"It's not fair," Yvie said. She stood in the cargo hold, naked except for her belt, and practiced Daraay's maneuver.
"I agree," Shuuru said. The Selkath delegate sat naked in a shower while it misted him periodically. Seetoo had installed the shower for Yvie so she could rinse off after training. "Selkath are always naked aboard our ships." He watched her train with a detached interest. Nudity meant nothing to him, and he was only interested in amphibians.
"Right," Yvie said. "Qyzen can be prudish sometimes, but he doesn't care about mammals. Tharan gets a little flustered." She stabbed forward with her lightsaber. She had used Daraay's maneuver in combat for the first time and nailed it. Could Agenord do that? Yes, he probably could.
"Lady Teral didn't care," Shuuru said. He was the only one that remembered Fasha was naked, because he didn't care. Yvie had learned diplomatic training had its limits. Major actions, like something that would hurt their homeworld, they could resist. Something minor, like don't be upset with the naked slave girl, she could handle. They knew Fasha had been there, but they struggled to remember she had been a slave, or that she was naked. They forgot, because they wanted to forget. Blaesus seemed to have some recollection, but he also seemed to enjoy it.
Fasha.
Why had she been so much fun?
Control, deconstruction, degradation, submission.
They were elements of the Dark Side, but they weren't fueled by hate. Were they? She'd enjoyed training Fasha to prefer nudity and compliance. With Fasha, that hadn't been difficult. She was half-way to slave when Yvie first met her. What had she enjoyed about the training? Using Fasha? She made Yvie climax more than once, but that wasn't it. Yvie preferred a man's more brutal tongue.
Punishment.
Fasha deserved punishment.
For what?
For being that kind of pathetic little bitch. That naive, idealistic, perky little princess. Fasha had needed her spirit crushed and rebuilt.
Men had their uses; a fuck, a lick, cannon fodder.
Women had their uses. If they weren't strong enough to contribute, they should be remade into something functional.
Yvie removed her belt and activated the remotes. Every centimeter of her naked. This was what fighting should be. Like the fight with Vivicar. The stories came out from Vivicar's followers, but everyone assumed it had been Terrak Morrhage's revenge. Her first fight with a Sith Lord, and she was completely naked. The memory still gave her a thrill. Then those two followers obeying every command. She needed more like that.
Nadia.
Yvie looked forward to remaking Nadia. That girl needed to be naked and quivering as often as possible.
The ship exited hyperspace, and Yvie sighed. Shuuru left the shower, toweled off, and dressed. Yvie washed off the sweat and also dressed. Now, at least, she had someone who could appreciate it.
"Balmorra. Home," Tai Cordan said when Yvie and Shuuru arrived. He stood in the cockpit and watched the planet. "I never wanted to see it like this. I am- was- Balmorra's trade secretary. I was offworld when the Imperial occupation began, and my colleagues were exiled or killed. Our president..."
Yvie lost interest at that point. Cordan said some more, then Shuuru said something, then Cordan, then Blaesus, Cordan again.
"Hopefully, he'll be amenable," Cordan finished.
He? Tharan would remember. "Very good, Secretary Cordan," Yvie said. Tobas seemed confused. "Something wrong, Senator Grell?"
Tobas nodded. "Nadia was upset."
"Lady Fasha," Nadia said. "Will she be all right?"
"Lady Fasha?" Alauni said. "Teral? Oh, we dropped her off on Alderaan."
"Yes," Nadia said. "She... she was... Master Yvie? You remember."
Nadia remembered? Interesting. Sweet, bright, pretty, strong of will. She deserved a gold plated collar and a silk leash.
"She'll be fine," Yvie said. "She's exactly where she wants to be." Kneeling naked at her husband's feet.
"If you say so, Master Yvie," Nadia said.
Yvie said, "Qyzen, Tharan, Secretary Cordan, ready to go?"
"Why aren't we going?" Nadia asked. She glanced at Yvie.
"Balmorra is a battlefield," her father told her. "But you have a whole space station to explore."
Alauni said, "Tai, what happens with your place in the alliance if you're made president?"
"I'll appoint a successor," he said.
The Vigilant shook briefly as the station locked onto the ship's docking ring.
"We'll be sure to keep you updated," Yvie said. "Time to go."
On Balmorra, they were met by two Republic officers. One of the officers saluted and said, "Secretary Cordan? I'm Commander Madine. I'm to coordinate with you. Let's get you out of the open." Once they were in the base, Madine took them to a secure conference room. "I thought you'd like to meet your cabinet."
Five bureaucrats sat at the conference table, three male, two female, and stood when Tai entered. Two of them he already knew. The other three introduced themselves. At the far end of the room stood a female Sith Pureblood. A lightsaber pike hung from her back. Tai watched her cautiously.
The Pureblood said, "Jedi Master Syale Jasaesh. Pike Battlemaster and commander of the Jedi forces on Balmorra. A pleasure to meet you, Secretary Cordan."
"It's all right, Secretary," Yvie said. "I've seen other Purebloods among the Jedi."
"Who are you?" one of the bureaucrats asked. Zoldi something. He was far too young to be a cabinet member, but Balmorra took what they could get.
"Jedi Master Yvisnussiish Onoka, Barsen'thor of the Jedi Order."
The woman next to Zoldi, Preela someone, scowled at him and glared at Yvie briefly. She should scowl. The lust from Zoldi was palpable.
Jasaesh smiled at Yvie. "You must know Master Agenord."
"Yes," Yvie said. Of course. "He's my cousin."
"Tai," the other female said. "Is this really it?"
"That's the plan, Oda," Tai said. "The Republic would not have brought us back, if they didn't think we had a chance."
"It won't be easy," Madine said. "If you're about to declare your sovereignty to Balmorra and the Empire, you need to be ready for a fight."
Tai said, "What are our odds, Commander?"
"You needn't worry," Jasaesh told him. "Master Agenord is on Balmorra. You have a Battlemaster, a Barsen'thor, and the Hero of Tython fighting for you. Balmorra will be free by the end of the month."
"We can hope," Madine said.
Jasaesh laughed. "You haven't seen Master Agenord fight." Right, Yvie thought. Agenord fighting. "If you have time, Master Yvie, we should train together."
"Wonderful idea," Yvie said. "I'll meet you tomorrow."
"Show me your pike skills," Jasaesh said and threw Yvie a training pike. They were alone in the sparring room. Jasaesh's Padawan had just been promoted to Knight, and a new Padawan had not been chosen.
"Tell me," Yvie said. "Do you ever train naked?"
"No," Jasaesh replied. "I've never tried that. Is this left over from Terrak Morrhage's revenge?"
"It might be," Yvie said.
"I heard you fought Vivicar naked."
"I did," Yvie said. "No doubt the influence of Terrak Morrhage. The closer I got to him, the stronger it became. Once Vivicar was defeated, two of his followers and I surrendered to it. I would like to say I resisted, but I was as aggressive as they were."
Jasaesh sighed. "I suffered the revenge myself. I fought the apprentice of Darth Lachris. I could have killed him a dozen times but stayed my hand. We broke away from the battle, and I guided him to an isolated room. I disarmed him. I was ready to kill him, but I told him to strip instead. I used that boy every way I could until the effect wore off. I left him exhausted but alive, and I never went near him again."
Oh. She wanted him back. Scary Pureblood wanted a pet. Everyone had their preferences.
"You didn't try to turn him?" Yvie asked.
"I did not."
"Too bad," Yvie said, dropping into a combat stance. "Let's begin."
Zenith, Tai Cordan's plan, revolutionary, assassin, terrorist, blunt instrument. He and Qyzen would get along. Yvie had to jump through a few hoops to get his attention, but now she had it.
"Zenith speaking. What do you want?" Direct, focused, Twi'lek. Not bad.
"My name is Jedi Master Yvisnussiish Onoka. I'm here on Tai Cordan's behalf," Yvie told him. He didn't react to the name. Well, that happened sometimes.
"Then what does he want?"
He didn't acknowledge the name.
"Tai Cordan is ready to rebuild the government," she said.
"Unlikely," Zenith said. "The old government's in exile; the Empire's too powerful."
"Too powerful for you," Yvie said.
"Prove you're different," he said. "I'm tracking the Imperial head of manufacture. Responsible for building weapons and enslaving my people. Normally, no problem. But he has a powerful bodyguard. I can't get close."
"Find a bureaucrat, stop a bodyguard. Where do I go?"
Droids, more droids, Imperials, still more droids. Some engineers begging for freedom. Whatever. It would not have been fun naked.
She fought her way to the depths of the droid factory, carved her way through blast doors, and found the bureaucrat behind a terminal with a Sith Lord guarding him. No. He didn't have enough arrogance for a Sith Lord. Great. He was just an apprentice.
"First those terrorists, now a Jedi?" the bureaucrat said. "Serrus, handle this intruder."
"As you command," the apprentice said. "Get back, Jedi. I am apprenticed to Darth Lachris, vice president of Balmorra, and this man is under my protection."
"Really?" Yvie said and hid a smile. "A Sith is vice president?"
"You don't understand, Jedi," Serrus said. "My family has always lived here, watching Republic interference hold Balmorra back. But Darth Lachris can lead us to glory."
Yvie rolled her eyes. "This Darth Lachris is using you, and you know it. What did she do, spare your family?"
"Serving the Empire is a privilege," he said. "I am proud to have the chance."
"I'm a full Jedi Master, and you're a conflicted apprentice. How do you think this is going to end?"
"Darth Lachris-" he said.
"Will be dead before I leave Balmorra," Yvie told him. "Go turn yourself into the Republic."
"I can't," he said. "I have no choice."
"You can become a Padawan," Yvie said.
"Yours?" he asked.
"No," she said. "Jedi Master Jasaesh. She is in need of a Padawan. You'll find her easily. She's a Sith Pureblood."
He paused. "She is?"
"Indeed," Yvie said. "A Battlemaster. You'd be amazed what she can do with a pike." He coughed. "Just tell the Republic forces Master Yvie sent you, and you are to be the Padawan of Master Jasaesh."
"I... I will stand aside for you, Jedi," Serrus said. "Find another way to help my people." He left peacefully. And quickly.
Sheesh. The galaxy was full of romantic idiots.
The bureaucrat said, "Your drivel just cost Darth Lachris an apprentice, and I'll be blamed!"
"Don't give a shit," Yvie said, advancing on him.
"Whatever you came for, I'll never-"
Someone fired a blaster at him, but Yvie deflected it instinctively.
"Who did that?" Yvie demanded.
"Jedi," Zenith said, stepping out of the shadows. "Good work distracting the bodyguard. Allowed me to find a position." He looked at the bureaucrat. "Missed my shot. Step back, please. I need him dead."
Yvie shrugged and stabbed the bureaucrat in the heart.
Zenith blinked. "Excellent. Thank you. You're my kind of Jedi. I found a safe house where Tai and his colleagues can gather. My people are smuggling him there now. I'll show you the way."
By the time they reached the safe house, Zenith and Qyzen were swapping kill stories.
"The blast took out twenty Imperials," Zenith said.
"The Scorekeeper would be pleased," Qyzen replied.
"The safe house is there," Zenith said.
Yvie said, "That's awfully close to a colicoid nest."
"Less chance the Imperials will attack," Zenith said.
They found Tai Cordan standing at the end of a long table, speaking to an assembled group. Most were resistance fighters or Tai's cabinet. Madine was there with his lieutenant, and Jasaesh was there with Serrus. He looked acceptable in his robes. Jasaesh remained stoic but pleased.
"Excellent work!" Tai was saying as Yvie and her team entered. "Two more of my colleagues have returned from exile. And we can work safely here."
"Master Yvie will prove the legitimacy of Secretary Cordan's authority," Madine said.
Zoldi smiled at Yvie, and Preela scowled. Another romantic idiot.
"The Balmorrans might accept it," Madine continued. "But the Empire never will. To reclaim Balmorra, we will need to capture Sobrik and the weapons factory."
"A factory?" Yvie asked.
Madine said, "It is the most well protected fortress on the planet. We'll need everything we have to take it."
Zenith said, "Plotting to give Balmorra to the Republic. One occupation replaced by another."
Yvie said, "Without a strategy, you're just a radical throwing bombs and writing slogans."
"What's Tai's alternative?" Zenith asked.
Tai said, "Balmorra's strength is in the corporations. After you both... handled that Imperial official, I called my old corporate contacts here. We have their attention. Director Fenn is head of Troida, and speaks for the other companies. He's asked to discuss a deal with us. There's an old records vault outside Sobrik he's chosen for the meet. I'd like Master Yvie to convince him to help."
"I will do my best," Yvie said.
Tai said, "Once Director Fenn has agreed, the corporations will be committed. Failure will mean the execution of their executives. To be clear, this line cannot be uncrossed."
"Chemish Or," one of the resistance fighters said. "Leader of the resistance. We have fought a guerilla war for years and barely slowed the Empire down. Enough is enough. The resistance is ready to cross that line."
The man standing next to her said, "Master Jedi, do you think you'll succeed?"
"Don't worry," Yvie said. "I can be very persuasive."
After the meeting, Zoldi and Preela approached Yvie. "May we speak?" Zoldi asked. Preela was not happy but said nothing. Zoldi took them to a private room.
"So," Yvie said, ignoring the hatred from Preela. "What did you need?"
"I went to school with the second son of the Brogano Conglomerate," Zoldi said. "I think I can get him to vote with Fenn."
"Why not mention this before?" Yvie asked.
"I was saving it," Zoldi said. "Hoping I wouldn't need it. I'm not entirely sure it will work. But, Sadul knows Fenn personally. The meeting isn't for a couple of days, and Sadul can be very subtle."
"He's a slime," Preela said. "I don't know why you're suggesting it."
These two were cabinet members? For fuck's sake, just tell him.
"I'm just trying to help Balmorra," Zoldi said. "That's what we're all trying to do."
"Not her," Preela said. "To this Jedi, it's just a job. Or worse, she really is trying to give Balmorra to the Republic."
That went too far, Yvie thought. "Contact your friend."
"Of course, Master Jedi," Zoldi said.
"Did you want anything in return?" she asked.
"I'm doing this for Balmorra," he said.
"Really?" Yvie said. "Did you know Preela likes you?"
Preela stared at Yvie, her hate spiking to rage.
"Preela?" Zoldi said.
Yvie whispered in Preela's ear.
"What are you doing?" Preela asked as her eyes softened and dulled. The proper distraction could make almost anyone vulnerable. Rage was a wonderful distraction.
"Tell him how you feel about him," Yvie said.
"He's dorky and cute," Preela said. "He can be smart about some things and stupid about others. And he never notices me, even though I'm right here."
Yvie thought for a moment. She could stop here and leave them to their boring romance, but that wasn't fun. Besides, Preela was the kind of woman Yvie liked to hurt. Make her strong, or get her out of the way. She looked Preela over. She was a little above average, not spectacular, and dressed far too conservatively. Professional women dressing like that often had something to hide, especially under a coat that big.
"Remove your coat," Yvie said. Yep, nice tits. Zoldi noticed too. "Remove your skirt." She waited for Zoldi to say something, but he didn't. Maybe he was hiding a few things too. "Remove your blouse." Soft and curvy. Very nice. And Zoldi was struggling to breathe. "Remove your bra." Zoldi exhaled. "Remove your shoes. Remove your underwear." Yvie whispered to Preela a little more. The girl gasped a couple of times then nodded and knelt at Zoldi's feet.
"Preela?" Zoldi said.
"How may I please you?" Preela said.
He raised Preela to her feet, his eyes never leaving her body. "Why?" he asked Yvie.
"I hate to see you leave empty handed," Yvie told him. "Besides, she really does like you."
He kissed Preela, and she kissed back. "Will she remember?"
"I doubt it," Yvie lied. She'll remember all of it.
"How long?" he asked. He caressed Preela. She gasped but did not resist.
"It will wear off after a day or so," Yvie told Zoldi. "She'll come out of it slowly, so you can clean her up. Until then, she is completely yours."
He kissed Preela as if he cared about her.
"How may I please you?" Preela said as if she meant it.
Zoldi pulled Preela from the room, leaving her clothes on the floor. Yvie could read his intent. Preela would be sore but intact.
Was this the Dark Side or just a hobby? Yvie wasn't sure, but she also didn't care.
"Director Fenn, Troida," the man said. "Are you a Jedi?"
"Jedi Master Yvisnussiish," she said.
"And they?" he asked.
"Scientist, hunter, revolutionary," Yvie told him.
"I've been considering Tai Cordan's offer," Fenn said. "Given that we risk Darth Lachris's anger if we are caught, we want a special favor."
Yvie said, "I plan on killing Darth Lachris."
"That's not enough," Fenn said.
Killing a Sith Lord is not enough? Corporations.
Fenn said, "The Jedi have sometimes opposed our more... unconventional weapons. Your 'ethics' cost us credits."
"The anguish of the scientist," Tharan said. "Burdened with petty- I mean, always vigilant against evil."
Fenn continued, "If we support Tai, I want a promise that the Jedi won't interfere with our weapons development."
"That's outside my authority," Yvie said.
He said, "But you speak for your Council, don't-?" He stopped, hearing a noise. He checked a security camera. "That's the Imperial soldier monitoring those droids. Stay here. I'll tell him something."
"Thought he'd never leave," Zenith said. I have information for you. Director Fenn has a wife and daughter in Sobrik. My men know where to find them."
"That would turn him against us," Yvie said. "But it gives me an idea."
"There," Fenn said when he got back. "The soldier suspects nothing. So, can you promise the Jedi will not interfere with our work?"
"What do you think will happen on Balmorra, Director?" Yvie said. "Ryloth had valuable resources, but they began to lose their importance. Better materials prevailed. But, the Hutts were invested in Ryloth, so they turned us into slaves. The more powerful families could resist, but, if they fell out of favor, they were made an example. Sons sold to the spice mines. Wives and daughters sold... well, you can guess. The Empire is worse. Balmorra makes the best droids. The Empire needs your companies, but not you. Even if they did keep you, if a Sith Lord saw something he wanted, he would take it."
"You wouldn't," he said.
"I wouldn't need to," Yvie said. "You ignored the reality, because it suited you. But you always knew the truth. You helped the Empire to protect your family, but you knew that was temporary."
"What about Jedi ethics?" he said.
"I told you, that's up to the Council," Yvie said. "I'm just pointing out the facts. If the Republic leaves, she's at risk, and you know it. Tell me, objectively, not as a father, is she pretty?"
Fenn sighed. "Sadul Brogano said something similar. He's desperate to get his sister off of Balmorra. Very well, Jedi. We'll help Tai Cordan."
Zenith gave Yvie a look that said, You were right. That was better.
Back at the safe house, a resistance fighter Yvie hadn't seen yet talked to an Imperial on holo. Tai, Madine, Jasaesh and the others stood just out of range of the holoreceiver. Zoldi and Preela were not there.
"Sobrik will be free, and Balmorra will have hope," the resistance fighter said.
The Imperial said, "Then, if we can hit the power- ah, looks like you've got reinforcements."
"Master Jedi," the resistance fighter said. "I'm honored you're willing to take up our cause. And Zenith? How are you not dead?"
"Haven't made a bomb big enough, Beke," Zenith said.
Yvie sensed something, and the Imperial said, "Two more Jedi! I am impressed."
Yvie didn't need to turn to know Agenord and Kira were there.
"Who are you?" Agenord said.
Beke said, "Colonel Marric is the most decorated officer in the Balmorran militia and our man inside the Empire."
Marric said, "Our best bet into Sobrik is an aerial assault, landing in the spaceport and surprising them. But the spaceport shield disables any non-Imperial craft."
"What's wrong with storming the gates?" Yvie asked.
"You couldn't win," Marric said. "Not without the spaceport. The Empire could hole themselves up in there and launch fighter after fighter."
Beke said, "We've gotten our hands on the Troida Disruptor, a prototype weapon that could break through Sobrik's shield. The Empire has failsafes in place, and the Troida Disruptor will only work for a few minutes. Luckily, that's all we need."
"What's the problem?" Agenord asked.
He knew something. Yvie could tell.
"Activating it requires enough power to launch a frigate," Beke said. "And we don't have it."
"The only thing that's got that kind of juice is Sobrik's power grid," Marric told them.
"Convenient," Agenord said. "I see the Force is with us."
"The Empire, anticipating an attack, has positioned fully armed garrisons at each generator," Marric said.
Beke said, "If you can get past them and siphon power from the generators, we can activate the Troida Disruptor and break through Sobrik's shield."
"Good plan," Agenord said.
Beke nodded. "We've been waiting for this day ever since the Empire invaded."
"I'll see you in Sobrik," Marric said and disconnected.
"What do you think?" Yvie asked Zenith.
Zenith said, "Beke's the best tactician the resistance has."
"It's a good plan," Madine said. "Complicated, but I think it could work."
"It's a trap," Agenord said. "Marric is a double agent. The spaceport isn't that important. He's trying to control your movements. The spaceport can be captured any time after the main city is taken. The Imperials expect us to go in through the damaged prison. They'll have it heavily defended. Send in troops to keep the defenders pinned down, and they won't be able to protect Sobrik. Ignore the garrisons and destroy the generators. Once Sobrik is taken, we can use an Imperial shuttle within the city to enter the spaceport and destroy the shield. The entrance to the city is the most important. It's a chokepoint. Marric is expecting a shuttle. Rig one with bombs, land it here, and blow it up. In the chaos, we'll be able to establish a defensive perimeter. Once we have that, we move in with Republic troops and Jedi and take the city."
Jasaesh smiled and said, "What did I tell you?"
Of course, Yvie thought. Just walk in and fix the entire fucking resistance in five minutes.
"Why didn't I see it?" Beke said.
"None of us saw it," Madine pointed out.
"Our people will be ready," a Kel Dor major said.
"Do you fight as well as you strategize?" Tai asked Agenord.
"Yes, he does," Jasaesh said. "In our last match, he beat me twenty to six."
Yvie thought, You beat me twenty to eighteen.
Chemish said, "Beke, I want you at the prison holding down those troops. Master Agenord and Commander Madine will capture Sobrik."
"Yes, ma'am," Beke said.
"This is it, people," Chemish said. "Sobrik then the factory, and we cripple the Empire on Balmorra. The rest is cleanup."
"For Balmorra!" the man next to her yelled.
"For Balmorra!" the resistance fighters yelled back.
As they were leaving, Serrus said to Yvie, "You were right. I'm much happier here. As... as her Padawan." He rushed after Jasaesh. Yvie smiled. That was the face of a man who knew he was owned and liked it. That was how it should be done.
Tharan asked Tai, "Aren't we missing someone?"
Oda said, "Zoldi and Preela. They've been gone a couple of days. I think Zoldi finally realized."
"Oh," Tharan said. "Good for them."
Outside, she found Zenith talking to Agenord.
"You're really an Onoka?" Zenith said.
"So is Yvie," Agenord said.
"Well, yes," Zenith said. "But, the Hero of Tython. What did you need to do for that?"
"Save the planet Tython," Agenord said.
Zenith said, "That's so fascinating. Now you're going to save Balmorra. You'll have my gratitude, I can tell you."
Kira said, "He's taken."
Zenith looked her up and down and said, "For now."
Qyzen said, "Zenith. First the hunt."
"You're right," Zenith said. "First the hunt. Let's go capture Sobrik."
Two days later, they were in the streets of Sobrik, beating back the Empire. The shuttle captured the entrance. Beke pinned down the troops in the prison. Agenord, Yvie, and Jasaesh led their teams to victory. Yvie's team commandeered a shuttle and flew it into the entrance of the spaceport, breaking the shield. Yvie herself found Marric. Qyzen, Tharan, and Zenith were fighting droids.
"How did you know?" he asked her. He stood in a hangar surrounded by rubble and dead bodies. "Not Beke. He could never match Imperial training."
"Does it matter?" she asked.
"Not you, I'm guessing," he said. "It must have been the Jedi with all the questions."
"You really want to die, don't you?"
"Sensitive?" he said. "You're good with the Force and a lightsaber, but Imperial culture would chew you up. You looked like you were using the Dark Side out there, but you don't know anything about it."
"Where would I learn?" Yvie asked.
"Darth Minax," he said. "She's at the factory. She'll tear you apart. As for me..."
Yvie sensed it before he finished talking. She didn't use Force speed often. The strain on her body and her energy was too great. But, when facing a grenade that size, she made an exception.
She woke in Tharan's arms with a medic next to her.
"You get knocked out often, Master Yvie," he said.
Why was he holding her? He stopped that months earlier. Still, she didn't mind.
"We won!" Jasaesh said. She sat on a stretcher a few meters away while Serrus bandaged her injuries. "The Imperials called in their best man, but he wasn't good enough for Master Agenord. Some people are calling him the Hero of Balmorra."
"Balmorra had a lot of heroes," Serrus said.
"Don't be jealous," Jasaesh told him. "I'll still ride you into the ground." He seemed satisfied with that.
"Where is Master Agenord?" Zenith asked. Three different medics worked on him. Whatever people might think of his tactics, he fought for Balmorra.
"Gone," Jasaesh said. "Something else to save or capture."
"Darth Lachris?" Yvie said.
"Fled," Zenith told her. "To the factory. Sobrik was easy compared to that place."
"Right," Yvie said. "Let's head back." She sat up, felt a wave of dizziness, and fell back.
"When you're ready," Tharan said and hugged her closer.
They found Agenord and Kira at the safe house with the rest of the group. They were planning the assault on the Arms Factory.
"Yvie," Agenord said without looking up.
Madine examined the plan and said, "Master Agenord, I haven't seen a Jedi strategist this good since Revan."
Agenord stopped and looked up. "I will... take that as a compliment."
"Master Yvie," Tai said. "It's good to see you alive."
"This is it?" Yvie said. "The final assault?"
"Not quite," Tai said. "Darth Lachris has President Galthe with her. If the president vanishes, we'll have a long, slow slog ahead of us. I need you to get him out of the factory before the assault."
Zenith said, "Lucky for you, I know the factory's defense shutdown codes."
Tai said, "Be careful in there, both of you. Balmorran Arms is an Imperial stronghold, and Darth Lachris might be expecting you."
"I don't care," Zenith said. "Darth Lachris has lived too long."
Madine said, "We'll be in position for the assault in six hours."
"More than enough," Yvie told him.
Oda said, "Before you go, Councilman Kannite wanted to speak with you."
Yvie looked at her.
"Zoldi," Oda said.
Well, Yvie thought. Let's see how things turned out.
Yvie reached Zoldi's quarters, and found him in a panic. Preela was back in her baggy clothes. She stood on the far side of the room looking drained and devastated. She wouldn't look at Zoldi.
"She remembers," Zoldi said. "All of it. You said she wouldn't."
Yvie pushed him inside and closed the door.
"Come here, Preela," Yvie said. When she didn't move, Yvie had to mind trick her. Preela reached Yvie's side, snapped out of it, and glared at the Jedi. "Tell me what happened," Yvie said with a hint of control, and the floodgates opened. Preela detailed three days of degradation at the hands of Zoldi. She sobbed, she screamed, she slapped him at one point, and she finally collapsed to the floor. Zoldi rushed toward her, but Yvie held up her hand. She let Preela sob for a little while. "That was it?" Yvie said to Preela when the crying began to fade. "I did more than that to someone, and she thanked me for it."
"He used me," Preela said.
"I get that," Yvie said.
"Every way he could," Preela said.
"No," Yvie said. "I know a bunch of things he didn't try." Yvie sighed. "Let me guess, you wore the baggy clothes, so he would respect you for your mind. You wanted him to care for the real you, not the body. You're an idiot. His friend is a slime. Why did you think they got along? If you had shown him some of your figure, maybe some cleavage, you could have drawn him in. Pulled him in slowly, enticed him, after a couple of months, satisfied him, and he would have been the one kneeling at your feet."
"You don't understand," Preela said.
"Bullshit," Yvie replied. "He had you for three days. The mind trick probably wore off after the first day. You let him do all of that for two more days. I didn't put anything there; I brought it to the surface. If you were genuinely outraged, why did you stay?"
"Because," Preela said. "Because..."
"Because you want to be with him," Yvie said. "He did all of that to you, and you still want to be with him. You were always that kind of woman." Yvie knelt next to Preela. "Sometimes, a woman needs to lead, and a man needs to follow. I know a couple like that. They are very happy. The first time they met, she did everything she could to him, and he loved it. Sometimes, a man needs to lead, and a woman needs to follow. I know a couple like that, and they are happy. She is at her happiest kneeling naked at his feet. And you. You were waiting for him to notice you, to act, to be the aggressor. You were his pet months ago; you just didn't know it." Preela wiped her tears. "Did he get you off?" Preela nodded. "Every day?" Preela nodded again. "More than once each day?" Preela glared at Yvie and nodded again. "Zoldi, have you ever owned a pet?"
"A choku," he said. "When I was a boy."
"Did your parents tell you a pet is a responsibility?" Yvie asked.
"More than once," he said.
"Did you punish your pet?" Yvie said.
"When she needed it," Zoldi said.
"This is no different," Yvie said, standing up. "Preela, take your clothes off." Preela began to undress.
"Will she forget this time?" Zoldi asked.
"I'm not mind tricking her," Yvie said. "She's doing it on her own." Once Preela was naked, Yvie said, "Very good. Crawl to him." Preela crawled across the floor and knelt at Zoldi's feet. "Beg, Preela."
"Please, Zoldi, let me be your pet," she said.
Yvie said to Zoldi, "Reward her if she has earned it. Make her climax at least once a day. Punish her only when she deserves it. Be fair, and, this is the most important part, be consistent. At a cabinet meeting, she is your colleague. Treat her as such, even when she disagrees with you. At home, she is your pet. Be cautious with your demands. Go too far, and she will leave. Stay within her limits, and she will be your pet for life. Will you do that for her? Fair and consistent, firm but not cruel? Answer carefully. She wants to be owned by the right man."
"Yes," Zoldi said. "I promise."
"Not me," Yvie said.
"I promise, Preela," he said. "I will own you properly."
"Preela, how does a pet thank her owner?" Yvie said.
Preela nodded and wiped away the last of her tears. She opened Zoldi's pants and began to please him.
They took a circuitous route to the Arms Factory with Zenith in the lead. He knew the terrain as well as he claimed.
Yvie couldn't shake the idea that tormenting Preela wasn't fun. She was exactly the type of passive, idealistic little princess that Yvie enjoyed destroying. Preela had suffered three days of humiliation and perversion just to be with a guy who was definitely beneath her. True, the perversions lacked any imagination, but Preela didn't know that. After everything, she'd still stripped and crawled to his feet. She was with him now, probably submitting to more bland perversions. Why wasn't this fun?
Zenith got them in through a lesser used entrance and onto the factory floor, when they were confronted by another group. Zenith raised his weapon.
"Relax," Yvie said. "That's my cousin. Xal, what brings you here?"
A chubby, middle-aged man rushed forward. "Most heavenly woman!"
Seems like Xal needed a mind trick. This wouldn't take long. After some negotiation, Moff whatever said, "Of course... beautiful... creature. Right... right this way."
Yvie rolled her eyes.
"Wow," Zenith was saying to Xal. "You're an Onoka too? That's so fascinating."
"I have a girlfriend," Xal said.
"For now," Zenith replied.
"Xal," Yvie said. "Agenord and the Republic army plan to assault this place in three hours."
"Understood," Xal said.
"Have we met?" Yvie asked Risha.
"No," she said. "But he's mentioned you. He... didn't lie."
The command codes and Zenith's knowledge of the factory layout got them to the command center unnoticed. Once they closed and locked the blast door, the assault could happen any time. They'd be safe from it. A group of Imperials stood between them and the door, a Sith Pureblood leading them.
"Darth Minax?" Yvie said.
The Pureblood nodded. "We've been expecting you."
Yvie said, "Boys, get the stragglers. This bitch is mine." She launched herself at the Sith.
They exchanged blows for a while then fell back to assess their skills.
"Have you ever fought naked?" Yvie asked while they circled each other. "I fought Lord Vivicar naked. That was fun."
"Are you an idiot?" Minax said. "This is a battle. It's life or death. Keep sex out of it."
They exchanged blows again and threw droids at each other. The other combatants gave them some room.
"Marric said you could teach me the Dark Side," Yvie told her. "I don't see it?"
Minax laughed. "You think what you're doing is the Dark Side? You're playing a game. You don't know real darkness. You don't know combat. You're a somewhat talented cunt with luck and nice tits. You're probably someone who tortures other women so you can feel better than they are. Someone has made you feel inadequate, and you take it out on those weaker than you. That's not the Dark Side. That's a child's tantrum. I fought a Twi'lek Sith Lord a few months ago. He was a professional. He treated combat like life or death, even in a sparring match. You could learn a lot from Lord Mau'te."
"Mau'te?" Yvie said in a low boil. "Of course. Mau'te. He beat you, didn't he?"
"Ten to seven," Minax said. "While he was still an apprentice. You couldn't last five minutes against him."
"You want darkness, bitch?" Yvie said. "You are so fucking dead."
In a short span of time, Minax went from arrogant to determined to worried. Yvie never gave her the chance to reach afraid. She beat Minax back, cut off one arm then the other then both of her legs. She stabbed Minax in the cunt and pulled the blade up, killing the Pureblood as slowly as she could.
"Zenith!" Yvie said. "Get this fucking door open."
"Got a problem!" Zenith said. An Imperial commando was bearing down on him. Yvie pulled the commando to her and impaled him. Zenith went to the blast door controls. He paused when he saw Minax, as Yvie had gone farther than even he could handle, but he recovered and opened the door.
They found President Galthe at the far end of the chamber, in stasis and looking like shit. Darth Lachris monitored him.
"More meddling in my affairs," Lachris said without looking up. "This is beyond tiresome, 'Zenith.'" She turned around. "I decreed that Balmorra would not become a forced-labor world, and my reward? Your insolent little rebellion. Now this-"
"Shut up, bitch," Yvie said. "It's time to die." She attacked Lachris.
Minax had been better, a lot better. Lachris was hardly worth the effort.
She activated the comm. "Tai, we have him. Lachris is dead. We're in the command center. We'll be ready when you get here. Tell Agenord Xal is here, just in case they cross paths. Yvie out. Tharan, see if you can get him out of that."
Yvie scowled at the body of Darth Lachris. She wasn't even a fun fight. Two Sith Lords and a Jedi Battlemaster, and Yvie hadn't fought any of them naked. Fighting Jasaesh naked would have been fun. Helping her train Serrus naked would have been a lot of fun, but Jasaesh was too territorial. Sure, they saved Balmorra, but so what?
"How long is this going to take?" she asked. She reached out and threw the body of Darth Lachris into a corner of the room.
Zenith said, "Based on how Sobrik went down, I'd say three hours."
"Right," Yvie said. "I'm getting naked. Join me if you want to." She stripped off her clothes, pulled over a chair, and sat down.
Qyzen sighed and shook his head, Tharan kept his eyes on the console, and Zenith didn't care, but that wasn't hard to guess.
Three hours later, she sensed Agenord above her, on his way to whatever. She sighed and got dressed.
"You can turn around now, Tharan," she said.
"Thank you, Master Yvie. President Galthe is stable and ready for transport. He will be thawed by the time we get back."
"That's great," Yvie said.
At the safe house, they were met with praise, meetings, praise, speeches, something about Galthe that she didn't listen to, more praise.
"You really killed Darth Lachris?" Serrus asked her.
"What? Yes. Dead. Not even a challenge."
"Thank you," Serrus said. "My family is truly safe, and I..." He looked at Jasaesh. "I am truly happy."
"Master Agenord?" Zenith asked.
"Gone," Jasaesh said. "The Hero of Tython is always busy."
Yeah, Yvie thought. Busy.
She spotted Preela and Zoldi in a far corner of the room. Preela's outfit was far more revealing, almost slave like in the amount of skin displayed. She refilled Zoldi's drink, found his napkin when he lost it, and brought him fresh food. He gave her the best treats, caressed her back, kissed her neck, and whispered in her ear. She leaned against him, caressed his thigh, and quivered at his words. He pulled her close, stroked her hair, and wrapped his arms around her to keep her safe. She whispered to him, he smiled, and they left.
What the fuck?
That pathetic little bitch wanted to be a pet? That was too much.
"Problem, Master Yvie?" Tharan asked, then he saw her expression and backed away.
She walked over to the map. The Imperials were broken but not gone. Pockets of resistance remained. Some soldiers where? Isolated. Lots of ground between them and Republic forces. There. She left the party and went to the shuttles. From there, she went to the Sundari outpost. She requisitioned a speeder and headed out. The sun was just setting, but she found low light goggles in the speeder pack. When she was far enough away from the Republic forces, she stopped, stripped off everything but her boots, and continued on.
The Imperials were scattered but holding the line, getting as many of their people out as possible. She stopped at the top of a hill, took macrobinoculars from the speeder, and scanned the enemy forces. They had spread themselves thin, little more than early warning at this point. Isolated groups, a lot of them in caves. Not them, not them, not them. There. Two droids, three male troopers, one female.
Yvie smiled.
She made her way to the group, destroyed the droids quickly, and attacked the troopers. They were shocked at the sight of a naked Jedi, but they recovered quickly. She beat them back into the cave and destroyed their weapons. They waited, their arms up, confused and afraid.
"Strip," she told them. They tried to cover themselves after they were naked, but she told them to keep their hands up. Not bad. Muscular, even the female. She had a pretty face and okay tits. She would do. "Tie her up," she told the men. "With her arms above her." They complied.
Supposedly, all Imperial troops were trained to be susceptible to the right mind trick. Sergeant Dorne had been an extreme case, but it told Yvie where to look. She found the commands in the minds of the men, one by one, and switched them on. For the next few hours, they would see her as a Sith Lord.
"Gag her," Yvie said. "You two, whip her with your belts. Leave welts but not scars." She needed to be healthy enough to travel. "You," she said to the third. "Pleasure me." She sat on a boulder and spread her legs. After each man had given the woman a dozen lashes, she told them to stop. She'd climaxed twice by that point. The woman begged and screamed behind the gag, but Yvie ignored her. "Get her down," Yvie said.
"Yes, my lord," one of the men said.
Whatever. "Use her. All three of you." The woman screamed again. Yvie sat back and watched until they were done. "Are soldiers ever sold into slavery?" she asked.
"Yes, my lord," the same man said. "As punishment."
"Perfect," Yvie said. "She's being punished. After I leave, the three of you can get dressed. Take her back to your base naked. She's to be sold as a slave by orders of a Sith Lord."
"It will be done, my lord," the man said.
The woman curled up into a ball and moaned.
"After that," Yvie said and thought for a moment. "Turn yourselves in to the Republic forces."
It had to be someone, Yvie thought. It may as well be her.
She went back to her speeder, rode as far as she could naked, got dressed, and returned to the Republic outpost.