A Galaxy of Magic

Chapter 18

Queen Breha let out a breath she had been holding in, her tension turning to calculation. She took in all four of them. Harry was tall, handsome, and out of place even in a galaxy of oddities. The three women were beautiful and buxom, and Breha could tell that they were in great physical shape. Their disguises held up under the feeble light of the old, damp room, but the Queen’s eyes lingered on Shaak Ti’s skin. The shade was not right, nor was the color of the stripes. Breha didn’t know Master Ti very well, but she did have a very good memory.

“I’m pleased to see you all have made it. The clones have become trigger-happy, especially at night,” she said, her voice quiet but hard. Just thinking about the clones made her rage.

Shaak Ti took the lead, her hands folded in front of her like a diplomat. “Your Majesty. Thank you for meeting us. We were careful not to be seen.”

Breha’s gaze flicked to Maris, who nodded respectfully, then to Aayla, who watched the Queen with the self-assurance of someone who had lived through far worse. Finally, Breha addressed Harry. “Harry Potter,” she nodded. “Your disappearance from my chambers was startling to say the least.”

Harry gave a small bow. “All will be explained, Your Majesty.”

She examined him with a quick up-and-down, like she was recalibrating every plan she’d made before this moment. “Master Ti, I see your colors have changed.”

Shaak’s eyes didn’t move. “It was necessary for survival. There are many Imperial eyes here, and as I’m sure you know, Jedi will likely be killed on sight.”

Aayla was next to Shaak, close enough to touch, and she added, “We all took precautions. He helped.” She nodded at Harry.

“Let me show you,” Harry said, and gestured to the group.

Shaak Ti unclasped her necklace first. The effect was immediate. The artificial white and pink streaks bled from her skin, replaced by red that rushed up from her core, recoloring her face, arms, and montrals. Maris did the same, her peachy-pale complexion going even paler, and her blonde hair darkened into its true black. Aayla took hers off last, and her normal blue color overtook the green like an ocean swallowing a drop of dye. The glamour faded, and the real women emerged in the dim light. Queen Breha flinched. It wasn’t much, but enough for Harry to see it.

“Impressive,” she said. “What are you?”

“As I said, I’m not a Jedi,” Harry said, “But I can do things that even the Jedi can’t. I’m from … far away.”

Breha’s eyes narrowed. “How far?”

Harry considered his answer. “Another galaxy. Maybe another universe. I can’t be sure.”

Breha looked at Shaak Ti for confirmation. Shaak nodded. “He is not lying.”

Harry took the necklace from Aayla and rolled it between his fingers, then handed it to Breha. She studied it, running her thumb over the gem. Her eyes were fixed on the impossibly tiny runes. “The Empire would give anything for this. You could walk a Death Trooper through any checkpoint in the galaxy.”

“I’m aware,” Harry said. “However, you’re the one fighting the Empire.”

Breha gave a tiny, brittle laugh. “Fighting? … More like surviving. We are barely hanging on.”

“We want to help,” Shaak Ti said. “But we cannot do it alone. We need to know who is with us, and who can be trusted.”

Breha leaned back, the necklace still in her hand. She looked at her own hands for a moment and tilted the gem so that the facets caught the light. “You’re asking for the resistance network.”

Aayla said, “You’re the resistance network.”

The Queen smiled, but her eyes were sad. “We are few, and you will find more traitors in these walls than true friends.”

“We need to start somewhere. If there’s a way to win, we’ll find it. That’s what we do,” Harry said confidently.

Breha considered them all again, then nodded. “Fine, but I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. The galaxy is a much more dangerous place than it was a few months ago.”

Maris nodded. “Trust us … We know.”

“Very well,” Queen Breha said and waved them over. Harry gave her a nod of respect. As they followed her deeper into the tunnels, Harry couldn’t help noticing the way Breha touched the necklace, as if it might change her, too.

The tunnel stank of old water and mildew. A century of mineral seepage had left fat and wet stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The Queen’s elegant slippers skidded once on the mossy stone, but she didn’t look back. They wound through three locked doors, a hidden passage, and a lift that barely fit them all before emerging into a cramped security office.

The room was lit by a single screen. Two guards waited inside, both in civilian clothes, hands at their belts. They looked past the Jedi, straight to Breha. She raised one hand, and they left without a word. She closed the door behind them and sat at the metal desk, motioning for the group to sit on battered folding chairs.

Harry did, stretching out. “So, how big is this resistance?”

Breha’s smile was grim. “It’s as big as it has to be, and not a person larger. I have sympathizers in every office and half the palace staff, but real trust is rare. If you want blasters, I can get you a hundred. If you want true believers, I might have ten. These days, most are just looking out for themselves and their families.”

Shaak Ti said, “That is more than we had yesterday.”

Aayla nodded. “You said you’d been looking for us.”

“I sent word on every safe channel, even before the Emperor made his move on Alderaan. I had hoped some Jedi would answer. The people need hope, but all I found were charlatans, dead ends, or Inquisitors attempting to bait me.” Her fingers curled on the table. “Your message was the first to give me hope.”

“Jedi are harder to kill than you think, Your Majesty,” Maris said. She was half-lounging in her chair, her eyes constantly scanning. “I know there are more of us out there.”

“I believe you,” Breha said. “However, most on my world do not. The Empire floods the holonet with stories of you all dying, fighting each other, or losing to clones. It’s why I need you so badly.”

Aayla asked, “Do you want us to stay here and fight?”

“Not at all.” Breha shook her head. “That would be suicide. You’d get a few days of freedom, maybe a week. No, I want you to vanish. Make them chase you. Make the Empire bleed men and credits trying to catch you. If you can find and gather more Jedi, have them contact me or my husband. Remember to use discretion. Even a rumor of the Jedi’s survival will help the rebellion. We can build something out of that, but only if you stay alive.”

Aayla grinned. “So we’re a legend now?”

“To some,” Breha agreed.

Shaak Ti looked at Harry, then back to Breha. “We will need to travel, often and unpredictably. Our ship is …” She hesitated. “It was damaged in a skirmish.”

Breha flicked her gaze to Harry, then back to Shaak. “You have a ship? That’s more than most of my rebels. The Empire is keeping close tabs on everyone … especially those with capable ships. Any hint of a rebellion is quickly dealt with.”

“It flies,” Harry said, “but we’ll need to do some repairs.”

Breha opened a drawer and tossed a black case on the desk. It was a commlink, slicker than the ones Harry had seen in shops. “This is encrypted. I’ll send new keys every two days. I’ll contact you if there’s news.”

Aayla nodded, pocketing the device.

“As for repairs,” Breha continued, “there’s a shipyard on the far side of the planet. Officially, it’s shut down, but the workers there are loyal to Alderaan, not the Empire. They’ll help you.”

“Can they keep a secret?” Maris asked.

“They already do,” Breha said. “It’s where most of our ships are refitted for blockade runs. They strip the registry and give you a whole new identity. You might even find something better than what you have now, if you’re lucky.”

Harry glanced at the women. “We’re in. Just send us the coordinates.”

Breha smiled, but there was nothing warm about it. She looked tired and stressed. “I’ll contact them in the morning and let them know of your arrival. I’ll send you to an abandoned part of the shipyard tonight so you don’t cause a panic among the workers. Don’t linger in the city. There’s a net tightening as we speak. Every time the Empire loses a ship or a squad, they take it out on people like me.”

Shaak Ti stood, elegant even in the cramped room. “You are braver than most Jedi I have known.”

Breha stood too. “We do what we must.” She handed the necklace back to them.

For a moment, everyone was silent. The weight of the war pressed close. Harry watched as the Queen crossed to the door. “If I am not at the palace when you return, assume I am dead or imprisoned. In that case, keep running.”

“If you find yourself in trouble, send us a message, and I can get you out,” Harry told her. She didn’t look like she believed him, but she nodded nonetheless.

Breha looked over her shoulder. Her smile was brittle, but real. “I must go before someone notices my absence. Now go before someone sees you. Take the back passage. It’s not on any map.”

They followed her instructions, and as the Queen disappeared into the shadows, Harry felt the cold thrum of fate in his blood. There would be no turning back now.

A Galaxy of Magic

The battered YT-1300 lifted off Alderaan’s main spaceport with less noise than Harry expected. Aayla handled the controls, her lekku twitching as she watched the sensors. The rest of them huddled in the cockpit, waiting for a comms hail that never came.

It took under half an hour to cross to the far hemisphere. Most of the world’s surface was wild, nothing but wind-carved peaks and glittering, icy lakes. The shipyard Breha had mentioned was camouflaged well. It was a ring of hangars buried into the side of a mountain, their doors painted the same steel-blue as the exposed stone. Even with the landing beacons on, Harry barely saw it until they were right above.

Aayla guided the ship down with precision, setting it on a pad built for something twice their size. The engines cycled down, and the world was suddenly silent except for the ticking of cooling metal.

“Remote enough for you?” Maris said with a smile.

“I don’t think anyone will find us here,” Harry responded.

Aayla powered down the controls and rolled her shoulders. “If this is a trap, it’s a good one.”

Shaak Ti ran a scan of the area. “I see no sign of the Empire. I’m not even picking up a single worker.”

“Queen Breha did say that this part of the shipyard would be abandoned,” Maris reminded them.

They stepped out into air cold enough to immediately goosebump their skin. The hangar was empty except for long rows of dust-caked droids, some hunched over old, metal workstations. A faded sign hung above the main office that read, “RATHO SPACEYARDS - NO SHIP TOO BIG. NO JOB TOO SMALL.

The office was locked, but Harry simply waved his hand and unlocked it in a jiff. Inside, everything was covered with a layer of dust and a stink of synth oil. Harry found a stack of ration packs on the desk. None of them had been opened. There were bunks in the corner, but nobody had slept there in months.

“The shipyard goes deep into the mountain. I’m guessing the workers are using a hangar farther in to avoid being scanned,” Aayla said as she dragged her finger along the dust-covered desk.

Shaak Ti said, “We will need to work quickly in the morning. I do not like being exposed for long.”

Harry agreed. He did a sweep of the perimeter while the others checked the ship. Behind the hangar, a field of broken hulls glimmered in the moonlight. Old ship hulls lay on their sides, stripped for parts. Beyond that, a stone fence separated the yard from the wild, frozen plain. Harry’s skin prickled from the cold. When he circled back, the girls were ready to head inside. Harry quickly set up some magic protections and followed them into the ship. Shaak Ti cut off all power to the ship to keep their signature as small as possible. Harry ignited a ball of light in his palm and led them to the tent.

As soon as he walked in, he was hit by a blast of warmth and light. The tent felt more like a home than any room in the palace. Maris sprawled on the couch, eating a ration bar like it was the best food in the galaxy. Aayla had her boots off and was massaging her calves. Shaak Ti was already prepping tools and scanners for the next day. Harry smiled, then headed to the tiny kitchen. He whipped up a meal and served it to the hungry women. After eating their fill, Shaak Ti leaned over the table, chin on her hand. “We should try to sleep. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”

Aayla nodded in agreement. “I saw plenty of old YT-1300s in the scrapyard. We should be able to scavenge anything we need.”

Harry caught her eye and nodded. He cleaned up, then wandered to the bathroom. He turned on the faucet and watched as the massive tub filled with hot, foamy water. Harry removed his clothes and sank into the hot water. It worked on his muscles at once, the ache of a long day fading away. He heard laughter from the bedroom, then the sound of feet padding toward him.

Maris was first to enter. She wore nothing but a pretty smile. Her skin was ghost-pale, and her horns were a glossy red. She stepped into the steamy water, her inviting hips swaying from side to side. Shaak Ti quickly followed her. She moved slowly and gracefully, even when completely naked. Her skin was a bright, perfect red, and her white markings shimmered, reflecting the light. She dropped her towel and climbed in, water streaming off her lekku.

Aayla came last, strutting like she was on parade. Her blue skin was flawless, and her breasts were impossibly perky. She locked eyes with Harry and climbed down the steps, settling next to him.

All three pressed close, their naked bodies slick and soft against his. The heat and closeness were dizzying. Maris wrapped her arms around his chest and bit his shoulder. Shaak Ti pressed her breasts against his back, rubbing slow circles on his thigh. Aayla planted herself in his lap, straddling his hips and grinding down with every move.

Harry’s cock stiffened instantly. Maris giggled and traced her finger down his chest to the tip of his cock, swirling it around the head. Aayla’s lips were on his neck, and her hands were under the water, cupping his balls. Shaak Ti’s tongue flicked his ear, her hand sliding between Aayla’s legs and finding Harry’s shaft. He groaned, the sound swallowed by Aayla’s mouth as she kissed him hard. The three women worked together, hands and bodies slipping and pressing until his mind blurred with need. The water sloshed and steamed, hiding nothing.

“Shall we make him lose control?” Maris asked with a giggle.

“That’s a good idea,” Aayla cheekily said.

Shaak Ti’s hand worked faster, stroking Harry’s cock with expert pressure. Maris nibbled his neck, then slid under the water to take him in her mouth. The sensation was pure ecstasy. Her tongue flicked along the shaft as she bobbed up and down.

Aayla ground her pussy against his thigh, her moans vibrating through his skin. Shaak Ti reached across and squeezed Aayla’s breast, then kissed her deeply. Harry lost it, shuddering as Maris sucked harder. He came in her mouth, a thick spurt that made her laugh as she surfaced. She swallowed, then kissed the other two, sharing the taste with Aayla and Shaak Ti.

Shaak Ti took Aayla’s place and straddled him. She placed her hands on his shoulders as her thighs bracketed his lap. The soapy film made her skin slick, and her red breasts slid across Harry’s chest as she adjusted. He could feel the heat of her pussy even through the swirl of hot water. Her hot pussy pressed hard against his cock, trapping it between her taut lips and the flat of his stomach.

She began to rock in slow and measured movements. Each grind of her pelvis rolled his shaft along her smooth skin, the friction building with every motion. Her breasts swayed in front of his face, and he couldn’t help but grab them. They were full, heavy, and wet with suds. Her dark red nipples were already hard, and the contrast against her skin was obscenely beautiful. He pinched one and lightly twisted it. He watched her mouth drop open and her eyes flutter.

Aayla and Maris flanked him, their bodies pressing in on either side. Aayla took his right arm and guided his hand to her own chest. Her breasts were slightly smaller than Shaak Ti’s, but they were perfectly formed and firm. He squeezed and rolled his thumb over the dark blue nipple, and she sighed, her lekku draping over his shoulder and down his back.

Maris, on the left, was less patient. She took Harry’s hand and slid it down her body, over her flat stomach, and between her legs. She was hairless and smooth, and her pussy was already wet and eager. She shivered when he touched her and ground her ass back into the side of his thigh.

Shaak Ti picked up the pace. She started to bounce, her ass cheeks wetly smacking into Harry’s lap. He let go of Aayla and Maris for a moment and grabbed both of Shaak’s hips, lifting her, then pulling her down to grind harder against his cock. With every pump of his hips, she moaned out a low, vibrating purr that made his balls tighten.

He slid his hands up Shaak’s torso, then down again, thumbs spreading her slit under the water. He pushed two fingers inside her, finding the soft, slippery flesh. She clenched down, and he felt the spasms as he fingered her in rhythm with the motion of her hips. Her breasts bobbed just below his mouth, and he bent and took a nipple between his teeth, biting gently.

“Oh, yes,” Shaak Ti gasped. “More.”

He fucked her with his hand, his palm slick with soapy water and her own fluids. Maris leaned in and bit Shaak’s neck, her tongue flicking out to taste her soapy skin. Aayla circled behind Harry and pressed her breasts flat against his back. Her fingers kneaded the muscles in his shoulders. She kissed his ear and whispered filthy things to him.

Shaak Ti’s hips jerked. She cried out in a gasping breath, her pussy clamping down on his fingers. She came in a series of spasms, her legs trembling so hard Harry had to hold her up. He kept moving, working his hand against her clit until she squealed and jumped off of him.

Maris took her place without hesitation. She swung her leg over his lap, reached between their bodies, and guided his cock straight to her pussy. She didn’t mess around. Maris just sat down and took him to the hilt. Harry groaned, the sensation so sudden and tight he almost came right then.

Maris didn’t move at first. She held him inside her and rolled her hips, working his length with her internal muscles. Then she started to bounce up and down, her perky breasts bouncing with each motion. Harry gripped her hips and thrust up to meet her, the slap of wet skin echoing in the bathroom.

“Harry, you feel so good,” Maris said, her voice a broken gasp.

Aayla’s hand found his balls, and she cupped and massaged them as Maris fucked him. Shaak Ti recovered and pressed in on Maris’s side, her hand slipping between the other girl’s legs to stroke Harry’s cock where it entered and exited her pussy. The feel of it … so many hands, so many different sensations … It drove Harry mad.

Maris started to shake. She grabbed Harry’s shoulders, digging in with her nails, and jerked through her own climax. Her pussy tightened down, and Harry felt the rippling squeeze all along his shaft. She collapsed against his chest, panting with water running down her face. Aayla kissed Maris’s temple, then pulled her off Harry’s lap. She straddled him in one fluid motion, her blue thighs wrapping around his waist. She took his cock and pointed it at her entrance, then slammed down on it hard enough to make Harry see stars.

Aayla fucked him like she meant to break him. She bounced on his cock, each stroke deep and fast. Harry barely kept up. Her lekku draped over his shoulders as she held him in place, and she lightly bit his lower lip and sucked hard.

“Do you want to finish inside of me?” Aayla seductively asked, grinding down and clenching around him.

“Yes,” Harry said, grabbing her ass with both hands and guiding her movements.

She moved faster, and Harry felt the pressure building in his balls. He knew he was close. Aayla squeezed him inside her, then leaned forward and put her lips to his ear.

“Don’t hold back,” she said. “Fill me up.”

Harry came, and it hit him like a punch in the gut. He drove up into her, his cock pulsing and filling her with thick, hot cum. Aayla came too, her whole body shaking as she milked him dry. When she finished, she slumped against him, her body limp with his cock still twitching inside her. As her pussy fluttered against his shaft, Harry slid his fingers between her cheeks and toyed with her tight, little asshole. Aayla mewled sexily and clenched him harder.

Shaak Ti wasn’t one to be left out. She moved Aayla aside and took her place in his lap. Harry groaned as her silky walls slid down his sensitive shaft. Once she was sitting on his balls, she said, “One more time, then it’s off to bed.” Harry chuckled at her matronly tone and gripped her wide ass. The next few minutes were spent with Shaak bouncing wildly on his cock, sending water splashing over the edge of the pool. When the girls were fully sated, they dragged Harry to bed and curled up against him, blanketing him with their warm, naked bodies.