"One Night on Alderaan"


"Lord Arryn, I believe we have an accord."

Lockhart made to bow before the Lady River Dalaran, but she extended her slender hand out to him. He gave her a small, charming smile and took her hand in his, pressing his lips gently to her skin. He lingered there just a moment longer than was proper, lifted his eyes to meet hers and felt the shiver that passed through her body.

Lockhart released her. "Please, give me a moment to speak with my crew. After that, I promise that you will have my undivided attention, Lady."

She smiled at him in a way that said 'do not be long'. "Of course. When you're ready, my servants will show you to your room for the night. Please feel free to go and rest. I will come personally to escort you to dinner."

"I will enjoy that," Lockhart said, giving a small bow and turning away from her. The smile slid off his face as he approached his crew in the back of the room. Vette, who couldn't be bothered with propriety, leaned against the wall, her arms crossed in front of her, looking very bored. She was wearing her sun shades. Quinn stood like a statue as always, ramrod straight and his hands behind his back, the epitome of the Imperial Soldier. His eyes followed Lockhart as he approached. Vette nudged Jaesa, his padawan-turned-apprentice, and her eyes snapped forward. She had been watching a group of guardsmen posted near the side entrance. One of them had been watching her just as intently.

"We outta here?" Vette asked, shifting her weight from one hip to the other. "This place is a little stuffy."

"You three can return to the ship but stay on-planet. I will join you in the morning."

As he expected, all three of them looked puzzled. He was surprised it was Quinn who questioned him, though. "The morning, my Lord?"

"I'll be staying with Lady Dalaran this evening, at her request," he said flatly, as though this was something that occurred every other day. "I'm certain that she was inviting me for more than just dinner."

Vette tore off her sunglasses. "Staying with Lady Dalaran? You mean…you're gonna…?"

"Quite," Lockhart said simply, slipping his fingers into his armored gloves. "If I'm not mistaken, I have just procured all the necessary supplies we'll need for the next stage of our mission and most importantly, the permission to carry out our plans on her land, as well as having my pick of her personal guard. However, if I read the signals correctly and I'm positive that I did, it came with a price."

Vette bit her lip and tried her hardest not to laugh. "So, you're going to sleep with her in exchange for all this stuff? That's new."

Lockhart turned his gaze on Vette. "It gives us a tactical and political advantage. That's how the game is played on Alderaan. Sometimes it's with words, sometimes with money. Words bore her and she's got all the money she'll ever need. Evidently, the Lady wants something she's never had. I didn't…expect this but I can hardly say no. She will take it as the highest insult. My only option is to proceed and…" Lockhart cocked his head, searching for a way to put it delicately.

"And give her the shag of a lifetime?"

"Precisely," Lockhart said, his face serious. Quinn was genuinely gobsmacked. Jaesa was looking at her master with an expression he'd never seen before.

Vette smirked. "At least she's not ugly,"

Lockhart raised an eyebrow. "I suppose there is that."

There was an awkward silence between them, broken as Vette slipped her hand inside her jacket and pulled out a small flask. She shoved it into her master's hands.

"Here," she said, "some liquid courage. I know you've got nerves of steel and all, but this isn't a battle you can win by waving your lightsaber around." Vette grinned. "Well, actually, that's exactly what you'll be doing…"

"No alcohol," Lockhart said, shoving the flask back into Vette's grasp. "I need all my faculties. My performance must be unhindered by chemicals." Vette giggled. Lockhart closed his eyes and sighed.

"This is rather humiliating."

Jaesa pursed her lips together and made an effort to hold in her laughter, quite unsuccessfully. Vette was shaking with silent chuckles, while Quinn seemed to be quite interested in the patterns on the floor.

"Go show her a good time, Master. I know you'll be as magnificent as always," Vette said, whacking him softly on the shoulder.

"I appreciate your confidence in me, Vette," he said with a smirk.

"Well, I've seen you in your underwear," she said, shrugging. "I think she'll be pleased with the goods."

He struggled to maintain a straight face, but his cheeks flared red despite him. He shook his head and chuckled.

"That's…thank you, Vette." He shook his head, his bemusement obvious. "I'd give you all leave to go where you wish tonight, but Alderaan is very Republic. I'd feel better if you stuck close to the ship, and each other. Quinn's in charge."

Vette rolled her eyes and Quinn stood at attention, even straighter if that was possible. "My Lord," he acknowledged.

"Don't call me for any reason other than an enemy attack or someone's been injured…gravely, as in near death," Lockhart said, pointing at all three of them. I will make contact with you if there's a problem."

"Like you can't get her bra off?" Vette said, biting her tongue between her teeth. Quinn nudged her hard in the ribs, and she glared back at him.

Lockhart fixed a cold gaze on her. "I still have that shock collar somewhere," he said warningly, but she knew he was teasing. "Go. I have work to do."

Even Jaesa found it hard to suppress a grin as she walked away. Vette shoved Quinn out of the door and Lockhart could hear them arguing down the steps of the estate.

He sighed and turned back to the hall. Lady Dalaran had gone to do whatever rich women did when they weren't holding court or eating gourmet meals. Her servants were waiting for him, and he silently followed them to what he guessed was his room for the next few hours, until dinner. Then, he assumed he'd somehow end up in Lady Dalaran's chambers for the rest of the night.

It wasn't something he did often, this, but when the opportunity arose, he took it. It was a solution; a means to an end. And it didn't involve killing someone, or crawling through the dirt, or worse, talking to boring people in nice clothes for hours to come to a peaceful solution. There was a reason he was not a diplomat by trade.

He knew he was something extraordinary. That would have been true if had simply been The Emperor's Wrath, but he also was quite young for an accomplished Sith, unbeaten in battle and lastly, easy on the eyes. He'd pieced together enough information from his meetings with others, their conversations overheard, and their opinions of him. His face was serious but striking. His skin was unmarred by scars or burns or tattoos. His eyes were a deep, almost unnatural green. His voice was deep and buttery, and he knew how to use it to his advantage.

It wasn't the first time he'd been propositioned. It wasn't the first time he'd accepted.

It wasn't always about political gain. Sometimes a night with a woman was a welcome respite from the mad adventure that was his life. Fighting the enemy, getting bloody and bruised, touched only by his armor and the wind on his face. Sometimes, he needed to feel soft skin, to bury his face against hair that smelt of perfume, to feel a tangible release.

He marched into what he assumed was his room. His escorts bowed low to him and left him alone in the huge chamber. It was carved in marble, with white linens and statues and beautiful furniture. Luxurious. The bed was the largest he'd ever seen. The bath was a swimming pool. The view from the terrace was a miracle.

The Wrath smiled and threw himself onto the bed.


The next morning...


After a very, very late breakfast with Lady Dalaran, Lockhart boarded the estate's personal shuttle back to the spaceport.

It was challenging to keep the smile off his face, but he did try. He also tried very hard not to yawn, but he was exhausted. He had hardly slept the three nights previous, and last night had been no exception, just a different reason keeping him up.

Lady Dalaran's sexual appetite had astounded him. He was fairly certain that he'd impressed her with his…abilities, but he hadn't expected her to be quite so keen. She'd come to his chambers before dinner, and brought him to her chambers after dinner. Then, there was the pool and the quick shag in the garden this morning before breakfast. He thought she was never going to get enough.

He winced as he carefully straightened out one leg. He was sure he'd somehow pulled a muscle, and his shoulder throbbed for some unknown reason. There was also a very uncomfortable sting coming from his left and right flank where her nails and carved out some of his skin.

As soon as he boarded his ship, Vette was on him.

"Look what the cat dragged in!" she shouted. "We watched you on the monitor when you came through the hanger. Did I detect a slight limp as you took your walk of shame?"

He couldn't help but smile. "Shut it, Vette. Don't try to be clever."

"My poor Master," she said, mocking concern. "She rode you like a tauntaun without a saddle, didn't she? Well, I hope you were suitably appreciative of all of her donations to our cause."

He smirked. "I'm surprised you didn't hear her appreciation from here."

Quinn chose that moment to walk into the room and properly blushed. Pierce was behind him, with Jaesa in tow. They looked at each other and laughed, a private joke, and Lockhart had to wonder if they hadn't been doing the same thing he had last night.

Vette giggled.

"Quinn, what's the status of the ship?"

Quinn straightened. "All systems at optimal level, all crew ready for departure." Lockhart nodded his approval, and then approached the Captain. He laid a hand on his shoulder and spoke quietly.

"I'll have a pain hypo and a sedative," he said wearily, and the Captain nodded in understanding, the corners of his mouth tugging a bit.

"Set a course for standard orbit of the planet," he said, louder now and to the whole crew. "I'm going to my quarters for a proper sleep. You have the bridge, Quinn."

He fled the room before Vette could come up with any more jokes.

~ end