The Emerald Price Chapter 13

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 – what would I do without you?

The Millennium Falcon – Elrooden Spaceport

"We need to get out of here, fast," Han screamed as he raced to the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.

They'd wandered up the Falcon's ramp as if they'd had somewhere important to go but without making it appear as if they were attempting a desperate escape. Luke had strutted up the ramp first, followed by Han cradling a limp Mara Jade in his arms and finally, by Feenus Adremetis and his six men.

Feenus knew that they would be tracked back to the spaceport and the manner of their exit observed. It meant that Feenus, Altra and their six associates had to leave Elrooden spaceport in the Falcon.

It was a totally different story once the ramp closed behind them. Everything changed to frantic activity. "Han, I'll take Mara," Luke declared, the expression on his face brooking no argument, not that the Corellian would have argued in this case.

"Here!" Han had thrust a comatose Mara into Luke's arms. He had a ship to fly out of there -the quicker the better. Altra, thinking ahead, had already fired up the converters. The ship was ready to go. He slid into the pilot's seat and flashed her a quick look of thanks. Altra nodded and performed the co-pilot's duties as if she'd been flying in the Falcon for as long as Luke and Chewie had.

"I already requested clearance as soon as Feenus said you were on your way."

"I've said it before - you are a brilliant woman."

Altra smiled. "I have my moments."

"Punch it!"

The ship leapt into the air and vanished into the sky. Han breathed a huge sigh of relief as Elrood was left far behind them. He couldn't believe they'd made it off planet without a hitch.

"I'll go and see how Luke's doing," Altra murmured.

Han nodded, the expression on his face grim. "Yeah, if you could."

She strode purposefully into the crew area to find her husband and the rest of their people sitting with stunned expressions on their faces. They couldn't believe what they had just seen – couldn't believe these beings were so satisfied with the hi-tech horror they had created.

Feenus looked up into the warm, grey-green gaze of his wife, his face bewildered. "You should have seen the place, Altra. It's enormous. They have the potential to process thousands and thousands of slaves. I've never felt so sick in my life – not since I saw the second Death Star. What can we do against that?"

"We can't do anything against a setup like that," one of the men muttered.

"It's tougher than any Imp detention centre I've ever been in," stated another.

"You were the guard in the last Imperial detention centre we ransacked," someone said caustically. "You almost got us caught."

"I don't care what I did. I wouldn't want to be in that one as a guard or as a prisoner."

Altra looked around at her husband and her friends. "You're going to give up?"

"No… Never!" Feenus gritted.

"I didn't think so." She placed a tender hand on his shoulder. "Han and Luke have contacted people who will help us. Elscol Loro and Sixtus Quin are on their way. They're also going to speak to the New Republic Inner Council who can put pressure on the governments in this sector. It won't stop the slavery but it will make it much more difficult for them to operate. You never expected this fight to be an easy one, did you?"

"No." Feenus allowed his eyes to sweep around the group, his jaw firming, before he said quietly, "We have to destroy that place."

"And we will. You'll be okay." Altra's voice was brisk. "Now… Start thinking, guys. We need plans to stop these monsters. I want to see how Luke and his Jedi friend are doing."

"Not well." Feenus shook his head. "We were lucky to find her so easily. She could have already been sold and at the other end of the galaxy by now."

"Ah, but Luke knew she was there – he could sense her. Han says it's a Jedi thing. He told me Luke believes that there's no such thing as luck." Altra kissed Feenus gently on the forehead, her face sad. "And you still may not have reached her in time."

"Maybe not." Feenus shook his head again. "She's in a bad way and I don't think it looks good for her."

"Drugged?" she asked and then hesitated over the next word but it had to be said. "Raped?"

"The former certainly. I don't think she's been touched sexually. She'd been picked up by Tharakan's goons and you know he won't allow his people to touch his 'merchandise'," he replied derisively. "They do what he tells them to do or else."

"Yes, he'll sell them to the pleasure houses but won't allow his own people to touch."

"Luckily for her but unfortunately she has all the signs of the Leptas virus."

"Oh," Altra's face paled. "It's been rife on Aaris III. Remember, Beridor said so… Was it only a couple of hours ago?"

Feenus nodded. "That's where Tharakan's base is."

"It can be cured?" Altra asked. "I'd heard that it could be."

"If caught immediately and treated with the correct medication." Feenus shrugged listlessly. "She looked to be very weak and didn't stir at all on the return journey. It is therefore probable that most of Tharakan's slaves will have it and won't receive treatment in time."

"Yes, there's nothing we can do for the moment."

"I feel so helpless," Feenus's voice burst out frustratedly. "They'll probably all die."

Altra sighed and kissed Feenus again. There was nothing they could do and it hurt. "Where is Mara Jade?"

"Skywalker took her to the crew quarters which doubles as the medibay. He's been with her since we took off."

Altra sighed. She suspected that the Jedi was in love with the beautiful red-headed woman even though he stubbornly maintained she was nothing but a friend. He didn't look at her with the eyes of a mere friend.  But it was none of her business. "Luke!" she called softly as she searched for the crew quarters. The Jedi was sitting on the deck plates of the ship surrounded by scarlet and gold Hapan silk, a med pack open beside him, staring at the woman on the bunk. His face was stricken.

"I'm sorry," whispered Altra, her stomach diving suddenly with dread. "She's not…?"

"She's not dead," Luke muttered fiercely. "She's fighting it."

"Of course," Altra murmured, unsure of what else to say.

"She is." He turned to face her, the desperate blue eyes holding an inner fire. "I won't let her die." He took a cloth and tenderly sponged Mara's face. For an instant her eyelashes flickered and she moaned.

"See," Luke glanced up at Altra, his face shadowed in the dim lighting. He pulled the fake golden beard from his face and ran his hand through his hair which had been flattened by the turban. "She's not the type to give in – not ever. I won't let her."

He looked grimly determined and yet so tired that Altra's heart went out to him. "I'll sit with her. You look as if you need to sleep.

But the Jedi Master shook his head. "No, it's fine. I'm going to go into a healing trance to see if I can help her." He pulled his lightsaber from where it was still affixed to his chest and flung it away from him. It landed with a clatter somewhere in the corner of the crew quarters.

Altra thought that this was a strange way to treat the honoured weapon of a Jedi Knight. "Luke, you're worn out. You were exhausted before this even started."

"I'm not leaving her. She wouldn't want to be with a stranger. No offence meant, Ma'am." Involuntarily Luke returned to formality to distance himself from Altra. This was none of her business and she could not be involved with Mara at this time. This was his place.

"But wouldn't you be able to help her more if you got some rest."

Luke shook his head. "She could be dying, Altra. I don't know if we were in time to save her. I don't know if I have the strength to help her. But I have to try and that's why I can't sleep – that's why I have to be with her. I have to do it now while she's still able to help. There will be time to sleep later on, whatever happens. It's in the hands of the Force and I have to put my trust in that. It should not be her time to go but who can say when our time will come. She's fought all her life for what she has. She will not give up. I won't let her."

As Luke repeated his words Altra nodded. "I understand." And she did, perhaps even more than the tired and grieving man before her. "I'll leave you after I've seen to your face."

"My face?"

"Your lip's been bleeding."

"Mara," he said with a tender smile. "She came out fighting as soon as they released her from the restraints. She was all arms, just hitting out anywhere and she connected. Hurts," he admitted. "She was always better than I in hand-to-hand combat."

Altra kneeled down beside him and searched through the med kit for some salve. "You'll live," she soothed, lifting his chin and deftly rubbed in the ointment as if he'd been a child. "There, that should ease things a bit." She stood up carefully.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Altra nodded, placing a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder. It was strange how young and uncertain the Jedi had seemed just at that point. She'd had no experience of the Jedi and in front of her was a young man sitting by his gravely ill friend with no real idea what to do. Mara Jade was, as Feenus had said, in a very bad way indeed. She gravitated back to join her husband, deep in thought.

Han wandered into the cargo area. "The kid with Mara?"

Altra nodded.

"And?"

She shook her head. "I've only seen one or two cases of the virus but to me…" She spread her hands out helplessly. "It's not looking good for her."

Han's face stilled. "Aw, hell!"

"She's alive but…"

The Corellian closed his eyes for a moment. "Sith, I don't know what the kid will be like without her."

"She's still alive," Altra said. "Just."

"Yeah, but for how long?"

"We can't answer that."

"I know. The kid would say that it's in the hands of the Force."

"That's exactly what he did say. But a good medic would perhaps be better."

"I've seen the Force do some miraculous things," Han said quietly.

"Can it prevent death?"

"Not always, no." Han remembered the loss of Obi Wan, of Luke's father of many of their friends who had died in some wasteful way – of Alderaan.

"I sorted his face," Altra said.

"His face? Oh… yeah, Mara clocked him a right crack across the mouth. It really connected." He gave a wry grin. "That's Mara alright. She's the type to come out fighting whatever the situation."

"Beridor is waiting for us on Coyn."

"I noticed you already had a course laid in."

Altra gave a wry smile. "I hoped you wouldn't mind dropping us off – it won't take more than an hour out of your schedule. It would look rather suspicious that the security staff assigned to the Prince didn't leave Elrood with him."

"It would look very strange," Han tried to say cheerfully but Altra could tell his heart wasn't in it.

"Raitt and his cronies do have associates that ply their nefarious trade in the skies above Elrood."

"Yeah, I think we met some of them."

"You would have been watched right up to take off."

"You had no choice but I just hope that extra hour isn't fatal to Mara."

Altra sighed. "I know. Where are you meeting Mara's boss?" she asked.

"Karrde? He has a base on Czerip with a good medical facility. That's another day at least after we drop you off. He was at Eriadu last time I spoke to him."

Altra twisted her mouth and then relaxed, nodding her head thoughtfully. "Speak to Miko. He knows this area better than any of us and all the fastest routes."

"Miko?"

"Dark hair, swarthy complexion, sitting next to Feenus. Miko Banasch. Miko!" Altra called.

One of the men lifted his head. "Yeah?"

"Could you help plot the fastest route to Czerip for Han from Coyn?"

"Sure."

The Corellian waved his hand tiredly. "You can use that terminal over there."

Miko moved to the navicomp and started working out figures and points on the map.

Han moved behind Miko but what he saw seemed to satisfy him. "I'd better go and see Mara and the kid."

Altra sighed. "He said something about a healing trance?"

"Probably for the best if it's the only way he can keep her alive. We daren't hypospray her with anything because we don't know what's already in her system."

"Feenus says quite a lot by the look of her and Luke agreed with him."

"They would both know. Luke and I… we've been in our share of tight spots throughout the years. We know what a spiced up prisoner looks like. The Alliance tended not to do that but it was standard Imperial interrogation procedure and for a short while Feenus worked in that area. He would know the procedure"

"He hated working there but you're correct. Feenus said she looked as if they'd pumped her full of a narcotic cocktail. Han, she doesn't look like she's going to make it."

"So you keep saying but you can't be sure. I've seen a lot of strange things in my life and the most mysterious and marvellous of all is my brother-in-law's faith in the Force. We got her out and we'll just have to be patient. It would have been far worse for everyone concerned if we hadn't got to her at all. At least now she has a chance, albeit a slim one, but a chance nonetheless."

A chime sounded throughout the ship. Han moved to the console in the cargo area. "We're coming up on Coyn."

"Take us to the tip of the southern continent at this point location. That's where Beridor is waiting for us," Altra instructed holding out a pad with the data.

Han looked at Miko and the other men. He wanted to check on Mara and the kid but the sooner he got out of this sector the better. "Strap yourselves in guys, we're going to be landing very soon."

Feenus and Altra went with Han to the cockpit. Altra moved to navigation, letting Feenus sit in the co-pilot's seat.

Feenus stared out the viewport at the rapidly approaching planet. "We have a small base on Coyn. Sometimes we need to be off Elrood and we found this was a good stopping off point for Derilyn and Berea."

"These are the co-ordinates Luke sent to your friends Elscol Loro and Sixtus Quin." Altra smiled. "We'll wait for them here."

Han grinned back. "They're good people – driven but good. Luke knows them better than I do, to be honest. Elscol was one of the 'Rogues' for a while. Luke was Rogue Squadron's Commander for many years and still flew with the squadron occasionally after Wedge Antilles took over – that's how he knows her. Sixtus Quin is a former Imperial soldier with a cause. I think you'll get on fine. Reminds me of someone else I know." He winked at Altra.

Feenus managed a feeble snort.

Han flicked a couple of switches as he initiated the landing cycle. "They know what they're doing," he said.

The Millennium Falcon touched down in front of a plain whitewashed stone building - a couple of small shuttles sat nearby. A tall, spare figure stood in front of the entrance. Beridor was waiting for them, his black eyes shining with emotion.

"You got her?" he gabbled quickly as soon as the ramp was lowered and the passengers began swiftly to exit. He was affected more than most by the freeing of another slave.

Han nodded. "We got her but she's very ill."

"I'm actually surprised you pulled it off, to tell the truth," Beridor admitted. "You're sure they didn't suspect a thing?"

Feenus shook his head. "Not a thing."

Beridor held out his hand and shook Han's firmly. "You've helped us a great deal, Han Solo."

"We didn't do anything," Han protested.

"On the contrary. Until now we had no idea of the true scale the syndicate was planning for their operations, nor the location and type of facility they had already built. We've been searching for large warehouses in the spaceport district."

"I'll speak to the New Republic and see if they can apply pressure to the ruling party. I can't promise anything, but I will speak to them."

"That is more than I could ever have hoped for."

Han held out a data card. "This card contains codes that will enable you to contact me or someone who will get in touch with me quickly. It also has the frequency of the transponder I left behind at their base."

"Thank you."

"I'd better haul jets. We're taking Mara to Czerip. She can get some proper medical attention there."

Altra stood waiting. "I said goodbye to Luke but I think he was already half-way into his healing trance. He didn't respond."

"I'll check on him as soon as we're airborne."

"Goodbye, Han. Let's not be such strangers next time."

"Sure." He pulled her into a hug. "Look after old Feen now."

"I will." She stepped back and pushed a strand of blond hair away from her face, her grey-green eyes serious.

Feenus stepped forward and held out his hand stiffly. "Thank you."

Han shook it. "No, there are no thanks needed. I think we had an even trade. I'm sorry we couldn't have done more."

"It's not your fight this time."

Han nodded. "Take care of Altra."

Feenus stepped back and saluted. "Clear skies, Solo."

Han swallowed and turned away disappearing into his beloved ship. Within seconds the ship was airborne and disappeared into the horizon.

Feenus placed his arm around his wife's shoulders and watched as the ship became a speck and finally vanished. "I'm sorry, Han," he whispered. "And I couldn't really say it."

"I think he knew." Altra leaned into her husband's embrace. "I think he knew." She held out a small bag. "He gave me these."

"What are they?"

"A couple of thermal detonators."

Han checked over the course Miko had plotted and gave an admiring little whistle. With their current trajectory, they would make the journey in half the time. They would be in Czerip in just under twelve hours. He laid in the course and then eased the lever back slowly sending the Falcon into hyperspace.

For a moment he sat just thinking about what they'd done. They'd flown from one end of the galaxy to the other searching for a single being amongst millions of worlds. They had found her surprisingly quickly but one thing was puzzling him.

What had Luke used to pay for Mara? It was quite clear he hadn't been given her as a free gift. The fake emerald from Jaina's toy crown had still been in Luke's turban when he'd returned to the Falcon. So what had Luke used? What had been Tharakan's price?

He had given Luke a small amount of semi-precious gems which he'd used to buy food and other necessary supplies but not enough to purchase a pleasure slave. Had the Jedi used the Force to hoodwink the slavers? Somehow he sensed that Tharakan and Raitt were not the kind of men to possess weak minds. Mara had been wrapped in a shimmering transparent cloth, her hands bound and placed in his arms. Luke had motioned his transport to leave and he had followed Tharakan and Raitt into a private room leaving Feenus waiting outside. When business was concluded Luke had climbed into the transport with Feenus attending him and they'd driven straight to the ship. Feenus had mentioned that everyone had looked very pleased with themselves – handshakes all round. So what did Luke use? He'd have to ask him.

He pulled himself from the pilot's chair and moved quickly to the crew quarters. Mara lay unconscious on the bunk, her colour high and her breathing oddly laboured. Luke appeared to be out cold on the floor still dressed in his black bodysuit but with the scarlet and gold silk half off and half on, surrounding him in a splash of vibrant colour.

"Kid!" Han shook him roughly, his heart leaping into his mouth. "Kid!"

Bewildered blue eyes flickered open. "Hey, Han… I just closed my eyes for a moment. Bit tired. When are we dropping off Altra and Feenus?"

Han's face froze for a moment as he tried to get his equilibrium back in order. "You're way behind on that kid. We lost them an hour ago."

"Oh!" he sat up, his head spinning. "They didn't say goodbye."

"They did - you were just not awake enough to notice."

"Did they – I can't remember." He was so tired but he couldn't rest yet, not when Mara was so ill. He reached out for Mara's Force sense and entwined his own signature around it. It pulsed weakly in his grasp. She was still there, still fighting. "We need to go into a healing trance. She can't put herself in one, she's not strong enough so I'll need to go in with her and I'm tired, Han, so tired. This is draining me as surely as it's draining her. I have to try and filter out some of the poisons they injected her with. Otherwise she won't last further than our next hyperspace jump. Try waking me in four hours."

"Whoa! Steady on, kid. If you're going into one of those Jedi sleeps, you'd better eat first.  A little energy will help. What about Mara?"

Luke fished into the open medpack at his side and produced a packet of capsules. "Just protein supplements. I'll dissolve them in some water and I have a drip feeder in there too." He rummaged again and found the sealed implement. "This should do the trick. I want to try and flush out some of the stuff they've pumped into her system. This is one way and the healing trance is the other. Look at her arms, Han. How… how could they?"

The Corellian did and recognised the signs of numerous injections. "Aw, stang!" he swore loudly. "Poor girl. Better not give her anything else until we get to Czerip. It will just add to the cocktail."

"How long before we reach Karrde's base?"

"About ten or eleven hours."

"It could be worse but that's a long time."

"Come on, kid. She'll not move for the next ten minutes."

Luke bit his lip, indecision crossing his features. "I'd rather stay with her," he said in a small voice."

"She'll be in better hands if you've paid some attention to yourself. If you fall ill too, that will not be good for Mara."

"Altra said that too," Luke mumbled.

"And she was right. Just ten minutes and then you can do what you have to." Han helped the Jedi Master to his feet and watched him walk rather unsteadily to the small galley. "Sit." He pushed Luke onto a stool and found a pack of ration bars. "Yummy!"

Luke managed a weary smile at the dark expression on Han's face. "These all seem to taste like flavoured cardboard."

"I thought you liked cardboard!" Han exclaimed. "You eat enough of them. Me – never liked them but they fill a space."

"We should have some real provisions, remember?"

"So we do."

"Seems like a lifetime ago. Was it only yesterday?"

"I couldn't tell you, kid. Everything's kinda merged into one continuous blur." Han rummaged in an air-tight storage container and produced bread and some kind of sliced meat. "That's better."

"I'm not very hungry," Luke admitted. "But I know I need to eat and I wish everything could merge into a blur. I remember too much, Han…far too much." Luke's voice began to shake.

"Eat, kid." Han laid a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder before busying himself at the small counter.

But Luke only managed several bites of the sandwich Han gave him.

"Here…" He pushed a steaming mug of hot chocolate into the Jedi's hands. "This will give you some energy. Drink it all and then you can go back to Mara."

"Yes, mother."

Han raised an eyebrow. "You're almost getting cheeky, hotshot. I'll let you get away with it now but don't make it a habit."

Luke gave a faint smile and sipped the warm drink. Han could tell that his mind was with Mara. "Go on, kid." 

Luke pulled himself up onto his feet. "Going."

"And kid, don't fall asleep on the floor this time. There are other bunks."

"Sure, Han." He was so tired that he wobbled alarmingly on his feet and grabbed the bulkhead for support with one hand, still clutching his drink with the other.



"Careful." Han stood up and offered him his arm for support, walking him back to the small cabin containing the crew bunks. "There you go, Junior."

"What about you?" Luke sat on the bed opposite Mara and reached out a hand to touch the unconscious woman's face.

"I'll doze in the cockpit. I want to radio ahead to Czerip and tell them our expected arrival time."

"Okay." Luke swallowed the last of his drink and pulled a blanket from the bottom of the bunk, his eyes dark and heavy with denied sleep. 

"I'll wake you in ten hours."

"I'll be awake by then."

"We'll see." Han wasn't going to waste energy by arguing. Luke tended to be far more truculent if he was tired and Han reckoned that his brother-in-law was as tired as he'd ever seen him. He nodded and headed straight for the cockpit. As he had said, he wanted to radio ahead. Maybe Karrde had already reached Czerip.

Luke pulled off the top half of his black, skin tight, body suit, revealing his lightly tanned chest. Moving to the 'fresher, he collected a small basin, a sponge and also popped one of the protein capsules into the tiny water-filled feeder. Returning to Mara's side he ran his hands over her forehead, and was distressed at how much heat was coming off her. "Mara, it's Luke," he whispered. "Come on, Jade. I need you to keep fighting. Please, Mara. It's not your time." He dipped the sponge in the basin and began to gently work the cloth over her heated body. As he did so, Mara moaned in pain as if he was hurting her. His movements stilled. He hadn't known that his touch felt like a thousand stabbing knives.

He gently ran his fingers over her lips and slid the feeder between them, letting the water trickle into her mouth. Just a little sip, she was bound to become dehydrated otherwise. The liquid left the little tube, one precious drop at a time. His lip curled disgustedly at the lack of clothing they'd made her wear, every curve of her magnificent body had been open to far too many eyes. Luke burned with anger at the thought.

He'd once heard Leia speak of the time she'd been forced into wearing a revealing costume when she'd been Jabba's slave. She'd hated it – had found it demeaning and degrading and he knew Mara had too. He placed the feeder in the basin and then rummaged in a storage locker under the bunk until he found an old shipsuit of Leia's plus some spare undergarments. This would do for later on.

Mara moaned suddenly. "Luke… help me." Her eyes opened, shining like two emerald green jewels.

"I'm here, Mara!" he said quietly but her eyes were glazed and he knew she wasn't seeing him. "I'm here and you're safe now. I won't leave you."

"Luke…not Lando." She shivered convulsively.

"It's Luke," he murmured. Did she want Lando? His heart jumped – was she getting worse?

"Luke…"

"I'm here." He pulled off the rest of his body suit and climbed into the bunk with Mara pulling the blanket over them both and easing her into his side. She seemed to quieten, her movements less frantic. Taking her hand in his and trying to ignore the sensations as her body curved against him as if they'd been formed as a single being, Luke eased them both into a trance.