Crude Matter Rough Draft 11

[klcthebookworm]

Today's word count ended up at 510. Which I feel really good about, even though it took almost two hours to get to that many words. I'm hoping to get through to my ending using this mix of zero draft and first tomorrow, but given the errand I have in the middle of the day, I will make no promises.

“Oh no!” Mara twisted the sheet tighter under her arm and marched into the fresher. The clear and sapphire vial now sat front and center on the spill-proof shielded shelf in the wall. She plucked it from the cleansers and hair treatment bottles surrounding it. The small, curved vial fit into her hand and she could see the level of liquid was still near the applicator top. “This isn’t perfume; it’s Rhododendron essential oil.”

Mara turned to show the vial to Skywalker. The blonde in the ‘fresher door crossed her arms over her chest smashing her mammaries together into impressive cleavage. “Isn’t that on every planet’s contraband list?” The disapproval was heavy in the Force.

“For what just happened to us, yes. It’s Lando’s.”

Invoking his friend’s name only made the disapproval heavier. “Lando needs to drug you in your relationship.”

She wanted to pinch her nose or rub her temples to ward off this oncoming headache, but she didn’t have a free hand. “It’s CARGO. Lando asked me to deliver it to a Ho’Din researcher on [Second Planet], and yes I am smuggling it so you can be self righteous about that too!”

Skywalker’s disapproval vanished behind her mental shield. “This was the favor you mentioned.” Something crossed her face, but Mara couldn’t identify it before Jedi stoicism froze her features. “How can I make amends?”

“Amends?”

“You didn’t intend for us to have sex and I did alter your consent. Apologizing doesn’t seem like enough.”

“It was an accident.” Mara set the vial back on the shelf.

Anger cracked Skywalker’s shield and hardened her features. “That does not excuse what I did.”

She felt overwhelmed by the whole scenario. “Can we not do this right now?

Stalemate. Luke wants punishment for rape. Mara is willing to chalk the whole experience as just disappointing sex, best forgotten it ever happened. They separate; Luke goes back to her tent and Mara settles in for what sleep she can get.

Morning. Early rising. Brew some caf. She is not dealing with Luke Skywalker without fortification. She heads out to deal with the situation. The sun streamed from the rear of the ships. The tent door was slid shut, but she heard beeps and whistles echoing off the metal and stone. The droid wasn’t in the X-Wing. She looked toward the temple ruins first.

There it was rocking on its legs in front of the pile of crumbled stones. Mara felt her stomach drop. Skywalker would not be that stupid, oh she KNEW that was futile hope. She reached out with the Force as she crossed the grassy space. Skywalker was inside, a steady presence but lulling like he was asleep.

She stopped next to the astromech droid. “Skywalker went back in there?”

The droid wailed an affirmative answer in Binary.

“Shavit.” She stared up the mound of stones to the hole at the top. Should she go in after Skywalker? How to keep the plants from snapping her up in a sex-changing pod? She didn’t have chemicals on board that could create a weed killer. Maybe she could suit up like she was going to hit vacuum and that would be enough protection?

She took a deep breath. “Skywalker is alive in there,” she told the worried droid. “I’m going to put on some gear and go after him, her, whoever.” She spun from the temple and sprinted to the Jade’s Fire.

“Luke, I’m not punishing you for an accident."