A/N: Love to Last Awhile. Lyri and Obi-Wan try to fill each other up with enough love to last a little while as he plans for departure and battle in assistance of his former padawan out in the Mid Rim. Meanwhile, Lyri begins formulating her own plan to assist the growing number of refugees arriving on Coruscant.
Disclaimer: All characters, locations, and arcs belong to George Lucas and Disney with the exception of my originals. Just flitting through the Galaxy for awhile.
**Solidly Mature Rating, but plenty of story between the love scenes as well.
***This chapter has been edited to some degree, but the storyline is still the same.
Feral Moon: Coruscant
Chapter 8
Sometime much later that same night, Lyri awoke to Obi-Wan kissing and nuzzling her neck and the shoulder not pressed into the mattress and gently caressing her breasts. As his hand trailed down to her abdomen he pressed her more tightly against him and just breathed in her scent for awhile. "Obi?" she whispered. "Yes, my sweet girl," came the murmured reply. "What time is it?" she managed in a sleepy whisper.
"Probably around 2300 hours. Why, little flower; have you someplace to be?" he chuckled softly.
Running her fingertips lightly over his forearm as it wrapped around her, she giggled softly. "No, I think I'll stay awhile."
"Good decision. It is a long while until dawn and I have not yet had the chance to show my appreciation for your marvelous massage. My plans for doing so may take awhile." A warm shiver ran through her body and she couldn't help smiling. "You don't have to pay me back for caring for you, Obi. It makes me happy. I love you."
Propping himself up on one elbow, he turned her over to face him. Even in the dim light the intense feeling in his deep indigo eyes left her breathless. "That, my darling sweet girl, is all the more reason." Leaning down he tangled his free hand into her hair and caught her in a slow, sensual kiss, his tongue gliding lazily around hers. Pulling back, he smiled as the flame slowly intensified in her sleepy hazel eyes, beginning to bring out a subtle green. Ah yes; he would definitely tuck this picture away in his heart. She traced the little smile on his lips softly with her fingertips and lovingly smoothed his ginger beard. "You are so exquisitely beautiful," he murmured.
Leaving a slow path of kisses over her jawline and down her neck, he stopped with his lips lightly touching the spot where he could feel her pulse. The scent of lavinderium still clung to her, mingled with her own scent for an essence that belonged only to her. Gradually retracing his path with kisses and tiny flicks of his tongue, he finally reached a spot just in the slight hollow behind her earlobe where he kissed and caressed with his tongue until he heard the soft whimper he was waiting for. He whispered warmly into her ear. "I enjoy bringing you pleasure for all the same reasons sweetheart."
A sweet feminine sigh escaped her lips as she wound her arms around him and ran her fingers through his soft russet locks. "My love," she whispered. He raised his head and she was lost in his eyes. This night they brought forth the long-forgotten memory of a moonlit sea she had visited as a child. She could almost taste the salt in the air. As she parted her lips slightly he caught her in a soft kiss before moving down to her neck and then to a spot just between her breasts. Glancing up at her and smiling, he began placing wet kisses on each breast, finally moving to suckle and tease her nipples. A fluttering warmth ran straight to her center as she arched into his touch. She began to throb with need and couldn't help the little kittling sounds he brought forth from her. He chuckled softly as he moved down to kiss her navel.
As his pathway led to her inner thighs she began to quiver. His beard tickling the delicate skin there sent more heat through her body in anticipation of what was to come. Bending her knees slightly, he eased her legs further apart. The first touch of his calloused fingers along her crease caused her to moan softly. Glancing up again he threw her a rakish grin and gently parted her. As he slid his tongue the length of her folds a few times he heard her gasp and he smiled inwardly. The first touch of his tongue on her sensitive little nub caused her to buck and she thought she heard a muffled chuckle. As his skilled tongue began swirling and flicking over that most sensitive part of her, she started to squirm uncontrollably. "Oh stars, Obi," she breathed out on a shuddering sigh. His answer was to push his tongue into her opening to lap the sweet juices there at the source and redouble his ministrations. She began to writhe and succumb to shallow bucking as he continued. Oh stars, she was so close!
Sensing how close she was, but not willing to give in just yet, he backed off and took time to breathe a little between slow flicks to her center to keep her need alight. Force, how he loved bringing pleasure to this woman! The tang of her scent filled his nostrils as he continued once more. When he felt her breathing become desperately ragged she gasped out his name a couple of times in what he knew was her pleading for release. "My pleasure, sweetheart," he murmured as he shifted his head to the side slightly and carefully slid a finger inside her slick opening. He pumped slowly a few times as he lightly flicked his tongue and pulled back just enough to add a second finger. Curling his fingers slightly, he sought her sweet spot and repeatedly slid his fingertips over it until she gasped deeply and began shuddering around them. She came hard, quivering and gasping his name.
"Oh stars, dear stars!" was her last coherent thought before feeling as though she had become one of those heavenly bodies in a state of supernova. "Oh...oh…Obi," she gasped and moaned deeply, her whole body alight and shuddering. She could vaguely sense him watching her. It was a long time before she could catch her breath again.
Leaving his fingers inside her until he could feel the last dying pulses of her orgasm, he leaned down and kissed her delicate pink folds as he gently slid them out. Moving back up he laid his head on her chest and just listened to the gentle cadence of her heart as they drifted awhile.
Stroking his hair gently, smoothing the soft locks back from his forehead, she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out again. "We need to make this night last awhile, don't we, Obi?" She heard him sigh softly. After a moment he angled his head to look into her eyes. "It does look that way, sweetheart." She could see the hint of regret entering his eyes. Moving her hand down to lightly cup his cheek, she shook her head slightly. "No regrets my love; let's just make some memories to hold us."
"You have no idea what an amazing inner strength you have, Lyri."
"It isn't that I don't feel the separation keenly, Obi-Wan. When I realized how deep my feelings for you were I took a good look at what that meant in light of you being a Jedi and I realized something. I don't love you despite you being a Jedi. I love you because of everything you are, including that and that means an acceptance of certain things. I think, because of that...our time together is more precious." She glanced down and ran her hand lightly over his where it rested on her chest. When she looked back up the intensity of feeling in his deep blue eyes seemed to reach into her very soul. Her heart fluttered and a deep warmth seemed to flow through her.
"I need…" Obi-Wan began softly, moving up to lie beside her. Lyri placed her fingers tenderly over his lips. "I know my love. I need to become a part of you, too." Moving her hand to cup his cheek, she leaned in to brush a kiss over his lips. As he moved his hand up to tangle in the hair at the nape of her neck, he deepened the kiss, his breath mingling warmly with hers. Pulling back from the kiss he moved over her and nudged her legs apart to settle between them. They nuzzled and nipped softly, finding the spots most sensitive to each of them until they were heated with the undeniable warmth of desire. He loved the salty tang on her honeyed skin. They had both heated so quickly they were almost desperate to come together. Reaching down to finger her wet folds, Obi-Wan groaned softly. When he felt her hand encircle him and heard the soft feminine pleading sound that escaped her, he slid into her and hesitated only a moment while she adjusted. He started off slowly but soon gave into her urging as she rocked against him. He kissed her again and rested on his elbows so he could watch her. As the green in her eyes deepened he was caught in some timeless place where there was only her and their endless pleasure. Riding its wave, they soon crested and fell into a pulsing wash of release. Obi-Wan groaned deeply as she gasped his name while she shuddered and clenched around him and his manhood pulsed with release. He relaxed his weight onto her for a short time before rolling with her as he held her tightly against him. Neither wanted to break the intimate contact. They drifted in that manner for a long while before he gently pulled out. As he had come to expect, there was a soft whimper from her at the loss. "It is alright," he whispered as he cradled her. She curled into his chest and soon fell asleep to the steady rhythm of his heart.
As the pale moonlight drifted slowly across the peaceful blue walls of Obi-Wan's room, the soft shimmer of the Force nestled around the sleeping couple blanketing them with a gentle warmth. Far away from here on distant worlds there were terrible battles raging; but here in this room, for this short space of time, there was only peace.
Awakening with the first hint of coming daylight, Obi-Wan breathed in deeply, savoring Lyri's scent still laced with hints of lavinderium and the subtle scent of their lovemaking from the previous night. He enjoyed the weight and warmth of her for a few more minutes before carefully extricating himself from their tangled embrace and pulling the blanket over her so she could sleep a while longer. As soon as he had showered and quietly donned fresh tunics, he stood by the bed for a moment watching Lyri's peaceful form as he reached for a small datapad on the nightstand. Leaving a short note, he propped it up where she would notice it and left the room.
Entering the cheerfully lit kitchen, he picked up the cup of tea he'd left steeping and took a sip before punching in the frequency for Yoda's comlink. After alerting the elder Master to the possibility of the need for an emergency Council meeting later that morning, he finished his tea and rinsed his cup. His mind was already ticking off a list of what he needed to accomplish in the early part of the day. Though he had not been to the war room yet, he had little doubt what the answer would be to his query about Anakin. Due to the thin remaining thread of their bond and a general feeling that went bone deep, he knew his former padawan was in trouble.
Checking his chrono, he decided he had time to go to one of his favorite meditation spots to center himself and reach for complete calm before tackling the day's tasks. As he felt the shaft of sunlight coming through the window warming his shoulders and began sinking to a deeper level, he again saw the familiar butterfly glimmer he now knew to be Lyri. This time she seemed more at ease and reached out to him tentatively. When he reached back to reassure her she seemed to brighten before she flitted away. Again intrigued, he made a mental note to ask her about it, thinking he may be able to work with her so they could meditate together the way he and Qui-Gon had once done. Anakin had always been too impatient to really try. He smiled to himself as he sank into his calm center.
Upon waking, Lyri stretched to limber her muscles and glanced at the nightstand. Spying the little datapad propped against the lamp she turned it on. "Good morning sweetheart. Didn't want to wake you; meditating. Meet me for first-meal? Obi-Wan." She smiled as she shut it off. Looking at the bedside standup chrono, she decided she too had time for a light meditation before showering. As she did so she reached out to try to touch Obi-Wan as she had once before. She found the familiar blaze of his warm, bright light in the Force easily. This time she wasn't startled when he reached for her and her heart fluttered with happiness when he caressed her mind before she came back to herself. As she settled into her meditation she felt a sense of wonder that their minds and spirits could touch in such a way.
Taking a seat at the corner table they preferred in the cafeteria, Obi-Wan waited for Lyri to arrive. He didn't have long to wait till she stood in the entryway. The tunic and leggings she wore today were a deep yellow gold with brown accents. The color reminded him of the turning of deciduous leaves at the autumnal seasons of many planets and brought a warm glow to her pale honey complexion. Her hair was pulled back with a brown and gold clip. Her face lit up when she saw him and started over to the table. He noticed the heads of several male beings swivel to glance at her appreciatively for a moment.
"I seem to have had a visitor during my meditation this morning," he said, cocking an eyebrow at her. She blushed and looked down for a moment. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Obi." He squeezed her hand under the table. "Not to worry Lyri. It just intrigued me. I think, perhaps later on when there is time, we might be able to try meditating together. It is quite beneficial in certain instances. I used to do that with Qui-Gon at times." She smiled shyly. "I think I would like to try that, Obi." Giving her hand another little squeeze, he said, "Very good. Now let us have first-meal and be on about our day. I daresay yours will be as busy as mine." Lyri stood and smiled at him. Looking over her shoulder as she turned, she said, "In that case, I sure hope they have pancakes!" He couldn't help but chuckle.
As he approached the war room, Obi-Wan released his emotions and calmed himself. It was important he pay attention to every detail of the mission for securing Katasi-9. He needed a clear mind to focus on the situation and present his findings to the Council. He slipped into the role of general as soon as he crossed the threshold and did a quick check of the various campaigns going on throughout the galaxy. Satisfied things were progressing well on most fronts; he turned his attention to Senior Padawan Daen for a report on the mission to Katasi-9 and any news he might have regarding Anakin. The young man was listening intently to something at the communication console dedicated to the Katasi mission. As he saw Obi-Wan approaching a look of sheer relief washed over his face. "Yes, Commander Skywalker, the General is headed this way. I will be glad to hand over communications to him and return to holocartography. I will be sure to get him those specs and locations you wanted. Over and out." Standing up and dipping his head in a slight bow, he handed the communications headset to Obi-Wan. "The Commander is waiting to talk to you, sir."
"Thank you Padawan; I will confer with you in a little while." The young man bowed again before walking away.
"Master...General...I'm happy to hear your voice!" Obi-Wan knew Anakin was under stress by his momentary lapse into their former relationship. "It is good to hear from you, too Commander. Can you bring me up to date on your situation?"
Anakin sighed. "Things started out well enough though we were surprised by the number of forces amassing. It wasn't something I hadn't handled before at that point, though, so we started formulating a plan. I sent out two fighters to act as scouts and just cautioned them to remain covert. We all agreed surprise was our biggest asset at this point."
"The two scouts commed us with their observations after about six hours. Things were quiet and routine as far as they could tell with the station itself. But they also had to avoid Sep fighter patrols in the area. I went in to watch the patrol pattern myself for a couple more hours and we all returned to the transport on the far side of the planetoid to work out a strategy. We loaded up what we needed in the way of some weapons for the station personnel and I had appointed a few of my best men for training civilian personnel to accompany me. Guys that can deal with the fears and flightiness of non-military beings and get them more or less proficient in close range combat and survival skills in a short time. Anyway, we were going in with this small contingent when the patrol pattern suddenly changed and we were face to face with the Sep fighters. We managed to engage and take three of them out, but they got one of ours in the process. Unfortunately, they had the chance to radio in. We found ourselves in a race to try to dock with the station and get inside. We pinpointed more fighters bearing down in the distance. Funny thing is, once we docked the fighters veered off, They wouldn't shoot too close to the station even before we docked."
Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "Ah...they want to take the station intact for their own use."
"My thoughts exactly, General. But there's more." Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows though his former padawan couldn't see him. Anakin cleared his throat. "A couple of our fighters have been sent out in shifts to observe the activity on the far side of that little cluster of planets just off the Durkteel Loop. Several more ships have amassed there since we first started keeping track. I hate saying it, but there is no way the handful of troops with me can handle this now. Another thing...we were led to believe the relay station had minimal long range weaponry. As it turns out, it has none. We obviously were given…" "Faulty intelligence," Obi-Wan finished with a sigh. "Not good. This is beginning to become a pattern."
"My thoughts, too, General. It's something we need to look into."
"Yes, well...first we need to secure that station and make certain the Confederation is not up to more mischief we are unaware of in that system. I took the liberty of making sure to have enough resources on standby yesterday. I shall inform the Council of the situation immediately and make sure you have reinforcements. Oh and...I shall be accompanying them myself."
"I was sure you would, General. See you amid the blaster fire. Over and out."
Was that a hint of relief he heard in his old padawan's voice? A tiny smile flickered over his lips. "Padawan Daen; I need your help in coordinating a battle plan," he said in a no-nonsense tone. The young man looked so startled; Obi-Wan had to suppress a slight chuckle. "Not to worry young one; I would not ask if I didn't think you were up to the task."
While Obi-Wan addressed the Katasi-9 situation in the war room, Lyri began her day in the Halls of Healing. Since she had breezed through most of her classes, she was down to only two or three a week now which allowed her more time for the Infirmary. As she accompanied Bant on morning rounds, she asked if her Mon Calamari friend and mentor had some time to talk to her when there was a bit of a lull later in the day. Seeing the barely banked excitement in the young woman's eyes, Bant was intrigued. "Of course, sweetie, I always have time for you."
Bant had been working with Lyri to hone her healing abilities and they had found she had a remarkably strong talent in that area. Bant was very pleased. It was almost like having another padawan in a way. Her own former padawan had been whisked away by need in the Jedi healing center on a medical frigate. This war effort just seemed to be pulling so many promising young knights into it. Noticing the faraway look in Bant's large silver eyes, Lyri laid a hand gently on her arm to bring her back.
The adult patients seemed to look forward to Lyri's and Tika's visits almost as much as the younglings now. They had become a welcome addition to the Infirmary and Bant found herself wondering what she had done without them. Lyri's extra time with young Rollin along with Obi-Wan's visit and Tika's steady presence seemed to already be bringing him the tiniest bit out of the shell he had built around himself. Bant knew she would never have had the extra time to devote to him. Lyri was probably the perfect person to reach him, having endured such devastating losses of her own. Bant found satisfaction in Lyri's ability to help those she couldn't. It seemed to lift a little bit of the burden from her shoulders.
When the time for midday meal rolled around, Lyri got a summons from Bant to join her in her office. Lyri had a small workspace in the office, too, but she still knocked politely before entering. She knew that Bant occasionally did patient consults there and did not want to intrude. When Bant called her in she smiled at the assortment of food cartons on the desk. "I figured we could kill two avians with one stone," the senior healer grinned.
"I'm glad you had that thought, Bant. I'm famished today!" When they had each filled a disposable plate and sampled a few bites, Bant looked at Lyri expectantly. Lyri dabbed her mouth with a napkin and cleared her throat. "I have two things to tell you about, Bant. One is a problem that Obi-Wan and I became aware of, that even Yoda hadn't known about. The other is, hopefully, a solution to that problem." Bant, who was still chewing on a delicacy from Coruscant's Mon Calamari Fish Market, nodded at Lyri to continue.
When Lyri explained to her what the situation was with the refugees pouring into the lower mid-levels, she registered the immediate shock on her face with a widening of her eyes and minute paling of her salmon skin.
"But...the Jedi helped set up clinics on those levels almost a hundred years ago at the request of the sitting Chancellor. It's in the Archives. They even went out to some of the worlds known for their medical universities and oversaw the setup of recruiting offices with programs approved by the Senate to help finance a student's tuition in exchange for working at the clinics for a couple of years. Now you're telling me there is no medical care at all on those levels?"
"Sadly, no Bant. Obi-Wan's friend, Dex, alerted us to the problem first. A rumor is going around on those levels that it was the Jedi who swept in and took all the healers for the war effort. Many of those beings don't realize the Jedi weren't even aware of what had happened. Master Yoda was very upset when he learned of the loss of the clinics. The really upsetting thing to me is that it seems the only healers not drafted for the war are those catering to the wealthy on the uppermost levels."
Bant sat back and stared at the soft aqua walls of her office. Her large eyes shimmered as she blinked a few times to keep from shedding tears. Lyri reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry Bant. I didn't mean to spoil your midday-meal."
"Perhaps you should tell me about the solution you were thinking of, sweetie. I would like to feel there is something positive to counteract such sad news."
Lyri took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay, here goes Bant. Obi-Wan and I met with Yoda to tell him the situation. I told him I felt very strongly about opening a clinic for the refugees. The Republic can't sweep through and take me away for the war effort because I am under the protection of the Temple and the Jedi Knights. The Order, however, doesn't have the resources to help out with medical equipment and supplies or any extra personnel. Yoda told me he approved of what I want to do. He just wants me to come up with a plan of action for setting up the clinic, how and where I am going to get financial backing for it, a proposed location, how it will be staffed, etc. Once I have a solid plan I am to bring it to him so he can bring up a proposal for the clinic in Council. He and Obi-Wan both feel I am capable of doing this and will back me. They just need something solid to present to the Council."
Bant stared at the young woman for a long moment. "This is going to be a huge undertaking, sweetie."
"I know, Bant, but I know I can do this. I would still work here as well, of course. I thought I could start off opening the clinic just one day of the week and see how things transpire from there. I'm really hoping for your input and advice, Bant. It would help me immensely in formulating my plan."
Bant studied her for a moment. "You know, if it were anyone else I might hesitate in encouraging them. But...you have already done the impossible by just surviving. I may be busy and overwhelmed in the Infirmary, but I can always find a little time for you and such a necessary and worthwhile endeavor. It's still hard for me to believe the Chancellor let this situation happen."
"Thank you so much, Bant! If you get a moment in the next day or so, could you jot down all the basic equipment and supplies I would need in order to open? I will try to locate a place. I think Obi-Wan's friend might be able to help me with that. That should give me an idea of the start-up cost."
"I would be happy to do that for you, sweetie. It is the least I can do. I sincerely wish I was in a position to do more."
"I know, Bant. But that much would be a huge help. You have so much on your shoulders already." She reached across and squeezed her friend's hand again. "Next time we have lunch I hope to have happier news," she said softly.
As Obi-Wan wrapped up his briefing of the Council on the deteriorating situation with the mission to secure Katasi-9; he waited patiently for them to discuss and approve his contingency plan and offer any suggestions they might have before concluding. They all seemed surprised and somewhat alarmed at the growing concentration of Confederation forces in the Durkteel system. "Why were we not kept up to date with accurate intelligence for this potential situation?" asked Ki-Adi-Mundi. "It is also disturbing that they now seem to want to acquire the station rather than destroy it as we had first thought. That and the amassing of forces suggest a potential offensive," crackled the holographic image of Plo Koon. "My thoughts exactly," agreed Obi-Wan.
Since all of the other senior Knights and Masters were spread so thinly, either just returning from or setting out on missions and campaigns, they all agreed that General Kenobi should accompany his troops, though Mace and Yoda both admonished him to seek clearance from the Infirmary. The truth was, he was their best strategist, adept at assessing a quickly changing situation and adjusting accordingly.
When the meeting had adjourned, Obi-Wan stayed behind a few moments to speak with Mace and Yoda alone. "Masters, we seem to have an increasing incidence of faulty intelligence and leaking of guarded information. I think it might be wise to look into this. Perhaps one of our own knights in conjunction with Senator Organa since he presently heads security for Coruscant. He has always been happy to assist us in any way. I needn't remind you how important intelligence and security are to both our success and our survival." Yoda glanced at Mace. "Agree with you, we do Obi-Wan. Concerned we have become as well. Look into this we will."
"Thank you Masters. I shall contact you when I am ready to leave tonight." Bowing to each of them in turn, he strode out of the chamber.
When Lyri finally had a few moments to herself in a lull in the afternoon's activity, she slipped into a quiet alcove and called up the frequency for her friend, Padme. She was surprised at how quickly the busy senator answered as she had been prepared to leave a message.
"Lyri, hello. I'm so glad you called! How have you been?" The underlying distress in her friend's voice did not go unnoticed by Lyri; though the senator hid it well from years of practice. To most people she would have sounded calm and in complete control.
"I'm doing quite well Padme, and you?"
"Oh, busier than the queen of a hive species; you know me. What can I do for you?"
"Do you think you might have time to squeeze me in for lunch in the next few days? I have a project I'm working on to help the refugees and I really need your input."
"Oh Lyri, that's wonderful! I can't wait to hear about it! Let me check my schedule. Hmm, it looks like the two appointments I had scheduled for midday tomorrow have been cancelled. That's a piece of luck. Will that work for you?"
"Oh yes; that would be wonderful! Business aside, it's been too long since we've seen each other. I've missed you, Padme."
I think I'll arrange for lunch at my apartment. That will be much cozier and it will be easier to converse. Is 12:30 alright?"
"Perfect! I'm so looking forward to seeing you."
"Me, too. Uh...Lyri, I...has anyone heard from An...from Commander Skywalker?" There was that hint of underlying distress again. Lyri tucked that away to think about later.
"Obi-Wan was hoping to make contact this morning, but I haven't talked to him since first-meal. Do you want me to let you know if I hear anything?"
Padme tried to compose her voice. "Yes! I mean...he has been a good friend and I would feel much better knowing he is alright."
"I'll let you know if Obi-Wan hears from him, Padme. I've been worried about him, too. I'll see you tomorrow." As she tucked her comlink away Lyri thought about her friend's apparent distress. She sensed it was much greater than Padme was willing to reveal.
As Lyri went about the rest of her day, she jotted a few notes down on her datapad from time to time for things she wanted to remember to ask Padme during their luncheon date. As she neared the end of her day, she prepared herself mentally to meet with young Padawan Rollin. She needed to be focused solely on him during their time together.
As she entered the young man's room, her spirits lifted. Instead of the dim room full of deep despair and shadow, she entered a room full of ambient light from the fully opened shades. Young Rollin was sitting up reading and looked up from his datapad with the hint of a smile flickering over his face. "I thought Master Kenobi was right," he said. "Letting in the light is a good first step."
"It's the perfect first step. Master Kenobi is very wise," she smiled. "But don't tell him I said that." She winked at the young man.
"I was wondering...if you have a little time, that is, if...well, Master Kenobi said you had dealt with a terrible loss of your own. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind telling me about it. If it's not too difficult."
Lyri glanced at the wall chrono. She had about forty minutes left before she needed to go back to the apartment to freshen up for last meal and find something appropriate to wear for her first Bo staff lesson. "I would be glad to tell you about my experience with loss if it can be of any benefit, Rollin. I often find it helps me to hear of someone else's trials when I am struggling with my own."
As she came into the room and pulled a chair up to the bed, Rollin settled back to listen. She shared her whole sordid story with him with the exception of the type of slavery the Trandoshan had had in mind for her and the true identity of the place she had come from. Tika had come and laid her head in Lyri's lap partway through the story and she stroked the rich dark fur for reassurance as she relived her losses once again. She hadn't realized there were tears on her cheeks until Rollin leaned forward to offer her a tissue and squeezed her hand.
"I am so sorry, Lyri. How in the galaxy were you able to survive and keep on going every day? I can't even imagine a child that young being able to survive that devastion with no one to help let alone adapt to a hostile wilderness."
"But I did have help, Rollin." She looked lovingly at Tika as she stroked her silky head. "If not for Tika's mother and her pack mates taking me in, I'm sure I wouldn't be here."
Looking wonderingly at the large canine for a few moments, Rollin finally cleared his throat. "But...how did you cope with the loss? How...how did you keep going knowing you were still here and they were gone forever?"
Lyri reached out and laid her hand on the young man's arm. "I was devastated just as you are Rollin. But this little voice inside kept whispering to me that above everything else, my parents would have wanted me to survive. They had taught me so much and...I guess I realized that as long as I survived, there was still some small part of them left in the galaxy. I could pass on some of what they had imparted to me so they lived on in other beings. That way, they would never be completely gone. I may not have realized that in the first year because I was too busy learning how to just stay alive. But it came to me soon after that and...I always had faith I would see other beings like myself someday. I had been holding onto that faith for many years by the time the Force brought Obi-Wan Kenobi crashing into my life. I must admit there were some days that faith was hanging by a thread, but I never let go."
"Now then, you are looking a bit tired and I have some appointments I have to keep. You just hold on Rollin. You have survived for a reason, just as I have." She stood up and gave the young man a hug, being careful of his injuries. "Tika and I will see you again tomorrow."
"Good evening," the young padawan murmured. He watched the young woman and the huge canine as they left his room. There was such innate grace about them he mused. Lyri's words settled into the young man"s broken heart and began edging out the fear and emptiness. She was right. A part of Master Kabe would always live on in him and in all the other lives he had touched. "Thank you," he whispered as he watched the daylight slowly fade from the room.
When Lyri let herself into the apartment, it was very quiet. Before she went to freshen up something drew her to the room she now shared with Obi-Wan. There on the bed she saw his partially packed survival rucksack, everything neatly rolled and placed just so. She ran her hand lovingly over one of the tunics he had partially folded before he'd been called away. An idea suddenly bloomed in her mind like a little spring flower dispelling the melancholy that threatened her. With an impish grin, she went into her room and rummaged through her top drawer for the dainty blue panties she had worn that first weekend they had become lovers at Bail's apartment. Dabbing on some lavinderium, she crushed the satin and lace to her and ran the little panties over her chest and arms to pick up both her scent and that of the lavinderium. Smiling like a sly feline, she went into the master bedroom and stealthily removed one of the carefully rolled tunics from Obi-Wan's rucksack. Unrolling the tunic, she placed the panties on top of it and rolled it up again exactly as it had been. Placing the rolled tunic back into the rucksack, she snickered softly as she imagined the surprised flush on Obi-Wan's face when he unrolled it.
Entering the padawan room again, Lyri took out a navy form-fitting sleeveless jumpsuit made out of a stretchy material that hugged the body but gave easily for ease of movement. That should do nicely for Bo staff training she thought excitedly. Laying it out, she headed toward the refresher to wash her face. On her way she happened to notice a note on the small datapad from Obi-Wan.
"Lyri - called back out to handle a problem. Looks like I will miss last-meal. Sorry sweetheart. See you in sparring practice room 15 at 0730 hours. Love, O."
She was a little disappointed but she understood. She was sure she could find a friend to sit with but she was a little nervous about her Bo staff training session. Remembering that she had seen the cooks sometimes fix plates to go when someone didn't have time to eat during normal hours, she decided to have them fix a plate for Obi-Wan with a few extra tidbits for her. She could come back to the apartment and put it away when she changed. That way she could be sure Obi-Wan had something to eat that night before he had to leave. Her mind made up, she dashed off to the cafeteria.
Returning to the apartment she hurriedly put the large plate of food away. They had also given her a smaller plate of luscious berry tarts. The dessert chef had winked at her and told her Obi-Wan had loved those particular sweets since he was a youngling. They smelled heavenly and Lyri's mouth started to water. "Oh no you don't!" she told herself. "Wait till after practice. They will be twice as good when you can share them with Obi." Tearing herself away she went to the small bedroom to change.
Once she'd put on her unitard she decided it would be a good idea to braid her hair to keep it out of the way. When she looked in the mirror her eyes widened. Oh stars! This material sure didn't leave much to the imagination! She supposed that was why it wasn't a hindrance to movement. But...wow! She turned this way and that and watched the light play over the soft sheen of the deep blue material. She had just finished securing her braid when she heard the entryway chime. When she answered the door it slid open to reveal the group of padawans who had been friends with her ever since her second day at the Temple. The boys' eyes widened when they saw her. Lyri could almost see the hormones playing havoc with them. The tall one with the dark hair cleared his throat. "Oh, I...erm...well...We heard Master Fisto was back and somebody said he and Master Kenobi called a sparring session a few minutes ago. I guess Master Kenobi already had the room. It's not every day you get to see two Masters from the actual Council sparring, so we wondered if you'd like to go with us?"
She had a momentary pang of disappointment thinking she might have lost the chance for her first Bo staff lesson, but the thought of seeing Obi-Wan actually sparring with another Council Master intrigued her. Although she had seen him perform complex katas with his lightsaber and occasionally offer instruction to a padawan, she had never actually seen him in a real sparring session. "Okay; I'll be right with you!" Dashing back to the padawan room she threw a short skirt over the unitard and grabbed a cardigan. "Let's hurry so we get a good seat!"
When they arrived there was already quite a crowd building, but a few of the young knights recognized Lyri and let her and the handful of padawans through. They all scooted in and sat on the floor in front of the spectators on the benches in the safe zone. Eyes wide, they all watched the two masters circle each other and pull apart into a ready stance. Both of them, clad only in their breeches, had already built up a soft sheen of sweat, accentuating well defined muscles that rippled under taut skin. Without warning they sprang at each other, sabers crackling as they came together then humming as they sliced through the air. Between each thrust and parry their sabers whirled so fast there was a continuous glowing blur until each point of contact. Early on Master Kenobi made a few of the acrobatic Ataru twisting leaps he had favored in his youth to draw his opponent out and study his moves, but he soon settled into the defensive style of Soresu for which he had become known. Master Fisto's style was quite acrobatic in itself and there were several times he ran up the wall to flip over Master Kenobi's head, but try as he might, whenever it looked like there was an opening, his saber was met by Obi-Wan's.
Lyri was mesmerized. It was like watching some wildly choreographed and deadly dance. She knew what lightsabers were capable of and these weapons came within a hair's breadth of touching flesh on several occasions. As the sparring match continued a hush grew over the crowd. There was one long intake of breath when Master Fisto made one final whirling leap bearing down on Master Kenobi from behind. But Master Kenobi whirled around in the final split second and disarmed his opponent sending the other saber whirling end over end into the far corner of the room. The look of complete shock on Master Fisto's face and the wolfish grin on Master Kenobi's as he held the tip of his blue lightsaber an inch away from the Nautolan's neck was a sight the padawans would not soon forget.
Lyri slowly let out the breath she'd been unaware she was holding. It took a moment for her to try to reconcile the fact that this utterly devastating warrior was the man with the gentle heart full of compassion whom she loved beyond all reason. She watched as he reached down to pull Master Fisto to his feet and the two squeezed each other's shoulders and joked good-naturedly.
Lyri sat down quietly on the bench as everyone gradually filtered out of the sparring room. The young padawans she'd come with went to express their admiration to the two masters and waved at her as they left. Obi-Wan glanced over at her with a bit of concern. She tried to smile then looked down at her hands. She vaguely heard Obi-Wan bidding the last few spectators goodnight then heard a whir and click as the locks settled into place. She closed her eyes for a moment as she tried to process everything. When she opened them again Obi-Wan was right in front of her. "Sweetheart, look at me please." There was command behind the gentleness. She swallowed and slowly looked up, lingering for just a moment on the soft dusting of russet hair that covered his chest. He was stroking his beard slowly and his sea-blue eyes were full of compassion. Yet there was an intensity there that rendered her unable to look away. "What has you so upset little one?" He hadn't called her that for a long while.
"I...I guess I just didn't realize that you…" Her voice trailed off. He sighed and before she knew what was happening he sat and pulled her into his lap. "Lyri, surely knowing what you now do of the Jedi you knew I had been trained as a warrior." He felt a slight tremor run through her and pulled her against his chest. "Talk to me sweetheart."
"I know that Obi. I guess I...I just didn't realize how utterly deadly that makes you. Then when I saw you tonight with Master Fisto...when I really saw...it frightened me a little. It was different than when you fought the Teygra somehow."
"Ah...I think perhaps I understand. What you must understand, sweetheart, is that aggression of that sort is only called on in defense of self or of those unable to defend themselves when there is no other course. It is always the very last option. It is never taken lightly."
Lyri sighed softly and laid her head against his shoulder as she tried to reconcile everything in her mind. When he felt her begin to calm he tucked a couple of fingers under her chin and tilted her head to look into her eyes once more. "Sweetheart, I am the same man who made love to you last night. The warrior you saw tonight is a part of me; yes...a necessary part because I am a Jedi. It is not something you need ever fear, however. If you search your heart, you will know that to be true." She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again the deep trust he was used to seeing there had returned to warm their hazel depths.
"I'm sorry Obi. After all this time, I still had never seen a sparring match until tonight. I guess I'm just being a silly little girl."
"Not at all sweetheart. It is because you have such a deep respect for all life. And...you have never in your life been just a silly little girl." Throwing her arms around him, she kissed him soundly. When she finally pulled back, the impish grin had returned to light her face. "There's my girl," he chuckled.
"Now then, I need to do a stretching exercise used to relax the muscles after a strenuous sparring session. It helps keep one's muscles limber and helps to avoid injury. I have found it can also help to relieve stress. Would you like to join me? After that we can see which one of the staffs I have brought best suits you. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she noticed the staffs of slightly varied weights and sizes in the weapons rack. Tapping her on the nose he said, "A Bo staff can be quite dangerous as well, Lyri. That is why proper training is so important."
"I know, Obi. That's true of any weapon."
"Yes it is." He considered her prowess with the bow and knew she understood. "Now then, let us stretch, shall we?" As they went through the slow stretches, Lyri couldn't help the little flutter of desire as she watched the rippling and stretching of the muscles in his chest and shoulders in her attempts to mirror his moves. She bit her lower lip. "Later, sweetheart. Focus." Blushing, she looked up at him sheepishly. His eyes were twinkling.
Once they had completed the exercise twice, Lyri had to admit she felt much more relaxed and limber. "Now then, my dear. Let's see about your staff." She bounced over to the weapons rack excitedly. There were five staffs there, each of a slightly different weight and length. It appeared three different types of wood had been used in creating the various staffs which accounted for the different weights. Obi-Wan studied the staff Lyri had first been drawn to with a critical eye. "Hmm...let's try a couple of simple forms with each staff and see which feels more like a natural extension of yourself. I shall go through the first two forms slowly with you and when you feel comfortable with them we will proceed." Lyri nodded at him and they began. He was very pleased with how quickly she picked up the forms for her first kata and in no time they had determined which staff would be best for her to learn with. Not only were the length and weight the best fit; Lyri was also drawn to the warmth of the deep red hue of the wood. It reminded her of the wood of a certain fruit tree she was fond of on her moon.
Once they had her staff, Obi-Wan added to her forms until she had two katas committed to memory. "Now you must practice them until they are second nature and you no longer have to think about them." Glancing at his chrono, he sighed. "I'm sorry sweetheart; we are going to have to end for tonight. I need to complete preparations for my departure."
"It's alright Obi. You've given me a good start so I can practice and get the feel of it. By the time you come back I'll have it down and be ready for you to teach me more." He smiled down at her and brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek.
As they traversed the last quiet corridor back to the apartment, Lyri went over the katas, picturing them in her mind a couple of times start to finish. When she finally glanced up at Obi-Wan he had a rather far away expression. "Thinking about Anakin, Obi?" He focused on her for a moment and nodded. Reaching out to take his hand, she said firmly, "You are going to be there soon and he is going to be fine." A slight smile ghosted his lips as he nodded again.
When they entered the apartment, Lyri immediately went to put her staff away in the padawan room, leaning it against the wall in one corner. Pulling off the little skirt and tossing it on the bed, she went in search of Obi-Wan to tell him there was food in the chilling unit if he was hungry. She found him in the refresher just turning on the shower. He had already discarded his boots and tunics. Before she had a chance to say two words, he pulled her to him and began peeling off her unitard. He hooked her panties on the way down so he could remove everything at once. She leaned on his well-muscled shoulders as he helped her step out of them. Shimmying out of his breeches and boxers, he took her hand and dragged her into the shower.
For a few moments he just stood, holding her against him and letting the warm water run over them. Then, stepping back, he grabbed the bottle of gel and poured some into his hand. Rubbing his hands together, he worked up a lather and began bathing her, caressing her all over with the fragrant suds. She couldn't help but wonder at the gentleness in those strong, sure hands. It suddenly made her a little weak in the knees when she thought of the power she had witnessed earlier in the evening. Bringing one strong arm around her to steady her, his blue eyes glittered as they burned a path to her deepest soul. "You always deserve tenderness, Lyri. Strength without gentleness takes no heart." Time seemed to still for a moment as she watched the rivulets of water run down his cheeks to catch in his beard. "Obi," she sighed. A tiny smile curved his lips as he continued to bathe her.
Adding a little more gel he quickly lathered up as well. While he did this Lyri stood to the side and washed her hair. When she opened her eyes, he was just rinsing his own hair. She scrunched her eyes as a trickle of shampoo ran into them and he quickly maneuvered her under the spray. Carefully wiping the suds from her eyes with his thumbs, he turned her and tilted her head back enough to rinse the shampoo away.
Turning her to face him again, he bent at the knees and lifted her. "Hold on, sweetheart," he murmured and she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him with her legs. Kissing her softly and pressing her against the shower wall for support, his skillful fingers found her clit and began massaging lightly until she squirmed helplessly against him. "That's my girl," he whispered against her ear. "I need you, Obi," she breathed out, her breath tickling his neck against the warm droplets. He smiled. "Give me just a small one first." He massaged with a little more pressure until he felt her bucking against him as she clung. "Oooooh," she sighed, leaning her forehead on his shoulder. "When he felt her begin to catch her breath again, he lifted his shaft against her opening just slipping the tip in. Securing her a little tighter against the wall he slowly slid into her and began gradually pumping. The combination of him sliding against her heightened nerve endings along with the warm water caressing her skin was exquisite torture and she was overcome with need. She began rocking against him, trying to take him deeper, faster, until, his own nerve endings on fire; he finally obliged her and took both of them into steamy oblivion. As she bucked and clenched around him, breathing his name on a shuddering whisper, he held her tightly. His own pulsing release was followed by a deep groan until they both calmed and he just cradled her, her head resting on his shoulder as the water streamed over them.
He finally let her slide down his body to stand on the tiled floor and gently cleaned the two of them up before turning off the spigot. A fluffy towel flew into his hand as he stepped out of the moderate sized cubicle and pulled her after him. Wrapping the towel around her he patted her face dry with one end and placed a feather-soft kiss on her forehead before calling another towel to him. She just stood and watched appreciatively as he toweled himself dry and tried to choke back a sudden fit of laughter at the sight of his red-gold hair standing up in all directions. Arching an eyebrow at her, he chuckled warmly. "Have you forgotten how to use a towel, my dear?" Pulling her to him he deftly dried her off then handed her the towel, saying, "Now dry your hair before you catch cold," as he gave her bare bottom a little slap. She just caught a glimpse of that trademark Obi smirk as he swaggered out of the room.
Drying her hair as she went to her room, she pulled out a dainty baby doll sleep set in spun sugar pink and put it on before combing the tangles out of her hair. Padding through the common room she came to lean against the doorframe at the entry to Obi-Wan's room. He was in his travel work breeches and under tunic organizing the last of his things to go into his rucksack. He looked up to find her leaning there sliding her fingers down through her damp tresses which had just begun to curl at the ends. Oh Force, what was she wearing? The frilly little pink sleep set gave her that perfect mixture of cute and feminine and sweet, with just a touch of vulnerability, which could cause the strongest males to go weak in the knees. "Promise me you will wear that the night I return, Lyri," he said in a somewhat smoky tone.
"If that thought will bring you safely back to me my love; of course I will," she said softly and gave him one of those endearing little heart melting smiles. Then, shaking her head slightly, she told him, "You need to eat something before you go." Before he could say anything, she was gone.
A few minutes later, she returned with a plate full of various small tidbits and some napkins. She also had a second smaller plate with a napkin drawn over it that she set aside on the dresser. "I know you are trying to pack, so just let me feed you Obi." He half smiled and nodded at her. So, while he packed the last of his clothes and put the toiletries and smaller necessities away in their various compartments, she carefully popped little bites into his mouth. He finally fussed at her until she ate a few bites as well. Then, when he had almost everything packed away, she grinned at him. "Now the surprise!" Climbing off the bed where she'd been sitting, she went to the dresser and pulled the napkin off the second plate. Her heart warmed as he smiled in delighted surprise. "Berry tarts!" he grinned. "I haven't had them in ages." She could almost see the little boy he had once been as he eagerly eyed the plate.
When she came back from taking all the dishes to the kitchen and putting any leftovers away, he was just setting his rucksack by the front entryway. She followed him back to the bedroom, her heart quietly breaking a bit though she would never tell him. As he started to reach for his outer tunics, pressed crisp and ready wear, he paused suddenly. Glancing at his chrono, straightening up, he turned to look at her. His expression softened. "You look tired sweetheart. Would you like me to lie down with you until you fall asleep?" His voice held that quiet strength that always steadied her. When she nodded, he walked over and caught her in a deep kiss that felt like a wordless promise. Picking her up, he carried her to the bed and waited for her to settle. As he curled around her and gently stroked her hair, he willed her lightly to sleep, staying there with her for some time.
Very early in the morning, as the moons travelled to their rest, Lyri awoke to find herself alone in Obi-Wan's large bed. The blankets were snuggled around her and there, leaning against the pillow next to her, was her old stuffed wookie, Becca. She smiled softly and drifted back to sleep.