~~~~~

Aliea stood in the reception room beside Sidious' chair at the head of the
huge marble table. She watched his face as he talked to his advisors, alert
to the minutiae of his gestures and expressions. She had made it her life's
work to read him, anticipate his emotions as an act of self-preservation,
survival.

Today, he was in his senatorial guise. Masquerading as Palpatine, the
gracious elected official and humble public servant, he busied himself
addressing the needs of a collection of backwater nations spread across the
least important part of the galaxy. He wore his official robe of blue and
maroon in place of the black cloak of a Sith Lord. His face was serene,
unthreatening, the patrician features betraying no guile. She noted his
strong nose, jaw and broad forehead. He was still handsome for a man of his
age with silver hair and clear blue eyes. A slight smile played on his lips
at all times making him appear as if he was either simple-minded or just
pleasant.

She knew better.

An ambassador from the Merkeesh system related the latest news on the trade
federation, briefing them on a new trade deal his government was currently
negotiating. As he talked, his monotone voice droning on and on, the doors
slid open. All conversation stopped and the officials stood in silence.
Aliea could not see who entered the cavernous hall, and dared not look away
from Sidious, but whoever it, they tread on light feet so that their
footsteps went unheard. Sidious glanced at her quickly.

He smiled.

Then, in her peripheral vision, she caught sight of a black cloak, a smear
of red, a flash of yellow. She gripped the back of Sidious' chair, and
swallowed back a gasp. The dark figure stopped abruptly, then moved forward
with apparent reluctance.

Sidious turned to face the visitor and as he did, he sat slightly straighter
in the ornate wooden chair.

“Ah, ‘Lord Maul’ as we now must call you. That was quick.”

“You called, Master,” Darth Maul replied. There was only a slight hesitation
in his voice. “I came immediately.”

”Of course you did,” Sidious replied. He turned to his officials. “Leave
us,” he said, waving his arm towards the door. Aliea turned to go, hoping to
join the retreating officials but Sidious grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“*You stay*.” He leaned close, his voice almost a whisper. “Don’t think for
a moment that I’ll let you off so easily.”

She bowed her head, pulling her cloak forward to cover her face. Almost at
once, Sidious reached over and pulled the cloak back.

"No," he said, a smile on his face. "Don't deprive us of your beauty. Hair
like that, sable black, and such dark soulful eyes -- they just shouldn't be
covered. Don't you agree, Khameir?"

Darth Maul said nothing, but shifted, averting his eyes from her glance.

“I hope you don't really expect me to call you 'Lord Maul', Khameir,"
Sidious said, his voice light.

"Of course not, Master."

"Good. Oh, I'm sorry. Have you met the Lady Aliea? She’s my new...advisor.”

Darth Maul bowed, but his eyes never met hers. Aliea bowed in return, her
gaze tracing over his form, the black and red tattoo, the horns, black cloth
cloak and thick leather belt and gloves. She turned back to Sidious, who was
watching her closely, and did her best to keep her face impassive.

“I have something to mark your final passage from Novice to full status as a
Sith Warrior. Here,” Sidious said, handing him a small amulet. “Take this.
Look inside.”

Darth Maul took the platinum amulet, opened it to reveal an iridescent
crystal with a dark center. He held it in his hand and turned the crystal
over. As he did, light from the chandelier caught the facets and sparkled,
scattering shards of white light throughout the hall.

“What is it, Master?”

“A gift. It’s the seed of the Verin tree, from your own home planet,
Iridonia. I’m not surprised you don’t recognize it. A thousand years ago,
the ancient Sith warriors of Iridonia destroyed the Verin tree, harvesting
it to extinction for the medicinal properties of its seed. This is very
rare. A treasure. It’s a symbol of your passage, Khameir. Keep it close to
you and examine it when your resolve weakens.”

”My resolve is strong, Master.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it, my young Apprentice. But it will weaken now and then
– mark my words. When it does, look at this crystal and think of the ancient
Sith. If you want to avoid their fate, be vigilant. Never let down your
guard and trust no one. Those you least suspect are the ones who pose the
greatest threat.”

Darth Maul nodded and placed the amulet inside a pocket deep in his cloak.

They talked about the trade federation, but Aliea could not listen. The room
spun and she had to hold onto the back of Sidious’ chair for support.

“Are you feeling all right, Lady Aliea?” Sidious asked, but his voice was
lightly mocking rather than concerned.

“Yes, just a bit tired.”

He turned away and the two men talked on, but she heard them as if from a
distance, their voices rising and falling. As they spoke, she remembered,
and her memories were like a balm, soothing the pain, relieving the ache in
her heart.

*****

Iridonia: four months earlier.

It is hot. The wind lifts the tent flaps so she can see out through the
shield, which shimmers and pulses, distorting the image of the desert
beyond. Out here, far from the city, the endless summer scalds the iron-rich
soil a dark red. The dry season is at its peak and after years without rain.
As night falls, the fading rays of the red giant paint the sky blood-red.
The sand storm rips the last of the brown leaves off the stand of gnarled
trees, exposing blackened trunks, twisting, as if strangling each other in a
valiant fight for light.

Despite the shield's protection, dust is ubiquitous. She licks her lips and
swallows, shivering as the red sand grits between her teeth. A fine layer
coats every surface. The thick carpet on the sandy floor beneath her offers
little comfort -– its rough fibers scratch against her naked back.

Khameir lies on top of her, propped up on his elbows so he can watch her
face. He has not yet passed the pain trials, not yet had the surgery and
tattoos that will mark him as a full Sith Warrior. His skin is golden, his
eyes deep blue. Looking in his eyes now, she feels her resolve weaken, her
strength dissolve.

He smiles as she gives in and finally relinquishes control, fighting him no
longer. She lets her body feel him completely and gasps, almost blinded by
the pleasure as he moves inside her. Stars sparkle before her eyes and the
room dims.

“Don’t faint on me,” he says in his smooth, velvet voice. “You give in so
easily, Aliea. I’ve got to teach you self-control.”

“Fuck you,” she cries as her strength returns and she pounds him with
clenched fists.

He grabs her hands and laughs, then licks away her tears. “I knew the first
time I saw you, at the reception for the Carnellian Ambassador, that you’d
be mine. Something in your eyes. I knew you’d love it.”

“No,” she says, turning her face away as he tries to kiss her. “I don’t.”

“Look at me and say that.”

She refuses, so he grasps her chin and forces her face towards his. She
clamps her eyes shut and holds her breath.

“Look at me and say that you don’t love it. That you don’t love *me*. Then
I’ll go,” he whispers, his mouth next to her ear, his lips soft on her skin.
“I won’t return.”

Her spine stiffens, and her eyes fly open. He’s so smug, so certain for one
so young. She wants to slap that smile off his face, shatter his naiveté,
but he is too strong. She can do nothing but stare into those blue eyes.

A stab of grief knots her gut. Tomorrow he will undergo surgery to get the
optic implants that Sidious demands. His vision will be as sharp as a bird
of prey, and so sensitive that he will see infrared and ultraviolet light.
Blue eyes no longer. She slumps beneath him and closes her own eyes.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to look at you anymore. Not with those yellow
eyes.”

“Then keep your eyes closed.”

“You like me to keep my eyes open. Won’t that take away some of your
enjoyment?”

She can feel his smile, his lips curving against her neck. “I’m not
worried,” he whispers. “You’ll look at me. You like it as much as I do.”

He kisses her roughly, his mouth demanding. When she responds, he pulls
away. “Wait ‘till you see the tattoo.”

“What tattoo?”she asks, feigning ignorance, but she knows what he means.

“My whole body. Black and red.”

“Why?”

“To prove I can take the pain. To strike fear into the hearts of those who
face me.”

“Me as well?” she asks, squirming beneath him, struggling to picture what
he’ll look like. “How can I love what I fear?”

He starts moving inside her once again and she gasps as he leans down and
takes one nipple between his lips. Her back arches, pressing her body
against him.

“You’ll love me,” he says. “You *will*.”

She wonders whom he is trying to convince: her or himself?

Then she remembers Sidious. He’d given her a month once Khameir finished
the pain rites. A month to drink him in, soak him up, build up a library of
memories. A month to cement their bond, then break it.

As Khameir moves inside her, his skin sliding against hers, she looks in his
eyes, into blue so deep, they remind her of the oceans on Naboo. She
remembers each detail -- his face, his body, the smooth curve of his full
muscles, the hard angle where collarbone meets shoulder, where hip meets
thigh. His grace while he fights and the intensity of his passion. She licks
his skin, his golden skin, hungry for the taste of him.

*****

“I’m sure Lady Aliea will be pleased to answer any questions you have. She’s
heard the entire briefing and is an expert on galactic relations. Don't let
her beauty fool you into thinking she lacks brains or ambition. She has
both in abundance.”

“I have no questions,” Darth Maul replied, his voice slightly tense, his
words clipped. Then as if an afterthought, he added, “Master.”

“Good,” Sidious replied. “I have a meeting with the Senate and won’t be able
to take her back to the base. You won’t mind escorting her to my private
rooms, will you? I’d trust no one else with her care while we’re here. She’s
such a rare jewel, don’t you think?”

“My ship is not yet refueled and there are repairs. It will be hours before
I can leave...”

“No matter. She’s quite malleable. I think you’ll find she’s very pleasant
company. You’ll not mind the wait, will you?”

“No, Lord,” she whispered.

“Oh, before you go, I should tell you the rest of the story about the Verin
seed. Lady Aliea knows this story, don’t you?” Sidious said, bowing to her
with a smile.

She looked away quickly, and then nodded.

“Tell Khameir the story. You have such a sweet voice. Besides, I think he
should learn more about his homeworld’s past.”

”I’m not interested in Iridonia,” Darth Maul said, turning away.

“Oh, but I think you’ll find my story...instructive,” Sidious insisted.
“*Indulge me.*”

Aliea looked into Sidious’ eyes. They were so clear blue, icy, unrelenting.

“I...I don’t really,” she said, stammering. She cleared her throat and
turned away, her nails biting into the fleshy part of her palm.

“Never mind,” Sidious said after a moment, beckoning Darth Maul closer with
a wave of his hand. “I’ll tell him since you seem to have lost your voice.
The story of the demise of the Verin tree can't be told without telling the
story of the Evedoa -– a beautiful bird no longer extant on Iridonia. You
must have heard of it, Khameir? Maybe in your lullabies? At your mother’s
breast? Oh, I forgot. Your mother abandoned you in that hellhole of a
city.”

Darth Maul frowned, and kept his eyes downcast. “No, my Master. I don’t
recall.”

“Well, it’s quite amazing. None could eat the fruit of the Verin tree, for a
secretion formed an almost perfect crystal around the fruit to protect it
from desiccation during the long dry season. When the crystal fell, the
fruit was protected from the natural acidity of the soil until the rainy
season returned. Eventually, when the dry season ended, the crystal soaked
up the rain and dissolved, releasing the fruit. Inside was a seed from which
a new Verin tree grew. But the crystal took years to dissolve.”

Darth Maul nodded, but remained silent.

“The seed contained a very powerful anesthetic that made those who ate it
numb to pain. The ancient Sith on Iridonia found an ingenious way to get at
the Verin seed without the long wait. They used the Evedoa. You see, the
Evedoa sang so beautifully, its voice so high and clear that it shattered
the crystal, releasing the seed. A Sith Master worth his salt always had one
Evedoa caged at his side,” Sidious said, pulling Aliea close.

“That was how the ancient Sith Masters on Iridonia withstood so much pain in
training and battle. The pain trials you underwent to become a Sith warrior,
Khameir, were in homage to those early trials. A pity, really, that they
killed off the Evedoa and the Verin tree in their lust for power -– just as
they killed off each other. That's the one thing about pain, my young
Apprentice. It reminds you that you're alive. Something the ancient Sith
forgot. A mistake we won’t make again. When you look at that Verin seed,
remember your own pain.”

Darth Maul looked up finally, directly into Sidious’ eyes.

“I could not forget even if I tried.”

“Good, then my training of you is complete.”

Darth Maul looked away finally, his glance barely touching Aliea.

“Well,” Sidious said, grabbing Aliea and kissing her harshly. He released
her and placed his hand on the small of her back, pushing her forward
towards Darth Maul, who stepped back as if in horror. “I have a meeting to
attend. Khameir will keep you company until the ship is ready. He’s not
nearly as brilliant a conversationalist as I am, but he’s very strong. And
loyal. I’m sure he’ll take very good care of you, make sure not one lovely
hair on your head is touched.”

Darth Maul was silent as if unable to speak or move. Finally, he turned, but
kept his eyes down.

“This way, Lady,” he said, gesturing with his hand.

She looked back into Sidious’ eyes, pleading, but there was no mercy to be
found in them.

He smiled.

*****

The End