CHAPTER THREE
At the sound of the door chime, Leia made her way through her Coruscant apartment and keyed the entry open. "Luke!" she smiled and embraced him warmly. "You got our message, then. I hoped it would reach you in time."
Luke kissed her cheek and furrowed his brow in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"Hey kid! You made it," Han appeared from the kitchen and promptly slapped Luke across the back. "How was the trip?"
"Fine," Luke answered, ushering Artoo through the door. "What message?"
Leia patted Artoo as he passed, "To meet us here instead of the Temple. The kids are all coming and I thought we could have a family dinner." Leia glanced out into the corridor, "Where's Mara?"
Luke looked between them slowly, "I didn't receive a message. I came because Mara wasn't at the Temple or the apartment, and I thought she might be here."
Han and Leia exchanged glances. Luke continued, "She left a week ago to meet Jaina here and help Tionne prepare for the graduation ceremonies."
Leia shook her head, "We haven't seen her, Luke. We waited for her, but when she didn't arrive we assumed that something must have happened and she was coming with you."
Luke swallowed, fighting the snake of fear starting to twist through his mind. "May I use your comm center?" he asked.
"Of course," Leia answered.
Crossing to the console, he activated Leia's direct channel to the Academy, "I need to speak with Cale."
A moment later, the small holographic image appeared and bowed at the waist, "Master Skywalker."
Luke wasted no time on formalities, "Cale, have you heard from Mara?"
Cale looked startled, "No, Master, not since she left last week. Should I have?"
Luke frowned, "She never reached her destination and no one here has heard from her either. Are you sure she didn't contact anyone else there?"
"Let me check, sir." There was a pause as he consulted the communication logs. "No, Master. Her identification code does not appear in any secured messages and there have been no transmissions through unsecured channels since the last communication from the Wild Karrde-"
"The Wild Karrde? When was that?"
Even through the haziness of the hologram, Cale's face turned pale. "Forgive me, Master. I did not think it was important. The captain of the Wild Karrde sent a transmission inquiring about Jedi Jade Skywalker shortly after she left. I told him that she had just left and that he could probably still catch her…" his voice trailed off as he bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Master. I have failed you."
"No," Luke replied with deliberate calm. "No, you didn't. I'm sure it's nothing. I'll contact the Wild Karrde and find out where Mara went. Thank you, Cale." The hologram bowed again and disappeared.
Luke continued to stare at the empty holo plate, "Do me a favor, Leia? Get me Talon Karrde."
Early the next morning, Leia arrived at Luke's apartment to find him sitting in a chair in front of the main viewport overlooking the city. His bed was untouched and the travel bag beside it still packed. She sat down beside him gently, "Did you speak to Karrde?"
He nodded, eyes transfixed on some spot near the horizon. "He doesn't know where she is either. He'd received a message from a former associate of theirs and agreed to deliver it to her. He didn't know what it was about."
"Did he know who sent it?" she asked softly.
"Yes," he continued monotonously, "but Karrde didn't know where he was or how to contact him, at least not yet. He's got his people working on it."
Luke swallowed, attempting to clear his raw voice, "She wouldn't do this, Leia. She would never leave like this without contacting me."
"I know, Luke," she reached for his hand. "I'm sure Mara will be here soon."
He shook his head wearily, "You don't understand. I can't find her. I've been here, meditating and searching all night. I can't find her…in the Force."
Leia studied his profile, grasping for reassurance against the pain reflected in his face. "Maybe she's just unconscious, or…" her voice trailed off.
Luke turned red-rimmed eyes to his sister, "That's what I'm afraid of."
To be continued…
