Mara paced nervously in the Palace gym. She didn't know why she was doing this. It definitely wasn't for any money. She was still irritated at Solo's lewd suggestion. No matter how innocent he tried to play it off—his proposal was wrong.
She agreed to spar with Luke in the hopes of broaching the subject of Callista and talking some sense into the Jedi. Mara was absolutely certain that Luke's grueling ordeal on the Eye of Palpatine had given him a form of post traumatic stress disorder. Oh, he might be in love…or at least think he is, but his infatuation with Callista was forged under severe mental duress. Mara was positive that after a few months he would start seeing the futility of their relationship, but by then the damage to his reputation might be beyond repair.
She looked down at her clothing and for a moment considered going back to her apartment and change into something more…modest. This morning she pulled on an outfit she had worn many times while working out. It was a formfitting black and red sports bra top and black low-cut lycra shorts. It was the exercise clothing she wore during her kickboxing classes. She liked it because it offered her maximum maneuverability…but, as she stood in the gym waiting for Luke, she also realized it also offered maximum skin exposure. Suddenly she became self-conscious.
She took an indecisive step towards the exit, but then stopped when she spotted Luke walking into the gym with a brilliant smile on his face and lightsaber in hand. "Hey Jade."
Mara smiled back nervously. Now that he was here she wasn't sure if she could even go through with the talking part. She shouldn't be interfering in the Jedi's life.
"Hey, yourself." She shot back trying to sound casual as her eyes traveled over Luke's body. He was wearing a black tanktop over black nylon shorts. Her eyes paused at his arms and the impressive curve of his triceps. She never knew why she found that particular muscle sexy on a man…well that and a well toned backside…which Skywalker, as he began stretching his legs, appeared to also have.
Mara shook those thoughts out of her head. She was here to spar and hopefully talk, not ogle her friend's firm buttocks.
"Are you warmed up?" Luke asked.
"I'm warm…" Mara muttered absently as Luke stretched his lower back by leaning backwards making his shirt ride up and giving Mara a glimpse of his tight abs.
He straightened up and smiled. "What?"
Mara was flustered. "I'm warmed up."
"Okay," Luke said as he lit his lightsaber. "Shall we begin."
Mara had to admit she was having fun. Nobody could work a lightsaber like Luke Skywalker. He moved with a grace of a dancer and the athletic ability of a gymnast. After about an hour Mara was getting tired, but Luke wasn't even breathing hard.
"Stop, stop." Mara said as she tried to catch her breath.
They both deactivated their sabers. Luke went over to the side wall and retrieved his and Mara's water bottles. He walked over and handed the container to the redhead. "You're doing great. You've been practicing I see."
Mara nodded. "Yes, but only against remotes."
Luke took a swig of water and then looked at her intently. "You should come back to the academy."
Mara almost rolled her eyes. It always came back to this argument. Well not this time. "Would you like to do some hand-to-hand self defense training? I'm afraid Aves and Chin are useless to spar against. The biggest thing Chin wrestles with is a triple stacker Bantha burger and Aves won't fight me because he said he doesn't want to get beat by a girl."
Luke laughed. "Sure, I haven't had much opportunity to work on that particular skill." Luke pulled off his shirt and put it by the side wall along with his saber. Mara found herself temporarily mesmerized by the man. Obviously Luke's workout routine at the Academy had increased dramatically. He was definitely more muscular and well toned than the last time she saw him. For a second she almost reconsidered returning to the Jedi Praxeum.
"Mara…Mara." Luke broke into her musings and she blushed furiously as she realized she was standing there staring at him like some smitten schoolgirl. "If you are going to keep your saber, I think that should be considered an unreasonable advantage."
Mara looked down and realized she was still clutching her lightsaber. "Sorry," she mumbled as she went to the side wall and put it away. She walked back to Skywalker and took up a defensive stance. "Ready?"
Luke grinned. "I'm ready."
Mara lunged forward with a series of kicks towards the Jedi who either blocked or avoided the attacks with a frustrating ease. He countered her assault with a leg block followed by a spinning backfist which narrowly missed her head. After about five minutes of ineffective kicks and punches Mara decided it was time to take Luke to the ground. She feinted with a scissor kick and then turned suddenly and swept her other leg down taking Luke's feet out from under him. Mara pounced on his back trying to put him into a headlock. Luke rolled over escaping her grip and then did a quick move leaving him straddling Mara with his knees to the side and pinning her arms to the mat above her head.
Mara quickly arched her back trying to buck him off. She didn't quite succeed and ended up with Luke falling heavily down on her so they lay face to face their warm bodies pressing together. Luke and Mara both stilled—suddenly shocked at their very close proximity.
Mara felt a fluttering in her stomach as she gazed up at Luke's stormy blue eyes. They lay there looking at each other for no more than a few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. Mara could feel his muscles tense and she knew he was about to back away.
Before she could think about it, she broke free of his grasp with a flick of the wrists and then reached up and pulled Luke's head down to her and pressing her lips against his. For a moment Luke didn't respond, but then he returned the kiss with an ardent passion.
As suddenly as it started it was over. Luke rolled off Mara and sat up on the mat looking confused and troubled. "I'm sorry Mara, I can't do this."
She sat up and sighed. She lost control and let this get out of hand. She wanted to talk to him, not seduce him. "It's my fault Luke, I initiated it."
Luke buried his head in his hands. "I have never cheated on a woman. This isn't right."
Mara nodded sadly. Luke was many things, but a cheating kriff he wasn't. She couldn't believe she put him in this situation. "Luke, I'm sorry." She started to stand, intending to leave.
Luke reached out and pulled her back down to a sitting position. "Mara, don't leave. I need to talk to somebody." He gave her a pleading look.
She hesitated for a moment. "Sure, I'll stay. What do you want to talk about?"
Luke's face was distorted with grief. "I love Callista, but I know I can't live my life this way. I crave more."
Mara put a gentle hand on his knee. "Luke, you're human. It's natural to want to have a full relationship, to settle down, to marry and have children. It's normal."
"I know," Luke moaned. "But I told her I would love her forever."
"And you meant it at the time and you may feel that way now. It doesn't change the facts. She can't give you any more than she is now. Will that be enough? If not, you are better off ending things sooner than later."
Luke let out a shuttering breath. "I was thinking about human replica droids like Guri. Maybe I could transfer Callista to one of those."
Mara heaved a sigh. Luke was trying to do the right thing all the time. "Luke, first of all, Guri was one of a kind created by the Imperial Department of Military Research, a now defunct institute. Even if we could find her creators I am sure a model like her would cost upwards of a million credits...which you don't have and-unless you plan on holding a money raising holothon—you probably will never have."
"She was my last hope for love," Luke said despondently.
"What?" Mara's voice was a little louder than she intended. "You must be barvy!" Mara grasped Luke's hand between hers. "You are a handsome, kind, loving and loyal man. That's what every woman in this galaxy is looking for in a mate." She gazed in his eyes deeply. "You will find love with a flesh-and-blood woman."
He gave a weak smile as he looked at Mara's hands clutching his. "Mara, why did you kiss me?"
Her smiled faltered as she quickly disengaged from the Jedi. "Luke it just was a loss of control on my part. I had a rock-hard, handsome man on top of me. There is just so much a woman can take."
Luke chuckled. "You always have a way of cheering me up." He stood and offered Mara his hand. She took it and allowed him to help her to her feet.
"What are you going to do?"
Luke thought for a moment. "I guess I need to think about the situation and then have a long discussion with Callista about our future."
He gave Mara a weak smile and then turned to leave.
"Luke," Mara said softly. "After you shower and change, do you want to join me for lunch? I have no hidden agenda—we can just talk about what you're going to say to her and your options."
Luke smiled. "I'd like that."
Callista was in Luke's bedroom rolling back-and-forth in a droid version of pacing. She wanted to join him to his trip to the fitness center today, but he informed her that droids were not allowed on the gym floors or mats. She sighed inwardly. No matter how much she felt human on a mental and emotional level, she was still trapped in a droid's body. She knew she could never give Luke what he needed or deserved in a mate. She should leave, but she couldn't. She loved Luke.
Suddenly she saw movement out the corner of the droid's optical lens. She turned and rolled backwards startled. There was a man in Luke's room. How could he have gotten in without her sensing his presence?
He was a stranger, but somehow he looked familiar. He was a young man with wavy light brown hair and piercing blue eyes. There was a small scar running down his forehead until it met his right eyebrow. What really shocked her was he was wearing Old Republic Jedi robes.
Callista tried to better focus the droids optics on the man, but found she could not get rid of the eerie blue glow around him. She would run a diagnostic on the visual centers of this droid later on, but right now she needed to find out why he was here.
She let out a series of beeps and twitters and turned her optical sensor to the datapad on the bedside table hoping the man would take the hint.
He laughed and gave a broad smile. "I don't need that. I can understand Artoo." He kneeled down in front of the droid. "You're still in there, aren't you Artoo?"
**My name is Callista ** she said in Artoo's language.
The Jedi rolled his eyes a bit. "I know all about you Callista. I would like to talk to Artoo. We're old friends. Can you let me talk to him a bit…privately?"
Callista wasn't sure what this man wanted, but she could feel the operating systems of the droid reacting so strongly to his presence that she relented.
**I'll let Artoo speak. I will return later.**
The man smirked. "Thanks."
When Artoo regained control of his audio controls he let out a long string of hoots, and tweets.
The man's eyes went wide. "Whoa, Artoo, I thought you would be happy to see me."
Artoo spoke quickly and loudly.
The man sighed. "Yes Artoo, I know I let you down…yes, and Padme…and Obi-Wan…and…ahhh Artoo, did you have to bring up the younglings?"
The droid started off on another tirade, shaking back and forth angrily.
"Okay, okay, I get it. You're angry. I'm sorry Artoo. I did save Luke at the end of my life."
Artoo tweeted and squealed.
The man flinched at Artoo's words. "Artoo, maybe it's time for me to talk to Callista. Hopefully she'll be more reasonable. Callista!"
**I'm here. Who are you?**
He gave a cocky grin. "I'm Luke's father."
Callista stared at the man. She had heard about Jedi Masters coming back in spirit form, but she never witnessed it for herself.
**What do you want?**
"Callista I came to bring you back to the Force. This is not your time or place. You're not Luke's destiny. He's destined to love and marry another woman and have a son…a son who will help defeat a world of Sith. It is his destiny."
**But I love him.**
Anakin's face softened. "I know about love. Sometimes we tear apart the things we love the most by trying to hold onto them too tightly." He stood and walked over to Luke's bed, sitting on the edge. "Callista, you loved before and that love is still strong within you." He paused. "Geith is waiting for you on the other side. He's been waiting a very long time for your return."
**Geith? You've seen Geith?**
"Yes, he just doesn't have the skills to come back to this realm. He still loves you and wants you back. He's been patiently waiting."
**Geith…my love…Geith?**
"Callista, come out of Artoo and follow me. You know your relationship with Luke will only end up hurting him emotionally." He reached out his hand towards the droid. "Please… for Luke, for Geith and the future of the galaxy. Make the right choice."
There was a moment of hesitation, but then a bluish glow surrounded Artoo and coalesced into the form of a tall brunette woman. The Jedi smiled and took Anakin's hand. "Will you take me to him?"
Anakin smiled warmly. "Of course."
As the two forms slowly disappeared Artoo's audio sensors picked up a faint distant cry. "Geith, my love, I've missed you."
"Luke are you sure you want me to come with you to see Callista?" Mara thought it was a strange request; she would think he would want privacy.
"Mara, you don't need to be in the same room, but I think if you're not there I won't be able to go through with this."
"Okay," Mara said reluctantly as they entered his apartment.
Luke walked in and called out. "Callista!"
He heard a series of beeps coming from the back of the apartment. Luke quickly moved to his bedroom where the sounds emitted from.
"Callista," he said softly. "We need to talk." He picked up the datapad. As he read the words his brow creased with confusion.
"What the…" He looked over to the droid. "Artoo? Is that you?" The droid let out a happy whistle.
"Where exactly did Callista go?"
Luke read the words in shock. "She dumped me for another guy?"
"Luke?" Mara called out.
"Come here!"
Mara entered the bedroom and glared at Artoo suspiciously.
"Artoo said Callista decided to go back to the flow of the Force." He read more of what the droid wrote. "He said she went back to her first love Geith." Luke smiled. He was happy that Callista found happiness, but he couldn't help but feel a little sad over his lost love.
Mara felt his distress through the Force. "Luke, it's best this way." She took his hand and pulled him to sit on the bed next to her. "She's happy…and she's with the Force."
Luke turned to Mara. "And you're here."
Mara looked shocked when the Jedi leaned over and kissed her. It was gentle at first, but then the kisses became more demanding. He leaned back and smiled. "Thanks Mara."
She reached behind his head and pulled him in for another kiss. "I can think of a few other ways you can show me your appreciation." Her lips touched his and Luke's heart skipped a beat. He was maneuvering to pull her down to his bed when he noticed Artoo watching them. He disengaged from Mara and gave her an apologetic smile. "Just a second."
The next thing Artoo knew his master was kicking him out of his room. The door slid shut and there was a noticeable click of the locks engaging. Artoo beeped angrily. He didn't even get a welcome back home from his Master! The droid turned and wheeled over to his charging unit. The last week was horrible. Being infested with Callista was worse than having to deal with See-Threepio.
Women! He didn't see what Luke saw in them.