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Author	Topic: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) - Completed - Replies 9/29
angry_bendu1 Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 9/10 5:19am Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	I surprisingly didn't predict Palpy's death. And Mara's child... I still have no idea who the father is. Well, unless she went Shmi-style and there is no father... hmm. Well I guess I need more clues, Viari! Great post! -----signature----- Ramblings of a Jedi (snarky Jesika's diary- filled w/ romance, sarcasm, etc.): http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28753761/p1/?0 I was staring at the orange juice because it said "concentrate". Proud owner of a '96 Geo Metro. "To the Crapmobile!"
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THE_EVIL_CLIFFIE Registered: Jul '08	Date Posted: 9/10 10:56am Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	You will kill Darth Vader You will kil Leia Organa [feegle_voice]I didnae' see tha' commin'[/feegle_voice] nice twist on the last command. I am intrigued that Luke is Starkiller. Is the Tightly-controlled Adept and Hand regime the consequence of Starkiller's original rebellion? Was Palpy tryng to recreate Starkiller's success rate without the cost of his (presumed, scince TFU isn't out yet) redemption? Did TFU never happen? Or am I just reading too far into this? Keep posting and possibly put me on the PM list? -----signature----- They can tak' oor lives but they cannae ta' oor trousers! For the God-Emporor of Mankind!
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leia_naberrie Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 9/10 11:59am Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	I am unbelievably excited that this story is complete! Yah! Artoo survived! Oh, thank Heavens! What a creepy dream. I kind of liked that dark Luke with his sweet smile and occasional leering. Poor real! Luke. His dream-self is spoiling all his chances. What in the world did the Emperor do to Mara? I have very, very bad feelings about that baby. So Vader and Leia take out Palpatine! Hurray for Vader finding a child that agreed to take his hand. In Thrawn's books, Palpatine's death caused his last command (kill Luke) to echo in Mara's head indefinitely until she fulfilled it by killing Luke's clone. Will the same thing happen in this story? I'm guessing it'll come down to Mara & Luke vs. Vader & Leia in the end, won't it? That would be interesting... [face_thinkig] -----signature----- Mortal Instruments {Palpatine/Padmé/Anakin} http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27482874/r27847574
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SilverWolf77 Registered: Feb '08	Date Posted: 9/10 8:57pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	I missed TWO updates?!? Man, I have been out of it. I loved it though!! Mara's dream was freaky, but you wrote her so in-character it was perfect!! I loved the Leia/Vader killing Palps thing. Nice twist on the "YOU MUST KILL" part of it. Do Leia & Vader have clones? If they do, Leeia & Vaader need to come out of hiding so Mara can kill them! I can't wait for more!! Thanks for the pms!!! ~SW -----signature----- Proud supporter of: Benella, Kyp OR Jag OR Zekk/Jaina, Mara/Luke, Tahiri/Anakin, Siriwan, Mirax/Kyp, Syal/Valin & Leia/Han Janson/Kettch '08 "I'm armed only with fluency in six million forms of communication!" -C-3P0 in "The Land of the Dead" By YodaKenob
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nabooqueen2008 Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 9/11 6:41pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	okay...that's kinda different! didn't see Palpatine dying or Mara's orders at the end....can't wait to see what is next! ~nabooqueen~
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ViariSkywalker Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 9/12 1:20pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated - Date Edited: 9/12 1:29pm (1 edits total) Edited By: ViariSkywalker
	angry_bendu1 - I surprisingly didn't predict Palpy's death. --Me either, at least not when I started writing this crazy fic. It's still a short story, but it's just 9,000 words short of being epic length, at least by the standards used in the fanfic awards. I never thought it would get to be that long. Plus, this story is practically begging for a sequel. And Mara's child... I still have no idea who the father is. Well, unless she went Shmi-style and there is no father... hmm. --Hmm... we shall see! (Or will we? ) Well I guess I need more clues, Viari! Great post! --Thanks! As for clues... well, I'll just say wait and see! (I know, not very helpful, am I?) THE_EVIL_CLIFFIE - nice twist on the last command. --Welcome! I enjoy twisting things up like that. Glad you liked! I am intrigued that Luke is Starkiller. Is the Tightly-controlled Adept and Hand regime the consequence of Starkiller's original rebellion? Was Palpy tryng to recreate Starkiller's success rate without the cost of his (presumed, scince TFU isn't out yet) redemption? Did TFU never happen? Or am I just reading too far into this? --Luke's surname in this story is completely unrelated to The Force Unleashed. I picked it because it was the other name George considered using for Luke's character in the earlier drafts of SW. I actually decided on using it before I ever found out that the secret apprentice was going to be a Starkiller. I thought it was an interesting coincidence. So no, no connections to TFU whatsoever. Although I am interested in playing the game and reading the book. Keep posting and possibly put me on the PM list? --You are added! leia_naberrie - I am unbelievably excited that this story is complete! Yah! --I always like hearing that! (I'm unbelievably excited, too. It's been ages since I've finished anything other than vignettes.) Artoo survived! Oh, thank Heavens! --What kind of person would I be if I killed Artoo? What a creepy dream. I kind of liked that dark Luke with his sweet smile and occasional leering. Poor real! Luke. His dream-self is spoiling all his chances. --Dream!Luke is creepy! I spooked myself a little just writing it! And I have to agree, real!Luke isn't catching any breaks, is he? What in the world did the Emperor do to Mara? I have very, very bad feelings about that baby. --Er, no comment? You know how secretive I am. (Although it may not be as bad as you're thinking. Then again, it might be. ) So Vader and Leia take out Palpatine! Hurray for Vader finding a child that agreed to take his hand. --Sometimes it's just cool if Vader wins. And despite his evilness, you've got to root for him over Palpatine. You've just got to. In Thrawn's books, Palpatine's death caused his last command (kill Luke) to echo in Mara's head indefinitely until she fulfilled it by killing Luke's clone. Will the same thing happen in this story? --Maybe not in this story... coughsequelcough I'm guessing it'll come down to Mara & Luke vs. Vader & Leia in the end, won't it? That would be interesting... [face_thinkig] --We'll find out on Monday!... maybe SilverWolf77 - I missed TWO updates?!? Man, I have been out of it. I loved it though!! --No worries! Glad you enjoyed it! Mara's dream was freaky, but you wrote her so in-character it was perfect!! --It's always good to hear that I'm doing a good job with characterization. It helps me know what to do and what not to do. Thanks for letting me know! I loved the Leia/Vader killing Palps thing. Nice twist on the "YOU MUST KILL" part of it. Do Leia & Vader have clones? If they do, Leeia & Vaader need to come out of hiding so Mara can kill them! --I enjoy making those twists. But no clones, sorry. This story's probably complicated enough as is. I can't wait for more!! Thanks for the pms!!! --More coming up in a few minutes! And you're welcome! nabooqueen2008 - okay...that's kinda different! didn't see Palpatine dying or Mara's orders at the end....can't wait to see what is next! --I do like surprises. The next post will be up soon! Next chapter will be up shortly! -----signature----- Big Sis of Lady_Rae Veil of Shadows (OT AU, L/M) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/28500417 The Dark Fire Chronicles (OT AU) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/11960028 ANGST!
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ViariSkywalker Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 9/12 1:21pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	~~ 12. Perfidy Four Years Ago No one saw her when they carried the girl off to the medical center. She was hiding in a shadowy corner, spying on the adepts while they practiced. It was a brutal fight. She had never seen anything like it. Long ago, she had wanted to be friends with these people – these Sith. They were children, like her. She didn’t have anyone else to talk to, no one her age to back her up. Most of the time, she was fine being alone. But sometimes, she wanted a friend. The Sith girl had been so bloodied and battered, it was a miracle she wasn’t dead. Mara was quite certain now that she would rather be alone the rest of her life than spend one minute with any of those adepts. Especially the blond one, the one who had nearly beaten the girl to death. Mara peered into the training room, and she noticed something odd. Her master was standing next to Lord Vader, and for just one moment, she was sure she saw him smile. It was a cold smile, and in the time it took Mara to blink, it was gone. The blond adept looked stunned, but there was an eagerness in his presence that sickened Mara. She wasn’t very skilled in the ways of the Force, but she knew evil when she sensed it. And there was something very evil lurking in that boy. ~~ Now The Emperor was dead. And all she could think of was how the life she knew was gone, destroyed in a flash of brilliant crimson light while she languished on the other side of the galaxy. She thought of all the things she was promised, of all the things she would never receive. He said he would tell her, upon her return, who the father of her child was. Now she would never know. It didn’t bother her in the way she thought it should. She wasn’t overly sentimental, although the idea of giving birth and caring for a baby was starting to appeal to her. However, in her usual pragmatic fashion, she was more concerned with what kinds of traits the child would inherit and if there was a possibility that those traits might be perfect gateways to the darkness she had sensed in herself, in Starkiller, and on this miserable planet. She hadn’t seen until now how much evil there was in her life. Why did he do this to me? “Mara, are you okay?” She was so sick of Starkiller’s constant worrying. As the Emperor’s Hand, she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. “What happened?” Her skin prickled as she realized the enormity of what had happened. The Emperor – her master – had been brutally murdered by the Sith. There was no reason to think Starkiller wasn’t involved in the plot as well. If he found out that the Emperor was dead, would he decide to turn on her? Her master’s blanket of protection was gone. “Nothing,” Mara replied, picking herself up off the ground for what seemed like the fifth time so far. “I guess I still haven’t recovered from earlier.” “Can you walk?” “Of course I can.” She glanced up at Dreshdae’s outer wall before looking through the open entrance. “Come on, we’ve wasted enough time.” Mara walked through the entrance, her senses carefully attuned to Starkiller’s movement. If he tried anything, she would be ready. ~~ The city looked like it had once been a bustling – albeit dark – hub of activity in this lonely part of the galaxy. Luke wondered what it must have been like to live in Dreshdae during the golden age of the Sith. Now the streets lay quiet, and some of the buildings were in serious disrepair. “I wonder what happened here,” Luke said, his gaze wandering over the buildings. “The Commerce Guild pulled out sometime after the Clone Wars. Guess they finally realized it was bad business to set up shop on a barely-inhabited planet.” “Maybe our tattooed friend had something to do with it.” “That’s a possibility.” Mara held a hand up to shield her eyes from the sun. “Why don’t you look for a comm station while I check for ships over there?” She jerked her thumb toward a row of low-roofed buildings at the end of the street. Luke squinted at the buildings. “Sure, I guess. Meet you back here in twenty minutes?” Mara nodded. “Sounds good.” Luke waved and turned away. The last thing he saw was the dusty ground rushing toward his face. Then there was only black. ~~ Mara’s boots pounded in the dust as she ran toward the building her datapad had identified as a hangar. It didn’t matter if the only ship there was a hundred years old. She was getting off this planet now. I killed him, part of her brain screamed. The more rational part assured her that the well-placed kick had only knocked Starkiller unconscious. She wasn’t sure which scenario she preferred. Dead, he would weigh on her conscience. Alive, he would probably hunt her down and kill her. And without the Emperor, would her security clearance be any good? Would she have any shelter on her homeworld? Force, what had happened? Get to the ship. Get offworld. Find out what’s going on out there. The clipped mental commands helped put her thoughts in order. Survival first. Survival was always first. She would hide if she had to. She was not without resources. She was the Emperor’s Hand, damn it, and that counted for something. Mara growled under her breath. It was that stupid little R2 unit. It’s wailing and screaming had rattled her nerves. Well, she was not going to feel guilty for leaving a Sith adept behind. Not after those visions. Especially not after what Vader and Organa had done. The double doors to the hangar were closed, the keypad ripped from the wall. Mara took a step back and raised her hand. Using the Force, she wrenched the doors from their old-fashioned hinges and threw them aside. Dirt kicked up into the air, clouding her vision. Mara coughed as she went through the opening and began searching for a space-worthy vessel. A quick glance around the hangar revealed only three ships, all roughly two decades old. Mara recognized a Loronar B-7 light freighter, a Cutlass-9 patrol fighter, and another small transport of a design she didn’t recognize. The Cutlass was small, armed, and fast. More importantly, it had a hyperdrive. Hurry, Mara! Run! It was the voice from the tomb, the one that had pulled her out of the vision by telling her to open her eyes. She realized now that the voice had a Coruscanti accent not unlike many of Imperial Center’s inhabitants. Who are you? But there was no answer. Only the intense spiking of her danger sense and the feeling that she should get off this planet now. Mara climbed onto the nose of the Cutlass and popped the canopy. As she tossed her bag into the fighter, she felt Starkiller start to stir. She jumped down into the seat and started the ship’s power sequence, keeping one eye on the entrance to the hangar. She should have known better than to ally, even briefly, with a Sith. ~~ It was an electric shock from Artoo that finally woke him up. Luke cracked one eye open and saw the little droid staring down at him, the lights on his dome flashing urgently. “What happened?” Luke mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. Artoo whistled angrily, spinning his dome back and forth. “What?” Luke shouted. He crawled to his feet, using Artoo for support. “Where did she go?” The droid moaned and wobbled on its two legs. Luke felt his insides go hot, as if a fire had blossomed in his heart and spread through his veins. “Come on,” he growled, running toward the building Artoo had indicated. After all this time, he was not going to lose her. An engine roared in the distance, and Luke tried to ignore the pounding in his skull as he surged forward. Dust kicked up into the air, and over the top of the building, Luke saw the silver glint of a starship. “No! Mara!” He stretched his fingers uselessly toward the ship and fell to his knees. Within seconds, the ship was gone, along with Mara. “No…” He stared at the spot where the ship had disappeared into the sky. Artoo rolled over to his side and moaned softly. “She left us,” he whispered, his voice breaking. He turned to Artoo and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The little droid let out the electronic equivalent of a sigh. Luke looked back up at the sky and clawed his fingernails through the dirt. “She left us.” He could feel the heat rising inside of him, overpowering his sorrow, his shame. He did not deserve this. He was a Sith adept, one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy. He did not deserve to be tossed aside like some worthless piece of scrap. How could she? How could she? “Artoo,” he said through gritted teeth. “You find a ship in there with hyperdrive and get it started. If you have to make repairs, do it.” He stood up and roughly wiped the dirt from his knees. “We’re going home.” ~~ The Cutlass roared to life and leapt off the ground, shooting into the air with surprising speed. Mara pulled back on the yoke and hit the thrusters. The ship’s climb toward the atmosphere wasn’t exactly smooth, but it was much better than she had hoped for. Through the Force she felt a surge of remorse coming from the surface. She tried to ignore it. Once she was clear of Korriban, Mara pulled up a nav chart and started thinking about where she should go. The Sith’s betrayal made it almost certain that Mara’s old clearances would be revoked. If Starkiller ever made it off Korriban, he might be angry enough to try hunting her down. She couldn’t rely on the Empire to protect her from his wrath, not when his people now controlled the Empire. Much of her gear had been lost. She had only limited rations with her. Everything else was gone. And she had to get far away from the Core, at least for now. Mara. She clenched her teeth as a new voice invaded her mind. If she wasn’t already going insane, all of this unwanted telepathy would surely drive her there. Mara, the voice repeated. Do not be afraid. And then it listed a string of numbers she knew to be coordinates. This is ridiculous, she told herself. Through the Force, she felt the baby stir. Do not be afraid. Come. There was something oddly reassuring about this new voice. The baby stirred again. Okay, okay, she told the voice. I’ll do it. Mara reached down and placed a hand on her abdomen. We’re going to be all right, kid. Then she punched in the coordinates and watched the stars become thin lines against the swirling backdrop of hyperspace. ~~ -----signature----- Big Sis of Lady_Rae Veil of Shadows (OT AU, L/M) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/28500417 The Dark Fire Chronicles (OT AU) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/11960028 ANGST!
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leia_naberrie Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 9/13 12:55am Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I guess I was wrong about Luke & Mara becoming a team. So Mara has taken off to persons unknown with the vague hope that this person could help her and her baby. Why does this ghost-person remind me strongly of Ben Kenobi? Why do I think that Ben Kenobi being interested in Mara and baby will not be a good thing? Poor Luke. He never catches a break. So there's going to be a sequel? squeals So Mara saw Leia after Luke had beat her into a pulp! That definitely explains why she's so antagonistic towards him. I like that. A lot. If I have one wish for the sequel it's More Leia! Especially with her interacting with Mara and Luke. Gosh, this story is so much fun! -----signature----- Mortal Instruments {Palpatine/Padmé/Anakin} http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27482874/r27847574
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Jedi_QueenBee Registered: Sep '08	Date Posted: 9/13 6:02am Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	Mara's PREGNANT?! does she know who's the daddy? or is it one on Palpy's doings? Needs Answers!! Luke and Artoo better find a ship and fast. -----signature----- Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9 Wishing on a shooting star. Hoping for a better day. Is anybody there? =0
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nabooqueen2008 Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 9/13 3:54pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated
	I can't see where this is going! I can't wait till the next posts come. I thought that Mara and Luke were together and this is totally going somewhere completely different. Keep it coming! ~nabooqueen~
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ViariSkywalker Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 9/16 6:34pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) SJRS Wordless Romance - Updated - Date Edited: 9/19 2:29pm (1 edits total) Edited By: ViariSkywalker
	~~Quick Announcement~~ So apparently hurricane winds do reach into Ohio, as I found out early Sunday afternoon when Cincinnati turned into a war zone and I lost my power. Most of us in the area are lucky that we only lost power, although there were 4 reported deaths, and one of the cities nearby is on a boil alert because their water treatment facility lost power. I'm still without power at my house, so I'm using the computer at my parents' to let you all know I'm fine and that the final update will come as soon as I get the power back at my house! Thanks for hanging in there, guys! Replies will be edited into this post when I return! ~Vi~ EDIT 9/19/08: So the power still isn't back at my house, but I've got my flash drive with the story files on it, and I'm posting from my parents' house. Thanks for waiting so patiently! Replies! leia_naberrie - Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I guess I was wrong about Luke & Mara becoming a team. -- I know, I'm always trying to mislead. So Mara has taken off to persons unknown with the vague hope that this person could help her and her baby. Why does this ghost-person remind me strongly of Ben Kenobi? Why do I think that Ben Kenobi being interested in Mara and baby will not be a good thing? --Well, there have been multiple ghost-like voices talking to Mara lately. I guess it would depend on which one gave her the coordinates. Poor Luke. He never catches a break. --Part of my evil plan. So there's going to be a sequel? squeals -- Yep, as I came to the end of writing this story, I realized there was much more to be told, and it couldn't be finished here. It might be a while before the sequel is up and running, but I know Gabri will kick my butt if I don't make some kind of progress on it. So Mara saw Leia after Luke had beat her into a pulp! That definitely explains why she's so antagonistic towards him. I like that. A lot. --I think you and I think on similar wavelengths. If I have one wish for the sequel it's More Leia! Especially with her interacting with Mara and Luke. --I can guarantee there will be more Leia. That's one of the reasons I need a sequel! Gosh, this story is so much fun! --It was really fun to write, and I look forward to working in this universe some more! Jedi_QueenBee - Welcome! Glad you found my little fic. Mara's PREGNANT?! -- does she know who's the daddy? or is it one on Palpy's doings? --Nope, she still doesn't know, and now that Palpy is dead, she's not sure if she'll ever know. Luke and Artoo better find a ship and fast. --Not to worry! I'm sure they'll find a way... nabooqueen2008 - I can't see where this is going! I can't wait till the next posts come. --I always love getting that reaction. I thought that Mara and Luke were together and this is totally going somewhere completely different. Keep it coming! --I like surprises and twists - that's probably why I employ them in my fics. Glad you're enjoying! All right, gang! Here it is! The final post, which includes the last two chapters, will be up momentarily. Before we get started, I want to take a minute to thank everyone who has been reading, especially those who have responded at some point. So, many thanks to: Jedi_Emeritus Gabri_Jade (my lovely beta! ) Jaina_and_Jag Rigil_Kent leia_naberrie Anakins_Kiss nabooqueen2008 divapilot LadyPadme Knight_Aragorn Darth-Semians darkjedileia angry_bendu1 Jedi_BMK Ocelotl_Nesto SilverWolf77 ginchy THE_EVIL_CLIFFIE Jedi_QueenBee You've all been wonderful, and I'm so glad my little story brought you some enjoyment! I hope you all decide to check out the sequel when I get around to it. Without any further ado, I give you the final post! -----signature----- Big Sis of Lady_Rae Veil of Shadows (OT AU, L/M) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/28500417 The Dark Fire Chronicles (OT AU) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/11960028 ANGST!
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ViariSkywalker Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 9/19 2:38pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) - Completed 9/19!
	~~ 13. The Way of the Sith “This one is perfect, Artoo,” Luke said, trying to speak over the whine of the engines. He climbed up the side of the transport and dropped into the seat. It was a model he didn’t recognize, but right now all he cared about was that it could fly. “Did you run all the diagnostics?” Artoo beeped indignantly. “Right, just thought I’d check.” He strapped himself into the pilot’s seat and looked over at Artoo. The droid had plugged himself into the computer console. “This time, you can do the flying.” Artoo squealed in protest, but he did as he was told. Moments later, they were soaring through space. Korriban was just a ball of dust in the otherwise perfect beauty of space. Luke leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Several days ago he had left home thinking he could convince Mara to love him. He was going back empty-handed. Perhaps someday, when he became the Emperor’s apprentice, he would ask his master for Mara’s hand. Maybe then he would finally have her love. He tried to push down the resentment and anger that had threatened to consume him after she left. It was the same ugly beast that had surfaced in him years ago when he nearly killed Leia. He couldn’t unleash that power on Mara, no matter what. He loved her, and you didn’t hurt the people you loved. Luke rolled onto his side and cracked open an eye, watching Artoo talk to the ship. “Everything under control?” Artoo’s reply was a relatively pleasant “yes”. Satisfied, Luke closed his eyes once more and fell fast asleep. ~~ It was the first dream he’d had since leaving the palace. He was standing at the end of a long, dark corridor. At the other end, he saw a lone window. Moonlight pooled on the floor beneath the window, illuminating a raised platform. As he walked slowly toward the platform, he saw the there was a person lying on it. The figure was draped in flowing white cloth, but from the curves he could see it was a small woman. He began to jog toward the platform, his heart beating faster as he thought of who it might be. The corridor seemed to shrink around him, enveloping him in darkness even as he tried to reach the light at the end. Finally, he came to the edge of the platform, which was raised up several steps so that he could no longer see who was on top of it. Inscribed along the side was an ancient language, runes that he recognized. It was a Sith altar. And the ritual sacrifice was already lying there. As he climbed the steps up to the altar, he saw her beautiful red-gold spilling over the edge. A few more steps, and he saw her perfect face. She looked so peaceful with her eyes closed. He had never really known peace, not even with her. And then, as he reached the top step, he realized someone else was on the altar. It was her. The thought of her brought bile to his mouth. The demon inside wanted to pull his beloved from the platform and burn this other woman, make her suffer as she had made him suffer. But they were both chained to the altar, and they were also chained to each other. They lay atop a bed of kindling. He could save neither, but if he destroyed one, he destroyed his love. The other woman was also asleep, her long brown hair splayed across the stone, tangled with the red hair of his beloved. He wanted to kill her, sacrifice her to the ancient Sith, be rid of her forever. For one moment, he considered it. He might be able to save the one he loved and still destroy his tormentor. He reached for his lightsaber, holding it near the kindling. Brown eyes opened suddenly and locked with his. She reached out her hand and grabbed his wrist, setting his skin on fire with her touch. As he started to burn, he fell to his knees, screaming past the fire that poured into his throat. The chains fell to the side of the altar, and both women climbed off of it. They stared down at him, their faces contorted in horror. He extended a hand to his beloved, but she backed away. He crawled forward, pleading silently with his love. She had to save him from the flames. The other woman, the vile one, pulled a vibroblade from her sleeve and handed it to his beloved. She took it and stared down at him, uncertainty in her green eyes. He knew she would do it. She should do it. He closed his eyes and spread his arms wide as his only love plunged the blade into his heart. The other woman stepped in front of his beloved. She held his lightsaber out and ignited it, raising it over her right shoulder. She swung it toward his neck, and he woke up. ~~ Luke rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands as his ship reverted to realspace over Imperial Center. There would be hell to pay, he knew, but none of it would be as painful as Mara’s betrayal. He would take the punishment, become stronger, and then he would claim what was rightfully his. Even if he had to follow her to the edge of the galaxy and beyond. The comm light flashed, and Luke opened up a channel. “Unidentified vessel, you are entering restricted space. Power down and prepare to be boarded. Failure to comply will result in termination.” “Negative, this is Luke Starkiller. My clearance is Aurek-Vev-Senth-Three-Nine-Seven-Zero-Seven.” There was a pause on the other end. Luke smiled and began to steer his ship away from the patrol line. “Apologies, sir. The Emperor has requested that you land on his personal platform.” Luke’s raised both eyebrows and leaned back into his seat. “Thank you for your assistance.” He closed the comm and put a hand over his mouth, studying the planet below. So the Emperor knew he was gone, and now he wanted to hand out Luke’s punishment in person. Luke glanced over at Artoo, who was busy chirping at the computer, and scowled. “At least someone’s happy.” The city-planet loomed closer, and Luke couldn’t shake the feeling that he was in for more than just the usual punishment. ~~ He expected to be met by the Emperor’s red-robed Imperial Guards. Instead, eight stormtroopers marched onto the platform, each of them carrying their standard-issue blaster rifles at chest level. Luke kept an eye on them as he climbed out of his ship and jumped to the platform. One of the troopers snapped a salute. “Welcome home, sir.” He gestured toward the palace. “His Excellency would like a word with you before you return to your quarters.” Luke nodded and followed the troopers, reaching forward with his senses for any sign of danger. The stormtroopers had seemed a little nervous, but he couldn’t determine if it was because there was something wrong or if they just knew he was in trouble. The door to the palace slid open, and Luke found himself in a part of the Emperor’s suite that he had never seen. Not that he was terribly surprised – the old man had more secrets than Luke had hairs on his head. They had entered a short corridor, and at the end were three doors, each leading off in different directions. “Right through there, sir,” said the lead trooper, indicating the middle door. Luke walked forward and waited while the trooper entered the access code. The door opened to reveal four more stormtroopers, each holding one corner of a large cage. Inside the cage was a furry, lizard-like creature Luke had never seen before. Then he felt it. Nothing. “Wait—” As the Force left him, two of the stormtroopers shoved him forward with their blasters. He caught himself on his hands and knees and stared up in disbelief at the caged creature that had somehow stripped him of the Force. The stormtroopers pushed him flat to the ground and trained each of their eight blasters on him. One of them removed his lightsaber from his belt. “How dare you,” Luke snarled, craning his neck to look at the lead trooper. “I demand to see the Emperor!” “You won’t find Palpatine here,” a voice called out. Luke peered beyond the cage, into the darkness. “Leia?” She emerged from the shadows, a ghost-like figure in her simple white dress. There were dark circles under her eyes, and on the left side of her neck, Luke saw a spider’s web of thin, shiny scars that had not been there when he left. “You seem surprised to see me here, Luke.” She raised one brow, the corners of her mouth turning upward in a slightly puzzled, slightly amused look. “Do you like my ysalamir?” She indicated the creature in the cage. Luke felt the barrels of three weapons on his back. “Where is the Emperor?” Leia stepped into the lighted part of the corridor, though Luke noticed she kept to the edge, away from the cage. “He’s gone,” she said, eyeing the ysalamir. Her gaze returned to Luke, and she gave him a smile so filled with joy that he could hardly believe she was the Leia he’d grown up with. “Palpatine is dead, and I killed him.” There was nothing that could have prepared Luke for those words. He tried to convince himself that it was a lie, but even without the Force he could sense the truth in her words. He had never loved or cared for the old man, but it was still hard to accept that he was never coming back. It was harder still for Luke to realize how easily manipulated he had been. Korriban was a trap, a convenient way of getting him out of the picture while Leia made her move. And Luke had walked right into it. Leia waved a hand at the stormtroopers, and they stepped away from Luke. He pushed up onto his knees and then rose to his feet, watching the soldiers from the corners of his eyes. “You lied to me,” he accused. “I didn’t lie to you. She was exactly where I said she would be.” “You tricked me into leaving!” Leia smiled again, darker this time. “Treachery is the way of the Sith.” He hated her, not because of what she’d done, but because she had used him, had made him just another pawn in her schemes. In the end, he hadn’t really mattered at all. The fate of the Empire had been decided while he was light-years away. She was the true Sith. Luke felt a wisp of cool wind across his skin as another door slid open at the end of the corridor. Then he heard the choked, hissing sound that had followed him through so many nightmares. Darth Vader stepped out of the darkness and leveled his masked gaze on Luke. “You did not tell me he had arrived.” “Apologies, my lord. We were just finishing up here.” Leia took a step backward to join Vader. She lowered her chin just a little and smiled at Luke, that same knowing smile that had always bothered him. Without the Force, he could do nothing to wipe it right from her pretty face. The Dark Lord folded his arms across his massive chest, the sound of the respirator pounding against Luke’s eardrums. “I will deal with him,” Vader rumbled, remaining motionless. Leia’s brown eyes flashed triumphantly. “As you wish, Father.” Everything inside Luke went cold at those words. He heard the blood rushing through his ears, could feel it pumping rapidly through his heart, but it was like an icy river, freezing every thought and emotion. Several seconds passed before he was able to process what he had just heard. Luke gazed up at Vader, unable to understand how this creature could have produced a child, how that child could have been Leia, how all his plans to surpass Vader and become the Emperor’s apprentice could have been smashed by one little word. Father. Darth Vader was Leia’s father. And then, without anything changing, it made all the sense in the galaxy. He had been too proud and too blind to see it. Leia’s eyes met his, and they stared at each other for an interminable moment. “Now you understand,” she said softly. With a nod to Vader, she turned her back on Luke and walked away. ~~ 14. A New Hope He was beaten first, by the guards. He was tortured next, by a droid. When all of that was finished, they took the ysalamiri away and left him with Darth Vader. Luke wasn’t sure how long the Dark Lord had stood over him, trying to break into his mind. He had long since stopped moving, but as much as he wanted to pass out, he could not let Vader in. There was still someone out there, someone who might become another of Vader’s victims if Luke did not protect her. She had betrayed him, but he would not do the same. The cell was empty now. He reached out for the Force, fumbling about like a frightened child in the dark. There was nothing. If he could not sense them, then they would not be able to detect his thoughts or his emotions. Luke crawled over to the wall and huddled up against it, wrapping his arms around his legs. Mara. The thought of that name burned a hole in his heart, a hole that was at once painful and satisfying. He wished he could have touched her, just once. He closed his eyes, recalling her face, imagining what it would have been like to kiss her lips. She might have grown to love him, in time. Someone banged against the cell door, jolting Luke from his pathetic thoughts. He tried to pull his mind back together, tried to stop whimpering in the corner about how wretched his life suddenly was. He had trained to be a Sith, and there was nothing on the other side of that door that he couldn’t handle. Mara’s safety, wherever she was, depended on him. The Force returned to him in an explosion of clarity. He flexed the muscles in his hands, waiting for Vader’s return. I’m ready for you, old man. Let’s go. The door slid open, and a white helmet rolled into the cell. It stopped at Luke’s feet, and he stared down at it incredulously. “I hope you’re worth all this trouble.” Luke tilted his head back and stared up at the person who had just walked through the door. It took him a second to adjust to the bright light… “Lady Rasia?” Luke gaped at the red-haired girl from the ball. “Come on, we don’t have much time,” she ordered. “Get up.” She reached out a hand, and Luke took it. “I don’t understand,” he said as she helped him stand. “Neither do I, but this was my final order.” She looked up and down the corridor and motioned for Luke to follow. “Rasia, what—?” “It’s Brie, okay? Shira Brie. Now let’s go.” She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him down the corridor as the detention center alarms began to blare. ~~ The flight was long, and Mara breathed a sigh of relief when she dropped out of hyperspace and saw an actual planet in her viewport. Her scopes didn’t pick up any cities, so she just headed toward the part of the planet that felt right. Once the ship had landed, Mara took a moment to collect her gear. Then she opened the canopy and stepped out into a thick mist. She surveyed the landscape, wrinkling her nose at the unusual swamp smell. “This,” she muttered as she shouldered her bag, “will take some getting used to.” A snap echoed off to the left, and Mara swung around and pulled out her blaster. She found herself looking down at a short, sickly-green creature dressed in threadbare robes. “Sorry,” Mara said, slipping the blaster back into its holster. “You startled me.” The creature leaned with both arms on a crooked wooden stick, peering up at her with sleepy eyes. She found herself staring back, mesmerized. “I’m looking for someone,” she said at last, breaking the brief spell. “Found someone, you have, I would say,” it responded solemnly. The raspy voice struck a chord in Mara. “You were the one who gave me the coordinates.” The creature nodded gravely. “Come with me, young Mara. Much to talk about, we have.” Mara turned and closed the ship’s canopy before following the creature into the murky darkness. ~~ Fin -----signature----- Big Sis of Lady_Rae Veil of Shadows (OT AU, L/M) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/28500417 The Dark Fire Chronicles (OT AU) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/11960028 ANGST!
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Bri_Windstar Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 9/19 6:03pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) - Completed 9/19! - Date Edited: 9/28 8:49am (1 edits total) Edited By: Bri_Windstar
	snags and saves for later Bout time. Edit: So I sat down last night and read it all in one fell swoop and I have to say that it's even better now upon completion than it was oh so long ago as a wee plot idea for a challenge. I'm just so impressed with how so many "canonly" unrelated events and settings were woven together so seamlessly and effortlessly. It's so dark and twisted and keeps everyone, characters and readers, constantly on their toes and guessing and second guessing everything that comes to them. I loooove Leia in this. SO calculating and cold. Truly her father's daughter in this instance. And while Luke's infatuation with Mara is the drive of this story, there's so much more and it ultimately gets him in way over his head. I love the cliff hanger that we're left with and I demand news on the sequel immediately. Kudos, Vi. Major, major kudos. I love this story to bits and pieces. -----signature----- Mediocrity- it takes a lot less time and most people won't notice the difference before it's too late. * OMG! SO RIDICULOUSLY AND AGGRAVATINGLY PERFECT!- Gabri * 11010110101000101011
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THE_EVIL_CLIFFIE Registered: Jul '08	Date Posted: 9/20 10:24am Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) - Completed 9/19!
	Vrillint twist on TESB. Wonder how the other adepts are giong to react? Awsome plot twist. -----signature----- They can tak' oor lives but they cannae ta' oor trousers! For the God-Emporor of Mankind!
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nabooqueen2008 Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 9/20 1:39pm Subject: RE: Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) - Completed 9/19!
	wow! I mean...wow! Vader and Leia. Yoda and Mara. Luke.....uncertain? Definitely got to read sequel to know what's going on. Loved it...not much of an ending though, more like a REALLY BIG clifee....well, ways of the writer! Great job though! PM me when you have the sequel started! ~nabooqueen~
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