Nightmares and Futures *COMPLETE*

Nightmares and Futures

Chapter 5

A hooded man moved through the halls of the medical center. He moved like a shadow, no one noticing him. He stopped and faced the door to Luke’s room.

*Go my faithful apprentice. Complete what Vader and Mara Jade failed to do,*

The man quietly opened the door and entered the room. He looked down at the Jedi Master asleep in the bed. He then noticed the woman asleep in the cot net to Luke’s bed. The man jeered at the two sleeping Jedi. He only had a short time to do what he needed to do and get out.

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Luke smiled as he sat beside the lake. He watched as Mara stood beneath the waterfall. It was a mild day in the jungle of Yavin IV. Mara had surprised him for his birthday by dropping by.

“You going to sit there all day or are you going to join me Farmboy?” Mara called out as she swam closer to shore.

“I guess I could join you,” he sighed dramatically.

He got to his feet and stripped off his clothes. Luckily, this area was very secluded and only a few people knew it even existed. He quickly entered the cool water and swam to where Mara stood.

Mara smiled slyly as Luke pulled her into his arms. Mara wrapped her arms around his neck as he leaned down and kissed her. A few seconds later, Mara gasped and pulled away from him.

Luke watched in shock as she fell back into the water. The water around her began turning red from the blood pouring from the stab wound in her chest, her heart to be exact. He looked down at the dagger he held in his hand, covered in blood. Mara’s blood.

“No! No! No!” Luke screamed as the dagger fell from his hand.

“Yes Skywalker. You have done what needed to be done,” came the voice of Palpatine.

“Mara. Oh gods no. What have I done?” Luke sobbed as he clutched the lifeless body of his best friend and lover.

“She was a traitor. You please me young Skywalker. You are more a Sith than your father,” Palpatine laughed.

“NOOOO!” Luke roared.

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Mara surged awake. The room was filled with the blaring of the machines attached to Luke and Luke’s screams. She rushed to his side as the medical team burst into the room. The doctors began working on Luke as several Male orderlies ushered Mara out of the room.

“No! I need to be with him!” Mara yelled.

“I’m sorry Master Trader Jade, but Dr. Levitt ordered everyone out but his team,” one orderly said.

“What’s going on? What the hell is wrong with Luke?” Mara demanded.

“It’s Master Skywalker’s heart. They are trying to keep it from stopping,” he answered.

Mara froze. Just then, Levitt and his team rushed out of the room with Luke on a gurney. Mara ran after them. They moved Luke to the critical patient unit. All Mara could do was stand on the other side of the glass and watched as they worked on the man she loved.

‘This can’t be happening,’ she thought desperately.

“Mara!” Leia cried as she and Han came rushing over.

“Oh Leia,” Mara sighed.

The two women clung to each other. Mara told them what she knew. She was awakened to Luke’s screams and his monitors. The team rushed in and began working on him to keep his heart from stopping. Han stood there like a mountain, each of his arms wrapped around Leia and Mara. Never once showing the fear he felt. It was his turn to be the pillar of strength.

Mara was the first to see Levitt exit the room. “Is he alive?” she demanded.

“Yes. His heart stopped three times before we got him stabilized. Right now he’s in a coma,” Levitt explained.

Han held Leia as Mara crumpled to her knees. Leia and Han knelt beside her as Levitt knelt in front of her. Mara felt as if her own heart was about to give out.

“Ms. Jade, the best medical team on Coruscant is watching over him,” Levitt said.

“What can we do?” Leia asked tearfully as she held Mara.

“Find the dark Jedi behind this. That may be Master Skywalker’s only chance,” Levitt answered gravely.

Mara couldn’t take it. She jumped to her feet and ran. She didn’t know where she was going, but all she knew was she had to get away from the medical center and fast.

Blindly she ran through the streets of Coruscant. She ran till her legs gave out. She found herself at the gardens behind the Imperial palace. She realized she was kneeling at the foot of a statue. The statue had been erected in memory of all those who died in the war.

Mara gave in. She fell to the ground at the foot of the statue and began sobbing. That was how Han found her half an hour later. He knelt beside her and gathered her into his arms.

“I…I can’t…loose him Han,” she sobbed.

“I know Mara,” he said soothingly as he held her.

“I can’t be strong,” she cried.

“You don’t have to be. Luke doesn’t need you to be strong, he just needs you to be there for him. Even if you’re falling apart,” he whispered.

Mara laid in the arms of her lover's best friend. Han gathered her into his arms and entered the palace. He entered the turbolift and headed for his and Leia’s apartment. By the time he laid her in the guest room, she had cried herself to sleep.

Han tucked her in, patted her shoulder and left. He made a bee-line for the office. Leia had agreed to stay with Luke while Han took care of Mara. He would relieve her in an hour. After punching in a code, a holoimage appeared.

“Karrde,”

“Talon, it’s Han,”

“Hey Han. What’s wrong?” Talon asked.

“It’s Luke. He’s currently in a coma at the medical center,” Han sighed.

“What happened?” Talon demanded worriedly.

“We don’t know. Mara had moved into his room after he was admitted yesterday. He had some kind of seizure here the night he and Mara met with you. She and Luke were asleep when she was woken up by him screaming and his monitors going haywire. Dr. Levitt and his team worked on Luke…hell Talon, the kid’s heart stopped three times before he was stabilized,” Han explained as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Damn. I’m assuming you want to know if I’ve heard from my contacts?” Talon said.

“Look, whoever is behind this has caused Luke’s condition. Stopping them is the only chance he has right now. Plus Mara is falling apart,” Han stated.

“Mara’s falling…oh now I get it. They finally admitted their feelings,” Talon chuckled.

“Yeah. Talk about lousy timing. Have you heard anything?” Han insisted.

“Possibly. An hour ago a contact called with a possible lead. I’m meeting him in two days. If he has anything, you’ll be the first to know. In fact, I’ll come see you personally,” Talon promised.

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it if you kept this low key. Especially about Luke and Mara being together. They have too many enemies right now,” Han nodded.

“I understand. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way,” Talon replied in understanding.

Hand ended the transmission. He got to his feet and left the office. He entered the guest room to check on Mara. He found here tossing and turning and calling out for Luke.

“No! Luke come back. Please,” she called out in sleep.

“Sshh. It’s going to be alright Mara,” Han whispered as he held her hand.

“Don’t leave me Luke,” she cried.

Han felt helpless to ease her fears. He just sat on the edge of the bed and held her hand. Slowly, her nightmares faded. He called for Wedge to stay with Mara while he went to relieve Leia at the medical center.

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Leia sat on the sofa next to Mara. “You okay?” Leia asked.

“I…I feel like my heart has been ripped out. Like half of me is missing,” Mara answered gratingly.

“I know sweetie,” Leia said, understanding perfectly.

“Leia, how can I be strong for him when I’m falling apart at the seams?” Mara whispered.

Leia pulled the woman who held her brother’s very soul into her arms. Mara clung to Leia, her only physical link to Luke. Leia stroked Mara’s hair as Mara’s tears began to fall once more.

“Mara, you don’t have to worry about being strong right now. You have been strong for so long, let us be strong for you,” Leia replied.

“I’ll try,” Mara nodded.

T.B.C