Authoress's notes: This story overlaps with the last chapter of
Imperial Prostitute SX-51472 ZERO
. It should be considered a sequel to that story. Please read and enjoy all of my stories! Also, please leave me feedback, public or via email.
Star Wars: Imperial Prostitute HC-00001
Chapter 2 of 5
The next morning, Tenel Ka wore Dathomiri lizard-hide, along with her boots, durasteel belt, lightsaber, and chrono/comlink. Moff Fel presented each Hapan, even the guards, with a gleaming durasteel wrist chrono and comlink, as well as a pair of spectacles and earpieces. Tenel Ka was surprised to receive a new set of spectacles and earpieces as well.
"I didn't want you to feel left out, Your Majesty," Moff Fel explained when she asked about them. "And they have some new patterns and music installed on them."
"Oh, thank you, Your Excellency," Tenel Ka replied with a smile.
She had brought her old ones, and was planning on wearing them later. Instead she quickly put the new ones into place. After a few seconds they synced with her comlink, and new transparent patterns appeared on the spectacles. She left the music off though, so she could hear everything going on.
While most of the Hapans liked the Queen's chrono/comlink, they weren't so sure about spectacles and earpieces. A couple of her security officers, including Trista, surreptitiously pulled on scanners and examined the gifts. Moff Fel pretended not to notice as he closed Taryn's chrono and comlink around her wrists. Several other Imperials began explaining the basic functions of the gear to the Hapans.
Finally Trista and the others put their scanners away, apparently satisfied that there weren't bombs or something in them. Several of the Hapan women were already wearing their chronos and comlinks. When they saw their Queen wearing her spectacles and earpieces, all of the Hapans began following suit.
Moff Fel, Jaina and a handful of female Imperials spent the rest of the day escorting the Hapan women on a tour of the capital of the Empire. A couple of dozen stormtroopers surrounded them at a distance. Tenel Ka's guards split their attention between the stormtroopers, everything else, and the patterns on their spectacles. She didn't mind their apparent distraction though, she knew they were still protecting her.
The group had an informal lunch at an outdoor cafe. Tenel Ka felt a little bad for the handful of diners Fel's stormtroopers chased away. She didn't let it bother her much though. Her own guards had had to hustle off a few Hapans every now and then. After lunch, they spent the afternoon seeing some more sights.
Overall, Tenel Ka wasn't terribly impressed. A little over twenty years ago Bastion had been a backwater sector capital, and still had that feeling, in spite of the massive Imperial presence.
Moff Fel was an excellent host, however. Tenel Ka also managed to talk a little about diplomatic relations between their respective governments as well.
That evening Tenel Ka ate dinner privately with Jaina. They were in a private dining room in the Moff's residence, where they were staying. Both wore the same outfits they had worn during the day, dark green Dathomiri lizard-hide for Tenel Ka, and black Imperial dress uniform with towering heels for Jaina.
"So tell me Jaina, why did you decide to join the Empire?" Tenel Ka asked her as they settled down.
"Well, at first I just wanted to get away from everything, Your Majesty. Moff Fel pretty much offered me command of the entire TIE fighter corp, so I came," Jaina said as she took a swallow of the water that she had ordered.
"It's just us, Jaina. You don't have to call me Your Majesty," Tenel Ka said with a smile.
"Okay then," Jaina replied after a moments' consideration.
"So what happened between you and Moff Fel then? I thought you two were together?" Tenel Ka asked as she sipped her wine.
Jaina shrugged her shoulders. "That was a possibility for awhile, but since I'm enlisted now, it's not really appropriate. I'm really too busy for a boyfriend at this point anyway, and Moff Fel is running the Empire. They had to delay my first assignment for your visit."
"And I'm glad they did, too," Tenel Ka answered. "Wait, I thought you said Moff Fel offered you command of the entire TIE Corps? Now you're saying that you're enlisted?" Tenel Ka asked her.
"Yes, I just decided that I'd rather not deal with the responsibility of command. I'm
much
happier just obeying orders," Jaina replied earnestly.
Tenel Ka considered that a few moments. She certainly meant that last statement at any rate. "Well, okay then," she finally replied. Then she noticed something else about her friend. "Oh, where is your lightsaber?" she asked her.
"Moff Fel is keeping it for me," Jaina replied calmly.
"What?" Tenel Ka asked in surprise. "You gave him your lightsaber?"
"Well, yes. Imperial Privates aren't allowed to have personal weapons," she explained, as though she were saying the sun would rise in the morning.
"But you're a Jedi!" Tenel Ka nearly shouted.
"I'm an Imperial ProβTrooper," Jaina replied proudly. "The rules and regulations apply to me, too."
Tenel Ka stared at her a few seconds. "Well, as long as you're happy. If you ever want to come to the Hapes Consortium though, I promise I'll let you keep your lightsaber," she told her with a friendly smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I don't think I'll be leaving the Empire anytime soon," Jaina replied with a contented smile.
"Maybe I'll ask Moff Fel if you could be assigned to the Imperial Embassy on Hapes," Tenel Ka suggested.
"I'd be happy to serve the Empire where ever I'm sent," Jaina replied cheerfully.
Tenel Ka nodded her head politely in reply. Then something else occurred to her. "Oh; how's Tahiri?" she asked. "I was hoping to see her on my visit."
Jaina frowned slightly. "I think she was sent out on her first assignment. She's very happy you've come to visit the Empire, though."
"Oh, okay," Tenel Ka responded. Then she leaned back slightly. "Maybe I'll ask if she can be assigned to the Imperial Embassy on Hapes as well," she mused.
Jaina smiled. "I'm sure Seβshe'll be happy to serve the Empire where ever she's sent," she replied.
Tenel Ka grinned back at her. "I wish I had more people with a similar attitude," she commented.
"I guess the Empire just inspires such loyalty," Jaina answered with a smile.