This is to MaraJade2990 and deiron lionheart, the first reviewers of this fic. Thanks for your support, it means a lot to me.
P.S.: I did something about the format. I hope it's better.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. All places, people, aliens, X-wings, battlecruisers and Star Destroyers belongs to either George Lucas or Timothy Zahn. I'm not making any money of this story. It's for entertainment purposes only.
dreams, nightmares, visions, flashbacks, Force communication, thoughts
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The city-planet Coruscant, capital of New Republic offered beautiful and spectacular view. But its beauty was unnoticed by a passenger of small fighter approaching it. The flight control of Coruscant was tighter because of raging war with the Empire.
"Unidentified ship. State your name and purpose of coming."
"This is Jadesky One. Captain Jaker speaking. I'm transmitting my clearance code."
Ami flicked some switches and sent them a code given to her from General Bel Iblis. She waited for only few moments before the response came.
"Please procceed to landing plattform K64 in Imperial city according to coordinates we are transmitting to you at the moment."
"Copy. Jadesky One out."
Ami leaned back in her chair and let the autopilot handle the landing. She was quite tired. She almost didn't sleep during her way to Coruscant, trying to understand what had happened. She ran through known facts again and again.
She was in the past eight years before her birth. Upon coming she had had a vision about C'Baoth and two clones threatening Skywalker instead of one clone. The clones were Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade. That made three Dark Jedi against one trained Jedi and one half-trained Jedi. She didn't include Leia because she had seen only Luke and Mara in danger. But what was the reason for her presence here? It seemed there was only one possible solution. She was there to balance things.
Normally, there would be C'Baoth and Luke's clone. Luke and Mara would take care of them. After all, they had already done so. However, now there were C'Baoth, Luke's clone and Mara's clone against Luke and Mara. They missed third person who was probably her - Ami Jaker. It meant she would have to make them take her to Wayland with them. But how? She couldn't tell them the truth, at least not the whole truth.
Ami sighed. This would get her nowhere. She'd just have to handle things as they came. Insistent beeping of her computer broke into her reverie. She looked up to see the ship had landed. She could see tall person with white hair standing just out the berth. Winter, Princess Leia's aide. That meant Leia was still on that political mission. Well, she would have some time to think on what she was going to tell her.
Ami quickly ran through after-flight diagnostic and then gathered her bag with some personal belongings, spare clothes and weapons. She never went on a trip without few blasters hidden. She picked up this habit probably from her Mum. She climbed down the ladder and sealed the cockpit. Then she turned to her guide.
"Greetings. I'm Ami Jaker. I take it General Bel Iblis has informed you of my arrival," she spoke as she extended right hand. Winter took it and shook.
"Indeed, he has. My name is Winter. I'm aide of Princess Leia. Unfortunately, she got delayed but I shall help you as I can."
"Thank you Winter. May I call you that?"
"Of course."
Ami picked up her bag and followed Winter into the corridor. They passed around few people, some of them recognising Winter and staring curiously at Ami. She decided to ask Winter a couple of questions to get rid of the silence.
"Winter?" when the woman looked at her she continued, "Do you have any idea when is Councillor Organa Solo due back?"
"I'm afraid I can't provide you with this information," Winter said. "She should be back on Coruscant before the twins are born but I'm not sure when."
Ami nodded and shot another question.
"What about her brother? Jedi Luke Skywalker?"
"This information is classified," Winter replied. "Orders from above."
"Yeah, I see," Ami mumbled. She felt a slight shift in Winters emotions. "You can ask me the question, Winter," at her surprised expression she explained. "I felt you wanted to say something. The Jedi thing, like someone would say."
"Sure," Winter recovered from her surprise quickly. "I've wanted to ask you about you. General Bel Iblis was brief and provided me with only the basics."
"Like?"
"Like that you are claiming to be a Jedi, you have saved his ship using the Force and had a vision of a danger to Luke Skywalker. That's all I know from him."
"Well, all of that is a truth. Not that I want to boast," she flashed Winter a smile. "I'd rather not to speak about me here, between so many people..." Ami trailed off as a Bothan came to them. She immediately recognized him as a Councillor Borsk Fey'lya, the most sly politician in the New Republic.
"Winter," he greeted. "I see you have a companion. I meant to ask you something but it must wait for later," he directed his gaze at Ami. Winter took the clue.
"Councillor Fey'lya, this is Miss Jaker. Ami, this is Councillor Borsk Fey'lya, member of the Inner Council," she made introductions.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Councillor," Ami said with a forced smile. She had heard enough of him to make a picture and the reality was even worse. But she couldn't hostilize him, not while walking on such a thin ice in a situation she was in.
"I can't say the same," Fey'lya said. "Winter, I hope you have run a security check on her before allowing her to enter the palace."
Winters eyes turned into icily cold and as she spoke the cold seeped from her voice as well.
"I thought that one alleged accusation would be enough for you, Councillor," she said in a tone dangerously resembling an anger. After only a few minutes she spent with the girl she already liked her and she certainly wouldn't allow some slimy Bothan to insult her. She felt Ami put a hand on her arm as she turned to face the politician.
"Councillor Fey'lya," the way Ami said it it sounded almost an insult. She had learned it from her mother and was proud of this ability even if she used it only once in a while. "I don't know why you need to attack me verbally only moments after I landed while you know nothing about me but I've got a security clearance from General Bel Iblis himself. Maybe you should call him and ask about me but don't you ever treat me like I was responsible for the Caamas incident or what," she smiled when Bothan winced at the name. "If you want to insult me or threaten me you can spare yourself an effort. It would take more than a sly politician to make me afraid. Have I made myself clear?" her green eyes bore into those of Bothan and he looked away.
"Nice companion you have found Winter," he spat with a venom and marched away, anger and fear radiating from him. Ami looked at Winter who seemed in a slight shock.
"I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble but I don't take any insults from anyone when they know me only a few seconds and I did nothing to gain their mistrust," she said.
"Oh, don't worry about it. You're not the first nor the last person who got annoyed from that ...being," Winter said. "I'm quite impressed how you managed to handle him without going Dark Side."
"I take it Princess Leia complains a lot about him," Ami said with a grin.
"More than that. She had to stop carrying her lightsaber to meetings so she could better resist the urge to slice him in two," Winter smirked. It was pleasant to talk this way about Fey'lya.
"She has to be really good in self-control. I on the other side was never too patient," Ami said just as they reached turbolifts. They entered one and when the door closed Ami added. "I think it's safe to talk now."
"So, what can you tell me about yourself?" Winter took an opportunity immediately.
"My life or why I'm here?" Ami asked. She was on a dangerous ground and she knew it. She had to be careful at what to say.
"Both. If that doesn't bother you."
Ami shook her head.
"No, of course not. Well, I was born after the Clone wars," that wasn't a lie she just didn't say it was actually 35 years after them. "I've got the best family I could wish for. My parents taught me to be independent and strong, never to be afraid of my destiny or my heritage and always to do what is right even when it means to sacrifice something in process," the turbolift stopped and both women set on the way towards guests apartments. Ami continued. "I trained in the Force since I was old enough to understand the responsibility. Then less than a year ago when I was nearing knighthood I left for Yavin 4 and learned the Force in solitude. I spent there last eight months. Then I wanted to leave but something strange happened and the rest you know."
"Interesting story. And what was that thing about your vision?" Winter was getting more curious each minute she spent with Ami. Her story had amazed her although it was really vague. She didn't doubt her truthfulness but she had a feeling Ami was hiding something.
"I received that while I was resting after the effort I had to spend to keep that fighters away from the ship. It was quite frightening. The vision I mean. The evil...and madness...I felt from that old man..." Ami shivered slightly but it was unpretended. "I've spent all the journey to Coruscant meditating and I think I know what to do," at Winter's questioning stare she said, "I have to stop my vision from happening. I can't let the darkness win. I'd rather die than to let that happen."
Winter looked at her determined face and flashing green eyes. Eyes that reminded her of someone else she had been leading this very corridor only the day before. They were so much alike. Winter shook her head. It was probably only her imagination.
"This is your room," she said as they came to a halt in a front of the dark wooden door. "If you need anything just contact me."
"Thanks Winter. I really appreciate it. And if you could contact me when Princess Leia came."
"Sure," Winter nodded and turned to leave. "See you later."
"Yeah, see you," Ami muttered as she closed the door behind her and took a look around her new home for next few weeks. The room was equipped with a Fijjisi wood furniture with colours of brown and yellow. There were a bedroom and a fresher. She set her bag on the bed and started to unpack.
She put what little she had of clothes into drawers in the closet, her lightsaber on the nightstand and one of her blasters under the pillow. The second one was safely strapped to her forearm. On the very bottom of her bag was a holo-recorder. She took it out and switched on. A holo of her standing with two identical people appeared. She smiled at the image of her siblings and switched on an another one. There was holo only of herself with her lightsaber lit and at a ready stance. She quickly flicked through all of holos she had stored there, deciding which one to let on.
She finally decided to go for a holo of a rather large group of people. All of them seemed to be in their teens or twenties. She stood almost in the middle of a group, next to a handsome boy who looked slightly older than her. Ami smiled at him and whispered softly to herself.
"Pretty mess I've got myself into Ken. I'm sure you and Valin will tease me about it mercilessly if...when I get back," she stared on a holo for few moments and then placed it on the nightstand next to her lightsaber. Then she abruptly turned away and took a deep breath.
"All right, let's start this," she muttered to herself and sent a tiny tendrils of the Force in all directions. She found what she had been looking for three doors to the left. The presence in the Force was weak but unmistakable. Ami took few breaths to calm herself when she probed further and slammed to the tight barriers the other person erected. Ami slowly eased away from the link she had created but didn't shut it down. She then turned to the computer in the corner of the room and found there a map of the palace.
She then opened the drawers and took some of the clothes. She disappeared inside the fresher and emerged few minutes later dressed in a training attire. She called her lightsaber into her hand and went out of the door heading for a palace gym.
Mara Jade was sitting in her assigned room when she felt someone reach for her with the Force. She quickly straightened her barriers and felt the someone withdrew from the contact. She wish for a moment to be stronger in the Force so she could have found out who the someone was. She was certain it wasn't Skywalker. She wouldn't mistaken his presence in the Force which shone like a beacon and made everything around him look duller. And it certainly wasn't Organa Solo. Mara was positive she was still somewhere out of Coruscant and not strong enough to reach Mara through the vastness of the space. Very few had the gift and Skywalker's sister wasn't one of them.
Mara focused on the unknown presence and felt it moving. It was close almost like...Mara leapt to her feet and got to the door. She opened it and looked up and down the corridor. It was empty except for a female figure walking down the corridor towards the gym. The woman had her back to Mara so the only thing she could figure about her appearance was the colour of her hair and the height. She didn't seem higher than Mara and she had long dark-blonde hair hanging in a ponytail down her back. Mara checked her new blaster and set off after the mysterious woman.
She followed her to the gym and watched as the woman stretched and prepared to workout. But Mara was caught by a surprise when the woman pulled out a cylindrical thing and lit it. The lightsaber shone blue-green light. It looked like the two colours were intertwined in each other. The woman swang it from side to side. Then she took five balls - seekers, Mara remembered - and activated them with a single hand-motion while putting on a blindfold across her eyes. And then there was only a swirl of green and blue as she deflected the bolts with preciseness Mara had never seen. All she could do was to stare in awe at the lightsaber wielder with something like an envy.
Two hours later Ami shut down the lightsaber and opened her eyes taking down the blindfold she was using to make sure she had to rely only on the Force. With a slight motion of her hand she turned off the seekers and went to a bench to retrieve a towel. She dried the perspiration that had appeared on her face. She went in her mind over her training with seekers. She had taken five of them, turned them on and deflected their bolts with her lightsaber. She didn't miss a single shot. It was an exercise led into perfection. Back in her time she was considered to be the very best with lightsaber and she planned on keeping it that way.
She was well aware of the audience she had had and decided it was time to make a move. She turned to red-haired woman with green eyes leaning against the wall near the entrance.
"Liked my performance?" she asked. Mara slowly nodded.
"I have never seen anyone so good with a lightsaber."
"Thanks. I train a lot to be the best," Ami replied with a smile which Mara didn't return. "By the way I'm Ami. Ami Jaker."
Mara hesitantly accepted the offered hand.
"Mara. Mara Jade," she introduced herself.
"Pleased to meet you. Are you Force sensitive?" the question surprised Mara.
"You should know, shouldn't you?" she said cautiously. Ami grinned at her.
"So it was you I brushed over earlier," at Mara's nod she said. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you. It's just a habit to check out my surroundings."
"No problem just don't do it again. Right?"
Ami eyed her wearily. This Mara Jade was certainly different from the one she knew. But she understood the reasons behind her behaviour. Still, it was hard to remember that this person was tortured with nightmares, nightmares filling her with anger and hatred.
"Sure. Now I know your presence so I won't bother you anymore."
"Good," Mara made a move towards the door. Now she knew at least few things about the new player in this game. Ami's voice stopped her.
"You are very tense about something. How about a little sparring session? To relieve an energy?" she waited expectantly at Mara's response.
"I'm sorry but I don't have a lightsaber. So no," it was short and straight to the point. Typical Mara Ami thought.
"I wasn't thinking about a lightsaber duel," she said. "I have had enough for a day. I meant something more touching. Are you good in hand-to-hand combat?" if Mara said yes it would be very interesting indeed. Ami sparred with her before but in this time it was going to be more dangerous because Mara was still the assassin.
Mara turned around and measured up her opponent. Ami was the same height as herself and had trained muscles. Not bulky but visible. But trained muscles aren't everything in hand-to-hand combat.
"I'm not sure its such a good idea," Mara spoke slowly. Ami grinned. She was contemplating her suggestion.
"C'mon. Or are you scared of me?" it was daring thing to say something like that to ex-Emperor's Hand and Mara reacted.
"I'm afraid of noone," she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Prove it!" Ami countered. Mara turned to door.
"I'm going to change. I'll be back in five minutes," she said as she walked out of the gym. Ami put away her saber and decided to stretch a little more while pondering this first meeting with someone from her past who was very close to her. It went relatively well. Mara was a little grumpy and hostile but it was her kind of a defense mechanism. Ami wanted to become friends with Mara. It would make things a lot easier and besides Mara needed a friend. A friend she didn't want to kill like Skywalker.
Ami's musings were interrupted as Mara walked back in tight-fitting jumpsuit, hair pulled into a ponytail like Ami. She sat down without a word and started to warm up her muscles. After fifteen minutes she turned to Ami.
"Let's get this over with," and she moved towards the mats in the middle of the gym. Ami followed her and they stopped there, facing each other. Ami spoke first.
"All right. We are going for touch. We can use everything we can think of to throw the other of balance. The match is over when one of us yield or fall to the ground on the back. Everything's clear?"
"Yeah, let's start."
They took a ready stance. At first none of them moved, both judging the opponent. Then Ami attacked, leading her right hand at Mara's neck. Mara easily blocked it and answered with one of her own. At first they just striked and drew back with only arms. Then Mara tried to kick Ami's feet from under her. Ami jumped, avoiding the impact and sent her left leg high to Mara's side. Mara used it to get hold of her leg and moved it away from herself. Ami tumbled but with a flip in the air she ended on her feet.
"You are good," Mara praised her.
"Thanks. Not so bad yourself. Besides, I've got the best teacher," Ami replied as she once again attacked Mara.
"Really? Who?" Mara inquired as she easily blocked Ami's attacks. She was beginning to enjoy herself. Ami was very good and was giving Mara run for her credits. She couldn't remember last time she met someone who was able to be equal to her. In fact, she had never met someone who would be her equal.
"My mother," Ami replied and allowed a smile to creep on her face. Mara frowned. She knew the smile from somewhere but she couldn't remember where from. She shook her head. She had a match going on and didn't need distractions.
Both women exchanged a series of very quick punches, easily avoiding the other's blows. Mara decided this was getting her nowhere and moved to another tactic. She wanted to use a very special move she herself thought up. It was actually a move from one of the dances she had had to learn to pass as a dancer in her undercover missions. She had never shared this attack with anyone and she was sure this would gain her victory in the match.
She slowly backed away from Ami and prepared for her move. Ami of course realized what was going on and decided to disable Mara's attack. Mara suddenly sommersaulted and then made another salto towards Ami. It looked like she was going to land a straight kick on Ami's chest. The opponent would step back to avoid impact and Mara would then use her momentum to land graciously on her feet and sweep opponents legs from under him.
But as she was floating through the air she realized Ami was waiting for her in place and then caught her legs and brought Mara down on her back. The contact with the floor knocked her breath out. Ami stood upon her.
"You all right?" she asked with concern.
"Yeah. Where in the Kessel did you learn how to block that move?" Mara asked.
"From my Mum, of course," Ami replied and Mara narrowed her eyes on her.
"And where did your mother learn that move?" Ami then realized what a mistake she had just made. Mara was seething with an anger. "It's my move. I've never showed it to anyone so how would your mother know it?"
"I..." Ami stammered. This was bad. This was really, really bad. "You won't like it if I tell you."
"Oh, you think?" Mara was now positively furious. What the hell was going on? She didn't like it when someone lied to her and she was sure Ami was trying to hide something. "Tell me what are you hiding. Tell me what's going on," she demanded.
Ami sighed. Mara was sooo not going to like it.
"I'm not sure if I should," Mara advanced towards her so she quickly added. "But remember you asked for it."
"Go on," was all Mara said.
"Well, I am from future," at Mara's incredulous look she said. "No, I'm not crazy. It's true. I am really from future. I will be born in eight years and because I am nineteen I am from the future twenty-seven years ahead."
Mara snorted.
"Let's say I believe you. But that still doesn't explain where you have learned that move."
"As I said. Everything in hand-to-hand combat I was taught by my mother," Mara's face suddenly paled as a realization dawned on her.
"You can't be serious," she whispered. "It isn't possible."
Ami sadly nodded.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you this way," she was interrupted by Mara.
"Sorry? You aren't sorry. You are crazy! You cannot be my daughter!"
"I am. Who else would know about your past? Your past as the Emperor's Hand?"
Mara shook her head in denial.
"You could have found out from the old files. Your knowledge about my Imperial past isn't proof enough."
"And what about your nightmares?" Ami asked silently. "About the Emperor's voice and his last command to kill Luke Skywalker? About the battle you are fighting in yourself since you met him? Battle between his voice and your own feelings?"
Mara just stared at her. Noone could know about how she felt. What was happening to her everytime she was near Skywalker. She would never share something like this with anyone. Except of...
"So it's true," she whispered again. "It's true. But how? And who is father?"
Ami winced. This was the worse part of all. If Mara took such a negative stance to a fact of being Ami's mother, how would she react when she found out who the father was?
"I'd rather not to tell you."
"Why?" Mara said only one word but it was full of confusion and pain.
"Because you aren't on friendly terms with him currently."
"What do you mean?" Mara was filled with a feeling of dread.
"You want to kill him," Ami said tentatively. Mara just stared at her saying nothing and then slowly shook her head.
"No. It isn't true. How could I have a child with...with.." she couldn't bring herself to say the name.
"Skywalker?" Ami offered. "But you have. I'm in front of you. My name is Amidala Jade Skywalker. I'm daughter of Jedi Masters Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker and I'm going to be a Jedi, too."
That was too much for Mara.
"Liar!" she shouted at Ami. "You lie! I don't want to see you again," with that she turned around and walked out of the gym. Ami stayed on the spot where she had been standing all the time and then slowly sank to her knees. She had a terrible feeling she had just royally screwed everything.
A/N: I apologize it took me so long but I have had exams in school and also some other ideas buzzing in my head. I hope that at least the wait was worth it. Let me know about your opinion. Thank you very much. Oh, and the next chapter is going to be very long with a lot of action. Its name is Side by Side.
MTFBWY Kaya Jade
