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The Slave Queens New Interest	By : Revelnit Category: +S through Z > Star Wars: The Clone Wars Views: 58619 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Clone Wars, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Authors Note: First before we begin I'd like to thank all the people who took the time to rate my story and also I want to give even bigger thanks to those who took time to write reviews. Believe me they help me stay motivated. Thanks for the criticism even the criticism that points out flaws. (I swear I'll try harder to proof read Declan and Lunaroki, *blushes*)

   Returning to the Palace using the latest mode of travel selected by Queen Miraj, proved to be far less stressful than the beast ride that had taken them out to the country. The royal had insisted upon returning to her palace in the royal sail barge. The large boat shaped (and sized) repulsorlift vehicle glided smoothly over the arid terrain of Zyggeria, under swept back sails (that Ahsoka assumed existed soley for their aesthetic value). As they boarded, the queen insisted upon bragging to Ahsoka of how few individuals were wealthy enough to possess such a vehicle. Some royalty, some heads of multisystem corporations, even some of the Hutt crime family were reputed to travel in such luxury vehicles.
   Such matters were not on Ahsoka's mind though, as she stood on the top deck watching the scenery crawling by. She couldn't forget her worries of what her fellow jedi would think of the deal she had struck. She didn't believe they would think much of it. She imagined a rescue attempt by republic forces, which would get more people killed. The very opposite of what she was trying to accomplish by making the deal in the first place.
   Worse she considered the possibility that she would completely lose face. She, like most Padawan learners had heard of the stirring words of Master Mace Windu, spoken as he stood surrounded by battle droids on the separatist world Geonosis. 'We will not be hostages to be bartered with Dooku!' he had said calmly with the guns of a hundred battle droids trained upon him. She wondered what a brave man like that would think of her now. She tried to think of alternative ways out but could not think of any. Perhaps not even a genius like Yoda could think his way out of this. That did not make her feel any better.
   The transport arrived at the palace and the queen disembarked along with her retinue and a morose Ahsoka Tano. As they walked along the outskirts of the palace underneath vines reaching down from the gardened terraces, the queen silently extended her pinky finger and entwined it with the same finger on her lovers hand. Ahsoka assumed her mood must have been obvious. She found it intriguing that it was a concern of the queen though. Despite what had happened the previous night the queen was still in theory her captor. Should she pull her hand away from the intimate touch? She wasn't sure anymore.
   From around a corner up ahead the queens aide ran up to the two of them. He gave a brief, almost perfunctory bow before speaking. Apparently decorum was overrode by the importance of what he had to say. “My queen, I bring word. Count Dooku is on his way here!”
   The queen let out a sigh. “Sooner than anticipated.” She waved her hand at the man dismissively. “make preparations for his arrival.”
   The man gave another bow and gave Ahsoka a brief glare of resentment. Apparently his treatment at Ahsoka's hands were not going to be forgotten anytime soon. Ahsoka met his gaze, Yea, same to you pal. He turned and went back the way he came without further discussion.
   As soon as the sleazy aide was gone, Ahsoka got closer to the queen and had to struggle to keep her voice down. “Dooku, is here!?! What are you going to do? Your majesty, surely you must assume he knows that we're here and he'll want our heads!”
   The queen imperiously held up her hand in a 'stop' gesture. “You have nothing to fear my dear. Count Dooku is an honored guest of the government of Zyggeria, but that is all he is. The arrangement between myself and you still stands.” The queen cupped the girls jaw in her hand. Then let a smile come over her face “Believe me you are mine, to do with as I will.”
   Alsoka's expression on the other hand quickly turned to one of exasperation.“Your majesty, I know that monster. We've fought him, experienced the devastation in his wake. There is no way he will just accept my master and General Kenobi as loose ends. I fear for their safety.”
   The queens face grew with concern to match that of her new ward. She waved her hand to bring attention to all of the palace grounds around her. “Well then why don't you stay here and enjoy the view, while I take care of the more weighty matters of state. I happen to know the velagia petals on the vine smell wonderful this time of year.”
   An eyebrow raised on Ahsoka's seemingly offended brow. “Excuse me? Your majesty, I don't sniff flowers and relax while the important things about me and my life are decided. I have to know what his next move is, for the sake of Anakin and Obi-wan. Not to mention my own.”
   “Then what would you suggest my little warrior? I don't believe that Count Dooku would take it very well if you and I stood side by side, while I negotiated on behalf of Zyggeria. In fact I believe he would probably be quite offended.” The last sentence of the queens had been delivered in the driest way possible.
   Ahsoka had to admit, she had a point. The chances of a fight breaking out if Dooku saw her was high. She realized, there was just no incentive for the queen to bring her along. Perhaps she could listen in with some sort of bug? Immediately she thought of a flaw in that plan. What if Dooku had a jamming device that made listening in electronically impossible? She could only think of one sure eavesdropping method.
   “Well, what if I were more out of the way? What if I had a covert position within the throne room itself? I could get a clearer idea of his intentions then.”
   The queen sighed, shaking her head gently. “I don't know why I should even let you. Your suspicions smell of distrust that I will keep my word, besides, it is not as though Dooku can simply give orders here if he doesn't like a situation. This is my planet after all.” Ahsoka worried about the overconfidence that underlaid that statement. Queen Miraj misinterpreted the worry as a pleading look. “If you can find a way to secret yourself within the throne room, you may do so if you wish. Keep in mind though, that should Dooku find you...” She then shrugged. “Do I need to take that from you?” She pointed at the lightsaber worn at Ahsoka's waist.
   The young padawans hand flew protectively down to the lightsaber. If the queen took it she would be defenseless if there was any trouble with Dooku. “No ma'am, I won't start any trouble with Count Dooku.” It was a good way to calm the queens fears that an incident would break out. It was also the absolute truth. She knew from experience how powerful Dooku was. Starting a violent altercation with the powerful master of the separatist cause appealed to Ahsoka about as much as using her lightsaber as a back scratcher.
   The queen turned and headed in the direction of the throne room. Ahsoka picked up her pace to follow, already bringing up in her mind what little she remembered of the throne rooms floor plan. She would have to be cautious to the point of paranoia if she was going to go unnoticed by Dooku.
   From behing the two women and the queens accompanying guard a lone R2 unit rounded a corner. It's attempt to catch Ahsoka's eye had failed. It would have to look for a new opportunity to reacquire the jedi's attention. Letting out a couple of mournful electronic noises, the droid trundled after the two women. He had important information for one of them.

   The doors to the queens throne room parted and through them strode one of the most powerful men in the galaxy. The first thing noticable about Count Dooku was the stiff upright posture with which he walked. His hands clamped firmly behind his back to complete the picture of a quasi-military bearing. The expression upon the older, man's face might have been confused with one of dignity or simply calm until one got a closer look. It was as if a sizable, battle droid contingent had been deployed to his face, in a campaign to hunt down and destroy any trace of amusement or warmth.
   Queen Miraj had to believe that if she checked any database in the galaxy for a definition of the word 'dour', the database would give up trying to provide a lengthy written definition and simply thow up a picture of Count Dooku's bearded visage. She was sure that it was her imagination but she couldn't help the strange feeling that a dark cloud walked in with the man as he entered the throne room.
   Dismissing the feelings, the queen made to welcome her powerful, if uninvited, guest. “I wasn't expecting you Count, not without an invitation.”
   “But I was invited.” The count replied calmly in his deep baritone voice while making the subtlest of indications towards the queens aide. “By your faithful adviser.”
   The queens head swiveled from Dooku to the man in question. Their expressions couldn't be more differen't. As the aide tried to almost shrink in embarassment, the queens expression was, for a brief moment, a mask of ice.
   “He's concerned over how attached you've become to Skywalkers Togrutan girl.”
   It was not in her normal nature to explain herself, but it was obvious that her aide had done some political damage to her behind her back. After this it would be time to have a serious discussion with him regarding his future career. She was confindent that regardless of his feelings his future involved a command post located somewhere near Zyggeria's polar icecaps.
   “The girl is kept close Count so as to be a symbol for my, er...our power to enslave, even jedi.”
   “Your power over her is an illusion. You forget, that I was once a jedi myself.”
   The queen rose from her throne and descended the stairs before it. As she passed the Count the queen took a glass from the serving tray of a nearby slave. She began to go into detail of what her exact plans were regarding the jedi in her custody. As she talked, Count Dooku, on occasion would swing his head back to the throne before returning his attention to the queen.
   The queen made it clear during the course of discussion that she believed the jedi collectively and individually, could be broken. Once that had occurred the vast reservoir of talent within the jedi would be under the control of the separatist cause. As she went into detail with regards to the torment of Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet Kadavo (torment that Dooku seemed most interested in) she felt she was slowly losing his interest.
   Her suspicions were confirmed when the count dismissed her plans almost outright and annnounced that he was here not to oversee the jedi's subservience but instead, their execution. The queen disagreed, stating that she was not inclined to destroy the jedi.
   Dooku's brow forrowed momentarily in anger. The queen was obviously unaware of her role within the greater separatist cause. He came close to speaking to her in the way that she deserved. A few choice strong words about how it wasn't her decision, followed by escalation from there. However just before he was about to dress the woman down he realized that he didn't need to. It occurred to him that he had the tools to break her defiance in a far more enjoyable way.
   “Your majesty, I realize all these decisions that you must make can take quite the toll on you, wouldn't you say?” The queens brow furrowed in obvious puzzlement. Her confusion gave him the opportunity to continue. “The pressure of controlling the lives of millions can lead to rash, even wild behavior at times.” Reaching into a pocket he came out with a flat circular piece of metal. “Perhaps, in some cases, a leader, even a great leader must take time away from the burdens and pressures of command.” The queen, now completely unaware of where Dooku was going with this just stared. “Just for a short while that is to gain ones bearings.” The count then casually activated a small switch on the side of the device he was holding.
   “Perhaps such a course would be an advisable one for you my dear queen.” The small device in Dooku's hand sprang to life, creating a holographic image above the little circular plate. The queens jaw dropped when she saw it's contents. The image of herself along with Ahsoka coupling together on the couch back in her country palace. The intimate position of Ahsoka's fingers, combined with the cries of orgasmic pleasure coming from the queen, left little doubt as to what was going on.
   The shock of seeing her most private moment, drove the queen temporarily to silence. Her mouth stood agape for several seconds following the count's revelation. The count used the time to deliver the final blow.
   “Oh I'm sure that your own population might not find much bother in an owners daliance with her slave. What few might be bothered, may end up being silenced by the threat of your power. The other members of the separatist cause however...The Banking Clan...The Trade Federation. When they hear that the head of the great Zyggerian slave empire has been fraternizing with the enemy. Telling who knows how many secrets to a jedi knight in her bed. I dare say that they would call for blood. At least the scandal would cause the expulsion of Zyggeria from the separatist alliance, leaving it alone in the face of the threat of the Republic. At this particular stage in the war with the Republic I can't even imagine you negotiating a separate peace with them. I wouldn't expect either the Zyggerian military, or the rest of the government to sit still for such an eventuality. I could easily see a coup in your future your majesty.”
   The queen's expression during the course of Count Dooku's had evolved from dismayed to apalled. As the shock had worn off her political instincts came to the fore. Looking at her advisor, she noticed how calm he was in the face of the possibility that his queen might be overthrown. She also realized where the recording of her and the girl must have come from. Her next words came out as a cold hiss directed at the man. “You traitor.” The man, realizing the cat was out of the bag (so to speak) crooked up a corner of his mouth.
   “Please your majesty, let your noble advisor take some of the burden off of you. I'm sure a short leave of absence would do your restless spirit some good.” The Count pointed this out in what would seem to be a helpful, lighthearted manner.
   In equally as lighthearted a tone the queen replied. “And, I'm sure my 'vacation' would also make the holorecording go away?”
   The Count smiled as ungenuine a smile as the queen had ever seen and heartily promised the queen that her power would be waiting for her when she got back. The queen however knew that a 'temporary' departure from power would become permanent all too soon. She couldn't imagne Dooku ever letting anyone who had crossed him back into a position to threaten him again.
   “Yes, well I can tell you this Dooku. I will fight this illegal and underhanded attack on the sovereignty of Zyggeria with all the power at my disposal...” Her finger thrust up into the face of the powerful separatist. “Aaaaaand, if you think that you can get away with blackmailing me in this fashion well I will have you know...” So great was her anger that it took the queen several seconds to notice that have Dooku's complete attention. In fact Dooku's head was turned completely away, back towards the throne.
   “COUNT DOOKU!”
   The Counts head whipped back towards the queen. So fast was the movement of his head that the queen very nearly missed it. As though his distracted behavior wasn't enough his face now wore a 'you're still here?' look that caused the queen to boil over.
   “Tell me Count while the once bright alliance between Zyggeria and the separatist cause falls into darkness, while I stand ready to have you taken from this place for crimes against the Zyggerian empire, there is one thing that concerns me greatly...” The Counts brow furrowed in curiousity. “Is there anything from near the throne THAT I CAN GET FOR YOU!?!?” Her face wore an almost feral expression, fanged teeth half bared .
   To her complete shock the Count turned one last time back to the throne before turning his face back in the direction of the queens. The expression on it as even as the horizon.
   “Oh, I apologize your majesty, while I'm sure this is a very important moment for you, conversations like this happen all the time in my line of work. You see your majesty, the reason why I seem so unable to focus is because amongst the many abilities granted to users of the force, are perceptions beyond those of normal beings. Chief among them is the ability to feel...disturbances....irregularities in and emanations from the force. They tend to be rare so they grab the attention that much more powerfully.”
   The Count turned and took two steps back in the direction of the queens throne. His eyes hypnotically locked on to the piece of furniture. “For the most part the force, when it is perceived, is felt within living things people, animals even plants. Though it is in some measure everywhere. Thus it is of especial note when one feels a disturbance coming from an inanimate object. I wonder as to it's cause...”
   The Count held out his right hand palm up, fingers extended towards the throne. For an instant his pose gave the impression that he was begging for alms from a slightly taller man. Then the queen felt it, the sudden onrush of power that seemed to fill the whole room. The Counts fingers bent up...slightly.
   With a loud 'snap' the throne decoupled from the brackets securing it to the dais. Once detached it quickly floated up towards the ceiling. Any interest the Count may have had in the piece of furniture disappeared when he discovered what it was concealing.
   Briefly the Counts eyes met Ahsoka Tano's while he kept the throne suspended in the air. While the girl recovered from the sudden exposure of her hiding place, the Count gave one of his rare smiles before flicking his fingers and releasing the hold the force had upon the throne.
   Ahsoka managed to look up just before the plummeting throne landed upon her. She rolled expertly out of it's way, drawing her lightsaber in the same fluid motion. It smashed to the ground exactly where she had been, a half a second earlier.
   The jedi's blade sprang into existence, it's green glow issuing a fierce electronic growl as it's wielder swung it into position to threaten Dooku. From behind him she heard the queen cry 'MY THRONE!' in as much outrage and anger as the royal could muster. Ahsoka's eyes gave the champion of the separatist cause a fierce look. It was the best she could do given the disadvantage she was at. She didn't expect it to have much effect and of course it didn't.
   “Well, it seems we've solved our mystery. Now I suppose I can at least dispense with one third of my real mission here.” The Count flipped his hand over so that now his palm was down but his fingers were still outstretched towards the padawan. Ahsoka had seen this holorecording before. She quickly raised her lightsaber defensively into position just in time to intercept the dark lightning that sprang from Dooku's fingertips. Ahsoka grunted as the incredible power of the lightning forced her to brace herself.
   With this sort of power attacking her Ahsoka couldn't move forward. An ozone smell suffused the air around her as smaller bolts arced away from the collision of lightsaber and electrical power. Some of these bolts in their random sparking twisted and struck her. The pain was managable but real, soon her arms would weaken and her defenses slip. Given her situation she doubted she could come up with a counter strategy that would wrestle the initiative back from Dooku, but she had to and fast.
   She was racing through options in a near hopeless attempt to turn the tide when she saw something that she at first thought was an illusion created by her desperate mind. From behind Dooku she saw what seemed like a long, thin tendril rear up behind the count like seaweed waving in the current or a striking serpent. Time telescoped for the young jedi as she watched the unknown rope-like thing come around Dooku's right side and wrap itself once, twice, three times around Dooku's neck. Then Ahsoka noticed the crackling energy surrounding the tendril. Her hope rose. Her eyes widened. Once it had completed it's encirclement two things happened at the same time.
Dooku realized what it was that had ensnared him.
   The electric whip the queen had struck him with so expertly, discharged it's punishing electrical strike.The Count's back arched as his mighty lungs let out an extended cry of pain.
   Ahsoka took hold of the force and channeled it to extend her leap distance. She then leapt as hard as she could over the convulsing villain, very nearly scraping the high ceiling of the throne room, to land next to the queen.
   Predictably she found the queen holding the other end of the electro-whip currently wrapped around Count Dooku's throat. A viscious grin was upon her features as she watched the Count convulse from the electrical shocks.
   Whatever satisfaction the queen was getting from electrocuting the man was going to have to be cut short. Ahsoka grabbed the wrist of the queens hand (that wasn't holding the whip) and yelled to be heard above the cracking of electricity. “COME ON!” Then without waiting for royal permission unceremoniously dragged the surprised queen towards the throne room double doors. She gave the queen credit for being able to keep running with her despite her long flowing royal dress. If she had tripped Ahsoka would have carried her in some way. They needed to leave, fast.
   After they got into the hallway, Ahsoka took one last look behind her before the doors closed. She saw the Count doubled over on his knees shaking his head like a punch drunk fighter.
   Immediately the two women were stopped by the bark of a masculine voice. “Hey, what's going on? Let her go!”
   Coming to a halt Ahsoka turned back to the way she had been running. One of the Palaces Zyggerian guards was bringing up his blaster and aiming it at her. Two of his comrades were getting to their feet and also bringing their weapons up to aim.
   At once Ahsoka understood the problem. The guards had no idea what had gone wrong in the throne room. They didn't know what Dooku had done and here was Ahsoka literally dragging the queen from the throne room with her lightsaber activated. They thought she was kidnapping her! Best to say something fast. The queen however beat her to it.
   “Dooku threatened me and is engaged in an attempt to destroy the Zyggerian empire!” She swung the handle of her slaver whip towards the throne room doors, extending a finger to point. “Take him into custody. If he resists, kill him!”
   The guard sketched a quick bow and a “Yes my Queen!”
   It took a moment for the queens order to sink into Ahsoka. “No, WAIT!”
   It was too late though, the guard motioned to his two compatriots and the three of them ran into the throne room. After the door closed behind them Ahsoka gave the double doors a long searching look. They appeared to be heavily reinforced security doors. They had already failed in their primary mission of keeping threats out, but if the threat was already inside they could make adequate an adequate cage. There was nothing so simple as a primitive bar that could easily be slid across. Just an electronic panel with a multi-digit touchpad next to it.
   “What are the codes to lock this door?”
   “Well, the codes change quite frequently.” The queen said defensively and somewhat hastily. “I usually leave memorization of such details to the royal gatekeeper.”
   Ahsoka looked back at the door. With her enhanced hearing she could hear yelling from inside the throne room. The voice of the guard who had stopped her was now barking orders at Dooku. It was a shame he hadn't waited to hear her advice.“Wait! You mean the guy you just sent in there!?”
   With mild embarasment the queen nodded.
   Simultaneously Ahsoka heard the first of several blaster bolts issue from the barrels of several rifles inside the throne room along with the ominous sound of their reflection by lightsaber back to their firers. Just as Ahsoka had expected. It didn't seem to take Dooku long to recover.
   With a heartfelt sigh and a muttered “Swell.” she grabbed the queens wrist and took off again down the hallway. Too bad Artoo wasn't here, he could have locked the door easily.
   After rounding a corner the queen was the first to speak. “Wait, why are we running?” Turning back the way they had come the queen acquired a predatory gleam to her eye. She pumped a fist in the direction of the hated separatist while Ahsoka deactivated her lightsaber. “We were winning!”
   “Heh, no we weren't.” Upon seeing the queens puzzed look Ahsoka elaborated. “Your majesty, Count Dooku is extremely powerful. Even by jedi standards. I count us as being lucky for having gotten out of there alive.” Holding her hands up near her slave collar there came an impression of great power concentrated near her head. Her electronic slave collar snapped into pieces before falling away from her neck. “On that subject, I think you turned the tide back there. You may even have saved my life. Thank you.”
   Looking down into the grateful eyes of the jedi girl Queen Miraj's heart trembled slightly. She leaned down and kissed the young woman. The kiss held for a few seconds before Ahsoka broke it. Certainly not out of distaste. Far from it, the kiss was a moment of beauty after a frightening time. The problem was there was no time to extend upon it.
   “We have to go your majesty.”
   “But my throne...” The queen looked back in the direction of the throne room.
   “Gone I'm afraid. Your majesty Count Dooku has disposed of you. Theres no going back from that.” Ahsoka wasn't expecting the crushed look that came on the queens face to affect her as much as it did.
   Looking back towards her throne room, towards what was now her former seat of power the queen's lip curled back from her upper teeth. “I will come back, and when I do it will be in the wake of Dooku's defeat!” Snakes did not contain as much venom as her words.
   Ahsoka gathered the queens chin up with her thumb and forefinger and looked into her eyes. “He came here to destroy Master Anakin and Obi-Wan. That was his main purpose. You and I can still stop him, but you have to help me.” The queen gave a sigh, then hesitantly nodded.
   “Come on.” The two of them ran as fast as they could down the corridors of the palace. They saw several groups of guards runnning back and forth. Ahsoka made sure they hid from them. Who knew which ones were loyal to the queen? As soon as a group passed by they broke cover and kept running. This time they didn't stop until they had reached the gates of the palace itself.
   Just outside gates that had so quickly become unmanned in the chaos, Ahsoka heard a series of beeps and whistles and she looked around frantically for the source hoping she hadn't triggered some sort of alarm. The sound was strangely like a cheer of entusiasm or greeting. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of her long lost...
   “Artoo!” Running up to and giving the astrodroid a hug may have been an emotional thing to do but at least Ahsoka was able to restrain herself from kissing the astrodroid.
   “So are you ready to go get Master Anakin?” Artoo beeped in the enthusiastically affirmative. Ahsoka gave the droid a kindly pat on it's dome. “Alright, then lets's go get him.”
   The two women and the one droid ran as fast and as far away from the palace as they could. Well the women did, the droid just channeled more power to it's wheels.
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The Slave Queens New Interest