Herding Nexu

By Andrew J Talon

10 ABY, Yavin IV

This is a sequel to A New Hope Will Emerge, set after the original Thrawn Trilogy, and right after Grogu goes off with the Mandalorian. It's a strange mesh of canons, but it's been working pretty well so far.

Luke knew Yavin IV could get very hot, and with the humidity? It could be nightmarish. So he'd made sure to install a decent air cooling unit in his quarters. Oh, he was going to add a central unit for all the rooms, but until more people came? He wasn't going to expend any more money than he had to.

He had been raised as a moisture farmer on Tatooine, after all. You held onto your credits like you did your moisture. He didn't know if charity was a Jedi trait, but he figured as long as he didn't have a pressing need to buy something, he was doing okay.

So he was nearly to sleep, relaxing in his bunk, enjoying the climate control... When his door opened. He sat up.

"Aphra?" He murmured.

"It's too kriffing hot," Aphra groaned. Luke flushed a bit. He was far from the blushing, virgin farmboy when he first met Aphra, but... Well... Her in nothing but shorts and a sports bra?

Yeah, that was definitely hot.

"And you're the only one with climate control," Aphra stated, walking in as the hatch closed behind her. Luke sighed, and made to get out of the bed.

"All right, I'll let you-"

Aphra pushed a hand against his chest, and smirked.

"Nope... You're staying right here~," Aphra said cheerfully, jumping in and cuddling up, "now go to sleep, Luke. I want my cuddle bug."

Luke sighed, and leaned back with the sexy archaeologist. He tried to imagine his Aunt Beru's underwear.

Okay, that helped... A little...

Then...

The door opened again. Luke looked up. Mara Jade, in just as heart stopping-ly brief an outfit as Aphra, stepped in.

"Okay Farmboy, no more hording your climate... control..." Her green eyes narrowed.

"Am I interrupting something?" She hissed. Aphra looked up and beamed.

"Wanna join in?" She asked.

"What," Luke and Mara managed. Aphra beamed.

"Look: Either you go and suffer in the heat and humidity, orrr... You join me and cuddle up with the hunky Jedi Master," Aphra said, "I mean, you could make a big noise about it and act like you hate it... Or... You can just join us. Like it's no big deal."

"Of... Of course," Luke muttered.

"It-It's no big deal!" Mara growled. "I just don't want to deal with your poodoo!"

"Then if it's no big deal, just join us," Aphra said.

Luke blinked. He had worked things out. There's no way Mara would go for it. Sure, he had some hints she might feel something... More for him, but... She wouldn't fall for that kind of insane, twisted logic-

"Fine," Mara muttered, "scoot over."

... Okay, so she would.

She took Luke's other side, and cuddled up.

"Uh, Mara?" Luke asked.

"Just shut up," Mara muttered, "I just want to sleep, Farmboy. I'm not remotely attracted to you."

"Strangely specific denial," Luke sighed. He held her and pulled her tight. She didn't object.

Neither did Aphra, but... She never did.

The door opened once more. Ahsoka looked in, in her own skimpy clothing.

"Luke, I... Ah," she smirked, "I see you're occupied."

"Room for more~!" Aphra cheered.

"Shut up, Aphra," Mara groaned, "no more. Go stay in your ship!"

"That uses up fuel!" Ahsoka complained.

Luke was keeping his eyes shut. There was way too much distracting stuff to see.

"Okay," Aphra said, "I know how to decide this: Tickle fight! You win, you get to sleep with Luke!"

"You'll lose. Instantly," Mara stated.

"That all depends on your definition of losing!" Aphra chirped.

"That's it," Luke sighed, "I'm sleeping in the ship."

Meanwhile, in the Idiot's Array, the freighter that Mara had used to rescue him with, Rotta was hard at work in the engine bay. The hyperdrive was threatening to overheat. The air was wavering from the heat leaving the engine, joining the extreme humidity.

Well... For humanoids. Rotta didn't know what they were complaining about...

Things were just fine for him.

Because I've gotta be me.