It had been three years since the fall of the Empire, and Mara Jade was reluctantly impressed by the New Republic. They had managed to cobble together a semblance of galactic order relatively quickly. Admittedly, it helped that the excesses of Palpatine and many of the Moffs had resulted in a rather large portion of the galaxy being positively eager for a new government. Most of the clean up battles they had to do were with isolated Imperial groups, not loyalist systems. After the Battle of Jakku (and who'd have thought that anything memorable could happen on Jakku) what Imperial remnants were left were largely scattered and independent, more warlords than anything resembling the seeds of an Empire.
Ironically, they barely had to do anything in the Outer Rim, usually the least governable region of the galaxy. As reluctant to admit that she was impressed by the way the Rebels had made the New Republic not just a reality but a viable, stable, government, she was even more reluctant to admit that she found what the Hutts had accomplished in the same time span even more impressive.
Plenty of factions had sought to capitalize on the chaos Endor had caused, but none had done so as swiftly or efficiently as the Hutts. It was like they'd known and had time to prepare. A third of the Empire's dry docks, depots, and garrisons in the Outer Rim had been hit within hours of the news of Palpatine's death hitting the HoloNet. Most of the commanding officers had died, but the number of junior officers rank-and-file who'd turned mercenary was borderline distressing, though Mara tried to quash her lingering loyalty to the concept of the Empire.
They hadn't done enough to cripple the Empire on a wide scale, to overly impact the outcome of the Battle of Jakku, but it had shattered their hold on the Outer Rim. Rumor had it that Moff Gideon was still at work, was trying to build his own forces, but it was slow going even for that man. And it had strengthened the Hutts enough that when the Pykes had tried to rally the Hutts had whirled on them like a nexu and trampled them like a reek. Metaphorically speaking of course.
The Pykes were not defeated, but outside of Kessel they'd been effectively driven from the Outer Rim. After Jakku the New Republic had turned to face the Hutts.
And it was here that Mara really had to concede her admiration for the Hutts, or at least for whoever was in charge. Because rather than posture or force an issue, the Hutts had petitioned to join the New Republic. And not only that…by all accounts they were paying their taxes. And so, despite the private suspicions and wariness of pretty much the entire New Republic military, and the open protests of Leia Organa (who it seemed had figured out that Jabba was behind most of the Hutts' latest moves) the New Republic had chosen to let the sleeping dragon lie and allow for Hutt membership and Hutt Senators.
It was, in all honesty, quite clever. On paper the Hutts were good citizens of the New Republic. They'd politely moved their more elicit activities underground (not deep underground, but enough that the New Republic government could turn a blind eye without looking like they were doing so), kept the small number of Star Destroyers they'd managed to seize hidden away, and allowed elections on planets they controlled. Mara had visited Hutt Space though, and anyone with a lick of sense or an understanding of politics knew who was really in charge. All you had to do was keep a close eye on a legislative meeting, or attend a gala, and you'd notice the lawmakers taking messages from whichever Hutt dominated the planet, New Republic Governors behaving more like ambassadors, citizens petitioning Hutts where they'd petition New Republic officials in other regions.
For all that the New Republic was, well, new, the majority of its leaders weren't. Most of them had been fighting the Empire for at least a decade. A few of them had even served in the Old Republic, in the Clone Wars. Nobody could spend literal decades of constant warfare and not crave peace. So Mara could hardly fault the New Republic for gladly accepting the implicit bargain the Hutts offered. Peace and quite a large chunk of change in exchange for pretending there wasn't a new Hutt Empire.
Oh, there were firebrands in the New Republic Senate, like Leia Organa, and nobody failed to notice the truly large amount of ships and soldiers Ryloth had gotten from the new galactic government. Both sides were pretending that the Hutts were part of the New Republic, rather than powerful allies (for the moment) but neither side was pretending that Hutts weren't still Hutts. Still, as long as the Hutts kept anything but commerce confined to the Outer Rim, the status quo was set.
For her part, Mara had spent the last three years watching and observing the galaxy at large, gauging which way the wind would blow. She needed to find a new boss.
She had considered going into business for herself. But only briefly. Mara's skills were assassination, infiltration, sabotage, intel gathering, the Force, and general combat. Leadership and accounting were not in her skill set, and so starting her own group was a losing proposition. As for freelance, her entire skill set was based around not having a reputation. And a reputation is needed to get any good work as a freelancer. She could do odd jobs, changing her identity and appearance constantly, but that wouldn't be enough to make anything close to a decent living.
So Mara needed a boss, an organization she could prove herself to. The New Republic was right out. Even if she was interested, she was pretty sure they'd rather execute her than use her. Very little of value was left in the Imperial Remnants of note. The Pykes were crippled, perhaps fatally. Rumor had it that the Mandalorians were starting to bounce back, but Mara couldn't even begin to guess how she'd join them. There was the smuggler baron, Talon Karrde. Mara was reasonably certain she could work her way into his good graces.
But, even without factoring in the man's friendship with Han Solo…why not go for the smuggler kings? Under normal circumstances Mara would have cut her own arm off before going to work for the Hutts long term but…she was impressed. There was a ruthless but pragmatic ambition to the actions of the Hutt Clans that reminded her of the best aspects of the Empire. And in the worst case scenario she was reasonably certain she could fight her way out. She'd managed to escape the palace once before, and that had been without her lightsaber and when she was trying to use the Force as little as possible. Now she had no such constraints.
And so Mara walked into Jabba's palace with her head held high and a calm, confident demeanor. She had, in point of fact, managed to make an appointment with the Hutt. The benefits of Boba Fett owing her a favor. As she approached the throne room, a large Trandoshian in unusually expensive clothes for the species came up to her, bowing. He seemed a little uneasy, and Mara wondered if it was because of her coming with the marker and recommendation of Boba Fett or because of not being used to leading a free woman to the Hutt. Or maybe he was just very new and anxious about not doing whatever had gotten Bib Fortuna killed.
After a short conversation and a presentation of Fett's marker, Mara was led into the currently empty of hangers on throne room. It was, on the whole, much the same as it had been when she'd last been here three years ago. Mara supposed that a six hundred year old being wouldn't consider three years long enough to need redecorating.
The only real change was the slave girl on the Hutts dais. It was a young Zabrak woman, probably not even twenty-five yet, with skin the color of freshly fallen snow and a crown of red horns poking up through thick black hair that had been delicately braided. She had a pretty, heart shaped face and legs that Mara was more than willing to declare gorgeous, long and slender and leading up an ass that, while largely concealed by the way she laid on the cushions provided for her, Mara was willing to bet was also lovely. Purple cloth wrapped around her torso in a slender 'X' concealing the middle and top of her breasts but leaving the sides in the valley of her cleavage exposed, and a fair amount of the underside. A few silver stings, lined with purple gems that Mara had no doubt were real, connected the top to the girl's bottom, which was made of the same cloth. The bottom was less artistic, simple undergarments to conceal her sex from view. Her calves were also covered, in a translucent purple silk cuffed on either end with silver.
All this Mara noted as she walked into the room, reaching out with the Force just lightly to check for threats. The girl radiated annoyance, exasperation, and resignation into the Force, but nothing else. New then. And not a trap. Mara hadn't really expected one, but she'd wondered. Nobody would expect the girl decorating Jabba's throne to be a bodyguard after all, which made it the perfect place for a bodyguard. But that was a level of pragmatism that Jabba wasn't at yet. A pity, but not a deal breaker.
Mara bowed to Jabba, refocusing her attention on the large Hutt. Jabba idly took a pull from his hookah as he stared at her, listening to the whispers of his majordomo for a long moment. Then he exhaled and put the pipe down. "So…" He said in his deep, rumbling, voice. "I'm told that you have come to me, with the personal recommendation of Boba Fett himself, seeking…employment." He raised a brow, and Mara was hardly surprised. She doubted that many humanoid women willingly sought out being employed by a Hutt. "What sort of employment?"
"I'm a skilled assassin and spy." Mara said bluntly. "I worked directly under Emperor Palpatine my whole life, until his recent death." Jabba considered her for a long moment, idly running a hand across the shoulder and upper arm of the young Zabrak like she was a pet loth cat. For a moment Mara thought she felt the brush of another Force wielder, and she didn't miss the minute widening of the Hutt's eyes. Which suggested that the Force was being used…by Jabba.
Which was ridiculous. Who had ever heard of a Hutt with the Force. Only…well, that made it perfect. Mara was deeply familiar with just how useful being underestimated could be. Hiding in plain sight, everyone dismissing you, or at least discounting how much of a threat you are. A Hutt who could use the Force without anyone knowing that he was would be operating from a position of strength indeed. And if he had training, listening to the will of the Force and perhaps utilizing the foresight some masters had would be incredibly useful.
So Mara sent a polite pulse through the Force, a sort of telepathic wave of acknowledgement. Jabba's eyes widened even further, and then he let out a rumbling laugh. It sent a ripple through his slimy body that made the young Zabrak shudder, but neither Jabba nor Mara paid her any mind. "Pretty words." Jabba said instead, as if Mara hadn't done anything. "But are they more?" He pressed a button, and Mara saw the Zabrak girl tense, eyes widening and visibly forcing herself to keep from shouting a warning. Her presence in the Force was frustrated and altruistic, but she was smart enough to know that openly trying to thwart Jabba's intentions wouldn't be healthy for her. Mara was impressed by that intelligence, and she appreciated the girl's concern, but it wasn't necessary.
She had felt the three Gamorreans in the hidden room the minute she'd entered the throne room, and to her Force enhanced senses the sliding up of the carefully oiled and maintained door behind her was as loud as a regular one. "Take her, put her in the harem chamber." Jabba ordered the porcine men.
Mara went still for a moment, and when the first Gamorrean approached she lashed out, slamming an elbow into the alien's throat. Gamorreans had tough skin and a fair amount of fat protecting them, but the Force negated that defense, enhancing her speed and strength so that the guard dropped just like a human would have. This drew a squealing cry of anger from one of the others, who charged at her. Mara slid and lashed out with one leg, unbalancing the large guard before popping up with a Force assisted uppercut. The final Gamorrean was dispatched with a simple tug of the Force, slamming him up into the ceiling and then bringing him back down just as hard.
It took her ten seconds, tops, and then she turned back to look at Jabba, unimpressed and not bothering to hide that fact.
OoOoO
Jabba sat and watched the spectacle thoughtfully. He had expected an outcome along these lines, but he had expected the woman before him to need to be more overt with the Force, to do to all three what she had done to the last. Then again, he supposed Fett's marker wouldn't have come with as strong of a recommendation if the woman needed the Force to that extent. That she had defeated two of his Gamorreans with just her (admittedly Force enhanced) hands was impressive.
The woman looked at him with a degree of open disrespect that would have made other Hutts try to engineer her death. Jabba just laughed, then fished a frog out from the tank and popped it in his mouth, savoring the small creature's struggles for a few seconds as he considered Mara Jade. There was something familiar about the human, but he couldn't quite place it.
As he mused, he idly stroked the shoulders of his new pet. Moria Quin, a 22 year old Zabrak, had been an up and coming actress and singer of the Mid-Rim. Not a household name, but promising and with a dedicated fan base. After the third month straight of spending his limited free time watching her holos (she wasn't untalented, but her agent was a poor negotiator Jabba suspected) he had decided that enough was enough and reached out to some discreet agents. As far as the rest of the galaxy was concerned, Moria's private freighter had been shot down by an overly aggressive splinter of the Empire, with no survivors.
For a youth from a famously fiery species, Moria had given him surprisingly little trouble. Oh, she was a riot of emotions in the Force, all of them negative, but in terms of actual behavior she was peaceful. Any command he issued to her was obeyed, albeit usually in a passive aggressive or petulant manner. It was amusing, almost endearing and almost impressive. Jabba didn't know a woman could dance sensually and be so arousing while radiating anger, but somehow the girl managed it. After so many centuries of terrified compliance or open defiance, it was simply pleasant to have some novelty of behavior here.
As for the other woman in the room…Jabba got a whisper of a nudge from the Force. "You have skill in combat, Mara Jade, but I already have people for that." He said calmly. "Do you have any proof of your skills in infiltration?" The human raised her eyebrow, then moved her body, slipping into a dancer's sensual pose, her expression being one of nervous and polite deference. Jabba blinked, confused for a second, then suddenly the pieces slipped into place and he laughed, long and hard. Oh, the audacity of it all. Further proof he had been right to not meet Skywalker with open conflict however.
"Welcome back Arica." He said finally. Jabba signaled for his majordomo, Trassk, to come to him. The lizard man did so hurriedly, and Jabba idly debated if he should tell the Trandoshian that Bib Fortuna had been killed for his ambition and lack of faith, not for being slow. Jabba leaned over and murmured instructions to the man, who nodded quickly and hurried off. That done, Jabba turned his attention back to the applicant. "You have won my interest, human." Jabba said calmly. Inwardly he was a whirlwind, with much to think about, but he had centuries of experience in keeping his feelings masked. "I have a task for you. A test of sorts, to prove your skills." Mara Jade waited, looking at him expectantly. Good, she wasn't taking him testing her as an insult.
"Tell me, do you think you can break into the office and apartment of Leia Organa?" Mara blinked, then nodded.
"I'll need time to scout the locations and her out, but most likely. Depending on what you want me to do, it might take more time." Jabba inclined his head.
"I am having a replica of the garb she wore as my slave made, and pictures of her here on my dais printed on flimsi." He said calmly. "She's been trying to drum up fire against my people, and a reminder of her place would do her good. I want the pictures left on her desk, the garb left on her bed, and footage of her discovering both." Mara raised an eyebrow. "A low stakes test, before I send you on more important tasks." Jabba said in answer. She gave him an amused shrug of acknowledgement.
"She's not going to stop going after the Hutts because of this." She pointed out, and Jabba gave a wide smile.
"Oh, indeed not. And every time Leia Organa lashes out, and tries to drum up a war against the Hutts, she loses a little good will. Every outburst gets people musing that war broke her, that she's unsuited for peacetime leadership. They will never reject or abandon her, she's a hero, but she wounds herself. My sources say she may have realized this, that she's been showing restraint as of late. I think a reminder is in order." Mara laughed.
"After these last few years, petty mischief might do me good." She said finally. "It will be done Lord Jabba." Then she raised an eyebrow. "Might I ask why you have pictures of her as your slave?" Jabba gave a minute shrug.
"Pets die easily." He said, giving Moria's leash a quick tug for emphasis, her brief pain and lingering discomfort a flare in the Force. "And those that live long lose their beauty eventually. Some sooner than others…" Jabba would never deny that some humanoid women became more beautiful as they matured "but all eventually. I like to keep a catalog of my favorite pets. And for the defiant ones like Leia Organa, I also like to track their progress. Circumstances caused me to sell her prematurely, but the pictures will prove useful in other ways." Mara's wry amusement shone in the Force, and she nodded again.
"Indeed. I take it that you are the reason why pictures of her in your embrace and where this lovely creature currently rests are nearly impossible to avoid on the HoloNet?" She asked with a smirk, gesturing at Moria. Jabba gave a low chuckle.
"I merely planted the seed. It was the HoloNet that did the rest." He said fondly, then gestured. "Now go. My majordomo will provide you with the package, and we will discuss your employment when you return." Mara raised an eyebrow.
"Payment, up front if I'm flying all the way back to the Core." Jabba laughed.
"A valid concern Mara Jade. Trassk will provide payment as well, enough to cover fuel for the trip there and back, plus 15%." Mara looked at him steadily, then inclined her head and walked off. Jabba let out a pleased noise and reclined on his throne, watching the redhead leave. He had much to think about. Much to think about indeed.