Saga Alliance of Heroes - post-ANH AU (L/M, H/L, Vader, Palpy, Rogues) - COMPLETE - Part 2 cover up!

Luna: Thank you! The conversation with Palpatine happens in the next chapter.


Jade: Vader's default status in this story is plotting.


Hazel: Mara would have shot him if he'd been so presumptious.

Now I'm wondering how the Emperor will react and what will he do.

It might not be the way you expect...


Lane:


Hon, he's not gonna care

Not in the way she hopes.


Now that's no way for Mara to treat her future sister in law

Shhhhhhh!!!

Damn, Vader. Bold.

Vader's gotten a little bit bolder since finding out a certain piece of information.

Hooo boy, Palpy. Is this going to backfire in your face or what?

We shall see...

Oh that's just mean, Luke

He's gotta get his jollies somehow!

Zev! Ah the criminally underused former Rogue

I'm hoping to change that. With him and Dack. Which will become really fun come Battle of Hoth...

The Misadventures of Luke Skywalker's Love Life, Reel 4 Scene 23.

Hee!

And just like that, unwritten rule number one of Rogue Squadron: There's no hardfast rule on squadron dating

Ahhh, but can COs date their subordinates? Tis might become a problem...

Heeeeeeeeeee! Oh Nanci, I loved this scene so very much. There's not enough early Rogue stuff out there!

Yay!!! I was hoping you'd like it!

Mara, it's that logic and reason that's probably going to completely shatter your view of the Galaxy within the next few minutes.

Again, this whole idea would not have been possible if it hadn't been Tycho that Mara met up with. So glad he was the one who defected after Alderaan in canon. LOL.

I like that, Tycho giving her agency is what really pushes her over.

Nothing has ever really been her decision before. Everything she's done has been for the Emperor. She doesn't really even know how to be her own person. It's very scary and liberating at the same time.


Like I said, very persuasive.

Yes...but is it enough?

Another great post, Nanci! Things are really starting to take shape

Thank you! I think you'll like the next two chapters, after you hit me for the way I end Chapter 7

Chapter 7:

The day's just started and already Mara's in a foul mood

As she has been for awhile, poor girl.

And slowly, things begin to fall into place

They've been falling for awhile. I wonder if they'll click soon?

Eh, he's alright

Heh.

Not that simple, I'm afraid

It'll take a lot for Palpatine to get rid of Vader.

Hologame. And yeah, Han often presents that way

He's like the little boys who tease girls on the playground.

Flustered Han is endearing, perhaps?

Or hot

You two really had fighting down to an art

Soooooo fun to write!

Oh just kriff each other senseless already

Now now Lane, she is still rather young! Maybe they can just make out for now.

A bit more doubt settling in, eh Mara?

The poor girl is just doubting everything right now.

He makes a compelling case, that Tycho Celchu.

He really, really does. I wonder how much of that has sinked in to Mara.

Oh Mara. Mara, Mara, Mara. If you go through with this, you will never, ever forgive yourself

No, she won't. I wonder what happens!

Chapter 8:

Doesn't matter how many times you say it, you're not going to have an easy go of this.

Methinks she doth protest too much.

Well that's not a nice thing to do to your future in-laws

Spoilers!!!

I'd pay attention to that feeling. There's a very menacing ginger trying to kill you right now.

Put this away in your pocket, Lane. That's all I'm gonna say.

Yeah, just a weeeeee bit of animosity between them

Vader and Mara? Oh, yes. :sly smile:

Love at first sight

Sadly enough, it is. LOL

Welcome to the Empire, Mara. You're little

 

Chapter 7
The scene on the Falcon was hilarious!

Tycho's words are quite powerful

Chapter 8
Very intense. Great updates!

 

Fels: Thanks, I'm really enjoying Han and Leia, much more than I expected!!! And I just love Tycho.

---

[u]CHAPTER 9[/u]





Han collapsed back into the gunnery chair as soon as the [i]Falcon[/i] jumped to hyperspace, blowing out his breath in relief. That was the second time he had narrowly escaped Vader?s Super Star Destroyer and Han would not have complained if he never laid eyes on it again. He had definitely gotten way more than he bargained for when he first agreed to shuttle supplies for the Rebel Alliance.

It was after the evacuation of Yavin IV that Han first considered heading out for good. His routine shipping runs and escorts of Princess Leia were getting too dangerous. He already had a death mark on his head thanks to his dropped shipment from Jabba the Hutt; he really didn?t need the increased attention that Imperial watch lists would bring.

He had even started packing his belongings, ready to get the hell out of there (especially after Leia?s smart remark about the Rogues bailing them out), but as always, Chewie was there to hold him back. The Wookiee was dead set on staying in the Rebellion and Han really couldn?t blame him one bit. And if it had just been a simple matter of picking up and delivering supplies, he would have had no qualms with serving the Alliance.

But things had started to get serious and Han couldn't help but remember the words he?d uttered to Luke before the Battle of Yavin:

[i]?What good is a reward if you ain't around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station isn't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide.? [/i]

He had meant it then, and he certainly believed it now. He and Chewie needed to get the hell out of the Rebellion before they got themselves killed.

Before he got [i]other[/i] people killed.

Han ripped off the headset and hurried down the ladder, ignoring those ominous thoughts. He was going to have a long talk with Chewie when they got back to the fleet.

For now, he was still captain of his ship, and his first task was to make sure that everyone onboard was safe.

?Nice shooting,? Han offered to the soldier who?d volunteered to handle the other gunnery chair. He held out his hand. ?I'm Han Solo.?

?Lieutenant Tycho Celchu,? the man returned.

Han narrowed his eyes, an odd sense of familiarity hitting him as he recalled the way Celchu had handled the [i]Falcon[/i]'s gun. Han hadn't kept tabs on his old acquaintances in the Empire since he'd left, but there was one person's career he couldn't help but follow... ?You didn?t happen to train under Fel, did you??

Celchu nodded. ?Yes sir, Captain Fel was one of my instructors at the Prefsbelt IV Naval Academy.?

Han chuckled. ?I?ll try not to hold that against you.? He brushed past Celchu, who furrowed his brow in confusion.

He reached the hold and observed the dwindling chaos. ?Everyone alright in here?? Leia was tending to the wound on the redhead?s leg. Chewie was handing out ration bars to the two other pilots, while Threepio was trying to be helpful and translate. The two men looked up in relief at Han?s question.

?We?re fine,? Leia said. ?Lieutenant Jade got a nasty blaster wound, but it should heal nicely.?

?Good.? Han nodded to Jade, then to the two other pilots. ?I?m Han Solo, and this is my first mate, Chewbacca.?

The younger, brown-haired pilot raised his hand. ?I?m Zurel Darillian.?

?Rade Ticarus,? the other one added.

Han turned to Jade. ?I'm Mara Jade. Thanks for coming back for us,? she said, avoiding his gaze, looking highly uncomfortable.

He waved dismissively. ?Thank the Princess, and Luke for keeping all those TIEs from blasting us.?

?He means Commander Skywalker,? Leia added, smiling brightly at the mention of her friend. ?He?s the leader of Rogue Flight, some of the best pilots in the Alliance.?

Han rolled his eyes.

?He?s the one who rescued me,? Jade whispered, again looking extremely uncomfortable.

Now Han couldn?t keep the grin from spreading across his face.

 

Oh wow.

I love Leia's suspicions about and her concern for Mara. Han was spot on.

Poor poor Mara. CREEPY PALPY IS CREEPY! Her asking Tycho to stay was a sweet moment... Tycho is gonna be her big bro for real very quickly.

Lovely work, as usual, Nanci. Brava!

 

Aww, Ben?s in too? Yay!

Ben will be...around...
I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes?

you'll have a little while to wait... if at all...



?He?s the one who rescued me,? Jade whispered, again looking extremely uncomfortable.

Now Han couldn?t keep the grin from spreading across his face. So Luke had rescued yet another pretty girl? Yeah, he was going to have a nice, long talk with the kid when they got back to the fleet.

Leia nodded vigorously. ?Yes. He?s a great asset to the Alliance.?
This made me laugh ? and I gotta give Han right ? the only thing Leia?s thinking about is the Rebellion.

Han sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. He didn?t want to fight with her. He really didn?t. ?Look, I?m sorry??

?Is there anything else you?d like to say about the mission before I return to our guests in the hold?? she continued on, all business.

?Just one thing,? he said, more in an attempt to get her to stay and talk things out with him than because he actually cared about the mission. ?What do you think happened back there??
And hey ? this is a much more mature Han than I usually imagine him! Missa like!!!

?I told you, Han, I just got a bad feeling! I can?t explain it any more than that.?

?Oh, don?t tell me that you joined Luke?s side, and you think you can use the Force now, too.?

?Very funny. No, it?s not that at all. Just call it woman?s intuition.?
This is hilarious! And I love how Han, being rational actually is about to talk Leia away from what we know is true? That?s what I call writer?s irony

But Han stepped towards her again, undeterred. When he spoke, his voice was a whisper. ?And you really believe that Luke should be a Jedi, even knowing all that? He already blew up the Death Star, Leia. He doesn?t need another reason for the Empire to hunt him down.?

Leia?s breath quickened, and it became very obvious that this conversation was no longer about Luke, or Leia?s involvement in the Rebellion, or Han?s inability to commit himself to a higher cause.

The air grew hot and heavy and Han almost had to remind himself to breathe. Leia's big brown eyes gazed up at his and he found himself staring at her lips?

She pulled away abruptly, clutching her arms around her chest. ?I think Luke should be whatever he wants to be, Captain Solo.? The door hissed open and she stepped into the hallway, pausing once to look back at him. ?And I think the same for you.?



My child. The voice was deceptively soft, like a whisper in her ear, and Mara shivered against the cold floor, the sensation like a snake slithering up her body. For the first time in her life she hated this, despised it, this violation of her mind. How could something so fundamental in her life change so quickly?
Aww, this is good...! And I like the idea of Palpatine like a pressure in her mind. Doesn't look good for the future, though...

Yes, master.

And just like that, she had lied.
So quickly it goes, Mara my girl. But you'd better not make it a habit. Not more than it already is...

Yes master. I won?t fail.

She purposefully excluded the you.
Yes, so quickly... and already skilled...

Would it always be like this?

Would she always hear his call and be forced to answer, as long as she?and he?lived?

Would she ever be free?

After a few moments she knew she couldn?t hide anymore. She pushed herself to her feet, splashed water on her face, and opened the door, ready to face the galaxy like the soldier that she was.
Aww...

?I?m fine,? Jade said, brushing past her without a second glance, acting so incredibly different from how she'd been just minutes ago.
Something is telling me Mara will make quite a few of these mood changes...She was never fluent in niceness

?No, what I need is to

 

Big brother Tycho, eh? should be interesting, unless something else happens there

I also enjoyed Han and Leia's little spat. Brilliant. But Han was right, actually, and it's the way Luke is going to go anyway.

 

Poor Mara--that's a very difficult situation she's in, and she's understandably having a hard time dealing with it. I love seeing how it plays out, though, and also Leia's suspicions of her. Even Han's response to Mara was awesome in how wrong, but Han-like, it was. I can't wait for more.

 

Mara thinks she can fool Palpatine? I hope she doesn't get hurt in the process.

 

h/L -- ooh you can cut the magnetic pull with a dull knife it's so there LOL

Leia's take on Mara is very interesting...

Wow! Mara's starting to dissemble with the Emperor.



The cords of loyalty are loosening.

 

Wonderful job with Leia in this chapter. You showed how she has brains and women?s intuition yet implied it was the force giving that extra oomph to her gut feeling without being overbearing?Superb!!

Mara laughing and being happy makes me smile...and makes me want to pound Palpatine for all the crap he put her through.

Okay Palpatine?s mind touch just absolutely creeps me out?which means you are doing a great job writing him.

I really like the Leia and Mara interaction?friendly with a hint of suspicion and stubbornness. I?ve always been fascinated by their friendship in Beyond the Saga era b/c it is hardly mentioned that Leia is her sister in law. Anyway, I digress. I really like how they have so many similarities yet sooo many differences as well, makes for interesting future chapters I?m sure.

Brilliant job once again!!

 

Oh no. I sence some trouble for Mara in the near future in the form of a raisin-like old geezer.

I like big brother Tycho, hopefully he. Can help her out.

And Han is SOOO right about Luke.

 

Crazy Good! Or bad, depending on how it pans out... seriously a wild card in the whole AU

 

Ok... very nice. Han was spot on!

Palpy / Mara interaction is totally creeping me out. Great writing.

Leia's not suspicious enough yet.... a few more clues are coming right? Like a baseball bat to the head?

Han won over by the pretty face tho... good grief Han... women are always the spies... you know that.

 

I can't help it - looks like I have a very big heart...

Looking forward to it!

Wonderful speech. I could never understand how easily people forgot about Jedi - wariness is a one thing but so many of them saw what they could do - it was just 20 years ago! And now almost everybody looks at Luke like he is... a wizard, I don't know.

Ewwww. That was creepy.

I love what you did here.

Poor guy. I hope they will avoid spreading rumours...

 

Katana:

Oh wow.

Heee, I love when reviews start like this.

Poor poor Mara. CREEPY PALPY IS CREEPY!

Yeah, I had to get out the disinfectant.

Her asking Tycho to stay was a sweet moment... Tycho is gonna be her big bro for real very quickly.

She's been alone for so long, and to have someone like Tycho accept her unconditionally has really changed her worldview. Thanks for reading!


kataja:

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes?

Hehe, well I couldn't do an OT story without appearances from Force Ghost Ben!

This made me laugh ? and I gotta give Han right ? the only thing Leia?s thinking about is the Rebellion.

Leia is young and she doesn't really know how to deal with tragedy in a healthy way yet. The only way she knows how is to bury herself in her work. Thankfully, she has people like Luke and Han to remind her to have fun.

And hey ? this is a much more mature Han than I usually imagine him! Missa like!!!

I'm glad! I'm trying to write Han with his age in mind - yeah, he's pretty immature, but I don't think someone like Han could have lived through everything he has and not been somewhat grown up. He's just pretty reluctant to commit to anything. But, that might change eventually.

This is hilarious! And I love how Han, being rational actually is about to talk Leia away from what we know is true? That?s what I call writer?s irony

Heh, I love putting stuff like that in here. I definitely want to show Leia's latent Force abilities more than the movies did.

Aww, this is good...! And I like the idea of Palpatine like a pressure in her mind. Doesn't look good for the future, though...

We'll just have to see, won't we?

So quickly it goes, Mara my girl. But you'd better not make it a habit. Not more than it already is...

Lying? What would she possibly have to lie about?

Something is telling me Mara will make quite a few of these mood changes...She was never fluent in niceness

No, she wasn't...but she is a bit nicer in this story. After all, she doesn't have the urge to kill Luke - yet.
Hmm, interesting? Mara with shields down for a sec, an entire night actually...And will this start rumors?

No, no rumors - Luke and Mara will have enough standing in between them without rumors flying around. Plus, Tycho is still hung up on his old fiancee - not to mention a certain Intelligence agent is working in the Rebellion right now.

Tuesday is too far away!!!

Awww, thank you! (Grumbles about having to wait two weeks for your updates...)


Phoenix:

Big brother Tycho, eh? should be interesting, unless something else happens there

Nothing else, they are definitely just friends.

I also enjoyed Han and Leia's little spat. Brilliant. But Han was right, actually, and it's the way Luke is going to go anyway.

Han and Leia spats are so entertaining! Thank you for reading!


Luna:

Thank you! I think Mara will have a little better time once she gets to the Alliance - maybe. We'll have to see.


Hazel:

Oh, she won't get hurt in the process. This is a trilogy, after all.


Jade:

Leia's take on Mara is very interesting

I really love the Mara/Leia relationship and it was never explored enough for my tastes. They had a lovely scene together in TLC and then Leia helped her at the end battle, but that was kind of it, other than Leia being suspicious of Mara in the Corellian trilogy, which made no sense.

Wow! Mara's starting to dissemble with the Emperor.

The cords of loyalty are loosening

She's definitely learned some hard truths. But, of course, it's pretty difficult to defy the Emperor.


jaded_jewel:

Wonderful job with Leia in this chapter. You showed how she has

 

Hmm. Mara won't be able to hide long.

Great update!

 

I don't know if it's too late for this to make any difference in the writing of Part 1, but I wouldn't be surprised if all of the defectors in this group ended up getting called in for (further) debrief, despite having already been vetted before the pickup was arranged, due to the ambush... maybe that'll be the first steps in Jade's cover story cracking a little? (Seeing as Leia already noticed Jade's slip regarding her supposedly being Alderaanian.)

Also, have to say, your Vader seems more... thuggish, which I actually find more interesting to follow than other Vader depictions.

 

Fels: You never know, she might surprise you. Thanks for reading!

Chortles: Actually, that's exactly what happens. And yeah, I wanted Vader to be a jerk, but still kinda sympathetic. Hopefully I'm succeeding - or will, at least. Thanks for reading!

---

[u]CHAPTER 10[/u]





Tycho didn?t allow himself to relax until the [i]Millennium Falcon[/i] came out of hyperspace and he finally laid eyes on the fluid lines of the MC80 Star Cruiser that served as home base for the Rebel Alliance fleet.

He had made it. He had finally escaped the Empire.

Running a hand through his blond hair, he collapsed back into his chair in the cockpit. Solo had allowed him to come up front before they reverted to realspace. Tycho had wanted to see the Rebel ship with his own eyes. He had wanted to see that his promise to leave the Empire had finally become reality.

?This is for you, Nyiestra,? he whispered.

Beside him, Princess Leia gave him a sympathetic look and reached out to squeeze his hand. She didn?t need to say a word. The orphans of Alderaan would forever share the same pain.

When the [i]Millennium Falcon[/i] had escaped to hyperspace, Tycho shied away from the Princess, embarrassed that it had taken something as shocking as Alderaan to finally show him the true colors of the Empire. He had worried that she would think him a coward or weak. But she did not look at him with contempt, only respect. They had spoken several times throughout the journey and Tycho grew embarrassed that he had ever thought so poorly of Princess Leia Organa's character. After all, she herself had been an Imperial senator before actively serving the Rebel Alliance.

?[i]Home One[/i],? she said, gesturing at the graceful starship. ?Probably not as impressive as the command ships you're used to, but she serves us well.?

Tycho shook his head. ?She's much more preferable to my last home, that?s for sure.?

?What, Star Destroyers aren?t cozy anymore?? Solo drawled from the captain's chair. ?Do they not put mints on your pillow??

Leia ignored him, but as they flew closer to the ship, she began speaking softly again. ?Alliance Command operates from a ground base right now, but we prefer to bring new recruits directly to [i]Home One.[/i]? She didn?t need to offer any explanation. It was much safer to bring former Imperials to a command ship that could quickly jump to hyperspace than to possibly endanger an entire ground base. And after the events on Dantooine, Tycho couldn?t blame the Alliance one bit for its caution.

He?d thought about the ambush many times on the journey. Had the Empire been tipped off to their defection? It was a possibility, of course. No matter how trusting Tycho was, he had learned the hard way that others in the galaxy were not as moral and scrupulous as he aimed to be. As he was taught to be. Someone in the Rebellion could have found out their plans and notified the Empire. They [i]were[/i] offering large amounts of credits for captured and killed Rebels, and credits had a sneaky way of removing one's moral quandaries. Someone in the Empire could have notified their superiors, of course. He'd been very careful not to be found out by anyone on the [i]Accuser[/i], but there was always the possibility of someone overhearing their plans.

And, of course, someone in his group could be a mole.

He didn?t want to consider that possibility, but he knew it was necessary.

The question was, who could it have been? He had known Rade for several years and the man had been questioning the Empire even longer than Tycho. Zurel was too young, too idealistic to have betrayed them. And Mara?she had been anxious and jittery for weeks and Tycho had often questioned whether or not she?d actually show up on Commenor when it was time to take their leave. He could see in her eyes that she questioned the Empire, and knew that it was hurting her greatly to do so.

But honestly, if she had been an informant, he didn?t think that he?d still be alive. Mara

 

It's a chapter based upon banter. Great and laughable banter. Man, that was awesome.

So now Leia has intelligence checking on Mara. Most likely they will not find anything, and that is the problem. ALso, seems Luke cannot escape from fate it seems. Well, isn't that lovely. Luke and Mara all the way....

 

I love all the concern about Mara, and the teasing Luke got about her was awesome. They're all onto something, and I wonder what Mara will do about it...and what Vader will do about Mara. I love this insider look--it's so much fun! Great update!

 

Perhaps Luke could bribe the accident-prone pilot into getting sent to the bacta tank again.
Aww, poor Hobbie.

Not that Luke would ever say such a thing to her face, of course.
That'd go over well.

Oh Luke, keep telling yourself that.

Great chapter.

 

Love the Luke/Leia easy friendship. And everyone certainly isn't or will be surprised when Luke develops a thing for Mara. And the Rogues will ride him worse than anyone else

Looking forward to L/M's first talk.

 

I definitely want to show Leia's latent Force abilities more than the movies did.

I recognize that! There?s something deeply satisfying in writing stuff into canon that you know beling there!

yet.
*squee!!!*

not to mention a certain Intelligence agent is working in the Rebellion right now. *double squee*

When the Millennium Falcon had escaped to hyperspace, Tycho shied away from the Princess, embarrassed that it had taken something as shocking as Alderaan to finally show him the true colors of the Empire. He had worried that she would think him a coward or weak. But she did not look at him with contempt, only respect. They had spoken several times throughout the journey and Tycho grew embarrassed that he had ever thought so poorly of Princess Leia Organa's character. After all, she herself had been an Imperial senator before actively serving the Rebel Alliance.
Lovely little detail!


And Mara?she had been anxious and jittery for weeks and Tycho had often questioned whether or not she?d actually show up on Commenor when it was time to take their leave. He could see in her eyes that she questioned the Empire, and knew that it was hurting her greatly to do so.

But honestly, if she had been an informant, he didn?t think that he?d still be alive. Mara was not the type of person to do things half measures. If she had intended to betray them, they?d all be dead.
I love the skilled way you toss the different possibilities around in this chapter - starting with Tycho's fine analyze here!



The young woman with shimmering hair stepped forward and nodded regally. She wore a simple jumpsuit but had a very dignified air about her, similar to Princess Leia. ?Hello,? she said. Her voice was soft but commanding. ?You may call me Winter. This way, please.?
Aww, a first meeting. Also great to see Winter so close to ANH! Not to speak of how her perfect memory upps the suspension about Mara's debriefing!


Against his better judgment, he?d been thinking about her non-stop since escaping Dantooine. Her expression when she'd locked eyes with him in his X-wing, when he?d secretly been yelling at her to run, had been burned into his mind. She had heard him through the Force, the way he had heard Ben since his mentor had died on the Death Star. And that had brought on a thousand questions: did Mara know that she was Force sensitive? Had she been trained? If so, by whom? Were her parents Jedi? If she knew she could use the Force, why had she joined the Empire? He couldn't stop thinking of questions. He had to speak with her.

And, unfortunately, Luke couldn?t deny that he?d felt a spark of attraction when he?d grasped Mara's hand. He?d dismissed it at the time, thinking it was just adrenaline from the battle or lingering shock that she was Force sensitive, but during the long hyperspace flight back to Home One, he could no longer deny his feelings. He?d barely spoken to the woman and he was already smitten.
Awwww!!!! Perfect them, and perfect Luke!

He?d finally gotten over Leia after months of mooning over her. He really didn?t need to start pining over another woman who wouldn?t give him the time of day, especially when he had lots of other more important things to worry about.

Such as expanding Rogue Flight to Rogue Squadron. And, not to mention, talking to Mara Jade about the Force.




Not that he ever thought something like that would seriously happen. He had never understood where his pilots got the idea that women threw themselves at him. Things like that never happened to him. And certainly Mara Jade was much too beautiful to ever consider going out with a guy like him. Although, it was nice to dream about.
Sooo Luke?



Wedge feigned shock. ?Even before eating? You must really stink. Perhaps it?s a good thing you didn't get a chance to talk to the redhead.?

Luke stared

 

Really really looking forward to the convo between Mara and Luke.

And also more on Tycho/Winter.

 

well filled in details... But will Mara come clean or make a run for it?