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Topic:
Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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Jedi_Emeritus
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
10/3 7:22pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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Replies:
ccp posted:
Good ole Han always looking out for his friends.
Oh yeah, Han's alway good for that. But it is also a testament to how much he has learned to trust in Luke.
I've found since beginning to write this fic that Han is a blast to write and I find that anything I write with him in it seems to come out very easily.
Jedi_Liz posted:
Han is wise, but being willing to let Luke have Leia......he's crazy.  Luke needs to tell Leia soon that she's his SISTER or at least tell HAN that's why he doesn't need him to 'step aside'.
He will find out eventually, but probably off camera in terms of this fic.
DaenaBenjen42 posted:
Madine being upset because Luke brought an outsider to the meeting... yep. That so fits with the military thing...
Definitely. And to be truthful, I can not imagine too many real-life scenarios in which something like this would be allowed. I struggled with trying to justify this (for a long time b/c I knew this had to happen from the time I began to plan this fic). Ultimately, however, I figured that Luke being a Jedi along with the glimpses of the future the Jedi receive would be enough to allow me to stick with my initial plan.
Miranda_Kenobi_87 posted:
Yes yes it is finally here - and it delivered!! I really like the way you capture Mara, in my opinion not many people can get her exactly right, like the way she hates when people see her weaknesses and how she desires to experience the things she has been denied, spot on. Hopefully you aren't too busy and there isn't a big wait for the next chapter (and here's hoping more Luke and Mara mush!).
I appreciate the fact you like the I write Mara. She can be a challenging character to write, especially considering she is so much different than the Mara (TTT and beyond Mara) that we are so used to. As for the future, well I am in a university course, but I still should have time to write. Luke and Mara mush? Probably not any time real soon, but lots of character development I hope.
sethsky posted:
Awesome chapter, but i am worried about the possible upcoming betrayel, either way Luke will find out that Mara was Sidious's servant. And having Luke be burdend by both Vader and Mara could be too much.
I look forward to the next chap.
You will find out in the next chapter how she is planning to avoid having to tell Luke about her past.
Jade_eyes posted:
Mothma was wonderful in her conversation with Luke... as was Leia and mara in their conversation... Loved Luke's and Mara's POV in this--their feelings about each other are perfect in depth and quality ... mystifying, genuuine, deep, but still undefined The Han and Luke scene though was the real topper Your Han is "star" quality-- Bravo and mega-huggles!!!!!!!
As I stated above, I love to write Han, and Mothma, remembering the Jedi from when she was young, I would think she would have a healthy respect for the Jedi's abilities and a lot of trust in their council. Thanks for the encouragement!
ginchy posted:
I loved all the conversations between characters in this update. You have them all pegged, but Han and Luke's conversation was especially well done. This is all building up--I cannot even imagine what will happen when the cards fall. But I'm thinking Luke might not react to any of Arica's secrets the way we think (or fear).
Thanks, I am glad you like it and I am also glad you are still guessing.  And keep in mind, this is Luke we are talking about. She is afraid he will hate her when he finds out and she is willing to take a huge risk to keep that from happening, but we all know Luke is willing to forgive a lot. I think you will like how this will all play out.
Ocelotl_Nesto posted:
I look forward to the strike team... Perhaps Mara will stay and help blow up the shield, but I forsee a need for her to confront Palpy.
Endor should be interesting. Perhaps Mara will stay, but we all know that Luke has to confront Vader... What about Mara? 
angry_bentu posted:
Han's on the case! 
Luke and Mara will be together in no time.
Maaaaaaybe...
EGKenobi posted:
Excellent,
simply excellent.
Please add me to the updates list.
EG
Thanks! And consider yourself address.
CommanderK23 posted:
Wonderful update
Thanks! 
Dianethx posted:
Luke may be relying on the Force but Madine might have the right of it. Arica is an unknown and that can spell trouble.
I liked that Han was playing matchmaker and also was willing to step aside if Luke and Leia were in love. Good thing Luke finally knew about her being his sister. That would give the extra incentive to let her go to Han.
Great job with this.
Definitely Madine has the right of it, but this is the Jedi we are talking about here.
Han is great, but I liked the irony of Han being so observant, but still not being quite certain about Leia and Luke's feelings about each other - I think Han is very intuitive, but he is still a little unsure of himself when it comes to Leia, despite his bravado.
walker-of-minds posted:
Mara is liking this companionship/friend thing.
Yes, it is something she has never had before.
dancing_star posted:
I loved Han throughout this whole chapter. He's so smart, looks out for his friends, etc. His character's come a long way since ANH, and he was already great then
Yes, as Luke said, Han has come a long way. Luke has always been my favorite, but I always liked Han too.
nabooqueen2008 posted:
That was amazing....wow! So awesome! Please keep it coming...I've so missed the comraderie between Leia, Luke and Han! Wonderful!
Thanks!
Cypher18 posted:
Loved it. Just loved it. I just wanted to keep reading and was disappointed that it ended there. Here's hoping that you post another soon.
I hope it is out soon too! 
Jedi_Queen_Bee posted:
HAN STILL THINKS THAT LUKE LIKES LEIA.
WHEN IS HE GOING TO TELL HAN AND LEIA THAT LUKE IS LEIA'S TWIN BROTHER?
Han will eventually find out, but likely off camera, maybe in a similar situation to the original. I do not think I will touch it in this fic.
Tych_sel posted:
Well, I certainly have to say that this post was well worth the wait. I love what you did with Mara's character during the post, starting with her vulnerability and building her back up again. I have to wonder what Mara plans on doing in order to "start over." And as others have said, Han's doing his part to support his friends.
Thanks, I am glad you liked it. I was actually a little worried that this chapter would be a letdown after the past few, which have had lots of things going on.
Chapter 9 was definitely Mara's lowest point in the story - it should be mostly uphill for her from now.
AvenKiel posted:
Great post! I can't wait to see Mara kick some butt!!
Hmmm... Mara kicking butt... I guess you will just have to wait and see.
-----signature-----
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.' Take My Hand: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28300611/
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JEDIFLYSWATTER
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
10/4 8:24pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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So Mara has deceided not to turn Luke over to her master. Wonder if old Palpy is getting wind of this. If so he will not be happy. So now off to Endor! Great job and thanks. 
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You knew it was a rattlesnke when you picked it up.
Kitty cats do not lie about love.
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Miranda_Kenobi_87
Registered:
Feb '08
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Date Posted:
10/5 3:59pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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Yes that is true she is a complex character - in regards to writing her wouldn't have a clue about that, but you have definately done your homework and really write her like Zahn does (and really he is the ONLY one who can). If it is one thing that I do know is that uni is always busy, but fingers crossed you do have some time to write. Well maybe just a little mush?
-----signature-----
"I'm afraid I don't care much for addictive stimulants. - Obi-Wan Kenobi
"Darling, I love you, you are my life and my light. If you ever do this to me again, I will vape you where you stand." - Mara Jade Skywalker
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Zardi
Registered:
Jun '08
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Date Posted:
10/6 12:09pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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I started reading this at FFN...then lost it...then found it here again. Nice job so far! One question, though, in ch. 9:
In that moment Luke realized he did not even know his father's real name...
Didn't Obi say the name "Anakin Skywalker" in ANH when he and Luke were in his hut? I know he said it in the OT at some point, but maybe I'm thinking of the wrong scene.
I'm glad he got to ask about his mother, though. I always wondered why the canon Luke never asked about her until he was much older. Makes me wonder if George Lucas just hadn't thought about it yet in the 80's.
Could I be on your PM list please?
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p_stotts
Registered:
Jan '01
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Date Posted:
10/21 10:23am
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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Meesa back, and meesa liking what I read... a lot! Great update! I think I have an inkling of what Mara's thinking. Get rid of the Emperor so she doesn't have to tell Luke about her past. Still risky. The past has a way of catching up with you when you least expect, and I think she's leaving Vader out of her equation. He could be the proverbial fly in the ointment.
Good for Han! I'm glad he and Luke cleared the air. At least now Han knows where he stands.
Lovely, lovely post. Thanks for the update.
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Proud master to Gkilkenny!
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Jedi_Emeritus
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
11/5 3:04pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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Okay everyone, the next post will be up shortly. My apologies on how long it has been taking recently between posts, but unfortunately it is what it is. I still intend to complete this story by the end of the year, but it is anyone's guess whether I will make that goal or not. I simply have too much on the go right now and while I love writing fanfic, my own personal original fiction writing is starting to take precedence. No fear though - this story will be finished.
Replies:
JEDIFLYSWATTER posted:
So Mara has deceided not to turn Luke over to her master. Wonder if old Palpy is getting wind of this. If so he will not be happy.
No, she does not want to turn him over to the Emperor, but what will come of her plans in the end, only time can tell. And no, he will/would not be happy.
Miranda_Kenobi_87 posted:
Yes that is true she is a complex character - in regards to writing her wouldn't have a clue about that, but you have definately done your homework and really write her like Zahn does (and really he is the ONLY one who can). If it is one thing that I do know is that uni is always busy, but fingers crossed you do have some time to write. Well maybe just a little mush?
Zaun is the master at writing Mara. I find her a fascinating character to play with, but I don't claim to write her as well as he does. Thanks for your comments about university - I love my class and am learning bucketloads, but it is sucking up a lot of time, even though it's a night course only one night a week. As for mush... um, I'm not certain I could write it without it sounding completely dorky. There will be some tender moments down the road - I hope it's enough for you. 
Zardi posted:
I started reading this at FFN...then lost it...then found it here again. Nice job so far! One question, though, in ch. 9:
In that moment Luke realized he did not even know his father's real name...
Didn't Obi say the name "Anakin Skywalker" in ANH when he and Luke were in his hut? I know he said it in the OT at some point, but maybe I'm thinking of the wrong scene.
I'm glad he got to ask about his mother, though. I always wondered why the canon Luke never asked about her until he was much older. Makes me wonder if George Lucas just hadn't thought about it yet in the 80's.
Could I be on your PM list please?
I was wondering myself after reading your post, so I went back and looked. In the novelization, Ben never mentions Anakin by name and I don't recollect him ever mentioning it in the movie either - I think you may be thinking of the scene in RotJ, when he finally does come clean.
Regarding your comment about Luke's mother, I think your theory is likely right - I don't think she was really a fully fleshed out concept in his mind at that point, so it was likely easier just to concentrate on Vader as he was larger than life.
Consider yourself added to the PM list!
p_stotts posted:
Meesa back, and meesa liking what I read... a lot! Great update! I think I have an inkling of what Mara's thinking. Get rid of the Emperor so she doesn't have to tell Luke about her past. Still risky. The past has a way of catching up with you when you least expect, and I think she's leaving Vader out of her equation. He could be the proverbial fly in the ointment.
Yeah, it is quite risky, but at this point she is completely misreading Luke, as we all know, and is desperate for him not to find out about her. Only time will tell if this stratagem is successful. And she is not forgetting Vader at this point, she is just concentrating on the larger threat, as you will find out in the next chapter.
-----signature-----
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.' Take My Hand: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28300611/
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Jedi_Emeritus
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
11/5 3:36pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 10 - 09/29/08
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Chapter 11
Mara Jade looked over her meager possessions momentarily before sighing and closing her small travel bag, then sinking to the bed beside it. She was weary, the exhaustion of having spent the past three hectic days in one meeting or another, training and generally getting to know her new Alliance compatriots.
Not that she truly considered herself one of them. No, she had no love for the Alliance, any more than she had ever felt for her master, but they were a means to an end, a way for her to finally escape from under Palpatine's iron fist.
Lying back on the bunk, Mara closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift along the currents of the Force, something she had always had an affinity for, but now was even more proficient at due to the Jedi's patient tutelage. She smiled at the thought of the young man, so intense and serious, allowing herself to feel the true extent of her affection for him. She had never known what it was like to have a true friend until she had met him and now could only regret all the time she had missed as a child. He was everything she could imagine ever wanting in a friend and she found herself looking forward to the times they could be together, training, planning or just simply enjoying one another's company.
And through him, she found herself largely accepted by his friends and colleagues. The pilots, of whom he was so fond, had immediately embraced her as one of their own, in part assisted by the information that she was also a pilot. Of course, she had not let them know she had flown a fighter before - that was definitely not a part of her cover.
As a group, they seemed to be rowdy, given to boasting and all manner of pranks and loud laughter, and while she thought she would normally have found their behavior childish, she had found herself enjoying the experience. Of course, Skywalker was different from most of the rest of the group, being much quieter and less prone to their boisterous behavior. He was well-liked, even revered she thought, and the rest of the group seemed to take his eccentricities in stride.
Mara was the subject of much curiosity when she appeared on the scene, but that curiosity had turned to acceptance and more than a little admiration once she had come to know them. She had received more than one proposition from members of the fighter squadrons, hardly surprising, given their macho reputation. She had been pleasantly surprised, however, when none of those who had extended their invitations for company seemed angry or offended at her refusal - they had generally taken her refusal without rancor and she had not had reason to regret entering his circle of friends.
The past three days had been ones unlike any she had ever experienced before; the feeling of belonging to a group was welcome and unsettling at the same time. She had never been part of a group, unless you considered the Emperor's dancers, whom she had nominally been a part of as a facet of her cover. But she knew she had never really been an accepted member - the others, although afraid of ever speaking about it, had certainly known she was more than just a dancer, from her frequent absences from the Imperial court while on a mission, to the differences in temperament and ability between her and the others. She had some acquaintances among them, but no one she would consider a close friend. She had always been considered too much of an outsider to truly be one of the group.
And what was more, she had found herself responding to the people with whom she had come in contact - she could see herself warming up to them, basking in the attention she received, liking them in return. Now she had seen what it could be like to be a part of a group, she had difficulty accepting the idea of returning to her own barren, solitary and downright lonely existence. No, that had to be avoided at all costs.
Of course, not everyone had accepted her as readily as Skywalker's friends - most notably General Madine had never really accepted her while his objections to her involvement in the mission had continued unabated. The day after the council meeting she had been visited by some soldiers and essentially put under arrest, although they had insisted she was being taken for questioning. It turned out Madine had persuaded the admiral that she should be questioned about her background and current affiliations at the very least.
Skywalker, displeased at the general's continued opposition, had caught wind of the detainment just before it had occurred. He had accompanied her and had spent twenty minutes in the General's office arguing with him, but to no avail. She suspected Skywalker was having second thoughts about his role in the Alliance military, which was now naturally superseded by his responsibilities as a Jedi, but for the time being he was a commander in that military and had no real authority to effect her release. Even a full Jedi attached to the Alliance would not have had that authority, she suspected.
She had been kept in the office for more than six hours, grilled by the general about her background, skills, affiliations and views on a variety of topics, some of which she considered of little relevance to the issue at hand. It had been clear from the start he had been trying to catch her in some inconsistency and establish she was lying so he could have grounds to bring up her inclusion in the mission with the admiral once again.
Mara, however, was not to be caught by so easy a stratagem. As she should have done in the first place, she had taken the time to expand upon and establish her cover story during the time she had spent in hyperspace and on Dagobah, although it had originally been intended to convince Skywalker of her sincerity, should he ever become suspicious of her honesty and question her further.
She had not expected to have to use the story to convince a general of the Alliance forces she was not an Imperial spy - although looking back on it now, she knew she should have expected it. What Skywalker had done - taking her into a classified debriefing and insisting she accompany a highly skilled guerilla squad on an assault against an enemy installation - was highly irregular and would have resulted in both her and the Jedi being thrown into a prison cell were he anyone other than whom he was. Madine, although known as a traitor, was certainly no fool; he was a brilliant military leader who was far too practical to believe in Jedi prescience. His objection was to be expected.
In fact, she knew that had this been the Imperial military, Skywalker would now be up for court martial, likely facing execution for such an act. Obviously, the Imperial military was far more disciplined than the Rebellion, not surprising considering the military ultimately reported up through the chain, directly to Vader and the Emperor, neither of whom were known for being tolerant of mistakes.
It was fortunate for the Alliance then, that she had no intention whatsoever of compromising this mission.
The thought of what she was about to do once again brought a nervous fluttering to her stomach and she stood up and began to pace the room in agitation. It was not every day that one decided to betray the most powerful - and most unforgiving - man in the galaxy.
Stopping in mid stride, Mara searched for her inner center once again, employing a technique Skywalker had taught her to calm herself, sooth her troubled nerves. After a few moments she was able to open her eyes and consider the situation rationally.
In actuality, she supposed, what she was about to do was more of a passive betrayal than anything else. She was deep under cover with the Alliance, included in a guerilla operation to take out an important Imperial installation. Her orders were to stay with Skywalker, get to know him and not to do anything which would compromise her situation until she was to accompany him to her master - an outcome her master had insisted would ultimately take place. Therefore, she had no choice but to act as a rebel and to do her best in assisting in this mission. Anything else and Skywalker would sense her duplicity and realize he had been lied to.
The beauty of her plan was, if the mission was successful, with the Emperor on the station, there was a good chance the Death Star would be destroyed and Emperor would die along with it. Thus, by assisting with the mission and doing everything she could to ensure the shield generator was destroyed and along with it the Death Star, she would ensure the ultimate meeting between Skywalker and her master would never take place and her identity would be protected.
The one unknown in her plan was the exact location and fate of Vader - he obviously knew of her existence and could conceivably inform Skywalker of her true identity. However, if the Death Star were to be destroyed, it was possible Vader could also perish in the battle and even if he did not, he could not know of her involvement with Skywalker, nor could he contact her like her master could. The Alliance could use a victory over the Imperial forces and destruction of the Death Star as a catalyst to finally take the initiative against the Empire, which could lead to ultimate victory. Vader was not her master - she was certain the Imperials would crumble if her master was removed from the scene.
Of course, all this was simply speculation. However, she knew the first - and most important - step was to free herself from her master and this was the best chance she was going to have to accomplish that goal. If she allowed Skywalker to be taken to the Emperor, while she did not know what fate he had planned for the young Jedi, she knew that for all his skills, he could not be a match for two powerful Force users like Vader and the Emperor. So she had no choice but to do all she could to prevent that outcome from ever occurring.
And then there was the tree to consider.
As always, the thought of what she had experienced while in the tree on Dagobah caused her to shudder, as if a Coruscant granite slug were crawling up her spine. She had never been subjected to such an experience in all her life and even now she was struggling to make sense of what she had witnessed and understand, not to mention come to terms with, the message it had imparted to her.
Not for the first time, she wished she could talk to Skywalker about it; ask for his opinion and understanding.
But that was impossible. If she told him of it, he would immediately be suspicious, especially of her seeing the Emperor no less, and all her carefully thought out plans would come to naught.
No, she had to trust in her own understanding of the event and find some way to make sense of what she had seen.
Knowing that ignoring the vision was no path to understanding, Mara forced herself to consider rationally what she had seen. At the time, the entire experience had seemed so real, so substantial, but now she was convinced that everything she had witnessed had been no more than a vision from the Force. Even the grotesque creature at the end could not have been real and the sensation of being chased, or the creature nipping at her heels with slavering jaws, ready to rend and tear, had to have been Force inspired.
But what did it mean?
Certainly there were parts of it which were easily understood. The Emperor and insistence in her lesser status, for example, had to be a means to test her will, force her to question her own worth. Of course, the fact that she was now set on this path was a testament to her belief of the specter's insistence in Skywalker's disgust with her if he knew of her involvement with the Emperor. She was convince he would not only hate her for deceiving him, but for all the things she had done as the Emperor's pet assassin. She could well imagine the look of disgust on his face should he ever learn of her true background; she was not certain if she could bear his anger and hatred.
Mara shook her head and willed the trembling which had erupted at the thought to quiet and forced herself to consider the other aspects of her experience. The image of herself, the cold, merciless distortion of her was obviously what she would become if she continued on the path she had been walking up to this point. She was now convinced her master was on the wrong side - everything confirmed it, from what she had witnessed of Skywalker, contrasted with what she knew her master to be, to the things the Emperor had commanded to do her in his service.
But what of the rest? Was the image of a Skywalker eerily reminiscent of her master a warning of what he would, or what he could become? Or was it just her fear - the fear of putting herself under the influence of another powerful Force user? Surely Skywalker was different from her master, was he not?
A knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts and she sent her senses questing out, although she already knew who it was. Signaling through the Force her permission to enter, Mara rose to her feet as Skywalker entered the room.
"Arica, are you ready to go?"
She looked down at her small bag and smiled. "I only have this one small bag - most of which was given to me for this mission - so I guess you could say I'm ready to go."
He stood in the doorway for several moments, gazing at her, a tiny smile playing around the edges of his mouth. "Are you nervous?"
She found she was nervous, but not for the reasons he was thinking. "A little, I suppose."
"Don't be, it will be all right," he reassured with a smile. "We'd better get going - they're waiting for us."
Nodding, Mara reached down and grasped her bag, then reacting without thinking, she took the hand Luke was offering her and they exited the room.
Suddenly self-conscious, Mara peeked surreptitiously around the corridor, but there was no one in sight. She considered the hand she held in her own, calloused by years of hard labor and lightsaber practice, but still gentle and firm at the same time. It felt right to be this close to him, as though she was suddenly coming home after a long absence. She felt like she belonged.
On the other hand, she looked at his ensemble and curled her lip in distaste - black really did not suit him and he had worn little else since she had met him.
"So what's with the black?" she asked, a playful note in her voice. "Is it some kind of Jedi uniform? You should have told me - I may have been able to grab something from my ship."
Skywalker smiled down at her, taking in her battle fatigues covering a green jumpsuit. "No, it isn't a uniform - it's more of a reminder; a lesson for me. I still have unfinished business."
She regarded him, curious about his words. She should have known her felt this way, although he had never come out and spoken about it. It must be difficult to know your father was one of the most feared men in the galaxy, especially if you had thought he was dead for most of your life.
He glanced down at her again, the expression on his face making her heart flutter. "I think you'd look good in black."
Mara felt the color rising to her cheeks and looked away - the glance he had given her had been smoldering with barely suppressed desire. She glanced down at their entwined fingers, once again awed by the closeness she felt with him, knowing she had made the correct choice.
"Well, if you're trying to be like the old man, dressing in black is probably the best way to start."
It was the first thing that came to mind, desperate for something to fill the silence - and also the very worst thing she could have said. Its effect was immediate, as Skywalker stopped dead in his tracks and turned to stare at her in amazement, not to mention a rising anger, easily sensed through her strengthening bond with him.
Moving quickly to forestall the damage, wondering how she could have said it, Mara reached over and grasped his hand again, which had fallen out of hers when he had stopped. "Skywalker, I'm sorry - I shouldn't have said that."
"I am not my father," he responded, his voice quiet, but earnest.
"I know," she responded, gazing up into his eyes, willing him to accept her apology. "I wasn't implying you were. It was a stupid, thoughtless thing to say and I'm sorry."
He nodded his head and surreptitiously glancing around the corridor, he released her hand and once again began walking down the corridor, forcing her to catch up to him. "I know you didn't mean anything, Arica," he finally said after several moments. "I would appreciate it if you would keep such sentiments quiet. That particular... relationship is not exactly common knowledge. In fact, you are one of four people in the entire galaxy who knows of it."
Mara nodded and reached out to grasp his hand once again. "I will remember that."
He glanced down at her once again. While the shadow had lifted from his face, the previous mood seemed to have been destroyed by her thoughtless and unthinking words. There was a brooding quality to his presence now and Mara cursed herself for speaking without considering her words first.
The rest of the journey the hangar was completed in silence, Skywalker lost in his own thoughts, while Mara tried to figure out how she could make it better. Although they still held hands, the previous affection and emotion was replaced with tension.
The hyperspace trip to Endor was too long. Of course, taking only nineteen hours to cross the vast expanse of space, right down the Sanctuary Pipeline, into another part of the galaxy was a wonder in and of itself, one which defied all rational explanation. Luke could only look on those who had discovered hyperspace and designed the infinitely complicated hyperdrive with appreciation and salute their ingenuity and intelligence.
But in a practical sense, nineteen hours was exactly the wrong amount of time. A longer journey would have allowed some time to rest, time to relax and sleep, while a shorter time would have prevented the group from becoming keyed up and ready for action and then bored while they traveled through hyperspace without enough time to do some of the things which would have allowed them to arrive at the destination rested and ready.
However, it was what it was and there was no point worrying about what could or could not be - practically at their destination, the time had come to get to the business at hand.
As the proximity indicator began its brazen call, it seemed to Luke as though journey was coming to an end. One way or another, the situation with his father and the Emperor would be resolved here in this remote section of space, with either him emerging victorious, or more likely, dead.
"All right, everyone," Han said, his voice tense with apprehension, "it's show time."
Luke exchanged a glance with Mara and saw her roll her eyes. Privately, Luke enjoyed this side of Han - the ability to make light of serious situations - and merely grinned back at her in response. The look she returned nearly made him laugh out loud.
As Han pulled back on the lever, the shuttle once again hurtled out of the blue kaleidoscope of hyperspace, back into realspace and their destination. A planet loomed in the distance, a large, angry red gas giant, around which the heavily forested moon of Endor orbited. The moon itself was a great jewel suspended in space, its greens and blues an almost soothing backdrop against the troubles which embroiled the galaxy.
But even though it was much smaller than the two celestial bodies suspended in space, the Death Star, incomplete as it was, still dominated the area and arrested the sight of all who sat in the cockpit of the imperial shuttle. The superstructure was only two thirds complete, with the southern hemisphere of the station still a mass of incomplete girders and plasteel; construction droids and small ships swarmed around it like insects around their nest. The northern hemisphere of the station was largely complete on the outside at least, with the exception of one side of the massive structure, and clearly in the distance Luke could make out the massive concave dish which served as her primary weapon. It seemed to Luke a massive predator, jaws agape, ready to swallow those brave - or foolish - enough to stray too close.
In the seat to his left, Leia shuddered as the sight clearly reminded her of its predecessor and the destruction of the place she had called home for her first eighteen years. Luke reached out to her and squeezed her shoulder, receiving a grateful smile in return, while wondering himself exactly who was to comfort him. Having seen the previous Death Star up close, he knew exactly what faced the Alliance ships which would very soon enter hyperspace on course for this massive monstrosity. At least her weapons systems were not yet online.
"Looks like we've got company," Han muttered from the pilot's seat as he checked the instrument panel.
Wondering how he could have missed something so massive, Luke gazed at the awesome sight of the Executor, as the Imperial fleet's massive super star destroyer glided smoothly through space, its structure dwarfing the star destroyers which made up the bulk of the navy. As they glided closer and closer to the ship, a strange sense of foreboding began to fill Luke's heart and he wondered what it was about this ship which made him feel so uneasy.
"No point waiting around," Han muttered, his voice just audible. "Let's send this mission into hyperspace."
He glanced over at Chewie, who nodded and growled something unintelligible in response, and then reached over and activated the comm.
"Shuttle control, please come in."
"We have you on our screen now. Please identify."
"This is shuttle Tydirium, requesting deactivation of the deflector shield."
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage."
Taking a deep breath, Han flipped a few switches which initiated the transmission of the code. "Transmission commencing."
Leia glanced over at Luke, a concerned expression on her face. "Now we find out if that code was worth the price we paid."
The rest of the group exchanged worried glances, but for Luke, the conversation in that cabin was distant, ethereal. The sight of the massive ship which had filled him with dread was looming nearer and nearer through the cockpit windows and no matter how Luke tried to tell himself it was nothing more than mere fancy, the Force confirmed his feelings. Whatever it was about the ship, Luke knew it was no passing fancy - whatever awaited them here had the potential to stop the mission in its tracks before they ever got started.
"Skywalker. What is it?"
But the sound of Arica's voice, taut with strain, was not enough to bring Luke from his trance-like consideration of the massive ship. The ship was a black stain on the face of the galaxy, a foreboding hole of epic proportions. Almost as though...
And suddenly he knew.
"Vader is on that ship."
The words were out of his mouth before he even had time to form the thought within his psyche. Yet, as they settled on the cabin, Luke could feel the tension in the cabin spike at his dire pronouncement.
"You're just jittery, Luke," Han scoffed. "There are lots of command ships. But, Chewie, let's keep our distance, without looking like we're keeping our distance."
The Wookiee growled something in response, which sounded suspiciously like an incredulous "How?"
"I don't know - fly casual," Han shot back.
"They're taking a long time with that code clearance," Leia said, her voice tight with strain.
"I'm endangering the mission," Luke blurted again into the silence of the cabin. "I shouldn't have come."
This was the end for Han. "Hey, Kid, why don't we try to be optimistic about this?"
"He knows I'm here." And Luke was certain he did. For as he recognized the Force presence of his father on the bridge of the massive ship, he felt the answering call of his father, the call of blood to blood, one Force user to another.
"Come on, kid, you're imagining things."
"He's not imagining it," Arica said. "I don't have the ability he does, but even I can sense something. If he says it's Vader, then I believe him."
Silence descended on the cabin and Han turned in his seat and stared at Arica, his mouth open in incredulity.
"Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?"
Han's response was lost as he turned back and answered the question. "Parts and technical personnel for the Sanctuary Moon."
As the comm once again stilled, Han glanced back at Luke, a question in his expression. "What should we do, Luke? Should we get out of here?"
"No," Leia responded, an urgency coloring her voice. "We'll never get another chance at this. We need to get down there now."
"But if Vader's on that ship like the Kid says, we aren't going anywhere near that moon. Better we get away and let the fleet know we've failed. We can move the assault back, try again some other time..."
"There is no other time." Leia's voice was resolute. "If we turn and run out of here, the Empire will know what we're up to and getting in next time will be all that much harder. Can you hide yourself from him, Luke?"
Luke shook his head, still transfixed by the proximity of Vader's overwhelming Force presence. "If I could, I would have before now."
"All right, Chewie," Han said, sounding decisive and certain... like a general. "Looks like we don't have a choice here. Be ready to beat it quick if they look like they're going hostile, but we'll just have to play this game to the end and see if they will go for it."
A bloated silence settled over the cabin as they waited for the massive warship to respond. Luke could feel his father questing out, feather-light brushes with the Force, trying to decipher the intent of the group, their identity and composition. Luke responded, trying to subtly blunt the thrusts as they approached the ship. He could feel himself learning as he tried to hide their identity from the Sith Lord, used talents and skills he never knew he possessed, although he was uncertain whether he would be able to duplicate what he was doing later. How successful he was, he could not be certain, but when the pressure abruptly lessened and then disappeared altogether, he heaved a huge breath, unaware he had been holding it in the first place.
The comm crackled and a voice came through the speakers into the cabin. "Shuttle Tydirium, deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course."
Almost as one, the group heaved a sigh of relief and Chewie eased the throttle open, sending them hurtling forward, toward the moon and the task which awaited.
"Hey, what did I tell you?" Han asserted with a grin. "No sweat."
"Is that what you told us?" Leia responded, her voice wry, yet affectionate.
As they moved away from the ship, the presence of the dark lord faded until it was nothing more than a memory and yet, Luke could not shake the feeling of foreboding which had enveloped him. Vader had been on that ship and if nothing else, he had felt his son, even if the son had managed to keep him from finding out anything about the rest of the party. And where Luke was, the dark lord had to know trouble followed - trouble for the Empire.
Han Solo did not like surprises.
He was aware that most of those who knew him, or knew of him, would be surprised to learn of that sentiment, but it was only the truth. In his previous life, a certain number of surprises had been necessary - an occupational hazard. He had learned over the years to accept that which he could not change and move along with the flow of the galaxy. And he had survived.
Accepting them and liking them were two different things.
This mission had not started off the way he had envisioned when he had accepted overall command. Making it past the heavy Imperial security with the stolen code had worked out as expected, Luke's misgivings of imminent danger and menacing Sith Lords notwithstanding.
But running into several scouts less than an hour after landing and having Luke and Leia go haring after them was not exactly what Han had in mind for this little jaunt. He had known the installation would be heavily guarded - he would have to be a fool not to know - but they were supposed to infiltrate closer to the base before running into patrols. The whole episode complicated matters. If the scouts were able to escape, then the Imperial commanders would know there was a Rebel force on the moon and even if they did not, it would not be long before their absence and failure to report in was investigated.
And this did not even take into account the fact that they were running under a tight schedule to begin with. Not only were they only given about a standard day to complete their mission, but it was only a matter of time before they were discovered. Not only did the possibility exist of the Imperials discovering the shuttle they had arrived in hidden in the forest, but security was so tight in the system that it was only a matter of time before someone noticed that a shuttle which had passed through the shield had not arrived at its supposed destination. There was so much traffic in and out of this system right now that they were counting on having some time before the anomaly was discovered, but when they did, there would be hell to pay.
Therefore, he knew he had little choice. As worried as he was about his two absent friends, there would come a point when he would have to order the strike force away from the small clearing in which they waited and off toward the site of the shield generator, while he went looking for Luke and Leia. He was not certain this would be acceptable behavior for a general in the Alliance forces, but he also knew he was incapable of abandoning his friends if they needed his aid.
Han glanced around at the clearing in which they sat waiting. The sentries had been posted on all sides in the foliage and one or two had climbed nearby trees to keep a watch out from high up in the branches, although with the denseness of the forest, Han was uncertain how much good that would do them. The company which occupied the clearing was clustered into small groups, most talking in soft voices, although a few had taken the opportunity for a short nap. They were a hard, dangerous looking lot, trained extensively for this type of mission, and among their number there were many convicts, escapees from the Empire's prisons, or those who had lost loved ones to the Empire's depredations.
In fact, the lieutenant, a tall, burly man with graying hair and vivid blue eyes, had spent five years in prison. Han knew had gained a certain amount of notoriety and respect from the disparate parts of the Alliance, but he was under no illusions as to whom the men would listen to when the fighting started. He was technically the commanding officer on this mission, but they followed the lieutenant more than him.
This was fine with Han - the lieutenant was a good man and well respected by the men. He had no problem with the situation as it was.
A movement to his left caught his eye, causing Han to glance over at the woman seated a few paces away from him. Arica was an enigma, to be certain - he still did not know what to make of her. Although Luke repeatedly reiterated his position that there was nothing going on between the two of them, Han was certain the kid was disseminating, blind or just completely clueless when it came to women, any one of which was equally likely to be true, in Han's estimation.
But beyond their relationship (or lack thereof) he was uncertain about the woman herself. Her story, having grown up with a former Jedi for a mother, seemed little too perfect... too convenient to be true. Her appearance at Jabba's palace had been more than a little fortuitous, and Leia's account of seeing her in the throne room, the look they had shared just before Luke's arrival and the princess's conviction the redhead was more than just a dancer who knew a few magic tricks, was difficult to shrug off. He often received odd vibes from her at times, as though she was trying to figure Luke out, or trying to figure herself out.
And yet, despite all that, Han was having trouble disliking or distrusting her - almost as though he were being guided by this force of Luke's, something told him he could trust her. His intuition and judge of character rarely failed him and he was inclined to trust it again this time. Whatever her goals or intentions, Han could not help but like her - she was taciturn almost to the point of being antisocial, but when her cold exterior fell away, he found her to be a bright, confident and very competent individual.
And it didn't hurt that she was easy to look at either.
Han chuckled to himself. The kid's taste in women was impeccable - first Leia, who had somehow become everything in Han's world, to the flame-haired Arica, whom Han was certain could be absolutely stunning if she put her mind to it.
Still, there were unanswered questions about Arica and if the kid was unable to be assertive enough to find out the answers, then perhaps it was up to his good friend to obtain them for him.
"So, Arica, how're you doing over there?"
She turned her eyes on him and considered him, much as one would consider a side of nerf steaks, Han thought. But even as he felt himself being sized up, he could see what Luke saw in her - those deep green eyes set in a face with a pretty, flawless complexion, coupled with her head of thick, luxurious red hair were almost certain to melt the kid into a pool of Hutt slime. They already had, unless Han completely missed his guess. In fact, if Han were not already involved with Leia, he might consider taking her away from the kid.
"Can it, Solo," she responded, interrupting his meandering thoughts. "I know you're not really interested in how I'm doing. What do you want?"
Han flashed her his most injured 'who, me?' look. "Why would you think that?"
She glanced back at him in disgust. "Come on, Solo, I wasn't born just yesterday. Lately it's been one of two things: either you're about to hit on me, or you're about to go into that noble 'let's protect Skywalker' thing you and your friends have perfected."
She was quick, he certainly had to give that to her. "Yeah, well, you've seen the kid in action - I'd say he needs a little protecting, wouldn't you?"
Her expression was unreadable, but he thought he detected a trace of humor in your air. "It amazes me that a group of people can be so protective of a grown man. What have I ever done to cause you to mistrust me?"
"Well, how about your back story for starters?"
"Skywalker believes me, why shouldn't you?"
Han snorted. "Look sister, I don't know what went on between the two of you while you were gone, but trust me - if you think the kid actually believes your story of growing up with a Jedi mother, you're as crazy as he is."
Although her countenance did not alter at his open skepticism of her story, Han detected a tightening around the eyes. He could almost feel the annoyance coming off her in waves. "If you don't believe me, why am I here?"
It was a fair question, Han admitted to himself, one to which there was no easy answer. It had been in part by his insistence, his championing of the kid, that the admiral had been persuaded to allow her inclusion in what was, after all, the most crucial guerilla mission of the entire war. If she turned out to be a spy for the other side, or even a distraction for the kid, this whole thing could turn out to be a complete disaster, one from which the Alliance would never recover.
And yet, he found he did trust her. She was right - she had never given any of them any indication she was false or untrustworthy and this constant suspicion would do more harm in the end than good. But on the other hand, he was certain she had not been up front with them about her background and while she had always done exactly what she had said she would do, the lack of truth about her past was worrisome. Although he had not intended this to be an interrogation, Han knew the conversation was necessary, if only to make certain she understood perfectly where he, and the rest of the group, stood with regard to the kid.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know why you're here."
"An interesting confession coming from the commander of this little soiree." Her tone was sarcastic, but amused.
Han could only grin in response. "If you really want to know, then I guess you're here because of the kid. You say we try to protect him - and you're right - but we also trust him. Besides which, I've seen enough of the galaxy and been in enough tight spots to know when I can trust someone. No, you've never give us any reason to mistrust you and for what it's worth, I like you and I do think I can trust you. You wouldn't be here otherwise."
"But?"
Again he had to admire her quickness - she immediately saw through his words to the unspoken caveat. "Look sister, that galaxy worth of experience I mentioned also tells me when someone is not being completely honest with me. I can tell when I'm being lied to."
"But you just said you trusted me. Now you're saying you don't? That doesn't make sense."
"Yeah, it's complicated, isn't it?" Han responded, aware that to her, his words would not be completely understood. But then, with the kid and this whole crazy rebellion, nothing ever really made sense. "Look, all I'm saying is I like you and I trust you to a point, but until you come clean with us about where you came from, I'll reserve judgment."
"And if I've turned out to be telling the truth all along?"
"Yeah, and I'm a Hutt."
They stared at each other for several moments, Han aware that this was a dangerous woman who could likely do some serious damage if she so chose, while fully intending to return some of said damage if she turned out to be false. She could be very difficult to read at the best of times and now was no exception. But Han thought he could detect a measure of sincerity in her demeanor. It was not much, but it was all he had to go on.
"Solo," she began, breaking the silence which had become rather heavy, "I can tell you I have Skywalker's best interests in mind. I will not betray him, or play him false. I will do what I promised when I agreed to come on this mission."
"And what about the kid's feelings?"
Han grinned at the blank stare she directed at him - another child he had to babysit, one who could not even see what was right before her eyes. "Come on, Arica, I've seen the way the kid looks at you. They're exactly the same looks he used to direct at Leia - I ought to know."
Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not certain what you think you're saying, Solo."
"Look, the kid may claim there's nothing going on between you, but I've been around him long enough to know the signs. He's got it bad for you - I can see it in his face, in his voice, the way he acts around you. And unless I miss my guess, I think you feel something in return if you'd let yourself. All I'm saying is don't break the kid's heart; he's not a hardy, worldly guy like me, you know."
Arica cocked her head slightly sideways and the anger simmering below the surface seemed to drain away, leaving her somewhat amused. "Oh, and you're the manly stud?"
"That's the reputation," Han responded with a grin. "Just remember, Arica, don't play with the kid's emotions. He's had enough heartbreak and sorrow without you adding to it."
She was silent, seemingly lost in thought about what he had told her. Han glanced around the clearing. The men were still engaged in their various activities, but Han thought he could detect something else in their manner. As a band of guerilla fighters, they were uncomfortable remaining in one spot for too long in enemy territory - it was clear he would have to order them to move again before very long.
He turned his attention back to Arica, to find her studying him, a questioning look plastered on her face. When she spoke, her voice was hesitant, unsure - a novelty for the usually decisive woman.
"So Skywalker... he and Leia... they used to..." she blushed and turned away, leaving Han bemused at the sight of Arica actually blushing - he would not have thought she had it in her.
"You worried Leia's going to steal him away from you?" he teased.
Baiting Arica, it turned out, was a great deal of fun, but carried with it very definite hazards and would, he suspected, turn into a contact sport if pursued for any length of time. She turned back to face him, her eyes steely and her countenance bleak, the annoyance almost flowing off her in waves.
"Cool it, sister," Han exclaimed with a laugh, his hands held out in supplication. "I didn't mean nothing by it."
"I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself."
When Han only grinned in response, she shook her head and stared back at him, clearly indicating him to continue.
"Yeah, the kid used to have it bad for Leia," he continued, when he had assured himself she was not about to draw her little blaster. "You should have seen him mooning around after her on the journey from the Death Star, and even after Yavin - for a while there I thought he'd grow scales and wings and turn into her own personal tailring."
"And recently?" she prompted.
Han had to suppress another grin in response - he did not know how she could not be aware of how transparent she was being. "I'd guess you'd have to ask the kid about that, wouldn't you? For what it's worth, he claims to have no romantic interest in her any more, although why his feelings have changed, I don't know. I was out of it for six months, you know."
Suddenly, Artoo's excited electronic chatter caught Han's attention and he turned toward where the droids stood.
"Captain Solo, Artoo says someone's coming."
Han turned toward the rest of the company, but he need not have bothered - everyone had heard the droid's statement and all conversation had ceased. Weapons were drawn, and the company was instantly ready for action. No warnings had been sounded by the sentries, so that was good news at least.
A twig snapped out beyond the outer ring of bushes and the entire group tensed. But after a moment, Luke jogged into the clearing and weapons were relaxed as a sigh of collective relief went up from the group.
He had clearly been running for some time, the sweat rolled down his face in tiny rivulets to dampen his battle tunic. He flopped to the ground at Han's side and let out a groan of exhaustion and relief.
"Tough day, huh kid?"
Luke glared up at the former smuggler. "Yeah, I've seen better. Just wait until we get to the generator."
Han, however, was not listening as he watched the edge of the clearing, waiting for Leia to appear, a cold knot of worry forming in his stomach. "Where's Leia?"
Luke was suddenly upright as his face lined in worry. "You mean she didn't come back?"
"I thought she was with you," Han retorted, the concern he felt suddenly going into hyperspace.
"We got split up. I thought I had to go a lot further than she did, so I figured she'd be back by now. We better go look for her."
Han peered at the kid, seeing the exhaustion in his face. He had been through a rough time that day. "Don't you want to rest first?"
Luke shook his head, his face hard and determined. "I want to find Leia."
Han nodded and turned toward the lieutenant, giving him instructions to take the troops forward as planned and informing them they would rendezvous at the shield generator the next morning. If the officer thought anything of the general leaving his troops to look for one member of the party on the eve of battle, he said nothing. He merely saluted and began organizing the commandos. Within minutes they had begun to move out of the clearing, many faces clearly showing the relief they felt at being on the move once again.
"All right, kid, this is your show. You better lead us to where you got separated from Leia."
At Luke's nod, they filed out of the clearing.
Mara followed the others, although distracted; thinking about what Solo had had to say. His rough exterior, coupled with the sometimes uncouth way he had of talking hid the fact that he was, in fact, very observant and difficult to fool.
His skepticism of her story did not worry her - it was no less than expected after all and as long as Skywalker bought it, or at least did not challenge her on it, she knew Solo would do nothing more than have his little suspicions. And if she could succeed in this mission and prove to Skywalker she was trustworthy and committed to the cause - committed to him and the Jedi - she would likely be able to get away without ever having to explain her background any more fully, especially if the Emperor perished along with the massive space station, as she intended.
But something in the back of her mind warned her, spoke to her of possible issues with her plan. For starters, Vader had been on the command ship and had sensed Skywalker's presence - of that she was completely certain. Whether or not the Dark Lord had sensed her was a different story. Following Skywalker's efforts as she had been, she thought he had done a credible job of deflecting Vader's curiosity away from the team.
Far less certain was what the knowledge of his son's presence would cause him to do. Would he stay on the command ship, or would he return to the Death Star and report to his master? If he was on the Death Star, that would simplify things immensely if they did manage to destroy the station. Depending how the battle went, the Dark Lord being on the command ship could also work well with her plan, assuming the rebel fleet was up to the task of dealing with their Imperial foes - not a certainty, considering the military might her master had at his disposal.
But if Vader should come to the moon, that would complicate her plan immensely. Not only would his presence make destroying the shield generator more difficult, but if he were to appear on the moon, the chances of father meeting son, and her identity being compromised, increased dramatically.
And then there was Skywalker himself. She had been surprised to hear of Solo's assertion that he had been infatuated with the Alderaanian princess as she had never been able to detect any symptom of particular regard between the two. They were close - anyone with eyes could see that - but their closeness seemed the affection between two friends who had been through much together, rather than that of lovers, or even former lovers.
The thought of Skywalker pining away for the love of the princess did not fit what she knew of him, although admittedly she could be wrong due to their short acquaintance. The thought of his heart belonging to someone else induced pangs of something she could not quite decipher. She did not know how to describe it.
She also did not know why it mattered to her.
She glanced up to where he and Solo were leading the search party. She could feel his Force sense questing out ahead in search of the missing princess. He became aware of her watching and turned to look in her direction, a fond expression on his face as he brushed her affectionately with his Force sense. Without thinking, Mara responded with a brush of her own, before withdrawing in consternation, wondering at how she had come to respond so automatically to his overtures. Skywalker merely smiled at her, his care for her evident in his manner, before turning his attention back to his search.
Feeling her cheeks heating in response to his obvious regard, Mara concentrated on the ground, willing her recalcitrant face to return to its normal state. The episode had confirmed one thing though - although she was unversed in most interpersonal emotions, she knew Solo's assertion of something else passing between them was true. There was something between Skywalker and herself. She could now only hope they both lived long enough to explore it and find out what it was.
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"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.' Take My Hand: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28300611/
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MiralukaJedi
Registered:
May '08
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Date Posted:
11/5 4:59pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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Delurking...Very nice. They both have it bad don't they?....lurks away again.
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The balance is weighted and found wanting ~ Winston Churchill Lessons and Memories~ Jysella Horn, OCs, Post NJO Call and Answer~ http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28668422/p1/?3 I, Exile~ http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29148129
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Jedi_Liz
Title: Former CR
Lincoln NE, USA
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
11/5 5:36pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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is Mara having second thoughts on the passive betrayal? Hmmm 
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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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dancing_star
Registered:
Feb '07
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Date Posted:
11/5 6:10pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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That was wonderful, as always!!   Loved Han and Mara's talk.
So glad to see this updated! Great job!! 
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See my updated bio for fics  God bless America and our troops. "The LORD gives strength to his people. The LORD blesses his people with peace." Ps 29:11 ~~~ Drabbles!! http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29148282/p1/?9
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p_stotts
Registered:
Jan '01
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Date Posted:
11/6 6:04am
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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Not much gets past Han. Beneath that swaggering, brash exterior lurks a sharp, intelligent individual. I wonder if Mara will tell Luke the truth before he goes to face the Emperor, or will she let unfolding events reveal her true background? Please post again soon. I can't wait to see how this all works out.
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If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans for your life.
Proud master to Gkilkenny!
Stories in my bio.
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Jade_eyes
Registered:
Aug '04
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Date Posted:
11/6 11:57am
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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Absolutely fantastic update. Mara's introspection was terrific... struck just the right "tone." Shame that she broke the mood on the way to the hangar though.
Superb convo between she and Han... their personalities are both of the outspoken variety, so verbal clashing between them is going to be fun, especially since they have sharp wits and are incredibly endearingly honest. Tickled by Han's observations of "Arica's" effect on Luke.
About Mara's plan with the Emperor, there are so many reasons I hope it works the way she wants it to.
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DarthVaderette
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
11/6 4:26pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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Great story,can you PM me with updates?
Thanks
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ccp
Registered:
Apr '05
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Date Posted:
11/6 5:48pm
Subject:
RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 11 - 11/05/08
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Great update!
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Padwan to Big Fatty
If someone says, "Have a nice weekend," I never say, "You too." Because I never know if, perhaps, by the time the weekend rolls around, I will have other plans for that person. Come Friday, I may wish to have them slain. - George Carli
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dianethx
Registered:
Mar '02
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