"Oh!" Tharan said, when Yvie and Kira came out of the cargo bay. "You're actually clothed."

"We just did that while training," Kira said. "And I'm not sure if I'm doing it again."

"Your loss," Yvie said.

After Kira left, Tharan said, "Have you heard about Lady Fasha Teral?"

"Who?"

"Cliched princess. Alderaan."

"Right," Yvie said. "What about her?"

"The most terrible news," Tharan said. "Lew Organa, pathetic skinny guy, was not able to find her in time. She's been sold to Uunto the Hutt."

"That is terrible news," Yvie said. "Excuse me." She went directly to Qyzen. "Something happened to the princess. She's been sold to a Hutt."

"I will contact the trainer," Qyzen said.

Yvie shook her head. "I want to talk to him. Where is he?"

"Mos Entha," Qyzen said.

"I've heard of it," she said. "This might actually be fun."

Two days later, they were on Tatooine. Yvie dressed as a buyer, and Qyzen was her hunter.

"What do I do?" Tharan asked.

"Stay on the ship," Yvie said. "This isn't your kind of place."

"Some parts of it are," he said. "But, you're right. Navigating the other parts would sour a bit. Very well. I shall remain here."

Yvie and Qyzen bypassed the market for the most part. She was momentarily curious, but one line of naked slaves looked much like another. Instead, they headed toward one of the quieter sections where the slaves were trained. The slave master welcomed them politely.

"I understand your displeasure, my lady," he said. "But the mare in question asked to be sold to a Hutt. She didn't believe she was worthy of her former betrothed."

"She's an idiot," Yvie said. "Where do I find whoever the Hutt?"

"Uunto," the slave master said. "He's in Mos Espa."

They relocated to Mos Espa, and Tharan again remained behind. Yvie didn't need the disguise to talk to Uunto. Besides, the negotiation might get aggressive. They traveled to Uunto's palace and requested an audience. The Gamorrean guards watched the two of them carefully, but did nothing. The crowd murmured when Yvie entered but became silent when she stood before the Hutt. Three slaves attended Uunto. A Twi'lek and a Rattataki scrubbed his back while cliched princess held a pitcher and refilled his drink. She gasped when she saw Yvie and nearly dropped the pitcher.

"Stupid girl," Uunto said. "My apologies, Master Jedi. The girl is new. What have I done to earn a visit from such an illustrious person as yourself."

"Your new slave girl," Yvie said, and princess shook her head. "Her family wants her back, and I will do what I must to recover her."

Uunto said, "The girl is not valuable enough to me to fight a Jedi. Pay me what I paid for her, and she is yours."

"Thank you, great Uunto." Well, that was anticlimactic. The slave master had told them the fee, and Yvie had the funds prepared, but she didn't expect to use them. She gave the credits to Uunto's assistant, and princess was brought to her.

"Please, Master Jedi," she said. "I'm not worthy of him."

"You're an idiot," Yvie told her.

"What will he think when he sees me?" she asked. Her outfit was ninety percent skin and ten percent translucent cloth.

"I think I know," Yvie said.

"But, Master Jedi-"

"First, address me as 'Mistress'. Second, I'm not giving you a choice."

"But, Master Jedi-"

Yvie yanked on the leash. "What did I just say?"

"Yes, Mistress," princess said.

"I thought you'd been trained," Yvie said. "Great Uunto, did she arrive with the outfit?"

"She did not," Uunto said. "She was purchased naked, as all pleasure slaves are."

"If that is the tradition," Yvie said. She thought for a moment and finally said, "Fasha, return the outfit to Uunto." The crowd became more interested.

"You have no other clothing with you," Fasha said. Yvie yanked on the leash again. "Yes, Mistress."

"You may keep the collar," Yvie said.

"Yes, Mistress." Fasha removed her slippers and gave them to Uunto's assistant. She looked around the room, covered her breasts with one arm, and removed her top. One arm still across her breasts, she removed the loincloth and covered herself there.

"Stand up straight," Yvie said. "I want to examine you."

Uunto said, "Are you truly a Jedi?"

Yvie reached out, and an empty cup flew from a table to her hand. Uunto conceded.

"Fasha," Yvie said. "Stand up straight." Fasha stood, quivering. Yvie sighed. She hadn't been trained long enough. I would have to do. "Hand down, Fasha." Her eyes pleaded with Yvie but found no sympathy. She lowered her arms and stood naked before the crowd. "Does she dance?" Yvie asked Uunto.

"Yes, but not well."

"What are her talents?" Yvie asked.

Uunto said, "She plays the kloo horn quite well, and she is pleasing to the eye."

"I'll listen to her later," Yvie said. "Come, Fasha." She tugged lightly on the leash. She felt a wave of despair from Fasha, and the girl lunged for Yvie's lightsaber. Yvie spun around, tripped Fasha, and held her down.

"She attacks her mistress!" Uunto said.

"No," Yvie said. "She wanted to hurt herself. Could I get some rope, please?" Once Fasha was bound, Yvie pulled her up. "Fasha, I am displeased."

"Yes, Mistress." Yvie tugged on the leash again, and Fasha followed.

Fasha tripped twice on the way to the speeder, and Yvie said, "I should have left you the slippers. We'll get you a new pair."

In the speeder, Yvie thought about what Kira had said. A power trip. That might be true. She certainly enjoyed the emotions coming from Fasha. This wasn't real power, but it was a place to start.

They reached the market area, and Yvie had Fasha try on slippers until she found a pair that looked good.

"Clothing for the slave?" the merchant asked.

"She's being trained," Yvie said.

"Of course," the merchant said. "But, will she be naked after the training?"

"I suppose not," Yvie said. She picked out some outfits with the least amount of coverage while Fasha stood and waited. She held the garments up to Fasha's body. "Maybe I should leave you naked. I'll decide later. These three."

When they reached the busy spaceport, Fasha began to shake. "Please, Mistress," she begged.

Yvie looked at the crowd. "I don't see the problem."

"Please sell me to a Hutt or leave me here," Fasha said. "I am already ruined."

"You're just naked," Yvie said. "I assaulted a dreadnought naked. This is nothing."

"I find that difficult to believe," Fasha said. She waited for punishment but received none.

Yvie said, "Will you stop moaning if I prove it to you?"

Fasha stared at Yvie and said, "Yes, Mistress."

"Fine," Yvie said, and Qyzen groaned. "Yeah, yeah. Hold her leash, please." Qyzen took the leash. Some people stopped and watched, but none of them approached with Qyzen there. Naked slaves were not unknown in Mos Espa, but they were not common. Fasha expected nothing, but Yvie calmly removed her top and her pants, leaving only the belt and boots. She took the leash back from Qyzen. "Let's go." She walked Fasha through the spaceport but didn't enjoy it. She was bored by the time she got to the ship, and Fasha was crying again.

"Should I ask why you're naked?" Tharan said.

"No."

"Should I ask why Lady Teral is naked?"

"Also no," Yvie said. "Holiday, Entoo, watch her so she doesn't hurt herself, give her something to do, and keep her naked until she's comfortable with it."

"Of course, master," Entoo said.

"Hurt herself?" Tharan said.

"She tried it once," Yvie said. "Holiday, watch her carefully."

"Of course, Master Yvie." The new protocols dulled her perkiness a bit, but she was still functional.

"Fasha, come with me," Yvie said. "You need a little training."

She took Fasha to her cabin, sat her on the bed, and began to probe her mind. This had been so much easier with Sergeant Dorne. Someone else had most of the work. With Fasha, Yvie started with the incomplete slave training. The drugs the slave master had used helped to weaken an already weak personality. By the end of the first session, Fasha was much more relaxed. She was even able to untie Fasha's hands.

"You've done well," Yvie told her.

"Thank you, Mistress," Fasha said.

Yvie laid Fasha on the bed and curled up behind her. "Your betrothed-"

"Lew," Fasha said.

"Yes, Lew will be very pleased," Yvie said. "Didn't the slave master teach you to enjoy this? I thought that's what they did."

"He did," Fasha said. "But, Lew is different. He's... he's special."

Oh, that's it. "All those things you learned, imagine doing them only for Lew. Think how happy he would be."

Fasha nodded. "He... he would be a gentle master."

"Exactly," Yvie said. "A gentle master." She kissed Fasha deeply. "Now, get some sleep. Dream about, um-"

"Lew."

"Right," Yvie said. "Dream about Lew."

Yvie woke with Fasha's arm across her chest and Fasha's head on her shoulder. Fasha smiled as she woke then looked down.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Yvie said.

"A slave should always be submissive," Fasha said. "How may I serve you, Mistress? If you wish, I have been trained in the pleasuring of women."

Yvie said, "I always train first thing in the morning. Work with Entoo for now." She got up and pulled on her robe.

"Am I to be allowed clothing, Mistress?"

"No," Yvie said. "You need to be comfortable like that."

Yvie felt a little bit better that morning. She understood, she wanted power that mattered. Fasha was basically a hobby, a project she'd soon finish. She wanted something with weight to it. She was late studying the Dark Side, and she needed to catch up.

After an hour of training, Tharan contacted her. "Master Syo is calling. You might want to get dressed."

Yvie found Fasha on the way to her cabin and told the slave to stay out of sight of the holo. She dressed quickly and responded to Master Syo.

"Were you successful in your mission on Tatooine?" he asked.

"I did what I needed to do there," Yvie said. "I have other work, but it's not pressing."

"Word of your amazing success has preceded you," he said. "But events are moving faster than we anticipated. The Council is calling an emergency conference with the Supreme Chancellor, and we need you to attend."

"I'm not a politician," Yvie said.

"We need your unique skills," Master Syo told her. "The conference is being held on Tython. Come as soon as you can."

"Understood," Yvie said. Master Syo switched off.

"Do we drop off Lady Teral first?" Tharan asked.

Yvie said, "She'll be fine. Besides, she needs some more training." She called for the droid. "Entoo, how is Fasha doing?"

"Wonderfully, master," the droid said. "She's determined to please you."

"Very good," Yvie said. She found she enjoyed owning a pet. She should find one that she could keep. That night, in her cabin, she told Fasha what the droid had said. "I'm very pleased, Fasha," Yvie said, while undressing. "It's time for your training. It will work much better if you don't fight me."

"Yes, Mistress," Fasha said. "Am I to pleasure you now?"

"No," Yvie said. "I always sleep naked. And I prefer training this way. It's more comfortable." They sat opposite each other, held hands, and closed their eyes. "I'm trying to find that part of you that will make you the perfect slave," she told Fasha. "But, you fight me. Don't. Imagine how it will be when... Lew is holding your leash."

"Wonderful, Mistress," Fasha said. "I would be very happy."

"Exactly. Imagine crawling naked to his feet, offering him your leash." Fasha shuddered at the thought. "Imagine he takes it and pulls you closer." Fasha began to breathe heavily. "Imagine he uses you. Repeatedly." There it was. She didn't need to corrupt or control Fasha completely. She just needed to link one desire with another. A technique like this had potential. She wouldn't have long with Fasha, and she wondered how much she could get done in that time. "Tell me, Fasha, what do you want to be?"

Fasha said, "I want to be Lew Organa's perfect slave."

"Very good," Yvie said.

"Ah. Welcome," Master Syo said as Yvie entered the Council chamber. Supreme Chancellor Janarus hovered above the table from the holoemitter. "Supreme Chancellor, allow me to present the only living Barsen'thor of the Jedi Order."

Yvie groaned inwardly. Syo had pronounced "Barsen'thor" wrong. Yeah. Big improvement.

"The Council has told me of your exploits," Janarus said. "Remarkable. You may be exactly the person I need."

Yvie said, "I'd like to know what's going on."

Janarus continued, "You may not be aware that the Empire is not our only concern. The Republic itself is on the brink of collapse. Across the galaxy, many worlds are talking about secession, even open rebellion against the Republic."

"Why is this happening now?" Yvie asked.

"The threat of the Empire has strained us all," Janarus said. "Dwindling resources, attacks, trade being lost... it's taken a toll. A small league of powerful planets and individuals has emerged, calling themselves the Rift Alliance. This Rift Alliance claims to have lost all faith in the Republic. Those worlds are threatening to sever all ties. Permanently."

Right, Yvie thought. Interesting. Politics. Now there was a path to the Dark Side.

"But the Republic is badly weakened," Janarus said. "The Rift Alliance controls critical resources, armies, trade centers. If they leave, the Republic will die."

No, she thought, that wasn't right. The Republic wasn't that bad off. "What do you propose?"

Janarus said. "I want to assign a Jedi as my representative to the Rift Alliance, to prove the Republic takes their grievances seriously." PR campaign? No. Something more. "This Jedi will be tasked with solving any problems the Rift Alliance may have, to restore its faith in the Republic's strength." Sounds like a PR campaign. "When I asked the Council for candidates, yours was the first name they suggested."

"What exactly would I be doing?" Yvie said.

"Whatever the Rift Alliance needs," Janarus said. "Prove the Republic's worth to them."

Oh, Yvie thought, a focused PR campaign. Make the Republic look good to exactly the right people. Impress the people with real power. She was starting to like this. "How should I begin?"

"I've convinced several diplomats from the Rift Alliance to be guests aboard a Republic flagship, the Fortitude," Janarus said. "Rendezvous with the Fortitude and meet with them. Quickly. You are now my best hope to keep the Republic in one piece."

"I understand, Chancellor," Yvie said. "I'll head to the Fortitude immediately. I'll have this Rift Alliance back in line before you know it."

"Do what you must," Janarus said. "Just remember we rely on their goodwill. And, thank you. Perhaps the Republic will have a future after all."

"Did I do well, Mistress?" Fasha asked.

"Yes, Fasha," Yvie said. "I climaxed twice. Very good."

"Thank you, Mistress." She hugged Yvie. "Is it bad that I want Lew more than you?"

"Not at all," Yvie said. "I'm just your guide. You're his pet."

"Pet," Fasha said with a smile. "Lew has always owned pets. He treats them very well. And I will be his favorite." She hugged Yvie again.

Her submissiveness reached a peak after each session then faded by morning, but not completely. A temporary surge and a small, permanent improvement each time. Very good, Fasha. But, why was she doing this? Right. Because Agenord was fighting assassination lasers. Now, he was fighting the Emperor. She was watching over diplomats. But, he could never do that. Agenord was many things, but he was not a diplomat. What did she tell Qyzen? The most submissive bitch possible. Fasha wasn't much of a challenge, but Yvie was enjoying the training. Power took many forms. Control like this was one of them. Fasha was probably ready now, but Yvie wanted her so completely converted, that she'd refuse treatment. It's not like Fasha would have mattered to the galaxy anyway. Probably not to Alderaan either. Besides, she could still get a lot done as a slave. A public Fasha, and a private Fasha. Yvie stroked the human's hair a little. She really did like having a pet. But not, um, Loid? Lem? Lew! Lew Organa. She didn't want Lew Organa's pet. Yvie closed her eyes and thought, no, she wanted her own pet.

"Hello?" the girl on the holo said. "You're the Jedi they were sending, yes? I-I can't talk any louder, someone might hear."

They had reached the coordinates of the Fortitude, but, before they could dock, they received an emergency transmission. The connection was choppy and cut out several times, suggesting the other person was trying to get through a jamming signal.

"I'm Nadia Grell," the girl said. "My father and the other Senators- we were all invited here by the Chancellor." Very pretty, Yvie thought, very young, maybe twenty. "Then the ship was attacked. Boarded. By people calling themselves 'Sith'." Good. A real fight.

"Nadia, this is Jedi Master Yvisnussiish. Are you somewhere safe?"

"I'm in an air vent on the command deck," Nadia said. "I can't go too far from the bridge. The one in charge is called Arrax; he just cut his way through the crew. Then he ordered all the Senators onto the bridge and locked it. My father's in there! But I can't get to him. I just hid."

"You did the right thing," Yvie said. "Arrax would have killed you if you'd tried anything."

"I know," Nadia said. "I couldn't... The captain's dead. He was so nice... and the crew. Most of them are dead, too."

"Focus, Nadia," Yvie said. "Can the bridge be unlocked? If I can reach them, I can protect the Senators, and your father."

Nadia said, "There's a console on one of the lower decks that can open the bridge. Here, I'll send you the location. Please hurry. I saw the Sith tampering with the engines. We might not have a lot of time." The transmission ended.

Yes, very pretty. "Qyzen, Tharan, time to earn some points."

Yvie wasn't naked for the attack. She considered it, but that was the wrong way to meet the Senators. The Imperial troops weren't much of a challenge. Jedi can also "just cut their way through." Most of the Sith weren't that impressive either, except for that one woman on the cargo deck. Tharan would need a lot of kolto after that fight. When they reached the bridge, they found Nadia holding a gun on a Sith Lord, probably Arrax.

"Get away from him!" Nadia yelled while standing over a guy that must have been her father. "I- I'm warning you! I won't let you hurt him!"

"Nadia, don't!" Yeah, that's her father.

"You'll just end up shooting yourself, girl," Arrax said. "Drop it, or your father and your Jedi friend here will die very, very slowly."

"The Jedi friend might have something to say about that," Yvie said. "Calm down, Nadia. Your father's safe now. I won't let anyone else be harmed."

"No, Jedi," Arrax said. "My orders were 'no survivors,' and it'll be a pleasure to obey. Your ambassadors will die, and this ship will be destroyed. Pitiful. Like slaughtering nexu cubs. But Lord Kyrus demands that your 'Rift Alliance' suffer and fall."

"You take evil way too seriously, you know that?" Yvie said. "Who is this 'Lord Kyrus', anyway?"

"A master I'm honored to serve."

"You don't need to be his slave," Yvie said.

Arrax said, "Slave? I do Lord Kyrus's will. He grants me more freedom than any brainwashed Jedi." She rolled her eyes. "My lord might find the girl an appealing prize of war." All right, we can agree on that. "But the others must die. It is commanded. And you, Jedi, are in my way."

This guy was an idiot. No way he's as strong as Vivicar. Was he sent to die? Only if Kyrus knew who would be here.

"Interesting," Yvie said. "I should have done this naked."

"What?" Arrax said.

"When I'm bored, I like to do things naked," Yvie said. "The job is more fun that way. I assaulted an Imperial dreadnought naked. Didn't kill a lot of people. They were mind controlled, so I spared them, but fun anyway. I think it would be fun to fight a Sith Lord naked. Not you, obviously. You're not worth the effort. Maybe this Kyrus guy. Is he cute? I want to kill a cute Sith Lord when I'm naked. That would be fun."

Arrax stared at her in shock. "Are you-?"

She grabbed her lightsaber with her offhand, igniting it and stabbing him in the heart with the same motion. Daraay's maneuver. She'd practiced it for months and finally got it right.

As the light faded, she whispered, "He sent you to die." And winked at him.

"Nadia!" Senator Grell said. "What were you thinking? He might have killed you!"

"I'm sorry, Father," Nadia said. "I couldn't just hide while you were in danger!"

Oh, yeah. She had "beloved pet" written all over her.

"Charming. Really," a Twi'lek woman said. That bitch had "pet" written all over her, but not "beloved".

"We'll talk later, Nadia," Senator Grell said. "The planet's looking dreadfully close, and I saw that Sith lock the navigational computer."

"Is there any way to override the Sith's commands or shut off the engines?" Yvie said.

A human male said, "Only the bridge crew knew how, but the Sith- they're all gone."

"That Sith also destroyed the life support and fire control systems," Twi'lek bitch said. "So I hope you have another ship for us to evacuate onto."

"Please!" a different human male said. "I don't want to die!"

Geez. Dial it back. "A Valor class has a crew complement of nineteen hundred with up to five thousand passengers. I've got a Defender class corvette. If even a tenth of them survived, I don't have the room."

"You have room for us," Twi'lek bitch said.

You need to be scrubbing a Hutt's back naked. Seriously.

"Could we overload one of the engines to change course?" Senator Grell asked.

Tharan said, "We'd likely hit Deralia's moon instead. It would buy us some time, maybe enough to evacuate everyone."

"Wait!" Nadia said. "We can't do that! If we crash the ship into the moon, it-"

A fish guy said, "We don't have time for your babbling, child!"

"Let her speak," Yvie said. "I want to hear what she has to say. Go ahead, Nadia."

"The moon has mining colonies," Nadia said. "We wouldn't have any kind of control. Thousands would die."

"Millions could die if we hit the planet," Senator Grell said.

Nadia said, "The Fortitude's thrusters still work. If we work together, maybe we could steer the ship into orbit instead. You'd need to take everyone to the controls, right away. But we could save Deralia and the moon- and the ship could be salvaged."

Damn, Yvie wanted that girl in a collar and leash. "Tharan? Thoughts?"

Tharan said, "I wish I'd thought of it."

Yvie said, "That's all I needed to hear. We'll each man one of the thrusters and get the Fortitude to safety."

Nadia said, "I'll stay here and guide everyone."

"You're good at that," Yvie said. Nadia looked at her and quickly looked away. Was she blushing? Yvie hid a smile.

"It's all right, Duin," Senator Grell said. Who? Oh, the Sullustan said something. "Everyone, stay close to the Jedi until you find a console! Quick, now!"

The few Imperials left were not difficult to deal with. They found some crew members still alive that understood the thruster control. With their help, and Nadia's guidance, they managed to put the Fortitude into a low orbit.

"Very good, everyone," Yvie said over the comm. "I think the Fortitude's crew can take over. Please meet me at my ship."

An hour later, they were all sitting in the Vigilant's conference room. Yvie crossed her fingers and smiled. "The Chancellor's seen you growing away from the Republic. I'm here to ensure that doesn't happen. My role is to take care of your problems, and prove the Republic respects and values you, to secure your place in the Republic. So, should we start with introductions?"

"Hello. Tai Cordan, trade secretary for Balmorra. Why do you have a naked slavegirl standing next to you?"

"She's serving me drinks," Yvie said. "And, she's not completely naked. She has a collar. Who's next?"

"Tobas Grell, Senator from Sarkhai. Why does a Jedi have a slave at all?"

"I freed her from a Hutt, and I'm taking her home. Next?"

"Diab Duin, Aeten II. Why did she need a Jedi to free her from a Hutt?"

Yvie looked at Fasha. "Tell them who you are."

"I am Lady Fasha Teral of Alderaan. How may I serve you, masters?"

"You've been presumed dead," Twi'lek bitch said. "Or impossible to recover."

Fasha said, "I am currently in service to my Mistress."

"I- I'm Blaesus. If you need any help from... not that you'd need... um, hello."

Whatever.

"Shuuru, Representative from Manaan. We don't care. We only wear clothes for outsiders. Half of our life is underwater, and we never wear clothes to swim. Not in residential waters, anyway. But, why is she still a slave? You freed her."

"Some conditioning is difficult to break," Yvie said.

"Representative Alauni," Twi'lek bitch said. "Will this be permanent?"

"No," Yvie said. "We are currently enroute to Alderaan." Fasha shuddered. "It's fine, Fasha. Trust me."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Tai Corden again. Even Hutts let their slaves wear something."

"I suppose that's true," Yvie said. "Fasha, put on the green outfit. Now, can we get down to business?"

Per Yvie's instructions, only Lew was at the spaceport. As Yvie said, her father wasn't ready for this.

"Fasha!" Lew called out when he saw her. "Please, take my coat. Why are you dressed like this?" He tried to put the coat around her.

"Am I hideous to you?" Fasha asked him.

"What? No, Fasha. You're beautiful, of course."

"But you don't want to look at me," she said.

"Of course, I do, Fasha."

"Truly, master?"

"What did you call me?"

"Am I beautiful?"

"Yes, Fasha, you're beautiful."

She smiled, pulled off the slave outfit, and knelt at his feet. "My collar and leash are yours, master." She held up the leash to him.

"What? Fasha! What are you doing?"

"Please, master." She held out the leash. "Please." Cautiously, he took the handle of the leash and gave it a tug. She jumped into his arms. "I am yours, master. I am yours."

"Fasha," Lew said. "What are you saying?"

She leaned up and whispered in his ear. As he listened, his eyes widened. When she finished, she buried her face in his chest. He held her as if he didn't know what else to do.

"We're done here," Yvie said and climbed the ramp to the ship. The others followed.

"Master Yvie-" Tobas Grell began.

Yvie said, "Slavery is legal in the Empire. Think about it. Where are we going next?"

"Balmorra," Tai Cordan said. "My homeworld."

"Right," Yvie said. "Set course for Balmorra."