Chapter Twenty Four: Celebration
Dec. 24th, 2013 12:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithianIn which Mara heads back to Yavin IV and the celebration begins.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: First off, happy Christmas Eve to everyone! This was actually one of my favorite chapters to write, and while I say that about a lot of the chapters (I think in the end, all the chapters were my favorites. I don't think I could pick one. I definitely had my difficulties writing some of them, but in the end, I love them all), this especially is awesome, even though tying up the ending was a little bit tough (there's going to be an epilogue to come, BTW; it's not quite over yet). I think it was definitely the interactions between Mara and her friends, Threepio's words about Artoo (I definitely wanted to give that sort of Aw Look They Really Do Love Each Other sort of feeling to their relationship), and Padme's talk with Mara about killing (I thought I'd address the psychological effect of Mara doing something like that for the first time) that I really loved writing.
I definitely hope you enjoy!
It was heading back towards Yavin IV, disembarking the X-wing, that Mara was surrounded by her friends and family abruptly embracing her, Sabe and Beru saying, “Thank goodness you’re okay!” and Leia saying, “You did it! I can’t believe it; you did it!” and Ben’s “I am so very proud of you” and Threepio’s “Thank the maker!” and Vader, his voice all but cracking, saying, “I thought you would die up there” before practically crushing her in a hug and the crew of the Tantive IV embracing her as well. It was through that that she saw Han, who gave her a sort of mischievous smile. She returned the grin if only quickly. Then she faltered.
“I didn’t think that you’d come back,” she said.
“Of course I would. Well,” Han said, “I was intending on just leaving, but someone,” and he mock-scowled at Chewbacca even as he said it, “Kept pestering me to go back. Said something about not leaving one’s friends behind.”
“I knew there was more to you than money,” Mara said, smiling.
“Don’t get sentimental on me, kiddo. I’m still out for money. But I’m not leaving you behind. There’s the difference.”
Mara laughed. Han could keep telling himself that all he wanted. For all intents and purposes, he and Chewie were part of the team now.
It was across the room that she spotted Padme. Padme didn’t say anything, but her smile, a mixture of joy and sadness, said it all. Mara returned the smile, if only quickly. It was then she turned towards the ship at Threepio’s, “Oh no!”
They fished Artoo from the back of the ship. The astromech was already fried from his experience, from the multiple laser scores that he’d suffered. Threepio’s voice became distressed even as he said, “Artoo, can you hear me?”
“It’s all right. Don’t panic.” One of the pit crew stepped out. “Looks like he took a few hits from one of the TIE fighters.”
“He isn’t too badly damaged, is he?” Mara almost couldn’t imagine the idea of Artoo basically being fried beyond repair. She reached out, gently, to place a hand on the astromech’s dome.
Artoo beeped if only softly. “I’VE SEEN WORSE.”
Mara laughed if only despite herself. Then she turned towards the technician. “You can repair him, can you?”
“If any of my circuits or gears will help,” Threepio said in that moment, “I’ll gladly donate them!”
Mara grinned. For all Threepio and Artoo bickered, she thought, when things got bad – or seemingly bad, damn – Threepio was more than ready to be there for Artoo.
“I don’t think it will be necessary,” the technician said. “But it’s very noble of you.”
Even as they carted Artoo off, Mara placed a hand on Threepio’s golden arm. “He’ll be all right, Threepio,” she said. “He’s a tough little thing. Like all of us.” She gestured towards Han, Leia, and the others. “You don’t get this far without somehow being tough.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Threepio seemed to calm if only slightly. “Still…I can’t say I could imagine what would happen if the damage was worse. I mean…he is the only friend I’ve got.”
“Don’t say that,” Mara said. “You’ve got us.”
“You too. But Artoo – he’s always been with me. Through the best of times, and the worst. He may be an irritating, reckless, impulsive little thing who needs plenty of looking after,” Threepio said, “And who gives me plenty of grief for it. But he is my friend.”
“Yeah,” Mara said. In a way, one could say that it summed up just about everyone here. They may have gotten on each other’s nerves plenty on this journey, but they were going to be with one another until the end. And perhaps the end. She smiled if only in spite of herself. “Yeah, we definitely are.”
It was back in her room before the ceremony – Wedge and Biggs seemed to be perfectly well, and took time to congratulate her on what happened, what with Biggs’ “That’s my girl; I knew you would do it!” and Wedge’s “You wouldn’t make a bad leader yourself.” – that Mara at least tried to focus on the holofilm that was being shown in that moment. Some sort of cheesy holofilm about a detective. Even watching it, even getting to listen to some of Rogue Squadron’s – such as Hobbie Klivian and Wes Janson, who she had a feeling she was going to get along with very well – sarcastic comments on the film, there was something in Mara that wouldn’t let up. The matter of the people who had died in this mission. The matter of the people she had watched die, and the matter of the people whom she had killed. In the end, she had ultimately had the most body count. Not just the TIE fighters she had killed, but everyone on that Death Star. She at least took comfort in the matter of those who had managed to at least escape in time, but even that…was that truly a happy ending, she wondered. They had done the right thing. There was no doubt about it. But at the same time, she knew full well that the Empire wouldn’t stop until they were dead or arrested. Preferably dead.
She took a deep breath, trying to focus more on the film. The detective was inspecting the old house. Wes Janson was cracking some jokes related to Ewoks, and though Mara was laughing, there was something on the inside that wouldn’t stop eating at her. I’ve killed these people. I’ve done this.
Somehow, she thought, victory damn wasn’t as glorious as people made it out to be in the holofilms. In the holofilms, it was defeat the bad guy, go home. But here, it wasn’t that simple. Because most of the people save for Tarkin and some of the Imps who had died on that Death Star…they hadn’t damn been evil. They’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they weren’t evil.
It was then that Padme entered. The others turned to look at her.
“I thought I’d just join you,” Padme said.
Silence.
“No problem,” Wedge said. “Seriously. We could use the company.”
Padme sat next to Mara. Even as the film continued playing on, even as Wes continued making his comments, she turned to look towards Mara. “You seemed distressed,” she said. “I felt it in the Force, so I came.”
“Did I?” Mara supposed that it was a ridiculous question, but she hadn’t realized that she had been broadcasting that loudly. “Yeah, I…I kind of did. I kind of am.” She sighed. “I don’t know how to describe it, Padme. I mean…I felt them die. I contributed to some of them dying. Not Rogue Squadron, but…the others. On the Death Star. And…I don’t know how to deal with that. There’s no real way to deal with that.”
Padme placed her hand on Mara’s shoulder. “You did what you could,” she said. “You may have killed, but all of us, all of us who have partaken in war have.”
Somehow, that wasn’t damn reassuring. “So there’s more to come, then?”
“Yes,” Padme said. “I’m not going to lie to you. And it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a hard road to victory. If it was possible, I would do anything to make sure that the war ends without bloodshed, but the Emperor won’t be so generous.” She ran a hand through her hair. “It’s a fool’s hope, Mara, but it’s hope nonetheless. And a fool’s hope is better than none at all.”
Mara smiled if only faintly. “Yeah,” she said. “You’re right.” She took a deep breath. “We’re not going to be alone in this, are we?”
“Never,” Padme said. “And whatever it takes, I’m going to make sure that you’re trained. No matter what.”
She placed a hand on Mara’s shoulder, almost as if quietly reassuring her that if nothing else, she wasn’t alone in this, and whatever deaths she had committed personally, she was far from a bad person. And if nothing else, there was plenty of people to fight for. Good men and women, whom they would fight for until they were free.
That…yes, Mara thought, they could definitely do that.
It was much later that they were called to the ceremony. Even walking through the crowd of people, dressed in her fancy green celebration dress, next to Han, who was still wearing his smuggler’s clothes, and Chewbacca, who seemed almost bewildered, Mara could not help but be in awe by the amount of soldiers surrounding them in that moment. The Rebel soldiers, standing in silent deference even as they walked towards the people there. Threepio, newly shiny, and Artoo, very much repaired, beeping cheerfully at Mara even as she approached. Mara grinned, before turning towards Ben and Leia, who stood with the Rebel leaders, dressed in white. Ben turned to look at Mara, grinning, and Leia’s smile was the brightest of all even as they handed the medals to Mara, Han and Chewie. Even feeling it around her neck, Mara suddenly felt her eyes grow almost wet, even looking up at Leia. A medal. She felt, at least for a moment, that the medal – this was such an important thing, and to think that she had earned it, and that Han had earned it as well, and Chewie – she looked up at Leia, grinning back. They had done it. There had been much hardship and much struggle and sorrow, but they had done it. There would be much more to come, but they had done it.
They then turned around to face the crowd, the crowd of Rebels that now bowed to them, and it was in the crowd that Mara saw Sabe and Padme, staring up at her if only for a moment with pride in their eyes, before they bowed. And Mara could feel it, her mother’s pride and her mentor’s pride practically radiating in her mind, as bright as the twin suns themselves.
There would be plenty more to come. Mara already knew that there would.
But whatever happened, they would be able to face it, and that…that, in the end, was what mattered most. She would be able to face it, with everything she had, with her friends by her side. For they were a team. The team.
And as far as she knew, they would always be.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: First off, happy Christmas Eve to everyone! This was actually one of my favorite chapters to write, and while I say that about a lot of the chapters (I think in the end, all the chapters were my favorites. I don't think I could pick one. I definitely had my difficulties writing some of them, but in the end, I love them all), this especially is awesome, even though tying up the ending was a little bit tough (there's going to be an epilogue to come, BTW; it's not quite over yet). I think it was definitely the interactions between Mara and her friends, Threepio's words about Artoo (I definitely wanted to give that sort of Aw Look They Really Do Love Each Other sort of feeling to their relationship), and Padme's talk with Mara about killing (I thought I'd address the psychological effect of Mara doing something like that for the first time) that I really loved writing.
I definitely hope you enjoy!
It was heading back towards Yavin IV, disembarking the X-wing, that Mara was surrounded by her friends and family abruptly embracing her, Sabe and Beru saying, “Thank goodness you’re okay!” and Leia saying, “You did it! I can’t believe it; you did it!” and Ben’s “I am so very proud of you” and Threepio’s “Thank the maker!” and Vader, his voice all but cracking, saying, “I thought you would die up there” before practically crushing her in a hug and the crew of the Tantive IV embracing her as well. It was through that that she saw Han, who gave her a sort of mischievous smile. She returned the grin if only quickly. Then she faltered.
“I didn’t think that you’d come back,” she said.
“Of course I would. Well,” Han said, “I was intending on just leaving, but someone,” and he mock-scowled at Chewbacca even as he said it, “Kept pestering me to go back. Said something about not leaving one’s friends behind.”
“I knew there was more to you than money,” Mara said, smiling.
“Don’t get sentimental on me, kiddo. I’m still out for money. But I’m not leaving you behind. There’s the difference.”
Mara laughed. Han could keep telling himself that all he wanted. For all intents and purposes, he and Chewie were part of the team now.
It was across the room that she spotted Padme. Padme didn’t say anything, but her smile, a mixture of joy and sadness, said it all. Mara returned the smile, if only quickly. It was then she turned towards the ship at Threepio’s, “Oh no!”
They fished Artoo from the back of the ship. The astromech was already fried from his experience, from the multiple laser scores that he’d suffered. Threepio’s voice became distressed even as he said, “Artoo, can you hear me?”
“It’s all right. Don’t panic.” One of the pit crew stepped out. “Looks like he took a few hits from one of the TIE fighters.”
“He isn’t too badly damaged, is he?” Mara almost couldn’t imagine the idea of Artoo basically being fried beyond repair. She reached out, gently, to place a hand on the astromech’s dome.
Artoo beeped if only softly. “I’VE SEEN WORSE.”
Mara laughed if only despite herself. Then she turned towards the technician. “You can repair him, can you?”
“If any of my circuits or gears will help,” Threepio said in that moment, “I’ll gladly donate them!”
Mara grinned. For all Threepio and Artoo bickered, she thought, when things got bad – or seemingly bad, damn – Threepio was more than ready to be there for Artoo.
“I don’t think it will be necessary,” the technician said. “But it’s very noble of you.”
Even as they carted Artoo off, Mara placed a hand on Threepio’s golden arm. “He’ll be all right, Threepio,” she said. “He’s a tough little thing. Like all of us.” She gestured towards Han, Leia, and the others. “You don’t get this far without somehow being tough.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Threepio seemed to calm if only slightly. “Still…I can’t say I could imagine what would happen if the damage was worse. I mean…he is the only friend I’ve got.”
“Don’t say that,” Mara said. “You’ve got us.”
“You too. But Artoo – he’s always been with me. Through the best of times, and the worst. He may be an irritating, reckless, impulsive little thing who needs plenty of looking after,” Threepio said, “And who gives me plenty of grief for it. But he is my friend.”
“Yeah,” Mara said. In a way, one could say that it summed up just about everyone here. They may have gotten on each other’s nerves plenty on this journey, but they were going to be with one another until the end. And perhaps the end. She smiled if only in spite of herself. “Yeah, we definitely are.”
It was back in her room before the ceremony – Wedge and Biggs seemed to be perfectly well, and took time to congratulate her on what happened, what with Biggs’ “That’s my girl; I knew you would do it!” and Wedge’s “You wouldn’t make a bad leader yourself.” – that Mara at least tried to focus on the holofilm that was being shown in that moment. Some sort of cheesy holofilm about a detective. Even watching it, even getting to listen to some of Rogue Squadron’s – such as Hobbie Klivian and Wes Janson, who she had a feeling she was going to get along with very well – sarcastic comments on the film, there was something in Mara that wouldn’t let up. The matter of the people who had died in this mission. The matter of the people she had watched die, and the matter of the people whom she had killed. In the end, she had ultimately had the most body count. Not just the TIE fighters she had killed, but everyone on that Death Star. She at least took comfort in the matter of those who had managed to at least escape in time, but even that…was that truly a happy ending, she wondered. They had done the right thing. There was no doubt about it. But at the same time, she knew full well that the Empire wouldn’t stop until they were dead or arrested. Preferably dead.
She took a deep breath, trying to focus more on the film. The detective was inspecting the old house. Wes Janson was cracking some jokes related to Ewoks, and though Mara was laughing, there was something on the inside that wouldn’t stop eating at her. I’ve killed these people. I’ve done this.
Somehow, she thought, victory damn wasn’t as glorious as people made it out to be in the holofilms. In the holofilms, it was defeat the bad guy, go home. But here, it wasn’t that simple. Because most of the people save for Tarkin and some of the Imps who had died on that Death Star…they hadn’t damn been evil. They’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they weren’t evil.
It was then that Padme entered. The others turned to look at her.
“I thought I’d just join you,” Padme said.
Silence.
“No problem,” Wedge said. “Seriously. We could use the company.”
Padme sat next to Mara. Even as the film continued playing on, even as Wes continued making his comments, she turned to look towards Mara. “You seemed distressed,” she said. “I felt it in the Force, so I came.”
“Did I?” Mara supposed that it was a ridiculous question, but she hadn’t realized that she had been broadcasting that loudly. “Yeah, I…I kind of did. I kind of am.” She sighed. “I don’t know how to describe it, Padme. I mean…I felt them die. I contributed to some of them dying. Not Rogue Squadron, but…the others. On the Death Star. And…I don’t know how to deal with that. There’s no real way to deal with that.”
Padme placed her hand on Mara’s shoulder. “You did what you could,” she said. “You may have killed, but all of us, all of us who have partaken in war have.”
Somehow, that wasn’t damn reassuring. “So there’s more to come, then?”
“Yes,” Padme said. “I’m not going to lie to you. And it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a hard road to victory. If it was possible, I would do anything to make sure that the war ends without bloodshed, but the Emperor won’t be so generous.” She ran a hand through her hair. “It’s a fool’s hope, Mara, but it’s hope nonetheless. And a fool’s hope is better than none at all.”
Mara smiled if only faintly. “Yeah,” she said. “You’re right.” She took a deep breath. “We’re not going to be alone in this, are we?”
“Never,” Padme said. “And whatever it takes, I’m going to make sure that you’re trained. No matter what.”
She placed a hand on Mara’s shoulder, almost as if quietly reassuring her that if nothing else, she wasn’t alone in this, and whatever deaths she had committed personally, she was far from a bad person. And if nothing else, there was plenty of people to fight for. Good men and women, whom they would fight for until they were free.
That…yes, Mara thought, they could definitely do that.
It was much later that they were called to the ceremony. Even walking through the crowd of people, dressed in her fancy green celebration dress, next to Han, who was still wearing his smuggler’s clothes, and Chewbacca, who seemed almost bewildered, Mara could not help but be in awe by the amount of soldiers surrounding them in that moment. The Rebel soldiers, standing in silent deference even as they walked towards the people there. Threepio, newly shiny, and Artoo, very much repaired, beeping cheerfully at Mara even as she approached. Mara grinned, before turning towards Ben and Leia, who stood with the Rebel leaders, dressed in white. Ben turned to look at Mara, grinning, and Leia’s smile was the brightest of all even as they handed the medals to Mara, Han and Chewie. Even feeling it around her neck, Mara suddenly felt her eyes grow almost wet, even looking up at Leia. A medal. She felt, at least for a moment, that the medal – this was such an important thing, and to think that she had earned it, and that Han had earned it as well, and Chewie – she looked up at Leia, grinning back. They had done it. There had been much hardship and much struggle and sorrow, but they had done it. There would be much more to come, but they had done it.
They then turned around to face the crowd, the crowd of Rebels that now bowed to them, and it was in the crowd that Mara saw Sabe and Padme, staring up at her if only for a moment with pride in their eyes, before they bowed. And Mara could feel it, her mother’s pride and her mentor’s pride practically radiating in her mind, as bright as the twin suns themselves.
There would be plenty more to come. Mara already knew that there would.
But whatever happened, they would be able to face it, and that…that, in the end, was what mattered most. She would be able to face it, with everything she had, with her friends by her side. For they were a team. The team.
And as far as she knew, they would always be.
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no subject
Date: 2014-01-22 04:53 am (UTC):D I love Mara's pride and I love that you mentioned Wes and Hobbie and Ben and Leia and I don't want this to ennnndddddddddddddd ♥
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Date: 2014-01-22 01:06 pm (UTC)And I'm definitely glad you enjoyed it!