You're about to read 'Doomed Love,' the first part of a fanfic series, "A Jedi's Lovechild." Romance blooms at the Yavin academy, but it ends in tragedy and two young children are left orphans.
This series is purely fanfic, but is still loosely based on past events from my now-defunct novel, "New Allies." All of my little fanfic series are. That's why they're all grouped together as "The Kadarinadh Chronicles." All of the stories in these chronicles relate to a single character creation of mine, Grand Admiral Kadarinadh Daragon. She doesn't come into play until much later in this series so I won't spoil it any more for you.
Disclaimer (i.e., you can stop reading this now and read my story):
All of these characters were created by other authors. None of them (yet) are mine, although I have severely changed their current histories and personalities. George Lucas owns everything Star Wars; I am getting nothing in return for writing this except personal satisfaction; feel free to distribute this as you wish as long as my name stays on it somewhere.
This story begins one year after Crystal Star. It spoils that and almost anything else chronologically before it. It ignores everything after.
Without further ado, I present to you:
Doomed Love
Day 4 (Yes, yes, just keep reading. You'll get it soon enough.)
In space above Yavin VIII
"Come on, Luke," she taunted. "Can't you turn off that damned Jedi control and throw away your celibacy for once?"
"I am not celibate!" he corrected. The woman in front of him smiled and placed her hands on the waist of her lacy, black lingerie. That action pulled the bodice of the outfit down slightly, giving him a better view of her ample breasts.
He was instantly aroused, but instead of clamping down on his passion, he let it run free. Maybe, just this once, nothing would go wrong if he gave in to his desires.
As if in conjunction with his thoughts, he heard a tiny voice in his head. "Go for it, you farmboy! Act like a flesh and blood man for once in your life!"
He gave in to his passion and obeyed the orders of the voice.
He pulled the woman closer to him and kissed her fiercely. Astonished, she made no move until his tongue teased her lips. Then she opened her mouth willingly and teased him back. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him full-force. His tongue stroked hers, tasting her apple sweetness.
"Luke," she moaned when he let her up for air.
"Darling," he breathed. He kissed her again. As their tongues danced an intricate tango, their roving hands stripped each other's clothes away. His boots were the first to go as he led her to her quarters. A few steps from the door he tore away her hair clasp. Her silky tresses fell down her back in long waves.
He backed her up to the bed, and she scrambled onto it, kissing him ardently. He assisted her in removing his shirt, then paused to take off the remainder of his clothes. Naked, he climbed onto the bed with her. His hands found a zipper that aided in the removal of her negligee. He kissed her neck.
His lips trailed down her torso, following the path of his hands as he slid the straps off her shoulders and pulled the negligee off of her. He laid next to her and spread her legs apart, slightly. His left hand caressed the inside of her left leg from calf to thigh and back down to the knee. She gasped and shivered at his touch. He propped himself up on his right elbow and watched her face as his hand slid along her inner thigh, moving closer and closer to that paradise below her hips.
The closer he got to her womanhood, the louder she moaned. Finally, he put his hand right up next to her clitoris. Positioning his fingers on either side, he slowly and deliberately stroked downward. His actions had the desired effect. She moaned and arched her back, trying to get more of his hand inside of her. He continued stroking her slowly, as she writhed and wriggled beneath him.
Her moans grew louder and louder and her hands grasped the sheets tightly. She alternately clamped her legs shut around his hand or quickened the sensations by bucking her hips faster and faster to meet her demands for satisfaction. Sometimes she did both.
After one such incident, her back was high off the bed. He brought his free hand beneath her and kept her up in the air, stroking her clitoris, now wet with her passion, constantly. His right hand moved from under the small of her back down to her shapely buttocks, and he caressed her bottom. Thus supporting her, he lowered his head and gently kissed the breast closest to him. She cried out in ecstasy.
He took in a mouthful of copious flesh. One of her hands dug into his thinning hair, pinning his head down. To release the pressure of her hand, he nibbled, licked, poked, and prodded her nipple. She screamed with pleasure, "Oh gods! Yes! Please, please! Oh yes, yes, oh, yes!"
He smiled and moved to her other breast, intending to repeat the procedure on it. She caught his face in her hands, and lifted it to look into his light blue eyes. He stared at eyes that were the greenest he'd ever seen them. She kissed him deeply, longingly.
He abandoned his stroking and laid on top of her. Her bucking hips sought out his manhood. Erect, straight and hard, it was easy to find. She spread her legs wide and drove her hips upward, spearing herself on his manhood. The strokes of his tongue matched the deep, powerful thrusts of his hips. He thrust faster and harder, no longer wanting to tease her.
Her fingernails dug into his back and she clung to him. Waves of pain and incredible passion were rolling over her as he made love to her, leaving her senseless and dazed. They thrust together wildly, letting their passion lead them to a height of ecstasy. With one final thrust and crying out, "Mara," he buried himself full to the hilt inside of her.
Remaining within her paradise, he propped himself up and locked his elbows. He stared deep into her green eyes. She stared back, and both seemed to ask themselves, 'How the hell did we get this far?'
Day 1 (See what I mean?)
Yavin IV
As the Falcon landed in the meadow in front of the Great Temple, Luke waited eagerly by the ramp. From the cockpit, he'd seen a new ship, bigger than the Falcon, standing on the makeshift landing pad. He was always excited to have new students.
The Falcon touched down and Luke lowered the ramp. He, Han, Leia, and Chewie had just gotten back from a diplomatic trip. A little less than a year ago, Leia's children had been kidnapped. Over the ensuing two months, she had searched for them with the help of a Firrereo humanoid, Rillao. She, Luke, Han, Chewie, and Rillao had spent the next eight months returning other kidnapped children to their families. The last month was spent on Coruscant, trying to heal the barrier between Rillao and her son, Tigris. The foursome had left for the Yavin moon when satisfied that the Firrere would be fine. Luke stepped off Han's beloved freighter and wandered over to the new ship. He stared admiringly at the sleek curves and graceful lines. He circled around the back, and stopped at the entrance ramp and read the name of the beautiful freighter before him. The Jade's Fire.
"She's a beauty, isn't she," her owner said from behind him. He turned as Mara came and stood next to him.
"Yes, she is," he replied. "What brings you to Yavin, Mara?"
"A surprise for you. It's inside." She lowered the ramp and led him on a tour of her new ship. They paused at the living quarters and she took out a small green cube. "This is one half of your surprise. It's a Holocron of a woman named Jori Daragon." She gave him the cube. He thanked her and tucked it away. "The other half," she resumed, "is in there." She pointed to a door offset from the main hallway. She continued back towards the captain's quarters.
He opened the door and found himself in a guest suite. It was decorated in soft shades of red and orange. Its occupant said, "Hello, Luke."
"Callie?"
"Come, sit down," she begged, motioning to a chair nearby. "We have to talk."
He kept silent, not trusting his voice. Something in the way she spoke and in her face betrayed a sadness in her spirit. They sat and she began. "Luke, I've come here to let you go. I've done a lot of thinking in the past two years, and I've realized that I've changed. I want different things now, things that you just can't give me. That's why I came in person to tell you I won't be coming back to you. I couldn't let you know any other way. I'm sorry, Luke."
"No it's for the best," he found himself saying. "You need to find someone, settle down. Me, I have to keep saving the galaxy. I'm glad you told me." He smiled to let her know he was all right with the situation, even if, in truth, he wasn't.
"Do you mind," she asked, "if I find some quarters in the Temple?"
"No, go ahead." Something flickered at the edge of his conscious. "I'll be there shortly to help. I think Mara - excuse me, Captain Jade - wants me to help unload her cargo bay. I just hope she's brought us new medical supplies."
Callie laughed, picked up an overnight bag, and left. Luke wandered to the bridge, where Mara was shutting down the lights. "Oh good, you heard me," she said without turning. "I thought for sure you were going to kill her or something."
"Or something," he muttered. "You knew?"
"She told me on the way here," Mara replied. She flipped a switch on the arm of the captain's chair. The lights winked out save for two near the doorway and one directly above the chair. She stood by the chair for a few moments before coming to join him. Slowly, tentatively, she put a hand on his shoulder.
He turned and accepted her offered embrace. He put his head on her shoulder. Though slightly smaller than he, their shoulders were at about the same height. He cried to release the grief of losing Callie's powers, to signify the end of one part of his life, and to acknowledge that he was a free man. Finally, he dried his tears and pulled away. "Thank you, Mara."
She nodded and held his hands in her own. She compared them to each other. His left hand was tan, callused, and strong. His cybernetic hand was pale and smooth, but equally strong.
She dropped his hands and led him to the exit ramp. Halfway down, he turned back. "The four of us are having dinner on the Falcon tonight. You're welcome to join us, if you like."
"I'll bring Callie," she replied. He nodded and left.
Later that night:
"Luke," Leia asked, "are you sure you're all right with Callie coming over for dinner?"
"Yes, Leia, I'll be fine."
"Hey, Luke," Han called. "Did Mara give you a tour of the Jade's Fire?"
"Yeah, she did," he replied. "That ship is great. You should see her bridge, Han. You'd go nuts."
"Oh yeah? Sounds great," he called back.
The ramp bell chimed. "I'll get it," Luke called. He straightened his tunic and let the boarding ramp down. "Good evening, ladies. Come on in." He gave Mara a kiss on the cheek and hugged Callie. He'd invited Mara; she'd merely brought Callie along. He took Mara's flight jacket and Callie's shawl. He escorted them to the living area, where a table had been set.
Leia was arranging plates on the table when the trio entered the room. Leia gave Luke and Callie a hug and greeted Mara sincerely.
Han came in and repeated the greeting. He announced that dinner would be ready in five minutes and started pouring some drinks. Callie sat between Luke and Leia, and Mara sat on Luke's other side.
During the meal, Luke flipped expertly between the two conversations on either side of him. He, Han, and Mara talked about her new ship; he, Leia, and Callie talked of her home. At the end of the night, Luke escorted the two ladies back to their respective rooms. At the Jade's Fire, he and Mara made plans to exercise together in the morning. He led Callie to her room in the Temple.
While walking back to his own quarters, he thought about their talk earlier. He hadn't seen her for two years, but that was at a distance. Now she was here. The last time he'd seen her, she'd said good-bye. He'd understood that they were at the end of their road together, and that his, for a time, would be a solitary one. But he was glad she'd come back in person to tell him she didn't love him anymore. She probably still cared for him, and probably always would.
By the time he reached his room, his head was spinning. He made a cup of hot chocolate, showered, then went to bed. In the morning Mara was going to give him a run for his money.
Day 2
Luke ran through the woods for his life. He was two meters ahead of Mara and hadn't use the Force once. He broke through the trees and ran for the Temple of the Blueleaf Cluster. The sight of his goal gave him an extra burst of speed and he ran up the temple stairs a full six meters ahead of her.
He turned and grinned at her. "I won," he said simply, breathing heavily.
"Yes, you did," she conceded, panting. "But you'll never do it again."
"Can I take this thing off now," he asked, pointing to the ysalimir strapped to his back.
"Yep." She watched as he dropped it unceremoniously on the stairs and walked several meters away. He straightened up almost instantly as the Force came flooding back to him. She laughed and gently placed her own nutrient frame next to his. As she joined him, she inquired, "How did you manage all that speed?"
He grinned wickedly at her. "Trade secret," he said devilishly.
"Ha! You have no secrets. Tell me," she demanded, tickling his stomach.
"Okay, okay," he said, still smiling from ear to ear. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, spoke a short word. He let go of his breath and shook his upper body from side to side. When he was still again, he'd physically changed.
He'd grown six centimeters, for starters. His muscles, instead of the compact ones of an athlete, were the bristling ones of a body-builder. His chest alone was huge. He remarked, "I work out."
That made her laugh. Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, Rogue Squadron founder, and farmboy, was a hunk. "Do you pose for holovids," she teased.
He burst out laughing. She didn't know the half of it. He reached into his tunic and pulled out a stack of holoframes. He shuffled through them for her. While all the first ones were decent, there was one he didn't want her to see.
Mara looked at them, amused interest mingled with shock. She'd hit the mark. Luke, in his heavily muscled body and wearing a wig and spectacles, was shown shirtless in many of the holoframes. His sculpted chest and arms were shown off to all their glorious advantage. Then he paused at one, his thumb covering the lower portion of the picture. She knew instantly what he was hiding. "Oh, come on, let me see it. What are you afraid of?"
"Mara, I should warn you," he began, "it's not a very pretty picture." She snatched it from him anyway. She hooted at his slightly red face.
"When was this taken?"
"When I was sleeping, can't you tell?" he fired back sarcastically. In the picture, he was lying in bed, tangled in the sheets. He wore only a short-sleeved shirt, and his butt peeked out from beneath the sheets.
**Author's note: If any of you have seen the net picture, "Let Sleeping Jedi Lie," you can imagine this particular holoshot.**
"That's not what I meant," she retorted.
"I know," he grinned again. "This was taken about a year and a half ago. Some friends of mine caught me asleep and snapped a picture. Needless to say, I never slept in the nude after that."
"Some friends," she smiled. "What would Leia say if she saw these?"
"Don't!" He was deadly serious. "She doesn't know about this. If she ever found out, it would kill her. She really frowns upon this sort of thing. Although I haven't done any of this in years, she'd be devastated that I ever did them at all. I don't want her to be disappointed in me if she doesn't need to be. Promise me you won't tell her."
"I promise," she said softly. She gave him back the holoframes. "Race you back," she yelled as she broke off at a jog. She picked up her nutrient frame and ran for the forest.
"Oh, no you don't, you wench!" He raced after her, almost a full minute behind her.
Mara disposed of the ysalimiri while Luke went to teach his students. He waved at Leia and Callie, who were talking by the Falcon. They waved back and resumed their conversation.
"So tell me," Leia said, "is this young man a nice fellow?"
"Yes, he is," she replied. "He's a very good man, though not as good as Luke."
"There isn't a man as good as Luke anywhere in the galaxy. Even Luke's not as good as everyone thinks. Tell me about Chad," Leia requested.
Callie's family had accepted her quite readily, believing her to be Callista's daughter. Callie described her family in detail, then moved on to her homeworld.
They talked for hours, then broke for lunch. Afterwards, they observed the Jedi students and played with Leia's children. Leia commented that Callie was a natural with kids. "I only hope I'm this natural with my own," was the reply.
"You will be. I know it," Leia assured her.
That night, they all dined on the Falcon again. Luke pitched in this time, and made a special seasoning for the steak and "Aunt Beru's" chocolate sand pie. Han promised to keep silent about Luke's cooking skills until after dinner was over, and served the food to his famished guests.
He said, "Try the steak," and they all started eating.
Everyone commented on the seasoning, but Mara couldn't get enough of it. It was the best steak she'd ever had, so she said repeatedly.
Even Luke paid a neutral compliment to his brother-in-law. "Everything tastes great, Han."
"Han," Mara asked, "what did you do to this steak?"
"I'll tell you before dessert," he answered cryptically.
Luke stood, carrying his empty plate. "Why don't you tell them now, Han, while I go get it?" He left without further delay.
But Han refused. He wanted Luke to see Leia's and Mara's faces. When Luke came back, carrying his Aunt Beru's recipe, Han blurted out, "The steak was prepared with a special seasoning made by our farmboy, here." Han paused as the heads turned toward Luke. "The master chef also made pie."
Luke was glad that Han had decided to wait. Leia's face was a mixture of shock, wonder, and pride. But Mara's look was priceless. Her mouth hung open almost to her chest and her eyes were riveted on him. She finally choked out a witty compliment, "Skywalker, you just sealed your doom. While it's true that all bachelors can cook, the ones that cook best are bachelors longest."
"So that's why he isn't married yet," Han exclaimed. "Kid, stop cooking and forget everything you ever learned!"
Luke laughed and served Mara a piece of pie.
After dessert, everyone was tired, which was a product of the pie. It was filling and deeply satisfying. Leia escorted Callie back to the Temple, and Luke joined Mara in her walk back to the Jade's Fire.
They walked in silence until they reached her ship. She finally said, "Dinner was wonderful, Luke. You really are a good cook."
Luke, surprised that she had used his first name, could only say, "Well, Han was the cook. I only threw some spice on the meat."
"But you did bake that pie. It was delicious."
"I'm glad you thought so," he said, touched by her compliment.
She stepped onto the ramp, then turned back. "Will you have breakfast with me tomorrow?"
"Yes," he replied without thinking.
She beamed. "Good. I'd love for you to hear a prophecy in that Holocron that I found."
"It's a deal," he replied. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Stunned, he stared at her as she turned to enter the ship. He said, "Wait," wanting to know why she'd kissed him. He grasped her hand and spun her around. She stumbled off the ramp and into his arms. She looked up into his stunning blue eyes. They radiated power and warmth, alternating between the two.
Staring into her deep green eyes, he kissed her. She closed her eyes and savored the feel of his lips on hers. She wound her arms around his shoulders. He lifted her straight up and kissed her for dear life. At last, she pulled her head up and said, "It's getting late, and we both need our sleep."
He set her down, but didn't let go just yet. He stared into her eyes for a long time. She was afraid he was going to kiss her again, and she knew she wouldn't be able to control herself the second time around. He finally said, "Good night, Mara," and released her. He was shaking uncontrollably as he made his way back to the Temple. She herself was quivering with heightened passion.
As they slept that night, he in his room and she on the Jade's Fire, both could think of nothing but that kiss. Mara found herself wondering what it would be like to feel those sculpted muscles under her bare hands. Luke couldn't stop thinking that he needed to do something for her, something to make it up to her. He racked his brain for a solution. Then it came to him. Dinner. He would cook for her. That was acceptable. He turned on his side and went to sleep.
Day 3
In the morning they ate breakfast together in the Temple's mess hall. Afterwards, they went to his office and she showed him the entry in the Holocron she'd wanted him to see. It was indeed an oddity.
While most of the entries were about the life of Jori Daragon and her brother, Gav, there were also lessons that were valuable. Mara laughed whenever the Holocron preached that a Jedi should never deny themselves the Force. But one prophecy caught their attention.
"One day, many years hence, a brother and sister descended from Gav and I will redeem us. These Daragons will use the Force every day, nearly every moment. They will be revered for their powers, and loved because they are Jedi. They will come, teaching the ancient ways of Nikamia Jedile, Astrid and Tadine. They will be gladly welcomed into a new and growing tradition." Jori Daragon finished and disappeared.
Luke stared into space before turning to Mara. "Interesting prophecy," he commented.
"That's one of the reasons I picked it up for you," she acknowledged. They were silent for a few minutes.
Luke finally found courage to talk about what he'd done the night before. "Look, Mara," he began, "about that kiss last night- No, let me finish," he stopped her interruption. "I wanted to make it up to you. How about I cook dinner for you tonight on the Jade's Fire?"
"Just for me?"
"Just for you. What would you like?"
"Oh, I don't care," she replied. "Could you make something as good as that steak?"
"I can make lots of things." He perked up as a thought entered his mind. "I know. I'll make grilled woolamander and fruit pie."
"Sounds good. Is 1930 a good time?"
"Yes, I'll see you then." She left his office and went back to her ship.
The next few hours were routine for Luke. He gave a morning lecture to his students and presided over the lessons of the beginners. He and Leia had a quiet lunch together atop the Great Temple. He showed her the Holocron, and explained how he'd gotten it. She asked where Mara found it. He told her he didn't know, and that he didn't really want to ask. When they finished their lunch, he set out to catch dinner.
At 1830, he gathered all the materials together for both dinner and dessert, then transferred them to the Jade's Fire. He locked Mara in her quarters and started cooking.
While Luke banged around at her cooking unit, Mara showered and changed into an evening gown of pale green. With thigh-high slits, a scallop-cut neckline and a wide open back, it had a stunning effect. As she waited for Luke to finish, she admired her reflection. She hadn't gotten this dressed up since- She paused. Why was she dressing up for Luke Skywalker?
Before she could change into something else, the Jedi came and unlocked the door. He, too, looked stunning. A custom-cut Harkin tuxedo suit showed off his muscular proportions. He stood just outside the door, admiring her outfit. Finally he said, "Dinner's ready. You look wonderful."
"Thank you," she replied. "You look pretty stunning, yourself."
"Why, Mara Jade, I think that's the first compliment you've ever given me that wasn't hard-earned," he teased.
"Don't hope for too many of them, Skywalker." He laughed and escorted her to the dining area. The table was set and a '48 carafe of SaberFyre brandy sat cooling in an ice bucket. Luke helped Mara sit, then poured the drinks.
The woolamander was, if possible, even better than the steak. It was served with the fruit pie, which had a mixture of different local fruits for the filling and a flaky crust. They talked of Luke's cooking during the dinner, and it was then that Mara discovered the secret of Luke's culinary skills.
"New Republic Intelligence taught me gourmet cooking as part of my survival and undercover skills."
"The NRI?" she questioned.
"I work for the NRI. I have for a long time, in fact." He proceeded to explain around a mouthful of pie.
The year Leia and Han married, he became a covert operative for the New Republic Intelligence. Over the ensuing four years, he did little for the NRI except its most difficult undercover missions.
He became good friends with Crix Madine, who was elected president of the NRI only weeks before his death. In a memo found among General Madine's personal belongings, he dictated his wishes that Luke Skywalker should replace him as president if anything happened to him. The officers had unanimously elected Luke. He had accepted the position under his NRI alias Josef Ortonn, and appointed Kyp Durron as his vice president.
Mara ate in relative silence, letting his words sink in. Suddenly, Luke had turned into a man who knew anything he wanted with a snap of his fingers, and not some humble Jedi. He'd astonished her more in one day than he had in the entire six years she'd known him.
Some of the best information brokers she knew, excluding Karrde, couldn't rival Luke's worst slicers. Then again, he had Ghent working for him. Mara could more easily bestow upon Luke the respect and admiration he deserved.
She'd heard a lot about the man known only as Josef Ortonn from both Karrde and his associates. Karrde openly admitted that Ortonn was the best at what he did, and Karrde's good word was extremely hard to come by.
Luke cleared the table and poured another round of drinks. As she drank from the glass, Mara eyed the storage cabinet across the room. "Luke," she asked with a sly grin, "did the NRI ever teach you how to dance?"
He followed her gaze. The cabinet was clearly labeled, 'Dance Music.' He glanced at her. She was grinning devilishly. She pointed to an open space off to his right. He smiled and said, "Sure, why not?"
He took off his jacket and accessories and folded them gently, laying them on the table. He unbuttoned his sleeves and shirt collar. Mara watched his actions closely while picking out some music. "Why not just take the whole shirt off," she asked sarcastically.
"You sure?" he asked cautiously. It was hot in her ship, and removing the shirt would make him feel more comfortable.
She considered his question carefully, then responded, "Yeah, go ahead." In the spirit of good will, she let down her hair and took off her shoes.
Luke also removed his shoes, and took off his socks and shirt as well. He squatted down next to her, wondering what she would pick. She risked a side glance at him and nearly fell backwards. Up close, he was even more handsome than in any of his holoframes. His chest and arm muscles were so defined they were almost chiseled in his flesh.
His arm snaked out to break her fall. Her skin tingled where he had touched her when he took his hand away. It hovered nearby, steadying her. She gathered the recordings she'd chosen and closed the cabinet doors. Luke jumped up and offered her his hand. She took it, and hauled herself up.
Mara walked over to the audio player and put in the recorder disks. She pushed a few buttons on the front of the device, choosing the order of music. Behind her, Luke moved some of the furniture around to create more dance space.
He stood in the middle of the floor, waiting patiently. As she joined him, fast-paced Verpine rhythms blared from the speakers. Mara moved to the music, trying to teach him the steps. A few of them he caught, but most flew by too fast to pick up. Halfway into the third song, he said, "Stop, stop. Wait a minute." He walked to the recorder and examined the order. He made a few changes, and stepped back. Swinging jizz music poured from the speakers a few seconds later. "Cantina jizz," he said, turning back to her. She smiled back at him, wryly. "You know this stuff don't you?"
"Sure do," she replied. She took his hands and they started to dance. They whirled together across the floor to the music of the Modal Nodes and the Flying Neutrinos.
Luke was a natural with this type of music, and Mara was a natural anytime. He spun her back and forth until the room, too, was spinning. Stumbling away from him, this wild man who could match her step for step, she said, "I'm dizzy."
"Oh," Luke commented, "okay." He went and made some more changes on the audio player. Slow blues music, sung by the famous singer Judas Akim, played softly. She nodded, and stepped into position. Her left hand automatically went to his right shoulder and her right hand clasped his left. His right hand rested on her waist.
They moved slowly, following Luke's lead. Somehow, over the next two songs the distance between them decreased. An observer would have noticed Mara's arm circling around Luke's shoulder blade. The action brought her closer to him. She inhaled his scent. He smelled like chocolate, interestingly enough.
Luke's hand traveled to the small of Mara's back. As they danced, he gently pulled her closer to him. He buried his nose in her hair. It smelled like apples. As the tune "At the Beginning" began, the dancers abandoned traditional rules.
Mara laid her head on Luke's bare shoulder and embraced him. He enveloped her in his broad arms. They said nothing, letting the song speak for them:
We were strangers, starting out on a journey.
Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through.
Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you.
"No one told me I was going to find you.
Unexpected, what you did to my heart.
...
I'll be there when the world stops turning.
I'll be there when the storm is through.
In the end, I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you.
...
I knew there was somebody somewhere,
Like me alone in the dark.
Now I know my dream will live on,
I've been waiting so long..." ~At the Beginning, Richard Marx & Donna Lewis
As the song faded into silence and a new one began, Mara lifted her head and stared into his eyes. She found warmth and peace in those pools of blue. She kissed him gently. He inhaled sharply and returned her kiss fiercely. He squeezed his arms tighter around her. She kissed him hungrily, her hands running over his muscles.
His lips devoured hers. His hands kept her close, resting on her spine. Her fingernails left small scratches on his back. His tongue stroked hers with powerful thrusts. She leaned into him, rubbing up against his thighs. He leaned over her, caressing her bottom.
The kiss went on forever before they pulled apart. He gasped for breath and put his hand to his lips. She did the same. He turned away, trembling.
They were silent for several minutes. Mara finally said, "Do you want to test fly the Fire with me tomorrow?"
"I'd like that," he responded. "Meet you here at 0830?"
"I'll be waiting," she whispered. He left and she tormented herself. She never should have danced with him. Try as she might, she couldn't get the feel of him out of her mind.
Day 4
After the Falcon went back to Coruscant, Luke arrived at the Jade's Fire a few minutes before 0830 in a comfortable, worn-in flight suit. Mara greeted him at the ramp, wearing one of her indistinguishable jumpsuits. Luke couldn't resist a mental jibe: Aw, what, no dress today? He grinned when she blushed furiously at the memory of their kiss. A vision of him, half-naked, swam before her eyes. She shook her head to clear it, and led him inside.
She showed him the systems on the bridge and was trying to show him how to use them when he shocked her yet again. He turned on the Fire's operational systems and lifted off as smoothly as if the ship was a bird, prepped for flight. As she watched his progress through the forward viewscreen, deeply impressed, he remarked dryly, "I've flown Kuat DX-39s before, Mara." She stared at him incredulously, then turned back to the viewscreen.
The Fire exited Yavin IV's atmosphere and the Jedi Master relinquished the controls. Mara took them out to orbit Yavin's eighth moon. Luke stared at the gas giant to the port side of the ship. Mara dropped her hands from the controls and rubbed her neck.
Luke rose from his chair and stood behind her. He placed his hands on her neck and squeezed, gently. She dropped her arms and allowed him to massage her neck and shoulders.
Luke kept an eye on his right hand, careful not to rub too hard. If he pressed too much with his cybernetic hand, he could strangle her. He gently worked the tension out of her muscles and then started massaging her scalp. She moaned and closed her eyes.
When he stopped, she lowered her head. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her neck. She gasped and lifted her head, trying to make him stop. Instead, his lips were in a prime position to kiss the side of her neck along her jaw.
She gave up, and circled her arm around the back of his head. His lips caressed the soft flesh below her jaw. He worked his way up to her ear, inhaling the apple scent of her hair. He blew softly in her ear, and she shuddered. He nibbled lightly on her ear lobe.
"Nnhh," she moaned. He'd just found her button, the one place that would make her go crazy with passion. She turned her head and kissed him. She got out of the chair. He led her around to the middle of the bridge.
Luke wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, her tongue probing the inside of his mouth. His roving hands took the ribbon out of her hair. The reddish-gold waves fell down her back. He cradled her face with both of his hands.
Mara pulled off his tunic. Their lips still locked, he took it from her and gently laid it on the navicomputer console. He found the catch at the back of her neck and unzipped her jumpsuit. He pulled off the top half of the one-piece outfit.
He slid his left hand inside her bra and caressed her right breast. She moaned and pushed in closer to him. He bent his head and left a trail of kisses from her left shoulder to her cleavage. She threaded her fingers through his hair and pushed his head closer.
He kissed his way back up to her lips and drank of them. Suddenly, without any cause or warning, she pulled away and said, "Wait."
"What?" he said, blinking in confusion.
"Wait," she repeated. "I'll be right back." Too startled to even stutter a reply, he watched as she went towards her quarters.
He only waited for about five minutes, but it felt like all eternity had passed before he saw her again. His jaw dropped at the sight of the provocative goddess before him. She was wearing some black lacy thing, and had pulled her hair back with a gold and jade clasp...
Luke kissed Mara and gently pulled himself out of her. She winced in pain and tried to hide it. Confused, he looked towards her hips. He bolted upright. There, beneath them on the sheets, was some of Mara's blood.
"Mara," he began.
She steadied him with a hand on his arm. "Relax, Luke. It's all right."
"But-"
"It's fine," she reassured him. "Let it be."
He stared at the blood again, then looked at her. Aside from that first moment, she hadn't felt much pain. Then, it clicked together abruptly. "You're a virgin. Or were, anyway," he amended.
She nodded and smiled.
"But how- never mind." He didn't need any explanations from her. "Does it hurt much," he asked, lying beside her.
"It feels better with you inside me," she replied, turning to him. He entered her again, slowly pushing to the length of his phallus. He could feel her pain adjust little by little, then it abated. He turned over so she could rest on top of him.
He pulled a cover over them and gently stroked her back. She dozed off, content and warm. He took time to meditate on his feelings. Mara was a complex woman, and their relationship was equally so. Initially founded out of necessity - she'd put off killing him when they first met because she needed him alive - their relationship slowly developed into friendship. Mara was hard-edged, often bitter, fiercely loyal, and honest to the point of being blunt.
He, on the other hand, was quiet, gentle, and severely secretive. Both of them longed for adventure. While she went in search of it, it came in search of him. His life as a Jedi Master was supposed to be peaceful and serene. The last decade had been anything but. He'd been saving the galaxy in one way or another most of his adult life.
But even with all the action, he was terribly lonely. And Mara, though seemingly content with her life, longed for someone as much as he did. Of course, for him there would always be Callista. But they had failed each other. He hadn't been sensitive enough to her handicap, and she hadn't been able to commit to their relationship. Mara filled a void in him and added life that the many years of service to the New Republic and the Alliance had taken away from him. She stirred, causing his phallus to quiver with passion, and whispered, "Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Stop pondering. Just go to sleep, or whatever it is that you Jedi Masters do instead of sleep." She was asleep again before she finished.
He chuckled and, kissing the top of her head, closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Five weeks later
Leia was preparing for work when Luke called, so Han answered the vidphone. "Hey, Luke. What do you need?"
"Is Leia available? I need to talk to her about something."
"Sure, kid. Hang on a minute." He put Jacen and Jaina on to talk while he went and found Leia.
"Hi, Uncle Luke," said Jacen. "Are you on Coruscant?"
"No, I'm here on Yavin," he replied.
"When are you coming here?"
"I'm not sure, Jaina. Soon, I hope," he answered. Just then, Leia appeared in the background. She chased the twins away and greeted her brother.
"Hello, Luke. Han said you needed to speak to me?"
He didn't waste any time getting to the point. "Can you put a privacy field on? I don't want the kids to hear this."
Her eyes widened. She touched a button, and the room behind her blurred. "What is it, Luke?"
"It's about Mara and I. We-" Here he paused, not knowing exactly how to tell her his feelings. "We shared an intimate - a very intimate moment together last month."
"Intimacy of the baby-making kind?" Leia arched her brow slightly.
"Yes," Luke replied, red-faced. She knew him so well. Too well.
"I think it's wonderful, Luke. But why are you telling me?"
"I'm falling in love with her," he deadpanned.
His confession hit her hard. Leia was so stunned, she was stuck to the floor. Finally, she whispered, "Luke, are you serious?"
"Yes I am, Leia."
"That's- that's wonderful, Luke. What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to think about it, first, then if I still feel this way after a few months, I'm going to propose."
He'd shocked her again. She checked her chrono. Only thirty seconds into their conversation and he'd shocked her out of her mind twice. Propose? Leia was speechless. He'd never felt that strongly about anyone but herself and Callie. What had happened to them on Yavin to make him feel this way?
"Leia," he said, concerned by her silence, "do you approve?"
"Yes, Luke, I do. I think she's a wonderful choice. That is, if you love her. I'll keep this to myself until you've proposed."
"Thank you, Leia." He smiled, and signed off.
Leia turned off the comm and sat back, stunned into disbelief. Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade? While on the surface it seemed ludicrous, at its core it was a perfect match. For six years their relationship had been platonic, but now that was no longer the case. She'd seen the way they acted around each other, and a small part of her thought it was about time.
Yavin IV, two months later
Luke scanned through his messages absent-mindedly, looking for one in particular that Kyp was supposed to have sent him. He stopped at one marked "Urgent- Sender: Jade's Fire." He eagerly opened the file.
Mara had been gone for little over three months on a trading run for Karrde. Through he missed her terribly, he patiently awaited the day she would return. Then they could build a relationship, maybe even a life together.
Her message dampened his hopes, but only slightly: Luke, have found window in trading schedule. Will be stopping by Academy for a little R & R three weeks hence. MJ.
He deleted the message and continued his searching. He'd waited for her this long, he could wait three more weeks.
Three weeks later
Luke waited patiently as the Jade's Fire came to a soft landing in front of the Academy's Great Temple. He directed his students to unload the supplies they needed from her cargo bay and entered the ship. He found Mara in the cockpit, again shutting down the systems.
He came up behind her and took her in his arms. He kissed her hair and inhaled its scent. She turned in his embrace and kissed him, softly. "I've missed you," he whispered after they separated.
"I know," she replied. "I've felt you, at the back of my mind. It's almost as if you were just in the other room. Quite maddening, at times."
"Finally driving you insane, am I," he asked sardonically.
She shadow punched him on the arm and reentered the circle of his arms. She felt so safe and warm here. She could go to sleep, right here in his embrace.
When Luke realized that was exactly what she had done, he chuckled softly to himself. Keeping her asleep, he picked her up and carried her to her bed.
At dinner that evening, Mara updated Luke and Kyp on the current events, from her point of view. There wasn't much that escaped the two of them, but it was always refreshing to see things from a different perspective. Luke had gotten that tactic from Mon Mothma herself. When a person's mind was kept open to new ideas, they saw things more clearly and adapted to situations more readily.
But, even with that in mind, it was still old news. Drastically old, some of it. When Luke and Kyp exchanged slightly exasperated glances for the fourth time, she stopped. "I'm sorry," she said, taking a bite of food. "I didn't realize you guys have probably heard all of this."
"It's okay, Mara." Kyp threw a grin at Luke. *Tune in next time for the Yavin 4 news broadcast. The top news stories, two months late!* he called through the Force.
Luke tried not to laugh and nearly choked on a piece of meat. Mara looked at him and asked, "What did he say?"
"You don't want to know."
Indignant, she attacked her plate. She hadn't eaten a decent meal in quite a while and her appetite was rather large.
That night, as she and Luke lay cooling, he asked her a subtle question. "Did you miss me, Mara?"
"Yes," she said without preamble, startling him.
"You did?"
"Yes. I told you, we have a Jedi link. It felt like you were there sometimes, just behind me where I couldn't see you. It was driving me insane, so I came here as soon as I could."
He gathered her close with his arms. She nestled her head in the crook of his neck. As she breathed soft, warm air across his throat, he made a silent decision. He would save his money and buy her a nice ring. When she came back from her next trading run, he would ask her to marry him.
Three months later
Luke surveyed his handiwork of the evening. Mara was due for dinner any minute now. The table was illuminated softly by candlelight. He patted the breast of his tuxedo jacket. Yes, the ring he'd picked out for Mara was in his pocket.
The grilled bantha steak was sliced and ready for serving. It sat on top of a warming plate to keep it from getting cold. Next to his plate was a dish of mixed vegetables, seasoned with Corellian spices. A bottle of dry green wine chilled next to Mara's plate. Another of Aunt Beru's recipes, lime pie, waited in the refrigeration unit for dessert.
His door chimed. His heart jumped into his throat. This was it. This night would make or break the rest of his life. He couldn't imagine that she would say no, but he was so afraid of rejection that the mere possibility of her refusal scared the wits out of him. He forced his excited nerves to calm down and answered the door.
Mara was wearing a knee-length black dress with broad straps, a low neckline and an even lower back. He ushered her inside. She said, "Dinner smells wonderful, Luke."
They embraced and he said, "I'm glad you could come." He kissed her gently. They parted. "Here, sit down." He held out a seat for her.
As they ate, they caught up on the last three months. She complimented his cooking as she finished. He cleared away the dishes and brought in dessert. Mara had two slices of pie, then pronounced herself full.
They chatted about nothing for a while, until finally Luke got his courage up. "Mara," he began, "we need to talk."
"Sounds serious."
"It is." He got up from the table and walked a few paces away. His back to her, he said, "I've been doing a lot of thinking since you were last here, and I've come to a decision." He took the ring box out of his pocket and opened it. In one fluid move he turned, dropped to one knee, and presented her the ring.
"Will you marry me, Mara? I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You make me feel alive in a way no one else has." He was silent for a moment, waiting for a possible answer from her. When he was met with stone silence, he prodded, "Will you marry me?"
She thought hard and furiously. She knew what her answer was, but how could she tell him? She finally blurted out, "I can't, Luke. You see, I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment. And besides, marriage just isn't something I see in my life at all. I'm sorry, but I can't." With that she left, hoping to avoid an awkward situation.
Luke dropped the ring box and staggered to his seat. She'd refused. He hung his head in hands. He couldn't believe it. He could have sworn there was a connection between them that transcended the normal bond between teacher and student. And of course, there was the matter of their relationship over the last seven months.
All at once, the grief and despair overcame him. He cradled his head in his arms on the table and cried.
Outside the Temple, the Jade's Fire lifted off and climbed for high orbit. She jumped to lightspeed as soon as possible, leaving behind two dozen confused Jedi Knights and one heartbroken Master.
Coruscant, three weeks later
Leia woke with a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. She immediately attributed it to her nightmare. She ran through the images in her mind, trying to overcome her fear and despair.
She saw herself as she had in her dream, first flying through the air. She relished the feeling of flight, soaring above the Great Temple on Yavin 4. Then the ground came rushing towards her.
She stood, and looked down at herself. She was wearing all black, just as Luke always wore. As she stared down where she'd fallen, she saw his body. She knew instantly he was dead. Before she could go to him, her surroundings changed. Luke and Yavin 4 were gone. She was on a ship, one she'd never seen before. She had a blaster in one hand, a drink in the other.
She finished off the drink, then raised the blaster to her head. She whispered something, she wasn't quite sure what, and pulled the trigger. That was when she'd woken from the nightmare.
Leia shivered and got dressed. What could it mean? She let Han sleep, she wasn't ready to explain her dream to him yet. But Luke would know how to help her. He was in her dream, after all.
She checked on the children. The twins were getting ready for school, Anakin was playing with his blocks, trying to build a huge city. She left them and called Luke on Yavin.
Kyp answered and said, "Hi, Leia, what do you need?"
"Kyp, is Luke there?"
"No, he left yesterday to talk to you in person."
"Oh." He was coming *here*? Was he having visions, too? "Thank you, Kyp."
She was about to sign off when Kyp interjected. "Leia, whatever he tells you, support him. He's been thinking about this decision ever since Mara refused his proposal. Okay? Just go easy on him and let him know you're there for him. And tell him that you love him. He needs to hear that right now."
"I understand. Thanks again, Kyp."
"One last thing. Sorry." She smiled. "Make time for him. Forego your political duties on this trip. This may be the last time you'll get to see him." He signed off before she could ask him to explain.
What could it all mean? Something in her mind clicked and a possible solution presented itself. It was one so horrible, she couldn't think about it. She pushed it to the back of her mind and helped the children get ready.
Later that day
Leia waited patiently for her brother's X-wing to land. As per Kyp's advice, she'd canceled all of her appointments and meetings to be with him. She walked towards him as he hopped down from the cockpit. They embraced while Artoo floated to the ground.
Luke pulled back, said in a quiet voice, "We need to talk, Leia." He turned to get his bag, saw Artoo standing there behind him. He looked back at his sister. "You've been practicing," he stated.
"A little," she replied. She took his arm and led him inside. She noted the change in him as they walked. His head was hung in despair or sadness – or both. He plodded along, dragging his feet beside her.
A frown creased her forehead. Just a month ago, there had been a spring in his step and a smile glued to his face constantly. All of his friends and family had noticed Mara's influence on his life. None of them had understood it when Mara refused his proposal.
Leia remembered how nervous and earnestly sincere he'd sounded when he called her to say he was in love with Mara. It was as if he was begging for her approval or blessing. She started as Luke said, "Yeah, well that's all over now."
"Stay out of my head, brother dear," she admonished.
He blushed and stammered out an apology. "Sorry, Leia."
"That's all right," she soothed as they got to her office. She shooed away her assistants and her bodyguards and locked the door. She poured them drinks and sat by him in front of her desk. She went first, wanting his input on her nightmare.
"Luke, I had a bad dream last night. I think it was a vision."
He perked up slightly. "Tell me," he requested.
She told him about her nightmare from start to finish. He stared at her, then mumbled, "I didn't know I was broadcasting on such a wide band."
"What do you mean, Luke?"
He was silent for several moments. "Leia, I've made a decision. I don't want to live my life alone. I don't want to live without Mara in my life. I really do love her." He sighed and sat back. "The first part of your vision came from me. I've thought about this long and hard, and I've discovered the only way I'm going to get any peace in my life is to end it. I'm going to commit suicide at the end of the week."
The tears streamed down her face as she realized her nightmare was coming true. The feeling of soaring in the air came back to her. Luke was going to kill himself.
She felt a pair of strong arms surround her and clung to her twin. This would be the last time they'd ever be together as brother and sister. She felt her hair becoming wet, and she knew that Luke was crying, too.
"I'm so sorry, Leia," he sobbed. "I just can't go on without her!"
"I'm going to miss you so much, Luke! I wish it didn't have to be this way."
"I don't want to leave you. Or Han, or the children or even Threepio." They shared a tear-filled chuckle. "But I just can't live like this anymore."
"I understand," she whispered. "I love you, Luke. I love you and I always have. I'll try to ease the pain with Han and the kids." She sniffed and touched his forehead with her own.
He sniffled and kissed her forehead. He drew her back into his embrace. She knew she had to let him go, but she couldn't. He was the only blood family she had left. "I love you, Leia. Never forget that."
"I won't." She knew this was it. She would never get another chance to speak to him. "I love you, Luke." She looked into his eyes, those blue eyes she'd known her whole life. At this moment, they were more dear to her then the waters of Alderaan. She closed her eyes, trying to picture him.
He was concerned by this, and said, "Leia?"
"Shh. I'm memorizing your face."
"Scars, warts, tears, and all?" Her eyes flew open to catch his smile. His eyes were red from crying, but it was a genuine smile. She smiled at him and sighed.
"Everything," she replied. He lifted her chin and gazed in her eyes. A single tear rolled down his face. She smoothed it away. He caught her hand, kissed her palm. She put her arms around his neck. He laced his hands together and rested them on her waist. She brought his head closer to hers. He leaned in and gently kissed her. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. She ignored the voices in her mind that screamed at her, said this is wrong, he's your brother, stop! True, Luke was her brother. But she'd always loved him first in her heart.
She ignored everything but him. Their love for each other permeated the air, surrounding them in the Force. Finally, he broke off. Leia found fresh tears streaming down both their faces. "Goodbye, Leia. Han's coming and I can't face him right now." He started to go, and she called out his name.
He turned and she was tongue-tied. She couldn't say goodbye, but she couldn't just let him leave. "Tell Father I said hello."
He smiled and said, "I will." He raised his hand in farewell. She waved back, relieved that her last vision of him would be him smiling and waving goodbye.
She relocked the office door and sat in her chair. Already, she could feel him distancing himself, slightly deconstructing their bond so she wouldn't feel his death. She relaxed, and tore down her side of their twinship. She could feel his pride. She sent him one final message: I love you, brother. See you on the other side.
I'll be waiting, sister. I love you.
She sat back in her chair and meditated, thoroughly disgusted at what life had done to her brother. She was thankful she had a family to turn to but at the same time, she was sad that Luke didn't have a family of his own.
What a mess this was turning out to be. In five days, she would be losing the only family she'd ever known.
The Jade's Fire, the next day
Mara woke from a nightmare. She seemed to be getting more of them lately. But this one was different. In it, all of her single friends got married and moved away, and she remained a lonely bachelorette. The words she'd given Luke rang in her head as she refused suitor after suitor. Then she died, an old maid. She'd never experienced marriage, which she appeared to be thankful for, but she'd also never had the love of children.
Love. She could've had that, with Luke. She admired him and he claimed to love her deeply. She was saddened, remembering her loneliness from her dream. As she got dressed, she decided that she didn't want her life to end that way. She'd make one more stop on her trading run, then head for Yavin 4. She owed it to Luke to apologize and accept his proposal.
Yavin 4, two days later
Luke spent his days in the same way he always had. His morning exercises, the morning master class for his students, then his office hours for work. He enjoyed his office hours, for he was able to free his mind from its Jedi constraints and let loose with his creative and slightly reckless side.
But today was not a day for recklessness. This time, his work was serious. He was putting his final affairs in order. The first point of business was a will. He put it in a message cube for his sister and sent a copy to Kyp, before he remembered Kyp had stopped checking his messages. He was almost finished with his affairs. He cracked a grim smile. He was treating his life and the Academy as if they were a business.
Yoda would've scolded him and made him sleep outside in the rain. But Yoda wasn't here. Neither was Ben, or his father. He paused a moment in his task.
He wondered if he would exist in the Afterlife as a spirit or as the Force. If as a spirit, would he be able to see his father or no? he sat in quiet contemplation of his fate. Then he heard a soft whisper, in the air and through the Force. It was a single word, "Both."
"What?" He looked around for the source of the voice. "What do you mean, both?"
"You will exist as both when you die."
The mist in his office seemed to coalesce around a single point. A figure formed in the air. "Ben?"
The sound/thought voice chuckled. "Not quite," he replied. The figure stepped into a darker spot in Luke's study.
He had seen this person only once before, but the memory had stuck with him, burned to the back of his eyeballs. He'd never spoken, at least not to Luke. "Father?"
"That's me," Anakin Skywalker said with a broad smile.
"Are you here to persuade me not to kill myself?"
"No, my son. As much as life is valued here, it is solely your decision. If you feel you are that unloved, and that death would be so much easier a choice, it is still your choice to make. Besides, I want you to die so you can join us and we can have fun. Yoda's being a terribly sore winner." He grinned.
Luke chuckled. He wished that he'd known his father a little more. Anakin had an easy-going disposition, quick humor, and a rapier wit. Must be where Leia got it from.
"A little," Anakin answered, picking up on his thought. "She gets her fire from me. In everything else, she's like your mother."
"What was she like, Father?"
"There'll be time enough for that when you join us, whether now or many years from now. Take your time, settle everything, go and visit old friends long forgotten. You'll be thankful if you do." His father started to fade. "I hope to see you soon, Luke, but I'll be very pleased if I don't." And his father was gone.
Just like old Ben, his father hadn't directly answered many of his questions. But he'd at least been more humorous about it. Luke sent a silent thanks to his father. With just a few sentences, he'd lifted Luke's spirits. He spent the rest of the day in fair, if not good, humor.
Jade's Fire, Bakura
Mara finished her filework and boarded her ship. Her trading run had been very successful. Karrde would be happy when he saw her report. She'd have to set up a meeting with him when she got to Yavin.
Her crew was already in position, their spirits light and cheery despite the rainy weather. The Bakurans had treated them rather well, now that they were charter members of the New Republic. Mara herself had a private lunch with Gaeriel Captison-Thanas. The Prime Minister had asked her about Luke and Leia, and inquired about Luke's Academy.
Mara had answered as best she could without betraying their relationship. She knew she'd hurt Luke terribly by refusing his proposal. She'd heard his cries of loss and grief and rage as she ran to her ship. She'd noticed the strange looks from the students and had fled the Academy entirely.
She pushed her thoughts aside and gave the command to her pilot. While he was no Luke Skywalker, he was a loyal worker and a smart man. He obeyed her without question, believing that her Force senses gave her an edge he didn't understand.
They entered hyperspace, two days travel from Yavin 4. She was two days away from reconciliation with the man she was willing to love with all her heart.
Yavin 4, dawn, two days later
Luke stood on the roof of the Great Temple, watching the sun rise. Yavin loomed overhead and back a little bit, nearing the end of its cycle in the moon's view. Today was his last day alive. He intended to jump off this very building at sunset.
His students had given him a small goodbye party yesterday. He'd given them gifts from his personal possessions. He'd already turned the Academy over to Streen and Tionne, and had resigned from the NRI. Kyp was now in place as president, with Luke's – and Leia's, he thought with a half-grin – faithful assistant Farlan as vice-president. Farlan was the NRI alias for Winter, Leia's aide and friend from Alderaan. Luke was confident in his antecessors. He knew the NRI and the Academy were in good hands.
At his request, the students would ignore him all day. If they had any question or problems, they would go to Streen or Tionne or, in dire emergency, Kam Solusar. Kam had trained under his father Ranik, a Jedi Knight in the Old Republic. He was a good source of information.
Luke turned away from the view and back to his two projects. The first was almost complete. It was a holorecording of his last wishes, a will and testament of sorts. He just had to decide how his financial holdings would be divided. Money wasn't a problem at all.
Luke had inherited his father's billions as soon as the New Republic set up on Coruscant. He hadn't told anyone, not even Leia. But she would find out as soon as she executed his will.
He knew he wanted to leave something for his niece and nephews, but he also wanted to provide for any children he might have. Though Callie hadn't mentioned anything, he could have given her a child. Mara could be pregnant even now.
The thought made his eyes widen. By the Force, he could be orphaning a child. He sank to a sitting position on the roof and ran his fingers through his hair.
The Larses had raised him pretty well. True, he hadn't been allowed to do half the stuff he'd wanted to do as a kid, or even as a teenager. But they had taught him honesty, the value of hard work, and had nurtured a stubbornness that was deep within him. Who could he trust to do the same for his own child, if he decided to go through with this insanity? Could he even do it? Could he really throw himself off this temple if there was a possibility he might be leaving a child behind?
He shook his head. Mara would have known by now, certainly. She would have told him, or if she hadn't, it meant she didn't want him to be a part of the child's life. He picked up the tiny message cube, his decision made. He pressed the recording button, and picked up where he left off. When he finished, he put the cube aside.
He picked up his second project. It was a triangular prism, light blue in color. The only other two he'd ever seen had been green. He hoped it didn't matter what color it was, as long as the knowledge of the Jedi was kept inside. He also hoped this Holocron would work. He'd discovered things about the Force he hadn't found in records or his other Holocrons, the ones of Bodo Baas and Jori Daragon. He wanted to pass that knowledge on to his students, and this seemed to be the easiest way.
He'd found a method after his second day on the project, one that seemed to work quite well. He meditated, became one with the Force, then began to speak. As visions and images came to him, the words describing the actions and steps involved poured forth from his lips. He'd stumbled upon this after falling asleep during one session, and talking in his sleep. Unorthodox, true, but it worked so far.
He sat on the roof stones and assumed a comfortable position, his back against the wall. He closed his eyes, took a relaxing breath, and calmed his thoughts. As he began to speak, he wondered what would happen after death. As his mind and voice pondered the matter, the Holocron dutifully recorded everything.
A beeping noise woke him half an hour before sunset. The Holocron was full, it couldn't hold anymore. He stood and looked at the view. The sunset today was beautiful. A tear fell from his eye as he realized he would never see another sunrise or sunset.
"That's not entirely true," a voice said from behind him. Or was it inside of him? This thought/voice communication was driving him nuts.
He turned and greeted the specter who'd come to visit him. "Hello again, Father."
"Hello, my son," Anakin Skywalker replied.
"I took your advice, sort of." He hadn't been able to see his friends directly, but at least he'd sent them messages or talked to them.
"I noticed. Are you glad you did, or am I just full of hot air?"
"Both." At this his father burst out laughing.
"You're more correct than you realize, Luke. Your sunsets will be more beautiful than you ever imagined."
"Really?"
"Yes. Believe me, I know. I never thought I'd see a sunset more beautiful than the one I first shared with Padmé. That's when I married her, you know. But the first one I saw with you changed all that. And every one since then has been more precious than the last."
Luke was distracted from replying by a ship entering the atmosphere. He recognized it instantly. The Jade's Fire. He and his father were silent, watching as the ship landed. Mara strode down the ramp and into the Temple.
After a few moments, Luke sensed Streen heading reluctantly to the roof. As he got nearer, Anakin murmured, "Be right back, Luke," and poofed out of sight.
Streen stopped before the roof entrance. "Master?" he said quietly.
"Come on up, Streen." He waited until Streen was a few steps away before asking, "What does she want?"
"She demands to speak with you, Master Skywalker."
Luke thought for a moment, then replied, "Tell her I'll be down in a few minutes, Streen."
"Yes, Master Luke," he said, slightly relieved.
"Streen," Luke called. His student turned back. Luke tossed him the Holocron and said, "Please give this to Tionne. But tell her not to open it until after my death."
A confused look passed over his face, then realization dawned in his eyes. A wave of depression washed over him as he realized Luke was still going through with his suicide plan. He nodded and left. Anakin appeared again almost the instant he was gone, but only for a moment. "Remember, my son, I will be with you."
"Thank you, Father," he whispered. He glanced over the side. Streen was done talking to Mara now and was heading back into the Temple. He looked up at the skyline. The sunset was perfect. Now was the time.
He stood on the small wall, looked toward the ground. Mara was looking up at him, expectantly. Through the Force he said, *This one's for you, Captain Jade*. She crossed her arms and settled in to watch the show. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and jumped.
He fell, fell, fell to the ground. In the back of his mind he could feel Mara's amazement turn to anxiety, then shock, and finally dread as he hit the ground with a Bam! that shook his whole body. He'd managed to land facing up so he could see the sky.
He could sense his students nearby, the young, newer ones that had come to watch. Then, he saw Mara float into his rapidly dwindling sight. She took his head into her lap. She tried to say something, but all she could do was cry. He offered the message cube to her. As she took it, he whispered, "I loved you, Mara." With that he closed his perfect blue eyes on the world forever.
"Luke, I love you," she finally said. "Please don't leave me!" She was too late. He was already dead. As his body began to fade, she realized exactly how hopeless her situation was and she whispered, "No." As he disappeared completely, she said it over and over, louder and louder. She began crying uncontrollably as she realized she had driven him to this, to kill himself. Her dream was coming true, right before her eyes.
Coruscant
For unknown reasons that she refused to give her advisors or even her husband, the Chief-of-State had called off of work. Today, she was just Leia, Jedi-in-training and soon-to-be sole remaining member of the Skywalker family. In honor of her brother, she'd legally dropped the Organa from her name and replaced it with "Skywalker." It had caused a huge ruckus with the Alderaan delegation, of course, but her decision had been made. Besides, they would understand soon enough.
She and Han had spent a quiet day together with the children. Han was in the kitchen making lunch when Leia's chrono alarm beeped, startling them all. She was watching the children build a huge city made of blocks when it went off. Annoyed, she swatted at the thing.
Han, mistaking it for the comm unit, called, "Who is it this time?"
"No, Han. It's my chrono alarm," Leia replied, suddenly full of despair and grief. She'd set it for five minutes prior to the predicted time of sundown on Yavin's fourth moon. Or, five minutes before her brother's death.
Her husband entered the room wearing his apron and drying his hands. "What'd you set your alarm for?"
"You'll see," he replied. He shrugged and reentered the kitchen. "Kids, come here for a minute." They calmly walked to her side. She pulled a silver and gold ring off the little finger of her right hand. "Have I ever shown you this ring, guys?"
They dutifully shook their heads. "Well, see," she began, "Your Uncle Luke gave me this ring just after we moved to Coruscant. See this dove?" She pointed to a tiny figure on the left side of the ring. "Now, a dove is a symbol of peace in many cultures. Your uncle always said that this represented me. And see the dragon?" She pointed to the other side. "A dragon, in ancient times, was a symbol for guardians, protectors. And Luke said that this dragon always stood for the guardians of the Old Republic, the Jedi Knights. So it stands for him. Wasn't that a wonderful gift?" All three of them nodded agreement, then inexplicably burst out crying.
She gathered them in her arms and comforted them. The Force waves of grief hit her, their only mission to toll the death of a Master. The children had a kindred bond with their uncle still in place. It was why his death affected them so much.
Han ran out of the kitchen in shock. He nearly yelled, "What? What happened? Some kind of Jedi thing?"
"Yes, Han," Leia answered emotionlessly.
"Do you want me to call Luke about it?"
"He's dead, Han."
Kyp Durron was busy in his office, packing his files and personal belongings. He was moving into Luke's old headquarters at the end of the day.
He finished up the last of his crates and sat back in his chair. By this time tomorrow, this office would be Farlan's, and he would be in the office on his left.
He took a glance at the bare walls, filled with memories despite the lack of decoration. He'd worked from this office for three years. As Zeth Fost, Vice-President of the New Republic Intelligence, Kyp Durron had done a load of good for the government. As Jocef Ortonn, Luke had turned the NRI away from chaos and back towards organization. Luke's Presidency, though short, had been the most effective leadership in the Republic.
Publicly, Kyp and Luke were informal acquaintances. Kyp was Luke's most powerful student and one of his most successful. But underneath the surface, Zeth and Jocef were the best of friends. Their alter egos allowed the two Jedi Masters to release their dark emotions and have a little freedom.
Kyp grabbed a datapad and switched it on. He glanced at the time. He had about five minutes. He programmed his datapad to show the security holocam of the President's quarters. Leia was showing her children a ring Luke had given her. He brought up a sub-menu and opened a tracer program. He called up Luke's transmitter signal and split the screen in half. He watched Leia for a few moments more, then he flicked his gray eyes over to the other half of the screen. The signal's strength was decreasing and warning messages were flashing across the screen.
Kyp closed his eyes. In a second, he felt the waves of pain and grief associated with Luke's death. He sought control and peace. When he was calm, he open his eyes and watched Leia again. She was handling it quite well.
She was consoling her children and explaining to Han what had happened. She was very calm, very controlled. Understandable, since she'd had a week to adjust to the loss of her brother.
He sat back and ran his hands through his dark brown hair. What a mess this was. He made a note to himself to visit Tionne on Yavin 4. She'd be the student taking it the worst, and she needed his sunny disposition the most. Besides, he wanted to know how Luke had finalized his will.
Han stared at his wife. "What?"
"He's dead. That's what the children are feeling."
Han Solo sank, weak-kneed, into a chair. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Han. I'm certain."
Threepio was blissfully silent, for once.
Han lowered his head in his hands. Leia could see his shoulders shaking. Luke was, after all, his best friend and brother-in-law. Then his head snapped up, and he looked her in the eye. "How did it happen? Can you tell?"
"He jumped off the Great Temple. He killed himself, Han."
He stared at her, his mouth hanging open. "You knew?"
"Do you think Luke would kill himself without telling his sister first," she replied quietly. The children were calming down now, the twins eager to hear this exchange. Anakin meandered over to his father and sat in Han's lap.
Han absentmindedly put his arms around his youngest son. He said, "Why didn't you tell me, Leia?"
"Luke made the decision. If he'd wanted to tell you beforehand, he would have. Besides, he knew that you would have tried to save him. But he believed this was his only choice. His life would have been miserable had he lived." The twins climbed out of her lap and sat on the floor.
Han mumbled, "Why'd he do it?"
"Mara." The single word quieted him instantly. The family was silent the rest of the day, mourning the loss of their beloved Jedi.
END OF PART ONE