A Galaxy of Magic (Ch. 17)

( Every character in this story is a legal adult over the age of 18 )

A Galaxy of Magic  

Chapter 17

Alderaan was a beautiful planet, Harry thought, as he and his companions strolled through the streets of Aldera, the royal capital. As he looked around, he didn’t think he could picture a more beautiful city. The city’s spires gleamed in the bright, cool sunlight. Every plaza overflowed with flowering shrubs and trees, their branches heavy with pale blue and gold blossoms. The architecture was a seamless blend of natural forms and white stonework. Bridges arched gracefully over waterways that rippled with an abundance of aquatic life. The people of Alderaan, in their flowing, brightly colored clothes, strolled the boulevards quickly and nervously.

Yet beneath the civility, Harry felt a tension hanging in the air. The Empire’s occupation was everywhere. Clone Troopers in pristine white armor patrolled every major intersection, and others marched in tight formations down the central roads. Their blaster rifles weren’t slung over their shoulders. Each one carried his weapon at the ready, fingers always brushing the trigger guards. The air hummed with the dread of order imposed at blaster-point. No one smiled at the troopers, but no one openly scowled, either.

Harry and the girls kept to the fringes of the main avenues, darting through covered walkways and blending into the crowds cutting through the tall buildings. Their own disguises were so flawless that they didn’t garner a second glance. All three women wore the enchanted necklaces Harry had crafted for them, and their magical glamours shimmered subtly over their skin. Still, Harry couldn’t shake the sense of strangeness at seeing their newly colored faces. Aayla, who was blue-skinned and exotic, was now a dull lime green color. Maris, who was normally milky pale, now had a peachy white complexion with braided strands of blonde hair wrapped around her slender neck. Shaak Ti’s new look was even more startling. The Togruta’s red and white patterns were replaced with marble-pale skin streaked with faint, symmetrical pink lines.

Harry tried not to stare at them too much. It felt almost traitorous, as though he was cheating on their true selves with their own disguises. Still, he couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over their tight, curvy bodies. They had gotten away from their battered ship as quickly as possible. None of them knew if anyone would come looking for it, but they all thought it would be a good idea to put as much distance between them and the ship as possible. Before leaving, Harry cast a multitude of magical protections on his beloved ship. If anyone got too near, they would suddenly remember that they needed to do something very important. 

The city buzzed with whispered rumors of what had happened earlier that day. A Star Destroyer had been destroyed right near their planet, and thousands of clones had been lost. Citizens gathered in tight groups, trading gossip on the attack, but no one mentioned it above a whisper in public. Every so often, a squad of troopers would break up the clusters, barking orders to disperse and move along. Above it all, communications droids floated in lazy circles, recording everything for the Imperial authorities.

As they curved down a narrow, tree-lined avenue toward the main palace district, the girls clustered close to Harry, their voices low. Three Clone Troopers jogged by in the opposite direction, not so much as glancing at them.

“All of these guys are moving almost in lock-step,” Harry murmured, glancing back at the troopers’ retreating backs. “Discipline must be strict here.”

Shaak Ti nodded, watching the soldiers with wariness. “This planet has always been a symbol of order and civilization. The Empire wants to keep it as a showcase, but they don’t trust the people, not really.”

Maris fell into step beside him, her eyes darting constantly. “We need to find a way to contact the royal family. Maybe the Queen herself.”

Harry considered this, eyes drifting to the gleaming towers of the royal palace across the canal. “Do you know where the Queen usually is? Does she have a routine?”

Shaak Ti pursed her lips, thinking. “I’ve only met her a few times, and never outside official functions. She’s known for being a bit reclusive. She prefers to do business in her private wing of the palace. If she leaves, it’s never announced in advance.”

“So waltzing up to the front door and asking for a meeting is out,” Harry said with a cheeky smile.

Aayla gave a short laugh, the sound slightly tense. “We’d be arrested before we crossed the threshold.”

Maris shrugged, clearly frustrated. “If the Queen stays in her private wing, maybe we can get a message in to her. Maybe an old-fashioned note or something. We could sneak into the kitchens and slip it to a servant.”

Aayla shook her head. “I’m certain they search all the palace staff these days. Any strange communication, and they’d be turned over for questioning.”

“Inquisitors?” Harry asked, eyebrows arching. “Has it really come to that?”

“I’m afraid so,” Shaak Ti explained softly. “The Empire has just taken power for itself. It makes sense to have agents sniff out any sign of rebellion. If one of them gets wind of us, we’re dead … or worse.”

Harry’s mind pricked with the challenge. He loved a good adventure, especially when the stakes were high. “Well, if we can’t go through official channels, we’ll have to improvise. I could try to slip in quietly, see if I can reach the Queen directly.”

The women exchanged glances. Shaak Ti, usually the cautious one, nodded slowly. “You’re the only one among us who can vanish completely. Besides, if the situation gets sticky, you can always disappear.”

Harry smiled and rubbed her lower back. He felt her body slightly shudder from the intimate contact. “I’m definitely the sneaky type.”

“But if you’re caught …” Maris began, voicing everyone’s anxiety.

Harry held up a calming hand. “If I’m caught, I’ll apparate away. I promise. No reckless heroics unless things are truly desperate.”

Aayla put a gentle hand on his arm. Harry took her green hand in his and held it. “Please be careful. We don’t know what these Imperial goons are truly capable of.”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back in one piece.”

They turned onto a crowded market square, hoping to lose themselves in the throng for a minute before circling back toward their ship. Harry’s ears caught the scrape of boots on stone behind them, far too regular to be anything but soldiers. He didn’t look back, but subtly increased his pace, the girls following his lead.

Just before the next intersection, an amplified voice rang out. “You there!”

All four froze instantly, blending in with the rest of the crowd, but the voice cut through the noise like a vibroblade. Two Clone Troopers strode toward them, blaster rifles already leveled at their waists.

The trooper on the left took charge. “Papers. Let’s see them. Now.”

Harry tensed, but Shaak Ti’s expression never wavered. She stepped forward, holding her hands open to show that she wasn’t a threat. “Of course. They’re right here …”

She flicked her wrist in a practiced gesture, the palm of her hand passing just inches from the trooper’s visor. “I think you’ll find that everything is in order.”

The trooper’s body twitched, and a shudder ran through his frame. His body then stiffened for half a second, and then he nodded, his voice oddly flat. “Everything is in order.”

Aayla saw what she had done and instantly followed suit with the second trooper. “We’re model citizens,” she said, her tone light and playful.

“You’re model citizens,” echoed the trooper in the same distant monotone voice.

Harry couldn’t help but marvel at the precision of their mind tricks. The troopers’ thoughts had been wrested away and replaced with a comforting blankness.

“Carry on,” Shaak Ti finished, stepping aside.

“Carry on,” the troopers repeated as though it was their idea. They didn’t even glance back as they continued down the street, leaving the group standing awkwardly in the middle of the square.

Maris let out a shaky breath. “That was too close.”

Harry’s adrenaline was still spiking, but he managed a smile. “Remind me never to anger you girls.”

They slipped away from the plaza, doubling back along a twisting path that led away from the palace and toward a more industrial section of the city. The further they walked from the center, the fewer troopers they encountered, though the sense of surveillance never faded. Harry could practically feel the sensors, cameras, and listening devices hidden in every nook and cranny.

When they finally reached the landing platform where their ship was parked, Harry paused to scan for magical interference. The Charm he’d left on the ship pulsed reassuringly. No one had come near it, and anyone who tried had been compelled to walk the other way. Still, he added an extra layer of protection, just in case they got smart and decided to send droids.

The girls shed their public personas as soon as the boarding ramp closed behind them. Aayla dropped the glamour first. Her skin shimmered from green to blue. Shaak Ti’s and Maris’s skin reverted to their natural colors as well. “As good as you girls looked, I still prefer you this way,” he told them, which earned him three soft kisses. 

“Let me write a note for the Queen,” Shaak said as Harry conjured paper and a pencil. “Just remember to be careful,” she pointedly told him. Harry sent her a boyish smile. 

“Hey, who do you think you’re talking to?” he amusedly asked. 

A Galaxy of Magic

“AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGH!” The shriek of the trooper echoed down the palace ravine, fading into the silence below. Harry clung to the shadowed alcove where he’d pressed himself, holding his breath, until the fierce wind muffled the faint sound. A startled bird fluttered up from a nearby growth of blue-leafed trees and flew away, squawking angrily. The remaining clone trooper jogged to the railing with his blaster out, the confusion evident even through the helmet.

“Unit 327, come in. I repeat …” The trooper’s boot heels scraped on the polished stone as he peered over the edge, one gloved hand on the rail.

Harry flicked his hand and focused on the trooper’s center of gravity. One Levicorpus later, the trooper’s legs jerked skyward, and his body flipped up and over the balustrade. The panicked scream was nearly identical to the first. Harry stifled a laugh, letting the terrified scream echo down the cliffside before pressing on. The Disillusionment Charm kept him perfectly invisible, something he was very happy for.

The air tasted different on Alderaan. It was like there was a natural sweetness. Perhaps it was because everywhere he looked, flowers or fruit trees were growing. The palace loomed ahead. It was a massive array of white and blue towers, each topped with archways in the traditional Alderaanian style. The main gate was crawling with troopers, and he could hear their radio chatter from a distance. Harry skirted the perimeter, following a footpath that led under a series of aqueducts, until he reached the narrow service bridge that connected the lower gardens with the palace kitchens. The path was slick with the mist of waterfall spray.

Halfway across, Harry stopped short. A pair of clones was arguing with a civilian woman, her headscarf slipping as she stooped protectively over a toddler. The troopers’ postures were aggressive. Their blasters were visible but not quite drawn. Harry didn’t need to hear the words they were saying. The mother’s flinch, the child’s whimper, and the way one trooper’s hand shoved the side of her head told the whole story. Harry’s anger spiked. He aimed a subtle Stupefy at the trooper, who toppled instantly, boneless and limp. The other spun, but Harry was ready for it. He held out his hand, and the weapon zipped from its holster into his waiting palm. Before the trooper could radio for help, Harry downed him with a second Stunner. He kept invisible, but spoke out to the trembling mother.

“Go home, and don’t mention this to anyone.”

Both woman and child needed no further encouragement. Hearing a disembodied voice tended to cause such a response. They fled, the mother tossing a wild-eyed glance back at the spot where the troopers lay. Harry tossed the blaster over the side and let it clatter into the ravine below. The two troopers quickly joined it. 

He pressed on, his heart still racing. Harry lived for adventure. The side entrance that Shaak Ti had mentioned was cleverly hidden. It was a maintenance hatch, marked with a sigil that only a Jedi or high-level palace staff would recognize. Harry pressed his palm to the sigil and used his magic to unlock it. The hatch hissed open. Inside, the corridors were tight and angular, carved more for function than for beauty. Pipes and insulation lined the ceiling, and the hum of the palace’s central fusion core vibrated through the soles of his boots.

He navigated the confusing tunnels with Shaak’s crude map, making sure to silence his footfalls with a Muffliato. Every few turns brought another brush with detection. There was a bored technician whistling down the hall, and a pair of clones trading banter as they checked door panels. Harry slipped past them with ease. After all, he had spent years sneaking through the corridors of Hogwarts well past curfew. The only moment of actual danger came when he passed a security checkpoint manned by a protocol droid. Its eyes flickered as it detected the anomaly in the air.

“Please present credentials,” the droid intoned, reaching for a scanner.

Harry zapped it with a discreet Confundus. It froze, then rebooted, muttering quietly to itself. He darted past and up a narrow stairwell, finally emerging into the architectural opulence of the royal family’s private wing.

The hallway was patrolled by six guards, their blue and silver uniforms crisp and newly pressed. Harry squinted down the length of the corridor, noting cameras at either end and a discreet alarm panel beside the double doors. He closed his eyes and focused. Apparition was risky with so many eyes around, but he trusted his skill. He visualized the far end of the hall, between two marble busts, and twisted.

The pop was nearly silent, but the faint sound disturbed the nearest guard, who turned while moving to grab his sidearm. Harry quickly conjured a distraction. A butterfly flew up toward the ceiling, lightly fluttering above their heads. All the guards looked up, giving him just enough time to cast a Confundus on each of them. Their eyes glazed over, and they turned back around, facing away from the corridor. Harry made his move.

The doors to the Queen’s chambers were a marvel of craftsmanship. It was carved from a single block of iridescent wood and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. He shuddered to think how much it had cost. Harry pressed his ear to the seam, picking up the faintest murmurs from within. He cast a Silencing Charm on the threshold, then slowly eased the door open.

The wealth and power of Alderaan were on full display inside. Silks draped the walls and ceiling in cool blues and pale purples, and the carpet on the floor was a woven masterpiece that felt like walking on clouds. He moved quietly from room to room, following the faint sound of a baby’s cry. The Queen’s sitting room was surprisingly plain compared to the rest. There were a few comfortable chairs, shelves of real paper books, and a small hearth burning low in the corner. In one chair, Queen Breha Organa sat quietly nursing an infant, her attention so fiercely focused that she nearly glowed with maternal determination. Harry hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but he had a mission and time was short.

He dropped the Disillusionment Charm and coughed politely. Her reaction was instant and perfectly controlled. She darted upright, shielding the baby with one arm, her other hand already at the communicator on her wrist. Her eyes narrowed.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” She didn’t sound afraid … only annoyed, and deeply protective.

Harry bowed, hoping it was the correct local custom. “I mean no harm. My name is Harry Potter. I’m a friend of Master Shaak Ti. She sent me with this message for you.” He drew the note from his pocket and set it on the nearby table, then stepped back.

Breha eyed the note warily, then the peculiar scar on Harry’s forehead. “You’re with the Jedi, then? I thought the Empire had eliminated them all.”

“Not quite,” Harry said, allowing himself a private smile. “A few have survived. Shaak, Aayla Secura, Maris Brood, and myself, though I’m not technically a Jedi. We need your help.”

She weighed this for a long moment, then motioned for him to continue. Harry explained their escape from Felucia, the pursuit by Imperial forces, and the need for safe passage and resources. The Queen’s nostrils flared at the mention of the clone troopers, but her face softened as Harry described the girls’ desire to find more living Jedi.

When Breha read the note, her hands trembled, but her voice did not. “This is a blessing. I have been searching for any surviving Jedi, but the Empire’s grip makes it nearly impossible. Every message I send is intercepted. Spies are everywhere, even among my own staff. I must meet with Master Ti myself.”

She glanced down at the baby, who had fallen asleep against her shoulder. “My husband is off-planet, but we can discuss our problems and the potential solutions when we next meet. There is a flower shop in the lower city, near the western market. Go there after sunset, and the owner will lead you through the old tunnels. I will meet you at the far entrance.”

Harry nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty. We won’t forget this.”

Breha allowed a small, tired smile. “Go quickly, before the shift change. The next group of guards is less…suggestible.” She wasn’t as oblivious as she looked, Harry thought with admiration. “Please tell Master Ti that the resistance on Alderaan is not dead. It’s just waiting for the right moment.” Harry nodded and vanished on the spot, startling the Queen and providing more questions than answers. 

Harry apparated into the ship’s main hold. The girls had clearly been waiting in the cramped space, their eyes wide and questions ready. The moment he materialized, a torrent of questions flew at him.

“Was the Queen hostile?” Shaak’s words cut through the din, her posture rigid but her eyes hopeful.

“Did you get caught?” Maris asked nervously. 

“Did you give her the note?” Aayla interjected, hoping he hadn’t taken such a risk for nothing. 

Harry let out a laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders. He held up his hands in mock surrender. “One at a time, please.” He looked from one woman to the next, delighting in the way their features flickered with anticipation and concern. “The Queen wasn’t hostile,” he said to Shaak. “She seemed quite pleased to hear that some of the Jedi were still alive.” 

He grinned at Maris. “Did I get caught? Only by the guards in the hallway, and even then, they didn’t know it.” 

To Aayla, he said, “I gave her the note, and she read it.”

Aayla rolled her eyes at the short response, but her hand found Harry’s arm and squeezed, a silent thank-you for returning safely. Maris edged in on his right side, her fingers tracing along his forearm as if checking for injuries. Shaak moved forward, close enough that her large breasts brushed against his chest. 

“So what’s the plan?” Maris asked.

Harry’s voice dropped low, and the group huddled closer, instinctively wary of eavesdroppers … even in the presumed safety of the ship. “Queen Breha seems like she’s willing to help, and more importantly, she’s not alone. There’s resistance on Alderaan … real, organized resistance. She wants to meet us tonight, in the flower shop at the south end of the plaza.”

Shaak Ti’s eyes lit up. Her hope was so bright it seemed to erase the lines of exhaustion from her face. “That’s… more than I thought possible,” she said. “Any help is a blessing, but for the Queen herself to be involved … this could change everything.”

Aayla leaned in, her lips brushing Harry’s ear as she whispered, “You did well, Harry.” Her hand didn’t leave his arm, and now she trailed it down to his wrist.

But Harry’s heart was already thundering with the new urgency of their mission. “The Queen’s worried about infiltration,” he said, his voice serious. “The Empire’s got eyes everywhere, and she can’t risk being seen with known Jedi. We need to use discretion.”

“When is the meeting?” Shaak pressed. She was already moving into strategy mode, her mind running through contingencies and possible escape routes.

“After sunset. We’ll have to be careful. There were clone patrols everywhere, even near the palace.”

Aayla’s grip on his wrist tightened, and she pulled Harry toward the corridor leading to the tent. “Then we have time to prepare. Come on, Harry. I’m taking a nice, hot bath, and you get to scrub my back.” She flashed a wicked grin at Shaak and Maris, daring them to challenge her claim.

Shaak smiled. “I seem to recall Harry promising me a back rub,” she said, arching an eyebrow as she followed Aayla down the corridor.

Maris was already a step ahead, bounding past the others, her laughter echoing off the bulkheads. “You can scrub my back, too. I’m feeling a little dirty right now!”

Harry shook his head, bemused, and allowed himself to be towed along by Aayla. The girls moved with a kind of synchronized grace, each playfully jockeying for position as they crowded into the tent.. They headed straight for the bathroom, where Maris turned on the giant faucet and quickly filled the pool-sized tub with hot, foamy water. 

Aayla was the first to strip away her clothes, revealing her curvy body and flushed, blue skin. She turned, wriggling her hips in Harry’s direction, and beckoned him closer. Maris had already shed her top, her pale Zabrak skin glistening in the soft light. She slipped past Aayla and pressed herself against Harry, her lips finding his in a quick, fierce kiss. Shaak entered the tub and reached for Harry’s hand, guiding him into the waist-deep water. The tension of the day and the weight of their near capture all seemed to melt away under the soapy warmth of the bath water. 

Harry’s hands found their way to Aayla’s back first. He lathered soap between his palms and worked it across her shoulders and down the sensitive ridges where her lekku met her spine. She sighed, leaning into the touch, her body relaxing against his chest. “You’re getting better at this,” she murmured, her voice vibrating with pleasure.

Maris watched for a moment, then wriggled her way in front of Harry, pressing her back to his chest. “My turn,” she demanded, her eyes sparkling. Harry obliged, his fingers gentle as he traced the delicate patterns along her spine, careful not to miss a single spot.

Shaak waited until Maris was suitably relaxed before stepping forward, her hands reaching for the soap. “You missed a spot,” she teased, and then she was lathering up Harry’s back, her touch both firm and caring. Harry closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of her hands caressing every inch of him. 

The water began to steam the air, and soon the bathroom was filled with the scent of clean skin and the echoing sound of laughter. The girls took turns scrubbing each other, the lines between friendship and affection blurring as hands wandered and playful kisses were exchanged. Harry found himself at the center of it all, the recipient of three sets of gentle hands, three voices vying for his attention, and three sets of lips that left him breathless.

A Galaxy of Magic

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they made their final preparations. Weapons were checked, disguises adjusted, and final strategies whispered between them. When it was time to leave, they moved as a unit. They slipped through the city’s shadows, careful and alert, until they reached the small flower shop nestled between two elegant stone buildings. Harry stepped forward and tried to open the door. It was locked. It suddenly swung open, revealing an old man with wispy, white hair. He looked Harry over, then stared at the scar on his forehead before nodding. “This way,” was all he said.

He led them through the shop and down into a hidden tunnel. The walls of the tunnel were ancient and crumbling, but they followed it for what felt like forever. Once they neared the end, the old man silently pointed at a metal door before heading back. The three girls and Harry looked at each other and took deep breaths. Shaak opened the door, already prepared for anything. 

Inside, Queen Breha was waiting, her posture regal even in the humble confines of the old, damp room. She looked up, her eyes bright with hope and fear.

“You made it,” she said, her voice trembling just enough to betray her relief.

Harry smiled and bowed his head. “We said we would.”

And for just a moment, the darkness outside seemed a little less absolute.