"Do it, murderer," the woman said.

Mau'te held her against a wall, one hand on her wrist, pinning her sword, the other holding the inactive lightsaber against her neck.

"Look around," he said. "These halls are filled with murderers."

"But only one of them killed my father," she spat.

Mau'te leaned close and whispered something Vette couldn't hear.

"You lie!" the woman said.

"Prove me wrong."

She glared in response.

"Or die here," Mau'te said. "Make your choice."

She looked around at the other acolytes as they watched with mild amusement.

"So be it," she said and dropped her vibrosword.

Mau'te stepped back.

"I will redeem my father's name and then return for you," she said. She left with a parting glare. The audience shrugged and moved on.

Vette said, "You make all kinds of friends, don't you?"

"Almost as many as you," Mau'te replied.

The continued down a long corridor toward an obviously important office. Mau'te paused near the entrance.

"If you speak disrespectfully to Baras," he said, "he could kill you out of reflex. In fact, he might not notice he's done it."

"Thanks," she said. "That's a good thing to know."

They passed through an outer office manned by Imperial officers. Some of them watched Mau'te with veiled contempt, but he ignored them and entered the next office without knocking. Oh, right. Sith Lord. He probably sensed them.

Vette expected dripping blood or torture racks or something, but the office was very nice, clean and simple and very business like. However, the big guy in the Sith mask was scary as shit.

"Congratulations, acolyte," Baras said in a voice that sent chills to places Vette never wanted chilled.

"Darth Baras," Mau'te said, "The lightsaber of Naga Sadow." He held out the weapon.

"I am beside myself," Baras said and ignited the saber. "Not only did you get the slave to cooperate, but you completed the task and claimed the ancient lightsaber." He deactivated the blade. "I shall carry it the next time I speak before the Council as evidence of your accomplishment. It seems Tremel was right about you." He watched Mau'te for a moment. "Vemrin was not in my chamber as I instructed. I take it he sought to stop you and claim the ancient weapon as his own."

"He was nothing if not consistent."

"I knew he would confront you," Baras said. "Who better to test your mettle?"

"Why throw away a good man? He could have been a valuable asset."

"A necessary sacrifice," Baras replied. "It had to be done to bring out your best. Besides, Vemrin's arrogance always exceeded his strength. He would have come to an early end anyway." He paused again, perhaps smiling or thinking about small animals he might hurt. "I had my doubts about you, considering what you are, and what you were, and I do not rely on guesswork. I had to be sure you were true Sith."

"Consider me educated," Mau'te said.

Baras said, "Bravo. Your trials are over. You are now my apprentice."

"I am yours to command, my master."

Vette looked away at the word.

"Now, tell me, apprentice-" The mask turned toward Vette. "Why is the slave still alive?"

"She has useful skills," Mau'te replied.

"You stopped in the middle of my mission for that?"

Mau'te shook his head. "Other skills. Stealth, slicing, adaptation."

"Yes," Baras said in a pleased, creepy voice. "And no divided loyalties. And easier to dispose of. I approve. The slave is yours. Now, let us discuss your training."

"May I have a moment?"

"Be quick, apprentice."

Mau'te took Vette to the outer office.

"You," he said to a female lieutenant.

"My lord," she replied and rushed to him.

"This is Vette," Mau'te said.

"Shall I return her to her cell?" the officer asked.

"No," Mau'te said. "She has earned a reward. Get her a shower and some clean clothes, then take her to the restaurant on the thirty-"

"Ninth?"

"Yes. The thirty-ninth floor. I will join her when I'm done here, and she is to be treated with respect at all times, or I will be annoyed."

"Of course, my lord," the officer said. "Miss Vette, if you'll come with me."

Once they were out of earshot of the other officers, she said to Vette, "Lord Mau'te. Congratulations. You wouldn't need to picture someone else with him."

"Do you do that a lot?"

"Sith Lords can be very helpful to your career," the officer said. "Closing your eyes and thinking of something else is a small price to pay for a promotion." She leaned close and lowered her voice. "I know one officer that got command of a frigate by agreeing to spend her first day on the bridge naked. Now she has the frigate and a very happy bridge crew."

"He said he wouldn't do that to me," Vette said.

"Too bad," the officer replied. "Some Sith Lords are chased for reasons other than promotion. I hear he has quite a reputation."

"I'll take your word for that."

The lieutenant took Vette to a private shower.

"Here you go. I'll make sure no one disturbs you. Do you want your clothes cleaned or replaced?" She examined Vette's clothes. "Replaced, I think. Hand them over, so I can match your size."

"Right," Vette said and looked for someplace to change but found nothing.

"We are both women," the lieutenant said.

"Sorry," Vette said. "My mother said a slave should never be pretty or naked."

"Your mother sounds like a very wise woman."

Vette nodded and started to undress. The officer exhaled once her shirt was off, probably at the exposed ribs.

"Did you get those here?" the officer asked, indicating some bite marks.

Vette shook her head. "I got those on Nar-Shaddaa."

"Oh. The k'lor'slugs have a tiny relative," the officer said. "Some of the more difficult prisoners are put in the lower levels near the nests." She took a bottle from a shelf and handed it to Vette. "This should work on any kind of bite. It will help with the itching, and they'll heal a lot faster. If the wound bubbles, it means there are eggs. And this-" She took another bottle. "is the best soap we have. It's a bit rough, but, after a long trip in the desert, it's the only thing that makes you feel clean."

The lieutenant gathered the clothes and left. Vette stepped into the shower and let the hot water and soap scrape away the grime.

By the time the officer returned, Vette was out of the shower and wrapped in a towel, dabbing at wounds with the salve.

"Almost done," she said. She covered a wound, winced at the initial sting, then sighed as the pain and itching went away. "No bubbling so far."

"Excellent." The officer put a stack of clothes on the bathroom counter. "All I could find was nerf herder clothing, but it's clean, and it should fit. I understand they make it from the underbelly fur. It's supposed to be very soft."

Vette picked them up. They were the first new clothes she'd had since... well, since Nok. Everything else had been found or "donated".

"Wow," Vette said, pulling the clothes on. "They are soft. Your nerf herders treat themselves well."

"I'll have to remember that," the lieutenant said. "You know, you're very respectable for an alien."

"Gee," Vette said. "Thanks."

They took an elevator up the side of the building, giving Vette a view of the valley. It spread out brown and dusty with broken tombs scattered everywhere. Blaster fire sparked in the distance as Imperial troops attacked the rebels. Violence and decay. A perfect training ground for the Sith.

The greeter at the restaurant smiled at the officer and contained himself at the sight of Vette.

"How may I help you?" he asked the lieutenant.

"Lord Mau'te has just been named apprentice to Darth Baras," she said.

The greeter nodded.

"This young lady assisted him in his final trials." She leaned close. "He returned with the lightsaber of Naga Sadow."

The greeter appeared impressed. "Lord Mau'te. He's the-"

"Yes, he is," the officer said. "He said she is to be treated with respect, or he will be annoyed."

"Of course," the greeter said. "Apprentice to Darth Baras. We shall do our very best."

A waiter called to him. "I have an empty table, sir. I can take her."

"Oh, yes," the greeter said. "You're used to dealing with- Yes, very good."

The officer nodded and left, and the waiter guided Vette to a secluded table.

"Don't worry about them," he whispered. "That's as close to respectful as they're going to get." He tapped a button in front of her that activated a holo-emitter in the middle of the table. "The menu is here. Any idea how long he'll be?"

"He's in a meeting with Darth Baras," Vette said.

"Oh. Settle in. I'll make sure no one bothers you."

She scanned the room. She was severely underdressed for this place, but her clothes were clean and comfortable, so she didn't give a shit. She went through the menu a few times before the appetizers arrived then went through it a couple of more times. She watched the door and leaned back, trying to get a better view but saw nothing. When Vette turned back, she found a Twi'lek woman sitting across from her and nearly jumped from her chair.

"Hello," the woman said with a smile. "Pleasure to meet you." She was dark blue and lean with a slave's brand over her left eye. Three wide stripes ran down each of her lekku and a seventh crossed between the two tails.

"Uh... hi?"

"I was watching you from the ridge this morning."

"Oh," Vette said. "You're with-"

"Vemrin? No." She tilted her head, still smiling. "I have my own interest in Lord Mau'te."

"Interest?"

"We're both Twi'lek Sith Lords," she said. "A political union between the two of us could be beneficial to our species. But-" Her smile deepened. "I don't mind if he has something on the side. Has he made use of you yet?"

"No," Vette said. "He told me he wouldn't do that."

"Pity. I guess I'll have to find out the old-fashioned way." She examined Vette. "Did you really sneak onto Korriban from Nar-Shaddaa?"

"Yeah, I did. Who are you?"

The woman looked down at the menu. "Try the seared skirt steak in the house sauce. Spicy, but very good." She looked at the door. "He's here."

Vette turned toward the door. A moment later, Mau'te entered. She turned back and jumped again. The chair was empty and pushed in, as if it had never been used.

"Something wrong, Vette?" Mau'te asked when he arrived. He'd gotten rid of the scorched clothing and wore something more apprenticey.

"Did you see a Twi'lek woman in that chair?" Vette asked the waiter.

"Yes, I did."

"Did you see where she went?"

"No," he said. "Sorry."

"Twi'lek woman?" Mau'te said, sitting down.

The waiter excused himself.

"Yeah," Vette said. "I thought my stealth skills were good, but wow."

"What did she look like?"

"She was an acolyte," Vette said. "About your color, my size, slave's brand over one eye, scary as shit. Asked if you'd made use of me."

Mau'te grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard. Vette cried out and pulled away.

"I'm terribly sorry, Vette," Mau'te said. He stared at his hand. "I shouldn't have done that. It won't happen again. You have my word."

"Okay," she said, holding her wrist.

"How can I make it up to you?"

"Can I... get dessert?"

"Yes, Vette," he said. He smiled at her cautiously. "You can get dessert." After a moment of silence, he said, "What did she want?"

"A political union. She said it might benefit Twi'lek."

"Oh, yes. Benefit Twi'lek in the Empire. That does make sense."

"She was the one watching us from the ridge. She wasn't with Vemrin."

"Interesting," he said. "A dark blue Twi'lek female. I thought I knew all the Twi'lek acolytes, but I don't recall a dark blue female." He thought for a moment. "Wait. Lord Zash just took a Twi'lek apprentice. That must be it. You're lucky you saw her at all. Zash trains assassins."

"A Sith assassin? Because regular scary isn't enough?"

"Not for all of us."

The waiter returned and asked for their orders.

Vette said, "I'll have the seared..., uh, seared skirt steak-"

"The seared skirt steak in the house sauce?" the waiter said. "Excellent choice."

Mau'te said, "I'll have the same."

The waiter nodded and left.

"Scary Sith Lady suggested it," Vette said.

"I hope it's not poisoned."

She stared at him.

"That was a joke," he said. "If she was going to poison us, she wouldn't introduce herself first."

"Right," Vette said. "So, you own me?"

"You are officially my slave," he said. "And I can decide that you will not be killed. However, the Empire does expect some kind of... repayment of your debt."

"Like... what?"

"Stay here and work on cleaning out the tombs."

"And get killed by a Sith Lord?"

"Actually," he said, "Most slaves don't die by Sith Lord. Most are killed by k'lor'slugs. Then cave-in, then shot trying to escape, then parasitic infestation, then Sith Lord."

"Nice to know I have choices."

"Or," he said, "You could work for me as an independent contractor."

"Doing what?"

"The same thing that got you here, stealth, slicing, a little thieving."

"You want me to steal for the Empire?"

"You'd be paid for it," he said. "Once you paid off your debt."

"Okay, but..."

"But why? The task Baras has for me would benefit from someone with your skillset. Normally, I would request an agent from Imperial Intelligence, but Baras doesn't want them involved."

"And I'm more disposable," Vette said.

"Yes. Technically. But, you would get to see the galaxy and earn some money. You'll be required to fight, but you'll also get your guns back."

"And, you won't touch me? Again."

"Not without permission," he told her.

"I guess it's better than the slugs or the other stuff."

"Very good," he said.

"So we're clear, I'm officially on strike when it comes to domestic duties."

"What a shocking revelation."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't get any twisted ideas in that Sithy head of yours."

"I wouldn't be much of a Sith if I didn't," he said. "But, I won't act on them." He looked up. "They have our dinner."

"That part is kind of annoying."

"I know."

The waiter returned with their food. Vette stared at it but didn't touch it.

"Not hungry?" Mau'te asked.

"When you pushed me in the tomb, the first time, I thought you were attacking me," she told him. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Any other Sith Lord would have attacked you."

"I know," she said. "But I wanted to apologize."

"Apology accepted."

She dove into the food.

"Wow," she said. "This is really good."

"Yes. It seems my stalker has excellent taste."

"You know," she said between bites, "You're not like most Sith Lords."

"I suppose not," he said. "But, I wasn't raised in the Empire."

"Where'd you get the accent?"

"Picked it up as an acolyte."

"But, you're originally Republic?"

"Yes," he said. "In fact, you might have heard of my family. My full name is Mau'te Onoka."

"Might?" she said. "I'm Twi'lek. I thought all of you were Jedi."

"I was once," he said. "I was originally a Padawan."

"Somebody... turned you?"

"Not exactly."

"Don't ask?" she said.

"Best not."

"Wait," she said. "Decent smugglers, huh?"

He smiled. "I take it you and he-"

"No," she said. "A friend of mine. She said she dated an Onoka. She said he was really nice to her then pissed her off and walked away. She never knew why."

"Is your friend Twi'lek?"

Vette nodded.

"That's why. He doesn't want children. I understand his reasons, but it leads to situations like that. My apologies to your friend."

"So," she said. "Now what?"

"We will travel to Dromund Kaas," Mau'te replied. "Baras will have tasks for me to test me and prepare me for his mission. You will be training to improve the skills you already have."

"Where do I live?"

"We will share an apartment," he said. "Until I can afford something better."

"How much do I get?"

"A contractor's fee with a bonus every time you're in combat. Most will go to paying off your debt, but not all."

"Sound's good. I don't think Korriban is really my kind of place." She pushed the last of her steak into her mouth and chewed slowly. "If it's going to be a while before my first paycheck, could I get two desserts?"

Mau'te rolled his eyes and nodded.

Vette stared out the elevator window, bidding goodbye to Korriban.

Appetizers, dinner, two desserts. Vette actually felt full. The last time she felt full was two years ago. Plasmajack stole that case of nerfburgers, and Flash grilled them over a power converter. That was a good week.

"You're happy about something," Mau'te said.

He was watching her, but she pretended not to notice.

"Sorry," she said.

"It's quite all right," he said.

The elevator stopped, earlier than expected.

"We're going to my quarters," he said.

She stared at him.

"So, I can pack," he finished. "And build my lightsaber. And, I had Knash send up your toolbox."

The quarters were dorm room small, cramped but clean. Her toolbox sat on a small table, and he gave the box to her.

"All yours," he said. "But don't wear the guns while you're on Korriban. Just in case."

The packing didn't take long. He left the acolyte clothing, and packed only those things that made him look like a Sith Lord. Then he sat at the table, set a small case in front of him, and extracted the pieces of his lightsaber.

"Does this take long?" Vette asked.

He shook his head. "We can prepare the parts, but we are not allowed to assemble the final device until we are named an apprentice." He pushed a power cell into a charging station, then removed two red lenses from protective cases.

"I thought the crystals were raw and bumpy," Vette said.

"No," he said. "The crystal is cut into two lenses, and the lenses shape the beam into a standing wave. It is the purpose of the color crystal. The standing wave requires a single wavelength. The wavelength is determined by the thickness of the crystal layers. The color itself comes from the beam generator, but it is tuned to match the crystals."

"Oh. Someone told me the lightsaber was red, because the crystal was angry."

"What?" he said. "'The crystal was angry'? I've heard some dumb theories about lightsabers, but that is one of the worst. It's a block of mineral. It doesn't have an emotional state."

"Sorry. Why are Sith lightsabers red?"

"We craft our crystals. They have a looser molecular structure, so a longer wavelength." He polished each lens and set them into the crystal chamber. "But, we choose to craft them."

"Why?"

"Iron. It is the final stage of nuclear fusion and at the core of most stars. That makes it abundant in the galaxy. Its chemical properties make it an excellent oxygen exchange medium, and a very good basis for blood." He slid the crystal chamber into the handgrip and attached the beam generator below it. "More blood is based on iron than any other element, so more blood is red than any other color." He attached the control section and then the emitter. "We associate blood with aggression," he said. "And passion. Emotions important to the Sith." He took the fully charged power cell, added it to the pommel, and attached the pommel to the rest of the lightsaber.

"Wow," Vette said. "That is much cooler than that Naga guy's."

"Thank you. I've been designing this lightsaber since I was eight."

"Is that it? Is it done?"

"Not yet." He adjusted the controls until one of the lights on the control section blinked red three times. "Diagnostic mode," he told her and pressed the activation lever. The red light started blinking again. "When the other light turns green, it's done. But, I've tested each component repeatedly. It won't fail."

"You know," Vette said. "The way you talk about it, it doesn't sound special."

"Of course it's special," Mau'te said. He stood and held up the saber. "It's just not mystical. It's technology. Nothing more. It's the person using it that makes it special." The red light stopped blinking, and the green light came on. "We are told 'this weapon is your life.' With the Force and a lightsaber, a Sith Lord can achieve his goals. He can destroy his enemies. He can gain power. With the Force and a lightsaber, a Sith Lord can shape the galaxy." He adjusted the controls again, and the green light blinked three times and went out. "When I first designed this lightsaber, I wanted to use it to save the Republic." His voice dropped to a low growl, and the scar over his eye seemed to darken. "Now, I'm going to use it to kill my brother."

With a cold hiss, the red blade came to life.