The Maji
Mirelle sat against the cool, solid wall of the room. Her eyes had grown used to the dim light, but she couldn't get used to the cold, deadly feeling coming from her captor. Even when he wasn't in the room she could feel it. She still couldn't believe her ship had been taken. She'd been about to make the jump to hyperspace when they'd surrounded her; their weapons trained on her little ship. Her ship had weapons, quite good ones in fact, but there had been a squad of twelve and those weren't good odds. She'd gone with them, knowing through the force that it was the right thing to do. She'd tried to send an image to her parents, and now hoped that it had worked. She couldn't believe that just days ago she'd thought that everything she knew was right. Now, all she seemed to be was confused. Her mother had been lying to her, no, not lying, only telling her what she'd convinced herself was the truth. Her mother had said that she was free to believe what she wanted, and Mirelle had done reading on the jedi and how they'd helped the universe. She admired them all, even her father. He'd struggled so hard to become what he was, and she wished she could be a jedi just like him. When her mother had told her what had happened between them, Mirelle had been angry at first. She'd felt her mother's pain, her sense of betrayal, and sadness, and she'd wanted to avenge those feelings, but her mother hadn't let her. She'd told her that anger was of the dark side, and so Mirelle had tried to come to terms with what had happened on her own. One day, she'd walked up to her mother and had simply said that jedi were human too. Her mother had been speechless after that and then had taken her to see her father. Mirelle had felt through the force how good her father was, how his presence in the force seemed to give off it's own glow. She knew now that he had loved her mother, that he still did, and he hadn't meant to be cruel or hurtful. She also knew that her mother reacted in the only way she knew how. Her trust had been taken away so many times, how could she act any other way. Mirelle just hoped now that they were coming to find her. Suddenly she gasped as that cold descended upon her again. It felt like being submerged in icy liquid, and held there. She heard the steppes of the man coming towards her, and at last she saw him. His violet eyes glittered at her, and she could sense the insanity eating away at his mind. "Hello my child," he almost whispered, his voice seeming to ripple towards her, like waves on a lake.
"What do you want?" she asked calmly, drawing on the force around her to keep that coldness from seeping into her mind.
"Only to help you," he said, reaching down a hand and pulling her to her feet. His hand was smooth and cool, and it dropped hers and rested against her face. "You look so much like your father, but you're much stronger than he ever was," he said, stroking her cheek.
"Yes, I am," she agreed, knowing it was true. She did have more power than her parents did combined, and was more than grateful her mother had taught her how to use it.
"You're better than your father ever could be," he said.
"No, I've made mistakes, just as everyone else has, even you," she said calmly.
He smiled coldly, putting a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I wouldn't say a thing like that, I never make mistakes," he said, and his voice had a sharp edge to it that hadn't been there before.
Mirelle laughed then, unable to help herself. "Oh come on. What kind of idiot would go into the core-worlds and kidnap the child of a jedi? It's already been tried, and it didn't work then. What makes you think it'll work now?" she asked.
"I know what I'm doing," he growled, his rage growing.
She laughed again. He was so arrogant. "Oh sure, you're stupid if you don't think my parents aren't coming for me," she said, and then he slapped her, hard. She went tumbling backwards, and hit the wall, sliding to the floor.
"Do not mock me you insolent child!" he shrieked.
She wiped blood from her nose. "Why, it's so easy," she said, catching her breath.
"You'll pay for that," he muttered, his voice a low rumble. Suddenly lightning sprang from his fingertips and hit her.
She jolted, feeling pain slice into her. She clenched her teeth together, and did not cry out, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of that. She felt herself dying, moving closer to the edge of unconsciousness, and suddenly a huge gust of wind blew through the room. The lightning stopped, and she saw the man thrown against a far wall. Her eyes moved to her father and mother standing in the doorway. Her father had his hands extended, and now dropped them, looking tired and drained. He swayed a little, and her mother steadied him. They whispered a few words to each other, and with a final look at one another, Mara left him and made her way over towards Mirelle. She reached her, and took her gently in her arms. Mirelle winced as pain from her wounds gripped her, and drew on the force to calm it. She could feel her mother helping her, and she sighed. "Are you all right?" Mara asked, kissing her cheek.
"I'll be fine," Mirelle said.
"Mirelle, I'm sorry, about all of it, I'm sorry," Mara said, hugging her closer.
Mirelle looked at her mother, feeling calm, and at last at peace with all that had happened. "It's all right Mom," she said.
Mara rested a hand against her daughter's face. "You're a better person than I am," she said.
Mirelle was about to answer when suddenly the man spoke from his place on the floor. "I see you're feeling better Skywalker," he said, and then laughed.
Luke felt suddenly, that same fiery, screaming pain he'd felt invading his head all those years ago, and then, everything clicked into place. "You, it was you the whole time," he gasped, hardly able to believe it.
"Yes, it was, and to think it all worked so well," he said, climbing to his feet. "You see, I knew about the two of you. I knew where you'd come from, what you did, and just how powerful you were. What I didn't know was how powerful a child of yours would become. I drugged you, my Lovely," he said, nodding at Mara, "and you, I showed you the pain I have to live with each day," he almost snarled at Luke.
"What are you?" Luke asked, sensing something unusual about the man. He had the force, the jedi could feel it, but there was something else in his blood, something Luke had never touched before.
"I am the Maji Salen. I command the force yes, only because my whoring mother was a jedi. My father was a mage. He held the power of magic, and ultimately, it was too much power for me. I damn them both to all the hells that ever were for my existence," he said, his voice a deep growl. He raised a hand, and a shimmering ball of red, and green-white light formed in his palm. He let it float over above Mara and Mirelle, and then it exploded in a shower of dazzling sparks. Luke watched as it caught in their hair and reflected like stars in their eyes. "The magic can be beautiful," Salen said, smiling at the image he'd created, "but it can also be deadly." He finished, a purple bolt of fire leaping from his fingers and knocking Luke to the floor. "I think that now, would be a good time to show you all, just how much damage it can do," he said. With a snap of his fingers, the force was gone from the room, and all three gasped. Guards suddenly appeared in the door and went for Mirelle. They grabbed her, and Mara began to move for her blaster. "One move Miss Jade, and I'll kill her," Salen said, raising a finger, which sputtered with controlled lightning and pointing it at Mirelle's head. Mara remained still as the guards led Mirelle away, blasters at her back. Mara noticed that they were the same aliens who'd captured her all those years ago. "I wouldn't try anything either Mirelle. My elven guards are quick, and have orders to kill you at the slightest provocation," he said. They led Mirelle from the room, and with a laugh, and a snap of his fingers, Salen was gone.
Mara stood, looking around to see where he'd gotten to, when she heard footsteps and turned to see Luke walking towards her. He walked up to her, wrapped her in a tight hug, and before she had time to even think about it, he kissed her. There was intensity in his kiss she'd never felt before, and for a second, she couldn't move. His mind brushed hers, and she felt love, flowing from him to her. He loved her, completely, and he always would. She began kissing back, matching his intensity, and hugging him as tightly as she could. His heart was racing, and she felt him stroke her hair and face, the kiss deepening and growing more heated. She thought she'd lose her footing, she was so dizzy, and then a moment later he was looking at her, his eyes steady on hers. "Find Mirelle and get out of here," he said.
"Luke, what are you talking about?" she asked, and then she heard it too. Guards were walking down the hall, and she didn't need the force to know whom they were coming for.
"Find her and go," he said, his voice calm.
"I'll find you," she said, taking his hand and squeezing it hard.
He kissed her forehead, stroking her face gently. "Here," he said, slipping something cool into her hand. She looked down and saw his lightsaber. "No," she started to say, but he shook his head.
"I don't want them to have it, and you'll need it," he said.
"Skywalker, quit talking like this, we'll come for you," she said.
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently, warmly; letting his feelings flow into her. "May the force be with you Mara," he said, when he could speak again.
The guards grabbed him then, and he was led away. "Skywalker I," she called after him, unable to finish her sentence.
He nodded, holding her gaze. "I know, find her and go Mara," he answered, and then he was gone from the room.
Mirelle sat against the cool, solid wall of the room. Her eyes had grown used to the dim light, but she couldn't get used to the cold, deadly feeling coming from her captor. Even when he wasn't in the room she could feel it. She still couldn't believe her ship had been taken. She'd been about to make the jump to hyperspace when they'd surrounded her; their weapons trained on her little ship. Her ship had weapons, quite good ones in fact, but there had been a squad of twelve and those weren't good odds. She'd gone with them, knowing through the force that it was the right thing to do. She'd tried to send an image to her parents, and now hoped that it had worked. She couldn't believe that just days ago she'd thought that everything she knew was right. Now, all she seemed to be was confused. Her mother had been lying to her, no, not lying, only telling her what she'd convinced herself was the truth. Her mother had said that she was free to believe what she wanted, and Mirelle had done reading on the jedi and how they'd helped the universe. She admired them all, even her father. He'd struggled so hard to become what he was, and she wished she could be a jedi just like him. When her mother had told her what had happened between them, Mirelle had been angry at first. She'd felt her mother's pain, her sense of betrayal, and sadness, and she'd wanted to avenge those feelings, but her mother hadn't let her. She'd told her that anger was of the dark side, and so Mirelle had tried to come to terms with what had happened on her own. One day, she'd walked up to her mother and had simply said that jedi were human too. Her mother had been speechless after that and then had taken her to see her father. Mirelle had felt through the force how good her father was, how his presence in the force seemed to give off it's own glow. She knew now that he had loved her mother, that he still did, and he hadn't meant to be cruel or hurtful. She also knew that her mother reacted in the only way she knew how. Her trust had been taken away so many times, how could she act any other way. Mirelle just hoped now that they were coming to find her. Suddenly she gasped as that cold descended upon her again. It felt like being submerged in icy liquid, and held there. She heard the steppes of the man coming towards her, and at last she saw him. His violet eyes glittered at her, and she could sense the insanity eating away at his mind. "Hello my child," he almost whispered, his voice seeming to ripple towards her, like waves on a lake.
"What do you want?" she asked calmly, drawing on the force around her to keep that coldness from seeping into her mind.
"Only to help you," he said, reaching down a hand and pulling her to her feet. His hand was smooth and cool, and it dropped hers and rested against her face. "You look so much like your father, but you're much stronger than he ever was," he said, stroking her cheek.
"Yes, I am," she agreed, knowing it was true. She did have more power than her parents did combined, and was more than grateful her mother had taught her how to use it.
"You're better than your father ever could be," he said.
"No, I've made mistakes, just as everyone else has, even you," she said calmly.
He smiled coldly, putting a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I wouldn't say a thing like that, I never make mistakes," he said, and his voice had a sharp edge to it that hadn't been there before.
Mirelle laughed then, unable to help herself. "Oh come on. What kind of idiot would go into the core-worlds and kidnap the child of a jedi? It's already been tried, and it didn't work then. What makes you think it'll work now?" she asked.
"I know what I'm doing," he growled, his rage growing.
She laughed again. He was so arrogant. "Oh sure, you're stupid if you don't think my parents aren't coming for me," she said, and then he slapped her, hard. She went tumbling backwards, and hit the wall, sliding to the floor.
"Do not mock me you insolent child!" he shrieked.
She wiped blood from her nose. "Why, it's so easy," she said, catching her breath.
"You'll pay for that," he muttered, his voice a low rumble. Suddenly lightning sprang from his fingertips and hit her.
She jolted, feeling pain slice into her. She clenched her teeth together, and did not cry out, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of that. She felt herself dying, moving closer to the edge of unconsciousness, and suddenly a huge gust of wind blew through the room. The lightning stopped, and she saw the man thrown against a far wall. Her eyes moved to her father and mother standing in the doorway. Her father had his hands extended, and now dropped them, looking tired and drained. He swayed a little, and her mother steadied him. They whispered a few words to each other, and with a final look at one another, Mara left him and made her way over towards Mirelle. She reached her, and took her gently in her arms. Mirelle winced as pain from her wounds gripped her, and drew on the force to calm it. She could feel her mother helping her, and she sighed. "Are you all right?" Mara asked, kissing her cheek.
"I'll be fine," Mirelle said.
"Mirelle, I'm sorry, about all of it, I'm sorry," Mara said, hugging her closer.
Mirelle looked at her mother, feeling calm, and at last at peace with all that had happened. "It's all right Mom," she said.
Mara rested a hand against her daughter's face. "You're a better person than I am," she said.
Mirelle was about to answer when suddenly the man spoke from his place on the floor. "I see you're feeling better Skywalker," he said, and then laughed.
Luke felt suddenly, that same fiery, screaming pain he'd felt invading his head all those years ago, and then, everything clicked into place. "You, it was you the whole time," he gasped, hardly able to believe it.
"Yes, it was, and to think it all worked so well," he said, climbing to his feet. "You see, I knew about the two of you. I knew where you'd come from, what you did, and just how powerful you were. What I didn't know was how powerful a child of yours would become. I drugged you, my Lovely," he said, nodding at Mara, "and you, I showed you the pain I have to live with each day," he almost snarled at Luke.
"What are you?" Luke asked, sensing something unusual about the man. He had the force, the jedi could feel it, but there was something else in his blood, something Luke had never touched before.
"I am the Maji Salen. I command the force yes, only because my whoring mother was a jedi. My father was a mage. He held the power of magic, and ultimately, it was too much power for me. I damn them both to all the hells that ever were for my existence," he said, his voice a deep growl. He raised a hand, and a shimmering ball of red, and green-white light formed in his palm. He let it float over above Mara and Mirelle, and then it exploded in a shower of dazzling sparks. Luke watched as it caught in their hair and reflected like stars in their eyes. "The magic can be beautiful," Salen said, smiling at the image he'd created, "but it can also be deadly." He finished, a purple bolt of fire leaping from his fingers and knocking Luke to the floor. "I think that now, would be a good time to show you all, just how much damage it can do," he said. With a snap of his fingers, the force was gone from the room, and all three gasped. Guards suddenly appeared in the door and went for Mirelle. They grabbed her, and Mara began to move for her blaster. "One move Miss Jade, and I'll kill her," Salen said, raising a finger, which sputtered with controlled lightning and pointing it at Mirelle's head. Mara remained still as the guards led Mirelle away, blasters at her back. Mara noticed that they were the same aliens who'd captured her all those years ago. "I wouldn't try anything either Mirelle. My elven guards are quick, and have orders to kill you at the slightest provocation," he said. They led Mirelle from the room, and with a laugh, and a snap of his fingers, Salen was gone.
Mara stood, looking around to see where he'd gotten to, when she heard footsteps and turned to see Luke walking towards her. He walked up to her, wrapped her in a tight hug, and before she had time to even think about it, he kissed her. There was intensity in his kiss she'd never felt before, and for a second, she couldn't move. His mind brushed hers, and she felt love, flowing from him to her. He loved her, completely, and he always would. She began kissing back, matching his intensity, and hugging him as tightly as she could. His heart was racing, and she felt him stroke her hair and face, the kiss deepening and growing more heated. She thought she'd lose her footing, she was so dizzy, and then a moment later he was looking at her, his eyes steady on hers. "Find Mirelle and get out of here," he said.
"Luke, what are you talking about?" she asked, and then she heard it too. Guards were walking down the hall, and she didn't need the force to know whom they were coming for.
"Find her and go," he said, his voice calm.
"I'll find you," she said, taking his hand and squeezing it hard.
He kissed her forehead, stroking her face gently. "Here," he said, slipping something cool into her hand. She looked down and saw his lightsaber. "No," she started to say, but he shook his head.
"I don't want them to have it, and you'll need it," he said.
"Skywalker, quit talking like this, we'll come for you," she said.
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently, warmly; letting his feelings flow into her. "May the force be with you Mara," he said, when he could speak again.
The guards grabbed him then, and he was led away. "Skywalker I," she called after him, unable to finish her sentence.
He nodded, holding her gaze. "I know, find her and go Mara," he answered, and then he was gone from the room.