from the Intergalactic Senate to Palpatine, who'd been Supreme Chancellor at the time during the Clone Wars. Luke knew his history - it had been the exact moment the Old Republic was forced to the road to ultimate doom.
In the holo, Ysanne Isard was seated near the throne in a blue dress with the expected medals communicating her rank as the head of Imperial Intelligence. But these details became trivial to Luke as the holo focused on the emperor again. Almost behind the throne, her right hand resting on the armrest as she exchanged some words with the Emperor Luke could not hear, stood a woman. She wore a black sleeveless tunic with tight black pants. Black, low-heeled Imperial stormtrooper bootswere visible underneath the pant legs. On top of the tunic, a transparent, black, one-sleeved tunic hid some of her features in an alluring way as it left only the outlines of her body visible. Her hair was pulled up, dishevelled slightly at the back, giving an aura of organized freedom. She turned her head towards the camera, and recognition hit Luke so hard it was like being punched by the Force.
It was Mara, green eyes blazing, head high as she stood on the right side of the Emperorm chatting away. On her forehead Luke could see the turqoise, dewdrop-shaped jewel Mara had worn to the council meeting days earlier. It was Mara, from head to toe, and Luke couldn't tear his eyes of her.
Every turn of hand was coordinated, every twist of hair revealed a military training. She hadn't even bothered to try and conceal the blaster in her belt, nor the shape of a large dagger against her ankle. A necklace of black, star-shaped pearls adorned her neck.
There was no doubt of her stature, as noone else aside from some high- ranking officials were even allowed to approach the hunched ruler seated on the throne.
The Emperor's Hand.
How much was there left in Mara of this cruel creature that decorated the throne room dais at her Master's pleasure?
Feeling disoriented, Mara gazed around for the Jedi Master, and found him seeted on a tree stock.
"Were those possible futures?" Mara asked, slightly confused by the maelstrom of incomprehansible pictures that had just rummaged her brain.
"The future it was. Not possible but absolute."
Mara's eyes widened. "You mean this will all happen?"
Yoda nodded slightly. "If continue on this path you will."
"You mean finding out who I was?"
Yoda nodded seriously, and added, "And ways part with Luke will you not."
How could she ever have doubted Luke for a second? What she'd seen made it crystal clear. She had to stop moaning and set her mind to this.
"But I've no idea what to do, now that there isn't much to start with," Mara said.
Master Yoda's eyes gleamed with resolution. "Think you must first before doing. The man you look for will not answer. Go you must where the last chance would be."
So she should have gone to Bastion herself after all. Yoda's encouraging smile confirmed that it was the right place. Imperial Intelligence headquarters. Of course.
And Isard.
"But haste you must be," the Jedi Master hurried to add.
Mara shot him a glance. "And why is that? She asked.
"I see much danger. Safe your friends are not."
Was he talking about Han and Lando? Or Luke? Mara twirled up an interpretation. "So you're saying that I should hurry to Bastion, get a hold of my real files or anything equally waterproof and then sprint to Coruscant because Luke's hand needs holding?" She could not imagine Luke being in any kind of real danger from the Senate.
Yoda's glance was reprimanding. "Guess you must not. Do what you must, yes." The phantom was already fading.
"Master Yoda?" Mara asked, not wanting to let him go just yet. On the other hand, Jedi Masters seldom obeyed orders.
But there was one more thing. "Master Yoda!" she almost shrieked, and the glowing figure steadied again, still disturbingly semi-transparent. "Yes, Mara Jade?" Yoda asked without any hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Why did you... Why did you appear to me? And why haven't you appeared to Luke at all?"
"Bound to this place I am. Elsewhere appear I can not as one with the Force I have become. Much Force here, as you have felt," Yoda eyed her with a hint of sadness in his old eyes. "As for Luke. Full Jedi Knight he is."
"And I'm not?" Mara said pensively, but she knew the answer. Even though she'd gained some more abilities in Nirauan, there still was much shrouded.
"In need of guidance you are not. But things face you must. Old things much chagrined over." Having said this, Master Yoda disappeared, leaving Mara alone in the darkness.
Alone, but more resolute than ever. She packed away her survival kit and returned to the Ice, not even bothering to wait until the morning to start up the engines.
After she'd tackled the canopy with a vengeance, she awarded the planet one more glance, then grabbed the comm relay and searched out Leia's private number from the comp. She answered quickly - she'd probably just been talking to someone.
"Mara?" she asked, and through the Force her relief was palpable.
"How are things?" Mara asked, a sudden wave of sadness creeping up on her. Despite the encouraging things Master Yoda had had to say the core of his message had been that they were all deep in carbonite. Again.
"Slow. Luke's met Gavrisom and he's delaying any Council meets, buying us time. It's all over the news, but not as bad as you could imagine. Luke's kept himself busy." The unspoken question lingered, had Mara?
For once Mara was glad she was off the capital. "Likewise. Slow, but there are a few leads I can follow." She decided not to tell Leia where she was headed.
"That's not what I meant, Mara."
Mara cursed silently. She was nothing having an emotional conversation before she could get some sleep. "Has Han gotten home yet?"
Leia seemed puzzled. "I haven't heard from him. I was hoping you'd had, after he told me you'd met on Mantell."
Alarms flashed in Mara's head. "He was supposed to call you up this morning. I talked to him at nine standards. He and Lando were picking up some spares, restacking. Sith, you'd better check the Falcon's tracing signal." Unsure whether Leia knew her husband and Lando had been running errand for her in Bastion, of all places, Mara decided not to mention the place.
"Bye, Mara," Leia said and cut off short, obviously hurrying to check what Mara'd suggested.
************************************************'
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)
The day had gone to evening on Coruscant as well. Luke wandered down the stairs of the Senate, coming from to see Wedge, still serving as Commander- in-charge and the High Council's Military Advisor. He'd wanted to see Luke to hear his opinion on recent reports of rising Imperial activity in the near space of Ithor. It hadn't been much to look at and in Luke's opinion it was probably some drill as Yaga Minor who usually handled diplomatic channels hadn't informed the Senate of any notable movements.
As Luke crossed the second floor elevator landing, a movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. Something little had just raced past him into a corner. In the background Force noise of thousands still at work in the building, Luke couldn't trace anything that small by its Force presence, so he decided to take a look.
He jogged in the nearest maintenance corridor where the flash had been headed to, and after turning a corner caught sight of something quick, light brown and furry.
A ysalamiri? In the Intergalactic Senate?
Luke quickened his pace and took another turn. The furry creature disappeared into a vent shaft next to a door left ajar. This was no maintenance room but an office. Spur of the moment, Luke stepped in.
"Master Skywalker," came a voice from the shadows near the window. "How good of you to come. Senator Mendya Gann stepped to the centre of the room. This time she wore green instead of black - a conscious choice.
"Senator Gann," Luke nodded politely as he recognized her from the picture, but his tone betrayed him. So this was the woman so against the Jedi. Her disapproval of their lot must've been quite sizable if she desired to keep ysalamiri as pets. The creature was still lurking in there somewhere, Luke reasoned, as he could not feel the Force. Nor read the Senator.
"You seem in contempt of me. Not a very good trait for a Jedi Master to judge people so quickly."
"I've heard of your opinions."
"From your little spy nevertheless," The Senator commented quickly.
Luke was flabbergasted. It was her who'd asked for help. Either she was an idiot or there was more to this just as Amarice had said. But before Luke could voice his suspicion, the Senator passed his something - an old holocard with no labelling on it.
"What is this?"
"Something that will, perhaps strenghten the opinions of some flaying Senators as to whether there are dark forces at work within the Jedi. I do not believe in absolute changing of people, Master Skywalker." It was no honorary title coming from her.
It wasn't hard to come to understanding as to who she was referring to. "So this is what it's been about all along. Did you send the files to Fey'lya?" Luke questioned, his tone gaining more aggression.
"Oh no. I did not. Why all the blame? It is not I who once was the Emperor's Hand."
"That matter's been more than vastly overstated," Luke shot back.
"See for yourself then," Gann commented, faking a yawn, and Luke wondered how much more theatrical she could possibly get.
After shooting a maliceful glance not very becoming of a Jedi at Gann's direction - she sure was aggravating, Luke began watching the holo.
First the image was grey - time had gotten to the old recording.
It was dated two years prior to Endor, which more or less seemed to have become the focal point for calendars in the New Republic. Luke wondered if the matter was so also for the former Imperials.
The holo rattled, and the picture steadied. Luke recognized the settings - the Throne Room in the Imperial Palace, in all its glory. Murals and flags hung on the walls, and the massive chamber was packed with human and aliens - less of the latter, though. The Emperor's racial bigotry had visibly taken its toll on the multiethnic systems. Luke felt sad. Such thinking had never manifested itself in the Republic, which had always lain on the base of tolerance, equality and justice.
The camera angle soon fastened on the throne itself, with Palpatine engrossed in conversation with Moff Tarkin - easy to recognize from the expression, if not from anything else. It was obviously a formidable gathering, with many prestigious military leaders present. Thrawn was absent, though, and Luke made a mental note to find out why.
"It was the memorial day for giving of emergency authorities to Palpatine, apparently. Just the right occasion to puff his power and glory."
The transfer of power from the Intergalactic Senate to Palpatine, who'd been Supreme Chancellor at the time during the Clone Wars. Luke knew his history - it had been the exact moment the Old Republic was forced to the road to ultimate doom.
In the holo, Ysanne Isard was seated near the throne in a blue dress with the expected medals communicating her rank as the head of Imperial Intelligence. But these details became trivial to Luke as the holo focused on the emperor again. Almost behind the throne, her right hand resting on the armrest as she exchanged some words with the Emperor Luke could not hear, stood a woman. She wore a black sleeveless tunic with tight black pants. Black, low-heeled Imperial stormtrooper bootswere visible underneath the pant legs. On top of the tunic, a transparent, black, one-sleeved tunic hid some of her features in an alluring way as it left only the outlines of her body visible. Her hair was pulled up, dishevelled slightly at the back, giving an aura of organized freedom. She turned her head towards the camera, and recognition hit Luke so hard it was like being punched by the Force.
It was Mara, green eyes blazing, head high as she stood on the right side of the Emperorm chatting away. On her forehead Luke could see the turqoise, dewdrop-shaped jewel Mara had worn to the council meeting days earlier. It was Mara, from head to toe, and Luke couldn't tear his eyes of her.
Every turn of hand was coordinated, every twist of hair revealed a military training. She hadn't even bothered to try and conceal the blaster in her belt, nor the shape of a large dagger against her ankle. A necklace of black, star-shaped pearls adorned her neck.
There was no doubt of her stature, as noone else aside from some high- ranking officials were even allowed to approach the hunched ruler seated on the throne.
The Emperor's Hand.
How much was there left in Mara of this cruel creature that decorated the throne room dais at her Master's pleasure?
Feeling disoriented, Mara gazed around for the Jedi Master, and found him seeted on a tree stock.
"Were those possible futures?" Mara asked, slightly confused by the maelstrom of incomprehansible pictures that had just rummaged her brain.
"The future it was. Not possible but absolute."
Mara's eyes widened. "You mean this will all happen?"
Yoda nodded slightly. "If continue on this path you will."
"You mean finding out who I was?"
Yoda nodded seriously, and added, "And ways part with Luke will you not."
How could she ever have doubted Luke for a second? What she'd seen made it crystal clear. She had to stop moaning and set her mind to this.
"But I've no idea what to do, now that there isn't much to start with," Mara said.
Master Yoda's eyes gleamed with resolution. "Think you must first before doing. The man you look for will not answer. Go you must where the last chance would be."
So she should have gone to Bastion herself after all. Yoda's encouraging smile confirmed that it was the right place. Imperial Intelligence headquarters. Of course.
And Isard.
"But haste you must be," the Jedi Master hurried to add.
Mara shot him a glance. "And why is that? She asked.
"I see much danger. Safe your friends are not."
Was he talking about Han and Lando? Or Luke? Mara twirled up an interpretation. "So you're saying that I should hurry to Bastion, get a hold of my real files or anything equally waterproof and then sprint to Coruscant because Luke's hand needs holding?" She could not imagine Luke being in any kind of real danger from the Senate.
Yoda's glance was reprimanding. "Guess you must not. Do what you must, yes." The phantom was already fading.
"Master Yoda?" Mara asked, not wanting to let him go just yet. On the other hand, Jedi Masters seldom obeyed orders.
But there was one more thing. "Master Yoda!" she almost shrieked, and the glowing figure steadied again, still disturbingly semi-transparent. "Yes, Mara Jade?" Yoda asked without any hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Why did you... Why did you appear to me? And why haven't you appeared to Luke at all?"
"Bound to this place I am. Elsewhere appear I can not as one with the Force I have become. Much Force here, as you have felt," Yoda eyed her with a hint of sadness in his old eyes. "As for Luke. Full Jedi Knight he is."
"And I'm not?" Mara said pensively, but she knew the answer. Even though she'd gained some more abilities in Nirauan, there still was much shrouded.
"In need of guidance you are not. But things face you must. Old things much chagrined over." Having said this, Master Yoda disappeared, leaving Mara alone in the darkness.
Alone, but more resolute than ever. She packed away her survival kit and returned to the Ice, not even bothering to wait until the morning to start up the engines.
After she'd tackled the canopy with a vengeance, she awarded the planet one more glance, then grabbed the comm relay and searched out Leia's private number from the comp. She answered quickly - she'd probably just been talking to someone.
"Mara?" she asked, and through the Force her relief was palpable.
"How are things?" Mara asked, a sudden wave of sadness creeping up on her. Despite the encouraging things Master Yoda had had to say the core of his message had been that they were all deep in carbonite. Again.
"Slow. Luke's met Gavrisom and he's delaying any Council meets, buying us time. It's all over the news, but not as bad as you could imagine. Luke's kept himself busy." The unspoken question lingered, had Mara?
For once Mara was glad she was off the capital. "Likewise. Slow, but there are a few leads I can follow." She decided not to tell Leia where she was headed.
"That's not what I meant, Mara."
Mara cursed silently. She was nothing having an emotional conversation before she could get some sleep. "Has Han gotten home yet?"
Leia seemed puzzled. "I haven't heard from him. I was hoping you'd had, after he told me you'd met on Mantell."
Alarms flashed in Mara's head. "He was supposed to call you up this morning. I talked to him at nine standards. He and Lando were picking up some spares, restacking. Sith, you'd better check the Falcon's tracing signal." Unsure whether Leia knew her husband and Lando had been running errand for her in Bastion, of all places, Mara decided not to mention the place.
"Bye, Mara," Leia said and cut off short, obviously hurrying to check what Mara'd suggested.
************************************************'
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