Match Maker
Chapter 12
Location: Millennium Falcon, cabin
Thrice woke with a gasp and bolted up right on her cot in the dimly lit cabin. She looked around her confused and she felt drained. Tentatively, she raised her hand over her head to still her unease and allowed her eyes to adapt to the poor lighting. Her natural cat-eyes were keener than a human's, but she saw that room looked empty and more importantly safe. Calmly, she released a breath and noticed that somebody had removed her boots and sword and untied her hair.
Then, slowly from beside her she felt a hand creep along her back and tangle into her hair. And at first she jolted back, but then she heard a familiar voice hush her and she stilled.
"Obi-Wan?"
"It's alright, Thrice. I'm here."
The raven-beauty then lay back down next to her husband and buried her nose into his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist and breathed out a sigh of relief. Immediately, Obi-Wan felt her presence in the Force began to ease and resonate feelings of tranquility and belonging. It was wonderful and something he could never grow tired of experiencing. He had learned a long time ago that her feelings were more telling than any words she could ever say. And the joy she felt in his presence was more rewarding than any praise.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For making you worried."
The Knight smiled and kissed her hair before holding her tight and flipping her onto his chest. Tenderly, he reached up and rain kisses onto her face and brushed her black hair behind her ears and said, "It doesn't matter as long as you're fine. But, I would appreciate some warning next time. And what exactly did you do? I thought Force-lightening was strictly a Sith technique."
Thrice removed her husband's hands away from her hair and she gently rested her head over his heart and breathed in his scent. She said, "You know my people are only gifted in the Living Force. We don't just bend the Force like Jedi; we magnify it by channeling energy and something like Force-lightening is easy to do if you can generate enough power, but power is hard to control. I can only do something like that for a short period of time and I've been out of practice."
"So, what about the Unifying Force?"
"Hmmm…some have the talent, but it's very rare. The Clan near sees the big picture. In fact, it is said that seeing the entire universe at once can drive a being into madness. But, you already know I have instincts but no foresight. I've only learned to make better choices from my experiences." She then giggled and added, "I used to be so brash like Jinn."
Amused, Obi-Wan said, "Yes, and do you remember what he said to Captain Solo? He wants to become a Knight and here I thought he was turning out to be a hooligan. Well, I supposed you were right all along, Milady. I haven't been paying much attention to Jinn."
Thrice smiled and said, "He likes being heroic. When Jinn thinks of being a Knight he doesn't think about codes or rules. No, instead he imagines himself purely as a servant of the People." Then, beaming she gazed at her husband and stated, "He reminds me of you if you had been raised by the Clan."
Obi-Wan groaned. "Oh, Force. He's still much too young to be tangled up in this nonsense. Though, I am curious about your opinion on Luke. What do you make of him?"
Though, Thrice tried to dodge the question tactfully and instead she shyly reached over and grabbed her Knight's hand and gave his fingertips a playful nip. In response, Obi-Wan stilled her advances by gripping her wrist and teasingly tugged at her raven locks.
"Ah, you'll not distract me so easily, my darling. Now, what do you think of our Luke?"
Pensively, she hummed to herself and said, "Well, Luke's dream is to become a space-pilot. He wants to travel the stars. He is very moral. Sometimes I fear he's too moral that he might be disappointed. And…he reminds me of Anakin."
"Thrice—"
"No, it's true. And once he knows who his blood-father is he will want to know more. He will be curious about his origins. Please Sir Knight, don't leave Luke open to temptation."
Exhausted, Obi-Wan rolled his wife onto her back so he could gaze down into her ruby-eyes. He then lightly caressed her youthful cheek and admired her wise emotional depth. It never ceased to amaze him how nurturing she could be—how simply she could peer into a loved ones' heart like reading the pages of a book.
Softly, he replied, "Yes, I imagine he would be interested in knowing about Anakin, but it will not be a conversation I will look forward in having."
"Just promise me, Obi-Wan?"
He tenderly smiled and gave her a kiss. "As you wish, Milady."
-0-0-0-
Location: Millennium Falcon, common room
Leia stormed into the common room and shoved Han's feet off the empty chair next to him and said, "Captain, I've tried talking to that walking hairball you call a first mate to set a course for Hoth, but he won't corporate. I suggest you take over helm and get us to the Rebel Base."
Han was stunned by the never-ending feistiness of these strange women on board his ship. Exasperated, he got up and began to shout, "Relax, Princess. Hoth isn't going anywhere and don't worry. I'll get you where you need to go just as soon as you promise me my reward."
Steamed, Leia placed her hands onto her hips and retorted, "What reward? This is the first time I've ever heard of any reward."
Irked, Han replied, "Listen up, your high and mightiness. This tub ain't a charity. I only helped save your ass because those two kids here said there'd be a reward in it for me and I aim to collect."
Then, in a flash the two turned and sent angry glares at both Luke and Jinn who were both sitting casually at the far end of the room while chatting about swords and ships. Instantly, in defense Luke feigned an innocent look and said, "Hey, don't look at me. I never said the reward was a guarantee."
In frustration, the space-captain then rushed toward the young-Jedi and grabbed him into a headlock and began to give rub his head furiously. "What's it kid, you're going to get it!"
Leia was annoyed by the crew's immaturity and started to fume. Hotly, she began to pound on Han's back and shouted, "Oh, leave him alone! What the heck is wrong with you? Don't you people know how to behave?"
Jinn laughed as he watched his brother and the Captain begin to wrestle and rose from his seat and approached Leia with a gallant bow and with an odd grace, took her hand and gave it a kiss. He smiled charmingly at her and said, "Pay no attention to those two, your Highness. Commoners are beneath you."
Leia in response paused and stared at the amber-eyed teen curiously. For the first time she realized he had a slight Coruscant accent and he had the most inhuman gaze she'd ever seen. And for some reason she didn't think Jinn's manners really suit him or on Coruscant. It was like he belong somewhere between the Senate and the Falcon, but such a place didn't exist.
Then, out of nowhere she said, "You're a hybrid."
In an instant, Jinn's smile fell from his face and he dropped her hand and broke their gaze. "Ah, well—yes, yes I am. I'm half human and half Varian. Do you—I mean, do you have a problem with me being only half-human?"
Wide-eyed, Leia replied, "Oh, no! It's just that human hybrids are rare. And I thought the Swans couldn't have children."
"Well…I'm here, so it must have been destiny."
The Princess smiled at the teen's answer and gave him a pat on his arm and said, "You're a sweet kid, Jinn. I'm glad we could meet."
In response, the young-warrior beamed, but was quickly shoved away by Han. "Hey, she's a little too old for you, squirt. Why don't you go back and play?"
Annoyed, Jinn retorted, "Oh yeah? Then, why don't you make me?"
Han narrowed his brow and shook his finger at him and warned, "Don't get smart with me, kid. Mommy and Daddy isn't here to save you."
"Why you!"
Jinn the lunged forward to spring at the space-captain, but was stopped by Luke who grabbed him from behind and held him in place. Struggling, Jinn tried to break free and teach Han a lesson about how smart he could be, but Luke won't let up.
"Jinn! Knock it off. Remember what Mom said about being angry?"
In answer, the amber-eyed boy huffed and broke away from his elder brother's hold in irritation and marched away. Meanwhile, Leia sighed and took a seat at the table and glared daggers at Han.
"Well, that was mature."
Han shook his head and drew his arm at the teen's tantrum and said, "Oh, he'll get over it. The kid's too much of a good-two-shoes to hold a grudge against me."
Luke sat besides Leia and stated, "Yeah, but Jinn isn't a pushover either. He likes to fight and I know he can take you. You're seen how Mom's like."
The space-captain shrugged. "So, what? Should I be shaking in my boots?"
Luke laughed and replied, "No. It's just that Mom's saying about anger is not to get angry, but to get even."
-0-0-0-
Lady Nina awoken with a pounding headache and her body felt stiff and raw. Carefully, she rose from the cot in the dark cabin and brushed her silver hair away from her face.
She then muttered to herself painfully in spite, "Damnation…that wretched dog of a mummy's pet. When I got my hands on that Vader I will take pains in keeping him alive just so I can torture him for days—ouch!"
Nina rose up and felt her back spasm in agony. "Curses and hellfire!"
She then placed her hand along the cabin wall and slowly moved towards the door and stepped out into the main corridor. The glow from the artificial lights stun her red sensitive eyes and she then began to squint.
"Dogs of hell…where—where am I?"
Stumbling, the pale-warrior made her way towards the galley and saw Luke and Leia sharing a meal. Quickly, the two stood up and watched as the Clan-woman ungracefully ignored them and sat down and took Leia's dish and began to eat.
"Great Spirits, I wish I had been reincarnated."
Though, enthusiastically the Princess was thrilled to see the Clan-General finally wake and about and swiftly she took a sit beside her at the supper table. She leaned in close and said, "Lady Nina, I wish to negotiate an alliance between the Rebel Alliance and Blackswan Society. If you are willing, we can work together to take down the Empire as a team."
Yet, in answer all Nina did was ignore her and continued to stuff her face with the space-food. Though, Leia tried to be more insistent and began to shake her arm.
"Lady Nina, this is important. We can bring peace to our two peoples if we join."
Irritated, the pale-warrior snapped, "Hush, brat. I wish only to dine."
Leia frowned in disappointment while Luke stood back and tried not to laugh. He found the whole thing to be hilarious. He thought it was funny how Leia's passionate pleas didn't make so much as a dent in the uptight and tired beauty.
Sympathetically, he sighed and patted the Princess' shoulder affectionately. "Give her sometime, Leia. She just woke up from nearly getting killed off by Darth Vader."
"Oh batwings and monkey brains, please stop talking about me," grumbled the pale-beauty— "Can't you children by silent?"
"Hey!" shouted Leia. "I'm not a child."
Nina huffed. "Ha, you can make that claim when you're at least a 100."
Then, suddenly the door opened and in walked Obi-Wan who came in looking for Luke. The Jedi Master strode in seriously with the intent to tell Luke that Vader was his true father. "Son, I have something I wish to discuss with you in private. It concerns—"
"YOU!" shouted Nina violently.
The pale-warrior then bolted out from her chair and pointed her finger at Obi-Wan accusingly and exclaimed, "You! You're that accused Knight who wooed my sister and impregnated her before you stole her away from our Clan!"
Flabbergasted, Obi-Wan didn't know what to say, but carefully he tried to calm her down. He had no idea she had a grudge against him. "Please, Lady Nina. I'm sorry if I may have offended you, but you cannot blame me for Milady's departure. She is responsible for her own actions."
Nina fumed and approached the Jedi Master quickly and slapped him across the face. She shouted, "Liar! Thrice is not your lady! She is my comrade in arms, she is a Clan-general and her responsibilities are to her people, not raising your brood."
Hotly, Obi-Wan replied, "My children are not a brood! And Thrice is my wife whether you accept it or not."
The pale-warrior angrily shook her head. "No, you took her away from us! It was you and your damn war that took away our dreams of peace. You and your Jedi and your Republic democracy. It was by your own hands that you put that crown on that dog's head!"
"Nina!"
The pale-warrior around to the voice and saw that it was Thrice standing by the threshold with an impassive look on her clear face. In response, Nina stared coldly at her old partner with crimson eyes filled with hate. Threatening, she strode up to her and seethed, "You…you traitor."
Yet, in answer the raven-beauty did not flinch. Instead, she rolled her eyes and causally placed her hands onto her hips. And with a cheeky smile she said, "A traitor? Really, Nina?" She then reached over and gave her a pinch.
"Ouch! You heartless cowar—"
"Enough. For shame on you Nina, how dare you abuse my husband that way! Blaming others for your misfortune is beneath you."
Sourly, she turned her head away and swallowed her anger like a bitter pill. She knew deep down that Thrice had a right to scold her, but she could not banish the terrible feelings welling up inside her like a flood. She could not bring herself to let go the frustration she felt because of her comrade's absence. She discovered that on some level she envied her flight from the responsibility and the danger. She longed to just run away from it all—the bloodshed and the war, but most of all she envied with a secret black hearted passion that Thrice had what she yearned for most in the world and that was the reciprocation of a beloved's love.
In this regard, Thrice was fortunate beyond words and yet all Nina could feel was turmoil down to the marrow of her bones. She didn't know why she needed somebody to blame.
But, in an explosion of warring emotion, she turned to her old partner and in what was meant to be a shout was instead choked out in a desperate whimper, "I missed you."
"Nina…"
The pale-beauty then stepped forward and engulfed her old comrade into a hug. Woefully, she buried her face into her shoulder and began to weep.
Stunned, Thrice wrapped her arms around her supportively and allowed her the time she needed to compose herself. The raven-warrior then pulled back gently and brushed away Nina's tears from her face and together they moved to sit down.
"Nina, how is Lord Blackswan?"
The proud-beauty carefully withdrew from Thrice completely and drew in a deep breath. Obi-Wan realized that Nina was putting up her armor again, but she looked more herself after her release. Primly and with an air of dignity, she replied, "The Master is well. He has left Lady Ebony in charge of the Colony and is in command of the second battleship, the Infinite and has Lady Seraphim as your stand-in as general."
Thrice narrowed her brow. "Seraphim? But she doesn't have nearly as much experience as Ebony."
"No, but Lady Seraphim was your last disciple and is the closest to your personality. And since Lady Ebony was my student she will not contradict me."
In response, Thrice nodded her head in understanding. She knew the two women never really got along since Nina was so controlling and Seraphim was more lax.
"Where is the Infinite now?"
"I don't know and your technology onboard this ship is too primitive to send out a signal."
Obi-Wan suggested, "Then, we must wait until we reach Hoth in order to contact the battleship."
"Yeah," said Leia as she took a seat across from the lady-warriors. "But, is the Clan willing to collaborate with the Rebel Alliance?"
"I am," answered Thrice.
Nina frowned and said, "You don't speak for the whole Clan. You're allegiances are divided since you are wed to the Jedi."
"True, but I can still set up a meeting between Princess Leia and Lord Blackswan as it is my right. My word still carries weight since I haven't been banished from the Society. Though, it would help if you supported the idea, Nina."
Nina sighed and relented. "Very well. You have my support."
In response, Leia cheered and gave Luke a hug before clapping her hands. "Yes, now that the Rebels have the Swan's support we can now plan our next attack simultaneously and defeat the Empire once and for all."
Obi-Wan smiled and said, "Now, Princess you must be cautious. Just because you're gained more allies it doesn't mean you have suddenly won the war."
Yet, Leia would not contain her enthusiasm and grinning she said, "Yes, I know but with the new help that we've got I just know we can win."
-0-0-0-
Location: Death Star
Darth Vader could not believe he had let the Princess escape and allowed Obi-Wan and his wife to subdue him so easily. He did not think it was possible for any follower of the Light to be able to defeat him and yet it was true. His old enemy had bested him. Though, he had never imagined that Lady Thrice was nearly as powerful as he own Master, Darth Sidious. Her unusual gifts in the Force permitted her to use Force-lightening with surprising strength and range that he had not before seen. He could not recall ever seeing such ability in any of his previous encounters with the Clan and their warriors. It was a cold revelation that fanned the fires of his hate.
"Progress report, Captain."
Nervously, the trooper saluted and stated, "The Death Star is still in repair, Lord Vader. We estimate that the rebuilding will be complete within 2 weeks."
"And the beacon?"
"Its active, sir. We should be able to trace where the Rebel ship has escaped to easily."
"Excellent, Captain. Soon we shall see where the Princess has gone into hiding."
-0-0-0-
TBC
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I appreciate the reviews: ladynatasha, SkywalkerQueen, RebelYellers, RKF22 and The Lonely Fox. You're words of high praise brightens my day. And I'll try and keep in mind to stay linear and hold off on doing any time jumps, but I like getting into the heart of things rather than mush and fluff.
Please reivew. Thank you.
