Star Wars: Swords of the Force

[Armphid]

Traya's hands were claws, scrabbling at the bed, the walls, her tits, Xeres's forearms, anything within reach. It was so good it was mad, and more and more just kept pouring in. She let out a strangled cry as Xeres' tongue teased her clit, the trio of fingers filling her and joyfully spearing again and again into her silken tunnel. "More! More, please!"

She screamed louder as another finger pressed in, the joined digits rotating, so much insider her that it pushed her walls out almost painfully. Which suited her just fine. She liked dancing along that edge! "YES! Ulm and Frethya and all the fucking Gods, yes! OOooohhh, Xereeees!" Her cry became a choked off nothing as she came again, quaking and shivering, riding scorching waves of raw pleasure, her pussy squirting her cum all over Irina's hand, barely missing her face.

Even as her chest heaved, she felt another upon her, so soon, so soon, it was impossible! It was amazing! "Don't stop, gonna...again...AAhhh!"

~~~~~​

Thalnos sneered as she stepped back from Ramza, her sensual face an ugly mask of hateful joy. "Smart off now, pretty boy," she cooed.

Ramza tried to speak, but all that came out was a weak, coughing, choking sound, blood spattering from his mouth. His face and chest had been carved. Long, curving, shallow gouges covered them, some just random designs, some slurs and insults in old Sith runes.

The curvy Twi'lek laughed, tossing the knife up and down in the air, catching it in one hand again and again. "That's what I thought. This is why pussies should know better that to mouth off to their betters." She leaned in, biting into one of the wounds on his cheek and tearing off a strip of skin and a bit of meat, then spitting in into his eyes. "And I'm your fucking better, Jedi. Don't you ever forget it."

He nodded his head, feebly muttering something she could not hear. "What?" Oh, this was too good. He was broken already! Ha! And her master thought him strong! Just showed the old fool was ready to be pushed aside. "Can't hear you, Jedi, speak up!"

He whispered the same words again, slightly louder. Thalnos frowned, still unable to make it out. What was he saying? "Alecto, come here. He's saying something, I think we might have gotten to him. He's begging us not to hurt him anymore, aren't you, bitch?"

She cackled as her fellow Sith approached, the blue haired human's face as impassive as always. She did, however, lean in as well. It seeemd unlikely. Yet it was possible. Strength of the body and will were not always commensurate.

Ramza rolled his head back, his lips moving, the words louder, but still hardly audible. The two Sith leaned in closer, their heads almost touching. He spoke again.

Thalnos blinked, "...did he say..."here it comes"?" Her eyes narrowed, "Is there someone coming after you?" The two Sith rose, looking at one another.

"There was another word after, that." Alecto's calm voice had a hint of interest in it. "Perhaps the name of a ship or his contact wherever they were going." Again they leaned in. "Say it again."

He blinked woozily, and whispered, "....Here it comes...ka pow..."

"Ka pow..." Thalnos frowned. "What does that mean? What language is it?"

Alecto shook his head, still listening closely. "I do not know."

Ramza spoke again, almost at a normal volume, "...here it comes..." His head snapped forward like a cracking whip, slamming his forehead into the Sith Lord's faces in a brutally classic headbutt, "Ka pow!" Alecto was knocked off her feet, falling to the ground. Thalnos staggered back, one hand clutching her nose, now broken and splattered across her face. Ramza started to laugh wildly, hysterically, as best he could with his battered throat and shredded body.

"Bastard!" The orange skinned alien snarled, and threw out her hands. Blue-white lightning leaped from the ends of her fingers, slamming into the bound man. His laughter became a scream of agony as it burned and seared, charring and sparking neurons. "You fucker! I'll feed your cock to you for that!" The lightning faded, smoke rising from Ramza's body, his chest weakly heaving.

Thalnos prepared to let the lightning fly again, but a hand fell on her shoulder. "No. It has gone as far as it can tonight. Any more and he will die. That may have been the intention of his attack." The furious Twi'lek glared into the unblinking red eyes of Alecto. "We must remember his worth to our cause, and the Master's orders."

"...Fine." She spat, making a mental note to make Alecto suffer for this too. The pale bitch should have known what was going on. "You take care of it."

"Yes." Alecto approached the faintly moving Jedi. She appraised him. "You are strong, and very enduring, as well as brave. You are wrong to be so bold. You think we are done with you, that we cannot do more. You are wrong." She pressed a button and behind him a set of doors opened revealing a large bacta tank. "This ship and much of the equipment on it is old...but this medical facility is state of the art, and the bacta we use...your family's brand...was stolen directly from a plant. Full potency."

His eyes opened, going wide. "Nn...nnn..th..."

"Yes." She seemed almost pleased that he understood. "Tonight, we will put you in the tank, and you will heal. By morning, you will have only a few faint scars for the worst of your injuries. Then we will pull you out of the tank, and start this all over again. There will be no end to your suffering."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina couldn't remember the last time she'd seen anyone cum so hard, so fast. It was impressive, almost amazing, really. But she didn't stop, just kept going, pleasing the well-built woman with every ability she had. If what she needed to do was make Traya cum so hard she could barely remember how to walk, that was what she was going to do. And it looked like she was on her way.

Stroking her fingers in and out faster and faster, until her arm almost ached, Irina bent her head again to lick teasingly at Traya's clit, hoping that the next orgasm would almost dwarf the last, making her new 'friend' feel better than she ever had.

 

[Armphid]

The busty Sith had passed beyond words, her face a canvass upon which unimagined pleasures were expressed. As Irina tongued her clit, her near-fist reaming out the woman's drenched pussy, her cries became primal shrieks and howls of delight and carnal bliss. Her eyes were closed, sweat slicking her shapely body, her head rolling from side to side as if almost to deny the sensations inundating her.

This was what she wanted. This pleasure so deep and pure it swept her away, burned her cleanly. So that she didn't remember the things she had done, or the hurts she bore, the sins she'd committed, the horrors she'd seen, the monster she'd become, or knew anything but sex and joy in it.

Irina's hand plunged madly, the squishy slurping sound of her hungry snatch being fucked almost as loud as her calls. The air was heavy with the smell of sex, almost rank with it. It was perfect.

Her eyes snapped open, and she screamed as though her heart had being ripped from her, only to have her voice trail off, not able to go high enough. Her pussy melted around Irina's fingers, muscles wildly contracting, tighting, almost nightmarishly as she came hard. Her back bend until it almost looked fit to snap, her arms splayed wide. Her cunt gushed forth, a flood of hot, rich muskiness coating the bed, her lover's hand and forearm. She quaked like a single leaf in a gale for long moments...then collapsed.

For almost a minute, she did not stir or move or speak, only her chest rising and falling, her pleasure soaked gasps of breath proof that she lived. Finally, after a long silence, "Oh, Xeres...I've never...never gone that high before. You're a master..." No wonder she'd caught the Jedi. Hell...she'd caught Traya.

The blond woman lifted her arms to grab Irina's shoulders, pulling her up with surprising strength, dragging her brunette lover atop her and kissing her soundly, fiercely, desperately. She broke the kiss to nibble Irina's neck. "...My sister, my lover...I want to taste you. Straddle my face and let me. I want to make you cum as you have me, Xeres, please."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina smiled. At least she was sure she'd done a good job here. She'd actually been worried for a minute that she'd killed Traya, actually fucked her to death. But thankfully that hadn't been the case - explaining a body this soon after being brought 'back into the fold' wouldn't have been easy. Pressing herself against the other woman hungrily, Irina nipped Traya's ear and whispered, "Whatever you want, dear one."

Pulling back slightly, she shimmied out of the bottom half of her catsuit and threw it to one side. A final, light kiss and Traya lay back, and Irina crawled up her body, shivering as she felt Traya's tongue flick out to lick her nipples as they passed her mouth. When her pussy was over the other Sith's mouth, she straightened up, reaching behind her to toy with her breasts as she felt the warm, wet pressure of a tongue begin to caress her already-wet flesh.

 

[Armphid]

Traya breathed in deep, filling her nose and lungs with the smell of Irina's arousal. Oooh, so nice. She licked her lips, lifting her head up to kiss the brunette's pussy, long and lovingly, then peppering softer kisses up and down her glistening lips.

Her hands lifted as well, reaching up to feel her lover's soft skin, just beginning to prespire, Traya's strong hands sliding down her back. She ran them over the firm ass of her fellow apprentice, humming an approving moan into Irina's pussy as she did so. She seized a cheek in each hand, starting to fondle and massage the tempting flesh.

She kissed Irina's sex once more, this time slipping her tongue past the lips, lapping from the bottom, the hot core of her tunnel, up to the very top and then down again. She tasted good. Strong, rich, with a hint of bitter. Her tongue flicked over the hot entrance once, twice, a third time, teasing with the possibility of entry. But that wasn't her destination just yet.

Leaning up a bit more, she pressed her face into her lover's cunt, her lips pushing Irina's aside to wrap around her clit and suck, gently at first. Her tongue slapped it sharply, then came a light bite before Traya fell to sucking once more.

 

[HookerBoots]

It felt good having Traya's mouth and tongue touch her, so sweet and wonderful. Hot and wet and slick, and so very arousing. Irina moaned, reaching down to stroke the other woman's hair gently with one hand as her other reached up to toy with her own nipples. Clearly, Traya knew what she was doing - and it was different from having Ramza lick her cunt. Not better, or worse, but different.

She'd been concerned that she might have to fake an orgasm, just to satisfy her new 'friend,' but that wasn't looking like it would be necessary. This felt very good, and Irina began to work her hips over Traya's mouth, trying to get more stimulation, more of the touch of her tongue.

 

[Armphid]

Traya moaned hard into her lover's flesh, knowing the vibration would only add to the pleasure. The hand in her hair and the way Irina's hips were moving, pressing her cunt into the busty Sith's face, humping her mouth, was such a fucking turn on!

She began to lick the other woman's pearl in earnest, grinding her tongue against it in time with the rolling movement of her partner's hips. Pressing hardest when she came forward, pursuing to rub and rasp as she drew ever so slightly back.

One hand dipped down Irina's crack, fingers brushing over the tight pucker of her ashole, gliding up her perineum, to come teasingly close to her cunt. One finger curled upward, past the spread lips to run around the edges of her searing entrance. Then Traya moaned louder yet, muffled by Irina's mound, and slid her finger as far as it would go into that silky blaze.

~~~​

Ramza was floating, up to his shoulders in the thick, sticky, herbal smelling bacta. His wounds were clean and ready for mending, the skin roughly stitched back onto his body where it had been removed, though it was a shoddy job and hung loosely on him. Darth Alecto checked the tank's systems, holding in one hand the mask that would cover his nose and mouth so he could be completely submerged for best healing.

Already he could feel the tingle as the miracle cure went to work. His body was aflame with pins and needles, piercing and hurtful, yet a sure sign the damage was being healed. Physically, anyway.

A hand curled in his hair, jerking his head up. He winced, his red and dry eyes staring up into the unblinking wine colored orbs of Alecto. "You will heal fully by tomorrow night," she informed him in her doll's voice. "Then you will have a choice to make. The Master will come to you and you will speak with him. He will make you a generous offer, Jedi. If you take it, all this will end. If not...it will continue until you agree, or you die."

She suddenly smiled, and he felt a chill run up his back even through his aches and agonies. "Please...say no to him. I want more of this with you. You are the best I have ever gotten to work with, and I have learned much already." She let go of his hair, the hand running down the side of his face, a near caress, almost loving. "With a little more, I will have all I need. And I can begin making them, my perfect race. You will help me, I know it." She bent down, kissing his forehead, and Ramza felt dread for the first time since he came aboard this ship. "I will make wonders from you."

The mask was pushed into place and sealed. She stepped back, shutting the lid of the tank over him. He heard locks slide into place, and the airtight seals engage. Then the bacta began to rise again until the tank was full, leaving him totally immersed.

The sides were transparent glass, and through the thick liquid, he could make out her slender form walking across the room to the door. She paused to look back at him, then the door opened, and the lights went out. As the door shut behind her, all light was gone. He floated in the darkness, for how long he did not know, before finally being able to slip into unconsciousness.

 

[HookerBoots]

In the silent, still darkness on Cholganna after the threatening ships had taken their soldiers back into their bellies, a shadow slipped from the Farlander house. Dressed all in black, muffled in thick fabric, the shadow moved fluidly from house to house, until it reached the lot where the Jedi had left his ship.

Deft fingers opened the exterior control panel, short-circuiting the security system and lowering the door. The shadow went up the ramp quickly and silently, shutting the door with an almost unseemly haste.

The lights flicked on, and the figure pulled of it's hood. Shi're looked around, trying to find what she was looking for: The reason that someone would want to take Irina and her Jedi away. Maybe there would be clues in the hololog. Tugging her gloves off, she started up the transmitter, accessing the menu with an ease that would have shocked her employers, who thought she was almost hopelessly primitive.

Nothing suspicious, nothing that could indicate why something like this would have happened. But she contacted the most recent call, and was surprised when an older, handsome woman answered. "Who are you? Why are you on my apprentice's ship?"

"My name is Shi're, I work for the Farlander family. Who are you, and why are you in this call log?"

"I am Master Jedi Jakara Shahazdra. Ramza Orandau is my apprentice, what happened to him? He and Irina should be on their way to the rendez-vous point by now." Her voice changed, becoming threatening. "If you have harmed him in some way, I swear that I shall -"

Shi're raised one hand. "I did nothing. I work as a maid in Irina's parent's house. They were having dinner, when a man showed up with soldiers, and took them away. I was inside the house, but saw someone knock out Lord Oralandau, and he was lifted by an invisible hand and carried aboard the ship."

The Jedi's face became bleak, and she swore under her breath, sulfurously. "That girl! I knew she couldn't be trusted, I knew it. Which way did they head? Quickly, girl! I have many plans to make."

"They headed up," she said with a tart expression. "And if by 'she' you mean Irina, she had nothing to do with it, and was taken captive at the same time." With a sigh, Shi're shook her head. "They headed towards the center of the system, but they might have changed course after they left sight."

"Good. Thank you for letting me know." The woman ended the transmission, and Shi're stood for a second.

"You're welcome, I suppose," she said into the silence of the ship's cabin. It was eerie in here, knowing that the people who had been here were gone and might never be back. She wouldn't have taken anything even if it hadn't been Irina - if felt too strange here. But if she took their things, it was like saying Irina would never come back. And she wouldn't let herself believe she'd lose her friend again.

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina moaned as she felt a finger slide into her, and half-fell forward, bracing her hands on the bed, her legs still spread to give her fellow Sith access to her. "Oh, gods, Traya . . . feels so . . . ohhhh, good . . ." she moaned, her fingers clenching in the soft bedding. It did feel amazingly good, so wonderful to have something inside of her hot, hungry cunt.

It would be better if . . . . Don't think about it now, Irina, don't think about him, or you'll get distracted.

So instead, she lost herself in the pleasure, humping Traya's mouth and finger with as desperate desire to climax that she hadn't thought she could feel. "Yes, fuck me," she grunted, managing to support herself one-handed to grip the other woman's hair, "make me cum . . . gorgeous, talented . . . cunt-hungry slut . . . ."

 

[Armphid]

Traya purred and moaned loudly into her lover's pussy, delighted at her reaction to the finger fucking an the dirty talk that started to pour from Irina's mouth. That was something that always got her off, and the brunette wasn't disappointing her there either. The phrase "cunt hungry slut' itself made Traya 'ooh' long into the wetness of Irina's sex.

The way her senior apprentice came alive when the questing digit slid into her was amazing! That one action had hurled her forward, desperately, toward her climax. A climax Traya wanted very much to give her.

Her finger was slapping into Irina's cunt as it rushed in and out of her cunt, fucking her fast and furiously, driving relentlessly, pressing deeply. Her lips were sealed tight around Irina's clit, her tongue mashing and rubbing it as she sucked at the nubbin with fervor. This would feel sooo good! She hoped Xeres was a squirter! Nothing was sexier than getting a faceful of hot cum.

The hand in her hair tightened, and she could hear Irina's breaths getting faster, her voice getting higher. Traya shoved a second finger in with the first, biting down on her fellow Sith's clit.

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina's eyes were closed tightly, her mouth open slightly as she panted heavily. "Ohhhhhh godddddd . . . ." she moaned, fingers almost tearing the sheets with her grip. That second finger sliding in and out of her was going to do it.

"Fuck! Traya, yes! Gods, you feel so fucking good, baby!" It felt like her whole body was on fire, and the hottest part was between her legs, she was going to burst, oh gods, she was going to cum so hard . . . .

Her mouth opened in a wordless cry as the world spun and pulsed around her and as she pulsed around Traya's fingers. She could feel her pussy flooding, her wetness increasing as her hips bucked wildly and ground against her newest lover's face, covering her with sweet, sticky juices. "Oh, fuck," she breathed, tumbling to one side on the bed. "That was . . . amazing," she whispered, reaching out to stroke Traya's hair.

 

[Armphid]

Traya rolled over to face Irina, smiling at her. The blond bombshell's face was covered in wet, sticky, secretions, and she seemed to be thoroughly delighted at the outcome. "It was amazing, Xeres, you are so good, and so sexy. I'm glad the Master finally got all of us together. The rest are bitches, but you...I'd hate think I'd miss out on you, baby."

She licked her lips, "Mmm." Then began to clean her face with the fingers of one hand, guiding them over her face and then licking them clean. "Rich and strong. Like you, I bet."

Traya edged closer, hugging Xeres to her, grinding her breasts into her new lover's chest. "We're going to have so much fun, Xeres. I want you again. And again, and whenever I can have you." She kissed Irina's neck, then lifted her had enough to run her tongue around the lobe of one ear.

"You know, Xeres," her voice dipped to a whisper, "if things were...different around here, different rules...we wouldn't have to sneak any of our pleasure like this." This was a bit risky, but Traya was a spontaneous woman. "Or suffer those other two. I know you hate Thalnos, and no one would miss Alecto. You and I could become partners, in more ways than one, get what else we need from the old lech, then deal with him too. And the two of us could remake the galaxy, the right way."

She kissed Irina then, licking her lips. "Think about it, beautiful. The others aren't going to make you such an offer. Or be able to make you cum like that," she added with a grin. Then she sighed, "I've got to report to Him, though...otherwise we'd keep going."

Traya rolled the other way, sliding off the bed and onto her feet with practices grace. She pulled her catsuit on, making sure to do it nice and slow, taking her time getting it fitted juuuust right. She winked at Irina, "See you soon, baby doll. Think about what I said. I'll want an answer after our next time."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina pushed herself up onto her elbows to watch as Traya re-dressed and asked for an alliance. Well, not unexpected, and gods, the woman was clearly talented, but . . . she'd definitely have to think about it. Standing, Irina walked over to Traya and kissed the other woman deeply while grabbing her ass and pulling her hips against Irina's own. Breaking the kiss, she licked her fellow Sith's neck and breathed into her ear, "I'll think on it, sexy. But I'll do you whenever we get the chance, that's for sure."

She walked Traya to the door, kissing her deeply, their tongues dancing together, before opening the door for her. "Thanks for answering all my . . . questions, Traya."

Before the door had shut all the way, Irina was on her way to the small attached bathroom. She'd felt amazing while she and Traya were together but now . . . she was going to do a little information gathering, and see if she could find where they'd put Ramza. And she felt so dirty.

The shower was hot, and there was plenty of soap, but, even though she'd suspected it, she didn't feel clean when she was done. Even if she took Traya's offer - and she might, another ally would be a fine thing - she would be using the other woman. Traya was a Sith to the core, ambitious and amoral. And she was clearly not interested in men, so there was no way that when all was said and done she and Irina and Ramza could exist together. And Irina had no intention of going into any future that didn't include her love alive and healthy.

Sighing as she tugged on another catsuit, Irina thought about her options. There didn't seem to be a happy resolution to this problem, but she figured it would be better to have a friend that she might have to betray than doom herself to failure right away. One problem down, three to go.

A quick prowl around the ship brought her into the bridge again, where she smiled winsomely at the crew and asked a few quick questions about where they were headed. They gave her more information than they thought they had, and she walked out with a smile. She found her way to the extensive servants' quarters and located exactly what she needed - an empty room that belonged to a high-level enough servant to have his own communication line.

From memory, she punched the contact number for Ramza's master, praying the woman would answer. The connection firmed, and an image of the older woman appeared. As she saw Irina, her face darkened, and her hand reached forward. "Stop! Please, Master Jedi, wait!"

One aristocratic eyebrow went up, and Master Shahazdra paused. "I have nothing to say to you, traitor. We are looking for you all over the galaxy, and will find you."

"Good! Find us! These are the coordinates the ship is heading for." Irina rattled off the information she'd found out, knowing that the woman had a memory that was more than capable of handling it. When she was done, Irina shook her head. "Please, I'm trying to free us both, but . . . the ship is enormous."

"How do I know this isn't a trap? I'm sure Ramza thought everything was fine until you betrayed his trust and his love."

Her face paling, Irina clenched her fists tightly. "I did nothing of the sort. But you'll believe whatever you like about me, Master Jedi. As usual. If it makes you feel more at ease, bring as many soldiers as you like, as many Jedi as you like, by Ulm, bring Luke Skywalker, if you want, just be there!"

Irina cut the connection, and quickly blanked the call log before leaving the room with an air of confidence. There was nothing that looked more suspicious than looking guilty, so she kept her head up and purpose in her step. As soon as she left the servants' quarters, she took a moment to orient herself in the ship, then took off at a jog towards where she'd been told captives were held.

Outside one locked room was a small station with a holo-feed of the room with a bored guard watching it. He looked up as she came close and bowed slightly to her. "Lady, are you here to talk with our . . . guest?"

"No, I'm just checking on her status." Her eyes went to the feed, and she fought the urge to gasp when she saw her sister, her little Lizzie, naked, curled in a corner. "Everything looks fine."

The guard glanced at the image and grinned lasciviously. "Doesn't it, though? Too bad we're under orders not to spoil her - yet."

"Oh?" Panic struggled up, and she squelched it firmly.

"Yeah, didn't you know? Lord Cynis says as long as someone else does what they're told, she stays clean and pretty." He gave her a slightly quizzical look. "The other Ladies know that. You been under a rock or somethin?" She raised an eyebrow at his tone, and the man spread his hands apologetically. "I'm sorry, Lady."

Irina nodded once. "I just arrived today from a mission, and was told to check on her." Even though she knew, she asked, "Any idea who's supposed to be doing as they're told?"

"No clue, just know that if anything changes, I wanna be the one on duty when it does," he said with a wink, thenk blanched. "I . . . ."

"Don't bother. As you were." She strode off without a backward glance, the guard staring after her covered in sweat. One last stop, and she could call the day done. Hopefully. At least it wasn't too far from her sister's cell to the so-called playroom.

The door opened, and the smell of medicine assaulted her nose, covering but not hiding the scent of blood. Irina steeled herself for the worst as she headed for the set of doors behind the long metal table with its cruel straps. The doors opened, revealing a small work area with a table piled with holo-recordings that Irina didn't even want to think about, and a large bacta tank.

What was in that tank was worse than she could have imagined.

"No," she whispered, trying to keep her face smooth and impassive. It was almost more than she could bear, and the Dark Side was urging her to let her anger, her hate and disgust out. Kill them all, and take what was hers . . . . Sense over emotion. The last thing she needed was a ship full of people loyal to the people she'd just killed and no way out. And they should be going into hyperspace soon, and it wasn't wise to create too much of a fuss during a jump.

She reached out with her mind. He wouldn't be in a bacta tank unless her were alive, but it seemed that nothing, no body, could look like that and still live. Her breath came out with a sigh that mixed relief and dread and shame. He was alive, but the bacta meant that until she could plan and execute an escape, they wouldn't stop . . . . Oh, gods, how could she let them do this to him?

All she could think to do was send reassurance and love over the tenuous mental link, knowing he wouldn't really remember it as anything more, perhaps, than a feeling from a dream. I love you, Ramza. Trust me. Endure.

The link snapped as she heard a step behind her, and spun around.

 

[Armphid]

Darth Alecto stood in the darkness, barely three feet from Irina. Her catsuit was still spattered with red spots, darker and dried now, and about her waist was a utility belt from which hung a lightsaber. One of her pale hands rested on the belt, close enough to reach the weapon, but not close enough to be a direct threat or challenge. The wine red eyes looked at Irina impassively, then at the floating Jedi in the tank. There was a slight crinkling of the skin of her nose, her glassy eyes becoming a fraction of a millimeter narrower. For long moments, the willowy Sith said nothing, just looked.

Her eyes came back to Irina. "Darth Xeres. You are not assigned to him anymore. He is mine to analyze and prepare." The soft, flat voice rose ever so slightly on the word 'mine,' and it was just a hair more stressed than the others. "...You caught him. I should consider that." There seemed to be a bit of calculating.

The doll-like torturer turned, walking over to a display. "I have prepared a set of holos to show the Master the steps I am taking to make him acquiesce to the Master's demands. I have documented it very thoroughly." She held up a dark envelope, "If you would like, you may see them before I take them to him. You must be curious, since you brought him to us."

Alecto approached again, holding out the envelope. "I'm learning much from him already. His tolerance for pain and outright trauma far exceeds normal parameters. Being the first Force-user I have been able to vivisect and observe, the traits he is displaying are more interesting." The corners of her mouth moved in what might have been an attempt at a smile. "He is special. From him, I will be able to make great things. ...Would you like to see the cultures? I've started some already."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina raised one eyebrow. "No, thank you, I don't wish to see any cultures." Her voice was just as emotionless as Alecto's, and she turned fully, aware of the fact that she was unarmed and Alecto's hand was near her own weapon. It would be dangerous to offend the woman - more for Ramza than herself. If she did this in the name of science, there was no telling what would happen if she were upset. "I've never had much interest in science." Her mouth curved into a far more genuine-appearing smile than Alecto's. "A failing, perhaps, but nothing to be done about it."

Looking at the envelope, she tilted her head. "Are you going to see the Master now? If so, I will accompany you. I have a matter I'd like to discuss with him, and I should get to know my fellow apprentices." It wasn't likely that she'd be able to talk the other woman around on anything, but it would be a good way to learn more about her adversaries. And 'not likely' didn't mean impossible, though she doubted this strange, pale doll would be amenable to the sort of 'persuasion' she'd used on Traya.

But she did have a few things to talk about with her Master, first of which was getting herself a weapon. She didn't want to be caught unarmed if someone came up behind her again.

 

[Armphid]

Alecto stared for a few more moments, her red eyes unblinking. "Yes. Follow me." The slender woman moved silently out of the room, waiting for Irina outside. Once the beautiful brunette had joined her, the scientist tapped a few buttons, the door to the play room closing and then locking. Without being asked, she spoke up, "I meant to lock it before. Thalnos suffered humiliation during our work on the Jedi, and I did not want her to sneak in after I was gone and kill him. I have plans for his material. That is why I locked it." The shorter woman looked up Irina with those unblinking, unemotional eyes. "It was not because I suspected you of anything."

Then she set off down the hallway leading Irina into an elevator. The master lived at the highest point of the vessel. The old observation area had been claimed by Darth Cynis, and made into as lavish a living space as the ship had.

After a few minutes of silent staring, without preamble, Alecto spoke again. "You had sex with Darth Traya." The eyes stared ahead, never wavering. "Did you do it for the physical stimulus or to gain her allegiance as you did with the Jedi?"

She looked over at Irina, "I have noticed that many others use physically stimulating fluid exchanges to gain trust and more easily manipulate others. It was how Traya encouraged Gnosis to attack Alythess." The elevator came to a halt, a soft 'ping' sounding. "We are here."

 

[HookerBoots]

My, weren't we straight-forward. Nothing wrong with that, though it would be dangerous in the extreme to assume she didn't have secrets of her own. "I did have sex with her, yes. The initial reason was to gain her allegiance, or at least attempt to prevent her enmity. Thalnos does not care for me, and did not from the moment we met, and it is difficult to work for extended time with someone who doesn't like you." Irina's voice was smooth and cool, her body language as calm as possible. "I had hoped to forestall an increase in my difficulties adapting to life on this vessel. However, Traya is very skilled in physical pleasure, and I did enjoy it."

Irina tipped her head slightly at the last tidbit of information. Interesting. She'd have to ask Traya about it later. And it was also interesting to note that Alecto knew the effects emotion had on others, she just simply didn't appear to care much about them herself. Before the elevator door opened, she glanced at the impassive, doll-like Sith. "Darth Alecto, may I ask you a question? When you have sex, do you do it for the stimulation, or some other reason?"

 

[Armphid]

Alecto listened carefully, nodding once. That was logical. She had started to step forward when Irina asked her about her own sexual habits. She paused in mid-step, taking a sharp breath, though that was the only sign of her surprise and the...impact of the question.

She did not turn around to look at her fellow apprentice. "I...do not engage in sexual activity except for what Darth Cynis demands of me as his apprentice." Her back was stiff, the muscles tensed. "It is unnecessary for any of my goals, and would otherwise be a distraction." No one would do it with her either. She scared everyone or her manner turned them off, but she wasn't about to tell Irina that. "When it is necessary to do so, I find that self stimulation is sufficient to allow for the satisfaction of the physical urge, allowing me to perform my tasks with maximum focus and efficiency."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina tipped her head to one side. She'd hit a nerve there, evidently. "I hope I didn't offend you. I was merely curious." Her eyes traveled over the stiff, straight back, and she hid a small smile. "If it weren't a distraction," she said softly, taking a step closer to her fellow apprentice's back and leaning close, "I'd offer to show you that self stimulation and the demands of our Master are nothing at all like sharing physical pleasure with another woman."

She leaned back, her face impassive. "But I would hate to distract from your tasks." Pressing a button, the door opened and she stepped out. She'd also hate to have sex with the person responsible for her love's torture, but there was nothing she wouldn't do to help Ramza. Perhaps it would soften Alecto's edges a little.

Outside of the elevator door was a small entryway with two guards in the modified Storm Trooper armor at attention on either side of a narrow door. They didn't even move when the doors opened and Irina stepped out, waiting for Alecto to shut the door behind them.

 

[Armphid]

Alecto stepped out, the elevator doors swishing closed. Her face was impassive as always, but there was a hint of...something in her red eyes. "You did not offend me. Your offer is...noted." The rail thin Sith offered nothing else, walking down one side of the circular hallway that ran around the lower end of the observation deck. She came to a door, standing before it and waiting.

After a minute or so, there was a low thrum and Darth Cynis' voice emerged from a panel beside the door, "Darth Alecto, you are expected. Enter. Darth Xeres, welcome as well, my dear apprentice." The door opened, revealing a short staircase that led up.

The Observation deck was most open space, save where a few walls had put up to screen off private areas such as the restroom. Much of the walls and ceiling was transparent, usually allowing a magnificent view of the starry heavens. Now, only the glimmering bright bands of hyperspace could be seen. Around the large room were arranged a few plants, several practice dummies, a small workbench, a large comm suite, a few dressers, a large bed, and at the highest point, a large, throne-like chair. Darth Cynis sat in it, dressed in a loose robe of black silk. Beside the chair, in a tiny cage was a Kushiban, trembling and whimpering softly, running her paws over her face again and again. "My apprentices." The brawny Sith Lord stood, descending toward the two women. "The hour is late. Whatever business you have, be quick about it."

"Yes, Master." Alecto bowed, holding the large envelope out in both hands.

Cynis looked at it, them smiled. "As diligent and fast as always, Lady Alecto." He opened it, pulling out the first few sheets. His smile spread wide as he looked at them. "Yes. Very good, indeed." He turned one on it's side. "A bit exotic, Alecto, but I am pleased. You may continue."

"Thank you, Master."

Cynis put the holos back in the envelope, "Now, Lady Xeres...you were not called for. What troubles you, my apprentice, that you come before me so boldly unannounced and unexpected?"

 

[HookerBoots]

"A few things, Master, no doubt trifling to you, but important to me." Irina clasped her hands behind her back and tried not to feel sorry for the poor Kushiban in the cage. She knew that feeling, and didn't want to show her weakness. "First, I am unarmed, while my fellow apprentices have light sabers. Mine was given up to convince the Jedi's master of my trustworthiness," her voice dripped with contempt at the last word, "and I believe I am entitled to a replacement because of this."

Darth Cynis nodded once, his one hand rubbing his chin idly. "Granted. The level 4, Red quadrant armory will be notified at once to prepare one for you." A slow smile curved his mouth. "You should be able to defend yourself should anything untoward happen. Your other issues, Xeres?"

Her smile was measured, just broad enough to show gratitude. "While I respect Darth Alecto's methods of interrogation and research, I am concerned over the treatment she and Darth Thalnos have shown to the Jedi." She kept her face smooth, looking steadily at Cynis without staring. "I invested the time and effort in capturing him and bringing him here, and had hoped, perhaps vainly, to have him as a pet when properly broken. They are ruining him. If this abuse continues at the same level, he will be completely worthless to all of us." She hesitated for an instant, then added, "Alecto had expressed to me that she was concerned over Thalnos sneaking into the room where he is being kept and killing him for spite. Unless I misunderstood, Master, that would violate your wishes."

 

[Armphid]

Darth Cynis crossed his arms over his chest, a hint of anger in his eyes. "Lady Alecto, is this so?"

Alecto had gone ramrod stiff and straight at Irina's claims. One of her hands was again resting on her belt near the lightsaber. She eased it away and down, nodding, "Yes, Master. As you will see in the records I provided you, she was outmatched be the Jedi more than once during our conditioning session. She expressed a great personal desire to see him dead, and soon, at her hand. I have put security measures in place to deter this."

"But what Xeres says is correct? You feel she may take this rash action?" His voice was light, but to those who knew him, dangerously easy. The same as lazy looking crocodile before it strikes.

"...Yes, Master."

"I see. And you were not going to mention this on your own, were you, Lady Alecto?" The slender woman looked up at him sharply, her red eyes a hair wider than before, the only sign of her alarm. "No, you were not." He turned away from them, walking back up the steps a bit, hands behind his back.

Then he smiled, turning to face them again, "You were right to bring this to my attention, Darth Xeres. For this service, I will reward you, should the Jedi survive and turn, he will be yours. Darth Alecto, your zeal in pursuing our cause is admirable, but you do too much, too quickly. Mitigate your treatment of the Jedi. I do wish him to become one of us, and he cannot do that if permanently broken or slain. Do what is necessary, but no more."

Alecto bowed, knowing the dictate for what it was. It was no real limit on her, but enough to placate Xeres. But just in case...perhaps not so much skinning next time.

He nodded at her submission. "Very good. Be satisfied with that, Lady Xeres. If you truly wish him to be your pet intact, pray that he sees wisdom soon. Your weapon will be ready in a few days. Assembling a lightsaber is no easy task." He nodded, then waved a hand dismissively, "Now, leave me, both of you." Not waiting for them to do, he ascended back to his chair, sitting, his fingers steepled. Then he smiled, reaching down to rub himself through the robe, and look down at the cage, "Luck is with you, my dear." He tapped a key on the chair's arm. "Darth Thalnos, come to me immediately..."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina turned with Alecto, shutting the door behind them and walking down the short hallway in a tense silence. They waited for the elevator, and Irina said softly, "I'm sorry if my saying that got you into trouble." Her eyes were turned towards the floor. "That was not my intention. I merely wished to ensure that Thalnos would be prevented from doing something rash."

The other woman nodded once. "Do not be concerned. It is good that Thalnos's . . . rasher impulses will be curbed." Her sleek blue hair shone softly in the light of the hallway, and she studied Irina from the corner of her eye.

"Indeed. If the Master wanted him dead, he would be dead." The elevator door opened, and she looked up to see Thalnos standing in the elevator, her face vaguely worried. Until she saw Irina, and her face darkened. "Oh, Thalnos. How nice to see you again." Irina smiled sweetly. "I think the Master's waiting to talk with you about something."

 

[Armphid]

The orange skinned beauty's eyes narrowed. She looked to the robot-like Alecto, then back at Irina. Her eyes glittered with malice and hate, her lovely face contorting into an almost animal snarl, "You bitch. You told him some bullshit to get me punished, didn't you?" There was a faint whiff of ozone as little arcs of electricity cracked over Thanlos' fingers. "You might think being his favorite keeps you safe, but you don't have a blade and I do, slut."

Alecto moved carefully to one side, her unblinking eyes on the raging Twi'lek, and her hand resting on her belt near the lightsaber's hilt.

Thalnos pulled hers from her belt, but did not turn it on. "...HE needs me...so you get a pass this time. But don't think I won't hurt you for this. I'll piss on your body before a week's out, whore. Don't forget it."

She pushed past the other two women, into the elevator. Turning around to lean against the back of it, her lightsaber still unlit in her hand. "Get out, I've got nothing more to say to you. Either of you."

 

[HookerBoots]

Irina almost laughed. So angry and unstable. If Thalnos was only as stupid as she seemed, this would be too easy. "I didn't tell him any bullshit, and anything I said the Master checked up on." Her stance was easy and relaxed, but she wasn't stupid enough to underestimate the other woman. "And you might think having a blade gives you the advantage. It doesn't."

She stepped out of the elevator smoothly, face expressionless. "You don't scare me, Thalnos. And you'll live long enough to regret every word you've said to me. But not longer." She reached out and pressed the button, shutting the door on Thalnos's fierce, angry face. Turning to Alecto, Irina inclined her head slightly. "I'm sorry about that. Clearly, Thalnos hates me, but hopefully the Master will show her the error of her ways."

She glanced up and down the hallway. "Could you direct me to the closest dining facility? I don't know the full layout of the ship yet, and it's been a long time since I last ate."