By Skywalker's
Dream
September 2000
Revised January 2002
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, nor do I want to. I'm not sure I could handle fans as messed up as me. None of the characters belong to me either, not even the tiny bugs in the forest so please don't yell at me if they don't know how to behave. I am just a tool with the sole purpose of cranking out useless drivel to entertain myself and hopefully a few others in this day of Luke and Mara starvation.
Summary: Luke discovers a person forgotten from his childhood. However, when his past meets his present strange things develop. How Luke deals with it could directly affect the course of his future.
Setting: This story takes place sometime in the Star Wars universe. Where exactly I don't know, but definitely after Darksaber and before the events in The Hand of Thrawn Doulogy. I tend not to follow a strict timeline so you do the math.
Thanks to my wonderful beta Sherry!!!! For putting up with me through this one. You are the best!
Chapter 11
"I'm sorry Leia but we have to go back. We both need to know what happened there," Luke told his sister from his position on the couch in Leia's office. Mara was sitting next to him, having insisted that she accompany him when he told her that they wanted to go back to Nivina.
"I understand that, but why now," Leia asked. "You two were just released. Two weeks is a long time to be in Detox. You need time at home to relax, heal."
Luke glanced at Mara, thinking about her condition. Tell them, Skywalker. If not, she may never let us go, he heard Mara say in his head. However Luke knew his sister better then Mara. There was a good chance Leia would not react the way they were hoping she would.
If we tell her, Mara, she may not let you go at all.
Let her try, Mara sent to him. She'll never be able to stop me because of this. The look of defiance on her face convinced Luke she was probably telling him the truth. He looked over to his sister and it was clear that she understood they were having a silent conversation. She was waiting patiently behind her desk for him to continue.
"Leia, we have to do this now," Luke started to explain to her. "Mara will not be able to if we wait too long."
Leia looked shocked and Luke could understand why. "But you both told me that the doctors said you were fine," Leia insisted. She was looking worriedly from Luke to Mara.
"I'm fine," Mara insisted.
"Then why wouldn't…" Leia was at a loss for words. Luke felt Mara elbow him in the ribs to encourage him to continue.
You said you would handle it, Mara sent him. So handle it already.
"She's pregnant," he blurted out. It was not the way he had wanted to tell her. He had thought hard about it the last few days, wondering how to tell his sister. Mara was not comfortable about the situation and he wanted Leia to understand the reasons behind them wanting these answers.
It took Leia a few seconds before she said anything. But Luke could see the emotions as the swept across her face. Some of those feelings he could relate to, others he could not understand. He let it pass, now was not the time to ask her what she was thinking.
"Pregnant?" Leia finally repeated. "But when? By whom?" Luke glanced at Mara in the wake of Leia's reaction. Those where very personal questions Leia was demanding answers to. But to her credit Mara kept her cool and sis not say a word.
"That is the information we want to go back for," Luke told her. He did not mean for it to come out as a plea, but that's the way it had sounded. Leia sat back in her chair contemplating the new information. Luke knew his sister and he could imagine what she was thinking. Under most circumstances a situation like this would have had too many risks to send them on. But what Luke was hoping was that she would see the personal side of it. There was a need for them to go back, a need for answers that could not be found anywhere else.
His hope continued to dwindle as she took longer and longer to decide. It would be a lot harder to make it back to Nivina without Leia's help. They could make it there, but it would take a lot more planning and risk on their part. He opened his mouth to speak, but Leia cut him off.
"Fine," Leia conceded. "We will set it up right away." She did not seem happy about the situation, but it delighted Luke to know that his sister did in fact understand, and that she was willing to lend a hand. "I know you did not have to seek my permission concerning this, but I'm glad you came to me. I want you two to be careful, so you wont be going alone."
"Leia, I don't want everyone hearing about this," Luke insisted.
"There is safety in numbers," Leia told them.
"That's not always true Leia. I know I don't need to explain that to you."
"However this time it's true and you know it Luke. I can't send you two back in there alone. I'll keep it as quiet as I can."
"How do you plan on doing that?" Mara asked. "How will you send people with us but not tell them what's going on?"
"Easy," Leia said with a smile. "There are enough qualified people that know enough about this that would be willing to help you with this. We'll just tell everyone this is a personal vacation. No one would question me wanting to take you away after what you have been through. That should be enough to keep the busy bodies out of it. Don't worry I will take care of it."
-----
Han shifted position trying in vain to get comfortable on the log he had clamed for a seat. They had touched down on the planet Nivina nine hours before, opting for concealment over closeness. No one was completely sure what type of detection equipment was located around the complex and no one wanted to take any chances. They all agreed that they should land out of range of the buildings, knowing there was a good chance they had wore out their welcome during their last visit. What no one counted on was the surrounding forest being so dense. The closest clearing big enough to land a ship, whether intentional or unintentional was a full days walk away from their target.
More than halfway to their destination they had bedded down for the night, intending to continue at first light. He looked around the group he stood watch over. They had all kept really close through the years. Chewie, Leia, Luke, and himself, they were always there for the one another. Even Mara, Han had to admit, was around whenever Luke needed her. Lando was reliable to a point. You just needed to be able to find him when you needed him. However Lando had shown back up this time, a little reluctant but willing to lend a hand. Han wondered if it was yet another ploy to try to get Mara's attention. Han wanted desperately to tell Lando to back off. However his reasons for telling him that were not his to tell, and the people that should be the bearers of the information had yet to show any sign that they were aware that it happened.
He stretched out his tired muscles and looked around. He had woken up some time ago and sent Chewie to get some sleep. The wookie had taken it upon himself to watch over the camp while everyone rested. He might not admit it, but Han knew he was glad to hand over the responsibility once Han offered. A sound caught his attention and he watched as Lando sat up and looked around. He then crawled out of his sleeping bag and came to sit next to Han.
"You taking over for Chewie?" Lando inquired, helping himself to some of the caf sitting nearby.
"Yeah he needed some sleep. I had a hard time convincing him to let me take over," Han explained. It was the truth, no matter how tired Chewie ever got, he never wanted to give up a responsibility once he had accepted it.
"That's Chewie for you." There was a noise from the sleeping group, distracting the two of them for a moment but the dreamer soon settled back into a peaceful slumber.
"How are they handling things?" Lando asked. Han knew right away that he was talking about Luke and Mara. Back when they were first leaving this planet Lando had convinced Han to stop long enough for him to pick up his ship. Lando had then went his own way, expressing his apologies at not being able to stay, but explaining that since he knew they were safe he needed to see to his investments. After two months Lando had all but vanished. Showing up or calling ever once in a while to check on their progress but other then that staying away.
"They pulled through it," Han told him. "I was worried about them coming back here, but they seem to be handling it quiet well. There were times we doubted the sanity in the decision of keeping them together, but I think in the long run, it helped. Things might have gotten a lot worse if they had been left alone." Han paused, thinking hear heard something. He scanned the area of their camp but there was nothing amiss. He heard Mara mumble something in her sleep, then she rolled over facing them.
"Ever notice that we always seem to be doing this?" Han asked, turning his attention back to his friend sitting beside him.
"Doing what?" Lando asked.
"Walking great distances," Han told him, laughing softly. "You would think we could just take a normal camping trip."
"Nothing is ever normal with this family," Lando kidded. He paused for a second, drinking the last of his caf. "You know, Mara has never been anything but a difficult person," he said, changing the subject. "But I think I am finally getting through to her."
Han caught himself before he coked on his own drink. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I think she's finally starting to admit she has feelings for me," Lando explained.
"For you?" Han asked, amazed that Lando could actually surmise that from Mara behavior towards him.
"Well of course me, who else would it be?" If you only knew, Han thought.
"What made you come to that conclusion?" Han asked. Lando was fond of crazy schemes, but this one was a bit far fetched.
"Simple, why do you think I knew to be here? Mara called me and asked me to join you guys. I think she asked me along because she wanted to spend a little time together." Han smiled in understanding. He could now see what gave Lando the idea but he had taken the facts and ran the opposite direction with them.
"Do you think it could have possibly been because we were trying to keep this thing quiet? And just maybe she figured since you already knew about it you would be an asset. And that's why she asked you along?"
"Well yeah that too," Lando said. He slowly stood and walked over to where Mara was sleeping. She moaned softly, still secure in the clutched of her dream. Lando looked over at Han and smiled before couching closer to Mara.
"Who makes you feel that good, Mara?" Lando asked in a low whisper. Han rolled his eyes but leaned closer. He was curious to see what her answer would be. "Who visits you in your dreams, Mara," Lando asked once again.
"Luke," she breathed with a smile. She pulled her sleeping bag more securely around her shoulders then rolled away from them. Han took one look at Lando and knew that he was furious. Han quickly stood and stepped in front of his friend.
"Get out of my face, Han!" Lando bit out. However her was not looking at Han, he was looking across the campsite to where Luke lay asleep.
"What are you going to do?" Han asked. "Are you going to storm over there and confront him because of a dream that he knows nothing about?" Lando sighed and looked back at Han. He swiftly turned away from everyone and walked away, stopping at the edge of the small clearing and sitting down, his back to the camp.
Han considered going over and talking to him, but decided against it. Whatever was going on in Lando's head was something he needed to deal with. And with the number of Jedi that they were traveling with it was probably better for him that he deal with it while the others where sleeping. Han returned instead to his log and sat down. He picked up his discarded cup and refilled it, taking a sip of the warm liquid. His gaze wondered back to Mara who had fallen back into a silent slumber, then over to Luke. He could not help but smile. It would seem that there might have been more going on lately then either of them were talking about. He settled back against the tree that the log rested against and settled in to wait for everyone to wake up.
----
Mara pushed her way through a rather dense patch of undergrowth. They had been walking for over an hour, and had been making good time considering the obstacles that kept popping up. Han had woke them all at sunrise and they had quickly and quietly packed up camp, each grabbing a ration bar as they worked. They were getting closer to the compound and she knew she should at least be feeling a bit apprehensive, but the feeling was overshadowed by the residual feelings left over from her nights sleep. Her face flushed at the memory, but the experience suddenly evaporated when her foot caught on a tree root protruding out of the ground. She landed on her knees and elbows, cursing her lack of attention as her pack fell open and a few of its contents spilled out onto the ground. Mara quickly removed the pack and threw everything back inside. She was just tightening the straps when Lando passed her up.
"I would offer to help you," Lando said over his shoulder. "But I'm sure I'm not the one you are wanting help from."
"What are you talking about?" Mara exclaimed, but he continued walking, putting more distance between them. It wasn't the first snide comment she had received from Lando since they started the day's walk, and she was quickly tiring from it. It was time to put and end to it. She lifted her pack onto her back once again then set off on a fast pace until she caught up with him.
"What wrong with you?" she demanded. Lando glanced her way but did not offer an explanation. She could feel her temper rise at his stubbornness. "What do you think is going on here, Lando? Each step we take brings us closer to danger. This is not some family outing we are trying to reach. And your attitude is likely to get someone hurt."
"Must have been some dream you had last night Mara," Lando shot at her. "Do you remember it?"
Mara felt her face fall in shock. She quickly forced her barriers up, hiding her reaction. Her dream flashed once again through her mind before she pushed it back. There is no way he could know, she thought. "Part of it, why?"
Lando turned angry eyes her way and she knew that he somehow had an idea about what she had been dreaming. However she couldn't understand how he could have known, she had told no one about them.
"Well, lets just say that the next time you try and keep a secret, you should try harder to keep your mouth shut while you are asleep!"
"I was talking in my sleep, so what are you getting at Calrissian?" Mara asked, becoming angry herself. Her dreams were of no concern to anyone else, but she felt Lando was overreacting. His advances did not go unnoticed to her, but she had never done anything but push Lando away. He would not back off, and Mara believed that it was that reason that Lando had reacted the way he had.
"Ah, never mind, it's not worth it anymore." Lando quickened his step placing more distance between them once again. Mara threw her hands up in frustration. Lando's mood swings and immature behavior were the last things she needed to deal with at that time.
Mara could hear Han approach behind her and she turned in time to see both him and Chewie clear the annoying patch of undergrowth she had exited moments before. Han fell into step with her while Chewie continued to bring up the rear.
"What's wrong with your friend, Solo," Mara questioned.
"Last night, " Han explained to her, "during our watch, you started making noises in your sleep, Lando, being Lando, figured that you were dreaming about him. So he decided he needed an ego boost and he asked you what you were dreaming about." Mara's head fell and the color drained from her face. "You told him it was…."
"Luke…"she finished for him in a whisper. She glanced ahead to Luke who was walking with his sister talking quietly. She felt a pang of guilt. While they had gotten along as well as could be expected during their treatment, a silence had fallen over them as they started the mission, and it continued on until they were downright uncomfortable around each other. And she was unsure how to get past it. And now, with her dreams added to the mix, it was just making things worse.
"So, is there something going on between the two of you?" Han asked.
"Solo, I was just talking in my sleep," Mara snapped.
"I know, I know," he said defensively. "I was just wondering if there was something or if maybe you wished there was something between the two of you."
"Solo…." She said warningly.
"Oh, sorry Mara," Han apologized. "A bit too personal. I got it, none of my business, just a dream." He took a breath, and then held her arm to slow her. Mara sighed and waited for him to finish talking. "I just worry about him. He is the closest thing to a true brother that I have ever had."
"That is very nice," she said mock sweetly. "However, that is not what I was going to say."
"No?" Han asked, taken aback. Um, then what?"
"Ugh…" She paused, wondering if it was wise to do what she was preparing to do. "I need to tell someone this, and I cannot tell Skywalker…I think it was more then a dream."
"You mean a Jedi thing?" Han asked, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Look Mara, you know that I know practically nothing about that stuff."
"Do you ever stop talking?" Mara wondered aloud. She smiled slightly before continuing. "Not a Jedi thing. Not really. More like a memory."
"A memory?" Han asked, her comment getting his attention and causing his pace to slow slightly. "From when?"
"Here," she said indicating around her. "Nivina. I keep having very… graphic… detailed dreams. It's been going on about a week now. Always about Skywalker and me, always with those outfits they stuck us in, and most of them…very erotic." The last words where barley a whisper and she knew Han had to strain to hear them, and she was sure that the blush that went uncontrolled on her cheeks did not go unnoticed.
"What about Luke?" he asked, looking ahead to the twins still walking together. "Does he have the same?"
"I have never come out and asked him about the dreams," Mara told him. "But he keeps saying that he does not remember anything."
"I think you need to ask him."
"I will, soon. Right now it looks like we are almost there." She pointed ahead to the building just coming into view behind the trees. Luke and Leia waited at the edge of the clearing as everyone arrived. Luke stood studying the land in front of them. It was strangely quiet but did not raise any warnings. It was Leia who turned first then waited for Luke to make a decision. He finally turned but he did not look happy.
"It's too quiet," he said aloud. "But I am picking up nothing amiss. I say we do this just like we planned. We split up and try and track down as much information as we can, Mara with Lando, Leia with Chewie, and Han with me. We'll keep in touch through the Force so we don't risk drawing attention to ourselves by using a comlink.
"Sounds good," Han agreed, stepping closer to Luke. "Lets just change it to Leia and Lando, and Mara and Chewie." Mara hid the feeling of relief at his words. She was going to suggest it, but was glad that Han had sis it instead.
"I see no problem with that. Any particular reason why?"
"Don't ask," Mara said, throwing a piercing look at Lando.
They split into the designated pairs, fanning out across the clearing and entering the compound at different locations. Lando lead Leia towards the building that Sesla had escorted them to on their previous visit. Lando pointed out that Sesla had mentioned seeing Luke and Mara when they were brought in so it stood to reason that there might have been clues to be found there. The building they were looking for was on the far side of the compound. They were just over half way to their destination when Leia felt a spike of fear radiating from Luke. She felt Luke send out a mental alarm and a startled command.
Get out! Get out now, while you can! The level of fear coming from her brother was more then enough to get her to move. She took hold of Lando's arm and pulled him along a few feet behind her before he got the hint and began to run on his own. They had just entered the forest when Mara and Chewie found their way in.
"Where's Luke?" Mara asked, placing her hands on her knees while she desperately tried to catch her breath.
"They're not back yet," Leia told her. They all glanced back repeatedly waiting for a sign that the two men where on their way out. But nothing on the outside of the complex had changed. Leia was startled when Mara's head snapped around to face the complex and the woman instinctively dropped into a combat stance. Leia was about to ask her what was wrong when she felt it too. Luke's sense had suddenly reappeared and was reaching out to them again. Leia could feel his fear but it was under control this time. However his command did not change.
Get out of here! He shouted at them. Don't wait for us. We will find another way out. Just go! His sense was cut off once again causing Leia to flinch.
"Lets get out of here," she stated aloud for the sake of the none Force sensitives. They started away until they heard a loud crash like something forcing it's way through the trees and the whine of a ship's repulsers not far ahead of them. Leia stopped in alarm until she saw Chewie gesturing with a small remote in his hand. She ran forward instantly knowing that the ship that had just landed was the Falcon, called to the area by the device in Chewie's possession.
By the time they had the Falcon in the air, they had received two more messages from Luke telling them to get off the planet. They headed back to Coruscant to get help.