A/N: Hey, y'all! Happy Holidays! I hope you are all staying safe! Thanks so much for the reviews. To my TLS friend, your thoughts are always so encouraging; thank you!

Here is a list of nonsite listed characters making an appearance.

Porcellus: the chef

Phlegmin: the kitchen boy

Melina Carniss: the manager of the dancing pit and one of Jabba's secret palace guards.

Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable.

Chapter One

No One Here Gets Out Alive

Bib Fortuna stroked one skinny-fingered hand along the long pale lekku draped across his collarbone and shoulder. He turned back around. The ends of his dark robe lifted dust from the ground. The palace of Jabba Desilijic Tiure rose to loom behind him, one of its massive blast doors open wide like the mouth of a beast. The noonday suns burned a path across the weathered sandstone, leaving a powdery trail in its wake.

Bib Fortuna pursued the line of humanoid options presented to him again. This was the second group. Two rows nine in total, they were less attractive than the first. Of course, Abo had only shown Bib Fortuna his best stock first. It was a mark of respect, and one Bib Fortuna expected. He even had two females that the Twi'lek knew his master would find enticing additions to his collection. One was a stunning blue-skinned Wroonian, with yellow irises and inky hair. She was young and afraid. The other was a human with tanned skin, dark hair, and full pouty lips. She had a sultry, earthy appeal. She was not as young as the other, but nearly as lovely.

This would most likely mean the end for the two girls, but Jabba favored those who pleased him.

On the surface, Bib Fortuna's only purpose was to please his master. He knew what to say and how to say it. He rendered himself as in expendable to the bloated one as he could. As any good majordomo did, Bib made it his business to anticipate as many of Jabbas wants as he could. Pity, his cousin Ob hadn't learned to serve his Trandoshan master better or had been smarter about his duplicity like Bib.

Bib was smarter and served Jabba well. And with all the monks taught him, he could anticipate most anything. Keeping a steady supply of beautiful creatures on hand to serve Jabba's appetites was an easy one. Many of the Hutts' more salacious appetites were disturbing even to Bib Fortuna even after all these years. Bib ignored them, however.

The Twi'lek had control over far more than Jabba knew. He made it his business to be aware of everything that went on, and there was only one thing he couldn't control.

The man hidden behind the Mandalorian armor was a thorn in the Twi'leks' side. Bib had made it his mission to know as much about the man as he could. Everyone had their weakness—everyone except Boba Fett. Fett was impossible to read, even with all of Bib's training.

His father was none other than Jango Fett. Bib Fortuna never had the pleasure of meeting the father, but the son was a barve any smart sentient didn't cross. Boba Fett was not a man Bib Fortuna wanted shifting in the wind with his current plans, but he might have little choice. Especially now that Jabba had paid him so handsomely the Corellian and Fett had agreed to stay around for a while. Fett had no vices, no weakness that Fortuna had found. He had offered him the best of everything he could, from Jabba's most beautiful slave girls to the finest Corellian brandy's to as much information as Fortuna could gather on Fett's competition. Bib was even instrumental in Jabba gifting his favorite bounty hunter with a private room for his personal use. It was one of the only private rooms. Jabba had never afforded the same luxury to Bib Fortuna himself.

The only thing that reassured Fortuna was believing Fett only served Jabba because of the credits to be made. They were the only thing that Fett responded to; when the time came, Bib would find a way to either bring the man in Mandalorian armor to his side or pay him to stay out of it.

Neither, he was afraid would come easy. Boba Fett was paid well for his piece of "Vadar Art." Too well, in Bib Fortuna's own opinion. He was the best at his craft; Bib was aware he'd have to pay him well or promise him something he couldn't turn down. He would have to pay Fett more than the two hundred and fifty thousand credits Jabba had given him. However, it didn't matter. Bib still had his plans and Fett could be dealt with one way or another.

Bibs thoughts abruptly stopped, as did his movements. He stepped back a half a step, jabbing his finger toward a young woman who hadn't been part of either group he'd seen.

"That one. The scarred one." He said in basic. He jabbed one clawed nail in the direction of the girl standing near the transport behind those lined up.

"Are you sure?" the Rodian asked, surprised. "That one is a laborer destined for the Darklighter Estate." He went on obsequiously, "We always bring the best for Master Jabba."

"Luckily, I'm not looking for the best," Fortuna nearly snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Abo pointed at the girl and ordered one of his blaster wielding minions to fetch her. She didn't immediately comply. Fotuna's lips twisted upward for a moment as he questioned if she would run. She stared up at the human male for a moment before she slung something over her shoulder, and she moved.

Bib Fortuna was pleased; she looked strong and healthy, besides the scar on her face. Pity, she would have been fetching if not for it, he observed. He could have placed her in the dancer's pit as well. "I'll take her."

Finding Jabba's Chef, another helper for his kitchen, was Fortuna's main reason for requesting Abo stop today. Jabba grew increasingly irritated with the slowness of his kitchens. It didn't help that Porcellus' last two serving girls had ended up as amusements in some of Jabba's more violent entertainments. He had ordered them tied together and thrown into the pit of his newest attraction.

The beast bit through one, silencing her cries, and tore one leg of the other as well. The girl who was still alive fell to the ground. Bib hadn't looked himself, but he'd heard others taunt her attempts to crawl away. The sound of her terror and the jeering crowd had been nearly deafening.

Fortuna was determined to find one who'd attract less attention this time. Of course, her scar could also raise Jabba's ire if he saw her, and she could end up torn apart for it. Bib would advise Porcellus to keep her out of Jabba's sight. He doubted this one would attract nearly as much attention with the Hutts patrons. That was at least something.

Xx

The sun was blinding as Kiya stepped forward. She kept her gaze impassive but inside, her stomach coiled tightly, and her heart raced. As much or more than it did when the pink-eyed Twi'lek chose Sarita from the line: the girl would never make it here. Her odds weren't good anywhere, but if she'd made it to one of the moisture farmers, she would have stood a better chance. The idea of being bought by the Imps at Bespin had made Kiya uneasy, but this. This was worse. She'd heard stories of the atrocities that transpired inside the former monastery, now the home of one of the most infamous Hutts in the galaxy. No one here gets out alive unless they were a mercenary, bounty hunter, or some other sentient who came here willingly, and even then, it didn't ensure survival.

Kiya stopped beside Sarita. Her body was tense like she might bolt at any second. Panic marked her features. She stared up at the menacing fortress walls before them. Sarita's gaze switched to one of the guards waiting nearby and dunes beyond. Kiya grabbed her hand, squeezing sharply. Sarita met her gaze, and Kiya shook her head.

Sarita wasn't much younger than Kiya herself was when this life became hers. Even then, Kiya was a fighter; she had already seen Sarita was not. Still, Kiya didn't know how she would have bared up in the face of what they were facing now. Kiya had always thought of herself as Creed Shesh's granddaughter, the only child of a Hapan mother and a Corellian father. They'd raised her to be strong—a fighter.

Her attention shifted to the dark-clad Twi'lek as he paid Abo then to the cavernous opening. Kiya took a deep breath and willed her own wary nerves to calm. A fighter she was and strong she would remain.

She squeezed Sarita's hand again as the guards began to move them inside the enormous door, then pulled her hand away.

They'd barely stepped inside when the Twi'lek stopped. He looked back; his beady pink eyes gave Kiya a chill as they slid to her. "Take that one to Porcellus." He turned his attention to Sarita and the other girl. "You wait."

Sarita's eyes widened, and she stiffened beside Kiya.

"Don't let them see your fear," Kiya whispered as she moved to follow the guard. She didn't look back as the guard led her away.

Kiya followed the Gamorrean along a dark corridor, trying not to think about where the large tusked, green-skinned creature might be taking her. Instead, she surveyed her surroundings. The air was warm, not as warm as outside but warm nonetheless. A sour smell permeated it, tinged with the faint scent of carrion. They saw very few others as they turned from one tunnel to another. Kiya tried to mark every turn they took in her memory.

Something scuttled in the darkness. A row of blue lights flashed not far from the floor. Kiya's eyes strained, and still, she couldn't see hardly anything; then it moved again. One long leg appeared, then another as the arachnid-like creature moved into view. Her guide seemed unbothered as it passed, but Kiya instinctively moved closer to the wall, her steps slowing.

She stopped moving, watching the thing as it moved past her. It wasn't technically alive, whatever it was. The spider-like body was mechanical, and the translucent head was actually a jar with what looked like a brain inside. She'd never seen anything like it.

"Come," her tusked guard barked in basic.

A moment later they came to a set of spiral stairs, and they climbed. Kiya could hear the din of people as they reached the top of the stone steps. Just a head of them to the left, an arched doorway led to a room. A band started playing just as the crowded space came into view. Kiya looked inside as they moved past. For a moment, it reminded her of a smuggler's run. It wasn't, however. If it were, there would be people there who would recognize her.

Xx

"Klatooine Paddy Frogs. One of Jabba's favorites, we always keep them on hand." The cook Porcellus explained. His chef's hat perched on his head, he dumped flavored blue brandy in the aquarium. "The brandy makes them more docile?" Her new boss explained, his bushy mustache twitched as he did so.

Kiya had seen them before, though she could honestly say she'd never thought of eating them. Now her Loath Cat. He'd have eaten them. But again, there wasn't much he wouldn't eat.

She glanced up, but Porcellus didn't look at her, just continued to tend the amphibians. "What Jabba wants, we see to it we supply," he said.

Kiya was shocked when she found herself in the kitchen of all places. The man standing across the large wooden table from her had been glad to see her. He explained his last serving girls met with an accident. He wouldn't meet her gaze when he told her, and Kiya felt sure there was more to the story, but didn't ask. Something told her there were a great many things about this place she didn't want to know, but she'd become acquainted with quickly enough anyway.

"You will help me tend them while they're in the kitchen. One of the others will take them to Jabba."

Kiya nodded. "What do we feed them?"

"They're thoroughly pickled and rarely around long enough to need nourishment."

He pushed the aquarium aside, nodding to another kitchen worker to take the bowl.

He had given her a long list of duties today, most of which pertained to serving the crowd above. He told her where to walk if possible and where to place platters of food. One of the others would show her at the next meal.

The Hutt ate a total of nine meals a day, so the large kitchen was always in use. Even right now, the smell of roasting meat filled the air, and another kitchen helper was preparing canapes. Kiya would help serve the meals. However, she wouldn't attend to Jabba himself or anyone near his dais. Porcellus had emphasized many times already that she was to stay away from the Hutt. It was not advice she was likely to ignore, though she didn't say as much.

He said the feasting and revelry had grown more intense since a thief who stole from Jabba had been caught and hung up in the throne room. Kiya wasn't sure if that meant he was alive or dead. She didn't ask, but for their sake, she hoped they weren't alive.

Porcellus turned his attention to two large trays sitting further down the table, and he began handing her plates of sweet treats and fruits to put on them. They prepared them before he'd shown her the frogs. "These are for the dancers' pit. They always have a repast at this time of day."

On the other tray, they arranged mugs and two different pictures of drink.

"Who will take them?" Kiya asked.

"Phlegmin will show you now. After tonight, it will be your responsibility."

Kiya watched as the dirty kitchen boy appeared beside her. He lifted one of the trays as she lifted the other, then followed him out the door. She made a mental note of the route they took.

XxX

Later that night

Kiya followed Phlegmin into the dancer's pit for the second time today; she instantly searched for Sarita. She hadn't been here when Kiya came earlier, but the other girl who came with them was. She had given Kiya an apprehensive look and shook her head no. When Kiya served her a drink, she whispered they'd taken Sarita away.

Kiya found her sitting at the other end of the narrow room, lined with lighted mirrors and dressing tables, this time. Kiya sat the tray containing the drinks on the table and grabbed a mug, pouring some of the blue juice inside. Sarita didn't move, just stared blankly into the mirror.

Kiya made her way toward Sarita, mug in hand. The girl's inky hair was combed and dressed— the rags she wore earlier, replaced with a sheer grey bodystocking. A solid band of grey ran around her breasts and her hips. She continued to stare at her reflection, listlessly in the mirror.

Kiya stopped just behind her. She leaned past Sarita, setting a mug in front of her.

"Sarita?" she questioned softly.

Sarita's gaze shifted in the mirror and grabbed Kiya's hand. "Kiya."

Kiya turned her head slightly, surveying as much of the room as she could. The dark-haired woman in the red jumpsuit who was here earlier observed them closely. Kiya turned her attention back to Sarita, meeting the girl's yellow eyes, she noted the glassiness again.

"I can't stay," Kiya said softly. "Are you well?"

Sarita nodded. "Melina gave me something she said would calm my nerves." A warm glow blossomed on Sarita's blue cheeks.

Kiya studied her. Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

"Something in a drink. She said it would relax me."

Spice. Kiya continued to study Sarita. "Don't take anymore."

"Enough." Their watcher finally spoke. She made her way toward them. "You, girl! Go back to the kitchen."

Kiya looked up at the woman in the red jumpsuit, then at Sarita again. "I have to go."

Sarita's eyes widened with panic.

"Don't take anymore," Kiya whispered and stepped away.

XxX

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