Chapter 3: Betrayal on Kessel

"Anything that can go wrong will."

The ramp of the Gilded Claw hissed open onto Kessel, and the planet's air hit Ahsoka like a physical blow. It was thick with the acrid scent of spice, metal, and unwashed bodies. The sky was a permanent bruised orange, choked with industrial smog that blotted out the stars.

"I hope you're proud of that landing," Ahsoka muttered, her voice tight as she steadied herself on the ramp. Her bare arms prickled in the foul air. The short blue dress offered little protection from the elements, and the bantha hide collar felt tight and demeaning around her neck.

"Proud?" Hondo scoffed, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. He gestured broadly at the dusty, abandoned alleyway where he had set down. "My dear girl, that was a masterpiece of precision flying! An artful descent through the most treacherous sensor net in the Outer Rim! A lesser pilot would have been vaporized."

"You bounced us off a gas giant," she shot back, her eyes scanning the grimy street beyond the alley. "I think my teeth are still rattling."

"Details, details," Hondo waved away her concern, his vibrant coat a splash of color against the grime. "It is the result that matters. And the result is, we are here. Incognito. Unharmed. Mostly."

"I still don't see why i had to leave my underthings on the ship. I feel like you take getting into character way too seriously." Ahsoka complained, tugging the hem of her dress down her bare thighs nervously.

Hondo supressed a mischievous grin, feigning shock instead, "On the contrary, my innocent little friend! Liana wouldnt dream of wearing such prudish jedi silk between her thighs. Especially on Kessel of all places where servants are never allowed such luxeries. You would give us away as spies at the first gust of wind! I would be shot! Trust me, it is much safer in my collec... er, cabin. You dont want Hondo to be shot do you?! "

"Worse thing have happened." Ahsoka shot him a glare of daggers. "Just make sure YOU don't forget im a jedi. If we don't get the information Anakin needs I will make sure you never see your cabin again."

They started up a staircase leading to the busy street. Hondo, ever the gentleman, instisted she go first. A few steps later she regretted everything, suddenly realizing how short the back of her dress was. She heard him supress a whistle. "Hondo! look awaay. Pleeease!" She begged, having no choice but to continue up quickly.

"Look at what? I am being a perfect gentleman!" He lied, openly staring at her virgin folds from behind his tinted goggles. "I can't see anything Liana hasnt shown in public a hundred times! You should thank me for such a perfect backstory and disguise! Noone would dare accuse Liana of being a jedi when she dresses like this."

"Hondooooo!" She groaned reluctantly through pursed lips.

Their bickering was cut short. At the top of the staircase, the street opened into a busy harsh, sun-bleached plaza. After a few minutes navigating the meat stalls, slave markets, and tech vendors, Hondo struck out his hand to the front of her chest, stopping ahsoka silently. She looked up. Guarding the entrance to a newly erected, gleaming tower of dark metal were four Pyke sentinels. Their long, pale face impassive beneath wide-brimmed hats, their hands resting on the butts of their pulse rifles. The tower stood out like a shard of obsidian against the ramshackle mines, a monument to high-tech oppression.

"Ah, our welcoming committee," Hondo whispered, his earlier joviality vanishing. He gave her breast a reasuring little squeeze before lowering his arm, then straightened his coat and flashed a disarming smile while striding forward. "Gentlemen! A fine day for oppression, is it not?"

The lead Pyke did a doubletake and stepped forward, his voice a low, guttural rasp. "Ohnaka. You have nerve showing your face here."

"Business brings me to many interesting places," Hondo replied smoothly. "Speaking of which, about my last shipment..."

"You dumped it and ran from the Republic," another larger Pyke snarled. "The shipment is gone, along with our cut. The debt remains. Payment. Now." The Pyke guards quickly surrounded them.

Hondo held up his hands, his smile unwavering. "A misunderstanding! A tactical retreat! I was merely preserving my assets to ensure I could settle my account. But Hondo always comes through! As a sign of my good faith..." He turned, and before Ahsoka could process his intent, his hand was on the small of her back, shoving her forward.

She stumbled. In her haste to catch herself without using the force she fell into one of the guards. The impact against his armor was jarring, sending a sharp pain through her shoulder. The guard grabbed her by the front of her dress and yanked, hoisting her up. The flimsy material stretched and exposed her entire chest mentally disarming her for a moment. The guard seemed pleased with the sight, keeping her exposed while he assesed her potential to threaten them. She looked up, her face a mask of shock, disbelief, and fury.

"...I bring you payment... in full!" Hondo finished, gesturing to her as if presenting a prize. "One of my finest acquisitions. Her name is Liana. Please forgive her, she can be very clumsy."

The Pykes' heads tilted in unison, their large, black eyes assessing her shy, embarassed form. "A puny slave?" the leader questioned, his voice dripping with suspicion.

"Not just any slave!" Hondo insisted, his voice ringing with false sincerity. "She is... multi-talented. And healthy! Excellent for more than just the mines. But do not be fooled. She may be easy on the eyes, but her true value," he leaned in conspiratorially, "is her training. She is one of the most highly educated in the galaxy with mainframe technology. A master slicer! A real asset for a... modern operation like that menacing high-tech tower behind you. I thought it was a waste to let someone so talented keep working for Crimson Sun.

Stepping back, he took an opportunity to survey her still-exposed breasts, drops of persperation sliding down her cleavage, tan nipples perking up delightfully in the open air. She appeared to be in a state of shock at the moment, but he was betting everything that she wouldn't blow her own cover. He sighed dramatically and continued, "Though if you dont approve, i could always take her to Zygerria to sell and get twice as much, then return with exact change. I just felt like being in a generous mood today!"

Ahsoka's blood ran cold. She stared at Hondo, her mouth agape. He met her gaze, and for a split second, his theatrical mask dropped. He winked, a quick, knowing flick of his eyelid. He leaned in close to her, his lips brushing her lekku more intimately than she would have preferred as he whispered, "I'm getting you inside that tower. And at the same time..." he raised his voice, "you've just paid your debt for my services, Liana. I told you it would be a fair bargain!"

The realization hit her like a physical blow. This was the plan. This was the infiltration. He was getting her in, but also selling her to pay off his debts. Rage boiled up inside her, hot and swift. She yanked herself out of the guards grip, breasts still exposed, her hands clenched into fists, ready to lunge at Hondo.

But she never got the chance.

With a flick of his wrist, Hondo produced a small, silver remote from his coat. He pressed a button, and a jolt of searing electricity shot through metal rivets inside the bantha collar. Ahsoka cried out, her body convulsing as pain exploded across her neck, shoulders, and breasts. Her legs gave out and she crumpled back to the ground, gasping for breath as her exposed thigh muscles spasmed uncontrollably. She could control and dampen that pain with the force, of course, but the shock had caught her completely off guard.

While she lay twitching on the dirt, Hondo strode over to the lead Pyke and handed him the remote. "I suggest you don't take the collar off just yet," he said with a chillingly casual air. "She can be... spirited."

He then knelt down and looked down at Ahsoka, a playful glint in his eyes as he oogled one of her peach-toned breasts spilling out of her dress. His eyes then flickered down to her bare thighs which were dangerously close to revealing more. "Of course," he added, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "you can take everything else off if you'd like. Hmm... yes, perhaps I would like my dress back... for sentimental reasons, of course!"

Ahsoka stared up at him, her vision swimming with tears of pain and rage. This part was entirely unnecessary, now he was just rubbing it in. He knew that would leave her naked, and it had nothing ti do with her cover anymore. This was too far.

The look of fear and embarassment in the jedi's eyes was everything that Hondo had hoped for and more. He let the silence hang for a moment, savoring her reaction, before he burst into loud, booming laughter.

"Kidding! Of course, I am kidding!" he wheezed, slapping his knee. "You should see the look on your face! Almost makes me wish..."

His laughter died as she moved to cover herself protectively. The lead Pyke stepped forward menacingly. Hondo straightened up, his time had run out. "Well, gentlemen, our transaction is complete. A pleasure doing business with you."

The Pyke with the remote grabbed Ahsoka by her dress again, his grip like iron. He hauled her to her feet, the collar still humming with residual energy. Without another word, they began dragging her away from the plaza, toward the yawning entrance of the mines and the dark, imposing tech tower that loomed beyond. Hondo watched them go, his expression unreadable, before turning and strolling casually back toward the market.