Twisted Tales from Skirba's Palace

By Kirana/Sailor Omwat

Location: The Dune Sea, Tatooine; Skirba the Hutt's palace

Skirba the Hutt's palace was an odd, twisted place. In the middle of the remote, desolate spot known as Tatooine's Dune Sea, it was practically impossible to find. Yet, somehow, an occasional person happened to "visit"...

The outside of the palace was sand-colored, ordinary. But the inside was another story.

It was odd, brightly colored, and mystical. The throne room had golden yellow velvet curtains parted to reveal Skirba's throne. A tall, twisted staircase led to the upper rooms. The walls were decorated with strange scenes such as gnarled, twisted trees. A tall statue, a spiraled stick, with a clown's head at the top, stood in one corner. The "entertainer's lounge" was in another. Last, but not least, there was a calliope painted purple and red, which produced odd notes.

"Sing for me!" ordered Skirba. The Kowakian monkey-lizard cackled maniacally. The singers, dancers, and instrument players got up to perform.

The lead singer, Vimaru, began her song. She had shoulder-length hair, white with two blue streaks, and perfectly straight. She wore something of a "metal bikini" in blue.

Thoughts crossed her mind as she sang. I hope they're here soon. After all that money I paid him, they had better come soon...

The song ended and she flopped onto the velvety maroon-and-yellow pillows. Soon I'll be having a GOOD time, Vimaru reminded herself.


Location:Mos Eisley Cantina, Tatooine

Oola, Kirana, Chouko, Shikuku, and Nom were sitting at a table.

"This sure is a strange place," said Chouko, her braid swinging as she looked from side to side.

"You can say THAT again," agreed Shikuku.

A drunken beast staggered across the room, bumping into two Rodians who were arm wrestling. A fight erupted between them, and soon the whole cantina was fighting.

"Help!" cried Oola as she was dragged into the fight. The beautiful, scarlet-skinned Twi'lek soon disappeared. Nom, a Dathomirian warrior, leapt in to help her.

Kirana felt someone dragging her back. She began to scream, but a hand clapped over her mouth. She saw someone pointing a blaster at her, then everything went blank...

"Oh," moaned Shikuku, running a hand through her purple hair.

"Where ARE we?" demanded Chouko.

"You're wit me, baby," said a gruff, male voice. The girls turned to the voice. Kirana suddenly realized she was in a type of vehicle.

"Slade Rimshaw's the name," said the brown-haired, green-eyed man that turned around.

"And... what are we doing here again?" Kirana, her brain still a little foggy from being stunned.

"Hey- you TOOK us!" cried Oola, remembering.

"Sorry," Slade said,"but those were my orders. And I had to take these." He held up a bag full of their power-up objects.

"Hey!" cried Nom.

"Without those, we can't transform!" added Shikuku.

"That's the point." Slade grinned.

"Ooh, I could KILL you," said Chouko.


Location: Skirba's Palace

"New slaves!" Slade announced, wrestling the five angry girls in. His arm ached from where Nom had bit him.

"Good!" cried Vimaru excitedly. Then, when she noticed everyone looking at her, she shifted her sky-blue gaze downward.

Slade pointed at Nom. "This one's feisty," he warned Skirba. "You'll have to watch her."

Nom shook back her hair, black with green tips. Her black eyes shimmered defiantly, and she stood tall.

"I'll find JOBS for each of you," Slade said. Kirana made a face. I hope I don't have to do the dishes, she thought.

Oola looked around nervously. She'd had some...bad experiences in a Hutt's palace before.

"Come wit me," Slade ordered. "You three are ta be dancers," he said to Oola, Nom, and Kirana.

"WHAT?!?!?" Kirana cried. "I'm no dancer!"

"You wanna deal wit Skirba?" Slade asked.

"No," she said quietly.

"You'll be the cook, since the old one...died," he said to Shikuku.

"But the only thing I know how to cook is peanut butter and jelly!" she protested.

"An you'll be Skirba's personal slave, Girlie," Slade said to Chouko. Her blue eyes widened.

"Oh no I'm not-" she began.

"Do as you're told, or meet Heela," Slade cut her off. Chouko didn't know what this "Heela" was, and she didn't want to find out. "Well?" Slade said. "Get to it!" The girls scrambled off in different directions.

A couple minutes later, Oola, Chouko, Kirana and Nom arrived in rather... interesting ensembles. "NOBODY LAUGH," ordered Nom. Shikuku suddenly felt grateful she was the cook.

"Perform for me!" cried Skirba.

"You have got to be kidding," said Nom.

"Do it!" Skirba screamed, enraged.

"I will not," Nom said calmly and clearly.

"Punish her!" Skirba cried.

"Sorry I have ta do this," Slade said, "escorting" Nom to Heela's cage.

"Is that a - rancor?" asked Chouko.

" 'Fraid so," Slade said and slammed the cage door.

"Perform for me NOW or suffer the same fate!" cried Skirba. The girls tried their best, looking hilarious while doing so.

Vimaru couldn't believe how close she was to them. I'll get them soon, she reminded herself.


That night, Kirana, Oola, Chouko, and Shikuku went to sleep in the rooms upstairs. Oola tossed and turned. Something bad is going to happen, I know it, she thought. Then she fell asleep and dreamed she was being dragged away...

Shikuku coughed. "Where ARE we?" she asked. The room was filled with dust, impossible to see anything.

Kirana sighed. "Not THIS again," she said.

Suddenly the door opened and someone was pushed inside. "I'll be back!" cried Vimaru's voice.

"Who's there?" asked Chouko.

"It is me," said...Nom!

"Nom!" cried Kirana. "I thought you died!"

"It was a rancor," Nom explained. "As you know, there are many of them on Dathomir. I have a way with them."

"I'm so happy you're alive!" cried Chouko.

"Yes, but we're in danger," Nom said quickly.

The door opened again, a click was heard, and light flooded the room. "Oh!" cried Oola, blinking. When their eyes adjusted, the girls were suprised to see Vimaru, the dancer.

Suddenly Vimaru's body changed, revealing her real self, Mistique!

"Sailor Sith Vortex!" cried Chouko. "I've heard about you!"

"And now you're MINE!" cried Mistique.

"No they're not!" yelled two voices at once. Everyone looked up.

Annika, her white hair in two buns, and Xarae, her dark hair swinging free, stood back to back. "I'm Sailor Bakura," Annika said.

"And I'm Sailor Iridonia," Xarae said.

"And YOU'RE PUNISHED!" they both said.

"You always have to ruin my FUN!" Mistique cried in a slightly whiny tone.

"Waterfall blast!" Annika cried, and Mistique flew across the room.

"I'll be back," she muttered before falling unconsious.

"Come on!" cried Xarae, leading them up the stairs.

"Look what I found!" Annika said happily, holding up the bag Slade had taken.

"Thank you!" cried Chouko.

"It's not the end of Mistique, you know," said Oola.

"And it ain't the end of me either!" added Slade.

"Yes, it is," said Annika, getting on her ship. "Bye!" she cried as it disappeared into the blue sky.

About the Senshi in this story:

Oola/Sailor Ryloth
Kirana/Sailor Omwat
Chouko/Sailor Chibi Dantooine
Shikuku/Sailor Ralltiir
Nom/Sailor Dathomir
Vimaru/Mistique/Sailor Sith Vortex
Annika/Sailor Bakura
Xarae/Sailor Iridonia

Story

Home