A GREATER FORCE PT. 2
The Wild Karrde drifted silently through hyperspace, its gleaming white hull cutting through the absolute black of deep space. The command chair was occupied by its captain Talon Karrde, smuggler, privateer and information broker. His casual posture effectively concealed his razor sharp mind, currently occupied in unraveling a new mystery.
His eyes narrowed at the back of Mara Jade’s head seated at the helm of the ship. Her unexpected communicade three days ago from Coruscant requesting to be picked up puzzled him enormously. He had been convinced that Mara’s future lay within the parameters of the new government. The last few months she had been slowly extricating herself from her role in Karrde’s business dealings. Yet now unexpectedly she wanted to rejoin his crew. In the seven years he had known Mara he had never been able to completely understand the complexities of her character. She was like one of the ancient Ukion puzzle boxes that had fascinated him as a child as soon as one section was solved another would slide out of place. Her minimal explanation that political life was not for her didn’t really convince Karrde of her reasons for rejoining his crew. As he sat contemplating the mystery, a face crossed his mind, a handsome boyish face with large blue eyes and tousled dark, blonde hair. He knew that Luke had been training Mara as a Jedi for the last few months. He had thought the animosity between them was now resolved. So why had she been so tight lipped when Karrde asked about her training. An idea suddenly formed in his mind, an idea so remarkable that he could hardly give it credence. Yet when he thought back over how much time Luke and Mara had spent together in the last three years it seemed possible. From their first initial trek through the forests of Myrkr to the battle on Mt. Tantiss against the crazy Joruus C’boath, the two had shared life and death situations most couples would never experience. Karrde remembered an old Correllian quote, ‘danger creates desire’. He shook his head he was getting too old to worry about the relationship issues of his subordinates. Slowly he rose and approached the crew pit. Without turning her head Mara spoke;
‘We are about to come out of hyperspace Captain,’
‘Very good, Jade,’ he replied, ‘when we have delivered our cargo to Bilbringi I may have another assignment for you. See me in my chambers after we unload.’
Mara glanced over her shoulder at him clearly suspicious, ‘Very well Captain.’
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Half an hour later Mara stood in front of Karrde’s desk, her posture stiff, her emerald eyes blazing into his own. He had seen men cower in fear from that gaze over the years but he was not one of them. Gesturing to the chair opposite he said;
‘Have a seat Mara,’
An eyebrow arched in response, ‘No thanks Karrde, just tell me what the assignment is.’
He hesitated disliking having to look up at her, he had been in business long enough to know that looking up at someone was not a position of power. He rose and walked around the desk until he was directly in front of her;
‘I need you to go back to Coruscant,’
Her eyes widened and he heard her indrawn breath, so his icy lieutenant could be shaken after all. She narrowed her gaze at him,
‘I wasn’t aware of any business you currently have with the New Republic,’ she answered tersely.
‘Mara, you may be my lieutenant but I do still have a few secrets,’ he commented, enjoying her confusion for a moment, ‘I have acquired a number of Katana dreadnaughts and wish to negotiate a sale to the New Republic. As you have established a relationship with Counsellor Organa-Solo I felt you were the right one for the job.’
‘A relationship?’ she asked, ‘I would hardly call it that.’
Karrde smiled, ‘’Really, I have heard the Jedi Master Skywalker has spoken of your skills with considerable enthusiasm.’
Mara colored slightly, ‘Yes well you know what a sap Skywalker is.’
‘Regardless, I want you to complete this assignment I am heading out to the outer regions so it will be some time before I can return for you.’
‘What the hell are you really up to, Karrde?’ she asked, her voice rising in irritation.
He laughed as he steered her out of his office, ‘Mara, you must not always be so suspicious who knows you may enjoy spending more time in what was once your home.’
Mara turned to glare but the door had already slid closed behind her.
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Two days later she found herself once more climbing the stone stairs of Coruscant palace to her chambers. Her mind revolved in a bitter tirade against Karrde for seeing through her request the rejoin the Wild Karrde’s crew and dropping her right back where he had collected her from. Damn him, she thought angrily. Well she was going to close this negotiation as quickly as possible and get the hell out of here. With any kind of luck she wouldn’t even see Skywalker while she was here.
To be continued…………..