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)
Luke reached the Great Hall just in time to see Amarice attacking the Sith, full of determination. She even managed to force the Sith to retreat a few steps.
The calm darkness of Mondian's power nearly overwhelmed Luke as she sensed his presense, but Amarice did not seem to be the least bit of taken down. She sensed Luke also. Joy and relief flowed into his mind from his student.
Suddenly the Sith stopped moving her lightsabre, turning her back on Amarice, her power growing. Amarice mistook this for a chance to strike her down, but when she tried to move closer, something threw her back like a magnetic field.
It surrounded the Sith, rippling with energy, a Force-created shield unlike Luke had ever experienced. He pulled his lightsabre as the woman began to walk closer.
To Mondian Amarice was no longer nothing but a distraction. Dividing her attention between her and Skywalker, she grabbed Amarice's lightsabre through the Force, and levitated it to her left hand. Amarice was left standing, weaponless near the fallen Kyp.
Luke made his first sweep as the Sith danced closer, the ominous presence in Luke's mind growing stronger. The woman was taking down the barricades of his mind, releasing his despair, his fear. Luke faltered as the feeling became overwhelming. How could Amarice have battled this Sith, this evil, for so long, her mind calm and peaceful as though this dark presence could not touch her at all?
She attacked, a lightsabre in both hands. Amarice had ran to the side to check on Kyp, as there was nothing that she could do, weaponless as she was, to help her teacher.
Luke concentrated all his strenght and countered the Sith's round sweep and the following low downwards strike with the other lightsabre, sweat already running down his forehead. She was strong, aided by the Force.
Then, suddenly like lightning from a clear sky, she shut down her both sabres, just as Luke was running towards her, in attack. She raised her hand, slender fingers pointed towards the roof, and lifted Luke up into the air before he could remember any possible means of countering. Hovering him over her head, she began invading his mind again, manipulating his neural ends, making him twist in agony as his sense of pain kicked into action. His every cell screamed out in pain and his muscles stopped functioning. His whole body writhed in more pain than he'd ever experienced, screaming as he fell on the stone floor, paralyzed from his suffering.
Suddenly he couldn't breathe. All air and oxygen were evading his body. Sensing his pain, Amarice was trying to levitate one of the lightsabres towards the Sith, but the woman simply erected her vacant hand, and banged her out of the Hall, pinning her into a corridor wall.
Luke, gasping for air, reached out to the Force with the last of his strenght, and called out for help. She was far too strong in comparison to him. As she tried to silence his call in the Force, her concentration failed, and she didn't notice another presence lurking into the Great Hall until it was right behind her.
Mara Jade. She turned, letting go of her grip on Luke. He could breathe again, but his legs refused to move, still disarrayed on the attack on his nervous system.
Mara stood, lightsabre trained.
The Sith waited, as if relishing the situation. "We finally meet, Jade."
"I'm such a celebrity," Mara spat out, and swept her sabre in the air. Luke pushed himself into sitting position. If he couldn't fight he could perhaps at least help Mara now that the Sith's rage was no longer focused on him.
"Betraying your Master can be a fame-inducing action."
"He was never my Master. Not in the way in which he was yours. And by the looks of it, you weren't good enough for him."
"You'll die for that, Jade," the Sith spat out. Luke knew Mara's tongue was sharper than a vibroknife, but he was suprised that she could so easily upset the Darksider.
"Oh, we'll see about that," Mara mused, and the Sith's rage seemed to grow. She tried to invade Mara's mind as she had Luke's but Mara's barriers held better. Luke did not wonder why - they'd tried working on them with Mara. It was the one blessing in disguise the Emperor had given Mara as a parting gift - damaged her openness and long-term memory.
Mara shot him a worried glance past the Sith. "You alright?" she yelled.
"Don't worry," he managed to whisper and grimace, and by the looks of it Mara had heard him. He wouldn't let despair overcome him. Mara wasn't as strong as he was, in neither Force nor traditional sense, but she was more stubborn.
The Sith had reclaimed her two lightsabres, and begun an attack on Mara.
Mara held her stance, and managed to keep her back. They fought for several minutes, both delivering fatal and accuarte blows, and Luke could do nothing but watch. The Sith was quicker, but Mara was more accurate even though she received less help from the Force than her counterpart. But soon Luke could feel her getting tired, just as the Sith seemed to gain in power and strenght.
Mara barely managed to parry the next sweeps. Two lightsabres against one was proving difficult.
Suddenly the Sith rose from the ground, expanding her possibilities of attacking angles. Mara's block failed, and she stumbled back, unable to keep up with her airborne assailant. Luke knew Mara was not equally skilled in levitation.
Then the thought struck him. Mara wasn't but he was. Gently as if lifting up a pebble, he concentrated, and Maraäs eyes went wide as she was suddenly airborne as well. Luke! she wailed in the Force, feeling unsteady as Luke floated her away from the Sith.
You tell me where you want to go and I'll take you, the weary but strong voice of her lover whispered into her.
And Mara did as told, reaching out to the Force. Mondian's attention shifted from her to Luke to perform another assault on his mind, but Mara was already pushing her into parry, attacking from three feet above her, using velocity as a means of gaining speed.
The Sith evaded, but Mara was faster. She drove Mondian around the hall and she was forced to back out again as Mara, helped by Luke, spun around and flung her sabre with all her might. It crashed into Mondian's lefthand sabre so hard it flew out of her hand adn clattered several feet into the floor.
Her fury went over the edge. She tried to grab Mara from Skywalker's firm Force grip, but instead Mara managed to push her just a little with her own mind, and at the same time sweep her sabre across the throat as Mondian's attention failed her.
The Sith fell, half-decapitated and screaming, the Force storming as she tried to tore Mara from it. She had always known that no Jedi could defeat her, but she hadn't quite anticipated being taken down by two of them joined together like one mind.
Garia Mondian hit the floor, her immense Force presence slowly fading away as all life left her body.
Out in space, the Imperial fleet suddenly disarrayed in chaos as the mind directing them was suddenly gone. It was not long before the New Republic fleet began to prevail. Pellaeon was forced to admit defeat after witnessing the horrific scene playing right in front of his eyes: pilots, abandoned by their mental guide went flying took insane vectors through suicidal curves and several crashed into other Imperial ships. He called for retreat.
Outside the Great Temple on Yavin IV, the first New Republic ground carriers were landing, as lead by the Millennium Falcon.
Mara, who'd also landed hard on the floor as Luke's strenght had run out the minute he'd witnessed the Sith's defeat, spared no more thoughts to the dead Darksider. Instead, she hurried to Luke, kneeling beside him, cradling his head in her arms. Luke was now unconscious, injured and drained of energy. But in her mind and her heart, mara felt his presence in the Force, strong as her own was. They were still linked. Mara leaned her head on the warm stone wall of the temple, and let tiredness wash over as the first sounds of battle began to sound outside the temple. She could feel Amarice fighting for her life as she'd almost been caught by the Imperial troops after Mondian's attack on her.
It was over. She had defeated an enemy she never knew she had, with Luke's help and her own skills. She felt different - as though her Force connection had strenghtened somehow. When she'd touched ground on Yavin some hours earlier she had felt every Jedi on the planet, their presences forming a web in her mind. Before she had only been connected to Luke and that connection still remained the deepest, the most perfect, but now there were new links that connected her to the other Jedi Knights. Remembering Master Yoda's words, she knew now. This had been her last test.
She was now a full Jedi Knight and her past did not matter anymore. Not to her, not to the Senate now as she'd both proven herself and revealed the true identity of the greatest sceptic of her and Luke's right for a life together.
Mara closed her eyes, exhausted but at perfect peace, for the first time in her life.
************************************************'
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)
Luke reached the Great Hall just in time to see Amarice attacking the Sith, full of determination. She even managed to force the Sith to retreat a few steps.
The calm darkness of Mondian's power nearly overwhelmed Luke as she sensed his presense, but Amarice did not seem to be the least bit of taken down. She sensed Luke also. Joy and relief flowed into his mind from his student.
Suddenly the Sith stopped moving her lightsabre, turning her back on Amarice, her power growing. Amarice mistook this for a chance to strike her down, but when she tried to move closer, something threw her back like a magnetic field.
It surrounded the Sith, rippling with energy, a Force-created shield unlike Luke had ever experienced. He pulled his lightsabre as the woman began to walk closer.
To Mondian Amarice was no longer nothing but a distraction. Dividing her attention between her and Skywalker, she grabbed Amarice's lightsabre through the Force, and levitated it to her left hand. Amarice was left standing, weaponless near the fallen Kyp.
Luke made his first sweep as the Sith danced closer, the ominous presence in Luke's mind growing stronger. The woman was taking down the barricades of his mind, releasing his despair, his fear. Luke faltered as the feeling became overwhelming. How could Amarice have battled this Sith, this evil, for so long, her mind calm and peaceful as though this dark presence could not touch her at all?
She attacked, a lightsabre in both hands. Amarice had ran to the side to check on Kyp, as there was nothing that she could do, weaponless as she was, to help her teacher.
Luke concentrated all his strenght and countered the Sith's round sweep and the following low downwards strike with the other lightsabre, sweat already running down his forehead. She was strong, aided by the Force.
Then, suddenly like lightning from a clear sky, she shut down her both sabres, just as Luke was running towards her, in attack. She raised her hand, slender fingers pointed towards the roof, and lifted Luke up into the air before he could remember any possible means of countering. Hovering him over her head, she began invading his mind again, manipulating his neural ends, making him twist in agony as his sense of pain kicked into action. His every cell screamed out in pain and his muscles stopped functioning. His whole body writhed in more pain than he'd ever experienced, screaming as he fell on the stone floor, paralyzed from his suffering.
Suddenly he couldn't breathe. All air and oxygen were evading his body. Sensing his pain, Amarice was trying to levitate one of the lightsabres towards the Sith, but the woman simply erected her vacant hand, and banged her out of the Hall, pinning her into a corridor wall.
Luke, gasping for air, reached out to the Force with the last of his strenght, and called out for help. She was far too strong in comparison to him. As she tried to silence his call in the Force, her concentration failed, and she didn't notice another presence lurking into the Great Hall until it was right behind her.
Mara Jade. She turned, letting go of her grip on Luke. He could breathe again, but his legs refused to move, still disarrayed on the attack on his nervous system.
Mara stood, lightsabre trained.
The Sith waited, as if relishing the situation. "We finally meet, Jade."
"I'm such a celebrity," Mara spat out, and swept her sabre in the air. Luke pushed himself into sitting position. If he couldn't fight he could perhaps at least help Mara now that the Sith's rage was no longer focused on him.
"Betraying your Master can be a fame-inducing action."
"He was never my Master. Not in the way in which he was yours. And by the looks of it, you weren't good enough for him."
"You'll die for that, Jade," the Sith spat out. Luke knew Mara's tongue was sharper than a vibroknife, but he was suprised that she could so easily upset the Darksider.
"Oh, we'll see about that," Mara mused, and the Sith's rage seemed to grow. She tried to invade Mara's mind as she had Luke's but Mara's barriers held better. Luke did not wonder why - they'd tried working on them with Mara. It was the one blessing in disguise the Emperor had given Mara as a parting gift - damaged her openness and long-term memory.
Mara shot him a worried glance past the Sith. "You alright?" she yelled.
"Don't worry," he managed to whisper and grimace, and by the looks of it Mara had heard him. He wouldn't let despair overcome him. Mara wasn't as strong as he was, in neither Force nor traditional sense, but she was more stubborn.
The Sith had reclaimed her two lightsabres, and begun an attack on Mara.
Mara held her stance, and managed to keep her back. They fought for several minutes, both delivering fatal and accuarte blows, and Luke could do nothing but watch. The Sith was quicker, but Mara was more accurate even though she received less help from the Force than her counterpart. But soon Luke could feel her getting tired, just as the Sith seemed to gain in power and strenght.
Mara barely managed to parry the next sweeps. Two lightsabres against one was proving difficult.
Suddenly the Sith rose from the ground, expanding her possibilities of attacking angles. Mara's block failed, and she stumbled back, unable to keep up with her airborne assailant. Luke knew Mara was not equally skilled in levitation.
Then the thought struck him. Mara wasn't but he was. Gently as if lifting up a pebble, he concentrated, and Maraäs eyes went wide as she was suddenly airborne as well. Luke! she wailed in the Force, feeling unsteady as Luke floated her away from the Sith.
You tell me where you want to go and I'll take you, the weary but strong voice of her lover whispered into her.
And Mara did as told, reaching out to the Force. Mondian's attention shifted from her to Luke to perform another assault on his mind, but Mara was already pushing her into parry, attacking from three feet above her, using velocity as a means of gaining speed.
The Sith evaded, but Mara was faster. She drove Mondian around the hall and she was forced to back out again as Mara, helped by Luke, spun around and flung her sabre with all her might. It crashed into Mondian's lefthand sabre so hard it flew out of her hand adn clattered several feet into the floor.
Her fury went over the edge. She tried to grab Mara from Skywalker's firm Force grip, but instead Mara managed to push her just a little with her own mind, and at the same time sweep her sabre across the throat as Mondian's attention failed her.
The Sith fell, half-decapitated and screaming, the Force storming as she tried to tore Mara from it. She had always known that no Jedi could defeat her, but she hadn't quite anticipated being taken down by two of them joined together like one mind.
Garia Mondian hit the floor, her immense Force presence slowly fading away as all life left her body.
Out in space, the Imperial fleet suddenly disarrayed in chaos as the mind directing them was suddenly gone. It was not long before the New Republic fleet began to prevail. Pellaeon was forced to admit defeat after witnessing the horrific scene playing right in front of his eyes: pilots, abandoned by their mental guide went flying took insane vectors through suicidal curves and several crashed into other Imperial ships. He called for retreat.
Outside the Great Temple on Yavin IV, the first New Republic ground carriers were landing, as lead by the Millennium Falcon.
Mara, who'd also landed hard on the floor as Luke's strenght had run out the minute he'd witnessed the Sith's defeat, spared no more thoughts to the dead Darksider. Instead, she hurried to Luke, kneeling beside him, cradling his head in her arms. Luke was now unconscious, injured and drained of energy. But in her mind and her heart, mara felt his presence in the Force, strong as her own was. They were still linked. Mara leaned her head on the warm stone wall of the temple, and let tiredness wash over as the first sounds of battle began to sound outside the temple. She could feel Amarice fighting for her life as she'd almost been caught by the Imperial troops after Mondian's attack on her.
It was over. She had defeated an enemy she never knew she had, with Luke's help and her own skills. She felt different - as though her Force connection had strenghtened somehow. When she'd touched ground on Yavin some hours earlier she had felt every Jedi on the planet, their presences forming a web in her mind. Before she had only been connected to Luke and that connection still remained the deepest, the most perfect, but now there were new links that connected her to the other Jedi Knights. Remembering Master Yoda's words, she knew now. This had been her last test.
She was now a full Jedi Knight and her past did not matter anymore. Not to her, not to the Senate now as she'd both proven herself and revealed the true identity of the greatest sceptic of her and Luke's right for a life together.
Mara closed her eyes, exhausted but at perfect peace, for the first time in her life.
************************************************'
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