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Topic:
Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Jedi_Kassandra
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
7/10/07 10:41am
Subject:
Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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This is my first full-length fanfic, so wish me luck!
Genre: AU/Romance/Adventure
Characters: L/M, H/L, Teneniel Djo/Isolder, Artoo, etc.
Disclaimer: I own none of this, it all belongs to the excellent Mr. Lucas. Kudos to him for giving us writers such a wonderful playground to write in.
Notes: This takes place instead of "The Courtship of Princess Leia", and I'd recommend having read it first. It is just a plot bunny I've had circulating in my head for the past month, and I'm finally writing it down.
Okay, so...this starts right after the Hapans presented gifts from each of the 64 worlds of the Hapes Cluster. The gift from Hapes itself was the prince of Hapes, (Isolder's) hand in marriage. Leia is not sure whether or not to accept, and she thinks she might be falling in love with the handsome Hapan. Han, on the other hand, is beginning to panic. He thinks that Leia is just doing what is best for the New Republic.
Luke is searching for the ancient Jedi academy, and just returned from a mission on Toola, where he found a damaged datacard. The only intelligble words were "We were unable to free the Chu'unthor from Dathomir" and "We were repulsed by the witches."
Here goes!
Captured Memories, Lost Memories
Prologue (of sorts):
“Luke, hey Luke, buddy, I’ve got a serious problem. Could you meet me at the Falcon as soon as you get back?” The image of Han Solo winked off the pre-recorded holo-disk, and Luke Skywalker frowned pensively.
Han was troubled, Luke could sense that easily enough, but this was no mere gambling issue here. Han was haggard, and looked as though he hadn’t slept in a few days. Luke’s frown deepened. Yes, something was clearly wrong, and, considering it involved the ex-smuggler, it was not going to be an easy fix.
****************************
Chapter One is coming in about 5 minutes!
~Kass
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"The greatest atrocities committed by man were committed for the sake of progress."
-Keziah Lee
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Jedi_Kassandra
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
7/10/07 10:45am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Chapter One:
Luke Skywalker sight as he approached the battered Y-1300 light freighter. The familiar form of a chocolate furred Wookiee greeted him with a roar, and he waved back. Walking up the entrance hatch, he was struck by the gloominess of the place, the overall dejection that had seeped into the very core of the Millennium Falcon.
“Han?” he called, his voice echoing strangely in the empty cargo hold.
“Luke? Hey Luke, is that you?” Han popped up from one of the smuggling holds with a limp grin. The dark circles under his eyes made him look like some sort of circus performer, and his generally untidy state was accentuated by the fact that his clothes looked like he’d slept in them for a week.
“Han, are you alright?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” Han’s eyes shifted down towards the floor, and he refused to meet Luke’s gaze.
“Han?” Luke’s voice was firm, and Han finally looked up at him.
“It…it’s Leia.”
“What about Leia?” Luke spoke softly, but still with a firm edge.
Han avoided Luke’s clear gaze as he reluctantly explained. “Look, you’d better have a seat, it’s a long story.” He gestured to the open smuggler’s hold, and Luke sat next to him, legs dangling into the hold.
“Okay, so the Hapan envoy arrived about four standard days ago. They made this really impressive show and everything, but…well, did Leia tell you about the gifts?” At Luke’s nod, Han continued. “Did she tell you about the slimeball?” He winced as Luke looked at him quizzically.
“If you’re referring to the Prince of Hapes, then yes, she told me about his offer. Is that what you’re worried about?”
“In a way,” Han hedged a bit before finishing his thought. “Look, I think she’s actually considering his proposal!”
“And you have a problem with that.” It was not a question, but Han replied forcibly.
“Of course I have a problem! She wouldn’t be doing it because she loves him, she’d be doing it because she’d think it’s her duty. Everyone expects it, so she has to be the perfect princess and do what’s expected of her.”
Luke looked at him, giving him the classic “Jedi Master Look”, and smiled. “Han, you didn’t pull me all the way to Coruscant just to tell me you think Leia has a skewed sense of duty.”
Han grinned weakly. “You’re right, I didn’t. I…I need your help.”
“How so?”
“I’m going to try to win her back from him. I need you to talk to her.” He caught Luke’s gaze and quickly covered up. “Look, I don’t mean convince her, just…smooth the path a little. I’ve got something I want to give her, and she’s kind of not speaking to me. I just need you to, I don’t know, get her to see me?”
Luke noticed the hesitation on “something I want to give her,” and frowned. “Han, what is this mysterious gift?”
Han mumbled an incoherent thought, and Luke frowned deeper. “Han?”
“A planet,” the smuggler finally managed to get out, “I won a planet in a sabaac game, and I want to give it to her.”
“A planet?” Luke choked over the phrase. “You won Leia a frikkin’ planet? Sithspit, Han, what were you thinking?”
“Hey!” Han retorted defensively, “At least I’ve got something to give her.”
Luke held up his hands, holding off any further comments. “Hey, hang on, pal. At least tell me about this planet.”
Han reached into his pocket and pulled out a flat holo-projector. A world popped up above the projector plate, and several scrolling patches of text identified it as Dathomir, property of Han Solo.
“It’s called Dathomir, I won it off the Drackmarian warlord Omogg. It’s in the Drackmar system”
Luke had frozen on the word 'Dathomir', but he looked up as Han gave it’s location. “That’s not the Drackmar system. It only has one sun.”
“What!” Han glared up at Luke. “Tell me you’re joking.” Luke shook his head somberly. “Dammit!" Han just about exploded. "If it’s not in Drackmar, then where the hell is it?”
Luke shrugged, then called over to the blue and white astromech droid that had followed him in. “Hey, Artoo, I need you to run a diagnostic scan of this planet.”
The little droid wheedled and wheeped his way over, and Luke plugged the projector into the astromech. Artoo bleeped again before spitting out his results.
Han looked at Luke, waiting for the translation. Luke was reluctant to give it up. Finally, he spoke. “You’ve really done it this time, pal. It’s in the Quelii Sector, smack dab in the middle of Zsinj’s turf. There is no way you can give it to Leia, especially if you wanted her to use it for Alderaanian refugees.”
“What!? You have got to be kriffin’ kidding! Look, maybe it’s just on the outskirts, and he’s forgotten about it.”
“Yeah, he’s probably forgotten about it,” Luke replied sardonically, “But it’s still right in the middle of his territory.”
They were both silent for a moment, then Luke spoke again. “Look, Han, I’ll do you a favor. I found a damaged data-card in the ruins on Toola, and it mentioned the Jedi in connection with something called Dathomir, I’m assuming it was this planet. I’ll go out in my x-wing, and check the planet out, and also look for whatever it was that the Jedi lost there. I was planning on searching for it anyway, and I can find out if Zsinj is still around it. Then you can do whatever you want with it.”
Han glanced at him sarcastically. “Yeah, thanks pal, but who’s gonna keep Leia from deciding she needs to marry that pretty boy princeling before you get back?”
Luke sighed. “I’ll talk to her, and tell her to follow her heart, not what other people want, but I’m not going to tell her to marry you. I have to let people make their own choices. Leia is a grown woman, and she can decide for herself.”
Han nodded, “I can accept that. Thanks, buddy.”
Luke stood and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s get some food in you. You look like you need it.”
***********************************
“Leia, how is everything? You look exhausted.”
Princess Leia Organa sighed as she looked at her twin brother. There were circles under her eyes, and she looked almost as tired as Han, but her hair and clothing were impeccably arranged. “I am tired. This whole situation with Hapes is disconcerting, to say the least.”
Luke gazed at her sympathetically. “Is it the situation with Hapes in general, or with Prince Isolder?”
Leia sighed again, her dark brown eyes gazing beseechingly at Luke. “Oh, Luke, I don't know what to do! If I marry Isolder, then the Hapans will ally with the New Republic, and Luke, we need their support! If I don't marry Isolder, then I reject the other sixty-three gifts as well as their alliance.”
“Do you love him?” The question was simply put, but it cause Leia to freeze momentarily.
“I...I don't know...he's very handsome, and quite the gentleman.”
“What about Han? Do you still love him? I know he loves you, with all his heart.”
“Oh, Luke! Don't do this to me, please...” Her voice trailed off as a tear threatened to spill down her cheek. “I don't know, I don't know anything anymore. It's all so confusing.”
Luke pulled her into a comforting hug. “Shh, just trust your heart, and the Force. Let your feelings guide you.”
Leia pulled out of the embrace, regarding him pathetically. “And if I don't know what I'm feeling? Luke, Isolder and I have already been attacked once, and he saved my life. I don't know if what I feel for him is love, or gratitude, or passing fancy, or what! And for Han, Luke, I hadn't seen him in five months! I feel like we're totally different people, and I don't even know if I still love him!”
Luke ran a hand through his tousled blond hair and shook his head. “Leia, I don't know what to say, except trust your feelings. I have another mission, I leave tomorrow, and I think I've found more information on the Jedi academy, I'll be in touch, probably more frequently with Han, because he's easier to reach, but I'll check in with you too.”
Leia nodded, having grown accustomed to her brother's sporadic excursions. “I'll miss you.” She reached out to Luke, giving him another hug and feeling his presence radiate calm through the Force.
Luke returned her hug, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, before saying goodbye, and returning to his apartment.
Leia watched him go, a tear trickling down her face. She cursed herself for not being more clear with her feelings—but how could she explain to Luke the warmth she felt with Isolder's kisses? Then again, how could she explain to herself the feeling of betraying Han she got every time she embraced the handsome Hapan prince?
***********************************
That's chapter one! Any input would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update, because I have to go to the library for internet access, but I'll do my best to get a chapter up every week.
~Kass
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"The greatest atrocities committed by man were committed for the sake of progress."
-Keziah Lee
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Jedi_Kassandra
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
7/12/07 9:49am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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I have Chapter two done, it's also really short, but Chapter Three should be longer. Unfortunately (I think) this has a space battle, which I'm not too great at writing, but I did my best. Again, sorry it's so short.
Chapter Two:
“You are cleared for lift-off at vector 1325. Repeat, you are clear for liftoff.” The voice crackled over Luke's comm channel as he skillfully slid the X-wing out of the docking bay. He flexed his mechanical right hand, and smiled as he read Artoo's question scroll down the small screen on the left hand side of the control panel.
“You're right Artoo, we're going to Dathomir.” A chuckle escaped him as he read the next question. “Yes, I am aware that it's in the Quelii Sector, and I am aware that it is Zsinj territory.” He paused, then shook his head. “Yes Artoo, I will be careful, and no, I won't let Leia kill me when she finds out where I'm going. I promise.” He laughed again as he punched in the coordinates, ones that would shave a good three days off the averaged fourteen day trip.
After double checking the coordinates with Artoo, he gently engaged the hyperdrive, watching the stars elongated into white hot streaks of blinding light before the jump was complete. Then he regulated his breathing and slipped into a Jedi trance that would last him until the next jump needed to be made.
*********************
Luke contacted Han a good fifteen minutes before he exited lightspeed. They kept up a healthy banter as Luke disengaged the hyperdrive, and Han was eager to hear the first news of his planet.
The X-wing popped neatly out of hyperspace just in sight of the planet, and the super star destroyer hovering a short distance away.
“Sithspawn!” Luke cursed into the comm unit, diving into immediate evasive action as the first wing of TIE fighters broke off in pursuit.
“Han, he's got the Iron Fist here, as well as a whole sith-load of TIEs!” He broke off short as the first TIEs reached him, focusing all his energy on the enemies. Snapping neatly to port, he spat out four short bursts of laser fire, the first two shearing a wing off the first TIE, and the third burst puncturing the cockpit of another.
Switching to proton torpedoes, a practice favored in Rogue Squadron, he got a missile lock on a TIE and snapped off a shot, then dove swiftly, coming up beneath the remaining fighters. He got locks on two more fighters before switching back to lasers and obliterating another pilot.
A brief sense through the Force and he pulled abruptly to starboard, then spiraled up as a quad burst of green laser fire slammed into the spot he'd been seconds before. Artoo shrieked a warning at him, and he juked down again, looking to see what was coming after him. It was the second torpedo he'd fired. The TIE had somehow dodged it, and had come around behind Luke. Now the missile had picked up its location, and was hurtling on a deadly path towards the unsuspecting fighter. Unfortunately, its line of flight took it directly through Luke's cockpit.
He pulled straight up, the missile barely missing him as it barreled past, and Luke snap rolled again, trying to get far enough away from the TIEs to make another jump to lightspeed. Then the second squadron reached him.
They seemed to come out of nowhere, dropping in on Luke in a wave of green laser bolts. Luke's shield survived the first barrage, but it weakened considerably. Artoo wailed in terror and Luke narrowly missed a second barrage of laser fire, and he flipped the comm channel back open. “Hey buddy,” he said, careful not to use Han's name. “I'm going planetside, otherwise I'll never survive this.” Then he cut the connection.
He rolled out of the main TIE cluster, putting all his speed towards the planet looming before him. He juked suddenly to avoid a barrage of fire, but the TIE directly on his tail fired an ion bolt that he could not avoid. His shields flickered once, then twice, and died, just as a laser punctured his starboard S-foil.
He hit atmosphere with a jolt, and he half expected Artoo to shriek something at him, but the little droid had lost power with the ion blast. There was nothing left for him to do but power down completely and use the Force to slow his breathing into a hibernation trance. Anyone looking for him with sensors would assume he had died from atmospheric impact.
Seconds before he hit the ground, he punched the droid ejection button, then popped his own ejection seat. The X-wing smashed into the ground, and he felt a pang of remorse at losing the craft, but thanked the Force that it was not his personal X-wing, but an Alliance issue craft. His X-wing was undergoing repairs back on Coruscant. Feeling himself fall free of his ejection seat, he slowly drifted to the ground, cushioning himself with the Force. He watched Artoo float gently to the ground, supported by his parachute. Luke had intentionally disabled his chute, so that Zsinj's men would assume he died, if not in the atmosphere, then in the crash.
He crawled under some brush and fully entered a hibernation trance, waiting for the TIEs to stop screaming over his ruined ship. Finally, they departed, and Luke crawled back out of the brush and combed the area for his little blue and white companion.
Artoo, having regained power, wheedled and wheeped at Luke, reprimanding the Jedi for getting them into this mess. Luke hushed him, and gestured over to the west. “There should be a settlement over there, I saw some lights in a mountain, and I can feel lifeforms in that direction.”
What he did not mention to the little droid was the feeling of horrible evil that surrounded this planet. The groping, writhing darkness that threatened to engulf everything seemed to permeate the air, sending a shiver down his spine. What was it the datacard said? Repulsed by the witches of Dathomir.
*********************
Mara Jade stood in the audience chamber of the Singing Mountain Clan. Her fiery red hair had been pulled back into typical Dathomirian warrior's braids, but her attire was nothing like her companions. Instead of the common lizard hide armor, she wore a black tunic over slate gray pants. A supply belt held traveling rations, a comlink (No one to talk to, but it pays to be prepared), and an extra power pack. A holdout blaster was tucked into her sleeve holster, and a vibroblade was positioned carefully at the small of her back. She stood straight, listening to her orders from the matriarch of the Singing Mountain Clan.
“Listen, my daughter. I know that you are new to our clan, and that many feel that you are not a true member of the Singing Mountain Clan. Your talent for spellcasting without words or gestures is truly remarkable, yet disconcerting to most.” Augwynne Djo paused, taking in her young charge. Mara gazed back at her, unconcerned by the woman's barbaric appearance.
Augwynne's long, gray hair was pulled back and worked into her elaborate war helm, a creation made out of old, black iron, and hung with bits and baubles from all over Dathomir. In the center, the skull of some small bird hung, and the wind whistled through the eye and beak sockets, giving it a surreal appearance. The rest of the woman's garb was equally outlandish. Her scarlet tunic was lizard skin, and her armor had been fashioned from the carapace of some large insect. She stood taller than Mara, and her helmet only added to the illusion of power and benign might. With a smile, she continued.
“To get to the point, Mara, the council has decided that it is time for you to find a mate. Mother Rell has had a vision of an outlander arriving on our world, and you must find him before any of the Nightsisters, as they will want any new blood to fill their evil ranks.”
Mara's head snapped back up, and she met Augwynne's eyes with surprise. “Why me? Why not Teneniel or one of the other women. Surely they have more right to him then I do?”
Augwynne smiled. “We have decided that it should be you, for although you remember nothing of your own past, you have an extensive knowledge of the worlds and customs of the galaxy. You will be able to understand this man's way of thinking much easier than Teneniel, or even Kirana Ti.” Her expression changed and became much more serious. “Remember, child, when you became a daughter of this clan, you pledged to aid us as a true daughter of Allya. Mother Rell's visions have also told what could happen if the Nightsisters capture this man. It would spell disaster for not only our clan, but all the others as well. It is your duty to find him, and if he does not work for you, then perhaps we could find another for him. Perhaps, though, he will have clues to your past? He is a man from the stars, and he crashed here in a ship.”
“Wait, he has a working ship? Sithspit,” Mara cursed lightly under her breath. Augwynne smiled.
“No, his ship was destroyed." She paused, then asked, "This curse you use, sithspit, what does it mean? We have no word like it in our language.”
Mara shrugged, somewhat relieved that the outlander's ship had been destroyed. “It's a lot like your curse, shendrix, just a means of expressing frustration.” She didn't elaborate, unsure of how to explain the actual meaning.
The Dathomirians had a strange language, one that may have been Basic at a time, but countless generations of isolation had warped it into a unique speech. It had taken Mara nearly two standard months to become fluent in it, and for some reason, she found herself thinking it had taken too long. Augwynne could be right though, she thought. The outlander might know something about my past.
Mara had been stranded on Dathomir for several years, and her only memories of the time before the crash were choppy and unclear. Mostly, they returned in dreams, horrible nightmares of her previous life, but she found herself wanting clarification, wanting to know who or what she'd been.
Augwynne interrupted her reverie with more details of the mission. “You will leave as soon as possible, and you are not to return to the mountain until you find this man. Speak to Oola Ren, she will provide you with more supplies. Those...” Augwynne gestured to the survival rations on Mara's belt, “Those will not last you very long.”
Mara nodded. “Does she have the supplies ready? I can leave within the hour if necessary.”
Augwynne's face broke into a smile and she reached out and hugged Mara fondly. “Go, daughter, and triumph.”
The aging matriarch watched Mara leave, sighing as she remembered the day the young woman first arrived at the mountain. Teneniel Djo had found the woman struggling through the desert, parched from lack of water, and dizzy from the heat. Mara was injured, suffering from overexposure and a head injury. It was the head injury that wiped Mara's memory, but in a strange way. She remembered most things about life in general, and she was a spellcaster, but she knew nothing of her personal life, all she knew was her name. Augwynne had reached out to her in sympathy, healing her and welcoming her as a daughter. Mara recovered swiftly, and proved to be a valuable asset to the clan. She learned quickly too, and within several months had become fluent in the witches' tongue.
Strangely, although she was a great help to the clan, Mara had been cold and emotionally distant for the longest time. It was only in the past year that she had begun to open up and truly trust a few of the clan sisters.
Augwynne sighed again. This would prove to be an eventful month.
*********************
Chapter Three will be up as soon as I get to the library again.
~Kass
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"The greatest atrocities committed by man were committed for the sake of progress."
-Keziah Lee
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JediFarfy
Title: FanForce CR Seattle, WA
Mafia winner
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
7/12/07 10:44am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Oh! Very excited!! I love The Courtship of Princess Leia! So far, very very awesome. 
JF
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JediFarfy now has powers. FEAR ME!  ***** I like coffee more than I like people. ***** Remember: A caffinated JediFarfy is a happy JediFarfy.
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JEDIFLYSWATTER
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
7/12/07 7:14pm
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Please put me on your PM list. I thought that TCOPL was a blast and I love the fact that you have Mara in this. She really did not seem to have any problem with the order to go out and find a mate. That is different for the fisty red-head. Still if I knew it was Luke I would be running out there and forget my supplies.  Super job and thanks. 
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Jedi_Kassandra
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
7/17/07 9:44am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Thanks for the replies!
JEDIFLYSWATTER posted:
Please put me on your PM list. I thought that TCOPL was a blast and I love the fact that you have Mara in this. She really did not seem to have any problem with the order to go out and find a mate. That is different for the fisty red-head. Still if I knew it was Luke I would be running out there and forget my supplies. Super job and thanks.
You're on the list, and Mara has her own reasons for listening to Augwynne. I won't tell you yet...but they're not quite what you'd expect.  Thanks for reading!
JediFarfy posted:
Oh! Very excited!! I love The Courtship of Princess Leia! So far, very very awesome.
Thank you so much!
Chapter Three is coming~
~kass
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"The greatest atrocities committed by man were committed for the sake of progress."
-Keziah Lee
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Jedi_Kassandra
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
7/17/07 9:55am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Here you go!
Note: All Wookiee speech will be in [brackets]
Chapter Three:
A loud pounding on Leia's suite door startled her and her dinner guest. Isolder rose and answered it, surprised to find a disheveled Han Solo standing in front of him. If Han was surprised to see the Hapan Prince, he didn't show it—he simply barreled past him and into the dining area.
“Pack your things, Highness, we're leaving,” he said, pointing Leia to her bedroom.
“What? Han have you gone crazy?” Leia's voice betrayed her shock.
“Shall I escort him out?” Isolder's voice was calm, and his Hapan accent merely accentuated his concern. Leia shook her head.
“Han, explain yourself.”
Han collapsed into a chair, the same one Isolder had been sitting in moments before. “It's a long story, sweetheart. Here's the short version. Luke's in trouble.”
“What?! Where is he?”
“Dathomir, in the Quelii Sector. I guess Zsinj decided to use it as a docking point for the Iron Fist and Luke popped out of hyperspace right on top of them. Last I heard he was going planetside to escape the TIEs. I haven't been able to contact him since.”
Leia sank into her chair, unconsciously reaching a hand out to Han for support. The ex-smuggler couldn't resist shooting a triumphant glare at Isolder.
After a moment's silence, Leia breathed a sigh of relief. “He's not dead, I can still feel him,” she said. “How long ago did he go down?”
Han shrugged. “About fifteen standard minutes ago. I heard the news and came here immediately. I figure if we take the Falcon, it'll shave a good day off our trip.”
Isolder bristled, “What makes you think she'll go anywhere with you?”
Han grinned, “I've got the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy>”
“Will you two stop it!” Leia's voice was shrill. “Han, of course we're going with you, we'll leave right away.”
Han held up his hands, “Whoa, what do you mean 'we'? The pretty boy isn't coming on my ship!”
“Han! Yes, he's coming. We'll need all the help we can get, and—”
“And I can send the coordinates to the rest of my mother's fleet. I'm sure the Hapan fleet can make short work of one star destroyer.” Isolder's voice was smug as he addressed Han. “Although,” he turned to Leia, “Are you sure taking his, ah, ship, is a wise idea? One of the battle dragons would be much safer.”
Han smirked, “Yeah, but it won't get us there on time. It's a fourteen day trip, I can get us there in at least twelve days.”
Isolder looked at him, somewhat disgusted. “That thing could get us there that fast? I don't believe it.”
Han looked at him, mildly offended. “Believe it. It may be a hunk of junk, but it's the ship that—”
Leia cut in, finishing his sentence for him distractedly. “Made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. Han's right, we will be able to get there a lot faster.” Suddenly, she wheeled on Han. “But if that ship breaks down, I'm going to kill you first, and then hand you over to Chewie for endangering my life.”
“Your worship, it's not going to break down.”
“Are you sure?” It was a rhetorical question, Leia knew you could never be sure with the Falcon, but she asked nonetheless.
Han flashed her the classic Solo grin, “Hey, it's me!”
***********************
Luke plodded through the underbrush, using his lightsaber to cut away debris only when there were no other paths to take, and levitating Artoo over the worst parts of the path.
It was a strange and wild world he had come too, with no signs of intelligent life anywhere in the near vicinity. He could still sense the settlement, maybe 100 kilometers further along, but he could also feel the foreboding darkness, about the same distance away, but not quite in the same direction.
He walked for the better part of the day, continuing on through terrain that seemed quite the same, unchanging and fierce. Then he came upon the desert.
Blistering hot, with no water in sight, the desert loomed up in front of him. Artoo shrilled a panicked cry, and Luke just groaned. More sand...sithspit. Looking around the area, he noticed tracks of a group of creatures and tamped down areas of brush where they had bedded down. He sank to the ground, looking out at the desert and pulling a ration bar out of his flightsuit pocket. He ate while he waited, hoping that the creatures that returned to this spot would be friendly.
Several hours passed, then he became aware of a rumbling sound in the distance. As it grew closer, he realized that it was a stampede.
Hundreds of blueish, lizard-like creatures came running across the desert, heading for the cool shade of the tree line. Luke stood, waiting for their approach.
They slowed as they came up to him, and through the Force, he read their intent. Shelter, sleep. Those were the sensations they impressed upon him. He projected an image of the sun rising, and they replied with images of crossing the desert and finding water.
After several more minutes of communication, he turned to Artoo. “I've found our rides across the desert,” he said. Artoo beeped at him sarcastically.
“Yes, Artoo, I can communicate with them, and they are kind enough to let us ride them to water. They call themselves the Blue Desert People, and they said that there is a settlement up ahead, but it would take us too long to get there on foot. Now go recharge yourself or something, I'm getting some sleep.” He spread out on a bed of leaves, and was sleeping within minutes.
The next morning, Luke woke as the Blue Desert People started to stir. A particularly large male came over to him, dipping its head so Luke could climb onto its back. He sent his thanks before levitating Artoo up behind him. Once they were secure, the pack took off, lumbering swiftly across the arid wasteland.
They ran much faster than Luke had first imagined, the entire pack moving in tandem with each other, their long strides eating up the kilometers of desert. It was high noon when Luke distinguished trees among the smudge he had been watching on the horizon, and within two more hours they were in the shade of large, gnarled trees.
A clear river ran through the trees, and Luke waited for the Desert People to drink before refilling his canteen and drinking himself. He sent his thanks again before striking out west, keeping his direction lined up with the Force signature of the settlement roughly twenty kilometers ahead.
Night fell swiftly on Dathomir, and Luke had just reached a tributary of the wide river he had stopped at with the Blue Desert People, when darkness settled over the forest. Using his lightsaber as a glowrod, he found a spot underneath a large tree to sleep. It was cool, and he curled up on his side, tucking his knees to his chest as he fell asleep.
Just before he drifted off, he tried to send a message to Leia, telling her he was alright, but the distance was too great, and he couldn't tell if she felt him. Once again, he berated himself for not persuading her to let him train her as a Jedi. Then sleep overcame him, and his eyes closed in a deep sleep.
*********************
Mara watched the man slowly wake up in the morning sunlight, watched him run a hand through his tousled blond hair and look around with piercing blue eyes. He pulled his flightsuit off, revealing a black tunic over black pants. The tunic came off next, and the man walked over to the stream, kneeling beside it and splashing water on his face.
She watched him wash up, waiting for just the right moment. She knew he hadn't noticed her, and wasn't likely to notice her, some remnant of her past told her she was hidden well enough.
As the man stood and turned, Mara noted that he seemed to be no older than she, and he was only a couple centimeters taller. He had an open face, one that could be trusted, but Mara Jade trusted few people, or so she thought. Slowly, she eased the traditional capture rope off her shoulders, and paused, holding out for a few more seconds.
The man bent over, lifting his tunic off the moss covered ground, and she stepped into the clearing, holding the rope in front of her.
Luke watched as the strange woman strode towards him. Pulling his tunic over his head, he gently reached out with the Force, trying to sense her intent. What he found was a mind so locked up, he doubted that even Master Yoda could have untangled it.
She stopped about two meters from him, holding a rope out in front of her. He smiled disarmingly and spoke, hoping she understood Basic. “I'm Luke Skywalker.”
She nodded, replying succinctly, “Pleasure to meet you.” A hint of sarcasm was clearly discernible in her voice. She took a step closer, the rope still held out before her. Luke took a step forward, unsure of her intent, as well as the significance of the rope she held. He cautiously reached out a hand, and the rope flashed out, encircling his shoulders.
In an instant, his lightsaber was in his hands, ignited and slashing out at the rope. The second the rope gave, however, the woman was ready, using the Force to rain a shower of rocks on the Jedi. Luke deflected them easily, calling out to her, “Who are you? Look, I'm not going to hurt you, stop attacking me!”
She just laughed, and, with a defiant toss of her fiery hair, she sent a whirlwind blasting at him, along with a few more rocks and some rotten logs. They distracted Luke enough so that when she slid up next to him, whirling the remains of the rope, his reaction was a split second too late. In the time it took him to slice the rest of the rope up, she sent three more rocks flying at him. He deflected two, but the last one clipped his head, sending him back a few paces.
Mara gave him a feral grin, and kicked out, almost lazily, catching him under the chin. His jaw clacked painfully together, and she kicked again, catching him in the gut. Once last strike, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
*******************
Leia groaned in frustration as Han glared daggers at the Hapan prince. They had only been on the Falcon for two hours, and already her two suitors were at each other's throats. This was their second argument since leaving Coruscant, and she was just about ready to confine the two of them to their quarters for the rest of the trip, and she felt sure Chewie agreed with her.
The fact that C-3PO, her golden protocol droid, was with them didn't help at all. She had hoped to leave him behind, but he came bustling up five minutes before take-off, with a “Mistress Leia! Mistress Leia!” Apparently, he had orders from 'Master Luke' to go with them in case anything happened.
Trust Luke to think of everything. Leia's thoughts were decidedly sarcastic on that point, but Threepio's arrival had surprised her—as did the ex-smuggler's reaction. For some strange reason, the appearance of the droid, (un)fondly titled 'Goldenrod', had seemed to relax Han's mood. She had no idea why, until approximately fifteen minutes ago.
Before Luke left, he gave Threepio his navigational plan (the one he plotted using the Force, no doubt), which, not surprisingly, cut about four days off his journey. Unknown to Leia, Han had used those coordinates, not the set he'd given the Hapan fleet, which would put the Hapan fleet about five days behind them. That meant one of two things—either Han got the glory for saving Luke four days ahead of schedule, or they ended up in the middle of Zsinj's fleet with no backup.
To add insult to injury, Han had not told them this, and if it weren't for Threepio's loud mouth, Leia and Isolder would not have known until they popped out of hyperspace unaccompanied by the Hapan fleet.
That was what Isolder and Han were arguing about. Han was taking the stance of the hero, saying that the sooner they got to Dathomir, the sooner they could rescue Luke, and Isolder was threatening to court martial him for endangering the life of a senator, particularly this senator.
Finally, it became to much for the normally tolerant senator. “Will you two shut up!” Leia nearly exploded with pent-up frustration. “If you don't stop this instant, I'll have Chewie lock you up and I'll fly the rest of the way!”
Isolder instantly stopped shouting, turning contritely towards Leia. “I'm sorry, Princess. I was merely defending your safety. This, gentleman, has jeopardized it, and I feel he should be taken to task for his apparent, mistake.”
Han sniggered at the prince's formal wording, but he too stopped shouting. His answer was much different from the Hapan's, however. “Alright, Your Worship. Don't get your hair all in a tangle. We'll play nice for now.”
Leia threw down her hands with an exasperated sigh and stormed off towards the cockpit, followed by Threepio. Han made to follow, but Chewie stopped him.
[I would not follow, my friend.] The chocolate furred Wookiee was adamant. [She needs time to clear her head.]
Han nodded in reluctant agreement. “Yeah, you're right. As usual. I'll let her alone, for now.” He turned to Isolder. “Do you play sabaac?”
The Hapan prince furrowed his brow, not sure what to make of this seemingly friendly offer. “A little,” he said hesitantly.
Han grinned. “Goldenrod, deal us up a round, Corellian Rules for starters.”
*********************
Okey-dokey! That's Chapter Three. I hope it posted alright, the computer was doing weird things to me.
I'll try to get Chapter Four up soon, but my older sister is coming up from FL today, and I don't know how much time I'll have to finish it.
~Kass
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"The greatest atrocities committed by man were committed for the sake of progress."
-Keziah Lee
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JEDIFLYSWATTER
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Dec '04
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Date Posted:
7/17/07 8:36pm
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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To bad Luke did not go skinny-dipping. I bet Luke would of taken the end of that rope if Mara had hand it to him. I feel for Leia with Han and Isolder on the Falcon together. Does the prince know that Leia is Luke's sister or does he not even know who this Luke person is? Have fun with your sister and can not wait for the next post. Thanks and wonderful job.
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Jedi_Kassandra
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Date Posted:
7/23/07 7:21am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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JEDIFLYSWATTER posted:
To bad Luke did not go skinny-dipping. I bet Luke would of taken the end of that rope if Mara had hand it to him.
hehehe...I resisted the temptation...and I bet Luke would have taken it, Mara would just rather hit something.
JEDIFLYSWATTER posted:
Does the prince know that Leia is Luke's sister or does he not even know who this Luke person is?
By now, everyone knows that they're siblings, even though it would be fun if Isolder thought there was another person to contend with.
JEDIFLYSWATTER posted:
Have fun with your sister and can not wait for the next post. Thanks and wonderful job.
Thankees, I will.
Here comes Chapter Four, I actually did get some writing time in...surprisingly.
~kass
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Jedi_Kassandra
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Date Posted:
7/23/07 7:28am
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RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Here we go...
Chapter Four:
Mara Jade sat next to the outlander's unconscious form, waiting for him to regain his senses. She could easily have woken him up with the Force, but she needed time to collect her thoughts, not something she was used to needing.
Her mind wandered back to the vision she had had shortly before Augwynne had sent her to capture the outlander. It was strange, full of half-memories and shadowy images, but with one image superimposed above all the rest. A ship, plummeting to the ground, then a young man floating from an ejection seat. Perhaps that was why she agreed to Augwynne's command with so little resistance. No, not true. Even as she thought these words, she knew, deep in her core, that there was something else, some inexplicable tugging at her very core, something drawing her to the outlander. Perhaps it was simply the fact that he was from the stars, and a possible link to her past. Yes, she decided. That has to be it.
She focused again on the young man—Luke Skywalker, he had said—Blast! Why does that sound familiar? She couldn't explain it, but something about the name, and something about the way his sandy hair fell over his clear blue eyes, something seemed familiar. She sighed, and shook her head. There was no possible chance that she would actually make him her mate, but to allow him to 'escape' would put a bruise in her pride, especially since he was a Jedi. Besides, if she set him free, she wouldn't be able to quiz him on her past.
She brushed a strand of red hair out of her eyes and reached a hand out to check his pulse, also reaching out with the Force. She gasped as both the physical and mental contact sent a spark flying through her. She tried to withdraw herself from his mind, but found herself locked in a memory, unable to leave.
Tatooine, a barren desert planet, full of the lowlife-wannabes of the galaxy, yet home to peace-loving farmers trying eke out an existence by salvaging the last vestiges of moisture from the arid land. He had been one of them, and had escaped, but now he returned, striving to rescue a friend. He waited outside Jabba the Hutt's audience chamber while the majordomo announced him. Then he stepped inside to deliver his ultimatum. His eyes scanned the room as he stepped in, taking note of the bounty hunters and scum lining the walls. He also noticed the empty space on the far wall where a carbonite decoration had once hung. Han. Then he saw Leia, dressed scantily and pressed against the grotesque body of the great Hutt himself. One other dancer caught his attention—a young girl, with black hair and flashing green eyes. He managed a smile of reassurance in her direction before opening his speech.
Mara catapulted herself out of Luke's head, gasping in shock. The girl, she had different hair, and definitely a different sense of style, but Mara would recognize those green eyes anywhere. Had that been my life? A dancer? She shook her head, Impossible, maybe as a cover, but not permanently. She froze, then spoke out loud, trying to find the memory of that time. “You were not a permanent dancer, and you know it. Now you just have to find out what permanent whatever you were.”
She sighed and looked back at the Jedi. They clearly had connections in her previous life, she just needed him to wake up so she could ask him.
As if called by her need, Luke groaned and reached a hand up to clutch his head.
“Sith, you hit hard,” he said, wincing as he fingered the bruise under his chin. “Why did you attack me?”
“You don't know much about Dathomirian customs, I take it?”
Luke shook his head sheepishly. “I didn't even know for sure that there were people on this planet.”
“Sith, then why are you here?” Mara's voice was only half believing, and Luke knew it.
“It's a long story. Why don't you tell me why—actually, why don't you tell me who you are, first?”
“I'm Mara Jade, adopted member of the Singing Mountain Clan.”
“Adopted?”
Mara silenced his question with a glare, and he glanced down apologetically.
“Adopted. I captured you because Augwynne Djo, the matriarch of the Singing Mountain Clan, suggested that it was time I found a mate.” She let the weight of this statement sink in fully, watching the shocked expression on Luke's face grow.
“Thi...” Luke coughed and cleared his throat. “This is how you find husbands?”
Mara grinned, enjoying baiting the naïve Jedi. “Yes, it is how the Singing Mountain Clan members find husbands. We are a very matriarchal society, Skywalker.”
She waited another moment, then continued. “I however, will not hold you to that, for the most part.”
“What do you mean 'for the most part'?”
Mara sighed, “If I release you now, then someone else will capture you, and they will force you to be their slave. Men on this world are not respected to any great extent. I'm not planning on making you my husband, but I can't release you yet.”
Luke looked at her quizzically. “Then why did you come for me?”
Mara hesitated, then stood. “Can you travel?” At Luke's nod, she shouldered her pack and set out into the woodlands. “Come on, we need to leave now if we plan on making it to a shelter by dark.” She paused, “Oh, and Skywalker? Put up a Force shield if you can manage.”
*******************
Luke trudged after the red-haired warrior woman, trying not to focus on the length of the march—and the pace Mara was setting. She was a powerful athlete, setting a furious pace, but Luke managed to keep up his speed, as well as the shield around his thoughts.
He had followed her in silence for the past three hours, puzzling over the Amazonian woman striding before him. There was something about her that seemed familiar, and all he could think of was the dancer at Jabba's Palace. He didn't know why he remembered the girl, but he could picture the eyes, sparking green in the dim light—the same eyes that kept glancing back at him from Mara Jade's beautiful face.
“Mara?” He didn't know what possessed him to speak, but he finished his question under the burning glare of her emerald eyes. “Were you ever on Tatooine?”
She froze, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “I don't know,” she finally said.
“You've traveled a lot, then?” The question was innocent, but Luke saw the effect it had on her.
“I don't know.” Her voice was firmer this time, carrying a definite warning, but Luke ignored it.
“What do you mean?”
She whirled around, glaring fiercely at him. “I don't remember, okay? When I crashed on this deserted mud hole, I lost all the memory of my life. I know sith-loads of stuff about the galaxy and about politics and about fighting, but I remember nothing about my life.”
Luke was startled, taken aback by the vehemence in her voice. He didn't know what had caused him to press her, some feeling deep down perhaps, but he wisely fell silent
About an hour later, Mara stopped and dug into her pack. She fished out a flat, bread-like item and tossed it to Luke. “Here, Skywalker, eat this.”
He nodded his thanks and watched as she dug another bar out for her meal. Then they continued their march.
Mara walked in front of Luke, thinking about his question about Tatooine, and about the memory she had witnessed. Perhaps he had known her as that dancer, the one with the dark hair.
She stared ahead of her at the unchanging forest. It was easy walking, for she knew the hidden paths used by the warrior witches of Dathomir. When they reached the plains that night, it would be even easier, and they should reach the Singing Mountain by late afternoon.
“Skywalker?” The sound of her voice surprised her, but she wanted the answer to her question. “Why did you ask me about Tatooine?” Her voice was brusque, concealing the uncharacteristic need for information.
Luke glanced up at Mara, startled by her words. He pondered his answer for a moment, then replied, “You remind me of one of the dancers I saw at Jabba's Palace when I went to rescue Han and Leia. But you knew that, you saw the memory.”
Mara started at that, “How did you know that?”
“I felt you in my head. I actually don't know why I remembered Jabba's Palace when you touched me, I haven't thought about it lately, and I had been thinking about distinctly different things at the time.”
“Wait, you mean you were awake that whole time?” Mara was incredulous.
“Yeah, most of it,” Luke said, blushing slightly at Mara's fierce glare. “Hey, I didn't have a wonderful inducement to letting you know I was awake. For all I knew, I was awaiting another beating.”
Mara snorted and muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like “Whatever, Jedi,” but Luke could have misheard her.
They continued their trek, walking on in silence until night began to creep into the trees. Mara gestured ahead to where the trees thinned, “There's a cave just up there where we can spend the night. We'll cross the plains tomorrow, and be at the mountain by afternoon.”
The cave was small, that was the first thing Luke noticed. Actually, it was smaller than small—it was tiny. The two of them would just fit side by side, unless it went much farther back then Luke could see—or sense.
He caught the blanket Mara tossed at him, and looked again at the tiny cave. “I'll sleep out here.”
“No, it's plenty big enough, and the rock shields our presence.” Mara's tone brooked no argument, but Luke persisted.
“Who do we have to hide from? There aren't any imp scouts around, leastways, none that I can sense.”
Mara looked at him condescendingly. “Unless you want your Force signature picked up by the Nighsisters, you better get in that cave. I don't know how, but the rock acts as a Force shield, so you can't be picked up by other Force users. We've been shielding ourselves all day, but I don't want to keep that up while we sleep, too.”
“Nightsisters?”
Mara shook her head in exasperation. “Just in case that kick addled your brains, let me explain. That wonderful foreboding darkness sitting just over that way?” She gestured towards the source of evil over the plains. “That is the Nightsister's stronghold. They're witches who have turned to the darkside, and their leader, Gethzerion is about as evil as they come. If they find us, we're basically screwed.” She paused, then muttered under her breath, “Well, I'm basically screwed, for you it'd probably be literal.”
Luke glared at her, “Fine.” He shoved the blanket in the cave and slithered in after it. The cave was only two and a half meters deep, maximum, and about a meter high, and two meters wide. In simpler terms, it was tiny. Luke grumbled to himself as he wrapped up in the blanket and turned with his back to Mara.
Mara dragged her blanket in and rolled over, her back facing the irritating Jedi. Muttering a frustrated “Goodnight”, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. The last thought she had before she slept, was a prayer for a dreamless night.
Luke laid awake for some time, thinking about the connection between Mara and the dancer at Jabba's palace. He was fairly sure they were the same girl—no one could mimic those flashing eyes. He had more than one memory of the dancer, she seemed to appear nearly everywhere at the Palace, and he saw her on the sail barge near the sarlacc. Strange.
He finally fell asleep, listening to the steady, rhythmic breathing of the woman beside him.
*******************
This one was kind of interesting to write, because, well, it was just hard. Mara is really hard to write without her background influencing her. Oh well, next chapter's gonna be fun. We'll have another of Mara's dreams, and maybe a touch of memory come-back.
~kass
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JEDIFLYSWATTER
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Dec '04
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Date Posted:
7/24/07 7:39pm
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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You know I wonder if the Nightsisters would feel Mara's dark influence and try to go after her. Though I would hate to see her get all narly and ugly. Bet Luke would not like that either. You are doing a very good job writing Mara in her particular situation. Wonderful job and thanks.
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Jedi_Kassandra
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Date Posted:
8/11/07 7:39am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Sorry it took me so long...I haven't had access to the Internet in over two weeks.
JEDIFLYSWATTER posted:
You know I wonder if the Nightsisters would feel Mara's dark influence and try to go after her. Though I would hate to see her get all narly and ugly. Bet Luke would not like that either. You are doing a very good job writing Mara in her particular situation. Wonderful job and thanks.
Oh, thank you. Actually, Mara isn't "dark" or "light" right now, she's kind of neutral. She has no 'experience' to base her values on, so she goes strictly by gut instinct.
Okay..this was kind of interesting to write, and I'm not quite sure how it turned out. Let me know what you think!
Chapter Five:
Darkness...
FLASH
Pain...
FLASH
Desert...
FLASH
She was on a sail barge, in the desert. She was hunting. Hunting a man, one her master wanted dead.
FLASH
Fighting, fighting she didn't want. She wanted to kill him, she needed to kill him.
FLASH
He saved her, not that she needed it. Why didn't she kill him?
FLASH
Blue eyes, one kiss. Gentle, reassuring. Why didn't she shoot?
FLASH
Shame...
FLASH
She'd failed her master. She hadn't killed him.
FLASH
Anger, not hers.
FLASH
Pain, blue lancing pain flying from gnarled fingers.
FLASH
Screaming, agony, blackness...
“Mara! Mara, wake up!”
Mara slowly came to her senses, and realized that her face was soaked with tears, and her blanket was soaked with sweat. There were arms around her, and a voice was whispering gently in her ear. She opened her eyes, and found herself staring into Luke's concerned face.
“Shh...it was only a dream.”
“No...” she croaked. “It wasn't. It was a memory, I'm sure of it. Oh, Luke it was horrible.”
Luke wrapped his arms around her tighter, and at that moment, Mara Jade did something she had never done before: she put her head on someone's shoulder and cried.
He held her as she wept, watching the tears flow freely from her emerald eyes. When she finally quieted, she looked up at him, uncertainty written plainly on her face.
“The dream…the memory…you were there. I saw you. I…I tried to kill you. I remember that much.”
Luke nodded, “You’re right, I was there. What else do you remember?” His voice was low, full of memory. He waited for her answer, thinking back to the one moment of that entire adventure that burned so brightly in his mind. He had kissed her. From the first second he laid eyes one her, he felt a strange compulsion to be with her, to talk to her…to kiss her. And he had, even though he felt a danger about her. He told himself that it was just to reassure her, but remembering the fire in her eyes, he knew it was only an excuse.
“I don’t remember anything else.” Mara had regained her composure, and was now staring coolly at the Jedi. She had to fight to keep the flush from her cheeks, and she felt certain that the Jedi was remembering exactly what she was. With that thought in her mind, she crawled out of the cave and looked out at the horizon.
Tinges of pink and lavender were creeping along the skyline as the sun rose majestically, and Mara turned back to the cave, rummaging in her pack. When Luke came out, she tossed him another ration bar, and they started walking.
It was easy going across the plain, Mara striding ahead, and Luke following a short distance behind. When they stopped for a break, Luke gently set his hand on Mara’s shoulder. She glanced up at him, surprised at his movement.
“Mara,” His voice was gentle. “I can help you remember.”
She froze. “Remember what, Jedi?”
“That day. I can transmit my memory to you through the Force. My master told me how it was done, before he died, although I’ve never tried it before.”
Mara gazed at him levelly, contemplating this idea. “I don’t like the idea of you walking through my head, Skywalker,” she said finally.
He smirked slightly. “I wouldn’t be walking through your head, you’d be walking through mine.”
“And how do I know you won’t modify the memory?”
“You’re too skilled in the Force to not notice a direct modification, besides, I don’t know how to do it.”
Mara was silent for a few moments more, warring with herself over the decision. Finally, the need for knowledge won out, and she nodded curtly to the Jedi. “What do I have to do?”
Luke sat beside her and settled into a comfortable position. “Stretch out with the Force and feel my mind. I’ll let you into the memory, and it will take you from there. It’ll be a lot like what happened when you thought I was unconscious, only you’ll be able to walk out anytime you want.”
She nodded and slowly reached inside and found her calm center. Stretching this awareness out, she found Luke’s presence waiting for her. She could feel him smile, and he sent her a thought.
Glad you could make it.
She shook her head, The pleasure’s all mine, Skywalker.
He laughed at the sarcasm drenching the thought, and led her into the memory.
The massive doors creaked slowly open, admitting him into the darkness of Jabba’s Palace. Two bumbling Gamorreans approached him menacingly, but with a calm gesture, he moved them aside and kept walking.
The next to approach him as he came up to the throne room was a Twi’lek, one of Jabba’s henchmen, no doubt. He rattled off a sentence, but Luke was unfazed.
“I must speak with Jabba.”
The Twi’lek continued, and with a simple mind manipulation, Luke was on his way to the throne room.
Mara saw all this with fascination, the perspective she was receiving was a unique one indeed, for she was witnessing it from Luke’s eyes. She watched as the memory continued into a small bit she recognized.
His eyes scanned the room as he stepped in, taking note of the bounty hunters and scum lining the walls. He also noticed the empty space on the far wall where a carbonite decoration had once hung. Han. Then he saw Leia, dressed scantily and pressed against the grotesque body of the great Hutt himself. One other dancer caught his attention—a young girl, with black hair and flashing green eyes. He managed a smile of reassurance in her direction before the Twi’lek introduced him.
Jabba’s reaction was less than pleasant. After a second or two of communication, the grotesque Hutt slammed his aide in the chest with one meaty hand, with a garbled roar in Huttese.
“I told you not to admit him! He’s using an old Jedi mind trick!”
Luke stood tall before the Hutt, stretching out with the Force. “You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookiee to me.”
The Hutt laughed evilly. “Your mind powers will not work on me, boy.”
Luke paused, not expecting this reaction. He composed himself quickly, replying, “Nevertheless, I am taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this, or be destroyed. It’s your choice, but I warn you not to underestimate my powers.”
At that moment, a golden protocol droid—C-3PO, Luke supplied—shouted out “Master Luke! You’re standing on a—” Jabba cut him off with a triumphant shout.
“There will be no bargain, young Jedi. I shall enjoy watching you die.” With that, the floor beneath Luke opened, and he fell, but not unprepared. Using the Force, he snatched a blaster from one guard, managing a wayward shot before he fell into the pit, accompanied by two Gamorreans.
The memory seemed to fast-forward a bit, and Mara questioned Luke about it. He gave a mental shrug.
You’re not in that part, and it’s not really necessary.
He slowed down at a second place she recognized, this time from her dream.
Jabba’s sail barge cruised alongside the skiff Luke was on. He knew where they were heading, Jabba had announced that to them earlier. The Sarlacc.
He glossed over the journey to the pit, assuming that she wouldn’t be interested in this particular point in time. Stopping again, he resumed the memory.
He stood on the retractable plank above the sarlacc pit, staring defiantly out at Jabba’s barge. The tinny voice of C-3PO rang out over the desert, delivering Jabba’s message.
“Victims of the almighty Sarlacc, His Excellency hopes you will die honorably, but should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas.”
Han Solo, standing slightly behind Luke, shouted back furiously. “Threepio, you tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth, he’ll get no such pleasure from us!” He turned to Luke and the Wookiee. “Right?”
Luke waited a second until he saw a blue and white astromech droid roll up to the edge of the barge, then called out to the Hutt. “Jabba, this is your last chance. Free us, or die.”
The Hutt’s laughter echoed eerily out of the sail barge, and the guards moved him onto the edge of the plank. Luke nodded to his friend, Lando, and saluted calmly to the astromech—R2-D2—before standing ready for the inevitable command.
It came, and the guards shoved Luke off the plank. He whipped around in the air, propelling himself off the plank, and using the Force to flip up and over the guards’ heads. With his right hand outstretched, he caught his lightsaber and began cutting down guards, working his way to the barge.
Someone on the barge commandeered a laser cannon and began firing at the skiff. It distracted Luke enough so that the rope that suddenly wrapped around him caught him by surprise. He whirled around and severed it, chopping off Boba Fett’s gun in the process. Then he ran to the edge of the skiff.
He took a flying leap, and landed on one of the closed slits, heaving himself upwards, trying to reach the top deck. His mind was focused on one goal. Get rid of the gun and get out.
He glanced around and saw that Leia had already dispatched the Hutt, and, fending off several guards, he shouted at her “Get the gun!” Then another girl caught his eye. It was the dancer from earlier, she had a hold-out blaster in her hand, and was taking aim. She suddenly dropped, and a blaster bolt landed on the wall where her face would have been. Luke whirled and cut down the guard who had fired.
He dealt quickly with the few that were attacking him, then made his way over to the girl. She tried to stand as he came closer, but apparently an inconsiderate maintenance droid had left a pile of rubbish on the floor, and when she dropped her ankle landed sharply in it. He helped her up, looping her arm around his shoulder.
“Come on, I’ve got to get you out of here.” He led her across the deck to the lift, and took her down to the hanger level. Her eyes never left his face as they walked—he assumed it was shock.
When they reached the hanger, he used the Force to unlock a speeder bike for her. “Take it, and get as far away as you can. If you go to Mos Eisley or Mos Espa, you should be able to hitch a ride off-planet.”
She continued staring at him, and in her eyes, he could see an inner battle. Something about them, the two emerald pools, pulled him in, and he gave in to an urge he’d had since he first set eyes upon her.
He kissed her. Very gently and reassuring, not expecting her arms to slide around his neck, and definitely not expecting her to hesitantly kiss him back—both of which she did.
Mara found herself sitting back on the plain, staring into Luke’s crystal blue eyes. “What’d you kick me out for?”
Luke blushed slightly, “That was it. You got on the speeder, and I never saw you again.”
She nodded, “Why did you kiss me?”
Luke shrugged, “We should get going. This took longer than I expected.”
Mara held his gaze for a few moments, debating whether she should press him for an answer or not. She finally decided that there would be plenty of time after they reached the mountain—both for the answer and some kissing if we're going to keep up the proper image. She froze for a second, then scolded herself for even thinking that. She kept her eyes straight ahead as she shouldered her pack, not looking at Luke for fear that she’d blush at an inopportune moment. Oddly enough, her mind kept going back to the kiss. It had been weird, seeing herself through Luke’s eyes, but for some reason, she had seen that scene gradually fade back to her perspective, and she clearly remembered kissing the handsome Jedi she was supposed to kill. Is that why I’m here? She wondered, and not for the first or the last time.
They trudged onward, Luke glancing surreptitiously at his guide every few minutes. It was all he could do to thank the Force that she hadn’t pressed him for the rest of the memory. He didn’t trust his mind to keep off the other images he had in his mind at that moment. He definitely didn’t want Mara knowing those thoughts—she’d probably kill him. Honestly, how do you tell an ex-hit-woman that the hardest thing you ever did was stop kissing her? Nope, definitely not something to tell Mara.
They walked for some time, each with their own thoughts, before Mara gestured up ahead. The mountain lay only a couple hours’ walk away, and Luke continued with some trepidation, trying to figure out exactly what he had gotten himself into.
********************************
I should have the next chapter up in about a week, but I started work last week, so we'll see how it works.
~Kass
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"The greatest atrocities committed by man were committed for the sake of progress."
-Keziah Lee
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Jedi_Liz
Title: Former CR
Lincoln NE, USA
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
8/16/07 11:13am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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I'm loving this! I've got it on active topic notification, so I'll be reading and replying. I love the addition of Mara and having her "capture" Luke instead of Teneniel. 
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Current Fic: Lightswords of Fury: Special Edition - L/M Romance http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/24270936/ Chapter 19 posted on 7/21/08 Coming SOON: Mara Jade of Chandrila Grove Coming SOON to SAGA Fanfic
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Jade_eyes
Registered:
Aug '04
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Date Posted:
8/16/07 3:44pm
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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Hello!!!! This was recommended at the Skywalker-Jade Revival Society thread. I love it!!! Have to catch up, but I know I already love it, because L/m get together really sooner than profic. Yay!!! That always gets a major league SQUEE!! Plus, if Leia doesn't pick Isolder, even though the whole Dathomir adventure was fun, I could never wrap my mind around her seriously considering anyone but our lovable rogue!! 
Then again, if H/L and L/M get to do the whole Nightsister ... oh, yes!!! We gotta have a sitch where Han says: "Kiss my wookiee!!" to Zsinj. I loved that line!!
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I'm reading 8 drabble threads!  beans! That must be a record. Care to make it 9? SQUEEEE!  Huggles & roses, jade eyes. 
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maramijade
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
8/17/07 11:39am
Subject:
RE: Captured Memories, Lost Memories (AU L/M, H/L, Teneniel /Isolder)
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looks positively wonderful Kassandra!!
love the in-fighting between Han and Isolder
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If computer Geeks were wizards. . .
. . . I'd be a second year at Hogwarts, born to muggles
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