And Never Return Chapter 6, a star wars fanfic

AND NEVER RETURN

CHAPTER SIX

Luke had enjoyed the silence and barely managed to stifle a groan when Cat came back.

"I fixed some food for you."

"Oh?" He made it a question.

"Yeah. Joran kept plenty of ration bars onboard so I cooked some together and added some stuff. I'm pretty sure it's edible." Luke knew that although Cat was a computer mind, she had control of all the droids on the ship. She'd offered to cook before, but he'd managed to avoid that. Something told him she wouldn't be a very good chef.

He counted off five more push-ups then pushed off the floor and went to his knees. "You think it's edible?"

"I'm fifty-four percent certain that you won't get food poisoning. The odds are in your favor."

"Fifty-four percent?"

"Is there an echo in here?"

"No offense, Cat, but I think I'll skip."

"If I can't practice on anyone, then my culinary skills won't grow."

"Sorry. You can test yourself with Joran. Rodians have stronger stomachs." He paused. "Wait a second. How did you cook? The ration bars are in here and I know for a fact that you didn't get them out without me noticing."

He could hear laughter, quiet at first, then growing. "Your reaction wasn't what I had hoped for, but it will suffice." A pause. "For now."

"Since you obviously weren't cooking, what have you been doing? You were actually quiet for a while."

"I didn't know all that much about the almighty Jedi Master, so I looked up your record. No significant other, no offspring. Twin sister, Leia Organa Solo. Two nephews and a niece, all Force-sensitive and heading for your Academy. You stay at your Academy most of the time…except for last month. Some obscure report suggests that you were not there."

"Is that so?"

"So where were you? Off fighting evil?"

"I'm not a superhero," Luke laughed. "And there hasn't been a lot of evil to fight lately. No, Leia wanted me to check on something, so I did," he concluded vaguely.

"Where did you go?"

"Look, I really can't talk about it…"

"Have anything to do with the outbreak of Tibersian Fever on Renega?" she asked innocently.

"No," he answered, cursing her silently.

"I almost believe you."

"It's the truth."

"Too many coincidences, Jedi-boy. You disappear when this bio-engineered virus pops up, you reappear and suddenly the New Republic has a large enough sample to begin formulating the necessary serum. Plus the fact that you're still sick with it."

"I am not. I'm almost completely healed…" His blue eyes narrowed. "Oh, aren't you a clever computer."

"Now that you've confirmed it, maybe you could explain why you haven't used your precious Force to heal yourself yet?"

"It's a virus. I can heal wounds like blaster burns, cuts and stuff like that. Broken bones are more difficult. I'm just not experienced enough with diseases and viruses to completely get rid of them. Some Jedi who are healers can, but I lack in that area."

"So, really, you should be resting and not exercising, right?"

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're really concerned with my well-being or do you just want me to put my lightsaber away for the remainder of the trip?"

"You are so cynical. How does a boy who grew up on a moisture farm get so cynical?"

"With practice. And experience." He sat back on his heels. His body was not aching as much as it had before and he hoped that meant the virus had run its course. Something strange tickled at the edge of his Force presence and he reached out to figure out what it was.

"Mara."

"Excuse me?" Cat said. "What's wrong, your face went blank, like you were off in your own little galaxy…hey, Jedi-boy, what's wrong?"

"Stop the ship."

"We still have thirteen hours and twenty-five minutes left—"

"Now, Cat!"

"Yes, sir." The ship slowed noticeably and Luke fought to keep from sliding forward. Cat had apparently also played with the gravity console. He headed for the cockpit.

Cat activated the holo starmaps and pointed out their current location with a brilliant blue. "I assume you had me pull us from hyperspace for a reason."

Luke closed his eyes. Wild Space. He gestured towards a cluster of three systems. "There."

"There what?"

"Go there."

"Fine. Calculation finished in eight point three minutes." She didn't sound happy. "There aren't many maps of Wild Space, so it will take a while to go along the known routes to your destination."

"Just do it."

Eqiirsa was almost halfway covered with water. The green and orange terrain was separated into five large continents, surrounded with a myriad of small islands. The shuttle was guided over the northern port of the blue-green ocean and Mara tried her best to look away from the viewport. The shuttle was decorated in black and at least three shades of green and viewports covered the walls of the passenger cabin, giving the feeling of being in an open-air vehicle and diminished the natural feeling of claustrophobia. Instead the travelers leaned away from the windows so they wouldn't feel like they'd fall out. It had been a disconcerting nine hour trip. Mara would rather the pilot use lightspeed engines—this distance would normally have taken but a few minutes in hyperspace.

Daryn leaned towards her. "Quite a view, isn't it? Reminds me of Naboo. You know, well, before."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Mara had a thousand questions to ask, but Daryn had been adamant that Konner be the one to answer them for her. All that Daryn would tell her was that Konner led a group of non-natives who were determined to escape the Kath'alon system.

The intercom clicked on and in a strange language, the captain of the shuttle spoke.

"We're approaching the docking bay and the pilot asks that all passengers fasten their safety harnesses," Daryn translated. He'd always had a knack for languages.

Mara waited, trying to be patient as the pilot coaxed the bulky shuttle into a docking bay. She grabbed her small suitcase before Daryn could and motioned him to lead. For once, she realized she had no anxiety eating at her because no one would recognize her. There were enough humans that one new one wouldn't be noticed immediately and the Shrigans had captured all these humans before she had really made a name for herself. The people didn't know who she was. No rumors, no stories, no dark glances from strangers who refused to believe she was no longer Imperial. It was…liberating.

Daryn spoke softly into his comlink and one of the speeders stopped in front of them. Daryn opened the door and motioned Mara in. He climbed in behind her. The door automatically closed.

"Riama, Kin'atka, nim!"

The driver actived the privacy screen and pulled away from the walkway and they were on their way.