Myrkr

Jacen collapsed to the forest floor as a stunbolt blast struck him in back. Mark turned to where the shot originated and found Luke Skywalker standing there with blaster drawn.

"Thanks Luke," Mark said somewhat relieved. "If I shot Jacen again I'm sure Jaden would have a fit."

Luke aimed his blaster to the branches above as he scanned the area. "After that beating Jacen gave your son I really doubt he would give you any grief about another stunning."

"You may be right," Mark went over to his unconscious nephew and bent down next to him, checking his condition. "Luke, that was a close one. We could have lost him," he said sadly as he picked up Jacen and hoisted the Jedi over his shoulder.

"That was too close for comfort," Luke observed as he gave Mark a curious look. "What was he doing out here?"

"I think he was trying to escape to Hyllyard City," Mark said as he started walking back to the base.

Luke fell in step next to him and gave an incredulous shake of the head. "That's suicide."

"I don't think his safety really mattered to him at that point." Mark gave Luke a knowing look. "I sensed a man who had given up all hope…Jacen didn't care if he lived or died."

Luke gave a soft sigh as he carefully stepped over the broken and snapped branches leading back to the compound. The Grand Master looked over the devastation in a mixture of awe and surprise. "Force shoves and blasts were never your specialty…I am impressed at how you demolished your way through the trees with such power."

Mark gave Luke a shy smile. "I was taught by the very best…and never underestimate the power of adrenaline, fear and dread."

As they approached Karrde's base Jaina and Ben ran up to check on Jacen.

"Is he okay?" Jaina asked as she tried to assess her brother's condition while he bounced up and down on his uncle's shoulder.

"He's just stunned," Luke reassured her.

Mark saw Jaden up ahead. He was leaning on Talon's shoulder for support while he holding an icepack to his chin.

"Are you okay, Jaden?" his father asked anxiously.

The young man gave his father a sheepish look. "Yeah, my pride is wounded worse than my face."

"That's good." He gave his son a smirk. "I want to let you know I didn't stun Jacen. So don't yell at me."

"At this point Dad, I may whip out a blaster and stun him a few times myself. I can't believe he hit me."

"And choked you out," Talon reminded his brother.

Jaden frowned. "Shut up, Talon."

"Mark," Luke spoke up. "Get him inside and this time we do sedate him." He turned to Jaden. "Can we keep him under until the Solos get here?"

Jaden nodded. "I have the medicine to sedate him, but somebody needs to volunteer for 'fresher duty, because I'll catheter him before I escort him to the latrine again."

Talon cringed at the thought but then gave an amused snort. "Serves him right. If you punch the doctor bringing you to the 'fresher get ready for the rubber hose."

"Knock it off, Talon," Mark commented. He knew joking was Talon's coping mechanism while in stressful situations, but Mark could see Jaina was not amused.

"Do what you need to do, Jaden." Luke said then marched back into the building.

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.

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Late that afternoon, Talon Tantiss ran into the dayroom to inform Luke and Mark of the Han and Leia's impending arrival. "The Millennium Falcon just broke atmosphere and should land shortly."

"Thanks Talon," Mark replied as he stood and straightened his overly tight tunic. He didn't want to greet Leia and Han in his blood stained shirt he had worn the day Lumiya had met her end. He had borrowed a shirt from Talon. The boy was big, but not as big as his father and the shirt hugged his frame uncomfortably. Mark glanced over to Luke. "How do you think this meeting is going to go?"

Luke shrugged. "Badly, I don't know how it could possibly go well. I have to tell my sister her son not only tried to kill my wife, but you and your son and now he appears to be suicidal."

"I don't think Jacen is that bad off," Mark said as he walked down the corridor with Luke. "It's true that he attacked three of his family members, but I am fairly certain I'm the only one he actually intended to kill."

Luke gave a snort of disbelief. "Oh, well, I guess that makes it alright then."

Mark shook his head. "Not acceptable, but it mitigates the situation somewhat…and to be honest, I'm used to it…people are always trying to kill me."

Luke laughed despite the seriousness of the situation. "That is true. I think I'm the only person with more time in a bacta tank than you."

They walked out to the front courtyard where Ben, Jaina and Talon stood, all peering into the harsh light of the Myrkr sky awaiting the approach of Han's ship.

"There it is," Jaina said while pointing just above the treeline.

Luke squinted into the sunlight and eventually saw the familiar outline of the Millennium Falcon as it approached. Luke glanced over to Mark who was grinning broadly. "I thought you were nervous about seeing the Solos."

Mark turned to Luke and smirked. "I am," he said cryptically.

"Then why are you grinning like a Kowakian Monkey lizard on spice?"

Mark's grin grew broader as the Falcon landed in an open field near the crowded landing platform. "I don't want to ruin Han's surprise."

The group strode over to the ship and watched as the boarding ramp slowly lowered. The first person out was Leia. She was dressed in a casual tunic with trousers, but her face was a portrait of sadness and sheer apprehension. Jaina ran up to her mother and embraced her. When they separated Leia held her daughter's shoulders and gazed at her sadly. "How is Jacen?"

Jaina looked like she was going to cry. "Physically he's fine. Mentally…I don't know."

Luke looked over to Mark who was watching the ramp expectantly with a slight smile still on his lips. He was about to ask him what he was hiding when he heard Ben scream out, "Mom!"

Luke's head swung around to the Falcon and saw his wife slowly moving down the ramp as Han hovered next to her protectively. A wide smile blossomed across Luke's face as he raced toward Mara. Ben beat him to her and practically crushed his mother in a big hug.

"Easy Ben, your mother is not quite up to peak condition," Han pointed out. "Try not to squash her."

Neither Ben nor Mara seemed to hear the former smuggler's warning. They held each other tightly, crying on each other's shoulders. "Gods, Mom," Ben sobbed. "I was so afraid you wouldn't recover. You were dead…" Ben's voice cracked and faltered for a moment. "Dead."

Mara tried to say something but the stormy emotions of the moment rendered her speechless. She instead kissed her son on the cheek and then rested her forehead on his shoulder as tears slipped down her cheek and onto his tunic.

Luke walked up to them and put a hand on Ben's shoulder. The young man looked up and gave his father a wane smile. "Sorry for monopolizing her Dad." He stepped away allowing Luke time to give Mara a proper greeting.

Luke gazed at her lovingly for a brief moment before he pulled her into his arms and gave her a deep, soft kiss. It was a kiss of love, hope and relief. He broke the kiss and hugged her tightly as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. "I don't know what I would have done if I lost you," he whispered to her fiercely as tears of joy streamed down his face.

She pulled away so she could look him in the eyes. "I don't even want to consider being apart ever again." She kissed him tenderly. "I love you and Ben so much."

Luke smiled. "I love you too." He looked up to Han who was standing nearby looking uncomfortable with the overt display of emotion. "Thanks Han for bringing her."

Han shrugged. "It's not like I had a choice. Your wife can be quite insistent when she wants to be." Han looked down at the ground nervously. "Besides, I was told my son was the reason she was in the condition she was in."

Luke's shoulders slumped. "Yes, he was." He pointed to building behind him. "He's inside. I guess we should go in and discuss the situation."

Han didn't look Luke in the eye but merely nodded.

Luke put an arm over Mara's shoulder and turned toward the building. It was then that Mara saw Mark. Her eyes locked on his as she broke away from Luke and marched over to him. She gazed into his yellow stained eyes and shuddered. "Mark," she said grimly, "You turned to the dark side to save me."

He gave her an apologetic half smile. "Yes," he admitted.

She smacked him across the chest. "You're an idiot."

Mark's eyes went wide but his smile didn't falter. In fact he laughed at her response.

"Mom tells him that all the time," Talon pointed out from where he stood behind his father.

"Be quiet Talon," Mark said with a glance over his shoulder. He turned back to Mara. "Mara, did you expect less from me? I would die for my family…you, Luke, Kira, Jaden," he glanced over to his smart mouth son, "And maybe Talon."

"That hurts, Dad." Talon said with a sarcastic tone.

Mara put a hand on Mark's chest. "I know you would, but the dark side…I love you for bringing me back to my family…but that was so dangerous."

Mark reached down and took her hands in hers. "I would do anything for my family. Anything!" He gave Mara's hands a squeeze. "Besides, I sense you're not angry with me, just worried."

She raised an eyebrow. "And how do you sense that on this Force-Forsaken world?

Luke came up behind Mara and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "That's a long story. Let's get out of the hot sun and we'll tell you all about it."