Author's Note: You guys get a bonus chapter this weekend because surprise! I have no beta anymore *laughs nervously*. I don't blame them. On top of everything they were already having trouble with, they also just started school after a very long time away, so they have zero time on their hands anymore. But never fear! This will not upset the posting schedule. If anything, I'm hoping to maybe start giving you guys 2 chapters per weekend, but we'll have to see. I'm in school full-time and work full-time myself, and will need time to go through each chapter again before I would be comfortable posting. Finger's crossed though! Anyway, enjoy!

Trigger Warning: More use of the electric gag, and some mental manipulation in a similar style to what you might see from an abusive partner/parent.


Chapter XII

The next morning when she woke up, a droid - a tan-coloured one this time - was waiting to take her to her new room. Well, her old room, technically. According to her Master.

The droid left as soon as she stepped inside.

She looked around, reaching a hand to her neck to tug nervously on the silver collar. When she saw the Count today she would have to ask him how this thing came off, cause she couldn't figure it out.

The room was small and dark. Only room enough for a cot, a chest, and a sitting pillow. The pillow was on the floor, in front of the one small window in the room. Too small for anyone to climb out of. The walls and floor were made of dark plascrete, and the only illumination - other than the tiny window looking onto fog - was from some hanging lights in the middle of the room. The light they gave off was dim, but Ahsoka liked that. It gave the room a cozy feel.

There was a hot, steaming meal tray on the chest, and a stack of clothes laid on the bed.

Her discovery of a door that opened to a refresher just about had her in tears, and she immediately laid aside her worn clothing to jump in the sonic shower.

Ahsoka felt like a new woman as she felt the layers and layers of grime melted away by the high frequency of the sonic. It felt like she hadn't been clean in a month. She tried to remember when the last time would've been. Oh, it was probably right before we attacked the castle- She stopped. Where did that come from? What castle? Who's we? But no further details were forthcoming. Ahsoka shrugged and put it out of her mind.

Feeling refreshed, she got out of the sonic to inspect her new clothes. There were quite a few skirts that were far too long for her taste, but she managed to find one that came to just above her knees, as well as a pair of leggings. For tops though, she had a bit of a harder look. This other student of Dooku's seemed to like running around in practically nothing more than a braband and that was just not Ahsoka's style. Anymore. She finally found one with two long sleeves that covered most of her back. She really hadn't wanted her wounds exposed to the elements. The concession she had to make was that the shirt only came to her midriff. Oh well, she thought. They're worlds better than what I had.

That done, she dug into her meal.


She was just taking the last bite when there was a knock on the metal door. Taking a hasty gulp to clear her throat, she called out, "Come in!"

The door whooshed open to admit Count Dooku.

"Master." Ahsoka set the meal tray next to her on the bed where she sat cross-legged. Resting her hands on her knees, she turned to give the Count her full attention.

He stood there, as if waiting for something.

Ahsoka cocked her head to one side. "Master?"

"When you enter my presence, Padawan, you will show the proper respect. Rise and bow."

Ahsoka's head tilted even further, her confusion deepening. "But sir, I didn't enter your presence. You entered mine."

Snick went the two pieces of metal on her cheeks, and she suddenly felt a rounded protrusion stretch her jaw wide. He gagged me?! Hot fury rose inside Ahsoka. This guy may have saved her life, but she didn't have to put up with this.

Her hands were just reaching up to try and rip the thing off her face when it happened.

Searing pain lit up her nerves. Her teeth felt like they were on fire, and the flavour of charred skin began to coat her tongue. She couldn't even scream. She had no breath.

Only about two seconds passed, but to Ahsoka, it felt like an eternity.

The flashing light of the electricity disappeared and Ahsoka's final spasmodic jerk sent her sprawling to the floor.

"Insolence will not be tolerated while you are under my tutelage."

Too shocked and surprised to feel anything else, Ahsoka simply lay where she had landed, attempting to heave in breaths through her nose. Her shock only went up when the Count knelt on the floor in front of her. She pulled back slightly as he reached for her face, but not quickly enough to evade him.

Holding her face in cold hands, he smiled at her. A smile she was sure was supposed to convey some kind of warped warmth and… caring? Whatever its intent, it only served to form a hard knot of foreboding in her gut.

"My dear. Please believe me when I say I had no wish to do that. But I am only trying to help you. Imagine if I let you back out into the world and hadn't taught you how to show respect to your betters? That would be a grievous error on my part. It would reflect most poorly on my teaching skills if I couldn't teach you something so fundamental to life as that."

Not liking this odd display one bit, Ahsoka made to twist her head out of his grip, but some invisible force appeared, blocking her attempts. Forcing her head back into his hands, it held her locked in position.

"Padawan, did I not give you medical aid when you were close to death?"

She knew he wouldn't accept her immediate answer of, so you say, so she simply nodded in acquiescence.

"And have I not given you a room to sleep, food to eat, and clean clothes to replace those that the lightsaber-wielders ruined?"

She nodded again, nostrils flaring, eyes growing wide with fear as she felt the invisible force gently curl around her throat.

"Why would I go through such trouble to myself to do all that for you… if I didn't care about you? Clearly, I must. Then it would stand to reason that I punish you because I care as well, and want you to learn better. So that you can become the best that you can be, and be a credit to my reputation."

Ahsoka thought the statements over carefully. Soft flashes of red came again, smoothing her worries and doubts until she could barely even feel them. Trying to block it out so that she could think, she turned her thoughts back to her Master's speech. She guessed it made… a kind of sense.

Dooku must have seen the acceptance on her face, because he released her to put a hand inside his cloak. A second later, the gag folded in on itself, releasing its grip on her words.

"Do you understand, Padawan?"

Bowing her head as best she could, she replied, "Yes, my Master. I will attempt to do better in the future."

"Good." He pushed back up to standing, Ahsoka attempting the same. She didn't manage it with nearly as much grace. "See that you do. Now follow me. We must see about you earning your keep."

With a flourish of his cape, he turned on his heel and strode out the door.

Taking a single deep breath, Ahsoka meekly followed.

The whole display had left her shaken and confused, and she was very unsure about how to act around this deeply unsettling man. He gave the impression… that she had willingly chosen to become his student?

But as fast as her concerns could form into coherent thoughts, the red light came to sand them away into non-existence. Leaving Ahsoka feeling even more unbalanced than before. Except now, she couldn't remember why. If she couldn't trust in her own mind… what could she trust?