Title: The Encounter at Yavin
Author: Jedi Amoira

*The usual disclaimer applies. All of the characters in this story are the property of Uncle George, and/or the Star Wars universe at large. The story contains two conversations from KJA's "Darksaber", altered to my satisfaction. Please don't reprint this with my knowledge.

Author's Notes--I want to say that this is very similar to, and greatly inspired by "Fire and Ice" by Varghona. I'm not trying to steal her idea, it's hers and I give her full credit for the creativity. I agree with her. Too many people try to make either Mara or Callista a well-rounded character with depth, and the other a shallow two-dimensional interloper. It rarely works that way in real life. I think "Fire and Ice" does a great job of correcting that problem. The reason I wasn't satisfied and wrote my own version, is simply because I think that taking it for granted that Mara and Callista have to come to blows, or even entirely dislike one another is probably equally short-sighted. So... I took a statement made by Ms. Hambly in "Children of the Jedi" that Luke thought Mara would like Callista in her own cold, cautious way, and tried to work it into the story along with their difference in philosphies and their obvious rivalry over Luke. I hope you like it, but if you find it too unnatural to the characters, I won't be surprised. I just wanted to think about a relationship between Mara and Callista that might be a little different.

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The prospect of seeing Luke again reminded her of the last time she had seen him. The memory sent a wave of nausea through her, making her scowl. //So he's making a love nest with his perky blonde. So what? If I'm lucky he'll be so busy with her he'll forget to nag me about the power of the Jedi.//

Her lips twisted as she remembered finding Luke alone in the hospital because the girl had run off to look at Jedi toys. //She sure made a lot of noise when she found out she couldn't play with them. I wonder how she and the Master are getting along?//

As the clock continued to count down, Mara's ambigiuous feelings about what she would find on Yavin 4 gave way to a growing feeling of anticipation interspersed with memories of her lessons with Kam and Corran...and with Luke. She hadn't realized she'd enjoyed them so much. Not that it mattered...the memory of Luke telling her not to be afraid of her power still froze the blood in her veins.

The blood red planet, partially-eclisped by it's rich green moon filled her with a surprising warmth and comfort. She toggled the switch on her ship and said, "Jedi Praxeum, this is Mara Jade, requesting permission to land."

"Mara," Kam's voice came back, "you're cleared to land. It will be good to see you."
A

grin spreading across her face in spite of her best efforts to erase it. "They've got you demoted to comm duty, huh? Guess I've been gone a while." //I've been away too long//, she caught herself thinking, and felt a deep ripple of profound surprise at the idea. //As if I would stay here! The idea. It's just lack of sleep after that mess on the outpost. I'm just here to pass on some information vital to the survival of the galaxy--as usual-- then I'll be on way again, and good riddance!//

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Luke Skywalker studied the incoming ship with a mixture of surprise and pleasure. Mara Jade was the last person he'd expected at the Academy.

"Mara," he said, as she walked down the ramp, removing her helmet and shaking her long hair loose. "What did I do to deserve this unexpected pleasure?"

She eyed him closely. He grinned, surprised at how much he had missed that. "You don't deserve it, Skywalker. But I came anyway. You mean the almighty Jedi Master doesn't know why?" She smiled slightly. "I've got a message for you."

"I thought you might. You don't usually come here because you're bored."

"I'm never bored, Skywalker. It's my outlook on life."

"Well, whatever the message is, I'm glad to see you."

"You should probably wait for the message to decide that. And before you get any bright ideas, I'm not staying," she added. "I've got a business to run."

"You know you're always welcome here, however long you chose to stay," Luke said, almost managing not to feel disappointment. "Come inside where we can talk."

Mara's sense flickered. "I was thinking you might like to take a ride in my ship," she said.

"Alright," Luke agreed cautiously, following her up the ramp, watching the sway of her hips in spiter of himself. She tossed him a helmet.

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A little distance off, Kam, Streen, and Kirana Ti watched the ship take off. "What do you suppose that's about?," Kirana Ti asked.

Streen shrugged. "If he were leaving, he'd tell us."

"She said she had a message for him," Kam said. "But my guess is that Mara found out about Callista and the Master's hearing about it."

Kirana Ti stared at him in surprise. "You don't think..."

Kam regarded her unblinkingly. "Don't you?"

She frowned thoughtfully at the trail of exhaust hanging low over the nearby trees. "I don't know. She'd be good for him, though. She's a strong woman."

Streen nodded. "But not without a spot that's soft."

Kam laughed. "Could have fooled me."

"Come on," said Kirana Ti, "let's go eat."

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Frustrated with her lack of progress, Callista had gone to Luke's room to meditate, or to hide, she wasn't sure which. The Callista who had sacrificed herself for the children of the Jedi would never have wanted to hide, and the nagging desire to be out the way by herself bothered her. But the part-repulsed, part-pitying scrutiny of the students and her own inability to do the simple tasks she had always done bothered her even more, and Luke's quarters seemed to be the only place they couldn't haunt her. She spent hours sitting on the stiff-backed chair beside his bed, staring at the holos of Chad she'd hung on his wall and tracing the cyeen circling the handle of the lightsaber she could no longer use with wistful fingers. She wasn't hungry, but she went down to dinner anyway, hoping to find Luke and a word of love and reassurance. He was nowhere to be found. Callista ignored the little voice that whispered he might be with Mara Jade--she'd heard her ship had landed. He was probably helping a student with something they hadn't mastered yet. She just wished he could help her. Since she'd look ridiculous if she just turned around and walked out, Callista gathered some food half-heartedly and went into the dining area. The students all studiously avoided her eye, and she didn't want to sit somewhere where she wasn't welcome, so she sat off in the corner by herself and wondered if her new life was worth the price she'd paid for it.

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"So what was this all about?," Luke asked, though she could sense he was amused by her hotrod piloting.

"Karrde and I just got word that the Hutts are up to something big...like trying to build their own Death Star," Mara explained.

Luke cast her a questioning glance. "So why not take this to someone in the New Republic with the power to do something?"

"You can do that easier than we can. Anyhow we didn't really want our involvement to be well-known," she admitted. "You don't have to deal with the Hutts, we may."

"So why not just call me on the holonet?"

She looked over at him, her eyes feline in the half-light of the cockpit, and shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood. Anyhow, every once in a while, for some unknown reason, I almost look forward to seeing you."

Startlement and pleasure coursed through Luke as he smiled at her. "And this was one of them?"

"It was. I'd better be on my way before it wears off," Mara shot back, her tone nearly laughing.

"Why don't you stay for dinner? You need something better than stale ration bars."

"I don't know," she said with mock-reluctance. "I have a schedule to keep. But I guess I could delay it by that much."

He smiled, and she smiled a little stiffly in return as the ship set down, feather-light.

Kyp was waiting for them, glowering darkly. "Master Skywalker, I need to speak to you."

"What is it, Kyp?," Luke asked a little impatiently, "I have a guest."

"I'm afraid it's personal," Kyp said with a meaningful glance.

Luke gave a strangled groan of irritation and looked over at the petite redhead who somehow seemed so tall. "I'm sorry, Mara. Why don't you go on without me, and I'll meet you in the cafeteria?"

"Reliable as clockwork, Skywalker," she said dryly. "Do you ever get to eat here?"

"More often than not. The problems only occur when we have guests I particularly want to see," he returned with a meaningful glare at Kyp. Kyp tapped his foot.

"The universe has a sense of humor," Mara allowed with a wry smile. "It's okay," she added, touching his arm briefly, sensing his frustration. "See you in the Grand Audience Chamber."
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The food had not improved. Mara looked down at her plate with a vague grimace, then glanced around the room. A tall, willowy woman with spiky hair streaked wildly brown and blonde, sitting alone in the corner, head bowed, caught her eye. An odd sensation she couldn't name, part nausea, part sympathy, and part disgust, rose in Mara's throat. She didn't realize she made a move toward the
woman until she saw the wide rain-colored eyes staring up into her own. "Mind if I sit here?," she asked, determined not to sound as off-kilter as she felt.

The gray eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed, not nastily, just appraisingly. "Go ahead," the woman said, her voice sweet and clear. It raised Mara's hackles to hear it.

She took several bites of flavorless food, trying to figure out what had possessed her to join this woman. The silence seemed stifling, like a heavy wet blanket, and it took all her willpower not to glance around to see if Skywalker was riding to the rescue yet. Instead, she studied the blank spot in the Force like a specimen under a microscope. She was gorgeous. More than that, she was classically beautiful. If she hadn't been a Jedi she could have made a fortune before the war as a holo-ad model . She was tall and statuesque with curves that seemed even more delicious for the slight concealment of the baggy flightsuit.The short haircut was startling, drawing attention to a narrow piquant face with a delicate patrician nose, gray eyes with fine narrow brows and a slightly exotic lilt at the corners. Her mouth was lush and full, perfectly set off by the delicate point of her chin, and the sharp, almost jutting, angles of her cheekbones. It was so perfect, it made Mara feel sick and
wicked.

"So you're Skywalker's new lady," she said, emphasizing the careless indifference of her words as if they proved the answer didn't affect her in the least. Luke was important to her, and for some unknown reason, this woman was important to him. Mara had never wanted anyone to like her, but she wanted Callista Ming to like her, and that irritated her immensely.

The gray eyes returned Mara's examination unapologetically, taking in every little detail of her high wide forehead, her snub nose, her wide eyes and sharp dark brows, the high, round cheekbones, the quirkily off-center rosebud lips, the jutting angle of her square chin, the fit of her flight suit showing off long legs with only the faintest curve of hip and modest breast emphasized by the hanging utility belt at the dip of her waist, the framing shafts of red-gold hair tumbling wildly about her. "I have a name," the woman returned. "It's
Callista. I've met you before, right?"

Mara felt a trickle of respect for the seemingly weak woman sitting beside her. She would have apologized, if Mara Jade apologized.
"Briefly," Mara said, surprised she remembered. She'd been pretty distracted. "I pulled you and Skywalker out of space over Plawal."

"It was lucky you were there," Callista said after a brief pause, her eyes narrowed speculatively on Mara's face, "or was it?"

Mara scowled, and leaned closer, a combative spark in her eye. "Just what are you trying to imply?"

"Nothing," the other said calmly with a slight shrug. "I just thought maybe you showed up on purpose to protect Luke."

Mara speared another bite of salad with unecessary viciousness. "Why would I do a stupid thing like that?"

"Well, I've heard rumors that you were interested in Luke yourself at one time,
and--"

The lettuce lodged in Mara's throat, maddening her with the urge to cough. She sipped rather hurriedly at the mineral water in front of her. "Who'd you hear that from?" She'd strangle them without remorse; it was slander.

"No one in particular," Callista said.

"Well, ask anyone you like," Mara replied coolly. "They'll tell you I wanted to kill him...maybe I still do. Not exactly a great foundation for a lasting relationship." She smiled rigidly, desperately wishing herself away from the table.

"I guess not," agreed Callista, sounding unconvinced. "Aren't you with Lando Calrissian? I've heard you two were a hot item."

Mara stared, literally open-mouthed. "You've got to be kidding," she said at last. "We're business partners. Lando's only interested in wining me, not keeping me, which is fine as far as I'm concerned."

"Are you going to be trained to be a Jedi?"

Mara snorted. "Hardly. I've got a business to run."

Callista stared at her. "You're not going to dedicate yourself to guarding peace and justice in the galaxy because you have a business to run?"

"Got it in one," Mara said, raising her water bottle with a slight smirk. "And without the Force, at that."

Callista shot her a dirty look that didn't seem to phase her. "Don't crack jokes about it ...anyone can run a business. It takes someone special to be a Jedi," she protested. Her eyes dilated and took on a far away, dreamy look as she added, "someone who can be an example."

Mara speared her with a disbelieving look. "Right," she muttered, attempting to be polite. "But maybe I'm not special."

"Being a Jedi means something," Callista insisted. "It gives you a meaning and a purpose...I always felt so focused with the Force to guide me. I can't imagine chosing to live like this...without it, I mean."

Mara felt her lips twist in spite of herself. "Doesn't Skywalker give you enough of a purpose? Taking care of him is a full time job."

Callista blushed. "Oh, Luke's a sweetheart...And he tries so hard to show me that it doesn't matter that I'm not his equal. But it does matter. He deserves someone he can be proud to have in the spotlight beside him."

Mara rolled her eyes. "I think he deserves someone who makes him happy...and I've never seen him happier than when he's with you."

The blush deepened, and the blonde hesitantly reached out and squeezed Mara's hand, making her tense. She still didn't care for much overt human contact.

"Thank you. That means a lot coming from one of his best friends."

Mara raised an eyebrow and snorted. "You love him, right?"

"Very much."

"So quit feeling sorry for yourself and get on with your life," she concluded
with acid logic. //Creepy as the invisible act is, at least she can't sense how
badly I'd like to smack some sense into her.//

"It's not that easy," Callista protested.

"It's not that easy, or you don't want it to be?," Mara shot back.

"You think you're so special, playing at being Jedi," Callista all but shouted, oblivious to the interested staring of the cafeteria's other occupants. Especially those at the next table. Kam Solusar raised his eyebrows expressively at Tionne and Kirana Ti. They stared back in amazement. Streen just rubbed at his temples, muttering under his breath. "But I was Jedi; my whole life has been
about serving people. It's who and what I am, and I can't do it any more! I can't even give you advice, because no one will listen. They shun me like I am some kind of animal...just because they can't sense me. You can't possibly know what that feels like, and until you do, don't you dare to presume to tell me it's easy. I've tried, and I've tried to come to terms with this, and not being able to just makes me feel like a bigger failure."

"Look, I don't begrudge you your life, but figure out what you want and take it. You'd better make it that easy or you're going to end up hurting him, and I wouldn't take too kindly to that. You don't want me on your bad side, sister," Mara snarled back, her eyes razor-cold, and her voice colder.

"Wow, I knew he and Mara were closer than they let on, but I wasn't expecting her to be this possessive," Kam whispered to his companions.

"Shh..." hissed Tionne, "they'll hear you."

"And I want to hear what's going on," added Kirana Ti.

Streen, rocking back and forth, still muttering, drew several concerned glances.

But their attention remained on the scene unfolding before them.

Callista looked at her sharply. "I thought you wanted to kill him."

"I did," Mara returned. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have supplies to deliver. And, frankly, I'm beginning to find this conversation boring." With that, she stood up and calmly swept out of the room, dropping her tray in the clean up bin as she passed. The unnoticed audience gaped.

"What do you want to bet that isn't the last we hear about this?," Kam finally asked several minutes later. The others just
blinked and shook their heads, too stunned to respond. After several tense seconds, they stood and unobtrusively tiptoed past Callista, granting her privacy to consider what had been said.

Callista sat at the table for a long time, thinking and staring at the door where Mara had made her theatrical exit.
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"Mara Jade had to get back to business," Callista said, kissing Luke's cheek as she sat beside him in the office.

"I'm sorry I missed her, too," he said dryly. "It's the price of being a Master. I hope you had a nice conversation without me?"

"It was...interesting," Callie answered thoughtfully. She had hinted at Mara's possible interest in Luke, because the glimpses of the redhead she had caught in his thoughts during their time on the Eye, combined with Luke's infrequent mentions of her had made her wonder if he hadn't been a little in love with her himself. She had thought of asking him about it, but she couldn't stand the thought of the denial she knew he'd feel duty-bound to give her. And reading a far different answer in his eyes scared her even more. She had hoped she could
get a better feel for the truth from Mara's reaction to the suggestion. Unfortunately, the woman had reacted with perfect composure. Though Callie thought she'd been just a little adamant about how unlikely it was.

"What did she say?," Luke asked in concern. "She didn't hurt your feelings did she? Sometimes she can be a little insen--"

She had been surprised by the other woman's reassurance of her worth. "Actually, she told me that I love you, and it's enough to make you happier than you've ever been before," she admitted.

Luke grinned. "I told you Mara didn't miss much."

She smiled in return. "I guess you were right. She's very outspoken."

Luke threw his head back and laughed. "Mara? Outspoken is a nice word for it. She knows curses that make Han's hair stand on end."

Callie's eyes widened in horrified amusement, then she frowned slightly. Luke reached out and ran a gentle hand over her forehead, smoothing it, and making her smile. "What's the steam about, Callie?"

"Mara Jade. She's very competent, dangerous even, but she seemed to have a good heart, a wise soul, and a level head. I don't understand why she's willing to settle for being a lawless smuggler when she could be so much more."

"Lawless smugglers do a lot more to aid the galaxy than you think," Luke grinned. "If it hadn't been for one particular rogue, the Alliance would never have won our first major offensive."

Callista nodded, remembering her surprise at reading about Han's feats in the history disks. "But Mara could be a Jedi. How can anyone with the Force not want to use it?"

Luke shifted uncomfortably. "She's had some bad experiences with Jedi. Her past is kind of painful."

"The past is always painful," Callie said. "But Master Djinn used to say we had to put it behind us in order to use our powers for the most good."

Luke nodded. "Someday Mara will learn that, and find her destiny waiting," he said.

Callie felt a sudden chill as he said it, and threw her arms around him as if afraid he'd vanish into thin air. "Enough about Mara," she said. "I'm interested in you."

"You read my mind," Luke replied with a smile, pressing his lips to hers.