The Birth Of Acceptance

 

Chapter 16

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, Imperial Palace, Skywalker Apartment, Next Day

 

"You know, our mornings together used to be more lazy." Mara Jade Skywalker commented dryly, stretching on the mattress, her eyes resting on the form of her husband.

 

Luke shot her a wry grin, but continued with his sit-ups. Since she knew him, they had always been part of his morning practice. Being a Jedi didn't mean to rely solely on the Force. Many people didn't fully realise how hard the training was for the body as well as for the mind.

 

The Jedi Master was in an exceptional shape that could only be maintained by daily practice. Extensive practice. Unfortunately, in the last few days, extensive had come to have a completely new meaning for the both of them.

 

The moment she had woken him from the trance and the sedative had lost its grip on his metabolism, Luke had been out of bed and active.

 

Not that Mara didn't like watching him do his numerous different exercises. It was actually quite delighting to study every single speck of his lean, muscled body. But the shadow of Liin Kwaad hung all too heavily over their heads and neither of them felt in the mood to enjoy themselves too much.

 

"It's getting stronger." The ex-Emperor's Hand stated. She had noted that her husband was covered in sweat but not even breathing any harder. It was weird – and cunning – how the Yuuzhan Vong personality prompted him to wear out his body without him even realising it.

 

If she asked Luke to take it slower and whether he didn't feel exhausted at all, she would always get the same answer. He was feeling fine and she shouldn't worry that much. He knew how much he could handle.

 

But that was exactly the point for Mara. She didn't believe Luke knew anymore how much he could handle. Though she had not talked to him about it yet, her suspicions became stronger with every hour. Her suspicions that Liin Kwaad was always present in Luke's mind now, carefully shielded by the Jedi Master's natural instincts and the decades long routine of exercising every morning, regardless of how he felt.

 

Luke paused, laying on the floor and gazing up at her. His eyes were feverish, holding an expression that had become a steady accompany of his in the last couple of days. He wanted to move more. Yet he knew that Mara wouldn't let him.

 

If he were alone, so much his wife knew, he would go on and on. And how could he not? He was unable to feel the tiredness of his body. Mara didn't know whether he was actually aware he was being manipulated and she was not sure how to breach the subject.

 

Correction. She hadn't been sure. Now she HAD breached the subject and Force knew what would come out of it.

 

"What do you mean?" Luke queried. His legs were moving even now when he relaxed. Or tried to relax, anyway.

 

Reaching behind herself, Mara grabbed a towel, robbed to the corner of the bed and tenderly wiped the sweat off his face.

 

"You know exactly what I mean."

 

Ice-blue eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed. Had she not been prepared to see the Slayer jump to defend what he was doing and had she not been whom she was, she might have shied away from him at this moment.

 

Although it happened seldom that Luke Skywalker got angry – even slightly – it was a respect-instilling sight when he did.

 

"I do have him under control. I told you. Repeatedly. You don't need to question my statements." He jumped to his feet, took the towel from her and swung it around his neck while he made his way over to the fresher.

 

Mara got up, too, following him and laying a delicate hand onto his shoulder.

 

"If you had him under control, Luke, he wouldn't be talking to me right now."

 

Luke swirled around, his eyes blazing, his hand gripping her biceps. Hard, but not yet hurting her. "How dare you!"

 

The redheaded Jedi Master didn't know what would have happened if she hadn't been prepared for this. If she hadn't kept her own temper in check and had even responded to him equally fiery.

 

She was grateful for not having to find out when she met his angry stare with a cool, compassionate jade one. He had to see what was happening, had to realise who was keeping conquering more and more of his soul.

 

As she had expected, the provocation had managed to break through to him. Luke was stubborn, but he was not dumb. He would see how irrational he behaved and how out of character it was for him to get angry before they had even started to argue about a certain topic.

 

His eyes widened and didn't narrow again this time. His shocked stare halted at his mechanic hand that was still firmly grasping her arm. As if she had burnt him, he jerked away from her, turning and vanishing into the bathroom.

 

The inner turmoil that swept through his mind was palpable and for a moment – a very small moment – Mara allowed herself to be weak. Swinging her arms around herself, she let a slight shiver run through her body before she straightened again, her expression changing to fierce determination.

 

It was not easy for her to watch how Luke suffered and how difficult it was for him to fight against Liin Kwaad. The other, the Yuuzhan Vong, was cunning and stealthy. It was hard to detect him.

 

Mara had a permanent connection to her husband's mind and she hadn't FELT the Slayer creeping in during the morning practice. Luke's body had given more away than his soul. Liin seemed to have mastered the art of hiding IN Luke's feelings so well that it was impossible to detect him, but he couldn't help the signs that displayed on his human victim's body.

 

They were minor, really, but Mara knew Luke well – very well – and she recognised them for what they were the moment they occurred.

 

It was the way he suddenly set his jaw, how this feverish glaze invaded his eyes or how his movements became more aggressive.

 

Drawing a deep breath, she entered the bathroom after her husband, hoping that the few moments she had waited had given him the time he needed to recover from the shock.

It was not hard for her to see that he hadn't been prepared for this. Luke had been absolutely sure to have Liin under control.

 

She couldn't imagine what it did to his spirit to be proven wrong once again. To once again have to see that he had been tricked.

 

As Mara had expected, she found him in the shower. He sat in one corner of the elaborate cabin, hot, steaming water pounding down on him. His eyes were closed and his breathing almost even.

 

She felt the Force flowing around him and into him, reinforcing walls and driving the Yuuzhan Vong presence away, into its hiding spot. At the same time, she felt his frustration about not being able to KEEP Liin there.

 

Shedding her nightgown, she joined him in the shower and sank onto the warmed cabin floor next to him.

 

When she once again laid a reassuring hand onto his shoulder, Luke's wonderful eyes opened and without another word, he swept her into his arms.

 

She let him press her body at his, closing her eyes when her face came to rest on his hot, wet chest, and embraced him firmly.

 

For a long time – it felt like hours, but certainly were not more than a few minutes - they stayed like this, the noise of thee water drowning out every other sound, the warmth wrapping them into a cocoon that made them feel safe, as if isolated from the outside world.

 

Mara could have stayed like this forever, listening to the strong heartbeat in the well-muscled chest while the heat of his body was doing an effective job of warming her. The feel of his skin next to hers provoked entirely different emotions.

 

But this was not the time. The situation was serious. More serious than they both had thought only the previous evening.

 

A muffled sound came from above her and she forced herself to open her eyes and leave the temporary safety of his embrace.

 

If she hadn't been daydreaming, she would have understood him the first time, but as it was, only now that he repeated it did she actually hear it all right.

 

"I'm sorry, Mar," he whispered, kissing her temple, his chin resting on her head.

 

"You didn't hurt me, Luke." She said softly, patting his lower arm affectionately. Did he really think she was angry with him?

 

"But I could have."

 

"No." Wiggling out of his arms, she kneeled in front of him and took in his solemn, sad features, the dark brown hair that was sticking to his forehead, the drops of water that sought their ways over his delicate face. "You would never have hurt me, Luke. You're stronger than him."

 

The Jedi Master shook his head, reaching up with one hand and shutting off the water. It was a reflex – he never wasted water. Though Coruscant had enough of it, the way he had been taught to handle water in his childhood had never left him.

 

He was fascinated and awed by it at the same time, though. In the years of their marriage, Mara had come to see that Luke loved to meditate in the shower. Yet, she had also come to see that he didn't shower longer than absolutely necessary.

 

"I'm not sure. I didn't even notice him taking control."

 

"But he didn't, Luke. He didn't take control. He was just there, alongside you."

 

Her husband frowned: "Isn't that the same? He almost made me hurt you!"

 

This time Mara shook her head, persistently eyeing him: "No. He could never have made you hurt me. Don't you understand? He is just trying to let you taste what he is and make you like it. He tries to seduce you. That's all he did."

 

"And I let myself be seduced by him."

 

"You did? Then why am I still alive?"

 

If the whole talk hadn't been so creepy, Mara would have almost laughed at the way his eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets and the way he gaped at her openly.

 

"What… I'd never… I mean… How can you even say…"

 

"And that is my point, Luke Skywalker. Think about it. And while you do, dry off. We have to meet up with Leia in an hour." With that, she rose gracefully and left her husband to ponder this.

 

*~~

 

Half an hour later, Luke stepped out of the bathroom, dressed and ready for the day. And of considerable better mood than he had been when he had entered the fresher the first time today.

 

Mara had been right. He had been stronger than Liin. The moment he had recognised what he was doing, had realised what his wife had wanted to show him, he had been able to battle the Yuuzhan Vong personality off.

 

It relieved him a great deal to know that he was still the master of his own body and thoughts. At least at the moment. There was still a "though" lingering in his head that made him afraid; more than he liked to admit.

 

This "though" was that he KNEW Mezhan Kwaad. Though he had never talked much to the Master Shaper, he had the distinct feeling to know her better than any enemy he had ever fought against.

 

If she had decided HE was what she wanted, what she needed to get what her heart desired, then she would not use something that was as easily countered.

 

He couldn't imagine that everything it took to get rid of what she had planned for him was a pill each evening and a slight manipulation of his mind to put him into a deep trance controlled by another Jedi.

 

There was more to it and that was what worried him. The Master Shaper had something up her sleeve and a small voice in the back of his head – whether it was his own subconscious or Liin he couldn't say – told him that sooner or later, he would once again face Mezhan Kwaad. And then – only then – he would see whether he was stronger than Liin or not.

 

Luke found it unexpectedly hard to keep his determination and resolve and assure himself that he was stronger than Liin.

 

Mara had made a point in the shower, so much was true. He hadn't hurt her, would never have in this situation, and that alone showed that he DID exact a kind of control over his Yuuzhan Vong personality.

 

But was this control strong enough to last even when the Master Shaper in person tried to manipulate him? He just wasn't sure. Wasn't sure what she was still going to do, what she still COULD do, to him.

 

His eyes came to rest on Mara and wandered – as they did mostly at one time or the other since he knew she was pregnant – down to her belly.

 

And suddenly, he smiled. What did it all matter? Nothing. It really didn't matter anything. There was everything he needed to hold on to himself right there in front of him.

 

"Mara?"

 

"Hmmm?"

 

"When will we be able to feel it move?"

 

His wife straightened, staring at him astonished for a moment, then grinning: "You know, sometimes I wonder where you've been while your sister has been carrying her children."

 

"Well, it wasn't exactly my place to press my ear on her belly all the time." He smirked, fond memories of Han shooing him away from his sister at a nice barbecue evening during her pregnancy with the twins resurfacing.

 

"But you did."

 

"Yeah."

 

"And when you did and felt them, how big EXACTLY was her belly then?"

 

Luke looked at her dumbfounded for a moment, then his expression cleared in understanding. "Oh." He made.

 

Mara laughed: "Yes, Skywalker, oh."

 

"That long, hmm?"

 

"At least a couple of months, still."

 

"Darn. And I'd have liked to feel it before we go up there. It won't be a pleasant day." He sighed, went over to her and stroked her belly softly. She hadn't yet slipped into her jumpsuit and he wasn't about to let this possibility pass unexploited.

 

Her arms sneaked around his neck and he felt her lips brush over his. "You don't know that yet, Luke."

 

"I have a bad feeling, Mara. And I think you have, too."

 

She sighed, but didn't stop caressing the skin at the back of his skull. "I have been having a bad feeling for a long, long time now. And I will only stop having a bad feeling when Mezhan Kwaad is no problem for us anymore."

 

Luke hugged her a little stronger. "I so know what you mean, my love."

 

 

Two Hours Later, At The Edge Of The Coruscant System, Bridge Of The Ralroost

 

"It sure looks impressive." Han Solo stated, his gaze focused on the giant worldship that hung in space in front of the cruiser's viewport. Although it was still a long distance away from them, its size was unbelievable. Glittering in black and silver, it almost blended in perfectly with the star-sprinkled space around it.

 

"I guess that's what befits a Supreme Overlord. Besides, we haven't tried to hide what we have either." Leia Organa Solo replied.

 

Finally, after months of preparations and talks, the day had come when Supreme Overlord Shimrra, the leader of the Yuuzhan Vong as a race, would arrive in this galaxy and hopefully sign the peace treaty.

 

Though it was highly improbable that he would have any objections at this point – after all, he had already agreed to what Tsavong Lah had forwarded to him – no one present on the Ralroost's bridge allowed himself to believe it until the contract was actually signed.

 

Compared to the war against the Empire, the fight against the Yuuzhan Vong had been a short one. Yet, in a sense, it had been far more devastating than any other war before. It was not about oppression. It was about extinction and total conversion of millions of different cultures into a single one – the one of the Yuuzhan Vong.

 

Though they had been in close contact for a long while now, the culture of this alien race from another galaxy was still a secret to most of them. Glimpses and small pieces of beliefs they had gathered, meticulously archiving them in a completely new section of New Republic Intelligence.

 

There were, however, still more questions than answers if it came to what the Yuuzhan Vong believed in and how they lived.

 

If this peace treaty worked out, all this would change. The cultures would exchange knowledge and try to live peacefully together.

 

Leia allowed herself a small smile. Having overcome the doubts and suspicions she had harboured originally, the former Princess of Alderaan now almost looked forward to learn more about the adversaries that had instilled such terror upon many worlds in this galaxy.

 

All the time she had spent with Tsavong Lah had accomplished two things. On the one hand, she had seen that the Yuuzhan Vong were as ruthless, violent and fanatic as they seemed. On the other hand, she had also seen that they were intelligent, rational and had a complicate, millennia old culture.

 

The way they had tried to annihilate other people had been partly natural and dictated by their beliefs, but partly also a necessity because they needed new planets to live on.

 

The possibility of creating diplomatic relationships with other cultures never had been a topic to spend thoughts on for them. They mostly had swept other civilisations away.

 

Leia couldn't help but feel pride upon the thought that it had been her brother who had showed them for the first time that they could not ALWAYS simply wipe out those they didn't understand.

 

The New Republic, the Jedi, could learn much from the Yuuzhan Vong, in the way of healing and in many other ways. If they accepted that the aliens didn't want to adopt their way of living and let them be, they would get along somehow.

 

Talks and negotiations still were tricky, without question. Leia wouldn't dare send one of the Senators or a diplomat into one room with Yuuzhan Vong. The aliens wouldn't accept them and probably kill them.

 

People like Luke, who weren't as easily intimidated and who could prove to the Vong that they could fight were what was needed to get into serious discussions on equal footing with these strange individuals.

 

Glancing around, on the bridge as well as on the scopes of the Ralroost, Leia assessed her impressive delegation. Han stood at her side, naturally, wearing one of the gala uniforms he hated so much.

 

She almost grinned when she recalled the argument they had had about it this morning. Many things changed in a galaxy so huge. But some would always stay the same.

 

Han Solo would ALWAYS hate formalities and formal clothing. The only thing that had been able to soothe him was the fact that he was allowed to wear his blaster.

 

Leia was almost sure that every Yuuzhan Vong on the giant worldship of the Supreme Overlord would be armed. She didn't see why she should forbid it to her accompanies then.

 

The only way this would work was showing the Yuuzhan Vong that they intimidated neither of them anymore.

 

Slightly to the side and behind her, she could see her brother Luke and his wife Mara. Both their gazes were focused on the worldship and most probably their thoughts were, too. Corran had filled in the President about what had almost happened there and she felt a shiver run down her spine when she thought about it.

 

She HAD to meet this Miiram Shimrra in private, just the two of them. As things lay, she had to thank her for her brother's life.

 

Forcing her thoughts away from these nightmarish pictures, she recounted the other members of the group. Several high-ranking Senators accompanied them and some Jedi were present, too. They would not stay with Luke, though, for he was to be at all times with her.

 

If Shimrra hadn't demanded to meet him, Leia would have insisted on it. The thought of facing the mightiest Yuuzhan Vong out there without their own mightiest "player" had been a very unpleasant one for her.

 

The Ralroost itself had been chosen as her flagship. She considered it a powerful symbolism to greet them with one of the few surviving ships of the Battle of Ithor, now restored to glory and accompanied by another dozen – six Imperial Star Destroyers and six Mon Calamarian Cruisers.

 

The Super Star Destroyer Lusankya had been ordered to guard any space lanes whose entry points were in the vicinity of the Supreme Overlord's worldship.

 

Fighter escorts swarmed around her and all the ships that accompanied the Ralroost in carefully trained formations.

 

All in all, the display of power was immense. It was protocol and insurance at the same time. She didn't really think anything would go wrong, but hard won experience had taught her to be prepared for everything.

 

"How long?" Leia asked aloud when the Ralroost came to a halt and drifted in space a couple of miles away from the still empty worldship.

 

"Any moment now, Your Excellency." The reply came from somewhere below her. Leia didn't bother to turn around and look who had answered her. Although probably no Yuuzhan Vong creature could catch her picture from this distance, the mere possibility that they could let her act every bit the President and politician she was.

 

Nervousness was quenched quickly and expertly. When she felt a tender touch at her soul, she smiled and threw a quick glance over to Luke. He replied her smile and though his features were set, it seemed genuine.

 

Before she could muse about why he looked so grim – there was no better word to describe it – a flicker at the fringe of her perception caught her attention. Turning her head, she saw a big Yuuzhan Vong warship materialize, heading immediately toward the worldship that was awaiting its first guests.

 

The sheer size of the warship – it was about a quarter of the worldship's size, what made it equal to the Lusankya – told her that this was Supreme Overlord Shimrra's flagship. It was flanked by three smaller warships on either side, all the size of a Star Destroyer.

 

As had been agreed upon in previous sessions, the New Republic ships waited until the flagship of the Supreme Overlord was docked on the worldship, then drew nearer in perfect formation.

 

"Ready the shuttle." Leia ordered before she turned around and left the bridge in a pace that clearly showed she was not about to hurry. This was a meeting of equals. She had to keep that in her head.

 

All eyes were resting on her and she felt the turmoil of fears, opinions and thoughts of the whole crew. They were still afraid of the Vong and still didn't trust them. Still expected a trap. And they looked to her for guidance. If she showed any sign of doubt or fear, Force knew what would happen.

 

Decades of training came to her advantage now. That and the unshakable trust her family put in her. Luke was a steady source of reassurance and love behind her, Mara of determination and watchfulness and Han… Han wore this half-smile he always wore when he was about to cause some sort of trouble.

 

For a second, she was tempted to chastise him, but caught herself. All throughout the war, the best that she could have thrown against the Vong was creativity, independence, bravery and experience. Her husband embodied all of this. If he could throw the aliens off-balance, she would not complain.

 

*~~

 

When they exited the shuttle and stepped into the huge hangar bay of the brand new and therefore very young worldship, Warmaster Tsavong Lah and his son Khalee greeted them.

 

The exchange didn't take long, for the Supreme Overlord expected both Yuuzhan Vong Warriors this very moment for some sort of private business neither of the humans did quite understand. Mara – who had left his side to talk shortly to the Warmaster's son – seemed to be the only one who was able to make sense out of it, for she nodded.

 

Luke admitted he was startled and admired Leia's countenance. Being the head of the New Republic, she deserved a very different greeting, but she didn't let any sign of disappointment or anger slip through her mask of perfect self-control and beauty.

 

When he thought more thoroughly about it, the fact that Shimrra didn't send any escort, any guards or a guide, was more a sign of respect than of mockery. And of trust.

 

He didn't think the New Republicans would cause any damage, so they needed no guards. He didn't think them to be helpless in finding their way to him, so they didn't need any guides. And he didn't think they had to be advised in manners, so they didn't need an escort.

 

Trying to compress that into some sort of thought, he sent his impressions to Leia. He could see her cock an eyebrow at him the moment Khalee and his father had left the hangar and he nodded reassuringly.

 

Somehow, he knew how to interpret the Vong. It frightened him and yet it felt natural. Perhaps – only perhaps – having a temporary additional personality could be helpful in such a situation, he thought while he began to move purposefully in the direction of a big yorik coral portal.

 

"Where are you going?" A male voice hissed at his side and when he turned his head, he noticed surprised that he had crossed almost the whole hangar. Leia, Mara and the rest of the delegation were still standing next to the shuttle, eyeing him insecurely.

 

Next to him, Han was trying to keep up without making it too obvious that he hadn't exercised any in the last time.

 

Troubled by the fact that he had lost a couple of seconds, Luke shook his head slightly and focused on his friend.

 

To his utter astonishment, he heard himself say: "I know the way. If they don't follow soon, we'll be too late."

 

The Corellian stared at him for a moment, obviously unsure whether to take this as a good sign – after all, they wouldn't embarrass themselves by getting lost in this beast – or a bad sign. Deciding to interpret it positively, he nodded and turned, gesturing to the others to catch up with them.

 

Luke didn't pay any attention to him. The others would follow, so he didn't have to wait. He couldn't explain how he knew the way, yet he did and it felt strangely relieving and welcome to go through these corridors.

 

The colours and the texture of the walls seemed familiar and the air smelt good to him. Cool and a little moist.

 

While he went about his way, dimly aware that Han was somewhere behind him, hazy memories of a couple of days ago came back to him. Had he walked these corridors when he had been here for the first time? If so, he knew where they led him.

 

For an absurd moment, he actually looked forward to returning to the big hall he knew would await him before he was able to crush this thought. HE had never been there. Liin had been there.

 

'You can rejoice all you want. I'm in charge. Period.' He thought towards the Yuuzhan Vong presence, satisfied when he got no challenging answer and when no Shaper's voice popped into his thoughts.

 

Maybe everything would go as planned after all.

 

Luke continued through the corridors with a small smile on his face, aware that the walk was still a couple of minutes.

 

*~~

 

"How, by the Force, does he know we are supposed to take THIS way?" Leia hissed to Mara through clenched teeth, trying hard not to draw any attention from the other delegates.

 

The present Jedi – two not that experienced Knights that had been chosen to accompany their Master – wore serene expressions, though their startledness was palpable as well.

 

For a fleeting moment, Leia wished Corran or any of her kids were with her, but they all had more important things to do.

 

Jaina, Jacen and Anakin were part of some of the squadrons out in space. Luke had felt the need to show the Supreme Overlord that the Jedi were present everywhere and not a single, isolated caste as it was common in the Yuuzhan Vong culture.

 

Corran was aboard the Ralroost, serving as Jedi liaison with Wedge and Rogue Squadron – the latter had been assigned to Special Forces and therefore was at the beg and call of either Leia, Han, Mara or Luke. A flick of their wrists and small, almost invisible communication devices would send out a distress call the equivalent of "Get us out of here NOW!"

 

"Why do you ask me?" Mara murmured back, her normally blazing eyes dark and suspicious while they rested on the form of her husband a couple of dozen meters ahead of them.

 

"Do you have a permanent Force bond with him or not?"

 

"You have, too."

 

Leia rolled her eyes: "Mara, this is really NOT the time to argue about who has the stronger bond with him. What the hell is he DOING?"

 

The redhead sighed: "I have no idea. I suppose he knows the way because he was already here. You know when."

 

The Princess's eyes became darker with worry, too. "Do you think we're in trouble?"

 

"From the Supreme Overlord's side?"

 

Leia nodded.

 

Mara furrowed her eyebrows: "No. Rather from a certain Shaper's side."

 

"Do you have any idea where she is?"

 

The ex-Emperor's Hand shook her head. "No to that, too."

 

There was a slight pause and she practically felt how Leia tried to analyse the situation. At times like this, she really came to respect what Luke's sister was. Palpatine had always portrayed all of the Alliance's heroes as mindless, heartless killers.

 

All what they were, though, were seasoned, experienced and damn good fighters. Leia was no exception. She was as versed in politics as she was in fight.

 

There was no doubt her sister-in-law very much felt her own worries for her husband.

 

"Don't worry. Han is with him."

 

Trying to ease the mood, Mara perched an eyebrow and softly quipped: "Since when is that a reason NOT to worry?"

 

*~~

 

"It is unbelievable how stupid they all are." Mezhan Kwaad said, her eyes glued to the villip in front of her.

 

Nen Yim shot her a questioning look: "The infidels, Master?"

 

The Shaper laughed meanly: "They, too. But our kinsmen are no better. I think I will have to teach Supreme Overlord Shimrra a lesson or two about tactics as soon as he has seen how valuable I will be as his advisor. More valuable than Tsavong Lah ever was."

 

"I would not say they are stupid, my Master. After all, Miiram Shimrra survived today."

 

Cold, green eyes focused on the younger Yuuzhan Vong, pinning her effectively down. Nen Yim had a hard time keeping from twitching nervously and did all she could to meet her Master's stare.

 

"Not because of her intelligence, so much is sure. Isn't it, Nen?"

 

Yim's heart stopped for a moment. She knew. Mezhan Kwaad knew! But how? How could she have learned about…

 

"Do you think I don't know about EVERYTHING that happens on MY ship? You have much to learn, my apprentice. But as it is, we will talk about this insubordination later. When everything is done."

 

Nen Yim couldn't do anything but nod.

 

"Activate the animals. All of them."

 

*~~

 

Corran Horn and Wedge Antilles had been alert, but not overly nervous. Everything had gone according to plan so far and nothing indicated that there were problems.

 

Unfortunately, as it was common in wars and fights, situations could change within fractions of a second.

 

When an explosion rippled through the first of the Yuuzhan Vong ships escorting the Supreme Overlord, everyone stared dumbfounded.

 

When one tore a gash into the Criarto, sitting at the other flank of the worldship, people were getting ready at their stations, scanning for the enemies.

 

When heavy explosions crippled two more of the ships and a breach was detected at the northern pole of the Supreme Overlord's worldship, suspicions hardened to security.

 

"This is going to get nasty. And complicate." Corran murmured.

 

"Get up the shields! Now!" Wedge shouted over the bridge. His order was followed and the shields flared to life just in time to deflect the first plasma bombs that were thrown their way by the escort of Shimrra who had to suspect they were attacked – by the New Republic.

 

*~~

 

Luke was enjoying himself. A part of him found that absolutely ridiculous and tried to get him to his senses. Yet, the Jedi Master was not willing to admit that he was NOT entirely in the possession of his senses at the moment.

 

He felt like coming home, yet again, he only thought of it as a minor distraction. He knew he was Luke Skywalker. He knew he was human. He knew the peace treaty would be signed within the next hour. Why should he not enjoy the few nice feelings Liin Kwaad could provide him with?

 

The answer was that there was no reason not to enjoy them. He focused on the welcome emotion of familiarity and security, his danger sense being switched off by the trust you could only have in your home.

 

Thus he only belatedly noticed that the fact that he was panting was not due to the fact that he was moving. He was not running, he was merely walking. Something like that didn't exhaust. He slowed a little – but not significantly – and frowned. Something was not right. But everything FELT so right.

 

Dizziness swept over him and he stumbled to the side, seeking support on the wall next to him. His gaze, barely focused, halted on something that was natural and yet not. There was a dovin basal sitting in the wall.

 

Of course they were everywhere on the ship. It was normal. Defence against any terrorist attack on the ship that sheltered the head of the Yuuzhan Vong. Yet something was wrong with this dovin basal.

 

It made small sucking noises. Dovin basals didn't make small, sucking noises. Luke frowned harder, wondering what it could possibly suck in.

 

When stars began to appear in his field of vision, it dawned on him. Unfortunately too late. Before everything went black, he thought: 'It's sucking the air in!'

 

*~~

 

Han was worried, and that about two things. The one thing was Luke, who kept going at a pace he couldn't keep up with and kept ignoring his calls. The other was the feeling of not getting enough air into his lungs.

 

Something was wrong. The Corellian didn't know enough about Yuuzhan Vong ships to realize what exactly was causing the lack of air, but he recognised the signs in his own body.

 

He stopped, drawing a deep breath, and called: "Luke, we should return! This is… Luke!"

 

The younger man had sagged against the wall, barely keeping himself upright. Before Han reached him, he had already crumpled to the floor.

 

His friend hurried to his side, kneeling down next to him. It was then that Han heard the sucking noise somewhere above his head and when he followed it with his eyes, he caught sight of the fast moving dovin basal.

 

Han didn't know WHAT animal it was, but he understood what it did. Luke had been with his face directly in front of this thing. For a short time, the air he had breathed had held NO oxygen. No wonder he had blacked out.

 

Gazing back, he saw Leia and Mara – followed by the delegation – stumble into his direction, but collapsing after having only crossed half the distance.

 

This was NOT going well.

 

"Luke, come on. We've got to get out of here, we…"

 

Turning his friend around, Han froze in shock when he saw two pretty much aware eyes focus on him. Cold, icy blue mustered him and in the one second he had left, Han understood whom he was facing.

 

But that didn't help him any. He was shoved to the side brutally and crashed painfully into the hard yorik coral wall on the other side of the corridor. Black dots danced in front of his eyes, but he ignored them.

 

Rolling onto his stomach, panting from the thin air and the pain that throbbed in his temples, he saw Luke turning into one of the side corridors, not the slightest stumble to his steps.

 

His first impulse was to call out to him, but he saved his breath and forced himself to his feet. Luke wouldn't hear him right now.

 

Throwing a last look at the others, his eyes met with the frightened, green ones of his sister-in-law. She had two small breathing devices with limited capability and tried to rouse Leia.

 

The situation was clear. Mara had to get his wife and the delegates back to the hangar and into the shuttle, otherwise they would suffocate. The pain in her gaze showed him all too clearly what she rather wanted to do.

 

Han turned towards the corridor Luke had vanished in.

 

Ten meters. Just ten meters. In this tunnel, there had to be air, oxygen, otherwise Luke wouldn't have been able to move like that.

 

Pressing his lips together determinedly, Han began moving. He had lost Chewie, unable to rescue him. There was no way he would let it repeat itself with Luke.

 

 

| To Be Continued |

 

 

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