Chapter Two:

The next time Mara came-too, she felt much better. She groaned as her aching body protested against her being out for however long. She lifted her arm to lie across her eyes, and that was when she realized it was bare.

Mara frowned. Where was her coat?

"Good morning, my dear."

She opened her eyes and lifted her head lightning quick, feeling some lingering effects of dizziness, though not enough to cause her to be sick. Mara then saw that she lie in a filthy bed that had very clearly seen better days. Mara also saw that she wore nothing more than a skimpy piece of lingerie that barely covered anything.

She shifted self-consciously when she remembered that there was a man in the room, and she sat up to find him lounging at the foot of her bed. He was a slick, oily thing that clearly tried too hard to impress his clients, what with his greasy black hair combed just so, and his 'perfectly tailored' suit. Mara turned red at the way he was openly admiring her, and she lifted her right leg to kick him off the mattress.

A movement that should have been a slice of rychate cake was heavy and sluggish. Frowning, Mara lifted her foot more and saw a burdensome chain attached to that ankle. She followed the restraint to the bed post on that side, and then glared at the man.

"What is going on?" she demanded, giving him her best glare.

Her famous glower had sent many men scrambling for their very lives, but this one merely smirked at her.

"Charger was right," he remarked casually. "You are a feisty little thing."

"Let me off this chain and I'll show you just how feisty I can be," Mara snapped.

"Another time, perhaps." He stood, not bothering to hide his pleasure at her discomfort in being so exposed. "Now that you are at long last awake, today is your orientation."

"Orientation?" Mara deadpanned.

"Of course; all the girls go through it."

Mara did not like the sound of that at all. "Look, I won't cause you any trouble if you just let me go now."

"And where would you go darling?" he questioned. "You don't even know where you are."

"It doesn't matter where I am, I can survive anywhere." Mara assured him. "And my patience is running thin."

"As is mine," he barked. "Now shut up and listen."

Mara jerked upright, slugging him in the face with her right fist. She then leapt from the bed, intent on finishing him off, but an electrical jolt to her body made her jerk. He grabbed her by the throat, and Mara promptly kneed him in the groin, determined not to go down without a fight. He cursed profusely even as he doubled over, but refused to release her.

To her dismay, Mara found that was all the energy she had left and she sagged within his grasp. Angrily, he flung her back onto the bed, where her head struck the metal frame. She ignored the shot of pain as he leered over her.

"You would do well to refrain from fighting me, slave!" he roared.

Mara froze, horror sinking in. He saw this and grinned maliciously.

"That's right, woman: I own you now! That electrical jolt you felt? It's what we will use to kill you if you somehow manage an escape. And do not try removing it, because it must be deactivated first or it will kill you." He leaned back. "Now. You may call me Gerris; I am your master now."

Great, I lost one master just to get another. Mara groused even as her fear took hold. But she was determined that she would never bow down to him.

"You have been out cold since Charger brought you home to us, which has been a week." Gerris went on. "A full week in which the only nourishment you received is an I.V which we removed two days ago. You are hungry, thirsty and weak from malnourishment."

He again sat on the edge of the bed.

"This is how I operate: if you want to eat, you perform your new task." He ran his hand down her arm, and Mara mustered enough energy to elbow him.

"Do not touch me!" she hollered.

"I will do whatever I like with you." he returned harshly. "And until you act properly, you will starve."

Garris rose, nursing his goin and waist. "Men will come in to visit with you, and you will be their companion. Failure to do so will result in no food." He paused at the door where he knocked. "However, since this is your first day I will grant you one free meal."

The door opened and a dark-skinned human walked in with a cup of water and a plate of fruit and bread. As much as Mara wanted to refuse, she knew she had to eat to give her the energy she would need to fight on.

So she accepted the meal offered, ignoring the lustful look the newcomer gave her. The water was horrible, but it would suffice. Garris watched her for a moment longer, and then walked out.

Mara only then noticed the single, grungy sheet on her mattress, and cursed for not having seen it sooner. Mara swore to herself that she would rather die than be any man's companion. Of course, she just hoped she could follow through.

But then, many things had changed for her recently. Mara swallowed hard as her situation slowly sank in, and she felt tears well up in her eyes.

She squeezed them shut and wrapped herself in the sheet, curling against the headboard like a child.

She didn't really want to die, but she didn't wish to be a pleasure-slave either. When Mara had envisioned herself free from Palpatine's oppression, she hadn't realized just how rock-bottom things could get for her.

Mara was beginning to think that the Emperor's Hand was being pushed more and more into the shadows; and to make room for a much more vulnerable woman who had no experience at being just a person. That had never been an option for her before now.

As despair at her situation clouded her mind, Mara let out a plaintive cry to the Force.

Someone… please… help me!

00000

Luke Skywalker sat in the center of the floor in his room onboard Home One, trying to make sense of his life. For eighteen years, he had wished to get off Tatooine and help bring good to the galaxy.

At long last that dream had come true, though it had cost Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru their lives. And again for four years, he had lived as the Alliance's hero, their poster boy, and a symbol of hope to bring down an Emperor.

Now, finally it seemed, he had done just that… or rather, Darth Vader had.

So now that the two Sith Lords were vanquished, what was he supposed to do? All he'd know for four years now was war and struggle. What path was he meant to take now?

Luke sighed, shifting his cross-legged stance to get more comfortable. For some reason, the curious woman he'd come across a few months ago in Jabba's Palace kept coming to mind. It was almost as though the Force was trying to tell him something about her, but every time he attempted to learn more, it went suspiciously and annoyingly silent.

Luke did his best to curb his impatience; instead opting to trust that the Force knew what it was doing, and that it had its own timetable.

Why the strange woman kept coming to mind, he couldn't tell. Luke had of course tried to find her with the Force during down time in the past months, but so far he'd been unsuccessful. He remembered that day in Jabba's throne room clearly: recalled how her intelligent mind had touched his, only to play hide-and-seek when he sought her in return.

When their eyes had met moments later, Luke had known that she was special, and he'd felt a strange connection to her. Not having been able to get much of a look at the woman aside from her eyes, Luke had taken to memorizing her gaze.

Yeah, and if you ever find her you can creep her out with that fact, Luke. He chided himself sardonically.

Luke shook his head mutely, and attempted to clear his mind. Maybe if he meditated on it more, he would find a clue this time.

He settled into the flow of the Force, allowing it to fill his entire being before he let go. Peace settled upon him, something he'd not felt in too long now. A slight smile touched his lips, but vanished when a feeling of utter despondency washed over him.

With the sensation came the image of a woman, her red-gold hair cascading about her porcelain shoulders as she wept. The view changed to show her looking into the air hopelessly, and Luke instantly recognized those emerald eyes.

He gasped, taken aback by the vision of her predicament.

Then her voice- so lovely, yet so sad it nearly broke his heart- came to him as clear as though she were standing beside him.

Someone… please… help me!

Luke instinctively reached back, feeling her shock and lack of recognition; but he pressed her for any clue. She hesitated, probably thinking she was going nuts, and then at long last he heard a whispered name: Garris.

Luke lost contact after that, and he paused to focus on the name he'd been given. He sent out a question to the Force, trying to puzzle out who 'Garris' was... or was it a place? When nothing came to him, Luke broke from his mediation.

Rising to his feet, he went to the Intelligence department. Upon entering, the tech on duty gave him a pleasant smile.

"Commander Skywalker, it's good to see you Sir." Ryal said with a genial smile.

"Hello Ryal, it's nice to see you as well." Luke returned the smile. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure." She turned her chair to face him.

"Does the name Garris sound familiar?" Luke inquired.

She pursed her lips, deep in thought. After a time, she shook her head slowly.

"No, I am sorry, Sir," she said apologetically. "Would you like me to see if I can dig anything up?"

"Would you please?" he asked.

"Of course. It may take some time, but I will let you know if I find anything," she said as she returned to her console, typing away with new fervor.

"Thank you." Luke waved to her in turn.

00000

Mara eventually ate her food, pondering the strange reaction she'd gotten when her cry had issued forth. She could have sworn someone actually heard her… and answered.

Or had it just been wishful thinking? She didn't know, since when it came to the Force, Palpatine had only allowed her to learn what she needed to perform a task, and nothing more.

Mara gazed at her ankle, half-tempted to use her limited Force training to set herself free. But though she could do that- and she could easily get out of any compound- Garris held the ace by means of her chip. If she escaped, they'd simply press a button and she'd be history.

Or maybe not, since Mara had lived her entire life known only to a select few… most of who were now dead.

Mara sighed heavily, finishing her food and then tossing the plate toward the door. Maybe the next fool to enter would slip on it and get hurt. It would serve them right.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of another woman in the room next to hers. Mara scowled as the pair next door became obnoxious, and she tried her best to tune them out. She could feel emotions similar to her own from other women in the building: despair, anger, self-loathing… hopelessness.

Screams from less-willing women echoed at random through the halls, and every now and then Mara heard booted feet pad by her door. Every time that happened, Mara tensed in readiness to kick the next man who dared think she would willingly give herself over to him simply because she was chained to a bed.

She may be frightened, alone and without a clue as to where she was, but she was still Mara Jade.

And Mara Jade didn't go down easily.