Chapter II: A New Kind of Freedom

The Zabrak stood quietly over Iyleesi's body as he waited for his vehicle to arrive. For him, it had been a successful day. His master's orders were executed to near perfection. Surely Sidious would be pleased with his conduct. As he mused over his accomplishments, the speedster he summoned earlier quietly landed at the base of the staircase. He licked his lips with satisfaction and coolly glanced down at the girl.

Such a pathetic thing, he thought as he threw her over his shoulder.

Her body was slim and fragile. He wondered, in amusement, if she honestly believed she could outrun him earlier. With such a weak constitution, he could have easily fractured her body into pieces with a flick of his wrist. In fact, he thought with a smile, he may have already done such a thing. As he descended the staircase a quiet moan of protest suddenly met his ears. He felt the woman's tiny hands attempting to release herself from his grip. In response to her movements, the Zabrak simply tightened his hold around her hips and continued his trek down the steps.

Iyleesi immediately ceased her attempt to squirm free. It was obvious there was no way she could escape him. His strength was unprecedented compared to her own. Even though her desire to escape her captor was strong, Iyleesi's reason for struggling had more to do with her injury. The pressure his shoulder exerted on her ribcage was causing a vast amount of pain and discomfort. She hoped desperately that his brutal kick had not broken any ribs. As Iyleesi reflected on her pain, she suddenly felt fingers traveling from her hips to a higher point on her body. She gasped as the pressure on her ribs suddenly ceased.

With his hands anchored slightly above her ribs, she watched as he raised her above his head and placed her into the seat of the speedster. The movement caused her ribcage to throb painfully and she released a quite whimper.

Where is he taking me? She wondered, as she watched his cloaked figure seat itself in front of her.

The Zabrak, as if sensing her thoughts, responded to the inquiry.

"Wherever I wish. Your life is no longer your own." His voice was sleek without an inkling of emotion.

Iyleesi's stomach dropped as she remembered the pact made on the roof.

I'm... I'm no longer my own person. My freedom no longer belongs to me.

Before she was able to consider her circumstances more thoroughly, the speedster took off with a whirl. Iyleesi let out a tiny cry of surprise before winding her arms tightly around the Zabrak's waist. She was unsure if the close contact would upset him, but when he made no protest, she apprehensively slipped into a comfortable position against him.

A myriad of questions flew through Iyleesi's mind as they whipped through the ruddy streets of Mos Eisley. Who was this man? Why did he kill everyone in Hutt Chuba's? What would he do to her now?

A fearful chill shook her body. She wondered if she'd made a huge mistake.

After nearly an hour of gliding on the speedster, Iyleesi spotted a starship planted on a sand dune in the distance. Her heartbeat immediately quickened. Was this the vessel on which she'd be taken away? As they reached the foot of the ship, her captor stopped his bike and removed himself from the speedster. Iyleesi clumsily followed his example. Secretly, she observed his movements with reverence. He was quick, nimble, and somehow utterly graceful. She recalled with a pang of affliction the way he killed the people in the restaurant with such dexterity and control. Surely he was trained under some ancient art of fighting. He had a light saber. Was he a Jedi?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden opening of the airlock hatch. She sucked in a sharp breath of air as it lowered before her feet. Spinning around, she looked to the cloaked man for guidance.

"Do I...?"

"Get in," he murmured, punching something into the control bracelet around his wrist.

Trembling, she made her ascent to the airlift door. There was no telling what the future would have in store for her now. Would it be death? Suffering? Torture? Some terrible combination of all three? As she reached the height of the ramp, she found it led her to a small room at the ship's entrance. Her assailant arrived in the room shortly after her. Turning to where he stood behind her, she watched the airlift slowly close shut. Warm tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

This is it. This is the path I've chosen. I have to be strong. But...

It was no use. Her knees became unsteady, and she collapsed in a frightened heap upon the floor.

The Zabrak observed her inner struggle with great amusement. The pain of others had always brought him a sort of crisp gratification.

"There will be extensive time for you to cry as much as you'd like, I assure you. Now, however, you will follow me."

Grasping her by the elbow, he pulled the young woman up to her feet and dragged her through the length of the ship. She found there was no point in protesting him now, and allowed him to haul her forward until they reached the cockpit door. Twirling her toward him, he suddenly seized both her arms and yanked her close to his crimson visage. Her brown gaze met his wild yellow eyes in fear. He was so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his skin. It made her shiver.

"You will sit and be silent," he hissed.

She nodded timidly and seated herself as he fumbled with the ship's controls. The moment it began to lift from the ground, a hologram materialized on the center console. Her captor immediately dropped to floor in a deep bow. The Zabrak did not strike her as the type of man to bow to anyone, so the sudden gesture intrigued Iyleesi greatly.

"Rise my apprentice," the hologram spoke in a deep, sinister voice.

Although she couldn't see the man's features in detail, his voice sounded powerful and old. Absently, she noted he was wearing a hooded black cloak similar to the Zabrak's.

"Yes, my master."

Master? She wondered quietly.

"Darth Maul, I trust you've finished your assignment?"

"Yes, my master. Senator Apus Bunda and his family have been disposed of."

"And any witnesses?"

"Exterminated, my master."

The hologram let out a low, guttural laugh.

"Good."

"Except-"

"Except?" The voice repeated gravely.

"Except, I've taken one of the witnesses as my own."

Maul stretched out his arm toward Iyleesi and gestured for her to come forward. She quickly jumped to her feet and approached him with caution. Once she was within arms reach, Maul snatched one of her elbows and twisted it behind her back, positioning her in front of him.

"Ah." A smile was suddenly visible under the holographic man's black hood, "I see. You have my approval."

The man began to cackle again, and Iyleesi could not help but shiver in disgust.

"Thank you, master."

Maul released Iyleesi suddenly and cast her aside. Dropping onto one knee, he bowed once again to the hologram before it dissipated before her eyes.

The scene that just transpired was much to absorb without context. From what she could gather, the Zabrak's name was Darth Maul and the strange man whom he addressed was his superior. Most shocking of all, the killings that happened at Hutt Chuba's were a result of a direct order to kill a senator. The entire situation made her feel dizzy. She wondered exactly what she had gotten herself into by pledging her life to this man. He was no run-of-the-mill murder.

Pulling herself to her feet, she turned her gaze at him once more. He stood before the console in complete silence, his right hand resting beneath his chin. A contemplative look colored his features.

"E-Excuse me?" The man looked up from his thoughtful pose and eyed her with irritation. "I'm so sorry, please, but what shall I do now? What will happen to me?"

He raised a hand to silence her. She quickly stopped speaking and watched him trudge to where she stood. Fear chocked her as he approached, and adverted her eyes from his menacing figure.

"Look at me," he muttered in his smooth, yet threatening tone.

The girl raised her chestnut eyes to his tattooed face. Her chest tingled with fearful apprehension.

"You will address me solely as 'sir' or 'master'. Fail to do this and you will be punished."

His voice was cold and impassive. She nodded.

"You will follow my direct orders. If you defy me, you will be punished."

She nodded again.

"If you ever try to escape," He leaned in closer to Ilyeesi's face. His eyes were full of warning. "I. Will. Kill you."

She took a deep breath to hold back the tears threatening her eyes.

"Yes, sir." She whispered, barely audible.

Satisfied, Maul advanced past her towards the exit of the cockpit. As she watched him disappear, Iyleesi's thoughts quickly settled back onto the exchange between the Zabrak and the pale, hooded figure. Her previous conjecture could not be truth. There was no way that murderous, violent being was a Jedi. A Jedi would never participate in an assassination attempt on an innocent sentient. It simply could not be. Then, she wondered, what was he? Most importantly, who was he to that man? She recalled, with revulsion, the suggestive way the cloaked hologram reacted when he saw her.

Oh, no.

"I cannot be that!" Iyleesi yelled aloud, quite suddenly.

A concept she hand not considered before abruptly plagued her mind. Could it be that she would be used a sex slave? She was not naive to this particular trade. Back on Mos Eisely, it was common to see women sold off into the pleasure trade to wealthy men. Feverishly, she bit her lip as the thought pervaded her mind.

It can't be that. I can't be this man's.

"It cannot be!"

Suddenly, Maul's looming figure appeared in the doorway. He stared at her with the same impassable, yet aggravated glower with which she was accustomed to him adorning her. He crossed his arms tightly against his chest.

"Keep yourself silent."

Ignoring his command, Iyleesi scrambled forward, wringing her hands in apprehension.

"Forgive me, please, but I beg you sir. Please, do not make me a pleasure slave."

Maul's yellow eyes widened.

Catching his expression in her peripherals, she realized she had made a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake. Rage consumed his features. In fear, she began to withdraw from him, but her attempt was in vain. There was nowhere to escape. He paced towards her gravely. A dark intent burned in his eyes.

Seizing her wrists, Maul tightly flattened Iyleesi against the cool metal wall of the cockpit. She groaned as the weight of his body compressed her tender ribs. Wincing, she tilted her head up to his face, only to find his yellow eyes burrowing into her own. The depth of his gaze made her body feel weak.

Placing one knee between her thighs, Maul slowly separated her legs until he was able to slip himself completely between them. Then, with amazing swiftness, he lifted her off the ground and onto the wall. She immediately felt the distinct shape of his length through the fabric of her pants. The feeling of his manhood made her body shudder. With one gloved hand, he reached inside the fabric of her blouse, raking his fingers upward over her sensitive skin until he found her breasts. Then, with a surprisingly gentle touch, drew torturous circles around her nipples.

Iyleesi shuddered at the all sensations assaulting her body. The way he felt between her legs, the soft fondling of her breasts, the strength with which his muscular body fastened her to the wall of the cockpit. It was all too much for her senses to bear.

Tilting his head toward the crook of her neck, Maul moved so his lips were close to Iyleesi's ear. She breathed a quiet moan at the feeling of his warm breath so close to her earlobe.

"Do you think this is what I mean to do to you?" He growled. "Do you think this is the kind of man I am?

Iylseesi measured his words, and woke, if from a trance from the pleasure induced haze.

"You disgrace me."

All at once, Maul retracted his hand from her breast and removed himself from her body. Iyleesi gasped in shock as she fell, landing hard on the cool metal floor. Knotting her brow in confusion, she gazed, disoriented, at the Zabrak. His stoic face betrayed no emotion or thought. In one swift movement he gathered up his cloak from the ground and smoothly exited the cockpit. Iyeesi sat for a long while, hands pressed against her face. Her cheeks were warm with embarrassment. Her body, warm with fervor.