Herding Nexu
By Andrew J Talon
10 ABY, Yavin IV
This is a sequel to A New Hope Will Emerge, set after the Thrawn Trilogy, and right after Grogu goes off with the Mandalorian. It's a strange mesh of canons, but it's been working pretty well so far.
Luke was meditating by the river, calm and collected, in the warm jungle air of early morning. Ahsoka walked through the path cut through the bamboo, shooting him a wry smile at the back of his head.
"Hey," she said softly.
Luke opened his eyes.
"Someone just touched down at the temple," Luke murmured.
"Yeah," Ahsoka said with a nod.
He rose to his feet. Ahsoka was still smiling strangely. There was mischief in her eyes, but she was better at concealment than before.
Luke followed Ahsoka, his frown growing at the laughter in Ahsoka's spirit.
"If this is some kind of prank," Luke warned, but Ahsoka chuckled.
"You need cheering up?" She asked.
"... Maybe a little," Luke admitted, as he easily followed Ahsoka through the trees to the temple complex, "my first would be student did ditch me."
Ahsoka's smiled became gentler at the mention of Grogu.
"He'll come back, when he's ready," Ahsoka said gently, "But for now? You're going to want to see this."
They arrived in the huge, mostly empty hanger bay of the Temple complex. A ship stood waiting there-A beat up freighter that was covered in blaster fire. Luke's eyes widened as he felt a familiar presence And one that was almost familiar.
The familiar one came down first, irritation flashing in her green eyes.
"Skywalker," Mara Jade growled.
"Jade," Luke returned, all smiles. Her irritating grew more, as she fought the urge to laugh. Luke loved feeling that about her.
"It's nice to see you again, after the Thrawn Crisis," Luke said warmly. Jade huffed.
"Yeah yeah... Tano? You here too?"
"As always," Ahsoka said, smiling wryly. Mara's eyes narrowed at how close Ahsoka was to Luke, which made the Jedi Knight confused. Still, he shook it off as Mara cleared her throat.
"That crazy doctor no longer part of your harem, Skywalker?"
"No, Aphra's off with Ezra to chase down some Jedi artifacts," Luke said, "what brings you by?"
Mara sighed heavily, and rubbed the back of her head.
"Look... Karrde wanted me to help you out, since you did... Save our lives, and kriff like that," Mara muttered.
"And I forgave you for deceiving me for all that time," Luke said with a nod and a wink. Mara hissed.
"I was doing my job!"
"You were so upset about being found out," Luke pointed out.
"I wasn't upset over you!" Mara growled, "look, the point is... It's good business sense to do some nice things back. And well... Any Force Sensitives we run across, especially those in trouble... Karrde wants to send your way."
Mara turned to the gangplank of the beaten up starship. She made a face.
"And I had to fly him through a Hutt blockade, so you'd better be grateful!" Mara grunted, as a large form slithered out.
Luke's eyes widened, as Ahsoka's grin got bigger. It was a Hutt-Quite young, muscular, and skinny for his kind. The eyes were all together familiar, yet filled with nervous anticipation. His feelings were loud-Filled with fear, hope, and hunger. The Hutt cleared his throat.
"Ah... Hello, Master Skywalker... Master Tano," he said politely in Basic, bowing, "I am Rotta. It is an honor to meet you-"
"Stinky!" Ahsoka cried happily, "never thought I'd see you again!"
"'Stinky'?" Luke and Mara both deadpanned, as Ahsoka hugged the Hutt. The Hutt, surprised, nevertheless hugged Ahsoka back as he smiled.
"You... I remember you," he murmured, "you saved me... Didn't you?"
"Okay, what," Mara managed.
"Let's talk about this... Outside?" Luke asked. "Artoo?"
The droid announced he would definitely be getting alcohol, and lots of it. Clearly, they all needed it.
Rotta was rather large, so they went to a kind of picnic area outside the temple. Luke threw up some chairs and tables, for the humanoids to sit on and for the food to rest. Rotta humbly accepted this, curling up at the table. Luke and Mara sat almost next to one another-They didn't have much choice, as Ahsoka had taken Rotta's other side.
"We rescued Rotta here from the Separatists back during the Clone Wars," Ahsoka explained, as Artoo pushed a hover dolly out, piled with food, "he was just a little huttling at the time! He's Jabba's son, as a matter of fact!"
"Should have asked for your help when I rescued Han," Luke deadpanned. Ahsoka shook her head as the dolly came to a rest in front of Rotta. The Hutt looked at the food anxiously, before looking at Luke. Luke smiled and nodded.
"Go ahead, I can sense your hunger," Luke said compassionately. Rotta nodded, and began eating hungrily.
"S-Sorry," Rotta admitted, "I didn't get much-gulp-food where I was being-ulp!-Held!"
"What happened to you, Rotta?" Ahsoka asked. Rotta sighed heavily, looking over at Mara. He still kept eating though-It seemed to help him regain his center.
"My father... Well... He sent me away," Rotta mumbled, "thought I was a disappointment. I... Couldn't take to the business, like he could. I... I could feel what our slaves felt. Their pain... Their anger... And then, well..."
He held up a hand. His large eyes narrowed. A piece of fruit began to wobble, just a little... Then more, and more... Before it shot off and flew right to his hand. Rotta sagged, breathing hard.
"Haa... Haaa... Haaa... I... I could do... Things like that," Rotta finished, before he popped the fruit in his mouth.
Luke and Ahsoka's mouths were wide open. Luke regained his composure first.
"Force sensitivity in a Hutt... That's... Rare."
Rotta nodded.
"Yeah... When it's happened, um... Well... Hutts get shunned for it," Rotta admitted, "and so I was locked away on Hutta. After my father died, well... I got tossed around between various crime bosses who wanted to use me to take over my father's empire. I tried to escape... I couldn't. I focused on getting stronger, on using my powers..." He drooped a bit more, genuinely sad.
"I failed... Until Miss Jade got me out," he nodded to the redhead. Mara shrugged.
"He was crying out a storm in the Force," she said, "I... Picked up on it. It was hard to pin down-He wasn't good at focusing it."
Luke sucked in a deep breath.
"I can train you to harness your power, Rotta," Luke said, "but I do have to ask... You know who killed your father, right?"
"You, and Princess Leia," Rotta stated. The young Hutt's anger was easy to sense, but... It wasn't directed at them, "he hated me. He was ashamed of me. I could feel it. Like... Like somehow, it was my fault."
He sighed and closed his large eyes.
"Yeah, I'm... Angry about it. Maybe I'm still mad at your sister for it... I don't know," he grumbled, "it's so confusing! But I know I don't want to go back to Hutta. I... I never want to deal with that again. With feeling people fearing me, and hating me like... Just because I'm a Hutt."
"A lot of people will judge you for what you appear to be," Luke said gently, "but you can learn to be more than their preconceived notions. And if they still hate you? That's their fault. Not yours. That's what it means to be a Jedi."
"A Jedi...?" Rotta looked at Ashoka, "I... I still remember Ahsoka and... Another man... Tall and strong, like you... Saving me. Was... Was that your father, Anakin Skywalker?"
"It definitely was," Ahsoka said cheerfully, as Luke nodded. Rotta smiled genuinely, and for once, it wasn't a terrible thing to behold on a Hutt's face.
"You saved me, and my father... He should have remembered the debt he owed you," he stated, "well... I won't forget. That's what Hutt Honor should mean-To always repay a debt. So uh... If I could train to become a Jedi... I would be happy to!"
"It won't be easy," Luke warned, "it will demand all of what you are, and thensome."
Rotta nodded.
"I know... But if I fall down. I'm gonna get back up."
He looked over at Mara Jade, who had been strangely silent.
"Isn't that what you said, Miss Jade?" He asked.
Mara nodded.
"Yeah," she said, and then she smirked, "because I wasn't going to carry you to the ship all by myself."
Rotta actually laughed at that.
"Hahahaha! Yeah..."
He looked to Luke, nervous.
"So... Master Skywalker...?"
Luke smiled widely and nodded.
"Welcome, Rotta," he said. Rotta grinned happily, his eyes filling with tears.
"Th-Thank you! Thank you, Master!"
"Ahsoka? Can you help Rotta find some quarters in the temple?" Luke asked.
Rotta's eyes lit up. Ahsoka grinned.
"Sure thing, Luke," Ahsoka said. She led Rotta away... Though the Hutt took some more food with him as he slithered away. He shot a grateful look back to Luke and Mara over his shoulder, just before he vanished inside. Artoo whistled low and amused. Luke smiled at Mara.
"You got him out of there?" Luke asked. Mara nodded.
"Yeah..." She sipped her drink, "some of your stupid Jedi do-gooder influence, no doubt."
"No doubt," Luke agreed, as Mara shot him a scowl. She then glanced down at her hands.
"... You did offer to train me once, too, you know," she said. Luke nodded.
"Yeah, I did," he said, "to help me found the New Order. The way it should have been. You told me no-"
"It wasn't no!" Mara said quickly, looking up at him, "it was just... I had to sort some things out, that's all."
Luke nodded, leaning back in his chair.
"And?" He asked.
Mara sighed, and glanced back at her hands before she looked over at Luke.
"In all honesty... I've mostly just lived lives like they were a mask. Pretending to be other people. But part of me always believed it, just a little," she admitted, "it was the only way I could... Make it be convincing. Come alive. And it turns out, I was just playing a part for Palpatine-I thought I was his one and only and..."
She shook her head. Luke remained silent, listening.
"... So I've had to... Rebuild who I am, because I sure as hell didn't know who I was," she continued. She snorted. "But... In all honesty? The times I've felt most... Fulfilled, maybe... Were when I was with you... And the Rebellion," she went on, a little too quickly.
Not that Luke was smug about that... Okay, a little, but he stopped when she glared at him.
"I did genuinely care about you, Mara," Luke admitted, "even after you admitted to being a spy and fled. I still do."
"I tried to kill you," Mara pointed out. Luke nodded.
"So have a lot of people who are now my friends," he said.
"You... Do realize that's insane, right?" Mara asked, an elegant brow rising. Luke shrugged and grinned his farmboy smile.
"Yup," he admitted, "but it doesn't make it any less true."
Mara grumbled and glared.
"You're utterly impossible," she huffed.
"I know," Luke said cheerfully, "but you like it."
"I do not," Mara growled, leaning in close. Luke leaned in, still smiling innocently.
"I think you do," he said, "just like I like you being so harsh."
"Farmboy likes it when a girl is mean to him?" Mara sniffed, but she didn't move away, "figures. Knew you were twisted."
"I'm perfectly fine with admitting to it," Luke said. Wow, her eyes were always that green? He could see flecks of gold in them. And did she have freckles? He hadn't noticed until now...
Mara pulled back, taking a deep breath. It also let her fight the red on her cheeks. Luke was enjoying this-Probably more than he should, but hey. For the longest time, Mara had had the upper hand in flirting. It felt nice to be able to give her some of her own medicine.
"So," Mara began, "look... You've got Tano, a terrified teenaged Hutt, and a pile of Jedi holocrons and artifacts."
"I've also got Ezra, and we're finding other Jedi who survived," Luke pointed out.
"Good for you, you've got another crazy yokel Jedi," Mara pointed out, rolling her eyes, "you're going to need a LOT more help if you're going to rebuild your stupid Order. So... Yeah, I guess I'm willing to help. In exchange for proper Jedi training."
Luke stared at her. Mara shrugged.
"Karrde says it'll be good to get in on the ground floor of the New Jedi Order," she stated, "and it'll make me better at my job with him, so..."
"This isn't an interview at a Banking Clan outlet," Luke said, sounding unimpressed. Mara glared.
"Fine," she hissed, "the truth is... The Force is a part of my life. And... And I can't ignore it, or shove it away. So I might as well learn how to use it... Without being used as a tool by some psychotic, lying, evil old man. I want... I want to be more. I want to be... Be better. I don't need your stupid moralizing or a lot of philosophical bantha fodder, either! I just... I want to become more."
Luke nodded, and leaned forward. He took Mara's hand in his, and looked her right in the eyes.
"Then I promise you, Mara Jade," he said, "I'll help you become more. Because you're right: We can't do this alone, and... There's no one I'd rather have at my side to bring peace and justice to the galaxy, once more."
Mara again fought a blush. It made her look very pretty. And even she couldn't hide her elation, that lit up the Force around her. Outside, she just nodded.
"Well... Good," she murmured, "but I'm not living in some fragging stinking temple. I'm having some decent stuff imported in."
"That's fair," Luke said with a nod, "nothing too ostentatious though."
At Mara's look, Luke grinned.
"Yes, I have read a dictionary. Try not to faint."
"I'm just amazed you didn't eat it," Mara grumbled. She seemed to notice they were still holding hands, before she very slowly pulled hers out of his. Luke held her hand again, and looked her in the eyes.
"Hang on," Luke said. He looked to Artoo, who rolled up. "Artoo?"
The little astromech whined a bit, but nevertheless opened up. He produced a lightsaber, which Luke took in his free hand. He held it out to Mara. She hesitantly took it, her eyes widening as she turned the weapon over in her hands.
"Wha... But this is-?" Mara tried. Luke smiled.
"You used it to kill my clone, and save my life," Luke said, "I think you should have it... At least until you build your own."
"This is your father's lightsaber," Mara muttered. Luke nodded.
"I know."
"And you're giving this to me," Mara stated, slowly, as though unsure Luke was sane. Luke nodded again.
"And I know you'll take good care of it," he said, "because I know you, Mara Jade."
Mara once again was fighting off a blush. She shook her head, and stood up. She ignited the saber, and the brilliant blue blade hummed. She stepped away from the table, and swung the blade around a few times. She again looked over at Luke.
"I... Thank you," she said softly. Luke smiled.
"Don't thank me yet," he warned, "we've got a long road ahead of us. But I know we'll make it... Together."
He stood up, as Mara deactivated the lightsaber. She clipped it to her belt, still glancing at him for approval. She then slowly nodded... And flashed him a real smile.
"I... Yeah... I think so too," Mara said back. "I've... Got to go unpack."
"Sure thing," Luke said with a nod. Mara hesitated again... Before she turned and headed back into the temple. Luke watched her go... So intent on her, that Artoo had to whistled twice at Luke to get his attention. The Jedi Knight shook his head, as Artoo speculated in binary. He scowled at his faithful droid.
"No, I'm not crazy Artoo," Luke stated, "and no, I... I don't have those kinds of feelings for her!"
Artoo made some lewd suggestions, and Luke scoffed.
"Oh switch off!"
Rotta had, to his own admission, begun training physically to try and escape. A fat, slow Hutt couldn't move around very quickly. Even so, Luke was faintly amazed at how quickly the big kid could move if he was motivated-Bounding and leaping on his one great foot, like a tadpole pushing himself along a muddy riverbank.
Unfortunately, Hutts did not have great endurance compared to humans, so they stopped and rested a lot. This did, however, give Luke lots of opportunities to teach Mara and Rotta.
Having them stand on their heads seemed a bit much right now, so Luke just had Mara and Rotta sit in a clearing and meditate. Luke sat across from them, legs crossed, as he joined them in connecting to the Force.
"That's right," Luke said quietly, his words carrying across the morning stillness, "feel the Force... Let it flow through you. Don't resist... Just let go, and feel it."
Mara grimaced. She'd been struggling a fair amount with this part.
Rotta, for his part, was twitching but he was determinedly trying to concentrate.
"It's... Different from when... The Emperor trained me," Mara admitted softly. Luke opened an eye.
"Oh?" He asked.
Mara nodded, eyes still shut.
"He'd just make us focus on anger... Or fear, and dwell on it. Try to stay like that for hours," Mara grumbled.
"That explains a lot about Miss Jade," Rotta mumbled. He opened his eyes wide in mortification, as Mara glared at him, "AH! SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT OUTLOUD!"
The Hutt made to flee, as Mara made to get up.
Luke managed to hide his smile. He had the same thought.
"I don't want you to focus on anything in particular. Just... Let go," he calmed them. Mara settled back down again and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Rotta trembled a bit, but managed to slowly get back under control.
"Just listen to the water. Feel the world underneath you, the air around you. All of it, is part of the Force," Luke spoke calmly, "just be. Let go of your worries and concerns. Your fears and anguish. You can deal with those later. All there is right now, is you, and the Force."
For a time, there was a calm, wonderful silence. Luke continued his meditative lesson.
"Through the Force, you will see things. The past, the future, old friends long gone," he recited,
"Is it possible to understand these visions, Master Skywalker?" Rotta asked quietly, as though afraid he might irritate Mara. Luke nodded.
"It is. But the future is always in motion," Luke spoke, "so don't be consumed by it-Try to stay detached, as your own feelings can influence the vision."
Rocks were already starting to float around them. Artoo was floating as well, and whistled in mild annoyance. Luke gave his old droid friend a smile-He would catch him this time, if he fell-
The Emperor was blasting him with lightning, and he was screaming in agony... But Father wasn't there to save him. They weren't on the Death Star, they were-
"GAHHH!" Mara screamed, leaping out of her stance and falling over. Rotta shouted in shock, as all the rocks (and Artoo) fell. Luke managed to catch his droid before it hit the ground, the astromech beeping angrily.
"Mara? Mara, are you all right?" Luke asked. Mara took deep breaths, and glared at him.
"I-I'm fine!"
"Are you sure? Wasn't that the Emp-" Rotta tried, but Mara cut him off with a venomous look, "you're fine! You're fine!"
"Mara," Luke said quietly. He got up and walked over to her side. He lowered his voice.
"It's okay..."
"I don't want to talk about it," Mara grunted, "let's-let's get back to it, okay?"
Luke was silent for a moment. He then nodded.
"All right," he said quietly.
He went back to sit across the clearing with them. Mara retook her spot, her breathing slowing. Rotta still looked concerned, but was looking down. Luke gave him a smile.
Mara sucked in a deep breath, and looked over at the trembling Hutt.
"It's okay," she said quietly, "all right? It's nothing to do with you."
Rotta slowly nodded.
"R-Right..."
The meditation session went on for a bit longer, but everyone's concentration was a bit frazzled. So Luke had them get up and resume their jog about thirty minutes later. Artoo kept up, thanks to jumps with his rocket boosters.
He was glad he'd finally figured out how to fix those. His father's instructions had been a life saver.
At last, they came to another training ground. This one with several large stones. Luke turned to his students and smiled.
"All right," he said, "we'll just focus on moving these rocks with our minds for now. Having a practical focus can be good for training."
"Okay," Rotta agreed. Again, he and Mara sat down. Mara with crossed legs, and Rotta with his tail/foot wrapped around his belly. Both concentrated.
"Remember," Luke spoke, "strong emotion can give you a boost in power... But at the cost of control. You need to focus on what you want to happen, more than anything else. Just feel the Force... And let it happen..."
Mara breathed deeply, and let it out. Her stone slowly wobbled. It rumbled, before it scooted a few inches. Mara narrowed her eyebrows and focused harder. The rock began to wobble some more, before it floated upwards another few inches.
"Good, Mara," Luke said, smiling, "just hold it there."
Luke turned to Rotta... Who was glaring in frustration at his rock. It hadn't moved an inch.
"Rotta? Remember," Luke said, "concentrate. Block out everything else. No feelings, no thoughts, just the rock... And moving it."
"R-Right, Master," Rotta muttered, closing his eyes. He breathed hard, his wide lips exhaling a lot of moisture. The rock... Wobbled.
And that was all it did for about thirty minutes.
Meanwhile, Mara had begun stacking her rocks-Slowly and clumsily, but still. Luke flashed her another smile of encouragement, but she just ignored him and kept stacking.
"Rotta?" Luke asked, standing near the Hutt.
Rotta had taken to glaring at the rock, and grinding... Teeth maybe? He didn't know Hutts had those. But it was a low growl.
"Grrr... NNNNNGGGGHHHH...! MOVE FRAG IT!" Rotta bellowed at the rock.
It shot up... Right into Rotta's eye.
"GYAHHH!"
"AH! Rotta!" Luke shouted. The Hutt held his eye, crying out.
"OWWW! OWWW!"
"Artoo, get the medkit-And stop laughing!" Luke scolded his droid.
Mara smirked slightly, but only for a moment. Her presence in the Force was a bit smug though, despite Luke's disapproval.
Luke checked Rotta's eye. The Hutt was clearly frustrated.
"It's all right, Rotta, no real harm done," Luke consoled him. Rotta growled, and glared hatefully at the rock.
"I can make food move-Why not a stupid rock?!" He flicked his tail and sent the rock splashing into the nearby river. He then wrapped his tail around him, and crossed his arms, pouting. Luke bit back a laugh, though Rotta scowled at him.
"It's not funny!" Rotta huffed.
Honestly... Luke kind of wondered if he should be more detached about this. He was, admittedly, a bit stirred up by Mara being around. But Yoda... Well he hadn't been cold, but he had been straightforward. No sentimentality, really.
But if anything, Luke realized he just couldn't be just like his masters. For better or worse... He had to be himself.
"No, no... I was just remembering when Master Yoda was training me," Luke said, "I got pretty frustrated, too."
"Bet you could move rocks just fine," Rotta grumbled. Luke chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Not at first," he said, "I was... So impatient. In such a rush to become a Jedi. But it doesn't work like that, Rotta. And besides-You haven't been at this for long. You shouldn't beat yourself up over it."
"But I can do amazing things with... With stupid food, but not what I want," Rotta growled, "like the Force is making fun of me. I feel..."
"Stupid?" Luke asked. Rotta turned, and nodded his big head, "that's all right. Feeling stupid is a natural part of learning. It means you're actually learning something. If you didn't feel stupid, guess what? You are."
"So... Is there some kind of trick to this?" Rotta asked. Luke shook his head.
"No shortcuts," he said, and Rotta drooped, "but you're finding how to use the Force for yourself. Only you can figure out how to do it. But there is a way... You just have to find it. And that takes patience. Above all else? Don't feel like you're behind, all right?"
Rotta scowled over at Mara, who was still stacking rocks. Luke pulled his head back towards him.
"Remember what I said," Luke stated, "don't feel like you're behind. You're going to master this at your pace, and that's the pace that matters."
"I just can't figure this out," Rotta sighed, "what am I doing wrong?"
"Well, how do you feel when you summon food?" Luke asked.
"Hungry," Rotta reported immediately.
Artoo and Mara both bit down some snickers. Luke gave them both glares, before he looked back to Rotta.
"Okay... And you don't feel hungry for rocks," Luke said with a shrug, "that's fine."
"But-but that's the point!" Rotta groaned, "you keep saying I can't have any feeling! I mean, isn't it feelings that lead to the Darkside and all?"
"Rotta, you're not going to fall to the Darkside just because you get a little frustrated," Luke consoled. He worried his lip, "in fact, good feelings can be one of the strongest things in the Force."
"Really?" Rotta asked, peering up at him. Mara was trying very hard not to look like she was eavesdropping now... Despite all the obvious listening she'd been doing. Luke nodded slowly.
"Yeah," he said, "you see... My father fell to the Darkside because of anger, and rage, and fear. But... He came back to the Lightside because he loved me. He didn't want to see me die. He cared about me. And that let him kill the Emperor."
Rotta's eyes widened.
"Wow..."
Luke nodded, smiling sadly.
"So when I say detach, I don't mean just suppress all your emotions," Luke said, "what I mean is... Focus through the Force on what you want to do. What you need to happen. Let it feel natural. You need to control your emotions, and not let them control you... But don't ignore them, or suppress them. They're part of you. You just need to learn how not to let them take over."
Luke nodded, and backed away.
"All right," Luke said, "focus on the rock. And bring it back."
Rotta closed his eyes, and focused. Luke's voice became calmer, softer.
"Remember how it felt to summon food? Use that feeling... Reach out... Find the rock... And bring it to you..."
The water bubbled violently... And a rock shot up. It flew right for Rotta's face. The Hutt's eyes went wide open... Just before the rock stopped inches from his nose. Luke smiled, lowering his hand. The rock slowly floated back down and landed in front of the Hutt.
"See? You can do it," Luke said encouragingly, "you just need to learn better control, all right?"
"All... All right," Rotta said, smiling a bit despite the bruise on his eye. Luke patted him on the shoulder.
"Just start small, okay? I'll be back," he said.
He walked over to Mara, who was now restacking the rocks back into a new pile. He sat across from her, impressed.
"You're diligent," he said. Mara nodded.
"If I didn't get something the first time, I just kept practicing it, over and over, until I did," Mara murmured. She cracked open her eyes, and looked at him, "That... The Emperor used to say the Jedi were weak. That they suppressed their feelings, became dead and empty inside."
"Yeah, well," Luke shrugged, "that led to a lot of problems for them. But not all of them were like that. My dad, especially."
Mara looked off at the river, silent for a moment.
"He really broke the Emperor's hold over him... For you?" She asked softly.
"Absolutely," Luke said with a smile, "I know he did terrible things, but... He was able to find himself again. Through that mess of Darth Vader."
"I only knew him as... Well, that," Mara admitted, "a seething storm of hate and fury. You couldn't mistake him for anyone else. That... It's hard to imagine that out of him."
"Really?" Luke asked, and he tried not to sound too envious. Mara shook her head.
"He wasn't a father figure you would have wanted to have. Not as... That," she said. "Still... I guess it's nice to know that wrinkled bastard was wrong about yet another thing."
"Trust me," Luke said, leaning in a bit, "I'm happy to prove him wrong about everything to you."
Mara smiled again-Brief, but genuine-before she went back to her exercises.
"Might want to check on Rotta," Mara said. Luke looked... And smiled.
The Hutt had a rock floating in front of him, eye level... And he was keeping it there. It was clearly exhausting, but the big Hutt was focusing hard.
Artoo, having rolled nearby, chirped softly at Luke. Luke shook his head.
"I'm glad I'm not a terrible teacher, Artoo... Not that I thought I was going to be," Luke said.
"I did," Mara volunteered, and Luke gave her a mock scowl, "so far, I'm pleasantly surprised."
She then closed her eyes and smirked.
"But I'm expecting to be disappointed, sooner or later," she laughed softly.
"Well, I'm happy to keep proving you wrong," Luke said with a grin.
"I suppose I could get used to that, too," Mara shot back, again smiling briefly through her smug smirk.
Artoo made another lewd comment. Luke blushed.
Rotta frowned.
"Master Skywalker? What did Artoo mean by getting a room-?"
"Never you mind, Rotta!" Luke called out.
"Focus on the rock, kid!" Mara shouted.
Artoo rolled away, laughing evilly.
This series will make use of Legends canon mainly, with some of the Disney stuff that doesn't suck, and some of my own fanfiction. So strap in. This is set after the Thrawn Trilogy (obviously) and Season 2 of the Mandalorian.
And yes... We are going to make use of some of Star Wars Visions as well. Because why not?
In essence, I want to do what Disney should have done, but failed miserably to do save for a very few instances:
Tell a good story.