Mara felt the universe double over on itself as the last link to the Empire died.
Part of her died.
She could hate it, could fight it but it was true, the Empire was the only thing she knew, the only thing she had trusted.
Instinctively she looked back into the hospital room. Just like Leia had trusted Han and Luke.
She wondered how much Leia remembered of her time before being frozen, sure she remembered her brother and Han but how much wasn't haze.
Mara knew the effects of the freezing could send some people mad, obviously Leia was in no danger of that but still Mara wanted to know how much Leia could recall.
She didn't want to hurt Leia, not emotionally anyway but she knew the princess well enough that if Mara hinted at something she didn't want to discuss she would turn the conversation around.
It was about trust.
Right now Leia acted out of gratitude rather then knowledge. Leia had to know Mara's background yet she had trusted her enough to allow her to stay- where any number of rebellion tricks could be overheard.
She wondered how much if any, Leia remembered about her. About their meeting.
Mara doubted much had penetrated the steep fog that enshrouded the princess.
She had respected Leia's ability as a warrior; she had given Mara a run for her money although in the end Mara knew she would have won.
She always did.
But she respected Leia's purity of thought, and she knew Leia respected her own. That was why it was hard for them.
Two people who had the same basic beliefs but were on two sides of a bloody war.
But the war was over
Mara rapped three times on the door as it slid open, Mara took a curious look around. The bed was rumpled but Leia wasn't in it, obviously the princess had decided to go for a walk.
Mara stifled a curse. The healers had made it clear that Leia was not ready to be allowed out. The freezing process had caused Leia to revert back to baby steps.
Mara hunted the hallways, knowing Leia wouldn't be able to get far despite her pride. She was right, Leia sat hunched over on one of the service benches breathing heavily. Mara didn't like that stiff wheezing noise Leia was making.
Her skin was pale and dripping with sweat, obviously her short walk from her room to the bench had tired her out.
"So was that the dumbest thing you've done yet?" she asked pleasantly.
Leia glared at her through heavy breathing and dark eyelashes.
"I needed to get out" she rasped.
"And what keel over in the hallway? Not very princess like your highness"
"Go away" The anger in the smaller woman was genuine and Mara wondered again whether she should. But that wouldn't help Leia get better.
"C'mon it was a joke" Easily she slipped her arm over Leia's dragging her to her feet. Leia stood slightly tilted but she could move.
"You probably added another two weeks at least to your recovery now" she said as she half assisted half hauled the half conscious princess back to her room. Leia didn't answer and she strained against Mara's hold as if she were offended by the mere idea that Mara had to help her.
"I'm not staying here any more" Leia got out between harsh bouts of coughing as she finally laid back against the pillows.
"Well you're not going anywhere quickly that's for sure. Mon Mothma said so herself" Mara replied importantly/
"Since when do you take orders from the rebellion?" Leia asked scornfully.
"Since they started making sense, look at this objectively Leia, you can barely walk and your eye sight is worse then ever. You'd be struck of duty for months if you tried to go into the combat zone"
Silence fell in the room; it wasn't bad silence just quiet. Mara could hear the machines click nearby in constant rhythm.
"I want to talk about Aldeeran" Mara said suddenly
"Funny. I don't"
"Why?" Mara challenged.
"It's none of your business" Leia said sharply.
"Maybe not but I'm still asking" Mara replied simply.
Part of her died.
She could hate it, could fight it but it was true, the Empire was the only thing she knew, the only thing she had trusted.
Instinctively she looked back into the hospital room. Just like Leia had trusted Han and Luke.
She wondered how much Leia remembered of her time before being frozen, sure she remembered her brother and Han but how much wasn't haze.
Mara knew the effects of the freezing could send some people mad, obviously Leia was in no danger of that but still Mara wanted to know how much Leia could recall.
She didn't want to hurt Leia, not emotionally anyway but she knew the princess well enough that if Mara hinted at something she didn't want to discuss she would turn the conversation around.
It was about trust.
Right now Leia acted out of gratitude rather then knowledge. Leia had to know Mara's background yet she had trusted her enough to allow her to stay- where any number of rebellion tricks could be overheard.
She wondered how much if any, Leia remembered about her. About their meeting.
Mara doubted much had penetrated the steep fog that enshrouded the princess.
She had respected Leia's ability as a warrior; she had given Mara a run for her money although in the end Mara knew she would have won.
She always did.
But she respected Leia's purity of thought, and she knew Leia respected her own. That was why it was hard for them.
Two people who had the same basic beliefs but were on two sides of a bloody war.
But the war was over
Mara rapped three times on the door as it slid open, Mara took a curious look around. The bed was rumpled but Leia wasn't in it, obviously the princess had decided to go for a walk.
Mara stifled a curse. The healers had made it clear that Leia was not ready to be allowed out. The freezing process had caused Leia to revert back to baby steps.
Mara hunted the hallways, knowing Leia wouldn't be able to get far despite her pride. She was right, Leia sat hunched over on one of the service benches breathing heavily. Mara didn't like that stiff wheezing noise Leia was making.
Her skin was pale and dripping with sweat, obviously her short walk from her room to the bench had tired her out.
"So was that the dumbest thing you've done yet?" she asked pleasantly.
Leia glared at her through heavy breathing and dark eyelashes.
"I needed to get out" she rasped.
"And what keel over in the hallway? Not very princess like your highness"
"Go away" The anger in the smaller woman was genuine and Mara wondered again whether she should. But that wouldn't help Leia get better.
"C'mon it was a joke" Easily she slipped her arm over Leia's dragging her to her feet. Leia stood slightly tilted but she could move.
"You probably added another two weeks at least to your recovery now" she said as she half assisted half hauled the half conscious princess back to her room. Leia didn't answer and she strained against Mara's hold as if she were offended by the mere idea that Mara had to help her.
"I'm not staying here any more" Leia got out between harsh bouts of coughing as she finally laid back against the pillows.
"Well you're not going anywhere quickly that's for sure. Mon Mothma said so herself" Mara replied importantly/
"Since when do you take orders from the rebellion?" Leia asked scornfully.
"Since they started making sense, look at this objectively Leia, you can barely walk and your eye sight is worse then ever. You'd be struck of duty for months if you tried to go into the combat zone"
Silence fell in the room; it wasn't bad silence just quiet. Mara could hear the machines click nearby in constant rhythm.
"I want to talk about Aldeeran" Mara said suddenly
"Funny. I don't"
"Why?" Mara challenged.
"It's none of your business" Leia said sharply.
"Maybe not but I'm still asking" Mara replied simply.