Tanya was as difficult to understand as ever. A model Jedi brimming with dark emotions. An effective leader that was never satisfied with merely completing the objective. A calm presence able to unleash hell into her enemies while singing the praises of some dark god. A masculine force presence in a female body.

And here she was, that masculine presence as strong as ever and yet asking to do something so civilian female. I was reluctant to deny the request despite how pointless it seemed to get her apprentice new clothes. Then again, women always seem to enjoy clothes shopping. Even, no don't think about her. I will take a page out of Tanya's own leadership book and indulge in the whims of my underling. Keep her obedient and when the moment is ideal I will use her to take out Sidious. Windu with his Vaapad had Sidious at his mercy, surely his only student in the style would be able to measure up to some degree. I just need to keep Tanya safe and loyal to me, even if it means having to deal with such bright force presences around me.

"Resupply will take eight hours. Do not keep me waiting."

"We should be done in half that, no problem."

I began to dismiss the small package of contradictions when a thought crossed my mind.

"Where is your lightsaber?"

Tanya pulled a leather cord that was wrapped around a darkly colored kyber crystal from under her shirt.

"Lightsaber are a sign of being a Jedi, and are this illegal to have. So I dismantled mine, keeping just the crystal."

The rage that was always there seemed entirely directed at her crystal and everything it stood for. I could use this to lure her to the dark side, but it will take time. I do not want to destroy the value of such a useful tool.

"I can get you an exemption, but you will have to attune the crystal in a different manner."

The look of surprise on her face amuses me.

—-

My master is a prodigal genius. She was already a Jedi Knight when most would be just starting their Padawan training. During the war she was designing and implementing doctrine for the Republic to utilize while most Knights were still figuring out how to work with clone troopers. And after the war and end of the Jedi order she was able to walk into a civilian life as easily as, well, walking. I try to keep up with her as much as I can to not slow her down, but the best I can do is imitate her and not emulate her.

I still had so much to learn from her. She might think I was ready to become a Knight in my own right, but I don't know how much I believe it myself. I just have to believe in her belief in me to take me forward. Not that being a Jedi Knight matters anymore, now it is learning to be the best civilian I can be. I don't understand how my clothes play into it. I once asked Master Tanya about being a civilian and she went on a tangent about signaling theory and how we look to others is important. It kinda went above my head with all the terms she was using and I still don't understand how stock options worked into her explanation or even what a stock option is. I did like watching her lips moved as she delved deep into something she is apparently passionate about.

Now we were standing in a store with me on a pedestal getting my measurements taken while Tanya talked with the shop's owner about how to spend my money. I had thought saving it was the right thing to do based upon some of the economic discussions I had heard my master engage in, but I guess he talks about investments include clothing. Sometimes I miss the simplicity of the Agricorps. We had a few outfits, all practically made and durable for working in the fields and we just had to focus on making sure the crops grew strong, healthy, and plentiful. I might miss it, but I would not trade being beside my master for the whole galaxy.

The employee, I think seamstress is the term for her job, had an outfit ready in short order made to my master's suggestions and the owners ideas. It was a light purple dress similar in shade to some flowers I remember seeing in the temple. Lavender I think. The straps were thin and it left my midriff exposed. The skirt had a lacy hemline and barely covered my thighs. Thinking about some of the other Twi'lek's I have seen, it was not too skimpy and I liked the way the top and skirt connected down my back. Seeing the way my Master looked at me while wearing it gave me a few butterflies in my stomach and I decided I would definitely be wearing this dress around her as much as possible. Though not with the heels they initially had me try on with it. Heels are clearly a Sith invention to torment the good citizens of the galaxy. Thankfully there was a pair of sandals that the workers aged would work just as well if I disliked heels so much.

After agreeing to get the dress, it felt like a whirlwind of putting on and taking off different outfits until all outfit categories that Tanya had were checked off. I don't know how long we were at it nor how much of my money we spent, all I know was that when we got back to our room on the Perilous I passed out on the bed and had some wonderful dreams that included Tanya wearing some of the outfits I had tried on.

I would have to meditate on that later.

—-

I have some better idea now why women enjoy clothes shopping so much, especially bringing a reluctant significant other along. The quiet suffering of their victim is enjoyable to watch, especially when they are unable to complain about it due to social norms or because it is meant for their benefit. I still would not want to spend too much time doing my own shopping. Despite being a woman now, I felt comfortable enough to only have a single dress for any formal events I might be required to attend, such as the annual formal dance to celebrate the anniversary of the Empire's founding on the crumpling remains of the Republic at the end of the Galactic Civil War.

With that fun out of the way, I just needed to get my subordinate out of my bed and into hers. Thankfully, force moving an unconscious person was easy enough.

Or it would be if the person didn't insist on hugging my sheets to themself and making a cute little whine. Giving it up as a lost cause, I crawled into the bed that Visha had been sleeping in and slept the comfortable sleep of a benevolent boss that didn't have to spend any of their own money.