AN: So I finally have enough reviews to make the whole response to reviews thing worthwhile. I hope to start every chapter like this. As far as how many chapters are left, I am unsure. I'm thinking that I am, at the most, 30% done with the story. So probably 13-14 more, minimum. Whether or not I end up having the fortitude and/or the strength of will to see this trough is still up for grabs. LSAT prep courses + 9 credit 7 week summer semester + 20 hours of work a week = not much free time for writing. OK, on to the good stuff from most recent to latest review (I am ignoring reviews from last year since responding or commenting on them is somewhat pointless).
Addendum on 7/16/2012: WO, sorry about the double posted chapter. For those of you just keying into this story, please read Chapter 3 again. It should now fill in the period between Jacen's internal deliberations about sharing his plans with Mara and his getting ready to leave the frigate. Sorry about the double post.
Onimiman: pertaining to Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 reviews.
Well I don't know if its gall or merely a necessary occurrence for me to be able to tell my story. And truth be told, Luke is now my favorite character following Jacen's demise but the fact that they had to dig up a Celestial (closest thing Star Wars has to a demigod) in order to feasibly threaten almighty Luke is somewhat irritating. The man's overpowered if you will forgive the gamer lingo… HE NEEDS A NERF.
OK, so the force feeling muddled to Jacen and him atypically ascribing anything pertaining to how he perceives the force TO EVERYONE EVERYWHERE is just typical Jacen arrogance. And not just post-NJO Jacen. The Jacen of the NJO argued with Luke about everything and questioned everything… and thought he knew everything a little better than everyone. So if his emotions and fear for the future is muddling his ability to sense the force clearly, THAT must mean everyone's ability to touch the force is being distorted… right?
"Luke's death is the best thing…" wow, either you really hate Luke or my first three chapters are boring.
I'm glad I managed to tug at your heart strings a little in Chapter 4. The M-rating is there so I can indulge violence and perhaps other things if the story calls for it in the future. I'm glad you like my alternate ending for the Dark Nest Trilogy.
SORRY ABOUT DOUBLE POST PEOPLE!
Chemistry, huh? There is, eh? Maybe that's the intention… maybe not. Always in motion my plot is…
DO NOT get me started on Jacen turned into full-fledged brain damaged mode in LotF… that shit was ridiculous.
Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay: pertaining to Chapter 6 and 7 reviews.
No, Mara doesn't remember, at least not at the moment. I don't think if she did she would be inviting Jacen into her home and calmly conversing with him. I don't know if Jacen deserves your ire. Or maybe he does. He's clearly behaving unscrupulously…
Regarding this challenge: I just wanted to kill him earlier because he was be an ID-10-T (i'll update one of my fics, your choice, if you can figure out what that is. ;) I really will)!
I'm not quite sure if you're asking me whether I can make out that you wrote IDIOT or not… I'm Confused .
Guest: pertaining to Chapter 7 review.
Anonymous review! WHO DARES?
Fledgling? If Jacen does anything he does it with skill, maturity, and better than everyone else 'cause he's Jacen and Jacen always knows and does best… right?
Lordban: pertaining to Chapter 6 review.
Glad to re-welcome you aboard. Your statement is too enigmatic for my work addled brain to decipher… but I'm sure you're right.
Utuu: pertaining to Chapter 7 review.
Glad to have you back. Long live Jacen… in our hearts .
Master Krumina: pertaining to Chapter 7 review.
It will be finished this time! I hope… The mystery man is not AU. So the reveal at the end of FotJ holds true here as well. If you know the mystery man's identity… oh wait you mean Mara's passenger? Read below to find out.
Several people had assembled on the spoon-like landing pad that extended out of the Jedi Temple. The feature that allowed the Jedi to extend and retract the landing pad into and out of the hangar bay within the Temple's superstructure was an exact copy of the design concept of the pre-Empire Jedi Temple. Grand Master Corran Horn was already waiting, with his hands clasped behind his back. Kyp Durron was also present. Besides them, none of the other council Masters were there, presumably not for lack of respect but because they were otherwise occupied. The entire rest of the Skywalker-Solo clan was present, however. Ben and Jacen stood near Corran Horn, where Jacen was conversing quietly with Kyp Durron. Jaina, Leia, and Han were grouped a little off to the side where Han was busily trying to convince Jaina that the MF was superior to Mara's ship.
Looking up into the sky, it was still impossible to distinguish the Jade Shadow yet, although the ship was already within the planet's atmosphere, as per the latest update from the Temple air control tower. Jacen closed his eyes and reached outward with the force, locating his aunt easily. Her force signature was fiery and strong, as it had been before Luke's death, which was reassuring and filled him with joy. He sent her a gentle telepathic prod in greeting which she returned. He looked down at his little cousin and found the boy to be unemotional and stoic, not betraying any joy at the prospect of seeing his mother again. Jacen uncharacteristically mussed Ben's hair.
"Cheer up. You're not a Jedi Master yet… you're allowed to be happy." Ben grinned despite himself, though whether it was due to Jacen's rare display of affection or something else was unclear.
Kyp chuckled. "You're too hard on him, Jacen. He's only eleven and looks stronger than most apprentices two years his senior."
Jacen was annoyed at Kyp's admonishment but Ben stood straighter immediately and smiled like an idiot. Kyp noticed and laughed and Jacen realized that the whole thing was targeted at his cousin and not him.
The Jade Shadow was suddenly perceptible to all as it detached from an incoming line of traffic. It accelerated straight towards them, steadily growing in size. Being the only silver-gray ship that was angling directly towards them made it obviously Mara's ship. Several seconds later it came to a hovering stop above the pad. The engines and repulsors of the vessel caused the robes of the assembled Jedi and Han's scarf to flap in the wind. Mara landed the ship with that polished skill that was shared by the entire Skywalkers-Solo clan, i.e. the ability to pilot, and to pilot exceptionally. Several seconds later the boarding ramp lowered and Mara briskly descended, making straight for Ben, smiling broadly. Ben's resentment had either been a show or it was instantly forgotten at the sight of his mother. He detached himself from Jacen's side and ran to his mother who enveloped him in a hug.
"I missed you mom." He said. "A lot. Don't leave again."
Mara chuckled, and Jacen noticed her eyes glistening. Jacen could feel her joy in the force and it infected him as well. "I missed you to. And I promise I won't leave again in the near future. Not until you don't need me anymore."
"I'll always need you."
Mara smiled and caught Jacen's eye over her son's shoulder and mouthed a thank-you. Jacen inclined his head in return. His aunt looked much better than she had a half-year before. Her face no longer looked haggard. She looked her unusually age-defying self again. Mara and Ben rose from the permacrete and Mara walked up to Corran Horn.
"Master Jade-Skywalker." He greeted and smiled. "Welcome back."
"Grand Master Horn is it?" Mara asked. "Must I bow?"
"If I said yes, would you?" Corran rebutted, not missing a beat.
"Touché, you got me there. I had to try and trap you though."
"My ability to predict your verbal traps is why I'm the Grand Master." Corran explained, with a straight face.
Mara gasped in shock. "The power has already gone to his head."
"I try and keep him grounded but he keeps going on tirades about how Jedi have more insight than common people and should therefore rule the galaxy…" Kyp explained. "I swear his eyes sometimes turn orange."
Mara laughed.
Jacen had been joined by his sister and parents, and the four of them were still standing at a small distance, waiting for Corran and Mara to finish conversing. Corran glanced in their direction and then returned his attention to Mara. "It's good to have you back, Mara. I will leave you and your family alone, and allow you all to catch up."
With those words Corran, with Kyp in tow, turned and walked away in the direction of the Temple. Mara and Ben next to her turned towards the other four members of the family and a rambunctious few minutes of greeting and hugging and laughter ensued. Han cracked jokes about how flashy ships only attract unwanted attention and Leia noted Mara's fresh looks and jokingly acknowledged the potential need to leave for half a year and fight crime. Jacen's father instantly pulled her into a kiss, silencing her thought process, and reassuring her that she never looked better. Jacen suddenly turned around sensing, or rather barely sensing, another presence on the landing pad. Jacen stiffened when he caught the eye of a sharply dressed, handsome man who was standing at the bottom of the landing ramp, at a respectful distance. A blaster pistol hung at his side, but other than that he looked like a fair skinned, blond Lando… well dressed, immaculately groomed, and oozing confidence and charm, and something Jacen couldn't put his finger on. Oily was the adjective that he would use to describe it.
The rest of the family noticed Jacen's abrupt turn and the conversation that was taking place instantly died down. Mara turned a bit slower and detached herself from the rest of the group. She walked up to the man and they exchanged a few whispered words. Mara shook her head a few moments later and laughed. She grabbed the man's arm and pulled him in the direction of Jacen and the rest.
"This is Lar'shan. I'm sure Jaina told you all how he and I met. I didn't ask her to keep it a secret after all."
Lar'shan walked up to Han first, and extended his hand. "I've heard a lot about you, Han Solo. If you don't mind me saying, I'm a big fan."
Han didn't immediately extend his hand but when Leia prodded him with her elbow he reluctantly gave the man his hand. Leia was much more open towards the newcomer, ever the mediator. Jaina, never one to contradict her former master on anything, at least not openly and to her face, exchanged pleasantries in an admirably non-combative manner. Ben was not quite sure what to make of the man and simply shook the hand offered, while looking confused. He was the only person that had truly been surprised to find Mara with a companion, since Jacen had kept him in the dark. When Jacen's turn arrived, he clasped the hand presented him. The man had a remarkably dim force signature. If he was force sensitive, Jacen would have attributed it to the man hiding his presence in the force. But he wasn't… that much Jacen could sense. Either the man was half Yuuzhan Vong or he was anomalous for some other reason. Jacen's pondering of the man's presence in the force had caused him to not immediately release Lar'shan's hand, following the initial shake, which was resulting in everyone staring at him, with Mara looking him imploringly.
Jacen noticed his actions and immediately released the hand, without breaking eye contact with the man before him. "I'm glad to meet you. It seems we might have you to thank for Mara's safe and swift return. My aunt is very dear to me and I am happy to make your acquaintance." Jacen lied through his teeth but he poured so much empathy into his voice that he managed to almost convince himself. Mara smiled at him gratefully. "As you may have heard, Cal Omas asked me to be his glorified bodyguard some months ago, and one of the perks of the job is the occasional free meal." Jacen said, addressing his aunt. "In this case, Chief of State Omas went out of his way to get us a reservation at Topicas in two hours, after he found out that you would be returning to Coruscant today. It's a reservation for up to eight people, so I suggest we take advantage."
Topicas was one of the most highly rated restaurants in the senatorial district. The suggestion went over well with everyone but Han, who protested to maintain his everyman image. In truth, Jacen knew that his father had definitely come to enjoy the finer things in life, though you'd never hear him admit it.
Several hours later the whole family, with the addition of Mara's new companion, were enjoying a pleasant evening of conversation and over-priced but fantastic food. They had all changed into suitable attire for the occasion. Jacen was wearing the only real suit he owned, that being the one he had purchased following the invitation to the Chief of State's soiree following the assassination that Jacen "prevented". Ben was wearing one of Anakin Solo's hand me downs, which fit him perfectly. Leia luckily had one hand, since Ben didn't own any fancy clothes to speak of. Han had thrown together an attire that would have met with his friend Lando's approval. Cape and finely tailored vest plus his Corellian bloodstripe trousers completed a dashing image.
Leia was classically attired in an elegant long-sleeve matte black gown with a deep V-back, offsetting the otherwise demure style. Jaina matched her mother's color choice but opted for a more risqué neckline. Her dress was a spaghetti strap style, which further countered her mother's choice. Mara wore a shimmering form-fitting purple dress. The dress was inlaid with silvery patterns that were only visible against the purple background when light touched them. Jacen recognized the pattern to be in the form of a Krayt dragon that winded up the dress. Its tail began at the bottom end of the dress and the roaring head culminated at the décolleté of the dress.
Jacen had not initially hoped to enjoy himself as much as he did, but he had to admit that the free-roaming habitat raised tauntaun pureed in onion marmalade with a side of seasoned Ossiathoran noodles was exquisite, an estimation he voiced.
"After slicing open one of those wauntaun's with Luke's lightsaber and using its body heat for warmth, I have to say I'm having a hard time not vomiting…" Han supplied, grinning.
Leia smacked her husband's arm. "Really, you are such a nerf-herder. At least try to behave in this place."
"Yes dear," Han responded in a mocking tone.
Leia sighed and turned to Lar'shan who had spent several minutes earlier arguing with Leia over which wine they should order, which served to ingratiate him to Jacen's mother rather than antagonize her. She seemed delighted to be able to dispute the merits of various vintages with another person versed in such things. The waiter had simply waited patiently, apparently used to such things.
Jacen tilted his head towards his sister who was sitting next to him. "What do you think of him?"
Jaina raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Aside from him being very hard to read I can't find anything untoward about him. Really, you're overdoing the whole 'not welcoming this new guy to our group' thing. Our family is not a gang."
Jacen frowned. "So I'm not the only one having a hard time getting a read him." He took a bite of his food and chewed slowly, relishing the flavors. "And I'm doing no such thing."
Jaina scoffed. "Sure. You didn't grasp his hand hard enough to make him wince and then refuse to let it go. Or throw him icy glares whenever he makes Mara or mom laugh. Seriously, if I didn't know any better I'd say you're jealous."
"Of his expertise in Oenology?" Jacen asked, pithily.
Jaina sighed. "His what? I hate it when you use words that no one knows the meaning of. And if it doesn't mean his superior charm and debonair ways then it's not what I was referring to."
"Well he doesn't appear to be a well formed and flawless fruit of the vitis genus, which also happens to ooze charm, so I don't think my word applies. Something's got to give here." Jacen said off-handedly.
Jaina cuffed him. "Are you mocking me?"
"Perish the thought." He said grinning. "Speaking of jealousy… I think that young man over there in the tailored Valencio suit has glanced at you several times since we sat down. I think he might envy me the simple privilege of sitting next to you." Jacen said this, while nodding barely in the direction the young man was sitting.
Jaina subtly glanced over her right shoulder in the direction Jacen mentioned. Once she had spotted the individual Jacen mentioned she made a split-second appraisal and then returned her attention to the meal in front of her. "He's cute." She acknowledged. The rest of the table's conversation was dying down and the other people were listening in on the twins' conversation.
"I can't say one way or another. But I can tell you that his fashion sense is impeccable." Jacen explained.
Jaina frowned quizzically. "You're an expert on these things now?"
Jacen shrugged. "If you spend hours each day shadowing the Chief of State, you will find yourself doing all kinds of things to keep entertained."
Lar'shan, sitting across from Jacen, cleared his throat audibly. "Not to contradict you there, young man," he began with a disarming smile, "but the Valencio suit that young man over there is wearing is part of last season's collection, not the current one, making it slightly out-of-fashion." He smiled deviously. "Let's just call that revenge for my poor bruised hand," he flexed his fingers, highlighting his meaning.
The entire table fell silent and everyone was looking at Jacen. Only Ben and Mara had heard what Jacen and Jaina had been conversing about, because Han and Leia had left the table a minute earlier, in order to dance.
Jaina snickered in amusement. "Do you need some salve to take the sting out of that verbal burn?"
Jacen did not betray his anger and kept his facial expression pleasant. "I stand corrected."
"No offense, of course," Lar'shan followed up. "Just have to remain on even-footing." He turned his attention to Mara. "I think your charming sister-in-law had the right idea. May I have this dance? With your permission of course, Ben."
"Uh, sure." Ben acquiesced, not sure why he was being asked.
As the two left the table, leaving only the three youngest members of the family seated, Jacen scraped together the remainders of his dish, swallowing his anger at the overly fashionable Lar'shan while dulling his annoyance with the flavorful food.
"Dancing is stupid." Ben announced, no doubt bored out of his mind.
"You're too young to appreciate it." Jacen returned.
Jacen rose to his feet, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, and walked over to the young man who had been the topic of their earlier conversation. He was sitting at a table with several other young people, but did not seem to be attached to any of them. The man noticed him approach and turned towards the invader of his table's space.
Jacen leaned down. "My sister would not be entirely opposed to the idea of dancing, if you should find it in yourself to ask her," he said quietly.
He did not wait to hear what the young man would reply and made his way to the bar, where he ordered a potent drink. He sat down on the stool and pulled his com-device out of his pocket. He skimmed through the various data packets that his informant had intermittently sent him in the last several hours until he found the one that he was looking for. Entitled 'Packet 5: Mara Jade Skywalker Dismantling the Noctun Cartel', he activated the file and read the report. It was mostly a synopsis of the news reports with a few gems of hacked data from Mara's ship. The fact that his informant network had already managed to hack into the Jade Shadow's memory bank pleased Jacen immensely. Then again, he was paying an arm and a leg for the services provided. He activated an audio file, entitled 'Mara making contact with an inside-man'. Jacen inserted an ear bud and played the file.
Initially all he heard was footsteps and steady breathing.
'Mara Jade Skywalker?'
A voice broke the silence. Jacen recognized Lar'shan's smooth speech.
'Who is this?'
Jacen heard a lightsaber ignite and Mara's breathing quicken, followed by an audible screech.
I'm inside the complex. I can hack into the security and make it easier for you to get in.'
'In exchange for?'
Jacen listened as Mara held her breath, and closed in on a source of conversation. The voices steadily increased in volume. Jacen could make out two distinct male voices. Suddenly, the sound of bones cracking could be heard, followed by a groan, which Jacen interpreted as the breaking of a neck and a death rattle.
'What the kriff?'
An audible blaster shot, greeted the other man's expletive. The sound of a body thumping onto the floor followed.
'In exchange for getting me out of here of course.'
'I'm making short work of your security anyway.'
'That's because I haven't alerted them. I'm the only one manning the security station.'
'That so? I doubt they'd be able to stop me at this point.'
'Look if I wanted to cause you trouble I could have. These thugs will threaten to kill the women to save their skins. I don't want that. I can help you save lives.'
There was an audible pause, as Mara seemingly stood still. She must have momentarily pondered her options.
'Fine. But don't expect me to let you off easy. You will have plenty of explaining to do and I better like what I hear. And I very well might hand you over to the authorities regardless of how sweet a song you sing is.'
'All I ask is that you hear me out.'
Jacen emptied the drink the barkeeper had prepared in a single draft and kept reading, briefly glancing at the dance floor and pleased to see his sister dancing with the young man he had previously addressed. Ben came walking over and sat down next to his cousin and pulled out his handheld hologame device. Jacen turned to the barkeep. "Another for me and a double shot of brandy for my young friend here."
"Is he 18?" The Aqualish queried in a guttural tone.
"I was joking." People just did not get his sense of humor. "Make him a bluemilk wildberry shake. And keep'em coming. Both orders I mean." Jacen didn't look up from his datapad as he said this, and continued to read the report.
Try as he might, he couldn't find anything overtly suspicious about Lar'shan. Mara's interrogation unfortunately did not occur in a recording device covered zone, but he couldn't imagine her allowing him onboard her ship unless she was thoroughly convinced he wasn't a willing accomplice in the abduction and prostitution of young females from different species. Ben started to slurp his shake and Jacen looked over at him and smiled despite himself. Ben was living up to his potential in most aspects of his training and was gradually opening himself up to the force's influence. Jacen was proud of him.
"Good?" He asked his cousin, who nodded emphatically in response.
Jacen downed the shot that was perspiring on the counter as quickly as his first and slipped the datapad back into his pocket. Lar'shan and Mara were still dancing, and he had to admit that they made an attractive couple. He watched as Lar'shan leaned closer to Mara and whispered something that made her laugh. Jacen frowned and let his eyes wander to Jaina and her companion. The two young people didn't dance quite as fluidly, but nevertheless made a decent showing of themselves. His own parents danced with all the flair that only a smuggler and a princess possessed and had carved out their own open area that allowed Han to perform all the crowd-pleasing maneuvers he wished. Every once in a while onlookers clapped when Han pulled off a particularly risky move.
Jacen smiled despite himself and stared up at the ceiling pondering the designs that decorated it. Coruscant mythology was the theme, and Jacen took in a picture with a crude temple like structure fronted by a group of what he knew to be Rakata. They were watching as human slaves, the original natives of Coruscant, worked in a quarry where they were unearthing stone for the building projects of their cruel masters.
"Why aren't you dancing?" Ben's voice rang in his right ear.
"Because no one asked me to." Jacen replied.
"And if someone did?" Ben pressed.
"Depends on who asks." Jacen retorted.
"I'll try my luck." Mara's voice cut in.
She had managed to approach them without either of them noticing. Jacen lowered his head quickly and beamed at her, blaming the liquor for his lack of clairvoyance. Ben had not noticed because he was obviously occupied with killing zombies. "How can I refuse such a beautiful woman," Jacen remarked, rising to his feet. He grabbed the glass off the counter and emptied it off its content, and signaled the barkeeper that he had enough. He turned and took Mara's offered hand. Lar'shan, who had remained silent through the exchange, detached himself from her side and took Jacen's previous seat. As Mara and he walked towards the dance floor he heard Lar'shan strike up a conversation with Ben, via a lame 'What are you playing?'.
Jacen guided the two of them to a partially open spot and started to dance, keeping a familial distance between their bodies, as was appropriate. Although he was technically in the leading position he allowed Mara's superior skill to dictate their movement. It was an Alderaanian waltz which was luckily not too difficult a dance, and one that Jacen knew passably well. Jacen inwardly thanked his mother's cursory formal education that she had subjected her children to.
"Thank you again for taking care of Ben these past months." Mara began.
Jacen smiled. "It was my pleasure. He is making excellent progress. A credit to his heritage."
"Luke would be grateful to you as well." Mara said those words solemnly, with heartfelt meaning. Jacen was impressed by her rediscovered strength and happy as well. She seemed able to deal with the topic of Luke without despairing.
"That's quite the curveball that you threw us with the wannabe Lando over there." Jacen said, inclining his head in the direction of the bar.
Mara cocked an eyebrow. "You don't like him I take it?"
Jacen stared into her eyes with a serious look. "There's something off about him."
"As off as your knowledge of haut fashion?" Mara's eyes twinkled dangerously, warning him to stay away from this topic.
Jacen paid her no heed. "I know people. And I know bad news when it's presented in a pretty package. Trust me on this."
Mara scoffed, the uncomfortable conversation not causing her to miss a step in the dance, unlike her nephew who had stumbled a few times. "And I'm of course oblivious when it comes to people and hidden agendas. That's me, the oblivious spy."
Jacen shook his head annoyed. "Maybe you're too close to it."
Mara tilted her head, a predatory smile gracing her lips. "How close do you think we are?"
"Mara…" Jacen said in a placating tone.
"No. You wanted to have an adult conversation. Let's have it. Answer the question." Mara pressed, her hand gripping his more firmly, signaling the option that escaping was off the table.
The musical piece ended and changed to a Hapan Tango. Jacen frowned and began to detangle his hand from Mara's. "No, keep dancing. I know you know how to dance this. Tenel Ka undoubtedly taught you."
"I don't know how to dance this with my aunt…" Jacen said slowly.
Mara stepped closer keeping just a little more distance than most of the dancers on the floor. "How close do you think Lar'shan and I are?" she reiterated, beginning the first few steps of the dance. Jacen followed suit, and thanked his muscle memory that his liquor addled brain was still able to remember the steps to the complex dance.
"It's really none of my business." Jacen said, uncomfortably.
Mara's face was close enough that he could see the flash in her eyes when he said those words. "You'd think so. But you said what you said. And your implication was clear. So stop dancing around the issue, no pun intended, and answer the question."
"Fine. I think you're lovers." Jacen replied.
A ghost of a smile flitted across her lips. "And you disapprove?"
Jacen cringed. Having labeled her relationship, she now wanted to know his stance. And an 'it's none of my business' would no longer cut it. "No, I don't."
Mara laughed, the clear ring of her laughter carrying some distance. To any onlookers it looked as though Jacen had made her laugh, and it was utterly unclear what kind of uncomfortable conversation was actually taking place. "I admire your candor. So, let me see if I get this straight. You're under the impression that I," she accentuated the I with a twirl in the dance, challenging him to keep up with the ever increasing complexity of the moves, "having just lost your Uncle, required someone to warm my bed, because I'm that kind of woman, and the first attractive man who charmed me was good enough to fill that void."
Jacen's caught her deftly, and felt immensely proud that he hadn't messed up yet. His pride was dimmed by her words, however, and his eyes narrowed. "That's the absolutely worst way you could accuse me of interpreting the situation."
Mara's eyes fell and she sighed, almost sadly. "Jacen, the only other option, if we go by your interpretation is simply a variation in which I was somehow seduced and duped by Lar'shan. Which still paints me as weak and confused. You see where I might find this insulting, right?"
Jacen inhaled deeply, not daring to respond, dipping her as the music dropped.
"I think it's best if you simply focus on instructing your cousin, my son, something I am deeply grateful for and avoid judging my private life."
The dance had ended and she stepped back. Somehow Jacen had managed to not miss a single step and they had drawn a small group of admirers.
"For the record, and not that it's any of your business, Lar'shan and I never slept together. Luke is still too much a part of me. But if he wasn't and I decided to start a new relationship, that wouldn't be any of your business Master Solo." Mara's words were spoken in a serious, disappointed tone.
"Yes, Mara," Jacen replied. Mara turned and passed out of earshot. "I'm sorry for overstepping…" He whispered, angry at himself.
He walked off the floor and returned to the bar. Jaina intercepted him on the way, on the arm of her new companion. "Did you and Aunt Mara just tango?"
"Swallow a lightsaber, Jaya." He retorted, pushing past her.
As he approached the bar, where Lar'shan was watching him approach, he found Ben with a veritable battery of empty shake glasses behind him.
"Where I come from nephews don't tango with their aunts." Lar'shan said, with a raised eyebrow.
"But do new family "friends" have their heads bounced off of bar counters where you come from?" Jacen asked, his voice icy.
Lar'shan raised his hands in mock surrender, and stoop up vacating the spot formerly occupied by Jacen. Jacen, retaking his seat, turned towards the bar, annoyed that Lar'shan dimly present force signature was not leaving. The bartender arrived with yet another shake, about to place it behind Ben. "The kid's obviously had enough." Jacen hissed, angrily. "Have you no sense?"
"You said keep 'em coming." The Aqualish said, defensively.
"So if I said: "Throw yourself off of the penthouse balcony of 500 Republica…?" Jacen asked.
The Aqualish didn't bother to respond and merely retrieved the shake, pouring the contents down the sink.
"Testy testy…" Ben pointed out.
"I feel like we may have gotten off on the wrong foot—" Lar'shan began.
"Ben go to your mother. She's with Leia and Jaina back at the table." Jacen said to Ben, in a tone that brooked no disagreement.
Ben rose to his feet, without dispute, and left.
"Fine. Let's start over." Jacen said, loud enough for Lar'shan to hear. The man sat down next to him.
"Why do you have a problem with me Jacen?" Lar'shan asked, in a polite tone.
Jacen rapped his finger on the counter and looked at Lar'shan's reflection in the polished mirror ahead of them. "Well first off, it's Jedi Solo, or Master Solo unless I put us on a first name basis. I only know your first name so that's what I'm calling you. But I do have an honorific and title by which it is customary to call me, and any Jedi for that matter." Jacen smiled. "But before you call me petty and trivial, the real reason I don't like you is because I think you are taking advantage of my aunt while she is in an emotionally vulnerable state and because, and I might be wrong here, something about you rubs me the wrong way. Then again, Lando rubbed my mother the wrong way at first and they are friends now…"
Lar'shan exhaled forcefully. "OK… so I'm a shifty, opportunist who is going to hurt your aunt in some way? Is that the long and short of it? Well if that's what you think I don't know how to calm your fears but I don't really know how I could have earned that estimation in the first place."
Jacen turned and looked Lar'shan in the eye. "I'm about to give you a clichéd speech with a twist. If you did end up genuinely hurting my aunt, after what she's been through recently, it wouldn't matter where you tried to hide. Your best bet would be to straight up kill yourself. Because no matter where you went I would follow. And once I found you I wouldn't kill you. No, I'd put you in an Embrace of Pain and by the force would you wish you'd killed yourself then. And one day, when I was having a particularly good day, I might feel generous enough to put you out of your misery." Lar'shan blinked several times and made a motion to rise. Jacen caught his arm. "I might be wrong to talk to you this way. I might be completely off-kilter in my stance towards you. I might be drunk… Truth is, if I am all those things I will eventually apologize and you'd be right not to accept my apology. But, and maybe this makes me an arrogant son of a Hutt, I don't think I'm wrong."
"I think there's something deeply wrong with you." Lar'shan retorted, yanking his arm out of Jacen's grasp. He left and walked back to the family table. Jacen smiled at his reflection, feeling strangely self-satisfied.
Several minutes later the group assembled at the entrance to the restaurant. Light's illuminated the colonnaded entrance and several attendants busily welcomed incoming guests and catered to outgoing ones. Valets brought speeders to and from the private garage. Han and Leia's speeder arrived first, and Mara and Ben joined them in the back seats. Mara did not so much as glance Jacen's way as she left, something that Leia seemed to pick up on. Ben bowed respectfully to his master and Jacen mussed his hair, smiling at the boy's decorum which came through at the most unusual times. Han waved to his son and daughter and guided the speeder out of the welcoming area. Lar'shan hailed a taxi that he said was taking him to his hotel. Jacen was strangely relieved that he was not joining Mara in her apartment. But then again it was ludicrous that he would. Their relationship never progressed passed the 'we are stuck on the same boat' stage.
Jaina was still standing next to Jacen. They were flying back to the Temple together, having speeder-pooled to the restaurant.
"Did he ask for your number?" Jacen asked, referring to her dance partner.
"None of your business." Jaina answered, but smiled informingly.
Jacen's speeder pulled up and the valet handed him the ignition plug. He looked to the side and watched as Lar'shan entered his taxi. Jacen was about to jump into the driver's seat of the speeder when he stopped. He turned to Jaina and tossed her the ignition plug. She caught it deftly and raised her eyebrow in question.
"I have something to take care of, that I almost forgot about." Jaina beamed. She had been bugging Jacen to let her drive his new speeder, which really belonged to the Executive Office of the GA. It was a sleek black model, upgraded and outfitted with classified add-ons which were illegal on most models. "There better not be a dent on it."
Jaina didn't have to be told twice. As she entered the speeder with a rapidity that implied she was afraid he would change his mind, he hailed a taxi-speeder just as Lar'shan's pulled out of the Topicas' restricted air space. Jacen ran up to the taxi that was waiting for him and jumped into the back, instructing the driver to tail his colleague. As his taxi swerved into lane behind the taxi that Lar'shan was occupying, a smile ghosted over Jacen's lips.