The Emerald Price Chapter 11
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 and of course, for Mona.
The Millennium Falcon, Elrood Spaceport
Han gasped for breath as he raced up the ramp of the Falcon. "Kid," he called, "they're on their way…" and then halted. Six black clad men stood waiting in the crew quarters.
"What!" Han stopped, panic flooding his chest, his hand reflexively sliding to the blaster at his thigh. His hand slowed. There was something about the way one of them moved that relieved his tension. These men looked familiar. He'd swear he'd seen these men before.
Recognition dawned. He had seen them before - in the market square. "You're with Adremetis?" At the slight nod of their heads he sighed. "You had me worried for a moment."
"Yes, Sir." One of the men stepped forward and despite the respectful tone in his voice, Han could see the amused glint in the man's eyes. "We never meant to cause you any anxiety. We're here to provide security for Prince Aesophas."
"They know I'm not the real prince, Han." Luke emerged from the crew quarters and Han almost recoiled. It was Luke's voice, but not his familiar persona. The heir apparent to Mittenden IV stood before him in all his scarlet and gold glory.
Han stared at the Jedi, his hands on his hips and a 'do-you-really-think-I-don't-know-that' expression on his face. "You send me to Kessel and back in that get up," Han finally muttered. "I meant for the silk to be made into something for my wife – not for you."
"What! You don't think it's my colour?" Luke asked.
Han gave him a warning look. "It's the voice. You have to change your voice, smart ass. Excuse us, guys," he apologised to the silently waiting men. "I need to speak to the prince privately." He made for the cockpit waiting until the door slid shut behind them before slumping into the pilot's seat.
"What's wrong, Han?" Luke asked. "The usual?"
"Kid, are you sure this is the best way to proceed? I mean, I know that you're the Jedi Master now and all, but you did grow up a farmer. Sure, you mix with all sorts but… Are you certain you can pull this off? Leia was brought up to do this – it's second nature to her – but it's not your usual at all. On top of that, this group appears to be a very well set up organisation. Are you really sure this will work? It ain't gonna be easy"
"This isn't the Death Star. When do we ever just go and do 'easy'? If you can think of another way, I'm all ears."
When Han remained silent for a moment Luke continued, "You know it's the only way. There's nothing else we can do." Luke lowered himself into the co-pilot's chair and stared at the instrumentation panel with troubled eyes, his mouth tightly set.
Han had seen that brooding look on the Jedi's face too many times and he wondered where the carefree moisture farmer he'd transported off Tatooine all those years ago had gone. Who had switched him with this sober man with the weight of the galaxy upon his shoulders? "Ah, kid. I'm sorry…"
"I've tried meditating on it in the short time we've had. We aren't here to put these guys out of business. This is not our fight. I cannot free all the slaves and ruin the syndicate as much as I want to rid the galaxy of scum like this, but we can get Mara out. We have to free Mara. It's the only way we can proceed. I wish there was more we could do."
Luke could feel Han's doubt and he knew that the Corellian hated to trust his life on the Force. He smiled slightly when he felt Han's resignation.
"I thought that too," Han admitted with a deep sigh. "I was just hoping there might be an easier way. I don't trust these kinda guys…"
"And you think I do?" Luke shook his head. "I'm not naïve, Han. I can take care of myself.
"I know. It's just… Just be careful."
"You're telling me?" Luke coughed. "Hey, if I mess up, these guys will just think that I'm just acting peculiar... you know - being royalty."
"Just try not to mess up."
"Yeah, I guess we'll both have to watch out. As I said, all we're going to do is go in, collect Mara, plant the trackers and get out."
Han gave a short burst of laughter. "Simple."
"Hey, it's not as if we haven't done this before. That's what our plans usually entail. In, collect the girl and get out before everything blows up in our faces."
"Yeah, like I said. 'Simple'".
The side of Luke's mouth twitched in a half smile. "If only it were."
"Can you sense if Mara's here? If she's not, we're deep in greasy bantha stew. It's all very well to go in to rescue the maiden but we'd look pretty silly if we find out that she's somewhere else. You do think that she's really been taken by these guys?"
Luke's eyes seemed to lose focus for a few moments and Han could see that he was reaching into the Force – reaching for Mara's presence. "I can feel her," he said breathing out shakily. "She's in a bad way but she's very close – very close." He gave a shiver, his eyes darkening almost to navy blue. He lifted his head and stared into nothingness. "She's here," he whispered, his voice faint. "She's on this world. We're together…"
"What?" Han asked softly, almost to himself, as worry lines appeared between his brows.
Luke shook himself and then cleared his throat. "I can't link with her mind too often or she'll drag me into whatever hell she's occupying. Nor do I want her giving the game away. If she recognises me and calls me by another name."
Han didn't like the sound of that. He had heard Luke say that he could feel his bond with the red-head very strongly. Hearing voices in his head was one thing but being influenced by her illness was quite another. He hated when Luke sounded like he was spouting things that sounded like prophecies. "Luke…"
"I contacted Elscol and Sixtus – they're on their way. I suspect Elscol was really intrigued by this mission." Luke didn't want Han dwelling too much on the strange nature of his bond with Mara. Even he found it perplexing. Luke found himself saying things that hinted at a relationship of a more personal nature between himself and the beautiful trader – he opened his mouth and the words emerged. Mara and he were not… a couple. They would never be together and if she heard him saying such things and felt how closely they were linked she would be furious. He could almost feel her small hold-out blaster digging into his ribs again. "Elscol is readying her team and planning strategies."
But Han was not so easily diverted. "Fine – but there's quite a bit to go before those two can waltz in and mop up what's left. I'm worried about you, kid. This link you have…"
"It will help us find her and then I can close it down to what it was before." Luke didn't know if he actually believed that statement but it sounded credible. Mara wouldn't want such an intimate connection to him nor the closeness that it entailed. It would remind her too much of what she had shared with Emperor. Part of him suspected that Mara thought he could still turn into the Emperor.
"Okay," Han wasn't sure if he was convinced but after years of being with the young Jedi Master, he could tell when to leave best alone. The subject was dropped.
"Han…" Luke hesitated.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to have to become the prince."
"I know."
"Yes, but I'm going to have to try and adopt his mannerisms if we're to convince our syndicate pals that we really are who we're pretending to be. I'm going to become him."
"And you're telling me what exactly? I'm going to be some kind of servant, right?"
"Get ready to duck."
"I don't like this," Han muttered under his breath.
Luke glanced at him. "It was your idea to come with me."
Han's face darkened. "Thanks for reminding me and, actually, it was Leia's idea." His lips twitched briefly. "I just agreed with her." He handed Luke a couple of miniscule tracking devices. "Got these from Beridor - he's Feenus' buddy. I brushed past him on the way out of the bar and these slipped into my hands. Adremetis has trained his people well but I should have expected that. He was a good soldier back in the old days - had a single-minded purpose about him. Reminds me of you at times."
"These look effective." Luke stored the items in a pouch attached to the belt hidden under his silken wrappings.
"I've asked for the prince to be allowed your weapons and your security people."
"They agreed?"
"Yup. Surprisingly enough they did."
"Good, but I still better keep my lightsaber hidden," Luke stated. "I don't think there are many psychotic princes with Jedi abilities. My lightsaber has to be a last resort."
"Psychotic?" Han's eyes widened. "Don't leave me with thoughts like that." He grabbed his comlink as it squealed shrilly. "Solo!"
"Good job it was me and not one of our new trading partners calling," Feenus' voice noted sardonically. "They are almost with you. Docking bays 79 and 80 are clear. One of their own vessels is due to land in 80 in the next hour. We will meet in 79. I've deployed extra men around the site."
"Where are you?" Han asked.
"Just coming into your area of the docking bay now. Altra decided to commandeer someone's speeder. Looked like he was too drunk to miss it."
"You picked a good one there, Feen. Hold on to her."
"I intend to." As Han clicked off his comlink he heard the sound of the speeder entering the bay.
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Her hat pulled well over her face, Altra stopped the 'borrowed' speeder. It was doubtful anyone would look closely enough to realize that she was female. Feenus squeezed her hand before vaulting from the vehicle. The half dozen men he'd detailed to become Luke's security force, exited from the Falcon and positioned themselves on either side of the ramp awaiting the emergence of the prince from the ship. Others were stationed around the spaceport in more discreet locations.
"Vreet and Solpar are already waiting," she whispered. "Cam is still in the Merry Pirate. Could be his speeder I requisitioned."
"Could be," he murmured. "Yes, I see them." Feenus gave Han the signal on his com. "Okay Solo, any moment now. Keep the com channels open at all times. Beridor is monitoring things from docking bay 82."
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"Okay, your worship. Do your worst," Han said and moved to the head of the ramp, ready to exit. "I worked for Jabba for years. I know how to keep out of the way of autocratic princelings."
"Right." Luke took a deep breath. This was it.
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Suddenly a loud noise could be heard echoing around docking bay 77 and coming from the ship. A voice screamed irately for several minutes until there was an ear-splitting crash and Han stumbled down the ramp in a daze.
"But your royalness, if you would only listen to what I'm trying to tell you," he shouted into the open ship. "Your father…" He ran back into the ship and there was an ominous silence. Another crash and Han came back down the ramp as if a krayt dragon was after him, running full tilt into Vreet and Solpar. "He's mad!" he said and then seemed to remember to whom he was speaking. "He's not mad. No, not at all - just a little upset. I've seen him far worse than this. He'll come around. Great men like to know things in advance."
He winced as several more loud bangs and crashes echoed around the docking bay but not once did Feenus or his security men move a muscle. It appeared that they were well used to the caprices of their master. Han said conspiratorially, "He's just calming down. It always takes a few minutes and then he'll be quite reasonable about things."
"Good," Vreet said. He glanced at Solpar. "I think the General has arrived in the nearest available docking bay."
Solpar's thin face brightened. "I will alert him that the Prince is ready to see him." He disappeared in the direction of the vacant bay.
"Yes, please do." Han jumped as a sound resembling breaking glass ricocheted around the bay. "I just wish he wouldn't smash up my ship. Please hurry and give him something to occupy his attention or I won't have any dishes left."
"Your ship?" asked Vreet curiously.
"My ship." Han's voice was proud. "It is not much to look at but it has it where it counts. The prince is one of the richest men in this entire sector, but he wanted to go incognito. The royal family like their luxury, but if he wanted to remain anonymous and sneak away from negotiations, he had to use a ship they wouldn't expect him to use. His father turned a blind eye to his escape. The king realised that having the prince there all the time might make the duchess change her mind. Especially if he was in one of his moods. His own ship – the Royal Yacht - is still on Mittenden V."
"Negotiations? Duchess?"
"Yeah! Marriage with this Duchess from Mittenden V. I mean it's practically decided that they will wed. I told him to wait but he's attained his majority and his father wants him wed. He thinks it might improve his temper." Han's face told the shorter man exactly what he thought of that idea. "Now you know nothing about this. He'll remove my head from my body if he guesses I've told you."
"But if he's in love with this duchess?"
"Love!" Han hooted. "Have you seen her?"
"That good, huh?"
"Worse. I've seen better looking whiphids."
"All that inbreeding."
"That's politics. She's rich and the family want her inheritance to come to them. He has dark moods and they want him settled and an heir sired. Say… remember I mentioned pleasure slaves?"
"Yes."
"One of those might take his mind off the duchess and the heat off me. He likes them feisty. Not one who'll just submit without a fight. He reckons he can get those at court. Have you got any shapely females?"
"We can get anyone or anything the prince desires," Vreet boasted smugly.
"He'll pay for her in jewels." Han wondered if the bauble from Jaina's princess set was realistic enough.
"That will be acceptable."
"Might take some of the heat off the duchess too. Poor girl. She's young and gently reared. She can't help the way she looks. He's not known for his kindness to women. As far as larger shipments of merchandise are concerned an account will be activated when terms have been agreed."
Vreet twisted his mouth sideways and nodded slowly. "Should be okay with the General. Yes. I can see that working very well. He can't just hand over a sack of jewels."
Han chortled. "That would look a bit suspicious to customs."
A tall man in black walked towards Vreet and Han. "Mr Barattas?"
"Yes, Commander Feen." Han's voice became more officious.
"I'm concerned about the security measures in place for our master. I have not been allowed to check the locations and the personnel over thoroughly. What will the king say if he finds out about this state of affairs?"
"The Prince is being allowed to keep his security with him. It will be fine, Commander. We can leave people in place here to report back to, should anything untoward occur."
Feen's comlink beeped. He turned away and conversed with whoever was at the other end before swivelling around to face Han. He gave a brisk nod. "The prince is ready to leave your ship, Mr Barattas."
"Noted."
Solpar walked back into the docking bay to find that the six security men had lined the ramp of Bohb Barattas' ramshackle looking ship. They stood alertly in parade ground formation. Solpar was impressed. This was the kind of person he liked to deal with. He opened his own comlink. "Vreet will escort Mr. Barattas to you. He will tell you what the prince requires. His Majesty will be with you in minutes."
Raitt couldn't keep the satisfaction from his own voice. "Send him over. I'm looking forward to our conversation."
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He had been kept waiting long enough, and he waited for few these days. The former Imperial General, Comptroller Ishyori Raitt was a spare, lean man in his sixties with snapping pale eyes of a colour which was neither blue nor green. He'd walked into the empty docking bay expecting to see the Mittenden heir but instead the place had been totally empty. He'd turned sharply to his aide. "Where are they? There's not even a ship docked here."
The aide opened his mouth and then closed it as footsteps rang hollowly on the duracrete flooring of the bay.
Solpar appeared, his feet moving swiftly towards his boss. "I'm so sorry, General. We decided to meet in the empty bay as there was room for everyone to converge in the open. Tharakan's ship is due to land in bay 80 and we want him to get his cargo unloaded in peace. The prince is being somewhat difficult but should be on his way momentarily. Mr. Barattas is with him, as is his head of security, Commander Feen. They are filling him in on the details. He seemed a little annoyed at missing the real action."
"Ah, yes the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of the nobility," Raitt murmured. "But a good idea to inform 'His Highness'. This could be very profitable for us all."
"We aim to provide a service, General. I will return to see if our client is finally ready and bring Mr. Barattas with me to hopefully ease our way with His Royal Highness. His aim is to see that the prince gets what he wants." He bowed to the General and strode away.
"An admirable trait," remarked Raitt as he watched Solpar leave.
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Luke peered at himself in the mirror and gave the metal box he'd filled with scrap pieces Han had discarded earlier another kick. It created quite a good sound effect. He brushed a speck of fluff off the Hapan silk adorning his person and looked down his own nose at himself. Aesophas was a particularly loathsome specimen but he would have to do.
He moved to the head of the Falcon's ramp but the continuous buzzing in the Force intensified painfully. He grabbed the side of the bulkhead. With the increase in pressure he knew that Mara was now on Elrood. He knew it as sure as he knew he was still alive and clutching onto the Falcon's bulkhead.
She was so close now, projecting her pain for any Force sentient in the quadrant. He clenched his hands into fists and slowly stood. It was only when he reinforced his barriers that he could stand comfortably. Luke's eyes glinted silver as his fury rose. How dare this happen to Mara – to anyone? It took a major effort but Luke banked his anger. The dark side brushed at the edges of his vision. He had to maintain control or it would be his undoing. The dark side was always with him and he was not going to go that route ever again. 'Calm', he told himself. 'Peace. You will not help her with your anger.' But Luke knew that what he really wanted to do was to tear the planet apart until Mara was safe again. It felt as if his heart had been torn from his body. A Jedi could stand only so much when it concerned those he…
Luke lifted bewildered blue eyes to the grey plates above his head. Mara was his friend. Why did he keep feeling as if she were more? She was in love with Lando and besides, romantic love had no place in his life.
He lifted his chin and stared resolutely ahead, the warmth of his blue gaze slowly turning to ice. As he exited the Falcon, his usual loping stride, learnt on the sands of the world where he'd been brought up, changed to an arrogant swagger.
Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV had come to Elrood to purchase a slave.