Chapter 17
by Saber Girl Leia
Mara look-a-like: Yes, there will be problems surrounding that. But not the biggest problem...
SailorLeia: I know! SO COOL! It's especially neat because even though they are getting really similar in some ways, they are totally different in others. HURRAH FOR GREAT MINDS:D
I think we'd be equally loud- but definitely two of the loudest people in the area! (Then again, I'd probably start cheering if Luke said anything to me... lol)
Thanks for the compliments!
Much love!
Ariapaige: I'm going to miss you! Don't worry, I totally understand. But I hope you're able to come review once in awhile, being one of my best reviewers. Of course, with my summer schedule, updates may not come so regularly, either.
Episode III is so cool! I just went again :D. Not in costume this time, though...
Thanks, I'm glad you liked what I did with Karrde. And thanks for pointing that out. I would've been in trouble if you hadn't.
About the people where they're going having heard all that: I'm kind of working that out as I go along (but you didn't hear that from me! lol) I've got the basic idea though, I came up with it during my exam this morning... (Then again, this certainly won't be posted the day I'm writing this (5/26), so...)
MTFBWY :D Have a great summer!
Author's Note: I got to visit my baby cousin last weekend! And she's about ten months old now, which is probably a little younger than or about the same age as Ellie is at this point in the story. My cousin doesn't crawl yet, but she is already pulling herself up with chairs and attempting to walk (attempting to walk meaning bouncing on her feet and wiggling forward and back). (That's a little strange, isn't it? Trying to walk before crawling?) She talks about the same amount as Ellie, too. (Except I doubt that Ellie's third word (after Dada and Mama) will be 'puppy.') So anyway, that was great because not only is my cousin adorable, I got to observe firsthand a ten-month-old girl. It seems like I'm pretty well on track so far, and maybe you'll all get to see Ellie standing on her own soon... ;)
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The applause died down. Leia slipped away from her place at Luke's side and ran to get Ellie. She wheeled the girl back.
Luke breathed a little prayer and began to speak once more. "This is Ellanore," he stated calmly, "my adopted daughter. She is the biological daughter of a war hero who was a good friend of mine. She is about eleven standard months old."
Stunned silence greeted the last remark, as was to be expected. Luke had not planned to say much else about Ellie, but he realized leaving it like that would not work. "There are many strange things in the galaxy," he added, more softly, yet his voice still carried to all listening. "My daughter may not be what most of you think of as 'normal,' but she, as does everyone else, deserves respect and a fair chance in life. Hopefully she will be walking in a few months, and talking more soon as well. Everyone who knows her loves her, and I hope that you will accept her as well. Thank you."
He took her chair and they both walked away, with Leia following. Again, there was applause, and Ellie attempted to imitate it, at which Luke grinned. When they stopped, he squatted beside her and kissed her and stroked her hair. "I love you," he whispered, "my baby."
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Mara, once again alone in the captain's cabin, toyed with her hair. They were nearly to their destination, and she would have to fix some disguise soon. Karrde had already prepared fake names and IDs for her and Lando, but they had no holos yet. Between her training as the Emperor's Hand and more recent tutoring from Ghent, Mara was adept at personalizing fake ID cards.
Lando had dropped a hint about possibly not masquerading, saying both that he 'had connections' and that his face was so well known anyway it would not make a difference. Mara had told him to use it, and they had argued, but in the end she had told him to do what he wanted, but warned him that he would have to deal with the consequences himself.
Mara forced he thoughts back to her own disguise. Her hair was too memorable. She did not even want to entertain the notion of cutting it, and did not particularly fancy dying it. Her wedding would hopefully be very soon, and she wanted to look her best.
So what else to do? Mara searched her memory for ideas. She finally struck upon a scarf that some of the human women in the Imperial Court had worn. It was a patterned or solid-colored cloth wrapped around the head and pinned up on top with a decorative clip. They were normally worn with a few strands of hair hanging loosed in front, but Mara figured she could get by without that. Or she could attach something fake.
She considered making her skin paler or darker with makeup, but rejected the idea as impractical lest she wear anything that did not reach her wrists or ankles. Instead, the woman gave herself a myriad of large brown freckles all across her cheekbones and a curling scar on her left arm. A beauty mark by one ear completed the disguise.
No... having second thoughts, Mara removed the last marking, afraid it would be too memorable. She could always add traits later if she needed to become yet another woman.
A quick search of her various drawers revealed an inconspicuous brown headscarf and a jeweled pin. She quickly did her hair as well as she could on her own with only memories of the style.
Mara double-checked her disguise in the mirror, snapped her holo, and set to work splicing the picture into her fake ID. As much as she wished to be back with the people she already thought of as family, Mara found glee in this return to her loved line of work. She was going to make this a mission to remember.
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Mara pulled the Jade's Fire out of hyperspace, and began maneuvering to the landing coordinates. She laughed to herself. This was her last chance to be Mara Jade for a while. In just a moment, Katris Tomyas would take over.
Katris would not be expected to be particularly knowledgeable about anything, where they were going, so Mara had not needed to do much research. She had done some preliminary searches on Car'das before they left, but there was little information to be found, and none of it up to date.
She wanted to call Luke before they landed, but the ship was nearing the landing platform now. The com light flashed; ground control was calling. This was the part Mara resented. She almost answered it herself, but called Lando instead, afraid to jeopardize her empty-headed act.
He took the controls and answered the com. As they got closer, Mara began a Force-illusion around the ship. Its signature paint job could get them recognized. As soon as they landed, she and Lando would, still under the illusion, cover it with a plain tarp and she would drop the illusion. Mara didn't like to think about it, but she was worried about holding the cover that long, and almost wished she had some more Jedi training.
Lando finished his talk with ground control and, at his companion's glare, gave back the controls. "So," she said, "you aren't putting on any sort of disguise?"
"No, baby, what did I tell you? I've got connections. We'd be fools not to make use of them." She glared again. He knew perfectly well why. "Hey, Katris, beautiful, we've got to get used to this, remember? If we start the act the moment we get down there they'll suspect."
"Just remember it stays an act, honey," the last word dripped sarcasm.
"Whatever you say then," he acquiesced, throwing his hands back. "I still don't see how you can possibly resist me..."
She ignored him.
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Well, I'm really proud of myself for the quick update. What did you guys think of the chapter?