Chapter Fourteen: The Space Port
Dec. 14th, 2013 12:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithianIn which Mara and Vader head to the spaceport and have a strange variation on bonding time. Plus, Han makes his first appearance, and the Fellowship of the Death Star plans is formed.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: This was one of my favorite bits to write. Just because of the character interactions between Mara and Vader (the others too, but Mara and Vader especially). I found that really intriguing. Also, yes, Vader's alias -- the first name of it, at least -- is taken from his childhood friend, Kitster Banai. I thought it would be a nice touch.
If Mara was to be truthful, there was still something very strange about going to the spaceport in Mos Eisley with the man who had, essentially, been one of the Empire’s most notorious agents. The Butcher, as he was called in some circles. Even looking at him, though, there was something about him that seemed oddly…normal. Sad, even. Not the Butcher that she was used to, and certainly not the Lord Vader that she was more than used to. Because if nothing else, she didn’t expect to see a hint of melancholy on the latter’s face.
“You didn’t have to step in and save our lives,” Mara said, even as they walked through the streets of Mos Eisley. Most people didn’t bother to bother them, thank goodness. Most of them seemed almost preoccupied with the matter of where they were going or what they were doing, and those that got in their way were at least smart enough to not antagonize Lord Vader. Mara supposed that that was one benefit. With Lord Vader’s reputation behind him, no one would really dare to get in his way. Mara supposed that if nothing else, it was a plus.
“That’s a bad thing?” Vader’s voice was almost casual in that moment.
“Well, not exactly,” Mara said, “But still…” She sighed. “You’re the Butcher. You’re Lord Vader. What makes you think that suddenly, everything you’re doing is wrong?”
Vader paused. “I think,” he said, “We should probably have this conversation where no one else can hear us.”
“Yeah,” Mara said. “Good plan.” Something in her, something in her that was still more than slightly uneasy about Vader, made a note to make a run for it or fight back should he decide to try and murder her in there.
It was in one of the droid compartments outside Mos Eisley that Vader took a deep breath. “In all truth,” he said, “I was thinking of defecting from the Empire for a long time. Or rebelling against it somehow. I didn’t imagine that it would happen like this, though.” He sighed, ran a hand through his hair if only in weariness. “Somehow,” he said, “I always pictured that Terminus and Ventress would go with me.”
And in spite of herself, Mara could not help but be fascinated. There was a sort of childlike way, for lack of a better word, in terms of how Vader was talking about all of this. Something that was almost akin to a fairytale. It was something, in truth, that she never really pictured coming from one of the Empire’s most vicious enforcers.
“I know,” Vader said, “That it sounds unrealistic. But it is true. Ventress…she has always been like a sister for me. We were both taken in by the Emperor when we were children. She had a Sith Master that took care of her, but unfortunately, he died out there in battle…I did my best if only to take care of her from that point on.”
“Somehow I don’t believe any of this.” A beat. “It’s not that I think you’re lying,” Mara said, “I mean, I can sense that well enough. Well, as much as I can.” Because she didn’t know how, necessarily, but there was something in her that sensed that Vader was being completely and utterly sincere. And perhaps that was the part that was the most frightening.
Vader smiled. “You definitely have his strength. He was always…strong in the Force, your father.”
“What do you mean?” It was no doubt a ridiculous question, but how did Vader even know her father? Nothing about this made even the slightest bit of sense.
Before Vader could answer, there was the faint sound of stormtroopers outside. Vader sighed. “They’re on the lookout for us,” he said, “We’d best be careful.”
“You don’t say,” Mara said, lowering her voice to a whisper.
It was hiding behind the nearest available tools that they could find that they barely managed to evade the stormtroopers’ inspection. Even as the stormtroopers continued to inspect door after door, Mara held her breath, hoping that if nothing else, they could avoid these men. Even the slightest glimpse of their white armor was enough to make Mara’s heart speed up if only a bit, hoping if only slightly that they wouldn’t find them…
It was long after they passed that Mara allowed herself to breathe again. “That was close,” she said, “Way too close.”
“I think there’s going to be more close calls to come,” Vader said.
Mara snorted. “You don’t say.”
It was heading up towards the cantina that they found Lady Nemo and the others. By then, Vader had pulled his hood over his head if only so he wouldn’t be spotted. Even with the lively cantina music in the background and the amount of aliens in there, from Ithorian to Sullustan and many, many more. Even stepping into a place like this, there was something oddly cozy about it, even in spite of the more unsavory, sleazy types that sometimes frequented the cantina – it was a place where many could at least forget what was happening in the Empire or back on the farm, at least for a while.
And though Mara preferred Ackmena’s cantina – there was just something about it that just wasn’t as overwhelming – she couldn’t say that she minded this cantina either.
Lady Nemo was at a table now with the others, negotiating prices with another man. He was quite handsome, Mara thought, with a strong sort of jaw and dark brown eyes, tufts of brown hair framing his face. He was dressed in a simple sort of tan and brown jacket; everything about him was simple. Probably one of the space pirates, Mara thought, that used to frequent Ackmena’s cantina. Next to him was a towering Wookiee, with a crossbow and two chrome bandoliers.
“…we’re going to need transport to Alderaan,” Lady Nemo said, in a voice that, Mara thought, really would have made her a fantastic diplomat. Or a saleswoman. Or both. “Do you have a ship that can do that?”
The man chuckled. “You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon, have you?”
Lady Nemo raised an eyebrow. “Should I have?”
“It’s the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve par secs.”
Mara barely stifled a laugh. There was no chance that a ship could make a Kessel run in that amount of time.
“You made the Kessel run through the Maw itself?” Lady Nemo’s eyebrows could have practically gone into her hairline, Mara thought. “That’s…quite a feat.”
The man grinned. “Trust me, I’ve outrun Imperial ships. Not the local bulk-cruisers either. I’m talking the big Corellian starships. So yeah…she’ll be fast enough for you.” He turned to look at Mara and Vader. “And who might they be?”
“My name’s Mara. Mara Lars,” Mara said, “And he’s…well…” Come on, she silently pleaded with Vader. Think of a good alias. If he didn’t, it would be more than likely, she thought, that their chances of getting to Alderaan were pretty much doomed.
Then again, she supposed, to say that going to Alderaan would be awkward with a former Imperial agent on their side was almost like saying that Tatooine sandstorms were a little dusty. She just hoped that it would go well and the Alderaanians wouldn’t make assumptions. They were there to help, after all. Vader too. Mara wasn’t sure whether or not she entirely trusted him, but what he was saying was genuine, at least. There was something in her that wondered how in the Corellian hells someone like him ended up in an institution like this.
Then again, she supposed, everyone had their reasons. Probably what made it all so frightening. She made a note to ask Vader about it – preferably when this man was out of earshot.
“My name is Kitster,” Vader said. “Kitster Stevens.”
The man tilted his head, almost as if briefly suspecting something, before nodding. “Nice to meet you, Mara, Kitster.”
Mara grinned, trying if only to make it look like she was being polite, friendly, all while not making it too obvious (she wasn’t sure how good she really was, really. Other than instances when the Jawas tried to sell them something, she couldn’t say how good she was or how bad she was at deception. Or at least hiding her relief that Vader’s alias managed to pay off). “Nice to meet you too.” She sent a quick grin towards Vader. Well-played, she tried to say with that grin. Very well-played.
“So,” Mara said, “Who are you, exactly?”
“Han Solo. Captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca here,” Han said, “Is my first mate.” He turned towards Lady Nemo. “So, what’s the cargo?”
“Just passengers,” Lady Nemo said. “Myself, Ben, Leia, Mara, Kitster, Owen, Beru and the droids…and no questions asked, do you understand?”
A beat.
“Sounds fair,” Han said. “Local trouble?”
“You could call it that,” Mara said.
“That’s the trick, isn’t it? And it’s going to cost you something extra. Ten thousand in advance.”
Mara felt almost as if her stomach had dropped. “You’re kidding.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. But that’s how it is.”
Mara flinched if only slightly at the word “sweetheart”. She took a deep breath. “How about two thousand now, then fifteen when we reach Alderaan? That’s pretty much…most of what we’ve got.”
Silence. Han seemed to be deep in thought. Chewbacca, meanwhile, seemed to be looking at him almost as if he was silently judging him. Then Han finally spoke.
“All right,” he said, “You’ve got yourself a deal. It’s in Docking Bay Ninety Four, in case you’re wondering.” He looked around. “And I think we better hurry up. I think we’ve got company.”
It was looking in Han’s direction that Mara saw the stormtroopers, inspecting a slew of bodies in the cantina. She turned quickly towards Lady Nemo. “What did you just do?” she said. Even in spite of herself, Mara felt her stomach clenching. If Lady Nemo had killed someone, it was guaranteed that there would be more stormtroopers on their tail…
Lady Nemo took a deep breath. “If it’s any comfort, Mara,” she said, “I did it if only to defend the others. There were these people harassing Owen, Beru, Ben and Leia, I tried to negotiate with them, they pulled blasters on us…” She rubbed her head. “Sa – Elizabeth and I had no choice but to defend them.”
Mara took a deep breath. “Right,” she said, “We’re in more bantha poodoo than I think we were in previously. And that’s saying something.” She sighed. “We’re going to have to sell our speeder. I mean, it’s not like we’re ever coming back again…”
Even as they headed outside if only to sell the speeder and get the necessary extra credits, Mara turned to look at Lady Nemo. “Are Mom and Dad going to be all right?”
“They will,” Lady Nemo said. “Whatever happens, we will protect them.”
“You…” Even looking at Lady Nemo, Mara could swear that she felt a degree of uncertainty emanating from her. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“I don’t know how well we’ll be able to do it,” Lady Nemo said, “But whatever happens, we will protect them.” She placed a hand on Mara’s shoulder. “It’s going to be all right, Mara. I promise.”
“I certainly hope so.”
It was with the salesman, selling the speeder, that Mara felt a strange sense of melancholy. That speeder – she had used that if only in cases of, for example, racing over the Wastes and through the Dune Sea with Luke. Something she had taken some degree of refuge in whenever things got really bad. Now, in a way, she wasn’t just selling that thing for credits. She was selling at least a part of her past as well. A part of her home. Because there was no chance that she could ever really go home. Not with the Empire on her tail. And even away from home, especially away from home, they would never truly stop hunting her. They wouldn’t stop until she was captured or dead. But most likely dead.
And yet the way that Terminus had looked at her, almost, for a moment, like he knew her…
Still, Mara buried those feelings, telling the salesman that she wasn’t coming back to the planet again, getting the credits in response, and at the end of the day, they at least had enough to pay Han by the time that they reached Alderaan. There was something in her that subconsciously hoped that she wouldn’t see Han again. His arrogance, his sheer presumption, the way he had charged them money that she doubted they even had in the first place…
Mara took a deep breath. In between the matter of Han and the matter of having a former Imperial enforcer and a Sith traveling with them, this was going to get more complicated than she could have ever imagined. And considering everything else, that was saying a lot.
“Are you all right?” Vader’s voice was gentle.
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just…I’m a little bit nervous.”
“Don’t be. We’re all more than capable,” Vader said. “You’re more than capable.”
Mara smiled if only weakly. “That’s not really what I’m worried about.” She grew more serious now. “Well, okay, maybe a little. Mostly, I’m just worried about whether or not we’re going to survive this.”
“Of course we will,” Vader said. “After all – we have, amongst others, people who managed to evade the Empire and live. Isn’t that impressive by itself?”
“Yeah.” Something about that, at the very least, was enough to make Mara feel better, if only slightly. “Yeah, it is.”
The Empire was still more than just a bit of an intimidating force. But as long as they stuck together and continued fighting back against it…
For now, they were a ragtag band of misfits, to say the least. But as long as they stuck together, they would get out of this alive, in one piece, and no doubt with one hell of a story to tell.
And there was something about that, Mara thought, that even after everything else, made it all seem all too easy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: This was one of my favorite bits to write. Just because of the character interactions between Mara and Vader (the others too, but Mara and Vader especially). I found that really intriguing. Also, yes, Vader's alias -- the first name of it, at least -- is taken from his childhood friend, Kitster Banai. I thought it would be a nice touch.
If Mara was to be truthful, there was still something very strange about going to the spaceport in Mos Eisley with the man who had, essentially, been one of the Empire’s most notorious agents. The Butcher, as he was called in some circles. Even looking at him, though, there was something about him that seemed oddly…normal. Sad, even. Not the Butcher that she was used to, and certainly not the Lord Vader that she was more than used to. Because if nothing else, she didn’t expect to see a hint of melancholy on the latter’s face.
“You didn’t have to step in and save our lives,” Mara said, even as they walked through the streets of Mos Eisley. Most people didn’t bother to bother them, thank goodness. Most of them seemed almost preoccupied with the matter of where they were going or what they were doing, and those that got in their way were at least smart enough to not antagonize Lord Vader. Mara supposed that that was one benefit. With Lord Vader’s reputation behind him, no one would really dare to get in his way. Mara supposed that if nothing else, it was a plus.
“That’s a bad thing?” Vader’s voice was almost casual in that moment.
“Well, not exactly,” Mara said, “But still…” She sighed. “You’re the Butcher. You’re Lord Vader. What makes you think that suddenly, everything you’re doing is wrong?”
Vader paused. “I think,” he said, “We should probably have this conversation where no one else can hear us.”
“Yeah,” Mara said. “Good plan.” Something in her, something in her that was still more than slightly uneasy about Vader, made a note to make a run for it or fight back should he decide to try and murder her in there.
It was in one of the droid compartments outside Mos Eisley that Vader took a deep breath. “In all truth,” he said, “I was thinking of defecting from the Empire for a long time. Or rebelling against it somehow. I didn’t imagine that it would happen like this, though.” He sighed, ran a hand through his hair if only in weariness. “Somehow,” he said, “I always pictured that Terminus and Ventress would go with me.”
And in spite of herself, Mara could not help but be fascinated. There was a sort of childlike way, for lack of a better word, in terms of how Vader was talking about all of this. Something that was almost akin to a fairytale. It was something, in truth, that she never really pictured coming from one of the Empire’s most vicious enforcers.
“I know,” Vader said, “That it sounds unrealistic. But it is true. Ventress…she has always been like a sister for me. We were both taken in by the Emperor when we were children. She had a Sith Master that took care of her, but unfortunately, he died out there in battle…I did my best if only to take care of her from that point on.”
“Somehow I don’t believe any of this.” A beat. “It’s not that I think you’re lying,” Mara said, “I mean, I can sense that well enough. Well, as much as I can.” Because she didn’t know how, necessarily, but there was something in her that sensed that Vader was being completely and utterly sincere. And perhaps that was the part that was the most frightening.
Vader smiled. “You definitely have his strength. He was always…strong in the Force, your father.”
“What do you mean?” It was no doubt a ridiculous question, but how did Vader even know her father? Nothing about this made even the slightest bit of sense.
Before Vader could answer, there was the faint sound of stormtroopers outside. Vader sighed. “They’re on the lookout for us,” he said, “We’d best be careful.”
“You don’t say,” Mara said, lowering her voice to a whisper.
It was hiding behind the nearest available tools that they could find that they barely managed to evade the stormtroopers’ inspection. Even as the stormtroopers continued to inspect door after door, Mara held her breath, hoping that if nothing else, they could avoid these men. Even the slightest glimpse of their white armor was enough to make Mara’s heart speed up if only a bit, hoping if only slightly that they wouldn’t find them…
It was long after they passed that Mara allowed herself to breathe again. “That was close,” she said, “Way too close.”
“I think there’s going to be more close calls to come,” Vader said.
Mara snorted. “You don’t say.”
It was heading up towards the cantina that they found Lady Nemo and the others. By then, Vader had pulled his hood over his head if only so he wouldn’t be spotted. Even with the lively cantina music in the background and the amount of aliens in there, from Ithorian to Sullustan and many, many more. Even stepping into a place like this, there was something oddly cozy about it, even in spite of the more unsavory, sleazy types that sometimes frequented the cantina – it was a place where many could at least forget what was happening in the Empire or back on the farm, at least for a while.
And though Mara preferred Ackmena’s cantina – there was just something about it that just wasn’t as overwhelming – she couldn’t say that she minded this cantina either.
Lady Nemo was at a table now with the others, negotiating prices with another man. He was quite handsome, Mara thought, with a strong sort of jaw and dark brown eyes, tufts of brown hair framing his face. He was dressed in a simple sort of tan and brown jacket; everything about him was simple. Probably one of the space pirates, Mara thought, that used to frequent Ackmena’s cantina. Next to him was a towering Wookiee, with a crossbow and two chrome bandoliers.
“…we’re going to need transport to Alderaan,” Lady Nemo said, in a voice that, Mara thought, really would have made her a fantastic diplomat. Or a saleswoman. Or both. “Do you have a ship that can do that?”
The man chuckled. “You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon, have you?”
Lady Nemo raised an eyebrow. “Should I have?”
“It’s the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve par secs.”
Mara barely stifled a laugh. There was no chance that a ship could make a Kessel run in that amount of time.
“You made the Kessel run through the Maw itself?” Lady Nemo’s eyebrows could have practically gone into her hairline, Mara thought. “That’s…quite a feat.”
The man grinned. “Trust me, I’ve outrun Imperial ships. Not the local bulk-cruisers either. I’m talking the big Corellian starships. So yeah…she’ll be fast enough for you.” He turned to look at Mara and Vader. “And who might they be?”
“My name’s Mara. Mara Lars,” Mara said, “And he’s…well…” Come on, she silently pleaded with Vader. Think of a good alias. If he didn’t, it would be more than likely, she thought, that their chances of getting to Alderaan were pretty much doomed.
Then again, she supposed, to say that going to Alderaan would be awkward with a former Imperial agent on their side was almost like saying that Tatooine sandstorms were a little dusty. She just hoped that it would go well and the Alderaanians wouldn’t make assumptions. They were there to help, after all. Vader too. Mara wasn’t sure whether or not she entirely trusted him, but what he was saying was genuine, at least. There was something in her that wondered how in the Corellian hells someone like him ended up in an institution like this.
Then again, she supposed, everyone had their reasons. Probably what made it all so frightening. She made a note to ask Vader about it – preferably when this man was out of earshot.
“My name is Kitster,” Vader said. “Kitster Stevens.”
The man tilted his head, almost as if briefly suspecting something, before nodding. “Nice to meet you, Mara, Kitster.”
Mara grinned, trying if only to make it look like she was being polite, friendly, all while not making it too obvious (she wasn’t sure how good she really was, really. Other than instances when the Jawas tried to sell them something, she couldn’t say how good she was or how bad she was at deception. Or at least hiding her relief that Vader’s alias managed to pay off). “Nice to meet you too.” She sent a quick grin towards Vader. Well-played, she tried to say with that grin. Very well-played.
“So,” Mara said, “Who are you, exactly?”
“Han Solo. Captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca here,” Han said, “Is my first mate.” He turned towards Lady Nemo. “So, what’s the cargo?”
“Just passengers,” Lady Nemo said. “Myself, Ben, Leia, Mara, Kitster, Owen, Beru and the droids…and no questions asked, do you understand?”
A beat.
“Sounds fair,” Han said. “Local trouble?”
“You could call it that,” Mara said.
“That’s the trick, isn’t it? And it’s going to cost you something extra. Ten thousand in advance.”
Mara felt almost as if her stomach had dropped. “You’re kidding.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. But that’s how it is.”
Mara flinched if only slightly at the word “sweetheart”. She took a deep breath. “How about two thousand now, then fifteen when we reach Alderaan? That’s pretty much…most of what we’ve got.”
Silence. Han seemed to be deep in thought. Chewbacca, meanwhile, seemed to be looking at him almost as if he was silently judging him. Then Han finally spoke.
“All right,” he said, “You’ve got yourself a deal. It’s in Docking Bay Ninety Four, in case you’re wondering.” He looked around. “And I think we better hurry up. I think we’ve got company.”
It was looking in Han’s direction that Mara saw the stormtroopers, inspecting a slew of bodies in the cantina. She turned quickly towards Lady Nemo. “What did you just do?” she said. Even in spite of herself, Mara felt her stomach clenching. If Lady Nemo had killed someone, it was guaranteed that there would be more stormtroopers on their tail…
Lady Nemo took a deep breath. “If it’s any comfort, Mara,” she said, “I did it if only to defend the others. There were these people harassing Owen, Beru, Ben and Leia, I tried to negotiate with them, they pulled blasters on us…” She rubbed her head. “Sa – Elizabeth and I had no choice but to defend them.”
Mara took a deep breath. “Right,” she said, “We’re in more bantha poodoo than I think we were in previously. And that’s saying something.” She sighed. “We’re going to have to sell our speeder. I mean, it’s not like we’re ever coming back again…”
Even as they headed outside if only to sell the speeder and get the necessary extra credits, Mara turned to look at Lady Nemo. “Are Mom and Dad going to be all right?”
“They will,” Lady Nemo said. “Whatever happens, we will protect them.”
“You…” Even looking at Lady Nemo, Mara could swear that she felt a degree of uncertainty emanating from her. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“I don’t know how well we’ll be able to do it,” Lady Nemo said, “But whatever happens, we will protect them.” She placed a hand on Mara’s shoulder. “It’s going to be all right, Mara. I promise.”
“I certainly hope so.”
It was with the salesman, selling the speeder, that Mara felt a strange sense of melancholy. That speeder – she had used that if only in cases of, for example, racing over the Wastes and through the Dune Sea with Luke. Something she had taken some degree of refuge in whenever things got really bad. Now, in a way, she wasn’t just selling that thing for credits. She was selling at least a part of her past as well. A part of her home. Because there was no chance that she could ever really go home. Not with the Empire on her tail. And even away from home, especially away from home, they would never truly stop hunting her. They wouldn’t stop until she was captured or dead. But most likely dead.
And yet the way that Terminus had looked at her, almost, for a moment, like he knew her…
Still, Mara buried those feelings, telling the salesman that she wasn’t coming back to the planet again, getting the credits in response, and at the end of the day, they at least had enough to pay Han by the time that they reached Alderaan. There was something in her that subconsciously hoped that she wouldn’t see Han again. His arrogance, his sheer presumption, the way he had charged them money that she doubted they even had in the first place…
Mara took a deep breath. In between the matter of Han and the matter of having a former Imperial enforcer and a Sith traveling with them, this was going to get more complicated than she could have ever imagined. And considering everything else, that was saying a lot.
“Are you all right?” Vader’s voice was gentle.
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just…I’m a little bit nervous.”
“Don’t be. We’re all more than capable,” Vader said. “You’re more than capable.”
Mara smiled if only weakly. “That’s not really what I’m worried about.” She grew more serious now. “Well, okay, maybe a little. Mostly, I’m just worried about whether or not we’re going to survive this.”
“Of course we will,” Vader said. “After all – we have, amongst others, people who managed to evade the Empire and live. Isn’t that impressive by itself?”
“Yeah.” Something about that, at the very least, was enough to make Mara feel better, if only slightly. “Yeah, it is.”
The Empire was still more than just a bit of an intimidating force. But as long as they stuck together and continued fighting back against it…
For now, they were a ragtag band of misfits, to say the least. But as long as they stuck together, they would get out of this alive, in one piece, and no doubt with one hell of a story to tell.
And there was something about that, Mara thought, that even after everything else, made it all seem all too easy.
