Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade is a short story penned by Timothy Zahn. It was included in the anthology Tales from Jabba's Palace. The narrative centers on Mara Jade working undercover as a dancer within Jabba's Palace.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Hoth, the Emperor, Palpatine, dispatches Mara Jade to infiltrate the Palace of Jabba Desilijic Tiure on Tatooine. She assumes the guise of Arica, a dancing girl, with the objective of assassinating Luke Skywalker. However, Melina Carniss, who is part of Jabba's covert security force, becomes suspicious that she is plotting to kill Jabba and tries to apprehend her. Jade cleverly uses the Force to manipulate Carniss into accidentally shooting one of Jabba's Gamorrean guards, turning the situation to her advantage. Jade escapes through a tunnel, which leads to a ventilation shaft connected to the rancor pit. After overcoming three lines of guards, she witnesses Luke's victory over Jabba's rancor. Using a force pike, she then enters the rancor pit's ventilation shaft, employs the Force to open the trapdoor, and follows the crowd towards the sail barge. Despite her pleas to join Jabba and the others in the Dune Sea, Jabba, remaining skeptical, provides her with a landspeeder and orders her to leave permanently after she attempted to use the Force on him. Her mission thwarted, Jade returns to Imperial Center, where she faces the Emperor's displeasure.