Sith Redemption
Star Wars 6.5
Return of the Jedi
Flashback
"Lord Vader, I can't compete with Luke or Leia," Mara said to Anakin years ago in the Jedi temple.
"How so?" Anakin asked as they walked.
"They're stronger than me; they can feel the Force better than me. I drag them down," Mara admitted.
Anakin gave her a sympathetic look. "There is a quicker path to power if that is what you seek. The dark side of the Force holds many abilities, some considered….a bit unorthodox," Anakin smiled at the teenage Mara.
"Your father and I have discovered the dark side's benefits and drawbacks. There is a technique called a Force bond, do you know what that is?" Anakin asked.
"It's the bond between all life forms, when life becomes more plentiful it creates positive life energy, and when it dies it creates negative life energy for all living things," Mara said.
"Good, many of the great masters of the Jedi temple have a force bond with me. It gives them power, strengthens them, allows them to do complete tasks they wouldn't be able to do otherwise. I could create a Force bond with you, it would increase your power considerably, but there is a price," Anakin warned.
"What price?" Mara asked.
Mara and the bounty hunter clashed with their sabers. Mara saw with difficulty the blue blade as sand was thrown at her. She backed away from her attacker and tried to Force push the sand away. The sand continued to blow around her. The bounty hunter advanced whirling it around in a circular motion.
The bounty hunter probably killed a Jedi and took it from him, Mara thought. Mara charged through the sand and sliced at the bounty hunter barely missing her head. The bounty hunter took her left hand and sent Mara into a spin away from her. Twisting her hand she created a mini tornado of sand from the dunes.
Anakin turned to the teenage Mara. "If I were to be wounded or killed it would give you pain and could possibly be fatal. Likewise if you were to be injured I would feel it," Anakin told her.
"I am willing to take that risk, if you will allow me," Mara said.
"You have great courage Mara, just like your father," Anakin remarked. "After your lessons with your father come to the high tower. You know where the Jedi council is?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, but I have never been there," Mara said.
"The Jedi council is not just for the elites, anyone who strives to learn may come to me," Anakin told her warmly.
Mara fell on a hill of sand. Spitting the sand out of her mouth she got back to her feet. The bounty hunter stood a distance away, a storm of sand blasted Mara almost off her feet. "How can he know the Force," she wondered.
Mara counter attacked by raising her gloved hands. Sparks of electricity escaped her hands but did not flow into the air. Mara tried again with the same result. The Force had left her. As the storm raged around her she hit the bounty hunter's light saber several times.
"Lord Vader. With Liea a senator on Alderaan and Luke in charge of the Death Star battle station, my team is gone," Mara said to Anakin concerned. "Will I be assigned a new team?" Mara asked.
"No, Mara. You have done well; I need you to be my eyes and ears for the empire. I am making you an official hand of the empire," Anakin told her.
"As you wish Lord Vader," Mara bowed before Anakin.
"Rise child, I have a special role for you to play in the empire," Anakin told her as they walked toward the hanger bay.
The bounty hunter sliced, knocking Mara's light saber out of her hand. The sand and wind blew the light saber out of sight. The bounty hunter grabbed a hold of Mara with her light saber at her throat. Mara stared as the bounty hunter showed a thermo detonator in her hand.
"Don't try anything Mara," the bounty hunter said as the sand settled around them. The bounty hunter deactivated the detonator, took her pistol and forced her towards Jabba's palace.
The two droids managed to get inside Jabba's palace and into Jabba's inner circle. Several bounty hunters, guards, dancers, and guests were present. A twilek alien informed Jabba explaining the presence of the droids. "We have a message from Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker," C3PO said.
"He's no threat," the Twilek told Jabba.
Without any objection from Jabba R2D2 activated his hologram camera. An image of Luke appeared before Jabba. "I am Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker on behalf of my father, the emperor. Recently my father transferred you the amount of fifty thousand credits for the release of Han Solo. A shuttle will be arriving to pick him up, have him ready for us. I hope that good relations between you and the empire continue," Luke finished signing off.
Jabba laughed. "I will not give up my favorite decoration for such a low amount," Jabba boasted. His guests nodded impressed that Jabba would defy the empire.
"Dancers," Jabba demanded. The droids were taken away where Jabba would effectively use them for his own purposes. Jabba dismissed any concern over the Solo matter and watched as alien dancers of different races entertained him.
Luke waited a good hour for his droids to come back. "It's been an hour sir," a storm trooper informed Luke. "I know, I'll go to Jabba and deal with this myself," Luke said irritated.
"Might I suggest that we come with you," the storm trooper said.
"This won't take too long," Luke said covering his head with his Jedi robes. Taking a speeder he raced towards the palace.
Jabba clapped his hands pleased with the dancers. Suddenly a guard was thrown down the stairs. A bounty hunter with Mara Jade descended into Jabba's inner room. C3PO was at Jabba's side acting as an interpreter.
"I have come for the bounty on Jedi Mara Jade, the emperor's personal agent," the bounty hunter said in a foreign alien language.
Jabba laughed happy to see Mara chained behind her back. "I will give you twenty thousand credits for her," Jabba said through C3PO.
"I'm much more than that," Mara said angrily.
The bounty hunter seemed to agree. "Fifty thousand, no less," C3PO told Jabba after he interpreted the bounty hunter.
"What?" Jabba said outraged, he smacked C3PO to the ground behind him. "What did I say?" C3PO said confused getting up. "The great Jabba asks why he must pay the sum of fifty thousand credits," C3PO said.
"This is why," the bounty hunter said revealing a thermo detonator. The guests and dancers shouted and screamed trying to get a distance away from it. Boba Fett turned his gun on the bounty hunter.
Jabba laughed impressed at the Bounty Hunter's resourcefulness in negotiating. "This bounty hunter is my type of scum," Jabba said chuckling.
"Jabba will pay thrity five thousand credits, and I do beg you take it," C3PO said.
The bounty hunter considered. She finally turned off the detonator. "He agrees," C3PO said ecstatic. The guests finally relaxed.
"The empire will have your head slug!" Mara said as she was dragged away into a dungeon.
The bounty hunter made herself comfortable among the other bounty hunters. "You must have some skill to catch that one," Boba Fett commented.
"As long as you have one of these, the Jedi are no challenge," the bounty hunter said playing with Mara's light saber in her gloved hand.
Mara's humiliation would not end. A droid considered Mara's figure. "Yes, she will do. Put her in something more comfortable," the droid told the guards. Mara tried desperately to use her Force powers to fry the droid's circuits but could do nothing.
Jabba watched intently as his Twilek girl danced for him. However she wasn't cooperating, trying desperately to free herself. Jabba would have none of that; he pushed a lever that sent her to the lower level. She gave a scream as a Rancor grabbed a hold of her and fed on her.
Jabba decided he needed a new dancer. Mara was sent into the inner circle. "Dance," Jabba gurgled.
"I am a Jedi, I will not dance for you," Mara said in defiance.
"Dance or die" Jabba said angrily. Mara looked around as she realized that several bounty hunters had their guns aimed at her. Sighing she accepted her new role. The music started and Mara began a routine she had learned from her mother years ago. Jabba didn't seem to notice her poor skills watching her on his large couch.
As Mara danced Jabba slowly went to sleep bored. Jabba's assistant Twilek took Mara to her quarters or rather her prison so that she would be ready to dance the moment Jabba woke up.
The bounty hunter watched amused as Mara danced commentating on her skills to the other male bounty hunters. They were all in agreement that though beautiful she needed practice.
As Jabba slept the bounty hunter sneaked towards the room that held Han Solo's carbonite case. The bounty hunter looked around to see that it was safe and activated the heating processor. The frozen carbonite slowly vaporized eventually freeing Han from the case. The bounty hunter grabbed him as he was about to fall. Putting him down on the ground she examined him to see what effects the carbonite had on him.
"I can't see," Han gasped rubbing his eyes.
"Your eyesight will return in time," the bounty hunter said in English.
"Who are you?" Han asked fearfully.
The bounty hunter took off her mask. "Someone who loves you," Leia said.
"Leia," Han said gratefully.
"We don't have much time, we have to get out of here," Leia said.
Suddenly the both could hear Jabba laugh. "I know that laugh," Han said worried.
The curtain was pulled revealing Leia and Han. Han got to his feet with Leia's support. "I was on my way to pay you back, I just got a little sidetracked," Han said to Jabba.
"It's too late Solo," Jabba said motioning the guards to take him to a prison.
"I can give you triple to what I owe you, your throwing away a fortune, don't be a fool," Han bluffed. He didn't have any money and they both knew it.
"Take him away," Jabba said. "Bring her to me," Jabba said of Leia. Leia gave a disgusted look as she was forced to get next to Jabba's mouth. Jabba looked at Leia and decided he could have another slave. "We have powerful friends, you're going to regret this," Leia threatened him.
In truth Leia would most likely be blamed for the battle of Endor and labeled a traitor to the Alliance's cause. "I'm sure," Jabba said condescendingly.
"Bring the red haired one to me," Jabba said after sending Leia to a prison with Han.
Leia was pushed into a prison with Han. "Leia?" Han guessed trying to feel around the room.
"Yes, it's me," Leia said grabbing a hold of him.
"We're in trouble now, is Chewie with you, he can get us out of here," Han considered.
"Chewie wasn't with me, he's….elsewhere," Leia said vaguely.
"Well, what about your Jedi skills. You can bust us out," Han figured.
"I have been weakened from a previous fight, it will take some time," Leia said beginning to meditate on the damp floors.
"Want me to dance again?" Mara said sarcastically.
"No, be at my side," Jabba said. Mara was dressed in a revealing metallic bikini outfit. She was chained up and put next to Jabba. Jabba proceeded to fall asleep, his guards stayed awake in case she pulled anything.
Luke walked into Jabba's palace, the large doors closing behind him. Two guards tried to stop him. Using his Jedi mind tricks he fooled them into thinking he was an important appointment for Jabba which he was. Jabba's assistant stopped him as he headed toward the inner circle. "I'm here for my droids, and Captain Han Solo," Luke said.
"Jabba doesn't want to be disturbed now, he's taking his rest," the Twilek protested.
"Wake him," Luke ordered his Jedi mind trick swaying the Twilek. "I will see Jabba now," Luke said continuing his Jedi mind trick.
"You will see Jabba now," the Twilek confirmed.
Luke walked into the room judging how many people he would have to kill if things went badly. The Twilek went over to Jabba to wake him. "Jedi Knight Skywalker is here to see you," the Twilek said.
"I told you never to let him in," Jabba said outraged.
"I must be allowed to speak," Luke said trying to use the same trick on Jabba.
"He must be allowed to speak," the Twilek told Jabba.
"What? You weak minded fool, you are falling for an old Jedi mind trick," Jabba said.
"None-the-less, I will have my two droids and Captain Solo," Luke said. Luke gave Mara a look as he saw her sitting with Jabba.
"I do not bow before your father's empire, unlike you I had to earn what I have," Jabba said.
"Fifty thousand credits was a generous offer," Luke insisted.
"What is he to you, first the empire gives him up to Fett and then you want him back," Jabba said.
"Times have changed," Luke said referring to the Battle of Endor.
"So they have, I must admit the Alliance's defeat is good for business," Jabba said. "You're a Jedi, I will give this Jedi dancer to you instead of Solo," Jabba offered.
"And my two droids," Luke added.
"And your two droids," Jabba agreed.
Luke thought it over, it was a tempting offer. But then again Mara was a Jedi and likely to free herself anyway. "No deal," Luke said.
"What!" Mara said outraged. Luke gave her a sympathetic look. "We can continue this after she dances, she may be more valuable than you realize," Jabba stalled.
"I would agree to that," Luke said infuriating Mara.
"I'll kill you," Mara yelled to Luke's smile.
Author's Note: Mara isn't too serious, not like the original storyline. Assume that Jabba's speaks in his native language but that Luke, Leia, and Mara understand his language. Mara's powers reflect Anakin's current condition. Also assume that Luke is unarmed as part of being diplomatic with the Hutt.