THINGS GET TRICKY

Andrew knew Jabba was making him desire his companionship but it was hard to fight it.

After there small conversation, he'd never seen Koda. Instead, Jabba and Bob Fortuna came to him - sometimes every day, sometimes leaving him in his "cage" for a few days. Basic was gone; and they were pushing harder for him to learn Huttese, which he was growing more aptitude for.

He hated to even say he was happy to see Jabba or Fortuna when they came to his prison. Because it meant he got out of the solitary room that they would sometimes leave him in. Within a few weeks, he'd started to willingly come to the cage door and allow Jabba's greeting with little resistance.

He realized that he was breaking, ever so slightly. Jabba had won his fight to make him his pet. But he also refused to give up hope, he refused to be loyal to the slug and did everything to keep his chin up. Help was coming, he told himself - even after another month had passed and Jabba came for him daily again.

By then; he could understand most of the language, and didn't fight. What was the point? At least if he went along with it, he was treated well enough. No... No, Andrew he reminds himself that was what he wanted. "Gusha," The voice of his master called as they entered his cage that morning. "I have guests today. Come along now, I want you to meet them."

Andrew stood slowly and approached his master. He'd been bathed that morning and groomed so he now understood why. Despite the pit in his stomach, he allowed the Hutt to inspect him carefully. "What kind of guests?"

He clipped the leash to his collar and began to lead him with a chuckle. "Friends from far away. And they've come not a moment too soon!" Jabba noted jovially. "He thinks he has found you a new handler."

Andrew still questioned what happened to his old one, heart dropping slightly. But he didn't question Jabba as they approached the throne. He noted there was indeed a man he'd never seen before. He was tall, and authoritative with dark green eyes. "Ah, so this is the... Pet?" He questioned. "No doubt you don't call it a human. I think we might take offense."

Jabba chuckled as they took their seats, Jabba picking him up and pulling him to his chest. He sometimes held him like this now, especially since Andrew no longer struggled. Though he still felt a chill creep up his spine as he stroked his hair carefully.

He turned to the man with a look of pure nastiness. "You'd be surprised. Since I've taken Gusha out regularly, humans are a hot new pet," He explained rather cooly. "I get several shipments of them in my enterprise. Though they aren't quite as popular as a wookie."

The man frowned slightly, but gave a cool shrug. "If you think you can train one well enough be my guest," He noted. "Not that I'd let it sleep on my bed."

Jabba again chuckled, and finally released Andrew to scurry onto the base of his tail. The boy tried not to feel discomfort in the thought other humans now sat in this same position. "He's a very loyal little thing. Which is why I'm looking for a new handler," He explained. "The last was caught attempting to turn him against me. Nearly influenced him while he was still early in his training."

He leaned forward. "I need someone who won't see a child and instead look at him as I do."

So he'd been caught doing whatever he had planned? Andrew tensed, fear clutching at his stomach for a moment. If Koda really had been a good person what kind of monster would he have for a real handler have? The man looked at Jabba curiously, then titled his head to Andrew. "Not a tall order," He explained. "You'll need someone who isn't a slave though. They stick together... I know a guy who specializes in special cases."

Jabba nodded, seemingly in agreement. "I can always count on you, Grell," He pointed out rather thankfully. "Where can we find your friend?"

For a moment, however fleeting, Andrew saw something in the man's eyes. Was it a pang of sympathy? From the man who was helping to hire someone to keep him "comfortable"? "No need, I will send for him," Grell noted calmly. "Might I see him a moment? I wish to get a full assessment of what I'm dealing with."

Jabba seemed to hesitate at this, his possessiveness bubbling to the surface. But after a minute, he inclined his head and Andrew on shaky legs approached Grell. The man took him harshly by his arms and pulled him forward. "Are you harmed?"

He barely caught the whisper it was so deliberate and subtle. But to make a show of it shook his head defensively. "Good. Don't let him break you, there's a snag in things but help is coming." He again spun him around roughly. "You're feeding him too much, Jabba! This one's getting fat. Otherwise he's in good condition."

He patted his belly before pushing him back to Jabba without so much as a second glance his way. But Andrew felt a glimmer of hope in his words as he continued back to his "seat of honor". Jabba merely laughed at the notion. "He can get as fat as he wants. He doesn't do work," Jabba replied rather honestly. "Then we have an agreement?"

"I'll be back with the handler in two days," He glanced at Andrew. "I hope this one is ready."

As the man left, Andrew tried to keep his mannerisms the way he had been. If Jabba had suspected anything, however, he didn't reveal it. Instead turning to Crumb to his left and adding. "It's about time I had someone I could count on," The monkey shrieked with laughter as he usually did. "Now, what other business today, I wonder?"

As his fingers ran through Andrew's hair, the boy prayed help came soon.

--

"We need to act quickly. Jabba has grown too attached, he coddled the poor boy like he was a domestic Lothal Cat."

Rex frowned at Grell's words, not liking the sound of that. He'd only touched down a few weeks ago, but when he had it had been to the news one of their informants was dead. Having been caught during this whole operation. Though he hadn't left yet, he also knew the chances this was an easy grab and go were slimmer now. Jabba was onto Kaz's operation - which meant this just became harder.

Yet as he looked at the Holocron images Grell took of the boy - his stomach dropped. It was a particularly unsettling sight - it would have been if it had been an adult too. But this was a kid, who should be running free without these kind of worries. He tightened his gritted teeth as he leaned back in his chair.

Everyone in the small den they called their hideout seemed tense. "The good news is I have gotten us another in. He's expecting another handler, a professional," Grell explained. "He doesn't expect a slave so they won't be watched closely. But being there means we can keep the kid's chin up and eyes on him."

One of the men across from Rex spoke up. "And end up like Koda? No way."

Grell held up a hand. "We won't make the same mistake twice. Whoever it is will play the part, but with kindness," He explained honestly. "You'll need to help the boy without blowing your cover."

Rex eyed the room, curious if any of them would have the guts to volunteer. As he suspected, most of these men and women probably weren't prepared for it. They all looked to each other wordlessly and kept their murmurs quiet.

Rex grunted as he considered his options. Either they abandoned this kid and he'd come here for nothing... Or he volunteered himself. It wouldn't be his first time undercover, hardly. Though he didn't know how well he'd do babysitting.

What's more - now that he put a face to this kid... Something stirred in him. He wasn't sure he needed yet another face in his nightmares that he let down. "I'll do it," He noted as he stood to his feet. "I ain't from this planet so there's almost no chance he'll recognize me."

Grell raised an eyebrow. "I thought Kaz told me you wouldn't get involved beyond being a convoy?"

"That was until you put him in my face," Rex replied honestly. "I'm not living with that in my head for the rest of my days."

Grell shrugged, as if to say that it was a fair enough statement. Though his look did say he was currently questioning the idea. "Are you even good with kids? You don't look the type."

Rex nearly retorted his work with Jedi Padwan's a moment before stopping himself. He didn't know anyone here, and frankly he'd rather keep his identity under wraps. "Look I can handle a teenager for a bit. Just get me in with him," He explained. "Ain't nothing bad gonna happen to him while I'm around you can count on that."

If Rex was anything, it was a very strong-willed man. If he was doing this they could be sure he'd give it more than 110%. "Very well. He's expecting us back at the palace in two days. That should be enough time to create a cover."

Rex didn't know whether to be relieved no one objected or not. It was just like people to be so gun ho to help but not want their skin in the game, he felt. Thankfully that was something he was used to, even if it meant rubbing elbows with the scum of the Galaxy.

As the remainder of the group was dismissed, Rex did make one thing clear though: "I ain't making that kid think he's an animal though," Rex pointed out. "I know a thing or two of being stripped of individuality."

Grell nodded. "As long as you maintain him for Jabba I don't think he much cares how you treat or regard him," He admitted honestly. "Just gotta make it convincing enough."

Rex nodded his head and stroked his scruffy beard slightly. "Well, wouldn't be the first suicide mission I came out on top on," He admitted. "So, let's get started on that alias - two days isn't a lot of time."

--

Gusha was doing so much better now, Jabba noted.

Leaving alone for long periods, he could see, worked some wonders on him. After some time of it, he no longer complained of even going in the throne room like he once had. Proving that anyone could be won over, even if their hand was forced.

That day, he did have a surprise for his pet lined up though as night closed in. Rather than returning him to his cage, he walked him past it - curious how the boy would respond. There was a certain fear in his eyes, he could tell. But Jabba actually smiled, trying to show he had nothing to fear.

They traversed the hallways until they made their way to a place few ever saw: Jabba's personal chambers. He liked to believe them modest, in spite of being adorned with every fanciful whim that the Crime Lord could think of. Jabba could see the confusion behind Gusha's eyes but didn't leave him in suspense for long.

"I will no longer be keeping you in the throne room," Jabba noted calmly - looking around the circular room and its many doors. "To the north is my bedroom, which you will never see. But you will now live in my wing."

Jabba lead the boy toward a door which would lock electronically. When the door opened at his input, Gusha would see the upgrade. The room was small, but cozy - gone was the mattress and instead, he'd given him a full bed. He has all those damn books he insisted on too. "... I don't understand," Gusha asked. "You won't keep me in a cage anymore?"

The Hutt found amusement in his question. "This is still a cage. It unlocks only on the outside, and you will never be given the code," He explained, making sure the boy knew it too. "But now that I've decided to keep you - I can properly pamper my pet."

He placed his hands on Gusha's shoulders, he knew the look in his eyes. He hadn't expected any perks to come with being Jabba's pet, but he as he didn't consider the child his slave it meant there were many. "I will also be upgrading your wardrobe..."

He nodded to the slave who followed them in to reveal far more beautiful garments. While they resembled his old ones, these were far more ornate some even containing precious jems. Jabba smiled as his eyes widened - but he had yet to put the finishing touches onto it.

The Hutt pulled from the neck that dingy, old collar the boy had been wearing. But before Gusha could rejoice, he produced a new one, ornate and comfortable. This one, however, wasn't a slave collar. It was repurposed from the collars most pets on Tatooine wore, complete with a tag marking him Jabba's property.

"All I want you to do is put this on," He explained with an air of authority. "If you refuse it... I will take that as your refusal of my charitable and kind treatment of you."

Gusha tensed a little. "What does that mean?"

"You'll no longer be a pet. And Pateesa will get seconds."

Gusha looked between the collar, then at Jabba. If he had done well conditioning him, Jabba knew that he'd make the right choice. But if he didn't - well there was always the Wookie. They stood there for what felt like hours before Gusha stepped back and offered his neck.

Pressing a button on the back - the metal slid apart as he pressed it into the boys skin. It would then reattach together, welding itself shut and ensuring nothing but a heavy duty tool would ever remove it. "I'm so glad you've finally seen reason," Jabba noted. "Don't tell Crumb or Pateesa, but you may just be my favorite."

Ah, tears, Jabba was so glad to see such joy in the boy he'd rescued from a slave's life. "What else can I do?" Gusha admitted. "I can't go home."

"Correction," Jabba whispered in his ear. "You are home now."

And he hoped he took that to heart.