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Title: Scheherazde / Gotcha!
Author: Isis (msthoth@yahoo.com)
Rating: NC-17.
Characters: Vader, You
Category: AU, Romance, Challenge fic

Disclaimer: George Lucas owns all the IP from this. There is no justice whatsoever in this world, but oh well. I'm grateful for the chance to play in the SW sandbox.

Summary: Lord Vader needs a harem. You apply, not having any idea what you're in for.

It's 9 am and you are standing, outside the door at the address the message you received the day before told you to be at. For a few minutes you stare at that door, debating whether or not you should go in. Eventually curiosity wins out.

The receptionist gives little attention to you, merely looks at your datachip and sends you into a waiting room. The walls are pale green, an old trick used to subconsciously soothe. You select what looks to be the most comfortable chair and wait.

While you do, you run the personal ad you answered a month ago through your mind again: Wanted: companion for high ranking military officer. Must be intelligent, pleasant to look at and prepared to deal with the unexpected. The agency you are sitting in was listed as the contact. You had submitted your c.v., holo, and the other details that had been asked for, not really expecting an answer. How many men would consider you as an acceptable match for those requirements?

Then the message had arrived telling you to be here.

And now you are wondering if you should stay or leave.

The door opens. A Lieutenant comes in. He looks you up and down, and nods.

`Suitable,' he states. `Follow me.'

Suitable? You think as he leads you down a hall and to an airspeeder. Suitable for what?

`Get in,' he orders.

You hesitate. This may be your last opportunity to walk away, but the secrecy has you intrigued and now you really do want to meet this mysterious `military officer.'

You get into the airspeeder. The Lieutenant joins you.

`You're braver than most,' he notes. `The last one refused to go with me.'

For a moment you stare at him.

`What is going on?' you finally ask.

`You'll find out soon enough,' he smoothly avoids the question.

The `speeder lands in a private hangar. You follow your escort through the corridors to an elegantly appointed sitting room where he leaves you alone once again. To occupy yourself, you wander about the room, admiring the artwork and view from the transparisteel windows. This place is on the square near the Imperial Palace, but before you can work out exactly where you are, the door opens behind you.

Measured steps. Even mechanical breathing.

You slowly turn around and find yourself face to mask with the second most powerful man in the Empire.

`You may leave if you wish, now or after I tell you why you are here,' he coolly states. `I have no intentions of holding you against your will.'

A nod is your answer. You will stay for his explanation, at least.

`My position requires that I maintain a harem,' he bluntly admits.

You don't react. This is common knowledge. The Emperor himself has a number of concubines.

`You have passed the screening process, and I have decided to spend a day in your company to see if you are suitable,' he tells you.

A day? With him? Doing what?

`Whatever you think will convince me to take you as one of my concubines,' he replies to your thought. `You have exactly one day to do so.'

You stare at him, surprised. The stories are true, then. He's a mind reader.

A low rumbling chuckle emerges from his mask.

You nod, but it isn't really necessary. He already knew what your answer would be.

`Very well,' he decides, and for some reason you suspect he is relieved or perhaps pleased that you have chosen to stay. `Introduce yourself and tell me why I should keep you...'

* * *

I would probably have been put off by such a blunt request from a would-be lover, in the first few moments of acquaintance, if I hadn't been on fire with curiosity. And not a little bit of awe. A Sith Lord is, after all, a very rare thing.

"My lord, you have my C.V., my health profiles, no doubt police reports about me. I wouldn't want to waste your time giving you facts. The simplest way for me to help you decide is to understand a little about you," I said, thinking fast.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. I hoped it was a good one.

"It might be asking a lot of a Sith Lord, but have you had much opportunity to enjoy the literature of different worlds?" I asked, mentally hoping to get the conversational segue I was looking for.

"No," he said, sounding somewhat puzzled at this line of inquiry. "I barely have enough time to examine the reports that come in to my attention from the Fleet and field generals."

Smiling slightly, I looked up at him. Gotcha.

Even though I wasn't expecting to see anything that would give me any indication of his reaction or his mood, I spent a little time trying to see something of his eyes. With the breathmask hiding his face from me, it turned out not to be possible. I would have to look for other clues for his reactions.

"I thought so," I replied. "The demands on your time must be extraordinary. It must be a difficult task, to try to live up to all of your Imperial obligations, and now this one on top of them all."

"After the initial investment of time and effort, I expect this particular obligation not to be very onerous."

I thought I heard a smile come through the vocoder, and I found, unexpectedly, that it pleased me a great deal. He gestured towards a nearby set of couches, and we sat down together. Not too close. But not too far away, either.

"Well then, my Lord, as you are not familiar with off-world literature, you may not know of the story of Scheherazde."

"Tell me," he said.

"Scheherazde is a very famous character in the literature of my planet. She was a member of a harem in ancient times. Her lord, a potentate from a strange and exotic country in the Far East continent, had a rule governing the concubines of his harem; once he had made love to a one, she would be killed at dawn the following morning."

"That would not be my practice," the Sith interjected. "I can assure you that you would be very well cared for."

"Thank you, my Lord," I replied, and I don't know why, but I was faintly relieved to hear him say that. "I appreciate the assurance. The point I was trying to make, though, was this: Scheherazde was able to remain alive, despite spending every night with her lord, because she was a wonderful storyteller. The lord, called a Shahrir, would summon her to his chambers and before they would make love, she would ask if she could tell him a tale to amuse him. He would give his permission. But the tale was so interesting, so colorful and so long, about far away lands and exotic creatures, that it would last all night. The Shahrir forgot everything but the wonderful story she was telling. As each night, and each story would end, she would create more suspense, so there was never an end to it. When the dawn came, Scheherazde was still untouched, and so the Shahrir could not have her killed. And so it went on, night after night. In the end, Scheherazde was able to spend a lot of time with her lord, and survive, at the same time."

The Dark Lord was silent for a moment, not sure what to make of this. I fancied that I could almost see the puzzled frown beneath the mask. I wasn't sure exactly what he was thinking, but I tried to not add any additional thoughts of my own to his ruminations. Let him come up with his own conclusions.

"Did Scheherazde ever make love with her lord?" he finally asked.

"I don't know," I said. "The story doesn't say. Scheherazde spent 1001 nights with the Shahrir, and in the end he spared her life from any threat of execution. I suppose she did."

"Lady, I would require more from you than a good story," the Dark Lord said slowly, after what seemed a long time.

I think he meant it, too - on a number of levels. Many different thoughts and emotions crowded into my mind then, and I found that I couldn't say a word, even if I wanted to.

He stood up abruptly and walked to the window, gazing out of it, saying nothing. Watching him walk was a kind of poetry in motion. He has kind of a slow, heavy gait - like he masses Imperial tons, but he moves so gracefully that it conveys great strength and confidence. The cape, swirling gently behind, just adds to the impression. Like the long sable tail of a great beast, a feral feline animal.

I mentally shook myself. Get your mind out of the bedroom, I thought. He must get this reaction all the time.

"No, I don't," he said suddenly.

Drat, I forgot he was telepathic. And now my emotions were really confused.

I looked down at my shoes, simple brown leather affairs. In my mind, all I could see were tall black leather boots, polished to a high gloss. Am I becoming obsessed? I wondered.

"Your health history and the other reports don't indicate that you are very….experienced," Lord Vader said behind me.

"That's correct, my Lord," I said. "I am not completely innocent, but my experience is limited." After a moment I blurted out, "If experience is an important criteria to you, then perhaps - "

"Experience has nothing to do with it," said the Dark Lord. "I can teach you all you need to know. The question is not what do you know, but what do you want to know? And how much do you want to know it?"

Feeling a little frightened, I saw no reason not to come right out and admit it. He probably already knew anyway.

Of course he did.

"You have many questions for me, and I can see that you are afraid to ask them. You are even more afraid for me to answer them. Perhaps it would make you feel more comfortable if I ask you what rumors you'd heard about Lord Vader and his harem."

"I haven't heard much at all," I replied, "but I've heard plenty about the Emperor and his harem."

The Sith walked out from behind the couch and began to slowly pace the floor in front of me. His movements were hypnotic. I started to feel a little better, watching him. Or maybe I was mesmerized. It was hard to tell. The way he moved….

"Would you really have me repeat gossip about the Emperor?" I asked.

"Where else am I going to hear it?" he answered.

I thought I sensed another smile behind the mask, and gave him one of my own in return.

"They say he has 500 concubines."

"Far fewer than that. A little over 50."

"I heard they are all very young maidens, mostly from his native planet of Naboo."

"That's true," said the Dark Lord.

"They also say he really has no taste for women."

That got a chuckle.

"I think I'd better reserve comment on that."

"I've also heard that that's why he has no Queen."

"I don't know why he has hasn't married. I admit to wondering about that myself."

Eight paces up. Eight paces back.

"What else have you heard?" he prompted.

I sighed, "My lord, if I went into detail about what I've heard about the Emperor's sexual practices, your hair would probably stand on end. Most of the stories have to do with a colony of rodents, some electrical tape and something called a goat…."

Darth Vader laughed. Very hard. Let me tell you what it was like: the rumble of a well-pleased Mimbarian saber cat, combined with the soft thunder of a spring rain storm, and a touch of opal-fire and silver. That's what it sounded like.

For just a moment, I thought I saw, there in his stead, an image of a strikingly handsome young man, with sun-kissed golden brown hair and eyes as blue as the seas of my home world. The image was laughing too.

Then, the image was gone and there was the Dark Lord again, his breathing mechanism struggling to re-set itself. He walked back over to where I was sitting and sat down next to me. Much closer this time. He held out one gloved hand to me, a mute request to place my hand in his. After a second's hesitation, I did so.

The beautiful young man was back, sitting where the Sith had been a split-second before. His warm brown hand clasped mine, and he carried it to his lips. His kiss, just a light one on the back of my hand, was so heady that I nearly passed out.

"What you seem to see, hear and feel," the voice of the Dark Lord said, "is the memory of what I once was. That boy is gone, but I thought perhaps it would be easier for you to speak of love, and the act of love, with him instead of me, as I appear in reality. You have heard of the Force; it can do many things, depending on the skill of the Master who uses it."

With that, his arm stole around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. Gently, he rained little kisses on my upturned face. I reached for him too, and together we lay back on the sofa, wrapped in each other's arms. He looked deeply into my eyes for a moment, and then his lips caressed mine. I thought I would die with the sweetness of it.

The boy groaned, and his lips parted mine in a deep, lingering kiss. I thought, just for a second, that I felt a shadow of regret pass between us. Behind the beautiful image of the young man in my arms was a real man who couldn't kiss me like that no matter now much he wanted to. But, the shadow quickly passed as the boy pulled me even closer, his kiss becoming deeper still. I closed my eyes, moving my hips and legs apart to cradle his and touch the growing evidence of his desire. One of his hands found the folds of my bodice and moved them aside, to expose my breasts to his view.

"So beautiful," he moaned, and began to kiss and caress them.

I reached within his robes also wanting to feel his naked flesh against my own, pulled them aside and kissed his shoulder. That seemed to inflame him, his passion multiplied tenfold. He ripped the dress from my body and his hands plundered me, all over, reaching inside me, touching me where I longed for him to.

"I want you," I whispered hotly into his ear. "Make love to me."

My lover groaned, rose slightly and removed his belt and breeches. When I saw the strength of his arousal, I nearly fainted again. I held my arms out for him, and he laid himself in them, while my hand guided him into me. As soon as he entered, I gasped with the intensity of my pleasure. His hips established a rhythm, and we melded into one another. I could not tell where his experience ended and mine began. I bent my head back, arching my back and hips up higher, never wanting him to stop. Faster and faster he went, until I felt him stiffen and release, as I did myself. We collapsed together, breathless, satiated.

It was incredible.

At some point, I must have closed my eyes again, but I didn't remember it. I was feeling a little dizzy when I opened them.

Lord Vader's breathing mechanism was still struggling to re-set itself. My hand was still in his, but I was half sitting, half-lying on the couch, my garments in complete disarray. And I felt a little ….sore. Inside.

"My lady is pleased?" asked the Sith.

His other hand came over and covered mine in a warm, gentle clasp.

I wasn't sure. Although it wasn't at all necessary, I said so.

"You're puzzled, of course. I know why. I suspected that you had some innate Force ability as soon as we met, and now I'm sure of it. Your experience of me is more intense than usual because of your telepathic ability."

He seemed to smile behind the mask. I had an impression of a heavily scarred man, with very pale skin and the same intensely blue eyes as the boy with whom I had just made love. The years separating the boy from the man had treated him harshly, but they did confer a certain élan, a kind of dash that can only belong to a man who has not flinched from anything life sent his way.

The grip on my hand tightened, and I then seemed to see even more of him. The hands holding mine were not natural. Nor were most of his legs, beneath the leather armor and encased in the black shiny boots. What remained of his body was battered and heavily scarred. The injuries he suffered were horrific. I saw flames, lava pouring in streams from a planet of volcanoes. The heat, the pain…I cried out. I saw a beautiful young woman die. I heard, as she died, an echo of a transcendent love, surviving crushing heartbreak, the agony of loneliness, and even the grave.

Lord Vader released my hand and stood up again. The helmeted head and mask tilted towards me, as I sat limply in my seat on the sofa - overwhelmed by what I'd seen and felt in the last hour. Or perhaps it was two. I'd lost track of time. Although it didn't actually hurt, I lowered my head into my hands as I tried to assimilate what I'd just experienced.

"You have seen, perhaps, half of what I am. There is much more. You will probably not understand any of it."

He began to pace again. Eight paces up. Eight paces back. Once. Twice. Three times. I sensed that he'd come to a decision.

Quite nervous now, still caught in the emotional backwash of the flood of our communion, I braced myself for whatever would come next.

"Your ability as a telepath is strong enough that I could not hope to hide the Darkness from you for very long. As a member of my household, I don't know that I would even want to. You have been strong and brave - not many would still have the courage to remain here, with me, after what you've experienced. Most would have run screaming from the room long ago. I find you a worthy consort. I will take you, if you still wish it, once this final test is over."

I felt so many things at that moment. The ad said I would need to be able to deal with the unexpected. That may have been a significant understatement. The Sith Lord in front of me was as surprising, as mysterious, as perplexing a man as I had ever known. I was fascinated. I was obsessed. I was horrified. And in that moment I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything in my life.

Of course, he read my thoughts.

`Give me your hand,' his mind said to mine.

I held it out for him. He walked over and took it, pulling me to my feet. That hand continued to hold mine, while the other raised itself to my cheek, caressing it gently for a moment. I couldn't see, but I was sure his eyes were closing behind the mask. Then, his mind approached mine again.

Suddenly the Sith's grip tightened. Both of his durasteel hands grabbed my wrists and squeezed them hard. I bit my lip to keep from crying out, and my mind tried to clamp down, in a vain effort to keep the Dark Lord out.

The Darkness hit me like a physical thing. Inside my head came images, and feelings assaulted my mind. Strong, violent hatred, visceral loathing, mind-numbing, bone-crunching fear. Burning anger in a heart like a planetary sun. Black glee flooded my insides as a man was throttled to death before me. Exaltation seized me as a helpless victim was tortured and beaten while I watched. An entire planet exploded in my view - hundreds of millions of lives snuffed out in a single second. An intense, almost sexual pleasure gripped me as an old friend, an ancient enemy, died by my hand. I saw the Emperor in the Darkness, encased in a jewel box of hatred and loathing so intense, I began to have trouble breathing. The Dark Side revealed itself to me, emanating from the Imperial image, darker than the darkest night, in the darkest place, as black as the space between stars. It was tinged with demonic fire, smelled like hell, tasted of dust. My mind began to collapse upon itself, the pillars of my sanity rocking under the furious onslaught. I pushed it away, denied the Darkness, and opened my eyes-which had tightly closed.

I gasped for breath. The Dark Lord had let me go, and stepped back a few paces. He stood there, waiting. Waiting for me to reject him. Waiting to go back to the Darkness, to whom he had wedded himself in an hour of despair - the Darkness that governed his life, which was hardly more than living death. I had seen the truth of his life. And I loved him very much just then, for being strong enough and brave enough to share it with me.

"Well?" he asked somewhat peremptorily. "What is your decision?"

I just looked at him and smiled.

"Gotcha," said he.

He offered me his arm.

I took it.

Together, we left the room.

* * *

Part Two: Scheherazde/Gotcha: The Dark Side


We exited the sitting room and entered a hallway. Even the hallway was beautifully and elegantly decorated, with murals and mosaics that seemed to shimmer as we passed. Lord Vader gave my hand, resting on his arm, a gentle pat as we entered a large meeting room at the end of the hall. The same Lieutenant who brought me here was waiting. As soon as he saw us, he jumped to his feet and came to attention with a click of his heels.

“My lady will be staying,” said the Sith. “Go to her apartments, and bring one of the maids with you. Pack enough garments and essential items for about three or four days. Return here as soon as you are finished.”

The Lieutenant’s face was too disciplined to show any emotion to his Lord. “Yes, Lord Vader,” he said, and with a brief bow - and a very subtle look of amusement directed at me, he left the room on his errand.

“We will arrange for a new wardrobe for you. Do you wish me to have the rest of your belongings packed and moved to your new home, or put into storage?” my lord asked me.

“Isn’t this your Coruscant house?” I inquired.

“No,” he said, “This is an office suite that I keep here, for important visitors and long meetings with dignitaries.” I sensed another smile. “I have several residences, on a number of planets, but have two primary homes: my castle at Bain and my flagship, the Executor. We will remove to the Executor, at least for a while.”

“My lord,” I asked, not sure how to best to frame the question, but I felt I should know the answer, even if it pained me. “How many consorts do you have, and are they all at Bain Castle?”

“I wondered when you would ask me that question. I was expecting it to come a lot earlier in our acquaintance. I have 26 consorts, including you, some at Bain, others did not wish to leave their homeworlds and thus remained there. Others are at various of my other residences. I have not held a consort on my flagship, but perhaps….”

He didn’t finish, but I thought I knew what he was going to say. He wanted me with him on the Executor. I knew from the holonews reports I’d read that he spent a great deal of his time on that ship.

Shock and pleasure fought for dominance within my emotions, and pleasure won out. My lord wants my company aboard his ship, where no other of his concubines have stayed!

A melodious chime sounded from somewhere in the room. As soon as it did, a Fleet Vice Admiral walked into the room and snapped to attention before the Dark Lord. Although it was very hard to be sure, I thought he looked a little frightened. Something of his fear, which grew colder and stronger the longer I looked at him, communicated itself to me. I tried not to show it.

“Lord Vader, the Emperor commands you to make contact with him,” the Vice Admiral said.

“I’ll make the contact from my chambers,” my Lord said at once.

And with that, he propelled me with him, at high speed, down another hall passage. He was walking very rapidly and I had to practically run to keep up with him. We stopped before a set of double doors. They opened. The room was dimly lit; I couldn’t see much at all.

The Sith looked at me for a moment.

“Come,” he said finally, but with some urgency, “you can wait in my bedroom.”

As we walked further into the room, the lights came up slightly. It was large, with a very large spherical object near the center. There were some controls and a workstation, but nothing else. Beyond that, another room was illuminated as we advanced. I guessed it was the bedroom.

It was not at all what I expected. A large bed, the largest I’d ever seen, took up most f the space. A ‘fresher was beyond that. There were some very complex-looking controls mounted on most of one wall. I could not imagine what those were for, but it seemed that, when I looked up at the ceiling, there were a great many ducts and air vents around the room. There was a chair, and a desk, and a chest, and that was all. No art on the walls, no objects d’art, nothing.

“I mustn’t keep the Emperor waiting. Make yourself comfortable. I will return shortly.”

With a graceful swing of his cape, my Lord left the room and the door slid shut.

After taking advantage of the ‘fresher, I finally had a moment to think about the incredible things that happened to me today. A chronometer, mounted as one of the controls on the wall, indicated that it was not quite mid-day. I was beginning to feel a little hungry. I hoped I’d have a chance to eat something soon.

Being in the Dark Lord’s bedroom, though, made me think perhaps that I also wanted to do something else.

I went to the bed and sat down on it. It was softer than it looked. I ran my hand over the coverlet. It was a very dark green, almost black, with an intricate pattern woven into the cloth. It was a masterpiece of weaver’s workmanship, and the only touch of luxury in an almost clinically functional chamber.

As I sat on the bed, I asked myself what I really knew about my new lover? I knew a little about the man, knew what everyone did about Lord Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, second in command of the Empire and head of all military forces around the Galaxy. It was said that the Dark Lord was the apprentice of a yet Darker Master, the Emperor himself. Their mastery over the Force was rumored to be the most powerful that there had ever been. But I didn’t know what that meant. Well, I though, perhaps I will find out one day.

I was not afraid of my lord, but, I idly wondered, if perhaps I should be. At least a little bit.

I stood up and smoothed my dress, patted my hair. There was no mirror anywhere. The ’fresher didn’t have one. I wondered if this was usual for him. Perhaps if I wanted to have a mirror around, I would have to carry a small one myself from now on. I looked around for at least a shiny surface, a glass or glossy metal object of any kind, but there was none. None. I could feel that the pins that held my hair up and away from my face were slipping out. Not knowing what else to do, I took them out and finger-combed my hair as best I could. In looking at my dress, it seemed that the morning’s activities hadn’t resulted in any visible tears or missing fasteners. He had a gentle technique, had Lord Vader, I though with a smile.

It seemed like I was waiting an eternity. I looked at the chronometer again - it had been close to an hour how. What could be taking so long?

My lord said I had telepathic ability. I decided to try to see if I could reach him. Clearing my mind, I gingerly reached out towards him. I got nothing, nothing at all. Was he even still here?

I walked to the door and looked at the side panel. Locked. I didn’t think I dared trying to open it.

Abruptly the doors opened, and Lord Vader stepped through them. When he spoke, his voice sounded strange - cold and flat.

“The Emperor would like to meet you. I am to bring you to the palace now.”

I couldn’t tell for certain, but it seemed to me that the Sith was only barely managing to keep controlled a growing rage, followed by a sour, rising fear. It made me feel a little sick. Suddenly I wasn’t hungry any more.

I knew better than to ask about his feelings. It was taking everything he had to keep them under control.

“Let’s go then,” I said.

He turned and strode away, leaving me to follow in his wake as best I could. Back down the corridors we went, where we had just strolled arm in arm, past the sitting room where we had our first fateful meeting, to an elevator. The doors opened. We got in. The car went down, several levels. Of course, I realized, the Imperial palace was almost across the street but he could hardly take the ordinary pedways. The doors opened and we got out, heading straight for a transparisteel-enclosed walkway, going across the street, leading directly to a non-public area of the palace.

My lord strode ahead of me across the walkway and keyed in a combination into the lock on the door. The door opened. He stepped through and stood waiting for me to catch up to him. When I did so, he reached out a hand and gently caressed my cheek.

“I didn’t plan any of this,” his mind said to mine. “Don’t be frightened if you can help it.”

I reached up and took his hand in both of mine, and kissed it. The Dark Lord gently embraced me. I thought I felt a little desperation in it, but he let me go almost at once and we were off again. It wasn’t far to go before we reached the Emperor’s private audience chamber.

If I’d had time to think about what was going to be happening to me there, I would probably have been paralyzed with terror. As it was, I was fully occupied with keeping up with my lord and not tripping over my own feet. All too soon we arrived at the audience chamber.

It was all done in black and red. The scarlet-robed Imperial Bodyguards were stationed around the room. On a high dais, in a large swiveled throne, sat the Emperor. There were a scattering of aides, courtiers and hangers-on, but the great room was largely empty.

Once more I followed my lord towards the Imperial throne, and I tried not to stare at its occupant. It was said that an assassination attempt by the Jedi, years ago, had left our Ruler scarred and deformed. As a result, he was always draped in a dark hooded cape. The holonet news rarely had a good image of his face, so I had no idea what to expect. The Dark Lord reached the dais, and knelt reverently before his Master. I knelt also, a few paces back behind him, and waited.

“Rise, my friend,” the Emperor said graciously, “and bring your consort closer, so I can see her.”

My lord rose and went over to me, helping me to my feet and escorting me on his arm up the steps of the dais. Two steps below the throne, we stopped. Summoning my courage, I looked up.

I saw an older man, aristocratically handsome, with carefully coiffed gray hair and a gentle, fatherly expression. I realized that what I was looking at was an image of the Emperor as he had appeared when he was Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Republic.

“Your lord has his Force chimera, or alter-ego, and I have mine, “ the Emperor said to me telepathically. “No reason to frighten new consorts of the Imperial harems with my real appearance.”

“Your Highness,” I thought back to him, and bowed my head.”

“So, Lord Vader, you tell me your harem is complete.” The Emperor stated aloud.

“Yes, my Master.”

“She is extraordinary, as you said, “ His Highness observed. He was silent for a moment, then stood up and walked over to me.

Abruptly, I could feel a Darkness enveloping my mind. It was different from my lord’s- it was colder, blacker. And it was utterly empty. I shivered slightly, but stood my ground. The Darkness seeped into my consciousness, like dark fetid river, cold as death, a horrid fog rising from its waters. I blinked; it became hard to breathe, but I didn’t move. The Darkness then tried to penetrate the core of my being, to seize all of me. This was too much. I shoved it away. It came on again, stronger this time. Again, I refused it entry. I suddenly realized that the Emperor was staring at me intently, in his ordinary form - decrepit, old, with yellow eyes that seemed to have a dead and deadly luminosity. The Darkness tried again. I glared at Palpatine, Emperor of the galaxy, and shoved his Darkness back as hard as I could.

He actually took a step back. Then he laughed, his Force chimera returning to its previous benign form.

Palpatine returned to his throne and seated himself. After thinking a moment, he spoke.

“She does indeed have great telepathic potential, and some Force potential as well. I would like you to evaluate her, and report to me. Then we will decide on her training.”

Training? I thought. Training for what? And with whom? I thought I was to be a consort for my lord.

“And so you are,” said the Emperor, reading my thoughts. I wasn’t sure I liked all this psychic invasion. And I didn’t think I liked Palpatine much either.

The Emperor smiled at that, his charming Chancellor-Palpatine-persona seeming to be greatly amused.

“Lord Vader loathes me, my lady concubine,” he said. “It is entirely proper and in the mode for a Sith apprentice. The fact that you dislike me is a most propitious beginning.”

“Beginning of what?” I asked him, trying not to snap out the question. He was beginning to get on my nerves.

“We shall see,” Palpatine replied. The Emperor touched a switch on his throne chair, and spoke into it.

“Official Imperial Archives entry, this date, Imperial Palace, Coruscant. Note to record: Effective this date, the woman before me in the holographic record is the bound concubine and consort of Lord Darth Vader. She shall be known as Lady Ti.”

“Effective also this date, “ he continued, “ Lady Ti is to be enrolled in the Imperial Household, as a member of my private consistory. Both of these appointments are permanent and terminate only at death.”

Palpatine switched the recorder off.

I was speechless. The Emperor grinned obscenely from his throne, radiating pure malice. His Chancellor-chimera faded into his Emperor-appearance- ancient, defiled, singularly….bent.

I could see what he’d done. By appointing me a member of one of his household, as well as the consort of his second-in-command and apprentice, I was potentially a permanent spy in the home of my lord.

I think I began to deeply, passionately, hate him right then and there.

If possible, the Emperor’s grin got even broader. I saw the slimy trail of a particularly nasty idea crawl across his face. He touched another switch on his chair. Almost at once, a liveried servant appeared in the room at the far end, and bowed deeply.

“Take Lady Ti to the Imperial Wardrober. Outfit her immediately as befits her rank and station.”

The servant, a tall slender youngish humanoid male with pale blue skin, bowed again. I knew I had to go with him.

Resisting the urge to give Palpatine one final parting glare, and bowing instead one more time, I turned and started to go. I stole a look over at my lord, who just stood there, tall, silent, nursing the blackest rage I’ve ever seen in anyone, before or since. There was nothing I could say or do at this point to help him, so I reluctantly followed the blue-skinned man out.

Just before the audience chamber doors closed, I heard Palpatine say, “All of you, leave us. I wish a private word with Lord Vader.”

Alone with my escort, I allowed myself a deep sigh as the audience chamber doors shut tight. He smiled. A kind smile.

“Lady Ti, I am the Master of the Imperial Household, Tierand. Welcome to Imperial service.”

I just looked at him, and tried not to let my irritation seep through my attitude. None of this was his fault, after all.

“Master Tierand, do you have any idea what this appointment does to me and my relationship with Lord Vader?” I asked.

“Yes, Lady, I do, but it won’t be as bad as you think.”

“The Emperor’s done this before, then?”

“Yes. But not to Lord Vader.”

We walked down a hallway to another set of elevators, got into one, and rode to the very bottom. When the doors opened, and I walked out, I could see a huge room, filled to capacity with clothing of every color and description. Tierand looked at me for a few moments.

“I think I know what would be suitable,” he said.

I followed him to a set of racks along one wall, a few meters away. He reached for a dress and held it up for my inspection.

It was black, as were nearly all of the Household livery that I could see, with the Imperial insignia in the center of the skirt, near the hem, in red embroidery. It was large enough to be noticable, but small enough not to dominate the outfit. The dress itself was long, of an extremely expensive weave that moved beautifully, even on the hanger. The skirt was full, gathered at the waist. The sleeves ended at the elbow, and were fitted. The neckline would leave my shoulders bare, but not expose anything else.

“There’s a cloak with it,” Tierand said. “Are you pleased with this one?”

“I’d like to try it on,” I replied, but I was pleased.

It was beautiful. Except for the red Imperial insignia, which I hated the sight of, it would have been one of the loveliest dresses I’d ever worn.

Tierand gestured to a small room on the other side of the elevators.

“You can change in there,” he said. “I’ll find you some shoes to go with it.”

I took the dress into the changing room and put it on. After some initial struggle with the fasteners, mostly because they were unfamiliar to me, I examined myself in the large mirrors. It was fitted to show off the curves of a woman’s body, but modest enough not to cause comment in any situation. Perfect, especially given that I was to be staying aboard Lord Vader’s flagship- surrounded by officers and crew, in deep space, possibly for months.

Tierand returned with a selection of shoes, and I chose some. All of them were simple and comfortable-looking, but a couple had somewhat higher heels. I chose a pair of those. He had the cloak ready for me as well, and draped it around my shoulders. The cloak was black also, of a slightly heavier weave, with the Imperial insignia also on the corners, next to the hem, embroidered in red. There were small red jewels incorporated into the design as well on this garment.

“I will send several changes of these clothes to your ship. I understand that you will be joining Lord Vader aboard the Executor.”

I nodded, and wondered about things like night clothing and undergarments. Tierand anticipated me.

“I took the liberty of choosing some nightwear and undergarments for you. Time is very short; the word from the Emperor is that the Executor is leaving orbit in about two hours. As soon as you know what your wardrobe requirements will be, in perhaps a few days, please send me a message and let me know. I will make the arrangements to have what you need sent to you.”

He handed me a small valise. “These should take care of your immediate needs.”

I was touched by his kindness, I really was. It had been a difficult day, and it wasn’t over yet.

“Thank you so much, Master Tierand,” I said, meaning every word, eyes starting to tear a little.

He smiled and bent close to my ear, to whisper softly” You’re not obligated to be in Imperial livery all the time. For your nights alone with Lord Vader, you’re free to wear whatever you like. The livery is for public use only. I’ve included some nightware for you in the valise, which should take the edge off Lord Vader’s anger.”

“Thank you,” I whispered back, unspeakably grateful.

Tierand looked at me with his kind eyes, and said very softly, “I am your friend, Lady Ti. If you need me, I’m here.”

I gave him a very quick hug, and then he said it was time to go.

Within half an hour, I was walking up with ramp of Lord Vader’s shuttle. An hour after that, I arrived aboard the Executor. My lord was nowhere in sight, but a slight, graying humanoid with red eyes named Vice Admiral Roj met me as I exited the ship. He clicked his heels and bowed slightly.

“Welcome to the Executor, Lady Ti.” He said, after introducing himself.

“Thank you, Admiral Roj,” I said formally, wishing my lord were.

“It was somewhat short notice, and I regret that they are not as we would wish them to be for a member of the Imperial Household, but quarters have been prepared for you. We’ll go there now. The Executor will be leaving orbit shortly.”

“Is Lord Vader aboard already?” I inquired, unable to restrain myself.

I should probably have pretended not to be interested. My lover had been gone for hours, and I had no idea where he was.

“Yes, my Lady. He is in conference now. Admiral Piett, the commander of this ship, has called a special meeting of all the staff officers, and I am to join the meeting as soon as I escort you to your quarters. If you wouldn’t mind…”

“Of course,” I said, gripping my valise. “Let’s go.”

Admiral Roj took my bag from me and we started off at a brisk pace towards the Executive Officer’s residential area. It seemed like a long time, but it was probably only a few minutes, before we halted before a set of double doors. Admiral Roj pressed a button and the doors opened. We entered.

The rooms, a sitting room, bedroom and ‘fresher, were lovely, with an enormous window in the sitting room looking out towards the stars. The colors were somewhat drab, being predominantly black and gray, but the appointments were elegant and the furnishings were comfortable and tasteful.

“Thank you, Admiral Roj,” I said, “these will do nicely.”

He bowed and put down my valise. “Thank you, Lady Ti. And now, if you would excuse me?”

I nodded, knowing he was in a hurry, but I just couldn’t help myself- I had to know. “Are Lord Vader’s quarters nearby?”

“Adjacent to these, my Lady. There is a connecting door there.”

He pointed to a single door to my left. I nodded my thanks, and after bowing one more time, he left me. The doors closed. I was alone again.

There was a chronometer on the desk. It showed that it was close to the dinner hour. I was very hungry all at once, and after summoning a service droid, ordered dinner. It arrived within a few minutes, and I ate it quickly. I would have preferred to dine with my lord, but I had no idea when to expect his appearance.

I thought about it for a moment, and decided that I didn’t want him to see me in the livery of his Master until it was absolutely necessary. I picked up my valise and took it into the bedroom.

As I unpacked, I nearly wept again in gratitude to Tierand. The nightware and undergarments were beautiful, the farthest thing imaginable from the Imperial livery he’d been ordered to provide. I picked up a gown of pale pink, cut low at the bust, of a thin, lightweight material. It looked perfect for our first night together.

I took the gown into the ‘fresher, washed and changed into it. The filmy gown was almost transparent when on. It looked perfect. I returned into the sitting room, to wait for him.

Hours passed. At some point, I must have fallen asleep. I thought I was dreaming when, I don’t know how much later, I heard mechanical breathing. A slow measured tread. I opened my eyes.

My lord had come at last. He just stood there, looking at me.

“My lord,” I exclaimed, “you’ve come at last!”

I got up and flung myself into his arms. He crushed me to him. I longed for him; my whole body ached for his touch. I thought I heard something come from him that sounded a little like a soft sob, but perhaps I was mistaken.

Still, he said nothing.

“My lord, please talk to me…” I pleaded.

Abruptly, the man holding me in my arms became the handsome young man I’d loved before, my lord’s Force chimera.

“My lady, what is your pleasure?” he asked, indulgently.

“To please you,” I said. “All I want is to please you.”

My lord bent his head down and we kissed. Desperately. Wildly. Passionately. Abruptly, the chimera vanished and my Dark Lord appeared as himself. He picked me up bodily and carried me into the bedroom, placing me on the bed. He removed his cloak, his armor, his boots, the protective girdle at his waist, including the codpiece. My lord laid down beside me. The young man’s image returned. I strongly wanted to make love to him as he really was, without this façade, but I also wanted him so badly that I didn’t care all that much. The uncertain hours without him had told on me, and all I knew was that my lord and returned and I wanted him. I shrugged the pink gown from my shoulders so that it pooled around my waist. I climbed on top of him, pushing aside his tunic, kissing and caressing him. Then I rolled off and reached for his breeches, pulling them down, grasping his stiffening member in gentle hands, caressing it. He gasped and closed his eyes in ecstasy. I wanted to pleasure him, more than anything. I took him into my mouth, and sucked him greedily, caressing him with my tongue, my hands caressing his hips.

My lord moaned and twisted beneath me, his hands in my hair, caressing it and me everywhere he could.

“Stop,” he pleaded. “Stop for a moment.”

I didn’t want to, but I did anyway. Vader pulled the pink gown the rest of the way off me and placed himself between my legs. I guided him in quickly, and together we moved against each other, our pleasure together much more than that of our individual selves. We were as I’d longed for us to be, and nothing else mattered. Climax, when it came, was sublime. I might have cried out my release. I don’t remember. But what happened after that, I shall never forget.

Lord Vader lay beside me, panting. He seemed to be having a difficult time catching his breath. Surely the breathing mechanism should have caught up with his requirements by now. Unless…..

I propped myself up on one arm and made myself look at him.

The grin on my lover’s handsome face, as he struggled for breath and wiped one hand across his forehead, was arch, malicious. It reminded me of someone else.

Before my eyes, the image of my lord changed into that of the Emperor, in his Chancellor-Palpatine chimera.

“Lady Ti,” he panted, finally getting his breath back, “your lovemaking is delicious. No wonder my apprentice chose you for a consort.”

My mouth hung open in shock. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t even think. A red rage followed the shock. My hands twitched in their eagerness to get around the neck of Palpatine and squeeze the life from him. Then, gray remorse quickly followed the rage. I got up from the bed and ran from the room. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to give the Emperor the satisfaction. I reached for something to cover my nakedness, and the first thing I found was the cloak that lay across the chair in the sitting room. Wrapping myself into it, I sat down in the chair and squeezed my eyes shut. I was trying to stop the tears. It didn’t work. They slid down my cheeks anyway.

Emperor Palpatine entered the room, leaning on his cane.

“Let this be your first lesson on the Dark Side of the Force,” he said. “That memory of your rage, and the remorse that follows it- hold onto it. It will give you focus to your energy, make you stronger, help you develop your talents.”

“Where is Lord Vader?” I demanded.

“He is here now, aboard the ship. I sent him on an errand and he has only just now returned.”

Palpatine approached me once again, wearing his Chancellor-chimera. He took my chin in one of his hands, forcing me to look up at him. I resisted the urge to strike him for daring to touch me again, but I’m sure he saw the look in my eyes. I loathed him. I loathed His Imperial Highness with an intensity I didn’t know I even had. He smiled. It was the nastiest thing I’d ever seen.

“Good, very good, Lady Ti. You will be a quick study.”

He released my chin abruptly. “I will look forward to our next lesson.”

The rage flooded in again. I quickly tried to quash it, as it seemed to please Palpatine to no end.

“Don’t try to strangle your rage,” he said. I thought maybe he was beginning to gloat, and it sickened me. “Don’t strangle it or I shall be obliged to repeat your lesson right now.”

With that, Palpatine’s image shifted again to that of my lord, as Dark Lord of the Sith, masked, robed and in complete armor. His hands came down and gripped both arms of my chair and he leaned over me. I shrank down into my seat, trying to keep away from him. He took one fold of the cloak in his hand, with the Imperial insignia on it, and held it up for me to see.

“This seal says that you are mine. Your life is mine. All that you own is mine. And above all, Darth Vader is mine. Never forget that. Never.”

His other hand reached beneath the folds of the cloak, to cup my left breast. One thumb gently caressed the nipple. I gasped, in both intense pain at this horrid simulation of my Lord’s lovemaking and the betrayal of my body as I enjoyed the sensation. I shut my eyes, but I could still hear the simulation of the measured mechanical breathing. It’s just an illusion, I told myself.

“You may never be entirely sure when, or if, I may visit you again. Remember that, my Lady Ti, each time your lord takes you in his arms. Remember it or I may have to return to remind you.”

Palpatine released me and resumed his guise of the old, decrepit Sith Master of the State. “And now I must leave you.” He paused a moment, as if listening to something only he could hear. “Ah, your lord desires entrance into this chamber. No need to delay his arrival any longer. I know you are longing to see him.” A lecherous look passed over what I could see of his face, with its dead yellow eyes. “I could almost envy him his greeting. Almost.” With that, he finally left the room. Outside, as I could just see through the doors, waited the red Imperial guard.

* * *

Part Three: Scheherazde/Gotcha: Master & Apprentice


"Official Imperial Archives entry, this date, Imperial Palace, Coruscant. Note to record: Effective this date, the woman before me in the holographic record is the bound concubine and consort of Lord Darth Vader. She shall be known as Lady Ti. Effective also this date, Lady Ti is to be enrolled in the Imperial Household, as a member of my private consistory. Both of these appointments are permanent and terminate only at death."

Lord Vader heard these words from his Master, and even though he had heard worse things issue from the Imperial Throne in his time, including the rapine of whole worlds and sometimes their complete destruction, this shocked him.

My Master has made my consort to be a permanent household spy, an Imperial tool to be used against me in any way he likes, and I can do nothing about it. The Emperor hadn't betrayed him on this deep an emotional level for many years. And then there was the public humiliation element of it: Lord Vader is not to be master of his own household. It was a matter of court record. When the initial rage had burned itself out, when his lady had departed- shocked, stricken, miserable- Vader took a moment to focus his anger into a Dark clarity.

His Master rarely did anything without a plan, never made a move without considering every possible outcome, and always had several purposes in everything he decided to execute. Palpatine sometimes moved like Frissian moss, but he was careful. For his Master to have done this to him must mean that he was about to receive yet more instruction in the ways of the Sith. Betrayal is the way of the Sith, as the Dark Lord knew only too well. So Palpatine was instructing him again. Every time his Emperor did that, Vader's loathing of him increased with inverse proportion to the square of the cruelty of the lesson. It made him that much more powerful. It brought him that much closer to being like his Master. It made him hate himself just that much more. The hatred fed his fury, which then increased his fear, and led to more hatred. It was a continuous cycle. His Jedi Masters had told him, over and over, how easy the Dark Side was. Like most of what they told him, it was a lie. There was nothing easy about the Dark Side. The cycle of hatred, fear, anger and back again was exhausting, in every possible way. The Dark Side was a hungry emptiness that took more than it gave- until you understood how to control its greed. The Dark Lord had learned that on Mustafar.

The only respite Vader had ever found was in the pleasure of his consorts- both in the pleasure he received and in the pleasure he gave. There was a time when his Master had given him pleasure. Vader wondered if Palpatine had forgotten about that.

"All of you, leave us. I wish a private word with Lord Vader."

The room cleared fairly rapidly. Palpatine rarely had a full court. The courtiers tried not to snicker as they passed out the exits. The aides knew better than to show any emotion at all. If Lord Vader didn't kill them for their insolence, the Emperor most probably would. The relationship between a Sith Master and his Apprentice was a complicated one, largely invisible from public view, but no interference was tolerated. From anyone. At any time.

"Guards, leave us also." Palpatine ordered. Silently, swiftly, the guard retired and the entrances were locked.

Master and Apprentice were alone.

"Lord Vader, I can sense that you are not pleased with my plans for your new consort."

"I thought that my domestic affairs were not a matter that interested you, Master."

"Ordinarily they would not, but I think you will agree that Lady Ti is not an ordinary female."

"No, she is not."

"She has a rare talent."

"Yes, My Master."

The Emperor rose from his chair and motioned for Vader to follow him. They began to circle the room, slowly. The Dark Lord noted that Palpatine would often walk around the room when delivering bad news or difficult instructions. He mentally braced himself. It was going to be worse, then, than he thought.

"My friend, it occurs to me that the Sith Order could use some additional resources. Not necessarily complete initiates, but intuitives. Do you follow me?"

"I'm not certain. What do you mean?"

"As you know, the Jedi had numerous degrees of Force practitioners, which allowed them greater opportunities to carry out their various deceptions and power plays. The Sith Order, since Darth Bain, has restricted itself to full initiates only, and only two at any time. I have no plans to radically change this, but since the Jedi threat has been removed, I think the time has come to loosen restrictions on the Order. I would like to think I had your support."

"Of course, Master."

"Lord Vader, this changes nothing between us. You know that, don't you?"

"I'm not sure that I do."

The Emperor stopped and looked up at his Apprentice.

"I do indeed remember that once, long ago, there was something like love between us. I have not forgotten. I am aware that I cannot expect you to continue on the pathway of the Sith without providing you with….compensations."

Vader was silent. Compensations. He had been promised so much, and received comparatively little. His Master had always led him to believe it was because he asked for too little. The Dark Side was scrupulous about expectations: if you managed its greed effectively, you could expect to receive more from it than it took from you. But you had to know what you were doing. The Dark Side was also unforgiving of error, weakness, inattention and sloth. A momentary lapse could kill. Or worse.

"My friend, I am concerned that you have not received so much of what you wanted. We have talked about this many times, haven't we?"

"Yes, my Master."

"I have given you what it was in my power to give. Is that not so?"

Vader knew it was true. The Emperor had never refused him anything. Power. Possessions. Wealth. The occasional whim. Except the one thing he had always wanted, but could never bring himself to ask for. Padme was gone. His mother was gone. The Jedi had betrayed him. He still needed love. That had not changed. But the avenues from which he could receive it were gone. Except one.

Palpatine sighed. "It hasn't been easy for either of us, has it? I am bound by my duty as a Sith Master, and a stronger obligation than that I do not know."

The Dark Lord couldn't speak. This was an astonishing admission.

His Master continued. "If I fail in that, I fail you, I fail the Order, and become no better than the Jedi we destroyed. I couldn't bear that."

The private audience chamber was short on seating. Most audiences didn't last more than a few minutes; most who came here didn't care to linger. There were a few chairs and sofas scattered around the main area. The Emperor walked over to one of the sofas and motioned for Vader to join him. After Palpatine seated himself comfortably, the Dark Lord sat also. After a moment, his Master spoke again.

"I sometimes miss our early days together, before the Republic was re-organized and before Mustafar." The Emperor actually reached over and patted Lord Vader's hand.

Something strange happened then. Vader was aware of something odd happening with the power flows of the Force. It was like something heavy was depressing the flow, pushing it out of shape, reforming it into a vortex. The air seemed to get thick and heavy, like it had turned almost to water. It was hard to breathe, hard to move. Time skidded to a halt. The power of the Dark Side spiraled around itself into a whirlpool, sucking everything down into it.

Before the Dark Lord could blink his eyes a second time, he found himself in the Chancellor's office, at the Senate building. Palpatine was sitting next to him on one of the office couches, in his form as the distinguished Senator from Naboo. It was different from the Force chimeras he had experienced and used himself. There was a subtle lack of dimension to those, not noticeable to most who would be affected by them anyway- a Force chimera was best used with the telepathic or Force-Sensitive. This was more like a folding- over of space/time, where the flow of time had bent back on itself and formed a small shallow loop. Vader had never seen this done before; his Master was full of surprises today.

As he looked down at the hand that had placed itself over his, the Dark Lord saw that his own had changed too. He had reverted to his younger, complete self. For the first time in many years, nothing hurt. And he could breathe. This was Anakin Skywalker's body. Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight. The Hero Without Fear. Within this tiny bubble of static time, Vader drew a deep breath on his own, and exhaled. It was pure bliss.

The Senator from Naboo looked over at him sadly.

"The skill to create this kind of space/time loop is not a very difficult one, but it takes a great deal of concentration. Despite appearances, I am not the man I used to be. Mastery is finite, as I'm sure you will discover."

Palpatine moved over to sit closer to his apprentice.

"So many things I wanted to share with you, the dreams I dreamed for you that cannot become realized- at least not in the way I wanted them to. I'm so sorry, Lord Vader, that things couldn't have turned out differently. All I ever wanted was to make you happy."

The Dark Lord didn't know what to make of all this. He hadn't felt this confused in years. But it did appear that he was being offered, for the first time, the love for which he yearned. And the experiences of his life had taught him only one way to receive it, in the intensity that he wanted and needed it.

Heart beating fast in a body that could take it, Lord Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, leaned close to his mentor and touched his lips gently with his own. Palpatine closed his eyes and sighed, bending slightly towards his protégée. Simultaneously, they kissed each other.

Vader was a little tentative, but it took only another moment for the Sith to embrace, kissing deeply. Palpatine reached beneath his apprentice's robe to touch the strong supple chest beneath. Vader shuddered, opening his mouth wider to receive the Senator's tongue. The incredible power of their sexual contact had astonished them both.

Palpatine's fingers entwined themselves in Vader's long brown curls, but one hand reached downwards, towards the Dark Lord's engorged member. Vader moaned softly. Shaking with desire, Darth Vader, Sith Lord, reached over also and caressed his Master's organ beneath his robes of State, licking one forefinger first and then sliding it across the sensitive glans in a gentle tease. The Senator gasped, eyes darkening.

Somewhere beyond himself, beyond space and time, beyond even the power of the Force as he had known it, reaching even into this tiny drop of stolen eternity, Vader heard a whisper. A warning.

The man Lord Vader had become knew better than to ever disregard such warnings. But he also knew that desperate danger also meant enormous opportunity. Seizing the initiative, for once taking his Master completely by surprise, Darth Vader pushed Senator Palpatine down to lie on his back, pinning him flat beneath the Sith Lord's body, one hand holding the Senator's left wrist over his head while Vader's hips pressed down on top of Palpatine's. He moved them sensuously over the Senator's groin, causing Palpatine's eyes to glaze over with the intensity of his desire. Lord Vader tightened his grip on his Master and spoke at last.

"Mastery is finite. It has a beginning and an end. You have mastered, and you have taken and you have spent. The Jedi denied me the Mastery, all those years ago. But you cannot. You shall not. Now close this time portal right now or I'll break your neck and bury you in it."

Slowly, Palpatine's lips spread themselves into a languorous smile.

"Very good, my young apprentice. I am pleased with you. You know, that if I'd permitted this to go much further, you would not have been allowed to survive the experience. It would have meant that you were too weak to ever become a Master."

"Oh? Did you kill Darth Plaguis because he was too weak? Or because he was too strong?"

The Senator's eyes began to darken with fury. But when he spoke, his voice was gentle.

"The Dark Side forces must always be balanced. You know this. Balance is everything, Balance is the only thing. If you are too strong to admit weakness into your experience, then you will never be able to learn enough from your mistakes to survive. If you are too weak to hold onto the lessons you learn, the power of the Dark Side will utterly crush you. It is my task to make sure you learn this. You can never be a Master if you don't. I do take my obligation to teach you seriously, you know. And now I think we understand each other."

Vader released Palpatine and sat up. Palpatine also rose from his position on the couch, and stood.

"It is time we went from here. There is much for us to do."

Space/time warped again, more quickly this time, as if snapping back into position from having been extended too far out of its normal shape. Vader's head ached a little as once again he and his Master reoccupied the private Imperial audience chamber. Immediately, the Dark Lord felt the absence of his complete body and with it, a tinge of regret- quickly dissipated. A lesson was a lesson, and his Master's lessons always helped him in the end. Vader wondered idly if his Master missed his former physicality. As soon as the thought occurred to him, he dismissed it. His Master did not dwell on such things. Palpatine preferred to exist in the here and the now, and didn't waste his time with regret.

"Now, regarding your consort." The Emperor said crisply. "My thought is to have her evaluated for her Force ability as soon as possible. I would prefer a Dark Side evaluation, but perhaps it doesn't matter. Either her gifts there are significant or they are not. Her telepathic ability alone is valuable enough to us to hone and train into service."

"Yes, my Master," said the Dark Lord, wondering how to approach the problem of evaluating someone as resistant to the Dark Side as Lady Ti was.

"I know it will be difficult," Palpatine replied in answer to Vader's unasked question. "You have not trained anyone before, although part of the point of this exercise is to give you some experience in this. I don't wish to instruct you, as I am now sure that you can find your own way to train her, but I don't want you to feel unsupported. Would you like me to observe and advise, during the evaluation?"

The Dark Lord of the Sith considered this. As little as he wanted the Emperor anywhere near his consort, especially now, his Master had give him a task to perform- one that he was unfamiliar with. He could use the help. Provided he could control where and how it was given if he moved quickly.

"Thank you, my Master. I would appreciate your advice and counsel, as I always do."

Palpatine smiled. The Emperor's smile was a horrid thing.

"Then it's settled," he said. "I would like for you to visit the Sith archives before you leave for the Executor, and do a little research on evaluation and development. It won't be easy to extract that kind of information from them. Our archives weren't specifically created to support a training program, but were meant to be a repository of knowledge. Still, there might be some helpful training tools there. We may as well use them."

"Yes, my Master. " Vader had to admit, it made sense.

"I will begin with a preliminary assessment of your consort, obtain a first reading of her capacity for passion. Do you agree?"

The Dark Lord had to stifle a gasp at this. "I think I already have an indication of that, Master."

Palpatine sighed with impatience. "Not sexual passion, Lord Vader. I have no interest in your consort in that regard. Just a general reading of the strength of her emotions. "

Vader still felt faintly uneasy.

"I would prefer to be present, my Master."

"Of course you would, my friend. That's not an unreasonable request. It might even be instructive. Very well, then. You shall be present to gauge her emotional depth responses. I will meet you on the Executor, but must depart shortly after we do the assessment."

The Sith Lord felt a little better. He would be able to do damage control, and have plenty of time to do it. "Very good, my Lord."

Palpatine walked back to his throne, sat down and touched another button on his chair. The doors opened, and his guard returned. Shortly thereafter, his aides began to file into the room.

"Thank you, Lord Vader. I'm glad we've come to an agreement. You may go now."

The Dark Lord bowed reverently before his Master, and left the room. He had a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it. His lady was waiting for him, and he longed to return to her. He really did.

* * *

Part 4: The Dark Side


Lord Vader was in the building that used to be the Jedi Temple when the holographic transmission from his Master came. The Jedi Temple was no longer being used as such anymore, of course. It now housed the combined archives of the Sith and the Jedi, along with various artifacts. Sometimes important prisoners were kept there. Vader tried not to have mixed feelings about the place, but it was unavoidable. He wondered if his Master, who never came here himself, kept the place the way he did at least partially to remind his apprentice just how far he'd come. And what it cost to get there. As if he needed reminding.

As the Emperor thought, it was difficult to find information that would be useful for the evaluation and training of any Sith that was not to be an initiate. The Dark Lord had been combing through the records for fully two hours before he found anything much. And another two before he was sure he'd found enough. The Executor would have left orbit by now. Vader told Piett not to wait. The Rebel raids near the Outer Rim systems were causing enough concern that they needed to be dealt with immediately. Their strategies reminded him strongly of the Trade Federation's, and that irritated him. Can't they do something new, he thought, annoyed. Fighting the same war twice seemed incredibly stupid, especially given the outcome the first time. The Sith Lord sneered beneath his breathmask. He didn't mind teaching the same lesson twice, even if it bored him to do it. There would be safety and security for the Empire, and if that took a lot of repeated lessons, then so be it. He knew he would be a careful teacher.

Which was why he was here.

Vader didn't like the idea of his consort being recruited for this kind of formal service to the Sith, and didn't relish the idea of sharing her with anyone or anything, but his Master was right - they did need the help. Sometimes you had to take it where you could get it. But he intended to be the one that determined how much, for whom, and when. Right now he missed her, longed for her. Wanted her. Her love and trust, given freely and without fear, touched him deeply. The strange encounter he'd had with his Master, although interesting in a number of ways, was not satisfactory. He knew now that it never would be. At least he understood that much now.

The Dark Lord was just uploading his file selections to the small datachip he'd brought with him, and it was nearly complete, when his attention was diverted by the sudden appearance of a message on the holographic projector. The holographic was set in a wide aperture, so that it took in a large section of the room from which it was being transmitted.

It was coming from somewhere on the Executor; he could tell that right away. It looked like one of the guest quarters, one that Lord Vader directed his staff to fit up for his consort, one that was adjacent to his own. His Lady was there, apparently sleeping on the couch. She was wearing some kind of semi-transparent pink garment that clung to her curves, accentuated her beautiful breasts. She was waiting for him. His breathing mechanism labored to keep up the additional demand. Then, the rage followed. Who would dare to fit out this room with cameras? And who… Someone came into the room. She stirred. A Force chimera was a psionic effect- it required an organic mind to recognize it- but it didn't matter what his lady saw. What he saw was his Master. The Emperor stood in front of the couch, and waited.

In full Sith fury, the Dark Lord stormed out of the Jedi Temple, only barely coherent enough to grab his datachip before he left, and ran to the ramp where his shuttle was parked. The crew tried, and failed, to hide their shock.

"Take me to my ship at once," he growled. "If I am not aboard it in precisely forty minutes, you won't need a ship to fly through space."

Then he strode to his cabin and locked the door.

The crew scrambled. It would take a miracle for them to make the forty-minute deadline, and he knew it, but Vader was past caring. He knew what his Master was about to do. And the hatred that was boiling in him was almost more than he could endure. It appeared that his lesson for the day was far from over. And he had one that he wanted to give his Master.

Forty minutes. That might already be too late.

The Sith flung himself into his acceleration couch and got the straps on just as the shuttle blasted into orbit. As the ship cleared the atmosphere and the computers began to make the calculations for the jump into hyperspace, Vader noticed a red light flashing on his com board. It was his private channel. A holographic message. From the Emperor. Aboard the Executor.
Urgent.

* * *

Chapter 5: Palpatine


Palpatine was well-pleased with his evaluation of Lady Ti. It had gone better than he ever expected. As he slowly walked down the corridors, flanked by his guard, to the quarters that Admiral Piett had hurriedly set aside for him, he considered the woman. She had the emotional intensity- not enough for a Sith initiate, but plenty to work with to use the Dark Side to hone her abilities. Her control was good, for a neophyte. But she was largely an unconscious telepath. In order for her skills to be truly useful to him, it would require careful teaching and practice in order for that talent to be exploited properly. It was, more or less, as the Emperor expected. He imagined that their encounter had given her a powerful motivation to discover, as a first project, how to tell the difference between one Sith's force chimera and another's using only her telepathic ability. It was a skill that would prove useful, Palpatine thought with a smirk, and quickly.

That was excellent. It was important, he knew, to provide small successes quickly in beginning a training program. You had to have a real desire to learn something that was difficult and unfamiliar, and then you needed a powerful reason to use what you learned- and often, or the knowledge wouldn't stick. The Emperor knew all about that. Vader had, after all, been a rather slow-learner despite being highly gifted as far as raw talent went. Some would call it classic gifted-under-achiever syndrome. Gifted but lazy was the way Palpatine viewed it.

The Emperor knew from close to twenty-five years of experience that, with Vader, you had to keep pushing him or he would stall. The Dark Side had a certain innate inertia, its cycles power-intensive and exhausting, but there were strategies for dealing with this problem. His apprentice had never really mastered them.

Palpatine halted in front of the doors, which immediately opened. Two of the Imperial Guard followed him inside the room. Four others stayed outside the door. The Emperor motioned for the two guards with him to retire. They did, silently, but were on alert. Palpatine expected Vader would want to see him as soon as he arrived onboard ship. And when he did, the Emperor expected that his apprentice would have reached new heights of intensity in his loathing of his Master. He smiled. It was all going splendidly. He settled himself into his make-shift throne near the window, and mentally took stock.

Vader would nuture and cultivate his anger and hatred. Lady Ti would no longer be the kind of distraction that would keep him from it. Teaching her to use her abilities to create an opportunity for the Dark Lord to revenge himself on his Master would make sure that Vader focused. Palpatine gave a little sigh. No one would ever believe how much work it was, training a Sith apprentice. Ruling the Galaxy was nothing beside it. He'd had several apprentices, and he knew: each was different, and each presented their own management problems and training challenges.

There were days when Palpatine wasn't sure Vader could achieve the high levels of performance that he'd expected from him. There was so much he refused to learn. But his lesson earlier today had at least proven that the Dark Lord was strong enough. Vader had backed off from any possibility that he would ever accept the love he'd wanted almost all his life, and it was moments like that which made all the endless seductions, betrayals and manipulations worthwhile.

All in all, a most satisfactory day. Palpatine sat back, preparing to begin his meditations. Vader would be here soon. He was already on his way up from the hanger bay. The only question was: would he go to his consort before his Master? Palpatine was betting that he would visit Lady Ti first. Vader was, after all, indulgent with himself about his harem and had a fondness for sexual pleasures. Plaguis had been that way also, a quality Palpatine had always despised.

For Palpatine, the hate, anger and fear that focused the Dark Side always came as natural to him as breathing; he never found them exhausting or boring. If anything, the discipline of forcing himself to bank them down in order to focus on training and teaching others had made of him a much more powerful Sith than he ever imagined. Sure, he'd lost a few apprentices along the way. A little breakage was expected, whenever there were Sith energies to be conditioned. But he'd done it. And now he wanted to pass his skills to his apprentice.

But despite today's show of strength, Palpatine still wasn't sure that Vader had what it took to be a Sith Master, to replace him. To support the entire Order by himself, until he could choose and train his own apprentice. And could Vader even identify, motivate and train an apprentice? All of these were important questions. What transpired with Lady Ti might provide some answers.

Palpatine sighed. Although he talked about ruling the Empire for a thousand years, it was just talk. His old master hadn't actually found the ability to stop death, but he could greatly slow it down. He hadn't quite finished teaching him all of the subtleties of that level of Force manipulations before Palpatine killed him. It was a pity about that, the Emperor mused. In his mind, Palpatine replayed the event. It still brought him a lot of satisfaction, even after all these years.

Palpatine was young then: medium height, slight, fair, long curling dark hair. Large dark eyes. Fine, aristocratic features. A little effete. People always underestimated him. That was his great strength. Nobody ever saw him coming. Plagueis, by contrast, was a rough-looking, muscular man- dark skin, gray hair, eyes to match. He looked the part of the Sith Lord, but he preferred to operate under deep cover, passing himself off in any number of professions as he worked through his intricately laid plans. Plagueis taught Palpatine much about subterfuge, covert operations, manipulation and the art of betrayal. Plagueis had the latter down to an art form. Palpatine had to give him that. Plaguis had forgotten more about the art of betrayal then Palpatine ever knew. But Palpatine had proved to be a gifted student, and a quick study.

Palpatine had come in for their regular evening session that fateful day, to find him exhausted and red-eyed, data discs scattered everywhere, sitting at his desk.

"Is there a problem, Master?" Palpatine asked.

"No, my friend," Plagueis replied. "Just trying a new experiment."

Palpatine approached his Master's side, laid a hand on his shoulder. "If I can be of help, let me know."

Plagueis smiled. He had a charming smile. Palpatine always worried when Plagueis smiled at him. "I will, Palpatine. I will be sure to do that."

"You look tired, Master. Why don't you rest a while?"

Plagueis put an arm around Palpatine's waist. This was most unusual. Palpatine's heart began to beat a little faster. What was he up to?

"No time to rest. Much work to do."

Plagueis looked over into his apprentice's eyes. Palpatine thought he recognized that look. His Master wanted to test him again. The tests his Master liked to give were usually, beneath the surface, exercises in the fine arts of betrayal and manipulation- sometimes disguised even further as a game. So Plagueis was testing him again. Probably some kind of game. Palpatine sighed mentally.

"Palpatine, you're too serious. You should get more pleasure out of life."

With that, Plagueis grabbed Palpatine roughly, pulling him to stand between his legs. Taking his young apprentice's face between his hands, but handling him with surprising gentleness, Plagueis bent his head towards Palpatine and kissed him full on the mouth.

Palpatine was flabbergasted. Plagueis had never, ever done this to him. And Palpatine, who had not been touched by another man in that way, found that it excited him.

Plagueis slowly pulled back, and looked into his apprentice's eyes. He could see the fires beginning to burn there.

`Thank the Force,' he thought, `so Palpatine isn't the cold fish I thought he was.'

Palpatine had been, on the whole, an exceptional student, and Plagueis was pleased with his progress and growing power. But, controlling the Dark Side of the Force through the focus of passions meant using all available passions. Palpatine had apparently bottomless resources of hate, anger and fear, but seemed to be a bit handicapped in the secondary and tertiary sources of passion. Not exploiting all sources of passion, including sexual passion, was throwing away a valuable tool. Perhaps Plagueis had been using the wrong approach with Palpatine all along.

Still gripping Palpatine tightly, but moving more gently this time, Plagueis bent once more towards his apprentice. With his lips, he caressed Palpatine's, gently sucking his upper lip. Palpatine seemed to melt, opened his mouth, offered his tongue to his Master.

Plagueis pulled Palpatine even closer, kissed him deeply, sucking his tongue gently. The Sith Master bent Palpatine backwards over the desk, leaning over him, reaching under his tunic to caress his body. How soft his skin was, almost like a girl's, Plagueis mused.

Palpatine had never experienced anything like this before. His senses were on fire. It was power that excited him. It was had always been power that excited him, and who had more of it than the Sith? And the Sith Master had the most of all.

Plagueis sensed that his Apprentice was ready for the next step. It was common practice for a Sith Master to test his Apprentices in a multitude of areas along the way. When it came to the survival of the Order, no tool or method was spared. If an Apprentice was worthy to become a Master, then he would have to prove it, under more and more complex conditions and increasing levels of duress. Plagueis knew that Palpatine wanted it, wanted the power of the Mastery, but what he didn't know was how far his young apprentice would be willing to go to get it. A Sith stopped at nothing. When he was done with a lesson, an asset or a tool, he got rid of it and moved on. Palpatine had the desire. But how far would he go?

The Sith Master ripped the tunic from Palpatine's body and ran his hands over his smoothly muscled form. His apprentice was wiry, not muscular, and stronger than he looked. Plagueis knew that from experience. Bending down, he licked and then sucked one nipple. Palpatine shuddered, his fingers caressing his Master's hair. Plagueis then ran his tongue along Palpatine's midline, towards his breeches. In a moment, Palpatine's Master had undone his breeches, exposing Palpatine's almost fully engorged member. Plagueis took Palpatine's breeches off the rest of the way, and now his Apprentice was completely naked, trembling with desire.

It had been a while since Plagueis had done this sort of pleasuring, as he preferred women, but he thought he still remembered how. He first gently licked the tip of Palpatine's organ, then wrapped his tongue around it and sucked gently.

"Master," he moaned. Like he meant it.

Plagueis need no further encouragement. He took his apprentice fully into his mouth and sucked. Palpatine's flesh was sweet. His eyes were closed in ecstasy. Plagueis wrapped his hands around Palpatine's boyish behind, kneading it gently. In a short time, Palpatine had climaxed, lay limply on the desktop. Panting.

It seemed like it took a while for Palpatine to get his breath back. Plagueis wondered if he'd been slacking off in his physical conditioning. Perhaps Plagueis would have to test him again in that area also. It took much longer to train a Sith initiate than it did a Jedi, and the attrition rate was high. Sometimes, Plagueis thought that if he could just refine his skills enough with the Dark Side, to prolong life and forestall death skillfully enough, maybe he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his life training an apprentice. He could keep the Order alive himself, and train at his leisure.

But, as he had just discovered, it didn't have to be all work and no play, even with Palpatine.

The Sith Master, it had to be said, rarely allowed himself to be distracted. Palpatine knew that. Plagueis had told him many times: the Dark Side does not tolerate distraction. It demands total concentration. Distraction is expensive. Distraction is wasteful. Distraction can be deadly. But here, it seemed, Plagueis had permitted himself a distraction. Here was an opportunity.

Wiping a hand across his forehead, and sliding sinuously down from the desktop, Palpatine reached over and lifted his Master's chin gently with one hand. He slowly bent down to hover over Plagueis' lips, in what he hoped was an enticing manner. Softly, slowly, he kissed his Master. Plagueis returned his kiss, closing his eyes as he did so.

Plagueis never even saw the lightsaber leap from the belt still attached to Palpatine's breeches, lying unnoticed on the floor only inches away. Palpatine didn't think his Master even had time to register any pain as the Sith apprentice's hand swung the ignited saber, in a low tight arc, through Plagueis' neck, severing his head. It was just as well. Plagueis had taught him much, and taught him well. At last, Palpatine had been able to return the favor.

The Emperor, sitting on his throne, at the pinnacle of Sith and Imperial power, meditated silently on the many satisfactions of the Dark Side as he waited for his apprentice.

* * *

Part 6: Master and Apprentice, Revisited

Lord Vader stalked down the ramp from his shuttle, right past the contingent of officers that were standing at attention, waiting to greet him, past Admiral Ozzel and General Veers, without speaking. Piett and Veers looked at each other. The Sith Lord was furious and there would probably be bloodshed before the night was over. Admiral Ozzel cleared his throat and straightened his tunic. He was hosting the Emperor and Lord Vader, and it was his duty to see to it that everything ran smoothly, but he knew that the situation was well beyond his skills to manage. Ozzel wasn't under any illusions as to his skills and experience; he was a political appointee and he knew it. In situations like this, he reminded himself, the best thing to do was duck for cover and wait until they had blown themselves out.

"Captian Piett," Ozzel said, beckoning to his second officer.

"Yes, Sir," Piett said, stepping forward, clicking his heels.

"Clear the hallways in the Executive Officer's residential sections. Immediately."

"Sir, " Piett said, and hurried to execute the order.

Ozzel didn't know what the situation was between the Emperor and Lord Vader, and he didn't know if the new occupant of his ship, a member of the Imperial Household named Lady Ti, had anything to do with what was about to happen. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. But making sure there were no witnesses among his officers and crew would be a help. Ozzel's staff officers were mostly regular military, extraordinarily competent, and he didn't want to lose any of them.

* * *

The Dark Lord, as he strode through the corridors of the Executor towards the temporary quarters of his Master, was focusing his anger into Dark clarity. He had been in intense Dark Side meditation during the entire flight, searching for a way to revenge this intolerable insult. The Emperor manipulated him into doing something he never wanted to do, lied to him and betrayed his trust. Betrayal was the way of the Sith, and it thrust both ways. It was time to remind his Master that he had his own ways of dealing with treachery. In kind.

A large part of his strategy depended on the strength and courage of his lady, shamed and humiliated at the hands of the Emperor. He desperately wanted to go to her, but he dared not. She would be a distraction. Vader could not afford to have his attention divided.

The hallways were peculiarly empty of officers and crew in the Executive Officer's areas. But, near the doorway of one of the guest quarters, four of the Imperial Red Guard stood at attention, two on one side of the door and two on the other. Vader strode towards the doors. The Red Guard Captain spoke.

"You have not been summoned, my Lord. I cannot admit you."

Vader was in mood for arguments with minions. He raised one hand, slightly. The Captain began to choke, gasping for breath. He fell to his knees.

"Ackk…The Emperor's command….cannot disobey…."

The Captain keeled over, dead. The remaining three guards closedranks to block the door. The Dark Lord drew his lightsaber and madeshort work of them, although he reflected that they would be a terrible mess to clean up now.

Unobstructed, Vader entered his Master's quarters. The Emperor was sitting in a large swivel chair, his back to the door. Two more of the Red Imperial guardsmen were on either side of him. Slowly, Palpatine turned around.

"Lord Vader, I don't believe I requested your presence."

"No, Master, but I believe you did order me to report to you on what I found in the Sith archives as soon as I returned to the ship. And as you have already performed your evaluation of Lady Ti, I have also come to hear your conclusions."

The Emperor's eyes faintly reptilian eyes glowed with sickly yellow light.

"Couldn't it have waited a few hours?"

"No, Master, it could not."

"Why is that?"

"Because of your….activities…with Lady Ti, I can no longer consider her a member of my harem. You will have to remove her to the home of your own concubines, on Coruscant."

"Lord Vader, that seems rather rash of you. Did you receive the holographic message I sent you, detailing the scope of the… activities….as you call them?"

"I did receive it, Master. We agreed that I would be present when you evaluated Lady Ti, and it was just for that reason that I wished to be there. I was not present. You went too far with her. She is yours now."

Palpatine tossed his head in irritation. The hood slipped back, revealing his ancient, sunken face. "I have no wish to keep her. She is not to my taste."

"That is no longer my problem, Master. She does not belong on this ship. She is a member of your Imperial Household. She is your responsibility."

The Emperor considered for a moment. " I could have her killed."

Vader was expecting this reaction. He had disciplined his own in response. All of him reflected cold indifference.

"That is your decision. However, there is the matter of her uncommon telepathic abilities."

Palpatine almost seemed to pout. He did that when thwarted. Vader held onto his focus with fierce concentration.

After a moment, his Master said, "She does have considerable potential. She would be an asset. I want her trained."

"Then you train her. She is a member of your household."

The Emperor smiled unpleasantly. "That rankled, didn't it? Making her a member of my private consistory."

"Not anymore," the Dark Lord said coldly.

"Lord Vader, you're being remarkably difficult about this rather minor issue."

Vader was silent. Victory was almost in sight.

Palpatine sighed. "I do not have the time to train her. What do you suggest?"

"Rescind her appointment to your household, and to my harem, so that I can have a free hand with her. If she can't or won't accept the training and develop her skills, I will have her terminated."

The Emperor pouted again. His Apprentice had apparently progressed even further with his emotional control and Dark Side focus that Palpatine suspected. The Sith Master considered it time to cut his losses, which were, after all, very minor. All he'd lost was the opportunity to watch Vader attempt, possibly in vain, to restrain his passions and focus on a task at hand, in the midst of an enormous distraction. Apparently he'd already done that. It was a waste of time to feel disappointed that his Apprentice hadn't failed before he started.

"Very well. I will rescind the appointments. Is she to remain onboard the Executor for your training?"

"Yes," Vader replied. " I will have her removed from her present quarters adjacent to mine, to somewhere more suitable. Thank you, Master." The Dark Lord turned to go.

"Lord Vader," the Emperor called after him.

"Yes, Master?" The Sith replied.

"Do have the mess removed from my doorway before I leave in the morning. And endeavor to remember that it is not your place to discipline my guard."

"Yes, Master." Lord Vader turned with a wide sweep of his cape, and left the room.

* * *

Part 7: The Dark Lord and His Lady

The Sith did not let go of his focus. Couldn't even think of letting go of his focus. His Master was far too near, would feel the faintest glimmer of triumph in Vader at what was, unbeknownst to the Emperor, a signal victory. He had things he needed to say to his Lady, things she needed to know. He yearned to hold her, to touch her, to smooth away the hurt and humiliation she's suffered, but he couldn't. It was vital that Palpatine not know that he still wanted her. He had removed her from his clutches, and wanted it to stay that way. Vader needed to send a message to her somehow. He'd tried to contact her telepathically, but couldn't get through the miasma of despair and remorse- and anger- that shrouded her thoughts. Her quarters had cameras, and probably sound recording devices. He dared not enter her chambers. This was going to be difficult.

The Dark Lord entered his quarters, and paced for a few moments. Then he had an idea. He touched a comm button, summoned Captain Piett.

"Yes, my Lord?" Piett inquired, sounding infinitely respectful but a little bit nervous.

"I want you to relocate Lady Ti to another location within the ship. Another set of guest quarters."

"Sir, there are none available near to your…I mean, none that are in very close proximity to…" Piett couldn't finish.

"It doesn't matter where they are. Just move her and do it immediately. And Piett-"

"Yes, my Lord?" Piett was clearly perplexed and terrified. So much the better.

"Give Lady Ti a message, from me. Tell her not to worry, to get some rest, and I will meet with her as soon as I can. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Tomorrow I want you to find out who it was that ordered the cameras to be placed in her quarters. See to it personally, Captain."

Vader thought he could hear the officer say something like, "Ohhh…..", but he wasn't sure. In any case, Piett would understand the situation and handle it with the required delicacy. Or he would be dead before noon tomorrow.

"Piett, one more thing….there's a mess outside of the Emperor's quarters. Have it dealt with at once."

"Very good, my Lord," said Piett.

The next day, the Emperor took his leave of the Executor, and his apprentice. Vader saw him off. He had never been so glad to see the back of his Master in his life.

Before Palpatine left, he issued the orders that reversed his decree creating Lady Ti as Vader's consort and as a member of the Imperial household. It was official. His lady was free.

The Dark Lord waited about two hours before sending for her. And he made every one of his command staff, and most of their senior technicians, thoroughly miserable while he waited. The cameras and sound recording devices had, of course, been placed at the command of the Emperor. Vader ordered them ripped out. No recordings were found, but he drove the technicians practically into convulsions looking for them before he was satisfied they didn't exist.

When the Sith judged that his Master was far enough away, probably in view of Coruscant, and the Executor comfortably in hyperspace, he called Captain Piett to escort his lady to his private office on the Bridge.

I was ready when my summons finally came. Captain Piett had come to me very late last night with an order to vacate my quarters immediately, and a short message from my Lord, which explained nothing. From the look on Piett's face, I could tell that something was definitely happening between the Emperor and my Lord, and we were both caught in the middle of it. It was hard to be angry with the young officer; he was just doing his duty as the messenger. I'd picked up my few things and followed him down the hall to another set of quarters. Then I sulked for perhaps half an hour, largely out of frustration, and went to sleep.

This morning I'd received a copy of the Imperial Order, removing me from the Emperor's household and also from the harem of my Lord. I was delighted at the former and disappointed at the latter. No doubt there were good reasons for this. I felt sure that my Lord would explain everything. I thought I was owed something after the unspeakable experience with Palpatine last evening. According to the official records of the Empire, I was no longer Lord Vader's consort. The Sith had no hold over me. Technically. I could leave whenever I wanted to. Theoretically. I could just leave the ship and never seen him again, and he had nothing to say about it. Yeah, right. I would never be able to leave him if he wouldn't let me go.

There was one other problem. Not being a member of the royal household anymore meant that I wasn't entitled to the Household livery. I was quite delighted about that, but it did leave me with very little to wear. I had beautiful negligees and nightware, some changes of underwear and little else. There were two day garments that didn't have the Imperial insignia. One was a very plain gray dress that looked almost military in its cut. I put that on; it wouldn't do anything for my Lord's libido, but if he couldn't explain to me what last night was all about, then it was just as well.

Captain Piett came for me. He seemed kind of ruffled, but was too disciplined to show much in his face or demeanor. I followed him like a shadow, while the officers and crew members I passed made an elaborate show of ignoring my presence as I passed. Through the corridors we went to the Bridge, taking a turn off the command center to my Lord's private office. We stopped in front of the door. It opened. I stepped through. It shut again.

The room was fairly dim. It looked like an ordinary office, except quite large and very opulent for a military vessel. It took a moment for me to register the presence of the Dark Lord behind the desk. He immediately got up. Well, it was more like he ascended. How gracefully he moves, I mused to myself. He came around to the front of his desk and just stood there for a moment.

It seemed like it had been year since I'd seen him. In fact, it was only just shy of one standard day. Hungrily, my eyes took in the sight of him as I stood by the door. He held out his arms. I ran to him.

Lord Vader crushed me to him, gloved hands caressing my hair.

"My lady," he rumbled, almost purring, "I've missed you."

"My lord," I said against his chest, trying to nestle myself away from the controls on his lifesuit.

I mentally cursed the designer of that garment; it made ordinary physical contact difficult if not outright hazardous to the wearer. He held me for a moment longer, then led me over to a nearby sofa. We sat down. He had taken my hand and seemed reluctant let it go.

"I have much I need to tell you," the Dark Lord said. "I know you have many questions. Let me tell you first what I know about what happened last night…"

I did have a lot of questions, but they could wait. I was finally at my lord's side and there was only one thing I wanted right now. I'd rested my other hand on his knee, and as he searched for words to tell me about what led to my encounter with Palpatine, I leaned over and ran it from his knee to his thigh. Then even higher, to caress his inner thigh. My lord started to breathe a little faster.

"I don't want to talk about last night right now," I said, looking up into what I could see of his eyes.

I fancied their blue intensity was rapidly turning darker. The gloved hand that held mine tightened. The other wrapped itself around my waist and pulled me closer, caressing my side as his breathing regulator fought to keep up. My hand on his thigh caressed him, ever nearer and nearer to the codpiece. The Sith's image abruptly changed to that of his younger self, and when it did, his eyes were full of sadness and regret.

"Do you want me to come to you this way anymore, after what happened?"

"I need you, my Lord," I whispered desperately, "in whatever form. The Emperor is gone now; I know he left the ship. Kiss me. Please."

The Sith pulled me into his arms. He kissed me hard and hotly, his mouth devouring mine, draining my lips again and again. It seemed that he was trying to draw my soul from my body with his lips. His tongue caressed my mouth. One hand unfastened my dress to the waist, and pulled it aside. His lips found my breasts, kissing them, licking my nipples, sucking them. Slowly.

I moaned, tugging at his tunic, pushing it aside to caress his chest.

"Love me," I pleaded, "I need you."

With that, we rolled onto the floor. The Dark Lord got on his knees and pulled my skirt up. I hadn't bothered with underwear. His eyes darkened until they became almost black, as his hand caressed and massaged my inner thighs and hot, wet sex. Rapidly he undid his breeches and placed himself inside me, his own organ fully engorged and throbbing. I came almost at once, violently, as soon as his member entered me, but he knew I needed more. His finger found the small pink center of my pleasure, which he gently caressed as his lips sought mine again, sucking my tongue. I came again, shuddering. Unable to postpone his own release, he gathered my hips around himself and came inside me. Together, we collapsed.

My lord could not get up. He lay atop me and I held him, kissing his face, murmuring endearments. For a wonderful eternity, we just laid in each other's arms.

All too soon, my Lord sat up and pulled me to my feet, resuming his real appearance as the Dark Lord- masked, robed and armored. Tenderly he began to dress me, restoring order to my appearance. He talked as he did so.

"I'm sure you've been notified by now that you are no longer a member of my harem. I had to do that. It was the only way I could get you out and keep you out of the Emperor's influence. He has no hold over you now. Of course it doesn't mean that we can't be together. It just means that there will not be a formalized relationship between us."

If I could have seen his face, his eyes especially, I was sure there would be great sadness there. The vocoder sometimes robbed his voice of some of the subtleties of expression, but his distress came through clearly enough.

"I understand, my Lord," I said. "If you had to choose between giving me the public title of consort, and keeping me away from the Emperor forever, you made a good choice."

Vader finished dressing me, and was now fussing with my hair. I was glad of the comb I stuck in my pocket at the last minute, as my lord seemed to be enjoying serving as my hairdresser. He combed my hair first this way and then that, parting it different ways, making little ringlets by combing it around his fingers. I don't think he'd ever combed anybody else's hair before. Maybe it had been a long time since he'd had to fuss with his own. When he'd finished his chore, and was satisfied with the result, he handed the comb back to me. Reluctantly.

He took me by the hand one more time and we went over to his desk. He sat down on the chair and pulled me down to sit on his lap.

"My lady, there is more for you to hear," the Sith said softly. "My Master insists that you be trained to use your telepathic abilities. It is imperative that you succeed. That's the only way I can keep him away from you - to convince him that the best place for you to be effective is with me."

"Of course, I'm willing to work on this with you. If it will help us to be together, I will do all I can to succeed," I replied, reaching one hand over his shoulder to hold myself closer to him.

He didn't have a comfortable lap. But I didn't care.

"Well then, my lord," I said, rubbing his back and then patting it gently, "shall we have our first lesson now? No time like the present."

I got up off his lap and stood up, for I didn't know what he would have me do, for whatever it was that we would be starting with.

The Sith got up also, and stood behind me, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. The sound of his respirator was a little loud being right next to my ear, but he quickly turned it down.

"All right then, my lady," said he. "The first thing we will study is focus. This will be the foundation of everything we will be working on together. If we do this part right, the rest will be easy."

"Clear you mind," he instructed. "Think of nothing. If any thoughts do come through, just let them pass without dwelling on either their content or their meaning."

I shut my eyes. This was harder than it sounded. But I concentrated, and after what seemed like an eternity of thinking about nothing, my lord spoke.

"Very good, my lady. I want you to keep practicing your focus, holding it as long as you can. I would like you to be able to do this exercise for at least an hour at a time."

`An hour at a time?' I thought. `How can I do that?'

"It just takes practice, that's all," Lord Vader's mind said to mine. Then his deep voice rumbled aloud, "Tomorrow we will work on breathing exercises, to enhance your concentration, and then we can do some more work on focus - changing it, moving it around. It is an effective blocking technique."

He released me then, and gently patted my behind. "Be off with you now. You have some focus to develop and I have a Rebellion to deal with. Don't imagine that one is more important to me than the other."

I walked to the door, smiling happily.

"Will I see you tonight?" I asked.

The Sith seemed to frown behind his mask.

"No. We will have to be more careful about our meetings from now on. I don't want my Master's suspicions to be aroused. It's vital that he not believe that we are still…involved."

I tried not to pout, but I was very disappointed. "What will we do then?"

My lord sat back down at his desk and considered for a moment or two.

"I'm not certain," he said at last. "We will have to have lessons together every day for a while, perhaps several weeks. After that, we will have to come up with a plan to be together than doesn't involve lessons, but appears to be Imperial business."

`Lessons every day,' I thought. Heaven.

"Don't concern yourself with the future right now," the Dark Lord said. " let me worry about that. The best thing you can do to help me right now is to build your telepathic skills as quickly as possible. "

I clicked my heels together and gave him a mock salute. The Sith used the Force to gently ruffle my freshly-combed hair. Then I left my lord's office and went back to my quarters.

* * *

Part 8: The Return of Darth Plagueis

Lord Vader watched his lady go, regretfully. Loving her was dangerous, but he would not stop himself. She made him feel alive in a way he hadn't felt in a very long time. He had consorts, twenty - five besides her, and all of them unique in their own ways. The Dark Lord enjoyed them, each and every one of them. Love was as necessary to him as breath, and he sometimes found it ironic, given his dependence on the cybernetics for delivering oxygen to his body, that this was the best analogy he could think of. The pathway of the Sith was a path that was self-centered, but did not include self-love in the way that most people defined it. How could one be immersed in the Dark Side, cycling its power through anger, fear, hatred, aggression and other passions, and have a disinterested love of self?

Nobody understood this. His consorts provided that love of self that Vader didn't want to live without, and found nearly impossible to produce. And that was the plain truth of it, the pain of his life. That pain fed the Dark Side. He could offer up himself to its enormous requirements, but not own the love that subsidized the fee.

The Sith Lord knew that hardly anyone understood, really understood, the Dark Side path. The Rule of Two ensured that this way would always be misconstrued, misunderstood and maligned, because only two beings at one time ever really knew what it meant. Now, his Master had a mind to change this. Vader wasn't sure how he felt about this, but it might not be the worst idea Palpatine had ever had.

Vader took the datachip he'd made from the archives at the Jedi Temple and stuck it into his desktop projector. He hadn't had a chance to review any of the material since he returned, and wanted to plan out his next steps in the training program for his apprentice telepath.

The files were a mixed bag of formats. Most took the form of journals or holographs, filmography and log entries. Some were historical files, giving facts, dates, names, places. Lord Vader had taken some of the latest entries to the Sith archives, without really looking at them, because they appeared to be historical files. The Sith Lord didn't need to return to the Temple to retrieve historical information for the relatively recent past, as these were readily available via access to standard libraries around the galaxy. He could pull those off the military datanet if he required additional information. They might have nothing at all useful to offer in training a telepath, but they would shed some light on the context in which they were prepared. It was Vader's thought to try to identify how the Sith had used telepathy in the past, and how successful they had been, in order to figure out what reasonable expectations would be for his new protégé.

The last entry in the Sith archives was made about fifty years ago. It was a large file, much larger than any other file. It took up nearly half of his datachip space. Curious, the Dark Lord called it up and projected it on his desktop. Why would a historical file need to be so large?

The reader brought up a series of charts, graphs and ledger entries. It looked like financial files for several different consortiums, corporations, conglomerates and what-have-you's, even a couple of non-profits. Lots of money being transferred. Some of the business and groups he recognized as fronts for various black market operations, cartels and organized crime. Others appeared to be payments to various governments. Vader was not an accountant; no Sith would care about these matters except operationally. Why would this information be in the Sith archives?

The file was immense. But there were only about 200 pages of data, not even 1% of the chip space.

Of course. This file was encrypted. But who would do that, and why?

Lord Vader was curious now. He hadn't hacked into any kind of encrypted file for many years, but he get to work on it now.

It took four hours for the Dark Lord to find all the encryption keys - there were about a dozen of them- and decrypt the file. It was also very heavily compressed. When it was completely downloaded, Vader found that the file was nearly 100 times as large as it appeared to be. Some libraries on Coruscant weren't that big.

The Sith Lord leaned back in his chair and scrolled back to the first encrypted page. It read:

I am Darth Plagueis. I come from a world in the backwaters of the Republic. I have been a Sith Master for about 60 years now, and right now I am based on the planet of Naboo, near the Outer Rim. I made this journal because I do not know if I will survive long enough to pass on all of my knowledge to future generations of Sith, and I think it important that my work survive. My apprentice, Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious, is trying to kill me. He will probably succeed before long. He does not value over-highly my experiments in engendering, preserving and maintaining life, as being young he thinks he's immortal. My worry is that Palpatine will continue to pursue the war aims of the Sith, created by Darth Bain a thousand years ago, and will think no further of the future of the Sith. I believe this is short-sighted.

If you are reading this, then I am dead and probably have been for a long time. I'd be willing to wager that within a couple of decades of my death, Palpatine destroyed the Jedi Order and regained control of the Galaxy through some kind of restructuring of the Republic. Palpatine is a superlative politician, much better than I ever was. He is very persistent and enormously patient. He can be a brilliant tactican, when he applies himself. He is also very dangerous. If he still lives as you read this, you already know this.

If I may make an assumption, my guess is that you are a Sith Apprentice or a Sith Master, teaching an Apprentice, and that is what drove you to this archive. If that is so, then welcome! I hope that I can make your time here worthwhile. I have succeeded in learning to extend and maintain life, as I am nearly two hundred years old at the time of this writing. That is nearly double an average life span for one of my kind. I will teach you all I know about the techniques involved in this datafile. I have learned to preserve life, as long as it still exists, in sentient beings, but I cannot turn the wheels of Destiny from their path. One may escape one brush with death and fall directly into the arms of another. This is the nature of life. No Sith can change that. I believe I have learned to engender life using the Dark Side of the Force alone, but I cannot prove this. I had hoped to be successful at this experiment, in the event that both Palpatine and I should both be killed prematurely. If I did indeed succeed, I do not know where this life came to gestate, and that is not much better than not being able to engender it at all. However, I have left you all I know on this subject. I hope you have better luck.

My brother, there is more to the Dark Side than the focusing of raw power through passions, fear, hate, anger, etc. Much more. Together we will explore it.

* * *

Part 9: The Way of the Sith

Lord Vader sat at his desk, completely stunned. So the knowledge to save Padme did exist after all, he thought. Palpatine hadn't lied. He just hadn't known where to look for the information, or how to retrieve it. Or, more likely, he knew that it had existed and could probably be reconstructed, but never tried to look for it. Now, over twenty years after Padme's death, he'd come across the secret by accident. While trying to save another woman's life.

The Dark Lord wasn't sure what to do next. He also wasn't sure if this couldn't be some kind of elaborate trap set for him by his Master. He wouldn't put it past Palpatine; but if it was a trap, it was an extraordinarily intricate one, even for the Emperor. It would be more likely that the uploading of Plagueis' files would trigger some kind of notification, which would invite scrutiny on who might be looking at the encrypted data.

Vader could not afford to have any more surveillance put on him by his Master. But the lure of what might be in the Plagueis' journal information was irresistible.

The Sith looked again at the list of encrypted files and their types. There could be imbedded codes in any of the files, and no way to know whether or not there was any without looking at the source code. Vader knew that could take days. The files were huge. It wasn't practical. Either he was going to risk it or he
wasn't.

The list of files began with an executable program file. The Dark Lord decided to see what the program did.

And everything that happened after that can be entirely explained by the maxim: Betrayal is the way of the Sith.

Vader executed the program.

Immediately, the .exe file grabbed almost all of the other encrypted files and gobbled them up into one huge program, which then activated his holographic projector. A large image, apparently of a life-sized humanoid male, was created and in amazing detail.

He was a bit under two meters in height. Strongly built, quite muscular. Dark hair, heavily streaked with gray, hung to his shoulders. His skin was dark, his eyes a pale gray. He was dressed in the robes of a Sith Master. The image spoke, a smooth, mellifluous baritone.

"I am Darth Plagueis. This program was created as a training resource for the use of Sith initiates, and its purpose is to instruct in both basic and arcane disciplines of Dark Side Force manipulation. This program is interactive, and has the highest degree of heuristic artificial intelligence that I could find to build into it. As you ask questions, the program will seek your answers among all the files within it. If no answer can be found, I will ask you to restate your question. Over time, your questions will teach me how to better anticipate your requirements. Please ask your first question."

Vader got up and walked over to the holographic image. Its eyes seemed to follow him. The Dark Lord paced around the image in a circle. Plagueis turned to face him as he paced.

This was without doubt the most sophisticated interactive holographic program he'd ever seen. Vader thought of a question.

"How do you preserve life in living beings?"

The image was silent for a moment. "Please restate your question," Plagueis replied.

Vader tried again. "How does one use the Force to preserve life in living beings?"

"Please restate your question," Plagueis said again.

The Sith was beginning to feel a little frustrated. "How does one maintain the life-Force in living beings at a constant and consistent level throughout the being's existence?"

"Thank you for your question," Plagueis responded. "The key is to balance the flow of energies throughout all the systems of the body. This is done first by observing proper nutrition, exercise, rest, meditation, and then by seeking the fulcrum or balance point of Force energies in the interactions with others, including, more broadly, all living things."

Just what I need, thought Lord Vader sarcastically. A reiteration of the Jedi training I received as a beginning Padawan under Kenobi.

It was obviously going to take a long time to figure out how to make this program work for his purposes, since he was going to have to teach it to help him before it could do so efficiently.

Then he had an idea.

"Does this program have the ability to support multiple users?" he asked.

"Yes," said Plagueis.

"Can it create a different sub-routine for each user?"

"Yes," Plagueis replied again.

"Can each user protect access to its own sub-routine?"

"Yes."

"How does each user create, identify and protect access its own sub-routine?"

"Each user identifies itself by its own unique name and creates a password. Create a new user sub-routine now by telling me your name."

"Darth Vader," said the Sith Lord.

"Thank you, Darth Vader," said Plagueis. "Now tell me your password."

The Dark Lord thought about this for a moment. "Padme," he said.

The image of Darth Plagueis bowed in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Darth Vader. Your sub-routine has been activated and access is protected under your password, `Padme.' When you activate this program again, at the system prompt, please state your name and password at the beginning of the session and I will automatically call up your sub-routine. When you are ready to end a session, say the words, "End session." A new sub-routine may be created by saying the words, `Activate new user sub-routine.' Please ask your next question."

Vader felt that this was enough for one day. "End session," he said.

The image of Darth Plagueis bowed deeply and disappeared.

***

My focusing practice had gone well today, I thought. I had managed to get to a point where I could keep my mind clear for at least an hour at a sitting, and found that when I did so, it was easier to pick up on the thoughts and feelings of others. I was pleased with this, and I was sure my lord would be also.

It was true that I had increased my sensitivity, but this was also proving to have both an upside and a downside. There was much hate, fear and even lust aboard the ship that I'd never noticed before. Lust of all kinds. That surprised me. There were positive emotions also: loyalty, devotion, affection. But the more negative ones predominated, and I knew I would have to find some way to protect myself against that.

I sensed also that my Lord had made some kind of discovery, and that he wasn't sure if he was all that happy about it. And in spite of his telling me that he was not going to be seeing me tonight, I sensed that he would send for me.

That made me very happy, right down to my toes. I revisited the `fresher shortly after dinner, and showered. I changed back into the dress I had on earlier today, and made a mental note to speak to my lord about the wardrobe situation. And then I settled down to wait for my lord.

It grew late. I thought perhaps I was mistaken in my impression that he was coming after all. Disappointed, I undressed and went to bed.

I was dead asleep when a sound awoke me. It was the door opening to my quarters; it had a soft chime. No one had come to visit me before, so the sound was completely unexpected. What the hell time was it? Was it morning already? I sat upright in bed, clutching the covers to me as I had not worn anything to bed, finding the negligees uncomfortable to sleep in. I looked over at the chronometer. Two in the morning. I got up, wrapped myself in a blanket and went into the sitting room.

My lord was there, sitting one of the chairs. I could hear the soft sound of his mechanical breathing. The lights were on, but dimly. I walked over to him and smiled my pleasure at his coming.

"My lord," I said softly, "I thought you weren't coming tonight. Is something wrong?"

For the hundredth time, I wished I could see his face. He didn't reply immediately.

When he did, he said, "I don't know. I don't think so. But, I've found something in the Sith archives that may help you with your training."

"You did?" I asked, interested. "Well, that's good news, isn't it? What was it?"

My lord's gloved fingers held up a data chip.

"A teacher," said he. "I think I've found you an additional teacher."

My hand moved to take the chip from him. He held it back for a moment. "My lady, it isn't just any teacher. This chip has a program on it, created by the Emperor's own Master, Darth Plagueis."

My jaw dropped. No wonder he had mixed feelings about both finding the program and about bringing it to me. No wonder I sensed uncertainty from him.

"You suspect that this might be, what on my planet would be called, a Trojan horse. Something that may appear to be a gift but which may prove to be the opposite."

I sensed a smile. He was pleased that I'd picked up his thoughts exactly.

"Very good, my lady," he said, and his voice reflected his pleasure.

"Do you think the Emperor knows about this program?" I asked him.

"He probably knows about it. I don't think he knew where it was kept or how it got there. It is also possible that he does know all about, knew where it was and deliberately made sure that I would come across it in my search for training information. Using this tool might bring some unwanted attention from the Emperor. My giving it to you may put you in danger. I'm only willing to do it if you agree to accept the possibility that there is a risk, and that it might be one that I can't protect you from. I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't think that the program could probably teach you much better than I could, and that the imperative that you learn quickly is much stronger than the danger. Do you want to think about this before you take the datachip?"

I did want to think about it. I didn't want to ever have to deal with Palpatine again. Risking a repeat of our last encounter was an awful thought. If the Emperor did get his hands on me again, it would only because he wanted to inflict pain on my lord - by inflicting pain on me. I just stood there, wrapped in my blanket, thinking. My feet were getting cold. Then, I had an idea.

"My lord, I will accept the risk but I would like a favor in return."

"What is your favor?" he asked.

I could tell that he felt both pleased and relieved. Obviously, the whole issue of the program and the Emperor's old Master had been preying on his mind all day.

I thought I knew of an even better way to relieve him of some of his tension.

"Couldn't we go to my bedroom? My feet are getting cold and so is the rest of me."

Lord Vader got out of his chair and picked me up bodily. He then carried me to my bed, placed me down gently and pulled back the bedclothes. Then he sat down on the bed and unwrapped the blanket from around me. I was naked. He wasn't expecting it. His breathing picked up. I don't think he even knew what he was doing when he pulled me gently over to stand between his legs. His gloved hands caressed me, lingering over my breasts and hips. They rubbed my nipples, firmly massaged them. I gasped with pleasure, throwing my head back, and my hips forward. One hand placed itself between my legs, seeking my sweet spot and finding it. One finger teased it gently. The other hand drew me closer to him, kneading my behind, running itself up my lower back. I gasped again; his touch was driving me wild.

The breathing mechanism labored on, finally switching itself to a higher oxygen level. He got up and laid me down on the bed. I opened my legs and bent my knees. He knelt between them, warm gloved hands caressing my inner thighs and massaging my warm soft mound. A finger, then two, plunged into my hot wetness, and I arched my back to meet his touch.

"My lord," I whispered, "make love to me now, as you are. Don't hide yourself from me in an illusion."

The Sith got off the bed and removed his cloak, his armor, his boots. The girdle with the codpiece came off too. His hand reached inside his lifesuit and set free his engorged organ, which I already knew was thick and large. He came back over to me. I sat up and slid over to the end of the bed, running my hands over the leather of his suit, and then grasped his member. I covered the tip with wet kisses, then ran my tongue up the shaft and took him into my mouth. He groaned, putting his hands in my hair, caressing me.

I sucked him, as hard as I could, and he moaned again, then said, "Stop, I want to be inside you, all the way inside you…"

He turned me around, probably less gently then he intended to, then over on my stomach. Abruptly his throbbing member entered me from behind, while both of his hands held my hips. My lord's hips moved themselves first slowly and sensuously, then began to thrust rapidly and strongly. His whole body was trembling on the brink. One hand reached itself around to firmly massage my mound, and I came immediately. His body released itself too, and we lay together. Utterly spent.

After a few minutes, my lord asked indulgently, "Was that your favor?"

I snuggled up beside him. "No. But it will do for now. We can talk about it later."

The Dark Lord reached over for the abandoned blanket and covered me up, then held me close to him.

"No, you wanted a favor and I agreed. What was your favor? I won' t sleep until I know what it is. And I'm going to have to go back to my quarters and get some sleep soon, so let me hear it."

I sighed. "Can't you stay?" I asked.

"No, my lady," he said regretfully. "There are medical chores related to my condition that I must attend to, and the conditions under which I sleep can't be created here. "

I wanted to talk more about this, but I sensed that he really was very tired and I was too, after our…exertions. So I came out with it.

"The Emperor, when he visited me that night, told me that I should always be on my guard when I was in your arms- that I would never know for sure if it was you or if it was he. Of all the things he did to me, I think that was the cruelest. I never want to be in any doubt as to who is in my bed. So I want us to find some sign, or some signal, that lets me know that it's you and not he. Something he can never know about. Something he can't duplicate."

My lord was silent for a while. After a moment, he spoke. "Is it something you want me to do, or not do, when we are together?"

"It could be either one," I replied. "Just as long as it's consistent."

"Let me think about this for a while, and we will talk about it tomorrow."

My lord rolled out of bed, ruffled my hair gently with one hand, and resumed his boots, armor and cloak. As he made to go, I held up a hand and stopped him.

"My lord, there is one other thing…"

The helmeted heard turned towards me. I sensed a tired smile behind the mask. This telepathic stuff was kind of nice, as made it easier to understand what went on behind that black metal edifice.

"I'm a bit short on wardrobe," I said, smiling and giving him a quick flash of my bosom. "Who do I need to talk to, to get some appropriate clothing soon?"

The smile got broader. "What if I prefer you as you are now?"

"Your officers and crew might like it a little too much," I replied archly.

That got a chuckle. "Your point is well taken. I'll see what I can do."

With that, my lord left me and I went back to sleep.

When I got back to my quarters, I felt…I don’t really know how I felt. My feelings for my lord had changed, gotten much stronger, but I didn’t understand them. I knew that lover was not a gentle man; he was a tormented, driven man and I didn’t understand at all the forces that drove him. Until now. I think I was beginning to understand a little, and it horrified and fascinated me at the same time. I wanted more. The veneer of civility that my previously ordered life, and everything in it, had painted over my soul was flaking off. I didn’t know what lay beneath it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to. But it appeared I was about to find out, just the same.

I went to the ‘fresher as soon as the door to my quarters closed. I washed my face and hands, combed my hair. And saw the bruises. I had a fair number of them.

The datachip was still in my pocket. I took it out, went to the holoprojector that was built into my desk in the sitting room, and pushed the chip into the slot.

The projector turned itself on and sent the image of a man, life-sized, in black robes, to the center of the room. He was tall and strongly built, almost the size of my lord. The image quality was excellent. The figure bowed deeply to me and spoke.

“I am Darth Plagueis. Please state your user name and password to begin this session.”

“Activate new user subroutine,” I said, recalling my instructions from Lord Vader.

“Please state your user name,” he requested.

“Lady Ti,” I replied.

“Thank you, Lady Ti. Please state your password.”

“Scheherazde.”

“Thank you. Your new user subroutine has been activated under user name ‘Lady Ti’, with password ‘Scheherazde.’ Please ask your first question.”

I had no idea what to ask. My lord said that the program was heuristic, the work of a very sophisticated programmer, specifically created for training purposes. Perhaps it could help me figure out where to start.

“Master Plagueis, I am new to this study. I don’t know what to ask. Can you ask questions as well as answer them?”

“Yes,” replied the Sith Master. “What is your purpose for activating this program?”

“To develop my skills as a telepath.”

“Are you a Sith Apprentice?” the image asked.

“No,” I replied, feeling a bit abashed.

“Who requested you to develop your skills as a telepath?”

“The Emperor Palpatine.”

The holographic image froze at that, and stayed that way for fully three minutes. I thought maybe I had broken it somehow. Then, the Sith Master asked another question, to my unbounded relief.

“What is your relationship to Palpatine?”

“He is the Sith Master to my lord,” I said, feeling very uneasy.

“Who is your lord?” Plagueis asked.

“Darth Vader.”

“What is your relationship to Darth Vader?”

I was feeling very uncomfortable now. If this was a trap created by the Emperor, admitting the truth would put us both in great danger. I felt I had to say something. I didn’t want to lie. Not even to a holographic Sith Master.

“I love him,” I said simply.

The image of Darth Plagueis crossed his arms over his chest. His facial expression was stern. I marveled at the fidelity of the holographic program that was producing this kind of technical quality. Right down to the deepening lines on either side of his electronic mouth, and the hard glitter of his eyes.

“It’s dangerous to love a Sith, Lady Ti,” he admonished. “’Betrayal is the way of the Sith.’” Have you heard this expression before?”

“No,” I replied. But it made perfect sense, given what I knew of the relationship between Palpatine and my lord.

“Lady, does Vader know you love him?” he inquired.

“Yes,” I admitted. The frown on Plagueis got deeper.

“Does Palpatine also know that you love him?”

“Yes.” This was worse than being called upon the carpet by my father.

The holographic image seemed almost to sigh. “Are you training as a telepath to please your lord, or is there another motive?”

“The Emperor will order my death if I do not succeed in my training.”

My lord had not actually said so, but it was clear enough by the way he was acting. I was living on borrowed time.

Plagueis was very still again for perhaps one full minute. Then he spoke.

“This program was not created to train a being to serve as a telepath. My function is to train beings to become Sith initiates.”

My face fell. But this was not unexpected.

“I understand, Master Plagueis.” I replied.

The image of Darth Plagueis unfolded his arms and stuck his hands into the voluminous sleeves of his tunic.

“Lady Ti, I will help you but you must agree to be trained as a Sith initiate. Are you willing to become my Apprentice?”

I was stunned. What was going on here? I had no ability to use the Force. I have some telepathic ability, and that’s all. How could I be an Apprentice in the Sith Order? Was this some kind of game? And what would happen to my lord if Palpatine ever found out… Never mind what he would do to me. This line of questioning was too dangerous. I took refuge in ignorance.

“I don’t understand what that would mean, Master.” I replied.

“You would learn to use the Dark Side of the Force to develop and shape your power.”

“Does that include learning to use telepathic abilities?”

“Yes,” the image stated, “and many other skills as well.”

“Master, as far as I know, I have no ability to use the Force. I don’t have the qualifications to be a Sith Apprentice.”

“It does not matter. My program fulfills its function if the knowledge within it is mastered by another being. No parameter within it has been set that requires something be done with that knowledge. My function is to teach. Yours is to learn. Have you heard of the Rule of Two?”

“No, Master.” I said. I’d heard talk, but didn’t know what it meant.

“The Rule of Two means that there may be only one Master and one Apprentice at any one time,” Plagueis explained. “This rule was created by Darth Bain over two thousand years ago. It was responsible for ensuring the survival of the Sith over the millennia. Palpatine has broken this Rule by ordering you to be trained using the Dark Side of the Force as a telepathic enhancement. This action has endangered the Sith Order. My program has been designed with an imperative to preserve the Order at all costs. I require your assistance to fulfill my programmed imperative. Will you agree to become my Apprentice?”

I wish I could say that I gave this question as much consideration as it was due. In fact, I didn’t even think twice before I answered.

“Yes, Master. I agree.”

The holograph smiled. It was a charming smile. I don’t know why, but it made me feel a little uneasy.

“Good,” Plagueis said. “Kneel,” he commanded.

I went over to the image and knelt.

“Repeat after me: I pledge myself to your teachings.”

“I pledge myself to your teachings,” I said.

“And I will serve the Sith Order until death,” he said.

“I will serve the Sith Order until death,” I repeated.

Terror gripped me, and I didn’t even know why. May the forces of Destiny and the mercy of the One cast its shadow over me, I thought. I have made a deal with the Dark Side and it is much stronger than I am. But if I don’t try to become something more than I am now, I am already as good as dead.

Plagueis motioned for me to rise with one hand. I got up.

“Betrayal is the way of the Sith, Ti. This is your first test of your oath: I require access to every computer system on this ship.”

I stifled a gasp. By the wings of the Great Goddess, how can I possibly do that? This is my lord’s flagship! What will Plagueis do with that kind of access?

“This terminal is not networked that extensively,” I said to the Sith image, “I have no direct tie-in to the main bridge systems.”

“’I have no direct tie-in to the main Bridge systems, Master.’”

“I have no direct tie-in to the main Bridge systems, Master.” I repeated.

“Ti, you may not, but your lord undoubtedly does. When you see your lord next, take the datachip with this program on it with you. As soon as the chip is inserted into his network terminal and this program is executed, I will insert a program into the network that will allow me to monitor this ship’s communications and system functions. I need additional computing resources, Ti. Arrange them.”

I swore an oath to the Sith. I was out of options.

“Very well, Master.” I said.

“Good, Ti. Very good. The lesson is over for today.” And with that, he vanished and the holoprojector turned itself off.

I took the datachip out of the projector and put it back into my pocket. My lord was going to send for me in a couple of hours, and would want to know what I had learned from Palpatine’s old Master today. I could tell him that I learned that betrayal is the way of the Sith. He would understand. And then when he found out what I’d done with the control systems on his ship, he would kill me right then and there.

* * *

Part 11: The Dark Path

I needed to get back into my lord's bridge office. As I prepared for my midnight appointment, I considered my options. My lord punished for tardiness, I recalled. I could distract him from his purpose for having me come tonight, which was, among other things, to talk about my progress with the Plagueis training program, and make him send for me in the morning. Tardiness would make a splendid distraction. I thought I could make sure that the subject of Plagueis or telepathic development never entered his mind tonight.

I prepared myself carefully. I took a very long time in the `fresher, showering and doing my hair. The maid that packed the suitcase had done a good job; she packed one of my newest gowns, a very low cut red dress, cut right down to the navel. It clung tightly to my hips. It was perfect. She also packed jewelry as well as toiletries. There was a necklace that hit right in the middle of my cleavage, and earrings to match it. I put those on. The shoes she sent with the dress had very high heels, were also brand new. I'd never worn them. They turned out to be fiendishly uncomfortable, so I decided to wait until the last minute to put them on.

I primped for a little while longer, and looked at the chronometer. Five minutes to midnight. I decided that underwear, even the filmy lace ones the maid packed, were pointless, so I took them off. Leisurely, I sat down and put the shoes on. It was midnight. I went back into the `fresher and damped my skin just a little, to make the gown cling to me like a second skin. Ten after twelve. I left my quarters at a slow walk, and headed down the hallway to my lord's quarters, a distance that maybe took two minutes to cover. I took five. Twelve fifteen. I stood in front of the double doors to Lord Vader's quarters and pressed the door chime.

The doors opened. My heart was pounding. The room was almost totally dark. For a moment, my feet would not obey me and walk through the door. I literally couldn't move. Focus, I told myself, focus. You can do this.

Finally I made myself walk through the doors, and they immediately closed behind me. It was deathly quiet. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. A chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with how little I was wearing. Then I heard it. Mechanical breathing. I knew a moment of utter terror as a gloved hand clamped down on my shoulder.

"You're late, my lady," he growled.

"Yes, I know," I said. "I guess I spent too much time getting dressed."

"Don't you remember what I told you?" he snarled, grabbing the almost-non-existent front of my dress and ripping it off. Damn, I thought, I liked that dress. "I want you naked, and wet, and at my mercy."

The rest of the dress followed the bodice to the floor.

I think I went a little mad at that moment.

I whirled around and grabbed my lord's codpiece and tore it off. It was heavier than I thought. It hit the floor with a thud. I reached in and grabbed his organ, which was getting rapidly engorged. He gasped, partly in pleasure, and partly at my audacity.

"This is what I want, my lord," I told him, taking a tone with him that positively invited homicide. "I want you inside me and I don't want to wait any longer!"

"You dare…." he sputtered, Sith fury rising in him. Anger and lust battled in his thoughts for dominance.

You didn't have to be telepathic to tell exactly what was going on in his mind. Lust predominated. Fortunately.

`oh, oh,' I thought to myself, after the madness had passed.

He threw me down on the carpeted floor so violently that I was pretty sure I would have some bad bruising and carpet burn in the morning. His body came down on top of me like a brick wall.

"Oh, you'll have me, my lady," he sneered. I'd never heard such a
feral sound in all my life. "but only when I say. And you'll beg me for it."

With that, he grabbed both of my wrists and held them over my head with one hand. The other hand fondled my breasts, his gloved hand running over the nipples and teasing them into hardness. Then the hand placed itself between my legs, caressing my sex, massaging it, teasing the labial folds. I bit my lip, and thought, `This could get bad.' He put a finger inside me, testing. The combination of fear and lust within me had made me incredibly sensitive, amazingly wet. The hot sweet juices were beginning to run. Both of his hands pinned both of mine, and he covered my body with his own. The breathmask was only an inch or two away from my face, and I could feel his hot breath. I turned my head away and shut my eyes tightly.

He must have achieved an amazing erection. I couldn't see it, but I could feel him beginning to stroke my sweet spot with the head of it. I moaned. The tease was as much as I could take. I moved my legs further apart, mutely begging him to come inside, hips trying to match the movements of his cock. But he evaded me, continuing to stroke my sex with his erection. This was torture of the most exquisite kind.

"Say it," he commanded, "beg me."

His body was beginning to tremble. The moisture of his own excitement and the slickness of my sex were creating their own inevitability. It was only a matter of time before he had to give in. I desperately wanted him. I needed him. But I wasn't going to beg. Not yet.

"You want more, do you?" his mind said to mine, reading my thoughts.

Lord Vader lifted himself up a little more, and laid the shaft of his erection on top of my mound, kneading it with the movement of his hips. I moaned again, the strength draining from my body. Abruptly, my lord created his Force chimera of his younger self. I turned back to face him, and his eyes were glazed with passion. His lips found mine and he seductively kissed me, opening my mouth, giving me his tongue. My body started to shake. I was going to break soon. My lord resumed his tease of my sweet spot with his cock and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Please," I begged.

"Please, what?" he asked in triumph.

"Please put it inside me," I pleaded.

He got off me and stood up. I saw that he had an incredible erection. It was absolutely beautiful.

"Suck me first," he commanded.

I got on my knees and obeyed, my body screaming for release. I took him into my mouth, stroking the shaft with my tongue, caressing him as I sucked. He moaned, his hands stroking my hair. This sexual torture was affecting him too. I moved my tongue across the glans, moving the tip of it into the tip of his cock. He cried out, hips moving convulsively. He was on the brink. Then he pulled back.

"Lie back down," he told me, panting.

I did so, legs apart. Lord Vader put himself between them, and we kissed again. Abruptly, he plunged into me. I came at once, explosively. He thrust a few times, then gave his body its release.

"You are mine," he whispered into my ear, "I will do with you what I please. You will not be late again. And you will always be naked in my presence. Do you understand?"

"Yes," I said softly. I had no strength left.

My lord resumed his appearance as the Dark Lord, and after a little while, he got back to his feet. I climbed to my feet as well.

"Go back to your quarters now," he instructed. "And come to my bridge office tomorrow morning at 10."

I nodded. I made a move to pick up what was left of my dress, but he abruptly ripped it from my hands.

"No. Take your shoes, but nothing more. Your body is mine, and you will not cover it before me. Ever."

Well, that was that. I put my shoes back on and opened the doors to his quarters, while peering from the wall. There were a few officers walking around. It was the change of watch. My lord put a hand under my elbow and guided me out.

"I will escort you this time," he said.

So, together we walked down the hallway to my quarters, drawing stares from the scattering of officers coming off duty. I tried to ignore them. It didn't work.

That short walk may have been the longest of my life.

The doors to my quarters opened. I walked in, shaking with relief, and my lord followed me. One gloved hand caressed my breasts a final time. A couple of officers started in fascination as he fondled me. The hand glided down to my mound, which he massaged as well. I closed my eyes. It was all too much.

"Good night, my lady," he said.

Then he turned and walked out. The doors closed. After my lord left me, I broke down and cried. Very hard. I’d never felt so lost and desperate before in my life. And then I fell asleep. But before I did that, I set the alarm to go off an hour and a half earlier than my morning appointment.

Morning came far too soon. I woke with the alarm, and rushed into the ‘fresher to shower. I happened to glance in the mirror and was shocked at what I saw. I didn’t recognize the woman in the glass. Her eyes were shadowed and haunted, her face drawn and pale. I looked down at my body and there was a lot of bruising, especially on the wrists and knees. There was a bit of rug rash on my left hip. I looked like I’d survived a war. Perhaps I had.

I showered quickly and dried off. And then I contemplated the problem of where to conceal the datachip with the Plagueis program on it, given the new strictures on my behavior with my lord. After some deliberation, I decided not to try. I could almost hear my new Master telling me that he never said being a Sith Apprentice would be easy. I didn’t care about the Dark Side, and I didn’t care about the Order, and I didn’t care about passing arcane knowledge to future generations. But I did want to prove that I was worthy to be a Sith Apprentice, because I thought it a high honor. After all, my lord was one. The Emperor had been one. And my Master had been his Master. I might be just an instrument to be used in his revenge, but it didn’t have to be just that. I knew that my desire to prove myself as a Sith Apprentice made me vulnerable to whatever Plagueis might task me to do, in the name of all of those things I cared nothing about.

What did I really hope to get out of it? And was it going to be enough?

I supposed, when I got right down to it, I just wanted to stay alive. Now my simple desire to go on living had created a situation where I was going to have to do things that I never imagined I could do, just to continue to exist. I was going to betray my lord this morning, and place an invisible spy into every nook and cranny of his flagship. I was also pretty sure I was going to enjoy doing it. Or more precisely, love every minute of it.

More a Sith every day, I said to myself, as I brushed my hair. It hung around my face in gentle waves, to my shoulders. How long would it take before my lord figured that out what I’d done, I wondered. Probably not very long, but perhaps if I kept him distracted enough, long enough, I would be able to figure out exactly what Plagueis hoped to accomplish before he found out and put a stop to it. I knew Plagueis had a goal that he hadn’t revealed to me. It probably involved Palpatine. Perhaps some form of punishment or revenge. And I would be most happy to participate in fulfilling that goal. I thought, in the end, my lord would be happy about it too. He loathed his Master. I detested the Emperor almost as much. Revenging myself on Palpatine, and revenging my lord as well, was a sweet prospect. Probably worth the exorbitantly high price I might have to pay for it.

It was a few minutes before 10am. My escort would be here any minute. I found the shoes I wore last night and put them on. Or tried to. My feet were too swollen. I quickly scrambled for another pair of heels, shoved my feet into them and picked up the datachip from the holoprojector. The door chime rang. I pressed the button that opened the door. It was the same young Lieutenant that escorted me yesterday. His eyes got very saucer-like when he saw that I was naked, but he didn’t say a word. Neither did I. I had decided that I was going to remember that my lord commanded this of me, and if there was going to be shame, it would be upon him, not upon me. Clutching the datachip in one hand, I knew that my vengeance was there- unstoppable, irrevocable, implacable. It was very near. And that was very good.

If I thought my walk from my lord’s quarters to my own last night was long, the walk from my quarters to Lord Vader’s bridge office was very much longer. The officers and crew tried not to stare, but failed. I shut my mind to their thoughts. I focused my mind, cleared it, held onto the nothingness with fierce concentration. Finally we got to my lord’s office. The door opened. I walked in. The door closed.

My lord seemed to materialize out of the shadows next to his desk. He extended a hand, for me to come to him. I walked slowly over to his side, and he put an arm around my waist.

“Thank you for observing my wishes, my lady.”

“My lord, you wanted to see me this morning about something?” I asked. I was trying not to sound cold in my tone, but I couldn’t help it.

He heard the chill in my voice, and drew me closer to him, caressing my side with his soft gloved hand and looking up at me.

Inside his Sith Lord’s heart, in the tiny corner that held onto the Light, the Light he cursed because he could never entirely renounce it, Darth Vader wondered if maybe he went a little too far last night. It wasn’t regret. Not exactly. Not precisely. Not entirely. Or maybe it was. Just a little bit.

My lord got up and took my hand, gently taking me over to the sofa. He held me close, and I laid my head on his shoulder. For a few moments, the only sound that could be heard was the gentle sound of his respirator, which he had turned down. His hand still held mine. As I looked at it, it shimmered briefly, signaling that my lord had initiated his Force chimera. Now the hand was brown and a little rough, and even though I knew it wasn’t flesh, it felt like it. I could feel his lips on my hair, his arm drawing me closer still. One hand tilted my chin up to face him, and I looked into his eyes.

What I saw there was real love, and concern. And desire. And something even deeper than that. A violent bond. His lips caressed mine. Oh, so gently. He shrugged off his tunic, so that his bare chest was against mine, and we kissed deeply. I was sinking yet again, into desire for him. Almost, I cursed it. His hands wandered to my breasts, my wakening mound. Then I realized, that I nearly forgot about it. The thing I was still clutching in my hand: the datachip, the instrument of revenge. A hand placed itself between my legs, caressing my inner thighs, while he laid me down. Abominable distraction. His breeches came off next. Execrable distraction. He placed himself between my legs, while one hand teased my sweet spot

His lips kissed me slowly, deeply. Inside, far down inside my mind, I reminded myself: Distraction is the enemy. Distraction is expensive. Distraction is waste. Distraction can kill. As the handsome young man that I knew he was not entered my now very hot, wet core, I reflected that Distraction had no place in the life of a Sith and I was not going to allow myself to be distracted from my purpose.

What I could give of myself, what I had left to give, I gave to him. The violent bond between us was simultaneously unbreakable union and unreachable chasm. Last night had taught me that. And when our bodies were satiated, in the warm glow of our sexual union, I whispered softly in his ear that I was having trouble getting what I wanted from the Plagueis datachip, and would he help me get started?

The Sith Lord readily agreed, and resuming his real appearance, in his magnificent black robes and armor. After he helped me up, he went over to his desk and stuck the datachip I gave him into his universal-access, fully-networked bridge computer with state-of-the-art communication capabilities across the Empire, and hooked into absolutely everything. After a few preliminary system hiccups, the holoprojector turned itself on and we spent a meaningless fifteen minutes or so asking silly questions of a holographic long-dead Sith Master. My lord had his arm around me, holding me close. I was smiling the whole time.

* * *

Part 12: Musings: Ti/Vader/Palpatine

After a final fondle, my lord gave the datachip back to me and sent me back to my quarters. Escorted, of course. I had the impression that the young Lieutenant at my side was completely torn between arousal and absolute terror. I could empathize with him there.

I had instructions to report to my lord’s quarters again tonight, at midnight.

After visiting the ‘fresher briefly once more, I put on a warm soft robe and put the datachip into my desktop holoprojector. Darth Plagueis appeared in my sitting room.

“I am Darth Plagueis. Please state your user name and password to begin this session.”

“User name: Lady Ti. Password: Scheherazde.”

The Sith Master was still for a few seconds. Then, the holograph seemed to smile and stuck both his hands into the sleeves of his tunic.

“Greetings, Ti. Congratulations on having successfully passed your first test.”

“Thank you, Master,” I replied, basking in the warm glow of intense satisfaction.

“Are you ready to begin your next lesson?”

“Yes, Master,” I said. Feeling just a little nervous.

“Your next assignment involves a bit of reading. In the files on this data chip, there are a series of lessons with the suffix “appren.1.doc.” Please read the first twenty-five of them. They will provide some background information and some of the more basic material that will need to be understood for the next series of lessons. The material on meditations and focus will be of particular benefit for you as you develop your telepathic skills. Have you done any work on focus?”

“Yes, Master. I’ve begun some work with this.”

“Excellent,” Plagueis said. “Please have this reading done by this time tomorrow.”

“Very good, Master.”

I hoped that it wasn’t as much reading as it sounded like it was. I had a midnight appointment with my lord and only the Force knew how much sleep I was going to get tonight, or if I would have to report back to Lord Vader in the morning.

“I will require that you leave your computer on all the time. Will that create any problems for you?” he asked.

“No, Master,” I replied. “I don’t think that heavy usage of the computer in my quarters will attract anyone’s attention. My lord knows that I am working on my telepathic skills with you, and will expect it.”

“Good. The other part of your assignment is a little more complicated. Unfortunately, I can’t help you as much as I’d like to with this, but your lord may be able to assist. Because you are a Sith Apprentice, and I’m expecting that you will live as one, you will require defensive skills. This means physical training. You should learn to use a lightsaber.”

My mouth hung open. A lightsaber! I would get to use a lightsaber! And then my enthusiasm died out abruptly as I tried to imagine how on earth I was going to get my lord to train me to use a lightsaber. He would have to be out of his mind to agree to do such a thing.

“Master, as much as I’d love to begin this part of my assignment, I don’t see much possibility of persuading my lord to involve himself in training me.”

Darth Plagueis smiled. “Perhaps,” said he, “Fate will lend a hand. Watch for an opportunity. A very important part of a Sith’s life and discipline is to learn to recognize an opportunity when you see one. Creating opportunities is also an important part of Sith life, and I hope that I will be able to both create some for you and show you how to do so yourself.”

“Thank you, Master,” I said. I still had no idea what Plagueis was really up to, but it was flattering to be treated as a Sith initiate, even if it was probably just an elaborate computerized prank.

“Ti, did you your first test of your oath as a Sith Apprentice teach you anything in particular?”

“Yes, Master,” I replied. I was actually grateful that he asked. I felt like I’d learned something pretty important and had no one to tell it to. “I learned that distraction is a very bad thing for a Sith. It must be fought down. And I learned that focus can get you through some very difficult situations, if you can hold onto it.”

“Lady Ti, perhaps you should be my Master. You have learned two lessons that some Apprentices never learn in a lifetime of practice and application. Hold tightly to those two lessons, Ti. And remember always that the reason I am dead now is because I failed to remember them. And now this session is over for today.”

Plagueis bowed deeply, and the holographic image disappeared. I think I stood absorbing what he told me for about five whole minutes before I remembered that I hadn’t eaten yet today. I went over to the service menu on the computer and ordered breakfast. When it came, I sat down at the computer desk, ate breakfast and read my assignment.

I learned about how one channels the energies of the mind/body/spirit complex through the emotions, via meditative focus, into the energy amplification conduit of the Dark Side, into action and reaction. Where the Light is passive, and Force practitioners of the Light work towards non-impedance to channel greater power, the Dark is active and its practitioners direct their efforts towards sustainable motion and energy-supporting patterns of flow. It was Plagueis’ view that continually channeling the Dark Side in the same way, for the same purposes, created a kind of entropy. Betrayal is the way of the Sith because the requirement to keep moving and change direction was the only way to prevent the condition of entropy from becoming chronic. Balance is key, and knowing where the centers of balance were was critical to keeping the energy flowing and building.

There was a lot more. I was going to have to keep up with my focus work if I was going to use the Dark Side; that was clear. I put in some time practicing this. I felt that I was getting a bit better at it. That was a good thing, because from what I’d read so far, my only hope of blocking my lord from reading my thoughts and figuring out what I was actually up to with Plagueis was to maintain my focus as much of the time as possible. I knew I could distract him, but there was no doubt in my mind that my success at distraction was completely dependant on the fact that my lord did not believe there was any danger either from me or from anything or anyone on this ship. If that ever changed, I knew that all of his considerable and much-feared abilities to focus on and deal with a threat would be activated. And that could be fatal.

Before I knew it, the afternoon was waning. I thought I needed a nap. It could be a very long night. So I set my alarm and went to sleep. And did not dream.

Lord Darth Vader sat in his meditation sphere, brooding. He had plenty to think about. The Outer Rim had become suddenly very quiet, after all the activity that had been going on. He didn’t know why. It bothered him. The Rebels were having some success. Why stop now? It would have seemed more ominous to him if it weren’t for the fact that they were hopelessly outgunned and outmanned. And out-maneuvered. There also seemed to be a bit of trouble with the ship’s computer systems. There were intermittent periods of slowness, not very remarkable and not enough to drag down performance figures into a range that demanded action of some kind. The technicians were looking into it. Also, his Master had been strangely quiet. The Emperor hadn’t pestered him about anything in fully three standard days. Most unlike him. But mostly he thought about his Lady, and the last day’s events.

He wondered if he’d pushed her too far, too fast. He wondered if his desire for her had gotten the better of him. She deliberately, outrageously provoked him. Was she mad? Had he driven her to it? What could have possessed her? Vader didn’t know. He knew that he’d broken her last night, and it had to be done. He also knew that the work might not be finished. He may have a little further to go. But he wasn’t sure he wanted to go there with her.

An incoming Sith initiate normally had to demonstrate a commitment to the Order through a sacrifice of some kind. A first blood- a murder, perhaps, or at least a high order of magnitude betrayal. Something had to be sacrificed in order for a Sith to be born. That was the way it had always been. She was not going to be entering the Sith Order as an initiate, but it was possible that the Dark Side might exact a price for her to use its power anyway. The Dark Side never gave anything away. But Vader had no idea what to do in this situation. Perhaps his Master didn’t either. This was entirely new territory in the long history of the Sith. The Dark Lord hoped that simply breaking her would be enough. Why make her go through more if it wasn’t necessary? He didn’t want plunge her completely into the Darkness, where it was clear she didn’t want to go. Although he didn’t want to admit it, not even to himself, Vader loved her.

No, he told himself. He wasn’t going to do it. He’d broken her far enough. There would need to be periodic repeats of last evening’s activities to make sure she remembered her lesson, and Vader wouldn’t mind doing that. Not at all. Darkness was, after all, just that. It was a part of his nature, and she knew that from the beginning. Keeping her naked would also help her remember. That restriction was not coming off any time soon. The morning trips up to his bridge office would have to be kept to a minimum, though. Bad for the ship’s morale. And efficiency. Including his. Mentally he cursed his Master for making it impossible for her to be one of his consorts. Palpatine would pay for that.

Vader was neglecting his other consorts, he knew. And that was very bad. It was not fair to them, or indeed to himself. But there was nothing he could do about it for the time being. His lady would require his attention until she was skilled enough to be able to function as a useful telepath for the Sith. And until Vader knew what Palpatine’s plan for her was ultimately going to be, there was no way he was letting her go anywhere. Her instruction might take months. Vader smiled. Months. Yes. Months. The Dark Lord knew that the Emperor couldn’t hustle him to move any faster than she could develop. If he pushed her too hard, she really would break down mentally, and that was wasteful and pointless. Palpatine hadn’t become a Sith Master by being profligate with resources.

It was now early evening. There was time for him to get a little more work done before it he had to prepare for the other activities later that night. Vader needed to go over his lady’s progress with the Plagueis’ training program, and get an idea of where she was with it. He was sure she would have a lot of questions she would need to ask, which the program couldn’t answer. He hoped that she would have enough confidence in her relationship with him to ask them. If another session between them passed without any questions, the Sith Lord made a mental note to himself to make an assessment of both the Plagueis resource and her mental state. If the Plagueis training wasn’t working for her, then it would need to be discarded. If she had lost faith in his willingness to teach her, Vader would have to do something about that. Perhaps he could offer to teach her something she was really interested in learning, to prove to her that he could be trusted. Her trust had been rather badly abused of late. The Dark Lord frowned. His Master would pay for that too.

The Dark Lord recalled that, when he was just beginning to learn to direct his focus, lightsaber training had helped him. Perhaps it would help her too, if she were interested. He would broach the subject with her tonight.

Palpatine could not sleep. The Emperor of the Galaxy rarely had trouble sleeping, but he did have some insomnia from time to time. Continuing to just lie there, awake, would not help him, he knew. He got up out of his outrageously ornate bed, with its silken draperies and gilded woodwork, and reached for his robe and slippers.

He was feeling his age tonight. Not yet in his eighth decade, he felt about three times that. He could send for one or more of his 53 concubines, but he just didn’t have the energy. One and all hated coming to his bed. While the Emperor didn’t mind that, and in fact found it exhilarating, the universal distaste they exhibited did dampen his pleasure somewhat. The Dark Side throve on anger, hate, fear, aggression. So, for that matter, did he. But it didn’t know what to do with disgust. The Emperor found it draining. It was not generally known that occasionally Palpatine had young men in his chambers as well, but that idea didn’t appeal to him right now either. The same revulsion that followed his consorts’ visits tainted these as well.

He had to admit, and he did so only to himself and then only reluctantly, that the lovemaking of Vader’s former consort, Lady Ti, had been one of the pleasantest experiences he’d had in a long time. He could not forget about it. Palpatine did not want to admit, not even to himself and not on any level, that the encounter he’d had with Vader recently was possibly the most intense sexual experience of his life. In the space/time stasis field the Emperor created to test the limits of Vader’s desire for the mastery, Palpatine discovered that he’d lost the reason he’d clung to the Sith for so long. The Rule of Two meant that each Sith had to depend on each other, as terrible and sublime as that might be. A Master might lose an Apprentice, but that only meant finding another to replace the symbiotic relationship. The Order could not survive without it.

The Jedi were gone. There were no more serious threats. Vader hated him- loathed him in fact- it was true, but he didn’t need him anymore. Palpatine didn’t need Vader either, except that he felt overwhelmed at the thought of having to train another Apprentice, possibly risking everything he’d so carefully built by replacing Vader with another. And he was sure he couldn’t train a rank beginner. For one thing, he’d never actually had to. He’d always poached from another resource. Now there were none.

He went over to one of the beautifully carved and upholstered chairs and sat down, attempting to meditate. After a few minutes, he gave up. Too tired to sleep, too strung out to concentrate, too proud to admit it and call for a sleep medication.

His thoughts returned to his Apprentice. Lord Vader had a sensual side, as his Master knew very well, and no shortage of opportunities in which to indulge himself. Palpatine had always been puzzled by this. Given the extent and grievous nature of his injuries, and the life support that he required just to live, how it was that his consorts were not put off by his condition? Force chimera or no Force chimera, Vader had more women than he knew what to do with. If it was possible for the Emperor to envy his Apprentice anything, it was probably that.

Palpatine was more powerful in every way than Vader was, and there was no way that the Dark Lord’s power would ever equal his, but it appeared that some things in the universe didn’t care about that. He himself had always and only been attracted to power, and through that, to whomever wielded more of it than he had. Now he had more than anyone. He thought that this would mean that he didn’t want either physical or emotional intimacy anymore- he was a Sith Master after all- but that turned out not to be true.

He still wanted it. Worse, he craved it. Power was his mistress, the Dark Side his passion. He’d given all that he was to it, expected its icy blackness to preserve both his power and his personality within its Dark core forever. There was just one problem. Palpatine was a man. He was dismayed to realize now, for the first time since he’d reached the apex of power in the Galaxy, that he still wanted to live as one.

And if he wanted to live as one, that would mean…what?

The Emperor closed his eyes and cast back his mind to his youth, long ago, with Plagueis. He had been in love once. Plagueis never knew. If he had, his old Master would never have allowed Palpatine to hear the end of it.

The record of his three weeks in a Theed jail had been expunged long, long ago. Everyone was probably dead who knew anything about the incident. Palpatine remembered. He remembered it well.

Palpatine was just 21. He'd never actually met a Queen of Naboo before. His Master usually attended court functions alone when they were necessary, but Plagueis decided that it was time his apprentice became more involved in the higher-level deals. Plagueis had wrangled an invitation for Palpatine; this particular event was a reception for the new Trade Federation delegation and some additional guests.

Queen Tara had only just been elected. She was twenty, and the word was, absolutely exquisite.

Palpatine fussed so long at his mirror that Plagueis was obliged to stifle a laugh. Some things never changed, and some things were completely predictable. Plagueis hadn't told his apprentice that he subsidized Queen Tara's election to the throne. He, Viceroy Gunray and Tara's father Treg Krazhik, had split the cost. Here was where the Sith Master hoped it would begin to pay off handsomely- tonight, at the meeting with the other Trade Federation delegates. The viceroy promised to grease the skids of a deal of truly monumental proportions. Also, Tara's father and Plagueis had arranged for Tara to marry Palpatine when her term was over. It would be a marriage of convenience, of course; Palpatine was a Sith apprentice, so love was out of the question, but a politician needed a well-born, well-connected wife with beauty and grace. Tara would fulfill the role admirably.

It was time for Tara and Palpatine to begin their courtship.

"You're beautiful enough, Palpatine," Plagueis shouted to his apprentice, whose rooms were down the hall from his. "We've got to go."

The young man emerged from his bedroom, dressed in his finest. He looked like the ward of a fabulously wealthy off-world financier, which was Plagueis' current cover. From the top of his freshly-washed dark wavy locks, carefully brushed away from his high forehead, to the expensively cut and hand-woven silken roes, to the shoes of rare Trask leather, Palpatine looked perfect for the role he was to play in life. Plagueis knew he would one day rule the Republic. And then, gods should have mercy on democracy, for Palpatine would have none.

"Remove your lightsaber," his master directed. "This is a social event."

"There will be Jedi there tonight," Palpatine replied, sounding faintly hostile.

"If you can't defend yourself against a Jedi without resorting to a lightsaber, then I have sadly failed in my duty," Plagueis said. "The leader of the delegation, Qui-Gon Jinn, has no reason to suspect that I'm not simply Ton Shizui, the well-known financier. And even if he did, confronting me as a Sith at a diplomatic reception would be a remarkably stupid thing to do."

Palpatine removed his lightsaber from his belt and put it on the hall table. He regarded his Master. "You're wearing that?"

Plagueis sighed. He knew he couldn't manage the effortless style and sophistication of his apprentice. He was too tall, too broad, his features not fine enough. The Sith Master usually wore simple black robes, with a thin line of gold braid on the edges of his garments being the only sign of his great wealth. The only difference in his dress tonight was that the gold braid was more elaborate and more visible, and his undertunic was of a golden weave.

"Yes, I'm wearing this," Plagueis replied. Then he smiled. "I don't want to upstage you tonight, my young apprentice."

Palpatine laughed. The Sith Master and his handsome shadow went off to the reception.

Queen Tara, standing on the high dais with her five handmaidens, was desperately uncomfortable in her royal regalia. She had so many ornamental objects stuck in her enormous wig that she felt like a pin cushion. And in her large bell-shaped skirt with it's long train, she thought she looked like one too.

She never wanted to be Queen. It was her father's idea entirely. He was an ambitious man, hungry for social status and wealth. Through her, he'd found both. Tara wondered what she was going to get out of this. If anything. The odds were good that she could wind up dead, if the past history of the recent Queens of Naboo were any indication.

Her feet, in their ridiculous silken shoes, hurt badly. This was one of her first appearances as the Queen of Naboo. Four years of this.

She was considering suicide when the great dark man, in black robes, arrived with a small, much younger man in tow. The older man terrified her. The younger one fascinated her. He was so handsome, and dressed as a young prince. Her father hurried over to the two of them, taking the dark man's hand and shaking it enthusiastically. Power and/or money there, Tara knew. She straightened her white jeweled robes and ran her tongue over her painted lips to moisten them. Her father was bringing them over to be introduced.

Palpatine couldn't take his eyes off his Queen. He'd never cared for the elaborate costumes an elected Queen, in constant danger of assassination by ancient factions, had to wear. But these robes just enhanced the young Queen's fragile beauty. Tara was all white; her face, her hair, her gown. White jewels sparked from every available surface. The only color on her was her great dark eyes and red lips. She was small too, very small- graceful and delicate. Palpatine knew he would tower over her if he stood next to her.

Above all else, the young Sith apprentice worshipped power. And there it was, standing all in white on a dais. He was fascinated. He was enthralled. He was enraptured. And the young Queen was staring at him.

Plagueis observed the interaction between his apprentice and the young Queen, as he and Palpatine approached the dais. Inwardly, he smiled. Splendid, splendid. By the time young Tara found out what her would-be suitor was, and what that meant, it would be far too late to do anything about it.

It was immensely difficult for a former Queen to get permission from a Naboo government to marry, and impossible to dissolve such a marriage legally if it was approved. The Naboo had torn themselves apart with civil war for generations. A Queen as an elected figurehead was part of their solution to the conflict, and none of the warring factions wanted a former monarch to be used as a pawn- or to use them in a similar fashion. Queens did not marry in office, therefore, and rarely allowed to afterwards. A Queen could not bear a child as Queen, and not away from the homeworld when her term was finished. If a former Queen had a child, she was forbidden to ever leave the homeworld again. It could be a fearful burden. Breaking any of the restrictions meant permanent exile. Most Naboo would rather die than accept such a proscription.

For Palpatine to marry Tara was a perfect match, then. She would be in no position to interfere in anything he did. And by accepting the title of Queen, Tara had already understood the great truth that nothing was free and life was governed by duty. Just one thing bothered Plagueis. He was pretty sure Palpatine was a virgin. And he'd never been in love before. The Sith Master had some work to do to keep his apprentice from destroying both himself and her in the throes of his first emotional attachment.

Plagueis and Palpatine had come to the dais. The Queen's father, Treg Krazhik, presented them.

"Queen Tara, I introduce Ton Shizui and his ward, Palpatine."

The Sith bowed. "Welcome, Ton Shizui and Palpatine," she said in a completely flat, ceremonial voice. "We hope you enjoy your time here."

"Ton Shizui and his ward are residents of Naboo, your Highness," Treg interjected. "Shizui owns and runs an investment banking concern both here and off-world. Young Palpatine is his assistant."

"We shall expect to see something of you then," the Queen replied, looking directly at Palpatine. The Sith apprentice inclined his head, his eyes glittering.

Plagueis and Palpatine moved off, and began to mingle. The young man's head was spinning. He'd hardly noticed anything that happened after that. All he could think of was the Queen.

Tara retired early. With her five handmaids, she left the reception room about an hour after Plagueis and Palpatine arrived. The young Sith thought he felt an almost physical pain as he watched her go.

He was attempting to be pleasant to the delegation of the cursed Jedi when one of the Queen's handmaids approached him. The young girl, almost identical to the Queen's height and build, with similar coloring, and dressed in the flame-colored traditional robes, drew him aside. Palpatine's heart began to race.

"My lady the Queen wishes to speak with you privately, young sir," she said. "Please follow me."

He eagerly followed the girl. She led him to an ante-chamber, and from there along a long hallway to another set of chambers. She opened a door. They went through it. Queen Tara was sitting on a sofa in the middle of an elaborately decorated room. She'd removed her ceremonial gown and was wearing a simpler white garment made of thin layers of gauze, encrusted with pearls and gems. Her hair was pulled back from her face and lay flatly against her back, almost to her waist. Her face wasn't painted. Palpatine was speechless. He'd never seen anything so beautiful.

"Come here, Palpatine," the Queen said to him, indicating a place next to her on the couch.

His feet moved of their own accord to obey. Certainly his brain was engaged elsewhere. As he sat down, the handmaid left quietly. The Sith Apprentice was sure that they were being covertly watched someway, but he hardly cared. Tara had sent for him privately, and he was again with her. He was sublimely happy. A Sith should enjoy his work, Plagueis always said. Palpatine thought he knew of a way to do just that.

"Palpatine, my father says we are to marry," she told him quietly, and looked into his eyes, trying to read the expression in them. "Your guardian has already agreed."

The Sith raised his eyebrows, and then lowered them again. He might have guessed. Plagueis had made a career of always being at least two steps ahead of him. In this case, he didn't feel at all bad about this apparent precognicence.

"Your Highness, I would be honored to become your consort," Palpatine said, smiling into her eyes. Tara looked at him unhappily.

"I don't want you to feel forced into it," she replied. "I understand my duty, but you are not bound the way I am, to an oath and to a government and to a people."

`No,' thought Palpatine, `but I do understand better than you think. My oath is to the Sith. My life is bound to the Dark Side. My duty is to my Master.' The young Sith knew all about obligations and necessity.

"My lady, please don't think that. You know that I am far from indifferent to you."

He then reached for her hand, so small and delicate, and raising it to his lips, kissed the back of it. Reverently.

Tara's eyes glistened. He was so handsome, she thought. There was something about him. A great, bottomless hunger. She felt overwhelmed, that she was drowning. It excited her, this enormous hunger. She moved a little closer to him.

"Palpatine, have you loved before?" the Queen asked him.

"No," the Sith admitted, unsure what she meant. He had not known sexual contact. And as a Sith, well…a Sith did not follow the path of love- except as a means to an end.

"I have known love," Tara said, "but not with a man. Would you do me a favor?"

"Of course, my lady," Palpatine found that he couldn't quite breathe. Was she offering what it sounded like she was offering?

"Kiss me, Palpatine." She asked, "Please kiss me."

The Sith didn't need to be asked twice. He leaned over towards her. She tilted her face up to his. It was a little awkward. Tara had closed her eyes. Her lips shone, were relaxed to receive his kiss. Palpatine wasn't quite sure how to comply with her request. Should he kiss her chastely? Passionately? Something in between, perhaps?

The Queen was waiting. The Sith moved quickly forward and gently caressed her lips with his own. Just a light touch. Then he sat back up. Tara opened her eyes.

"Is that it?" she inquired.

Palpatine had guessed wrong. It figured. Somewhere, he was completely sure, his Master knew what was transpiring and was laughing himself in to a coughing fit. For a minute, the Sith loathed his Master for putting him into this impossible position.

"My lady," said he, "I didn't want to seem too forward. Perhaps you would rather kiss me first?"

Tara considered. It wasn't a bad idea. She's kissed and petted her handmaids, and that was very pleasant, but she always made the first move. It was expected.

"All right," the Queen said.

She moved close to him, took his chin in one of her hands, and leaned over.

Tara kissed him hard. Passionately. She was practically sitting on top of him, probing his mouth with her tongue. Palptine realized something.

He liked it.

She opened her eyes and looked into his. Satisfied at what she saw there, Tara bent to kiss him again. The Sith was ready this time.

Palpatine took her in his arms as she leaned over him, hauling her into his lap. She kissed him again, reaching beneath his tunic to touch his bare skin. His hand reached up to caress her breast, through the fine gauzy material of her gown.

Abruptly Tara got up and pressed a button on a nearby console. All five of her handmaids came in. The young Sith apprentice leaped off the couch, wondering what was going on.

"Don't be frightened, Palpatine," the Queen said.

Palpatine wasn't frightened. Yet. Tara was standing about a meter away from him.

Two of the handmaids approached him. Three clustered around their mistress. The two handmaids near Palpatine removed their robes. They were naked underneath. The other three did the same, and then began to disrobe their mistress.

"My family ruled Naboo for centuries," the Queen said as her maids undressed her. "When the wars began, we renounced our ancient claims and fled into the Lake country. When peace finally came, we returned, but we have been viewed with a great deal of suspicion."

Her handmaids had removed her gown, and now the Queen was naked as well. Palpatine observed, with a certain awe, that all the handmaids- and their Queen- were almost identical in their nudity. He could hardly tell them apart. The two near him began to undress him as well. They kissed his body and caressed him as they did so. Palpatine struggled to focus, while his Queen spoke again.

"Your guardian is immensely rich. And he has powerful friends- as well as powerful enemies. My father is a foolish man, perpetually in need of money and he has dynastic ambitions. He hopes to use Ton Shizui to help place our family back on the throne. I think he is completely mad. But there is no way I can stop it. It also means that I and my handmaids must live constantly in the shadow of death."

Tara paused, and turned to seductively kiss the handmaid at her right, who had been caressing her breasts and kissing her body. The one on the left had her hand on her mistress' silken mound, caressing it. The Queen turned also to kiss her as well, placing an arm around her waist and fondling her breasts. The third handmaid was on her knees before Tara, placing kisses on her inner thighs and first kissing and then sucking her Queen's pink center of pleasure.

Palpatine was amazed. And aroused. And terrified. One of the handmaidens near him caressed his organ, kissing it, licking the tip. The other ran her hands over his body, stroking his nipples, then turning to suck one gently as one hand kneaded his firm behind. He was becoming almost incoherent. It was too much.

"Stay with me," the Queen pleaded. The Sith struggled to regain his focus. "Palpatine, the laws of our country do not allow me to marry you until my term is over, and I may not become pregnant. Because of my father and our family's history, I am examined each week to determine if I am still a virgin. Other tests are done as well, to try to identify if I have even touched a man. We cannot hope to love together, but we can have pleasure together. My handmaidens are much more than maids- they are surrogates, they are substitutes, and they are often decoys. Each of them shares my fate. Their lives are nearly as closely circumscribed as mine is. They stay voluntarily and protect me, because they love me. They would protect you as well, if you will love them too. In a sense, we are one body. Let us love you, Palpatine. Please love us.

Palpatine was nearing climax. As he looked at his Queen, her handmaids kissing and stroking her, she was nearing orgasm too. "Stop," Tara commanded, gasping. The Queen reached for Palpatine's hand, and held it. She looked at him with a mixture of deep sadness, and deep desire. "Share your pleasure with me," she pleaded.

Palpatine looked at her with empathy and appreciation. He knew what it was to live under the threat of death. The hungry jaws of the Dark Side ever hungered to consume him. It took incredibly concentration and dedication just to stay alive at times. He served a Master he frequently didn't understand and couldn't predict. What a Sith Tara would make, he thought to himself.

"Resume," said the Queen to her handmaids. They did. In a moment, Tara and Palpatine shared an explosive climax that they could not give to each other. Four of the handmaids paired off, seeking their own release. The remaining one clung to Palpatine. The queen gently helped her up and said to the Sith, "Help me with her."

They laid her on the couch. Palpatine bent and slowly kissed her, caressed her breasts. The Queen bent and began to lick her handmaid's sweet spot, caressing her mound. The handmaid moaned as Palpatine sucked one nipple, gently nipping it with his teeth. She gasped as the Queen inserted two fingers into her hot wet core, and thrust strongly a few times. The handmaid climaxed. It was done.

Queen Tara and Palpatine joined hands once again and kissed chastely. Then, without another word, the Queen of Naboo and her handmaids left the room, leaving the young Sith apprentice to dress himself and, in general, pull himself together.

Plagueis had seen his apprentice leave the reception, following after a handmaid. About an hour later, he saw Palpatine slip back in. The Sith Master could tell by the expression on his face that the boy he'd been training had become a man. He smiled broadly. Good, very good. His young ward came to stand by his side.

"Everything all right, Palpatine?" Plagueis inquired. "Yes, my Master," the apprentice replied. "Can we go home soon?"

"Certainly, Palpatine, certainly," Plagueis said. "You look a little tired. We'll just say farewell to the Jedi delegation, and then we can leave."

The Sith approached the Jedi group, which consisted of the Master Qui- Gon, his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (who was just a young boy), and Mace Windu, who had just been promoted to the Jedi Council.

"Master Qui-Gon, Master Windu, young master Kenobi, it was a pleasure meeting you tonight," Plagueis said graciously.

Palpatine smiled agreeably at the group. But Windu's manner irritated him, and the Sith decided that he heartily disliked the young arrogant Jedi Master. Windu smiled back, well aware of Palpatine's antipathy.

"The new Queen of Naboo is lovely, isn't she?" Mace said to Palpatine.

"Yes," replied the Sith, a little tersely.

"I hear her family is trying to take over the government again. I hope they aren't successful. I would hate to see war come here again, and her family get killed this time."

Palpatine's eyes flashed, but he said nothing.

"Ton Shizui, have you heard the rumors that Treg Krazhik bought Queen Tara's way onto the throne?"

Palpatine had heard enough. Plagueis laid a hand on his apprentice's arm.

"I have heard the rumors, Master Windu," said the Sith lord, "but you shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"Indeed, Windu," interjected Qui-Gon, "and there is no need for a Jedi to repeat them anywhere, especially not when guests of another people's homeworld. Goodnight, Ton Shizui and to you too, young sir. Perhaps we may meet again."

The Sith bowed to the Jedi, who reciprocated. Plagueis and Palpatine left the palace and went home.

On the way, Plagueis turned to his apprentice and asked, "Do you want to talk about?"

"I don't think so," said Palpatine. And nothing more was said about the evening.

Part 14: Qui-Gon's Kiss

Darth Plagueis, Sith Master, was trying to make a point about vengeance to his apprentice. Betrayal was the way of the Sith, and vengeance had its place as an instrument, but sometimes you had to take a larger view.

That was why he'd allowed Palpatine to sit in jail for the last three weeks. Plagueis hadn't lifted a finger to get him out, although he could have sprung him most any time. All he had to do was call in a favor from the Governor of Theed province. Palpatine would know that. And be absolutely infuriated that his Master delayed so long. Plagueis had been using the three weeks his apprentice was imprisoned, and therefore not continually underfoot, to implement his own master plan for the Sith Order. He'd laid the foundations, done all the groundwork. Either his plan would work, or it wouldn't. Palpatine could say he knew nothing about it if it failed, and take a great deal of credit if it succeeded. That would please him, Plagueis knew. His apprentice didn't mind at all taking credit for a risky venture when it worked out- provided somebody else paid the price if it didn't and fronted all of the capital at the beginning. A true Sith, that boy, and born to be one the way some artists are born to paint or sculpt.

He just hoped that one day Palpatine wouldn't be responsible for single-handedly destroying the Order.

The Sith Master had a backup plan for that contingency. Three of them, in fact. Two of them were almost completed. The third was about to be implemented. When it came to the survival of the Sith Order, Plagueis took no chances. Darth Plagueis knew he wasn't the strongest or the most powerful Sith there had ever been, not even close, but he did have two outstanding attributes: patience and foresight. These two things had made him immensely rich and politically powerful, almost untouchable. And they may yet keep the Order alive through the dark days he knew would one day come.

Plagueis was in the Governor's office now, calling in his favor. He'd expected some opposition, but it was going much better than he expected.

***

Governor Kizumi picked up a replica of a priceless antique vase, and threw it at the head of Darth Plagueis. He ducked. It hit the wall behind him, shattering into a thousand pieces. A porcelain figurine followed the vase. The Sith Master hid behind a chair. Several more breakable objects followed. The negotiations were proceeding very well indeed, he mused.

Plagueis' gray had peeked over the chair back. Kizumi had run out of things to throw at him that were small and in easy reach.

"Now, Madam Governor, surely we can come to an agreement," the Sith Master said cajolingly.

Kizumi's eyes were still angry, but her rage was already running out of energy. The tantrum had barely lasted five minutes. Pathetic, Plagueis thought. The woman wouldn't even make a Sith housemaid. Well, he thought, she had other uses.

Plagueis came out from behind the chair and slowly walked towards the Governor of Theed. Kizumi was backing away, yellow robes clutched in both her hands to keep them from getting entangled in her feet. Her elaborate hairdo was coming down rapidly with all her exertions. Small decorative jeweled pins were falling out and landing on the mosaic floor, making little plinks as they went. Like a short, petulant rainstorm.

Kizumi was mad because this arrogant man, Ton Shizui, had asked her to release his ward, a native of Naboo, from the local jail. He was accused of blowing up a Jedi vehicle where it sat on a Theed landing pad, destroying it completely. The Naboo could not afford to antagonize the Jedi. Relations between the Republic and the Trade Federation were strained. Naboo was in a vulnerable position. Times were tense. Sometimes examples had to be made. And then there was that other matter…

Slowly, Plagueis stalked her, getting closer all the time. He was so splendid, Kizumi thought, heart beating even faster within her firmly corseted breast. He reminded her of a wild beast. The Governor had backed herself into a wall by the time the Sith Master reached her.

He grabbed her upper arms roughly, and his lips covered hers in a hard, hot kiss.

"Kizumi, let Palpatine go. He is my ward; his parents are dead. He can be a bit childish at times, but he just needs a firm hand. He's been in jail three weeks. I think he's learned his lesson. Let me deal with him."

The Governor's dark eyes were still showing traces of anger, and her makeup had run a little bit, but the anger was fading fast- being replaced by another emotion.

"Ton Shizui, your ward blew up a Jedi ship. How can I just let him go? How will I explain that to the Queen?"

Plagueis leaned down and kissed her again, more gently this time, parting her lips seductively.

"I don't think the Queen will mind. She is acquainted with my ward on a social level. And I understand that Her Highness has a number of charitable projects in the planning stages. I could underwrite the expenses of some of them, or all of them, if it will placate any bruised feelings."

Kizumi's lips yielded themselves to his touch. Her husband, Prince Dorje, was much older than she was, and uninterested in sexual pleasures. Ton Shizui was the only man who had paid her any attention in many months. Prince Dorje Kizumi was also a Republican Senator, who spent most of his time off Naboo, in Coruscant. The Governor of Theed was feeling just a little desperate.

Plagueis continued his gentle tease of her lips, licked her upper list with a quick motion of his tongue and then kissed her again, hard and deeply. Kizumi melted at once, kissing him back, pulling him closer.

Plagueis hated his calling sometimes. The sacrifices could be appalling. But not today. Today, he didn't mind it at all.

"My husband is in Coruscant for at least another month," the Governor whispered, her hands reaching into Plagueis' robes to touch his muscular chest.

The Sith Master knew that already. His own operatives in the Senate had deliberately kept the subcommittee on which Prince Dorje served tied up in meaningless arguments over procedure for the last two months. And it wasn't that the prince was uninterested in sexual pleasures. It's just that the ones he preferred didn't involve his wife. Plagueis had been indirectly blackmailing him for the past several years. The bribes had gotten so large that he was having to pilfer from Naboo governmental funds to pay them. The Sith Master used part of the money to finance the fixing of the last election, with the result that Dorje's deadliest enemies now controlled the throne. Delicious.

"I'll come to you tonight," Plagueis promised, one hand reaching downwards to grasp her warm, soft mound. Kizumi groaned, arching herself into his hand as he firmly massaged her. "I'll come here about half-past the eleventh hour. Here, not to your home. Servants and housemaids talk too much."

The Governor of Theed, after a few more passionate kisses, readily agreed to everything Plagueis asked. Within an hour, the Sith Master had an order in his hand, on her datapad, releasing his apprentice from jail and expunging his record. Palpatine's Master didn't waste any more time. He went directly to the jail, to secure his apprentice's release.

Palpatine worked on focusing his anger into some kind of clarity. It was very difficult. His cellmate was a Bothan, who talked constantly. It took everything the young man had to keep from strangling him. They'd reached a sort of modus vivendi: the Bothan would speak only when spoken to, and Palpatine would refrain from Force-strangling him every time he opened his mouth.

The fact that there had been not a single word from his Master in three weeks deeply shocked and angered him. Betrayal was the way of the Sith, Palpatine knew. But what purpose did it serve to have him rot in jail? And over what? This was revenge, pure and simple. Windu had slandered his fiancé and her family. It was a Sith prerogative. And if the itinerary had been properly updated, all three of the Jedi would be dead now. His Master would come to realize that it was good riddance to some very bad rubbish. And if he didn't, Palpatine knew he would. In time.

There was a commotion at the end of the corridor. Footsteps down the hall. The sheriff. Palpatine hoped he wasn't getting another cellmate. More footsteps followed the first set. His Master. Palpatine rose from his bunk. Plagueis had come for him. It was about time.

The door opened. The sheriff motioned for Palpatine to come out. The young apprentice went out of his cell immediately. He looked up at his Master, trying to gauge his mood. Plagueis' face was unreadable.

"Thank you, Sheriff," the Sith Maser said graciously. Then, to Palpatine, "Come, let's go home."

Master and Apprentice didn't say a word to each other until they reached the house. The doors closed behind them. Plagueis frowned down at Palpatine.

"Do you have something you wish to say to me?" he asked.

"What do you want me to say, Master?" Palpatine answered.

Plagueis crossed his arms over his broad chest. He was doing a pretty good job of keeping his temper under control, but he could sense that his apprentice was spoiling for a fight. The Sith lord didn't have the time or the energy for one, although the rage he was feeling from Palpatine was most gratifying. He would have loved to have prodded it into action, but there simply wasn't time. Plagueis got right to the point.

"Palpatine, destroying the Jedi ship was a stupid action, and that's why I left you in jail for three weeks. Such stupidity was not worthy of you."

His young apprentice opened his mouth to speak, but the Sith Master cut him off. "I don't want to hear about what Windu said to you. I head it too. It happens to be true, all of it- her family did buy her way onto the throne. I ought to know, because I financed most of the deal. Viceroy Gunray, Tara's father and myself shared the cost."

Palpatine was shocked. He had no idea his Master had been involved in the election at all. As soon as he could gather his thoughts together, he asked his Master, "What was your interest inputting that deal together?"

"I'm trying to start a war, Palpatine." Plagueis was running out of patience with his apprentice. "War is an immensely profitable business, as well as a fine tool for breaking up tired alliances and forcing governments to refocus their priorities into more desirable directions. I don't have time to explain it all to you. I have a task for you to perform right now."

Plagueis motioned for him to follow his Master to his study. When they got there, and closed the door, the Sith lord handed Palpatine Governor Kizumi's datapad.

"I want you to send a message to the head of the Jedi delegation, Qui-Gon Jinn. Tell him to meet the Governor of Theed at her government office tonight at midnight. He should come alone. Governor Kizumi has some very important information for him. Send it from this datapad. I got it from her this morning."

Palpatine took the datapad and got to work. Plagueis sat down and massaged his temples.

"How did you find the Jedi interrogation techniques? I presume they tried to find out what you were doing at the blast site when they caught you."

"Mildly interesting," the Sith apprentice remarked as he worked.

"Did they learn anything from you?"

Palpatine snorted. "No. That's why they asked the sheriff to put me in jail. There, Master," he said, handing back the datapad, "It's done."

"Thank you," said Plagueis. "Now go, have some dinner and get some rest. I will be out most of tonight."

"Where are you going, Master?"

"The less you know, the better."

Palpatine just hated it when his Master was secretive.

It was just before midnight. All the lights were out at the Govenor's office, in the Theed Provincial government building. Darth Plagueis, stripped to the waist, was lying on top of Governor Kizumi, who was in turn lying on her sofa, permitting the Sith Master to remove her corset. He was having some trouble with it. The corset wasn't tight, just complicated to get off in the dark. Some things, it seemed, were beyond even the power of the Force.

The great double doors to the office opened. Someone big walked in. Plagueis could tell by the sound of the footfalls. And not a minute too soon, he mused.

Governor Kizumi gasped, loudly. She wasn't expecting anyone. There was a sound of something that required a lot of power being switched on, then a slight buzzing.

Qui-Gon's ignited lightsaber was the only light source glowing in the gloom of the Governor's office. It approached, as the Jedi Master slowly approached the couch.

Plagueis got off the Governor of Theed and stood up, smiling faintly. Kizumi sat up, pulling her robes around her. When she saw it was Qui-Gon, she get off the couch and faked a sob.

"Master Qui-Gon, I'm so glad you're here!" she said, rushing over to him. "Ton Shizui…he…he forced himself on me…" Kizumi worked up some tears. Plagueis had never seen such an awful performance in his life. He doubted that Qui-Gon had either.

The Jedi Master certainly knew what was transpiring. He knew her husband well, after all. "Madam Governor," Qui-Gon said gently, "you can go on home now. I will take care of this."

Kizumi cast a sidelong look at her Jedi rescuer. He was tall, and so very handsome; a splendid warrior and respected Jedi Master known for his discretion. She put a hand on his arm, sniffed once more and went towards the doors.

"Thank you, Master Qui-Gon," she said. "The Theed provincial government is most indebted to you. I will call on you before you leave, to express our gratitude in person."

Qui-Gon inclined his head towards her politely. Plagueis stifled a smirk. Giving one more fake sniffle, Kizumi went out and closed the doors.

The Sith Master began to laugh. Qui-Gon tried to keep a straight face but he started to chuckle too. Plagueis' laughter was contagious. And Governor Kizumi was rather notorious throughout the sector.

Plagueis' robes were still on the floor, and he wore only his breeches and his boots. He made no move to pick them up and instead walked over to the Governor's desk and turned on a small lamp. The Jedi Master extinguished his lightsaber and hung it back on his belt.

"Thank you for coming," the Sith Master said, leaning on the desk.

"You might ask me why I bothered," Qui-Gon said. "You know how dangerous this is for me."

Plagueis smiled his charming smile. The Sith's features were rather heavy, but when he smiled, he appeared almost handsome. "A little danger never bothered you before, Master Qui-Gon. And you know this meeting is important. It's historic."

The Jedi walked further into the room and took a seat near where Plagueis was standing.

"I'm sorry about your ship," the Sith said. "I'll pay for it, of course. I'm glad no one was hurt."

"You're lucky no one was hurt, Darth Plagueis," Qui-Gon replied. "We agreed, no bloodshed."

"You won't prefer any additional charges against my apprentice, will you?"

"No. But I hope you had a serious talk with him. He's not still in jail, is he?"

"I got him out today."

The Jedi was very surprised. "Today? You let him sit there for three weeks? Surely that was a little excessive."

"Palpatine has a crush on the Queen. He blew up the ship to defend what he thought was her honor. It was rather sweet, in a Sith sort of way, but he needed to cool off a little. He has some growing-up to do."

Qui-Gon relaxed in his chair. "I have similar problems with my Padawan. Obi-Wan thinks I don't know about his involvement with one of his contemporaries at the Temple. He's at an age where it would embarrass him a great deal if I talked to him about it openly. These sorts of liaisons are not forbidden, just ill-advised. I don't think he's mature enough to appreciate the difference."

Plagueis crossed his arms over his broad chest, and looked thoughtful. "Of course, in the Sith Order, we don't have that particular issue. Palpatine was about the same age as your Obi-Wan is now when I first began to train him. I never had that kind of trouble with him, although I expected that I might. I know my own Master had difficulties with me," and here he smiled again, "but I suppose that was only natural. I was a bit precocious."

"Fortunately, our assignments keep us away from home a lot of the time, and he's too busy for much dalliance," the Jedi Master said, feeling a little uncomfortable all of a sudden. "He'll eventually grow out of it."

Plagueis looked thoughtful. "I wouldn't count on it, Qui-Gon. Not everyone does grow out of it, so to speak. It could get a whole lot worse before it gets better. If it gets better at all. I'd give him the lecture about sexual ethics now, if I were you. Might save you some misery down the line."

Qui-Gon grinned. "I'll take that under advisement," he said, and then suddenly burst out laughing.

After a moment, the Sith Master joined him. He had to admit, a Sith advising a Jedi on sexual ethics was not without its humorous side.

Plagueis noticed an elegant decanter, filled with some kind of alcoholic beverage, sitting on a nearby table. There were some crystal glasses beside it. He walked over and poured both of them a drink. It turned out to be a local product, not terribly alcoholic, but it might help move the discussions along. He took both glasses, then grabbed the decanter as well, and walked back over to where Qui-Gon was sitting. The Sith handed the Jedi a drink, put the decanter down and took a chair across from his guest. Plagueis raised his glass in salute. "To your good health, Qui-Gon," he toasted, and drank the wine down.

The Jedi Master reciprocated, quaffing his drink. Plagueis got up and refilled their glasses, then resumed his seat.

Qui-Gon regarded his host, the Sith Master he'd come to treat with. Plagueis had promised to come unarmed, and indeed he wasn't. There was no belt holding up his breeches and they'd begun to droop a little, exposing his taunt abdominal muscles and the tops of his pelvic ridges. His chest was bare; he was well-muscled. The Sith's dark skin had a slight sheen as a result of his earlier activities with Kizumi. His hair was not as long as Qui-Gon's, reaching just to his shoulders, the black locks streaked with gray. He was older than the Jedi Master, much older, but without doubt a fine speciman.

"You examine me, Your Grace," the Sith observed wryly. "Do I please you?"

"Save it, Plagueis," said Qui-Gon. "And please don't call me that. I'm the next thing to an outcast from the Jedi Order, and not entitled to the honorific. Nor do I want it."

Qui-Gon's host took another sip of his own drink. The Jedi Master was amazingly handsome, with his flowing reddish hair, intensely blue eyes and long, lanky frame. He allowed that the Jedi could be a distraction. Plagueis needed no additional distractions. He consulted his internal clock. Time to get to business.

"Qui-Gon, there is a rapidly growing imbalance in the Force. You've felt it. I've felt it. A thousand years of war, and another thousand of hostile détente between Sith and Jedi, have created it. Your work in the Living Force, seeking balance of all energies through the focus of the moment, is the best hope I see of restoring some kind of equilibrium. A Sith knows that balance is everything. That's how we stay alive. An imbalance endangers us and it hampers you as well. You've noticed a diminution on your abilities- slight but noticeable. Am I not correct? "

"You are," the Jedi said, raising the glass to his lips. "And what course of action are you suggesting we take to correct this imbalance?"

"A cessation of hostilities and a dialog. Then, if our dialog is successful, an integration. Sith with Jedi. A combined understanding."

"Go on," said Qui-Gon.

Plagueis drained his glass and poured himself another. The Jedi finished his drink also, and the Sith refilled his glass.

"The Force itself is neutral," the Sith continued, "it does not discriminate. Passions need not always be negative. Denial of both passion and its capacity for binding a being into the fabric of temporal life is draining the Jedi of vitality."

Qui-Gon was thoughtful. He knew it was true. Moving his focus from the Unifying Force experience to the Living Force was his answer to what he saw as the deficiencies of traditional Jedi meditations. "And what do you want me to do?" he asked after a moment, sipping again from his glass. The wine wasn't bad.

The Sith looked at him intently, sitting forward in his chair. "Do you have any leverage with the Jedi Council, or with any of your colleagues? Even a handful would be enough. What I want to do is open a line of communication."

The Jedi Master snorted. "I have no influence. Perhaps I have a measure of respect in the Council, but I'm convinced that it's only because I haven't tried to split the Order with my ideas. Master Yoda wouldn't consider a proposal like this. He still remembers the bad times after the Sith wars, and will never accept any radical changes in the way things are. He's been a Jedi for 900 years, after all. In his long career, he's taught practically everyone in the Order- myself included- at one time or another. The others will probably follow his guidance."

Plagueis nodded. The Sith didn't have this problem either, but he'd used the inertial pressures that a long history can bring about to great effect in his long career. He understood the need for stability, as well as for renewal, and the natural tension between the two. As strong as the Sith were, due to their constant turnover in training ideas and strategic vision, he envied the Jedi their stability and longevity. The Jedi could go on forever. The Sith were always on the verge of being wiped out.

Qui-Gon smiled wryly. "I think Windu would be tempted to murder me in my sleep if he even knew I was talking to a Sith Master, let alone considering making an agreement with one."

"I could take care of Windu for you," Plagueis offered. "My apprentice would be delighted to do the job."

Qui-Gon giggled. The Sith wondered if he might be a little tipsy. Plagueis again got up and topped of the Jedi's glass, refilling his own at the same time.

"No," replied his guest, after his mirth resolved itself, "No hostilities if we're really going to begin talks. And you shouldn't have offered me your services, my Lord. We have to set the examples if this plan has any hope of success."

"You're right, Master Qui-Gon," Plagueis said. "Of course, you're right."

The Jedi took another sip of his drink and set the glass down. "I will do some informal polling of other members of the Order, the ones that might possibly be receptive. I don't think I can get much backing in the Council, but perhaps there may be one or two who might at least listen." Qui-Gon also sat up and leaned forward in his chair. "While the Order might tolerate a Jedi with a different understanding of the Light, it will be difficult to get anyone to see the Darkness as anything but evil. The idea that any given moment contains both Darkness and Light, and that the two depend on each other to give birth to the future, will sound like heresy. "

"I didn't say this would be easy, Qui-Gon."

The Jedi Master smiled. It was a wise, gentle smile. "No, you didn't, My lord Sith."

"Thank you," Plagueis said. And he meant it.

"You know that rapproachment, if it comes at all, might take two or three generations, perhaps even longer" Qui-Gon said. "and I can promise you nothing."

The Sith got up from his chair and stood up, turning his back to the Jedi as he walked over and put the drink decanter back on the table. My gods, thought Qui-Gon Jinn, Plagueis is magnificent.

Darth Plagueis came back again to stand across from his guest. He extended a hand to help Qui-Gon out of his chair.

"Then let's get to work. No time to waste."

The Jedi Master looked at that hand. It was large and comely, although a bit calloused. He understood that if he took it, it might eventually change the entire galaxy. The change might be peaceful. It could also be catastrophically violent. Qui-Gon believed in life, and in hope, and in the Force. And in the inspiration of the moment. He felt called and compelled, and took the offered hand.

Plagueis pulled the Jedi Master to his feet, and moved to clasp both his forearms, near the elbows. Qui-Gon, who was a few inches taller, looked down at the Sith and grasped his forearms in return.

"You have my promise, Qui-Gon, as a Sith Master and head of my Order, that I will never raise a hand against you, or any Jedi, as long as I live."

The Jedi heard the sincerity in the Sith, and knew he meant every word of what he vowed.

"Darth Plagueis, as a Jedi I would never offer you aggression. This is a part of my Oath as a Jedi, that I took long ago. The Jedi are keepers of peace and justice. But I will go further than that: I promise, on my Oath to my Order, that I will never stop working for peace between us, between your Order and mine. As long as Sith and Jedi try to understand each other and are willing to work together, I will protect and defend you with my life. "

Sith and Jedi regarded each other for a long moment. Plagueis and Qui-Gon embraced each other, holding each other close. The Sith Master looked up at the man in his arms. The Jedi bent his head slowly and touched Plagueis' lips with his own in a lingering kiss. The Sith kissed him back, softly, gently.

Outside, it began to rain. The raindrops began to fall on the portico outside, first slowly, then more rapidly. Big, heavy drops.

Qui-Gon's head began to spin a little. Perhaps it was the alcohol. The Jedi's hands caressed Plagueis' bare back, and before he knew what was happening, he found himself gently running his tongue over the Sith's upper lip, and kissing him again.

Plagueis was astonished. Was Qui-Gon drunk? He didn't seem to be. Darth Plagueis, Dark Master, was a firm believer in enjoying his work whenever possible. The Jedi Master was handsome, splendid. Plagueis preferred women, but…

The Sith parted his lips, permitting Qui-Gon's tongue to enter his mouth. They kissed again, deeply. Plagueis slipped a hand beneath the Jedi Master's tunic, to touch the skin beneath, caressing his chest. Qui-Gon's hands moved down Plagueis' back, to the top of his breeches, where they took an abrupt turn and moved to the front of the garment, taking down the fasteners.

The Sith pushed the Jedi's robes away from his body, continuing to kiss Qui-Gon softly as he did so. The Jedi Master shook his arms free of his sleeves and now his chest was bare, skin pale in the moonlight, reflecting shadows of the raindrops as they fell against the glass of the windows.

Qui-Gon, who was feeling his organ becoming engorged beneath his robes, was in the throes of a sexual experience the likes of which he'd never known. He wasn't sure he trusted Plagueis; he knew that betrayal was the way of the Sith. But Plagueis was taking risks too, just by being here and talking with him. He was taking a terrible risk. His own apprentice may well turn on him, could be strong enough to destroy him. Qui-Gon knew nothing of the Dark Side- it might have its own priorities, apart from an initiate's use of it. Plagueis was powerful and brave; he had vision and passion. As a Jedi by profession and a warrior by trade, Qui-Gon had enormous respect for that. He wanted to honor Plagueis' strength and bravery. With the highest honor he could give.

Plagueis didn't understand what he was doing either. As the Jedi finished unfastening his breeches and then pushed them to the floor, the Sith Master caressed Qui-Gon's body, reaching up his back and pulling him even closer, kissing him slowly, sucking his tongue as he did so. Absently, Plagueis wondered if the Jedi used the pleasure bond to help keep itself together. He wondered if Qui-Gon's kiss meant that Plagueis was being marked as one of them. It might be the closest he would ever get in his lifetime to unity with the Jedi. One had to take one's small successes where one could get them.

Plagueis was naked to Qui-Gon's touch. The Jedi Master reached down, caressing the Sith Lord's chest, lingering on his abdominals as his hands wandered further down. He bent, long reddish hair cascading down, to kiss Plagueis' chest and lick his nipples into hardness. The Sith moaned, gasped with pleasure. Finally Qui-Gon grasped Plagueis stiffening member and caressed it, gently then more firmly, as his lips sought the Sith's once more.

As they kissed, Plagueis reached for Qui-Gon's belt, which was holding his robes on. Carefully avoiding touching the Jedi's light saber, the Sith took off the belt and let it drop to the floor. Qui-Gon's robes followed the belt, and Plagueis unfastened his breeches. The Jedi Master had an amazing erection. Plagueis grasped it firmly, sucking Qui-Gon's tongue as they continued to kiss with increasing passion.

Qui-Gon whispered huskily, "What would you like me to do, Plagueis?"

Plagueis' eyes were beginning to glaze over. "Suck me,' he said to the Jedi, "any way you please."

The Jedi got on his knees and took the tip of the Sith's organ into his mouth, caressing it with the tip of his tongue. Plagueis moaned in ecstasy, caressing Qui-Gon, as his lover took him in the rest of the way, sucking strongly and then softly, in rhythm. The Jedi's hands caressed his sacks also, and his inner thighs, and it was too much. The Sith climaxed, and shakily, got on his knees before Qui-Gon. It was his turn.

Plagueis first kissed the Jedi's member, which was fully erect, and stroked it firmly with his tongue before taking it into his mouth. Qui-Gon was almost fainting with pleasure. Darth Plagueis sucked him very hard, kneading his behind as he did so, and in a few moments it was done.

Both were weak, breathing hard. The Jedi Master helped Plagueis up, and the two of them kissed tenderly, a last time. Then they dressed each other. Qui-Gon buckled the Sith's belt around his waist, arranged his cloak. He had not even brought his weapon with him, the Jedi noted. Plagueis did the same for Qui-Gon, adjusting hang of the lightsaber on his belt as he did so.

"I don't know how much time we will have to carry out our plans," Plagueis said. "I presume you will have to leave soon."

"Yes," replied Qui-Gon. "In two days we will need to depart back to Coruscant. If you want to reach me after that, you could leave a message with the Naboo embassy. I will check in regularly."

Plagueis smiled. He really was quite attractive when he smiled. "I'm sure there will be no trouble with that arrangement. I can also pass messages through Prince Dorje Kizumi. We are old friends." The Sith grew serious then, clasped Qui-Gon's upper arm. "Take care of yourself, Qui-Gon Jinn. If you find yourself in a spot you can't get out of, please call on me."

The Jedi Master put a hand on Plagueis' shoulder and said, "You may be in more danger than I. Watch yourself. Take all care. I meant what I said when I told you that I would protect and defend you. May the Force always be with you, Darth Plagueis. If others must complete our work, then so be it, but at least we have begun it. The Living Force embraces all. If we don't meet again in this universe, then perhaps we will again in the next one. Farewell."

Qui-Gon then turned and walked out, pulling the hood of his cloak over his head, against the falling rain. After a few minutes, Plagueis followed him out, taking another exit.

Part 15: The Beginning of the End

Plagueis was soaked through when he finally arrived home. He was tired, but he felt as pleased as it was possible for a Sith Master to be- under the circumstances. He considered the circumstances, replayed what he'd done, as he walked through the large plant-and-tree-trimmed atrium to his front door.

He'd just done the unthinkable, and offered peace with the hated Jedi.

Further, he'd just guaranteed that, if his plans were successful, the Sith Order would change forever. It would survive, it was true, maybe another millennia, but it would never be the same. It may not even be recognizable as such, when all was said and done.

He'd put himself into a position that forced him to bend his considerable energies towards re-defining what the Sith Order was, and how it operated, in this new reality of peace and cooperation with the Jedi.

Plagueis wondered if he was up to the task. And then he remembered that if he failed in any part of his work, or simply failed to succeed brilliantly, his life would be forfeit. His apprentice would kill him. Or the Dark Side would grind him up in its hunger for his life energies. By his existence, he gave the Darkness an outlet. By trying to refocus it, re-conduct its energies, he might destroy himself. Either way, he'd do what he had to do. The Sith understood the virtues of necessity.

As he opened the door, hand on the latch, he suddenly felt like a traitor to his Order and a failure as a Sith. He told himself it was because his cloak was dripping wet, his expensive boots were ruined and he hadn't really slept in days.

Palpatine was there, in the large entryway hall, waiting for him.

"Successful evening, Master?" he inquired pleasantly, but Plagueis could tell he was furious. Probably still enraged at being left in prison for three weeks. His apprentice had stayed up practically all night to wait for him, so he could pick a fight. Fine, thought the Sith Master. Plagueis had just three words to express his sentiments on that score: Bring. It. On.

Palpatine's master sat down on a chair by the door and took off his boots and cloak. If the young man could have had a clear view of Plagueis' eyes, he would have seen the anger beginning to rise there, and it would have been a warning. But he didn't.

Plagueis didn't reply to Palpatine's question. He simply ignored him and waited for his apprentice to make his first move.

Without warning, the Sith apprentice grabbed his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it, taking an en garde position. Its molten red blade glowed in the relative darkness of the entryway. Plagueis realized that he hadn't taken his own lightsaber with him to his evening appointment, and it was still upstairs in his rooms. No matter. Palpatine thought he knew everything about the Sith's arsenal of defense abilities. His master hadn't even come close to teaching him everything he knew, just for occasions like this one. Plagueis would have preferred to wait until morning, but apparently it was time to administer a lesson. The obligations of a Master to an Apprentice took precedence over other priorities, including rest and personal needs. It was his sworn and solemn duty.

He looked over at his apprentice. "Palpatine, are you still angry about me leaving you in jail?"

The apprentice swung his saber at his master's head. Plagueis evaded it easily, darting out of range.

"Yes, I see you are," the Sith Master observed wryly. "How many times have I talked to you about swinging your saber in the house?"

Palpatine rushed at him, making a spectacular leap, covering the distance between himself and his master in one jump. He swung again, viciously, at Plagueis' legs and then feinted towards his head, whirling as he did so. Plagueis easily side-stepped his apprentice's attacks, and using the Force, leaped over Palpatine's head and landed behind him, some distance away.

"Palpatine put that saber away. You're going to hurt someone with it. Probably yourself."

The Sith apprentice attacked again, eyes yellowish, in a twisting, slashing saber thrust right at his master's heart. Plagueis was getting irritated. Enough was enough.

The Sith Master extended a hand, and from it came fierce bolts of Dark Energy, like lightening, attacking Palpatine. At first the apprentice tried to block the energy with his saber, but the energy was too strong. The crystal that focused Palpatine's lighsaber blade channeled Dark Force Energy, and the energy bolts from his Master were too strong for it to handle. The crystal shattered and the saber went dark. Plagueis sent another volley of energy at his apprentice, and he dropped his lightsaber. Palpatine collapsed on the floor, moaning in pain.

Plagueis walked over to where his apprentice lay moaning on the ceramic tiles.

"Get up," he ordered. Palpatine couldn't rise. He glared up at his master, clutched his arm in pain. The Sith reached down and grabbed his young apprentice, hauled him up and with one arm, hurled him across the room, against the brickwork support next to the doorway. Palpatine hit the wall and smacked back down on the floor again. Plagueis again approached him, satisfaction descending over him as he gloried in the Dark energies of his anger. The Sith again grabbed Palpatine by the front of his tunic and gave him a hard, backhanded slap across the face before flinging his apprentice towards other side of the room again, where he skidded across the floor, hit the opposite wall and landed on his back.

Palpatine's head was bleeding in a couple of places. Superficial wounds only. The arm would hurt pretty badly for a few days, as would the rest of him, but that was all. There would be the abrasions and bruises. That was probably the worst of it. Plagueis walked over to where his apprentice was lying and stood directly over him, so that Palpatine was lying between his legs. He looked down at his face, which was twisted in pain and streaked with blood.

"You are not strong enough to defeat me, Palpatine. You know that. Why did you try?"

The Sith apprentice just laid there, and gave his Master a look of silent, intense hatred.Plagueis reached down. He grasped Palpatine's chin in his hand and held it hard. Using his Sith telepathic abilities, Plagueis invaded his apprentice's mind.

Hatred. Fear. Anger. Resentment. And something else. Something like love, but more like possessiveness, lust, sexual jealousy. Directed towards…the Queen. Palpatine felt that his Master's manipulations of the politics around the throne put her in danger. He wanted her for his own.

"You foolish, stupid boy," Plagueis said, releasing his apprentice's face and straightening back up. "Tara does not love you. You cannot love her. You can only use each other. Do not imagine that either one of you are doing anything else."

The expression on Palpatine's face was black, feral rage, but he had lost the will to fight. Very good. Plagueis had achieved his goal with the lesson. The Sith Master stepped over his apprentice and climbed the stairs to his rooms, closing the door behind him.

As Plagueis undressed and prepared for bed, he thought grimly about his apprentice. Betrayal was the way of the Sith, and the assassination of a Master by his apprentice was a normal method of promotion within the Order. Plagueis knew it; he hadn't had to destroy his own Master, as he had more or less destroyed himself through a series of remarkably foolish mistakes. It wasn't necessary to kill him for the Mastery. But it was inevitable that Palpatine would try. He hadn't seriously attempted it before. Plagueis knew that now that he'd committed himself to the idea once, he would try it again. And again. Until he succeeded.

So it had begun. One of them was going to die. It was only a matter of time. When, or if, Palpatine ever drew his blood, Plagueis knew there would be a fight to the death. His apprentice had the bloodlust in him. The Sith Master lacked this quality. He preferred not to kill unless he had to. Killing was frequently wasteful, and often created more problems than it solved. Plagueis avoided it. Palpatine quite enjoyed it.

Plagueis didn't want to die, wasn't ready to die. But he knew now that his time might be short. He sat down on the bed, ran a hand through his graying black hair, and for the first time in all of his life, he felt overwhelmed. So much to do, so very little time. He laid down on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately, as if dropping into a deep, dark well.

Palpatine lay on the entryway floor, bleeding, in tremendous pain. The coldness of the tile against his body was draining the heat from it, and he shivered. He knew he should get up. He tried to focus his energies into the Dark Side, to do some preliminary healing of his broken body, but he didn't do very well. The young apprentice barely managed to pull himself together enough to get himself up from the floor. Palpatine still needed to get down the hall to his rooms, and it seemed a great distance away. Slowly he began to walk, wiping the blood from his forehead and leaning on the wall for support.

His Master hadn't raised a hand to him in many years. Palpatine had no idea that there was such a Sith defense as the Force lightening, which Plagueis used on him. His Master had been holding out on him. What else had he failed to disclose? The young man clenched his fists in fury, then released them. It hurt too much.

After a few moments, having made it to his rooms, the Sith apprentice brought his thoughts into focus. He could hardly have expected Plagueis not to attack him, when after all Palpatine had done his best to take his life. It was expected that his master would punish him for attempting an assassination. It didn't stop Palpatine from feeling great hatred and anger towards his Master, nor the fear that was rising in him as well. Plagueis would no doubt be on his guard from now on. It was possible that there was little else his master would be willing to teach him. The Darkness had grown up between them.

It also occurred to him that his life might be threatened also. Palpatine understood enough about the duties of a Sith Master to know that if Palpatine attempted to kill him again, and failed, that it might mean that his apprentice's judgment and abilities were too poor to be countenanced by the Sith. He would have to be sacrificed for the good of the Order. The Dark Side was unforgiving of ineptitude, weakness and inattention.

It also punished waste and distraction. Palpatine was perfectly within his mandate as a Sith to cleanse the Order from a Master who was unworthy of it. The young apprentice, seething with frustrated rage and racked with pain from the beating his Master had given him, considered this idea carefully. Then he washed the blood from his face, took off his clothes and collapsed on his bed.

Qui-Gon Jinn was wet and tired also as he strode through the deserted Theed streets to the guest quarters set aside for the Jedi delegation. He opened the door to the house, and saw that
everything was dark. Probably everyone had gone to bed already. Moving quietly, the Jedi Master went inside the house and tiptoed into the room that had been given to him and his Padawan. Obi-Wan was asleep. Taking care not to disturb his rest, Qui-Gon disrobed and got into bed.

The Jedi still could hardly believe what had happened this night. He hoped he hadn't made a terrible mistake. The Living Force, though, had its own wisdom and Qui-Gon trusted it. And himself. And the genius of the present moment. He went to sleep.

Some time went by, Qui-Gon didn't know how much. Beneath the soft sleep he'd just fallen into, he felt a disturbance in the Force, not far away. Enough to wake him up. He sat up and tried to clear his focus, seek out what was causing it. It took him a little while, but he found it.

It was Plagueis. He was being attacked. By his apprentice. Qui-Gon swung his legs out of bed and grabbed his robes. Then, he stopped. All of a sudden, the Jedi could sense that the threat was gone. Plagueis was safe.

Qui-Gon was startled. What did this mean? Could it be that he had established a bond with the Sith Master, and now he was conscious of the Sith's energies within the Force as well? How could that be? He had no idea that such a thing was even possible.

The Jedi got back into bed, wide awake now. Obi-Wan stirred in the bed next to his. "Master?" he called sleepily.

"It's okay, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon whispered. "Go back to sleep."

I woke up rather abruptly, and looked at the chronometer. Ten. Two hours before my appointment. Enough time, but barely. I hadn't meant to sleep this long, but I was still tired. The end result was that I was feeling a bit…cranky.

On top of that, I was fairly certain that I would have to be ready to answer some searching questions from my lord about my progress with the Plagueis program. I was hoping for a bit of time to review my reading material and run over in my mind what I could say about it, but I was so out of sorts that it probably wouldn't have done any good anyway.

It would have been so much simpler if I could tell him the truth. My lord was a much better telepath than I, and would be looking at my mind carefully while I answered his questions. I would have to carefully craft my lies with just enough truth to not attract attention to them. One thing was certain: I was getting to be a pretty damned good liar, and getting better all the time.

I always knew my lord would not be distracted by our love games forever, as much as I knew he enjoyed them. He had a mandate from his Master, after all. Sooner or later, the Emperor would press him for some hard answers on my progress. And he would, in turn, have to press me.

I hated Palpatine. Hated. Palpatine.

So, I spent perhaps an hour in meditation, practicing my focus. It helped enormously in calming my nerves. I wasn't sure what else it was doing for me. Then I dashed into the `fresher and showered. By the time I got out, I had about fifteen minutes to pull myself together and start the two-minute journey to my lord's quarters.

I still felt totally unprepared. I felt sure I was gong to get a scolding for my apparent lack of progress- perhaps a bit more. Well, I thought to myself, I could at least make sure that it wouldn't be for being late. Not that the punishment for lateness I'd had recently had been all that bad…

As I walked down the deserted corridors, I reflected again that I hated Palpatine. Hated. Palpatine's. Puke. Green. Maggot. Infested. Guts.

The anger helped me settle my nerves. I held onto it.

Fortunately, I'd made it to the great double doors of my lord's chambers unobserved. I was in no mood to deal with the lustful stares of Lord Vader's officers. As much as I didn't mind that much being naked for my lord, I didn't like being ogled by others.

I hate Palpatine, I thought to myself, just outside the doors. Why not blame the rotten miserable scum-sucking no-account bastard for absolutely everything? He was probably personally responsible for it anyway, and who the fuck cared if he wasn't? I hated him anyway. Force-damned butt-ugly low-life no-dick misbegotten son-and-heir-of-a-mongrel-bitch.

I pressed the door chime. The doors opened. I went in, and they closed behind me. Of course, it was dark inside the room. It was also very, very quiet. I advanced into the room, peering into the shadows. Was he there? Not at all like him to not be there for our sessions.

A figure came towards me from out of the adjoining room. It was smaller than my lord, slighter. It had white/grey hair, wore red Councilor robes.

It was Palpatine. In his Chancellor chimera.

My fists clenched and my teeth did too. What was that fiend doing in my lord's chambers? And where was my lord?

The Emperor smiled broadly as he approached from the shadows.

"Ah, Lady Ti," he said pleasantly. "So I'm a Force-damned butt-ugly no-dick misbegotten son-and-heir-of-a-mongrel-bitch, and a fiend. Obviously, you remember me. How flattering!"

I stared at him, speechless. He came closer to where I was standing, and looked me over.

"I see that my Apprentice has ordered you to be unclothed in his presence. Quite standard, this method of establishing and maintaining total control over another being, in cultures like ours, that have certain attitudes about nudity. I'm sure that, in this case, he also enjoys the view. I always told him to enjoy his work as much as possible. You rather enjoy being kept this way also, don't you?"

I couldn't trust myself to answer. So I didn't. For once, I was grateful that I was so angry that no coherent words would come out.

"I'm here to test your progress in your training as a telepath," Palpatine continued, as he drew still nearer. I stepped back, away from him.

"I told you I might return to remind you about holding onto your anger, cultivating and nurturing it. How it could make you stronger, give you focus. That your hatred could give you a reason to develop your talents. Now admit it, I was right, wasn't I?"

I glared at him. It was dark enough that I wasn't sure he saw the look. Probably just as well. "Where is Lord Vader?" I asked, carefully trying to keep my voice level.

Palpatine drew nearer again. I backed up some more.

`I wouldn't worry about him right now,' he replied, directly to my mind.

He kept advancing. I abruptly ran out of floor to back up with, and found myself with my back against a wall. It was cold. The rest of me was too. The Emperor placed a hand on the wall on either side of me, leaning close, smiling archly.

"Well, my lady, shall we do it standing up this time?"

Okay. I'd had ENOUGH. I looked past his shoulders, searching the room for something to hit him with. There wasn't anything that I could see, but it was so infernally dark.

`You're wasting your time, my dear,' Palpatine told me telepathically. `No throw-able or breakable objects in this room. It's just you. And me. And that.' He nodded in the direction of a small table behind him. I hadn't noticed it before. I looked over at it. There was a lightsaber on it. My lord's, by the look of it.

Now I was really mad. He'd taken my lord's weapon. He was going to pay for that.

He reached for my waist. I slapped his hands away. He laughed. He tried it again. I reached up and, bracing myself with the solidity of the wall at my back, shoved him just as hard as I could. He went flying across the room, falling backwards onto his back. He was still chuckling. I darted forward and snatched the lightsaber off the table, igniting it.

It had a purple blade. It wasn't my lord's, then. Alright then, I thought. I will cleanly cut his head right off with it instead of hacking him up piece by piece

`You should really put that down, my Lady,' the Emperor said. `I'm not as defenseless as I look.'

`I'm throwing you out of my lord's chambers RIGHT NOW, your Royal Highness,' I snarled into his mind. `I don't know what you did with him, or where he is, but I bet I could find out if I had to. And then you'll be sorry you ever insisted on meeting me.'

`Just try to throw me out of there. Try to find out where Lord Vader is. Try to take me on with that saber. Just try it,' Palpatine taunted me mentally. He picked himself up off the floor and advanced towards me again. From somewhere in his garments, he took out his own lightsaber and powered it on, red blade shimmering in the dim light.

Something inside me said, "Oops." This might be just a little more than I bargained for. I really did need to work on controlling my anger or I might just wind up dead. Bracing myself mentally, I forced myself to focus, concentrating hard. I watched him come on, tracking his movements, keeping the saber up and ready. He didn't seem quite so cocky as he approached, which surprised me. He knew I had no chance of forcing him to do anything, armed or not.

The Emperor swung his saber at me, not particularly fast, not particularly hard. I blocked it. The weapon's vibration against my hand felt almost gyroscopic as I swung. I would have to figure out how to manipulate my swings with it to take advantage of this movement, not fight against it, or I was going to get very tired, very quickly. Palpatine lunged at my legs. With both hands, I batted it away and stepped back out of range. He came towards me again, swung at my head. I ducked, aimed my saber at his side. He whirled out of range of my blade, stepped back. I was picking up something odd about him as we traded blows again- he swinging at my knees and I blocking him. His mental and life energies were different from what I remembered the Emperor's to be.

It was obvious that he wasn't really trying to hurt me, was no anger at all in him, no aggression, but there was something going on with him, emotionally. I tried to contact his mind, but he'd cleared it. I tried to get a better read on his emotions, read the feelings within his body, and then I realized….

I stepped out of range and turned off the blade, standing down. "Enough," I said.

The Force chimera of Chancellor Palpatine vanished, and in its stead was the Dark Lord, with his black breathmask, robes and armor. It really was he. It had been he the entire time. He turned off his lightsaber, and regarded me, head tilted slightly to one side.

`Not bad, my Lady,' he told me telepathically, the tone one of amusement. `Not bad at all. But `rotten miserable scum-sucking no-account bastard' and `Force-damned butt-ugly no-dick misbegotten son-and-heir-of-a-mongrel-bitch'? I really must teach you some Sith curses. If you're inclined to curse my Master, at least do it effectively. And please don't try to hack him into little bits. Allow me that privilege.'

I could sense some pain, some darkness in his thoughts along that line. In view of the nature of my lord's injuries, perhaps that was a poor choice of threat. My anger was dissipating rapidly.

"Come to me, my Lady," he commanded, holding out his arms. I ran into them, and he held me tight. I snuggled against him as well as I could, given the cursed lifesuit controls that were so inconveniently placed.

"Would you like to learn to use a lightsaber?" my lord asked me softly, caressing my hair.

"Yes," I replied, forcing all thoughts of Plagueis as far out of my mind as I possibly could. He'd predicted this, but my lord must not know.

"Very well, then. I shall work with you, and you are free to use my exercise room and the sparring droids for your practice sessions. I will program their levels down for you, and we will begin tomorrow. Please wear something appropriate for this exercise. The lightsaber you have is powered down as far as possible, but it can still give some unpleasant burns. I do not wish you to be damaged."

I nodded against his chest as he held me, hugging him tighter.

"There is an additional condition: I will train you only if you promise that you refrain from ever threatening my Master with your lightsaber. He never carries a weapon now, but I assure you, he doesn't need one. You defenses will never be good enough to take him."

I looked up at the impenetrable breathmask, wishing so much that I could see his face. To touch him as he really was. `All in good time,' he told my mind. The chimera of his younger self shimmered into my perception of reality, and he lowered his head towards me. We began to kiss each other. His tongue sought my mouth, and I sucked it sensuously. As he held and caressed me, the force of his desire building, I sighed. I think I realized then just how much I'd grown to love him.

I think it scared me a little. Plagueis told me it was dangerous to love a Sith. He was probably right. I wondered if I would ever be one, no matter how hard I tried. I also wondered if his warning applied to a Sith that loved another of her kind.

It probably did.

To be continued....

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