True red-skins are rare among the Twi¹lek clans; rarer still is to see one of adult age. Few live to see a day past their birth, for many of the powerful clan elders still hold to the old belief that the birth of a red-skin, especially a female, is an ill omen, and a curse of misfortune upon the clan. In retrospect, perhaps... there is some truth to that.

Three and a quarter decades ago, an infant Lethan Twi'lek girl was abandoned on the steps of an isolated Rylothian Monastery, with no name or claim to family. Despite a few superstitious protests, she was taken in by one of the elder-priestesses in-residence, and given the name "Jah'da", an old world name from religious texts meaning "dignity".

Jah'da would grow to spend most of her young life secluded behind the monastery's walls, studying and daydreaming within its vast, seemingly-endless libraries. Upon reaching the age of adulthood, Jah'da officially joined the ranks of its clergy, and adopted the surname of the kind matriarch who had taken her in so many years ago. "Rae" meant "freedom". For someone so young, Jah'da Rae was exceptionally outspoken, and began to use her position of relative safety to speak out against the enslavement of Ryloth's daughters, and the exploitation of her homeworld, its resources, and its people by opportunistic off-worlders, much to the discomfort of some of her superiors (a few of whom were making quite the profit off of their share in the exploitative trade industries). Her voice quickly became an irritant they would no longer tolerate.

While deep in a state of sacred meditation and reverie, in observance of the Ryl'Kaa No'Vel, one of several Twi'lek holy weeks, Jah¹da was ambushed. Her screams for help went heard, but unanswered. Her assailants quickly overpowered the young priestess. She was beaten and drugged; sweet consciousness surrendered and faded away...

Hours (or days) later, she awoke to find herself on the cold floor of a ship's cargo hold, with a slave crown on her head, and steel manacles around her neck and hands. Like so many other daughters of Ryloth, she had been sold.

Jah'da forced herself onto her feet; her back and legs still aching from the strikes of a stun baton. Glancing around the room, she could see nothing but scattered furniture, crates, and "other merchandise". The room's exit was in the ceiling, at least fifteen or twenty feet above her head. Escape from this prison would not be simple, if even possible. Her eyes began to swell with tears; tears of anger, of frustration.. and of fear. Before she could even utter a prayer for hope and strength, it was answered. The ship rocked, and she was tossed almost halfway across the room. The air was filled with the deafening sounds of blaster fire. The cargo ship was under attack!

The battle raged on for what seemed to be an eternity. Jah'da could do nothing but try to maintain her balance. Until suddenly, there was silence... Within minutes, she heard the onrushing stampede of armored feet. The ship was being boarded. The door of the cargo bay was thrown open and smoke quickly filled the room almost obscuring her vision. A rope ladder was released into the chamber and she climbed out.

Once out of the cargo hold, Jah'da Rae found herself flanked by two heavily-armed stormtroopers. There were several bodies scattered nearby, and she could see even more stormtroopers roaming around and searching the other corridors. Her manacles were removed, and she, along with a few other "passengers", was taken before one of the commanding officers. The ship they are on, supposedly, had been connected with The Black Sun crime syndicate, and was transporting illegal goods. Since most of the pirate crew on board was already dead or in custody, and no charges were being brought against any of the passengers; they were all free to go. They were processed, given a few credits and some equipment from the ship's cargo, and deposited on nearby Tatooine, with an apology for the inconvenience.

The small transport shuttle landed and deposited Jah'da Rae at Bestine's Starport. According to the Imperial officer who piloted the shuttle, Bestine is the capital city of Tatooine, and one of the safest cities on the planet. It was very early in the day, and except for the occasional stormtropper patrol, the city streets were almost empty. Jah'da adjusted her wrapped skirt and cuff shirt as she made her way towards a quaint outdoor café she had spotted nearby.

Its tables and chairs were made of roughly polished metal, and strange unfamiliar plants decorated the café's entrance. She found a secluded table near the corner that looked out past the city's main plaza and sat herself down. She desperately needed to catch her breath and get her bearings. The events of the past few days have left her bruised and very hungry.

"Greetings, Miss. Can I get you something?" The waitress was a Bith, barely five feet tall, and very overweight. She wore plain tan-colored slacks and a white spotless tunic. In her hands she held an outdated datapad menu, and waited for Jah'da's reply with a smile.

"Yes... please... A cool glass of spiced tea, and some teltier noodles if you have any." "Of course. Will you be expecting any company?"

"No", Jah'da briefly glanced away towards Bestine¹s marketplace. "I'm alone."

"Don't look so glum, dear. If you don't mind me saying so, you're a very pretty thing, I'm sure the seat next to you will fill up right quick. There now... you see... I knew you could manage a smile for me. I'll be back in a few minutes with your breakfast. You just sit back and relax a bit. It looks like it's going to be a beautiful morning, you might as well start enjoying it."

Jah'da leaned back and unwrapped the bundle of supplies that had been given to her by an Imperial quartermaster several hours earlier. Among her new supplies she found an outdated crafting tool, three sets of sunglasses, a bottle of fruit nectar, and a... melon... a melon? She almost couldn¹t contain her laughter.

The waitress returned and placed a napkin on Jah'da's lap, and laid out the modest utensils for her. "There you go, Lovely. If you need anything else, just ask. Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you."

Jah'da sat back, smiled for a minute... looked over at her melon, reached for it, and cut it up into slices. It's a humble breakfast, but for someone who was starving, it might have been a palatial feast. When she finished, she got up, gathered her things and proceeded to pay the waitress.

"No, dear. It¹s alright. Keep your money. The breakfast is on me."

"But, please... I... can pay... I... have money!"

"Please. It¹s alright. You have the look of one who hasn't eaten in days, and you... should take care... those long sleeves aren't hiding all your bruises. I can only imagine... how a beautiful Twi'lek would've gotten them. Please. Please... it's alright. I've lived long enough to know that the universe will often repay random acts of unexpected kindness... with other random acts of unexpected kindness. Just remember that. It's enough to know that you enjoyed your meal in peace." The waitress smiled, and began to wipe down the table. "Be safe, Lovely, and may the stars always guide you home."

Bestine's marketplace was unexpectedly packed; merchants were trying to sell their wares; instructors were eagerly looking for new apprentices to learn their craft; and noblemen and women were walking by, casually shopping for new trinkets. Jah¹da stopped at one of the merchant booths. Large rolls of exotic fabrics and prints covered the tabletops. She picked up some of the plush velvet and ran it gently across her face.

The tailor leaned over his counter and smiled, "Beautiful, isn't it..."

The events recollected in Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11 transpire now. Afterwards, Jah'da traveled to the city of Moenia on Naboo to finally join the other members of The Mystic Alliance, and help in their efforts to establish the player-created city of North Beach. She would eventually open her own fashion boutique there, appropriately enough, called The Red Lady (a name that some began to be use interchangeably with its owner).

The door slid open, and the red lady walked out onto her balcony. She tied her robe, sat on the ledge, and sipped her tea. It's early, the Naboo sun is rising in the distance. Its golden light kisses the gorgeous white sands of North Beach. A giant Peku-Peku flies overhead and begins its morning song. Friends and family are less than an arm's reach away now. Pain and heartache are distant memories. Conquered and forgotten. This is a paradise; all the more because she walked through the proverbial hell to get here.

Jah'da leaned her head back onto the wall, and placed her fingers on the bridge of her nose... dizzy... something about the tea tastes odd. A sweet smell fills the air around her... familiar... somehow... exotic... soothing... almost arousing... PHEROMONES! A cold icy shudder ran up her spine... "Do they know who they harbor?"

Her cup dropped to the floor and shattered. The tea splattered on her toes, as she ran into the room adjacent to the balcony. She could hear footsteps coming up the hallway. The bookcase... there's an small pistol behind some of the books. The door opens and three armored men come forth with tazzer rifles at the ready.

"Lady Rae?" the lead warrior extends his rifle and takes aim, "Lord Xizor sends his regards."

>BLAM<

Jah'da Rae was kidnapped by Bounty Hunters, and disappeared for several days. An in-game role-playing event took place in order to rescue her.

It was early morning. The sun had barely begun to rise. The air was brisk and cooler than she's used to. This is Talus. It had rained the night before it seemed. The grass beneath her face was still moist. She raised her head and looked around herself. She was dressed like a common slave girl, complete with a golden slave crest on her head and ankle bracelets at her feet. The camp she had been held in for days was gone, as were her captors. She was alone once more.

She rose to her feet and turned to face the sound of two speederbikes zooming in her direction. Her head still felt dizzy, and her bearings were uncertain. Her friend, Janos Uris evidently had gotten her message; she had managed to slip from her captors' notice for a brief moment, and send a transmission of her whereabouts to the Zabrak bounty hunter the morning before.

Janos swooped his bike around her and hopped off. His associate, Kumori, was with him. They were both heavily armed and armored. "You¹'ve been missing for days, my dear. Your house shows signs of a struggle." Janos put his pistol away. "I half-expected an armed escort keeping you company. Yet, here you stand... alone." He raised an eyebrow in her direction as he began to unpack a small camp and prepare a quick breakfast.

There were obvious signs of a previous encampment in the area, three men, perhaps a droid as well, and a few heavy crates. "They didn't bother to hide their tracks," he thought, "Sloppy." Kumori remained on his speeder and circled the area, to ensure that they were indeed alone.

"Were you..." Janos hesitated for a moment, "...mistreated?"

"No," Jah'da took off her slave's crest, and brushed back one of her lekku. "Quite the contrary... I have been well-fed. Aside from the dancing girl's attire... and the initial encounter, I have been treated with a fair amount of respect." Janos half-nodded and offered her his duster. "Do you know who they were?"

"No..." Jah'da put on the long black duster and tied it closed at the waist. "... Yes. At the least, I have no doubts as to who they work for; their demeanor is... unmistakable. They made it a point to keep their helmets on; so I never saw their actual faces." She lowered her head and stared at the strange unfamiliar flowers growing near her feet. Talus' cool morning breeze was refreshing, but a harsh reminder that she was far from home. "The Black Sun."

"Xizor!? Prince Xizor? What in hell would he want with you?" Janos whipped his head around and looked up at the red-skinned tailor in near-disbelief.

"I've... had dealings with The Black Sun before, but, in truth, they have never been this bold. Jah'da took a deep breath, "It's an old story, Janos, but suffice to say that Prince Xizor and I are known to each other. I... caused... him... a great embarrassment once." There was a strange hint of regret in her voice, "He has a long memory, it seems, and the issue between us has yet to be laid to rest."

Janos Uris nodded his head and turned his gaze at Kumori. "I'll be taking Ms. Rae home to North Beach. Your services will no longer be required. You may go." His eyes dropped back towards the Twi'lek. Her back was towards him and she leaned up towards the tree staring at the sunrise. She was exhausted. The past few days had taken a great toll on her, but she's prideful and won¹t easily admit it.

"Finish your breakfast. You need your strength. There's a small Imperial Outpost nearby. We can be there in under half-an-hour and board a transport back to Naboo."

"Janos..."

"Yes?"

"...Thank you."

"There you go." Wyath wiped the sweat from his brow, and pushed back his auburn hair. He had been tinkering with The Red Lady's security system for several hours now.

"It looks like a droid detection device," Jah'da Rae leaned over and handed her friend a cooled glass of Aitha.

"Thanks," Wyath smiled. "It's supposed to, but trust me; it works differently. If you leave the premises without entering your access code on any one of these side panels here, the device will send a silent alert to Janos and myself, and activate two outside surveillance cameras. If you need to, you can also manually set off an alarm, or turn the cameras on at any time from the other data terminals around the house."

"Great. Thanks for the infomercial," Jah'da raised her eyebrow and glared at the new security device with a hint of distrust. She tossed one of her lekku over her shoulder, as she stood back, and leaned herself up against the doorway.

"Hey..." Wyath raised his hands back, "Janos insisted that I install an updated high-tech security system. He even paid for it. The cameras will ONLY go on if you exit the house and fail to enter the access code, or if you turn them on yoursel..."

"...An unfortunate but necessary precaution, my dear." Janos Uris walked up the porch and stood at arm's length from the red-skinned tailor. It was late afternoon, and the sky was already growing dark. "I'd hate to have to run halfway around the galaxy to fetch you from danger's embrace again, especially... if I'm just around the corner."

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Janos."

Janos raised his eyebrow but could barely contain his smile. "You're in a pleasant mood this evening, my dear."

"I value my privacy. I don't take kindly to the idea of being watched."

"Need I remind you, my lady, that you're already being watched? And quite frankly, your privacy be damned, if your safety can not be guaranteed otherwise. The cameras are hidden on the houses in front of yours. They are aimed at your porch and doorway, and can see no further. You have BOTH of our words on that." Janos' eyes met Jah'da's. "There is no need to take that tone... with either... of us."

Jah'da raised both her eyebrows. Her expression was emotionless, but she could not hide the fact that her eyes were watery. "Fine." She turned about and headed inside.

"She's been snippy all day." Wyath whispered. He covered the last remaining panel on the terminal and began to seal its edges.

"It's understandable... and to a certain degree, expected." Janos waved his hand in front of the droid detection device. It hummed with a low methodic tone. "She was forcefully taken from her home, and kept against her will for several days. I'm sure it's done more than simply bruise her ego."

Wyath nodded. "Well, anyway... it's done." Wyath began to pick up the scattered tools laying around him. "The system's online, and everything seems to be working. I've got to run, though. I promised I'd meet Dorothy in Moenia half-an-hour ago! I'll pop in tomorrow to see how Lady J's doing. She probably just needs sometime to herself to refocus."

³No doubt. I also have some errands to attend to this evening, but I'll just check in on Ms. Rae before heading out... and see if her mood has improved." Janos smiled and waved farewell to Wyath.

The main chamber of The Red Lady is very dramatic. A large fiery altar illuminates a majority of the house's interior. Torches flank strange and exotic imported flowers that fill the room with a sweet fragrance. Some of the top designers on Naboo are responsible for the luxurious furniture that countless of patrons have surely lounged on.

Jah'da was sitting on one of the plush red couches with her legs crossed. The fingers of her left hand gently traced the runes tattooed on her lekku. Her right hand slowly stirred a cool drink. The ice clinked in the glass. She had heard Janos walk into the room, but made no effort to meet his gaze. Her eyes were closed. She listened to the fire.

"I'm sorry."

"I know." The Zabrak positioned himself beside the Twi¹lek on the couch. "Wyath has left. He had a previous engagement. I have some errands to tend to as well. I'll be in tomorrow or the day after, however, to see how you are faring." Janos leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on the side of her face. "Try to get some sleep. I have to go."

She kept her eyes closed until she heard the outside door slide shut. When she opened them, her gaze fell to the empty space beside her on the couch. Janos had left a scout blaster by her hip. She tilted her head back against the wall as a tear rolled down her face. She took a few deep breathes, and finished her drink.

The passenger-transport zoomed across the lush plains of Naboo, as it headed towards the free-city of North Beach. The morning sun blazed in through the shuttle's windows, welcoming Jah'da Rae home. She was the only one in the shuttle that morning, and when it landed she could almost smell the sweet scent of North Beach's gardens from the shuttlepad. She had spent the past week attending a business convention on Tatooine, and desperately missed the vibrant greens and crystal waters of Naboo.

"Welcome home, Ms. Rae." The golden protocol droid reached out for her dufflebag. "I was very worried; weather reports for Tatooine were tracking a severe sandstorm near..."

"Nonsense! The weather was perfect, B9." Jah'da smiled at her new butler, as she pulled off a silk scarf, "Besides, you know Bestine's reputation... nothing short of an ancient Krayt dragon marching through the midtown plaza is going to be able to slow the traffic in that city." She took off her jacket and handed it to the protocol droid. "Where's Nande?"

"In the shop, Ms. Rae. I believe she's finishing up the week's inventory."

The Red Lady's indoor tailor shop could be considered modest by some standards, but it was still chic and very elegant. The couches were made of deep red velvet, and the sweet erotic smell of Dathomir Blood Roses could soothe even the foulest customer's mood. Nande, a young Rodian vendor was hard at work stocking the shelves and tallying the past week's profits, but she quickly turned about when she heard the doors slide open and the familiar sound of Jah'da's walk.

"Miss Rae! You're back!" Nande¹s eyes beamed as she handed Jah'da the datapad she had been working on. "I'm almost done with the inventory report you needed. It's been a really busy week."

"I can see that." Jah'da glanced over information displayed on the datapad. "These figures look good ~ real good! Excellent work, Nande!" Jah¹da removed her gloves, and placed them down on the counter.

"I'm impressed; you've manned the shop virtually by yourself all week, managed to keep it fully stocked, and have even taken advance orders for next week as well. I think you¹ve earned yourself a vacation, young lady." Jah'da raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Take the remainder of the week off. I'll finish up here. Besides, I believe you have finals next week; I'm expecting those scores to be outstanding."

"Yes, M'am!" Nande put on her waist-length jacket, and grabbed her backpack and school supplies as she headed out the door.

"Be sure to send your mother my love. I'll see you next week."

Jah'da turned around and leaned back onto her counter. She tossed off her heeled shoes, tilted her head back and took in a deep breath. Her lekku slowly slid off her shoulders and down her back. "It's good to be home," she thought. She let her mind drift away, and for a time she was lost in the recollection of distant memories and old loves... until a familiar voice caught her off guard.

"You look well..."

"Janos!"

Jah'da Rae turned around half-expecting to see the strong and proud warrior, she had been accustomed to, but her eyes could barely contain their shock and grief.

The Zabrak could hardly stand; he clutched at a deep wound in his chest. His clothes were dripping in blood, and an amulet emblazed with the symbol of The Black Sun fell from his hand to the ground.

"Where... am... I?" Janos Uris slowly opened his eyes. The pain in his chest was gone; his wound had been professionally cleaned and dressed. He was laying in a soft bed covered in lavender satin sheets. His torn and bloodied clothes were gone, replaced by silken pants and a buttoned shirt. Off to his right, two torches flanked a small devotional altar; their golden light filled the room with a warm soothing glow. The sweet smell of incense hung in the air. A small beared jax jumped onto the bed and sat by his knee.

"The dead have arisen..." The red lady leaned up against the wall by her window, "...or so it would seem." She wore a form-fitting gold gown with revealing slits up both sides, and elegantly heeled shoes. The torchlight reflected off the large ruby amulet that hung off her neck. "What happened?"

"I was ambushed on Tatooine." Janos propped himself up as Jah'da adjusted the pillows beneath him. Janos' eyes widened as he looked into Jah'da's, "MY FAMILY! I have to..."

"They're fine. I spoke with your wife this morning." Jah'da poured two glasses of Bloodwine and handed one to the Zabrak. "Your manservant, the Mon-Calamarian was here last night to collect you." She turned her back to him as she sipped at her glass. "I told him you would leave when you were ready and able to do so on your own."

"Thank you..."

"Of course," she hesitated and walked to the door.

Jah'da stared into the torchlight; the wispy smoke trial of incense seemed almost to frame her face and lekku. "I'm sorry, old friend. I never meant for violence to fall on you. No doubt, Prince Xizor has assumed you are a bodyguard on retainer." She took a long drink from her glass. "You need not worry for your family's well-being, however. They are civilians, and despite what I may think of him; Xizor is nobleborn and a gentleman. He would bring no harm to them." Her smile was almost sarcastic, "He would consider it rude."

Janos looked at Jah'da Rae. The Twi'Lek refused to meet his gaze. Her eyes fixed into the fire as her left hand began to softly trace the runes tattooed on her lekku.

"You seem to understand the Lord of The Black Sun and his intentions... quite... intimately, one would say." Janos' eyes fell heavily upon his hostess. "I wonder how you acquired that knack."

"You needn't be so subtle with your inquiries, Lord Uris. You've more than earned the answers." The fire had her full attention; her gaze was uncharacteristically cold and emotionless. She sipped the last of her wine, and began to unfold a tale that few have heard in full...

"Red is the color of blood and of the beautiful summer rose. It is the color of fire, of passion, of sin, and also of vengeance...

My name is Jah'da Rae, and I am known as 'The Red Lady' of North Beach. Loyally and without question, I have served the Goddess of my people my entire life, but... do not assume... that I spent the whole of those three and a quarter decades secluded in a monastery. I have had the opportunity, under the safety of the church's banner, to travel extensively, and I did. Throughout my sojourns, I often found myself freely speaking out against the slave trade consuming Ryloth's daughters and her sons, as well as the exploitation of her world's precious resources. My opinions made me... unexpectedly popular among the outer colonies on Ryloth Prime, and that... made me dangerous.

I soon discovered that it had made me enemies as well. Mardelo Oaf'ga and Fri'de Neril'Tok, my direct superiors in the church hierarchy, along with a rather unscrupulous man named Bib Fortuna, were making quite an impressive profit from the lucrative immoral trades that slowly drained away at my homeworld's lifeblood. It was decided, unanimously among them, that if their "business ventures" were to continue uninterrupted and unthreatened, I... would have to be removed. They realized it was not going to be an easy task. I am a Lethan, afterall, and many on Ryloth, still regard that rare breed of red-skins with a certain sense of unease and trepidation. I could not simply be casually killed or sold off... at least... not to another Twi'lek.

Oaf'ga and Neril'Tok came across some very interesting and useful information in their struggle to find a solution. It seemed that a certain crimelord on Coruscant, very much aware of the stigma attached to the Lethan sub-breed, decided to collect an entire harem of red-skinned Twi'leks. Surely, a Priestess of Ryloth would be the crown jewel of his collection. At the time, he currently had twelve. I... would have been the thirteenth. Arrangements were made and a bill-of-sales, no doubt, was produced; and like a common piece of furniture, I was sent off to my new master."

Janos was unaccustomed to this tone in Jah'da's voice. It was cold and cynical, void of any hint of emotion. Her behavior was different as well, and for the first time since having met her, Janos felt uncomfortable in her presence. It was though only her voice was now in the same room with him. Her eyes stared off reflecting the flickering torchlight of her bedchamber, and her lips... bared the subtle stain of bloodwine. She poured herself yet another glass, and continued...

"But you've heard this before... and you know how this part ends; the transport never reached its intended destination. It was unexpectedly intercepted by an Imperial Star Destroyer and its passengers were all released. I was free, but it would not take me long to learn that the Lord of The Black Sun does not easily give up what he has paid for.

I was able to find employ with a tailor merchant as his apprentice, and I lived in a small, but adequate apartment in Bestine. For a time, I knew peace in my life. I even started saving my money with hopes of eventually moving to Naboo or Rori, and place all this unpleasantness behind me. Then one day, innocently enough, my employer sent me on a delivery to Mos Eisley. It took less than fifteen minutes to get there, but it would be months before I'd see the sands of Tatooine again. I remember... walking into the house, being greeted, even getting paid... but after that... nothing.

I woke up sometime later to find myself in one of the most luxurious bedchambers I had ever seen, but its opulence was almost vulgar ~ decadent and tasteless. The bedsheets were Endorian Wild Mink, and the floor was covered in black petals. I rose from the bed to discover that I was dressed in a revealing gown of shimmering gold and white that left very little to the imagination; the slave's crown on my head was made of polished white gold and luminescent shell, studded with twelve pearls and a central diamond. The bedroom opened up at the top of a large staircase facing a ballroom that would rival even the palace at Theed, itself. As I descended the stairs, I saw a dozen red-skinned maidens, all in white, laughing and lounging around an enormous marble pool. Each wore a silver tiara adorned with a single pearl. They were young, Janos... so very young, they could have easily been half my age... if not less. I stopped at the edge of the pool, and placed my hands on hips.

A man rose from beneath the pool's crystal waters. He stood almost seven feet tall. He was muscular, broad-shouldered and strikingly handsome. His skin was emerald green and his eyes burned with a confidence and passion that could set any common woman afire. This, I came to learn was Xizor, the Crime Prince of Coruscant."

"What ARE you laughing at?" Jah'da Rae turned about and glared at her guest.

"Forgive me, my dear..." Janos Uris rose from the bed and stretched. His wounds were well bandaged and almost fully healed now. He could feel his strength slowly returning. "It's just... you seem to have an amazing knack for being whisked away against your will, but please... I did not mean to interrupt your tale.''

The red-skinned Twi'lek merely raised an eyebrow at the Zabrak, and continued her story.

"Xizor is a Faleen. As a whole, they are regarded as an incredibly intelligent, but manipulative people. Their most unique trait, however, is their ability to release natural pheromones that can effect a wide number of other species on an emotional and biochemical level. These pheromones can alter one's perceptions, moods, and even... their state of arousal. No doubt, that is how Xizor keeps his maidens (and most of his employees) loyal.

Perhaps... it was simple luck... the hours I spend in private meditation, or even just my intense stubbornness, but I was less than moved by his "charms". His pheromones had little to no effect on me, and I quite literally was able to keep him at arm's length. This was, believe me, a source of great annoyance to Xizor. At the same time, however... my captor seemed to love the fact that he was now presented with a challenge. His attentions slowly shifted away from the younger maidens kept in his court, and were now focused entirely on me.

I do have to give him credit for his determination, however; he spared no expense in his new endeavor. I was offered jewels, rare exotic furs, and an endless slew of lavish gifts, but a caged bird, even if kept in a golden cage... is still caged." Jah'da hesitated for a moment. She moved across the bedroom to the window, drew back the heavy velvet curtain and stared up at Rori, Naboo's moon.

"Do not misunderstand me, Janos. I am NOT a cold woman. Xizor was handsome, unmistakenably passionate, and... unexpectedly charming. As the days and weeks past, it was getting harder and harder to keep to my resolve. I had been crafting a potential plan of escape, and the time had come to set it in motion. I prayed that the Goddess' favor was with me and that Xizor's generosity towards me would still prove boundless. All would depend on it."

"You fell in love with him, didn't you?" Janos looked up at his hostess as he fastened his boots. "There was more between the two of you than you've mentioned. I've known you long enough, my dear, to know when you¹re keeping back information." The master bounty hunter removed the medical gauze from around his torso. There was a strange tingle in his chest where a blaster wound had burned through just hours before, but now, not even a scar remained as a reminder of its presence. The dressing, he noted, carried a strangely sweet but familiar smell, something fragrant, soothing, and akin to roses. Jah'da Rae kept her back to the older Zabrak. She tilted her head back to let her lekku slip off her shoulders, and closed her eyes. The glow from Naboo's moon was subdued that night, but it was still enough to fill her bedchamber with soft subtle hues of azure and green. She took a deep breathe and continued as though she had not heard her guest's remark.

"I casually... and carefully tossed hints of how I desperately missed my small garden from Bestine, and the difficulty I had gone through in acquiring some of the exotic flora within it. Xizor initially acted as though he payed little attention to that, but within a week he had built an atrium adjacent to my quarters... filled... with Dathomir Blood Roses." Jah'da looked over her shoulder and for the first time all night, smiled at Janos.

"The Goddess can be very generous to her faithful; my luck held true, and was about to deliver in spades. There was an unexpected effect of Xizor completely shifting his attentions to me. The other young red-skins he had been... keeping... were coming out of the effects of his unique "charms" now that they were no longer being exposed to them on a daily basis; and they were none too pleased with their current environment, to say the least. One of the older girls, learned from an enamored guard that Xizor would be leaving for Corellia within a day or two on business. Most of his elite would surely accompany him, leaving less than two dozen guards on the estate. I needed to move quickly (but carefully) if I was going to take advantage of this.

Do you know anything of botany, Janos? The Dathomir Blood Rose is a unique and very versatile flower. It's beautiful, without a doubt, and its fragrance can be very soothing, but it has some very interesting properties. Its roots have extremely potent regenerative capabilities for example, and it is commonly known that its petals actually "bleed"; their extract can be distilled and brewed into an exquisite wine.² She turned and casually gestured over at the elaborate wine bottle the two had been drinking from.

"However," she continued, "It is NOT commonly known, that a slight variance in the brewing process can turn that wine into something quite different. Although to the untrained, it would retain the identical taste of the celebrated Dathomir Bloodwine, someone with the proper training, could... if they had a reason to... brew a sleeping draft powerful enough to last several hours.

Once Xizor's ship left for Corellia, the ladies and I decided to throw a party for the poor lonely unfortunates, who had to remain behind."

At this point, Jah¹da Rae has now become the new Mayor of North Beach, and begins the tedious process of moving into City Hall, and upgrading its interior.

Naboo's sun began to set, casting beautiful lavendar hues across the sky as Jah'¹da Rae arrived at the steps of the Omnicron in North Beach. It was a huge facility filled with a majority of Janos Uris¹s hard-won battle trophies. He had invited her to dinner a few nights earlier to congratulate her on the town¹s recent elections.

Janos' Mon-Calamarian manservant, Brrupt, greeted her at the door, and ushered her inside. Although the Zabrak bounty hunter was the closest thing she had to a best friend in these times, Jah'da could not deny that Janos' penance for cruelty had few bounds; she pitied Brrupt for whatever horrible circumstances had placed him in servitude to Lord Uris. She removed her Endorian Wild Mink Coat and handed it to him, as he led her upstairs to the dining area.

"Thank you for excepting the invitation, Mayor. I am honored to have such a distinquished quest in my home. Please... sit down."

Jah'da smiled, "There is no need for such formalities, Janos, but thank you. To be honest, this was an unexpected career move, but I am no stranger to politics, as you well know." She made herself comfortable, as Bruppt poured them both tall glasses of Corellian Brandy.

The typical small-talk that usually happens between old friends ensued for most of the evening. She had to confess the dinner was amazing, no doubt Noam Livingston's work. He was one of North Beach's premiere chefs, and Jah'da could recognize his handiwork almost anywhere.

Janos lit a pipe and now sat in the chair next to his guest. "You never finished your story that night," He poured them both another glass, and leaned backwards. Jah'da's fingers gently began to tap on the table's edge.

"I knew there was another reason for this dinner," She smiled, took a sip of her wine, and closed her eyes. "Well then... where was I? Ah... yes... When Xizor's finally left for Vreni Island on Corellia, the other ladies and I were ready to make our move. That evening they made it a point to be especially loud and boisterous by the pool. Very few of the guards left behind were able to resist such a delicious invitation. In less than two hours, the pool and lounge areas were filled with the remainder of Xizor's guard and house staff.

I, of course, remained at my bedroom at the top of the stairs. It would have been out-of-character for me if I had attended the festivities and may have thrown suspicion on the evening. I trusted the girls to know what to do; I had prepared enough of the sleeping draft to fill four wine bottles, and warned them to be extremely cautious as to which glasses they drank from."

Jah'da smiled and let one of her lekku slowly slide off her shoulder, "At one point, one of the guards raised a glass to me and asked "If the old shrew was too proud to come out of her crow's nest?" His jest caused quite the roar of laughter around the pool, but I'll spare you the torrid details of the evening.

The draft worked as expected. Our guests were asleep by the third hour. Freedom was close, but we still had one small problem; we were locked inside. Without the security access codes to the estate's blaster doors, we were in a proverbial prison. It could easily take a small army to blast their way through the thick doors, a small army... or..." she hesitated and
took a long sip of her wine, "the city's fire marhsal."

The Zabrak laughed so hard that tears streaked down the side of his face. He cradled his head in his right hand, and shook it back and forth fully understanding the implication of her last comment, "No wonder Xizor's after your hide."

The red-skinned tailor simply bowed her head and continued, "We disabled the sprinkler systems, and began a fire in the west kitchen. You'd be surprised how quickly velvet curtains can burn. The main entrance was soon engulfed in flames. We grabbed the uniforms off the sleeping guards, a few of their blaster pistols and hooded cloaks as well. I took off my slave crown and left my lipmarks on its central crest and tossed it into the center of my bed (Afterall, I didn't want to leave without a proper farewell). I instructed the girls to keep their tiaras, as they could each easily be sold for a few thousand credits and finance our escape from Coruscant. A few of them were concerned for the safety of the sleeping guards because of the spreading fire. I assured them, however, that the fire marshal would get to them before the flames did. Sure enough, outside, I could hear the approaching sirens of the fire brigade. We made our way towards the rear wing of Xizor's estate. Once the fire marhsall entered the override codes, the doors swung open, and thirteen Lethan Twi'leks made their way into the night.

For several weeks prior to my abduction, I had been in contact with some of the founding members of The Mystic Alliance here on Naboo, as you well know. They were pooling their resources at the time to build their guildhall. I made no mention of the recent events, of course, but headed straight for Moenia with whatever supplies I could easily acquire and offered my services. The Mystic Alliance has always had a reputation for fierce loyalty among its members. I knew that within its ranks, I would find safety. The rest, as it so often is said, is history." Jah'da wiped her hands and took the last sip of her wine. "Now then..." she raised an eyebrow to her host and smiled, "Are you going to be a proper gentleman, and walk your guest home?"

"I can't believe it's gone!" Dene Carsonrobin stared at the new palacial estate that now stood where Jah'da Rae's old home once was. "You've lived in The Red Lady way before most of North Beach was even built! Kinda felt... like it had... always been here."

"I know what you mean. It was a tough decision, but it was time for a change. Besides, I've had an insane amount of furniture just waiting in storage at Theed." The red-skinned Twi'lek put her arm around her friend and smiled.

"Speaking of furniture..." Dene¹s husband, Denier, interrupted and handed her a datapad and pen. "Here's the manifest of the remaining pieces. Let me know if anything's missing, or if you think you'll need something more. I have a few new pieces in the showroom you might want to have a look at."

"Fantastic! Thank you, Denier."

"The Lady's Temple?" Dene looked at the sign near the main entrance, "I thought... I thought you left the monastery before coming to Naboo."

"I was forcefully removed from the monastery. The semantics make it quite a different matter, altogether. I still serve the Goddess; I never relinquished my vows. Cannar was kind enough to supply the sign for me." Jah'da handed the datapad back to Denier. "Everything seems to be in order. I am going to need a few new things for City Hall's new library as well, but I'll send you a detailed list later in the week, once I finish getting settled in here."

Jah'da Rae had been away for the past few weeks on official business, traveling back and forth between Bestine's Museum and Theed's Cultural Affairs Office. She was very tired, and had missed her friends greatly. The three them took a walk around Kerik Park and talked for about an hour as Denier's construction-bots finished bringing in the last of her furniture.

In the distance, beautiful green and azure hues began to show through the sky as Naboo¹s moon moved into its familiar place in the sky. It was going to be a very beautiful and clear star-filled night.

"It's really starting to get late, gentlemen. I'm sorry, but the two of you will have to excuse me; I need to try to get some sleep tonight; I have a meeting early tomorrow morning about a proposal for a City Council." Jah'da Rae smiled and gave them both a kiss on the cheek, grabbed her bag, and headed inside her new home, as the last of the construction-bots finished its task and zoomed away.

Dene and Denier slowly walked past North Beach's City Hall and stepped into the shuttleport, as an exceptionally tall hooded figure drove through the back streets of North Beach towards his destination. His hand gripped firmly on the steering controls, and a sweet almost erotic fragrance seemed to hang in the very air around him.

Jah'da lit the candles of the main chapel, and bowed her head at the enormous golden statue of the Twi'lek goddess. Denier's bots had left all her new furniture in place. There were only a few boxes still in the lounge left for her to look through, but that would have to wait for sometime tomorrow. She tossed off her shoes, took off her jacket and headed upstairs to her bedchamber. The door slide open, and she dropped her things by the nightstand.

A strange glint of silver from under one of her pillows quickly drew Jah'da's eye. She moved them aside to find the burnt remains of a magnificent slave crest studded with twelve pearls and a central diamond. The faint traces of a kiss from a woman's lips can still be seen on the diamond. She dropped it to her feet and turned to run down the stairs, only to be met by a large green muscular hand that grabbed at her throat with an amazing speed.

"It has been a long time, Jah'da Rae."
Lord Xizor's eyes glowed with fierce hate from beneath his hood.

"Either... kill me... or take... your damned hand... away from my throat." The Twi'lek stared straight into her uninvited guest's eyes.

Xizor released his grip and laughed. "You've never feared me."

"You usually send an underling to do any real dirty work. You lack the gall do it yourself." Jah'da threw him a half-smile and gently rubbed her neck as one of her lekku gently slid around her shoulder.

"I'm impressed, my lady. You've managed to make quite the life for yourself here. A member of The Mystic Alliance Guild Council... even Mayor. Congratulations. But... do they know who they harbor? I have been watching you closely, beauty. You weave a magnificent tale. What you've told the Zabrak has painted you in an amazing light, but you are... quite... the storyteller. You've conveniently left out one or two very important details that would have otherwise cast a very different colored light on you. Tell me... the two gentlemen... responsible for your, how shall we say, initial sale off of Ryloth... whatever has become of them? Hmmm?"

"I have no idea," Jah'da raised an eyebrow. "I've had more important things to do than follow the progress of their careers."

"By all means then, dear madame, allow me to enlighten you. Mardelo Oaf'ga was poisoned by an aide... something in the wine, officials say. As for Fri'de Neril'Tok, his life was cut short when his private shuttle unexpectedly exploded. Even the tailor you apprenticed under in Bestine ~ after all, it does not take a brilliant mind to deduce that we had bought his cooperation once we had located you. Greed can be a powerful motivator. He betrayed you to us for less than a thousand credits. Sadly... he didn't live long enough to enjoy his new-found fortune. He and his entire family were killed in a tragic landspeeder incident just out of Mos Entha. Ah... yes... and as for that "sleeping draft" you gave my guards? Very potent to say the least. A third of them are dead, and the remainder are still in some sort of coma. Amazing, don¹t you think, Ms. Rae? Anyone who has ever caused you any grief has ended up dead. I wonder what would happen to your precious political career should certain of those details... be revealed?"

The red-skinned tailor merely stared at the ground by her feet. Her arms were crossed in front of her, and her fingers played with the amulet around her neck.

"No comment? That¹s surprising. Are you ill? Or is the temperature suddenly not to your liking?" Xizor encircled the red lady. The tip of his nose gently brushed against the base of her neck. The Faleen's pheromones filled her nostrils and her heart began to race. "We are cut from the same cloth, pretty tailor. You just have the benefit of hiding your cruelty behind a
porcelain mask. What a gorgeous pair we would have made."

Jah'da's fingers undid a small latch hidden behind her amulet, and a small vial landed into her palm. She handed it to Coruscant's Underlord, as she sat at the foot of her bed and reclined backwards.

"And... what is this?"

"An edge. My... edge. The vial contains a modified version of your pheromones. Anyone treated with it becomes... how shall I put it?- far less moved by your charms. If anything should ever happen to me, or any of my associates... and if you are ever implicated even in the least... several crates of the pheromone vaccine will be shipped to Lady Valarian, The Hutt Consortium and Nym." Jah'da took the small vial from Xizor¹s hand and placed it back within her amulet. "No comment, Xizor? How surprising! Are you ill? Or is the temperature suddenly not to your liking?"

"I do NOT... take kindly... to threats, Lady Rae."

"Then do not... come into my house and... make... them." Jah'da picked up the slave crest from the floor and handed it back to Xizor. "This, I believe is yours. It was never my size, anyway."

The Prince smiled, "Bravo. This isn't over. I'¹m better at this than you are. I will always be watching you. I will always be there." Xizor gently took the crest and headed for the stairs. He leaned up against the doorway for an instant and stared back at the Twi'lek. The rare and faint hint of regret danced beneath the surface of his face, "I would have given you anything
under the stars you asked for. Anything. I could... have loved you."

"Truly??" Jah'da whiped her head around and coyly examined the Faleen. "Tell me then... any more or any less... than the other twelve?"

Xizor smiled and lowered his head as he exited the sanctuary. His large hood obscured his face from North Beach¹s citizen¹s as he drove away, while upstairs inside The Lady's Temple, the cathedral's matron took a sip of her wine and called it a night.

>END<