The Emerald Price Chapter 22
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? My thanks also to Niqella and Rhea for their encouragement and invaluable suggestions.
Yavin IV
Mara showered in the tiny shower room adjacent to her bedchamber. It was nice…no, she decided, it was wonderful…to wash in the luxury of real, hot, plentiful water. She let it stream over her slender body. The sonic shower in the Fire was adequate but couldn't replace the real thing.
Gathering her mane of fiery hair she rubbed the cleanser through it and lathered the soapy mass. Rinsing it out, she wrapped a towel around her head and another around her body. Luke had thoughtfully left several large fluffy towels out for her.
Once she had dried herself, Mara pulled on a lacy white sleeping shift she favoured, clouds of frothy material swirling around her slim form as she made her final preparations for bed. But she wasn't at all sleepy. Being on Yavin had somehow energised her. She could hear the comforting sounds of Luke as he also prepared for bed, moving around the rest of the small apartment. There was something very intimate about being alone with the Jedi Master.
She pulled on her matching robe and finished storing her things in the drawers and cupboards. Luke had been quite clear that the choice to stay had to be hers. The accommodation was basic but the bedroll was comfortable and the linens were spotlessly clean. It was only temporary, this arrangement – a few days at the most. The younger students were readying to return to their homes leaving the more advanced padawans and their teachers time to hone their own skills.
Mara knew that the Academy would need more space and some more of the unused temple buildings were to be converted into living and working areas. The Jedi Order was ready to grow and thrive. She had to be part of that expansion and she would be – it was her right and her destiny.
Mara opened her bedchamber door and peered out into the lounge. A lamp sitting on a low table was still lit, bathing the room in a warm glow. Luke's presence seemed to surround her and she realised how much she had missed him. Yes, he had been by her side while she'd been fighting for her life but she'd been too ill to appreciate that fact.
"Drink?" Luke murmured quietly as he wandered out of the galley kitchen carrying two steaming mugs.
"Yes, thanks." Mara felt ridiculously tongue-tied as she carefully took the mug from his outstretched hand. "Chocolate?"
"Of course." Luke gave a small smile which turned into a frown. "Do I ever drink anything else this late at night? I wouldn't sleep if I had a caf. You are okay with chocolate? I can…"
"No, chocolate's fine." Mara, rather than meet the all too shrewd blue eyes of the man in front of her, decided to survey the oddly shaped room. It wasn't the first time she'd been in his Yavin home. She'd been there on a number of occasions. So why did everything feel different?
Luke had neatly sectioned it off into different areas. There was a large curved alcove with doors which opened out onto a small balcony. In it, Luke had positioned his desk and shelves full of books, disks and other such sources of information. The view across the jungle planet towards the mountains was quite stunning. Mara imagined Luke just sitting at his desk…dreaming.
Another area had been set up as a relaxation area with large sofas and an entertainment unit. The furniture was of good quality but obviously wasn't new. Dividing the sofas from what looked like a covered workbench was a large display shelf full of holos of his friends and family. She decided not to peer too closely just in case she wasn't represented.
"What is it?"
Mara turned her head and smiled at Luke. "I was just seeing what you'd done to the place."
"Nothing much as I recall."
"I don't remember it being set up quite like this and that desk is new."
"It has been a while since you were last here. Leia bought it for me – must be over three years ago," he said. "She knows what I like. That greel wood desk was in one of the more upmarket Coruscant stores at a ridiculous price. We passed by the store on several occasions. I love the crimson colour of greel wood and stopped to admire it every single time. As you know," he gave her a wry smile as he continued, "I'm not one for shopping but Leia wanted my advice on something she was buying for Han. Unbeknown to me, while I was giving advice on Han's gift, she sent Han in to haggle for the desk. When I returned to Yavin, the desk was already here. I think the old pirate managed to slash several hundred credits off the price." Luke smiled as he remembered the pleasure he had felt at his sister's thoughtfulness.
"I know Merson Kayson quite well," Mara commented. "If you ever wanted anything else made from that particular wood…"
"Kayson? The owner of the logging company on Pii3?"
"Yes."
Luke grinned. "I know him well, too. He worked for the Rebellion."
"I didn't know that," Mara said in surprise.
"Just as well," Luke muttered.
Mara made a face. "I just thought that if you ever wanted…"
"I'll let you know – we can do a trade."
"Luke…" she hesitated.
He could feel her uncertainty. It mirrored his own. He could guess at what she wanted to talk about. "Leave it, Mara," he said.
"No."
"I said, leave it.
"You're not my master yet."
Luke subsided into one of the sofas – his face impassive. He didn't want to influence her. If she stayed on it truly had to be her decision. She sounded positive and despite telling himself to remain focused, Luke felt his pulse speed up. "You genuinely want to finish your training?"
"Yes, but that's not what I want to discuss right now," Mara stated with determination. "Luke, I have to…"
"You said enough when you landed," Luke answered, his voice flat. Maybe he wanted this too much for himself as well as her. Perhaps his objectivity was in question. "It might be better if one of the other masters took you on."
"No. You will train me to knighthood. I will not learn from anyone else."
"I do not teach all the classes, Mara," Luke said gently. "I do not have to be your Master. You have a choice."
"You will be my Master, Luke. You will be the one I answer to. Of course, other teachers have areas of expertise I will benefit from but you will lead me."
"If you are sure…?"
"I am, but this isn't about my training," Mara said grimly, glaring at him, her green eyes hard. He was the absolute limit. "I'm trying to apologise."
"I don't…"
Luke suddenly found himself pressed flat against the back of the sofa. Mara straddled him, the action awkward in her flowing nightwear but he recognised the familiar feel of her little hold-out blaster as it pressed into his neck. "Will you let me say that I'm sorry?" she demanded petulantly.
"This doesn't strike me as being an apology," Luke managed to say.
"Well, it is. So shut up and let me apologise." Mara's eyes shot sparks into his.
Luke swallowed. She was too close. He could smell her perfumed skin; feel the welcome weight of her body across his thighs. The fabric, though concealing, was soft and he could feel every curve of her body as she pressed against him. Luke willed his body to behave. "Yes," he croaked from a dry throat. "Okay, you're sorry," he muttered, his eyes downcast, and then some of his rogue squadron devilment surfaced. He wasn't her Master yet and he was still a man and the view he was getting down her cleavage wasn't giving his poor beleaguered libido any rest. "Nice er… robe. Now will you get off me?"
She glanced down and almost gasped. His face had been pressed against the gaping top of her garment. Mara's face flamed and she scrambled off him.
There was an awkward moment as they both tried to recover their senses. Mara began to pace in front of Luke. "I'm grateful for what you did for me," she said quietly. "But why let me think that it was Karrde and Calrissian?"
Luke's eyes darkened at the mention of Lando. "I don't want your gratitude. I don't want that to be your reason for deciding to complete your training."
He still wasn't answering her question. "You can be such a nerf," she said scornfully. "Gratitude has nothing to do with my wanting to train with you. It is time and I am ready."
"Good." He had to give her something but neither was he ready to relive the despair he'd felt when he'd thought he might lose her forever. "I would lie a thousand times over to save your life and not cause you any more pain."
"But why?" she persisted.
Luke stifled a rueful smile. Force, she was stubborn. "Karrde did come after you and did help to save your life. He was waiting for us at Czerip and transported your stasis chamber back to Coruscant. You would not be alive otherwise."
"And Lando?"
Luke got up and walked away, his whole body stiff. He couldn't continue to do this. She looked like a small girl sitting there dressed in a frilly nightgown, her glorious hair tumbling about her shoulders. Luke felt a shiver run through him. She had felt all woman to him as she had pressed herself against him. "He was unable to be there."
"Lando said you'd had a disagreement. Was that what this was about?"
"He was unable to be there," Luke repeated woodenly. "That's all I can say."
"Don't give me that pile of Hutt excrement," Mara snapped. "I know Lando."
"You should. He is the man you're in love with. I went in his place…"
Mara snorted. "I don't love Lando. Some business deal would have kept him from soiling his latest fancy outfit by coming after me. That or another woman."
"I went in his place," Luke maintained. "That's unfair. Lando has been through as much as the rest of us have. How could he spend time with another woman when he has you? He is the man that's been constantly by your side for the last year. You should love him. He was there for you when you returned to Coruscant. He was constantly by your side when you were in the medicentre."
"So were you."
"You were ill and needed your friends," Luke said simply. Something in his voice made Mara pause.
She swallowed. "Lando and I…"
"I'm glad you're happy with him, Jade. Truly I am." Luke tipped up his mug and downed the last of its contents. "Now, I have a class early in the morning and I…"
"I cannot choose who I love – I can try but it never works that way. There is no Lando and I," Mara stated wondering at the strange emotions she could feel leaking through Luke's normally duracrete strength shields. What was he thinking?
"You…what!" Luke decided that he was hearing things. "No…"
"There is no Lando and I." Mara stood up and walked towards the window. Outside, the jungle planet seemed to be fully dark and impenetrable. She could see nothing but she knew that it teemed with life.
"You broke up…when…how?" His voice became stern, his face darkening. "You…broke up with him? What did he do? Not another woman?" He slammed his mug onto another low table and stepped closer to where she stood twisting her hands together nervously. "Force, Mara…" He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her unresisting figure towards him, turning her so that he could search her face for the truth. "Are you okay?" He gave a little half-smile. "Do you want me to bend him a little?"
As his hands closed possessively on her shoulders, his nearness swamped her senses. Her eyes widened and grew dark as they stared at one another. She could have left it there but she wanted the truth to come out. She wanted everything clear between them. It had become vitally important to start afresh. "I'm okay. It's difficult to explain…"
"You don't have to explain anything."
She shook her red-gold head trying to ignore the heady effect of his closeness. "Oh, but I do. Lando and I were never lovers. We were nothing to one another."
"But I saw you…"
"No, let me finish," Mara murmured. "You and the rest of the galaxy chose to believe. It was a cover job for Karrde. He wanted us to investigate the disappearance of a former colleague. Working as a couple put many beings off the scent. I was taken when Lando and I had a row and I went on my own. What you saw wasn't real. We were pretending. Or at least, I was."
"What!" Luke's voice rose. "It was a fabrication? All that time, the touching…" He dropped his hands from her shoulders and stepped backwards, turning away from her. "And you couldn't tell me."
Mara bit her lip, feeling her guilt rise. Luke sounded as if she had hurt him in some way. "No, the only person that knew about this deception was Karrde. We had to be convincing."
"You were that all right," Luke said sneeringly. "I was convinced. It does make sense now. I just couldn't see you with Lando and the feelings you emitted were conflicting."
"Not good enough for the Baron?" Her voice was bitter.
"Yes, Lando isn't good enough for you," Luke's voice was muffled. "You deserve better – someone who understands you…loves you," he finished quietly.
"I deserve better?" Mara echoed.
"And you kissed him," Luke said incredulously. "You looked as if you were enjoying it."
"Oh, wake up, Skywalker. I couldn't fight him off in public. Believe me, a kiss was all that he did get." She shook her head disbelievingly. Why was she continuing to try to explain herself? Mara wished that she could see his face. She wanted to know what he was thinking but he had mastered his emotions and his shields were locked up tight. However, it was illuminating that Luke thought that Lando Calrissian, hero of Endor, friend of the Rebel Alliance and all round successful business man, wasn't good enough for her – Mara Jade, former Imperial and smuggler. "Luke…" She addressed his stiff shoulders and stretched out a hand to touch his black clad form, watching with interest as he flinched at the contact. "I wanted to tell you – I really did…"
"But you didn't trust me enough." He swung around to face her, his blue eyes blazing.
"That's not true," Mara protested heatedly. "You are the one man in the entire galaxy that I do trust. I just couldn't tell you."
"Why not? I could have kept your secret but no, there's just not enough trust to tell me that the relationship the whole galaxy was privy to wasn't real. You ask me why I lied to you and in the next breath tell me you've been lying to everyone for a whole year?"
Mara blinked in shock. He had a point.
"You hate to be lied to…to be deceived? Well, here's news for you – so do I. You spent your childhood being lied to? Well, so did I - I got over it."
"That's a little harsh." Mara wondered if she was imagining things but Luke sounded… almost as if he were jealous.
"You could have told me."
"Luke…"
"Go to bed, Jade," he said. "I'm too tired to think and act rationally at the moment I'm sure we'll talk about this tomorrow. The discussion will keep until then, don't you think?"
Luke didn't think he would be able to sleep but the emotional upheaval he experienced when he saw her, had learned about her deception, had taken its toll. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was fast asleep and he stayed that way until he was awakened several hours later by the sun streaming through his window.
Mara was here – he couldn't believe it. She was here and she was going to stay for a while and finally train to be a Jedi knight. The source of much of Luke's unease had no basis in fact. She and Lando had never been lovers but the suave gambler had wanted her. Lando had desired Mara the very first time that he'd seen her. Luke wondered if he'd just been recognising his own feelings mirrored on the Baron's face.
The whole relationship had been a lie from the very beginning. Luke had thought it a strange combination and other people who knew Lando and Mara well had thought the same but none of them had questioned it totally. Of course, Han had had his suspicions. Luke gave a wry smile. There was little that got past the shrewd Corellian.
His heart lifted. Mara was a free woman. He sat up straighter, pushing the pillows into place to support his back. What had Mara's status got to do with him? The little voice came back to tempt him.
'She's not seeing Lando. She's beautiful, Force strong and she's here on Yavin with you – not flying around the galaxy for Karrde. You could try your luck with her.'
Luke shook his head. 'But there's no such thing as luck. Besides, my life is given to the Jedi.'
'You read that passage in the book Obi-Wan left for you. Some of the Jedi did marry. Where would all the Force strong children come from if there were no Jedi liaisons? Not all of them came from nowhere. Look at Corran; he came from a family strong in the Jedi tradition as did Kam Solusar. He learned from his father and he is now a married man. You come from a line imbued strongly with the Force. Your son or daughter could learn from their father.' Then the little voice added the most important factor of all. 'You love her.'
'But she doesn't love me.'
'How do you know? Are you so certain?'
Luke took a deep gulping breath of air and dropped his head into his hands. The urge to reach out and take another risk was so strong but Luke wasn't sure if he could handle such a rejection. Mara had not wanted Calrissian who possessed all the skills needed to handle women. What would make her fall in love with a farmboy turned Jedi Master with little to offer her except a loving heart. She cared for him deeply. Luke was aware of that but was it enough to dare take things further? He had rushed to save her motivated by the desperate fear that if he lost her he would never be truly happy again. He had taken apart his lightsaber to free her – the symbol of a Jedi. What would he not do for her? Had he put her ahead of his duty to the Jedi Order? No, Mara was meant to become a knight.
He swung his legs out of bed and wandered into the refresher. As he washed away the remnants of sleep he knew he had to do some work on his new lightsaber. He couldn't spar Mara Jade with a practice saber and definitely not with one that shorted out for no apparent reason. Mara should still be asleep. He reached out to make sure. Yes, she was still sleeping. He finished his shower quickly, dressed in his usual black tunic and pants and made his way to his workbench.
Mara opened her eyes and gazed sleepily at the ceiling. This wasn't the Jade's Fire. Then her awareness kicked in. She was on Yavin IV. More importantly, she was in Luke Skywalker's quarters on Yavin IV. Tentatively she reached out for his presence and found that she didn't need to. His warmth and light surrounded her. For the first time since he'd been by her side at the Coruscant medicentre she felt secure. Why was Luke the only man in the entire galaxy that made her feel that way?
Mara had to admit that she was apprehensive about her training. Her life hadn't been easy but if she were to succeed as a Jedi she had the feeling that things could get a lot harder. She had finally told Luke the truth about her relationship with Lando. How often she had wanted to call him up on the holo and just tell him. But maybe he might have wondered just why she was telling him. Mara wondered that herself. She hadn't been sure how Luke would react to her news and, typically, he hadn't reacted in the way she had expected. Had she hoped that he'd immediately slide to his knees and declare his undying devotion for her? What was infinitely more worrying was – did she want him to?
She slumped against her pillow. Was she wrong to be so angry? Part of her said 'no.' Luke had denied her the chance to thank him for saving her life. He said he had done it for a friend but this was had been no light undertaking. He'd travelled to the other end of the galaxy to save her, risking his own life in the process. How many times had they performed that service for one another? She still carried too much anger inside her heart and mind. Anger was of the dark side, not the light, and she knew which direction she wanted to take. Luke had done much to help her and she was gradually letting it go. Or she thought she was. She had to move on from the chokehold her dealings with the Emperor had placed upon her.
A muffled sound from beyond her bedchamber caught her ears, Luke was awake and on the move. She checked her wrist chrono and gasped. She must have slept longer than usual. The sun had been up for some time which meant that Luke must have been awake also even though he'd been up late with her the previous evening. It never ceased to amaze her how Luke timed his life to the light and energy of a planet's sun. She gave a fond smile. He must have been hell to live with on Tatooine. She could almost visualise Luke as a small child, blue eyed eagerness and a restless energy. He hadn't changed that much.
She slipped from the bed and dressed quickly in a dark green tunic and pants. Opening the door, she peered out into the lounge. Where was he?
"Morning, Jade." Seated at his desk, Luke lifted his head and grinned at her. "You finally surfaced. I was wondering whether you were going to sleep all day."
"Skywalker." Mara approached the desk and waited as Luke switched off his holoviewer. "You should have woken me."
"I decided to let you sleep in a little. The softest bed in the most upmarket of ship's cabins is no replacement for a proper night's rest. Are you hungry?" he enquired taking in the welcome sight of her attractive form as she stood before him. "I usually eat in the dining room with the other Jedi. We can still catch breakfast there – it's not too late."
"Oh…sure," Mara muttered. She'd thought that they could have spent a little more time alone together. She still wanted to ask him about… Her fingers closed around the crystal in her pocket. "That would be pleasant. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I would like to tie back my hair."
Luke's eyes immediately tracked to her crowning glory, his hand reaching out involuntarily to trace a springy curl. "Leave it," he whispered. "It's beautiful."
Mara gaped at him. The expression on the Jedi master's face was similar to the look he had sported after their unexpected kiss on Coruscant. "It's not practical for training," she said, her voice reasonable.
"We're going to eat breakfast, not indulge in hand-to-hand combat." He grinned wickedly at her. "Not yet, at any rate."
The short walk to the dining room, housed in the largest of the temple buildings, took only a few minutes. Mara noted that Luke was again dressed formally in his Jedi blacks and cloak but his lightsaber was still not hanging from his belt. Her hand slipped inside her tunic pocket and closed around the green crystal. She would find the right moment and return his crystal to him today.
"Hey, Jade!" a voice greeted loudly as she and Luke entered the dining room.
"Horn?" Mara queried in surprise.
"Yup." The Corellian pilot pulled out a seat.
"I didn't know you were here. Farmboy didn't say."
"Just a fly past," Corran said grinning from ear to ear.
Luke chuckled as he placed a mug of caf in front of Mara and one of stim tea for himself. "He has other things to do, people to meet…places to be…"
"I get it," Mara cut off the beaming Jedi Master who looked as if he was going to start a lengthy soliloquy on the subject.
"His wife demands his presence," Luke threw in.
Corran shot the Jedi Master a look. "Someone's in a good mood this morning."
"He's always too cheerful in the morning. Up with the sun or perhaps he suffered too much sun as a child," Mara retorted.
"I have to go this morning…in the next hour. I'm meeting Mirax in one of the neighbouring systems. If I stay any longer Mirax will divorce me and he'll have me teaching some of his classes."
"I thought you were going to participate in some of my classes," Luke joked. "There are one or two areas that need to be sharpened up a little."
"Not fair and you're not funny, Skywalker." Corran made a face. "Plus I had to bunk in Streen's quarters last night and he snores. Where are you finding all these Force adepts? There used to be plenty of rooms."
"Mara doesn't snore," said Luke with a wink at the other man. "Well, just the occasional little one – very ladylike."
"How do you…Skywalker!" Mara spluttered flushing.
"Corran was in Streen's spare bedroom – so there was no room for you there, Jade. I was the only one left with room."
"Oh," Mara said sending daggers across the table. She shifted and directed her enquiry to Corran, who was trying hard to stifle his amusement. "How is Mirax?"
"She's in good form. Like our dear Jedi master this morning."
"Booster?" Luke queried, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Same as ever, unfortunately."
Mara and Luke laughed and Corran joined in. It was nice to be sharing this time with two men she considered to be her friends, Mara thought with satisfaction.
"You dropping off supplies, Jade?" Corran asked.
Mara paused and then gave her answer in a clear voice with no hint of doubt. "No. I've come to do some training with Luke. I was given leave of absence by Karrde, although he did make me haul a ton of stuff for the Academy. My last supply run for a while."
Although Mara didn't notice, but Corran did, the smile crossing Luke Skywalker's face could have lit up the entire core worlds.
Luke relaxed. She would stay.
Mara strolled along with Corran as he headed towards his X-wing. He flicked on his comlink. "Whistler…fire up the converters." A stream of astromech whistles could be heard. "Yes, little buddy, I'm on my way now."
Mara grinned. "What is it with you pilots and your astromech droids?"
"Can't do without them, Jade." He stared at her curiously with his light green eyes. "What made you decide to come to Yavin?"
"Many things but I guess the main reason is that I'm ready to finish my Jedi training. I wasn't before."
"That's as good a reason as any." He stopped in front of his ship and gave the hull an affectionate pat. "How long before he starts the torture?"
Mara glanced back at the temple building. "Skywalker? He's got a class with some of the juniors and I have to unload the cargo. I think he's scheduled me in with one of the senior fitness classes. I'm trying to improve in that area."
Corran looked confused. "But surely, even by Jedi standards you must be in good condition?"
Mara sighed. "I had a bout of the Leptas virus recently. Caught it out on the Rim. There's a real epidemic out there. I was lucky and was treated."
Corran pulled a face. "Oh, nasty."
"I got over it. My fitness isn't quite up to what it should be but I'm working on it. A run through the jungle with a bunch of bounding adolescents will be just the thing."
Corran snickered. "I can see you already leading the pack." His face sobered. "Don't be too hard on him, Jade."
"I'm not hard on him," she said, frowning. Karrde had said something very similar.
"You are, you know. He's trying the best that he can. He's human and he makes mistakes – we all do. But he's the best one for the job. He's the only Master you respect enough to listen to."
"I know that and I do respect him. He's done more for me than anyone else in the galaxy – even more than Karrde."
"Look, Jade. I may be out of line here, but you mean a lot to him. More perhaps than any other Jedi initiate in the galaxy. Jedi training was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I'm not talking about the physical aspects and that wasn't easy either. It's the way your brain gets tied in knots. You have to learn about yourself; you have to plumb the depths and turn your soul inside out."
Mara managed a brave smile. "I can do that."
Corran patted her on the shoulder. "Yes, I know you can but while it's happening don't give Luke too much grief."
"I think Luke and I have gone through many of our trials already. We've given each other enough grief to last several lifetimes."
Corran nodded slowly. "Maybe you have and maybe it's time that changed."
"You're speaking in riddles, Horn."
"Booster says I never make any sense but that's his opinion. I think I make perfect sense." He grinned. "Well, I understand what I'm getting at. My father-in-law is just trying to be awkward."
Whistler in the x-wing's droid slot began to whirl his head and squeak loudly.
"Okay, I'm coming Whistler. Draw in your wheels," Corran called in exasperation. "Droids – who would have them?"
"You wouldn't be without Whistler the same as Skywalker wouldn't be without Artoo."
"True." Corran climbed up the ladder and slid into the cockpit.
Mara grinned. "Say hello to Mirax for me."
"I will."
"Clear skies, Horn."