Chapter 9

"I was afraid this would happen. Come on, we need to get you back." Mara said to Nomi.

"Before we go back, think about it. If we go back now, they'll only interrogate us. If we stay out until later, they may be asleep and won't pay us any attention. Then at least we have until tomorrow to come up with an alibi." Nomi said trying to convince Mara it was too early to return.

"Well, that is true. It is a good argument." Mara said with a way to show she really didn't want to leave. "Another drink, then?"

"Sounds like the second best plan you've had all day." Nomi said.

The two were sitting in a corner, at a table in the Cantina. They had been here for two hours and they had no desire to leave. Trouble was awaiting them when they returned to the Palace. They hadn't consumed a lot of alcohol in the time they had been there.

About three hours later after Leia's call, a young man walked up to their table. He was tall, with dark brown hair and eyes to match. Mara could tell that the weight he carried was all muscle. He was dressed rather nice compared to the other men in the bar.

He walked up to the table and sat himself down. "Hello. My name is Jonethen Kenwanna. May I ask what your names are?" He flashed a brilliant white smile.

This had been the eighth guy to try to hit on them. It was Mara's turn to turn someone down. They had been using the same basic lines with every guy, just switching the names around. "My name is Mara and this is my friend Nomi, but she kind of has a boyfriend so my name is the one you should remember."

"Well, it's good to know both your names." He said, to, at least, be polite to Nomi. "Why don't I buy both you ladies a drink?"

"I think I'll pass but thanks for the offer." Nomi said in reply.

"You know, your boyfriend must not be a good one to let you come to a place like this, by yourself," the man said. He was only the second guy who had showed that his main interest was in Nomi.

"Well, he is off planet right now. I think he'd die if he found out that I was here." This was the truth; she didn't think Luke would be too pleased about her being in any bar.

"So it's a secret trip? That sounds like fun."

"Well, it was a little hard getting here, but we made it." Mara said, after being left out of the conversation.

"I'm sure. Nomi, would you mind if I asked you to dance with me?"

"You can ask, but I'm afraid I'd have to refuse you. Being here alone would be pushing my boyfriend's circuits into to overdrive."

"How about you, then Mara? Would you care to dance with me?"

"Sure. I would love to." Mara got up and placed her hand in his. She knew that she was second choice but that was fine at this point. She was already ahead in their contest, six against two. A slow song came on and Jonethen wrapped his arms around Mara. This made her feel a little uncomfortable so she took a small step back, to put distance between the two of them. He, however, countered her move and took a step forward. He had his hands on her hips now.

Nomi was watching, but was noticing that something wasn't right. She stood up and watched twice as close. She slowly made her way toward where the two of them were dancing. Neither had fallen victim of a drunken man tonight, but she knew what to expect. She quickened her pace as his hands began to travel further down Mara's back. She wanted to punch the guy but, this would be Mara's battle and she may not want her interference when she sent this guy to a medical center.

Mara shoved the man away. "And I thought you to be a gentleman. I should've known better." She rolled her eyes and turned and walked away.

Jonethen grabbed her by the arm. "You need to finish the dance."

"Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but I'd let go of my arm if I was you." Mara said with a glare that had a message of its own. He, mistakenly, tightened his grip on her arm. Mara gave him a kick that made him double over in pain as he let go.

"I told you." Mara said with a chuckle. She turned and was walking back to the table. She passed Nomi on her way back.

"Hey! Nobody treats me like that." He reached to his left shoe and pulled out a small blaster. He shot twice.

Nomi reached for Mara's lightsaber before the other had a chance to do the same. She quickly reversed the blaster bolt back to the man. It only stung him in the shoulder. Unfortunately this brought quite a bit of attention to the situation. The sounds of shots and the sight of a lightsaber made the mysterious guests scatter.

"Thanks," Mara said to Nomi and snatched the powered down lightsaber from her. She was grateful for what she had done, but now they had a problem. Now everyone in the bar knew that at least one of them was a Jedi and this tended to make anyone of any species nervous. "Come on." Mara grabbed Nomi's arm and pulled her into the crowd and toward the back door.

They get outside and begin to walk away from the bar at a normal pace. "So, I remember you said that you had some training but that was pretty good."

"It's been Jacen's doings. He has been teaching me a lot. It's kind of funny how serious he takes it though. I mean I understand, the Force isn't anything to joke about because it is important. It's just for a small child to be so dedicated to something. You just don't see it often." Nomi said.

Mara could tell the two had more to drink than they should have; just by the way they were walking. "Yeah, he is serious about meditation. On another note, what do you think the odds are of us getting back into the Palace unnoticed?"

Nomi laughed, "I don't know. To bad Threepio isn't here, he'd know. Wow, a first time the droid would've been more useful than a pain."

"I have to agree he is more obnoxious than helpful. So what is it we are going to tell Leia tomorrow when she asks where you were?"

Nomi hiccupped, "Well, I believe the truth is not the best idea. Any where will be in violation of the house arrest they put me on. I don't know the Palace as well as you do, pick some place."

"Tell her you were in one of the garden rooms near the top and that you got a little lost and didn't know that the children had come to see you or you would've called. Oh, and keep your guard up, other wise she'll be able to tell you were lying."

"Mara, what time is it?"

"Um, it's about half way to the forth hour? Why?"

"I'm just trying to figure out how long it will take for the hangover, I'm going to have in the morning, to go away."

Mara laughed but knew that what she said was true. They walked into the Palace doors and there were few staff about and a security guard. Nomi wanted to tense but decided to not pay him any attention and maybe he would do the same to her.

It worked. They made it to the repulsor lift without an incident.

"I think it's safe to say the Force was with us." Nomi said.

"Twelfth level?" Mara asked Nomi.

"Yeah, that's the one. Would you rather stay down here instead of going up there and facing Leia? You could sleep on, well, there is a couch."

"No, I'll take my chances upstairs." The door slid open and Nomi walked out. "Good night Nomi." Mara said.

"Good night Mara, and May the Force be with you." Nomi chuckled as she made her way down the corridor. She was surprised when she was able to find the pad lock to the apartment.

Nomi walked in and wanted to fall asleep right there on the floor. Instead, though, she went to the hallway closet to retrieve her night clothes. She walked to the refresher unit and took a shower. It felt good to Nomi for the water to beat against her back. It also woke her up a bit, but not quite enough.

Nomi got dressed and decided to put and end to the long day. She went and lay down in the bed and closed her eyes.

She had had the dream every night since she'd been here. She'd roll over and Luke would be lying next to her, asleep. She would sweep his blonde hair from out of his eyes and roll back over. Then he would put this arm around her waist and draw her closer. It had been the same dream and always in that pattern. Tonight, however, was different. This time instead of putting his arm around her he mumbled something.

Nomi thought how strange it was that the dream had changed so abruptly. It was then that she realized that she was not asleep at all. She was at first in shock of him being there. She rolled over to face him.

"Luke. Luke? Luke, wake up," she whispered.

"What? Nomi? What are you...? Why are we...? I think I might have missed something," Luke said with the exhaustion clear in his voice. "I think I better go get dressed."

"Wait! What are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming back so soon," Nomi said.

"This is my apartment, I live here. I wanted to surprise everyone at breakfast. Now, tell me what you're doing here." Luke said leaning against the headboard of the bed. Only now did he notice that Nomi was dressed in a very tempting night gown.

"It got way too crowded up stairs. You said I could stay down here."

"I'm sorry, I guess I forgot." Luke closed his eyes for a moment. "What time is it? I came in at the third hour. Where were you?"

"I was, well. I was kind of out."

"Out? Where? And should I even begin to ask with whom?"

"It was only Mara and me. We went to this little bar that she knew about. But please don't tell Leia. She'd go crazy."

"Why? She wouldn't have even known if you were here unless she tried to call or come by."

"Well..."

"That doesn't sound good. What did you do?"

"Luke, it was really stupid. I sat in one of the x-wings and the security got angry with me. I was kind of confined to quarters. Mara and I snuck out." I had the perfect lie to use. How in the world did he get me to tell him the truth?

"You did all that today? You must be tired." Luke said sarcastically.

"Yeah and a little dizzy," Nomi said as she lay back down. "I'll go sleep on the couch if you want me to."

"I don't think you'd make it there. It's okay." Luke could tell she was going to need to be in the room closest to the refresher unit. "I'll go."

"Wait, Luke. Stay." It was more of a question than a statement.

"I thought you said that wasn't a good idea?"

"Please?"

"You really want me to stay?"

"Yes, Luke. I don't want you to leave. I said it, now please?"

"Okay." Luke worked his way back under the covers.

He turned to look at Nomi. She was already asleep. So much for finding out what it was that we needed to talk about. He reached over and turned the light off and rolled, facing the opposite of Nomi.