The Emerald Price Chapter 12

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: - The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course for Mona – what would I do without you?

The small group of people waiting in Docking Bay 80 felt a sharp tug of nervous apprehension as they heard the speeder approach. This man was one of the most important beings in the Sector, possibly in this whole corridor of space. He wouldn't just make them rich. They had achieved quite vast sums of money already with their 'little enterprise' as Raitt liked to call it. He would make them spectacularly rich.

Prince Aesophas' money would give them enough wealth so that they had true power. They would be a force to be reckoned with – perhaps on a par with government figures. They could even set up their own little Empires after this was over…if nothing messed this up.

The hum of the speeder was the first thing they heard, followed by the sound of booted feet marching alongside in perfect synchronisation. Han tugged at his security uniform's tunic and adjusted the peaked cap. The former Imperial General, Ishyori Raitt, stood stiffly beside him, a strange little smile on his lips. Next stood Vreet and Solpar, fidgeting and shuffling, trying to banish their tension.

Raitt's bid for real power in the galaxy had failed with the destruction of the Empire. He'd been striving ever since to match what he'd lost and he knew that he never would again. This little operation he'd got running would not give him the power he really craved but he would finally achieve the great wealth he deserved. It would have to suffice.

Altra, her identity anonymous underneath her peaked cap, slowly piloted the speeder into docking bay 80. Six black clad guards flanked the ship, walking alongside. Prince Aesophas stood inside the speeder, his scarlet and gold raiment contrasting brightly against the black of his guards' uniforms and the drab, grey duracrete of the spaceport.

Han drew himself upright in readiness. How many times had they waited for things to happen? It looked as if this was finally it - showtime. He decided that Luke had to be using the Force to keep his balance in the speeder. The kid sure looked the part. Han could almost believe that he was the real prince. The fake beard and moustache shone gold as if lit by the sun, his bright clothing paling everything else around him into insignificance. Luke had put on enough show to dazzle the syndicate - or at least Han hoped that he had. General Raitt was known in the past to be a shrewd customer. There was always the faintest possibility their charade would not convince him. But he couldn't worry about that now. He squared his shoulders and slipped into his own part but he couldn't stop his trigger finger from twitching. It could all still go wrong – very wrong. After all, it usually did.

"I wonder how much that little gem is worth," Vreet whispered to Solpar.

"What little gem?"

"The one in his turban."

Han, overhearing, leaned over and tried not to smirk too openly. "That little bauble is priceless. You cannot put a figure on that shiny little stone that people would actually believe."

"Has he more like that at home?" Vreet questioned, the gleam of avarice lighting his eyes.

"I believe that there are more such jewels at home – worth equally as much." Han wasn't lying. He tried to keep the smile from forming on his lips.  The image of Jaina's play set filled with these baubles invaded his mind.

"Barattas!"

Han jumped. The word was directed at him in a nasally high-pitched voice with the intensity of a laser shot. Han recalled hearing a voice like that once in the Senate Chambers – a noble from one of the Senex houses that they'd had so much trouble with when trying to find out what had happened to the Jedi children on Plawal. Han recalled that the old ruling houses from the Senex and Juvex sectors had advocated slavery too and Belsavis was only a day's flight away from Elrood. He couldn't believe the voice was coming from Luke.

"Your Royalness?" He didn't have to pretend his surprise.

"Did I not ask you to attend me?"

"But… but I was doing that. I was assuring myself that the leader of the syndicate knew of your needs." Han felt himself stammering. Luke's performance was so convincing that he hardly had to call on any acting ability. It just felt natural to justify his actions and to get the prince to listen to him.

Han took a grip on his fluctuating emotions. Luke seemed to be radiating power – it just rolled off him. He seemed to glow from the tips of his gleaming black boots, to his golden beard and the glittering green gem at the centre of his forehead. But it was his eyes that caused Han the most disquiet. They were still startlingly blue but the warmth that belonged to the essence of Luke had turned glacially cold.

"Silence, fool." The prince jumped from the speeder and advanced upon Han, malice burning in eyes unrecognisable from their true light. "I expect you to attend me at all times. My father demands it of you. I command it of you."

Han heard the words in his head: 'I said duck, Han, and I mean it. NOW!' He jerked away as Luke's hand lashed out narrowly missing the side of his face, but the way Luke had angled his body away from the group meant the onlookers thought that he had connected with the taller man. Han retreated a few steps, his hand glued to his cheek, groaning as if in great pain.

"You have to deal with the servants in a way that their simple minds understand," Luke explained to the others disdainfully.

The general smiled thinly. He'd heard things about the Mittenden royalty and could see the truth in the rumours. The man was undoubtedly mad but clever and dangerous with it. Just the kind he liked to deal with.

"Your Highness – I am General Ishyori Raitt, head of the Elrooden Slavers Syndicate. I believe I can help you."

"I will travel in the first transport with you, General," Luke announced grandly. "Commander Feen, Mr Barattas! In the second transport."

Feenus hid a smile. The Jedi was proving to be nothing like he'd originally thought him to be. 'And I called him Mister Impassive,' he mused. Of course, now he knew it was Luke Skywalker - that made a difference. The Jedi Knight had been a commander in the rebellion and had seen action many times in battle and on undercover missions. Yes, he could understand why Han Solo had hooked up with Luke Skywalker or was it the other way around? "Of course, sir." He motioned his team into the next two transports along with Vreet and Solpar. This was their chance to see the location that the syndicate used to peddle their wares. It would give then the chance to work out what to do to stop them.

The general and the prince appeared to be getting on very well. As he climbed into the second transport, Han heard the high-pitched, nasal voice chuckling at something the former Imperial had said.

The transports set off in their strange little convoy and headed out of the Spaceport into the surrounding industrial area. Barely five minutes into their journey they entered the gates of a compound set into the side of a small hill.

Guards stationed inside directed them into a tunnel where they were greeted by an imposing set of durasteel doors.

"Our facility is underground," Raitt explained to Luke, "…for security and confidentiality. Our clients need that."

"I can appreciate that."

Han flicked his gaze to that of Feenus. "Facility?"  he whispered, a worried look in his eyes.

"Underground," replied Feenus in the same way. "I don't like this," he muttered.

In the first transport, Raitt was continuing his explanation to the prince. "At the far side of our property we are planning to have ship access bays cut directly into the hill. That way we can completely bypass the spaceport and the customs. Presently we pay them a substantial retainer to aid their forgetfulness. It will also quicken our journey. This…" he indicated the careful progression of the fleet of transport vehicles. "This is time consuming."

"That is superior thinking, Ishyori," Luke agreed. "Men such as ourselves have great demands upon our time. We cannot dawdle."

Han and Feenus, listening in on Luke's open comlink, suppressed a shudder. "Bypass customs?" Feenus mouthed silently.

Han's face was grim, the lines under his eyes appearing more pronounced in the intermittent light of the ceiling lumas. "I heard him," he murmured softly. "I don't like it either."

"This is not good news at all." He reached out his hand and with a quick flick of his wrist thrust a homing device, one his team had designed, into the air. It launched itself from his hand and burrowed into the stone walls. It was unlikely to be discovered. "Altra's design," he said.

"One clever lady." Han flashed a quick grin.

"She is that. I wouldn't it have made it this far without her," Feenus was certain of what his wife had done for him. "She and Beridor are scanning our bio-signs but I don't think our scanners penetrate to this depth. I'm not even sure what direction we went in."

"South, I think," muttered Han.

"South!" Feenus' face went still, a muscle working in his cheek and Han wondered what the other man was thinking.

"What is it?"

"South," he repeated.

"So?"

"Ridgeway plateau."

"I've never heard of it."

"Why should you? You don't live on this world and cannot be expected to be familiar with its geography. We've been travelling for some distance and you think we're heading south. Ridgeway plateau is a high escarpment overlooking the farming plains. If they cut ship access ports into the cliffs then ships could fly directly to the syndicate headquarters from anywhere in the galaxy without being noticed."

"Sith!" Han swore quietly. "That's definitely not good. Still, it gives you an idea of where to look though."

"Yes it does, but the Ridgeway plateau is thousands of miles long. It's one of the most noted geographical features in this sector." Feenus lapsed into silence but his watchful eyes took in every detail of their passage.

************************************

After a thirty minute drive along winding duracrete tunnels, the newly completed syndicate headquarters came as a complete shock to Luke, Han and Feenus Adremetis. They had assumed deals were being made in a spaceport bar or even Raitt's home but never had they imagined this state of the art, transparisteel and durasteel prison. This was a totally secure facility – but then so had the Death Star been. They would have to escape the same way that they entered – in full view of everyone. Han hoped Mara was in here but could Luke fool so many people by paying for the red-head with a worthless microplasti jewel and then make a run for it? Han was beginning to doubt it.

He tuned in once again to Luke's com only to hear the Jedi ask about the durasteel doors and where they'd purchased the ore to have them made. It sounded as if Luke was trying to sound out the head of the syndicate for a possible business deal once he got his mines in working order. Han stifled a snort. That kid was wilier than a Hutt at times.

Each slave lord had bought into the facility purchasing his or her own holding pens and display areas. Security was tight with holocams and guard stations. Feenus wondered as they were shown around the central guard station, how far underground they had come and how long it had taken for it to be built. He slid unnoticed against the wall and placed another small but powerful tracking device into a recess built to house an air vent. With any luck it would be days or even weeks before this was noticed. It would give them a definite chance to find the facility's correct location and discern whether they could hit it from above. It was maybe their best chance. Once the access ports were built, the traffic of slaves in and out of Elrood could be never-ending.

*************************************

Luke stopped to gaze at a group of insect-like aliens. He wasn't sure what species they were but assumed they came from somewhere in the sector. A wave of familiar heat flashed through him leaving him drained and breathless. Mara! It just had to be Mara. He knew she was close – he could feel their connection strengthening with every step he took. But her lack of focus made him worry about her condition.

The buzzing in Luke's head intensified further making it difficult to keep his concentration on what General Raitt was showing him but he had to try. Mara was depending on him – she needed him. He hid a wince as another burst of pained energy hit him. She was broadcasting, her pain and distress reverberating through the Force, and because he was so close she was battering down his carefully constructed shields. He knew she was powerful and this exemplified it. She had never let rip with the full extent of her true power before. Perhaps she'd been unable to. Perhaps what the Emperor had done to her had locked Mara Jade into a pattern where she was afraid to let go and become who she was born to be.

'Mara, hear me,' he sent over and over but she didn't reply. He doubted she was able to receive anything. He tried to project some of his strength to her. He had to act immediately; Mara was in serious danger and parading around like an overdressed fop was taking too much time. Luke's blue eyes glinted coldly, appearing almost silver in the artificial light source as his fury rose.

'Calm', he told himself trying to reign in his fury. 'Peace. You will not help her if you allow the dark side to take over. Your anger will not help her.' But Luke's black gloved fingers clenched. He wanted to smash this overly bright, sterile, terrible place into oblivion until he found her. These monsters would know who and what they were dealing with. It would be so easy just to lift his hand and…

Instead, he turned to the General and drawled lazily, "I am most impressed. I wish I'd known of this operation years ago. It is extremely professional."

"I am honoured, Your Highness, that you think so but this facility has just been completed. Our operation was perhaps more ad hoc in the past – less organised. In bringing the slave lords together, I'm making this a far more viable venture. Some beings are born to lead and others merely to serve as I'm sure you already know." He shared this imperially learned homily with the prince and was rewarded with a cold smile. "We can offer more to our clients. Greater numbers, more variety…"

Luke nodded, as if deep in thought. "You will know that I have recently inherited some Tellen mines?"

"I had heard."

"These mines could be extremely profitable for my world. My people…"

Raitt tried not to sneer. Aesophas had no interest in the people of his world. He wanted the wealth and power for himself. He could appreciate that.

The prince continued, gesturing expansively with his hands, "I need far more workers than I have willing on Mittenden IV. Regular Mittenden miners are more expensive. To get these mines working I need a cheaper alternative."

"Then we can certainly help you."

"I won't be buying today unless…"

Raitt quashed his disappointment. He had decided that this would be the case although part of him had been hopeful but the prince was mad, not stupid. This was a preliminary contact. They were fortunate to have access to the prince so early in the process. "Unless?"

"I'll come to that later," Luke said dismissively. He walked around the central section of the facility. It was almost like a Core World maximum security jail. Or perhaps even the technological terror of the original Death Star. Durasteel bars caged dull-eyed humans who were separated from listless aliens of many species.

Each syndicate had leased an area and paraded their wares in front of transparisteel windows to the visiting guests. Luke was sickened by the whole experience but not by the flicker of an eyelash did he let on how much this was affecting him. He gazed down his aristocratic nose as if these beings were dirt under his feet. He could feel their despair, their total degradation and despite his efforts his anger still rose. He had to maintain his control. He had to be patient. In time these people would get the help they needed. If Luke acted now he would ruin everything.

"I will send my father's negotiator to you in two months," Luke announced suddenly.

"Two months?" Raitt said frowning.

"Yes, two months. He will tell you the exact amount of workers I require. However to give you an estimate, I have noted some numbers down on a pad. Barattas!" he shouted.

Han ran to Luke's side. "The General here, requires the pad with the numerical data."

"Pad," Han repeated. "Data?"

"You incompetent fool," Luke almost screamed, his face going bright red with temper. "I gave you the pad before I left."

Han shook his head at Raitt, trying to indicate he'd been given no such pad. "I'll go and get it immediately, Your Highness," he bowed, keeping well out of the way of the Prince's twitching right hand.

Han and Feenus had stopped trying to catch each other's eye as they followed Luke and Raitt. It was unthinkable – far worse than they had suspected. They syndicate had been organised with all the skill of an Imperial General - Raitt. These people had to be stopped and soon. It was time to start laying the groundwork. Han stood in front of Feenus masking him from the ever present holocams or security guards as he laid another tracking device.

Feenus produced a datapad and handed it to Han who began to key in figures. "What do you think?" he asked Feenus. "Does this amount seem like enough beings for a planet's worth of mines?"

"It should be." He tried to recall the numbers crewing on Despayre and taking the pad from Han changed several of the numbers. "Then again, I think more would be required." He gave Han the pad who wandered slowly to where Luke was sitting on a plush sofa in the overseer's office. "Your pad, Your Royalness."

"Ah, thank you, Barattas." Luke was gracefully condescending. "I knew your memory would return eventually."

"The figures, sir, are rough."

"The negotiator will confirm the correct quantites I require."

Raitt took the pad and skimmed its contents, his eyes widening almost imperceptibly. "This gives us some guidelines."

"You will also have perhaps heard that I am to be married?" Luke tilted his head to one side abruptly. "I have wedding festivities to endure and they will last two months."

"I see."

"Top-secret talks have a way of becoming common knowledge."

"Your adviser mentioned it."

"He would not have done so if I had not allowed it. It is not my desire but she is rich and malleable. As long as I bed her and produce an heir, she doesn't matter."

"Quite," the general agreed, sabacc-faced.

"There is no doubt that I will produce one unless the duchess is barren and if so, we will get rid of her – divorce or a fatal illness." Luke flicked a hand negligently. "I can marry again. I have many children by my mistresses but, alas, these children cannot rule. They would not be suitable in any case. Their blood is not pure enough to rule in the Mittenden line. They would fail to succeed and our royal blood would be tainted in future generations. This may lead to cases of insanity. We can only mate and produce children fit to rule with those born to nobility – the others are born to serve. Of course, because of their royal blood they are particularly suited to serving the royal household."

"Of course."

"My tutor and adviser, Barattas, is the offspring of one of my father's cousins."

"You are fortunate to command such loyalty. I wish you every… happiness with your match."

Luke smirked. He had managed to almost silence Raitt with that last one. "She is fortunate to be betrothed to me."

"But… but she will of course be beautiful," Raitt managed to say after an awkward silence.

Luke let out a crack of laughter. "Beautiful – my duchess? Gods no!" I'm not marrying her for her face, which is just as well."

"Ah… yes."

"In the light of my bride-to-be being uglier than a whiphid, I would like to make one purchase. In a show of good faith and to ease my needs." He moved his hips in a crude little gesture.

"That can be arranged. I take it that you would desire a pleasure slave?"

A febrile glitter lit the eyes of the prince. "A pleasure slave," he echoed. "Exactly."

"Our lords have a plentiful supply of such women."

"She must be beautiful."

"That is not a difficulty." Raitt moved to a bank of monitors and switched one on. "Lord Diptil has a blue-skinned Twi'lek of amazing flexibility. She is most obedient and has received tutoring in all the arts of pleasure."

Luke pursed his lips and smoothed his golden beard. "Twi'leks. Yes, rather too brightly hued for my taste. I would prefer something a little more human and I like them with spirit. Obedience can be beaten or thrust into them after all. Human women can become part of my court almost unnoticed. If this pleasure slave works out well, she may even become one of my bride's attendants." He gave an evil smile. "Yes, spirit. Something wild that needs taming is very much to my taste."

Raitt pressed a switch and a holo appeared in the air in front of Luke. "The woman was beautiful, blue and barely clothed. Luke tried not to squirm as she performed an intricate series of twirls, leaps and spins. "She's very… blue," he said and yawned as if the sight of the alien woman bored him.

"Yes, but she may be more appealing to you 'in the flesh'. I'll still take you down to meet Lord Diptil, he may have something else and there's Lord Tharakan. He had a…" Raitt tapped a thin finger on his chin. "If you would care to come this way, Prince Aesophas. I think we will find someone to suit your exacting standards."

"I do hope so," Luke purred sensuously. "I consider myself quite the lover and I find I'm growing rather…impatient."

******************************************************

Raitt could tell that he was losing the prince's interest as they stood outside the viewing arena of Lord Diptil.

"She's still blue," The prince dismissed the beautiful, voluptuous Twi'lek as she posed and preened, dressed only in a scrap of material, in front of the transparisteel observation window. "Don't you have one that looks more…human?" She reminded him of the dancing girls he'd met at Jabba's all those years ago. At least this one didn't have a rancor waiting to devour her if she made an error.

Luke turned away as quickly as he could, trying not to blush. The nakedness of the females embarrassed him but luckily his awkwardness was seen as a sign of indifference. He'd had relationships; he'd seen naked women before but not in such bright lighting and usually in the privacy of a bedroom.

Lord Diptil rubbed his hands together nervously. "I have an Omwati female, her hair is as delicate and feathery as air, her eyes…"

"She's blue too. I don't want a blue woman," Luke snapped, dismissing the Omwati instantly. "She will not fit in at court."

"What about an Askabajani? I have a wonderful six-breasted Askabjan dancer. She can be any shape you desire. If you want her large and full bodied increase her water intake - if you…"

"Six breasts?" The prince considered it and shuddered. "No, that's four too many. I want a human pleasure slave. No Twi'lek's, no Codru'ji. I want to relate to body parts that I recognise."

Diptil shook his head slowly. It was just typical. In this cargo he had no human women. If the prince had only come last month then he'd had twenty.

He watched regretfully as the prince moved away from his area. He couldn't beat his females this time. They couldn't help being the wrong species. The next client would perhaps want a Twi'lek.

"Bad luck," Han murmured as he passed. "He's a difficult man to please."

"Great men usually are," Diptil answered diplomatically.

**********************************

"Lord Tharakan!"

The Ho'Din lifted his head from his observation monitor. "Prebs?"

"Prince Aesophas is being given a personal tour around the facility."

"Yes, I know."

"I spoke to one of his men in the cantina earlier today. I learned one or two things that could be useful – give us an edge."

Tharakan straightened his two and a half metre body. "And?"

"He wants workers for his mines."

"Yes, I know that too. Raitt has been communicating with me about the prince's visit. However the prince is not buying workers today. He wants a pleasure slave and is currently viewing Diptil's Twi'lek - which he will undoubtedly buy. I wish I'd got hold of her myself. She is a superior specimen."

Prebs could hardly contain himself. "He likes them difficult…"

Stefft emerged from one of the holding pens in time to hear Preb's last remark. "What was that?"

Prebs glanced at the larger man. "The prince likes his females to resist a little. He likes to be the boss apparently."

"What prince?" Stefft asked.

"Prince Aesophas of Mittenden IV, a wealthy mine owner is currently touring the facility," Tharakan explained languidly. "He is investigating the possibility of purchasing workers for his mines at a later date but requires a pleasure slave to tide him over the inconvenience of his upcoming nuptials."

"He's quite mad but clever with it," Prebs chipped in. "I think he likes to be rough with his women."

Stefft gave a mean smile and examined the livid scratches still adorning his hands and arms. He looked at his Lord. "We could get rid of the red-head. She is very difficult."

Prebs chuckled and then stopped laughing as his jaw throbbed painfully "I thought you said she has the fever? We cannot sell her to the prince."

Tharakan examined his long fingers. "Why not? I'm sure he will have her cleansed inside and out before he makes use of her body. She is spectacular to look at but has been nothing but trouble. We should have sold her weeks ago. This could be our chance to get rid of her."

"I'd like her to go to him – it would serve her right to have to submit to him. Look what she did to my face? She would give him a real fight."

"She would. However, if he doesn't want her, I have several other females that might suit 'His Highness'. If I make any sale, that is always beneficial to my business. Still, if he likes them with spirit, she has more than enough of that. Put her in the prime viewing position."

"I'll see that it's done." Stefft muttered. Half of him had been hoping that the red-head wouldn't sell and then he could have had his chance with her. He could have made her behave properly.

A speaker chimed and Tharakan moved to listen.

"Lord Tharakan." Raitt's voice rang through the viewing area. "The prince would like to see your wares."

"Understood," he murmured, satisfaction making his head snakes wave as if blown by a gentle breeze. "We have a selection of the exotic…"

"Nothing blue," Raitt's voice was dry, "… and preferably human."

"Ah, Lord Diptil's Twi'lek's were found wanting," he said, satisfaction colouring his voice. "Go and prepare the human women and those that appear human. It appears that our important 'guest' will be with us shortly."

*************************************************

Mara felt the heat sweep through her aching body in waves. She was burning up, her skin felt on fire, yet inside she felt deadly cold. She had no idea where she was, what day it was, or how she was going to get out the predicament she was in. She shivered and tried to move but the restraints dug into her soft flesh, chafing the tender skin. She was almost ready to give in… almost.

'Mara!'

She tried to open her mouth and answer. She knew that voice from somewhere. It was comfortingly familiar.

'Mara… hold on, please. We're coming.'

'But I can't', she tried to respond to the voice but could not. Her spirit was weakening and she had little strength left to fight her captors and the illness ravaging her body. No, maybe she didn't recognise the voice. Hearing voices was a sign of madness wasn't it? But it was someone who knew her - someone who could call out her name. She'd heard voices all her life. The Emperor had called to her, his voice in her head. This wasn't his voice – this voice was kind, was concerned for her. This voice didn't want her to give up.

Rough hands brushed across her body and she cried out in pain as their touch felt akin to the stabbing of many knives.

"Put her down here," a voice said. The bier on which Mara was lying hit the ground hard, jarring her aching frame. "Prop her up, so she can be seen."

Mara struggled to open fever-bright emerald eyes but nothing was clear as they moved the stretcher until she lay against the wall at an angle. The men in front of her were hazy and with a little sigh she lapsed again into unconsciousness.

Stefft gazed into the beautiful face, flushed from the fever. "Let's trim her outfit. Show a little more flesh. Make her more appealing to the prince."

Preb's gave a lewd chuckle and brought out a vibroblade. "Let me…"

"Careful," Stefft cautioned. "We don't want to mark her."

Prebs slashed cautiously at Mara's clothes until all she had left on were scraps of material covering her modesty.  "She is a jewel magnet," he breathed hoarsely. Her round, creamy breasts rose from out of her nothing of a top, her flat abdomen bared to view and her toned legs bare. Stefft lifted a shaking hand and traced it over the woman's body, caressing her soft flesh. His hands slipped below the scraps of cloth to find her nipples and she moaned in pain. The sound inflamed him and his hands left her body and went to the leather belt holding up his trousers. He could feel himself harden…

"Stefft!" Preb's said sharply. "You can't. Tharakan would have your skin off if you dared. We gotta get the other women ready."

The burly guard clenched his fists and took a deep breath. What was it about this slave that made himself forget where he was and what he was doing? He smoothed her hair and arranged it around her shoulders. "She's ready but keep her chained at all times."

*****************************************

"This way, Your Highness."

Raitt led the way into a turbolift that Han thought took them up several floors. "Your Highness!" Han bowed and kept his tone servile. "We can only view one more showing. We have to return to Mittenden V by tonight for the signing of your marriage contract."

"How dare you remind me…" Luke began and then checked his wrist chrono. His face darkened with anger. "This is most unfortunate, just as I was beginning to enjoy myself. For once Barattas is right, Ishyori. It will take us several hours to return."

"One more showing and you will enjoy Lord Tharakan's slaves. He has an eye for beauty."

Raitt ushered Luke into a central room where a tall, expensively garbed Ho'Din waited, headtails moving gently. Luke immediately felt revulsion. This individual had gone against the whole temperament of his nature-loving species. He was following a path so alien that it could only be from the darkness. The Ho'Din's venerated life – they didn't destroy it.

"Your Highness." The Ho'Din bowed low.

"Lord Tharakan." Luke said dismissively and immediately turned to the viewport which was shuttered. "Where are the pleasure slaves," he demanded irritably. She was near - he could feel her. She was dying inside. 'Mara!' His heart and mind called out to her, so intent on seeing her that Luke was unaware of the words he used. 'Not long now, my love.'

"Wait and I will activate the screen," the slave lord said quickly. He pressed a button and the screen rose revealing several women chained to posts in a brightly lit room.

Luke's heart slammed into his mouth. Mara lay propped up in the centre of the room, her red-gold hair tumbling abundantly around her naked shoulders, garbed in several brief scraps of material almost the same colour as her creamy skin. He didn't look at any of the other women. "Her," he said hoarsely. "I want her."

Tharakan looked and Raitt and they both smiled. This was most satisfactory.

"The red-haired female?" Raitt enquired.

"Yes," Luke's voice was clipped. "Can I…?"

"Touch?" asked Tharakan.

"Yes."

"She is not the most docile of slaves. I hope that doesn't put you off purchasing her. If it does, we have others…"

"Even better. I like it rough." Luke snarled, his anger against these immoral beings almost palpable. "I'm the prince. If I want a willing woman I snap my fingers at court and several will lie down in front of me there and then. Where's the excitement in that? I like to conquer and subdue. It's in my nature. My ancestors were warriors."

Han rolled his eyes and Raitt squashed a cynical smile.

"She was sedated from the journey from Aaris III. So she might not be too aware yet of what she is doing." Tharakan said.

"No matter," Luke began to pace. "I would like to inspect her at closer quarters. If I'm to buy…"

"Of course." Tharakan punched a code into the door and ushered Luke inside the viewing cell. "Stefft! Unlock the red-haired woman."

The burly guard glared at Luke but activated the control that would release Mara from her bonds. Luke quelled his urge to pick up the girl and rush out of the place to safety. He peered closely at her face, leering obviously at her figure before turning to the people remaining outside of the cell.

Han wondered what the hell his brother-in-law was going to use for credit. He caught Feenus' eye. His old comrade looked sick and Han hoped he didn't look the same.

"I want this one," Luke insisted. 'Mara,' he attempted to contact her through the Force. 'Mara, it's me, Luke Skywalker. I've come to rescue you. I'm getting you out of here.'

He'd seen the effect of drugs on prisoners when he'd fought for the Rebel Alliance. He'd once been in charge of a unit that had liberated an Imperial holding facility. 'Mara, I'm going to have to…well, touch you in a way I normally wouldn't. I'm sorry!' he apologised carefully. Luke attempted to ease some of the toxins from her bloodstream as he ran his hands over the soft skin of her shoulders and deliberately over the swell of her breasts. Her skin was burning hot to his touch and yet, he could see that she was shivering. It was doubtful she'd heard Luke at all.

It was at that moment that Mara became aware that she was once more free of her shackles and reacted. One minute she was lying quiescent and the next, in a flurry of arms and legs, her hand came up and punched Luke hard across the face.

There was a stunned silence. Raitt got ready to scream at Tharakan for jeopardising the biggest sale they'd ever have.

Han stood and watched awed and fearful at the expression on the face of the man he knew as brother and friend. He'd had a hard time quelling his own anger when he'd seen Mara's figure chained. No one should have to suffer such a fate. It was obvious that she was ill, her face feverish. Luke was the one person in the entire galaxy Han would have said that Mara would recognise. She hadn't. What had they done to her to get her into such a state?

Raitt stifled a curse and even Tharakan paled but the prince of Mittenden surprised them. He let out a loud crack of laughter.

"You will be perfect for me, my lovely one. I'll tame your proud spirit," he hissed.

Han's blood turned to ice.

Luke held Mara Jade plastered against him and he was staring at his audience with a cruel smile, his eyes glinting cold blue steel, blood trickled down his chin from the cut on his lip where Mara, struggling, had lashed out and caught him. She was a skilled undercover operative but Luke had felt no connection between them – no tug on their mutual Force bond. Whatever they'd given to her or done to her, Mara didn't know him.

Mara didn't recognise the Jedi Master. As soon as she'd been released from her bonds, her natural instinct for self-preservation had made her try to flee her bonds. Her arms had lashed out catching Prince Aesophas on the edge of his well-shaped mouth. In her hazy sense of her reality, he was just another being who was confining her and all she could do was try and escape.

Only Han recognised Luke's pain leaking out of his royal disguise. The others only saw the prince as he raked his cold eyes up and down the slave's scantily clad form, lust showing briefly on his face, but Han could see far deeper and his concern grew.

The prince bent his head and captured the slave's soft lips with his own. The red-headed beauty whimpered and tried to struggle but was too weak and finally submitted to the mastery of the firm mouth dominating her overwhelmed senses. Luke felt her respond to his kiss and tried not to react but Mara Jade affected him strongly and always had. He forgot where he was and continued to kiss her, trying to imprint his identity into her mind. He emitted a groan of satisfaction as her mouth moved, sweet as wild berries under his. Did she know who he was now?

Mara fought the hard grip that clutched at her shoulders, the hard male body that pressed itself against her own, but then the lips covered hers and somehow everything felt safe. She sensed something and suddenly felt safe for the first time in weeks. Her mouth softened and opened, her response sending pinpricks of desire through her entire body. No, this couldn't be happening. She didn't want to press her softness against this man. Her senses overloading, Mara's consciousness shut down and she slumped lifeless into the arms that held her tightly against him.

Luke gazed down at the woman in his arms, a fierce light burning in his eyes. He had to pull himself together for all their sakes. He wiped the trail of blood off his face with the back of his hand and turned to stare at the others. "I want this one," he said as a strange, cold light flickered in his eyes. "See that she's ready for immediate transport."