I hate to admit that this chapter doesn't feature Leia and Han despite it being a story about them… I don't think I really realized that I'd done that until know… Oops… But, I hope people like it all the same. It mainly focuses on Mara.
Luke was staring at the wall across from him, not really seeing it. His mind was on everything but the wall, actually. His thoughts were with his pregnant sister, praying for her safety, and the twins' safe delivery. His thoughts were on the Jedi Order, and what would happen if- when- Jerakah's clan attacked them. There weren't enough Jedi to protect everyone. But, mainly, Luke's thoughts were on Mara Jade.
She was younger than him, he could tell, but not by much. She wasn't naïve, that much was obvious. She was quite headstrong. She reminded him of Leia in that way. What had Luke continually puzzling were her eyes. He couldn't get the image of the clear green, like the grassy fields of Naboo's Lake Country, out of his head. A real sith had eyes of the brightest yellow. He had seen it in Raek's eyes, much to his chagrin. And more recently, he'd seen in Jerakah's eyes.
If Mara wasn't a real sith, then maybe most of the people here weren't either. Maybe there were only two real sith, like there's supposed to be. The rule of two. Jerakah and his apprentice, whoever that may be. It would make the most sense for Mara to be his apprentice. She was the one closest to him, as Luke had noticed throughout the few days they had been here. If she wasn't his apprentice, who was?
If the entire clan wasn't made of real sith, just many misguided Force-sensitives, did that mean they could be turned? Be saved? If Jerakah was to be defeated, would the Order be able to convince the leader-less clan to follow them, the enemy, instead?
Luke's thoughts turned once more to Mara. Would she want to become a Jedi? Would she be able to learn the ways of the Jedi, even at this age? Even joining the Order at ten years old, as his father had done, was too old.
Luke sighed and shifted against the hard stone wall. His gaze fell on his father, meditating across the cave. He wondered what he was thinking about. Did he notice the same things as Luke about the difference in Jerakah's "sith"? Granted, there were more important, personal, things to think about. He could be thinking about Leia, worrying about the connection this could have to his Force dream about her.
Shaking his head, Luke returned his eyes to wall. He was about to return his thoughts to Mara once more when Anakin whispered hurriedly "Someone's coming."
Luke barely had time to take a breath before the door was opened and light was thrown across the stone floor. He squinted against the sudden brightness.
"Although I firmly disagree, Jerakah still wants you fed," Mara said haughtily, like she had the past few days. Probably to remind them how much she hated them.
Mara dropped a plate onto the ground, which rang a loud metallic clang as it hit the ground, food spilling off of the dish.
"Thank you," Luke told her, like he had every day before.
Mara shot him a glance before leaving, making sure to lock the door behind her. The first day he had said thank you, she had been stunned, staring at him with that green-eyed gaze. She had looked startled, and it left her expression vulnerable. Luke had seen the pain hidden below. Had seen the way she felt trapped, scared. Before he had been able to see more, she had hardened once more and sneered, leaving the room.
Anakin said nothing, just stood and walked over, looking down at the food. Sighing, he reached down and picked up something- it was too dark to see more than a few inches in front of his face- and ate it. He had been wary at first, wondering if Jerakah was poisoning them. But, the need for strength had overridden that worry. That, and the fact that Anakin knew Jerakah wanted them alive. For some reason, he wanted the Skywalker family. It was a reason they didn't want to think about.
Following his father's lead, Luke reached out to the food.
Mara strode angrily to her quarters. She couldn't exactly pinpoint what her anger was directed at. She knew it was something to do with that Skywalker boy. He was infuriating with his Jedi kindness. But, then again, the older one said nothing. He wasn't kind like the younger one. Perhaps the younger one was more naïve.
When the young Skywalker had had the nerve that first day to say thank you, Mara had been so taken aback, she had unintentionally let her guard down. She had seen Skywalker giving her that look. Not one of pity, but one of understanding. It was a completely sincere look of kindness, and in it, Mara had seen things she still felt longing for. She had seen things she didn't want to think about.
If she hadn't heard the sound of Jerakah yelling at Batai, once again, she might've never come out of it. And that thought scared her more than anything.
As she reached her quarters, she found Kierra sitting on her bed, apparently waiting for her.
"What is it?" Mara asked, going to the small opening in the wall that led to the outside. It had glass covering it, like a window. The rain outside splattered against it.
"Can I ask your opinion on something?" Kierra asked carefully. Her voice had an edge to it. It sounded like…fear.
Mara turned, really seeing Kierra this time. Her blonde hair was pulled away from her face. Her face was completely emotionless, but her blue eyes betrayed her fright. What could Kierra possibly have to be frightened about? "Of course."
Kierra's eyed darted to the open door, then back to Mara's face. Mara got the hint and went over, shutting the door and once more facing Kierra. It must be serious.
"Well," Kierra started, wringing her hands nervously in her lap. "I've done something…bad. Something Jerakah wouldn't like. And…you're my closest friend and I didn't know who else to go to…"
"What've you done?" Mara asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. Kierra wasn't exactly the type to defy orders, especially Jerakah's.
Kierra grabbed a stray piece of her hair, twisting it between her fingers. Finally, her words all came out in a rush. "I married Ishan!"
Mara could only gape at Kierra. She wasn't sure what to say. Jerakah forbade marriage in his clan. Marriage led to caring, which led to Jedi ideals. It led to the light side. To break such an important law… "But why?"
Kierra bit down on her lip, eyes wide with fear. "Because I love him, Mara. Love him deeply. More deeply than anything."
Mara stood to pace the small room, her hands clasped behind her back. "Jerakah isn't going to be happy. Not happy at all."
"What will he do?" Kierra asked worriedly. Mara knew Jerakah better than any of them. She would know what his move would be, if he were to find out, that is.
Mara shook her head. From what she knew about Jerakah, he didn't like to be deceived. To know that two of his clan had directly disobeyed him… All directions seemed hopeless. "He'll…'do away' with you and Ishan, that I know."
Kierra looked frightened, but not regretful. In fact, there was no hint of regret anywhere within her. "What should we do?"
Mara didn't want to see her friend killed. She knew that Jerakah wouldn't be happy with her, but she was his favorite… "Run away."
Kierra looked up in surprise. "What?"
"Run away from the clan, from here. Run far away. So far that Jerakah won't ever see you again. He won't bother with such a trivial thing as trying to find you once you're gone, so just run and don't look back."
Kierra looked saddened at leaving her family, her friends, her life, but her mind was made up. She nodded in agreement. Standing, she went for the door. She paused at it, though, turning back to Mara. "We'll leave tonight." She nodded once more, as though to cement her words. "Thank you, Mara. You've been a great friend. Thank you."
And she was gone. Thank you. There were those infuriating words again. Mara had forgotten about Skywalker while dealing with Kierra's problem, but now that that problem was solved, Mara was left to stew over Skywalker once more.
With an angry sigh, Mara turned to the window and watched the rain pound against the glass, feeling helpless against everything that had happened, was happening, and was due to happen.