Mara softened her tone. "I know you are, Master. But I am a Knight now. I am doing my best."

Adi nodded slowly. She appeared to be about to say something more, but they both paused as someone approached them. Mara took a quick note of who surrounded them, who could have overheard their conversation. Would Skywalker know of it? Probably.

Bail Organa greeted them cordially. "Jedi Jade, Master Gallia," he said. "I hope I have not interrupted."

Mara smiled. "Not at all."

"It is a pleasure," Adi said, bowing her head slightly. She smiled, and her compliment was genuinely meant. Most Jedi respected Organa greatly, even those who did not know him personally. He was less of a politician than most.

"I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time," Organa said genially. "I just received some important information that might be made of use here."

"Oh?" Mara said, curious now.

Adi looked inquisitive.

"Our initial findings on the project I mentioned the other day ? on board Mara's command vessel ? have been confirmed. There is indeed a larger project occurring in the Empire. In fact, it is believed to be already widespread. Glena suggests we use our time to ask questions."

Translation, Mara thought: Skywalker really was inputting social behavior codes into certain history and government lessons, perhaps on some social engineering scale. Organa hadn?t offered details, and it wasn't surprising, given that just about every government did so to some degree, but Skywalker had left the topic alone for some years. And Adna Gol, head of intelligence, thought the Moffs and other people at the ball might know something about it.

Personally, Mara doubted that. But she nodded anyway. "Understood."

Adi murmured her agreement.

Organa moved away in a typically graceful exit.

Before Adi could speak, Mara did. "Do you remember the Vaderians?" she asked suddenly.

Adi blinked, taken aback. "Do you mean those who essentially worshipped Lord Vader?"

Mara nodded. "They were later convicted of treason and executed. The Force is prodding for some reason," she added, watching Adi's reaction, wondering if she was feeling it, too.

"I sense nothing," Adi said, shaking her head.

Mara exhaled. "It's something ? elusive. Like they're connected somehow."

Adi frowned. "Perhaps the Vaderians are connected in the sense of Skywalker deliberately using them to create a certain reaction and backlash in society. Punishment for disobedience, perhaps?" She sighed. "Yet it feels too subtle, too distant in connection."

Mara nodded. "Perhaps," she said, taking that thought and putting it in the back of her mind to simmer for a bit.

Adi watched Mara for a moment longer, light blue eyes intense. Mara wondered briefly if she would bring up Luke again, but she didn't. "We should not abandon the Republic officials," she mentioned.

"Yes, Mara said, managing a smile, though her mind was whirling in a circle a parsec a minute. "We should get back to business."

It was a small room, a tucked away place in the Palace, like the architect had made a mistake and had to do something to fill the space. The walls were wood panels, the floor a warm red, the furniture comfortable and well used.

Luke had always liked it.

Kejal often found him there. He wasn't sure how Luke had found it, perhaps by accident, but he sometimes suspected Lord Vader had first brought his child here. He had, a few times, found Lord Vader here, before Luke's arrival. He had had a feeling it had reminded Lord Vader of ? home, perhaps, or his wife. He wasn't ever sure.

Luke sat curled up on the couch, staring out the small window that overlooked nothing more than a small thicket. He was neither tense nor relaxed; utterly difficult for Kejal to read.

"My lord," Kejal said softly.

Luke turned to look at Kejal. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he said, referring to the ongoing matter of the ball and the treaty signing.

"It did not go well?" Kejal said, ignoring that. He was no fool, and would not be distracted by such a thing. It was a half-hearted effort on Luke's part regardless. Kejal had already mentally assigned fifteen minutes for this discussion anyway. Ideas about Moffs and the military and the Republic also ran through his mind, juggling themselves naturally in his priorities.

Now, Luke's mental well-being was his concern.

Luke shrugged. "That's a hard one to answer," he said dryly. Kejal waited. "I kissed her," Luke admitted.

What? Kejal thought, but at the same time, it all suddenly made more sense.

Luke was attracted to Lady Jade. Probably not just physically, but also emotionally; the two went hand in hand for Luke. It was in his personality to be that way.

Kejal stepped right up to Luke, until he stood by him.

Luke silently shook his head, to what it was hard to say ? his own emotions, Kejal's ready and already known disapproval?

Kejal crouched down, until level with Luke, and he felt his charge's minute relaxation.

Luke let out a harsh breath. "I can't even handle it, can I?"

"There are many concerns with Lady Jade," Kejal said softly.

"That doesn't matter," Luke said bluntly. "I know what you're referring to, and yes, there's that, but . . . I ? why am I this way?"

Kejal knew. Luke craved an emotional connection, emotional security. He had known it briefly as the adopted child of Beru and Owen Lars, but that had all ended when Vader took him ? and Palpatine entered Luke's life when he was still a child. Even the thought of what Luke had gone through before the evil man's death had the ability to make Kejal's steady fa?ade break.

"I'm sorry," Kejal said at last.

Luke's blue eyes looked up, clearly startled. "It's not your fault."

"But your father's?"

Luke smiled painfully. "I was his son. He could not leave me be," he said with soft matter-of-factness. He shrugged, and changed the topic. "I know you think me a fool about Mara."

"You find it difficult to balance emotional and political matters when they do intersect," Kejal said, which was not quite an agreement, but pretty close. He believed Jade to be dangerous, no question, but Luke had made the decision to continue on with her in some fashion much earlier. He could only hope that Luke still saw things clearly enough to deal with both matters ? what he believed to be in the future, and what he could do now to affect that future.

Luke was by no means a simple person, and what he saw in the future only made events more complex. There was no one to guide him in this, and not for the first time, Kejal regretted not having any Force sensitivity. He loved this boy like he was his son. How could he not?

Luke didn't answer him, looking away again.

"I trust you," Kejal said deliberately.

Luke met his eyes with a sharp look, which gentled. "Thank you."

Kejal waited there, silent and still even in this uncomfortable position, until Luke rose, ten minutes later, to return to the ball.

When Luke walked out, he did so with focus, and in that intensity Kejal saw once again a brilliant, damaged mind.

The philosophy of the Jedi is easily available and widely known, but little understood.

--- Annals of the Empire, Vol. III.

Mara was tired, but her mind was on fire. Since the ball, since their meeting, since that kiss, since dealing with all the new issues constantly regarding her position, and since Adi had grown freshly suspicious, she hadn't much time to think over what had happened between her and Luke. It had been weeks since then, but she had been too busy to stop and think.

Mara didn't exactly have quarters on Ferwyn. The Jedi Temple had many rooms, and she used this one regularly whenever she was on planet, but due to her position in the military she quite often was in space, or in Imperial territory, where she had an apartment just about everywhere. The Empire was, she rather thought, spoiling her relentlessly. Skywalker was spoiling her, then, through the Empire ? in a sense.

Mara folded her arms over her stomach and lay back on her bed, staring at the soft tan ceiling that was everywhere in the Jedi Temple. She could feel her heart in her chest, feeling frightened but vivid and alive at the same time. It was dangerous; he thought it was dangerous and so did she, but she couldn't stop herself. And neither could he.

She closed her eyes whenever she thought of meeting him again. Soon. Soon.

As suddenly as that, she got up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She cocked her head, looking at the small closet across from her. She stood, slowly, and made her way over to it. Opened it. Inside was the black, backless dress she had worn . . . then.

I can't believe I am being so foolishly sentimental, she thought, shutting the closet door and wincing.

A buzz announced someone at the door. Curious, reaching out to the Force, Mara sensed a familiar presence, but it wasn't Adi.

She walked over and hit the control panel.

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood in the doorway. He looked up and smiled at her, and Mara just gaped for a second. What was he doing here?

"Hello," he said genially.

"Hello, Master," she said, stepping aside and letting him enter. She cleared her throat, more off-balance then she felt she should be. On the other hand, everyone knew Obi-Wan had a strange regard for Skywalker.

Obi-Wan sat on the couch, and waited until Mara had settled on the single chair in the living area before speaking. "I wanted to talk to you concerning Luke."

Mara nodded calmly, then said, "Why do you call him that?"

Obi-Wan smiled, looking slightly taken aback. "You know, most people don't ask me that question."

"I'm not most people. Are you going to answer?" Mara said bluntly, taking the offensive. Though perhaps she shouldn?t be thinking of a conversation with a member of the Jedi Council in battle terms . . .

Obi-Wan settled his hands on his knees. "Luke wasn't always in Vader's care. I took him to Tatooine, to be raised by his aunt and uncle. I concluded that Vader would never return to a place that carried so many memories of him, whether as Vader or Anakin Skywalker."

Mara blinked, things coming together. Luke had repeated her statement about being trained from birth ? of course. He wasn't, and she had merely assumed, as did other Jedi, that he had been. That conversation suddenly had more depth; he hadn't mentioned any aunt or uncle, had he even intended to reveal that he had been partially raised by them?

"They raised him? Until ? when he was fourteen? That was when he was presented to the Empire as Vader's heir, after Palpatine's death.

"Twelve," Obi-Wan corrected, "but yes."

Twelve.Twelve. "That's where you were, all that time," she blurted.

Obi-Wan dipped his head in acknowledgement. "He was a good-hearted boy."

"And he's not now?" Mara challenged.

Obi-Wan gave her a studying look, and Mara realized that challenge was somewhat revealing. Or could be, with the right eyes. "I do not believe he is entirely in the Dark, as I suspect you do not, either."

Mara didn't answer, just pursed her lips.

"I will not ask you to speak of it, but I sense no harm to you or him," Obi-Wan continued. "I came here to discuss something else with you. It does concern Luke, but on a more peripheral basis."

Mara exhaled a measured breath, wondering if she had dodged a blaster bolt ? that anyone else would have shot, perhaps, if not Obi-Wan. This old man, this dangerous man. To her and Luke, and oh Force, she was categorizing them together. "And that would be?"

"I have not seen Luke for quite some time, but the Council still considers me to have a greater insight into his mind than anyone else," Obi-Wan stated, the intensity in his blue eyes fading to something more soothing. "As a result, I am more aware of intelligence gathering efforts than most. It's been dismissed by Adna, but I have come to several conclusions which I believe you may find useful."

What does he know? "I'm listening," Mara said noncommittally. It suddenly occurred to her that this could be a trap, by Adi's design, but why use Obi-Wan, who so regularly went against the norm?

Obi-Wan seemed to pause, eyeing her closely. "I'm sure by now you have the report on the teaching in the Empire."

Mara nodded.

"Adna and the others believe he's psychologically preparing the Empire's next generation for a long war with the Republic, and a total eradication of our ideas. I disagree. It's almost as if he is preparing future generations for the mindset necessary for democracy, including a strong sense of galactic unity." Obi-Wan paused. "In fact, I believe he's not just starting with the next generation, but is starting now, perhaps doing even more than manipulating events for his goal, but manipulating them. For example, the execution of the Vaderians after the bombing pulled the surrounding areas together ? and Luke has only strengthened that result through policy in other areas."

The connection I sensed? Mara thought. None of this is any accident; it all connects. It must. "That doesn't answer why he's doing all this."

Obi-Wan shrugged. "If I had to guess, I'd say he's looking more towards absorbing the Republic, instead of eradicating it. Several things contradict that notion, however, like the building of new, advanced weaponry. The Jedi Council also has suspicions about him spreading his influence through our media and the Senate, though there seems to be little of that confirmed so far."

Mara sighed. "He certainly doesn't make things simple," she muttered, leaning back.

Obi-Wan laughed. "No, he does not."

Mara shook off the confusing whirl of thoughts Obi-Wan's words had evoked; she would think over them later. "The Jedi Council doesn't know you're here, do they?"

"I don't inform the Jedi Council of my every movement," Obi-Wan said smoothly.

Mara leaned forward. "You know, I bet this conversation would make the Jedi Council very suspicious, considering they already are suspicious of me and Skywalker." She didn't say it in a challenging tone; a question was implicit in her words.

"As they are of me," Obi-Wan returned. "But you sense it as well as I, do you not?"

"The fight against Palpatine had at least simplicity going for it," Mara dryly remarked.

"There were so few shades of gray," Obi-Wan said softly. "At least for most."

And for you, fighting your own student? She could only imagine the pain, but she saw no pain in this man's eyes. He looked toward the future, not the past and the burden of history. "And what now?"

"Now, the Force guides us towards something else, Obi-Wan said simply.

Do you sense the pull between him and me? Mara wondered. What does the Force tell you? "Yes, it does."

"Trust in the Force. I do," Obi-Wan said after a pause. Then he rose to his feet, and Mara joined him automatically. "I will leave you to meditate and think over what I have said," he said. "May the Force be with you."

I think it is, Mara thought, and said, "And with you."

With a smile and a duck of his head, he left her rooms.

Mara smiled.

Luke was awake when the sun rose. The windows were partially open, and the slice of light gradually brightened over the hours. Luke didn't bother to get up, though ordinarily he would probably have just started the day earlier than usual. Instead, he kept his breathing slow and even, his eyes open, and watched the sunrise.

It was almost meditation, but not so deliberate. He felt, at least for the moment ? it wouldn't last ? almost . . . lighthearted.

Around the time he normally woke, he swung himself out of bed. He walked to the window, and the heavy pressure of his life settled again on his shoulders. For once, so rarely, he wanted to buck it off and leave it behind. But he couldn't do that. That wasn't his life, this was. He had the Force.

He took a deep breath.

He had a feeling it would be a good morning.

The Jedi Temple was always peaceful in the morning. There weren't many people up and around, and adding to that, the Temple had been built bigger than was actually needed for the present number of Jedi. Rather optimistic on the Jedi Council's part, but considering their numbers were growing once again ? very, achingly slowly ? perhaps it was justified. Mara had never been to the old Temple, but she thought she would like this one better anyway. She didn't care for overdone opulence, not here nor on Coruscant.

The simple, rough marks of a practical building subtly soothed her.

And it was not a bad thing, necessarily, to be summoned to appear before the Jedi Council.

There could be many reasons for it. From what concerned the Jedi Council in the military, to a new mission the Republic had already agreed to, to just about anything else.

She walked into the Council chamber without announcement. Only about half the Council was present, which was not uncommon. Only the most important missions or debriefings had the full Council. Mara let out a tiny sigh of relief.

She bowed before them, and folded her hands into her robe. "Masters," she greeted.

Adi smiled at Mara, and Mara smiled back.

"Adi has spoken with us about your actions and her belief of your state of mind for the past several years," Mace Windu began, leading off as Yoda was not present. "Not just concerning Skywalker. You have been under a great deal of pressure, and as trained as you are for it, we have brought you here to advise you to seek a period of meditation."

Mara cocked her head, breath coming a little faster, wondering if she would be justified in panicking ? not that she would, of course. "A period of meditation?" she asked, glancing at her Master.

Adi leaned forward. "This is not a chastisement, Mara. But you are not a Jedi Master, and you are among the first generation of Jedi not to be trained from birth." She paused, and the silent example of Anakin Skywalker went unsaid. "You are a Jedi, nevertheless," she continued softly, a small smile lighting her face.

"It is time to rest, and recover strength in the Jedi way," Windu confirmed.

Mara nodded slowly, relaxing in minute bits. Suspicion remained as to their motive, but it wasn't as if they were suggesting brainwashing. "And the way you would advise me to do that would be?"

"Stay at the Temple. Meditate. Join with other Jedi in learning and teaching," Adi said simply.

"It is something many of us have done," Windu added matter-of-factly. "Depa's loss in the Clone Wars may have been prevented, had she not been on the front for so long."

Mara nodded, feeling uncomfortable at the mere reminder of Depa Billaba ? and that Windu would use it. It was a quiet fact among the Jedi that Depa was not dead, but had been driven insane in battle and was cared for now by the Order. All Jedi lived on the edge, continually seeking closer communion with the Force; many found that the more danger, the closer they kept to the edge of reason and combat, the more they depended on the Force. The seventh form, Mace's form and Depa's, had been based on that belief, as was the first form to some degree.

The advisement to meditate and regain a sturdier standing in the Jedi way of life probably was occurring because of Adi's concern, but it wasn't a bad thing. If Mara was in the right, the Force would strengthen her resolve, not weaken it. Self-awareness was always key to the Jedi existence.

"And my responsibilities?" Mara asked at last, feeling a twinge at having to let go, even for a while, of her power and responsibility. With it came knowledge she would not have otherwise. Especially knowledge that hinted of Skywalker's goals, which were still so confusing, but almost certainly connected in some way.

"Taken over temporarily," Adi said. "As when you spent time on Coruscant, your involvement in your military section would not be ended, merely lessened."

Mara looked at her for a moment. "And this has already been decided?"

"Not confirmed," Adi said, not hastily, but with a certain awareness of treading lightly in their relationship. "But planned for, yes."

Then they would not force it upon her. She took a deep breath. She would not see Skywalker for a longer time, yes, but . . . this would be good for her. She could not deny to herself that the whole situation had her troubled: Skywalker, the Republic, the treaty, and Skywalker. To be closer to the Force was to be better prepared for everything. "Very well." She smiled slightly. "I think I'm looking forward to my meditation."

Not a vacation, quite; but Jedi never truly had them. They did not escape the daily ways of their lives, but trained themselves to handle them better and rest in preparation for any rough times.

Adi smiled, a full smile.

"I will handle loose ends," Mara continued, seeing the relief in her Master's eyes. "And then stay here for a time."

Master Windu also smiled. "And we are pleased to have you."

He felt it as a quietness . . . at times.

Luke did meditate regularly, but not necessarily in the way the Jedi did. They detached themselves from emotion, to feel peace and goodness he presumed, and that was not his goal in meditation. To feel the Force more completely, ah, that was the true purpose of meditation. To be open to it in such a way that all else simply ceased and became one with perception through the Force.

Though his eyes were closed to it, the garden spread before him in a magnificent display of life. This garden was one of those only loosely kept by the gardeners, with the plants going where they willed, where the sunlight led and survival demanded, rather than the mechanical intricacy of any formal garden. Dark splashes of green were interrupted solidly by hints of color: blue, yellow, red, orange.

His father had meditated in his chambers; Luke preferred here.

Even still.

He opened his eyes after a moment. "What is it, Kejal?"

"A piece of intelligence just arrived," Kejal said quietly, finally walking up from behind Luke to face him.

Luke studied him closely; it was hard to tell if the news pleased Kejal or not. "What is it?"

"Jade agreed to stay on Ferwyn, at the Jedi Temple, for the next several months. At least."

Luke looked at him sharply. "And?" he said, with a touch of hostility. The news probably pleased Kejal ? his old teacher was suspicious of Jade, and moreover Luke's reaction to her. Not that Luke didn't have a certain suspicion about that himself, it was all too damning and important, but it bothered him that Kejal was so concerned about it.

It made him wonder if he should be more concerned.

Self-doubt killed.

"You will not see her for a time, my lord," Kejal said softly. "Perhaps it would do you well to consider the matter further." Thinking of that kiss, no doubt; not that he could think of it more than Luke could.

Luke, at least, knew the matter was not so simple as considering it and doing whatever decision he made; that method had already been proven faulty by experience. He sighed, and Kejal waited.

"I understand," Luke said briefly, and waved Kejal off. "Go."

Kejal nodded, bowed briefly, careful and formal in this ? knowing Luke's troubled reactions on the matter, and left.

Luke sat staring at the gently waving long grass that had mysteriously sprung up one day in the garden. Unsettled. Wishing for a moment that he did believe in purging himself of emotion.

Understanding is precarious and uncertain. To know everything is a matter of impossibility; factors of all kinds take part in any situation, and the truth is all those things combined, but no one can know them all. And so history is a greater facet of understanding, but by no means whole. Those personal things that influence people of great power are never as fully understood as they are within the moment.

--- Annals of the Empire, Vol. I.

"But what the hell does it mean?" Bail demanded, pace fast and expression resolute. He had an aura of outward, intense focus, but so close to him, Obi-Wan could see his worry.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan said bluntly, keeping pace with his friend easily. "But it can't be ignored because we don't understand it."

Bail stopped walking suddenly, forcing Obi-Wan to stop as well. The few Senators still leaving the conference room went around them, choosing to ignore the conversation they were having. There was plenty of room in the wide, impressive hall of the Senate. "And what of my daughter?"

"What of her?" Obi-Wan returned calmly. "We have seen no evidence of interest in her beyond her position as your daughter."

"If that is meant to reassure me, it is failing," Bail said dryly.

Obi-Wan shot him a small smile. "I don't think she's in any danger, and neither does the Council."

Bail nodded in acknowledgement, though some worry clearly remained in dark eyes. "It appears to me that Skywalker will attempt to reintegrate us into the Empire, but I have no idea why he would do such a thing."

"Lack of motive doesn't mean it's a bad motive," Obi-Wan said, but it was more of a possibility in his tone than a statement. "But you're right. And why he would choose to do so by changing the Empire, not us, is not clear to me."

Bail raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps it is you, this time, who is thinking in terms of the old Empire," he said, referencing Obi-Wan?s rather blunt statement to the Security Council of the NR that they were fools if they treated Skywalker like he was his father.

Obi-Wan nodded in acquiescence to the point. "He wouldn't use brute force unless it was necessary, true enough. It would be much easier to change the Empire's culture to accept us than the other way around."

"But if that is the case, then why does he continue to provoke us? Does he mean to reintegrate us by force?" Bail asked. "The Intelligence department continues to find more evidence of weapons build-up. Which could, naturally, be explained by the Empire mentality of more and bigger is better, but I thought we agreed Skywalker is not that kind of fool."

Obi-Wan sighed. "This all feels too planned ? none of this is an accident, it must all connect somehow. Either we are not supposed to know about the weapons he is building at all, which would take some optimism on his part, or he is looking for a specific reaction from us."

"Perhaps a specific one from the military rather than the public," Bail suggested. "After all, publicly all efforts are being made for us and the Empire to get along, while there is this weapons race behind the scenes."

"But why allow our military to build up, when he intends to conquer us anyway ? culturally or by force?" Obi-Wan retorted. He shook his head. "It is too easy to find holes in any explanation."

"We don't have all the facts," Bail said simply. "Speculation is useless until we do. I may have been hasty in speaking on Skywalker's behalf regarding the treaty and hoping for the best, but I think the others are hasty in believing the exact opposite of him."

Obi-Wan nodded. "We should wait, and keep an open mind."

"Agreed," Bail said briefly.

"I believe you have a meeting to go to," said Obi-Wan, shaking off their serious topic of conversation and smiling at Bail.

Bail smiled in return. "I believe you have a young lady to go see."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "Do you mean Mara or Siri?"

Bail laughed. "Perhaps both," he said, knowing as well as Obi-Wan that Siri was generally not mentioned in the same sentence as Obi-Wan ? mostly out of tradition that one simply did not mention such things. "I believe if anyone will figure this mess out, it will be Mara; she knows Skywalker best, as little as that may be." He sighed, then seemed to shake off the momentary exhaustion. "May the Force be with you."

Obi-Wan gave Bail a studious, overly serious look. "Of course. I'll tell Siri you said hello." He paused, and turning away, added, "May the Force be with you."

Bail gave him a sketch of a bow, and they departed from the area.

Meditation was many things for a Jedi. It was revival, refreshment, and peace, which was all of those things.

In meditation one could also find guidance. A Jedi didn't meditate on nothingness or an object; they meditated on the Force, which was a living, changing thing. In it and through it a Jedi could see the future, see the present, and understand life much more clearly.

It was all of those things that Mara sought. She saw Skywalker through heavy mists of uncertainty ? knowing he was in the future, but how and what was happening could not be seen. She suspected the Jedi Council was just as blind, unable to pierce the sheer enormity of all the possibilities. So many things could change at any moment, and the future could not be clearly seen the less certain it was.

She could feel him, though. In the present. For all that he could and did hide himself from the touch of a Jedi, his presence and his actions created massive ripples in the Force. What he did effected so many, it was easy to sense him, if only indirectly most of the time. His presence was like that of the whole Council combined; important and strong. Still, at times, it was as if his mask slipped, and in the deepest moments of meditation she would catch that, and feel him.

Sadness, regret, pain, determination . . . they fell through her fingers like shimmersilk.

But guidance. How she felt drawn to Luke was indescribable and forceful, and the Force matched what she already felt. It was no accident, nor mere politics, that Mara was his wife ? if only in name.

When she meditated, she felt close to him. Almost as if she could reach out and touch his presence, his aura. Where she was certain the Council could not touch him at all, she saw glimpses. They sought his presence in the Force as a Sith, and she never did.

Skywalker was not a Sith. He had told her he had the skills of a Sith, and that was true; but she didn't feel the destruction waiting to happen, the quiet after a devastating storm, in his presence. She felt anger, yes. Pain, too.

And then depth; such wonderful depth of hidden joys and grief.

When she saw her own future, it appeared less uncertain to her than his, oddly enough. She saw herself in white at times, in the Imperial Palace. Other times she saw glimpses of battle and struggle. Powerful emotions swirled through all of those visions.

She set them aside in favor of the present; the visions would make sense when it was the right time.

Her loyalty to the Jedi was unshaken. She had carefully examined the foundations of her beliefs and compared them to that of the Jedi. She still believed in the Code. That which had given her solace, and a home she still loved. The wisdom of the Council that she still treasured.

And the guidance of the Force most of all.

Step forward, it told her.

Jedi had the tendency ? not always, admittedly ? to die peacefully. Not that they didn't die fighting, but they smiled when they died, they accepted it at the end. Luke had always thought that rather idiotic, and his father had encouraged that belief. Luke had felt one had to go to the end fighting with everything they had, resisting with every small amount of will and power, because that sliver could just be enough for survival. Because otherwise it was just seeing the odds and giving up. He'd rather believe in a miracle.

He was beginning to wonder if his view was narrow.

Luke had, naturally, seen Jedi killed. Vader had certainly kept up killing Jedi after Palpatine's death, though as Luke grew older he grew less interested in doing it himself, or having Luke come along.

Luke had privately thought himself foolishly squeamish, but he didn't like to watch them die. He suspected now that his father had realized that.

Actions were always balanced by the chances of success. Luke did not undertake things he knew would fail unless he had no choice ? or the other choice was even more unacceptable.

Avoiding Mara, and his feelings for her, seemed like something with little or no chance of success. And he didn't even want to, anymore. He wanted to see what would happen. He wanted ? he wanted. Desired.

He wondered, sometimes, what it would be like not to struggle every second of every day, of knowing when to accept and when not to. Was that what Jedi felt? For when he had seen them die, and they always did die, there had been a peace there that Luke had not experienced since Tatooine. Could one accept and be at peace, and yet ? not give up?

How much did he truly understand of how to live? Could he fight onward for and because of what he had seen, and yet have peace?

Could he have the weakness of love, and success in war?

Luke closed his eyes, the garden before him fading from view. He slumped in his seat, pulled his knees up in an uncommonly child-like action. The silence enveloped him; he could hear himself breathing. He caressed his wrist, where Mara had touched him. He touched his lips, remembering their kiss.

He opened his eyes. "Kejal."

"My lord?" Kejal said, walking forward into Luke's range of vision. He had waited just inside the room, staring out through the glass into the garden, with Luke, saying nothing and doing nothing, becoming so silent his presence was barely felt in the Force.

Luke looked at him. "Take the window out."

"Excuse me, my lord?" Kejal said, blinking, dark eyes showing startlement.

"The windows," Luke said, gesturing at the windows in place of two walls. "Take them out."

"My lord, then the gardens will be in the room."

Luke nodded calmly. "I know that. Have it done."

Raising an eyebrow in silent question, but evidently deciding not to comment, Kejal nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Luke turned back to look at the garden, separated from the room by only a thin window. The dark green leaves pressed up against it, surely and determinedly trying to make their way past to grow, and grow.

The Temple was quiet.

Obi-Wan had nightmares about silence sometimes, but today he could tell it was the quiet of peace. The shadows were cast long and the light was golden through the simple windows. For all the physical differences between this Temple and the one Obi-Wan had grown up in, that had oddly remained the same: there was always, always a special quality to the light. Because Jedi were here.

Even Tatooine had had that kind of light, on the softest of days.

Mara was meditating in one of the few gardens spread here and there, allowed to grow freely and randomly ? not nearly so exquisite as those of the old Temple, but alive nevertheless. Obi-Wan had briefly talked to Adi before deciding to meet her, wanting to know Mara's state of mind before speaking to her. It would warn Adi ? and the Council ? that Obi-Wan was up to something, but they had no concrete reason to think anything important was occurring or being said, and Obi-Wan doubted Mara would enlighten them.

Ironic, that his only connection to Luke now was another Jedi.

Mara sat on a stone, roughly rectangular, that had grown to be used as a bench of sorts. He was glad to see that she had at least visibly returned to roots, wearing the simple garb of a Jedi.

He walked to her, and then sat beside her, there being room on the rock. After a moment or two, Mara opened her eyes and looked at him. Then she smiled. "Greetings, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan's mouth quirked into a smile. "Obi-Wan, please."

She nodded. "What is it?"

Obi-Wan chose not to answer her question immediately. Currents in the Force tingled at his senses, cautiously, and he obeyed, easily and naturally. "You know," he said, "while you're here meditating and grounding yourself, finding peace, the rest of us are growing increasingly worried over the treaty and the Empire." His tone was dry. She didn't appear to really share any of their concerns ? and while Obi-Wan was divided on the subject of Luke, Mara merely seemed cautious of the Council.

"And Skywalker," Mara added astutely.

"As always," Obi-Wan admitted.

Mara flashed him a smile, the peace never fading from her eyes. "I've been out of touch with most of the current Intel news. Has something happened?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Things have progressed in more alarming ways, but nothing is actually surprising. Luke ignored the Republic for so long, and now he's doing the exact opposite."

Mara looked thoughtful. "He told me that things will change, but the treaty will remain," she said after a moment, watching him.

Obi-Wan was surprised. "Do you believe him?"

Mara paused. "Considering the context, yes," she said after a moment of hesitation.

"Dare I ask?" Obi-Wan said, raising an eyebrow.

Mara blushed, and Obi-Wan's curiosity increased tenfold. "May we keep this between ourselves?" she asked.

"Of course, Obi-Wan said immediately.

"I feel . . . that the Jedi do not necessarily interpret the Code correctly, as arrogant as that sounds. I don't intend to disobey, necessarily, but I just can't seem to agree."

"That's not inherently wrong," Obi-Wan said, thinking. In a sense, it sounded like Anakin, if less confidently said, but Anakin was right in some respects ? and entirely wrong in others, to devastation. "But it is dangerous."

Looking taken aback, Mara nodded.

"That you must not forget," Obi-Wan warned. "Regardless of what Luke has told you, touching the Dark will forever effect you, and if you dance around it, you will fall."

Appearing appropriately chastened, Mara nodded again. "But of dealing with people who dabble in the Dark Side? What do you do then?"

"What are you asking?" Obi-Wan inquired, seeing a specific issue that Mara did not quite want to ask. "Can a person in the Dark be turned?"

Mara bit her lip, then said bluntly, "Yes."

"The Council says no; I am not so sure, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Having seen so many Jedi fall in the Clone Wars changed some opinions. Surely a friend . . . ?" Obi-Wan shrugged. "I imagine it would be difficult. As much as I tried to keep Anakin from going over that cliff, he did, and many paid the price for my failure."

Mara looked away.

"And if you fail with Luke," Obi-Wan said gently, "many could suffer. You could fall, if you get too close, and the disaster would be much worse."

"So you're saying, then, that I should not try?" Mara snapped, fire in her eyes. "Aren't you the one who always questions the Council's thoughts on him?"

Obi-Wan nodded gravely. "Yes. But I am more aware than you, I think, of the dangers involved. I am not saying you should not try. I am saying it is dangerous, you could be killed, the treaty destroyed, and the Jedi could suffer for it." He softened his tone. "Such is the reality of the situation. As Jedi, we all face situations that affect the lives of many others." He paused, but she said nothing, staring ahead, and he continued. "Adi worries for you because you are like a daughter to her, like Siri is to her. But she trained you, and she trusts you. For all that Anakin was the first not to be trained from infancy, that does not guide you. Do not doubt yourself, but consider wisely your actions."

After a long moment, where Obi-Wan felt the Force sway in indecision, Mara spoke. "Thank you. I will consider your advice ? and your warnings," she said, meeting his gaze, her green eyes calm again. The Force settled.

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said, bowing his head slightly. "If I may, what will you do?"

Mara sighed. "What the Force tells me to do," she said matter-of-factly, a smile touching her lips.

Obi-Wan nodded, and allowed a smile to grow.

"So," Mara said firmly, "why did you come here?"

"Actually," Obi-Wan said, remembering they had gotten a little off-track, "I came to ask your opinion on recent events with Luke. I have the feeling you know him a lot better than the Security Council does ? perhaps more than the Council would wish." His eyes twinkled.

Mara formed an expression of seriousness, but her eyes showed amusement. "Okay. And I suppose you figured I would be more honest with you?"

Obi-Wan spread his hands silently.

Mara grinned. "All right."

Obi-Wan had a feeling that when Mara returned to her position, Luke was going to have an interesting time of it.

To the glory of the Empire.

--- Dedication, Annals of the Empire, Vol. I.

Mara did not usually receive intelligence reports as a whole. Generally speaking, information came in erratically, with the recipients never totally sure what the information meant or how it connected. That was where analysis came in, of course, and cross-analysis of that information and other information, past history and character profiles of operatives, spies, and the enemy. But since her sabbatical, Mara had not gotten those reports in increments like she usually did, and there were whole masses of condensed reports waiting for her.

Reading through it all at one time, seeing it as a whole instead of in pieces, the picture of what Skywalker was planning began to gain some coherency on the edges. Still a little fuzzy in the middle, the core of the issue, but that wasn't terribly surprising.

Not everything that happened within Skywalker's sphere of influence was planned, but it was all used. From the Vaderians and the public reaction to that, to the school system and curricula, Skywalker was changing the Empire, and when the Empire changed, so did the Republic.

No, Skywalker did not intend war; not with the Republic, at any rate. If anything, Mara was beginning to believe the entire appearance of war was a disguise of some sort for something else, though she couldn't imagine what.

Perhaps she would ask him. His response, no matter what it was, would be indicative of something. Besides which, she didn't think Luke particularly enjoyed lying ? he just did it on a regular basis because it was necessary.

Mara closed her eyes and smiled. She had taken some initiative since returning to her duties, finding that her assistants had done more than a competent job while she was gone, and she had left to them a good deal of the prerogative they had possessed during her absence. That left her free to travel a ways, of course, and take care of her duties as Skywalker's consort - which were more interesting, in her opinion, at least where such duties and Skywalker intersected.

Such interaction caused her Master to worry, but that was unavoidable.

Mara opened her eyes. Coruscant was before her on the gigantic viewing screen in her office on board the Republic ship Singularity, the night side visible at the moment. Lights were spread across its surface in dizzying patterns, so intricate they could only have been formed over hundreds of years. If she looked carefully, the dizzying pattern was beginning to converge on one spot: the Imperial Palace. Even buildings and spacelanes centuries older, it would seem, took notice of the relatively new Palace.

Her awareness of the Force was constant now. The daily meditations on Ferwyn, the weaving of it into her life and thinking, and the habit of reaching out and touching it every moment had increased her connection to it. Having midichlorians, even the training, were only steps onto the path of becoming more and more of a vessel of the Force. And with that, she felt peace settle on her, lightening the load of everything else. To have purpose ? what a joy that was.

The missions for the New Republic, the constant struggle for survival in those early years, and even the silent fight between her and Skywalker had all distracted her from doing that which would help her. The Council had been right; she had needed that stay.

The Force sang with a sweet melody. She sighed, closing her eyes again and relaxing. Skywalker was still barely a twinge on the edge of her senses. Definitely more than before, her senses better attuned to the slightest ripple, but not nearly enough. Her knowledge was limited to that he was on Coruscant.

Her comm beeped, and she leaned over to check it, but it wasn't an audio message.

Welcome. I'll be at the Palace.

Mara had to smile. She wondered how long he had spent deciding on the proper amount of casualness and calculated lack of personal tone.

She rose to her feet and walked out of the office, not even glancing back.

The Palace had at least two of everything, and backups for that just in case. The greenhouse was the rare exception. Unlike the rest of the Palace gardens, it was protected from the dirty air of Coruscant, even the water being completely pure, with no disinfectants or additives to keep it free of bacteria. The plants were carefully chosen to live in the secure environment of the greenhouse, forming a tiny, complete ecology.

It was hot and humid.

Luke knew for a fact that Jade had never been here, and she probably did not even know it existed. It was tucked away in one of the many obscure corners of the Palace, and served little purpose ? it wasn't public, to show the magnificence of the Empire, nor was it particularly meant to be a private sanctuary. Luke had discovered it a few months after Jade had left the last time, after the adjustment of the treaty. For some reason, it reminded him of her.

The first thing he noticed was that her sense in the Force had changed. The effect of her presence on the Force around her was subdued, but more intricate in the ripples of her emotions and thoughts, not so easy to discern. Her skill had increased, and for some reason, that made Luke feel . . . more intrigued. It would be a challenge to read her.

He turned on the bench to watch her approach. She wasn't dressed in Jedi clothing, but instead wore a white tunic that was fitted, but loose, with a white skirt that stopped below her knees. And sandals, revealing nicely formed feet.

She smiled at him, meeting his eyes, and he returned it, with some reservations, but he'd been having those for months and they were easily pushed aside.

She didn't speak until she had settled beside him on the bench, giving him a thorough once-over with her green eyes. No apology about it, but neither was there any in his regard of her.

"I've never been here," she commented, glancing around at the high, translucent dome above them and the rich garden surrounding them.

Luke nodded. "I know," he said simply.

"Is that why you chose it?" Mara asked, coming to that conclusion effortlessly.

Luke hesitated, then nodded. Perhaps she had also learned better skills to read him, as well. He touched the Force, never quite brushing her shields, trying to get a sense of her without being intrusive or her being aware of it.

"So," Mara said after a moment of silence. "What did you want to talk about today?"

Luke's mouth twitched, reminded of the deal, wondering, wondering . . . but he was being foolish. "Everything and nothing," he said lightly with a shrug.

"Covering all the bases, I see," she retorted with humor.

"As always," Luke murmured, aware he often seemed calculating ? though he often was. "Did you enjoy your long stay on Ferwyn?"

I did," Mara said, raising her eyebrows slightly, eyes moving away in remembrance. "It was good for me."

"It didn't end this?" Luke asked, deliberately bringing up their last meeting. Not that he thought he could ever bring up that kiss specifically, that horribly intense and revealing moment.

"No," she whispered, expression unreadable. She shook her head, the action stronger than her voice. "Not in the least."

"I'm glad," Luke said, voice no stronger than hers.

She smiled, a full smile that reached her eyes, and her aura in the Force danced briefly. "Good." There were a few moments of quiet, where they simply watched each other. Taking it slow, easy, no pushing here. She felt wonderfully alive, sitting there, and Luke just took it in, noting her attentiveness to him and not being bothered by it. A strand of her red hair lay over her shoulder.

She smiled again, and Luke returned it. "I like your hair," he said, randomly, totally unsure of where to begin. There was no goal here, no desired end result, because he wasn?t sure what he wanted to begin with, and this was hardly politics anyway. "It's such an unusual color."

"I had a pirate once threaten to take it and my scalp because of that," Mara remarked with dry humor, surprising him.

Luke laughed, trying to picture that, and a younger Mara. More fiery and uncontrolled, he imagined, less restricted by Jedi behavior. He ? would have liked that, he thought. "I'm sure you showed him the inadvisability of that."

She shook her head, not in denial, but amusement. "My Master said later that my reaction to that didn't help our situation any."

"You don't strike me as having ever been timid," Luke remarked, thinking that a good thing.

"I cursed out the Council once," Mara said, nodding sagely.

"I would have liked to see that," Luke said, laughing. Twice, already.

"What, no recording?" she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I wish," Luke said, shaking his head, trying to picture the Council's reaction to such a thing. He wondered if they had all been there. His father's tales of the Council had hardly led him to believe that such things would ever occur among the Jedi. Perhaps that was another change since the Jedi began taking older initiates, or taking students old enough to be Padawans. And for once Luke was not thinking of the political advantage of having bugs in the Jedi Council's meeting area.

More quiet, then.

"What about you?" Mara asked. "Any funny stories to tell?"

"I don't think the Palace is as relaxed as your Temple," Luke said, looking away, not really in sadness. His father's death, and the complexities of his life, were not something that haunted Luke any more. "My father and I had our moments, though."

Mara looked out into the green thick of plants. "Some of the Jedi have fathers that they know, but not many," Mara commented softly. "How different that must be."

"It is connection," Luke said quietly, meeting Mara's eyes when she finally turned back to him. "How the Jedi ever separated children from their parents ? what a loss," he said. "It is a wonderful, unexplainable thing, but it changes you."

"Maybe that's why they didn't allow it," Mara said.

Luke considered. "Perhaps," he said after a moment. "But I think the Jedi lost a lot of depth for that."

Mara cocked her head. "Depth of feeling?"

"Yes. Or the variety present in life, at the very least. It is a commitment of a different sort, I suppose," Luke said. "To something imperfect, that you nevertheless love. That is life, not commitment to some abstract."

"The Force isn't abstract," Mara retorted, drawing herself up.

"But the interpretation?" Luke asked, raising an eyebrow, knowing perfectly well that Mara did not entirely agree with the Jedi's interpretation, at times.

"Point conceded," Mara said with a smile.

They both waited, for what, Luke couldn't guess. A minute passed, while the uncomfortable feeling of speaking of emotions faded.

"Thank you for coming," Luke said awkwardly after a moment.

"My pleasure," Mara returned easily. Her smile faded. "Do you ?"

"Feel that there is so little time?" Luke finished. "I find it ironic we have stolen moments that neither of us are sure we should be having, and yet we are married."

"Even if just by politics," Mara added, with a wry smile.

"More than that," Luke admitted in a spurt of unexpected honesty, startling himself. Either she saw the truth with uncommon clarity, or he blurted it out; surely this was the fault of the Force. He paused. "What did the Force tell you, when I proposed?"

"It told me to say yes," Mara whispered. "As it told the Jedi, and they couldn't understand why." She paused, searching his gaze. "I wasn?t part of the original plan, was I?"

For a second, Luke felt panic, wondering ? did she know? But there was no way for her to know, even if she could put it all together, because no matter how far the NR had infiltrated his people, the key would be missing. None of them saw. Not even her, and his heart calmed.

He shook his head.

"Whatever that plan may be," she added, and he had a feeling she knew he relaxed further at that. He did not mean to reveal himself so thoroughly to her. He could not, not yet, still. "Well," she said, "since regardless of that, we are wed, perhaps we should get to know one another."

What a simplification of reality, Luke thought. Are we wed, truly? Not in the spirit of the word. But he didn't say that, because he didn't want to. "So, then," he said casually, "what do you want to talk about?"

She smiled, pretty green eyes intent. "Everything and nothing."

So they talked. The conversation drifted from topic to topic, dancing from politics and philosophy to favorite foods. Luke, she learned, had a surprisingly unsophisticated taste in food. Probably from his time on Tatooine, but she wasn't quite ready to reveal that she knew that yet. Instead, she teased him on his simplicity, and he had hardly seemed to know how to react, finally settling on a sharp remark on Jedi humbleness.

She liked watching him while he talked. He revealed more of himself when he did that, when he relaxed a little and let his guard down just a touch. The brightness in his eyes, the energy in his movements, his careful attentiveness to her, how he reacted and responded to what she said. How he was when he talked about the past, about his father.

Neither of them had mentioned any uncertainty over what they were doing. Because it sure as hell wasn't just talking.

Exhilarating, but still frightening, Mara thought.

He was very human, in all the vulnerabilities and strengths of that word, when he talked about his father. Just mentions, really, here and there, nothing truly in-depth and personal. When she talked about her experiences, her thoughts, his regard became very focused. To have all that intensity and calculation on her was somewhat intimidating, but then ? she could see his caution, as well. His being taken aback, his surprise.

Surely two people getting to know each other was normally like this.

She could hardly stand it. She wanted to know more, she wanted past those walls, and damn it, if she could get past his, she'd let him past hers.

She wanted to know.

He was so much more than the Emperor. Or a Sith. If he was one at all.

Surely it wasn't her imagination that he was equally interested in her?

Besides that kiss. They were drawn to each other, no question about that. Just questions about almost everything else.

"This is very different," Mara said at last. Less fraught than their other conversations, like that kiss that neither of them could mention had released some kind of tension. It was slower, more relaxed, a gradual and less painful revealing and discovering.

"It is," Luke said softly.

Mara studied Luke for a moment. "Do you think we could be friends?"

He met her eyes. "No. I don't think this is that simple. Do you?" he questioned, calm and in control.

"I don't think I want it to be," Mara challenged.

Then she waited. Watching him to see what he would do. They both tiptoed very nicely, but the time for that was over, as far as Mara was concerned. She could feel the Force, ready and waiting for them. Here, in this garden, the air thick and humid, the smell of him so near, the intensity and power of his presence ?

Luke let out a small breath, a smile lurking at the corner of his lips. "Neither do I," he admitted finally. Mara said nothing, watching him. Nervous tension rose in Luke, in contrast to her apparent calm, to act or not to act, and which would he regret more.

He leaned forward, not quite tentatively, and that was enough for Mara's face to soften, for something within her expression to give, and he kissed her.

Smooth and easy, warm and soft. He drew away from the kiss for a moment, and her sudden exhale was warm. He could feel her mouth twitch into a smile, and he kissed it away. Gentle, still, and this their only contact. It was a give and take, no struggle for dominance or understanding. Just . . . sweet.

Bittersweet when he finally broke the kiss, reluctant, and she followed him for a moment, eyes opening into slits of soft green. Her eyes closed and she smiled, bringing her hand to her mouth, but not actually touching her lips.

Watching her do that felt more intimate than kissing her.

"Meditate with me," Mara murmured, something deep and unsettling in her eyes.

Luke choked off a quiet laugh. "I kiss you and ?"

She raised an eyebrow. "And I ask something more of you."

"Is it more?" he asked, deliberately and strongly meeting her eyes.

"I want to know you," she whispered.

Luke cocked his head. "I don't think this is the way things are normally done." No accusation in that, just observation, but he waited to see her reaction.

"We're normal?" she said, eyes widening.

Luke looked away for a moment, smiling briefly, but it quickly faded. "You're right, though," he said, referring to the intimacy involved. He shook his head. "I don't even meditate like a Jedi does." He met her eyes. "What do you think you would see?"

She looked surprised by that. "You," she said simply.

"Not the people I've killed?? Even the Jedi?" Luke questioned. Was he afraid of that? He was, in some sense, but he almost wanted to dare her to see what he was. She had told him once she wanted to get beneath his shields, and he had told her she wouldn't like what she would find. Would even he?

"I don't think you're perfect, or your father," Mara retorted, and Luke almost recoiled, regaining control just in time. But there was no censure or anger in her voice.

"Forgiveness and acceptance opening the way?" Luke asked softly. The key to friendship. "My ? someone told me that once," he said, slipping, but not caring for once.

Mara paused, withdrawing slightly. "How about honesty?" she asked, and without waiting for a reply, continued, "Was is it your aunt or uncle who said that?"

"How ?" Luke demanded, startled. Stopped. "Kenobi." Flat. But honesty, nevertheless. "My aunt," he said after a long moment. "Aunt Beru." Yet another pause, then he added, "They're dead now," almost cruelly.

Mara wasn't fooled. "How did they die?" she asked, the unperturbed tone to her words saying ? I thought we were beyond this. But not only that; it was still a question truly asked.

Luke closed his eyes, and rubbed his face, unable to speak. How did she do that? See beyond the delay, the doubt, and the stalling tactics. I want this, too, he thought. "They were caught in a sandstorm," he said at last. "After I left. A very painful way to die."

And still, she was astute. "You felt it?" she said, a look of pain on her face.

"I was skilled enough for that, by then," he said dryly, sadly.

Mara took his hands in hers, and Luke permitted it. She took a breath, then spoke. "Let me in," was her soft request.

Quite a request, but . . . were they not what they were? They were trained Force-sensitives, whoever it had been who trained them. And he wanted this. He desperately wanted this, and he felt that same desperation from her. Painful, urgent ? who could ever call love weak? This woman challenged everything about him, saw his weaknesses, and he could not help but be here, with her. He did not want to let go of these feelings she evoked.

He twisted his wrists, smoothly taking her hands in his. He brought one hand up, kissing her palm. The affection of the act was calming, and her shiver despite the heat made him feel ? he was not the only one powerless. She brought that hand to the side of his face, watching him, waiting, concerned ? he closed his eyes.

There was always a subtle difference in how he felt the Force, when his shields were up and high as they could be, and when he relaxed, and left himself open. Something he had rarely done, only with his father after Palpatine's death, but freeing and wonderful despite the rareness.

Mara felt like light.

Strands of it, webs, interconnecting and strong. She was a Jedi, he could sense that more clearly than ever. Her strength and fierceness shone out from her, easy to see now, when before he had sensed a wild power, not yet tamed by time and experience. Immature, he had thought, but no ? this was fire. Hard, harsh, dangerous, yet curving and smooth, elegant to the touch.

He was tentative. Slowly and carefully, he let himself be more aware of her in the present, now ? with his mind opening before her. Not all the way, that probably wasn't even possible, and shields still remained, yet she could see more of him now than he ever thought he would reveal. Some parts of himself were still hidden, perhaps even to himself.

He felt her wonder, and exhaled sharply at the pureness of it.

I would not curse you, she thought, and he heard it.

What do you see? he wanted to ask, but didn't.

I see you.

"I'm being very irresponsible," Luke murmured, eyes still shut.

Mara raised herself onto an elbow to get a better look at Luke. He lay on the wild grass, sprawled in a completely relaxed manner, completely ignoring the dizzyingly beautiful dome up above. Mara had lain similarly.

After that conspicuously unmentioned shared 'meditation', they had been absolutely exhausted. Mara knew they had barely brushed beyond the surface shields of both their minds, but even that was ? stunning in depth. Her Master had often told her that people were so complex, and when the Force was involved, even more so; never in her life had Mara seen something more aptly demonstrated.

Luke had been almost ? lighthearted when they finally stepped out of it, while they were both a little dazed. They had walked around the greenhouse for a while, neither saying a word. Mara was still absorbing everything she had felt. Light, and Darkness, and a hell of a lot in-between. Luke was . . . more than she had imagined.

The grass was a very comfortable place to sit, really. And to lie down, if one was so inclined.

"Why are you being irresponsible?" Mara finally asked, propping her head up with her hand.

His blue eyes opened and he looked at her. "I have duties."

"They'll manage," Mara said offhandedly, plucking the grass.

He reached out and stopped her, shooting her a smile. "Protected preserve," he murmured.

Mara stared at him in disbelief. "Showing your sense of humor now, I see."

"It's true," he protested, both earnest and mocking.

She smiled at him. It seemed to her they were both smiling a lot, a really rather obsessive amount, since meeting each other a few hours ago. A few minutes passed that way, Mara thinking, peering at him, and Luke very calmly, almost drowsily, returning the favor.

"When do you have to go?" Luke asked suddenly, softly.

"Pretty soon," Mara said, sighing. It was like a magical spell, being here, uninterrupted. Surreal, really, if she was honest with herself. Frolicking through a greenhouse with a half-Sith hadn't been how she thought this day would end.

"This will pass," Luke said, as if reading her thoughts.

"This?" Mara murmured.

"Happiness," Luke finished. Mara met his eyes sharply, somehow surprised by his bluntness. "We'll have doubts, fears, maybe even ? something will happen, to even better illustrate how foolish this is."

Mara snorted, knowing it was in some sense true, but it had been true for quite a while now. "Don't be a cynic."

"Who is more the fool, the fool or the fool who follows him?" Luke queried, ignoring her words.

"I don't know, what would that make you?" Mara retorted.

Luke grinned. "I'm still deciding on that one."

"I know you're not a Sith," Mara stated. "The skills, you said, but not the nature ? or desire. And I saw you." You can't hide as much as you used to.

Luke nodded, the movement seeming somehow careful, some shadow in his eyes. "But I'm not a Jedi. And I won't abandon the Sith ways."

"Why not?"

"Because they serve me well," Luke said sharply, as if it was obvious, and she was a stupid child for asking. Of course, only one of them here was an Emperor, so in a certain sense, he had a point.

"You can't dance around the Dark Side," Mara pointed out, remembering Obi-Wan's cautionary words.

"I don't dance or dabble," Luke said wryly. "I use it when it suits me."

"You're not that in control," Mara said flatly. Fear, pain, seduction, and the final fall; Luke was at the precipice, having crawled back up from the depths, she felt. "No matter what you think. These shadows I see ? don't tell me the Darkness doesn't haunt you, I won't believe you."

Luke closed his eyes, saying nothing. That perfect mask of control didn't slip; he was too skilled for that, but then, she knew that would be the case. How he structured his mind, his emotions, was still something of a mystery to her, even with what they had so briefly shared.

"The Dark Side will never ease your pain," Mara said softly.

"I'm not ?" he began, than stopped, as if realizing the uselessness of the denial. "And the Light will?" he said, opening his eyes, glaring at her.

"Forgiveness and acceptance aren't Dark Side traits," Mara retorted, with full awareness.

Luke's eyes narrowed, but Mara felt through the Force a small, shielded amount of amusement. "How can this work when we don't even believe in the same things?"

"I learned from you," Mara said. "Do you remember telling me how Jedi use the Light to blind themselves? How Light can influence a being of Darkness?" Did you believe that? "Couldn't you learn from me?"

Luke stared off into the distance, then refocused his gaze on her. "I don't know," he said simply, the remark more powerful in that she had only once heard him say that before. "What will you teach me?"

Mara looked at him carefully for a long moment, then lay beside him and put her head on his shoulder. She felt him stiffen, tense as if to strike out, and she carefully held still ? then he wrapped one arm loosely around her. "Does this bother you?" she whispered, wondering if he had ever had this for the sake of having it. If Vader had ever held him.

Luke could be breathtakingly, disturbingly honest. "Yes, it does."

She didn't ask why he was holding her anyway.

Skywalker stood on a distant landing, watching her leave. Mara felt him before she saw him, his presence creating the slightest of ripples. Before stepping onto the ramp of the shuttle, which would take her to the Republic ship up above and away from Coruscant, she searched for him with her eyes.

He stood alone on the landing, though she caught a glimpse of something hooded and small. Despite the huge Palace behind him, he didn't look small and insignificant, aware of the enormity of his surroundings; it was just there, present by his allowance, a representation of his power.

She could not see the look in his eyes.

She turned away, walking on board, wondering for the briefest of moments, wishfully thinking ? what would have Luke been, had he not been Emperor Skywalker?

To the glory of the Empire., she thought sadly.

To die fighting is to die free. Should we then cower in the dark for a few more hours of falsely lived life?

--- Excerpt, quote from The Clone Wars: Vol. II, Bail Organa. Annals of the Empire, Vol. III.

The hologram of Leia flickered, the quality grainy with frequent interruptions. Still, the serenity of his daughter shone through despite the tone of worry to her words.

"Father, the Imperial Intelligence division is growing continually more suspicious of me. I know we have spoken on this before," Leia said ruefully, "but it is still a matter of concern. The pressure isn't easing. I don't know if this new direction in the Empire's interests is because of the new Intelligence director, but this could seriously compromise our situation on Alderaan." She paused, swallowing, and it was left unsaid where that would lead.

"I look forward to seeing you on Coruscant, Father. I believe it's too dangerous to pass information that way any longer, however. Han . . . I think Han can get past the Imperials without being caught. The weapons plans will make their way to you," she said, determination once again coloring her tone. Her voice softened. "I hope to see you soon, Father."

The holo flickered for a moment longer, holding, then died. The tiny device that had somewhat miraculously shown it became inert once more, and Bail sat for a moment, then turned to his friend, also sitting on the couch in Bail's apartment, waiting for his response.

Obi-Wan's expression was grave. "Perhaps it is time for Leia to make her way here," he said reluctantly, folding his hands into his robe. "I can only agree with your assessment ? it is becoming too dangerous."

"The added attention Skywalker may be granting her . . ." Bail shook his head. "Leia doesn't know why I'm so worried about that. I finally told her that her birth mother had been briefly involved in the beginnings of the Rebellion in the Senate, but I don't think convincing her to leave Alderaan will be that easy. I'm not even sure she believes my explanation ? I wouldn't, in her situation."

Obi-Wan sighed. "There's no reason to think Luke would pay any more attention to her by now ? to be quite honest, if he doesn't know she's Force-sensitive by now, he's not going to, and if he does know, he clearly doesn't care. She's just gotten too close to whatever Luke is attempting to hide."

Bail snorted. "Well, she's not going to back off."

"Perhaps not," Obi-Wan said with a small smile. "That would not appear to be in her character."

Bail met Obi-Wan's eyes. "I wonder . . . if I should tell her the truth."

"It is your decision, ultimately . . . but I don't see what it would accomplish, other than anguish for your daughter, and perhaps further complications. I would talk to the Council first, as well," Obi-Wan advised.

Bail nodded, the thought of telling Leia the truth being a distant, unsought option in his mind. And yet, if it got her out of the Empire, it might be worth it. She'd be safe with the New Republic as she could not be in the Empire. And at least the deception would be over, whatever the results to their relationship.

"Perhaps you should ask Mara Jade her opinion," Obi-Wan suggested.

Startled, Bail carefully examined Obi-Wan for a moment. "Why do you say that?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "She knows Luke best, there is no denying that. I tend to think her view of him is more accurate than most, even the Council's, or mine."

Bail nodded at last. "I will consider speaking to her."

"I don't envy your decision, old friend," Obi-Wan said simply, meeting Bail's eyes.

Bail took some comfort in that, and nodded. Yes, he had some thinking to do, indeed.

Blasted bureaucracy.

She spent hours muddling through it, and then more muddling through Imperial politics, which was just as bad as bureaucracy; in fact, the two often interconnected in strange and unusual ways, like the New Republic Senators wanting to increase patrols around space lanes with a lot of farming traffic of ciyanth berries while the Empire had a little fit over the prices, which Mara as consort was supposed to soothe for the sake of the treaty, and then the various logistical issues involved in pleasing the Senators and placating a few Imperial Moffs. Frustrating to say the least. In moments of dark humor, Mara imagined Palpatine and Vader never had this problem; placating and pleasing were not on their list of priorities.

With Luke, she wondered . . . No wonder he skipped between the two, Light and Darkness: bureaucracy, and less bureaucracy.

"Knight Jade?"

Mara looked up from her datapad, turning to face the very familiar owner of the voice. Bail Organa stood before her, his presence, as was typical, calm and steady, save for a few subtle ripples of something else that she sensed.

He regarded her with dark eyes for a moment, then continued. "May we speak in private?"

Mara hesitated, curious, then simply nodded. He could want to speak to her on anything, though it most likely wasn't frivolous, as some of the other Senators could sometimes be in their requests. Especially here, so close to the Senate hall itself.

"My office?" Bail suggested, but something about it seemed necessary, like he would press if he had to.

"Shall we?" Mara said with a genuine smile.

Bail returned it, and silently led the way to his office. As with most of what served as the Senate building, it wasn't very austere or impressive, but it served its purpose well enough anyway. When they entered, Bail didn't sit; Mara waited for him to speak.

"I want to ask you something, and you must not ask why," Bail said bluntly.

Mara opened her mouth, then closed it, ready to argue, then realizing . . . well, despite her curiosity, Bail no doubt had his reasons. "Very well."

"Obi-Wan has said you know Skywalker well, better than any of us," Bail began.

Better than any of you know, she thought. "Perhaps so," she agreed cautiously.

"The Empire has been keeping a close watch on my daughter, and increased pressure on her and the other operatives on Alderaan," Bail said. "Do you think Skywalker intends to follow through on the increased threat?"

Mara sighed, and shook her head. "It may not even be Skywalker. I doubt he keeps tabs on everything his counter-Intelligence section does. But he's not shown any greater inclination to go after our people than he has before." She shrugged; that was all she had. She sensed there was something more behind what Bail was asking, but she wasn't sure what, precisely, that something was.

"A not very specific answer to a not very specific question," Bail murmured, slowly sitting on one of the guest seats.

Mara looked down at him for a moment, then sat in the other seat, waiting.

"We know that Skywalker will play a game on many levels to get what he desires," Bail said after a long, drawn-out moment. "Would he do the same with a Force-sensitive? Even a Jedi, or a person with the capability of being one?"

It suddenly made sense. "You mean you think he may be after your daughter because she's a Force-sensitive?"

Bail paused, staring at Mara. "Most Jedi don't sense that about her."

Mara met his eyes. She wouldn't have known, save for an overheard conversation and a few files she had no business looking at. "Skywalker doesn't want an apprentice."

Bail exhaled roughly.

"I'm fairly certain of that. And he would see it as a waste of time and effort to have an unwilling one, like Leia Organa," Mara continued. Even if he did know she was his sister.

"That is . . . a relief." And yet, not all worry was dispelled; Mara could sense that.

"But they're still after her," Mara said softly, looking into Bail's eyes and seeing the worry of a father.

"She refuses to leave. She's trying to get to us weapons plans from Kearek on new, advanced ship designs and missiles," Bail said.

"I'm sorry," Mara said, rather uselessly. They could use the information, but Leia Organa's life would be a high cost. The situation wasn't any easy one.

Bail sighed, then seemed to withdraw, becoming once again a collected, composed man, instead of a worried parent. For a moment, Mara felt a sharp ache, remembering her conversation with Luke about fathers and children, that blood connection. Even if Bail and Leia did not technically share that, they still had that connection. She and Adi were very close, but she had a feeling it was not quite the same, somehow. Mara's history as a thief was so different from that of a normal Jedi, and while their relationship had been different for that, Mara had never thought of Adi as a mother.

Her loss, or perhaps the loss of them both.

"Thank you," Bail said at last. "You have ? given me some relief," he said with a gentle smile.

Mara just nodded to that, feeling that it had still been inadequate. And yet, as she considered Bail's words further, she wondered ? did he fear that the extra attention would lead to the discovery of Leia's true identity? She didn't quite dare ask, but it made sense. Still, what she had told him was true: it was unlikely Luke had any true interest in Leia. "I will leave you to your thoughts," she said finally, rising to her feet.

Bail rose with her, gaze intent, as if seeing something in Mara that was making him think. "May the Force be with you," he said.

"And you," Mara returned.

Several days had passed before Bail spoke with Obi-Wan again, and by then he had come to a decision: not to tell Leia about her brother, and to use every other means to get her to come home. Up to and including getting what Bail referred to as 'that smuggler', Han Solo, to agree to help when he arrived with the new weapon system plans.

Obi-Wan thought it fortunate for Solo that Bail didn't know yet about the wedding.

But Bail was astute, and he'd pick it up soon; Solo wasn't the most ethical of people, but a good deal of it was due to circumstances where Solo had chosen survival, and overall, the young man was probably not a bad choice. Children ? well, they would deal with that when the time came.

He had already picked up on something else, something that Obi-Wan had seen as well. Mara ? twitched when Leia was mentioned. Almost guiltily.

The Force was indicating that it was time to confront that.

Perhaps it was underhanded, but Obi-Wan felt that after a long day of boring, frustrating work, Mara would be at her most vulnerable. It would be humorous if the situation wasn't so serious. If Mara knew, others might know, and that did not speak well for Leia's precarious situation. As well as the fact that Mara might have had an ethical lapse herself.

As usual, Mara was staying at the Temple while she remained on Ferwyn. It reassured the Council and pleased Adi, and it was probably the most restful place for Mara. Having been there before, Obi-Wan knew where Mara's quarters were, and had no difficulty waiting for her to pass by. Night was falling, leaving deep shadows everywhere, somehow elegant in the starkness of the Temple.

"Master?"

Obi-Wan pulled back his hood, stepping forward out of shadow. "Hello, Mara."

She smiled tentatively, a bit puzzled. She entered her quarters, and stepped aside to let him enter as well.

It was time for him to be less of a considerate, wise Master; that which Mara had always known him as.

"Do you ever think about the Death Star?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"What?" Mara said, blinking.

"Destroying it," Obi-Wan prompted, giving away nothing in his posture or eyes, knowing Mara to be well attuned to such by now.

She hardly even tensed; yes, she was skilled in hiding. Skywalker had likely taught her that, whether he intended it or not. "Dwelling on past acts achieves nothing."

"And what of better understanding?"

"Understanding of what?" Mara asked warily.

"Consequences," Obi-Wan said, most innocuously.

She met his gaze evenly, folding her arms, her body language no longer tense, but firm and unyielding, not ready for combat but unmovable. "One million, two thousand, four hundred and thirty-two. Not including the droids." She paused. "What of consequences?"

Good, Obi-Wan thought. That she knew that so well, sad as it was, and that she had vision enough to see, react and act. Luke had chosen a consort well. And yet, that very fact also mostly confirmed, to Obi-Wan's mind, that Mara did know. "You know of Leia."

"She is Bail Organa's daughter ? Mara began after a hesitation.

"You know that is not what I am referring to," Obi-Wan interrupted.

Mara halted, closing her eyes.

"How did you discover the identity of her parents?" Obi-Wan asked softly.

"A half-heard conversation," Mara said dryly, "hacking skills, and a rather lacking sense of not knowing what it is to know more than you should." She walked away and sat down on her couch heavily. "The files were wiped not long after, though I did secure them better anyway."

Obi-Wan sighed silently. "It is dangerous that you know. Bail sensed something was wrong, and told me. What if you make that mistake around Luke? For all that I don't believe he would harm her, it is not my decision to make ? and certainly not yours."

"I know," Mara said simply, meeting Obi-Wan's eyes. "But Luke, unlike you, has no reason to suspect anything."

"You call him Luke now?" Obi-Wan queried.

Mara chose not to point out that so did he. She merely shrugged, though through the Force he sensed brief spike of something ? not quite alarm, but close. "As you told Senator Organa, I probably know him better than anyone in the New Republic, at this point."

"Just be sure," Obi-Wan said softly, "that he does not know you so well ? or the information you possess."

"I would never betray the New Republic," Mara snapped.

"I would have said the same of Anakin," he murmured, "but then, he never did see it that way regardless."

Mara exhaled sharply, and did not reply.

And what more was there to say? He had cautioned her, advised her, and the rest was left up to her. The decision was hers, good or ill, and even Obi-Wan did not dare guess which path to choose. Anakin, ultimately, had chosen the wrong path, and yet, he could have been right. What had he seen that Obi-Wan did not? What did Obi-Wan understand that Anakin had not?

How strange, that so much shifted by the decisions of one person. Some called the Force the course of a river, and yet, how one tiny rock could shift the entire path of it remained mystifying if that was so.

"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan said at last, and it was a benediction of sorts, and a warning as well.

Mara's eyes were dark with certainty. "And with you."

The light of day was giving him a headache.

He supposed it was inevitable. Five months since their last meeting; he was in the middle of a cycle of nightmares again. Still, he would have preferred not to be so unbalanced when he saw her again. It was bad enough how unsettled and unprepared she always found him. It was particularly bad, he thought, when he felt more in control of the Empire than he did in a personal relationship . . . which wasn't supposed to be personal to begin with. That truly said something, with how unwieldy and unmanageable the Empire could be.

All very cynical.

He was still looking forward to this.

He turned away from the window, pondering having the floor length curtains drawn closed. He wrapped his arms around himself, feeling absurdly cold. Maybe he was getting ill.

Surely it didn't have anything to do with the Republic getting too interested where they shouldn't be yet, Mara coming, Kejal's silent disapproval, and that Moff getting too uppity in dangerous ways.

Luke sighed, and pushed all that out of his mind. He sat on the couch and rested his head in his hands for a long moment, drawing on the Force to calm and strengthen him.

Ah, there it was. Like tightly drawn shimmersilk, that was her presence.

"Tired?" Mara asked, stepping into the room as he raised his head.

He didn't say anything, just watching her for a moment. She wore white again, leaving him to feel lost in the dark in his black. Strange, how the white didn't wash her out, but made her look more alive. "I'm fine," he said finally.

She walked over to him and sat down beside him. He leaned back, content for the moment to let her take charge, curious to see what she would do with it. She didn't speak, instead facing him and laying her head on the back of the couch. A very casual position, very trusting, unready for combat. So odd, when they normally faced each other, watching every movement.

They sat there for a while.

Luke closed his eyes, the quiet soothing.

He was startled by her touch ? a gentle hand on the side of his face ? and his eyes snapped open. Stupid, he thought, letting yourself relax that much. You can't stop being aware ?

"You don't have to be tense every moment," Mara remarked, withdrawing.

He raised an eyebrow, sitting fully up, and said dryly, "You know my situation that well?"

"Simple practicality," Mara said, not offended. "Even Sith have to sleep."

Luke's eyes narrowed, off-put. "I have heard that some Jedi don't."

"But they still rest," Mara corrected, smiling.

"We only have today," Luke pointed out. Such a childish admission, and an unguarded one. Mara traveled constantly, whereas Luke was kept busy even just staying on Coruscant.

Mara paused, considering, green eyes dark. "Okay. Maybe we should go for a walk."

Not really what he felt like doing, but he nodded anyway. He rose to his feet, offered her his hand to help her rise, which she took to his surprise. "Lead the way, my lady," he said with a demure smile.

She shot him a suspicious glance, but led him out of the room. They walked slowly, casually, though Mara tensed for a split second when she realized they were being followed by Luke's guards. He had always told them to keep a greater distance before, but in this case, he hadn't expected to be leaving the room, so they were following at their normal distance.

"I thought Sith could take of themselves," Mara murmured to him.

Luke focused on her. "The smart ones have good subordinates," he retorted, perfectly aware of the purpose of the jabs.

Mara shrugged innocently. "What about the rule of two?"

"Don't be childish," Luke said mildly.

Mara smiled briefly.

She's up to something, Luke thought, but didn't let that thought show on his face. He should be more guarded, that was all. He nearly stopped, however, when he realized where she was leading them. This was far too specific, if they were going where he thought they were. They moved through the Imperial Gardens, with little conversation, slowly meandering over to the balcony where they had discussed Andar Kel and he had watched Leia Organa, wondering what the Jedi were up to.

Luke had nearly forgotten that the Organas? meetings had continued here, in the Imperial Palace.

Mara seemed somehow aware of the direction of his thoughts. "I want to tell you something," she said, her gaze intent on his.

After a pause, Luke dipped his head in acknowledgement and agreement. "Very well."

She led him to the balcony overlooking the gardens. To Luke's surprise, there they were ? Bail and Leia Organa. Rumors continued to abound, of course, that Leia Organa had married her paramour, Han Solo, but that was the only thing Luke could think of that could possibly be of interest. Puzzling, and Luke didn't like being puzzled; or led when he wasn't in control, led to something unexpected.

Mara casually leaned against the balcony, gazing down at the Organas talking, their voices too low to be heard. Luke joined her cautiously, checking the angles to make sure they were out of sight from the Organas. Had this been planned with them? Surely not an assassination . . . he could not think that of Mara, and it made no sense, anyway.

"What is it?" Luke asked warily, unsure he even wanted the answer.

Mara glanced at him. "I don't really have any right to do this, but . . . look at Leia," she said.

Cautiously, Luke turned away from her, focusing on the girl. "What about her?

"Reach out in the Force," Mara requested softly.

"I already know she's Force sensitive," Luke said blandly, hoping that was it, but having a feeling it wasn't.

Mara simply nodded. "I know. The Jedi started suspecting that you knew. I had a conversation with Bail, as well."

Luke turned his attention back to Leia. She was his own age, a beautiful woman, fiery and intelligent. A New Republic agent, as well, though that wasn't quite as dangerous for her since the treaty four years before. The Jedi had hidden her in plain sight ? why was still a mystery.

"What does the Force tell you?" Mara asked, again eerily seeming to read his thoughts.

Just how tired am I? Luke thought, reinforcing his shields, and opening himself up to the Force fully, listening to the stillness, not acting, but letting himself be acted upon ? led, in the one way he could truly accept. He closed his eyes, exhaling, not doing this halfway, but immersing himself into the Force. Like an ocean, marked by the waves of the living, distant shores with faded images telling of what was to be and had been.

Why had the Jedi been so protective of her? In such a strange manner? Why had Mara twitched at her presence, those years ago?

Padm? Amidala.

Rich brown hair, brown eyes as deep as the forest, his father had said ? beauty beyond that of an angel of Iego. She was so strong, your mother, an excellent politician, but one who cared, unlike these fools ?

Luke stumbled back from the balcony railing, his body suddenly clumsy with tension and fear. "No," he breathed.

Mara reached for him, but he slipped out of her grasp, meeting her gaze angrily.

"How?" he gasped, and damn this lack of control. If he had been more on guard ? Force, how could he not have known? "She's my sister, isn't she?" But why ask? The Force confirmed it joyously; it is connection, Luke had told Mara, but apparently he had more than even he knew.

Mara nodded, eyes gentle.

Luke took another step back, definitely out of sight from the two people below, breathing harshly, already beginning to regain control. "My twin," he said softly, finally meeting Mara's eyes.

Mara said nothing, newly tense.

"Why tell me this?" he whispered. "She probably hates me." Hating Mara. His father was gone, and she gave him this, but for what reason? And that Leia Organa would hate him suddenly hurt, as it would not have before; damn Jade. Was this to get him out of control? Always, always she pushed.

Mara approached him, clearly searching for words. Luke grabbed her arm painfully, but she merely met his intense gaze, not even attempting to escape his grip, a total contrast to the violence he wanted to inflict. "I trust you," she said softly.

He let her go, suddenly disinterested, wishing her to be gone. "You shouldn't," he muttered, turning away, walking away. This changed nothing; he had no interest in turning Leia, regardless of whether she was his sister. She was too set against him to ever be useful as an ally, regardless of her relation to him. Which she was probably unaware of, all considering. Whatever emotional reaction Mara was looking for, he would not grant it.

"Do you trust me?" Mara asked, and he tensed anew, wanting to react.

Luke simply stopped. "How?" he said, eyes filling with tears, though none fell. She did this, put him on guard, and then asked that question? He didn't understand her. There is no safety. I'll never be safe. Always be aware, his father had said, and he'd learned that lesson. Not being aware had led to Palpatine being in control of his training. Had led to Palpatine taking steps to ensure his apprentice, and his apprentice's powerful child, would be no threat to him.

Mara quickly stepped around him, to meet his gaze when he would not meet hers. "You won't hurt her," Mara stated. "You'll protect her now. I know that. That's in you, Luke."

"Have you seen that?" Luke growled, wondering what the Force showed her. He grabbed her shoulders and slammed her against the wall, unworried about anyone seeing them. The guards would keep them away, and they knew well enough to keep their thoughts and what they saw to themselves. Was that the point of this new pain she was forcing on him? To show him ? what? Himself?

Mara permitted the roughness for a moment, watching him, then unexpectedly and deftly applied the Force, slipping out of his grasp, though not actually moving otherwise. "You've shown me ? you've shown everyone. Your officers don't fear for their lives or their jobs as long as they know they've done their duty well; your citizens don't fear you, but love you."

Luke's arms fell to his sides, and he stared at her blankly, emotions roiling. "Why do you do this to me?"

"Who else will?" she whispered.

"I shouldn't trust you," he said brokenly.

And that was triumph for her, he realized, because that meant he did.

But she only kissed him, no triumph in that at all. Gently, and just so. He closed his eyes, wanting this to last, and wanting nothing more than to collapse and rest. Guards everywhere to keep him safe, but he always had to be aware, he thought. And what did that mean? Who did he trust?

The Force whispered to him of the nature of strength.

He kissed her back. Somewhat tenderly at first, more for himself than her.

They broke it off by silent agreement, and it truly felt like a breaking.

He was tired, but he met her eyes, and he saw her exhaustion, even this close to her, so close he could feel her breath on him. "I trust you now," he said simply. And what a burden, that had been so easily lifted.

She closed her eyes and laughed breathlessly.

She stroked his hair, and he closed his eyes. "Are you all right?" she asked, voice low.

"How can you trust me?" he asked in return, opening his eyes, watching her, reaching out in the Force for her presence, to read her and gain any sense of her he could.

"I see . . . what you do, what the Empire does, but I can't believe you do it for ill," Mara said, the words carried by a quiet breath. "I have always pushed you, and pushed past your manipulations, because I sensed that. You aren't evil," she said with gentle finality.

Luke put his hand to her face, tracing one of her eyebrows with his thumb. "Just tainted by the Dark Side, by my own will?"

"Maybe not by yours," she said, "so much as the life you have lived." She smiled at him. "You asked me ? can a being of Darkness be influenced by Light? And if," she continued relentlessly, "that is so, and a Jedi fall to the Dark, can't you find your way to the Light with as much completeness?"

"It takes time to fall," Luke murmured.

"To either," Mara admitted. She didn't look away, silently urging him to meet her eyes, and he finally did. "Fall with me?"

He was already falling.

Attempts to understand the life of Padm? Amidala are fractured at best. Her public life ultimately revealed little of her private life, though that was not thought at the time. She was thought to be open and honest, one of the few truly ethical politicians. The mystery of her relationship with Lord Vader has since shadowed that reputation, and cast new doubt on the last known facts about her life. How could a person with such contrasts in her life have dealt with those contradictions? Did Vader betray her . . . or did she betray him?

--- Annals of the Empire, Vol. II.

It was strangely enlightening, how comforting an embrace could be. Not for him; for her.

There was something about the warm solidarity of a person, holding onto them, holding them there, that brought a sense of security.

Luke, too, had calmed. He let her go first. He remained tense, but seemed calmer, more composed. He looked around the balcony area, eyes dark.

"Luke?"

He looked out over the balcony rail, though from this angle she knew he couldn't see Leia. "This is too public," he said at last.

Mara nodded. "Then what do you suggest?" she said, playing along with his composure. His presence in the Force, while more collected, was definitely still roiled and unsettled.

He met her eyes, holding her gaze for a moment, then started walking away.

The abruptness surprised Mara, but she followed him regardless. He went inside, made the first turn, and opened the first door.

It led to a simple room. Luke stopped, a surprised look on his face, and Mara realized he didn't know where they were going either; he just wanted to get away from that balcony. A bed dominated the room, which was small. The window barely showed a corner of the gardens. It was probably a guest room for minor dignitaries. Luke stared into the room blankly.

"Luke?" Mara said softly. "Are you all right?"

He entered, then turned to face her as she followed him, and quietly shut the door. "I thought you had stopped asking stupid questions," he said at last, with no rancor.

"Stupid questions, or ones that I already know the answer to?" Mara retorted sharply.

He raised an eyebrow just slightly, and Mara sensed approval, as if she was a student who had learned a lesson well.

She sat on the loveseat set against the small window, leaving plenty of room for him to sit beside her. He did so. "You're not all right," Mara stated.

"I have a sister," Luke said matter-of-factly. "I have a twin sister."

Mara nodded slowly. "Yes, you do."

"Secondary motives," Luke said, staring blankly at nothing.

"What?"

"My sister. She's gotten into trouble with the Imperial Intelligence, hasn't she?" Luke asked, looking over at Mara.

How did he ? "Yes," Mara said after a second.

"Clever," Luke remarked, looking away again. "Tell the truth, and still get what you want."

Mara put her hand to the side of his face, and turned his head to face her. "Stop it."

Luke closed his brilliant blue eyes. "I?m so tired," he admitted softly. He paused, stilling totally for a few seconds. Mara could feel his struggle, his shields slipping to her. He trusted her, and still, there was so much undiscovered between them. He wanted ? he wanted to weep. The walls were crumbling before her, and behind them she sensed horrible pain.

"You should rest," Mara said to him.

He sighed, and placed his hand over hers. "I can't."

"Why?" No real pressure behind the question, more like encouragement.

"I can't," he repeated. He opened his eyes. "Stay another day."

Mara nodded without hesitation.

"I have to go," Luke said, letting her hand go, but she took his hand in a gentle grasp.

"No, you don't," Mara rebuffed. "You want to regain control of yourself."

He smiled at that. "Would you deny me the chance to deal with what you have told me?"

"Not when you put it that way," Mara said wryly.

Luke paused, meeting her eyes. How oddly revealing that could be ? and yes, she could see that he needed time. "Thank you."

Deciding now was the time to retreat ? and she couldn't help but think of this in battle terms, at times ? Mara rose to her feet. Luke remained sitting, but he kept his gaze on her.

She kissed him on the cheek. "I'll be waiting," she said softly.

She didn't want to leave him behind.

Manipulation.

And yet, it seemed incidental. No, he was fairly sure it was incidental ? not unplanned, certainly, a contributing factor, but hardly the driving one in Mara's decision to tell him about his sister. He had already admitted he trusted her.

Strangely ironic, really.

He had completely lost control of the situation when he began to trust her, and that trust began to guide his actions towards her, when that trust started changing the plan. The idea had to keep her ? and therefore, the New Republic ? balanced on the edge of a knife about him and the Empire. But Mara had managed to see things both in a more black-and-white and complicated perspective than he had granted her able to, and disaster had resulted.

So to speak. But the ironic part was that he was doing the exact opposite of what he had ever thought he'd do, of any mistake he had thought he would make. That he would begin to trust her, like her, more than like her, had never occurred to him. To truly have her as an ally, not an ally by circumstance, was . . . seeming to be within reach. Frightening all the same, though, for several reasons.

Luke could have anyone he wanted and he knew it. He was also aware that such was meaningless, because he couldn't trust any of them, and by even giving the hold of being in his bed for a few hours, he would lose some degree of control, allow some amount of manipulation.

How ? why ? was he trusting her on a personal level? And why was he so damn incapable of trusting her on that level, and separating that from everything else?

Kejal was right. He was a fool.

Luke looked up from his desk. He hadn't actually been getting any work done, and Kejal's entrance had him uneasy. More likely than not Kejal would see his distracted state. And if he didn't know the reason for it already, he would very soon; Luke did not commonly keep anything from Kejal, and no lines were in place to do so.

Kejal stopped in front of Luke's massive, buried desk, and looked Luke straight in the eye. "My lord, what have you done?"

Luke sighed. "It's impressive, how you actually say that title convincingly, yet still sound so chastising."

Kejal didn?t smile. "I know you well, my lord. Something has happened, and considering the events of the day ?" otherwise known as the Mara event, Luke thought, as Kejal continued, "it's not difficult to make a leap in logic."

Luke felt a faint urge to squirm uncomfortably, passing by almost unnoticed. "It was unsettling, as my visits with her tend to be." He deliberately didn't mention Leia Organa, uncommonly feeling that it was none of Kejal's business.

Kejal's eyes narrowed, and his correct posture got even stiffer, that vaguely military bearing becoming even more so. "My lord, please."

"I wonder," Luke said softly, "if I have destroyed everything. I am afraid to look into the future." He met Kejal's eyes. "But I can't bring myself to completely regret it. Or try to undo what I've done." He smiled faintly. "Perhaps I am more like my father than I realized, setting everything aside for . . ." He trailed off, the word too powerful to be spoken yet. Fiery intelligence to match his own, compassion, understanding ? way too much understanding . . . He could not forget those green eyes.

"All plans change over time," Kejal said after a moment.

Luke was surprised by the conciliatory note in that remark. "Yes. Of course."

"The key is not having the perfect plan . . . but in having a plan that can be adapted," Kejal continued. "Basic military tactics, my lord, as your father taught you. You have what you need to make a correct decision, you simply need to remember it."

And that ? was it a call to return, away from Mara, or a call to reasoning, away from denial of the truth? "I know you disapprove," Luke said quietly.

"I wish you the best, my lord," Kejal said, eyes kind, and there was something strong in that word, 'wish'. Kejal was always grounded in practicality, and yet Luke sensed wistfulness in his affection and frustration.

How amazingly humbling it was to discover all over again that human beings were so complex, and his grasp of the Force clearly not up to the task of dealing with it. "Thank you," Luke said finally.

But Luke still didn't dare look to the future.

She walked alone to meet Luke. Technically, she was supposed to have left today, but she had delayed the departure of the New Republic vessel for another two days. No doubt when she did return there would be questions as to why, but she would deal with that when the time came. And already she was planning to come back to Coruscant in a few weeks. She didn't want to be away.

This deepening of their relationship ? and that's what it was, as much as she marveled at it ? was exhilarating, exciting, necessary.

She didn't think she could even explain it to herself anymore.

It was intriguing to her, that she didn't have any escort. Not any that she could sense at the edge of her senses, as she always had before, and even more surprising that such an expression of trust was occurring when she was, for the very first time, entering Luke's wing of the Palace. Luke had waited until it was almost nightfall before contacting her with a simple message. She wondered what he had been up to, what he had been thinking, or if he would even mention it. She suspected not; they were both fond of not mentioning their positions.

Mara adjusted the Jedi robe around her shoulders.

Architecturally, Luke's wing was similar to the rest of the Palace, with the high ceilings and large, spacious halls. There it diverged, because Luke's private wing had an entirely different feel to it. There was no sense of auspicious royalty, nor was there any sense of being watched, that subtle paranoia that existed as a part of life in Imperial politics. Guards were more visible, but their presence less intrusive regardless.

That sort of contradiction was very Luke, Mara felt.

She didn't have any trouble finding the room he had said to come to. Mauwel had given her directions thoroughly and politely, and Mara in turn had chosen to ignore his careful disapproval, not sure what to make of it.

Mara paused at the door, then entered.

Luke was sitting on a couch that dominated the simple room, but he rose to greet her after her first step, smiling.

"Hello," Luke said, expression watchful but not tense. He paused, she wouldn't quite call it a hesitation, then leaned over and lightly kissed her on the cheek. "Would you like to sit?"

Mara smiled at his carefulness. "Sure." She sat down on the couch, and he sat beside her, angled to face her. Mara took the moment to examine the room more closely. The floor and walls were simple, stained hardwood, and both the couch and single, undecorated rug were white. Deliberate? she wondered, and wondered if even he knew.

A moment of silence, and they hadn't had many of those.

"You look tired," Mara commented. He did look very tired ? not obviously so, but even the slightest bit was surprising to see, given Luke's self-control.

His gaze flicked away for a moment, like he was momentarily pondering his response. "I didn't sleep."

"Why not?" Mara asked, surprised.

"I haven't been sleeping well," Luke said with a shrug. "It will pass."

Mara paused, considering whether to push. "But why have you not been sleeping well?"

A definite hesitation on Luke's part, then, "Dreams. They come and go." He cocked his head. "But is that really what we want to talk about?"

"Perhaps not 'we'," Mara murmured, teasing.

Luke hardly reacted ? a slight twitch, and that was all. "I contacted my head of Intelligence," he said instead. "About ? Leia. She won't be bothered ? more than she can handle, anyway."

"Did he ask why?" Mara said, surprised. And intrigued that he was indicating he had no intention of Leia ever figuring out that was he protecting her, much less why.

"I haven't told anyone," Luke admitted. He shrugged. "But then, what would be the point?"

"What do you think the point of me telling you was?" Mara asked without thinking.

Luke looked at her, like he was wondering if she really wanted a response to that. "I don't think I need to answer that," he said at last, tone dry.

Perhaps a silly question, in hindsight. "What do you dream?"

"What do you dream?" Luke retorted.

"Which category of dream?" Mara replied sweetly.

His mouth twitched into a repressed smile. "How did you know I wouldn't hurt her? Organa?" He said it calmly, but with confrontation in his eyes.

"Because. . . I was right about you," she said. "Obi-Wan was right about you, being more than what you present to others. He indicated to me as much. What was it you said about Jedi and blindness?"

"And Kenobi chose not to blind himself?"

"The only question is whether you choose to," Mara said, and he withdrew slightly at that, knowing what she meant. As the Jedi blinded themselves about relationships and the Force, did Luke blind himself in regards to the Dark Side? But Mara continued, seeing the shadows around his eyes, and choosing to react. "You don't have to answer that," she said, a matter-of-fact tone to her words, no pity. "You should sleep."

He watched her, judging her. Always judging, always considering, that kind of examination of motives never ceasing, even though he was so much more relaxed around her now. He didn't reply, and Mara wondered how many had or would say such a thing to him.

"Luke?" Her voice soft.