The Awakening - Chapter 13
Disclaimer - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of Lucasfilm. I am only borrowing them for a while. My thanks to Jackie, Mona, Molly and AJ for putting up with my foibles.
Coruscant - Luke Skywalker's home
Luke bent his fair head over the task of making sense out of the data disks he was scrutinising. It seemed like such a mammoth assignment he'd created for himself. It was a lifetime task and one he would not shirk. He'd done so much already. He'd brought the Jedi to the point where they could carve themselves a niche in the brave freshness of the New Republic. Still, he had to learn of their mistakes and their triumphs. His mouth quirked a little. Yoda would surely have had something to say about him seeking triumphs. Perhaps he was seeking the Light of the Force instead. He was still searching for the good in things - still searching for truth.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly. Where was Mara at this moment and was she missing him? He wanted her so much. He would find Mirahn for her if he had to work a lifetime. He had promised. His eyes closed for a moment as he remembered their departure from Greoa. He'd been tired and sore and Mara… Mara had watched him with real concern in her eyes. Did she really care for him?
They'd left Greoa the day after Cilghal had given Luke the all clear. It had been the day of Kam's revelations too. Mara suspected that Luke had pressured Cilghal into letting him go early. Even with Jedi accelerated healing there was no way he could be completely well, but the stubborn gene had been activated and whatever his state of health, Luke was ready to leave Greoa. The planet didn't need him anymore. It was ready to resume something close to normal life. Mara wanted away too, for there was too much to think over – the truth behind her conception, birth and early life, and her affair with the head of the Jedi order. Or did she want to think about her affair with the Jedi Master? She'd thought quite a lot about it as it was. Her face warmed in the cool breeze covering the newly seeded grass plains. It was time to go.
Their trip back to the moon of the fifth planet had been silent, both Luke and Mara busy with their own thoughts. Mara docked the Skipray carefully in the silver ship Luke had bought.
"It's beautiful, Luke. Really beautiful. Why…?"
"Why did I buy it? I don't know." He'd shrugged, his face expressionless. "It was time I had something of my own. If I'm going to change the way I operate, I'll need better transport."
"But your x-wing. You love flying your x-wing."
Luke's eyes lit up with enthusiasm and he grabbed her hand, dragging her into the cockpit. "But I'll love flying this one too. I will never give up flying the x-wing. This ship is …. Is a dream to fly." His eyes lit up as he looked at her, and his voice quickened. "There are other things I won't give up and that is a promise."
Mara could only stare dumbly at him, before he swept her into his arms and fastened his mouth securely over hers. Her lips parted and his tongue darted in, caressing her own. As ever they both emerged from the encounter shaken and breathless, faces flushed, hearts thumping loudly and with the desire to continue. The thirst they'd slaked twice with one another wasn't going to ever go away. But this was not the time or the place and again they both needed to retreat from the emotions that threatened to swamp them.
"Hey!" Luke whispered as he brushed his mouth tenderly over hers.
"Hey what?" Mara's lips clung.
"I know you, Jade. I know exactly what you want to do. You'll back off and go hide for a few months. It's too late for that, Mara. You cannot hide from me now. But I'll give you some time. I'm not letting what we have go. I love you…"
"I love you too, but Luke…."
He placed a finger over her mouth. "I'm not listening to your excuses. I'm going to give you time, but there will be a limit on that time."
"Luke!" She spoke through gritted white teeth. "Will you just…?"
"No, I'm not letting you run away this time. We will be together."
"Luke…"
"I'll see you on Coruscant in one month."
Mara's eyes widened. 'Of the all the dictatorial, mynock brained…' She was intrigued, despite her annoyance with him. "Will you just listen…."
"One month."
"Or what?" she drawled, danger signals flashing in her green eyes.
"I come and get you."
"Oh please," Mara rolled her eyes. "Spare me from the almighty Jedi Master. I'd like to see you try. You can't make me do anything I don't want to."
"That's right," he replied steadily, his blue eyes alive with a certainty she couldn't ignore. "I can't, but I reckon you'll want…" His breath sounded loud in the confines of the cockpit as he stepped close to her and again placed his firm lips upon hers. Mara's eyes fluttered shut and her hands clutched his shoulders as again the merest touch of his lips on hers made her insides melt. He stopped kissing her and took a step backwards, devilment replacing the passion in his gaze. "Yup, I reckon you'll want…to." He thickened his accent until his basic sounded pure outer rimworld.
Mara's green eyes shot a couple of laser bolts at him and turned to leave, her chin jutting out, indicating her ire.
"Mara…" Luke caught her hand and swung her to face him. Quick as a Jawa with a droid part in his sights, she poked him in the ribs and watched with interest as he winced in pain. "Healed, huh? How come Cilghal let you out if your ribs are still this sore?"
"Aw, Mara, don't fuss."
"Someone should. I'll tell Leia…" She grinned maliciously. "That should have you running scared."
"Mara," Luke's voice rose in a long forgotten whine. "That hurt and you can tell Leia if you want to. She won't fuss – too much."
Mara arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow and decided it was time to change the subject
"So – what makes you think you could find me?"
He straightened, and Mara noted with misgivings that he still clutched his ribcage. "It's simple."
"Simple?"
"We have a connection through the Force – a bond. This is something I've felt with none other, not even my Force strong twin sister. Only you." His voice was fervent, matching the earnest expression in his blue eyes. Luke did mean every syllable of what he said.
The mocking words on the tip of Mara's tongue died and she moved towards him, her face raised to his in mute appeal. Luke brought his hand to her cheek and caressed its softness tenderly. "Only you, Mara. I'd know you anywhere. You are special, Jade, and I would search forever until I found you."
He brought her close, and Mara could only shut her eyes as a lump made its presence felt at the back of her throat. Luke tipped her head up and smiled wistfully into her face. "Come to me in one month on Coruscant. I'll be at home waiting for you. I'm going to find your identity for you, Mara. I'll find Mirahn."
He released her with great reluctance and steered her along the passageway towards the Skipray's location. "May the Force be with you, Mara Jade." Then he immediately turned and almost running, left the docking bay. Mara climbed into the craft and before she knew it, was back in her own ship.
"The big Jedi nerf. I would have gone with him here and now but he never let me get a word in." She gazed at the sleek chromium lines of the ship. She'd never seen one quite like that before. What had Karrde said? Oh yes – it was a Nubian. Mara frowned. It was a long time since one of them had come on the market. They were rare birds indeed.
She fired up the converters and set the co-ordinates in the navicomp. "Luke Skywalker, you'll pay for that little stunt. I don't know how I'm going to do it, but you'll pay." A vision of his bed in the apartment on Coruscant and never letting him out of it did cross her mind, but then again, she was only human.
'You are special, Jade.'
"For you, Luke, I want to be."
Luke's apartment
Luke felt the warm brush of his sister's presence as she reached out towards him. Leia was on her way to see him. He smiled and sent back an answering tendril, feeling it connect and entwine with hers.
He spoke into his com. "Artoo, let her in please."
The droid tooted a happy melody of whistles and soon Luke heard Leia's light footsteps tripping down his spiral staircase.
Jumping from his chair, he met her half way across the room and hugged her tightly. Leia stepped back but, without letting him go, ran a thorough check over him.
"Luke!"
"I'm fine."
"I had a call from Mara. She said you'd been in the wars again, and I had to drag you to the medicentre if you needed it."
"I told you, I'm fine."
"Hmm." She pursed her lips at him suspiciously. "Mara thinks you made poor Cilghal release you from the medicentre on Greoa early."
"Now why would she think that?" Luke questioned humorously.
"Past performances, perhaps?"
"Unfair."
"No, not unfair. Typical behaviour."
"I told you. I'm fine," and he meant it.
"But you're missing her?" Leia was past the point of being coy over Luke's relationship with Mara. The more he admitted, the more he would realise he had to do something about it.
"Cilghal?"
"No, not Cilghal. Nerf. Mara."
"Of course I am, but she's coming here in a month."
"She is?"
"I told her she had to be here. Otherwise, I'd go and get her from wherever she'd holed up." The determination in his voice echoed in Leia's ears and she stifled a smile. 'About time'.
"You gave Mara Jade an ultimatum like that and you're still living," Leia's voice was admiring, but full of irony. "Brave boy. Han will be impressed."
Luke grinned. "Not so much of the boy, sister dear. I am a man."
"Bragging about it too," she murmured sweetly.
Luke immediately went scarlet. "Look Leia… I didn't, that is I…. Oh hell…Nerf droppings!" He subsided heavily into his seat, averting his red face from Leia's amused expression.
"It's okay. I now know one question I don't need to ask."
"It's none of your business," Luke muttered, coughed and returned to fiddle with the data pad on his desk. He hadn't meant to be so harsh with Leia. "I'm sorry, but…"
Leia lifted a shoulder. "It's okay, I was out of line with that one. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm happy you and Mara…" She flushed a little, shrugged and smiled. It was a gesture reminiscent of her husband's. Leia knew how protective her brother was of his private life. He had so little of it.
"I don't suppose Ghent has had any luck with the encrypts? I've tried everything I can think of and a few I shouldn't have, to try and decipher these records."
Leia peered at the strange hieroglyphics on the pad. "It's nothing to do with any Sith writings?"
"First thing I thought of."
"Too simple."
"Too obvious," Luke retorted.
"Now, brother dear…"
"It doesn't reek of the darkside. Feel it, Leia. The taint of the Sith just isn't there. Yet, I still sense great sadness, just not evil." Luke fiddled with the controls on the data pad again.
"It will be a big task," Leia observed as she took in the many dusty data cards. "There's a lot of information in there."
"If I can get at it."
"You will."
"If I can get at it, I'm looking forward to it."
"When will you have the time?"
"Now - I'm having a…" He searched valiantly for the right word. "Vacation," he announced triumphantly.
"Stars!" muttered Leia, truly shocked. "You were supposed to be having one of those before you headed off on the Jedi Master saves galaxy crusade, practically single handed." 'Mara better get over here before that month is up. I don't think I can stand a month of Luke on vacation. He'll never stay the course and I'll end up worrying about what kind of trouble he's inveigled himself and probably Han, into.'
"I might manage a spot of nephew and niece babysitting. If you're interested?"
"You're not trying to fend off any more awkward questions, are you?" she asked, suspiciously.
"Me?" The blue eyes guilelessly widened.
"You're worse than Han."
"Stang, Leia. I'm not that bad!"
"No, course not." Her mouth curved and she watched fascinated as Luke pulled several flat, square pieces of glass from a dusty box and placed it on the desk.
"Look at these, Leia. Aren't they beautiful?"
Leia brushed a careful finger cross the delicate surface of one of the pieces and marvelled at the intricate carving on the crystalline surface. "What are they?"
"I think they store data of some sort but there's nothing in this box to indicate what kind of device would read these. But the Force tells me that these small, flat pieces of glass are very important. So it's a puzzle I'll have to solve, along with hoping that Ghent will come up with the code to get into the rest of the data."
Solo Apartment
Mara Jade paced back and forth in front of Han. He lounged back on the comfortable sofa, with his arms crossed and shook his head. She was quite something, and he could see why his brother-in-law was so taken with her. That is, once you got past the anger, the mistrust and the former Imperial agent assassin thing. She was beautiful, funny and smart. Plus, she was in love with Luke. There was no doubt about that. She really was in love with Luke, and he'd just made her mad. That in itself was nothing new - just the way he'd done it. Han chuckled, and she zeroed him in place with a fulminating stare.
"He just stood there and told me to go away for a month. There was none of his usual 'come with me and I'll train you in the way of the Force' thing. The big nerf sent me away so he could find out about my mother. Or something like that. Kam knew my mother; he'd met her and meditated so he could remember things about her. It's as if Skywalker thinks he's failed me in some way. That he should have been the one to give me the data. It's not a competition. I've existed for years without such information, surely it could have waited?"
She threw her hands upwards exasperatedly and the air crackled with purpose. Her hair had fallen from its usual thick rope long ago and tumbled untidily around her slim figure. Han loved Leia with everything that was in him, but he still could appreciate the picture of an attractive woman. This one had the added bonus of being able to kill you easily if she wanted to or smuggle you some decent Corellian Whisky. He could do with a few bottles of Whyren's Reserve.
'No', he decided, he liked the woman he had quite fine, and Luke could handle this whirling firebrand. In fact, by the looks of things his brother-in-law had handled Mara Jade and then left her to make up her mind about it. 'Never allow them to think, Luke, especially when they are as sharp as our two women are. They can run the fire rings of Fornax around us both.' Mara had expected Luke to try to convince her of what they both knew she wanted to do – not to give her time to think things over. She'd expected to be trampled over as if by a construction droid. Skywalker could be very single-minded when he wanted to. On second thoughts perhaps Luke had done a very stupid thing. He'd given her time to think.
"Mara," he interrupted the monologue, which had dwindled to muttered curses in a language Han didn't recognise. "You do remember Luke's thought processes don't work the same as everyone else's."
Mara stopped abruptly. "I should have." Then she again glared and Han almost felt sorry for the Jedi Master. "But he's still gonna pay."
"For what?"
"For being Skywalker, sith, I don't know. For being too understanding and giving me time to think things through… I need something to make him know I mean business."
"I think he would know that by now." Han was clearly nervous.
"He has to let me know what he's up to. How can I trust him if he keeps surprising me like that? I thought he was predictable old farmboy Luke. He has to pay for all the worry he puts me through. Reckless, that's what he is - reckless." Mara gave Han a mocking look. "Ease off, Han. I won't bruise him."
"Uh, Mara… Look…." Han sat up and scratched his chin. "Do you think that's…?"
"Relax, Solo. It'll be fine."
"What will?" Leia breezed into the room, her pretty face smiling.
"Mara's planning some sort of revenge on your brother."
"Fine," Leia remarked brightly. "As long as it doesn't involve broken bones and turning to the darkside."
"I can manage that."
"Good, then there's no problem."
Han fell back against the back of the sofa with a muffled thud, his hand covered his eyes and he groaned faintly.
"He doesn't know I'm here?" Mara asked Leia.
"No, you seemed to have cloaked your presence quite effectively."
"With a little help from you, Councillor. You're coming on in that department yourself. I couldn't keep up my shields for quite as long otherwise."
Leia smiled smugly. "He's got a lot on his mind. I think you're the main thing, but he's got a whole box of disks he's trying to decrypt."
Mara nodded. "He told me about those. Found them in a vault in the Imperial palace."
"That's right. Anyway, he's puzzling over them and he's hoping you'll be there to meet him in three weeks time."
"Who said anything about waiting for three weeks?"
"'Atta girl!" Han crowed, still with his eyes shut. "Still time to leave the planet."
Both women totally ignored him.
Luke's Apartment
Luke leant back in his chair tapping his data pad thoughtfully. He had a far away expression in his clear blue eyes. Something told him these records were not as old as the ones given to him by Mother Rell on Dathomir. They'd been in the Imperial Palace which indicated to Luke at any rate, that they were far more modern. Then there was the haphazard way they were packed and hidden. To him, that said these data cards were hidden hastily. They had been in one of the vaults - there were still places in the Palace, which hadn't been cleared. Secret rooms, cupboards full of junk and the occasional treasure. There had been so much rubbish in there that most of it had been ignored. That particular vault had been cleared and one of the workers had stopped him one day.
"We found this and I think you might want a look."
"Thanks," he'd stuttered and peered at the pile of dusty data disks. He'd felt the Force within them as soon as he'd opened the box. There were answers here, even if he didn't yet know the question.
"Why give this to me?" he asked curiously. There were no markings which said - 'Jedi '.
The worker shrugged. "Don't know. Just thought you might want it. No-one else does."
Now he was left with a stream of incomprehensible gibberish in front of his eyes. Ghent had been and gone and even he was no closer to cracking the code. He squinted into the symbols. This was impossible.
'Forget so quickly what you have learned?" He seemed to hear Yoda's cackle. 'So certain are you that this cannot be done?'
Then a grin started to form on his handsome face. Suddenly, the answer was as clear as day. Clear as the green eyes of the woman he was so in love with. He closed his eyes and drew on the Force. When he opened them, the symbols had somehow formed into words. Luke smiled and was about to start reading when a feeling of urgency gripped him and his fingers brushed the delicate crystal squares lying wrapped in a piece of soft material for safekeeping. Placing one on his palm, he marvelled how it fit so easily and the cool glass warmed to his touch. The glass wasn't clear as he'd thought, but shot through with colours. The different shades intermingled with the carving, creating a thing of real beauty. He picked up another piece and placed it at right angles to the first. There was a flash and the two pieces bonded together. Luke paused, a fluttery, nervous feeling starting and he picked up a third piece, then a fourth. Using the Force, the pieces hovered in mid air and gradually they were drawn towards the one held in the centre of Luke's palm. With a tiny jolt he noticed five of the pieces had joined, forming a small lidless box. Luke sank even deeper into the ever-present, ever-surrounding power and when he opened his eyes, the final piece had joined the other five. Luke held in his hand a small crystal cube.
"A holocron!" he breathed, awed at the reverence he felt, and the strength in the Force he perceived at that very moment.