A/N: As always, thanks for all the support! I get more excited the more chapters I finish! I hope you all like this idea as much as I!

Thank you, Ana! This one would have been much harder without your help!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 8

Something Different

Boba Fett saw her step into the throne room from his place on the dais by Jabba's shoulder. She looked in the direction of the platform, hesitating for a moment. A dark sleeveless tunic and silk pants replaced the nondescript rags of earlier. Where the greys had faded into the background, the blue she wore now would draw the eye.

She carried a silver tray with a decanter of brightly colored wine on it. Just as earlier, her color heightened when she saw him. Her gaze darted away quickly. She lifted her chin and made her way around the edge of the room.

He scanned another image of her face with his helmet storing it on its internal hard drive. He would get that one to Xo and see if it was more helpful. She made her way past him, careful not to look at him. He had approached her last night for two different reasons. One, if she were a spy, she would be more likely to make a mistake now and reveal herself and who her contacts were. Two; he wanted to test her. See if she would run. The way she looked at him yesterday, just after Malin fell to his death, wasn't fear. It was more akin to recognition and judgment.

The girl moved past Boba Fett again, hurrying back down the steps, and took her place behind Jiliac. On the other side of the Jawa, who fanned her bulk.

The girl gave him a sidelong look, let out a deep breath, and crossed her arms behind her back.

She didn't run last night, but she had wanted to. She stood there in front of him, tense and unmoving. He could smell the fear trying to boil up; she was determined not to let him see it and not to give in to it. Instead, she spoke to him. She surprised him, and that was a difficult thing to achieve. It was not so even so much that she spoke. Some would. It was the words themselves. He would not usually reply, but he wanted to see again what she would do. He had surprised her when he answered. Boba Fett was even more determined to find out who she was now. The rebels were known for brazenness. And she was brazen.

In this instance, chance (not that Boba Fett believed in chance) or rather Bib Fortuna had delivered the slave girl most conveniently into closer proximity this morning. This development would make it far easier for him to keep an eye on her and make sure Lady Jiliac stayed safe. He had received a message from the Desilijic clan leader yesterday when he was en route back to Tatooine with Malin. She hadn't even told Jabba because she thought someone was attempting to kill her, and she wouldn't rule out anyone, even her nephew. Boba Fett couldn't say that he blamed her. With Hutts, like most of society, loyalty only went so far. Only a fool trusted others. However, Boba didn't believe Jabba had machinations on his aunt's life at present though her worries were merited. Boba Fett had learned that Jabba grew increasingly concerned about his great aunt's preoccupation with the child she had hidden away. Most likely because of the danger the huttlet posed to Jabba's own machinations. If Jiliac wanted her offspring to live, the best way to do that was by hiding it. Boba Fett was confident he would be the one commissioned to hunt this child eventually.

However, at this moment, she might be the only sentient being in the galaxy that had anything close to Jabba the Hutt's loyalty. That was a good thing for Jabba. Jiliac was the preferable company if Boba Fett had to choose between Hutts, and she could afford to pay him more.

Boba subtly shifted his weight, aware of the slave girl's tense frame fifteen feet away. He had learned her name easily before today. Boba Fett didn't have her last name, however. Still, if one had the right purveyors of information, you could find a person's true identity with less. An easily identifiable mark like her scar made it even easier. People tended to remember scars like hers even if they did not really remember the face. In his opinion, most of the rebels were not nearly as smart as they thought they were. Han Solo, for instance.

XxX

Kiya watched Max Rebo's band from her spot behind the female Hutt. In the last hour or so, she stood here; she had tried her hardest to ignore the bounty hunter standing maybe five yards away from her. He hadn't once looked in her direction that she had noticed, not even when she walked past him. Somehow that was not even remotely comforting. Kiya had forced herself to focus on other things. She would never let him see how uncomfortable he made her if she could help it.

Kiya had observed certain things in her effort to ignore him. One being Jabba's aunt might be less revolting than her nephew. She certainly appeared to eat with more care. Two, the Kowakian monkey lizard was as disgusting as his owner; he ate the bits and pieces that dribbled down Jabba's chest. Three, Jabba girls weren't spread about languidly or hanging off his hired thugs and hangers-on.

In all fairness, Kiya spent very little time in the throne room, but the dancers were usually present this time of day. Sy Snootles and her backup singers were also conspicuously absent. Kiya had to ask if that wasn't somehow related to her Ladyship. Kiya hadn't seen everything that happened in the throne room before she arrived. Still, Yarna had warned her, there was irritation that Kiya, a lowly slave, had been chosen over one of the dancers. As far as Kiya was concerned, she would far rather they had chosen one of them and not her.

Presently Kiya watched her new mistresses goblet. She had decided to keep the gilded decanter of Korriban Wine in her hands after having filled that chalice three times. She had also decided it was easier to think of Jiliac the Hutt as mistress rather than Lady. As if on cue, mistress Jiliac drained the rest of her cup. Kiya stepped discreetly forward, keeping her eyes downcast as she filled it. Kiya backed away, retaking her place. Bib Fortuna appeared at her elbow a moment later. He had been mostly absent since he found her in the dancer's pit earlier. Bib Fortuna said nothing, just made eye contact, and stepped back. He made his way to the kitchen area behind Jabba's platform, leaving Kiya to follow. Kiya kept her chin up, keeping her eyes forward as she passed Fett. She crossed the space and placed the wine decanter on the sideboard beside the others. Fortuna didn't wait for her to turn toward him before he started speaking, his voice harried and borderline impatient.

"After her long journey, Lady Jiliac will likely wish to retire soon. I've had Korriban wine taken to her room, and a repast sent up. I also arranged for the Nautolanean girl who works in the dancer's pit to help you. The girl can fetch whatever her Ladyship requires, food, wine, etcetera. She can also understand Huttese. Lady Jiliac will likely require a moisture bath today. I've had one prepared in the pool in her chambers."

Kiya nodded.

She was grateful for the help, but she was also confident the choreographer was likely not happy with this development. She hadn't seen any pool when she was in the chambers earlier today either.

He paused for a moment; his little red eyes drifted down her frame then back up as if he was just now making sure she was appropriately attired. There was a look of approval in his eyes when they lifted back to hers. "You will need to rise early and make sure your appearance is neat and befitting the handmaiden of a most glorious Hutt before Ladyship graces us with her presence."

For a moment, Kiya didn't know how to respond to his obsequious words and the oleaginous tone with which he said them.

"If you need fresh clothing, Melina Carniss will supply them."

Remembering herself, Kiya bowed her head. She was so very sure that Melina Carniss would welcome any request she had. "Yes, Your Worship."

Bib Fortuna moved back down the steps. Kiya watched him for a moment, feeling like she needed to rinse her mouth after using the ludicrous honorific he demanded they all use.

XxX

"Jee wish oom-tire," the female Hutt announced, just seconds after Kiya took her place behind her again.

Kiya understood what she meant this time without any thought. She met Fortuna's gaze, and he nodded. Kiya stepped forward. "Can I take your drink, Your Ladyship?" she asked, demurely as she knew they expected.

"I think not, girl," Jiliac said assertively. Kiya looked up, meeting her gaze, noting what she thought might be a twinkle in the female Hutt's eyes. "You can have it when it's drained and not a moment before."

"As you wish, Your Ladyship," Kiya replied, seeing that faint twinkle in Jiliac's eyes again. Could it be this Hutt might have a sense of humor?

Kiya stepped to the side, waiting for Jiliac Desilijic Tiron to move past her in her repulsor chair. She noticed two other guards move away from the wall as well.

"Fett," Lady Jiliac called as she began to move.

Kiya's gaze shot past the Hutt, her stomach instantly knotted, her heart beating slightly faster. He was already stepping down off the platform, making his way toward them.

She remembered herself, pulling her gaze from his armored visage, and followed Lady Jiliac a moment later. Kiya turned her head, looking over her shoulder as Boba Fett fell into step behind her and Lady Jiliacs other two guards as they made their way up the steps to the landing. Lady Jiliac's repulsor chair navigated the two steps like they were a ramp and not steps at all.

One of the guards moved past them and walked up the stairs in front of his mistress, making sure no one got unduly close to his Lady. Kiya was impressed and a bit fascinated by how easily her temporary mistress navigated the steep curving staircase in her chair.

When they reached the landing outside of the private quarters, the lead guard opened the blast doors. He disappeared inside. Kiya waited just behind the female Hutt, her attention drifting over what she could see of the room. Nola, the Nautolan girl, waited just inside the door in front of the wall, her back straight, eyes forward, hands behind her back. A moment later, the guard appeared in the doorway. He stepped aside, letting them enter.

The bone privacy screens had been set up in the far left corner of the room. Boba Fett moved past them all as the door slid closed, his blaster rifle lifted slightly. Kiya watched as he walked around the room, making his own thorough sweep. When he was done, he turned, nodding in their direction.

Nola moved beside Kiya, pointing toward the screens. "Her bath awaits."

Kiya nodded, stepping past the others. She lifted her arm in the direction of the screens. "If it pleases her leadership, her bath awaits." that at least sounded like Bib Fortuna would have said it.

Kiya followed Lady Jiliac across the room and behind the screen. A large opening in the floor hadn't been visible earlier; it was filled with a thick looking greyish white substance. Lady Jiliac finished draining her cup. Kiya took it from her. "Do you require anything from me?" Kiya asked as Jiliac lowered her chair to the floor.

Kiya watched, fascinated as Jiliac moved from her chair. Her entire body contracted as she effortlessly slid from it. "Jee widd tedd uba joppay jee bal."

"She will tell you when she does," the Nautolan girl translated.

Kiya had never seen Jabba move under his own steam, but Yarna said he could. The female Hutt propelled herself toward the pool with rhythmic muscular contractions of her large, powerful tail. She moved, not unlike a common garden slug would, even leaving a trail of slime in her wake. Kiya cleared her throat and shook her head. She was absolutely convinced Lady Jiliac, the clan leader, would not be amused with her analogy.

Jiliac reached the edge of the pool and moved down the ramp submerging most of her dark green and tan bulk in the slimy substance. She continued to sink until just her eyes, and the top of her head were visible before she vanished completely.

Nola walked not far away, sitting down cross-legged on one of the pillows.

Kiya watched as the ripples died down and the milky substance settled. She placed the empty cup on the tray, on the repulsor chair. Her attention moved to Nola.

The other guys waited outside the chamber door. Kiya ignored that Boba Fett stood silent sentry on the other side of the screen.

"She can stay submerged for hours," the girl said.

"Ah," Kiya sighed softly, her attention moving about the place. "I see." she couldn't imagine waiting here for hours while the female Hutt marinated herself white slime. "Will she expect us to dry her off?" Kiya asked, eyeing the stack of large bath sheets stacked on a stand across the pool.

"I don't know. Jabba drips dry."

"Oh," Kiya said, her lips forming the letter o as she did so. Those were two images she could do without having—Jabba in the bath and Jabba drip drying.

"Does she breathe while she's down there?" Kiya asked, noting the lack of bubbles breaking the surface.

"No, they can hold their breath for a very long time, like lizards," Nola replied, surprising Kiya.

She held Nola's large dark eyes, curious. "Really?"

"Yes." the girl said. "My father studied limacology and Herpetology."

"What does your father do?" the girl asked a moment later.

Kiya hesitated a moment. "He was no one much," Kiya replied. She immediately saw the disappointment on the girl's face. "He was a smuggler," she said after another moment. Not wanting to answer any more questions, Kiya turned her attention to the trail of slime currently drying on the floor. "Do you suppose we should clean this up?"

"Maybe," the girl said.

Kiya made her way around the pool to the towels, her soft-soled slippers nearly silent against the stone floor. She picked up one, unfolding it as she made her way to the trail of slime. Kiya threw it on the floor over the slime trail and began moving it around with her foot. Nola appeared at her side, her head of long green lekku bent to her task.

"Nola?" Kiya asked.

Nola looked up at her.

"Are you a slave?"

Nola's gaze dropped, and she went about moving her side of the towel around again. "No, my father works for the Hutts. He's away on Nal Hutta right now; when he goes there, he leaves me with Yarna and the others."

Kiya watched the girl's green head, relieved to know the child had her father. Kiya had never seen the girl's father since she came here. She had assumed Nola was a slave like all the others, just by Melina Carniss's ordering her around.

Lady Jiliac emerged from the pool not long after they finished cleaning up the mess.

XxX

Boba watched the slave girl exit the room behind the nautolan girl, then turned his attention to Jiliac Desilijic Tiron. He had scanned the room for listening devices while the corpulent she Hutt was in her moisture bath. He had found some, and he was positive there were others he hadn't seen. Boba Fett had placed disruptors around the room so no one would hear what they said.

Boba Fett nodded when she looked at him.

"What will they hear?" She asked.

"To everyone outside of this room, you will be sleeping."

Jiliac sighed. Until this moment, he hadn't known a Hutt could look tired. Jiliacs orange eyes seemed tired and very old in her wrinkled green face.

XxX

Thanks so much for reading!

A/N: Boba Fett's helmet has an internal hard drive built-in!