Post 5
One thing this inability to speak taught me was that you can't always trust how people seem on holovids. For the longest time, I thought Leia Organa, former Princess of Alderaan, was someone very stuck up. And her husband, Han, always seemed a bit on the arrogant side. Of course, I've also always been a cynic, so I probably thought everyone who was trying to be nice had his or her own agenda. Take Mara, for instance. I don't know very much about her except that she's married to the famed Jedi Master. But right away I felt that I could trust her(heck she'd already saved my life more times then I could count). I still felt like I let her down, and normally if it was someone else, I ... I'm not making any sense. My point is, that while stuck in a bed on Coruscant I learned some stuff that maybe I shouldn't have, but I did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coruscant
C3-P0 shuffled into the Med Center behind Mara and Anian, who had regained marginal strength but still needed occasional support when she walked.
Mara looked at her with caution. "You'll be ok by yourself right?"
Anian nodded and gestured for her to go.
"Ok I'll be right around the corner talking to--I'll just be right around the corner."
Mara left, and walked right into the very person she had come to the med center to see. "Dr. Evin, do you have a moment?"
The slightly shorter woman, looked up with an curious expression, "Mara, I didn't know you were planet side, is everything ok?"
"Yes, I just have a few questions for you. Is there anywhere we can talk?"
The older woman nodded, and ushered her towards her office.
"Mistress Mara, should I come with you? Or stay with Mistress Anian?"
"If you could, Threepio, stay with Anian and make sure the doctors know she can't talk." Mara wiped her sweaty palms on her suit. *This is it. * Sitting down inside, Mara marveled at how strange it felt for her to be here. She had never gone to the doctor for any real reason; she had always ended up in some ships bacta tank, instead of a real med center. She looked up and saw Dr. Evin's bemused look.
"Mara, there's nothing to be nervous about, if its just a few questions."
She laughed, "Is it that obvious? Well….Luke and I have been talking, and we wanted to make sure...correction, I was just wanting to make sure everything was all right before I mentioned it to him."
"Is there any reason for you to think something is wrong?"
"Well, we've been trying for a few months now…" Her voice trailed off.
The Doctor stood up from behind her desk, and moved to the chair next to Mara. "Mara, I wouldn't worry just yet. You're healthy, and in excellent shape. I don't see any reason as to why you should worry about not being able to have kids."
Mara sighed, "I know, its just that lately I've been having this feeling that we aren't meant to have kids…" She eyed the doctor. "It's crazy, I know…I don't know what I'm thinking."
"If you want to have some tests…I can arrange them for you."
"It wouldn't be too much trouble?"
"Not at all." Dr. Evin got up and pressed a few buttons on the intercom in the other room. While waiting for confirmation, she looked at the young woman through the open door. Mara Jade had first become her patient over 10 years ago, coming in of a bad ejection during the fight against Thrawn. Not a regular patient, Mara had started to come to her for trustworthy medical advice, as she was often injured by wayward blaster shots, even though the doctor knew better. The girl's lifestyle was too stressful for one so young, but yet she was in very good health. The stress hadn't gone away with her marriage to Luke Skywalker, but at least Mara Jade Skywalker was allowed to smile once in a while, an expression not often seen on her before the wedding. The intercom beeped, and the motherly doctor went back into the waiting room where the patient was waiting quietly.
"They can take you now. Room 519."
~~~~~
En Route to Dathomir
Luke nodded encouragingly as the remote came to a stop. "Next time, though, take a minute to slow the spin, that way it won't get out of control. It will also help you to practice with the more intricate levels of the Force." His pupil nodded, holding out the metal ball and getting a Force grip on it. The Jedi Master leaned against the room's bulkhead, thinking about how much this girl reminded him of his wife. She refused to depend on the use of the Force, preferring instead to condition her body and mind through focusing and physical exercises. Like Mara, she was using all the assets given to her so she could have a more unique amount of control over the Force.
Unlike Mara, this young girl still needed to learn to open herself up to the power she had inherited from her mother, a native witch of the Singing Mountain Clan, and now ruler of Hapes. The daughter of Isolder and Tenenial Djo was far too young to be rushing across the galaxy to save her kidnapped friends. A wry smile tugged across his lips as Tenal Ka semi-successfully accomplished the task put before her. "That's good enough for now, with practice it will come easier."
Tenal Ka nodded, and brushed her red braids away from her face. "That is a fact." She paused, "Master Skywalker, we will find them, won't we?"
"Yes, Tenal Ka, we will. I am certain that these new Nightsisters will lead them to us, or rather us to them. In fact, remind me when we get out of hyperspace to send a message to Coruscant to let Leia know what is going on." Luke was certain he would find the kids, but somewhere deep inside he feared losing them. To him, they were his chance to make sure the Skywalker legacy went on. That they would be the teachers, long after he followed Yoda and Ben.
Mara and he had talked about kids recently, and so far they weren't too worried, or rather he wasn't too worried. But Mara...his mind failed to complete the thought. He hoped she was careful. He hoped the kids were careful. "We will find them, if you search your feelings you will know."
"Yes, Master Skywalker." With a determined look on her face Tenal Ka hoisted the ball up again.
~~~~~
Coruscant
Leia signed for the envelope from the courier, and walked into the back room. "Mara, this just came for you." Searching her sister-in-law's face, she continued, "Is everything all right?"
Mara rubbed her face tiredly and took the envelope from Leia's hand, "Well her nightmare finally stopped. There's something frightening in seeing silent screaming, I was afraid she was going to hurt herself." She glanced at the envelope, and her face froze.
"Mara, I was asking about you. That's from the med center, why would you be getting something from the med center?" Leia realized that she was pushing. "I'm sorry, I'll leave."
"No," Mara's voice was low and non-committal. "Don't, actually…I'm frightened. For some reason I feel detached, almost like I'm about to be told something I don't want to hear." She paused, "Could you open this?" She shoved the envelope back into Leia's hand.
"Mara, it is confidential, are you sure you want me to?" Mara's lips pursed as she gestured towards Leia with a feeling of impatience. Leia opened it and breathed in surprise. "Mara…" Her voice trailed off as she scanned the sheaf of documents. She looked up with a small smile. "Mara, you're fine. In fact Dr. Evin put in a personal note saying you are worrying for no reason."
The relief showed clearly, "I don't know what I was thinking, just thinking about Luke and I not being able to have kids scared me."
Leia came over and hugged her friend. "Mara, I would love to be an aunt, and I know how much this will mean to both of you. Does he know you were getting checked out?"
"No," her voice declared that he wouldn't ever find out either. "Leia, have you heard anything from Luke about the twins?"
"No, don't change the subject." She softened her tone. "Mara, is there something you want to talk about?" To her surprise, Mara's face began to crumple, and the usually brave woman began to shake.
"Leia, I watch Luke with your kids, and I wonder what would it be like to have a little Jacen and Jaina of our own. Then I wonder why it hasn't happened already. It's true that we put it off for a little while so that I could get used to just being his wife and not the mother of his children. Now I want that job, and it's not happening."
"Mara, it will. Have you ever thought that maybe the Force has something special in store for you two? That when it happens you and Luke will know before any of us?" Leia smiled and gathered Mara in a bone-crushing hug. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but…Trust the Force, and trust that it will happen. I know it will."
Mara got up and gave Leia and embarrassed look. "Thanks, I needed that." She quickly wiped the tears from her face. "I know it will. Luke always says my hardest problem is falling in and believing."
"It is, but it's also one of your strengths--seeing past the obvious and seeing the hidden truths."
Mara looked at the girl that slept quietly before them, "I wonder what her hidden truths are. Unless she figures them out, I think they are going to come and kill her."
Leia whispered softly. "I agree."
They didn't know I wasn't asleep. I felt like a peeping bantha at a Jawa banquet. Listening to Mara talk, I felt that I needed her conviction. I also wanted to tell her what a wonderful mother she would make, but I still couldn't speak, and that is what was going to be the death of me. I never did tell her.
~~~~~
Anian looked around as the sharp sound of an incoming call pierced the silence of the empty house. She had finally convinced Leia and Mara to go and leave her. Besides, Threepio was here, and he could probably be depended on to help her if anything happened.
What she hadn't counted on was having to speak. The noise resumed, this time with an automated voice saying over and over "Priority One, priority One." Not thinking, she automatically walked over and pushed the 'receive' button.
The pixels on the screen came together into the face of two people. They appeared visibly startled to see someone other then their parents in their home. "I'm sorry we must have misdialed." That was the girl.
Anian shook her head and held up a finger, slowly limping out of the room to turn the golden droid on.
"Oh my, is anything the matter Mistress Anian? I must have shut down, confound my stupid innards, I wasn't there for you."
Rolling her eyes, Anian grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the holo unit. "What is it, do you need me to call a doctor?" She lifted her arm and pointed.
Threepio shuffled over to the comm unit. "OHHHH! Mistress Jaina, Master Jacen, thank the Force you're all right."
"Thanks, Threepio." The boy's lopsided grin allowed Anian to see the resemblance to his father. "Where are Mom and Dad?"
"Your mother is in an important senate meeting, and your father is working on the Falcon. They've been very worried."
"Oh." Jaina's face sagged, "We were hoping we could talk to them."
Anian tapped Threepio. And shoved her notepad under his face. "Why didn't I think of that. Your parents are on their way. "
The door to the suite opened. "Master Han, Master Han! Jacen and Jaina are all right."
"So I can see, Goldenrod." Han glanced at Anian for a second, "Go back to bed, you aren't going to let your legs strengthen enough unless you stay immobile."
He turned to the holo unit and said softly. "You two scared the living daylights out of me. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Tell us what happened." Leia walked in the door a minute later and stood beside her husband.
"Hi Mom, Dad sorry…We were kidnapped by a woman named Tamith Kai and a man named Brakiss. Apparently he had been a former student of Uncle Luke's."
"I remember him." Leia breathed.
"He's established a Shadow Academy, with students from around the galaxy with Force and non-Force powers." Jaina took a deep breath before jumping in. "He tried to teach Jacen and I to fight each other, drawing on our anger and fear. Lowie had to try and save us both."
Jacen finished quickly. "We escaped and met Uncle Luke and Tenal Ka as they got off one of the ships that was quantum armored." They were obviously leaving some things out and as their mother Leia could see stress lining their faces. She knew that she would have to talk to them whenever she got them home.
Jaina glanced at her brother as if trying to decide whether to ask a question or not. "Mom, where's Aunt Mara?"
"She's out right now, I don't know if we got in touch with her."
Han blinked. "Why?"
"There's some guy here, looking for the girl that was here before." Recognition dawned in Jacen's eyes as Anian moved into the viewing range. "Oh, sorry Anian, we didn't recognize you."
She scribbled quickly, "Mistress Anian says its ok, she knows she looks different." There was a loud clink. "I know you didn't write that, I changed it a little."
Jacen laughed, "I know what you mean. Mom, can you tell Aunt Mara she probably should come back?"
"I will, I'm glad you children are all right. Is there any way you would take a break from the Academy and come home?"
To Anian the expressions on the kids face was one of relief, as they said together, "YES!"
~~~~~
Mara stood by the Jade Sabre before going inside for preflight. Luke was having trouble, although he wasn't ready to recognize it. She could feel--on the edge of her mind--his feeling of impatience, a boyhood problem that he conquered long before she had met him. *I'm coming…*
"Mara!" She turned and gazed at the entrance of the docking bay. Mirax was coming towards her with Corran in tow, an almost angry expression on her face.
"Mirax, I can explain."
"No, you can't. You were going to leave without telling me. We got in this mess together, and I'll be kesseled if you go off and get yourself killed when I could have helped. Now, Leia tells me that Tristan Romani is waiting for us at Yavin."
"It's someone, who says he's Tristan Romani. We don't know if he really is."
"See? Another logical reason why you shouldn't leave without me."
Corran's green eyes flashed as he spoke. "Mara, you of all people should know that running head long into a situation without back up is bad."
"Luke'll be there."
"True, but he doesn't have the advantage of knowing what went on these past few weeks."
"Stang your logic, we just have to move..NOW. I have a feeling that I need to be on Yavin soon."
"I knew you'd see it our way. Later, Mara."
"I'll get you back, Mirax Terrik."
"Sure you will, Mara..Sure you will."
End of Post 5