Post 3
Things could only get worse. For the most part things were quiet, and then we were there. Treasure Ship Row, with something off that I couldn't place. I know I could have stopped what happened, but I froze, and I ran. Besides, I told them I wasn't going to stick around, that Correlia was the last stop. So it's not really my fault.
Is it?
****************************
Mara glanced at Iella with questions in her eyes. "What you're saying is that both the NRI and PSS have noticed these disappearances, but haven't done anything about it?"
"There is nothing to do; all the missing kids are runaways, no way to trace them."
With a cautious note in her voice, Mirax asked, "Is there any possibility that it is renegade imperials? We may have peace with Bastion…"
Anian watched Mara, as she traced a pattern in the hanger bay. The closer they got to the meeting time, the more jittery the Jedi Woman got.
"Mara, sit down-you're driving us crazy."
"Iella, I can't-I know what has to be done, and none of you can be involved. If these people are who I think they are…and if they hear I have back up…"
Anian spoke up, "No, I may not have the Force, but one thing I've learned is NEVER go into anything like this without backup."
Mara let out a saccharine laugh. "I know that, there just has to be some other way. These missing kids, and this feeling I have, something is going on here. The last time I was here was right before Sal-Solo's uprising, and Treasure Ship Row was deserted. It is hiding something under its new found legality."
"Mara, don't do anything rash, we came here together and we'll figure this out together."
~~~~~
Treasure Ship Row lay in front of them with a heavy stillness. Early on, Mara ID'd the stall the meeting was in, although she wouldn't explain how she knew.
"Anian, you don't have to be here with us, you can leave when you want to." She tucked a strand of red-gold hair behind the cape.
"I know." It was all she could say, something wasn't letting her leave just yet.
"Ok," Switching gears, Mara flipped on the comlink "Iella, Mirax, we're heading out."
They clicked back in response. A hundred yards from the stall, Anian casually backed away and pretended to admire some fruit being sold by a Selonian female. Watching out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mara weave her way to the antiques place and remove her hood to reveal her hair. A few minutes later, Anian followed her in, just in time to see Mara enter a back room. Running quietly, she pressed her ear to the door, muffled voices reached her.
"Mara Jade, welcome back."
"You're not him," a statement.
"Ahh, but I am-and you have come to be a loyal servant to the Second Imperium."
"Loyal? What is this masquerade? You have no more power over me then when he was really alive."
"SILENCE!"
"I will if you show yourself."
"Very well, take her." Anian heard sharp yell, then silence. Quickly she moved form the door and ducked out of sight, freezing as she watched three red guards carry a brown form out a back door *Mara* She shrieked mentally. Trembling, her fingers barely moved as the comlink sputtered to life. "This is Anian, they took her, I'm following." Not waiting for the obvious arguments, she ran cautiously toward the back and moved after them.
~~~~
Five hours later, she met the two nervous women back at the hanger. Looking disheveled and frightened, she related breathlessly what she had heard and seen. "After I followed them to a ship and it took off, there wasn't anything I could do."
Iella licked her lips. "We better get Luke."
Mirax turned without a word and sprinted up the gangplank.
~~~~
YAVIN
Luke breathed in sweet fragrance of his quarters, wishing he could figure out what Mara had been trying to tell him. He could feel her getting closer, but not where.
"Luke, what's going on?"
"It's Mara, something's happened, but I can't figure out what." He sighed and smiled worriedly. "Han, what's going on Coruscant?"
"Nothing more than the usual-Borsk being Borsk, Leia running around. She told me to tell you she loves you and misses you."
"Thanks."
A voice from the door intercom interrupted, "Master Skywalker, there is a priority one comm., do you want us to patch it through?" It took a few seconds, but then the unmistakable voice of Mirax Terrik Horn filled the room. She went on for a few minutes…"Luke, we don't know what else happened. Anian couldn't hear much."
"Ysalmiri. I lost contact with her briefly, its how they got past her defenses. I can feel her getting closer now though. I'll take care of it, you three just get yourselves out of the city, and come back here."
"We'll try, there might be something else keeping us here. Bye."
Luke turned to Han, "Now I need to figure out where they're taking her. Tionne needs to know as well. Let's go to the cafeteria."
Han looked at his brother-in-law with restrained admiration as he followed him down the temple hall. Here his wife was missing, and Luke was calmly acting like everything was under control. He could see why, though. Odds were that Mara would get herself out of the situation before Luke even got there. Even Leia never seemed to need him anymore. *Strong Women.*
They turned the corner and ducked just in time to miss a plate flying towards them. All the food flying across the cafeteria stopped in midair. Quietly listening to Luke reprimand his students for the food fight, Han couldn't help but chuckle at his kids and their friends who were standing covered in orange gook.
When Luke turned back to him, letting the food come crashing down, he looked sad, "Sometimes, I wish I could just cut loose."
"Yes, but then who would save the galaxy?"
"Someone else."
"Then the question is, could we trust them?"
~~~~
Mara stirred and stared at the walls holding her. *How long have I been here?* She must have dozed off because her next thought seemed to take forever to form. *Ysalmiri, shavit!* She sighed, realizing what had gone wrong. Stretching out she found a familiar presence, tinged with apprehension. *Luke.* The room lurched, allowing for the discovery that she was no longer bound to the bed and the realization that they had just come out of hyperspace. Her ears popped, and she faded out again.
Some time later, she tried to raise her head, aware of the pricks in her arms and back. Then she let out a yell, as she saw the Royal Guard standing stiffly at the end of her bed.
Her bed.
She wasn't in a cell, or in the ship anymore, they had moved her. The room was gilded, with the light hues of a room on a luxury yacht. Determined, she glared at the Guard. "I'm getting up, no matter what you say."
The guard just silently pointed to a door on the right and left the room. Gingerly making her way through it she found clothes and food-clothes that unfortunately resembled her wardrobe from a former life. Realizing she hadn't eaten in a while, Mara recognized that her sleepiness was the after effect of a healing trance. Whatever they had injected her with had taken a long time to filter out.
The guard who had followed her in growled, "The Hidden Leader-"
"Shut up right now, don't 'hidden leader' me. I saw what was in that room and there was no one. It's all a sham." Mara played a hunch, hoping she could keep up her guard, "Now I'm assuming that you need me to help you with your Second Imperium or whatever, but if I'm on your side, you treat me as an equal. I want my lightsaber back. NOW."
The Voice of the Emperor echoed through speakers, "Welcome back, Mara Jade…I see your marriage was a successful infiltration. Unfortunately, you disobeyed orders, there are a number of things that need discussing."
Mara laughed, "I don't believe this, I could feel him anywhere, ok? Do you expect me to believe that the Emperor would allow himself to be blocked off from the Force? And let me get another thing straight, I certainly hope you guys are as bad shots as the moron who tried to ruin my wedding." She marched to the door, "Open the door and get out of my way."
Silence.
And with that silence came the Force. Just long enough for Mara to feel Luke's touch and silent thought. *I'm three days out. Stay calm.* He could sense the cold knot in the pit of her stomach. The bubble returned, and Mara breathed, *Cooperate.* Her mind raced.
"Let's try this again," she said sweetly.
The guard just walked over to the door and stood there, blocking her only escape route. Giving up, Mara sat down to eat, making sure to watch the guard very carefully.
~~~~
For the hundredth time since the guards changed, and that she had noticed her lightsaber on the desktop, Mara tried to get a force grip. Her eyes flicked to the smooth mask, *I bet you're just laughing.*
As if in response, he spoke, "You will get that when you join the Second Imperium."
That was essentially all they said, and Mara wondered how much more dodging she'd have to do before declaring herself on their side.
Trying another tactic, "Where are the missing children? From Treasure Ship Row."
No answer.
"Trying to create a new breed of stormtroopers? Stupid, who can only fire a gun?"
"They are being trained."
*Finally PROGRESS* "In what? How to salute incompetence? That's right? You maybe creating the NEW EMPIRE, but-hello!-all you are Imperial renegades who can't run anything without help."
He just stood there. It was then that Mara noticed the gas filtering the room. Before she knew it she had blacked out again.
~~~~
Mara awoke a few hours later to a muffled thud, and then a figure leaning over the bed. She flinched as the hand reached over……..
And undid the restraints. "Who are you?" The Force was still gone, but she had an idea.
"Hello, I'm Luke Skywalker. Your husband…I'm here to save you."
Giving him her most saccharine smile, Mara hit him lightly with her free hand. "Glad to see you too Luke, how about moving a little faster there. " He removed the other restraints, and helped her up. "Great disguise."
"It was either this, or stormtrooper armor. I figured the armor was a bad idea, so I decided to go with the straight forward approach."
"You didn't think coming as a Jedi wasn't too obvious?"
"Well, they seemed to know I was here because the minute I entered the block, I heard their ship fly off and this ticking away." He held out his hand, which held a thermal detonator with its pin broken off.
Mara sucked in air, grabbed her husband and kissed him. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
He smiled, "Yes, the feelings mutual, as much as I'd like to stand here getting reacquainted-"
"They may have more traps. Let's get out of here...wherever here is."
When they reached the ship, Mara asked what had been bothering her since she saw Luke. "If they were all gone, what was that thud?"
Luke grinned sheepishly, his presence ringing with relief that she was ok. "I tripped."
~~~~~
Like I said, I froze and I ran. True, I neglected to mention the other things I had seen when I followed Mara's body, but all of a sudden I couldn't breathe; things were getting out of control. I couldn't stop the blaster shots, I couldn't stop the heat, and I couldn't help myself remember. Most importantly I couldn't catch the elusive bits of my past that ran into me without slowing down.
~~~~~
"Rostek, I'm worried."
"Mara Jade is very good at taking care of herself."
"I know."
"That's not who you meant? The young girl." It was a statement, not a question. The man crossed the greenhouse and handed his grandson's wife some freshly blossomed buds.
"There's something she's still hiding, while it's not clear whether it's intentional. When she came back after what happened to Mara, her demeanor…"
"Was anxious, perhaps a bit more terror then there should be?"
"Yes," Mirax glanced at her elder, with questions in her eyes. "How did you know?"
"There have been moments, during the evening she was here before disappearing, that such was her expression that I was concerned. And the few times our eyes locked, there was a distinctive sense of fear."
Not knowing what to say, Mirax sat in silence while she watched Iella approach them from the main house. "Corran will love these Dayglos" She absently traced the vase of preserved sunshine scented flowers, pale yellow over deep orange. Finally she sighed, "We can't hang around here much longer. I don't know whether to give her a few more days or just leave. She's already been gone four. On Yavin, she said she just needed a ride here, but after what happened on the Skate, I don't feel comfortable leaving her here alone."
Hearing the last, Iella broke in. "If she doesn't want to be found, she won't be."
"I agree, it is from observation that I believe that she needs to face what is within in order to begin living here on the outside."
"Well chosen, Rostek. Mirax, I think we should give her a few days."
"Five days, then Coruscant and Yavin."
~~~~
As she left the building the crisp night air reached her first, then the heat of a dry Corellian summer. She scampered forward, catching a flash of red turning in front of her. **I didn't lose them.** She thought with relief. Following at a subdued space, she wracked her brain for a plan. Slowly getting around the corner, Anian barely missed running into a young man. "Sorry" she murmured, her eyes watching the red guards walk down the deserted alley.
"I don't believe it." He held her arm.
Anian froze, and wrenched her arm free. Looking up she found herself staring into a pair of grey catlike eyes. It was all she needed to see. Something in her insides turned, and her palms grew sweaty. **Just keep on walking.** Breaking into a backward jog, she put distance between them, slowly ducking into the shadows.
"Anya, it's me.." his voice faded as he saw the feral look in her eyes.
Her voice was low. "I don't know you." **How do you know my name?**
His face sagged, "I-"
Shaking, Anya sprinted away, not hearing what he said. She ducked to where the men who had taken Mara had turned. She ducked inside, just in time to see a sleek shuttle take off.
The stillness closed in on her, the muted steps of the man coming behind her. Voices from another directions overwhelmed her.
**Where to go? Where to go? Where to go? Where to go?**
It echoed bouncing off the docking bay's walls, growing louder and louder. The dust flew from the after thrust of the ship, making the rolling current of heat tangible, suffocating. The steps faded away.
There wasn't anywhere she could go, nowhere but back to tell a Jedi's friends that she had failed.
Anian woke up with a start, disoriented and depressed. For five nights since Mara's disappearance, she'd had that dream. No not dream, but what happened, what you did wrong. The house she was in was grander then anything she'd ever been in, but the large Corsec emblem taunted her. Unable to explain the fright she felt, she did the one thing she could do. She ran.
She ran through the extensive grounds, through flowers, trees, over fences, for almost a day. She ran through the city. As evening approached, she found her way down a familiar street, giving her an odd feeling of déjà vu. A gate stood before her, and against her will, like a magnet draws metal, she was drawn to it. A brass plaque on the side bore an inscription, *Morod-* She didn't get further than that.
"You used to live here." A small violet-eyed man gazed at her with a placid expression.
"No, I didn't," her voice was small, tight. *Where did he come from?*
"Yes, you did. Would you like to come in?" His kind face beckoned. "The family is waiting."
"I don't have a family."
"Yes, you do."
"I'm leaving." She couldn't move.
"Very well," his violet eyes electrified her, "Are you sure you don't want something to eat? Some…Carob, perhaps?"
*Carob* For a brief, fleeting moment, Anya's brain threaten to spill all her locked memories. *Featureless faces, purple eyes...a feeling of warmth, and comfort.* Not able to stop herself, curiosity won out. "I'll come." She walked through the gates, and trembled as they slammed shut. As she walked inside the house, she noticed the weeds, the unpainted balcony. The abandoned rooms. "There's no one here."
"Not yet, but they will come. We've been waiting for you for a long time. Tell me why you ran."
Her mind blanked. *I don't know what he's talking about.* "I was afraid." *Why did I say that?*
He stared at her incredulously, "You were afraid of us? We're your family, your blood."
"I told you, I don't have a family." The mirror in the room shook as she stomped her foot.
"It's ok, calm down. Everything will be ok." His eyes flicked through the window behind her. "It's time for you to sleep."
Anian turned to see what he was looking at, and slapped her hand as she felt something jab into her forearm.
"Good night, sweet sister. We want you awake for when the guests arrive."
Gasping, she tried to run, but lost as the room tilted before her eyes. She managed a soft "help" before losing the battle for consciousness.
~~~~
Muted voices pulled her out the dark cage. Still unable to see or talk, Anian strained her ears to hear the conversation. Her skin crawled, as she recognized the voice of the violet-eyed man.
"-not here."
"Yes, she is. What did you do to her?" The other voice was softer, slightly higher in pitch.
"How can I do something to someone I haven't seen since the explosion? You're crazy, she died in that building with your parents."
"Liar." The word was venomous, spat out like poison.
"Tell you what, I'll tell you what I know if you…" He trailed off.
"You know we will never do that. To do that is to destroy the family. And you *scum,* are our enemies." It had a hollow ring to it, and Anian shivered as she felt the anger behind the words.
"Time will tell who will rule. Get out of my home, next time I will fulfill my pledge."
"As I will mine, until I take her back from your clutches."
A bang followed, and an endless amount of time passed before she heard steps coming toward her. Soft hands, removed the blindfold and gag, murmuring as they did. "I'm sorry I had to do this, you weren't rational it was the only way to keep you quiet." He caressed the side of her face. "Sweet girl, you were very good."
*He hasn't realized that the drug is all gone. I need to get away from here. Why did I come in?* She gazed at him mutely, unable to speak through her parched throat.
Understanding he stood up, "I'll go get some water." She had three minutes to survey the room. There was no escape, just two double-shielded windows. The room was bare except the flat she lay on.
He came back in, "Repeat after me: I am Bran Morodin, you are a distant relative named Sora Morodin, whose parents died on a core-ward trip to establish our connections in the family."
She repeated. *I have to get out, I have to get out.* "And why do you look at me that way?"
His eyes searched her. "Because you are mine." He didn't say anymore, just stood up and walked away.
For three days, he came in every hour, asking her to repeat the same thing. Every hour she forgot what the answer to her question was, so she asked him again. She had had nothing to eat, just a glass of water, each time he spoke. On the fourth day, he didn't come, and Anian realized that her bonds were loose. He hadn't given her a glass of water for 12 hours, and her head felt clearer. *Fool, get up, he's been drugging you.*
She got up, and walked out of the room to the front door. It was locked, all the windows were locked. Desperately, she tried to get out, finally finding a small door meant for a house pet. In three days, plus the weight she had lost from her earlier sickness, she was able to fit through the hole without effort. Hauling her gaunt frame down the street, she made it to Treasure Ship Row before collapsing in a dark corner for rest.
When she awoke, she found herself near the berth of the Pulsar Skate. Barely making it inside she saw boxes of supplies stacked in front of the ship. They were going to leave. Abandonment took over, and she sagged against the wall. She listened to the conversation.
"That's the last of it, Mirax."
"Thanks, Iella."
"No, thank you. I didn't want to wait for Wedge to come and get me."
"Can I help you?" The tone of her voice changed, addressing some new occupant.
"We're looking for a young girl, grey eyes, about 20, dark hair."
"No on here that fits that description."
"Right, do I need to ask again?" He scoffed, adding a threatening note to his tone.
"Excuse me?" Mirax matched his tone.
"That's it, you're hiding our bounty, and if you don't bring her out here right now…"
A mocking laughter came from Iella, "If you're bounty hunters, the Empire still rules."
"Watch it."
Anian pulled herself around the ship, barely hidden in the shadows. The two men had pulled blasters. *No, if they shoot, it's my fault.*
"Put the blasters away. We can't help you." Mirax's voice dropped deadly soft.
*That's it, if you have any courage left, jump out NOW. Anian put all her strength out, and got ready to yell….
Then she heard two shots.
End Post 3