Chap 9 Review Responses are posted on my forums. Since the normal link is gone, I've posted it to my profile.

Chapter Ten: Malastare

"So much for Jedi being sexless monks," Nera Dantels said two hours later with a satisfied, sweaty smile. "You've done that before.'

"The Jedi Order never forbade sex, just attachment," Obi-Wan said archly.

The two were quite intimately arrayed on the narrow bunk of the captain's quarters. The tryst had been quick and surprisingly urgent, especially for Obi-Wan. It had been many, many years since his midnight trysts with Siri in the Temple. Like most padawans, they were taught that sexuality was a part of them to be controlled and understood. As part of that understanding, it was not unusual for older padawans to have sexual relations, but it was discouraged.

Except by Qui-Gon, who thought it was a healthy outlet and actively encouraged his padawan. Secretly, of course, but actively.

But now, a lifetime later in the arms of a woman twenty years his junior, he found himself thinking of his childhood friend and teen lover. Her death during the Clone Wars was the closest Obi-Wan ever came to the Dark Side.

He felt fingers gently running through his beard and turned to find two gentle eyes staring at him from the blue tattoos that adorned Dantels face. "Jedi didn't actually forgo all attachments, did they?"

"No," Obi-Wan admitted. "Not all."

She leaned down at kissed him. "General, there was a reason Han sent you to me."

"Oh?"

"He probably recognized you as well. And he knows I do runs for the Alliance. That's why I'm going to Malestare. It's a supply run to a small cell we have there helping with their revolt against the Empire. And after that, I'm going to be taking a supply run to the main Alliance base."

Obi-Wan sat up, genuinely surprised. Dantels scooted back against the other side of the bunk, perfectly comfortable with her body just as Obi-Wan was with his own. "That is interesting," he said. "I heard rumors of Bail Organa having to step down from his senatorial seat. He wouldn't happen to be involved, would he?"

"He's one of our leaders," Dantels confirmed. "Do you know Rahm Kota?"

"Kota?" Kenobi blinked. "Now that is a name I haven't heard in many years. It makes sense he would survive the Purge, though. He disdained the clone troopers and used only volunteers. His command did not have the success that the clone units had, but he was an accomplished general."

"Right now he and Garm Bel Iblis are our military leaders, and General Dodonna is our active commander."

"I never knew Senator Bel Iblis, though I can hear respect for him in your voice, but I did serve with Jan on two campaigns during the Clone Wars. He was also an accomplished leader."

"Are you going to join the fight?" she asked.

"Honestly, I'm not sure yet. I received a message through the Force that it was time for Luke and I to leave Tattooine. We are going to be meeting someone en route to Malastare, and from there we will decide. However, it is good to know where your loyalty lies. In fact, it makes me feel much more secure."

She leaned forward and reached over until she took his shaft in her hands. "Are you sure that's the only reason you feel secure in my hands?"

"Well, perhaps not the only reason," he admitted with a raised brow. "This whole trip has been quite unexpected. But so far, it has been very enjoyable."

"I'm glad you think so. So, do you know when we will be meeting your friend?"

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and reached out in the Force. "Very soon, actually. We should probably get dressed."

The two stood and began pulling on their clothes—Nera her spacer uniform and Obi-Wan his dusty old Jedi robes. Once dressed, he gently took the woman in his arms and kissed her. "Thank you for sharing that with me," he told her sincerely. "It has been a long time."

"Well, if it's any consolation, it didn't show," she told the old Jedi with a smile.

"You're too kind," Obi-Wan said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Nera paused a moment, then leaned over to kiss him again, passionately. "I really wasn't," she assured him. "Now, let's go wake up loverboy and find your friend. Wouldn't be Anakin Skywalker, would it?"

"No. But if you're that enthused, you could always get closer to his son."

"His…" Her eyes widened. "You mean Farmboy?"

"Come, I'll introduce you to Luke Skywalker."

When they woke him, Luke groaned with genuine pain. "Why are you hitting me?" he asked of the air.

Ben sat on the edge of the young man's bunk and placed a hand on his forehead. Luke blinked in surprise. "What did you do? My headache is gone."

"Through the Force many things are possible," Kenobi said. "Although next time you're on your own."

Luke nodded then realized Captain Dantels leaned against the frame of the door. Luke blushed down to his toes. "Hi, er…Captain. I'm really, really sorry if I said anything rude."

"Does that mean you don't want to marry me anymore?"

Luke's blush actually became redder. "Er, no, I guess not. Sorry."

Dantels laughed. "Quite all right. The attention is flattering for an old spacer gal like me."

"You're not old," Luke insisted.

"Most certainly not," Kenobi agreed. "Now, we should be meeting our last passenger very soon. Shall we head to the cockpit?"

The cockpit was obviously wired for a single occupant. There were four stations, and every one was slaved into a master control board that took up much of Dantels' left board. As Luke and Kenobi settled in the captain took her seat and quickly, efficiently brought the freighter out of hyperspace.

"Okay, what am I looking for?" she asked. "We're a few hundred lightyears away from anything."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. He couldn't help but smile when he immediately felt the present of his old mentor. "You should be receiving a signal now."

"And there it is," Dantels said. "That's an awfully small ship to be this far out. I could actually take that into my cargo hold."

"You'll need to," Obi-Wan said. "It is out of fuel."

She turned and stared at him. "You're joking."

"I wish I were," Obi-Wan said.

He noticed Luke watching with interest as Nera brought the Starduster toward the small lifepod. She opened her aft cargo bay door, which was still empty, and positioned the freighter down until it actually surrounded the pod before closing the doors. "We got it."

The three of them left the cockpit, moved out of the crew and passenger quarters and into the newly pressurized cargo bay. The pod's ramp had already lowered, showing the small green figure within.

"By the stars," Dantels whispered. "Master Yoda?"

"Young to know me, you are," Yoda said.

"Captain Dantels apparently was a fan of the Jedi as a child," Kenobi said.

Yoda looked from the captain to Kenobi, and back again. "Obvious, that is."

Dantels had the grace to blush. Kenobi simply smiled. Luke missed it. "What's a Yoda?" the young man asked.

"A Yoda," Kenobi said with a wry twist to the participle, "is a Grandmaster of the Jedi Order and the oldest member of the Jedi Council."

"He's a Jedi?"

"Much like his father, this one is," Yoda said. "Though as quick, he is not."

"To be fair, by Luke's age Anakin had been in the Order for many years. Luke is a product of public Tattooine education."

"Then happy he can read, we shall be," Yoda said. The ancient Jedi master hobbled down the ramp. Then, "Read he can, yes?"

"I can read!" an indignant Luke declared.

"Good that is." Yoda looked at Dantels. "Your name, child?"

"Captain Nera Dantels."

"I sense great loyalty in you."

"Captain Dantels tells me she works with the Rebel Alliance," Obi-Wan said.

"How fortuitous," Yoda said. "Obi-Wan, know you why we go to Malastare?"

"Honestly, Master Yoda, I do not. I thought we were going to wait."

"Changed the future has," Yoda said with a triumphant cluck of his tongue. "Changed everything else. A new hope in the Force do I sense. A great power for good. Go meet it on Malastare we shall."

~~Lord of Light~~

~~Lord of Light~~

Harry had no expectations regarding what the Alliance cell on Malastare would be like. He had fought in dozens of wars both as the authority and as the guerilla fighter, so he tried not to give himself any expectations on what he would find.

Shortly before they arrived, Harry stepped into the cabin to find Mara and Maris still both sleeping soundly. He leaned down and kissed Mara's slightly parted lips until her eyes opened. "Hello," she whispered with a smile.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes." She sat up and watched as Harry knelt down beside the still filthy but slumbering Maris Brood.

He gently laid a hand on her cheek until her yellow eyes popped open. She sat up with a gasp and seemed terrified for a moment before she felt Harry take her hands. "Where…"

"Winter said we would be entering Malastare's atmosphere in the next few minutes," Harry said. "How do you feel?"

"Filthy," she said with a disgusted frown.

"Bath is the first order of business," Harry said. "I'd spell you clean, but frankly you deserve the luxury of a long bath. If we don't find one, I'll get you clean another way. Come."

He led the two ladies into the cockpit where Winter was beginning the landing cycle. Mara slipped into the co-pilot's seat and pointed at a distant dagger-shaped vessel. "Star destroyer."

"Malastare revolted against the last Imperial Governor," Winter said. "He was hunting sentients on a reserve like beasts."

"Ozzik Sturn," Mara agreed. "After the debacle on Kashyyk, he was executed for gross negligence."

"Good riddance," Winter muttered. "However, things are still tense on the surface. I've explained we are on the way to the surface as COMPNOR members."

"Good idea," Mara said.

The ship entered the atmosphere of a green world with a few oceans but more land than water. Still, it had not become covered completely in cities yet and had large swathes of open vegetation. They did fly into the outskirts of one town in the northern hemisphere. Winter took them to a small spaceport where their ship was one of the larger ones present. As soon as they landed within the domed hangar, the roof retracted.

She led the way out of the shuttle and Harry noted several men who carried themselves like soldiers waiting for them. None wore anything resembling a uniform, but all were armed with pistols.

"Winter," the leader said. "Good to see you."

"You too, Biggs. Derek, still hanging around with this loser?'

"Life is hard," the man named Klivian said. Then he spotted Mara. "Although it has its bright spots."

"Yes," Winter said. "Biggs, Derek, this is Harry Potter, his wife Mara Jade and…"

"My other wife, Maris," Harry said. "We had to pull her out of a mud-bath on Felucia, so a fresher would be appreciated."

"Two wives, huh?" Derek Klivian said.

Harry shrugged. "With god-like power and smashing good looks, what can you expect?"

"Right," Biggs said. "Captain Biggs Darklighter. This is Captain Derek Klivian."

"Nice to meet you," Derek said, never taking his eyes away from Mara.

She looked at Harry. "Could you turn him into a monkey lizard?"

"I don't know what a monkey lizard is," Harry confessed. "I could turn him into a monkey, or a lizard. Technically I could turn part of him into a monkey and the other part into a lizard, but multiple partial animal transfiguration usually kills within a few minutes."

"Please don't turn our best Alliance pilots into animals," Winter said.

"You guys are joking, right?" Klivian said.

"Keep making my wife uncomfortable, and we'll find out. Now, about a good fresher?"

It turned out the cell housed itself in a two-story apartment complex just a few klicks away from the spaceport. Nestled as it was among purple-veined trees and a bubbling brook on a hillside, the place was both secluded and beautiful. There were several men and women there serving as soldiers, pilots and agents to assist the natives fight the Empire.

Fortunately there was space enough to give Harry and the girls their own room with their own fresher.

Maris Brood did not delay making use of it. Once she was inside, though, she stopped and stared at her reflection in the mirror, startled by what she saw. It had been so very long since she was surrounded by hard, artificial walls. It had been longer still since she stared into a mirror. Vanity was not encouraged in the temple, and even if it were, she was still just a child when she left.

It surprised her to find herself having to guess at how things worked. The flusher was simple enough and she made use of it without hesitation. But the bath…such things were unusual. The dorms her clan of younglings used in the Temple held only a unisex common shower. This was actually a pre-fabricated unit comprised of a tub, three walls and a shower stall.

It took a moment of fiddling before the water started pouring out of the spout into the bath, and another to switch it to the shower head. She pulled a featureless opaque curtain across the open side to keep the water from splashing everywhere, and simply stood under the water.

She lowered her head as the soothing warmth flowed over her and watched as bits of mud began to flake off and drain away. She raised an arm and ran one hand down its length, exposing the pale skin below. The weight of her hair started to pull at her so she reached up to uncoil the braids she wrapped around her own neck in order to keep them out of her face.

The braids were clotted with oil, mulch and other filth, and the realization came as a shock to her that she had never washed her hair the entire time she was on Felucia, which was most of her life.

She sat down in the tub with the shower still going and began to undo braids held together by a cement of filth. She eventually turned the water off after plugging the drain so she could work on her hair. Eventually she got all the braids undone and pulled the bundle of hair around her shoulder.

It was so long! Loose and flowing, the hair could easily reach her ankles. It was so much—too much. The worst came when she examined one strand and saw insects crawling in it. She looked down into the filthy water and realized the water was also alive with the vermin that had been living in her hair.

There was a knock on the door. "What?" Maris cried, horrified and disgusted with herself.

The door opened and Mara came in—the servant of the Emperor, trained as a Sith. Perfect, beautiful red hair and eyes like emeralds. She wanted to yell at the beautiful girl, or make a biting comment. Instead all that came out was, "There are vermin living in my hair."

Mara, who was simply coming to check on her new sister, stopped and blinked in surprise. The Zabrak was younger than she thought at first, though obviously older than she was. She sat naked and pale in a tub of filthy water with hair long enough to cover her whole body and an expression of hopeless frustration and loss. She felt that hopelessness through her bond and fought to keep her own eyes dry.

Despite it, Mara could see the woman was beautiful, strikingly so with her delicate red horns and yellow eyes. Her natural coloring gave her purple lips, and those lips were caught in a grimace of self-disgust, even while those yellow eyes bled tears.

"I was just coming to see if you are all right."

"I'm filthy and sore and covered in bugs," Maris said as she splashed the water with her fists in frustration.

"How long has it been since you've had a bath like this?"

The confession of "I don't know" came as a barely audible whisper.

Mara made a decision then. "Don't move," she said before disappearing from the room.

Five minutes later Mara returned with a basket in her hand. She pulled up the sleeves of her unitard, put one of the two towels in the room on the floor, and knelt down beside the Jedi padawan.

"You are Sith trained?"

"I was," Mara said. "It was the only life I knew or could imagine. Until Harry came. You should have seen him. He was making fun of Darth Vader to his face. Accused him of being a stereotype."

Maris's expression morphed from horror to surprise to a hesitant smile. "He…he must have been very brave."

"He doesn't fear dying," Mara said sadly. "I almost lost him. He needs us, you see. Without our love to anchor his soul, he'll die and return to his heaven." She took a box of white powder from the basket and dumped the whole thing on Maris's head.

The padawan sputtered as Mara began vigorously rubbing the powder into Maris's long hair. The lather poured into the water, killing all the vermin on or in it, and effectively cleansing the Zabrak's entire body.

"Now stand up," Mara said.

The cowed padawan did just that as Mara pulled the plug to let the filthy, insect-laden water drain. She turned the shower back on and helped Maris rinse the insecticide from her hair. She then gave the older woman a conditioning shampoo and some body soap.

"Finish up and I'll be here to help you with your hair."

Maris stammered her thanks before finishing her shower. When she finished she found Mara waiting for her with a determined expression. "That's a lot of hair," was the first thing the redhead said.

Maris looked down and saw the tips of her hair brushing against her toes.

The drying of her body took minutes. The drying of her hair seemed interminable. Finally, she looked up at Mara and said, "Do you have cutters?"

The redhead reached into the basket. "How much?"

"I don't know," Maris admitted. "I've never cut it before. Maybe…here?"

"That's a good length," Mara agreed. Before the padawan could change her mind, Mara took the cutter across the curtain of black hair.

Maris sighed as the weight left her. "Wow," she whispered. "I never realized it was so heavy."

With her hair down to shoulder length, Mara began combing it out, pleased to see the conditioner had done its job. "You have beautiful hair," she said. "Have to be careful, though. Those horns are sharp."

Maris laughed for a moment, and then stared at her reflection in the mirror in surprise. "I…thank you."

"My name is Mara."

"I'm Maris."

"A pleasure to meet you, Maris."

"And you, Mara. Thank you for helping me."

Mara examined her work critically before nodding in satisfaction. "It was my pleasure. You are a beautiful woman."

Maris lifted a finger to her dark purple lips. "I hope he thinks so."

The two women looked at each other in the mirror. Maris wore only a white towel wrapped around her torso, while Mara wore only her black, form-fitting unitard. "You know the most amazing thing about this whole thing?" Mara asked.

Maris silently shook her head.

"I'm not jealous of you," the redhead admitted. "In fact, I'm happy. I'm happy you're a part of this with me. Like my sister."

Maris turned to look at the shorter woman for the longest time.

"I don't understand these feelings," she confessed. "I've never felt them before."

"Me neither. Harry says its love. And I believe him."

"Does it…does it hurt to make love?"

"Not with Harry," Mara said. "It's so much more than what I thought." With deliberate slowness, Mara removed the towel from Maris's body, exposing large white breasts with purple areolas and nipples.

Maris shivered, but Mara simply smiled and took her hand. "Let's go find Harry," she said happily.

~~Lord of Light~~

~~Lord of Light~~

"I can't believe it," the hologram of Bail Organa said. "Maris Brood cried in his arms?"

Winter shrugged. "He has a way with women."

The former senator and current Viceroy of Alderaan narrowed his eyes. "Winter?"

"He's trying," Winter admitted.

"And…?"

"And nothing. He's trying."

"Is Leia safe from him?"

"Not in the least," Winter said quickly. "Leia likes to pretend she wants only the classy boys, but she's a sucker for the rogues, and Harry Potter is the ultimate rogue. He'd have her married to him within a day."

"Then we will keep her far away," Bail said. "Look, Winter, things are starting to happen. Bad things. Operation Skyhook is under way. Leia is involved. We're evacuating Dantooine and moving to our secondary site now just to be safe."

"I know where it is. Do you want us to go there?"

"Not yet," Bail said. "Leia's going to make it there eventually and I don't want her mingling with this new character. For now, stay put."

"Okay, Bail."

"One more thing, Winter."

"Yes?"

"The flower in your hair is quite lovely."

Winter smiled and blushed prettily. "Thank you, Bail. Be safe."

"You too."