The Haunted Past
Mara scanned the 'Falcon's' board, nothing was blinking or shrieking for attention, but that didn't keep her from staying alert and wide-awake. The 'Falcon', in her opinion couldn't be trusted to work at the best of times and especially in the worst of times- namely when the occupants were looking for an escape.
She grumbled and sat back in her seat- the copilot's seat to make matters worse. Han snored next to her in his pilot's seat, scratching his stomach and then falling silent again.
Mara crossed her arms, glaring out the cockpit window to the hyperspace lines streaking past. It wasn't her choice to come on board this ship; she'd lost to chance. She cursed herself for not using the Force to flip the coin on the side she had chosen, because of that mistake she had to abandon her own ship and then sit second in command. Stepping on board the 'Falcon' she had sworn to Solo that there was no way she was going to call him Captain.
"You can glare out that window all you want but it's not gonna bring you your ship."
Mara glared at Solo, who still had his eyes closed.
"I'm not gonna bring you your ship either." He opened an eye and gave her a cocky grin.
"Just because I'm here doesn't mean I'm happy about it." She shot at him.
Han shrugged, stretching his arms. "Has anyone ever told you that your presence is about as nice as sitting on dry ice?"
"No. But I have been told that it's as nice as having blaster bolts shot at you."
Han had been called on by the New Republic State Council to perform a mission for them on Corellia. A message that had been sent in its highest level of encryption and one that mysteriously told of a piece of information that would greatly benefit the New Republic and Han Solo.
At first the news of this message Han had wanted to have Leia with him, but that was entirely out of the question. She was needed in important and touchy diplomatic talks with a planet considering joining the New Republic. Luke was his second choice, but he was far too busy setting up his Jedi Academy. Chewie wasn't even a consideration, he was visiting with his family on Kashyyyk and Han didn't have the heart to drag him away. So Han placed the kids in Winter's charge and headed out for Corellia.
However, it just so happened that Talon Karrde was on planet and offered help in the form of Mara Jade.
Jade had been far from pleased with the decision and Karrde's reasoning. He told her that she needed a break from her everyday trading routine, the mission was to keep her edge. She didn't appreciate being sent on a little New Republic mission to pick up some mysterious information that would probably turn out to be nothing.
Han got up from his seat, making his way to the gallery. "I'm getting some water, do you want some?"
Mara shook her head, but once Han left she changed her mind and got up to follow him.
Solo was standing with a glass of water to his lips when he saw her. "I thought you didn't want any."
She got her own glass and water. "I changed my mind." She started to drink.
Han wore an impatient and offended look. "It's not like I was going to poison you. We're supposed to be a team."
Mara placed her glass on the counter and then turned to glare at Solo, crossing her arms. "Like I said, 'I changed my mind.' And we're not a team, we're just working together."
The aged man threw his hands in the air. "Fine! You don't want a little cooperative relationship- fine with me." He pointed his finger in her face. "But it's not my fault you're such a pain in the butt to work with."
Mara's eyes flared with anger. "Don't you point your finger at me."
Han raised an eyebrow in a challenge. "Make me." He hissed.
The red-haired woman snapped, anger flooded through her body and all the possible, hurtful things she could do to the man before her. Mara reached out and grabbed the offending hand. Twisting the hand and herself around, Mara pinned Han's arm behind his back in an extremely uncomfortable position, she stood behind the now kneeling man.
"Next time will be worse." She warned. Mara shoved him forward and stalked off towards the back of the ship.
Han didn't care where she went, as long as she was away from him. He got up slowly and rubbed his strained elbow. Han had to admit that Mara had fast reflexes and that he wouldn't be pointing at her again, at least for awhile.
He glanced down the corridor to where the woman had disappeared, Han decided to let Mara cool off a bit before seeing or talking to her again. Han sighed, he wished Leia was with him, they were spending far less time together than a normal married couple would and even less quality time with their children.
Han suddenly felt guilty and even lonely. Mara was good to have on your side in a fight, but she didn't exactly provide any companionship either. He wondered if any one would be able to break through that hard barrier that she always had surrounding her.
As always, when he was confused he went to work on his ship. It seemed he had been confused a lot lately- the ship was spotless in its mechanical parts and interior. Han's eyes fell on his quarters and fresher.
"Gotta clean it sooner or later." Han shrugged; it was better than doing nothing and right now much better than being in the presence of the other human aboard.
Han went to search for cloths and disinfectants.
***
Mara had found an old sack that made a great improvised punching bag. She'd been kicking and punching the thing for awhile- enough time for her muscles to start feeling the strain.
She stood back from the swaying bag and stretched her back muscles, rotating her shoulders and shaking her legs. Mara then leaned back and stood on her hands- it was time for more focus, not just bashing a helpless sack.
A throat cleared behind her and Mara flipped back upright on her feet.
Han stood in the entranceway; arms crossed as he warily regarded her. "We're coming up on Corellia. We'll be leaving hyperspace in about ten minutes."
Mara nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I'll be in the cockpit soon."
Han left, leaving her alone again. Using a towel to wipe her face of sweat she followed Han up to the cockpit. Han already sat in the pilot's seat, glancing up as Mara slid into the chair on his right.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for awhile, just watching the timer tick down until their reversal to real space.
Han finally spoke up. "Corellians have a certain way of doing things, so-"
Mara cut him off. "I know how to act on Corellia." Her voice held a slight edge.
"Don't have to get snappy." He shot back. "It was just a warning."
Mara glanced over to him. "Warning is noted." She turned back to the timer.
Han grunted and he himself turned back to the timer, almost relieved to find the time was almost up. Placing a hand on the hyperspace lever he brought them back to real space. Corellia hovered in the front of them, a mass taking up half of the cockpit window.
Immediately a voice crackled over the comm. "'Millennium Falcon' I have been instructed to direct you to the City Docking Bays. Follow these directions." The voice clicked off and numbers started to scroll on the screens in front of the two occupants.
"Friendly little fellow." Han muttered, he glanced at the directions and guided the 'Falcon' to their destination. All ships were giving them a wide berth- nothing crossed their path as they headed planet-side.
Mara frowned. "Something funny is going on." She reached forward to bring up an image of the ships that flew to their sides and far away. Mara frowned at what she saw.
Han noticed her sour expression. "What is it?" He leaned over to look at the screen.
Mara pointed to a few ships among the mass moving alongside them. "What do those look like to you?"
Han frowned. "Heavily armed ships..." He sat back, furrowing his brow.
Mara nodded. "Exactly. Far too heavily armed to be just a civilian ship." She paused. "We've had information come our way that the Corellian government was manufacturing armed ships that looked like recreation vehicles. Hard to see without a trained eye, but the weapons are there nonetheless." Mara gestured to the screen again. "I think Karrde now has proof of what we've heard."
The man continued to frown. "But what are they doing there?"
Mara raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you don't know."
Han snorted. "They're for our benefit and if needed they'll have a clear shot at us if something they don't like goes down.
Mara nodded. "Yep. But why would they be there for us?"
Han again focused on flying, double-checking to ensure that they were on the right course. "I don't know." He quickly glanced to her. "Do you have a theory?"
Mara slightly tensed, but it disappeared quickly. "No I don't." she bit out.
"All right." Han gently guided his ship to their designated bay, killed the engines and undid his crash webbing. "Let's just keep this to ourselves for now." He worked to lock down his ship, taking extra precaution to ensure that everything would be well protected. "Don't let on that we know something is going on."
Mara nodded her wordless agreement.
Mara scanned the 'Falcon's' board, nothing was blinking or shrieking for attention, but that didn't keep her from staying alert and wide-awake. The 'Falcon', in her opinion couldn't be trusted to work at the best of times and especially in the worst of times- namely when the occupants were looking for an escape.
She grumbled and sat back in her seat- the copilot's seat to make matters worse. Han snored next to her in his pilot's seat, scratching his stomach and then falling silent again.
Mara crossed her arms, glaring out the cockpit window to the hyperspace lines streaking past. It wasn't her choice to come on board this ship; she'd lost to chance. She cursed herself for not using the Force to flip the coin on the side she had chosen, because of that mistake she had to abandon her own ship and then sit second in command. Stepping on board the 'Falcon' she had sworn to Solo that there was no way she was going to call him Captain.
"You can glare out that window all you want but it's not gonna bring you your ship."
Mara glared at Solo, who still had his eyes closed.
"I'm not gonna bring you your ship either." He opened an eye and gave her a cocky grin.
"Just because I'm here doesn't mean I'm happy about it." She shot at him.
Han shrugged, stretching his arms. "Has anyone ever told you that your presence is about as nice as sitting on dry ice?"
"No. But I have been told that it's as nice as having blaster bolts shot at you."
Han had been called on by the New Republic State Council to perform a mission for them on Corellia. A message that had been sent in its highest level of encryption and one that mysteriously told of a piece of information that would greatly benefit the New Republic and Han Solo.
At first the news of this message Han had wanted to have Leia with him, but that was entirely out of the question. She was needed in important and touchy diplomatic talks with a planet considering joining the New Republic. Luke was his second choice, but he was far too busy setting up his Jedi Academy. Chewie wasn't even a consideration, he was visiting with his family on Kashyyyk and Han didn't have the heart to drag him away. So Han placed the kids in Winter's charge and headed out for Corellia.
However, it just so happened that Talon Karrde was on planet and offered help in the form of Mara Jade.
Jade had been far from pleased with the decision and Karrde's reasoning. He told her that she needed a break from her everyday trading routine, the mission was to keep her edge. She didn't appreciate being sent on a little New Republic mission to pick up some mysterious information that would probably turn out to be nothing.
Han got up from his seat, making his way to the gallery. "I'm getting some water, do you want some?"
Mara shook her head, but once Han left she changed her mind and got up to follow him.
Solo was standing with a glass of water to his lips when he saw her. "I thought you didn't want any."
She got her own glass and water. "I changed my mind." She started to drink.
Han wore an impatient and offended look. "It's not like I was going to poison you. We're supposed to be a team."
Mara placed her glass on the counter and then turned to glare at Solo, crossing her arms. "Like I said, 'I changed my mind.' And we're not a team, we're just working together."
The aged man threw his hands in the air. "Fine! You don't want a little cooperative relationship- fine with me." He pointed his finger in her face. "But it's not my fault you're such a pain in the butt to work with."
Mara's eyes flared with anger. "Don't you point your finger at me."
Han raised an eyebrow in a challenge. "Make me." He hissed.
The red-haired woman snapped, anger flooded through her body and all the possible, hurtful things she could do to the man before her. Mara reached out and grabbed the offending hand. Twisting the hand and herself around, Mara pinned Han's arm behind his back in an extremely uncomfortable position, she stood behind the now kneeling man.
"Next time will be worse." She warned. Mara shoved him forward and stalked off towards the back of the ship.
Han didn't care where she went, as long as she was away from him. He got up slowly and rubbed his strained elbow. Han had to admit that Mara had fast reflexes and that he wouldn't be pointing at her again, at least for awhile.
He glanced down the corridor to where the woman had disappeared, Han decided to let Mara cool off a bit before seeing or talking to her again. Han sighed, he wished Leia was with him, they were spending far less time together than a normal married couple would and even less quality time with their children.
Han suddenly felt guilty and even lonely. Mara was good to have on your side in a fight, but she didn't exactly provide any companionship either. He wondered if any one would be able to break through that hard barrier that she always had surrounding her.
As always, when he was confused he went to work on his ship. It seemed he had been confused a lot lately- the ship was spotless in its mechanical parts and interior. Han's eyes fell on his quarters and fresher.
"Gotta clean it sooner or later." Han shrugged; it was better than doing nothing and right now much better than being in the presence of the other human aboard.
Han went to search for cloths and disinfectants.
***
Mara had found an old sack that made a great improvised punching bag. She'd been kicking and punching the thing for awhile- enough time for her muscles to start feeling the strain.
She stood back from the swaying bag and stretched her back muscles, rotating her shoulders and shaking her legs. Mara then leaned back and stood on her hands- it was time for more focus, not just bashing a helpless sack.
A throat cleared behind her and Mara flipped back upright on her feet.
Han stood in the entranceway; arms crossed as he warily regarded her. "We're coming up on Corellia. We'll be leaving hyperspace in about ten minutes."
Mara nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I'll be in the cockpit soon."
Han left, leaving her alone again. Using a towel to wipe her face of sweat she followed Han up to the cockpit. Han already sat in the pilot's seat, glancing up as Mara slid into the chair on his right.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for awhile, just watching the timer tick down until their reversal to real space.
Han finally spoke up. "Corellians have a certain way of doing things, so-"
Mara cut him off. "I know how to act on Corellia." Her voice held a slight edge.
"Don't have to get snappy." He shot back. "It was just a warning."
Mara glanced over to him. "Warning is noted." She turned back to the timer.
Han grunted and he himself turned back to the timer, almost relieved to find the time was almost up. Placing a hand on the hyperspace lever he brought them back to real space. Corellia hovered in the front of them, a mass taking up half of the cockpit window.
Immediately a voice crackled over the comm. "'Millennium Falcon' I have been instructed to direct you to the City Docking Bays. Follow these directions." The voice clicked off and numbers started to scroll on the screens in front of the two occupants.
"Friendly little fellow." Han muttered, he glanced at the directions and guided the 'Falcon' to their destination. All ships were giving them a wide berth- nothing crossed their path as they headed planet-side.
Mara frowned. "Something funny is going on." She reached forward to bring up an image of the ships that flew to their sides and far away. Mara frowned at what she saw.
Han noticed her sour expression. "What is it?" He leaned over to look at the screen.
Mara pointed to a few ships among the mass moving alongside them. "What do those look like to you?"
Han frowned. "Heavily armed ships..." He sat back, furrowing his brow.
Mara nodded. "Exactly. Far too heavily armed to be just a civilian ship." She paused. "We've had information come our way that the Corellian government was manufacturing armed ships that looked like recreation vehicles. Hard to see without a trained eye, but the weapons are there nonetheless." Mara gestured to the screen again. "I think Karrde now has proof of what we've heard."
The man continued to frown. "But what are they doing there?"
Mara raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you don't know."
Han snorted. "They're for our benefit and if needed they'll have a clear shot at us if something they don't like goes down.
Mara nodded. "Yep. But why would they be there for us?"
Han again focused on flying, double-checking to ensure that they were on the right course. "I don't know." He quickly glanced to her. "Do you have a theory?"
Mara slightly tensed, but it disappeared quickly. "No I don't." she bit out.
"All right." Han gently guided his ship to their designated bay, killed the engines and undid his crash webbing. "Let's just keep this to ourselves for now." He worked to lock down his ship, taking extra precaution to ensure that everything would be well protected. "Don't let on that we know something is going on."
Mara nodded her wordless agreement.