GONE

Disclaimers:  The usual!
Author's Note: 
    This is an AU but I am taking the films and their events as canon but not the EU! I am dipping in and out of the EU as it
    suits this fic so I'll keep you guessing and consider yourself warned!

Prologue
Fifteen Years After the Battle of Endor Coruscant

Leia Organa-Solo surveyed the massed crowd from the balcony to their apartment. The noise of all the citizens celebrating below cascaded together to make a wall of living sound. There was a magical thrum to the noise, almost beating like a pulse of a living entity. The celebrating throng continued as far as Leia's eyes could make out. The occasional flickering light lit small islands of revellers, the pools of illumination bobbing along like waves on a sea. It was a mesmersing sight. The lines of speeder traffic and shuttles moving between the buildings were less then normal as Coruscant celebrated the Peace Treaty. Overhead the sky was still lit up by brief flashes of vibrant colour from the fireworks that were still punctuating the sky. Leia just let the cool Coruscant night air wash over her senses, observe the night's events. Leaning in to her husband, they both stood wordless, watching the world go by.

Never even in their dreams would they have believed that this day would occur. The day when the Imperial and New Republic forces finally and officially ceased their hostilities. The Galactic Civil War was now formally consigned to history. Yet both Leia and Han were well aware that they were still factions out there they would still cause problems. The diplomatic work had not finished as the Imperial Reminant and the former New Republic Forces would be uneasy bed partners until the fragile trust built more solid foundations.

The former princess had experienced this atmosphere several times in her life but this time it was different. Despite her hard work bringing about this day, Leia felt apart from the rest of the celebrants. She appreciated the unique occassion but was unable to feel free herself to enjoy the day like the many souls below. She had lost too much on this journey. The atmosphere evoked memories of another time and transported her back to another celebration where she had felt a part of the festivities. It had been fifteen long years ago when the Rebel Alliance celebrated the destruction of the second Death Star. In her mind's eye, she saw a forest with fireworks blooming from the X-wings flying overhead. The simple music and dancing round the fires high up in the trees seemed a lifetime ago. What she would give to be back there once more to enjoy that night with the more simple celebrations of the ewoks. It had been a happy time when she had partied on a timber platform surrounded by friends and colleagues. Leia's thoughts drifted back to that time just after she had found out that Luke was her brother. Unlike on Endor's Moon, there would be no reunion with Luke. This time, all she had was Han whose arms had tighten round her in response to her unconscious reaction.

Appreciating his empathy, Leia closed her eyes and let the moment wash over her as she was wrapped in Han's warm embrace. His strong arms holding her while his chin nestled on top of her coiled hair. He knew she was feeling fragile and his support throughout today had meant such a lot to her. He knew what she was thinking even without the Force to let him know.

For such a brash, loud mouthed Correllian pirate, he really had such a sensitive soul underneath all the gruff exterior. It had taken her a while to see past the demeanor to the real man. Somehow her brother had recognised Han's true spirit despite the galaxy worn exterior. Without Luke, Leia knew that her and Han would have been unlikely to get together as a couple. Especially in the early days, they were always sparking each other off. Somehow, Luke had managed to keep the balance and also the peace despite Han's unnatural talent for winding her up. Smiling up at him as she turned round to hug him. She whispered in his ear, "I love you."

"I know." The usual reply made Leia smile before his well made lips claimed her own in a searing kiss. Leia just gave in to the moment and let her thoughts drift away and let herself forget for a time.

* * * *

Talon Karrde watched the holonet report on the proceedings, taking in the Organa Solos appearance as Leia's recorded voice sounded round his office. Her posture showing her regal upbringing during the formal proceedings of the armistice while Han Solo looked more relaxed at Leia's elbow.

"I would like to remember those who have helped bring about this day but who are no longer with us to celebrate this momentous occasion on the ending of years of Galactic Civil War. Please raise your glasses and make this toast with me." Leia had paused at this point, to raise her glass skywards.

However, Karrde was adept at reading body language and could read the tension in both of them. The words of her formal toast had praised the combined efforts of the Imperial and New Republic for achieving peace and looked with optimism to the future but her words also warned the gathering about the price of war. Looking askance at his aide, he wondered what Mara Jade's reaction to this was going to be.

"To the future! And for those who are gone but never forgotten, we vow to build it to be such a future!"

Karrde's thoughts turned back the years to when he also had been intrigued by Mara's reaction to Luke Skywalker when they had stumbled across the Jedi's X-wing literally dead in space. He had watched their relationship develop from a be-grudging respect to a deep and sincere friendship over the decade. Karrde always had a healthy respect for Skywalker's abilities before he had met the Jedi but that he had become to know, like and esteem the man behind the name. He had often wondered about their friendship. He realised after news of Skywalker's demise that Mara had definitely been more involved with Luke than even he had known. She had taken it hard but never had confided him about this obviously deeply personal matter.

The former Chief of State raised her glass and sipped the contents. The holocam then scanned round the gathered politicans and military leaders as they all echoed her words and actions before the feed went dead.

"Mara?" Karrde turned around not really surprised that the red headed trader had killed the holonet. He was just surprised that she had let it run for so long.

"I wish she would just come out and say it." Mara Jade said bitterly, steadfastly trying read the information on the datapad in her hand for the umpteenth time, as she tried to blank out Organa Solo's voice without success. "Gone but never forgotten... in other words dead. "

Talon knew at least one of the reasons behind her latest outburst. Mara Jade had taken Leia Organa and the NRI to task when the failed undercover mission had cost Luke his life. Mara still blaimed Leia for his death and after today's events, Talon had a feeling that Leia still blaimed herself too.

Talon Karrde knew the red headed trader was a lot more bothered than she let on. He still wasn't sure of Mara's background, even after all these years. The trader had pierced together enough information to hazard a good guess and he knew after working with Jade for the last decade that her talents and training had meant special ops within the Empire. He just didn't know the details and he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

"Galactic Federation of Free Alliances!" Mara snorted with derision. "What a mouthful! Wonder how long they took in committee to agree on that name!"

Talon just hummed a quiet agreement in response.

"Still, it isn't going to matter out of the Core." Mara continued. Her tone mellowing as she concentrated back on business. "The impact of this armstice is not going to affect the Rim Worlds for some time. Most will ignore this apart from looking at the holonet reports before continuing about their normal business in their normal way."

"That is what I am counting on." Karrde advised her. He had been informing Mara of his plans to offer his information and intelligence servces to both the Imperial Reminant and the New Republic.

Mara looked up at him again from the numbers he had sent to her datapad. "I hope you are not misjudging our capacity too much. Our network although good, could get swamped by yours plans and it could back fire on you."

Karrde waved away her concerns. "We will learn, adapt and grow as we have always done."

Mara said nothing just raised a shapely eyebrow. Her expression saying it all.

Talon ignored her reservations. It had to work and he would make it work. He had the greatest confidence in his people and knew they would suceed. However, he knew Mara was right on both accounts but the Rim was a law unto itself which was always a thorn to those only familiar to the Core. Centralised government was not very effective out there even at the height of the Old Republic and the Empire. Palpatine indeed had more of a presence in the Rim than many thought but these places were left to continue under the radar of the New Republic and Karrde had a hunch that aquite a few former Imperial officers who were maintain their bases, would look on with formation of the GFFA with suspicsion and try to make the most out of this current news before the Core caught up with them again. He was in the ideal position to take advantage and hopefully his organisation would be able to obtain quite a few of former Imperial bases and stations as he had expansion plans in his trading as well as the intelligence game.

His information network would have to develop to handle the eventual volume of information which would be required between all the Core Worlds and the Rim. If it didn't, the whole thing would become a dead weight around his neck but he foresaw that not a lot would immediately change. His operatives were experienced and in the right places so he was optimistic. All they needed was time to expand and grow their capacity.

The change in political balance could also provide a few new opportunities for him to proft from. He suspected his organisation could take advantage in several different ways. He already had plans and it was about time to inform Mara of what he wanted her to achieve.