Feel free to join my Discord server: . disc ord. gg /3b3B xdHQKG (delete the spaces). You can talk about whatever you want in there. SW and RDR channels are in there as well.

Chapter 31

She hated Luke Skywalker.

Okay, she didn't and never hated his existence, but her hatred stemmed from the fact that Skywalker wasn't easier to hate.

Skywalker had been at her side throughout this ordeal, sometimes to her unwillingness, holding her close to his chest. When she'd threatened him, telling him to get out or she would raise all hells on him, Skywalker didn't allow it to bother him, remaining at her side.

Just what made this man so capable of being so... compassionate?

Um hello, Sith Lord father and everything!

Yet, Mara felt his gentility with his hands every time he touched her. She had never been held in such an uncharacteristic manner. Support. All of that. It was bull. His hands rubbed against her hair, massaging her back, stopping short of anything that made her feel any sort of discomfort. She wanted to be alone to mull over her thoughts. Yet whenever he left...

Kriff, why couldn't he be more like his father?!

Why did Luke Skywalker have to be so different from her?

What did he even have that made him attractive to her? He wasn't that muscular. He wasn't even that much of anything. Why did she feel like she knew him her whole life? Why did she want him so much?

She thought about his clothing leverage and how nice it looked on him. She thought about his light blonde hair and how soft it felt. OK, she was still thinking about Luke, but thank kark she wasn't thinking about his eyes.

Oh damn, wait... now she was thinking about his eyes.

Those were several thoughts that drained her throughout the time in isolation. She'd eaten so Skywalker didn't pester her, slept so she could reserve her energy, tried to sustain her dignity, and strived to keep up a form of normalcy. While she vowed to stand straight and before Skywalker as if nothing was bothering her, the moment he'd thumbed an index finger between her hair, it expelled any rebellious thoughts and she all but melted in his arms like a Nexu cub.

Five days afterward, she started to adapt to the new routine until she could decide what to do. She stood up, bathed in the refresher, and exited the room intending to get another meal for the day. She was the Emperor's Hand (it didn't matter that he had others if Vader wasn't lying)! She wouldn't allow the bastard to get the reputation of looking after her, damn him! She didn't need Skywalker. She didn't need anyone.

This time, however, she saw a young woman sitting down on a couch. She didn't recognize her at first, but getting close, she saw that it was the Princess of Alderaan.

"Hello, Mara," Organa greeted.

Weighing between herself and whether or not she should approach, she decided that she should.

The Princess had a drink in front of her, though from her angle, she couldn't tell what it was.

"Princess," Mara said, bitingly.

"Call me Leia, I'm not the Princess anymore," she grinned bitterly.

Looked like the Emperor tended to replace people fast. "Since when?"

"Since Palpatine decided to appoint members of House Thul in charge of Alderaan and they discredited all of us," Leia's hand shook with rage. "Looks like all of those years of peace was for nothing." She added with a grumble, "Bloody traitors."

Mara snorted. "At least, you still have people on Alderaan."

"It doesn't undo the fact that we had agreed to end that Civil War on Alderaan centuries ago!" Leia snarled. "Now, they're bidding for complete control by playing the Emperor's lapdogs!"

"Your House decided to commit treason, Leia," Mara replied, squashing the feeling of slight pity that she felt for the Princess.

Leia's hard eyes pierced into her. "Usually, I wouldn't let what you said slide, but Luke told me what Vader said to you," the Princess said in an apologetic tone. "I understand the myriad of emotions that our father presence invokes, for it does the same with me."

"If..." Baffled, Mara looked at her with wide eyes. Wait a minute... Vader was her... just what the frak was going on here?! The Princess returned the stare, her lips pursing and eyes widening.

"Oh, Luke didn't tell you?" Leia gripped her forehead. "Stang, when is all this forgetting to tell vital details going to stop?!"

Although she'd agreed with the sentiment, somehow, Mara was able to find her voice. "Skywalker wasn't exactly given the chance to tell me," she most definitely didn't squeal. "Vader took governance of the conversation."

Leia sighed. "Of course he did." She was silent for almost a minute.

"So what's your story with you... and your brother?"

Leia snorted and shrugged slightly. "Vader kriffed up before we were born, my mother died upon our birth, and Vader decided to play dad now."

Mara's eyes landed on hers darkly, "So how much do you know about him?"

"He wasn't always that way," Leia huffed. "Once, he was a heroic Jedi name Anakin Skywalker until the Emperor decided to rename him the name of Darth Vader."

"I doubt that," Mara hissed. "I believe Vader was always a monster."

"Yes, and he's the one who happens to rule the Empire," Leia replied smartly.

"All to restore peace back to the galaxy."

The former Princess rolled her eyes, "Come on, Mara, you have to think about it this way. If the Emperor has a problem of Vader's methods as you do, why didn't he ever reprimand him in public?"

"Because he's helpless-"

"Helpless?" Leia asked, an angry laugh escaping her. "Look, I still don't believe that Vader is justified for what he did, but I will not judge him for everything; only his crimes that I know discreetly. The Emperor deserves to be held in equal contempt. At least, Vader is trying to be there."

"Only because you're there. Even if what you say is true," Mara scoffed, "he's only doing it for his own selfish wants."

Before Leia could respond, Mara moved back to her quarters, deciding to skip breakfast today. Yes, she'd considered trying to kill the daughter of Vader, but she decided against it because she'd doubted she would survive the storms Vader and Skywalker would unleash on her. The woman was definitely stuck in her ways and she didn't care enough to have a political discussion.

She was already questioning her own existence as it was...

Yet again, Mara thought about fighting his embrace off for a second time before she decided that it would be worthless. It was pointless to start a fight over this, and Skywalker must have inherited some of Vader's genes. It seemed like Skywalker got the memo.

"Something's on your mind?" Luke asked with a pained smile. "What happened this time?"

Mara grunted, pushing away from him and standing up, "Don't worry about it."

"You still hate me, don't you?" Luke asked rhetorically, copying her movements if only instinctively.

"Well, duh, you're my enemy," she sassed.

"And by that logic, you're mine, but I know better than to judge you off of first impressions."

"Look, Skywalker, this isn't necessary," she said sharply.

"It is."

"Why? Why are you doing this then? Why do you care so much?" he opened his mouth to speak, but Mara cut him off. "And don't tell me it's because he used me. I am getting tired of hearing that."

"Well, you're too young for this life, Mara."

"And how old are you, Mr. All Wise?" Anger and exasperation was starting to leak into her tone, though not as intense as it may have been before.

Luke reddened, "Nineteen."

She sometimes honestly forgot he was also a teenager. One could honestly just assume he looked younger than his age. Sometimes it seemed like he was in his mid-twenties if not thirties, despite his juvenile appearance.

It did add a layer of humanity to him when it came to her regarding him and it made her want to kill him less.

She was not going to lie.

"Exactly so stop acting like you're older than everyone," Mara's green eyes fixed on his intensely. "And given what you know in the Force and fighting in a conflict, the Jedi used you too."

"Well," Luke winced, "that's one way of looking at it. They had their own reasons."

"And the Emperor has his," Mara replied.

"Perhaps he did. I'm not the one arguing with you about this, Mara. My father was."

It was a fair point.

"But why do you hate the Jedi?"

Mara's nose scrunched. "Pardon?"

"Why do you? I discussed why I believe Palpatine should be removed from the throne. Why do you hate the Jedi?"

Her eyes darkened. "You do realize I have read reports about the Jedi Order, right? I know about the Baby Ludi's case. The Jedi denied a baby from her mother because they couldn't get over their egoistical mindset and see her returned."

Luke nodded at once. "Yes, Mara, you're correct; what the Jedi Order did on that occasion-multiple of them even was wrong. But as I've pointed out, that's not all the Jedi, just like there's good, caring Imperials in the Empire like you."

She was truly touched by what he said, but she didn't want to be a sore winner.

"Vader might be aiding the Rebellion but he was still a weapon of the Empire, did he not? What type of image does that paint the Empire?"

Mara hesitated for a moment; "His ideology doesn't represent the views of the entire Empire."

"It doesn't," Luke agreed. "Yet the Emperor kept him around. You'd blamed him for the decimation of entire worlds, but who do you think holds the ultimate leash over those choices? Vader's a military soldier and nothing else. His duty is found on the front lines. He is cursed and hated, yet feared enough to drive rebellious worlds under ground and people into... obedience. The Emperor controls the Empire. Everyone else just follows his orders."

Mara didn't want to accept that was true. After all, she carried out Palpatine's wishes on numerous worlds, dealing with corrupt Imperial officials, traitors, and others who he deemed deserving of death or judgment. His esteem for her was such that he allowed her time for relaxation.

'Yet,' a silent voice whispered, 'is that the case for others?'

"You're just like your sister," she snapped. "I'll be sure to write that down on a flimsi. Pull it out of your ass, would you?"

Luke's eyebrows raised before a cheeky smile came across his lips. "Oh, so she told you? Also, the two of you talked without killing one another? Perfect."

Mara gave him a dirty look. "Just how many lost family maidens do you have?"

"Only her and my father, but you know that," Luke answered.

Don't she ever? "How did you end up being a Jedi and she became a politician?"

"We were separated following the Rise of the Empire. We've just... reunited..."

She was uncertain if she wanted to know more about that tale.

"What happened to your mother?" Because the bitch had to be insane to have sex with Darth Vader of all people.

"She died after our father joined Palpatine," Luke replied, pain flickering.

"I'm..." she caught herself before she'd uttered that apology, remembering who she was talking to.

She was many things. Perhaps a lawful enforcer of the Empire. But she knew not to taunt almost any other person about the death of a loved one. Vader may have mocked her for the lack of knowledge about the other Hands and she probably would have taken the opportunity if it was him, but that was the problem.

It had been Vader...

Not Luke...

The two couldn't be any more different. On paper, their alliance was an inconceivable one. One would assume their personalities would have clashed far too much for them to continue to be in one another's presence. Yet, it seemed like they'd cared heavily for each other.

"I'm sure you think often of your parents too, Mara..." Luke mentioned.

She did once in a while but she wouldn't tell him that. Feigning indifference, she shrugged. "No, not really-"

"It is only normal. I long for a life where I could have had a normal childhood, adolescence, and adu-" he stopped himself all of a sudden and collected himself, "forgive me, this topic is a difficult one for me. My family has splintered beyond belief due to the actions of what happened in the past. I'm sure you understand, given your lack of family."

"I have a family, Skywalker. It's the Empire. I made a promise to those people and I intend to keep it."

"Although the galaxy is full of evil, Mara, there is also a lot of good in humanity. Everyone can make mistakes, but good people learn from them and become better people. Rebellion or Empire, that would always be the case." Luke answered.

Her eyes filled with distant pain. "I am his Hand, Skywalker," she said, her voice remembering. "That's how I am known to his inner court: as the Emperor's Hand. I serve him all over the galaxy, doing jobs the Imperial Fleet and Stormtroopers cannot handle. That is my one great talent, you see-I can hear his call from anywhere in the Empire, and report back to him the same way. I expose traitors for him, bring down his enemies, helps him keep the kind of control over the mindless bureaucracies that he needs. I have prestige, and power, and respect." Slowly, her eyes came back from the past. "And you threaten to take it all away from me. If only for that, you deserve to die," she held up a hand, "or be made to join us."

"Mara, I know it's hard. But..." Luke held up his hands.

Mara was already shaking her head by the time he'd finished, "You don't understand, Skywalker. I am nothing without him."

"You don't need a title or name to be something special, Mara."

"Easy for you to say," she bit back, "your father is Darth Vader. You have something special about you, dark as it is. The Emperor gives me purpose. I come from nowhere."

"A person doesn't need to have an identity just to be special. Let's say someone from an evil lineage claimed the Skywalker's name, that person wouldn't resolve anything; they run from their problems instead of tackling the issue of their legacy and redeeming their own name in the eyes of those around them. A surname doesn't make you special. Even though Palpatine is evil in my eyes, I won't automatically assume that everyone related to him would be evil too."

"He may have deceived me..." Mara conceded at last, "but what am I without him? I need him. I need someone..."

Luke's eyes became filled with sympathy, no, empathy. "You have me, Mara."

"I don't..." she started and it was her turn to grumble under her breath before adding. "I can't have you."

"You can."

"I can't," she repeated.

Without exactly meaning to, Mara had advanced on him, her primary intention being aggression. She hadn't noticed their distance until she lifted her head back to stare up at Luke, mere inches away from him. Suddenly, she felt less confident, especially with Luke's blue eyes staring at her so softly. There was a temptation to back up, but she refused to move, not wanting to look like she was running from him.

"You want to know what I mean?" He said, his voice low and silent, "Because I have also suffered like you have and can relate and understand. And…" And before he even realized it, Luke could fight his feelings no more. He stepped forward and wrapped his right arm around Mara, drawing her against him. She was so astonished for a moment that she didn't push away. And then his hand stroked her cheek, capturing her in his grasp as he pushed his lips against hers, kissing her.

When she processed what happened, she didn't know what to do. Her first instinct was to gasp. She felt herself being hefted on the bed, her legs dangling off of it at first, before wrapping around his abdomen on reflex. When she realized what their position was, she realized she couldn't move her arms. No, that was just stupid. She was the Emperor's Hand. All she had to do was... But before she could do anything, his tongue scored around her lips and she had to resist melting against him. His hand traveled from her cheek to her hair. He nibbled onto her lower lip, sending a shiver down her body. His tongue slid across hers, exploring her mouth, over her teeth, teased the roof of the mouth, and burrowed underneath the tongue. And after a moment, she began to respond with soft, small movements. Then her tongue was sliding against his, dancing and slick in his mouth. His hands ran along her spine to encircle her waist through the fabric of her skintight outfit.

Again in this man's presence, she was not able to fight, but for a different reason. It was as if she was held there by not him, but her mind, unable and unwilling to break free. Eventually releasing her with one last caress against her lips, Luke repositioned slightly, now pressing kisses across her cheek until his lips grazed her ear.

"I love you," he murmured, his breath stimulating her seductively and his tone causing the hair at the back of her neck to rise. "I will not deceive you like he did, Mara. Nor will I manipulate you, misguide you, or tell you prevarications. I love you for you, not because what you can give me. I promise you..." The lust in his voice was enough to downright hotwire Mara's brain even before he claimed her earlobe between his teeth and peck it ever so softly. It was then that she finally guided her hands, bringing them upwards until they were flat against Skywalker's chest. Skywalker had his arms captivating her waist, stiffening when he expected her to pull back, but instead...

They stayed like that, their eyes locked, both slowly leaning in, their lips pursing...

All of a sudden, her right hand tightened around the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer, their noses meeting, her green eyes now angry. Before Skywalker could even react, she pushed her left hand containing the lightsaber hilt against his chest. Her legs were now used as leverage to wrap around his waist to keep him there, she made sure that he was unable to escape.

His cheeks were red. It was misplaced. Luke also knew. But it was taking a lot out of him to not control the fire within his chest. Gods. Desire threatened everything. Everything. Damn. Damn. Damn. He was beaten. He was...

'No! Force-damn these teenager hormones. Goddamn it...'

Resisting a swallow, he reached out through the Force and calmed his breathing. "I don't think you want to do that, Mara."

He struggled with himself. Damn hormones on this nineteen-year-old body, and the ways it devoured at his senses. The urge for sex was torture at this age. Kriff all, and he was still a virgin in this body.

"And why not?" she snarled.

"Because there's nothing that will stop my father from killing you. At the end of the day, I'm his only son."

"Don't try to pin this on me," her green eyes darkened, almost as red as her cheeks on reflex. "You kissed me... multiple times..."

"I know and I'm sorry. I do care for you, Mara."

If she could have, she would have prodded the lightsaber hilt far deeper against his chest, "...Jedi do not care about anyone but themselves..." She growled. "All of them."

"I care about you, my sister, and father. I understand your frustrations. I understand feeling like you're alone. But know this, you'll always have someone, even unlikely allies."

He gripped her hand, the hilt in it, and pushed it aside tenderly. Her eyes closed. Kriff, a big part of Luke felt shame. He'd practically taken advantage of her, all because of desire. Goddamn it. For all of his lectures about his adolescent students needing to learn how to control their poor impulses, Luke was incapable of doing the same. But part of him couldn't care. Pifgot! The hormones in this nineteen-year-old body, and the ways it undid so much of the control he would have later.

He would have to remember that when he was training his students later...

'Teenager's hormones are a bitch,' Luke thought with spite, feeling a part of him humming in disapproval at how he'd voiced that thought. A Grandmaster in a teenager's body defeated by the endocrine system... Kyle would have made sure he'd remembered that for the next century or two.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, removing his legs, which she allowed. "I didn't mean to... well... uhh, make you uncomfortable." Damn, now he was stuttering like a teenager too.

"I'm not uncomfortable," she hissed. She was getting tired of being fondled like she needed it!

"It's too soon," he said softly, lowering his head, guilt-ridden. "I will make sure this doesn't happen again."

Mara gritted her teeth. "Skywalker, shut up and put your hands in my hair... now."

Nothing was wrong with that, right?

"Of course." His hands tenderly stroked through her red locks, and Mara shifted against his side, her head now against his chest.

"Don't think you're getting another kiss. You aren't. I just need your body for warmth."

"I'll be glad to offer," Luke fought a chuckle, knowing that she loved his hands caressing her hair. She just wouldn't admit it, not yet.

Mara closed her eyes, taking in satisfying breaths. "Keep this up and I might never kill you... Luke Skywalker."

"Well, there's progress," he said drily.

Mara slowly melted in his arms again. This was actually unexpected. It seemed like Luke had won enough goodwill for her to be more reliant on him. Maybe she won't fall into the state she was in for 10 years and feel like she could come to him much earlier which was fine by then.

He must have fallen asleep, and Mara did too, for time seemed to pass.

When he allowed himself to fall back to sleep, a distant voice throbbed in his senses:

"Luke. Luke. A long time it has been."

"Yoda," he murmured under his breath.

When he looked up, searching around, he found that nothing was there, however, he felt a presence he hadn't felt so strongly for so long in the Force. Last time, it had been dimming, becoming one with it. This time...

Well, he had a feeling he would have another reunion coming soon, different as it would be.