Ch. 3 Of Love and of Duty
"You failed me Mara!!" Palpatine roared. "I'm sorry master but the Jedi was too strong for me," Mara whispered head bowed in fear. "Too powerful for you my hand? It must not have been a regular Jedi because you have defeated many of them," Palpatine said. "It wasn't master Jedi knight Luke Skywalker was one of the Jedi guards,". Curses!, they had to send the young protégé," Palpatine hissed. "Train long and hard Mara. Next time you must be undetectable through the force,". "Yes Master,".
Alderanian Palace (Luke's room)
"Come on Luke don't you give me that 'the assassin got away from you', Bantha Dung! Your sister knows and I especially know that no one could get away from you even if they had an ysalamiri. Now what happened and I want the truth this time," Anakin scolded. Luke sighed and glanced up into his fathers' crystalline blue eyes. "The assassin was Mara Jade. I had her pinned up against the wall. When I flicked the light we instantly recognized each other. Then she kissed me and it was the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me. Minuets later I realized what I was doing so I pushed her away and ordered her to leave.
There now you know I'm in love!," Luke huffed. "Oh! I'm sorry Luke...I," Anakin faltered seeing the hurt and anger blazing in his usually passive sons' eyes. "Just go!," "Luke please hear me out," Anakin tried attempting to reach his son. "Go away and leave me alone!," Anakin gazed at his son. Sighing he turned and walked back to his room.
Padme's Room (Later that Evening)
Padme awoke to the sound of muffled crying. It was coming from the direction of her son's room. She hadn't seen him in a while. Perhaps a heart to heart would help her get to know him. As she drew closer the crying stopped. He must have felt my presence. Padme thought silently keying the door to open. There he lay upon his bed as though he were sleeping, but Padme knew better. Using a woman's quick intuition she found that he was deeply in love. Sitting down upon his bed and lightly placing her hand on his back she asked. "So? Who is she?" "Who's who?," Luke replied startled. "The lucky woman whose managed to capture your heart.," Padme answered. "How'd you know?," Luke asked surprised. "Your not the only one with special talents. I've seen the same look on Ani's face enough times to know. I'd be pretty stupid if I didn't recognize it on yours," Padme inquired. "It's Mara Jade of all people. I'm not even allowed to supposedly 'fall in love'. There's a;so the fact that the one person I do love turns out to be a spy and assassin . What's wrong with me!!?," Luke asked in exasperation. "Nothing Luke you're just being human. It's natural to feel this way. You just have to find a way to overcome your heart with your mind. Goodnight my son," Padme whispered gliding from the room.
Next Morning
"Luke it's time for breakfast!," Anakin called knocking upon the door. "I'm not coming," came the short reply. "But, aren't you hungry?," Anakin asked. "NO!," "Not even a little bit?," Anakin teased knowing food was a weak point with his son. "Come on Luke your always hungry. Padme cooked it herself.," he lured. "I'm not hungry go away!," This must be serious. Anakin pondered. He's never had the notion to resist food before. He reached for the door controls to talk with him thought better of it and made his way down to breakfast.
"Where's Luke?," Leia inquired for she'd grown quite fond of her twin. "He says he's not hungry and refuses to come down." Anakin sighed. " I'm sorry Senator Amidala but when my son gets an idea into his head there's no changing his mind," He explained. "I should think the poor lad would be starving. According to security he's been up all night," Bail said striding into the room. "All night?! OH no!, not this again. I hate it when he does this to himself." Anakin groaned. "Does what Master Skywalker?" Padme questioned. "Well when something gets to bothering him my Padawan he doesn't get all tense and nervous like everyone else does no. He goes on an isolation trip. First he stopped eating and sleeping, then he starts exercising like a maniac running, lifting weights, and sparring at remotes 'until he gets over it'. He almost killed himself last time. You couldn't tell from the outside, but I could feel it on the inside," He explained.
"Can't you stop him?," Leia asked. "No, tried it before. I just can't seem to get through to him! He doesn't always like to listen to me.," Anakin sighed closing his eyes in helpless complacency. "How long can this last?," Leia asked. "I couldn't really tell you for sure. Last time it went on for six months.," "Six months that's unhealthy," "I now that princess but, there isn't anything I can do about it." I've tried time and time again but nothing seems to be working," He hung his head. "Anakin let me try something with him. I believe I know what the problem is.," Padme assured the Jedi Master.
Palace ( Luke's Room)
"Luke may I come in? Please, you can't hide in there forever," Amidala begged. Slowly, reluctantly the door swished open, but there was no one in the front room. Walking further she soon heard the persistent hum of a lightsabre. Following the noise she entered a training room. In the middle stood her son. Blocking and avoiding stun blasts from one hundred remotes. Had he gone mad? She wondered. "Luke what are you doing? Aren't you going to come down for breakfast? It's your favorite.," Padme lightly taunted him. "Didn't my master tell you your highness? I'm not hungry," Luke replied shifting stance to block thirty stun blasts. "Oh, well then would you do me the service of at least eating a little bit of something today and sleeping tonight. It would certainly ease your Master's mind," Padme requested. "I cannot comply to do this service for you even if only to ease my masters mind. So great is my agitation that even if I were to eat even so much as a small morsel I would only lose it again.," Luke confided. "Okay my son let's drop theses formal pretenses. What is bothering you!?," Padme pleaded. "Mara god's I love her so much! Life just isn't fair," then he broke down.
Turning off all the remotes he slid down the wall placed his head I his hands and sighed. "Jedi aren't even supposed to love. There is no emotion there is peace, there is no passion there is the force..," Luke began to chant adamantly to himself under his breath. "Seeing he was retreating into himself Padme sought to disrupt the destructive pattern. He had to open up. If no to her then to some one else. "Luke! Stop don't do that," she yelled. "Do what?" Luke asked lifting his head form his hands. "Draw into yourself and shut me out like that. One of these days the burden will become to much for you to bear alone. I'd hate to see what would happen," she pleaded. "It's all right mother. I can handle it. After all I am a Jedi. Besides I don't have any other choice. As much as you'd like you can help me you can't keep much from Master Anakin. He wouldn't approve of what I'm feeling I'm sure of it. You can't help me. Don't worry I'll manage. Now go back downstairs and enjoy the rest of breakfast.," Luke replied. Amidala looked up at her now superficially calm son sighed heavily ad left.
Back at Breakfast Table
"Well did you get anything out of him?," Anakin asked excitedly both knowing and dreading the answer. "No, but I did learn the code of the force," she joked attempting to lighten the mood,. "he kept chanting it to himself over and over as if he needed to assure himself of the truth in those words," Amidala wondered allowed.
That Evening
Mara crouched beneath Luke's window. How in the world was she going to do this? She could barely fight him how in the world was she going to kill him? He was stronger then her she knew but she knew he wouldn't kill her. He loved her and yet did she not love in much of the same way. She couldn't even harm a hair upon his longish lovely, blond, silky, soft, shinning, smooth....An owl suddenly snapped her out of her musings. Time to get to work.
Using her grappling hooks she climbed up the side of the ancient stonewall. At the top the window stood open. No matter it makes my job that much easier she thought. In the infiltration part at least she grumbled pulling herself through the window. Creeping silently through the outer part of the room she looked for him. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. He was waiting for her. Very good Mara. Now what ever shall we do with ourselves? You're supposed to kill me and I'm supposed to capture you. " Luke I don't want to kill you," Mara whispered into the darkness.
Luke must have been shielding himself for she couldn't seem to sense him. Suddenly the tell tale snap hiss of a lightsabre coming to life sounded in her ears. She froze for she knew be the concentrate heat that the tip pointed to the base of her neck. "I could just kill you now and everything would be over," Luke softly, insanely reasoned "NO! Luke please listen. When I came here I had no intention to kill you," Mara told him. " Yeah!, like you weren't even going to try I'm not stupid." "I promise I wasn't but I've got a problem. Since I am unable kill you returning to my Master will prove fatal for me.," she sighed. "Fatal? You mean he would kill you because you failed?" he asked incredulous. "That is correct. I don't to go back to my master anyway. I'd much rather stay here with you. Luke don't you understand I love you. Why is it so hard for you to see that?," Mara asked.
"Mara this will never work," Luke sighed switching off his lightsabre. "Oh, yes it can just say you love me like I know you always have. Then running away will be easier. Come on Luke say it. Just say it," Mara begged grabbing hold of his forearms." I.. I," Luke stuttered. "Is it really that hard?," "NO!, I love you Mara Jade and no one else.," Luke answered. "No that wasn't so bad huh? Now I know this sounds crazy but I'm asking you one more time. Will you runaway with me? Luke it's the only way out for us.," "I don't know Mara the idea of turning my back on the republic and Jedi are horrifying to me," "And the idea of turning your back on me what of it? Do I mean anything to you at all!? You either love my or you don't. Take your pick!," she huffed planting her hands on her hips. "Mara I do love you I really truly do but how long do you think we could run How far do you really think we could get?," Luke asked. "As far away possible and for as long as it takes. We are an invincible team. You know it and I know it. That's all that matters," "But Mara where would we go? Your master has gained the control of many star systems. Besides the Jedi council is very powerful in the ways of the force. They would most assuredly sense me no matter where I went. There are also the strong bonds we have with our Masters. You know as well as I do that they certainly will know of our origin. Luke sighed sorrowfully. "Then we'll just have to find an ingenuative way to get around those difficulties. Luke if we are truly in love as you say we are then this should work.," Mara reasoned.
"Ah!, yes you always were the practical one weren't you Mara," Luke chuckled. "yes and don't you forget it either.," Mara shot back waggling her eyebrows. Feeling his father's touch on his mind through the force Luke froze. He knew then that if they were going to leave it would be then and there. "I'll go away with you but on one condition," Luke said. "And which condition would that be darling. I've already promised not to kill you.," Mara inquired. "I get to fly the ship and the ship is the Jade's Fire," Luke answered. "And what makes you think I'm going to let you fly a ship named after me? ," Mara jeered tossing her red gold ponytail over her shoulder. "Because I know you have an impeccable soft spot for me and second I'm holding the control pad. Last but not least is the fact that I programmed it to my touch and voice only.," Luke replied. "When did you get so smart?," Mara smiled lightly placing her hands on his neck and leaning toward his full lips.
"Not now Mara we have to leave now!," Luke yelled picking her up and jumping out of the window. "Luke! Stop!! What are you doing my son? Come back! You can't hide from me, Anakin yelled frantically across their link but to no avail. Luke's mind had been made up. He had lost his son. Crumpling to the floor he covered his face with his hand and wept bitterly.
Jade's Fire
Luke closed his eyes hearing his father's desperate plea. He couldn't, wouldn't leave Mara. She embodied his sun, moon, stars,. Mara was a part of his very being. Living without her would be pointless. I love you father please understand Luke sent pulling back the lever and jumping into hyperspace.
"You failed me Mara!!" Palpatine roared. "I'm sorry master but the Jedi was too strong for me," Mara whispered head bowed in fear. "Too powerful for you my hand? It must not have been a regular Jedi because you have defeated many of them," Palpatine said. "It wasn't master Jedi knight Luke Skywalker was one of the Jedi guards,". Curses!, they had to send the young protégé," Palpatine hissed. "Train long and hard Mara. Next time you must be undetectable through the force,". "Yes Master,".
Alderanian Palace (Luke's room)
"Come on Luke don't you give me that 'the assassin got away from you', Bantha Dung! Your sister knows and I especially know that no one could get away from you even if they had an ysalamiri. Now what happened and I want the truth this time," Anakin scolded. Luke sighed and glanced up into his fathers' crystalline blue eyes. "The assassin was Mara Jade. I had her pinned up against the wall. When I flicked the light we instantly recognized each other. Then she kissed me and it was the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me. Minuets later I realized what I was doing so I pushed her away and ordered her to leave.
There now you know I'm in love!," Luke huffed. "Oh! I'm sorry Luke...I," Anakin faltered seeing the hurt and anger blazing in his usually passive sons' eyes. "Just go!," "Luke please hear me out," Anakin tried attempting to reach his son. "Go away and leave me alone!," Anakin gazed at his son. Sighing he turned and walked back to his room.
Padme's Room (Later that Evening)
Padme awoke to the sound of muffled crying. It was coming from the direction of her son's room. She hadn't seen him in a while. Perhaps a heart to heart would help her get to know him. As she drew closer the crying stopped. He must have felt my presence. Padme thought silently keying the door to open. There he lay upon his bed as though he were sleeping, but Padme knew better. Using a woman's quick intuition she found that he was deeply in love. Sitting down upon his bed and lightly placing her hand on his back she asked. "So? Who is she?" "Who's who?," Luke replied startled. "The lucky woman whose managed to capture your heart.," Padme answered. "How'd you know?," Luke asked surprised. "Your not the only one with special talents. I've seen the same look on Ani's face enough times to know. I'd be pretty stupid if I didn't recognize it on yours," Padme inquired. "It's Mara Jade of all people. I'm not even allowed to supposedly 'fall in love'. There's a;so the fact that the one person I do love turns out to be a spy and assassin . What's wrong with me!!?," Luke asked in exasperation. "Nothing Luke you're just being human. It's natural to feel this way. You just have to find a way to overcome your heart with your mind. Goodnight my son," Padme whispered gliding from the room.
Next Morning
"Luke it's time for breakfast!," Anakin called knocking upon the door. "I'm not coming," came the short reply. "But, aren't you hungry?," Anakin asked. "NO!," "Not even a little bit?," Anakin teased knowing food was a weak point with his son. "Come on Luke your always hungry. Padme cooked it herself.," he lured. "I'm not hungry go away!," This must be serious. Anakin pondered. He's never had the notion to resist food before. He reached for the door controls to talk with him thought better of it and made his way down to breakfast.
"Where's Luke?," Leia inquired for she'd grown quite fond of her twin. "He says he's not hungry and refuses to come down." Anakin sighed. " I'm sorry Senator Amidala but when my son gets an idea into his head there's no changing his mind," He explained. "I should think the poor lad would be starving. According to security he's been up all night," Bail said striding into the room. "All night?! OH no!, not this again. I hate it when he does this to himself." Anakin groaned. "Does what Master Skywalker?" Padme questioned. "Well when something gets to bothering him my Padawan he doesn't get all tense and nervous like everyone else does no. He goes on an isolation trip. First he stopped eating and sleeping, then he starts exercising like a maniac running, lifting weights, and sparring at remotes 'until he gets over it'. He almost killed himself last time. You couldn't tell from the outside, but I could feel it on the inside," He explained.
"Can't you stop him?," Leia asked. "No, tried it before. I just can't seem to get through to him! He doesn't always like to listen to me.," Anakin sighed closing his eyes in helpless complacency. "How long can this last?," Leia asked. "I couldn't really tell you for sure. Last time it went on for six months.," "Six months that's unhealthy," "I now that princess but, there isn't anything I can do about it." I've tried time and time again but nothing seems to be working," He hung his head. "Anakin let me try something with him. I believe I know what the problem is.," Padme assured the Jedi Master.
Palace ( Luke's Room)
"Luke may I come in? Please, you can't hide in there forever," Amidala begged. Slowly, reluctantly the door swished open, but there was no one in the front room. Walking further she soon heard the persistent hum of a lightsabre. Following the noise she entered a training room. In the middle stood her son. Blocking and avoiding stun blasts from one hundred remotes. Had he gone mad? She wondered. "Luke what are you doing? Aren't you going to come down for breakfast? It's your favorite.," Padme lightly taunted him. "Didn't my master tell you your highness? I'm not hungry," Luke replied shifting stance to block thirty stun blasts. "Oh, well then would you do me the service of at least eating a little bit of something today and sleeping tonight. It would certainly ease your Master's mind," Padme requested. "I cannot comply to do this service for you even if only to ease my masters mind. So great is my agitation that even if I were to eat even so much as a small morsel I would only lose it again.," Luke confided. "Okay my son let's drop theses formal pretenses. What is bothering you!?," Padme pleaded. "Mara god's I love her so much! Life just isn't fair," then he broke down.
Turning off all the remotes he slid down the wall placed his head I his hands and sighed. "Jedi aren't even supposed to love. There is no emotion there is peace, there is no passion there is the force..," Luke began to chant adamantly to himself under his breath. "Seeing he was retreating into himself Padme sought to disrupt the destructive pattern. He had to open up. If no to her then to some one else. "Luke! Stop don't do that," she yelled. "Do what?" Luke asked lifting his head form his hands. "Draw into yourself and shut me out like that. One of these days the burden will become to much for you to bear alone. I'd hate to see what would happen," she pleaded. "It's all right mother. I can handle it. After all I am a Jedi. Besides I don't have any other choice. As much as you'd like you can help me you can't keep much from Master Anakin. He wouldn't approve of what I'm feeling I'm sure of it. You can't help me. Don't worry I'll manage. Now go back downstairs and enjoy the rest of breakfast.," Luke replied. Amidala looked up at her now superficially calm son sighed heavily ad left.
Back at Breakfast Table
"Well did you get anything out of him?," Anakin asked excitedly both knowing and dreading the answer. "No, but I did learn the code of the force," she joked attempting to lighten the mood,. "he kept chanting it to himself over and over as if he needed to assure himself of the truth in those words," Amidala wondered allowed.
That Evening
Mara crouched beneath Luke's window. How in the world was she going to do this? She could barely fight him how in the world was she going to kill him? He was stronger then her she knew but she knew he wouldn't kill her. He loved her and yet did she not love in much of the same way. She couldn't even harm a hair upon his longish lovely, blond, silky, soft, shinning, smooth....An owl suddenly snapped her out of her musings. Time to get to work.
Using her grappling hooks she climbed up the side of the ancient stonewall. At the top the window stood open. No matter it makes my job that much easier she thought. In the infiltration part at least she grumbled pulling herself through the window. Creeping silently through the outer part of the room she looked for him. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. He was waiting for her. Very good Mara. Now what ever shall we do with ourselves? You're supposed to kill me and I'm supposed to capture you. " Luke I don't want to kill you," Mara whispered into the darkness.
Luke must have been shielding himself for she couldn't seem to sense him. Suddenly the tell tale snap hiss of a lightsabre coming to life sounded in her ears. She froze for she knew be the concentrate heat that the tip pointed to the base of her neck. "I could just kill you now and everything would be over," Luke softly, insanely reasoned "NO! Luke please listen. When I came here I had no intention to kill you," Mara told him. " Yeah!, like you weren't even going to try I'm not stupid." "I promise I wasn't but I've got a problem. Since I am unable kill you returning to my Master will prove fatal for me.," she sighed. "Fatal? You mean he would kill you because you failed?" he asked incredulous. "That is correct. I don't to go back to my master anyway. I'd much rather stay here with you. Luke don't you understand I love you. Why is it so hard for you to see that?," Mara asked.
"Mara this will never work," Luke sighed switching off his lightsabre. "Oh, yes it can just say you love me like I know you always have. Then running away will be easier. Come on Luke say it. Just say it," Mara begged grabbing hold of his forearms." I.. I," Luke stuttered. "Is it really that hard?," "NO!, I love you Mara Jade and no one else.," Luke answered. "No that wasn't so bad huh? Now I know this sounds crazy but I'm asking you one more time. Will you runaway with me? Luke it's the only way out for us.," "I don't know Mara the idea of turning my back on the republic and Jedi are horrifying to me," "And the idea of turning your back on me what of it? Do I mean anything to you at all!? You either love my or you don't. Take your pick!," she huffed planting her hands on her hips. "Mara I do love you I really truly do but how long do you think we could run How far do you really think we could get?," Luke asked. "As far away possible and for as long as it takes. We are an invincible team. You know it and I know it. That's all that matters," "But Mara where would we go? Your master has gained the control of many star systems. Besides the Jedi council is very powerful in the ways of the force. They would most assuredly sense me no matter where I went. There are also the strong bonds we have with our Masters. You know as well as I do that they certainly will know of our origin. Luke sighed sorrowfully. "Then we'll just have to find an ingenuative way to get around those difficulties. Luke if we are truly in love as you say we are then this should work.," Mara reasoned.
"Ah!, yes you always were the practical one weren't you Mara," Luke chuckled. "yes and don't you forget it either.," Mara shot back waggling her eyebrows. Feeling his father's touch on his mind through the force Luke froze. He knew then that if they were going to leave it would be then and there. "I'll go away with you but on one condition," Luke said. "And which condition would that be darling. I've already promised not to kill you.," Mara inquired. "I get to fly the ship and the ship is the Jade's Fire," Luke answered. "And what makes you think I'm going to let you fly a ship named after me? ," Mara jeered tossing her red gold ponytail over her shoulder. "Because I know you have an impeccable soft spot for me and second I'm holding the control pad. Last but not least is the fact that I programmed it to my touch and voice only.," Luke replied. "When did you get so smart?," Mara smiled lightly placing her hands on his neck and leaning toward his full lips.
"Not now Mara we have to leave now!," Luke yelled picking her up and jumping out of the window. "Luke! Stop!! What are you doing my son? Come back! You can't hide from me, Anakin yelled frantically across their link but to no avail. Luke's mind had been made up. He had lost his son. Crumpling to the floor he covered his face with his hand and wept bitterly.
Jade's Fire
Luke closed his eyes hearing his father's desperate plea. He couldn't, wouldn't leave Mara. She embodied his sun, moon, stars,. Mara was a part of his very being. Living without her would be pointless. I love you father please understand Luke sent pulling back the lever and jumping into hyperspace.