Altered Memories

2001 short story by Seyla Starrider

Twenty-five years after Episode IV – A New Hope

Luke lay sleepily against the pillows on their bed in Coruscant. His wife was in the refresher. The Jedi Master hoped morning sickness had plagued her. It would only cause Mara grief that she couldn’t fight the stupid effect from happening, and creating problems for the two by hiding the life of their child from the rest of the family.

It had been nearly a week after returning to Coruscant. Leia had been rushed to the hospital for emergency operation.

The surgery had taken over five hours. It had been successful, the doctor had told them, but because of the extent of damage, infection, and extreme loss of blood his sister’s legs had to be amputated. Jacen, her oldest son, had never left her side during the whole time, and hadn’t slept in Force knows when. He had felt responsible for what had happened to his mother.

Luke felt sorry for him. It wasn’t his fault the Yuuzhan Vong tried to ‘purify’ Leia. Frightening enough, he could understand his nephew’s feelings. He had felt the same way when Mara had contracted the illness the Yuuzhan Vong infected into her system.

He remembered the pang of full helplessness. There had been nothing for him to do to help but wait patiently.

A gentle yet demanding voice broke his thoughts.

   “Luke? Where did you put my lightsabre? I can’t find it.”

   “On the middle shelf in the closet.” He yelled back.

Mara flicked on the lights in the closet. She spotted her Jedi defense weapon. As she went to reach it she saw an outline of a circle on the wall.

Curious, she used her fingernail to pick at the odd engraving. To her surprise the circle shape fell from the wall onto the ground. Behind it was a hollow hole. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something was inside.

Sticking her finger inside she pulled out the small item.

As it fell into her hand, her son inside of her kicked. Shocked by its first kick and by the hidden article, she slowly walked back into her and Luke’s bedroom.

Luke saw his wife exit the closet holding something that appeared to be a necklace in her hand.

Through the Force he could feel shock flowed from her. Getting up from the bed, he rushed to her side, making sure everything was all right.

   “Mara, what’s wrong?”

Mara felt her husband place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

   “Nothing.” She replied looking up at him. “The baby kicked.”

Joy filled his face.

   “Then why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

   “Because of this.” She handed him the necklace. It was made of a thin gold chain and hanging loosely from it was a circular jade pendant that had the Jedi Code carved on the front of it with two crossed lightsabres faintly designed in the background. But it wasn’t the front that startled her. It was what it said on the back.

Luke read the odd engraving aloud.

   “To my other love, Mara. Love your father, Ben Kenobi.”