Luke felt himself waking up several times, but he was quickly lulled back to sleep. He was aboard the Millennium Falcon at first, and then he was somewhere else entirely—a hot place.
He woke up quickly, finding Leia and his mother looking worried.
"Mom," he said, waking up carefully. His head ached.
"Careful, Luke. You've been asleep for a long time," Padmé said, sitting down beside him.
"Where are we?" Luke asked, confused.
"On Tatooine," Padmé said, helping him sit up. "I told you we'd come."
"Is that true?" Luke asked, standing up. "Where are Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru?" he asked excitedly.
"We're not with them yet," Leia replied, sitting down next to her brother. "Luke, we're still on the Falcon."
"What are we doing here?" Luke asked, until suddenly everything clicked.
"Mara," he said, standing up only to realize he was handcuffed. "What is this?" Luke asked, trying to free himself.
"I'm sorry, Luke, it's for your own good," Padmé said, a tear falling from her eye.
"For my own good?" Luke asked, upset. "Where's Mara? What did they do to her?"
"She's with Dad and Obi-Wan," Leia said, trying to reassure him.
"No, they can't hurt her," Luke said, trying to free himself, but he felt the handcuffs draining his strength.
"Luke, no one will hurt her," Padmé said, but she wasn't really sure. Thanks to Senator Organa, who hadn't filed charges or said a single word, they had managed to get the woman off Coruscant, but they had to hand her over to the Jedi Council; she was too dangerous.
"They won't understand, you won't understand," Luke said, sitting down in despair. He couldn't lose her.
"Luke, if you explain, maybe we can understand," his mother said gently.
"Luke, you know who she is, right? How many people have died under her command? She's loyal to the Emperor," Leia said, unwilling to understand.
"Is that true, Luke?" his mother asked, but she couldn't blame him if he loved her. She had accepted the fact that Anakin had decimated a Tuzken tribe when they killed his mother, though she suspected this was much worse.
"It's all she knows, Mother. The Emperor is her only family. She grew up by his side since she was a child," Luke said, lowering his gaze. "I know there's good in her."
"Luke, this goes far beyond us," Leia said sternly. "We were sent here on a mission. We're so close to taking down Palpatine, to ending the Empire. We can't allow an Imperial assassin to thwart our plans."
"We were sent here on a mission. We're so close to taking down Palpatine, to ending the Empire. We can't allow an Imperial assassin to ruin our plans."
"Is that true, Luke?" "How's Luke?" Anakin asked, entering the ship only to find him awake and looking directly at him. Luke could see that his father was carrying Mara's lightsaber.
"What happened to Mara?" Luke asked, trying to free himself.
"Padmé," Anakin said, and the two women left.
"What did you do to Mara?" Luke asked desperately. "Please, Father," Luke pleaded, trying to break free.
Anakin took his lightsaber, and Luke looked at him in fear. Would he kill him? His own father? He closed his eyes, accepting it, as he felt Anakin release him from his handcuffs and sheath his lightsaber.
Luke immediately stood up and tried to leave to look for Mara, but Anakin stopped him, closing the ship's door with the Force.
"I think we should talk first, Luke," Anakin said, sitting quietly in the ship.
"Fine," Luke said resignedly.
"Who is this woman?" Anakin asked.
"Her name is Mara Jade," Luke said, not wanting to give any more information.
"I already know that," Anakin said, and Luke felt his heart sink. Was she alright?
"Dad, please," Luke pleaded, tears welling in his eyes. "I know you can't understand, I know it's hard, but you have to let her go."
"The answer is no, Luke, whatever your arguments," Anakin said, looking at Mara's lightsaber. "Who is she?" he asked, activating the lightsaber. "Curious color."
"I can't tell you who she is. They'll hurt her, they'll kill her," Luke said, lowering his gaze.
"Luke, if you or she don't cooperate, we'll have to hand her over to the council. They'll use the Force to make her talk. If they deem it necessary to kill her, they will. If not, she'll be sent to the Citadel, and I assure you, it's better to be dead than end up on the Citadel."
"Isn't there any way to avoid it?" Luke asked.
"Luke, she tried to kill Senator Organa as soon as she had the chance."
"That was your plan. You used the senator as bait," Luke accused.
"Only because Han told us who she was and what her purpose here might be," Anakin said.
"Damn it," Luke said, putting his hands to his face.
"Luke, I won't lose you," Anakin said, moving closer to him. You came to save us, to save the future, and it seems you're succeeding. I won't let you make a mistake. Tell me who she is, and we'll do this together.
"How do I know you won't hurt her if I tell you who she is?"
"I would never hurt you, Luke. I know that hurting her would cause you pain, and I don't want you to suffer," Anakin said, looking him in the eyes. "You're my son."
"Will you let her go?" Luke asked.
"No, but I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to make sure she's alright," Anakin said, and Luke nodded.
"No, but I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to make sure she's alright." "Her name is Mara Jade. I met her a while ago on some missions. She's the second person the Emperor trusts most," Luke began, sensing his father's tension. "She tried to kill me recently in Jabba's palace, when the incident with Leia and Han happened, but she failed, and now she's here," Luke said, knowing his explanation was, at the very least, useless.
"Luke, you're not being clear," Anakin said, trying to remain calm. "When did you fall in love with her?" he asked directly.
"I'm not in love with her," Luke said, blushing, and Anakin raised an eyebrow. "A few months ago," he replied, blushing.
"How did you fall in love with an Imperial assassin?" Luke asked, handing him his lightsaber and Mara's.
"How did you fall in love with an Imperial assassin?" "I don't know," Luke said timidly.
"Does she love you?" Anakin asked, hoping he at least knew that much.
"No," Luke replied, looking at the woman's lightsaber.
"We need to know her true plans here, not just what we can guess," Anakin explained. "Senator Organa hasn't filed charges, but having her here is too dangerous."
"What will happen to her?" Luke asked.
"I'll give you one chance. I can't give you another," Anakin said, feeling he had to be so harsh with his son. "You will speak with her, and I need her to tell you everything. If she cooperates with us, the council won't judge her so harshly."
"She'll never tell me anything. The Emperor is like a father to her," Luke began, knowing Anakin was making a great effort by allowing this.
"I can't do anything more, Luke. In fact, bringing them to Tatooine instead of handing her and you over was already too much," Anakin said, and Luke knew he was right. He had failed everyone by defending Mara; he shouldn't be here. He should be with Mara on the Citadel.
"It's okay," Luke said, and his father patted his shoulder. Anakin pulled him into a hug that Luke desperately needed.
"You can always count on me, Luke," Anakin said.
"I'm sorry for everything," Luke said, scratching his head.
"It's all forgotten," Anakin said, leaving the room, followed by Luke.
"Why Tatooine?" Luke asked, confused.
"We have to interrogate Jabba, remember? It was the perfect excuse to come here."
"Oh, that's right," Luke remembered.
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan were guarding Mara. When they saw Luke, Ahsoka gave him a nervous smile while Obi-Wan looked at him with the same seriousness as Anakin.
"Come in," Anakin said to Luke, closing the door behind him. "I remember, Luke, just five minutes," Anakin said.
"Mara," Luke said, sitting down across from her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Mara said, annoyed. "Will you let me leave?" she asked, upset.
"You know I can't do that."
"You were going to run away with me, Luke. What changed?" Mara asked, feeling betrayed.
"They caught us," Luke smiled, and she was tempted to smile back at his infectious laugh.
"You know I won't say anything, Skywalker," Mara said with a smile she only gave Luke. "I'd die before I said a word."
"Why, Mara?" Luke asked. They'd had the same argument before. They'd met two years ago, and their feelings for each other had grown since then, but it was a completely forbidden love. The last time, Mara had tried to kill him in Jabba's palace. "Why can't you just leave him?"
"He's all I have left, Skywalker," Mara said, slamming her fist on the table. "I won't let them destroy him. After Vader, I'll be his right hand," Mara said, smiling, and Luke's smile faded.
"I won't let them destroy him. After Vader, I'll be his right hand." "I know there's still good in you, I know it, Mara," Luke said, taking her hand, but she rejected it.
"I'm not as weak as Vader. I won't let my feelings control me. You won't convince me to join your cause."
"You already saved us on Mustafar. Would you have done it if you wanted to kill us?"
"I want the pleasure of killing you myself. I failed last time, but I won't fail again," Mara said, standing up and trying to take Luke's lightsaber, but he stepped back.
"Mara, you have to talk. They haven't hurt you, but I can assure you that if you don't, the council will send you to a horrible place. They call it the Citadel. Only rumors remain about that place. Mara, I don't want them to hurt you," Luke pleaded.
"Don't pity me, Skywalker. I was careless to let them capture me. I won't hesitate to escape and kill them as soon as I get the chance," she said, calmly taking a seat.
"I want the pleasure of killing you myself. I won't hesitate to escape and kill them as soon as I get the chance."
"Mara, you have to talk. I haven't hurt you yet, but I can assure you that if you don't, the council will send you to a horrible place. They call it the Citadel. Only rumors remain about that place. Mara, I don't want them to hurt you."
"Don't pity me, Skywalker. I was careless to let them capture me. I won't hesitate to escape and kill them as soon as I get the chance," she said, calmly taking a seat.
"I want the pleasure of killing you all." "Please," Luke said, but Anakin entered the room.
"Will you talk?" he asked, looking directly at the woman.
"Vader," Mara smiled. "I always knew your feelings made you weak. When I kill you, I'll make sure you're never the Emperor's right-hand man, and I'll be the one at his side. I'll have all the power he gave you." Mara smiled, looking at Anakin with hatred.
"How did you fall in love with her?" Anakin asked, looking at Luke, and the boy blushed.
"Dad," he whispered, and Anakin smiled, so the woman didn't know.
"In love? With me?" —Mara— Of course not, we've been enemies since we met.
—Is that all?— Luke asked, feeling offended.
—Maybe not, if you hadn't gone to Jabba's palace under that stupid princess's orders— Mara said.
—Think about what I told you, Mara, please— Luke said, leaving Anakin with Mara.
—Will you think about what he told you?— Anakin asked, confused.
—How could he leave me alone to come and save you?— Mara asked, confused. —Maybe you aren't one yet, but you will be a monster. Your crimes will be countless. Blood will bathe your hands. I used to admire you before I hated you.
—I don't even know who you are. I'm sorry I instilled that hatred in you— Anakin said.
—Oh, but you will— Mara said as Anakin left.
"Didn't they accomplish anything either?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't understand how he fell in love with her," Anakin whispered. "She's a killer through and through."
"Anakin, I'm not the best person to say this," Obi-Wan said, "I still wonder how you're married and how I'm engaged." He made Ahsoka laugh. "Even Ahsoka is in love," Obi-Wan added, and Anakin's expression turned serious again; he had completely forgotten about the topic.
"Ahsoka," Anakin said, turning to speak to her, but the trogut was gone. "She can't run away forever," Anakin said as Obi-Wan laughed.
Leia watched as Anakin and Luke disappeared toward the Millennium Falcon. Only Obi-Wan remained, guarding the area.
"Obi-Wan," Leia said, waving. "Do you think I can come in?" she asked, and Obi-Wan allowed her entry, but only with his company.
"Seriously?" Mara Jade asked. "They sent you?" She smiled with annoyance. Luke had gone to Jabba's palace with this girl, risking his life for the whims of this princess.
"Why have you killed so many for a man who stole you from your parents?" Leia asked angrily.
"He's my family. He made me strong," Mara replied, her eyes blazing with hatred.
"I won't let you ruin our plans," Leia said, glaring at her. "I won't let you make Luke protect you again."
"When's the wedding?" Mara raised an eyebrow, and Leia smiled.
"I'm his sister," Leia said, leaving, savoring the look of surprise on the face of one of the best Imperial assassins.
"Why did you do that?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Luke never had time to tell him," Leia smiled as she left.