So…my only excuse is that things have been really hectic lately and I keep forgetting to post… I'd promise to try harder, but I figure that's not going to mean much… Anyway, the mystery woman is identified in this chapter! Yay! And her master, which is hopefully surprising.
They had been on Kashyyyk a little over a week, and Leia had already forgotten about Anakin, Luke, and the Maridun mission. Well, mostly. It was still at the back of mind, a nagging thought that came back off and on just to annoy her.
They spent most of the day with Chewie and Malla, talking and catching up. Lumpy would usually either be off playing with his friends or in his room.
Today was no different from the other days. Han and Leia sat side-by-side from Chewie and Malla. Conversation was slightly awkward, with Han having to translate everything they said for Leia. She'd catch words now and then that she understood, but it wasn't very often that happened. She decided that it was very important to start learning Shriiwook, upon their return to Coruscant.
Chewie asked Leia something, so she turned to Han. "How are your parents, Luke?" Han translated.
Leia turned to Chewie, awaiting a response. "My parents are doing well, thank you. My father and Luke are on a Jedi mission, and have been preoccupied with that for months now, but other than that everything's normal."
Malla spoke up now, asking Han something. Leia caught the word 'children'. She turned to Han, but he didn't translate. "Probably," Han said with a grin. "Lots."
Leia frowned, confused. Lots of what? "Han?" she murmured.
He turned to her, his grin sheepish now. "She asked if we'd be having more kids after Jaina and Jacen."
Leia raised an eyebrow. "And you said lots?" She shook her head, turning to Chewie and Malla. "It depends on how much of a handful these two are." She placed a hand on her swollen stomach. "Maybe one, if things work that way. I have a busy life, a duty to the Jedi Order."
"Hey, that's not fair," Han complained. "Why do you get to decide?"
Leia turned to him, reaching out to pat his leg. "I'm the busier one, here, Han. And, I'm that would be carrying them. I'm not sure I could just keep abandoning the Order like that."
"Losing my kids to the Order, losing my wife to the Order, losing the chance to have more kids to the Order," Han shook his head angrily. "What else there to take?" He stood and went out the front door, onto the wraparound porch.
Leia sighed, standing. "Excuse me," she murmured to Chewie and Malla, going out the front door to follow Han. He was standing rigidly, hands fisting the railing. She walked over quietly, placing a gentle hand on his back. He didn't move.
"Han," Leia murmured, running her hand down his back, then up again. "It's not your fault, it's not my fault, it's not the Order's fault. I was born to serve and protect. I was born with the Force. It's my destiny. No matter how much I may want to leave and have kids and a family, and a normal life, I can't. Two kids is even a handful. I know that having children gives to the Order, but I can't keep taking time from my duty while carrying them. It's not right."
Han was silent for a moment. Finally he turned to Leia. "That's not fair. I know that you were born into this life, but shouldn't you get the choice whether you want to start a family? Your dad fixed those rules, why not take advantage of them?"
"If the rules were taken too much advantage of, that might persuade the Council to just change them back. If Jedi women keep taking time to have children, it'll interfere with what we're all meant to do; our first priority."
Han sighed, taking Leia in his arms. She rested her head against his chest, his chin on top of her head. "Just one more?"
Leia laughed. "I haven't even given birth to Jaina and Jacen yet and you're already planning the next child?" She sobered quickly. "I think…I might be able to swing another child. It all depends on events in the future, but I'm sure if this is the last, it'll be fine."
Han smiled in relief, kissing the top of Leia's head. "It's not that I'm not going to love Jaina and Jacen with all my heart, it's just that I've always wanted a big family. It's been my dream since I was kid, since I never had a family growing up."
"I understand," Leia murmured.
On Maridun, Luke and Anakin had already scaled the mountain easily. It had taken most of the day, but they were finally towards the top, and that cave opening. They were taking a break in a shady, grassy area on the mountain, sitting on some large rocks.
Luke looked up at the sound of someone's approach. He nodded in that direction, laying a hand on his lightsaber handle. Anakin did the same, straining to find some trace of who was approaching them.
From the bushes a dark, cloaked figure appeared. Their pace was slow and purposeful, carried by someone with power. Luke frowned.
The hood fell back, revealing a young woman with bright red hair falling over her shoulders. Her eyes were a piercing green, brighter than any green he had ever seen. She had a wicked smile on her face, showing perfect white teeth.
She stopped only a small distance from Anakin and Luke, eyeing them.
"Hello," she said in a voice close to a hiss. "My master has been awaiting you."
Anakin gave Luke an uneasy glance that he returned. He turned back to the woman. "I'm-"
"Master Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker. I know." She smiled slyly. "Mara Jade." She turned on her heel and walked away, as if expecting them to follow. After a moment, they did.
"Master," Mara bowed her head slightly to a tall, shirtless man. Across every inch of skin, there were strange markings, most likely of an alien origin. Mara stepped aside so that her master could see Anakin and Luke.
He grinned at the two Jedi. "I've been waiting a long while to make acquaintances with the Skywalker family." He searched them. "But I see we're missing one. Where's the woman? Leia, was it?"
Anakin flinched inwardly at this man's knowledge. "Leia's very pregnant, and back home, waiting to give birth." Anakin hoped this would hurry up, so they could back to Coruscant in time to see Jaina and Jacen's births.
"Pregnant, hmm?" The man's eyes became unfocused. "Jedi twins… Yes, they'll be strong in the Force."
Luke felt a chill cover his skin, making him shiver slightly. They hadn't mentioned she was having twins.
The man's eyes refocused. "Pardon my negligence; I haven't introduced myself." A grin spread on his face. "I'm Jerakah, Master of this clan, and of this planet."
Anakin and Luke gaped at the man, horror crossing both their faces. "You can't be Jerakah," Luke told him, "Jerakah was killed by Raek over a year ago, and Raek was killed by Leia."
Jerakah laughed. "Raek was expendable. I convinced him to tell everyone he killed me, and claim to be the master. He would die, and I would be free to roam. I got stronger, and returned to my clan here on Maridun. Here is where I've stayed since, teaching my clan the dark ways of the Force." His grin turned even more evil, if that was possible. "And now, we're stronger than the entire Jedi Order."
Anakin felt the air rush from his lungs, unable to believe this was happening. How had Jerakah slipped right through their fingers? "You'll never win, Jerakah."
Jerakah chuckled. "And who will stop us? They have no idea where we are; how are we supposed to be found? Are you going to tell them?" He laughed. "No, I'm sure we'll be quite safe here. And so will you." He waved a hand at Mara. "Bring them to the back room."
Mara nodded, herding Anakin and Luke to the room. Anakin hesitated, but with a menacing look from Jerakah, he was following Luke's lead.
As they were brought to the room, they saw that it was nothing more than cold stone, not any sort of decoration anywhere. Mara stepped to the torch and lit it silently, throwing light onto odd carvings on various walls. She turned to Luke and Anakin. "I have to take your lightsabers," she told them, holding out her hands.
Anakin shot her a glare, but took the lightsaber from his belt and slapped it into her hand. Angrily, he paced the room. Luke made no protest, taking the lightsaber and placing it in her other hand. As Mara was turning to leave, a question struck Luke. "Mara?"
Mara froze at the sound of her name. She didn't turn. "What?"
"Why are you here? You're no Sith."
Now, Mara turned. Her green eyes were narrowed. "What makes you think I'm not? Just because I'm not threatening you?"
Luke shook his head. He was probably treading on thin ice, but he kept going. "Your eyes- they're not yellow, like a Sith's. They're bright green and…clear."
Mara frowned, glaring at Luke a long moment. "I was born into this clan, twenty years ago. It's where I've remained my whole life, and where I shall always remain." Abruptly, she turned and slammed the door behind her. There was the sound of locking, then nothing.
Luke turned to Anakin, who was watching him carefully. "You can't be born a Sith," Luke told his father, "As you and I both know. You have to choose it, and clearly she hasn't. That might be helpful."
Anakin was still watching Luke carefully. Luke didn't flinch under his gaze. Finally, Anakin spoke, turning away from Luke. "We have to find some way to get out of here. I have the feeling that Jerakah wants to hurt Leia- and Jaina and Jacen. We can't protect them from in here."
"As long as they're on Kashyyyk, they'll be fine," Luke assured his father.
"They'll be returning soon, so Leia can give birth on Coruscant. There's less than a month left. How long will we be here?" Anakin sighed, pacing again, his hands together behind his back. Luke opted not to join Anakin in his pacing. Instead, he sat on the cold, hard floor. He started studying the carvings in the wall next to him.
"I wish Artoo was here, to see if he could identify these," Luke murmured, tracing the odd shapes with his forefinger.
Anakin stopped pacing and joined Luke by the carvings. He squinted, tilting his head. "I've never seen them before," he confirmed, standing once more.
Luke sighed, turning away from the wall. Now, there was nothing to do but wait.