Leia Organa Solo was proud of herself for refraining from smashing the datapad in her hand onto the table. Trouble was brewing.
Presently, the New Republic had its hands full fighting off Imperial factions that had appeared from nowhere, factions that seemed to have a source somewhere inside the Republic military.
New Republic Intelligence was working hard on finding the leak, but Fate seemed to have different ideas.
Unlike most of the other times in which Imperials had emerged to attack, the Imperials that had emerged this time were organized, and problems similar to the situation with Grand Admiral Thrawn (which, even after a few years had passed, was still an open wound) seemed to be arising.
In short, they needed help.
Leadership, good piloting skills, and good fighting skills in general were needed, and she knew just who could supply that.
Pensively, she glanced over at her sable-haired aide who was busy at work.
Sensing the Chief of State's gaze, the aide looked up, giving Leia a tight, fatigued smile.
The former princess of Alderaan returned with an understanding smile of her own, failing to notice that the gesture of weariness hadn't reached the dark-haired female's eyes. They were eyes of blue, speckled throughout with green, lending to the assistant's exotic appearance.
Leia brought her eyes back down to her datacard, but the other woman's gaze remained on her speculatively. Ever since her brother had been thrown in jail, the Chief of State had become rather unpredictable.
But sometimes, the unpredictable was predictable.
Moments later, Leia had a com call from a very ambivalent trader.
"Your government's doomed," Mara stated, wasting no time.
"Don't say that," Leia returned calmly, although her insides were churning. What if it were true? What if the rise of the New Republic and the downfall of the Empire had been nothing more than a fluke? Could the unfortunate recent events be merely a foreshadowing of what was to come?
Matters certainly had not been going well. The New Republic was being assaulted from all sides, inside and out. Doom and gloom seemed to be the only things left.
"Skywalker needs out. Now."
"I know. I want him out as much as you do, but it isn't that simple."
The red-head narrowed her eyes, "You're being beat, you need a savior, Luke's always saved the universe before. How much simpler can you get?"
"I can't just break him out of jail, that would undermine the New Republic's auth—"
"You don't have to do it," Mara bit out. "I will."
"You?"
"You forget that I was once an incredibly skilled Imperial agent."
"Luke's in the highest security prison we have in the New Republic," Leia reminded her, "and if any proof of your involvement leaks out, you could be branded for life."
"Better me than you."
Leia shook her head, "I can't let you do this."
"You can't stop me," Mara shot back, "so you might as well help me...To a point."
The leader of the New Republic stared at the holo in front of her, taking in a deep breath. "Fine."
She stared vaguely off into space, as if seeing something that Mara couldn't. Her brown eyes remained distant as if she were seeing a disturbing vision, and she mumbled under her breath, "Can't break...him...out...Not quite...this moment..." Leia sharply jerked her head up, breaking herself out of her trance. She refrained from passing her hands in front of her face.
It was already too late.
She had waited too long to free her brother, and events were going to start spiraling out of control. And yet, she couldn't condone Mara's going on her own to break Luke out. Leia would gather Wedge and a few others together, and then they would get her brother out.
"I don't think you should try to help him escape now."
"Leia, if you're doubting my abilities—"
"It's not that!" the wife of Han Solo insisted forcefully. "The time to do it isn't now. We need to prepare him for the break out, gather a small trustworthy force, and break him out during a time that any sentient New Republic citizen would agree that his help is needed. Otherwise the authorities would trail him and he would have no peace."
Green eyes bored into Leia's soul, sensing some deceit beneath Leia's words, but not quite able to place it. "That isn't the only reason you want me to wait, is it?" It was a forceful question that required the Chief of State to reply.
"No," Leia thought back to the troubling moment before. "It's not." After a moment, "Only give Luke a message. Do not attempt to help him escape. Tell him about the crisis the New Republic is having to face and tell him that we desperately need his help...Let him know we're working on getting him out and we haven't forgotten about him."
Mara nodded, and Leia continued. "How are you going to make sure none of the guards hear the message?"
Giving a grim grin, Mara replied, "I can handle it."
After a moment, Leia added, "Give him my love."
"I will," Mara nodded.
"Are you sure you don't need any help? I'm sure Han would—"
"It's fine," the trader said quickly. "I want to do this on my own."
Giving the ex-Emperor's Hand a penetrating stare, Leia nodded slowly, and the holo dissolved into nothingness.
From her desk, the aide had heard the entire conversation, but Leia was caught up in troubled thoughts, oblivious to that fact.
Seeing her opportunity to slip out, the Chief of State's assistant did so, but not until after she made a few quick preparations.
Soon the dark-haired woman found herself in the spaceport, and in a few moments she was sitting in a ship, keying in information.
In a different ship, but in the same docking bay, a red-headed trader punched in codes of her own. Under her breath, Mara muttered, "Destination, Du'talfrr."
The aide finished her task, and the name of the planet popped up on her screen. Du'talfrr.
"We could jump the guards."
Luke was worked up, pacing the room in a manner similar to that of a sabercat pacing around the fire that was protecting its prey. His thoughts were jumbled, and he was having increasing difficulty in clearing his head.
Parck shook his head lightly in disagreement, "We have no weapons. The guards are always on alert, and they have ysalamiri to block the Force. Surely even you cannot face up to those odds?"
Luke made a vague semblance of an agreeing nod, and the Chiss told him firmly, "We must wait for a better time."
"Will there ever be a better time? What if we miss the opportunity? What if we are stuck in here forever?" Luke clenched his fists.
Parck could sense that the Jedi was not just anxious to escape from their prison. He was thirsty for blood...Blood of nearly anyone, but especially the blood of those in the New Republic who had ungratefully helped trap him in his rusted cage.
The Chiss could see it in the human's eyes, the sharp glint that kept shining through them, the fire behind the orbs that was making the sapphire color seem to do a sort of war-dance, as if something deep within him wanted to burst free.
"Patience," Parck told him.
Making a frustrated noise, Luke stopped his frantic walking and leaned back against the wall. "You're right. The time is not right."
Good, Parck thought to himself. Acceptance seemed to come more easily to the Jedi than ever before. The Chiss allowed himself a private smile. It would help simplify things.
"Still...You can't blame me for hoping."
"Hopes never bring in results," Parck chided him. "Action is what usually instigates results, but sometimes one must wait until Opportunity shows itself."
"Yes, patience," the fair-headed human muttered emphatically to himself. Obviously, patience was not his best virtue.
"You have survived the food this long. Surely a while longer will not make much of a difference."
Luke took a moment to register what Parck said, then he admitted, "But I feel unusually restless."
The Chiss raised a blue-black eyebrow. "Surely it's not the Force?"
The human shook his head. "I can't touch the Force...but it's an elusive feeling...Almost...intuition."
Skywalker's cellmate studied him. Perhaps the Jedi was right...The timeframe just might be right...
Slowly, Luke shook his head. "Nah...It couldn't be..." So softly that the Chiss had to strain to hear him, although he had not intended for the humanoid to do so, he whispered, "No one's coming for me..."
I wouldn't be so sure of that, Skywalker...Parck trailed off in thought, not noticing that Luke was clenching his right hand in rage and pain.
Author's Note: I would like to thank my wonderful betas, Moyima and JA.