Shattered Remembrance

Chapter Six

"Who … who are you?"

Leia froze. "That's not funny, Luke."

"Please …"

Luke looked so lost that Leia used the Force to get a feel of his mind, gasping when she sensed his confusion and utter lack of recognition of her.

"I'm going to call Doctor Panio," Leia murmured, reaching over and pressing a buzzer. She kept her gaze riveted on Luke as she made the call, only looking away when he shrank back under her scrutiny.

An agonizing dread began coiling in Leia's stomach as Luke's hard stare unnerved her. Azure eyes that had always held warmth and love were now filled with disorientation and distrust. This couldn't be happening. He was supposed to be all right when he awoke.

Leia considered going out to find Han. He was somewhere a few floors below, visiting an old smuggling buddy who was recovering from a heart seizure. But she wasn't about to leave Luke, and - she patted her empty pocket - she'd forgotten and left her comlink at home. So she busied herself adjusting the blinds so the morning light wouldn't be so bright.

Where was Doctor Panio?

Turning to the room's tiny meal table, she began picking up the empty drink containers and depositing them in the waste receptacle. She could feel Luke's gaze tracking her, and she had to force herself to keep her hands busy, to not turn and throw her arms around him.

Where was that medic? Why wasn't he here yet?

"What's your name?"

Leia quickly set down the half-empty caf cup, realizing she had never answered his question. "Leia," she said softly, smiling as she cautiously approached the bed. "I'm your sister Leia."

Luke looked as though he was going to say more when brisk footfalls sounded in the hallway, and his attention shifted to the door. Leia hurried to intercept the medic before he entered.

Doctor Panio had to be able to cure Luke. He just had to.

***

"Honestly, Karrde, I can't believe you made me traipse all over the galaxy with Calrissian to find Jorj Car'das, and then you and Shada get a personal invitation into his sanctuary." Crossing her arms, Mara leaned back in one of Talon's overstuffed office chairs.

"What can I say, Mara?" Talon Karrde poured a two-fingered measure of brandy into a crystal snifter, taking a sip of the smooth liquor after Mara waved off his offer of a like drink. "Life is unpredictable."

"Yes, but still-" Mara suddenly sat upright, her eyes becoming unfocused as she stared straight ahead. "He's awake!"

Talon blinked. "Pardon?"

"Luke! Luke's awake!" Mara was halfway out the door when Talon's voice halted her.

"Wait, let me come with you," he said, already slipping into his jacket. "I need to thank him for coming to your assistance on Nirauan."

"Uh, well, all right," Mara stammered, her anxiety mounting as Karrde reached over to log off his computer.

"Dare I ask how you know that Skywalker is awake?" Talon calmly asked as they rode the turbolift down.

"It's a Jedi thing," Mara mumbled, her eyes fixed on the rapidly descending floor numbers.

"I see." The former smuggler absently smoothed his goatee. "And does that imply that you are now a Jedi?"

Mara finally took the time to meet her boss's inquisitive gaze. "Skywalker said I am."

Talon let a small smile escape. "Should I be looking for a new second-in-command?"

"You're free to do whatever you want, Karrde," Mara bit out, turning back to focus on the flashing numerical display.

"Mara…"

"Just because the Jedi Master declares that my skills are at Jedi-level doesn't mean that I'm packing my bags to go sit in his jungle and meditate all day." Mara swept out the lift doors as they silently slid open.

Reaching the company speeders, Mara jumped into the pilot's seat of an open model before Karrde could dare raise an objection. To his credit, he maintained his unperturbed façade as she tore off into the air, casually draping one arm on the speeder's door. It reminded Mara of when she had taken Luke on a breakneck joyride over Yavin in her ship. Stang, everything reminded her of Luke.

***

How can all these turbolifts possibly go so slow? Mara thought in frustration. And how am I going to restrain myself from nudging Leia aside when welcoming Luke back? Karrde had thankfully ended his polite interrogation as the two of them hurried to the medcenter, though Mara had no doubt that the information broker was formulating his own hypotheses on her atypical behavior.

Reaching Luke's floor, Mara flew out of the lift and headed directly toward his room. But her steps faltered as she caught sight of Leia hunched over in the ward's waiting room. Skidding to a halt with as much dignity as she could muster, Mara entered the somber chamber.

"I … I received a message that he'd woken up …" Mara glanced at Han, who looked as stricken as Leia. She grimaced inwardly as Karrde entered behind her, knowing he'd probably heard her feeble excuse. But she just wasn't ready to admit to the Solos how close she and Luke had become. The last thing she wanted was a cross-examination like the one she'd just endured.

"Message?" Han asked, giving her a doubtful stare.

"Come now, Solo," Karrde said smoothly, "you know I pride myself on having the most current information possible."

"He doesn't know me," Leia murmured, swiping at her red-rimmed eyes. "He doesn't know who I am."

Han leaned over and put a comforting arm around his wife's shoulders. "It appears Luke has amnesia," he said, an almost angry tone to his voice. "Bet you didn't have that in your vault of facts yet, Karrde."

Mara's eyes widened, and she automatically reached out with the Force. But there was no familiar caress in response.

"The doc is with him now, and some psycho-analyst bigwig." Han visibly sagged, his gruff demeanor disappearing as fast as it had appeared. "All we can do is hope it's temporary."

Barely registering that she had wilted onto a nearby chair, Mara tried to clear her head. She stretched out with the Force once more, but Luke's sense was muddled, cloudy. Her earlier joy that Luke was awake was crumpling under the weight of this new development. But surely he would recognize her, wouldn't he? They had a bond. Even Luke had admitted on the way home that their bond was stronger than the one he shared with his sister. Once more she sent a Force tendril toward her fiancé. Luke reacted this time, but only with surprise and confusion.

Leia must have guessed what Mara was doing. "The doctors advised against trying to reach him through the Force," she said. "At least until they can determine the extent of his amnesia. They said it would only distract Luke right now."

"What do they know about the Force?" Mara snapped, though she withdrew her Force probe. Leaning back in the chair, she crossed her arms to wait. They had just better not expect her to wait patiently.