Shattered Remembrance
Chapter
Fourteen
"You're
leaving your right side open!" Mara shouted over the crackle of lightsabers.
"You have to anticipate your foe's next move. Open yourself to the Force. Let it guide your actions." Mara spun, sweeping one leg out to catch Luke
at the knees.
"I
thought ..." Luke
leapt into the air, twisting and coming down behind her. "... that's
what I was doing!"
Mara
gritted her teeth, not holding back as she parried Luke's swings blow for blow.
The
daily lessons with Luke were the happiest times of Mara's life, and the most
miserable. He responded well to her
instructions, increasingly becoming more aware of his surroundings. His injured leg continued to grow stronger,
allowing him to vertically leap seemingly impossible heights, and to perform
full flips from a standing position.
But
their daily duels with the non-lethal practice sabers weren't as stimulating as
the ones they had engaged in during her infrequent visits to Yavin, and their
former sharp-tongued banter was non-existent.
Though when Mara thought of how close she'd come to never having him to
spar with again ...
Dropping
into a tucked roll, Luke evaded Mara's stroke by centimeters, but failed to
block the vibroblade she pulled from her boot and held
humming to his chest.
"Few
of your opponents will be wielding lightsabers,"
Mara coached, switching off the blade.
She had been endeavoring to teach him as many non-Force skills as Force
ones. "You have to be ready for any
weapon, any tricks."
Yet
their relationship remained that of student and teacher, even more platonic
than in years past, when those roles had been reversed. Luke was polite, but distant. When she tried teasing with him, he'd give
her a blank look. When she pushed him
beyond the point at which any other man would lash out in anger, he drew back
in frustration, not at her but at himself.
At
least Han and Leia spent less and less time monitoring Mara's instruction,
finally allowing her to pick up Luke at his apartment every morning, and
usually foregoing making an appearance at all.
The lessons soon extended to all day, allowing Mara to have lunch with
Luke, frequently at a small diner near the training salon.
***
"Try
the toma-spiced ribenes,"
Mara suggested, smiling to herself as Luke stood
studying the flashing menu posted above the counter.
"Will
I like it any better than yesterday's kridish
soup?" he asked, raising one eyebrow in skepticism. He'd made it clear to her that the bland
stringy soup hadn't been to his liking at all.
"I
believe it's one of your favorite dishes," she returned with a wink. "At least I've noticed you order ribenes before."
"Then
why didn't you recommend that before now?" Luke complained, a slight whine
coloring his voice as he punched in his selection.
"It
wasn't the special of the day before now," Mara said, her finger slowly moving
down the list of salads before choosing a bowl of mixed tilepka
greens. "And I know how thrifty
you are with your credits."
"Well,
I'm glad one of us knows my habits."
Grabbing a bottle of sparkling water, Luke checked his cred total on his datapad, then sighing in apparent relief
he paid his tab.
"Afraid
Leia forgot to give you your allowance this week?" Mara teased, following
him to a back table. She frowned at the
scowl that twisted Luke's face.
"Tell me she's not really … "
"She
transfers fifty credits a week into my account," he growled. He looked Mara in the eye. "Don't I get an income from this Jedi
job? Or am I on some kind of unpaid leave
now? Leia won't tell me anything. She just smiles and tells me not to worry
about finances." He grabbed the
seasoning bottle, sprinkling it liberally over his food. Mara thought about telling him that he might want
to go easy, since ribenes were already spicy. But Luke wasn't finished with his tirade.
"Do
you know I have to report to her each evening on what you're teaching
me?" He slammed the bottle back
down. "I look in the mirror and see
an adult, but I feel like a child. Leia
treats me like a child."
"Luke
…" Mara
reached over and touched his arm lightly, her heart clenching in sympathy. The whole scenario reminded her of a student
having to relay to a parent what he learned at school that day.
"Has
my life always been like this? Am I completely
under her control?" Luke suddenly
clutched her hand. "Mara, you and
Han are the only people I trust to tell me the truth. And when it comes to Leia, I think even Han
would be reluctant to open up completely."
Relishing
the feel of his grip, Mara exhaled softly.
"Leia has always been very protective of you,
and you've always had a hard time standing up to her. But you love each other very much, and
you've been through a lot of rough times together. After you found out you were siblings—"
"What
do you mean, after—" Luke started to interrupt, but Mara cut him off with
a gesture.
"Finish
your lunch," she ordered.
"Then we're going on a field trip."
***
A
cold, brisk wind buffeted Mara and Luke as they exited the diner and ventured
out onto the skyway. Mara decided they
could walk to their destination. She
needed the fresh air to clear her head, and she could sense Luke's eagerness to
see more of the city up close, his enthusiasm tempered only slightly by his
ever-present caution. She glanced
sideways.
"Put
up your hood," she instructed, as she pulled her own cloak tighter.
"I'm
fine," Luke muttered, craning his head to peer into the abyss beneath
them, his lightsaber clanking against the waist-high guardrail. Leia had finally allowed Luke's own weapon
into the training salon, but only when he practiced with the targeting
remote. Mara remembered snickering when
Han produced a battered old helmet with a blast shield, until she learned its
significance. Luke's prowess in blocking
shots proved even more proficient than Han's recounting of those early training
sessions onboard the Falcon.
"I'm
not worried about your health," Mara snapped back, more harshly than she
intended. His health was at the top of
her priority list, and most likely always would be, but she couldn't help but
notice the stares and whispers that Luke's appearance was already drawing. "People are gawking at you. Before long they'll be pestering you for an
autograph, or snapping holopics."
Luke
scowled at her, but perhaps remembering the holoreporter
incident in the medcenter, he complied without comment. He'd been left alone during the past few
weeks, for the most part, while near his own apartment building or the vicinity
of the training complex. But this was
his first excursion outside his allowed zone.
Allowed by Leia, that is.
"Is
it always like this for me?" Luke grated out as they rounded a corner and
started down a second walkway. "No
privacy?"
"Like
I told you in the medcenter, you're a well-known figure. Many times you have to resort to hiding your
appearance." They entered a small plaza.
An eclectic mix of beings milled about, many snapping holopics. Tourists, no doubt.
Mara reached out and nudged his elbow to head around the perimeter of
the crowd.
Luke
paused, one hand lifting to push the edge of his hood back. "What did you mean by hiding my
appearance? Do I wear a disguise?"
Out of
the corner of her eye Mara noted a woman take a second glance their way, and
attempted to divert the woman's attention.
Luke was always much better at that particular ability. Had been better at that.
"You
use the Force to change how others perceive you," she explained. "I'm not as proficient in that area, so Kyp Durron is going to show you
that skill," Mara
admitted grudgingly. Leia had arranged
for some of the Masters from Yavin to help with Luke's lessons. Kam Solusar had brought practice lightsabers
the previous week, then sat in on the day's
drills. Though he'd never had much of a
soft spot for Mara, he said her regime seemed sound. She had itched to challenge the former dark
Jedi to a duel of their own.
"Ah,
yes, my long-range training schedule."
Luke nodded. "Perhaps this Kyp can give you some pointers as well."
"When
banthas fly," Mara mumbled under her
breath. The day she accepted Force
tutoring from Durron was the day—
"What?"
"Nevermind."
Luke frowned, but thankfully let it go. "Where are we going, anyway?"
Mara
nodded toward a rather plain-looking building dead ahead. The only decoration was a flame sculpture at
the entrance with the simple title 'The Light of Freedom' engraved on its
base. Accustomed to the ornate, almost
gaudy architectural style of Palpatine's reign, she remembered being surprised
at the building's austere appearance when it had first been constructed eight
years earlier. It was almost as if the
"The Galactic
His
expression was more of hope than puzzlement, and Mara began to have second
thoughts about the sanity of this spur-of-the-moment venture. Certainly Leia wouldn't approve. She'd say it was too much to dump on him at
once, and maybe she'd be right. The
Solos, their friends, and even Mara herself had been taking things slow,
introducing Luke to new people and new concepts gradually. He was a quick learner, absorbing everything
taught him and accepting everyone he met.
But he
wasn't remembering anything on his own.
Steeling
herself with resolve, Mara moved forward toward the doors. "Yes, we're taking a trip down memory
lane."
Maybe,
just maybe, this was the jump-start he needed.
***
"Master
Skywalker!" The Gran curator of the
museum practically tripped over his own large feet as he came trotting toward
the entrance. "This is indeed an
honor."
"Thank
you," Luke murmured, nodding graciously, then
looking at Mara for guidance.
"As
I was saying to your assistant here," Mara began, "Master Skywalker
and I have some research to do, and we would very much appreciate it if we
weren't disturbed. We shouldn't be too
long, and as this doesn't seem to be a busy time of the day," she glanced
around at the few patrons milling about, "we were hoping you would consent
to closing the museum temporarily."
The
curator looked surprised. "Yes, I
suppose that is possible. Yes, of
course." He moved to the entrance
console, checking several screens.
"Is there a particular section of the museum that you wish to
visit?"
Mara
hesitated for only a moment. "The displays beginning with the rise of Palpatine's reign,
through the present."
A few
taps on his screen, and the curator smiled broadly. "The last visitors to enter that wing
should be nearing the end of the displays.
I will send a page to hurry them along to another section. And I will not allow any new visitors in
until you have left."
"We
thank you, sir," Luke said haltingly, perhaps feeling it would be out of
place for Mara to do all the talking.
"Your cooperation and ... uh, kindness ... will not be
forgotten." He sent Mara a wry
glance that seemed to say 'at least I
hope not.'
"Yes,
thank you," Mara added, bowing graciously. As the curator ushered them toward a long
hallway, she took a deep breath. There
was no going back now. Luke was about to
view his life's history, showcased for all the galaxy
to see.
***
Luke
didn't ask nearly as many questions as Mara expected while they slowly moved
from one display to the next. Whether
that was a good thing or not, she didn't know.
But he was clearly absorbing everything, studying the explanatory
descriptions posted beneath each holographic image. The beginning account of the Clone Wars only
contained a brief mention that '...
despite the efforts of brave Knights such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin
Skywalker, the Jedi Order was ...' Luke
raised an eyebrow at seeing his last name, but Mara only murmured 'your
father.' It occurred to her that she had
no idea if the museum acknowledged Darth Vader's true identity. She'd never taken the time to visit before
today.
It was
only when they reached the section detailing Palpatine's subversions upon the
galaxy that Mara felt compelled to speak up.
"Luke,"
she said softly, touching his arm.
"There's something I need to confess..."
***
Light
particles swirled momentarily as Luke poked a finger at an obviously posed
hologram of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
"There are no robes like this in my closet," he murmured.
Mara
almost laughed at the absurdity of the comment.
Of all the things for him to question. She stared at his puzzled expression. Perhaps he needed to begin with mundane
curiosities before tackling the complexities of his life.
"I
believe Leia and Han removed them before you came home from the
medcenter," she said matter-of-factly.
"I guess ... I guess they didn't want to confuse you."
Luke
rolled his eyes. Then he was the one who
suddenly burst into laughter. "All
this has happened to me," he said, waving one hand back down the line of
displays, "and they worried about my seeing my own clothes?" Shaking his head, he sobered up almost
immediately. "Thank you,
Mara," he said. "Thank you for
showing me the truth." A slow smile
formed on his handsome face. "It
seems I've been rather busy for much of my life."
"Too
busy," Mara agreed. "And you
always took too much upon yourself, thinking you were responsible for saving
everyone." She thought back to
their conversation in the caves of Nirauan, realizing that this was her chance
to begin to set him straight on certain topics.
Not lecture him, as she had regretfully done before, but mold him,
guiding him onto the correct path. But
should she? Would she then be guilty of
the very thing she was warning him against?
Better
her than a lot of people she could think of, she decided. "People are responsible for their own
choices," Mara said, "and the consequences of those choices."
"Guess
they'll have to be, now." He
shrugged lightly. "My days of
saving the galaxy are over."
"Luke,
don't talk like that." She reached
out, clasping his hands. "You're
going to recover your memory. You're
going to be fine, I know it."
"Do
you?" Luke narrowed his eyes. "Do you, Mara? How can you be so sure? The best medics in the galaxy can't give me
a definite answer one way or the other."
"Hope,"
Mara said quietly. "You're the
biggest optimist I've ever met, and you taught me how to hope."
Luke
raised their joined hands, squeezing her fingers. "How well do you know me, Mara?"
Was he
beginning to sense their true relationship?
Panic filled her, but Mara managed to keep her voice steady. "We're
good friends, Luke."
Luke
nodded. "So tell me ... How do I get my sister off my back?"
Mara
wilted inside. So much
for hope. "We'll think of
something."