Chapter Twenty-Five: Fast Times On Hoth
"Do you think Skywalker will be there?" Jekria asked her parents.
Drake Lo'gaan looked at his wife with an expression of disgust. "Probably not. I'm sure Master Skywalker is on a mission somewhere."
From the cot on her side of their cabin of the small transport, Jekria snorted. "You know who I mean, Dad. Luke. The cute one."
"As opposed to the murderous one?" Jekria's mother, Ekria said darkly.
"Yeah."
Ekria and Drake Lo'gaan were among the lucky minority who survived the Jedi purge. They were also among an even smaller number of Jedi who faced Darth Vader and survived. The fact he was out of his armor and calling himself Anakin Skywalker was hard to swallow. And yet, Master Kenobi was by his side once more, just like in the Clone Wars. And Master Yoda was alive and on board their transport. And there was no denying that Luke Skywalker was nothing, nothing at all, like his father—save for the fact that he was the most powerful of all the Jedi on the base in terms of raw Force ability.
"We're approaching Hoth," Ekria finally muttered as she left the cabin. "Better go to the cockpit and drop out of hyperspace before the asteroid belt."
Drake nodded and followed, and Jekria tagged along out of boredom until all three stood in the cramped cockpit of the shuttle. Space streaked around them as they dropped out of hyperspace a few thousand kilometers short of the Gates of Hoth, as the Alliance now called the belt.
Hoth Base was now almost two years old, and had become a major hub in the growing Alliance. Because of all the material the Alliance recovered from the Battle of Yavin, and because of the ships that they were somehow able to capture with such ease, the Alliance was now going toe-to-toe with the Empire on two separate fronts, both successful so far.
Admiral Ackbar waged a brutal and efficient defense for the shipyards of Mon Calamari, and the world was now openly Alliance. The two subsequent Imperial attacks had both been beaten back. The entire Correllian System, which included several habitable worlds, also was openly allied with the Alliance thanks to the efforts of Garm bel Iblis.
The rumors that Bel Iblis and Mon Mothma were at heads was true enough. Drake met both before going to Dagobah last year. But according to her father, Jekria knew the third member of the Alliance Executive Council kept the two together—Harry Potter merely had to look at them, and they would stop arguing like recalcitrant children in front of their paretns. As a result of the two continuing to combine their efforts, the Alliance was now a genuine, powerful military Force and a real threat to the Emperor. Hoth was also the home of the New Jedi Order.
"Hoth Command, this is Dagobah One requesting permission to land," Drake said over the holorelay. "Transmitting security codes now."
Hoth Command responded immediately. "Codes acknowledged, Dagobah One. You're clear to land in Hangar 5."
"Acknowledged."
Where once Hoth Base had only one large hangar, the complex now had at least five, from what Jekria could see. The air sparkled with multiple redundant shield walls, including impressive ground fortifications, three ion cannons and what looked like a series of mobile infantry turbolaser cannons.
"Wonder where they stole those?" Ekria said.
"Probably bought them at Rebellion Unlimited," Drake said with a wry smile, which was another way of saying they were stolen from the Empire.
Their computer tracker lit up the appropriate hangar and they brought the transport in. The hangar looked new and glittered with more than just ice. They passed through a particle shield and into a spacious, smooth black top. A controller with light beacons was waving toward a far alcove. Drake kept the transport on repulsor mode and guided it to the directed space before settling down.
Master Yoda appeared from his tiny cabin on the small repulsor sled the Lo'gann's had brought with them when they joined him on Dagobah . "Changed much this place has," the ancient Jedi Master said. He flew slowly down the ramp until he paused by one of the sparkling walls. He touched it in wonder.
"What is it, Master?" Jekria said. She too touched the wall. "It's not ice."
"No, child. Not snow. Carbon. Diamond. Harry Potter has been busy."
Behind them, Drake coughed. "Master Yoda, are you telling me that the walls of this hangar are made of diamonds?"
"Knight Lo'gann, not made of diamonds are these walls. A single diamond they are, shaped by Harry Potter's power."
"How is that even possible?"
"Magic," came the Jedi master's enthusiastic response.
Just then an attractive young woman in the familiar brown robes of a Jedi padawan appeared, her eyes bright. She bowed deeply to Yoda. "Master, it is an honor. I am Ana Tathis, Padawan of Lady Caryn. Master Skywalker asked that I greet you and show you all to your quarters."
"There aren't that many techs around," Jekria noted.
Ana nodded. "This is a dedicated Jedi hangar. We don't have much yet because our numbers are few, but Master Pot…I mean, Harry says that will change. He said the Jedi themselves will change."
She led them across the tarmac. In other alcoves they saw X-wing fighters with the older symbol of the Jedi Order on their fuselages. It seemed strange to see the wings and saber. Jekria had only seen them in her parent's smuggled holovids.
"Padawan Tathis, how many Jedi are there now?" Jekria asked.
"More than there were a year ago," she said with a brilliant smile. "There are Masters Kenobi and Skywalker, of course. Luke is mostly a knight now. No one can beat him, not even Master Kenobi. My own master, Lady Caryn. Qu Rahn is now a knight, as is Feris Olin. I heard Master Kenobi say that Knight Olin may be elevated to a master. He's good enough even Master Skywalker has difficulty besting him.
"We also have Knights Olee Starstone and Chase Piru, and her padawan Seddwia. And now you four have joined us."
"So fourteen including us," Jekria's father said with a dour expression.
"Oh, and Kyle," Tathis added. "Can't forget Kyle."
"Where is Padawan Katarn?" Yoda asked. "Much potential I sensed in him.
"He's a general now in SpecForce. He's leading up the search for the Muur Talisman."
Yoda's hover sled stopped. "Muur Talisman, you say? Why not informed was I?"
"I…" Ana blinked. "I'm sorry, Master Yoda. I don't know. Master…I mean, Admiral…Harry is in over-all command of the search for it. Knight Katarn answers directly to him."
"Knight Katarn is, already?"
"He's the only one that can even come close to beating Luke, and he's defeated both Master's Skywalker and Olin. Master Kenobi thought him ready."
"I see. Lead on, you must."
They reached the main hall leading from the hangar into a long, narrow broad hall linked in sparkling diamond statues of beautiful women in alluring posses. "That's not really a Jedi thing," Jekria said.
Ana had the grace to blush. "Er, no. That's a Ma…Harry thing."
"Harry?"
"He asks that we not address him as master since he is not a Jedi. Officially the Alliance has him listed as Fleet Admiral, but he doesn't really command the fleet, Ackbar does. It's just, people tend to do what he says."
Yoda snorted. "Ironic, that is."
"Master?"
"That not master he wishes to be known. Jedi came about because of him, but Jedi he is not. That is true."
As they walked further, Jekria became aware of something else. "It's not cold!"
"No, the walls aren't ice, and the floor and ceiling are both heavily insulated, so we can regulate the temperature now without worrying about melting anything."
They finally reached the Lo'gann quarters, which was a surprisingly spacious four-room suite. "Two bedrooms and two office-slash-meditation rooms," Ana said. "Master Yoda, your quarters are further down the hall with the other Masters."
Tathis and Yoda left, leaving the Lo'ganns to settle in. The three crates holding their entire personal effects arrived just minutes later, carted by droids. The interior of the room was lined not in ice, but it what looked like a faux wood surface, while other walls were a plain white that invited decoration.
The room came equipped with a small holosuite, a fully functional kitchen and two compact freshers. Though not exactly luxurious by Core World standards, it was as fine as anything Drake or Ekria had in the Jedi Temple as children.
Jekria sat up when she heard a commotion outside. When she emerged from her room, she saw possibly the strangest thing she had ever seen in her life.
Luke Skywalker was hanging upside down in the middle of the hall. He was not supported by anything but the air itself. His face was slowly turning purple as blood rushed to his head. "What's going on here?" she asked.
Luke sputtered, now flushing as well as turning purple, and Jekria snickered. Just then a dark-skinned woman in her thirties came tearing down the hall. "Luke? They got you?"
"Got me first," Luke said with a sigh. "I think they planned to from the beginning."
The dark-skinned knight laughed. "Well, I'd get you down, but frankly I have no idea how to."
"I'm working on it. It's not the first time this has happened."
The woman turned her attention to the Lo'ganns and smiled. "Ekria, Drake, you probably don't remember me."
"Chase Piru," Ekria said, smiling herself. "I remember at least. Can you tell us what's happening?"
"Training exercise," Piru said. "Jedi against Mages."
"Who's winning?" Jekria said with a grin at Luke.
Luke sighed. "It doesn't help that the Mages have Jedi training too."
Chase laughed, and then yelped as she suddenly flipped upside and rose into the air beside Luke. The older knight's face turned even more purple than Luke's. But she grinned good-naturedly. "Looks like the Mages are winning."
The air nearby shimmered, and a stunning woman with bright red hair and green eyes appeared, wielding a stick in one hand and a lightsaber in another. "Don't forget it," she said.
Jekria remembered the woman's name, now. Mara Jade Potter, one of Potter's wives. The red-head looked at the Lo'ganns. "Are you three playing?"
"We don't know the rules and we just arrived," Ekria said.
"Rules are easy. No killing. Sabers are set on training mode only, anything and everything else goes."
"What did you do to them?" Jekria asked.
"A simple binding spell and a levitation spell," Mara said with a twinkle in her eyes. She patted Luke's face. "Luke knows all about it."
"I'm going to get down eventually, you know," Luke said. "And when I do I'm going to spank you."
"You'll try," Mara said. She disappeared suddenly with a pop.
The Lo'ganns all felt a suddenly, almost numbing surge in the Force, and just like that Luke fell to the floor with a loud thud. He stood up with a grimace. "They're all out to get me," he muttered.
"I'm sure it just seems that way," Chase said.
From the air, a laughing voice said, "No, we really are out to get him."
Luke surged to the left as a red bolt of energy flew by and struck the floor behind him. His saber came to life and batted away two more. Jekria noticed his eyes were closed as he did this. She began to believe Ana Tathis when she spoke of his skills.
Jekria heard a pop beside her and barely had time to bark a warning before Luke spun about and batted away another red light. Suddenly lights were coming at him from two separate directions.
In the Force, she could sense a presence, though she could not see. With a grin, she slowly flicked her own saber on to training, and then with all the speed the Force could muster she slashed the air beside her.
"Hey!" a voice called. A second later another woman appeared, this one the seeming opposite of Mara, with white hair and icy-blue eyes. She looked at Jekria with narrowed eyes. "You are so going to get it," she said.
"I guess I'm playing," Jekria smiled at another of Potter's wives.
Nearby, Luke laughed. "Anything goes. You're out for five minutes, Winter."
Winter folded her legs and shrugged. "Fine."
Just then, Chase Piru broke her own restraints and fell to the floor, lightsaber at the ready.
"Has Mara left?' she asked.
"I don't sense her," Luke said. "They're down to just three for the next five minutes."
"Let's get going, then."
Luke turned to Jekria and grinned. "Coming?"
As the three ran down the hall, Ekria and Drake shared a long, uncertain look. On the floor behind them, Winter smiled. "Yes!"
The two elder Lo'gaans turned and looked at her. "Luke needs a girlfriend," Winter said with an unapologetic shrug.
"He doesn't need our daughter," Jake said firmly.
Winter's smile faded at Drake's vehemence. "You're thinking of him as the son of Darth Vader. That's a mistake, Drake. He is the son of Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo. He has his father's power, but his mother's heart. Of all of us here, he is the purest, kindest Jedi ever. But if he does not get a girlfriend soon, he's going to drive us all nuts. Besides, Leia's…"
She stopped.
"What?" Ekria demanded.
"Let's just say Leia has caught glimpses of the two of them together. They have the potential to make each other very, very happy. Just saying."
~~Lord of Light~~
~~Lord of Light~~
Afterward, sitting in a small lounge area nursing a drink and a bruised rib, Jekria said, "There were only four of them. How could they beat us all? There were ten of us and only four of them."
"They cheat," said Seddwia, Piru's Twi'lek padawan. The woman was herself on the verge of knighthood, and was among the first taken down by Potter's wives.
"They do not cheat," Luke said, defending them. "They just have a larger…arsenal."
"You're just saying that because one of them is your sister," Seddwia said, though without heat.
"And that usually just means they attack me first," Luke pointed out. He smiled at Jekria. "Thanks for your help, though. That's the first time any of us ever tagged Winter. She's sneaky."
"You're sister is worse," Olee Starstone said.
Luke shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose she is."
The door opened and the resident masters walked in. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Lady Caryn all looked—put out.
Yoda was cackling.
Behind them came Harry Potter and his wives.
Jekria found herself watching the man who had single-handedly changed the course of the war. He made a show of seating his ladies, and then walked over to the Jedi, directly to Jekria. He looked somber.
"Yes?" Jekria asked, suddenly nervous.
"You tagged Winter, catching her by surprise."
"I was asked if I wanted to play."
He leaned down until his face was an inch from hers, his strangely alien green eyes boring into hers. Suddenly the spell was broken when he grinned. "Awesome! You're the first ever to tag her. Great job, and welcome back!" He then leaned forward, and whispered, "Luke is very shy. But he does like you."
He then straightened and winked at her before heading back to his wives.
"What'd he say?" Luke asked.
Jekria smiled and blushed. He blushed as well and looked away nervously.
"Well, now that we've had our fun, let's discuss what we learned today," Obi-Wan began.
"We learned they cheat," Seddwia said.
"They don't cheat," Luke began, honor-bound to defend worthy opponents.
"Sure we do," Harry said with a grin. "We can teleport at will. We can disillusion ourselves. We can stun you, bind you, hang you upside down and even remove your clothes with a flick of a wand."
"You wouldn't!" Lady Caryn said.
"Too late," Olin muttered.
"Well, it was four women," Leia said with a smirk. "No point in stripping another woman."
"Too bad Kyle isn't here," Mara added with a snicker.
"And the point of this exercise was what, Mister Potter?" Caryn said. The middle-aged Jedi Master carried herself with dignity and power that seemed at odds with Harry.
"Well, we're on a recruitment drive," Harry said. "I've determined that there is a correlation between midi-chlorian counts and magical potential. Essentially, I'd like to take you all and turn you into Mages."
Ana Tathis perked up with a smile that was much, much too bright. "Does that mean we have to marry you too?"
"That would end the discussion for me," Feris Olin said dryly.
"I don't know," Obi-Wan said with a wry smile. "He is quite the handsome lad."
"What would Nera think?" Anakin asked.
"She'd probably want to join his harem as well," Obi-Wan said.
Harry laughed with them. "Sorry, the wife quota is about full. So, no marriages required. It would require me to remove your midi-chlorians. In twenty-four hours I would be able to tell if your bodies will make the switch. If not, I just put the midi-chlorians back."
Caryn was sputtering. "You're talking about playing around with the very essence of what makes us Jedi."
Harry looked at the intimidating Jedi master, not intimidated at all. "I helped create the very essence of what makes you Jedi," he said. "Midi-chlorians are based on my DNA as a means of preserving non-Mages from the energy fields our magic generates. Winter here is a natural born Mage. She's never had midi-chlorians in her life. Leia was born with as many as Luke. She now has none at all. And yet she can still employ what you've come to see as Jedi powers."
Beside him, Mara added, "I was trained as a Sith. I can still do everything I could before, and so much more."
"It sounds like nonsense," Caryn said.
"True are his words," Yoda said. "Once pure magic were my kind. Removed our magic and gave us midi-chlorians he did." The elderly Jedi Master looked at Harry.
Harry gave him a sad smile. "You, my friend, are too old. If I remove your midi-chlorians, you'll die instantly. They are all that is keeping you alive. I'm sorry. But for your people, I could begin the process."
Yoda's ears drooped a little, but he nodded. "Truth, you speak. Enough to know my people would once more work beside the Celestials."
"Would it hurt?" Ana asked.
"The process is actually a potion I brewed last time we visited Felucia. That place is a gold mind of magical flora and fauna. You'll fall asleep, and when you wake you'll be a mage."
"How would you restore the midichlorians," Obi-Wan asked. "Should we need it?"
Harry held out a hand, and the air shimmered until he held a hypospray. "We give you a shot. It will take about a week for the midi-chorians to re-establish themselves, but they will do so at the same level previously."
"How do you know?" Caryn demanded.
"Because that's how my last wives programmed them," he said. He smiled around the table. "I will say this. The process will be more effective for those under thirty. After three decades, your body will develop a dependence on the midi-chlorians that may make the conversion difficult. So, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Lady Caryn, you are not viable candidates."
He looked at Jekria. "While you, my dear, are the best candidate because of your age."
"That, and she'd make a really cute witch," Maris Brood said.
"Yes, there is that," Harry agreed.
Jekria felt her cheeks burning.
"We can't make a decision like this immediately," Caryn said.
"Of course not. Nor would I expect everyone to agree. It is a personal invitation to any who wish to explore the true power behind the Force. I cannot promise it will work with everyone, either."
The meeting was interrupted by a loud beeping. Harry frowned at the interruption and walked over to the wall com. "This is Potter."
"Admiral, you asked to be informed as soon as General Katarn checked in. He reports a positive lead to Project Talisman."
All humor fled Harry's face. The transition made Jekria a little nervous.
"Thank you for informing me. I'll contact him shortly." Harry dropped his hand from the com before turning and facing the Jedi. "Think about it, if nothing else. The Mages died out bringing humanity to this galaxy and giving you the Force. Now that I have been reborn, perhaps it is time to bring their light back to the galaxy."
With that, he walked out.