After their climactic showdown with Grand Admiral Thrawn's stormtroopers in the town square, now strewn with rubble from the demolished stone archway, Han was busy talking to Talon Karrde and Luke was helping a wounded Lando into a speeder.

"I'm fine, buddy, really," Lando assured him.

A few of Karrde's smugglers came over, big smiles on their faces. His earlier lightsaber work, slicing through the archway and causing it to come crashing down on the imperial transport at exactly the right moment, had made quite an impression.

"You really saved our skins back there!" one said.

"That was something else!" another man agreed, patting Luke on the back.

Luke gave them a friendly smile. He was grateful to them for helping him escape from Imperial custody, but they had also held him captive in the first place. He quickly made his escape and went to join Han.

Karrde was saying something about Mon Cal Star Cruisers and Han didn't look particularly amused.

Luke realized there was someone missing. He glanced around until he spotted her.

Mara Jade was seated in one of Karrde's speeders, slumped over in the passenger seat, fast asleep. Luke smiled to himself. The long, sleepless trek through the forest had finally caught up with her.

"Come on, kid, let's get out of here!" Han said gruffly.

"Yeah, coming," Luke followed him to their speeder and climbed in beside Lando.

As they pulled away he glanced back over his shoulder one more time. He wasn't quite sure what it was that was tugging on him. Maybe it was simple compassion, or curiosity, or a feeling of something left unresolved. Whatever the case, something was telling him that, for better or for worse, this probably would not be the last time that he would see Mara Jade.