Jedi Dawn – Chapter 8
By Sienn (2001)
Rating (for chapter): PG-13
Protagonists: Luke/Mara
Category: Drama/Action/Angst
Time Frame: 26 A.Y.
Spoilers:
See Chapter 1
Disclaimer:
See Chapter 1
Skip to Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13Dathomir, Wilderness
Spitting and coughing, Mara swung her legs around one of the stones at the lake's shore and refused stubbornly to let the stretched rope slide through her fingers. If this nasty, little beast thought it would get the better of her only because it had been able to drag her into the water, it would be disappointed.
"Take its feet!" she shouted over to her companion, coughed once more and tried to make herself as heavy as she could.
The young witch cried a reply in her native tongue, which Mara of course didn't understand, and once again the Jedi cursed the fact that these people didn't learn Basic. How was she supposed to communicate with them?
The Rancor around whose neck her rope was bound was just about a grown Wookiee's height and thus was counted as a baby - if Mara had known how big Rancor babies were, she would have refused to go along with this hunting party. But then, probably that had been the reason Augwynne hadn't told her about it.
Fortunately, Mara and the young witch had already worked out some sort of Force communication code days ago and the girl managed indeed to swing her rope around the young animal's feet. With an unbelieving howl and another angry pull, it went down into the water. It struggled a few more moments, then became still when it understood that it only drowned itself with its movements.
Heaving, Mara pulled herself up, bound her end of the rope around the stone and went some steps into the Rancor's direction. "Who's got the better of this now, eh?" she murmured, rubbing her left elbow which had gotten a nasty cut from some sort of shell on the lake bed.
Splashing behind her alerted her. Her young companion joined her, grinning widely. For the girl, this hunt had been a maturity test and this young Rancor would now belong to her. Although it eluded Mara completely why anyone would want to possess such an ugly, smelling beast. But then, if the girl was happy with it… Mara certainly didn't want to keep this trophy herself.
The young witch named Luana blabbered happily while she carefully examined her new pet and tried to calm it down with the Force. Still panting a little, Mara shook her head and padded back on dry land, just in time to greet the rest of the hunting party. Augwynne and three fellow clan sisters had accompanied them to supervise the young girl's maturity test. As it was tradition, Luana had been allowed to choose one capable woman to accompany her. Force knew why that had been Mara, but, although she had first refused, she had to admit that it had been fun. Though the ache in her arms would probably last a few days longer.
The three witches on the Rancors behind Augwynne were unknown to Mara and obviously not too keen to meet her, for they immediately surrounded Luana and began a vivid talk. Probably about how this "baby" could be tamed without killing it.
Only Augwynne remained behind with Mara. "How are you feeling, Mara? If I may say so, you look distinctly better than when you arrived."
Mara stretched her legs, and, while regarding the old woman, tried to untangle the mess that had been her hair only half an hour before. "Actually, I feel much better than when I came here, Augwynne." At her slightly brooding tone, the clan-leader frowned.
"And that's not a reason to be happy, then?" she asked, sliding down her Rancor's site and letting the animal join his fellows in the lake, to inspect the new addition to their tribe.
Mara sighed and let herself sink onto the warmed shore sand. "You know, of course it's wonderful to feel healthy again. But as long as I don't know why, it isn't much of a relief. I haven't any clue how to maintain this state, so how does it help me?"
"I don't know - yet. But we will get to the bottom of this. I promise. The answer has to be very close now. Mother Rell said it is in you."
Mara couldn't help but snort. "Excuse my, Augwynne, but did you ever consider that Rell is wrong? She's not exactly in her best years, you know."
The Dathomiri woman smiled: "Once I thought as you do now. But Rell has proven that she's to be taken serious. More than serious. Her visions and forebodings have never been wrong."
"Stars, Augwynne, she believes that Master Yoda is still alive!" Mara shouted, jumping to her feet and beginning to pace impatiently along the water.
"She may have her little flaws, Mara Jade Skywalker, but the Force is speaking through her and that you can't deny." When Mara didn't answer, the voice of the old woman became softer, gentler. "I think you're missing someone, Mara, and that's the reason you're so impatient."
Mara stopped and her green gaze nailed Augwynne onto the sand: "I never denied to you that I miss Luke. I miss him terribly. And I am angry with myself for leaving the way I did. I want to return to him - but I only can do so if I'm healthy again."
"Really? Why? Do you think your husband would not take you back because you're ill?"
"Of course not," Mara shot back, biting her lip.
"Then what are you afraid of?" Augwynne insisted, never intimidated by Mara's icy stare.
Not that she maintained it long. With another sigh, Mara turned her eyes skyward. "I don't know, Augwynne. I really don't know. I think I don't want to be a nuisance for him. I think I don't want to deny him the possibility to have a family." Augwynne opened her mouth, but Mara cut her off: "Never mind. Let's talk about something else. Are we finished? Luana has her new pet."
Augwynne shot her a last, questioning stare, then abandoned the topic. "We will continue our voyage to another clan. We will do some trade - it has been set up for weeks. But you can return to the Singing Mountain, if you want to."
Mara thought about that some moments, then shook her head: "No. No, I'm feeling perfect - except that I am wet through to my bones. I think I want to accompany you. After all, it's more interesting than sitting all day in my chamber. And somehow it feels right to be out here." She added thoughtfully, gazing out over the mesa with its plants, avians and some big mammals drinking farther away down the river.
Augwynne smiled, but did not reply.
*~~
Mara sighed in her sleep. At the fringes of her consciousness, she heard the deep breathing of the sleeping Rancors and noted the warmth of the burning fire some half a meter beside her. She knew that she lay there, sleeping and yet awake. It took her some time to recognise this state - it was not like a dream. It was actually a vision.
As soon as she recognised what it really was, she let her barriers fall and embraced it. Although this sort of premonition was often more unnerving than useful, it could do her no harm to permit it to unfold before her.
And suddenly she found herself on a battlefield. Witches clad in their warrior outfits and the signs of the Singing Mountain Clan on their clothes battled and died around her, fighting against dark, cloaked figures she had never seen before. Fires were burning, Rancors were howling and the women were shouting at each other. The Force boiled with death, violence and despair.
But there was a spot of it that didn't boil, although it was in motion. Compared with the wild waves she felt around her, this seemed more like a shining spot, vibrating with a might she could almost taste. It drew her dream body in a certain direction and for she had no particular need to watch the witches slaughtering each other, Mara followed the low whispering of the Force willingly.
It led her to a precipice opening into the mesa and revealed to her a sight that let her freeze where she stood. Some dozens of meters below her, a figure was laying, clad in all too familiar black robes, deathly still. Although she knew it to be a vision, Mara was running at full throttle toward the figure, sank onto her knees beside it and got a look on its features when the moon came out behind some clouds
Her heart began hammering when she recognised the face of her husband, only much younger, covered in bruises, blood trickling from his mouth, his ears and his nose. The vision was so vivid that Mara felt herself trembling, and she almost cried out when his swollen eyes opened a slit and he turned his head.
First she thought he would want to look at her, but only a second later she recognised that this was nonsense. For him she was not there. That had to be the past. She was only a spectator and she would have to watch closely. It was obvious that something wanted to show her an important thing.
But when she saw towards what Luke had turned, she frowned. There was a little lizard, next to Luke's head, sitting there unmoving, head perched toward the deadly injured human. Luke's lips moved, but he spoke far too low for Mara to catch it. She already wanted to shake herself awake, for not having to see the injured form of her love, when her jaw dropped.
Luke had seemingly slipped again into unconsciousness, but SOMETHING around him was very active. It took Mara some time to recognise that the shining, white mist that had appeared and wrapped itself around her future husband had its origin not in the air. It came out of the earth, the soil. When she took a closer look, she could see it even coming out of the lizard, the plants, the stones. It lasted a small eternity, then the mist disappeared and Luke opened his eyes again. The bruises in his face had diminished a little and it seemed less swollen than before. His breath was much stronger and for a moment, his eyes seemed to look exactly at her. Nature, his faint voice seemed to whisper, nature has healed me. She could feel his surprise, his astonishment and wondered whether he really looked at her, whether it was her husband who sent her this vision over all these light-years separating them. But when Han stamped into her view, she saw that Luke's eyes had been all along hefted on his old friend's figure. Han talked with some men and they carried Luke away. He had long slipped into a deep sleep again. She watched until the group disappeared into the night
Panting, Mara sat straight up on her sleeping rug and stared dubiously around her. The mesa was quiet. When she extended her Force senses, she could find nothing that indicated danger. Trying to calm herself, she sunk back and stared at the dark night sky, sprinkled with millions of stars. The message of this vision was clear. But still, Mara couldn't erase the doubt. The disease she had was not natural in her galaxy, but in the Yuuzhan Vong's. At the other side, was there a difference between the nature of her galaxy and this of the Yuuzhan Vong? In its essence, nature meant nothing other than life. And the Yuuzhan Vong were very much alive. Everything in their culture was alive. So, was that the solution? Nature? And how was she supposed to get her hands on the might of nature? Luke hadn't done it consciously, that had been clear. He had been almost dead, Force knew who had what done with him. She made a mental note to ask him about it.
Suddenly, it seemed not so improbable that she'd soon be able to return to him. Still contemplating what had just happened, Mara eased into a deep trance and tried to establish a connection, of whichever sort, with the life around her.
Coruscant, Imperial Palace, Personal Landing Bay Of The President
When the lift doors opened before him, Luke took a deep breath and stepped out of the escalator. He felt tired and not prepared to meet up with the Yuuzhan Vong. Not at all. It surprised him very much, for that matter, that the alien leader had actually demanded that he be present.
Somehow, that seemed curious. After all, it had been Luke who had killed all these Yuuzhan Vong above Ithor. And there was no doubt that Tsavong Lah knew that. So why would he want a potentially dangerous enemy on his ship? Of course, one could never be certain about anything concerning the Yuuzhan Vong. Their culture was an almost complete secret to them and that would probably only change very slowly.
But if he were a Yuuzhan Vong, he'd want to get revenge on the man who had killed thousands of his kin. These thoughts didn't help at all to let him feel more confident, though. He hadn't slept very well. In fact, since Mara had vanished, he had barely slept at all. The nightmares were too painful and a trance was not ordinary sleep. Unfortunately, it was also not as refreshing as ordinary sleep - no matter what he said to Han.
Although Han probably knew that Luke was only pretending - he pretended everything. To be happy, to be interested in what was going on, to be sleeping normally. But Luke was aware that he couldn't lie to Leia and Han. He had never been able to and he would never be. It didn't bother him in the least, because they knew that they couldn't make him feel any better. They had helped him out of his depression - partly.
Luke sighed inwardly. He didn't have much memory of the days after the Battle of Ithor. That time was totally clouded in his head and he didn't feel too keen to break through the mist and see how he had been directly after his breakdown. It embarrassed him that it had gone that much to his core, but then, it concerned Mara. And Mara was so much a part of himself that it was only natural that it hurt so much to loose her.
No matter how hard he tried, how far he reached, he couldn't find her presence. That was the only memory he had. Searching, crying, shouting for her and getting no answer. After some time - hours, minutes, days, Luke didn't know - he had stopped trying and had built up barriers that he had thought to never have to rebuild again. But he couldn't afford to be distracted by his wife's disappearance. He had to attend these negotiations. The galaxy depended on him - the fate of billions of beings lay in his hands.
All these thoughts passed through his head before he even made his first step into the hangar bay and came to a sudden halt when he felt a gentle probing at his soul - a probing that was not from Leia. His barriers slammed down immediately and, frowning slightly, Luke took in the sight before him for the first time. Leia and Han stood at the side, waiting for their transport to arrive, talking softly to each other. It made Luke feel good to see the two of them together again. Leia had hurt very much because of the strange behaviour of her husband. Now she had her personal stability back - that would be valuable in the negotiations, no doubt. Wedge, Kre'fey and Pellaeon also stood together, obviously vividly discussing some long ago battle. It was unnerving - as soon as those three were together, there was already a topic they had different opinions about. Although Wedge was one of Luke's oldest and dearest friends, he would not go to him now. This sort of discussion was nothing he could stand now. But who had probed him?
His question was answered when he saw Teneniel pacing straight toward him. She wore a close-cut, ochre jump suit and a long, white robe around it. Her auburn hair flowed free and she smiled at him. 'So much for privacy', he thought. He didn't feel comfortable around Teneniel. Not that he didn't like her anymore. She was a friend and he would be there for her if she needed him. The problem was, he didn't feel comfortable around anyone. Only Han and Leia were exceptions. But aside of the both of them, he didn't need any company right now. Didn't need it and certainly didn't want it.
He loved Mara more than anything - but what if she didn't come back? What if she decided that she was better off alone? That had always been one of his worst fears - that he wouldn't be enough to hold her. She was a loner, had been for the greatest part of her life and it had been difficult to her to adapt to his wide circle of friends, at first. That had changed quickly and every one of his friends liked Mara very much. But still, sometimes, he had mused whether Mara would be happy the way she lived now.
'And now I have my answer,' he thought sadly. She hadn't been happy and she didn't want a family. It hurt and he longed for her. Sometimes, it seemed as if there was no reason to continue living. If Mara didn't come back, why should he stay? Of course, there was his family. But he didn't want to drag them down with him. Leia would stand by his side, he didn't doubt this for a second.
But she didn't deserve to worry so much. She had a husband and children. Leia deserved to be happy with her family. And she could not change the fact that he never would have a family of his own, anyway.
While Luke had contemplated this - again - Teneniel had reached him and now smiled up at him. "Good morning, Luke! Everything alright?"
He nodded absent-mindedly, his gaze drifting towards Leia and Han. He didn't want to talk to anyone now. He wanted to go to his family.
Teneniel perched an eyebrow, but seemed to decide that she would not accept this gesture: "I wondered if you could sit beside me on the way up, later? I'd like to talk to you, you know."
The urgency in her voice finally caught Luke's attention. "Sure. If you want to. But now I want to greet my sister and Han, yes?" he managed to say, then hurried on.
Teneniel wasn't able to keep the disappointment from her face, but fortunately Luke didn't see it.
*~~
"You see? I told you he didn't sleep at all - again," Han growled quietly to his wife when he saw his brother-in-law step out of the lift tube. Luke was clad in his familiar, black Jedi robe, his lightsaber at his hip and the heavy fabric flowing around him.
Leia frowned. "He really doesn't look very relaxed," she admitted. The colour of the robe made him look even paler and his cheeks had gone awesomely hollow since she had last seen him. "What did he eat?" she asked shocked, giving her husband a sideway glance.
"Not much - except ration bars, of course. I told you he is not fine. No matter what the Ithorians reported, Luke is far from healthy."
"Obviously," Leia murmured.
Some minutes later, when they saw how Luke practically ran away from Teneniel, Han gave another low grumble: "You see how he really is?"
Leia just nodded - Han could not know that, for her, Luke's condition had just become clearer than to him. He had only seen Luke's eyes moving somewhat helplessly in their direction, but SHE had heard his presence in the Force. To her, it had sounded like "Go away. I don't want to talk to anyone. Go away. GO AWAY." It shocked her, showing her all too clearly that she had allowed herself illusions. When she had heard that Luke had engaged so much in the rebuilding operations, she had thought he had come, partially, on track again.
But this irrational fear from contact with others was still there. Not quite as extreme as in the first days after Ithor, but still there. She wished she had time to take him somewhere on vacation - Leia knew that was also what Han thought would do Luke good. But it was out of question right now. The Yuuzhan Vong were the most important thing at the moment - although Leia hated it that, once again, such a great part of the galaxy's fate lay on Luke's shoulders. In her more desperate moments, she wondered how much it still took to make him break under the weight - totally and unrepairable. She prayed that he could stand whatever was expected of them today. If not, the galaxy would not only lose a future - she would lose her brother and this time perhaps forever.
Carefully shielding all this from him, she embraced him, not very surprised that he pressed her harder than usual at himself. And she wasn't surprised that he also embraced Han, smiling for the first time since he had exited the lift.
"What did Teneniel want?" Han asked, letting his gaze wander over his friend. "You know, you could, just for one time, wear another colour, couldn't you?"
Luke smiled thinly: "Teneniel wanted to talk to me later. She has some problems. And I think I should wear a Jedi robe when I represent the Jedi."
Han snorted: "I always thought your wardrobe could become a little bit more trendy."
Luke snorted in return and even gave a small smile.
Han grinned, but became serious again: "Luke, you're not going to take on Teneniel's problems, too, are you? You are in no condition to bother about that."
Luke's smile vanished, replaced by the perfect Jedi mask. "I won't let her down, Han, if she needs me. She's my friend."
Leia lay her hand on his upper arm: "We know that, Luke. But you have to think at yourself first - please, one time in your life. First you, then others."
The blue eyes of her brother met hers and she almost twitched - he would bury himself headfirst into Tenneniel's problems if she asked him to and there was nothing she or Han could do against it.
"Luke…."
"Princess Leia, our patrol has contacted us! A Vong Ship has just jumped into the system!" A young officer came to a halt before them, panting. When he straightened, he gaped, staring wide-eyed at Luke. "Oh my..." he began, but was interrupted by Leia.
She took the arm of her brother, who stared dumbfounded back, feeling the incredible awe and respect of the young man. "Well, come on, then."
1 Hour Later
"You sure it was a good idea to agree to go to THEIR ship? And through THEIR airlock or whatever this is?" Han said, suspiciously eyeing the circle of teeth sticking into the hull of their ship's aft boarding hatch.
"Han, they consider our ships abominations. Negotiations only work if the partners are equals. We can't demand they violate their own culture," Leia replied, straightening her midnight-blue gown for the twentieth time.
"They have killed millions - don't expect me to greet them with arms wide open," her husband hissed.
Leia smiled at him: "I don't expect you to. I just want you to accept that this is my territory, Han. Let me handle the politics. You just use your smuggler's instinct to smell traps if there are some."
He still looked dubious, but the smirk around his lips was all too familiar. Flattery, Leia thought, always did the trick.
*~~
The hangar bay of the Yuuzhan Vong ship felt not only strange, it also smelled strange. Everything reminded of the fact that this was a living, breathing creature.
And, very faint and strangely clouded, Leia could feel the life. As much as she'd love to look around and pay attention to her curiosity, that would have to wait.
Perhaps she could later even ask her negotiation partners to lead her and her delegation around. But that would probably depend on their progress.
The tall, strong-built and heavily distorted figure of Warmaster Tsavong Lah awaited them. Behind him, in a row, twelve Yuuzhan Vong warriors were gathered, clad in their vonduun-crab armour and amphistaffs curled around their wrists. What really got Leia's attention, though, was the figure next to Tsavong Lah. It was a female Yuuzhan Vong! The first she had ever seen.
The woman was petite and very slim, with hollow cheeks and eyes more like slits. Or perhaps that was just her facial expression. Black hair was draped around her head, reaching just to her slender shoulders.
Before Leia could take another look at her, Tsavong Lah stepped in front of her, eyeing her and her companions up and down.
"Very well. As I see, you are respectful enough not to bring any abominations with you. I appreciate that, President Organa Solo."
Leia inclined her head with dignity: "A sign of our good will, Warmaster. I and the people of my galaxy are willing to talk about a truce that will meet the needs of both parties. We hope the Yuuzhan Vong will also be willing to consider this."
Tsavong Lah's eyes narrowed: "We see ourselves forced to do so. You have to understand, our people don't usually engage in such things as negotiations. But usually, we don't face any serious opposition, either. And, in regard to this special situation, Supreme Overlord Shimrra has agreed that I engage in the talks for him. He will join us later, if the general concept is made clear."
Leia frowned: "Until now, we thought you were the leader of the Yuuzhan Vong."
Lah smiled - it looked not the least bit friendly: "That was an error, President. I'm merely the leader of our holy conquest in this galaxy. A conquest that has come to a halt for now. We will see if this hiatus will be permanent."
Leia nodded again with all her dignity: "I hope that it will be permanent. This way, both our peoples will benefit."
The Warmaster's eyes narrowed once more: "We shall hope so, indeed. Now may I introduce my assistant… Priestess Elan." He motioned to the female beside him who moved gracefully next to him.
"Greetings," she replied coolly, measuring Leia with one glance and obviously deciding she wasn't worth another.
Another surprise for Leia - priestess. It became ever more interesting.
"A pleasure," she said, then motioned to her right. "These are Admirals Traest Kre'fey and Gilad Pellaeon, representing the New Republic and Imperial Remnant military."
"These," she pointed to her left, "are my personal advisors Wedge Antilles and Han Solo and the Queenmother of the Hapan Consortium, Teneniel Djo."Lah's eyes sort of gleamed while he took them in, eyeing them like strange animals.
Leia breathed deeply and nodded to the figure behind her. "And, as you demanded and we saw fit, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, representing the Order of the Jedi Knights."
Luke stepped beside her, with all the feline grace his training had brought him, his hands folded before him, far away from his lightsaber, which was clearly to be seen nonetheless.
The honour guards hissed and Lah grunted - then made a step towards Luke, towering over him. Leia had shied away half a step, instinctively - otherwise the massive alien would have jjust knocked her down. But Luke stood still and met the feral stare of the Warmaster with his clear, azure one. "Greetings," he simply said.
"THIS is the Jeedai Skywalker who destroyed our fleet above Ithor?" Lah growled, obviously taken aback.
"That's me indeed, Warmaster."
"Interesting," Tsavong Lah finally said, after staring for another few minutes at his human counterpart.
Luke smiled thinly, slightly bowing his head, seemingly ignoring the rumbles of the honour guard completely.
But Leia felt his surprise and his impulse to activate his lightsaber. The sounds the guards made seemed to be distinctively hostile.
"Warmaster, are your guards threatening my brother?" she asked, trying to lay all her aristocratic arrogance into her voice.
*Leia! I can take care of myself! * She heard it in her head, but decided to ignore Luke's voice. She would not accept threats against her brother - whether he liked it or not, she would make this abundantly clear to Lah, and she would do it now.
Lah grinned broader: "No, not really, President. They're expressing their respect and offer challenges. Although," at this, he turned and the guards fell instantly silent, "they know that this is not allowed during negotiations."
Turning again to Leia he added: "As I said, my people are not used to this sort of thing. They have no way of knowing exactly what they're supposed to do."
The Alderaanian princess narrowed her eyes - for the first time: "Does that mean my brother is in danger on your ship?"
"No, Leia. It just means we must see the difference between his behaviour and that of his underlings," Luke said softly, meeting the gaze of every guard openly, telling them more than clearly that he was ready to take them on - if they made the first step.
"You seem to be able to understand us - more or less. I hope this understanding will improve."
"We all hope that," Han added, speaking for the first time and eyeing Lah every bit as suspicious as the Yuuzhan Vong had eyed him.
"Very well then. The negotiations shall begin soon. But first, the Yuuzhan Vong want to show their good will, too. By a little present we thought would be welcome - especially by Master Skywalker."
Luke raised his eyebrows and nodded again.
Lah turned and barked some orders in his own language.
*~~
Elan admitted she was fascinated. Up until now, she hadn't had the opportunity to see Luke Skywalker. All she had known was that he had exceptional abilities and had to be either killed or turned if she wanted to succeed.
But looking at him now, she thought that it was as if his shaping had already begun. Of all the humans she had seen so far, he was the one closest resembling a Yuuzhan Vong - still he looked disgustingly human, but he had some signs.
His slender, strong figure, his thin face with the prominent cheekbones, his pale skin - and, the most intriguing, the scars on his face. They were faint and almost invisible, but her eyes were trained and she could make them out very well.
It would be a pleasure to see what Mezhan Kwaad could make out of this human. A real pleasure.
He turned suddenly, meeting her stare with an inquisitive flash of alien, blue eyes, nodded curtly and turned again to the Warmaster.
Elan smiled to herself and looked forward to Skywalker's reaction to the 'present'.
*~~
Leia felt as if someone had backhanded her. The shock and rage she felt coming from Luke were an onslaught she hadn't been prepared for. But then, how could she have known what the present would be - or, rather, WHO?
A thin form crouched in front of Luke, hands cuffed, eyes blazing up at the human who stared at him with clenched fists and lips tightly pressed together.
"This is our present. Condemned as perpetrator by his people, we have decided to hand him over to you, Jeedai Skywalker. Personally to you," Lah explained, not even glancing at the Vong on the floor.
Leia saw her brother's eyes narrow to thin slits, his features harden. To anyone who didn't know him, he looked absolutely deadly now.
"Nom Anor!" he hissed.