Luke Vader 10

Luke Vader: From Slave to Dark Lord of the Sith
Part 10: Bonding
By SJ 15-10-00/12-12-00

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Disclaimers: None of this belong to me; everything in the Star Wars Universe
belongs to George Lucas.
See my home page for more details.
Http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/3702

Special thanks to my shy, secret beta-reader and best friend, Adrianne, for her
help with the final editing of my new stories. Thanks for giving
me some of your precious time, my friend :)

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Two weeks later, he still hadn't forgiven himself for what had happened to his
master's prototype. Thus, unbeknown to his father and friend, he still thought
that he deserved some kind of punishment for its destruction.

He wasn't worthy to serve his master yet, he kept telling himself.

Hence, when they were told to penetrate yet another underground base, Luke
volunteered to let himself be captured to provide cover for his friend. It was
their favorite strategy when they were dealing with bases that were heavily
guarded by very alert sentinels, sentry droids, and even spying eyes that were
only turned off when someone was entering through the main door.

Unlike the other times though, Mara was worried about Luke; with what he had in
mind to attract the enemy's attention, she was aware that he would earn himself
quite a beating, and their target's group had a more than vicious reputation.

Not that it was the first time, she tried to reassure herself; they had both
exchanged turns when they had had to be hurt for their master's glory, but this
was something else.

She couldn't say how, or why, but she could definitely feel it.

Unfortunately, her bad feeling proved itself to be right when she realized what
he had 'had' in mind... but it was too late to keep him from being hurt.

******

By the time they reached his father's castle, Luke was unconscious from his
injuries. Mara stabilized her hold on his body that was slung over her
shoulders and entered the palace.

To her surprise, Vader was there; she almost ran in him the moment she began to
step out of the turbolift.

"What happened?" he asked as he instantly relieved her from his son's weight.

"I don't know, my Lord," she admitted truthfully. "He wasn't supposed to let
them hurt him this bad," she told him even as she considered her friend's action
out loud. "He was supposed to use the deeper shield like we usually do... I
would never have let him volunteer if I had known..." she commented earnestly,
silently promising herself to be wary about that next time he would volunteer
for a decoy role.

Darth Vader, dark lord of the Sith gazed sideways at her, then refocused on his
son who was now hanging limply in his arms.

"Stubborn little..." he muttered, then walked faster.

Mara almost had to run to keep up with him.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"He got the punishment he wanted," he explained coolly.

They entered the closest medbay.

"What punishment?" she asked him uncertainly.

Vader ignored her, immediately setting his hand on his son's temple to initiate
a healing trance. Meanwhile, Mara remained silent, watching the unconscious
young man.

Whereas he usually looked invincible and strong, she reflected that his injuries
were making him look vulnerable, fragile. Foolish or not, she suddenly decided,
he didn't deserve to be in pain right now.

She walked closer to Luke's bunk and joined the dark lord's effort,
resting her fingers against her friend's temple; she initiated her own healing
trance, for once not bothering if it couldn't compare with the dark lord's
strength.

The only thing that mattered to her at the moment, she admitted, was to heal her
best friend.

******

The next morning, she woke up to the feeling of resting her head on something
warm, comfortable, satisfying---- then she realized where she was! She swiftly
raised her head in shock from her friend's unarmed shoulder, then searched for
his father who was undoubtedly very closed by.

"He's all right now," the dark lord commented from a seat in the corner of the
small room, "and he won't persecute himself anymore when the Emperor won't
punish him," he added seriously.

While she dimly noted that they chair hadn't been there last night, she
refocused on what the adult had just said.

"What do you mean, persecuting himself?" she asked him, throwing a worried look
at her resting friend.

"He thought that he deserved a punishment that the Emperor wouldn't give him
because he was beneath the master," Vader explained seriously.

"What??" Mara gaped, her eyes fastening themselves on her friend's features this
time.

What could have gone through his head for him to think such a preposterous---

"Don't worry, Mara," the dark lord commented less coolly as he stepped closer to
the bed. "He won't do that again. I will teach him once and for all
that if the Emperor wants to punish him, he will do so, and if he wants to
forgive him, he will do so as well."

Mara continued to gape at her friend in bemusement ; he had wanted---

"I never suspected that his devotion went to those ends," she commented in a
small, awed voice.

"I suppose it was only a matter of time with him being alone all the time..."
Vader answered thoughtfully. "I'll set a few things straight with him before I
return aboard the Executor," he promised the young teenager.

"Thank you, my Lord," she bowed her head while remaining beside her friend.

Vader noticed how the young woman was literally reluctant to leave his son's
side. First her taking part in his healing, then her falling asleep on him, and
now this. Luke wasn't the only one who was dealing with strange attractions, he
reflected in slight amusement.

"You care a lot about him, don't you, Mara?" he asked her less coolly than
usual.

As he had expected, the girl didn't admit her love for his son; she, like Luke,
knew all too well how prohibited it was in their life.

"I... he his my partner, my Lord, my friend and only companion. I... wouldn't
want to loose him for anything," she answered honestly.

"And I know that he feels the same for you, child. He told me so," he told her
warmly.

"Well, I... huh, we're always together, my Lord," the young woman tried to
defend herself even as her eyes strayed once again toward Luke's sleeping
features.

"And that's what makes you stronger than any other team in the Emperor's ranks,"
he commented seriously. "Luke needs you, Mara," he continued more earnestly.
"He has to control his caring habits, but believe me when I say that he would
act differently with you if he could."

Mara gaped at him in disbelief at that, then, as if understanding what he had
been trying to tell her, she blanched and stepped away from his son.

"I...," she mumbled even as her eyes traveled from his son to himself, "I have
to go, my Lord. Tell Luke I'll be in our quarters."

"I will," he reassured her, then she was gone as if she had just been scalded by
the thought of Luke being in love with her.

The bond was definitely drawing them closer and closer, he reflected while he
sat back in his chair, but they weren't there yet. Both youth had to admit
their love first.

In the meantime, he reflected more seriously, he had to set his son's mind
straight.

******

As Vader had promised Mara, he used his time downside to reset his son's
perception about some things. Throughout his week 'home', he brought him with
himself whenever he went to the palace, finding exceptional reasons to spend
time in the Emperor's court. He thus gave him some much needed insight on his
master.

As he stood behind his 'master', Luke saw once again that his true master wasn't
only a military commander who was ordering him around. He was a galactic ruler,
a man who felt all kinds of feelings like everybody else, not only anger.

Today, beautiful women seemed to have his favor since almost all his known
concubines were present at his reception. Other then the women though, there
were also men from the military and civilian services, and Prince Xizor, as
always.

*The Emperor favors him, Son. His connections with Black Sun make him an
invaluable asset for him,* his father reminded him coolly.

Even as he nodded inwardly in answer, a rising buzz attracted his attention
toward his left. A grand Moff and an Admiral were currently discussing with
each other, but the more seconds went by, and the more agitated both men grew
until they were downright insulting each other.

Now familiar with this occurrence, Luke barely gazed up at his master; as
always, he was enjoying the confrontation he had managed to spark between two
despicable officers.

Throughout the past few days, Luke had come to understand that the Emperor
enjoyed every pleasure that came his way, but that he especially favored
beautiful women, gastronomic food, comforts of all kinds... and tormenting
others any way he could think of. He also liked to make his pleasure last, no
matter which category of delights he was enjoying. However, what entertained
him the most was hurting others, depending on the occasion.

*Now do you understand why the Emperor would never hesitate to punish you if you
had upset him?* his father inquired seriously.

*Yes, now I understand,* he agreed, equally seriously.

Now he knew that if his master wasn't punishing him, it wasn't because he was
beneath him, it was because he deserved the good treatment... because he was
serving him well. As the angry confrontation went on, drawing others in the
heated debate, he promised himself that he would continue to do so, on all
aspects of his service, his emotions included.

*I believe we can---* his father began, then stopped short.

Luke slightly reached out to find out why he had reacted this way--- when an
unfortunately familiar voice came up from very close in front of them.

"Lord Vader, it's a pleasure to see you again," the falleen alien purred even as
he bowed beautifully to the dark lord.

"Prince Xizor," his father's answered curtly, barely nodding in answer. "I was
just about to leave on an urgent matter," he commented coldly even as Luke
understood his ploy and hid the comlink in his hand before pretending to pick it
from his father's hand.

"Then I won't delay you, my Lord. However, I was wondering if I could borrow
your slave for this reception. I would have the Emperor's agreement," he added
suavely.

"For what?" the older Vader demanded even as he shot a gaze at his master; the
ruler was still busy enjoying the upstart of a furious battle.

"The slave fights are still in an hour or so," Xizor shrugged simply. "Since
you are leaving before them, I thought that I could take care of your slave for
you till you return for them."

"'If' I returned for them," the dark lord hissed in warning even as he leaned
forward and closer to the Falleen. "I didn't intend to use the boy for those."

"Then forgive my daringness, My Lord," the wily alien bowed once again.

Luke thought that he was going to leave, but instead, he stepped closer to him
and swiftly took hold of his chin; he jerked his head up and forced him to look
at him. Luke fiercely fought down his urge to choke in disgust at the alien's
touch while he felt his father control his impulse to kill the creature for
touching him that way.

"However, I still think he would be a most interesting fighter," he commented
even as he slightly dug his nails in his skin. "He does seem very strong... for
a slave," he finished slyly, letting him go.

"Then your eyes deceive you, my Prince," Vader commented coldly----

Then Luke felt as if a ton of leaden bricks had fallen on his shoulders; he
crumpled to his knees, as if devoid of all his strength.

"He wouldn't have lasted a single round," his father continued in the distance,
then he forced him back to his wobbling feet. "Have a nice afternoon, Prince
Xizor," he finished curtly, then walked toward the nearest exit, pulling his
suddenly weakened 'slave' after himself.

*I'm sorry about that, Son,* his father apologized seriously. *I had to dispel
his clever deductions.*

*I understand, Father,* Luke nodded even as the effect of his father's Force-
simulation withdrew from his body. *It's a good thing that I wear a long and
ample-sleeved shirt and long trousers though,* he then commented as he shook his
head clear. *Otherwise, even that simulation wouldn't have convinced him.*

*And the Emperor would have had a new face-off to enjoy,* his father added
seriously.

While they walked down the ornate corridors, Luke admitted that his father might
have a point there; the Emperor might just have nudged the Falleen in their
direction, knowing that he would challenge their masquerade, especially his
father's. It was well known to everyone aware of their secret that his father
didn't like to treat him as a slave. He did it because it was their duty, but
he didn't like to 'act' as a slaver. He himself understood when he had to do
things like what had just happened; he didn't hold a grief against them.

They finally reached the turbolift that would take them to the private corridors
of the elite, and from there, back into his father's palace where they would
drop their disguise.

Well, he conceded as the doors closed in front of them, he now really understood
why his father didn't particularly like to spend time in the court... and he had
to admit that he shared his opinion about the perversity of the group.

However, he accepted that his master had a right to do so since his life was
very demanding on him; he rarely had any free time, so when he finally had
some... he simply enjoyed himself.

And now, he thought more seriously, back to his own duty; he and Mara had just
received a new mission from their master. As usual.

******

Three months later, and five missions later, Luke admitted that he was truly
glad that his master treated well his good servants.

Three days ago, he and Mara had inadvertently blown up one of their master's lab
during their last mission, but since it had been a minor one as well as their
target's fault for lighting up the inflammable liquid, their master had been
lenient.

Naturally, he was still recovering from his discipline, making it more
challenging for him to fight as skillfully as usual, but so was Mara's so they
were still even, he thought seriously.

He rolled away from her, jumped back to his feet, then flipped backward to land
his hands as she tried to knock him off his feet. He flipped back to his feet;
she was there and still knocked him down.

Luke immediately pushed his feet up to throw her off him and stop her from
pinning him, but she took hold of his legs with her hands and the Force. Thus,
even as he pushed her off of him, she drew him back over herself with a roll,
wrapped her strong legs around his hips, then flipped him back on the carpet; he
flipped her again and pinned her hands and body with his owns.

"I seem to win, Jade," he teased her victoriously.

"I had you, flyboy," she retorted in kind. "Come on, admit that you never saw
that thing with your legs coming," she teased him back, her voice somewhat
breathy.

Luke reluctantly nodded as he met her proud eyes--- and as it always happened
when this particular situation took place, their gazes remained locked together;
meanwhile, their bodies slowly became aware that they were laying very closely
to one another at the moment. Mara minutely tightened her legs around his hips,
pulling him closer and challenging further his self-control.

Gods was she beautiful, he thought in awe, smitten once again by the mesmerizing
qualities of his friend. She wasn't just beautiful either, he thought warmly.
She was the best friend anyone could have, she understood him, stood by him when
he needed help against his weaknesses, and he could always count on her
steadfast strength. He knew that he wasn't allowed to love, to care too much,
but he couldn't help but feel attracted, literally drawn and drowning in his
best friend---- He had to stop it, he scolded himself. He had to put an end to
his fantasizing and prohibited feelings for her; he couldn't anger the Emperor
again.

"Mara?" he asked uncertainly, meaning to tell her how he felt then exorcise the
feeling with her help.

"Yeah?" she answered in as a love-filled voice as his was.

It didn't help him to fight against his overwhelming need to love her, not just
care, but truly love her and be with her. Slowly, oh so slowly, he lost his
fight against his body as he leaned closer, then decided that it had to be a
guidance of the Force; this was how he could get rid of his weakness that was
slowly spreading itself to his friend.

'Tell her,... tell her,...' a voice seemed to chant in his mind, keeping him
from having grave doubts about what he could feel he had to do. Was it truly
the only way to become as good an imperial servant as Mara was? Or was he going
to hurt both himself and her even worse than he had ever done before?

'Tell her... tell her,' the mental voice continued soothing, then once his face
was hovering above Mara's angel-like features, shouted: 'Now!'

His mind overloaded with a jumble of fears and physical pressure, Luke abandoned
his will to the Force.

"I love you," he whispered in near fright before he shyly brushed his best
friends' lips with his own, barely touching them in the process.

A bolt of electric, irresistible awareness instantly coursed up and down his
whole body, destroying all the fears and doubts that had instantly begun to pull
him away from his act of betrayal.

Mara, who had been downright engrossed in a study of his constantly improving
manly features, suddenly heard his voice, then his lips were upon her owns.

It was as if she had been doused by cold water.

No, they couldn't do this!, she objected even as she felt an energy unlike
anything she had ever felt course down her whole body and back up her heart and
head. Their master would never forgive them, she moaned in complaint even as
she released her hold on his hips. She then swiftly shifted her position and
pushed him away from herself before rolling back to her feet.

What in the stars had they been doing? she wondered even as she turned her back
to her friend to block out the temptation of his very near presence. Yes, she
felt attracted to him, she conceded, and he was inhabiting all her dreams and
stray thoughts now, but she couldn't put him at risk like this, she berated
herself. She couldn't take advantage of his weak----

She had perhaps taken one or two steps toward the far away door when Luke's hand
wrapped around her right arm, whirled her around, then his lips were once
against pressed against hers, in a much more demanding fashion this time.

The feeling of his skin against hers, of his lips touching hers, of his tongue
coaxing her to let him in... gentle, warm, yet as unwavering as the young man
she was falling head-first for...

She let him inside; they instantly began a battle of tongues. While her hands
and arms work their way around his neck and into his hair, his hands wrapped
around her back and hips, pulling her closer to his own body.

He was intoxicating, she dimly thought even as she tried to touch more of him
with the rest of her shifting body. 'This' was overwhelming, shoving aside
caution, doubt, loyalty; the only thing that mattered was Luke, her, and the
addicting electricity that was inhabiting her body, mind, and soul.

Luke began to pull her head closer to his, as if desperate to go as deep as he
could; curiously, their bond deepened as well, allowing her to feel Luke's
feeling almost as if they were her own.

*I love you, Mara,* he sent her again with a wave of uncontrolled passion which
he tried to hide but couldn't anymore.

*And I love you, Luke,* she sent back, proving her love with her own sending.

As their silent exchange continued, she too tried to get herself back under some
kind of control, but, she admitted, it was as if a plug had been pulled on her
heart and she couldn't close it up again. She loved Luke, would never be able
to pretend anything else ever again...

At that moment, their fingers began to grapple against their clothes, eager to
remove them---- and both Luke and Mara jumped away from each other at that,
suddenly remembering that this had never even been supposed to ever happen.
They both gazed at each other's disheveled, flushed features.

"What have I done?" they both asked simultaneously, then both shook their heads
in growing fear.

The Emperor wouldn't be pleased, again, she shuddered, then crushed a true spark
of fear at the thought that he probably already knew what they had done; it was
useless to even entertain the thought of hiding it from him.

Without exchanging a single word, she and Luke put on something more proper over
their tank tops and went to their master's secret waiting room.

They both silently resolved that they would face him of their own free will
instead of being caught red-handed, so to speak.

Besides the main throne room, the teenagers waited on their knees for almost two
hours, aware of the most attractive presence that was beside him/her, aware of
their overpowering desire to give in and resume where they had left off, yet
constantly fighting down their feelings to wait still and serenely for their
master's convenience.

******

When the Emperor entered his secondary meeting room where his two young
assassins had been waiting for hours on end, he knew already everything he
needed to know.

The two soul mates had broken through to one another, rattling the Force with
their instantly increased power as they began the process of becoming one in the
Force. While he had closely monitored the youths lately, thus coming to accept
that this day would be unavoidable, sooner or later, it still didn't please him.

The bond was made of love, not mere lust or even greed, but unadulterated love
for one another, a devotion and feeling that had the potential to alter the
youth's loyalty to him, perhaps even the grip that the Dark Side had on their
souls. He wasn't 'truly' worried about Jade for she hadn't known anything but
what he had taught her, but the boy was another matter altogether.

Since he had been too late to restrain his powers given the delay between his
father finding him and the time he had brought him to the place, the youth had
retained the ability to use the Force without calling on his feelings. Of
course, his mind was always set on serving him and pleasing him, thus keeping
him in the imperial/dark side ways, but his powers were still coming from the
Light Side... Keeping part of a Jedi alive, a Jedi that love could reinforce and
turn into a most serious potential problem.

He would not allow this to happen, he decided with finality as he stepped closer
to the still kneeling children.

He reached out to read their minds; the boy was aware that he himself was aware
of what had happened.

"You created such a disturbance in the Force that even a regular being could
feel it," he said coldly, thoroughly displeased by the turn of events.

"I'm sorry, Master, it's my fault," the boy apologized humbly. "I was too weak
once again," he cringed slightly, probably remembering his last private meeting
with him, he decided.

"And you, Mara Jade?" he asked, ignoring the boy's attempt to apologize. "What
do you have to say in your defense?"

"I... I couldn't resist it, Master... My heart was unfortunately stronger than
my head," she answered truthfully. "It overwhelmed me... and still do," she
added reluctantly.

The Emperor sneered slightly at this, then walked forward and clasped both of
their heads with his spindly hands, then immersed himself in the two youths and
their disgusting feelings for one another.

As Vader had warned him, he conceded with finality, it was something that even
them, with all their skills of coercion, couldn't contain. It was the Force,
and nothing could resist the Force. That was why it was such a useful tool, he
reminded himself before he pulled out of the youths and entered a meditation.
The Force was his tool, so were the children at his feet; their bonding would be
a tool too, he decided and searched for the way to make sure that they would,
indeed remain his tool. His most powerful tools,... he finally smiled in greed
as he saw what he had to do to use their love while controlling it.

Luke cringed again when the Emperor touched his mind, aware that he would
deserve whatever pain would come his way... again, he sighed in resignation.

Instead of pain, though, their master reached out for his mind, then Mara's, he
felt; as the older man searched his mind with his, Luke understood that he was
pondering the future, choosing the best option that was available to him. He
dimly hoped that it wouldn't be a punishment and a separation. Kissing Mara had
been a mistake, he decided glumly; it only made him crave for her worse than
before.

When Mara threw him another surreptitious glance, he understood that she felt as
he did: on the brink of kissing him/her again.

For long minutes, the remained at their master's feet, like two obedient pets,
while he scanned the future with his razor-edged foreseeing abilities. Then,
all of a sudden, Luke felt as if he were being stretched toward Mara, and vice-
versa.

At first, he didn't understand what was happening until the slight pain
disappeared and he became aware of his mental bond with his friend. He opened
his eyes to gape wide-eyes at her; she gaped back a him.
They were still two entities, yet...

She could feel him as easily as she was feeling herself, Mara completed his
thought, aware of what he was thinking.

"When you will be ready," their master commented coldly as he stepped away from
them, "you will complete your path together," he ordered them.

The two youths snapped to attention. This was serious even if it was about
their intimate lives.

"What you are feeling is the bond that has drawn you together," he explained.
"When you will take the final steps, it will change one last time, bonding your
minds and souls forever. Even more than at the moment, you will share your
strengths, your abilities, everything," he told them seriously.

Mara could only gape at her friend in disbelief. He was letting them...

"I do not want any changes in your efficiency," the Emperor continued warningly.
"You 'may' be together when you are off-duty, but I am still your master," he
reminded them coldly.

Mara nodded in understanding; she searched her master's gaze. He glared right
back at her, then at Luke.

"Never forget to serve me before anybody else," he added dangerously. "Nor
'how' to serve me," he finished with a warning glare at her friend.

Luke visibly swallowed hard at this before he bowed his head in obedience.

"I will be wary of my love, Master," he answered humbly. "I will be strong."

"If you aren't, you both know the consequence now," their master commented
coldly, chilling Mara to the bone at the implicit threat.

If they both knew the consequence, then, she surmised their punishment would be
to be separated forever.

Luke and Mara bowed their heads.

"I understand, Master," they said in unison, humbled and more than subservient.

But they were allowed to love each other, Luke thought and she heard him.

*I wonder what he meant by bonding our minds and souls,* she briefly sent him as
the Emperor left them.

They pondered this question all the way back to their training room... where
they forced themselves to resume their normal activities.

They hadn't finished their day yet, and they both agreed to not underestimate
their master's threat.

A single flaw and they 'knew' that they would be pulled apart, but neither of
them wanted to take any risk with their love.

Hence, they slowly nurtured it whenever they had some time to themselves, but it
was a very rare occurrence in their very loaded schedules.

******

Now that they were allowed to be together, Luke and Mara took their time to
develop their love relationship, sharing kisses and other romantic things, but
they never dared complete their path together; they were both slightly worried
about what would happen to their minds once they would do it.

Their master had said that they would become one... Neither Luke nor Mara wanted
to lose themselves, yet the were aware that doing so was an order from their
master. Sooner or later, they would have to do it.

Stillm Mara reflected as she listened to Lord Vader's plan, one thing was sure:
her master and Lord Vader needed both Luke and herself to eradicate one of the
last Jedi enclave.

While she and Luke would be hidden from the rest of the task force, she
understood, they would still work with them, merely on the other side of the
hideout so as to corner their preys.

While Vader was in a meeting to put the final touch to their common plan, Mara
sat with her boyfriend and they watched the planet that would soon see some
dangerous action... and her boyfriend's test as a future Dark Lord of the Sith.

"Can't those Jedis pick nicer places to hide?" he asked her as she rested her
hand on his shoulder.

"I sure hope not, flyboy," she commented lightly while pulling her legs up on
the couch, "Otherwise, it would leave 'us' with those dump grounds," she joked.

Even as he smiled at her attempt to lighten his mood, he wrapped his arm around
her shoulder; she leaned in the crook of his arm, enjoying a quiet moment with
him. Even since they had been granted permission to be together, she had grown
aware of how wonderful she felt when they were simply cuddling and talking. In
fact, she had never expected his arms to feel this good around her.

"Hmm, I guess so," he finally agreed, but his mood turned serious once again.
"However, if they didn't, we wouldn't have to go running after them in this
muck," he grunted in disgust, referring to what they had seen during their
debriefing.

She had to admit that she too had her fill of disgusting environments. There
was just no limit to where the Jedis were trying to escape their destiny:
garbage fields, sewers, rubbles, swamps...

"Say, which environment is your favorite mission ground?" she asked him with
genuine interest.

"Watery worlds, or continental ones. You know, the green and blue planets?" he
inquired.

"Yes, I know," she nodded. "So... you like those nature things," she smirked
teasingly, giving a second shot at taking his mind off his stress.

"Well, yes," he hesitantly conceded, then blushed slightly: "I guess I haven't
seen enough of those up to now. What about you?" he asked in returned interest.

"Hmm, technological worlds. I love how easy it is to circumvent their gadgets,"
she smiled smugly.

"I should have known; you never like to play fair," he ribbed her slightly, a
ghost of a smile slowly playing on his lips. "Looks like we won't have this
chance this time," he then reminded her seriously.

"I know," she sighed in resignation at his serious mood. He wanted to succeed
in this mission; she knew that he wouldn't let anyone distract him from his
difficult goal: to kill his first Jedi by himself. "You know, I once read that
mud baths did wonders to one's skin," she still commented mock-seriously, if
only to make him smile a little once again; it worked.

Then, it was time to focus on their upcoming mission in which she was his back-
up but had been told to not intervene unless truly necessary.

The moment that the regular troopers entered the Jedi's awareness, the cowards
fled away and ran straight into different teams, Luke and Mara's
included.

Luke easily jumped down from his tree branch and unsaddled the Jedi from his
speeder bike, but he also mired both of them in the sticky, stinking goop.

As they had been told, Luke reflected with a grunt of disgust as he stood back
to his feet, the swamps's muck was sticky and extremely hampering. If only the
troopers had been more discreet, he thought even as he tried to find a more
stable position to face his opponent.

Then he couldn't think anymore, only fight against his deadly enemy.

The two Jedi Knights fought with their lightsabers, unable to move their feet,
only able to rely on their arms and upper bodies to defend themselves.

Luke held his ground well, parrying every attack and lunge, but his
inability to move was slowly playing against him.

When he tried to disarm his enemy with a wide sweep, he instead hit the mud due
to his lack of balance; he stuck his hands and weapon in it the soft ground.
Even as the youth became aware of his fatal mistake, the Jedi prepared his final
strike.

Luke desperately tried to roll away or jump out of the way as the weapon of
light moved downward--- then just as he fought past his fear to focus his senses
for a Force-shove, he noticed that the blade was not moving toward him anymore.

Mara had come to the rescue, having hurled her lightsaber at the Jedi... who was
now dead in the thick mud. He looked up in growing resent and anger; he had not
been forfeited yet, he wanted to argue with her as she jumped from one tree to
another to reach him while avoiding the trap of the sticky ground.

By the time Mara was above him, Luke had finally managed to pull his hands and
weapon free from the sticky goop and was trying to do the same thing with his
feet.

"You all right?" she asked him from her perch.

"Yeah, but I wasn't done yet," he answered caustically as he stashed his weapon
back in his belt.

"Only half-done," she replied in kind, then uncoiled an emergency rope.

Luke didn't answer to this, aware that he would tell her mean things if he
spoke. He had never been angry at her, he dimly reminded himself; he wouldn't
start today, he resolved.

However, that didn't keep him from pouting in great displeasure; he had been
about to kill the Jedi, for Force's sake. Sure he had lost his focus due to his
emotions, but he had gotten back on track and would have fulfilled his destiny
had she not been nearby...

Meanwhile, Mara silently looped her rope around a branch, then lowered it to his
level. Reluctantly, almost mechanically, Luke wrapped it around his forearm and
wrist, then grabbed it.

"Ready," he told her coolly.

She finished to tie her other rope to a weakened tree.

"On three: one, two, three!"

They both toppled the targeted tree with their Force powers; Luke shot out of
the imprisoning mud, but he reluctantly left his boots behind.

******

The moment they were back aboard the Executor, Luke retreated to his shower,
alone. He didn't want to speak with Mara yet; he knew that he was still too
angry and would regret his words... but she had ruined his one chance to finally
prove his true worth to their master, he thought in frustration as he shoved his
suit in the incinerator trash bin, then hit the shower.

While he focused on washing away the brown disgusting stuff that was still
clinging to his skin, he tried to calm down. Okay, he attempted to rationalize,
perhaps, just perhaps, he had truly failed his test against the Jedi. Perhaps,
just perhaps, he wouldn't be ranting in frustration if Mara hadn't saved his
life...

If only he had fought in any other element but that goop!, he raved angrily, he
would have won more than easily. What had those Jedi fools been thinking when
they had selected such a paralyzing ground to establish their base?, he raged,
finally finding a good recipient for his anger and letting it loose. He seethed
for as long as he stood under the water until it began to be colder.

When it did, he exited the shower, then quickly dried himself.

His only consolation in all this, he reflected while he wrapped his towel around
his hips, was that the mud had played against the Jedis as well as against
himself. He now knew that he truly was apt on taking on fully trained Jedi
traitors, or at least the very few of them who still remained after this latest
mission, he conceded more calmly.

He walked out of the 'fresher.

Still, he began with a new burst of anger--- and stopped short in his tracks as
his eyes fell on his girlfriend who was laying on his bed, wearing only her bra
and her trousers.

For a long moment, he could only gape at her, meeting her eyes, and feeling his
anger dissipate as quickly as if it had never even inhabited his heart.

It wasn't the first time that he was seeing her clothed like that, he admitted
to himself, but he could feel that something special was about to happen this
time. He felt it even more strongly when she sensually stood up from the
mattress and walked closer to him.

It pinned him where he stood. Why was her sight this overpowering this time?,
he wondered as she walked closer, and closer, and even closer until they were
practically standing nose to nose.

"What... wh-wha-wwwhat are you doing?" he finally managed around his slack jaw.

She took his hands in hers, pulling him even closer until she was pressing
herself against the full length of his body. It left him completely speechless,
and more than a little under 'her' powers.

"Luke..." she told him gently, "stop beating yourself over the head," she
scolded him. "You were good enough to survive this far; the Emperor had ordered
me to not hesitate and save you if I felt your death as imminent," she explained
gently. "Your day will soon come," she encouraged him. "Don't lose hope."

He belatedly realized that she had felt his mental rummaging.

"But---" he wanted to argue.

She silenced him with a delicious kiss that monopolized his lips for the next
two minutes. Meanwhile, her hands began to stray in his wet hair and all over
his warm skin.

*No buts, flyboy,* she finally sent him. *Celebrate our most important victory
with me, please. We won against the last Jedi enclave,* she reminded him.

Unable to remain angry at her for obeying their master, he finally understood
the wisdom behind her words and saw their mutual victory as a team instead of
his own, selfish would-be victory.

He silently answered her by backing them back to the bed.

Some time later, the two young lovers thought back to what had happened a few
moments ago, when their minds had become one.

"So that was what the master meant," Mara whispered in awe as she caressed his
damp air. "It's... as if I'm you, but I'm still myself too, just... stronger,"
she reflected seriously.

"And more focused and wise," the youth answered in agreement. "He said that it
was undoable, didn't he," he inquired softly, marveling at the unique feeling of
feeling one in all senses of the word, with his wonderful best friend.

She grabbed a hunk of his hair and delicately brought his head back to hers.

"Even if it could, flyboy, I'm not letting you go," she smiled lustfully. "I
never want to loose you."

"You stole my words, my love," he smirked back before capturing her lips once
more.

******

As Mara had told Luke, he had failed his test as far as his lordship was
concerned, but he and Mara had done a very good job once again.

Before leaving his father, Luke sought out his father to tell him about Mara and
himself.

He found his father in his library, silently gazing out at the patterns of
hyperspace.

"Was he pleased?" his father asked him without shifting his position to look at
him.

"Yes, and no," the youth sighed, plopping down on the couch beside his father.
"I failed miserably to take my place in his higher ranks, but Mara's actions
contented him about the mission."

"She saved your life," his father commented coolly.

For a moment, Luke glared hotly at his father--- then he sighed and slumped his
shoulders. "Yes," he admitted, as he lowered his chin to his chest, "she did."

His father's fingers appeared under his chin at that, gently making him look
back at him. "What you did before she intervened was still more than we could
have hoped for," his father reassured him seriously. "Even I might not have
survived a fight in such conditions," he admitted.

That made Luke gape in surprise. "But you wouldn't have lost your focus to your
fear," he argued, "and would have shoved the Jedi away much faster than I did---

"And he would have thrown his weapon at me while I would have still been stuck,"
his father finished wisely. "You survived Luke," he then reminded him.
"Nothing else matters. Your time will come," he finished reassuringly.

Luke couldn't help but smile slightly at that. "You speak like Mara," he teased
his father, then remembered why he had wanted to talk with his father in the
first place.

Vader felt a difference in his son's senses even as his complexion darkened
slightly.

"Speaking about Mara," the youth began hesitantly, "I..."

"You have finally joined with her as her soul mate," he provided for his
struggling son.

The face the boy made afterward would have pulled a smile from even their
unemotional master.

"You know about that?" he gaped at him.

"The Emperor told me about your incident in the training room," he informed him
while not mentioning that their permission was in part due to him. "I also felt
the shift in your senses when your soul became one with hers."

"And?" the youth prompted him, as if worried that he would not approve, he
noticed.

"I believe you're old enough to choose the right lover for yourself, Son," he
commented gently, truly allowing his emotions to filter in his voice this time.
"I know how happy you are with Mara, and how happy you make her in return," he
then added earnestly. "You were meant to be together."

"I... I think we were," the young Jedi nodded in slight bemusement, then smiled
brightly. "I'm glad you approve, Father. It will reassure her about you."

"Somehow," Vader commented off-handedly, "I have the feeling you would have
persuaded her to feel welcome in the family," he smirked under his helmet.

His son blushed a darker crimson at this, then cleared his throat and shifted
uncomfortably on his chosen seat.

"Well, what are you waiting for now? I believe you and her have a long flight
to Coruscant," he ribbed him slightly.

The youth nodded in answer, then stood up. "Yes, we do," he nodded. "Good bye,
Father. May the Force be With You," he bid him farewell.

"And with you, Son," he answered, then the youth headed for the doors... and his
waiting lover.

At last, he smiled to himself, his son was beginning to earn what he deserved.

******

Since the youth's skills continued to grow, their master gave them even more
complex missions.

They thus began to live their first space missions, ambushing their targets
between the two of them and striking them senseless before boarding them.

None of their victims ever got a chance against them; now even more than before,
Luke and Mara were the most perfect team the galaxy had ever known, their minds
being one while two.

The Emperor jubilated, never regretting his decision to allow them to love each
other. The ensuing results were even better than the preceding ones.

******

They were now eighteen, an age where normal young adults went out, had fun
without their parents, and dreamed of what they would do with their lives.
It was also the age of passions of all kinds.

Luke and Mara didn't escape that rule; Mara became even more passionate by
every kind of new fighting techniques that came out in the galaxy... While
Luke's thing for the Princess of Alderaan resurfaced and became downright
obsessive.

This time, it irked Mara to the utmost, especially since he wouldn't tell her
why he was so enthralled by the stranger, and that despite the Emperor's edict
on Luke's bad habits. He could watch news from the young woman, but he knew
better than to collect anything about her or entertain thoughts once the news
were over.

"If I knew why, Mara, I'd tell you," Luke assured his lover earnestly, feeling
like he had repeated that scene at least a hundred times already.

Mara, as always, fumed, planting her fists on her hips. Luke had no doubt that
if she didn't like his answer, her fists' next destination would be his jaw.

"Look, I think I have an hunch about her..." he began.

"You think?" she inquired angrily.

"I don't know, I'm not sure," he fumbled, "but what if it's about a mission
concerning her?" he asked her even as his feeling began to define itself now
that he had finally managed to voice it out loud. "If it is, I'll be glad to
have all that stuff about her, don't you think?"

"That would be one hell of a mission for you to prepare it for years in
advance," his furious lover growled unhappily. "Just tell me one thing:" she
then demanded warningly: "do you love her?" she asked, pointing at the image
that was still running on one of their vid screens.

"No." Luke answered truthfully, gazing in his lover's green, distraught eyes.
"I don't want to be intimate with her, Mara, I just want to know her," he
admitted.

"Much like you wanted to know me," she reminded him sternly.

Luke sighed, bravely took a step closer to her, took hold of her hands and
rested them against his temples.

"Look inside, Mara, and tell me if what I feel for her is the same than what I
feel for you," he challenged her.

That stunned the young woman; as per common agreement, they never invaded each
other's mind anymore than they had to. To probe him would be---

"Do it, Mara. See for yourself," he told her earnestly while she felt him undo
all his barriers for her.

Reaching a decision, she closed her eyes, quickly found her focus and touched
his mind. She almost instantly saw his feelings for her and for the princess.

He was right, she realized. It wasn't the same thing at all, even though the
pull was almost as equally strong... it was just of a completely different
nature.

She withdrew from his mind, feeling ashamed of her jealousy.

"I'm sorry, Luke," she told him, avoiding his eyes.

Her lover brought his right hand to her chin, delicately raising her head to see
her eyes.

"It's okay, I understand... If you were to ogle another man, I'd
be jealous too," he smiled slightly.

She smirked at his attempt to lighten the mood. "Ogle another man, huh? Why
that's not a bad idea at all, flyboy," She ribbed him in the arm before teasing
him. "I think I'll start with that movie star, Tam ---"

He shut her up with a kiss.

*You're incorrigible,* he sent her playfully while shutting the sound of the
still blathering vid screen.

*And you're still unable to resist my baits,* she teased him back.

He groaned in frustration before pulling her as close to himself as he could.

*Shut up and kiss me, Jade,* he sent lustfully.

She complied most eagerly.

******

While Luke and Mara's both intimate and dutiful universes were going well, the
rest of the galaxy slowly fell under another threat that became even more of a
nuisance than the Jedi Knights had been. This time, it wasn't about people with
special powers, only about a fight for a concept known as freedom.

Lord Vader thus found himself roaming the galaxy all over again, this time
hunting a very different kind of prey.

The Rebel Alliance had just declared war on the Jedi killers.

To be continued in part 11: The Mission

Well, liked it?

Copyright 2000, SJ (skyjade@globetrotter.net)
(Any positive stuff is welcome, but any mean stuff will be sent to the garbage
smasher without being read.)