Luke was on the planet Kal'Shebbol. He had arrived here a few hours ago and he felt a familiar force presents on the planet. He then suppressed his own force to keep from being discovered.
Luke was not sure he was ready to deal with an angary Mara Jade, but maybe with the information his father gave him he can keep her from killing him. He headed into town were the customs agent suggested he could go to get something to eat.
He was about to leave to space port area when he felt the force. It was trying to nudge him towards a cantina. Luke decided to trust the force.
Walking in, Luke notices it was a little dark. He could still see well enough. He headed to the bar to order a drink. Once he got his drink he headed to a table along the wall. Most everyone in the place look like just normal spacers. Not looking for trouble.
After a few minutes a group left. When they left, he saw a couple people just past where they were. He knew both of them. Lando and Mara. Now he knew why the force nudge him in here. "Thanks a lot father"
Before he could decide weather or not to go say hello Mara and Lando got up and started to walk towards the exit. Mara looked irritated and it seemed to be directed towards Lando. When would Lando learn.
They were passing by the bar when a drunk spacer stepped out in front of Mara. Luke just shook his head and listen. Hopefully the guy was not too drunk.
L/M
Mara was already irritated and had about all she could put up with Lando. She wished he would just give up and realize she was never going to be interested in him.
They were on their way out when some drunk stepped in front of here and gave her a big smile. She was not amused.
"Hey beautiful, why don't you leave your boyfriend and come join me. I can show you a great time."
Mara just glared at the drunk fool. "You might want to go bother someone else before I snap you in two."
Lando wisely stayed out of it, but he did notice a man in a hood stand up and make his way towards them.
"Come on sweetheart. I will show you a good time and put a smile on your pretty face."
Mara was about to reply before someone else did.
"Friend you might want to listen to the lady. She doesn't seem like she is all that interested and looks about ready to do you some bodily harm." Luke waved his hand while making a force suggestion "You want to go back to your ship and sleep for a while."
"I think I am going back to my ship and sleep." He then left leaving a confused Lando, a glaring Mara and a smug Jedi Master.
Mara turned on Luke and grabbed him by the front of his cloak. "I don't need you to rescue me Skywalker. I can take care of myself." Lando relaxed when he heard Mara.
"I know you can but I'm not sure that guy would have survived the encounter. Now if you two would like to join me. I think we might be able to help each other out."
Luke headed back to his ship. He thought 'So much for lunch in town.'
It took them about 15 minutes to get back to his ship. He led them up the boarding ramp and then to the second level. "Would either of you like something to eat? I was on my way to lunch when the force nudged me into the cantina you two were in"
"Sure Luke, what do you have?" replied Lando.
Luke notice Mara didn't say anything. She just sat at the table. Luke knew she was angry with him, and he couldn't say he blamed her.
"I got some Bantha stew. It's my aunt's recipe. Just have to have it heated up and got some bread also. To drink I got blue milk, Hoth chocolate and some alcoholic beverages."
"Sounds good."
Luke had the droid in the galley heat up the stew and bread, while Luke got the three something to drink. He then sat down across from Mara. She was glaring at him.
"I'm sure you both are curious how I ended up here. Believe it or not I am doing the same thing you two are doing."
"What, that sneaky..." Mara went on a rant about Karrde.
Once she stopped "Mara, he gave me the information because he thought that Car'das might be able to help me. He said that when Car'das disappeared so did his library."
"I am taking time off to search for any records that could help fill in the gaps of the Jedi and its history. Palpatine erased a lot of information. I'm trying to discover what I can to help fill my knowledge and to help discover more about the past, so I don't make the same mistakes that were made before."
Mara calmed down after Luke explained. "So, what's your plan then?"
"I had R2 look up all the information there was on the sector. We selected a few planets that might be a good place to disappear. We can check them out. If we find him. You can head back and let Karrde know where he is if you want. I need to see if I can speak with him about is library."
Before she could reply to Luke's droid brought all their stew and the bread with some butter. He put a bowl in front of all three of them. Mara just looked at her bowl then Luke. The droid then brought them some drinks. A wine that came from the planet Naboo.
"I don't recall telling you I wanted something to eat Skywalker."
"Don't eat it if you don't want to but you will be missing out on the best stew around."
Mara started to eat, while ignoring the smug look on Luke's face. When they were all done Mara decided to speak.
"We don't need to take two ships. Luke needs to go for his reasons, and I have the mission from Karrde. I will travel with Skywalker. Lando you can head back. You talked your way into this mission, and I went along with it for a time, but you have no real reason to be here other then try to get in my pants. Which is never going to happen."
Both males at the table were a little surprised on what she was saying. Lando knew she was right. He thought there might be profit and a chance to get Mara to get together with him. Luke was surprised because he thought the two were already together.
Lando sat back in his chair. "OK, I can see why you came with this plan. I will head back. I got a lead on another deal while we were on Coruscant. I can look into it more when I get back. Do you want me to let Karrde know that you are with Luke?"
"Yes, if you would."
"Lando, if you could do me a favor and not say anything to Leia about running into me. If you do, she will want to know what I am doing. I have already sent her a couple messages about taking time off and expanding my knowledge."
"No problem, Luke. I have heard a few things while on Coruscant. So, I can guess why you are not telling her things. So, I can keep this secret. What about Han and Chewie?"
"Chewie knows what I am doing but not that I am out here. Han knows I was heading this way so you can tell them. They won't say anything to anyone else."
"OK, Mara if you want to get your stuff from the Lady Luck, I will then be on my way back. I wish the two of your luck."
"OK, when I get back, we will be having a talk, Skywalker."
Luke just sighed because he knew he was not going to like this conversation.
L/M
While Mara was gone Luke went to the cockpit and had R2 start plotting courses to the planets he wanted to check. He had K4 check all the weapon systems and shields on the ship. He would be in control of those if a fight happens.
When Mara got back, she put all her things on the dining table till she got quarters to put everything in. She then headed to the cockpit.
She was not surprised to see R2, but the other droid caught he off guard for a second.
"Where did the new droid come from"
"Oh K4, he is these ships main droid. Since R2 comes with me wherever I go. I got K4 to run this ship in case I let someone else use it. I'm hoping he will bond with the ship like R2 has with my X-wing."
Mara could see where Luke was going with that. She knew that Luke's X-wing could only operate with R2. It also functions better then your average X-wing.
Sitting in the co-pilots chair Mara turned to Luke who was getting the ship ready for departure. When they took off, he headed for space. He didn't say anything just piloted the ship.
"OK R2, pull up the first coordinates." Once R2 had the coordinates Luke pulled back the hyperdrive lever.
"We will be in hyperspace for a few hours. I will show you to your room." Luke got up and Mara followed him. He led her to the first room on the left.
Mara put her things in her room and then headed back out. She didn't see Luke and figured he went back to the cockpit. She walked back out of the cockpit. She looked towards the right and saw two doors. Both had keypads next to the doors. Looking to the left and there were another two doors. She knew one was supposed to be the refresher and another crew quarters. She headed to the one that was supposed to be crew quarters. She knocked and heard "Enter"
She walked into what look like an office, not crew quarters. "You really changed things, didn't you."
"Yea, seem like a good idea. I bought the ship for me as my personal ship. While I like my X-wing, this ship lets me do more and go more places. So, I had Karrde have it modified for me. It came out of the factory like this."
"That must have cost you a bunch."
"I don't see it as costing me much as more in investing in the future. I'm thinking of getting a few more like this one for the Order."
"I guess you got a few bones to grin with me."
"Yes, why did you leave when I told you I wanted to talk with you. Also, I left you a couple message that you never replied to."
"Sorry Mara, I got a lot on my mind and didn't want to deal with your relationship with Lando."
"What, why would you think the two of us were in a relationship. Plus, what business is of yours who I date."
"I never said it was my business and I have not said one thing about it. I just couldn't understand what you saw in Lando. Yes, he is my friend, but I never took you for one that went for flashy."
"If I remember correctly, you stop talking with me when Callista and I got together, so you don't really have any room to talk."
Mara started to reply but couldn't. Luke was right. She didn't like Callista and didn't think the whole-body snatching thing was right. She didn't like when her and Luke were together, but unlike Luke, she had let him know her thoughts. It had led to a big fight and them not talking for a while.
"You have a point. Speaking of Callista. Leia said something about her on Yavin when your sister commed me, when she was looking for you."
"She came and stayed a month. In the end she told me she wanted to try again but I told her no. I don't think she really wanted to get back together. I think she was looking for closer."
"So, you two parted on good terms?"
"Yea. Listen, I know you didn't like her or agree with what happen, but she is not a bad person."
"I know and if we meet again, I will try to be nice to her."
"That's all I can ask. On my way out here, I made a stop."
"Where?"
"Dagobah."
"Why, it's just a big swamp from what you told me."
"I am looking at maybe setting up small training camps across the galaxy with different terrain. Give the students a wide learning experience. Learn how to adapt to their surroundings better."
"Where else have you considered?"
"Hoth, the old rebel base there. It would need to be fixed up and upgraded but it would be a good place for one. It's also out of the way."
"I can't see your students being happy with that choice."
"Maybe not but it is out of the way and will help them to learn to survive in a harsh Environment. Better a place where they can be watched in case something goes wrong."
"I agree, I'm just saying your students plus their teachers might not share your idea."
"I got to finish with the whole plan and write it up first. Then I will present it to the other Masters."
Luke reaches out and handed Mara a data pad. "Here are all the specs on the ship. Figure you would want to know what the ship is capable of since you are going to be on it for a while."
"Thanks." Mara started going over everything and was impressed. It was well armed and armored. Communications and the electronics were top of the line also.
"While I was on Dagobah I got a visit from a couple force ghost. One was Yoda, the other my father."
"Your father. Wasn't the last time you saw him was on Endor. Though I know your sister has seen and talked with him a couple time."
"He thought it was time I knew about my mother. Mara, he also told me the name of your mother."
Mara just stared at Luke. She couldn't believe it. She had wondered who her parents were and if she had any family.
"Mara, he told me she was a Corillian Jedi." Mara let out a groan at that and Luke knew why. Corran was going to be impossible.
"Did he say anything about who my father was?" asked Mara.
"He didn't know. He didn't even tell me what happen to your mother. He said Palpatine said that he didn't have to deal with your mother. He told me we can try looking the information up when we get where we are going or talk with Corran's grandfather."
"I have gone this long not knowing. We need to finish the mission then maybe worry about my past. Did he say anything else we need to know?"
"Yea after we finish here, he wants us to go to Mustafar. He has some Jedi artifacts there he wants me to have. He told me not to go alone. I think he wanted me to take you with me."
"Why would he want that. We never cared for the other."
"He told me I could trust you. While Vader might have hated you Anikin Skywalker does not. " Mara just looked at him like he had finally lost it. "Trust me Mara, he does not hate you and feels you are the best person to watch my back."
"I find that hard to believe, but I have never spoke to Anikin just Vader. So, I will just have to take your word for it. So, tell me about your mother."
Luke told her who his mother was. Mara was surprised at that. He then told her all what his father had told him. From their first meeting till what happen on Mustafar.
They both were sitting there thinking when K4 let them know it was about time to come out of hyperspace.
They both entered the cockpit and took their seats. Luke took them out of Hyperspace, and they looked at their first location to search.
So, Luke and Mara are on their way and have a good talk. Mara also knows which planet her family is from and knows Coran will be giving her a hard time about it.