The Emerald Price – Part 2
By Ash Darklighter
Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.
Aaris, Kathol Outback
Mara could hear the rain trickling down the outside of the stone walls of her cell even though they were several feet thick. They also leaked – she could feel the moisture seeping through, the dampness pervading the whole atmosphere. At least the rain was warm - which was more than could be said for Mara. She shivered weakly. They were all sick. The virus had gone rapidly through all the captives waiting to be sold as slaves and, weakened by beatings and poor diet, they all succumbed to its virulent attraction. She'd tried to be strong and had attempted escape on a number of occasions. But there were too many guards and she hadn't been patient. Skywalker would have words to say to her about this.
Skywalker!
She seemed to see Luke's blue eyes in front of her. 'Luke,' she thought. 'Help me.' But how could he help? He was millions of light years away and she hadn't trained as hard at her Jedi studies as she should have. She, who could once call to the Emperor from any part of the galaxy, was struggling to reach beyond this cell.
Mara tried to find a comfortable spot on the slab of duracrete she'd been chained to. There wasn't one
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It had not been a journey Mara had particularly wanted to take, but Karrde had asked her to do this for him. In her mind, Mara knew that she had more than repaid Karrde for his trust in her. She'd saved his life the very first time they had met but, in her heart, Mara still felt indebted to the smuggler chief. He had given her a job and with that trust, the chance to regain her identity.
The fabricated romance with Lando Calrissian had been a mistake from the very beginning. Mara suspected Lando also felt that he owed Karrde something although true to his nature he had never tilted his hand as to what. Karrde had argued that it made sense for them to work together and Mara couldn't dispute that fact.
To be fair to Lando, when he wasn't trying to get her into bed, he was good company and she could see why Han Solo and Luke Skywalker counted him as a friend. If there was something missing in the partnership of Jade and Calrissian, Mara didn't want to admit it but she knew what it was nonetheless. He wasn't Skywalker. Lando didn't instinctively know what to do to compliment Mara's particular skills, though he was no slouch in a tight corner. Pure and simply he wasn't Luke. He didn't have the Force. He did have one thing in common with Skywalker. He annoyed her almost as much as the Jedi did – or so she told herself.
Left on her own with Lando as they travelled the galaxy on behalf of Karrde, the former baron of Cloud City, Bespin, began to forget the rules of their arrangement. He thought he could cross the invisible line from a pretend relationship to a real one. Mara had gritted her teeth and tried to be pleasant but she was not the type to persevere with civilities. She would never satisfy his desires and grace his bed - even out of curiosity – even if she were desperate. Being pleasant had turned to indifference, to irritation and then to out and out antagonism and yet Lando had failed to take the hint.
The relationship had deteriorated rapidly. Acting out in public what Mara could not bear to do in private was torture. It would end soon. Only one more trip and then she would never have to be in a room alone with him again. Maybe she could regain some tolerance for his company, but she doubted it.
When Karrde had proposed this final trip Mara had almost refused. Something in her soul was uneasy about this last venture. But the misgivings were vague and she had no real reason to disagree. It was Lando who had balked this time. He said it was business but Mara suspected that he had his eye on another conquest in the wake of his recent failures.
It didn't bother her what Lando did with his spare time as long as he left her alone. However, she surmised that Lando thought that the idea of him with another woman would make her jealous. He did not understand her at all. She could never be jealous of him. He'd hinted and suggested but she'd ignored his openings. Eventually frustrated by her inability to appreciate his obvious charms he had started drinking. This time he would not take no for an answer. This time Lando had tried a pass. Tried and failed. Mara had grabbed the collar of his tunic and had threatened him with murder darkening her green eyes, both verbally and physically disabusing him of his right to touch her.
After that Mara had refused to let him on board her ship. She hadn't told Karrde what had happened but the smuggler chief had been greatly concerned about this development as Lando disappeared to deal with matters of business instead of matters of the heart, and Mara set off for the Outer Rim on her own.
Force, she wished that Lando was with her now.
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Mara left Coruscant's Westport on a grey, strangely silent day. As she'd made her way to her ship the hawkbats were circling above her uttering plaintive sounds she could not hear.
"Reconsider, Mara," Karrde urged. "Take Lando with you."
"He's gone off somewhere on business," Mara snapped. "I'm going alone." Pride stiffened her shoulders, pushing away her misgivings.
"Or wait until Faughan returns. Just a couple of days and she'll be back from Garos. I would rather that…"
"The sooner I go, the sooner I'll return. You wanted me to go, remember?" Mara interrupted briskly. "You're not usually so nervous about me going on a mission. Remember who I used to work for?"
"Car'das is different, Mara."
"From the Emperor? I hope so."
"He's alive…"
"Definitely one up on old Palpy," Mara quipped glibly, her usually mobile face set.
"And somewhere out there… waiting."
"I'll be fine, Karrde. If he's out there I'll find him."
"Yeah! That's what I'm worried about."
"Talon… There's more to this."
The smuggler chief sighed. "Of course there is. A long time and a lot of festering history. You don't have to see Car'das or talk to him."
"Okay," she replied warily.
"Promise me, Mara. All I want to know is where he is."
Mara nodded and popped the hatch on the Fire. "I'll be in touch."
Karrde watched as the slim green-clad figure disappeared up the ramp and within minutes the ship rose smoothly from its docking bay and disappeared from view.
*******************************************
Two Weeks later, Mara landed at one of the smaller planets in the Minos Cluster. No information to be had there. She needed to refuel and restock so it hadn't been a problem. With warnings about pirates and slavers roaming the space lanes Mara took her leave. She'd been flying the galaxy since she was sixteen. She knew all about pirates and slavers. They'd best beware of her. She stopped on Shesharile 6, one of the two inhabited moons of the gas giant, but didn't linger. The planet was so polluted that she couldn't leave her ship without wearing a breathing mask. She would ask for information about Car'das elsewhere. She didn't realise that her questions had been noticed and her movements were under observation.
"Beautiful!"
"She would fetch a good price."
"See that she joins us."
"As you command, Master."
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Without regret Mara departed Shesharile 6 and set her navacomp for the Kathol Outback. Her pilot droid twittered in the background but Mara ignored it. Sometimes she wished her V-5 pilot had more personality…maybe more like an Artoo unit. Like Artoo Detoo – Luke's faithful droid.
Mara paused. She was at it again – thinking about Skywalker. Her forehead furrowed as she considered this surprising topic. For so many years Luke Skywalker had been an obsession. He had killed her master and would pay for his crimes. Then she'd discovered that it had all been an act of revenge and Luke had been innocent.
The pilot droid beeped loudly.
"What?"
The droid repeated his question.
"We're not far from the planet Aaris." She shrugged her shoulders. "Set co-ordinates and head for Aaris. It's as good a place as any other. Do we have any information on it?"
The droid whistled negatively.
"I suppose no news is better than bad news." Mara grabbed a disc and slid it into a data pad. "There must be something in here… ah, there is. Not much unfortunately."
The droid twittered again.
"We are heading for the Aaris system. The third planet is inhabited - a tropical world with jungles and, rising from them, mountain ranges. There are ruins dotted about the planet which are the only remaining signs of the original civilisation." Mara threw the droid a look of disgust and then peered out at the blackness of space. "So Aaris III it is."
A couple of days later Mara landed at the spaceport on Aaris III. She surprised herself by doing a spot of trading. Karrde would be pleased. She'd been carrying that load of obsolete converters for months. It figured that they wouldn't be obsolete this far out. She'd questioned several of the beings frequenting the tapcafs nearest the spaceport, slipping Jorj Car'das' name casually into the conversation. The moment she did so, the natives clammed up and made excuses to leave.
"Never heard of him…" Mara muttered, glaring at a Rodian who was patently transparent in his efforts to get away from her. "You've certainly heard of him. He's out here somewhere and he's not far away."
The only person not to run off in fright had been a small dapper man with serious grey eyes and a ready smile. "I am Entoo Needan E-elz."
Mara blinked.
The little man grinned, showing a row of gleaming white teeth. "It is a mouthful, is it not, for so small a person?"
"You're not small," Mara returned unthinkingly. So much pert enthusiasm was strange to find in a third rate tapcaf in a fourth rate spaceport.
"Ah, but in the grand schemes of the maker's universe, I am indeed small and my name is rather long. Call me Entoo Nee."
"Okay." Mara replied warily. "Jorj Car'das?"
"You are asking if I have heard of him?"
Mara nodded. "Yes."
"I have. He guards his privacy well. Who exactly is asking for him?"
Mara kept her face expressionless. She had the feeling that she'd just struck a cache of durindfire gems. "An old acquaintance of his wants to know if he is still alive."
"I believe he is."
"But you're not certain?"
"No, I'm not certain."
"Your words are open to doubt," Mara said quietly.
The little man leaned back in his chair and assessed the woman opposite him. "You are wise beyond your years, Mistress…"
"Could you find out? I would be willing to pay for such information."
"You cannot be the old acquaintance."
"Why not?"
"You are too young. Car'das is an old man I would think. I'm sorry I cannot help you further. I have my own tasks to do and am leaving the system today. I head towards Exocron."
Mara frowned. She'd heard of Exocron and something in the Force zinged. Car'das was there. "Exocron - the planet so near to the Kathol Rift that it lies hidden in a nebula, clouded by gases. Its location makes it almost impossible to find because the composition of the gases interferes with sensor readings."
Entoo Nee's eyes widened. "Wise indeed," he muttered.
"I remember information, that's all – nothing special. Is Car'das on Exocron?" Mara asked bluntly.
"I cannot say."
Her heart sank. This was the only real lead she'd had – poor as it was. She'd worked with less information before and had still triumphed. She'd go back to the Jade's Fire and contact Karrde. He might think that she'd found out enough for the moment. The promptings in the Force could be the right ones.
With a polite smile of thanks Mara rose to her feet, offering her hand to the little man. "Many thanks and clear skies."
"You too, Mistress. If I could offer you some advice? This has nothing to do with Jorj Car'das. This is for you."
"Advice?" Mara questioned.
"I think there has been some interest in you personally from some of the lower life types in the area."
"I can look after myself."
"I do not doubt it but… this part of the galaxy is full of many beings that would capture you or kill you for pleasure. You are an attractive female and the slavers and houses of… entertainment are willing to pay for fresh blood."
"Advice noted," Mara said, suppressing a shiver. She had felt curious eyes upon her. Yes, she would return to the ship and prepare to leave. Karrde would decide if she had enough proof. His name had been well known in the area. Car'das was not a work of imaginative fiction – he was a real man and he was alive.
The sky had darkened to a deep navy blue as she left the tapcaf – shadows lengthening from day into dusk and finally, to night. The whole area had that run down look of most spaceports. Regular spacers didn't care for fancy frills. Ramshackle buildings and seedy-looking repair shops lined the street – several shady characters dealing inside each one no doubt. As she hugged the shadows, Mara felt her unease return full force. Her danger sense was telling her to be very careful indeed and Entoo Nee's warning echoed in her head. The sooner she got offworld the better. The almost constant warm drizzle had turned to rain and an oppressive heat lingered even as darkness fell.
"I've been in worse places than this," Mara muttered to herself trying to bolster her flagging confidence. "This is nothing. Definitely contacting Karrde… don't like this place." She reached for the blaster in her thigh holster and eased the hidden one from her wrist. Not wanting to advertise her Jedi status she'd left her lightsaber on the ship. Luke's words came back to her. He'd said that a Jedi was never unarmed when they had the Force. He said his teacher had told him that. Well, she was a Jedi, or nearly a Jedi; Mara conveniently forgot about her sketchy training.
The Emperor had limited her training but she drew comfort in the fact that Luke wanted to expand her ability and open her totally to the Force. His earnest face crossed her mind's eye. She had the feeling that he was disappointed in her. Mara knew that he wanted her to achieve full knighthood. She wanted that too, but did he not understand that part of her feared that status? Suppose she failed? She froze. Was that the thing which held her back – her fear of failure? Mara took a shaky gulp of air. She didn't deal well with failure – never had.
"I promise, Luke. I'll come back and complete the training one day soon," she vowed to herself. It was a momentous decision taken in the dark on a backwater world but she meant it.
He'd been surprised to see her so close to Lando and when Lando had put his arm around her, Luke had appeared almost…hurt. For some reason she'd actually wanted to tell him that it was all a ruse but she could not. Why should it matter to her what Luke Skywalker thought? Expelling her breath in a sigh, Mara headed towards the area in which her ship was docked but the memory of Luke's blue eyes clouding over with something inexplicable stayed with her.
Suddenly she stiffened. She could sense beings behind her with hostile intent. They knew she was female and alone. "Better hurry," she murmured and started to run.
She'd almost reached the Fire when they attacked. Stretching out with the Force she surmised that there were at least six of them. Blasters in hand, spinning and kicking she dispatched half of them with relative ease.
"This one has teeth. Send for reinforcements!" A burly humanoid shouted.
"She will fetch a handsome price. "
"Lord Tharakan will be pleased. Feisty and beautiful."
"You haven't got me yet," Mara ground out as her foot connected with a satisfying thud. "I'm not planning on pleasing anyone," she hissed. Why oh why had she left her lightsaber in the Fire? Would they have attacked a Jedi?
A shot grazed the tip of her shoulder. "Aargh!" she cried. They'd stopped trying not to mark the merchandise. They were attempting to capture her by any means possible short of killing her. Something Luke had said about Callista, his former lover came into her mind. Callista had been a former Jedi from the Old Republic and had survived by pouring her consciousness into the computer aboard The Eye of Palpatine. Callista had been fired at and had been hit. "The more that hit you, the more that will hit you." Mara understood and grimaced as her fist connected with the burly humanoid's jaw. It made sense – once you were wounded you carried with you a weakness and it was more difficult to keep going – more difficult to stay ahead of the game.
Mara knew she was tiring. She had the Force and the Jedi increased strength and endurance but she couldn't keep going for ever. She was only partially trained. She had to get away before the reinforcements arrived.
The stun bolt caught her unawares. Mara went down hard. "No!" she moaned as everything began to waver, pain splashing over her nerve endings. She should have sensed that one coming and now it was too late. 'Luke!' was her last thought as everything went black.
"Got her!"
Once of her remaining attackers rolled her over and a large whiphid snickered his appreciation. "She is a beauty. Tharakan will be pleased."
The burly humanoid rubbed his aching jaw gingerly. "I'm not so sure that she wasn't more trouble than she's worth. Slak, Fyve and J'huup are dead. Reepit needs a med droid and I could do with someone to fix my jaw. I think she's broken it. She'd better fetch a very good price and I mean that – many jewels worth. Load her onto the wagon and take her down to the pens for conditioning."
"Yeah, sure."
"And make sure you drug her with something so she's docile. I don't want her to wake up fighting."
***********************************************
Mara struggled into a hazy awareness. Her eyes focused on something and she frowned.
Bars!
Force, she felt terrible – her mouth felt like the Dune Sea, parched for life-giving water, her limbs were sluggish and heavy. Something was wrong, she thought. She knew what these feelings meant. Memories surfaced from her childhood and her early teens during her Imperial training of her ability to function under the influence of narcotics. She'd also seen the effects of such drugs on enemies of Palpatine's New Order. It was then that the memories of her failure to escape began to emerge.
Mara attempted to sit up and groaned as her head protested. She felt light-headed and her surroundings wavered like a faulty holo-recording. "Have to sit up," she grunted and struggled to get into that position. "Got to get out of here." She stood up carefully and took a step and then nearly fell over. She was chained ankle and wrist to the slab she'd been lying upon and a quick glance at her wrist confirmed what her muddled brain already knew. Her weapons were gone. One of the basic rules of capturing an opponent – make sure you disarm them.
Skywalker knew a Jedi technique to help you filter toxins from out of your system. It worked for poisonous gases and drugs. If she'd maybe stayed longer on Yavin he could have taught it to her. His face swam into her mind. "Luke!" she whispered. "Help me."
'Mara!'
Mara stifled another groan. She must be far gone. She could almost hear him "Luke… help me!"
'Mara! Where are you?'
"Too far away…" Mara mumbled as she dropped into a restless sleep. The images crowding into her mind made her cry out and call for the only man in the galaxy that could help her.
**********************************
When she awoke again, Mara wasn't sure how long had passed and time still remained hazy. She suspected she'd been in this semi-comatose state for a number of days. As the drugs wore off Mara fought her captors and tried to escape any way she could. The result was that they kept her drugged. She tried to refuse the food but they forced it down her.
After each escape attempt, the beatings had increased in ferocity. They had not attempted to molest her sexually, but Mara could feel the guard's eyes gazing hotly upon her slender figure and began to fear.
In normal circumstances, Mara would be prepared to bide her time and wait for the opportune moment and act when her captors least expected it. But disoriented and weak from ill-treatment and lack of proper nutrition she acted like a wild thing.
"This one is more trouble than she's worth," one of the guards commented with a snarl, nursing his hand which was dripping with blood. As he'd attempted to feed Mara she'd bitten him hard.
"I'm not hungry," Mara spat, her eyes feral. She was not going to give in. They would have to kill her. She would be no man's slave ever again.
"Someone will break her." The voice was cultured and cool.
"Lord Tharakan!" The guards bowed low.
"Prepare her for viewing." The owner of the voice was a tall Ho'Din.
"I'm not…" Mara argued."
"Silence," the guard shouted and slapped her across the cheek."
"Careful Steft and don't mark the merchandise," Tharakan said, his snake-like tresses gleaming.
"I have a couple of buyers I would like to show this one to." He held out a syringe. "See to it that she's docile."
"No! Luke!" Mara screamed as the needle sank into the soft flesh of her upper arm.
"She keeps saying 'look'," Steft commented. "What are we supposed to be looking at?"
"Luke," Mara moaned under her breath as her world clouded over once more.