Star Wars: The Old Republic - Questions of Freedom (Closed)

[Armphid]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

STAR
WARS

QUESTIONS OF FREEDOM​

It is a tense period in the galaxy. Two years after the TREATY OF CORUSCANT brought an end to the great war between the GALACTIC REPUBLIC and the SITH EMPIRE, a cold war wages on the shadows as the two great powers re-arm for the new war both know is inevitable.

Decimated by the conflict and reeling from the destruction of the Jedi Temple during the SACKING OF CORUSCANT, a treacherous scorched earth raid perpetrated while the peace negotiations were occurring, THE JEDI ORDER strives to recover in spirit and in numbers. The discovery of the Jedi's ancient homeworld of TYTHON has led to a new temple being built and the remaining Jedi Knights scour the galaxy for Force-Sensitive students.

One such potential student has been discovered on the planet THUNN, a desolate world in the grip of the ruthless HUTT CARTEL and infamous as the training center and largest auction site of the slave trade, a young slave waiting to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Master Satele Shan has dispatched one of the Jedi Order's covert members to procure the slave and bring her to Tython to begin a new life. But the Jedi are not the only ones with an interest, nor the only ones who need new blood...

The planet turned slowly hanging in the void of space, bathed in the light of the glowering and gigantic red giant sun at the center of the Thunn system. It was mostly a brown, dry ball of rock that spun through the black of the cosmos with a greenish blue sky overhead. Small caps of white covered the northern and southern poles. Small swathes of blue edged with green broke up the surface except at the equator. There ran a massive river that encircled the planet like a girdle and out from it was a broad green space broken there and there by the cities that served the business of Thunn. Ships streamed through the thick atmosphere here and there and many others hung in orbit high above the badland world; particularly the large cargo ships that both brought and took away the sorrowful primary commodity of the bleak planet. Two space stations swung about it as well; more heavily trafficked than to the planet itself.

One ship, a stock light freighter in general design, broke from one of the stations and arced down towards the planet below in a swift descent. The ship may once have been stock but was so no longer, though most of the modifications were hidden from view until needed save for the dorsal and ventral gun turrets; each mounted with twin blaster cannons and a lone ion cannon beneath them.

In the cockpit, a lithe Zabrak woman flipped a switch on the freighter's communications console, "This is Void Dancer to Mercy Control, requesting final landing permission."

A voice came back, heavily distorted by aging equipment to sound almost artificial, "Confirmed Void Dancer, you are cleared to land at Pad 42. Begin final descent."

"Thanks, Mercy Control, beginning descent and will touch down in three minutes." Vaxi flipped the receiver off, "Assuming the landing pad hasn't rusted apart by now."

Her voice was bemused, on just this side of sassy, with a confidence that was almost out of place on a woman only twenty-one years old. A quartet of horns jutted through hair the color of sand; three horns the length of a man's little finger rose in a straight line across the line of her temples; two curving slightly up and in on the right and left at 45 degrees and a third that stuck straight up. The fourth was in front of the third at the beginning of her hairline and set in the middle of her brow, also curving up and inward. They were partly concealed by locks of sandy blond hair that were swept back and fell in an array of spikes over and around her neck, none quite reaching her shoulders. She was pretty with a pert nose, smooth features, and shockingly blue eyes. Her skin was russet brown perfection save for a small vertical scar on her chin. A tattoo in a rich red decorated her face; thin lines of red going from ears along her jawline to meet at her chin, then up in a vertical line to the base of the horn at the peak of her brow, two lines breaking off at the bridge of her nose to sweep along her eye sockets to split again with one line along her cheekbones to disappear in her hair before meeting the curving ink that went along the front of her ears and the other sweeping up to follow the line of her brow before doing the same. She was dressed in snug fitting faded blue trousers that hugged long, shapely legs before meeting knee length boots of black leather. A white long sleeved shirt was taut across her chest, deformed pleasantly by breasts that no one would call large but wouldn't be called small either, a black vest hanging open over it. A snub nosed blaster pistol hung from her left hip in a holster designed for a fast and easy draw. A vibro-knife the length of a man's forearm was sheathed horizontally just over her firm, ripe ass, well displayed by her tight trousers. Her body was fit and athletic and showed defined muscles under her clothes but none that bulged or was more than simply well toned and trained.

"It won't look rusty at all, Vaxi," the ship's captain said with a grin on his handsome features. "It might collapse under the ship but it'll look perfect. They're all about keeping up appearances in Mercy." Parn Starhawk was seven years her senior at twenty eight but looked the same age as she; few people ever put him at his right age just from sight alone. The human man's skin was a pale peach color, clean and healthy. His face was strong and clever, almost sharp featured, with surprisingly plush pink lips and a keen eyes that were a burnished golden hue. His hair was combed but roughly styled mop of glossy auburn that was straight until it began to get curl at the ends, something that happened when he let it get long enough, currently falling to just below his ears. He had two days worth of stubble on his face and his smile showed clean, white teeth. He was taller than his co-pilot and apprentice by a full hand at 1.92 meters (6'3") and had a leanly strong build with broad shoulders that tapered slightly to his waist but made his over all shape more of a line than a V. He wore calf length black boots and his own tight pants were slate grey; showing strong, well muscled legs and a toned butt. He wore a gunslinger's belt and twin holsters that strapped to each thigh as well as the belt, a pair of long barreled blasters styled similar to ancient revolvers snugly in place. Just past the holsters on the belt was a rectangular pouch that held a few useful tools and surprises. A dark red jacket of leather hung open over his upper body and the blue shirt beneath fit well to a sculpted chest that many hours of training and exercise had created.

"Mercy." The zabrak snorted and shook her head, "I can't believe they call it that. The site of the biggest slave market this side of Dromund Kaas."

"Hutts delight in irony," Parn answered. "We shouldn't be staying long, thankfully. Cargo's unloaded on the station and our auction is just a few hours away. I got the invitation confirmation as soon as broke atmo."

"Great." Her voice was magically unenthusiastic.

The pair remained silent as they went through the landing procedure, their ship touching down with a light shaking and a thump on a landing pad surrounded by a high fence and the tall and broad hall that led into the spaceport. The area was clean and looked operable but there was a sense of sleaze that seemed to permeate everything.

Parn stood up and stretched, "Say it, Vaxi." His younger crew mate blinked. "Come on, just get it off your chest, I can practically feel the questions bouncing around the cockpit."

She sighed, "...Master." He paused in the entrance to the cockpit to look back at her. She only used that term of address for him in formal settings or when she was particularly serious. "Do we really need to do this? And to do it this way...it feels against the Code. Against what Jedi should be doing. We should be tearing this place to the ground."

Parn smiled sadly. To the galaxy at large, he was a merchant and a smuggler, wanted in over a dozen systems for various crimes. In reality, he was a Jedi Knight; using his smuggling to get Jedi and Republic operatives things they needed that treaties with different groups made illegal, as well as moving the right people where they needed to go or giving them a lift out of danger. He'd operated as a Jedi Shadow for nine years now, though he rarely carried the dual bladed lightsabre that rested in his quarters on the ship these days. He used to wear a long jacket but there was too much explaining to do if it was found on him and it seemed like the Empire had agents everywhere. He was used to this kind of situation; moving among and dealing with criminals. His padawan had only been with him for six months and it was still difficult for her. Hell, it was still hard for him sometimes.

"Rule 2, Padawan. Life's not fair." He shook his head, "I'd love to go in saber lit up and cut these slaving bastards down. But then what? We couldn't take all the slaves here on our ship. Or on a hundred ships. And even if we did, what they're doing is legal here. If we interfered, it'd be trouble for the Republic, 'cause we need the Hutt's medical and biotech whether we like it or not."

Vaxi grimaced. "I know. It still feels wrong."

"Yeah. And that's good." He shook his head, "There is no emotion; there is peace, remember that. We feel our emotions, we let them inform us, but they can't control us. And as much as we don't like this, it has to be this way."

She was quiet for a few seconds. "I know." Vaxi stood up from her seat, "Let's go do it then. We have the information?"

He nodded, patting one of the jacket pockets, "All in my pad. We're here for a female Twi'lek, number 0801-1983." Parn frowned, "A damn number, I really hate these guys...anyway, her name and picture will be released to us at the auction, a minute before she's brought out." His apprentice nodded and followed him as they exited and made their way towards the airlock to the gangplank. "It's a bad way to recruit her, but think of it this way, she's better off with us than as some Hutt's trophy."

 

[HookerBoots]

The slaves huddled together in the small room behind the dais where the auction would be held. There were eighteen of them, assorted races, genders, and ages, most of them sitting on the floor. The children were on the two benches that had been left in the small, hot room, and the one slave that was older than the others - a Zabrak male whose hair had been black once, but was fading to white. Three children huddled on either side of him, two twin Togruta boys and a slight human girl, while four others, all human, sat on the other bench, staring blankly at the walls. The other nine were a mix of human, Zabrak, and Togruta, with one Twi'lek sitting with arms wrapped around her knees. All of them were naked, heavy metal bands on their wrists the only item on their bodies.

The auction was going to start soon, and they were all concerned about where they would end up. It didn't matter for most of them, really - one owner was as good as another, and as long as they did well at their tasks, they would be fine. That's what they chose to believe, anyway, and what they told the children to keep them from crying.

The small door that lead to the stage opened, and every head snapped up and towards it. The sneering Miralan who stood there looked them all over. "Get up, cattle," he said in harshly accented Basic. "We need to hose you off before the buyers get a look at you. Men first, then children, then the women, let's move."

Struggling to their feet, the group lined up in the order he'd specified, the older Zabrak leading the group. As they filed out past him, he studied each of them. A few of them had their positions in line changed, including the Twi'lek, who he held until the last of the others was outside. "You go up last, sweet tits." He looked her up and down, and she just looked ahead impassively. His face flushed a deep green at her indifference. "Go on, then, bitch," the guard sneered, thrusting her forward through the door.

She moved forward with surety, eyes never even flickering to the man. He wouldn't dare harm her, not this close to the auction, and they both knew it. Even so, her hands were trembling and her knees were unsteady when she got to the little curtained off area where they would all be rinsed off before being presented to the buyers - close enough to hear them, the mishmash of languages making any of one of them indistinct.

One by one, the slaves were called out onto the stage, the auctioneer calling out in Basic their skills and attributes and training. The prices weren't very good at first, but male slaves rarely sold well. The twins sold well, and went to what sounded like a poorly disguised Imperial accent.

As the bidding ended on the second to last woman, the Twi'lek strode forward, her skin gleaming in the light as she went to the appointed spot on the stage. "And now, my dear friends, the one most of you were here for, I'm sure!" The auctioneer, a Cathar, gestured to her. "Number 0801-1983 in your programs, and the last slave for auction here!"

She was proud, head held high as they looked her over. Sky blue skin, sleek and smooth from head to toe, her lekku long and sleek as they swept back from her forehead. Her eyes were a clear, deep violet, framed by thick lashes; her lips were full and soft, her nose pert, with a slight upturn at the end. Her body was lushly, ripely curved, her breasts full and high, her ass round and firm. She stood 1.65m (5'5") tall, with plush thighs and strong arms. Her pussy was barely hidden by her stance, but she was clearly disinclined to move in such a way to show it off.

"She is not a virgin, but she has never been bred. Strong arms and legs, and her other assets are . . . fairly obvious." She spun on one foot, letting them see both sides of her body. "We'll start the bidding at, say, 1000 credits?"

Her eyes blazed. A thousand? That was an insult! But it only lasted for a moment - it wasn't like she'd see a single credit of it anyway. She turned back to face the crowd, doing exactly what was expected - she started to dance, letting them see her in motion.

"One thousand!" a voice said, clearly not a local. Her eyes sought the speaker, and blinked a little. A human male, auburn-haired and sharp-featured, dressed like one of the traders that made this place an occasional stop over. There was a Zabrak girl next to him, slender but pretty, dressed similarly, who looked sour at the fact that he'd put in a bid.

A Nautilan on the other side of the crowd, next to a holographic projection of a Hutt, raised one hand. "Two thousand."

"Twenty-five hundred," the human countered, giving the alien a firm look.

A deep, resonant voice spoke from a figure hooded in black near the back of the crowd. "Three thousand credits."

And that's when it got heated. She stood, watching, as the three of them went back and forth, biding on her. This wasn't expected, she'd thought . . . expected one of the Hutts to bid for her, and win unopposed. She could barely follow the bidding after a while, but she could tell all of them were getting agitated by it. Except the human. He was serene, calm as a pond in winter, even if the girl next to him was starting to get upset over the amount he was spending.

"I have seventeen thousand credits, do I hear seventeen-five?" There was a tense silence over the crowd. The Hutt's holographic shoulders shrugged, and the Nautilan stayed silent. The figure in black stood, every line of his form colored in rage, but he did not speak. "Seventeen going once, seventeen going twice . . . . sold! To Captain Starhawk of the Void Dancer for seventeen thousand credits!"

The human and his companion made their way through the crowd, ignoring the glares from the other bidders. When they reached the stage, he held out his hand to her, as though she were a real person, not just a slave. There was a moment where she stared, but then put her hand in his and hopped off the dais. "That's right sir, just take her to the station over there and they'll get the documents ready. She'll be set for official transfer in a few hours." The human ignored the Cathar, and just guided her over to the End of Transaction station.

"What's your name?"

The question startled her so much she almost stumbled. "I . . . what?"

He gave her a little smile. "Your name. I know what your number is - was. What is your name?"

She blinked twice, slowly. No one had bothered to ask before. "I . . . the name my previous owner called me was Hirani." There was a moment's hesitation. "My given name is Gida'Tol Gella. But you, of course, may call me what you wish, master."

 

[Armphid]

Vaxi grimaced, "She looks like that, dances like that, AND has a great voice. Of course she does."

Parn glanced over at her, "What was that?"

The zabrak was glad her coloration and tattoos helped hide her blush. "I was saying of course, they'd be interested in her given her, ah, attributes and abilities."

He held his gaze on her a moment, his expression both skeptical and confused, then turned back the radiant and extremely distracting twi'lek woman. The gorgeous and naked one. "Gida'Tol Gella it is, though I hope you don't mind if I call you Gida'Tol." She seemed taken aback that he would use her real name. "I like to be on a first name basis with my crew."

"Not the only basis he wants to be on with you," Vaxi muttered.

Parn grinned. This was the part he was here to play, after all. Though Vaxi seemed to be getting into hers a little too well. "That is one of her primary skill sets, after all." He gestured to the attendant, "Can we get her some clothes, please? At least a cloak or something? Now that she's mine I prefer being the only one seeing her nude." His apprentice let out a disapproving growl, "And Vaxi too, of course."

"Are you insane?"

He ignored the protest and went on, "I'm Parn Starhawk, Gida'Tol, captain of the Void Dancer. I'm a merchant and trader in various goods." He shifted his grip on her hand to shake it, the twi'lek again looking baffled by his action. She was clearly expecting far different treatment. "This is my junior partner, Vaxi."

The pretty young zabrak was no longer looking at them though but at a figure striding towards them, "Captain," she hissed. One hand was on the hilt of her vibro-knife.

Parn felt a moment's anger at himself for not noticing the man's approach. He had been too busy letting himself ogle Gida'Tol. Not very Jedi-like, Starhawk. Especially not with a Sith approaching. He had felt the man's power swelling as the auction went on as he grew more visibly agitated. He turned to face the oncoming Sith with a lazy smile, "Bad luck, friend, but no hard feelings, I hope. I just had to have this beauty."

This was dicey. If he chose to probe either of the two apparent smugglers, he might detect their connection to the Force. They were both suppressing it but if he was good enough, he might see through it.

The man stopped a few feet away, "I don't blame you, she is fine. And more than that besides." His voice was a strong baritone and the accent was pure Dromund Kaas; precise, crisp, and serious. "Here." He reached up and undid the clasps of his cloak, swirling it as he pulled it off, the hood sweeping away with it. His skin was pale, more so than Parn, and he was slightly taller than the other human. His features were handsome but hard; carved as if from marble with an aquiline nose and high aristocratic cheekbones. His eyes were green but they were edged and shot through with streaks of orange-red as if they were beginning to catch fire. The skin around his eyes was a dark purple color, something Parn thought was eyeliner until he took a second look and realized it was instead darkened and inflamed veins showing through the pale skin. His hair was a curtain of black, shiny glory that was gathered and pulled back high on his head by a jeweled clip before falling down past his shoulders. He had a trim and neat Van Dyke style mustache and goatee but there was no stubble on his cheeks of chin otherwise. He was taller than Parn by about four centimeters, powerfully built with broad shoulders and thick limbs; a bruiser if ever there was one. It helped that image that he was clad in heavy looking armor; a breastplate in a deep, dark red that had black detailing and a lighter layer of armor beneath it. Plates protected his shoulders and he wore a pair of armored gauntlets as well. Similar plates rested on the thighs of his leggings and his boots were knee high protective affairs. On his belt a single lightsaber rested; confirming what the rest of his manner had already made clear. He held the cloak out towards Gida'Tol, "Wear this for now, slave. A trophy for your master. Not many would be so bold as to outbid a Sith."

Parn glanced at the twi'lek woman and nodded for her to take the cloak. "I hardly knew you were a Sith. You're not the only ones who wear black, Mister...?"

There was a flicker in the man's eyes and his body tensed with fury but he merely smiled. "Mactus, Captain. I suppose so. Would it have changed anything if you knew?"

"No, not really," he answered honestly. Mactus. He hadn't heard of him. But he also hadn't corrected Parn with a "Lord" so that meant he was likely an apprentice. Still not a good thing but it could be much, much worse. "Once I see something I like, I've got to have it."

"I understand the feeling. A man's strength flows from his vices, does it not?" The Sith's eyes flickered over both Gida'Tol and Vaxi in open appreciation. "There are other beautiful sex slaves available, Captain, and the sale is not yet final. Reconsider. Withdraw your purchase and allow me to pay you the 3,000 I offered originally."

Parn could feel Vaxi bristling with indignation but also with fear. This could be quite bad without their lightsabers. "But none of the other sex slaves available right now go with my eyes so well," he answered with a shrug. "I'm sorry, Mactus, but I'll keep the girl."

The Sith drew in a breath and squared his shoulders. A tense few moments passed. Then he bared his teeth in something that was both a grin and a snarl, "So be it. Later, remember you had this chance. Walk with care, Captain." His eyes again went to the two woman, boldly ogling, "And I will see you pretty things again. Soon." He didn't speak again but turned and strode towards the exit of the auction hall; people melting out of his path as he took his leave.

"Well." Parn let out a low whistle, "This complicates things."

"No kidding." Vaxi licked her lips, "Ma-Captain, what should we do?"

"Finish our business and get off this rock." He turned back to Gida'Tol, "You're a very hot commodity, and I mean that in more than just your appearance." He turned his attention to the attendant, who had flattened himself against the wall and was only now creeping forward again as if unsure if violence were about to break out. "What now?"

"Uh, yes. Well, Congratulations and thank you for your purchase, Captain Starhawk. This slave has all the standard inoculations and vaccinations, of course, and received a free 30 day birth control shot just this morning. If you'd let us know where you intend to travel and your last three ports of call, we'll make sure she's medically ready to be shipped."

He really hated these guys. "Sure thing. I'm heading to Telos and then to Dantooine from here. Our last three stops were Corellia, Manaan, and Nar Shadda. How long will this take?"

The grungy human man nodded, entering the information into a datapad, "Two standard hours, Captain, for further vaccination and fitting of her slave collar. The standard model is free but you can upgrade for a modest fee...no? Ah, well. And we'll deliver her to a destination of your choice afterward. I can recommend several fine establishments in the area that would be perfect for trying out your purchase."

"Just let me hit him, just once," Vaxi growled, "we paid enough for that, right?"

"Down, girl," Parn snapped. Not that he didn't agree with her. "Landing Pad 42 at the spaceport." He reached into a pocket and slid over a few credit chips. "She'll be delivered first, right?"

The man's eyes went wide at the offered bribe; easily what he'd make in a week. "The spaceport is very convenient for delivery, naturally." It was actually quite a bit out of the way, but for this much, perfectly convenient.

"All right." Parn turned back to the twi'lek woman. "Gida'Tol, I look forward to seeing you again. You've no reason to trust me, I know, but I promise that you'll be well treated. Once you're with us, your life will never be the same, and better than it's been before."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Vaxi murmured. She had a bad feeling about this. Louder, she said, "And I'll keep him off of you for a while, Gida'Tol. At least until you've gotten your bearings."

A pair of female attendants then came up and escorted the now black cloak clad slave away. Parn watched them go and sighed, "If I hadn't had to bid so high, I could've bribed that guy enough to just take her now."

"Yeah." Vaxi was looking after the woman as well with an uneasy look. She didn't like the feelings she felt towards the poor woman. A slave, even! "Think he's going to come after us?"

"Yeah. This has gotten...interesting."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Apprentice Mactus of the Sith Order seethed as he stalked towards the lodgings he'd taken in Mercy. That puffed up fool of a common criminal! He'd cut him into pieces and take his second as a slave for this insult! And just how had someone like that had so much to spend on a fuck toy anyway?

He pulled out a holocom and activated it, a pre-set number dialing. After perhaps fifteen seconds it whirred and projected a beam that resolved into an image of a muscular and curvy woman sitting up out of bed, a slim and dexterous younger man doing the same. Both seemed to be breathing a bit heavy. Mactus felt a stir of both arousal and annoyance; couldn't they leave off for a few hours? And not even including him. "I'm not interrupting, am I?"

"Mactus." The woman's voice was happily fatigued with a rough and tumble quality to her speech, lacking the characteristic accent of the Empire. "We just finished a few minutes ago. You get your plaything?"

"No. I was outbid."

"No shit. So I guess we're going to be killing some guys."

~~~~~~~~~​

A whip cord thin Nautilan man looked around the table in the cantina. The team that had been called up for this job was a known commodity, very professional and adept at this kind of job. "What Golto the Hutt wants, he gets. You've got the delivery route and the vehicle info in that datapad. She's not to be harmed. Stun if you have to but nothing else or you're worse than dead, got it?"

A grizzled human cyborg picked up the datapad and handed it to a lean, hungry looking Cerean. "This isn't our first run, pal. Where does he want her brought?"

"Where else?"

 

[HookerBoots]

Some of the other slaves had been given clothing to wear as well, and their wristbands traded for collars - only one or two wore anything other than the standard, a slim metal band that fit snugly around the neck. Gida'Tol sat near the door, the cloak wrapped around her body, even though her skin seemed to want to flinch from it. She could smell the Sith's scent on it, and found it oddly compelling and repellent at once. But it was warm, and quite fine, and she had been told to wear it.

The ground transport was heading out now, rumbling along the dusty streets towards their new homes - her new home, first of all. But as they sat, some of the slaves talking in soft voices about the people who had purchased them, the transport shuddered, and stopped with a jerk. Raised voices could be heard outside, and everyone in the back looked forward as though they could see through the metal of the walls.

Then, as suddenly as it had stopped, the transport started up again, taking a sharp turn and heading in another direction. The mood seemed to lighten, but Gida'Tol wrapped herself more tightly in the cloth as her stomach seemed to sink to her feet. "I have a bad feeling about this," she murmured.

~ ~ ~ ~​

They were unloaded from the transport into a large, ugly structure with no stairs. That meant a Hutt, which meant something had gone terribly wrong. They were all taken to separate parts of the 'palace', and Gida'Tol was taken into the harem, one of the places she recognized easily as soon as they got there. She didn't fight, or even resist, as they stripped the cloak from her and tossed it aside, then snapped the collar off and switched it for another, wider and thicker, with a loop for a chain on it. They topped it with a more technologically advanced collar, plasteel with two metal discs that were placed to touch her skin - a shock collar.

As they fastened it around her neck, all she could think was how foolish she'd been to hope, to let herself think things would change. Things never changed in Mercy, only for the worse. They dressed her in thin-soled slippers and two strips of sheer white fabric that draped over her breasts and down, wrapping between her legs and tying in the small of her back.

She was given a cup of water that by the taste was laced with something - probably an aphrodisiac or a mild sedative. When she had drained the cup, two human girls dressed similarly to her escorted her from the room and up. By the time they reached the large ballroom, everything she could see appeared to be covered in a sheath of scintillating light.

They stood her in front of a shimmering mass that seemed to be moving rhythmically, and when it started talking, her mind slowly realized it was a Hutt, most likely the one that had taken their transport. She couldn't understand a word, but she recognized the language. She did recognize the voice, however, of the Nautilan who interpreted for the Hutt as the one who had been at the auction. "Slave, you are now property of Golto the Hutt, the wealthiest merchant on this miserable rock. He requires you to dance for him, to entertain his people."

She nodded numbly, uncertain of whether she would be able to respond. That didn't seem to bother the Hutt, who rumbled something. "Yes, sir," the Nautilan said. He looked at the girls, and said sternly, "Less, next time. Take her to the stage, and then come back. For your incompetence, you will service the master personally."

Gida'Tol was walked over to a raised area that was lit in such a way that she could be seen clearly, and her shadow was cast large on the wall behind her, but that she could not clearly see anyone in the audience. Music started, a heavy, driving beat soon joined by a high, reedy wind instrument.

She started to dance, moving her hips and body in a lazy, almost dreamlike manner. She danced and gyrated, matching the beat of the music, rotating slowly in place and doing what she knew was required, what was always required. Hands sliding over her body, cupping and lifting her breasts, gliding over her hips, teasing over her mouth.

Faintly, she could hear the Hutt rumbling, was aware of a handful of the figures in the crow standing up, moving towards her. She knew what came next, what would be expected. It wouldn't be so bad, really, except that this wasn't how things should be. But she smiled anyway, giving them the show she was expected to give.

 

[Armphid]

"They're late." Vaxi was pacing in front of Void Dancer's gangplank, the attractive zabrak woman's arms crossed under her breasts. "Ten minutes late."

Parn was leaning against one of the landing gear, watching the tunnel that led to the spaceport; where Gida'Tol should be being led out any second now. "Yeah." It wasn't unknown for deliveries to be late. But this...this felt wrong.

His apprentice stopped her pacing and looked over at him, "How can you be so calm? Do you think this was him?"

The human man shook his head, "I'm not as calm as I look. You've got to learn not to show your emotions so much, Vaxi. Not even for Jedi reasons. There're people in the galaxy that'll eat you alive if you show them everything you're thinking like that." He grimaced, "To answer your actual question, I don't think so. The Sith would have come after us. He was clearly pissed at us and they're not exactly the type to just let a perceived insult go."

"So what do we do?"

He stood up from the strut and went to the gangplank, "I'm getting a few things and if they're not here in five more minutes, we're going to find out why."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Mactus stroked his goatee with one hand, "Not the spaceport?"

"No." The speaker was a human man of average height with a slender, gracile build. He wore a scout's gear; protective but light and slim for ease of movement, all in shades of grey. It hugged a body that was wiry muscle, defined but without bulk. A technological looking pack was on his back and beside it was slung a long barreled blaster rifle with an elaborate sight. His skin was a dark brown and he had black, tightly curly hair that was in a military style crew cut and his eyes were a light brown. His face was finely featured, almost pretty, and he had a tattoo in brilliant gold of three horizontal lines, lessening in length from top to bottom, under his right eye. "It was going that way but it stopped dead for a few minutes and then started going ninety degrees away from the scheduled drop off." His eyes were studying a hand held scanner. "It's been stopped for thirty-two minutes now." Uln Modesti, one half of the Gold Bar bounty hunting team, turned off the scanner, "They've reached their destination."

An armored figure stepped back towards Mactus and Uln. "Where are they, little brother?" Twen Modesti was tall for a human woman at 1.83 meters (6') and had a powerful build; her body well muscled and trained for strength and power. She still had a women's curves though and even the thick and complicated power armor the bounty hunter wore couldn't hide that. Her breastplate was a dull dark red edged in a muted gold; lights active to show the functioning systems on a panel on her left breast. The rest of it followed the same color scheme; heavy pauldrons with the same emblem tattooed on her brother's face on them, elbow length gauntlets with a set of rockets on each one, solid leg armor and heavy armored boots. A dual exhaust rocket pack was on her back and she had a blaster pistol strapped to each leg. Her helmet was in dull red and had a protrusion above a golden faceplate that gave it an avian look; currently held under one powerful arm. She was handsome more than pretty, with strong features and a narrow scar across her right cheek. She had a tattoo like her brother's but under her left eye. Her hair was tightly braided into a set of wide rows that went from her forehead and back along her skull to the top of her neck before being twisted into a half circle fan of hair that shaded her neck and she had three rectangular earrings hanging in each ear.

Uln let out a whistle, "From this map...that's Golto the Hutt's palace."

Twen let out an appreciative breath, "Damn, Mactus. You got two poachers on that headtail you're after. A Hutt means lots of guards and any number of guests who'll fight, maybe even beasts if he lets loose anything from his menagerie." She smiled a little as if relishing the thought. "Never stormed a Hutt's palace before."

"You won't be able to say that again." Mactus walked past the siblings, both of them falling into step two paces behind him. He was wearing a new dark cloak that streamed from his shoulders but he did not bother to put up the hood. "It's time these slugs learned not to meddle in the affairs of their betters."

Uln was the only of the three who seemed concerned about storming the headquarters of a wealthy gangster. "Right, so, how are we going to do this? With a little time, I can figure out a way in and-"

"Your way in will be right behind us," the Sith interrupted. "We'll do this the proper Sith way; right through his front gate and destroying anything and anyone in our path."

Twen let out a girlish sigh as she lifted her helmet, "That's why I love working with you, Mactus." She drew it down and settled it; a few faint clicks and then a hiss as it attached and then sealed into place. "Let's get that sweet little fuckmeat," she said, her voice more metallic and distorted coming through the helm's comm system.

Uln just sighed and shook his head, pulling an open scout's helmet form his bag and putting it on, tightening the strap under his chin. There was just no talking to them when they got like this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Parn stroke back down the gangplank of his ship, his face not set in wry amusement for a change. Instead of the red leather jacket from earlier, he now wore a dark blue duster that hung down to his ankles and billowed out around him just a bit. Perfect for hiding weapons; like the double bladed lightsaber tucked into the hidden pocket that ran up the back of his duster. He held another of the Jedi weapons in his hands; one with a copper color to the metal casing and decorated with a set of metal flower-like petals around the aperture. "Vaxi, time to go." He tossed the young woman her lightsaber and kept walking, the gangplank raising behind him.

She caught it and ran forward to catch up to her instructor's long strides. "You know what happened?" She felt a thrill as she handled her lightsaber; she'd felt almost naked without it, clipping it into place on her belt.

"I called the auction. The whole shipment of slaves was hijacked; transport and all. They offered to refund 70% of the purchase price but said they didn't know who stole the shipment." The Jedi Knight glanced over at her, "Let's test those detective skills, padawan, what does that mean?"

She frowned, "No way they wouldn't try to find out who look their slaves; it can't look good if they don't deliver. So...they know, or suspect, but it's someone they don't want to tangle with." Vaxi licked her lips nervously, "The Sith?"

"No. He wouldn't take the whole transport. He'd have just carved it up, taken the slaves he wanted, and killed or run off the rest." Parn shook his head, "There's only one of the three of us who bid on that girl that the auction house wouldn't want to piss off."

"Ugh. The damn Hutt."

Parn couldn't help but grin, despite the seriousness of the situation, "That's my girl. So, we're going to go and get her." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the ship, "I've alerted the droids; they'll be keeping their eyes out and be ready to launch if we need the ship."

The apprentice groaned, "So we're going to have to break into and possibly fight our way out of a Hutt's palace."

"And there's every chance the Sith will get involved. If he didn't come after us already, it's because he's got his eye on the prize."

"Great. I hate this stinking planet." She ran a hand through her hair, "So what's the plan?"

"I'll let you know when I have one."

~~~~~~~~~​

The music swelled in the large receiving hall of Golto's palace. Scantily clad slaves of both sexes and many species circulated among the many armed guests with trays of drinks and appetizers. Set around the space were round stages set with poles and cushions were particularly lovely or talented slave women writhed in erotic dance. By the dais where the master of the palace rested was a stage larger than the others and it was here that Gida'Tol twirled and gyrated in time to the pumping rhythm; her lekku flying with her movements, her ample breasts bouncing and jiggling, her ass shaking. Her performance was displayed on viewscreens all over the room and actually all through the palace, not that she knew it.

Golto the Hutt leaned back on the long, high "seat" at the very back of the room. A row of armed guards was in front of him and a pair of now topless human slaves knelt before him. They ran their hands over his slimy folds, kissing his skin, rubbing their lush breasts against him. He could feel his male member quickening in him as much from the new slave's performance as from the ministrations of these two and knew it would soon emerge from him to be pleased. He was irked that they had drugged the new twi'lek too much; muting her mind and her awareness; he preferred his slaves were fully awake for what he had them do and done to them.

But it was still a good day. He had beaten that impudent captain and a Sith both. Not only that but the crew that Niklo had used brought him all the slaves from the auction and the transport they were in; pure profit. He'd reward them with an extra five hundred credits each and the promise of more work. The gangster could always use disposable and deniable scum with initiative and a sense of value.

He spoke in the tones of the greatest language in the galaxy, his native Huttese, and around the room the severed heads of protocol droids translated for him, "Friends! The rewards of service to Golto the Hutt are many!" Around the room, five of the party attendees suddenly got messages on their commlinks. "Let all now see my generosity and magnanimity! Take your place and take this slave before us all!"

There was a roar of approval as five males walked up the ramp onto the large stage that the blue skinned twi'lek woman occupied. Niklo, the green skinned Nautilan who had been at the auction and arranged her procurement was first among them, his solid black eyes pleased and a hungry grin on his features. Behind him was a dark skinned human with a broad build who was already rubbing himself through his trousers. There was a reed thin twi'lek male with sharp teeth and dull yellow skin; a spattering of dark spots on his trailing lekku. Coming last were the two that drew the most attention; a towering black furred Wookie, scars crossing over his chest as bare patches in his fur, a huge assault cannon strapped to his back and an almost as big Trandoshan with violent red scales.

The lizard man acted first, reaching out and grabbing the lush slave from behind by both wrists pulling her back against his bulk. He leaned his head down, and not knowing if she understood his speech or not, croaked to her, "Good reward for many hunts, small, soft thing. I will leave you gaping and full of seed."

Niklo stepped up to her and reached behind to pull the know of her wrap undone and then yanked it away to strip her bare before the assembled crowd. A cheer went up and whistles and cat calls rang out.

The screens throughout the palace continued to show the stage as the twi'lek, human, and nautilan all stepped up and began to run their hands over her lush body. They groped her big tits, pinching her nipples, slapping her ass, the human rubbing her bare pussy.

The wookie bellowed and the other men looked at him and then laughed, forming a loose circle around the woman as he stepped up directly in front of her. The trandoshan pushed her down, forcing her to her knees. As she knelt down, the furry alien let out a snarl and a groan as his member slipped free from his internal sheath. It was as long as her forearm and almost as thick with a ring of tissue a third of the way down and a flared, flat head. He gripped the base and then pressed it against her face, smearing musky pre-cum over her beautiful features.

"Get to work, slut," Niklo sneered. "Unless you want us to throw you to the beasts when we're done!"

 

[HookerBoots]

Obdiently, Gida'Tol put her hands out to either side, gripping the hardening shafts around her and beginning to stroke them. She was barely aware of which cocks she held as she leaned forward to press her lips to the head of the Wookiee's cock, letting her tongue slide out to gather up the precum there and take it in. Her lips parted, and the cock slipped in easily, stretching her jaw to a not-quite uncomfortable point. He gave a growling moan as she did so, working her tongue around the shaft in her mouth.

If she'd learned anything in her nineteen years as a slave, it was that when there were so many of them she would have to keep up a good rhythm of motion, keep any of them from feeling left out. Her mouth came off the massive shaft with a pop as she rotated slightly, her hands moving to the next cocks and her mouth taking in the hard, slimy cock of the Twi'lek. Her lips wrapped around it, giving him the exact same number of suckling slurps that the Wookiee had gotten before turning again, and repeat over and over. If only her head were clearer, this would be so much easier!

She lost count of the number of times she went around the circle, being forced down onto their cocks, gagging and drooling with the thickness of their shafts. She could feel them fondling her, groping her, touching every part of her body she could reach and making her respond. She could feel the wetness between her legs growing with every thrust they made into her mouth, with every hard-enough-to-hurt pinch of her nipples or clit. Some of them were close, she could tell that even through the fog, and she hoped that if she worked hard enough they would cum like this instead of fucking her, especially the Wookiee - that dick would spread her so wide she wasn't sure she'd recover. A part of her sort of wanted to try, however, to feel it opening her up and leaving her gaping.

The two slave girls on the stage with Golto were stroking his shaft, which was emerging from his body, dripping with his arousal and natural slime, slicking their breasts with it as they massaged him. He spoke again, and Niklo grimaced. "Yes, boss." He turned to the others. "He doesn't want us to blow on her without fucking her cunt." He reached down and grabbed Gida'Tol's arm, dragging her to her feet and over to a pile of cushions on the same dais. "Give them a show, slut, make them see how happy you are to be Golto's property."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Wait." Parn held out a hand to stop Vaxi from busting out of the cover they were behind and striding up the path to the Hutt's palace.

She looked at him, eyes blazing, but kept her voice to the same low tone as his. "What do you mean, wait? You know what that . . . that . . . thing is probably doing to her!"

He nodded. "I do, and it burns me like it does you. But look." He pointed to where a trio of figures were stalking far less stealthily up the path towards the palace entrance. "There's more of them, they're better armored than either of us, and if they see us, it's a fight before we even get inside."

The tall woman in her armor had substantial-looking blaster pistol out in each hand. Mactus had his lightsaber out, but not lit, his face hard and cruel. The man that followed them both was slender and holding a long, slender blaster rifle over his shoulder almost casually. They didn't notice the two Jedi hiding in the little copse of small trees on their way up the walk.

"Um. Yeah, that's a good reason." Vaxi fingered her saber hilt, a little nervously. "Do you think we'll be able to get her out?"

Parn nodded. "Of course we will. That's what we do, remember?"

"Are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

"Would I do that?"

~ ~ ~ ~​

Niklo pulled her down on his lap, pressing the head of his cock against her entrance, and Gida'Tol gasped a little at the feeling of it. She shifted, adjusting her hips so that it was lined up to enter properly, and put one hand down to guide him in. "Eager for it, aren't you?" he jeered as she slid down his shaft. "The best ones always are, live to get fucked, don't you, schutta?" She nodded, breathless at the force of his entering thrust. She knew that was the real reason why she would never get out of this place, this life. If she didn't enjoy it, didn't like the things they did to her, she would be able to leave. But whatever powers that might be out there clearly didn't think she was sincere when she spent half her time praying for something to be different, and the other half aching to be filled.

Her hips started working almost immediately, her body moving without thought to fuck herself on his long, hard dick. She bit her lower lip as she felt their hips grind together, a jolt of pleasure shooting from her clit over the rest of her nerves like lightning. She caught her breath again when she felt hands on her hips, and a shaft pressing between the cheeks of her ass.

Gida'Tol turned her head to see the Twi'lek pressing his cock against her ass, using a bottle of oil as lube for it. Her hips stilled on the cock inside of her, her fingers clutching at the pillows beneath as she tried to relax her muscles in preparation for the violation. The dull yellow shaft slid in with surprising ease, though she cried out as it filled her up. The sound echoed, and she became aware in a vague sort of way that her 'performance' was being shown on all of the vid screens around the large room - possibly around the palace. That just made her body respond more, and she hated herself for the shiver of pleasure at knowing all of them could see her being debased like this.

The two males set up a rhythm inside of her, alternating their thrusts so that she always had a dick buried inside of her. Before long, she was moaning, writhing between them, and as she opened her mouth to cry out in pleasure, the human shoved his cock into her mouth to the hilt. She gagged a little, but managed to keep herself from biting down out of reflex, and knowing what they would want, held out her hands to wrap around the two more alien cocks as she was used.

Golto was making sounds that indicated pleasure, his cock oozing more of his thick, slimy precum as he watched her. The best theft he'd made in ages, she clearly loved what she was getting. He couldn't wait to try her himself, since if the expressions on the faces of his underlings was any indication she was spectacular. The real test would be when she took the other two cocks. He shifted slightly, not quite leaning forward, to see if her stomach would be distended by the Wookiee's monstrous shaft when he entered her.

It was shameful, but that didn't stop her from cumming as the five males used her body, the three inside of her thrusting and filling and fucking her as well as she'd ever been fucked. It threw Niklo over the edge, thrusting his hips up and into her as he started to orgasm as well, spraying her womb with his seed. Her moans as she was filled made the human start to spurt as well, flooding her mouth with it as she swallowed in a desperate attempt not to drown. It came as little surprise when the Twi'lek in her ass came as well, her body milking his cock unconsciously as he painted her bowels with that hot, sticky cream.

She drooped there for a moment as they all panted and tried to get to the point where they could think again. She didn't get that long, however, because the Transdoshan grabbed the Twi'lek by the back of his tunic and yanked him off, making her cry out again at the sudden feeling of a cock slithering out of her ass followed by the sensation of cum starting to ooze out. The red lizardman took position behind her, and she could feel his massive, lightly scaled cock pressing against her. But he didn't move. Gida'Tol started to move herself, trying to get him to do something, anything, but he grabbed her hips and kept her from moving.

The Wookiee stepped in over Niko's prone form and grabbed her waist, lifting her off of the Nautilan's cock. Again, she could feel the jizz oozing from her, and it was terrible and shameful and sensual. He picked her up, and she was aware of the Transdoshan following their motion to keep his cock against her as the massive, furred male lifted her higher and higher before bringing her down to have the head of his cock press against her pussy. "Ahhh, please," she whispered, "please, please please!" Her fingers twined in his fur, clutching herself to him tightly.

 

[Armphid]

The wookie let out a rough chuckle; he'd fucked plenty of little women before but never one who had so truly, deeply wanted it like this one. He might not even tear her when he entered, she was so sopping wet and well lubricated with seed. Not that he cared, he'd fucked them screaming with fear and laughed, but to fuck one willing, this willing, would actually be a new experience. She stank of her desire as much as the mingled jizz of the little males.

Her breasts, so big on her small frame, mashed against his brawny chest and he growled at the pleading shouts. He let out a roar and drove upward while yanking her down, burying his huge dick into her cunt up to the ring and making her shriek. The crowd cheered and hooted, the viewscreens replaying the entrance from different angles before catching back up to the action.

Behind her, the trandoshan let out a hiss, "Greedy hairbag," he croaked, "For us both is this soft sexy thing." And he thrust up into her ass; making her head jerk back, her lekku slapping against his breastplate, her eyes rolling back into her head.

The two large males began to pump with alternating strokes, one driving up and in while the other withdrew, hammering and battering her holes and rocking her back and forth between them.

Golto laughed and boomed out, "Now that's a real slave! So devoted to her owner's wishes, so embracing of her fate!" His own long, thick member was fully out now. The two human slaves were on either side of it, pumping his shaft between their now slime slicked tits and licking and kissing his spear-like head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

The quartet of guards in front of the palace's gate looked at the oncoming trio curiously but started walking forward to meet them. All four were clad in lean, hard looking urban armor and carried heavy, snub nosed blaster carbines. One of them, a bulky and wide shouldered, human waved them off, "The party's on and no late admittance! Come back tomorrow to petition great and corpulent Golto the Hutt, defiler of daughters!"

Mactus bared his teeth, "He'll see us now!"

The men lowered their weapons, "One more step and-" The leader's voice was cut off as an echoing shot blasted through the air; a bolt of green energy striking him directly in the face.

Uln smirked from where he'd stopped and shouldered his long barreled sniper rifle, "Bang, you're dead, big man."

Even before the man started to fall, Twen leaped forward, her jetpack igniting and shooting her into the group as a living missile. Her rocket-backed punch broke the neck of the furthest left guard, the bounty hunter spinning in the air to pump three shots into the one next to him before she whipped up to land on her feet in front of the gate.

The last man backed up, "Wha-, whoa, just, just stop! G-get away from me!" He spun to train his weapon on the amazonian woman then swung back to point it at her brother, then at the still advancing Sith. "I s-said get away! AhH!"

"So afraid." Mactus lifted a hand and the man let out a grunt, his eyes going wide and his hands going to his throat. "It feels marvelous." The man pawed at his throat, choking on nothing as the Sith walked up next to him and paused, looking down. "Look at me." The man did so, tears streaming down his face. "Ah, that look. Terrified, pleading for mercy." He raised his unlit lightsaber and pointed it at the man's head, "And you shall a Sith's mercy." There was a snap-hiss and the man jerked, his body stiffening, as the plasma blade ignited and shot out and through his right eye. The body toppled over, the motion causing the crimson blade of power to slice through and out the man's left temple.

"Sithspawn," Vaxi murmured. "They're hardcore." She was looking down on the spectacle, watching as Mactus strode to the gate and drove his lightsaber into it, grunting with effort as he began to force it to cut through the thick and dense material sandwiched between the metal of the inner and outer door.

She and Parn were on the third floor of the palace, hidden in the shadow of one of the overhanging circular roof sections, standing on a somewhat thin ledge. They were next to a long window, the older Jedi crouched beside it and working at it with a fine cutting torch. "Master, did you see that?"

"Yeah." His eyes were focused as he guided the torch over the glass with his right hand, the other pressed against it, gripping it with the Force to keep it held in place. "Not bad but showy. Mactus especially, I mean, that whole scene was totally unnecessary. Something to remember if we have to fight them."

The slender young woman looked down at him, "If we have to...do you think we can take them?"

"Depends on how we handle it. And by we, I mean me." Parn nodded and turned the torch off. That wouldn't have caused a problem but this would, at least until...an alarm started to sound and he smirked. He knew the Sith would trip one. Then he pushed in with his left hand and the Force, a cut section of glass coming free without a sound and giving them entrance to the gangster's lair. Doing this would have tripped an alert, expect that Mactus had everyone's attention now, especially since he triggered the door alarm. "If it comes to fighting, you're not part of it, Vaxi. You get the slave girl, signal the ship, and get out."

"Screw that." She shook her head, "I won't abandon you, Master Parn. Not in a place like this."

"You'll complete our mission, padawan." Parn looked back at her as he stepped into the hallway and set the cut glass against the wall. She came in behind him, her features set. "Besides, I'm a scoundrel, remember? Scum like me is right at home in a joint like this," his tone was jesting but there was a gleam of self-loathing in his eyes.

He shook his head and pulled his blasters out of their holsters to silence her reply, "Come on. Lightsabers are a last resort, we do not want to give ourselves away or give Darth Drama any extra motivation. We need to hurry, they might already be evacuating, thanks to that alarm."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

In a room with dozens of monitors, a wild eyed Togruta man hit a button, cutting the alert from reaching the receiving hall, "No, do NOT let the party be interrupted or disrupting by anything!" He shook his head, speaking into a large ear commlink, "I already disabled the inner alarm, just get out there and kill whoever that is! If Golto's good time is interrupted, he'll skin us before throwing us to the kath hounds!"

He threw up his arms, "Then get everyone! I don't care, every single guard if you have to, but do NOT let them crash the party!"

~~~~~~~~~​

If any of the revelers had heard the alarm before it cut off, they brushed it off as part of the blaring, high tempo, pumping music now playing as the busty twi'lek slave was fucked raw before them. Enough of them were drunk, stoned, or engaged in their own wanton sex that few hardly even noticed the groups of guards that were slipping out of the exits, or that the doors were being closed.

Golto himself paid no notice, panting and drooling, his member twitching sandwiched between the pre-cum drenched slaves pleasing him. "Yes," he bellowed. "Fuck the slave! Fuck her, cum in her, then bring her before me! I will bathe her in holy Hutt seed!"

The Wookie was huffing as well, bouncing the blue skinned woman up and down, still in alternate time to the lizard man's thrusts. She was wailing and almost gibbering between them; her pussy spasming as she came yet again on their rods. He could feel his climax coming, coming, almost-"AGGGAHHRRAA!"

He savagely hilted in her; a bulge visible in her stomach and howled as he began to pump his jizz into her, scorching hot, heavy semen shooting into her womb.

The trandoshan let out a leathery laugh and gripped the slut by her tits, leaning her back against him and pulled away from the wookie. The flared cock spurted a few times as it was jerked out of her, streaking her thighs. The reptillian humanoid carried her over to Golto and dropped to his knees, pushing her down on all fours to continue pounding her ass. He thrust again, again, again and then snarled and let his more watery seed spray and squirt into and out of her ass before stepping back with a sigh, giving her an almost affectionate pat on the head.

 

[HookerBoots]

Gida'Tol was only vaguely aware of what was happening when the Transdoshan pulled out of her and left her on the floor. Between the drugs still coursing through her system and the overload of sensation from being so thoroughly fucked, she was hardly aware of who she was, let alone where she was. But she was still coming down from the high of her orgasms, and her training kicked in, bringing her up to her knees, supporting herself with one hand as cum dripped from her ass and pussy.

Golto laughed almost breathlessly, his member throbbing almost visibly as he watched her move, clearly not in full possession of herself. "Arrrrrrrrgh! Fuck, slaves, away!" He moved his arms violently, and the two slaves threw themselves back and to the sides. "This load is all for her, bathe her in it, coat her, mark her as mine!"

There was only a small twitch in her posture as the first thick, greasy spurts of Hutt cum hit her. He was as good as his word; the load of jizz that he sprayed on her was amazingly massive. It didn't coat her completely, but it did manage to put a thick glaze of sperm from the top of her head almost to her waist. Gida'Tol knelt there for a moment more after he was done, after he had leaned back, panting, then pushed herself the rest of the way to her knees. Then she bowed from the waist, globs of jizz splattering on the floor as she did so; she knew what was expected. "Thank you, master, for this gift."

His expression was distant and magnanimous now. "Yes, you are truly lucky, slave, to have received this from me." One hand waved, and another woman, older and carrying a robe, scurried forward, bowing to him as well. "Take her down to the baths, clean her, and let her rest - let the drugs these fools gave her wear off a bit before we use her again." It wasn't as fun when they weren't screaming and resisting, though given what he'd just seen, she probably wouldn't have resisted anyway, the whore.

The older woman wrapped the robe around Gida'Tol's shoulders and helped her to her feet. "Come on, girl. Let's get you clean." The blue-skinned slave went with her, not quite leaning against her escort, but not fully steady on her feet either. They made their way back to a hidden passage behind Golto's dais, and were about to enter it when they heard the music stop. Her escort paused, and Gida'Tol looked back wearily.

Then her focus sharpened, her eyes widening as she heard the voice of the man who had rightfully bought her, call out, "Golto the Hutt, you worthless sack of flesh, you've got my property here, and I intend to claim it!"

Gida'Tol felt that damn treacherous hope well in her chest again, and stomped it down. He was one man, one brave, foolish man against every person in that room. Even if she could shake the woman now gripping her arm firmly, she wouldn't be able to get to him, and even if she did get to him, in this state, she'd only be a hindrance.

The woman muscled her into the passage. "He'll be dead soon enough, my girl, and if we stay we'll only be in dang-!" The word cut off as she was grabbed from behind, a hand wrapping around her mouth.

"Shhhh," Vaxi whispered, her hand muffling the woman's cry as her blaster pressed against her temple. "If you're good, you might live through this. Now, you're going to be quiet, right?" The woman nodded, her eyes wide and terrified. Vaxi took her hand away and moved the blaster back from her head. "I'm going to take off your collar. If you know a way out, get out." Her fingers moved quickly over the latch of the collar, and Gida'Tol could hear her swearing under her breath. Then there was an odd surge that she felt and not-felt and the collar snapped off, falling to the ground with a clatter. The woman blinked, then ran off down the corridor.

Vaxi looked at Gida'Tol and caught her breath. "Shit. I'd hoped we'd get here before . . . well. We've got you now, so . . . um, you're safe?" She half-reached for the collars around the blue-skinned woman, then paused. "I'll take them off," she said, more than half to herself. "I have to, and it's right."

Gida'Tol looked at her, a little disbelieving. "You . . . came for me? I know . . . it was a lot of credits, but . . . why?"

Swift, sure fingers undid the shock collar and dropped it to the ground. "Of course we did. I'll explain why later, well, Parn probably will, but whatever." She slid her fingers around the metal collar, grimacing at the slimy feel of it, and there was that surge again. "But right now, we need to get out of here. If we're fast, we can beat that Sith to it. If Parn can get out of that mess he caused."

"The Sith?" Owlish eyes blinked at the Zabrak. "I . . . I'm sorry, everything is so . . . hazy right now."

"They drugged you pretty heavily, huh?" Vaxi moved to another opening in the passage and grabbed a towel. "Here, wipe yourself off. You'll be a lot less conspicuous without all that . . . stuff on you." She tossed the fabric to Gida'Tol and waited not-quite-patiently while she wiped off her face and neck. The towel was plucked from the Twi'lek's hands and dropped on top of the collars. "Come on, we need to get back out there; does that robe have a hood?"

The hood went up as they made their way back into the main room, where all hell had broken loose. "All right, Gida'Tol. Just stay behind me and stay close, we're going to get to Parn and get out of here."

"O-okay." She pulled the robe tightly around herself, trying not to notice the places where it was still sticking to her skin. She had no idea how they would get out of here, but even if they didn't make it, it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could grab a blaster and help, or at least go down fighting to ensure she wouldn't be recaptured.

 

[Armphid]

The music has stopped because of the smoking end of wood that had been the neck of the lead guitar player's instrument. The shot had seemed to come out of nowhere and the silence that fell after it was deafening until a figure leaped up out of the crowd, past the stunned guards at the foot of the gastropod's dais and up onto it, not five feet from the Hutt.

Parn was grinning like a bandit; alive with the sensations of the crowd and of adrenaline. This...was likely the dumbest thing he'd ever done in his life. Vaxi would say that was saying something, and most everyone else he knew would probably agree with her. He held a blaster in his right hand, in the left was a metal sphere the size of an orange. "Golto the Hutt, you worthless sack of flesh, you've got my property here, and I intend to claim it!" He waggled the blaster, "I'll bill you for her services later, for now, I'll just take her and leave."

"Leave? You arrogant Poota!" The Hutt's eyes were wide and his pupils tiny; fury written over every inch of his grotesque, flabby being. "You dare-"

"Shut up," Parn snapped, surprised it actually worked. The fact that anyone had the temerity to say that to him, that he wasn't quaking in his boots at the gangster's wrath, was likely what had bought him a few seconds. Best to use them wisely. "You're going to give me my slave, and then you can go back to your party. You'll bluster and pontificate but not you, not your guards, not your guests, are going to stop any of that from happening."

"And why not?"

Parn waved the sphere around, "Plasma grenade in your face on a deadman switch! Pressure goes off of it and they're scrubbing scorched slug off the walls for days." Golto drew in a hissing breath as the slaves that had been attending him all but dove off the dais, even the guards at the foot of it backing up. "And it's linked to the others."

A green-greyish Nautilan who was pulling up his pants, the one from the auction, he remembered, gaped, "Others?"

Using the Force on the weak willed could be very effective in getting what you want one on one. If you were good enough at it, strong enough, you could even use it against the strong willed with some success. Mass suggestion was trickier. You had to play on things that were already there. Like, say, a big roomful of criminals who don't really trust each other and came here armed to the teeth in case someone started something. Those feelings of insecurity, of suspicion, of paranoia, that was something you could build on. The Jedi Knight let the Force flow through him and his words, "Naturally. Those are on timers, actually. I slipped in here a while ago and put them around a few places. Under a few cushions, in a few vases, satchels, that kind of thing. Just to give you all something else to do."

"Find them!" Several of the guests started pulling the cushions off of seats or knocking over vases and upturning opaque pitchers.

"They could be anywhere!"

"Open your bag!"

"Fuck you, you open yours!"

"ENOUGH!" Golto's bellow brought silence to the room. There were weapons pointing in all directions now, not just at Parn. The Hutt's beady eyes were speculative and suspicious. "There are no others, the scum is bluffing."

"Mm, I wouldn't take your word for it." Parn shook his head, spreading his arms in a shrug but pivoting as he did so to keep his blaster trained on the Hutt. "I mean, you're the guy who lies to everyone and cheats even the businesses he works closest with." Again, the let the Force ripple out. Now this, this was gold. No one trusted a Hutt. "You ripped off the slave auction, stole the whole shipment and the transport, and you deal with them everyday. And now you want all these people to trust their lives? To you? You decided which of them you're going to rob first after doing business?"

"Hey!" An indignant woman stood up, frowning, "I bought slaves at that auction! The prettiest twin boys! Where's MY property, Golto?"

Golto glowered, "My guards will deal with all complaints! Guards to me, now!"

Parn smirked, "They're not coming, slug. They're busy getting killed. I'm the most dashing guy you pissed off today but not the deadliest."

"Keep your story straight, scum! What are you talking about?"

"The Sith carving his way through your guys right now. The one who's going to be coming through," He pointed with the hand that had the grenade in it, "that door, any minute." The smuggler whirled to point at the the big screen, "Take a look! Bring it up on the screens!" At that moment, there was the sound of a muffled explosion from behind the door he had indicated. Party goers, slaves, and staff alike, ran back from it.

Golto's eyes were more fearful that furious now. "Do it! Let me see what's happening! NOW!"

The screens, which had been showing the brassy human who'd taken the part hostage, went blank and then came on. Shouts, screams, and cries arose from the crowd as the visual came up of the hall that led to the receiving room. Bodies lay all over, many hewn into pieces. Some smoked and burned, others were just slumped over with black edged holes in heads or chests. Three figures were turning from finishing off the fight to face the camera, which meant they were facing the door. Mactus' armor was singed in a few spots and his face was savage delight and barely contained fury. Twen's armor was more scorched but she was moving easily, apparently doing it's job. Uln was in the back and seemed completely unharmed. He was walking up slowly behind the other two, pausing here and there to deliver a shot to a guard that wasn't quite dead. The shots could be heard faintly through the door, making those within jerk back and jump.

Mactus lifted a hand and the door suddenly started to groan. Parn's smile was wicked now. "What goes around, comes around." The guests had their weapons all trained at the door now, the few guards turning to Parn, to the door, back again. Golto seemed to gather himself, opened his mouth wide to speak, "Hey! Catch!" And Parn threw the grenade right into his face.

The flashbang went off with a brilliant flare and a thunderous roar that was joined by shrieking metal as the door gave way and fell in followed by a torrent of blaster bolts as Uln sent out a full auto spray to cover his companions' assault. Parn leaped off the dais as Golto roared, clutching at his face, thrashing about, his thick tail actually knocking his guards sprawling. The assembled guests began to fire their weapons; at the new attackers, at each others, at Golto, everywhere, it seemed.

For someone who was part of a society devoted to order, he really was good at causing chaos. Maybe that was why they sent him so far away.

He heard the Sith roar and glanced back to see the Dark Side user soar into the room with a tremendous leap, landing in the middle of a group of guests and lashing out with his lightsaber held in both hands. The armored bounty hunter was laughing wildly as she flew up into the air with her jetpack, a blaster in each hand, firing down into the crowd.

Time to go.

Parn caught sight of Vaxi leading a robed and hooded figure along the wall and dashed over to them, "Come on, quick. Back upstairs, the way we came. Keep low and move before they see us!" He hit his commlink as they made as stealthy a dash for the stairs as they could, hoping the madness and chaotic fray would conceal them. "36.73.45 by 42.55.61, third floor, magnetic south!"

Vaxi heard him and looked down at the slave she was helping along, "Our ride's coming. Just a little bit longer and you'll be safe." Mostly. For a while.

Parn was keeping pace just behind them, trying to track the fight and keep an eye on the invaders. He really, really didn't want to have to tangle with them. Just let them not notice. He'd done enough good as a Jedi to have earned that, right? "Faster, girls."

 

[HookerBoots]

It was like something out of a holo-show, really. Gida'Tol went along, her legs moving faster than she thought they'd be able to. It seemed like a dream, even though her body was responding better, burning through the drugs they'd given her. They moved fairly well through the room, ducking out of the way of the shrapnel that was flying past as people and furnishings alike were destroyed by blaster fire and lightsaber swings.

It took a moment to process that they might actually get away, that she might be free from this place. The feeling of hope and near-exultation that filled her seemed to swell and crest inside of her chest so that she thought her ribs would crack. There was a slight area of openness around the entrance to the stairs they'd used to come down, and the three of them made it across the space in a sprint. But as they stepped into the alcove that the stairs were set in, she felt more than saw, attention on her, and rage against her back like the heat of the noon sun.

She turned to look, and her steps stalled for a moment as she saw the Sith stalking towards them, blasting an unlucky Rodian out of the way with a gesture, his eyes trained on her. There was a moment where Gida'Tol was a rabbit caught in the eyes of the fox. And then Vaxi reached down and grabbed her wrist. "Hurry," she hissed, "transport's coming, and we need to be there to meet it."

Shaking her head, the Twi'lek nodded, making her way up the stairs two at a time, holding the robe out of the way heedless of the exposure. She'd heard enough tales of the Sith to know that if he caught her, she would most likely pay for the trouble he'd gone through to acquire her. Her haste was such that she actually reached the third floor only a heartbeat after Vaxi did, her fists clenched tightly in the fabric of the robe.

Parn was pacing back and forth between window and stairwell. "Come on, come on! God, why did I leave it to the droids?"

Vaxi muscled Gida'Tol over to the widow, tension in every line of her body. "Because we both had to be here, or it wouldn't have worked. And we don't - didn't have a third." She put one hand to her belt, caressing the hilt of her own saber. "Do you think they'll get here in time?"

He shrugged, peering down the stairs and pausing. "If they don't," the sound of heavy, methodical footsteps was just audible - the Sith clearly taking his time since he considered the prey treed, "when they get here, don't wait for me."

Gida'Tol blinked. "What? No, of course we will!"

"There's no talking to him when he's like this," Vaxi said. "It'll work out, or it won't. We won't let you sacrifice yourself, boss."

"You may not have a choice." Parn's hand slipped back behind his back between coat and body. But he froze. "Finally! Ladies, take a few steps to the left, please."

There was a tremendous roaring sound as the ship rushed up outside. A blast of energy shook the building, blowing a massive hole in the roof directly over where the two females had been standing. The light freighter the Void Dancer hung in the air overhead, the gangplank slowly descending.

Gida'Tol gaped for a moment. "What . . . how . . . but why?"

"Later!" Vaxi said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

Parn strode up and moved her arm. "Go on, Vaxi. I've got her."

"But I-"

"I'm stronger, and more experienced in this sort of thing. Go. We'll be right behind you."

The gangplank stopped a good twenty feet above where they were, and Gida'Tol was looking up at it, wondering how they were going to get up there - she certainly didn't have a jet pack, and it didn't look like they did either. But Vaxi took a few steps back, with a slightly frightened look behind her, and took a short run before leaping off the ground and up and . . . up and up. Gida'Tol felt that surge again, and stared in amazement at the length of the jump the Zabrak woman made.

As she was staring, boggled, she could hear the footsteps getting louder and louder. Okay, so rocket boots or something, but they didn't have anything like that. So how . . . .

Parn's arm around her waist tightened, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his chest as she felt him gathering himself. And then they were in the air, and she felt like she was flying, nothing between them and the ground. The jump took less time than she'd hoped, and the landing was rough but she'd jolted herself harder just tripping over her own feet.

They stood there for a moment, her heart still thumping madly in her chest, before she turned and looked down. The Sith, Mactus, was standing there, his eyes mad with rage and hatred. Parn spoke into his commlink. "Up! Now!" The ship started to move away, the gangplank slowly levering up to close.

Mactus snarled, his eyes blazing now. One hand shot out, a blast of lightning crackling through the air towards them. The shields on the ship snapped up just as it hit, making it dance over the shield. "This isn't over, scum!" he bellowed in his deep baritone.

"I think it is!" Parn yelled back. "You lost, get over it, ragewad!" He waved a hand at the raging man just before the gangplank closed all the way, sealing them inside the ship and away from the deadly rage of the Sith and the Hutt.

 

[Armphid]

The silence of the ship after the gangplank shut and sealed was staggering after the roar of the wind, the crackle of lightning, the hum of the shields, the bellow of the engines, the hiss of the hydraulics. There was just a low hum and then a faint shake of the vessel and a faint but louder thrum as the engines truly engaged to bring them up to speed and away from the ruined palace, away from rotten Mercy, away from their hateful enemy.

Parn stood listening to the silence, Gida'Tol still held tightly against him, her arms loosening somewhat from their hold on his shoulders as she peered around. Vaxi was sitting on at the apex of the ramp that led to the gangplank, shaking her head slowly, her eyes wide.

Their gazes met. A smile bloomed on the face of both master and apprentice, followed by a rush of giddy laughter from the zabrak girl and a louder, most triumphant laugh from the human. "Ha haaa! Whoo! Damn, we did it!"

"We did!" She beamed at him with bright eyes, "It was such a stupid plan too! I can't believe it!"

"Hey! Stupid...come on." He gave her a hard look, though he was still smiling. Damn, he felt alive! "Stupid was stomping up towards the front gate."

She looked a bit shamefaced and stood, "Fine, fine. Not stupid. Crazy as balls though."

"...Yeah, you got me there." He flashed her a roguish grin that had melted more than a few hearts in its' time, "But crazy's what I do best."

He turned towards Gida'Tol and missed the affectionate, slightly helpless look on Vaxi's face. "Are you all right? Come on, let's get up into the ship proper." And get a little space between them. She was...very pleasant to hold and be close to. Very. He could feel the ripe body against him, the warmth of it mingling with his, the beauty of her face, her eyes, those full lips...

Parn looked away with a deliberate effort of will. "So!" He stepped away and led her up the ramp; there was another set of doors there that were already open and led up to the main section of the ship. Like many Corellian designs, it had a circular hallway off of which different rooms branched, with the engines and their room in the rear and a thrust out cockpit section opposite them, with a central column that led to the ventral and dorsal turrets. "Welcome to Void Dancer! As good a home as scum like me can have."

"Better in some ways," Vaxi chimed in. "Captain, should I...?"

He nodded, "Yeah, good idea. Gida'Tol, We'll show you around and then Vaxi'll take you to the bathroom. I hate to brag-"

"Since when?"

"But," he went on, "I've sunk a lot of money into this baby. I even have an actual water shower. No sonic scrubbers for us here!" He started to walk away from the two women to go around to the cockpit. "She'll get you some clothes too, you're going to have to share with us but we'll get you some of your own at our first stop."

"Oh, Captain!" The feminine yet metallic and faintly stilted voice came from one of the doorways Parn passed, with an accent that was like and yet not like that of the Empire proper. "I apologize for not greeting you, Mistress Vaxi, and your guest sooner! But this Alderranean souffle requires constant monitoring and the glazing process is frightful!" Walking to the door with measured, somewhat shuffling steps was a humanoid droid. It was an older model and the bronze colored chassis was a bit worn, though well cared for and shined. The plating on the legs was solid and in a roughly sharp angled geometric design; the chest plate horizontally segmented over what would be the sternum to crotch of a sentient with a clear seam going up the middle. The head was pentagonal and tilted backwards with eyes of a bright blue. "Nevertheless, I can assure you dinner will be ready shortly." The head turned roughly one hundred degrees to look at Gida'Tol. "Greetings, honored guest! I am B9-01, your humble servant. You look quite fatigued! I shall prepare some tea to bring to you while you bathe."

Vaxi smiled a little, "B9 is our ship's mother. She cooks, cleans, and is pretty good at working with the computers too. She's a re-furbished protocol model; lots of information about different planets and cultures, she speaks...a few hundred languages."

"And am literate in all those with such systems," the droid chimed in. "I also have medical programming and subroutines should you require such attention."

"She's not as good as a real doctor," Parn shrugged, "and our little med-room is hardly first class, but both'll patch you up fine and keep you going if you need better."

"Actually, Captain, the skill of physicians varies wildly and I would likely be compared quite favorably to many."

"Leave it for now, B9," he made a 'move along' gesture with one hand. The droid, inclined its' head to the twi'lek and bustled back into the galley. Parn went on around this half of the circle, pointing out one of the cargo bays, the training room, his quarters, and the small med-bay. As they came to the point opposite the engines, there was a left-hand (right hard from the other direction) path that led to the wide cockpit section. There were two seats at the large main console in the very front and two more on either of the walls in front of other consoles.

In front of one of them was another droid; only about waist high on Parn but with a solid and wide build, a three legged astromech with a hexagonal head that domed somewhat on top. It had two legs that were positioned generally forward, the body slung back from from and a wide but much shorter third leg with a clear tread on it. It was in silver with blue and green accents and lights; the silver not highly shiny but not matte either. It beeped as they came in; a long probe connected to the console.

"No, great shooting. Now, you could have gotten there about ten seconds earlier and I'd be happier," Parn responded. "If that Sith hadn't been so cocky, I'd still be back there fighting him. Or, you know, dead. Other than that, good job."

The droid made a series of beeps and clicks that managed to somehow be sarcastically appreciative. Then the head spun around so that the main viewing aperture rested on Gida'Tol. The lens focused and zoomed as it moved up and down, the droid emitting what was clearly a 'swit-swoo' in beeping tones.

"Say hello to Y1-M3, or Whyme, as I like to call him." Parn grinned at the droid as he walked past and settled into the pilot's chair, "Maintenance, astrogation, he can operate most of the systems on the ship, even fly and fire the guns as long as it's nothing too involved or fancy."

The droid bleeped again. Vaxi gave it a wry look, "The last time we let you try any real flying we had to re-paint the whole starboard side." The droid made a rebellious noise but then something like an acknowledgment and dismissal; a tonal shrug.

Parn looked back at the two women, "And that's the crew. Vaxi can give you the rest of the tour before you get cleaned up and take a sit for a while. I want to get us off this rock and safely in hyperspace." He clicked a few switches and took the wide U-shaped stick in his hands, taking over from Whyme. "Get the calculations going, Whyme, I want to jump to lightspeed as soon as we hit black if we can."

The brown skinned zabark girl nodded, "It's up to you if you want the rest of the tour now or later. I know if I were you, I'd be dying to get clean." She turned to lead the way back to the hallway and the other half of the circle of the ship's main body.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"He buzzed the palace with his ship, blew the hallway open, and then jumped into it?" The faceplate on Twen's helmet was up, her face incredulous.

Uln nodded. The receiving hall was all but empty now; the guests, servants, and slaves either dead or fled except for a small handful. The sniper was standing large room's security console, playing the footage from the internal cameras on the screen there. "This guy's got titanium balls, I"ll give him that."

"I"ll give him more than that. He's cute. I wonder if Mactus'll let me play with him before he..."

From the floor above there was a huge crash and the sound of brick breaking, steel cracking as another section of the wall and roof gave way to the Sith's vented fury. Uln raised his eyebrows, "I doubt it."

"Oh, well." She shrugged and looked back at the room, "We've got a few playthings anyway." A quartet of Golto's slaves, including the two human women who'd drugged Gida'Tol and attended to the Hutt during the party stood nearby, their arms laden with loot from the guests and the rest of the palace, each wearing a pack stuffed with more valuables, weapons, and other items that had taken the bounty hunter's fancy.

Golto himself was against the far wall, his enormous face partly burned by the flash-bang grenade the smuggler and thrown, one of his arms limp and blackened from a stray blaster bolt but remarkably intact otherwise. "You'll regret this. No one has ever enjoyed having me as an enemy, I won't forget any of you or any of this insult."

Twen eyed him, "Are you sure I can't kill him? I've never killed a Hutt before and he's just asking for it."

Her brother nodded, "Too much trouble. In our line of work, we'll end up working with or for the Hutts before too long once we part ways with Mactus. Even if they hate his guts, the others will never let it go if we kill one of them. That whole superiority thing they've got."

"Pff. Fine."

Golto sat somewhat more upright, "Don't forget it, filthy two legged beasts. Walkers, ha! You'll pay for this, and your children's children! We live a long time, far longer than you bony things."

"Worm!" The word was drenched in disgust and anger. All eyes in the room turned to see Mactus standing at the bottom of the staircase. His chest rose and fell rapidly and his eyes still burned with hate and rage. "You live exactly as long as I allow it. You slimy shit heap! Wretched alien trash! If you had kept out of my business..." He started to stalk purposefully towards the gangster.

Golto's eyes went wide, "You-you can't kill me! It's too much trouble for you!"

"For us," Uln corrected him, gesturing at himself and his sister. "I mean, we're mercenaries so killing a Hutt could be a big problem with future work. But it's no big thing for him. I mean, the Hutt Cartel isn't going to piss off the Empire over a small fry like you."

The Hutt let out a brassy squeal as Mactus leaped up and slammed an armored fist into one of his saucer-like eyes. He tried to pull away, flailing with his small flabby hands. The Sith snarled and his lightsaber blazed to life and struck right, then left, and each hand went flying. "GraahHHHH! WE! WILL! BURY! ALL!" Each word was punctuated by a slash from the energy weapon and a sizzle, often with a squishy thump and the smell of burning vomit. "YOU! FILTHY! SLUGS!" He kept at it after that, slashing and hacking again, and again, and again, and again, cutting the massive bulk into pieces, sending organs to splat against the walls and the floor, scoring the platform with the errant strikes of his weapon. "ARROGANT! TRASH! HRRRAHHH!"

The slaves drew away, moving behind the towering bulk of Twen for protection. She just watched with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her lips. That man, he knew how to kill. It was beautiful. Her brother had turned away, again tapping at the terminal to pull all the information he could from Golto's system.

"Hnn. Hnn." Mactus stood, shoulders heaving, over a steaming pile of mass about the size of a man's torso. The rest of Golto the Hutt lay or stuck to the walls in a fifteen foot wave in front of him. "Hnn." He took a few more heavy breaths, then started to take in deep ones, calming somewhat. "Better." The blade of his lightsaber retreated with a whining whistling hiss and he turned back to the others slowly, clipping it on his belt. Her green eyes set aflame looked at the slaves doing their best to hide behind Twen. "And them?"

"The spoils of battle, Mactus," she replied. "We needed someone to carry the loot, I'm not leaving a Hutt's palace without taking as much as we can get. This stuff is worth a small fortune!" The bounty hunter shrugged, "Besides, slaves are always are a good investment. And that sweet little thing you have back on the ship must be worn out taking care of all three of us. We can trade these ones back and forth for a while." She grinned, "Variety is the spice of life, after all."

He looked at her for a few moments, his face still wrathful. Then one of the corners of his mouth twitched. Mactus shoulders shook again but rather than rage, he tipped his head back and laughed, "And so it is. Very well then." The slaves all visibly relaxed at the vicious man's suddenly improved mood.

Mactus hopped off the wrecked dais. "Grab any last things you want, the both of you, and then we're leaving. We've got to get on the trail of that ship."

Twen nodded, "I figured as much. They really pissed you off, huh?"

He nodded, treading on a severed arm as he walked towards the main hallway with it's collapsed door and crumbling rim. "Yes. I will not have that scum laughing at me. Not for long. I will make him suffer before the end." The dark haired man paused at the threshold, his eyes distant. "But there is more to it than that."

Uln was disconnecting his datapad from the security terminal, "What do you mean?"

The Sith apprentice pursed his lips, "Just a suspicion at the moment. But I think that rogue isn't quite what he seems, nor his alien slattern sidekick. I'm not certain, however." His voice was uncharacteristically questioning and he reached up with one hand to stroke his goatee thoughtfully. Had he really felt what he thought he had? He'd been so furious, he'd not been paying attention to his perceptions overmuch. He might be mistaken. But what if he wasn't? "They may just have been lucky."

"Well," Twen picked up the chains to the slaves collars in one gauntlet, "luck runs out. Let's starting tracking them down and find out."

 

[HookerBoots]

Gida'Tol had been quiet, gathering the idea that they were leaving Mercy. This was . . . it had been a very long day, and if this was the end of it, it had at least wrapped up well. She followed along with the other two as they showed her around the ship. This was easily the nicest ship she'd been on, and there were . . . just the two of them and the two droids? That was odd. Even with modern ships, a smuggler should still have a larger crew. But that didn't matter, at least not now.

Vaxi asked her if she wanted the rest of the tour or if she wanted to shower, and she thought for a moment. "I would like to shower first, yes. If that's possible, and amenable to you, of course." She still wasn't sure if she was still a slave, or if she was . . . she could barely think the word.

The Zabrak woman nodded. "That's fine. Here, this room," she pointed to a doorway, "will be our room - we don't quite have a room cleared for another person yet, so we'll be roommates. But down here is the shower." The next room down was actually the bathroom, and it was clear that priority had been placed on it. The space was generous, as generous as it could be in a starship, and there was a spacious shower stall in a room apart from the other facilities, with several shelves, a bench affixed to the floor, and a set of hooks for hanging robes or clothes.

"Thank you." Gida'Tol stepped into the room after Vaxi and looked around. "This is amazing. You both have been so . . . amazing. I'll do my best to repay you, somehow." She shrugged out of the robe and hung it on a hook, looking at it doubtfully. Then she smiled at Vaxi, a simple curve of her lips. "Please, don't let me delay you from what you might need to do. I can figure it out, I think."

Hesitation, but Vaxi nodded, eyeing her a bit. "If you need help, don't worry about calling." She had known how attractive Gida'Tol was, but . . . it was hard to be surprised with it like that. Even after the day they'd had, after everything they'd been through, she still exuded a sensuality that seemed so inviting and alluring. That . . . made her think, actually. That couldn't be intentional, could it? She shook her head slightly. "I'll have some clothes brought in for you as well. Take as much time as you need."

She nodded and walked out, shutting the door behind her. B9 was bustling down the hall with a hover tray loaded with a full tea service and sandwiches. "Oh, Mistress Vaxi! I brought your guest some snacks as well, specially formulated for Twi'lek physiology to refresh and reinvigorate."

The dark-skinned woman nodded. "Thanks, B9. Grab a change of clothes out of my closet for her as well, please?"

"Of course!" The droid paused. "If I may say, her proportions are . . . a bit different from yours, Mistress Vaxi. I'll see if I can adapt them to fit better, but it would be best to acquire new garments for her as quickly as possible."

"That's the plan, but for now all she has is that robe." Vaxi paused. "Which, by the way, you should take and probably destroy it."

B9 nodded. "Yes, Mistress Vaxi." She bustled into the bathroom as Vaxi made her way down the hall to the bridge again.

~ ~ ~ ~​

After Vaxi left, Gida'Tol sighed and looked around. This was the most incredible thing she'd ever seen. An actual water shower on a ship? How much money did he have? She busied herself checking out the assortment of soaps and shampoos on the shelves, trying to ignore the slight tremor in her hands.

The door opened again, and the protocol droid, B9, walked in. "Greetings again, Mistress. I brought the tea as promised and something for you to eat, if you wished it." The hover tray was set on one of the lower shelves, and the droid grabbed the robe. "I will bring in a change of clothes for you, and take care of this garment." Parn had been right, there was something maternal about the droid.

"Thank you, but you don't have to call me Mistress. I'm a slave. I was a slave, at least. I . . . don't really know what I am, now."

There was a moment of silence, and B9 said firmly, "I apologize, Mistress, but I cannot refer to you in any other way until I am informed of a difference in status by Captain Starhawk or Mistress Vaxi. And if I may be so bold, they are not the type of people who would bring you aboard as property." She bowed to Gida'Tol. "In all the time I have served them, they have never taken a contact to transport slaves, nor have they expressed anything other than contempt for slavers. I cannot say for certain, but I do not believe your station is what it has been." The bronze android walked back to the door and bowed again. "Enjoy your shower, Mistress, and please don't hesitate to call if you require assistance."

The door shut again, and Gida'Tol stared at it for a moment. She turned back to the shower and started the water after a few tries, stepping in before the water was fully hot to avoid having another uncomfortable conversation with the protocol droid. The billowing clouds of steam hid her when B9 came back in to deposit the clothing on another shelf.

As the droid left, Gida'Tol took a deep, shaking breath that turned into a sob. She slowly went to her knees in the shower, arms wrapped tightly around her body, as she wept. She didn't know if she was crying from relief, or shame, or fear, but she couldn't stop herself. The water streamed over her, washing away the events of the day.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Washed, dried, and fed, Gida'Tol emerged from the bathroom, tugging the shirt she was wearing down. The clothes didn't fit quite right, and they were clearly Vaxi's from the shape and length, but they were warm and soft. She wore now a snug-fitting pair of pants in a deep green, rolled up a bit at the ankle and stretched tightly over her hips and rear; a light grey top of some soft material that stretched a bit, but not enough to keep her breasts from being pushed tightly together at the open neckline, and fell to just below her waist. She'd been expecting over-the-calf boots, but had gotten a pair of ankle-high boots that were only a little too big; the warm pair of socks made them almost right as far as fit. A deep brown leather belt sat on the top of her hips, giving her waist a bit of definition.

She'd actually eaten the tea and sandwiches B9 had left, hesitantly at first, and mostly not to hurt the droid's feelings, but after the first few bites, real hunger kicked in and she'd demolished the tray in a short time. It was an odd feeling, being full and fully dressed, clean and warm, and safe. Gida'Tol sighed as she walked through the hallway towards the bridge where she could hear the others talking. Today had been insanely long, and she was grateful for everything, but she needed to know what she was supposed to be doing.

They looked up as she entered the room, the astromech droid making another appreciative noise at her appearance. "Thank you, very much," she said simply, nodding to Vaxi. "I appreciate these clothes."

"Of course," the other woman said, "we couldn't have you walking around here naked, and . . . well, the fit isn't too bad, at least." Her eyes flickered to Parn, and she crossed her arms. "Did you want to take a nap? We're not quite ready for the jump yet."

The droid beeped a few times, and Vaxi looked at him in surprise. "Huh. Okay, almost ready, then, about another five minutes. That doesn't mean you can't take a nap, though. You don't have to be awake for us going into hyperspace."

Gida'Tol looked at her, head tilted to one side curiously. "That's something I need to ask. I'm sorry if I'm out of line, but . . . is there something I should be doing? Did you buy me for anything particular, any task or skill I could perform, besides . . . the obvious?" Her posture was clearly nervous now, fingers twining together while she spoke. "I just don't want to disappoint you, you've both gone through a great deal of trouble for me. I understand if you don't want to tell me why, but there must be something you need me for."

 

[Armphid]

As the two women left, Parn felt a bit of relief. The twi'lek woman's presence was still working on him, even when he wasn't holding her or standing right next to her. Plus, he felt it would also be positive to give her some time alone with another woman. And as Vaxi was also clearly his subordinate, she might open up to her a bit, or at least feel safer with her. Even if he'd been kind, and he hoped she felt that way, he was still a master and she still a slave as far as she knew.

The astromech droid let out an appreciative whistle, head turning to look at Parn, then let out a few bleeps. "You can say that again. And you're not even biological." The droid did a little shimmy in place, hooted, and made a few more noises, "Yeah, she is too. Between the two of them it's going to be a much better looking ship."

The droid bleeped in the affirmative. Then he let out a surprised squawk. Parn blinked, "Really?" What was the point of this? Just to threaten him? Still...might learn something. "You know what, take control, Whyme and get us into space and away from here. Head starward for now. I'll take the call, but here, not at the main terminal."

Parn slid out of the pilot's seat as he felt the droid take over again. The atmosphere was already thin and faded around them; the black of space overtaking it as they escaped the planet's breath and pull and soared into the freedom and peril of the void. "Take me out into the black, and tell 'em I'm not coming back," he sang softly. From one of his favorite songs. He activated the short-range HoloNet station on the communications console; there was a larger table and projected for interstellar distances but this would suffice for in-system communication.

The aperture whirred and lit up and a moment later, a holographic image of Mactus "stood" on thin air over the console. "Captain Starhark. No injuries in your daring escape, I trust."

"No, no, we're all fine, thank though. It was sweet of you to call." Parn gave his most infuriating grin to the Sith, wondering how it would translate through the holo. The man wasn't calling from a ship terminal himself, the way he was standing and holding his arm, it looked like he was using his personal holocomm. "How about your side? That big flying lady looked like she might make a hell of a target."

"He wishes," came a woman's voice.

"Twen," Mactus said with a warning tone. The Jedi Shadow's smirk twitched. Another name, good.

"Yeah, yeah."

The Sith shook his head, "Minor injuries but no more than that. Assaulting a gangster's hideout isn't as hard as one would think."

"Good for you." He leaned back in the chair, "So is this going to be "bygones be bygones, so long space nerfherder" kind of call or is this more of a "track you to the ends of the galaxy" situation?"

"Why, Captain?" Mactus ignored the question to ask his own. "Why spend so much on that slave and then risk so much to get her back? What is she to you?"

"A damn fine piece of lady that I paid for." Parn kept his cool, despite wanting to say a few other things. He had to stay in character. "I spent so much 'cause that's what she ended up costing and I wanted her. As for the rest, yeah the auction was going to give me a partial refund, but that's still thousands of credits and nothing to show for it."

"Your life to show for it, Captain." The Dark Sider shook his head, "You acted like the type not to risk his neck."

Parn shrugged, "Well, I am friendly, charming, ridiculously handsome, as I'm sure your statuesque friend has noticed."

"He really is," the voice of Twen spoke up again.

"...Sis," another man's voice said, urging her to be quiet. A brother and sister team? Okay, better.

The smuggler leaned forward towards the aperture, "But for all that, nobody cheats me. And nobody takes what's mine. Not some Hutt. And not you. So. Let me ask more direct this time. How's this going to go?"

Mactus looked at him. "Enjoy her while you can, Captain. I'm coming for you. And I will have her. And I'll have your hornhead sidekick too. And you will watch me violate them before you die."

Parn glanced up at another part of the console where a text message from Whyme was coming up. Message = trap. Piggback signal attempting hack+Y4 fighting back. Smarter than he gave Mactus credit for. "Pointless to say it, but I wouldn't. You've got better things to do than get killed, don't you?"

"Blasters and grenades might get you past a slug but not a Sith."

He couldn't help himself. "The war tells a different story. So do I. Check out records from Deneb a year ago. I know that a blaster can kill a Sith. Several, actually. So, let it go. Just let it go and go get yourself killed by a Jedi or something instead." He reached out to cut the call but paused, "And tell your man there my droid kicked his ass." Then he cut the call.

He glanced back at the droid, "...You did kick his ass, right?"

There was an affirmative and somewhat indignant set of beeps. "Hey, it was a fair question!"

Vaxi turned the corner and came into the cockpit, "What is?"

"Keep plotting our course but I want you to see if you can pull anything out of the contact first and do a search for brother-sister bounty hunting teams, two members, humans, the woman named Twen." Her teacher stood up and went back to the pilot's chair and sat again, the zabrak girl taking the co-pilot's seat. "If Whyme kept Mactus' hacker out of our system."

"Wait, what?" The droid bleeped and booped excitedly. Vaxi listened incredulously her mouth agape for a few moments after he finished. She looked at Parn, "You took the call!?"

He flipped a switch to start flooding the hyperdrive motivator. "Of course."

She looked like she wanted to hit him. "Why would you do that? You had to know it was a trap!"

"He might have just wanted to pontificate. You're new to Sith in person, I know, but take my word for it. Talk, talk, talk, talk. All the damn time. They never shut up! This one time-"

"Not the point, Master!"

He shook his head, "All right, all right. Look, Captain Parn Starhawk is insufferable and overconfident. He'd take the call."

"It was to stay in character?" She let her head thump against the chair's headrest. "That's not worth the risk."

"It's worth every risk I take," Parn disagreed. "You know what I do, Vaxi, and why. There's a lot of people alive because of it."

She was silent for a few minutes. "I know. But it's not fair to you. I mean, you're so much better than this."

"Hey, this is pretty damn good," he interrupted. It really was! He had a hell of a ship and had pulled off some big jobs! Yeah, he had some money from the Order put into the ship, and some of their contacts, and he could use the Force, but still!

She sighed, "I mean...you're a better guy than this. Almost everyone who knows you thinks you're this criminal, this scum...and you're not. And that's got to be hard sometimes. It's not fair to you, Master Parn."

He smiled. That...wow. It was sweet of her to feel that way. There were plenty, even among their fellow Jedi, who would say he was exactly what he seemed to be. He liked that she didn't. It meant a great deal that his talented, bright, sassy, pretty, young apprentice looked at him differently. "Rule 2, padawan."

"...I know. Anyway." Vaxi started working the controls, getting everything set for the jump to lightspeed. "Why the search? I thought you wanted to get into hyperspace as fast as we could."

Parn nodded, "I did. But now that we've got some leads and we're still close enough to access sources on Thunn, we should get as much info as we can now and find out as much as we can about who's coming after us."

Vaxi shifted nervously in her seat. "...What if they get to their ship and get after us?"

"We've got too much of a headstart," Parn shook his head. "Even if they get off planet before we go to lightspeed, which I doubt they will, all they'll get is our position before we jump. But that doesn't mean anything. We could go anywhere once we jump and they know that."

She looked at him for a few moments. "That makes sense. Okay, good."

"You're going to have to get over it, Vaxi." Parn glanced over at her, "I understand why you're afraid of them, I do. But you can't let it get to you the way you have been. That goes for any enemy."

"...I'm sorry. I just..."

"We'll work on it. But knowing it, really knowing it, is the first step. We're Jedi. We control our emotions, not the other way around. There's nothing wrong with feeling the fear; just with letting it influence your actions."

"Thanks, Master." She watched him for a few moments while he took back control of the ship and a little, sweet smile was on her lips. Then she cleared her throat. "So, uh, what was that story about talky Sith?"

"Right! So, I'm on Manaan, never mind why, and this Sith calling himself "Tyrannus" is going around and making a mess of things..."

~~~​

When Gida'Tol came back to the cockpit, Parn was happy to see her. In part it was due to her being clean and looking mostly comfortable; he wanted her to feel as good as she could here. In part it was how she looked in Vaxi's clothes; his apprentice was a gorgeous young woman and he knew it but the way Gida'Tol's curves were distorted and distorted her clothes right back? Damn.

Her question made the two of them exchange a look and a smile. She'd do well with those kinds of instincts. Parn shook his head, "I can think of a few things I need you for-"

Vaxi swatted his arm, "Stop that! She's had the day she's had and you say that?"

He winked at his padawan who almost visibly bristled. Then he looked back at their radiant guest. "You're right, we did buy you for something specific. I meant it when I said there are things I need you for, that we all, everyone in the Republic needs you for, but that's a conversation I want to have tomorrow unless you really want to do it now." Not that tomorrow wouldn't be rather relative, since they were in space. "I should say after getting a few hours of sleep, rather."

Vaxi nodded, "It really is something to be rested up for. But it's not bad, I promise. It's a good thing, a great thing."

Parn was silent for a few moments. That depended on who you asked. "But for right now, what I'd like you to be doing is resting and relaxing. Let B9 mother you a little and get some more food, have her make you a dessert. Help her with cooking or the dishes if you really feel you have to do something. Otherwise, rest. You had a hell of a day."

Vaxi nodded, "There are two free beds in our room, both are made up, so feel free to go and sleep if you need to. I'd want to." Or take another shower. She wasn't sure she could take enough showers after going through something like Gida'Tol had.

The human looked at her, "You've been through hell. But I'm going to drop another bombshell on you. You're not a slave anymore. As your owner, I've manumitted you and it's already been certified and broadcast to all data networks. You're free. As the ship's captain, you'll obey me on the ship, within reason, but I'm not your owner. Neither is Vaxi, neither is anyone ever again. You'll hear why we bought you tomorrow and I'd like you to come with us...but I can't and won't make you. You want off at the first planet we come to...okay."

Whyme bleeped. Parn gave the stunned twi'lek a smile and turned back around in his seat. "All right, finally." He reached for the wide lever pedal that activated the hyperdrive, "I never get tired of seeing this." He pulled it back and there was a rushing, gathering hum that became a pure, high note. The stars in the backdrop of space began to blur and stretch towards them becoming lines of light; then there was a tremendous zoom and the ship shook ever so slightly and everything burst into the scintillating blue "tunnel" of hyperspace.

He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Now he could relax. They were safe now, for the next three Galactic standard days. Hyperspace was an island in many ways. Nothing could reach the ship, no signals or communications, no attacks, isolated even while being still within the universe. "The Force was with us," he said after a few moments. He opened his eyes, "And now...I think I'm going to go and let B9 mother me. I wouldn't be averse to company."

 

[HookerBoots]

The sound of Starhawk speaking fell away in an odd rushing sound. She was vaguely aware that there was more conversation happening, but it wasn't of consequence. Gida'Tol blinked slowly, staring at the stars growing closer and closer to them. Free. She was . . . free.

No more collars, no more shackles. No being demanded to perform, or being beaten for something done wrong, or just because. She could go, do, be as she pleased. Her body was frozen, or she would be shaking.

The jump into hyperspace was what jolted her out of her own thoughts. She was free, not just as a slave, but free from Mercy. "I . . . I'm free?"

Vaxi nodded, putting one hand on Gida'Tol's shoulder. "Yes, that was the whole point." She smiled comfortingly. "You were never going to be our slave, we wouldn't . . . you were always going to be free." Her fingers squeezed lightly. She could feel the other woman shaking lightly, and grinned a bit. "Come on, Gida'Tol, let's get you wrapped into bed, I'll have B9 bring you something to eat when you wake up. You've had a long day."

Gida'Tol nodded, her body shaking a bit more with every passing minute. "I . . . yes, bed is a good idea." She paused for a moment as Vaxi turned her away from the bridge, and turned back to face the man who had come into her life and changed everything. "Thank you. I can never thank you enough."

They walked down the hall towards the bedroom, Gida'Tol leaning more and more heavily on Vaxi as they went. "I'm sorry, so sorry," she muttered. "I'm being . . . you've already done so much, and I can't even walk myself to bed."

One arm around Gida'Tol's waist, Vaxi smiled. "It's all right. Like I said, you've had a hard day." And the woman wasn't unpleasant to be close to. She smelled nice, and her body was warm and soft. "Come on, sweetheart, it's okay to have a moment of weakness. You'll rest and be right as rain."

"Feel like today's been a day of moments of weakness," she muttered, then sighed. "You're right. I just wish I could stop shaking."

Vaxi set her down on the nearest bed and went to work taking off her boots. "It's a common enough response to a substantial shock. And you've had trauma immediately preceding it, as well. It's natural." She pulled back the covers and made sure Gida'Tol was lying comfortably before pulling them back up.

"I thought B9 was supposed to be mothering me," Gida'Tol said with a small smile as she nestled into the pillow.

A smile ghosted over the Zabrak's face. "The droids are fine a lot of the time. But I thought something like this might need a living person." She snugged the covers up a bit and smoothed them. "Go ahead and rest. Everything is fine, and you've got another big day tomorrow."

"As long as it's not as eventful as today, I think I'll be fine." Her eyes were already drifting shut, her voice soft and slightly slurred as sleep started to take over.

Vaxi stood up as Gida'Tol started snoring softly and headed out of the room, shutting the door behind her, a smile still playing on her lips.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Uncertain of how long she had been asleep, Gida'Tol woke up and looked around, disoriented for a moment at the strange surrounds. Then it clicked in her head, and she sat up. This was her first morning as a free person. What an amazing thing.

Vaxi was asleep on the other bed, half-draped in the blanket, one foot dangling off the bed. Gida'Tol smiled happily - even if she had to share a room, this was pretty amazing. Because she didn't have to worry about what would be expected of her. Though they had implied there would be another shock in store today as well.

She stood up and decided against putting on boots at this point, standing up and heading into the hallway in her socks. B9 was waiting there, her eyes lighting up when she saw the Twi'lek. "Ahh, Mistress, good morning! Would you like breakfast, or would you prefer to wait?"

"Um, breakfast would be great. Is the captain awake yet?"

"No, Mistress. He is still in bed, though I believe he muttered something about me 'sending the girls to join' him if it was wished."

Gida'Tol stifled a laugh. "No, but that's a good thing to know. I can help make breakfast for us all."

The droid almost looked affronted. "That's not necessary! I appreciate the offer, but I can manage."

"No, that wasn't it." She shrugged. "I never learned to cook, and I thought that I might be able to pick up some things if I helped."

Mollified, B9 nodded. "Very well, then. Come into the galley, and I will teach you how to make omelets."

 

[Armphid]

"Now she's here and ready for her training." Parn smiled as he finished his report. He was wearing a loose robe that was poorly closed, a broad swath of his muscular chest exposed, his body bare expect for the garment which only fell to his knees, leaving his calves exposed. "Not as smooth as I would have liked."

"Far from it," Master Satele Shan, leader of the Jedi Council, nodded in agreement. She was of average height and with a build that was agile and graceful; her muscle lean and not interfering one bit with her feminine roundness. Her blue eyes were slightly canted and her cupid-shaped lips were full and a blue-gray color. She was lovely, her beauty not diminishing despite her middle age, with a rounded oval face and pretty features. Her hair was in a black bob with a pair of small, tight braids on either side of her head, hiding her ears. "And yet you did well against opposition we did not expect. You should be congratulated and rewarded, Parn." She was as serene and regal as ever, while still lovely enough to make a man yearn. Her curves were generous for her frame, particularly her chest, which usually caused a few tension wrinkles on the tunic she usually wore.

Not now though, as she was wearing just the same thin, gauzy strips of cloth that the slaves as Golto's palace wore. Nice look for her.

He smiled, stepping down off the bed in his quarters onto soft, warm grass on a sunny hilltop on Tython. "Thank you, Master Satele but-"

"No. Your work goes unknown but it is vital. I cannot openly reward you to keep your cover." She approached him, hips swaying, a look of sultry desire on her face that he'd never seen before. "But I know a way to reward you. And to deal with the...tension between us."

She reached for him, her smaller hands going to the tie of his robe and pulling it open. Her eyes widened and her lips curved into a smile. In the near distance behind her, Vaxi and Gida'Tol rode on Whyme as he rocketed through the air in pursuit of a giant, flying souffle. "Now that's the Force I'm talking about." She sank to her knees and looked up at him, those kissable lips parted and her voice was suddenly metallic and a bit screechy, "Master Parn, enough is enough! It's time to get up!"



Parn blinked, his body slowly stirring in the dim light of his quarters. The steady thrum of the engines was a calm, almost forgotten background noise. There was a metal tapping on his door and the voice of B9 came through it again, "The others are all in the galley already. If you don't hurry, I shan't warm your breakfast up for you!"

He sat up in bed, blinking owlishly once more to clear his head of sleep and of the dream. "...I don't think I should eat Alderranean souffle again." His subconscious was weird and horny, apparently. He turned his blanket down and swung his legs off the bed. He hoped he'd remember it by the time they actually got to Tython. Master Satele would think it was hilarious.

He emerged from his room in a more substantial brown robe than he'd worn in the dream, and with a light shirt and boxers under it. There was a very pleasant smell in the corridor of the ship as he made his way towards the kitchen; two actually, and one more important than any other.

Vaxi was already there and seated at the little table, showered and changed into fresh clothes. She wore a sleeveless black shirt that was snugly fitted and wonderfully flattered and showcased her pleasing chest, her usual belt though without her weapons, and a pair of body hugging blue leggings. She had foregone her boots and instead wore a much lighter pair of slip on shoes. "You lazybones," she said as he entered, "About time you got up."

"Good morning to you too, Vaxi." He nodded to the droid who was busy at the kitchen section of the galley, "B9, smells great. Need coffee." He went over to the pot set on the counter and poured himself a cup, taking a long drink, then saw that Gida'Tol was with the mothering mechanoid in the kitchen. He raised his eyebrows and then smiled, "You're looking good this morning, Gida'Tol. I hope you slept well. ...You don't need to do that, you know."

"That's what I said," Vaxi shrugged. "But she said she wanted to."

"Her culinary education is woefully lacking, but she took to it quickly," B9 reported. "I believe her having senses of taste and smell will assist in her cooking, though I think she has a talent for it as well."

Parn sighed and sat down at the table. It was sized for about four to sit comfortably; a simple metal affair with simple plastic chairs that with nice if somewhat worn cushions. "A nice talent to have. Wish I had one that was so pleasant." His talents were all rather darker; fighting, lying, fast talking, sleight of hand...how nice it would be to be good at something that was...well, good.

"We all wish you did," Vaxi agreed with a smirk.

He shook his head, taking another deep drink from his mug. "Ahh, dark mother, once again I nurse at your teat," he sighed, ignoring the sassy remark. "Don't get used to the late rise. Regular schedule resumes tomorrow. We need to keep up our training."

"I know, I know."

He glanced over at the blue skinned twi'lek as she came to the table with plates for all three of them. "Thank you, Gida'Tol." He held his mug out and waggled it, a patient sigh coming from B9 even as the droid refilled it with coffee. Two of the horizontal slats in her abdomen opened and two smaller, more primitive arms extended to dump suger and pour cream into it. "So. I bet you've got more than a few questions but I understand if you're not sure where to start. If you'd like, I can just start talking-"

"And he will," Vaxi cut in.

"Or," he went on, "you can take control and ask whatever you want. I'll answer you as best I can, and as truthfully as I can, and if I can't, I'll try and tell you why."

 

[HookerBoots]

Gida'Tol set down the plates, each with a vegetable omelet and a helping of a type of tuber that B9 had called Dagobah turnips, one in front of each of them, then slid into a chair herself. "I do have a few questions," she said, picking up a fork. Stabbing a piece of turnip, she looked at them. "The most important one, really, to me, is why."

Cutting into her omelet, Vaxi looked at her. "Why what?"

"You know what. I asked you when you came to rescue me, and you said I'd find out." She chewed the turnip and swallowed, pleased at the taste. "Why do all this, just for me?"

"Isn't every life worth that much?" Parn asked philosophically, abandoning his mug for a taste of the food.

Gida'Tol looked at him steadily. "I suspect you believe they are, and you may be right. But if that was why, you would have bought the other slaves too, or even instead." She tried not to sound arrogant, and mostly succeeded. "I can't imagine any three of them went for half as much as I did." She cut into her omelet as well, taking a small bite.

Vaxi and Parn glanced at each other, and the woman shrugged slightly. "I suppose that's fair."

"So," the Twi'lek said, "there's that. You must have something you want from me, even if I can't figure it out. Why spend that much money on a slave, then risk your lives to get her back, only to free her?"

He picked up his mug again, a sardonic look on his face. "Freed, only to be bound again, with chains of duty and obligation."

Vaxi punched his shoulder hard enough to make him grunt. "Stop that. You'll make her actually want to leave on the first planet we land on." She turned to face Gida'Tol with a small smile. "Ignore him. He's always like this in the mornings, at least until he's finished his second cup of coffee."

 

[Armphid]

Parn didn't answer. If she did leave them, she might be saving her life. Vaxi hadn't fought in the war, she hadn't been on Coruscant that day. He had been. Being a Jedi did not mean a long or safe life, usually the opposite. Instead he just took another drink.

He drained the mug and then held it out for a refill. "No beating around the bush, I see. I understand though; that really is the only question that matters right now, isn't it?" Parn was silent while B9 obediently filled his cup, again adding his usual amount of sweetener and creamer. "There are a few things that I want from you, which I really shouldn't," he started with a grin. Best not to lie about it. He felt that same feeling around her he had before...even though this was hardly a sensual situation, he felt aroused by her, for her. Vaxi felt it too, probably, though she might not realize it. "But as great as your skills in that arena no doubt are, that's not why we came to Mercy to get you."

He wanted to see if she'd note it. That the purpose of their trip there was her; not dropping off and picking up a shipment, not any other business, not even to get a slave, but to get her.

Parn paused a moment, a bit uncertain of how to begin. "There's a war coming. The Republic against the Empire, coming closer every day. We're in the eye of the storm. The war isn't really over, it's just a break. And there are little skirmishes taking place still." Maybe this was a little oblique but it was a good way to start. "You've probably heard of the Sacking of Coruscant." Vaxi made a growling noise in her throat. "During that, a large and very powerful force attacked the Jedi Temple. Many were killed; students, knights, and masters." His eyes were distant. He could feel the flames on his skin for a few moments and the burned and seared flesh under his ribs as he pulled himself away from the Sith that had nearly killed him, desperately seeking to hide, to survive, no longer able to defend himself if found. They were searching for him, he could hear their steps, the hum of lightsabers, the snap of blaster fire-

The human man shook his head and pushed the memories away. Still so fresh and sharp even two years later. Would he ever get over it? Maybe not. "If The Republic is going to win the war, even survive, we need to be able to combat the Sith and we need Jedi for that. And Jedi are now in somewhat short supply. So I was sent to locate someone that had been discovered; a Force Sensitive person who could be trained and taught to become part of the Order. And I located her, bought her, and then...well, you were there."

He looked at the lush twi'lek, "Gida'Tol Gella. You are to be taken to the new Jedi Temple on the hidden planet of Tython. You will learn the ways of the Force and the Jedi. You will stand against the darkness and fight those that no one else can." The roguish man's voice was calm but serious and his eyes for once had no laugh in them. "When we met, I said I, we, needed you. I didn't mean it in the manner I'm sure you've usually heard it. We need you, Gida'Tol, if there's to be any light left in this galaxy."

"Bantha shit, right?" He set his mug down and stood up, "I don't expect you to believe without proof. Come on." The auburn haired man started to lead the way out of the galley and then paused. He turned to one of the higher cabinets in the kitchen and opened it, reaching inside and rummaging around for a moment, "there you are." He pulled out a small hold-out blaster and turned to Gida'Tol, pushing it into her hands. "Here, take this. I'm sure I'm sounding pretty crazy right now and you might think you're in trouble and helpless in the clutches of the insane. Now you're armed and we're not." He smiled and then turned and exited.

Parn headed to one of the cargo holds that was largely full of rather haphazardly stacked and set crates. "Will you look at this?"

Vaxi shrugged as she followed him into the large room and leaned up against the wall near the door. "We were on Thunn, what did you expect?"

"Still." He glanced back at the former slave. "So. Even if I"m not crazy or lying, why send us, right? Smugglers and thieves...well, we are good at smuggling things, even people. But we're more than what we seem. ...You felt it, didn't you? At the palace. When Vaxi took your collar off. When we jumped to the ship."

Parn turned back to the crates. He closed his eyes and reached out, touching the Force and feeling it flow through him. He lifted his hands up in front of him and the crates began to rise into the air. Not all at once but within moments, each and every one was floating about a meter off the ground; several tons of cargo held and suspended by nothing. He let them hang there for a moment and then began to move his hands as if conducting a symphony. The crates moved in response, some going higher, some lower, moving right or left, swinging about and sailing over and under, moving around the room to be fit into proper organization. It went on for perhaps two full minutes before it was all set; the crates now in neat blocks and rows. He lowered his hands and then sank slowly back down to the floor of the hold with barely a noise.

He turned back to face the two women. There was no sweat on his brow, his breathing wasn't heavy, all that work in such little time, and it seemed to have barely been an exertion. "I am a smuggler and sometimes a thief. But I am also Parn Starhawk, Jedi Knight. Nice to meet you, Gida'Tol, as I really am. Mostly am, anyway."

Vaxi stepped away from the wall, her expression just a bit awed. She wasn't sure she could have done that and it would have been a lot harder. Sometimes even she forgot just how strong and skilled her master was. "I'm not a knight yet but I'm a Jedi too. Parn is my master, well, the one who's finishing my training."

"Polishing more than finishing," he said with a smile. "Vaxi's previous teachers did very well and she's a good student. So, that's your answer, Gida'Tol. Got a lot more questions now, don't you? That's the nature of answers a lot of the time."

 

[HookerBoots]

The blaster was tucked into her belt, her eyes a little awed. "I . . . well, of course I have more questions." Gida'Tol gestured at the boxes. "I mean, you're Jedi, and that's amazing. Just . . . you know, it's like something out of a children's story, you know?" They started walking back to the main part of the ship, and she rolled her shoulders a bit as she walked. "Poor slave girl gets sold to someone who turns out to be a Jedi, and they travel around the galaxy, saving people just like she was saved."

Vaxi nodded. "Yeah, I can see where you're coming from." She hooked her thumbs into her belt as she walked.

The Twi'lek sighed and looked up at the ceiling of the ship as they walked. "That's part of it, of course. It feels too unreal to really process right now, I suppose." Her eyes fell to the floor, her thoughtfulness turning to something sadder, more melancholy. "And also . . . aren't you supposed to find people who can do that when they're younger?" She tucked her hands into the pockets of the pants she wore. "I don't mean anything by that, except that . . . well, that just means you must be mistaken about me."

There was silence from the other two and she stopped, turning to face them. "I can't have the Force, or however you say it. If I did . . ." Gida'Tol's face was a bit lost and not-quite haunted. "I wouldn't have been a slave, right? I'd have been something else, done better, been . . . more."

She mustered a smile, looking directly at Parn. "So, I guess you have the wrong girl. I'm sorry you came all this way, and went through so much trouble, but . . . ." she shrugged helplessly. "At least I'll be able to help out on the ship a bit."

 

[Armphid]

"We are supposed to find people when they're younger, but there was a little bit of a galaxy spanning war on," Parn said, perhaps a bit drier than he intended. "You got overlooked somehow, when you were a child."

"The Order does take in older people as students though," Vaxi chimed in. Especially now. "Just because you're not a kid doesn't mean you can't learn, or that you don't need to learn. And...well...we need more Jedi. A lot of us died in the last war. A lot."

The smuggler captain looked at Gida'Tol sadly, "Why would having the Force mean you wouldn't have been a slave?" It was a simple question, really. But one worth asking. "Would it have changed the circumstances of how you came to be a slave? Where you born or your parents?"

He shook his head, "I understand if you don't believe us. That's a common knee-jerk reaction. You've never lifted anything with your mind or shot someone full of lightning." His eyes rested on her, looking over her and also through her, "But I can see it practically pouring off of you. It's there. It sleeps in us a lot of the time until it awakens. I'd bet you didn't have your full access to it until recently. Maybe even just yesterday."

He gestured back at the cargo hold, "You felt it when I did that. Don't say you didn't. You felt it as much as you saw it." The human looked at her, "And you've probably used the Force without knowing it a hundred times before today. Ever had a moment where you suddenly knew just what to say to someone you were serving? Or the exact words someone wanted to hear. Ever bat those violet eyes at someone and have them agree to what you wanted, even though there really wasn't any reason for them to do it? Right there. It's not all big, flashy stuff."

She was using it right now. On all of them. A subtle emotional manipulation was pouring off of her; enhancing her sensuality and their reaction to her. But he didn't want to mention that. He didn't want to make her afraid of her power. "Don't get me wrong, you'll help out on the ship until we get you to Tython, yeah. But you can and will do a lot more than that." "If you still need proof...let's go the training room and I'll prove to you that you can do it."

 

[HookerBoots]

"I did . . . think I felt something," she admitted, her fingers twining together. "But, I know . . . I could have tricked myself into thinking I felt something, right? I mean, it was meant to be demonstration, so I would be half-expecting something." She glanced at Vaxi, who had an expression that seemed to mirror Parn's. "And earlier, I was drugged. I could have just hallucinated whatever it was."

She looked back and forth between the two Jedi, her certainty fading a bit. "Right?" She looked up at them a little lamely. "But we can go into the training room and try. I've always just thought I was lucky."

Vaxi laughed lightly and tossed an arm around her shoulders as they walked. "I thought a lot of the same stuff when I first started, honestly. It'll be easier once you can see that what we're telling you is real." She felt so friendly towards the other woman, and she couldn't really put her finger on why. Which probably meant the Force, to be honest, but she didn't care.

"I guess." Gida'Tol looked at Parn, her eyes conflicted. She wanted badly to believe they were right, that she was capable, talented in that way. But she had a lingering, strong feeling of inferiority and lack of self-worth that their words alone couldn't chase away. "So let's go, and see if you're right."

 

[Armphid]

Parn was sympathetic but also a little annoyed. Why didn't anyone ever believe him? ...Well, maybe being a smuggler had something to do with it. That and she was a perceptive young woman. And perceptive young women always got a sense that he was trouble. Which he was, to be fair.

Still, it would be nice to not have to do something the hard way for a change.

"Sure thing." Parn drained the rest of his mug of coffee and set it down. He rose from the table, just a few bites taken from his breakfast.

"Master Parn, your breakfast!"

"Later, B9." He made a vague gesture with his right hand as he walked out of the galley, "Jedi business." The auburn haired human led the way around the circular hallway to what would be, on most ships of this design, a second cargo hold. Part of it was still used for that purpose; sectioned off with heavy cargo nets. The rest of the space had been turned into a modest but efficient gymnasium. There were a few exercise machines along one wall; a large and thick mat that took up most of the floor, a pair of training dummies as well as a tall and thick post with several arms that jutted out from it at varying angles, and a wall full of weights, training weapons, and other useful items.

Vaxi, her arm fall to be loosely about Gida'Tol's waist, spoke up as they entered. "This is where we spend most of our time on the ship. Being a Jedi is largely mental but the physical is important too. You have to have a keenly honed mind and body."

"Especially when you've got guys like Mactus to deal with." Parn shook his head as he was looking over the wall of training tools. How best to do this...she was so...low. She had no confidence, no belief in her ability. And that would actively work against her using it or realizing it was there. He took down a wooden training sword and held it out to Gida'Tol, "Here, take this." He took down another that was exactly the same and held it in his left hand, his right taking down a thick, long strip of cloth. "I bet you don't have any combat training, right?" He tossed the cloth to Vaxi who stepped away and behind the lush twi'lek. "Not many teach their slaves to fight. Now, here's what's going to happen. Vaxi's going to blindfold you and then you're going to deflect these." He reached up and took a stack of palm-sized discs from a lower shelf on the wall of equipment.

Vaxi reached around with the blindfold, "Just relax," she urged. "Deep breaths, gather yourself and be calm." She placed it over the girl's beautiful eyes and then tied it in back of her head, just between her lekku.

Parn took a breath as well. "Listen to my voice. None of these things can hurt you, even if they hit you, but they won't. You will stop them. Breathe in peace and serenity, breathe out your tension, your worry. In control, out disturbance. In peace, out struggle. You can't see so don't try to. Close your eyes under the blindfold and just feel. Act on instinct."

He gave Vaxi a nod and then floated the training sword he held over to her, the zabrak girl taking it silently, standing a few feet behind Gida'Tol. Parn lifted the discs up into the air using the Force. Normally he wouldn't use it for something so...mundane but he needed to remove any chance she could hear him moving and guess the throw from that, or more accurately, think that it was that instead of her own ability.

There was no warning. The first disc darted at her high, the next two lower, creating a line down her body. The fourth arced left and wide to swing in on her and the fifth went low and then shot up towards her face.

Then was the real test. Not the thrown projectiles, but Vaxi. Waiting until they were moving, she stepped in and raised the training sword to deliver a blow to the girl's unprotected back. No noise, no notice, no warning. No way to know the attack was coming, must less stop it.

But she would. He knew it.

Or he had totally blown this whole thing and someone on Tython would have to straighten out the mess he'd made of the girl.

 

[HookerBoots]

The sensory deprivation wasn't complete - Gida'Tol could hear the ship's engines softly running, could hear B9 clattering around in the hallway, feel the breeze of the air circulation. But she certainly couldn't see, not even a little. She'd seen the five discs Parn held up, and was sure they weren't lying about them hurting her, even if they hit.

And she was trying to stay calm, but she'd never held a blade, even a wooden one, in her life. It felt . . . strange in her hands. Not bad, really, or even that unfamiliar, but just odd.

As she took a deep, calming breath, she tried to relax herself as Vaxi had said. She lifted the sword in what she assumed was a proper stance, or close to it. And as she did so, she could feel a strange buzz and let her arms move on their own. She could feel the jolt down the wooden shaft to the hilt as she knocked away the disc that was flying at her face, then the arc caught two zipping at her midsection. The wooden sword snapped up and out again, knocking the other two heading directly at her back, and she spun lightly on one foot, the blade catching the disc that had taken a longer trajectory to get to her.

The spin turned into a block that jolted her as she met another training sword with her own, stopping a strike that had been coming from behind how she'd been standing before.

There was silence in the room, and when she felt the pressure ease on her blade, she let it droop and tugged off the blindfold, eyes wide. "I . . . I did it?"

Vaxi, who was setting her own practice sword down, beamed. "You did it, and you did amazingly!" She hugged the other woman tightly. "We knew you could do it!"

Gida'Tol hugged her back, and then turned to look at Parn. She blinked when she noticed the discs, each of them in a line on the floor against the wall where they'd hit. "I owe you an apology, I think." She bowed slightly. "I doubted you. But even though it's still hard to imagine that I have the potential, this . . . I can't believe you're wrong."

Vaxi went to stand next to her master and smiled encouragingly. "It's hard to acknowledge that about yourself, when you've had the kind of life you have. It'll be easier, now that you've let go of some of your doubt."

 

[Armphid]

Parn picked up the discs as the two women embraced; feeling affection and a far baser emotions stirring at the sight. Sithspawn, calm down! Not that they were both extremely attractive but he knew it was partly what Gida'Tol was doing to him. And what he would love to have her to do him. Or to Vaxi. Or both of them. Damn, she was strong, wasn't she? "She's right. A lot of what we're capable of, you have to believe you can do it it won't happen. You can doubt yourself out of success."

Vaxi nodded, stepping back from the twi'lek girl. She'd liked hugging her; liked it a lot. She'd had the strangest urge to kiss her...but that was way, way too far. "Yeah. Confidence will come with practice, so don't worry too much about it."

The human man leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. It was a pose he took often, whether on a planet or on the ship. "We can help with that too. Vaxi and I train every day. You can join us or not as you please." They were past what Gida'Tol would need to know but it never hurt to go back to basics. "And a large part of our training has little to do with the Force. It's learning to fight. With a lightsaber...though you'll start with a vibroblade, a training one, until you've earned a lightsaber. But also with your bare hands, with blasters, and a few other things. I wish I could say differently but a Jedi's life in this age is a violent one. You're going to need to know and there's no better time to start than now."

He held up his hands, "That said, I'm not your boss. You just want to ride this trip out and relax, that's fine. You want to just watch us getting sweaty, uh, I mean training, that's fine too. You've had other people telling you what to do for too long as it is, so you deserve a little break. Once you have a master, that's in terms of training, not, you know. But anyway, once you have a master, you'll have to start obeying again, so you might want to enjoy some fuller autonomy for a while."

"You don't need to answer now," Vaxi piped up. "Why don't we all go back and finish breakfast?"

"Because we're already in the training room, padawan." Vaxi let out a growl and looked back at him sharply. Parn was leaning up off the wall, untying his robe and letting it flutter to the ground. He wore a loose short sleeved shirt beneath and a pair of short style boxers. "Fights won't always wait for breakfast. We're going to get a little work in first."

The zabark sighed, "But...hey, you know, B9 will yell at you if you don't go and eat, let alone me."

The older man was walking to the middle of the mat, rolling one shoulder, "It fills her diodes with joy to yell at me."

"...I'm not getting out of this, am I?"

"Nope." Parn was grinning now, sliding into a martial stance. "Tell you what, Vaxi, we'll keep it light. Maybe. Instead of going for an hour or so, let's do it this way. We can go back to breakfast once you've knocked me down." He glanced at Gida'Tol, "Feel free to go back and eat or whatever you like. I said I'm not going to give you orders and I mostly meant it."

 

[HookerBoots]

Gida'Tol found herself looking at Parn as he disrobed, her eyes traveling over the man's form with interest. He was a fine specimen of a man, and she . . . he'd said something to her. Crap. "Um." She scanned her brain for what might have been said, and she blinked. "Right, well. I think I might just watch today?" A small smile passed over her lips. "It could also be instructive to see how long it takes for Vaxi to knock you down."

She moved out of the open area and hopped onto the bench that was set near the weights to watch. Vaxi sighed and kicked off the light shoes she was wearing, watching Parn. It wasn't beyond him to start the training passes before she was ready - he'd done it before and put her in the dirt.

Because she was watching him, of course, he waited, in ready stance. The instant she set herself in the proper form, he moved, lunging forward with one hand extended in a strike angling for the pressure point in her left shoulder. Vaxi dodged, sliding to one side and lashing out with a low kick as she did so. Parn met her kick with a sidestep, his other arm lashing out and connecting with a closed-fist hit to her ribs.

Vaxi let out an explosive breath, but kept moving, using the momentum to move forward and create distance between them. She spun quickly, hands up and ready to strike if he'd darted after her. Parn hadn't, and laughed lightly. "Good job, apprentice. Keep distance between your opponent when they're bigger than you."

She snorted. "But I also know you can't win if you don't . . . attack!" She not-quite-hollered the last word as she darted forward, both arms lashing out in an almost windmill-like motion, striking down at his shoulder and in at his side.

One strike hit as Parn moved backward. He shook his left arm, trying to get the feeling of the strike out of his muscles and joints. Vaxi was on the attack now, however, her arms and legs flashing out in a flurry of blows. Parn withstood most of them, only taking a few glancing blows on his arm and abdomen. Finally, Vaxi moved into a fast combination of blows, pushing him back and back and then as she was striking, she hooked one of her legs back around his and he moved back and tripped, falling down.

Gida'Tol let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding, the sound of it loud in the sudden silence of the training room. Parn laughed, pushing himself back upright. "Very good, that might be the fastest time yet."

Vaxi was breathing hard, her face a little surprised. "It might be." She relaxed a bit, moving carefully around him in case he decided to try another 'lesson' about letting your guard down. "So, breakfast?"

 

[Armphid]

Parn felt a sting at the loss; it shouldn't have been that easy for Vaxi. The humiliation was pushed aside almost immediately however. It was pointless and foolish. She'd achieved the goal he'd set for her, which was the point. His pride often smarted after such a thing, and it sometimes roused darker things he didn't want to think about, but it was worse this time.

Because Gida'Tol was there. He wanted her to think he was strong and capable. Dangerous feelings.

Fortunately, he had plenty of control. "Yes, breakfast, before that dratted droid clanks down the hall and gives me a piece of her processor." He rolled back onto his shoulders and kicked up with his legs, the well trained muscles in his body working together to flip him back up onto his feet.

Vaxi sighed, "And just like that, you steal my thunder." That was such a cool move. And it has hard. She couldn't kick up to her feet from the ground like that, not yet anyway.

"By getting up after you knocked me down? Don't be so sensitive, Vaxi," Parn laughed. "You won, remember?" He bent down to pluck his robe up off the floor. "Come on, ladies, let's go eat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Parn shut the panel on the wall of the circular hallway and slid it firmly into place; the locking bolts clicking in and holding it on. "Looks good there too. Everything checks out." He walked away from the hallway and into the cockpit. The shimmering tunnel of hyperspace glowed and blazed with light, bathing him in silvery blue.

Whyme bleeped at him from where the astromech was plugged into the computer access. The human nodded as he slid into the captain's seat, "Yeah, I know you checked it out pre-launch but I always like to take a look. The water system's important and not exactly standard in a ship like this." The droid let out a few annoyed sounding squawks, "Yes, I know it takes a lot of time and money to keep it up. It's my ship, and I like having it." The silver robot beeped again. "Yes, I know a sonic system would cost a quarter to maintain. Look, what would you say if I said that an air blow mechanism would do just as good a job on you as the lube cylinder down in the engine room?"

The droid sat there for a moment; his head slowly spinning around. It settled, the aperture widening and then narrowing before bleeping indignantly. "Exactly," Parn said. He leaned back in his chair and put this hands behind his head. "...Besides, think of the girls in the shower and I think you'll see things my way." Weird, perverted droid.

Whyme let out a considering hum.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

There was no night in hyperspace. The shining blue never ebbed or changed, just constantly pulsed and flowed on. Nevertheless, it was "night" on Void Dancer based on the crew schedule. Time for sleep.

The door to Parn's room was open and his bed was empty. B9 had looked in before tottering to her recharge creche and just shook her head. Another of those nights.

He was in the training room, as he had been for about an hour and probably would be for an hour more. He'd tried to sleep earlier but it had come back to him, for him, so now he was here.

Parn wore a sleeveless shirt not unlike what Vaxi had worn earlier and a pair of somewhat loose cloth pants. He wore no shoes as he moved and flowed through forms, muscles flexing under his taut skin. He was sweaty and he felt warm. Too warm. It burned there, under his ribs again, he could feel it. Practically smell his own burning flesh.

"Harder, damn it," he growled. The training sword in his hands hummed faintly as he started the sequence again; refining muscle memory and training his body to move through the forms, learn and re-learn the movements, make them more than instinct, less that thought. He had Vaxi had trained for several hours already that day, but it hadn't been enough. Not enough so that when it came, his fatigue crushed it and drive him to dreamless sleep.

It didn't come every night. But when it did...

Another hour. Maybe another two, then he'd try again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Don't worry, I'm not going to be having either of us come at you." Parn smiled, little evidence of his long 'night' on his features. He wore the same training clothes as he'd worn then; the faint smell of sweat about them. "That'll happen eventually but first we've got to start with basics."

Gida'Tol looked nervous but attentive as she watched Vaxi. The slightly older girl was dressed in training clothes as well as she stood ready. "This is a good strong stance. It's set but not fixed. Her weight is on her legs but not pressing down so she can move if she needs to. Movement is key. You might stand and shoot behind cover with a blaster, but toe-to-toe, you stand still and you lose."

"Why do I have to model?" The pretty zabrak grimaced. She felt awkward with Gida'Tol watching her so closely. Even as she kind of liked it. Did she like what she saw? Did she think Vaxi was pretty? Did her muscle definition turn her off? And what the hell was she doing thinking ANY of that? "Can't you talk and demonstrate?"

"I will but for basic mechanics, you my young apprentice are the only possible choice." The human man held up a hand, waggling it slightly, "You're uniquely qualified in a way I'm not."

"In what way am I in any way better suited to demonstrate than you when you teach me?"

He hadn't taught all of her skills, or even most of them, but he still felt a little rush of satisfaction at that. "You're a woman, padawan, and I'm not. Your body will move the same way hers will. So if she's going to have an accurate model..."

"...That's actually a good point. All right then."

"Hey, what do you mean by "actually" anyway?"

~~~~~~~~~​

Parn leaned against the wall by the door to the training room, watching the two girls. Vaxi was teaching Gida'Tol footwork, which she was taking to well. It didn't surprise him. She was a trained dancer; and there was a certain amount in common between fighting and dancing.

The two of them looked great together. Not for the first time, he felt both happy and a little dirty, letting himself openly admire the two very different beauties.

He closed his eyes. How soon would they be depending on what they learned to save their lives? Or lose them. Sooner than it should be. Vaxi had skill and talent but she was so raw; her fear at the thought of facing Mactus had him worried. He'd thought she was ready...but now...

And Gida'Tol. She was taking to what they were showing he so far incredibly well and quickly. She had talent, she may even be a genius at it, the physical side anyway. Tomorrow they'd start talking the mental side; discipline, philosophy, meditation. And then they'd be on Balmorra...and he'd have to hope neither would need anything he'd taught them.