Kessel Run, Week 8: Write a story of at least 400 words in which a hero has to protect a villain. You must also include this line of dialogue: "So that's what this feels like."

Mira-Jade and Gabri Jade both demanded that I tell the story of how Hondo met Mara (referenced briefly in the previous chapter), so we're going to jump back in time a bit for a prequel of sorts to the previous chapter. :P

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Uncle Hondo

31 ABY

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The building is last in a long row of nearly identical domed buildings at the spaceport, and as Luke and Mara Skywalker venture down the narrow service road connecting them, it becomes clear that the further away from the hub they travel, the more decrepit those buildings become. When they finally reach their destination – the aforementioned last building in that long row – Luke casts an uncertain eye over the grimy exterior.

"These are the coordinates Lando gave us," he says slowly, checking his datapad again before tucking it away, "but I don't know, there must be a mistake, this place looks pretty ramshackle."

Mara leans forward to examine a piece of blue flimsiplast adhered to the door. "Nope, no mistake. See? Says right here: 'Ohnaka Transport Solutions, Temporary Office – Scheduled Deliveries Only.'"

"Huh. Not what I was expecting."

"What were you expecting?"

He shrugs and knocks on the door. "Something a little more… ostentatious?"

"You mean something more pirate-like."

"Exactly." Luke rocks back on his heels, waiting, but there's no sign of life from within the building. "Maybe he went to lunch?"

"No," a voice behind him gasps. He and Mara turn slowly to see an old Weequay man standing a few meters away, one hand hovering forgotten near his hip, where it's obvious he has a blaster hidden under his long red coat. The man's mouth hangs open in surprise. "No, no, no, no… Luke Skywalker? Luke Skywalker, can it be true? Do my eyes dare to deceive me?" He spreads his arms as if awaiting an embrace. "It is you! The hero of the Rebellion, the slayer of Shimrra, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker himself!"

"Oh boy," Mara mutters, breathing in deep as she arches both eyebrows. "Better strap in."

Luke exchanges a wary glance with his wife before addressing the stranger. "Captain Ohnaka of Ohnaka Transport Solutions, I take it?" He searches the Force for any sense of deception or ill-intent from the man, but despite Ohnaka's reputation as a consummate swindler, all Luke really detects is an air of pleasant chaos. Fortunately, he knows better than to trust that reading alone.

"So you do know me!" Ohnaka replies. "I admit, I had hoped my reputation might precede me. Oh, how I have wanted to meet you, ever since I learned you were the son of my great adversary and close friend, Anakin Skywalker! Of course I wasn't as close to him as I was to Kenobi, but we shared many amusing adventures together – did you know I once defeated him in armed combat? It was a draw at the very least, but how many people do you know who can say they went toe-to-toe with Darth Vader and lived to tell the tale?"

Mara turns her head to look at him. "Are we sure this is the guy?"

"Mara Jade Skywalker," Ohnaka says in a tone that is delighted and reverent and even a tad admonishing. "I had heard tales of your wit and beauty and… imperviousness. But they simply do not do you justice." The former pirate sweeps forward in a flourishing, overly formal bow the likes of which Luke has only seen in pre-Imperial holofilms or from some of the old diplomats he used to cross paths with at events of state, back in the nascent years of the New Republic. "Captain Hondo Ohnaka, at your service."

Luke leans his head close to Mara's, unable to completely suppress a grin. "Oh, we're sure."

Mara glances at him sidelong. "Stop enjoying this so much."

Luke responds with the mental equivalent of a peck on the cheek and takes a step toward the pirate. "Captain Ohnaka—"

"Hondo! Please, call me Hondo, or Uncle Hondo, if you prefer. I always wanted to be an uncle." Ohnaka rubs his chin with one hand and looks off into the distance. "Pretty sure I've never been one."

Mara gives him another significant sideways glance, and Luke vividly calls to mind Han's expression on the first Death Star so many years ago, after Ben had nobly and somewhat grandly insisted on handling the tractor beam alone: "Where did you dig up that old fossil?"

"…Hondo," Luke smoothly amends, offering the old Weequay his sincerest smile. "We were under the impression that it was you who was in need of our services?"

Hondo chuckles at that, aiming a finger at Luke. "That's a good one, 'in need of your services', oh you young people make me laugh… no, but in all seriousness, tell me what I can do for you, my friends. Anything for the son of Anakin Skywalker and the pupil of Obi-Wan Kenobi… and of course, his lovely and intimidating and very funny bride."

He senses an amused flicker from Mara, and she relaxes ever so slightly, crossing her arms loosely in front of her. "So you didn't ask Lando Calrissian for help with your completely legitimate shipping company, or suggest that he owed you a favor of such magnitude that it necessitated calling us away from our home and our five-year-old son in order to see it properly settled?"

"Is that what he told you?" Hondo laughs again, a full-bellied laugh that conceals a trace of nervous embarrassment. "Why that scoundrel, such a practical joker. As if the great Hondo Ohnaka would ever need help dealing with a few pirates…" He pauses, one hand absently making circles in the air. "But since you are here and you have come such a long way, why don't I show you around my operation, and I can tell you all about the good old days with your father and Kenobi, and if we happen to talk a little business in between, well…" More vague circles, and through their bond, Luke feels Mara's amusement grow.

Stop enjoying this so much, he tells her.

You first, she fires back, and he spots a hint of a smile on her face. Luke returns his attention to Hondo and puts on a grave expression.

"So you're saying this was all Lando's idea, and you had nothing to do with it, and you don't require Jedi assistance with any pirates invading your turf." He spreads his hands in a gesture that's only part placation. "You'll have to forgive us if we find that a little hard to believe."

"You don't trust your Uncle Hondo?" He clutches one hand to his chest and staggers back a step. "So that's what this feels like. The agony of betrayal is worse than I ever imagined."

"A pirate who's never been betrayed?" Mara tosses him a wry look. "Now I've heard everything."

"The sass!" Hondo straightens up with a grin. "I knew I liked you! Now come, come inside and let Uncle Hondo show you around, and then we can talk more about these so-called pirates who think they can steal from my completely legitimate business and get away with it!"

Luke steps aside to let Hondo open the door, still trying to get a read on the situation. "Lando said there have been threats of violence as well, and that's why you need our protection?"

"Yes, yes, yes, many threats, disemboweling and impaling and the like… but my profits, young Skywalker! My profits need protecting! As my sweet mother once said: 'Son! Pikes and claws may pierce your flesh, but don't you dare forget the bottom line!'" Hondo pushes back his helmet to scratch his forehead. "Of course, she might have been talking about the Pykes and the Krayt's Claw, but it was still good advice."

"Don't worry," Luke says. "We'll keep you and your profits as safe as possible."

Mara catches his eye as they cross the threshold into the shop. "That's right," she says with a playful smirk. "Anything for Luke's Uncle Hondo…"

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