Jedi Council Forums - Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Epilogue - 10/19/09

Post Reply | Active Topic Notification | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

« 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 - Previous | Next | Reload

Author	Topic: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Epilogue - 10/19/09 - COMPLETE!
JEDIFLYSWATTER Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 12/18/08 8:52pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	I missed a post somehow. Those were great and what a cruel way to leave it. Mara might of been able to hide from Luke but I am not sure how she thought she could get away with that with Vader. Poor Luke. He just got kicked in the teeth, the groin, and in the chest. At least Mara will be close at hand if she does turn on her master. Will she be Luke's hidden ace? Can not wait for the next post! Great job and thanks. -----signature----- New Orleans will rise from the ashes! You knew it was a rattlesnke when you picked it up. Kitty cats do not lie about love.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
jacen200015 Registered: Jan '02	Date Posted: 12/19/08 7:06am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	Here is a PM tip. I copy those who want to be pmed into a word document. Write down the title of the PM and whatever you want in the body and then send the first pm, press the back button and do it again. However something is screwy with the back button, so it doesn't work like it should. If it was working properly, there is a chance that the message you put in the body is there. If not you can always copy and paste again. Anyway, about the post. What a cliffhanger, I'm looking forward to the next post. I should really read the parts I skipped over , heehee, I'm so bad. -----signature----- If I review then PM me when you update. thanks so much. Send me your completed 'the saga' stories! Check out my new story Descent Into Darkness Don't quote me the odds. I shall do as I must. Do or do not, there is no try.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jedi_BMK Registered: Sep '04	Date Posted: 12/19/08 12:12pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	Evil, evil cliffie. But a wonderful post as always. Waiting patiently for more. (But I'm not so good at the whole patience thing sometimes...) -----signature----- Destiny of the Skywalkers II: Splintered Paths OT AU (L/M H/L A/P) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28042042/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ginchy Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 12/19/08 1:01pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	Unless there's another Hand, I think the next post will be quite explosive. I love how you've set this up and how you've paced it. I'm just always on the edge of my seat. And this: With any luck, the rebels would eliminate the shield protecting the Death Star, and she could at least die with him when it was destroyed. That Mara has only this to look forward to is very sad. She's in a dark place, but I hope there is light at the end of it all. Excellent update! -----signature----- Something wonderful has happened... EDD: April 25, 2010
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jedi_Emeritus Registered: Dec '05	Date Posted: 12/19/08 10:46pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	A/N: I'm now at the point in the fic where I have to decide from among the many ideas I have rolling around in my head, exactly what happens in the confrontation and at the end. I did have it all planned out when I started, but I've had so many ideas since then that I'm not certain exactly which one I will go with. I am working on it and hope to have it all figured out and the next post out by Christmas. We'll see... Replies: CommanderK23 posted: Wow... What an ending! Excellent update :-) Thanks! I must admit, as a struggling author, I'm really enjoying this kind of response. Jade_eyes posted: Magnificently moving and real. You've balanced perfectly Luke's honest appraisal of the situation with Mara and with Vader--making him optimistic and compassionate without being gullible and naive. Very well done!!!!! Mara's feelings seem more clarified to herself and I'm glad she was able to express them a bit to Luke... but that last line-- the only thing worse than telling someone you care about an unpalatable truth is to have someone else blurt it out. Eeek!!!! One of my goals when I started this was to do away with the whole 'Luke is just off the farm and wet behind the ears' thing I see done so often. He was quite that in the first movie, but had changed significantly by the second, and the revelation from Vader at the end of tESB pretty much killed the idealistic, naive kid he was, IMHO. You will never see that Luke in any fic of mine, unless it starts out when he is younger. As for her secret, yeah, hearing it from someone else will be hard for Luke, but I doubt Vader just 'blurted it out'... dianethx posted: I liked the way you wove the canon with this story. Luke's perceptions in the Force were very well written and I liked how he was uncertain at first and then certain in what he had to do. I also liked that he gave Mara a chance to tell him the truth and knew when she had not. I don't think he'll be happy when he does find out, though. As I said above, I like Luke as mature, but still uncertain at times. I think his uncertainty is believable as he is the Jedi order now. And I wanted it very clear that Mara had every chance to tell him and didn't, for a couple of reasons, which I will not share here. And I can pretty much guarantee he won't be happy. p_stotts posted: Uh Oh! I wonder how the knowledge of Mara's true self will affect the outcome of Luke's duel with Vader. Will she come to his aid or stand beside the Emperor and let things happen. Somehow, I don't think Mara knows herself what she will do. Great update. I hope you post again soon. Oh, you're getting into territory I really can't get into, if I want to keep any surprises. But I don't think I'm giving anything away when I tell you that no, Mara has no idea what she will do. dancing_star posted: Amazing-ness as always! Thanks! Jedi_Liz posted: Whoa........ Again, liking that response! Tych_sel posted: Lovely post! I'm really interested to see where things go when Vader lets Luke know just who the Emperor's Hand is. That revelation ought to make the upcoming face-to-face with Palps a wee bit more interesting. Or perhaps, Luke will do exactly what the title of the fic suggests, and take the Emperor's Hand away from him. Oh, it will definitely resemble the canon confrontation, but this will make it different in a number of ways. As I indicated above, I'm now in the process of trying to decide exactly what I want to have happen among many ideas I've had in the course of writing this fic. DaenaBenjen42 posted: A word about the mass PM tool... with the scrip changes when they updated the boards, it's just plain not working. That scene in the trees with the two of them... it always get's to me. Well done. That's very... piongant, what he says about confrontation. And no, I wouldn't have expected him to back away. Not from something like that. And... wow. Cliffie! Was not expecting her to follow... (But perhaps I should have...) Well done and very good post. Yeah, I guess the PM's are all manual for now. Oh well. No, Luke has never backed down from anything in his life - he's not about to start now. Also, I did play, at one time, with leaving Mara behind, but I think it's much more powerful and makes more sense if she is there for the confrontation. JEDIFLYSWATTER posted: I missed a post somehow. Those were great and what a cruel way to leave it. Mara might of been able to hide from Luke but I am not sure how she thought she could get away with that with Vader. Poor Luke. He just got kicked in the teeth, the groin, and in the chest. At least Mara will be close at hand if she does turn on her master. Will she be Luke's hidden ace? Can not wait for the next post! Great job and thanks. He heh... personally, I loved the ending. I agree with you about Mara not being able to fool Vader, but she's not thinking clearly now. -----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/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jedi_Emeritus Registered: Dec '05	Date Posted: 12/19/08 10:47pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	jacen200015 posted: Here is a PM tip. I copy those who want to be pmed into a word document. Write down the title of the PM and whatever you want in the body and then send the first pm, press the back button and do it again. However something is screwy with the back button, so it doesn't work like it should. If it was working properly, there is a chance that the message you put in the body is there. If not you can always copy and paste again. Anyway, about the post. What a cliffhanger, I'm looking forward to the next post. I should really read the parts I skipped over, heehee, I'm so bad. That's pretty much what I did when I sent the PM's. It's a bit of a pain, but I'll survive. And thanks for reading, no matter how many you've skipped! Jedi_BMK posted: Evil, evil cliffie. But a wonderful post as always. Waiting patiently for more. (But I'm not so good at the whole patience thing sometimes...) I'm like that way with some of the stories on the boards too. Thanks for reading! ginchy posted: Unless there's another Hand, I think the next post will be quite explosive. I love how you've set this up and how you've paced it. I'm just always on the edge of my seat. And this: With any luck, the rebels would eliminate the shield protecting the Death Star, and she could at least die with him when it was destroyed. That Mara has only this to look forward to is very sad. She's in a dark place, but I hope there is light at the end of it all. Excellent update! Thanks, I'm glad you like it. And yes, Mara does not expect a happy ending from all of this, but living the way she has been and knowing what she does now, she can hardly help but be pessimistic. -----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/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Ocelotl_Nesto Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 1/5 2:58pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	Thanks for the PM. I look forward to more... Will Mara fight when necessary? Or will her appearance anger Luke earlier?
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jedi_Emeritus Registered: Dec '05	Date Posted: 1/6 8:18am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 12 - 12/13/08
	Reply: Ocelotl_Nesto posted: Thanks for the PM. I look forward to more... Will Mara fight when necessary? Or will her appearance anger Luke earlier? Oh no, I can't spill the beans on that question - it would give the whole thing away. You'll just have to wait and see, or in the words of one of my favorite authors, 'read and find out'. A/N: Thanks once again to everyone who has reviewed this fic. We are on the home stretch now, with only a few chapters left to go. Chapter 13 Mara Jade, Emperor’s Hand, was in a foul mood. Nothing about this day had gone as planned, from Vader’s presence on the command ship, to the disappearance and finding of the princess, to Skywalker’s insistence on committing suicide and giving himself up to Vader. The hope she had felt when they left the rebel fleet had been strong and thus the disappointment at this turn of events equally intense. And now, her plans in ashes around her feet, she found herself enduring further humiliation and hurt, escorted through the spartan corridors of the Imperial base protecting the all-important deflector shield. She had been silent as the night when she had made her way through the forest, intent on speaking to the base commander, revealing the secret codes her master had given her and commandeering a ship to get off of the moon. Unfortunately, it seemed, fate had had other plans. It was almost as thought the stormtroopers stationed at the base had known she was coming. And she knew they had. The destruction of all her dreams and Skywalker’s departure had affected her so severely she had neglected to take everything into account and had forgotten one important fact: Vader. Even now Mara was angry with herself, knowing she had miscalculated badly, so concerned had she been to make certain she was not left behind. As Skywalker drew near to the base, he had almost certainly drawn Vader’s attention and sensing her presence following behind, had undoubtedly been no great feat for a Force user the caliber of the black giant. At least, she hoped that was what had happened – any other possibilities she had thus far assiduously avoided considering. If her master had sensed her intentions… Mara shuddered and forced her fear of that eventuality down deep within her mind. She had no illusions as to what his response would be if he knew of her rebellious thoughts and feelings. She sighed as she was marched through the corridors, knowing Skywalker would learn of her perfidy shortly. There was nothing she could possibly do to avoid the confrontation now – all of her hopes and work was now for naught. They reached a junction in the corridor and were abruptly stopped, as an officer of the Imperial fleet stepped out and regarded her with an inordinate amount of curiosity. “Mara Jade, I believe.” Mara sucked in a breath of horror. This man, a mere officer, knowing the real name of the Emperor’s most trusted and secret assassin was not a development she wished to dwell on. “Lord Vader has been expecting you,” the man continued and after favoring her with a leer and a long look up and down her body, he walked away, motioning the troopers to follow. Mara suppressed a shudder at the look of open appraisal and lust in his eyes and followed along after him, repeating to herself that as the Emperor’s favored servant, she was safe from such men as the officer. All too soon, they had reached their destination; the door slid open and she was ushered into another corridor. On the far side, being led away, was Skywalker. His Force sense was morose, but strangely resolute – clearly the outcome he had hoped for when he had arrived had not come to fruition. The knowledge that there was nothing he could do to convince his father seemed to weigh down on him like a physical weight, but for all that she could tell he was firm in his resolution to do what he felt was right. Feeling she still had a chance to avoid the confrontation, Mara determined to keep silent until he was gone; she glanced up at Vader, to see him regarding her. Of course, the mask hid his facial expression, but his sense reeked of amusement and glee. “So good of you to join us, Emperor’s Hand.” The sound of Vader’s voice rumbled throughout the corridor and as he heard his father’s voice, Luke suddenly became aware of another presence, one which had been growing on his mind, but he had not realized was quite so close. Whirling around, he peered down the corridor, his worst fears confirmed, his immediately coming to rest on the woman who had in a short period of time become such an essential part of his life. She stood at the end of the corridor, flanked by two stormtroopers and an officer, her eyes were downcast, and he thought she appeared to have a slight blush on her features. Luke took at step forward, only to come up against the raised blasters of his two stormtrooper guards. Incensed at their interference, Luke gestured with a hand and the two guards staggered back to collide with the wall and fall in a heap behind him. He paid no more attention to them than one would an insect and strode back toward his father and the woman he had come to know so well. Vader’s gesture to the two troopers barely registering, Luke stalked forward, his attention solely on the woman who still refused to look up at him. “Arica,” he breathed as he approached. Vader’s laughter interrupted him and he stopped short. “That’s what she called herself this time, did she?” His sense was vastly amused and it caused Luke to pause. What had his father called her? ‘Emperor’s Hand?’ “Arica?” he asked again, this time hesitant, not certain if he even wanted an answer. Arica’s answer was a deep sigh and a sorrowful glance up at him; the pain in her eyes was almost more than he could bear. Her gaze immediately dropped back down to the floor. “Guards, leave us,” Vader commanded and they filed out with alacrity. For Luke, however, none of this existed, his attention fixed upon the woman standing before him. She had thus far refused to answer him, causing him pain, but making him all the more determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. “Arica, I told you to stay away from this. What have you done?” “I wouldn’t count on this one to obey. At least not you…” Luke turned his gaze on Vader and stared the Sith Lord down. “Why don’t you let Arica respond?” he said, his voice filled with all the dislike and disdain he felt for his father’s person, which seemed to come naturally from some well of feeling he had not known even existed. “It doesn’t seem like she wants to, now does it?” the Sith Lord responded, completely unconcerned at his son’s visible display of anger. “You have become powerful, my son, but there is much you still need to learn. Trusting one such as this will only see you betrayed.” “One such as what? Arica, what is going on here? Why does my father know you?” “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I never meant it to turn out this way.” Again the Dark Lord laughed. “And what other way could it turn out? You had better not let your master hear you speaking in such a manner.” The dread had begun to build in Luke and for a moment he could not breathe. Her master? What was Vader talking about? “It would be better for you, my son, if you would not trust this one – anything you say will be related back to my master without delay, as I have discovered myself. You are looking at one of the Emperor’s most favored assassins, known as the Emperor’s Hands. She is nothing more than a lap dog, waiting on my master’s orders.” “And you are not?” Luke snapped, the anger at his father’s words the only lifeline to a belief he was rapidly losing the ability to rationalize. “I am a Sith Lord,” Vader boomed, real anger shining in his voice. “You would do well to remember it.” At the same time, Arica looked up at Vader, her eyes sharp and focused. “What do you mean, ‘one of the Emperor’s Hands’? I am the Emperor’s Hand!” “You are a fool if you believe that. You are simply the most useful as you are not only Force sensitive, but also able to hear his voice anywhere.” At her look of utter astonishment, Vader chuckled and continued. “Yes, Emperor’s Hand, I know of your little ability. You would be well advised to forget any ideas of your own indispensability – my master will discard you without a moment’s thought if you prove unfaithful.” The look of trepidation on Arica’s face gave way to alarm and her eyes once more found the ground at her feet, her former defiance bleeding out of her almost visibly. It was all starting to make a certain horrible sense to Luke. In his mind’s eye, he replayed little incidents from the past few weeks, the sense of her presence in Jabba’s throne room, the sight of her standing behind him with blaster raised, the uncomfortable feeling she had displayed when he had happened on her outside Ben’s hut. Added to that, he remembered her refusal to tell him of her background, the way her story had always rung false to his ears, the disdain and dislike she had shown toward him when they had first met. Han’s caution to him, Leia’s immediate and seemingly unreasonable distrust and dislike of her, were all laid out in his mind’s eye. Had she been hiding a dark secret from him? Had she drawn him in, gotten him to trust her? Had she wormed her way into his life, gotten him to develop feelings for her, when all she had wanted the whole time was to hand him over to the Emperor in a pretty package like some fete week gift? Pushing all these thoughts away, Luke regarded the woman who had become so dear to him. He had to know the truth. “Arica, please tell me. Who are you?” Another loud sigh and she looked up, her eyes only rising to his chin. “I am who Lord Vader said I was. I am the Emperor’s Hand and I was sent to kill you.” Vader’s reaction was swift, as he had her by the throat in an instant. “You lie!” Arica shook her head furiously, the fear in her eyes visible to Luke’s vision. “Father, I think you should let her speak,” Luke said, his voice quiet, yet authoritative. Vader hesitated for a moment, then he released Arica, allowing her to stagger back against the wall, one hand rising to massage her throat. “Speak, Emperor’s Hand, if you value your life.” Mara glanced up at him, her expression betraying a sullen anger. “Your master sent me to kill your son, my lord.” Her tone was brimming with sarcasm and dislike. “I was to infiltrate Jabba’s palace and terminate Skywalker’s life at my earliest opportunity.” “Why didn’t you?” Luke replied, afraid to hear the answer. “I never had the chance.” Luke was confused at her assertions as he was certain she had had several opportunities to kill him if she had so chosen. Vader’s reaction to this statement was not as violent as the last, but no less intense… Luke could sense a note of uncertainty which had penetrated his sense. “My master told me he had sent you to bring my son in, not kill him.” “That only came after. The day after I met him, the Emperor contacted me. When he learned I had failed, he was very displeased, but then changed my orders and instructed me to bring Skywalker to him instead.” She glanced at Luke and a tight-lipped smile formed on her face. “You should feel special, Skywalker, you’re the only one in my experience to ever have termination orders rescinded.” Luke was speechless, caught up as he was in the horror of what he was hearing. His father, however, was not. “Should I find out you’re lying to me…” He left the sentence unfinished, but the menace and threat in his voice was unmistakable. Arica passed a weary hand over her eyes and looked up at him, her face devoid of all emotion. Luke had not seen her countenance assume such an expression since very early in their acquaintance. He new instinctively this was the face she presented to the galaxy. But what did it hide – the woman she had undoubtedly been or the woman she had become in the space of the few short days he had known her? Her sense was locked down with her tightest shields, but Luke had come to know her better than even the Emperor, he sensed. And what he felt from her was defeat and more than a little fear. “I suggest you bring this up with the Emperor, Lord Vader,” she responded, her mask firmly in place, a look of utter confidence on her features. “You can be certain I shall,” was the reply. At a gesture from Vader, the guards returned and he was escorted to the waiting shuttle. Was it true? Vader watched the retreating form of his son and for the first time in a very long time felt an emotion he had not felt in a very long time and did not like in the least – uncertainty. Not even learning of his child, whom he had thought long dead along with his mother, had affected him to this extent. Then it had been rage at Obi-Wan for hiding his son from him all these years and turning the boy so decidedly against him… for creating the circumstance which had led him to unknowingly almost kill his only child. The image of his fingers poised over the trigger of his TIE fighter’s laser cannons, aiming at the ship unknowingly piloted by his only son, still had the power to cause most unpleasant dreams. Had his master, knowing how important it was to find his son and make him see the true path of his destiny, sent his most trusted assassin to kill him? And what would his master have told him if Jade had been successful in her endeavor? He knew the Emperor; knew the way his mind worked, the viciousness, the belief in his own inherent rightness and conviction that whatever he did in his own interest was justified. It was an uncomfortable truth, but Vader knew in his heart that if his master had deemed his son too much of a danger, he would have ordered his death with no compunction at all. But was that what had happened in this case? Perhaps there was another explanation… Jade was resourceful and well trained, but then her target had been a Force user of such power – perhaps Vader or Palpatine’s equal. Could she have been sent as an experiment, a test of his son’s abilities? It was certainly possible, but Vader did not allow himself to think for one moment the situation was not exactly what she claimed. There may have been an element of testing in Palpatine’s intent, but Vader was certain the elimination of his son was exactly what she had been sent for. The mere thought made his blood boil with rage. With an effort he calmed himself; it would do no good to march into his master’s presence demanding answers and spewing epithets. Whatever Vader had learned in the past twenty years at the side of his master, patience was foremost among them. Yes, he could bide his time, wait for the appropriate moment to strike, and hopefully, he would have the assistance of his son when he finally did move against his master. With an effort, Vader brought his thoughts and machinations under control, aware of the presence of the young woman beside him. He glanced sidelong at her – or at least as much as he was able to do in the cursed helmet he was stuck with. She stood to the side, patiently waiting his pleasure, but through the Force he could detect her uncertainty and nervousness. She was lucky, he mused, to have escaped his displeasure unscathed – there were very few who had. It would not do to show his displeasure to her – she was still very much Palpatine’s creature. Although… there was something else going on here… something he could not quite detect. A careful questioning of the young woman might lead it out into the open. “What is your impression of my son, Emperor’s Hand?” She started and peered up at him, obvious to his senses she had not expected the question. “What would you like to know, my Lord?” “General impressions. You’ve been with him for several weeks now, according to my master, and I would like to know what you thought of him.” She seemed to consider the question carefully, causing him to smile without mirth – she had learned the perils of angering him. “He’s like no one I’ve ever met. He has a… competence and confidence which are compelling. For all that, he appears to have led a very sheltered life as a child. At times he seems as if he’s the wisest being in the galaxy and at others his naïveté is infuriating.” “And his Force skills?” “He is very competent, my Lord. Everything he does seems to be done with little effort and thought, yet seems so natural. He knows little of the actual lightsaber forms, but yet is so instinctual with the weapon – I’m not exactly an expert on the forms myself, but I can’t imagine someone having so much skill with so little training.” Her praise of his son caused a smile to appear on Vader’s masked face, heedless of the discomfort it caused the unused muscles and scarring left on his face. He would never admit, even to himself, it was the result of fatherly pride. The manner in which she spoke also confirmed his suspicions of her feelings toward his son, her sense giving off subtle hints he recognized due to his own experience with Padmé in the past. Padmé… he had not thought of her in some time, had pushed all thoughts of her and what he had lost when she died to the furthest corners of his mind. In fact, the first time in years he had allowed himself to think of her was on that day, almost four years earlier when he discovered the true identity of the pilot who had fired the shot which had destroyed the Death Star. That his angel had died giving birth to such a son was comforting to him, adding to the relief he had felt when he found out the boy’s identity. Not only had he not killed his wife, as he had believed all those years, but she had given birth to an exceptional son, one who was a fitting and worthy successor to his father’s legacy. Coming back to the moment, Vader regarded Jade with a dispassionate eye. She was tough and resourceful he knew, but he was keenly aware of the way his master had pitted them against each other, especially in the past few years as she had matured. He had responded by ignoring her as much as possible, refusing to play Palpatine’s game, and as such, did not know her as well as perhaps he should have. Outside of his master’s command to give her the required lessons with respect to the lightsaber forms, he had essentially avoided her whenever possible. And yet, having been young and desperately in love once himself, he knew the signs, could tell that in the short time of their acquaintance, she had somehow developed feelings for his son, although he suspected she was not fully conscious of that fact herself. If his son’s reaction to her had been any indication, the feelings were reciprocated. Yes she would be a worthy consort for his son. She was Force strong and not unattractive and if they were both so inclined, something which he was certain they were, they would be able to carry on the Skywalker line which was destined to rule the galaxy. For the first time in a very long time, he felt the stirrings of… something… a depth of emotion for his son – and perhaps even the young woman standing at his side – which had nothing to do with the ambition for power and domination. The feelings were… unsettling to the dark lord and yet somehow fitting. The image of his dead wife once again flashed across his mind’s eye. Banishing his thoughts to the depths of his consciousness, Vader turned his attention on Jade once again. “You have done well, Emperor’s Hand, but I would caution you to bury your feelings deep down if you wish to remain in your master’s good standing.” Jade swallowed, her apprehension showing, but inclined her head. “My son has passed your test and now that I have seen his competence, I’m certain he will make an excellent addition to the Sith order.” She looked startled at his statement, but masked her confusion behind a guarded question. “You think my mission was just a test for Skywalker?” “I do.” She was silent, struggling, he thought, with her disagreement with his statement, yet not wanting to anger him again. Caution won out as she merely inclined her head and awaited his pleasure. Good; this careful and thoughtful Jade was of far more use to his plans than the angry, impulsive and sometimes hot-headed young woman he had known before. If she was to be his son’s consort, she would of necessity become a Sith, and Sith, although they made use of their emotions to heighten their powers, could not afford to be ruled by them. He had learned that particular lesson himself. “Go now to the shuttle and stay with Skywalker.” She blanched at this directive, but stayed silent nevertheless. “I will make the arrangements and we will leave to join my master directly. What of the other rebels in the area? What are their plans?” “I know nothing of their plans, my Lord. I was included in the mission only at Skywalker’s insistence. I was not trusted.” Vader knew she was being evasive, but her sense told him she was at least partially speaking the truth. Before he had seen her in a new light, he would have forced the information out of her, but as it stood, he suspected she had little useful information. Besides, a small band of rebels would find it virtually impossible to assault the heavily defended installation successfully, so her reticence was of little consequence. “Very well. Go to my son in the shuttle and wait there. I will join you directly.” Luke Skywalker stared at the binders which circled his wrists, thinking dejectedly back on the revelations of the past few moments. Arica – a servant of the Emperor. One of the most trusted servants of the Emperor, no less. How could he have been so blind? Miserably, Luke glanced over the stark walls of the shuttle, desperate to get his mind off the betrayal, willing himself to think of something else. The situation was grim, but not lost. He was stuck on an Imperial shuttle on his way to meet the most powerful and evil man in the galaxy, one he had trusted had betrayed him while the other he had hoped to redeem remained deaf to his pleas. He thought of using the Force on the guards, escaping into the forest, but as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he knew he was where he was meant to be. The epiphany he had reached in the Ewok village seemed to be confirmed – for whatever reason, he was meant to brave the enemy on his own ground and if Luke had learned nothing else, it was to trust in the Force. The resolve to see this through did nothing for his feelings of unease and he was unable to concentrate on anything other than the coming struggle. If the Emperor had wanted him dead, he would be so now and Arica’s revelation of the rescinded assassination order only proved what he suspected and what his father had revealed on Bespin and just now in the base. The Emperor wanted him for his skills, for the possibility of turning him as he had turned his father all those years ago. It was up to Luke to be strong and to resist the temptation to give into his anger and despair. Trying to be rational under the circumstances, Luke considered the possible courses of action he had available to him. While there was the chance – and a very good one if he knew Han and Leia at all – of the Death Star being destroyed, he knew he could not risk being executed himself before he was certain the Emperor would not outlast him for any length of time. That meant ensuring the evil old man was gone before he himself was to become one with the Force. Survival? Right now that possibility seemed remote, given his situation, and although he did not feel himself ready to die, he knew the trade off to be worth it. No, he could not count on being able to save himself and any thought of doing so must give way to the necessity of seeing Palpatine and his reign of terror ended. Anything less would be a betrayal of Ben, Yoda and all those who had depended on him. Content with his decision, Luke leaned back against the wall and opened his eyes, just as the door slid open. Arica stood in the doorway, her eyes downcast and embarrassed. Her hair was slightly mussed and there were smudges on her cheeks, no doubt a result of the trip through the forest. Even through that and the dark circles under her eyes, Luke had never found her to be more beautiful. This, of course, made it all the more painful as he considered what had happened between them and thought she was now forever beyond his reach. He peered at her intently, willing her to give some indication of the feelings which he had been certain were shared, but she refused to meet his gaze. Had it had been nothing more than a game to her – a mission to be completed for her master? Luke could not understand how he had been so blind – the currents which seemed to course between them since they were together had obviously been a fabrication, born of the desire to be loved. How could he have been so utterly blind? “So, I guess you got what you wanted, didn’t you?” he finally said, deliberately injecting a measure of sarcasm into his voice. “What do you mean?” He laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. “Me, trussed up like some side of nerf steaks, off to be given to that grasping, evil manipulator you call a master.” “I wanted?” Her voice was incredulous. “I’m sorry, but I seem to remember asking you… no, begging you not to do this. Was I mistaken?” “You didn’t want me to do this? Isn’t this what you wanted? What about your orders?” “What about them?” she asked, immediately defensive. “You’ve fulfilled them, haven’t you? Now it’s back to the master, the pat on the back and the new set of orders. How do you live with yourself?” The fury which assaulted his Force senses was almost palpable and he glanced up at her to see her eyes almost glowing with suppressed anger. He had never seen such a look on her face before. “How dare you judge me,” she rasped, tears beginning fall from the corners of her eyes. “You know nothing about me… about my life.” “How could I? You wouldn’t tell me.” “Can you blame me? When you sit there and judge me, spout off about how evil I am, I can see I was right not to confide in you. You’re just like… just… you’re no better than my master.” “I’m no better than your master? That’s a laugh.” “Yes, you!” She was almost yelling by now. “You talk about how righteous you are and how you follow the Force. Yet you know nothing about me and you sit here judging me as if you were the final executor of the will of the Force. And all that posturing you did, trying to get me to believe you cared. I should have known you would be like all the other men… no one has ever looked at me to see beyond my looks to who I was. You’re no different.” Luke laughed again, his voice harsh and raw to his own ears. “Well I guess the joke’s on me, then. I had begun… I had… feelings for you.” There, it was out. What he had not even acknowledged to himself was plain for her to see. Now she could laugh at him and congratulate herself in a job well done and move on to her next assignment in the knowledge she had defeated him utterly. “What?” she breathed, her eyes open wide. Luke regarded her, troubled, not knowing whether she was still acting or was truly as surprised as she appeared to his eyes. It was, he reflected, of little consequence; whether she had known of his feelings or not, there was little point in keeping it from her now. “I… I’ve grown to love you, Arica. The silence was acute and something akin to wonder shone in her eyes. Luke, however, could see nothing beyond the bitterness of the wreck of his dreams. “There, you have it – it’s out. Now, if you don’t mind I’d appreciate it if you would leave and enjoy your triumph without gloating over me.” “You… love me?” “I said it, didn’t I? Skywalker the fool… always looking in, always loving without it being returned. I guess I was the fool yet again.” “Who said it wasn’t returned?” The quietly voiced statement brought him up, but even more so was the conviction in her voice, the way her sense shined through to meet with his, mingling in an exquisite rapport. He glanced up at her to see tears running down her face, her beautiful, expressive eyes holding a depth of pain which almost took his breath away. Almost involuntarily, Luke began to think back over the time they had been together and the thoughts and convictions he held dear, but also the hints and clues she had let slip. She had not been truthful with him, that much was abundantly clear. But as he considered the things she had said, the reason for her reticence was becoming blurry, the motivations he had attributed to her growing more indistinct as her sense shone through to him. He remembered the fear he had sensed from her on more than one occasion, not the least of which had been the night before, when he had pleaded for him to stay. Suddenly he was not certain of what he had held as truth and an alternate explanation began to make its way through his mind. She was afraid – afraid of her master… afraid of losing him. Beyond this, of course, was the fact that she had had several opportunities to kill him before her orders were changed and yet, she had not taken them. Why had she let him live, when she had been commanded to take his life, knowing the Emperor’s displeasure which awaited her failure? The time was at hand. He needed to know the truth about her – then he would know how to act. Her gaze had dropped to the floor, although the tears still streamed down her face unabated. Luke berated himself for not trusting what he felt from her through the Force. There still may be a chance to repair the damage which had been done. After all, he was willing to forgive his father, a being whose evil deeds had far outstripped hers in the course of the last two decades. If he could forgive that, how could he not forgive her? He gazed at her, taking in the glistening tears as they spilled from her eyes to impact the floor, each one a precious crystal, shattered along with her hopes and dreams. But he did not allow himself to comfort her, much as he wanted to… He was too uncertain of her, the feelings too raw and misunderstood to take that step, to open up his heart further until he was certain. “Arica.” Her eyes rose to meet his once again and he smiled in encouragement. “Please, Arica, I need to know everything.” She tensed and appeared ready to flee, but forced herself under control with a visible effort. This, he sensed, was the crux of her fear and he knew that somehow it centered around himself. He suspected she was frightened of what he would think of her, but now that her secret was out, it seemed a little late to be worried about his feelings. He would have to coax her to reveal all, knowing she would have to decide for herself what side she would ultimately choose. She began talking, hesitantly, but gaining confidence as she continued. “I am who Lord Vader said I was. I’m known only to the Emperor and Vader as the Emperor’s Hand. To the rest of the Imperial court, I’m one of his Majesty’s dancers.” “How long have you served the Emperor?” She tilted her head at him, a quizzical expression on her face. “Ever since I can remember. I have no memories of my previous life or my parents.” “Were you never curious of where you came from?” “I was, but questions were frowned on and I learned very quickly to accept my lot in life and not question my master about such frivolous concerns. Luke was taken aback by her statement and wondered exactly how the Emperor had dissuaded her from asking her questions. Knowing the Emperor, at least by reputation, Luke decided the object lessons had likely been rather painful and pointed, and it was probably better not to ask her to relive those memories. “I was brought up in the Emperor’s court,” she continued. “I was trained in every discipline possible, from explosives and demolitions to hand to hand combat.” The admission seemed to pain her, but she seemed to gather her courage and press on. “I was sent on my first mission at the age of twelve and thereafter, was sent out more and more frequently until I became his most trusted servant, other than Lord Vader – his only servant, or so I thought.” Luke was aghast. “You were sent to kill someone at the age of twelve?” She nodded her head. “He was a moff whom the Emperor suspected of lining his own pockets and having ties to the Emperor’s political enemies and I was to make an example of him. He also had a predilection toward young girls and as such, I was the perfect tool for the task.” Disgusted at the depravity of the man, Luke could only look away and take deep breaths, trying to control the anger which was building with her confession. “The bastard… He deserves to die a thousand times for this alone. Sending a twelve year old girl to seduce a man and then kill him.” “I wasn’t commanded to seduce him,” she responded quickly. “In fact, although he’s always expected me to use every weapon at my disposal, including my… femininity, he’s never commanded me to seduce anyone. At least, not until…” Instantly Luke understood her meaning, as she glanced away in embarrassment, her cheeks coloring. Yet now was not the time to discuss it, he sensed, as she had more to say. “By the time I was sixteen, I knew the strengths and weaknesses of every major sentient species in the galaxy and could kill most of them with nothing more than my hands. As I grew older, I began to be sent out more and more frequently, until the past year, I have spent more time away from the Emperor’s court than in it.” “What kind of missions were you sent on?” She shrugged as though it was of no consequence. “Just about anything you can imagine, really. Intelligence gathering, assassination, espionage, stealing technology… My master expected me to be able to complete whatever I was assigned, quickly, efficiently and without getting caught. I was the Ace in the Emperor’s Sabaac hand.” Luke was silent while he considered this intelligence. Telling him had been difficult, unsurprisingly, but the nuances of her stilted delivery caused him to consider all she had not told him yet. That she was competent and exceptionally well trained he had no doubt – he had seen enough of her in action to understand that fact. But how did she feel about the things she had been commanded to do? She had not let much slip – her delivery, while hesitant, was almost mechanical – and Luke was almost desperate to know how she felt about it all. He would have to press her for more information, convince her to reveal what was in her heart before he would know how to act. “And this mission? What were you commanded with respect to me?” She let out a long breath almost as though she had been holding it. It was clear she had been hoping to avoid this topic. “I was given this mission a little over a month ago. My orders were simple: infiltrate Jabba’s palace using my cover as a dancer and wait until you arrived to rescue Solo. Then I was to… eliminate my target.” The explanation was succinct and pointed, but told Luke nothing of her motives. “And? What happened?” “You were there, weren’t you?” Her evasiveness was beginning to cause Luke some exasperation. “Yes, I was there, Arica. What I would like to know is what happened to cause the Emperor to change his mind regarding me. Regardless of what you told my father back there, you had plenty of opportunities to kill me. What about the barge? You were standing behind me with your blaster pointed right at me; why didn’t you pull the trigger?” “I don’t know.” This simple statement was not what Luke would have expected to hear, but he sensed this time it was better to let her respond without any pressure from him. She appeared to struggle with the question and he thought she may have some idea of what prevented her from doing as she was commanded, but she was having difficulty saying what she thought. Her fidgeting hands and perplexed expression were testament to her confusion as to her own motives. “I don’t know,” she repeated at last, daring to sneak a glance at his face. Her gaze immediately dropped as she continued. “I had… waited for you to make your way to the end of the deck, confident I would be given a… an opportunity during the confusion of the melee. But when I had the chance, I… hesitated… I don’t know why – I’ve never hesitated before in my life. It was as if my training deserted me or something intervened. I can’t explain it.” “And then?” Luke prompted. Arica shrugged. “Jabba’s thug stepped out of his hiding place and I reacted without thinking. The next morning the Emperor contacted me and although he was angry with my failure he rescinded my orders.” Luke was stunned as he remembered the events of that morning. “That’s what woke me up.” At Arica’s quizzical look he continued. “I woke up that morning feeling the presence of some great evil, but as I was investigating it disappeared. That’s when I found you outside the hut.” “That is why I left – I was afraid you would recognize the Emperor was contacting me and I would be exposed.” “So what is it like? Being able to contact the Emperor, I mean.” She once again fidgeted as the question was posed, obviously uncomfortable speaking with him about her connection with his greatest enemy. He could not call her a coward, however, as she visibly bucked up her courage. “I’m not certain how to describe it. I know when he is trying to contact me and I can contact him if the need is great, although I’m not as proficient. I’ve never known anything else, so I don’t know how to describe it any better than that.” “Do you think you and I could speak like that?” Arica’s eyes widened in surprise and she seemed to consider the question. “Why do you ask?” “Just curious,” Luke responded, not certain himself why he asked. “You know my training is patchy at best, but I know it’s possible for Force users to speak to each other in their minds. My father has done it with me in the past.” Nodding her head thoughtfully, Arica responded, “It is possible, I suppose. The Emperor told me before that he and Vader can communicate, although not to the extent and distance he can communicate with me – apparently it’s my talent to be able to speak over great distances.” Luke nodded, his mind going over the possibilities of such a talent. However, they would have to escape from the Emperor intact before a way could be found to utilize this ability. “What were the Emperor’s new commands?” The uncomfortable feeling returned with a vengeance and her gaze dropped down to the deck yet again. He could almost see her gathering her courage to continue with her narrative. “I was told to stay with you, get you to trust me, learn all I could about you and your abilities. He also commanded me to… sleep with you if I could manage it.” “He wanted me to be tied to you emotionally, didn’t he?” “I can only presume; he gave me no further details – he never does. I’m always just his servant and I’m told nothing more than he thinks I need to know.” She fell silent, leaving Luke to consider all she had told him. Her story rang true, confirmed not only by what he had learned from Vader and seen with his own eyes, but also through the Force. But somehow he knew there was more. She had been commanded to accompany him and possibly even seduce him, but somehow it had not happened. He remembered back to the kiss on the ship when she had run away from him – the emotions coursing through both of them had not been feigned, he was certain. He knew their relationship had gone beyond hunter and prey. “So why didn’t you?” She regarded him, the fire and life normally present in her beautiful jade eyes dimmed, their light almost extinguished in the wake of her confession. “Seduce you?” At his nod she continued. “I… shied away from it… tried to forget it… I couldn’t…” Once again the tears began to fall, but Luke held himself back. He needed to know, needed to understand – it was almost a desperate physical longing – whether he had just been another mission, another target to charm with her beauty. He needed to know if he had been different. “You have to understand,” she began, her voice soft and almost inaudible, “I was never specifically commanded to seduce anyone before. It was always understood I was to use every tool at my disposal – even my looks – to accomplish a mission. I have been in situations where seducing a target would have made things much… easier, but I’ve always managed to complete my missions without having to resort to that. It’s always been the one thing that was mine to give to a man of my own choosing. To have that taken away from me by my master… it was… painful.” “Is that why you ran away from me when we kissed?” “Partially.” She was silent for several moments and Luke was certain she was trying to find a way to explain herself to him. He suspected she did not even fully understand her motives. “You were just another mission. Then you were my failure – my only failure. Then I found myself developing… feelings… I had never… I have no experience with such feelings.” The words were halting and emotional, but Luke felt the meaning behind the words. It was not anything he had not felt himself. “You were afraid of your feelings?” She nodded her head, still trying to cope with what she was trying to say. “When you kissed me, the feelings were new and I didn’t understand. As we continued… as I came to know you better I became more accustomed to what I felt. I knew I couldn’t… hand you over to my master as I was commanded. I was ready to betray the Emperor for you.” This final revelation was the last piece of the puzzle, the last thing he needed to know to understand her motives. He had already confessed his love for her and he suspected she returned it. All may not be lost yet. Before he could respond, the door slid open, revealing the tall and forbidding figure of the dark lord. He stopped and surveyed the room, and Luke was certain his keen eyes had not missed a thing. The emotion in the room was palpable, almost as visible as Arica’s tears staining the front of her battle fatigues. “We will arrive on the Death Star momentarily. Your final journey to meet your new master is almost complete, my son.” All at once Luke realized they were gliding through space; he had not noticed when they had left the moon, so focused on his discussion with Arica he had been. Although he would not have provoked his father further, Luke could not stay quiet about the expectation in his voice. “I will tell you again, father. I will not turn. Your master will not make of me what he has wrought with you.” Vader was impassive. “It is your destiny, my son. You were meant to rule the galaxy with my master and I, and eventually take our place when we are gone. Do not fight against this.” Luke regarded his father, saddened by his inability to reach through to the man he once was – the man he knew still existed somewhere within that suit. “You know my sentiments, father.” “If you will not turn, I will be forced to destroy you.” “You will try.” Luke’s voice was soft, but he could hear the steel in his own voice and the conviction obviously took his father by surprise. “I am no longer the boy whose hand you took on Bespin, father. I have no wish to fight you, but I cannot allow this to continue. If you will not return to Anakin Skywalker, the man I know still lurks somewhere within you, then I will be forced to destroy you and your master.” Luke could almost see the feral grin light up behind his father’s mask; the glee almost rolled off of him in waves. “You would do well to remember your situation, my son. You have learned much, but do not underestimate the power of the dark side or it will be your undoing. Think of what awaits you if you accept my offer – we could rule the galaxy together as father and son, end this conflict which is so destructive. You would have anything you want, including the woman of your dreams.” This not so subtle reference to Arica caused him to glance at her surreptitiously. Her expression was rapidly changing from stunned at what she was hearing from the dark lord to displeasure at his insinuations. Stay calm, Arica, he sent. He was rewarded when she jumped and peered at him with no small amount of astonishment. But Luke had no time to consider this for the moment. “I would gladly join you to defeat that evil manipulator you call a master, but not if it means becoming like you.” Vader’s Force sense darkened and he took a step forward, his anger tangible. “Luke—” “Father, I will do what I must. There is no point in continuing conversation.” Although Vader’s fury was evident, he appeared to force it down. “We will arrive momentarily. I hope, for your sake, you are more reasonable when you meet my master.” With a swirl of his cape, Vader stalked out of the room, taking his rage with him. Luke was tempted to pause and consider his father’s words, but he knew time was running out and it was imperative to finish his conversation with Arica. “The Emperor wants to turn you?” Her question was fearful and tentative. “Yes, Arica. I’ve know what his motives were since Bespin.” “Then why did he send me to kill you? Was it some kind of test, like Vader says?” “I can’t answer that question. Perhaps it was, or perhaps the Emperor decided I was too dangerous. Maybe he doubted my father’s loyalty.” “With good reason, it would seem.” She paused and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m not certain I enjoy being considered no more than a nerf sow.” Luke responded with a smile. “I think you need to give him a little more credit. He obviously senses the attraction between us. Since he means to have me produce an heir to this… empire,” the word was spat with some distaste, “encouraging us to… give in to our… physical desires allows him to realize his goal.” Her eyes darkening, Arica gazed back at him sullenly. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised – I’ve never been given an opportunity to choose anything for myself, why should this be any different?” Luke crossed to her bench and sat next to her, taking her hand in his own, his movements awkward due to his still bound hands. Her hand was small and calloused in places, no doubt a result of her extensive training, yet feminine and delicate in his. “Arica, I can promise you that you will not be forced into anything. I have no intention of being lured into my father’s, or the Emperor’s machinations.” She gazed up at him, her heart in her eyes as she accepted his words gratefully with the barest of nods. “The far more pressing question, is what do we do now?” Arica seemed taken aback with his question. “What can we do? You yourself said you were trussed up like a side of nerf steaks. It’s a little too late to be having this conversation now, isn’t it?” “It’s never too late, Arica.” She appeared to consider the conviction in his voice, but on top of all that he felt her fear; whether it was fear of what he was suggesting, he was not certain. She did seem to take comfort in his touch, his thumb continued to gently caress the back of her hand. “Master Yoda said you have a choice. I believe your choice is before you now. Will you choose to continue to play the obedient servant to your master, or will you break free from him and choose the light?” She shook her head, her features registering the dismay he felt through her Force sense and her hand clutched his convulsively. “Betraying my master from a distance is one thing, but betraying him to his face… You don’t know him… I could never…” “Arica. You must break free of him. He is the reason for all the strife in the galaxy, the perpetrator of countless atrocities. You can’t continue to serve him!” She gazed dully at him, shaking her head slightly in denial. “I can’t. I’m afraid.” “You think I’m not? Arica, I’m going before the two most evil and powerful men in the galaxy by myself. I can’t do this on my own. Your help could tip the balance in our favor. Please don’t leave me to do this alone.” Luke felt the jolt as the shuttle touched down on the deck of the Death Star as he waited for her answer. Her eyes were shining with tears and she gazed off at something only she could see. For a moment, he almost thought she would agree with him. “I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice, withdrawing her hand from his. “I’m not trained; I can’t go against my master like this.” The door slid open and two stormtroopers entered the room, motioning him to follow. Luke rose to his feet and acknowledged their instruction, all the while feeling his heart break in his chest. Still, he gathered his thoughts and turned his attention on the young woman seated before him. “Be well, Arica. Please remember, I have faith in you. I know you will choose to do the right thing.” He bowed his head and walked from the room. “Luke!” Arica’s voice pierced the gloom of his thoughts and he turned, taking in the sight of her. She had risen to her feet and was gazing at him. The look in her eyes nearly caused his heart to stop beating in his chest, as all the things he sensed she had not been able to say shone in their luminous depths. “I just wanted you to know…” she continued, timidly, “my name isn’t Arica. My name… is Mara… Jade.” He sensed how difficult it had been for her to entrust him with the knowledge of her true self and smiled at her, hoping he had managed to reach her, knowing it was likely too late. “Thank you, Mara.” I love you. His words spoken into the silence of her mind hit her and she stood trembling with emotion. “May the Force be with you,” she whispered as he turned away and was marched off to meet his destiny. -----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/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
p_stotts Registered: Jan '01	Date Posted: 1/6 9:02am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	You just had to stop it there, didn't you? Couldn't resist torturing your readers just a bit more. I love the building tension and how you left Mara's role in the eventual confrontation a question mark. I look forward to seeing how this all turns out. Hopefully with Luke and Mara coming out of this alive and free to be together. -----signature----- How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand. - Larry the Cable Guy Proud master to Gkilkenny! Stories in my bio.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jade_eyes Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 1/6 9:05am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	Stunning. Your Mara continues to be the most lovable and amazing--she's everything I love about her. !!!! -----signature----- "There was love all around, But I never heard it singing. No I never heard it at all, Till there was you."--Beatles Of & for my angel sweeties--Spock/Nyota, of course E-sib to Mira_Jade, aka Mira_Pilot Cheesecake Squggles!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Ocelotl_Nesto Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 1/6 10:05am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	OOH that was nice. I like it when a good author will take a moment that was underexplained and relate it nicely. You melded cannon with AU very well. More important you did not get into tiresome dialogue and over analysis that put a drag on the storyline.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
dancing_star Registered: Feb '07	Date Posted: 1/6 10:32am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	Absolutely amazing post!! (But when has one of your posts not been? ) Wow. “He’s like no one I’ve ever met. He has a… competence and confidence which are compelling. For all that, he appears to have led a very sheltered life as a child. At times he seems as if he’s the wisest being in the galaxy and at others his naïveté is infuriating.” -----signature----- God bless America and our troops. "The LORD gives strength to his people. The LORD blesses his people with peace." Ps 29:11 ~~~ "Darkest Hours, Brightest Hope" (fic below) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29811085/p1/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ccp Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 1/6 10:54am Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	Wow! -----signature----- 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
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
baru-chan Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 1/6 1:26pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	Don't have much time to give a proper reply -- must dash off to school soon -- but I'm glad Luke knows Mara's real name now! -----signature----- "The sun is a flashlight and some divine idiot is checking on us once in a while in this eternal blackout."-Arkaye Kierulf
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
MiralukaJedi Registered: May '08	Date Posted: 1/6 2:14pm Subject: RE: Take My Hand (L/M, canon characters) Chapter 13 - 01/06/09
	Very nice. Looks like we're heading to quite the turning point. -----signature----- I'm amusing, if only to myself ~ a twisted sense of humour can do that to a person :; Call and Answer~ http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28668422/p1/?3 I, Exile~ http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29148129/p13
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History

« 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 - Previous | Next | Reload