The Jedi Target
Another account of Mara Jade on her original assignment to kill
Luke Skywalker, as ordered by Emperor Palpatine.

Part 1

By Cat

Setting: During the time of Return of the Jedi. This is my version
of how Mara fits into ROTJ.

Disclaimers; All normal disclaimers apply to this story. All
characters owned by LFL, created by Lucas & Zahn and no
money is being made from this creative endeavor.

Thanks to my beta-readers out there including Devi.

Luke Skywalker sat in a quiet tapcaf in Mos Eisley far from the
one where he and Obi Wan met Han that fateful day. This place
was on a remote street, with only a few regulars, miners and
semi-legitimate traders hanging around. Not that he thought
anyone would recognize him or give him a second glance. He
knew how to blend in here, and was laying low. He got up, paid
the tab and left, making his way along the back streets to the
docking bay where the Millenium Falcon waited. As he walked
along a dusty back street, he suddenly felt the distinct sensation
of being watched. He was being tailed. A shadow moved as he
glanced back with his peripheral vision. Leia had left yesterday
with Chewie in her Boussh disguise, taking a roundabout trail to
Jabba? stronghold.

Mara Jade had been waiting for her chance on Tatooine.
Disguised as a Hervish Devil, she had successfully followed her
quarry for two days without him noticing a thing. What a thick one!
Using a small audio surveillance pickup device, she listened in
on some conversations about Jabba the Hutt? fortress between
him and a petite brunette farmwoman. Now after following him to
the tapcaf, she had her chance. She tailed him and then crept up
onto the rooftops, to follow him through the streets. She saw him
enter the alley and moved down to a hidden screen on a balcony,
As he walked below her, Mara leapt down onto Luke, landing off
center and correcting her fall as Skywalker tumbled to the
ground. She rolled with the fall, coming up on her feet, vibroblade
in hand. Hervish Devils didn? carry a lot of heavy weapons. She
preferred to travel light anyways, and had two blasters ready
beneath the robe, and her wrist holdout.

"Not more assassins!" He'd thought he'd lost them all after
Prince Xizor had been killed. Why was the Black Sun still after
him? He didn? have time to figure it out.

Luke quickly reached his feet and faced a blue-skinned Hervish
Devil. His lightsaber was safely tucked away in R2D2?
compartment at Jabba's, though his blaster was on his belt.
Mara lunged, compensating for the way her headcovering got in
the way of her sightlines. Luke feinted to his right, stumbled, then
came up around her back, and caught hold of what he thought
was the Hervish? many writhing tentacles, to pull her down.
Unfortunately for Mara, it was her headcovering he yanked on,
loosening the stays holding it in place. Mara flipped him over,
though instead of landing on his back, Luke used the
momentum to land on his feet and then backflipped again
another 5 feet away, ripping off Mara? headcovering as he went.
Mara had no choice but to bend back and let it go, unless she
wanted to be strangled by it. He pulled his blaster, and looked up
to see that his opponent was young, female, and might have
been attractive. The snarl on her face worried him. She had red
gold hair was pulled into a bun at the back of her head and what
looked like green eyes glinting at him with undisguised
contempt and deadly seriousness.

As Mara recovered, training her blaster on him, she seethed. He
had pulled off her disguise! How dare he! Well, it didn? matter.
He would be dead soon.

"Guess we?e at a standoff," Luke said, bringing his blaster up to
bear on her. "Who are you, who sent you?"

Mara smirked in response and stiffened her grip on the blaster,
softly caressing the trigger with her finger. She focused on his
forehead, right between the eyes. And this guy was supposed to
be some kind of Jedi. What a cool relief it would be to take care
of this job. Must think she? some kind of amateur.

"I really don? want to hurt you," Luke told her. He just wanted
to get out of here. He had to get to Jabba?.

"Right. Come on, go ahead," she admonished, sneering at him.
Who had a quicker finger? Why was she wasting time staring
him down. Just then, a wagon rumbled around the corner behind
Mara. She heard it behind her, but didn? even flinch.
Unfortunately for Mara, a young boy riding in the wagon was
taking potshots with his slingshot at the houses. He launched a
stone at a buiding in front of him, which ricocheted off that one
and whizzed behind Mara to the building to her left and a piece of
masonry out of that one chipped off and went flying towards her.
She shifted her eyes slightly to the side at this unexpected shot
coming from the side of the low builidng. That was all it took for
Luke to use the Force to try to pull Mara? blaster from her
grasp, moving it to one side. However, she just tighted her grip,
resisting with everything she had. She turned her head. Did he
think she was so weak? She kept her grip, not letting go, though
it did push to her left away from Luke. She hit the trigger but the
blast went harmlessly into the opposite wall from Luke as
he leapt up onto a balcony above him, and from there to the roof.
Mara swore and recovered quickly, blasting the wall right where
he? landed as he jumped up again to the roof. Now the rancor
wagon had rounded the corner, and seeing the blaster, cried out
and bolted in front of her, the driver yelling and ducking down
under cover. Sithspit! He was gone.

Mara leapt up to the balcony and shimmied up to the roof but
found no sight of him. She hated this planet, and had already
had her difficulties in tracking this so-called Jedi on this
dustbowl. Mara needed to kill him, but she wasn? stupid. She
would continue her mission in Jabba? Palace.

Luke went back to the Falcon, this time he kept to the crowded
main streets, pulling his hood down farther on his face. He knew
he didn? look that different from the other inhabitants, many of
whom wore hooded robes pulled low to keep the sun and dust
out of their face. He kept a careful watch around him, senses
heightened. He stayed on the Falcon after that, not going out until
the signal came that Leia was not able to get Han out, and had
become Jabba? prisoner.

Second installment in this story. All usual disclaimers apply.

Jabba the Hutt? Palace

Mara watched from the shadows behind the crowd as Luke
Skywalker stood there talking to Jabba. He seemed so calm.
She saw the young man reach out for a blaster at a guard? side
as the trap door opened. He wouldn? survive the rancor. Yet,
somehow he did.

As he was brought up to face Jabba with Han Luke caught sight
of her behind a guard. Was that the same woman who had
jumped him a few days before? She had on a skimpy outfit of a
dancer and her hair was different, but she looked a lot like her
from the glimpse he got of her before she ducked out of sight.
But how could she get here? And was she still out to do him in?
He would have to deal with her later, for now, his main concern
was Jabba and his plans.

Jabba had made his decision: Mara would not get on the
sailbarge. He was in the mood for brunettes today. Mara turned
away from the twilek majordomo, hiding her anger and
frustration. The Barge wasn? leaving for six hours, after the
hottest part of the day had passed. Jabba still had a few meals
to eat and would take a nap before he left. She stealthily made
her way down to the lower levels where the dank cell that held
Skywalker stood amongst the other cells with others who had
displeased Jabba. There were only two Gamorrean guards
outside the dungeon chambers. They looked down her way as
she walked closer, but seemed unconcerned. She peeked into
his cell. He had his back to the door. If only she had a Dathomiri
poison stick that she could blow through the grille in the door. He
rubbed the back of her neck, turning, almost as if he had sensed
her watching him. Mara ducked down and backed away towards
some of the toher cells, some occupied by varying sentients.
She heard Skywalker call out.

"Hey, Han old buddy!"

"Luke!" replied the other prisoner in the cell across the way and
they started talking. Mara was making her way back to the steps.

"Hey you! What are you doing there?" Two Weequay guards had
turned the corner and came towards her tightening their grips on
their blasters.

"Who me?" Mara blinked and smiled prettily.

"You?e not allowed down here." The first one grabbed her upper
arm.

"Oh I got soooo lost. This place is big, and there are so many
passageways. It? all so confusing." Mara moved her hand to the
guard? arm, squeezing and looking up at the guard gratefully.
"Thank you for rescuing me. These guys down here are so
creepy." Mara pressed into him enough to elicit a grunt from the
guard. She knew that as well as being fairly well paid by Jabba,
most were also terrified of Jabba and doing anything that he
might not like, such as roughing up one of his pretty dancer girls.

"Can you help me get back up to Jabba? reception room? He
said he wanted me to dance for him before he left."

"Come on," he merely said as he ushered her to the stairs

After the sailbarge left, Mara got to work. Jabba's throroughness
in executions were well-known and it was nearly impossible for
Skywalker and his friends to get away from him, but she had to
make sure he was dead. She found a speeder and rushed out to
the Pit of Carkoon and to her amazement, arrived just as the
sailbarge blew up. She saw Skywalker and his friends speeding
off into the distance. The piece of junk she was driving was
sputtering and would never catch up. No! He was supposed to
die here. How did he get away from Jabba and his goons? She
knew that Skywalker had made it happen.

"You have failed." The Emperor rasped in her head, and Mara felt
sick.

"Yes, Master." There was nothing she could do now.

"Return to the Death Star. Immediately."

"Yes, Master." A rebellious glimmer of a thought of running away
whispered into her mind, but was quickly smothered. There
could be no escape. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to
hide.

The final chapter. Enjoy as you will.

The Jedi Target 3/3
by Catzpyjamas

All material owned and operated by Lucas Arts. I disclaim
everything. No money is being made from this endeavor. Only
credits, Republic credits (just kidding!)

Last Episode: Mara watched Luke Skywalker & Co racing away
in the distance as Jabba? sail barge burned.

On the way back to the Death Star, Mara felt dread coming over
her. She had never failed like this before. She had experienced
forces beyond her control on other missions, and often the
consequences had turned out to her benefit, and at other times,
not. Still, Mara wondered, there would be other opportunities to
assasinate this target, would there not? He was only one man,
Jedi or not. Somehow, though, she had a bad feeling that Master
was very displeased at the outcome of her mission. He hated
the Jedi with a passion. And somehow Darth Vader was
connected with this target, Mara knew. Mara knew the Jedi were
extremely important to Master. There would be painful
consequences, demotion, an interrogation squad or ?death?

She headed to the Death Star and approached the emperor in
his throne room.

Mara kneeled before him with her head down, still as a statue,
waiting for him. His throne was turned around and he made her
wait a long time before he swiveled his chair around.

"You failed," he rasped and stood up, coming down the three
steps to her. Mara kept her head down.

"Yes, Master."

Mara? eyes flashed angrily as she stared at the flooring, If she
could just get another chance! Let her go down to Endor, she
would not fail again. She would rid the galaxy of Luke Skywalker.

"Another chance?" Palpatine repeated derisively. Mara knew
there was no such thing as a second chance from Master.

No! Mara thought. I will do anything, anything to prove myself! I
am an Imperial operative, the Emperor? Hand.

"Master, I am your faithful servant," she said forcefully, finally
looking up at him.

"You have served me well. Soon you shall be rewarded for your
devotion and precision. A pity you could not execute the target."

"Yes, Master," Mara acknowledged with an even tone. She felt a
large knot in her throat however. Would he kill her here and now?
She had never failed before, not on this scale. Circumstances
had been out of her control, yet he would give no quarter. She
knew this. He motioned to the two extra red guards stationed
along the walkway to the turbolift.

"Get her out of my sight."

She backed away, head still bent. She turned and made her way
to the turbolift. Two flanking red guards escorted her. So she
was to be guarded, not to be trusted. If she could just get one
more chance to take out Skywalker! She would kill him or die in
the effort..

She would be dead soon, how slowly or painfully it happened
would be at Master? whim. Mara knew that she could not be
allowed to live. He would not allow it. Master always did what
was best for the Empire, to further his Great Plan, even if it meant
her death.

Mara was taken to quarters and locked in. Food was brought
twice a day. With no contact from anyone for the next few days,
she began going crazy. She didn? want to die! Certainly not like
some backwater planet bureaucrat who had been chipping
credits off an Imperial billing account. I don? deserve to die.
There had been much more to the Jedi Target than she? had
any inkling of when the assignment had begun. It had been
years since the well-known young man from Tatooine had blown
up the first Death Star. Why was Master taking care of him now?
What was going on? There had been strange events
surrounding the Skywalker target. She had once heard a rumor
that Vader had trained as a Jedi once, which Mara highly
doubted. She knew Master hated the Jedi more than anything.
She had been taught that the Jedi were weak and stupid. Her
Jedi target had proved tenacious and strong. She had always
been very curious about the Jedi but had never dared to try to ask
about it anywhere. Any mention of them was strictly forbidden.

And now she was to die because of this Jedi target, or rather
because the target was a Jedi. She had served Master faithfully.
Always ready to do anything for him, and to die in the line of duty.
How could he eliminate her away so easily? Hadn? she proved
herself to him over and over?

Mara thought back to the first time she? ever seen a Wookie. At
first she had been repulsed. "Dirty filthy things," she? thought.
She? been taught that all they were suited only for hard manual
work. Their lives had been improved by the Empire taking
control, better off as slaves because then they were usefully
employed and not kept from laziness. Then she had an
assignment spying on a merchant who had a Wookie helper.
The Wookie helped with security and many of the heavy work
around the merchant? store. Mara had posed as a customs
inspector to see if Urlep Mascalls was smuggling arms. That
Wookie had been clean, and almost intelligent as he lifted
crates, opened cargo holders, even checked manifests. He even
could fix and program droids, which Mara had been surprised
at. That showed a higher intelligence than they normally had.
The three days in close contact with Visbanna, a tawny-haired
120 year old male was a real eye opener to Mara.

To maintain her cover, Mara had let him take her out to dinner, as
if Mascalls might keep on the Imperial Customs Inspector?
good side, or wiggle around to see if she was expecting a bribe.
It was not uncommon practice, Mara knew. Mascalls had won
the Wookie from a mining company bureaucrat on Nal Hutta. The
merchant had put him to work in the shop and trading company,
offering Visbanna the chance to work off his price and gain
freedom. He was impressed with the Wookie and couldn? do
without him. Mascalls hoped he might stick around after he had
earned his freedom, maybe even offer him a good pay. Wookies
were not allowed to own any property, and Mara wondered if it
had been so, Mascalls might even offer Visbanna the chance to
become Mascalls?partner.

At first Mara had thought Mascalls pathetic and stupid. The
Wookie could easily kill him in his sleep and escape. Mascalls
kept talking about how Wookies were the most loyal and ethical
species he? ever known. Visbanna had saved his life more than
once, and saved his business more times that he could count.
She never did find any evidence or hint that Mascalls was
smuggling Imperial weapons, and she had searched high and
low, scoured his records, watched everyone who came and
went.

Finally, they came for her, two more red guards. As she walked
along the corridors, scanning for a place to use to her
advantage, she assessed the guards, one in the front and one
behind her. She knew the one to the rear, Luger. She had
sparred with him, knew how he fought. She could definitely
immobilize him. The other she didn? know well, but she would
take her chances. Maybe she could find a way to hide and then
get out of here. And she had seen some rough plans for this
station once, and remembered a few hiding places.

They took her to the nearest readjustment chamber. As they
came up the corridor, Mara knew this was her chance. They were
both concentrating on watching the door. She fake-tripped
forward and kicked hard at Luger? groin and reached for the
front one? staff. She fought the two red guards and got away.
Then she spied a curious procession. Darth Vader was in front,
leading some red guards and Luke Skywalker was in the
middle, with his hands cuffed in front of him. Mara had to follow
them. "It looks like they are headed to the throne room," Mara
thought as she edged around a corner, only to feel a prickly
warning and then a guard holding a gun on her, shooting a
stunbolt into her. She slumped.

The Emperor stood holding Luke? lightsaber. "Oh?I? afraid
the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends
arrive," he said to Luke almost mournfully, as if he were
informing the young Jedi of a slight setback.

A tone sounded on the massive seat and Palpatine turned
around. The lift doors opened and Mara Jade stood in restraints,
surrounded by Red Guards with an Imperial Officer in front.

"My Lord," the officer said tonelessly, "she was caught trying to
get away." Palpatine looked to the officer in acknowledgement.

"Leave her here," he commanded. He beckoned with his hand
slightly and the woman came up the steps to the dais of the
throne. At a stretch of his hand, the restraints fell off.

Luke was startled to see the female assassin he? encountered
on Tatooine. She was wearing a somewhat loose flightsuit of
dark grey, red-gold hair pulled back in a braid that enhanced her
green eyes which seemed to be stormy, conflicted, a mountain
of durasteel in front of a brief flicker of pain. He looked towards
her and she flicked a gaze at him, narrowed her eyes and looked
away.

"Come join us," called Master, "I have been expecting you." his
voice was casual, social, almost cordial, but Luke knew he could
not trust his ears. Mara approached him, never taking her eyes
off the Emperor. Inside her heart was pounding, ready for his
attack. She wasn? sure what she would do.

"Young Skywalker, this is my loyal agent, Mara Jade. Pretty, is
she not?" questioned the Emperor. Luke looked at her. She wore
an intense gaze that was fixated on a far point, stone-still. She
was very pretty. He kept his emotions and face calm, impassive.

"Perhaps you have met. I sent her to dispose of you. She failed,"
Palpatine pronounced.

Vader hadn? known about Palpatine sending Jade to kill his son.
He was not surprised that the boy had foiled the girl agent?
mission. His master was wise, and though Vader didn? know
what he had in store for the boy, he would do al lin his power to
make the boy see the power and greatness of the dark side. It
was useless to resist. The boy had impressed the Dark Lord
with the abilities and determination he? shown in the fight on
the Cloud City. The young fool still believed in the lies that Obi
Wan had doubtlessly spewed forth. He would teach him better.
Obi Wan? failures to him and to his son were due recompense
to the weakness of the Jedi. His son would apprentice to the
Emperor or die. How fortunate he would be, intact in mind and
body, except for the right hand of course. Vader reflexively
clenched his right hand.

"What shall we do with her? the Emperor asked. "Perhaps you
will kill her for me," the Emperor clenched his mouth.

"No," answered Luke calmly but determinedly. "She has done
nothing to harm me here."

"That can be arranged, Jedi" Palpatine sneered, clearly
disgusted with Luke. The Emperor reached into a compartment
and pulled out Mara? lightsaber. He held it out to her.

"Attack ?kill him!" Palpatine ordered silently into Mara?
mind.

Mara reached for the weapon, but for the first time in her life, she
actually hesitated. She knew Master sensed her misgivings. He
had trained her to be an extension of his will ?but she had a
will
of her own. She could see that now. Master could project his
voice into her mind, but did that mean he controlled her
completely? She felt a sharp pain in her head, and touched her
temple. His programming had been too strong to resist.

"You will kill Luke Skywalker!" he ordered out loud, still holding
the lightsaber, growing incensed she was making him wait.
"NOW!"

She held the lightsaber she had used many times, glancing
from Palpatine to Luke. She wondered if it really would be a
reprieve or whether she would be executed anyway. Either way,
she felt her rage boiling over at all of them and with a feral snarl
leapt at Luke, right foot extended and aimed at his chest. A
microsecond before they hit him, Luke fell backwards and
grabbed the lightsaber that Vader swept into his hand. She
landed on the other side of him and swiveled, igniting her
lightsaber. Luke rolled to his feet to face her and ignited his
lightsaber to meet Mara? attack.

"Lord Vader, do not meddle" Palpatine warned. "She knows how
to use her aggression." The Emperor knew that Vader would
never allow the girl to kill the boy but Palpatine was interested in
lessening the liability the boy posed. Eventually he would give
into his anger and aggression, just like his father. Then, picking
up on a short emotional spark from Luke,

"If he wins, perhaps he will prefer her for a concubine," The
Emperor cackled, delighted.

Luke and Mara fought well, an even match. She was lithe and
quick on her feet, a fierce match for Luke. It took all his skills to
repel her attacks. She did not let up. She was angry, frightened
and in a fight for her life. He continued to defend against her
attacks, and was able to keep his aggression and annoyance at
bay.

"You do not have to fight me," Luke said to her. "You do not have
to obey him, think for yourself." With each word, Mara's anger
grew and blazed stronger, giving her more of an edge. She
forced Luke back with her continued parries. She realized she
was blazing now, fighting with more fury than she ever had and
wasn? in control, getting careless. She didn? care. If she
was
going to die, she was going to take him with her. She caught a
glimmer in the corner of her eye, too late as she stepped forward
and her foot landed on the cuffs that had fallen from Luke?
wrists. Her foot sliped and she lunged too far to the left. Luke
pushed his lightsaber down hers almost to the hilt and had the
strength and advantage to push her over. He leapt over her,
down to the next level. Mara was right after him. As she spun and
parried the blow he swept at her, he moved his blade farther
under hers towards the hilt, crouching lower under her. She was
overextended and Luke ducked a bit as she fell forward. He
reached up and knocked her hand as her lightsaber went flying
and she tumbled to find Luke? lightsaber at her throat.

"Finish her!" Palpatine ordered. Luke stood there staring down at
Mara who looked up at him with sparkling defiant green eyes. He
stared into her eyes for a moment. They? all be dead soon,
when the fleet attacked. It would not be at his hand though.

"No," answered Luke as he shut down his lightsaber, his
breathing returning to normal. It had not been a very long
skirmish. "I will not kill for you."

Mara lay there staring at him but she didn't get up. He had all
rights to push his lightsaber into her throat. "She is no longer any
use to me," Palpatine nodded to Vader.

"No!" cried Luke as Vader swept his arm and Mara was picked
up and thrown a support. She hit it and fell to the floor. There was
a sickening crack as her head hit the floor.

"You did not have to kill her!" Luke yelled as he rushed up to the
throne. He paused, realizing he held his lightsaber and wanted
to swipe Palpatine? head off or at least throw it at him. He
looked down at it and dropped it. The lightsaber was caught in
midair on its descent to the floor and floated to rest on
Palpatine? arm rest.

The Emperor continued to taunt Luke as he watched the ships of
the Alliance get picked off by the powerful reach of the Death
Star. He knew Han would get that shield generator down. He had
to. Finally, Luke couldn? stand it and gave in to his anger, only
to
be met with Vader? lightsaber in front of Palpatine? laughing
face. They fought and as Luke shut down his lightsaber, he kept
to the shadows. He saw the form of Mara lying there, and saw
her head move slightly. So she was still alive. However he had to
keep moving, Vader was stealthily following him.

"If you will not turn, then perhaps she will," Vader? voice
suggested.

"Never!" Luke yelled as he charged Darth Vader. He attacked him
with a violent fervor, and Mara lifted her head slightly, groggy,
aching, confused. She couldn? see much, but frowned as it
seemed to be Luke and Vader fighting hard. She slowly slithered
into a shadow and lay her head back down on the cool durasteel
flooring. She heard Master laugh as he came down the stairs.
He didn? seem to know she was there.

"Never! I?l never turn to the dark side," Luke Skywalker said
definitely. Mara pulled up her head to watch Luke. He was
standing on the bridge over the elevator shaft. Master was angry
now. She couldn? hear what they were saying. Suddenly blue
bolts of energy flew out of Master? hands toward the Jedi. Mara
was shocked. She? never seen Master use such power before,
not like this.

The blue electricity flowed out of his hands and the young man
writhed in agony. Master was powerful and ruthless, but now he
was like a madman, unstoppable. She knew he would turn on
her next. Vader had been lying down, his hand had been cut off.
She heard Luke pleading with Vader.

Then amazingly, Vader turned on Master and threw him down the
power well. Mara couldn? believe it. She put her head down and
shielded her face against the powerful waves shooting up from
the power cells, horrible, evil screams and dangerous tongues
of energy spewed forth, only to be swallowed again far below.
Luke was holding his Vader in his arms, talking to him. Luke
looked up at her.

"I? getting out of here, Luke warned, "They?e attacking soon,
and there? not much time."

He hestitated, not sure what she was going to do. Mara
struggled to her feet, her head throbbing, almost overwhelming
her ability to stay conscious.

"I? not going to stop you," she told him. She watched him help
Vader up and support him under his shoulders. Luke looked at
her again, unsure for a moment, and then nodded.

"If you want, you can come with me," he offered.

This young man was extraordinary. Master was dead. She was
alive as was Luke. Not long before she had attacked him, as had
Vader. But he had obviously forgiven both of them. And he was
her way out of here. Mara looked to Luke.

"Yes, I will come with you. I know some shortcuts." Mara said.
She stood and found her ankle was stiff enough to hurt enough
to cause her to limp. Supporting Vader, Luke followed her down
the Emperor? private turbolifts and hidden corridors to the
hangar.

She found a ship that would get them through all the code
barriers and began the emergency startup. Luke was bringing
Vader up the ramp but he didn? seem to be coming. She could
hear the alarms sounding and everyone running around. Chaos.
She looked back down and saw Vader was lying at the base of
the ramp not moving with Luke leaning over him. She discreetly
went back to the cockpit. She put in a few exit codes, hoping they
hadn? been changed since her imprisonment. They seemed to
work and would guarantee a quick exitlane out of the Imperial
area.

"No" came an anguished cry from Luke outside. Mara came over
to the ramp. There, amazingly she saw Vader with his helmet off,
eyes closed, pale pasty-white skin quiet. Luke held the helmet in
his hands.

"He? gone," Luke looked up at her with tears in his eyes, Mara
looked down at the two, her head was throbbing even harder
now. She had almost been killed by the Dark Lord, but he was
gone now. Master was gone and she knew she didn? want any
part of the Empire anymore. She would go with this Jedi.

"We should get out of here," she said. She came down as Luke
was getting up, struggling with Lord Vader. She ignored the pain
and reached out a tentative hand to help the young man.
Together they got the body onto the ship and took off. She didn?
know if Luke entirely trusted her, but she didn? want to stick
around with the Empire any longer.

THE END