Chapter 6
Luke Skywalker swallowed hard as he glanced down nervously. He had
taken Corran's and Kam's advice and decided to go with the two ceremonies,
one Jedi and one secular. He had been very gracious for Kam's and Tionne's
help in putting together this ceremony. Luke had not known what to do. He
cupped a large blue stone in his hands and caught Mara's eye, who was
standing there also with a large stone much similar to his own. He relaxed
his shoulders under the yellow Jedi tunic and black robe as he used the
Force to try to calm himself. Strands of wound together roses hung from
each platform and covered the edges, where they had previously trained had
gone through such a major change that it was hard to recognize it as such
and Luke didn't really have the nerves to concentrate on it at that very
moment as Mara offered him a reassuring smile.
"Welcome, my brother and sister Jedi." Kam began as he raised his hand high and spread them out to address every Jedi present. "Today we have a great honor to celebrate the coming together of Mara Jade..."
Although all the faces there were smiling, joyful, and reassuring Luke could feel otherwise through the Force. At the mention of the name Mara Jade many of those presences grew cold and rejecting towards him because of the woman he had chosen to marry. They knew her past and like many times didn't trust his judgment.
"and our Master, Luke Skywalker. Their bond with one another was forged through the Force and strengthened by it..."
Obviously Kam had also felt the presences through the Force and was going to make things clear especially on the fact that they should not question the choice of the Jedi Master and especially the urgings of the Force for Luke and Mara to be together. Luke felt the nervousness of Mara growing as it continued and mustered to send some reassurance through their link in the Force.
"so that their efforts together could be stronger than the efforts of any two other Jedi."
Every Jedi was watching closely but all could feel the stares and many times glares directed at their backs. Some were glad though and others respected Luke too much to let their displeasure be known, but others made no attempt of hiding it. The Jedi were being fractioned and Luke knew this to be the beginning of it.
"It was once thought that emotional attachments would make a Jedi vulnerable, but these two so complete each other that only strength will flow from this union." Kam continued with his speech before he brought his hands down.
It seemed that Kam had everything covered and Luke really had nothing to worry about. He seemed to be in control and ahead of everyone else.
Mara's face split into a large smile as he eyes traced Luke's face and the joy she was feeling began to overwhelm her and her green eyes sparked with excitement at this new life they were stepping into. "When I first met Luke, I was under a compulsion to kill him. Generally not a good sign for a lasting relationship."
Mara knew it was more true than she could ever imagine as she remembered a conversation she had once had with Callista when questioned about her relationship with Luke, she denied to having cared about him greatly then but now knew it had been denial and a bold faced lie. "Hey mind if I sit here?" Mara asked the blond woman and took a seat next to Callista as she saw a discreet nod.
"Better than packaged rations, I suppose, but I can tell you people don't have a gourmet droid here." At no response Mara prodded further. "So you're Skywalker's new lady?" Mara could feel a spark of emotion as she recalled on the Hunter's Luck the sight of Luke kissing the woman. She could feel a spark of anger but Mara didn't know why.
"Yes I am," she answered with an unemotional expression on her face and in her voice. "And you must be Mara Jade. I've heard about you."
Mara gave a curt nod and watched her closely unsure of where this was going.
"I also heard that hints that that you might have been interested in Luke yourself at one time."
Mara felt that spark of anger turn into a full blown burning fire as she took a drink to keep from chocking on her stew and gave a short laugh to try to cover her shock at the sudden emotion. "Who told you I was ever interested in Luke Skywalker? When I first met him, the thing I wanted most in the universe was to kill him. I thought that way for a long time.... Sometimes it still seems like a good idea to me. Not a great basis for a long-term relationship." Mara now knew what that anger had been, it had been jealousy and now if Callista ever came back she would have to go through Mara to even look at Luke again. Luke Skywalker belonged with her and no one would take him away from her.
"Such was his courage that he did not run, and did not strike me. He accepted me as no one else had before."
Myrkr, it had once been a nightmare, where she was not allowed to kill the murderer of her master. She had considered more than once in the forest killing him, now she was more than thankful she didn't.
Mara reached out her hand and concentrated on the Force using it to lift the stone up as Luke did the same using so much less concentration and just a thoughtful expression on his face.
"There was a sense to Mara, when I met her, that would not let me fear her though countless others have learned that fearing her can be trouble." They shared everything, all experiences, fears, joys, everything, through the bond. Luke had seen all the assassinations she had committed. He had been close to being one of them. There were times where he wished he had never known. Some of the people she had killed, he had known, some of the rebels he had been close to. The horrors she had gone through as the Emperor's Hand.
"The Force brought us together, and kept bringing us together until neither of us could deny our destiny to be together forever." Luke wondered why it was them to be brought together, the Emperor's Hand and the Son of Vader.
I don't deserve to be with you, I was evil, a murderer for the Emperor. You're a hero of the rebellion.
Yes, hero of the rebellion. But also the son of Darth Vader, heir to his dark power. I was once Lord Skywalker, Dark Lord of the Sith and heir to my father's destiny, servant of the reborn Emperor Palpatine. Have you forgotten that part of my past so soon? I'm not as good as you may believe.
The two stones clinked together and sealed with the power of the Force, never to be broken as Kam reached out his hand and called it to him holding it out before all. "Let no one here doubt the wisdom of the Force. May the Force be with you both and in your life together."
Kam urged them forward as Mara tucked her arm into the crook of Luke's and they began walking down the aisle made by the roses. Up above a group of younger apprentices threw petals of flowers and they rained down on them and the Jedi on either side raised their lightsabers, ignited, as they walked past as a symbol of respect and honor towards the Force and its wisdom.
Mara knew even though she didn't feel she deserved it this was what was right. She no longer cared what the rest of the people thought as they reached the end and excited the training area. As soon as they had escaped slightly Luke smiled down at her and brought his hands up and help her face between them.
"We've gone through this ceremony, does this mean we're married?"
"We're only halfway there. Wait till after the public one before you move in or there will be problems." Luke lowered his head and kissed her softly and she returned it hard until shortly they were interrupted by the crowd of Jedi coming to congratulate them.
___________________ Chik bent down against the leaves of the large tree as he stared out at the sight that greeted them, the gardens, the location of the wedding was decked out with a huge champagne fountain, big enough to give drinks to hundreds and maybe even thousands, the bright sun shining behind the great bright globe shooting reflections through the liquid pouring down silently and soothingly.
"Look at the size of that thing . . . there will be thousands of people here . . ." Chala murmured from where he was hiding.
"Bigger audience for what we have to do . . . recorder on . . ."
___________________ A Mon Calamari continued to walk forward regarding each and every tree to the tourists that followed, there were so many since the wedding had been announced. " . . . would have been lost save for an aggressive preservation effort by Imperial authorities, leaving us a positive legacy from that time . . ."
Ignoring the tour guide a young woman glanced up at a tree to see two figures in a tree, she knew they were not supposed to be there and she would have to do something about it, after all she couldn't allow it, she had to organize the entire thing.
___________________ "How far up is that, you figure?" Chala asked as he used his spray gun to point towards the top of the fountain.
"Too far for you to reach with your spray. Look alive, incoming." Chik told him referring to the young woman that was staring their direction.
"May I help you?" She asked the two strangers as she headed towards the tree and stopped immediately in front of them.
"Just spraying for Garqi Vert-mites," Chala said repeating the story they had fabricated earlier on. "Not much threat here, really, but once they get into a place . . . "
"Oh, well, I see . . ." she said watching them closely.
"Tourists brought them in. Though just one little plant wouldn't hurt." Chik continued.
"I have no knowledge of your being here . . ."
"Funny when these little bugs move faster than datafiles, eh?" Chik said with a forced smile.
"Oh, yeah, they're here."
___________________
"Thanks to another Imperial preservation effort..." the Mon Calamari continued regarding yet another tree.
___________________
Yes, mite-dust, never miss it." Chala told her holding up a small thread.
"Are you sure?" She asked them cautiously not knowing whether or not to trust them.
"I know it by feel, but you could taste it if your want. Shouldn't hurt you. You look healthy enough."
She finally shook her head, still not sure but she couldn't risk the mites being there. "No, fine, get rid of them. Can't have them here with all that's going on."
"Consider them and us a memory." Chala finished with a sinister smile.
___________________ "The red rancor?" Luke asked incredulously as he shifted his shoulders under the new cloak that was so unlike his Jedi robe. He stared up at the huge industrial size building with the smoke billowing from it. He wouldn't have been surprised had it once been a warehouse. "I don't know, Han, I've heard some bad things about this place."
Some bad things was an understatement. Luke had heard more about the place than he really wanted to. Luke was uncomfortable about the place and there was a feeling of apprehension with each step he took closer to the building.
"Kid, would I steer you wrong?"
Maybe, Han Solo, if you didn't know what you were getting into.
"You gotta be here," Han said as eh urged Luke forward.
"Right," Wedge said with a grin, "it's a tradition, a proud one . . ."
"A Corellian one," Luke finished before Wedge could.
. Han looked down at Luke with a look that made Luke nervous. "We would have gone for the Tatooine equivalent, but it isn't easy to find a Krayt Dragon on Coruscant."
"Is that what you would have preferred?" Wedge asked as he followed Luke down the steps. One Corellian in front and one behind him, almost as if they were trying to keep him from escaping their grasps until it was done and over.
"I'd have proffered you didn't let Lando pick out my clothes," Luke glared at both of them and uncomfortably pulled at his clothes. He swore he must look like an idiot in them; he wanted to be in his respectable Jedi blacks even if Mara did hate them. These clothes made him feel like some rich bureaucrat, a smooth talking ladies man, really like the green horned farmboy Leia had dragged to receptions and had shoved him into stiff expensive clothes, they had probably costed as much as all the meals sent to Yavin for a year. She had claimed them to be in style but he just thought them to be uncomfortable. He knew that Han letting Leia dress him up was something he just laughed at. If Mara tried to put him in such incredulous outfits as Leia put Han in Luke swore he would . . .
"And here I thought Luke wore black because he dressed in the dark."
"Jedi:" Wedge said as he laughed at his old commander who had changed so much since then. "They don't known pain and this fun thing can escape them too."
Luke brought his hand up to his mouth to hide the grin that split his face. "How did you get everyone here?"
"I explained what was going on," Han said with a smirk as a group of people crowded around them.
"And being a New Republic General, I cut some orders," Wedge finished before Han.
Luke brought his hand down and his eyes sparked with wonderment and excitement, "wow!"
Chewie roared as he lifted up the huge keg of ale. Hobbie grabbed the valve and then pulled his mug away letting a puddle drip onto the floor before he got it closed and he took a swig.
"Miss a party for a Rogue? Not possible."
Talon clapped Gavin on the shoulder as Gavin grinned, "Once they told me no Krayt Dragon, I was in."
Luke and Gavin shared a smile at the response of the others to the topic 'Krayt Dragon' as a pair of Tatooine farmboys it was nothing new to them.
Karrde raised up a glass with a sly grin, "I was honored to be asked Luke."
"Honored?" Luke asked with a grin. "You do realize I'm stealing your second-in-command?"
"You're not stealing her and she would skin me alive if I insinuated it!"
"Miss seeing my last bachelor friend off?" Luke raised an eyebrow at Lando; Lando had once been chasing Mara himself. Luke remembered when he had met Lando after his engagement to Mara. "Luke Skywalker! I'd never thought I'd see the day!" Lando threw his arms up at the sight of the Jedi Master.
"What day?"
"Luke, I swear you never grew up or gained anymore brains from when you left that dustbowl you call a planet! You're getting married, and to Mara Jade. You tamed the wild vixen. Not ladies man, my butt! If I weren't married to a wonderful woman myself I may have been rather stingy about this."
"What?" Luke asked rather fuddled.
"You're marrying Mara Jade, unless it was a different one."
Luke shook his head, not having slept much, or at all, in the past several days. He was as disoriented as possible.
"Mara Jade? Former Emperor's Hand? Master Trader Jade? Hot smuggler that wears a leather cat suit? Talon Karrde's former second-in-command? The women that half the galaxy thinks you're marrying?"
Luke shook his head still disoriented and Lando shook his head as he turned towards the approaching Han and they headed over to the Solo residence. "Miss a Corellian send-off?" Kyle Katarn said as he slapped Luke on the back. Luke had met Kyle earlier on in the Rebellion and later on when he had come to train at the academy for a short time.
A smug grin spread across Wes' face, one that made Luke worry. "Miss a party? Never."
Uh-oh, there's something about the look on Wes' face I don't like. There were so many things Wes has pulled on Luke before that Luke knew the look of trouble on Wes Janson's face. He had once thought Wes Janson would be the death of him, now he wondered whether Mara would beat Wes to it.
"I figured some one would have to keep you out of trouble."
"And you're supposed to be doing it? Kam! I swear you're responsible for half the trouble I get in." Luke admonished his fellow Jedi shaking his head slightly.
"Kam," Tycho said with a grin, "everyone at this table attracts trouble."
"I didn't have to be ordered to be here," Corran said as he leaned back into a chair.
"To see my friends here," Luke said with a timid smile, "I don't know what to say."
"Saying is for other times, Luke," Han said as he raised up his glass along with everyone else. "This is for fun . . . A toast to the man who saved the galaxy, on the eve of his greatest adventure: Marriage!"
They all gathered around the table and forced Luke into a seat handing him a glass. Luke didn't much like alcohol that much and had never drunk much before but between Han, Mara, and the Rogues he had gotten drunk enough times that it didn't matter any more.
Luke lost track of the time when a crowd of tattooed men crowded around their table and one of them angrily banged his fist on the table.
"Can we help you with something?" Luke asked as he brought his hand out, offering help. The man aggressively grabbed Luke's collar.
"What? Sith! I didn't do anything!" Luke knew he was in trouble. Chewie, enraged, grabbed the man and threw him towards another table. The now enraged parson whose table had been hit furiously rammed into the first person he saw, which was Luke.
Luke could feel himself hit a sheet of glass as the shards fell around him. As he hit his head was smashed against the wall and shards of glass dug into his back.
Adrenaline high, Talon and Lando punched the first tow men they had seen with Han and Tycho leaping over their heads. The riot had started and glasses began flying and crashing against the walls. Luke winced as he tried to crawl away but the shards of glass were hurting more and more. This was his fault and people may die because of him.
Hobbie raced towards another man along with Gavin and threw him down. Tycho turned around and attacked again but his attention was caught across the room, as was the attention of others but too late. Luke was clutching his head in pain and it was obvious that there was no way Luke would be able to concentrate, much less fight as a Trandoshan eyed the helpless Jedi Master and charged towards him lifting up a table.
All of them knew Luke was helpless and when that table landed it would kill Luke painfully and quickly. They all knew what it would do to him. None of them wanted to be there when Mara had to see the battered and broken body of her fiancé.
"Luke!" Some one yelled.
Luke saw the Trandoshan and tried to pull himself out of the way. As he was lifting the table up a man put his foot out and tripped the Trandoshan letting the table drop on himself.
Luke propped himself up and stared at the body of the Trandoshan knowing how close it had been to being him. If it had been he wouldn't want to know what Mara would have done to Han and the rest of the gang had he been killed.
Luke winced in pain as he brought a hand to his temple, his head was pounding and he was in so much pain.
"You okay kid?" Han asked as he helped Luke up.
"Sure, but next time, let's go for the Krayt Dragon."
"You're marrying Mara." Han pointed out to the disoriented younger man. "Do you really think there will be a next time?"
"You're help?" A man on the floor said ludicrously. "I didn't need your help."
"I'll graciously accept your thanks for my saving your . . ." Kyle began.
"You'll what?"
In the middle of it all was a mass of people unmoving.
"That Luke," Lando sighed, "you can dress him up, but..."
"Everyone wants to take him out. Probably a good idea for us to get him out before the scandal holoreporters get here." Talon finished.
"Proprietor? Bill please, to the man bleeding at my feet."
___________________ Iry approached Banner with suspicion. "Takkar won't like this. You saved Skywalker!"
"Shut up Iry. You had a good reason, right Banner." Chala said
"A good reason," Banner paused as he tried to remember why he had done it. It had been a reaction. "Yeah, um, I have one. To take him then, that would have been cheap." Banner said with more resolution. "It would have been, wrong, somehow."
"We do have Imperial standards.' Chala approached still wondering.
"I get it!" Iry said as he raised a hand. "We're better than swoopie scum. We have honor."
"No getting nothing past you Iry."
"They have to know it was us," Iry said viciously. "And why we were doing it."
"That was quick thinking Banner. I'd have made a mess of it."
"Data we got today at the gardens will let us make a mess of them there." Chala pointed out.
"Good thing you saved him Banner... What we have in store for Skywalker will just kill him."
Banner leaned against the wall knowing Imperial standards was not why he was doing it. Skywalker would survive. The war was over and it wasn't just to take away his well-deserved happiness like that. The peace had begun, and it was evil to hate. Hate caused the deaths of those you cared for and Banner had just now realized it and would do anything to stop it.
"Welcome, my brother and sister Jedi." Kam began as he raised his hand high and spread them out to address every Jedi present. "Today we have a great honor to celebrate the coming together of Mara Jade..."
Although all the faces there were smiling, joyful, and reassuring Luke could feel otherwise through the Force. At the mention of the name Mara Jade many of those presences grew cold and rejecting towards him because of the woman he had chosen to marry. They knew her past and like many times didn't trust his judgment.
"and our Master, Luke Skywalker. Their bond with one another was forged through the Force and strengthened by it..."
Obviously Kam had also felt the presences through the Force and was going to make things clear especially on the fact that they should not question the choice of the Jedi Master and especially the urgings of the Force for Luke and Mara to be together. Luke felt the nervousness of Mara growing as it continued and mustered to send some reassurance through their link in the Force.
"so that their efforts together could be stronger than the efforts of any two other Jedi."
Every Jedi was watching closely but all could feel the stares and many times glares directed at their backs. Some were glad though and others respected Luke too much to let their displeasure be known, but others made no attempt of hiding it. The Jedi were being fractioned and Luke knew this to be the beginning of it.
"It was once thought that emotional attachments would make a Jedi vulnerable, but these two so complete each other that only strength will flow from this union." Kam continued with his speech before he brought his hands down.
It seemed that Kam had everything covered and Luke really had nothing to worry about. He seemed to be in control and ahead of everyone else.
Mara's face split into a large smile as he eyes traced Luke's face and the joy she was feeling began to overwhelm her and her green eyes sparked with excitement at this new life they were stepping into. "When I first met Luke, I was under a compulsion to kill him. Generally not a good sign for a lasting relationship."
Mara knew it was more true than she could ever imagine as she remembered a conversation she had once had with Callista when questioned about her relationship with Luke, she denied to having cared about him greatly then but now knew it had been denial and a bold faced lie. "Hey mind if I sit here?" Mara asked the blond woman and took a seat next to Callista as she saw a discreet nod.
"Better than packaged rations, I suppose, but I can tell you people don't have a gourmet droid here." At no response Mara prodded further. "So you're Skywalker's new lady?" Mara could feel a spark of emotion as she recalled on the Hunter's Luck the sight of Luke kissing the woman. She could feel a spark of anger but Mara didn't know why.
"Yes I am," she answered with an unemotional expression on her face and in her voice. "And you must be Mara Jade. I've heard about you."
Mara gave a curt nod and watched her closely unsure of where this was going.
"I also heard that hints that that you might have been interested in Luke yourself at one time."
Mara felt that spark of anger turn into a full blown burning fire as she took a drink to keep from chocking on her stew and gave a short laugh to try to cover her shock at the sudden emotion. "Who told you I was ever interested in Luke Skywalker? When I first met him, the thing I wanted most in the universe was to kill him. I thought that way for a long time.... Sometimes it still seems like a good idea to me. Not a great basis for a long-term relationship." Mara now knew what that anger had been, it had been jealousy and now if Callista ever came back she would have to go through Mara to even look at Luke again. Luke Skywalker belonged with her and no one would take him away from her.
"Such was his courage that he did not run, and did not strike me. He accepted me as no one else had before."
Myrkr, it had once been a nightmare, where she was not allowed to kill the murderer of her master. She had considered more than once in the forest killing him, now she was more than thankful she didn't.
Mara reached out her hand and concentrated on the Force using it to lift the stone up as Luke did the same using so much less concentration and just a thoughtful expression on his face.
"There was a sense to Mara, when I met her, that would not let me fear her though countless others have learned that fearing her can be trouble." They shared everything, all experiences, fears, joys, everything, through the bond. Luke had seen all the assassinations she had committed. He had been close to being one of them. There were times where he wished he had never known. Some of the people she had killed, he had known, some of the rebels he had been close to. The horrors she had gone through as the Emperor's Hand.
"The Force brought us together, and kept bringing us together until neither of us could deny our destiny to be together forever." Luke wondered why it was them to be brought together, the Emperor's Hand and the Son of Vader.
I don't deserve to be with you, I was evil, a murderer for the Emperor. You're a hero of the rebellion.
Yes, hero of the rebellion. But also the son of Darth Vader, heir to his dark power. I was once Lord Skywalker, Dark Lord of the Sith and heir to my father's destiny, servant of the reborn Emperor Palpatine. Have you forgotten that part of my past so soon? I'm not as good as you may believe.
The two stones clinked together and sealed with the power of the Force, never to be broken as Kam reached out his hand and called it to him holding it out before all. "Let no one here doubt the wisdom of the Force. May the Force be with you both and in your life together."
Kam urged them forward as Mara tucked her arm into the crook of Luke's and they began walking down the aisle made by the roses. Up above a group of younger apprentices threw petals of flowers and they rained down on them and the Jedi on either side raised their lightsabers, ignited, as they walked past as a symbol of respect and honor towards the Force and its wisdom.
Mara knew even though she didn't feel she deserved it this was what was right. She no longer cared what the rest of the people thought as they reached the end and excited the training area. As soon as they had escaped slightly Luke smiled down at her and brought his hands up and help her face between them.
"We've gone through this ceremony, does this mean we're married?"
"We're only halfway there. Wait till after the public one before you move in or there will be problems." Luke lowered his head and kissed her softly and she returned it hard until shortly they were interrupted by the crowd of Jedi coming to congratulate them.
___________________ Chik bent down against the leaves of the large tree as he stared out at the sight that greeted them, the gardens, the location of the wedding was decked out with a huge champagne fountain, big enough to give drinks to hundreds and maybe even thousands, the bright sun shining behind the great bright globe shooting reflections through the liquid pouring down silently and soothingly.
"Look at the size of that thing . . . there will be thousands of people here . . ." Chala murmured from where he was hiding.
"Bigger audience for what we have to do . . . recorder on . . ."
___________________ A Mon Calamari continued to walk forward regarding each and every tree to the tourists that followed, there were so many since the wedding had been announced. " . . . would have been lost save for an aggressive preservation effort by Imperial authorities, leaving us a positive legacy from that time . . ."
Ignoring the tour guide a young woman glanced up at a tree to see two figures in a tree, she knew they were not supposed to be there and she would have to do something about it, after all she couldn't allow it, she had to organize the entire thing.
___________________ "How far up is that, you figure?" Chala asked as he used his spray gun to point towards the top of the fountain.
"Too far for you to reach with your spray. Look alive, incoming." Chik told him referring to the young woman that was staring their direction.
"May I help you?" She asked the two strangers as she headed towards the tree and stopped immediately in front of them.
"Just spraying for Garqi Vert-mites," Chala said repeating the story they had fabricated earlier on. "Not much threat here, really, but once they get into a place . . . "
"Oh, well, I see . . ." she said watching them closely.
"Tourists brought them in. Though just one little plant wouldn't hurt." Chik continued.
"I have no knowledge of your being here . . ."
"Funny when these little bugs move faster than datafiles, eh?" Chik said with a forced smile.
"Oh, yeah, they're here."
___________________
"Thanks to another Imperial preservation effort..." the Mon Calamari continued regarding yet another tree.
___________________
Yes, mite-dust, never miss it." Chala told her holding up a small thread.
"Are you sure?" She asked them cautiously not knowing whether or not to trust them.
"I know it by feel, but you could taste it if your want. Shouldn't hurt you. You look healthy enough."
She finally shook her head, still not sure but she couldn't risk the mites being there. "No, fine, get rid of them. Can't have them here with all that's going on."
"Consider them and us a memory." Chala finished with a sinister smile.
___________________ "The red rancor?" Luke asked incredulously as he shifted his shoulders under the new cloak that was so unlike his Jedi robe. He stared up at the huge industrial size building with the smoke billowing from it. He wouldn't have been surprised had it once been a warehouse. "I don't know, Han, I've heard some bad things about this place."
Some bad things was an understatement. Luke had heard more about the place than he really wanted to. Luke was uncomfortable about the place and there was a feeling of apprehension with each step he took closer to the building.
"Kid, would I steer you wrong?"
Maybe, Han Solo, if you didn't know what you were getting into.
"You gotta be here," Han said as eh urged Luke forward.
"Right," Wedge said with a grin, "it's a tradition, a proud one . . ."
"A Corellian one," Luke finished before Wedge could.
. Han looked down at Luke with a look that made Luke nervous. "We would have gone for the Tatooine equivalent, but it isn't easy to find a Krayt Dragon on Coruscant."
"Is that what you would have preferred?" Wedge asked as he followed Luke down the steps. One Corellian in front and one behind him, almost as if they were trying to keep him from escaping their grasps until it was done and over.
"I'd have proffered you didn't let Lando pick out my clothes," Luke glared at both of them and uncomfortably pulled at his clothes. He swore he must look like an idiot in them; he wanted to be in his respectable Jedi blacks even if Mara did hate them. These clothes made him feel like some rich bureaucrat, a smooth talking ladies man, really like the green horned farmboy Leia had dragged to receptions and had shoved him into stiff expensive clothes, they had probably costed as much as all the meals sent to Yavin for a year. She had claimed them to be in style but he just thought them to be uncomfortable. He knew that Han letting Leia dress him up was something he just laughed at. If Mara tried to put him in such incredulous outfits as Leia put Han in Luke swore he would . . .
"And here I thought Luke wore black because he dressed in the dark."
"Jedi:" Wedge said as he laughed at his old commander who had changed so much since then. "They don't known pain and this fun thing can escape them too."
Luke brought his hand up to his mouth to hide the grin that split his face. "How did you get everyone here?"
"I explained what was going on," Han said with a smirk as a group of people crowded around them.
"And being a New Republic General, I cut some orders," Wedge finished before Han.
Luke brought his hand down and his eyes sparked with wonderment and excitement, "wow!"
Chewie roared as he lifted up the huge keg of ale. Hobbie grabbed the valve and then pulled his mug away letting a puddle drip onto the floor before he got it closed and he took a swig.
"Miss a party for a Rogue? Not possible."
Talon clapped Gavin on the shoulder as Gavin grinned, "Once they told me no Krayt Dragon, I was in."
Luke and Gavin shared a smile at the response of the others to the topic 'Krayt Dragon' as a pair of Tatooine farmboys it was nothing new to them.
Karrde raised up a glass with a sly grin, "I was honored to be asked Luke."
"Honored?" Luke asked with a grin. "You do realize I'm stealing your second-in-command?"
"You're not stealing her and she would skin me alive if I insinuated it!"
"Miss seeing my last bachelor friend off?" Luke raised an eyebrow at Lando; Lando had once been chasing Mara himself. Luke remembered when he had met Lando after his engagement to Mara. "Luke Skywalker! I'd never thought I'd see the day!" Lando threw his arms up at the sight of the Jedi Master.
"What day?"
"Luke, I swear you never grew up or gained anymore brains from when you left that dustbowl you call a planet! You're getting married, and to Mara Jade. You tamed the wild vixen. Not ladies man, my butt! If I weren't married to a wonderful woman myself I may have been rather stingy about this."
"What?" Luke asked rather fuddled.
"You're marrying Mara Jade, unless it was a different one."
Luke shook his head, not having slept much, or at all, in the past several days. He was as disoriented as possible.
"Mara Jade? Former Emperor's Hand? Master Trader Jade? Hot smuggler that wears a leather cat suit? Talon Karrde's former second-in-command? The women that half the galaxy thinks you're marrying?"
Luke shook his head still disoriented and Lando shook his head as he turned towards the approaching Han and they headed over to the Solo residence. "Miss a Corellian send-off?" Kyle Katarn said as he slapped Luke on the back. Luke had met Kyle earlier on in the Rebellion and later on when he had come to train at the academy for a short time.
A smug grin spread across Wes' face, one that made Luke worry. "Miss a party? Never."
Uh-oh, there's something about the look on Wes' face I don't like. There were so many things Wes has pulled on Luke before that Luke knew the look of trouble on Wes Janson's face. He had once thought Wes Janson would be the death of him, now he wondered whether Mara would beat Wes to it.
"I figured some one would have to keep you out of trouble."
"And you're supposed to be doing it? Kam! I swear you're responsible for half the trouble I get in." Luke admonished his fellow Jedi shaking his head slightly.
"Kam," Tycho said with a grin, "everyone at this table attracts trouble."
"I didn't have to be ordered to be here," Corran said as he leaned back into a chair.
"To see my friends here," Luke said with a timid smile, "I don't know what to say."
"Saying is for other times, Luke," Han said as he raised up his glass along with everyone else. "This is for fun . . . A toast to the man who saved the galaxy, on the eve of his greatest adventure: Marriage!"
They all gathered around the table and forced Luke into a seat handing him a glass. Luke didn't much like alcohol that much and had never drunk much before but between Han, Mara, and the Rogues he had gotten drunk enough times that it didn't matter any more.
Luke lost track of the time when a crowd of tattooed men crowded around their table and one of them angrily banged his fist on the table.
"Can we help you with something?" Luke asked as he brought his hand out, offering help. The man aggressively grabbed Luke's collar.
"What? Sith! I didn't do anything!" Luke knew he was in trouble. Chewie, enraged, grabbed the man and threw him towards another table. The now enraged parson whose table had been hit furiously rammed into the first person he saw, which was Luke.
Luke could feel himself hit a sheet of glass as the shards fell around him. As he hit his head was smashed against the wall and shards of glass dug into his back.
Adrenaline high, Talon and Lando punched the first tow men they had seen with Han and Tycho leaping over their heads. The riot had started and glasses began flying and crashing against the walls. Luke winced as he tried to crawl away but the shards of glass were hurting more and more. This was his fault and people may die because of him.
Hobbie raced towards another man along with Gavin and threw him down. Tycho turned around and attacked again but his attention was caught across the room, as was the attention of others but too late. Luke was clutching his head in pain and it was obvious that there was no way Luke would be able to concentrate, much less fight as a Trandoshan eyed the helpless Jedi Master and charged towards him lifting up a table.
All of them knew Luke was helpless and when that table landed it would kill Luke painfully and quickly. They all knew what it would do to him. None of them wanted to be there when Mara had to see the battered and broken body of her fiancé.
"Luke!" Some one yelled.
Luke saw the Trandoshan and tried to pull himself out of the way. As he was lifting the table up a man put his foot out and tripped the Trandoshan letting the table drop on himself.
Luke propped himself up and stared at the body of the Trandoshan knowing how close it had been to being him. If it had been he wouldn't want to know what Mara would have done to Han and the rest of the gang had he been killed.
Luke winced in pain as he brought a hand to his temple, his head was pounding and he was in so much pain.
"You okay kid?" Han asked as he helped Luke up.
"Sure, but next time, let's go for the Krayt Dragon."
"You're marrying Mara." Han pointed out to the disoriented younger man. "Do you really think there will be a next time?"
"You're help?" A man on the floor said ludicrously. "I didn't need your help."
"I'll graciously accept your thanks for my saving your . . ." Kyle began.
"You'll what?"
In the middle of it all was a mass of people unmoving.
"That Luke," Lando sighed, "you can dress him up, but..."
"Everyone wants to take him out. Probably a good idea for us to get him out before the scandal holoreporters get here." Talon finished.
"Proprietor? Bill please, to the man bleeding at my feet."
___________________ Iry approached Banner with suspicion. "Takkar won't like this. You saved Skywalker!"
"Shut up Iry. You had a good reason, right Banner." Chala said
"A good reason," Banner paused as he tried to remember why he had done it. It had been a reaction. "Yeah, um, I have one. To take him then, that would have been cheap." Banner said with more resolution. "It would have been, wrong, somehow."
"We do have Imperial standards.' Chala approached still wondering.
"I get it!" Iry said as he raised a hand. "We're better than swoopie scum. We have honor."
"No getting nothing past you Iry."
"They have to know it was us," Iry said viciously. "And why we were doing it."
"That was quick thinking Banner. I'd have made a mess of it."
"Data we got today at the gardens will let us make a mess of them there." Chala pointed out.
"Good thing you saved him Banner... What we have in store for Skywalker will just kill him."
Banner leaned against the wall knowing Imperial standards was not why he was doing it. Skywalker would survive. The war was over and it wasn't just to take away his well-deserved happiness like that. The peace had begun, and it was evil to hate. Hate caused the deaths of those you cared for and Banner had just now realized it and would do anything to stop it.