Several hours later, Mara was standing outside Leia's temporary quarters. She certainly trusted Luke, but she was somewhat nervous about what Leia might have in mind. She suppressed it. She loved Luke. Luke loved her. The approval of Leia was nice, but unnecessary.
She saw Captain Adriff approach. "Jedi Jade," he acknowledged her presence. "I understand you were the one to kill that madman Sarim—"
"Isard," Mara replied. "Well, me and Durron, actually."
"Yes," Adriff said. "Thank you." He sighed. "Not that it is much satisfaction—"
The door to Leia's quarters opened. Mara turned to see Leia, but it was only her aide. The aide, a rather short older woman, blinked and dropped her datapad.
"Nolan?" she whispered.
"Sej?" Adriff looked as stunned as she was.
"What's going on here?" Leia approached the doorway. "Mara, come in."
"I thought you died at Chandrila," Adriff finally managed. Mara looked at Leia, who apparently didn't understand any more than she did.
"I thought you did," Sej said.
"Sej..."
"It's me, Nolan," she sighed. "It's been a long time."
"Too long. Sej, you don't—"
She approached him. "Why don't we leave the high and mighty," she pointed at Leia and Mara, "to their business, and you can show me around." she said. "And we can reminisce." She gave Leia a glance.
"Go on," she said. "You've been working too hard." The reunited couple left.
"You aren't worried about letting your aide walking off with an Imperial like that?"
"Sej can take care of herself," she replied.
"And Luke can't?"
"I didn't say that. Look, Mara," she said. "I'm sorry. I do trust you. I've trusted you with my life, with the future of the Republic—even with the lives of my children. It's just that... you know Luke has had trouble with women. All of them left."
"I couldn't pull myself away from him—not completely, anyway—since we've met. And I tried. I'm not going to leave him now."
"All right," Leia said. "I'd like to—no, you don't have to—"
"Will it make you feel better about our marriage?"
"Maybe."
"What is it?"
"I'd like to... probe your mind."
Mara gave her a laugh. "Luke thought you might ask for that."
"Well, he does know a thing or two about me," Leia replied.
"All right," Mara consented, and lowered her mental shields—which were quite formidable.
Leia began her probe. Images flooded her mind. Mara as a little girl. Mara being trained in combat. Mara on missions for Palpatine. The pride she had felt at her success then. The disgust she was feeling at these successes now. Mara's Jedi training. Nirauan. The battle on the Conqueror.
And above all that, was her burning love for Luke. It took less than a second for Leia to register that. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry I ever doubted it."
"I didn't exactly broadcast my feelings, did I? And I'm hardly the one to bring up the past." She hugged her future sister-in-law.
"Just one question, Mara. If didn't consent, would you still have married?"
"Luke and I talked about just that, and decided we would. If we had to, we would go to live with Fel and Parck in the Unknown Regions," she said.
Leia shook her head. "Take care of my brother, will you? He is the reckless half of the Skywalker twins."
Mara grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
XXX
The treaty was completed a week later.
Because all the Moffs were killed by Isard in his bid for power, there was no real government in the Imperial Remnant to speak of. Adriff, a mere captain, was the de facto head of the military, by virtue of the rest of the fleet being forced to surrender. The negotiations were thus between the New Republic and the Empire of the Hand.
The Empire of the Hand would incorporate the eight sectors of the Remnant, and establish new local governments. As the legacy of Thrawn, the Empire of the Hand would be accepted by most residents of the Remnant the way the New Republic never could. And because the Empire of the Hand was strong enough to resist even a full-scale war with the New Republic, there would be little humiliation for them—something the previous treaty, with the Remnant itself, inevitably entailed.
Nirauan and Coruscant would exchange diplomatic missions, and negotiate a trade agreement. Neither side would conduct military maneuvers within 5000 light-years of the border, having only small patrol craft, no larger than a corvette, in the region. Planets lying in the border zone would decide their allegiance by full, open, plebiscites, with independence and neutrality as options. Neither side would actively try to expand in the region.
There were, of course, many specifics, but this was the gist. The main purpose of the treaty was to reduce the possibility of war—either inside one of the mega-states, or between them—to a minimum.
Leia and Parck placed their signatures on the final document. "It has been a pleasure, Admiral," Leia said, shaking his hand. "I wish you luck. If, as you say, we are facing a grave threat from without, we are going to need each other."
"I wish I had tangible proof of that threat. The kind of proof your Senate would accept. Of course, I will be very grateful if it doesn't materialize. But we have to prepare. Good luck in your endeavors... Leia."
She laughed. "My husband might get jealous, you know... Voss."
XX
Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and Mara were aboard the Rebel Dream, ready to leave for New Republic space. "Luke Skywalker to General Fel," Luke contacted the Redoubt.
Fel's hologram appeared. "Luke, will you call me Soontir already? I decommissioned you sometime ago."
"Sorry, Soontir. Thank you for all the help. We finally have a peaceful galaxy, after all this time. Thanks to you."
"For now. And are you sure about letting our people into that Academy of yours? The thought of Chiss Jedi gives me pause."
"Yes, I'm sure. And I think we'll have our first student before too long."'
"Oh, you mean Lieutenant Kuth? You're probably right..."
"Wasn't she an Ensign?" Luke asked.
"Not anymore. You'll hear from her soon enough, I expect. Captain Lenaon wishes you luck."
"I'll consider that."
"Good luck to all of you, as well. I suspect your sister will need it more than anyone, in dealing with the politicians."
"I know. Well, we will see each other again, so this isn't really a goodbye." He paused. "May the Force be with you."
"As we say on Corellia, smooth sailing. Fel out."
The transmission ended. The two ships, which a few days ago would likely, if they met, hurl death at each other, silently vanished into hyperspace, heading home.