The New Republic
CIRCLE OF LIFE 
By Sofie D. - darkjediIV@yahoo.com  

It was a turning point in Luke and Mara's marriage.  
Mara wanted to have a child but it would not be so 
easy. While she was the Emperor's Hand she did 
something to prove her loyalty to the Emperor.

This story takes place fifteen years after ROTJ and
one year after the Corellian Trilogy. The usual 
disclaimer applies. These characters belong to George 
Lucas and Timothy Zahn. No money is being made so no 
copyright is intended.  

My heartfelt thanks to a very special person LC(XSL) 
for making this possible.  My friend insisted that 
Luke Skywalker remain single but then I am an incurable 
romantic who enjoys spreading love throughout the net 
and in a galaxy far, far, away ....

CHAPTER 1 

	Luke Skywalker was meditating on the rooftop of 
the temple where he and Mara made their home.  The 
temple was a smaller version as compared to the Jedi 
Academy.  It was situated in the middle of Yavin dense 
forest, thus isolated from the Academy. Luke was 
wearing his usual brown Jedi robe, sitting cross-legged, 
floating in mid-air and surrounded by the early morning 
mist. He appeared to be at peace and calm.  His 
thoughts went back to the time when he first suggested 
to Mara to convert this temple as their new home.  
He was surprised when Mara instantly agreed as he 
thought she preferred Coruscant.  Mara, with Leia's 
help decorated the entire temple into a really 
comfortable and livable place.  It became rather 
spacious and they ended up with more rooms that they 
need.  Luke installed a new power source but their 
communication facilities were not as widescale as the 
Academy. It did not matter as he and Mara always 
communicated through the force. 
	He has also started a small-scale agricultural 
farm. He wanted to farm as a hobby but Mara; forever 
the businesswoman insisted on getting farm droids.  He 
like being a farmer again and sometimes felt like he 
was back in Tatooine. He sent the extra harvest to the 
Academy. Kyp jokingly said that the Academy got the 
freshest food in the galaxy, courtesy of the Skywalker 
ranch.  Kyp pointed out to the trainees that the force 
of the Jedi Master Skywalker grew their food so 
wastage was not allowed. The farm has now grown beyond 
the hobby capacity that Luke anticipated.  But as the 
farming were relegated to droids, he does not complain.  
	When Leia and Han came to stay, their children 
enjoy running around the farm to the annoyance of the 
farm droids and swimming in a nice deep pool created 
by a natural waterfall near the temple.  He and Mara, 
Han's and Leia's family spend enjoyable moments 
swimming and having a picnic by the pool.  He could 
feel the happiness and the absolute joy surrounding 
everyone.  Yes, he has definitely come home.  
He also remembered those passionate moments he spent 
in the pool under the moonlight with Mara. He smiled.
	He feels utterly contented and fulfilled for 
the last one-year since he married Mara.  She has 
given him the ultimate joy and a closeness that he can 
never dream of having with anyone.  Luke and Mara have 
decided to have the option of having their life forces 
joined together as part of a marriage ritual for Jedis. 
Now, she was as much a part of him as he was a part of 
her. Sometimes he feel as if he has intruded into her 
privacy but Mara convinced him. She said that after 
being alone for so long, his company was more than 
welcome. Still, Luke does feel intrusive when her 
thoughts were away from him.  He feels too possessive 
albeit unintentionally.  
	The Academy was doing well and has trained more 
than a hundred since it's inception.  He does not 
teach the trainees anymore as he had appointed two 
Jedi masters who are more than capable.  They are Jedi 
Masters Kyp Durron and Streen.  Luke was given the 
title of Ambassador of the Jedi Order.  He travels to 
Coruscant frequently to attend the senate.  He was 
not interested in politics but being present in the 
senate gives him the satisfaction that the New 
Republic was governed judiciously.  The years of 
fighting the Empire feels justified because it made 
the universe a peaceful place to live.  More 
significantly, it has given all species the freedom 
to choose and the right to live their own life. 
So he sat through the senate sometimes fascinated but 
mostly, quite bored by all the proceedings.  
	Meanwhile, Leia shines in her role as the 
Chief of State but she does complain of having not 
enough time with her family.  Luke was beginning to 
agree with her.  
	Today, he feels very lonely without Mara, who 
is in Coruscant. As lonely as one can get with three 
household droids and ten farmdroids running his farm 
or as Kyp jokingly called a ranch.  Artoo has taken 
the task of a head droid, if there was such a title.  
He wouldn't mince his words if he noticed that any of 
the droids did not do a proper job.  Luke knew that 
Artoo is enjoying his newfound position.  So when he 
asked Artoo to follow Mara to Coruscant both Artoo 
and Mara protested.  
	"Why?" Mara glared and Artoo swiveled around to 
face him.  
	"Please Mara, I have what Han would called 
'crazy jedi feelings' and it would made me feel safer 
that Artoo was with you," Luke reasoned with her.  
For a moment there, Luke could almost feel that she 
felt betrayed. Then she smiled so beautifully, maybe 
he was wrong.  Mara made Ghent, the expert slicer, 
her partner in the trading business but she has not 
given him complete control.  She was in Coruscant 
today clearing a deal that had gone sour. Luke warned 
her not to give in to anger but Mara retorted, 
"Easy for you to say, if you only knew what mess 
Ghent had done, you would be just as angry."
	Mara tries to teach Luke the running of a 
business empire but he was not interested.  He has no 
need for material luxuries and was busy enough being 
an Ambassador. Luke knew the reason she was still 
doing business was because she enjoys the challenge. 
After all, Luke could not imagine her at home cooking 
for him as he could not imagine a tauntaun to fly. 
It would take a miracle to make the wild Mara 
domesticated.  
	Thinking of Mara, he can feel her life force 
a part of him and smiled. All of a sudden he feels 
something, which he has not felt for a long time, 
made itself known.  While he was trying to tell Mara 
that he loves her, he was stop by a force barrier.  
'No, it can't be, something is really wrong here,' 
he thought. 
	"Is she captured or someone using ysalmiri on 
her, what happened?  Hold on Mara love, I'm coming," 
he said. He knows she could not possibly hear him 
through the barrier but he said it anyway.  He was 
going to contact Coruscant but remember that he could 
contact Leia just as easily through the force.  
	[Leia, Leia,] he called, hoping that she could 
hear him.  After a few moments she replies, [Luke, 
what is it, what has happened?] Luke smiles; it was 
just like Leia to probe his feelings immediately.  
She must have sense that he was anxious and worried.
	[Leia, I can't get through to Mara, do you know 
if you can find her there, in Coruscant?] Luke asked 
her. 
	[Luke, she was just here this morning leaving 
Artoo at my place.   But, isn't your life force 
connected, wait a minute...] Leia was probably trying 
to feel Mara herself, [You are right, Luke, there is 
some sort of force barrier, that is strange, I never 
felt that before. Why did she do that?]
	[If I had known, I would not contact you, would 
I?] getting more agitated and wanting to have an 
answer immediately.
	[Luke, I am sorry, I will see if I can find her 
immediately] Leia promise and cutoff the connection 
after telling him she loves him.
	Leia is absolutely busy today but then so was 
every other day.  Right now, she is in a meeting with 
the planning committee for this year celebration of 
the victory over the Empire.  Leia made a petition to 
stop having this celebration yearly. Rather they 
should have it every four years as to ease the burden 
of organising the events annually. One of the oldest 
ambassador, Senator Garm Bel-iblis, who is also Leia 
closest friend, reminded her that our children and 
our children's children must always remember the 
atrocities and the evils of the Empire.  It was 
absolutely necessary to convinced the next generation 
to never follow blindly any one who craves absolute 
power. Who might create havoc and chaos all over the 
galaxy.  Leia accepted that what Garm had said was 
true. So the yearly celebration continues. But she 
manages to convince the senate to form a committee 
to oversee the annual event. She uses the opportunity 
and delegated all aspect of the celebration to them. 
Finally the meeting ended and she could make her exit.
	'What has come over Mara?' she thought while 
walking to her office.  Leia knows that Luke could 
breakdown the barrier but his respect for privacy 
would not allow him to do it.  He will have to find 
out the reason first.  She touches the comlink at her 
desk and called her husband.  
Han answered immediately, "Han Solo, here."
	"I know who you are, dear," she asked.
	"Well, I can always take a chance that it might 
be any of the beautiful ladies that I am going out 
with," Han sniggered.
	"Cut that scoundrel's act and listen to me," 
Leia tried to sound diplomatic but she knows it will 
never worked on Han.
	"But, honey, I thought..." 
	"Yes, I know, Han, I like scoundrels, hmm* come 
to think of it I Looooove scoundrels," Leia said 
lovingly, "Han stop distracting me, are you free 
today."
	"As free as I can get with three boisterous 
children whose creating an enormous clutter. Threepio 
here is busy conversing old jokes with Artoo and had 
forgotten all his duties. Anyway, Chewie came back 
this morning from Kashyykk. I think I can asked him to 
look after the children."
	"I didn't know Chewie is back."
	"Maybe he missed me, right furball."
There was a loud roar of disagreement coming from 
Chewie but she heard Han persuading him.  Whatever Han 
said to Chewbacca must have worked because Leia heard 
the wookie agreed.
	"Since that's settled, I am at your service, 
your worshipfulness," Han said jokingly and then 
seriously, "What is it Leia, it must be serious for 
you to call me in the middle of the day?"
	"It's Luke, he could not feel Mara and asked me 
to locate her here in Coruscant, do you think you 
could do that?"
	"Sure, I am the best snoop in the universe, if 
I can't find her in Coruscant, I better get a new job 
but seriously, Leia, well, I wonder what is she up 
to, nothing imperial, I hope?" Han asked jokingly.
	"How could you say such a thing? Han, please 
find her and get back to me, I have a few words to 
say to her," Leia signed off.
	Han does not like the sound of his wife's voice.  
He would not want to be in Mara's shoes.  He decides 
that the best place to start would be with Ghent, her 
business partner.  Ghent said that she was there in 
the morning giving him a piece of her mind, which he 
would rather not discuss.  It seems that Ghent had 
made a major mistake on a certain deal.  Poor Ghent, 
as much as Leia is temperamental, her diplomatic 
training would not allow her to show it.  Now, Mara 
on the other hand, would say it like it is.  Han tried 
several avenues but he is no nearer in finding Mara.  
	"Well, she definitely knows her way around here, 
probably, even places no one even knew, he should 
have expected that it would not be easy finding 
ex-Emperor's Hand," Han thought.  There was one way 
he had not tried yet, maybe, today was his lucky day 
at the Sabacc tables.
	Luke was going to contact Artoo, as the droid 
was the last person who saw Mara.  Artoo might have 
some idea of Mara's whereabouts. He was going to use 
the long distance comm unit that he installed in Artoo 
but remembered that he left it in his office at the 
Academy. Immediately, he levitated all the way down 
the temple and jumped on his speederbike reaching the 
Academy in less than six standard minutes.  That would 
be racing in Coruscant and against the law but not 
here in Yavin, though it is still dangerous.  He would 
fly if he knew that would be faster.  He went to the 
Command Centre of the Academy where his office was 
located. He acknowledged the command controller and 
asked him to contact Coruscant. 
	"Sure, Master Skywalker," replied Rhod, he is 
from planet Ambrosia.  The Academy changed their 
control command personnel annually.  This year the 
New Republic sent five Ambrosians to Yavin as part of 
their training in communications.  There are no Jedi 
trainees around as all of them are probably training 
in the forest. He contacted Artoo using his comm unit 
easily but instead he heard another droid chattered.  
	"Artoo, what do you mean, Master Luke is 
contacting you, he is in Yavin and if he wants to 
contact us, he can go through the usual channels," 
muttered Threepio.  
	"He has what... Master Luke has a system device 
where he could signal you wherever he is, I don't 
believe you." Artoo was arguing with Threepio when 
they heard the beeping of the commnet. 
	"This is Seethreepio, Protocol droid for the 
Chief of State, Leia Organa Solo, may I assist you 
in any way."
	Luke was more than mildly irritated and thought that 
he could throttle that droid. Luke now understands 
why Han was always complaining about Threepio.
	"Threepio, listen..."
	"O! Master Luke, Artoo here was just saying..."
Luke cut him off sternly, "Threepio, listen to me, 
ask Artoo if he knows where is Mistress Mara?" 
he said in one breath before Threepio could interrupt 
him again.
	"O! Master Luke, Artoo says that Mistress Mara 
left him here in this apartment earlier today in the 
morning at 0600 hundred hours. But if you must know 
Master Luke, I find it strange that she did not even 
speak to Mistress Leia or Master Han Solo, she just 
seem to want to leave in a hurry."
	That was a mouthful even for Threepio and Luke 
thanked him sincerely. Threepio replied his welcome 
and 'I am glad to be of service' line. 
	'Where could she be?' he thought, then suddenly, 
a thought occurred to him to contact her ship, the 
'Jade's Fire' and true enough he received a reply. It 
was not Mara but a recording. Luke start the recording 
instantly, "Luke, by the time you play this recording, 
I would not be a part of your life force. I am sorry, 
but there is something that I have to do and I hope 
you would respect my privacy in this matter.  
Don't worry about me, I am fine and in ex... good 
health.  Please understand, darling, my love.  
I love you, always, from the bottom of my heart, 
remember that.  I will be a part of you again in 
probably three days but before that, it is my wish 
that you grant me this privacy, please, Luke, 
thank you."  
	He could have broken down the force barrier but 
she knows him too well.  He always hated probing other 
people's minds without their permission.  "What is she 
up to?" he wondered and the urged to breakdown those 
force barriers of hers was becoming strong, too strong.  
He has to calm himself down with the force relaxing 
techniques. She did look tired and melancholy, lately.  
In fact, immediately after Leia and Han last visit.  
She was playing with Leia's children with that longing 
look in her eyes.  He should have noticed and talked 
to her about it.  Now, he will have to wait and see if 
Leia have succeeded in finding Mara. 
	He played the recording again, just to see his 
beloved Mara with her shining red-gold hair and her 
bright green flightsuit.  'Wait a minute, before she 
said, good health, she almost said ex... he wondered 
what that meant. Does it have anything to do with her 
health? Was she sick with a mysterious disease?' he 
pondered, 'Mara, whatever it is, you should let me be 
there for you, don't you know I will always stand by 
your side no matter what you decide, I love you.' 
	Maybe if he use the force to replay back his 
memories of the past two weeks he could pinpoint the 
reason. He took a deep breath and concentrate.  He 
went along to Coruscant with Han, Leia and their 
family on the ever-reliable Millenium Falcon after 
their visit here in Yavin because he had to attend the 
senate.  Later, he went to help settle a dispute among 
the Noghris.  Their council was at a stalemate in 
settling a quarrel that erupted between two major 
landowners.  If it was not settled, there are chances 
of a civil war.  He was the son of Darth Vader and 
well respected by the Noghris to give fair judgement.  
It was a difficult decision but they finally accepted 
it without further objection. 
	Nowadays, he used the New Republic shuttle as 
his X-Wing which have seen better days was now in 
storage at the Academy.  Anyway, it would not be the 
same without Artoo. When he landed at the Academy, 
he went home immediately because he could not wait to 
see his wife.  'His wife, how nice that sounds', 
he thought.
	"Toot------tweet ----beeeeeeeeeeep."
	Even before he stepped in his house, he heard 
Artoo incessant whistling and wondered what could have 
caused it to be so annoyed.  He found Mara repairing 
one of the farm droids with Artoo at her side. 
	"Cut it out, Artoo, I know what I am doing, this 
droid is cutting the fruits too slow, I am merely 
speeding him up a little bit," Mara answered. To that, 
Artoo merely whistled louder. Luke decided it is about 
time to help.  He told Artoo to stop bothering Mara 
and go back to the temple.  Artoo wheeled around, if 
he had a face, Luke knew it would be sulking.
	"That was not nice," Mara said while still 
cleaning the repaired droid.
	"It is either that or we both will go deaf, now 
come here Mrs Skywalker, there is a better way to 
welcome your husband," Luke went straight to hug her 
from behind.
	"Hey, I am dirty, at least let me freshen up."
	"It doesn't matter, you look your best even with 
grease all over, infact I must say you are at your 
element."
	"Is that a compliment, Skywalker?"
	"Of course, what else would I give to the woman 
I missed for a whole week."
	"Is that all, you only - missed - me?"
	"Yes, I missed you...  Oh! Did I forget 
something?" Luke teased her.
	"Hmm... I don't know, did you forget to bring 
home the man I love..."
	Luke turned her face around and looked into her 
eyes, "He's right here and he loves you too, Mrs Mara 
Jade Skywalker."
	"That's more like it, I think I am done here," 
she grabbed his hands, "I might need some cleaning 
myself, what would you suggest, farmer."
	Luke held her hands tight and said jokingly, 
	"What do farmer do to clean themselves, Ahh... 
I got it... how about a swim?"
	"Did anybody ever told you that you lack 
imagination, but I guess I could do with a swim or 
- maybe -?"
	"Hmmmm... I think I would like that - maybe - 
very, very much," Luke kissed her hungrily and 
intensely after desperately missing her for the past 
two weeks. Together they walked to the pool laughing 
like children whose happiness shone from both of 
their eyes. Luke smiled remembering their swim; their 
early morning routine of exercises and meditation; 
and their daily lightsaber practice. Just the other 
day, they started out practicing but ended up kissing 
passionately when the passion was too much for both 
of them. He smiled again but this was not getting him 
anywhere.  He had to find a clue as to why Mara had 
suddenly put up the force barrier. Then his memories 
replay an evening when after they had dinner. Mara sat 
close to him on the couch and said very softly,
"It was nice having the children around isn't it, 
the house feels lively but now it's so quiet."
	"Mara we could stay in Coruscant, if you like, 
Kyp can come here occasionally to check the farm. 
There isn't much to do since the farm droids does 
everything.  We could come back for the picking 
seasons," he had suggested to Mara while he held her 
hands and feeling her through the force.
	'It is not the place' Mara thought, 'It's the 
children'.
	"Mara, I didn't know."
Mara stood up immediately and looked at him, 
	"Stop probing my mind, Luke."
	"Mara, you know it happen unintentionally,* 
Luke wondered why was she so upset, they have talked 
about it before and he told her that he have enough 
children at the Academy.
	"Yes, I know about the Academy but I feel I 
have failed you," Mara was almost close to tears.
	"I believe Mara Jade has finally been tamed 
and turning domestic," Luke said jokingly to try to 
lighten up the tension that was in the air.  He also 
knows this conversation was never going to end.
	"Don't you ever believe that? I am not tamed or 
domestic, I just thought having children will make 
this place livelier."
	"This house is already alive with your presence, 
Mara, I do not need anything else," Luke replied 
sincerely. Mara searched his feelings to find out if 
he was telling the truth. Luke said through the force 
	[Well, now you know, I am telling you the truth.] 
	[I am sorry, Luke, I thought, having a child 
would make your life complete] 
	[I am complete, Mara, with you]
Luke stand and held her tight because he knows that 
she blames herself for what the Emperor did to her. 
To make sure that the Emperor had her undying 
devotion, he had her go through hysterectomy.  
She actually did it willingly as to prove her utmost 
loyalty to him and his Empire.  All of a sudden, 
Luke opened his eyes wide, finally he knew he had 
discovered the reason for Mara's actions.
	Kyp was looking for Luke to remind him that he 
was giving the welcoming speech to the new Jedi 
trainees that are arriving this afternoon. He found 
Luke in the command centre looking distraught and he 
could feel the sadness and perhaps anger coming from 
the Jedi Master.  Kyp was concerned but decided not 
to pry.  Luke felt Kyp presence and his concern.  
He felt touched by it but he could not tell him, 
not yet.  He had lost Callista and felt responsible 
for not trying hard to keep her.  He was not going to 
lose Mara and he will fight if he has to. Maybe he 
was just exaggerating a little bit.  After all, Mara 
did say to give her three days. All right, three days 
then, but if by that time there is still no word; 
he will search the entire universe for her. 
	"Master, I can do the welcoming for you so you 
could leave for Coruscant immediately," Kyp offered 
the choices to Luke.
	"Kyp I am grateful, how did you know she's in 
Coruscant?" Luke wondered but realised that his 
student who was now a Master was as strong in the 
force as he was.
	"I can feel the force barrier, I can point her 
presence to Coruscant but I have to breakdown the 
force barrier further to find out more. I do not 
like to do that without her permission."
	"No, of course not. The Emperor taught Mara 
that force barrier, it is very complicated to break 
through, how did you know, Kyp?" 
	"I was taught by the best Jedi Knight I know, 
Mara Jade herself."
	"I didn't know she taught you that, when?"
	"It was on that mission where we help you 
escaped from the clutches of the dark spirit," Kyp 
answered.  They were interrupted by the beeping from 
the commnet.  
	"Master Skywalker, I am glad I got you before 
you leave, Artoo has some information concerning 
Mistress Mara, according to the files here, she used 
a fake name but Artoo is as usual very dependable, 
it looks like she is in an exclusive Med Centre in 
Coruscant.  Yes, yes, hold it Artoo... keep quiet 
Artoo... I am just about to tell him," Threepio 
chattered along.
	"Threepio, cut it out, what are you going to 
tell me?" Luke ordered him.
	"Mistress Mara is in Menarai Exclusive Med 
Centre, Room 58, Oh no...  she is about to have an 
operation in eight standard hours."
	Kyp could feel the anger and shock from the Jedi 
Master.  He grabbed Luke shoulder and shake him out of 
that state, "Master, there is no anger, there is 
peace. You must hurry, I will take care of everything 
here." 
	"Yes, yes, I must hurry.  Thanks for reminding 
me, Kyp, I must calm down," Luke said trying to sound 
as calm as he could.
	Mara on the other hand was at the most exclusive 
and expensive Medcentre in Coruscant waiting for her 
surgeon to give her the latest findings on her case.  
They were others; two humans, one wookie and a Hapan 
all of them are female species of their kind as this 
clinic were specialised for them.  No one would 
recognise her as she uses the force disguise that Luke 
taught her. When she had decided to go through with 
this, she wanted to do it alone.  Since she went along 
the hysterectomy willingly, she felt it was her 
responsibility to correct the mistake herself.
	All those years ago, her condition never 
bothered her, as she did not imagine having a husband, 
let alone children. Lately, all she could think of 
was having a child, hers and Luke's.  She had been 
dreaming of having a child with Luke's eyes and her 
hair.  Hot and even tempered all at the same time. 
Now that would be confusing but she thought both Luke 
and her could handle it.  Maybe, she should bring 
down the force barriers and told Luke about her 
decision. She was feeling guilty by all this waiting.  
At last, her surgeon came to see her.
	"Mrs Walker," she still felt a little 
apprehensive using the fake name and hope that no one 
notices.
	"Yes, I'm Mrs Walker."
	"Please come in to my office."
	"Now, we can use your real name, it's Mrs 
Skywalker, right? I can see that you are anxious to 
know our latest findings," Dr Ginet looked at her 
sincerely and takes a seat behind her desk.
Mrs Skywalker* she still feels a little thrilled 
when someone called her by that name.  After all, she 
had been using that name at someone else for so long.  
Never imagine it would be a part of her like a second 
skin.
	"Please Dr Ginet, give it to me straight, what 
do you think are my chances?" Mara pleaded.
	"When you came here last week, I told you that 
the operation procedures is not going to be easy but 
it's not life-threatening.  That still stand, only 
there is one slight change, I am afraid it's going to 
take longer than three days of recuperation. You have 
what we call Bi-lateral Salpingo Oophorectomy but 
your case is slightly different.  Whoever did your 
operation wanted you to have the option of having 
children.  Your womb seems to be intact and so were 
your left ovaries but your fallopian tubes, part of 
your cervix and your right ovary is missing.  
I promised you we would try to do whatever we can to 
help you. You can also have the option of using the 
arti-womb, that's the artificial womb implant," 
	Dr Ginet explained. "Are you still willing to 
go through this operation, today?  I know you have 
asked for confidentiality, I respect that, but I 
still feel that your husband should be here, don't 
you think?"
	"I am beginning to think you are right, but I do 
not want him rushing here and knowing him that is just 
what he would do, I have a better idea."
	"As you wish, but I better get the preparation 
ready and could you please follow the med droid to 
your room to get ready yourself," Dr Ginet reminded 
her and walked towards the operating area.  
	A med droid came and asked her to follow him 
towards the end room where he will explain the 
procedures needed to get ready for her operation. 
This droid reminded her of Threepio and she smiled.  
When the med droid leave, she used the comlink 
available in her room and tries to contact Leia.  
It was still afternoon, Leia should be in her office. 
Her operation was scheduled in four standard hours so 
she still has a lot of time.  
	Mara did not want to contact Leia through the 
Force, as she was sure Luke would feel it, too.  At 
last, she managed to convince Leia secretaries on 
the urgency of her call.  She knows Leia would 
easily take the call but since she would like to 
remain anonymous, it was quite difficult.
	"Whoever you are, you better announce your 
intentions now as I am very busy," she could hear the 
frustration from Leia's voice, so perhaps Luke have 
told her as Leia was always diplomatic and would 
never sound agitated even to a total stranger.
	"Leia," Mara answered softly at first but 
louder this time, "Leia, I am sorry to disturb you but 
I need your help."
	"Mara, is that you..." she said angrily, "where 
are you and how could you do this to Luke."
	"I will explain later but now can you help me?"
	"No, I will not help you unless you tell me 
where you are, I rather see you in person."
	"I am sorry, I know it was my fault for putting 
up my force barriers but I thought you would 
understand."
	"Understand? But I do not know what is it that I 
am supposed to understand, all I know is that Luke is 
worried sick about you in Yavin."
	"I have left him a message, Leia, I think by now, 
he should have received it.  If you really want to see 
me, I am at Manarai Exclusive Medcentre, room 58."
	"Mara... I am sorry, are you sick?" Leia sounded 
almost apologetic.  Leia had never seen Mara sick 
before so this come as a surprise to her.
	"I am fine, Leia, but before you come here can 
you contact Luke. Tell him that I am fine and asked 
him to come to Coruscant. Under no circumstances are 
you to tell him that I am at a MedCentre, because I 
do not want him to race down here, his safety is top 
priority.  I am sure you will agree with me and thank 
you, Leia," with that she cut off the call.  
	Leia immediately contacted the Academy but Kyp 
told her that Luke have already left for Coruscant. 
Somehow, Leia thought maybe Luke have lost patience 
and decided to come straight here.  He will find out 
soon enough and Leia decided that Mara would explain 
to him her actions herself. Right now, she catches a 
shuttle to visit Mara at the Med centre.
	Mara was doing her relaxation techniques when 
Lando Carlrissian walked in.
	"Lando," Mara was shocked, "what are you doing 
here, I thought I cover my tracks carefully."
	"MJS Walker is a very unusual name, no one 
would notice it but then they are not Lando, I could 
never resist a puzzle if it is staring right at me, 
you should have picked a better name than that," 
Lando answered her.
	"You knew, but how, no one knows I am here."
	"Actually, I'm here with Tendra, who needs a 
checkup, I saw that name accidentally on the screen 
and it just feeds my curiosity.  Wait a minute, when 
you said no one knew you were here, does that include 
Luke?"
	"Yes, I am afraid that's true."
	"That's a silly thing to do, Mara, have you ever 
seen an angry Jedi Master?"
	"Yes, I have.  Have you forgotten I married one?"
	"Well, it's your grave.  I cannot stay I have to 
go and see Tendra, take care of yourself," he came 
over and kissed her cheek and walked off.
	Mara thought it is rather strange that Lando did 
not even ask why she was here.  Maybe, marriage has 
finally subdued his curiosity a little. 
	It was an exclusive and expensive Med Centre but 
Leia knew that Mara could well afford this luxury.  
Mara was just about to continue her relaxation 
exercises when Leia walked in. She could feel Leia's 
anger through the Force.
	"Was that Lando I saw who had just walked out 
of here?" Leia asked angrily.
	"Leia, before you jump to conclusions, he was 
sending Tendra here when he saw my initials and 
decided to 'satisfy his curiosity' that was his 
exact words, I really should have use a different 
name," Mara explained. 
Leia's feelings suddenly change, "That is typical 
Lando, but now, Mara what's wrong with you?" 
	Mara was suddenly taken aback by her genuine 
feelings of concern and answered softly, "I am sorry, 
I just didn't want anyone worrying about me and 
that's why I've told no one, especially Luke.  
The doctor explained last week that it's a simple 
procedure and would take only three days to recover.  
But now, Leia, she said it would take longer.  I have 
promised Luke that I would be a part of him again in 
three days. I do not want him to feel my pain. He is 
such a passionate man, Leia, and his feelings is so 
strong with the force, I just do not want him to..."
	Leia walked towards Mara's bed and hugged her, 
while trying to remain calm. She feel that whatever 
Mara is going to go through would not be easy. 
	"Mara, I understand, he's my brother, remember.
	"And don't you forget that."
Both of them were stunned when they saw who has just 
said those words.  
	"Luke..." both of them shouted his name 
simultaneously.  
	"Leia, I am disappointed in you for not telling 
me where she is, and Mara I want to talk to you," the 
color on his face was drained, almost pale.
	"I am sorry, Luke, I was just about to but I 
have to see her first," Leia said guiltily and walked 
straight towards her brother and hugged him, "Luke, 
how did you find out?"
	"The same way I did all those years ago 
rescuing you."
	"Artoo."
	"Yes, I am glad I forced Artoo to follow Mara 
here and trusted my Crazy Jedi feelings*."  
	Mara thought he looked a little less upset after 
Leia's hug as compared to when he walked in.  Just at 
that moment, Han appeared.  He took the whole scene of 
his wife hugging her brother and towards Mara looking 
as if the whole roof has just fallen on her. Guilty, 
that was how Mara looked.  He wondered what was going 
on and decided that he will find out soon enough. 
He looked at Leia, questioningly, and Leia assured him 
that everything is fine.
	"Well, Master Snoop, it looks like you are the 
last one to arrived.  Lando was here first.  You have 
to give up that profession from now on," Leia said 
jokingly while trying to soften the tension that she 
felt was going on between Luke and Mara.  It did not 
work so she pushed Han along to leave the two of them 
alone.  They have a lot of resolving to do. 
	"Lando was here, too..." Han asked confused.
	Han's voice could be heard down the hallway. 
When Han and Leia had left, Luke looked at Mara with 
all the anger in his eyes just when he first came in.
	"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, 
Mara." Mara decided to just keep quiet and let his 
anger cool down before she tell him the whole story.  
	The tension in the room was so strong that even 
a non-force sensitive could feel it.  Mara could feel 
that if Luke did not cool down soon she would 
breakdown. Just then Dr Ginet walked in.  She could 
feel the tension created by these two Jedi.  
Of course, she knows Luke Skywalker. You would have 
to be living in a cave if you do not who he was.   
The yearly celebration in Coruscant and all the other 
New Republic galaxies were always reminding them of 
the fall of the Empire and he played a big part in it.  
	Dr Ginet could see right now how the Emperor 
could have underestimated Luke Skywalker's power.  
He is not very muscular or huge in size but his 
determination to fight through anything shines through 
his eyes.  She would not want to be in her patient's 
shoes right now but it seem that Mara was just as 
determined or she was very confident of the Jedi 
Master's love. Both of them were glaring at each other.  
	Dr Ginet was expecting objects to be hurling 
around the room any minute.  That was exactly what 
happened when her force-sensitive friend was not able 
to control her anger, it was not a pretty sight.  
She made her way out but stopped when she realised 
that objects was not flying but her patient was. 
	Mara walked towards the Jedi Master and hugged 
him unashamedly.  She left the couple alone because 
she has a feeling that everything was going to be fine.
Mara followed Leia's example and hugged him.  
Immediately, through the Force she could feel his 
tension left him and her life force became a part of 
him again.  It feels as though she never left him and 
also so very peaceful.  Mara knows now, she would 
never sever their life force again because it is too 
painful.  She loves him so much.  How could she ever 
think of going through this alone?*
	[You should have trusted me, Mara] Luke speaks 
in her mind through the Force.
	[I am sorry, Luke, I just thought since it was 
my body that's going through this you did not have to 
be a part of it. I want to spare you the pain.]
	[Mara, your body is a part of me, too.  What 
makes you think you could separate us like that?]
	[Luke, the Emperor did this to me, I just want 
to correct it myself.]
	"Why does all the women I know want to spare me 
from pain, first, Callista, Leia, yes, even her, and 
now you, Why, Mara?" Luke asked her loudly this time.
	"Luke..." Mara voice shivered, "maybe we all know 
that you have spend your life fighting the Emperor and 
his Empire and you have so little happiness, we just 
want to spare you from feeling more pain."
	"I never thought of it that way, I only think 
maybe I look as if I am not strong enough that all you 
women like to smother me."
	"You are strong, Luke, don't you ever doubt that.  
You are the strongest person, I know, emotionally, 
physically and Forcefully."
	"Then, Mara, don't ever forget that, I can 
handle it. Now, tell me what you are doing here, 
I have an idea why but I need you to tell me?" 
	"Dr Ginet says that she will be able to restore 
my womb so that I will be able to have children.  
I want so much to have your child."
	"Just as I thought, haven't I have told you 
again and again that all I need is you, and I have a 
whole academy of children..."
	Mara put a finger on his lips, "And one more 
would make no difference."
	"Stop twisting my words.  Is this operation 
dangerous? How long will it take?" Luke asked her 
anxiously.
	"Dr Ginet says that it is not life-threatening 
but it is going to take more than three days to 
recover.  It seems to be a little bit more 
complicated than she thought. But if it's not 
successful, I have the option of using the arti-womb.  
It is an artificial womb implant made with stretchable 
hide.  Looks like the Emperor have done a thorough job 
with me," Mara replied sadly.
	"So that's why you decided to inform me after 
all because it's going to take more than three days."
	"Yes, Luke, I have promised you three days, 
I was afraid you are going to do something silly if 
I do not appear in that time."
	"What silly things do you think I am going to 
do?"
	"I don's know, something like searching the 
universe for me."
	Luke chuckled, so she does know me more than I 
thought, "Are you doing this for me, Mara?"
	Mara was surprise, as she did not know the 
answer to that question herself.  Finally, she said, 
"No, Luke, I am doing this for me and later for us."
	Suddenly, Luke was overwhelmed, not only was she 
trying to erase her past but she was also trying to 
prepare for the future.  The operation seems terribly 
complicated but she wanted to make right what was done 
to her even though with her permission.  Luke decided 
that he needed to help her.
Dr Ginet walked in again and she can see that the 
tension earlier had disappeared.  She announced, 
	"Jedi Master Skywalker, it is time, are you and 
your wife ready.  She has mentioned that she's going 
to use the Force to stop feeling her pain, I guess 
two Force relief would be better than one."
	"Mara, are you going to do the Force relief by 
yourself?" Luke asked her earnestly.
	"Yes, Luke, I know it would not be a complete 
relief but I think I could bear a little extra pain. 
And you know I hate to use any kind of drugs."
	"Mara, I will make sure there is no extra pain.  
Dr Ginet where do I go to get ready for this."
	"The Med Droid would be here soon to help you 
suit up," Dr Ginet assured Luke. Immediately, a Med 
Droid come in and push Mara's repulsor bed towards 
the Operation Centre.  Luke kissed her and tells her 
that he loved her. 
	"I love you, too, very much..." Mara replied. 
Operation Centre 3 was crowded with medical 
equipment hanging from above the ceiling and on the 
sides.  Dr Ginet was assisted by another humanoid and 
two large medical droids.  The whole room smell of 
medicine and metal.  Mara was conscious during the 
operation but kept squeezing Luke's hand for 
assurance.  Luke kept sending calming messages to her 
through the Force.  
	It was not an easy thing to do even for a Jedi 
Master.  Luke had been in many battles with injured 
men but this time was different.  This time, someone 
he loves was being split open infront of his very 
eyes.  He felt like trading places with Mara right 
now so as to ease her pain.  Luke could feel through 
the force that it was terribly painful for Mara, but 
as always she never shows any sign of it.  Maybe, it 
was not a bad idea to exchange places with Mara, he 
thought.  He could assist Mara's spirit out of her 
body into his but Mara was too weak right now to even 
breathe.  
	Luke was perspiring helping Mara to relief the 
pain through the force.  Suddenly, her life force 
disappeared.  Luke almost shouted out her name when 
it came back again.  Still, it was not a good sign as 
the force showed only a flicker of her life force was 
back.  Luke knew what that mean.  The unbearable pain 
must have caused her to go into a Jedi trance.
Dr Ginet noticed that she was losing her patient, 
	"Master Skywalker, I am afraid I have to do 
something drastic."
	"I know, I know, she'S fine right now but she's 
in a Jedi trance," Luke said anxiously.
	"How long can she hold on to this trance?"
	"By the looks of it, not very long, she's in 
terrible pain."
	"Then I am afraid I will have to sever this 
womb, as it is already taken too long to restore.  
I would suggest the arti-womb implant.  Please be 
reminded that this implant can only be use once, 
it has to be taken out immediately after delivery 
to avoid complications.  Will you give me the 
permission to go ahead, Master Skywalker?"
	"Can be use only once? She never told me about 
that but didn't you discuss this with her?" Luke was 
getting more worried by this turn of events.
	"We did but apparently she wanted the option to 
remain open and as yet have not given me the official 
consent," Dr Ginet said apologetically.
Luke tried to contact Mara through the force but it 
was hopeless, she must have gone in too deep a trance 
to be awakened.
	"I must remind you that chances are slim if she 
can ever take this much pressure again, it has to be 
now or never, what will it be, Master Skywalker?" Dr 
Ginet said hurriedly.
	Luke took a deep breath and said "Please go 
ahead, doctor, I am sure that is what my wife would 
have wanted you to do." 
	"Wise decision, Twobeeonethree, get the implant 
ready, I want it now, stat..." Dr Ginet shouted to her 
droid assistant.
	[Hang on, Mara love, it will be over soon] he 
send her the message through the force.  There was no 
reply from Mara.  Luke was getting worried that he 
cannot even feel her presence anymore.
Finally, the operation was over and Mara was 
pushed back to her room.  Luke just needed to sit 
down and rest. That was how Leia and Han found him.  
He had his face down and he looked very tired.  
	"Hey, kid, how are you?" Han said softly.
	"I am fine, it is Mara I am worried about, she 
went into a trance earlier and she is not conscious 
yet," Luke replied weakly.  Leia sits down beside him 
and hold his hand. 
	"Luke, I am sorry, I could feel her presence 
weakening too, but I can feel her getting stronger 
now, what did the doctor said," Leia asked softly, 
too.
	"Dr Ginet said that she showed signs of 
recovering but needed plenty of rest."
	"Well, then, Luke come with us and have 
something to eat because you don't look too good 
yourself." 
	Dr Ginet came in and asked Luke to go ahead 
and assured him that Mara would be fine.  It took 
some coaxing by Leia and Han but Luke finally 
followed them.  After shower and a change of clothes 
at his own apartment, he went to Leia and Han's.  
As soon as he stepped in, he was greeted by Jaina 
and Jacen.
	"Uncle Luke, when are we going to see Aunt 
Mara," Jaina asked.
	"Soon, I hope," Luke replied calmly. Anakin 
came bouncing over to Luke, which surprised him.  
He said that Aunt Mara is going to be fine and he 
will have a new cousin, soon.
	"Nice to know someone is optimistic," Luke 
looked towards Leia and Han. They ate dinner 
together. The children were always quarreling about 
this or that. Luke felt at home with Leia's family 
but felt sad that his child would be lonely. He can 
feel through the force that he would have one but 
then like Master Yoda always said 'the future is 
always in motion'.  Leia could feel that Luke was 
worried about something and remind herself to ask 
him about it after dinner.  
	Luke told them what happen during the 
operation.  The arti-womb implant can only be use 
once and then removed. Mara can only conceived one 
child.  Leia sounded optimistic and told him that 
maybe he might have twins. Han agreed.  Luke was 
not convinced because twins do not usually have twin 
children.  Leia then suggested the IVW, where the 
matured egg was frozen and put back in the womb 
later. This method usually produces twins, triplet 
and even quintuplets.  Luke disagreed; he did not 
want Mara to go through any unnecessary procedures 
again.  She has suffered enough trying to have one 
child.  
	Later, he went back to the Med Centre alone to 
see Mara after promising his niece and nephews that 
they can visit tomorrow.  Mara was sleeping soundly 
and he could feel that she was relaxed. Thanks the 
force, she was conscious again. Luke looked at the 
serene face and the determine tilt to her chin, so 
very characteristic of his beloved Mara.  He stroked 
her beautiful long red-gold hair, her smooth cheeks, 
and kissed her.  He opened himself through the force
and surrounded Mara with feelings of peace and calm 
and all of his love from every part of his being to 
the core of his emotions.
	[I love you so very much, Mara] 
	[I love you, too] came the faint reply.
 

CHAPTER 2

	Mara did her usual morning swim as the doctor 
advised.  Water therapy was working as she feels that 
her body was now stronger.  She decided to do her 
meditation on the rooftop of the temple where the 
view was wonderful at this time of early morning and 
started climbing up the long stairs.  Halfway upwards 
she could feel the pinch in her lower stomach. Maybe 
she was not completely recovered from her ordeal a 
month ago.  The doctor has suggested her not to overdo 
her routines.  But she was an active person and finds 
it difficult to just sit around idly.
	She decided to use the force to push her the 
rest of the way up.  The feel of solid floor again was 
a great relief as she was not as good as Luke in 
lifting herself up to this great height.  She started 
her meditation and feels the usual calmness and peace.  
She really loves it up here among the Massassi trees 
and the mist that covered it like a big giant white 
blanket. 
	She reflected on the past one year since she 
became Mrs. Luke Skywalker.  Skywalker, it is such an 
extraordinary name.  She only hoped that she would be 
able to give that name to another being to share.  She 
wished that it would be soon.  The doctor reminded her 
of the time limit on the arti-womb that was implanted 
in her. What if after the three years is up and there 
is still no child? She knows her child would be lonely 
so she asked the doctor if there is a chance that she 
can have a second child. 
	According to her, there is a possibility but the 
risks are high.  There are cases where after the second 
implant conduction problems occurred which causes the 
heart to weaken.  It also affects long term memory 
with apparent drop in intelligence. Some even suffers 
complete memory loss and other brain malfunctions. 
She was not selfish but she does not want to be a 
vegetable either. 
	There is another method where the womb can be 
transplanted permanently.  It is by the cross-species 
organ transplants known also as xenotransplants.  But 
she would think it would be against the Jedi 
principles to breed non-intelligent species just for 
their organs.  She knows that Luke would never agree 
to this method as he values life immensely.  So the 
arti-womb was her only chance to have a child.  
	Luke wanted to wait until she was properly 
recovered.  She did not. She remembered last night.  
She had seduced him so thoroughly that Luke was 
completely overtaken that they make love the whole 
night.  Before he went off to Coruscant for his usual 
senate meetings, he kissed her and reminded her not 
to do any hard work.
	She smiled, "You must be joking, darling, after 
last night, what other hard work is there without 
you?"
	Luke looked embarrassed, "That should not have 
happen but how could I resist such a beautiful 
seduction?"
	"I was not alone in seducing you, I thought you 
helped."
	"Hmmm... well, I guess I did, just remember to 
take care of your health.  I love you, the future 
mother of my child."
	"Well, I don't know if last night is enough.  
Maybe a little more practice would be needed," Mara 
said seductively.
	"Mara, stop that, I will never be able to reach 
Coruscant in time, like this.  Now, goodbye, my love 
and take care of yourself, I mean it," Luke commanded.
	"Yes, my master, I will sit here and wait for 
you like a dutiful wife that I am," Mara answered 
jokingly.
	Luke stared at her, smiled and walked out the 
door. Mara smiled again remembering that incident. 
She was about to leave when she saw Artoo wheeling 
his way towards her.  Luke had installed an automated 
lift inside the temple, at first, for use by Leia's 
children but later for their occasional guests.  
Actually, she would have got one of Luke's famous 
scolding if he knew she went up the rooftop the 
unconventional way. Well, it is too late and he was 
not here anyway.
	Artoo came directly in front of Mara and gave 
her one of his loud whistle.   It takes a while to 
understand the droid and when she did, she could feel 
her anger rising fast.
	"What do you mean, I should not have use the 
stairs?" Mara almost shouted. Artoo answered with 
another long whistle.
	"Luke asked you to looked after me.  As if I 
can't take care of myself. Uhh! I get him this time."
Mara concentrate in the force and give Luke a 
soft jab in the ribs like she always did when words 
escape her.  He really could make her really angry 
sometimes.
Luke was at the Academy when he felt the slight jab 
in his ribs.  "Ouch!" Mara, she was the only one who 
would do that to him.  
	[Mara, what did I do, this time?] Luke asked 
her through the force.
	[Don't you play innocent with me, Skywalker?]
	When Mara uses that name it always spelled 
trouble.  Luke tried to ask her but she had kept her 
feelings hidden from his probe.  She never use the 
force barrier with him again but occasionally when 
she was angry, she buried her feelings deep and Luke 
getting the hint would immediately stop probing her 
senses further.  He did that because he loves her and 
respect her need for privacy.
	Luke remembered her seduction last night and 
smiled in spite of her anger.  While he was engrossed 
in the business of running an Academy on his datapad, 
he heard music.  Wondering where it had came from; he 
went over to the living room and saw Mara wearing long 
flowing blue-green robes with her shining long red-
gold hair down.  She looked every bit a dancer in that 
outfit.  She pointed to him to sit on the couch.  She 
moved both her strong but yet gentle arms fluidly in 
an upward motion and her slender right thigh follows, 
her body perfectly in tune to the music.  She has 
always been very graceful and fluid in her motions.  
Luke wondered if she dance the same way for Jabba the 
Hutt.
	[Not the same, darling, I dance for Jabba to 
survive, I dance for Skywalker to show him my love] 
Mara answered through the force.
	Luke smiled but he was not expecting her next 
move.  She started taking off her blue-green long 
outfit to reveal an extremely short blue dress, like 
the bluest ocean of Calamari. 'Where did she get that 
beautiful dress?' Luke wondered.
	[You like it, I bought it especially for you, 
my love.]
	[Hmmm* as long as it is for my eyes only.]
	[Yes, definitely only for your eyes, my jealous 
and possessive master, I am ever your obedient slave.  
Come here and dance with me, my Master.]
	Luke did not wait for the permission; he walked 
over and holds her tight while they dance.  Luke used 
the force to lift them and soon they were dancing in 
the air.  Mara looked so seductively beautiful, he 
carried her in his arms and went straight to the 
bedroom that they shared.  He smiled remembering last 
night and the morning they spent together.  Even that 
sharp jab from Mara will not make him forget the 
moments of sheer pleasure and love he felt when he 
was with her.
	Mara followed Artoo reluctantly to use the 
automated lift at the temple.  When she reach the 
living room, she decided to check her messages from 
the commnet.  Luke sends her a message, "Whatever I 
did is because I love you, you should know that by 
now.  Cool down your anger and I do love you always, 
my beautiful and seductive wife."
	Whatever anger she felt earlier dissipated after 
hearing Luke's message. He must have commanded Artoo 
to look after her since he knew that she would not 
heed his advice to take it easy and rest.  That is 
why she was annoyed at him.  Nobody was ever able to 
predict her next move as good as Luke.  She was 
surprised when the next message was from Ghent, the 
expert slicer and her trading partner.  He has 
improves tremendously in managing their business and 
she never interfered.  She wondered what he wanted 
and started playing the message. 
	"Mara, I know you are still recuperating but I 
just wanted to asked if you could come over to 
Coruscant today.  The pilot that Karrde trusted to 
carry the spice from Kessel has suddenly fallen sick 
of a mysterious illness.  All his other trusted pilots 
were busy and out of the system.  I need you to handle 
the business while I make the run to Kessel. Can you 
do it, Mara?" Ghent said pleadingly. 
	Karrde must be really behind schedule if he was 
letting Ghent pilot a cargo ship with at least ten 
crewmembers.  He was a good pilot but he was not a 
captain. Mara has a plan and contacted Ghent 
immediately.  
	Ghent answered promptly, "Mara, did you get my 
message. Are you coming here?"
	"I have a better idea. I know you are a good 
pilot but are you sure you want the responsibility of 
being a captain all the way to Kessel?" Mara reminded 
him. "It will take at least two weeks and back."
	"I don't have any choice as Karrde do not trust 
just anyone for his valuable spice.  What do you have 
in mind, Mara?"
	"I am sure Karrde trust me implicitly.  I will 
make the run to Kessel and be back in Coruscant in 
less than two weeks. Contact Karrde and tell him to 
meet me at the cargo bay. I should be in Coruscant in 
less than two standard hours and I can be ready to go 
to Kessel immediately."
	"I don't entirely think that is a good idea 
especially in your condition, but it will definitely 
solve the problem."
	"Ghent, don't worry about me.  Put me in a ship 
and my condition, as you said, will improve 
tremendously," Mara assured him.
	Ghent was finally persuaded and assured Mara 
that he will informed Karrde and arranged all the 
final preparations. Mara locked down the temple and 
reminded Artoo to look after the place.  She took a 
speederbike and make her way to the Academy where 
her ship 'Jade's Fire' is docked.  When she reached 
the Academy, Kyp saw her.  
	"Mara, how are you?  Are you leaving Yavin?" 
Kyp asked.
	"Oh! No, not you too.  First, Artoo and now you.  
I feel like I am being watched all the time," Mara 
feeling annoyed and angry. Luke must have made 
everyone in Yavin know of her condition.
	"What are you talking about?"
	"Luke didn't ask you to look after me."
	"No, Mara he did not.  I'm sure he knows that 
you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.  
It is your feeling of guilt that I felt through the 
force."
	"I must be getting soft to open my feelings to 
the force like that, thanks for reminding me, Kyp. I 
am going to Coruscant, right now," Mara finally 
answered Kyp's earlier question.
	"Without telling Luke, I don't think that is 
wise." It is Kyp's turn to remind her.   
	"He is in Coruscant, isn't he?" Kyp shake his 
head.  "You mean, he is still here but I can't feel 
him," Mara feels strange that she cannot even feel 
his life force.
	"Luke had the bottom levels of the temple 
surrounded with ysalamiri. I think that was a 
brilliant idea.  Most of the trainees come out of 
that room with more respect of their force powers.  
It has also given them good practice just in case if 
they were caught in a forceless position," Kyp 
describe that latest venture by the Jedi master.
Mara did not know about the ysalamiri room in the 
temple but she also think it was a brilliant move.
	"So you did, did you."
Both Kyp and Mara turned to see the Jedi Master 
walking towards them.  Behind him is a whole group 
of Jedi trainees who looked as if they were glad to 
feel again.
	"What are you doing here, I thought you are in 
Coruscant?" Mara feel betrayed that he did not tell 
her of his change of plans.
	"Leia called to inform me that they change the 
meeting to this afternoon.  I have time to spare so I 
try that new challenge with the trainees, so what is 
your excuse?"
	She knows he is going to disagree with her plan 
but she will not give up.  This is just what she need 
after being an invalid for almost a month.
	[You are not an invalid, you are just resting.  
What is your plan, Mara?] Luke asked her again 
through the force.
	[Luke, I will explain later,  all right. I 
need...] Mara tried to cut him off.
	[Don't you dare use that privacy thing on me, 
again?  What is it you are going to do, tell me now?] 
Luke insisted.
	[Why... the Jedi Master has no patience?  Wait 
and rewarded you will be, hmmm...] Mara said 
seductively.
	It was not a good idea to communicate through 
the force with Jedi trainees all around.  They were 
smiling at the Jedi Master and his wife.  Mara was 
annoyed but Luke was not giving up.  He took advantage 
of her slackness and hug her tight and he felt all his 
earlier questions answered.
	"You are going to Kessel, Mara, are you going to 
tell me about this?" Luke asked her aloud this time.
	"Must I asked your permission every time, 
Skywalker."
	"No, you may not go on this mission.  Do you 
hear me?" Luke anger has shown itself again.
	"Of course, I heard you. But - you are not 
going to stop me?" Mara eyes look glaringly at Luke.
	"This is my responsibility.  Listen here and 
listen well, you may not leave Yavin, do you 
understand, Mrs. Skywalker?"
	"So what are you going to do me - locked me 
in your temple, in your ysalamiri room, perhaps?" 
	"What a great idea! Yes, I should just locked 
you up."
	"Don't you dare.  Have you forgotten that I 
escaped a whole planet full of ysalamiri, what makes 
you think one room of that stuff is going to keep me?" 
Mara was annoyed and kept the angry stance with her 
hands at her hips.  
	"Uhh, I'm afraid I have forgotten that.  I 
agree that might not worked."  Luke said very softly 
that Mara thought she was mistaken.  Luke took 
advantage of her confused state, grabbed her shoulders 
and kissed her hard.  All those angry emotions gone 
into that smoldering kiss.  After realizing that she 
was tricked, Mara fought him out of that embrace. But 
Luke would not release her from his hold. Mara reverts 
back to the habit of communicating through the force.
	[You do not play fair Mr. Skywalker, you cheat.]
	[After all this time and you still do not know 
me, Mrs. Skywalker.  I never play fair, especially when 
you look so beautiful when you are angry.]
	[Well, then, I better stop being angry and maybe 
you would not take advantage of me.]
	[Hmmm* I like the soft kittenish Mara, too, how 
can I resist such softness and charm.]
	[You know, Mr. Skywalker, I could throttle you.]
	[And you know, Mrs. Skywalker, I love you.]
	Kyp took that intermission in their quarrel and 
swiftly pull out and activate his lightsaber.  In a 
split second, both Luke and Mara did the same.  
All of a sudden, three lightsabers were humming 
simultaneously.  The trainees gasp in excitement and 
admiration at the perfect timing of the three Jedi.  
Kyp looked into both their eyes and smiled.  He 
switched off the lightsaber and said to the trainees, 
	"Remember, never jeopardize your guard in 
whatever hmm... situations.  Master Skywalker and Jedi 
Knight Skywalker has proved that point.  That's the 
entire lesson for today. You may leave."  Kyp turned 
and apologized to his Master and his wife.
	"No apology needed. Thank you for turning that 
into a lesson, I was wondering what I am going to say 
to them," Luke admired Kyp ingenious ways.
	"Thank you, Kyp." Mara said gratefully and 
turning to Luke, "we have unfinished business, came 
along into my ship and we can talk, this time in 
private."
	"Yes, my mistress, whatever you say," Luke 
said teasingly.
	In her ship, Mara changed her tactics and 
explained to Luke why she needed to go on this 
mission.  Luke knew that he could not keep her in a 
cage. No, not Mara.  She is too strong a personality 
to be subdued.  Luke also knew that is what made Mara 
the woman he loves.  She is so full of energy that to 
deny it would be a mistake.  He kissed her again and 
reminds her to be careful.
	"Don't try to make a new record.  Keep to 
well-use routes and remember that I am always with 
you. Please take good care of yourself, my love." 
	"I will, my darling master Luke.  Actually, I 
knew you would come around."
	"Then why did you fight me?"
	"I could use the rush of excitement from you."
	"Tell me that again when we both have time and 
I will give you a rush you will never forget," Luke 
winked at her mischievously. 
	"Why not go with me to Coruscant and we can 
share that rush you were mentioning?" Mara suggested.
	"See, I know I could trust you with great ideas.  
Get the ship ready and I will be back soon.  I have 
to speak with Kyp and Tionne first."
	"I will be waiting, come back soon, Luke," Mara 
replied seducingly.  Luke smiled and promised to be 
back soon. Finally the Jade's Fire speed away from 
the Academy on their way to Coruscant.  After 
punching in the coordinates in the navicomputer, 
Luke smiled at Mara. 
	"Well, what do you have in mind for me, Mara?"
	"That rush you were talking about."
	"Oh! Yes, that rush." Luke said teasingly and 
they were in each other arms all the way to Coruscant. 
	Leia was at her apartment with her family 
having their midday meal when she felt Luke presence 
in Coruscant.  
	"Uncle Luke is here," she told her family.
	"So is Aunt Mara," Anakin her youngest son 
announced.
	"I wonder why she's here, Han," she asked her 
husband, Han-Solo. "I hope she has recovered 
completely."
	"I am sure she has and probably bored out of 
her mind," Han-Solo replied. "Mara bored, now that 
would be something else."
	"Luke is coming here to our apartment. 
That's strange he's alone," Leia wondered why Mara 
was not with him.
	"Well, we'll find out soon enough," Han 
assured her.  
	Luke was still kissing Mara at the cargo bay 
when Ghent interrupted them.  
	"Mara, thank goodness, you came to my rescue," 
he said without realizing that Luke was with her.  
	"Oh! I'm sorry I did not know Master Luke was 
with you," Ghent apologized.
	"It's alright, Ghent," Mara answered. 
	"Take good care of yourself, Mara and remember 
what I say, don't try to take uncharted routes," 
Luke reminded her and said goodbye to both of them.  
He was just about to leave when Mara called out to 
him, "And Luke, you take care of my baby."
Luke turned around and wondered if he miss 
something. 
	"Mara, what are you saying?"
	"My baby, the *Jade's Fire* my ship, have you 
forgotten."
	"I thought..." Luke was about to say when Mara 
interrupted him through the force.
	[Hey, Luke, we're got company here.  I don't 
think all that rushes is quite enough.]
	[Well, then you just have to take care of 
yourself and come back here for more rushes, honey.]
	[That's is a promise, my love.]
	Luke was smiling all the way to Leia's apartment.  
When he arrived, his niece and nephews greeted him but 
were sad that their Aunt Mara did not come along.  
Luke mentioned that she is busy but she will see them 
as soon as she can.
	Han interrupted him, "Now kids, why don't we go 
and see, her, where is she, Luke?"
	"Cargo bay 10-98."
	"Alright, kids, let's go and say hello to your 
Aunt Mara," even before Han announced, his kids were 
already waiting for him at the door.
	Han found Mara giving instructions to her crew 
and holding her datapad, probably doing inventory on 
her cargo for the long journey.  
	"Hello Mara, I have the troops her to send you 
off," Han said teasingly.  
	"Oh! Hello, Jaina, Jacen and Anakin, thank you 
for coming to see me off, how are you all?"  Mara bent 
down to their height and asked them lovingly.  'Will 
her future child look like any of them?' she thought. 
All three children answered her together saying that 
they are fine.  But Anakin added, "my cousin will not 
look like any of us, Aunt Mara."
	Mara smiled at the wise young boy who is very 
strong in the force and whose clear and calm blue 
eyes matches his uncle perfectly.  
	"General, would you like to come with me on 
this mission?" Mara asked.
	Han was surprised at her request and he would 
be a fool to turn it down. But yet he said, 
	"No, I can't, I am really quite busy."
	"Why not? You look as if you could use the 
excitement."
	"Am I that transparent or do I project the 
bored smuggler's look?"
	"If there is such a thing, I must say that 
you definitely fit the image."
	At that moment both Jaina and Jacen said 
loudly that they want to come along, too.  
And Anakin decided to join in, too.
	Mara looked at them apologetically, "I am 
sorry, guys, maybe next time because this is 
really a very long trip and there will be lots of 
cargo, you would not enjoy it very much, alright."
All three children look sad by her rejection but 
when Mara promised to take them the next time, they 
cheered up.
	Han decided to ask her if she really needed an 
extra crew or just took pity of his boredom.
	"No, Han, really, another one of my crewmember 
falls sick at the last moment.  So I really next an 
extra hand," Mara said sincerely.  Mara told him why 
she was going on this mission because the captain 
also contracted some mysterious illness.  Han 
suggested that the other crewmembers be checked in case 
it was contagious.  But Mara assured him that was the 
first thing she did when the other crew falls ill but 
the Med Centre pronounced all of them fit and healthy.
	"In that case, Mara, I will join you," Han 
accepted her offer to come along on this trip.
	"Only one thing, general, I hope you remember 
that I am the captain and you are my crew, agree."
	"Agreed.  I better get back and inform Leia. 
Would you like to come along, Mara?"
	"No, maybe next time as we are already behind 
schedule especially since everyone has to be checked.  
Send her my love and I will see her when I come back. 
Oh! Han, we're flying off in two standard hours, can 
you be ready by then."
	"Yeah, sure." 
	Han and his children wave goodbye to Mara and 
walked back to their apartment.  When Leia heard about 
it, she was not pleased.  'Two weeks without Han, how 
will she manage?' she thought.  Luke interrupted her 
thoughts through the force.
	[Leia, I think it is a good idea because I am 
a little worried about Mara and having Han with her 
would ease my mind a little.]
	[I doubt anything I say would stop Han but 
you're right, I worried about her, too.]
	Han looked at his wife and his brother-in-law 
and knows that they're conversing through the force.
	"So I'm going, right.  Well, Leia, take care 
of yourself while I am gone."  Han looked at Luke, 
	"Of course, you will look after Leia, right, 
and I promised I will look after Mara for you."
	"Are you sure you are not force-sensitive, 
Han, that was exactly what I said to Leia?" Luke 
was astonished by Han's perceptiveness.
	"A Jedi scoundrel, now that definitely has nice 
ring to it. Don't you think, Leia?" Han laughs.  
	"I guess being in the company of Jedis has 
sharpen my sixth sense."
	"Get out of here, you Jedi scoundrel," Leia 
hugged her husband tight and give him a long goodbye 
kiss. "See you in two weeks, you old scoundrel."
	"Now, who are you calling old.  I still have my 
youth buried deep in me," Han smiled. "See you in two 
weeks, Leia-love. I better say goodbye to the kids 
and remind them not to give old Threepio a hard time, 
I hope."
	Luke enjoyed their banter, which is no different 
from his and Mara's.  He remembered to thank Han for 
going and looking after Mara for him. Soon, Mara and 
her crewmembers including Han got their clearance for 
lift-off.  Their first stop would be Kessel and then 
to Endor and back here in Coruscant, hopefully in two 
weeks.  Ghent has just told her about that stop on 
Endor before she left.  It seems that Karrde's client 
wanted some tree seedlings from that planet.  He has 
made arrangement with the natives but he has yet to 
collect it.  She feels excited just sitting at the 
captain seat piloting the huge cargo ship called 
'Karrde's Luck'. 
	Han was sitting uncomfortably at the co-pilot 
seat. If Chewie were here this seat would definitely 
be for him.  Chewbacca has gone back home to Kashyykk 
to be with his family.  Han had reminded him over and 
over that his life-debt to him has been more than 
fully paid.  Chewbacca was stubborn but he finally 
relented; though he still come to Coruscant to visit 
him occasionally.  
	Han glanced across at Mara sitting at the captain's 
seat with an obvious pleasure on her face.  Luke had 
married Mara but not in the conventional sense.  
They were married in the forest of Yavin with only 
his close friends and trainees as witnesses.  Leia 
wanted it registered but both of them were against 
it.  So, to the rest of the universe they are still 
Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade.  Sometimes, he still 
finds it unbelievable.  They have two completely 
different personalities like hot and cold.
	"What so hard to believe, General?" Mara 
suddenly answered his thoughts. "You and Leia 
are no different, both hot and cold, right."
	"Stop reading my mind, Mara."
	"Why not, Han, we're practically family, 
aren't we."
	"I guess we are but you still has no right in 
my head."
	"Cool it, Han, if I knew your thoughts were 
personal, I would not intrude.  It's just that I 
heard my name mentioned," Mara reply softly so as to 
cool him down.  It worked.  Han cool down and their 
talk became friendlier from then onwards.  Han agreed 
that they are now family and should treat each other 
as one. 
	Han always has some interesting stories or 
jokes to tell while they eat together with the other 
crewmembers.  After a few days, everyone call each 
other by his or her first names.  Except Mara, they 
call her Captain.  It was an easy and relaxing flight 
all the way to Kessel.  So when one of the 
crewmembers falls sick, it took everyone by surprise.  
Mara had that crew quarantined in his quarters but 
soon more followed. By the time they reached Kessel 
only five of them were left unaffected by the illness.  
Mara hoped that the Med Centre at Kessel in well 
equipped to handle a contagious disease.  Luckily, 
both Han and she had not contracted the disease.
	Luke was exceptionally worried, as Mara has not 
contacted him.  Thorough the force or otherwise.  
Leia voiced her concern as well when suddenly her 
commnet buzzed.  Han was on the other side and he 
looked horrible.
	"Leia, is Luke there, too?"
	"What happen Han, is Mara okay?" Luke asked 
him, though he can feel that Mara is fine.  He just 
needed confirmation.
	"She is fine, Luke. Right now, she is at the 
Med Centre getting her five sick crewmembers warded.  
Probably, quarreling about facilities, I guess.  
She asked to call and tell you both that we will be 
slightly delayed due to these unforeseen 
circumstances."
	"Can I do anything to help, Han?" Leia offered.
	"Yes, there is, the previous captain and one 
of the crew is at Coruscant Med Centre, can you 
check with them if they had found the cure, yet?"
	"I will do, in the meantime, take care of 
yourself."
	"Han, take care of Mara, too, all right," 
Luke requested.
	"Actually, Luke she's as fit as a tauntaun 
right now, there is really no need to worry," 
Han replied jokingly.
	"So I see you are not enjoying being a crew 
instead of a captain, right."
	"Oh! naw, Luke, but I can't say it was fun.  
She's a one hard drive captain," Han laughs. "Well, 
I really have to go, or I will be doing hard labor 
all the way."
	Luke did not find that funny but he agreed that 
Mara is a perfectionist and expect the same from her 
crew.  But so far with Luke, she is all cuddly and 
beautiful.
	[I heard that, who do you called cuddly?]
	[Mara, you heard me all the way from Kessel 
that's amazing.]
	[Well, Luke, all I need is a little 
concentration.  Oh! Tell Leia, her husband definitely 
needs that hard labor!]
	This time it was Leia who responded, [Mara, the 
harder the better, he is getting too soft lately.]
	Mara smiled and cut off the connection after 
telling Luke and Leia she loves them both.
Mara had arranged for the cargo of spice to be loaded 
on her ship.  They were waiting for Leia's report on 
the mysterious illness that is affecting her crew.  
Mara was in the cargo hold checking the cargoes when 
Han called her to the bridge.  It must be Leia with 
the report, she left and head immediately to the 
bridge. 
	"Han, Mara, I have good news and bad news," 
Leia announced on the commnet. "The good news is that 
they have found the cure.  It looks like both the 
crews here in Coruscant remembered eating a strange 
looking sea-like creature at Kash.  It was a bet 
among them on who would dare to try eating and 
finishing that meal.  According to our doctors here, 
it must have been a sea creature of bllutink species.  
It is deadly if not prepared properly or eaten by 
non-wookie. Well, here is the bad news, there is an 
antidote here in Coruscant but I doubt if they have 
it there in Kessel.  You might have to fly the other 
crewmembers to the Kash system as it is nearer than 
Coruscant.  They can survive if they can be given the 
antidote before forty-eight standard hours. I guess 
you better make a move.  Goodbye Mara and love you, 
Han.  Take care of yourselves."     
	Mara decided to move all her other sick 
crewmembers back to her ship and told Han to get the 
coordinates ready and make the jumped to lightspeed as 
soon as they reach hyperspace.  Han agreed.  It was a 
short trip to Kash and after getting all the sick crew 
warded Mara told Han that it would take at least a 
week for recovery.
	"Mara, why don't I called Chewie, since we are 
definitely undermanned," Han suggested. "Kashykkk is 
not far from here, I am sure he could get a shuttle 
and be here in two standard hours."
	"That's a good idea, general.  You might be a 
captain material after all," Mara said jokingly.
	"So don't forget to promote me on the next 
trip, right."
	"Maybe... I will have to think about it," 
Mara replied still smiling.
	Han notices that Mara had started to smile and 
jokes after she married Luke.  She famous stance of 
being 'irritated' was slowly making its way out.
	"Don't expect me to be cuddly, general."
	"Didn't I told you to leave my mind alone, Mara?"
	"And I specifically heard my name mentioned.  
By the way, let's have something to eat."
	"As long as it's not that bllutink creature?"
	"Why, general, you're getting soft, why not 
make a bet of it?"
	"I rather live, thank you," Han replied. With 
that, they walked off to have their meal while waiting 
for Chewbacca to join them.
	Chewbacca arrived right on time and they leave 
the planet Kash on their way to collect another cargo 
at Endor. Their trip to Endor was uneventful and 
smooth.  Mara made a precise landing at Endor on top 
the former battle station that was built by the former 
Empire. Mara had some strong memories of this planet.  
She shivered thinking of the atrocities that the 
Emperor did and had her do.  
	Han was looking at Mara and hoped that she would 
not remember her times with the Empire.  It would be 
painful for both of them.  Han made the move first and 
had the landing ramp down and asked Chewie to help 
with the cargo.  The Ewoks had the seedlings ready for 
them at the platform.  Han wondered what Karrde would 
give in exchange for these precious seedlings.  Han 
question was answered when Mara carried five big 
chunks of what looks like a cooling unit on repulsors 
downward the ramp.  Han look questioningly at Mara.
	"The crew have no right to ask questions.  They 
just carry out orders," Mara smiled. 
	"Oh! Really..." Han was flabergasted.
	"I am joking, Han.  Those are cooling units 
with the prime meat from the planet Texia. Hopefully, 
it will stay fresh for at least a few months.  
The ewoks can stop hunting for a while and enjoy 
their food," Mara assured Han. After the Ewoks had 
checked the cargo and satisfied with the condition of 
their bargain, they lift off.  Mara did not want to 
stay longer on this planet where so many memories 
reminded her of the evil Emperor.  
	Suddenly, when they are out of Endor's orbit the 
engine slowed and immediately cut-off.  Mara was just 
about to ask Han what had happen when she feel as if 
the whole ship was spinning and all she could see was 
darkness surrounding her.
	It was just another day in Luke's life as the 
new Ambassador.  Going to meetings in the senate was 
not exactly exciting or adventurous compared to his 
usual life of gallivanting across the galaxy fighting 
or saving lives.   But it was peace.  It was something 
that he had fight for almost half of his life. So, 
now life was just the normal routine of daily living.  
	All of a sudden, he felt a disturbance in the 
force, not great but more personal.  Mara, it must be 
her, he have been thinking of her and nothing else for 
the past days.  Leia is beginning to notice his lack 
of concentration while he was in these senate meetings.
	[Luke, what's wrong?] she asked him through the 
force.  
	[You felt that, too.] Luke replied.
	[Yes, but what is it or who is it?]
	[I think it's Mara, I'm sure it's her. 
She fainted. I will try to communicate with her and 
hope that she's all right.]
	[Mara, Mara, love, do you hear me, what happen, 
please answer me?]
	There was no immediate reply from her and all 
he could feel was darkness as if she was not there. 
He was confused and he did not hear Leia made her 
excuse to the senate telling them that she had to 
attend to an urgent matter that had just arise.  
She assured them that it was a personal matter and 
not a state emergency.  She had to physically pulled 
Luke out of his seat because he was still in shock. 
	"Luke, get hold of yourself.  We will go to my 
office and I will try to contact Han from there.  I'm 
sure it's nothing serious," Leia said and trying her 
best to comfort Luke.  She knows that Mara had meant 
everything to him for the last few years.  She had 
even notice that Luke was so much happier since he had 
married Mara.  She was glad of that because Luke was 
almost becoming the hermit that he once wanted to be. 
	That was before he realizes that he was in love 
with Mara.  His life had brightened overnight and he 
had become that simple farmboy that she known and 
always loved.  Yes, Mara had brought joy to her twin 
brother and for that she loves Mara, too.  Upon 
reaching her office, she told her secretary that 
neither her nor the Jedi Ambassador is to be disturbed.   
Before she even try to contact Han the commnet at her 
table beeped.  
	Han was about to speak when Leia interrupted, 
"We know about Mara, Han, how is she?"
	"When we leave the Endor's orbit, she suddenly 
fainted and none of us could wake her up.  Our engine 
is dead, too and Chewie is trying to fix it so that 
we could get Mara to Coruscant as fast as we could."
	"Han, did you say, Endor's Orbit?  Han, just 
fix whatever is necessary to get away from there.  
Anywhere, just get away.  I think it's the same spot 
where I fainted when I was carrying the twins.  But 
my ship was moving so I only fainted for a while.  
How long has she been out?"
	"Ten standard minutes, maybe.  Where's Luke, 
Leia?"
	"He's right here, he looks terrible, Han, 
I think he is trying to revive Mara through the 
force, somehow."
	"Can he do it, Leia, from such a distance?"
	"Their life forces are connected, I do hope 
he can do it.  Just get her out of there, I am 
afraid, Han," Leia said pleadingly.  Han promised 
to do whatever he can and cutoff the connection.  
	Luke was trying his best to contact Mara 
through the force but it was hopeless.  Their life 
forces had somehow got disconnected and he did not 
understand why.  'If Mara could not use her force, 
who is it that's disconnecting their life force?' 
he thought.  'He just hoped it's not what he thinks 
it is. The Emperor.  No, it cannot be, he's dead and 
that's that.' 
	"Leia," Luke finally spoken, "how many months 
pregnant were you when you fainted there?"
	"I don's know, Luke, I was so busy then, 
wait... maybe six or seven months, why Luke, you 
don't think?"
	"I do not want to think, Leia, but there's a 
possibility she's pregnant.  And it would probably 
be just a few days old, that's what I'm afraid, 
since it's still at such a young stage it can be 
manipulated."
	"Luke, you don't think the Emperor has 
anything to do with this.  He is dead, Luke, you 
saw him take the dying plunge down the death star 
reactor, remember."
	"Sometimes, Leia, he still lives in my dreams," 
Luke said sadly.  
	Leia was afraid of that; she still has dreams 
about her planet Alderaan, after all these years.  
She hoped that Han could get the ship repaired and 
get Mara out of that system.  Finally, the commnet, 
beeped again, it was Han.
	"Leia, we manage to move a little but the 
lightspeed mechanism is still not working.  I am 
sorry, Mara is still unconscious.  I don't know what 
to do, other than pouring cold water on her," Han 
was anxious to get his sister-in-law awakened.
	It was Luke who answered Han, "It is okay, 
Han, I can feel her again.  But I still cannot 
contact her, I will try to wake her up with the force, 
thank you, Han."
	"Thanks the force for that," Leia felt relieved. 
	"Han, fix that ship and get to Coruscant as fast 
as you can."
	"Yes, chief, will do that, Han Solo out."
	Luke was concentrating hard through the force 
trying to revive the unconscious Mara.  At last he 
heard her weak voice through the force, 
	[Luke, what happen to me?]
	[You are fine now, love.  You fainted earlier 
but I think you are just fine, mother of my child.]
	[Mother of your...] Mara was shocked but when she 
realized what Luke was saying, she took a deep breath 
and focus on the force.  She checked her body and 
found that it is indeed true.  She could feel a new 
life force inside her taking shape.  [Oh! Luke, I do 
not know what to say.]
	[Mara, speechless... Well, there is a first time 
for everything,] Luke answered her.
	Leia could feel the joy from Luke and knew that 
congratulations was in order to the new father and 
mother.  She is also very happy for both of them.
The ship landed in Coruscant and the medical team 
were all waiting for the crew to bring down the ramp.  
Mara had insisted on not sitting in the repulsor 
chair but one angry look from Luke change her mind.  
She sat down in the chair quietly and was pushed 
towards the Med Centre.  
	Luke had called Dr Ginet, the same surgeon who 
operated on her a month ago when she had the arti-womb 
implant. "So, congratulations, to you, Mr. and Mrs. 
Skywalker."
	Luke was overwhelmed when he saw that Mara 
blushed.  He had never seen her blushed before and 
decided that she must be really moved in the prospect 
of becoming a mother.
	"I did not expect you to get pregnant so soon, 
but this is wonderful.  Now, if you would let me check 
you to see that everything is okay, you can leave 
immediately," Dr Ginet assured her.
	Luke notices that Mara was blushing again and 
through the force he could feel the overwhelming 
happiness surrounding her.  He was starting to feel 
the joy of becoming a father but he was also afraid.  
Will he be a good father unlike his own father?  
He did not have a role-figure to follow so he hopes 
that he was doing the right thing.

CHAPTER 3

	Luke knew an ambassador life was hectic and 
expected the traveling to be kept to a minimum.  
Lately, he could count the days he was at home with 
Mara. He anticipated this coming home for quite a 
while.  He misses his wife so much and cannot wait 
to be home. Luke finds her on the farm repairing 
yet again one of the farm droids. Luke can see that 
Mara's bulging stomach was bothering her but she 
always remain silent.  She never complained to him 
even when she was vomiting continuously after a meal 
for the first three months.  
	In the end, she surrendered and said, "Well, 
I never like eating anyway." 
	The last few months, she kept herself busy with 
farming and keeping house. Who can imagined Mara Jade 
the assassin was finally domesticated? To that she 
replied, "I'm only doing it for the baby, okay..."
	Dr Ginet warned her to stop commuting between 
Coruscant and Yavin too often. She explained to Mara 
that she must cut down her activities to ease the 
burden on the arti-womb. Luke had promised Dr Ginet 
that Mara would follow her orders. Mara also promised 
that she would not jeopardize her one and only child.
Mara who was easily bored like to meddle with the 
farm droids and Artoo do not like it. From the 
distance, Luke could already hear the commotion made 
by Artoo and Mara's quarrel.
	"Hello, my love, where is Artoo?" Luke wondered.
"You miss Artoo? What about me?" Mara smiled.  "I 
asked him to check the processing equipment in the 
storeroom." 
	"Of course, I miss you but are you sure sending 
Artoo there was a good idea. What did he do this 
time?"
	"Making a lot of noise, as usual, I can't 
remember for what anymore.  All I can hear is his 
non-stop whistling and it's giving me a headache."
	"Maybe, you should rest, Mara.  Remember what 
the doctor said."
	"Wait a minute.  Now, I remember...  that was 
exactly what Artoo said before he wheeled off from 
here.  Both of you are beginning to sound alike."
"Artoo has been with me for a long time.  He did 
not mean any harm, Mara."
	"Yes, I am sorry, Luke.  Maybe I do need that 
rest after all.  It's just that I am not very good at 
playing invalid."
	"Just do it for the baby, Mara.  It will only 
be for another few months.  Think of it as a long 
extended vacation," Luke said while steadying her 
into standing position. 
	"Did you just say - vacation - why don't you 
try getting pregnant sometimes and tell me if it's 
a vacation?" 
	Luke glared at her and smiled.  Sometimes he 
wished he could help ease her burden and her pain 
but Mara is always too stubborn and insisted that 
she can manage.
	[But Luke, I am not stubborn now, please help 
me back to the house.  I swear I wish the baby would 
come out now.  I'm sure I look awful.]
	[To me you are the most beautiful woman in the 
whole universe. Thank you, Mara, for loving me and 
carrying my son.]
	[Our son, Luke.]
	[Yes, our son, Mara.]
	They had finally reached the house and Mara 
rested on the couch and immediately falls into a deep 
slumber.  She must be really tired, Luke thought.  
She looked so peaceful lying there with their child 
who was now almost seven months into its pregnancy.  
	The commnett buzzed and Kyp came on the line.  
Kyp wondered if Luke could come over the Academy to 
help settle a row started by the newcomers.  New Jedi 
trainees are usually very brash and uncouth.  They 
will have to be taught to calm down and be at peace 
with the force.  Kyp could usually handle them but 
today he had to bring the senior Jedi trainees out 
into the forest. Luke decided not to wake up Mara and 
went to the Academy on foot.  He needed the exercise 
anyway.  
	When he reached the Academy, the quarrel had 
simmered down.  He just warned the troublemakers that 
anger is of the darkside and if they are really 
willing to be Jedi they have to learn to controlled 
it.  He decided that the only way to calm them down 
was to give them lots of physical activity.  
He brought them out into the forest of Yavin for some 
physical training.  He showed them the exercises that 
Master Yoda taught him long ago.  
	Mara was feeling very restless and was tossing 
and turning in her sleep.   
	"MARA - the voice said - I WILL LIVE AGAIN 
THROUGH YOU."  
	Who said that?  Mara was thoroughly confused by 
that voice in her head.  Then recognition hit her hard.  
The Emperor, now she remember, who else would speak 
to her that way.  It has been so long that she has 
forgotten his voice but it was there in her dream, 
what could it mean?
	She woke up drenched with sweat and the 
implications that the voice means to her. What could 
the dead Emperor want with her now? If possible, she 
would rather not remember that voice but she has to 
find out the reason.  So she concentrates through the 
force and replay that dream again.  She immediately 
saw the ugly face of the Emperor and his voice saying, 

-I WILL LIVE AGAIN - I WILL LIVE AGAIN THROUGH YOU - 

repeating itself over and over again.  Suddenly, all 
of it became crystal clear to her.  That incident at 
Endor where she fainted, Luke had said that her life 
force was separated from him for a few minutes.  It 
must have given the Emperor's spirit enough time to 
latched on to her, or to be precise to her child.  
	"Oh! No, I will never let this happen.  The 
Emperor must not live again," she thought.  There was 
only one thing that she can do.  She remembered the 
time when they had to fight Jorus C'boath, she told 
Luke to kill her rather than let her joined the 
darkside.  Slowly, she walked out her door like 
someone that was possessed and climbed the stairs one 
by one to reach the rooftop of the temple.  She is 
consumed in wanting to do the right thing that she 
dared not think anymore.  Her footsteps silently 
taking her up and up and up...
	Luke could feel that something is wrong.  He 
tries to contact Mara but all he gets was a cold 
feeling of emptiness.
	"This is not right," he said loudly to the 
astonishment of the new Jedi trainees.  He contacted 
Kyp through the force and showed him where he was and 
told him to bring his trainees back to the Academy. 
	"Listen, everyone, Master Kyp will be here 
shortly, please just wait for him.  I am sorry but I 
have to go," Luke said to his trainees.  
	They were surprised but agreed to stay and wait 
for Kyp.  Luke did not hesitate for one moment and 
ran as fast as the force could carry him back to his 
place.  He could feel that Mara was already at the 
top of the temple.  Quickly, he levitated himself up 
the sides of the temple. He arrived just in time to 
see that Mara was already at the edge of the roof.  
	"Mara, Darling, don't..." Luke tried to stop 
her from hurling herself down.
	Mara turned and look in his direction, "Luke, 
I'm sorry..." and immediately jumped from the edge.
	"Mara, Nooooooooo!" Luke shouted and ran 
forward to follow her.  He reached Mara, grab hold 
of her and used the force to cushion their fall to 
the ground.  He looked into her eyes and it shocked 
him that he did not recognize her at all.  She was 
so consumed with the finality of death.  She wanted 
to die and killing their child along with her.  
He carried her and run as fast as he could towards 
the Academy.  He too did not dare think of Mara's 
reasons.  
	He was perspiring heavily when he reached the 
Academy.  Even with the force, the confused state of 
his mind and the added weight of the pregnant Mara 
was too much for him to bear.  He went straight to 
the ysalamiri room, opened the door and put Mara down 
gently on the floor.  He uses the comm unit by the 
door (which he installed because they cannot use the 
force to communicate as ysalamiri surrounded the room) 
to called Tionne.  She asked Tionne to bring along some 
kind to restraint to the ysalamiri room immediately.
	Tionne brought with her big metal handcuffs 
similar to the one he used on Chewie so long ago.  
She told him that was all she could find, as they 
never keep anyone as prisoners here in Yavin.  When 
she saw Luke put the cuffs on Mara, she was shocked.
	"Master Luke, what are you doing," she almost 
shouted at him.
	"I'm sorry, Mara, darling, I have to do this,"
Luke told Mara, who was in a state of shock.  He 
explains what has just happen to Tionne and she was 
horrified. Luke hugs his shocked wife and wondered 
what had happened.  Her eyes did not show any sign of 
emotion. It is just staring into oblivion.  Luke was 
worried but he did not want to leave her there or move 
her somewhere that she can use the force.  He felt 
safe in this forceless room and he knew that Mara felt 
the same.
	Kyp found them at the ysalamiri room and saw the 
Jedi Master hugging his wife with tears in his eyes.  
He knew that something extremely terrible had just 
happen as he had never seen Luke cried.  He looked at 
Tionne, who had become quite close to Mara over the 
years, looked terrified.  Finally, Tionne notice Kyp 
and explained the incident to him. Kyp was also 
shocked when Tionne told him.  His first question 
would be what had brought about Mara's suicidal 
attempt.  Kyp decide to wait until Luke calm down 
and hope that he can help solved this mystery. 
At last, Luke let go of Mara. He looked into her 
eyes and shakes her shoulders hard.  
	"I am sorry, Mara but you have to get out of 
this, please, I love you.  You are very a rational 
person. You must have a reason to do what you just 
did, please tell me, Mara, why, why?"  Luke begged 
with her while at the same time trying hard to bring 
her to her senses.  Finally, Mara looked into Luke's 
eyes with recognition and struggled in his arms.
	"Let me go, Luke, let me go.  I have to kill 
him. He must not live again.  Please, Luke let me 
go..."
	"No, Mara, look at me.  Do you love me? Answer 
me, do you love me?" Luke shake her shoulders again 
and looks deep into Mara's cloudy eyes. Mara took a 
deep breath and then they were looking into each 
other's eyes trying to find comfort, forgiveness and 
answers.  Then Mara said softly, "I love you, Luke 
Skywalker, very, very much. Please forgive me."
	"Oh! Mara, my love, my darling, I was terrified 
of losing you. Please, Mara promised me you would not 
do that again. Promised me," Luke asked her 
desperately.
	"You would not say that if you know why, Luke.  
It is the Emperor, Luke; he will not let go of me even 
after he is dead.  He has yet again controlled me.  I 
think when I fainted at Endor; his spirit latched on 
to our child.  This baby I am carrying is not our 
child Luke.  Now, do you understand why I have to kill 
myself?  I will not let him live again, Luke, never.  
I rather die than let that happen," Mara finally gave 
her explanation.
	The room was so quiet that they could even hear 
the ysalamiri breathe.  Luke, Kyp and Tionne were 
shocked from Mara's explanation that they were 
speechless.  Luke could not believe something so 
bizarre could happen.  It is as if the Emperor is 
always there a step ahead of him.  How could the 
Emperor make a mess to his life like this?  He would 
never harm Mara because it would be like killing 
himself. Luke was beginning to agree with Mara; maybe 
he should have just fall off that roof together with 
her and their child.  Then it would be the end. No 
more Emperor or dark side to interfere with his or 
Mara's or his child's life.  It would be a perfect 
ending and he will die with the people he loves.
	Kyp could not feel through the force because of 
the ysalamiri but he could see that his Master's eyes 
are getting just as cloudy as Mara's was earlier.
	"Master, please listen to me, everything has a 
solution.  Even this, you must know that.  Maybe, if 
all of us get together concentrate in the force an 
answer can be found," Kyp tried to sound confident in 
order to give his master some hope.  "Please, Luke, 
let's try it."
	"No, Kyp," Luke said and Kyp felt resigned but 
what Luke said next gave him hope. "Do or do not do, 
there is no try."
	Tionne offered to stay with Mara while the two 
Jedi Masters went to the hall at the Academy to 
contact the force for help.  There was Luke, Kyp, 
Streen, and Kam sitting in a circle and concentrating 
in the force in the hope of finding an answer to 
Luke's dilemma.  
	"Jedi Masters of the force, please help me in 
this, Master Yoda, Master Jinn, Ben, Father, 
please..." 
	Luke said out loud in the hope of some response 
from the Masters.  At last, they heard a voice through 
the force and an apparition of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi 
appeared.
	"Ben..." Luke recognized him. "It has been so 
long, thank you."
	"Yes, Luke, it has been a long time. Your son 
will be strong, Luke. GO TO MYKRRR AND ALL IS WELL..." 
Then the apparition disappeared.
	Luke took that as the solution to his problem.  
'He has to go to Mykrr, why there?' he thought. He did 
not know the answer but he knew that he trusted the 
force.
	Kyp helped in getting the Jade's Fire ready.  
Luke did not know how long he had to stay in Mykrr so 
he just told Kyp to put enough food for a few months.  
Kyp offered to come along, Luke thanked him but said 
that he felt they must face this themselves.  He went 
down to the ysalamiri room and open Mara's handcuffs.  
He helped her walk up the stairs all the way to the 
ship.  He said his goodbye and reminded Kyp to called 
Leia and tell her she could contact him at Mykrr.  He 
knew that Leia would be extremely worried if she could 
not contact him.
	The Jade's fire lift off from the Yavin Academy 
and soon the ship jumped to lightspeed on route to 
Mykrr.  Luke went to the lounge to check on Mara.  
Mara was sitting quietly with her head down but she 
look up when he came in.  Luke looks into her eyes and 
recognizes the Mara he loved. No more of those 
cloudiness that existed earlier.
	"Everything will be fine, Mara, the force is 
with us," Luke assured her.
	"Luke, I am ashamed that I did not tell you about 
it first.  I am so consumed in getting rid of him from 
my body that I couldn't rationalize anymore.  I am 
sorry, Luke," Mara apologized sincerely.
	"You acted on impulse, Mara, just like you were 
trained to do. I might have done the same. Next time, 
remember that I am always there for you and I love 
you," Luke reminded her.
	"Hold me, Luke," Mara pleaded.
	Luke holds her tight and persuaded her through 
the force that everything would be fine once they 
reach the planet Mykrr.
	The journey to Mykrr was uneventful but Luke 
could see that Mara was getting uncomfortable.  He 
could feel through the force that she was trying to 
separate herself from the child that they thought was 
theirs.  It is not easy when the child is part of 
your body and Luke knew that Mara has finally given 
up. She just accepted and trusted the force would 
hopefully get rid of the Emperor's presence in Mykrr.  
Luke felt happy that she still has trust in the force.  
Maybe there is hope, after all.
	Mara suggested that they land in the forest near 
Karrde old storage facilities.  At least, there would 
be adequate shelter for them.  Luke decided to check 
the area for life signs first, as he would not like 
surprises especially in Mara's condition.  The scan 
showed life signs and Luke wondered if smugglers has 
decided to make camp in that area. 
 	"Luke, I doubt if they are smugglers hiding here 
since the Empire had been eradicated.  It is too rough 
a place for anyone to consider it as a permanent base.  
Maybe, bounty hunters, Luke, why don't we land on the 
opposite side and check it out," Mara suggested.
	"Listen here, Mara, I will do all the checking.  
You stay here in the ship.  It would be safer, do you 
understand," Luke immediately cautioned her.
	"Luke, I am fine.  I know this place better than 
you do.  I will come with you and that's final."
	Luke was about to argue but decide that he need 
her by his side.  More for his own peace of mind than 
for her offer of help.  He could find his way around 
the forest of Mykrr even without her help but he was 
worried she might become suicidal again.   They landed 
on the other side of the old facilities and hope that 
no one notices their arrival.  Mara looks determine 
but not as agile as before with the child she was 
carrying.
	Mara felt the lost of her force in this forest 
full of ysalamiri.  She notices that Luke was looking 
at her strangely and wishes that she had the force 
to read his thoughts.
	"What is it?" Mara looked all over her body. 
"Why are you smirking like that?"
	"It's just that you look so heavy and the 
lightsaber could hardly hang on your - mmm - waist."
	"You are laughing at my size," Mara punched him 
in his chest. "How could you?"
	"It is just that I always imagine you, very agile 
but..."
	"So, you thought I am not agile, eh?  Now, I know 
how Jabba feels lugging all those extra weight 
around," Mara said teasingly.  
	"Jabba the Hutt - agile - now I could just 
imagine it," then both of them started laughing and 
imagining Jabba being agile.
	Then Luke said seriously, "You are so much more 
beautiful than Jabba the Hutt, Mara." 
	"Well, what a compliment to be compared to a 
slug, remind me to thank you, sometime," Mara mocked 
him.
	He could always depend on Mara to lighten the 
situation with her teasing.  They are getting closer 
to the old facilities and saw four humans conversing 
or more like quarreling among themselves.  Mara 
wondered how long they have been in this forest.  
Their clothes was torn and tattered, they look thin 
and out of place.  They could not be bounty hunters 
or smugglers.  Then Mara saw the outfit that was put 
haphazardly on the ground.  
	"Luke," Mara said angrily, "they're 
stormtroopers, or used to be."
	Luke nodded in agreement and it could mean that 
either they left the Empire or they crashed on this 
planet.  Before Luke could say another word, a blaster 
is aim at his head.  He has forgotten that he could 
not use his force because of the ysalamiri in this 
forest or else he would have felt their presence 
before.  He would fight but he saw that Mara was held 
up, too. 
	One of the ex-stormtroopers came forward, "Who 
are you and what are you doing here on this planet?  
Were you spying on us?" 
	Luke noticed by their reactions that they are 
uncertain whether to killed them or ask them for help.  
Luke decided to use that as an advantage and offer 
them an alternative. 
	"I am Luke Skywalker, Ambassador of the New 
Republic.  I could help you get out of this planet, 
if you join us and pledge your allegiance to the New 
Republic," Luke answered confidently.
	"Join the rebels, are you crazy?" one of them 
said angrily.  
	"Wait a minute, why don't we find their ship 
and blast off from this forsaken planet," another one 
of the stormtrooper suggested.
	"Oh, no... you don't," Mara said angrily.  
"Anyway, my ship will self-destruct in 5 minutes if 
you do not use the correct authorization code, I'm 
afraid all of you still need us alive to get out of 
here."
	"And since these sectors are now under the New 
Republic jurisdiction," Luke informed them.  "Where 
will you go, what will you do and I am sure you don't 
even know what is the name of this planet?"
	"They are right.  We need to talk about this, 
first," the other stormtrooper who is probably of a 
higher rank than the rest finally spoken.
	Luke and Mara were forced to go to a place that 
looks like the storage area and pushed into storeroom 
and locked.  Luke could see that Mara was furious at 
him.
	"Why did you say that for?  Might as well 
announce our arrival earlier.  Anybody here wants to 
join the New Republic are most welcome.  Come and 
join us..." 
	"I could see that they are confused, and 
probably haven't had any food for days.  By now, I am 
sure they know that the Empire is not going to rescue 
them.  I only wanted to save them, Mara."
	"Yes, you're good at saving others, aren't you.  
But what about us, Luke?  What are we supposed to do 
here?  What are we going to do about this thing that 
is living in my belly? What about our son?"  Mara was 
distraught by this sudden entanglement with the 
stormtroopers.
	Luke hugs her and can feel that she is close to 
tears.   Mara usually never showed such unpredictable 
emotions, maybe the stress of her pregnancy and the 
feeling of helplessness is hitting her hard.
	"Calm down, my love, we will find a way out of 
this."
	"I'm sorry, Luke, I don't know what came over 
me but I just wanted to cry all the time. What is 
happening to me?" Mara sobbed.
	"I don't know, my love but cry all you want, at 
least, my shoulder would have serve a purpose."
	"Oh! Luke, I'm sorry," Mara notices for the 
first time that his shoulder was very wet.  "Well, it 
won't dry if we just sit here.  Let's find a way out 
of this rut?"
	"That's more like the Mara I know. Maybe it 
won't be necessary. I can hear their footsteps coming 
in this direction." 
	"Yeah! I bet that they will declare their 
undying loyalty and devotion to the New Republic," 
Mara said jokingly.
	"You'll be surprised what people will do for 
food."
	Luke assumption that the stormtroopers will 
defect to the New Republic was right.  They release 
Luke and Mara from their makeshift prison and 
surrender their weapons.  Luke convinces them to wait 
for at least a day or more for the arrival of the New 
Republic shuttle.  He guaranteed their freedom but 
warned them that they will spend a few days being 
interrogated by the headquarters. If they wanted to 
join the New Republic squadron, they will to go 
through years of training but they are free to 
choose how to live their life. They all agreed 
simultaneously.
	Luke suggested they wait at the old facility 
while he and Mara went back to their ship to make 
the necessary arrangements.  Luke contacted Leia on 
the commnet and was connected almost immediately. 
	Leia sounded anxious and worried, "Luke, 
thanks the force you are all right. How is Mara? Kyp 
explanation was very vague and I got the distinct 
impression that he left something out."
	"I will explain everything later.  Now, Leia, I 
need you to do me a favor.  I have some friends who 
are defecting.  Can you arrange a shuttle to pick 
them up tomorrow?  I will send you the coordinates.  
Leia, I had guaranteed their freedom. After the usual 
procedures, can you see that they are free, please?"
	"Luke, that is a lot to ask, but I see what I 
can do."
	"Thank you, Leia and I promised to tell you the 
whole sordid story."
	"Yes... you better.  Give Mara my love and take 
care you two.  Come back soon."
	Luke smiles and cut off the connection.  Mara 
came to the bridge and said jokingly, "I heard about 
the friends bit, Luke, are you sure you can trust 
them without your force confirming it."
	"Sometimes people use instincts, Mara.  Han's 
has always use what he called "his gut feelings" and 
it hasn't fail him yet."
	"I do hope you are right."
	"I know that I am," Luke said but hope that his 
voice did not betray his confidence.
	They went back to the old facilities to convey 
the latest information to the stormtroopers.  Mara 
decided that they might as well stay there as it was 
getting late.  She shows Luke the hidden quarters 
where Karrde and her used to live.  The quarters are 
exceptionally small but cozy.  There is an attached 
kitchenette, but all the dates on the food shows that 
it is well beyond expiry date. They brought their own 
rations so there is no need to eat expired food.  The 
hall is sparsely furnished with a few air cushions.  
	But the bedroom has a bunker large enough for 
two.  Layers and layers of furs covers it in different 
shades of colors. Luke does not know what kind of 
creatures it comes from, he rather not find out.  
He suddenly feels very tired and that bunker was 
beginning to look so comfortable. Maybe, he will take 
a nap for a short while, he thought. But as soon as 
he lie down, he immediately fell into deep sleep.
	Mara saw Luke sleeping soundly and knew that 
Luke was tired with all the events happening 
concurrently.  She feels so hungry and ate the food 
rations that they brought and later fell asleep, too.
	"MARA - YOU CANNOT RUN FROM ME - I WILL LIVE 
AGAIN."
	She must have been dreaming when she heard the 
Emperor's voice in her head again.  Immediately, she 
reached out and touched Luke, who wakes up instantly. 
	"Is it him again?" Luke is worried. "I thought 
he won't bother you here in Mykrr."
	"He's in me, Luke. So what are we going to do 
about it?"
	"Let's go deeper into the forest.  Then we 
would just have to trust the force, Mara."
	So they packed enough rations, carry their 
blasters and made their way into the dangerous forest 
of Mykrr.   It was getting darker, they stop and made 
their camp on the first open space they found.  Mara 
was getting more uncomfortable.  She could feel the 
baby in her moving vigorously and wondered whether it 
was her son or the Emperor.  The urge to just kill 
the Emperor was strong but she wanted to give her son 
a chance to live. 
	"Well, what now Luke?" Mara asked him anxiously. 
	"Why don't you just lie down and rest, Mara, I 
will keep watch, in case, there are wild vonskrrs 
around."
	"Luke, I am too anxious, I don't think I could 
sleep."
	"Then come over here," Luke invited her.  They 
hugged each other silently and together they looked 
up to the stars in the darkened night.  The stars were 
out in full force and looks like they are trying to 
outshine each other.  Other than the occasional 
howling of the vonskrr, it was very peaceful and 
silent.  Without warning, Mara could feel movement 
in her womb and it was getting painful by the minute.  
	"Luke, help me, pain - Ahh - I don't think it's 
time to deliver - Ahh - it's too early.  Help me, 
Luke - the baby -" Mara shouted.
	"Ben, help me, fight it my son, fight it..." 
Luke used that name by instinct or was it the force.
	Immediately, dark blue light surrounds Mara's 
body and she scream in pain.  Then, another pure 
white light comes out from her trying to push away 
the dark blue light.  
	Their unborn son's presence is trying to 
force the evil out of Mara's body,* Luke thought.  
	Mara has stop screaming and instantly she feels 
very calm.  The white light succeeds in surrounding 
Mara and both of them could see the blue light moves 
quickly away and upwards into the night. 
	"It is over, isn't it Luke?"
	"Yes, Mara.  It is over. Why don't you try and 
get some sleep?" Luke advised her.  She sleep 
peacefully in his arms the whole night.  When she woke 
up the next morning, she realized that they were still 
in each other's arms.  She kissed him and tells him 
that she loves him very much.  
	"So do I... Mara."
	It was still very early in the morning when 
they pack their camp and walk together back to their 
ship.  When they lift off from the planet, Mara could 
feel a sense of foreboding facing their future. 
	"Why?" she thought, "it's all over, right."
	Luke could see that Mara was frowning and 
decided to ask her later when he could feel their 
force again.  As soon as they are out of Mykrr orbit, 
Luke could feel that something was wrong.  He did not 
tell Mara as he could feel she was already worried 
about something. 
	No use adding fuel to the fire,* he thought. 
Whatever was wrong, they would find out soon enough.
Luke was right.  As soon as the distance crept 
further from the planet Mykrr, Mara shouted.
	"Luke, help me, I cannot feel anything."
	Luke wondered why she asked him that because 
he can feel her presence with him through the force.  
Then he realized that it was not Mara, it was their 
son.  He cannot feel him through the force either, so 
that was why he feel something was not right earlier.
	"It's all right, Mara." Luke reassured. 
"Somehow, I knew that this would happen, he must have 
lost his force powers when he fought the Emperor 
earlier."
	"Are you sad, Luke?  We will have a non-force 
sensitive son."
	"Actually, I can feel through the force that our 
child is very strong in the force. But it's very 
difficult to differentiate whether it's the Emperor 
or our child.  But after what I saw last night, I know 
it's our child who is stronger. He managed to fight 
off the Emperor.  How could I not love him with or 
without the force, Mara?" he said with full of 
anticipation for the future.
	"There must be a way to get his force back, 
Luke."
	"Don't you even dare mentioning that.  I've 
learned that lesson watching Callista.  I am not going 
to waste my son's life finding something that he might 
or might not have.  I will teach him everything I know 
and you will, too.  Together we will not waste time 
searching for something but instead use the time to 
teach him to survive and hope that he will grow up 
strong and wise with or without the force."
	Mara agrees with him.  Their son has made an 
early contribution towards the safety of the galaxy.  
She will teach him to live the rest of his life using 
intelligence and skill.
	"Luke, I would like to name him Myka after 
planet Mykrr," Mara suggested. "King of Mykrr, what 
do you think?"  
	"King of Ysalamiri's more like it," Luke said 
jokingly, "But seriously Mara, his name is Ben."
	"What makes you think so, did he tell you?"
	"Incidentally, that was the name I called 
before the white light surrounds you.  I guess it 
must be him as Ben Kenobi was not there."
	"Then, it's settled. His name shall be Myka-Ben."
	"Myka-Ben Skywalker." Luke said his son's name 
out loud and agrees with Mara that it is perfect. 
	"But, I think I will still call him Ben, Mara."
	"Then, I must remember to call him Myka, to 
remind him of his ancestry."
	"Are you going to make him claim Mykrr, I don't 
think the New Republic will allow that?" Luke said 
teasingly.
	"Of course not, Luke.  If he asks you where you 
grow up, you'll say Tatooine.  What can I say? So I 
will tell him that I am from Mykrr.  A sort of 
neutral zone, if you get my meaning."
	"That's true, isn't it?  In Mykrr, all three 
of us will be equally forceless. It will be just like 
any ordinary family without the force to remind us of 
our difference. We shall go there often.  Yes, I 
could see it in the future."
	Luke went back to the bridge to check on the 
coordinates when he heard Mara shout again, "Luke, 
Come in here, hurry." He ran to the lounge to see 
Mara panting heavily. "What happened?"
	"I think you - better change - the coordinates - 
and go straight - to Coruscant.  I had - a feeling - 
the baby - can't wait - any longer.  Please hurry...  
Luke... I don' think... I can... hold it... any 
longer..." Mara said in-between panting and catching 
her breath.
	"But Mara, it's too early."
	"Go...  Oooooooh...  Aaaaaaaaah..."
	Luke hurried to the bridge and changed the 
coordinates.  He was indecisive on whether to comfort 
Mara or concentrate on speeding the ship by using the 
force.  <Don't worry about me...Just hurry...> he 
heard Mara made the decision for him.  
	He concentrated and pushed the ship's utmost 
lightspeed limitation.  It was extremely difficult, 
as he has to be careful to avoid other ships that 
are traveling on the same route. They almost 
collided with a cargo ship.  Luke felt shocked 
feelings vibrated from the cargo ship when he speed 
through their path. They reach Coruscant in less than 
the normal standard lightspeed.  When Luke asks for 
permission to land, he heard the surprised 
controller's voice.
	"Where did you come from Ambassador Skywalker, 
or maybe I shouldn't ask, your request to land on 
platform 9986 on the Menarai Hospital is granted."
	Luke thanked him and contacted the hospital for 
Dr Ginet to be present.  They replied that she 
happened to be on vacation but they will contact her 
immediately.  Meanwhile Dr Sher will be waiting for 
him when he landed. Luke was disappointed that 
Dr Ginet was not available but right now, he better 
concentrate on landing 'Jade's Fire' right side up.  
After he landed, he carried Mara who was sweating 
profusely and out of breath into the platform. Luke 
sends calming and soothing thoughts to help ease her 
pain.  The medical team was already waiting for him.
	The med team put her on the repulsor bed 
immediately.  They moved swiftly to the automated lift 
and down to the Operation Centre.  Dr Sher introduces 
herself to Luke and assures him that Dr Ginet was on 
her way.  A med droid came to assist Luke to suit up 
and meet them at Operation Centre 3.
	By the time he reached there, Mara was already 
unconscious.  Dr Sher advised him to hold on to Mara 
while they tried to get the baby out.  Luke hopes that 
Dr Ginet would hurry up and attend to Mara.  
	Instantaneously, he heard the sound of a baby 
wailing loudly.  His baby, he is a father, now. 
But he's worried that Mara was still unconscious.  
The med droid assistant took his baby to get it 
cleaned and checked.  A few minutes later, he was 
holding his baby in his arms as the med droid 
pronounce him fit and healthy.  
	"Don' worry, Ben, your mother is the best Jedi 
Knight I know and she will be just fine," Luke said 
confidently.  
	The words were meant for his baby but he found 
comfort in it too.  He only gets to hold his baby for 
a while before the Med-droid came to claim his son.  
He did not like that but he was too distraught about 
Mara to argue.  He could not feel her life force 
anymore and he was very worried.  'Where was that Dr 
Ginet?'  
	When Dr Ginet arrived she immediately when to 
worked on Mara's body. She checked Mara's condition 
and removed the arti-womb.  Finally, Dr Ginet assured 
Luke that it was all over and she has gave Mara 
enough medication so that she can rest.  Luke checked 
Mara's life force and confirmed Dr Ginet diagnosis 
was true.  He also felt that she was finally out of 
pain and sleeping peacefully.
	"Master Skywalker, your wife is fine.  She is 
now resting but I see that you already knew that," 
Dr Ginet said reassuringly.  "So, you have a handsome 
son. I am sorry but he must remain in intensive care 
for at least another month as he is delivered before 
he is due. It is just a precaution to ensure that his 
immune system is fully developed. But, he is your son 
and I'm sure he will be strong."
	"Yes, I do hope so."
	Dr Ginet was surprised that he did not seem as 
confident about his son as he was about his wife. She 
decided not to pursue the matter.
	Luke knew that Mara was getting better through 
the force but he was helpless when it comes to his 
son.  The baby like Luke and Mara already suspected 
was not force-sensitive.  So, Luke has to depend on 
the word of Dr Ginet.  If she say the baby was fine, 
he will just have to believe her.
	Luke looked down at the tired Mara and he 
admired her courage to go through this just to give 
their son a future.  Their son, now he really have his 
own family.  He realized that it's about time he 
announces the new arrival to his other family here in 
Coruscant.  He contacted Leia through the force and 
told her that she was now a fully pledged aunt to a 
young boy called Myka-Ben Skywalker.