Prologue
Zonama Sekot
During the Aftermath of the Defeat of the Yuuzhan Vong.
They were not alone.
On Zonama Sekot, one was never really alone.
Mara Jade-Skywalker sat against a rock in a small clearing and looked down at her son who, at the present time, was playing with his father's face. At nearly three years old Ben Skywalker was perfectly content smooshing Luke's cheeks together in a valiant attempt wake him up; something that didn't seem to be working despite his rudimentary Force instincts telling him that he had.
Mara reached out in front of her and brushed away some grass that had found its way onto her husband's hair"There's no fooling him Luke, he knows you're awake."
Quiet Jade.
Mara looked again at her babbling child and smirked. "Ben" his blue eyes locked with hers"Let's wake up daddy." Leaning forward she grasped his small fingers in her own hand and softly placed it on Luke's abdomen"The best way to wake up daddy, is to tickle him." No sooner had she put her hand on his stomach then a strong grip grasped her wrist. Glancing up she saw that Luke's farm boy eyes were open, staring at her with a look of mock betrayal.
"Nice try" he mouthed.
Mara ruefully smiled as he released her hand and directed his attention to the toddler on his stomach. "And you, Ben Skywalker are very strong in the Force, but you should remember that I can tickle too." Ben's happy shriek could be heard far into the forest as he giggled and squirmed in an effort to remove himself from his father's traitorous fingers.
Luke was still playing with Ben when he saw her. He had sensed her for quite sometime, and had felt her indecision in interrupting what was obviously a private family moment. Her presence was hesitant, but it was one that was focused more on Mara than the rest of the family. Making a decision he looked at his wife, who was leaning against the rock with her eyes closed, and stood up hoisting his son into his arms. "Jade, I'll meet you back at the ship. Lowbacca, Ben and I will get started checking the stabilizers." Almost as an after thought he added, "Don't worry I won't take anything apart without Ben's strict permission."
Languidly, belatedly, her eyes flickered open in confusion.
Luke placed a soft kiss on her forehead"Say good bye to your mother Ben." Ben flashed a toothy grin, content.
Luke?
Jade, she's not here to talk to me.
Standing, Mara turned and watched the cautious approach of a woman dressed in the faded fatigues of the medical corps. Slightly tan in complexion, she had short-cropped black hair that consisted of tight black curls pinned in place to stay out of her face. As she drew closer Mara realized that there was something distinct about the woman's features.
Mara frowned"Have we met before"
The woman smiled"Once, briefly before the war began. I doubt you would even remember meeting me." The stress lines on her forehead stretched out for a moment as she rubbed her fingers across it.
Her gesture sparked something in Mara's memory"Dr. Stanton"
The woman blinked, surprised, and nodded. "Not Dr. Stanton anymore, I got married." She laughed lightly"Which is why I'm here. My husband wanted to thank you for something that you did before the war, so he told me, before we had to part ways that if I ever saw you to give you this." She reached into the pocket of her tunic and pulled out a datacard. "You and your family have done more for us then you probably even realize. We're glad to see that you're in good health, and happy."
Mara accepted the data card and looked at the doctor curiously. "We did what we had to do for the galaxy…not only for ourselves but for our children."
The former Dr. Stanton nodded. "I know. I have a two year old daughter who I haven't seen in about a year. It's why my husband and I chose to separate. I was needed here, and he had other responsibilities where he could better serve the war effort, and guarantee her safety. Now with the death of Nom Anor, and the end of the war, there is closure, something that we needed desperately." The comm at her hip buzzed, and she sighed"I have to get back, I'm only on Zonama Sekot because of some of the injured, but I'm due back on the frigate."
There was something about her, some strange familiarity, how she said so little but expressed so much. Mara watched as she turned and began to walk away without another word.
"Doctor." The woman turned around.
"Yes"
"What's your daughter's name" Mara had meant to ask about her husband.
The doctor's expression became wistful"Names are important. You named your son for your husband's mentor-I for my husband's first wife; her grace and spirit are some things I want my daughter to strive for, in her own way. "
Mara raised her eyebrows in question.
She shrugged"Elbereth. Her name is Elbereth."
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It has been a long, hard road.
I saw greed, violence, and death, along with the despair; the grim haunted, hollow bleakness of those grasping for hope.
I saw hero's fall, martyrs spurn hate and symbols show another generation why they were chosen to lead.
I saw the murderous glee of our fighting forces as they stepped beyond the realms of civilization to torture, to mutilate, to hate; all in the name of fighting back, all in the name of war.
I saw one man's selfishness, maliciousness and need for vengeance fuel a crusade that was not in his hands to fight. He showed me how hatred can make a good man choose evil; how I could just as easily fall prey to the dark.
I hated him, but I learned that appearances can be deceiving.
Through his internal struggle I saw him fight back. I saw him give light to those who desperately needed it. I saw him give life to those on the brink of slipping over the edge, and I watched as he broke his self imposed chains, beating back his history, his anger, and his narrow self-serving principles to be the man he used to be.
I saw him lead; I saw his soul.
