Shadow Play

Fireworks blossomed across the clear, night sky over the Fountain Palace.  The Palace was filled with the nobility of the Hapes Cluster as well as scores of visiting dignitaries and ambassadors from across the galaxy.  The celebration marked the official naming of Tenel Ka as Queen Mother-Designate of the Hapes Consortium.  The future ruler of the Hapes Cluster stood upon one of the wide balconies of the Fountain Palace, an untouched vial of wine in her hand.  She watched the black waves below crash into the cliff-side, her young, beautiful face illuminated by the the colorful explosions above her.  The cool ocean breeze tugged at a fiery red lock of hair framing Tenel Ka's face, she brushed the strand behind her left ear, raising her eyes to the heavens, searching the star-filled sky for a sign of her returning parents.

"Your Majesty," said Captain Astarta from the open doorway behind Tenel.

The slim Jedi woman turned to face the waiting royal guard.

"You have news?"

"Your parents' ship has just left Hyperspace, it will reach the planet in twenty minutes," reported the tall, lithe captain.

"Thank you, Captain Astarta," nodded Tenel Ka gratefully.  "I know that you are eager to resume your normal duties guarding my father."

"He requested that I ward you during the designation ceremony, he said that it made him feel better knowing that I was at your side during this...uneasy period of time."

"No one has tried to assassinate me yet, maybe the Royal Court has finally achieved a measure of..restraint," smiled Tenel wryly.

"There is always that hope, Your Majesty," smiled Astarta, "but I will feel better when you have been properly anointed as the Queen Mother."

Tenel Ka returned her gaze to the churning sea.  The young woman raised her head suddenly, piercing the darkness and the flowering fireworks with her bright, green eyes.

"Is something wrong, Majesty?" frowned Captain Astarta, rushing to the young woman's side.

"There..is danger," murmured Tenel softly.

The night sky became blindingly bright for a brief moment.  Tenel Ka and Astarta stumbled back, blinking their eyes from the white light that filled their vision.

"Mother!  Father!" shouted Tenel Ka, reaching out to grasp the balcony railing, hot tears flowing down her pale cheeks.

"What has happened?" demanded Astarta, forgetting protocol in her panic and grasping Tenel's slender right arm.

Screams echoed from the interior of the Fountain Palace.  Courtiers and messengers raced through the arched halls, fear palpable around them.

"Mother and Father..are dead!" wept Tenel Ka uncontrollably.

"Isolder!  No!" gasped Astarta, her legs quaking, almost collapsing underneath her.

A squad of four Royal Guards spilled onto the balcony.  The burly women parted for Ta'a Chume, Isolder's mother and former Queen Mother of Hapes.

"You must come to the throne room now, Tenel Ka!" ordered Ta'a Chume sharply.

"My parents' ship, were there any survivors?" asked Tenel softly.

"There were none, the ship was completely destroyed," snapped Ta'a Chume.  "Now come to the throne room so you can be crowned Queen Mother, the longer you tarry, the greater chance that another noble will try to seize the throne!"

"She is right, Tenel," whispered Astarta into the stunned young woman's left ear.  The captain wiped tears off her face. "We can mourn tomorrow, but first we must secure your crown."

"Very well," sighed Tenel Ka.

Tenel drained her vial of wine and tossed the empty vessel over the railing.  She followed Ta'a Chume into the brightly-lit hallway of the Palace, her sorrow an empty, cold void in her chest.

***

Tenel waited until the servants finished their work and left her spacious bedchamber before she entered the room, closed the tall, double doors securely, and sat heavily at the foot of the enormous, canopy bed.  Tenel removed the heavy, silver crown from her temples, it was a beautiful, ornate headpiece of entwining silver and gold vines and coral.  She squeezed the circlet until it dug into the flesh of her living right hand, the left hand registered the crown, but didn't transmit pain, only data through artificial wires and circuitry.  Tenel lowered her head and cried painful, wracking sobs that shook her entire body.  Tenel's parents were gone forever, the only two people in the entire Consortium who truly loved her were no more. Tenel allowed the crown to fall to the thickly-carpeted floor, she hugged her sides and wept without care.

"Tenel?" inquired a voice from the entrance of the young woman's bedchamber.

Tenel raised her tear-streaked face and stared in astonishment.

"Jacen?"

Jacen Solo was dressed in a Jedi Knight's flowing brown robes and cloak.  He closed the bedroom door behind him, leaning against the polished door's surface.

Tenel leapt from the bed and ran to Jacen.  She collapsed against him, sliding her arms around his waist.  Jacen returned Tenel Ka's embrace, kissing the top of her head, then her soft, right cheek.  Tenel looked at Jacen, stared deep into his concerned eyes, and kissed him hard on the mouth.  Jacen pressed Tenel close, caressing the young woman's moist lips, inhaling her warm breath.

"I had just landed for your designation ceremony when your parents' ship exploded.  I felt their deaths, and your pain from their loss," whispered Jacen over Tenel Ka's neck.

"They were murdered, Jacen!  I feel it!" breathed Tenel, her green eyes smoldering.

"I think I know who did it," admitted Jacen reluctantly, releasing Tenel from his arms.

"Who?" demanded Tenel, her body nearly quivering with anger.

"Brakiss has returned.  My sister said that she met him on a station at the edge of the Outer Rim.  She was helping Anja secure the station when they discovered a cloning chamber, Brakiss was already revived and nearly killed Jaina before he escaped."

"Brakiss," whispered Tenel.  She walked away from Jacen to cross her bedchamber.  She threw the crystal outer doors of her room wide open and walked onto the balcony that faced the rising, pink sun.  It was already dawn, fatigue and grief weighed Tenel down, she held the balcony rail to keep from falling to the floor.  The crashing surf soothed Tenel, she unbound her long, red hair and let it flutter in the strong, sea air.  Jacen joined Tenel on the balcony and entwined his arms around her thin waist, she leaned back against him, drawing strength from her friend.

"He will come after me next," said Tenel while she watched the rising waves.  "If I am dead the Royal Court will turn upon itself, anyone will be able to take the throne."

"Even a Dark Jedi like Brakiss," added Jacen.

"I am glad you are here, Jacen."

Jacen hugged Tenel and kissed the back of her neck.  Tenel closed her eyes and reveled in Jacen's embrace.

***

A heavy knock on the door awoke Tenel Ka.  She glanced at Jacen, he still slept beside her.  Tenel carefully slid out of bed, draped on a light, milk-white, silk robe, and quietly crossed the bedchamber.

"Forgive the intrusion, Majesty," whispered Captain Astarta.  She peeked over Tenel's shoulder, then smiled knowingly at Tenel.  The young Queen Mother blushed hotly, but did not offer any explanations or apologies.

"Fighting has broken out among the border worlds, Majesty.  Several houses are pressing claims to the throne and gathering supporters.  They say that your mother's low-born blood does not make you a qualified ruler of the Consortium."

"What is Ta'a Chume doing?" frowned Tenel, joining Astarta and closing the bedroom door behind her.

"Nothing.  She neither supports or condemns you."

"Typical," sighed Tenel.  She regarded Astarta calmly.  "Increase security in the Palace.  Eject any noble whom you think could pose a threat to the throne."

"That would be almost all of them," chuckled Astarta darkly.  "I have a few particular ones in mind, though."

"Deal with them," ordered Tenel.  "Then get the Minister of Defense, I want to strengthen the fleet presence around Hapes."

"A good idea," agreed the guard captain.  "Whoever controls Hapes rules the Consortium."

"The ones who want to be ruled, anyway," snorted Tenel.  She waved Astarta on her way, then returned to the bedchamber.

Jacen was awake when Tenel removed her robe and slid back into bed with him.  He moaned and smiled when Tenel kissed his lips, then planted soft kisses down his neck and across his firm chest. 

"Who was that?" groaned Jacen while Tenel slipped her left arm underneath the sheets and gently massaged his hardening cock with her artificial hand.

"Captain Astarta, we had a few things to take care of," purred Tenel before she started licking Jacen's left nipple.

"What..kind of things?" panted Jacen as Tenel's hand stroked him faster, her tongue teasing his stiff nipple.

"Politics," growled Tenel.  She flung away the sheets, straddled Jacen, and positioned his engorged cock between her slender legs.

"I need this, Jacen," murmured Tenel.  "Do you love me?"

"I love you, Tenel," smiled Jacen softly.  "I've loved you for a long time."

Tenel smiled radiantly and pressed the wide head of Jacen's prick against the lips of her pussy.  The young Queen Mother descended onto Jacen's erect shaft, she bit her lower lip as it shoved up into her belly, swelling inside her.  Jacen moaned sharply and grabbed Tenel's hips, he started humping between Tenel's thighs, stabbing his member deeper into her squeezing vagina.

Tenel arched her back, her bare tits bobbing as she leaned back with her arms and thrust forward with her pelvis, enfolding Jacen's cock, milking it with the pink, warm folds of her vagina.  Jacen caressed Tenel's flat belly, he slid his palms over her hot, creamy flesh and reached around her hips, grasping her small buttocks and tugging upon each taut mound.  Tenel groaned with pleasure and rode Jacen faster, sweat gleaming over her naked body, her thighs flexing with each thrust of her hips.  Jacen's cock grew fatter inside Tenel's cunt, he rammed harder into her, squeezing her ass, rocking the large bed with the violence of his gyrations.

The perspiring young woman leaned forward over her lover.  She hugged Jacen's neck, devouring his panting lips while she humped him faster and faster, her pussy contracting around his throbbing rod.  Tenel was massaging Jacen's tongue with hers when she orgasmed, her body shuddering while pure ecstasy exploded inside her belly.

The motion of Tenel's body slowed, then stopped.  She rested on top of Jacen, panting softly, her damp hair hanging across the young man's shoulders.  Jacen looked up at Tenel and stroked her flushed face.  She kissed one of his fingers, then gently sucked on a fingertip with a wicked smile on her wet lips.

"Ready for some breakfast?" inquired Jacen.

"Yes, then I have a realm to hold together," sighed Tenel Ka.

*****