Chapter Two:
Luke paused outside the Blue n' Black, and stretched his senses. He had to wait for too many precious seconds to pick her unique presence out from the hundreds of others that had just poured from the building.
Once he had it, he clung to it, and slowly followed it through the underbelly's horribly dank and filthy streets. Luke stopped at a store, and then frowned as her presence seemed to backtrack.
Trusting the Force to guide him, Luke followed the trail. He found himself looking at an abandoned building, dark and foul-smelling. Luke felt the remnants of negative emotions and hate… and a lingering lustful desire for revenge.
Luke steadied himself against whatever he would find, and moved to open the door. When it didn't budge, he used the Force to short out the keypad, and the door slid slowly open. Luke entered with his lightsaber in hand but unlit.
There was a tiny lobby and a two-way hallway. He felt something pull him to the left, and he followed. He came to a well-lit room with only a single metal table in the center. Peering at the table with mixed feelings, he saw the dried blood at one end, and Luke's stomach knotted.
Remembering the abdominal pain he'd felt, Luke was beginning to have an idea of what had happened, and he felt sick. He saw a door at the other end of the room that was slightly ajar.
Luke gingerly pushed it open, and found himself in a nearly pitch-black alley. Luke lifted his hood, and his eyes spotted a pale form lying against the opposite wall.
"Mara!"
Luke was by her side in an instant, ignoring with difficulty the fact that she was naked. That snag evaporated like steam when he saw her injuries. He gently rolled her over, touching her face with his hand. Vomit was dried on the ground, and matted into her hair.
He gasped when he saw ugly bruises on her breasts, and a trail of what looked like bite-marks down her front, until they ended in even more heinous bruising intermingled with blood on her hips and thighs.
Luke looked away, holding back the urge to be sick, and removed his cloak, covering her. Using the Force, Luke checked for any major physical damage. Finding none, he picked her up and cradled her to his chest lovingly.
Tears sung his eyes as he also saw bruising on her face, including a black eye, which was swollen shut.
"Oh, Mara…" Luke choked, hugging her tight against him. He let the tears flow freely for her.
After a minute he shifted her slightly, made sure she was covered, and carried her out of the alley. Luke bit his lip as he thought. Walk all the way back, or hail a cab and risk this going public?
Finally deciding that she needed urgent medical attention, Luke hailed a speeder. He was careful to keep his disguise in place as he entered the yellow speeder. He covered Mara's face with the hood of his cloak.
"Imperial med center please, as fast as possible." Luke ordered.
The cab driver nodded and they sped away. Luke took out his comlink and hailed Cilghal, who was currently on Coruscant, and asked her to meet him at the medical center. It took longer that Luke was comfortable with, but finally they arrived. Luke tossed him a credit chip, and left the vehicle.
Cilghal was waiting with a stretcher, and Luke carefully placed Mara's stiff form on it.
"Cilghal, I would like to keep this as quiet as possible, please." Luke implored her. "For Mara's sake."
"Of course, Master." The Mon Calamari replied in her gravelly voice. "Let's get her indoors."
Luke followed the Jedi Healer as she guided the hover-gurney into the hospital and from there to a private room. Once inside, Cilghal removed the cloak Luke had covered Mara with, and Luke averted his eyes respectfully.
Cilghal worked quickly and quietly, examining Mara from head to toe, and cleaning her body as she went. Luke sat in a chair, still facing away, and waited anxiously. Finally, Cilghal placed a webbed hand on his shoulder.
Luke looked up.
"Physically she is bruised, as is plain to see, but there is no permanent damage that I can find." Cilghal informed him.
"Cilghal, I… was she…?" Luke couldn't bring himself to finish the question.
"Yes. She was raped." Cilghal said softly. "I am sorry, Master Skywalker."
Luke sucked in a haggard breath, tears springing angrily to his eyes again. He ran a jerky hand through his already mussed hair.
"Who? Who would do this?" He whispered.
"I don't know at this time, but I did take samples to view. I will let you know what I find." Cilghal replied. "I also gave her some antibiotics to fight off any infection."
"Can I take her to my place now?" Luke asked. He glanced at Mara, who was now wearing a simple hospital gown.
"I think she should stay here overnight, Master." Cilghal objected.
"Mara would not want to wake up here after what happened." Luke said.
"Would it be better for her to wake up in a man's bed?" Cilghal countered.
Luke pursed his lips. "I think it would be best for her to be with a friend." He finally said.
Cilghal considered this, and then nodded. "I will write up care instructions, and then I will discharge her."
"Thank you, Cilghal, for everything." Luke said, touching her arm in a friendly fashion.
She nodded and left the room, leaving Luke alone with his best friend. He sat by her side, and took her hand.
"I am so sorry, Mara." He whispered, resting his forehead on her hand. "I wish I could take it away."
He sat in silence until Cilghal reappeared, carrying a bag of medication and instructions for him. Minutes later, Luke was carrying Mara out of the med center, once again concealing their identities.
Once he arrived at the Imperial Palace, Luke rode the turbolift to his floor. Using the Force to punch in his code, Luke entered his apartment. Luke took Mara to his room, and, lifting the sheets with the Force, Luke laid her on the bed, and then gently tucked her in.
Luke watched her for a moment, and then quietly exited the room.
To his surprise, R2 rolled in as he exited, and moved to the corner so he could stand watch over her. Luke smiled warmly at the affection R2 was showing.
"Thank you Artoo."
The droid warbled softly, and turned his dome to face Mara.
Luke went to his comm. unit and again hailed Karrde.
"Master Skywalker, I trust you have news?"
Luke glanced at the door to the bedroom, wondering how much he should tell Mara's employer. But he didn't want her to lose her job; she loved it too much…
"Mara is going to need a leave of absence, Talon." Luke finally said, turning back to the comm. "She's been…" Luke looked away, not wanting to say the word.
"What?" Karrde pressed, sensing the Jedi's hesitation.
"She's been raped, Talon." Luke felt the words tear at him like a vibroblade.
Talon's eyes went wide, and he looked around on his end to make sure no one was eavesdropping.
"Is she okay?" He finally asked into the thick silence.
"Physically no permanent damage was found: I had her examined by Cilghal." Luke informed him. "But only time will really tell. As for the emotional and mental scars this will create, I can't say how she's doing."
Talon pursed his lips. "She's staying with you, I presume?"
Luke nodded wordlessly.
"That's good. She will be well looked after, then." Talon said. "Thank you for looking after her, Luke."
Luke dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Anything for Mara."
"Indeed."
00000
Mara Jade woke to a comfortable bed, and warm sheets. She breathed deeply, inhaling the warm air. A soft beeping sounded to her right, and she frowned. She opened her emerald eyes… or rather, the one that would obey her. Her frown deepening, Mara moved her hand to touch her swollen eye.
And with the feel of her injury, the rest of the awful memories came flooding back. Mara cried out in agony, wailing into the pillow.
"Mara?"
A hand tentatively touched her shoulder, and she jerked fearfully, moving away from the contact. Mara curled herself into a ball, trying to ward off the next wave of abuse.
"It's okay, Mara. It's me."
She frowned: she knew that voice.
Peering out from the folds of hair that had draped down in front of her face, Mara found herself looking into concerned azure eyes.
"Mara?"
Something in her crumpled, and Mara scrambled over to him, launching herself into his embrace. She sobbed horribly against his shoulder, and he held her without question, rocking her back and forth gently.
Several minutes later, Mara ran out of tears, and simply clung to him, broken.
When she grew weary, Luke helped her lay back down. She grabbed his hand, and clung to it, silently pleading with him to stay. Luke perched on the edge of the bed, and remained with her well after she fell asleep.
00000
Luke pulled the blanket back over Mara, and stood silently. He glanced at the droid still keeping vigil in the corner.
"Artoo, keep an eye on her, okay?" He said. "I'm going to try to get her a change of clothes."
R2 beeped reassuringly, and Luke left the apartment.