A Galaxy of Magic (Ch. 33) (Patreon)

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

A Galaxy of Magic

Chapter 33

Harry sat in the cockpit with his boots propped against the edge of the console, and his eyes were fixed on the steady blue tunnel of hyperspace. Aayla and Shaak Ti occupied the forward seats. Aayla worked the controls with a look of concentration. Shaak Ti monitored the navigation display and announced the remaining time to reversion in her usual even tone. Behind them, Maris and Ahsoka occupied the benches, watching the streaked starlight and trading quiet remarks about what the next system might offer in the way of food.

“Exiting hyperspace … now,” Shaak Ti said, and pushed the lever forward.

The ship gave a mild lurch as the tunnel collapsed. Stars snapped into place against the black void, and a soft chime sounded from the communications console.

“There’s a message waiting,” Aayla said, pointing at the indicator light. “It’s Queen Breha’s frequency.”

Harry set the datapad aside and reached for the receiver. “Let’s hear it,” he said.

The holoprojection formed in the center of the cockpit. A man in a crisp Alderaanian uniform appeared, offered a brief bow, and spoke at once.

“I apologize for the encryption. Our usual channels have not been reliable. Queen Breha requests urgent assistance. Imperial forces have seized several hundred tons of high-grade bacta from the central medical stores on Alderaan. We believe this is part of a broader effort to restrict medical supplies to all but the most loyal Imperial supporters.”

He paused for a second, then continued. “The bacta is aboard the civilian transport Starward Slice, registry nine-zero-one-four. It is currently docked at the orbital transfer station. The vessel is scheduled to depart Alderaan in approximately forty-nine standard hours. A directional tracker has been attached to the main cargo pod. The frequency will follow this transmission. The route is a standard run to the Imperial depot on Ord Mantell, with a scheduled stop at the Midvian refueling array.”

A thin smile spread across the man’s face. “Queen Breha humbly asks whether your crew can recover the cargo. She offers a substantial reward and the lasting gratitude of Alderaan.”

The projection faded, and for a moment the cockpit was quiet. Maris broke it with a low whistle. “That’s a considerable amount of bacta,” she said, glancing at Ahsoka.

Ahsoka’s eyes widened. “Hundreds of tons. For a planet like Alderaan, that’s probably an entire year’s supply, and they’re simply moving it to a depot.”

Aayla turned in her seat, and a smile slowly spread across her face. “The Empire is growing careless. They don’t expect anyone to have the guts to just come and take it from them.”

Shaak Ti looked toward Harry. “What’s our approach? It’s a civilian vessel, but the cargo is military. If we are identified …”

“We won’t be,” Harry said. “We attack and recover the cargo under the cover of disguise. I’ll handle the disguise part.”

He rose and stretched until his back popped. Harry then looked at the information the Alderaanian man had sent. “The transport is registered to a private company. No military escort is listed, though they may have contracted security.”

Maris leaned forward to study the manifest. “The captain is former Republic military. He’ll be cautious. We might pose as buyers and request a look at the cargo.”

Ahsoka considered it for a moment. “I don’t think so. He wouldn’t dare try to sell something that had been confiscated by the Imperials.”

Aayla nodded in agreement. “Our best bet is to hit them when they least expect it. We take out their engines, board the ship, and take it over. Do you think you can get us in the ship?” she asked Harry. 

“Give me an hour to come up with a solid plan,” he said.

Ahsoka shook her head slightly. “You all make it sound so simple.”

“It usually is, once the details are set,” Harry answered. “However, that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down.”

Shaak Ti’s mouth twitched. “Then we have a workable plan. Let us begin. I’ll start the journey to the refueling station. I believe that’s the best place to strike.”

After a quick hyperpace calculation, the ship entered hyperspace with a course set for the Midvian array. The cockpit settled into the focused calm that came before a dangerous job. Harry remained standing at the forward station with his hands clasped behind his back.

“This should be fun,” he said with a smile. 

A Galaxy of Magic

Harry sat at the kitchen table in the tent, which was scattered with coils of wire, half-assembled droid parts, and the pungent smell of melted metal. He sat at the worktable with his sleeves rolled past his elbows, finishing the last enchantment on a plain silver band.

Four other rings sat on the table, waiting for their turn to be enchanted. The work needed to be exact. One misplaced piece of magic and the wearer would emerge looking like something assembled from mismatched parts. Harry closed his eyes, concentrated, and pumped the last bit of magic into the ring. The runes glowed once, then sank into the metal.

He set it with the others and finally raised his head. Ahsoka stood there with her arms crossed as she watched. She was still wearing Maris’s clothes, and as such, much of her perky tits were hanging out of the thin white strap she used as a top. Harry eyed her cleavage, her smooth, trim belly, and the wide hips hidden underneath the skin-tight trousers she wore. Ahsoka noticed him checking her out and blushed deeply. Still, she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she tilted her head and studied the rings. 

“Is that magic?” she asked.

“Glamour Charms, to be precise,” Harry said, nodding. He turned one of the rings over in his fingers. “They’ll make us look like Rodian males. That should keep anyone from tracing this back to us.”

Ahsoka moved closer and looked over his shoulder as he began the next ring. “It doesn’t feel anything like the Force. Could one of those make me look like anything?”

“With enough time, yes. The limits are mostly in the detail and how long it lasts.” Harry glanced at her. “Rodians are a good choice. No one except another Rodian can tell them apart, so the details don’t need to be perfect.”

Ahsoka sat on the edge of the table and swung her feet. Unbeknownst to her, the feet swinging made her breasts jiggle around. “You could make a fortune selling these.”

Harry shrugged. “The Empire would instantly make it illegal if they found out. I prefer they don’t.”

She looked around the cluttered space. “I wish I could contribute something to the plan,” she sadly stated. In response, Harry pointed at the heap of circuit boards, tubing, wiring, and everything else piled on the table. 

“Do you have experience with machines?”

“I built my first speeder when I was a young Padawan,” she said. There was no particular pride in the statement. “It exploded. I learned from that.”

Harry nodded and held up the ring he was working on. “I was about to ask. We’ll need more than the glamours. I want something small to attach to the Starward Slice’s engine casing. It needs to be remote-triggered, with a limited payload. Can you build it?”

Ahsoka’s expression brightened. “Yes. I can have a microdroid ready in a few hours. If it needs to fly, I’ll need repulsor parts. Maris keeps a stash in the kit.” She was already on her feet, sorting through the shelves by shape and size.

Harry watched her work. She moved quickly and without hesitation. He was about to speak when she turned toward him with a tangle of wires in one hand.

“What kind of charge do you want? Big or small?”

“Just enough to disrupt their ability to fly,” he said. “We want them to stop so we can board. We definitely don’t want to destroy or scatter the cargo.”

Ahsoka nodded once. “I can pull a pulse capacitor from the sensor relay. That will cut the drive and scramble their comms for a few minutes.”

Harry chuckled. “You know … You’re really something else,” he said with a handsome smile. 

Ahsoka blushed deeply. She didn’t know why, but she really enjoyed being praised by him. She knelt by the crate of parts and began sorting with both hands. “I could really use some of that magic,” she said without looking up. “Can you make the droid invisible?”

“I can, but it won’t last long if it isn’t properly enchanted. I suppose it doesn’t really need to last very long. I can make it blend in so no one notices it.”

She assembled a palm-sized chassis and held it out. “Try it.”

Harry closed his hand around the piece, centered himself, and cast a quiet Disillusionment Charm. The surface shimmered, then took on the colors of his shirt and the table beneath it. Ahsoka’s eyes widened.

“Wow! That’s incredible. Think of the things we could do with your abilities,” she said, running through the possibilities in her mind. 

She returned to her work. She stripped wires, adjusted code on a holopad, and soldered with a steady hand. As Harry finished the remaining rings, they passed tools and parts without much talk. Every so often their hands brushed, and Ahsoka’s face would go dark with embarrassment. 

When Maris entered the tent, Ahsoka had a working prototype. The droid was shaped like a squat beetle, with magnetized feet. Maris studied it.

“You’ve both been busy,” she said.

Harry held up the five rings. “The Glamours are done. We should test them.”

Ahsoka slipped one on. Her skin shifted, her lekku vanished, and she stood there as a short, green-skinned Rodian with knobby antennae and glossy black eyes. Maris laughed.

“That’s so weird,” she said, then looked at Harry. “Your turn.”

He put a ring on his finger, and the change took only a second. When he checked the reflective panel on the wall, he looked just like Ahsoka’s Rodian form … only blue.

Ahsoka removed her ring and studied her hands. She was glad to see that she was back to normal. “It won’t wear off on its own?”

“Not unless you take the ring off or it’s damaged,” Harry said. He set his own aside. “How do you plan to place the droid?”

Ahsoka held it up. “I’ll fly and attach it while the ship is refueling. With your invisible magic, no one will see it coming. We can trigger it when we’re ready.”

Maris crossed her arms under her breasts, forcing them together. They looked spectacular, and she smirked when she spotted Harry taking a not-so-subtle glance at them. 

“I’ll tell the others,” Maris said, backing out. “Keep at it.”

Ahsoka returned to soldering a new lead and glanced at him. “I’ve never been on a crew like this. The Jedi didn’t leave much room for this kind of thing.”

“That’s why I prefer this ship. We get to make our own choices,” he said with a smile.

A Galaxy of Magic

After hours in hyperspace, the cockpit felt a little gross and stale. The reversion alarm sounded, the blue tunnel collapsed, and the Midvian Array appeared against the stars.

Aayla slowed the ship at the edge of sensor range and set it into a loose holding pattern. “We’re early,” she said. Her voice was rough and tired. She stretched, and her back cracked twice. Shaak Ti turned her chair. “There’s still thirty-seven hours to go until the Starward Slice is scheduled to dock … unless they’re delayed.”

“Imperials tend to stay on schedule,” Maris said. She leaned against the bulkhead with heavy eyes. She dragged a hand through her braids.

Ahsoka was the only one moving. She had spent most of the transit walking the corridors of the expanded tent. Now she stood near the viewport, weight on the balls of her feet, watching the array.

Harry exhaled and checked the long-range sensors. “We should stay quiet until the target arrives. No unnecessary transmissions. Shaak, can you raise the sensor dampening field?”

“I can,” she said, already working the console.

Aayla stood with one hand on her lower back. “After fourteen hours at the helm, I need a hot bath.” She looked at Harry.

He nodded and tapped the bulkhead. “Let’s go to the tent. If we’re waiting, we can at least be comfortable.”

They filed into the corridor, made their way into the cargo area, and slipped through the entrance to the tent. The shift was abrupt. The low hum of the ship gave way to warm air, soft light, and the scent of food that Harry had prepared a couple of hours ago. 

Harry offered to serve the food, but all four women declined. They all wanted a bath first. Harry shrugged and led them into the bathroom. He went to the sunken pool at its center and turned on the giant spigot. Hot, foamy water shot out of the spigot and filled the large tub in record time.

Aayla grabbed the hem of her top and pulled it off. Shaak Ti pulled the straps of her outfit off her shoulders and let it fall. Maris tugged her white top over her head and stepped out of her pants without pause. Ahsoka remained where she was, still dressed. She watched the others and did not move.

Maris noticed. “You can bathe alone if you prefer,” she said.

Ahsoka shook her head. She glanced at Harry, who had already removed his shirt and boots. He unbuckled his belt, stepped out of his trousers, and stood there, completely naked. He caught her looking at his cock and smiled cheekily. Ahsoka looked away, blushing. 

Ahsoka wasn’t sure what to do with herself. She had seen naked bodies before, but this was different. The others were so at ease as they pulled off their clothes and tossed them aside in an unceremonious heap. She tried not to stare, but her eyes couldn’t help but move from Aayla’s blue and perfectly round breasts to Shaak Ti’s soft, red-skinned curves to Maris’s surprisingly bouncy chest. And then there was Harry. He was already naked and obviously not at all embarrassed about the thick shaft dangling between his legs. Ahsoka felt awkward, as if she’d walked in on something private.

She hesitated, trying to will herself to move, but her body refused. Then she caught Maris’s gaze, and something in the Zabrak girl’s expression tugged at her. Ahsoka inhaled, squared her shoulders, and reached for the zipper on her borrowed trousers. The fabric stuck at her hips, but she shimmied free, exposing her smooth thighs, then her bare crotch, which was already tingling from the naughtiness of it all. Her top came off next, dropping her perky breasts into the open. The air brushed against her nipples, and she was suddenly aware of how hard they’d gotten. She fought the urge to cover herself, but instinct won, and she put her hands over her chest as the others glanced back at her.

Aayla noticed and smiled. It was a warm smile, as if she’d been in this situation before. Shaak Ti merely nodded, radiating confidence. Ahsoka’s cheeks burned, but she forced herself forward and stepped toward the tub with careful, quiet steps. The tile was cold against her bare feet. The others slipped into the foaming water with a series of relaxed, contented sighs.

Ahsoka lingered at the edge, trying to figure out the social rules of naked group bathing. Was she supposed to be casual? Should she joke around, or was it more serious? She didn’t want to offend anyone, especially not Harry, whose eyes sometimes flashed briefly over her body before returning to meet her gaze. She felt nervous from being so exposed, but also a little excited.

She finally slipped one foot into the water. It was hotter than she expected. It felt scalding at first, then blissfully relaxing as she eased in up to her knees. She let her hands drop away from her chest, realizing she looked ridiculous trying to cover up while everyone else was so relaxed. The others made room for her in the pool, so she eased herself in, and the water rose over her hips and then her belly. The foam clung to her skin and hid her nipples, which made her feel a little safer.

Once seated, she realized the others hadn’t been judging her at all. They were chatting about the mission, about the food Harry had prepared, and anything else they could think of. Harry sat next to her with his chest and arms above the water, and she could imagine how his cock was bobbing lazily between his legs. He grinned at her, and she tried to smile back, but her mouth was suddenly dry.

Aayla stretched out her legs and let them float. Her breasts gleamed above the foam like two perfect blue mountains. Shaak Ti leaned back with her eyes closed and enjoyed the heat, while Maris splashed soapy suds onto her body. Ahsoka’s eyes darted from face to face, then to the relaxed bodies all around her.

She tried to focus on the conversation, but the warmth of the bath and the sight of so many naked bodies, including her own, made her thoughts fuzzy. She watched a drop of water roll down Maris’s chest and disappear between her perky tits. She watched as the foam gathered at the curve of Shaak Ti’s ass, and she saw the way Aayla’s breasts bounced around with every gesture.

Ahsoka shifted in the water, rubbed her thighs together, and tried to ignore the throbbing between her legs. She wondered how the others could be so relaxed and open with their nudity. She wondered if it was something you learned with time or if it was just the way they were. She wanted to ask, but her lips were practically glued shut. 

Maris caught her staring and grinned. “You look like you’re about to pass out,” she teased. “Don’t worry, Ahsoka. It’s just a bath.”

Ahsoka tried to laugh it off. “I’m not used to all this,” she admitted in a small, nervous voice. “The Jedi don’t do a lot of … group bonding.”

Aayla moved closer, and her curvy body glided through the water. “You’ll get used to it,” she said softly. “Out here, we have to trust each other with everything. It helps to start with the little things.”

Ahsoka managed a nod, and she let herself relax. The heat worked its way into her muscles, and the nakedness of everyone else felt less like a demand for her to be like them, and more like an invitation for her to join in. She let her arms float to the surface and stopped trying to hide every part of herself.

She watched the others, fascinated by the way they moved, laughed, and touched without embarrassment. She wanted to be that free. She wanted to let herself go.

She watched Maris in particular, and she was fascinated by the way the Zabrak girl’s round breasts rose above the water. Maris arched her back and stretched, which did wonderful things to her naked, soapy breasts. It was almost like she was purposely showing off. Maris caught her eye and winked, and Ahsoka blushed deeply. 

The women settled in as the steam fogged the air, and for the first time, Ahsoka truly felt as though she were part of the crew. She watched Harry’s legs stretch out as his strong arms rested on the tile lip. She noticed how the women moved closer to him, as if orbiting a sun. Unknowingly, she found herself moving closer too. 

She leaned back and closed her eyes, surrendering to it all. 

A Galaxy of Magic

After the bath, the group ate dinner while wearing nothing but towels wrapped around their bodies. Shaak Ti and Aayla compared sensor readings and approach vectors, but Ahsoka couldn’t focus. She felt loose, floaty, and warm in a way that she had never felt before. It was as if the last brittle layer of Jedi restraint had melted in the steam. She barely registered Maris leaning in to tease her about the way she was staring at Harry, or the way Aayla’s bare hip brushed hers in passing, yet every point of contact left her skin tingling. Harry moved among them, offering plates, pouring drinks, and letting his hand settle for a moment on a shoulder or the small of a back before moving on. He never lingered. Ahsoka caught the glances he stole at her, and each one made her belly do a flip.

By the time the kitchen was cleared, she was dead on her feet. The Jedi had taught her to run on adrenaline and discipline, but even she couldn’t resist the pull of a real bed. She drifted to the small lounge at the front of the tent and dropped onto the couch. It was soft, but too short for her legs. She stretched out fully and realized her entire body was still humming. She felt exhausted and wide awake at once.

Aayla appeared by her side. “You’re not sleeping here,” she said gently. “Come with us. There’s room for you.” Ahsoka opened her mouth to protest that she didn't want to intrude, but Aayla’s look stopped her. It was a real, genuine invitation, and it filled her with a warmth that she couldn’t explain.

She got up and followed Aayla down the softly lit corridor. Laughter and low voices grew louder as they neared the bedroom. Maris and Shaak Ti were already fully nude and sprawled across the broad mattress. Harry was just finishing pulling off his boxers, and his cock stood hard and proud between his legs. Ahsoka hesitated at the threshold. She had never shared a bed with anyone, and her heart started racing again.

Maris spotted her. “Jump in,” she chirped.

Shaak Ti moved and patted the space beside her. “The bed’s much more comfortable than that couch.”

Ahsoka stood frozen, and she glanced down at herself. The bath towel was still wrapped around her, but it had slipped low enough that cool air touched her nipples and reminded her how little it covered. Aayla slipped an arm around her waist and guided her inside. “We don’t wear much to bed around here,” she teased. “We’ll keep you warm.” She released Ahsoka’s waist, pulled off her own towel, and tossed it onto the pile of clothes by the bed. Under the covers, Maris and Shaak Ti were already naked, though their bare breasts were above the covers for all to see. Harry sat on the edge of the mattress with his cock sticking straight up. 

Ahsoka’s mouth went dry. She clutched the towel tighter, then felt ridiculous for it. A nervous squeak escaped when she tried to laugh. Harry stood and crossed to her, stopping just short of touching her. “It’s okay to be nervous,” he gently said. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” She nodded, not trusting her voice enough to speak. 

Aayla moved behind her and unwrapped the towel. It fell away, leaving Ahsoka standing naked in the middle of the room. For a moment she felt like a padawan again, waiting to be judged. Then she saw the way Harry looked at her. He obviously liked what he saw, and the tension drained out of her shoulders. Her skin flushed, and her breasts rose and fell with each quick breath. Her nipples crinkled tight in the cooler air.

Maris giggled. “Don’t worry. Harry’s a perfect gentleman.” Shaak Ti patted the mattress again. Ahsoka climbed in, and Harry settled beside her. She could feel his body heat radiating against her delicate skin. She stole a glance at the thick cock sticking up from between his legs and caught herself wondering what it would feel like to touch him, or what it would feel like to have it in her. 

Aayla slipped in on her other side, and her smooth skin brushed against Ahsoka’s. “You can sleep in the middle if you want,” she said. “Or however you’re comfortable.” Shaak Ti and Maris moved closer, then Aayla and Harry closed in on either side until she was nestled between their warm bodies.

Harry lay on his back with his arms folded behind his head. Ahsoka watched the muscles shift under his skin. With so many bodies packed together, there was no avoiding contact. The heavy weight of Aayla’s breast pressed against her back, and her hand rested lightly on her hip. She could feel Harry’s hot, thick cock pressed against her thigh, and the sensation made her dizzy. She didn't know if this arrangement was considered normal, but none of the others seemed to care.

No one spoke as they all got settled. Ahsoka wondered if she was supposed to say something, but she was too busy trying to steady her breathing. Then Harry reached over, slid his hand underneath her, and pulled her body to his. She let herself sink into the warmth, surrounded by the bodies of her friends. For the first time since leaving the Jedi Order, she didn’t feel alone. She was part of a crew now. She smiled, nuzzled her cheek against Harry’s chest, and drifted off to sleep with her body pressed between friends.