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The Fett Dynasty II: Siege of Orri Prime	By : WLTDNFADED Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 3810 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Note: �Sabotage�

lyrics by the Beastie Boys

Copyright 1991

Episode 2

Chapter 9

A Reluctant Truce

The Sith Infiltrator slipped through the orbiting blockades surrounding Orri Prime as a melody might go unnoticed in a cacophonic din of noise. The ship, sized somewhat smaller than a Lambda shuttlecraft, sliced through the blackness of space, expertly weaving and dodging around Imperial TIES, shuttles, and other various craft toward the newly conquered mining world. So closely did it skim past the Imperial ships, it would have seemed impossible for it to go undetected. But even as black-helmeted pilots turned their visors in its direction, even as technicians scanned their monitors for any non-Imperial vessels, the ship passed by their unwitting eyes as a specter through a mist, spiraling down in cold fluid descent upon the mountainous northern hemisphere�

Slicing through the stratosphere, the Infiltrator continue to evade the scores of TIEs glutting the air around it. It slid, like a imperceptible bird of prey, smoothly over the disarray of smoldering townships, swarms of stormtroopers rounding up prisoners, and lumbering AT-STs below it.

A galaxy�s life away, the Infiltrator�s pilot manipulated the controls from the viscera of his cavern set deep within his dead world. He knelt still in his cave, his fingers woven together, his thumbs set upon his temples, his bared painted shoulders quaking. He needed no screen or monitor to pilot his craft�he could see all through the power of his shadowy mind, see the rolling foothills of the majestic cobalt mountains, the dense forests swaying from the force of repulsor engines soaring around them�

A soft smile curved the end of his tattooed lip as he saw a sprawling white granite palace within his mind, his Infiltrator�s destination�

* * *

�Sssshhh��

Seated in her plush desk chair and rocking her baby boy back and forth with his head nestled gently beneath her chin, I�Lai held Kai against her breast as she attempted to soothe his distressed crying. No doubt he was hungry, but� breast-feeding him at the present time was out of the question�

A quartet of TIE Interceptors roared along the smoldering skyline, spewing flame retardant over the burning wood just outside the tall glass doors of her office suite as I�Lai�s eyes scanned across the four black-armored mercenaries watching her from their posts. One was an olive-skinned Rodian; two others were humanoid, possibly half-breeds; the fourth was a charcoal-hued, one-eyed Wookiee who seemed to be in charge at the moment. Throughout the time since she had been brutally escorted from the black ship into her suite, they had exchanged crude comments in what she recognized as Huttese, a coarse language that she recognized but had never learned. I�Lai, however, needn�t have spoken the language to comprehend their meaning; the mercenaries� lascivious leers, cruel laughter, and the way they would lick their lips in her direction spoke volumes. The Force only amplified the waves of vile lust emanating from the mercs, and showed her that they wanted nothing more than to throw her down upon her desk and take their turns using her savagely�Thankfully, however, not one of them had even made the attempt to come near her�an order, no doubt, from the green-haired, bionic-visored leader who was somewhere within her palace.

Bravely, she returned their brutishly gluttonous glances with a firm yet serene countenance, despite the panic gripping her pounding heart�

Animals! Cursed animals, all of them!

Her regal manner was shattered by his voice, crashing like waves of a liquid onyx against the shores of her mind�

They dare covet you, when they should offer their necks to cradle your boot�

�Go away,� she rasped under her breath.

You disappoint me, Archae�el. You fear these insects�

�Go AWAY��

When you could so easily crush their windpipes with nothing more than your sheer will�

�STOP IT!� she screamed. �GO AWAY! GET OUT!�

The leers of the mercs surrounding her dimmed slightly, but only for a moment before they all guffawed at the outburst that they assumed was directed at them. Kai cried louder, and I�Lai coughed suddenly and harshly as she shrank back into her chair, as her lungs were still rough from the fumes of the smoldering trees just outside the garden walls. Swallowing hard, she gently cupped his tiny head and pressed a comforting kiss into his dark, downy hair as she fought back the tears welling in her eyes�When she raised her head, she gasped in surprise to see a lithe, lavender-skinned Twi�lek girl standing before her. She had been so quiet sitting in a corner of the chamber; I�Lai had completely forgotten she was there.

The Twi�lek smiled bashfully and kindly as she handed I�Lai a small glass of water. I�Lai reached up and took the glass, whispering, �Thank you,� before greedily drinking it down. When she glanced back up at the Twi�lek, it was only then she noticed the ugly purplish bruise around the alien girl�s right eye; it was only then that she felt, through the Force, the girl�s everlasting terror and utter misery. As she handed the glass back to her, I�Lai softly repeated with deep appreciation, �Thank you.�

The Twi�lek�s warm smile instantly vanished as her head snapped toward the sound of the suite door swooshing open. Quickly and fearfully, she snatched the glass from I�Lai�s hand and scurried back into her corner of the suite. The cruel smiles on the mercenaries� faces quickly blinked away, and they all jerked to attention just as the tall, broad-shouldered green-haired man entered the chamber in a fierce, determined stride.

�At ease,� the man exhaled, setting one hand on his hip and the other on his side holster as he stopped his pace. �Boys, go down into the kitchen and get yourself some grub.� His mouth hooked up in an unsettling smirk as he turned his visor in I�Lai�s direction. �I�ll take it from here.�

With grunts of hunger and snorts of lascivious understanding, the armored mercs filed out of the chamber, just as the Corellian named Hosh passed them coming in. The leather-clad man turned and gruffed, �What?�

Hosh sighed and set his jaw. �Pellaeon�s on the com with a mynock up his ass about the forest fires.�

The man returned the sigh and casually shrugged. �Tell him it was a weapon�s malfunction, and we�re REALLY sorry.�

�He also wants to know why you haven�t handed over the traitor yet.�

�What traitor? Oh yes, her. Tell him�funniest thing, but�we haven�t been able to find her yet. Seems the natives here are quite fond of their pretty governor and are hiding her well, but� we are searching the lower levels of this palace, and will contact him as soon as we have anything to report.� The unsettling smile beneath the visor only grew broader.

And I�Lai�s blood ran cold.

The Corellian replied, �Aye, sir,� and exited the chamber.

The man began to encroach upon his lovely captive and her babe. I�Lai continued to sit still and serene, staring straight ahead while she fought to control her short, startled breathing. He circled her chair slowly until he planted himself directly in front of her, folding his arms over his broad chest and, donning a cruelly charismatic smile, he murmured, �I�m ready to speak to you now.�

I�Lai�s only response was a slow, cold shifting of her eyes from the far wall directly into his blipping visor.

Dropping to one knee before her, his smile still intact, he crooned, �Forgive me my poor manners, Lady: Rather than try to shout over the thrusters of my vessel, I wanted a more private atmosphere for a proper introduction. The name is Czethros; Baron Junius bon Czethros. And you are�the Lady I�Lai, are you not?� He waited for a response. He received nothing more than a bitter stare. No matter. �It is an immeasurable pleasure to meet you, my dear.� He reached forward to grip her hand, intending to kiss it�

Only to have I�Lai angrily slap his hand away and slit her eyes into a hostile glare.

Czethros�s grin thawed into a dangerous frown as he straightened up. �So, it�s going to be like that, is it? I thought perhaps we could be civil about this, but�very well. Have it your way.� Cocking his head slightly toward the corner, he hastily snapped his fingers. Instantly, the young Twi�leki girl sprang forward at his command, coming up along his side and casting her eyes to the floor. Still glaring at I�Lai, he commanded, �Take the child.�

�NO!� I�Lai cried, pinning Kai to her chest.

�I assure you, Governor Pretty,� he snarled with menacing emphasis, �that, at the present moment, he will come to far less harm in her arms than in yours. Now hand him over.�

I�Lai took in a ragged breath just as the Twi�leki girl came forward. Kneeling before her, the girl reached up and gently touched I�Lai�s cheek. Although she spoke no words, her brilliant violet eyes softly and kindly promised I'Lai that Kai would come to no harm. Clamping her eyes to dam the torrent of tears threatening to break through, I�Lai reluctantly loosened the hold on her son and allowed the Twi�lek�s arms to gently enfold and lift him from her.

As the girl softly rocked Kai in her arms and quietly hummed him a Twi�leki lullaby, I�Lai turned her fierce glare back to Czethros. �What is the meaning of this invasion? What is happening to my people? I demand that you tell me��

�You are in the position to demand NOTHING, madam,� Czethros barked. He paused. �Whereas I am in the position to demand whatever I wish. And the first thing I wish to know is�� He bent down slightly, just so his blinking red eye shone directly into hers, and murmured softly, �Where�s your baby�s daddy?�

I�Lai blinked. �Excuse me?�

�The father of your bastard,� Czethros clarified with deliberate emphasis as he tugged his black leather gloves off his hands �Where is he?�

In spite of the anxiety now gripping her, outwardly I�Lai remained poised and stoic as she answered, �I fail to see the significance of that question. Grand Moff Denivrian died over a year ago, months before his son was even bor��

I�Lai�s sentence was abruptly cut off by Czethros knuckles striking her across the cheek.

A resonant CRACK! reverbed off the marble walls just as pain exploded throughout the side of I�Lai face. Reeling, she caught herself just before she fell from her chair, and the pounding of blood thundered in her ear so loudly, she could barely hear Czethros snarl, �Wrong answer.�

(And somewhere, in a modified Kuat Firespray racing through the tumult of hyperspace, an armored bounty hunter felt the sharp blow of a bare-knuckled strike spread through his own cheek�)

Stunned and cupping her face, I�Lai sat for a brief second before slowly turning her blazing eyes back to Czethros. �You do realize that you just struck a governing official of the New Republic, do you not, Baron?�

�And do you realize, Lady,� Czethros countered as he placed both hands on the arms of her chair and leaned in close to her face, �that as a contracted representative of the Galactic Empire� I don�t care?�

I�Lai glanced briefly at the Twi�lek�s bruised face before donning a defiant smirk and adding, �Are all of the Empire�s hired guns as proficient at beating women as you are?�

His lip tugged up. �Hmm, spirited and bold as well as remarkable in face and body.� Czethros hummed through a chuckle, tilting his head just slightly as he regarded I�Lai. �Who knew, judging from that pile of scrap he insists on wearing, that the bounty hunter had such cultivated taste?� Adrenaline careened throughout I�Lai�s limbs, chilling her to her very core. �So,� Czethros continued, still leaning into her, �where is he?�

�Where is who?� I�Lai asked simply.

He took a long, frustrated draw of breath through his nose. �Where�is�Boba�Fett?�

�Boba Fett?� I�Lai giggled incredulously, feverishly playing the innocent. �Is that who you meant by �bounty hunter�? Baron, I haven�t the slightest idea what you are talking about��

Czethros, sighing in mild exasperation and running a hand over his pomaded green hair, snapped, �I detest having to consort to barbaric means, Lady, in order to extract information; therefore, I will lay it out simply for you. This system has been designated rogue by the Galactic Empire. This �invasion�, as you so call it, is merely the Empire reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. I am to hand you over to the Admiral of that Destroyer hovering over our heads, who will then take you to where you will be tried and executed as a traitor.� Again, he placed both hands on the arms of I�Lai�s chair and leaned in close. �Does that answer your earlier questions?� he hissed into her face. I�Lai said and did nothing but glare into his blinking bionic eye.

Suddenly and quite unexpectedly, Czethros smiled�not his usual overconfident smirk, but a soft, almost kind smile�as he reached up and gingerly ran his fingertip underneath her jaw line. �However, I can keep that from happening, beautiful lady. Would you like to know how?�

�I�m all ears,� I�Lai whispered astringently.

Czethros caught the sarcasm, ignored it, and continued. �I can tell the Admiral you were accidentally killed in the incursion. Incinerated by a stray cannon blast, so there would be no trace of your body left. And you could simply remain here for the rest of your natural born days�as the concubine to the new governor of Orri Prime.� The fingertip trailed off her chin to slide suggestively down the pale column of her throat. �Judging from your past, you�ve had plenty of practice over the years; I�d think you would be quite good at it by now.�

A low, bitter laugh escaped I�Lai�s lips as she continued to glare into Czethros�s eye. �And just who is this new governor of Orri Prime to be, Baron?�

�Well, beautiful lady�� The fingertip continued downward, lightly tracing over her collarbone. �I think we both know the answer to that question.�

�So,� I�Lai breathed, remaining steady and calm while forcing the nausea down at the touch of this reptile, �all I have to do is bed with you, and you�ll spare my life?� Again, she laughed sourly. �How� juvenile. You don�t ask for much, do you?�

�Oh, on the contrary,� Czethros corrected as he leaned in so close, his lips were mere millimeters from hers. His honeyed tone suddenly becoming menacing, his blipping red eye holding steadfast in hers, he hissed, �I never ask for anything.� A small smile of sadistic satisfaction crossed his lip as he watched the bravado in I�Lai�s eyes seep away. �You see, I�m afraid the deal is a bit more complex than that. For one thing, all company holdings, all deeds, all accounts, and this palace will be signed over to me, after its seizure by the Galactic Empire. The people of this planet-- as well as any Imperial personnel involved in this matter-- will be informed of your unfortunate �demise� as well, and hence will be returned to the life of servitude they knew before. You will remain here, under the watchful eyes of my various agents, for the rest of your days, where you will strive to please me in any way I demand. If you do not�well�my means of discipline can be somewhat� severe, as you have just experienced.�

�Is that all?� I�Lai queried flippantly, trying to maintain her brave composure.

�Not quite,� he answered curtly, backing away and rising to his feet. �You will, of course, bear me an heir, as you have proven yourself to be fertile.� He turned slightly over his shoulder toward the Twi�leki and hissed cruelly, �Unlike some.� He turned back. �Oh, and another thing�you will be shared with my second in command.�

As if the deal being described wasn�t loathsome enough. �W-what?� I�Lai stammered.

�Jober. You remember him�the large mutant Bothan with whom you shared the romp through the meadow?� I�Lai�s eyes grew wide with horror, and he mockingly sighed. �I�m afraid I did promise him a tumble or two with you. What can I say? He has a strange penchant for human females, and� he likes you.�

I�Lai�s lip quivered, and her skin crawled with utter revulsion. �You�re joking.�

�I wish I were, my dear. But a promise is a promise, after all��

�Why are you doing this?!� I�Lai exclaimed suddenly, jumping to her feet, balling her fists at her sides and meeting Czethros�s bionic glare dead on. �I nor my people have done you any harm in any way! I don�t even know who you are! What horrendous thing could I possibly have done��

�WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?� Czethros roared, backing her into her chair and slamming his palms onto the arms, trapping her. �She asks me what she has done! Well, then I will tell her what she has done! Absolutely nothing! She has done nothing but exasperate me and mock me and refuse to cooperate, and I am growing tired of her insolence!� With astonishing speed, he reached behind I�Lai�s neck and grabbed a fistful of her hair, jerking her head forward and eliciting a sharp, pained cry from her. �I have presented you with the most munificent offer that the whore of a two-credit bounty hunter deserves,� he snarled into her face, �but it all hinges on one thing: And that is you tell me where Boba Fett is!�

�I don�t know where he is!� she cried, struggling against his grip.

Czethros tightened his vicious hold even more. �So you admit you know him! You admit that he is your lover!�

�No!�

�If you do not tell me where he can be found, I will hand you over to Empire without a second glance! If you do, then you will remain alive�so you will have the distinct pleasure of watching while I strap him to a table and gouge out his eyes!�

Thrashing to free herself and driven more by raw instinct than lucid thought, I�Lai reached up and, her fingers curled into claws, raked her nails down and across Czethros�s cheek. Czethros howled in pain and released her hair, bolting to his feet, and cradling the four fresh furrows on his face. When he brought his hand away, his palm was seeped in blood.

He stared at his bloodied hand for a long moment. He raised his visor toward I�Lai, who still sat cringed in her chair, panting uncontrollably. Rage flooded through him as he stepped toward her. �You little BITCH!� he roared, bringing his hand back and striking her once again across the face.

I�Lai careened from her chair to hit the floor hard on her knees and elbows. As she slowly raised her head, a dark fire began to smolder in her heart�

That�s it, Archae�el! Embrace the rage�

She turned a slow, menacing glare toward the furious and bleeding Supreme Vigo, her lips pulled back into a vicious snarl�

Gorge upon the hatred feeding your heart�

Her slit eyes focused directly on Czethros�s throat�

He dare strike his queen, his GODDESS? It is time to teach this upstart thug a lesson, I think�

Enraged, Czethros took another step toward the fallen girl�but then stopped when he felt his throat constrict. He frantically struggled to take a breath, but the only sounds coming from him were the sickening squeaks of strangulation. His hand wrapped around his throat as his body seized and tensed, and he stumbled back to brace himself against the far wall. The Twi�leki girl�s eyes darted anxiously from I�Lai to Czethros, failing to comprehend why her master was suddenly dying before her. As his face turned blue, I�Lai, watching him through the veil of her thick hair thrown over her face, slowly, maliciously, grinned�

But the swoosh of the door opening instantly broke I�Lai�s concentration. Her head snapped up and away from the choking Vigo as her Force-hold on his throat was broken. Czethros collapsed against the wall as he hungrily and desperately filled his starved lungs with ragged gasps of precious air�

�Boss!� Jober exclaimed, stepping into the chamber toward Czethros. �What happened? You OK?�

Still panting, Czethros threw a fierce, yet somewhat confused, bionic glare at I�Lai, who still knelt on all fours and glowered at him with the heat of murder in her eyes. He rubbed his raw throat as he pushed himself upright off the wall. �I�m�I�m fine,� he rasped.

�Boss, you were choking��

�I said I�m fine!� Czethros growled. He took a long, calming breath through his nose, and then cracked his neck before marching impatiently toward Jober. �What is it, Jober? What do you want?�

The large Bothan seemed to waver for a moment, as though he were having trouble keeping his equilibrium. He nodded toward Czethros. �There�s an old woman who wants to talk to you,� he murmured, almost too softly.

Czethros paused, tilting his head slightly as he asked, �You interrupt me to tell me an old woman wants to talk to me?�

Jober absently nodded. �Yeah.�

�And?�

�I think you should go talk to her,� Jober muttered, shaking his head as though he were trying to clear it.

Czethros stepped toward Jober. �How old is she?�

�Real old.�

�Pfft,� Czethros scoffed, turning back toward I�Lai, �kill her.�

�I�� Jober twisted his lips over his fangs and clenched his eyes closed. �I can�t.�

The Vigo stopped and turned once again. �What do you mean you can�t?�

�I mean I can�t kill her.� Jober�s voice was low, hoarse, as if he had just woken. �I try to pull the trigger, and my finger won�t move. I�I can�t get near her. My feet are just�stuck. The other guys tried too�same thing.� He lifted his bleary eyes to Czethros. �She�she wants to talk to you. It�s�important that she talks to you.�

�Jober, what the hell is wrong with you?� Czethros snapped as he strode toward his second. Jober�s only response was a lost, unfocused look. Exasperated, Czethros barked, �Fine, I�ll talk to her. I�m not getting anywhere here anyway. Where is she?�

�The kitchen, feeding the boys.�

�All right. You stay here and keep watch.� He stepped toward the door, but then stopped. He turned back. �Oh, and Jober?�

The Bothan lifted his gaze. �Yeah, what is it, Bos��

Without any warning, Czethros�s closed fist slammed into Jober�s muzzle. Howling and reeling, Jober was about to fall when Czethros caught him by the waist and hurled him face first into the nearest wall. Grabbing him by his armored shoulder, Czethros spun him around and spit into his face, �That was for the little stunt you pulled out there with Fett�s woman!�

�Come on, Boss,� Jober moaned, wiping a paw across his newly bloodied lip, �we were only having a little fun��

�Well, your �fun� cost me two Kuat Snipers and one of my best men!� He lodged his forearm into Jober�s throat as he hissed, �Listen carefully, because I will only say this once�you are EXPENDABLE, do you hear me? I don�t care how long you�ve been with me; I will not tolerate that kind of stupidity! Understand!�

With his head forced back against the wall, Jober stared meekly down his snout at his infuriated boss. �I�I understand, Boss. I�m�sorry.�

Czethros glared at his second before releasing Jober from the wall. �And HANDS OFF, Jober. You can�t have her until I say so. Understand?�

�Yeah, Boss,� Jober answered, sulking and humiliated.

�Good.� He backed toward the door, shooting his glare over the chamber, before saying, �I�ll be back,� and striding through the door.

The second Czethros was gone, I�Lai bolted to her feet and rushed toward the Twi�leki holding Kai. �Please, please give him back,� she sobbed softly. Very gently, the girl slid Kai into I'Lai's open arms. Kai immediately began to loudly cry as I�Lai moved back to her chair, hushing and cooing to him.

Kai�s sharp wails pealed off the chamber�s ceilings�right into Jober�s highly sensitive Bothan ears. �Can�t you shut that brat up?� he barked ferociously, still burned from Czethros�s furious reproach.

I�Lai turned her tear-drenched face toward the Bothan. �He�s hungry.�

�Then FEED him!�

She hesitated for a moment, realizing there was nowhere private in the chamber she could go. Reluctantly, she turned her chair toward the back corner of the room�Only to have Jober stride over and plant himself in front of her. �Did I say you could turn around?� he growled.

I�Lai swallowed hard. �I would like a little privacy�please,� she asked softly. She lifted her gaze to meet the Bothan�s slanted eyes. �It�s polite.�

Jober regarded her for a moment, a lustful growl resonating low in his throat. Reaching down, he slid a furred finger under I�Lai�s chin and lifted her head, perusing the newly swelling bruises left there by Czethros�s blows. Letting out a brief snort, he dropped her chin and circled behind her, allowing her the privacy she requested. Cradling Kai in one arm, she adjusted her tunic open, unsnapping the support garment and freeing her breast for Kai, whose cries instantly vanished as he began to feed.

Standing behind her, Jober crossed his arms over his armored chest. �You killed my friend, you know.�

�I didn�t kill him,� I�Lai replied as simply as she could, despite the guilt gnawing at her heart. �I was only trying to protect my son. Your friend killed himself.�

�Mmmm,� Jober hummed, leaning down over the back of the chair. �That may well be. But I�m still upset with you.� Again, she heard the lascivious growl emanate from his throat. �But maybe you can give me some�incentive to forgive you.�

�You should be ashamed of yourself,� I'Lai snapped. �The Bothans are a peaceful, intellectual, and artistic people hailed for their skills in diplomacy! How could you possibly disgrace your clan as to become a common thug?�

�In case you hadn�t noticed, Pretty,� Jober snarled, coming around to crouch in front of her. I�Lai immediately pulled her long raven hair to conceal her exposed breast and pulled Kai even closer to her. �I am three times the size of a normal Bothan, which means I am a genetic mutation! Yeah sure, my people are peaceful and intelligent�unless you�re born a freak! Then they exile you from their clan quicker than jumping to hyperspeed! So don�t give me any lectures about my �people�! I found my people.�

�A band of cutthroats and murderers, led by a sociopath who couldn�t care if you lived or died,� I�Lai replied dourly.

Jober�s lip curled away from his fang in a slow snarl as he leaned in close to I�Lai�s face. �You talk too much. I have better uses for your mouth, Pretty,� he hissed in a rasped whisper. The snarl morphed into a hungry sneer, and his nostrils flared. �I like the way you smell.� Slowly, he picked up a pawful of I�Lai�s hair from her breast, bringing it to his nose and inhaling deeply. He leaned in even closer, just so the tip of his snout was at her ear, and growled, �I am going to enjoy you.�

The revulsion in I�Lai�s stomach slowly boiled into a serene fury. The dark fire had returned, firing every nerve, every fiber in her sinews. Her fear had dissipated, and her voice was low, almost inhuman when she growled back, �Get your filthy paw off me, you fucking animal.�

�Well, well,� Jober chuckled as he leaned back from her ear, �Such language from such a pretty doll�� His humor, however, was short-lived. As he met her glare, the hungry sneer drawing his lips immediately melted away�

I�Lai�s lips were pulled back in a subtly ferocious snarl, as though she were bearing her own fangs, and a soft but intensely resonant growl rippled from the depths of her throat. And instead of finding eyes of brilliant teal, Jober found himself staring into crystal points that flashed silver white.

He rose to his feet and backed away from her as a fearful bafflement clutched at his insides. I�Lai continued to glare at him, although her eyes were slowly darkening back into their normal blue-green hue. She tipped her head up as she softly yet firmly ordered, �You will stand over there and leave me alone while I feed my son.�

Hesitant yet strangely powerless to argue, Jober nodded once and continued to back away, stopping only when he reached the far wall. First the one in the kitchen, and now her, Jober thought as he ran a nervous paw over his muzzle. What the hell kind of place is this�?

* * *

As the doors slid closed behind him, Czethros stopped and fell back upon them, panting profusely. Unconsciously, his hand lifted to rub his throat as he tried to make sense of what just happened. It was still raw, tight, and distended, proving that he had not imagined the attack from�from�her? Fett�s woman? No, that was impossible! She was on the ground, on her knees, two meters away from him�but he recalled the look in her eyes, the sadistic, satisfied smile that crept over her full lips. How could�Had she just tried to kill him�with her mind? And now that he was actually thinking about it... Jober had told him she was running through the field, with Ca�ckalo chasing her� and that he had crashed the Sniper just minutes before Czethros had swung the Dama Fortuna around to retrieve him. If she was in the field�just how the hell did she get on that mountain ledge twenty meters above it? And just exactly how did Ca�ckalo crash his Sniper�?

He suddenly broke out into a cold sweat. Sure, he had heard the stories. Stories about how�what were they called�Jedi could move things with their minds, read people�s thoughts, be able to perform superhuman feats of strength and agility�and for some odd reason, he suddenly thought of Prince Xizor and his unrelenting hatred for the Lord Vader, whom he had always called �that black-hearted Jedi sorcerer��

A chill ran down Czethros�s spine before he shook it off. �Jedi! Yeah, right!� he muttered sourly as he pushed himself off the doors and began stomping down the corridor. �She�s as much of a Jedi as I am a pre-school marm! The Jedi are dead, gone! And good fuckin� riddance!�

He had marched around several corners and had come to the top of a lavish white marble staircase when a realization suddenly struck him. He double backed a couple steps to peer down the hall he had just traveled, then turned and looked down the opposite end. Stepping toward the first stair, he peered down into the grand�and empty�foyer of the palace while listening to the complete silence. His men, who were supposed to be patrolling the corridors, were nowhere to be found. �What the fuck�Trodeccu!� he roared, his voice echoing off the glistening finishes of marble and granite. �Splitter! HOSH!�� Again, no answer but the resonance of his own voice.

Czethros drew his lips into a thin angry line as he hopped down the stairs two at a time. As he hit the landing, he charged straight ahead toward the kitchen area, still calling for his missing crew while his hand immediately went to his sidearm�

As he came to the end of the corridor, he could hear the clinking of utensils against dishes coming from around the corner as well as�humming? A woman�humming? Slowly, Czethros stepped around the corner toward the shaft of light coming from the kitchen, his hand steadied on his blaster, until he had reached the door and peered around the jamb�

There were his men, all three dozen of them, inside. They were seated at and on top of long metal servants� tables, all of them eating stew out of their bowls. Besides the sounds of chewing and slurping and an occasional grunt of satisfaction, they were all completely silent, and they all looked glassy-eyed and incoherent�just like Jober had�

At the far end of the kitchen stood an old woman in front of a large stove, her back to the door. Somewhat tall for a woman her age, dressed in simple garb and her whitish-gray curling hair pinned into a neat bun, she hummed brightly as she stirred a huge pot with one hand while tossing in herbs with the other.

Czethros�s nostrils flared wide as he slid his jaw to the side. �What the FUCK is going on here!� he bellowed. Despite the apparent rage in his tone, the armored men hardly flinched�they merely looked up from their bowls to stare at him incoherently before returning to their meal.

The woman at the stove turned over her shoulder slightly, and exclaimed jovially, �Baron Czethros! How lovely of you to join us! Please, come in!� Turning back to her cooking, the woman gestured to her side. �You�ll find bowls and spoons over there on the counter. Don�t worry�I�ve made plenty! You won�t go hungry, that�s for sure!� Chuckling, she added musically, �Ah, a wonderful invention, stew! Nothing better for feeding the masses, don�t you agree? Of course, if stew is too�plebian for your cultured tastes, Baron, I can always fix you something else��

�WHY AREN�T YOU PATROLLING THE PALACE!� Czethros roared at his men, stomping toward the end of one of the tables and flipping the bowl of the olive-skinned Rodian. Meat, broth, and vegetables flew in all directions as the Rodian, as did the others seated at his table, merely gaped at Czethros blankly. �You�re supposed to be guarding the prisoners, and watching for��

�I assure you, Baron,� Nikoa soothed in a motherly tone, turning around toward the cutting table. �All the house staff is locked away in the ballroom, safe and snug. And I wouldn�t worry about anyone coming around. All is well.� With that, she lifted the large chef knife off the table and proceeded to cut up fruit. �Gwizzil, do you want some more?�

�Eeepo needa, pwease,� the scarred and battered Rodian answered as sweetly as a teacher�s pet.

�Well, get your bowl and come get it.�

�Gwizzil, what the hell is wrong with you!� Czethros demanded furiously. Gwizzil completely ignored him as he went back up to the stove to refill his bowl. �What the hell is wrong with all of you!� Angrily, he spun toward the old woman. �What have you done to them!?�

Nikoa, still focused on cutting the fruit, smiled. �I�ve merely fed your hungry men, Baron. And in doing so�calmed them.�

�You�ve drugged them!�

�I�ve done no such thing,� she replied simply, lifting the sliced fruit into a bowl. �If you ask me, they have too many substances in their systems as it is! All I�ve done is merely�well�I don�t think you�d understand.�

Enraged, Czethros stormed across the kitchen. He pulled his blaster out of its holster and aimed the barrel directly at the old woman�s forehead. �I understand that it�s time for you to die, you withered old bitch!�

�Oh, please, Baron, calm yourself,� Nikoa chuckled, wiping her hands on her apron. �You don�t want to kill me.�

�Oh, really,� Czethros snarled, pressing the barrel into the top of her head, �And why is that?�

�Because�I�m the only one happy to see you.� The old woman�s tone suddenly turned from bright to forebodingly serious as she lifted her gaze from beneath her brow to glare into his bionic visor. �I�m the one who brought you here.� She lifted the bowl, offering its contents. �Parsin fruit?�

Czethros frowned even more �You�what?� He shook his head. �No, no, Burl Thutchen brought me here.�

�Oh, Burl!� Nikoa chirped. �And how is Burl?�

�Dead.�

She pursed her lips and sighed lightly through her nose. �Pity. Oh, my!� she gasped, setting the bowl down and reaching toward Czethros�s face. �She did some damage, didn�t she?�

�Huh? Oh,� he muttered, touching the four gashes on his cheek.

Nikoa came around the table to set her hand on his broad shoulder. �Baron, sit. Let me tend to those scratches before they get infected.�

�I don�t have time for�� Czethros roared.

�SIT. DOWN.� Nikoa ordered with quiet wrath, pointing to a stool at the counter.

Czethros took a step to lunge at the woman, but stopped suddenly when he noticed her eyes. Already a dark hue, an ominous red ring encircled her irises, making them appear as smoldering coals, and he could swear he had just smelled a whiff of sulfur coming from her pores�hesitantly and not exactly sure why he was doing so, Czethros obeyed.

Nikoa�s sinister expression instantly evaporated back into her sweet, motherly smile. �That�s better. Now, let me just get the med kit.� She turned around the counter and bent down to reach into a cupboard.

Holding his blaster in his lap and touching his face again, he gritted his teeth as he hissed, �I better not be scarred, or the little hellcat will pay dearly!�

�Actually, no she won�t, Baron,� Nikoa corrected as she came back, med kit in hand. Setting it down on the counter and opening it, she added simply and quietly, �And from this moment on, you will never touch her again. Do you understand?�

�What!� he scoffed incredulously. �Why, you presumptuous hag! Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like this!�

�Me?� Nikoa shrugged. �I�m nothing more than a humble servant.� She stopped applying bacta solution onto a swath for a brief moment, lifting her smoldering glare to face him again. In a voice as sharply delicate as tempered steel, she added, �However, if you want to get off this planet ALIVE, Czethros, it would behoove you to hold your volatile temper in check and listen to my every word.�

The derisive smirk melted from Czethros� lip as he was held in the snare of the old woman�s eyes. �What do you mean, old womant oft off alive?�

Nikoa clucked her tongue against her teeth as she began dabbing the bacta solution onto Czethros� gashes. �For someone as devious and ruthless as you are, Czethros, you are so delightfully na�ve.� She cocked her head slightly. �You have set foot in the Empire�s most secret installation, and you know its coordinates.� Her voice dropped even lower. �Do you honestly believe the Imperials are going to let you live?�

Almost instinctively, Czethros� shoulder blades tensed, and his throat constricted. The chill in his spine returned. Slowly, he turned his glare. �You�re crazy. They won�t kill me. They need me.�

�Do they?� Nikoa asked casually. �Haven�t all monetary transfers been signed and approved? And don�t you think they�ve made a copy of your electronic signature already?� Czethros� face dropped. Nikoa chuckled murkily. �This is the Empire we�re talking about, Czethros. Did you really think Daala would keep her word? With your signature, they can crack into every single code in your banking establishments. Pair that with a holographic image of your face, and�well, let�s just say, you won�t be missed. They�ll take over all your Ord Mantell operations, clean out your accounts, use them as their own, and no one will even know you�re dead.�

His shoulders began to shake with rage. �No, NO! They can�t do that to me!� He leapt of his stool, gesturing wildly with his blaster toward his oddly subdued men still seated at the tables. �They gave us armor, weapons! They gave us a fucking Destroyer! Why would they do all that if they were just going to kill me?�

Nikoa folded her arms over her thin chest, and tilted her head to the side. �Ah yes, the armor.� She cocked an eyebrow. �Have any of your men sustained a hit in that armor, Czethros? Do you even know if it works?�

Czethros staggered for a moment, his lips twisting into a grotesque grimace over his teeth. He turned viciously. �Gwizzil! Get up!�

As the Rodian dazedly stood up from his seat, Czethros aimed his blaster and shot him in the shoulder. The red bolt of energy shot through Gwizzil�s shoulder guard as easily as a spear through parchment. Chips of black plasteel and geysers of dark blood exploded in all directions as Gwizzil dropped into a squealing heap on the floor.

All color drained from Czethros face beneath his visor as he lowered the blaster to his side. �Pick him up and get him to the med center,� he ordered in a low rasp. As two of the mercenaries rose from their seats and carted Gwizzil out the door, Czethros slowly turned toward Nikoa, who still stood calmly, her arms folded.

�Do you understand now, Baron?� Nikoa asked in a softly gentle manner. �If you bring I�Lai up to their Destroyer, they will execute you and your men on the spot. If you do not, they will simply come and kill you here. You can�t win, and there is no escape. You were doomed from the very beginning.�

�How do you know all this?� he demanded breathlessly, stepping toward her slowly. �How do you know about Daala, and my bargain with the Empire? How did you��

�I told you, Baron. I brought you here. This was all arranged.�

Dread seared through Czethros� limbs as he came face to face with the old woman, who was obviously, dangerously more than she appeared� �Who the hell are you?�

She lifted her gaze to meet his visor, and again, her dark eyes smoldered red, with tiny points of wan yellow sparking through them. �I am�� she began, her voice darkly resonant and almost mannish, �a messenger.�

The room began to swim behind the woman in his sights, and he hastily grabbed the countertop to keep from wavering. �A messenger? From whom?�

�From he who will give you everything you desire, Baron�and more.� Slowly, she began to circle around him as she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, and her tone became that of a velvet lullaby. �My Master has been watching you for quite some time now. You possess the qualities needed: ambition, cruelty, intellect, tenacity, and leadership, but�you are undisciplined, reckless, reactive and myopic. My Master can broaden your mind, and hone your wildness into deadly precision.� She stopped behind him, standing on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear, �And you will be rewarded beyond your wildest imagination.�

Czethros managed a soft sardonic chuckle, despite the dark fog seeping into his consciousness. �My imagination can be substantially wild, old mother,� he murmured. �Tell me, this master of yours�can he give me�the galaxy?�

Having come back to his front, Nikoa stopped and gazed into his visor as she simply answered, �Yes, Baron. He can.�

Czethros stared down into the old woman�s face. The computer ship within his visor de-scrambled the code the red vision sensor scanned, creating a three-dimensional image of her face within the visual receptors in his brain. It was only then that he really looked at her, at the oval bone structure of her withered face, the set of her wide, dark eyes, the high-arced cheekbones, the thick curl of her pinned-back hair� �Why do you look�� he whispered drowsily, �familiar to me�?�

She smiled gently, tilting her chin upwards. �And who do I look like, Baron?�

He felt as though a curtain had just been pulled over the window of his mind� �I�don�t�remember��

�Then it is of no importance, is it?� Her smile grew sweeter, broader as she gingerly cupped his face. �Tell me, Junius�are you willing to abandon this useless vengeance? Would you trade this blood feud with this paltry, insignificant bounty hunter for the opportunity to lead vast armadas? To overtake and crush anyone who has ever opposed or betrayed you? To have wealth and power beyond any mortal coil? To shape�an Empire?� She raised her face to just centimeters of his own. �To SEE again?�

A vision morphed into Czethros� mind, clearer than any image his visor could relay. Nikoa�s face began to change, growing wider, longer, masculine. Her hair receded away from her forehead, transforming into small horns a top her head�and the sallow of her complexion deepened and swirled into slashes of scarlet and black while her eyes burned into twin pyres of flame�and her hands became hot against his cheeks as the sterile white of the surrounding kitchen darkened into an onyx landscape slumbering under a crimson sky�

A slow, blissful smile spread his mouth. He felt his heart swell within his chest, and he felt his loins pulse with anticipation of absolute power�Gently, almost lovingly, he raised his hand to touch the hand on his cheek. �Yes,� he whispered.

�Then,� the grotesquely beautiful visage of black and red tattoos murmured silkily, �listen well, my lieutenant��

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The Fett Dynasty II: Siege of Orri Prime