Well, I decided to come out of my hole and post a fic :) This is one that I
was working on a long time ago and got writer's bloc. So I've started over
with rewriting it. Hope everyone likes it :)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Shadows of the Past: The Second Imperium
Author: Arikel
Rating: R
Disclaimer: If you don't recognize the name I probably made them up,
everybody else is part of the Star Wars universe, and I'm making no money
off of them. Please R&R. Many many thanks to my beta-readers, Gariel and
Jedilittlebee, who I couldn't have gotten through this without. Muchas
gracias, mi amigas.
Setting: Two years after Vision of the Future.

Is man a product of the Force, or is the Force a product of man?

The Second Imperium
Episode one: Black Aurora

Prologue

Somewhere in the Sumitra Sector; Day 49, 21 A.B.Y.

There is an old spacer saying 'In space no one can hear you scream.'
Today, Marcos Niin had spent what seemed like a lifetime praying to the
Force that it was just a saying.
"Come now, Marcos. Tell us what we need to know... and all this..." the
taloned hand took in the bloodied finger and toenails, the dislocated
shoulder. "This can all go away."
"There...," Marcos gagged on the blood building in his lungs. "There is... no
death," his voice gaining strength and volume as Marcos called on the
techniques Master Skywalker had taught him. "There is the Force."
Cold, hollow laughter echoed eerily in the hold of the ship.
A hand came down to rest on Marcos' shoulder, bearing the weight of his
captor and making the young Jedi gasp in pain. "No death? No... not yet."
His captor leaned down to make eye contact with Marcos. Bringing his hand
up to gently cup Marcos' cheek, caressing it. His tormentor seemingly
entranced by the way his thumb was smearing the blood across Marcos' cheek.
A faraway look etched on his face. "'Must not all things at the last be
swallowed up in death?'"
His eyes came back to the present and he smiled coolly. "Nothing lasts
forever. Empires rise and fall. The vitality of youth fades. The pain you
feel now will fade. The warm uncertainty of life gives way to the cold
finality of dying. What comfort is to be found in life? Seek relief in the
arms of death. Tell me, my friend, what in your life is so precious that
you must endure this... senseless pain, and for what? Pride? Your beliefs?"
"My body is... nothing more than a vessel for the power... of the Force. A
conduit through which... it... works its will through me."
Marcos gritted his teeth and shifted enough to jerk his captor's hand from
pressing on his shoulder. Sitting up straighter, a moment of insight and
calm took over Marcos, giving him strength.
"No matter what happens to me, in the end, the Light will always win over
Darkness. By killing me, you only make the Force stronger. I am a Jedi. I
will give my life for what I believe."
"Ah. Spoken like a true fool," his tormentor sneered in disdain. "But
tell me boy, what is the value of faith when everything you believe is a
lie?"
For the last time, Marcos Niin cried out in pain, praying that he
would become one with the Force.

Chapter I
Three months later; Bespin; Day 134, 21 A.B.Y.

Kerr had been staring at the bottom of his tumbler for the past hour. He
was just a little tipsy and rather belligerent. His father once said that
once you hit the bottom the only place you can go is up. Kerr smirked at
the thought that his father left out the fact that if you have a shovel you
can always start digging.

************************************************************************

From birth to the time he was twelve, Kerr had lived a simple life. Born
on Imperial Center, the "Heart of the Galaxy," Kerr was thoroughly glutted
with every luxury the family of a Moff could think of. Subhuman servants at
his beck and call, lavish rooms in which he could entertain and impress his
friends, and every toy or trinket he desired. But as the saying goes, all
good things come to an end.
His father, Moff Aranid Dorgan had spent his entire career following the
great man that was Grand Moff Tarkin. Aranid was with him at every victory,
every conquest. He was with him when Tarkin destroyed Alderaan, and he was
with him at Yavin.
Kerr was devastated by the loss of his father and swore vengeance on
the Rebels who killed him. He enlisted in the Imperial Naval Academy the
same year that Emperor Palpatine was "killed" on the second Death Star. His
zealousness and intelligence saw him into Imperial Intelligence under Ysanne
Isard in a short time. Under her rule on Coruscant, Kerr grew to dislike
the Empire and started to feel that the father he saw now wasn't the man he
had admired as a child. In his young idealistic days, Kerr's father was the
kind of man he wanted to become. He was quickly following that path and
found a growing distaste for who he was becoming.
Following the Rebel conquest of Coruscant, Kerr and his fellow
operatives were charged with eliminating the Black Sun cartel that was
harassing the Imperial Forces. Going out into the city and looking at the
carnage caused by the Krytos Virus sickened Kerr to his stomach. Created by
Imperial scientists to turn healthy flesh into a bloody pulp, it was dumped
into the water supply and left behind during Isard's retreat. Kerr had no
love for the subhumans, but such a callous act of genocide delivered the
final blow on the wedge between him and the Empire. Realizing that members
of his unit were starting to take not of his odd behavior, Kerr used his
next scouting expedition to track down a Black Sun operative. Posing as a
member of Coruscant's underbelly, he approached the man offering information
about a local Imperial cell in exchange for food. The operative agreed, and
Kerr betrayed his former friends. He took his food and went to hide in the
slums of Coruscant. The Empire trained him to blend in and to sneak into
places; he now used that training to evade his former allies.
Kerr spent the next few months in the back alleys of Coruscant, ignoring the
local aliens and doing what he had to for his own survival. Most of the
money he was able to scrounge off of the dead or panhandle from the living
was spent on starting an addiction to alcohol.
Kerr fell into a pattern during that time. Wake up in some alley,
scrounge around for food and money, go to a tavern and get drunk, get tossed
out of the bar, pass out. If not for a simple twist of fate, this pattern
probably would have ended him. However, one night he had the brilliant idea
of making some very Imperialistic comments to an intoxicated and very rowdy
Trandoshan. When Kerr woke up with a throbbing headache, he was sitting in
a New Republic community cell. He thanked his luck that the Trandoshan
wasn't in the cell with him, but his luck ran out when a fellow cell mate, a
former Black Sun member, recognized him. The New Republic guard had to rush
into the cell to break up the fight and drag the madman off that was ranting
about Imperial assassins.
The guard had Kerr placed in a separate cell and decided to have NRI
check and see if there was any validity to the criminals claim. A couple
days later, Kerr had a visit from a pair of Intelligence agents who
questioned him to exhaustion about his activities in the city since the fall
of Coruscant. He was held in isolation for questioning for another month
until Major Mart Stevez came to see him. The Major made Kerr an offer.
Join up with Taskforce Shen starting out as a repair tech or medic, or spend
the rest of his life in the Kessel mines.
Taking a minute to think about it, Kerr decided to work for Major
Stevez. The Major only had to remind Kerr twice that he could still be sent
to the mines before the ex-Imperial quit his insubordination. Once he
buried his attitude and started to watch the way the New Republic workers
acted around each other he began to change. He would spend hours in the
mess hall by himself just watching the way the humans and aliens worked
together and ate together and laughed together. Something else that he
found was sorely lacking during his childhood in the Empire.
Laughter.
The longer he watched the others, the more detached he felt.
More... alien.

Kerr's feeling of isolation within the New Republic was driving him
to the point that he was going to try and escape to the Outer Rim. He was
heading for the hangar to make his escape when his commlink beeped. The
Major needed to see him. Kerr immediately started wondering if Stevez
somehow knew what he had in mind. Doubting the possibility of that, Kerr
went to meet with the Major and pushed thoughts of escape to the back of his
mind for the moment.
Arriving at the office, Kerr almost knocked the seat over when he
saw the woman speaking with the Major. A fair-haired lady with fine, sharp,
sleek cheeks and jaw, with the poise of a military veteran and the
confidence of someone accustomed to the reigns of command. Mirth danced
gaily in her eyes and an amused smile touched her lips as Kerr
surreptitiously set the chair back on all four legs.
Major Stevez, oblivious to Kerr's awkward entrance, gestured for him
to take a seat, earning another amused smirk from the woman at the Major's
side. Somewhat mollified, Kerr plopped down and kept his attention on the
Major. Shifting uncomfortably, he sat at attention to present a fa?e of
composure. The Major took a seat at his desk, while the woman remained
standing, reading through the file in her hands.
"Mr. Dorgan, I trust you have heard about the crisis occurring in
the Core?"
"Yeah. Everyone's talking about it." Kerr replied with a
self-deprecating smile. "Some are even talking to me."
"Then you understand the situation that has arisen on Coruscant?"
Kerr shifted his eyes uncertainly from to the woman and back to
Stevez. "Yeah... but... why are...? What has this got to do with me?"
"Well, Kerr, the taskforce is being sent into Coruscant to set up
some cells to take over the planet's defense grid should the need arise.
We've spent our entire career in the Mid-Rim and so no one in my company is
all that familiar with the layout of the planet. We need someone that knows
the lay of the land to act as a guide. Being a native of Coruscant... and a
former Intelligence agent, you're the best man for the job."
Kerr steadily met the Major's gaze for an uncomfortable silence
until shifting his attention to the woman. She regarded him with an
unreadable expression on her face. With a glance back at the Major, Kerr
growled "why should I risk my ass for the rebellion?"
A shadow of a frown passed across the Major's face, which then
settled into a tightening of his jaw as Stevez leaned back into his chair.
The squeaking of joints sounded loudly in the silence of the office.
"According to our files you used to live in the Manarai Towers,
correct?"
Kerr nodded slightly.
"We are prepared to evict the current resident of those suites that
belonged to your father and give them to you," the Major paused to gauge
whether or not this would be suitable compensation. Seeing the lackluster
expression on the former Imperial's face, Stevez grudgingly continued with
the offer.
"We are also prepared to increase your pay scale by two grades."
Kerr leaned back in his chair, a hand coming up to hide his grin from view.
After pushing back the giddy rush of triumph he cast a thoughtful gaze over
the Major and the woman who was still watching him blandly. Kerr slowly
nodded his head.
"Okay. I'm in. What do I have to do?"
The Major rose, gesturing to the woman next to him. "This is First
Lieutenant Vu Nin, your CO in the taskforce. She will fill you in." Stevez
proffered his hand, "Welcome to the Shadows, Trooper Dorgan."

Kerr spent the next week getting familiar with the weaponry and procedures
used by the Rebellion. He spent that time determined to remain detached
from these anarchists, but he was finding it increasingly difficult the more
time he spent with his CO. She had a natural charm about her and a cheerful
attitude that rebuffed anyone's attempts at remaining aloof. When she
smiled, Kerr couldn't help but feel warmth spreading through him causing the
corners of his mouth to rise.
By the time that Taskforce Shen wormed their way into the "Heart of the
Galaxy", Vu had managed to work her way into Kerr's heart. During the
course of their operations behind enemy lines, Kerr found his reason for
being on this mission slipping from greed towards protecting his CO.
His only friend.
After the Imperial forces abandoned Coruscant following the death of the
Emperor on Onderon, Kerr surprised everyone by remaining with Taskforce Shen
rather than staying on his home planet. After a couple of months of seeing
Kerr and Vu together in the mess hall, everyone knew his reason for staying.
Through Vu, Kerr found respect not only for the New Republic but also for
the aliens within it. This was a slow process of breaking down the
derrocrete walls the Empire had built with their brainwashing and
propaganda, but his affection for her proved to be more powerful than the
attitude of bigotry.
This process began with a fight between him and Vu. They had assisted in
the liberation of prisoners from an Imperial outpost in the Outer Rim. One
of the prisoners was a half-human, half-Beryllian woman named Alya. Kerr,
once again letting his mouth run before his mind can catch up, made an
unmistakably Imperialistic comment regarding half-breeds. The cold glare he
received from his CO made Kerr realize he had made a mistake. The verbal
lashing she gave him made Kerr realize that he made a BIG mistake. It also
served to make Kerr come to terms with just how much Vu meant to him. Years
ago, such a lashing would have just bounced off his iron hide. But the fact
that this punishment came from Vu made it sting.
He spent the next couple of weeks trying to redeem himself, trying to make
himself a better man. Apologizing to Alya, he spent time with the Beryllian
more, making an effort to try and come to understand her race. He was
determined to see past the stereotype ingrained in him by the Empire to see
the individual within. Between Alya, who had joined the taskforce as a
tech, and Vu, the walls were quickly coming down.
It was Alya who finally pushed Kerr and Vu to recognize the way they gazed
at each other and inspired them to take that first tentative step towards a
deeper relationship. A godsend for which they were both grateful. When it
became known that Alya was Force-sensitive, the three friends reluctantly
said their farewells as Alya was taken to Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy on
Yavin 4.
The two soldiers found the rigors of a relationship to be about as fraught
with danger as any Imperial outpost. A fear of abandonment brought on by
the loss of loved ones had taught both of them to keep people at arm's
length. It was that fear that would end up unconsciously sabotaging
relationships, effectively destroying the very bonds they were afraid of
losing.
A conflicting need for and the fear of intimacy made the two orphans push
each other away and then pull them back. The act of making love seemed to
only complicate matters. Creating a physical desire that caused more
emotional turmoil. The tension finally came to a peak at the end of the
war. Kerr wanted to resign, settle down and have a life. Kerr asked Vu to
marry him.
But Vu withdrew from him. She said she couldn't marry him, that she didn't
love him, that she couldn't love him. Kerr tried to make her see reason.
Tried to convince her that he wouldn't leave, that he would be with her
forever. But Vu pushed him away again. Killing a part of Kerr in the
process.
So Kerr left her and sought consolation in alcohol. He took up the life of
a mercenary and made enough money to keep himself stocked with food and
liquor. And so it was when he had arrived on Bespin, looking to drown
himself in his sorrows, that Kerr's life would take another 180-degree turn.

************************************************************************

Kerr had just finished off a job for Potas Hea, a spice dealer that used to
be associated with Jabba's syndicate. He wasn't happy with having to rough
up some addicts who ripped Hea off, but the pay was good. Money and alcohol
helps to appease one's conscience.
He had decided to just crash in his cabin tonight rather than spending the
money on a room. Tossing his vest on the pilot's seat, Kerr made his way to
the galley to get a bottle of Halo before retiring for the night. Tossing
the flask back, Kerr punched the control panel to his room. The amber
liquid sloshed around as he took a moment to look at his cabin. His hand
went to pick up the holo that Vu had given him on Independence Day. A
holiday that took him some time to come to peace with, but the love of a
tender woman helped him put to rest that part of him that used to live in
the Empire. Letting the holo drop back onto the floor, Kerr picked up the
datapad to read the next chapter of The Wanderer and his Shadow.
After a few hours, he flicked off the light and crawled into bed. He spent
hours twisting and turning until he finally remembered why it was that Kerr
hated sleeping in his ship. It was empty. Tossing the sheets off with a
growl, Kerr turned the lights back on and quickly dressed. Dumping a few
belongings into a satchel, Kerr left the ship to go out to his preferred
hotel on Cloud City. Kerr confirmed for the manager that he would like 'the
usual.'
Kerr tossed his satchel onto the bed and checked his reflection in the
mirror. His dark hair was a little thicker and longer than was fitting for
an agent of the New Republic, and his face was rough with the stubble of a
few days growth. Running a hand over his chin, Kerr sunk into the bed.
This was the part that he always hated. That time of night when
there was absolute silence. Not quiet. Quiet was what he had when Vu was
around. When they would sit comfortably with each other and separately work
on their reports or repair their weapons. Quiet was the way that they could
sit in the same area for hours and not feel compelled to fill the room with
idle chatter. Quiet was the comfortable blanket that they wrapped around
themselves.
This was silence. The complete absence of her presence. The hollow
sound of a lone occupant's breathing filling the room, not two. Silence was
the blanket that smothered him.
Kerr jumped at the sound of a knock at the door. Slowly getting to his
feet, Kerr checked himself in the mirror once more before opening the door.
A weary, resigned and broken smile creased his face, welcoming the break in
the silence.
The manager of the hotel knew Kerr's taste for companionship. The woman
outside the door had eyes a little too far apart, but they were the color of
HER eyes. Her lips had the same fullness. Her hair was the same color and
length, but didn't have the same body that HER hair had. Her gait was
different, and Vu would never be caught dead in that outfit, but Kerr didn't
care. For one night, he could pretend that he was with HER.

Kerr stumbled out of The Morning After Cantina and headed for his ship. He
had spent all the credits he earned and didn't have enough to keep the room
any longer. Holding a hand out to the side of his ship to steady himself,
Kerr looked down the hallway to the cause of some commotion. A couple of
docks down at a Corellian Gunship, three men were struggling to haul a man
dressed from head to toe in black into their vessel. What caught his
attention was the fact that the man had a gash on his forehead and Kerr
could swear he knew the man from somewhere.
"Hey," Kerr paused to steady himself and to appear a little less
intoxicated. "Wazza goin' on down thur."
One of the beings, a Gamorrean, stepped away and laid a hand on the blaster
at his side. "None of your business, skrig."
Kerr moved his hand to where his blaster used to be and sighed. "Oh.
S'kay."
He watched for a moment longer and then stepped into the Shatter Starr. It
really wasn't any of his business. Probably owed them some money or
something. Kerr fell onto the sofa and rubbed his eyes. Pausing only for a
few minutes to think hard about where he had seen the man before, Kerr
slowly lapsed into unconsciousness.
Chapter II
Yavin; Day 124, 21 A.B.Y.

Luke Skywalker had spent the last couple hours staring at the printouts the
NRI had sent him via personal courier a few hours ago. Gib Leiv, sector
chief of NRI in the Tatoo System, had contacted him a week ago. Leiv had
requested Luke's help in bringing down a particularly vicious and
well-connected criminal syndicate that had come to the attention of local
authorities recently. By all reports, this syndicate, calling itself Black
Aurora, had gained a monopoly on the criminal activity in the Outer Rim by
ruthlessly and methodically eliminating any would be crime lords who refused
to join the syndicate.
Hiamein Mynorma, a Twi'lek who had control over the spice smuggling and
refused to give up his operations, was found eviscerated, with his lekku
horribly scarred by what appeared to be some kind of acid. Between word of
Hiamein's death and the syndicate having acquired the services of the Rose,
there was no one that dared refuse Black Aurora. The syndicate was quickly
becoming a power that could compromise the New Republic's control over the
Outer Rim.
Luke picked up the holo of the latest victim. The NRI file labeled the
victim as an, as of yet, unidentified human male in his mid to late twenties
who had died from cardiac arrest due to extensive physical torture. There
were several post-mortem wounds inflicted upon the body including the
removal of the face and heart, a desecration of the body that was becoming a
trademark of the syndicate. Luke tried not to dwell on the atrocities, but
try to focus on finding something that the NRI might have missed. Some clue
as to what made these victims special. They didn't appear to be people on
the fringe of society, so what had they done to deserve a death sentence and
violation?
Luke picked up the report on the crimes thus far. With the exception of
Mynorma, the crime lords and others like them were killed but not mutilated.
So who were these people? What did they do to the syndicate to warrant
this? Dropping the holos and reports in defeat, Luke pinched the bridge of
his nose and rose from the bed. Stretching his arms and back, Luke sank
into a comfortable position on the floor to try and gain some answers
through the Force.

A thousand different images flashed before his eyes. The threads of fate
binding the images, some loosely and some tightly woven together. The
images became a tapestry that stretched from the beginning of time to its
end. Luke spied the merging images of himself and Mara. With effort, he
managed to resist the urge to reach out and see where the thread would lead.
In the tapestry were people and places he had seen and others that were
unfamiliar. Thousands of images slipped through his fingers. An image of
himself watching the suns of Tatooine. Mara and him fighting a lightsaber
battle-
Luke grabbed the thread before it slipped away. The scene was one he
didn't recognize. One that hasn't occurred yet? Before he could learn more
the thread slipped from his fingers.
Luke saw a scene of Chewie and Anakin on some planet that seemed to be
under attack. Strange, scarred aliens taking over his home on Yavin. A
great upheaval in the galaxy.
And before the vision ended, Luke took one last look at the millions of
people that had died. Friends and loved ones that had been killed by war.
A chill ran up Luke's spine as cruel laughter echoed in his vision just
before it faded into darkness.

************************************************************************
Yavin; Day 125, 21 A.B.Y.

"Master Horn says that you have completed your training, Nevik."
"If he says so Master Skywalker. I feel there is still much that I have to
learn."
Luke smiled at the man's humility. His grandmother had been a Jedi that
was killed during the purges years ago. His father was an officer in the
Almanian military and his mother died in the years following the collapse of
Kueller's regime. The loss of a loving wife drove Nevik's father away from
his son and to lose himself in his work. Nevik took the next shuttle off
planet and made his way into New Republic territory to enlist in the
military. After a few years he was recruited into Rogue Squadron and became
the wing mate to Corran Horn. After the signing of the peace treaty, Corran
decided to retire and pursue his destiny as a Jedi. Corran mentioned to
Master Skywalker that he had felt something strange about Nevik and Luke
went to Coruscant to determine if the young man was Force sensitive.
The Jedi Master found Nevik with his fellow members of Rogue Squadron at a
table singing lewd tavern songs. Luke quickly discovered that Nevik did
indeed have a connection to the Force and offered the young Almanian the
chance to be trained as a Jedi Knight. Nevik welcomed the opportunity and
traveled back with the Jedi Master to his Academy. Nevik spent the next
couple years redefining his perception of the galaxy and now was preparing
to be released upon the galaxy.
Nevik saw Luke's smile widen and heard someone come into the room with him.
Mara Jade Skywalker came up to her husband and kissed him on the cheek.
Luke smiled and to some unspoken question answered "No, that's all right."
Mara smirked and sauntered away from him. A short laugh erupted from her
and Mara called sarcastically, "Yes, Master."
Nevik managed to suppress a grin as he saw a pillow from the nearby sofa
fly across the room and smack her in the back of the head. She let out a
startled exclamation and glared at the back of her husband's head. The fire
in her eyes took on a mischievous light as the pillow levitated back over to
where Luke was standing.
Unawares of this new danger, Luke continued with his conversation.
"Are you familiar with Alya Shadar?"
"The Beryllian?"
"Yes. She is currently on Coruscant, having just finished her training
under Cilghal. I intend for..."
This time Nevik failed to suppress the grin as a hundred white feathers
fell over the form of the Jedi Master from the torn pillow hovering over his
head. Luke closed his eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. Shaking his
head and swiping at a feather on his shoulder, Luke looked back up to his
newest Jedi with a smile.
"Women."
Nevik smiled and politely waited for the revered master to continue.
"As I was saying, I intend for you and Alya to patrol the south quadrant.
It is unprotected, and I intend for you two to fill that hole. I am
confident that you are both ready for this responsibility."
Nevik swallowed the lump in his throat and bowed his head. "Thank you,
master."
"The Ardent Venture is a small ship but it will suit your needs. I will
send a message ahead to Cilghal to have Alya expecting your arrival. May
the Force be with you."

Luke stood there for a minute more and absent-mindedly ran a finger through
his hair. Pulling a white feather out, his mind drifted to a particular
redhead. Reaching out for her presence, Luke made his way to the top of the
temple. Mara was standing close to one edge and looking out at the stars,
her arms wrapped tightly around her body in an attempt to block out the
nighttime chill. Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin
on her shoulder.
"It's cold. You should be inside."
"I know. I've just had some stuff on my mind."
"A credit for your thoughts?"
Mara smiled and turned in his arms. A retort died in her throat, as she
became lost in his gaze. Her eyes slowly, reluctantly, drifted away to
encompass his face and his hair, the temples of which were starting to go
gray. The smile returned as she reached out to pick another white feather
from his hair.
"Been playing with the birds again, Skywalker?"
Luke grinned and sealed her mouth with a kiss. Only the lack of oxygen
pulled them apart and Mara pushed Luke back so she could see him clearly.
"I don't want you to go tomorrow."
Luke sighed and lowered his eyes. "Mara, I have to. The attacks in the
Tatoo system have hurt the New Republic severely, and NRI believes those
responsible are operating off of Tatooine. Since I..."
"I know. I know the reasons. It's just... I... I just have this feeling that
something isn't right. That something bad is going to happen."
Luke considered her words for a moment. He smiled and met her gaze. "Jedi
hunch?"
Mara returned the smile and gently caressed his face. "Could be. Or maybe
I'm just going to miss you terribly. And you better not be getting back
into your old ways of trying to save the galaxy by yourself. Y'know, the
right person for the job? Or do you need that lecture again?"
Luke smiled and pulled her closer to him. "I am the right person for the
job. And I've committed that lesson to memory. Wonderful things,
short-term memory techniques."
Mara leaned back and adopted a look of mock surprise. "Is that a little
Jedi humor from the wise master?"
"I try. I'll miss you too, but I'm not leaving until tomorrow morning.
You have me for the rest of the night, Ms. Skywalker."
"That's good, because I'm not letting you out of my sight, farmboy."
Luke took on a mask of mock resignation. "Well, I guess that means I'll
have to see my other girlfriends later."
"Two jokes in one night?!? Do you need to sit down? I know this is your
first time and all. It can be a little painful at first, but it does get
easier."
Mara tipped her head to the side. Did she know how she looked under that
light? How the moon light danced on the fine strings of her hair. The way
the shadows make her eyes look even bigger, a deeper green? Probably not,
he decided. And that was what made it all the more attractive.
Luke chuckled and shook his head. "You kill me, Mara."
"I just might."
Silence took the two lovers, as they became lost in each other's warmth,
their bond and their own memories. Luke finally ended the pleasant reverie.
"C'mon. Let's get back inside before the cold kills me and denies you the
pleasure."
Mara stole one more kiss from her husband before acceding to his
suggestion. The couple strolled arm in arm back inside the confines of the
great temple.

The next morning, Mara stood on the pad watching Luke's ship leave the
atmosphere. A cold dread began to sink into her stomach and worry had her
heart pounding. About a week later that dread became a numbing pain when
she felt the bond that she had with Luke severed. She soon got a message
that Luke's ship had been destroyed.

Sorry about not attaching the FIC title on that last post, but here's the Prologue through Chapter 2. Okay, I'm going to stop posting after 11. Too scatterbrained :S
Title: Shadows of the Past: The Second Imperium
Author: Arikel
Rating: R
Disclaimer: If you don't recognize the name I probably made them up, everybody else is part of the Star Wars universe, and I'm making no money off of them. Please R&R. Many many thanks to my beta-readers, Gariel and Jedilittlebee, who I couldn't have gotten through this without. Muchas gracias, mi amigas.
Setting: Two years after Vision of the Future.
Is man a product of the Force, or is the Force a product of man?
Episode one: Black Aurora
Prologue
Somewhere in the Sumitra Sector; Day 49, 21 A.B.Y.
There is an old spacer saying 'In space no one can hear you scream.'
Today, Marcos Niin had spent what seemed like a lifetime praying to the Force that it was just a saying.
"Come now, Marcos. Tell us what we need to know... and all this..." the taloned hand took in the bloodied finger and toenails, the dislocated shoulder. "This can all go away."
"There...," Marcos gagged on the blood building in his lungs. "There is... no death," his voice gaining strength and volume as Marcos called on the techniques Master Skywalker had taught him. "There is the Force."
Cold, hollow laughter echoed eerily in the hold of the ship.
A hand came down to rest on Marcos' shoulder, bearing the weight of his captor and making the young Jedi gasp in pain. "No death? No... not yet."
His captor leaned down to make eye contact with Marcos. Bringing his hand up to gently cup Marcos' cheek, caressing it. His tormentor seemingly entranced by the way his thumb was smearing the blood across Marcos' cheek. A faraway look etched on his face. "'Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?'"
His eyes came back to the present and he smiled coolly. "Nothing lasts forever. Empires rise and fall. The vitality of youth fades. The pain you feel now will fade. The warm uncertainty of life gives way to the cold finality of dying. What comfort is to be found in life? Seek relief in the arms of death. Tell me, my friend, what in your life is so precious that you must endure this... senseless pain, and for what? Pride? Your beliefs?"
"My body is... nothing more than a vessel for the power... of the Force. A conduit through which... it... works its will through me."
Marcos gritted his teeth and shifted enough to jerk his captor's hand from pressing on his shoulder. Sitting up straighter, a moment of insight and calm took over Marcos, giving him strength.
"No matter what happens to me, in the end, the Light will always win over Darkness. By killing me, you only make the Force stronger. I am a Jedi. I will give my life for what I believe."
"Ah. Spoken like a true fool," his tormentor sneered in disdain. "But tell me boy, what is the value of faith when everything you believe is a lie?"
For the last time, Marcos Niin cried out in pain, praying that he would become one with the Force.

Chapter I
Three months later; Bespin; Day 134, 21 A.B.Y.
Kerr had been staring at the bottom of his tumbler for the past hour. He was just a little tipsy and rather belligerent. His father once said that once you hit the bottom the only place you can go is up. Kerr smirked at the thought that his father left out the fact that if you have a shovel you can always start digging.
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From birth to the time he was twelve, Kerr had lived a simple life. Born on Imperial Center, the "Heart of the Galaxy," Kerr was thoroughly glutted with every luxury the family of a Moff could think of. Subhuman servants at his beck and call, lavish rooms in which he could entertain and impress his friends, and every toy or trinket he desired. But as the saying goes, all good things come to an end.
His father, Moff Aranid Dorgan had spent his entire career following the great man that was Grand Moff Tarkin. Aranid was with him at every victory, every conquest. He was with him when Tarkin destroyed Alderaan, and he was with him at Yavin.
Kerr was devastated by the loss of his father and swore vengeance on the Rebels who killed him. He enlisted in the Imperial Naval Academy the same year that Emperor Palpatine was "killed" on the second Death Star. His zealousness and intelligence saw him into Imperial Intelligence under Ysanne Isard in a short time. Under her rule on Coruscant, Kerr grew to dislike the Empire and started to feel that the father he saw now wasn't the man he had admired as a child. In his young idealistic days, Kerr's father was the kind of man he wanted to become. He was quickly following that path and found a growing distaste for who he was becoming.
Following the Rebel conquest of Coruscant, Kerr and his fellow operatives were charged with eliminating the Black Sun cartel that was harassing the Imperial Forces. Going out into the city and looking at the carnage caused by the Krytos Virus sickened Kerr to his stomach. Created by Imperial scientists to turn healthy flesh into a bloody pulp, it was dumped into the water supply and left behind during Isard's retreat. Kerr had no love for the subhumans, but such a callous act of genocide delivered the final blow on the wedge between him and the Empire. Realizing that members of his unit were starting to take note of his odd behavior, Kerr used his next scouting expedition to track down a Black Sun operative. Posing as a member of Coruscant's underbelly, he approached the man offering information about a local Imperial cell in exchange for food. The operative agreed, and Kerr betrayed his former friends. He took his food and went to hide in the slums of Coruscant. The Empire trained him to blend in and to sneak into places; he now used that training to evade his former allies.
Kerr spent the next few months in the back alleys of Coruscant, ignoring the local aliens and doing what he had to for his own survival. Most of the money he was able to scrounge off of the dead or panhandle from the living was spent on starting an addiction to alcohol.
Kerr fell into a pattern during that time. Wake up in some alley, scrounge around for food and money, go to a tavern and get drunk, get tossed out of the bar, pass out. If not for a simple twist of fate, this pattern probably would have ended him. However, one night he had the brilliant idea of making some very Imperialistic comments to an intoxicated and very rowdy Trandoshan. When Kerr woke up with a throbbing headache, he was sitting in a New Republic community cell. He thanked his luck that the Trandoshan wasn't in the cell with him, but his luck ran out when a fellow cell mate, a former Black Sun member, recognized him. The New Republic guard had to rush into the cell to break up the fight and drag the madman off that was ranting about Imperial assassins.
The guard had Kerr placed in a separate cell and decided to have NRI check and see if there was any validity to the criminals claim. A couple days later, Kerr had a visit from a pair of Intelligence agents who questioned him to exhaustion about his activities in the city since the fall of Coruscant. He was held in isolation for questioning for another month until Major Mart Stevez came to see him. The Major made Kerr an offer. Join up with Taskforce Shen starting out as a repair tech or medic, or spend the rest of his life in the Kessel mines.
Taking a minute to think about it, Kerr decided to work for Major Stevez. The Major only had to remind Kerr twice that he could still be sent to the mines before the ex-Imperial quit his insubordination. Once he buried his attitude and started to watch the way the New Republic workers acted around each other he began to change. He would spend hours in the mess hall by himself just watching the way the humans and aliens worked together and ate together and laughed together. Something else that he found was sorely lacking during his childhood in the Empire.
Laughter.
The longer he watched the others, the more detached he felt.
More... alien.
Kerr's feeling of isolation within the New Republic was driving him to the point that he was going to try and escape to the Outer Rim. He was heading for the hangar to make his escape when his commlink beeped. The Major needed to see him. Kerr immediately started wondering if Stevez somehow knew what he had in mind. Doubting the possibility of that, Kerr went to meet with the Major and pushed thoughts of escape to the back of his mind for the moment.
Arriving at the office, Kerr almost knocked the seat over when he saw the woman speaking with the Major. A fair-haired lady with fine, sharp, sleek cheeks and jaw, with the poise of a military veteran and the confidence of someone accustomed to the reigns of command. Mirth danced gaily in her eyes and an amused smile touched her lips as Kerr surreptitiously set the chair back on all four legs.
Major Stevez, oblivious to Kerr's awkward entrance, gestured for him to take a seat, earning another amused smirk from the woman at the Major's side. Somewhat mollified, Kerr plopped down and kept his attention on the Major. Shifting uncomfortably, he sat at attention to present a fa?e of composure. The Major took a seat at his desk, while the woman remained standing, reading through the file in her hands.
"Mr. Dorgan, I trust you have heard about the crisis occurring in the Core?"
"Yeah. Everyone's talking about it." Kerr replied with a self-deprecating smile. "Some are even talking to me."
"Then you understand the situation that has arisen on Coruscant?"
Kerr shifted his eyes uncertainly from to the woman and back to Stevez. "Yeah... but... why are...? What has this got to do with me?"
"Well, Kerr, the taskforce is being sent into Coruscant to set up some cells to take over the planet's defense grid should the need arise. We've spent our entire career in the Mid-Rim and so no one in my company is all that familiar with the layout of the planet. We need someone that knows the lay of the land to act as a guide. Being a native of Coruscant... and a former Intelligence agent, you're the best man for the job."
Kerr steadily met the Major's gaze for an uncomfortable silence until shifting his attention to the woman. She regarded him with an unreadable expression on her face. With a glance back at the Major, Kerr growled "why should I risk my ass for the rebellion?"
A shadow of a frown passed across the Major's face, which then settled into a tightening of his jaw as Stevez leaned back into his chair. The squeaking of joints sounded loudly in the silence of the office.
"According to our files you used to live in the Manarai Towers, correct?"
Kerr nodded slightly.
"We are prepared to evict the current resident of those suites that belonged to your father and give them to you," the Major paused to gauge whether or not this would be suitable compensation. Seeing the lackluster expression on the former Imperial's face, Stevez grudgingly continued with the offer.
"We are also prepared to increase your pay scale by two grades."
Kerr leaned back in his chair, a hand coming up to hide his grin from view. After pushing back the giddy rush of triumph he cast a thoughtful gaze over the Major and the woman who was still watching him blandly. Kerr slowly nodded his head.
"Okay. I'm in. What do I have to do?"
The Major rose, gesturing to the woman next to him. "This is First Lieutenant Vu Nin, your CO in the taskforce. She will fill you in." Stevez proffered his hand, "Welcome to the Shadows, Trooper Dorgan."
Kerr spent the next week getting familiar with the weaponry and procedures used by the Rebellion. He spent that time determined to remain detached from these anarchists, but he was finding it increasingly difficult the more time he spent with his CO. She had a natural charm about her and a cheerful attitude that rebuffed anyone's attempts at remaining aloof. When she smiled, Kerr couldn't help but feel warmth spreading through him causing the corners of his mouth to rise.
By the time that Taskforce Shen wormed their way into the "Heart of the Galaxy", Vu had managed to work her way into Kerr's heart. During the course of their operations behind enemy lines, Kerr found his reason for being on this mission slipping from greed towards protecting his CO.
His only friend.
After the Imperial forces abandoned Coruscant following the death of the Emperor on Onderon, Kerr surprised everyone by remaining with Taskforce Shen rather than staying on his home planet. After a couple of months of seeing Kerr and Vu together in the mess hall, everyone knew his reason for staying.
Through Vu, Kerr found respect not only for the New Republic but also for the aliens within it. This was a slow process of breaking down the derrocrete walls the Empire had built with their brainwashing and propaganda, but his affection for her proved to be more powerful than the attitude of bigotry.
This process began with a fight between him and Vu. They had assisted in the liberation of prisoners from an Imperial outpost in the Outer Rim. One of the prisoners was a half-human, half-Beryllian woman named Alya. Kerr, once again letting his mouth run before his mind can catch up, made an unmistakably Imperialistic comment regarding half-breeds. The cold glare he received from his CO made Kerr realize he had made a mistake. The verbal lashing she gave him made Kerr realize that he made a BIG mistake. It also served to make Kerr come to terms with just how much Vu meant to him. Years ago, such a lashing would have just bounced off his iron hide. But the fact that this punishment came from Vu made it sting.
He spent the next couple of weeks trying to redeem himself, trying to make himself a better man. Apologizing to Alya, he spent time with the Beryllian more, making an effort to try and come to understand her race. He was determined to see past the stereotype ingrained in him by the Empire to see the individual within. Between Alya, who had joined the taskforce as a tech, and Vu, the walls were quickly coming down.
It was Alya who finally pushed Kerr and Vu to recognize the way they gazed at each other and inspired them to take that first tentative step towards a deeper relationship. A godsend for which they were both grateful. When it became known that Alya was Force-sensitive, the three friends reluctantly said their farewells as Alya was taken to Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy on Yavin 4.
The two soldiers found the rigors of a relationship to be about as fraught with danger as any Imperial outpost. A fear of abandonment brought on by the loss of loved ones had taught both of them to keep people at arm's length. It was that fear that would end up unconsciously sabotaging relationships, effectively destroying the very bonds they were afraid of losing.
A conflicting need for and the fear of intimacy made the two orphans push each other away and then pull them back. The act of making love seemed to only complicate matters. Creating a physical desire that caused more emotional turmoil. The tension finally came to a peak at the end of the war. Kerr wanted to resign, settle down and have a life. Kerr asked Vu to marry him.
But Vu withdrew from him. She said she couldn't marry him, that she didn't love him, that she couldn't love him. Kerr tried to make her see reason. Tried to convince her that he wouldn't leave, that he would be with her forever. But Vu pushed him away again. Killing a part of Kerr in the process.
So Kerr left her and sought consolation in alcohol. He took up the life of a mercenary and made enough money to keep himself stocked with food and liquor. And so it was when he had arrived on Bespin, looking to drown himself in his sorrows, that Kerr's life would take another 180-degree turn.
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Kerr had just finished off a job for Potas Hea, a spice dealer that used to be associated with Jabba's syndicate. He wasn't happy with having to rough up some addicts who ripped Hea off, but the pay was good. Money and alcohol helps to appease one's conscience.
He had decided to just crash in his cabin tonight rather than spending the money on a room. Tossing his vest on the pilot's seat, Kerr made his way to the galley to get a bottle of Halo before retiring for the night. Tossing the flask back, Kerr punched the control panel to his room. The amber liquid sloshed around as he took a moment to look at his cabin. His hand went to pick up the holo that Vu had given him on Independence Day. A holiday that took him some time to come to peace with, but the love of a tender woman helped him put to rest that part of him that used to live in the Empire. Letting the holo drop back onto the floor, Kerr picked up the datapad to read the next chapter of The Wanderer and his Shadow.
After a few hours, he flicked off the light and crawled into bed. He spent hours twisting and turning until he finally remembered why it was that Kerr hated sleeping in his ship. It was empty. Tossing the sheets off with a growl, Kerr turned the lights back on and quickly dressed. Dumping a few belongings into a satchel, Kerr left the ship to go out to his preferred hotel on Cloud City. Kerr confirmed for the manager that he would like 'the usual.'
Kerr tossed his satchel onto the bed and checked his reflection in the mirror. His dark hair was a little thicker and longer than was fitting for an agent of the New Republic, and his face was rough with the stubble of a few days growth. Running a hand over his chin, Kerr sunk into the bed.
This was the part that he always hated. That time of night when there was absolute silence. Not quiet. Quiet was what he had when Vu was around. When they would sit comfortably with each other and separately work on their reports or repair their weapons. Quiet was the way that they could sit in the same area for hours and not feel compelled to fill the room with idle chatter. Quiet was the comfortable blanket that they wrapped around themselves.
This was silence. The complete absence of her presence. The hollow sound of a lone occupant's breathing filling the room, not two. Silence was the blanket that smothered him.
Kerr jumped at the sound of a knock at the door. Slowly getting to his feet, Kerr checked himself in the mirror once more before opening the door. A weary, resigned and broken smile creased his face, welcoming the break in the silence.
The manager of the hotel knew Kerr's taste for companionship. The woman outside the door had eyes a little too far apart, but they were the color of HER eyes. Her lips had the same fullness. Her hair was the same color and length, but didn't have the same body that HER hair had. Her gait was different, and Vu would never be caught dead in that outfit, but Kerr didn't care. For one night, he could pretend that he was with HER.
Kerr stumbled out of The Morning After Cantina and headed for his ship. He had spent all the credits he earned and didn't have enough to keep the room any longer. Holding a hand out to the side of his ship to steady himself, Kerr looked down the hallway to the cause of some commotion. A couple of docks down at a Corellian Gunship, three men were struggling to haul a man dressed from head to toe in black into their vessel. What caught his attention was the fact that the man had a gash on his forehead and Kerr could swear he knew the man from somewhere.
"Hey," Kerr paused to steady himself and to appear a little less intoxicated. "Wazza goin' on down thur."
One of the beings, a Gamorrean, stepped away and laid a hand on the blaster at his side. "None of your business, skrig."
Kerr moved his hand to where his blaster used to be and sighed. "Oh. S'kay."
He watched for a moment longer and then stepped into the Shatter Starr. It really wasn't any of his business. Probably owed them some money or something. Kerr fell onto the sofa and rubbed his eyes. Pausing only for a few minutes to think hard about where he had seen the man before, Kerr slowly lapsed into unconsciousness.
Chapter II
Yavin; Day 124, 21 A.B.Y.
Luke Skywalker had spent the last couple hours staring at the printouts the NRI had sent him via personal courier a few hours ago. Gib Leiv, sector chief of NRI in the Tatoo System, had contacted him a week ago. Leiv had requested Luke's help in bringing down a particularly vicious and well-connected criminal syndicate that had come to the attention of local authorities recently. By all reports, this syndicate, calling itself Black Aurora, had gained a monopoly on the criminal activity in the Outer Rim by ruthlessly and methodically eliminating any would be crime lords who refused to join the syndicate.
Hiamein Mynorma, a Twi'lek who had control over the spice smuggling and refused to give up his operations, was found eviscerated, with his lekku horribly scarred by what appeared to be some kind of acid. Between word of Hiamein's death and the syndicate having acquired the services of the Rose, there was no one that dared refuse Black Aurora. The syndicate was quickly becoming a power that could compromise the New Republic's control over the Outer Rim.
Luke picked up the holo of the latest victim. The NRI file labeled the victim as an, as of yet, unidentified human male in his mid to late twenties who had died from cardiac arrest due to extensive physical torture. There were several post-mortem wounds inflicted upon the body including the removal of the face and heart, a desecration of the body that was becoming a trademark of the syndicate. Luke tried not to dwell on the atrocities, but try to focus on finding something that the NRI might have missed. Some clue as to what made these victims special. They didn't appear to be people on the fringe of society, so what had they done to deserve a death sentence and violation?
Luke picked up the report on the crimes thus far. With the exception of Mynorma, the crime lords and others like them were killed but not mutilated. So who were these people? What did they do to the syndicate to warrant this? Dropping the holos and reports in defeat, Luke pinched the bridge of his nose and rose from the bed. Stretching his arms and back, Luke sank into a comfortable position on the floor to try and gain some answers through the Force.
A thousand different images flashed before his eyes. The threads of fate binding the images, some loosely and some tightly woven together. The images became a tapestry that stretched from the beginning of time to its end. Luke spied the merging images of himself and Mara. With effort, he managed to resist the urge to reach out and see where the thread would lead.
In the tapestry were people and places he had seen and others that were unfamiliar. Thousands of images slipped through his fingers. An image of himself watching the suns of Tatooine. Mara and him fighting a lightsaber battle-
Luke grabbed the thread before it slipped away. The scene was one he didn't recognize. One that hasn't occurred yet? Before he could learn more the thread slipped from his fingers.
Luke saw a scene of Chewie and Anakin on some planet that seemed to be under attack. Strange, scarred aliens taking over his home on Yavin. A great upheaval in the galaxy.
And before the vision ended, Luke took one last look at the millions of people that had died. Friends and loved ones that had been killed by war. A chill ran up Luke's spine as cruel laughter echoed in his vision just before it faded into darkness.
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Yavin; Day 125, 21 A.B.Y.
"Master Horn says that you have completed your training, Nevik."
"If he says so Master Skywalker. I feel there is still much that I have to learn."
Luke smiled at the man's humility. His grandmother had been a Jedi that was killed during the purges years ago. His father was an officer in the Almanian military and his mother died in the years following the collapse of Kueller's regime. The loss of a loving wife drove Nevik's father away from his son and to lose himself in his work. Nevik took the next shuttle off planet and made his way into New Republic territory to enlist in the military. After a few years he was recruited into Rogue Squadron and became the wing mate to Corran Horn. After the signing of the peace treaty, Corran decided to retire and pursue his destiny as a Jedi. Corran mentioned to Master Skywalker that he had felt something strange about Nevik and Luke went to Coruscant to determine if the young man was Force sensitive.
The Jedi Master found Nevik with his fellow members of Rogue Squadron at a table singing lewd tavern songs. Luke quickly discovered that Nevik did indeed have a connection to the Force and offered the young Almanian the chance to be trained as a Jedi Knight. Nevik welcomed the opportunity and traveled back with the Jedi Master to his Academy. Nevik spent the next couple years redefining his perception of the galaxy and now was preparing to be released upon the galaxy.
Nevik saw Luke's smile widen and heard someone come into the room with him. Mara Jade Skywalker came up to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. Luke smiled and to some unspoken question answered "No, that's all right."
Mara smirked and sauntered away from him. A short laugh erupted from her and Mara called sarcastically, "Yes, Master."
Nevik managed to suppress a grin as he saw a pillow from the nearby sofa fly across the room and smack her in the back of the head. She let out a startled exclamation and glared at the back of her husband's head. The fire in her eyes took on a mischievous light as the pillow levitated back over to where Luke was standing.
Unawares of this new danger, Luke continued with his conversation.
"Are you familiar with Alya Shadar?"
"The Beryllian?"
"Yes. She is currently on Coruscant, having just finished her training under Cilghal. I intend for..."
This time Nevik failed to suppress the grin as a hundred white feathers fell over the form of the Jedi Master from the torn pillow hovering over his head. Luke closed his eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. Shaking his head and swiping at a feather on his shoulder, Luke looked back up to his newest Jedi with a smile.
"Women."
Nevik smiled and politely waited for the revered master to continue.
"As I was saying, I intend for you and Alya to patrol the south quadrant. It is unprotected, and I intend for you two to fill that hole. I am confident that you are both ready for this responsibility."
Nevik swallowed the lump in his throat and bowed his head. "Thank you, master."
"The Ardent Venture is a small ship but it will suit your needs. I will send a message ahead to Cilghal to have Alya expecting your arrival. May the Force be with you."
Luke stood there for a minute more and absent-mindedly ran a finger through his hair. Pulling a white feather out, his mind drifted to a particular redhead. Reaching out for her presence, Luke made his way to the top of the temple. Mara was standing close to one edge and looking out at the stars, her arms wrapped tightly around her body in an attempt to block out the nighttime chill. Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"It's cold. You should be inside."
"I know. I've just had some stuff on my mind."
"A credit for your thoughts?"
Mara smiled and turned in his arms. A retort died in her throat, as she became lost in his gaze. Her eyes slowly, reluctantly, drifted away to encompass his face and his hair, the temples of which were starting to go gray. The smile returned as she reached out to pick another white feather from his hair.
"Been playing with the birds again, Skywalker?"
Luke grinned and sealed her mouth with a kiss. Only the lack of oxygen pulled them apart and Mara pushed Luke back so she could see him clearly.
"I don't want you to go tomorrow."
Luke sighed and lowered his eyes. "Mara, I have to. The attacks in the Tatoo system have hurt the New Republic severely, and NRI believes those responsible are operating off of Tatooine. Since I..."
"I know. I know the reasons. It's just... I... I just have this feeling that something isn't right. That something bad is going to happen."
Luke considered her words for a moment. He smiled and met her gaze. "Jedi hunch?"
Mara returned the smile and gently caressed his face. "Could be. Or maybe I'm just going to miss you terribly. And you better not be getting back into your old ways of trying to save the galaxy by yourself. Y'know, the right person for the job? Or do you need that lecture again?"
Luke smiled and pulled her closer to him. "I am the right person for the job. And I've committed that lesson to memory. Wonderful things, short-term memory techniques."
Mara leaned back and adopted a look of mock surprise. "Is that a little Jedi humor from the wise master?"
"I try. I'll miss you too, but I'm not leaving until tomorrow morning. You have me for the rest of the night, Ms. Skywalker."
"That's good, because I'm not letting you out of my sight, farmboy."
Luke took on a mask of mock resignation. "Well, I guess that means I'll have to see my other girlfriends later."
"Two jokes in one night?!? Do you need to sit down? I know this is your first time and all. It can be a little painful at first, but it does get easier."
Mara tipped her head to the side. Did she know how she looked under that light? How the moon light danced on the fine strings of her hair. The way the shadows make her eyes look even bigger, a deeper green? Probably not, he decided. And that was what made it all the more attractive.
Luke chuckled and shook his head. "You kill me, Mara."
"I just might."
Silence took the two lovers, as they became lost in each other's warmth, their bond and their own memories. Luke finally ended the pleasant reverie. "C'mon. Let's get back inside before the cold kills me and denies you the pleasure."
Mara stole one more kiss from her husband before acceding to his suggestion. The couple strolled arm in arm back inside the confines of the great temple.
The next morning, Mara stood on the pad watching Luke's ship leave the atmosphere. A cold dread began to sink into her stomach and worry had her heart pounding. About a week later that dread became a numbing pain when she felt the bond that she had with Luke severed. She soon got a message that Luke's ship had been destroyed

Chapter Iii
Coruscant; Day 134, 21 A.B.Y.
Alya stared up at the sign to make sure she had the right place. It displayed a group of vegetables that Alya couldn't identify under the name Frida's Fancy Foods. The doors opened silently and the Beryllian entered into what was supposed to be the Taskforce Shen operational office. In her last message, Vu had told Alya where she was stationed, and so Alya came looking to reconnect with her old friend.
Taskforce Shen was a company composed of the most feared branch of SpecForce Infiltrators, some of the most dangerous men and women on Coruscant, followed closely by the politicians for sheer virulence.. They were the eyes and ears for covert operations. These stealthy troopers could slip through the highest security to sow fear and conduct sabotage operations among the ranks and drive the officers to distraction. They were trained to use melee weapons, silenced slugthrowers and even their bare hands to accomplish their mission. An ideal Infiltrator mission wouldn't be detected for hours, long after the wraiths had vanished into the night.
Alya again considered that she might have followed the directions wrong as she took in the shop around her. Although she didn't recognize the foods on display, the shop reminded her of her aunt's gorchery shop back home. The shelves and cabinets looked like they might have been homemade rather than purchased in some store or made by a professional. As if Frida made just enough to cover her expenses, but not enough to improve her shop. This close to the core of the planet the maintenance droids never bothered with cleaning the roads and as such a thick layer of dirt and dust had made its way into the shop. Completing the image, and ruining the notion that this might be the right place, was the woman behind the cabinet.
She looked to be in her late fifties with thick brown hair that was done up in a style that Princess Leia made popular years ago, but the woman obviously never had the Princess' hairstylists. A number of frazzled strands were plastered to the side of her face by sweat and a few were stuck to her forehead. In her eyes, Alya could see exhaustion and age that extended out to every ounce of her body. Turning her attention away from the holovid, the woman met her new customer with a weak smile.
"Well, ain't you a pretty thing?"
The woman's smile widened and she took in Alya's robes.
"Bless my stars, would you be one of them Jedi?"
Alya couldn't suppress the smile that came to her face in response to the woman's exuberance.
"Yes, I am."
"I'll be. Hey, is it true that what's his name... oh yeah, Master Skywalker, is he making whoopy round so many young 'uns."
Alya blinked in utter bafflement. "What?"
"I heard that he be having sex at that Academy. And with little kiddies around ta boot!"
"Uhhh.... I, uh... I, I really wouldn't know. Uhm. I, see... I'm... I'm sure that, uh, that there's no, uh. I'm sure it's just a rumor or, uhm, something."
"Well, I read it in the New Republic News. And you know they weren't wrong about those white granite slugs in the sewers that had grown to the size of a man. Damndest thing I ever saw."
"Well... I guess I'll just be, uhm, going...."
"Now, you hadn't been havin sex at that there academy, did you? I mean, you're a pretty thing. I'm sure that was some young buck that wanted to...."
The woman was cut off by a familiar and unbelievably welcome voice.
"Jark, this is a friend of mine. So stop hitting on her and stopping messing with her head."
Alya turned her head to the left where before was a cabinet but now was an open passageway. Her face lit up with glee and relief at the sight of Vu Nin standing in the doorway and then glanced back at the old woman. Alya had to do a double take as the woman was now a young man with an impish grin on his handsome face.
"Sorry about that. Hey, if you want to go out on a date sometime, you know where to find me. Don't like humans?" His face and body rippled and the pink flesh was replaced by fine white fur. "I can be," he paused obviously drawing up a blank for what race she was. "Y'know, whatever."
Alya just looked at her friend with a small smile.
Vu buried her urge to grin under the reins of leadership and in her sternest voice drew out the Troopers name.
"Right, sorry. Oh, sorry sir," he punctuated with a brief salute. "And hey, if you're not into guys?" Another ripple went through his body as breasts grew on his chest. "Not a problem. I can do that too."
Alya's eyes widened in surprise and focused her attention back on Vu. "I'm officially disturbed now. Can we go?"
The silent chuckle that went through her friend was only noticed by Alya's Force enhanced senses. Vu looked back at the "man" under her command. "Jark...," she sighed in frustration. "First, get rid of those things."
Jark didn't attempt to suppress the smirk on his face. "Sorry sir," emphasizing the last word.
Vu's eyes narrowed fractionally but lifted again with the dance of merriment that her men had come to love, and sometimes fear. "Trooper Jark. You're to report to KR at 0700."
The quick look of annoyance is quickly replaced with one of mock gleefulness. "Do I get a toothbrush?"
Vu ignored his question and turned gesturing with her head down the passageway. "Shall we?"
The cabinet dropped down quietly behind them as the two friends walked towards a small meeting room.
Alya caught the small shaking of her friends head and smiled. "He's kind of a handful, huh?"
Vu smirked. "That doesn't even begin to cover it. Just last week I caught him sneaking a spy droid into the women's...," Vu continued to prattle on for a few minutes until Alya's snickering brought her to a halt.
"What?"
"Nothing. He is cute though."
Vu stopped in front of the door to look at her friend in disbelief. "Oh no, Alya. Don't even think about it. He's... he's undisciplined, egotistical, a lech...."
Opening the door, Vu again trailed off when Alya winked at her. Her lips setting in a pout, Vu just looked at her friend. A sight that just started Alya to giggling again. Closing the door behind them, Vu couldn't resist joining her friend in laughing.
For the first time in years, Vu allowed herself an unprofessional gesture and embraced her friend.
"Oh Alya, it has been far too long."
Vu stepped away from the diminutive Beryllian still holding her hands.
"Life at the Academy has been good to you. I've never seen you look so... you're positively glowing!"
Alya squeezed her friend's hands affectionately before releasing them and stepping over to a bench so they both could sit.
"I have learned so much, and I've seen so many things. Oh! It is so amazing Vu. I can see colors now."
Vu looked startled which was followed quickly by confusion. "But I thought all Beryllians were completely color blind."
"We are, but through the Force I have learned how to see through the eyes of others. Through other people, I can see color. I never realized the world was so beautiful. By the Force, Vu, I have seen the most brilliant mornings on Yavin. I never realized how much I've missed until I found a way to open my eyes."
Tears came to Alya's eyes as she spoke with wonder filling her voice.
Vu hugged her friend again, talking into her soft white fur. "I'm so happy for you."
Alya took her friend's hands back in her own again and squeezed gently. "And Kerr. How is he? Is he here?"
Vu looked away from her friend, unable to meet her eyes.
Alya's face twisted in a combination of pity and annoyance. "Don't tell me you two are fighting again."
Vu bit down on her lip and meeting Alya's eyes painfully managed to whisper, "Kerr left."
"He left? As in... you're not together anymore?"
Vu nodded slightly, confirming her friends suspicion.
Alya drew out her friend's name in a combination of exhaustion and frustration. "Vu, you've been sending me messages about how you two were doing. Why didn't you tell me this?"
Vu looked at her friend, her eyes begging for understanding. "I just couldn't. It's just been so difficult since he left. I've... I've just tried to put him out of my mind and forget about him."
Alya squeezed her friend's hand and smiled reassuringly. "Any luck with that?"
"None," Vu breathed out in a frustrated groan. "I...," Vu met her friends eyes again with a mixture of uncertainty and pain. "I messed up, Alya. Kerr... he... he wanted to get married. I pushed him away. I told him I didn't want to. That I didn't love him."
Alya looked at her friend in confusion, but said nothing. She sensed that there was more that needed to be said.
"I tried so hard not to love him. I didn't want to. I couldn't afford to. I'm just... I'm just so afraid of losing the one's I love. I don't want to open myself up to someone and, once again, have that person taken away. It just leaves a hole inside and I feel so empty."
"But how do you feel when you're with Kerr?"
Vu just smiled sheepishly.
Alya replied for her. "Happy? At peace? Complete?"
Vu just nodded her head.
Alya squeezed her friend's hand. "Look, Vu, if you let fear be your light then you will always dwell in darkness. If there is one thing I have learned about the Force is that it is a part of everything and everyone. With your job you may spend most of your life in the literal darkness, but that doesn't mean you must let it dwell in your heart. It really comes down to what you believe and taking a leap of faith.
"If you have faith in Kerr, and believe that you can make it work, then you can. You can live in the light. But if you have doubts and fears, you stumble. This doesn't mean you can't get back up though, Vu."
Alya reached out and turned Vu's head to look at her.
"Look. Some of the best times of my life were with you and Kerr. And a lot of that is because of what I could feel from the two of you. The way you felt towards each other just filled me with this warmth. I've come to learn that this was due to my sensitivity to the Force. And what I feel... no, what I believe, is that you and Kerr are meant to be together. Find him, Vu. Find him and don't let him go."
Vu smiled gently. "When did you get so bossy?"
Alya returned her friends smile. "When I realized that what my friends need is a good kick in the ass."
Vu looked at her friend with an expression of mock surprise. "Can you say that?"
Alya pulled her friend into a hug before rising to leave. "Hey, I'm a Jedi Knight. Not a saint."
Alya returned to the building that had served as her training grounds for the past year to find a man in his early thirties in the orange flight suit typically seen on starfighter pilots with short-cropped blond hair and a growing goatee. He grinned on seeing her and offered his hand.
"Alya Shadar?"
"Yes. Are you Nevik?"
Nevik nodded his head and gestured to the landing pad. "Nevik Hessler of Almania. I believe our transport is waiting. Shall we?"
Alya nodded and regarded her new companion. She could sense his strong presence in the Force that was bubbling with exuberance and excitement. But underneath all that was a current of... worry? Yes, that's what she felt. Just before Alya had a chance to ask what was bothering him, Nevik spoke up.
"Master Skywalker told me we would be stationed in the south quadrant. How familiar are you with the Corellian Run and Wild Space?"
"Somewhat. I spent a couple years working as a technician with the military and I spent all that time in the Outer Rim. We never went into the Wild Space territory but we did use the Corellian Run a lot. However, I spent most of that time in the bases and so I didn't get to see all that much of the planets we were on. What about you?"
"I'm fairly familiar with it. I spent time with Rogue Squadron and so I've clocked quite a bit of time out in the Rim. I don't know if you have any idea of where we might be needed, but I have somewhere we can start. Some friends of mine that left the Academy a couple years ago have been keeping in touch and letting me know what they've been dealing with out there. Well, a few months ago they came across some trouble in the Outer Rim with some pirates. There were a large number of pirate gangs that were being brought under the control of a Corulagian named Skuldan Bons.
"Well, I haven't heard from them recently and I'm a little concerned. I would like to try and find out if something happened to them."
Alya bobbed her head. "Okay, where do we start?"
"The last message I got said that they were going to be looking into a new club on Eriadu. Someone connected to Bons apparently owns this club, Tarkin's Folly. I'm afraid that maybe they asked around and got into trouble."
"Well I guess we can ask around and see if trouble finds us?"
Nevik returned her smile and nodded.
"So who are these friends of yours?"
"Krios Fra and Marcos Niin."
Chapter Iv
In route to Eriadu; Day 136, 21 A.B.Y.
"Y'know. I don't think I've ever heard of Beryllian's before. Where are you from?"
Alya shrugged and frowned. "I don't really know. My people were never really big on sciences and so we never left our world. Compared to the rest of the galaxy, my people are what you might call... primitive, I guess. Most of my life, my knowledge of our planet didn't extend much further than the village I lived in. Agriculture and hunting were our main concerns. Everything beyond that," she shrugged. "Well, it didn't really matter. We had clothes, we had food, that's all we needed. We had knowledge of other villages and other tribes outside of our own, but I never saw anyone from elsewhere. I guess, as a race, we're rather reclusive. What existed outside our village didn't concern us. As long as the outside didn't disrupt our way of life, we were content.
"All I know is that a few years ago some Imperials began construction of an outpost near my home. A few of us decided to sit on the landing pad in a form of non-violent protest. Well, the stormtroopers came out, saw a bunch of us sitting in a circle on the pad, hit us with their stun settings and next thing I know I'm in a prison cell. I was moved from place to place and eventually came to a prison in the Outer Rim where the New Republic freed me. I've never encountered anyone else from my world and I wouldn't know where to start looking for it."
Nevik nodded in sympathy.
"What about your friends, Nevik? I don't think I've ever met them."
Nevik picked up their glasses and walked over to the kitchen to get refills. "Well, they're both from the same corporate housing project on Thyferra. Marcos and Krios were friends growing up. Krios' parents died when he was young and Marcos' family took him in and raised Krios as their own son. They came to the Academy around the time I left Almania after Kueller was deposed."
Sitting back down, Nevik passed Alya's glass of water to her and took a sip from his own. "Growing up the two of them were practically siblings, and they always treated me like a little brother. Always looking out for me, giving "brotherly" advice."
Nevik smiled, remembering his friends and some of the times they had.
"Marcos always had a gifted eye. Vision better than normal. Artistic talent. He has an eye for reading people, knowing when they are lying or bluffing. He was a real pain when playing sabacc...."
Nevik trailed off realizing what he had just admitted.
Alya smiled at him with an arched eyebrow. "You were gambling at the temple? I thought it wasn't allowed."
Nevik cleared his throat and smiled. "Discouraged, not disallowed. And besides, it wasn't me. It was a friend of mine."
Alya's smile widened. "Of course it was. So Marcos and this friend of yours were playing sabacc...."
"Yeah. Well, Marcos has the ability to sense things through the Force better than either Krios or myself." Nevik snickered. "Better than both of us combined.
"With Marcos it's always black and white. He always had a strong sense of the difference between the Light and Dark Side of the Force. I'll admit, I never had the clarity that he possesses. It's one thing I always envied and admired about Marcos. Whenever I had doubts, or fears, I always knew that I could turn to Marcos and he'd pull through for me. He'd have some little bit of Marcos wisdom that would make me think about the matter in a new light."
Nevik paused, as if considering something for the first time. "You know, he never once gave me the answer. It was always a suggestion or question that would prompt me to come to my own conclusions. But I believe they were good conclusions, and ones that I wouldn't have come to without his advice."
Nevik smiled and took another sip of his water. "Krios on the other hand was brilliant. He has the most focused controlled mind. He was practically a master at hyper-dejarik."
At Alya's confused look, Nevik nodded. "Okay, you've seen dejarik at the Academy, right? The round table with holographic pieces? I think Lowbacca's uncle likes to play it every time he's there with Master Skywalker's family."
At Alya's nod, Nevik continued. "Well, hyper-dejarik is the same game but played at nearly frantic speeds. Krios taught me how to play the game, what to do and what not to do. He was also my sparring partner most of the time. He was great for letting me know where I was leaving myself open to attack and what I needed to do to improve my defenses. I can't say that everything I know about lightsaber dueling I learned from Krios, but it's pretty close."
Nevik nodded his head, smiling. "I'm sure that Krios will make Master one day soon. Marcos might beat him to it first, though."
The beeping noise signaled that it was time to come out of hyperspace. Standing, the two Jedi moved towards the cockpit.
Alya laid her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure they will, and you'll be there to see them at the ceremony."
Nevik smiled and nodded. "C'mon, Eriadu here we come."
*************************************************************************************
Somewhere in the Outer Rim; Undisclosed Time
"I don't hear anything, sir. I think they've passed us by."
Kerr looked over at his CO as she applied pressure to the wound at her side. Kneeling beside her, Kerr took out his spare bacta patch and began applying it to the burnt flesh along her ribs. The sharp intake of breath was the only indication she gave to the extent of damage done.
"Dorgan, just save the patch... and get back... to base. The information on that disk... has to get back to... the Alliance. Go."
Kerr continued to bind the patch around her midsection and then pulled the gray undershirt back down over the bandages. Rising again, he quietly snuck back over to the doorway and set up the sensors to detect any movement within fifty yards.
"Are you listening to me soldier?!? I said GO!"
Whispering, Kerr turned his head back to face his CO. "Yes sir, I did hear you. If you keep yelling then you're going to get us both killed."
Keeping her voice low, Vu sat up a little straighter to help put a little more fire in her voice. "Kerr, I am giving you a DIRECT ORDER. Get... that disk back to base, NOW."
Kerr turned his eyes back to his superior and met her gaze steadily. "No."
"Damn it Kerr, will you use your brain for a Sith forsaken moment! If we can decrypt that info, ...it could save lives! Our presence won't... go undetected for much longer. The snowmen can be here any... any minute now."
Vu looked over to see that Kerr was fiddling with the sensors and not paying any attention to her. "DAMN IT KERR! LISTEN TO ME FOR A FUCKING MOMENT!"
Kerr turned around with a smirk on his face. "Sir? Has anyone ever told you that you cuss like an Amphibian?"
"Fuck you."
Vu heard quiet chuckling come from her friend as he sank down against the wall beside her. Shaking her head, Vu looked over at him. "You realize you are disobeying a direct order from your commanding officer, right?"
Kerr turned to meet her gaze. "Yep."
"Are you stupid or something?"
"Nope. When WE get back to base you can court martial me, okay?"
"No, when we get back I'm gonna kick your ass."
Kerr chuckled. "Promise?"
Vu looked at him oddly. "You'd like that?"
Kerr smiled. "No. But you won't be able to do that until your wound heals, and that won't happen until WE get back to base."
Vu gritted her teeth and then smiled sweetly at him. "I promise."
"Good. Then rest, because you're going to need your strength if we're going to get out of here."
Vu looked at him softly. "Is that an order?"
Kerr just smiled and pulled her to him so she could lean her head against his shoulder. "No sir. Just a suggestion."
Vu smiled and closed her eyes. The fatigue of the day was quickly dragging her towards sleep. Just before plunging in, Vu whispered. "Thank you."
She thought he might have gone to sleep until she heard him murmur into her hair. "Anytime."
Thirteen hours later, the two Infiltrators had managed to escape the outpost and get back to a safe haven. Vu was allowed time for recovery before reporting on what happened. Shortly thereafter Kerr was called into the Major's office. Kerr was awarded for saving his CO's life and she conveniently left out the fact that he disobeyed her orders. The next time they sparred together she did kick his ass though.
A week later, Vu sat down at the lunch table with her friend.
"Kerr, I, uh... wanted to... well, on Alderaan there was a custom that... well, here."
She handed him a silver ring that was topped with a milky white opal and engraved with the images of doves in flight. He turned it over and noticed a number of names had been engraved on the inside, one of which was Vu.
"On Alderaan... there was a custom called the chrysla. We... Alderaanians view life as sacred and... saving someone's life is... precious. The chrysla was the custom of giving something in exchange. Usually something important or... cherished by the one who was saved.
She looked down to the ring in Kerr's hand. "This ring was given to me by my father before I left Alderaan. It was passed down from one generation to the next in my family. It's inscribed with the names of everyone that has ever owned it. I would have... well, it's yours now."
Kerr looked at her in bewilderment. "Vu, I couldn't...."
She shook her head adamantly. "No, it's my gift to you, Kerr. Thank you."
He held her gaze for a long time and finding himself at a loss for words, Kerr could only nod.
Unlatching the chain around his neck, Kerr slid the ring onto it next to his dog tags and slipped the chain back over his neck. Dropping the heirloom beneath his shirt, Kerr heard a persistent beeping noise....
Eriadu; Day 136, 21 A.B.Y.
Kerr groggily tossed about and stretched out his arm to wrap around Vu. Or rather were Vu should have been. The beeping noise from his dream continued to ring from the door and Kerr ran a hand across his chest, pausing briefly on the ring hanging just below his breast. Only the sound from the door grounded Kerr in the fact that he was no longer dreaming. Rolling off the bed, Kerr swayed to the door.
Waiting restlessly in the hallway was a young man with shoulder-length blond hair tied in a ponytail and a scar that ran from the right side of his mouth to his chin. He was dressed from head to toe in black. He grimaced at Kerr's lack of clothing and gestured to a pile of clothes in the corner sending a pair of pants flying through the air and land on Kerr's shoulder.
"Get dressed."
Kerr squinted at the light coming in from the hallway and began to get his pants on. "What do you want Krios?"
Krios Fra nodded down the hallway. "C'mon, we've got another job for you."
Pulling his cleanest dirty shirt on, Kerr grabbed his blaster and fell in step behind the Jedi.

Chapter v
Yavin; Day 141, 21 A.B.Y.
The Millenium Falcon touched down on the landing pad at the Great Temple on Yavin 4. Han Solo released his shoulder harness and looked over at his co-pilot. The trip over had been relatively quiet. Leia had spent the entire time in the back comforting the children and trying to keep their minds off the loss of their uncle. Chewie had remained still with the exception of when they stopped to make a course correction. This left Han with plenty of time to think of nothing but the kid. He had spent half the trip remembering the times Luke had saved his life; the other half recalling the number of times he had saved Luke's. Now, Han felt that he had failed the kid. He hadn't been there when Luke needed him.
Han looked over his shoulder down the corridor. He could hear Leia's voice echoing from the lounge as she pulled the children together to go and visit Aunt Mara. It had been difficult for Han to deal with Luke's death since they heard a few days ago. It was worse for his wife, though. Han had done his best to comfort her, but he found it hard. He felt as if he had failed her as well. He felt it was just wrong. That Luke deserved better. That he still had so much to do. He had fought and sacrificed so much during the war. He deserved some happiness now that it was over. His co-pilot interrupted Han from introspection.
"Right, Chewie. C'mon, I'm sure the kids are bucking to get out the door."
Han finished the shut down procedure and met Leia and the kids at the ramp. His heart clenched at the stricken look on his wife's face. She had obviously been putting up a strong front for the children, but he could tell that what Leia was feeling through the Force here was breaking down her walls. Han pulled his wife into his arms and she leaned her head into the crook of his neck. Husband and wife stood there for some time, just relishing the nearness and warmth of each other. Taking comfort of the presence of their loved ones, and missing the one that should be here to meet them.
His blond hair in desperate need of a cut and his face lights up at the sight of his family.
Han ran his fingers through Leia's mane of hair and pressed his lips to her temple. "C'mon, your highness, we should get in there and check on Mara."
Leia looked up at her husband, the tears in her eyes nearly causing his heart to break in two. She weakly nodded her head and wrapped her arm around his hip. Punching the release button, the Solo family made their way down the ramp and into the temple.
They wandered through the halls, exchanging condolences with the students. Arriving at Luke and Mara's quarters, Han punched the button to signal their presence outside. Through the duracrete doors, they could hear a muffled "Enter."
The doors swished open as the Solo family entered and the kids immediately ran to their aunt and clutched her legs. She dropped the jump suit in her hand and knelt to hug the kids. Sniffling a little, Mara brushed Jaina's hair, while she kissed Jacen on the forehead.
Han looked at the state of the bedroom and came to look at the bed. Mara's blasters and lightsaber were there, near a pack that had clothes spilling out of it.
"Mara... where are you going?"
Mara looked up at her brother-in-law, her eyes red. "To find Luke."
Leia took in a shaky breath and wrapped her arms back around her husband. "Mara... Luke... he's dead."
Her voice cracked and she wasn't certain how she found the strength to finish that statement. To say it out loud.
Mara shook her head defiantly. "We don't know that."
Han looked at her gently. "Can you sense him?"
Mara grimaced and met his gaze. "No. But that doesn't mean that he's dead. He could be unconscious. He could be...." Mara trailed off, shaking her head.
Han nodded his head and pulled his wife closer to him. "Okay. So let's say he's not dead. How do you suggest he find him? According to the reports, Luke was in mid flight when he was intercepted. That means he could be anywhere by now."
With more confidence in her voice now, Mara looked back up at her in-laws. "About a year ago I put a bug on Luke's lightsaber."
Leia's brow furrowed in confusion. "A bug?"
Mara nodded. "A Tracker. I figured with farmboy's talent for getting in trouble it would help if I could find him. Since he doesn't leave home without his saber, I figured that would be the best place to put it."
Han nodded a flicker of hope and a reassured characteristic lop-sided grin lighting his face. "Okay, so we can hopefully track down the saber. Do you think the people that took him would let him keep it?"
"No, but maybe THEY kept it. Either way, it will lead us to Luke. I've got to believe that he's still alive."
Leia pulled away from her husband and wrapped her arms around Mara. "We'll find him, Mara. We will."
Mara squeezed her sister-in-law back and then regaining her cool exterior picked up her gear. She looked down at the feeling of someone tugging on her jacket. She looked down into the cool, intelligent blue eyes of her youngest nephew.
"Ant Mawa? Don't wowwy. Uncle Luke is waiting fow you."
Mara smiled for the first time since she had heard the news of Luke's death. She bent down to pick up Anakin and kissed him on the forehead. "I know he is, sweetheart."
Shifting the bag on her shoulder and pulling her nephew closer to her chest, Mara stepped out the door, locking it behind her. Turning around, she took in a deep breath and with a renewed vigor followed her family to the Falcon.
*************************************************************************************
Arkanis Sector; Day 137, 21 A.B.Y.
The master of Black Aurora stood at the parapet watching the approaching shuttle. Squinting his eyes against the biting sandstorm that was kicked up as the craft landed on the platform beneath him, the robed figure brushed back a lock of sandy blond hair behind his ear. Reaching out with the Force and sensing emptiness inside the shuttle, he smiled.
"Master. We have him."
He turned to face his twi'lek apprentice, Nomaas Garr. The twi'lek wore a black robe, the hood pushed back over his shoulders. His lekku were scarred and pale, and his taloned fingers were digging into the palms of his hands. The exquisite pain obviously fueling the monster's baser appetites.
The master had discovered this monster through the Zygerian Slavers, a guild that came out of hiding with the rise of the Empire and it's decrees legalizing the procurement of slaves. The Twi'leks of the Ryloth system tended to use Zygerians in preference to other slavers, as the Zygerians' "honorable" approach to business reduced the damage the slaving does to Twi'lek society. Nomaas had been a member of the guild for years and had come to have sovereignty over the Ryloth system. He proved to be a callous, tyrannical head of the local guild and was known for torturing those slaves that attempted to escape their masters. The master of Black Aurora approached Nomaas and offered to show the Twi'lek his true potential for evil.
Master and apprentice spent years traveling the galaxy gathering their strength and bringing the criminal syndicates under their control, one sector at a time. By the time the Empire had collapsed, the depraved duo was poised to make their bid for power.
"Good. Prepare him for the transference and then order the Rose to eliminate Leiv. His usefulness is at an end."
Nomaas bowed and nodded his head. "It will be done."
Rising, Nomaas marched out the door, leaving a swirl of sand in his wake.
A smile touched the masters parched lips and slowly broke into a throaty chuckle. He looked out over the expanse of merciless desert all around his fortress and then let his gaze drift to the twin suns above.
*************************************************************************************
Arkanis Sector; Day 141, 21 A.B.Y.
Gib Leiv stared at the red rose sitting on his desk. He swallowed the lump in his throat and adjusted his collar. How did it get so damn hot all of a sudden? He knew well what this meant. Everyone in the Outer Rim knew the calling card of the Rose. He would leave a red rose where you think you are safe. Your bed at home, your office desk, the safe behind the hidden door that's in the compound surrounded by the most lethal security measures that the New Republic won't allow. A red rose meant you had a contract on your head, and guess who took the job.
Then one day the black rose would appear, the mark of death. When that happened, you knew it was your day to die.
In the twenty-something years he had been operating, no one had ever received a black rose and lived to talk about it. Oh sure, there was a spice dealer who said that he had a contract on him and that he received a rose and he managed to live. Of course, rumor has it that the same braggart got a red rose the next day. He died shortly thereafter. His friends claimed it was heart problems.
Sector Chief Leiv tossed the rose into his waste bin and looked at the holo of his wife and children. Wiping sweat from his brow, Gib opened his desk drawer and reached for his flask of lum. Beside it was his military-issued blaster pistol. His eyes rested on the pistol for a long moment. Forcefully pushing such dangerous thoughts away, Gib retrieved the flask and took a swig. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Gib stared into space attempting to determine what he could do to save his life.
Hours passed and Gib finished off the flask in his hand. Taking one last look at the picture of his wife, Gib took out the blaster and set it on his desk. Turning to the holoprojector, Gib punched in the code for Yavin 4. He waited patiently until the call was forwarded to a messenger service. Sighing in resignation, Gib straightened his uniform and spoke with all the dignity he could muster.
"Masters Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker, this is Sector Chief Gib Leiv. In sending you this message I hope that I can repair some of the harm that I have done. I am not a man that believes in the Force, Master Skywalker, but I will pray that the trap I led you into will not be the death of you. I had no will of my own in the matter. I was forced by some... means that I can't understand to betray the New Republic. But in having used me, I have learned something about this enemy. Most importantly of all, Master Skywalker, I know who is responsible for these atrocities...."

Chapter vi
Eriadu; Day 141, 21 A.B.Y.
The two Jedi had spent the past few days asking questions and looking for Nevik's missing friends. The entire time there was the sense that they were being watched, and not just the overt attention from the bar's patrons. A couple of days after they had arrived on Eriadu, the Jedi had met a spacer who said that he had indeed seen one of the two men they were looking for. The spacer claimed that Krios had been coming into the club at the end of every week for the past month. So they waited to see if Krios would show up tonight.
Standing outside Tarkin's Folly, Nevik questioned whether or not this was a good idea. In the past, the club had made him just a little uneasy, but tonight it was crackling with suppressed hostility. The music from the club was pounding out through the doors and Nevik was certain if he placed his hand on the duracrete walls he could feel the bass beat from inside. What little he could make out of the lyrics didn't comfort him.
Finally pushing his way through the crowd at the door, Nevik looked across a bar and dance floor packed predominately with humans under the age of thirty. The dance floor was cut in half by two bars that run from the back wall to the DJ booth on the opposite wall. The space between the dance areas where the bartenders work was actually cut into the floor as a trench lined with drinks from every planet in the known galaxy.
Along the trench were a number of tables shaped like gun platforms where patrons could sit and have a drink. Tonight, these platforms were full and the floor packed. Nevik looked back to his partner to make sure she was still with him. By the look on her face, Alya was as put off-balance by this place as he was.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Nevik had to practically scream into her ear.
Nevik was momentarily startled as she took his hand. *Sorry, the communication is much easier for me with contact. I thought it would be easier than yelling.*
*Yeah, good idea. But you can feel it also, can't you?*
*Yes. I can't place it though.... It's almost as if what I'm sensing is trying to avoid detection.*
Nevik frowned. *I didn't think it was coming from a person, though.*
Alya looked him in the eye. *It's not. It's almost like the cave on Dagobah. A place with some connection to the Dark Side of the Force.*
*But it has a mind of it's own.*
"Nevik?"
Nevik was broken out of his conversation with Alya by his old friend, Krios. Nevik's eyes widened and grasped his friend my the shoulders.
"Krios! We've been looking for you!"
Krios gestured with his head toward the backdoor. "Let's talk."
Krios led them through the door and into a small break room. The sound from the club was still noticeable, but greatly dampened.
Taking a seat, Krios looked over at Nevik's companion. "Krios Fra."
"Alya Shadar."
Nevik leaned on the table. "Krios? What happened? I hadn't heard from either you or Marcos for months and I got worried. Where is Marcos?"
Krios gave a weak smile and signaled for patience. "Okay, okay, one thing at a time. First, by the fact that you're asking about him I take it that Master Skywalker hasn't told you about what happened to Marcos."
"What? What happened?"
Krios became pensive for a moment and couldn't meet Nevik's gaze. "Marcos is dead."
Nevik fell back into his chair, the shock evident on his face. Alya laid a hand on his arm.
"What happened?"
Krios turned to answer the Beryllians question. "He was captured by members of a syndicate known as Black Aurora. From what I've learned, the heads of this group have been working together long before the collapse of the Empire, maybe even before Jabba's death. At any rate, with the weakening of the Empire as they lost sector after sector to the New Republic, Black Aurora managed to gain power.
"Now I haven't found any proof of this, but rumor has it that this group has wormed it's way into almost every level of the New Republic, including NRI, the Senate, even into the Academy."
Krios looked over to his friend seeing that the implications had indeed sunk in and that Nevik had come out of state of shock.
"I've even heard that Master Skywalker might be involved."
Alya shook her head resolutely. "That's impossible. It's nothing more than a rumor."
Krios gave a small nod. "I figure that to be the case, still.... I spoke to Master Skywalker a couple months ago and told him about Marcos' death. I asked him to let you know, but... what? He forgot? I'm just saying that maybe we should keep an open mind. I mean, from what I remember, I'd heard that the Master had gone bad a year or so before he created the Academy. He always taught us that once you dabble in the Dark Side, it will effect your actions forever. I doubt he's immune to his own teachings."
Nevik looked at his friend skeptically, while a clouded expression crossed his companion's face.
*Nevik?*
Nevik didn't flinch or look to his companion. *Yeah?*
*Remember that feeling we had earlier?*
Krios narrowed his eyes, sensing the Force being used between the two jedi.
*Don't tell me....*
*Sorry. It's not coming from Krios, but he's caught in it.*
Krios put his hands on the table and leaned forward. "I also think his teachings are wrong. The only concept we have been taught is Master Luke's view of the Force. Who's to say he knows what he's talking about? Who's to say he's right?
"In my opinion, there is no Light Side and no Dark Side. There is only the Force. Master Skywalker just has limited vision."
Nevik jumped up sending the table flying up in Krios' face. It shattered into a thousand splinters and spread over the floor, while Krios remained seated with his legs crossed in front of him.
"You were always the reasonable one Krios. When did you lose your senses?"
Krios uncrossed his legs and started to rise, as Nevik ignited his lightsaber.
"On the contrary Nevik, it would appear that you are the one who has an error in his judgment. Here I stand, completely harmless, and you move to attack me. Why?"
Krios smirked and shook his head. "Let me guess. Because you have sensed the Dark Side in this place? Tell me why that is so bad? No, I'll answer for you. Because Master Skywalker told you so. How can you not see the contradictions in his teachings? A Jedi acts in self-defense, or have you forgotten that? I suppose Master Skywalker was acting in self-defense with every being he has ever killed? Yet, the Jedi are supposed to preserve life? Have you been so thoroughly brainwashed? Or do you still have a mind of your own?"
Alya could feel Nevik's sense of betrayal through the Force and laid a hand on his arm to subdue him from attacking. "Sometimes it is necessary to kill, Krios. It is not something that is taken lightly though and a Jedi always seeks every other possible alternative. But sometimes it is necessary in order to preserve other lives. In the long run, the Jedi serve the greater good over the interests of the individual."
Krios took notice of Alya's quelling gesture with an amused smile and turned his attention to her. "Ah, so the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?"
Nevik interrupted with jerking his arm out of Alya's grasp. "Look, Alya! My FORMER friend here has given himself to the Dark Side. We can't just sit by and let him continue his activities! In doing so, we encourage such actions to be committed!"
"More of Skywalker's teachings...."
"Enough lies!" Nevik cried and lunged at his friend. His momentum was reversed as Krios raised his hand and sent Nevik flying through the wall and crashing onto the dance floor.
Alya stepped away, igniting her lightsaber. "It doesn't have to be like this Krios. Don't do this."
Krios shook his head. "You seem to have a good head on you, Alya. Not like my friend out there." Krios extended his hand. "Please. Let me help you. It's not too late to save yourself, Alya."
Alya shook her head. "Wrong, Krios. It's not too late for you. I don't know who or what has planted these thoughts in your head, but we can help you. Come back with us to Yavin and we can see that you are healed from these injuries that have been done to you."
Krios frowned for a moment. "I have not been wounded, Alya. I have opened my eyes." His frown then shifted to a sympathetic smile. "You can only see in black and white Beryllian. Look through my eyes, and know what I see."
"Perhaps that means I can see things more clearly, Krios, and not be led astray by colorful distractions."
Krios shook his head and noticed Nevik coming up to the hole in the wall. "I am truly sorry, Alya. I wish you could have seen things in a different light."
Raising his hand again, Krios sent the Beryllian flying through the hole, taking Nevik with her.
Stepping through the hole and seeing that the club had pretty much emptied out, Krios ignited his lightsaber and gave his adversaries the opportunity to get to their feet.
"I wished it hadn't resorted to this, but you've given me no choice Nevik."
Krios reached out with the Force and brought a table crashing down on an unprepared Nevik. He then leapt forward swinging down at Alya. She stepped forward so as to give herself more leverage to block his blow. They remained locked like that for a moment as Krios tried to force his way past Alya's defenses. With a twist of her wrist, Alya directed Krios' force down and away from herself, allowing her the opportunity to step away from him.
Krios then tried a number of lightning quick stabs at the Beryllian, but she managed to turn it aside every time. He made two more quick slashes and stepped away from her.
"Well... someone certainly paid attention in self-defense class."
Krios glanced over, seeing that Nevik had picked himself up now. "How are you on offense?"
Krios made a stab at Nevik, knowing that he was no competition. Nevik managed to narrowly avoid getting skewered and ended up getting a hole burned through the front of his robe instead. Krios maneuvered around so that Alya was to his back and started beating down on Nevik again. As Alya's kick came in to knock Krios off his feet, the jedi leapt over his friend and planted a solid kick in Nevik's back before landing behind him. Krios made a hurling motion with his arm, Force-slinging a chair at the Beryllian. With a quick kick, she sent the chair skidding across the floor.
Nevik, having climbed to his feet, charged Krios and made two powerful blows against Krios' lightsaber before taking a moment to regroup. He then waited as Alya came up and together they managed to drive Krios back until he was forced to leap over the trench to the other side. Following him over, Nevik was intercepted by a chair and crashed into the bartender's station.
Alya lunged at Krios' shoulder with a strike that he easily knocked aside. With a twist of the wrist, Krios turned his blade and made a riposte at her midsection. Sensing the danger, Alya managed to save her life, but received a scalding wound along her stomach.
Sensing a weakness, Krios leapt away from her with a smile. With his back close to the wall, Krios waited for her attack. Instead, she waited for Nevik to get back up on the floor.
Alya risked a quick glance at her companion before returning her attention to their adversary. "It doesn't have to be like this Krios."
"Oh, I agree Alya. Put down your weapons and come with me. Learn everything that Skywalker has refused to teach you."
Nevik narrowed his eyes. "Never."
Krios gestured towards Alya, sending her flying across the dance floor and into the trench. Returning both hands to his lightsaber, Krios resumed a vicious assault on Nevik's defenses knowing just how much pressure to apply that would wear down his resistance in time.
"Getting tired, Nevik? You look a little winded."
Nevik snarled and tried to regain his footing but Krios wouldn't let him up. "I can't believe you would give in like this Krios. I thought you were stronger than that."
Krios finally managed to break down the resistance enough to send Nevik's lightsaber flying across the room. He raised his own lightsaber so that the tip was just inches from Nevik's throat. "You have no idea of what strength is, my friend. But you could, if you just opened yourself up to the FULL power of the Force."
Krios was hurled back a few feet as Alya Force-shoved the jedi away from her companion. She then leapt towards Krios, allowing Nevik the opportunity to retrieve his weapon.
Krios rose to his feet with a snarl. "Want to play it that way Alya? Fine by me."
Krios raised both arms causing all twenty tables in the room to be ripped up from the floor and come hurling towards Alya and Nevik. The two jedi were able to deflect a good portion of the tables, but the onslaught overwhelmed them. Both jedi rose from the wrecked furniture around them, bruised and bleeding.
"Do you see now, Nevik? Do you see the power that could be yours if you just opened yourself to the Force."
Krios looked at his friend with a combination of passion and compassion. "Nevik, my friend, you have SO much potential. Master Skywalker has just limited your ability to tap into it. Whether that be from ignorance or by intention," he shrugged. "I don't know."
Krios glanced over at Alya before returning his gaze to the Almanian. He came back to see a broken tabletop hurling towards his head. Without lifting a hand or taking his eyes off Nevik, the projectile went off course and crashed into the chair Alya was Force throwing at him.
A wolfish grin sprung on Krios' face as he shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, Nevik. You remember our games back at the Academy don't you? I was always two steps ahead of you, my friend. It'll be a cold day in Hell when you can surprise me. Don't you think...."
Krios trailed off at the look across Nevik's face that told him that the young Jedi had finally figured out his tactic. "Well, I was wondering when you would figure it out, Nevik. To be honest, I thought you would have a long time ago. I guess you're getting slow, boy."
Nevik turned to Alya telling her to run and started for the door himself but came up short when a couple dozen men with blaster rifles came rushing through it.
A low chuckle came from the backdoor behind the two jedi. "Well, Nevik, if you survive this then maybe the next time we meet you'll present more of a challenge. Until then, take care."
Krios marched down the hallway, in step with the sound of blaster fire.

Chapter VII
In route to the Tinn System; Day 146
Mara had spent the past few days restlessly pacing the lounge of the Millennium Falcon. After the ninth request, she finally relented to Leia's appeal to be seated. After a few minutes of tapping her finger on the dejarik table, Leia reached over and laid a hand over Mara's jittery fingers.
"Mara, relax. We should be dropping out of hyperspace any time now."
"Yeah, I just wish this thing was faster."
Han perked up, indignantly. "This is the...."
"Yeah, the fastest flying death trap in the galaxy. Heard it before, Solo."
"Hey!"
Leia managed a weak smile and patted her husband's arm. "There there, dear. What did the computer have on the Tinn System?"
Han laid his hand over hers and returned her smile. "It has seven planets orbiting a pair of stars. The best bet for where Luke might be is on one of the moons of Tinn VI, probably Echnos. It was discovered by a group of Old Republic explorers who had to make an emergency landing. Curious thing is that Tinn VI generates some kind of field that shuts down magnetic shielding. Made most ships give the planet a wide-berth."
Mara nodded, remembering some of the briefings she received as Emperor's Hand. "The moonbase was used by the Empire to repair ships traveling near Tinn VI. There wasn't a huge amount of traffic through the system, but the gambling operations of one Imperial commander, a Johanas Berle, helped to bring in a steady stream of travelers. Berle was fairly clever, and managed to run this ring for a number of years before it came to the attention of his superiors. He was dismissed from service and reopened business in a new place on Echnos. Couple years later, Berle had worked his way into most of the markets and set himself up so that having Berle removed would be disastrous for the local economy. He had over half the commanders in the system either indebted to him or taking bribes. Last I heard, Berle was killed just before the New Republic took over the Tinn system. That was almost ten years ago, so I'm not sure who might be in charge now."
Mara chewed on her lip a moment as she slipped away from Leia's comforting touch to stand up. Stretching her arms and back, Mara smiled weakly at her family.
"I think I'm going to meditate for a little while. I'll try to reach Luke again. Just let me know when we come out of lightspeed, okay?"
Leia nodded and sunk into her husbands' arms.
Mara patted R2 on the dome and made her way to the quarters that had been designated as being hers and Luke's. She stopped to check on the children before making it into her room. Mara shrugged out of the overshirt to her jump suit and tossed it on their bed. Stepping into the refresher, Mara ran water into the sink and splashed it on her face. Running a hand through her hair, for the first time really taking note of the gray hairs. Any other day Mara might have given her hairs a name. Some would be Jaina, some Jacen, but most of them would be Luke. But today Mara just picked up the towel, dried her face and walked back into the main room. Sinking to the floor, Mara cleared her mind and let the Force flow through her.
A thousand different images flashed before her eyes. The threads of fate binding the images, some loosely and some tightly woven together. The images became a tapestry that stretched from the beginning of time to its end. Mara noticed the merging images of herself and Luke. Reaching out, she grabbed the thread and slowed the scenes down as she saw their time on Nirauan, up to their marriage. She smiled at the scenes of their honeymoon, and warmth spread through her. She became more focused on the scenes flashing before her when she saw the last night they spent together on Yavin 4 before Luke left for the Tatoo system.
She saw Luke's X-wing jerk into real space and come under immediate attack. He responded instantly and went on the defensive. Mara smiled, getting to see her husband in action. Her elation died when she saw his ship suddenly stop, as if something had reached out and grabbed hold of it. Her first thought was a tractor beam, but she knew that Luke was more than capable of escaping from such things. The last thing she saw was the ship moving towards the hold of a large cargo ship and being brought inside.
*************************************************************************************
From the darkness of a dream, Luke slowly awoke to find himself bound on a metal table. He tried to reach into the Force to clear his mind, but found himself cut off. Opening his eyes, Luke was in a room shrouded in darkness and filled with a stifling heat. Every muscle in his body ached, almost like he had spent hours running through the jungles on Yavin 4. There was a needle stuck into his wrist and a hose draped over his arm. From somewhere outside his room, Luke could hear music playing. It struck a familiar note with Luke, as if he had heard it before.
From somewhere behind him, Luke heard the grinding opening of large doors quickly followed by light spilling into the room. Luke could now see that the section of wall bathed in light was made of stone and had numerous chains, manacles, and other less pleasant forms of restraint. Shortly, a pale scarred twi'lek came into his view. Luke tried to ask who he was but found his voice could only come out in a croak.
The twi'lek made a hissing noise, like a sharpening stone over a knife. Digging his talons into Luke's jaw, the twi'lek turned Luke's head left and right. Stepping away for a moment, the twi'lek came back with a wooden bowl and a brush coated with a dark fluid. Painting a symbol on Luke's forehead, the twi'lek then looked up toward the doorway.
"He's ready, Master."
Luke could hear the shuffling of feet and then suddenly he could feel the Force again.
His immediate thought of attempting escape was replaced by a strange and unpleasant buzzing pressure in his mind. It proved to be too distracting for him to properly call on the Force. There was only one other thing he could do.
*Mara!*
*************************************************************************************
*Mara!*
Mara came out of her trance just as she heard an all too familiar voice calling out to her.
*Luke?! Are you okay?*
*For... now. Can't... hardly think... need help....*
*Where are you?*
*Hard... can't tell... sorry... didn't listen to you.*
Mara swallowed the lump in her throat and shook her head. *Doesn't matter now, Luke. Just tell me how I can find you.*
*Trust instincts... let the FoaaaAAAA!*
Mara held her breath, hoping to hear his voice again. After a minute of her mental cries going unanswered, Mara rose and left their chambers.
Han looked up at the noise signaling the ship's coming out of hyperspace. Receiving a kiss on her forehead before he rose, Leia smiled up at her husband. "I'll wake the kids."
Checking on the twins first, Leia helped smooth down Jacen's cowlick. "Go tell your aunt we're coming out of hyperspace, okay?"
Jacen nodded and stepped into the hallway. "AUNT MARA!"
Leia frowned at her son. "Jacen, go to her door and ring."
Jacen shuffled down the passage until he nearly ran into his aunt coming out of her room.
"We're coming out of hyperspace."
Mara distractedly mumbled a thank you before heading to the cockpit. Strapping herself in, Mara continued trying to reach Luke.
"Mara? You okay?"
Mara looked up to see Leia watching her with a concerned look.
"Yeah, I just... Luke was in contact with me just a moment ago. But it was cut off before I could find out where he is."
Leia gave Mara's arm a squeeze. "Was he okay?"
"He... I think he was in pain. He cried out before our link was cut off."
Han frowned and punched the button to start the landing cycle. "Well, we're here. Maybe now we can get some answers."
*************************************************************************************
Arkanis Sector; Day 146, 21 A.B.Y.
Stepping into the office, the Rose locked the door behind him. He had taken a complete inventory of the place last time he was here. Shoving the body of Gib Leiv out of the way, the Rose took a seat behind the desk and turned on the holoprojector.
Hacking into the memory reserves, the Rose finally found the message he was looking for.
"Masters Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker...."
The Rose watched the entire message with a slightly amused look on his face. Taking out his knife and opening the projector, he proceeded in gutting the machine, completely destroying all traces of the message on this end.

Chapter viii
Eriadu; Day 141, 21 A.B.Y.
Nevik backed up until he was nearly back to back with Alya.
"This doesn't look good."
"Well, at least they're not throwing any more detonators."
Nevik glanced over to where four of the of the blackened riflemen lay. One of them had the idea of using a thermal detonator. Nevik picked it up just in time to throw it back at them. The blast still caught him and burnt his right arm, forcing Nevik to fight one-handed.
"I guess things can't get worse."
Alya bit on her lip but couldn't stop herself from saying, "Actually...."
Nevik groaned and brought his lightsaber up just in time to block a shot aimed for his head. "What?"
"Reinforcements just arrived."
"Please tell me they're on our side."
Alya reached out, feeling for where they were and realizing that one of the lifeforms was familiar. "Well... maybe."
"Can you cover me?"
"I think so. What are you going to do?"
"I got an idea."
Nevik stepped around so that Alya was covering all the shots coming in. Nevik gestured with his hand and the tabletop that four of the riflemen were using for cover skidded across the floor. Using the advantage of surprise, Nevik ripped the rifles out of their hands.
"Ha!"
Nevik turned the guns on their owners, stunning them. The effort of such prolonged Force use dropped Nevik to his knees. "Okay... you can take... the other four."
Nevik looked up as five more came through the door. "Oh... make that nine."
Rayne held his hand up and gestured to Herris.
"You're with me. Ocea & Fent on the left, Dorgan's got the rear."
Kerr pulled the safety back on his blaster rifle before running toward the club, with the rest of the crew. Krios had told him that there were a couple of problems that needed to be taken care of, but he neglected to say who they were. Kerr took a moment to take in the precarious position his friend was in. She was staying ahead of the shots coming in, but Kerr was certain she couldn't possibly handle four more.
Kerr slammed into Herris beside him, sending the thug into Rayne, who had taken a firing stance. Using the element of surprise, Kerr turned his rifle on the other two men and opened fire.
Having taken care of those two threats, Kerr swung the rifle back on the other two only to have the gun knocked out of his hands. Leaping forward, Kerr planted his hands on Rayne's chest and used his momentum to shove the man back. Dropping to a crouch, Kerr kicked out and knocked Herris off his feet.
Rayne lunged forward trying to grab a hold of Kerr, but got a fist to his gut that sent him off balance. Kerr spun around slamming his palm into Rayne's face, shattering the nose and shoving fragments of bone into his brain. Rayne dropped to the ground, dead. Herris looked at his crew and then back at Kerr.
"Forget this."
Kerr bent down to pick up his rifle as he watched the man run off. Peeking into the room, Kerr could tell the fighting was over. Alya was standing in the middle of the room leaning on her knees and breathing heavily, while her companion was spread out on the floor with one hand over his head.
"Remind me to thank Krios for a wonderful time."
Alya chuckled and then groaned. "Ohhh... don't make me laugh. Hurts too much."
Kerr walked into the club surveying the damage done. There wasn't a table or chair left intact. There were scores of scorch marks on the ceiling and walls. Kerr whistled lowly.
"You okay?"
Alya smiled and wrapped her arms around Kerr's neck, hugging him.
"Yeah. Ohhh, I've missed you."
She then stepped away and punched him on the shoulder.
"What was that for?"
"Leaving Vu. What were you thinking?"
Nevik stepped up and laid a hand on Alya's arm. "We should probably be leaving. If I know Krios, he'll be sending in another team to mop up."
Kerr nodded. "Herris took our ride, but I know of a few abandoned buildings nearby. That's about the safest place right now."
Grabbing a spare pistol, Kerr led them through the winding streets of Eriadu and to a rundown structure with a crooked sign reading the Broken Tower Hotel. As the jedi passed through the open maw that led into the lobby, they could imagine that at one time this was a truly royal establishment. But now it was a dark, forlorn skeleton of what it once was. Spray-painted over the symbol of a tower split in half was a red bird.
Alya took in the ragtag furniture and battered mattresses that made this room feel like someone's home, then turned a skeptical look on her friend.
"You're sure we'll be safe here?"
"Yeah. Black Aurora might have a lot of power around here, but for the most part the gangs aren't working with them."
Kerr held up the blaster rifle. "We give them weapons, they'll give us sanctuary."
"I'm not sure if...."
Alya was interrupted by a woman at the bottom of the staircase screaming for Cayle, and yelling about having company. Almost immediately guys in synthetic leather carrying clubs and knives came storming into the room. Slowly surrounding the invaders, the gang waited for their leader to arrive.
Cayle wore crimson-colored synthetic leather pants with a matching vest. He had tattoos running up and down his arms that resembled dancing flames with a prominent red bird on his right shoulder. With a smirk on his face, Cayle ran his eyes over the group, lingering on Alya's body for a long time, before coming to rest on Kerr.
"Whatever you're selling, I ain't buyin'."
"I'm not here for Black Aurora...."
"Really? Two jedi with you, I never woulda guessed."
"We're looking for sanctuary from Black Aurora."
Cayle smiled and then laughed out loud, a sound that was shortly joined by the rest of his gang.
"Which do you take me for, Kerr? Stupid or na??"
"I think you're ambitious. You want to be able to protect or even expand your turf right? Well, Black Aurora won't allow that and without the firepower they have, you pose no threat. Well, I can give you the weapons you need."
While Cayle pondered Kerr's offer, Alya stepped up and whispered in her friend's ear.
"Kerr, I'm not sure we should be arming these... criminals."
Kerr waved her away as Cayle motioned for his gang to leave.
"All right Kerr, let's talk. Follow me, but the jedi stay here."
Kerr nodded and gave Alya a reassuring smile before following Cayle up the stairs.
"I don't like this Alya."
Alya just watched the gang members in a pensive silence.
"There must be other options."
Alya turned to her companion. "Nevik, I trust Kerr. It appears that, for some reason, he's been working with Black Aurora for a little while now. That means he knows more about this group and their connections in this sector than we do. I think we should trust him on this."
Nevik frowned and surveyed the gang lazing about. "It's been, what, six or seven years since you've seen him, right?"
Alya nodded with a skeptical look on her face.
"People can change over that period of time. Krios obviously changed and that was just within a few months. You could trust the friend you knew, but who's to say he's the same man now?"
Alya gave a sad smile. "You have to have a little faith in people, Nevik. I understand what you're feeling. I would probably feel the same way if someone, like Kerr, that I trusted had turned on me. I have faith in him. I believe his heart is in the right place, even if the rest of him isn't."
Kerr came back down the stairs blowing his breath out in one large gush. Dealing with Cayle had been much like wrestling with a Gamorrean gnarler. Even if you come out on top, you're still in a precarious position. Coming off the last step, Kerr made his way through the lounging gang members to his friends at the door.
"Okay, I've bought us some time. What were you two doing at Tarkin's Folly?"
Alya quickly glanced over the room bringing her attention back to her friend. "We came looking for two of Nevik's friends, a Marcos Niin and Krios Fra. We found out that Krios has fallen to the Dark Side and tried to kill us. Who were the men you were working with?"
"They all worked for Black Aurora, so did I up until an hour ago. I'm not too clear on where Krios fits into the structure of the group but he seems to know someone at the top. Whenever he's here, Berle jumps to do whatever he says."
"Berle?"
"Head honcho around here. So... you didn't come here looking for Skywalker?"
Alya and Nevik both looked at him with a look of confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Alya recognized the face Kerr made as his 'uh-oh look.' "Well... about a week ago I was on Bespin and I saw Skywalker being hauled onto one of Sculdan Bons' ships. The next morning I got a message that the group needed me here on Eriadu. I figured since you two ran against Black Aurora that you were looking for him."
"No we weren't, but do you know where he was being taken?"
"'Fraid not. I'm not exactly that high up on the chain of command, so to speak. Although...."
"What?"
"Well, Krios had plans for leaving tonight. I know where his ship is docked, so I might be able to get some information about his destination. I'd be willing to bet that Krios knows where Skywalker is being held, or at the very least we could maybe learn who it is he's working for."
Nevik nodded and glanced at Alya. "You'll need our help then."
Kerr shook his head adamantly. "No, I won't. For what I have in mind, I need to move quietly and quickly. You'll just slow me down and increase the chance I'll be discovered. I'll be back in an hour."
Without giving them a chance to object, Kerr stepped out the door and around the corner.

Chapter ix
Echnos; Day 146, 21 A.B.Y.
"Bull, man! I'm tellin' you Garr is wipin' us out! Inmos and Bons are already dead! You know what was found with the bodies. A FUCKING ROSE!"
Johanas Berle rubbed his eyes and tried to tune out his partner's tirade. "Hea, shut up. Have you been sampling your own spice again?"
Hea pushed away from the table and stumbled down some steps. "I ain't freakin'! I'm tellin' you true!"
Noticing for the first time that people in the casino were taking note of the show going on, Hea started screaming at them. "You'd be freakin' too if he was comin' for you! What you lookin' at?"
Hea ran up and got up in the face of an elderly Sullustan. "I'll tell you what you're lookin' at! I'm a dead man! Dead! I've got twenty-four hours to live! Count 'em!"
Hea swayed back and started ticking off fingers. "One, two...! Twenty-four!"
Hea went stiff as he felt the point of a blaster pressed up at the small of his back. A soft voice that sent chills up his spine whispered in Hea's ear.
"Sorry, my friend, your time is up."
Berle looked up just in time to see multiple blaster bolts erupt from his friend's chest. Hea slumped to the floor and revealed a rather ordinary looking human that had been standing behind him, someone who could easily be overlooked and underestimated. He was dressed in black holding a blaster in one hand and a black rose in the other. The man held the rose up to his nose, inhaled deeply and then let it fall on Hea's body.
Berle grasped the lightsaber at his side just before he realized who was looking at for the first, and probably last, time.
"Hello, Berle. I've been looking for you."
Berle ran.

"Which way now?"
Mara studied the readings on her display and then looked up.
"It's on the move. About 300 meters ahead."
Ever since they arrived, Mara had found that everyone seemed to walk everywhere they had to go rather than using any mechanical means of transportation. This meant that the streets were constantly packed with people. Breaking into a run, Mara pushed her way through the crowd that had flowed into the market.
Mara came to an abrupt stop when she realized the lightsaber had just passed by her. Scanning the crowd, she noticed a portly man with graying hair making his way through the crowd with a lightsaber clutched in one hand.
Breaking into a run again, Mara easily caught up with the heavy-set man and managed to drag him to the ground. Ripping the lightsaber from his grasp, Mara held it in front of his face.
"Where did you get this?!?"
"Ohpleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillme...."
"Tell me where you got this lightsaber and I won't kill you."
Berle finally opened his eyes to see who had grabbed him and realized it wasn't who he thought. The moment of surprise passed when he recognized his assailant as well as Han and Leia Solo who had just run up beside her.
"Mara Jade!"
"Skywalker. Where's my husband?"
Berle's panic gave way to a glimmer of hope and a smile on his face. "Okay, I'll tell you anything you want to know but first you've got to get me off-planet."
"Why?"
Berle glanced around nervously. "Let's just say that if you don't then you'll never find him in time."
Leia's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"You want him back? Get me out of here. Right now."
"What if we say no?"
"Then you kill two men."
Han shook his head in disgust. "All right, enough with the riddles. Let's just get him on the Falcon and get out of here." Under his breath Han added, "we can always jettison him later."
The group turned back to the spaceport, unaware of the rodian that had overheard their entire conversation with a slightly amused expression on his face. The rodian held a red rose against his lips and watched his target being escorted to the spaceport.
"This should be fun."

Berle sunk onto the sofa in the Millennium Falcon and breathed a sigh of relief. Han and Leia had gone to the cockpit to get the ship prepped for takeoff and to get permission to launch, while Mara stayed with their guest to try and get some more information from him.
"So what's the rush, Berle?"
Berle shifted uncomfortably and glanced over at the entrance ramp. "I, ah, seemed to have... been marked for death. There's an assassin. He, uh, was working with us... but now I don't know. He killed Hea. Was coming for me."
"Who's the assassin?"
"The Rose."
Leia, standing in the doorway, asked, "Who's the Rose?"
Mara looked back at her sister-in-law. "We ready to take off?"
"Almost. Han is arguing with Flight Control right now."
Mara nodded and made space for Leia to sit.
"The Rose is a Phaeran. You familiar with them?" At the shake of Leia's head, Mara continued. "There's not many left, and they have the ability to appear as anyone they've had physical contact with. It's impossible to know how many Phaerans there are because there's no way to distinguish them from whatever species they're mimicking. This ability and the fact that they don't age make them some of the best assassins in the galaxy. The only reason I know about them is because of my training. By the look on your face, I take it that you didn't know what the Rose is."
Most of the color had drained from Berle's face and he could only numbly shake his head.
"Most assassins out there have maybe ten, twenty, or thirty years of experience, if they're any good. Phaerans have a few hundred. The Emperor mentioned the Rose because he was at one point taking contracts on Jedi Knights of the Old Republic.
"So the sooner we get out of here the better."
Han came out of the cockpit in a huff and punched the button for the entrance ramp. "Working on it."
Leia looked up sharply. "Where are you going?"
Han glanced over his shoulder while the lamp lowered. "Rear thrusters are acting up. I need to check them out. Can you go to the cockpit and wait for Control to get in touch?"
Leia nodded and quickly made her way to the co-pilot's seat. Mara watched Han descend the ramp and then sat silently as Berle worriedly wrung his fingers. They sat in silence until Mara heard the sound of blaster fire coming from outside.
Quickly rising and igniting her lightsaber, Mara pointed at Berle.
"Stay there!"
Running down the ramp, she quickly looked around and saw Han crumpled on the ground near the ramp. Reaching out with the Force, Mara sensed no other beings in the area. Calling out for Leia, Mara rolled Han over to check his wounds. A blaster bolt had pierced his midsection and left Han barely able to move.
Leia came running down the ramp and helped Mara haul Han into the medical bay. Sitting him down gently on the bed, Mara turned to her sister-in-law.
"I'm getting us out of here. If that was the Rose, then he's probably still nearby."
Mara quickly strode out, leaving Leia alone with her husband.

Mara passed through the lounge area and pointed at Berle.
"Stay there. We're taking off."
Punching the button to retract the entrance ramp and continuing to the cockpit, Mara made a quick prayer to the Force that Han had fixed the problem with the rear thrusters. Dropping into the pilot's chair, Mara pulled back the lever to begin takeoff. Checking and seeing that all systems were a go, Mara punched the switch and the Millennium Falcon tore off into the Echnos night sky. About the time the ship broke through the atmosphere, she sensed that something was wrong.
Setting the autopilot, Mara went back to the lounge with her lightsaber in hand. Just as she entered the lounge, Mara was startled to see Han train a blaster on Berle and opened fire. Cursing herself for a fool, Mara ignited her lightsaber and lunged at "Han."
The Rose reacted instinctively to her attack and pulled his arm back from the scything arc of this deadly weapon. The Rose used Mara's momentum against her as he planted a hand on her shoulder and pushed her off balance. The Rose moved back to aiming at Berle to make sure he was dead but was deflected by Mara getting to her feet and blocking his line of sight.
The Rose took a moment to weigh the few possibilities open to him in these confined quarters against a jedi opponent. Taking one last look at the dying man, the Rose threw a vial down on the floor of the Falcon and released a smoky, noxious cloud into the room.
Coughing and wiping at her watering eyes, Mara heard the release of air as a door opened. Reaching out with the Force, she could tell that the Rose was climbing into an escape pod. Turning back to her charge, Mara used the Force to try and save his life, and Luke's along with him.

Chapter 10
Eriadu; Day 148, 21 A.B.Y.

Nevik sat down in the seat behind the pilot aboard Kerr's ship,
the Shatterstarr. He glanced disapprovingly over at Alya before
turning his attention back to the pilot.

"So, do I want to know how you got this information?"

Kerr ignored his question and punched in the coordinates for Tatooine.

"Didn't think so."

Alya placed a hand on Nevik's arm, attempting to placate her
impetuous companion. She had her own concerns about the changes she
was seeing in Kerr, but was reluctant to say anything. Now was
definitely not the time.

**********************************************************************
Echnos; Day 148, 21 A.B.Y.

Mara slowly sipped her hot chocolate across the table from her in-
laws. They had found Han on the planet, crumpled up behind a couple
of crates. He had no idea what happened. One minute he was working
on the aft thrusters and the next thing he knew he was lying face
down in an empty hangar. From what they could tell, the Rose had
sabotaged the thrusters to get Han out there and then replaced the
Corellian so he could get onboard the Falcon.

The takeoff and flight out of the system had been spent quietly.
They were all a little shaken by what had just happened. What they
had almost lost.

Mara looked over at the room that she shared with Luke, where Berle
was currently resting, recuperating from his injuries. She rapped
her knuckles on the tabletop, impatiently waiting for their arrival
at Tatooine.

**********************************************************************
Tatooine, Day 151, 21 A.B.Y.

Mothers on Tatooine used to tell their little children the story of
the man who would have overthrown the tyrant, Jabba the Hutt. The
stories say that Azack Sturn wasn't from the home world
originally. The stories say that he was an ambitious man who had his
eye on taking over the Hutt's enterprise. Sturn was supposed to
have built a fortress in the Jundland Wastes that rivaled that of
Jabba's palace. He brought Tusken raiders, Jawas, Gamorreans, and
Whiphids under his control. Sturn operated as a thorn in Jabba's
side for years, before the Hutt finally caught his nemesis and
brought him to the palace. Sometimes the mothers tell the story of
how his screams were heard for months after his capture. His body
was destroyed and the ashes cast into the sandstorms.

He was no Jedi. But on such a desolate and unforgiving planet, you
take your heroes where you can get them.

The fortress of Azack Sturn remained unoccupied throughout
Jabba's rule and remained so for years even after his demise.
Stories had it that the spirit of Sturn walked the halls of the old
citadel during the worst storms in the Wastes. These legends kept
people away from the fortress.

It was exactly these stories that attracted the Master of Black
Aurora to the place. A place that was shunned by the locals made for
the best base of operations for a criminal empire. A few well placed
bribes kept the authorities from snooping around also.

Today, the Master stood at the parapet overlooking the building
sandstorm on the horizon. But his eyes didn't take in the desert
sands. The only thing he could see was the future.

The Master smiled as he foresaw his plans coming to fruition.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, the Master turned to his apprentice
and nodded.

"They will be coming soon, Nomaas. Are you prepared?"

The Twi'lek nodded, "Yes, master. The merchandise has been
relocated. All of our important operatives have left already."

"No. Are YOU ready?"

Nomaas grimly nodded. "I am, master."

The Master considered his apprentice for a moment before turning to
Krios Fra. "Then prepare our shuttle for departure. Master will
be expecting us soon."

**********************************************************************
Tatooine; Day 151, 21 A.B.Y.

Kerr finished the landing sequence and powered down the ship. Most
of their trip from Eriadu had been spent in silence. Nevik was
wrapped up in thoughts about Krios and his betrayal. Alya was
bothered by Kerr's behavior and was concerned about his future.
Kerr, on the other hand, tried not to think at all. He was trained
not to think, but to act on impulse and instinct. Thinking would get
a soldier killed.

Kerr rose from the pilot's chair and made his way into the lounge
where his passengers had spent most of the trip. Nevik rose from his
seat.

"Where to now?"

"Alya, if you and Nevik could go to the cargo bay there's
some envirosuits in one of my boxes that we might need. I'll
handle landing procedure with the locals and then come back."

Alya nodded and managed to get a somewhat reluctant Nevik to follow
her. Kerr just smiled, knowing he would have to get rid of the two
jedi to get the information he'd need. They would never approve
of his methods if they came along.

Punching the release button, Kerr strode down the ramp and into the
bustling Mos Eisley spaceport.

**********************************************************************
Tatooine; Day 151, 21 A.B.Y.

If there was anything that Mara hated about space travel, it was the
waiting. She had spent the past couple days frenetically pacing the
hold of the Millennium Falcon. Now they had finally arrived on the
planet and they were... waiting.

Han had left an hour ago to manage transportation for them out to the
Sturn complex and had yet to return. This left Mara and Leia to
secure the Falcon and make sure that Berle would be safe onboard.
Having finished the arrangements, Mara sat in the lounge with her
sister-in-law quietly sipping from mugs that Leia's children had
made.

At the sound of the hiss of the entrance ramp release, Mara jumped up
and made her way to meet Han.

"Transportation?"

Han nodded with a smirk. "Had to sell the Falcon to get it, but
yeah."

Leia looked at him skeptically.

"Kidding."

Mara looked over at Berle and pointed at the room assigned to
him. "Stay in there with the door locked and you should be find.

We've already put everything you may need in the room. As soon
as we get Luke back, the New Republic will put you in a protection
program."

Berle nodded his thanks and sealed the door to the room.

Both women followed Han down the ramp and out of the spaceport to a
landspeeder waiting outside.

**********************************************************************

A few hours later, Mara found herself coming up to a large edifice
carved out of the canyon walls. The place had a classic elegance
about its architecture, reminding her of some of the ruins of New
Republic libraries on Calas IV. The wind was blowing through the
canyon and Mara was forced to hold her hand up to keep the sand from
getting in her eyes. Squinting, Mara ran a scrutinizing eye over the
cliff face and noticed a couple of places where men were standing
watch. Pulling back out of sight, she moved back to where Han and
Leia were positioned.

"I can make out a couple of guards on the upper walls.
There's only one entrance I can see and we can expect it to be
guarded. We may be able to scale along the cliff face and make it in
one of the windows or the balcony. It won't be easy, but the
door is in an open killing field."

Han looked up at the walls of the canyon, which slanted inward at a
sharp angle. Anyone climbing down would be doing so practically
parallel to the ground. Whistling softly, Han looked back down at
his sister-in-law.

"I'm not sure if we've got the equipment we'll need
in the Falcon."

Mara paused, running a mental scan over everything she had seen
onboard the ship.

"We might. There's a couple of things that I could jury-rig
and make into pitons. Han, didn't I see a length of interfacing
wire in the hold?"

Han shook his head uncertainly. "Yeah, I think so."

"That should be long enough, strong enough, and flexible enough
for us to use for rope. The only thing I'm not sure about is a
harness."

Leia suddenly perked up. "Han, do we still have the carriers
from when Jacen and Jaina were small?"

Han frowned. "Yeah, but I don't think they could support our
weight."

Mara rubbed her eye from where a speck of sand had begun to irritate
her. "No, but we could probably reinforce the seams with some of
the materials onboard. It shouldn't take too long."

Han and Leia just nodded in unison and the small family made their
way back to the landspeeder.

*********************************************************************
Tatooine; Day 151, 21 A.B.Y.

Ever since Kerr had gotten back to the ship, Alya had to keep the two
men away from each other. Nevik had a tight leash on his
frustration, but Kerr was starting to push his buttons. Kerr had
delivered a location for Krios' ship and the trio had taken off
to see if they could find the fallen jedi. A taut silence had taken
hold of the group and no one said a word as they wove through the
crowd on their way to the docking bay.

The door into docking bay nine hissed open and Kerr made his way into
the hangar. Inside was a sleek Crescent-class Transport. The
entrance ramp was down and two figures were making their way into the
ship. The one in the lead was dressed in a black robe and a hood
that concealed his face. Krios followed behind him.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Krios looked over and
grimaced. The figure continued up the ramp, as Krios turned and
ignited his lightsaber.

"So good to see you again, Nevik. You too, Alya. Interesting
company you keep."

Nevik spoke through gritted teeth. "Thanks for leaving us in a
clench, my friend."

"Don't mention it. It IS the least I could do."

Kerr cleared his throat. "Hate to interrupt this charming
reunion, but we're not letting you leave."

Krios chuckled softly. "What makes you think you can stop
us?"

Alya stepped up holding her lightsaber down at her side. "Krios,
it's not too late. You can still help us stop this madness."

"The madness is that you still believe the lies fed to you by
Skywalker. It's not too late for you to help me put an end to
his propaganda."

The sound of the engines starting broke the peace.

********************************************************************
Tatooine; Day 151, 21 A.B.Y.

Mara resisted the temptation to look down as she slowly worked her
way down the rock face. She was hanging onto the cliff face by their
makeshift pitons and wire. Slowly Mara made her way down the wall
until finally she could feel the opening beneath her. Making the
last few motions, Mara silently dropped down onto the balcony.
Motioning for Leia to proceed, Mara looked into the room through the
glass panels on the door.

Inside she could see two Rodians with blaster rifles talking
quietly. Watching the lips of the one facing her, Mara could make
out that they were talking about the modifications they had made to
their landspeeders.

Settling back on her heels, Mara took out a flash grenade and waited
for Leia and Han. After a few more minutes the couple had softly
touched down on the balcony. Once checking to make sure they were
ready to go, Mara then quietly told them to close their eyes and
threw the grenade into the room, breaking a window pane as it flew.
A brilliant blinding light filled the room and the two men let out
startled cries.

Moving quickly, Mara doubled one over with a knee to the gut and then
finished him off with an elbow to the base of the neck. She glanced
over to see Han shaking his hand and his opponent lying on the
ground. Leia handed both of them their satchels and proceeded to
start looking around.

Mara looked down a small hallway into an adjoining room that looked
to be a refresher. Stepping into the room, Mara saw a door and
stepped up to it. Hearing nothing beyond the door, she opened the
door and looked inside. The room looked to be personal quarters. A
bed rested against one wall, opposite a pair of lift doors. From the
dust patterns on the floor, Mara could tell that there once were
other things in the room. Things that were most likely recently
removed.

Punching the button for the lift, the doors slid smoothly and
silently open. The lift was designed in such a way that the other
wall also opened up to a room beyond. Punching the button on that
wall, the doors slid open and revealed a large bare room with a
metallic ladder on one wall leading down.

Mara stepped into the room and motioned for the others to follow.
Stepping up to the ladder, she leaned down and looked through the
opening to the room below. The next floor was lit and she
couldn't hear anything going on below. Mara quickly made her way
down the ladder and stopped when she just cleared the floor so she
could look around the room. Mara was about to continue down when she
heard a noise around the corner. She let go of the ladder and
dropped to the floor just as a blaster bolt zipped over her head.

Mara ignited her lightsaber and began deflecting the incoming
blasts. There were two Gamorreans that had stepped out of their
hiding places and were intent on gunning down the intruder.
Regaining her momentum, Mara managed to turn her blade so that the
next bolt was reflected back at her attacker, dropping him. With
just one gun on her, Mara was able to easily cover the ground to the
second Gamorrean and cut him down before he could get a bead on her.
By the time Mara looked back at the ladder, Leia was on the floor and
Han was coming down the ladder.

Mara smiled. "What kept you guys?"

Reaching the ground, Han pointed at his wife. Who in turn, with a
smirk, batted his hand away.

Leia turned to her sister-in-law. "Mara, can you sense Luke?"

Mara shook her head with a look of consternation. "No. But
there is an area below us that I can't sense at all. My guess is
that it's ysalimiri. If he's still here, then that's probably
where he's being held."

Han put his blaster back in its holster and nodded. "Okay, where
to?"

"Well, we're all out of ladders so I guess we take the
lift." Mara looked at the lift, thoughtfully.

"If there's anybody else in the complex, do you think
they'll hear the lift?"

Mara shrugged. "Hard to say. As old as this place is, the lift
may make some noise. Especially looking at how dusty and dirty this
place is."

"Okay, any other ideas?"

Mara paused for a moment, staring at the wall. Nodding slowly, Mara
smiled. "I've got an idea."

*********************************************************************

Kerr brought his blaster up and fired on Krios, a bolt that the jedi
easily deflected towards Nevik. Nevik just barely managed to get his
lightsaber up in time to deflect the bolt into the ground.

Krios lunged at Alya while using the Force to sling a yellow barrel
at Nevik. Nevik managed to roll out of the way of the barrel, while
Alya batted aside Krios' stab at her. Krios used a feint to draw
Alya's lightsaber to the side and then lashed out with two
powerful kicks. One blow delivered to her midsection and the other
breaking her nose. The Beryllian crumpled to the ground.

Nevik lunged at his old friend and came down soundly on Krios'
raised saber. The two remained locked in that position while Kerr
moved around behind Krios and leveled his blaster at the jedi's
head.

"Give it up, Krios."

Krios grinned and Force shoved Nevik away from him before dropping
into a crouch and sweeping Kerr off his feet, just as the blaster
bolt singed the hair on the top of his head. Krios stepped over and
kicked the blaster away from Kerr's hand. Turning his attention
back to the jedi, Krios moved just in time to block Alya's swing.
He
was busy trying to get through Alya's defenses when Nevik rejoined
the fight. Krios was forced to go on the defensive as the two jedi
attacked him in unison. Even against two jedi knights, Krios was
able to hold his own. They delivered blow after blow against his
lightsaber, but each time he was able to turn them aside.

Kerr regained his feet and using the element of surprise managed to
slam into Krios from behind. In a sudden burst of anger, Krios swung
around and slashed at Kerr. It wasn't until the last second that
Krios remembered himself and turned his blade aside. Instead he
continued using his momentum and delivered a kick to Kerr's
ribcage. A cracking sound preceded the pilot as he collapsed to the
ground.

Spinning back around, Krios used his anger to tap into a reserve of
power he had yet to draw on and Force shoved the two jedi away from
him and into the wall. They impacted with a crunch and slumped to
the floor unconscious.

**********************************************************************

Mara crouched down and reached out with the Force to sense if there
was anyone on the floor. Sensing no one, she motioned for Han and
Leia to descend, while she triggered to doors to open. Han and Leia
slipped through the top access for the lift and stepped out onto the
floor. Jamming the outside doors open, they then pushed the button
for the lift to go to the next floor.

Again, Mara reached out with the Force to sense other presences and
this time felt eight beings. As the lift doors open, a volley of
blaster bolts perforated the back of the lift. After the firing
stopped, Mara dropped two thermal detonators through the top access
and used the Force to kick them into the room. Using the Force to
jump up to the next floor, Mara managed to just clear the doors as
flames licked at her heels.

Waiting a few minutes for the flames to die down, Mara jumped down to
the lift and peeked inside. The room was alight with small fires and
embers smoldering over pieces of destroyed and fragmented crates.
Lowering herself into the lift, Mara touched down just as an irate
Twi'lek stepped into the room.

"What the hell is....'" Seeing Mara, Nomaas Garr snarled
and stepped back into the room. Yelling for Han and Leia, Mara ran
at the door smashing it open with her shoulder and stumbling into the
room. Through the Force she sensed the men on the other side of the
door before she saw them. She also noticed that she could not sense
the Twi'lek as he was running down a hallway.

Mara stepped back out of the doorway as multiple blaster bolts shot
past. She waited for Han and Leia to catch up before shifting her
weight and preparing to burst into the room.

"Cover me."

Han nodded and the couple set up on each side of the doorway. As
soon as they started laying down cover fire, Mara darted into the
room, deflecting blaster bolts as she ran. Breaking past the line of
gunmen, she ran down the hallway looking for any sign of the
Twi'lek.

Hearing the hiss of mechanisms closing the door, Mara quickly made
her way to the door and triggered the opening. The doors slid open
to reveal a poorly lit room with a number of items that Mara
recognized from many "interrogation" rooms. Towards the back
of the room was a metal table and Mara could recognize the blond mop
of hair that was straining to see what was going on. Mara's
heart
leapt at seeing her husband alive and well, then lurched as Nomaas
raised his arms above his head and ignited his lightsaber, blade
pointed down at Luke.

Knowing that she couldn't get across the room in time to block
the blow, Mara whipped out her blaster and snapshotted a bolt that
struck a glancing blow against the crown of Nomaas' head. The
burning pain caused the Twi'lek to stagger back and drop his arms to
his side.

Mara tucked her blaster away as she broke into a run. As she got
closer, Mara leapt into the air and planted her feet firmly against
Nomaas' chest.

Nomaas was knocked off his feet and landed, unceremoniously, on his
back. Mara jumped to her feet and moved to interpose herself between
the Twi'lek and her husband.

Nomaas slowly rose to his feet, glowering at Mara the whole time.
The Twi'lek made a come hither motion with one taloned finger.
Mara stood her ground and motioned with her hand for the monster to
come to her.

Growling, Nomaas lunged at the jedi, his lightsaber aimed at her
abdomen. Mara sidestepped and, dropping into a crouch, slashed at
the Twi'lek's stomach. Nomaas narrowly dodged the scything
blade and fell back into a defensive stance.

Mara followed suit and stood poised with one hand stretching out
before her, and the other holding the lightsaber above her head,
angled toward the Twi'lek. They stood there for what seemed like
an age, just waiting for their adversary to move. Finally, the
Twi'lek's patience broke and he lunged again, this time
slashing at her head. Mara brought her lightsaber down and with both
hands on the hilt blocked the lightsaber coming down on her.

The struggle for dominance lasted for minutes until the Twi'lek
broke off and began a furious barrage of blow after blow, trying to
break down her defenses. The incensed attacks forced Mara to move
all over the room. Blow after blow came down on her lightsaber, each
time getting a little closer to breaking through.

When Mara was certain that the next blow would manage to beat down
her tiring arms, the Twi'lek made a mistake and let down his
guard. Seizing on the opportunity, Mara slashed up viciously and
took off the Twi'lek's hand at the wrist. Crying out in
pain, the Twi'lek clutched at his arm and staggered back.

Mara took in two deep breaths and kept her attention on Nomaas. At
the fanatical fury that came across the Twi'lek's face, Mara
held her blade out, trying to ward him off. Instead, to Mara's
astonishment, the Twi'lek threw himself on her blade.

She quickly shut down the lightsaber as the Twi'lek slumped to
the ground. Staring at the Twi'lek in confusion, Mara was close
enough to hear the words he uttered with his last breath.

"I die... so He will live."

**********************************************************************

Still angry, Krios strode up the entrance ramp to find the Master of
Black Aurora waiting for him. Coming up short, the burning anger was
quickly replaced by a cold fear.

"I... the host wasn't permanently injured."

Despite his assurances, the Master did not look pleased. "I hope
so. My master would be very upset with you if you caused any serious
harm."

Krios nodded, unconfidently, and properly cowed followed his master
into the ship.

**********************************************************************

Mara quickly made her way to her husband's side and used her
lightsaber to release the clamps on his hands and feet.

Luke turned an appreciative smile on Mara and nodded.

"Are you with the Alliance?"

Mara looked at him blankly.

"How did I get here?" Luke started to get a little worried
at her uncomprehending expression. "Who are you?"

Those three words struck deep into her heart.

Epilogue
Coruscant; Day 158, 21 A.B.Y.

Kerr stood on the balcony of his old home, overlooking the teeming
crowds on the walkways below, and the golden clouds and reddening
morning sky above. Alya, the tricky little minx, had talked him into
coming home to stay. A few days ago she wanted to meet him for an
early lunch.

**********************************************************************

When he got there, Alya was sitting at a table, a smile on her face,
with Vu. His feet were like lead as he walked across the room to
their table. By the expressionless look on her face, Kerr could tell
Vu was just as nervous and uncomfortable as he was.

With a sardonic smile, Kerr looked at Alya. "Thanks for inviting me
to lunch." Kerr then turned to his former CO and lover. "Vu."

Vu could tell he wanted to say more, but was at a lack for words.
Sparing him the uncomfortable moment, she piped up. "Hello Kerr. I'm
glad you decided to come."

Kerr cast a meaningful look in Alya's direction as he sat down then
turned his attention back to her. He took a moment to just look at
her. Her hair was longer now, down to her shoulders. She had a new
scar on her neck, another one on her brow. Realizing that he could
spend minutes just looking at her, Kerr mentally kicked himself.

"You look good."

Vu smiled and lowered her head a bit. "Thanks."

Kerr looked up at the waiter droid and placed his drink order, earning
a raised eyebrow from Vu.

"Drinking before noon?"

Kerr shrugged. "Habit."

Alya declined when the droid asked for her order. "No, I'm going to
leave the two of you to talk." Standing, she squeezed Vu?s shoulder
and smiled down at her friend. Walking around the table, she then
leaned over and kissed Kerr on the temple. "The two of you behave."

Vu and Kerr sat there quietly until their drink orders came. Only
then did they begin to talk.

**********************************************************************

Kerr turned to look over his shoulder as two arms snaked their way
around his waist. Smiling back at Vu, he rested his hands on top of
hers and squeezed gently.

"Good morning."

Vu smiled and kissed his neck. "Mmm... good morning."

Kerr turned in her arms and kissed Vu on the lips. "I've missed this.
Waking up next to you."

Vu reached up and brushed back a lock of hair on his forehead. "Me
too. I just..."

"What?"

Vu looked at him uncertainly. "Where do we go from here?"

Kerr tried to brush away the worry lines on her face. "I don't know.
You never know what the future has in store."

**********************************************************************
Elsewhere on Coruscant

Krios Fra sat down at the table of the Burning Destroyer bar. He
impatiently tapped his fingers on the table surface. His contact was
supposed to already be here.

Just a minute later a Duro slipped into the seat across from him.
Krios looked at him oddly. "Can I help you?"

The Duro smiled. "I'm your contact. Don't sweat trying to figure out
the species thing."

Krios looked at him skeptically. "You have the info?"

The Duro reached into a bag and pulled out a packet of discs. "The
Intel you requested."

Krios selected a disc and slid it into a data reader. Skimming over
the information, Krios nodded in approval. He then reached down and
tossed a credit stick across the table to his source.

"Nice doing business with you."

Jark read the amount on the stick and smiled. "Pleasure's all mine."

**********************************************************************
Solo residence

Mara sat, awkwardly, on the sofa next to her husband. The trip back
from Tatooine had been filled with tests and attempts to discern just
what had happened to Luke. They couldn't find out what had been done
to him, but they were able to figure out that Luke couldn't remember
anything that had happened to him since the time he raced off to
Bespin to save Han and Leia. He didn't know Leia was his sister, and
he had no idea who Mara was.

This left them both uncertain how to act around each other. Mara
wanted to touch, kiss and hold her husband after getting him back.
Luke, on the other, didn't really know how to react to this stranger,
an attractive stranger but still a total stranger. This awkwardness
was caused by the sudden knowledge that this woman was supposedly his
wife. Leia finally broke the awkward moment.

"So, Luke, has anything come back to you?"

Luke shook his head sadly. "No. Mara has started teaching me some
Force techniques to try and bring back the memories, but we haven't
had much luck."

Mara squeezed Luke's hand. "To be fair, we've just started. It's too
early to know whether or not we'll have any success."

Luke shyly smiled at her and nodded.

Han set down his drink on the table and settled back against his wife.
"So do we have any ideas about what happened?"

"My first thought was that Luke started looking into this Black Aurora
business and discovered something he shouldn't have. They manage to
kidnap him and somehow wipe his memory."

Mara shook her head. "But this doesn't seem likely. Let's look at
the facts. They had ysalimiri and not many crime groups have the
creatures lying around just in case a jedi comes knocking on their
front door. His X-wing was intercepted mid-transit. This means that
an interdictor was involved and it's likely that they knew the route
he was taking. This means an inside source, possibly someone at the
Academy. If this is the case, then they were deliberately trying to
capture Luke. It was part of their plan to erase his memory, not an
attempt to compensate for some misstep. Given the fact that Luke has
lost almost all the knowledge he has of the Force and the techniques
that he has spent years teaching, I would say that the taking of those
memories may be a motive. I think it was an attempt to reduce the
abilities of one of the galaxies most powerful jedi. To prevent him
from interfering with their plan."

"But everyone involved with the group is dead."

Mara shook her head at Leia?s statement. "We know that Krios Fra and
the Rose are both still alive. We know that the Rose was likely a
tool in this plan rather than an implementer. From what Alya and
Nevik told us about Krios he may be someone that was heavily involved
in the plan, if not the one behind it. Who I'm mainly interested in
though is this figure that was seen with Krios at the starport. If
Krios was following this man, then he is most likely the master we're
looking for."

Han picked his drink back up and took a sip. "I just wish we had some
idea of what they are up to."

Mara just shook her head. "I guess we'll just have to see what the
future will bring."

**********************************************************************
Yavin 4; Day 161, 21 A.B.Y.

The Master of Black Aurora had spent the last hour hiking through the
jungle from where he had landed well out of sight from the Grand
Temple. He had finally made his way to the Academy and silently made
his way through the quiet halls.

Reaching the room he had come for, he punched in the correct code and
slipped into the room. Despite having the lights off, he managed to
move through the room using the memories of the man he had kidnapped.
Finding the holoprojector, the Master ran through the messages until
he found the one he had come for.

"Masters Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker, this is Sector Chief Gib Leiv.
In sending you this message I hope that I can repair some of the harm
that I have done. I am not a man that believes in the Force, Master
Skywalker, but I will pray that the trap I led you into will not be
the death of you. I had no will of my own in the matter. I was forced
by some means that I can't understand to betray the New Republic.
But in having used me, I have learned something about this enemy.
Most importantly of all, Master Skywalker, I know who is responsible
for these atrocities..."

Relieved that the message had not been viewed, the Master proceeded in
erasing it. He then quickly made his way back to the door and
outside. Just as he stepped out he was met by one of the students.

"Oh... Master Skywalker, I didn't know you were back on the planet."

The Master of Black Aurora waved his hand in front of the student's
face. "You never saw me. I was never here."

Before she came out of the trance, the Master escaped into the night.