The Emerald Price Chapter 8

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.

The Wild Karrde, Eriadu Spaceport

"Sir!"

Talon Karrde lifted his head and stared at the young Bothan he'd recently taken on as part of his crew. "Yes, Mi'syr?"

"There's a com call for you. It's from Elrood."

"Elrood?" he echoed thoughtfully. "Who would be contacting him from there? "Who was…?" And then he knew. "I'm on my way."

He moved swiftly to his office and had the call rerouted from the com-centre. "Karrde." He spoke his name clearly and waited as the picture coalesced into the recognisable features belonging to Han Solo. Ah! So Leia had not let her brother go on this venture on his own. She'd sent Han as backup.

"Good… whatever time of day it is with you, Talon," Han greeted the smuggler with a forced grin.

"Problems?"

"The usual." Han shrugged. "Why can't I fly somewhere without somebody trying to crush me into a cube?"

"They've met you?" Karrde quipped.

Han gave him a glare and then sighed. "Maybe. Pirates nearly shot us down as we entered the system. Thanks to the Kid and some fancy flying on my part we got away with minimal damage. The Falcon's grounded for a day or so until I can fix her. Shields are fried again."

Karrde's pale eyes narrowed. "You've not found Mara then?"

Han shook his head. "No, unfortunately not, but we have our suspicions of her whereabouts."

"You do?"

"Well, Luke has his suspicions, to be more accurate. You might recall that he can sense when another Jedi is close. He's sure she's in this sector."

"That's still not going to be easy. You're almost on the edge of Wild Space. There are hundreds of worlds where she could be.

"I know, but Luke says he will find her."

"That figures. He knows her best and if he thinks Mara is close – then she probably is."

"Yup, he's been a bit strange about it but quite definite. We think she got picked up by a party of slavers."

"Mara! Caught out by a bunch of two-credit…"

"These slavers have been well-organised into syndicates. Slavery is now illegal in most other parts of the galaxy. I don't think that creed has reached the Outer Rim yet. The best slaving syndicates will be in that area – you know this."

"Stang!" Karrde swore softly. "Is he sure? I mean – I can't quite see Mara being captured so easily."

"We don't know how easy it was. If that's what has happened."

"True. The Outer Rim is still as lawless as ever."

"You never thought it was anything else," Han retorted. "That's why you do so much business this end of the galaxy. The New Republic still has no visible presence out here – it's too far away from the Core Worlds. When we first secured Coruscant we didn't have the ships or personnel to involve the Outer Rim. I did wonder if it was time to start leaning on the ruling governments in this sector. The Council may want to send a delegation out this way."

"Possible."

"Luke assumes you have a base in the area and would like it to have a proper medic. He says Mara is unwell and will need treatment."

"None of my bases out here have top-flight medicentres. They all have proper medical droids. The two-one-B…" He paused. "Wait-a-minute – how does he know she's unwell if he doesn't know exactly where she is or what's happened to her?"

"Jedi thing apparently. He just does."

"Of course."

Han moved away and Talon could hear him talking with someone in the background. "Is Luke there – can I speak to him?"

Han called his brother-in-law. Luke had slumped into one of the comfortable armchairs in the lounge, his head cradled in his hands. Han could see how tired he was by the slump in his shoulders. He sighed deeply. Luke was pushing himself too hard again. "Go and speak to Talon, kid."

Luke nodded and wearily wandered through to the immaculately kept Adremetis' study. He slid into the seat that Han had vacated and tried to appear more upbeat. "Talon, how are you?" His voice sounded unnaturally bright.

"I'm well, Luke. You look tired."

'Damn! Luke thought. 'Shoulda known Karrde was too clever to fool.' "I am tired, but that doesn't matter."

"What's happened to Mara, Luke? Han's only told me so much."

"We know very little. I think she's been picked up by slavers. They must have surprised her somehow. She's not unaware of the risks like some people are."

"No. That makes it all the more worrying. Han says she's sick."

"I get the feeling that she's sick or injured in some way – not sure how. I heard her call out to me and I can feel her presence strongly, so we must be close."

"But didn't you hear her call out to you when you were on Coruscant?"

"I don't think it's the same thing. It doesn't seem as far away and I am far more aware of her. She seems sluggish, disoriented and that's not Mara Jade. That's why I want her taken to the nearest medical facility as soon as we find her and we will find her, Talon."

"That's never been in doubt, Luke, and I'm grateful. I could get there in the Wild Karrde pretty quickly. My business is all finished here and Mara is more important."

"Not enough time," Luke said gravely. "I can feel it. Are you still on Malastare?"

"No, I'm at Eriadu – a bit closer."

"I still don't think it's enough."

Karrde tugged at the goatee on his chin. "Czerip," he said finally. "One of my bases is there. It's half way between Elrood and Eriadu. I can get there in a day or so. If you manage to get Mara, go there. The facilities are basic - it's only ever used as a stopgap but it has a new medical droid."

"It will have to do. The Wild Karrde has a very good sickbay, hasn't it?"

"I thought you'd been in it, Luke."

"If I haven't, it's the first one in the galaxy I've missed out on."

"Yes, your sister did say something about you having an affinity for bacta."

Luke scowled. "She likes to fuss." He straightened in his chair. "If she needs to be stabilised for the journey to Coruscant, it can be done at Czerip before you arrive and then the Wild Karrde or the Falcon can get her to Coruscant if need be. I'm hoping she's not too badly hurt and that I'm just overreacting."

"I hope so too. But it is better to be prepared." Talon's look was serious. They both had been kicking around the seamier sides of the galaxy for many years and not many things surprised them any more. Especially the way beings could treat other beings. "How are you going to discover if she's been sold?"

"We bumped into someone Han knew long ago and they have this little organisation. They will help us get access to whoever we need to see."

"What kind of organisation?"

"Anti-slavery."

"Anti-slavery?" Karrde repeated. "Trust Solo."

"I need some information," Luke blurted out. "You're bound to be able to find out."

"Probably," Karrde commented warily. "I have many sources." When Luke related his request he whistled softly. "Yeah! I can get you that. When do you want the information?"

"Now"

"Now!" he echoed faintly. The Jedi Master continually surprised him.

"Yes." Luke was uncompromising. "I need it now. You'll be paid for any information you can give me and I'm sure you have what I need."

"If you get Mara back safely consider that my payment."

Luke gave him a strained grin. "Okay – if you're sure?"

"I am." Talon swivelled in his chair and Luke could hear him tapping commands into a computer. "This might do," he muttered. "Aha! This is the very thing - perfect." There was a buzz and a whirr and Talon turned back to face Luke. "Sending though some stats. You can copy it onto a datacard."

"Thank you. Copying now."

Karrde had to ask. "Luke – is this wise?"

"I haven't much choice. There's no way we can go in guns blazing and ruin the whole enterprise. We need people with much more authority."

"Are you getting cautious in your old age?"

You're not harking back to the Death Star. I didn't do that on my own. I can't say I like the idea but if it gets me Mara back, then it is worth it."

Karrde blinked. Luke was talking very possessively about his second-in-command and the idea that he'd thought about then discarded surfaced again in his mind. What did Luke Skywalker feel for Mara Jade? "

"I told you that we've been incredibly fortunate to meet this old colleague of Han's from the Imperial Navy…"

"The Imperial Navy? Luke, I don't like this either."

Luke waggled his head from side to side in a non-committal fashion. "I was taken aback at first but these are good people who are going to help us, although I think the information they can give is almost the sum total of their ability to help us do that. You've probably helped me more with that one transmission. I haven't revealed to Han what I'm planning to do yet."

"Just be careful."

"I'm always careful."

"Okay, I'll believe you but that's not what your sister or Mara says."

"Yeah, sure." Luke's voice was wry. "Karrde?"

"Yes."

Luke's eyes darkened, his jaw firming with determination. "Could you get in touch with Lando? I want him meeting us off the ship at the spaceport on Coruscant. I don't care how good business is."

"Luke… About Lando…"

"If he is not there for Mara when she arrives on Coruscant I will personally vape him – dark side be damned."

"But Luke – Lando and Mara…"

"Just tell him that. We'll be in touch. Goodbye."

Talon was left frowning at a blank monitor. The Jedi Master had gone. "Goodbye," he muttered uselessly to no one. Surely Luke didn't still think that Mara and Lando's relationship was real? He had said to Mara she could tell Luke if she wanted to – obviously she hadn't. Talon groaned – he had gone out of his way to let the entire galaxy think Lando and Mara were a couple. Why should Luke believe any differently when Mara hadn't told him and why hadn't she told him? Then it struck him that when Mara and Lando had been together, Luke had absented himself. This was a state of affairs he hadn't considered. He had to give the theory room to grow.

The Jedi Master didn't want to see Lando Calrissian and Mara Jade together but would do anything to help Mara be with the man she loved. Luke Skywalker was in love with Mara Jade. Karrde groaned again.

***********************************

Luke wrapped his cloak around his body and followed the others out into the narrow street. The sky had darkened and the streetlights had come on, illuminating the surroundings, yet keeping the corners shadowy.

"This way," Feenus urged. "I have a transport."

Han noted a small, covered repulsorlift speeder in a parking lot next to the apartment complex. He guessed by its size that it would take about eight standard sized humans.

"We're meeting Beridor at the spaceport. He's my partner."

"You trust him?" Han was cautious as always.

"Totally."

"Good."

"We've been together for nearly fifteen years. A good man."

"He was a slave, wasn't he?" Luke guessed.

"How did you…?"

Han smiled in the darkness. So Feenus had also acquired something in the nature of a life debt – although not from a Wookiee.

Luke fidgeted in the back. He cursed his customary impatience. He hated waiting for something to happen. "You could drop us off at the Falcon where we can start on the repairs."

Altra remembered suddenly and turned to face Luke. "You said you had a plan."

Luke pulled a data pad from his pocket and slipped in a data card. He perused the contents thoughtfully before staring at Altra. "I do, but it depends on how much you can find out at this meeting and I also must get back to the ship. There are things I need there."

"What do you want us to find out?"

"The identities of the main players in whatever syndicate we're dealing with."

"That might not be easy."

"What are you up to, kid?" Han asked quietly.

"I'm going to become a rich lord or prince in need of a regular supply of slaves."

"We've tried that before," Feenus said dismissively.

"This will work," Luke insisted. "But tell them I want to inspect the merchandise personally."

"I'll see what Beridor says."

"No, just tell him that I need those identities." Luke was firm. "No questions – just do it."

"Why?" Altra's shrewd grey gaze warmed. Yes, this man was quite different from what she had expected the Jedi to be.

"I am powerful, yet discreet. I will only deal with the slave lord himself. No underlings." There was an unconscious arrogance in Luke's bearing as if he had already started to become the wealthy prince.

His brother-in-law saw again one of the few times that Luke resembled Leia. She could slip on her royal bearing like it was a well worn coat.

Luke held out a data card. "This is a data file containing information on Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV."

"I've never heard of him," Feenus grumbled. "He doesn't exist."

Luke chuckled. "Oh, but he does. His world is only a system or two away from this one. It is a wealthy planet – rich in mineral deposits and natural resources. There is a huge potential market for slaves."

"He's real?" Altra asked.

"Yes, no point using an alias. They're bound to check. You may not have heard of him yet but in time you will. His family are wealthy and autocratic. They have been buying more and more holdings in this sector."

"Karrde give you the information?" Han enquired dryly.

Luke nodded.

Han grinned. "Then it's real."

Luke glanced at Feenus. "You and your friend set up the meeting. Han and I will visit the syndicate headquarters if they have any. If you can supply me with homing beacons and trackers I can place them at the scene when we are there."

"That sounds promising," Altra said. "You will ask the New Republic and also your less orthodox friends for their help?"

"Yes," Han answered. "I feel kinda bad for not staying for the whole haul…"

Feenus shook his head. "Don't. This is my life's mission."

"Sure, Feen, but we're not away yet. And please, don't make it your life. Altra needs you too – don't forget."

"I won't.

"Drop us off at the Falcon," Luke instructed.

Han gave him a look. "Yes, Rogue leader."

The transport stopped at docking bay 77. Han activated the boarding ramp and nipped quickly inside, his bag of spare parts clasped firmly in his hands.

"Come back for us in an hour," Luke said. "Will that be long enough?"

"Should be."

"Fine. See you then." Luke lifted his hand in farewell and then sprinted into the ship. He had a lot to do.

"Is he always like that?" Feenus asked as Luke's figure disappeared inside the Falcon.

"Mostly," Han said. "He's either completely calm or totally hyper. There doesn't seem to be anything in between with Luke Skywalker. He's a good man. Where's the best place to meet you?"

"The Merry Pirate," Altra said, a twinkle lighting her grey eyes to silver.

"The Merry Pirate!" Han exclaimed. "I thought that place had been condemned."

A smirk twitched on the end of Feenus's mouth. "Still there. Owned by one of my people."

"Handy. I'll meet you there in about an hour."

"Right. See you then." Feenus said.

Han stared at his beloved ship. "Better go and see what's wrong with you, baby."

**********************************************

"Han!"

"Yeah!" The Corellian hadn't lost any time. He had already started to repair some of the ruined capacitors.

"Do you still have those fake beards and stuff from the last time we decided to infiltrate something we shouldn't have done and barely escaped with our lives?"

Han glared at him, hazel eyes glinting irritably. "Hell, kid. Did you have to phrase it quite like that?"

"Yeah. Just saying it like it is."

"That's what worries me. The answer to your question is yes."

"Where?"

"In the locker in the crew quarters."

"Fine and Han?"

"What!"

"Could I borrow some of the Hapan silk you got for Leia?"

"Whatever you want." Han wasn't really listening. "Just leave me to try and fix the ship. It's okay, baby," he soothed and patted the bulkhead affectionately.

Luke rolled his eyes.