Where Am I Going To?

Part Two

Chapter Two

"How are the stocks, friend?" the burly human asked, the agreed upon code. He slid onto the bench across from where Luke sat in his chair, smiling affably.

Luke tried to perk himself up a bit and burry himself in working. Managing a very small smile, he replied, "The same as ever," before sliding the data pad across to Risen. "You don't happen to be the Risen of Risen Corp, do you?" he whispered, resting his forearms on the table.

Risen shook his head. "My cousin. But that is how I met Henry." Luke left him in silence to finish reading the data pad, before Risen looked up again. "Reasonable order. When do you want it?"

"When can you have it?"

Risen grinned. "Is there any way I can contact some of the higher ups? It'll make delivery much smoother."

Luke gave him some names and various ways of getting in contact. They talked business for about an hour before Risen rose, shaking Luke's hand.

"I'll deliver the first one in three months, then."

"Excellent. Thank you again."

"The pleasure's all mine."

He walked out the door, and, not knowing what else to do, Luke stayed to wallow in self pity.

…

He heard her before he saw her. The alcohol, while not making him drunk, did dull his senses and judgment considerably, so that he hardly noticed, solemn and somber as he was, anything or anybody.

He could feel the muzzle of the blaster press into the back of his skull, and the adrenaline began pumping in his veins.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't blow your brains out, you bastard."

Disregarding the severity of the situation, he turned full around, remaining annoyingly neutral. "Long time no see, Mara."

The Emperor's Hand was standing before him, as armed and dangerous as ever. Only this time, her rage happened to be directed at him. Not an unknown thing, but generally an unpleasant one. At the moment, slightly inebriated and very apathetic, he didn't even flinch.

Her emerald eyes flashing her strong displeasure, she spat "Don't you push your niceties with me!"

"Here, take a seat," he offered, scooting over and patting the spot next to him. Mara deliberately refused, and took a seat at the bench opposite his chair. A waitress walked by, and he signaled her. She paused, looking curiously from one face to the other. "Can I get one of…" he looked at his glass, and merely held it up, "whatever the heck these things are for the lady?"

Astonished, Mara was soon seething. "How dare you just…you…you self-righteous-"

She would have continued to shower him with abuses had the waitress not scurried off crying to the bartender "Special on the rocks, Borden, and you'd better make it a double! Looks like we're having boyfriend troubles!"

"He's not my boyfriend!" she shouted after the woman, which only succeeded in drawing several pairs of eyes in their direction.

Grinning, Luke gave the knife a little twist. "Now, come on, honey…."

The baleful look she was sending him spoke untold volumes of pain and retribution.

Finally, she leaned foreword and whispered "Why are you doing this?" The waitress dropped the two glasses in front of the "love birds," Luke taking an appreciative swig from his while Mara pushed hers away in disgusted distrust.

"Drinking? I happen to like alcohol."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"

He shrugged. "It seems to me I don't know much of anything anymore."

"Who are you? I don't understand, I don't know you."

Suddenly sober, he stared at her intently. "That's right. You don't."

Clearly wounded, she rose, one hand on the blaster to emphasize her point. "Get up, we're getting out of here."

"But I haven't paid yet!"

She angrily slammed a few credits onto the table, which Luke added to. "Ah…I've been here for a while," he explained.

She rolled her eyes. "That doesn't surprise me." She motioned him on, walking behind him so that she could watch him successfully. Once out of the establishment, she dragged him into a side alley, shoving him angrily against the wall. He made no move to protest, and merely turned around to face her again, his lack of action only infuriating her all the more.

"You spineless coward, fight back, damn you!"

Luke crossed his arms, said nothing.

"What's happened to you?" she finally pleaded, tears threatening to spring to her eyes. "You're not who I remembered."

He shook his head. "I never will be."

"I've known you for as long as I can remember," she stressed weightily. "I demand – no, I deserve a few answers; Why did you join the Rebellion? What happened on Tatooine?"

"On Tatooine?" he responded, breaching a very tender subject. They momentarily circled each other like enemies, which, essentially, they were. He paused, closing his eyes briefly. "Everything happened on Tatooine. Obi-Wan happened on Tatooine."

"So…" she sneered. "That's it. How could you, Luke? Honestly? You promised, you swore that when you met Kenobi, you'd kill him."

"Yes," he snorted, resting a hand against the wall. "I was very foolish then."

"You're foolish now, and I can't even understand why."

"You don't get it!" Luke suddenly and savagely cried. "You can't get it. Obi-Wan loved me, Mara, he loved me. And that's something the emperor will never do. Never." She looked about ready to protest, so he merely cut her off. "I would have followed him to the ends of the galaxy. I would have died for him. But I can't." His full weight fell against the wall, and he began to cry, the sobs shaking his shoulders. He hadn't allowed himself to cry over anything in a year. Not over Leia, or Biggs, or anyone. Only Obi-Wan merited tears. "He died for me instead. Well, it's not fair! I should be the one dead, I should….I…." The rest of the words were incoherent, and Mara remained rooted to the spot, astounded. She'd never recalled ever having seen Luke cry before, and she felt moved to compassion. That was an emotion she swiftly tried to crush, as she reminded herself that she was supposed to hate Luke. No, not supposed to. She did. Yes…she…

Why was his presence so disarming?

Very timidly, she reached a hand out and touched his shoulder. He didn't move. "And I'll never get him back. I'll…never have that kind of love again. Ever." He banished the rest of his tears and turned back toward the girl. "Now, tell me: How can you possibly understand all that I have gone through in the last year?"

She said nothing, merely watched him, blaster still raised cautiously.

"So, what are you going to do, Mara? What sort of game are we playing?"

"Coruscant," she now firmly replied, her hand tightening around her weapon. "I'm taking you there, or I'm shooting you here. It's your choice."

"Oooh," he replied sarcastically, sneering. "I get options? How gracious of you! However," here he became serious again, "I'm not going back to Coruscant. Ever."

Jade faltered slightly. "Then you have sentenced yourself to death."

"Go ahead, I'll make it easy on you." He walked close enough for the barrel to point straight into his stomach, their faces very close now. "Can't miss." Nothing. "You might be doing me a favor, you know. Are you going to do it?" The pace of her breathing had quickened. Was it the act of killing the heir to the dark throne, or was it merely how close he was. So easy to reach out to…She squashed that line of thought.

"Or can't you do it?"

Her brow furrowed, her grip tightening, composure back and in control.

"March, Skywalker."

…

Was it hours she had him walk, or moments? Her reasons for being on Naboo was to assassinate an admiral who was getting in the way, so she was sworn to the utmost secrecy. That meant no docking in hanger beds; she had to pick a desolate spot and park her small ship there.

The moon large and full in the sky, Luke yawned slightly when they finally arrived, miles away from city. He speculated that morning would come in a few hours. But for now, it was deepest, darkest night.

She marched him up the ramp, blaster still poised. "Mind if I sit down?" he asked her, and she merely glared. He slid into her pilots seat nonchalantly, acting as if it were all some marvelous game. "So, what's the plan? Waiting until morning?"

She worked around him, trying to start up the ship. "We leave now," she denied sternly, flipping switches. Mockingly, she added, "I know that the emperor is just dying to see you."

He shivered, the very real possibilities for limitless pain making themselves all too apparent. "I never really realized you wanted me dead that much."

She paused, suddenly eerily silent. "He won't kill you. You're a Lord of the Sith-"

"No," he snarled, now bolting from the chair. "No I am not."

"You can't deny what is in your blood."

"I will never be a Sith again," he swore vehemently. "So the emperor will have to kill me. If you take me to Coruscant, I will die," he stressed very carefully. "There is no going around it."

"You're heir to the empire," she argued. "Everyone knows it. You're-"

"Mara!" he cried, "I blew up the god damn Death Star! And he's murdered men for less. Use your head, girl! Think! If you take me to Coruscant, my life will not be worth the paper it's printed on!"

"Even if that is true," she seethed, "I have to do my duty. You had to do yours at one point, remember? You will again, he won't kill you."

"You have no idea," he whispered, holding his head in his hands.

To Be Continued…

The long awaited and asked for Mara Jade returns. For two chapters. Yah…But then she'll be back again…For the second to last chapter…um….

xInuyashaxangelx: Thanks I'm really looking foreword to writing the next one.