The Birth Of Acceptance

 

Chapter 15

By Sienn (2002)

 

Rating (for chapter):  PG-13

Protagonists: Luke/Mara

Category: Action/Angst/Drama

 

Series: Part III of "Soul's Trial" Trilogy

 

Time Frame: 26 A.Y. (immediately after "Soul's Trial II: Healing")

 

Spoilers:

See Chapter 1

 

Disclaimer:

See Chapter 1

 

 

Coruscant System, Yuuzhan Vong Ship Criarto, Same Evening

 

How could it be? How was it possible? His mind refused to believe it. It was just not true. It couldn't be true, because if it were, then where did it leave him? The mere thought that she was able to get so close to him without him even noticing it was making him nauseous.

 

If she could do that, what else could she do? What else was she capable of doing to him? Was there any way he could fight against her? He felt a slight shudder go through his body and had a hard time to keep from slinging his arms around his knees. The urge to crawl into the next corner, crouch there, hide there, was almost overwhelming.

 

Closing his eyes, trying to stop himself from panting, Luke leaned his forehead against the yorik coral wall, welcoming its coolness. He would not accept another panic attack. The last one he had suffered had been on Chandrila. Since then, he had always managed to quench them.

 

Even when he had realised that Mezhan Kwaad was still alive, he had had better control of himself. But then again, it had been different.

 

The revelation of whom exactly this voice belonged to had been a shock, and a very severe one at that. Now, though, it felt different. It felt as if Luke had known it all along, that she was close.

 

He was hers and she would stick to her property, to the tool she desired so much to keep her plans progressing. And there was nothing the Master Shaper wouldn't do to get what she wanted.

 

It was curious, Luke mused, that he seemed to know Mezhan Kwaad better than he had known Elan. The Priestess had had a bond with him, as had her accomplice, but the one of the Shaper was stronger, deeper – and of a completely different nature.

 

'Luke?'

 

The soft mental touch made him recoil into himself instinctively. The thought that Kwaad had again found a way to influence him in a conscious state was terrifying him and his first impulse was to seal himself off.

A panicky, frightened part of the Jedi Master was on the verge of snapping.

 

'She could be anywhere. She could be on this very ship.'

 

That was what this panicky, frightened part whispered over and over again. And how could Luke know she wasn't? How could he know? The answer was simple. He couldn't. There was no way of knowing where exactly she was.

 

Of course he could exclude Coruscant. But, on the other hand, could he? Would Mezhan Kwaad – ruthless, intelligent, pragmatic Mezhan Kwaad – truly be repulsed enough by the city planet to not hide there? Or would she rather seek shelter there, in the knowledge that no one would suspect her to choose a planet-wide abomination?

 

Before he had quite noticed it, his thoughts wandered towards the new neighbours that had moved into the apartment on the floor above his and Mara's quarters. It had been a couple of weeks ago and they had both been heavily veiled. Not even the eyes had been visible.

 

What if that had been Mezhan Kwaad and her apprentice, this Nen Yim? Luke felt himself go cold with the mere thought.

 

She had been there. All the time had she been there. Almost next to him, seeing him, watching him. When he had moved through the crowds in the Imperial Palace, she had been there. Somewhere among the people, staring at him, following his every movement.

 

He wasn't safe. His family wasn't safe. Not on Coruscant, at least. Not him, not Leia, not Han. And Mara and the baby. If Kwaad ever got her hands on Mara and the baby…

 

He had to figure out a way to prevent that. Now. Quickly.

 

*~~

 

"Luke?"

 

Mara looked into another, small yorik coral booth. Dozens of them littered the corridor that led from the room they had spent the past hour in to the quarters of Miiram Shimrra. The ex-Emperor's Hand still didn't know what they were for. And, truth be told, she wasn't exactly interested in it right now.

 

What she was interested in was finding her husband. Anger and worry preoccupied her mind. The anger was directed at Miiram. The Yuuzhan Vong woman had assured her that no harm would come to Luke.

 

Yet, the Jedi Master's groans and grimaces had spoken volumes to his wife. He had been in pain. If it hadn't been a physical pain, it had been a mental one. And that was even worse, if it came to her.

 

Her worry concentrated on Luke. He had stormed out of the room shortly after they had all recognised the star pattern the bugs had displayed. It was the very system they were in. Coruscant.

 

He had paled, instantly, and in the next second, her hands had touched but empty air.

 

Of course she could understand that he was troubled, but nonetheless, his running away like that made her heart beat faster. The last time this had happened, she had found him on the railing of the Imperial Palace, pondering about whether to jump or not.

 

Would this thought – the thought of suicide – come back now? Now that he had learned that Mezhan Kwaad, the woman that had tried to take away his free will and erase his personality, that was still trying to, was so close to him?

 

Afraid, Mara had reached out to him, cold, pure dread seizing her heart when she had felt him recoil as if her mental touch had been the one of a needle.

 

A mere moment later, she herself had left the others, determined to find him and help him through this. She knew that he was trying to battle down a panic attack. Though Mara was confident he could manage to do so, the fact that he didn't accept or seek her help this time made her nervous.

 

"Luke?" she queried again and peeped into another booth. Sighing in relief, she caught sight of her husband. He was sitting on a lean coral bench and his forehead was leant against the wall. His eyes were closed.

 

She could see his chest rising and falling in a quick rhythm and there was the slightest tremble in his breath, on his lips.

 

He obviously hadn't heard her, for he gave no sign that he noticed her entrance.

 

"Luke?" Mara repeated, this time louder. 

 

There was no indication that he even registered her in any way and her worry increased tenfold. In a couple of quick steps, she was next to him and had laid a hand on his shoulder.

 

He trembled a little, in a way that made it obvious to her that he was trying desperately to hold on. Big, blue eyes, widened in unveiled fear, stared up at her when he turned his head. He swallowed hard, and asked with a raspy and timid voice, "Do you remember the folks that moved into the apartment above us? Some weeks ago?"

 

"What?"

 

Luke averted his eyes and shook his head. His hands brushed through his hair in helpless agitation. The movement was so senseless at the moment that it ticked Mara off. Her husband did not make senseless movements. His nervousness was increasing, as was his energy. It wanted out and that very badly.

 

How long would they be able to suppress this?

 

"A few weeks ago, that was when it started. When I first felt watched. And when I talked in my sleep. Do you understand, Mara? Do you see it?"

 

Helplessly, the beautiful redhead sunk next to the slightly taller man onto the bench and laid an arm around his shoulders. "What are you talking about?"

 

"That was Kwaad. She and this Nen Yim person. They have moved in and have been watching me. All the time, all those weeks."

 

"Gods, Luke." Mara whispered, leaning her chin onto his shoulder and trying to keep from crying. It was all too much. Could he make it through without his trauma resurfacing? The double-strain of knowing Mezhan Kwaad was so near and of having to battle against Liin had to be barely bearable.

 

"We have to get out of there. At least you and the baby. And Leia and Han. You have to go somewhere safe. I will get you to Yavin IV. Or perhaps Anoth. That will be better. We can let the whole complex be repaired. She won't be able to get to you there. And I will…"

 

"Sh." His wife interrupted him, kissing him softly, and focused his eyes on hers by touching her forehead to his. "Come back to yourself, Luke." As the words left her mouth, her soul reached out to him, enwrapping him in her love and her protection.

 

He stared at her, the panic still battling to keep its place, but ultimately loosing against a strong mind that had been pulled out of its state of over sensitivity – at least for the time being.

 

Luke slumped a little, falling forwards and burying his face in her neck. "I'm sorry." He mumbled, his voice muffled by the thick mass of her hair.

 

"You don't have to be. Really, you don't have to be."

 

She felt him nod his head and for a long while, they sat in silence. His breathing calmed down and it was almost palpable in the Force how he regained a grip on his emotions.

 

"I just wanted you to be safe. The both of you." His hand sneaking onto her stomach, Luke kissed her softly behind the ear. "The thought that Mezhan could try to get to me through you and our child…. I could not survive that."

 

Tenderly, his other arm moved behind her back and pressed her at himself. "I could not survive without you."

 

Mara smiled, caressing through his hair: "And I could not survive without you, Luke. But I won't have to. And you won't have to live without me.. US… either."

 

"Promise?"

 

Now the ex-Emperor's Hand laughed: "Skywalker, how old are you? Six?"

 

He chuckled softly, snuggling deeper into her arms: "At the moment? Yes. Definitely."

 

"You're incredible. One second down, the other one high. You know what they call that?"

 

"Amazing?" his eyes glinted gleefully and Mara couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. She had gotten him out of it. Once again. And she would always.

 

"Unnerving." She corrected, smacking a quick kiss onto his forehead and then pushing him away from her softly: "Let's get back to the others. They will wonder where we went. Besides, Leia was worried half out of her mind when you stormed out like this."

 

 

Coruscant, Imperial Palace, Late Night

 

"Don't you think it's about time that I put you to sleep?"

 

"Only another five minutes."

 

Mara shook her head, unable to be actually angry at the stubbornness her husband presented. She was feeling far too good and at peace to be angry with him. The incident on the Criarto had, for a moment, managed to scare her.

 

What would happen if, at one point, she were, by coincidence, not near him when something like this occurred? When the despair and the fear threatened to overcome Luke, her love, and he would not be able to withstand it?

 

Of course she was aware that her husband didn't want to be babied and she could understand that very well. Yet it was a fact that he was vulnerable. His mental state was jeopardised by what he had to go through at the moment and she didn't intend to watch how he crumbled once again.

 

But how could she possibly be with him every second of every minute of every hour? Of every day? It was not achievable and certainly nothing that was worth to be achieved.

 

"Thank you very much." The sarcastic voice of the Jedi Master pushed her out of her musings and made her dip her head, focusing on the mop of tousled, dark blond hair that was resting comfortably on her stomach.

 

"You know I didn't mean it like that." At the immediate anxiousness in her voice, Luke chuckled softly, carefully turning around to face her. His ear and left cheek, though, were still pressed gently against her belly.

 

For more than an hour, they were enjoying themselves like this, trying to calm down, to win back peace and balance. To prepare themselves for another day that would bring more challenges.

 

It was hard to keep being optimistic, for Mara as much as for Luke. She watched while he closed his eyes and – with a delighted smile – tried to find his child in the Force.

His wife left him to his own, private pleasure, knowing that this little being – THEIR offspring – was one of the many thin lines that kept him with them.

 

Because even now, in their private sanctuary, shielded by her abilities in the Force, by Luke's, Corran's, Cilghal's, Leia's and the ones of the Solo children, the threat of Mezhan Kwaad and her scheme was hovering above them.

 

Of course her voice was nothing to be worried about. Not here. Luke allowed Mara a complete connection to his soul. What he saw and felt and heard was one with what she saw and felt and heard.

 

But Liin Kwaad was another matter.

 

It was almost as if two beings were lying in her bed, snuggled up to her body. One of them was Luke. Tired, comfortable, filled with love for her and for his unborn baby, engrossed in the tiny sensation the small assembly of cells in her belly emitted.

 

The other one… the other one was the Slayer. At moments like this – when they had occurred in the past days – he was barely present, yet they could never vanquish him entirely.

Firm determination marring her beautiful, relaxed features for a moment, Mara let her gaze wander along Luke's body, halting at the view of his feet bobbing up and down.

 

There was too much energy in him. Luke had always been someone that had needed to move and to be doing something. Laziness was only allowed for romantic purposes or when his body needed to recover from one or the other misadventure.

 

But this was not how it was normally. Liin Kwaad – wherever he hid in Luke's soul – flooded the Jedi Master with energy. He fuelled it more and more and even the most exhaustive exercise couldn't wear Luke out.

 

Lying completely still would be impossible for him. Either his fingers or his feet moved, steadily. She wondered whether he noticed it at all. Wondered whether he was aware of the things that had changed in him in the last couple of days. Perhaps even in the last couple of weeks.

 

"I can control him, Mara." His beautiful eyes serious, Luke sat up and came over to her, stretching out with his face right next to hers.

 

Smiling a sad, loving smile, the female Jedi Master traced his cheekbone, her finger travelling through his face until it came to rest in the small dimple on her husband's chin.

 

"Yes. But for how long?"

 

Luke smiled back at her, stole a kiss on her hand and leant towards her, noses touching. "Until we find Kwaad. And then he won't be a problem anymore. You believe me, don't you?"

 

She nodded. For a long moment, they lost themselves in the eyes of the other, love and trust flowing between them.

 

And for the first time today, Luke completely relaxed. His foot finally stopped moving. He relished this feeling of not having the urge to move. It wouldn't hold long, that much he knew from the past three days, but it would give him a precious moment in which he was completely himself.

 

Mara's love did this for him. When he looked into her jade-green orbs, he could see so much. She loved him with all her heart and he had never felt anything more wonderful than that. There had been a time in which he had thought he was going to be alone forever. After Callista had left him, he hadn't been able to allow himself thoughts of a family of his own anymore.

 

And then Mara had come. She had changed everything. They had been through a lot together, and probably there were more than enough problems lying ahead, but as long as they loved each other, nothing would be able to break them apart.

 

"Shall I put you under now?"

 

Luke just sighed in reply, grimacing a little. He didn't particularly like this whole ritual, but he had to admit that it allowed him to rest effectively. And it replenished his body. When he had complained to Cilghal about the necessity of the sedatives, she had explained to him that not taking them could have fatal consequences.

 

Though Luke never had any feelings of tiredness – not when he couldn't push Liin completely out of the way at least – his body was not as easily fooled. The moment he wouldn't be forced to sleep, and sleep deeply, he would burn out.

 

The Mon Calamarian woman had come up with a theory of a downright scary logic. Liin Kwaad used this method of making himself noticed because it could bring him victory in two different ways. Either Luke couldn't bring his body to rest, what would make him break down completely and choose death or a life as Liin. Or Luke would get completely caught up in the feeling of this energy, letting himself be swept away with the current and losing the battle against an adversary that knew how to manipulate in a masterful way.

 

While his thoughts dwelled for another moment on this talk of the day before, he had already swallowed one of the pills that had been all too gently placed between his lips by his wife. If the whole situation hadn't been that serious, he thought sleepily, he would have enjoyed being treated like that by her.

 

Luke felt a new smile creep on his face, while he tried his best to cope with the feeling of slowly sinking into a very deep, soft and welcoming abyss of unconsciousness. Sounds were drowned out and he was barely aware of the delicate hands that enclosed his face.

 

He dimly noticed when Mara extended her Force senses into his soul; his own mind and conscious thought left him. Before he knew it, he had dozed off.

 

*~~

 

As soon as Luke's head had limply lolled to the side, Mara let go of him, carefully positioning herself at his side. Drawing small circles around his navel, she finally allowed herself to relax. The night was the only time she felt him to be completely safe. As long as she could control his sleep like that and took care that he didn't drown into the longing for fight, they would have all the time of the universe to find the Master Shaper.

 

Unfortunately, the next days were already packed full with responsibilities and offered no possibility to search the system for any sign of Mezhan Kwaad.

 

Tomorrow, the Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong would arrive. Tsavong Lah and Leia alike had meticulously planned the whole day. At some point of the next morning, the ship that carried the head of the Yuuzhan Vong population would fall out of hyperspace in the Coruscant system.

 

Shimrra would immediately transfer to the worldship that had been grown and designed for this very occasion. There, in a ceremony that would unite Yuuzhan Vong as well as New Republic politicians, Leia, Luke, Miiram and Tsavong Lah would greet him. Then the peace treaty would be signed.

 

It all sounded very simple, but Mara had the distinctive feeling that something was amiss. Not only Luke. Though also there, she had to investigate further. She had to know what girl he had talked about while in the manipulative sleep of the Hirtka.

 

She just hadn't wanted to stress him too much today. He had had to go through enough already.

 

Aside from that, something bugged her. Bugged her immensely. If Mezhan Kwaad were in the system, perhaps even on Coruscant, it would mean she practically begged to be found. And that was a troubling thought.

 

If she were found, she would be killed. So much was sure. And there was no way for her to get Luke under her control anymore. At least none they knew of. Mezhan's seeming carelessness smelt of a carefully out-laid trap. There was something she had in store. And probably not only for Lah and the Warriors, but mainly for Luke.

 

She would be prepared. And when Kwaad made her move, Mara would be there to take care of her once and for all.

 

 

Yuuzhan Vong Craft Moota, Same Time

 

"A challenge, yes?" Mezhan Kwaad purred, very much aware of the human female's thoughts. It was not as if she actually saw her. Not in the way other beings called seeing at least.

 

It was true that this annoying specimen of the human race had found a way to block Luke Skywalker's subconscious from her manipulations as well as from Liin Kwaad's assaults. But while she had tended to her mate, the woman had failed to recognise what else a Master Shaper could do.

 

Mezhan's bond with Liin was strong and the bond the Slayer had with Skywalker was strong, too. It had been no problem to establish a very thin, yet stable connection with the mind of the being Skywalker had given his heart to.

 

Of course Mara Jade Skywalker was right. Mezhan Kwaad had a lot in store for her. So they knew she was in the system now. It didn't matter. Not really, anyway. It was annoying, yes. Someone of her own race was teaming up with the infidels in a way that personally insulted the Master Shaper.

 

In due time this Yuuzhan Vong would feel that it was not a healthy endeavour to bring upon oneself the wrath of Mezhan Kwaad. Skywalker was hers to tamper with. Hers alone.

 

The man didn't even realise that everything his mate and his friends did for him was completely in vain. If it came down to the two of them alone, in her laboratory – and it would come down to that, very soon, indeed – then there would only be so many as two choices for him to make. Death or obedience.

 

If she managed to set it up right, he would choose obedience before he realised he had another option.

 

Everything was going according to plan. Very much so, in fact. Kwaad had enough people doing her bidding in all the strategic places she would need to have covered when the Supreme Overlord moved in the next day.

 

There was no question that her plan would work, and flawlessly at that. It would shame the Warriors, decimate them, and impress Shimrra. And she would finally get what she deserved.

 

She should already begin wondering whom she would have Liin kill first. It would be a special pleasure to have it be Skywalker's family. What kind of torture must it be, for a human, to be killed by the one they loved? And then live on in this mysterious Force of theirs and see how what they once loved succumbed to darkness and was altered, altered into evil itself, evil that was commandeered and formed by her, Kwaad's very own, hands.

 

It would be delicious torture for all of them.

 

And then she would add another victim. For not only the ones who didn't believe, but also the ones too ambitious risked to draw her wrath to themselves.

 

*~~

 

Nen Yim sat in her small cabin aboard the Moota, her dark eyes resting forlornly on the yorik coral floor.

 

The decision had not been an easy one to make. Not at all. Mezhan Kwaad had demanded something of her that she had barely been able to do. Attacking infidels and Yuuzhan Vong who opposed the way things should be was one thing.

 

But what she was supposed to do now was completely different. She could bring upon herself the life-long hatred of Supreme Overlord Shimrra. He would have her killed in an utterly dishonourable way if he ever learned that she had done this.

 

Her Master's curt reply had been that he mustn't learn then. But Nen was no fool. Shimrra would learn. Eventually, he would learn. And then the blame would come falling on her. Not on her Master. For her Master had made sure that no one knew about their ties. Absolutely no one.

 

Nen had never revealed herself when talking to the others. As far as they knew, she served on different worldships, taking turns because of the lack of qualified personal and the overwhelming need of tending the aging creatures demanded in the past time.

 

Yet all this was simply a carefully created ruse. She had never been anywhere but with her Master, yet she had succeeded in accomplishing a lot for her.

 

The question that rose in the apprentice's mind lately was just whether Kwaad was WORTH all this work and loyalty.

 

Whenever Yim thought about this, she came to the same conclusion. The knowledge and the goals of the Master Shaper WERE worth this work and loyalty. Leaving Kwaad now was out of question for her.

 

But what she would do – and would gladly do – was to make sure that no blame could fall on her.

 

 

Yuuzhan Vong Ship Criarto, Private Quarters Of Miiram Shimrra, Shortly Thereafter

 

"Who are you?"

 

"This is not of any importance, Your Excellency."

 

"You know who I am?"

 

"Yes. You are Miiram Shimrra, daughter to Supreme Overlord Shimrra."

 

Miiram frowned. The voice that spoke out of the villip sitting in front of her didn't trigger any memory. The animal itself was a formless heap of flesh on the yorik coral desk. Whoever was contacting her knew how to handle villips so that they didn't portray the speaker's features. Impressive.

 

"That's correct. I assume you have a good reason to disturb the sleep of your Supreme Overlord's daughter, haven't you?"

 

A small pause.

 

"Indeed, I have. I want to warn you, Your Excellency."

 

Miiram snorted in annoyance and shot a quick glance over to the thin curtain of tendrils that separated her small living room from the room she slept in. Khalee was staying over this night and was sleeping soundly. She didn't want to wake him and have him go all investigative and threatening on this caller.

 

Suppressing a smile at remembering how the son of the Warmaster had refused to stay over night in her quarters and how easily he had been persuaded to change his opinion, Miiram forced herself to concentrate on the villip before her.

 

If she thought a little more thoroughly about it, there was about one person who could be on the other end of this connection.

 

"I assume your Master, Mezhan Kwaad, found out that I have been the one to uncover her plans for Jeedai Master Skywalker."

 

This time, the silence was prolonged and the Yuuzhan Vong woman felt a welcome feeling of satisfaction settling into her gut. So her guess had been correct.

 

"You can safely assume this, Your Excellency. Let's simply say that you should be careful about your morning routines.  That's all."

 

"I see."

 

The villip trembled a little, indicating that the young Shaper was about to cut the connection.

 

"Nen Yim."

 

The third tremble – the one that corresponded to the last stroke in the movement that would put the villip to sleep – didn't come.  Miiram almost laughed. It was fun to play from time to time.

 

"Your Master has erased a part of the protocol of Slayer's Mind from our archives, hasn't she?"

 

"What if she had?" came the careful counter-question.

 

"Tell me what this part was about."

 

"I have betrayed her more than enough, Your Excellency."

 

Though no one could see her, Miiram folded her arms in front of her chest: "Indeed, you have. It makes me wonder why you did."

 

"You are not my target, Your Excellency. You're no Warrior."

 

"Skywalker will withstand Slayer's Mind. Your Master has made a miscalculation. The humans are stronger than they appear to be. Especially Jeedai. Is she aware of that?"

 

Again a pause.

 

"She knows what she does and what she has to expect."

 

Miiram snorted once again, this time louder. Of course. This sounded like some kind of sick worship and she began to wonder what Mezhan Kwaad had done to impress the younger girl so much.

 

"I doubt that."

 

A small chuckle could be heard from Nen Yim and Miiram frowned.

 

"Your Excellency, be assured of one thing - whether Skywalker will withstand or not, he will lose either way."

 

"How can he lose when…"

 

But the third tremble of the villip in front of her finally came and Nen Yim was gone. Hiding in some corner in this system, with her Master Shaper.

 

And left was another riddle, a riddle that was important, how the Yuuzhan Vong female felt, but hardly solvable. At least at the moment.

 

"Those Shapers don't have a trace of honour in them." A grave voice suddenly sounded from behind her and she had a hard time to keep herself from spinning around and lashing out.

 

Instead, she counted to ten and slowly turned, standing face to face with her betrothed, feeling herself gape when she noticed that, for once, he didn't wear body armour.

 

A non-existent eyebrow was perched and a thin smile appeared on the grim face of Khalee Lah. "Now then…. I don't think we will have any discussions about comparing human and Yuuzhan Vong without body armour anymore, won't we?"

 

"We won't?" Feigning a feral grin, Miiram stashed the villip blindly back into its nesting spot on the desk and went over to her sleeping room.

 

Her fiancé followed her, stopping in the doorway and staring down at her.

 

The Supreme Overlord's daughter grinned: "If you do that now, Khalee, there is no way you can back out of this bonding anymore."

 

"I'm counting on making you admire me in a mute, shy way, as any good Yuuzhan Vong woman should. The prospect spurs me on."

 

"That is good." She growled deeply, robbing a little deeper into her bed niche to make room for his bulky form.

 

When he joined her finally, she purred into his ear: "Because the prospect of this is everything you'll ever get."

 

"Heretic."

 

"Traditionalist."

 

"What kind of an insult is that?"

 

"A bad one."

 

The male Yuuzhan Vong snorted: "Just for crazy ones like you." Suddenly pausing from gently stroking her cheek, Khalee's expression darkened.

 

"What about what the girl said? You could be in danger."

 

Miiram giggled lowly: "I AM in danger, you stupid Warrior."

 

"Do you want me to take care of it now?"

 

The deadpan way he uttered this question made the Supreme Overlord's daughter gape at him once more: "Of course not!"

 

A slow grin spread over Khalee's face: "Good. I would have had to disobey my Lord's daughter otherwise."

 

 

Coruscant, Imperial Palace, Organa Solo Apartment, Same Time

 

He was dizzy. Very dizzy. Explosions ripped the air in the hangar. They came from outside. Outside was space.

 

He turned. A lean shadow came into his view. Then a gust of air.  His vision cleared. The lean shadow merged into a face.

 

This face – he had known it for so long, knew every expression and could read it well. For a time that felt like his whole life, he had been watching out for this face, upon arriving home, upon wanting to have some fun, upon wanting to talk to a friend.

 

Now this face was empty. Terribly empty and blank.

 

He was going away. Farther and farther away, stumbling over and over again. But he was gaining. The farther he stumbled away, the more he changed. Blue eyes became dark, as dark and grey as the stormy sea.

 

Compassionate, open and loving features became caught in an expression that held no emotion.

 

At some point, he became a shadow again and finally vanished into darkness.

 

'Help me!!!'

 

He extended his hand. He could not reach the other's.

 

'Luke! No!'

 

Han sat up in his bed, abruptly wide-awake. His hair was sweat-drenched. A quick look to his right assured him that Leia was still fast asleep.

 

Sighing softly, he leant back into his pillows. He hated those dreams. He had had them often. Very often. In the past. They hadn't plagued him for over a decade.

 

When they had last invaded his sleep Luke had been under the reborn Emperor's influence.

 

 

| To Be Continued |

 

 

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