have finally managed to finish one chapter successfully. Two and three are well on the way after that!!!! WHo knows. This story could change direction at any time. I hope you all enjoy. Need i say it is L & M. The opening chapters are G rated but things will probably change knowing me.

Hugs

Ash D.

The Emerald Price

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

Coruscant - Two Weeks Previously

Bright green eyes bored into his face drilling right through him with the intensity of her gaze. He knew they were trying to tell him something - but what? There was only one woman he knew with eyes of that vibrant shade - that clear, true colour. Only one woman in the entire galaxy.

"Luke!"

Her voice was loud inside his head, so loud that she could have been standing next to him - calling to him.

"Luke! Help me!"

And then there was nothing - only an ominous, deafening silence, the sheer abruptness of it shocking.

"Mara!" Luke jerked into wakefulness and an upright position at the same time, the covers falling to his waist leaving his sweat-soaked torso bare. "Mara," he whispered, pushing his damp, tangled hair away from his face with shaking fingers. "What has happened to you?"

Slowly the space he was starring out into, wistfully hoping for an answer, began to seep its familiarity and emptiness into his consciousness. Until with a breath Luke closed his eyes and bowed his head. It was just a dream. At least that's what he tried to tell himself. But he knew from experience that he rarely had ordinary, normal dreams like other beings. His dreams usually had some sort of portent for the future - not always good either.

Luke swung his bare legs over the side of the bed until his bare feet touched the floor. Propelling himself upright he straightened his quilt before staring out into the night. He could see the lights of Coruscant glittering from the large viewport in his bedchamber. What was happening? He walked to the window and stared out. His apartment inhabited one of the tallest buildings in the city - the panoramic view was breathtaking but LLuke couldn't appreciate that view right now, so preoccupied with his dream was he. Force, he was deathly tired. The last few missions he'd undertaken for the New Republic with scarcely a break in between had been ruthlessly demanding. Even Leia, glad that he was back helping the New Republic on a regular basis, was wondering if he was trying to kill himself through overwork. Luke placed his head against the cool transparisteel and sighed.

Mara

Luke turned away from the viewport and shrugged his naked body into a black towelling robe. With a wave of his hand, the lights came on at a dim setting until his eyes got used to them. He made his way through the bare apartment to the communications centre and tried to get a lock on Mara's whereabouts.

Nothing.

When that didn't work he tried to reach out to her through the Force. He couldn't seem to sense her, unable to tell if she were well. It was unnerving, but he felt something was definitely amiss. She had been calling him, there was no doubt. Now his fears began to twist inside his belly. It always came down to Mara Jade and the effect she had on his life. If she wasn't well, she was in trouble and if that was the case, he was the one that could help her. That's all she would take from him - his assistance. He'd better contact Karrde.

***********************************************

Coruscant Spaceport - The Present

Darkness had fallen quickly, still the spaceport was busy. There was almost no difference between day and night as far as traffic on Coruscant was concerned but docking bay 30456B was quiet. The beings housed on the CEC Action VI transport - the Wild Karrde - had long retired for the night, tuning out the sound of constantly arriving and departing spacecraft until it resembled nothing more than a dull roar. All of them were asleep, apart from a necessary security detail and the captain who remained very much awake. He was worried - very worried.

Talon Karrde sat sleepless for the fifth night in a row in his office in front of his com screen. He'd barely moved from the ship in over a week. On the surface everything appeared to be fine with his life and his business. The port officials had all been bribed not to look too closely at the ship's weaponry and the customs officials had come and gone without finding the hidden contraband he was carrying in shielded compartments. Everything was normal unless you counted the fact that his trusted second-in-command had set off on a mission three weeks ago and hadn't been heard from since.

The crew didn't think anything unusual about Mara Jade's disappearance and Karrde had not bothered to enlighten them. He didn't want to worry them too. She did very much what she wanted and often was away from the main group for weeks on end but, somehow, this was different. There had been no distress call, nothing to indicate that she could be in trouble - just silence. She had her own mode of transport and her own way of operating even though she was working for him. This trip was on organisation business. almost.

He had made the first com-call to Jedi Master Luke Skywalker nearly two weeks ago which had occasioned an immediate reaction from the Jedi Master but since then he'd heard nothing. The fact that Skywalker had also been concerned didn't bode well in Karrde's opinion. He had also tried to contact Lando Calrissian without success since Mara had disappeared. To his annoyance and frustration, the man had been out of reach - a bad move for any businessman Karrde had decided. His information network had finally located the suave, dark-skinned gambler on the planet Systra. The gambler was in top-secret negotiations with the owner of a chain of casinos. Lando was planning a major expansion of his business empire.

Karrde decided that it was time to acquaint Calrissian with his feelings about facing the situation before the media were alerted to the fact that Mara had gone on this trip alone and had not returned to spend time with her alleged current lover.

The holopress had taken an almost unhealthy interest in Mara's activities of late. Ever since she'd been seen regularly with Lando Calrissian, hero of the Rebellion, they had followed her every move. Mara had been linked with him romantically much to their delight but only Mara, Lando and Karrde knew that it was a cover for a fact finding mission on Karrde's behalf.

The holo-reporters had seized on the idea of a love affair between Jade and Calrissian with an almost animalistic fervour. There was no war, no crisis of government, no health scares, no uprising by the remnants of the defeated Empire. not yet there wasn't. Karrde would know as soon as any one of the jumped up little Mofflings and their pet warlords got ideas too far above their abilities. There was nothing going on in the galaxy to take the media's interest away from the little set-up he'd engineered. He knew that it couldn't last much longer. Mara had just about had as much of Calrissian as she could stomach. There had been a murderous glint in her green eyes and several muttered comments about how a well-placed slash of a vibro-shiv might end the Baron's life and give her some peace. So instead of travelling with Calrissian she had chosen to go alone.

Karrde smoothed his hand over his well-trimmed goatee. His trading organisation didn't need the kind of publicity that Mara's disappearance, without Calrissian following her, would bring - even the legitimate part of it. They'd been almost inseparable for weeks. Too much publicity alienated his best and most exclusive clients and he did not want to risk the guaranteed credits any longer. Mara had been right - it wasn't his best idea and it should be over.

Karrde stared at the old-fashioned, wind-up chrono on his desk. Time was passing and Mara had still not contacted him. The feeling in his gut told him that he couldn't wait any longer before heading out after his second-in-command. Maybe he'd acted too quickly in the first instance when he'd contacted Luke Skywalker but he'd felt uneasy about Mara's trip and her failure to keep in regular contact. Now, perhaps, he was too late. He reached out an elegant hand and pressed the buttons that would make that com-call.

"Lando." He greeted the dark-skinned man on the other end of the viewscreen with cool politeness.

"Hey, Karrde!" Lando's loudly exuberant voice echoed around the office as his image shimmered into view. As always, Lando Calrissian was dressed immaculately, not a gleaming black hair out of place. "Business is good, I take it?"

Karrde gave him a restrained nod. "Business is what it always is," he replied carefully.

Lando chuckled. "Then it is good," he murmured thoughtfully. "But something's wrong." Lando stared at Karrde for a moment, not saying anything as his expression changed. The twinkle in his eyes sharpened to curiosity. "How did you know where I was?"

"I have my sources, which I will not divulge, but it still took me several days to find you."

"What is it?" Lando gave the impression that he was shallow - an impression that had fooled people many times over the years. Lando Calrission's intelligence gleamed from his dark eyes if one cared to look behind the charming facile facade. He had been fooling lesser beings in this manner for many years. He considered that it gave him an advantage. "Something's wrong," he repeated. "Han and Leia. The Empire?"

"No, not yet. It's Mara," Karrde said succinctly. "She's missing. Let's hope the days I wasted trying to find you are not costing Mara dear."

"How could that be?" Lando tried to gauge the lack of expression on Karrde's face; never an easy task at the best of times but his opening words had been distinctly lacking in warmth. "How long has she been missing?"

"I haven't heard from her in over two weeks."

Lando relaxed. "Is that all? Mara's been away for far longer than that without you worrying about her. She'll have forgotten to call in. Mara can take care of herself," he dismissed Karrde's worry, conveniently forgetting that Karrde never worried without good reason.

Karrde's pale blue eyes flashed warningly. "Mara does not forget, Calrissian. She may be used to working alone but she never neglects to inform me of her whereabouts especially in potentially dangerous situations."

"Where was she headed?"

"You know damn fine where she was headed."

Lando bristled. "I have no idea where she's gone. How could I? I don't keep notes on your order book and your clients."

"She was heading for the sector nearest to the Kathol Rift. You were supposed to be with her. You said you would go with her."

"Oh, she's already left on that trip." Lando shrugged. "Something came up and I had to drop out. It was business, Karrde. You understand business more than anyone else I know. How else would you be so successful? Mara didn't seem to mind going alone. She's a professional and understands the way a successful business works."

"Of course she's a professional. Mara does not take unnecessary risks. It's kept her alive and in a job so far. But business is not what this is about. I told you that I have been trying to contact you for days," Karrde continued with a cold stare. "That's hardly good business to be out of contact for so long."

"My negotiations were. delicate. I couldn't be distracted," Lando excused.

"If you had been with her then."

"We both might be missing," Lando interrupted. "I told you, the Casino is just taking off and I couldn't leave Systra just now - not with such an opportunity to extend my holdings. It's my livelihood Karrde, you understand. Mara said she could manage without me - she understood."

"Is that all she said?" Karrde's voice was suspicious.

"Yes."

The guilty look quickly masked on Lando's face made Karrde grit his teeth. Lando was an accomplished con-artist but he didn't fool Karrde in the least. "You didn't think that accompanying her would keep up that little fiction you have concerning the relationship between the pair of you?" Karrde shuffled a stack on data cards on his desk. "I suppose there is no real need for you to keep that little story going now. It has served its purpose. I can't see us finding out anything else useful for the moment. Still, when it gets out to the media that you are on Systra and Mara has gone." Karrde slammed the data cards back on to the smooth wooden surface. "They'll have a field day. My organisation doesn't need or want that kind of publicity. You were supposed to go on this trip together and end the 'affaire' there."

"I think Mara and I could be good together. Let's not be hasty, Karrde. Mara's beginning to warm to me. I can see the look in her eye. I've seen it often enough in other women."

Karrde shook his head in weary disbelief, his face seeming to age, and Lando scowled looking like a small boy thwarted of his favourite toy.

"I don't want to end it."

"Maybe not. But your constant harassment of Mara means that she does want to end it - she told me this herself and I asked her just to wait a little longer." He gave a sigh of frustration. "This is far too sudden. The holopress are still too interested in what you and Mara are up to and if she is in trouble - it could affect her safety. I'm not often mistaken about things but I was wrong about this. We should never have started it in the first place. You wanted Mara as a conquest and she doesn't take kindly to that kind of pressure."

Lando's charming veneer slipped. "I was persistent. I wasn't pressuring her."

"Weren't you?"

Lando's mouth twisted. "She said she didn't want me within ten parsecs of her or her ship," he admitted finally and then grinned. "She loves me really. If I keep up this arrangement Mara will come around to see that she cannot live without me. I think I've made some headway."

"You tried to proposition her, didn't you?" Karrde's voice was drier than the Dune Sea.

"I never laid a finger on her."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Hold up your hands."

Mystified, Lando did so.

Karrde gave a mirthless chuckle. "It's easy. You still have all of your fingers."

Snatching his hands away from the viewer, Lando's mouth tightened as he replied, "One of these days she'll say 'yes.' She just enjoys the thrill of the chase. I know she likes me. She's just playing hard to get."

"Mara plays hard - I guarantee you that one," Karrde admitted coldly. "But she doesn't play hard to get. If she wants you, she'll get you. Therefore, she doesn't want you. Face it, Lando."

"She doesn't want you either," Lando sniped back, beginning to feel out of his depth. Karrde was far too shrewd to fool.

The smuggler chief laughed with the first sign of genuine amusement he'd shown since he'd faced Calrissian. "Of course not. We do not have that kind of relationship, nor are we pretending to have that kind of relationship. I am her boss. Such liaisons are usually destructive to the people and the organisation involved. Hence my 'no involvement with a member of my organisation' clause."

"So cool, Karrde," Lando observed bitterly. "She's a beautiful and passionate woman. Are you made of stone?"

"One has to be calm in my position," Karrde returned evenly, biting back the retort he wanted to make. "After all, I make the decisions and they have to be the right ones. I admire and respect Mara greatly but I do not desire her body." He leant back in his chair, pressing the tips of his fingers together. "However, I am worried about her whereabouts and her safety. She may have all the skills of an Imperial assassin and a Jedi Knight rolled into one lethal package but she is not invincible and she told me that herself. She is my second-in-command and I look after my people."

"There is no one more capable of fending for herself than Mara," Lando blustered.

"I thought you might have shown some concern because of your professed 'interest' in my second-in-command. If you really love her."

"Love?" Lando questioned. "What is love? I cannot say if I love her or not. It's a bit premature to be involving emotions don't you think?"

"To win Mara Jade, Calrissian, love is what you will need."

Lando chuckled. "I never took you for the romantic, idealistic type, Karrde. That's more Luke Skywalker's territory."

"Luke is more ruthless than you think, Calrissian. Don't take him for a fool. He's seen quite a bit of the seamier side of life and has fought hard for everything he has. Don't forget his little brush with the dark side."

"Of course I won't but he's learned his lesson as far as that is concerned. He won't take that route again."

Karrde nodded. "I believe that he won't but it has given him more depth of character."

Lando smirked. "I don't mean to malign Luke. He's a good buddy."

"I'm being pragmatic," Karrde continued. "Mara is not an easy conquest as I'm sure you've already found out."

Lando's grin faded and his face settled into lines of discontent. "Yeah!" Although they had played at being lovers in the public eye, when alone, Mara had treated him with outright disdain. It had rankled.

It had been a joint decision to try and locate Karrde's former boss, Jorj Car'das and Mara had agreed to pretend to be involved with Calrissian to do so. They had acquired shares in a mine together and the relationship was a good smokescreen for ferreting out information on the whereabouts of Karrde's long disappeared associate. Karrde suspected that Car'das was still alive somewhere and had valuable information - that had been the man's passion. More than anything, Jorj Car'das had desired to acquire information. Car'das would know what the Empire was up to Karrde was certain that they were up to something. Bastion had been far too quiet recently and that always spelled trouble.

Lando wanted Mara Jade in his bed - he wanted the fabricated relationship to be real. He couldn't resist the lure of a beautiful woman. However Mara did not want Lando. She'd seen through him a long time ago.

But she had reluctantly accepted the charade and had played it most convincingly until now. There was no need for the deception to continue and Mara would not continue making up to Calrissian forever. Karrde suspected that Mara would rather sleep with Luke Skywalker, and that was saying something, before she would let Calrissian touch her again. The Jedi Master had never appeared to be one of her favourite people and she treated him with a peculiar mixture of hostility, indifference and warmth. Ah, yes, Karrde thought. Luke Skywalker. Where did he fit into the mix? What was he to Mara and she to him? There was something powerful between them which could not be easily explained away. But he still suspected she would rather sleep with the Jedi than Lando and wasn't sure if that was as a last resort or because it wasn't.

"All I'm saying, Calrissian, is that you need to be aware of what's happening. The media are still very interested in you and Mara."

Lando gave a heavy sigh, grudgingly admitting to himself that if Karrde was worried, then Mara was probably in some sort of trouble. He could save her and then she'd regard him as a hero and be properly grateful. "Okay, Karrde. Give me a day or two to clear my schedules and then."

Karrde waved a hand cutting him off. "No, there's no need..."

"You're just going to leave her?" There must be something he'd missed. Karrde's face had suddenly appeared almost smug as if something Lando had said had proved him right.

"No, not if I can help it. I do have contingency plans. I contacted Luke Skywalker well over a week ago. He happened, most fortuitously, to be on Coruscant."

"You contacted Luke before you contacted me?" Lando frowned.

Karrde nodded. "You were unavailable until two days ago. I tried to get hold of you." The smuggler sighed. He hadn't tried very hard. "Fortuitously Luke was on Coruscant and because he has the Force he has ways of locating Mara that you and I do not. Yes, I contacted him."

"He's there on Coruscant more often than he is on Yavin these days," Lando commented. "Seems that the galaxy doesn't want him to save it as much as it once did. Plus the Yavin Academy doesn't hold his attention like it used to."

"There are still trouble spots around the galaxy and the Empire has been a little too quiet for a little too long in my opinion. They're up to something and Luke wants to be ready. Besides, the Yavin Academy is fully operational and Luke never really wanted to teach full time. It was something he had to do until more knights were trained to take his place. He is now free to look at the wider picture in the galaxy."

"And that means Coruscant?"

The smuggler chief bent over his desk and stared into the monitor. "For the moment. Yes."

Karrde couldn't get the difference in their reactions between Lando and the Jedi Master out of his mind. Skywalker had appeared stunned for a moment, his face whitening. The Jedi had quickly masked his feelings, hiding his emotions behind an impassive expression, but Karrde knew that Luke Skywalker would go and search for her. He was the one person Karrde could trust to do so.

******************************************

"You're at the Spaceport? Expect me in about an hour. I'm on my way," was all that Luke had said before the screen went blank.

Luke had arrived at the Wild Karrde a little over an hour later and Karrde knew that the blond-haired Jedi was worried.

"Where was she headed?" Luke asked. "Is she in trouble?"

"I don't know." Karrde's voice was grim.

The memory of Mara's voice calling for him resurfaced in Luke's mind. "She's in trouble," he gritted between closed teeth. He stared into Karrde's pale eyes willing him to understand. "I heard her call for me. I knew she was in trouble." Luke lifted his hands and gazed at them as if he were examining a foreign object under a microscope. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"You and me both." Karrde checked his data. "She and Lando were."

"Lando? Lando is with her?" Luke's voice held a strangely hollow ring to it. "They're both in trouble?"

Karrde shook his head. "No. Mara went alone. He was supposed to be with her but he didn't go. Something else came up."

"Don't tell me," Luke said flatly. "It was casino business."

"How did you.?"

"I know Lando."

"Yes, it was casino business. He and Mara had some sort of."

"Altercation?" Luke enquired dryly with a raised eyebrow.

"You could put it that way." Karrde's voice was equally dry. "He should not have let her go alone."

Luke's mouth formed a flat, tight line of disapproval. "No, he should not. But you and I both know Mara Jade too well. If she made up her mind to go alone then she will have done exactly that regardless of how Lando felt."

"I suspect that Lando wasn't given any choice in the matter," Karrde murmured.

For a fleeting moment a ghost of a smile hovered on Luke's lips. "Ah," he said. "There isn't a word to describe how stubborn she is. Stubborn just doesn't even come near it."

Karrde had to agree. Mara did what she wanted to with a dewback-like obstinacy. Luke knew her well and in Karrde's view was the only person who could match her - the only person she would listen to.

*************************************************

"So Luke has gone after her?" Lando asked carefully.

"Yes."

"Great!" Lando said, relief colouring his voice as he leaned back in a dark, nerf-leather chair. He had time to finish his business and dally a little longer with the fascinating lady he'd picked up. Karrde's information broker couldn't know that his business with the casino involved delicate negotiations with the soon-to-be former owner - a most attractive and wealthy widow. Unlike a certain red-head of his acquaintance, this female was quite happy to share his bed. "Luke will find her but if he needs my help, just let me know. I'll try and clear my schedule - just in case."

"Good." Karrde's voice was sardonic. Lando had no intention of clearing anything. "I'm heading out to the Rimma trade route myself to wait for Skywalker or Mara to contact me. I've business out that way in any case. Mara was heading for the Kathol Rift. That's a long way out on the Rim and Luke was available immediately. He left ten days ago."

"Sure. Look, Karrde." Lando peered over his shoulder as if staring at someone behind him. "I have to go. An important meeting. Contact me as soon as Mara turns up."

"Oh, don't worry," Karrde said grimly. "I will."

**************************************************

Westport, Coruscant

As he prepped his ship for takeoff, Luke Skywalker wondered at the strange behaviour of the supposedly devoted couple. Why Lando Calrissian could bear to be apart from someone like Mara Jade for any length of time when he could be with her puzzled him. If Luke had been in the market for a relationship, someone like Mara would be his ideal. She was beautiful, fiery, had wit and intelligence. She wasn't afraid of danger or overawed by his status as the head of the New Jedi Order. But Luke wasn't in the market for a relationship now or ever even as if Mara would glance in his direction - not that she would. She hardly seemed aware of him in that way. Although, over the years perhaps he had glanced once, maybe twice across some makeshift camp at her. When his relationships inevitably failed he hurt too much and he was too tired of the repeated pain and heartbreak that followed each disastrous affair. No, he was far better alone.

It had been instinctive to offer to go and find Mara. When Karrde had told him she was missing, he was conscious of the leaden weight of dread settling in the pit of his stomach. He had known something was wrong. And then there were his dreams. They usually had some basis in fact, no matter how much motion affected the future. She couldn't go missing - nothing could happen to her. All the usual guilty feelings about endangering the life of someone he. Luke's mind shied away from even thinking any more along those lines. She was his friend and he was damned if she would come to some grief while he had breath left in his body. He would do the same for any of his friends, he fervently assured himself.

All Karrde could tell him was that she had been headed for the Elrood sector towards the Kathol Rift. That was a long way out on the Rim. It would take him a couple of weeks to even get near it. That could be a couple of weeks too late and Mara was depending on him. He needed a faster ship than the one he was currently prepping. An idea quickly took shape. Perhaps there was one ship available to him - one far more suitable to his needs. He could ask.

Taking a deep breath Luke flicked open his comlink and prepared for an argument or at least some sort of questioning. "Han?"

"Hey, Kid!" Han's cheerful voice sounded loud and clear. "Where are you? Leia expected you for dinner half an hour ago."

"Sithspit!" Luke swore.

"Don't tell me you forgot?"

"I forgot," Luke said heavily.

"Your sister was getting worried," Han murmured. "You know how she fusses if you don't appear on time. She thinks you'll rush off on some 'damn fool crusade' without informing her. I'll tell her you're on your way now, okay?"

"Something came up," Luke hedged carefully and wasn't surprised when his brother-in-law picked up on his unease.

"Something came up," Han repeated slowly, his voice sounding tinny through the comlink.

"Yeah," Luke admitted. "I'm going to have to leave Coruscant immediately."

"Immediately."

"Yes, Han, immediately."

"Want to tell me what, or perhaps I should ask who, has you jumping into a ship without informing your family, who were expecting you round for dinner? And what was I just saying about some 'damn fool crusade'? It wouldn't happen to be something like that?"

For the umpteenth time in their relationship, Luke wondered if Han was gifted with the Force or just plain good at reading Luke's too transparent mind. "I need to borrow the Falcon."

************************************

Mara Jade and Lando Calrissian's affair had been filling the holonet for weeks now. Image after image of their smiling faces attending a gala event together somewhere in the galaxy had been on every vidscreen and holo-monitor in all the places he went. To Luke it had seemed unreal somehow but he hadn't been in their combined presences for more than five minutes. The whole relationship made him feel ill at ease. In fact, the thought of Mara kissing Lando made Luke downright uncomfortable. However, it was none of his business how Mara and Lando spent their down time. He would never admit it openly because he considered Lando to be a friend but Luke just didn't think the former administrator of Cloud City was right for her.

Luke hadn't talked to her properly in months. She had been aloof lately and just when they had begun to lapse into a comfortable friendship something had changed

Lando.

When he had voiced his surprise about her seeing so much of the entrepreneur, Mara had retreated from his company. He had not been her favourite person again for some reason only Mara Jade knew about. Perhaps she really liked Lando and Luke had hurt her in some way by his doubt and surprise. Still, Luke was tired of being her whipping post, the continual target of her barbed comments, and had reacted by removing himself from her admittedly dazzling orbit whenever she and Lando appeared. His prolonged absence only seemed to make the verbal darts she aimed in his direction when they did meet far more stinging. He was as much a victim of her beauty as the next man but recently she had always been accompanied by a smugly grinning Lando. All that happiness was enough to make anyone turn to the dark side. But now she was in trouble and he owed it to her to get her out of it. When the credits were down Lando was nowhere to be seen and Mara was on her own.

Luke had the feeling, and he had learned never to ignore the strange prescience that he gained through his ability in the Force, that Mara was in real danger. The knot that had formed in his stomach as soon as he'd seen Karrde's face on the monitor, tightened. He'd known as soon as Karrde had contacted him. There was no other reason for Talon to contact Luke. Mara was in trouble.

What was so important to Lando about a mere casino when the woman he supposedly loved was in danger? Luke couldn't understand the man at all and he considered him to be a friend. But then, Luke Skywalker had never been influenced by power or money. In that respect he and Lando were worlds apart.

"Luke!"

The Jedi strode swiftly down the ramp of the Academy shuttle he'd been preparing for take off. "I'm here, Leia."

"What's wrong?" Leia rushed towards him. "Why did you forget about dinner? Why are you leaving now and where are you going?"

"So many questions," Luke joked quietly but his humour was forced.

"Answer them and I'll maybe ignore that you asked for my ship," Han interjected, as he leisurely strolled up behind his wife.

Luke stared at the Millennium Falcon sitting next to the Yavin shuttle. There was no comparison. Han's ship still exuded excitement and adventure for the young Jedi Master. That, and a whole pile of bittersweet memories. Travelling in that ship had been part of his transition from boy to man. "I need a fast ship and this hunk-of-junk is one of the fastest."

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, she may not look like much but she does still have it where it counts," Han said with pride.

"And that's why I need to borrow her."

"You still haven't told me why. Tell me and I might even lend it to you."

"Mara's missing." Luke declared impassively. "I need to."

"Mara." Han's face changed as everything began to fall into place. "Ah, Mara!" he drawled. "What kind of trouble is she in?"

"I don't know yet."

"Karrde or Lando can go and find her. Why does it have to be you?" Leia interrupted.

"Why not? She's my friend and we're both Jedi. I'm the best shot at finding her. You know that, Leia."

"Where's Karrde?"

"He's getting ready to head out in the same direction I am for the exact same reason. Karrde looks after his people, Han. You know that and Mara is his second-in-command. Lando." Luke broke off his comment and scowled.

"Lando is too busy to help find his girlfriend?" Han asked.

Luke nodded. "Yeah!"

Leia shook her head. "Lando always did think of number one first and foremost."

"Apart from when he helped rescue you, Han," Luke spoke in Lando's defence. He had to be fair.

"I'm not so sure," her husband said. "Lando had tried the Empire and that didn't work too well for him so he thought he would give the Rebellion a chance instead. He always was the gambler. This time his gamble paid off. Plus he reckoned that time that he owed me. I'm not saying he isn't a good friend and he is courageous. Leia's right though. He does think about number one first."

"Well, will you lend me the Falcon or won't you?" Luke was getting anxious. He had already delayed his departure by at least an hour. "I have a long way to go and if I have to use a slower ship, I will have to leave now to have any chance of finding Mara in time."

"You don't know that, Luke," Leia protested.

"I do," her brother maintained stoutly.

"Mara's resourceful and can take care of herself," Leia argued. "She'll be fine."

"I heard her call for me through the Force." Luke was resolute. Mara needed him. "I've got a."

"Don't tell me - I can guess. 'A bad feeling about it.'" Han looked at his wife's face. She gave a minute nod. He'd actually made his decision, with Leia's blessing, as soon as the kid had asked. "You can have the ship, Junior, but just to make sure I get her back in one piece," he gave the familiar lop-sided grin, "I'm coming with you."

******************************************

The Millennium Falcon

"Where are we headed?" Han asked flicking an array of switches purposefully. The Falcon shuddered. "Come on, old girl. Don't let me down. He wants a fast ship."

Luke raised an eyebrow at the familiar cajoling of Han's beloved ship. "We're taking the Hydian way until the nexus with the Rimma Trade Route. Then we head for the Elrood Sector and the Kathol Rift."

Han whistled. "That's a long way, kid."

"I know. That's why I need a fast ship. It is a long way."

"We've been there before. No trouble." Han hesitated. "At least I think there was no trouble. Chewie would remember better than me. It was before I hooked up with you and Leia."

"You've been there? I'm surprised about the 'no trouble' part."

"Watch it, Junior. I can switch off the engines and return to my wife and children. This ship might need an immediate an extensive overhaul."

"What, again?"

"You are so amusing, kid. It's a pretty wild place. You better be careful once we get there."

"And Tatooine was law-abiding?" Luke enquired. "I think I can manage."

Han slapped at a panel above the cockpit door and there was a rumble from the sublight engines. "Come on, baby, that's not good enough."

A youthful smile broke through on Luke's normally grave countenance. "Force, Han! That's sounds like something out of the old days."

Han turned a disgruntled face on the compact yet powerful figure of his companion. "Yeah! It does, doesn't it? Some things never change." He aimed a kick at the bulkhead and then beamed his familiar quirky-grin as the ship roared to life.

Luke chuckled.

Tiny lines around his eyes crinkled as Han smiled. "Just for a moment there, kid, you looked as wet-behind-the-ears as you did when I met you. It's good to see you smile, Luke. You don't do it enough these days."

"I do," Luke protested and then gave a rueful grin. "Maybe I don't. I can't say I've had much to smile about recently. I don't see my family and friends as much as I'd like."

"That's in your own hands, Luke."

"I know. Time just seems to slip away."

"Strap yourself in, kid. If Mara is in trouble then time is against us."

Luke sat in the co-pilot's seat and fixed his gaze on the controls. He could see the route they needed to take way stretching out across the stars in his mind.

Han brought the engine fully to life, requested clearance from the spaceport authorities and then they were away.

***************************************************

The star lines merged as the Falcon entered hyperspace. Luke studied the navicomp from the console in the crew quarters and made a couple of adjustments to the chosen route. They wouldn't emerge from hyperspace for another three days. Then a couple more short jumps and Luke gauged they could save quite a bit of time - several days if he'd got his calculations correct.

Han entered from the cockpit. "That's us until the next hyperspace jump," he muttered. "I hope you're not going to land us in the middle of a star or even worse down a black hole. I always get the shudders when I pass near the maw."

"Trust me," Luke replied absently, his brow furrowed.

"That's my line," Han complained.

Luke glanced at his friend and grinned. "So it is. Honest, Han, this will shave a few days off our journey."

"I'll believe you when I know that I'm not scooping my insides out from where you landed us by mistake." Han poked ineffectually at a piece of yellow wiring sticking from the bulkhead and winced as it fizzled and sparked. "Aw." His mouth closed over the swear word he'd intended to say. He pulled a tool from his pocket and began to attempt a repair. The lights in the cockpit flickered briefly.

"It'll be all right," Luke soothed calmly.

"That's my line, too."

Luke moved to the crew area and sat behind the old hologame table. He cast a wary blue eye at his brother-in-law. "What persuaded Leia to let you let me borrow your ship?"

"Let you let me." Han paused in the doorway waving a macrofuser thinking about Luke's confusing question. "Let me tell you this, kid. Leia doesn't let me do anything."

Luke grinned. "I'd heard that. Easy to say when she's light years away."

Han scowled. "That blaster helmet with the shield over your face is looking real good at this moment. I don't need a smart-mouthed Jedi Master. I can do what I want. This is my ship."

"Han!"

The Corellian capitulated. "Oh, alright. The reason Leia let me go. was you."

"Me!"

"Yeah, you." Han turned and pulled a panel from the bulkhead. There was a pop and more sizzling sparks burning white hot and then fading away to a soft grey puff of smoke. "She was worried about you." Han glared at the mess he'd made.

"I hope that's not important."

"Nah! But don't be surprised if the sonic shower doesn't work."

"Didn't work the last time I was in this crate."

"I fixed it."

"Oh!" Luke stared down at the old holographic games table. "Leia made you come."

"To keep an eye on you."

"Doesn't she trust me?"

"Well." Han pulled a face. "She trusts you. to get into trouble."

"I like that. I don't need looking after."

"Leia thinks you do. I'm backup and rescue combined."

"The backup is great. I appreciate your company because you can sometimes be entertaining." Luke's face twisted into a scowl. "But I don't need rescuing."

"Sure you do. Who pulled your Jedi butt out of trouble the last time?"

Luke's brow furrowed even more as he tried to recall that occurrence. "Mara did," he pronounced.

"Eh! Are you certain?" Han asked.

Luke nodded. "Yeah, it was Mara."

"Well, the time before that."

"Mara again," Luke said, the worry evident on his face.

"I'm sure I rescued you in there somewhere, kid," Han muttered.

"You probably did." Luke's voice was weary.

"Hey, kid!"

"Yeah?"

"We'll find her."

Luke sighed. "I hope so because I." He closed his mouth, not sure what he was going to say. Whatever it was - it was too much.

Han hoped so too. He liked Mara Jade and he gazed speculatively at his brother-in-law. He wasn't certain of the effect losing Mara Jade would have on Luke. Not a good one - that was definite. It was odd really. Han never really thought Mara was a good influence before, but she certainly seemed to ground Luke in a way no other person was able to.

Yeah, he hoped they could find the red-haired trader and quickly. For Luke's sake.

The Emerald Price - Part 2

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

Aaris, Kathol Outback

Mara could hear the rain trickling down the outside of the stone walls of her cell even though they were several feet thick. They also leaked - she could feel the moisture seeping through - the dampness pervading the whole atmosphere. At least the rain was warm - which was more than could be said for Mara. She shivered weakly. They were all sick. The virus had gone through all the captives waiting to be sold as slaves rapidly, and weakened by beating and poor diet they all succumbed to its virulent attraction. She'd tried to be strong and had attempted escape on a number of occasions. But there were too many guards and she hadn't been patient. Skywalker would have words to say to her about this.

Skywalker!

She seemed to see Luke's blue eyes in front of her. 'Luke,' she thought. 'Help me.' But how could he help? He was millions of light years away and she hadn't trained as hard at her Jedi studies as she should have. She, who could once call to the Emperor from any part of the galaxy, was struggling to reach beyond this cell.

Mara tried to find a comfortable spot on the slab of duracrete she'd been chained to. There wasn't one

**********************************************

It had not been a journey Mara had particularly wanted to take, but Karrde had asked her to do this for him. In her mind, Mara knew that she had more than repaid Karrde for his trust in her. She'd saved his life the very first time they had met, but in her heart, Mara still felt indebted to the smuggler chief. He had given her a job and with that trust, the chance to regain her identity.

The fabricated romance with Lando Calrissian had been a mistake from the very beginning. Mara suspected Lando also felt that he owed Karrde something although true to his nature he had never tilted his hand as to what. Karrde had argued that it made sense for them to work together and Mara couldn't dispute that fact.

To be fair to Lando, when he wasn't trying to get her into bed, he was good company and she could see why Han Solo and Luke Skywalker counted him as a friend. If there was something missing in the partnership of Jade and Calrissian, Mara didn't want to admit it but she knew what it was nonetheless. He wasn't Skywalker. Lando didn't instinctively know what to do to compliment Mara's particular skills, though he was no slouch in a tight corner. Pure and simply he wasn't Luke. He didn't have the Force. He did have one thing in common with Skywalker. He annoyed her almost as much as the Jedi did - or so she told herself.

Left on her own with Lando as they travelled the galaxy on behalf of Karrde, the former baron of Cloud City, Bespin, began to forget the rules of their arrangement. He thought he could cross the invisible line from a pretend relationship to a real one. Mara had gritted her teeth and tried to be pleasant but she was not the type to persevere with civilities. She would never satisfy his desires and grace his bed even out of curiosity - even if she were desperate. Being pleasant had turned to indifference, to irritation and then to out and out antagonism and yet Lando had failed to take the hint.

The relationship had deteriorated rapidly. Acting out in public what Mara could not bear to do in private was torture. It would end soon. Only one more trip and then she would never have to be in a room alone with him again. Maybe she could regain some tolerance for his company, but she doubted it.

When Karrde had proposed this final trip Mara had almost refused. Something in her soul was uneasy about this last venture. But the misgivings were vague and she had no real reason to disagree. It was Lando who had balked this time. He said it was business but Mara suspected that he had his eye on another conquest in the wake of his recent failures.

It didn't bother her what Lando did with his spare time as long as he left her alone. However, if Lando thought that the idea of him with another woman would make her jealous, he did not understand her at all. She could never be jealous of him. He'd hinted and suggested but she'd ignored his openings. Eventually frustrated by her inability to appreciate his obvious charms he had started drinking. This time he would not take no for an answer. This time Lando had tried a pass. Tried and failed. Mara had grabbed the collar of his tunic and with her darkening her green eyes threatened him with murder, disabusing him of his right to touch her both verbally and physically.

After that Mara had refused to let him on board her ship. She hadn't told Karrde what had happened but the smuggler chief had been greatly concerned about this development as Lando disappeared to deal with matters of business instead of matters of the heart, and Mara set off for the Outer Rim on her own.

Force, she wished that Lando was with her now.

***************************

Mara left Coruscant's Westport on a grey, strangely silent day. As she'd made her way to her ship the hawkbats were circling above her uttering plaintive sounds she could not hear.

"Reconsider, Mara," Karrde urged. "Take Lando with you."

"He's gone off somewhere on business," Mara snapped. "I'm going alone." Pride stiffened her shoulders, pushing away her misgivings.

"Or wait until Faughan returns. Just a couple of days and she'll be back from Garos. I would rather that."

"The sooner I go, the sooner I'll return. You wanted me to go remember," Mara interrupted briskly. "You're not usually so nervous about me going on a mission. Remember who I used to work for?"

"Car'das is different, Mara."

"From the Emperor? I hope so."

"He's alive."

"Definitely one up on old Palpy," Mara quipped glibly, her usually mobile face, set.

"And somewhere out there. waiting."

"I'll be fine, Karrde. If he's out there I'll find him."

"Yeah! That's what I'm worried about."

"Talon. There's more to this."

The smuggler chief sighed. "Of course there is. A long time and a lot of festering history. You don't have to see Car'das or talk to him."

"Okay," she replied warily.

"Promise me, Mara. All I want to know is where he is."

Mara nodded and popped the hatch on the Fire. "I'll be in touch."

Karrde watched as the slim green-clad figure disappeared up the ramp and within minutes the ship rose smoothly from its docking bay and disappeared from view.

*******************************************

Two Weeks later, Mara landed at one of the smaller planets in the Minos Cluster. No information to be had there. She needed to refuel and restock so it hadn't been a problem. With warnings about pirates and slavers roaming the space lanes Mara took her leave. She'd been flying the galaxy since she was sixteen. She knew all about pirates and slavers. They'd best beware of her. She stopped on Shesharile 6, one of the two inhabited moons of the gas giant but didn't linger. The planet was so polluted that she couldn't leave her ship without wearing a breathing mask. She would ask for information about Car'das elsewhere. She didn't realise that her questions had been noticed and her movements were under observation.

"Beautiful!"

"She would fetch a good price."

"See that she joins us."

"As you command, Master."

**********************************

Without regret Mara departed Shesharile 6 and set her navacomp for the Kathol Outback. Her pilot droid twittered in the background but Mara ignored it. Sometimes she wished her V-5 pilot had more personality. . .maybe more like an Artoo unit. Like Artoo Detoo - Luke's faithful droid.

Mara paused. She was at it again - thinking about Skywalker. Her forehead furrowed as she considered this surprising topic. For so many years Luke Skywalker had been an obsession. He had killed her master and would pay for his crimes. Then she'd discovered that it had all been an act of revenge and Luke had been innocent.

The pilot droid beeped loudly.

"What?"

The droid repeated his question.

"We're not far from the planet Aaris." She shrugged her shoulders. "Set co-ordinates and head for Aaris. It's as good a place as any other. Do we have any information on it?"

The droid whistled negatively.

"I suppose no news is better than bad news." Mara grabbed a disc and slid it into a data pad. "There must be something in here. ah, there is. Not much unfortunately."

The droid twittered again.

"We are heading for the Aaris system. The third planet is inhabited - a tropical world with jungles and rising from them mountain ranges. There are ruins dotted about the planet which are the only remaining signs of the original civilisation." Mara threw the droid a look of disgust and then peered out at the blackness of space. "So Aaris III it is."

A couple of days later Mara landed at the spaceport on Aaris III. She surprised herself by doing a spot of trading. Karrde would be pleased. She'd been carrying that load of obsolete converters for months. It figured that they wouldn't be obsolete this far out. She'd questioned several of the beings frequenting the tapcafs nearest the spaceport, slipping Jorj Car'das' name casually into the conversation. The moment she did so, the natives clammed up and made excuses to leave.

"Never heard of him." Mara muttered glaring at a Rodian who was patently transparent in his efforts to get away from her. "You've certainly heard of him. He's out here somewhere and he's not far away."

The only person not to run off in fright had been a small dapper man, with serious grey eyes and a ready smile. "I am Entoo Needan E-elz."

Mara blinked.

The little man grinned, showing a row of gleaming white teeth. "It is a mouthful, is it not, for so small a person?"

"You're not small," Mara returned unthinkingly. So much pert enthusiasm was strange to find in a third rate tapcaf in a fourth rate spaceport.

"Ah, but in the grand schemes of the maker's universe, I am indeed small and my name is rather long. Call me Entoo Nee."

"Okay." Mara replied warily. "Jorj Car'das?"

"You are asking if I have heard of him?"

Mara nodded. "Yes."

"I have. He guards his privacy well. Who exactly is asking for him?"

Mara kept her face expressionless. She had the feeling that she'd just struck a cache of durindfire gems. "An old acquaintance of his wants to know if he is still alive."

"I believe he is."

"But you're not certain?"

"No, I'm not certain."

"Your words are open to doubt," Mara said quietly.

The little man leaned back in his chair and assessed the woman opposite him. "You are wise beyond your years, Mistress."

"Could you find out? I would be willing to pay for such information."

"You cannot be the old acquaintance."

"Why not?"

"You are too young. Car'das is an old man I would think. I'm sorry I cannot help you further. I have my own tasks to do and am leaving the system today. I head towards Exocron."

Mara frowned. She'd heard of Exocron and something in the Force zinged. Car'das was there. "Exocron - the planet so near to the Kathol Rift that it lies hidden in a nebula, clouded by gases. Its location makes it almost impossible to find because the composition of the gases interferes with sensor readings."

Entoo Nee's eyes widened. "Wise indeed," he muttered.

"I remember information, that's all - nothing special. Is Car'das on Exocron?" Mara asked bluntly.

"I cannot say."

Her heart sank. This was the only real lead she'd had - poor as it was. She'd worked with less information before and had still triumphed. She'd go back to the Jade's Fire and contact Karrde. He might think that she'd found out enough for the moment. The promptings in the Force could be the right ones.

With a polite smile of thanks Mara rose to her feet, offering her hand to the little man. "Many thanks and clear skies."

"You too, Mistress. If I could offer you some advice? This has nothing to do with Jorj Car'das. This is for you."

"Advice?" Mara questioned.

"I think there has been some interest in you personally from some of the lower life types in the area."

"I can look after myself."

"I do not doubt it but. this part of the galaxy is full of many beings that would capture you or kill you for pleasure. You are an attractive female and the slavers and houses of. entertainment are willing to pay for fresh blood."

"Advice noted," Mara said, suppressing a shiver. She had felt curious eyes upon her. Yes, she would return to the ship and prepare to leave. Karrde would decide if she had enough proof. His name had been well known in the area. Car'das was not a work of imaginative fiction - he was a real man and he was alive.

The sky had darkened to a deep navy blue as she left the tapcaf - shadows lengthening from day into dusk and finally, to night. The whole area had that run down look of most spaceports. Regular spacers didn't care for fancy frills. Ramshackle buildings and seedy-looking repair shops lined the street - several shady characters dealing inside each one no doubt. As she hugged the shadows, Mara felt her unease return full force. Her danger sense was telling her to be very careful indeed and Entoo Nee's warning echoed in her head. The sooner she got offworld the better. The almost constant warm drizzle had turned to rain and an oppressive heat lingered even as darkness fell.

"I've been in worse places than this," Mara muttered to herself trying to bolster her flagging confidence. "This is nothing. Definitely contacting Karrde. don't like this place." She reached for the blaster in her thigh holster and eased the hidden one from her wrist. Not wanting to advertise her Jedi status she'd left her lightsaber on the ship. Luke's words came back to her. He'd said that a Jedi was never unarmed when they had the Force. He said his teacher had told him that. Well, she was a Jedi, or nearly a Jedi; Mara conveniently forgot about her sketchy training.

The Emperor had limited her training but she drew comfort in the fact that Luke wanted to expand her ability and open her totally to the Force. His earnest face crossed her mind's eye. She had the feeling that he was disappointed in her. Mara knew that he wanted her to achieve full knighthood. She wanted that too, but did he not understand that part of her feared that status. Suppose she failed? She froze. Was that the thing which held her back - her fear of failure? Mara took a shaky gulp of air. She didn't deal well with failure - never had.

"I promise, Luke. I'll come back and complete the training one day soon," she vowed to herself. It was a momentous decision taken in the dark on a backwater world but she meant it.

He'd been surprised to see her so close to Lando and when Lando had put his arm around her, Luke had appeared almost.hurt. For some reason she'd actually wanted to tell him that it was all a ruse but she could not. Why should it matter to her what Luke Skywalker thought? Expelling her breath in a sigh, Mara headed towards the area in which her ship was docked but the memory of Luke's blue eyes clouding over with something inexplicable stayed with her.

Suddenly she stiffened. She could sense beings behind her with hostile intent. They knew she was female and alone. "Better hurry," she murmured and started to run.

She'd almost reached the Fire when they attacked. Stretching out with the Force she surmised that there were at least six of them. Blasters in hand, spinning and kicking she dispatched half of them with relative ease.

"This one has teeth. Send for reinforcements!" A burly humanoid shouted.

"She will fetch a handsome price. "

"Lord Tharakan will be pleased. Feisty and beautiful."

"You haven't got me yet," Mara ground out as her foot connected with a satisfying thud. "I'm not planning on pleasing anyone," she hissed. Why oh why had she left her lightsaber in the Fire? Would they have attacked a Jedi?

A shot grazed the tip of her shoulder. "Aargh!" she cried. They'd stopped trying not to mark the merchandise. They were attempting to capture her by any means possible short of killing her. Something Luke had said about Callista, his former lover came into her mind. Callista had been a former Jedi from the Old Republic and had survived by pouring her consciousness into the computer aboard The Eye of Palpatine. Callista had been fired at and had been hit. "The more that hit you the more that will hit you." Mara understood and grimaced as her fist connected with the burly humanoid's jaw. It made sense - once you were wounded you carried with you a weakness and it was more difficult to keep going - more difficult to stay ahead of the gamee.

Mara knew she was tiring. She had the Force and the Jedi increased strength and endurance but she couldn't keep going for ever. She was only partially trained. She had to get away before the reinforcements arrived.

The stun bolt caught her unawares. Mara went down hard. "No!" she moaned as everything began to waver, pain splashing over her nerve endings. She should have sensed that one coming and now it was too late. 'Luke!' was her last thought as everything went black.

"Got her!"

Once of her remaining attackers rolled her over and a large whiphid snickered his appreciation. "She is a beauty. Tharakan will be pleased."

The burly humanoid rubbed his aching jaw gingerly. "I'm not so sure that she wasn't more trouble than she's worth. Slak, Fyve and J'huup are dead. Reepit needs a med droid and I could do with someone to fix my jaw. I think she's broken it. She'd better fetch a very good price and I mean that - many jewels worth. Load her onto the wagon and take her down to the pens for conditioning."

"Yeah, sure."

"And make sure you drug her with something so she's docile. I don't want her to wake up fighting."

***********************************************

Mara struggled into a hazy awareness. Her eyes focused on something and she frowned.

Bars!

Force, she felt terrible - her mouth felt like the Dune Sea, parched for life-giving water, her limbs were sluggish and heavy. Something was wrong, she thought. She knew what these feelings meant. Memories surfaced from her childhood and her early teens during her Imperial training of her ability to function under the influence of narcotics. She'd also seen the effects of such drugs on enemies of Palpatine's New Order. It was then that the memories of her failure to escape began to emerge.

Mara attempted to sit up and groaned as her head protested. She felt light-headed and her surroundings wavered like a faulty holo-recording. "Have to sit up," she grunted and struggled to get into that position. "Got to get out of here." She stood up carefully and took a step and then nearly fell over. She was chained ankle and wrist to the slab she'd been lying upon and a quick glance at her wrist confirmed what her muddled brain already knew. Her weapons had gone. One of the basic rules of capturing an opponent - make sure you disarm them.

Skywalker knew a Jedi technique to help you filter toxins from out of your system. It worked for poisonous gases and drugs. If she'd maybe stayed longer on Yavin he could have taught it to her. His face swam into her mind. "Luke! she whispered. "Help me."

'Mara!'

Mara stifled another groan. She must be far gone. She could almost hear him "Luke. help me!"

'Mara! Where are you?'

"Too far away." Mara mumbled as she dropped into a restless sleep. The images crowding into her mind made her cry out and call for the only man in the galaxy that could help her.

**********************************

When she awoke again, Mara wasn't sure how long had passed and time still remained hazy. She suspected she'd been in this semi-comatose state for a number of days. As the drugs wore off Mara fought her captors and tried to escape any way she could. The result was that they kept her drugged. She tried to refuse the food but they forced it down her.

Each escape attempt and the beatings had increased in ferocity. They had not attempted to molest her sexually, but Mara could feel the guard's eyes upon her and began to fear.

In normal circumstances, Mara would be prepared to bide her time and wait for the opportune moment and act when her captors least expected it. But disoriented and weak from ill-treatment and lack of proper nutrition she acted like a wild thing.

"This one is more trouble than she's worth," one of the guards commented with a snarl nursing his hand which was dripping with blood. As he'd attempted to feed Mara she'd bitten him hard.

"I'm not hungry," Mara spat, her eyes feral. She was not going to give in. They would have to kill her. She would be no man's slave ever again.

"Someone will break her." The voice was cultured and cool.

"Lord Tharakan!" The guards bowed low.

"Prepare her for viewing." The owner of the voice was a tall Ho'Din.

"I'm not." Mara argued."

"Silence," the guard shouted and slapped her across the cheek."

"Careful Steft and don't mark the merchandise," Tharakan said, his snake-like tresses gleaming.

"I have a couple of buyers I would like to show this one to." He held out a syringe. "See to it that she's docile."

"No! Luke!" Mara screamed as the needle sank into the soft flesh of her upper arm.

"She keeps saying 'look'," Steft commented. "What are we supposed to be looking at?"

"Luke," Mara moaned under her breath as her world clouded over once more.

The Emerald Price - Part 3

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

The Millennium Falcon

"Luke. Luke, buddy! Time to wake up."

Luke shifted uncomfortably on a bunk in the Falcon's crew quarters and opened the eyes he'd felt he'd just closed. "I'm awake, Han," he said quietly, resignation in his voice. "I couldn't sleep much anyhow."

"That's not true, Junior." Han looked in concern at the younger man. Luke's face showed his worry and fatigue.

"True enough."

"I would have given you longer if I could but that last jump you co-ordinated got us there in hours rather than days. Leia will kill me when she sees the state you're in, kid. I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you."

"Han, I'm fine. I got what.?" He peered at his wrist chrono. "Five hours you said? That's a long lie. Come on, how many times did we get much less than that? On Hoth, for instance, we never got enough sleep. They kept wanting us to ride out on those ornery, smelly taun-tauns. remember?"

"True." Han shivered just at the mention of the planet of ice and snow and ignored the mention of the taun-tauns. "Don't you still owe me for that one, kid?"

"I think so. Remember being a wall decoration? I suspect it was an even trade. Hoth Icicle for Hutt wall ornament."

"Yeah, yeah. I remember. I try not to, but I do." Han changed the subject swiftly. "I've made some caf."

"Hope it's strong."

"It's strong. This stuff could fuel the Falcon."

"I'll need a fork then?" Luke gave a tired grin as he pushed his bantha-wool blanket to one side and swung his feet to the deck plates, searching around for his black leather boots.

Han leaned on the bulkhead near the door. "I never thought that you could do it, kid. But you've taken us all the way out here in half the time. Must have been kinda tricky?" He pulled away from the wall and headed along the corridors.

Luke followed Han through to the Falcon's tiny galley. "Wouldn't like to do it too often. I just hoped the Force would take us here by the fastest route possible. It was strange - I could see the entire route mapped out in my head."

"Yeah?" Han poured Luke a mug of thick black caf and pushed a pastry at him. "Thank you, Skywalker, the human star chart." He looked critically at the Jedi, for once not swathed in tunic and Jedi cloak but instead dressed in a pale blue shirt and black pants. It somehow made Luke appear vulnerable. Han hadn't seen the kid like that in a long time. "Here, you need to eat too. Leia thinks you're too thin."

"I'm not too thin - I'm streamlined. You can't have a fat Jedi Master. This sure beats ration bars and it's real food. I never turn down real food. Don't know the next time I'll get it." He took a swig of the strong black brew and gasped as it exploded through his tired body. "That just hits the spot."

"Leia says you're too thin." He patted his own lean stomach. "She never says that about me any more. She's had me on a diet and prescribed extra exercise."

"I'll believe that when I see it."

"Are you calling me lazy?"

Luke snorted.

"Yeah! We've never had time to get lazy, have we?"

Luke shook his head. "No."

"We're not that far from the nearest inhabited star system. I'd like to land, refuel and take on extra provisions. I know you want to find Mara, kid, but."

"No, it's a good idea - we need to be prepared. If Mara has passed this way I might be able to get an echo of her presence."

"An echo?" Han quirked up one eyebrow.

"Mara has a strong presence in the Force. Stronger than most."

"Apart from my kids, my wife, Kyp Durron and you. Even I can sense her energy and I'm not Force sensitive."

Luke nodded. "One of Mara's strengths is her ability to communicate through the Force to other users. When the Emperor died this ability was blocked until she and I made contact."

"I understand. The more time she spends around other Jedi the skill improves."

"Yeah! She's learning to open up to the Force." Luke didn't add that he thought she was also opening up to him in ways she wouldn't like. He suspected her link to the Emperor had transferred itself to him when she'd gained her freedom from Palpatine's evil hold. She hadn't quite grasped that little nugget of information but she would and when she did. Luke shook his head. There would be hell to pay. She would not be happy about it and that was an understatement.

"Kid!"

Luke blinked. Han was looking at him strangely.

"You went into this dream world. You sure you got enough sleep?"

"Sorry, Han. Just worrying about her."

"She's strong. Whatever happens, Mara will hold on."

The Jedi Master exhaled the breath he'd been holding. "I hope so."

"You never usually doubt her abilities."

"I know. Things have changed between us and I can't understand why."

Han thought he knew but it wasn't his place to point it out. Then again, maybe it was. It had never stopped him before. Still, he hesitated and the moment was lost. "So, this echo?"

"If Mara has been on the planet I should be able to find out."

Han grinned suddenly. "We can ask the spaceport authorities. It's perhaps not so mystical but it usually works for me."

"Why didn't I think of that?" Luke opened his eyes wide in mock surprise.

"Because I'm the brains of this operation, Junior."

"Then we're doomed."

"Remind me why I keep you around?"

"My good looks and charm," Luke quipped lightly.

Han could tell the humour was false. "I'm sure it wasn't that."

The smile faded from Luke's face and he murmured quietly. "Yeah. I'm glad you've come along. Something's up, Han. I can feel it in the air around me. I just hope we can get there before it's too late."

Han clapped him on the shoulder. "I need you to be ready to co-pilot or man the guns. This area of space follows its own law."

"What we keeping an eye out for?" Luke queried. "Pirates, smugglers."

"And slaving syndicates."

"Slavers!" Luke froze as something crawled up his spine. "I thought that had been banned by the New Republic."

"Oh, it has, but the New Republic doesn't reach this far out on the Rim. Slaving was originally banned by the Old Republic and then the Empire legalised again. It was rescuing Chewie that got me thrown out of the Imperial Navy."

"There's always something awful somewhere in the galaxy."

You lived here for nearly twenty years, kid. Remember what the Hutts and the smugglers got up to on Tatooine."

"And the Rebels, Han. Don't forget the Rebellion. It recruited quite successfully from planets in the middle of nowhere."

"Yeah, the Rebellion. Many of those the Rebellion recruited were those on the fringe and on the outside of the law."

Luke held out his hands. "Sorry, I'm not thinking clearly."

"It's okay." Han tipped his head back and swallowed the last of his own caf, smacking his lips together he wiped them with the back of his hand. Did the kid know how transparent he was? This was no mere friendship that Luke held for Mara Jade but he recognised that now was not the time to introduce his brother-in-law to the idea that relationships had to be fought for. "I'd better go and check our position."

"Yeah." Luke turned and nearly tripped over a couple of crates. One of them spilled open revealing various half-wrapped packages revealing tantalising glimpse of many jewel-bright colours. "What on Endor are you carrying? You're not going attempt to do some deal while we're out here?"

Han grimaced. "I forgot about these. It's a good job you fell over these and not my wife." He picked up a package and let Luke see the contents.

Luke's fingers touched rich silk. The crate contained bolts of rare and lustrous fabrics from the Hapes Consortium. "This is beautiful."

"It's nearly her birthday, as you well know, and this is part of her gift. There are things for the kids too. The Falcon is the only place I can hide them. It's not safe to keep them in the apartment."

Luke placed the fabric carefully back in the container. "Why not in the apartment?"

"I learned the hard way not to hide the presents at home. Your sister is as bad as the children when it comes to presents. I was going to move them to the shielded compartments just in case she needed to use the ship but I got sidetracked."

"Ah yes, a brother-in-law wanting to borrow your ship." Luke's smile was rueful.

Han nodded. "Yeah. He's trouble all right. I don't mind though." He closed the container and pushed it against the bulkhead, securing it to the floor just in case it got in the way if they had to do any fancy flying. He straightened up, gazing at Luke. "What's Karrde going to do?"

"He was heading for Malastare. I think he had business to do. I said I would get in touch when we had news."

"Good old Karrde. He never changes."

The look on the Jedi Master's face was considering. "I would disagree. Yes, parts of him will always be the same but deeper down he has changed. He cares more."

"He's always looked after his people."

"I know but he cares more, although he would sell his ship rather than admit it. Mara is not just an employee. She's a friend.

"That's always been your problem too, kid - the caring too much."

Luke shook his head, his bearing seeming to straighten with the inborn surety of his own mind. "Emperor Palpatine made that mistake, Han. He saw my affection for my friends and my comrades as a weakness. I see it as a strength. Mara's my friend and I care for my friends and when they are in trouble I need to be able to help them. It's the way I am."

"Yeah."

Han's voice was dry and Luke stiffened. Something in the Corellian's voice immediately put Luke on the defensive. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Han inwardly groaned. Okay, perhaps now was the time to introduce Luke to the idea that he cared for Mara Jade as much more than a friend. "Ah. kid."

Luke's eyes narrowed. "Go on."

"It's just. oh, stang! Mara - is she just a friend?"

"Just a friend?"

"Is that all that Mara Jade is to you, Luke - a friend and probable Jedi Knight?"

"Of course she's a friend. What else could she be?" Luke couldn't quite see what his brother-in-law was getting at and then it hit him and he stiffened, his face growing remote.

"I'm not disputing that she's a friend," Han could see that his probing hadn't gone down quite as well as he'd hoped. He shrugged. Might as well get hung for a rancor rather than a pitten. "I just wondered if she was more than a friend - if you felt more for her than you wanted to. You've been more troubled about Mara's disappearance than I would have thought."

"You think I care for Mara like. a lover would?" Luke's voice had grown quiet and his eyes had turned to blue chips of ice. "You think I want her in my bed?"

"Not exactly but." Han tried hurriedly to explain himself. "You just seem."

Luke's real hand clenched in a fist. "Then you're wrong. It's not a love affair. I don't have those, remember? Well, not successful ones. So now I don't bother because that kind of love is not for me. I don't think of Mara in that way at all - no, not at all. It's not like that between us. She wouldn't look at me; I do not attract her. Not once in ten years has she ever let on that she thinks of me as something other than a rather annoying individual. Not once. Besides, she's with Lando. I do not muscle in on another man's property."

"I don't think Mara would like to be referred to as someone's 'property'," Han said. He'd let Luke ramble on thinking that the Jedi's words were rather telling. Luke was protesting a little too much in Han's humble opinion. He wasn't just trying to convince Han. Luke was trying to convince himself. Besides, he detected a slight edge to his friend's voice, almost as if Luke was hurt by Mara's lack of interest.

Luke consciously relaxed his hand letting it fall to his side. "Probably not. She would take her saber to anyone who suggested it. Perhaps Lando is her property."

"Can you see that either?"

Luke gave a mirthless chuckle. "Perhaps not."

"I can't see it, you know," Han said thoughtfully. "Lando and Mara as a couple, I mean. Even after all this time that they've been together."

Luke sighed. "No, nor can I." His words were barely audible. "But they're always together."

"That's one of the things I really don't get. Mara could barely tolerate him before and then wham! Suddenly they were this hot item."

"I know. The news reports even reached Yavin." Luke couldn't understand the disappointment he'd felt.

"It's not a relationship I can see working."

"I don't understand relationships." Luke raised an eyebrow.

Han had to agree on that one. "Understanding women, kid, is something you just don't try to do too hard. It could take a whole lifetime and you'd not be any nearer the truth. I just understand that I don't understand them and then I'm not too surprised when weird things happen around them."

Luke gave a soft chuckle. "Have you told that to your wife?"

"Well."

Luke stared at the Falcon's deckplates. "Han," he suddenly muttered. "There's no one after your blood out here?"

The Corellian tilted his head to one side and thought about it. "Nope, don't think so."

"No one knows me out here."

"News does get this far out, kid. You can't be so na? that you think the fact that the Jedi Order is on the rise again and you are the one responsible won't have reached a few ears out here?"

"I'm not that na?, Han. I don't think there is anywhere in the Galaxy that hasn't seen my face on a wanted poster or a holonet news report." His hand went automatically to the lightsaber attached to his belt. "But no one knows that I am out this far right now. They all think I'm on Yavin with the rest of the Jedi or Coruscant with you and Leia. I think we'd better have disguises and alternative identities if we go planetside but I don't think that's going to be our main problem at this precise moment."

Han suddenly sighed as comprehension began to sink in. "Don't tell me. You've just got a bad feeling."

Luke nodded and began to run. "I'll go and sit in the gun turret?"

"Yeah!" Han was already heading towards the cockpit just as he felt a burst of laser fire whistle past the ship. "You shoot and I'll fly, kid," he shouted as he dived into the pilot's seat.

"I see them," Luke answered pulling on the familiar headset and memories tugged on his emotions and for a moment he was leaving Tatooine for the very first time. Like then, Luke knew deep in his heart, an instinctive Force guided reaction, that things would never be the same.

"Shields up," Han announced, his voice crackling through the com. "Hell's teeth!" he exclaimed as the Falcon's console lit up in alarm. Looking up he confirmed what the sensors already knew. "Great, a local welcoming committee-"

The two ships approaching the Falcon at speed didn't look as if they were welcoming them to the Elrood Sector. As Han threw the Falcon into a backward loop, Luke finally got a visual on what he could only sense in the Force before. The Jedi Master took notice of a Corellian Corvette which appeared to be much faster than its specs were to be believed. "Pirates, alright," Luke commented into his microphone, as the larger front ship squeezed a round off its laser canon skimming the back end of the Falcon.

"Damn, that's two," Han muttered under his breath, checking his shields. "Wouldn't be anything else, kid, and they don't look friendly."

"I'll try and hit the turbolaser cannons. See if we can disable their teeth." Luke felt his stomach lurch as Han sent the Falcon into a spinning dive, rolling away from the turbolaser fire. "Too bad we aren't back recruiting for the Rebellion." The Falcon twisted over and the excitement of days gone by pulsed through him. He shouldn't still crave the excitement but he did. By the time the ship folded back up with ever-growing velocity to meet the gunners head on, the Force was with him and a stream of laserfire cut a first path through their opponent's offensives.

Han skimmed closest to the larger of the attackers, and Luke fired a volley of shots accurately across its hull, and watched the monitors with satisfaction as most of its armoury ended up a blackened warped mess.

"Got him!"

"Good. You've still got it, Junior. Now try and get the other one." Han banked the ship sideways pulling away from the other Corvette in a diagonal twisting movement and into open space. "Stang!" he swore as a shot made contact. Although not a direct hit, it was enough to throw the Falcon's ever-precarious electrical system into a fit. The Falcon bucked wildly for a moment, the lights flickering. "Come on, girl. Hold it together," Han pleaded with his beloved ship. "Luke!" he yelled. "I think they've got the stabiliser. "I can't hold her for much longer. Try and hit the other ship. It's not as fast and I think they've just sent company. Get rid of this one before the others arrive. Two more incoming."

"We are never going to be able to out-run those other ones unless we fix the...." Luke yelled into the com as he used the Force to fire the rear top guns at the ships gaining on them with alarming speed. 'Typical, just typical' he thought. 'Things were almost going well.'

"No time!" Han bit out, his jaw clenched with tension.

"Figures. Same as always." And suddenly that's when Luke could see it all. "Charge them!" he yelled, as if a glow rod had just clicked on in his brain.

"There's just not enough power."

"No..." Coming back into the conversation, Luke shouted, "There's enough for this. There has to be." And with the flip of a switch sent a monitor view of the approaching ships to his friend in the cockpit. "Charge them!"

Han starred out the viewport and for a brief moment shared his wife's concern for the Jedi's state of being. "We're out numbered, have minimal shields and you want me to play chicken with a band of pirates?"

A wry grin tugged at Luke's set mouth, and without even seeing Han's open-mouthed wonder he gripped the gun controls and replied, "Do you want me to give you the odds?"

A spark lit Han's eyes. "Hell, no!" And with that he pulled the throttle all the way back sending the Falcon looping back in a half figure eight and then, like an Ewok's sling shot, hurtling forward and up towards the crippled ship. "We're not telling Leia about this!" he declared dryly, steeling his resolve."

"Not a word."

"You keep stealing my lines, kid."

"Can you still out fly him for a couple of minutes?"

"'Course I can still out fly him," Han shot back. "I can out fly anything," Han quipped as he diverted the auxiliary shield power. "You just take out those last few cannons!" There was a flash and the ship shuddered. "I would appreciate it, Junior, if you could do it now. I just think the shields just went."

"Will do."

Han began to zigzag in complicated patterns, avoiding the deadly laser fire as Luke picked off the remaining guns on the closest ships like womprats in Beggars Canyon back home. Then, the Jedi sank into the Force, letting its familiar warmth steal over him. He was about to launch a volley of laser fire into the belly of the nearest cruiser when another idea crossed his mind. Luke let a smile drift over his face as his eyes drifted closed, his hands falling from the gun controls.

Han gathered up the remaining power and sent the Falcon spinning in between the enemy vessels when suddenly the hull plating of the Falcon appeared to glow and a strange light seemed to pulsate outward. "What the.?" Han's heart leapt into his throat as he watched events unfold.

"Wah-hoo!"

When Luke opened his eyes the Falcon had left the entire pirate fleet dead in space.

"I don't know what you did there, kid, but they're not moving any more. Oh, wait. they are but very slowly. Let's get out of here before they get up enough power to follow. What the hell did you do?"

At the sound of his brother-in-laws trade mark victory yell, Luke sighed and pulled off his headset and climbed stiffly out of the gun turret. This had taken more out of him than he'd liked. He needed time to rest and recharge his batteries but he sensed he wasn't going to get that yet. "We're not too badly hit are we?" he asked, as he moved into the cockpit and sank into the co-pilot's seat.

"Nah, well, yes." Han had to be honest. "Bad enough to slow us down. We need some parts and I don't carry the spares that we require. We've almost been forced to land here. Just as well that Elrood is coming up. We'll be there in just under an hour. "Come on, kid," he asked again. "What did you do?"

Luke chuckled. "Enough, I hope. I think I momentarily disabled their power. An ion cannon effect without an ion cannon, if you like."

Han whistled. "Kid, you can travel with me any day. It saved our skins." His face changed to one of concern as he flicked several switches without getting the results he wanted. "The Falcon needs attention for sure. She's definitely sluggish."

"Will Elrood have what we need?"

"Undoubtedly. The Elrood Bazaar is famous for having anything you might desire - especially illegal ship parts."

The Emerald Price Chapter 4

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

Spaceport, Elrood

Luke fidgeted in the co-pilot's seat as the large green and blue planet swathed in greyish clouds grew closer. Ahead and to his right, he could see its two grey moons, Sharene and Lodos. "We're not carrying anything weird, are we Han?"

"What do you mean 'weird'?"

Luke gazed around the cockpit, his searching blue gaze seeking anything that might not be strictly legal. "Hardware which might only belong to a New Republic General and not an 'independent operator' in a beat up starship?"

"My starship is not 'beat up'," Han roared and then widened hazel eyes exclaiming theatrically, "Now you tell me that we're undercover."

"I told you that before," Luke said with a mock groan.

"Just checking," the Corellian said, a grin threatening on his face. "Stuffed them in the sealed compartments while you were sleeping, kid. You know this baby has been upgraded to my own special requirements." Han waggled his eyebrows.

"Han, it's a joke."

"It had better be. Unfortunately the authorities here are sticklers for regulations. Worse than the Imperials. Don't worry, the Falcon will hold up to inspection. They'll probably fumigate her too. unless you persuade them otherwise."

"Fumigate!" Luke's voice rose.

Han's gave his friend a calculating sideways glance. "I can't hide all the Falcon's modifications. It could mean an extra few days and we'll have to pay a fine."

"You know I don't like doing this, Han."

"Maybe you don't but the longer they delay us here, the longer it will take to find Mara and you told me that we don't have the time."

Luke exhaled a noisy breath. "Okay," he mumbled reluctantly. "But it feels wrong. It's just that influencing minds is a little too near the dark side for my liking." He hunched his shoulders. "I've been there once before and that's once too often."

"If you lose Mara that will be the least of our worries," Han mouthed under his breath and ignored the sharp look that the Jedi Master sent his way.

"This is the Red Krayt," Han intoned flicking a switch to secure the Elrood Starport Command frequencies. "Requesting permission to land at Elrooden Starport."

"We need your details. transponder codes."

"Here goes," he muttered and sent the information to the officials waiting on the planet below. "This code worked the last time I was here."

"But how long ago was that?" Luke queried, a hint of impatience in his voice.

Han's face grew serious. "When I was a lesser man - just a second-rate scoundrel."

"You were never second-rate, Han."

"Before you and I met, before Leia and before the Death Stars. before Endor."

"Remember the shuttle Tyderium?" Luke asked softly.

"We had to wait for an age before they cleared us."

"Vader knew I was there. They knew we were coming. That's why we had to wait."

But unlike Endor, no one knew who they were and why they were visiting Elrood. Things moved far swifter and the far away voice announced, "Permission granted. Entry and landing vector set. Do not digress from this path. Docking bay 77."

"Entry vector set. Over."

"Noted."

"Let's hope whoever was shooting at us from above doesn't have friends below," Luke commented as the planet began to grow large in the viewport.

"Unlikely. But you have your saber handy?"

"Always." Luke sighed. "I can't imagine my life without it." He paused in the entrance to the cockpit. "I'm going to see what I can do with the repairs for the moment."

"Thanks, kid. Some of the wiring is shot."

"And that was before we left Coruscant," Luke said, trying to lighten his own mood.

Han's lips twitched. "I should have left you behind. Were you always this mouthy?"

"Where's the hydrospanner?"

"I thought you were going to fix things with that sharp wit of yours."

"Normally I would, but a hydrospanner is so much easier to wield. How long before we land?"

"You are definitely worse than the kids. Ten minutes out of Coruscant and someone says, 'Are we there yet?'" Han checked his scopes. "About another half hour if we don't run into anymore friends."

"And you said you didn't know anyone out here any more."

***********************************

The Falcon landed safely in the out-of the-way docking bay and with Luke to direct the attentions of the inspection team away from anything unusual, they'd been cleared to go about their business. The three humans making up the delegation from the ESC were sympathetic about their escape from the pirates. Han and Luke knew that they had indeed been lucky.

The senior man in the team had sighed. "We try to keep order but recently the traffic in piracy and slavery has greatly increased. We're so far from the Core worlds that it is difficult for the New Republic to come to our aid. In fact I'm not even certain that we are affiliated with the New Republic."

"I'm sure you are." Han made a mental note to check and send them some more support.

"That's one of the reasons why we are so thorough down here. We have to depend upon ourselves but things still get through."

Luke fiddled with the edge of his tunic and hoped his Jedi Master face was working overtime as the inspection team left the ship.

"We're going to need some parts." Han pointed to damage on the Falcon's hull-plating. He knew that his precious vessel couldn't have gone much further. While he'd concentrated on flying the ship to safety in its precarious situation Luke had already started on the repairs. He eased himself from the pilot's seat with a sense of relief but he also guessed that his relief could be short-lived. He had to go and see what the damage was.

"Luke?" Han hated having to ask this but his gut feeling told him that the pirates attacking them could have backup on planet and as soon as they left the ship they were fair game. "Can you sense anything?"

Luke's mobile mouth twisted into a wry smile. "Are we heading for trouble?"

"I didn't want to phrase it quite like that but, yes - are we?"

"I don't feel my danger sense twitching but that's no guarantee. We'll know when they start shooting at us."

"That is so reassuring. Call yourself a Jedi Master?" Han complained.

"I think we left them dead in space. Your original hunch was right. Still, there's bound to be other problems for us to run into. When have we ever not run into trouble? Where do we need to go?" Luke put down his hydrospanner and stood waiting, his hands on his hips.

"Go?"

Luke indicated the trailing wires and burned out capacitors he'd been attempting to fix or replace. "We need supplies. Where will we find the parts we need?"

"I thought we might need stuff and we do. Have you been able to make a list?" Han cast a critical eye over the work his brother-in-law had been doing. "Looks good what you've done so far."

Luke shrugged, handing the Corellian a data pad with a breakdown of what he thought they would need. "I haven't done anything major."

"I don't think a rebel tech could have fixed things better." With a sense of satisfaction Han realised that the kid still had it when it came to machines. Luke, in his early days with the Rebellion, had been able to fix almost anything. Many people forgot that Luke had lived on the run for years, making do with and mending whatever equipment they had, and assumed, wrongly, that the Jedi master never got his hands dirty. The Corellian saw the satisfied look on the Jedi's face. Luke still loved to work with his hands - he'd never lost that and never would.

"I was one of those rebel techs, remember? When I wasn't being a spy or a pilot or."

"I'm sorry, kid."

Luke lifted his head, confusion darkening his blue eyes. "What for?"

"I'm as guilty as the rest of them."

"I don't understand."

"Machines." Han let his voice trail off and glanced at Luke's hands now dirtied by oil and lubricant. "You always could fix things."

"Still can," Luke said without boasting. From the time he could walk, his uncle had made him help around the farm and then his ability to fix things had surfaced. Owen Lars hadn't been too happy but had utilised the skill. If Luke was busy he wasn't getting into trouble and he had kept the boy busy.

"I know." Han spread his hands out helplessly. "I don't fear you or the power you wield but I can never forget how much power you have at your disposal if you wanted to use it."

"I don't need to use it."

"I forget that you once loved flying your skyhopper, you liked the sun on your face and the inborn ability to fix anything mechanical made you happy."

"I am happy, Han."

"No, you are content and that's a lot different. I've been putting you on that Jedi Master pedestal and forgetting that you're human, kid. For that I'm sorry."

Luke's face grew bleak and then his expression warmed. "Thanks, Han. You're better than most. even Leia. Mara was the only one who treated me like a normal guy. I need that more than ever." He stopped, his confusion evident.

Han glanced at his chrono. "We need to go to the Bazaar. There's a place I used to frequent where they had top-quality used starship parts."

"Will it still be there?"

"It was there long before I was born, kid, and although it changes hands over time, it always remains."

Luke grabbed an oil-streaked rag and wiped his hands to no real effect. "Then we go."

"We need other kinds of supplies too?"

"The usual?"

"Yeah - blaster packs and ammunition."

"I thought we needed food?"

"That goes without saying where you are concerned. I still don't know where you put it."

Luke gave an embarrassed grin. "I never know when I may have to go without a meal so I always stock up."

"Figures." Han pulled on his old camouflage jacket and waited as Luke pulled on a leather jerkin, attached his belt containing his saber around his waist and then wound a grey cloak around his shoulders slightly different from his usual Jedi fashion. "That's new."

Luke shook his sandy head. "Nope. I use it when I don't want to appear too much like a Jedi and I don't want to look too much like a Jedi out here."

"Never hurts to be cautious but the lightsaber kinda gives it away."

"It's underneath my cloak. All they'll see is my low-slung blaster holster."

"You carrying a blaster, kid?" Han's voice was incredulous. Luke hadn't carried a blaster willingly, to his knowledge, since before Han had been captured at Bespin. Not wearing his customary black Jedi garb made him appear almost like a different person - younger and less serious. In fact, he appeared little older than the boy Han had first picked up on Tatooine. Luke should have been that way and not burdened by the galaxy's cares. For a fraction of a moment Han wondered what might have happened if he had left that "kid" at the Mos Eisley Cantina, a kid who had grown wise, yet solemn far beyond his years under the weighty burden of a galaxy's fate.

Han began checking his own ammunition and weaponry. "Spare blaster packs?"

Luke nodded. "Got them. You said this place was lawless. I don't have to use them even if I do have them."

"What about a 'toaster'?"

"A what?"

Han grinned. "Slang for a thermal detonator."

"I haven't got one of those." Luke rolled his eyes. A 'toaster' indeed.

"We'd better pick up a couple then. Always best to be prepared."

**************************************

The two men headed out into the quiet that heralded the grey dawn of an Elrooden morning. Like most starports it was already busy. Beings of all races headed about their business and the machine shops were already ringing to the sound of repairs being made.

Han shook his head. "We'll pay triple the normal price here for parts and that's before they attempt repairs."

Luke nodded. "We can do a better job ourselves."

"That's true."

Luke pushed Han to one side suddenly without warning as a high-pitched humming of a finely tuned swoop engine caught his ears. "Watch it!" he shouted as two repulsorlift swoops sped by narrowly missing Han. "You okay?"

The Corellian brushed the dust from his jacket and pulled himself away from the wall. "Yeah! I forgot about the swoopies. Used to ride one myself."

"Me too. My uncle hated them. Said I would get myself killed and banned me from going near the swoop races in Bestine Town on Tatooine."

"But you still went."

"'Course I did. What do you take me for?"

Han laughed. "Reckless?"

"Takes one to know one."

"I guess it does." Han pointed to a repulsorlift transport car. "This will take us right into Elrooden City. That's where the Bazaar is."

"Won't it be just as expensive?"

"Not if you know where to look."

"And you know where to look."

Han's face was a picture of innocence. "Hey! It's me."

************************************

Dawn rose slowly over the starport as they boarded the sleek transport bound for the city centre and the Bazaar. Han sat with his eyes closed but Luke, tired though he was, tried stretching out through the Force. He had to see if he could sense her - they had to be close now. The transport moved steadily through the outskirts of the City, past tumbledown housing and factories belching smoke. Then the surroundings grew nicer, well maintained modern dwellings were visible behind security compounds. Luke saw none of it, concentrating on locating the presence of the woman he'd come so far to find.

Not once had Luke thought he would fail to find her - he knew that he would but he wasn't sure if it would be in time. Mara's life was in danger. Not once had he remembered his fruitless search for Callista. This was different. He and Mara were linked so strongly through the Force that he would pick up her heartbeat if she was alive and on this world.

"Luke. I can't hold on much longer."

"Mara! Where are you?"

"I'm close, so close."

"You're not on this world."

"Perhaps I'm beyond this world."

"You can't be. you can't. I won't let you."

"Luke!" Her voice rose on a wave of pain in his mind.

"Kid?" Han's anxious voice brought him back to reality. "Kid. you okay?"

"Han!" Luke squeezed his eyes tight shut. Had he heard her again? Had that been Mara's voice in his head or was it just wishful thinking - a product of his own worry? "Mara's not on this world."

"But she's nearby, isn't she."

"I think so."

"How long have you been able to sense her presence?"

"A long time." Luke was deliberately vague but the knowing expression on the Corellian's face made him sigh wearily and admit the truth. Not even Leia knew that he had linked so closely with the former Emperor's hand. Luke was unsure how his sister would feel about anyone being so close to her brother - especially Mara Jade. "Okay." he amended. "Probably since Wayland."

"Since Wayland? But that's."

"Been nearly ten years? Yeah! She doesn't know," he hastened to assure Han.

"You've hidden it from her. Aw." Han clenched his hand into a fist. "I guess you would have to. Stang!"

"What else could I do, Han? Just say, 'It's okay, Jade. You've gained your freedom from the Emperor. You'll no longer hear Palpatine's voice in your head because it's been replaced by mine. You might not want to kill me now but you certainly don't trust me. You think I'll turn into another Palpatine.'" He looked directly at Han. "She still does after nearly ten years."

"Mara doesn't think like that at all," Han refuted the Jedi's assumption sharply. But on reflection maybe the kid was right. Mara would not want another voice in her head.

"Then why does she refuse her Jedi heritage? Why does she refuse to come and train with me?"

"Maybe she just wants to be independent. She doesn't deny her Jedi skills."

"She's content to play at being a smuggler and trading partner or rather, she thinks she is. But I'm linked to her soul, Han. I know what she dreams. She wants to become a Jedi but part of her is rebelling against it. She fears she will lose part of herself and thinks that I have already done so. She cannot accept the Force whole-heartedly and to become a Jedi she will have to."

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry, kid. I wish I could shed light on all of this." Han lifted his head and stared out of the viewport as the transport slowed to accommodate a sudden upsurge in vehicles. "We're almost there."

Luke stared at the colourful sight of hundreds of brightly hued market stalls of varying shapes and sizes and a throng of beings from all over the galaxy bargaining for their wares. "I had no idea."

"Of the size of this place? No, I must admit it has grown since my last visit and it was huge then."

"Where do we get off?"

"Not here. This is the grand plaza or the Daya," Han said. He pointed to a series of elaborate looking constructions. "These trading establishments are for the tourists and are permanently here."

"Too expensive?"

"You got it, kid."

Luke gaped around him through the transparisteel viewports of the transport as if he'd just stepped off the first ship from Tatooine. "This place is enormous!"

Han grinned. "Yeah, it is."

The repulsorlift car drove away from the polished, cosmopolitan centre of the Bazaar and headed back into the outskirts. Han pulled a data pad from his pocket and began punching in figures. "If my calculations are correct, the place we're looking for is around the next corner." Han leant forward and pressed the button to signal the driver that they wanted to alight at the next station.

Luke glanced around him. They were the only ones left on the transport apart from the driver, a large Coynite, who gave them a friendly, yet ferocious smile as they disembarked.

Han hustled Luke towards a small square in front of a large warehouse. "This is the place." He pulled a small bag from his pocket and ran the contents through his fingers.

"What's that?"

"Small semi-precious gemstones. It's often the only currency places like this will transact business with. I did a deal with one of the inspectors when they came aboard the Falcon." He lifted a shoulder. "I didn't need all of that Hapan silk. They paid me in these tiny precious stones. New Republic credits won't always work out here. It kinda screams 'come and get us.' You're wearing a blaster - I didn't think we wanted to advertise the fact that we're legit."

"I would never have thought about that sort of thing."

"That's why you asked me along. Someone to do the thinking."

"It will be the first time you've done any thinking for an age, you old scoundrel."

"You're heading for the Sarlacc pit, kid. Cut out the cheek."

Luke popped off a cheerful salute. "Yes, sir!"

Han watched as the stallholders set up their wares and the beings began to arrive in some numbers to buy and sell. "You wait here and keep a watch out for anything unusual. I'll go get us what we need. In fact, Junior. Since you tend to think with your stomach." He thrust several of the small gemstones into Luke's hands. "Get the food supplies."

"Hey!"

Luke, left alone, could almost imagine he was back on his home planet watching the weekly market traders set up for a busy days trading. He snorted to himself - apart from the sand and the fact that itt was a lot cooler. Also, there wasn't a jawa in sight.

He took his time, wandering among the stalls set up and spent some time chatting to a small boy who was supposed to be helping his grandmother. "I'm helping grandmother but she doesn't mind if I look at the other things to sell. Sometimes, if I'm very good, 'Old Alpert' will give me a swishberi."

"And these are good?" Luke asked.

"They're the best." The child, in the way that children do, had taken a fancy to the serious blue-eyed stranger who actually listened to him as if he was important. Only his grandmother and 'Old Alpert' did that.

"Have you come far?"

"Yes," Luke replied.

"I could tell."

"You're very clever," Luke murmured with a smile.

"My grandmother says 'I'm all ears and eyes.' She says 'I'm too smart for my own good.'" The child had a certain way of talking and Luke could hear the exact intonation of the grandmother's voice in his speech.

"I don't think you can ever be 'too smart'."

"Then that's okay. I need to be smart to look after my grandmother and save her from the swoopies."

"The swoopies?"

The child's face shuttered. "I help her," he said.

"Then she is very lucky to have such a responsible and grown-up grandson. Not all grandmothers do." He slipped one of the small gemstones into the child's hand. "Much as I am enjoying our talk I need to get my supplies," Luke said quietly.

The child nodded his tousled dark head and pointed out the best stalls to visit. "Don't go to Darahk's. He'll cheat you because he'll guess that you're from off-world."

"Am I so obvious?"

"In the Daya no one would look at you again, but here," the child shrugged his bony shoulders. "This part of the city doesn't get many off-world beings."

"And you are?"

"Tayo."

Luke bowed. "Good to meet you, Tayo."

"My grandmother and I have a stall. My father's dead and my mother was taken as a slave when I was a baby. We think she's probably dead too."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I never really knew my father. He died when I was small and I can't remember mother much."

Luke stared at the boy before him. He wasn't that big now. He might have been ages with Jacen and Jaina. "It's good that you help your grandmother."

"Maybe you'll come to our stall. My grandmother makes the best bread."

"I'll make a point of it." Luke waved goodbye to the child, quickly making his purchases before heading back to wait for Han. Just as he reached the warehouse, the smell of freshly baked bread teased his nostrils. Luke retraced his steps. Tayo's bread smelled wonderful.

He wandered slowly up to a small stall set up in front of what must be the bakery. A small dumpy middle-aged woman was busily setting out loaves rolls and various pastries. "I'll buy some of your bread. Your grandson recommends it."

The woman laughed, her dark eyes twinkling in her lined and weather-beaten face. "You met Tayo?"

"I did. He advised me on where I should make my purchases."

"He's got a wise head on his tiny shoulders."

"That he has," Luke agreed with a chuckle as he carefully counted out the amount of tiny coloured gemstones the woman had asked for as she wrapped his purchases.

"Grandmother!" Tayo's voice rang out urgently.

Luke swivelled around on the balls of his feet immediately sensing the disquiet of the woman and child, his hand crept under his cloak to find the reassuring weight of his saber.

"What is it, child?"

"Besketorr and the gang." Tayo gulped, his face white under a thin layer of dirt, his eyes large and fearful. "They're in the next street."

Luke lifted his head searching the Force for its patterns and myriad layers. Something stirred close by. He felt the menace. "What is it?"

"Besketorr and his gang," she explained shakily. "They demand money. Otherwise, they put us out of business. Look around you, off-worlder. Can you see any of us having wealth here? I have no more jewels to give them." Her face suddenly appeared tired and old, the lines deepening and Luke saw the worry she'd long held. "They told me they'd given me all the time I had and if I couldn't pay them they would ruin my business for ever and transport Tayo to the slavers. They will do it. They took my daughter and killed her husband. Tayo is all I have left."

"What about the authorities?"

"They do nothing," she spat. "They are in the pay of the gang lords - each one more corrupt than the next."

In his mind's eye Luke saw another middle aged woman saddled with the burden of a small child to bring up as best she could in a harsh environment, all the while knowing that his destiny could be her death. Why did life throw up so many cruelties and inconsistencies? Why had this poor family to suffer to make a meagre living?

Her eyes dulled with resignation. "You'd better go."

"No," Luke said. "You'll need my help."

She shook her head. "You'll only bring trouble onto yourself."

"What's a bit of trouble?" he asked whimsically. "Those that deal it out can bring more on their own heads. I'll stay and help," he insisted, his face hardening, rocking on his feet as if ready to spring into immediate action. "Tayo," Luke murmured never taking his steady blue gaze from the older woman's frightened face. "Get out of here. Go and find somewhere safe and stay there, keep your head down and come back when we call for you."

"But I can help too." the child protested.

"In this case - don't think so. You've already been very brave. You gave the warning. Go, Tayo. It's best that you should." Luke injected a little Force persuasion into his voice and the child found himself obeying without question. Suddenly the fear gripped his wiry little body and he sprinted away to his own special place and curled into a ball waiting for his name to sound.

The roaring sound was only heard faintly at first but Luke saw how the rest of the market traders reacted. They began to try and pack up their stalls even though it was too late. Luke came around and stood beside Tayo's grandmother. "What is your name?" he asked gently. He could see she was in shock.

"Farani."

"Well, Mistress Farani, I suggest you get inside and leave me here. Go inside where it's safe." A cloud of dust billowed around the street corner and the sound of high-pitched roaring swoop engines could be heard approaching closer and closer. "Go inside, Farani," Luke repeated. He curled his hand around his lightsaber, feeling it pulse in his grasp. He would be ready. Pity Han wasn't with him.

The swoop bikes roared into the square at breakneck speed, stopping right in the centre of the square with a squeal of breaks and clouds of noxious fumes. Luke could feel their cruel and greedy anticipation. He also sensed the trepidation and outright fear from the local people.

There was a sudden moment of complete silence as everyone froze.

Everyone that was, apart from Luke who continued to pack up Farani and Tayo's stall, stuffing the breads into various containers. He had already noted that there were at least a dozen beings mounted on repulsorlift swoop bikes. Bullies needed to be taught a lesson. If one gave in to them it was only a matter of time before they wanted more.

The leader of the gang dismounted from his vehicle and, accompanied by two aliens Luke couldn't recall ever have seeing before, approached the seemingly unaware man. Luke whistled a jaunty air he'd heard Han using on a number of occasions. The stall shook as Besketorr slammed his massive hands down upon it.

Luke turned around. "Hello! You want to buy some bread?"

"Where's the old woman?" the hulking, bearded man snarled at the Jedi Master.

"What old woman?" Luke parried carefully. "I don't see any old woman here. You must have bad eyesight or are perhaps delusional."

Besketorr narrowed his eyes. He had the feeling he'd just been insulted. Nobody talked to him like that. "She owes us."

"From where I'm standing she doesn't owe you anything." Luke's voice was calm. He could sense the remaining stall owners watching him.

Something in that very calmness seemed to enrage the brute opposite him. "You'll have to pay in her stead."

"I owe you nothing."

"This is our territory. Everyone in our territory pays."

"I'm not paying," Luke said and smiled. "I don't know or care who you are. You can try and make me pay but I warrant you'll come off worst."

Besketorr gaped at the sight of the smaller man who refused to be intimidated by him. He didn't recognise the coldness of Luke's smile nor the determined light in his eyes. His hand shot out and grabbed the front of Luke's cloak pulling him over the top of the stall.

"I'm still not paying," Luke enunciated right in the gang leader's face. "I owe you nothing. These people owe you nothing." He gave a grim smile. "I'm getting really bored saying this but you're obviously too thick to understand." Luke grinned to himself. Yoda was right - he was reckless.

A quavering voice shouted out from behind them. "He's right. We owe them nothing."

Luke surmised rightly that it was Old Alpert and used Besketorr's momentary inattention to twist sharply from his grasp and slither free. His hand went to his blaster and when Besketorr turned back to face him he was looking down the barrel of Luke's gun.

"Demons," Besketorr shouted furiously.

Luke stood his ground, his blaster remaining pointed at the leader. It was then he realised that several of the other swoopies were advancing on him with their weapons drawn, their snarling and hissing making the hair on his arms stand on end as he was surrounded on three sides. The stall provided him with no back door for escape.

"Oh, sithspawn!" Luke swore as he crouched and jumped, back flipping himself out of harm's way for the moment.

"How the.!"

"What the hell."

"Get him!" Besketorr screamed as someone threw a smoke grenade into the centre of the market square. Suddenly there was pandemonium as shots rang out and swoopies began to get into fights with the remaining stall owners.

"This way, lad." Luke turned at the sound of the quavery voice.

"Old Alpert?"

"Aye, lad. That's me. We should have done this a while ago." He produced something from a voluminous tunic and prepared to throw it into the centre of the square.

"Alpert." Luke's danger sense gave a knock. "Don't throw that."

But it was too late. The thermal detonator lobbed away from the old man and Luke was just too late to stop him. There was a bright burst of flame and debris showered them as they cringed underneath the shelter of the stall.

The sound of the swoops being revved up assaulted their ears. "Find him and get him. I want that."

Two of the swoopies came barrelling through the smoke and grabbed the old man, dragging him away.

"No!" Luke shouted and charged after them.

"Luke! Luke!"

He heard his voice being called frantically and peered through the grey haze of dust and smoke. "Han! I'm over here."

Luke stopped and winced as his brother-in-law banged into him knocking them both to the ground.

"I don't suppose you are behind this little fracas?"

"Guilty."

"What the hell are you playing at, kid?"

"Sorry, Han. Remember how we said that we always get into trouble? I'll explain later. Got to go and get the old guy out of this." Luke climbed to his feet and, with his blaster in hand, ran through the clearing smoke, his Jedi senses accurately finding the way until he came to the centre of the square. Old Alpert stood shaking in the rough grasp of two of the thugs.

"Let him go."

Raucous, jeering laughter greeted Luke's words.

Eyes narrowing, Luke suddenly spun into action, striking out in a hard fighting stance. Making a lightning fast decision, Luke holstered his blaster and brought out his saber. Flipping it on he ran at the swoopies, slashing and kicking until they let the old man go. "Get out of here, Alpert."

Han had set up behind an overturned stall and was carefully shooting at the repulsorlift controls on the swoop bikes watching with satisfaction as they crashed to the ground. "I leave him here for ten minutes and what happens - chaos."

Han, too busy taking pot-shots at confused gang members, didn't notice the influx of new personnel entering the square but Luke did. Force! Were these newcomers friends or foes? He hoped the former but fate wasn't usually that kind. He shut down his saber and began chasing another of the swoop riders who had a pretty young girl by the hair. He raised his voice and demanded, "Let her go."

"Come and get her." The swoopie lifted his blaster and aimed a shot at the Jedi Master but missed as Luke ducked away, the shot skimming past him by a hair's breadth.

"Lucky one, Luke," he breathed and then stopped as he met the barrel of a blaster coming the other way.

"'Bout time these guys were stopped," a dry voice said laconically and shifting aim shot the thug straight between the eyes. The young girl screamed and ran as the gang member pitched forward, dark red blood bubbling from the wound.

"You shouldn't have done that," Luke said. "He's dead."

"Good. The thermal detonator took care of Besketorr. That was his second-in-command. Now he's finished off too." He swung his blaster around and pointed it at the Jedi. "Now, where do you fit in?"

'Second-in-command,' Luke thought. 'Oh, Mara! Where are you?'

The man was wearing a greyish jacket that might have been part of a uniform at one time. "Are you one of them? I don't recognise your face."

"No, I don't know them."

"Kid!" Han came careering towards them and then stopped dead, his feet almost tangling himself into a heap. Something about the man Luke was standing beside brought forth a chord of recognition.

Han heard a muffled exclamation and then felt his arms being grabbed and tied behind his back. He could see another two men wearing a greyish uniform approaching Luke. The Jedi didn't move but stood staring at the body of a fallen swoop rider.

"I'm no threat to you," Luke said as they grabbed his shoulders roughly.

"Let him go!" Tayo's little figure tore across the rapidly clearing square. "He helped us."

"Really?" The newcomer's voice sounded his disbelief.

"He did, truly he did," Tayo pressed urgently.

"We should have fought back a long time ago. Just like you told us to. This young man just provided our impetus." Old Alpert hobbled up to Tayo and took his hand. "Come on, Tayo. Your grandmother will be worried. Our thanks, young man," he said to Luke.

"What about him, sir?" one of the men holding a strangely silent Han Solo asked.

"He's with me," Luke said.

The leader of the group turned and stiffened.

"You!" Han said. "It is you. I thought that it couldn't be but it is."

"Let them go," a woman's voice said.

"Let them go?" The man sighed. "You want me to let them go? Okay." He turned to his men. "Let them go."

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The Emerald Price Chapter 5

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

"Let them go." The resigned voice was clipped but educated and, feeling as if he was drifting back through time, Han recognised it.

"I'll be a." he muttered.

Luke let his cloak drop back into place but not before the stranger had seen exactly what Luke's hand had been reaching for, even though his men were holding the Jedi by the shoulders. It was too much to hope for that the cold grey eyes didn't recognise the weapon he wore so proudly at his waist.

"I don't believe it." Han turned and stared in total disbelief at the man and woman facing him over an upturned swoop. "I really don't believe it. After all this time. it's impossible."

"You should know by now Han, old buddy, that the impossible is commonplace for us." Luke lightly shrugged off the grip of the stranger's two men, a peculiar look crossing his face. He'd felt the stunned recognition sweep across Han's emotions. This was no stranger to his best buddy. Han knew this man and knew him well. "Introduce me to our rescuers, Han."

A battered looking biker glared laser bolts at the group but, without saying anything, carefully picked up his downed vehicle and moved away.

"Rescuers! They." Han's face tightened and he bit his lip and said nothing.

"Rescuers," Luke maintained firmly. "We may have had the swoopies on the run but there was no way we were going to be able to close out the scene to our satisfaction. They would have been back. We needed their assistance."

Han jerked his hand up and stabbed his finger in the air right in front of the Jedi's nose. "We wouldn't have needed rescuing if your nerf-brained behaviour hadn't gotten us into trouble to begin with. We were supposed to be keeping to ourselves. What part of 'low profile' don't you understand? I go in and do the dealing. You stay and keep watch. Then we go back to the ship and fly away."

"I don't remember that conversation. I never agreed to that."

"No, of course you didn't. Everything has to be from a 'certain point of view'."

Luke shrugged. "I had to help them, Han. You know I can never ignore those who need my assistance."

Han exhaled noisily. "I know, kid." 'Jedi!' he swore under his breath.

The voice was glacially cold. "Han Solo! You haven't changed a bit."

Han glared at the man standing behind him. "Oh, I've changed. More than you will ever know. I'm not like you. Not any more."

The man's voice turned a shade drier if that was possible. "I'm not sure you were ever like me, Solo. So in that respect - you haven't changed. Your choice of companion however." The stranger's voice slowed as he scrutinised Luke carefully. "Where's your Wookiee friend -Chewbacca?"

"At home minding the kids," Han snapped belligerently, disliking the tone in the man's voice as he spoke about Chewie.

"His or yours?" The woman asked, arching a blonde eyebrow, glancing at her companion. She'd said virtually nothing since the conversation had started.

"Mine. Chewie's son is on Kashyyk with his mother," Han grated out between closed teeth. "He," he jerked his thumb at Luke, "doesn't have any yet."

Luke opened his mouth and then closed it, an uncomfortable expression on his face.

"I had heard you'd managed to reproduce successfully. So," the man paused, "respectability for Han Solo and friendship with the Jedi. You have gone up in the world."

"Sarcasm doesn't become you, Feenus."

Luke cleared his throat. "Introductions?"

"I'm Altra Adremetis," the woman said with a cool smile, introducing herself.

Luke assessed her. Short, streaked blond hair framed a smooth oval face and shrewd grey-green eyes. Her trim figure bespoke of an active lifestyle but he reckoned that she was about Han's age. He could feel her presence through the Force even though she wasn't a Force adept - just her vital, pulsating aura. He briefly thought about Gaerial Captison and Mon Mothma. Another two women who were just as strong without being Force sensitives themselves.

Leia's tutelage of Luke in Old Republic manners came to his rescue. He bowed his head. "I am. Corran, Mistress Adremetis."

"Just Altra, please Corran."

Luke nodded. "Mistress Altra."

'Corran!' Han choked suddenly and found himself the centre of attention. A smile crossed Luke's face and Han immediately wanted to wipe it off. So he was going undercover.

"Hello, Han." Her voice was composed.

Han gave a distant smile. "Altra, still as beautiful as ever."

"You are surprised at my change of name?"

Altra gave Han the excuse he was looking for. These people weren't idiots from the Outer Rim. Surely they had recognised Luke? He thought fast. "I am surprised to hear you finally married this reprobate. I wondered if you might have had more sense."

Altra's companion glared at the Corellian.

Altra turned back to Luke. "Corran, this is my husband, Feenus Adremetis. Both he and Han are missing their sense of humour right now."

Luke inclined his head. There was an awkward silence. Han and Feenus were glaring vibroshivs at one another. Luke closed his eyes tiredly. Just as well he hadn't asked Altra if Han had been an old boyfriend. He suspected that her husband would have murdered them both. Another complication they didn't need. But he always supposed that things happened for a reason and perhaps finding these people was all part of their destiny.

Altra's smile warmed. "But you are married too, Han. It was all over the holonet. Even out here."

Han's mouth quirked into a smile. "Best thing I ever did."

Feenus Adremetis turned a dark suspicious gaze on Luke. "Jedi?" he asked accusingly, narrowing almond shaped eyes.

"Yes," Luke said studying the man before him. "And no, I can't read your mind unless you want me to." The man was hostile but whether he was friend or foe Luke hadn't quite decided. Something about his straight backed awareness of his surroundings spoke of a military past and perhaps even present. Luke's lightsaber had immediately been spotted and its function known.

"How did you manage to end up with a Jedi, Solo?"

"You know a lot about me from the newsnets, Feen. Surely you know that part too? My wife's brother is a Jedi. I'm around them often."

"Enlighten me anyway."

"I picked this one up on a charter flight. Never seemed to get rid of him."

"I wasn't a Jedi then," Luke said helpfully.

Feenus scowled. "We were told the Jedi were dangerous and deserved to die out."

"A good Imperial philosophy," Luke agreed. It was clear to him that Feenus Adremetis was, or had been, an Imperial soldier. Still, something in the Force told Luke that he could trust the man despite his apparent hostility. "There are few of us Jedi yet and what you have been told is wrong. We are here to help not to hinder. Ours is a peaceful order. We are trained to fight, yes, but never to initiate hostilities."

"I'm not sure I agree with the 'help' part of it." Feenus glanced at Han. "As always, you come with trouble chasing after you."

"I resent that," Han muttered. "We arrive in this system on our own business - are shot at by pirates before we even land and then attacked by swoop gangs when we do. We just wanted to mind our own business - not to be hounded and shot at and then interrogated."

"I don't believe you."

"Don't believe us, but its true. We are still free men?" Han asked bluntly.

"I can't decide."

"Feenus!" Altra tugged on her husband's sleeve as she interrupted him sharply. "That's enough."

"But."

"I said that's enough." She looked at the Jedi, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Come on, you look tired."

"Altra."

"Feenus, I remember Han as a friend. You have no power to detain anyone."

Her husband scowled. "I'm sure he's still wanted for something around here."

Han sighed. "I need to get back to the warehouse and finish getting parts for the Falcon. I was interrupted in my task earlier."

Luke nodded. "Sure, Han."

"Can you manage not to initiate any more street fighting between swoop gang members and the local community this time?"

"They needed my help," Luke protested.

"I know, kid. You can still never turn down a cry for help, can you? This time, just do it quietly."

"Feenus," Altra said. "You go with Han and see he gets what he needs at the best price. I'll take Corran back with me and get supper ready."

"Why should I?"

"Because I asked you to."

Feenus snarled something rude and turned to follow Han, muttering all the way into the warehouse.

Luke chuckled and shook his head as Altra joined him in laughter. He liked them. Two strong characters but he could sense the love between them. They weren't natives but they had to have been on Elrood for a number of years. They were too comfortable with the terrain and the people. They might have ideas on what could have happened to Mara. He had to cling to that hope.

The Force had led them here for a reason. Perhaps it had been to save Tayo and his grandmother from slavery. Perhaps it was to let Han catch up with some more of his past but surely it would lead him to the woman he. respected the most in the world. Yes, that was it. He respected and admired her.

She had not been on Elrood, Luke knew that much. There was no echo of her presence in the Force singing through his mind but she was close. If only she could call out to him again.

"You're very quiet," Altra commented as they walked to her home.

"Just got a lot of things on my mind," Luke replied. He glanced around. They were in a small courtyard surrounded by doors.

"We're right at the top. It's not much but we're comfortable. She pushed open a door which led into a tiny hall with a couple of turbolift doors at the other end. Luke followed her into the turbolift and stood quietly during the short ride to the top.

When the doors opened Luke found himself in a hall decorated with muted colours. He released a little of his tension as the calm surroundings eased him.

"We're here. This apartment is ours." Altra ran a card through a slot on the door, waiting for it to slide apart. Luke followed her inside and was pleasantly surprised to find a warm and welcoming home.

"This is nice," he said.

"We like it. It's quiet here and no one bothers us much." She went through to the kitchen and returned a few moments later with a couple of mugs of caf. "Here."

Luke gratefully accepted the drink and sat with his nose almost buried it inhaling the aroma. "Thanks."

Altra sank into a chair opposite the Jedi and stared at him. "I can see why Han likes you," she said. "You counteract his restless energy."

"I think it was the opposite way around when we first met," Luke stated quietly. "I don't think I was ever still, but I'm tired. It was a long flight from Coruscant." He closed his eyes briefly with fatigue before returning her frank regard. "How do you know Han?"

She hesitated. "It's difficult."

"You don't have to tell me but I sense that you knew him well."

"You could say that. A lot of stars, space and differing ideologies between them. They were good friends once. They were in the same class at the Imperial Academy and graduated together, serving on the same ship for a time until."

"Chewie?"

"The Wookiee. yes. I suppose you know him too."

"I do. He's a good friend and one I would trust with my life."

"Yes, but to give up everything?"

"Sometimes fate gives you no choice."

"Han had a choice but."

"He was discharged," Luke declared knowingly. "I've seen his file and I know exactly what happened. Han would do exactly the same again if he was faced with an identical situation. For him it wasn't a choice. He had believed that the Empire was good and true but his ideals were tarnished by the experience of seeing slavery at first hand. How could people treat sentient beings with a culture and history as rich and diverse as the Wookiee's as second class citizens? He can't abide cruelty or slavery and never will. I can't imagine Han without Chewbacca. They'd both be dead without the other."

Altra sipped her caf, her hands shaking slightly. "After that we didn't see him for several years - he seemed to have vanished."

"He avoided places that his friends might have frequented," Luke said. "Part of him was ashamed." Luke's blue gaze sharpened. "But you are not Academy trained, are you? How did you meet Han?"

"I met Han through Feenus."

"Of course. I'm not thinking."

"You're tired, Altra said quietly. "I had originally met Feenus at some sort of minor diplomatic dinner. I worked in one of the offices attached to the senate. Mostly dealing with correspondence," she shrugged self-deprecatingly. "One step up from a secretary droid actually. But it was work and it paid well. We'd started seeing one another whenever his leave took him back to Coruscant. When we started dating seriously, Han often came with us for a meal or a night out. He was good company in those days. Then he changed. I could see that he wasn't enjoying his work. I think he'd only seen the cover and not what went on underneath. Feenus couldn't understand what was wrong with him."

"But you did?"

She nodded, her grey-green eyes troubled. "I worked in the Senate building. I dealt with beings of other races every day. I saw the way that racial inequality was being promoted. Feenus wasn't used to that. He could accept the Imperial view that the aliens were lower life forms. He could until one of his best friends abandoned his whole career for a supposedly lesser being." She paused and stared into her cup, clearly remembering scenes from the past.

"There's more?"

"You're good at this," Altra murmured. "Must be part of being a Jedi."

"Perhaps."

She took another sip of caf. "With the increase in rebel activity, Feenus' ship was sent to the Outer Rim territories. He was part of the Imperial inspection team that boarded the Millennium Falcon."

Luke winced. "Ouch. A rather unfortunate coincidence."

"Yes. Feenus got rather a nasty surprise when he discovered one of the brightest cadets to come out of the Imperial Academy was now smuggling spice for the Hutts."

"He let him go, didn't he?" Luke probed gently. "Han thought as he'd jettisoned his cargo he'd be safe.

Altra closed her eyes. "He let him go even though he had the proof that Han was guilty. There were traces of the spice in the ship's hold and if that had been known they would have torn the ship apart. Most smugglers work with hidden, sealed compartments. He told the rest of the team that he'd found nothing. Feenus was disgusted at how low Han had sunk. He said at the time that the only thing Han could do that was worse, was to join the Rebellion."

Luke shook his head, a smile on his face. "That was the next thing that he did - join the Rebellion."

"Yes, so we heard. His name and yours on the 'Empire's most wanted' list."

"My name?"

"Your name's not Corran - is it?"

Luke sighed. "No."

"It took me a while. You seem different from your holos and other such images but I think it's your eyes that give you away. I've never seen eyes so blue. You are the head of the Jedi Order. You're Jedi Master Skywalker."

"Yes, I'm Luke Skywalker. Corran Horn is another Jedi. A good man - a Corellian. He won't mind me borrowing his identity for a while."

"I don't think Feenus has realised yet who you are, but he will. He's so blinded by his anger right now that all he sees is a Jedi accompanying his former friend. In all the holos I've ever seen the only Jedi with Han Solo is one Luke Skywalker."

"We had to bump into the only former Imperial on Elrood that served with Han Solo. This is just so typical."

Altra smiled. "It is a strange one."

"Why is your husband so angry and why are you still living out here? Han made his choice and lived with it. Feenus was still a member of the Imperial fleet and still had that promising career and you ahead of him. We know why Han threw it away. Why did Feenus Adremetis do the exact same thing?"

"Feenus is angry because he realised that Han had been right all along. He resents him for understanding sooner, that the Empire he swore to serve with his life was nothing but evil."

"Not all of the Empire was evil. The Emperor was evil but if your husband truly served him, then he was doing it with the best of intentions."

Altra gave a small smile. "I was transferred from the job I worked on after they disbanded the Senate. There was no need for me to be there any more. I was due to be sent to an industrial world to help the bureaucrats there. Feenus persuaded me to find another job on Coruscant, which I did. We married when he came home on his next leave. It was just after Alderaan and the destruction of the first Death Star. Things got worse for Feenus after that - he's a good man with a conscience. He could see what the Empire was doing to so many innocent beings. Han had taunted him the last time they'd met. Questioned his honour when Feenus had sneered at his. Now, Han's words struck home."

"What did he do?"

"He deserted. Just days before the battle of Endor. He couldn't take it any more. I left everything I knew to join him here - my home and my family. He felt that he was worse than Han because he'd been perpetrating the lie. He should have seen that it was all false." Her smile turned bitter. "He's never really recovered."

"Then Han turns out to be the good guy."

"Yes, a real hero. Friends with the Jedi and husband to a princess."

"My sister, Leia. She's Jedi too as are their children. I have this gift - it's like having an extra sense about thiings but otherwise, I'm quite ordinary."

Altra's face showed her disbelief. "Yeah! Right!"

"Why didn't you return to the Core after the Empire fell?"

"Remember, the Empire didn't fall immediately."

"Tell me about it." Luke's voice was heartfelt.

Altra gave him a sympathetic smile. "There was a lot of messy mopping up on both sides. Feenus didn't know that the Emperor had died until months after it had happened."

"Ah, he thought he could be caught and punished for his desertion."

"For the first couple of years we moved around a bit until we came across some of Feenus' former comrades. They were out of the service and looking for something to do. We ended up here."

"So what do you do?"

"If Feenus wants to tell you he will tell you. I have said enough." The smile on her face was rueful.

"Fair enough."

Altra laughed warmly. "I haven't opened up like this to anyone, especially a stranger, in years. I don't think I've told Feenus as much. It's very cathartic. You could do good business counselling."

"Haven't the patience for it, normally. There are other Jedi far more gifted than I in these areas. My sister, for example, is a skilled diplomat."

"And she married Han?"

Luke rolled his eyes. "He is not a skilled diplomat."

"No, he never was good at minding what he said." She placed her cup down on a small side table. "Why are you here, Jedi Skywalker?"

"Luke, please. We're searching for a friend of mine." Luke's mouth straightened and his worry once again became visible on his face. "She's in some sort of trouble."

"She?"

"A fellow Jedi and, yes, a good friend. She just disappeared."

"This is the edge of nowhere, Luke. If she wanted to disappear this is the place to do it."

"She's not the type to just vanish. I know she's in trouble. I heard her call for me."

"Call for you?"

"Through the Force."

"Have you an image of her?" Altra wasn't sure what a female Jedi would look like. She envisaged someone tough and warrior-like but was surprised when Luke pulled a small holo from his pocket. The woman pictured within, laughing at the holocam, possessed delicate, beautiful features, an abundance of red-gold hair and striking clear green eyes.

Altra tilted her head and glanced at the Jedi Master but he was staring at the picture with his heart in his eyes, gripping the frame until his fingers were white. "She's your lover," she said.

"Wha. what?" Luke registered her words and his eyes grew wide with panic. "No, she's not."

Altra gazed at the startled man sceptically. "I'm sorry, my mistake."

"She's just a friend. She has a lover."

"So where is he and why hasn't he come all the way out here to look for her?"

"He's busy." Luke was aware of how lame his answer was. Lando should be here searching for Mara.

"A woman that beautiful would fetch a high price in the slave markets."

The holo fell from Luke's suddenly nerveless fingers and clattered onto the floor.

The Emerald Price Chapter 6

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

Elrood

"A woman that beautiful would fetch a high price in the slave markets."

The holo fell from Luke's suddenly nerveless fingers and clattered onto the floor. "What?"

Altra picked up the holo and handed it to Luke. "A woman like that is a prime target for slavers. I'm only stating the obvious. If a lone woman disappears in this place then that is usually what's happened. She will have been picked up on the outskirts of the spaceport by a slavers gang. Those swoop riders you were interacting with earlier could and would have taken young Tayo away for sale. They often have agreements with the slave guilds. They pay them many jewels for such merchandise."

Luke's voice shook. "That's what has happened to her - she's been taken by slavers. I'm sure of it."

Altra was taken aback at Luke's certainty. "Why are you so sure?"

He swallowed trying to clear the huge lump that had wedged itself deep into his throat. "I can sense things. I am a Jedi, after all, and when you said 'slavers' something rang like a warning bell in my mind. The Force obeys our commands and yet it guides our actions. It can give guidance or a warning.

"I hope for her sake that you're wrong." Altra's face was grave.

"I hope I'm wrong too but." Luke lifted his hands helplessly. There was a moment's silence, then he jumped to his feet and began pacing. "I'd better go and find Han now. There's no time to lose."

"Did she vanish on this world specifically?" Altra questioned pointedly.

Luke stopped. "I. I. don't know. Maybe. No." He took a deep breath trying to calm the sense of panic welling up in him. Obi Wan and Yoda had spoken of calm and peace. He would be no help to Mara if he couldn't focus more clearly. "I can't feel her presence here."

"Sit down, please." Altra watched as Luke reluctantly retraced his steps back to his chair. "I thought the Falcon was not quite at her best? How are you going to find her if you cannot leave Elrood?"

"Sithspawn!" Luke swore, his face and jerky movements betraying his agitation as his tenuous grip on his serenity fled once more. "I have to do something. I can't just sit." He propelled himself out of the chair and strode to the viewport, gazing out of it as if he could will Mara to him. "I can't. knowing she's in trouble."

"Rushing off without a battle plan won't help your lady. There are many worlds out here. How are you going to pinpoint the exact one?"

"The Force," Luke replied simply.

Altra observed Luke's white face for a moment, before moving to a cabinet and pulling out a glass and a bottle containing a cloudy reddish liquid. She poured a tiny amount into the glass and handed it to the Jedi Master. "Sip this. I said sip it," she ordered as Luke tipped his head back and swallowed a mouthful. "I told you to sip it - this is strong stuff." She shook her head as the effect of the spirit hit the back of Luke's throat.

"What." he coughed, his eyes streaming, ".is this?"

"A local liqueur. They call it 'Devil's Fire.'"

"Aptly named."

Altra poured a minute amount for herself and sipped gently. "You could be wrong," she said, shuddering delicately as the alcohol hit her taste buds. "The same thing could have happened to her as happened to you. Your lady could have been shot down by pirates."

"No." Luke's head drooped. "I'm not wrong. She's still alive." He tried to calm his racing heart and whirling mind.

"You know this?" Altra asked. She'd never been in such close proximity to a Jedi before and he wasn't at all what she had expected. In fact, she didn't know what she expected a Jedi to be. Luke Skywalker confounded all her ideas.

"I can feel it," Luke said. He tapped the side of his head and then his heart. "I know it in my head and sense it in my heart. She's not dead. She can't be - I would know. We're too strongly linked. I'd better call Han," he repeated. "And she's not mine," he whispered to himself. "She never will be."

"Han shouldn't be long. Besides, he's gone with my husband to get the parts for the Falcon. What can you do until the ship is fixed?"

Luke's mouth tipped into something approaching a smile. "Those two looked as if each wanted to do the other a serious injury. Do you think they are still alive - Han and Feenus?"

"Probably. They need to talk, Luke."

"I know." He stared at the tiny glass in front of him. "That's why I came with you and let Feenus accompany Han. If I really thought there was any danger I would have gone with them."

Altra's mouth dropped open. Okay, maybe he was more like a Jedi after all. "You. you."

"I did think, however, that you could possibly be some help to us. The Force directed us to you or you to us for a reason."

"I find that hard to believe," Altra muttered quietly.

"It is up to you what you believe, Mistress Altra, but it is the truth." Luke sat up straighter. "Tell me everything you know about the slaving guilds in this sector. Forewarned is forearmed after all. You are right - I do need some sort of plan." He cleenched his prosthetic hand into a fist, his eyes lingering on the pale flesh of his hand. "I've rushed into things before and not come out of it the way I wanted to."

*****************************************

Aaris III

From the outside, the building appeared innocuous, perhaps even bland. But the four story grey duracrete structure, once a centre for Imperial bureaucrats had a more sinister identity. It was the nerve centre of Tjoris Tharakan's slave Empire. He was only one member of a thriving slavers guild but he was one of the more successful ones.

Tharakan had made a fortune dealing with the misfortune of others and planned to continue doing so for a long time. He had acquired the building after the Imperial rule on Aaris III had collapsed. The basement and first floor housed the slaves, the second, his employees, the third was given over to storage and offices and the fourth, was his personal home and the place where he saw his most exclusive clients.

Tharakan's head snakes curled as he perused the contents written on a data pad. This transaction would be most profitable. The Admiral spoke of rich contacts with an eye for worthwhile slaves. What the Admiral hadn't mentioned but Tharakan had heard of, through his many spies in the business, were the reports of the growing attempts of an anti-slaving organisation to sabotage his most lucrative deals. By the green blood pumping through his two-and-a-half metre body, he would not let them disrupt his little Empire. He'd worked too hard for this. He had plans.

The upper chamber housing Tharakan's private apartments was set up in a luxurious fashion. Soft, well-upholstered daybeds, priceless works of art and gilt looking-glasses decorated the rooms. 'Yes,' he thought idly. 'My career has been most profitable.'

Tharakan's lip curled in a sneer. He was now worth millions of credits. His family would be amazed at how much he was actually worth. The head tails of his stupid, plant-loving relatives, who had turned him away in disgrace, would writhe with embarrassment. Tharakan considered that he had been born into the wrong species. Somehow his soul should have been born in the body of a Hutt or a Twi'lek. Although he despised both species - especially the Hutts - for their lack of physical beauty, he admired their grasp of commerce. He brushed a speck of fluff from his immaculate blue tunic. His home planet of Moltok was not one he wanted to return to. He didn't think they would let him in, so thoroughly had he gone against the nature of his gentle species. "Stefft!" He raised his voice peremptorily. "Are the slaves prepared for transport?"

The burly human melted in from the shadows and bowed low. "Yes, Lord Tharakan but."

"There is a problem?" Tharakan's voice was cool.

Stefft raised his head. "No. yes. The sickness has taken down many. Several of the weaker beings have died."

"No matter. They would not have fetched many jewels." The Ho Dinn paused, snake-like tentacles curling around his head. "There is another problem."

"The red-headed female."

"Ah, yes! You do not like her."

"She is trouble but she will sell well. That is."

"What is it?" Tharakan's voice sharpened, the hint of the sing-song lilt of his native accent creeping through. He had tried so hard to eradicate his roots. He calmed his racing pulse. He did not like to appear to be soft or overly emotional. He liked to be thought of as cool, calculating and in control. It made the clients he dealt with much more amenable to his prices. A hot head gave others the advantage.

"She has the sickness too. I don't think she reacted well to the stuff we gave her to calm her down."

"She is dressed and ready?"

"She has been prepared but."

"Bring her to me," Tharakan ordered.

Stefft was beginning to think he was in the wrong employment. He'd worked with Tharakan for several years. He was beginning to think that taking the red-headed woman had cursed them all. Several of his comrades had died and now this sickness had taken away some of their profit. If the slave lord didn't get his jewells, neither did Stefft. The sooner she sold the better. He bowed and took the turbolift down to the preparation chambers.

The sight that met his eyes did not bode well for getting the woman off their hands in a lucrative sale - not if it was discovered that she was trouble. While he had been with Tharakan she had somehow managed to cause more damage.

Mara stood against a stone pillar, dressed in a skimpy two piece costume with wispy veils shrouding her form, revealing yet keeping her soft flesh from naught but her buyer's sight and touch. Her red gold hair had been braided and threaded with glittering jewels, her too bright eyes outlined in exotic makeup. Stefft felt a hardening in his groin at the sight of her - the woman was stunningly beautiful. Too bad she was off limits until she sold.

"We had to chain her to the pillar," one of the other guards explained. "All the conditioning has failed."

"As soon as they untied her feet she kicked out and caught Prebs right in the jaw. It broke in two places. I don't even think she was aware of what she was doing."

"I told you not to let her free, Ustar," Stefft ordered. The woman was untamed - like a wild thing. No one had failed to take the conditioning before. It was unheard of. "Prebs!" he ordered.

The guard turned around, his hand cradling his jaw.

"Go with the medic, he'll get you sorted. He stared almost helplessly as Prebs was led away by a medical orderly.

Ustar roughly poked at Mara with the butt of his rifle. "We thought she was out for the count. She's been given enough medication to fell a full-grown bantha." He peered cautiously at her white face. "She's docile enough now."

Mara made a funny little sound and slumped shivering against the pillar. Tharakan's doc-droid rolled up towards her and began extended various instruments. "She has the sickness. She cannot be put for sale today."

"The Lord wants her upstairs," Stefft argued. "So she goes."

"Perhaps he can sell her before she drops dead like the others." The droid's dispassionate tone suddenly grated on Stefft. "But if he wants a sale achieving the most jewels he should wait a week. She is sick. All the slaves are sick."

"Perhaps." For an instant he almost felt sorry for the woman who had slid down the pillar and was now lying in a crumpled heap at its base, the curve of her slender neck hinting at a vulnerability they hadn't considered. She looked to be unconscious again. He untied her from her bonds, lifted her into his arms and placed her on a repulsorlift litter. Securing her arms and feet to the sides of the stretcher - he was taking no chances - he arranged her in a becoming pose, his hands lingering on her soft curves. She was certainly shaped in all the right places. What he could do in a soft bed with a female fashioned like this one defied the imagination. He frowned as his large hands again made contact with her skin. She was burning up with fever. This was most inconvenient.

"Have you given her the medication?"

The droid beeped an affirmative. "She has the usual substances to keep her docile."

"No, not that, you stupid heap of metal. Stuff for the fever?"

"No, it would react with the medication she has already been given. Perhaps some of that will help neutralise the infection. It could, quite possibly kill her."

"Call yourself a medical droid?"

"My ethics subroutines were removed when I was employed in this establishment. There is no use searching for them now. I am not utilised to save lives unless it is expedient for my master for me to do so."

Stefft grunted. "Let's get her to sale and then she's someone else's problem."

If the droid could have sniffed he would have. "As you wish."

A tremor ran through Mara's body and the burly guard paused. "You'd better give her something else. We can't have her doing that in front of the clients."

"It's her funeral."

"Quite probable but just do it. As long as you keep her alive long enough to fetch a worthwhile price."

The droid returned to Mara's side and a long needle emerged from the claw like arm. "Move the repulsor-bed closer," he ordered stiffly in his metallic voice. The needle slid into Mara's soft flesh already bruised from other such doses.

Stefft pulled a communicator from his tunic pocket. "One item, human female, ready to load," he barked out quickly. The repulsorlifts raised the stretcher from its resting place and it floated towards the loading bay. Two Weequay guards slotted in behind it, their rifles ready.

*************************************

Elrood

Feenus Adremetis stared at Han Solo, antagonism and resentment in every fibre of his Imperially trained body.

Han lifted his head from the datapad he was consulting. "What!"

"You always were a bastard."

Han laughed contemptuously. "Don't take your feelings of guilt and inadequacy out on me, Adremetis. I've done nothing to harm you except hopefully give you the conscience you were lacking." He turned away and began searching through a pile of second-hand capacitors.

"So what happened to the Wookiee? Did you desert him too?"

"His name is Chewbacca. You feel uncomfortable even saying it. He has a name and is probably brighter than you and I put together. Just because he's not human." He jerked away, his shoulders rigid with the anger he was trying to contain. "Chewie is on Coruscant looking after my wife and children. I would never leave Leia without protection."

"Leia?" Feenus feigned ignorance.

"My wife. You know who she is and don't even think of denying it. Chewie decided that because er. Corran was with me on this trip, he would stay on Coruscant with my family. He includes them in his life debt too."

"How touching. Like a family pet."

Han slammed down the item he held in his hands and snarled almost in the other man's face. "Listen, bud! You're trying to get me to lose my temper and you're coming damn close to succeeding." He took a deep cleansing breath. "But my Jedi pal wouldn't like it. They are pacifists."

"He didn't look very peaceful to me half an hour ago."

"He has his moments," Han muttered. "I wouldn't ever let Chewie hear you refer to him as a family pet. Your arms would be disengaged from the rest of your body and probably your legs too. I would watch and enjoy it but I don't want to upset Altra too much. I remember her fondly. She is one classy lady despite having the misfortune to hook up with you. I'm pretty sure that you're aware of Leia's identity and occupation. My wife is a Senate politician and a high profile one at that. I have three children." Han reigned in his spiralling anger. "Do you know how many times my family has been threatened? Of course you don't." Han focused his attention on finding the parts he needed for his ship then he and the kid could fly away. The sooner they found Mara Jade and got back to civilisation, the better.

"I would imagine quite frequently." Feenus spoke quietly. "Unless you're lying."

Han screwed his face up. This wasn't the guy he'd been friends with during his Imperial military career. Could he have been cloned? "Why would I lie about my family? My wife has been Chief of State of the New Republic. Not exactly the most secretive job in the world. As you yourself said. 'News even gets all the way out here.'"

"We heard snippets."

"Oh, don't give me that. The former Princess of Alderaan marries a smuggler?"

"It was mentioned."

"Thought so. Chewie and several Noghri warriors remain with my family to protect them."

"So where did you pick up 'mister impassive'?"

"You didn't call him that a couple of moments ago."

"He is difficult to read."

"He's a Jedi. According to legend they are supposed to be aloof and inscrutable. Corran Horn is one of my brother-in-law's recruits. One of his Jedi friends has gone missing. He's looking for her."

"Your brother-in-law? That would be the Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker?"

Han frowned. He knew Feenus was well-informed but had he guessed Luke's real identity already? He hadn't gone for deep cover or a Force disguise. He'd just impulsively appropriated Corran Horn's name. "That's him."

"The stories about Luke Skywalker are quite astounding - if they are true."

"Stories?" Han chuckled. "There's always exaggeration. Things grow and change the more they are repeated. I know Luke better than anyone apart from Leia. I can believe that the stories are quite outlandish but most of them are true." Han's face sobered. "He was just an ordinary kid when I first met him. Not even out of his teens. The war hit him hard."

"So what is so special about Luke Skywalker?"

Han smirked as if he was trying to stifle his amusement at some private joke. "If you met him you would know how special he is. There are reasons but most of them are nearly impossible to explain. He just is. He can do things that just don't seem human or possible and then get himself into such a farkle. Not even a first year cadet would do the kinda stupid things Luke can do at times and believe me I mean stupid." His face turned serious. "But when he's around everything is brighter and more vivid. He kept me alive, Feenus. I don't expect you to understand why or how, but he did."

"So he's nothing like this Corran guy?" Feenus muttered disparagingly, nonetheless he was amazed at the truth he could hear ringing through Han's voice.

"Oh, they have similarities."

"He just seems a bit dull for you. As I remember you liked living on the edge."

Han laughed. "Dull. Corran? Nope, not at all. And remember appearances can be deceptive."

"Very philosophical, Solo. You've been living with the Jedi for too long. It's a wonder they can't see through you because I can."

Han held onto his still precarious temper. He could tell by the look in the other man's eyes that he was dying for Han to just take a swing at him. But he wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. Luke and Leia would be proud of his restraint. "It's not going to change either. My wife is Jedi and my children will be Jedi. The Force runs strong in their family and now in mine. I'm getting used to it. They're only human. no, some of them aren't. Some of the Jedi are Mon Calamari, some are Twilek."

"So you've been getting soft, living the high life," Feenus's voice turned scathing. "General."

Han stood and watched the still angry man. 'Mara Jade used the same tactics,' he realised with a burst of surprise. 'An angry opponent isn't one that's thinking too clearly and could let some vital piece of information slip - very clever. He knows my New Republic rank. So why does he want information from me - what information and who is he working for?'

".gave up on order and rationality."

"Hardly," Han returned briskly.

"Why are you here, Solo?"

"I told you, to search for the missing Jedi, although it's none of your damn business."

"I'm making it my business. Are you sure that's all there is to it?"

"You can't and yes, 'that's all there is to it'." Han narrowed hazel eyes and assessed the man he'd once called 'friend'. "Unless you're still with the Empire or with the Elroodian Security Force, you cannot make me do anything." He moved a little closer. "You're not still with the Empire, Adremetis?"

They stood, gazes locked on one another until Feenus lowered his head and broke eye contact. "No, I'm not. Not any more."

"Then you cannot make me do anything." Han turned away and started rifling through a sack of burnt out fuses, hoping that something might appear to work and fit the Falcon's systems. "I trained with you and I'm very familiar with standard Imperial methods, but remember," his voice softened menacingly as he turned his head and caught Feenus in the compelling grip of his gaze. "I fought for the Rebellion. Like you, I led men into battle. I've been to places where you wouldn't send the most combat hardened veteran. I've looked Darth Vader in the eye. er, in the helmet and lived to tell the tale. I rescued my ideals and believed in them once more. You didn't."

"Solo!"

"I was going downhill faster than a taun-taun on an ice cube. Leia and Luke saved me from crashing at the bottom. Don't give me 'high-life', Adremetis."

"Listen, Solo."

"No, you listen!" he hissed. "When you and your pals boarded the Falcon all those years ago, I had to dump a cargo-hold of spice. You knew it, and I knew that you knew it. Jabba had a bounty slapped on my head quicker than Ewoks up a tree. I joined the Rebels just in time to see the first Death Star go up bigger than the Coruscant laser lights show. Jabba's bounty was increased by an Imperial one. You do the maths, Adremetis. I've been fighting just as long as you have."

"You always were a good man to have at your back in a fight," the other man said grudgingly.

"Don't stint on the praise."

"Oh, I won't if it's deserved."

Han added a final heap of wiring to his pile of parts and walked to the dealer to pay. The dealer looked at Feenus standing behind him and added a generous discount. Han stiffened and then counted out the required amount of jewels. "Thanks," he muttered grudgingly.

They headed out of the warehouse and into the twisting side alleys that led off the main square. "Altra and I live not far from here."

"You do?"

"Yes."

For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence but Han had to ask. "Why are you here? Why did you leave the Empire? Your lofty ideals weren't shattered as brutally as mine were. Why drag Altra to the other end of the galaxy - she's pure Core? What about her family?"

"I am her family." The perpetually angry expression that Feenus had worn since he'd seen Han again, softened to something resembling a sort of hurt bewilderment. "I saw that you were right."

"What!" Han's eyebrows shot up almost to his hairline. This was a difficult admission for a proud man like Feenus to make.

"It took a while. Part of me is still angry at you."

"I would say more than a part," Han interrupted trying to come to grips with this disclosure.

"Part of me is still angry at you for giving me a social conscience. I would never have viewed the glorious Empire in that light otherwise. What you made me see I didn't like. I didn't want to know, dammit! I didn't need to know how flawed everything I believed in was or how cruel and I was part of that."

"And you can't forgive me for seeing it first, can you?"

"No." The word emerged starkly uncompromising. "I can't."

"Happens all the time," Han muttered.

"I told Altra it was all off. I even said I didn't love her any more but she didn't believe me. I had to tell her the truth in the end. I had to tell her that I was going on the run like the Rebels. She loved me enough to marry me and then come all the way out here to join me."

"She's strong," Han commented quietly. "If she hadn't loved you she wouldn't have given up everything like that."

"I saw the second Death Star destroy the planet Despayre. It was appropriately named. They used prisoners from a penal colony there to do most of the labouring. Most of them were slaves and hadn't done anything wrong. There was even a Wookiee colony there. I thought about you and Chewbacca."

"And then?" Han prompted.

"And then, they blew the place to gravel. The whole planet."

"That's what they did to Alderaan."

"Yeah! That was the first time I actually believed what had really happened."

"Dead men tell no tales," Han commented obliquely.

"These poor wretches never even had a chance."

"Typical Imperial procedure. Leave no witnesses to the atrocity. I've seen it many times but there are enough eyewitnesses around." Han pulled the collar up on his coat. "So you deserted."

"You guessed it. Right before everything blew up at Endor. Oh, I tried to tell myself it was the best thing. These were criminals, aliens, sub-sentient species but I couldn't fool myself any longer. So, yes, I deserted. Unfortunately it took me several weeks to find out that everything had changed. That the Emperor was dead, the fleet in total disarray and my life with it."

"You still had Altra."

"Thankfully. We met as planned on an out of the way planetary spaceport - I can't even remember where it was now - and she was able to tell me what had happened. Of course I then realised that there wouldn't be anyone left to come chasing after me. No one had any idea who was dead and who was alive. I was free and yet I wasn't."

"If you'd been at Endor you would probably have been killed. Very few Imperial ships present at the battle survived intact. I was there."

"Thought you might have been." The bitterness in his voice returned.

"There would have been a hell of a lot more deaths if that second planet killer had been unleashed."

"I know."

A chirruping sound rang close by. Han jerked around, his hand going automatically for his blaster.

Feenus delved into his pocket and brought out a small com device. Moving away from Han, he flipped it open. "Yes!"

"We have word that the comptroller is brokering a shipment."

"What," Feenus hissed. "Now?"

"Within the next few hours."

"This is not convenient."

"Who said this job was convenient?"

"I'm sorry but."

"You still have 'guests?'"

"In a word, yes. And I don't like the way he's looking at me." Feenus could see Han glaring at him suspiciously.

"Who are your visitors?"

"One is an old friend from way back. The other." Feenus took a deep breath. "The other is a Jedi."

"Interesting."

"Yeah, you could say that. He goes by the name of Han Solo."

There was a moment's silence on the other end of the comlink. "The Han Solo?"

"What other Han Solo is there?" Feenus whispered.

"Oh, he's with you."

"Yeah."

"Well, get rid of him and his Jedi friend or take him with you. He could be useful. We don't have much time."

"You're not kidding are you?"

"No, we'll probably need Altra too."

"Okay. We'll be there." Feenus sneaked a glance at Han over his shoulder and found his eyes narrowed and watchful. "Goodbye." He pocketed the comlink and tried to act casual but he could tell he wasn't fooling Solo. "You got everything?"

"I have." Han grinned maliciously and lazily tossed a thermal detonator in the air.

The Emerald Price Chapter 7

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

Elrood

"We have to hurry," Feenus snapped, daring Han to mention anything more about his comlink conversation.

"Hurry?"

"I have things to do."

"Don't we all," Han muttered under his breath as he stowed the thermal detonator in one of his coat pockets. "Things that include me and the kid. I mean." He stopped. "You want Corran and me along?"

"You heard."

"Of course I heard. I'm not deaf. The whole warehouse could probably hear. For a former Imperial soldier on the run, you've certainly lost the art of stealth. If you want to keep something a secret, that's not the best way to go about it." A smile crossed Han's face. "I never learnt that art myself."

Feenus almost laughed but instead covered it up with something that sounded like a snort.

"So what are you up to?"

Feenus quickened his step away from the square and headed down one of the narrow twisting shop-lined alleyways.

Han kept pressing for information. "You're not alone. Altra's involved and there are other men."

Feenus pressed his lips together firmly and said nothing.

"You were all wearing similar types of clothing," Han observed. "It wasn't Imperial uniform though."

"I'm no longer with the Empire, Solo. I told you the truth."

"So you say," Han's voice was patently disbelieving.

"I'm not with the Empire. Not after what they did."

"So who are you with?" Han almost snarled into the other man's face. "This is an organised group. This is not some rag-tag band of do-gooders."

Feenus glanced around furtively. "I can't tell you out here. Wait till we get back to my place. We'd better hurry."

"Yeah, I got a star ship to fix and an antsy Jedi to calm."

Feenus took the chance to change the focus of the conversation. Solo had the upper hand until now. "You're not on a pleasure jaunt either, are you?"

The Corellian however, was up to anything Feenus could throw at him. "Full marks, Captain Adremetis. No, I'm not on any jaunt. The kid. Corran," he carefully corrected himself, "is searching for a Jedi friend of his. She went missing out this way."

"Missing? A female Jedi?"

Han nodded. "Yes - they do exist. My wife is one, remember? But this Jedi is not a full Jedi, she works for an independent trading company."

"You mean she works for a smuggler."

"I never said that. I suspect she may go full time as a Jedi if she comes through this and Luke has his way." Han guessed Luke would perhaps insist on this once she was restored to them. "You seem to know quite a bit about what goes on around here. Care to divulge some information?"

"Sure I know what goes on," he mumbled. "I've lived here for nearly twenty years but I'm not a captain. I told you."

"I'm all ears ready to hear more."

"Yeah, and you're not the only one," he said quietly, glancing around him. "We cannot talk here." He led Han into the little courtyard. "Altra and I live in this block."

"Nice."

***********************************

If Han thought he was in for a cosy little uninterrupted chat with his former buddy he was in for a disappointment. Altra was waiting for them as soon as they rang the announcer and she was clearly worried as she opened the door.

"It's." she hesitated, and then lowered her voice. ".your Jedi friend. Something's wrong."

"He's okay?"

"Physically he's fine but are you sure he's right in the head?" She tapped her own forehead. "We were chatting and then he." She peered over her shoulder. "He went very. strange. I can't describe it."

"Sith!" Han swore quietly. "He's gone into a trance?"

"I don't think so. He just went deathly pale and started shivering and muttering his friend's name over and over to himself."

This bond Luke had admitted that he held with Mara Jade couldn't be that strong, could it?

"Han!" Luke burst out of the sitting room and grabbed hold of the Corellian's coat lapels. His face was flushed and he almost appeared feverish. It was a long time since he'd seen the Jedi Master panic and that was certainly what Luke appeared to be doing.

"Steady on, kid."

"Mara's on her way," he said and released Han's coat, taking a step backwards, suddenly appearing to calm down.

Han sighed. "You sure?" He had to ask but the way Luke had been about Mara since she'd disappeared made his question redundant. Luke's eyes were bright with anxiety, his expression intense and Han could see the tension in every inch of his spare frame.

"Yes, I'm sure. But she's not in a good way. I think she's ill or drugged. She can't call to me - she feels heavy."

"We'll get her."

"Who's ill?" Feenus barked irritably.

"I told you, the er. kid here, was looking for a Jedi friend of his. He can sense when she's close. He thinks she's ill."

"I thought you said she wasn't on this planet," Altra murmured.

Luke's blue eyes grew opaque. "She's not here yet, but she's coming," he said almost dreamily.

"Kid." Han placed his hands on Luke's shoulders and shook him. "I don't need you slipping into a trance right this moment. You know I hate it when you do that - gives me the willies."

"What's wrong with him? Why has he gone like that?" Feenus demanded uneasily.

"Kid. Come on, snap out of it," Han pleaded. "I know you're tired but we gotta lot to do yet."

Luke lowered his head, took a deep breath and then lifted his chin, determination shining in his bright gaze. "I don't understand what's come over me," he confided in a low voice, keeping a watchful eye on Feenus and Altra. "Or may be I do. But I suspect Mara's not in control of her emotions, or her shields and when she can, she's broadcasting those emotions with every bit of Force ability she possesses."

"She could hear the Emperor from any point in the galaxy. I presume that meant the opposite too - he could hear her?"

"It must have done. As I said, she usually controls her mental shields better than this. In some ways this is exactly what I need to be able to locate her presence but it is rather disconcerting. I can see I'll have my work cut out trying to reinforce her shields. There are techniques you can use."

"I'll believe you, kid."

Unable to hear the low-voiced conversation between Han and the Jedi, Feenus gave his wife a nod and they both slipped back into the sitting room. "I need to talk to you."

"In the kitchen," Altra murmured. "I'll make you a caf, Han," she called loudly as she followed Feenus through to the small galley kitchen.

"Thanks," he called back. "Kid. Luke." he hissed quietly as he saw Luke's eyes beginning to cloud over again.

The Jedi gave himself a shake and stared at his friend, his blue eyes troubled. "This is strange."

"You're telling me?"

"I just know she's coming here and she's close, Han. she's very close."

"Can we walk to it or perhaps Adremetis has a speeder we can borrow?"

"That would do it," Luke said with a decisive nod. "We need to get to the Falcon and I also think we should contact Talon."

"If you're sure?"

"I have his calling frequency. I think he is due to still be somewhere along the Rimma Trade Route. Well, he said that's where he was going to head. It's not too far from here. He had business on Malastare."

"Typical Karrde. Never misses a chance to do business."

"He wanted to come with us. I told him to wait and I would contact him when he was needed. It's better not to attract too much attention."

Han did a double take. "What was that, kid? 'Too much attention'?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Was that before you decided to start a war with the local swoop gang or after?"

The Jedi looked a little shamefaced at Han's barb. "Sorry."

"Yeah! So you should be. Come on - we'll need to get back to the Falcon so we can contact the Wild Karrde."

"I think that Altra and Feenus have a very powerful com unit in this apartment."

"You do, huh."

"Well, I did take a quick scout around when I had to visit the 'fresher. There's one in what I suppose is the study. It has quite a range."

************************

Altra closed the kitchen door. "What?"

Feenus lowered his voice. "Beridor contacted me. There's another meeting set up."

"Another meeting?"

"A private sale."

"But these are worth few jewels these days."

"The comptroller is involved. That makes it different. We need to get someone inside that meeting. I can disrupt the open sales until dewbacks sprout wings and for what? A few pathetic life forms which are worth little to the syndicates. Somehow these meetings set up deals which involve thousands. How are they managing to move so many without more notice being taken?"

"I don't know." Altra's brow furrowed. "We failed the last time we tried and lost several good men. I don't want to lose you too."

"You know I'm careful but I have to stop more innocent lives being ruined. Beridor thinks he has someone who can get us inside."

"Oh." Altra mechanically started making caf, her hands trembling. "Feen." she began.

"What?"

"The Jedi."

"What about the Jedi?"

"He thinks his lost friend has been captured by the slavers. He went all peculiar about five minutes ago."

"I could see he wasn't quite right. He went all flushed as if he had a fever."

Altra nodded. "Take a look at him now - he's gone as white as a Given's exoskeleton."

Feenus peered over his shoulder but couldn't see the Jedi or Han who were still standing in the entrance hall.

"Up until then he was worried but appeared to be as normal as you or I."

"The Jedi are not normal but. Five minutes ago? That was about the time Beridor contacted me to say there was a meeting set up."

"I wondered if there could be any connection between that and the Jedi. There's more."

"Don't be." Feenus broke off what he was saying. "There's more?"

Altra hesitated but then pressed on. She didn't keep secrets from her husband. "The Jedi - he's not called Corran Horn."

"He's not?" Feenus scowled as understanding hit him. "Of course he's not. How could I be so blind? There's only one Jedi that travels with Solo and that's."

"Luke Skywalker." The Jedi stood at the door, his face impassive. He appeared to have recovered his equilibrium. "We need your help."

"You need our help? I've heard that one from your brother-in-law. How much did you hear?" Feenus spat.

"Most of it," Luke admitted. "I had to see if you could be trusted. You didn't give away very much but you are very knowledgeable about the habits of the slavers in this sector. It could only mean one of two things. You either worked for them or against them."

Altra finished making the caf and pushed a mug into her husband's hands. "Here."

Luke's voice was confident as he continued. "I guessed it was the latter from what your wife has said about you and from a general reading of your character. Plus, the rescue attempt out in the square. You are involved in fighting the slavers."

"Yes," Altra admitted. "But we are a small number and lack resources. We do what we can. We've given a few their freedom - but not enough. The government on this world is corrupt and ineffectual. There's no help there - they do nothing."

"This is quite a turn around, Feenus," Han drawled as he walked in to join them. "You must have had an overactive conscience."

"You gave it to me," the other man bit out frostily, still not happy with the whole situation. "I didn't want to feel like this but what can I do?"

"Re-acquire some of that stealth. Sure, you can deal with a bunch of swoopies. Hell! Luke did that on his own. But when they send their real heavies after you - what are you going to do then?"

"Survive."

"What about the New Republic? Have you asked for their help?" wondered Luke.

"They don't know much of what happens out here. How are we to tell them?" Altra asked softly. "We're unimportant - just a small group and it's so far away."

"It's closer than you think and we're here," Luke answered. "My sister and Han have a lot of influence with the New Republic government, as do I. We cannot tell them what to do but we can advise them of a situation and they do listen to us. The New Republic, as you know, treats all sentient species as equals. I would presume that some of the worlds out here would like the security of an affiliation with the New Republic."

"Not bad, kid. I didn't think you were into politics."

"I'm not really. I'm more into helping people, mediating disputes and teaching the next generation of Jedi. If a little politicking slips in then that's the way it is."

"You know me and how I feel about slavery, Feenus. We can't solve the whole problem for you in an instant. I don't want you thinking that could happen. My problem is my other commitments. A short while ago you called me 'general'. I have responsibilities and ties to the New Republic. I don't want you to think I'm offering help and then abandoning you." Han glanced at Luke. "I think I know some people that could help - some of the Rogues or even the Wraiths if they don't have a set job just now?"

"I think the Rogues are tied up somewhere," Luke said. "Wedge doesn't want Iella out in the field just now because there's another baby due."

"There is?" Han's face brightened. "That's wonderful. How come I didn't know?"

"I thought you did." Luke pursed his lips. "What about Elscol?"

"You, kid, are a genius. Elscol Loro and Sixtus Quin would be perfect."

"Iella knows where they are as does Wedge," Luke added.

"What?" Feenus was confused. "Who?"

Han grinned. "We're giving you the names of some people who can help. Expert guerrilla fighters - they liberate worlds. Or aid those who need to be liberated."

"We'll bring pressure to bear on the Inner Council of the New Republic too. It might not be as quick as you want but it's a start.

"Thank you," Altra said, glancing at her chrono. "Any help at all is wonderful but we have to get going."

"I need to get in to where Mara is being kept - that is, if the slavers have her."

Han nodded. "If we can find out where it is. You can help us do that. Can you get us inside?

"Not at this meeting. He picked a dark cloak and handed it to Altra. Feenus began to explain. "We call him the comptroller. He's actually a former Imperial General. Nasty piece of stuff."

"Who is he?" Han asked.

"General Ishyori Raitt."

"Oh, him," The Corellian swore under his breath but the word sounded like 'bastard'.

"I agree," Feenus said bluntly. "He is a bastard."

"After the Empire fell he managed to come out here and set himself up with a nice little earner. He worked for Grand Moff Tarkin and was therefore familiar with the area."

"I suspect he already had his little operation on the go long before Endor," Altra said.

"Wouldn't surprise me," Han agreed. "I didn't actually know the man but I heard plenty about him. None of it was good."

"He's bringing together all the independent slavers into a sort of syndicate. We've managed to gatecrash a couple of his little get togethers and buy some beings their freedom. Eventually we would like to destroy him."

"Just like that?" Han asked.

Altra looked confused. "I thought you would understand."

"I do," he said reassuringly. "But it isn't going to be that simple. Buying back the slaves may gain one or two of them their freedom but ultimately you are feeding the system."

Feenus scowled. "I never expected it to be simple. It is a lifetime's work. Raitt has a very exclusive client list. Selling one slave to someone in the street doesn't make him the jewels we're sure he has. Spice mine operators, factory owners - people who need slaves in large quantities - they pay big. We want to disrupt that little operation. We don't have the money to buy back many beings and you're right. It is adding to the problem."

Altra's grey eyes clouded over. "But what can you do when a mother is taken away from her child?"

"Like Tayo," Luke breathed sadly.

"Like Tayo," Altra echoed. "Unfortunately we were too late to help Tayo and his mother. She'll be long dead by now. So we try to help others."

"If you can help us get into the meeting to see if Luke's Jedi friend is part of a deal, we will make sure the New Republic starts applying the pressure when we get back. We can't stay around but we promise to see you get help as soon as we can."

"Done."

Luke gave a strained smile. "We give you our word. My word as a Jedi holds true."

Feenus shrugged. "I believe you. He gave up his whole career to help free enslaved Wookiees."

"I have an idea," announced Luke.

"Ah, kid. Is that wise?"

The Emerald Price Chapter 8

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

The Wild Karrde, Eriadu Spaceport

"Sir!"

Talon Karrde lifted his head and stared at the young Bothan he'd recently taken on as part of his crew. "Yes, Mi'syr?"

"There's a com call for you. It's from Elrood."

"Elrood?" he echoed thoughtfully. "Who would be contacting him from there? "Who was.?" And then he knew. "I'm on my way."

He moved swiftly to his office and had the call rerouted from the com-centre. "Karrde." He spoke his name clearly and waited as the picture coalesced into the recognisable features belonging to Han Solo. Ah! So Leia had not let her brother go on this venture on his own. She'd sent Han as backup.

"Good. whatever time of day it is with you, Talon," Han greeted the smuggler with a forced grin.

"Problems?"

"The usual." Han shrugged. "Why can't I fly somewhere without somebody trying to crush me into a cube?"

"They've met you?" Karrde quipped.

Han gave him a glare and then sighed. "Maybe. Pirates nearly shot us down as we entered the system. Thanks to the Kid and some fancy flying on my part we got away with minimal damage. The Falcon's grounded for a day or so until I can fix her. Shields are fried again."

Karrde's pale eyes narrowed. "You've not found Mara then?"

Han shook his head. "No, unfortunately not, but we have our suspicions of her whereabouts."

"You do?"

"Well, Luke has his suspicions, to be more accurate. You might recall that he can sense when another Jedi is close. He's sure she's in this sector."

"That's still not going to be easy. You're almost on the edge of Wild Space. There are hundreds of worlds where she could be.

"I know, but Luke says he will find her."

"That figures. He knows her best and if he thinks Mara is close - then she probably is."

"Yup, he's been a bit strange about it but quite definite. We think she got picked up by a party of slavers."

"Mara! Caught out by a bunch of two-credit."

"These are well-organised into syndicates. Slavery is illegal in most other parts of the galaxy. I don't think that creed has reached the Outer Rim yet. The best slaving syndicates will be in that area - you know this."

"Stang!" Karrde swore softly. "Is he sure? I mean - I can't quite see Mara being captured so easily."

"We don't know how easy it was. If that's what has happened."

"True. The Outer Rim is still as lawless as ever."

"You never thought it was anything else," Han retorted. "That's why you do so much business this end of the galaxy. The New Republic has no visible presence out here - it's too far away from the Core Worlds. I did wonder if it was time to start leaning on the government. They may send a delegation out this way."

"Possible."

"Luke assumes you have a base in the area and would like it to have a proper medic. He says Mara is unwell and will need treatment."

"None of my bases out here have top-flight medicentres. They all have proper medical droids. The two-one-B." He paused. "Wait-a-minute - how does he know she's unwell if he doesn't know exactly where she is or what's happened to her?"

"Jedi thing apparently. He just does."

"Of course."

Han moved away and Talon could hear him talking with someone in the background. "Is Luke there - can I speak to him?"

Han called his brother-in-law. Luke had slumped into one of the comfortable armchairs in the lounge, his head cradled in his hands. Han could see how tired he was by the slump in his shoulders. He sighed deeply. Luke was pushing himself too hard again. "Go and speak to Talon, kid."

Luke nodded and wearily wandered through to the immaculately kept Adremetis' study. He slid into the seat that Han had vacated and tried to appear more upbeat. "Talon, how are you?" His voice sounded unnaturally bright.

"I'm well, Luke. You look tired."

'Damn! Luke thought. 'Shoulda known Karrde was too clever to fool.' "I am tired, but that doesn't matter."

"What's happened to Mara, Luke? Han's only told me so much."

"We know very little. I think she's been picked up by slavers. They must have surprised her somehow. She's not unaware of the risks like some people are."

"No. That makes it all the more worrying. Han says she's sick."

"I get the feeling that she's sick or injured in some way - not sure how. I heard her call out to me and I can feel her presence strongly, so we must be close."

"But didn't you hear her call out to you when you were on Coruscant?"

"I don't think it's the same thing. It doesn't seem as far away and I am far more aware of her. She seems sluggish, disoriented and that's not Mara Jade. That's why I want her taken to the nearest medical facility as soon as we find her and we will find her, Talon."

"That's never been in doubt, Luke, and I'm grateful. I could get there in the Wild Karrde pretty quickly. My business is all finished here and Mara is more important."

"Not enough time," Luke said gravely. "I can feel it. Are you still on Malastare?"

"No, I'm at Eriadu - a bit closer."

"I still don't think it's enough."

Karrde tugged at the goatee on his chin. "Czerip," he said finally. "One of my bases is there. It's half way between Elrood and Eriadu. I can get there in a day or so. If you manage to get Mara, go there. The facilities are basic - it's only ever used as a stopgap but it has a new medical droid."

"It will have to do. The Wild Karrde has a very good sickbay, hasn't it?"

"I thought you'd been in it, Luke."

"If I haven't, it's the first one in the galaxy I've missed out on."

"Yes, your sister did say something about you having an affinity for bacta."

Luke scowled. "She likes to fuss." He straightened in his chair. "If she needs to be stabilised for the journey to Coruscant, it can be done at Czerip before you arrive and then the Wild Karrde or the Falcon can get her to Coruscant if need be. I'm hoping she's not too badly hurt and that I'm just overreacting."

"I hope so too. But it is better to be prepared." Talon's look was serious. They both had been kicking around the seamier sides of the galaxy many times and not many things surprised them any more. Especially the way beings could treat other beings. "How are you going to discover if she's been sold?"

"We bumped into someone Han knew long ago and they have this little organisation. They will help us get access to whoever we need to see."

"What kind of organisation?"

"Anti-slavery."

"Anti-slavery?" Karrde repeated. "Trust Solo."

"I need some information," Luke blurted out. "You're bound to be able to find out."

"Probably," Karrde commented warily. "I have many sources." When Luke related his request he whistled softly. "Yeah! I can get you that. When do you want the information?"

"Now"

"Now!" he echoed faintly. The Jedi Master continually surprised him.

"Yes." Luke was uncompromising. "I need it now. You'll be paid for any information you can give me and I'm sure you have what I need."

"If you get Mara back safely consider that my payment."

Luke gave him a strained grin. "Okay - if you're sure?"

"I am." Talon swivelled in his chair and Luke could hear him tapping commands into a computer. "This might do," he muttered. "Aha! This is the very thing - perfect." There was a buzz and a whirr and Talon turned back to face Luke. "Sending though some stats. You can copy it onto a datacard."

"Thank you. Copying now."

Karrde had to ask. "Luke - is this wise?"

"I haven't much choice. There's no way we can go in guns blazing and ruin the whole enterprise. We need people with much more authority."

"Are you getting cautious in your old age?"

You're not harking back to the Death Star. I didn't do that on my own. I can't say I like the idea but if it gets me Mara back, then it is worth it."

Karrde blinked. Luke was talking very possessively about his second-in-command and the idea that he'd thought about then discarded surfaced again in his mind. What did Luke Skywalker feel for Mara Jade? "

"I told you that we've been incredibly fortunate to meet this old colleague of Han's from the Imperial Navy."

"The Imperial Navy? Luke, I don't like this either."

Luke waggled his head from side to side in a non-committal fashion. "I was taken aback at first but these are good people who are going to help us, although I think the information they can give is almost the sum total of their ability to help us do that. You've probably helped me more with that one transmission. I haven't revealed to Han what I'm planning to do yet."

"Just be careful."

"I'm always careful."

"Okay, I'll believe you but that's not what your sister or Mara says."

"Yeah, sure." Luke's voice was wry. "Karrde?"

"Yes."

Luke's eyes darkened, his jaw firming with determination. "Could you get in touch with Lando? I want him meeting us off the ship at the spaceport on Coruscant. I don't care how good business is."

"Luke. About Lando."

"If he is not there for Mara when she arrives on Coruscant I will personally vape him - dark side be damned."

"But Luke - Lando and Mara."

"Just tell him that. We'll be in touch. Goodbye."

Talon was left frowning at a blank monitor. The Jedi Master had gone. "Goodbye," he muttered uselessly to no one. Surely Luke didn't still think that Mara and Lando's relationship was real? He had said to Mara she could tell Luke if she wanted to - obviously she hadn't. Talon groaned - he had gone out of his way to let the entire galaxy think Lando and Mara were a couple. Why should Luke believe any differently when Mara hadn't told him and why hadn't she told him? Then it struck him that when Mara and Lando had been together, Luke had absented himself. This was a state of affairs he hadn't considered. He had to give the theory room to grow.

The Jedi Master didn't want to see Lando Calrissian and Mara Jade together but would do anything to help Mara be with the man she loved. Luke Skywalker was in love with Mara Jade. Karrde groaned again.

***********************************

Luke wrapped his cloak around his body and followed the others out into the narrow street. The sky had darkened and the streetlights had come on, illuminating the surroundings, yet keeping the corners shadowy.

"This way," Feenus urged. "I have a transport."

Han noted a small, covered repulsorlift speeder in a parking lot next to the apartment complex. He guessed by its size that it would take about eight standard sized humans.

"We're meeting Beridor at the spaceport. He's my partner."

"You trust him?" Han was cautious as always.

"Totally."

"Good."

"We've been together for nearly fifteen years. A good man."

"He was a slave, wasn't he?" Luke guessed.

"How did you.?"

Han smiled in the darkness. So Feenus had also acquired something in the nature of a life debt - although not from a Wookiee.

Luke fidgeted in the back. He cursed his customary impatience. He hated waiting for something to happen. "You could drop us off at the Falcon where we can start on the repairs."

Altra remembered suddenly and turned to face Luke. "You said you had a plan."

Luke pulled a data pad from his pocket and slipped in a data card. He perused the contents thoughtfully before staring at Altra. "I do, but it depends on how much you can find out at this meeting and I also must get back to the ship. There are things I need there."

"What do you want us to find out?"

"The identities of the main players in whatever syndicate we're dealing with."

"That might not be easy."

"What are you up to, kid?" Han asked quietly.

"I'm going to become a rich lord or prince in need of a regular supply of slaves."

"We've tried that before," Feenus said dismissively.

"This will work," Luke insisted. "But tell them I want to inspect the merchandise personally."

"I'll see what Beridor says."

"No, just tell him that I need those identities." Luke was firm. "No questions - just do it."

"Why?" Altra's shrewd grey gaze warmed. Yes, this man was quite different from what she had expected the Jedi to be.

"I am powerful, yet discreet. I will only deal with the slave lord himself. No underlings." There was an unconscious arrogance in Luke's bearing as if he had already started to become the wealthy prince.

His brother-in-law saw again one of the few times that Luke resembled Leia. She could slip on her royal bearing like it was a well worn coat.

Luke held out a data card. "This is a data file containing information on Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV."

"I've never heard of him," Feenus grumbled. "He doesn't exist."

Luke chuckled. "Oh, but he does. His world is only a system or two away from this one. It is a wealthy planet - rich in mineral deposits and natural resources. There is a huge potential market for slaves."

"He's real?" Altra asked.

"Yes, no point using an alias. They're bound to check. You may not have heard of him yet but in time you will."

"Karrde give you the information?" Han enquired dryly.

Luke nodded.

Han grinned. "Then it's real."

Luke glanced at Feenus. "You and your friend set up the meeting. Han and I will visit the syndicate headquarters if they have any. If you can supply me with homing beacons and trackers I can place them at the scene when we are there."

"That sounds promising," Altra said. "You will ask the New Republic and also your less orthodox friends for their help?"

"Yes," Han answered. "I feel kinda bad for not staying for the whole haul."

Feenus shook his head. "Don't. This is my life's mission."

"Sure, Feen, but we're not away yet. And please, don't make it your life. Altra needs you too - don't forget."

"I won't.

"Drop us off at the Falcon," Luke instructed.

Han gave him a look. "Yes, Rogue leader."

The transport stopped at docking bay 77. Han activated the boarding ramp and nipped quickly inside, his bag of spare parts clasped firmly in his hands.

"Come back for us in an hour," Luke said. "Will that be long enough?"

"Should be."

"Fine. See you then." Luke lifted his hand in farewell and then sprinted into the ship. He had a lot to do.

"Is he always like that?" Feenus asked as Luke's figure disappeared inside the Falcon.

"Mostly," Han said. "Where's the best place to meet you?"

"The Merry Pirate," Altra said, a twinkle lighting her grey eyes to silver.

"The Merry Pirate!" Han exclaimed. "I thought that place had been condemmed."

"Still there. Owned by one of my people."

"Handy. I'll meet you there in about an hour."

"Right. See you then." Feenus said.

Han stared at his beloved ship. "Better go and see what's wrong with you, baby."

**********************************************

"Han!"

"Yeah!" The Corellian hadn't lost any time. He had already started to repair some of the ruined capacitors.

"Do you still have those fake beards and stuff from the last time we decided to infiltrate something we shouldn't have done and barely escaped with our lives?"

Han glared at him, hazel eyes glinting irritably. "Hell, kid. Did you have to phrase it quite like that?"

"Yeah. Just saying it like it is."

"That's what worries me. The answer to your question is yes."

"Where?"

"In the locker in the crew quarters."

"Fine and Han?"

"What!"

"Could I borrow some of the Hapan silk you got for Leia?"

"Whatever you want." Han wasn't really listening. "Just leave me to try and fix the ship. It's okay, baby," he soothed and patted the bulkhead affectionately.

Luke rolled his eyes.

The Emerald Price Chapter 9

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list.

The Merry Pirate, Elrood Spaceport

Altra stared around at the dingy interior of the small bar. Shadowy figures lurked at tables in dark, half-lit corners, the patrons preferring to hide in the gloom rather than come forth and be seen. In any case, she didn't think the sun could penetrate the decades of grime encrusted on the windows. The bar didn't quite match its name. She wasn't sure if it ever had. They'd used it many times for their meetings. The Merry Pirate was a good place to find out who was in port - those that perhaps didn't want to advertise their whereabouts too openly. The more respectable beings visited establishments with better lighting. They had less to hide.

The owner, she risked giving Mal'orch a slight nod, was one of their select group. He was the one who had alerted Beridor and Feenus to the news that the slaving syndicates were planning an important gathering. He tended bar and listened. He'd picked up many useful snippets of information that way.

The bar had once been owned by a notorious pirate and slaver until his rather unfortunate demise some ten years previously. When Jital had passed on, Beridor had gained his freedom. Jital had been a pirate, yes, but had been cruel and venal - certainly never merry. Beridor had gained his freedom when Feenus had killed Jital. She slipped her hand into that of her husband, giving it a comforting squeeze. Altra wasn't sure if the comfort was for herself or for him.

"Can you see Beridor?" Feenus whispered.

"Not yet," she answered.

"I think he's probably in the back room. Mal'orch usually lets him use it to get things prepared."

"I know that."

"Yeah, yeah," Feenus said dismissively. "I know you know that. He lets Beridor use it especially if there's a syndicate meeting."

"Mal'orch was trying to fix the com centre yesterday. It had developed a glitch."

"Not again."

"I think Beridor was trying to get it back up to full working mode. That's why he'll be through the back."

"Well, I need him here. now."

Altra gave the taciturn bar owner another swift glance. "What does Luke want us to do?"

"Drop hints that Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV has come incognito to the planet to investigate the syndicates."

"Has he now?" Altra marvelled.

Feenus couldn't see her face as it was hidden under a voluminous hooded cloak but he could hear the smile in her voice. "He has."

"This Prince - he's a big, important type - with plenty of jewels to spread around?" Her husky voice was mocking.

"What do you think, wife?" Feenus pulled a data pad from his pocket and slid a card into the slot. "Apparently the Prince has recently inherited some rather lucrative Tellen mines from his uncle." He had rapidly scanned the information Luke and Han had given him.

"And he happens to require cheap labour to work those mines," she continued for him wryly.

"You guessed it. According to the data Luke's friend sent to him, the prince is rather reclusive but has been known to disguise himself and walk among us lesser beings."

"He's not actually here, then?"

"Nope. It could make things a little awkward if he was. Imagine two princes of Mittenden IV wandering around Elrooden Spaceport. According to the data he is at present preparing himself to marry an extremely wealthy duchess from his neighbouring planet - Mittenden V. Luke has good sources because this is top-secret."

"Top secret!" Altra interrupted. "So how did you know?"

"I didn't but I got in touch with a couple of guys on Mittenden V who owe me bigtime - just to confirm for myself. They have sources who are in the know and backed up the story. Plus, I don't think Skywalker would wander into a situation without checking the facts. He's pretty well-connected and must have excellent sources of his own being the Jedi Master."

"You would suppose so," Altra answered thoughtfully.

"The marriage will take place before some of the other worlds have time to protest."

"And they will protest?" Altra asked.

"Apparently. Mittenden III has several noble families with suitable daughters. I am now quite an expert on the matches of the ruling classes in this area."

"Fascinating." Altra gingerly sipped from a glass of cloudy looking lum. "Political dynastic intrigues will never go away. I used to see it happen all the time on Coruscant and that was when Palpatine's grip on power was almost absolute."

"Obviously the grip of the Emperor slipped," Feenus quipped darkly. "Even out here, there are still alliances and mergers to be made."

She never failed to marvel at her husband's ability to read a datapad so quickly and take in the information almost immediately. He'd been a brilliant Imperial officer and had seemed destined for an impressive career. But he had given it all up for his principles and despite all the hardships; Altra didn't regret a single thing.

"The noble families protect themselves in the time-honoured way."

"Yeah! I wonder how Solo managed to get by all of that. His wife was the last Princess of Alderaan and a leader in the New Republic government. They were allowed to marry so easily!"

"I suppose with her family all being killed on Alderaan, apart from her brother, she was a free agent. Plus, I think she'd been sleeping with Han for a good few years and therefore had made her choice."

"Trust Solo!" Feenus' voice was still bitter.

"What's wrong now? I thought you'd talked things over with Han?" Altra questioned carefully. "I was hoping you'd come to some sort of agreement."

"We did - up to a point - but nearly twenty years of ill-feeling doesn't vanish immediately. I don't know if I can ever truly be friends with him again. I trust him and yet I don't."

"You've been angry with him for a very long time. It's difficult to change that feeling overnight. At least the pair of you are attempting to be civil to one another now. It's progress."

"We were that bad, huh?"

"Worse."

"You know what I'm like."

"I know what you're like. You're both as bad as each other."

Feenus scanned around the room. "Come on, Beridor," he muttered. "You're late."

A tall thin man dressed in a cloak like Altra's came from directly behind Feenus and slid into the seat opposite the Adremetis'. "I know I'm late." He pushed his hood back; a thin, almost skeletal face peered at them through large black eyes. Beridor was only part human but didn't know what his other part was as he'd been raised in the orphanage on a poor drifter colony - he had no memory of his parents. The orphanage had done their best and he'd been happy there until the slavers had moved in. Most of his peers were dead or working in horrible conditions. Beridor wouldn't rest until he had rescued as many as he could - until slavery had been halted forever and he knew that would never happen.

"You are very late. We've been here for twenty minutes," Feenus grumbled.

Altra shook her head as she checked her chrono. "Fifteen."

"Long enough."

Beridor's gaze darted around the room, not betraying by the flicker of an eyelash he knew Mal'orch or one or two other of their people stationed at strategic entrances. "Where are Han Solo and the Jedi?"

"Fixing Solo's ship," Feenus grunted. "Pirates shot it up."

"The Jedi has a plan," Altra said, unwilling to name the Jedi Master yet.

"Jedi in this part of the galaxy again. It sounds good to say it." Beridor grinned, showing uneven yellow teeth.

"I'm not so sure."

"You're just letting your Imperial training cloud your mind. It is a good thing." Beridor's voice was positive.

Feenus handed over the data pad and the humanoid scanned its contents before handing back the pad. He ran his fingers through wispy black tufts of hair and pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I can see this working. It would certainly give us more information. We need as much as we can. No point losing more people."

"No," Altra choked out. The last raid had been a disaster. They'd been outmanoeuvred and outmanned. The result was that two of their best personnel had died. They had been more than colleagues - they'd been friends.

Beridor's dark eyes were stricken. "You're right. We owe it to Jiss and Focx not to mess up again."

There was a brief moment of silence as they remembered their fallen comrades. Beridor was the first to break the stillness. "Solo and his Jedi companion are looking for a woman friend?"

Altra nodded and held out a copy of the holo Luke had shown her. "She's one of the Jedi."

Beridor's eyes widened and he whistled softly. "If I'd know they had Jedi that looked like that, I would have joined the order myself. What a stunner!"

"She's called Mara Jade." Altra could still see Luke's face as he'd gripped the frame of the holo with something approaching near desperation. "Han's Jedi friend is sure she's been taken by slavers."

"She is very beautiful," Feenus admitted. He reached out and squeezed Altra's hand. "Almost as beautiful as my wife."

Altra nearly fell off her chair. She knew he loved her but he rarely showed her such affection publicly. She gave him one of her warmest smiles, tears not far from her grey eyes. But now was not the time to get overly sentimental.

Beridor stared at the holo. "When did she go missing?"

"Solo's not sure, but thinks about a month ago."

Beridor's voice was dispassionate. "Then we're probably too late, although there hasn't been much movement during the last lunar cycle."

Feenus nodded. "They must be waiting for this meeting."

"I can only assume that's the case. Or." Beridor's piercing black eyes narrowed slightly.

"Or what?"

"I have heard reports of the Leptas virus being on the go on Aaris III, Kidron and Derilyn."

"As if Derilyn hasn't suffered enough."

"It can be cured if caught in time. If we've heard that it's spreading, then it hasn't been caught. The weak are always the most at risk - the elderly and the young."

"We should all be up to date with our inoculations," Altra pulled out a pad and began scrolling down through the information. "Yes, we're all covered."

"Have we spare tracking devices?"

Feenus patted one of the bulging pockets of his coat. "I picked up some at the warehouse when I was there with Solo."

"Good." Beridor nodded. "And now, I guess we wait for your friend to show himself."

"He's not my."

Altra levelled her steady grey gaze on that of her husband. "He is your friend. Enough nonsense. I know how you feel but you have to put that aside and trust him."

"I told you, I do trust him - sort of." Feenus sighed wearily but his wife was right and he knew it. He lowered his voice. "Okay - Skywalker's plan."

"Skywalker!" Beridor's face showed his surprise as he interrupted Feenus. "We get the Jedi Master himself? You never told me it was Skywalker."

"Ssh! We do," Feenus growled. "It's one of his Jedi after all, so he comes to find her. He's a Jedi, not a superbeing."

"I thought the Jedi were superbeings," Beridor interrupted.

"He seems fairly normal. I think," Altra murmured. "He looks normal."

Feenus huffed and leant forward across the table. "Okay, he's as normal as a Jedi can get. Now, about his plan." He leant forward placing his elbows on the table. "Does the name 'Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV' activate any high frequency beeps?"

"I've heard of him."

"You've heard of him?" Altra exclaimed. "Feenus hadn't heard of him."

"Enough to be very glad that I wasn't employed by his family."

"He may not be like his family," Altra protested, always ready to look for the good in others.

Beridor snorted in disgust. "From what I've heard - he's worse."

"Oh! His family - not nice then?"

"No, not what I would term 'nice'," Beridor mocked.

"I didn't know," she retorted indignantly and pushed back her hood a little staring at some information on her datapad. "Normally the Mittendens don't deal in this sector," Altra commented with surprise, reading the data Karrde had sent to Luke.

Beridor nodded. "I had heard that they liked to deal nearer home."

Feenus shrugged lightly. "Skywalker's information states that Aesophas has inherited some mines from an uncle and needs fresh workers."

"And has he?" Beridor wondered aloud.

"Apparently, yes."

"Good. First rule of pulling off a con operation. Keep as near to the truth as possible."

"We have to wait until Solo enters and then get near to Prebs or Solpar and start muttering on about him being Prince Aesophas's man."

"One of them should pick up on it."

Altra tucked the datapad securely into a pocket in her tunic. "Mal'orch pointed out a couple of Raitt's guys."

"Where?"

"Table nearest the bar," Feenus said.

Beridor picked up his own glass of cloudy lum, giving the room a casual scan. "Looks like Vreet and Carn."

Feenus pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Ah! That's who they are. I wondered. I thought they looked familiar. I don't see Stefft."

"Hasn't been in here for a while," Altra commented.

"No, he hasn't." Feenus peered over Altra's shoulder and a familiar face caught his eye. "Prebs is nursing some impressive bruising to his jaw."

"Prebs?" Beridor echoed.

"You know him, Tharakan's operative. Weedy little guy in that horrible beige tunic - looks as if it hasn't seen cleaning solution in a long time. Stefft is higher up in the ranks but he doesn't talk as much."

"Of course, I know Prebs." He gave a silent whistle as he caught sight of the man's badly swollen face. "I just didn't recognise him under all that bruising. Do you think one of his captives got a little friendly?"

"More likely he just got into a fight."

"I could talk to Prebs," Beridor muttered. "He will tell me what's going on for the price of a few jewels. He thinks I want to get into the business," he gave a derisory laugh. "If he only knew. I've been in the business - as a commodity."

"Han should be arriving shortly," Altra said.

Beridor grinned. "I'm looking forward to meeting him."

*******************************

The Millennium Falcon

Luke picked at the lock on the storage cabinet. Han had locked it and then forgotten the combination. "Oh, to hell with it," he muttered and waved his hand. The cupboard sprang open, the door gaping wide. Mara would have words with him about using the Force in such a trivial fashion. He told his students the exact same thing. But he didn't have time to waste picking the lock. What would the galaxy say if they knew that the oh, so respectable Jedi Master could pick locks? There was a lot the galaxy didn't know about Luke Skywalker. In fact, Luke was beginning to wonder if he knew himself as well as he thought he did.

The smile on his face faded. "We're coming, Mara," he whispered, sending it out through the Force but, if she heard it, she gave no reply. "Just hold on, Mara - please hold on."

"Luke!" Han's voice echoed through the ship.

"Yeah," he answered, raising his own voice enough to be heard.

"Did you get into the locker?"

"Of course, I did. Although, it would have been easier if you hadn't forgotten the combination. Old age, I guess."

"Watch your mouth, kid."

"You needing some help?"

Han appeared in the door to the crew quarters a hydrospanner clutched in his oil-stained hand. "Nah! Nearly finished."

Luke blinked. "That was quick. I thought it might take the rest of the day to refit. You told Karrde the Falcon was down for at least another day."

"Good quality parts - easy to replace and you saved us from being totally wrecked."

"I helped," Luke said firmly. "You did some mean flying out there, Han."

"Did what I had to do." Han watched carefully as Luke began applying a white creamy looking lotion to his face. "What's that for?"

"It should make my skin paler - almost white. I have to try and resemble the prince."

Han pulled a face. "Glad you're only pretending to be him and that I don't have to meet him. Never trusted those pasty types. You've not got a lot of colour at the moment, kid, and you're making yourself even paler. Not enough time in the sun in my opinion but the colour you're puttin' on..." He shuddered.

"I'm never going to be as tanned as I was on Tatooine."

"Maybe not. We're not exactly anonymous are we?"

"Here." Luke handed Han another bottle but this one was darker in colour. "This will darken your skin and, no, we're not anonymous but we will be, or rather, you will be."

"Great." Han eyed the sludge like fluid in the bottle with disgust. "I hate puttin on this stuff. I don't know how Leia can stand it every time she goes to a fancy do."

"She's female," her brother retorted.

Han grinned. "She's that all right. Fake beard?"

"In that box." Luke slid the box along the floor. He grabbed fixative and a rather impressive blond moustache and beard.

"What does this Aesophas guy look like?" Han asked attaching a wispy black goatee to his chin. "Wouldn't a Force disguise have been easier?"

"Maybe, but I can't do two of us for any length of time and I get the feeling that I'll need all my concentration. I would try another beard, Han. You still look too much like yourself."

Han glanced into the reflector. "Yeah, so I do." He pulled off the wispy piece of facial hair and rummaged in the bag for something more concealing.

Luke scrabbled on his bunk for a data pad and thumbed it on, passing to Han. "Aesophas looks like this."

"By the misshapen moon of Kessel, that's some resemblance. or it will be. Not bad at all, kid. I'm impressed."

"I hope its enough."

Han nodded and set to work altering his own appearance. He pulled on a dark wig, the hair longer than he had ever worn his, and with the new beard totally hiding the shape of his face, he looked quite unlike himself. He pulled on the dark grey coat Luke had laid out for him and turned to see if the Jedi Master had finished with his own disguise. Han's mouth dropped open. "Well, I'll be."

It wasn't Luke who stood before him. It was Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV or as near as damn it, wrapped in swathes of scarlet and gold Hapan silk. Somehow he'd wound it around his body and fashioned some of the cloth into a coiled turban, a glittering green jewel fixing it in place just above the centre of his pale forehead.

"Your Royalness!" Han bowed, his hand sketching circles in the air.

"Good job you had a lot of this material, Han," Luke's voice sounded incongruous emerging from the appearance of a stranger.

"It's kinda obvious, kid."

"I need to be obvious. You need to be discreet as my former tutor and adviser who I usually ignore."

"I like that. I thought you hung on my every syllable."

"You really need to see someone about these delusions you keep having, Han, or should I say Bohb Barattas."

Han did a double take. "I beg your soon-to-be-royal pardon?"

"Bohb Barattas." Luke waited, stifling his grin.

"Couldn't you have found a better name than that, Kid?" He scowled and muttered the name under his breath.

"That's what his tutor-stroke-adviser is called."

"So he's real?"

"Oh, yes." Luke handed over a datapad and watched as Han read the few lines about his alias.

Han returned the pad to his brother-in-law and then affixed his gaze to the shining jewel on Luke's turban. "Is that rock real?"

"This?" Luke touched the glittering bauble and chuckled. "No, It's as fake as we're going to be. I found this in the cargo bay. It came from a dressing up toy crown belonging to your daughter."

"That's from Jaina's princess set?"

"Yup."

"You'd better not lose that. It's worth far more than a real one. She won't be very pleased with you if it's not back in her crown by the time we get home.

"Okay, it will be, I promise. Jaina can be quite fierce when angry. She's especially like her mother at those times." Luke picked up his lightsaber and stared at it.

"What's wrong, Luke?"

"It's my saber. I'd better carry it concealed." He lifted up the material covering his chest and attached his saber inside the silk. "You head to the Merry Pirate. Feenus and Altra's friends are going to become my security force when I emerge in about half an hour.

"Right." Han began loading his pockets with ammunition, spare blaster packs and the thermal detonators and smoke bombs he'd purchased at the warehouse. Into his thigh holster went his favourite blaster. "Yup, I'm ready."

**************************************

The Merry Pirate

The door slid open with a pained groan and the figure of a man lurched inside. Feenus sat up. The click on his com told him it was Solo but he would have known that lurching walk from their days back at the Imperial Academy. They'd spent many an evening breaking curfew and sampling the delights of the nearest hostelries.

"That's him," he hissed.

The Emerald Price Chapter 10

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course the lovely Mona. Where would I be without her checking skills?

Klaz Kasino Hotel, Systra

Lando rolled over and stared at the ceiling. For a number of nights he had found slumber hard to come by - he felt guilty. He glanced at the naked woman asleep beside him, her luxurious dark hair spread over the pillow. She was beautiful and willing and had made his nights in her bed well worth his time. Plus she had sold him her shares in her chain of casinos for a very reasonable price.

He didn't feel guilty about bedding Vari - no, not at all. It had been a most enjoyable experience. Vari was extremely. flexible. She'd been a dancer in the premiere Klaz Kasino until she'd caught the eye of the owner. It was Vari who had encouraged her husband to expand the chain until it included luxury resorts. No, Lando's guilt stemmed from the look of barely concealed disdain on the face of Talon Karrde as he'd let him know about Mara's vanishing act. Karrde knew what he was up to and who with and despised him because of it. Normally he didn't let a little thing like conscience get in the way of his decision making skills. But this time he wondered if he had been wrong. Maybe the smuggler chief had been right; perhaps he should have gone with Mara.

He had thought he wanted a relationship with her although he was beginning to wonder if it was worth all the hard work. The ease with which Vari Klaz had tumbled eagerly into his bed had been pleasantly surprising. Lando desired Mara - but he knew that he didn't love her. He rremembered Karrde's words. "To win Mara Jade, Calrissian, love is what you will need." Who knows? He wasn't even sure if Mara believed in love - at least he didn't think that she did. Regardless, he never wanted to hurt her. He certainly did not want her to get into any trouble because he failed to go with her.

Pushing back the covers he swung his feet to the floor and stood up without disturbing his sleeping companion, stretching silently. He moved to the ensuite 'fresher and fumbled for the light switch. Lando squinted at his suddenly too bright reflection in the mirror. He didn't much like the guilt he was feeling right now. But how could he have given up this opportunity to expand his business holdings? Deals like this didn't come along every day and if he had waited, he would have lost his chance. He just couldn't have left right then.

Luke had gone after Mara instead. Once the Jedi had found her using the Force they were both so strong with, then Lando would find some way to make it up to her. He'd heard nothing from Karrde except that single com call and that was nearly two weeks ago. Surely, by now they'd found her. Why hadn't Karrde let him know that Mara was safe?

"Lando?" Vari's throaty voice called.

"I'm in the 'fresher," he replied. Lando smoothed his moustache with long brown fingers and grinned at his face in the mirror. Yeah, he'd make it up to Mara when Luke brought her home. "Coming, Vari." He clicked off the light and walked purposefully into the bedroom.

She was sitting up in the bed, the sheet wrapped around her chest, her dark eyes glittering in the light from a small lamp. "I was beginning to feel lonely," Vari murmured.

"I thought you were still sleeping, but here you are awake and ready for me. We can't have you feeling abandoned, can we?" Lando slipped into the bed and dipped his head towards her, his mouth covering the lush red lips that pouted so invitingly.

Vari's arms curved around Lando's smooth brown shoulders, drawing him close, letting out a gasp as his hand teased her nipple to aching fullness.

"No, we can't have you feeling lonely," Lando repeated as he kissed her deeply. "We.!

His comlink suddenly interrupted their lovemaking. "Stang!" Lando exclaimed.

"Ignore it," Vari urged him trying to kiss him, rubbing her generous breasts against his firm chest.

"No, I can't. It could be important." Lando slid out of bed and walked to his jacket and retrieved his com. He didn't want to say that it could be Karrde calling about Mara. The guilt he had tried to shelve came back gnawing at his senses.

"What could be more important than us?" Vari rolled on to her back and gazed moodily at the ornately carved ceiling of her suite.

"Someone knows I'm here. That is important. I wanted to keep our time together exclusive. Soon everyone in the galaxy will know that I have bought your late husband's business. Let that and us be private for a little while longer. I am enjoying just spending the time with you. For someone to know where I am means it is serious."

"But Lando."

"I'll get rid of them, I promise."

Lando switched the device on and quickly stifled a curse. "Karrde!" he hissed. "Don't you know that it's the middle of the night on Systra.? Yes, I know." He threw a look at Vari. She gave a petulant sigh, got out of the bed and stalked to the 'fresher. She'd been married to a business man and knew what that particular look meant. 'Leave me alone, this is not for your ears.'

Lando couldn't help himself; he leered at her naked body as she passed him by and gave her a tender pat on her magnificently curved rear. Vari Klaz was all woman and generous with what she had. She speared him with a disdainful glare from her beautiful dark eyes and disappeared into the 'fresher. After a moment of silence he heard the bath being run.

Lando sighed. "Yes, I'm alone now. Where's Mara? Has Luke found her yet? Is that why you contacted me?

"Luke thinks he knows where Mara is."

"Good. I'll see her when they get back then," Lando said heartily.

"He thinks she may be injured."

"Injured! Not seriously I hope?" Lando's voice rose a little. He heard the bath water stop and heard the splash as Vari climbed into the sunken tub. A smile crossed his lips as he pictured her full breasts bobbing in the water, their proud rosy peaks covered with bubbles. "Of course, I'm listening, Karrde. I'm just a little distracted. What were you saying again? Luke said what!"

Karrde told Lando Calrissian succinctly exactly what the Jedi Master had said. "If he is not there for Mara when she arrives on Coruscant I will personally vape him - dark side be damned."

"Karrde, that sounds like a threat the way you're saying it," Lando protested. "My business."

Karrde smiled coldly to himself as he interrupted. "I think that's exactly what it was. When we bring Mara home you'd better be there waiting or else. Luke doesn't care about your business. He wants you there for Mara. He thinks she will need you."

Lando heard the click and stood holding his now silent com. Biting back another curse; Lando threw the comlink on top of his clothes. Mara would be fine. She had Luke and Karrde to fuss over her she didn't need him as well. He finally managed to push his guilt away. This was the last time he got involved with anything outside his own business. From now on it would be number one all the way. He smiled and headed towards the fresher door. The hotel's baths were big enough to host a party and there was someone waiting for him to get that party started. He picked up the two glasses and the bottle of the hotel's best champagne chilling on a nearby table. Yes, time to look after himself.

*********************************************

The Wild Karrde

Talon Karrde heaved a sigh as he let the connection drop. Sometimes he didn't understand Lando Calrissian at all. He'd delivered Skywalker's message to the former Baron Administrator of Cloud City but part of him wondered if he shouldn't have told Luke the truth. For some reason Mara hadn't divulged the most important fact about her relationship with Lando - there wasn't one. The whole thing had been a sham - it was all pretence.

He pressed a switch on his desk. "Dankin!"

"Yes, boss."

"I want you to set a course for Czerip."

"Consider it done. Plotting co-ordinates now."

"Thank you." He clicked off and slumped back in his chair. He had a feeling that their problems were far from over.

************************************************

The Merry Pirate

It would be surprising if the cantina hadn't changed. Han tried to work out the last time he'd been inside the Merry Pirate. The bar was almost hidden in an archway between a couple of repair shops. He stared thoughtfully at the run down exterior. Some of the coloured lights announcing the name had long fizzled out and proclaimed in lurid pink and green that the place was called 'The Me-y P-rat-' instead.

He grinned. It was Showtime. The kid and Mara Jade were counting on him again. He gave his blaster an affectionate pat and made his way to the doors. They slid open with a strange buzzing sound as if some of the motors were giving up. He relaxed his posture, let his shoulders slump and shuffled inside. For a moment the noise dipped. And Han sensed several pairs of calculating eyes gazing at his unprotected form. His fingers tightened on his blaster and he lurched to the bar.

"Lum," Han demanded thickly, peering up at the barman. Feenus had said this guy was a friend. He looked into the face of a square-jawed middle-aged man.

Mal'orch rubbed his ear. The listening aid hidden above it had suddenly buzzed. Ah - this was the contact. He turned away, grabbing a glass and pouring a measure of cloudy yellow-green lum. "Here."

"Thanks," Han made to move away.

"You're new in port. Don't think I've seen you before?"

Han grunted. "Never been here before."

"Where you from?"

Han waved his arm vaguely almost knocking over his glass which Mal'orch managed to rescue. "I'm from somewhere out there."

"Know it well."

Han blinked owlishly - he had the appearance of a man who had visited several of the establishments in the spaceport that day. "I'm from. from." He stopped. "Where am I from?"

"You tell me?"

"Mittenden IV. That's where. M'name's Bohb."

"Hi, Bohb. You on yer own?"

"Am now. Boss got fed up with me trying to tell him what to do."

Mal'orch was a patient man. If he just waited and asked the right questions, drunken beings would tell a surprising amount of their secrets. "He's the boss."

Han shook his head slowly. "He just thinks he is. I'm his adviser. I am paid to advise him. He used to listen to me but now he's aware of who he really is. What's the use of having an adviser when he won't listen to any advice I give?"

"Difficult," said Mal'orch sagely.

"My boss." Han spat on the floor. "He's looking to meet people."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Han's hazel eyes gleamed as he raised his voice a little. "I think it's too dangerous to meet the people he wants to meet but no, his royalness wants to check out the services for himself. I told him his father wouldn't like it but he told me to get lost. I have to tell the King.." Han swallowed a mouthful of lum and shuddered, the satisfaction easing through him almost visibly to anyone who might be watching. "I reckoned a bit of liquid courage might help but now I'm too drunk to care. I'm stuffed whichever way I turn. The king will punish me for not doing my job and 'His Magnificence' will punish me because I spoke to the king."

"A difficult position to be in. I'm sure you will decide on the correct course of action." Mal'orch was sympathetic. He found that the right amount of sympathy sold more lum. "What kind of services would your employer be looking for?"

Han weighed up his options. "I suppose you would know who to go to. You hear things working in a bar, right?"

Mal'orch nodded. "I certainly do."

"So you could help me and I wouldn't be in so much manure with his royalness - okay?"

"Who is 'his royalness'?"

Han gave a nervous look over his shoulder and then gulped down a mouthful of his drink. "I suppose it can't hurt to say." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "The boss is supposed to be in disguise but no, he's still wandering around like he owns most of Mittenden IV." Han gave a high-pitched drunken giggle of glee. "Oh, I forgot. He does own most of Mittenden IV - and III and parts of V, too."

"He does?"

"Yeah, he does. Prince Aesophas." Han slurped noisily at his lum. "Wants slaves," he hissed loudly smacking his lips together. "Worker slaves and one or two slaves with a certain . . . appeal, if you know what I mean." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Prince Aesophas heard that this place is where to find them."

"Slaves, eh?" Mal'orch also raised his voice.

Feenus, watching with Altra and Beridor, could have sworn that the conversation in the cantina dropped a little and Mal'orch's words rang out across the room.

"Well, what do you know!" Beridor's low voice was admiring as they saw Prebs and Vreet lift their heads, look at each other and inch closer to Han. "Mission accomplished. Your old navy pal is good at his job."

"Yes," Feenus said. "He is, but our mission will never be accomplished. Our true goals will take time."

"It will be worth it," Beridor whispered, the gleam in his dark eyes fervent.

"Oops!" Han covered his mouth with his hand. "Not supposed to tell. The Prince was going to find that out all by himself."

"But you can help him," Mal'orch said encouragingly.

"Buy you a drink, stranger?" Two men stood crowding into Han's personal space.

"Why?" Han's voice had turned coldly hostile.

The larger of the two cracked a grin. "I think we have the answers to your problems."

Han turned back to his lum. "I don't know you."

"That can be changed." The speaker was a squat man. "My name is Vreet and this is Prebs. You are?" He cocked his head to one side.

"I'm not sure I should tell you," Han slurred with the careful enunciation of one that wasn't quite sober.

Vreet's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "It would only be good manners to introduce yourself to people who could help you with your difficulties."

"Bohb. Bohb Barattas," Han grunted unwillingly.

"Well, Bohb," Vreet said brightly. "I would like to buy you another drink." He pointed to Han's almost empty glass.

"Don't know about that. I should be trying to sober up. His royal highnessness." There was no mistaking the sneer that crossed Han's face. "If I go back him like this he will hang me by the feet down his precious Tellen mines."

"Tellen mines. Your boss is in charge of some?"

"He owns a whole planet of them," Han snapped.

"And he needs. workers for these mines?" Vreet enquired, his manner obsequious.

"Sure he does. Just not keen on paying them. How else will he make credits?"

"Get him a caf, barkeep," Prebs said carefully, wincing at the ache in his jaw. He'd spent two hours being treated by the docdroid and it still hurt.

"We don't do caf here," Mal'orch growled. "This is a bar, not some fancy cafshop."

"Sure you do. It will be worth it for you." Prebs had suddenly realised this could be a way for him to get back into Tharakan's good graces and turned back to Han. "We can help you and your master. We have information that could lead you to the supply of many workers."

"This ain't good," Han mumbled to himself, his head almost lying on the bar. "Can't just land on a strange world and find enough slaves. This is too good to be true; there's gotta be a catch. New Reb. New Rebup. Them guys in the Core - they banned it."

"The Core?" Vreet laughed. "Too far from here."

"Told him he should just forget about the mines. He needs hundreds and hundreds of workers and he doesn't like to pay them. If it had still been the Empire - no problem. Old Palpy would have had a supply of Wooks straight down the shafts before you could say Death Star. And anyone who has these kinds of workers don't have the pretty ones for sale too. He likes them feisty, you know. These princes. . ."

Mal'orch interrupted Han's rambling monologue by banging a large mug of frothy looking caf down on the bar, the milky liquid slopping over the sides in an undignified puddle.

Vreet chuckled. "I said that I may be able to help you out and I may be able to do exactly that. Drink your caf. I'm sure you can advise your 'boss' if you are in a more sober mood." He turned away from Han and motioned to someone in the shadows. As Beridor and Feenus suspected, Solpar emerged from one of the darkest corners in the place.

Altra reached into her pocket and activated the listening device. They'd bugged the whole place years ago and luckily no one had discovered that vital piece of information. Vreet and Prebs were frantically conversing with Solpar, almost ignoring Han for the moment. He was staring gloomily into his mug of caf.

"I think they might have bought it," Altra murmured to her husband.

Han's eyes met those of Mal'orch and winked. He switched on his com which he'd discreetly hidden under his collar. "Kid! Looks like we're set to go," he whispered. "Wait until I give you another signal. Shouldn't be long. Don't do anything stupid."

Luke clicked back in response.

*******************************************

"How many princes from Mittenden IV drop into our laps every day looking for the kind of goods that only we can supply?" Vreet asked, his round, pudgy eyes gleaming with avarice.

Prebs shrugged. "Never heard of him."

Solpar's thin face seemed to grow thinner. "I have heard of him and the answer to your question, Vreet, is: not many. There are not very many Mittenden princelings. Not with as much money as he's reputed to be worth."

"And he's worth a lot?" Prebs asked.

"Apparently." Solpar assessed Han's figure still slumped against the bar.

"I suppose he's genuine," Vreet said.

"Oh, yes. Drunk as anything. I can tell when that's faked and he wasn't faking it. Just to be sure we can run a check on his name when we get to headquarters. You did get his name?"

"Bohb Barattas," Prebs supplied eagerly and then winced as his badly swollen jaws protested.

"You really should get that looked at," Solpar commented snidely. "Looks as if it could hurt a bit."

"I've had it checked."

"Then Tharakan should get his docdroid disintegrated. Ready to persuade our friend that we are exactly what his lord needs?"

Altra moved the tiny listening device back behind her ear and grinned. "It is sounding as if we've fooled them."

"Good." Feenus gave a thin smile. "If all goes to plan, Han should take them to the Falcon. Luke is waiting there."

**********************************

"We would like to meet your prince." Solpar said ingratiatingly. "We are sure we could solve his problem."

"Don't know about that." As he sobered up Barattas was becoming less forthcoming and far more truculent in his manner. "You in charge?"

"No, but my boss listens closely to my words."

Yeah, right, thought Han. "And your boss is?"

"My boss doesn't like his name bandied about in a place like this."

Han shrugged. "Then we don't do business. I notice you haven't given me your name. His royalness don't put up with underlings, no matter how important they are still below him. He just deals with the main man. No offence."

Solpar's nostrils twitched as if he'd just smelled something unpleasant. "None taken. My name is Solpar, this is Vreet. We work for a local syndicate organised by General Raitt."

Han's demeanour changed immediately. "Nice to meet you. The prince does listen to me sometimes but as he's reached his majority he thinks he can do without me most of the time. I have advised him on what he should do - but will he listen?"

"The confidence of youth," Solpar gritted out between his teeth. Trying to stay pleasant to this character was extremely trying. He was tempted to just blast him but noted that Barattas' hand never strayed far from his blaster.

"I practically raised him after all. The king isn't big on parenting. No time for that kind of stuff when you have a kingdom to run and Prince Aesophas could have done with some serious parenting."

"You acted like a kind of tutor?"

"Yeah." Han turned back to his drink and sipped carefully. It wasn't the best caf he'd had by a long shot and it was getting cold. "That's what I did - I was his tutor and believe me it was no sinecure."

"We have instructions to take you to the. ahem. 'main man'."

"Oh" Han drew the word out. "But will he listen to me?"

"Probably not, that's why you have to convince the prince."

Prebs guffawed and then groaned. "Convince the prince." he managed to say before subsiding against the bar holding his jaw tenderly.

Han glowered at the stricken man. "How can I trust you? I am responsible for my young master. Not that there is any love lost between us but if something happens to him, you understand. Say - if he gets hurt. . . It wouldn't go well for me. I'd be dropped at the bottom of the Tellen mine and never seen again. I value my skin."

"Not to worry. He'll be perfectly safe with us. And I am sure the prince has more than just you as his security detail?" Vreet smiled. "We will allow him to keep his guards with him."

Han tilted his head to one side as he considered this surprising option. They must want Prince Aesophas' business badly to agree to allow him to keep his own security.

Solpar gave Vreet a sideways glance which Han intercepted. "There are those who would like to deprive us of our livelihood. We agree to the prince keeping his guards and arming himself because those beings would stop at nothing to ruin us."

'Ah,' thought Han. 'Feen and the others have been far more successful than they thought.' "No," he said, tugging carefully at his fuzzy black beard. No use advertising it for the fake it was.

"Yes," said Vreet.

"I'll contact the royal head of security," Han said at once, opening the channel on his comlink which linked it to Altra's, "and advise him of the situation. He will not be happy."

"He will be glad to ensure the safety of his master."

"This is true," Han agreed as he raised his comlink to his lips. "Commander Feen?"

Feenus raised his eyes to those of his wife. "What's he up to?"

Altra grinned. "You'd better answer him. I think you've just been promoted."

Feenus grimaced. "Yes, sir," he muttered.

"I have arranged a meeting for the prince with people who can help him find what he desires. I will need you to be ready to provide him with suitable protection. This has been cleared with our contacts."

"I will tell the prince," Feenus breathed into the mic. Clicking it off again, he looked at Altra and Beridor. "Solo's got them hooked. Let's hope the Jedi is also as good at subterfuge."

The Emerald Price Chapter 11

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course, for Mona.

The Millennium Falcon, Elrood Spaceport

Han gasped for breath as he raced up the ramp of the Falcon. "Kid," he called, "they're on their way." and then halted. Six black clad men stood waiting in the crew quarters.

"What!" Han stopped, panic flooding his chest, his hand reflexively sliding to the blaster at his thigh. His hand slowed. There was something about the way one of them moved that relieved his tension. These men looked familiar. He'd swear he'd seen these men before.

Recognition dawned. He had seen them before - in the market square. "You're with Adremetis?" At the slight nod of their heads he sighed. "You had me worried for a moment."

"Yes, Sir." One of the men stepped forward and despite the respectful tone in his voice, Han could see the amused glint in the man's eyes. "We never meant to cause you any anxiety. We're here to provide security for Prince Aesophas."

"They know I'm not the real prince, Han." Luke emerged from the crew quarters and Han almost recoiled. It was Luke's voice, but not his familiar persona. The heir apparent to Mittenden IV stood before him in all his scarlet and gold glory.

Han stared at the Jedi, his hands on his hips and a 'do-you-really-think-I-don't-know-that' expression on his face. "You send me to Kessel and back in that get up," Han finally muttered. "I meant for the silk to be made into something for my wife - not for you."

"What! You don't think it's my colour?" Luke asked.

Han gave him a warning look. "It's the voice. You have to change your voice, smart ass. Excuse us, guys," he apologised to the silently waiting men. "I need to speak to the prince privately." He made for the cockpit waiting until the door slid shut behind them before slumping into the pilot's seat.

"What's wrong, Han?" Luke asked. "The usual?"

"Kid, are you sure this is the best way to proceed? I mean, I know that you're the Jedi Master now and all, but you did grow up a farmer. Sure, you mix with all sorts but. Are you certain you can pull this off? Leia was brought up to do this - it's second nature to her - but it's not your usual at all. On top of that, this group appears to be a very well set up organisation. Are you really sure this will work? It ain't gonna be easy"

"This isn't the Death Star. When do we ever just go and do 'easy'? If you can think of another way, I'm all ears."

When Han remained silent for a moment Luke continued, "You know it's the only way. There's nothing else we can do." Luke lowered himself into the co-pilot's chair and stared at the instrumentation panel with troubled eyes, his mouth tightly set.

Han had seen that brooding look on the Jedi's face too many times and he wondered where the carefree moisture farmer he'd transported off Tatooine all those years ago had gone. Who had switched him with this sober man with the weight of the galaxy upon his shoulders? "Ah, kid. I'm sorry."

"I've tried meditating on it in the short time we've had. We aren't here to put these guys out of business. This is not our fight. I cannot free all the slaves and ruin the syndicate as much as I want to rid the galaxy of scum like this, but we can get Mara out. We have to free Mara. It's the only way we can proceed. I wish there was more we could do."

Luke could feel Han's doubt and he knew that the Corellian hated to trust his life on the Force. He smiled slightly when he felt Han's resignation.

"I thought that too," Han admitted with a deep sigh. "I was just hoping there might be an easier way. I don't trust these kinda guys."

"And you think I do?" Luke shook his head. "I'm not na?, Han. I can take care of myself.

"I know. It's just. Just be careful."

"You're telling me?" Luke coughed. "Hey, if I mess up, these guys will just think that I'm just acting peculiar... you know - being royalty."

"Just try not to mess up."

"Yeah, I guess we'll both have to watch out. As I said, all we're going to do is go in, collect Mara, plant the trackers and get out."

Han gave a short burst of laughter. "Simple."

"Hey, it's not as if we haven't done this before. That's what our plans usually entail. In, collect the girl and get out before everything blows up in our faces."

"Yeah, like I said. 'Simple'".

The side of Luke's mouth twitched in a half smile. "If only it were."

"Can you sense if Mara's here? If she's not, we're deep in greasy bantha stew. It's all very well to go in to rescue the maiden but we'd look pretty silly if we find out that she's somewhere else. You do think that she's really been taken by these guys?"

Luke's eyes seemed to lose focus for a few moments and Han could see that he was reaching into the Force - reaching for Mara's presence. "I can feel her," he said breathing out shakily. "She's in a bad way but she's very close - very close." He gave a shiver, his eyes darkening almost to navy blue. He lifted his head and stared into nothingness. "She's here," he whispered, his voice faint. "She's on this world. We're together."

"What?" Han asked softly, almost to himself, as worry lines appeared between his brows.

Luke shook himself and then cleared his throat. "I can't link with her mind too often or she'll drag me into whatever hell she's occupying. Nor do I want her giving the game away. If she recognises me and calls me by another name."

Han didn't like the sound of that. He had heard Luke say that he could feel his bond with the red-head very strongly. Hearing voices in his head was one thing but being influenced by her illness was quite another. He hated when Luke sounded like he was spouting things that sounded like prophecies. "Luke."

"I contacted Elscol and Sixtus - they're on their way. I suspect Elscol was really intrigued by this mission." Luke didn't want Han dwelling too much on the strange nature of his bond with Mara. Even he found it perplexing. Luke found himself saying things that hinted at a relationship of a more personal nature between himself and the beautiful trader - he opened his mouth and the words emerged. Mara and he were not. a couple. They would never be together and if she heard him saying such things and felt how closely they were linked she would be furious. He could almost feel her small hold-out blaster digging into his ribs again. "Elscol is readying her team and planning strategies."

But Han was not so easily diverted. "Fine - but there's quite a bit to go before those two can waltz in and mop up what's left. I'm worried about you, kid. This link you have."

"It will help us find her and then I can close it down to what it was before." Luke didn't know if he actually believed that statement but it sounded credible. Mara wouldn't want such an intimate connection to him nor the closeness that it entailed. It would remind her too much of what she had shared with Emperor. Part of him suspected that Mara thought he could still turn into the Emperor.

"Okay," Han wasn't sure if he was convinced but after years of being with the young Jedi Master, he could tell when to leave best alone. The subject was dropped.

"Han." Luke hesitated.

"What is it?"

"I'm going to have to become the prince."

"I know."

"Yes, but I'm going to have to try and adopt his mannerisms if we're to convince our syndicate pals that we really are who we're pretending to be. I'm going to become him."

"And you're telling me what exactly? I'm going to be some kind of servant, right?"

"Get ready to duck."

"I don't like this," Han muttered under his breath.

Luke glanced at him. "It was your idea to come with me."

Han's face darkened. "Thanks for reminding me and, actually, it was Leia's idea." His lips twitched briefly. "I just agreed with her." He handed Luke a couple of miniscule tracking devices. "Got these from Beridor - he's Feenus' buddy. I brushed past him on the way out of the bar and these slipped into my hands. Adremetis has trained his people well but I should have expected that. He was a good soldier back in the old days - had a single-minded purpose about him. Reminds me of you at times."

"These look effective." Luke stored the items in a pouch attached to the belt hidden under his silken wrappings.

"I've asked for the prince to be allowed your weapons and your security people."

"They agreed?"

"Yup. Surprisingly enough they did."

"Good, but I still better keep my lightsaber hidden," Luke stated. "I don't think there are many psychotic princes with Jedi abilities. My lightsaber has to be a last resort."

"Psychotic?" Han's eyes widened. "Don't leave me with thoughts like that." He grabbed his comlink as it squealed shrilly. "Solo!"

"Good job it was me and not one of our new trading partners calling," Feenus' voice noted sardonically. "They are almost with you. Docking bays 79 and 80 are clear. One of their own vessels is due to land in 80 in the next hour. We will meet in 79. I've deployed extra men around the site."

"Where are you?" Han asked.

"Just coming into your area of the docking bay now. Altra decided to commandeer someone's speeder. Looked like he was too drunk to miss it."

"You picked a good one there, Feen. Hold on to her."

"I intend to." As Han clicked off his comlink he heard the sound of the speeder entering the bay.

*********************************

Her hat pulled well over her face, Altra stopped the 'borrowed' speeder. It was doubtful anyone would look closely enough to realize that she was female. Feenus squeezed her hand before vaulting from the vehicle. The half dozen men he'd detailed to become Luke's security force, exited from the Falcon and positioned themselves on either side of the ramp awaiting the emergence of the prince from the ship. Others were stationed around the spaceport in more discreet locations.

"Vreet and Solpar are already waiting," she whispered. "Cam is still in the Merry Pirate. Could be his speeder I requisitioned."

"Could be," he murmured. "Yes, I see them." Feenus gave Han the signal on his com. "Okay Solo, any moment now. Keep the com channels open at all times. Beridor is monitoring things from docking bay 82."

************************

"Okay, your worship. Do your worst," Han said and moved to the head of the ramp, ready to exit. "I worked for Jabba for years. I know how to keep out of the way of autocratic princelings."

"Right." Luke took a deep breath. This was it.

*************************

Suddenly a loud noise could be heard echoing around docking bay 77 and coming from the ship. A voice screamed irately for several minutes until there was an ear-splitting crash and Han stumbled down the ramp in a daze.

"But your royalness, if you would only listen to what I'm trying to tell you," he shouted into the open ship. "Your father." He ran back into the ship and there was an ominous silence. Another crash and Han came back down the ramp as if a krayt dragon was after him, running full tilt into Vreet and Solpar. "He's mad!" he said and then seemed to remember to whom he was speaking. "He's not mad. No, not at all - just a little upset. I've seen him far worse than this. He'll come around. Great men like to know things in advance."

He winced as several more loud bangs and crashes echoed around the docking bay but not once did Feenus or his security men move a muscle. It appeared that they were well used to the caprices of their master. Han said conspiratorially, "He's just calming down. It always takes a few minutes and then he'll be quite reasonable about things."

"Good," Vreet said. He glanced at Solpar. "I think the General has arrived in the nearest available docking bay."

Solpar's thin face brightened. "I will alert him that the Prince is ready to see him." He disappeared in the direction of the vacant bay.

"Yes, please do." Han jumped as a sound resembling breaking glass ricocheted around the bay. "I just wish he wouldn't smash up my ship. Please hurry and give him something to occupy his attention or I won't have any dishes left."

"Your ship?" asked Vreet curiously.

"My ship." Han's voice was proud. "It is not much to look at but it has it where it counts. The prince is one of the richest men in this entire sector, but he wanted to go incognito. The royal family like their luxury, but if he wanted to remain anonymous and sneak away from negotiations, he had to use a ship they wouldn't expect him to use. His father turned a blind eye to his escape. The king realised that having the prince there all the time might make the duchess change her mind. Especially if he was in one of his moods. His own ship - the Royal Yacht - is still on Mittenden V."

"Negotiations? Duchess?"

"Yeah! Marriage with this Duchess from Mittenden V. I mean it's practically decided that they will wed. I told him to wait but he's attained his majority and his father wants him wed. He thinks it might improve his temper." Han's face told the shorter man exactly what he thought of that idea. "Now you know nothing about this. He'll remove my head from my body if he guesses I've told you."

"But if he's in love with this duchess?"

"Love!" Han hooted. "Have you seen her?"

"That good, huh?"

"Worse. I've seen better looking whiphids."

"All that inbreeding."

"That's politics. She's rich and the family want her inheritance to come to them. He has dark moods and they want him settled and an heir sired. Say. remember I mentioned pleasure slaves?"

"Yes."

"One of those might take his mind off the duchess and the heat off me. He likes them feisty. Not one who'll just submit without a fight. He reckons he can get those at court. Have you got any shapely females?"

"We can get anyone or anything the prince desires," Vreet boasted smugly.

"He'll pay for her in jewels." Han wondered if the bauble from Jaina's princess set was realistic enough.

"That will be acceptable."

"Might take some of the heat off the duchess too. Poor girl. She's young and gently reared. She can't help the way she looks. He's not known for his kindness to women. As far as larger shipments of merchandise are concerned an account will be activated when terms have been agreed."

Vreet twisted his mouth sideways and nodded slowly. "Should be okay with the General. Yes. I can see that working very well. He can't just hand over a sack of jewels."

Han chortled. "That would look a bit suspicious to customs."

A tall man in black walked towards Vreet and Han. "Mr Barattas?"

"Yes, Commander Feen." Han's voice became more officious.

"I'm concerned about the security measures in place for our master. I have not been allowed to check the locations and the personnel over thoroughly. What will the king say if he finds out about this state of affairs?"

"The Prince is being allowed to keep his security with him. It will be fine, Commander. We can leave people in place here to report back to, should anything untoward occur."

Feen's comlink beeped. He turned away and conversed with whoever was at the other end before swivelling around to face Han. He gave a brisk nod. "The prince is ready to leave your ship, Mr Barattas."

"Noted."

Solpar walked back into the docking bay to find that the six security men had lined the ramp of Bohb Barattas' ramshackle looking ship. They stood alertly in parade ground formation. Solpar was impressed. This was the kind of person he liked to deal with. He opened his own comlink. "Vreet will escort Mr. Barattas to you. He will tell you what the prince requires. His Majesty will be with you in minutes."

Raitt couldn't keep the satisfaction from his own voice. "Send him over. I'm looking forward to our conversation."

**************************************

He had been kept waiting long enough, and he waited for few these days. The former Imperial General, Comptroller Ishyori Raitt was a spare, lean man in his sixties with snapping pale eyes of a colour which was neither blue nor green. He'd walked into the empty docking bay expecting to see the Mittenden heir but instead the place had been totally empty. He'd turned sharply to his aide. "Where are they? There's not even a ship docked here."

The aide opened his mouth and then closed it as footsteps rang hollowly on the duracrete flooring of the bay.

Solpar appeared, his feet moving swiftly towards his boss. "I'm so sorry, General. We decided to meet in the empty bay as there was room for everyone to converge in the open. Tharakan's ship is due to land in bay 80 and we want him to get his cargo unloaded in peace. The prince is being somewhat difficult but should be on his way momentarily. Mr. Barattas is with him, as is his head of security, Commander Feen. They are filling him in on the details. He seemed a little annoyed at missing the real action."

"Ah, yes the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of the nobility," Raitt murmured. "But a good idea to inform 'His Highness'. This could be very profitable for us all."

"We aim to provide a service, General. I will return to see if our client is finally ready and bring Mr. Barattas with me to hopefully ease our way with His Royal Highness. His aim is to see that the prince gets what he wants." He bowed to the General and strode away.

"An admirable trait," remarked Raitt as he watched Solpar leave.

***********************************

Luke peered at himself in the mirror and gave the metal box he'd filled with scrap pieces Han had discarded earlier another kick. It created quite a good sound effect. He brushed a speck of fluff off the Hapan silk adorning his person and looked down his own nose at himself. Aesophas was a particularly loathsome specimen but he would have to do.

He moved to the head of the Falcon's ramp but the continuous buzzing in the Force intensified painfully. He grabbed the side of the bulkhead. With the increase in pressure he knew that Mara was now on Elrood. He knew it as sure as he knew he was still alive and clutching onto the Falcon's bulkhead.

She was so close now, projecting her pain for any Force sentient in the quadrant. He clenched his hands into fists and slowly stood. It was only when he reinforced his barriers that he could stand comfortably. Luke's eyes glinted silver as his fury rose. How dare this happen to Mara - to anyone? It took a major effort but Luke banked his anger. The dark side brushed at the edges of his vision. He had to maintain control or it would be his undoing. The dark side was always with him and he was not going to go that route ever again. 'Calm', he told himself. 'Peace. You will not help her with your anger.' But Luke knew that what he really wanted to do was to tear the planet apart until Mara was safe again. It felt as if his heart had been torn from his body. A Jedi could stand only so much when it concerned those he.

Luke lifted bewildered blue eyes to the grey plates above his head. Mara was his friend. Why did he keep feeling as if she were more? She was in love with Lando and besides, romantic love had no place in his life.

He lifted his chin and stared resolutely ahead, the warmth of his blue gaze slowly turning to ice. As he exited the Falcon, his usual loping stride, learnt on the sands of the world where he'd been brought up, changed to an arrogant swagger.

Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV had come to Elrood to purchase a slave.

The Emerald Price Chapter 12

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course for Mona - what would I do without you?

The small group of people waiting in Docking Bay 80 felt a sharp tug of nervous apprehension as they heard the speeder approach. This man was one of the most important beings in the Sector, possibly in this whole corridor of space. He wouldn't just make them rich. They had achieved quite vast sums of money already with their 'little enterprise' as Raitt liked to call it. He would make them spectacularly rich.

Prince Aesophas' money would give them enough wealth so that they had true power. They would be a force to be reckoned with - perhaps on a par with government figures. They could even set up their own little Empires after this was over.if nothing messed this up.

The hum of the speeder was the first thing they heard, followed by the sound of booted feet marching alongside in perfect synchronisation. Han tugged at his security uniform's tunic and adjusted the peaked cap. The former Imperial General, Ishyori Raitt, stood stiffly beside him, a strange little smile on his lips. Next stood Vreet and Solpar, fidgeting and shuffling, trying to banish their tension.

Raitt's bid for real power in the galaxy had failed with the destruction of the Empire. He'd been striving ever since to match what he'd lost and he knew that he never would again. This little operation he'd got running would not give him the power he really craved but he would finally achieve the great wealth he deserved. It would have to suffice.

Altra, her identity anonymous underneath her peaked cap, slowly piloted the speeder into docking bay 80. Six black clad guards flanked the ship, walking alongside. Prince Aesophas stood inside the speeder, his scarlet and gold raiment contrasting brightly against the black of his guards' uniforms and the drab, grey duracrete of the spaceport.

Han drew himself upright in readiness. How many times had they waited for things to happen? It looked as if this was finally it - showtime. He decided that Luke had to be using the Force to keep his balance in the speeder. The kid sure looked the part. Han could almost believe that he was the real prince. The fake beard and moustache shone gold as if lit by the sun, his bright clothing paling everything else around him into insignificance. Luke had put on enough show to dazzle the syndicate - or at least Han hoped that he had. General Raitt was known in the past to be a shrewd customer. There was always the faintest possibility their charade would not convince him. But he couldn't worry about that now. He squared his shoulders and slipped into his own part but he couldn't stop his trigger finger from twitching. It could all still go wrong - very wrong. After all, it usually did.

"I wonder how much that little gem is worth," Vreet whispered to Solpar.

"What little gem?"

"The one in his turban."

Han, overhearing, leaned over and tried not to smirk too openly. "That little bauble is priceless. You cannot put a figure on that shiny little stone that people would actually believe."

"Has he more like that at home?" Vreet questioned, the gleam of avarice lighting his eyes.

"I believe that there are more such jewels at home - worth equally as much." Han wasn't lying. He tried to keep the smile from forming on his lips. The image of Jaina's play set filled with these baubles invaded his mind.

"Barattas!"

Han jumped. The word was directed at him in a nasally high-pitched voice with the intensity of a laser shot. Han recalled hearing a voice like that once in the Senate Chambers - a noble from one of the Senex houses that they'd had so much trouble with when trying to find out what had happened to the Jedi children on Plawal. Han recalled that the old ruling houses from the Senex and Juvex sectors had advocated slavery too and Belsavis was only a day's flight away from Elrood. He couldn't believe the voice was coming from Luke.

"Your Royalness?" He didn't have to pretend his surprise.

"Did I not ask you to attend me?"

"But. but I was doing that. I was assuring myself that the leader of the syndicate knew of your needs." Han felt himself stammering. Luke's performance was so convincing that he hardly had to call on any acting ability. It just felt natural to justify his actions and to get the prince to listen to him.

Han took a grip on his fluctuating emotions. Luke seemed to be radiating power - it just rolled off him. He seemed to glow from the tips of his gleaming black boots, to his golden beard and the glittering green gem at the centre of his forehead. But it was his eyes that caused Han the most disquiet. They were still startlingly blue but the warmth that belonged to the essence of Luke had turned glacially cold.

"Silence, fool." The prince jumped from the speeder and advanced upon Han, malice burning in eyes unrecognisable from their true light. "I expect you to attend me at all times. My father demands it of you. I command it of you."

Han heard the words in his head: 'I said duck, Han, and I mean it. NOW!' He jerked away as Luke's hand lashed out narrowly missing the side of his face, but the way Luke had angled his body away from the group meant the onlookers thought that he had connected with the taller man. Han retreated a few steps, his hand glued to his cheek, groaning as if in great pain.

"You have to deal with the servants in a way that their simple minds understand," Luke explained to the others disdainfully.

The general smiled thinly. He'd heard things about the Mittenden royalty and could see the truth in the rumours. The man was undoubtedly mad but clever and dangerous with it. Just the kind he liked to deal with.

"Your Highness - I am General Ishyori Raitt, head of the Elrooden Slavers Syndicate. I believe I can help you."

"I will travel in the first transport with you, General," Luke announced grandly. "Commander Feen, Mr Barattas! In the second transport."

Feenus hid a smile. The Jedi was proving to be nothing like he'd originally thought him to be. 'And I called him Mister Impassive,' he mused. Of course, now he knew it was Luke Skywalker - that made a difference. The Jedi Knight had been a commander in the rebellion and had seen action many times in battle and on undercover missions. Yes, he could understand why Han Solo had hooked up with Luke Skywalker or was it the other way around? "Of course, sir." He motioned his team into the next two transports along with Vreet and Solpar. This was their chance to see the location that the syndicate used to peddle their wares. It would give then the chance to work out what to do to stop them.

The general and the prince appeared to be getting on very well. As he climbed into the second transport, Han heard the high-pitched, nasal voice chuckling at something the former Imperial had said.

The transports set off in their strange little convoy and headed out of the Spaceport into the surrounding industrial area. Barely five minutes into their journey they entered the gates of a compound set into the side of a small hill.

Guards stationed inside directed them into a tunnel where they were greeted by an imposing set of durasteel doors.

"Our facility is underground," Raitt explained to Luke, ".for security and confidentiality. Our clients need that."

"I can appreciate that."

Han flicked his gaze to that of Feenus. "Facility?" he whispered, a worried look in his eyes.

"Underground," replied Feenus in the same way. "I don't like this," he muttered.

In the first transport, Raitt was continuing his explanation to the prince. "At the far side of our property we are planning to have ship access bays cut directly into the hill. That way we can completely bypass the spaceport and the customs. Presently we pay them a substantial retainer to aid their forgetfulness. It will also quicken our journey. This." he indicated the careful progression of the fleet of transport vehicles. "This is time consuming."

"That is superior thinking, Ishyori," Luke agreed. "Men such as ourselves have great demands upon our time. We cannot dawdle."

Han and Feenus, listening in on Luke's open comlink, suppressed a shudder. "Bypass customs?" Feenus mouthed silently.

Han's face was grim, the lines under his eyes appearing more pronounced in the intermittent light of the ceiling lumas. "I heard him," he murmured softly. "I don't like it either."

"This is not good news at all." He reached out his hand and with a quick flick of his wrist thrust a homing device, one his team had designed, into the air. It launched itself from his hand and burrowed into the stone walls. It was unlikely to be discovered. "Altra's design," he said.

"One clever lady." Han flashed a quick grin.

"She is that. I wouldn't it have made it this far without her," Feenus was certain of what his wife had done for him. "She and Beridor are scanning our bio-signs but I don't think our scanners penetrate to this depth. I'm not even sure what direction we went in."

"South, I think," muttered Han.

"South!" Feenus' face went still, a muscle working in his cheek and Han wondered what the other man was thinking.

"What is it?"

"South," he repeated.

"So?"

"Ridgeway plateau."

"I've never heard of it."

"Why should you? You don't live on this world and cannot be expected to be familiar with its geography. We've been travelling for some distance and you think we're heading south. Ridgeway plateau is a high escarpment overlooking the farming plains. If they cut ship access ports into the cliffs then ships could fly directly to the syndicate headquarters from anywhere in the galaxy without being noticed."

"Sith!" Han swore quietly. "That's definitely not good. Still, it gives you an idea of where to look though."

"Yes it does, but the Ridgeway plateau is thousands of miles long. It's one of the most noted geographical features in this sector." Feenus lapsed into silence but his watchful eyes took in every detail of their passage.

************************************

After a thirty minute drive along winding duracrete tunnels, the newly completed syndicate headquarters came as a complete shock to Luke, Han and Feenus Adremetis. They had assumed deals were being made in a spaceport bar or even Raitt's home but never had they imagined this state of the art, transparisteel and durasteel prison. This was a totally secure facility - but then so had the Death Star been. They would have to escape the same way that they entered - in full view of everyone. Han hoped Mara was in here but could Luke fool so many people by paying for the red-head with a worthless microplasti jewel and then make a run for it? Han was beginning to doubt it.

He tuned in once again to Luke's com only to hear the Jedi ask about the durasteel doors and where they'd purchased the ore to have them made. It sounded as if Luke was trying to sound out the head of the syndicate for a possible business deal once he got his mines in working order. Han stifled a snort. That kid was wilier than a Hutt at times.

Each slave lord had bought into the facility purchasing his or her own holding pens and display areas. Security was tight with holocams and guard stations. Feenus wondered as they were shown around the central guard station, how far underground they had come and how long it had taken for it to be built. He slid unnoticed against the wall and placed another small but powerful tracking device into a recess built to house an air vent. With any luck it would be days or even weeks before this was noticed. It would give them a definite chance to find the facility's correct location and discern whether they could hit it from above. It was maybe their best chance. Once the access ports were built, the traffic of slaves in and out of Elrood could be never-ending.

*************************************

Luke stopped to gaze at a group of insect-like aliens. He wasn't sure what species they were but assumed they came from somewhere in the sector. A wave of familiar heat flashed through him leaving him drained and breathless. Mara! It just had to be Mara. He knew she was close - he could feel their connection strengthening with every step he took. But her lack of focus made him worry about her condition.

The buzzing in Luke's head intensified further making it difficult to keep his concentration on what General Raitt was showing him but he had to try. Mara was depending on him - she needed him. He hid a wince as another burst of pained energy hit him. She was broadcasting, her pain and distress reverberating through the Force, and because he was so close she was battering down his carefully constructed shields. He knew she was powerful and this exemplified it. She had never let rip with the full extent of her true power before. Perhaps she'd been unable to. Perhaps what the Emperor had done to her had locked Mara Jade into a pattern where she was afraid to let go and become who she was born to be.

'Mara, hear me,' he sent over and over but she didn't reply. He doubted she was able to receive anything. He tried to project some of his strength to her. He had to act immediately; Mara was in serious danger and parading around like an overdressed fop was taking too much time. Luke's blue eyes glinted coldly, appearing almost silver in the artificial light source as his fury rose.

'Calm', he told himself trying to reign in his fury. 'Peace. You will not help her if you allow the dark side to take over. Your anger will not help her.' But Luke's black gloved fingers clenched. He wanted to smash this overly bright, sterile, terrible place into oblivion until he found her. These monsters would know who and what they were dealing with. It would be so easy just to lift his hand and.

Instead, he turned to the General and drawled lazily, "I am most impressed. I wish I'd known of this operation years ago. It is extremely professional."

"I am honoured, Your Highness, that you think so but this facility has just been completed. Our operation was perhaps more ad hoc in the past - less organised. In bringing the slave lords together, I'm making this a far more viable venture. Some beings are born to lead and others merely to serve as I'm sure you already know." He shared this imperially learned homily with the prince and was rewarded with a cold smile. "We can offer more to our clients. Greater numbers, more variety."

Luke nodded, as if deep in thought. "You will know that I have recently inherited some Tellen mines?"

"I had heard."

"These mines could be extremely profitable for my world. My people."

Raitt tried not to sneer. Aesophas had no interest in the people of his world. He wanted the wealth and power for himself. He could appreciate that.

The prince continued, gesturing expansively with his hands, "I need far more workers than I have willing on Mittenden IV. Regular Mittenden miners are more expensive. To get these mines working I need a cheaper alternative."

"Then we can certainly help you."

"I won't be buying today unless."

Raitt quashed his disappointment. He had decided that this would be the case although part of him had been hopeful but the prince was mad, not stupid. This was a preliminary contact. They were fortunate to have access to the prince so early in the process. "Unless?"

"I'll come to that later," Luke said dismissively. He walked around the central section of the facility. It was almost like a Core World maximum security jail. Or perhaps even the technological terror of the original Death Star. Durasteel bars caged dull-eyed humans who were separated from listless aliens of many species.

Each syndicate had leased an area and paraded their wares in front of transparisteel windows to the visiting guests. Luke was sickened by the whole experience but not by the flicker of an eyelash did he let on how much this was affecting him. He gazed down his aristocratic nose as if these beings were dirt under his feet. He could feel their despair, their total degradation and despite his efforts his anger still rose. He had to maintain his control. He had to be patient. In time these people would get the help they needed. If Luke acted now he would ruin everything.

"I will send my father's negotiator to you in two months," Luke announced suddenly.

"Two months?" Raitt said frowning.

"Yes, two months. He will tell you the exact amount of workers I require. However to give you an estimate, I have noted some numbers down on a pad. Barattas!" he shouted.

Han ran to Luke's side. "The General here, requires the pad with the numerical data."

"Pad," Han repeated. "Data?"

"You incompetent fool," Luke almost screamed, his face going bright red with temper. "I gave you the pad before I left."

Han shook his head at Raitt, trying to indicate he'd been given no such pad. "I'll go and get it immediately, Your Highness," he bowed, keeping well out of the way of the Prince's twitching right hand.

Han and Feenus had stopped trying to catch each other's eye as they followed Luke and Raitt. It was unthinkable - far worse than they had suspected. They syndicate had been organised with all the skill of an Imperial General - Raitt. These people had to be stopped and soon. It was time to start laying the groundwork. Han stood in front of Feenus masking him from the ever present holocams or security guards as he laid another tracking device.

Feenus produced a datapad and handed it to Han who began to key in figures. "What do you think?" he asked Feenus. "Does this amount seem like enough beings for a planet's worth of mines?"

"It should be." He tried to recall the numbers crewing on Despayre and taking the pad from Han changed several of the numbers. "Then again, I think more would be required." He gave Han the pad who wandered slowly to where Luke was sitting on a plush sofa in the overseer's office. "Your pad, Your Royalness."

"Ah, thank you, Barattas." Luke was gracefully condescending. "I knew your memory would return eventually."

"The figures, sir, are rough."

"The negotiator will confirm the correct quantites I require."

Raitt took the pad and skimmed its contents, his eyes widening almost imperceptibly. "This gives us some guidelines."

"You will also have perhaps heard that I am to be married?" Luke tilted his head to one side abruptly. "I have wedding festivities to endure and they will last two months."

"I see."

"Top-secret talks have a way of becoming common knowledge."

"Your adviser mentioned it."

"He would not have done so if I had not allowed it. It is not my desire but she is rich and malleable. As long as I bed her and produce an heir, she doesn't matter."

"Quite," the general agreed, sabacc-faced.

"There is no doubt that I will produce one unless the duchess is barren and if so, we will get rid of her - divorce or a fatal illness." Luke flicked a hand negligently. "I can marry again. I have many children by my mistresses but, alas, these children cannot rule. They would not be suitable in any case. Their blood is not pure enough to rule in the Mittenden line. They would fail to succeed and our royal blood would be tainted in future generations. This may lead to cases of insanity. We can only mate and produce children fit to rule with those born to nobility - the others are born to serve. Of course, because of their royal blood they are particularly suited to serving the royal household."

"Of course."

"My tutor and adviser, Barattas, is the offspring of one of my father's cousins."

"You are fortunate to command such loyalty. I wish you every. happiness with your match."

Luke smirked. He had managed to almost silence Raitt with that last one. "She is fortunate to be betrothed to me."

"But. but she will of course be beautiful," Raitt managed to say after an awkward silence.

Luke let out a crack of laughter. "Beautiful - my duchess? Gods no!" I'm not marrying her for her face, which is just as well."

"Ah. yes."

"In the light of my bride-to-be being uglier than a whiphid, I would like to make one purchase. In a show of good faith and to ease my needs." He moved his hips in a crude little gesture.

"That can be arranged. I take it that you would desire a pleasure slave?"

A febrile glitter lit the eyes of the prince. "A pleasure slave," he echoed. "Exactly."

"Our lords have a plentiful supply of such women."

"She must be beautiful."

"That is not a difficulty." Raitt moved to a bank of monitors and switched one on. "Lord Diptil has a blue-skinned Twi'lek of amazing flexibility. She is most obedient and has received tutoring in all the arts of pleasure."

Luke pursed his lips and smoothed his golden beard. "Twi'leks. Yes, rather too brightly hued for my taste. I would prefer something a little more human and I like them with spirit. Obedience can be beaten or thrust into them after all. Human women can become part of my court almost unnoticed. If this pleasure slave works out well, she may even become one of my bride's attendants." He gave an evil smile. "Yes, spirit. Something wild that needs taming is very much to my taste."

Raitt pressed a switch and a holo appeared in the air in front of Luke. "The woman was beautiful, blue and barely clothed. Luke tried not to squirm as she performed an intricate series of twirls, leaps and spins. "She's very. blue," he said and yawned as if the sight of the alien woman bored him.

"Yes, but she may be more appealing to you 'in the flesh'. I'll still take you down to meet Lord Diptil, he may have something else and there's Lord Tharakan. He had a." Raitt tapped a thin finger on his chin. "If you would care to come this way, Prince Aesophas. I think we will find someone to suit your exacting standards."

"I do hope so," Luke purred sensuously. "I consider myself quite the lover and I find I'm growing rather.impatient."

The Emerald Price 12b Raitt could tell that he was losing the prince's interest as they stood outside the viewing arena of Lord Diptil.

"She's still blue," The prince dismissed the beautiful, voluptuous Twi'lek as she posed and preened, dressed only in a scrap of material, in front of the transparisteel observation window. "Don't you have one that looks more.human?" She reminded him of the dancing girls he'd met at Jabba's all those years ago. At least this one didn't have a rancor waiting to devour her if she made an error.

Luke turned away as quickly as he could, trying not to blush. The nakedness of the females embarrassed him but luckily his awkwardness was seen as a sign of indifference. He'd had relationships; he'd seen naked women before but not in such bright lighting and usually in the privacy of a bedroom.

Lord Diptil rubbed his hands together nervously. "I have an Omwati female, her hair is as delicate and feathery as air, her eyes."

"She's blue too. I don't want a blue woman," Luke snapped, dismissing the Omwati instantly. "She will not fit in at court."

"What about an Askabajani? I have a wonderful six-breasted Askabjan dancer. She can be any shape you desire. If you want her large and full bodied increase her water intake - if you."

"Six breasts?" The prince considered it and shuddered. "No, that's four too many. I want a human pleasure slave. No Twi'lek's, no Codru'ji. I want to relate to body parts that I recognise."

Diptil shook his head slowly. It was just typical. In this cargo he had no human women. If the prince had only come last month then he'd had twenty.

He watched regretfully as the prince moved away from his area. He couldn't beat his females this time. They couldn't help being the wrong species. The next client would perhaps want a Twi'lek.

"Bad luck," Han murmured as he passed. "He's a difficult man to please."

"Great men usually are," Diptil answered diplomatically.

**********************************

"Lord Tharakan!"

The Ho'Din lifted his head from his observation monitor. "Prebs?"

"Prince Aesophas is being given a personal tour around the facility."

"Yes, I know."

"I spoke to one of his men in the cantina earlier today. I learned one or two things that could be useful - give us an edge."

Tharakan straightened his two and a half metre body. "And?"

"He wants workers for his mines."

"Yes, I know that too. Raitt has been communicating with me about the prince's visit. However the prince is not buying workers today. He wants a pleasure slave and is currently viewing Diptil's Twi'lek - which he will undoubtedly buy. I wish I'd got hold of her myself. She is a superior specimen."

Prebs could hardly contain himself. "He likes them difficult."

Stefft emerged from one of the holding pens in time to hear Preb's last remark. "What was that?"

Prebs glanced at the larger man. "The prince likes his females to resist a little. He likes to be the boss apparently."

"What prince?" Stefft asked.

"Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV, a wealthy mine owner is currently touring the facility," Tharakan explained languidly. "He is investigating the possibility of purchasing workers for his mines at a later date but requires a pleasure slave to tide him over the inconvenience of his upcoming nuptials."

"He's quite mad but clever with it," Prebs chipped in. "I think he likes to be rough with his women."

Stefft gave a mean smile and examined the livid scratches still adorning his hands and arms. He looked at his Lord. "We could get rid of the red-head. She is very difficult."

Prebs chuckled and then stopped laughing as his jaw throbbed painfully "I thought you said she has the fever? We cannot sell her to the prince."

Tharakan examined his long fingers. "Why not? I'm sure he will have her cleansed inside and out before he makes use of her body. She is spectacular to look at but has been nothing but trouble. We should have sold her weeks ago. This could be our chance to get rid of her."

"I'd like her to go to him - it would serve her right to have to submit to him. Look what she did to my face? She would give him a real fight."

"She would. However, if he doesn't want her, I have several other females that might suit 'His Highness'. If I make any sale, that is always beneficial to my business. Still, if he likes them with spirit, she has more than enough of that. Put her in the prime viewing position."

"I'll see that it's done." Stefft muttered. Half of him had been hoping that the red-head wouldn't sell and then he could have had his chance with her. He could have made her behave properly.

A speaker chimed and Tharakan moved to listen.

"Lord Tharakan." Raitt's voice rang through the viewing area. "The prince would like to see your wares."

"Understood," he murmured, satisfaction making his head snakes wave as if blown by a gentle breeze. "We have a selection of the exotic."

"Nothing blue," Raitt's voice was dry, ". and preferably human."

"Ah, Lord Diptil's Twi'lek's were found wanting," he said, satisfaction colouring his voice. "Go and prepare the human women and those that appear human. It appears that our important 'guest' will be with us shortly."

*************************************************

Mara felt the heat sweep through her aching body in waves. She was burning up, her skin felt on fire, yet inside she felt deadly cold. She had no idea where she was, what day it was, or how she was going to get out the predicament she was in. She shivered and tried to move but the restraints dug into her soft flesh, chafing the tender skin. She was almost ready to give in. almost.

'Mara!'

She tried to open her mouth and answer. She knew that voice from somewhere. It was comfortingly familiar.

'Mara. hold on, please. We're coming.'

'But I can't', she tried to respond to the voice but could not. Her spirit was weakening and she had little strength left to fight her captors and the illness ravaging her body. No, maybe she didn't recognise the voice. Hearing voices was a sign of madness wasn't it? But it was someone who knew her - someone who could call out her name. She'd heard voices all her life. The Emperor had called to her, his voice in her head. This wasn't his voice - this voice was kind, was concerned for her. This voice didn't want her to give up.

Rough hands brushed across her body and she cried out in pain as their touch felt akin to the stabbing of many knives.

"Put her down here," a voice said. The bier on which Mara was lying hit the ground hard, jarring her aching frame. "Prop her up, so she can be seen."

Mara struggled to open fever-bright emerald eyes but nothing was clear as they moved the stretcher until she lay against the wall at an angle. The men in front of her were hazy and with a little sigh she lapsed again into unconsciousness.

Stefft gazed into the beautiful face, flushed from the fever. "Let's trim her outfit. Show a little more flesh. Make her more appealing to the prince."

Preb's gave a lewd chuckle and brought out a vibroblade. "Let me."

"Careful," Stefft cautioned. "We don't want to mark her."

Prebs slashed cautiously at Mara's clothes until all she had left on were scraps of material covering her modesty. "She is a jewel magnet," he breathed hoarsely. Her round, creamy breasts rose from out of her nothing of a top, her flat abdomen bared to view and her toned legs bare. Stefft lifted a shaking hand and traced it over the woman's body, caressing her soft flesh. His hands slipped below the scraps of cloth to find her nipples and she moaned in pain. The sound inflamed him and his hands left her body and went to the leather belt holding up his trousers. He could feel himself harden.

"Stefft!" Preb's said sharply. "You can't. Tharakan would have your skin off if you dared. We gotta get the other women ready."

The burly guard clenched his fists and took a deep breath. What was it about this slave that made himself forget where he was and what he was doing? He smoothed her hair and arranged it around her shoulders. "She's ready but keep her chained at all times."

*****************************************

"This way, Your Highness."

Raitt led the way into a turbolift that Han thought took them up several floors. "Your Highness!" Han bowed and kept his tone servile. "We can only view one more showing. We have to return to Mittenden V by tonight for the signing of your marriage contract."

"How dare you remind me." Luke began and then checked his wrist chrono. His face darkened with anger. "This is most unfortunate, just as I was beginning to enjoy myself. For once Barattas is right, Ishyori. It will take us several hours to return."

"One more showing and you will enjoy Lord Tharakan's slaves. He has an eye for beauty."

Raitt ushered Luke into a central room where a tall, expensively garbed Ho'Din waited, headtails moving gently. Luke immediately felt revulsion. This individual had gone against the whole temperament of his nature-loving species. He was following a path so alien that it could only be from the darkness. The Ho'Din's venerated life - they didn't destroy it.

"Your Highness." The Ho'Din bowed low.

"Lord Tharakan." Luke said dismissively and immediately turned to the viewport which was shuttered. "Where are the pleasure slaves," he demanded irritably. She was near - he could feel her. She was dying inside. 'Mara!' His heart and mind called out to her, so intent on seeing her that Luke was unaware of the words he used. 'Not long now, my love.'

"Wait and I will activate the screen," the slave lord said quickly. He pressed a button and the screen rose revealing several women chained to posts in a brightly lit room.

Luke's heart slammed into his mouth. Mara lay propped up in the centre of the room, her red-gold hair tumbling abundantly around her naked shoulders, garbed in several brief scraps of material almost the same colour as her creamy skin. He didn't look at any of the other women. "Her," he said hoarsely. "I want her."

Tharakan looked and Raitt and they both smiled. This was most satisfactory.

"The red-haired female?" Raitt enquired.

"Yes," Luke's voice was clipped. "Can I.?"

"Touch?" asked Tharakan.

"Yes."

"She is not the most docile of slaves. I hope that doesn't put you off purchasing her. If it does, we have others."

"Even better. I like it rough." Luke snarled, his anger against these immoral beings almost palpable. "I'm the prince. If I want a willing woman I snap my fingers at court and several will lie down in front of me there and then. Where's the excitement in that? I like to conquer and subdue. It's in my nature. My ancestors were warriors."

Han rolled his eyes and Raitt squashed a cynical smile.

"She was sedated from the journey from Aaris III. So she might not be too aware yet of what she is doing." Tharakan said.

"No matter," Luke began to pace. "I would like to inspect her at closer quarters. If I'm to buy."

"Of course." Tharakan punched a code into the door and ushered Luke inside the viewing cell. "Stefft! Unlock the red-haired woman."

The burly guard glared at Luke but activated the control that would release Mara from her bonds. Luke quelled his urge to pick up the girl and rush out of the place to safety. He peered closely at her face, leering obviously at her figure before turning to the people remaining outside of the cell.

Han wondered what the hell his brother-in-law was going to use for credit. He caught Feenus' eye. His old comrade looked sick and Han hoped he didn't look the same.

"I want this one," Luke insisted. 'Mara,' he attempted to contact her through the Force. 'Mara, it's me, Luke Skywalker. I've come to rescue you. I'm getting you out of here.'

He'd seen the effect of drugs on prisoners when he'd fought for the Rebel Alliance. He'd once been in charge of a unit that had liberated an Imperial holding facility. 'Mara, I'm going to have to.well, touch you in a way I normally wouldn't. I'm sorry!' he apologised carefully. Luke attempted to ease some of the toxins from her bloodstream as he ran his hands over the soft skin of her shoulders and deliberately over the swell of her breasts. Her skin was burning hot to his touch and yet, he could see that she was shivering. It was doubtful she'd heard Luke at all.

It was at that moment that Mara became aware that she was once more free of her shackles and reacted. One minute she was lying quiescent and the next, in a flurry of arms and legs, her hand came up and punched Luke hard across the face.

There was a stunned silence. Raitt got ready to scream at Tharakan for jeopardising the biggest sale they'd ever have.

Han stood and watched awed and fearful at the expression on the face of the man he knew as brother and friend. He'd had a hard time quelling his own anger when he'd seen Mara's figure chained. No one should have to suffer such a fate. It was obvious that she was ill, her face feverish. Luke was the one person in the entire galaxy Han would have said that Mara would recognise. She hadn't. What had they done to her to get her into such a state?

Raitt stifled a curse and even Tharakan paled but the prince of Mittenden surprised them. He let out a loud crack of laughter.

"You will be perfect for me, my lovely one. I'll tame your proud spirit," he hissed.

Han's blood turned to ice.

Luke held Mara Jade plastered against him and he was staring at his audience with a cruel smile, his eyes glinting cold blue steel, blood trickled down his chin from the cut on his lip where Mara, struggling, had lashed out and caught him. She was a skilled undercover operative but Luke had felt no connection between them - no tug on their mutual Force bond. Whatever they'd given to her or done to her, Mara didn't know him.

Mara didn't recognise the Jedi Master. As soon as she'd been released from her bonds, her natural instinct for self-preservation had made her try to flee her bonds. Her arms had lashed out catching Prince Aesophas on the edge of his well-shaped mouth. In her hazy sense of her reality, he was just another being who was confining her and all she could do was try and escape.

Only Han recognised Luke's pain leaking out of his royal disguise. The others only saw the prince as he raked his cold eyes up and down the slave's scantily clad form, lust showing briefly on his face, but Han could see far deeper and his concern grew.

The prince bent his head and captured the slave's soft lips with his own. The red-headed beauty whimpered and tried to struggle but was too weak and finally submitted to the mastery of the firm mouth dominating her overwhelmed senses. Luke felt her respond to his kiss and tried not to react but Mara Jade affected him strongly and always had. He forgot where he was and continued to kiss her, trying to imprint his identity into her mind. He emitted a groan of satisfaction as her mouth moved, sweet as wild berries under his. Did she know who he was now?

Mara fought the hard grip that clutched at her shoulders, the hard male body that pressed itself against her own, but then the lips covered hers and somehow everything felt safe. She sensed something and suddenly felt safe for the first time in weeks. Her mouth softened and opened, her response sending pinpricks of desire through her entire body. No, this couldn't be happening. She didn't want to press her softness against this man. Her senses overloading, Mara's consciousness shut down and she slumped lifeless into the arms that held her tightly against him.

Luke gazed down at the woman in his arms, a fierce light burning in his eyes. He had to pull himself together for all their sakes. He wiped the trail of blood off his face with the back of his hand and turned to stare at the others. "I want this one," he said as a strange, cold light flickered in his eyes. "See that she's ready for immediate transport."

The Emerald Price Chapter 13

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course for Mona - what would I do without you?

The Millennium Falcon - Elrooden Spaceport

"We need to get out of here, fast," Han screamed as he raced to the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.

They'd wandered up the Falcon's ramp as if they'd had somewhere important to go but without making it appear as if they were attempting a desperate escape. Luke had strutted up the ramp first, followed by Han cradling a limp Mara Jade in his arms and finally, by Feenus Adremetis and his six men.

Feenus knew that they would be tracked back to the spaceport and the manner of their exit observed. It meant that Feenus, Altra and their six associates had to leave Elrooden spaceport in the Falcon.

It was a totally different story once the ramp closed behind them. Everything changed to frantic activity. "Han, I'll take Mara," Luke declared, the expression on his face brooking no argument, not that the Corellian would have argued in this case.

"Here!" Han had thrust a comatose Mara into Luke's arms. He had a ship to fly out of there -the quicker the better. Altra, thinking ahead, had already fired up the converters. The ship was ready to go. He slid into the pilot's seat and flashed her a quick look of thanks. Altra nodded and performed the co-pilot's duties as if she'd been flying in the Falcon for as long as Luke and Chewie had.

"I already requested clearance as soon as Feenus said you were on your way."

"I've said it before - you are a brilliant woman."

Altra smiled. "I have my moments."

"Punch it!"

The ship leapt into the air and vanished into the sky. Han breathed a huge sigh of relief as Elrood was left far behind them. He couldn't believe they'd made it off planet without a hitch.

"I'll go and see how Luke's doing," Altra murmured.

Han nodded, the expression on his face grim. "Yeah, if you could."

She strode purposefully into the crew area to find her husband and the rest of their people sitting with stunned expressions on their faces. They couldn't believe what they had just seen - couldn't believe these beings were so satisfied with the hi-tech horror they had created.

Feenus looked up into the warm, grey-green gaze of his wife, his face bewildered. "You should have seen the place, Altra. It's enormous. They have the potential to process thousands and thousands of slaves. I've never felt so sick in my life - not since I saw the second Death Star. What can we do against that?"

"We can't do anything against a setup like that," one of the men muttered.

"It's tougher than any Imp detention centre I've ever been in," stated another.

"You were the guard in the last Imperial detention centre we ransacked," someone said caustically. "You almost got us caught."

"I don't care what I did. I wouldn't want to be in that one as a guard or as a prisoner."

Altra looked around at her husband and her friends. "You're going to give up?"

"No. Never!" Feenus gritted.

"I didn't think so." She placed a tender hand on his shoulder. "Han and Luke have contacted people who will help us. Elscol Loro and Sixtus Quin are on their way. They're also going to speak to the New Republic Inner Council who can put pressure on the governments in this sector. It won't stop the slavery but it will make it much more difficult for them to operate. You never expected this fight to be an easy one, did you?"

"No." Feenus allowed his eyes to sweep around the group, his jaw firming, before he said quietly, "We have to destroy that place."

"And we will. You'll be okay." Altra's voice was brisk. "Now. Start thinking, guys. We need plans to stop these monsters. I want to see how Luke and his Jedi friend are doing."

"Not well." Feenus shook his head. "We were lucky to find her so easily. She could have already been sold and at the other end of the galaxy by now."

"Ah, but Luke knew she was there - he could sense her. Han says it's a Jedi thing. He told me Luke believes that there's no such thing as luck." Altra kissed Feenus gently on the forehead, her face sad. "And you still may not have reached her in time."

"Maybe not." Feenus shook his head again. "She's in a bad way and I don't think it looks good for her."

"Drugged?" she asked and then hesitated over the next word but it had to be said. "Raped?"

"The former certainly. I don't think she's been touched sexually. She'd been picked up by Tharakan's goons and you know he won't allow his people to touch his 'merchandise'," he replied derisively. "They do what he tells them to do or else."

"Yes, he'll sell them to the pleasure houses but won't allow his own people to touch."

"Luckily for her but unfortunately she has all the signs of the Leptas virus."

"Oh," Altra's face paled. "It's been rife on Aaris III. Remember, Beridor said so. Was it only a couple of hours ago?"

Feenus nodded. "That's where Tharakan's base is."

"It can be cured?" Altra asked. "I'd heard that it could be."

"If caught immediately and treated with the correct medication." Feenus shrugged listlessly. "She looked to be very weak and didn't stir at all on the return journey. It is therefore probable that most of Tharakan's slaves will have it and won't receive treatment in time."

"Yes, there's nothing we can do for the moment."

"I feel so helpless," Feenus's voice burst out frustratedly. "They'll probably all die."

Altra sighed and kissed Feenus again. There was nothing they could do and it hurt. "Where is Mara Jade?"

"Skywalker took her to the crew quarters which doubles as the medibay. He's been with her since we took off."

Altra sighed. She suspected that the Jedi was in love with the beautiful red-headed woman even though he stubbornly maintained she was nothing but a friend. He didn't look at her with the eyes of a mere friend. But it was none of her business. "Luke!" she called softly as she searched for the crew quarters. The Jedi was sitting on the deck plates of the ship surrounded by scarlet and gold Hapan silk, a med pack open beside him, staring at the woman on the bunk. His face was stricken.

"I'm sorry," whispered Altra, her stomach diving suddenly with dread. "She's not.?"

"She's not dead," Luke muttered fiercely. "She's fighting it."

"Of course," Altra murmured, unsure of what else to say.

"She is." He turned to face her, the desperate blue eyes holding an inner fire. "I won't let her die." He took a cloth and tenderly sponged Mara's face. For an instant her eyelashes flickered and she moaned.

"See," Luke glanced up at Altra, his face shadowed in the dim lighting. He pulled the fake golden beard from his face and ran his hand through his hair which had been flattened by the turban. "She's not the type to give in - not ever. I won't let her."

He looked grimly determined and yet so tired that Altra's heart went out to him. "I'll sit with her. You look as if you need to sleep.

But the Jedi Master shook his head. "No, it's fine. I'm going to go into a healing trance to see if I can help her." He pulled his lightsaber from where it was still affixed to his chest and flung it away from him. It landed with a clatter somewhere in the corner of the crew quarters.

Altra thought that this was a strange way to treat the honoured weapon of a Jedi Knight. "Luke, you're worn out. You were exhausted before this even started."

"I'm not leaving her. She wouldn't want to be with a stranger. No offence meant, Ma'am." Involuntarily Luke returned to formality to distance himself from Altra. This was none of her business and she could not be involved with Mara at this time. This was his place.

"But wouldn't you be able to help her more if you got some rest."

Luke shook his head. "She could be dying, Altra. I don't know if we were in time to save her. I don't know if I have the strength to help her. But I have to try and that's why I can't sleep - that's why I have to be with her. I have to do it now while she's still able to help. There will be time to sleep later on, whatever happens. It's in the hands of the Force and I have to put my trust in that. It should not be her time to go but who can say when our time will come. She's fought all her life for what she has. She will not give up. I won't let her."

As Luke repeated his words Altra nodded. "I understand." And she did, perhaps even more than the tired and grieving man before her. "I'll leave you after I've seen to your face."

"My face?"

"Your lip's been bleeding."

"Mara," he said with a tender smile. "She came out fighting as soon as they released her from the restraints. She was all arms, just hitting out anywhere and she connected. Hurts," he admitted. "She was always better than I in hand-to-hand combat."

Altra kneeled down beside him and searched through the med kit for some salve. "You'll live," she soothed, lifting his chin and deftly rubbed in the ointment as if he'd been a child. "There, that should ease things a bit." She stood up carefully.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Altra nodded, placing a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder. It was strange how young and uncertain the Jedi had seemed just at that point. She'd had no experience of the Jedi and in front of her was a young man sitting by his gravely ill friend with no real idea what to do. Mara Jade was, as Feenus had said, in a very bad way indeed. She gravitated back to join her husband, deep in thought.

Han wandered into the cargo area. "The kid with Mara?"

Altra nodded.

"And?"

She shook her head. "I've only seen one or two cases of the virus but to me." She spread her hands out helplessly. "It's not looking good for her."

Han's face stilled. "Aw, hell!"

"She's alive but."

The Corellian closed his eyes for a moment. "Sith, I don't know what the kid will be like without her."

"She's still alive," Altra said. "Just."

"Yeah, but for how long?"

"We can't answer that."

"I know. The kid would say that it's in the hands of the Force."

"That's exactly what he did say. But a good medic would perhaps be better."

"I've seen the Force do some miraculous things," Han said quietly.

"Can it prevent death?"

"Not always, no." Han remembered the loss of Obi Wan, of Luke's father of many of their friends who had died in some wasteful way - of Alderaan.

"I sorted his face," Altra said.

"His face? Oh. yeah, Mara clocked him a right crack across the mouth. It really connected." He gave a wry grin. "That's Mara alright. She's the type to come out fighting whatever the situation."

"Beridor is waiting for us on Coyn."

"I noticed you already had a course laid in."

Altra gave a wry smile. "I hoped you wouldn't mind dropping us off - it won't take more than an hour out of your schedule. It would look rather suspicious that the security staff assigned to the Prince didn't leave Elrood with him."

"It would look very strange," Han tried to say cheerfully but Altra could tell his heart wasn't in it.

"Raitt and his cronies do have associates that ply their nefarious trade in the skies above Elrood."

"Yeah, I think we met some of them."

"You would have been watched right up to take off."

"You had no choice but I just hope that extra hour isn't fatal to Mara."

Altra sighed. "I know. Where are you meeting Mara's boss?" she asked.

"Karrde? He has a base on Czerip with a good medical facility. That's another day at least after we drop you off. He was at Eriadu last time I spoke to him."

Altra twisted her mouth and then relaxed, nodding her head thoughtfully. "Speak to Miko. He knows this area better than any of us and all the fastest routes."

"Miko?"

"Dark hair, swarthy complexion, sitting next to Feenus. Miko Banasch. Miko!" Altra called.

One of the men lifted his head. "Yeah?"

"Could you help plot the fastest route to Czerip for Han from Coyn?"

"Sure."

The Corellian waved his hand tiredly. "You can use that terminal over there."

Miko moved to the navicomp and started working out figures and points on the map.

Han moved behind Miko but what he saw seemed to satisfy him. "I'd better go and see Mara and the kid."

Altra sighed. "He said something about a healing trance?"

"Probably for the best if it's the only way he can keep her alive. We daren't hypospray her with anything because we don't know what's already in her system."

"Feenus says quite a lot by the look of her and Luke agreed with him."

"They would both know. Luke and I. we've been in our share of tight spots throughout the years. We know what a spiced up prisoner looks like. The Alliance tended not to do that but it was standard Imperial interrogation procedure and for a short while Feenus worked in that area. He would know the procedure"

"He hated working there but you're correct. Feenus said she looked as if they'd pumped her full of a narcotic cocktail. Han, she doesn't look like she's going to make it."

"So you keep saying but you can't be sure. I've seen a lot of strange things in my life and the most mysterious and marvellous of all is my brother-in-law's faith in the Force. We got her out and we'll just have to be patient. It would have been far worse for everyone concerned if we hadn't got to her at all. At least now she has a chance, albeit a slim one, but a chance nonetheless."

A chime sounded throughout the ship. Han moved to the console in the cargo area. "We're coming up on Coyn."

"Take us to the tip of the southern continent at this point location. That's where Beridor is waiting for us," Altra instructed holding out a pad with the data.

Han looked at Miko and the other men. He wanted to check on Mara and the kid but the sooner he got out of this sector the better. "Strap yourselves in guys, we're going to be landing very soon."

Feenus and Altra went with Han to the cockpit. Altra moved to navigation, letting Feenus sit in the co-pilot's seat.

Feenus stared out the viewport at the rapidly approaching planet. "We have a small base on Coyn. Sometimes we need to be off Elrood and we found this was a good stopping off point for Derilyn and Berea."

"These are the co-ordinates Luke sent to your friends Elscol Loro and Sixtus Quin." Altra smiled. "We'll wait for them here."

Han grinned back. "They're good people - driven but good. Luke knows them better than I do, to be honest. Elscol was one of the 'Rogues' for a while. Luke was Rogue Squadron's Commander for many years and still flew with the squadron occasionally after Wedge Antilles took over - that's how he knows her. Sixtus Quin is a former Imperial soldier with a cause. I think you'll get on fine. Reminds me of someone else I know." He winked at Altra.

Feenus managed a feeble snort.

Han flicked a couple of switches as he initiated the landing cycle. "They know what they're doing," he said.

The Millennium Falcon touched down in front of a plain whitewashed stone building - a couple of small shuttles sat nearby. A tall, spare figure stood in front of the entrance. Beridor was waiting for them, his black eyes shining with emotion.

"You got her?" he gabbled quickly as soon as the ramp was lowered and the passengers began swiftly to exit. He was affected more than most by the freeing of another slave.

Han nodded. "We got her but she's very ill."

"I'm actually surprised you pulled it off, to tell the truth," Beridor admitted. "You're sure they didn't suspect a thing?"

Feenus shook his head. "Not a thing."

Beridor held out his hand and shook Han's firmly. "You've helped us a great deal, Han Solo."

"We didn't do anything," Han protested.

"On the contrary. Until now we had no idea of the true scale the syndicate was planning for their operations, nor the location and type of facility they had already built. We've been searching for large warehouses in the spaceport district."

"I'll speak to the New Republic and see if they can apply pressure to the ruling party. I can't promise anything, but I will speak to them."

"That is more than I could ever have hoped for."

Han held out a data card. "This card contains codes that will enable you to contact me or someone who will get in touch with me quickly. It also has the frequency of the transponder I left behind at their base."

"Thank you."

"I'd better haul jets. We're taking Mara to Czerip. She can get some proper medical attention there."

Altra stood waiting. "I said goodbye to Luke but I think he was already half-way into his healing trance. He didn't respond."

"I'll check on him as soon as we're airborne."

"Goodbye, Han. Let's not be such strangers next time."

"Sure." He pulled her into a hug. "Look after old Feen now."

"I will." She stepped back and pushed a strand of blond hair away from her face, her grey-green eyes serious.

Feenus stepped forward and held out his hand stiffly. "Thank you."

Han shook it. "No, there are no thanks needed. I think we had an even trade. I'm sorry we couldn't have done more."

"It's not your fight this time."

Han nodded. "Take care of Altra."

Feenus stepped back and saluted. "Clear skies, Solo."

Han swallowed and turned away disappearing into his beloved ship. Within seconds the ship was airborne and disappeared into the horizon.

Feenus placed his arm around his wife's shoulders and watched as the ship became a speck and finally vanished. "I'm sorry, Han," he whispered. "And I couldn't really say it."

"I think he knew." Altra leaned into her husband's embrace. "I think he knew." She held out a small bag. "He gave me these."

"What are they?"

"A couple of thermal detonators."

***************************************************************

Han checked over the course Miko had plotted and gave an admiring little whistle. With their current trajectory, they would make the journey in half the time. They would be in Czerip in just under twelve hours. He laid in the course and then eased the lever back slowly sending the Falcon into hyperspace.

For a moment he sat just thinking about what they'd done. They'd flown from one end of the galaxy to the other searching for a single being amongst millions of worlds. They had found her surprisingly quickly but one thing was puzzling him.

What had Luke used to pay for Mara? It was quite clear he hadn't been given her as a free gift. The fake emerald from Jaina's toy crown had still been in Luke's turban when he'd returned to the Falcon. So what had Luke used? What had been Tharakan's price?

He had given Luke a small amount of semi-precious gems which he'd used to buy food and other necessary supplies but not enough to purchase a pleasure slave. Had the Jedi used the Force to hoodwink the slavers? Somehow he sensed that Tharakan and Raitt were not the kind of men to possess weak minds. Mara had been wrapped in a shimmering transparent cloth, her hands bound and placed in his arms. Luke had motioned his transport to leave and he had followed Tharakan and Raitt into a private room leaving Feenus waiting outside. When business was concluded Luke had climbed into the transport with Feenus attending him and they'd driven straight to the ship. Feenus had mentioned that everyone had looked very pleased with themselves - handshakes all round. So what did Luke use? He'd have to ask him.

He pulled himself from the pilot's chair and moved quickly to the crew quarters. Mara lay unconscious on the bunk, her colour high and her breathing oddly laboured. Luke appeared to be out cold on the floor still dressed in his black bodysuit but with the scarlet and gold silk half off and half on, surrounding him in a splash of vibrant colour.

"Kid!" Han shook him roughly, his heart leaping into his mouth. "Kid!"

Bewildered blue eyes flickered open. "Hey, Han. I just closed my eyes for a moment. Bit tired. When are we dropping off Altra and Feenus?"

Han's face froze for a moment as he tried to get his equilibrium back in order. "You're way behind on that kid. We lost them an hour ago."

"Oh!" he sat up, his head spinning. "They didn't say goodbye."

"They did - you were just not awake enough to notice."

"Did they - I can't remember." He was so tired but he couldn't rest yet, not when Mara was so ill. He reached out for Mara's Force sense and entwined his own signature around it. It pulsed weakly in his grasp. She was still there, still fighting. "We need to go into a healing trance. She can't put herself in one, she's not strong enough so I'll need to go in with her and I'm tired, Han, so tired. This is draining me as surely as it's draining her. I have to try and filter out some of the poisons they injected her with. Otherwise she won't last further than our next hyperspace jump. Try waking me in four hours."

"Whoa! Steady on, kid. If you're going into one of those Jedi sleeps, you'd better eat first. A little energy will help. What about Mara?"

Luke fished into the open medpack at his side and produced a packet of capsules. "Just protein supplements. I'll dissolve them in some water and I have a drip feeder in there too." He rummaged again and found the sealed implement. "This should do the trick. I want to try and flush out some of the stuff they've pumped into her system. This is one way and the healing trance is the other. Look at her arms, Han. How. how could they?"

The Corellian did and recognised the signs of numerous injections. "Aw, stang!" he swore loudly. "Poor girl. Better not give her anything else until we get to Czerip. It will just add to the cocktail."

"How long before we reach Karrde's base?"

"About ten or eleven hours."

"It could be worse but that's a long time."

"Come on, kid. She'll not move for the next ten minutes."

Luke bit his lip, indecision crossing his features. "I'd rather stay with her," he said in a small voice."

"She'll be in better hands if you've paid some attention to yourself. If you fall ill too, that will not be good for Mara."

"Altra said that too," Luke mumbled.

"And she was right. Just ten minutes and then you can do what you have to." Han helped the Jedi Master to his feet and watched him walk rather unsteadily to the small galley. "Sit." He pushed Luke onto a stool and found a pack of ration bars. "Yummy!"

Luke managed a weary smile at the dark expression on Han's face. "These all seem to taste like flavoured cardboard."

"I thought you liked cardboard!" Han exclaimed. "You eat enough of them. Me - never liked them but they fill a space."

"We should have some real provisions, remember?"

"So we do."

"Seems like a lifetime ago. Was it only yesterday?"

"I couldn't tell you, kid. Everything's kinda merged into one continuous blur." Han rummaged in an air-tight storage container and produced bread and some kind of sliced meat. "That's better."

"I'm not very hungry," Luke admitted. "But I know I need to eat and I wish everything could merge into a blur. I remember too much, Han.far too much." Luke's voice began to shake.

"Eat, kid." Han laid a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder before busying himself at the small counter.

But Luke only managed several bites of the sandwich Han gave him.

"Here." He pushed a steaming mug of hot chocolate into the Jedi's hands. "This will give you some energy. Drink it all and then you can go back to Mara."

"Yes, mother."

Han raised an eyebrow. "You're almost getting cheeky, hotshot. I'll let you get away with it now but don't make it a habit."

Luke gave a faint smile and sipped the warm drink. Han could tell that his mind was with Mara. "Go on, kid."

Luke pulled himself up onto his feet. "Going."

"And kid, don't fall asleep on the floor this time. There are other bunks."

"Sure, Han." He was so tired that he wobbled alarmingly on his feet and grabbed the bulkhead for support with one hand, still clutching his drink with the other.

"Careful." Han stood up and offered him his arm for support, walking him back to the small cabin containing the crew bunks. "There you go, Junior."

"What about you?" Luke sat on the bed opposite Mara and reached out a hand to touch the unconscious woman's face.

"I'll doze in the cockpit. I want to radio ahead to Czerip and tell them our expected arrival time."

"Okay." Luke swallowed the last of his drink and pulled a blanket from the bottom of the bunk, his eyes dark and heavy with denied sleep.

"I'll wake you in ten hours."

"I'll be awake by then."

"We'll see." Han wasn't going to waste energy by arguing. Luke tended to be far more truculent if he was tired and Han reckoned that his brother-in-law was as tired as he'd ever seen him. He nodded and headed straight for the cockpit. As he had said, he wanted to radio ahead. Maybe Karrde had already reached Czerip.

*****************************************************

Luke pulled off the top half of his black, skin tight, body suit, revealing his lightly tanned chest. Moving to the 'fresher, he collected a small basin, a sponge and also popped one of the protein capsules into the tiny water-filled feeder. Returning to Mara's side he ran his hands over her forehead, and was distressed at how much heat was coming off her. "Mara, it's Luke," he whispered. "Come on, Jade. I need you to keep fighting. Please, Mara. It's not your time." He dipped the sponge in the basin and began to gently work the cloth over her heated body. As he did so, Mara moaned in pain as if he was hurting her. His movements stilled. He hadn't known that his touch felt like a thousand stabbing knives.

He gently ran his fingers over her lips and slid the feeder between them, letting the water trickle into her mouth. Just a little sip, she was bound to become dehydrated otherwise. The liquid left the little tube, one precious drop at a time. His lip curled disgustedly at the lack of clothing they'd made her wear, every curve of her magnificent body had been open to far too many eyes. Luke burned with anger at the thought.

He'd once heard Leia speak of the time she'd been forced into wearing a revealing costume when she'd been Jabba's slave. She'd hated it - had found it demeaning and degrading and he knew Mara had too. He placed the feeder in the basin and then rummaged in a storage locker under the bunk until he found an old shipsuit of Leia's plus some spare undergarments. This would do for later on.

Mara moaned suddenly. "Luke. help me." Her eyes opened, shining like two emerald green jewels.

"I'm here, Mara!" he said quietly but her eyes were glazed and he knew she wasn't seeing him. "I'm here and you're safe now. I won't leave you."

"Luke.not Lando." She shivered convulsively.

"It's Luke," he murmured. Did she want Lando? His heart jumped - was she getting worse?

"Luke."

"I'm here." He pulled off the rest of his body suit and climbed into the bunk with Mara pulling the blanket over them both and easing her into his side. She seemed to quieten, her movements less frantic. Taking her hand in his and trying to ignore the sensations as her body curved against him as if they'd been formed as a single being, Luke eased them both into a trance.

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The Emerald Price Chapter 14

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course for Mona - what would I do without you?

The Millennium Falcon

Han had slept for at least six or seven hours when the buzzer woke him in time to check the next course correction. His face lit up with satisfaction as he noted that they had travelled as far as Miko had anticipated they would. He checked the instruments, noted their location and then leaned back thoughtfully in the pilot's chair.

His face tightened as he thought of everything those monsters had done to Mara Jade. What was more worrying was the expression on the kid's face when he'd seen what had happened to the red-haired trader. Luke had been acting his part as the spoiled prince of Mittenden and had not let that act drop but for a moment Han could have sworn that the guise had slipped and molten fury had flashed in his friend's blue eyes.

Han had seen Luke at his best and at his worst. Luke confronted with an abused Mara Jade was the worst he had ever seen. Luke's empathy for others had always been both his strength and his weakness. His love for his friends and family would drive him to recklessness even Yoda wouldn't have dreamed of but what would Luke be driven towards if Mara Jade died. He didn't even want to contemplate that scenario.

He quickly encoded a quick message to Leia and the kids and sent it off, hoping it would get to them soon. The last time he'd performed a major overhaul to the Falcon, Leia had made sure that the array had been upgraded so that they were the best that the New Republic had to offer. However, there were still dark areas in the galaxy where it didn't matter how good your equipment was - gas clouds, ion storms and the like, and miles from the nearest relay stations - it all helped to delay messages. Still, Han believed that Leia would get the message eventually.

He cast his experienced eye over all the little flickering lights and quietly beeping systems and gave the ship an affectionate pat on the bulkhead. "You're sounding good, old girl," he soothed gently. He could feel the reassuring thrum of her engines as it sped towards Czerip. He knew if there was one beat out of place in the Falcon's engines. "Better go look at the kid and Mara," he mumbled, getting to his feet and stretching to get rid of some of the knots he'd acquired whilst dozing in the pilot's chair.

For a moment the Corellian couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Luke and Mara were wrapped together in the same bunk. Mara's hair, freed from its elaborate hairstyle, curled in a tangled, knotted mess with faint dull dark traces of dried blood visible as it spilled over the blanket, and Han peering closer could see bruises against her creamy skin. Luke's arms were around her, holding her close. The kid was keeping her as safe as he could - trying to help her to survive.

Both of the Jedi, however, didn't look peaceful. Han had seen his brother-in-law in a healing trance on a number of occasions. Luke was almost as pale as Mara was flushed. Beads of sweat on her forehead indicated the amount of heat coming off her body. She coughed faintly and muttered something.

"Luke, buddy," Han whispered. "I think you better wake up."

**************************************

Luke had slipped into a healing trance, his fingers gently caressing Mara's soft skin. He could feel the infection racing through her body and he grabbed hold of it and tried to wrestle it into submission. He could feel every aching part of her body, how her skin felt on fire, how every movement felt like someone was stabbing vibroshivs into her heart. Luke absorbed everything, sharing her pain.

Suddenly he found himself in a small dark room. A little girl lay alone in a large bed. Luke found himself sitting on the edge of the child's bed, staring into her face. She opened large emerald green eyes and stared at him with an intensity that he recognised. He guessed that she couldn't have been more than five or six years old.

"Have you come to look after me?"

He noted the red-gold hair in two tight braids. Was this what Mara had been like as a child? "Do you need someone to look after you?" he asked.

"No," the child declared with a set expression. "My guardian tells me I am self-suff. self-suff. He tells me I don't need anyone but him."

"But everyone needs friends and family."

"He says I don't need friends or family. I have him. I've never had anyone else."

"What? Never?"

"No."

Luke picked the small hand off the quilt and smoothed his fingers across the soft skin. "I'll be your friend. I never had many friends while I was growing up either. Whatever happens you have my friendship - everyone needs someone they can rely on."

"I don't understand." The child's forehead furrowed with concentration.

"You will one day." Luke could almost see her mind turning over his words, considering and then rejecting them.

"I still don't understand. What is this rely?

"One day you will need help."

"I don't need help. I will do it on my own."

Luke could have wept. Had she learned to be alone so young?

"I've been sick," she confided suddenly in the manner of small children. "They wouldn't come near me till I'm better. They said I was contag." She stared up at his face. "They always use big words but I know what they mean."

"Contagious?" Luke asked.

"That's the word the droid used. Means they can catch what I have and then they will all die."

Luke blinked as the child's voice was filled with venom. "But that's not very nice," he chided softly.

"You don't get better by being nice. You have to fight and be as mean as they are. Why should I be nice?"

"Because you'll feel better inside," Luke assured her. "You'll never be as mean as they are."

"But I have to be." The small vision of Mara cried desperately. "I have to be or I won't be anything. I won't succeed. Do I have to give up fighting? I don't want to die. Am I going to die?"

"I won't let you die. I won't ever let you stop fighting. You have to fight to keep that good part of you alive. Sure, you can be a fighter but be a better one. You don't have to be mean to be strong. Don't let them take anything away from you. One day I'll look after you and keep you safe."

"You promise?" The green eyes fringed by long dark red lashes pleaded with him and Luke was no more immune to that gaze than he was to its more adult version.

"I promise," Luke answered.

Suddenly the vision darkened and it grew cold as if evil had entered the room.

"You can not keep your promises, son of Skywalker. This child is my servant and if she has to die to keep her from you, then so be it." The voice was terrifyingly familiar and Luke turned his head not wanting to see what he knew was there - the dark side in the figure of Emperor Palpatine, his yellow eyes vicious.

"You are a manifestation of her illness - of what her life was. This is what she has to fight. She has to fight your memory and what you did to her every day of that life."

"Then I have won but what about you, son of Skywalker?"

"You'll never win. Mara serves the light side. She never succumbed to the dark side despite your best efforts. She is stronger than you think she is and has earned the right to be free of your evil forever." This was some nightmare he was having.

"So you say but what do you have to fight for? What rights do you have?" The voice had changed, become charmingly insistent. "What about the pleasures of the flesh.enough money to enjoy yourself? What about having a woman love you.? What about having a family?"

With a shock Luke found himself staring into Lando Calrissian's dark eyes but he was convinced that Lando would never talk like this. This was the work of the dark side attacking him when he was at his weakest through his dreams. Lando was no more suited to setting up home with a woman than Luke was. The difference was, that one day Lando would want all these things and be able to have them. "I don't fight my friends," he maintained stoutly. "If Mara is happy with you then that's what I want for her."

"But you want her for yourself," Lando's image suggested.

"No, I want Mara to be happy. I want what's best for Mara. My destiny runs along a different path."

"You think so?" The voice was cool, the manner suave. "I think you're fooling yourself, Skywalker."

Luke turned around to stare at the child in the bed and found that it was the adult woman who lay there, her eyes closed. She lay motionless almost as if she was dead. The figure of Lando walked towards her and pushed the Jedi Master out of the way bending over her to kiss her.

"No, Lando. No." the woman pleaded without opening her eyes. "This isn't real. Keep away from me. I don't want you - I never have. Where's Luke?"

She didn't want Lando - he knew she didn't. Luke moved back towards the bed and reached out to pull Lando away from Mara but found he couldn't. Someone had grabbed Luke's shoulder and was shaking him roughly.

"Luke, buddy," Han's voice intruded into the nightmare.

"No, I've got to."

"Luke, buddy. I think you'd better wake up."

What? He was still asleep? Luke opened his eyes, twisted around and stared into the concerned hazel gaze of his brother-in-law. "Han?"

"Yeah, kid. I came through to see how you both were doing and to be honest, I don't like the look of Jade, here." He didn't say that he wasn't too sure about the health of the Jedi either. Luke's face was almost as white as the snows of Hoth. Han was sure he'd been lightly tanned when they'd left Coruscant.

Luke sat up and swayed as the blood rushed to his head.

"Careful, kid."

"I'm okay, Han. This is taking a lot out of me. Just give me a moment to regroup."

Han thrust a ration bar into his hand. "Eat this and no arguing."

"Wait." He put his hand out and felt Mara's forehead. She was now cold, her forehead clammy. Little shivers ran through her body constantly. "I'd better try and get some more fluid down her."

Han nodded his head. "I agree with you but I'll deal with that and you eat that ration bar. Don't make me feed you like I would Anakin."

"You wouldn't."

Han gave his brother-in-law the stare that had all three of his children immediately obeying their father. He picked up the little feeder and trickled more liquid into Mara's mouth.

Reluctantly Luke took a bite of the ration bar. "How long until we get to Czerip and can this bucket of bolts go any faster?" he asked with his mouth full.

"Did your aunt never tell you not to speak with your mouth full?" Han was in full parenting mode. "I'll forget you said that about my ship, Junior. I'll see what I can do. We must be about four hours away."

*********************************************

Czerip, Talon Karrde's Base

"Boss, the Wild Karrde is being prepped for immediate return to Coruscant?"

"That's correct, Aves." Talon Karrde exited the ramp and headed for a small squat building up ahead, barely visible through some trees. "As soon as Solo and Skywalker arrive here with Mara, we're getting her checked over and then turning and heading straight for Coruscant. Our Doctor and medical droids are amongst the best but Coruscant has all the facilities and the specialists if we need them.

"And you think we will need them."

"Yes."

"I'll make sure we're ready to depart in two hours at the most."

"Thanks, Aves. Let's get inside and see the crew. Haven't seen them for months. Plus, I have one or two calls to make."

Karrde paced the length of his office. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been on Czerip but was impressed at the way the skeleton crew manned the base. Truth be told, he had a couple of men and their wives keep an eye on the place and in return, they and their families had housing and work. He stared out of the window at a couple of children racing around a small garden, laughing in the sunshine. He would make a point of staying here the next time he had business in this sector.

Dankin slouched as he walked in, his hands in his pockets. "Any word from Skywalker and Solo?"

Karrde shook his head. "Not since Solo radioed to say that they'd found her and were on their way."

"I've got the medical droid programmed researching everything that there is to find about the Leptas virus. Skywalker thinks that Mara's been infected."

"So Han said. However our current doctor is an expert on the Leptas Virus, having lived on a colo