Chapter 1

The cantina was uncomfortably crowded and it had that foul smell of body odors from various species all mixed together with the bitter smoke from cheap pipes. While taking a seat at the bar, the hooded Sith Lord motioned for some attention.

"What will it be for you?" the Twi'lek asked. He was a common pasty white color with one head tail proudly wrapped around his shoulders.

"Zabrak Ale," Maul answered in a low voice, then pulled his hood down further over his eyes and took out a tiny datapad. Beside him there were two men, one human, one Neimoidian having an overly loud conversation. It would have been easy to block out their chatter, but something they said caught his attention. As he took his ale and nodded to the barkeep, he focused to listen.

"So what," the human said. "I've seen them blue, green, white what do I need to see a red one for? Besides, I don't have the credit line to front up that kind of money."

The Neimoidian, speaking with a speech impediment agreed, "It ith a shteep price, but if you could thee her blood red color, you would be intoxthicated, my friend."

"Well, if I thought I'd get more out of it than a massage, I'd think about it. But the girls over at Smallip's place are strictly legal, blast them."

"That all dependth on the amount of your credit line," the Neimoidian laughed.

Maul downed his drink and threw a few credits on the bar. He had never heard of a red Twi'lek before. There were red Happes and other species of lesser beauty that came in his master's favorite color, but a Twi'lek, and a female one at that.

Walking through the streets of Bos Greesli, currently one of the lesser-visited cities in Tatooine, Darth Maul quickened his step to find Smallip's Pit. He had a single day left before he had to leave to report back to his master on Coruscant and if he could secure this prize, his failure on this mission may not cost him as dearly as last year. He was sent here for the fifth year in a row to find the force sensitive creature his master swore was on this planet somewhere. But whoever the being was, even with his tracking skills, Maul was eluded.

Little about the Pit resembled a pit. Walking through the domed doors, the small building's lavishness struck Maul as an unexpected treasure in this small town. He stepped into the crowded waiting room onto polished marble floors, obviously imported from the likes of Naboo herself. Blue velvet curtains lined the walls and brass bars bracketed the stairs and front desk area. An added insult to the desert planet's poorest common folk came in the form of a small fountain in the room's center. Its trickling water filled the vast entryway with light music, one nearly unheard of on. Definitely a place where one might find a creature as rare as a red Twi'lek.

He found his way to the front counter, past the other, unusually quiet patrons, a few wearing similar cloaks and hoods as his.

"I'd like to make an appointment," he said to the male Twi'lek, this one with two head tails and a tinge of green color in his skin.

"Name?" he asked, not even looking up his customer.

"Mr. Anonymous," Maul said.

The Twi'lek looked up at him and smiled. "Mr. Anonymous? We seem to take in quite a few of those." He paused and then added, "No matter, please take a seat and the next available hostess will be with you."

"I don't want the next available hostess," Maul said quietly. "I'm interested in a specific female. A red Twi'lek."

"Are you now?" Again he provided a small mocking smile to his customer. "I know without even checking the schedule that you are in bad luck today. You'll have to make an appointment for tomorrow."

"I will see her today," he said, calmly, using a Force suggestion to persuade

"You will see her today," the Twi'lek smiled. Then turning he called out, "Ofda!"

The door behind him opened and he spoke in the Twi'lek native tongue. A small shrill voice returned an answer and for a second, Maul was about to abandon the entire exchange until he saw the bright blue Twi'lek stick her head out and look at him. Red or no, a voice such as that would have been intolerable in even a purely aesthetic trophy consort.

The greenish man turned back around and smiled, "I'm sorry. What time tomorrow will be convenient?"

Maul raised his hand, barely stopping himself before he crushed the Twi'lek's larynx. Instead he pointed and demanded, "I will see her today and I will see her NOW."

"You will see her today, and you will see her now," the green Twi'lek repeated. He turned and spoke again to the woman in the back. The shrill voice broke out in anger in the back room and the male, thanks to fierce Force probing from Maul, continued to insist. Finally they seemed to reach an agreement. The Twi'lek turned and said, "You may go in now."

Maul turned and smiled. "Thank you," he said. Then he followed the blue female through a set of doors into a corridor. She didn't speak with him, but instead looked extremely annoyed and unafraid. Finally they reached a room and she chirped something at him that he brushed off as he entered. The room was less ornate than the lobby, with white walls and a long narrow table in the center. Other than that, there was no furniture. He stood facing the door, arms crossed and waited.

A click sounded behind and he spun around, seeing a hidden door begin to open a mere sliver of a crack. His response to potential danger relaxed as the Twi'lek stepped in. Dressed in a black mesh jumper that accentuated every curve, her body color echoed the red of the tattoo ink on his forehead.

"You've caused quite a disturbance," she said. "You must have a great need to be so insistent on seeing me." She closed the door quietly behind her and eyed his still defensive stance with a touch of dread. Then she said, "You don't actually think I'm a threat to you?"

He crossed his arms and explained his position to her without hesitation. "I have come here to make you an offer. To purchase your freedom, if you will come with me and take employment with my master. We will pay you well."

His offer seemed to leave her without words. She placed a red hand on the white stone table and drew an imaginary circle with her scarlet finger. Her lips parted slightly and then closed. Her gaze flashed up to his shadowed face.

"May I see the face you hide?" she asked politely.

With a deep sigh of intolerance, he reluctantly did as she asked. She blinked at him, with wide-amazed eyes.

"Who are you?" she asked. "I can see that you are Zabrak but what are those markings?"

"My master will explain everything to you in time," he said.

"Who is this person you call your master? Are you a slave?" she asked.

A smile crept across his lips. "No, I am not a slave. And I serve a Senator of the Republic who requires the services of a masseuse from time to time. I call him master out of respect for his wisdom. He, in turn calls me Lord Maul. You may do so as well."

"But Lord Maul, of all the other Twi'lek's here, why choose me?" she asked, obviously feigning innocence. But he could sense through the Force that there was another air to her, as though she wanted him to believe her to be naïve and innocent.

He narrowed his eyes, attempting to read more of her. Then she added, "Is it because you find me so devastatingly beautiful?"

"Perhaps it is merely the rarity of your race," he said, amused at her vanity.

"Ah…" she said. "But…" she said as she rubbed her hand on the stone table. "Let me give you a demonstration of my talents so that you may set your bidding price at the proper level."

As tempting as the offer was, Maul knew he had no time to accept. "I trust this establishment and need no personal demonstration," he said. "I am willing to pay whatever the price."

Without hesitation she said, "Forty thousand credits?"

"You insult my intelligence," he said with a sneer. "No single slave would fetch that price, certainly not a female Twi'lek."

At this she stiffened. "I will sell for no less," she said. "I'm truly sorry if the price is too steep for your master. And since you are not here for a massage, I will leave you…"

"What makes you think you are worth forty thousand?" he asked, curious at her willingness to so readily turn down her freedom.

"Because you have said yourself, I am rare and because you are buying my freedom. If you were merely going to buy me as a slave, you might stand a chance at thirty thousand, but Jabba does not enjoy setting slaves free, even at a profit."

"Then we will tell him I am buying you as a slave and alter the deal once we arrive on Coruscant," he said. He watched her eyes fly open at the planet's name. Something in her changed, as if she was finally convinced to accept his offer.

Quickly, almost too quickly she agreed. "Very well, then I will go talk to the warden. Go to the front counter and transfer the credits to Jabba the Hutt, section four, number six. Remember thirty thousand credits. Any less and Jabba will have every Bounty Hunter this side of the galaxy on our tail." She stroked the white wall behind her and the hidden door opened. "I'll take care of the rest and meet you out front."

This was too easy, Maul thought. But though he could sense she was possibly hiding something, for the most part she seemed truthful. And nothing from her made him doubt this would settle the accounts with Jabba, so he agreed. He was already hiding his identity from tens of thousands of Jedi, adding to it a few of Jabba's bounty hunters would be of little concern. If he wasn't convinced fighting them off would be inconvenient the next time Sidious sent him to search this planet, he wouldn't even have blinked at simply taking her from Jabba.

He watched as she closed the hidden door behind her. "Thirty thousand," he mumbled, kicking open the front door. He hoped his master liked red as much as he thought he did.

**************

On the ship…

"The green Twi'lek was surprised at my credit transfer," he said grimly.

"His name is Grenup, and yes," she said with a smile, "I have no doubt he was surprised."

There was tension in her voice now. Then he sensed a hint of deception from her and turned from the controls to her. "What is it you have done, woman?"

She smiled mischievously at him, unaware he saw through to the fear she tried to hide.

"You've deceived me?" he asked, enraged at the notion a non-Force sensitive creature could have such an ability.

"No," she said, defensively, "I only played on your own prejudice."

"Explain," he demanded. It then crossed his mind that a woman capable of such a deception would certainly play well in the hands of his master.

"I was not a slave, as you so gallantly jumped to the conclusion. I have been free for almost two years, when a gracious client left his entire estate to me. As generous as his intent was, the estate was meager, and after buying my freedom, I had little left over to afford leaving Tatooine on anything but a smuggling ship." She crossed her arms in front of her and added, "Where I no doubt would have been sold right back into slavery."

"How much did you spend on your freedom?" he asked.

"Forty thousand," she said. "I didn't lie about that." Then she smiled wistfully at him, "It's easier to deceive someone if part of what you're saying is true."

Clenching his jaw, he controlled the urge to strike her. Any mark would make his master less pleased with the gift. Instead he simply asked, "And now that you have thirty thousand credits, what do you intend to do with it?"

"I have nothing," she said. "Those credits really did go to Jabba."

He glared at her, "I do not understand."

"Thirty thousand credits bought the freedom of every woman Twi'lek in Smallip's Pit," she said smiling. "Forty thousand would have bought Grenup his freedom too, but he was good-for-nothing nerf-herder who'd sell his own mother if he thought he'd get something out of it. I'm actually grateful that you pulled such a hard bargain with me."

He stared out at the passing stars and said in a low voice, "I should kill you."

After a moment of silence, in which he could sense only the slightest edge of fear from her, she asked, "Then what prize would you have to appease your master with?" Her tone was not nasty or biting, but rather sincere. "We can keep it between you and I if you prefer," she said.

"I keep nothing from my master," he said.

"Nothing at all?" she asked playfully.

"Nothing," he said. After several moments, his curiosity got the better of him. "Why would someone in your situation so quickly throw away credits?"

"I remind you, I did not throw them away. I bought the freedom of my fellow Twi'leks, many of whom after leaving Lekka go to their grave never tasting freedom again."

Her voice had an edge of anger to it that amused him. He gazed at her with a smile. As soon as she read the look on his face, she seemed to put up a guard.

"Besides, all Twi'lek females have a certain thread of philanthropy that runs through them. It's what makes us such excellent servants," she said. Then she raised her brow and added, "and lovers."

He turned away from her, feeling his own defenses spring alive. He would not speak with her the rest of the journey.

************

"Master," Maul said, bowing to the silver-haired man on a throne in the scarlet senate room.

You have someone with you?" Palpatine said. "But I sense nothing of the force (Force) from this person. Are your senses so dull that you have so misjudged?"

"No, my master," Maul said. "I was unable to locate the Force sensitive creature on Tatooine. Though I searched three, I…" And so it began. The punishment for failure and he hadn't even brought forward the Twi'lek. Maul endured the pain, trembling slightly as the invisible fingers tightened around his inner organs and squeezed his throat. His burning lungs cried out for the needed oxygen and his heart pounded against the pressure that closed around it. He listened to the chastising words he had heard too many times before.

"If the Jedi find this creature before you kill it, you will see yourself not only demoted from being my apprentice, but I will destroy you completely and in the most painful way I can fathom," Palpatine said.

Maul felt his legs weakening from lack of oxygen in the lessened blood flow and he struggled to remain erect. He knew the penalty for showing any sign of weakness was to endure more torture for even longer. Finally, the air began to flow back into his lungs and the grip on his organs released. Maul attempted to reinstate his strength as inconspicuously as he could.

"So," Palpatine said. "Who is this person you have brought to me?"

Maul steadied his low voice to speak, "A rare and exquisite creature for your state room, my master. Someone who has not only the common abilities of a trained consort, but whose craft of deception can convince even the Force sensitive."

"This is where the thirty thousand credits have gone?" Palpatine hissed. "You've bought me a slave concubine? Know you so little of my preferences to think I would be interested in a consort especially one who comes to me as a slave?"

Maul didn't even flinch. "I did not buy her, I hired her," he said.

"And since when have you become my human resource agent?" Palpatine asked, the fire of rage again in his voice.

Maul stepped back and motioned towards the door, opening it with the Force. She walked in, wearing his hooded cloak, just as he had instructed. Standing in front of Palpatine, she slowly lifted the hood and dropped it behind her. Then with grace that would rival any feline, she unfastened the collar and let the black material fall in a heap at her feet. Her red skin seemed to glow under the black mesh, revealing almost everything beneath it. She bowed slightly, her single head tail swaying behind her and then she smirked at his masters' dumbfounded face.

Palpatine stood in disbelief and stepped down out of his chair. "A Lethan Twi'lek," he said under his breath. "By the Force in me."

As he approached her, his gaze flashed at his apprentice and then back at her.

"Are you pleased, my master?" Maul asked

Palpatine ignored the question and asked the woman, "Where do you come from?"

"Lekka," she said, as if the question was strangely obvious.

"But I thought you no longer existed but in legends," Palpatine said.

Pride filled Maul's heart at his success. This would indeed ease the distaste his master had for the failure to produce the force creature. He watched the charmed softness with which his master spoke to the Twi'lek and was equally interested in the way she succumbed to it.

"May I touch you?" Palpatine asked, "To ensure that you are real and I am not dreaming."

She laughed lightly and lifted her hand to his face, brushing his with the back of it. "I am real, sir."

"What may I call you?" he asked.

"I have been Reena for as long as I can remember," she said. "But you may call me whatever you desire."

"Reena," he said as if it was a song. "I like the name Reena very much," he said. "And you may call me Augustan. Accept," he added, "in the presence of anyone but my apprentice. All other times, for the sake of protocol I must ask you to call me Senator Palpatine."

"What ever you desire, Augustan," she said.

Surely his master felt her lack of respect as clearly as Maul did. But it seemed not to matter to his master…to clarify. It was as if he was under a spell, or at least wanted her to believe him to be.

"I will have quarters established for you," he said. "Stately rooms overlooking the city. You will be treated with comfort and luxury, that I swear to add to as our relationship blossoms."

"Augustan," she said, "I can ask for no more than a small room in which to retire when I rest. Tell me, what is it you will require of me if I decide to come under your service?"

Slightly surprised, Palpatine called in an aide with the flick of a switch. "Please escort Reena to the agenda room and brief her on our represented systems. Answer any question she asks and see to it that she is comfortable at all times."

The woman aide, smiled wistfully, deeply bowed lowly and gestured for Reena to follow.

"We will discover your talents before we decide upon your role in our organization," he said to Reena.

"Thank you, Senator Palpatine," she answered.

Palpatine smiled, pleased that she had remembered his simple instruction. Once she was out of the room, he turned to Maul and folded his hands into the sleeves of his robes.

"You do not even realize what you have done," he said. "Do you, my apprentice?"

"I have pleased you?" Maul asked carefully. "This is always my intention."

"You have moved up the timetable on my inevitable reign of power," he said with a self-satisfied grin.

Maul stared at his master in. More than likely he spoke of some political strategy, which, shamefully, remained Maul's weakest ability. He could fight and destroy better than anyone alive. He could track and detain nearly anyone or anything. And he could understand the nuances of the dark and light sides of the Force with strict precision. But politics left him feeling want for comprehension.

"She will be the perfect aide for my good friend Senator Tikkes," Palpatine said as if it should make perfect sense.

"Does she not please you enough to keep her for yourself, Master?" Maul asked cautiously.

"Oh, she will remain in my employ," he said condescendingly, "But she will be like a transmitter from my mouth to Senator Tikkes pointy ears. And from his lip tendrils she will funnel his words to me. In this way I will know how to best entice him for his support."

"Will she cooperate? Can she be trusted with this task?" Maul asked.

"If she was able to deceive you, she has already convinced me of her intelligence. I need only woo her to loyalty. You have given to me not only a beautiful gift, but an invaluable one as well. I am very pleased," he said." She will deliver, or she will be sent back from where she came from. Dead, if need be," he said casually. "You, of course, will be held responsible for her failure."

Maul bowed silently, understanding that if she didn't willingly agree to work for them, it would mean his horny little head on a platter.

************

part 3

Moving through the corridor, Maul found the door and punching in the code his master had given him, gained access to her quarters. Reclining on a couch, she sat up quickly when he entered.

"I apologize for the intrusion, but I am not to be seen and waiting for your answer to my call at the door is an unacceptable risk," he said.

"Why apologize?" she said angrily, throwing her feet back up on the couch. "I'm your slave, you can treat me however you desire."

"You are not a slave here," he said walking towards her and taking a seat on a chair across a coffee table from her. He had come to convince her to cooperate with them, after Palpatine's received a discouraging report from his aide who had spent time with her. If it was true Reena was reconsidering her options rather than work for his Master, Maul was going to have to do some quick convincing.

"Then why won't Palpatine let me explore the city alone?" she snapped.

"If you would like to see Coruscant, I will be happy to escort you," he said.

"That is not freedom," she said.

"It is not freedom to be attacked, beaten or worse on the streets of this city, either," he said. "It is your safety we are looking after, that is all."

Genuinely confused, she said, "But the Jedi, they rule here on Coruscant, don't they?"

The title burned in his ear as she spoke it and he felt rage thumping in his heart as he asked, "What is your point?"

"Don't they offer protection?" she asked scornfully.

He spoke through his teeth, "To some they do."

"Then I would be safe," she said defiantly. "But neither you nor your master trusts me."

He bowed his head almost losing the temper he was restraining. "The Jedi only protect their own," he said as he stood. He walked to her and squatted in front of her, as he spoke. "A red Twi'lek such as yourself would be kidnapped off the streets before the Jedi even noticed you were there. You are a very low species and mean nothing to the great Jedi. Why do you think they do not free Lekka, or the slaves on Tatooin?" He smiled, delighting in the shadow of sadness that fell over her pained expression.

Then, the contradiction striking him even as he spoke it, he said, "You are only safe from harm as long as you remain under our protection. Do you understand?" Her eyes were wide and she said nothing so he got in her face repeating, "Do you understand?"

She nodded and said in a small voice, "Yes."

There was something about being close to her, something about the look in her eyes that disturbed him. He stood, turned away, and took a few steps to distance himself from her.

"I suppose it's possible that the lore of the Jedi is exaggerated from where I've lived," she said. He continued to look away from her, wishing she would stop speaking of those he hated. She continued. "But for people who live as we do, we always believed that the Jedi were our only hope. That someday they would come and set us free."

Maul turned his head to her, "That is the hollow dream of an empty little girl. The Jedi are as caught up in politics as the Chancellor and any of the Senators. Senator Palpatine will one day rule as Chancellor and on that day a new order will be brought into the Republic."

"Your confidence in your master is impressive," she said.

He turned completely back to her and said, "If you obey him and do as he says, you will see the wisdom in his ways."

"I have not decided if I will stay under Senator Palpatine's employment or not. If what you are saying is true, I am free, which means I could obtain a job doing anything I want. And here on Coruscant, there are more than plenty of positions for someone such as myself, I'm sure," she said. "If he was already Chancellor, I'd consider his offer, but I've looked over his constituents and he's nothing. His influence and power is barely comparable to a Bounty Hunter. I'd have been in a better position had I stayed working for Jabba."

Her words infuriated him. His master had taught him that anger was a source of power, providing strength in combat. On reflex he should have struck her for her insolence. He could force her to work for them, or black mailed her into it with threats of taking her back to Tatooine, or reselling her into slavery. But this Twi'lek was not an enemy to defeat. His master had said her place with them would be unique and she would need more than a strong hand to convince her to stay. Her fear must grow over time until her spirit was slowly broken. For now, he needed to convince her they were working on her terms. Later she would be begging to obey them on theirs. He walked up to her and knelt down beside her on the couch.

As she looked at him with dark scarlet, almost brown eyes, he felt the disturbance within him again. He stared at her blankly, no words coming to his mind to convince her. His master could weave lies that sounded like music, but he felt anything he might say would sound foolish. Yet he couldn't risk not at least trying.

"Work with us for a while, Reena," he coaxed. "We will not force you into our service, but you will quickly find reasons to stay. I guarantee it."

Then, before he could think of what to say next, she leaned forward kissing him on the lips. Her hands quickly found their way to his face and down his neck to his shoulders, pulling him towards her. When her hands began to make their way down his back to his waist, he reached behind him to grab her wrists, restraining her.

"This is not what we are paying you for," Maul said breathlessly.

"I'm not interested in you because you're paying me to be," she said.

He opened his eyes to see she had turned several shades darker than he remembered, and now her skin flushed through the black mesh, a deep blood red.

"Then why are you?" he asked, his eyes drinking in her color as if it were wine.

She leaned forward, her face a hands distance away from his. Her hot breath baked his skin as she said, "Because though you don't realize it yourself, I know it's what you really want me to do. And I can't resist giving someone what they so desperately desire."

At that invitation, Maul ripped at the clasp at his neck and threw off his cape. As he began kissing her, she laughed, delighting in the control she wielded over him. But her present disrespect didn't concern him in the least. He knew when he was done he would again have control and she would be nothing to him.

**********

When he walked into Palpatine's office half an hour later, he sensed his master's cold contempt, even more so than usual. Pushing aside the sinking feeling that eclipsed his recent conquest, Maul knelt before his master, head bowed. When he finally looked up, Palpatine's eyes were ice.

"She has agreed to work for us master," Maul said, hoping this success would still his masters fury.

"Yes," Palpatine said coolly. "I know." Then he said, "And just how were you able to convince her?"

Maul felt a chill again and before he could explain himself, his master interrupted. "You have spoiled her for me," Palpatine said. "I should make you a eunuch for your lack of will-power. I may have said I did not want a Twi'lek as a consort, but I in no way gave you permission to take her as yours."

His heart pounding in fear as he anticipated the pain that would surely follow, Maul did not risk showing further weakness by apologizing for himself. He held his head high and remained as strong as he could despite the fear that swallowed him.

Palpatine's expression turned slowly from disdain to an evil pleasure. "To show you my understanding for your animalistic instincts, I have an arrangement that will alleviate the necessity to physically punish you for this incursion. And I shall extend it to cover any such episodes in the future."

"You are my master," Maul said, bowing his head, but keeping his eyes fixed on his master's. "What is your bidding?"

Palpatine's smile seemed to get darker the longer Maul looked at him. Maul didn't believe that there could be anything worse than the pain he had been expecting, but as his master explained his humiliating request, Maul realized he couldn't have been more wrong.

**********

Months later…

"I was so relieved to finally hear you call for me, Senator Palpatine. I'm at my wits end with Senator Tikkes demands. I hoped the information I've been providing you has finally been enough so that may relieve me from his service," Reena said. As soon as she sat down across from him, he waved for his aides to leave them.

"You must be patient, Reena," Senator Palpatine coaxed. "I realize your talents are not being fully utilized with Senator Tikkes, but it is the experience on your resume that will allow me to place you in a more prominent position. And I assure you, I have more worthy positions in mind for your future assignments." His voice turned to a playful tone, "And it pleases me that you are so observant. You are correct in your assumptions. As detailed as you have been, Senator Tikkes is such an open book that the information you are providing me on his personal habits and underlining agenda is really nothing more than I could have summed up from a single conversation with him at a state dinner."

"Then you can find me another position?" she asked.

"Have you been spending your free time as I've suggested?" Palpatine asked, obviously changing the subject.

Maul listened from the other room. The fierce ache in his thigh was growing duller as the heat from the infection intensified. He closed his eyes and listened to her response.

"Yes, Augustus. Taking notes for Tikkes isn't as tedious once I learned he spends hours saying what could be said in a single sentence. In fact I've discovered his three other aides are taking the same notes that I take. Rather than waste my time, I've spent some of my time during Senate Council Meetings studying the work you've given me. In fact, I've passed all the self-training tests on the functions of medical driods with very high results. However, without an opportunity to practice these skills, I'll never be sure I've actually learned them."

Palpatine was silent for a moment. "My dear, you shall have your experience," he said. Then he called out, "Lord Maul."

Maul pushed himself to his feet, the wound screaming for attention as he put only the necessary weight on the injured limb. As he rounded the corner into Palpatine's main room, he stood erect and walked, without a limp, towards the two sitting in the center chairs.

"Lord Maul has sustained an injury that we would like you to attend," Palpatine said with a smirk. "I have acquired a few medical droids for you to assist. They wait in the hall for my summons."

Reena's eyes flashed at Maul with concern, looking him over for any obvious signs of the injury. Then she turned to Palpatine and asked, "I assume this is a test of my abilities since any minor injury could have been taken care of without my running the droids and anything major…" again she looked over at Maul with concern. He kept a stone face as she continued, "anything major and you would have seen to it that he received only the best Jedi healer, despite his xenophobia?"

Her sincerity in her concern for him was amusing to Maul. Obviously to his master as well.

Palpatine laughed lightly and stood. "On the contrary," he said, "The wound is serious enough that any other citizen would require a Jedi Healer." Palpatine smiled proudly at his apprentice, "But not Lord Maul. He requested your services."

Maul's eyes narrowed at his master, but he didn’t protest against the fabrication. In actuality, he had requested to attend to it himself and it was Palpatine that demanded this encounter. Reena, though scrutinizing his Master's claim was none-the-less flattered by the suggestion. Palpatine gestured towards the seat he had just occupied and Maul followed the direction and moved towards it. Favoring his healthy leg, he held the other out straight as he sat.

"Good," Palpatine said, "I will be in Session." And walked towards the exit. He pushed a button at the door and a few medical droids levitated into the room.

"The Senate is in session, has time flown so quickly?" Reena asked disgustedly, "I must go, I have to take Tikkes blasted notes."

"No, you stay," Palpatine said, wearing a grin.

"But if I don't go, I'll be fired," she said carefully.

"Which is the easiest way to relieve you of your duties, my dear Reena. If you quit, it will be an insult and you will never work for another senator again. In this way, you will be released to freely work for anyone who will trust my endorsement."

"Yes, Senator," she said with a small smile, "I think I understand."

She turned to her patient and slowly sat down.

"Well," she said. "How are you hurt this time?"

Maul looked up at her with a grimace. "My leg," he said. He reached down and ripped open the already gashed pant-leg, revealing the oozing wound to the air. She covered her mouth with one hand and grabbed her stomach with the other.

"If it is too gruesome for you, we can abort this exercise," he said, mocking her fragile sensibilities.

"And let your leg fall off?" she said stiffly. Then she called to the droids, "Come here and prepare his wound. Take care it looks to be infected."

She hovered around the droids as they went to work. First they tore the remainder of his pant leg off at the hip and exposed his entire leg. As soon as they began to spray antiseptic in the wound, she made a few adjustments on one of the droids.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm adding into the mix something for the pain," she said. "And don't tell me you don't need it, because I’m not a fool. You are a proud man, but you are entitled to your share of mercy."

"It's nothing I can't handle," he said, clenching his jaw. He had to admit the stinging of the antiseptic was intense. Slowly his leg began to feel numb and for the first time in the two days since he had sustained the injury he realized how much energy he had been using to fend off the effects of the pain. As the anesthesia began to take effect, he felt the heaviness on his mind lift and his thoughts became clearer. Perhaps her idea wasn't as detestable as he had thought. He looked up at her and found her eyes to be studying the droids work.

"What sort of demands is Senator Tikkes making on you?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"Nothing I can't handle," she said. She looked up at him briefly and then instructed one of the droids. The droids poked and prodded, letting out the puss that had developed in the laceration and suctioning it up through a collection tube.

"Who did this to you?" she asked, trying to sound equally casual.

He glared at her for changing the subject. He changed it back, saying, "I can't stand the thought of that creature touching you." She walked around behind him and sighed. He felt her fingers massaging between his horns in a circular pattern. "If he harms you, I will kill him," he said closing his eyes to enjoy the sensations.

"Lord Maul, you are most impractical," she said matter-of-factly. "Do you think I enjoy knowing that you have been hurt like this or that your next mission may cause you a worse injury? But I would never be so presumptuous as to tell you not to do your job. Providing service to Senator Tikkes is my job. Please extend me the same courtesy and do not tell me not to do it." She leaned closer to his him and said, "Besides, if your master is right, shortly I will no longer be working for Senator Tikkes."

A sharp pain got his attention and Maul opened his eyes again. The pain was overwhelmed by his feeling of anger that boiled at Tikkes. He watched the droids sew the torn muscle with their instruments. Layer after layer, the damage was repaired. She was right and he knew it. They each played their roles and to not do so would mean to fail his master. But even so, the image of Reena with Senator Tikkes flashed into his mind and his heart filled with hatred.

"But if it makes you feel better, he has not known me as you have, and never shall," she said, both hands now working the tension out of his scalp. "He has hinted more than one time, but he has been refused and will continue to be refused as long as I have free will in his service. The moment he tries to force himself on me will be his last." She kneeled down behind him and put her arms around his neck, holding her hands out in front of his face. She whispered, "For I will take his mouth prongs one in each hand…" She closed both hands into fists and said, " and squeeze until the pain crumbles him to the floor. Then I will step on his head and with the heel of my shoe pierce through each of his beady little eyes."

Her hands fell to his chest and rubbed imaginary circles. She kissed his neck and he smiled smugly. He let out a laugh, thinking about her amusing description of Tikkes death. From what he knew of her, he doubted she could bring herself to use deadly force even if it was the only way to protect herself. But her words did as they were meant to do, filling him with pleasure at hearing her speak them. He had obtained his masters permission to behave with her as they did, only so long as he gave a verbal description of everything they did. Despite the humiliation of finding words to describe their encounters to his gloating master, the arrangement was working out rather nicely. As long as she was receptive to all of his approaches, there was no disgrace and no distraction from his work.

He watched the droids weave a thin flap of skin over the entire wound.

"I desire you," he said, turning his head towards her slightly. She stopped her light kisses and looked up at him.

"Your wound would sear open," she said. "Unless you enjoyed the medical procedure you just went through, I wouldn't recommend it."

"How soon will this wound be healed?" he asked, feeling hints of frustration.

"If you would submit to a bacca tank you would heal within hours," she said. In her playful tone he could tell she had little doubt he would categorically reject the idea. He said nothing, but watched as she stood, thanked the droids, and carefully erased their memory onto a handheld recorder. Leading them to the door, she sent them back into the halls. Then she walked back towards him and sat down in the chair across from him.

"Please don't think of this as a refusal, Lord Maul," she said with a small smirk, "But rather an opportunity to enjoy the taste of anticipation."

He thought to speak something to her, but his mind felt fuzzy and he couldn't work up a rebuttal. Using the force he assessed himself and pinpointed the foreign substance in his blood.

"You've drugged me!" he said stunned. He tried to sit up, but lacking the strength to do so, fell back into the chair. He used all his power to keep his eyes open and stare at her and said, "You had no right…"

"You need rest and this is the only way to ensure you are not disturbed by your horrid nightmares." He wanted to strangle her for her impedance, but even the force was slipping away, along with his consciousness. "I've laid awake with you many enough a night to know you don't sleep well. In order for this wound to heal appropriately, you need to not move. Since I can't get you into a Bacca tank, this is the next best thing. But don't worry…" Her voice began to sound more distant. "You'll be awake in less than a day or two and then I will ensure that you are completely satisfied."

He closed his eyes and focused on the foreign particles in his blood. Slowly he was able to overcome enough of the drug to regain control and effectively cleanse it from his system. As he lay there, feeling for her presence as she sat still in front of him, he purposefully relaxed as if he was in fact drugged. He tilted his head back slightly, in a completely relaxed position. He was insatiably curious as to what exactly she would when she thought he was unconscious. She was not force sensitive and she was not as dark as he. But his trust of her was still only as far as he could see her for she was crafty and mysterious; a worthy match for himself.

He listened carefully and after a long while, he slowly he opened his eyes to see her still sitting in front of him staring at him with a startled look.

"You're awake?" she said.

"And I am fully functional," he said coolly. "What were you doing?"

"Standing guard over you, of course," she said. "Ensuring no one took advantage of you while you slept. Except of course myself." She smirked, now almost unaffected by his amazing recovery. "But of course that wouldn't have been so bad, now would it?"

"You should not have attempted to drug me," he said deathly serious.

"My intentions were pure," she said quickly.

"But ineffective," he said.

"Yes, why is that?" she asked leaning forward, "The dose I gave you should have knocked out a man twice your size."

He didn't answer, just stared at her.

"You," she said carefully, "are a Jedi aren't you? Only you're not in the Knighthood for some reason. A reason you probably won't tell me, but I may be able to guess."

"What do you know of it?" he whispered.

"Were you rejected?" she asked, almost excited at the notion. She put her elbows on her knees and said, "You have powers like a Jedi. I've suspected it from the time you tricked Grenup into changing the schedule so you could see me." Then she pointed to his saber. "And that," she said, "I know enough to know that's a light saber and not just any light saber, a double one." She got down on her knees in front of him and put her hands on his on the arms of the chair.

As she stared at him, waiting for his response, he wondered how his master would feel if he admitted this to her. It wouldn't be an easy task to convince her she was wrong, but maybe it wouldn't be so horrible for her to know the truth. Either way, the decision wasn't his and so he said nothing.

"It doesn't matter if you tell me or not," she said. "I know that you are a Sith Lord, without you admitting it to me. Which means Palpatine is…"

"Do not speak it," he said as emphatically as he could. "To anyone. Or my death threats will cease to be empty."

"Now who would I tell?" she asked. Abruptly she changed the subject. "Since you are not drugged, I assume your desire has not lessened?"

Her deviousness alone stirred him to lust. "I thought your concern was for my wound?" he teased.

"There are ways to please you which do not require friction," she said, raising a single brow.

"Please, be my guest," he said, gesturing to his lap. But no matter what extent of pleasure she would do him, always mixed with it was the miserable dread of the moments he would spend explaining to his master every detail.

********** The Second Half **********

Months later…

As Qui-Gon walked towards the Council chamber entrance, a red Twi'lek standing at the receptionists desk caught his eye and his sense. Even though he could only see the back of her, he could tell she wasn't visibly upset. He could feel desperation flowing from her that the non-force sensitive receptionist seemed to be missing.

"I've been waiting for two days for my chance to speak with the council," she said. "Patiently, I might add. But you've just allowed those Bonthan's through without even an appointment. This is hardly a way to maintain the reputation for being keepers of the Peace and Harmony in the Galaxy."

Qui-gon smiled and changed direction. Obi-wan took a few seconds but soon followed in line behind his master towards the receptionist and the Twi'lek.

"What seems to be the trouble?" Qui-gon asked. When she quickly turned around, her head tail nearly hit him in the chest. She looked up at him, startled. Behind him he could feel the surprised sense of his Padawan, obviously struck by the exotic beauty of this rare red Twi'lek.

"My name is Qui-gon Jinn," he said with a wink. "And you are?"

"Reena," she said. Then she looked to gather her courage and spoke to him with confidence. "And my problem is that the council will close this afternoon for the third month resting period and won't be meeting again until the forth month. If I don't see them today, I will lose my opportunity to present my case."

Compassion filled him and he turned to the receptionist. "Why isn't she being seen?" he asked.

The receptionist looked a bit perturbed at the Twi'lek and then said, "It's a matter of priorities, Master Jinn. She may have been here first, but the council members see matters of personal employment to be less urgent than systems ready to go to war."

A sense of embarrassment came over the Twi'lek, but she didn't seem to be ready to step down her position. He looked on her and asked, "Perhaps I could be of some assistance?"

Her scarlet hands slightly shook as she held up a datapad. "My former employer has given me an outrageously poor and unjustified report on my services. So poor, in fact that my agency has informed me I will never work as a senator's aide again." He could sense her anger growing as she continued. "I have come to the Jedi to clear my record by presenting evidence that while his reasons for my discharge may be valid, his claims of my job performance and behavior are false and scandalous."

Qui-gon took the datapad and read over the positive and most flattering reviews she had received over the past year, given directly from Senator Tikkes her employer as well as other Senator's and aides with whom she had contact. Including as a foot note was an impressively glowing endorsement from Senator Palpatine of Naboo.

"I only am so desperate for this to be cleared immediately because the Jedi Council recess and the Senate recess coincide and the Senators in need of new aides will be searching during this time. If I wait for the forth month, my chances of finding employment will be severely handy-capped."

She had a very cut and dry case and he looked up at her wishing there were something he could do. The receptionist was right about the Jedi Council priorities and only the Jedi Council would be able to over turn the word of a Senator against an aide. But he couldn't help feeling he didn't have all of the information he needed to make a decision.

"Why do you think Senator Tikkes has done this to you? Did you have a falling out of some sort?" he asked. The Twi'lek looked at the receptionist and back at him and sighed nervously. He motioned with his finger for her to come to the side of the room where they could talk more privately. When Obi-wan started to follow, he only needed to give him a single look to get the boy to remain at the receptionist counter.

Reena looked at him with thankfulness and he felt he had gained her trust. In a whisper she said, "It's no secret, even to the Jedi that many of the Senator aides are consorts as well as employees. For several months now Senator Tikkes has been trying to change the nature of our arrangement and I have refused him. I hesitate to bring this up because it is my word against his, but I know, as a Jedi, you know if I am telling the truth."

"Indeed I can," he said. She was being truthful, and he wouldn't put it past Tikkes to treat someone he considered beneath him with such contempt. Looking down at her, he saw and felt her hopefulness and was overcome that he must find a way to help her. "I can't get you in to see the council," he said. "But I may be able to give you a recommendation that to some senators would supercede the likes of Tikkes."

"But you've only just met me," she said, confused.

He smiled at her and handed back her datapad. "Yes, but my judgement of character is respected. I will submit my endorsements and speak with a few Senator's. You should have no trouble finding employment."

Again, he winked at her and turned to go.

"Excuse me, Master Jinn," she said.

"Yes," he said turning back to her.

"While I appreciate your offer and am in no way turning you down. I should still like to have my name cleared," she said. "Waiting a month will provide too much time for irreparable rumor to spread on my reputation."

Stunned, he quickly reasoned that she had a point. Keeping himself out of politics, he didn't have the first hand experience of the rumor mill, but he also wasn't unaware the damage a single lie or misrepresentation of the truth could do to someone's general perception.

"Master Jinn, you are being called by Master Windu," Obi-wan said as he approached timidly.

"Thank you, Obi-wan," he said. He gently took the datapad from her hand and walked towards the council chambers saying, "Remain here with my padawan, I will clear your name."

A look of exultation came over the Twi'lek and she nodded to him. Obi-wan on the other hand looked very disappointed. He must have been looking forward to the council meeting since Qui-gon had mentioned they would be going. Even at 16, Obi-wan was still too young and idealistic for Qui-gon to feel comfortable exposing him to the raunchy side of Senate behavior. From disappointment he would recover, but from disillusionment, he would suffer too much.

******

When he came out, neither Obi-wan nor Reena were anywhere to be seen. Stretching out his sense, he picked up a very energized feeling coming from his Padawan in the outside corridor.

The Twi'lek was leaning against the window in the wall of the tower, her head tilted with it's tail gently gliding back and forth behind her against the glass. Obi-wan, more completely relaxed than he had ever seen the boy, was standing with his hands behind him, smiling profusely as he listened to whatever it was she was saying.

"Obi-wan?" he called out in amused surprise as he approached them.

The Twi'lek stood up straight away from the window and Obi-wan spun around on his heels.

"Master?" he said, no trace of disappointment evident in his sense at all.

"I thought I asked you to wait in there for me?" he said, not so much as a scolding, but as a question.

"She'd been sitting in there for days, Master," he said. "I thought it would be alright to wait out here. I apologize if…"

Qui-gon shook his head 'no' and turned to Reena, "Your name has been cleared. The Jedi Council have agreed with me on this matter and have given me authority to set the official record straight on your behalf."

"Thank you," she said, her face beaming. "I must go now and attend to my situation. I have much to do to find a new position." She turned to Obi-wan who flashed a smile at her, sharing in her joy. To his surprise, and seemingly to Obi-wan's as well, she hugged the boy's neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "And thank you too, Padawan Kenobi, for this splendid afternoon conversation. Remember what I told you."

The boy, flushed with embarrassment nodded at her.

She walked away from them with a light bounce in her step. Before she rounded the corner, she turned around to smile at them, her head tail floating in the air around her. Qui-gon smiled back at her and then looked down at his Padawan.

"Tell me about this conversation," he said.

Obi-wan, a new color of red flooding his innocent cheeks said, "There's not much to tell, Master."

"Come now," Qui-gon said folding his arms and looking down at the boy, "I'm sure you can think of something. What is it she told you to remember?"

"Oh that," he said, again foolishly grinning. "Well, she told me not to grow up."

"Whatever would she say that for?" Qui-gon said with a laugh. But he sensed a seriousness and a light air of sadness from his padawan as he explained.

He thought carefully and then said, "She said that boys are incredible creatures of interest and imagination whose charm is completely spoiled by the fact that they someday will grow up into men."

Qui-gon's smile faded at hearing it. He looked down the empty hall where the Twi'lek had disappeared. Her situation was not likely to improve any, despite a clearance of her name by the Jedi Council. Any Senator that hired her would probably give her the same treatment as Tikkes and any Senator that wouldn't treat her as such wouldn't be likely to hire a Twi'lek in the first place.

"Did you know that she's never been outside of the Senate Palace beside coming here these last few days?" Obi-wan said. "It seems she was told that the streets of Coruscant are too dangerous for people of her stature. Why would anyone say that?"

Qui-gon turned and looked down at the boy. "To control her," he said. "To make her feel like she has even fewer options than she actually has."

"But now that we've cleared her name she can find work again," Obi-wan said.

Qui-gon smiled at the boys inclusion of himself in the process and decided not to correct him. "I think I may be able do even more for her than clear her name," Qui-gon said. He began to walk down the corridor towards the Senate Palace freeway. "Bail Antilles still owes me a favor or two and I think I can present him a case for hiring her."

Without saying a word, Qui-gon could feel the satisfaction, pride and overall agreement his padawan was feeling in this decision. It stirred something in him that the boy was so generous with his affections and genuine with his altruism. Indeed, Reena had a point and Qui-gon realized that he too had hoped to prolong the boy's childhood innocence. But he knew it was only a matter of time.

******

Months later…

Through the gardens of Alderaan, Qui-gon walked with Bail Antilles, discussing this and that about the state of the Galactic Republic. Their friendship had grown in the past few months as he and Obi-wan had found themselves serving the Senator in an unusual diplomatic function. It was a nice change from the more active role the pair usually took, but Qui-gon was feeling himself getting restless.

"Reena is doing well," Bail commented casually.

"Who?" Qui-gon asked, then remembered, "Ah, yes, I meant to ask about her. I've seen her from time to time, she seems to really enjoy working for you."

"Yes, especially since I moved her off of Coruscant to serve in my palace here on Alderaan," he said. "I must admit I was apprehensive when you first approached me, but your judgement did not fail me. And it continues to serve me well."

Qui-gon smiled. He looked out over the city and wondered what sort of mischief his young padawan was finding for himself this afternoon. To his mild surprise, Bail continued on the same subject.

"When she first came to work for me, she had an air of almost darkness about her. But over the last month especially, she seems so lighthearted and, I would dare to say happy. Especially…"

Qui-gon looked at his friend to finish the phrase.

"When you're around," Bail said with a grin.

"That is understandable," Qui-gon said. "She feels she's indebted to me. I've tried to convince her otherwise, that when Jedi do a good will service they do so for no other reason than it is the right thing to do."

Bail nodded, but wore a small smirk as he did so. "She's very bright for a Twi'lek, don't you think?" Bail continued.

"I couldn't say," Qui-gon said, wishing very much to change the subject.

"Well in any right, we're having a formal dinner tonight and I hoped that you and your apprentice would join us," Bail said.

Relieved that the topic of Reena had waned Qui-gon said, "Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you."

********

That night…

"Master Jinn," came a familiar voice behind him.

Qui-gon turned to see a scarlet face, beaming at him with mirth. His stomach did a small flip and he realized that trying so earnestly to not think about Senator Antilles innuendo's about Reena had actually had the opposite effect on him. He had thought of her almost non-stop and was a bit relieved when finally he saw her. "Reena," he said.

"Hello Obi-wan," she said, turning her eyes towards his padawan.

"Hello Reena," Obi-wan said with a nod and a grin.

She turned back up to look at him and Qui-gon was at a loss for words. A glimmer came into her eyes that he hadn't seen before and boldly she said, "Obi-wan, would you be so kind as to allow me a moment to speak privately with your Master?"

Obi-wan looked up and Qui-gon nodded. The boy walked away, slightly saddened.

"What can I do for you?" Qui-gon asked.

"Walk with me?" she asked.

He laughed lightly and asked, "Where too?"

"The terrace would be lovely," she said.

So they went and once out in the night air, he looked down in surprise as she slid her tiny hand into his arm. Her eyes watched his response, as if she was testing him for something. He smiled tenderly at her and put his other hand on top of hers. It was a harmless and common gesture for a man and a woman on Alderaan to walk arm in arm. That's what he told himself, but that's not how it felt, and from the sense he picked up from her, it wasn't a mere gesture on her part either, but rather a sign of affection. Fortunately what he sensed from her mild and he felt no need to withdraw from her.

"So what is it you wanted to speak to me about?" he asked.

"Nothing in particular," she said. "I only enjoy your company more than anyone else's and thought it would be nice to spend some time alone together."

Now he felt the line being crossed. He stopped walking and looked down at their hands, then gently gave her back her arm. "Reena," he said slowly, "I'm not the kind of man that would give you a false sense of my feelings for you." He studied her face for any sign of dejection and, mysteriously found none. He continued to ensure she understood. "I hope that you have not misread me," he said. "I see us merely as friends, and more likely as acquaintances than friends." Still she did not seem to be hurt by it. As he was relieved, he was also curiously surprised. Now he waited for her to respond.

"Very well," she said playfully. "If that's what you wish, I wouldn't ask you to step beyond your sensibilities to entertain the fancies of a young admirer. Shall we go back inside then?"

"You aren't hurt?" he asked.

With a smirk, she said, "I would never raise my expectations to think that a mere Twi'lek could entice the likes of a mighty Jedi. But after witnessing over the past month the clear change in your demure from a energetic Jedi hero to a man who looks bored to tears, I simply decided not to withhold doting my affections on you any longer. I thought I might add a bit more interest into your life." She tilted her head back and looked up at him and said, "But if you would rather I keep to myself, I will respect your wishes."

At that she turned with her hands behind her back and took a few steps away from him. "Are you coming back, or would you prefer we go our separate ways and enter back into the party alone?"

He tried unsuccessfully to comprehend her confidence despite her self-deppreciation. "Wait, a minute," he said. "What do you mean, you wouldn't raise your expectations?"

"I am a former slave of a species below contempt on most worlds, and you are both human and Jedi, the highest respected both in species and occupation. It is only natural for me to fall madly in love with you, and only natural for you to cast off my affection as a passing flattery. While I had hoped our friendship might go beyond acquaintance, I expected nothing more from you than tolerance and perhaps," she tilted her head at him, "amusement at my notions."

Qui-gon felt a pang of judgement pierce his heart. He had never thought of himself as bigoted before, and yet she spoke so matter-of-fact about it that he found his explanation fall flat even to his own ears. "I am not in the position to entertain the notion of a relationship with any woman," he said.

"Oh, I see," she said. "Very well, my mistake. Shall we go inside?"

She was too quickly accepting to be sincere and he was too curious about her to leave it like that. "No," he said.

"Let's talk a bit more. I too enjoy your company and as long as we have this understanding between us, I see no need to go inside."

She smiled and walked back to him. He held out his arm and she took it.

"How do you like working for Senator Antilles?" he asked, glad to find a topic of discussion so quickly.

She continued as if none of the other conversation had taken place. "He is a brilliant man and for the first time since I first came to Coruscant I again have hope in the Republic."

"Had you lost it?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "When I first arrived everyone I met was out for their own good. Even Senator Palpatine, as generous as he was to offer me aide in finding employment had an air of self-interest. But Bail Antilles, and in fact mostly all of the Alderaanians and their sister systems seem to genuinely care for the welfare of others. It gives me hope for the future of the galaxy to see that such people have not given up on the Republic Senate."

As he listened, he realized what Bail had been speaking of when he said she was intelligent. He quickly found her not only intelligent but also high-spirited and kind. She spoke with a passionate flare and a warm heart. She continued needing no more prodding to speak, and he gladly listened.

"The other aides have been generous to me as well. I lacked some basic protocol skills that had haunted me while working in other positions. A few finely pointed comments corrected my ignorance and now I feel better equipped to face formal situations than before. They could have let me stumble, but they had my interests in mind and found me not to be a threat to them but an asset. I have learned about compassion through their kindness to me." She looked up at him, as if noticing she was doing all the talking. "You, on the other hand, would prefer other assignments than what you have been given lately."

He raised his brows, "Is it that obvious?" He looked out over the dark gardens, lit only by the light of Aleraan's moon. "I hope it doesn't show as clearly to Senator Antilles. I wouldn't like for him to think I am unhappy in his service."

"He understands your frustrations and feels for you, but is unwilling to give you up just yet," she said.

He looked down at her and asked, "He told you this?"

"Not in so many words, but I have always had a talent for reading people. Not as well as the Jedi force sense, but sometimes things that are hidden to others seem completely obvious to me," she said. "I have used this skill for my own purposes in the past, but should like to become experienced in using it to help others."

"Tell me," he said quietly, "What else do you see?"

"You'd have to tell me where to look," she said teasingly.

"Do you really see me as prejudice, as you suggested before?" he asked with concern.

"I didn't meant to injure you when I said it," she said. "I was only trying to explain that I understood your reasons for not being attracted to a Twi'lek."

"I wouldn't say that I'm not attracted to you," he said carefully.

"Alright, than for not being interested in a Twi'lek," she corrected with a hint of offense.

"I wouldn't say that I'm not interested in you either," he said. "At least I wouldn't say it any more."

She turned to him in surprised confusion, "Master Jinn, you have either contradicted yourself entirely, or I have heard you wrong."

"You say you can read people, and I think you should answer my question," he said. "Do you consider me prejudiced?"

She looked up at him with concern in her eyes. He could feel her mustering up the courage to speak. "Perhaps I was mistaken," she said carefully.

"No," he said. "I think there was a shadow of truth in what you saw. Especially since before this conversation," he said, "I don't think I ever really saw you."

The change in her sense was tangible. It was as if she had moved from a place of supreme confidence, to vulnerability in the blink of an eye.

"Oh," she said, looking down.

"Master!" Obi-wan called out. As the young boy ran up to them, Reena backed up and turned away slightly. Qui-gon was not slightly annoyed at the timing of the interruption.

"Yes, Ben," he said impatiently.

"Senator Antilles is waiting on you to start the meal," he said. His eyes fell on Reena and he looked back up at his master with pained curiosity.

"We'll be right in," he said. "Tell the Senator to go ahead without us."

"Yes, Master," Obi-wan said, retreating slowly at first and then turning to run back inside.

Qui-gon took a step towards Reena and could see she was trembling.

"Reena?" he said. He thought to put his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of comfort, but she turned too quickly to him.

"Master Jinn," she said. "Please, do not be cruel and tease me. If you meant what you said about not giving a woman a false sense of your feelings for her, speak plainly and forthright. I am strong, but not inclined to enjoy being toyed with emotionally."

He was a bit taken aback, but realized he had given her mixed signals. So, taking her hand in his he said, "I am very much inclined to seek more of your company in the coming weeks, if you would be interested in mine."

"To what end?" she asked. Her forthrightness was admirable, if uncomfortable

"To become better friends," he said cautiously, "Or more, if that is our destiny."

"Destiny?" she said with a laugh, "I have heard men speak of many things, but never anything so subjective as destiny."

"I could never think anything less," he said, deadly seriousness in his tone. He watched her shutter and sadness touched his heart. "Now it is I who see something of prejudice in your eyes."

"Mine?" she said quickly. "Against who? You? How so?"

"Against men," he said gently. "Perhaps our gender has given you reason for your assumptions, but correct me if I am wrong when I say, you expected I would treat you less honorably than to court you like I would any lady?"

Again she shuttered. In a cracked voice she said, "But Master Jinn, you could never marry a Twi'lek. Why would you then go through the bother of courtship?"

"On the contrary, I think it is you who do not believe you could ever marry a Jedi," he said.

He was amazed that just this afternoon he had thought Bail annoying for speaking to him about a woman with whom he was now speaking of marriage.

"You're right," she said. "I am not worthy of that position. I would bring you dishonor."

"I don't believe that," he insisted.

"Then you must be misinformed," she said, her voice suddenly sounded haunted as she spoke, "Have you ever seen a Twi'lek child?" she asked.

He shook his head 'no'.

"That is because Twi'leks do not mate off of our home world. And so every Twi'lek you have ever seen was born on Lekka and forcefully taken as a slave. Likewise, no Twi'lek who has ever left has ever returned." Her eyes dimmed further as she looked out over the gardens. He looked for any sign of moisture in them, but they were dry and controlled.

"Why?" he asked.

"Most of stereotyping has some foundation in truth," she said. "It is true that male Twi'leks lack the sensuality and even interest in sex that we females seemed to be overly endowed with."

Again her candor both surprised and delighted him. "I have never thought about it before," he said. "But now that you mention it, I can see it."

She turned to him and something changed in her sense, there was an air of seduction there that he hadn't noticed before. He tried to look through it to see the woman he had seen earlier, but felt as though he was looking through a thick haze that suffocated him deliciously. Instinctively he backed away.

"Twi'lek's males would not mate at all if their females did not possess this trait you are witnessing now," she said. He blinked his eyes and swallowed. She was making her point very clear and he nodded in understanding, but he couldn't help wishing for the innocent woman that he had just been speaking with to return.

She didn't even need to touch him, it was something in the way she looked at him that moved him. "When we women leave the planet and are presented with males such as you humans," she continued, her eyes now conspicuously staring at his mouth, "we are not inclined to seek out our naturally unresponsive male counterparts."

He nodded again, backing up against the terrace railing behind him as she moved towards him. He calmed himself down, insisting on his Jedi control. After firmly establishing his control, he finally spoke, "But I do not understand why that would preclude me from taking you as my…" His lips were blocked from speaking the last word.

She could barely reach his mouth with hers, even standing on her tip toes, so she had pulled on his shoulders to bring him down to her. He lightly returned the kiss. Breathlessly the word finally was released, "wife."

He opened his eyes. Her face showed disappointed at how successful her tactics were on him. He knew if he had not had the force, he would have been a puddle on the terrace marble. "Can't you control this thing that you do?" he asked cautiously.

She looked confused for a moment, then asked with sincerity, "Do you want me to?"

"Perhaps while we are discovering each other it would be best. I want to learn more about who you are as a person and these feelings... I've never seen you like this before, and while I find it's erotic effect on me to be as enticing as any man would, I want you to know that I desire your company not just for your sensuality, but for your mind and your heart above all."

She closed her eyes and he felt her desire for him ebb slightly.

"Don't you want to be loved?" he asked. "Not for what you can do for a man, but for who you are?"

With a distant voice she said, "It never occurred to me."

At that, he thought the timing was right and put his hand on her waste and bent down to her. Placing a delicate kiss on her lips, he drew back slightly, watching her her blinking surprise.

"I think we had better go in for dinner," he said. "But consider what I have said, and we will talk about this at a later time."

**************

Months later…

"Master, I'm telling you, I saw her with another man," Obi-wan insisted. "He was wearing a black hood and leading her very swiftly through the city."

"Thank you Obi-wan," Qui-gon said. "You're concern is noted."

"Aren't you even going to ask her about it?" Obi-wan asked.

Qui-gon turned to the boy and said, more harshly than he would have liked, "Reena is a free woman and if she wishes to tell me something, she will. I do not approve of you spying on her. It is impolite and a breach of trust. Both mine and hers."

"But Master!" Obi-wan said, shocked at the response.

"That's enough, Ben," Qui-gon said. He calmed himself and walked away from the boy, knowing the truth was becoming more difficult to deny everyday. Ever since Bail had returned his cabinet, aides and his Jedi assistants to Coruscant, things had been different between Reena and him. She had always had an air of mystery about her, but there was more secrecy about it then ever. What frustrated him most about the entire situation was that as friendly and spontaneously enjoyable their time together continued to be, it didn't seem as though she could trust him as she once did. Any confrontation with her about it always ended in even more vagueness on her part and the distance was diminishing any intimacy they had developed on Alderaan.

While the boy had never encouraged the relationship, siting a disinterest in romance in general, he had only started to show signs of apprehension after they returned to Courscant. For weeks he had insisted that something was wrong with the way she was acting. And indeed she was different in some way. Qui-gon had always assumed Obi-wan was simply going through a natural jealousy phase. But perhaps he was right and there was someone else in her life now. Someone who would give her what Qui-gon had been withholding in order to ensure the relationship was about friendship first and foremost. He closed his eyes as the pain of that possibility flooded him. He suddenly realized he had to speak with her about what Obi-wan had witnessed, even if it did mean to risk losing her completely.

"I'm going out," Qui-gon said.

"To see Reena?" Obi-wan asked.

"That is none of your concern," Qui-gon answered. But then he nodded and said to the boy, "You stay here."

"Yes master," he answered. "May the force be with you."

Qui-gon nodded, hoping for the same thing.

*********

"Qui-gon, I didn’t expect you this evening," Reena said with her usual charming smile. "Come in." She leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek, taking his robe off of his shoulders and placing it on a hook on the wall.

"I needed to speak with you," he said, knowing she would sense the gravity in his voice.

"Alright," she said. "Have a seat and lets talk."

Even now he sensed distance in her. He sat and crossed his legs, folding his hands on his lap. She did so too, almost mockingly serious across from him. It did succeed in lightening the mood slightly.

"Where is this going?" he asked. "I mean our relationship."

"I would like to know the same thing," she said quickly. Then in exasperation she exclaimed, "I was sincerely counting on you to be my guide. If you don't know where we are, than I guess we're lost because I've never been down this path before."

He looked at her sadly, wishing she would be a bit more serious. But she was right; he had been the one insisting on not only the path, but the pace as well. He reached up and stroked his beard with his two hands. She moved over to his couch and sat beside him. He closed his eyes and shook his head, not wanting to bring up the man that Obi-wan had seen her with, but feeling the need to know groping at his insides.

Then he felt her touch on his hands. He opened his eyes and watched as she brought his hands down away from his mouth. With the back of her scarlet fingers, she stroked his cheek down through his beard, her eyes, staring at his mouth. Throughout the past months he had felt moments when she had struggled against her natural inclination to woe him sensually. But this felt different somehow, as if she was not trying to take charge over him but rather, to simply show him affection.

"Maybe you should let me be the pilot for a change," she said.

He looked into her eyes and felt himself melting. Perhaps this was what they needed to do. But it didn't make sense for him. Perhaps it was her way, because of her race. It would be easy enough to ask her to stop and to tell her once again that this was not the way he wanted it to be between them. But how could he deny her, what she wanted at the insistence of what he wanted. And besides, right now, that little speech would have been a lie. He loved her, and he wanted her and she knew it as well as he did. Not until the jealously enflamed by Obi-wan's suspicions had taken over his senses had he realized how much he loved her.

She looked in his eyes for confirmation, and giving her no reason to stop, she began kissing him lightly around the face and mouth. He returned a few until he felt her hand reach inside his tunics, stroking his chest. He startled and stared at her glimmering eyes

"It's okay," she said soothingly. And he believed in that instant that it would be and gave in to her.

*********

It had been the most perfect experience of pleasure he could have ever imagined, but the knowledge that Reena, his Reena, had extensively trained and practiced to perfect the skills she had just utilized on him broke him. And somewhere deep in his heart, a part of Qui-gon died.

As he lay silently next to her, he heard something more earth shattering than his own torturous realization. Turning to see her face, he saw his confirmation; she was crying. Tears fell down her beautiful scarlet face as though they had been there for a lifetime.

"No," he said sadly. "Reena…"

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Why are you crying?" he asked. But he knew why. At some point in the encounter she had let go of her love for him and any hope she had for a future together had disapeared. He had done her an unimaginable disservice; all in exchange for this experience of passion.

"I think you'd better go," she said.

"Please," he said, tears forming in his own eyes, "let's talk about this."

She shook her head, and looked away. In a hoarse voice she said, "It's over."

He pulled the pillow over his face, and shaking his head in a desperate 'no'.

"It's been over for a long while, Qui-gon, you know it as well as I. You and I are just different creatures and it was never meant to be."

He pulled the pillow off his face and looked up at her again, knowing she was right and feeling so completely empty inside. He got up and she rolled away from him, pulling the sheets around her. He wept silently as he dressed, each movement bringing an ache to his heart. Then he knelt down next to the bed and said, "I do love you, Reena."

"I know," she said softly.

He felt a lump in his throat forming and stretched out his arms on the bed, touching her back. "But you don't love me, do you?" he asked.

"No," she said. She turned back to him and placed a hand on his head. "But it isn't from lack of trying. I thought that maybe this was what I would need. But it has only confirmed to me that I am not capable of loving you." She choked slightly, "Not the way you need me to."

With a final motion of resignation to reality, he stood and walked to towards the door. Pulling his robe off the hook on the wall, he turned back to her. "I must know," he said. "Is there someone else?"

She didn't even have the decency to be surprised by the question, but rather nodded regretfully. An ache rose in his heart and he almost fell backward with the sting of the truth.

"How was it you were able to hide your feelings for him so completely from me?" he asked.

"He doesn't mean anything to me," she said. "It's not difficult to hide something when there is nothing there to hide."

"Then I suppose he doesn't know anything about me either," he said in self-pity.

Her face showed that his question injured her. She nodded, new tears forming in her eyes. "Yes, he does know about you. He just doesn't care."

Backing out of her apartment, he left with his robe and his answer but without a shred of dignity.

***********

A month later…

The news was probably some of the least pleasant Qui-gon Jinn would ever have to deliver. He saw her from across the crowded senate side conference room and slowly walked towards her. Obi-wan was close by his side, strongly emanating his disapproval. The boy was probably right, he should let her hear in the official announcement. But Reena's personal involvement in Senator Palpatine's move for a freedom task force to be sent to Lekka had been something she had worked on for months before it was actually on the table before the senate and she deserved to know before anyone else.

Since Qui-gon was working through the nomination process to join the Jedi Council as a member, his position had given him prior knowledge of their decision against the proposal. He knew her passion for the freedom of her people, and still felt a tenderness for her. He simply couldn't let her face the tragic news on the senate floor.

But looking around at the larger than usual crowd in the council recess chambers, he wondered if this was an appropriate time or place to tell her. Then, she spotted him and her eyes went instantly from sparkling with life at her current companion, to dim and distant. He watched as she excused herself and approached him. At least she had the decency not to avoid him when he sought her out.

"Master Jinn," she said.

He nodded. She looked quickly at Obi-wan and didn't acknowledge the boy's cold stare.

Taking a breath, he leaned forward and spoke quietly in her ear, "I have news on the Council's decision."

She looked up into his eyes, searching for the words he had not yet spoken, and as her talent for reading people told her the news was negative, he watched disbelief fill her and felt her pain.

"I'm sorry," he said. "It is too far out of Republic space to warrant the number of troops necessary to protect a free state on that system. The council feels the time is not right to free your home world."

"When will the time be right?" she said, her voice holding a touch more volume than he would have liked.

"Please, Reena, let's go speak of this elsewhere," he said, instantly aware of dozen's of eyes glancing their way. He tried to calm down the rising anger he felt from her with a gesture. As he did, he felt something from her he had never sensed before. It was dark and hateful and seemed to be directed at him. He stepped back in surprise at the force of it.

"I am sick of this Jedi Hypocrisy," she stated loudly. The buzzing of voices around them suddenly grew silent as the people turned their attention to the angry Twi'lek. Her eyes pierced him and he was stunned at the hate he felt from her. "You've done this," she said. "You and your precious council. Proclaiming to the galaxy you are protectors of the innocent and keepers of the peace. But in your avoidance of war, those you refuse to protect are kept in a perpetual state of despair. If it was the Wookie's on Kashyyk that were enslaved, or some human planet, you wouldn't be so inclined to make decisions based on a few thousand light years."

There was a buzzing of discontent growing around them. Nobody would dare to speak out against a Jedi, let alone use such inflammatory language directly to one of the respected masters. A Jedi would not need to stand in his own defense because his reputation proceeded him. All those who openly opposed any Jedi was held up to instant scrutiny. In her pain she let loose any protocal training she may have received from Senator Antilles people, clearly unconcerned of what her words may do to her own reputation.

But he was concerned, and felt responsible somehow for this outburst. "Reena, please, calm yourself down and let's leave together now."

She backed up from him and again he was shocked at the darkness coming from her. He wondered how she could have so much bottled up resentment. "Do not touch me with your filthy hands, you coward," she said. Then, almost shouting, she called out against him, "I am through with your false proclamations of love for me. You are a liar and you have deceived me into believing you actually cared for me as an equal when you wanted only to exploit me as any other lover. I never want to see you, talk to you or feel your body against mine every again."

The wound of her words sliced through him as though he had been stuck in the heart with a saber. A flash of heat burned his face with shame. She had laid out his weakness for all to see, even his own padawan. More than that, she had publicly accused him of abusing his position as a Jedi. But the pain of his public shame paled in compared to the disillusionment he felt at having trusted someone so completely and having been so wrong. He stumbled back away from her, unable to think straight or see straight as he turned to leave the dead silent recess room.

As he reached the doorway, he turned to see Obi-wan say something to her and the companion she had been with stormed out of the other exit. He watched her standing there with a frightened look, as if she herself was shocked at what had just happened. Obi-wan walked up to him and as he asked his padawan, "What did you say to her?"

"Only that she was wrong about you," he said.

Qui-gon was amazed at his padawan's loyalty and strength. He should have felt such devastation at his master's behavior, but at almost 17 years old, he was somehow mature enough to realize and accept that people, even Jedi weren't perfect. He had greatly underestimated the boy.

Then, in the split instant he took to acknowledge his padawan with a soft hand on his shoulder, something dark flashed into the room. He looked up and saw a small figure draped in a hooded cape exiting the other end of the recess room. He looked and realized Reena was nowhere around.

"That was him, Master," Obi-wan said distastefully. "That was the figure of a man I saw her with."

Qui-gon reluctantly decided against going after them. It was neither his place, nor his right to interfere.

*************

"You will never work as a respectable aide again," Palpatine said harshly. "Not only have you embarrassed yourself in front of a fair number of very influential Senator's, but your decision to speak openly about your relationship with the Jedi Knight was foolish. While it has injured his reputation, it has been a death blow to yours."

The young Twi'lek nodded and said dryly, "I should have had more control."

"Yes," he accused. "When you told me you believed you could actually seduce a Jedi, I had my doubts, but thought there would be no harm in your trying. Your success would have meant my ear in the Jedi Council chambers. An incalculable advantage."

He clenched his jaw and fist simultaneously, just thinking about the possibilities that could have been filled him with covetous rage. Restraining his urge to inflict his justice on her, he continued to explain his displeasure. "Master Jinn does not easily listen to the will of the Jedi Council. He does whatever it is he sees fit to do. His presence on the council would have eventually brought them discord and revealed them for who they are. But by ending your affair and publicly, not only have you lost my opportunity, but it has convinced the Jedi to drop Qui-gon Jinn as a nomination for a seat on their council."

She did not even attempt to hide that she was hurt at that news. He looked to where his apprentice stood, sensing the usual anger emanating from him. Palpatine decided his apprentice could be taught a lesson through all of this. "I told you specifically not to fall in love with the Jedi, did I not?" he asked.

"That was your instructions," Reena said. "But in order for the deception to be complete, I had to allow myself to care for him."

With the force, he yanked Maul out of the shadows and into the center of the room, throwing him on the floor before the Twi'lek. She jumped back in fear.

"Tell me, have you allowed yourself to feel for this creature as well?" Sidious asked. Deathly fright filled her face as she looked at the panic on the helpless Sith Lord's face. Sidious tightened the pressure around the Zambrak's heart muscle.

"Please," she said nervously, "Stop hurting him."

"Tell me why I should?" he asked mockingly. "Do you care for him?"

"I don't wish you to harm him," she said. She carefully knelt on the floor next to Maul, who reached up and struck her with his gloved fist, knocking her against the wall behind him. She reached up and delicately blotted her bleeding lip.

Sidious loosened his grip on Maul and smiled. "Good," he said. "Now there is a clear understanding between the two of you. He does not want your affections and so you are a fool to pay him any mind."

Reena remained on the floor in a seated position against the wall, rubbing her elbow. Palpatine folded his hands in front of him and tilted his head. Amazingly, he couldn't sense what she was feeling at the moment. It seemed to be a mixture of many things that she desperately wanted to share with him. Normally he didn't ask questions if he wasn't certain of the answer, but he decided the interest was worth the risk.

"You wish to tell me your regard for me?" he asked.

The question seemed to spring life into her and she jumped at the chance to answer him. "At the same time I both hate you and love you more than any man I've ever met."

"A fascinating answer," he said, "Please explain."

"You find me irresistible but you continue to resist. Though you could have your way with me at any moment, you prefer to live vicariously through Lord Maul," she said. Maul regained his composure and stood in a submissive position before his master.

She continued from her seat on the floor, "You do not seek to dominate me with the brutal force of a slave master, but rather throw lavish compliments and kindness on me and so I submit to your instructions willingly. Though you have set me free, I find myself constantly in your debt."

She looked down and said in sincere self-loathing, "To anyone else, I am nothing but a hopelessly flawed ornament. But each time I find I have nowhere else to turn, you welcome me back, forgive me my faults and seek to once again place me in admirable situation."

He cackled lightly. She looked back up at him, this time her eyes soft and wet, "I hate you because you are the only man I am not able to conquer and I love you because you are the only man able to conquer me."

As her words sank in Sidious was pleased at his decision not to destroy her. "A well spoken speech," he said coolly. "You must have practiced it many times."

Standing, she moved forward and stood next to Darth Maul. "Your assumption is correct," she said, "But though I planned to speak these things to you, it makes them no less true."

For a long moment he sat there, contemplating how he could exploit further loyalty from her. Sensing her distaste for the Sith Lord at her side, he knew now how to best accomplish both goals of disciplining Maul and to retrieve even more devotion from Reena.

"I know your disappointment in Bail Antilles and the Jedi runs deep, but did I not warn you when you went to work for him against my wishes that you would regret the decision?"

She nodded, obviously confused.

"You were right in your assumptions. I have indeed found another position for you," he said. "It may not be as prominent as your previous assignments, but it is exactly what I require. The Senator is Orn Free Taa and while he is one of the most loathsome creatures in the senate, his position is powerful and his weakness to the pleasures of life is infamous. Because of the nature of his demands on you, you are released from Lord Maul's claims of consort."

Relief and anxiety flooded Reena simultaneously. From Maul, Sidious sensed such intense hate as he had never been able to construct in the apprentice before. The hate was chaotic, yet controlled. There was no clear direction for it and Maul seemed to be struggling to find a focus for it. Sidious smiled as he waited until Maul came to a decision.

Reena, unaware of the important emotions at hand, she said quietly, "I don't see that I have much other choice in the matter. Or little else left of my pride to refuse such an obviously insulting position."

Sidious craved knowing who was the lucky person to receive the reward of Maul's hate, but did not ask. Instead responded to the silly female.

"You need not be insulted, Reena, you still have the most important position as any Twi'lek could ever ask for." She looked up at him with mild confusion. He clarified it for her. "You are the personal informant of the Senator who will one day rule as Emperor."

Without so much as a flinch, she nodded and said, "Of Course, Augustus."

"Now, go rest, my child," he said. "You will need it."

She nodded and quickly headed for the door. Before she left the room, she looked on Maul with a smirk. The Sith Lord stood stiff, in complete control of his anger and frustration. Sidious did not ask any questions, but knew in time that he would discover all he wanted to know.

"You are dismissed as well, Lord Maul," he said. "I will call upon you again."

Maul bowed and left the room.

**************

8 years later, weeks after Qui-gon and Darth Maul's death…

Anakin was tucked in to bed and Obi-wan felt the freedom to finally leave his quarters and roam the streets of Coruscant. This was the first chance he had gotten to be alone since the Naboo battle. His heart was heavy and his thoughts kept returning to his Master's final words.

During his training, there had been many things Obi-wan had disagreed with his Master about. But of all the times he had spoken up about them, he never remembered feeling more strongly than his disapproval in training Anakin. It not only seemed like a bad idea to him personally, but it was against the will of the Council. And yet despite his misgivings, he had committed himself to do exactly that.

Hidden in his hooded robe, Obi-wan glided through the corridors of the Jedi temple towards the lower levels. He made his way to the breezeway between the temple and the Senate Palace. As he passed by the long bridge, he sensed someone he hadn't seen in years. And the pain he sensed from her was enough to make him stop in his boots to a stand still.

Hadn't he just been musing over the disagreements he had with Master Jinn? Was it a mere coincidence that this Twi'lek would be around just now. Obi-wan closed his eyes and turned around. He had become very mindful of the force and it's leading. Reena was one of the greatest mistakes Qui-gon had made -a mistake that had changed his master's destiny forever. He walked swiftly towards where he felt her presence on the other side of the breezeway.

Two steps off of the breezeway and into the Palace corridors he saw her red figure standing at the window, looking out towards the Temple. She paid no attention to him as he walked up to her. Though she cried no tears, he could sense intense grief from her.

He was just slightly taller than her now. He stopped just behind her. "Reena?" he said.

She turned quickly, as though she was startled. "Who are you?" she asked.

"It's Obi-wan," he said, removing his hood.

Looking him over, recognition came on her face. Speaking slowly she said, "I am very sorry for your loss."

He nodded, intensely staring at her and using the force to read her. He sensed darkness and deception lying beneath her carefully controlled cover, just as he had all those years ago. The deep sadness in her when she looked up at him gave him a startle. Such sorrow over the death of someone she had known so long ago seemed contradictory.

"You cared for him deeply," he said. "I hadn't realized."

She nodded her head and said, "You read me well with your Jedi senses." Then as if embarrassed by the notion, she changed the subject. "You didn't take my advice, Obi-wan. You've grown into a man." Her eyes looked him over and a small smirk came over her face. Though he gave her no indication of the discomfort he felt at the intensity of her sexualized gaze, she still responded quickly. "Don't worry, I no longer make it a practice to seduce young men unless they pay me very well in advance."

Obi-wan looked at her with pity and she turned away, her eyes on the temple again.

"One can not help becoming man," he said, "Only the kind of man one becomes."

She let out a small, amused sigh. "I wish that were true for women…." She seemed to shake herself and said, "But this is not a time for self-loathing."

"I had hoped that you too could have grown in these years," he said.

Tilting her head down, she looked at the floor in shame and Obi-wan instantly wished he could take back his words.

"It is easy for you to judge me," she said. "Because you know nothing about my life."

Something spurred him on. Maybe it was the force, maybe it was hidden anger at her, and maybe it was just a desire to understand her. Whatever it was, he couldn't hold his tongue. "I know that at one time against his better judgement and the council of his padawan, a man who loved you offered you a chance for a better life. And you didn't take it. I never understood why, Reena. Even I could sense your true affection and love for Qui-gon, why did you do it? Why did you betray him? Why did you reject him?"

She struggled to look him in the eye. "By the time Qui-gon found me, it was already too late."

"No," Obi-wan said, urging her with an intensity that surprised him, "why do you believe that? If you wanted to right now, you could leave this death of being a consort to men. Men who care nothing for you except that you are beautiful and they can buy your affections. Here on Coruscant, you are free." He smiled with hope, trying to inspire her, "You aren't a slave any longer, Reena. You can have a new life at any moment, if only you would choose it."

Her dry eyes blinked blankly at him. There was a haunted look in her that matched the darkness he felt from her. Her tight smile was forcefully contrived.

"Oh, Obi-wan, perhaps you still are young in many ways," she said sadly. "I am and forever shall be a slave. It's all I've ever known. I can't stop being a slave any more than you can stop being a Jedi."

He was dumbfounded by her remark and told her so. "I don't understand."

"Could you stop being a Jedi if you had to?" she asked. "Could you cease using your powers and refrain from helping the innocent though they suffer? Instead of living on Coruscant, with your life full of people and excitement, could you live alone, void of companionship, ignoring the call of justice in the universe?"

Though she had asked a question, he did not answer. Her words resonated inside of him like a memory of the future. She then added softly, "No. You are a Jedi and you will always be a Jedi. It is what you were raised to be, it's all you know and much like me, you are a slave to it."

He paused a moment longer and then replied, "Even if that were true, I see no logic in what you say, Reena. Being a Jedi is a noble profession. Giving it up would never serve the will of the force. But being someone's property." She turned away from him dispassionately and he decided not to continue. Whatever her point was, obviously he had missed it.

Taking his hood in both hands, he covered his head with it. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you," he said, bowing.

"Have a good life, Obi-wan. Be a good man," she said. "It should be simple for you, since you don't know how to be anything else."

He nodded and left her, his heart pounding inside of him. He couldn't help her if she didn't want to be helped and it disturbed him almost to the point of anger at her. Calming himself, he started back for his room. Taking a walk didn't sound appealing anymore. Suddenly he wanted to check on Anakin. The boy had been born into slavery. And Reena's claims, as much as he didn't believe them, still haunted him. He had faith that people could change and reach a potential higher than what they were born into, but they had to want it and believe it themselves.

As he entered their quarters and looked down on the sleeping boy, so young and innocent, a notion struck him. One day Anakin would grow up. And as any other charming, innocent little boy he would grow into a man. Fearfully, Obi-wan wondered what kind of man Anakin would become. A chill ran through him as doubt made him wonder if the boy even had a choice in it.

****************

12 years later…

Reena watched the bumps of Palpatine's pupils' rush around in their sockets under his eyelids. He was recovering with slow difficulty from the force vision. As he opened his eyes, he acknowledged her presence with a slight startle. He attempted to look as confidant as the most powerful man in the galaxy should be. But fearfully she had learned to read the subtle nuances of his gestures and glances and her senses told her his vision was far from pleasant. He was afraid of something and deathly afraid at that.

Through watching the torturous death of many an apprentice and servant, Reena knew it was to her benefit to pretend, at any cost, that she didn't see his weaknesses. Yet the evil hatred she saw in him right now petrified her to the core. She casually noted his gnarled hand trembling at his side as he nodded approval for her to approach him.

His voice was hushed and intense as he said, "A child was born today."

Children were born everyday, Reena thought. She said nothing, only focused her humility before him and bowed on a knee. "Yes, my master?"

"This child that will destroy the empire," he said solemnly. "And me along with it."

Despite her restraint, her eyes widened at his words. In all her years of service she had never heard Palpatine admit to a weakness. He was the epitome of confidence and strength both in might and in political power. She had seen him destroy the fiercest of his Sith Lord warriors with a wave of his hand. It was Palpatine alone who dared to stand up to the entire Jedi Council, convincing the senate to demand Masters to step down from their positions of authority. He had driven entire systems to the brink of destruction by a single speech and had rallied the support of the Federation military to totalitarian allegiance. Yet…he was afraid of a newborn child. The paradox boggled her, but she dared not question him.

"Come," he beckoned with his stiff digits.

She stood and obediently walked up the throne platform steps to him. Looking down on his wrinkled face, lined beyond his years, she blinked. He winced a smile up at her and with a single finger, stroked the red flesh of her thigh that peaked through the mesh garment she wore. Easily reading his unusual desire, she sat down, squeezing in next to him on the throne. Wrapping her arms around him she stroked his head as he lay it on her bosom. Only twice before had he ever required her physical touch. His needs were never sexual, but rather comfort oriented. Once he had lost a favorite of his dark Sith Lord's to the light side. As he approached her, she thought he was going to kill her to relieve his fury. But instead he had asked her to merely hold him through the night as he planed his revenge.

The only other memory she had was when Anakin had almost died just under a year ago. When he heard the news, Sidious hadn't the strength to walk upright and used her nearby shoulder as a crutch. She had helped him to his private quarters on his ship and left his side only after he ordered her to be present in the medical lab they had taken Anakin to.

But now, he used her to comfort his fear. An unexpected feeling of attachment for him arose in her. She wished she could have more moments such as these with her master. She listened to him and could hear the staggered breath that meant he was about to say something. She stroked his cheek and kissed his forehead.

"You must kill the child," he said feebly, at the same time grasping her ever tighter.

She froze for a moment and then caught herself and continued to stroke his balding head. He had never asked her to kill before. All such orders were given to assassins more skilled at such tasks. She had provided information crucial to the murders of many a disloyal senator or uncooperative smuggler. But to do it herself, and the victim a child, she didn't know if she could. He must have sensed her hesitation.

"Are you not loyal to me?" he asked.

"Of course, master," she said. Then remarkably she said the next words without reservations, "and you need only name the child and it will be destroyed."

His hold on her loosened and he looked at her, his eyes full of his personal brand of twisted happiness. "It is Vader's child," he said. "The child born to Senator Amidala."

She broke his gaze, and then closed her eyes. She had watched Anakin's seduction to the dark side with eager fascination. As his innocence was tainted and twisted she shared in the victory against Obi-wan and the other Jedi, feeling herself and her own darkness vindicated as they lost their prophetic apprentice. But while she delighted in his demise, she had also developed affection for him and the thought of taking the life of his child brought her pain.

"It is only a child now, but when the child grows to maturity, it is destined to be even more powerful than it's father," he said. "I have foreseen it."

"We should then take him and raise him ourselves," she offered. At her words, she felt him grow cold and he let go of her. Instantly she felt her life in danger. "But if your vision is that clear, I wouldn't presume to question your request. Of course, if it is within my ability, I will eliminate the danger."

He pulled completely away from her and she knew to stand up and back away.

"Yes," he said. "Do not approach me again until it is dead." His throne slowly turned in place until he was facing away from her. She backed out of the room, not daring to turn her back on him.

**********

Questions flooded her mind. Why her, why now and why this? The answers her mind drew failed to fill the emptiness

Her face was painted opaque beige and she had wrapped her Lakku up in formal headgear. The costume was uncomfortable, but she easily passed herself off as a Noobian nurse. The amulet around her neck hung unnaturally heavy with the weight of the tiny poison pill it carried.

"It won't be long now, Amidala, be brave," the healer instructed.

Reena waited through the night until the screams of the infant from the other room filled her with a chill.

"It's a girl!" someone called out. Reena smiled with those around her, seeming to share in the joy of the moment. But the amulet around her neck hung heavier than it's light metal should have, weighing her neck down so that she had to struggle to hold her head up high. In the amulet lay a tiny sugar pill laced with poison and waiting to be placed between the lips of a sleeping child.

Shockingly, a second cry let out and Reena stood stiff. There were two children. A hush came over the nurses and one of the Healers called out in a strained voice, "This one's a boy."

Reena looked at one of the younger padawan's present. The girl smiled and said, "He's extremely force sensitive. We can tell already."

"Oh," Reena said with a smile, "How marvelous."

Inside she knew that he was the one who should receive the sweet gift from Sidious. But before she could make a move, a siren went off and the entire room turned upside down with action. Amidala was wheeled quickly through the waiting area and into another room. She cried out for her children and had to be restrained. Reena watched as the girl child was brought out and rushed after Amidala. Amongst the confusion, Reena peered into the birthing room and saw the boy was being cradled by one of the healers who was frantically talking with a few Jedi who had entered.

"What's going on?" Reena asked a padawan who was trying to get through the doors.

"Darth Vader has just been spotted coming this direction. He's already made it through the second level security," she said.

Reena cursed to herself. The Jedi knew Vader was a dark Jedi now, but hadn't realized he was under Sith training yet. She wondered if Vader even realized what he was getting himself into. Sidious had given them very clear instructions that the child was to inconspicuously die and Vader was egregiously disobeying by interfering. She had seen Sidious kill an apprentice for less. Furious, she decided despite what Vader was doing, she wasn't going to fail her master.

Waiting until the healer carrying the boy started to leave the birthing room, Reena slipped out behind him and watched as he swiftly ran down the corridor into one of the other waiting rooms. Reena glanced down the hallway and saw the Jedi masters came back out of the room and then quickly slip away. She guessed that they were hoping Vader would not know which child was his. But she did.

Reena sat at the nurses station and waited. She watched the stream of Jedi and civilians flowing threw the corridor with nervous tension. Never for too long did she let up watching the door that held Vader's son. Then, a young girl, the healer padawan, came up to her with a smile.

"Vader has fled," she said, "He was overwhelmed by the Jedi and though they weren't able to capture him, they did chase him off."

Reena nodded, feigning relief, "Do they believe he'll be back?"

"We hope not," she said. "I must go now."

Reena watched the girl turn and go. She then swiftly turned and walked through the corridor towards the room with the boy child. She had little time to accomplish her task.

She slipped into the room and found the mother to be sleeping and turned away towards the wall. The baby boy was resting in a heated cradle. Moving towards the sleeping child, Reena clutched the amulet around her neck. She then looked down at the baby and tilted her head. She had not seen such a small child in decades. It was so sweet, wrapped in the blue velvet blanket. And as she mused over it's pure innocence, immediately she felt her own darkness like a sludge of filth. Hatred for the child leapt into her heart. She pulled on the amulet and cracked it open.

"Reena," a voice whispered.

She startled and looked up towards the dark closet. Then, to her amazement, a man stepped out, clad in Jedi tunics and wearing a beard.

"What are you doing?" he asked her. "Why would the highest aide to the Emperor be visiting the child of a dark Jedi?"

She recognized his voice, it was Obi-wan. She fiddled with the amulet, nervously taking the small pill out of its shell.

"You aren't going to harm this child," he said, waving his hand.

His words guided her thoughts for a second until she remembered her master's teachings and she ignored the impulse to comply.

"I have to," she said. Suddenly and with desperation, she didn't care for her own safety or the necessity of protecting her master's identity. It was a compulsion to obey that often overwhelmed her in the midst of her indecision.

"Put it away," he said sternly. "You will NOT hurt this child."

Her heart felt torn in two. Looking at the child and then at the pill, she wanted to take the pill and toss it aside, but the fear of the consequences she would face froze her in place.

She heard a small click go off and Obi-wan raised something to his ear. He looked at her with eyes of fear and said, "The Emperor has come to see the Queen's child. Why would he want to do that?"

"To make certain it is safe?" she offered.

"Or dead," Obi-wan asked.

Reena shook her head. She couldn't tell him; it would mean her death. The time was coming when Palpatine would reveal himself as a Sith Master, but that time was not yet here. She looked down at the child, who was beginning to squirm a bit in the blankets. She held the small white death pill between her fingers.

"It's not too late, Reena," Obi-wan said. "It's never too late."

He stepped forward, closer to her and spread his arms out. At first she thought he was going to strike her and she coward. But then something changed inside of her, as if the urgency of her task had suddenly disappeared. She looked back down at the child and said, "What are you doing to me?"

"I'm stretching out the force around you like a shield, so that you can make your own decision. You are being controlled, not just through the enslavement of your body, but with the dark side of the force."

At his words, her eyes began to fill with tears. She hadn't cried since the night Qui-gon had left her chambers and the wetness felt so odd in her eyes. "You have to take this child and go far away," she said. "He is not safe here on Coruscant."

"We will protect him in the temple," Obi-wan said.

She shook her head 'no' and said, "The Emperor wants him dead."

"Why?" he asked.

She decided she couldn't turn back now and blurted it all out, "He is the Dark Sith Master, Obi-wan. He was master to Darth Maul, whom you killed. He was master to the others and he is now master to Darth Vader." She looked down and said, "And he is my master as well."

"No," Obi-wan said, his voice choked with emotion, "You have just been set free from that bond." He brought his arms down and as he did, she felt his protection wane slightly, but the pull to kill the child was extremely weakened.

Hot tears ran down her cheeks as she watched him gently gathered the child in one arm and pull his robe over the tiny body.

"Wherever you go," Reena said, "He will find you."

"No," Obi-wan said. "He will not find me. And as long as I live, he will not find this child until the child is ready to defeat him."

For the first time, Reena understood. This was the child in Sidious visions. The son of Vader who would one day rise up strong enough to defeat his father. "Where will you go?" she asked quickly as Obi-wan headed for the door.

"I don't know, and even if I did, I can tell no one," he said. "The risk is too high."

She said. "Let me help you. I know nothing of caring for a child, but I have acquired wealth. As a Jedi you have no resources and you will never leave this hospital without the Emperor knowing unless I help you."

For an instant, she was sure Obi-wan was going to refuse. Then slowly, a smile came under his beard and he said, "I accept your help, Reena."

"We will go to the planet where your master found Anakin," she said. "I have many friends there who are ignorant to the politics of the republic. They will help us and will have no one to tell of it."

She took a bag and filled it with things from the nursery and stuck an instruction booklet in for them as well. She gallantly walked without fear through the halls of the hospital, passing through the security without question. Behind her, the hood over his head, Obi-wan followed her until they were safely away.

The End.