The Emerald Price Chapter 14
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
Han had slept for at least six or seven hours when the buzzer woke him in time to check the next course correction. His face lit up with satisfaction as he noted that they had travelled as far as Miko had anticipated they would. He checked the instruments, noted their location and then leaned back thoughtfully in the pilot's chair.
His face tightened as he thought of everything those monsters had done to Mara Jade. What was more worrying was the expression on the kid's face when he'd seen what had happened to the red-haired trader. Luke had been acting his part as the spoiled prince of Mittenden and had not let that act drop but for a moment Han could have sworn that the guise had slipped and molten fury had flashed in his friend's blue eyes.
Han had seen Luke at his best and at his worst. Luke confronted with an abused Mara Jade was the worst he had ever seen. Luke's empathy for others had always been both his strength and his weakness. His love for his friends and family would drive him to recklessness even Yoda wouldn't have dreamed of but what would Luke be driven towards if Mara Jade died. He didn't even want to contemplate that scenario.
He quickly encoded a quick message to Leia and the kids and sent it off, hoping it would get to them soon. The last time he'd performed a major overhaul to the Falcon, Leia had made sure that the array had been upgraded so that they were the best that the New Republic had to offer. However, there were still dark areas in the galaxy where it didn't matter how good your equipment was – gas clouds, ion storms and the like, and miles from the nearest relay stations – it all helped to delay messages. Still, Han believed that Leia would get the message eventually.
He cast his experienced eye over all the little flickering lights and quietly beeping systems and gave the ship an affectionate pat on the bulkhead. "You're sounding good, old girl," he soothed gently. He could feel the reassuring thrum of her engines as it sped towards Czerip. He knew if there was one beat out of place in the Falcon's engines. "Better go look at the kid and Mara," he mumbled, getting to his feet and stretching to get rid of some of the knots he'd acquired whilst dozing in the pilot's chair.
For a moment the Corellian couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Luke and Mara were wrapped together in the same bunk. Mara's hair, freed from its elaborate hairstyle, curled in a tangled, knotted mess with faint dull dark traces of dried blood visible as it spilled over the blanket, and Han peering closer could see bruises against her creamy skin. Luke's arms were around her, holding her close. The kid was keeping her as safe as he could - trying to help her to survive.
Both of the Jedi, however, didn't look peaceful. Han had seen his brother-in-law in a healing trance on a number of occasions. Luke was almost as pale as Mara was flushed. Beads of sweat on her forehead indicated the amount of heat coming off her body. She coughed faintly and muttered something.
"Luke, buddy," Han whispered. "I think you better wake up."
Luke had slipped into a healing trance, his fingers gently caressing Mara's soft skin. He could feel the infection racing through her body and he grabbed hold of it and tried to wrestle it into submission. He could feel every aching part of her body, how her skin felt on fire, how every movement felt like someone was stabbing vibroshivs into her heart. Luke absorbed everything, sharing her pain.
Suddenly he found himself in a small dark room. A little girl lay alone in a large bed. Luke found himself sitting on the edge of the child's bed, staring into her face. She opened large emerald green eyes and stared at him with an intensity that he recognised. He guessed that she couldn't have been more than five or six years old.
"Have you come to look after me?"
He noted the red-gold hair in two tight braids. Was this what Mara had been like as a child? "Do you need someone to look after you?" he asked.
"No," the child declared with a set expression. "My guardian tells me I am self-suff… self-suff… He tells me I don't need anyone but him."
"But everyone needs friends and family."
"He says I don't need friends or family. I have him. I've never had anyone else."
"What? Never?"
"No."
Luke picked the small hand off the quilt and smoothed his fingers across the soft skin. "I'll be your friend. I never had many friends while I was growing up either. Whatever happens you have my friendship – everyone needs someone they can rely on."
"I don't understand." The child's forehead furrowed with concentration.
"You will one day." Luke could almost see her mind turning over his words, considering and then rejecting them.
"I still don't understand. What is this rely?
"One day you will need help."
"I don't need help. I will do it on my own."
Luke could have wept. Had she learned to be alone so young?
"I've been sick," she confided suddenly in the manner of small children. "They wouldn't come near me till I'm better. They said I was contag…" She stared up at his face. "They always use big words but I know what they mean."
"Contagious?" Luke asked.
"That's the word the droid used. Means they can catch what I have and then they will all die."
Luke blinked as the child's voice was filled with venom. "But that's not very nice," he chided softly.
"You don't get better by being nice. You have to fight and be as mean as they are. Why should I be nice?"
"Because you'll feel better inside," Luke assured her. "You'll never be as mean as they are."
"But I have to be." The small vision of Mara cried desperately. "I have to be or I won't be anything. I won't succeed. Do I have to give up fighting? I don't want to die. Am I going to die?"
"I won't let you die. I won't ever let you stop fighting. You have to fight to keep that good part of you alive. Sure, you can be a fighter but be a better one. You don't have to be mean to be strong. Don't let them take anything away from you. One day I'll look after you and keep you safe."
"You promise?" The green eyes fringed by long dark red lashes pleaded with him and Luke was no more immune to that gaze than he was to its more adult version.
"I promise," Luke answered.
Suddenly the vision darkened and it grew cold as if evil had entered the room.
"You can not keep your promises, son of Skywalker. This child is my servant and if she has to die to keep her from you, then so be it." The voice was terrifyingly familiar and Luke turned his head not wanting to see what he knew was there - the dark side in the figure of Emperor Palpatine, his yellow eyes vicious.
"You are a manifestation of her illness - of what her life was. This is what she has to fight. She has to fight your memory and what you did to her every day of that life."
"Then I have won but what about you, son of Skywalker?"
"You'll never win. Mara serves the light side. She never succumbed to the dark side despite your best efforts. She is stronger than you think she is and has earned the right to be free of your evil forever." This was some nightmare he was having.
"So you say but what do you have to fight for? What rights do you have?" The voice had changed, become charmingly insistent. "What about the pleasures of the flesh…enough money to enjoy yourself? What about having a woman love you…? What about having a family?"
With a shock Luke found himself staring into Lando Calrissian's dark eyes but he was convinced that Lando would never talk like this. This was the work of the dark side attacking him when he was at his weakest through his dreams. Lando was no more suited to setting up home with a woman than Luke was. The difference was, that one day Lando would want all these things and be able to have them. "I don't fight my friends," he maintained stoutly. "If Mara is happy with you then that's what I want for her."
"But you want her for yourself," Lando's image suggested.
"No, I want Mara to be happy. I want what's best for Mara. My destiny runs along a different path."
"You think so?" The voice was cool, the manner suave. "I think you're fooling yourself, Skywalker."
Luke turned around to stare at the child in the bed and found that it was the adult woman who lay there, her eyes closed. She lay motionless almost as if she was dead. The figure of Lando walked towards her and pushed the Jedi Master out of the way bending over her to kiss her.
"No, Lando. No." the woman pleaded without opening her eyes. "This isn't real. Keep away from me. I don't want you – I never have. Where's Luke?"
She didn't want Lando – he knew she didn't. Luke moved back towards the bed and reached out to pull Lando away from Mara but found he couldn't. Someone had grabbed Luke's shoulder and was shaking him roughly.
"Luke, buddy," Han's voice intruded into the nightmare.
"No, I've got to…"
"Luke, buddy. I think you'd better wake up."
What? He was still asleep? Luke opened his eyes, twisted around and stared into the concerned hazel gaze of his brother-in-law. "Han?"
"Yeah, kid. I came through to see how you both were doing and to be honest, I don't like the look of Jade, here." He didn't say that he wasn't too sure about the health of the Jedi either. Luke's face was almost as white as the snows of Hoth. Han was sure he'd been lightly tanned when they'd left Coruscant.
Luke sat up and swayed as the blood rushed to his head.
"Careful, kid."
"I'm okay, Han. This is taking a lot out of me. Just give me a moment to regroup."
Han thrust a ration bar into his hand. "Eat this and no arguing."
"Wait." He put his hand out and felt Mara's forehead. She was now cold, her forehead clammy. Little shivers ran through her body constantly. "I'd better try and get some more fluid down her."
Han nodded his head. "I agree with you but I'll deal with that and you eat that ration bar. Don't make me feed you like I would Anakin."
"You wouldn't."
Han gave his brother-in-law the stare that had all three of his children immediately obeying their father. He picked up the little feeder and trickled more liquid into Mara's mouth.
Reluctantly Luke took a bite of the ration bar. "How long until we get to Czerip and can this bucket of bolts go any faster?" he asked with his mouth full.
"Did your aunt never tell you not to speak with your mouth full?" Han was in full parenting mode. "I'll forget you said that about my ship, Junior. I'll see what I can do. We must be about four hours away."
Czerip, Talon Karrde's Base
"Boss, the Wild Karrde is being prepped for immediate return to Coruscant?"
"That's correct, Aves." Talon Karrde exited the ramp and headed for a small squat building up ahead, barely visible through some trees. "As soon as Solo and Skywalker arrive here with Mara, we're getting her checked over and then turning and heading straight for Coruscant. Our Doctor and medical droids are amongst the best but Coruscant has all the facilities and the specialists if we need them.
"And you think we will need them."
"Yes."
"I'll make sure we're ready to depart in two hours at the most."
"Thanks, Aves. Let's get inside and see the crew. Haven't seen them for months. Plus, I have one or two calls to make."
Karrde paced the length of his office. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been on Czerip but was impressed at the way the skeleton crew manned the base. Truth be told, he had a couple of men and their wives keep an eye on the place and in return, they and their families had housing and work. He stared out of the window at a couple of children racing around a small garden, laughing in the sunshine. He would make a point of staying here the next time he had business in this sector.
Dankin slouched as he walked in, his hands in his pockets. "Any word from Skywalker and Solo?"
Karrde shook his head. "Not since Solo radioed to say that they'd found her and were on their way."
"I've got the medical droid programmed researching everything that there is to find about the Leptas virus. Skywalker thinks that Mara's been infected."
"So Han said. However our current doctor is an expert on the Leptas Virus, having lived on a colony that was almost completely wiped out by an outbreak several years ago. It is extremely deadly but curable if caught in time."
"Boss!" Dankin monitoring incoming traffic raised his voice. "We have a signal."
Karrde peered at the monitor. "Is it the Falcon?"
"Millennium Falcon to Czerip base." Han's anxious voice crackled through the com-unit.
"Receiving you, Solo." Karrde grabbed the microphone out of Dankin's hands.
"We are approaching the system now. We will be with you in under an hour. Have the medic ready." Han's voice was grim. "And I mean ready."
"Understood." Karrde gave Dankin back the microphone. "Get the doctor up and as soon as we get the true picture of Mara's condition we're on our way to Coruscant. I don't like what I can hear in Solo's voice."
The men were running towards the Falcon with a flotation bed hovering alongside them before the ship had even landed. The ramp lowered slowly, steam hissing slightly as Luke Skywalker rushed down the slope towards them holding Mara in his arms.
"Hurry!" he gasped. "She's got worse in the last hour."
Karrde swallowed quickly and nodded towards a small, balding man in a white coat. "This is Dr. Maxel. He's an expert on the Leptas virus."
"I hope he's also an expert on the kind of drugs a slave lord would pump into someone to keep them quiet," Luke's voice was so harsh it was almost unrecognisable from his usual calm tones.
"He is. Why do you think he's working for me and not in a top Core World hospital?"
"I don't want to hear why. I'll take your word that he's good," Luke snapped.
"Easy, kid," Han said as he came down the ramp and stood at the bottom watching Luke move quickly towards the strange flat shaped building.
The doctor swallowed as he saw the state of his patient. "Put her down…"
"It will be quicker if I carry her. Come on, where's the medbay."
"This way." The doctor turned and ran inside.
Luke's Jedi enhanced strength was working overtime; he was using it both to keep Mara alive and to carry her. He knew it was a drain on his resources but he didn't want to let her go even though he knew that Karrde employed only the best people. He would have to trust in them and the Force.
When Luke finally let go of Mara, he couldn't believe how empty his arms felt. "I want to stay with her," he said.
"Luke, let the doctor do his work," Han murmured. "They don't need you hovering over them."
"But…"
"But nothing," Han's voice was firm. "You're about ready to collapse yourself. What good will you be to Mara if you don't take care of yourself?"
"But…"
"Do as you're told for once in your Jedi life, kid." He raised his voice. "Karrde!" Han looked around for the smuggler chief.
The smuggler stood conversing urgently with Dankin and Aves. "The Wild Karrde will be ready… Yes, Solo."
"Is there somewhere the kid can crash for an hour?"
"I'm fine," Luke insisted but he found that his legs had turned wobbly and he needed the wall to help hold himself upright. "See to Mara."
Karrde looked at Han who rolled his eyes. They were gravely concerned about Mara but Luke collapsing on them too would not aid matters. The Jedi Master looked exhausted. "You can rest in here, Luke. We'll call you if anything happens."
Luke nodded as his will succumbed to the lure of a bed. "Okay."
He eased his iron grip on the Force that was lending him strength. Suddenly all the nervous tension that had kept him going for so long vanished and his knees buckled. "Whoa, kid!" Han and Talon immediately were on either side, their hands under his elbows supporting him as they marched him to the room the smuggler chief had pointed out. Within minutes Luke was flat out on a floatation bed and sound asleep.
"Thanks," Han said as the door slid closed behind them. "He's very obstinate and he's certainly not 'fine'. Stubborn son of a sith."
"Come on, I would suspect you are in need some refreshments? This way." Karrde ushered Han into a brightly decorated lounge area.
"That would be good," Han admitted subsiding into a comfortable looking armchair.
"You don't seem to be as tired as Skywalker."
"I got several hours of undisturbed sleep there and back. He's been keeping Mara going by using his own strength and he came for Mara back to back after a couple of nasty missions for the New Republic." Han also didn't say to Karrde that he wasn't as tired as Luke because, unlike the Jedi Master, he wasn't emotionally tied to Mara's fate.
"I didn't know he was back doing missions for the NR. Two cafs, Preta," he told the pretty woman who was waiting for them. She poured the dark bitter liquid into large earthenware mugs, smiled and left them alone. Karrde handed one of the steaming vessels to the Corellian.
"Thanks," he said appreciatively as he took a careful sip of the hot brew. "It's not your fault that Luke is a law unto himself. He knew Jade was in trouble and nothing or no one would have stopped him from going after her. He can feel her presence very strongly. I suspect Mara is unaware of how strongly." The hazel eyes he raised to the smuggler chief were worried.
"I could see that being a problem, yes," Karrde admitted.
"He guided us through hyperspace twice as fast that the holobooks state the journey time should be. Managed to upset some of the local thugs and instigated some sort of incident and then he played prince to get Mara out of the smugglers' den. We were lucky. If Mara and Luke didn't have this connection I don't think we would ever have found her."
Karrde gave a tired sigh. "You're right."
"Why didn't Calrissian go with her?"
Karrde shifted his feet and looked uncomfortable. "Well!"
"Business?" Han spit out.
"He's in the middle of some big deal but Solo…"
"He'd better be there for Jade when they get back to Coruscant or Luke will be after him with his lightsaber."
"Uh! Yes." The normally articulate Karrde seemed to be lost for words. "Look, Solo… There's something you need to know about…" But what Karrde was about to say was not completed. His comlink sounded. "Yes?"
Han waited anxiously; he guessed that the message was about Mara.
Karrde clicked off his com. "The doctor's come out of the operating theatre. He's on his way here now."
A moment later the small man arrived wearing an anxious expression. "I'm sorry boss but…"
"Mara is going to be all right?" Karrde queried sharply.
The doctor held out his hands. "I don't know. I've done what I can and she's still alive. I've managed to stabilize her condition somewhat but it would be best if she was put into stasis and transferred immediately to Coruscant. I ran an analysis of the stuff she has in her system and I'm surprised she's not dead already."
Karrde's face darkened and fury coloured his voice. "I'll get them for this. Once I find out exactly who they are…"
"Karrde, we know who they are," Han explained patiently. "A former colleague of mine is dedicating his life to ending their little games and other measures are also in motion. They won't get away with it."
"I'll make sure they don't." Guilt ate at him. "It's my fault she was out there in the first place."
"Your fault…Talon…" Han tried to reassure the other man.
"Where is Master Skywalker?" Doctor Maxel enquired. "There are a couple of specialists on the Leptas Virus at the Manarai Medical Centre and if Master Skywalker were to have access to one of his Jedi healers…"
"He's still sleeping, I hope," muttered Han. "He kinda wilted on us."
"He is okay?"
"Well…" Han hesitated. The kid really disliked being poked and prodded by medical personnel but perhaps the doctor should check him over. He stared at Karrde, a glum look on his face. "Luke… he's been filtering off some of her toxins or something - it's a Jedi trick and he's tired. He went into a healing trance with Mara on the ship. She couldn't do it by herself and he shared his strength with her. But he also said he would try to filter out whatever they'd put into her."
"Oh, stars!" muttered the doctor. "Some of the medication used could have permeated his own system. I wish I knew more about the Jedi healing arts. I read about how the Mon Calamari Jedi healer drew a bowl of poison from Mon Mothma. I should really take a look at Master Skywalker."
"Good luck," Han's voice was sardonic but his face was worried.
The doctor's comlink chirruped. "Doctor Maxel," he said. "Our patient is ready for transport."
Karrde stood up. "Good."
"I'll go wake the kid…"
"No need." Luke stood at the door, his face still looking tired and with his hair standing on end. "I sensed Mara was being moved. Can I sit with her until you're ready to go?"
Karrde looked at Han who gave a slight nod. "I don't see a problem with that. As soon as Karrde goes, we'll go too. No use hanging around here."
"Fine." Luke breathed a sigh of relief at not being parted from the red-haired woman quite yet.
"She's been put in stasis for the time being," Maxel said.
"I guessed that would be the best way for her to travel." Luke yawned and then with the homing instinct of a Tirellian hawk, spotted the pot of caf on the heating plate at the back of the lounge. "May I?"
"Help yourself."
Luke poured himself a caf and drained it swiftly. "I needed that," he gasped as the hot liquid revitalised some of his energy. "I'll go and see Mara now."
"Sure, kid."
Luke moved quickly from the room and found Mara's stasis chamber in the medbay. "Hello, Jade," he murmured. "Hold on and keep fighting. I want to be able to train you properly one day." His hands splayed out over the pod-like container. Luke tried to sense the woman within but could not. "I couldn't say this anywhere else and I suppose I couldn't say it if you were able to turn your blaster on me, but Lando doesn't deserve you. He should have been with you to keep you safe – not that you like to be protected. I know that you don't. If things had been different and I was the kind of man that you… I could have loved you," he whispered. His head drooped and he laid it down on the chamber. "Oh, Mara… just knowing you're safe…I love you," he whispered, his heart full. "'Could have' doesn't even come close. I love you enough to want you to be well and happy. Just please…" His voice broke. "Don't leave me."
Han found him five minutes later sitting by the side of the stasis chamber. "They're ready to load her up."
"Sure, Han."
"We'll meet them on Coruscant?"
"Yes."
"Luke… Wouldn't it be a good idea to have the doctor just check that you're okay?"
"No." The word emerged flatly.
Han backed off. "Okay, just asking."
Luke turned his head and stared at the Corellian. "What's happening to The Jade's Fire?"
"Mara's ship! I'd forgotten about that. It must still be on Elrood."
"But Mara wasn't on Elrood. Tharakan's base of operations was on… Aaris III, I think that's what Altra said."
"We'd better tell Karrde."
"Tell me what?" Karrde stood at the door of the medical facility with some of his crew standing behind him ready to supervise the stasis chamber's transference onto its repulsorlift jets for moving into the Wild Karrde.
"Mara's ship," Luke said. "It's on a planet called Aaris III."
Karrde tugged at the end of his beard thoughtfully. "I can't go back for it just now. Obviously we have to get Mara to the best medical help immediately but I can contact the spaceport and get them to contain the ship until we can claim it."
"Until Mara can claim it herself," Luke said fiercely.
Coruscant
Leia, Chewbacca and the children were waiting for Han and Luke as the Falcon touched down eight days later. Luke had again mapped a route for them using the Force, gaining them two extra days.
"Han!" Leia had thrown herself into his arms, the children clustering around them.
Luke watched with a small smile on his face and waited for the attention to turn to him. Leia kissed her husband and then held out her arms and Luke walked forward until he felt the familiar love and warmth surrounding him. He'd said it many times before and it was true. Home was where Leia was.
"You're sick," "Leia pulled back and stared at her brother critically. "No… don't argue. I can feel it."
"His sense is all wobbly," Anakin proclaimed, giving his uncle a critical stare.
"I think his legs are wobbly too," Jacen pronounced.
"But he's walking on his own," Jaina protested. "Usually, Uncle Luke has to be carried to the hospital."
"Bacta dip," chanted the boys with gleeful satisfaction. They knew their uncle hated the bacta dip.
Luke swore inwardly, he thought he'd done a good job of hiding his illness from his brother-in-law but Leia and the children were more difficult to fool. He couldn't be shielding himself very well. His head drooped. "I'm…" he started to mumble his usual phrase.
"You are not." Leia glared at him. "Honestly."
"I'm sorry, Leia," Han apologised. "I thought he was more than just tired but…"
"It's not your fault, Han. If he wants to hide it from you he can but it's much harder to hide from me." Fire snapped from her dark eyes.
"You don't have the Force, Han. That's how she knew," Luke said weakly. "Anyway I know what it is and I'm prepared to go quietly." He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Just tell them no bacta, right." He levelled a stern glare at Jacen and Anakin.
"Hmm," his sister said. "We'd better get you checked too," she said to her husband.
"He had the shots for it last year," Luke said. "He's okay. I forgot to get them."
"You forgot…!" Leia's voice started to rise.
Enlightenment dawned. "Ah, I see." Han shook his head. "Get him into the Manarai. They can practise on him before Mara gets there. Leptas virus?"
"I think so," Luke coughed. "My throat's quite painful and I feel a little dizzy."
"Mara?" Leia questioned.
"They should be two days behind us but I think the kid, here, sent Karrde his updated travel plans. So I think they'll get here tomorrow. They put Mara into stasis for the journey. That's who he got the virus from." Han's mouth straightened into a flat line. "We can tell the medics to be ready for her."
"Oh," Leia closed her eyes in sudden understanding.
"Come on, kid." Han pushed the Jedi Master into the speeder, pulled the children in and grinned at the Wookiee. "First stop, Luke's usual room in the Manarai Medical centre."
Chewbacca gave a growling chuckle and said something which made Han laugh.
"That's true, pal. It will be unusual for them to see him walking in on his own two feet."
The whole family interrupted into merriment which Luke would have appreciated if he didn't all of a sudden feel really strange. "Han," he managed to say quietly. "Make sure Lando is there for Mara. I told Karrde if he wasn't there I'd vape him out the nearest airlock and I don't care if that's the dark side talking."
"I'll remind him or better still, I'll get Lando myself."
"Yeah," Luke huddled into his Jedi cloak, oblivious to the worried glances his sister was sending his way as Chewie piloted the speeder into the teeming lanes of Coruscant traffic.
The Manarai Medicentre was the most prestigious private clinic in the whole of the Core Worlds and Luke Skywalker was one of their most celebrated patients when he could be dragged inside. Leia marched into the building first and immediately several white clad attendants came rushing out.
"I can walk," Luke snapped and coughed as a burning pain hit his chest.
"Sure you can, Junior."
"I don't need…"
"You do. Kids, stay with Chewie in the speeder."
"But daddy, can't we…?" Jaina whined.
"No, you can see Uncle Luke again tomorrow." Han placed an arm under Luke's elbow and supported him into the building. "One foot after another. Left… right…. left…"