Star Wars Fan Fiction 1997. DEADLY LAWS.
Copyright 1997 Lucasfilm limited.

Sharon Beckerle.No copyright infringement is intended. This is one of my first attempts at fan fiction, comments and criticism can be reached to me at Gerbeck@Yorku.ca. Your criticism will not be read if foul language is added.
Summary: After leaving Nom Charios and approaching his Forties, a deadly Law for all Tatooine citizens comes into effect One that will force Mara Jade to make a decision once and for all...

Chapter 1-Despair

Luke Skywalker tried to hold his grief at bay for the loss going through his entire body as he waited in the aft cabin of the Millennium Falcon.

The pain washed through him in giant waves, he could no longer detain them. He failed,there was nothing he could do. Trying to breathe through heartbreaking sobs and tears stung his eyes and draining all his strength. why can't I ever find a woman who will have me?! what am I doing wrong?!

Luke brushed his eyes and blew his nose on his handkerchief . Disgusted, he flung it into the recycler.

Luke cursed himself for going on so foolish a mission and being Naive to believe love could cure anything . He reached under the bed to the small liquor cabinet there staring long and hard at the tatooine gin bottle, he opened it and took a deep drink off it hoping his pain to go away.

As he did so, he heard the door behind him slide open. Immediatly ,he turned to see Han standing in the doorway.His expression grim "Can I come in Luke?" he asked.

Luke gestured to his bed . Watching him, Han sat down with a seriousness Luke had never seen before.Luke kept the bottle hidden from Han's eyes.

"We have to talk" Han stated.

"About what?" Luke asked. Did it have to be now?

"Luke, I tried talking to you about this before. But I can't hold this back anymore. I'm concerned about you. You acted so much like a Jedi for so long you've forgotten what it means to be human!"

"Han I don't want to discuss this-"Luke began, then hiccupped softly and giggled.

"You're gonna have to admit it sometime Luke!" Han yelled. "The weight on your shoulders is killing you! It's destroying you inside and out!"

"Yeah well, you really should care Han." Luke said with bitter sarcasm dripping off his voice. Han flinched, then threw his hands up in resignation at his brother in laws obstinacy.

"Leave me alone Han. Your son's calling you." Han knew his son had done no such thing but Luke laughed anyway. Annoyed Han slipped out. Bumping into Leia on her way in.

"Han-' she began trying to brush past him but Han caught her.

"No, Leia."

'But Han Luke is-"

"-is in pain and needs to be alone.Both of us are going to do more harm than good if we see to him now. Come on,We're going back to Courascant."

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Luke chugged the contents of the first bottle easily. With his force powers, he could easily swallow three bottles before feeling the effects of the alcohol. Already he was starting to feel a bit fuzzy. he snickered.

"Fools, fools," he berated himself, "this wash you only shance at seeing love shlip through those dang fingers of yours. Now this last chance has been lost forever," he giggled at the thought of what was lying ahead of him in the next three weeks...and promptly collapsed onto the deck!

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Several hours later, Luke woke from his unplanned nap. He winced in pain. "Oh gods Why in the heck did I do this?" he sat on the edge of his bed and waited for the worst of the pain to subside. Noticing how quiet it was.

"Han?" he called.

No answer.

'Leia?"

Slowly, he got up out of bed and walked to the cockpit his footsteps echoing in the loneliness of the deserted ship and looked out.They were indeed on Courascant. Han and Leia must have left hours ago.

Glancing at the cockpit again, he disembarked and headed for his quarters. Opening the front door ,he went to the small kitchenette and fixed himself a drink as his answering machine played itself back.

There was one message from Mara Jade, saying she was heading out on a private mission for Karrde and would have to cancel her planned arrival to Yavin again. Luke snorted in disgust.

Then a trivial message from Lando Calrissian saying how tough his underground housing project was coming and his brand new girlfriends . Boring.

But the third one terrified him...

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"Artoo Deeto where are you?" See Threepio Luke's protocol droid exclaimed . A soft whistle and a toot in a corner of the office turned the golden droids head stiffly he walked over with a very annoyed tense in his voice.

"Artoo! What in the stars of Courascant do you think you're doing? Captain Solo said we have to head over to the Milenium Falcon to check on Master Luke. Oh, I do hope our poor master is not ill from a virus going through all the computer systems recently. How dreadful!"

Artoo made a series of whistles beeps and electronic sounds. Threepio whipped his head back to his companion.

"Don't you tell me about how to handle our masters mood. Why after he wakes up, he'll be as bright as a sunflower on Yavin! you'll see Artoo. Ah! here we are. Master Luke?"

No answer.

"Master Luke where are you? " Moving stiffly through the corridors of the ship and calling every few minutes Threepio finally met Artoo back in the cockpit.

"Oh dear ,oh dear Artoo! where could have our poor master gone. Mistress Leia isn't going to like this one bit. Not one bit!I knew this was all your fault you rustardly overweight blob of grease you!"

Artoo let of a series of shrill beeps and whistles and the two droids bantered the rest of the afternoon.

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Han was getting Jacen ready for a family trip together. He deserved a rest . After Leia's kidnapping Han knew he and Leia needed some time alone. Luke too, needed to get rid of his pain as well, But not with him or his family.

A ring at the doorbell startled him, who in the heck was it? He and Leia weren't expecting any kind of company.

There standing in the doorway was Luke smiling .

Han didn't know exactly what to expect as he slowly opened the door and stepped out to talk to his brother in law. But he had a bad feeling about it.

"Hi Han." Luke said good naturedly.

"Hi. What's going on? I-I wasn't expecting you to come here."

"Yeah well, things happen." he shrugged his shoulders on the matter and got right to the point of why he came.

"Look Han, I'm sorry I treated you so badly in the falcon. "Luke's tone changed a bit as he spoke the next part. "I want to make it up to you. Let's go out tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes." Luke said softly. his blue eyes innocently stared right at Han's. filling the space between them with a mesmerizing energy. "You do...want to have..a guy's night out...don't you Han?"Luke's tone was coyly innocent and suggestive.

Mesmerized by his brother in laws eyes, a wave of fog went through Han's brain. What was he doing on a boring night here?

"You...have...some time free? Don't you? Just a few hours?" Time? Free? A few hours. A few hours wouldn't hurt him. He'd be back, Leia wouldn't miss him. Shaking his head a bit he slowly headed for the speeder Luke parked in front.

"Sure...Luke" Han said slowly "Let's go."

******************************************************** The bar Luke chose for their outing was not sanitary, in fact it was very disgusting. Han was revolted and anxious at the bizzare assortment of aliens around the room. Many of them were very drunk and unclean.

"What in the seven suns of Corellia are we doing here? This is even worse than the Cantina on Tatooine." Beside him, Luke giggled and laughed deliriously while chugging happily on his beer. Now on his third round Luke was obviously not caring what was going on.

"Luke," Han suggested carefully standing up and trying to take his arm "I think it's best if we went back to the Palace and-" "Palace, scmalace. Let me be Han-" Luke waved his arm back and collapsed to the floor, giggling.

"Luke you're acting like a jerk here! Can't you see-"

"I can see you've got everything this galaxy has offer Han! And I've got none of it!" Luke shrieked. Han flinched, part from the harsh words and part from the brandy.

Still sitting on the floor Luke looked hazily around the room, like he was pouting. Slowly his eyes focused on an argument happening on the other side of the room.

"Ohh, Han look." he lisped . "Something to have fun with." Luke scrambled to his feet and staggered slowly over to the aliens.Not hearing or paying attention to Han's protests.

Luke approached the arguing bonthan and twelik cautiously, listening to the conversation. Shaking his head slowly he tapped the bonthan on the shoulder and smiled.

"Hello." Luke said sweetly, knowing full well the bonthan didn't understand him and punched him hard in the face sending him reeling into the table across the room knocking two gammoreans in the process and a barmaid laughed in delight.

Angrilly the bothan got to his feet and charged Luke which he easily side stepped making him ram headfirst into the lower part of the bar.

'Ohh, must've hurt!" Luke sneered flinging himself onto another civilians back who drew a knife. Several occupants in the bar were cheering and stamping their heels and clapping. Some for Luke and some for the civilian.

Han couldn't believe what was happening here. During the war years he and Luke had gotten into a fair share of brawls in taverns. But this was unacceptable!

"Luke!" Han bellowed to Luke over the din of the crowd "Stop it! What are you-" but was cut short as Luke whalloped him with a hard right to the chin sending him crashing into a nearby table.

Luke didn't have time to notice who he'd hit before another Twelik came charging at him with a knife drawn. Grabbing the Tweliks wrist as another man came from the right side. In one deft move, Luke stabbed the Tweliks knife into the mans stomach and bashed both their heads together.

Stepping back with a bit of a stagger. Luke suyveyed the damage merrily.

"That was fun."he said walking over to Han and pulled his brother in law to his feet, who'd gained consiousness.

After Han had regained his legs back and was in good enough conditon to drive back home he got both of them in the nearby speeder. Both men were very quiet as they headed back to the palace. Han suspected something was very very wrong. But couldn't figure out what. Luke just kept quiet keeping his eyes on the road ahead. Not seeing it or Han either. He stared out to the darkness ahead of them.

Luke's silence sparkled in the air like static electricity. There was something very wrong and very secret building up in that mind of his. Something was bound to cut loose sooner or later. But Han knew he couldn't say anything to him. Not now. But he wasn't sure if he wern't making a bigger mistake by letting his brother in law go home alone without talking things over. Which would do the worser damage?

Finally ,they pulled up to the front of the palace. It was close to one in the morning. Their evening out had been much longer than either one expected. Han glanced over At Luke and both men got out. Luke walked with Han to the door as he quietly opened it. Luke had his eyes downcast and an expression of genuine sorrow on his face.

"Come on in?" Han asked softly.

But Luke, his voice low and surprisingly strong said."No. I can't. You have a vacation to go on with your family tommorrow.I-I have some business of my own to take care of myself. Han, I,I'm sorry for what I did back there I don't know what came over me. Tell Leia it wasn't my intention to keep you out so late."

"I'll tell her."

"Good. and Han?"

"Yes?"

"Give my best to the kids. Tell them I'll be thinking of them. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Well. I'll see you later then Han." He paused and added with a shake in his voice. "Have fun" then he turned and ran back before Han could chase after him.

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The next morning, after watching Han and Leia leave in the falcon from the balcony. Luke made a hasty departure in a un-marked shuttle to Tatooine.

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Chapter2-Secret Trip
(The next day)

Luke waited in his prison cell . Knowing all his hope was gone. Whatever happened now, Leia wouldn't hear about him until it was too late. It was best. And, Mara would finally be happy. She would see his death notice.

He didn't know why Mara gave him such confusing messages. He didn't mean to hurt her. Maybe things would be better after all this. He only knew he'd suffered enough in this life with all his relationships.

Ben,Yoda, Uncle Owen,AuntBeru all lost. Orphaning him over and over again. Leia mocked him with her happy family life ,torturing him with seeing her get all the happiness in life as he was forced to take the high and hard roads to love. Mara's manipulation created an underlying tension between them while Callista used him for her own selfish purposes.

Well no more!

A loud click shook Luke out of his reverie as the door opened to reveal a man in long robes with hollow eyes.

"Private citizen Luke Skywalker. Are you aware of what awaits you ,are you willing to abide to it?"

"Yes ."

"Have you come here of your own free will and abandoned your powers and relations to follow this procedure ?"

"Yes. I am mortal ."

"Very well, then we may proceed." the priest reached under his robe to remove a small bottle from the folds. Luke swallowed hard and looked stonily at what the priest was holding.

"The first of your termination shots commander." the priest said. Luke nodded and whispered with tears filling his eyes.

"I know, get it over with . Give me the first shot."

Slowly Luke took the flask from the priest then brought it to his lips and drained it.

"My first step in this ceremony. Four more shots to go. Let this poison work quickly I want this to be fast."

The priest took the flak back from Luke after he drank the last of it. Handing him a Handkerchief to wipe his mouth he opened the door and left .

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Mara Jade walked through the trees at Dagobah, hearing the mud squish softly under her boots. She could feel the flow and ebb of the Force thickly in the mists surrounding her and her ship when she landed.

Smelling the scent of herbs, moss, mud and vegetation she felt uneasy Not with the connection of the Force, but in her struggle over her feelings with Luke.

"Confused are you?" came a voice from behind her. Crying out, she spun around ,firing her blaster. The shot passed through the small, glowing and transparent green skinned creature behind her.

Yoda. It had to be him.

Stunned, Mara could only stare but Yoda, amused by her, laughed happily .

"Away put your weapon child. Work it will not on me."

Hesitantly and with a small grimace, she did so. Once her blaster was holstered, she adressed the deceased Jedi Master.

"Why are you here?" she asked it.

"Why ask you, if sent me here you did."

"I sent for no one!" she cried out turning away only to find Yoda in front of her again.

"Sent for me you did Mara Jade" Yoda repeated more firmly than before. "And truth you seek. But admit it, you will not."

Mara backed away her eyes brimming with rage to Yoda's serene ones."Get the hell out of here you stupid green skinned Elf!" she screamed,turning and running through the dense foliage back to her ship.

But when she reached the clearing where she landed...her ship was gone!

Baffled, Mara looked around searching for her ship her face a mask of panic. Finally she screamed out and began slashing at the trees and the foliage for an hour. Then she collapsed to the ground exhausted.

Several hours later , she opened her eyes again to find Yoda sitting on a nearby tree. Wiping her tears away she drew herself up to her full height.

"Fight this battle you have for ten years Mara Jade." Yoda said quietly.

"What battle? I don't know what you're talking about!"

" Lie to Me you will NOT Mara jade! The truth I know!" Yoda said harshly in a tone of great command. Sitting up ,she stared wide eyed at him.

"And if leave this planet is what you wish, than listen to me you will." the wizened jedi Master sat on his log gazing patiently at her as she winced and paced back and forth in front of him. Finally she stopped and turned to him.

"All right what is it?"

" Fight a great battle you do Mara Jade with your heart and mind. Many years you have helped Luke find his way. Care for him deeply you do"

"It's a lie!" she cried. But Yoda held up his hand, silencing her.

"The only enemy ,in this battle, is yourself, Mara Jade.And resolve it you must. Great danger lies ahead for him as well as for you.Find him"

"Why? Why must I resolve this battle you claim to exist?"

"Because if resolve it you do not, death comes for your soul."

Mara stood back feeling a chill course through her body. Yoda wasn't lying. She knew what he was trying to say to her. Carefully she selected her next words.

"What's going on here?"

"Only this I can tell you.Five days you have to find him Mortal he is, as when you first found him. In your hands is his fate and this galaxy Miss jade.Use it wisely. Trust you he does...as well as love."

Mara stood up and looked behind her to see the Jades fire Damn him! she thought to herself trying to open the door. It stayed shut. But Mara could hear the jedi's voice in her mind.

"Apologize" the voice said simply. "Take your ship away I can, if you make me."

Snorting in contempt at conversing with a dead jedi Spirit and cursing herself for coming here in the first place, she finally managed with real sincerity to whisper "I'm sorry"

Then the ramp lowered to her.Anguished now,Mara ran on board and began punching in the take off sequence. Her mind was filled with a wild grief and and confusion she never felt before.

Why couldn't she have life easier?

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The next day began the same for Luke. He waited in his cool dark cell. The effects of the poisonwere starting He was prone to dizzy spells as well as powerful headaches ,lasting several minutes at a time. Every day he felt weaker and weaker.

Then in the darkness came an irredecscent light "No" Luke muttered, shutting his eyes and his face away from it.

"Luke..." It was the voice of Ben Kenobi. At moment, Luke felt both tremendous joy and betrayal.Nonetheless, when he spoke, he couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"What is it Ben? Haven't you done enough to me already?!"

"Luke I'm sorry." Kenobi said, in a broken whisper. "I'm sorry for everything 's happened. This wasn't supposed to ."

"This is part of the Force's flow isn't it?" Luke asked his tone was irascibly patient.

"No it's not. Luke-"

"Go away Ben. Couldn't you you have waited to apologize until I arrived."

"No we couldn't." came a different voice. One he'd only heard once before.

Anakin Skywalker.

"I'm afraid we have put you in an akward situation My son."

"Well, It won't matter, I'll be Joining you soon."

"My son. That's why we are here. I have a message for you.It's not your time.There is still much you need to do."

"Leia will carry on your legacy Father. I have done what you ,Yoda and Obi-wan have asked of me "

"Luke-" Ben began. Luke ignored him, continuing tenaciously.

"I've brought back the Jedi knights and trained them. Others will follow them. Others will follow me. I've done my duties. I'm no longer needed here."

"Yes my son"Anakin said, trying to calm him."But that's not why Obi-wan and I are here. We both have amends to make to you. And things to explain."

Luke's brows drew together in an agonized expression at his fathers words. Anakin stepped closer to him, Luke found himself unable to move away.

"My son, You have followed a long ,hard path here.And a part of you is still bleeding inside.Wounds, Owen, Ben and I have given you. Wounds we are sorry for and must help heal for you to carry on."

"Father...'Luke's voice trembled " Ben I-I'm not sure I can believe in you anymore. I don't know if I can trust you."

"Luke I know this is hard for you. But your meeting with Callista was not supposed to happen."

"Father, if it were so, then why did it happen?"

Anakin moved even closer to his son and for the first time looked deeply into his eyes.

"It is in the nature of the force for humans to make mistakes. But Callista committed a crime against the force it cannot forgive."

Luke felt his heart crumble. "And that was..? "he asked in a choked whisper.

"She cheated death. She refused to die when it was her time."

Luke felt the familiar hot grief searing through his heart again.A pain beyond tears. "Then this is the way of the Force's punishing me!" he cried, falling to his knees.

"Luke. If the Force truly abandoned you,Obi-wan and I could not be here. We have come to give YOU a second chance."

"a second chance at what?"

"Life my son."

"Life!" Luke spat the word like an insult. "Life hasn't given me what I wanted for years! I thought I would be able to marry and have a family of my own.Instead ,it just drives people away from me, you, Ben Callista, Mara ,Han Leia. How can I go back if it will hurt so much!"

Anakin stood near his son with a look of quiet pity. He waited a moment or two before speaking to allow the scorching remarks to cool before answering.

"My son." Anakins said softly. The words, though deep, were crisp and clear.:"You are a creature of great kindness and great love. Without the strength of your love I would not have been set free."

Luke's intention when he replied, was to insult again but somehow he was able to whisper very softly and sincerely "I know father."

"Your path with Callista was not to have happened, but SHE made it so, with the help of Cray. Listen to me, carefully my son, You had the power to love but Callista and Cray had the love of power, and that ,in the eyes of the Force, is never right."

"Then father, If is so, How am I supposed to know when Love is right? I've failed so many times before."

"That''s the reason why we are here Luke" came another voice. Luke turned around to see another figure standing nearby.

Uncle Owen.

"What- what are you doing here?" Luke whispered his face turning pale "Is this your way of getting back at me for not obeying you as a child? Is this your punishment for my desertion of you by having Callista desert me?"

Owen gazed at his nephew with sincere compassion.Something Luke never really saw before. It fascinated and frightened him.

"No Luke 's not why I'm here Don't be afraid. I have concealed the truth from you too. Now both Beru and I will make amends for it."

"Why? I don't understand."

"You have known the truth about your heritage Luke. But only the bad, now it is time for you to know the other half:the good half.My brother and I have put you through a terrible ordeal And we are sorry, We should have been honest with you from the beginning but it was necessary to lie to you at the time. And lying for love is not right either."

"What do you intend to do?" he asked them all. But they smiled softly and disappeared as Luke awoke in his cell he could hear his Uncles voice in his mind telling him.

"Trust us just one more time Luke. Just one more time."

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Chapter three- Plans and Talks.

Mara paced back and forth in her cargo hold on her ship. She tried to practice with the remote earlier in the darkness she couldn't see anything except Luke's face.

Throwing the helmet down to the floor in disgust she found herself shaking with emotion. Dammit! what was happening ? why hadn't she been able to concentrate on anything over the last few days except for Luke Luke Luke.

When she destroyed the clone of him on Jomark she thought she was set free and she had been... for a while,why was she endlessly chasing after him in the last ten years. She didn't even like him...didn't she?

Luke was in danger now, she knew it.. The talk Yoda gave her on Dagobah spooked her too.But knowing what was lying ahead of her with Luke's life in the balance, was terrifying.

Yoda knew, the green skinned wizard knew all along didn't he? He knew her vow to kill Luke was a bluff, if it were so then could he know...

...NO! that musn't be! she'd rather train on Hoth than admit to the creature the feelings she developed for Luke.

What was she to do now? Luke needed her, even though he might not know or care. She couldn't go back to Courascant now, Leia didn't know anything about Tatooine culture or how to act there. She'd stick out like a sore thumb! Not to offend her ,but her element was in a palace or a fancy city, not among peasant folk who could barely afford to buy their daily meals. so who could she go to?

She needed someone to help her in this mission .She couldn't pull this off alone. When she found Luke she would need a put to take him to recover and keep him alive until the "termination" law could be dissolved. It had to be someone who understood the rules and regulations of Tatooine folk like him? So who could help her?

Mara stopped her pacing as a new piece of information hit her. Someone who knew and worked with Luke a few yeas ago, Someone Luke sent occasional letters and holovids to. Angletris, anglis Anglethorn! was her name! Dariel that was it! Luke hadn't told Leia about her. Threepio and Artoo knew Luke went to her home planet of Beheeboth several years ago but hadn't pressed for Details. When Luke and Mara's relationship, began to soften Luke told a little bit about her.And was astonished at how alike they were...to a point.

She knew with Dariel there was a real chance of rescuing him with both of them working together since Anglethorn had a really strong back up.Racing to the volovid she traced the number to her, there wasn't much time left.

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ChapterFour-Suspisions

Things were quiet this morning on Courascant. Something didn't feel right. Leia gazed at the suns piercing rays from her spot on the balcony where her brother stood several times when he came to visit. She herself ,had never been to the roof of the Palace before, always so busy with the affairs of state and her own family she never didn't have time to enjoy a view like this.

Han insisted not to contact him through the Force during the last week. After Han told her about the brawl Luke started in the bar,Leia made her mind up to leave him be. She couldn't do anymore good if she kept smothering him with duties he didn't want.

"Oh your highness! Your highness! There you are!" the prissy voice of See Threepio interrupted her thoughts as she heard the soft whining of Threepio joints coming towards her. Beside him, his counterpart whistled excitedly. What in the worlds could they want?

"Calm down Artoo before you melt all those internal systems of yours! I will tell her Highness myself since i'm the one who's rehearsed in protocol! Your Highness-"

"What is it Threepio." Leia asked, eying both of them wearily. she had a lot to do today and was in no mood to have trouble.

"Mistress Leia, Artoo has picked some rather distressing news concerning master Luke."

Lea sighed tiredly and took another sip of tea. "Threepio, if you're talking about the trouble in the bar last week I'm sure-"

Artoo was very close to squealing now and Leia looked down at the spinning droid in concern. "No your Highness, we know nothing of that , Master Luke is in serious danger to himself."

When wasn't he? she thought to herself. Not reacting to the droid, she asked calmly "How so?"

"According to Tatooine Law when a civilian reaches the standard age of forty and does not have a mate or children to care for, he or she is considered a disgrace to the planet and sentenced to death!"

Leia's eyes were wide as she whipped around to face Threepio.

"What do you mean, sentenced to death, how?"

"According to the law, a citizen is given five doses of poison to claim their life. If the civilian is still alive or the poison isn't strong enough they are hung in a public display as a warning to other citizens."

"By the gods.." Leia whispered softly to herself. Covering her mouth, she turned back to Threepio "Where is he now?"

Artoo began whistling and beeping frantically to Threepio who patiently took it in before replying " Artoo says Master Luke's ship left Courascant three days ago and hasn't been seen since. Mistress Leia what are we going to do? our poor Master is surrendering himself! surrendering! Oh Your Highness-"

"-quiet threepio!" Leia snapped .Walking as calmly as possible to the door. It couldn't be true! It couldn't! Luke was an official member of the New Republic now. He was a hero. He couldn't be going to Tatooine to commit suicide!

But feeling his mood before he left Nom charios less than a month ago. He was liable to do anything.

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"Yes I know the law you're referring to Miss Jade" a woman's voice acknowledged over the comm system. Her voice was smooth and calm and attractive. It was a strong voice and commanded respect without sounding the least bit husky or sultry.

Smiling in relief at the system she spoke into the addressing unit again"So is there a chance you can help me"

"Luke saved the life of my people a long time ago, now I will help you help him. I have a dwelling outside of Anchorhead where we can talk.I 'll meet you in Mos Eisley in three hours."

"All right where ?"

"There is a small night club in Mos Eisley where the farmers hang out for social gatherings in the alley west of the Pilots Cantina. Meet me there."

"I'll see you then Dariel, Jade out."

Mara sat back in her chair and sighed. Why in the heck was she going through with this? Mara never followed anyone's orders except maybe her own and maybe occasionally Karrde's.What was happening to her? was she growing soft?

She couldn't sleep, not tonight. She'd tried several times but in nine hours she'd be on another mission, not to save but to claim him, court him and marry him.

Marriage! The very word terrified her. Throughout her entire life Mara never got to experience real emotions. The Emporor enslaved her im more ways than one, even after his death.

That was, until Luke.

What was it between them?

A strange but brilliant light filled the cabin as Mara slowly lifted her head from the pillow, her fear mounting. What was happening?

The light became brighter and closer, and so did a voice. One so gentle and kind that Mara couldn't believe she was hearing it.

"Mara...Mara Jade" the voice intoned, hypnotic.

Mara tried to make a grab for her blaster but by now the light engulfed her. She was alone in a vast sea of white light and defenseless. Where was she?

She couldn't stay here and face this creature or whatever it was without a weapon!She was really out of control here. She had to get her control back!

But how?

She looked around and gasped as she saw a figure approach her ,dressed in a white robe. The human figure was short and she couldn't make out her features from this distance. But she sensed the woman approaching her meant no harm. Slowly gathering in her breath she tried to relax and drive her suspision away.

Hoarsely, as if testing her vocal cords out. She adressed the woman as she came up to her. "Who...who are you?"

"Don't be afraid, Mara." the woman said in a feminine, motherly voice. The light around her dimmed and her vision cleared enough to see the womans face clearly. Round, wrinkled a bit and with a dark brown salt and pepper look . Serene and calmeyes almost the same color as Luke's. "This has not been a good day" Mara thought to herself. Unarmed, nowhere to run and placed in a situation where she had no control over she adressed the elderly woman in front of her.

"Who are you, Please answer me."

"Don't be afrad." the elderly lady said again."I will not harm you. I couldn't harm you." her face broke into a beautiful smile as she reached for her cheek.

" I know you are frightened young lady but you are strong. You need to have things explained to you."

Mara's normal reaction to such a statement would have been to snap and push the hand away. But her feet refused to move and her eyes were mesmorized by the lady's stare. Was it possible...?

"Yes, I am an angel" the woman said softly "And I am here to help you understand and prepare you for this mission that frightens you so."

"Why have you come to me?"

"Because you need someone in your life. The mother you never had."

Mara's eyes filled with tears at the word "mother" and they streamed freely down her cheeks.

"No. No! I can't do this! I can't" Mara fell to her knees sobbing. The elderly woman took her trembling body and placed her in a hug. Slowly rocking her back and forth.

"Yes, you can Mara. You can do it! Don't be afraid . Luke cares very much for you. He can learn to love you."

At that, Mara sat up."No he can't! It's not true! He loves Callista! He loves her! Not me."

"Mara....Mara." the woman's voice said softly placing her face in her hands and bringing her to face her...and the truth.

"Mara Jade I am about to tell you something very important here. Something to help me and my husband get to where I have to go.If you refuse to listen to me ,you will end up hanging in this limbo forever. Do you understand me."

"Yes."

"Good." the woman took a deep breathand released her. Standing up and walking around as she spoke. Mara stayed where she was, listening intently to everyword she spoke.

"Several years ago my husband and I were married in a simple ceremony. Our life togtether was plain and happy. Except for one thing. My husband bore a grudge against his older brother. He claimed he was too proud of himself to see what he was doing.And in a way ,I guess he was right. But I liked him, he was a good man. someone who wanted to make a difference. or so I thought."

"What happened?"

"He turned his best friend into a monster. Or so my husband said. What I didn't know is, that he had his own share of monster qualities in him. He and I both. No one knew what happened to him but our galaxy became restless.We were lucky to have escaped the slave herdings. Shortly after, war came."

"The clone wars," Mara remembered.

"Yes.My husband and I fled to Tatooine and found freedom there. But the War and the role my huband's brother played in it made him bitter for the rest of his days. I still loved him but I wanted something more that he couldn't or didn't want to give me for his own reasons: a child."

"A child." Mara echoed.

"Mm-hmm. In the early days of our marraige My husband said that he couldn't wait for us to have a large family. That is, after he tried to flee the influence of his brother. While we were fleeing to Tatooine, our ship was hit by a strange kind of radiation. I was the only woman on board the ship at the time and our ship didn't have any shielding. We passed through unharmed but when we reached Tatooine, I found the radiation had affected my reproductive system. I couldn't give my husband the children he wanted. He blamed his brother for the accident and my sterility then went into a silent rage and vowed disownment "

"Then a few years later a miracle occured. One I never thought would happen. I finally got my wish fufilled. I would have a child. My husband's brother returned to us with a small bundle in his arms. He explained to me that this child was an orphan and needed to be cared for. But my husband wouldn't hear of it. As far as he was concerned, his brother was bad luck. I finally manged to convice him to take the baby under his wing but only if his brother wouldn't have anything to do with him. My husband agreed to his terms and handed the baby over to us. He wanted to name the child after himself but I disagreed, I would not let the child grow with a mistaken identity. So we called him by his orginal name; Luke Skywalker."

Mara gasped in realization as the truth hit her. "You... you're Luke's aunt!"

"Yes I am. But please let me finish my story. I was delighted to have won the round on two counts. Getting my wish fufilled and having the child keep his given name. Luke was a happy child and put a good effort into everything he did, I was proud of him and even though Owen wouldn't show it or say so. He was too. It took some time, but Owen began to soften to his nephew and wanted to protect him. But what he and I did to protect him was something I'm not proud of."

"What did you do?"

"We lied to him. Told him things that never should have been said, but was neccessary at the time. I couldn't bear the thought of having Luke kidnapped or taken away from us by his father who had become Darth Vader and was rousing terror through out the galaxy. So in an effort to delay things and prevent Luke from becoming influenced by the wrong typoe of people, Owen kept Luke at home and arranged for him to have a tutor.I was saddened by all this."

"What's the point of all this Beru?" Mara asked, sounding a bit impatient.

"My point is, that Luke, like my husband Owen, can learn to love. And so can you. If you are willing to take the time for it. And don't. not for second, get too proud of yourself.It carries a heavy price."

"How?"

"Owen's pride in himself kept him from reconcilling with his brother and telling the truth to Luke. Ben's pride created Darth Vader and created war in this galaxy and your pride in your business, money and freedom keep you from seeing Luke's more human side.Is that not true.?"

Mara eyes mometarily filled with anger but realizing it would not do her a bit of good, bowed her head in chastisement.

"No I guess not." she whispered.

"Mara. Pride is like alchohol, A little is good ,even a cup is okay but after a while it impairs your judgement and blinds you and turns everything out of focus. Don't take too much of it."

"Thanks for the story and the talk but I really need to go back. "

"And you will my child, just know that I will help you during this mission. And you need not be afraid of it."

Mara looked at her a long time and spoke with much more confidence and conviction."I'm not afraid. Not anymore."

"Then you are free to go Mara." Beru's voice echoed in her ears and before she knew it Mara was back on the sleeping pallete in her quarters.

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That's all I've got for now. More being written. Promise!

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