Author's notes: As promised, here is the epilogue. And the long-awaited romance is here! I want to thank each and every reviewer for the time they took to read my story and review it. Thanks a lot – it kept me going. Be sure to check back ever so often for other SW stories I might yet write – perhaps even some with Mara. Until then, kudos and May the Force Be With You.
Angus Hardie – It wasn't over yet – here's the final part. Thanks a lot, I appreciate the praise.
lightman – here is the epilogue.
Amylion – heh, thank you for the praise. Here is some more for your enjoyment.
Pandora-Moo – You know I believe you. Here you go.
TriGemini – well, I suppose it is. Here you go.
Annmarie Aspasia – Thanks a lot. Here's the final chapter.
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Epilogue
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After all that had happened to me in the past few weeks, standing next to Skywalker and watching him light a torch to burn the remains of Darth Vader – which was really just the armor, since we quickly discovered that whatever body lay within it became one with the Force, just like Yoda did – wasn't as much of a shock as I would imagine it to be.
After escaping the Death Star, we landed on Endor, where I left the ship, so that Skywalker could be alone for a while. A few months ago, if someone would tell me that I would be mourning Vader's death, I would laugh in their face, deem them insane and kill them for that foolishness. Now…
Well, I wasn't grieving for Vader's death. The fact that he ceased to exist the moment the broken spirit of Anakin Skywalker awakened within his shell wasn't something to be regretted. It was a death, you could say – almost in a schizophrenic kind of way. Part of him died that moment. It was a shame that the good part had to die along with it. But the Force has a strange sense of humor and I think that by "killing" the Dark Lord of the Sith, Anakin had fulfilled his task and returned the Force to balance, as he was supposed to do.
The bad thing was that the galaxy was starting from 0 now – the current regime collapsed, so I thought the Rebels had to have plans for a new Republic prepared, if they still had hopes of success before this. And Jedi Knights would be a welcome asset to that Republic. But then there was also a slightly more egotistical problem – what was I supposed to do now?
I heard the Emperor's screams in my mind. I saw what he saw before he was destroyed. My mind was screaming as well, because the bond between us was being torn. And there was now a hollow place within me, an emptiness that would probably never be completely filled. Along with Palpatine, part of me died as well. I was the Emperor's Hand no more.
Skywalker finally lit the fire. We had piled wood and put the armor on top of it. It caught fire easily, the funeral flames radiant in the darkness of the night. The pitch-black armor was surrounded by light now and neither of us said anything. It was a respectful silence that lasted for quite long, before my thoughts returned to my own survival. I didn't want to be on Endor anymore – and as an Imperial agent, I could either return to the remnants of the Empire (but they would never accept me, seeing as they never knew I existed) or simply go into an exile of some sort, where my actions would no longer affect the galaxy. I would be on my own.
Strange, really. I thought I was on my own my whole life… but only now did I realize what that really meant. I didn't have someone to guide me anymore. Still, I had memories of a life that wasn't mine, the life of a great Jedi Master. I could gain wisdom from that.
"Mara…" I finally managed to pry my eyes from the funeral fire when Skywalker spoke. He was looking at the ground now and maintained a calmness despite the obvious sorrow that took over. "I… wanted to thank you. You saved my life there…" He looked up, frowning. "Why?"
I shrugged, "Many reasons. I would always be compared to you or Vader if I killed you. I would become what Vader was – a slave to the Emperor's power. Powerful, yet weak. And…" How was I supposed to say this? I sighed, but managed a smile. Not a full smile, mind you, more like a grin, but not my practiced sneer either. "There are times, Skywalker, when, for some unknown reasons, I actually enjoy your presence. Not many." I quickly added, grinning. "But… there are times."
His smile was genuine and for odd reasons, I returned it. But soon, he frowned. "What will you do now?"
"Well, I was thinking of hijacking one of the Rebel ships and getting off this damned rock, but since you're asking, I honestly don't know. I mean, I could find a normal job, start leading a normal life… but that sounds plain weird."
"You know that people like you and I aren't completely normal."
"What, a farmboy and an Imperial assassin turned Rebel and Jedi seem abnormal to you?"
He laughed, "If this is your bad mood, I'd be delighted to see you in a good one."
"Maybe someday, Skywalker. What about you? Ready to be paraded as the official cover boy of the Alliance?"
"I thought that already happened." But he seemed to think about it. "I… I haven't really thought of anything beyond where we are now. I mean… Ben and Yoda would have been happy to see how this turned out. But I always assumed I would be dead by now and Leia would take care of the rest – she's much like Father, she's got far more spine than me…"
He stopped when he saw me gawping at him. I raised a hand, my mouth opening and closing a few times, without a sound coming out. "You are really the most pessimistic Rebel I have ever met! Do you think those two wasted what remained of their lives for you just so you could die whenever you like, Skywalker? I think not! Do the math, farmboy! They wanted you to rebuild the Order, not sacrifice yourself like a soap opera hero! And I promised I would help. So you better think twice about avoiding your duties – you're rebuilding the Jedi even if I would have to keep beating you up until you will!"
"And why would you care about the Jedi so much?" he asked, almost surprised. One would think that he would do the math by now, but noooooooooooo….
"Look, the galaxy is gonna be in anarchy in the next few days. If the infrastructure is to be held, a new political regime must take over. That also requires figures of authority to help restore order. And who better to restore order than someone who claims to protect it for, oh, say, the past twenty thousand years?"
"So you will help me?" when he smiled, I finally understood. Damned farmboy, he learned to be enigmatic and evasive! Damn him!
"I hate you, Skywalker." I noted, but grinned.
"I know. But call me Luke."
"Why? Skywalker is also your name and we wouldn't want to get too personal, would we?"
He shifted a bit nervously. "Well…maybe I would." While I have no idea how he got so quick and why I wasn't able to anticipate the move, the fact remains that he managed to kiss me. Now that was completely random and schoolboy-like, in my opinion… the bad thing was that I wasn't actually complaining. It certainly wasn't a long or passionate kiss, more like brief, really, but it was more than enough to speak for his emotions.
I'm quite certain it took me a minute before I regained the power over my vocal chords. "Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again. Without. Asking. First." I think he thought I was going to stop after the "Again", but, since I had a weird sense of humor and… aw, dammit, okay, I admit, he wasn't so bad, even though the farmboy thing was kinda funny at times… I didn't stop.
I received a smile in return and an arm found its way to my shoulders. I suppose if I wasn't confused and watching the fire again, I would have rolled my eyes, at the very least. Still, I wasn't complaining… until it was decided that we should return to the Ewok village. Oh, how I hated the furballs!
You could hear the drums and the "music" all over the forest – finding the village was utterly easy, even in the dark! But my thoughts wandered away from military strategy and stealth when we reached the "square" where the others were almost cooked and eaten last time, only to find the Ewoks and the Rebels celebrating together.
There were furballs everywhere, dancing, playing instruments, some even used stormtrooper helmets as drums. That amused me, really. I saw several Mon Calamari dancing, C-3PO and R2-D2 among the crowds, pilots of the various squadrons… and then Organa, Solo and Chewbacca rushing to greet us once our presence was noticed.
Organa (or Leia, I supposed I should be saying now) practically flung herself at Luke and I gave Solo a death-glare, telling him exactly what would happen, should he attempt to do the same with me. He grinned and embraced me nonetheless, but not as over-eagerly as one would expect, so the compromise was acceptable. Even Leia, who always seemed suspicious of me, hugged me after she managed to pry herself from her brother, beaming at me with clear joy. Both Luke and I got a hug from Chewbacca as well, though that didn't last long… fortunately. Wookiee hugs aren't exactly comfortable, even ignoring the smell.
The celebration continued and I was surrounded by smiles, dancing and laughter. It felt… right, in a way, even though I felt slightly like an outcast. I stood a bit further away from the others, smiling. This was a new beginning for all of us.
Eventually, after greeting probably everyone, I felt Luke's hand on my shoulder – he smiled at me, even though I rolled my eyes… if only mockingly. I was still the same old Mara Jade inside. Then, sensing something, we both turned our attention to the left. And I will remember what I saw there forever.
There stood Obi-Wan Kenobi, just as I remembered him from last time. On the railings next to him sat a tiny figure – Yoda – smiling happily. And then, after a few seconds, another man with a smiling face, eyes that burned with an eager fire and a presence that wasn't to be ignored appeared next to them. As student and teacher gazed upon each other and smiled, Anakin Skywalker made peace with Obi-Wan Kenobi one last time, becoming one with the Light Side of the Force.
Leia came for us both then, also sensing something, even though she couldn't fully see them. And the three of us laughed together, for no particular reason, as she led me and Luke back to the festivities. We were not the last of the old Jedi… we were the first of the new. And I could feel the loving, peaceful blue eyes of the Chosen One watching us celebrate his triumph.
