Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Star Wars. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am just a writer attempting to increase my skills with characters and worlds that I love.
Note: I can already tell there is going to be some dissension over a character I'm bringing into the story. Rest assured, she'll be the only one, but I love her character too much to avoid bringing her into this universe.
Warning: This chapter features lemons. They will be clearly marked, so if they are not your thing then you can skip over them.
Part Five - The Mandalorian Journey Begins
Light was just seeping into the room, displaying the sweet curves of Jedi Master Shaak Ti in all their glory. As the sole surveyor, Harry was in a prime location to enjoy the view. In all honesty he'd gotten up early that morning for just such a purpose. Something about the way the light danced off of her crimson skin and montrals just seemed to enthrall him.
***Lemons Start***
Suddenly, a fresh weight, and the supple softness of naked breasts, pressed into his back. "Master," Ventress purred into his ear, her hand coming around their bodies to grip his length firmly. "You've been neglecting me."
Somehow managing to smother the moan that was forming in the back of his throat as the kinky woman started stroking, Harry replied, "I'm sure I don't know what you mean Ventress. You're first in this harem. If you want some time with me, all you have to do is say so."
"Oh, it isn't that." She whispered in his ear, breathing down his neck in the way she knew he liked. Then her power slithered forth, like an eel, into his mind. Forcing him to view images of himself and Shaak. Naked, writhing, in every moment of ecstasy they'd shared all at once. He bucked in her hand, but the woman held on, her pace never changing. "The problem, is that you haven't let me join you two." A moment later she stuck her tongue in his ear and he exploded with force onto the bed.
The release was strong enough, that he'd have fallen to his knees had his apprentice not been holding him up. "Can you imagine it master? The three of us together? Locked in passion, and lust, and pleasure?"
Harry chuckled. "I don't need to imagine it Asajj." In a flash he touched the force, and directed it at his apprentice, forcing her body into the wall with her arms and legs spread eagled.
"I like where this is going master." She purred.
"Oh I'm sure you do. But tell me something, while you've been focusing on me, where has Shaak gone?"
Eyes widening, Asajj looked left, then right, only to find a red face and a tongue sticking itself into her mouth. The Dathomiri moaned as her sensitive tongue wrapped around its invader, and the Togruta took it as a challenge for dominance. Wrestling her way into her opponents mouth for a better position.
While all of this was happening, Harry was crawling in between the grey skinned woman's legs. "You see Asajj, Togruta are all about their community. I'm her's, and you're part of mine, which means, by default, you're part of her's too." He gave a long, slow, lick, and took pleasure in the sight of her knees trembling. "Just like before, if you wanted to share the bed with us, you only had to ask."
With those final words he dove in for his prize.
Meanwhile - Jedi Temple - Coruscant
"The troop movements are proceeding on schedule Master Yoda." Windu spoke from his seat in the council chamber. Around him, every master, aside from a mysteriously absent Shaak Ti, was listening with rapt attention. "Our planetary defenses are strong, and we've begun sending forces out to our confirmed allies."
The small, green, being nodded, a sad droop to his ears. "Saddened I am, by the necessity."
The official declaration of cessation from the Confederacy of Independent Systems had been given to the senate floor the day before. It was almost immediately followed by a passing motion for a military response. The republic was now at war.
His ears came up, "Word has there been, from Master Ti?"
Before Kenobi could lean forward with his response, it happened…
The ceiling above them cracked, a noise like rushing water and howling winds surrounded them, and blue, arcane light, exploded into being. It swam in the air, coalesced like ice, and finally formed the image of a mirror, through which a vast chamber could be seen.
As the Masters of the order stared, bright lights began flashing back and forth. Pillars exploded upon contact with the beams, and muted screaming could be heard. The next thing they knew, a human form fell through it onto their floor, an explosion filled the mirror's image with light and flame, and the mirror image evaporated into mist before disappearing altogether.
All at once, every master had a lit blade in their hands. They had all felt it. A massive shift in the force that indicated a powerful practitioner.
Slowly, oh so slowly, a mane of bushy brown hair arose, and a startled looking face loosed the words, "Um… Hello. My name is Hermione Granger, and I come in peace."
Mace inched his blade forward until it was resting just under the woman's chin. "Explain yourself very clearly."
Hermione gulped. She didn't know what the strange light stick at her throat was, but based on the threatening tone, she imagined it was some sort of weapon. She hurried to provide an answer, "Several years ago a war began on my world over a matter of blood purity. One side believed only those of pure magical blood should be allowed to study magic, and my side believed that everyone who could access it should have the right to learn. I, along with many of my friends fought for several years, and eventually managed to kill the leader of the blood purist faction, but it wasn't enough. His followers were in all facets of the government, and less than a year later they started the war back up again. We couldn't win a second time."
Windu, putting aside the question of 'magic', edged even closer to the girl, "That doesn't explain why you are here."
"Towards the beginning of the first war, a friend of mine fell through a gateway. Most believed it was a one way door to the afterlife, but I was unsure, and if there was even a chance that my friend could still be alive I had to know for sure. My research revealed that the Veil of Death, as it was called, actually served as a temporal doorway to another dimension."
"And you decided to walk through it?" Mace clarified.
Hermione shuddered, "The war was lost, everyone else was dead, and the jackals were closing in on me as well. I said before, that a friend of mine had fallen through before; I decided to follow, and try to find him, rather than stay in my own dimension and face certain death."
She lifted her chin to stare her inquisitor in the eyes. "I rigged the Veil to self destruct after I left, so no one else could follow me through."
The dark man before her seemed to be about to say something, but he was interrupted by a small, green, man that looked quite a bit like a house elf. "Lies, I do not hear in her voice. The truth this is."
"But what of it, Master Yoda?" A bearded man spoke, stroking his facial hair in contemplation. "If she is truly not from our universe, then is she from the same place as Darth Rache? According to Master Ti, he came from another dimension as well."
That caught Hermione's attention. "This man you speak of, does he have black hair, green eyes, and a scar over his brow in the shape of a lightning bolt?"
Kenobi raised a brow, "Yes to all but the eyes. Those are yellow, though that is a result of his dabbling with the dark side of the force. It seems you know our newest interplanetary Sith."
"Interplanetary? You know Harry? What is going on?" Hermione was getting consistently more stressed, and it showed.
"With me, come girl." The green man with the stick reached up, and took her hand, leading her out of the room. "Explain, I will."
As the two left the other behind, Mace Windu turned to the assembled masters, all of whom still held lit lightsabers. "Does anyone here have any real idea what just happened?"
The resounding negative responses did not make the man feel any better about the strange girl being alone with their grandmaster.
Tatooine
The transport touched down at the spaceport with much less fanfare that Anakin expected. It was his first moment back on the planet in years, and he'd expected to feel… something. Relief, anger, depression?
Now that he thought about the last one, it was definitely there. He'd left as a child, with a promise to his mother that he was going to become a Jedi. What would she think of him now that he'd failed? The thought of seeing her disappointment aimed at him, was causing physical pain in his chest.
The hatch doors opened, admitting the scorching light and heat, and he was forced to put those thoughts aside. The crowd was moving, and in this hive of scum and villainy he couldn't afford to give pickpockets a stationary target. That, at least, was one of the lessons he remembered from his youth.
He pulled his cloak close, double checked his valuables, and made his way down the street. Even after all this time, he knew his way around like the back of his hand, so finding Watto's shop was not at all difficult. He actually took a bit of satisfaction in how run down it looked. Clearly the old slaver had had some bad luck after his youngest slave had been freed.
The bell over the door rang sharply as he entered, announcing his presence more naturally than he could have himself. The aged flying alien was just as Anakin remembered him. Old, grizzled, angry, and blue.
"Whadduya want?" The being growled out at the incomer. "Parts are'a to the right. Droids are'a to the left. Pick what ya want'an come back." Having said his piece, he went back to tinkering with some piece of junk while reading from a tablet.
The former padawan smirked, "I'm not here for your shitty parts Watto. I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker."
"Wha?" The smaller being flapped its wings enough to hover over to his potential customer, and stared. "Ani? Little Ani? Whatta'ya doing here?"
Anakin glared at his former master. "I told you, I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker. She clearly isn't manning your shop, so where is she?"
"Why should'a I tell you boy?" Watto hovered even closer. "Maybe I'be a little more cooperative if'a you pay for the information?"
Anakin seethed. This monster may not have been abusive to him as some other masters could have, but he'd still had the audacity to 'own' him. The Jedi way would caution patience, but as the council had already stated, he wasn't Jedi material. So he raised his hand toward his former owner, and clenched his fingers closed.
The Toydarion's hands shot up to his throat at once, as if his measly strength could remove a constrictive force he couldn't even touch.
Though some part of him tried to remain calm, Anakin couldn't help but slightly revel in the power he had over a being that had once held his own life in his hands. "I'm not going to ask you again, you junk dealing piece of bantha fodder. Where is my mother?" His fingers uncurled slowly, one finger at a time, until Watto finally bent over in the air, wheezing and coughing as fresh oxygen finally returned to him.
After several moments of deep breathing, he spoke. "I fell'a south of some bets after you left, and business was'a not doing so good, so I sold her. To some water farmer in the Dune Sea. Lars was'a his name, Cliegg Lars." Seeing the look of building rage on his former slave's face, the junk dealer hurried to reassure him. "Is'a not so bad Ani. From what I hear, he freed her. And married her."
The rage slowly receded from the young man's face, and he lowered his hand completely. "Where can I find them?"
Lars Homestead - Two Days Later
It was finally time, Anakin mused as he approached the large door before him. It had taken two days of bartering transport on desert trawlers, and hitchhiking on random passing speeders, but here he was.
He'd dreamed of this exact moment, so many times over the years. Each outcome he could imagine was different, and he had a thousand first words in mind, but the moment he reached forward, and knocked on the door all of those words left him.
When the metal slab slid open and a woman that could only be his mother, with an added ten years to her age, was stood before him, he could only stand and stare for several moments. Finally, he managed to stutter out, "H-Hi mom. I'm back."
The older woman couldn't seem to speak either. She just stood there too, tears streaming down her face before she just threw propriety to the wind and lunged forward, pulling him into a crushing hug. With a mind of their own, his arms wrapped around her just as tightly, both of them just trying to keep standing.
"Oh my boy." She sniffled, "what are you doing here?"
This was the moment. Anakin wished desperately he could avoid this answer, but she needed to know. "I couldn't do it mom. Th-They kicked me out." Now he was the one crying, but, saint that she was, she didn't comment on it. She just held him through it.
"It's alright honey. It's alright. You're home now. Would you like to meet the rest of the family?"
Kamino
Harry was sitting before a clone tank, watching as its amniotic fluid was drained. It had been two months since he and Shaak Ti had confirmed their relationship officially, and Sirius' clone had finally finished growing. Soon he'd be performing an Essence Transfer and his godfather would have a new body to frolic in.
The man/robot himself was leaning against the wall on the other side of the tank, while Ventress and Shaak sat on either side of the Sith, respectively. A Kaminoan Doctor was reading from a data pad at the foot of the device.
"How much longer?" The droid spoke, its clawed fingers rapping a very human staccato on its arms.
Not even looking up from her pad, the doctor said, "Just… about… now." On her final word the lid slid open, revealing the naked form of a perfectly copied Sirius Black.
The awed silence was broken by Ventress' wild chuckle. When her master gave her a searching glance, she pointed to his groin and said, "It is probably a good thing he didn't have a body while we were on Dathomir. One of my sister's might have claimed him, and never let him leave."
While everyone else laughed, Sirius said, "I don't know weather to feel flattered or terrified by that."
"Take it from my experience Sirius, both." The Sith stood and approached the body. "Doctor Lori, is this room separated from the main electrical grid like I requested?"
The Kaminoan nodded its overly long neck. "Your every request was taken into account My Lord. You may proceed without any untoward effects."
He nodded, "You have my thanks. Now please, step back. I would not like you to be caught up in what's about to happen." When the doctor acquiesced, he placed his palms on the droid and clone, then gestured to his women. "Both of you place a hand on my shoulder. Ventress, this is a good learning opportunity, Shaak, I want you to have a chance to feel dark side channeling that is not malicious." Both women nodded and placed their hands on him. Then it began.
As he did the first time, Harry focused on his pain and his triumphs, but then he added the image of his lovers, and finally, what it felt like to be one with his two beautiful women. The power these images brought radiated from him in waves, impacting the droid and the body before them like a great tide. Slowly, they condensed, becoming more defined and focused until they just radiated between the two.
As the Jedi and apprentice watched, shimmering lines of power appeared in the air, stripped themselves from the machine, and shot across the distance to the comatose body. Then everything stopped. The power disappeared, the lights ceased to be, and the feelings the two experienced fell out of focus. Ventress had felt raw, unadulterated power, and Shaak had experienced a warmth like none she had ever known before.
A few moments passed where Harry just knelt, gathering his breath again, before he stood, and straight up slapped the fresh body across the face. "Get up you lazy bastard," he spoke with tired fondness, "You were barely out for two seconds last time."
"Bloody hell Harry!" the new man raised a hand to his face and rubbed the developing bruise. "This body is new you know! The first bruise should come from a beautiful woman."
Harry just patted his shoulder and turned back to his women. "Thoughts ladies?"
Instead of speaking, Ventress glomped herself to his side and stuck her tongue in his mouth. When she finally pulled away she said, "That was so hot Master. I could feel your power as it radiated." A moan built in her throat at the words, and the dark lord simply placed her on his lap as she continued to nibble his neck.
On the other hand, Shaak Ti was just staring at the man she'd given her heart to. "That was amazing Harry. You felt so warm and full of… life. Are you sure you were channeling the dark side?"
The Sith nodded, "Quite sure, my love." He freed a knee from his apprentice, and the Togruta quickly took it. As warm as her lover's power was, his body heat was better. "That was the dark side in its purest form. I did not use hatred, or the will to dominate. I used my pain, my victory, my love, and my lust. In other words, I used the most primal of my emotions to fuel me."
"Fascinating." The Togruta mused. The last two months had not just been spent in the bedroom for the two. They'd discussed history, philosophy, theological interpretations of the force, and what constituted actual evil. The knowledge of which emotions had caused a life to literally transcend its body, was incredibly interesting.
As the trio sat in companionable silence, Sirius was struggling his way into one of the provided jumpsuits. When he had his first leg in, he asked, "Now that I have a body again Harry, where do you want to go next?"
The Sith sighed, and pulled Shaak Ti closer to his side. They'd discussed this very question… many times. Obviously, they would love to carry on as they had been, and travel together through the cosmos, but it just wasn't possible. Though Shaak loved him, her republic was at war, and the order needed her. She felt a responsibility to help where she could, and Harry couldn't make her choose his adventures over that. So they'd decided to go long distance. Confident in the bond they'd developed, (and unknown to Harry, Shaak's vision) to hold them through. They'd talk over the holo, meet at every available chance, and most importantly, they would not hide. Shaak was going to inform the council of their relationship after he left.
"Where would you like to go Sirius. You finally have skin, so what would you like to do with it?"
The man flexed his fingers into a fist and stretched from side to side. "I think I'd like to fight something and then fuck it."
"You're speaking my language." Ventress cooed.
"Perhaps you'd like to visit Mandalore then." Shaak mused. "They are a renowned as a warrior race that once managed to challenge the Jedi themselves. Additionally, I'm told their women are incredibly fierce in the bedroom."
The older man was nodding before she even finished speaking. "That sounds perfect. When can we leave?"
Harry turned back to the doctor, "Have the funds for the cloning, room, and board been cleared?"
"Yes My Lord. By your request, the moment the clone was reanimated all of your charges were paid from the account you listed. Your bills have been settled to our satisfaction."
He nodded and turned back to Shaak, "Would you hate me if I left tonight? The longer I stay, the harder it will be to leave."
The Jedi smiled at her partner's words. Though she'd be sad to see him go, she agreed that ripping the bandage would probably be for the best. "I could never hate you." She showed this by kissing him long, and deep. "I will miss you, my love."
She was about to stand up and see to her own student, when a thought came into her head. "Harry, if you do decide to visit Mandalore, I'd recommend comming Master Kenobi first. He was involved in a mission on the planet for a whole year as a padawan. He might have contacts there that could set you up with housing and introductions."
"I'll do that Shaak." He nuzzled her montral with a smile, "I love you a great deal, my dear."
Coruscant
Obi Wan Kenobi was minding his own business. Walking the halls of the temple and considering the implications of their new 'guest' when his comlink started beeping.
'I wonder who this could be,' he thought as he activated his receiver. When the image of a particular Sith Lord came into being, he regretted his hasty answering of the call immediately.
"Kenobi!" The man boomed, "How's my old drinking buddy doing?"
The man in question was kept busy lowering his volume for several seconds before he could respond. Finally, he felt comfortable saying, "We've only drank together twice Rache. That hardly qualifies us as 'old' drinking buddies."
The man on the other end of the line gasped in mock offense. "Kenobi! We built a sacred bond over those drinks. How could you minimize our relationship?"
The Jedi sighed, already predicting the headache his 'associate' was going to bring him. "It's good you called Rache. I actually have some news for you."
"And have I got news for you buddy. I'm heading to Mandalore."
Kenobi blinked. "Mandalore? Why would you want to go there?"
"A friend of mine wants to meet badass warrior women. Shaak Ti says that's the place to go for it, so we're hitting the road… so to speak."
"O-Okay, why are you telling me this?" he asked.
"Well Shaak said you spent a bit of time there, and I was hoping you'd have a name of someone I should speak to about housing and safe passage."
Obi Wan rubbed his face tiredly. "The current ruler of Mandalore is the Duchess Satine Kryze. I served on her security detail for a while. Just drop my name to security when you arrive at the royal capitol, and you should be let right in. She'll take care of you."
Darth Rache's delighted smile came through clearly over the flickering hologram. "I knew I could count on you Kenobi. Cheerio."
"Wait!"
The Sith stopped. "What is it?"
The bearded man took a moment to order his thoughts before answering. "Do you know of a gateway called the Veil of Death?"
Harry's smile vanished in an instant. "Where did you hear those words?"
"Not long ago, a portal of some kind activated in the temple. A girl fell through, named Hermione Granger. She claims to have had a friend who came through that gate before her, named Harry. Is that you?"
Harry was silent for several moments. "I'll be on Coruscant in a week."
Kenobi waved his hand to head off his disconnection once more. "Coruscant is on the war footing right now. The inner systems have been blockaded until a larger defensive force is organized from Kamino. Your ship will not be able to get in."
The Sith's face was carefully blank at those words. "So what would you suggest Kenobi?"
"Continue with your plans. Go to Mandalore, do your usual tourism thing, and when the blockade lifts, you can come here to see her, or I can send her to you."
"Where is she now? Can I speak to her?"
"She's with Master Yoda. From what I understand she's entertaining him with her 'magic,' and he's educating her on the status of the galaxy as a whole. They'll be busy for the rest of the day at least."
Harry was actively trying not to snarl, and it showed, even through a hologram. "Fine then, but the moment she's free I expect to be receiving a call. Also, Shaak is going to be calling your council soon. As a friend, please stand by her."
Kenobi raised a brow, "What do you-?"
The Sith cut the line.
Elsewhere In The Temple
"So you're telling me there are thousands of inhabited worlds in this galaxy?" Hermione's eyes were huge as she gazed upon the holographic interplanetary model before her.
"Yes." Yoda followed along as the human girl wove her way between the floating globes. "Republic they are, now confederacy also. At war we are."
Hermione frowned. "I just left a war. I didn't mean to arrive in a new one."
"Follow us, problems do. Learn to deal, we all do." He waved his stick at the wand holstered at her waist. "Magic you said you have. A spell, show me."
Seeing no harm here, the woman drew her foci, focused on the act she wished, and whispered "Lumos." Immediately a ball of bright light alit in the air, casting the holograms in an eerie hue.
"Hmhmhmhmh." Yoda chuckled at the sight. "New application of the force this is. A stick I do not believe Rache wields."
The human sheathed her wand and asked, "Rache? You've mentioned him before. He's Harry right?"
"Hm. Perhaps. Remains it does, to see if he is the man you knew."
Hermione processed his words, and applied them to the conversation she'd heard before. "That bearded man, he called Harry a Sith. What is that?"
Yoda's ears dipped, and his head tilted. "Remains to be seen, it does. Change the definition, your friend has."
The human felt the corner of her mouth raise in a halfhearted attempt at a smile. "That does sound like something he would do. So what was it before he arrived?"
The green creature gestured to itself, and the hall. "Jedi, we are. Keepers of peace and justice. Practice, we do, inner serenity and calm to access the force. Use it to help others we do. Sith, users of passion, and emotion, they are. Serve themselves they do, for their own reasons. Perpetrate many wars they did."
Hermione was aghast. "And you're saying that is what my friend has become?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Judge for yourself you must. Now what next?"
Before the being could continue his lesson, Obi Wan Kenobi approached them.
"Master Yoda, Ms. Hermione." He bowed to both before continuing, "I have just been in contact with Darth Rache." He focused on the human woman, "You'll be pleased to know that he recognized your name, and tried to make Coruscant his next stop."
Hermione brightened noticeably, "So he's coming here? How soon?"
Kenobi coughed uncomfortably, "Due to the planetary blockade, he's temporarily forbidden from entry, but he'll by calling again this evening to speak with you." His gaze turned to the short grandmaster next. "Master Ti is calling for the council to gather. Also… Rache mentioned before, that she would be needing the support of a friend for what she has to say. Whatever it is cannot be good."
Yoda nodded, before waving to a tall, grey haired woman. "Hermione, continue the lesson, Master Nu will. Attend a meeting, I must."
Council Chamber
Everyone was present, with Shaak Ti standing in the center of the chamber via hologram. Yoda broke the silence first.
"Master Ti, a statement you wished to make before the council? Hm?"
The blue hued woman nodded. "I have never held a secret from this council before, and I will not start now." She took a deep breath, and continued. "I have entered into a relationship with Darth Rache."
Dead silence filled the room before Kenobi cleared his throat and asked for clarification. "What kind of 'relationship'?"
Shaak Ti didn't miss a beat. "Emotional and sexual." That got a reaction.
"How could you do this?" Ki Adi Mundi exclaimed. "You have broken the order's rule on attachments."
"I do not see it that way. As we discussed, I entered into training to understand my emotions. They led me to Rache, and we have formed a very strong bond. Around the same time, my meditations revealed to me a possible future that can only come through Darth Rache. I believe the force itself is pleased by our bonding."
"How can you expect us to just be okay with your flouting of Jedi law?" Plo Koon was the latest objector.
"I don't. I simply ask that you all remember you trusted me to begin training my emotions, and I ask that you trust the results that have come from this."
Windu nodded, and muted the outgoing volume. Following that action, the room devolved into debate and argument, with one of the loudest supporting voices belonging to Obi Wan Kenobi. Twenty minutes later, the volume was returned.
"Jedi Master Shaak Ti," Mace Windu addressed her, "In regards to your revelation, many factors have been taken into account. The intensity of your training, the revelations provided both personal and via your vision, your stellar record with the order, and the fact that you chose to be honest and not hide this relationship. Are you ready to hear this council's decision?"
Shaak Ti nodded, her face resolute.
"As far as your 'relationship,' the council will not intervene so long as you do not turn to the dark side. However, your seat on the council will need to be reassigned. This is not a mark against your experience or character, but you are, by your own admission, emotionally compromised."
Shaak sighed in resignation. "I understand. Will I need to return padawan Tano to the temple?"
"You misunderstand Master Ti." Mace answered, "Though you are removed from the council, we are not stripping you of the rank of Master. You will continue to train your student as you have been."
For the first time during the meeting, the Togruta smiled. "Thank you your permission I will continue to oversea the troop deployments."
"Carry on Master Ti."
As soon as her holo disappeared, Ki adi Mundi was stating his own opinion. "This is only going to end badly. I was against her attempting this training from the start, and now look at what has happened. A decorated Master has become a slave to her emotions."
"Feeling and listening to your emotions does not make you a slave to them." Kenobi argued. "And the time for disagreement is long since past. So let us focus on the future. A motion has been carried through the senate for us to serve the Grand Army of the Republic as generals…
That Evening - Hyperspace
"Are you sure you did not want a clone made for you as well Zannah?" Harry was in the pilot's seat of the Victory, plugging in some pre-recorded messages for the planetary intercept crews of Mandalore. Darth Zannah was hovering cross legged in the air in front of him. As always, she was trying her hardest to creep him out by performing 'ghostly' feats.
"There was no way to create one Harry. At least not of my original body. There is no DNA to expand from."
The younger Sith thought for a moment, "Then would you eventually like a brand new body? We could look around and if you find a specimen that catches your eye, get some DNA, and work from there."
"Hm, that sounds lovely Harry." She drifted closer and raised an incorporeal hand to his cheek. "You have some of the best ideas."
They were interrupted by the beeping of a particular yellow switch on the console. Zannah looked intrigued, but Harry was hurriedly fixing his robes and double checking his reflection. Before the ghost could comment, he flicked the switch and the blue hued form of Obi Wan came into sight.
"Darth Rache." He greeted, "Or should I call you Harry?"
"Rache is fine. I take it you have Hermione with you."
Kenobi raised a brow, "Yes, she's here, but she seems like a nice girl, so I feel like I need to ask… you're not going to seduce her too are you?"
Now it was Harry's turn to raise a brow. "Shaak told me she notified the council as to our relationship. Thank you for speaking up for her."
"I trust my friend. You… we'll see. For that matter, please don't seduce Satine Kryze either. She's a good person."
"What do you take me for?"
"You live for freedom in all things. Does that not make you a hedonist?" Kenobi asked.
The Sith laughed out loud at those words. "I hadn't thought about it like that, but it kind of does doesn't it? Relax my soon-to-be friend, your girlfriend is safe from my attentions."
The Jedi stared, "She's not my-, she's not my girlfriend, Rache."
Perceptive as ever, Harry said, "Ah, so she was in the past then. You're a hound, Kenobi."
The man in question coughed into his hand, and gestured to something out of view to his right. "That aside, your friend has been waiting to see you."
A woman entered the view of the projector then. She was taller than Harry remembered, more full figured, and her eyes were harder, but she still had the giant mane of bushy brown hair.
"Hello Hermione." He breathed, "It's been a long time." She was even more beautiful than the day he'd left her, and she seemed just as nervous as he felt.
She raised a hand to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "I guess it has. A lot's changed back home."
"I can imagine. Kenobi told me what you said about the war. I'm sorry you had to go through that. But at least you're safe now."
She nodded, "It was tough, and I was sad to leave, but at least I managed to find you. So what now? Should I try to come to you?"
Harry shook his head in the negative, "That's a bad idea Hermione. With war breaking out, the hyperspace routes aren't as secure as they should be. For now, just stay at the temple. When I'm done on Mandalore, I'll come by and pick you up. I do 'not' intend to lose you again."
Hermione couldn't have missed the possessive notes in his voice if she tried when he said that. "Harry," she tried to find the best way to address the worries she was starting to develop, "are you alright? You sound… different."
The Sith stilled over the image. "It's been a couple years Hermione. We've both changed. We're both different than we were. For instance, you've become even more gorgeous than you already were."
The witch blushed at the avid praise. "Oh stop it Harry. There's no need to lie to me."
"I'm not lying. Before I fell through that gateway I had plans. I was going to tell you how I felt, ask you out, and take you for a butterbeer. I was going to woo you in any way I could, to show that I was worthy of your attention. You're amazing Hermione, brilliant, loyal, and beautiful, and I won't hear you say, in any way, that you are not."
Though it didn't translate into the hologram, the woman's face was now a solid, scarlet, blush. "S-S-So, what now Harry?"
The Sith smiled warmly at his old friend. "Now you tell me about the last two years. I want to know, in your own words, about everything that happened to you."
"What about you?"
"We can talk about me when I come get you."
Space Above Mandalore
"Unidentified Cruiser, identify yourself or be fired upon." The voice over the radio was followed immediately by the view of a planetary intercepter. The Mandalorian's clearly took interplanetary safety seriously.
Harry flicked a switch and his pre-recorded response played over the distance between them. It was basically just him giving his ship specifications and requesting landing on the royal tarmac. He included his reference via Kenobi, and not even ten minutes later he found himself descending into the atmosphere with the intercepter's blessing.
By the time he'd donned his armor, weapons, and helped Sirius do the same, they were on the ground, and a procession led by a rather tall blond woman was waiting for them. Her hair was raised in an intricate braid, and a particularly familiar raised eyebrow showed her impatience with the wait. It was no wonder where Obi Wan learned it.
However, she only held Harry's attention for the briefest of moments. After all, he'd seen the young man standing just behind her. He too was blond, but in a more traditionally sandy fashion, with a very familiar bone structure and eyes.
'Kenobi, you hound.' he couldn't help thinking as he descended to meet his greeters with a light bow.
"Duchess Satine I presume?" At her slight nod he continued, "Kenobi warned me against trying to seduce you, but he didn't mention the challenge that would be presented by your beauty. It truly is a pleasure to meet you."
The woman smiled at his words, but otherwise gave no physical response. "Obi Wan called in advance to let us know of your arrival, and he warned me that you would be a charmer. Rest assured, I'm immune to your wiles, My Lord."
Harry laughed at the quick response. He could grow to like this woman. He gestured to the boy behind her then, "Who is this?"
Satine drew the boy forward with her arm around his shoulders. "This young man is my nephew, Korkie Kryze. He's all set to start studying at the Royal Academy of Government this year."
Now it was Harry's turn to raise his eyebrow. "Nephew… right…"
"Are you really a Sith Lord?" The boy blurted out before his aunt could shush him.
"But of course." The Sith gestured to his golden eyes, "But don't worry, I have no plans to raid or pillage. I'm simply here to explore."
"Yes," The duchess pushed her nephew back behind her. Though she hid it well, his remark on her 'nephew' had unnerved her. "Obi Wan told me of your particular eccentricities. You would have fit in well with the Mandalore of old."
"You've caught my interest Duchess. What do you mean by, 'the Mandalore of old?'"
The woman raised a dainty hand that he dutifully placed on his own arm. "Follow me on a tour of the grounds, and I'll explain."
With a quick gesture from Harry, Sirius and Ventress fell into step behind them.
As the duo walked, Satine explained the measures and policies she was putting into place. How she was driving her views of pacifism and non-aggression into the laws and governmental functions of her planet. She spoke of her dream for a peaceful and utopian Mandalore.
When she was finally finished speaking, they had reached the open gardens of the palace. "What do you think of my dream, Lord Rache?" She asked at least.
"I think it's doomed to failure as things stand."
The woman stared at him, and her hand slipped from its position. "How can you say that?"
"I can say that for two reasons. First, I understand human nature. Second, I've researched your planet, people, and history. You've been a warrior society for thousands of years, and you just want to drop it in one lifetime? By yourself?"
"Tell me, has any single member of your cabinet come out with straight support of your plans? Have any truly lasting laws been enacted to curb your military? Do your people as a whole agree with these changes? And finally, how many attempts have there been on your life since starting this path?"
The woman worked her jaw up and down several times before turning around and sitting on the nearest bench. The bright roses and tulips all around her served as a stark contrast to the dour expression on her face.
"Do the people or government truly stand behind my reforms… no. But they will, as soon as they see what Mandalore is capable of becoming without violence."
"Perhaps, but that would take generations to do safely. You are trying to change too much too fast Satine. What about my last question?"
The stoic leader leaned back on her bench and rested her head on its wood. "There is a militant organization called Deathwatch. Officially they are an illegal terrorist group, unofficially, they have the unspoken support of most of my government. They stand for a return to the warrior race status we once upheld. I can trace no less than thirty attempts on my life back to them since my first declaration of nonviolence."
"What was their style? Poison, assassination, infiltration?"
She scoffed at his insinuation. "They want to return to the ways of 'honorable' warrior conduct. They wouldn't stoop to a 'shadow' assassination. They've instead sent men and women to assault my estates and convoys when I was present. They wish to not only kill me, but make me fight back before the end, and show myself to be a hypocrite."
"Sounds like a sound strategy. In one move they could both kill you, and provide their political allies ammunition to crush the measures you've already put in place."
Satine nodded. "If I can just de-power the military with my next bill, there is a chance I could ban all privately owned weaponry as well. Then Deathwatch will not be able to resupply munitions and arms to mount further assaults."
Harry shook his head at those words, and the duchess's frown returned. "People such as you are describing won't be stopped by taking away their guns. Even if you could get the bill passed, which is a big 'if,' they'd just come after you again with knives, swords, and staves. Sticks as a last resort, I imagine. If you want them to stop, and have a chance of a peaceful people in the next century, then you need to slow down these reforms. Pace yourself."
"I will not be bullied or intimidated." Satine stood from her chair, and with the iron in her voice it was clear to see what Kenobi had fallen for. "I have a vision of Mandalore's future, and I know that it is right. I will fight for it for as long as it takes."
Harry smirked, "But you won't fight. Not really. You'll just allow yourself to be attacked, so your guards can fight and die for you."
Satine glared at the Sith that dared to call her dreams foolish. "What do you suggest then?"
"You said Deathwatch harkens to the days of honorable warrior societies?" At her nod he continued, "I know a little something of warrior societies. My training covered them in quite a bit of detail. How about I accompany you for a while. When the next Deathwatch strike occurs, I'll deal with it. From there… I'll deal with the rest of them."
Though she was skeptical, Satine agreed. After all, it was probably for the best to not let a Sith Lord wander where she couldn't see him. Also, if he took a blaster bolt for her instead of one of her men trying to prove a point, all the better.
What followed was four weeks of travel and politics. Harry saw many sights, met a lot of people, and had sex with Asajj in plenty of public places. That last one caused Satine no small amount of grief as one of those locations was her front lawn.
For his part, Sirius made friends with several of the guards, and even accompanied them to local, state sponsored, brothels. Needless to say, his 'itch' for strong women was satisfied many times over.
It was at the beginning of the fifth week that it finally happened. Everyone was sitting down for breakfast when the windows exploded in, admitting over a dozen armor clad warriors, with jetpacks flaring and blasters drawn.
As they hovered there the clear leader, a woman based on her overall shape, in silver, grey, and blue armor with a strange emblem on the shoulder spoke. "Duchess Satine Kryze, you are guilty of conspiring to destroy the Mandalorian way of life, and its heritage, stand and fight or be destroyed."
Before anyone else could respond, Harry wiped his mouth with a napkin and raised his hand to the speaker. He focused, and suddenly a blue light fired from his palm and impacted her.
Before the newly unconscious speaker could hit the ground, she'd already been grabbed by Ventress, Sirius had grabbed the duchess, and her master was already leaping at the rest of the attackers with his saberstaff lit.
With a dark chuckle he began slashing at jetpacks left, right, above, and the ones his slashes missed met the output of his lightning. Mere seconds after the attack began, every warrior found themselves landing on the floor, their blasters all aimed at the lightsaber wielding Sith. It conveniently escaped their notice that their original target had already been spirited out of the room. No words were given as the men charged. Only screams as blaster shots raced toward their target.
Harry lazily swatted shot after shot away from himself as the warriors approached. Then he started sweeping the crimson blades in flourishes and swirls, forcing the attackers back, while at the same time destroying their weapons by slicing through the barrels. By the time he was done, the Mandalorians were forced to draw knives and begin hand to hand combat.
The Sith holstered his weapon on his back, then dove in close. He entered guards, forced his opponents to overextend, and slipped behind attempted grapples. Every time, he touched an attacker and black ropes came out of thin air to restrain them. The warriors fought well, truly embodying their warrior ethos, but it wasn't enough to win the day. Mere minutes after breaching the defenses, every man and woman found themselves restrained.
Harry took a moment to admire his handiwork, then raised a hand and pushed the bound bodies into a tight pile, followed by facing Asajj.
His apprentice dutifully raised the leader before him, restrained her arms, and removed her helmet. The woman revealed was beautiful of face, with a fine bone structure and redish-orange hair. A waved hand, and silently cast enervate, later and her brilliant green eyes were also revealed. They stared at him, then at her captured soldiers, before ducking her head in a sign of subservience.
"You have captured me. May I negotiate for the lives of my men?"
"We'll get to that." Harry mused, "What is your name honorable warrior?"
The woman glanced up sharply at the respect she was being shown in captivity. "Bo-Katan Kryze."
"Satine's sister? Can't say I expected that."
"Why not?" Bo snarled, "My sister decided alone that Mandalore needed to change. That our values and history no longer mattered. Was I supposed to just sit back and let her destroy us?"
"Fair point. Now hold still, I promise this will only hurt a little."
Before Bo-Katan could question that statement his hand latched onto her head, and suddenly he was in her mind. The woman, cringed, and bit back her screams as she felt him barging into her thoughts and memories. The pain was worse than any beating she'd ever received. It was worse than that time she'd fallen off a speeder at top speed. It was worse than-" It was over. The woman opened her eyes and the man that had beaten her, no, the man that had conquered her, was standing before before her with his painful hands clasped behind his back.
"You may release her apprentice." The woman behind her grudgingly did so, and Bo rubbed her shoulder delicately. The Dathomiri woman had a strong grip.
"Bo-Katan," The man spoke. "I am Darth Rache, Lord of the Sith. By the old laws of Mandalore, I have conquered you in combat. As such your fate is mine to decide. I offer you this choice, swear your life to mine, and I will release those that you brought with you."
He continued, "Before you decide to tell me where to shove it, I want you to know something. I fully intend to challenge your leader for control of Deathwatch, and once I have the Darksaber in my hands I'll be leading you all to glorious combat against an enemy far greater than your sister could ever be."
Upon hearing that, the Deathwatch second in command didn't even have to think twice. It was her duty as a commander to save her men, and a truly worthy opponent was tempting like nothing else. She knelt before the mighty warrior, and placed a fist against her heart. "I, Bo-Katan Kryze, do swear my life and loyalty to Darth Rache, Lord of the Sith. My body is your body. My blood is your blood. Your enemies are my enemies, and your friends are my friends. May we fight together in glory until the void claims us."
"Rise Bo-katan, and don your helm. As my second in combat, you will be fully equipped whenever we face our enemy. And make no mistake, whenever we are outside my ship or rooms, we are among the enemy."
The woman in question donned her helm and nodded. Her slightly modulated voice came through the speakers clearly, "Yes, my lord."
"Good." Harry smiled. It was time to claim an army.
Note: I've always had a question in my head. If a Sith uses strong emotions and passions to fuel their power, then why is it always rage that drives them. In this story I've started to move towards a Sith that also incorporates feelings like pride, possessiveness, love, and lust. I think it helps to create a more varied and eccentric Sith Lord.