Out of the Shadows 13

Druckenwell

Mara peered through the crowds as they settled down to watch the parade after the minor excitement of the rampaging ronto. As if by magic, Luke Skywalker had completely disappeared from view and it had been Luke Skywalker. There was no doubt in Mara Jade’s mind – none whatsoever. It certainly solved the ‘was he alive or dead’ debate and it definitely gave her some information to deliver back to Karrde and Han Solo. She lifted her head and stared up into the upper walkway levels trying to spot Karrde’s friend. It was time to leave Druckenwell. Il Avila’s, at best, dubious charm had swiftly faded.

Suddenly without warning, a sharp, tearing pain lanced through her head. “Aaagh!” She let out a surprised scream, her hands moving to clutch her temples. Agony swept through her, her eyes screwed shut. A fleeting image of wrinkled, claw-like hands touching her skin flashed into her mind and a woman’s anguished cry echoed through her head. It was as if something or someone precious had been torn from her. What in the name of the sith had just happened? She felt as if a heavy blindfold had been obscuring her senses and had suddenly been ripped away and she could see again. She glanced surreptitiously around her but Il Avila’s noisy inhabitants hadn’t appeared to notice her discomfort. They were more focused on the parade and the chance to feast late into the evening.

She frowned. She could gauge how the people were feeling? She reached out a little farther but all she could sense was a vague emotional contentment and, yes, a chance to enjoy themselves before the winter months set in.

‘I’m sorry, Mara.’

Mara searched around for whoever was addressing her by name but the populace hurried by intent on their own purposes. “Hello! Pavlo? Who…?” There was nobody speaking to her – no-one knew who she was. There was no sign of Pavlo Suarete. In any case, the voice was different. Was she hearing things inside her own head? She could have sworn…

‘I’m sorry, Mara.’ The words sounded again – stronger this time. ‘I never meant to hurt you.’

Hearing voices had never been classed as good. “I’m imagining things,” she muttered, shaking her head a little and wincing as an echo of the pain made itself felt. But she was already reaching out towards Luke’s Skywalker’s potent presence in the Force with her own.

‘So you can hear me – good.’

“I’m imagining things,” she repeated a little desperately. The voice was low and warm, an educated voice, but with a hint of a soft burr which made her think of clear skies and sunny days.

‘No, you’re not imagining anything. This is real and it’s happening.’

‘You can hear me?’ Mara sent to the anonymous being.

‘Clear as the wind singing through a Vors crystal cathedral.’

‘You’ve been on Vors?’ Mara screwed up her face in disgust. Was that all she could think of to say?

‘I’ve been there…once,’ he admitted. ‘It was a beautiful experience and one I shall never forget.’

‘Skywalker?’

‘Yes, that is my name.’

This couldn’t be what she thought it was – could it?  Not since she’d served Palpatine had she been able to communicate with another so clearly. She was conversing with Luke Skywalker and didn’t need to open her mouth. She went a little cold, a shiver running through her. She had begun to enjoy her freedom to do what she wanted when she wanted to do it and wasn’t sure if she desired another voice inside her head. Especially the one that belonged to her Master’s murderer.

“Where are you?” she demanded, swinging around, her small holdout blaster appearing in her hand. “What have you done to me?” But none of the revellers surrounding her resembled the young man in the brown cloak.

‘I have undone what was already done. You deserve freedom…’

‘Freedom! Freedom?’ Mara didn’t understand. She was free.

‘Now is not the time to explain but we shall meet again. You are strong in the Force, be mindful of your anger. It can lead to the dark side.’

Luke knew now that their meeting again was inevitable. Their kind had to seek others like themselves or wither away into bitterness. This was why he’d been so desperate to leave Tatooine without knowing why. He unconsciously sought other Jedi. If his aunt and uncle hadn’t been killed, he would have gone to Obi-Wan or Obi-Wan would have stated his claim and come for him – possibly the more likely scenario. His uncle would not have liked it but Luke knew that Owen would eventually have let Obi-Wan train him. Or if he’d finally been allowed to take a place at the Academy he might have attracted the attention from the darker side of the Force-aware. Luke shuddered. He knew how the dark side could twist the simplest things out of proportion. Now, Mara would need the contact of other Force users.

‘You can count on meeting me again, Skywalker,’ she answered coldly, all the while shaking in amazement over the ease with which they were communicating with one another through the Force. She’d thought her Force ability had died and yet, she was talking to the Jedi as if they were standing next to one another. She turned her head sharply just in case he was there but there was still no sign of him.

‘A promise?’

‘A threat.’

Luke was taken aback. He hadn’t imagined the animosity inherent in her words. She didn’t know him, had never met him before and yet had made up her mind about him. This was more than mere dislike. Why did she dislike him so much? What had he done to deserve such hatred? It could prove to be a problem but he would leave it in the hands of the Force for now.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“I was wondering when you were going to join me,” Faughan uttered as Mara boarded the Starry Ice.

“I got delayed,” Mara snapped.

“You okay?” Faughan asked, giving Mara a wary look. The redhead’s manner was decidedly surly and Karrde’s people had already learned that the unpredictability of her moods meant that sometimes Mara had to be treated with some caution.

“I’m fine,” Mara said with an irritable sigh, wondering if the changes she’d felt happening inside her head had manifested themselves in signs visible to anyone who looked at her. It wasn’t fair of her to take out her frustrations on an innocent Faughan. “Suarete’s annoyingly pleasant but persistent. He doesn’t fit the image of a cut-throat operator. He was nice but…unrelenting.”

“Why do you think I didn’t go? I had to deal with old Pavlo the last time we visited Il Avila.”

“The deal was done, signed and sealed but he kept going with the bargaining.”

“That’s why he’s successful. It’s the persistence of the man. Beings buy extra quantities just to make him go away and he knows it.” Faughan tapped commands into the console in front of her. “You sure you’re okay? You seem a little pale to me.”

“It was very hot and crowded out there and I’m usually pale,” Mara dismissed her colleague’s concerns sharply. “Goes with the hair.”

“That’s Druckenwell during the celebrations season for you - busy. Another reason why Karrde sent us. He dislikes this world even when it’s quiet.” Faughan strapped herself into the pilot’s chair and started prepping the ship for launch. “And I wish I had had hair like yours.”

Mara curled her lip. “Yeah, right.”

Faughan shrugged. “Firing up the converters right about now.”

“Good – the sooner we’re away from here the better.” Mara slipped into the co-pilot’s seat and began to assist the other woman. As she did so, Mara stared out of the viewport wondering if, somewhere in the spaceport, there was an x-wing snubfighter belonging to Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight. He was reported as being a brilliant pilot – one of the best ever seen it was said. If there was a ship, she couldn’t see it. Instead, boxy shuttles and rusting tramp freighters filled her gaze.

Dimly, she heard Faughan asking for clearance for take-off, her mind still spinning with what she had encountered just less than an hour ago. What had actually happened to her? Mara wasn’t exactly sure but something important certainly had occurred and she couldn’t explain it. Mara didn’t like having to deal with things that she could not explain.

Skywalker had been on Druckenwell and had managed to get himself inside her head without an invitation. Indeed, he was powerful as the Emperor had foreseen. But the feeling was very different than the one that Palpatine had invoked. This had been one of the most amazing coincidences ever. Standing in a crowded thoroughfare on an insignificant Mid-Rim world and her most important target had saved her life. She could feel the coldness of her blaster in its wrist holster next to her skin. She could have ended things right there, fulfilled her final mission for her master but she hadn’t. Why not? Was it because he had saved her life? She didn’t think so – she’d never been one for sentimental gestures.

“Yes, the Starry Ice is ready…Mara!” Faughan stopped answering the queries from spaceport control and turned to her colleague in exasperation.  “Mara? Are you listening to me? ”

Mara shook herself out of her fog as Faughan’s impatience caught her. She couldn’t plot points on the navicomp with her head in a mess like this. She had to start concentrating or she would land them smack in the middle of a star, or worse, sucked down a black hole and Karrde wouldn’t be pleased if that happened. “Yes, I’m listening. Punch it.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Standing in a badly illuminated section of the spaceport allowed Luke the opportunity to watch the departure of the Starry Ice before proceeding to the private docking bay he’d rented. Cloaking himself with the Force had meant that he could follow the redheaded woman back to where she’d finished some sort of business with an older, swarthy, human male and then she’d headed towards the spaceport and what looked to be an Action V transport ship. The Rebellion had utilised several of them, he recalled. So she meant to leave immediately, he thought. Would she tell the first holo-reporter she saw that she’d met him or would she keep her counsel? He made an educated guess that she was probably working for one of the galaxy’s many smuggling groups.

Luke had to admit that the woman fascinated him with her complex mixture of fierceness and femininity. He’d never met anyone like her - in his dreams or in reality - and he couldn’t predict her reactions apart from one thing; they would meet again.

Luke had come to Druckenwell to search for something connected to his quest but had instead stumbled across the woman he had glimpsed amongst his visions and dreams. Was this the reason Druckenwell had called so strongly to both himself and Master Yoda? Was this woman called Mara the cause?

“Well, old girl?” He rubbed his hand affectionately over the hull of his ship and a little more paint peeled off. Did she look as shabby as he thought she did? It was, of course, a deception. The innards were in as good a shape as they’d ever been. But when would that deception become a reality? It could happen that through various circumstances his beloved not capable of flying? She did look a bit sorry for herself. His lip firmed determinedly. As soon as he returned to the galaxy and reality, he would have his x-wing given a complete overhaul by the best techs Rogue squadron utilised. “Artoo?” he called. “You awake?”

There was a burst of indignant electronic speech. Of course he was awake. He’d been left to guard the ship. Artoo took his duties where Master Luke was concerned very seriously. Organic lifeforms were too illogical to look after themselves properly. He should have been accompanying his master. The ship could take care of itself. Master Luke was an altogether different case.

“I’m sorry, little fella,” Luke apologised to the rotund little droid. “But it was too busy out there for droids and, yes, thank you for watching the ship. It’s the truth, Artoo. Someone would have trod on you or knocked you over.”

Artoo whirled his head.

“We’re going home…no, not Coruscant - Dagobah. Coruscant's not home…yet. Did I find what I was looking for?” Luke shrugged. “I’m not sure. I certainly found something I didn’t expect to find.”

The droid beeped a question and he mounted the ladder. “Yes, Artoo, fire her up. We need to get on our way. We’ve been here for too long already.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back on Dagobah a day later, on jumping lightly from the ship, he found that Yoda was waiting for him in the clearing he always used as a landing area. “Master Yoda – how are you feeling?”

Yoda fixed him with an intense stare and dismissed his apprentice’s concern over his health. “Sense you have news I do.”

“I found the woman I saw in my vision,” Luke said trying and failing to keep his excitement at bay. “She was there on Druckenwell.”

Yoda gave a dry little chuckle. “Make her sound like an object you do. Lost was she?”

Luke pondered on Yoda’s question. He had thought of little else but the beautiful stranger he’d saved from the ronto’s feet. “I think she might be,” he said slowly. “She hasn’t yet found her way. She seems to either be a trader or a smuggler - or both.”

“Ah,” the old Jedi said comprehending Luke’s words. “Doubtful you sense her path to be…clouded her future.”

“Yes,” Luke whispered. “She’s angry inside – resentful, bitter and yes, lost. She’s trying to find her way in a galaxy that isn’t what it was.”

Yoda sighed and shook his head. “That happened to many, including yourself, young one.”

“Her mind had been deliberately closed to the Force.”

“Deliberately?” Yoda’s echoed sharply. “What mean you by this?”

“A dark shadow…” Luke sighed. “…a barrier. That’s the only way that I can explain what it felt like. I touched her and felt real raw power. She’s very strong – as strong as Leia is, perhaps even stronger - but something was preventing her from accessing her abilities.”

“And remove it you did.” It wasn’t a question. Yoda knew his apprentice very well by now. The boy still found it hard to be patient but he had a good heart and only wanted to help. He thought little of his own troubles. Into trouble it led him so many times. “Wise do you think that was if so angry she is? Waited you should have.”

“No one should have such a barrier placed upon them – this could eventually corrupt beyond redemption. I had to free her to allow her to become herself again even if we don’t like what she could become. I could not begin to train her the way she is right now. There is too much anger inside her heart. Darkness and despair are her probable companions. We have to give her a chance to heal.”

Yoda gave a reluctant nod. “Your reasoning I see and sound it is. You have learned much. Your own Jedi you are and a good thing this is.”

“Who could have done such thing?”

“The questions you should be asking are not ‘who could have done such a thing’ but ‘who had the power.’”

Luke nodded his head slowly. “Another Jedi?”

“Or a sith. The Jedi were gone, youngling.”

“A sith! Force, the Emperor?”

“Destroy all the Force sensitives he discovered Palpatine did not. Some he used for his own ends.”

“She did not feel evil to me, only…angry.”

“To the dark side anger leads. That you know. Many times have I told you.”

Luke’s head bowed. “Yes.” Then he lifted his head and stared straight at Yoda, belief shining on his face. “But I’m not the naïve, impatient boy I once was. I have learned many things from you. You’ve trained me to lead the Jedi into the new age and to be able to make my own decisions. I’m on familiar terms with darkness. I feel it in myself and daily I struggle to conquer it and I shall win – I have to. I can recognise it in others because I can see myself in them. This girl isn’t evil but without true access to the light side of the Force, the darkness will corrupt her. She blames me…” he said, understanding dawning on his face. “She blames me for her problems. That is the reason she hates me so much. Do you really think she could have been connected to the Emperor?”

“Perhaps. The sith only two there are - a master and an apprentice.”

“Palpatine had Vader…and then me, if I had turned. But he, the Emperor, would not have allowed me to be with my father. He wanted me to kill Vader and take my place at his side. But I could not – Anakin was still there inside him.” Luke clenched his prosthetic hand and took a shaky breath. “Would he…the Emperor, have kept others under his control as well as Vader?”

“Possible this is. Dark side servants there were. None of them your father’s strength or skill had. Replace your father at Palpatine’s side they could not. Weak without their own kind – kept secret and apart. Only you the strength had to become Palpatine’s apprentice. Replace your father you would have. If you did not join them, die you had to – a real threat were you. Too powerful with the light side proved you to be.”

“I must find her again.” Luke saw her proud face again in his mind and felt her coldness. Inside him was a desire to replace the frost with warmth.

“See through you I do.” Yoda’s face held a knowing expression.

Luke’s face coloured a little. He’d never been able to act casually among attractive women. Han and the other Rogues had always teased him about it. He did what he usually did and tried to change the conversation. “Did you know that she would be on Druckenwell? Did you foresee it?” he asked. “All I sensed was that we would be given another clue, another part of our puzzle. Instead, I find more questions.”

Yoda shook his head. “No. Like you, only that there was something we needed to find I thought. The Force guides our actions. Acted with the Force you did?”

“Yes.”

“Then help us to rebuild the Jedi this woman will.”

“But how to find her again?”

“If it is meant to be, find her you will. Now discuss this no more tonight. Tired you look. We must eat. Your strength to continue your training you need.”

“Her name is Mara. That’s all the Force gave me.”

“Recall any younglings born with that name I cannot. But a dark time it was and many Jedi died. We could not know all who had produced children and away I was, kept from where I needed to be by Palpatine’s schemes. Our message changed. Keep any surviving Jedi away from the Core worlds we had to do. Prevent younglings from arriving at the temple. Perhaps one was brought that killed was not but kept.”

Yoda turned away, his stooped shoulders heaving in distress and Luke suddenly understood something. His old Master partly blamed himself for the decline and death of the Jedi Order. He felt that he should have comprehended that it was Palpatine’s dark side machinations playing them all like puppets. He should have foreseen what was to happen. He had sensed the darkness approaching but had been unable to act in time.

“You blame yourself,” Luke said softly.”

The old Jedi stopped and sighed but did not turn and face his apprentice. “I do. Sensed great trouble I did, but too trusting was I. Blinded by my own pride and yes, lack of patience had I. The Sith…prepared to wait for thousands of years for power they were. The Jedi…too insular, too sure of their own superiority, their faith in goodness prevailing over evil. Our downfall it proved to be. My exile to wait until you to train I could.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Luke said quietly.

Yoda did turn then, his luminous eyes holding the sorrow of the galaxy within them. “In my head I am aware my fault it was not but my heart tells me otherwise.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Luke repeated. “You did what you had to do – you had to survive. I needed you.”

Yoda managed a small smile, touched by the words of his last and greatest apprentice. “Come…come, it is time to eat.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Coruscant

Leia finished her workout with a sigh of relief and turned automatically to look through the viewport where Talon Karrde’s red-headed assistant would normally be dancing with all the skill of a professional. She hadn’t been there for the past week; maybe she’d left Coruscant on a smuggling trip. Han had said that Karrde maintained several bases in various locations around the galaxy. But no, the familiar music could be heard – a faint drum beat combining with a swirl of scurrying strings echoed through the walls. The woman finished with a series of agile leaps across the room, her face and arms extended upwards.

Leia compared what she had seen with her own, more mundane, aerobic routine. She was fit but couldn’t move like Mara Jade. Still - she bolstered her flagging self-esteem - she wasn’t a complete slouch either. She checked her programme and found that tomorrow she would be increasing her combat work and improving her hand-to-hand fighting skills. Han had insisted on it. He wanted to make sure that if she ever lost her protection and he and Chewie weren’t around, she would know what to do in a crisis.  General Airen Cracken, head of the Alliance intelligence service, had arranged for one of his best instructors to teach her. They couldn’t allow their survival skills to grow lax even now. There would always be another threat.

Mara switched off the music and pocketed her disc before making her way out of the studio, her towel around her shoulders. She’d again sensed Leia’s dark eyes observing her routine but this time the feeling was clearer – far sharper than before. It was as if she’d suddenly come alive again through the Force. Someone had flicked an imaginary switch and she knew who that was but would anyone believe her. It was kind of difficult to believe herself but the Force was part of her life again and she knew who was responsible. It was difficult for her to muster up any form of gratitude.

“Why hello, Mistress Jade. That was most impressive,” Leia said warmly. “I haven’t seen you for quite a few days.”

“Business,” Mara grunted suspiciously. The woman was a born politician. She could almost accept that Organa was sincere. But she then realised that she’d found someone who might just believe her if she told them.

“Business is good?”

Mara blinked. Leia had waited for her and was actually trying to make some feeble sort of attempt at small talk? She managed to curve her lips into a smile as she answered the question. “Thank you and yes, business is fine.” Polite small talk was one way to start getting acquainted. Mara squashed her impatience. She would get nowhere if she demanded the information she burned to know. “I just returned yesterday.”

“Somewhere interesting, I hope?” Leia began to walk with her towards the female changing area.

“Not really. One spaceport looks very like another after a while.”

“Yes, it can.” Leia thought bleakly of her days as a wanted fugitive, trying to rustle up supplies and support for the rebellion.

Mara’s voice was clipped. “Business is business – I don’t have to like the place I have to go to.”

‘Ah,’ Leia thought, subduing a smile. Mara’s business wasn’t up for discussion. “I caught the end of your routine – it was most impressive. Have you had professional dance training? You’re certainly good enough.”

“I had excellent teachers,” Mara replied coldly. Sith, the woman was inquisitive but that could give her the right to ask questions in return.

“Why are you working for Talon Karrde when you could be dancing professionally?” Leia knew the question was a little forward but she’d not seen anyone as good as this woman in a long time and her reliable instincts were telling her that there was far more to Mara Jade than she led others to believe.

“Karrde pays good credits,” Mara replied shortly squashing the urge to tell Organa to keep her mind on her own affairs. “The life is too hard as a professional dancer, the career is a short one and I have other skills than just my dancing to offer the galaxy.” She narrowed her green eyes daring Leia to continue her queries. The Alderaanian woman hesitated and Mara could see her mind turning over.

‘Like what?’ Leia asked herself because she could sense the reserve and again, a feeling of antipathy from the woman. Mara Jade did not like her for some reason but was making an effort to be pleasant. It did not sit easily upon her. Usually Leia would ignore such things – she couldn’t aim to please every being in the galaxy but she’d done nothing against this woman as far as she knew and something within her told her that it was important. Was it a Force prompting? Leia hated having to second-guess herself.

They paused outside the changing rooms and with a few more meaningless platitudes they parted to take care of the day's business.

The following day they again met just outside the studios and the day after that. It seemed that a set routine was part of the red haired trader’s, as well as the councillor’s, day. On the third day that they accidentally encountered one another, Leia tentatively enquired if Mara would like to have a caf with her and they shared an awkward conversation about the Coruscant ballet company which Leia had seen many times as a child and which Mara had attended daily classes with the corps. Meanwhile, Mara was burning to ask the princess questions about her brother. For over a week they met every day and held a stilted conversation, each convinced that they had nothing in common, yet something making them persevere in this uneasy tryst.

“Could I ask you something?” Mara queried carefully. She had the information about Skywalker that the princess might want to hear but leading up to it wasn’t easy. Up until now she had been shying away from divulging what she knew. Solo had asked Karrde not to let Organa know that he was still searching for Skywalker but Mara decided that the princess deserved to know what was going on. Up until now, Skywalker hadn’t been mentioned in their little chats at all and Mara’s patience was beginning to wear a bit thin. She sat and stared at Leia Organa, serene and beautiful in a flowing blue tunic, and had the urge to see that façade crack. Still she hesitated and then gave a small smile. She’d run out of patience. This would be better with a bigger audience. She’d contacted Karrde and Solo earlier and asked them to meet her at the gym, planning to tell Solo what she had discovered. But maybe doing it this way might prove to be more interesting.

“Ask me something?” Leia shrugged. “Of course.” What was the harm in that?

“Will you answer the question?”

“It depends,” Leia said quietly, her forehead furrowing. “If it has security implications you will understand that I cannot.”

Mara laughed. “You will probably find that Karrde has a better idea about your security than even you have.”

“What! You must be jesting.” Leia looked worried.

Mara’s lips tilted into a smug smile. “I find Talon Karrde’s sources of information second to none. He could even better the Bothan spy-net.”

Leia frowned. Surely this couldn’t be true? “You are joking…aren’t you?”

“No. It’s quite true. He has a network of informants across the galaxy - both legal and illegal. Don’t underestimate Talon Karrde.” Mara felt her com vibrate against the inside of her collar. Karrde was on his way. Now was as good a time as any to start finding out for sure. “What I would like to know is… What happened to Luke Skywalker? Can you tell me?”

“To…to Luke?”

“Yes. Don’t tell me that it’s a question you’ve never been asked before.”

“It’s…” Leia floundered. It was one of the subjects that the New Republic had made a deal with the holo-press to not report on so as to keep speculation to a minimum. But the public had taken Luke to their hearts and there had been a demand for information about his whereabouts which just wouldn’t go away. The less respectable holo-rags did not care what lies they reported but Leia avoided these. The story that he’d gone on a mission and just hadn’t come back yet was wearing thin. “I…I…don’t normally discuss…”

“It’s been said that he’s on a mission in deep cover or even that he’s dead. I even read in one Imperial Holo-rag that he never existed and that he was just another story the Rebellion had made up to make their side seem the most romantic. A farmboy from the Outer Rim blows up the most sophisticated instrument of technological warfare ever created with one shot. It was a fluke…” Mara leaned forward across the table, her green eyes intense. If ever there was a time to refresh her old interrogation skills, it was now. “If he did exist,” she stated coolly, “then he’s dead now. Why would he disappear when the Rebels had everything to gain?”

The Princess gasped, her face stricken. “No, he’s not dead.” She stood up abruptly leaving an almost full mug of caf. “He wasn’t when I last saw him.”

”And when was that?” Mara stood up, her actions mimicking Leia’s. “Recently?”

“Why do you want to know?” The princess dragged her fraying composure back together again and began to back pedal.

“I’m interested,” Mara said coolly. “No one has heard anything from him for over three years including, my sources tell me, even you. I like a good mystery and I wondered whether the man I bumped into on Druckenwell just last week was your brother.”

“My what!” Leia went white and clutched at the table for support. “Druckenwell,” she whispered. “Last week!”

“Your brother – Luke Skywalker. Oh for sith’s sake, sit down before you fall down.” Mara’s smile was malicious. “Luke Skywalker is your brother. I have evidence from very reliable sources. The files I saw weren’t telling lies. You can’t fake your genetics or his. Why the big secret?”

“It’s no-one’s business but our own,” Leia said shakily, trying to get herself under control. Her brother was well and alive; she knew it but it was a relief to hear it. “You really saw Luke? How do I know that you’re not lying?”

Mara sneered, her lip curling. “Why would I lie? What would be the point of it?”

“Others have tried.”

“I’m not…others.” It was as if the last word had been coated liberally with venom. “Ah, good,” she murmured. “Here’s General Solo now.” Mara sat down and crossed her arms, her whole pose one of total control. “Your brother?” she said again.

“It’s not a secret,” Leia said faintly.

“Isn't it, now?” Mara pursed her lips. “You could have fooled me. I can’t recall it being mentioned in any conversations at all. But Skywalker is your twin brother?”

“Yes,” Leia muttered, furious now with herself as well as the woman she now saw was deriving great amusement from her discomfort. Luke was her brother and she was proud of that fact. Han was right - they should tell Mon Mothma and everyone else. In fact, they now had to.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Mara said. “I won’t squeal to the holo-reporters or to your…er…colleagues on the council. We all have things in our past we do not want raked up. But if I can find out the information, so can the Bothans and think what they would do with that kind of leverage. You could be in all sorts of trouble. Suppose they don’t believe you that Luke Skywalker just decided one day to jump into his little x-wing and fly away?”

At first Han didn’t see Mara Jade – he just saw Leia. “What is it, sweetheart?” Leia was shaking – something had upset her. “Leia, what is it?”

“Oh, Han.” She reached out and clasped his hand tightly.

Mara grinned. “General Solo, you asked my employer to undertake a task on your behalf but you did not give us the entire facts. Therefore I am altering the deal.”

“What?” Han twisted his head to one side to find the redheaded woman he’d met in Karrde’s office standing beside Leia.

“Mara,” Karrde said warningly. Her green eyes were sparkling with malevolent humour. She was enjoying this in a twisted fashion.

“Last week on Druckenwell, I bumped into a hooded stranger or he bumped into me. I recognised him as one Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and all round New Republic hero.” Mara’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

“What!” Han said again. “Describe him…Are you sure?”

Mara rolled her eyes. “He was this high…” She waved her hand about four inches above her head.” Blue eyes, fair hair, wearing a lightsaber, called me by name even though we have never met,” she recited insouciantly. “And rest assured, Karrde, I did not kill him.”

“That eases my mind, Mara,” Karrde said dryly, shaking his head. He believed her. If Mara said that she hadn’t killed the Jedi, then she hadn’t.

“Kill him?” said Han in alarm.

“I had the opportunity and I have the motive. He ruined my life.”

Leia looked carefully at the woman opposite; there was desperation and pain in her green eyes. “You don’t really want to kill him.”

Mara clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging painfully into the soft fleshy part of her palm. “I do. I failed once before and I will not do so again.”

“Is he still on Druckenwell?” Han asked, already guessing what Mara’s reply would be.

Mara shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. It’s not the kind of place for a Jedi to stay for long. There is no peace there.”

“You seem to know an awful lot about the Jedi,” Leia commented shrewdly.

“For a trader?” Mara said bitterly. “Perhaps I’m just interested and I wanted to do a little research into the matter.”

“To the point beyond obsession. But he’s alive?” Han persisted.

Mara grinned sourly. “He was when I left. He just…vanished into crowds milling about on a busy walkway. Typical Jedi cloaking technique.”

Leia’s dark eyes narrowed and she searched through the Force in the way Luke had tried to teach her. “You haven’t always been a trader…have you? Do you have the Force, Mara?”

“Can you recognise it in others?” she countered. “I felt it in you the moment we met. My skills are poor, I am untrained but, yes, I too am cursed with that ability.”

“You see it as a curse?”

“No…but it hasn’t done me any favours.” It would remain to be seen if Luke Skywalker’s messing around inside her head made any difference. One thing was certain; she could feel the Force more clearly than she’d ever done before.

“Maybe it just might have kept you alive,” Han chipped in.

Leia closed her eyes for a moment asking for guidance. Mara would not trust her with the whole truth but she knew enough. She opened her eyes and tilted her chin challengingly at the redhead. “You cannot kill my brother, Mara Jade. Not if you need him to train you.”

“Train me!” Mara sneered. “Train me as what?”

“As a Jedi.”

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