The Kiss

by Aria

Chapter 5

Mara sat, her bare legs extended and resting on the small table in front of her, and watched the black velvet sky unfold over Coruscant. She had long ago given up hope of getting any sleep, having spent the majority of the night tossing and turning in bed, before making herself a cup of hot chocolate and ruminating on several accounts on her data pad. Unable to concentrate on that task, she once again tried to close her eyes and slip into a restful, if not deep, sleep. Instead, she found her mind slipping determinedly into its continued analysis of the evening's events, exactly at the point where it had left off an hour or so before.

Time and time again, she attempted to redirect her thoughts to something other than the night in question. Time and time again her mind fell back into replaying bits and pieces of their conversation, before automatically fast-forwarding to the greenhouse and the memory of Luke Skywalker's face so close to her own. He had been close enough for her to feel the warmth of his body and smell the clean scent of his aftershave. Or could it have been cologne? She didn't know for sure, but the smell had stayed with her. As did the memory of the hopeful look in his blue eyes as he leaned towards her, before she stood upright and all but sprinted for the exit.

What was I supposed to do? she asked herself disgustedly. Let him kiss me again? To what end? She let out a sigh of frustration and set down her cup.

To lose yourself in his kiss and feel the warmth of his arms around you again… To run your fingers through his hair and allow him to plant soft kisses along your neck and shoulders. To hear his gentle voice whispering sweet words of love and devotion and, for a single moment, to believe them to be true.

She kicked the table aside angrily with her feet and stood to look out over the Coruscant skyline. She had been awash in confusion in the aftermath of their lovemaking but why now, after she had successfully thwarted his advances, did she still feel such a sense of bewilderment?

Mara stepped out onto her balcony and let the night air gently whip her red-gold mane around her face. The breeze felt cool against her skin and helped calm her temper. Taking a deep breath, she resolved to think the matter through logically and dispassionately.

She began with the indisputable; Luke Skywalker had offered his friendship when no one else in the galaxy had dared to. On more than one occasion, he had risked his life to save her own and had done so against the advice of those who considered her not worth the risk. His faith in her ability and trust in her judgment were often the only constants in a life that held little else by way of stability. True, she had little patience for his Jedi Master rhetoric, but also knew that it came from a well-intentioned place and from a desire to see her fulfill her potential as a force-adept. When was the last time anyone had cared enough about her to be concerned with her potential? With any aspect of her being, for that matter?

Mara stared out beyond the scattering of bright lights that dotted the black background of night then sighed and wrapped her arms tightly around her. Then there was the way he made her feel. Closing her eyes, she slowed her breathing measurably, focused her attention inward and thought about the moments spent in his company. Safe. Calm. Protected. Luke Skywalker made her feel… loved. Begrudgingly, she allowed her thoughts to drift back to the one night spent in each other's arms and to the memory of his wordless confession. Her mind immediately recoiled against the revelation, but not before her heart began thudding audibly in her chest.

"He loves me." She whispered tentatively, trying the words out. She opened her eyes and once again stared out into the night's sky, a soft smile on her lips. She didn't allow herself to continue the analysis of their relationship, opting instead to languish in the knowledge of that one, simple fact.

"He loves me," she repeated out loud. "Me. Mara Jade."

Suddenly, her smile waned, replaced by a stern look of consternation and her mood began to darken considerably.

"The Emperor's Hand," she continued through clenched teeth, her eyes beginning to cloud. "Former Imperial assassin."

Mara Jade turned on her heel, walked back inside her suite and once again cursed the day she ever set eyes on Luke Skywalker.

***

Leia Organa Solo walked out of the large conference room, quickly distancing herself from the other participants, her long, white skirt swirling around her. Her mind was still reeling from the bits and pieces of information she had gathered in the minutes prior to the Senate meeting. It hadn't taken long for news of her brother's dinner date with Mara Jade to reach her ears, nor those of the other members of the Senate.

Picking up her pace, she entered a waiting lift and headed towards her private chambers, two guards in tow. She could simply throttle Luke for allowing her to be caught unawares by the gossip! Not only had they been seen dining alone at a secluded table for two, but it was rumored that they had been spotted walking hand in hand, through the streets of Coruscant as well.

What is my little brother up to now? She asked herself, shaking her head. And why am I always the last to find out?

With a slight nod and backwards glance at her escorts, she passed through her chamber doors and closed them behind her, grateful for the peace and solitude the next few minutes would afford her. She had deftly side-stepped the remarks which had alluded to the possibility of a budding romance between the two by reminding her audience that Luke and Mara had often worked together on behalf of the New Republic, and that any collaboration, was probably tied to such matters. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, she could find little comfort in her own explanation.

Leia sat at her desk, unable to focus on the stack of data cards before her. Instead, her attention was drawn to the group of holos of her family, neatly arranged before her. The one of her smiling brother, blue eyes twinkling, with a laughing Anakin on his shoulders caught her attention and she stared at it pensively for a few minutes. They were so much alike, Luke and Anakin. Her youngest son had seemingly inherited many of the qualities she attributed to her brother. Both were honest, loyal, idealistic and soft-spoken, but also possessed of a strong will and a determination that knew no boundaries.

The fact that she and Luke had been robbed of a youth spent growing up together still angered her at times. For their sakes, and perhaps for the sake of the greater good, they had been separated at birth and whisked off to live separate lives. During introspective times such as these, she was reminded of just how difficult such a childhood must have been for a boy of Luke's spirit and sensitivity.

Leia had been blessed with a life of privilege and affluence, and raised in the beautiful and culturally rich Core World of Alderaan. She had been reared at the feet of a distinguished and respected Senator, whose family pampered her and lavished her with the finest education and with the ability to explore any career opportunity at her disposal.

By stark contrast, Luke had been relegated to a life of hardship and struggle in the barren wastelands of the farthest Rim World in the galaxy. The poor moisture farming couple that had taken him as their charge were scarcely able to provide him with bare necessities and, in an effort to protect him from a birthright they feared, continually discouraged his dreams and aspirations.

True, his aunt had loved and nurtured him, but his uncle had been a stern and oftentimes merciless disciplinarian. Leia had been appalled at the extent of Luke's hardships, both physical and emotional, and she had been overwrought with guilt at the treatment he had endured so early in life.

Shortly after the battle of Endor, she and Luke had spent many evenings talking about their childhoods and exchanging personal stories of a lifetime spent apart. In those moments of whispered confessions and relaying of bits and pieces of their personal history, the bond they already shared had deepened considerably. In the years that followed, both had settled into their roles as brother and sister, acting very much like two sides of the same coin. To those that knew them best, the fact that they were related initially came as a surprise, but upon further reflection, the revelation made perfect sense. Luke and Leia had become the closest of friends from the moment he had burst into that prisoner cell on the Death Star so many years ago.

Even when parsecs apart, Luke's presence was always part of her consciousness, and she depended on it as much as she relied on her own judgment in times of crisis. In times of sorrow, his soul cried out with hers, then comforted her spirit and infused her with renewed strength and hope.

So it was no surprise that, try as he might, Luke Skywalker had not been entirely successful in concealing his deepening loneliness from his sister, and there were times when Leia's heart physically ached for him. Callista's sudden departure had left him emotionally devastated and while he had done his best to hide his pain, Leia knew that the wound ran deep and had left him scarred. Months later, when it was clear to all that Callista would not be returning, Leia had repeatedly attempted to pull him away from Yavin and bring to him Coruscant to spend some time with her and the kids. Luke had gently turned down all of her entreaties, choosing to remain secluded on Yavin and suffer his grief alone. When he emerged, she had immediately noted the change, and had often wondered if it wouldn't have been better for Callista to die aboard the Eye of Palpatine.

On the surface, Luke's loneliness would have defied explanation. In a vast galaxy of sentient beings there was no shortage of women who would have leapt at the chance to be courted by the Jedi Master! What the galaxy didn't take into account was Luke's heritage, his strength in the Force and the responsibility that came with that gift. In addition to which was Luke's well-ingrained dependence on the Force itself. It nurtured him, fueled him and coursed through his body as easily as water flowed through a stream. Any woman would have to be unnaturally self-assured not to be discomforted by a husband who could sense her every intention long before she had acknowledged it herself.

"My brother is definitely not for the faint at heart," she murmured, smiling to herself.

Then there was the matter of his over-protectiveness, Gamorrean-headedness and general predisposition for trouble and injury. No. Her brother certainly was not without his faults and she defied anyone she knew to have a go at dealing with him without losing their patience and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Save for…

Mara Jade.

Leia stopped in her tracks as if caught by a stun blast, her eyebrows knitting in confusion.

Mara was strong, independent and a force to be reckoned with! However, by all accounts, she barely tolerated her brother. Mara wasn't the type of woman who made attempts at disguising her dislike of most people, and she wore her contempt for Luke like a badge of honor for all to see. Even in Leia's presence, her disdain for him remained thinly veiled and could be felt pulsating just beneath the surface.

Leia knew that the friendship between Luke and Mara was precarious at best. Their arguments were already legendary, and Mara Jade was known to be the one person in the galaxy who could make the Jedi Master lose his temper in a nanosecond flat. Popular opinion seemed to indicate that the problem lay in their vastly different political philosophies. After all, he was the hero of the Rebellion and the New Republic's first in what was hoped would be a long line of Jedi Knights. She was a former agent of the Empire and a member of the Emperor's court. It was only natural then that disagreements would arise.

But what if all that tension didn't stem from a personal dislike but rather, from an attraction neither could own up to? Leia wondered. Memories of her and Han's early courtship immediately sprang to mind and she smiled inwardly, already aware of having stumbled upon the truth of the matter at hand.

Leia could already feel her own sense of over-protectiveness kicking in. Mara was definitely not the type of woman she had imagined for her sensitive brother, even though she was certain that Mara's service to the Empire was now a part of her distant past. Perplexed, she sat down and began her preparation for the following round of negotiations with the Trade Federation, but not before she made a mental note to have a talk with her brother when the opportunity presented itself. If Luke was to court Mara, there a few things he needed to know - for his own safety!

***

Five minutes into his third meeting of the day and Luke Skywalker was once again reminded of the numerous reasons he disliked Coruscant and its political infrastructure. This meeting, in which he was to serve as mediator between the Sullustans and the people of Firrerre, had already started off on a sour note.

The galaxy had been without Jedi for a generation. Just long enough for the their role as peaceful negotiators to have been forgotten and the assertion that they serve as judge and jury be firmly entrenched in its place. Luke had patiently attempted to explain his role as a Jedi, and that of his students, as ambassadors of peace whose single role was to suggest peaceful resolutions between worlds in an effort to avoid violent and destructive conflict. This was apparently an alien concept to the Firrerreans, who repeatedly demanded that Luke and his Jedi Academy interfere - with brute force if necessary.

Luke bowed his head as both parties continued their heated debate, and called on the Force to bring him a measure of peace and tranquility. He hadn't needed further proof of it, but he resolutely knew that he was ill-equipped for a life in politics, regardless of Mon Mothma and his sister's insistence that he spend more time in the New Republic's capital and immerse himself in the political arena.

At the rate these negotiations were unfolding, Luke knew it would be nightfall before he'd be able to go about his business. He'd attempted to contact Mara via comm unit repeatedly throughout the day but had found little time to eat, to say nothing of being able to find a moment alone in which to carry on a conversation. And so, a sense of urgency continued to nag at the edges of his consciousness and his fingers began to drum nervously on the table in front of him.

Patience. He had to learn patience!

Luke Skywalker knew that the chances of that were nonexistent. If he hadn't already mastered the ability to be patient, he wasn't about to do it now. Not when his heart and mind continued their dual assault on his senses, overwhelming him with the certainty that he and Mara belonged together and that she alone held the key to his happiness. He was just as certain that the time he had to convince her of that fact was quickly running out. If Mara decided to blast off planet, it could be months before he'd be able to track her down again.

He opened his eyes and leaned back in his chair, once again tuning in to the charges and accusations being flung back and forth. Silently he prayed for a break in negotiations, if not for a quick resolution.

***

"Well, if it isn't the beautiful Mara Jade!" The man on the screen of her holo-unit bellowed, an oily grin splitting his handsome dark features. "We finally end up on the same planet it seems!"

Mara's expression darkened as she recognized the image before her. The man on the screen could have been mistaken for either an actor on a holo-drama or an apparel model for one of Coruscant's high fashion designers. His sharp features were perfectly chiseled and were off set by a crop of long black, wavy hair which he wore swept away from his face and tied at the nape of his neck.

She had known Gavean Trent for several years and had spent the majority of that time avoiding his company for reasons too numerous to recount. As a prominent member of Karrde's organization, she had been forced to establish business relationships with a variety of distasteful mercenaries, pirates and smugglers - ranging from the unethical, to the repugnant. Yet none could match Trent's reputation for double-dealing, underhandedness and sheer corruption.

A ladies' man, who rivaled Lando Calrissians' most infamous exploits, Trent had made a small fortune separating the galaxy's wealthiest inhabitants from the majority of their credits. Repeatedly, he had been able to romance all manner of female species and encourage their participation in shoddy business ventures and rich-quick schemes. In truth, such investments did little more than to line his own pockets and allow him the luxury of a lifestyle that fooled many into believing him to be a man of good business sense and financial acumen.

He was clearly a man living on borrowed time, but his looks, charm and wit enabled him to continue embarking on his many smuggling operations. His dealings were restricted to the fringes of the established network of trade organizations that the New Republic currently supported and endorsed, but he was always on the lookout for the proverbial foot in the door with the new government, and Mara knew that in addition to desiring her as one of his trophies, he also considered her to be his opportunity into the Republic's large and profitable door.

"Don't bother asking how I knew where to find you, Jade," he continued before she had a chance to reply. "Just like you, I have my sources."

"Trent, to what do I owe the displeasure?" Mara responded, cocking her left eyebrow and doing nothing to conceal the irritation in her voice. "I'm a busy woman."

Gavean Trent stroked the shadow of his beard and smiled conspiratorially. "So, I've heard, Jade. So I've heard. Too busy to stay in one place for long, which is why I'm so surprised to still find you in Coruscant."

"I've personal business to attend to, Gavean," she responded, ignoring his obvious attempt at conversation and already growing tired of the exchange.

"Then I suppose you'll remain in system long enough to attend the Trade Conference as well, yes? I'm certain Karrde would wish for his most trusted second in command to be present for such a fortuitous event."

"Trade Conference?" she repeated absent-mindedly. Talon had made no mention of his desire to have her present at the conference and she didn't have to wonder why. For years, Talon's organization had worked side by side with the New Republic, to the benefit and profitability of both sides. In that regard, she and Luke's crisis management missions had guaranteed that Karrde's organization was always first in consideration for any New Republic's ventures. Especially those ventures requiring a low profile and a high degree of confidentiality. An appearance by her at the Trade Conference would simply be considered a waste of valuable time. Much the same as her decision to remain on Coruscant, she realized.

"I've better things to do with my time, Trent." She responded, feeling quite certain she knew what his next question would be.

"Well, then perhaps I can still persuade you to accompany me." He smirked. "You know, maybe arrange for an introduction here and there."

Mara lowered her head and smiled. If only men weren't so predictable. "Thank you, but no."

"What ever happened to professional courtesy, Jade?" he asked, his voice taking on a defensive tone.

"Nothing, as far as I know. It still exists…among professionals, that is."

In the next instant, Gavean Trent was left staring at a blank screen.

***

"Hutt!" She whispered hotly immediately after breaking the link.

Mara pushed her chair away from the communications console and flung her head over the back of the chair. She had managed to put Gavean off for the present time, but she knew him well enough to realize that he would not be dissuaded so easily. Not for long, anyway, and especially not now that he knew where to find her. She'd rather throw herself out into air lock before she'd let herself be seen in his company at a Trade Conference - or anywhere else, for that matter.

"Let Talon deal with that space slug when he arrives," she murmured, "unless he wants to see his second in command imprisoned for putting an end to that miserable rodent's life!"

Still, Mara knew that the change in her mood could only be partially attributed to her conversation with Gavean. She would have loathed to admit it, but she had hoped the incoming call would have been Luke instead.

Frustrated with herself, tired from her sleepless night spent pondering their relationship, and now, newly aggravated by the knowledge of Gavean's presence on Coruscant, Mara made a snap decision.

She quickly changed into her workout clothes and headed for the gymnasium, hoping that an evening spent engaged in strenuous physical activity would help her clear her mind a bit.

***

As soon as Mara slipped in through the gym's double doors she felt it, and for a split second, she allowed the warmth to spread over her, making her senses tingle. She had become aware of him just in time to allow her to slip back out again, unseen, but too late to avoid being detected by him.

Taking a deep breath, she let the doors hiss shut behind her and forced herself to begin walking past the gym's main equipment room and onto the indoor atrium and mammoth sized pool that were located to the rear of the structure.

As she neared the pool, she could hear the sound of splashing water echoing off the walls and noticed that except for the light streaming through the panes of the transparisteel ceiling, the aquatics room was dimly lit. Also detectable, were the sounds of intermittent breathing, punctuated by sporadic groans of exertion.

Luke Skywalker executed laps with precision, even if his underwater turn at lane's end was a bit shaky.

Mara stopped at the edge of the pool, arms crossed and waited for Luke to make his way back to the end of the lane where she stood. As he neared her, she took a moment to surreptitiously glance at his torso and watched, enthralled, as the muscles in his back and arms rippled and strained with each stroke. He used his strong legs to kick at long intervals, allowing his upper body to bear the brunt of his effort.

When his hand finally touched the wall, he stood, swept the hair from his face and smiled broadly. Mara felt her mouth go dry and her knees grow weak in response.

"Hey there!" he exclaimed, finding it difficult to conceal his happiness. "Care to join me?"

Frozen in place, she watched as he grabbed a hold of the ladder's railing and propelled himself up and out of the pool. Drops of water rolled from his face, hair and shoulders and made their way down the contours of his body. Mara couldn't help but to follow some of those droplets as they traveled down his chiseled chest, past his trim stomach and disappeared into the waist of his swimming trunks. The trail of dark blond hair which began just beneath his navel captured a couple of those streaks of water and held them, before they too, joined the rest and rolled out of sight.

Finding it difficult to respond, Mara shook her head and fixed her eyes on the railing he was leaning on.

"Can you swim?" he asked innocently, mistaking her silence for residual anger stemming from the previous night.

"Of course I can swim, Skywalker!" she all but shouted at him, anger helping her find her voice. "I didn't come here to swim. I came to get some exercise!"

"Swimming isn't exercise?"

"Never mind, Skywalker!" she spat out. Why did they always have to end up bantering like this?

Luke picked up his towel which hung from the rail and began drying off, roughly running if through his hair all the way down to his feet. All to no avail, Mara thought to herself. His wet trunks still clung to his mid section in an assorted mix of bumps and wrinkles that made her cheeks flush.

When he had managed to remove all of the cascading water, he swung the towel around his neck and lifted his head to smile at her. Mara once again fought to gain her composure but was convinced that Luke noted none of her discomfort. Part of his charm, she thought to herself.

"Don't you ever run a comb through that?" she questioned, pointing at his hair whose wet ends stood out in every direction.

In response, Luke bent over slightly and shook his head violently, spraying her with a mist of water.

"There!" He said triumphantly as he raised his tousled head and broadened his smile, "I guess I'm just a low maintenance type of guy!"

"Tell that to someone who hasn't had to traverse the galaxy to get your butt out of trouble, Farmboy!" she countered, but she couldn't hide the smile from her face.

Luke took notice of her change in mood and watched as the smile brightened her face. Gods, she was beautiful! The familiar ache in the pit of his stomach returned once again and his mind raced to find a way to keep her with him. However, other than a swim, which she had already refused, he was at a momentary loss as to what to suggest.

Glancing at the group of chairs arranged at the far side of the pool, he gestured to them shyly.

"Sit with me for a while?" he asked nervously, watching her face and doing his best not to reach out with the Force to brush her senses and get a feel for what she was thinking.

"Skywalker, I've matters to attend to," she answered without any real conviction. But he was already making his away to grouping of loungers and arranging them next to one another.

"Just for a minute, Mara," he all but pleaded, gesturing up to the skylight, "this is the best part of the day."

"Its early evening, Luke," she corrected, taking her place on a reclining lounge chair he had set next to him.

"Exactly," he murmured.

She watched him fold his towel and place it beneath his head, and marveled at the simple pleasures that still seemed to amuse him.

She then turned her attention to the sky above and watched as the impending sunset caused a cascade of colors to appear in the evening sky. Deep, burnt russet tones swirled with fading blue hues in a kaleidoscope of shades reminiscent of watercolor paintings. As the invisible sun dipped lower in the horizon, the colors deepened then turned opaque as night descended and a billion tiny stars appeared above them.

Mara hadn't noticed, but Luke had rested his arm on her lounger, instead of his own and she could now feel the warmth of his skin next to her own. Again, her mind screamed for her to move away a little, but her body disobeyed and she remained perfectly still, enjoying the feel of his close proximity.

"I want to see them all," he whispered, not taking his eyes from the view above, "If I could only get out of Coruscant, that is," he added jokingly.

"The job of a Jedi Knight is never done," she responded smiling.

"No. But that's not what I dreamed of becoming as a boy."

Mara turned her head and gazed at his profile, examining his expression carefully, but she remained silent and allowed him to continue.

"I just wanted to fly."

Mara smiled. His revelation was nothing new. She had watched him fly and had seen the way his spirits lifted whenever he found himself behind the instrument panel of ship. No matter the type of ship and no matter the circumstances, at his very core, Luke Skywalker was a pilot. But this was the only time he had ever confessed it to her.

"They why…" she began to ask.

"Did I become a Jedi?" he interrupted. "Because it was my destiny, Mara, and because I had a gift that enabled me to make a difference."

Mara began to brace herself for another one of Luke's discourses about fulfilling her own destiny, but it never came. Instead, he continued to scan the night's sky, his right arm slung carelessly above his head.

"I don't regret my decision, even if I do wish I could get out there more," he continued.

"I could always drag you with me on a couple of trade runs, Farmboy. That'll help you appreciate a home in one location," she blurted out before she could catch herself. She glanced at him nervously but he simply smiled and nodded.

Suddenly, he pointed to the sky above and raised his head to peer closer. "There's one!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"One what?" she asked, squinting her eyes. Then she saw it, streaming across the darkness of space, leaving a glittering trail in its wake.

"Its probably just as asteroid that broke loose from…." But as she turned to look back at Luke, she saw that he had shut his eyes and that his lips were muttering something unintelligible.

"Luke Skywalker! You're not actually making a wish on that piece of falling debris, are you?" she asked incredulously?

He finished his silent offering and turned to face her, a sheepish grin on his face.

"Haven't you ever wished for anything, Mara?" he asked, rolling over on to his side to face her, his head resting on his hand.

"I buy whatever I want, Skywalker!" she retorted, looking into his blue eyes that were now, so close to her own.

Luke inched closer, a soft smile on his lips. "What of the things credits can't buy?" he asked softly.

"Such as, Skywalker?" she quipped, feeling her cheeks growing warm but refusing to pull her gaze away from his.

"Peace and harmony," he responded, as he reached out and placed his hand on hers, softly caressing her knuckles. "So that my sister's children can have the opportunity to grow up without having to experience the pain and anguish of war."

Their foreheads gently touched and Mara was no longer able to hold his gaze. She looked down at their hands instead and tried in vain to keep hers from trembling. Instinctively, she closed her eyes and allowed her subconscious to take over, no longer trying to think of something trite to say in response.

In the silence that ensued, Luke dipped his head to once side and gently covered her mouth in a soft kiss…followed by another, which he deepened slightly. Mara felt her chest heave in a sharp intake of breath and tried to dull the ache that was begging for his touch.

"And for yourself?" she asked almost inaudibly, separating herself from him by mere centimeters. "What do you wish for, Luke Skywalker?"

"To have you in my bed every night for the rest of my life," he whispered ever so softly, the words moving past his lips faster than he could stop them. It was what had been in his heart, and he hadn't had the common sense to censor himself. Immediately, he began choking down the intense panic that rushed through him as he felt her anger spike in response.

Too shocked to reply right away, Mara Jade pulled her hand back roughly. A look of sheer terror was etched on her features and her green eyes blazed with fury. Suddenly, she felt the pieces all fall into place and her body shook with unrestrained fury.

"So that's it, Skywalker?" she screamed, standing over him and trying with all of her might to keep the tears at bay. "All of your Jedi rhetoric, all of your efforts to get me to that over-grown wilderness of a planet were simply an effort of have me as your concubine?"

Luke jumped to his feet. His mouth opened and shut in shock but he couldn't formulate the words that would make her understand. Tentatively, his senses stretched out to hers. Intense anger and frustration flowed from her freely, but in its wake, Luke could feel disappointment too and could almost hear her heart crying out in pain.

Mara recoiled at his intrusion and quickly threw up her defenses. "Don't hold your breath, Skywalker!" she spat out, kicking the lounger aside and leaving Luke to once again to ponder whether he was predestined to spend his life alone.

In her present state, he knew better than to tear off after her. Instead, he sat back the lounger and covered his face with both hands.

On to Chapter 6