So I missed an update... Yeah. In my defense I was really busy. Actually, I had this chapter written but not edited so, I was reluctant to post it. But we're back on schedule again, I swear.
DISCLAIMER: George owns Star Wars, Rowling owns Potter, and I own this AU.
Chapter Twenty-one
"Anything new on the Tatooine front?" Luke asked, leaning against the plotting table and looking over Leia's shoulder.
The Princess sighed. "No, but there has been a fleet shift in other systems."
"What does that mean for us?"
"That chances are good that they'll leave the Tatoo system," Leia looked up at him with a grim smile. "But it also means they're doing something that requires a lot of troops and security."
"What could they be planning?" Luke wondered aloud.
"It can't be good," Leia sighed. "Mon Mothma already has a legion of Spies infiltrating the Empire at different levels."
"Then we'll figure it out," he nodded. "Any word from Lando yet?"
"He commed me this morning," she said. "We have confirmation of Han being in the Palace. That sick Hutt kept him in Carbonite."
"Why?" Luke asked and Leia flinched.
"Lando says Jabba's got him hooked up to the wall like a piece of art."
Luke huffed out an angry stream of air. "Well, at least Jabba hasn't tossed him into the Rancor Pit."
"He has a Rancor Pit?" Leia asked, flabbergasted. He nodded weakly. "I thought that was rumor..."
"Most of the Hutt rumors aren't, but some are," Luke shrugged. "I've overheard Bounty-Hunters in Anchorhead talk about it."
"Wow," Leia shook her head.
"We'll get him," Luke said firmly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Lando will infiltrate the palace, and when the Imperial Presence dissipate, we'll go to Tatooine straight away and figure out the next plan of attack."
"I know, Luke," she nodded against his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and leaned his cheek against it. They stayed like that for awhile before Luke's comm link buzzed. He glanced down at the caller identification and grinned.
"Hey, Red," he said into it. Leia winked at him and headed over towards the computer in the corner to give him some privacy.
"Luke, there seems to be some sort of issue with my X-Wing and the part I need is stuck in the supply room," she said.
"I'll be there in a second," he said before closing the connection and waving good bye to Leia before jogging out of the room. He followed the corridor towards the hangar but veered off to the secluded location of the supply room. He opened the door to the dark and tried to adjust his eye to the sudden lack of light. He could feel that Mara was in the room, but she was shielding her presence some and he couldn't discern as to where in the room she was.
"Mara?" he called out hesitantly. Suddenly, he felt her presence flare up right in front of him, the same moment he felt her lips and body press themselves to him. He was caught off guard for a second before he responded, clutching at her waist and pulling her to him while also running his fingers through her hair.
She groaned at the pleasure he caused by simply playing with her hair. She pushed him up against the door and stood on her tip-toes to make them on more even ground.
She pulled back, panting for breath.
"Wow," Luke said, his breath just as ragged. "What a welcome."
"I thought you'd like it," she teased.
"Did you really have trouble finding a part for your X-Wing or did you just want to see me?"
"See you," she grinned.
"Well hello there," he said playfully. She kissed him again, this time slower and softer. It didn't have the heated passion of the last one.
"You should come over tonight," he said as they pulled back for air again. She raised an eyebrow.
"And what do you plan for us to be doing on this sudden nocturnal date?"
"You know," he shrugged. "I figured I kiss you, woo you some more."
"The perfect gentleman," she laughed and kissed him again.
"But really," he said in between kisses. "You should come over."
"Alright," she said. "It's a deal then."
"Good," he agreed and kissed her again. He held his hands at her waist and pressed her closer to him. She clutched at his neck and held his lips to hers.
All too soon, they broke for air again.
"I don't think we can hide out here too much longer," Luke sighed.
"Why not?" she pouted.
"Because it's 1400 hours and we both have jobs to attend to," he said. "But I'll see you tonight."
"Fine," she sighed and extracted herself from Luke's grip. "I'll come by at 2000."
"I'll see you then," he grinned and kissed her one last time. She slipped out of the room and Luke waited another five minutes before following her out.
He followed the halls back towards the hangar to tinker with his temporary X-Wing. He missed his old ship with all the modifications he'd already made. Increased Fire Power, a more advanced shield generator, Class 2 Hyper drive, and a better computer targeting system.
He ran his hand along the hull of the old fighter and sighed. He wondered when they'd be able to return to Bespin and pick it up. He had promised Yoda that he'd return to complete his training, and he couldn't very well risk crashing the loaned ship like he had his own ship.
"Reminiscing about your ship?" a voice asked and Luke turned and saw Wedge leaning against the landing gear wearing a smirk.
"Don't you know it," Luke laughed. He sighed and glanced back at the borrowed X-Wing. "She just doesn't feel the same, you know?"
"No two ships are alike, despite what the Empire will lead you to believe about it's TIE's," Wedge said. "So how was your little visit with Jade?"
"Does every conversation we have now really have to revolve around her?" Luke asked, slightly annoyed.
"No, but seeing as how you're one of a handful of people getting some on the base..." Wedge trailed off with a shrug.
"I'm not getting any," Luke said automatically before cringing as he realized what he'd said.
"What? How can you be dating that and not tapping that?"
"She's better than that, Wedge," Luke scolded. He gave his right hand man a dark look before turning back to the ship and inspecting the engine. "We're going our own pace."
"Please tell me you at least plan to sleep with her?" Wedge asked with a more apologetic tone. Luke sighed and leaned his head down, closing his eyes. How did he phrase this?
"Yes, okay," Luke said. "I want, and I'm pretty sure she wants to as well. Like I said, we're going our own pace. When it happens, it happens."
"Luke, this isn't something that is just an accident," Wedge said with a smirk. "And it's dorky if you plan things out too like two lovestruck teenagers."
"I planned things out my first time and things went fine," Luke shrugged, twisting his arm into the engine to maneuver the Hydrospanner past various wires.
"Really?" Wedge asked, a tone of surprise touching his voice.
Luke looked up and gave him a curious look. "Why is that so hard to believe? Are you more surprised that I planned something like that or that I've actually slept with someone?"
"I don't know," Wedge scratched the back of his head. "I guess I never assumed that you hadn't slept with someone but since you'd never mentioned anyone, I think I also never assumed that you had."
"Well I have," Luke said into his engine. "We didn't make a big deal about it since she was seeing someone on and off again. I never really told anyone. It wasn't important I guess."
"Who was she?"
"Camie Loneozner," he said simply. "An old crush on Tatooine."
"Wow," Wedge nodded, absorbing the information. "Does Mara know about her?"
"Why?" Luke asked and furrowed his brow. "That happened like five years ago, and last I heard she married the on and off again boyfriend. They were super happy together. They run a bunch of Moisture Farms for TaggeCo."
"It may not seem important, but women will flip over the most inconsequential detail," Wedge shrugged. "You better tell her first before she finds out from someone else."
"Who would tell her? The only other one from our group who joined the Alliance was Biggs," Luke stated. "And no one else knew unless she told Fixer or Tank."
"What in the nine hells kind of name is Fixer and Tank?" Wedge laughed.
"They were nicknames, Hotshot," Luke rolled his eyes. "And I really don't see the point. It was only a crush I had on her for awhile, and she just told me to meet her behind Tosche Station to go back to her place and get her mind off a fight with Fixer."
"That's hardly planning," Wedge remarked.
"Well as it turns out I had to reschedule for a day later because Uncle Owen needed me. So I did plan things," Luke said, then sat up fully and looked off to the side in thought. "Why are we even talking about this again?"
"Because I have a weakness for good gossip," Wedge shrugged. Luke threw him a dirty look before tossing the Hydrospanner back in the tool box and wiping his hands on a rag.
"Look, I've got things to do, Wedge," he said. "I really don't have time to go over my history with you right now. I'm meeting Mara later and I need to shower."
Wedge burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Just the fact you bring up meeting Mara after our conversation," Wedge chuckled. Luke rolled his eyes.
"Grow up. I'm three years younger than you and I'm more mature," he grinned.
"Whatever you say, Man," Wedge patted Luke's shoulder. "Just don't forget about telling Mara about Camila or whoever."
"Camie, and I will," Luke grinned. Wedge nodded and headed out of the hanger leaving Luke to his thoughts. He crawled up the ladder to the cockpit of the ship and sat down with his thoughts. He didn't really think that Camie mattered really at this point since the last time he saw her was the last time Biggs was on Tatooine. Just a day or so before his aunt and uncle were murdered. He tipped his head back and looked up at the durasteel roof of the hangar bay.
"Surprise!"
Luke jumped and snapped his head to the red head grinning madly at him from the ladder of the X-Wing.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked with a smile. Mara shrugged.
"I got out of duty early, figured I'd see how the great Commander Skywalker was fairing," she said.
"I'm fairing better now," he smiled and kissed her. She leaned further into the ship and pulled his neck closer to her.
He moaned slightly and pulled back with a wide grin. "Much better now."
She smirked. "Wanna duck out of here early?"
"Can we do that?" he asked.
"We can do whatever we want," she said. "And personally, I kinda want to be with you for a few extra hours."
"Sounds alright to me," he agreed. He stood up and Mara slid down the ladder, making room for him to exit the ship. Luke threw his arm around her shoulders the second his feet touched the hangar floor and she wrapped her arm around his waist.
"To your quarters?" she asked and Luke grinned.
"Sounds like a plan," he nodded and the two walked out of the hangar bay.
Completely random and in no way connected to our lovely Galaxy Far Away, but Harry Potter 7 Part 2 was amazing. I saw the midnight showing and it was well worth it. It was fun. I'm sad it's over, but it was a fantastic ending. I've read the books, and they did a great job translating it to screen.
Back to Star Wars. Things are lining up here and there and eventually we'll get to Tatooine. I'm thinking a few more chapters. They still have to pick up there ships on Bespin.
Review!