Chapter 33: Life and Death

The Millennium Falcon rocked back and forth under a steady barrage of fire from pursuing TIE fighters as it weaved its way through the congested space near Coruscant. Mara Jade was oblivious to this fact, however, as she kept her focus on hoping against all odds that Luke would be fine. He always came out fine. If Luke could face both Vader and the Emperor and live to tell the tale, surely he could beat this.

The steadily decreasing sound of the heart monitor Luke was hooked up to told a different tale, however. Mara continued to put all of her efforts into keeping Luke from dying both through the Force and what knowledge she had of emergency medicine. Her efforts were for naught, however, as the heart monitor finally settled into a steady, flat tone.

Mara slumped into her chair, the tears streaming down her face the only sign she felt anything at all. Unable to do anything else, Mara simply rested her head next to Luke's lifeless form and wept. She had finally fulfilled her master's last command. Mara had killed Luke Skywalker. So why did it feel more like she had killed herself?

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Luke could feel himself slipping into the Force and becoming one with the life energy he had become so attuned with. He never expected to fight against the Force, but he found himself doing just that right now. Luke tried to somehow grasp onto his physical form and not let go, but was unable. It couldn't be his time, he had more to do. More to live for.

"You're right. It's not your time." Luke suddenly found himself no longer being pulled away, but unable to return to the life he was so desperately trying to hold on to. He looked down to find himself not glowing as he expected, but somehow still more ethereal than normal. Finally regaining his bearings somewhat, Luke turned in the direction of the voice that had spoken to him just before he had stopped.

"Father." Anakin Skywalker gave his son a small smile in greeting. A small part of him wanted to be greedy and take Luke with him, but Anakin knew that they would have an eternity to make up for lost time. For now, Luke still had his own life to lead. Anakin was simply here to make sure the will of the Force was able to keep on its course. Luke still had much work to do before becoming one with the Force himself.

"Son. This isn't the way I wanted to see you again, but it had to happen."

Luke looked at his father, clearly confused. He had to die! But Anakin had said just before that it wasn't his time. Clearly, Luke was missing something. "I don't understand."

"You aren't supposed to. Not yet anyway. This was more for her than it was for you."

"Mara had to kill me! There had to be an easier way to accomplish whatever you were trying."

Anakin shook his head as a sad smile crossed his face. The poor girl had already been through more than she deserved, much like Luke. If it was up to him, he would have made things easier on both of them, but the Force followed its own path. At least they would have their futures to make up for their painful pasts. "It was the only way for her to find peace. Mara didn't want to kill you, but the Emperor simply controlled her too fully even after his death. The only way to remove the compulsion to kill you was something as cathartic as seeing you die."

Luke was stunned at his father's words, but it all made sense. Everything she had told him while he was fighting to stay alive, the way she had vanished without a trace, even her cold demeanor after he suspected she got back her memories. Mara had been fighting against a part of her mind she had no control over. "She'll be fine when I go back?"

"More than fine. You two take care of each other. I won't be seeing you again for a long time."

Luke turned to look at his father one last time, realizing just what he had meant. Anakin wouldn't be appearing to him anymore. Luke would be on his own after this. Shaking his head slightly, Luke corrected himself. Not on his own. He wouldn't be alone again. Luke pulled his father to him. "Thank you."

Anakin let go of his son and looked him in the eyes. He owed Luke more than he could express in words, but the look on Luke's face told Anakin that he already knew that. Anakin simply smiled. "I should be the one thanking you. But if you insist on thanking me, why don't you work on giving me some grandchildren to watch. Force knows your mother is getting anxious."

Luke returned his father's smile and turned to leave. "I may do just that. I guess I'll see you again when it is my time. May the Force be with you."

"You too. Now get back down there. Mara's not the most patient girl." Luke was about to respond, but a wink from his father was the last thing he saw before his senses returned. Luke gasped as his essence rushed back into his body. His eyes snapped open as panicked breaths entered his lungs. Those sensations quickly became a distant memory, however, when Mara's head popped up with an obviously stunned expression on her face.

Mara sat next to him, frozen in shock, as Luke's breathing returned to normal. The pain of his injuries came to him as well, but Luke didn't care. He would live and that was all that mattered. Luke laid his head back, but kept his eyes locked with Mara's. As soon as he trusted his voice, Luke could only say one thing. "I love you too."

In response, Mara embraced Luke as tightly as she dared considering his injuries. She had to know that he was real. Mara didn't want to wake up and discover this was some kind of dream. Luke's trembling hand running through her hair was enough to assure her this was real. "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Mara showed her gratefulness for his return by leaning up and capturing Luke's lips in a kiss. The two reunited lovers were so oblivious to their surroundings that they completely missed the shudder that accompanied the Millennium Falcon's jump to hyperspace. They did, however, hear the cough at the door followed by Han's sarcastic remark. "It looks like someone is doing better."

Luke smiled at his friend as Leia squeezed through the door to embrace him herself. Mara reluctantly let go and allowed Leia to hug her brother, but stayed right at Luke's side anyway. Luke did his best to return Leia's hug, but the events of the day were starting to catch up to him and Luke could barely lift his arms. "I'll be fine."

Leia finally let go of her brother and pinned him down with a stare. "We'll let the healers be the judge of that. There's a bacta tank at the fleet already waiting for you." Luke groaned and looked to Han and then Mara for support, but found them in agreement with Leia. It looked like look he had a dunking in his near future. But at least he was alive to be healed so Luke couldn't complain too much. "What happened back there?"

Luke glanced down the bed where he saw Mara almost imperceptibly stiffen. After shaking his head just enough for Mara to notice and allay her fears, Luke turned to look at his sister. "A lucky shot must have got through. It's all kind of a blur. I guess Imperial marksmanship isn't always as bad as we're used to."

Leia gave her brother a doubtful look for a moment. For some reason, she felt like Luke was telling her the truth, but he was leaving something out. This wasn't the time to worry about such things, however. Luke was alive and looked like he would pull off another miracle recovery and that was enough for her. Leia gave her brother a kiss on the forehead. "Get some rest. We'll be back with the fleet in a few hours."

After Leia walked out of the room, Han gave Luke a quick salute and winked. "Take it easy, Kid. Something tells me you're in good hands." Luke tried to keep down a blush at Han's remark, but was unable. The former smuggler chuckled slightly and left the doorway to catch up with Leia.

"Why didn't you tell her?"

Luke turned away from the door to see surprise crossing Mara's face. He hadn't technically lied to his sister. Everything he said was true. From a certain point of view. "They don't need to know. Everything happens for a reason."

Mara's eyes widened in disbelief. Luke knew perfectly well what she had done, but he was simply accepting the fact that she had shot him. This was too much. Her shot must have fried what little common sense Luke had. "A reason! What kind of reason can there be for that!"

Luke's mouth curled into a small smile as exhaustion started top overtake him. Just before he dozed off, Luke simply said "You'll figure it out. I have faith in you."

Mara wanted to argue, but there was no point as Luke entered a deep, healing sleep. She simply sat at Luke's side watching his chest steadily rise and fall with his breathing. Mara moved her hand to Luke's face and started to trace one of his scars with her finger when she stopped suddenly. It was gone. The Emperor's last command had left her. Seeing Luke essentially die in her arms only to return had been enough to wipe out the words that had haunted her. Mara leaned up and kissed Luke on the cheek. "Thank you."