It was quiet aboard the Ghost as the ship was speeding through hyperspace; the crew was still under the effects of the events, they needed to get rid of the stress.
Hera and Kanan were together in the cockpit. "So? What was it like?" asked the twi'lek.
"Let's just say that it was exciting." replied the Jedi.
"Where did you find those two?"
"They were trapped behind a pile of ruins, surrounded by dead stormtroopers."
"How hard was it to bring them out from there?"
"She needed a little bit of convincing but then she let us to help them out."
"You are confused about this Love."
"How do you know?"
"Your voice betrays you. It's understandable; you're not used to save Imperials are you?"
"No, I'm not. I know they are our enemies, but… In that moment I couldn't see enemy in those grey uniforms."
"I think this is what they call humanity. It's not a bad thing after all, is it?"
"No, I guess not."
"Alright, I have a look on them." said Hera and stood up.
She went to the room in the back of the Ghost where their "guests" were accommodated. She stopped at the door and looked inside. Those two were in the same position as they were left with Larus lying fainted on the bed and Lena sitting beside him, holding his hand.
It was indisputable that the Ghost Crew rarely saw any Imperials acting this way ever.
"Khm." cleared Hera her throat.
"General?" asked Lena with unchanged neutrality in her voice.
"How're you doing?"
"How do you think General we're doing?"
"Sorry that I asked." raised Hera her hands in defense.
"Look, I'm grateful that you saved us, but that doesn't change the fact that…"
"Don't get upset easily sis." said a weak voice.
Lena had never turned her head around as fast in her life as she had then. Larus was looking up at her with a faint smile on his pale face.
"How are you dummy?"
Ever since the rebel attack against the Depository on Vandor began, a kind, warm smile appeared on Lena's face. "Better. Now as I see your oafish eyes open."
"Haha… What happened?"
"You almost died while saved my life that's what happened you loony."
"I'd rather choose to be loony than see you die in front of my eyes."
"Maybe, but though I'd be forever thankful to you, it would be also painful for me to know that you died so I can live."
"And I couldn't live either knowing that I did nothing."
"Anyway, thank you little brother." squeezed Lena Larus' hand.
"Don't mention it big sister. And… where are now?" Larus looked around.
Lena sighed and her expression became more serious. "I'm sorry Larus. But it looks like we're gonna sit for the rest of the war."
"What do you mean…" That was when Larus noticed Hera. "Who are you?" frowned the young man.
"I'm General Hera Syndulla Captain." nodded Hera.
"We are prisoners of war, right?" turned Larus back to Lena.
"Yes, we are."
"Oh, damn it." let out Larus a deep breath.
"But at least she saved us." said Lena, trying to comfort him.
"Well, it actually wasn't me, but my crew." interrupted Hera. "Shall I call them here?"
"That's not necessary…"
"Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, Spectre Seven!"
"I see I'm talking in vain…"
It didn't take long and the four rebels appeared in the door.
"Thank them Captain." said Hera.
"I know who you are." said Larus, pointing at the Seventh.
The Mirialan said nothing just gave him a flat look.
"Shouldn't you be dead?"
"It would take more than a base of stormtroopers to take me down." the Seventh grumbled back.
"You. You betrayed the Empire." narrowed Larus his eyes.
"Be grateful that you're still alive. That you are still breathing. I would appreciate this fact if I were you." she snapped at him unfriendly and left.
Not long after this the Ghost exited hyperspace and they were back at the green, steamy moon of Yavin IV.
The spaceship landed on the vast landing field before the ancient temple. The boarding ramp was lowered and the crew exited the vessel with Hera supporting Lena and Kanan supporting Larus.
"Welcome home General Syndulla!" Mon Mothma greeted them. She was waiting for them with a few officers and soldiers by her side.
"Thank you senator, it's good to be back." said Hera.
"I heard that you and your crew did a great job. Congratulations."
"We just did our duty senator."
"What about them?" asked Mothma gesturing with her head at the two Imperials.
"Ah yes, we brought two guests. You can interrogate them later. But both of them need medical aid first."
"I see. Ensign, take them to the hospital."
"Yes senator." nodded a soldier and with three other soldiers he took Lena and Larus over from the Ghost crew.
"Lieutenant." Hera called after Lena.
"Yes?" turned back Lena.
"Once this is over, we can talk if you want."
What could Lena say to this? "I'll keep it in my mind." she said and she was escorted away together with her brother.
"As for you." turned Mothma now to the Seventh. "I was told that you took your share of fighting and was a significant help. Not to mention that – as I heard – you saved one of your comrades. You can take this as congratulation. A good point and a step closer to amnesty."
"Thanks." said the Seventh but it was clear that all she wanted was to get away from there and from everyone.
"Can I dismiss my crew senator?" asked Hera.
"Yes General." nodded Mothma. "You may relax now."
"You heard the senator guys. You're free to go and have rest. You deserve it." turned the twi'lek to her crew and with this everyone went on their own way. Except for the Seventh who grabbed Ezra by his arm and dragged him inside the temple until they reached her room.
She sealed the door shut behind them and threw herself on him. She needed him. And she needed him right there in that exact moment. She needed to let the stress caused by the dangers of this mission out of her. She kissed the young Jedi with lustful eagerness, threading her fingers through his hair and capturing his lips in hers. She didn't want any romanticism or sweet whispers into each other's ears. She just needed something that frees her from frustration.
He was the reason she was there. He was the reason she had to bear all the burdens of her stay with this blasted Rebellion. Now it was up to him to drive away her problems at least for a short time. She had the need to feel that sparking and tension and connection that she felt as they were holding each other in that clammy cave.
She let out a deep breath as one of his legs shifted between her thighs on instinct. The Mirialan started rocking her hips and grinding herself against his thigh, moaning slowly into his mouth, as their bodies rubbed and brushed together.
She practically ripped his shirt open and yanked the piece of cloth off him. He did the same to her gray, sleeveless tunic, exposing the yellow skin of her upper body to the air.
The Mirialan's body trembled as she felt one of his hands was sliding up on her side and finally stopped on top of her breast, making her gasp.
Gripping into him she was pulling him toward the bed until her legs hit its edge and she fell back dragging him down with her. Feeling him finally against her and his weight on her again fueled the fire in her body further.
Her heartbeat rapidly speeded up as he planted kisses over her tattooed face, down her neck and her shoulder.
"Bite me." she hissed at him and she gritted her teeth with a hiss as she felt his teeth sinking into the flesh of her shoulder.
The Jedi went lower and the Mirialan let out a passionate moan as he reached her breast and his tongue swirled around her hardened, dark nipple.
Once again, she couldn't help but think not a long time ago she wanted to tease him with her tongue to seduce him to her side. To show him what could it give to him if he sides with her. And now here she was, wrapping her arms and legs around him, mewling as he caressed her breasts, teasing her long enough to make her squirm under him.
She groaned as he went lower placing hot kisses along her flat stomach.
Reaching her black pants he unfastened her belt and pulled the tight material down her legs. The Mirialan wasn't idle either, she sat up and while placing a long kiss on his lips she made a short work on his belt, and removed his pants.
Reclaiming his mouth she grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down with her. The ex-Inquisitor had way enough playing; she just reached down, taking him in her hand and pressing his arousal against her folds.
He rolled his hips forward and the Seventh tensed and arched her back as his hardened shaft entered her, leaving the Jedi exhale with full of desire as her hot insides engulfed him.
As he began moving in and out, the Mirialan moaned passionately with each thrust, with one of her hands sinking its nails into his back and her other hand clawing the pillow under her head.
The flames that started in her pelvis started spreading all across her body and the heat inside her became almost unbearable at some point. Yet, it was indescribably pleasurable, so was the tingling sensation in her muscles.
She heard about a theory before that for Force-sensitive people every touch, a single kiss, or… acts like this can be far more intensive than for non-Force-sensitives. She didn't know if it was true, but she knew that she was feeling very good now. So was the Jedi Padawan atop her. She made a small smirk as she saw his lustful face as he was moving in and out of her, gasping as her hot insides were practically sucking him in.
The Mirialan writhed and groaned under him as he attacked her neck, shoulder and collarbone with his lips, sending electric jolts through her sensitive skin. In return she buried her face into his shoulder, savoring his scent.
How did she end up out of all men in the galaxy with a Jedi? With a human Jedi? With a human Jedi she was once tasked to hunt down? The Force and fate really have interesting ways. However she was becoming less and less averse with the idea. Especially now. Because this human Jedi she was once tasked to hunt down was not just a talented fighter and damn seductive but he really was a man, what she was experiencing now was a very good evidence of it.
"Hey…" he said panting heavily.
"Inside." she said looking at him with half-lidded eyes.
"Sure?"
"Inside. Don't pull out… Don't you dare to stop!"
She almost cried in pleasure as he increased his pace even further, hitting her deepest parts again and again until she felt the intense twitching before he lost control and her body was filled up with his orgasm.
"I know you find me beautiful Bridger." said the Seventh, breathing heavily. "But it didn't last too long you know."
"Well. That is beyond my command." replied Ezra as he laid down next to her, panting as well.
"That can be helped only in one way. Doing this to me more often." said the Mirialan playfully, poking his cheek. "Until then I take a shower. A very hot shower after that damn Vandor."
"I thought you like the cold."
"I sure do. But I like to be a hedonist." grinned the Seventh and stood up to head for the shower. "If no one's in there and you finished regenerating, feel free to join me. It's hard to wash my own back you know." she said looking back at him with a flirty wink.
X
Hera and Kanan were sitting opposite to each other in the empty cantina, trying to eat just a little but mostly they were just poking their food with their forks.
"So. How was it in there?" asked the twi'lek.
"You mean the Depository?"
"Yes."
"It was quite dicey. But we could handle it." said Kanan. "You'd like to know how Spectre Seven was fighting, right?"
"I should have learnt by now that you always know what I'm thinking." sighed Hera. "Well? How did she fight?"
"Very well, as she is expected from her."
"Wasn't it strange to fight Imperials with her on your side?"
"You bet it was. But Mothma was right. She was a big help."
"What did she mean by "she saved one of her comrades"?"
"A broken walker was about to crush Sabine. She held it back."
"Gods." exhaled Hera. "I wonder what she could have become if she didn't end up as an Inquisitor."
"Who knows? Perhaps what she'll become if she continues her current path."
"You think so?"
"Her past will always be with her like a dark shadow. We cannot change who she was and what she did, she' something else than Kallus. Neither can we change her personality. But we can help her to change as a person. In fact, this change has already begun without us."
"Don't you mean she started to change because of Ezra?" asked Hera.
"Partly because of him, that's for sure. But I think the things and feelings she's starting to discover now were always under her skin. They just needed something or someone who's able to let them out of their prison. And that someone who's able to do that has turned out to be my Padawan."
"Have you never thought of keeping her away from him?"
"I taught him to trust his instincts. And if he trusts them, I trust them too. Besides, I see no reason to do that, looks like he has a good effect on her."
"Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to give her another chance, otherwise I wouldn't have asked the senator to let her join us. I guess this is still new to me."
"It's new to all of us. Including her."
"I never would have thought I'll say this once but I actually feel sorry for her at some extent." said Hera, looking down. "What about you?"
"Hm. I'll never try to justify any of her past deeds. But I also know that she had little choice. Outside of hate and anger every other emotion was wiped out of her. She lived as an unfeeling weapon, treating others like consumables. You can't miss what you never had, right? But somewhere deep inside she might have felt that she didn't like this. And then when she got trapped on that forest planet with Ezra a few months ago, she probably learnt what she was missing all this time."
"Talking about the two of them. Do you think that they…"
"That's very likely, moreover certain but I'll not dive into their personal things. Just let them."
"Okay…" nodded Hera slightly.
"Now that she knows what it feels like, she'll not let it go by any means. She's like a beast that tasted human blood and wants to eat nothing else after that."
"That was a very "nice" metaphor." grimaced Hera.
"Sorry. But you understand what I'm talking about right?"
"Yes I do. And despite of my resentment I feel the will to change in her and I appreciate that."
"Let's just leave everything as it is for now, okay?"
"Yes, it's okay."
X
Mon Mothma was sitting at the holo projector in the middle of the dimly lit command center, reading reports with a troubled face. The Imperial Navy gathered large forces around Horuz and was seriously threatening Rebel shipping and forces in the nearby sectors. A few smaller skirmishes already happened between Imperial and Rebel space vessels.
Mothma knew that launches an offensive there, rebel forces on Dantooine, Mygeeto and Muunilinst could be cut from the rest of rebel space and destroyed one by one. That was something that the Rebels clearly couldn't let happen. That was why she called Alliance's military leadership to the command center.
The senators, generals and admirals arrived one after another and soon the meeting began.
"Thank you for coming, I assume you all know why I called you here. The situation is quite clear. A large Imperial naval fleet is stationed at Horuz, and this is a significant threat to our forces in that part of the galaxy. If we lose the systems we have there, that would be a major blow for us. What do you think?"
"It's obvious senator. We have to attack."
"And what if it's a trap? What if they sent those ships there to lure our fleet out and destroy it?"
"Of course that's a possible scenario, that's why we'll send out scouts first in case we decide to move." said Mothma.
"Our fleet has never participated in a major naval battle senator." commented a naval captain. "We cannot be sure that we'll be able to hold our ground face to face against such a large number of Star Destroyers."
"You should trust your soldiers more than your ships son." replied none other than Admiral Ackbar. "If you ask me victory belongs to the brave senator."
"With all due respect Admiral." said a general. "Let's say that we win such a battle. But how big is the prize that we'll have to pay for victory?"
"I understand your concerns general and we'll never do unnecessary sacrifices." said Mothma. "But personally, I share Admiral Ackbar's opinion. We shall remove the enemy from there."
Silence lapsed in the room as the members of the Rebel High Command were thinking and taking their chances into account. Sure there was a possibility that they win. However if they get defeated…
"I suggest a vote everyone." said Mothma. "Who's against the assault?"
Hands were raised into the air and quite a lot.
"And who support it?" Once again, hands were raised, including Mothma's.
By a small majority the "yes" won. "Then it's decided. Now we should discuss our strategy."
"Senator. I'll do it, but I do it under protest." stated an admiral who voted "no".
"I understand admiral." nodded Mothma. "Shall we begin?"
"One more question senator."
"Yes Senator Organa?"
"Do we know anything new about the suspicious Imperial activity around Endor?"
"Ah yes. We'll try to figure out what's happening there as soon as we can. For now let's deal with this problem."