Beyond - Legends Updated 1/20--A Fool's Hope--H/L, L/M--Nommed for Best AU, action, epic, and villain

Leia knew this place.

The layout of an Imperial detention center had not changed in the four years since she had inhabited one. Back then, she had been called Your Highness out of something other than habitual respect and a return to Alderaan was something other than a bitter dream.

As far as she could tell, the only things that had improved were the company and the water filtration system.

The medical treatment was the same--as needed for survival, not comfort. She had been found with most of her right leg blasted away, since the stormtroopers had been aiming to cripple rather than kill, and a blaster wound in the side. The Empire's best troops had been gracious enough to keep her from bleeding to death before they gave her a concussion to keep her cooperative.

Conversely, Han's wounded shoulder had been completely ignored. The same went for the infection that was beginning to afflict her leg. No sedatives were available except for her body's natural instinct to pass out once the pain took control.

As always, the Imperial policy was made up almost entirely of the idea that pain could work miracles. As a former guest of Imperial detention, Leia had little faith in that doctrine.

As a result, the so-called heroes of the Rebellion could do little other than huddle against each other and argue for dear life.

"You'd think," Han grumbled from the other side of the solitary slab of metal that was supposed to serve as a "bed," "that they'd at least want us to keep from freezing to death."

"Maybe," Leia mumbled, "they're all survivors of the Hoth battle and think this is the way we live."

His laugh turned into a muffled cough that thankfully cut off after a few spasmodic lung contractions. It was no longer the rattling affliction of a few days ago, nor the wheezing of the last time she had been awake.

At least someone's making progress.

"You think they'll take an interest in us today?" was his next question.

"It's only been six days," she countered. "They usually do a week of 'softening up' before deciding we're ready to cooperate."

"I'll cooperate," Han grumbled. "I'll soften up their noses and ribcages..."

"Don't encourage them," she snapped.

She remembered too well how much his cooperation had cost him at Bespin.

"You're one to talk," he protested. "You should get the limb replacement while they're still offering. It would be a good thing to have when we break out of..."

"What?" she sneered. "So they can shoot off the other one? I don't think they're doing this out of a sense of compassion."

His shoulderblade shifted slightly against hers, then he leaned away. Curious, she turned to find him rotating to face her. His smile turned up one side of his mouth, exposing the spot where two of his teeth had been knocked out.

"We shouldn't argue," he alleged just before he leaned in.

She couldn't shove him away, since the blaster graze that had taken her down rendered her arm completely useless, so she simply ducked away.

"We're on the Death Star, being prepared for interrogation and execution, the Alliance has limped away because our mission failed, and you think that's your cue to get up close and personal?"

He shrugged with the uninjured shoulder. "I'd at least die happy."

Before she could respond, the door hissed open to admit six stormtroopers and the one they called Jade.

Or, rather, the one they now called Empress.

Apparently, the Empire had waited long enough to take an interest in them.

 

Ohh, freaky. Mara Jade the Empress? Please tell me they don't have Luke!! PLEASE!!!! How could you hurt Han? *weeps*

Very nice job!

KT

 

Wow!

Come on Leia, give in, you know you want to!!

Something tells me that Empress Jade isn't going to be very nice!!

 

Okay, I'm game.

 

Killik_Twilight--Ohh, freaky. Mara Jade the Empress? Please tell me they don't have Luke!! PLEASE!!!! How could you hurt Han? *weeps*

That's not the half of it...::Evil grin.::

Very nice job!

Thanks!

AvenKiel--Wow!

Come on Leia, give in, you know you want to!!

To the Empire or the really cute guy you have to share a cell with?

Something tells me that Empress Jade isn't going to be very nice!!

Well, this is definitely in the days of YOU WILL KILL LUKE SKYWALKER!

RedGold--Okay, I'm game.

I'm glad.

 

Oh boy! Another fun Ishy story! Yeah! *poor Han* (I just had to add that....)

 

LOL, and you show up on my even depressing H/L stories. What dedication. Yeah, poor Han, but Leia's the one with the festering stump of a right leg...

 

Holy cow! This is insane! Poor Leia and Han...but I LOVE evil Mara, which makes up for it!

 

Empress Jade??

COOL !

Can't wait.

oldj

 

"Maybe," Leia mumbled, "they're all survivors of the Hoth battle and think this is the way we live."



Interesting premise, the Rebels losing at Endor. I hate to think what that means for Luke A possible dark side fall? Letting himself be cut down by Vader? From the title it looks like he'll meet the Emperor's Hand in a whole new way though

Good start, Ish Looks very promising

 

Laura_Anu--Holy cow! This is insane! Poor Leia and Han...but I LOVE evil Mara, which makes up for it!

Cows aren't holy, but goats are. I'm insane. Good for you to metion Leia. I hope you'll like this kind of evil mara.

oldjedinurse--Empress Jade??

COOL !

Heehee, yup.

Can't wait.

Me either.

YodaKenobi--"Maybe," Leia mumbled, "they're all survivors of the Hoth battle and think this is the way we live."

Heehee...

Interesting premise, the Rebels losing at Endor. I hate to think what that means for Luke A possible dark side fall? Letting himself be cut down by Vader? From the title it looks like he'll meet the Emperor's Hand in a whole new way though

Yeah, this will be a very complicated plot by the end, especially between Luke and Mara.

Good start, Ish Looks very promising

Thanks, YK.

 

Sweet

 

Thanks.

Here's a teaser.

?If you?re going to play dirty,? Han piped up from her side, ?you might as well dispense with the pleasantries and bring on the scan grid.?

Don?t tempt her, nerf-herder. Not on my watch.

?We need not be so?formal,? Mara chided, nodding slightly to one of her escorts. ?I am simply here to conduct a conversation that will be to our mutual benefit.?

?I doubt that,? Leia admitted, jaw set.

?Oh, come on,? Han sighed. ?She might actually be here about her impending suicide. Give the girl a chance.?

 

Oh, man. Romance, Solo-style. What better way is there?

Fascinating start, here, Ish. Where on earth will you go with this, hmm?

And festering stumps of right legs cramp the romantic in you, I guess. Maybe. Occasionally.

*KR*

Wait. You're tag says H/L, L/M AU, meaning Luke must be involved in the Empire in some way . . . yikes.

 

KnightedRogue--Oh, man. Romance, Solo-style. What better way is there?

I agree!

Fascinating start, here, Ish. Where on earth will you go with this, hmm?

This is one of my more ambitious plotlines, so buckle up.

And festering stumps of right legs cramp the romantic in you, I guess. Maybe. Occasionally.

Yeah. I had a broken tailbone and a surgery and it cramped my romantic impulses. Think what a few missing limbs could do.

Wait. You're tag says H/L, L/M AU, meaning Luke must be involved in the Empire in some way . . . yikes.

You'll see... OH, yes, you'll see...

 

Leia had long ago learned that it was impossible to find something that wasn't disconcerting about the way a Sith looked. Whether Master or apprentice, there was a deformity inherent in the soul and semblance of those who served evil. For Vader, it was covered by the unfeeling, unchanging armor. For Palpatine, it was manifest in his bilious leer and rotted flesh.

What was most disconcerting about Mara Jade was that for all the deformities of her intentions and the principles she served, she was a more perfect beauty than Leia could ever hope to be. A casual observer would, perhaps, note that she was not at ease or that her eyes carried a malicious glint when dealing with an adversary, but the smooth skin of her face was unmarred by the furrows of repressed hatred.

What was most incongruous with her purpose in guiding the Empire was that she gave off the appearance of a benevolent person. Leia recognized much of herself as a young Senator in the way her fiery hair fell in loose curls over her narrow shoulders. Her gown was elegantly simple, a forest-green affair with a silver smock that ended just above her sensible grey shoes.

"Jade," Leia greeted graciously. "How good to see that it only required a costume change to restore the Imperial leadership to its former evil."

It was the first time she'd seen Han grin since the disastrous assault on the bunker, but she knew he would always favor backhand blows to straight shots.

Leia didn't expect Jade to take it as serenely, but obviously she had missed a meeting on the latest in prisoner etiquette because the Empress' smirk was just as accomodating as Han's.

"It will take more than that," Mara retorted.

Leia?s stomach gave an involuntary lurch at the simple statement, since it had become a sort of catchphrase for the Alliance in the days following Yavin. They had suffered much--too much--and sacrificed more than they had thought possible in order to simply press forward.

And every time, they had rallied around the idea that it would take more than these ?minor setbacks? to put the Alliance out of action.

Now, for all they knew, the Alliance had been put out of action and instead, the Empire had come to gloat.

Not simply gloat. She wouldn?t have brought six stormtroopers if that were her only intention.

?If you?re going to play dirty,? Han piped up from her side, ?you might as well dispense with the pleasantries and bring on the scan grid.?

Don?t tempt her, nerf-herder. Not on my watch.

?We need not be so?formal,? Mara chided, nodding slightly to one of her escorts. ?I am simply here to conduct a conversation that will be to our mutual benefit.?

?I doubt that,? Leia admitted, jaw set.

?Oh, come on,? Han sighed. ?She might actually be here about her impending suicide. Give the girl a chance.?

There must have been orders to leave them alone, since Han usually didn?t make it this far without getting his face rearranged. It obviously wasn?t a matter of the Empress? good graces, only a gracious deception.

?The first rule of negotiation,? Bail had instructed her many times, ?is that they must never know that they do not control the situation. The illusion of power must be theirs to treasure until the moment you bring it crashing down around their ears.?

Unfortunately for you, I already know the limits of my power. I?m just stubborn for the fun of it.

The stormtrooper returned momentarily with a repulsorchair and four of the guards left on cue. Mara arranged herself in the chair as though preparing a work of art, then regarded them both with something like patient amusement.

Getting friendly, are we?

Well, at least she?s blocking the entrance of an interrogation droid. Of course, she was trained by Palpatine himself. I could have much worse things in store for me.

Stop thinking. It just gives her emotions to use as weapons.

Leia forced her mind to become as silent and impassive as the woman seated opposite her, but by training, the look in her eyes never c

 

Interesting little chat...

Leia is as defiant as ever.

Mara is... strange... but evil.

 

Hmmm. So Luke is alive. For some reason, I was thinking he might be dead. I wonder why Jade would have Han's wounds treated, but not Leia's, since Leia's seem to be worse. *face worried*

 

I feel myself getting sucked in. Whats next?

 

Wow, Patient!Mara is even creepier than Impulsive!Mara. Go figure. Oh, and one of those moments that I love in fanfic - a subtle reminder that the galaxy does indeed have creatures with emotions - Han kissing Leia's cheek. I got a very nice image of that and it was subtly beautiful. Just thought I'd say that.

Once again, I love Leia's middle name. Tizar is just perfect for her.

Beautiful chapter. Need to find out what happens!

*KR*

 

RedGold--Interesting little chat...

Leia is as defiant as ever.

Mara is... strange... but evil.

It struck me before writing this particular part that, while we've seen Mara in hostile mode before, we've never seen her in the capacity as someone's psychological enemy. And yeah, Leia's as defiant as ever.

GreatOne--Hmmm. So Luke is alive. For some reason, I was thinking he might be dead. I wonder why Jade would have Han's wounds treated, but not Leia's, since Leia's seem to be worse. *face worried*

Of course Luke's alive. Oh, man, I just had a strange thought of the discussion I had with dana and another fanforce member about whether it counts as necrophilia if the dead person is fictional. Anyway... The matter of treating wounds was further softening up and the deception of a level of compassion. Leia will have her chance, most likely.

ccp--I feel myself getting sucked in. Whats next?

SO you're saying this story sucks, are you?

KnightedRogue--Wow, Patient!Mara is even creepier than Impulsive!Mara. Go figure. Oh, and one of those moments that I love in fanfic - a subtle reminder that the galaxy does indeed have creatures with emotions - Han kissing Leia's cheek. I got a very nice image of that and it was subtly beautiful. Just thought I'd say that.

Well, patient!mara is more reminiscent of palpatine in the throne room in ROTJ. LOL, glad you liked Han kissing Leia's cheek, thought that would be something so appropriate, but so odd anyway. Romance must go on in the worst of circumstances.

Once again, I love Leia's middle name. Tizar is just perfect for her.

Heehee, yes. I will forever love that middle name.

Beautiful chapter. Need to find out what happens!

Eventually, you will.

 

Sorry, meant that in good way. You know now I have to know what's going to happen.

 

Nah . . . Ish's fishing for compliments.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You're not as pathetic as I am.

*KR*

 

ccp--Sorry, meant that in good way. You know now I have to know what's going to happen.

Eep! I forgot to put the in there to tease you! I knew it was a good way thing, but couldn't resist my mom's old joke.

KnightedRogue--Nah . . . Ish's fishing for compliments.

Okay, that phrase is forbidden since 5 of the 8 people who hostilely flamed me last weekend in 12 hours used that same phrase!

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You're not as pathetic as I am.

LOL, yes I am!

 

Yikes. Wow - people need lives. They flamed you for wanting compliments?

*KR*