Princess Leia Organa watched, mortified, as her lover was taken away. How foolish, how half-cocked had her plan been? And where did it leave Han and her other friends, now?

"Wait," a deep, gurgling voice broke into Leia's consciousness. Tensing, she turned fearfully to its source. Jabba the Hutt was reclining on the floor in a previously-hidden alcove, waving his short, fat arms toward himself. "Bring her to me."

A hand grabbed her arm, and Leia tensed, only to find Lando, still in his disguise as a palace guard. She had almost forgotten he was there, and was glad, even fleetingly hopeful, to see him. Then a Gamorrean guard came up beside her and took her other arm, and they moved her forward.

As they neared Jabba, the Gamorrean guard's hand released Leia's arm, and she heard a muffled thump somewhere right behind her, and Lando's hand released her other arm; he'd been shoved out of the way. Leia felt both of the guard's hands seize her biceps and push her harder, heading directly to the Hutt, without any sign of slowing down.

She had a bad feeling about this-but now was definitely not a time to show any signs of confusion or fear. Leia steeled herself, even as she was pushed closer and closer to Jabba, until she was within his chubby arm's reach. "We have powerful friends," she stammered; it was all she could think of saying as the front of her body was shoved directly against the Hutt's huge, round belly. She had to switch to breathing through her mouth as foul bodily odor began to assault her nostrils. As an afterthought, she added, "You're gonna regret this!"

Leia forced herself to keep a straight face even as the guard pushed her even more firmly up against Jabba's bulk, which dimpled around her frame with sickeningly wet squelching sounds. Leia tried to arch her upper body back, frowning in confused disgust The slimy sounds of the Hutt's flesh grew louder beneath her as she was shoved closer and closer, until her face was within inches of his own. "I'm sure," he grumbled, his eyes narrowing, "Leia..."

The very way that the Hutt pronounced Leia's name-drawing it out into such a long, foul breath until it was transformed into such a foul, filthy-sounding word-made Leia's resolve crumble; and then all at once she realized that he pronounced it as his huge tongue emerged, spilling out thick dribbles of slime as he licked his lips. Utterly repulsed, she turned her head, squeezed her eyes shut, and uttered a loud, breathy groan.

She could hear C3-PO as he helplessly whimpered, "Ohhh, I can't bear to watch," turning meekly away as Jabba grumbled thickly, still slurping at his lips. Thanks, Threepio, Leia thought, cringing as the wet slurping sounds continued. Any time she'd previously witnessed the Hutt lick his lips had been unwholesome, but at least she had only ever seen the action from a safe, bearable distance; but as he was doing it mere inches from her face, with the wet sounds mixing with his grumbles and moans, a miasma of warm, humid smellsdrifting over her features, it was far too disgusting to bear. The Hutt's pet lizard-monkey cackle from nearby-and then it occurred to her that this was exactly what Jabba wanted: to make her show a sign of weakness, to undermine her with something that not even she could bear..

Jabba chuckled, still slobbering, and Leia was sickened to feel his big belly quake against her body. Nice try, Jabba, she thought, and although she still grimaced, she turned back to face the Hutt—only to immediately regret the decision, for Jabba's tongue, still hanging thickly out over his lips, curled up to wetly meet her face, and before she could react, he managed to slobber a beastly kiss upon her lips.

Leia was almost grateful for the laughter of the sick audience which then rose around her, because it almost completely drowned out a second, even more deeply horrified moan that escaped her slime-slathered lips. "Augh!"

Retracting his tongue, Jabba bellowed, "In the meantime..." and then the audience grew quiet, "I shallthoroughly enjoy the pleasure of your company." Leia, spitting the foul taste that had managed to slip into her mouth, froze and glared at Jabba. His particular choice of words, along with the knowing chuckles that arose around her, made her skin crawl with the disturbing possibilities that she simply could not bear to give more than fleeting thoughts to.

#

Over a year before, Han Solo, Leia's lover, an intergalactic smuggler-turned-Rebel, had been captured and brought to an old former partner of his, the loathsome Jabba the Hutt, to whom he owed a large unpaid debt. It had taken quite a lot of time and resources, but she, along with her friend Luke, and Han's friends and fellow Rebels Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian, had been able to track down the Hutt's palace.

Luke was only able to do so much; he had been communicating from the planet Dagobah, where he had been training with his Jedi master Yoda for some time now.

First, Lando had gone into the palace in disguise, sending remote transmissions to confirm that Han was indeed there. Two days later, two droids that had proven to be key members of her Rebel gang, were dispatched to Jabba's palace with a message from Luke: they would serve him as gifts in exchange for Han's safe return. Lando would independently escape soon after, and all would be well. However, the greedy Hutt kept the droids as prisoners and ignored the deal, so Leia had to take matters into her own hands.

Disguising herself with the confiscated armor of a captured bounty hunter known as Boushh, Leia took Chewie as a false prisoner to Jabba's palace, trying to land a bogus bargain for the Wookee. Jabba agreed, and with all the pieces in place, that night, she made her move.

Han was exactly as she'd last seen him, incarcerated in a framed carbonite mold, which Jabba had hung on a wall in his private art gallery, a sick trophy. Freeing him, Leia unmasked herself; although Han was temporarily blinded from his carbonite hibernation he was otherwise mercifully, beautifully alive!

Then Jabba's horrible laughter had erupted from behind the gallery's closed curtain, and Leia had frozen, completely unsure of what to do. Somehow, the Hutt had learned of her plan, and she and Han were immediately apprehended. It was painfully pathetic to watch Han try to bargain with Jabba. The Hutt what here and all of his offers, and ordered him to be taken away; Leia watched helplessly, knowing that in all likelihood, Han would be brought to a darkened prison cell, where at the very least, he would have time to heal.

#

"First, however," Jabba added, "let's get you into something a little more appropriate..."

The sinking sensation in her gut increased tenfold, then, and as the Gammorean guard pulled her back from the Hutt, flesh nosily peeled away from where it had stuck to her clothes, she shivered.

Boba Fett, the Empire-allied bounty hunter who'd captured Han, came forth. "We need to check for weapons," he said. "She's resourceful."

"That she is," Jabba said, and Leia's skin crawled at the way he looked at her.

As Fett came over, Leia closed her eyes, feeling almost dizzy with helplessness. The bounty hunter unceremoniously patted down her arms and legs, checking for any outfit for any concealed weaponry. Finding none, he then began to remove her weapons belt and jerkin. Off came the spare breathing packs for use in the harsh Tatooine desert air, which she'd worn only as part of the disguise. Convinced that she was clean, Fett told Jabba he was done.

"Melina, take her away," Jabba said. "Bring her back in the morning."

Leia was both relieved and even more uncertain as a pale, black-haired woman in a form-fitting red outfit came forth and half-bowed to Jabba. "Master," she said, and began to walk away. As the guard shoved her after, headed for one of the massive connecting hallways, Leia glared back at Jabba a final time. He licked his lips, slime dribbling thickly down his chins, and then he was out of sight.

I have a bad feeling about this, Leia thought.

#

After she'd been let out of the main chamber, Melina and the guard had led Leia through the darkened corridors, passing curious and amused onlookers until they reached a wide, closed door. Inside, Leia's fears of her intended fate were increased tenfold she saw the occupants of the chamber beyond: a multitude of scantily-clad women—more than forty, Leia guessed—lounged about on decorative cushions and pillows.

It was a harem.

Melina told the guard to leave, and after he did, she proved herself to be more professionally-minded than cruel. As soon as the door was closed, she instructed Leia to remove her desert garb. "Don't worry," she said. "He's a pervert, even by Hutt standards, but he's not that perverse."

"How comforting," Leia muttered. She felt dry crumbling sensation on her upper lip, and realized that Jabba's slime must have dried out on her skin. She wiped her gloved hand across her mouth, then reluctantly obliged Melina's instructions.

As Leia undressed, she pondered the purpose of this strange affair. If Jabba's intentions were truly not to take advantage of human women (or other species, for that matter, as Leia glimpsed Rodian, Theelin, Askajian, and other varieties of humanoid slaves strutting about), then why all this? Why own a harem? Leia's lips tightened the more she thought more about the situation at hand: a typical Hutt, the vile gangster no doubt dabbled in the flesh trade, which made Leia hate him all the more, and pity the poor women all around her.

It took a couple of minutes; Leia's desert suit had dual thermal layers that had to be independently unfastened and removed. As it all came off, Melina took it all, folded it, and bunched it under her arm.

And as for Leia being put among the slaves' ranks? It only made sense that Jabba sought to humiliate and degrade her, no doubt to befoul her image: a Rebel leader and the orphaned Princess of her home planet of Alderaan, caught in the act of rescuing her loved one—

I wonder how Han is doing, Leia wondered, and took a heavy breath as she pushed her pants off of her slender legs. For a moment, she had a strange, fleeting image of her lover in the warm, crushing embrace of Chewie, but she doubted that he'd be lucky enough to be put in the same prison cell. She shook the lucid image out of her head and finished undressing.

"We'll get you cleaned up and outfitted in the morning," Melina said as Leia reached her underwear. Leia stopped and looked up at Melina, who closed her eyes and shook her head, and Leia paled.

Melina said, "You won't have much choice in how much you can wear, really," she said, "but, if you're shy, you can stay in those for tonight. After, though..." She shrugged. "That won't be up to me."

Leia swallowed hard. There was no reason she should show her vulnerability now any more then when she was in Jabba's presence; yet she felt some kind of relief, even comfort, with Melina. She had an instinctive feeling that this woman, along with the slumbering or half-awake women around her, posed no threat to her, not while she was there among them. They probably weren't even in here by choice, she realized; the Hutts were known for their collecting of everything from wealth, treasures, and art to their shamelss use of people. No, the women here—Melina included—were slaves.

"I understand," Leia muttered. "Thanks."

Melina pursed her lips, then nodded, as if unused to such a response, then showed Leia to an unoccupied nest of cushions.

#

The next morning, after a restless sleep, Leia had almost convinced herself that it had all been some awful dream—until she sat up and saw her bare legs, and remembered the events of the night before. She pulled herself upright and drew her legs closely to her chest, hugging her arms around her shins.

Around her, the slaves were rising. Most of them moved about on their own, although she watched pairs and even trios got ready for whatever they did for the day. Some disappeared and reappeared through a door on the far side; she hoped it was a washroom, and was relieved to discover that it was.

Over the next hour, Leia sat around and waited for Melina to appear. She avoided meeting the occasional curious, even judging, looks from slaves around the room. There was a redheaded woman seemed particularly interested in her, but she didn't talk to her. Leia realized that Melina was the only person in the palace that she would feel comfortable talking to, and even there, she doubted that she could actually trusther.

Leia's stomach began to grumble, and she clasped her hands over it. She was quite hungry; although she didn't see any food in the harem, she doubted that the slaves were starving. She'd not eaten anything since the afternoon before, when she'd been led (still in disguise) to her private chamber.

Most likely her belongings had been confiscated in the wake of her capture; besides a power pike and a few remaining travel morsels, there was nothing of any real value. Still, the thought the brought bitter taste of powerlessness, and her hands balled into fists.

Han, I will save you, somehow.

When Melina finally appeared, Leia rose and faced her, silently inquiring.

"Let's get you ready," Melina said. "Master Jabba is waiting for you."

Leia swallowed hard. She didn't like the sound of that.

#

"And...that should do it," Melina said, slipping a small gold fastener over the end of Leia's long hair, which she'd spent the past few minutes braiding into a single rope. She took Leia's biceps and guided her to turn in a small circle, and Leia gasped.

She had been more than a little put off by the skimpy implications of the outfit that had brought in for her. Surely, Leia had thought, there was more to her "appropriate" change of clothing than what she saw. Yet she tell her tone, as well as her judgment, until Melina was finished, and yet now, seeing it in its final presentation...

Leia was appalled at what looked back in the mirror before her. Beneath her gold-clasped hair, hooped, spike-ended earrings had been put through the holes in her ears. After being cleaned up (in a most degrading, if mercifully brief, time in the washroom with Melina), a subtle amount of makeup had been applied to Leia's eyes and lips, bringing out the finer aspects of her features. But further down—

"Lower your arms," Melina said, and only then did Leia realize she had pressed them around her abdomen. "I know you're not used to seeing yourself like this, but you will." She shrugged with a snicker. "You'll have to."

Leia took a deep breath, then obeyed. Her entire abdomen was left entirely exposed by the sickening design of her outfit. Two ornately-shaped gold frame cups, lined with soft linen, only barely covered the fronts of her breasts, held loosely in place by thin strings that formed an X across her back, exposing far too much cleavage than she was comfortable seeing. A gold serpent-coil armlet had been slipped up around her left bicep, and a long, wide bracelet was on her right wrist. Two decorated gold plates hung over her pelvis and upper backside, held together with gold oval rings that clasped over her upper hips. From these plates hung twin fringes of purple Lashka silk, leaving both of her legs entirely exposed but for the low boots on her feet—to say nothing of the discomforting feeling of cool air that touched everything, left quite exposed, beneath the revealing skirt.

She had been dressed, for whatever ultimate intents and purposes, as a slave.

Leia realized that Melina had said something; silent with horror, she blinked and turned to the other woman, inquiring with her eyes what she had said.

"I asked if you need to visit the refresher before you leave."

Leia didn't answer at first; she could hardly process any thought. After a moment's fleeting consideration, she nodded.

As Melina led the way, Leia felt more scared than she had in a long, long time.

Luke, she thought to herself—or to him, if he could somehow hear her—please come soon.

#

"Oooaaahh..." the Hutt moaned thickly as Leia was pushed into the chamber before him. He was reclining upon his massive stone throne, a hookah set up for his convenience in the armrest beside him. Bib Fortuna stood before the throne, grinning toothily as he took her in. Hushed whispers, moans, gasps, and gossip arose all around her, and Leia could feel many gazes crawling over the exposed areas of her body. Her cheeks burning, she forced herself to look down at the floor before her booted feet.

There was a thump and a rustle of cloth, and Leia became aware of Bib stepping before her. "I shall bring her to him," he intoned, and Leia felt the guard release her.

Run, Leia thought. Just run, grab the nearest weapon, and fight your way out. But she knew she could do no such thing. Han, Chewie, and the droids were all still being held captive; and Lando, despite his disguise, was every bit a prisoner here as the rest of them. No, she couldn't go anywhere—not unless, not until, Luke or some other form of help were to show up.

Several cool, long-nailed fingers slipped around Leia's bare upper biceps, then, and Leia shivered. Bib chuckled, and Leia could feel his breath by her ear, making her shiver again. "You don't make this hard, andhe won't," came his words, and with them, he seized her other shoulder. Leia didn't respond nor resist, and so Bib pushed her inexorably towards the throne.

"How very satisfying," Jabba said. Leia's spell of embarrassment grew even more pronounced, and she squeezed her eyes shut. "Leia Organa, the famous Rebellion leader, all mine." Her shame abruptly disappeared, and she turned glaring eyes up at him. He licked his lips, fresh slime dribbling down his chins; foul though the beast was, she now faced him with spite more than disgust.

"Princess," Bib taunted, and Leia's fists balled at her sides. "Don't forget that, Master-she is the greatPrincess of fallen Alderaan."

"Princess Leia," Jabba chuckled, his eyes narrowing. "Behold, the great Princess Leia!" he bellowed, raising his chunky arms. The Hutt burst out laughing, and Bib and several onlookers joined in on the cruel humor.

Leia, feeling herself tremble with rage, pursed her lips against the black responses she could feel welling up inside her. If last night was any indication, anything she said would be quickly used against her.

"Bring her to me," Jabba said, and Leia tensed. He'd said the same thing the last time she had been brought before him; she couldn't—she refused to—ponder what he had in store for her this time.

She knew better than to make things difficult for Bib as he pushed her to the throne and half-instructed, half-pushed her up onto it—but she didn't give him the benefit of making the task any easier. She was only too aware of how much of her person that she was showing off as she lifted her bare legs up onto the throne, and was uncomfortably aware of Jabba's gaze upon her upper chest as she straightened before him. His eyes lifted to meet hers as she did, and she gave him the coldest, most defiant glare she could muster as Bib climbed up beside her.

And the smell of the Hutt! Perhaps she hadn't fully realized how right he was last night, but now, it was nearly overwhelming.

Then Bib grabbed Leia's arms and shoved her forward, and Leia's self-control shattered.

Leia groaned in disgusted anticipation as Bib moved her closer to Jabba. She began to twist and writhe her upper body, trying to pull away from the moist warmth she felt in the air against her skin. Just absolute, mindless panic could take over, Leia found herself recalling Melina's words: He's a pervert, even by Hutt standards, but he's not that perverse. Leia took a fleeting moment of comfort in this, but then Bib's words intruded: You don't make this hard, and he won't.

You will be alright, a third voice said, and Leia's struggle faltered.

Luke?

You will be alright, his voice repeated. Let him think he's won. Don't tempt him to hurt you or anyone else. Just stay alive, and you will be alright.

The entire exchange occurred in a heartbeat's time, and Leia had no time to think about how he was communicating with her—or how close he may be, if that was any indication. She just knew he was right: she needed to stay alive, for her own sake, and for that of her friends. Jabba might have some pretty disgusting ideas in mind for her, but if what Melina said was true, even he would have certain limitations on what he would do, no matter how much enjoyment he was getting out of her captivity.

Biting her lower lip, Leia took a deep breath and forced herself to remain as calm as she could possibly be as her half-naked body was shoved into Jabba's slimy, waiting arms.

Leia closed her eyes and let out a shaky, whimpering breath as the exposed flesh of her stomach met Jabba's lumpy, squishy, greasy skin. She couldn't help but feel just how naked so much of her body really was; it was impossible to do so as she was shoved closer and closer against the Hutt, his warm, greasy flesh seeming to fluidly spread across her belly the more they made contact, squelching like so much foul, noisy mud as she was pushed-as she sank-into its thick mass.

She could feel a keening groan forming in the back of her throat, but she pursed her lips, muffling it to a whimpered "HnnnnNNH..." NO, she willed herself; she would not abandon her better judgments to disgust and fear; that was clearly what Jabba wanted. She was determined to not give the Hutt the satisfaction he sought from her.

Then Jabba shifted slightly, the multitude of gelatinous rolls massed beneath his chin squishing and slipping around against Leia's upper abdomen as he moved. She felt warmth as his thick, flabby arm reached around her half-naked torso; fat fingers spread over her skin as he pressed his hand between her shoulder blades, and then he pulled her even closer, and the fronts of her scantily-clad breasts sank into his flesh with such ease that for a wildly claustrophobic moment, she thought his bulk might devour her completely.

She uttered another faint whimper through her sealed lips, her nostrils flaring-and oh, Force, the SMELL!Finding herself debating breathing through her mouth so she didn't have to inhale any more of the Hutt's rank odors and knowing such a choice would invite her to once again cry aloud in her repulsion, she had a fleeting, maniacal urge to giggle at the hopelessness of her situation.

Then Bib released her arms, and Leia lifted her hands to her sides, half-poising them in a physical debate to somehow try to push herself away, but too late: she felt her breasts meet Jabba's slimy rolls, the gold frames of her top pressing firmly upon her flesh. Jabba's free hand slid onto the lower left of her abdomen, and now she did try to push herself away, pressing her hands against the front of his belly, which was so much slick, greasy dough beneath them. She plucked them away from his flesh, experiencing a full-body shudder as the Hutt pulled her inexorably closer, shoving her pelvis into his belly with most disconcerting possibilities of intent.

"Leiaaaahhghhhlllllllh..." Jabba uttered, his huge tongue spilling out of his mouth, stretching and quivering towards Leia's face, and from his toothless lower jaw, thick gobs of horrible saliva poured out, spilling foul, sticky liquid upon the far-too-exposed tops of her breasts.

That did it.

Leia allowed herself a loud, raw vocal reproach, turning her head to give it voice just as the Hutt managed to lick the side of her jaw: "Augh-UHNNHH!" His tongue was lumpy, yet slick with the warm corruption that oozed from its every inch, slipping and slopping as it smeared his foul saliva upon her skin.

Oh Force, I can't do this, Leia thought. Taking another heavy breath, her breasts heaving into his squishy bulk, she moaned again, louder.

The slimy sounds of his dribbling maw was a horrifying cacophony in her ears, and the rank odors welling out from his gullet were a noisome horror on her nostrils. Leia groaned and whimpered and grimaced loudly, helplessly turning her head back and forth, and only stopped when the wet sounds before her ended.

Leia heard Jabba slurping his wet lips, chortling thickly at her's disgust-or, she was even more horrified to imagine, perhaps savoring her taste. Leia could feel every quake and jiggle of his flesh against her half-naked body, and allowed herself another loud groan as Jabba slurped again. "Proceed," he grumbled, and as Leia's disgust and fear rose, so did her moans.

She had been so deeply focused upon her struggle that she'd barely heard the metallic jangling sounds until their source had been brought beside her. She looked down to her left in time to see two Jawas following along the time- and bulk-flattened animal hides that covered the throne beside Jabba's tail, bringing a long, thin, coiled chain towards her. They stopped, and held out to Bib, whose taloned fingers carefully, evendaintily, plucked something out from the mass of links and slowly lifted it.

So this is it, Leia thought as Bib raised the metal object, holding it open in both hands, revealing more and more the sheer length of the chain trailing behind it. Leia closed her eyes as the cold metal brushed her chin and kissed her neck, and Bib's forearms pressed against the sides of Leia's face as he pushed the two halves of the slave-collar around her neck, their ends meeting with metallic click that sounded like hopeless eternity.

"Princess Leia," Jabba belched, an undertone of cruel humor in his voice. He licked her face again, making her groan, and he belched a chuckle. "Princess Leia, a slave. My slave. Slave Leia..."

#

After a few more excruciatingly horrible minutes, Jabba finally released her, and although she was quick to step away, he was quick to grab the chain within a chunky arm's length. He held it firmly, stopping her from going anywhere as the Jawas draped the majority of its slack over the huge base of the Hutt's tail. Leia watched fearfully, her face wrinkled into a grimace of repulsion, the slime-smeared tops of her heaving breasts cool where the air touched them, as the Jawas secured its end somewhere behind the throne, out of her sight and out of her resourceful mind.

The Hutt ushered Bib and the Jawas off of his throne, and requested some music. It was only then that Leia noticed the absence of his pet lizard-monkey; perhaps it was elsewhere in the palace. Not that she'd miss the obnoxious creature; she only fleetingly realized that she was so intently pondering this out of a desperate ignorance of the horror she had been subjected to.

Nearby, the band began to play a melodic, upbeat tune. And then Jabba turned his big, orange eyes to her and said, "Dance."

Leia froze. What a few dances she knew were only appropriate to official gatherings, and could only be performed with another bipedal being. What did he possibly think—?

"Move your body," Jabba said, his eyes wandering shamelessly over Leia as he raised his chain-wielding hand, a fat finger poking at her legs. "Dance for me, Slave Leia."

Hearing herself addressed in such a degrading, demoralizing term was, in retrospect, something of a blessing; it reinvigorated and old and powerful emotion: anger. Embarrassment, repulsion, fear—all vanished as deep spite took root, and Leia straightened before him, lifting her head and glaring back at him in silent defiance.

Don't tempt him to hurt you or anyone else.

Leia wouldn't, but she also knew that obedience could be viewed as suspicious. She had to make her struggle seem genuine. Depending on how long she stayed here, she would have to act like she was going through phases of defiance, reluctance, defeat, and ultimately, submission.

Jabba watched her silent protest for a long moment, then nodded. "I expected as much," he said, and lifting his arm, he gave a quick, powerful pull on the chain—so powerful, in fact, that it caught her quite off-guard; she could never have expected the bloated, flabby Hutt to be so strong; she was thrown forward out of her balance, and nearly fell to her knees, only just managing to catch herself. She straightened before him, and watched as he switched the chain to his other hand, higher up along its length, and pulled slowly, steadily back. Her hands flew up to grab the chain between his hand and her neck, and she braced her feet; but it was all too late, and she was too close to him for it to matter. He drew her right back towards himself, pressing her half-naked body up against his once again.

"Slave Leia," Jabba said, his breath a rank and hot cloud upon her features. She steeled herself to be put through another humiliating display, but was surprised when the Hutt said in an even, matter-of-fact tone, "You would do well to learn that when I want you to come to me, you come to me." She said nothing; he pulled the chain, forcing her face closer to his, and said, "Do you understand?"

Leia remain silent. She didn't want to resist him too much, but she knew that suddenly acting obedient would be just as troublesome for her. Showing only her repulsion, she glared up at him and, after a moment, nodded slowly.

He slurped at her face, and she managed to keep her response to a grumble in the back of her throat. "You may sit," he said, and much to her surprise, he let go of the chain, its links dropping coldly upon the exposed middle of her breasts.

Leia pulled back from him, pursing her lips against the grimace they yearned to form as his clammy skinpeeled away from hers. She moved slowly, waiting for him to have an abrupt (if perfectly intentional) change of mind; but true to his word, he made no move upon her as she stepped slowly back on the throne.

She turned around, looking for a spot along the front edge, as far from him as the chain would allow; as she lowered herself, she heard another metallic jangle, and tensing, she glared back at him as he gathered up more of the chain from his tail.

"Not that far," he said, and pointed to the base of his belly. "Right here," he said.

Leia narrowed her eyes. Of course, she thought. He wanted her nearby; privacy and personal space meant nothing to him; clearly, he was exhibiting more of his demoralizing control.

She stepped gingerly closer, and began to lower herself to the cushions before him, when the chain jingled again. Tensing, she turned to him, and he pointed straight down; he wanted her to sit directly in front of him.

Taking a deep breath, Leia resentfully forced herself to sit down directly in front of him—then gasped at what she saw.

Four dancers had entered the chamber; she recognized at least two of them from the harem. They were dancing to the music, twisting and writhing their bodies in shameless exploit, all the more demeaningly accentuated by their skimpy outfits. It was deeply repulsive to watch, and the other movements were so graceful, so hypnotic, she couldn't help herself.

"Learn what you can," Jabba said behind her. There was a metallic clink, and Leia braced herself, but too late: the collar rotated on her neck and dug painfully into her throat, and thrown off-balance, she fell helplessly back upon Jabba's huge belly with a sickening, fleshly plop.

Luke, she thought as Jabba's hand dropped to her bare shoulder and rubbed slowly around in an awkward, discomforting caress, I don't know how much longer I can do this.

#

Just as the song ended, a guard pushed in a small, portable refresher, much like ones used at public events. It didn't take much imagination for Leia to know that she would be given no privacy to use it; and save a few turned heads, she soon discovered that she was right.

After, Jabba tugged the chain and forced Leia up against him once again, but her unwilling obedience of pressing her exposed flesh to his apparently hadn't been enough satisfaction. Slipping a chunky arm around her lower abdomen, he pulled her uncomfortably closer, from the hips up. Leia raised her arms, ready to push herself away, and found herself faltering when Jabba began to speak. "This," he gave her hips a squeeze so her pelvis rammed more firmly into his belly, and Leia exhaled a disgusted breath through her nostrils, "is what I call the slave's embrace. It is a display of respect; all of my proper slaves do this. Given time, you will perform this whenever I pull your chain. Understand, girl?"

Leia continued to glare at Jabba, her skin crawling everywhere that it was moistly touched by the Hutt's filthy, heaving flesh. Respect? she wanted to spit back in his face, but knew better than to try and challenge him now. With nothing else to say, she nodded grimly.

Licking his lips, Jabba gave her pelvis another squeeze, then released his grip around her waist.

Leia couldn't pull away fast enough; she'd just begun to turn away when he gave another tug on the chain, and she threw fire at him with her eyes.

"Da eitha," he commanded, pointing a fat finger down at his belly. Come here.

Leia glared at Jabba for a long moment, took a deep breath as she weighed her options, frustratingly deciding to acquiesce and get this degrading task over with.

Jabba yanked the chain again. "Da eitha, shag," he repeated, more curtly.

Taking a deep breath, Leia stepped forward, cringing as she forced herself slowly back into Jabba's arms-and faltering when the bare flesh of her belly met his moist flesh. She'd had more than her share of being forced to come in contact with his body already; what did it really matter now if she were to-

The Hutt's hands suddenly grabbed her pelvis; Leia gasped as his bloated fingers uncomfortably touching the exposed areas of her backside where the Lashka silk failed to cover. Realizing what the Hutt was up to, she followed suit. "Ungh," she grumbled as she reluctantly twisted her lower body forward, pressing her too-too-naked stomach and pelvis more firmly against the thick, soft flesh of his belly. She felt so disgusted-so disgusting-having to do this, and only barely felt relief when the Hutt lowered his hands.

"Good," he said. "Do it again."

Taking a heavy breath, Leia stepped back, and when Jabba blinked, she moved forward again and resumed his loathsome slave's embrace. Satisfied at last, the Hutt licked her face, chuckling as Leia turned and groaned through her slimy lips.

Later, Jabba held a holographic conference with two of his cronies, who were finalizing a drug deal elsewhere on Tatooine. Leia found herself blushing as C3-PO was summoned by his side to interpret, but the droid thankfully didn't comment on her state of undress or captivity. Several times during the conference, Jabba gave brief tugs on the chain, making Leia tense; but fortunately, he seemed too involved in the deal to pay more attention to her.

After the conference ended, Jabba asked Leia if she was hungry; by that point, starving, she had no choice but to nod. A chef arrived, pushing in a hover-cart full of assorted foods; it was impossible to tell what some of them were, and others were so absolutely disgusting that Leia wouldn't dare go near them. She ate with abandon, filling her stomach with more food than she usually ate outside of a banquet, marveling as she did how good some of the more edible-looking items were. Jabba waited for her to take her fill, and then he had the cart elevated beside his armrest. The noisy slurps and slobbers were almost too much for Leia to listen to, but she was grateful that from above, Jabba couldn't see her face.

Another deal occurred later, this time in person. A weapons dealer arriving with a batch of powerful blasters and dizzying prices. The dealer's scarred face frowned more than once as he glanced Leia over, and after the deal was finished, he asked Jabba if she was who he thought he was. "She is indeed," the Hutt proclaimed proudly, and yanked up on the chain, forcing Leia to her feet. Leia blushed as Jabba ordered her to turn around where she stood, showing her off like she was some object. Leia glared into Jabba's eyes as she came to face him, and she could hear the dealer laughing behind her-and all the moreso when Jabba yanked the chain.

Oh, no, Leia thought; but rather than putting up a struggle and risking coming across as all the more pathetic in her captivity than she already was, she swallowed her pride...and stepping toward the Hutt, she gingerly assumed the slave's embrace. The dealer chuckled heartily as Jabba mocked the "enslaved Princess," and Leia was only too grateful to the dealer when he turned the conversation back to the transaction at hand. Jabba released Leia, and she sat down before him, blushing furiously.

After the deal was finished, and guards had taken the weapons away, Jabba ordered Leia to go onto the floor before the throne. He threw the chain onto the throne beside her, and all the slackened links elevated her tension as she reluctantly rose before him. Her fears were fully realized when the band began to play music; yet she climbed off the throne and adjusted her loose garments as best as she could before turning to face the Hutt, who then commanded her to dance.

Balking, Leia froze. I'd sooner do your filthy embrace, she thought; she had only seen Jabba's dancers perform once before, and couldn't recall having learned anything from it. The music kept playing, however, and Jabba continued to stare down at her. "You will dance for me, Slave Leia."

Just stay alive, Leia thought, and raising her arms above her head and closing her eyes, she thought back as hard and deeply and she could on her memories of watching the other dancers, and tried to make her body follow what she saw. It was a clumsy and graceless performance, and the unwieldy chain proved to be a cumbersome hindrance; but as the song continued and grew more and more pronounced, she found her body moving fairly independently, her hips rocking and gyrating, her torso twisting in ways she didn't know she was capable of beyond any of her physical training in the Rebellion. For a few fleeting seconds, she almost felt some kind of strange freedom.

Then came an abrupt, hard yank on the chain, the snapping metal links tearing Leia out of her brief escape. She opened her eyes and saw Jabba had the chain in his hand again, and was lifting his arm up to give it another tug. Not wishing to be drawn in like some kind of animal, she begrudgingly strode to the throne and climbed atop it. As she straightened before Jabba, she faltered, knowing exactly what he wanted; but as the Hutt narrowed his eyes and licked his lips, Leia took a heavy breath, lowered her gaze, pursed her lips, and reluctantly shoved herself into a slave's embrace.

"Well-done, Slave Leia," Jabba said, his rank breath hot upon her body. Leia stifled a disgusted moan as he rewarded her with a beastly, slobbering kiss.

#

The rest of the day continued the same as how it had begun. Jabba settled a few illicit deals, and shared three more meals with Leia. After the last of these, he he offered his slime-smeared hookah to Leia, but when she muttered that she didn't smoke, he chuckled in amusement and yanked her back against himself as he resumed puffing it. Laying against her bloated captor, Leia watched a couple of Gamorrean guards hauling out the crates of acquired (and unknown) merchandise-and then suddenly realized something: she hadn't seen Lando since her capture.

Where had Lando gone? It was doubtful that he had been captured, for Jabba would have taken much glee in apprehending-and likely killing-one of Han's friends, and all the moreso for his alliance with the Rebellion. No, Leia was sure he was alive; he was likely hiding out elsewhere in the palace.

He doesn't want to see me, Leia heard a sour thought intrude, and though she quickly tried to dismiss it, it resonated in her head. After all, Lando had helped bring Leia to Jabba upon her capture; had he simply not seen what Jabba did to his slaves? Unlikely; surely, he'd been trying to continue the farce of being an attentive, loyal guard in the palace...

And then Leia knew exactly why he'd made himself scarce: he knew exactly what Jabba was going to do to her, and like Threepio, he "couldn't bear to watch." The only consolation she took-the one difference between him and the shrewd droid-was that she knew how smart Lando was. He had made grim sacrifices before in order to serve a later, greater good; that was partly how Han had gotten caught up in this whole mess. He knew the risks involved-but he also knew how strong and resourceful Leia was. If he'd had his doubts that she would have been able to survive in the company of the Hutt, he would have done something else-starting with keeping watch over her. No, he knew that Leia would persevere through her enslavement. Could she blame him, then, for not wanting to witness exactly what the Hutt was going to do to her-for not wanting to be an audience to her degrading humiliation? Absolutely not.

Leia slowly slid her bare leg away from the Hutt's quivering tail, took a deep breath, and let it out. I can do this, she thought, feeling the chain slacken, and starting to count down the time she would allow herself before sitting forward from the Hutt again. I can do this.

#

Later, Jabba had Leia dance again, this time on the throne directly before him. Once again, she was able to find some sort of inner, hidden rhythm, and found herself becoming more confident as it went on, swaying her body in the skimpy, ill-fitting outfit in some sort of time to the music; she only hoped that she wasn't unintentionally raising the Hutt's expectations of her.

As the evening wore on, he randomly forced Leia to perform the slave's embrace no less than five more times, until she humiliatingly began to recognize the intent behind the force and timing of his yanks on the chain for exactly what they meant. By the end of the night, even Leia knew she had begun to perform the demoralizing position with all the practiced perfection of a proper slave.

Jabba's pet lizard-monkey reappeared in the waning hours. it was clutching something shredded and gory in its claw, tearing at the unrecognizable morsel with its beak. When it saw her upon the throne, it cooed curiously, tossing the scrap on the floor, leaped up on the throne beside her and chattering something illegible at her, then snuggled into the ring of Jabba's coiled tail, lowering its head with slow, sleepy movements.

Jabba yanked Leia back from her sitting position to land upon his big belly. There, she watched as the Audience Chamber slowly emptied out, and soon deep, grumbling snores began to sound from behind her. She yawned, beginning to realize just how tired she really was, and the last thing she knew that evening was the sensation of her suddenly heavy eyelids.

#

She was awoken in the middle of the night by a hard yank on her chain. Gagging, she grabbed at her collar, only to be choked again, harder, until she pushed herself to her feet and faced him.

He yanked her chain again, and with slow, sleepy movements, she forced herself to press her half-naked body up against his squishy, slimy bulk. He slop-kissed her, and she uttered a sleepy, breathy moan and turned her head, feeling the huge tongue smear across her face and cheek. As it began to slide down the front of her throat and onto her upper chest, she shivered, and her lower body moved forward and shoved more firmly into the Hutt's belly.

He chuckled wetly. My slave...

She closed her eyes as his big, groping hands slid over her lower body, and as Jabba the Hutt began to thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of her company, Slave Leia moaned again, louder. Master-!

#

She was disoriented to find herself still lying on the cushions before the Hutt, who was sound asleep behind her, and although the lizard-monkey stirred, it did not awaken.

That hadn't-couldn't have-happened; yet as bits and pieces of sensations began to drop back into her mind and half-remembered things began to caress her flesh once again, she shivered.

No. It had been some kind of awful, twisted dream. Nothing more.

Leia began to relax again, and yawning, she reached up to touch her face —and almost choked when she felt faint traces of dried, crumbled slime on her face, neck, and upper chest. With a shudder, she wiped herself clean and forced herself to close her eyes, but sleep was a long way off.

A dream, she told herself, though she could hardly believe it. A dream...

#

When she awoke again, she heard a disorientingly familiar voice. "You will take me to Jabba now."

She opened her eyes, glancing up at the frog-bowl beside her, and listened carefully.

"I will take you to Jabba now," Bib's voice repeated dazedly.

Leia knew better than to have baseless hope, and yet the presence she felt was so strong that she knew exactly what it meant. She sat slowly up before Jabba, and her hopes were realized when the majordomo led a black-cloaked figure into the room.

She suppressed the urge to grin, for she knew that her situation is far from over. Yet here before her was her hope, her savior—her friend.

I stayed alive, Leia thought.

And we will be alright, came the response, and Luke met her gaze.