Shattered Remembrance

Chapter Sixteen

"Did I tell you how pretty you look tonight, Jaina?" Luke smiled down at his niece as they moved in time to the lilting strains of the Saccorian orchestra.

The little girl returned a doubtful expression. "Thanks, but ..." She glanced around, as if making sure Leia wasn't within earshot. "I'd rather be in my jumpsuit."

Luke laughed. Han had made almost exactly the same face when Luke commented on his fancy clothes. "You do take after your father."

"Can we do one more dance, Uncle Luke?" As the current song drew to a close, Jaina batted her dark eyelashes in an exaggerated imitation of her mother.

"You might wear me out," Luke returned good-naturedly, gratefully straightening up from his bent-over position. He'd grown to be very fond of his niece and nephews. Their openness and honesty around him were refreshing. "Your brothers are taking turns dancing with your mom, so why don't you go find your dad to dance with?" He glanced around the room. "Or maybe your uncle Lando would like to dance with you."

Jaina's eyes brightened at the thought of twirling across the floor with the groom, and she took off at a run.

Turning to head back to his seat, Luke found his path blocked by a two-meter-tall pillar of fur.

"Hi, Chewie," he said, taking a step back and craning his neck upward.

[It is good to see you getting out once more,] the Wookiee grunted.

Taking a moment to assimilate what Chewbacca said, Luke marveled to himself, not for the first time, that he retained the ability to understand Shyriiwook. "I was going stir-crazy," he told his friend, "hardly venturing anywhere but Leia and Han's home and the training salon. Besides, it seems Lando throws a pretty decent party."

[Lando lives to celebrate,] Chewie agreed, before lumbering his way to the buffet table.

Seeing that Han and Leia were occupied dancing with their children, Luke edged over to the side of the ballroom, trying to blend in with a large potted Dithernian fern. He reflected on the faces here he recognized – friends who had to be introduced to him all over again in the months since his accident – and the ones whom he didn't know, but who obviously knew him. Those were the encounters he dreaded, having to pretend to be acquainted with a totally unfamiliar face. He spotted a pompous-looking Bothan heading his direction, and quickly looked around for a safe harbor. There! Mara Jade was sitting with a few of Talon Karrde's employees at a large round table not far away.

***

Unable to tamp down the smile blossoming on her face, Mara began pulling out the empty chair next to her as soon as she spotted Luke heading for her table. She'd been keeping a discreet eye on him all evening, envying each time someone cajoled him into braving the dance floor, even if it was his sister or niece.

Aves was the first to hold out a hand in greeting. "Hi, Luke, how ya doin'?"

"Hello, Skywalker," Faughn said smoothly. "Nice to see you all recovered."

"Indeed," Talon Karrde added. "We were worried about you there for awhile. Please, join us."

"Thank you," Luke said, though his attention remained on the pesky Bothan zeroing in on his location. He spared a discreet questioning glance Mara's way.

"Borsk Fey'lya," she muttered. "That slimy, manipulative scumbag. What does he want?"

"Gee, Mara, don't hold back," Aves spouted with a chuckle. "Tell us how you really feel."

"Don't you have an open bar to further inspect, Aves?" Mara grumbled, intentionally using her co-worker's name so Luke could learn it. "Faughn, you look thirsty, too."

"Trying to get rid of us?" Faughn returned with an amused smirk. "C'mon, Aves, buy me a drink."

"But the drinks are free," the trader pointed out, rising from his seat nonetheless.

"Within your price range, then."

As the pair ambled off, Talon also rose from his seat, holding out his elbow to the dark-haired woman sitting silently beside him. "Shada, would you do me the honor of this dance?"

Raising a slim eyebrow in surprise, Shada Du'kal accepted his offer. "Of course." She and Karrde nodded a farewell to the lone occupants remaining at the table, then found a spot on the crowded dance floor.

"Is it me?" Luke quipped weakly. "I didn't mean to send everyone scattering."

"Let's just hope these empty chairs don't look like an open invitation to anyone else," Mara said darkly. "Fey'lya would just love to interrogate you on why you've been out of the spotlight lately. You want to steer clear of him at all costs."

Before Luke could reply, a waterfall of white hair swooped in to intercept the furry politician. The regal-looking woman sent a wink Luke's way, then steered Fey'lya in the opposite direction.

Luke and Mara both breathed a sigh of relief. "That was Winter," Luke said. "Leia's aide."

"Yes, I've met her," Mara acknowledged. "Not long after I first met you."

"Oh, sorry." Luke gave an apologetic half-smile. "I never know who knows who."

"It's okay."

"Leia told me that Winter has a perfect holographic memory," Luke said casually, though his expression turned downcast. "I can't remember anything, and she can't forget anything."

Mara patted Luke's arm in sympathy. They both watched as Winter skillfully introduced Fey'lya to a portly, florid-faced dignitary, then turned to take the arm of a blond man about Luke's age.

"That's ..." Luke scrunched up his face in thought.

"Tycho Celchu, her husband," Mara finished. "You flew with him in Rogue Squadron for awhile."

"Oh." Luke sighed, slouching down in his chair.

"They make a nice couple," Mara continued conversationally, hoping to keep Luke's spirits up, but dampening her own in the process. She was doing her best to act nonchalant, but blast it, she and Luke should be attending this celebration as husband and wife, their own wedding a pleasant memory. "I suppose being from the same planet helps."

"What planet are they from?" Luke asked, eyes full of curiosity. He wondered about everything, Mara noted, asking questions constantly. She was surprised no one had informed him of this tidbit of information.

"Alderaan. Your sister's planet."

"Oh, yes." Luke nodded, and Mara could feel him pairing up her reply with the catalog of details filed in his mind. She couldn't help but be weighed down by Luke's melancholy expression, one that he wore much too often. "They look very much in love," he murmured. "Han told me that I had been in love once."

Mara's breath caught momentarily, until she realized which love of Luke's life Han would've been talking about. Why did that Corellian have to go and bring up that disaster, of all things?

"I asked him," Luke said, shifting his gaze to Mara. It amazed her how he still seemed to read her at times like an open holobook. She needed to be more on guard over her inner feelings. "He said it didn't end well."

"At least it ended," Mara mumbled under her breath.

Luke frowned. "Have you ever been in love, Mara?" he asked, looking at her intently.

"Once," Mara answered slowly, willing her voice to remain steady. "It's over now, and I don't believe in looking back." So why can I do nothing but look back?

"Who...?"

"No one you know," she bit out, sharper than she meant to. She could picture the old Luke, her Luke, describing her dodgy reply as being 'from a certain point of view.' She had never found out what the inside joke was with that phrase, but he'd say it with a mixture of wryness and sadness. "He's gone, and no one will ever take his place."

Luke fell silent. To Mara, it felt like he wilted inside.

She felt the same way.

***

As much as Han complained about dressing up for formal affairs, he secretly looked forward to one aspect of them … the fact that the ladies in attendance were always dressed to the hilt. As he gazed around the still crowded banquet room, he could see that tonight was no exception. Beautiful women were everywhere ― swaying on the dance floor, sipping expensive champagne, gossiping in tight-knit groups of two or three. A veritable feast for the eyes.

Glancing out of the corner of his eye to make sure Leia was still engrossed in conversation with Winter, Han began his favorite game of mentally rating the charming ladies from one to ten. He justified the innocence of this pastime by reminding himself that his own lovely wife was always an eleven. Han considered letting Luke in on the virtues of his game, but then remembered why he never had before. Leia had this habit of being able to wrangle all kinds of secrets out of Luke, and his current vulnerable state made any such disclosure way too risky.

A murmuring rumble drew Han's attention to the open doorway to his right. Ah, a late arrival, and quite a stunning one at that. Long, shapely legs peeking out from a thigh-high slit in a clingy, glittery gold gown. A low-cut bodice revealing just enough cleavage to be both modest and enticing. Smooth bare shoulders uncluttered by distracting jewelry. Malt-brown curls framing a strong chin and high cheekbones. Full lips turned up in just a hint of a smile. Smoldering gray eyes that― Han's upward perusal stopped cold. No. It couldn't be.

Han nudged Leia's arm, suddenly wanting her to notice who he'd been gawking at. Leia frowned at him, reluctantly following his gesturing head and whispers of "Look at the door!" Her mouth dropped open in astonishment as the object of their attention sauntered toward their seats. Han stole a peek at Luke, newly returned from Karrde's table and now picking at his plate of desert delicacies, oblivious of the drama about to unfold.

"Hello, Luke," a smooth voice purred.

Luke looked up, a confused expression on his face. He glanced at Leia, who was staring at the woman.

"Callista," Leia breathed.

"Callista?" Luke repeated, his eyes widening as he turned back to the ravishing vision in front of him.

"I didn't know you'd been invited to Lando's wedding," Leia said

"Yes, I must apologize to him for crashing his reception," Callista replied, looking strangely unapologetic. Her gray eyes focused on Luke. "But I had heard that you'd been in a serious accident, Luke, and I had to come and see for myself that you were all right. I assumed correctly that this would be the easiest place to find you tonight." She started to circle around the table toward Luke, who suddenly scooted back his chair.

"Can I talk to you, privately?" he said to Han, a look of bewilderment evident on his face.

"Yeah, sure, kid," Han said, rising. "Will you ladies excuse us a moment?"

"Is this the same Callista that you told me I was in love with?" Luke whispered when they were a safe distance away. "I thought you said I'd probably never see her again."

"No one expected her to ever show up again," Han said, watching with some amusement as Luke kept stealing glances back toward their table. "But as I recall, in her goodbye letter, she did say she'd return someday."

"But, what should I say to her?"

"How about 'You look beautiful, Callista.' Or 'I've missed you so much'?"

Luke shook his head, then his eyes narrowed. "I can't feel her." He looked up at the sound of Han's snort. "Leia and Mara taught me how to sense a person, through the Force, but I can't sense anything from her."

"Yeah, well, that's just her." Han frowned. "Don't expect me to be able to explain it to you. I'll never understand all that Force business. But apparently she doesn't show up in the Force any more than the chair she's sitting in." Han gave a weak smile as Winter, Leia, and Callista looked their way, no doubt wondering what the men were talking about. He in turn wondered how much Leia had already told Callista about Luke's condition.

"C'mon, kid, we'd better get back before they come over here and get us." As Han started back to his seat, he couldn't help but notice Luke glance toward Talon Karrde's table, where Mara Jade sat staring at them, pale and stiff. Interesting.

Very interesting indeed.

***

Callista stood quickly as Luke approached, holding out one well-manicured hand. "Shall we dance, my love?"

"Uh, I guess," Luke murmured, looking at Leia questioningly. She shook her head, and Luke's expression turned to panic as Callista tugged him toward the dance floor. Other couples in their vicinity paused to stare. Lando's mouth fell open in shock as he smoothly twirled Tendra through the steps of a Chandrillian waltz.

"How much did Leia tell you about the aftereffects of my accident?" Luke blurted out, trying to ignore Callista's wandering hand across the small of his back. He finally reached back and pulled her hand upward.

Looking startled, Callista replied, "Only that you haven't been yourself since then."

"That's an understatement," Luke muttered. "Callista, I—"

"Shhh." Callista laid a finger across his lips. "Let's just enjoy this dance, then we can retreat to your apartment."

"But—"

"No more talk," she ordered softly, laying her head against his shoulder.

We're gonna have to talk sometime, lady, Luke thought, cause I don't know you at all.