Successor to the Dark Side
by Kelly Frieders

DISCLAIMER:
These characters aren't mine. Never had 'em, never will. They all belong to George Lucas and the various pro-fic authors who created them (with the exception of Ally Dale and her family, whom I created but to whom I claim no copyright) I'm just borrowing them for what I hope is a fun romp. I'm not making any money from this and hopefully am not detracting from the real saga in any way. In fact, I highly reccommend seeing it once or twice or thirty more times now that the Special Editions are out!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Big thanks to all of the Club Jade folks who have really encouraged me in this obsession--er, I mean *interest* in Star Wars. I especially would like to thank Broken Blade, who helped with the technical aspects on Kyth; Dunc, who gave me the idea about Irek's parentage; Marlene, who has continually encouraged me despite the fact that I still haven't made the "correction" she suggests (sorry Marlene! ::g::); and Ghitsa, who despite her busy schedule of beta-testing, chat, and oh yeah, lawyer stuff in the REAL world, has taken the time to give me some wonderful suggestions to improve the story. You guys are all the greatest!

Also, big thanks to my husband. Ray's the kind of guy who, his bewilderment by my attraction to the galaxy far far away nonwithstanding, spent days trudging all over town to find the elusive Heir to the Empire micromachines set for Christmas and has never complained about all the hours spent at the keyboard. Now that's love!

IT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE DEATH OF DARK JEDI
MALARIN BELSARIOS, AND PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA
SOLO, FORMER CHIEF OF STATE, HAS RESUMED HER
PREVIOUS POSITION AS MINISTER OF STATE AND IS
DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF A MAJOR
ECONOMIC SUMMIT OF NEW REPUBLIC LEADERS. HER
BROTHER, JEDI MASTER LUKE SKYWALKER, A JEDI
ADVISOR AND AMBASSADOR TO THE SENATE, IS
RETURNING TO CORUSCANT AFTER A FRUSTRATING AND
LARGELY UNSUCCESSFUL DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO THE
PLANET KINYEN.

MEANWHILE, DEEP BENEATH THE GROUND OF A
FROZEN PLANET, A NEW "IMPERIAL" PLOT IS TAKING
SHAPE...

A thin, angular figure heavily bundled into a chiana fur parka trudged through the deep, blinding white snow, heading for the only nearby shelter: a small warming hut. Upon entering the tiny cabin, the figure shrugged off the parka's hood, revealing a long mass of black hair and a human female face, beautiful in spite of the lines that were beginning to etch their way around dark eyes. She shook her head, snow falling out of the places in her hair where it had managed to get past the voluminous hood. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small device, tugged off one fur-lined glove with her teeth, and punched a combination of numbers into the device. A soft mechanical hum sounded, very out of context in the simple wood cabin. Even more incongruous was the smooth, modern metallic lift that rose effortlessly out of the thick wood floor and the two armed guards that rose up with it.

"My lady," one of them gave a curt nod and took a small sidestep to allow her room to stand beside him.

She boarded the lift, nodding in return, keeping her face a careful, solemn mask as the lift began its long, slow descent. It was almost difficult to contain the feeling of glee that suddenly came upon her--and it wasn't just the planet's fabled atmosphere that had her feeling giddy, either.

My lady.

Finally, after years of service to the Emperor as his Hand, after years of hiding and plotting after his death, after the false start eight years ago attempting to claim what was rightfully hers, her time was now finally at hand.

No, she corrected herself. Her son's time was at hand.

Eight years ago he had not been ready; at fourteen years of age he had still been a boy, unable to control his fits of temper and his own emerging power. Now he was a man, twenty-two standard years. He was still willful and uncontrollable, but then so was his father. And he was strong with the Force. The powerful side of the Force. The dark side.

He would make a commanding Emperor and she, the Queen Mother.

As the lift carried Roganda Ismaren down beneath the planet's frozen ground to where her son, her genius Irek, was attending to the final details, she had to force herself not to clap her hands in joy--very unbecoming of a lady in her position. Only one more week before they could strike their devastating blow to the New Republic (she couldn't contain the sour smirk that came unbidden at the thought of the so-called Galactic Government) and the galaxy would once again know the rule of a true leader, a true heir to the Emperor's throne. His Royal Highness, Emperor Irek Palpatine.

***

Luke Skywalker sighed deeply as he walked through the corridors of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. It was good to be back--especially after Kinyen. It was so frustrating, when he was ready and able to help them.

I'm getting too old for this, he thought to himself, though he knew it wasn't really true. While he was no longer the brash teenager who thought nothing of dashing into detention areas to rescue captured princesses, he was only thirty-seven. Mon Mothma had lead the entire Rebel Alliance when she was in her forties; there was no reason that he should feel old. But there was no question, all the bickering and squabbling about his personal life was so tiresome and exasperating. That's what made him feel old.

Luke took a deep breath to clear his head. No point in dwelling on that now. The only thing he wanted to think about right now was spending time with Mara Jade.

Mara. Now there was someone who in one instance could make him feel young, then the next feel ancient. Their relationship over the past year had been a rollicking speeder- bike ride: going smoothly along, then all of the sudden--wham! Slam on the brakes or collide with a giant tree trunk. With virtually no effort he could ignite her fiery temper and they would have a shouting match that could probably be heard throughout the Imperial Palace. But they always made up again.

And the make-ups were well worth the fights, he thought with a wicked grin.

But lately it seemed that they hadn't had enough time for either fights or make-ups. He hadn't seen Mara in over three weeks--and then it was only for two days. Between his new duties as Jedi Liaison to the Senate and her trade business with Talon Karrde, one of them always seemed to be headed off-world just as the other one returned. It was a bit aggravating--he finally had a relationship with someone who actually lived on the same planet and they still never saw each other.

Today would be no different. If they were lucky they'd get a few moments together before Luke got hauled off for another interminable debriefing on yet another unsuccessful effort. Then it was off to Yavin 4 for two days to check on the Academy, which he also had not seen for a while.

But then, after Yavin 4, one blissful week. Somehow, some way, he and Mara had both managed to clear a week-- the same week--from their schedules to go away together. A camping trip to a mountainous, forested planet known as Sanoi. After that, they would once again hit the ground running: the New Republic leaders were convening a very important economic summit on the planet Kyth. But at least they would be at the same place at the same time for that one. Along with Leia, Han, Ally, Tom, it would almost be a family reunion--but for the hundreds of New Republican dignitaries from every planet and system in the New Republic. I wonder if all family reunions consist of sisters, their husbands, their children--and hundreds of New Republic dignitaries, he wondered with tight grin. Must be a Skywalker thing.

But that was still more than a week away, after Sanoi, after Yavin 4...

And after tonight.

His let his frustrations from Kinyen and all the busy-ness evaporate as soon as he was standing before the door to Mara's apartment. She must have sensed his presence because she had the door open before he even pushed the ringer. She looked dazzling in an oversized green tunic belted at the waist and form-fitting black leggings, her long red hair spilling loose over her shoulders. Like Luke, Mara was thirty- seven standard years, but her slender build and dancer's grace belied her age. The only noticeable indication that she was not in her twenties were the fine lines around her emerald eyes and the creases in her forehead from years of scowling.

"Luke!" she cried, her usually hard-edged face softening in surprise. "You're back early!" She stepped aside and let him into the room, then embraced him tightly.

"I missed you," he whispered huskily into her hair.

"Me too," she replied, then kissed him deeply. When they parted she looked up at him, studying his face. She frowned. "You look tired. Rough time with the Grans?" The Grans were the main species that inhabited Kinyen. "Or are you just tired of being Mon Mothma's errand boy."

"This is very important, Mara--she can't do it all alone," Luke bristled, feeling suddenly defensive for the New Republic's first leader.

"I know, I know, all hail the Great Mon-Mothma, who knows no wrong and--"

"Mara..." Luke interrupted.

"What?" she asked innocently, voice heavy with sarcasm. "Isn't free speech still sacred in the New Republic? Or is that a privilege enjoyed only by its leaders? Certainly Mon Mothma's been having her fill of things to say about me."

Luke started to reply, but she cut him off. "But that doesn't answer my question. How did it go with the Grans?"

"Don't ask," Luke grimaced.

"Uh-oh. Why don't we sit down and you can tell me all about it."

"I just got back and you wanna talk?" Luke asked, eyes twinkling mischievously as he tried a near desperate ploy to change the subject.

Mara rolled her eyes, her sudden tempest gone as quickly as it had come. "Cool your jets, flyboy, and tell me about Kinyen."

Luke laughed in spite of himself as he followed her to the couch, where she sat in the corner, tucking her legs up underneath her. He sat down beside her and she pulled him close so that he was leaning back against her shoulder. He sighed deeply; it was good to be home even for a short while.

"There's not much to tell, really," Luke began. "I had to waste a lot of time on political red tape before I could even present Mon Mothma's proposal for the Economic Summit. By the time they were ready to listen to me the meeting was over." That was an oversimplification, but Luke hoped she wouldn't question him further. A vain hope, of course.

"Translation," she said, her eyes narrowing, "the Grans didn't want to take the advice of a Jedi Master who would allow himself to become involved with a former assassin for the Emperor."

So much for not being questioned further. Luke sighed again. "More or less."

It had been an on-going battle they'd faced in the year since he'd told her he loved her. It was widely known that Mara Jade had once been the Emperor's Hand--his servant, spy, assassin, whatever job Palpatine called her to do. One such assignment had been to kill Luke when he arrived at Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine to rescue Han Solo some sixteen years earlier. It had been the only assignment she'd ever failed for the Emperor. A few weeks later, her Master was killed in the second Death Star above Endor, but not before giving her one last order: find and kill Luke Skywalker.

After five years and about a million fantasies about the different ways she would end his life, Mara finally came across Luke--and ended up saving his life. Despite her Imperial past, she was drawn into the fledgling New Republic's battle against Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn. After killing a clone of Luke, the impulse the Emperor had fed her was quieted and Mara went on to become a close friend and ally. She eventually learned of the many things the Emperor had kept from her: the existence of other Hands and, more seriously, that he had ordered the death of her brother, Mykos. Her past, almost religious devotion to her Master festered into a deep loathing for him and his betrayal. She had served him well, and he had repaid her with lies and the blood of her brother.

For ten years she stayed on the outskirts of Luke's life until a mutual adversary brought them together. As Luke came to know her, he came to love her as well, seeing beyond her past and her reputation and into a heart he found quite beautiful.

"Sith, Skywalker," Mara hissed, "she's setting you up!"

Luke sat up to face her. "Mara..."

"Stop defending her! When will you realize what she is doing? Mon Mothma is deliberately sending you out on missions she knows will fail just to prove her point!"

"Do you really think my relationship with you is more important to her than the success of this summit?"

"What am I supposed to think? Did you ever consider that maybe the Grans wouldn't be so quick to question your loyalties if Mon Mothma wasn't giving them such a stunning example to follow? Do you think that there is anyone on any backwater system in the furthest reaches of the galaxy that has not heard her rather loud and frequent opinion on the topic of Jedi Masters forming relationships with ex-Imperials?"

"She--they all just need time to get used to it."

"Time?" Mara spat. "I've been risking my neck, fighting their causes for ten years now! How much more time will it take?"

Luke rubbed his temples in frustration but said nothing.

"For almost twenty years I manage to stay clear of emotional entanglements only to get involved with arguably the most noted public figure in the galaxy," she muttered.

"Don't let it get to you, Mara. It just doesn't matter what the Grans or Mon Mothma or anyone else thinks."

"Please, Skywalker," she snapped, "at least do me the favor of not pretending it doesn't bother you."

"Of course it bothers me," Luke protested. "It bothers me that people are so quick to judge."

Mara leaned back on the arm of the couch and eyed him carefully. "I don't think you completely disagree with them."

Luke opened his mouth in surprise. "How can you say that? I wouldn't be here if I didn't disagree with them! My own father was Darth Vader--who am I to judge anyone's past?" He reached out to stroke her cheek, her chin. "Besides, you know how I feel about you."

She pulled away abruptly, as if he had scalded her. Rising quickly, she snapped "Do I?"

Luke looked up at her. Somehow he had managed to once again ignite that infamous temper. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Mara gave him a vicious, icy stare. "It means I'm not stupid. I know how this has affected you. You say the past doesn't matter, but you're always finding reasons for us to be apart."

Luke stood up. "Now wait a minute," he said, trying to control the anger he could feel creeping into his words. Only Mara could bring this side out in him... "It's not like you're sitting at home waiting for me with dinner on the table."

"Is that what you expect?"

This was getting out of hand. "Of course not! I'm just saying the fact that we don't see much of each other has as much to do with your job as it does mine."

She eyed him a moment, her arms folded across her chest defiantly. "But my job and our relationship are not in conflict with each other. I'm afraid that one day you'll be forced to choose between your commitments to the New Republic and me, and I won't like your decision."

He took a step towards her, trying again to reach out for her, but she backed away from him. He blew out his breath in frustration. "Don't you know how important you are to me?"

She didn't answer him, only turned away. Luke felt his anger rise again: why could she get under his skin like this?

"I don't think you're being fair, Mara," he exploded, sounding almost like the eighteen-year-old boy he once was, complaining to his uncle about having to stay on the farm one more season. "I'm not the one who even after a year together hasn't been able to say 'I love you.'"

She turned back brusquely. "I thought you were the great Jedi Master. What do you need words for, to know how people feel?"

"It would still be nice to hear every once in a while," he shot back.

Again, she said nothing, but she was right, he could feel her emotions. He knew she loved him, it would have been clear by her actions even if he couldn't sense her emotions--at least, when she wasn't picking a fight with him--but there was also a lot of turmoil. Even after a year their relationship was still very threatening to her. He had tried to understand it, tried very hard, but she was in many ways as much a mystery to him as she ever had been. Maybe even more so. It occurred to him that maybe all this was just a way to give her more distance, to keep herself safe from the emotions that she so instinctively fought against. Finally, Luke reached for her a third time. This time he succeeded, finding himself holding her by the shoulders.

"I love you, Mara Jade," he said firmly. "I know that that is hard for you. And I don't expect you to say that to me, either. You will when you're ready." He felt her stiffen a little in resistance. "But I don't want to fight with you. We only have a couple of hours together now before I have to meet with Mon Mothma and the rest, and then Leia wants us at a family dinner before I leave for Yavin 4. But when I get back, we'll have a whole week together. No Mon Mothma, no Leia or Ally, no Talon Karrde..."

"Sure, until the next crisis comes along," she said sourly, but her face softened ever so slightly. He pulled her towards him and put his arms around her. She did not resist.

"I'm sorry," she said at length. "I don't know why I fight this so hard."

"Because every time you've put your trust in someone in the past, you've been betrayed," Luke said gently. "I know that. And I'm trying really hard not to pressure you."

"But I stand by what I said," Mara responded looking up at him. "I don't think I'm the only one who has a lot of doubts. It seems to me you may have a choice to make. Maybe our relationship and your life as a Jedi just aren't compatible."

Luke groaned. This was not how he wanted to spend their first evening together in three weeks. He coiled a strand of her hair in his fingers. "Mara, I love you. Mon Mothma and everyone else will accept that in time--they did with Leia and Han." His sister had received almost as much flack about choosing a smuggler instead of someone more suited to her royal and political upbringing.

Mara sighed, clearly unconvinced. "It's just that I'm afraid if it ever did come down to a choice between me and the vaunted ideals of the New Republic, I'd lose." She then shook her head as if to clear her mind. "But I don't want to rehash this now, not when I haven't seen you in three weeks." She leaned on his shoulder. "I'm just glad we've got a whole week on Sanoi without having to deal with anyone else."

"And a couple of hours tonight..."

Mara pushed him back playfully. "My, my, Jedi Master, just what did you have in mind?"

"Come here and I'll show you," he smiled, pulling her back towards him. Leaning down he gave her a long, slow kiss.

Now this was much more like it.

***

Dav Tormana walked quickly down the dusty path, his lekku, or headtails, draped around his shoulders. It was unlike his human friend to miss three days of work, and he was concerned. True, her waitress job at the Rusted Freighter cantina was far from the most important thing in her life, but Callista was nothing if not responsible. For her to call in sick three days in a row...

Finally, the Twi'lek arrived at the small bungalow his friend rented. He cautiously rapped on the door and waited. When he received no response, he tried the handle. The door was unlocked.

"Callista?" he called, peeking into the door. "Are you all right? It's Dav."

Again, no response. He grew even more worried. What if she were very ill and couldn't get to a holocomm to call someone. He quickly ran to the bedroom--where he found Callista sprawled on the floor over a pile of data cards and ancient papers.

"Callista!" he cried out. "Burning stars, are you all right?"

She opened her eyes with a start. "Dav?" she asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

Dav bent down beside her. "What happened to you, are you okay?"

Callista nodded. "I fell asleep studying. What are you doing here?" Her voice sounded groggy.

"I was worried about you! You've called in sick for the past three days."

Suddenly Callista's eyes widened as she came fully awake. "That's right! Dav, I'm so glad you're here!" She threw her arms around the surprised Twi'lek's neck, almost squeezing the life out of his poor lekku.

"What is it?"

She pulled away from him and he could see an almost wild look in her eyes. Maybe she was sick.

"Dav, I think I've found the answer!" Her gray eyes were shining brightly.

Dav was confused. "Answer to what?"

She laughed. "What do you think? I think I found a way to get back my contact with the Force."

"What?" he asked her incredulously.

Callista shook her head gleefully. "No, I think I've found it. After eight years, I think I've finally found it."

Ever since he'd met Callista three years ago, when she came to this dustball backwater planet looking for a job and free time to herself, Callista had been obsessed with studying Jedi history, tradition, and folklore. After several months, they had become quite good friends and she had told him her story.

Callista had once been a Jedi Knight, back in the early days of the Empire before the Emperor had all the Jedi murdered. Her last mission had been to stop an Imperial ship, the Eye of Palpatine from carrying out its mission to destroy a planet full of Jedi children--the end result of which was Callista spirit embedding itself into the ship's computer.

There she stayed for thirty years until the ship was accidentally brought out of its hibernation by none other than Jedi hero and Master Luke Skywalker. The living Jedi and the spirit Jedi fell in love as together, with two of Luke's students, they managed to stop the ship from once again attempting its goal. In the process, one of the students, Cray Mingla, sacrificed her own life and Callista's spirit was transferred into the dying Jedi's body. But the price of the transfer was the loss of Callista's Force powers. A price Callista was not prepared to pay. Eventually she realized that she would have to set out on her own if she ever hoped to regain her missing abilities. Leaving her new love behind, she went out into the galaxy, searching for the answer to her missing powers.

"Well, what do you think?" Callista asked him, her gray eyes bright with enthusiasm.

Dav shrugged his lekku. "I don't know what to think. Are you sure?"

"Not totally," Callista admitted. "But I believe so."

"How will you do it?" he asked her.

Callista leaned forward excitedly. "Do you remember me telling you that the only way I could touch the Force was through the dark side?"

Dav nodded.

"Obviously that's unthinkable"--she shuddered involuntarily--"so I've spent the last eight years trying to bypass that to reach the light side." She paused to catch her breath. "But I've been going at it all wrong. According to these records I found--" she indicated the pile of data cards littering the floor-- "I can't circumvent the dark side--I must go through it to get to the light side."

Dav frowned. "That sounds dangerous."

"It may be," Callista agreed, though she seemed too happy to show any real concern. "But at least I have the chance to find out."

"How?"

"According to most of these Jedi traditions, a Jedi initiate must face the dark side before truly becoming a Jedi. One way to do so is to find a place where the dark side is particularly strong and confront it there."

"But I don't understand," Dav shook his head, lekku swinging gracefully. "I thought you already have faced the dark side. I thought that was the problem."

"No, I had it all wrong," she clasped her hands together with joy. "I tried to do it alone. That was my mistake. What I need is help. I need another Jedi to face this with me. The light side of the Force thrives on teamwork and cooperation, not isolation. According to everything I've read the past three days, if I face the dark side with another Jedi, I can get through it and re-establish my contact with the light side."

Now Dav nodded, understanding. Another Jedi--he knew, of course, who she meant. And that was not good, if there was any truth to the rumors...

"I take it you're referring to Luke Skywalker."

She nodded. "Of course, who else would I turn to?"

The Twi'lek frowned. "But even if he does help you, where will you go to seek out this dark place?"

Callista smiled broadly. "That's the beauty of it. I already know of such a place. On Dagobah, where Luke himself trained."

"Callista," Dav interrupted. "Tell me, are you doing this for yourself or for him?"

She frowned. "Both."

Dav sighed. Obviously she still had feelings for him, despite her decision a year ago to let him go. Perhaps now was a good time to share the stories he had heard...

"Callista, I hope you're not setting yourself up for a disappointment," he began.

She shook her head vigorously. "After eight years, what have I got to lose? At least I have a chance to get my abilities back, and then..." she trailed off.

"No, I don't mean about your abilities." He paused. "You're still in love with Skywalker, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," she replied sharply, looking up at him. "Did you think I would stop loving him just because I told him he shouldn't wait for me?"

Dav took a deep breath. "Then you should know that I've heard rumors that--" he stopped short, unsure how to best put it.

"What?" Callista prompted, her brow creasing slightly.

"It is my understanding that Luke Skywalker is involved with someone."

Callista took a step backward as if he had slapped her, her gray eyes wide. After a long silence, she asked, "Are you telling me in the past year he's actually met someone?"

"No, I don't believe so," Dav shook his head slightly. "I believe the woman is someone he met long ago, before he even knew you."

Callista frowned, then abruptly her face changed to a sigh of relief. "Oh, you must mean Gaeriel Capistan! Luke told me about her when I saw him last year. She was someone he'd met right after the Emperor's death, but they couldn't be together because she was needed on her planet and he was needed elsewhere. He saw her again a couple years ago." Her face grew more serious. "She was killed during the attempted Corellian coup."

"No, that's not who I'm talking about," the Twi'lek said, concerned.

Callista frowned again. "Then who?"

"I believe her name is Mara Jade."

Her mouth popped open in surprise, her eyes widening again. "Mara Jade?" Mara Jade the Emperor's Hand? That Mara Jade?"

Dav nodded.

"No, that's not possible. Luke couldn't possibly be interested in her. Why, she's the one who came to get me last year when Luke was hurt--" her mouth suddenly snapped shut. "Oh, she maneuvered this beautifully, didn't she? She must have known that I couldn't stand to watch Luke hang on to me when we weren't sure if we had a future. She brought me to him on purpose!"

"I don't know, Callista, I just know that half the galaxy's buzzing about the Jedi Master and the woman who used to work for the Emperor. I just thought you should know before you go rushing off to see him and ask for his help."

She was silent for a long time. When she did speak again, Dav heard a stubborn resolve in her voice that he knew better than to challenge. "Regardless, I need his help to regain my Jedi powers. Maybe the rumor's false. It must be, I know him," she nodded, reassuring herself. "He could never have feelings for someone like that. He needs someone who's warm, and--"

Going against his better judgment that he should just leave her alone when she was like this, Dav grabbed her wrist, cutting her off. "And what if the rumors are true? What then? Do you really expect him to drop everything and everyone for you? Do you really think you are the center of his universe?"

She pulled her arm free of his grasp, then hastily bent down and started straightening up the pile of cards and papers on the floor. "I'm sure he'll remember what he felt for me when we're together again," she said with a confidence in her voice that defeated Dav. There would be no talking her out of it. "Our love is stronger than anything," she continued, her face darkening. "Nothing Mara Jade could have deluded him into thinking he feels for her could be like the bond we shared on the *Eye of Palpatine*--Jedi to Jedi. But regardless, I'm leaving. I will get my powers back. And I know Luke will help me do it."

***

"Mom, how many chairs do we need again?"

Leia Organa Solo looked up from her data pad and gave her daughter, Jaina, an exasperated frown. "Jaina, you know how to count," she sighed. "There are eleven of us. And tell your father to set up one of the folding sabacc tables."

"I was just about to do that," came her husband's voice from behind Jaina. "And young lady, I thought I told you to leave your mother alone. She has homework to finish."

Jaina seemed to find it immensely funny that her mother would have homework. She began laughing, then darted away before her father could get stern with her. As soon as she disappeared, Han poked his head into the door. "How's it coming?"

Leia sighed. "You would not believe the things the Senate expects me to know about Kyth."

Han gave her one of his famous crooked, smuggler smiles. Even at forty-eight standard years, he somehow managed to look almost the same as the day she had met him, Leia reflected. True, his hair was more than just peppered with gray, and the creases in his face were much deeper. He was a former General and a father of three, but when he smiled he seemed to be the same rogue smuggler she'd fallen in love with. Of course, Leia knew she was no kid herself. She was thirty-seven and had already seen more than most beings twice her age. By the time she had lived a mere twenty-nine standard years she had been a princess, a member of the Imperial Senate, a leader of the Alliance to restore the Republic, a wife, a mother, and finally, Chief of State of the New Republic. Now she was no longer the Chief of State--she had resigned after eight years to search for her newly- discovered sister--but somehow she still managed to find herself perpetually buried in data cards. Like Han's smile, some things never changed.

"Well, you're the politician, sweetheart," Han teased her as he entered the room and stood behind her chair. He began to massage her tired shoulders. "I thought you loved this stuff."

"Oh, I suppose I do," Leia agreed reluctantly, closing her eyes for a moment to enjoy the feeling of Han's strong hands working the kinks out of her neck and shoulders. "But this is more than protocol do's and don'ts," she said wearily.

"What do you mean?"

"Like this," Leia said, opening her eyes and scrolling through her data pad. "They've got planetary geology in here! Did you know," she continued in mock fascination, "that the planet Kyth is a solid planet composed of various forms of dense rocks and minerals. It is approximately 153 billion kilometers from its star, Kaysol, and is therefore almost completely covered with ice and snow..."

"Sounds like Hoth," Han said with distaste.

"...and is largely uninhabited except for the equatorial regions," Leia continued reading, ignoring the interruption. "Hundreds of kilometers beneath Kyth's frozen surface the mountains are laced with veins of jogathronite, a highly unstable metallic substance. In many places throughout the planet's surface, the rock has eroded away, exposing small amounts of jogathronite to the atmosphere. It corrodes almost immediately, forming highly ionized particles that are released into the atmosphere, thus forming Kyth's legendary ionized atmosphere."

She put down her data pad and tilted her head upwards to look at her husband. His eyes were closed and his head was nodding forward. He gave a huge, loud snore, then opened his eyes and jerked his head upright as if he had been abruptly awakened from a deep sleep.

"I'm sorry, were you saying something?" he asked in a voice that feigned drowsiness.

Leia reached up and swatted the top of his head. "See what I mean?"

Han laughed, then continued rubbing her shoulders. "So why do they want you to know this stuff?"

"Apparently Kythans have a rather voracious appetite for geology and physics. That's their idea of small talk."

"I thought Kyth was a resort planet," Han pointed out.

"It is," she agreed, "but the Economic Summit will not be a vacation. I'll be expected to spend some time finessing the Kythans before and during the meetings."

"Sweetheart, you excel at 'finessing,'" Han replied. By his tone, Leia wasn't sure if it was a compliment or not.

"I thought you were going to find a sabacc table for dinner," she returned.

Han gave her shoulders a final squeeze. "You're right. Family duty calls, and you have to get back to your homework." He bent over her, upside-down in her line of sight, and planted a kiss on her forehead before leaving her alone to her mountain of data cards filled with more boring information on Kyth.

At least there was the family dinner to look forward to. Leia greatly enjoyed the rare occasions when her family could gather together and share a meal. And tonight would be almost the whole family, too. Everyone just happened to be on Coruscant at the same time, something they hadn't accomplished since just after the defeat of Lord Belsarios and Vice Admiral Pellaeon. Only Chewbacca was missing, though he was planning on attending the Kyth Summit with them next week, once again taking time away from his own family to be with his honor family. As much as she treasured his company, Leia always felt guilty when he was with them rather than his own family on Kashyyyk. But Wookiee honor required him to place the family of Han Solo, to whom he owed a life-debt, on an equal importance with his own family. To do any less would be to bring shame and scorn upon himself and his mate and son. Leia had had a hard time understanding that until Han reminded her how often she had to sacrifice time with her family for something that she felt was her duty. So she learned to put aside her feelings of guilt whenever Chewbacca was with them and allowed herself to just enjoy his company. If only he could have made it a little earlier to share this evening. She had to admit, the family wasn't quite complete without him.

As Leia tried to concentrate on the Kythan history card she had just inserted into her data pad, her thoughts drifted back to the six months they had all spent together aboard the *Gambler's Edge* on their round trip to another galaxy and a small planet called Earth. There she and Luke had found their triplet sister, Allia Dale, and her family and had brought them back to Coruscant. At the time the trip had seemed unending and they had all been anxious to get back. Now Leia found herself wishing she were back on the ship again, surrounded by her family every day, not having to deal with hectic schedules and the day-to-day crises that came out of the political lives they all led.

And speaking of politics...Leia returned her attention to the data pad. She really had to concentrate better. As boring as all this Kythan history and geology was, it was very important for her to have a thorough understanding of the planet, its people, and their customs. She was responsible for most of the arrangements for the Economic Summit, and it was crucial that no faux pas endanger the important meetings that would take place.

As Leia scrolled through her data pad, a million details crowded her head. So many economic issues had been taking up time on the Senate floor lately. Her husband's home system of Corellia was one of the areas in most dire need--its economy crushed by the recent coup attempt. Other worlds had been shattered economically by war as well: Polneye, Galantos, Wehttam, and other planets in the Farlax sector were still struggling to overcome the devastation wrought by the Yevethans four years ago. Kinyen, close to the Core Worlds, had never really hit its stride after decades of Imperial domination. Tatooine as a whole still struggled, dependent as it was upon the meager economy of moisture farming--despite a somewhat flourishing tourism in Mos Eisley and Anchorhead, home of the famed Jedi Master and Civil War Hero Luke Skywalker. Each world in the New Republic, it seemed, had its own economic concerns, different from the next . Thus, the Economic Summit on Kyth was born.

It had been in the planning for over a year, and both Mon Mothma and Leia had become quite involved in the arrangements. Leia, with her diplomatic expertise, was to be the main liaison between the Senate and the leaders on Kyth, while Mon Mothma acted as liaison to the thousands of member systems and planets. Due to the vast number of worlds involved, Mon Mothma had recruited many ambassadors and other personnel to help her, including Luke. Leia, on the other hand, bore most of her responsibilities alone. Which was why it was extremely important for her to digest the mountains of information before her and condense it into a form that the attendees would find more usable.

When she was almost three-quarters of the way through the history file, the door buzzer sounded. "I've got it!" she heard Han yell from the living room. Leia stretched, then turned off her data pad, rose, and headed for the living room. Before she got there, she was almost run over by two blond children.

"Hi, Aunt Leia!" the oldest one, Aaron, called out. "Are Jaina and Jacen in their rooms?"

"I'm not sure," Leia responded as she let them pass, then continued on to the living room. Then she heard a woman's voice: "Hey Leia, need a hand with anything?"

Leia emerged from the hallway to see her sister Ally standing in the doorway holding a bottle of wine. Her husband, Tom, was already helping Han with the Sabacc table--which was still not up, Leia noted.

"Put that in the refrigerator," Leia directed, leading her sister into the kitchen, where a kitchen droid was busily preparing the large meal. Ally followed her, put the bottle in the refrigerator, then gave Leia a huge Wookiee-hug.

"How are the language classes going?" Leia asked, looking up at Ally. Her sister's features were a strange mix of Luke's and her own. She was shorter than Luke, but slightly taller than Leia and had Luke's straight, wispy blond hair with Leia's round, dark eyes. But her personality reminded Leia more of Han than of Luke or herself. "What language are you teaching now?" she added.

"German," Ally replied. She had been an interpreter and linguist on her own planet. She had perfect audio memory and knew hundreds of languages. When she and her husband Tom, a fighter pilot in Wedge's Rogue Squadron, first arrived here, they had managed to use one of those Earth languages as a code to communicate secretly with the New Republic leaders after the Rogues had been captured. It worked so well that Admiral Ackbar and the other military leaders jumped on the idea and offered Ally a position teaching her planet's languages, unknown in this galaxy, to members of the military. They then utilized the new languages as a form of military code.

"I'm a regular Navajo Code Talker," the petite blond grinned, mystifying Leia. "Hmmm, maybe I should teach Navajo next..."

"Whatever you think is best," Leia nodded, not really sure what her sister was talking about. Of course, that wasn't unusual. Ally, her husband, and their two children were the only residents of this galaxy--as far as Leia knew, anyway--that came from another one.

"Hey, I here Luke's back from Kinyen," Ally said, stealing a small taste from one of the steaming pots. Leia batted her hand away and Ally gave her a Han-style "who me?" grin, then continued: "He and Mara coming tonight?"

"They should be," Leia nodded.

"How did it go on Kinyen?"

Leia shrugged. "I don't know, I haven't seen him yet. I think he's in a meeting right now with Mon Mothma, Chief of State Fleghan, and some others."

"Do you miss being Chief of State, in on everything?" Ally asked her.

Leia laughed. "Yeah, right. I'm just not busy enough being an Ambassador and raising three children. And planning this monstrosity of a Summit." She looked around her at the pots that the kitchen droid was stirring and adding spices to. "Well, looks like everything's under control in here. Let's see if Han's managed to unfold that sabacc table yet."

The two sisters headed out into the living room where five children--Jaina, Jacen and Anakin Solo and Aaron and Casey Dale--were scattered, shouting loudly as they played some form of Imperials and Rebels. Meanwhile Han and Tom stood in the middle of the room trying to open up the folding legs on a sabacc table. Leia heard Han mutter something under his breath and shot him a warning glance. She did not need the children to start using Corellian slang.

"Need any help with that?" came a voice from the apartment's entrance. They looked up to see Luke and Mara, bearing a box from a nearby bakery.

"No, I don't think you need to be a Jedi Master to open a blasted sabacc table," Han growled in reply. Luke laughed.

"Oh, just ignore him," Leia said, giving her brother and his companion a hug. "You're just in time, if Master Mechanic Solo and his apprentice ever get that table open, we'll be eating soon."

"Should I put this in the kitchen?" Mara asked, indicating the box.

Leia lifted the cover and peeked inside. "Mmmmm, Jouiukean limon cake, my favorite," she said. "Yeah, just give it to the kitchen droid."

The sabacc table was finally opened and set up close to the large dining table and they all sat down to dinner. As he munched on salad greens, Han looked over at Luke. "So how'd it go on Kinyen?"

"Don't ask," Luke replied quickly and Leia saw Mara give him a cold glance. It was very clear exactly how things had gone on Kinyen, and why.

"Well, don't let it get to you, kid," Han said quickly, obviously not wanting to do anything that might evoke anger in Mara. "They'll come around."

But Leia sensed that something more was bothering her brother. Knowing full well she was plunging into uncomfortable waters, Leia regardless asked him, "What did Mon Mothma say?"

"Never mind what Mon Mothma said," Han cut in harshly. "Mon Mothma may be sending you on these missions, but she does not rule your life, Luke. Don't let her tell you how to live it."

Leia sighed. Her husband still carried a small amount of resentment towards Mon Mothma from so many years ago when she disapproved of his union with Leia. It would probably be smart to change the subject before both Han and Mara started on a full-blown tirade. "How are plans for your camping trip coming?"

This produced the desired effect: Mara's faced softened, Luke relaxed, and Han went back to eating his salad. "Great, we leave as soon as your brother gets back from Yavin 4," Mara replied, giving Leia what almost looked like a smile of gratitude. Or at least as close as Mara Jade would come to one.

"Oh, that's right, I forgot you're going away in a couple of days," Ally joined in. "Shoot, I was going to ask you, Mara, if you wanted to come with Leia and me to Kyth."

"Kyth?" Mara asked. "Isn't that where the Economic Summit is being held next week?"

Leia nodded. "Yes. Ally and I are going there early to get in a few days of turbo-skiing before the conference."

Mara raised her eyebrows. "Why do I think turbo-skiing and Ally are not a very good combination?"

Ally playfully stuck her tongue out at her friend. "I'll have you know I was a brilliant skier back home." She turned to Leia. "Though I'll admit I've never seen an entire planet covered in ice."

"Well, you won't get to see most of it," Leia commented. "Kyth is mostly uninhabitable except for near the equator. There's an incredible mountain range, and the climate is just right for skiing and other winter sports. The area has developed into one of the galaxy's most popular and luxurious ski resorts."

"This message brought to you by the Kyth Chamber of Commerce," Han smirked. The others laughed.

"Sorry," Leia said sheepishly. "Too much Kyth geology for me."

"Please," Mara rolled her eyes. "I don't buy that propaganda about Kyth's 'beautiful mountains' or 'perfect equatorial climate.' Those things are a credit a dozen. Skies, the skiing's just as good here at Coruscant's poles as it is on Kyth." She leaned towards Leia. "You know as well as I do the real reason Kyth's so popular is the ionized atmosphere."

"Ionized atmosphere?" Ally asked.

"Some say it's better than glitterstim spice," Mara nodded knowingly.

"What's she talking about?"

"Under the planet's surface there are huge veins of a metal called jogathronite," Leia explained. "Because of the corrosion of the jogathronite, Kyth's atmosphere is charged with negative ions, which has quite a positive, almost euphoric effect on humans and most alien species. It's similar to the feeling you get right after a large electrical storm--and it is not at all like a spice trip," she said pointedly, flashing Mara an exasperated look. The former smuggler merely smiled innocently.

Leia continued to Ally: "The ionized atmosphere was one of the reasons the New Republic leaders had decided that one of Kyth's resorts would be the host of the Galactic Economic Summit. Meetings of this type need all the positive energy they can get."

"Ooh, now I'm really looking forward to going," Ally replied, rubbing her hands together enthusiastically and giving Mara a wink. "I'm glad you had to be there early anyway, Leia."

Not long ago, Ally had mentioned wanting to try turbo- skiing, so they decided to take a small vacation there before the summit, something Leia desperately needed.

"And I'm even more glad we're leaving the excess baggage behind," Ally added.

"Hey!" Tom protested. "Who you calling 'excess baggage?'"

"If the boot fits..."

"Wait a second," Mara cut in. "You mean it's just the two of you? No men, no children?" She gave Luke a devilish grin. "You should have told me..."

"Wait a second, you're coming camping with me," Luke put in playfully.

"I know," she scowled at him. "Oh well, maybe next decade when I get my next vacation."

"I'm kind of glad you can't go," Tom said. "It's bad enough when Ally goes away with one woman for the weekend."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ally asked her husband in a menacing tone.

"Let me put it this way: Han, I suggest that when Leia comes back you have the kids off at a babysitter's, dinner on the table, and maybe some flowers. 'Cause when women get together without men, all they do is complain about us and what Gamorreans we are."

"Maybe you shouldn't give us so much ammunition," Ally sneered.

"All I'm saying is," Tom continued to Han, deliberately ignoring Ally's taunt, "your wife's gonna come back from this trip with her head full of every fault you've ever had, have, or could some day have. Just be forewarned."

Han laughed. "I don't think Leia needs to go away to figure out all my faults. She's already well aware of them."

"It'll be worse, trust me," Tom added, receiving a punch in the arm from his wife for the trouble.

"I think I'm glad you're going away with me," Luke said to Mara, also laughing.

"Oh, you wouldn't have anything to worry about anyway. A weekend isn't nearly long enough for me to begin to get into all your faults," Mara snorted.

"See, it's starting already," Tom said, munching on a piece of tarba greens.

"Oh please, Tom!" Ally rolled her eyes dramatically. "If you think Leia and I don't have much better things to talk about while we're at a fabulous ski resort than you and Han, then you're either the most arrogant or the stupidest man in the galaxy. You think with all those muscular ski instructors there we're even gonna give you a second thought?"

"Ski instructors," Leia smiled thoughtfully. "Hmmmm, I never thought about that..."

"Now wait a minute!" Han cut in.

"Oh, yes, ski instructors," Mara put in, a delighted, evil glint in her eyes. She took a small sip of her wine, then continued. "Aren't there a lot of Hapan men working on Kyth? Maybe Luke and I can postpone our camping trip."

"Thank you, Tom, for getting them started," Luke groaned.

"Hey, where's that kitchen droid, isn't the main course ready yet?" Han added hastily, trying to change the subject.

Leia laughed. Well one thing she could count on with her family, never a dull moment.

***

Irek Ismaren sat in his workshop, hundreds of meters below the surface of Kyth, carefully soldering two micro- mechanisms together. It was careful, exacting work, but he was almost finished...

"How is the project progressing?"

The voice in the doorway made Irek jump, which caused the laser-torch to slice across the delicate wires, destroying them.

He swore viciously, then turned to the doorway, pushing his protective visor away from his face. "What the hell do you think you're doing? I told you not to bother me!"

In the doorway, his mother stood, her dark eyes narrow. She crossed her arms. "You needn't use that tone of voice, Irek. I'm still your mother," she said defiantly.

Irek crossed his arms as well, mimicking her pose. "That doesn't stop you from being an ignorant sow," he shot back. He paused, but she didn't even flinch at his attack.

"You should have sensed me in the Force."

Irek glared at her. "What is this, some kind of test?"

"Of course not," Roganda replied quickly. "Why would I test my own son? All I'm saying is, you are very strong with the Force. I should not have been able to sneak up on you."

"I was concentrating on my work," he snapped through clenched teeth.

"That should not matter, Irek. You are the son of Emperor Palpatine. You should know everything that's going on around you, before it happens, even."

Irek felt something boil up inside of him. He hated when his mother talked to him like this. He knew he was Palpatine's son, he knew he was strong in the Force--the dark side, the powerful side of the Force--and that he should have sensed her coming. But for some reason, whenever he was working on electronics, he lost himself. Perhaps it was the brain chip that had been implanted in his mind when he was very young. Though it did enhance his Force skills, it enhanced his connection with mechanics and schematics even more so. He could make a piece of equipment do anything he wanted to. He could figure out ways to destroy entire planets--ways that were far more creative than the Death Star. Quite simply put, he was a genius. And weren't most geniuses noted for becoming lost in their work? But a part of him knew his mother was right--as much as he hated to admit it. He was the Emperor's son and would soon be an Emperor himself. He needed to be concerned with a much wider assortment of things than mechanical schematics.

Defeated, he simply sneered at her: "Do you want the work to be done in time or don't you?"

"Of course I want it to be finished," she soothed, uncrossing her arms and coming over to him. "We've been waiting our whole lives for this, Irek. For you to follow in your father's footsteps--"

"Yeah, yeah," Irek waved her away, as if dismissing her. "Then I need to get back to this."

Suddenly Roganda stepped forward and grabbed his arm. "Do not take that lightly, Irek. You are the only heir to the Emperor's throne. You must understand how important that is."

He looked at her, his blue eyes narrow and cold. "Do you think I don't understand? All I've heard all my life is how I must be worthy of following in my father's footsteps! Do you think I need to hear it again?"

"No," Roganda purred, soft and mothering again. "Of course not, darling." She reached out and toyed playfully with Irek's curly, dark hair. He hated when she did that, but this time he let her. He was much more likely to get his way when she was in these lovey-mothery moods.

"I'm just so anxious for you," she continued. "It's important that everything goes right, not just here, but afterwards. When you're the Emperor, you can't afford to make mistakes. That's how your father lost his life."

"I know," Irek replied without scowling. "But if you want things to go right here, you have to let me work in peace. This is extremely exacting, I cannot be disturbed."

She ruffled his hair quickly, as if he were a child of five, while he stifled an urge to lash out at her for it. "You're right, dear. I'm sorry, I'll try to leave you alone. It's just so exciting, though, after waiting so long..."

Irek looked at her thoughtfully. "Why did we wait so long, Mother?"

She paused, looking a little stricken. He sensed that there was something she was keeping from him.

"Why didn't we join up with Vice Admiral Pellaeon and Lord Belsarios last year, like we'd planned?"

For a moment, his mother looked like a nerf caught in a speeder's headlights. But just for a moment. She quickly recovered herself, and the look was gone. However, she was now guarded, her vulnerability in the Force suddenly masked.

"Look what happened to them," she said disdainfully. "I knew they weren't good enough for you. For the Emperor's son."

Why did she keep saying it, as if he needed to be reminded over and over again who his father was? He thought about questioning her further, then decided it was more important--and much more interesting, really--to get back to the work he was doing. She stood watching him for a moment, and he could sense her cloying pride swelling. Then she left him alone.

He flipped his visor back down over his face and tried again with two new components while he thought of the havoc these little devices would wreak. Not as much as he would have liked, of course. What he really would have liked was to bring in some Star Destroyers or other capital ships and just hammer this ice ball out of existence. But his mother, ever sensible, had dissuaded him in that sweet malicious way of hers. It was then that he had come up with this plan. And it was a good one. Best of all, that annoying Princess Leia, the Jedi from his mother's home planet, the woman whom he had not been allowed to kill eight years ago and who had played the most major role in ruining his rise to the throne eight years ago, would be on Kyth. And she, along with all the others, would die.

Irek smiled as her started his soldering. Perhaps this would be better than an attack from space after all.

***

Luke was in his quarters in the Great Temple on Yavin 4, packing his small bag to head back to Coruscant, his brief visit to the Academy over. Jedi Master Kyp Durron seemed to be doing a fine job keeping things running smoothly, with the help of Jedi Streen and Jedi historian Tionne. It was nice that he could trust the Academy to them so he could spend more time on Coruscant and traveling for the Senate. And spend more time with Mara, of course. He smiled in anticipation as he threw the last of his things into his bag. Very soon they would be on there way to Sanoi--no holovids, no comlinks, no crises. He could hardly wait.

Just as Luke was pulling the zipper closed on his bag, he heard a soft knock on the door. Like the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, the Massassi Temples on Yavin 4 were very old and utilized mostly old-fashioned hinged doors.

"Come in."

The door opened and Kyp Durron stepped lightly in. He stood in the doorway, looking hesitant.

"What is it, Kyp?" Luke prompted.

"I wasn't sure if I should bother you," Kyp said hesitantly, "I know you're getting ready to leave. But there's someone here to see you."

Luke shook his head. "No, no, no. I'm not going to see anyone, you can take care of it yourself. I'm going back to Coruscant and then on the first vacation I've had in a standard age and I don't want any more crises."

Kyp looked a little torn, and Luke could sense the turmoil in him. "I don't know," he said finally, "I know you want to get back, but I think you'll want to see this person. She came a long way to talk to you."

"She?" Luke raised his eyebrows. "Who is it?"

"See for yourself, she's waiting in the foreroom."

Curiosity getting the better of him, Luke reached out with the Force to sense the waiting presence, but too his surprise, he felt nothing. Shrugging, he grabbed his bag and headed out. It wouldn't hurt to at least see who was here.

He was not prepared for the person who was waiting for him.

"Luke, it's so good to see you," she said softly, her gray eyes shining.

Luke's mouth opened in surprise. "Callista!" For a moment he just stood there gaping at her. Then he remembered his manners. He strode across the floor and hugged her with a stiff formality.

"It's good to see you, too. What brings you to Yavin 4?"

She squeezed him tightly, as if she was afraid to let go. Uncomfortable, Luke pulled back from her embrace.

Undaunted, she looked him in the eye. "I need your help, Luke."

His shoulder's slumped. "Now is a really bad time, Callista."

She took a step backwards, but her face remained impassive. "I see."

He looked at her a moment, feeling a little guilty about refusing her anything after what they had once meant to each other. He opened his mouth to speak again, but she spoke up first.

"Luke, I may have found a way to get my abilities back."

His eyes widened, all awkwardness gone. "Really? Callista, that's wonderful! How?"

"By facing the dark side. On Dagobah."

Luke frowned. "I don't understand. Didn't you already do that?" He had taken her to Dagobah once before, before she had decided she needed to go it alone."

Callista shook her head. "No, this is different. I have to go to that cave. The one that's strong with the dark side. And I need you to go with me."

Luke shivered involuntarily at the mention of the cave. It had been the site of his first dark side encounter and it still made him uneasy. "I still don't understand."

Callista quickly explained that her studies had indicated that in order to regain the light side, she had to fight her way through the dark side, rather than around it. And with the help of another Jedi. "Isn't that how you and Leia defeated the reborn Emperor, by joining together?"

Luke nodded numbly, amazed by what he was hearing. Could it really be that simple, after all these years? "Are you sure, Callista?" he asked her.

She shook her head. "No, I'm not sure. But I want to try."

"Do or do not, there is no try," Luke stated automatically.

"Okay, then. I will go there and I will get my powers back." She took a step closer to him. "Will you help me?"

Luke sighed. "Callista, this really is a bad time. Maybe in a few weeks--"

"A few weeks!" She exploded, cutting him off abruptly. "I've been searching for this for eight years! And you want me to wait a few more weeks? What could be so important that you can't even take the time out to help someone who once was the most important--"

This time it was his turn to cut her off. "Callista, our relationship is in the past. You have to understand that."

She swallowed, eyeing him nervously. "Then the rumors are true?"

"That depends on what rumor you happened to hear," he snapped, his voice a bit more harsh than he'd intended. "There are so many of them I can't keep track."

"There's someone else," she said flatly.

"Yes," he replied simply, trying to look her in the eye. It was not easy.

"Mara Jade?"

"Yes."

Callista bit her lip. "Well, you're famous--a legend. Rumors go with the territory."

"Don't remind me."

She paused, meeting his gaze. "Is it serious?" she asked finally.

Luke nodded. "Yes."

"I see," Callista replied. She took a small step backwards. "I don't want to be a problem to you," she said quickly. But then she looked at him, eyes imploring. "But I really need your help Luke. You of all people must understand how important this is to me."

Luke considered her a moment. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't really say no to her. Not on this. He was not in love with her; he was certain of that. It had died long ago. However, he did feel partly responsible for her loss of Jedi abilities. Hadn't she taken Cray Mingla's body because he wanted to be with her? No. He could not say no to Callista. Unfortunately, it would mean saying no to Mara, and he winced at the thought of that encounter, but he just couldn't say no to Callista.

Luke sighed. "All right, I'll do what I can."

Callista cocked her head. "Was it really such a hard decision?" she asked.

Ever since she'd lost her powers, it had been as if she didn't exist in the Force. Luke, therefore, was unable to sense her feelings or even her presence before him. But he could hear the hurt in her voice.

"Of course not," he said softly. "It's just a little complicated. Mara and I had plans..." he drifted off, knowing a vacation on Sanoi would sound petty next to what Callista was facing.

"I really am sorry, Luke. I don't want to make things difficult for you."

He sighed. "You can't make things any more difficult for me than I make them for myself."

She gave him a wan smile. "Thank you, Luke." Taking a deep breath, she said "Then let's leave for Dagobah right away. I don't want to waste another standard minute."

"Hold on," Luke cut in, holding up his hand. "First we've gotta make a stop at Coruscant. I don't have a two-person ship on Yavin 4 and I don't think we should travel separately to Dagobah. That planet's hard enough for one ship to land on." He didn't add that he also wanted to tell Mara of the change in plans in person. Of course, it would be a lot harder for her to strangle him over the holonet, but that notwithstanding, he at least owed it to her to tell her face to face. Besides, he thought to himself grimly, if Mara was going to kill him he might as well get it over with.

***

Mara Jade was not in a good mood. One reason was that she was dressed in a cloying long robe: very business- like, but not very comfortable. Another reason was that she was doing the part of her job she most hated: inventory.

She stood in a docking bay at Coruscant's Main Port, data pad in hand, duly going over the inventory that was being off-loaded from the freighter *Jaded Lady.* A typical Talon Karrde name--he was forever using bad plays-on-words to name ships. All of the freighters that Jade-Karrde Enterprises owned outright had names that were particularly dreadful puns based on either hers or Karrde's name: *Kitehawk's Talon,* *Credit Karrde,* and the personal bane of Mara's existence, the *Mara Me.* Well, at lest she could be grateful that she wasn't doing inventory on that ship.

Besides, this was her last task before leaving on vacation and she was grateful for that. Vacation. It had been so long since Mara had actually taken a vacation--had she ever? She couldn't even think of one off-hand. Well, Skywalker was due back any time now--

Suddenly she became aware of a familiar presence in the docking bay--Skywalker had already arrived. Eagerly she headed for the other side of the freighter towards where he was standing. Her steps slowed, however, as she gradually began to sense that something was not right.

"What's wrong?" she asked, not bothering to even greet him first.

He looked down, as if suddenly his own boots had become of great interest to him.

"Skywalker, what is it?" she repeated.

Finally he looked back up at her. "I've got bad news. I'm afraid I have to postpone our trip."

Mara took a few steps towards him, alarmed. "Is everything okay? Did something happen to your family?" she asked with concern.

"No, no, everything's fine," he replied hastily. "I just--" he paused. "I have to help someone--"

Mara stopped in her tracks. "Oh no, you are not going to do this," she growled, putting as much threat into her voice as she could. Which was a lot; it was a well-practiced tone of voice for her.

"Mara, I know we've been planning this for a long time--"

She cut him off again. "No. Absolutely not. This is our week, just you and me."

"I know--"

But she wasn't about to let him get a word in. "Do you even remember the last time we've had any time together, let alone time for just us? No sisters or bureaucrats or former smugglers or Jedis begging for your attention or mine? Do you have any idea how long I had to fight Karrde for this? And now just because someone cried 'help,' the Mighty Hero of the New Republic, Jedi Master Skywalker has to go rushing off on another crusade!"

When she finished, he waited, probably to make sure she was really done and wasn't going to cut him off again. But it wasn't Mara that interrupted him this time.

"Luke, I--oh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

Mara and Skywalker both turned to face the docking bay's entrance, Mara almost dropping her data pad when she recognized who it was.

"Hello, Callista," Mara said coldly, forcing herself to smile. She gave Skywalker a hard glare, which he returned with a self-conscious shrug.

"Callista, I'll be with you in a moment," he said, his voice sounding a bit irritated. Well, good for him. Mara was by now well beyond irritated.

"Okay," Callista replied tentatively. "I--I'm going to drop by and say hello to Leia."

"Fine."

Callista looked sheepishly at Mara. "Hello, Mara. Sorry again for the interruption."

Mara only nodded in response, and Callista turned to go. She wasn't sure, but Mara could swear she actually caught a glimpse of the lanky blonde smiling as she left. She did that on purpose! Mara thought, furious, and for the first time since becoming a Jedi she entertained a brief murderous fantasy, contemplating the feeling of a delicate trachea collapsing beneath the pressure of her hands.... Then she quickly pushed the thought away; not only was it particularly un-Jedi-like, she had no intention of giving Callista the satisfaction of seeing that she'd gotten to her.

So she waited patiently until Callista was out of sight-- and earshot--and then pounced on Skywalker. "Is that who needs your help?" she asked, her tone of voice moving from threatening to deadly rage.

"I was getting to that," he replied lamely, obviously embarrassed. He looked for all the galaxy like a child who'd been caught looking at holo comics under the covers after bedtime.

"I'm waiting. I'm sure this will be a delightful story," Mara snapped.

"Mara, she really needs my help."

"Oh, I'll just bet she does!"

"Are you going to listen to me or not?" he asked, his own irritation level rising.

Mara gave him an icy smile and tapped her data pad against her palm. "I'm listening."

"She needs me to go to Dagobah with her."

"Dagobah? What in the worlds is on Dagobah?"

"A place where she can get her Jedi abilities back. With my help."

She stared at him a moment, not believing what she was hearing. "And then what?" she asked at length.

He looked confused. "What do you mean? She gets her powers back and is restored as a Jedi Knight for the New Republic."

"Please spare me the farmboy innocence, you know exactly what I mean! This is just what you both have been waiting for for eight years."

Skywalker stared at her, his blue eyes as icy as her own. "How can you say that? You know that's in the past! It's over, Mara. It's been over for years, and I don't intend on going back."

"It's not your intentions that concern me," she shot back.

"She just wants her Force abilities back," he replied, sighting deeply. "That's all."

"Oh, I'm quite sure," Mara bit out, voice heavy with sarcasm. "And all the Emperor ever wanted was to be your pal!"

"As much as I enjoy that acerbic wit," he responded dryly, "do you think we can keep this civil? I assure you, Callista is no threat to you."

"Me, threatened by her? It takes more than a spindly little Jedi who can't use the Force to be a threat to me!" Mara said with a bitter laugh. "But let's look at the facts here: One, she is still in love with you."

He started to protest, but a hostile eye from Mara made him think better of it.

"Two, she is exactly just the kind of person Mon Mothma and the Grans and everyone else in the galaxy have in mind when they think of a good little Jedi wife for their beloved Master Skywalker. A hero to the Alliance many times over, no embarrassing past, and she can provide you with a whole gaggle of little Jedi progeny. And three, she knows exactly how to get your attention. I'm afraid I don't do the 'damsel in distress' very well."

With this, Skywalker's mood went from embarrassment and irritation to full-blown fury. He took two steps towards her and glared down at her. For all his Tatooine charm, he knew how to look imposing. Mara, however, was not one to be easily intimidated. Especially not when she was angry.

"Do you really think that little of me?" he spat. She started to turn away in disgust, but he grabbed her arm and held her fast. "I asked you a question!"

She returned his stare but didn't answer.

"Do you think I give a damn about 'Jedi progeny' and Mon Mothma's opinion about who would and would not make a 'good little Jedi wife?'"

"I don't recall you ever asking me to marry you," she replied through clenched teeth.

He threw her arm down in disbelief, pushing her slightly backwards. "I don't believe you! You've never once told me you love me, and now you're upset that I haven't proposed marriage to you?"

"I didn't say I was upset, I was just pointing it out! You obviously have reservations about me."

"Of course I have reservations! But your 'facts' fell a little short. One, whether or not Callista is in love with me is irrelevant. Two, I don't love her. I love you, although sometimes I would like nothing better than to throttle you."

"The feeling is mutual," she returned.

"And three," he continued, ignoring her interruption, "she is not a 'damsel in distress.'"

"Then let her go to Dagobah on her own," Mara challenged.

Skywalker closed his eyes, shaking his head. "You have to understand, I can't. I owe her."

"You owe her nothing! You did not cause her to lose her abilities, she did that to herself."

"Because of me."

"And she's going to remind you of that every chance she gets!"

He took another deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I don't like this any more than you do, but I have to help her. I need you to understand that."

"Oh, I understand perfectly," she replied icily. "But if you think I'm going to sit around pining the same way you did for her for seven years, you are sadly mistaken. I have better things to do with my time."

"What are you saying?" he asked, eyeing her cautiously.

"You're the Jedi Master, you tell me."

He shook his head again. "Mara, don't do this. Do not make me choose between you and what I feel is my duty."

"Why not? You're going to have to choose sooner or later. Why not settle it here and now? What's it going to be?"

He looked at her for a long time, looking like a wounded bordok. At last, he said softly, almost whispering, "Don't do this Mara, please."

She almost wavered; he did know how to use those blasted innocent blue eyes to his advantage. But she held fast. She was tired of feeling like she had to prove herself "worthy." Mara Jade proved herself to no one.

"I'm not the one doing it," she said evenly.

"I have to go," he said, voice still soft and low.

"Then go," she said, turning her back and throwing up a Force barrier. She did not want him to see her eyes nor sense her emotions right now.

For a while he just stood there behind her while she pretended to pay attention to the inventory on her data pad. Then without saying another word, he left.

She waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps, then turned around to look after him, almost as if she couldn't believe he really wouldn't be there. Stifling an urge to hurl her data pad at the side of the *Jaded Lady,* she resolutely went back to the boxes of Hapan silk, Verrat wine, and Kessel spice. Skywalker or no Skywalker, there was still the shipping inventory to be done. She would deal with what had just happened when her work was finished and not before.

All the same, she was glad that she was skilled at using Force barriers. The last thing she needed was for him to know the extent to which his leaving was affecting her. She couldn't say it, but she knew it. He knew it. She loved him.

***

Han Solo walked quickly down the corridors of the Imperial Palace, grateful to be out of his apartment and the tension that was brewing. Leia, ever the diplomat, may have managed to play the gracious hostess, but Han wanted no part of it. Besides, Ally Dale, who was probably Mara's closest friend next to Luke, had been there and Han was convinced by her demeanor that there was likely to be bloodshed. Mumbling something about the *Falcon* and repair work, he slipped out and went to find Luke. He had to find out just exactly what the hell was going on.

He found his brother-in-law more quickly than he expected; Luke was on his way up to Han and Leia's apartment. And judging by the look on his face, he'd either had a run-in with a Sith Lord or Mara knew Callista was here.

"Hey Luke, just the person I wanted to see," he said, watching the man he still thought of as "kid" approach.

"Han, I'm really not in the mood to talk right now," Luke said darkly.

"I noticed. But since when did that stop me?" Han answered brightly, hoping to get a smile out of Luke. It didn't work, but Han proceeded anyway. "I take it you know who's in my apartment right now talking with Leia."

"Yes."

"Why is she here, Luke?"

"Because she needs my help."

"But aren't you going away with Mara?" Han reminded him.

Luke gave Han a sour look. "Don't start."

Han shook his head. "Have you informed Mara of this yet?"

"What do you think?" he snapped.

"Well I don't know, you're still alive..." Han pointed out.

"Just barely," Luke said, finally giving Han a wan smile.

Han walked alongside his brother-in-law in silence for a moment, then said slowly, "I know I'm not Leia, but would you mind taking a little advice from an old smuggler?"

The wan smile widened slightly. "Do I have a choice?"

"No," Han laughed. "Listen, Luke, I've known you longer than anyone, longer by a few hours than even Leia has known you, and I thought of you as a brother long before I married your sister. So know it is out of love that I say this--" he took a breath. "You're an idiot."

"Thanks a lot," Luke said, a bit of the old cocky sarcasm creeping back into his voice.

"I'm serious, Luke. You're in danger of blowing the best thing that's happened to you since you became a Jedi."

"The best thing that's happened to me?" Luke repeated, sounding surprised. "Are you talking about Mara? I thought you thought I was crazy to get involved with someone who once wanted to kill me."

Han shrugged. "At first, sure. But I've watched the two of you this past year and I'm telling you, this relationship is the best thing that's ever happened to you and you're gonna blow it."

"It was just a fight," Luke protested, though Han could tell it had been far more serious than that. "We've had fights before," Luke continued. "You and Leia have had worse fights..."

"I'm not talking about a fight," Han interrupted. "Anyone who's known Mara for five seconds knows her favorite state of being is 'ticked off.' You two will probably spend the rest of your lives arguing about one thing or another--if you're lucky."

"Okay, then what is it that you think I'm doing that's so 'idiotic?'"

Han sighed. "You're just like your sister."

"And that's a bad thing?" Luke asked, looking dumbfounded that Han would compare him to the woman he loved, yet somehow make it sound like an accusation.

"It is if you make the mistake she almost made."

"Which is?"

Han grinned his crooked smuggler's smile. "Marrying Isolder instead of me."

This time Luke actually laughed.

Han leaned forward and raised his eyebrows. "I know you think I'm just being cocky, but I'm not. I'm speaking with the confidence of someone who has twelve years of marriage under his belt. Look at our marriage--look at our kids. Can you honestly say that not getting married wouldn't have been the biggest mistake of our lives?"

Luke had to agree with that one. "Okay, you've made your point. But what does that have to do with me? Callista is not exactly a wealthy princess waiting to whisk me away from Mara, and I have no intention of getting involved with her again."

"No, but you're missing the point," Han replied. "It wasn't Isolder himself that was the temptation for Leia. As beautiful and wealthy as he was, she hadn't known him long enough to really care for him. It was the alliance that she found irresistible. She knew what a benefit an alliance with Hapes could be to the New Republic and that was almost enough to make her sacrifice her own personal life. This government will always be her first love, and I've come to accept that. But Leia has come to accept that some things are more important than duty." Han stopped walking and jabbed an accusing finger at Luke. "That's where you're just like Leia. You're duty always comes first. And you're testing Mara, and she's not likely to put up with that for long."

"Testing her, how am I testing her?" Luke objected.

Han leaned against the corridor wall. "By doing this. By running off here and there to see how she handles it. I know that some of the people you have to deal with are opposed to your relationship because she used to be the Emperor's Hand. I also know that Mon Mothma has been giving you a hard time. She was against me and Leia marrying at first, too. But remember that Mon Mothma's first priority is what's good for the New Republic. My first priority is what's good for you. And Mara Jade is good for you. She brought back your sense of humor just when I thought it had vanished forever."

Luke let out another breath in frustration. "So what am I supposed to do, quit my position with the Senate because the rest of the galaxy has an opinion about my personal life? I can't do that."

"I'm not suggesting you quit. Leia didn't quit when she married me--three years later she went on to become Chief of State! I'm just suggesting that you take a good look at your priorities. The work you do as a Jedi is important, but so is your personal happiness. You yourself once said a Jedi has to learn to--what was it--withdraw from people who always want you to fix things for them?"

"You would use my own words against me," Luke groaned. "Okay, I've been busy lately, but so has Mara. I don't think that means my sense of duty is too overdeveloped."

Han leaned forward and looked Luke in the eye. "Then why haven't you married her?"

"Why is my marital status of such concern to everyone all of the sudden?" Luke exploded. "From the very beginning she's been the one who's hesitant about our relationship, not me. She still can't even say she loves me, so don't blame me that we aren't married."

Han shook his head. "Come on, it's not like I'm making this up out of thin air. This isn't the first time your sense of duty has interfered with your personal life. Why didn't you stay with Callista, for example?"

"I thought this was about me and Mara."

"It's about you period," Han retorted. "Why didn't you stay with Callista?"

"That was her choice, not mine," Luke protested. "She was the one who felt we couldn't be together if she wasn't a Jedi, not me."

"I know, but if you'd have left the Academy and gone after her, she would have relented."

"How was I supposed to do that? The Academy was barely a year old and I was the only full Jedi in the galaxy at the time."

"I'm not suggesting that it would have been the right thing to do, I'm just saying that you picked your duty over being with Callista." Han pointed out. "And why didn't you stay on Bakura with Gaeriel Capistan?"

Luke sighed, defeated. "Because we had only just won the war and there was so much left to do."

"Your duty," Han replied. "Again, I'm not saying you made the wrong choice. But you've been doing your part for the galaxy for almost twenty years now. There are dozens of graduates from your Academy, including one Master, so you're not the only Jedi anymore. Maybe it's time for you to put your personal life first for a change. Let's face it, you and Mara aren't getting any younger. If you're at all interested in starting a family, you don't have a lot of time."

"Actually, that's not an issue," Luke replied with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Mara can't have children."

This caught Han by surprise. "What?"

"She told me a few months ago. She can't have children," Luke repeated. "It was part of the Emperor's employee benefits package."

Han could hear the contempt in his voice. "Is that part of what's bothering you?" he asked.

"What, that I won't have children if I marry her?" Luke shook his head. "No, that doesn't bother me. I've got a whole academy full of Jedi kids I'm responsible for, and I've got five great nieces and nephews. I don't really feel the need to have kids of my own. What does really upset me, though, is that the Emperor didn't bother to discuss it with Mara before he had the surgery done."

Han shook his head and whistled. "Why doesn't that surprise me? But it doesn't make sense, why would the Emperor want to make sure she didn't have any children? I thought using kids as pawns against their parents was one of his old standbys."

Luke shrugged. "You know Mara, fear's not a really big motivator for her. I guess he figured that if she ever had a child, her first loyalty would be to it and not to him."

Han shook his head again. Each time he learned of a new atrocity committed under the Emperor's regime he felt nauseated with disgust, even sixteen years after the man's death. He wondered if there was more to the story than Luke was telling him, but Luke wasn't volunteering any more, so Han decided it was none of his business. "Well, whether or not you can have children is not really the issue. I still say that she's the best thing that ever happened to you, and you'd better realize that before it's too late and she's gone."

"It may already be too late," Luke muttered so quietly Han almost didn't hear him.

"Then go and fix it," he advised.

"I can't," Luke said, looking up at Han. "She doesn't understand why I have to go with Callista."

"I'm not sure I understand, either."

"I owe her, Han. She lost her abilities because of me. The very least I can do is help her get them back."

Han considered this before replying, "But that's not all she wants back."

Luke shook his head. "Not you too. This is not some grand scheme to get me back, okay?"

"I wouldn't be too sure of that. She's up with Leia right now just oozing with charm. It sure seemed to me like she was looking for an ally. And speaking of, Allia was there too, and I think she was getting ready to do something really nasty and violent."

This produced a small laugh from Luke. "It figures. Ally and Mara are pretty close."

"Well, if she sees something and I see something, then maybe we're right and you're wrong. I know you're a Jedi Master and all, but I've gotta tell you, sometimes you're pretty obtuse."

"Thank you very much," Luke grinned sardonically.

"Mark my words, she's looking for more from you than guidance in the ways of the Force," Han warned.

"I think you're wrong," Luke replied, "but even if you're not, it doesn't matter. I already told you, I have no intention of starting up with her again. Whether Mara ever speaks to me again or not."

Han shrugged helplessly. "It's your funeral, kid. I just hope you don't lose Mara just because you feel it's your personal responsibility to rescue every single being in the galaxy."

"Uh, isn't that how this all started?" Luke reminded him. "You wouldn't have a wife and I wouldn't have a sister if I didn't like rescuing people."

"That may be true, but there comes a time when you've got to stop living your life for everyone else and start living it for you. You do love Mara, don't you?"

Luke paused, his face growing serious again. "Yes Han, I do. I love her so much sometimes I can't breathe. Never before have I known anyone who could simultaneously inspire me to want to spend every waking moment with her and also strangle the life out of her."

Han laughed. "I know that feeling!"

"But I'm a Jedi," Luke continued. "I can't ignore someone who needs my help."

Again, Han shrugged. "Like I said, it's your funeral. And since we're talking about Mara Jade, that could be literal. But I think you're making a really big mistake."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Luke responded, giving him a sly smile.

"No, it sure wouldn't," Han agreed. "Well, come on, we'd better get up there before Ally starts behaving like an enraged Wookiee and Callista ends up sporting an arm like that hand of yours."

Luke nodded, flexing his cyborg hand as he followed Han down the corridor towards his and Leia's apartment.

***

After sitting in the Solos' apartment listening to Callista go on about her eight-year search to regain her powers (and not completely succeeding at pretending to be pleasantly interested) Ally Dale was grateful when Han and Luke appeared at the door, giving her an opportunity for escape. She rose quickly from her seat, made some lame excuse about checking on the children, then headed for the door where Han and Luke were still standing.

Having been assured by Callista's excruciatingly detailed story that she had no contact with the Force, Ally took the opportunity to flash Luke a message when she passed by him on her way through the door: Watch out for this one!

Luke rewarded her with a small, sarcastic grin and replied, I can take care of myself, thank you very much.

Ally scowled at him, said a quick good-bye to Han, Leia, and Callista, then left.

The excuse she'd given for leaving had been a lie; Tom had taken the kids out for a father/son/daughter excursion earlier that afternoon, so Ally didn't have any children to check up on at all. But there was someone she did want to check up on.

She made her way through the winding corridors of the Imperial Palace and out onto the platform nearest the Main Port. Hailing a transport, she directed the droid driver to Docking Bay 74. Jade-Karrde Enterprises' docking bay.

She found Mara on the far side of the freighter, apparently doing inventory. She looked calm enough in her inefficient, yet elegant gray robes, quietly going over figures on a data pad. But Ally had had enough training in the Force that she could very easily feel the anger that surrounded the ship and the docking bay. She also sensed that Mara had put up some kind of wall in the Force to keep her from sensing anything more accurate than a pervading aura of hostility.

"I am in no mood to talk to you right now, Ally, so you can just go back where you came from," Mara snapped suddenly without looking up from her data pad.

Ignoring the implied threat--she knew Mara well to know that it was harmless posturing--Ally approached her friend and sat down on a large crate opposite her.

"I'm not joking, Ally," Mara growled, "go away."

"Give the assassin's act a rest," Ally quipped in response. "I'm not going anywhere. What's going on?"

Mara finally stopped what she was doing, put down her data pad and looked up at Ally. "What's going on? You mean besides the fact that I've renewed my vow to kill your brother? Or is that what you want to know about?"

"Your bark is worse than your bite," Ally replied, risking Mara's wrath.

"I bite pretty hard," Mara retorted, giving Ally a tight, grim smile.

"So he's standing you up to go help Callista get her powers back, and you're just going to sit here and have a little jealous fit," Ally taunted.

Mara gave her an icy glare. "I am most certainly not having a 'jealous fit.' He can go anywhere he likes with that little manipulative sow."

Ally nodded. "You're right, you don't sound a bit jealous."

Mara slapped her hand angrily on a crate marked *Glass: Fragile.* "I am not jealous, I'm just angry! I am sick to death of his condescending little Jedi platitudes about being open to your emotions when he won't even admit that he's scared to death of me."

"Scared of you?" Ally raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean, scared of you?"

"I don't mean scared of me, I mean scared of who I was and of what people think of me. He pretends to ignore it, but I know it makes him crazy. And he uses any excuse he can to run away rather than face up to that. That's all this is, another excuse."

"I don't know, it seems to me you do a lot of running away yourself."

Mara glared at her, green eyes narrow and hard, then closed them and rubbed her temples. "All right," she relented, "you're right. I'm not afraid of many things, but this relationship with Skywalker, it absolutely terrifies me."

Ally looked at Mara, sensing her letting down the Force barriers a bit. She could feel the other woman's anger and almost more strongly, the hurt that was underlying it. It was unusual to see anything penetrate Mara's usual deadly calm, and Ally's mind whirled, searching for a way to comfort her friend. Nothing presented itself, so she opted for probing further.

"Why does it terrify you, Mara?" she asked softly.

"Because of this. Because he has a power over me; I'm not in control."

"But why do you always have to be in control?" Ally questioned.

"Because when you don't have control, you wind up dead."

"He's not your enemy," Ally gently reminded her.

"Sometimes I wonder," Mara laughed humorlessly. "He swears he'll never betray me, but the first chance he gets he's off and running to help her."

Ally decided to try a new approach: provoking her. For all Luke's warnings about anger being from the dark side, Ally knew it could sometimes be just the catharsis that someone like Mara needed. "So then this is about Callista?"

"No, this is not about Callista," Mara fumed. "This is about my not being able to live up to some impossible standard of perfection. I may be a Jedi, but I'll always be the Emperor's Hand in everyone's mind, including his." She looked away towards the docking bay's entrance, as if she were expecting Luke and Callista to come walking in, hand in hand. "It's much easier with her," Mara said, still looking towards the hatchway, "she's this perfect little Jedi who's done nothing but serve the Alliance--"

She stopped abruptly when Ally burst out laughing. "Mara, please, she is far from perfect. Maybe I'm not giving her a fair chance because of you, but I happen to think she is the most self-centered person I've ever met. Taking over someone else's body? Leaving behind someone who loves her and she claims to love just because she feels sorry for herself that she can't touch the Force anymore?" Ally shifted on the crates, pulling up her legs to get more comfortable.

"On my planet," she continued, "we don't have cybernetic prostheses to replace body parts that don't work any more. I've known people who lost their vision, or their hearing, or the use of all four limbs. And most of these people come to realize that the value of their lives is not determined by their senses and their ability to function in a normal way. Callista has never accepted that. All she's done is whine and complain about how awful it is to not be able to touch the Force. I knew a professional athlete who broke her neck diving into a pool that was too shallow. She can't walk or move her arms or even take care of herself anymore, yet she never once acted as if she were less of a person because of it. And Callista's upset that she can't use the Force? As if being a Jedi is the only worthwhile thing to be. Look at Han and Chewie and Lando and Tom and Wedge and Talon Karrde and Mon Mothma and Ackbar, or any number of people who have done amazing things without having the slightest bit of Jedi ability. Look at you, you had to overcome years of brainwashing at the hands of the Emperor to get where you are. And none of you complain about what you don't have. You use what you do have and make it work for you. That's what makes a mature adult."

Her little tirade seemed to work; Mara actually smiled. "I suppose you're right. But that doesn't change the fact that despite the fact that this is pretty much our only chance to spend a week together, he considers helping her to be more important."

Ally shook her head, then an idea occurred to her. "You know what you need, Mara?"

"I'm sure you'll tell me," Mara quipped with a wry smile.

"Of course I'm going to tell you," Ally returned, slapping both of her hands down on either side of her. "You need to get the hell away from here. You've got a free week now and you said you like turbo-skiing. Why don't you go to Kyth with Leia and me?"

"Oh, I don't know," Mara shook her head quickly. "I'm not sure going on a trip with Skywalker's sisters is a good idea."

"Oh, don't think of us as his sisters," Ally replied. "We're fellow women who have all dealt with male stupidity."

Mara gave a small laugh. "Then Tom was right, this will be a little men-bashing excursion."

Ally waved in an exaggerated gesture of dismissal. "Puh-LEASE, Tom doesn't have a clue! I meant what I said, we've got much more interesting things to talk about than them. It's just a good chance to get away, girls' weekend out. Say you'll come with us."

"Don't you think you should find out what Leia thinks before asking me?"

"We were planning on inviting you anyway, but you were going away with Luke. Now you're not. So come with us." Her eyes glinted devilishly; she knew just how to give Mara that last little push. "Or would you rather sit here alone, pining after him like you're some kind of pet..."

Mara's eyes flashed angrily. "I do not pine," she snapped. "I think I will come with you. A nice Hapan ski instructor may be just the thing."

Ally smiled, slapping Mara on the leg. "Now you're talking!"

***

With a heavy sigh, Leia shut the old-fashioned hinged wooden door behind Callista and Luke, then leaned against it wearily.

"Well, that was fun," Han said with sarcastic cheerfulness.

Leia shot him an exasperated look. "You're impossible. You and Ally both. You could have made a little more of an effort to be nice to her," she chided her husband.

"Who, me?" Han asked innocently. "You know me, I'm always charming."

"Yeah, charming as a Hutt," she growled.

"Well, can you blame me? What business does she have coming back here after all that time begging for Luke's help and messing things up for him and Mara? She's the one who left him."

"I know, I know," Leia sighed, "but getting her contact with the Force back is so important to her. I can't say that I blame her."

"Always the diplomat," Han grinned. "I just wish Luke would have done the smart thing and told her no. He's making a huge mistake helping her right now."

"I'm sure he knows what he's doing," Leia snapped defensively. "He's a Jedi Master and teacher, his first responsibility is to help Jedi reach their potential--"

"You and he both worry about your 'responsibilities' too much," Han replied, jabbing a finger at her. "And you and I both know it isn't always worth the price you pay."

Leia sighed again. She had to admit he had a point; before Luke and Mara had gotten involved, she had often wished that her brother would put aside his Jedi duties long enough to find some personal happiness. And the change in him when he finally did so had been remarkable. Ever since becoming a Jedi, a darkness had come over him, as if he carried the weight of the worlds on his shoulders. Somehow, ironically, the one person in the galaxy who was darker and moodier than he was had been able to draw him out of that shell he'd constructed around himself. Over the course of the past year, Leia had seen shades of the brash young man who had once disguised himself as a stormtrooper to rescue a princess he'd never met: "I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you."

Nevertheless, Leia more than anyone understood Luke's responsibilities and understood why he felt he had to help Callista; she just couldn't fault him for it. And it was certainly not a good enough reason for Mara to get upset enough to end the relationship.

"I'm sure this is not the disaster you're making it out to be," she said at length. Then the doorbell chimed, and as she crossed the room to answer the door, she added: "I think Luke can take care of himself, don't you?"

"Sometimes I wonder," Han muttered.

Leia shot him another exasperated look as she opened the door. It was Ally.

"Is the coast clear?" Ally joked in a mock whisper.

"Yeah, she's gone," Han replied laughing. "You can holster your weapons."

Leia rolled her eyes then stood aside to let Ally in.

"I was just with Mara."

"Brave girl," Han whistled in mock admiration.

"I take it she's not too happy with the situation?" Leia asked.

"Uh, that's one way to put it," Ally agreed. "Anyway, she's going to come with us to Kyth."

Leia gave her sister an apprehensive look. "Oh, I don't know, Ally. If she's upset with Luke I'm not sure we're the best people for her to be around."

"Why not? I know we're his sisters, but we're also her friends. And as long as he insists on being pig-headed..."

"Pig?" Han asked.

"Like a Gamorrean...only smarter. And cuter," Ally replied.

Leia felt her defensiveness for her brother rise again. "I don't see why everyone's so concerned about what Luke does. Do you think he's going to turn Callista down if she needs his help just because Mara's jealous? I would think she would trust him--he's not the kind of person that would cheat on her or hurt her."

Ally put up her hands as if to ward Leia off. "Whoa, nobody's accusing Luke of anything."

"Well it sure sounds like it to me," Leia snapped, eyeing both her husband and her sister.

"Don't look at me, I just live here," Han mumbled, taking a step backwards.

"Leia, it's not that Luke's done anything wrong. It's just that the timing is so bad, with all the grief they've been getting about her past. I think Mara's just feeling a little insecure."

Leia snorted. "That'll be the day when Mara Jade is insecure about anything."

"Well, you don't know her as well as I do," Ally rejoined. "With all this pressure from Mon Mothma and the public, she figures Luke's bound to feel his obligation to the New Republic is more important than his personal life. Can you really blame her for that, we all know Luke's pretty dedicated."

Han rolled his eyes. "I told him this was going to happen."

"I thought you 'just lived here,'" Leia reminded him.

"Leia, this isn't about ganging up on Luke," Ally explained. "I just think that it would be good for Mara to get away for a while, with just us women."

"I think it's a great idea," Han put in.

"You sure didn't think so the other night when we were discussing ski instructors," Leia scoffed.

"Hey, I've been in Mara's boots before. I know what its like to feel like the whole galaxy thinks you're not good enough for the person you love. Maybe getting her out on those turbo- ski slopes will keep her from doing anything rash--like kidnapping someone..."

Leia grinned, remembering how Han, in a fit of desperation at the possibility of losing her to Prince Isolder, had spirited her off to Dathomir. "I don't think Mara would do anything so half-witted," she flashed back at him.

"Hey, your Royal Highness, I don't hear you complaining about the end results," he retorted, sweeping his arm around the apartment.

"No, no complaints," she agreed with a chuckle. She turned to Ally. "If she comes with us, we're not going to sit around and bash Luke the whole time, are we?"

Ally shook her head and held up three fingers on her right hand. "Girl Scout's honor. I think she needs to get Luke off her mind, not talk about him."

"I suppose you're right," Leia relented.

Ally gave a small squeal of delight and hugged her sister. "This is gonna be great, just wait and see. I used to do women's retreats all the time back home and believe me, the more the merrier." She then gave a quick glance to her chronometer, than added hastily, "but it's getting late and Tom and the kids will be back soon. And I still haven't packed yet."

"Oh, you're right," Leia replied. "I haven't packed either, and I've got a lot of files for the Summit I need to take with me. And Winter's had the kids out all day, they should be home soon, too."

"Well, I'll get out of here then, and I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow morning," Leia agreed as Ally gave Han a quick kiss on the cheek then departed.

Leia turned to her husband. "Are you sure you're okay with me going away like this? I know what a handful the kids are, and I'm already away so much as it is..."

"No, you need a vacation," Han responded, slipping his arms around her slight waist. "Besides, Chewie comes in tomorrow, and he and I have some repairs to do on the *Falcon* before we take her to Kyth next week. That stuff bores you to tears anyway."

Leia smiled and leaned against his chest. "But when are we going to get some time for a vacation together?" she asked wearily.

"Oh, I don't know, we could get Winter to stay out with the kids a little longer tonight..."

Leia beamed at him. "For an old scoundrel, you're all right, Han Solo."

"You like scoundrels," he smiled back, then gave her a long kiss.

***

Roganda Ismaren walked quickly through the corridors of her underground cavern. The light, almost gleeful feeling that had been so hard for her to control just a few days ago had rapidly evaporated. Now she felt like the weight of the worlds was on her shoulders, despite the energizing ionized atmosphere. Five days. They only had five days until the New Republic Summit was to begin on the surface several hundred meters above them. She could only hope they'd be ready in time.

She considered checking in on Irek in his workshop, then thought better of it, remembering what had happened the last time. She felt a small shudder go through her. No, she didn't want to risk that again, not now.

Instead of heading to the workshop, she opted to return to her room. There was really nothing more she could do, so she would have to be content with daydreaming, planning Irek's future as the Emperor. A familiar past time.

But today she found herself thinking only of the past. She thought of their failed attempt at resurrecting the Empire eight years ago, when Irek was still just a boy. She thought of the moving around they had done since then--the would-be Emperor and the Emperor's Hand, reduced to the status of fugitives--and the various Imperial sympathizers who had supported them. Then, a year ago, Irek reached twenty-one. It was a perfect age--virtually the same age Luke Skywalker had been when he had defeated the Emperor. And there seemed to be a new resurgence in Imperial activity: Vice Admiral Pellaeon had been going about the galaxy rounding up a modest armada. He had even been rumored to be in possession of a Super Star Destroyer. The timing had seemed so perfect that she and Irek had begun planning. They would contact Vice Admiral Pellaeon, and with his military expertise and Irek's Force skills, the Empire could be resurrected.

As it turned out, however, someone else had already had that idea. Just before she was about to make her move, she found out with whom Pellaeon was working: Malarin Belsarios. A man who had supposedly been executed by the Emperor some eighteen years previous. She could clearly remember the first time she knew he was still alive, when she saw him in that broadcast. He had just captured the famed Rogue Squadron and was sending a broad-band holovid across the galaxy to brag about his accomplishments. Roganda had almost dropped to the floor when she saw it. How could someone the Emperor had executed be alive?

Abruptly, Roganda had changed their plans and bided her time, waiting to see what would happen. If he succeeded in tearing apart the New Republic, perhaps she could somehow make it all work to her advantage. Irek had been livid, of course, but Irek was often livid and Roganda knew how to handle him. Just as long as she could keep him distracted working on some bit of mechanical engineering or another, she could keep him from getting too curious.

But despite her forced optimism that perhaps she could twist Belsarios' presence to her advantage, she knew deep down that he was a threat to everything she had worked for, for herself and especially for Irek. Belsarios wanted to be the next Emperor; only Irek deserved that title. So it was with a large amount of satisfaction that Roganda received the news of his death. And in a special twist of irony, it had occurred at the hands of a simple concubine. The same concubine who had been responsible for his supposed execution eighteen years earlier: Mara Jade.

Roganda had been so thrilled by his timely demise that she almost found herself feeling warmly towards Mara Jade. Almost. But no matter how convenient Belsarios' death was, it could not make up for the other, unspeakable things that woman had done. The worst, of course, was that she had stolen Roganda's identity.

For years Mara had been going about the galaxy claiming to have been the Emperor's Hand. That was, of course, a lie: the Emperor had bestowed that honor on only one--Roganda. Mara Jade was nothing more than a simple concubine, a bit of Palace fluff with a big mouth and delusions of grandeur. At first it had been merely amusing, but it was getting worse and worse as time went on. Not only had she prostituted the name of "Emperor's Hand" by helping the New Republic on occasion, she had actually formed an alliance with them. Fine for a former concubine, but certainly not for the Emperor's Hand! Then to make matters worse, she had started a relationship with the man who was most responsible for the Emperor's death: Luke Skywalker. Before Mara's wild claims, Roganda had been able to use her former title to her advantage when foraging for allies in the Core Worlds. Now when anyone mentioned the name "Emperor's Hand," instead of the terror and respect that should have been evoked, people actually laughed. Laughed!

"Emperor's Hand?" they'd say, smiling, winking. "You mean that woman who's taken up with Luke Skywalker? Kinda makes you wonder why she was called the Emperor's *Hand...*"

For this reason, not even killing Belsarios could vindicate her in Roganda's eyes. It was bad enough to steal her title, her identity, but to then drag it through the dirt as if it meant nothing? That could not go unpunished. No, Mara Jade must be one of the first to die.

At this, Roganda's spirits rose again. She would, in fact, be one of the first to die. She would be at the Summit. She would be there when the place was vaporized. Along with Leia Organa Solo, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker. All the people that had been responsible for her and Irek's failure eight years ago.

And it would all happen in only five more days.

Yes, she was feeling much better now. Much better.

***

Almost from the moment she stepped off of Leia's consular ship, the *Alderaan,* and onto the frozen deck of the Kyth port, Mara could feel the famed ionized atmosphere working its magic. The tension in her head, neck, and back seemed to melt away, and she suddenly felt like she could take on the galaxy.

Luke, Callista, and her life as the Emperor's Hand all seemed very remote.

"Wow," Ally marveled beside her, looking up at the mountains that surrounded them. "This is amazing. It's so cold, but it feels like the desert after a thunderstorm." Her voice had a strange, rarefied quality to it that reminded Mara vaguely of a lightsaber's hum. "And my voice sounds so strange!" Ally added.

"That's the ionization," Leia agreed, with the same hum to her voice. "They say you get used to the strange sounds after a while, but doesn't it feel wonderful?" She set down her bag at her feet and clapped her hands together to keep warm.

"Ambassador Organa Solo!" cried a deep, voice in heavily accented Basic. Mara saw a tall biped, almost two meters tall with thick leathery skin and short, course white fur covering his body. A Kythan.

"Chancellor Godor," Leia said warmly, extended her hand. But instead of shaking it, the Kythan grabbed her arm and sniffed her hand. Mara caught Ally's face when he did so and had to choke down a laugh. Ally had obviously never seen the traditional Kythan greeting before.

Leia, however, had done her homework, and patiently endured what many would consider to be a rude intrusion. When Godor finished with the ritual, Leia bowed slightly. "I am honored that you came to meet us here in person," she said, her voice regal. The well-practiced princess. "You were informed, I hope, that our early arrival is not an official visit, but a vacation?"

Chancellor Godor returned her bow. "Of course, Ambassador. But I still wanted to greet you personally. We are grateful that you chose our planet for such an important occasion as the upcoming Economic Summit." He then turned to Mara and Ally, giving another shallow bow with his head. "And this must be Lieutenant Dale and Captain Jade. We are honored."

Mara narrowed her eyes suspiciously, waiting to see if there was any more. But the Chancellor remained very cordial and pleasant; no snide comments about her past Imperial affiliations. Of course, like most high-end resort planets, Kyth had not fared badly under Imperial rule, so there didn't tend to be the hard feelings towards ex-Imperials that she encountered on many other worlds. Strange that for fifteen years her Imperial past had not been of much concern to anyone until she started a relationship with Skywalker, Illustrious Hero of the New Republic...

Mara shook her head; she was on vacation. She pushed him out of her mind, wishing with a small smile that she was pushing him off the roof of the Imperial Palace instead....

She looked over at Ally, who was eyeing their host warily, clearly afraid that she would be required to offer her own arm to be sniffed. Mara decided to give the poor Terran a break. Only the highest ranking member of a party is greeted in that way, she told Ally in her mind. She saw her friend give her a relieved smile, then turned her attention back towards Chancellor Godor, who was directing them towards an elegant snow speeder that would take them to the resort.

"I couldn't help but notice your lightsabers," Godor was saying to Leia. All three women, out of habit, were wearing their lightsabers attached to their belt. "Of course, I'll have to request that you surrender them with your blasters before we leave the port."

Mara's hand reflexively came to rest on the handle of her lightsaber. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What do you mean, we have to surrender our weapons? I don't go anywhere without my weapons."

Leia gave Mara a harsh look, obviously afraid that she had offended their host, but Mara didn't care. They could take her blaster over her dead body and her lightsaber over her severed one.

"I'm sorry, Chancellor," Leia said hastily, giving Mara another stern look. "I was unaware that lightsabers were banned along with blasters, and I forgot to brief Captain Jade about your laws..."

"I don't need briefing; I don't surrender my weapons to anyone," Mara growled.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry, but I really must insist," Godor replied, apologetic. "You see, we cannot allow conventional weapons such as blasters on Kyth because of the ionized atmosphere. If you tried to fire your blaster, it would not react as you would expect. Instead the particles would explode out in fragments; very devastating. Lightsabers are equally dangerous. They're not as common as blasters, so we never did post them officially in our customs laws, but we do not permit such weapons beyond the port. No exceptions."

Leia appeared deeply embarrassed. "Chancellor, I am so sorry, this is my fault, I should have briefed the Captain. Of course we will surrender our weapons immediately." To emphasize the point, she turned over her own lightsaber.

"Now wait a second," Mara put in, receiving another angry look from Leia. "I do not give my weapons up to anybody. If we can't use them, fine, but I'd like to keep them with me all the same." The thought of someone else taking her lightsaber or her cherished arm-holstered blaster...

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, Captain Jade," the Kythan replied quickly, still sounding apologetic and getting quite flustered. "It is our law, no conventional weapons permitted outside the port. I hope you will understand, we simply cannot risk it. You are all quite skilled in battle. Were there to be any sort of incident, you would reflexively go for your weapons, before even realizing you had done so. To fire a blaster or ignite a lightsaber would be disastrous. I hope you understand," he said, his large black eyes imploring for her to relent without making a further issue of it.

Mara raised her eyebrows. "Are you expecting an incident, then?"

Chancellor Godor looked disconcerted and turned to Leia for help. The former Chief of State's face turned crimson with anger and embarrassment.

"You will surrender your weapons immediately, Captain!" she said with all the authority of her royal upbringing and presidential past.

As if to try and soothe things over, Ally quickly handed over her deactivated saber, then the two women looked expectantly at Mara.

"Fine," Mara said icily. Although every fiber of her being rebelled at allowing anyone to order her around, she realized that starting what could become an interplanetary incident would not be in anyone's best interest. Reluctantly, she unclipped her lightsaber handle from her belt and handed it to the distressed Chancellor.

"Everything," Leia said firmly.

Mara gave her a hard look, then removed her blaster from its arm holster, and handed that over as well.

"Thank you, Captain," Chancellor Godor said, obviously grateful that the tense moment was over. But not quite...

"Wait, Chancellor. I hope you will indulge me," she said, putting on her best diplomatic voice to soothe Leia, "but where do you plan on holding our weapons while we are here, and how can we retrieve them?"

"You can leave them on your own ship, if you'd like," he replied hastily. "And if you'd feel more comfortable, we can provide you with substitute weapons that function normally in our ionized atmosphere."

"That will not be necessary, Chancellor," Leia said firmly before Mara could say anything. "And again, please forgive me for not informing my companions about your laws. Rest assured, I will personally see to it that the leaders arriving for the Summit are informed in advance."

The Kythan had their lightsabers and Mara's blaster stowed back aboard the *Alderaan,* then once more guided the three women towards the waiting snow speeder. He gave a brief tour of the area, babbling endlessly about the geography and geology of the planet as they flew toward the main resort lodge where the summit would be held. All of the leaders coming in for the summit would stay in the luxurious suites within the lodge itself, but for their vacation beforehand, Leia had arranged for a private cabin away from the main building. Godor showed them to their accommodations, told them he would personally see to anything they wished, apologized again for the weapons misunderstanding, then finally left them alone to unpack and enjoy the rustic mountain cabin.

He had no sooner shut the door behind him when Leia started in on Mara. "Did you have to be so rude? I hope we haven't offended him!"

"Offended him?" Mara snorted. "I'm sorry, but I get a little offended when someone tells me that I have to give up my lightsaber and my blaster!"

"Well, this was my fault," Leia repeated. "But you still shouldn't have given him such a hard time."

"I don't like it, and I think we should have taken him up on his offer to provide substitute arms--"

"This is a vacation," Ally snipped, cutting Mara off. "You need to relax, Jade. You can manage three days without your weapons."

"You forget, trouble has a way of following us wherever we go."

"Well, what's done is done," Leia said testily. "I will not jeopardize the countless hours that went into the preparation of this Summit. Ally's right. I for one like the idea of being somewhere where there are no blasters around. Let's just make the best of it, shall we?"

Mara scowled. "I am highly adaptable. But I still don't like it."

"Let's take a look around, this place looks fabulous," Ally said, quickly changing the subject. She took a deep breath. "Remember the negative ions!"

Mara took her own deep breath, allowing the electric feeling in the air to once again ease away her tensions. If push came to shove, she was trained in hand-to-hand combat...

"I'll bet this place has a hot tub," Ally said, smiling. "All good ski resort cabins have hot tubs." She disappeared down a hallway, then cried out, "I was right! Oh, wow, it's huge!"

Mara smiled at Leia. "Might as well enjoy our vacation while we can. Summit starts in four days."

"Four days," Leia repeated, returning the smile. "Well, we'd better stop arguing and start relaxing then."

Ally reappeared. "Are you two gonna just stand here, or are we going skiing?"

"Let's go skiing!" Mara and Leia said in unison, and the three women laughed together, the stress from their disagreement and from their duties back on Coruscant already forgotten in the cold, ionized Kyth air.

***

Leia stood at the top of the powdery-white slope and slid her skis back and forth across the snow. Removing her goggles, she took in the view from the mountain top. Ally had been right, this is just what she needed.

"I can't believe how beautiful this is," Ally said as she sidestepped up beside Leia. "The mountains on Earth are breathtaking, but I've never seen anything like this."

"This was a good idea," Mara agreed as she joined the other two women. "I think this is just what I needed to get my mind off of...uh what's his name?"

"What's who's name?" Ally asked playfully, laughing.

Leia beat her gloved hands together to warm them as she expelled her breath, steam pouring out of her mouth. "Well, are we just going to stand here all day, or are we going to ski?" she asked.

"Let's do it!" Ally cried. She pushed off with her poles, igniting her turbo-skis, and was off down the mountain. "Last one down is Bantha food!" she shouted gleefully, giggling like a child.

Leia and Mara looked at each other, smiling. "Sounds like a challenge to me," the slim redhead said. She pushed her goggles down on her face and pushed off, following Ally. Leia came right behind her.

The three women wove their way down the steep terrain, Leia thoroughly enjoying the icy wind whipping through her hair and reddening her cheeks. She could see Ally up ahead. Hunching down over her skis and tucking her poles under her arms, Leia picked up speed, passing Mara and gaining on her sister. The dark shapes of tree trunks flew by, dangerously close, but Leia was in complete control of her skis. She leaned hard on her right ski, cutting a sharp precise turn, narrowly missing another tree. Ally was only a few meters ahead of her now...

Suddenly Ally was airborne, having hit a large mogul in the trail. Leia could hear her squeal with delight as soared through the air, struggling to get her body positioned over the skis. A few seconds behind her, Leia hit the mogul. Crouching low, she let the mound of snow push her into the air. She used the Force to keep her balance over the skis, then she was on the ground again, landing beside a wildly out-of-control Ally.

"Use the Force to regain your balance!" she shouted over the shrieking wind. But it was too late. Ally lost her balance completely and tumbled head first into the powdery snow. Leia slid to a stop beside her, Mara right on her heels.

"Ally, are you all right?" she asked.

The Terran pulled herself up, shaking snow out of her blond hair. "Let's do that again!" she cried, laughing wildly and sounding like a little girl. "That was fun!"

Mara looked at Leia, then bent down to switch the turbos on her skis from "ski" to "up." "Let's see if we can't teach this girl to ski," she said with a smile, then headed back up the hill.

They skied for several hours, trying many different trails. There were a few other skiers out on the slopes, but most everyone was getting ready for the Economic Summit, so they mostly had the mountainside to themselves. Finally, hungry and chilled to the bone, the three women returned to their cabin to grab a quick lunch. Ally, reveling in the chance to practice her cooking skills with no droids around, went off to the kitchen to prepare a warm meal for the three of them. While they waited, Leia and Mara sipped hot chocolate by the fireplace.

"I'm really glad Ally dragged me out here," Leia said as she sipped her drink. "I haven't had an actual vacation in...oh, I don't want to think how long."

"Me, too," Mara agreed. She looked much better after the exhilarating exercise, almost cheerful, which was an unusual thing for Mara Jade. Now that they were sitting quietly, however, Leia noticed the trader's face turn more somber.

"You okay?" Leia asked her, concerned.

Mara nodded. "I'm fine." She smiled, but Leia wasn't convinced.

"Mara, you do know that you can trust him, don't you?" she said at length.

Mara sighed. "Yes, I do. It's not really Callista I'm concerned about. It's all the other stuff..."

Leia put her cup down, grimacing. "I know. Han and I went through the same thing. I was the last of the Alderaan royalty, so what business did I have being with an arrogant smuggler?"

"Hey, at least he wasn't the Emperor's Hand," Mara snorted. Then she looked at Leia, her eyes suddenly intent. "Leia, you know him better than anyone. Am I just being selfish? Maybe I should just leave him alone; the last thing I want to do is interfere with what he wants for his life.."

Leia looked at her, surprised. Though she had known Mara for a long time and had been aware of her feelings for Luke before they had even begun their tenuous relationship, Mara had always guarded her emotions very closely. But for the first time, Leia could sense just how deep Mara's feelings for her brother were.

"You really love him, don't you?" she asked at length.

Mara was silent for almost a full minute. "Yes, Leia. I love him. I've loved him for a very long time." Then she let out a small, dry laugh. "Strange that I can tell you that when I haven't even been able to say it to him."

"Why is it so hard for you?" Leia asked.

Mara shrugged. "All the usual reasons. Vulnerability, that sort of thing. I suppose you had no problems telling Solo how you felt about him."

Leia almost choked on her hot chocolate. "Are you kidding? That was the hardest thing I've ever had to admit to myself, that I'd actually fallen in love with that--that arrogant, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder."

Mara laughed in spite of herself. "Okay, so maybe it wasn't so easy."

"No," Leia agreed, "it was not easy. The last thing I wanted was to get involved with someone like him. But..." she trailed off, her face growing somber at the memory.

"But?" Mara prompted.

"But then Vader had him frozen in carbonite. I finally told him I loved him just before he was lowered into the carbonation chamber." She shuddered at the memory that was so sinister even Kyth's charged atmosphere couldn't soften it.

"That must have been very difficult," Mara said softly.

"Yes," Leia said, then took another sip of the hot, sweet concoction. "But everything turned out fine. And it will for you and Luke, too."

Mara sighed. "I'm not so sure." She looked Leia in the eye. "I spent a lot of time denying how I felt about him because it didn't seem to be the smart thing. For either of us. But he convinced me to take a chance, so I did. Maybe I was right after all. Maybe we'd all be better off if I just went away for a while."

"Oh Mara, please don't do that," Leia said so earnestly she surprised even herself. "I don't think you realize how good you've been for Luke. This past year, he's actually been happy. I don't think I've seen him happy since before the Emperor died." Leia sighed. "The war, becoming a Jedi, it all took a terrible toll on him. Finding out Darth Vader was his-- our father," she intentionally corrected herself, "was very, very difficult. Then having to watch him die just when he had returned from the dark side. When I first met Luke, he was this reckless, wise-cracking kid who just ran headlong into trouble without even thinking it through. He used to smile all the time. I thought that boy died with the Emperor and Vader, but you brought him back. He laughs, he jokes, he doesn't brood."

Mara smiled and shook her head. "Well, that has to be the first time anyone has ever accused me of being a cheery presence in their life."

"I know, you've had your own dark times. Maybe that's why you and Luke are so good for each other." Leia looked at Mara solemnly. "Mara, he loves you very much. I know that it's been difficult with all the grief you two have been getting, and then Callista reappearing out of nowhere, but I know my brother. He has never loved anyone like he loves you. *Anyone,*" she repeated with deliberate emphasis. "Please stick it out, just a little longer."

"I don't know," Mara sighed, taking another sip of hot chocolate. "I want to, I really do, but more and more it feels like I'm doing him more harm than good. And I swear, that's the last thing I want. I know I'm not known for my generous spirit," she said, smiling to herself, "but that last thing I want is to make his life miserable. Sometimes I think that's exactly what I'm doing."

"Hey, no seriousness allowed! We