AN: Some twists and turns this time. We start to weave this story with Ahsoka and the Rebellion to some degree. The latter will need to get some slight reworking in spots.

Thanks to new followers: latrunkster, javowars1171

Chapter 33: A Working Relationship

Lianna, Valles's Santhia palace, 1 BBY, 10 months, 3 days, 7 hours

Valles awakened first and sat up in bed, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. She glanced over at her lover's still sleeping form and smiled. Oh, my dear, that was a night to remember. So vigorous … She gently sighed and realized she was gradually falling in love, but it was not a feeling she really wanted to have at this time, as it potentially complicated matters. How does he feel about me? I doubt I am just another conquest … of course, he knows my rapacious nature, however diligently I may hide it from others … A soft chuckle, and soon the Grand Duchess had hopped out of bed and pulled on a satin robe over the minimal chemise that she had slept in. Then it was off to her dressing area, where she had left her com device. Was I really in bed for twelve hours? My goodness…

Picking up the com, she saw there were several messages. Perusing the list, she noticed that Vader had wanted to reach her. After he had been checked into Veterans' Hospital on Lianna, his full recovery took about two weeks. Fortunately, he was only about 40 standard years old and his body was able to repair itself. The doctors began bacta treatments after the first week and these helped considerably. Valles had also asked a Santhé Corp machine tools division to fashion a new helmet and mask to replace the ones that Ahsoka had damaged. Vader was refitted with these on his last day in the hospital. Valles came by to assist him with the checkout and he returned to the Santhé Tower with her after being released. His TIEx1 had been given full diagnostics and a complete run-through so it would be ready for him to use. After a short consultation in her office, where Valles brought him up-to-speed on the status of the Project, then he was ready to leave. As he prepared to embark, he knelt before Valles on the platform outside the 215th level of the tower. She extended her right hand, which he brought to his mask to approximate a kiss, then said this to her:

"Lady Santhé, I cannot overestimate all you have done for me. My loyalty will be to you going forward, but he will not learn of this."

"Anakin, I am certain he already knows – and I believe he approves of the relationship we have. At least, nothing he has said or communicated to me would indicate otherwise … so, where might you be headed?"

"Very well. Please keep in touch. I need you to help keep some of the more ambitious members of the Imperial Officer Corps in line."

"Yes," he replied gently. "You can depend on me."

This note from Vader was brief, as was his usual style. He wanted to review the strategy for Outer Rim control and report on the Imperial brass, as she had requested. Vader told her that he was keeping them on their toes. Valles chuckled softly as she read it. Very good, Anakin. Just the way I want it handled.

Next on the list was a quick note from Moff Tarkin. The Emperor had earlier asked Valles if she thought Tarkin ought to be made a Grand Moff, one of only a handful in the entire galaxy. She had thought it over and told Palpatine that it seemed he had earned the promotion. Just so long as I can keep him in check, she had responded via the Force. Sheev's response was a soft cackle and the two nodded to each other. As Valles thought it over, she smiled and noted, we seem to work together well, Sheev, a pity that I will soon lose my use for you. The note read:

"Lady Santhé, hope this finds you well. Looking forward to your company again, madam."

She chuckled, then dashed off a reply:

"Wilhuff, yes, I am doing splendidly. And we shall indeed be getting together soon. Much to discuss."

Then a note from none other than Shaak Ti:

"Valles, please come to Felucia again. I have a business proposition for you. Your friend, Shaak."

As she read this one, Valles reflected for a second. My Togruta friend, you are quite the mysterious one.

She responded:

"Certainly, my dear Shaak. I'll dress for the occasion. See you in about four weeks?"

After that, Valles headed into her bath area and rang for the attendants. When they arrived, she directed them to scrub her down and draw her a hot tub-full for a brief soak. It's going to be a full day.

Aboard Su's Dark Ship, Core Region, 1 BBY, 11 months, 25 days

Once Su had returned from delivering her message to Palpatine, she took Lizza and Magnifica with her to a meditation area on the ship. This area was very comfortable and had several pieces of furniture that were low to the floor. The lighting was usually muted, and interspersed with various colors, mostly from the red and violet ends of the visible spectrum. Both of her apprentices were seated on reclining chairs that allowed full 180-degree positioning such that it was possible to lie flat if desired. Lizza and Magnifica each took one of these and Su then positioned them to be parallel to each other, with a small space in between, where she sat on the floor. After they were comfortable, each extended a hand toward her master and Su grasped both of them and connected them together with her, then began an energy transfer. This process took about 30 minutes and in the course of it, both women could feel various surges of excitement mixed with intervals of quiet. Lizza and Magnifica each had different reactions to the treatment, which Su carefully monitored.

When it was over, she released their hands and then caused their chairs to move upward into about a 60-degree angle from the floor, such that each of them could gaze directly on her, while seeing each other as well. Su then spoke in a gentle tone.

"My children, this is an important step in your development. From this period on, you will come to be quite familiar with the primary galaxy of Group 17, where we are located currently. In a few years, you both will become the regional guides and protectors of this area of the Group and there will be much to learn and take in. You are always to support each other as teams are more powerful than working alone. In the process of gaining both knowledge and responsibility, you will gain great power – but it must be used in a deliberate way. As junior Guides, you will be judged by how well you fulfil your duties."

About one minute passed, as both Lizza and Magnifica were wondering what exactly she wanted them to do. It all seemed rather vague, but neither woman had anything to ask her at this point. Lizza knew fully well that Su could monitor any thoughts she might have so she tried to keep her mind clear, awaiting further directives. Magnifica was eager to embark on the process of gaining greater powers. She wanted to know just what she might be capable of at this point. In her mind, her desires were completely innocent – she just wanted to please Su, the only other person she had known prior to meeting Lizza.

But instead of giving further directives, Su closed the session and sent both of her apprentices back to their quarters on the ship. These were spartan areas, consisting of the basic needs: a bed to lie on, a bath where they could wash and handle bodily functions, plus each had her own closet and dressing area. Su encouraged them to each entertain their own preferences when it came to clothing. Magnifica loved red, while Lizza favored black. In her days as Barriss, she had spent lavishly on her wardrobe and lifestyle, with an elegant town-home in the most exclusive district on Mirial. Magnifica had known no such luxuries and saw life as a basic process of learning and gaining ever more power – mostly to serve her master in the way she thought was desired. Su gave no indication that any preferred way of living was desired, as she wanted them to explore their own thoughts and feelings.

However, Magnifica and Lizza were growing closer. There was a sisterly vibe between them, but the Mirialan was starting to find the young apprentice rather attractive. "Mag," as she was called, had become a woman in full. Her light and soft hair was radiant and shimmered when she moved. Her physique was perfectly defined, yet still feminine enough that she looked alluring in any outfit. Lizza had found some cute dresses for her to try on and the younger woman was agreeable. Magnifica didn't know how she felt about Lizza, but enjoyed her company greatly. When Lizza started kissing her, Mag thought it was proper and returned the gesture. They would play with each other's hair as well. Lizza's dark locks had grown considerably since her days as Barriss Offee and she thought of herself as glamorous – at least in the context of her own species. Magnifica didn't know how she felt and Su gave no guidance. One thing was certain. Mag liked the give and take between them and the further along their relationship went, the more she felt she could relax. The kissing and petting continued and the two of them were almost in love. But it was an unusual relationship to say the least. Su observed it carefully, and gave tacit approval to everything. Of course, Su's way was always understated. Did she want Magnifica to learn about her feelings and how important they were – or was it more of wanting Lizza to stop being superficial and find something inside herself? Neither of them was thinking about that at the time.

"What do you want us to do?" Lizza asked softly, smiling at Su.

Magnifica said nothing and waited for the response. At length, Su answered.

"I am very pleased with how you support each other. This will serve both of you well in the years to come. Now, how are your Group 17 history lessons progressing?"

They both nodded and smiled.

"Very good. I have provided a list of some of the Jedi that I know to have survived the rise of the Galactic Empire. We shall be monitoring their locations going forward. I have reason to believe that a rebellion against this empire will be successful but it won't take the form that many of the rebels are hoping for. More on that later, but once this rebellion has taken place, your assignments will be given to you regarding Group 17. You of course will then be in the proper position to carry these out to my specification."

With that, Su disappeared, leaving both of them to their own devices. They stared at each other for a minute before embracing, then traded quick kisses. Lizza very much wanted to see the list of Jedi and hoped dearly that Ahsoka's name was on it.

Felucia, Shaak's home, 1 BBY, 9 months, 23 days

About two months later, Maris and Shaak were meeting in the master's home, doing some meditation exercises and then reviewing it together, along with other details Shaak wanted her to know about. When they came out of the trance, Shaak made an observation.

"I have detected her, Maris."

"Who?"

"Ahsoka Tano. She's now on Alderaan, and I suspect Bail and Breha are likely catching her up on various events."

"Really? You told me before that she would soon be joining us. Is it time for that to happen?"

"It is, my child. Ahsoka has recently gone through a harrowing experience. She decided it was time to face her one-time Master Anakin, who is now Lord Vader."

Maris gasped softly. "Wow … how did that go?"

"Better than some might have expected. She held her own against him and he was somewhat injured. Ahsoka then went into hiding somewhere on the Outer Rim."

"I see," Maris replied. "But you detected her on Alderaan?"

"Yes, it seems she has a new ship and she passed nearby one of our relay stations in the Core region. It is time to reach out to her. I think she will be receptive."

"I'm looking forward to meeting her. With Ahsoka here, our Order can take the next step."

"Indeed, my child."

Lianna, the urban palace, 1 BBY, 9 months, 19 days, 18 hours

One night on Lianna, as she was wrapping up her work schedule, Valles kissed Lasivia on the cheek as she checked in with her assistant, then told her:

"Darling, I will be in the City tonight, at the Palace. Duchess Berit and Duchess Ana will be joining me. It is a strictly private affair."

"Very well, milady. I shall see you are not disturbed."

Valles smiled, then turned and left, heading toward the landing platform outside her office. A hovercraft soon appeared, and ferried her over to the palace, a mere 2 km away. After arrival, Valles went to her primary suite – one of three in the building that she used – and changed into an elegant black gown of the finest silk that trailed behind her for about a full metre. She then found a furry wrap (also in black) that she placed around her upper arms and around her back, leaving her slender shoulders bare. Topping off the look was a large golden necklace inlaid with many red gemstones, and the largest of these was about 2cm in diameter and was situated just above the space between her breasts. It seemed at times to blink as the light caught it from different directions. Valles chose a distinctly different fragrance for her evening meeting, one that permeated the air around her and left no doubt about her power, as it was Force-infused. She then mounted an elegant repulsor throne and rode out of the suite onto the lift, which took her down to a grand ballroom on the second level of the building.

As the portal opened, her guests could be seen waiting for her, each seated on an elegant throne as well, but not as prominent as that of the Grand Duchess. Lady Berit of Bergamia was from a very established Liannese family that had vast landholdings in the colder northern hemisphere of the planet (most of the larger cities, including the capital, were in the southern hemisphere, while the north had vast deposits of various minerals), and had originally made their fortune in agriculture but later had become bankers and financiers. Berit was about 45 standard years of age and had already been divorced twice. She stood about 165cm tall and was slender, with a refined shade of blonde dominating her long hair. Dressed in "power" red, this duchess was used to getting her way on almost everything and she was one of Lianna's richest people. Needless to say, she went out of her way to impress Valles and was very shrewd. Seated across from her was Lady Ana of Livornia, a short dark-haired woman of 50 years, with a lovely smile that covered her hard-as-nails personality. Ana was in a vibrant yellow ensemble, a shimmering gown with an elegant light robe worn over it, pulled down to show her tender shoulders. She was also covered in gold jewelry – necklaces, wrist bangles and bracelets, and large earrings.

Both Berit and Ana regarded each other as rivals, wanting to impress Valles at every opportunity. Berit had once been a rival of the Santhé family but soon realized Valles's star was on the rise and it was best to attach oneself to it. Ana saw herself as a natural ally of the Santhés and had worked diligently to gain their trust, making the acquaintance of Valles's mother Mirella, whom she often lunched with. Though both Ladies were from more rural parts of the planet, they spent much time in the City and owned fabulous yachts that took them to the Galaxy's most "fashionable" worlds and they each owned property on Coruscant. Before Valles had made her entrance, they had greeted each other icily but were all smiles as the Grand Duchess appeared. Valles set her throne down in the center of a large rug made of velvet that had many intricate designs and scenes showing parts of the planet and some historical figures of the past. The palace in Lianna City had stood for over 500 years and had many different uses among its 25 levels that covered some 5 million square metres of floor space, one of these being a State Museum that housed many treasures from the planet's storied past.

Once Valles was in position, both Berit and Ana stood and approached, their gowns swishing gently over the floor. Each lady curtsied, lifting her skirt as she did so, then took turns kissing Valles's outstretched right hand. When the greeting rituals had been completed, Valles made some brief remarks.

"Good evening, my very dear friends. How splendid both of you look and how blessed Lianna is to have such talented individuals as yourselves in such high positions. I suppose you both are wondering why I called you here tonight – aside from the always pleasurable time I have with both of you. I shall explain … both of you are well aware that I am to be Queen of Lianna soon and as such, I want to groom both of you to be future leaders of the planet. Looking over the region that we govern directly…"

At this, Valles waved her hand and a holo image appeared. It was a map showing the nearby sectors and systems within them.

"I have divided up our direct holdings between the two of you and you shall work together on forging a common purpose among the various worlds. Ana, you shall have dominion over Raxus and the rest of the eastern Tion sectors, extending to Lothal, while Berit gets everything to the west and north, leading up to Almania and the frontier of the Corporate Sector. Keep in mind that you will not be governing these entities per se, but shall represent me and my stated wishes for how their affairs are to proceed. All the while, of course, doing this in quiet tacit agreement and deference to Imperial dictates as they may arise. Both of you shall have title to one tenth of all income the House of Santhé shall derive from them going forward."

Ana and Berit glanced at each other, scarcely believing their good fortune. It was one thing to have the future Queen's favor, but to profit directly from it was a true vote of confidence. Valles, of course, still retained the lion's share of all income, but now had even more reason to expect absolute loyalty from the two most powerful families on Lianna outside of her own. And she had done this without raising the slightest suspicion. Restoring the peerage and nobility of the planet was the first step, and this was the second – establishing a true hierarchy among the nobility that owed its position to direct favor from the queen.

The tributary worlds under Valles's influence were becoming quite lucrative, and one of these was the nearby planet of Felucia, where Shaak and Maris had of course based their Order of Knights. Valles was especially keen on keeping this one in her orbit and Berit would be ideal for doing that, as she was quite discreet. Felucia, of course, was not viewed as a desirable place to live or do business, but Valles's new friendship with Shaak had enabled her to see the planet in a different light. She knew the Togruta Master was up to something on the planet, and it involved far more than just a training exercise for other Force-sensitive people – the existence of whom would greatly vex Emperor Palpatine. But somehow, Shaak had been able to conceal the existence of them. So why was she comfortable with Valles? The Lady's mind had gone over it in the past and it always came down to one seemingly obvious reason – she wanted something from Santhé Corp, and that was most likely weaponry of some sort.

The more Valles thought about Shaak, the more impressed she grew. Togruta were usually considered primitive beings on worlds like Lianna, generally tolerated and sometimes a source of amusement. Sure, their prowess with herbal medicines and healing techniques was quite renowned, and the tastiness of their cuisine quite in fashion, even on Coruscant in the upper levels. But grandpa Kerred always warned young Valles to never judge anything by the most obvious aspects, and this applied doubly to intelligent species. Togruta were cunning and able warriors and she knew that Shaak's Force signature was nothing to trifle with. And yet, there was something even more intriguing – Valles, having now had four direct encounters with the woman, was fully convinced that Shaak was planning something big. What it was could not be easily determined, but it might well aid the Liannese future queen in her quest for her true desire – becoming Empress of the Galaxy, and everything that went with it. I will be the greatest ruler this galaxy has ever seen and my reign shall last for a hundred years.

Each step she had taken was all part of the attainment of this supreme goal. How might Shaak fit in? Time would tell, but one thing was certain, Valles determined to keep whatever Shaak was doing off of Imperial scans and consciousness. So Felucia would continue to be seen as an inconsequential world to the rest of the Galaxy, but under Liannese protection that was unknown to all on the planet except Shaak herself. It was likely necessary that Shaak and Berit should meet, with the duchess in a go-between function to provide the Togruta with whatever she needed. But no reason to rush.

Lianna, Valles's office, 1 BBY, 9 months, 5 days, 5 hours

Up early as usual, Valles had spent the night in her office, which had a small bed she sometimes used when she was up late and didn't feel much like sleeping. The ceremony in the City naming her as Grand Duchess had gone as well as could be expected, with everyone paying their respects to her and congratulating her, telling her how much she deserved the supreme honor. Ana and Berit reveled in their newly assumed positions as "first among equals" and loyally stood on either side of Valles, who relaxed on her throne. Of course, the Lady greatly enjoyed pomp and shows of finery and everyone was dressed for the occasion. Valles herself almost resembled a monarch with her intricated detailed robes and gowns. Her hand was kissed so many times, she quietly thanked herself for wearing gloves. She also likely ate too much at the banquet part of the evening, but that would be fine for this time. I'll sweat it off later.

Midnight had come and gone and much was on her mind. She then decided to review the Death Star detailed design that Galen Erso had sent her a month earlier. As she opened the documents folder, she then noticed there were detailed notes about everything, and her eye was drawn to the reactor complex in the interior of the station. This was a huge portion of the overall volume of the ship (despite its spherical shape, the Death Star was a fully functioning space craft and was capable of equaling a Class 1 hyperdrive designation. This of course required huge amounts of nuclear fuel to work, even while the ship was just maintaining orbital velocity. She then considered how such a system could be kept at a stable temperature and concluded the heat had to be bled off somehow, so she started looking for exhaust ports to do this. It wasn't long before she realized there were a series of these, so she checked the specifications. Each of them was about six metres in diameter, clearly wide enough for an enemy projectile to pass through. Oh, Galen, what have you done?

She chuckled as she thought about the implications of this setup and filed away this knowledge for future use. It was time for another meeting with Shaak Ti. These encounters had been carried on with the highest level of secrecy – even Lasivia was not told about them and she usually always knew where her boss was at any given moment. After an hour or so looking at the plans, Valles then changed into a light blue short dress and laid herself down for about three hours on the bed located in her dressing area and slept lightly.

As she awoke, the sun had not yet risen and she donned a pair of slippers and walked into her main office, staring at the desk for a second, then she walked over to the conference room and stared out the windows and sighed contentedly. The sun could be seen in the distance starting to emerge over the horizon as the planet rotated. Soon it would be bright and the City would be in full swing as the Liannese people in town liked to be up early as a rule. Lianna City was a sprawling area with over 50 million inhabitants and many of these lived in apartment block buildings of around 50 to 60 levels. These ranged greatly in terms of quality and some were quite elegant, with indoor parks and pools. Many had restaurants and bars and some doubled as working offices for those who could handle remote work. The average Liannese citizen in the City earned some 200,000 credits annually and had a lifestyle that enabled them to travel to other nearby worlds with fabulous resorts.

Life was generally good for most people and many basic needs were taken care of collectively, including health care and education for their children all the way up to graduation from the universities. Food was cheap and plentiful, mostly grown on the planet, which had vast agricultural areas. Underlying all of this prosperity was the careful management of the water supply on the planet, which recycled all waste back into agriculture. Climate was carefully managed and the Water Board scheduled rain days well in advance in various regions on the planet. Lianna had no oceans or seas, just a series of beautiful lakes that collected the runoff from the rain and channeled it underground to the water system. Valles regarded her home world as a marvel of good planning and execution and had now taken full responsibility that it would continue to function as it did. Her relationship with the Empire was most important and she had concluded that everything could only function best if she were the Empress, so it was now a matter of making this happen.

Palpatine seemed to not only trust her, but practically doted on her. Why, exactly? Valles concluded there was much more than his vain desire to impress her, though he could be courtly at times. Does he have relations with other women? What about his basic needs? This was undoubtedly a well-kept secret, but in their meetings, the Emperor never failed to treat her kindly and show her every politeness that she was used to getting on Lianna. Does he see me as a successor? It was difficult to tell, but she had carefully scanned him and noted that his body was deteriorating at a steady pace. Perhaps completion of the Project might be his cherished goal, upon which maybe he could step down and name her as the new ruler? Valles knew this was unlikely, but still … Ry had told her that Palpatine was the one that had originally asked her to do the work involving the midichlorian enhancement, work that had been unsuccessful until later refinements that were applied to Valles's body. Since receiving the first treatment, Ry had given her annual upgrades and these had all worked well. Perhaps this was due to Valles's rigorous physical activity that kept her in top condition, giving the midichlorians a chance to be fully integrated into her body.

Whatever it was, it seemed things were going splendidly as her private exercises on various planets showed her powers to be rapidly increasing. She was now capable of delivering 1000 kw blasts from her palms and her lightsabre was hardly more than a prop as she no longer needed it to deliver punishment, due to her ability to also fire concentrated laser blasts as well. Equally important to Valles was her desire to conceal all of this Force ability, but Palpatine was well aware of it and seemed to encourage it. Another one who was aware of it was Queen Vestalia of Hapes and Valles visited her regularly for counseling. The Hapian monarch was most supportive of the Liannese duchess and her desire to become Galactic Empress, feeling that in such a situation, the Hapes Sector was most likely to continue prospering as it did. Lianna and its tributary worlds were now full partners economically with the Hapes Cluster Sector.

So, should I trust Palpatine – or should I seek to have him removed? It's too early to go there at present. I will keep consolidating power in the meantime.

Soon, Lasivia arrived by the sixth hour at her desk. She typically worked long days for her beloved boss and was always well-rewarded. Often Miss Borges could be seen in Valles's company publicly and this gave her great cachet, as many would dearly love to have that kind of access. But Lasivia knew better than to ever ask her boss anything relating to policy matters or how Santhé Corp should be run, though occasionally Valles would pose certain questions to her and asked for candid responses. Valles knew that someone in her position might have difficulty getting honest answers – the senior management reporting to her were enthralled by her very presence and were usually quick to agree to almost anything she wanted to do. This was the dilemma that many autocratic leaders usually had – how to maintain one's position when those below were hesitant to report "bad news."

Lasivia knocked on the door to the main office, something she always did so as not to catch Valles by surprise. This time there was no response, so she ventured inside and saw the Lady seated at her desk, still wearing the dress she slept in and looking a bit tired as she yawned and stretched her arms upward.

"Good morning, my dear," Valles deadpanned, drowsily.

"My Lady, is everything alright? You look a little …" Lasivia said hesitantly.

"Oh, yes, I suppose I do. Would you mind picking out my outfit for the morning and helping me get ready?"

"Not all, Valles. Happy to be of assistance."

Lasivia came to Valles's side and extended her left arm, which Valles grasped, then led her back to her dressing area. Valles sat on a bench and Lasivia picked up a hair brush and started gently going through the Lady's beautiful black locks, carefully stimulating her scalp and invigorating her somewhat.

"Thank you, dear. I needed that. No time to bathe so how about …"

"On it, my Lady."

Lasivia reached for a bright knee-length red dress and found some suitably matching shoes. Valles grabbed them and disappeared behind a screen, then reemerged, more or less ready for the day.

"The ceremony was wonderful last night, Valles. I'd wanted to congratulate you. You seemed very much like a queen."

"You're too kind," Valles smirked, as she checked her look in the full-length mirror. "Well, let's get on with it. Who's up first?"

"Moff Tarkin, milady. He's been eager to see you, as you had cancelled his last two appointments. He'll be in on the eighth hour."

"Very well. Please see that a breakfast platter is brought in. Pastry, juices, and some bits of fish. I'll start with caf, so get a pot on."

"Certainly, my Lady."

About 90 minutes later, Wilhuff Tarkin arrived, his uniform neatly pressed and insignia polished. He'd been wondering how Valles felt about him considering her recent seeming avoidance. As much as he admired the Lady and her exotic beauty, there was something about her that he found more than a bit troubling. Perhaps it was the way that Vader behaved in her presence. Normally truculent, the Dark Lord always seemed a bit more relaxed around her, but why that should be remained a mystery and he knew better than to point it out to her.

As Tarkin entered the office, Valles rose and came over to him, her perfume as fragrant as ever and her dress and hair most captivating. He was most happy to see her as she appeared to be in a good mood. When her hand was offered, he took it gently, feeling its tenderness as his lips gently pressed it. She then allowed him to lead her over to the lounge area, where the breakfast spread was on the table before them.

"Dear Wilhuff, please help yourself. I'm sure you are famished …" she chirped, while fluttering her eyelashes.

"Thank you, Lady Valles. Don't mind if I do."

Tarkin took a small plate and placed a fruit-filled bun on it, along with two pieces of the dried fish. He also took a glass of chilled fruit juice which had been freshly squeezed. As he bit into the pastry and sampled the juice, he noted,

"It's always so rewarding to come to Lianna and taste the superb local cuisine. Civilized as ever."

Valles chuckled. "I'm glad it meets with your high expectations, Wilhuff. Now … where were we?"

"My Lady, I've been wanting to see you, is everything quite alright?"

"Never better, my friend. I've just been so very busy … as always."

"I'd heard you were named Grand Duchess. Quite an honor, most well-deserved."

"Thank you. Now, speaking of honors, Sheev and I have agreed to name you as a Grand Moff. This will carry a large increase in salary and your own personal vessel, a modified corvette with a top-of-the-line hyperdrive. Your purview will come under my own in the Outer Rim and I have assigned a special liaison for this purpose."

With that, Valles picked up her com and spoke, "Show her in, Lasivia."

Tarkin remained silent, as Duchess Ana soon entered, wearing a bright green dress and with her black hair shining gloriously.

"Good morning, Grand Duchess!" then, turning to Tarkin, "and to you as well, Admiral."

"Wilhuff," Valles said cheerfully. "Allow me to present Lady Ana, Duchess of Livornia. She is one of my two most trusted allies on Lianna and will act as my go-between when you are unable to reach me directly."

Ana curtsied politely as Tarkin rose, then extended her hand. Finding the duchess most pleasant, Tarkin kissed it and paid her a compliment. "Another of the beautiful ladies of Lianna. I look forward to working with you, Duchess Ana."

Ana then seated herself after helping herself to the breakfast spread.

"I'm starving!" she said happily, while glancing at Valles.

"Ana has been briefed on her role," Valles noted. "So, Wilhuff, please bring us up to date on where you think we stand with the Project."

"Well, ladies, I would say it's going well. Once we got the doonium we needed, the outer hull has been completed and we are now planning to test the super-laser. Another year or so and the station will be fully operational."

"I see," Valles murmured. "And what of the reactors? Is this vessel ready to be put through its paces in terms of deployment to any part of the Galaxy?"

"We feel confident that it is. A couple of shakedown voyages have been taken and the systems are in good shape. I have directed that we keep the vessel on the Outer Rim for the duration until full deployment is possible. Therefore, you and Ana shall have complete access and may visit anytime you wish."

Ana glanced at him and smiled, smoothing her dress. "I look forward to it, Grand Moff."

Valles observed the chemistry between them, but kept silent, chuckling inwardly. She then asked, "Ana, anything you would like to ask?"

"Only this, Valles. Can the Admiral give me a personal tour? I'd love to see everything."

"I would be delighted," Tarkin replied. "Might we go there tomorrow?"

"Oh, yes … my yacht is available, I think you will enjoy it," Ana's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spoke in a light, happy tone. "Valles, I am so honored to be given this responsibility."

Valles laughed. "It's settled, then. Ana, and Wilhuff, you two can get to know each other later today. Perhaps some sightseeing? I know Wilhuff would most enjoy learning more about our history here on Lianna."

"Perhaps my City palace?" Ana inquired gently.

Valles rose, indicating the meeting was over, then exchanged kisses with Ana. She watched as the duchess and Tarkin left her office together, then picked up her com.

"Note to myself. Galen Erso, thank you much for providing me that needed insight. I feel it will be most useful. At the present time, I would like this to be kept strictly on a need-to-know basis. Send this note after one rotation."

Valles returned to her desk, and started perusing her three monitors. A quick catch-up on local news and a skim-through on some reports from the planets under Ana's purview had her feeling reasonably satisfied. I'm glad I chose you for this role, dear Ana. Wilhuff is already captivated by your considerable charms. I can see the leaders on Raxus are equally taken with you. I do hope you and Berit will work smoothly together.

At that point, something occurred to her and she again picked up the com, chose a contact number, then waited.

"Good morning, my dear Berit. You and I have a short trip later today … to Felucia. Dress lightly, it's a warm place."

Felucia, Shaak's home, 1 BBY, 9 months, 5 days

Valles and Berit journeyed over to Felucia together, using a small Santhé Corp shuttle craft that was quite unobtrusive. As they approached orbit, Valles relayed a special code that Shaak had given her earlier so that she could land quietly and not arouse suspicion. Once the craft was on the ground, Shaak was alerted and sent a speeder over. She was not exactly expecting a visit from Valles but was not surprised that it happened. Shaak knew Valles wanted to keep everything most discrete.

When the speeder arrived back at her home, Shaak realized she now had two guests. Valles was in a light white silk dress at knee length, and Duchess Berit was in a light orange shade of a similar garment. After the pleasantries, Shaak served her guests cold tea and they sat down together.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Berit," Shaak spoke in a relaxed tone. "I trust you understand the need for secrecy on this."

"I do, Master Ti. You can count on me. This is a very important activity for the Grand Duchess."

"Very well. Valles, what can I do for you?"

"Shaak, first let me say, I am most grateful for you allowing us in on such short notice. You of course recall our earlier conversation at my rural palace on Lianna, when you mentioned you might become a customer of ours."

"I do," Shaak nodded, wondering what exactly the Liannese were up to.

"Well," Valles smiled, extending a hand to lightly touch Shaak's forearm, "I think we shall be happy to process any orders you might want to place with us. You mentioned that payment would not be a problem, am I correct?"

"I did," Shaak deadpanned, her eyes opaque. "Did you want an advance or something?"

"Not at this time," Valles replied, reaching out again, this time a bit more firmly. Shaak felt a slight tingle when the Liannese touched her this time. "We'd love to take your order and we can discuss payment later. My friends on Muunilinst have vouched for you as you are in good standing."

"Okay … well, Valles, I'm looking for the kind of machine tools that will allow me to more quickly get my apparatus up to speed. Plus some parts we need for more precise radar and targeting."

"That shouldn't be a problem." Valles glanced at Berit. "My associate here will see to your needs personally. Might you be able to travel to Lianna in the next, oh, two weeks or so?"

"Yes," Shaak smiled. "I can arrange that. Shall I land at your rural facility on the north side of the planet? That seems like the best place so as not to arouse any undue suspicion."

"That will be fine. Berit will meet you there, just send word ahead of time so she may prepare."

Berit gazed at Shaak and nodded. "I'm at your service, Master Ti. Valles has assured me of the importance of this to her personally."

"Then it's settled," Shaak nodded and smiled. "I appreciate your accommodation, Valles. And Berit, it's been good to meet you. I hope we can build a working relationship."

Berit chuckled. "I see no reason why we cannot."

Valles then stood, as Berit and Shaak both also rose. The Togruta shook hands with both of them, and soon they were back on the speeder, headed over to the shuttle.

As the Liannese lifted off Felucia and made the hyperspace jump, Valles nodded and turned to Berit.

"I'm glad you can take care of this for me, dear."

Berit shook her head slightly. "I'm a little confused, Valles. Why is this Togruta so important to you?"

Valles chuckled. "It's a longer-range plan for me. At this point, I'm not ready to divulge much. I need you to get this done. Please treat Shaak with every courtesy, she's a friend of mine."

"Very well, my Lady. Your wish is my command."

The Wheel, 1 BBY, 8 months, 15 days

Maris was making a supply run to the Wheel, a place she once frequented regularly but hadn't been to in years. As she found a landing platform for her ship Forager the old sights and sounds felt good to see and hear again. Now that Ahsoka had joined the Order, this gave Maris a little more flexibility in terms of off-world travel. Once she had landed and debarked, she looked around. There were no longer any posters regarding a Zabrak that was wanted for killing Imperial agents and she figured they'd given up the hunt.

In need of a little rest, Maris returned to an old haunt, the Dewdrop Inn. She'd hoped her onetime admirer, the Twi'lek Verenia, might still be working there. When she entered the establishment, Maris saw a sign saying "100 credit cover charge – no exceptions." Hmm, looks like they want a cleaner crowd nowadays. I can't blame them.

Just then, a younger Twi'lek woman came from behind the hostess counter and saw Maris. This one was a pleasing shade of gold, wearing a loud pink dress with short sleeves, and had her lekku detailed with gold glitter, giving her a younger vibe. The music pumped in the background, a steady beat with a strong baseline. "Wherever you go, wherever I stay, I'm deeper … I close my eyes, feel the fever…"

"May I help you, madam?"

Maris glanced at the girl, then asked. "Maybe, I'm looking someone I used to know. Her name was Verenia. Turquoise skin tone."

The girl looked over Maris for a second, noticing the Zabrak's chiseled physique and tight black clothing, with her thick braided hair hanging down.

"As a matter of fact … she still works here. Vee is the day manager, but her shift is almost over. Can I tell her who's asking?"

"Sure thing. My name is Maris. She should remember me."

"By the way, I'm her younger sister, Terdenia." She looked Maris over a little closer. "Honey, there's no way she'd forget someone as gorgeous as you."

Maris rolled her eyes, but smiled. "I haven't seen her for a few years."

Terdenia whistled sharply. "Sis! Someone here to see you, says her name is Maris."

Verenia soon appeared, wearing a dull-colored dress of gray and sporting eyeglasses. When she saw Maris, she perked up immediately and came forward.

"Where have you been, sweety? I never thought we'd see you again."

Maris smiled and approached her. They clasped hands for a second, then hugged tightly. Verenia stepped back a bit, then motioned with her index finger for Maris to follow. They went to a room in the back and sat down together on a couch. The Twi'lek waited for Maris to tell her story.

"Well, Vee. I had to lay low. The Empire put out a bounty on me but I think that's blown over. I don't see any more posters with my face on them around here now."

"No, Maris, that was over three years ago. The rumors were that they'd found you. I was so worried. I really hoped you were safe."

"I was. My master wanted me to stay out of the public eye, but I'm fine." She reached over to Verenia's hand and grasped it gently. "I've missed you."

"Aww," the Twi'lek responded. "Not half as much as I." She then snuggled up next to Maris and started fingering her braids, then one of her horns. Maris felt a twinge of excitement but said nothing. Verenia seemed more attractive than ever and the Zabrak recalled their last time together.

"What time do you get off?"

"Anytime you want, honey." Verenia moved in to kiss Maris on the lips, who returned it. "Wait a second, darling. I'll be right back."

Maris started to wonder why she had allowed this to happen, but she told herself there was nothing wrong with it. In fact, she had begun to feel that Shaak had no issue with this kind of conduct. Everyone had desires, but not everyone could resist them. Maris told herself that she didn't truly love Verenia, but was less certain of that than ever. When the Twi'lek returned, wearing a deep purple gown that showed off her exquisite figure, the die was cast. Maris's two hearts beat as one. She stood up and approached Verenia, and the two kissed again, gently at first, then more passionately.

"Shall we get a room, Maris?"

"Yes, but what about the cover charge?"

"Forget about it, sweety. This one's on the house. In fact, I'm giving you a two-fer. My sister would love a piece of this."

Maris felt an additional tingle in her horns as the younger Twi'lek appeared in her hot pink dress and stepped up close to her. Both sisters started cuddling with her. Terdenia tugged at one of Maris's braids as she kissed the back of her head, and they led her to a deluxe room, one with a king-sized bed. Before Maris knew it, the three of them were lying together and relaxing. The Twi'lek sisters acted as a tandem and took their guest on a delightful tour through erotic fantasy.

A few hours later, Maris, who had happily dozed off, awakened and saw that Verenia was still there with her, while Terdenia had left.

"So, Maris, are we more than just friends now?"

"I think so, but I don't want to lead you on. You've always been so sweet to me. But the thing is, I've grown a bit lonely. My master has brought in another more experienced person to be her second in command and I feel a bit neglected."

Verenia looked Maris in the eye and frowned in sympathy. "No one should do that to you, darling. You're so special."

"I appreciate that, truly, I do." Maris then sighed. I just wanted to get away for a while. So glad you were here."

"Go ahead and stay the night, Maris. I'll see you in the morning."

"Can I come back later? There are a couple of things I need to do while I'm here."

Maris had checked her com and noticed a new message, this one from "Paul." It was short and simply said, "I'm here, Lady Brood. PJ's. See you soon."

Verenia and Maris stood together for a second and traded kisses. "Sure, come back when you can, dear. This is your room until the morning."

"Thank you, Vee."

Maris got dressed and headed out, looking for the transport to take her back to her ship. Once aboard, she checked her closet and saw her bright red dress, which she quickly changed into, then applied a matching lip color and found some red heels. She tied her braids together in such a way as to highlight her face. A quick glance in the mirror and Maris smirked while nodding slowly. You still got it, girl. It seemed the romp with the Twi'lek sisters had done wonders for her confidence. She exited her ship and walked with a swagger over to the transport tube entrance and in about three minutes she was on the level where the exclusive gentlemen's club, PJ's, was located. "PJ" was the name of a now-deceased Ithorian businessman who liked the ladies and spent lavishly. He also favored expensive cigars made of Core-world blended tobaccos, when he wasn't juiced on the finest spice. The patrons of his club often wondered when PJ ever had time to conduct business.

As she remembered the story of PJ, Maris chuckled, then entered the club, immediately turning heads. Maul, noticing this, got up and came over to her. The two Zabraks traded elbow bumps and then hugged briefly. He led her to a booth in the back.

"Maris – how wonderful it is to see you again. I had hoped against hope, but I figured Master Ti had restricted you from your former social life."

Maris laughed, as he continued. "Ah, but here you are. Every centimetre the killer that I know you are. The dangerous Lady Brood. I took the liberty of ordering a bottle of that Corp-Sec blend you always liked."

With that, Maul took a glass and dropped some ice into it, then poured her a couple of fingers of the whisky.

She smiled and sat down opposite him, then took a sip, noting the fine taste texture on her tongue. "As good as ever. Thank you, Paul. Now tell me what's been going on with you."

He gave her a pained expression, then laughed. "I finally got off Malachor. Your fellow ex-Jedi, Lady Tano, had something to do with that. Between us, we terminated three more of the Inquisitors."

Maris's jaw dropped slightly. "Ahsoka killed an Inquisitor? Most interesting. I wonder if Master Shaak knows about this," she chuckled.

"I am certain she does," Maul answered. "But I wanted to ask you something, now that we are together again."

"What's that?"

"Are you familiar with someone named Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

"Familiar? Sure, I am. He was a well-known Jedi. Member of the High Council."

"Yes. Do you know where he might have ended up?"

"Not really, but I would imagine Master Shaak does."

"Hmmpf," Maul said in response. "Not like she would ever tell me."

Maris shook her head, then shrugged her shoulders in sympathy. "She has many secrets."

Maul nodded. "Speaking of secrets, do you remember the holocron on Malachor ... you know the one. Master Ti told you not to pick it up."

Maris smiled. "Come to think of it, yes."

"Well, Lady Brood, you won't believe who's got it now. A mere boy. Calls himself Ezra. He and that other former Jedi, Kanan, I think it was, well they have it. If I could find them, I can get it back and find Kenobi."

Maris just nodded at all of this. It sounded sad to her ears.

"Paul, let me pour you another."

He half-nodded, half shook his head. "Please, my lady …"

She poured it and he quickly drained the shot. "Hit me again."

Before he drained this one, he stared at Maris. "How are you doing, beautiful Lady Maris? You seem a little troubled. I don't like to see that in you, because it means the wrong team is winning."

She thought about it, and it seemed that, in his own peculiar way, Maul was making sense. Drowning their sorrows in alcohol, this surely was not what Master Shaak wanted for her, nor was having recreational sex with a pair of Twi'lek sisters, however much they liked her, but that was their business, their stock and trade. She looked up at him after staring at her empty glass for a few seconds. Maul smiled in a sardonic way, then filled it for her, and watched her drain it in one belt. Maris put the glass down firmly, and returned the smile to him. At times like this, it might have seemed odd that someone like Maul cared as much about her as anyone else. Sometimes even a huge galaxy could be a very lonely place. The old lady, Varda, had done a lot for Maris, helped her come to grips with her place in the universe, but now she was gone, too.

The two of them polished off the bottle and there was really nothing left to be said. As she stood up, more than a bit drunk and light-headed, Maul did as well, and took her hand. She smiled and they walked out of PJ's together.

"Well, Paul, I guess this is it. You take care of yourself, and maybe you'll get your shot at Obi-Wan, but you had best not underestimate him."

He said nothing – perhaps acknowledging the truth, in his own unique way – then threw his arms around her. They hugged for about a full minute. Maris felt the pain in him surge through her and tried to fight the tears. As she walked away, she craned her neck upward so they wouldn't fall. A few minutes later, Maris staggered into the Dewdrop Inn, where Verenia was faithfully waiting for her.

"Darling, are you alright?"

"I'll be fine, just need to lie down."

Verenia offered her shoulder and together they made it back to the room they had been in a few hours before. Maris simply crashed onto the bed and fell asleep, still in her red dress. Verenia helped take her shoes off, laid them on the floor and pulled the door closed. She then crawled onto the bed next to the Zabrak, and felt the woman's pain. I'll make you feel better, sweet love.

To be continued …