Woman without a Country

"How do you get a Corellian into a force cage?" joked the first guard.
Atton groaned. "Why did I listen to you? Why did I come here? I can't believe we're being arrested."
"You're not under arrest," said Lieutenant Grenn. "You're being held until we can verify your story about what happened on Peragus, and clear your identities with the Republic."
"We're all gonna die," moaned Atton theatrically.
Grenn, head of the Telos Security Forces, gritted his teeth. "I hate arresting Corellians."
"I'll bite. How do you get a Corellian in a force cage?" asked Ludmilla.
"Tell him there's a pazaak deck inside," grinned one guard.
"Tell him there's a woman inside," said another.
Ludmilla shook her head. "That's just silly," she said as she stepped into the force cage. "If you really want to get a Corellian into a cage, bet him he won't go in."
The guards joined her in a laugh, and Atton grumbled. "Very funny."
"Double check the power cycles on the cages, and make sure everything is in working order. I'm not taking any chances," Grenn commanded firmly.
"Okay, now you're just being rude," snapped Atton. "It's not like the cage is going to break just because you have to lock up a Corellian."
There was a slight power fluctuation, and the cages all turned off.
Atton turned bright red, and even Kreia smiled slightly. Ludmilla laughed openly.
Grenn sighed the sigh of a long-suffering policeman in trying circumstances, and the guards held back their laughter while the technician got the cages back online.
"Sorry, sir," said the technician nervously.
"Thank you," Grenn looked curiously at the three prisoners. "I noticed that none of you made any attempt to escape."
"Why would we?" Ludmilla asked. "We didn't do anything wrong, and I know you'll let us go."
"We'll see." He didn't want to like these people, but he couldn't help trusting her. "This won't take long. I'll be back within the hour." He looked glumly at Atton. "Try not to break anything while I'm gone."
"I didn't do anything!" he protested. "Can I get a pazaak deck? Or a loose woman?"
Grenn shook his head and walked away, and the guards finally gave in to their mirth.
"I could go for some chocolate," said Ludmilla. "Or a drink. I'm hungry. Is there any food here?"
"How do you not get fat?" asked Atton. "You eat constantly. Seriously," he said to the guards. "She puts sugar on sugar. She made a sugar sandwich the other day. And washed it down with half a bottle of something with so much alcohol it burned bright blue."
"Is this part of the torture?" asked Kreia.
"He's nervous," said Ludmilla calmly. "You could just ask him to be quiet."
"One might as well ask a planet to stop turning," snapped Kreia.
"Or you could try asking a dried up old witch to be nice for a change!"
"Don't mind them," said Ludmilla to the guards, "they actually like each other."
"What?" snapped Kreia, outraged.
"Are you delusional?" snarled Atton, at the same time.
Ludmilla smiled, and the guards choked back more laughter. Another guard came in, and the jokesters left the prisoners alone with the new guard.
"We'll have a game or two as soon as we get out of here," Atton promised as the joking guards left. "I am going to be so rich," he grinned. "So, new guy, do you play pazaak too? It's the game of kings! Really stupid, bored kings."
The guard closed the door to the holding cells. "So," he said, "you are the 'Last of the Jedi.' I must say, I'm not impressed."
"Wait, you're a bounty hunter," Atton laughed, "You? Man, the Exchange is really tapped for resources."
"What?" the false guard exclaimed. "I'm more than enough to kill you."
"Right," said Atton, his rich voice filled with cruel mockery. "Because a two-bit pistol jockey in stolen rags is going to somehow kill three people and not get caught on his way out. Why didn't they just hire a Mandalorian to blow up the whole room?"
"I'm ten times smarter than any Mandalorian! I didn't steal this uniform, I killed this guard and stole his identity! My plan is flawless."
"Oh?" Atton visibly pretended interest. "And how were you planning to walk out with the Jedi as a prisoner? Or were you going to do something stupid like hack the console and try to overload the cages?"
"Er…. Of course, overloading the cages had occurred to me. I …" the bounty hunter examined the console, and Atton just shook his head. "They are willing to pay for her body, alive or dead. Dead it is then," he said, and tapped the commands into the console.
The cages shut down again.
"You know," said Atton in a confidential tone, "ten times smarter than a Mandalorian still makes you about as smart as a Corellian's toe."
Ludmilla bounded out of the cage and tackled the bounty hunter, knocking him unconscious with a single powerful blow.
Kreia looked at the bounty hunter with disgust. "I will never forgive this stain upon the universe for inspiring me with a moment of admiration for that babbling idiot."
"You know what? Next time we're locked up, I think I'll try and see if I can talk them into killing you first."
The door opened, and Lt. Grenn charged in. "What's going on here? The security alarms indicated that the cages were opened from the console." He looked down at the unconscious man on the floor. "That's not one of my men."
"He's a bounty hunter. He said he stole the uniform," Ludmilla explained.
"What the hell is going on?" Grenn shook his head. "Look, we've arranged a residential apartment for you while we complete our investigations."
"Are we still under arrest?" Ludmilla asked.
"We're still confirming your version of the events on Peragus, and now we have this matter to investigate. Don't worry, you'll be under the protection of the Telos Security Forces. I will personally clear any visitors to your quarters."
Ludmilla sighed, trying to keep her temper under control. "Maybe you could stop telling everyone that I'm here?"
Grenn didn't respond, just opened the door so that they could be escorted to their new quarters.
"Well, at least it's a step up from force cages," said Atton with distaste. "There's no kitchen! How is this residential?" He walked into the rooms, and explored the eating area. "A meal dispenser. Ugh. What am I supposed to do with this?" He pulled out some packages of instant food, and started making something palatable out of them.
"And there will be no pazaak playing with the guards," said Grenn. "Not while they're on duty."
Ludmilla closed the door after the security officer, and threw herself down on one of the beds.
Kreia sat carefully on the floor, folding her legs beneath her, and began to meditate.
With a sigh, Ludmilla stood up and did the same. She considered, analyzed herself, felt Kreia doing the same. By the time the food was ready, she felt calmer and more centered. She went to the eating area to help Atton with the food.
"What happened to your hand?" She looked curiously at the small bandages on his hand.
"What? Oh, the stupid package. Cut myself," he explained as he set out the stew he had created from the instant food packages. Kreia looked curiously at Atton as she sat down. "Don't worry," he said viciously, "I didn't bleed in your food or anything."
"I was wondering why you didn't just ask one of us to heal that for you," she said mildly. She tasted the food. "If only you didn't speak, you would be the perfect man."
"This is really good, Atton," said Ludmilla, before he could snap back at her. "There isn't anything decent to drink, is there?"
"Your choices are fruit juice and the weakest ale that money can buy."
Ludmilla made a face. "Where's the juice?"
"Cooler," he pointed.
Ludmilla pulled out a can of juice for herself. "Kreia, do you want some?"
"I will have water, child. Thank you," she said as Ludmilla set a bottle before her.
"Atton, what do you want?"
"I want you to take your shirt off."
"Perhaps you could do that after dinner?" snapped Kreia.
"Hey, I was just answering the question. Or did you mean to drink?" he asked innocently. "I'll take some juice."
Ludmilla grinned and handed him a can, then sat down at the table again.
Kreia shook her head. "I think I will stay in this room for the near future. If you two could kindly contain your frolicking to the room with beds in it, I would appreciate it."
"Why don't you ever tell her to stop fooling around?" Atton asked curiously. "I thought Jedi were supposed to be celibate and not form attachments."
"Jedi? The same order that turned on itself and is still trying to doom itself to extinction? The blind fools that can't hear worlds dying over the sounds of their petty squabbling?" Kreia shook her head slowly. "We don't stop being Human just because we can use the Force. Or, we shouldn't," she said softly, as if to some memory. "You irritate me because you're a disrespectful, chattering fool. That does not change the fact that you're tall, dark and handsome. I have no problem with letting the child enjoy herself."
"I like how you managed to negate anything that I might have taken as a compliment with an insult."
"Years of practice," said Kreia with a slight smile.
Ludmilla laughed, and finished her food. She cleaned up the eating area while Atton finished eating, and then they left Kreia alone. Atton kissed her as soon as the door separating them from Kreia closed. He still tasted like the sweet juice, and sugar, and she kissed him hungrily.
He laughed softly, and pulled her closer. She kissed him again, and undid her jacket so that her top would slide away. Atton smiled in appreciation, and she pulled off his jacket as well, slid her hands over the shirt he was wearing beneath it.
"Silk," she murmured, "I love touching silk."
He grinned. "I can leave it on." They lay down on the floor, trading kisses to each other, touching, caressing. She turned so that he was on top of her, and wrapped her leg around his waist, grinding their hips together. Atton gasped in surprise, buried his head in her neck.
Ludmilla could feel his body quiver, and smiled to herself. She kissed his neck, and continued to grind herself against him, running her hands over the silk shirt, drinking in the taste of his passion and his sweat.
"Oh, I'm not usually this easy," he moaned, and swore under his breath.
She smiled, a little wickedly. "Well, I am," she kissed him again, forcing her lips against his, her body exploiting his sensitivity, his weakness, until he sank against her, panting. She ran her legs over his, smiling, savoring the feel of his weight on top of her, the warm damp sweetness of his release.
He made a small noise of gratitude, and kissed her breasts, one after the other. She ran her hands through his hair, and he kissed her breasts again. She smiled, and purred softly in satisfaction.
Atton moved to kiss her lips again, and the messaging terminal rang.
"Dammit!" Atton buried his head in her breasts. "Can we ignore it?"
She laughed, trying to ignore her frustration. "I don’t think it will help if we do." She sat up, and Atton rolled to one side. He reached over for her shirt, but she walked over to the terminal without it.
"Hello?"
The viewscreen showed a security guard. "Hello, you have… perfect breasts." His eyes were wide and shocked.
"Yes, I know," she said patiently. "But that's not why you called me," her accent slipped again.
The guard swallowed nervously, and tried again. "You have a visitor, ma'am. Moza, from the Ithorian planet-restoration team."
"I guess I should put my clothes back on," she said calmly. "Tell him we'll be just a moment."
Atton put his arm behind his head, and smiled at her from where he lay on the floor. "I think you really enjoy doing that. And for the record, you really do have perfect breasts."
"Thank you," she smiled back. "And you," she knelt down so that she could kiss him again, "are delicious. And I haven't even gotten to the best part yet," she murmured.
She kissed him again, and held him in the kiss until someone knocked at the door, and she finally pulled away from him with a disappointed sigh.
"At some point," said Atton softly, "you're going to have to put that shirt back on."
Kreia emerged from the eating area. "Did someone knock? Put your clothes back on, and peel that idiot off the floor before he melts and gets stuck there."
Atton laughed and stood up slowly. "I think I'll go clean myself off."
Kreia waited until Atton had disappeared into the washroom and Ludmilla had pulled her top back on before she opened the door.
She welcomed the Ithorian politely, if somewhat coldly. Atton returned, and they listened to the tale of the bickering over the Telos reconstruction. Ludmilla seemed bored until the Ithorian mentioned the name of the company that was trying to muscle the Ithorians out of the project.
"Czerka?" she shouted.
The Ithorian recoiled in shock, and tried to explain some more but Ludmilla had stopped listening.
"Enough, I'll help you. I don't care anymore. I'll go see your leader as soon as they let us out of here."
The Ithorian left gratefully, if somewhat concerned by her reaction.
"I take it Czerka isn't one of your favorite intergalactic corporations?" said Kreia dryly.
"Corporation? They're nothing more than thugs with uniforms." Ludmilla crossed her arms angrily. "Just wait, they'll call as soon as the Ithorian is gone." Her rage caused her to completely lose her ability to mask her accent.
Atton stared at her. "I have a new request. The next time we're making out, stop hiding the accent."
Ludmilla smiled at him. "It is bad habit, I know. Years, and years, and I still can't hide it."
"Why would you?"
"Because sometimes a woman wants a man to listen to her words, and not her voice."
"Right," Atton agreed. "When we're making out, that's not one of the times."
Ludmilla laughed, and the terminal rang again. "I told you," she snarled. She let the guard connect them to the caller from Czerka. She waited while the woman introduced herself. "Tell me," Ludmilla demanded, "has Czerka changed ownership in the last, oh, fifteen years?"
"What? No, of course not. Czerka has continued as a profitable enterprise since before the Mandalorian wars."
"Right," snarled Ludmilla. "So you're still run by the same bastards who repeatedly failed to ship weapons to Republic installations during those wars? The same people who left men – my men – waiting for arms and armor that never came?"
"Uh… I can't speak directly to that but I'm sure that there is a reasonable explanation," she stammered.
"Oh there is, you backstabbing two-faced little bitch! Czerka sold our arms to the Mandalorians and claimed that they had stolen them! You want my help? You find me the garrison of Vog Station, you find me what happened to the shields that were supposed to be delivered to Teth Minor, you murdering little slime! Don't you dare ask me for help! I suggest you pack your bags and get off this station as fast as you can, before I find a way to expose your double-dealing traitorous Czerka ass!" She cut off the communication and stalked away, trying to recover her sense of balance.
Kreia watched her for a moment then turned to Atton. "I will leave this in your hands," she said and retreated to the eating area.
Atton laughed lightly, and waited until the door closed. "You're sure you were a Jedi?"
Ludmilla laughed, and let him pull her into his arms for a kiss. "Yes, I was. A very good one, in my own opinion."
"And some other people, too," he kissed her neck. "You're very sexy when you're angry. And when you're calm." She laughed softly as he continued, and let herself settle into his arms, brushing her hands over his hair again. "When you're half-naked, when you're clothed. But I don't understand how you were ever a Jedi. You feel things, but your feelings don't control you, you don't hide from them." He looked over at the terminal. "I've never seen a Jedi get angry like that before. Isn't that the path to the Dark Side?" he asked mockingly.
"Not always," she said, suddenly serious. She held his head in her hands so she could see his eyes. "I have never fallen to the Dark Side. I am not evil, and I will never be evil. But I am no coward, and I will not let injustice go unpunished just because I fear what might happen to me if I stand up for what I know is right."
Atton watched her face carefully, the soft fire in her green eyes, listened to the truth in her voice.
"We were taught that the path that we must walk is straight and narrow, and that any deviation from it would lead to an irretrievable fall. I deny that statement completely. The path is broad, and twists like any natural forest path. The danger is not in falling, it is in losing your way, and there is always a way back. Always."
Atton shook his head. "I don't buy the last part. Some things can't be forgiven."
She shrugged. "When it happens to me, I'll believe it. Until then, I believe there is always a way."
His eyes flickered over the classic lines of her face, the gentle slant of her eyes, the perfect curve of her lips. "You really do believe that, don't you?" Atton reached for her, gently tilted her head so that he could drop a rain of kisses along her chin, leading away from her lips, moving up to her ears. "It seems to have worked for you," he whispered, and she kissed his neck, tasting his skin.
"Why did you put your jacket back on?" she asked. "I'm just going to take it off again," she said as she did just that. Atton laughed. "I only put my shirt back on because she made me."
"Anyway, I was just pointing out that you don't seem to have forgiven Czerka." He kissed her neck again and waited for her to respond.
"If they leave, I'll consider that their first step on a new path. I did that because I want her to pull the files and realize what kind of people she's working for, and leave before it's too late."
"Too late?"
"If they cross me," she said calmly, "it will be too late." The terminal rang again, and she kissed Atton's neck one last time before she walked over to answer it.