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A Journey of Discovery ― Book Three: Prism
Chapter Five
Mara wearily rubbed her eyes as the controls of her flight simulator flickered dark. While the cockpit of the Lorrdian G-15 starfighter was fairly roomy for her small frame, three hours of sitting in one position, tensely concentrating on one virtual dogfight after another, was enough to make anyone's body ache.
The morning's exercise had begun with practice runs as Luke and Mara became acquainted with Lorrd's premier fighter craft. The joyous rush of adrenaline that Mara had felt from Luke was intoxicating, mirroring her own delight at the freedom of pure flight.
Then the real simulations had begun, putting her and Luke through every conceivable battle scenario possible, and many Mara would have thought impossible. Even Luke's normally bubbly enthusiasm had been squelched by the hours of simulated warfare. General Chukla-Bref had programmed the drills so that Luke was constantly in command of the rotating squadrons of replicated wingmates. In the one instance where his ship was disabled, control automatically switched to Mara's craft.
As Mara popped the canopy of her module and levered herself out of the confining space, she looked over to see Luke already sitting on the rim of his cockpit.
"I feel like I've been trampled by a bantha," he muttered, stretching his tired muscles. He swung his head around as the general approached, then slipped down to the duracrete floor.
"Impressive flying, Commander," the general stated in his usual gruff voice. Mara had already noted that the dour-faced officer was the only Lorrdian they'd met that consistently called Luke by his military title instead of his Jedi moniker.
(I think his opinion of you went up a few notches, flyboy,) Mara commented silently.
"Thank you, General," Luke replied evenly, sending a mute wink back to Mara. "Your fighters must be highly maneuverable, if the actual craft are anything like the simulators."
"They are," the general assured him. He glanced indifferently toward Mara. "I shall arrange a test flight for you both tomorrow."
"That's not really necessary, General," Luke said. "I expect to be involved in negotiations with the Regent tomorrow."
"I see." The general's unemotional expression, so unlike most Lorrdians, gave no clue to his inner thoughts. He looked up as the door to the training room opened. To Mara's dismay, Second Aide Vazan-Jayce walked briskly across the duracrete floor, a wide smile plastered on his face.
"Padawan Jade," Jayce greeted Mara, bowing and reaching out to take her hand. Mara responded by quickly crossing her arms. Undaunted, Jayce nodded a perfunctory acknowledgment to Luke and the general before turning back to his target. "You were brilliant, my lady. You nearly equal your master in flying skill."
Mara narrowed her eyes as she caught Luke hiding a grin behind an upraised hand.
"Let me escort you to the locker areas, my lady," Jayce continued, holding out an elbow. "I'm sure you'll want to refresh yourself after such a grueling drill."
"I think we can find it ourselves," Mara replied, hoping Luke would take the hint and join her. He didn't, and Mara suspected it was deliberate.
"You go ahead, Mara," he said, giving her a nod of dismissal. Apparently satisfied that Jayce's overtures were annoying Mara as much as him, Luke had toned down his displays of jealousy, so much so that his indifference was beginning to equally grate on her nerves. Well, two could play this game.
"Yes, Master," Mara responded, reaching out and taking Jayce's elbow. She could feel Luke's eyes riveted on her as she accompanied the suave aide toward the pilots' locker rooms. Smiling to herself, Mara put an alluring sway in her hips as she walked.
―――
As Mara exited the women's locker area a short time later, she passed more than a dozen female pilots just entering.
"Busy place," she commented to Jayce, who was waiting patiently by the door.
"Yes, indeed," Jayce replied, a hint of boasting coloring his voice. "Enlistment has risen tenfold in the last month." He stood tall, affecting a proud stance. "We will not be enslaved again."
Mara frowned as she pondered Jayce's declaration. "Excuse me?"
But the normally ebullient man did not elaborate. In fact, Mara got the distinct impression that Jayce regretted saying as much as he had.
(Nice outfit.)
Mara looked over her shoulder as the words entered her mind. Luke stood silently outside the men's locker, hands clasped behind his back. He also wore a fresh, nondescript jumpsuit, courtesy of the Lorrdian purveyor of supplies.
"Jedi Skywalker." Jayce bowed his head slightly, an accommodating smile once more gracing his dark features. "Please follow me to the officer's dining room."
―――
The officer's mess was more crowded with military personnel than Mara could ever recall seeing the New Republic's equivalent. After collecting their trays of lunch, Jayce guided them toward a medium-sized table in a corner where three officers were just sitting down with their meal. Besides General Chukla-Bref, Mara recognized Admiral Gorra-Vodma and Colonel Pimar-Archa.
Hurrying to pull Mara's seat out for her, Jayce unintentionally cut Luke off before he could reach her. Mara winced inside. She was tempted to react sharply, but the brief flash of annoyance in Luke's eyes aroused her sense of mischief.
"Why, thank you, Jayce," Mara said, smiling graciously at him as she sat down.
"You're quite welcome, my lady," Jayce replied smoothly.
Though Mara was careful not to look at his face, she could feel Luke cringing inwardly. She knew she should be feeling ashamed for toying with his emotions, but she was finding it hard to stop. Perhaps because it was such a new sensation to her that someone actually had a strong emotional attachment to her.
"Ah, Jedi Skywalker, Jedi Jade," Admiral Gorra-Vodma greeted them. "General Chukla has been relating to us the results of your run in the simulators. We are most pleased with your prowess."
"Thank you," Luke said simply.
"I was particularly interested in the strategy you used in the last drill," Colonel Pimar-Archa said. "The way you worked together to outmaneuver your pursuers was brilliant." He gave Mara a questioning glance, then looked back at Luke. "Do you always fly as wingmates in battle?"
"No." Luke hesitated, as if warring with himself about how much to reveal. His next words told Mara that he'd decided there was no harm in a partial admission. "My padawan and I have never flown together in combat. We were not acquainted until the war was nearly over."
"Really?" the admiral said in amazement. "There was no comm communication between your modules, yet your coordination was flawless."
"We are able to communicate through the Force," Luke replied slowly, uncertainty clouding his voice.
"I'm glad to see that the title of Jedi is good for more than just show," the general said with a humorless smile.
"I beg your pardon?" Mara said indignantly, half-rising out of her seat. Only Luke's outstretched arm prevented her from lunging across the table.
"It's all right, Mara," Luke said, his calm blue eyes not leaving the general. "I'm sure no disrespect was intended."
"Yes, Master," Mara returned through gritted teeth. As she sat back down, Mara realized that she didn't need to defend Luke's integrity. He did that himself simply by his tranquil demeanor. It was her own temper that contradicted how a Jedi should act.
"None at all, I assure you," the admiral said. He had been gesturing to the general in what Mara assumed to be a disapproving reprimand. "What my colleague meant is that it is most fortunate that you have this capability. We were not aware that the telepathic abilities of Jedi were that precise."
The colonel leaned forward, clearly intrigued by this new revelation. "Are you able to send thoughts to non-Jedi?" he asked. "Could you issue commands to your fellow pilots?"
Luke looked back and forth between the officers, than shot a worried glance to Mara. "No," he finally answered. "That is, I couldn't send them detailed orders. Certainly not battle commands."
"Could you transmit images or sensations?" the colonel continued. "Enough to impress upon them what you wanted them to do?"
"Well ... I ..." Luke stammered.
"But you could simply make them do what you needed them to do, is this not so?" the general asked. "It is rumored that Palpatine controlled his forces in such a manner at Endor."
Luke's eyes widened, and Mara had no trouble sensing the uneasiness flowing through him. Or perhaps it was a ricocheting of her own apprehension.
"I would never do such a thing," he declared, his steady gaze going from one officer to another.
"But it is possible?" The general drilled Luke with an uncompromising glare, and this time the admiral did not interrupt.
"Not for me," Luke returned adamantly. Mara noticed he was unconsciously bending the eating utensil clenched in his right hand.
The three officers broke into a flurry of silent gestures among themselves.
(I don't like this,) Mara sent silently. (Why are they so interested in what a Jedi could do in battle? It's not like you go around controlling the minds of the Rogues." She paused, thinking about how Rogue Squadron was the premier fighter group, and had been ever since Luke formed it. Mara gave Luke a narrowed frown.
(No!) he sent back sharply, then immediately softened his tone. (I might have conveyed a sensation that they should bank right or left, if I spotted a TIE coming up behind them. But I never took control of anyone's mind.)
Mara was about to return a wordless apology when Jayce laid a hand on her shoulder. In her bewilderment of what the military men were up to, she had nearly forgotten about the aide sitting on the other side of her.
"I apologize for any dishonor to the noble Jedi you may have deduced," Jayce whispered in a low voice. He moved his hand to comfortingly squeeze her hand. "They are merely curious as to how your Force could be used in battle. Hypothetically speaking, of course." Jayce flashed an ingratiating smile, and Mara fought the urge to jerk out of the man's grasp.
"Of course," she said instead. Mara wondered if Jayce knew what the officers were up to. Was he simply being polite, or was he trying to cover up something? She thought back to his comments outside the locker room. Comments that she now was certain he rued making. They were all hiding something.
"Forgive us," the admiral said aloud, breaking into the tension in the air. "You are our guests. We should not be bombarding you with meaningless questions."
Luke nodded an acknowledgment, but did not speak.
"Come," the admiral continued, waving a hand at their trays. "Let us finish our meal before it gets any colder. Then I understand you and your padawan wish to avail yourselves of an exercise chamber."
"Yes, Regent Ke'lor offered us the opportunity to get in some lightsaber practice," Luke answered. "So if it is not an inconvenience, we would like to do so."
The officers looked between themselves, again making small gestures.
"Would it be possible ...er, permissible ..." the colonel began. "That is, would you mind an audience?"
Luke raised an eyebrow questioningly. "An audience?"
"We have never been privileged to see a Jedi use a lightsaber," the admiral said. "We would not interfere, I assure you. We would consider it a great honor."
"Just the three of you?" Luke asked warily. Mara knew the last thing he wanted was to put on an exhibition for half of Lorrd.
Jayce fidgeted in his chair, deliberately calling attention to himself.
"Four," Luke amended.
"Yes, four," the admiral agreed, then looked to the side as the colonel flicked a hand quickly. "Unless, of course, His Excellency also wishes to witness your session."
Luke sighed in resignation. "Yes, that will be fine, as long as you stay far enough back."
―――
Mara and Luke stretched their arms and legs, warming up in preparation for the long-overdue workout. As it turned out, the self-invited audience wasn't even in the same room. Regent Ke'lor had joined Jayce and the trio of military men behind a transparisteel barrier overlooking the spacious training room.
(What in the galaxy is going on, Luke?) Mara asked. She and Luke had agreed to stick to silent communication for the time being. While they had thoroughly checked their quarters for listening devices, they hadn't had the luxury of being able to inspect this exercise area.
(I'm not sure,) Luke returned, unclipping his hilt from a loop on the utility jumpsuit. (But I am having a really bad feeling about this.)
(You don't say,) Mara returned with a smirk. (As I recall, you had a bad feeling about this whole mission before we left Zembuhl.)
(I know. This morning I thought that ...) he paused, swinging his lightsaber up to meet Mara's initial strike, (... that Han and Leia's accusations were the cause of my foreboding.) Luke sprang up as Mara's saber crossed the space where his knees had been a moment earlier. (But now, I realize I must've felt whatever the Lorrdians are plotting.)
Mara's azure blade hummed with energy as she flicked her wrist back and forth. She had admitted to herself months ago that Luke was the better swordsman, but this fact only served to make her more determined to best him. A determination that hadn't lessened in light of her marriage to him. (We could beat it out of them,) she quipped. Dancing just out of Luke's longer reach, Mara spun and slashed with uncompromising force.
(Mara!) Luke caught her crackling beam with his own, then countered with an overhand blow. (I think I'll meditate on it first,) he said, instinctively dodging Mara's retaliatory sweep, (and see if anything comes to me.)
Meditate on it? Surely he's jok— Mara dived and rolled just in time as Luke's blade whirled toward her.
(No, I'm not joking.) Luke deftly sidestepped Mara's next attack. "Stretch out with your senses!" he shouted aloud. "Let the Force guide you!" With a running leap, he kicked off from the wall and somersaulted to land behind her. (That's what Jedi do. We meditate.)
Mara growled in only partially feigned irritation as she turned to face him. She knew that. He didn't have to keep reminding her. Her lightsaber vibrated in her hand like a living entity, the glowing rod whining in protest as she relentlessly thrust and parried against Luke's emerald blade. The air grew thick with an ozone scent as the two lightsabers intersected again and again, sparks flying chaotically.
―――
The five spectators stood spellbound behind the clear barrier, mouths gaping in unabashed fascination.
"This is unbelievable," Admiral Gorra-Vodma said. "I never dreamed of viewing such an incredible display of skill."
"Indeed," Regent Ke'lor replied. "I was a young boy when a Jedi last visited Lorrd, but I was never fortunate enough to witness a lightsaber duel." He leaned forward, one hand resting on the transparent wall as Luke feinted a drive to his right, then spun into an attack from the left. "Amazing."
"Yes, amazing," Jayce echoed. His attention, however, was riveted only on Mara. "How can she be only a padawan?" he asked of no one in particular. "She meets his every blow."
"They are both skilled," Colonel Pimar-Archa commented. He drew in a breath as Mara doggedly blocked thrust after thrust. Luke stayed on the offensive, not easing up in the least. The colonel could hear the Jedi continuously issuing instructions to his student – 'Focus!' 'Don't think, react!' 'Your blade is an extension of yourself!'
"I fail to see how their ability to fight each other will help our cause," General Chukla-Bref said, scowling. "There are no Argazdans with lightsabers."
"True," the Regent agreed, turning to the pessimistic officer. "However, I believe Jedi are able to block blaster fire with the same skill and precision that we are witnessing at this very moment."
"Then that is the talent we need a demonstration of, Excellency," the general said.
"I hardly think we can pull out blasters and start shooting at them, Bref. But perhaps ..." The Regent looked thoughtfully at his companions. "Do we have any type of remote firing device?"
Colonel Pimar-Archa dragged his attention away from the duel long enough to ponder his ruler's question. "We have the automatic fusillade apparatus that we used to test our latest design of personal shields. It fires concentrated stun bolts."
"Yes, that should do." The Regent glanced back toward the exercise chamber just in time to see Luke twist his wrist in an abrupt movement that sent Mara's lightsaber sailing out of her grasp. "Jedi Skywalker," he spoke into an intercom. "May I offer my congratulations, and offer you yet another training opportunity?"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Mara was hot, tired, and ready to strangle Second Aide Serl-and-Jeem Vazan-Jayce. She had elected to wait and shower in her quarters after the grueling lightsaber drills, so she took out her frustration on the bundle of her clothes that she clutched in her arms, squeezing the garments into wrinkled wads of cloth. Jayce didn't seem to notice as he escorted her and Luke back to the ambassadorial wing. Keeping one manicured hand on the small of Mara's back, he leaned close to her ear as he gushed one compliment after another.
"The fluidity of your movements was truly spectacular, Mistress Mara," Jayce remarked. "Both in your duel with your master, and in deflecting the stun bolts. I have not seen such grace and agility in our finest dancers. Have you danced professionally?"
"No," Mara muttered. She had not given Jayce permission to call her by her first name, and she cringed every time he took the liberty to do so.
"You should let your hair flow free, Mistress Mara," he continued, undaunted. Mara bristled as Jayce lifted her braid, wisps of hair that had worked loose curling about her neck. "You would put our dancers to shame with your natural poise and beautiful tresses."
Behind her, Luke's newfound patience of Jayce's attention seemed to be dissolving into obscurity.
Jayce took hold of the ornate door handle, but when he reached out to clasp Mara's elbow, he suddenly jumped back as if shocked. "Must have been static electricity," he said, shaking his hand to ease the tingling. Jayce once again touched Mara, and once again yelped, startled by a mysterious jolt.
Mara narrowed her eyes and turned around to look at Luke. He gave her a smug grin, and Mara shook her head in resignation. Men!
―――
"Luke, that was downright mean," Mara chastised after Jayce had reluctantly left them to find their own way down the long deserted corridor to their suites.
"It's called conditioning," Luke countered, not sounding the least bit repentant. "Your movements were truly spectacular, Mistress Mara," he mimicked in a nasal voice. "You should let your hair flow free, Mistress Mara." Luke snorted in disgust. "If he gets a jolt every time he lays a hand on you, eventually he'll get the message and quit touching you."
"Oh, I don't know ..." Mara let a little smile escape. "I still feel a spark whenever I touch you, and it only makes me want to touch you that much more."
"Reverse conditioning," Luke murmured as Mara clutched the front of his jumpsuit and pulled him closer. Their lips found each other's for several minutes before Luke turned his head to glance at his door. "No one's home," he said huskily, edging Mara that direction.
"Luke, we have to be ready for dinner in less than an hour, and we both still need to take a shower."
"We could take a shower together," he suggested, still pulling her toward his suite.
"We'd never be able to leave enough time to get dressed," Mara pointed out, halting his movements.
Luke didn't bother to hide his resigned sigh. "You don't have to always be so practical, you know."
"Isn't that a Jedi's way, Master?" Mara purred, leaning back and letting her fingertips slide down his chest.
"And you don't have to go overboard on calling me Master," he added, opening his door and entering the opulent room.
Mara gave Luke an alluring smile as she leaned just inside the doorframe. "I figure every time the word 'Master' rolls off my tongue, you owe me another favor."
"What kind of favor?" Luke asked, a smile worming its way onto his face also.
"The kind I plan on collecting in bed."
"Am I ever going to get a full night's sleep?"
"Are you saying you'd rather sleep than ..."
"No, no. I'm not saying that." Luke stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Mara's waist. "I'll show you tonight just how masterful I can be."
Mara laughed lightly. "Sweetheart, I think we're both padawans in that department."
"We just need more practice."
"And practice makes perf—"
Luke cut her off with a kiss—warm, passionate, tender—until Mara reluctantly pulled back.
"Luke, we really have to get ready for dinner." She raised one hand to gently stroke his face. "But we'll have lots of opportunities for practice."
"Lots of opportunities for practicing the patience of a Jedi, you mean," Luke replied with a wan smile. He held out one hand as Mara drew out of his grasp, her fingers trailing down his arm.
"That, too." Without turning around, Mara backed across the hallway to her own door. Raising a hand to her lips, she then did something that she'd never done before in her life.
She blew a kiss to her husband.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"I hate it when you guys do that."
Leia turned back to look at Han as he spoke quietly beside her, and saw that he, too, was closely watching Luke and Mara. The pair had returned from dinner just moments ago, and Leia had no trouble sensing their disappointment that she and Han were already waiting in Luke's suite. Now Luke sat in a reclining chair near one end of the couch, while Mara was directly opposite him in a matching chair. But they may as well have been halfway across the galaxy for all the attention they were paying to either Leia or Han.
"You can tell what they're doing?" Leia asked.
"Sure." Han gave her a lop-sided grin. "You think Lorrdians are the only ones who can read body language? Watch the way their eyes meet, and those subtle little smiles that Luke keeps giving her. Don't they know it's rude to talk in front of people?"
Leia once more cast a surreptitious glance at her brother and the mysterious woman. They were definitely wrapped up in a world of their own. "Luke and I can really only exchange brief words and feelings," Leia whispered to Han, a twinge of envy creeping into her being. "I'd swear they're having an entire conversation." She sighed quietly, shoving aside her personal feelings in favor of the matter at hand. "I know Chewbacca wanted to stay on the ship, but shouldn't Lando be here soon?"
"Anytime now," Han replied. "And hopefully he'll have the lowdown on why these Lorrdians are being so hardheaded about negotiatin' with the kid."
Both of the private conversations in the room stilled at the sound of the front door sliding open. Lando strolled in, sweeping off his silk-lined cape with a flourish.
"Ah, here he is," Han said, settling back into his seat on the couch and flashing Leia a roguish smile. "Well, Your Worship, looks like we're ready to discuss this in committee."
"Greetings, one and all," Lando said, smiling widely. "Sorry if I'm late, but there are some fine women here on Lorrd, and I felt it my duty to leave no stone unturned in following up on rumors."
"Cut the chitchat, Lando," Han returned. "Did you dig up any dirt or didn't you?"
"Oh, yes." Lando sank onto the end of the couch next to Leia, smoothing his mustache. "Juicy headlines, folks." He paused for dramatic effect. "This planet is at war."
"What!" Leia cried. How could they have overlooked a war?
"At war?" Luke said. He looked as mystified as everyone else.
Han waved his hands. "Wait a minute. We flew right in this morning, no trouble. I think we would've noticed a war going on."
"We stole in under cover of darkness, in the shadow of a freighter," Leia pointed out. "But you're right, we couldn't have missed a planetary firefight."
"That's because apparently the fighting right now is confined to the—"
"Eastern hemisphere," Luke finished. He glanced around and shrugged as the others now focused their attention on him. "I overheard some pilots in the locker room talking about being deployed to squadrons in the eastern hemisphere of Lorrd. I just didn't know why they were being sent there."
"You didn't mention that to me," Mara said in an indignant tone.
"I didn't think at the time that it was important," Luke said.
Leia shook her head at her brother, and turned back to Lando. "So who are the Lorrdians at war with?"
"Just some kind of local system trouble, from what I gathered," Lando replied. "A planet called Argazda."
Luke scrunched up his face in concentration. "Argazda ... Argazda ... Why does that name sound so familiar?" His eyes flashed toward Mara, as if she had the answer.
She did.
"The Argazdans subjugated the Lorrdians into slavery four thousand years ago." Mara frowned at Luke's continued blank look. "Next planet out. Put in their place by the Old Republic."
Leia was impressed in spite of herself. Apparently Mara had done her homework on this mission, more so than Luke. Not what one would expect from someone only concerned with doing away with her companion.
"Oh, right. I remember now." Luke smiled weakly. "It was part of that background information tacked on at the end of the briefing notes. That's how the Lorrdians got started using kinetic communication, isn't it?" His gaze stayed focused on Mara, who nodded back. "Guess that explains today."
Leia leaned forward as she caught Luke's last mumbled statement. "Why? What happened today?"
Luke expelled a breath before answering. "The officers we had lunch with were drilling us on how a Jedi's skills could be used in combat."
"You think they want you to join their war effort?" Leia asked.
"It's looking that way." Luke sent what Leia perceived to be a guilty look toward Mara. "That's why they were so anxious to have us spend time in the simulators."
"And why they were so accommodating to let us have lightsaber practice, especially where they could observe," Mara added.
"Blast it!" Luke clenched his fists where they rested on the arms of his chair. "All that talk about whether a Jedi could control pilots' minds. I knew something was wrong; I just didn't know they had a conflict going on right now."
Mara winced. "I'm the one that should have put two and two together, after Jayce's remark that his people wouldn't let themselves be enslaved again."
"I don't remember him saying that." Luke narrowed his eyes at Mara. "Some private conversation that you and he had?"
Leia could sense an argument starting to build, and quickly broke into the conversation. "Was anything more said at dinner tonight? Any hints that they want you to fight for them?"
"No." Luke answered. He still seemed tense with self-reproach. "It was only the Regent and his family. The entire conversation revolved around their extolling the many wonderful attributes of Lorrd."
"I say come right out and demand they tell you what's going on," Han put in. "Maybe a little wave under their chins of the business end of that saber would loosen up their tongues."
"Han!" Leia frowned at him, then turned back to Luke. "Luke, securing an agreement with Lorrd for the New Republic is your highest priority. You can't jeopardize that by confronting the Regent with your suspicions, no matter how accurate they may turn out to be."
"I think Leia's right, farmboy," Mara said. "You'd only antagonize the Regent by questioning the ulterior motives of him or his staff, and then we'd never have access to those norumite crystals."
Leia once more looked at Mara in surprise. If it hadn't been for the revelation of Mara's background, she might be considering the woman an effective partner. "Luke, you do need to insist on an audience with the Regent to begin the negotiations."
"He already promised to meet with us in the morning," Luke revealed.
"Good. Be firm." Leia eyed him speculatively. "And flexible."
"Huh?"
"A good negotiator has to be willing to compromise, but only to a certain extent," Lando explained. "You can't be a pushover, but at the same time don't come off as intractable."
Luke slumped back, looking dejected. "Can't I just confess to the Regent that you're here, Leia, and let you handle these negotiations?"
Leia shook her head. "I think you ..." She paused, reconsidering her words. "I think the two of you are more than capable of managing on your own."
A stillness descended on the conversation, and Leia was certain that Luke and Mara were communicating silently once more. Finally Han rubbed his hands as if an idea had just occurred to him.
"Well, I doubt the Lorrdians will drag Luke into a starfighter this evening, so how about we play a round of sabacc to pass the time? Lando, you got a deck with you?"
Lando patted a pocket. "Always."
"Good. Deal 'em out."
"I don't play—" Mara began.
"You wanna fit in with this group, sister, you'd better learn." Han shot Luke a sly grin. "Luke needs somebody he can beat."
"I win a round once in a while," Luke protested weakly.
"Come on, Mara," Leia encouraged. "These guys need some female competition."
"Well, if you put it that way," Mara said after a moment. "I do enjoy a good challenge, especially against men."
Leia noted that Mara gave Luke what could only be considered a cryptic, mischievous wink. A wink that Luke seemed to understand completely. To Leia's amazement, she found herself more intrigued by the mystery of her brother and Mara Jade's involvement than by the political goings-on of the Lorrdian government.
She only hoped neither turned out to be as deceitful as she feared.