Author's notes. This is the fourth Star Wars story I have written. All of my stories (so far) take place between the Yuuzhan Vong War and the Dark Nest Crisis. I would like for you to read my other three Star Wars stories first, but I highly recommend that you read
Star Wars: Jedi Tahiri in Bondage
, as this story is a direct sequel, although my other two Star Wars stories take place in between.
*
Jedi Knight Alema Rar was still puzzled that the young Queen Mother of the Hapes Consortium, Tenel Ka, hadn't met her as she landed. Not that they were the best of friends, but her fellow Jedi could have at least answered her comm call as she entered orbit. The Queen Mother had invited her here, after all. Instead she had been told by the comm officer on duty that the Queen was unavailable.
A couple of nice, relaxing days as a Hapan Royal Guest was just what Alema Rar needed after killing Schliebak the Hutt, and freeing the slaves he and Darb had been holding captive. As she shut down the ship, Alema Rar looked at the screen showing the external holocams. On her starboard side, about a hundred and fifty meters away, several techs appeared to be doing maintenance on a fancy looking yacht. Much closer, a trio of Hapans with the look of a greeting party were approaching her ships exit ramp. As the Twi'lek went to meet them, she glanced down at her outfit, to make sure she was still presentable.
Since Alema Rar was on vacation, she could freely ignore Master Skywalker's recent admonitions about dressing more Jedi-like. Encircling her slender neck was her favorite collar. A double row of needle-sharp three centimeter spikes went around the entire circumference. Matching cuffs were on each wrist.
The skintight bodysuit she had chosen had a silver top, which displayed plenty of cleavage, and silver sleeves. A few centimeters below her breasts, the silver material changed to blue. The silver on the sleeves ended even with the silver on the top, leaving the rest of her arms bare, except for the spiked cuffs. The shade of blue that stretched from her chest to hips matched Alema Rar's skin perfectly, giving the illusion that she was wearing even less than she was.
The blue changed back to silver several centimeters below her waist, although the exact line was hidden by the gleaming silver belt on her hips. The tight hot-pants ended just past the bottom of her ass.
While not a huge fan of thigh-high boots, these were just impossible not to wear with this outfit. They were the same shade of blue as her skin, just like the material covering her tummy, all the way from the tops to the bottom of the soles. It almost seemed like the Twi'lek had fifteen centimeter heels instead of normal feet.
The three Hapans were all wearing tight-fitting tunics and pants, probably a uniform of some sort, Alema Rar figured. The clothing of the woman in the middle was a bit more fancy than that of the two men following a step behind her. All three of them were stunning. The only blemish that the Jedi could see was a thin vertical scar about seven or eight centimeters long, running down the taller man's right cheek.
"Welcome to Hapes, Jedi Alema," the woman announced. "I am Lady Esoma, and will be acting as your assistant, tour guide, or anything else that you require while visiting the Queen Mother," she added with a professional smile.
"ThanksβLady Esoma," Alema Rar replied as she stepped off the ramp, and onto Hapes. She had long gotten used to Humans not pronouncing her name correctly. However, since it looked like she would be spending a lot of time around Lady Esoma, she decided to point the matter out. "And it's Alema Rar, please, Lady Esoma."
Growing up, Alema Rar and her sister, not to mention nearly every other slave she had known, had been expected to learn the names and correct pronunciations of every one of their Master's friends, business partners, and even casual acquaintances, the first time they heard them. They also had to remember the information for years, probably forever, not that that part mattered to the Twi'lek any more.
"I am sooooo sorry about that, Jedi Alema Rar," Lady Esoma replied. "I didn't mean anything by it."
She felt genuinely mortified at the mistake. "Don't worry about it," Alema Rar said soothingly. "It happens all the time." Pushing the distraction aside, and closing the ramp, she asked, "Where is Tenel Ka anyway? I can't wait to see her."
Alema Rar sensed her hesitate a moment before she spoke. "The Queen Mother is currently away on urgent business. I don't know exactly when she will return. I'm very sorry," she replied.
"I see," the Jedi answered slowly. She couldn't sense any deception from the human. Nor could she sense Tenel Ka anywhere on Hapes, not that that necessarily meant anything. A planet was a big place to hide, even for a Jedi concealing herself from another one. Tahiri had mentioned that Tenel Ka hadn't been around when she first landed either, but didn't go into details. The two Hapan men were discreetly getting a good look at Alema Rar's body.
"Well, perhaps I can speak to her over a comm, just to say hi and all," the Jedi said, adding a little Force pressure to the suggestion.
The Lady Esoma smiled broadly before replying. "The Queen Mother has left a message for you in your quarters, explaining things, Jedi Alema Rar."
"Well, lead the way then," she replied after a momentary pause.
"Of course, Jedi Alema Rar. If you would allow the guards to collect your luggage, we can go?" She asked.
"I don't think I'll need any for a few days at least," Alema Rar replied with a suggestive smile.
One of the guards' jaw dropped for a second, the other one's eyebrows raised. Lady Esoma gasped slightly. She recovered quickly, however, and said, "Well Jedi Alema Rar, if you would be so kind as to follow me, I'll take you to take you your quarters."
Growing up as a slave, Alema Rar had been in plenty of lavish palaces. The Queen Mother's palace easily topped them all. Most of the other mansions were garishly expensive, emphasizing the owner's wealth, but not this one. This one seemed to state the owner's wealth as a simple fact. Alema Rar made mental note to ask Tenel Ka what she really thought about it. The polished marble floors had delicate scroll work along each wall. When Lady Esoma noticed her looking at them, she informed the Jedi that the scroll work was actually a story in the ancient Hapan language.
The Queen Mother's guest room was the rival of any Alema Rar had stayed in. Sure most of the Hutts' rooms were bigger, but Hutts were a lot bigger too. This bed looked big enough for a Hutt, though, and almost strong enough, as well. Lady Esoma gave Alema Rar a brief tour of the suite, including the refresher and closet.
"Jedi Alema Rar, while the Queen Mother is away, Ducha Ta'i Shume would like for you to attend a special dinner with her," Lady Esoma said after showing the Twi'lek how to operate the three-meter holoscreen.
"Of course," she replied. "But what about the the holomessage from the Queen Mother?"
"Oh, it is on the holoscreen, Jedi Alema Rar. I just assumed that you wanted to watch it in privacy, that's all," Lady Esoma replied, slightly embarrassed.
"Ah, of course. Well, how long do I have to relax and get ready before dinner?" Alema Rar asked, sitting down on the edge of the soft bed, next to one of the thick posts.