The best way to hunt krayt dragons is with a targeting beacon and an overhead warship. Failing that, the second best way is copious amounts of explosives and high power weaponry. None of that nonsense about a lone hunter matching wits with a beast in the desert, or a warrior and his blade taking down the beast alone. I mean, you can do that, but you'd be stupid to try it if you know any better.

If I recall, the last time Malak and I entered the krayt dragon's nest, we did so by stealth, but had a near run of things. We'd used a back entrance to get in while the creature was out hunting, but it had returned sooner than anticipated and we'd had to make a hasty exit, and the entrance we'd used had collapsed behind us. I was a bit stoned out of my mind at the time, mostly because I'd gotten a few kilos of spice. Wonderful stuff, spice. Really expands your horizons. It's how I found out hutts are actually hermaphroditic, and that I am not actually attracted to hermaphrodites.

Anyway, we loaded up for bear, taking the advice of HK and Canderous. We purchased a few dozen high explosive mines, a rocket launcher, two heavy repeating blasters, a high caliber rail gun, several dozen grenades, and heavy blaster rifles.

"You people are crazy," the hunting lodge owner told us as we loaded our supplies onto a pair of banthas we'd purchased to carry our supplies. They are wretched, smelly creatures, but they are one of the few reliable methods of transport out in the open dunes. Speeders tend to break down thanks to static and sand buildup, and also bantha's make good bait for dragons, so there we were.

"It's quite possible," I agreed. "But, I do believe we shall bag ourselves a dragon."

"Yeah, but even if you come back with a dozen pearls, you won't make back what you've spent on this hunt," the owner told us. "You've spent over 10000 credits!"

"Money well invested," I said, patting the side of a large blaster affectionately. "Besides, we could get lucky. Maybe there are two of them."

"Goddamn crazy tourists," the proprietor muttered, but he rang us up anyway. I doubted he saw this much custom in a month in normal times.

"The dragon makes its lair in a valley, here," I told my troops as we stood over a map I'd projected onto the sand just outside of town. "It's a two day ride through the dunes on bantha back. Our best bet will be to set a trap with a slaughtered animal of some sort. We can use one of our pack mounts for such a task, as we won't be requiring it on the return trip in any regard."

"What sort of beast is a krayt dragon?" Zaalbar inquired. "I have hunted many creatures on Kashyyyk. Once, I killed a Terentatek with my brother, in better times."

"An impressive feat, but the krayt dragon is far more dangerous," I said. "They can grow to over 100 meters long. This individual is somewhat younger, only about 50 meters long. Their hides are thick and highly resistant to blaster fire like the terentatek, though they do not rely on poison to weaken their prey. They hunt primarily at night, but if distrubed will attack during the day as well. Some krayt dragons have been known to attack sandcrawlers, and in rare cases, even destroy them and pry the poor souls inside out to feast upon."

"How do you kill one?" Canderous demanded.

"We rig the bantha with explosives, and when the sucker its it, blam! Just like in the sewers!" Mission crowed.

I shook my head. "Unlikely to work. A krayt dragon hunts by smell. It would easily notice something was wrong with the bantha, and would be unlikely to injest the explosives, recognizing them as harmful. Some have tried such a ploy in the past, or even used poison, but it rarely works."

"So what do we do?" Carth demanded.

"Well, if I had my way, I'd lure it out into the open and call down an orbital strike," I said. "But that's not going to happen."

"Explanation: We shall set up a kill box inside the valley. When the beast comes to feed, we shall attack it from three sides," HK explained.

I nodded. "We split into four fire teams. Canderous, Carth, Sarna, and myself will be the leads. Canderous, you take Belaya. Carth, you take Mission and Juhani Sarna will have Breni and Zaalbar with her. I will be with HK. The idea will be for the Force users to hold the dragon off if it attacks them, while the other teams continue firing. We'll hopefully bring the beast down before it comes to that."

"Any questions?"

There were, of course, a few more details to be hashed out, then and over the course of the ride out to the site, but things went smoothly enough. We were harassed a few times by the sand people, but once I killed a raid leader and mounted his head and the heads of his warriors attop a staff that I mounted to one of the banthas they left us well enough alone.

"Why do you do that?" Juhani demanded of me. "Such an act is disgraceful."

"Actually, it's rather high praise," I informed her.

"It's disgusting and barbaric! They should have been buried," Bastila snapped.

"That only shows how very little you know of the sand people. Had I buried them, we'd be attacked nightly, or even more frequently," I explained as we rode. It was of course, twilight, the best time to travel through the desert. We slept during the hottest part of the day, as that's the worst time to travel and would have played hell with our water rations.

"What, why?" Bastila demanded.

"You would have trapped the souls of their warriors in the dirt, so they never could reach the stars," Belaya called as she rode her bantha alongside the one I was sharing with Bastila.

Bastila blinked, then looked at me, looking slightly abashed. "Oh."

Juhani, however, was not satisfied. "And how do you know that? Are you just defending this act because it's what your mandalorian would do?"

"No, I actually bothered learning about tusken traditions instead of running off to go be some damned hero," Belaya shot back at Juhani. "A warrior must learn of her foes, for that is the only way to triumph in battle."

"You sound like a mandalorian," Juhani grumbled.

"I am a mandalorian," Belaya said proudly, and I noticed she rested a hand upon her abdomen when she did so. Pregnant already? It was likely. She was competent enough to ensure she was impregnated through the Force if that's what she desired. I can do the same thing, or prevent contraception, but I typically don't bother. I save my energy for ensuring I don't get any diseases that might impede my performance.

"You are a jedi!" Bastila squawked. "You can't be a mandalorian, you follow the jedi code!"

Juhani just looked pained, looking away from Belaya and out into the distance.

"Yeah, well, no one ever asked me if I wanted to be a damn jedi. I got kidnapped when I was a kid, just like you Bastila! I don't even remember my parents really I was so little. And you know what? Being a jedi sucked."

"To be a jedi is a noble calling, to be a defender of the weak, not an oppressor. A peace maker, not one who stirs up conflict," Juhani said as if to no one in particular.

"That's fucking rich," Belaya laughed. "The jedi oppressed the hell out of you, me, and Bastila! You know how many times I got told I was too aggressive? How often I got penance because I was too focused on lightsaber play and combat instead of inner peace and meditation? And shit, I was good at that too! I just...I like fighting! I might be small dammit, but I can kick ass! I was the best damned duelist out of all the padawans in our group and you two know it!"

"The masters saw potential in you," Juhani argued. "They did not wish you to fall, as I nearly did. They wanted you to accept yourself as you are, instead of trying to be something you are not."

Belaya snorted. "Wow. How can you even say that with a straight face? I remember when Quatra sat me down and told me in no uncertain terms we'd both be kicked out if we started having sex. I was horrified, mostly because I hadn't even considered such a thing 'cause I was so young, but also because I wasn't interested. So how must it have felt for you? I never got a talking to about not sleeping with the boy padawans, but oh boy, they made sure you felt bad for liking the ladies didn't they?"

Juhani stiffened. "They...they had our best interests at heart. And trust me, the boys were given a similar lecture. They had...experience with a certain individual." Juhani glanced at me sideways. "I may have some idea of who, now."

"What, Ferc? Please, it's hardly like he's Darth Revan or something," Bastila sniffed. She glanced at me. "You two would be about the same age though. Did you ever meet Revan?"

"I've seen him, from time to time," I said seriously. I don't know how I managed it, but I could play her silly game.

"I...you...what?" Belaya said, looking at Bastila as though she'd grown a second head. Juhani, for her part, had developed a sudden coughing fit.

"Hmph. I imagine he's even more reprehensible than you, Ferc," Bastila said, tossing her head. "I am learning to tolerate you, at least. Breni may be managing to house break you at last. Revan I have heard, is a bore who thinks only of satisfying his own pleasures and each new conquest he can make, weather planetary or bed partners. You seem to be at least able to hold a decent conversation."

"And I know how to set every nerve of your body on fire," I said. I pinched Bastila, hard. She let out a squawk and turned to glare at me, but I caught the flush in the dim light. "If you're good, you can have a spanking later."

Despite the darkness, I could tell that Bastila's face was redder than if she'd been out in the noon day suns. "I think I should switch mounts," Bastila sniffed. She stood and jumped over to Juhani's mount. "Come, Juhani. Perhaps you can help me with my meditation. I've been...distracted...lately. The idea of going to where my father died...it's disturbing me."

"Of course," Juhani said, slightly choked. "Let's leave ah, Ferc, to his own devices, shall we? Do you, er, do you really think he's met Revan?"

"Probably in some wretched bar like the one he took me too. Honestly, what sort of taste does the man have? At least we could have gone somewhere classy."

They rode off, I couldn't help but shake my head. "She wouldn't even have met her mother if we'd gone somewhere else. Besides, that was the nicest bar in town."

"She...she doesn't know?" Belaya asked, breaking my reverie.

I turned back to her. "Hmmm? Oh, that. I'm not sure. We were playing this game where we deliberately got each other's names wrong. I won, of seems to have taken it hard."

"Yeah, but then she'd call you, I don't know, Randy or something. But she called you fucking Ferc!"

"That does have a nice ring to it," I mused. "Fucking Ferc. I could put it on my all my correspondence."

"But you are Darth Revan!" Belaya exploded. "Is she stupid or something?"

"I'm not really observant enough to be a Darth," I said, rubbing my chin. "Now that you mention it, I don't think she's ever been conscious or present when we've discussed that I am, in fact, Revan. Indeed, she seems to have some sort of memory loss about the whole wiping my mind incident."

"What mind wiping incident?" Belaya demanded.

"Oh, the Council tried to wipe my mind, implant a new identity, and turn me into their perfect little puppet," I explained. "Ask Breni, she'll confirm it for you. Or just ask Vrook next time you see the old bastard."

"No, I believe it. That sounds like something they'd do," Belaya muttered. "If you're not their perfect little puppet, they try and erase every bit of you that doesn't fit into the code." She drew out her lightsaber, studying it. Then without warning, she tossed it, using the Force to hurl it high into the air. She drew her blaster rifle and started firing, hitting the saber once, twice, three times. On the third hit it exploded, and shards of metal and crystal made a sparkling rain that fell upon the sands.

"Fuck it. I'm not a jedi anymore," Belaya spat, hawking a large glob of phlegm into the sand. "I'm a spirts-damn mandalorian, and my kids will be too."

I studied Belaya in the darkness as we plodded along. I nodded to myself. Yes, she would do nicely for Canderous. I would just have to be careful to mold the Mandalorians into what I desired. I'd have to talk to the man. He seemed to deeply regret the death of that soldier of his he'd killed in an honor duel. Perhaps I could use that as leverage. What I wanted was a warrior culture that was dedicated to me and my eventual heirs, to expanding and protecting my territory. Perhaps leaving a Republic rump state and the hutts as a foe for us to fight every generation or so wouldn't be a bad plan. A cult of personality around myself and a battle cult could mesh nicely into one.

That morning we arrived at the valley, and set to work. I confirmed the krayt dragon was in its lair, and we hurriedly laid out the mines and set up our firebases, disguising them and our tracks to reduce the chance we'd be detected by the krayt dragon. Unfortunately, that also meant washing ourselves down with bantha urine.

"That is hideous!" Bastila shrieked when I held up the bucket she was to rub over herself. "It smells wretched and looks like it will stain my skin! Ugh, Ferc, you smell like an open sewer! I refuse, I am not-"

I interrupted the woman by knocking her legs out from under her using the force. Then I bent her over my legs and proceeded to spank her. At first she struggled and protested, but soon she went slightly limp, moaning slightly as I continued the paddling. After a good twenty or so swats. I stopped, letting her lay across my legs.

She looked up at me, face flushed. "Why are you stopping? I...I refused to be handled in such a way! So...so are you going to keep going or not!"

I shook my hand slightly, frowning at her. "You are a petulant, spoiled brat. I'm half sorry you enjoyed that as much as you obviously did. Now, take off your clothes."

Bastila stiffened. "I'm not-"

"I'm not in the mood right now, even if that obviously did it for you," I informed her. "This does reek, and it will ruin your clothes. Brought robes we'll burn after this. You can dress in them once you're done."

"I, but...but why?" Bastila finally managed, looking up at me with a confused expression.

"You recall dragons hunt by smell? Well, if they smell you, and you do smell lovely my dear, I rather approve of the oil your using, though I can recommend you a brand that doesn't need to be applied quite so liberally when you're out in the field, but anyway, you smell like human. And if the dragon smells you, you're dead. They'll attack you straight away, avoiding our injured bantha we leave for it, knowing you're an invader in their territory. So strip."

I let Bastila up, and she frowned at me. "Aren't you going to let me change?"

"That depends. Do you want me to leave?" I asked. "I did just give you a spanking. You should return the favor. I'm not so much for pain, but well, it would be a pleasure to see you."

Bastila blushed. "And if I say no?"

I shrugged. "Then I'll respect that. But no more spankings."

"I didn't ask for one in the first place," Bastila snapped. But then she paused. Slowly, looking very embarrassed, she slid her tunic off. She covered herself with her hands, though she had on an undershirt and sports bra.

"No one...no one's ever seen me like this," she said softly. Then she looked away. "Except...him." Her face contorted with rage. "I never told him he could, but he did. He hurt me, but...but it wasn't…"

I stood. "I'm sorry, this is obviously awkward for you. I'll be outside the tent. Make sure to take everything off, and douse yourself thoroughly in the urine."

I made to go, but Bastila put a hand on my arm. "Wait...I...look, will you help me? I...I don't…I don't mind. As long as….as long as Breni and Sarna...they won't mind, right? I um, I know Breni has been a bit jealous of…"

"We've talked. She's fine with it. As for Sarna, well, she brought her dildo along if you'd like to go for a ride on that before you give me a spin," I said. "Breni probably would do."

Bastila flushed. "I...look, you already said you weren't in the mood. I'm not...I'm not ready for that. Just...just help me, alright?"

"Very well." Gently, I lefted Bastila's hands off her breasts, then slowly took her undershirt off. She frowned at me. "Oh, not rough enough? Very well."

She squawaked when I ripped her bra off with the force, then jerked her pants off. I used the Force to shred her panties, which made her glare at me.

"I think as punishment, you should simply go without for a few days," I informed her. "Think of it as a price for your stubbornness."

"Pot meet kettle," Bastila grumbled, trying to cover herself again.

I roughly grabbed her and forced her arms to her sides. "No. You're beautiful. No need to hide it. Be proud."

I took a step back, and Bastila slowly relaxed. She posed for me, flushing. "Well?"

I nodded. "You're wonderful. Shame I have to ruin it now."

Bastila frowned at me. "What?"

Then I used the Force and drenched her in bantha urine. She wailed and wriggled as I roughly scrubbed her entire body with the wretched stuff. It really is foul; heavily concentrated with all sorts of nasty, smelly things, as banthas do not drink much water and have very efficient kidneys. Disgusting, but it does make it perfect for our purposes. I'd already washed the robes in the stuff, so we positively reeked.

When I was done, I grabbed Bastila and bent her over my knee. "You've been a good girl. Do you want another spanking?"

She looked up at me, frowning. "After that? I'm hardly in the mood! That was...that was painful! And humiliating!"

I raised an eyebrow. "So, you liked it?"

Bastila paused, panting slightly. She bit her lip, then nodded. "Um, yes. Please."

And so, I gave her the spanking of her life. I really wasn't in the mood myself, that urine is filthy stuff, but I did do the woman a courtesy and stimulated her with the force as I smacked my hand across her cheeks. It only took but a minute for her to buck and shudder with her orgasm, after which I stopped. I helped Bastila to sit on my knee, where she leaned on me, naked and dripping with Bantha urin.

"That was...that was...oh Force. I...Ferc, I've never...I didn't...the Master's what would-"

I put my finger to her lips. "I'm your Master, now, Bastila. I know you're not ready for me to take you, not yet. You're still dealing with what happened when you were captive. It's alright. We'll stick to the spankings until you're ready. If you'd like, I can have Breni or Sarna take care of you as well."

"I, um...Well, I don't know that I even like women," Bastila confessed.

"Would you like me to help you with that?" I asked her.

Bastila considered. "You can do that?"

"Of course. When this is over, we'll get Breni. She seems to like dominating, and you like being dominated. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time together. I'll just turn a few switches in your brain, and you'll love having her take you."

"You can do that? With the Force?" Bastila asked, confused. "I thought it only worked on the weak minded."

"It depends. If you want to, you can open yourself to all sorts of interesting things with the Force," I told Bastila. "I could even make it so you didn't enjoy the spankings, if that's what you want."

"No! I...um, I've always liked those," Bastila confessed. "The, ah, Masters, they learned I enjoyed physical punishment. So, they found other ways. But...well, I sort of liked those as well. It just felt...good. My mother, she never laid a hand on me. Not like my father. I guess...I guess I sorted wanted someone to take me in hand, I was always so wild. But...but you're the first person to really do it, Ferc. So...so thank you."

"Of course." Then I blanched. "I would kiss you, but, well, frankly you smell like an outhouse a sick gamorrean has used."

Bastila laughed and got off my lap, stretching. She arched her back, showing off her modest breasts to good effect. She grinned at me, and stretched again. Then she looked down at herself and made a face. "I do smell. And you seem to have bleached my hair. Everywhere."

"Sorry. I suggest you shave it off," I told her. I patted my recently bald pate. "I did the same. Normally I enjoy having long hair, but well, not with that smell."

"It suits you," Bastila said, nodding. "But I don't think that's for me. Though, I guess I could take off the hair around my...you know."

"Allow me." I gestured and my lightsaber few into my hand. "Don't move."

Bastila stiffened, but nodded. With a single pass it was over, save for the newly added stink of burning hair. I took out a knife and gestured her closer. "Let me finish."

"I, um, no. Sorry. Not you. Er, get Breni to do it later. I just...not right now, Ferc. I'm sorry."

"It's perfectly fine," I told her. "Now get dressed. We have a lot to do before sundown."