Dynasty: Chunk Eighteen
by Valerie Vancollie and Rebecca Thomson
"We have lost all contact with the rescue mission. They have not attempted to contact us in any way since their attempt at Vader's Castle. I don't think they made it." Admiral Dl'os stated.
"We will have to wait and see. I refuse to give up hope yet." Mon Mothma replied.
"What of the local operative we had on Coruscant? Any word from him?" Asked General Rieekan.
"No, but the last we heard was that if the team did not come back within 12 hours, he was going to get off planet. Because of the security on Coruscant, we would not be able to contact him, he must contact us. And we have heard nothing." Admiral Dl'os answered, his fur rippling worriedly.
"It was a bad idea to begin with, and a waste of resources." General Xa'sstresh fumed, his tongue flashing.
"We voted, and it was worth the attempt. I won't hear anymore, General." Mon Mothma said.
The Rebel prisoners turned as one as the sound of booted heals walked down the long corridor to their cells. They could hear the horrible hissing of the Dark Lord's respirator, along with the measured tread of his escort.
Lord Vader came into the room, walking to the front of the group of cells, his guard fanning out around him, and Skywalker standing at his side. The young man was wearing a reddish brown jumpsuit made of fine silk, his blue eyes scanning each prisoner in turn.
Lord Vader spoke, his voice hissing through his respirator. "I would normally chose one of the injured ones first, it is best to question them before they die from their wounds. But these will all keep. Perhaps you would prefer to start with one of the others, there are things you can do with a healthy specimen that you can not risk on an injured one."
Jon spat towards the group, snarling. "We aren't a herd of Banthas."
"No," Skywalker softly replied, "you're worse. A bantha has meat and a hide, so it is of some use. You're a Rebel. You kill, terrorize, and destroy. You have no worth at all." Skywalker's head cocked. "Him. He has spirit, and I want to see that technique you mentioned." He motioned to the guards, and they advanced towards Jon's cell.
Some time later, the Rebels were pacing nervously, Jon's screams could barely be heard if you listened carefully. Lantash was sitting on his bench, fiddling with a buckle from his uniform. The others kept glancing at him, afraid to ask what he was doing for fear that the microphones would overhear.
At last Lantash smiled, then bent to his wounded leg. He gritted his teeth as he probed his own wound with a metal piece of the buckle. Suddenly, blood began to gush from the wound.
"Lan?" Delvin worriedly asked.
"It's okay." Lantash lowered his leg off the bench, letting it bleed. "I'm just going to see my family again. It's okay." The blood was rapidly pooling from the newly cut artery.
Delvin swallowed hard, "I understand."
"Say the rights for me." Lantash said as he lay down on the bench, smiling.
"Yes, I will." Delvin began the ancient Alderaanian chant as one of the house guards suddenly entered, then left.
Skywalker entered a moment later, the guard from earlier following. "I'm sorry, Master Luke, I-" Delvin continued the chant.
Luke walked to the cell that held the bleeding Rebel, and the energy bars dissolved. He walked up to Lantash, and bent over the prone man. He then turned, and stared through the far wall. "It's okay. This isn't about information anyway, and I can just as easily get what I want from him now as later." Skywalker reached out a hand, brushing Lantash's face.
The dying man coughed, and glared at Skywalker. "I was hoping to disappoint you."
"Not likely. I rule here." Luke brushed his face again, and Lantash convulsed as he held in a scream. Delvin faltered in the chant, but quickly finished with his voice shaking. Skywalker did it again, but this time Lantash only weakly thrashed and then fell unconscious. The blond man got up without a word and returned back the way he had come. The guard followed.
"Delvin," Quarl said, "he has the Sith magic, doesn't he?"
"He must. I just wish we could get word to the Alliance. They need to know."
"I don't know Father," Luke said while he nibbled on his lunch the next day. The servants were pouring wine in the sunroom.
"It would shake her up, and I'm tired of being a prisoner in my own home. I've hated having to be careful with her around." Lord Vader ran fingers through his hair. "Besides, she'll have to know eventually, and we need to try something different. She's still mad at you."
"Yes, and you're right Father. She hasn't been able to grasp the power she's turning down. Maybe if she knew she would give up that silly Rebellion."
"At dinner, don't you think?"
"As good a time as any." Luke turned to his salad. "It's a shame, really. The party is in two days and she was actually looking forward to it. She was rather proud of the work she had done and was happy she was going to be able to watch. I don't think she cares now."
"Yes, this Rebel attack undid a lot of her progress."
"At least no one at court has learned about it. The Alliance has to know that the attempt was going to be made, but they don't know how far the strike team managed to get in."
"Yes. We will have to do something to strike back at them for their involvement." Vader mused. "We should have seen this coming. However, the Emperor has told me that he's going to send me out with my ship, the Executor, the day after the party. There are some things in the Corellian sector he wishes for me to investigate."
"Am I to go with you?" Luke hopefully asked.
"Someone has to watch Leia." Vader privately added, 'your grandfather wants you to keep your temper with her.'
'I will.' Luke replied. Out loud he said, "As you wish."
Sadi cursed inwardly as he packed the last of his things. It had been well past the deadline since he had last heard of the Alliance operatives and he was finally just about finished packing his belongings. The dread that he had felt ever since first receiving his orders concerning the group that was coming to Coruscant was finally confirmed. Things had gone wrong and now he had to leave. After having spent fifteen years spying here, at the heart of the Empire, he had to leave because others had possibly blown his identity.
Fifteen years and he had not been caught. Fifteen years he had been able to supply the Alliance with a steady flow of Imperial information. Fifteen years of loyal service and yet they thought him expendable. As such a mission had practically no odds off succeeding so, whomever Mon Mothma and the others had picked to help them, would most likely be an expendable spy. It was so nice to feel so needed.
Sadi growled as he picked up his bag, brought it to the front room of his apartment and set it down next to his other stuff. Turning around, he slowly went through each room of his home and looked around to make sure that he hadn't forgotten anything. As he did so his anger rose within him. Over time this place had become his own and to see it bare of anything now made him angry. Angry at the Alliance for seeing him as expendable, angry at Clay and his men for getting caught, and angry at himself for risking so much.
Merson stormed back to the front room, quickly packed all of his things onto a repulsor cart and proceeded to head out. He had booked a place on an outgoing ship to Hanjder with a freighter and he knew that if he wasn't on time that the man would leave with the credits he had already been paid. Sadi knew that once he arrived on Hanjder he'd have to risk himself even more and contact Mon Mothma, but he wasn't sure what he was going to do after that. He had nowhere to go.
"Do you know anymore about MacNelly or the mission?" Anjaleen asked as a waiter set her main course before her.
"Yes and no," Raphael replied as he looked at her sitting across the table from him. "MacNelly was only a major when he left and had a good service record." Briefly he stopped as he took a sip of wine, watching her begin her smoked harlin. "As to the mission, I don't know too many details as they haven't been released yet. However, they were attacked by a people with whom they were trying to establish a trade agreement. During the negotiations the people introduced a plague onto the Destroyers which spread rapidly. The other Star Destroyers were forced to destroy themselves or be captured. One of them managed to spread the plague back to the people who had started it in the process of destroying itself."
Anjaleen simply nodded politely as she continued eating. She had already heard most of the story from Nastalia, including several details Raphael either didn't know or didn't want to share with her. She had brought up the discussion because it was so recent an event and she had hoped that it might spark a conversation that would take up some time, as she hated the silence that so often fell between them. It made her feel uncomfortable and gave her time to think about her future. A thing she didn't want to do considering what it might be.
"But let's not talk about this," Raphael said as he looked at her once more, the two candles on the table framing her face. He had to smile at this, candles were so ancient and yet they could bring a special touch to a romantic atmosphere that couldn't seem to be achieved by the more advanced lighting devices. "How are you lately?"
"Fine," Anjaleen lied. "There's been so much going on lately, what with the upcoming party and MacNelly's return. I really hope everything works out for Nastalia and Nathaniel."
"Nathaniel?" Raphael repeated. "You mean MacNelly?"
"Yes," Anjaleen confirmed. "Did you know that they were going out before he left? Last I saw they managed to pick up where they left off, although I'm sure that it must be hard."
"Yes, I did," Raphael replied, practically dismissing the issue instantly. "As to the upcoming dance. What are you going to wear? I think you'd look really good in something red or black."
"Perhaps, but I can't," Anjaleen stated, feeling some joy at saying the words. At times Raphael could just get under her skin and it annoyed her. "Skywalker asked me to wear my white one and I told him I would."
"Skywalker?" Raphael questioned surprised, a slight undertone to his voice.
"Yes," Anjaleen confirmed before she took a sip of wine and watched the silence fall over them once more.
As she looked at Raphael, Anjaleen noticed several emotions flash across his face as he thought about this new information, but it was too fast for her to catch them all. Suddenly his face went blank as he turned his attention back to his meal. They ate silently, the restaurant waiters filling up their glasses when needed.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment," Anjaleen said, unable to take the silence any longer. As she made to get up, one of the waiters stepped forward and pulled back her chair. "Thanks." Anjaleen said before she headed for the restrooms.
The moment she was out of view of the table, however, she changed directions and headed over to a sitting area from where she had a nice view of the nighttime skyline of the city. She stayed there for a few moments before making her way back to her table, knowing that she couldn't just leave. Making her way among the various other tables, she caught sight of a couple sitting at one of the window tables.
"Hello," Anjaleen said as she stopped at the table.
"Hello, Anjaleen," Nastalia replied as she looked up.
"Miss Winiterure," Nathaniel said. "How are you this evening?"
"Good," Anjaleen lied. "How are things with you? Have you been able to catch up on some of the events that happened since you left?"
"A little," Nathaniel admitted. "There's just so much that happened. I've been able to skim most issues, but I still need to get a more detailed look at them later. For tonight, however, I decided to come here with Nastalia and see where we stand."
"It's a good thing the party is coming up soon," Anjaleen stated. "It'll give you some time to relax and mingle with the higher officers of the military as well as the court."
"That it will," Nathaniel agreed. "Are you here for dinner as well?"
"Yes, I'm here with Mr. Jerklin," Anjaleen informed him. "In fact I'd better be getting back to the table."
"Bye," Nastalia said.
"I hope to see you later, Miss Winiterure," Nathaniel stated politely.
"You too, and have fun," Anjaleen said as she felt another stab of jealously at her friend's good fortune to be here with a man she liked.
"What's wrong with her?" Nathaniel inquired as soon as Anjaleen was out of hearing range. "She didn't seem to happy about going back to her table."
"I'm sure she isn't," Nastalia said. "Raphael has been seeing her ever since Mr. Winiterure has started letting him. She doesn't like him very much, but don't tell anyone!"
"Don't worry, I won't," Nathaniel promised. "My lips are sealed. I just find it sad that he won't let her marry who she likes."
"Its the way of the court," Nastalia stated. "It's at times like this that I'm glad father is in the military and not a politician."
"Me too," Nathaniel said as he smiled warmly at her. "Me too."
Leia sighed as she looked at the dresses she had been given shortly after her arrival. Mark had been in earlier to say that she needed to get dressed up as she was to have dinner downstairs today. Although the thought of having dinner with her brother didn't sound appealing, Leia wanted to get out of the room, even for a short while. Simply spending all day up here with nothing to do but think was driving her mad. Having an argument with Luke just had to be better.
Leia took a light green dress out of her closet with several dark red jewels on the collar and cuffs. This dress alone would probably be enough to feed a poor family for a few weeks. Fingering the soft, silky material once more, she refused the urge to tear it up. Quickly she changed into it and brushed her hair. At least she could look nice when she yelled at her brother.
"Leia?" Luke called from the next room and Leia glanced quickly in the mirror before entering the sitting room.
"I thought you didn't want to see me anymore?" Leia needled him.
"I don't," Luke replied coolly. "However, Father has decided that he wants a family meal."
"A family meal?" Leia repeated, stunned. "What's he going to do? Sit and watch us eat or is he going to be feed through tubes?"
"Leia," Luke warned.
"Or are we going to have to eat in a room with medicated air?" Leia continued, his tone only encouraging her further. "Because if it is the latter then I don't want to join you. I don't want to breath the same air as him."
Luke restraining his anger and forced his face to remain calm as he took a step closer to her. "Its too late for that now," he said before he gestured towards the door. "Father doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Figures," Leia replied as she stepped past him and exited her rooms, wondering at his first remark.
What did he mean by saying that it was too late already? She hadn't been breathing any medicated air since her arrival. Luke was probably just trying to throw her off guard and confuse her. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she waited for him to step past her and led the way, as she had no idea which of the many rooms was able to completely filter the air for her father.
"Here we are," Luke said as he opened a final door and gestured for her to enter.
Leia hesitated briefly before she walked past him into the room. The first thing she noticed as she entered was the fact that the air in the room was just regular air. The next thing she noticed was the light brown haired man sitting at the head of a large wooden table set for three. Leia stopped in her tracks, not recognizing the man at first. Then it hit her, the man sitting at the table was the man she had seen in the holos with her mother. It was Vader without his armor and mask.
"No!" she whispered, stunned.
"Leia," Vader said, smiling as she paled. "So nice of you to join us tonight."
"How?" Leia questioned as she looked him over, suddenly realizing that this was the man she had seen in the hall the other day. Today he was dressed in a dark blue outfit, a blue that matched the blue colored livery the servants and guards were wearing today.
"Why don't you take a seat and we can discuss it?" Luke suggested as he moved past her, towards the table.
As he approached his chair, one of the servants pulled it back and he sat down. Seeing another servant step forward and move back the last chair at the table, she too moved forward and sat down. She did so gratefully, knowing that they wouldn't see her tremors as easily. Just seeing Vader like this, looking so much like the man her mother had married, drove the point of their relationship home even harder. Before walking into this room it had been easier to say that Vader wasn't the man her mother had fallen in love with as he didn't even resembled him anymore. Now, however...
"Mark, we can begin now," Vader stated at which two servants instantly left the room to get the first course of the meal. "Now, as to how. There was a time when I really did need the respirator and protective body armor as a result of an accident I had." He explained as a bowl of soup was placed before him, then Luke, and finally Leia. Sensing her anger at this, Vader shook his head. "However, over time, I was able to heal my injuries by using the Dark Side."
"Then why the disguise?" Leia demanded as she looked from her father to her brother. They had both kept this secret from her for so long, and that made her wonder what else that there was about the family that she didn't know. "Why not show your face?"
"Several reasons," Vader said between mouthfuls. "One of them being that an unknown Sith warrior would cause a much greater impact. People are afraid of what they don't know."
"And the other reasons?" Leia inquired.
"You shall learn once we are sure that you are no longer loyal to the Rebellion," Vader said.
Leia nodded her head as she turned her attention to the soup before her. Whatever other reasons there were they were too important to be trusted to her at the moment. On the one hand she really wanted to know as it was important information, not that she could do anything with it. On the other hand she didn't want to know, the possible reasons might include things that she'd rather not know about. Which, considering her father's reputation, could well be.
"Which will be never," Leia stated aloud.
"Why do you still ally yourself with that lost cause?" Luke questioned even as he sensed the servants reaction to her words. "Why do you toss aside all you could have and be so easily?"
"Because it is the right thing to do," Leia retorted as she turned her attention to her twin and released her anger. "As to what I'm tossing aside. It is nothing! And all bought with the hard work and suffering of innocent people who have to struggle to maintain themselves and their families. Many of them starve each year or die because they couldn't afford the proper medication all because they had to pay the necessary tribute to the Empire."
"A tribute necessary to maintain the military to fight a war that you are causing," Luke countered. "If your petty Rebellion would give up the fight that they can only lose then less would be required from the people and more of the money would be able to go to schools and medical care for the citizens of the Empire."
"And what of the non-humans?" Leia demanded, only absently aware that her soup bowl had been taken away to be replaced by another dish. "As I'm sure that they aren't included in your definition of citizens of the Empire. And the Alliance is not a lost cause. People can go far if they truly believe in what they fight for."
Luke simply snorted at this last and then looked up at his father as he heard Vader sigh. Vader had been silently watching the heated discussion, pleased with the way Luke managed to counter all of Leia's misguided believes. However he was beginning to feel slightly thankful for the fact that he hadn't had small kids running about. Seeing that Luke had sensed the thought and the hurt expression that appeared on his face, he mentally cursed.
'I was thinking about her,' Vader sent soothingly. 'She is, after all, the one causing all the trouble, not you. You cut her off well.'
'Thanks,' Luke replied, even as he relaxed once more since hearing the thought.
"What?" Leia questioned as she caught the looks that passed between them and realized that they were communicating.
"Nothing," Vader stated, knowing that if he even hinted at what he had been thinking that she would be pleased to know that she was making herself to be nothing but a nuisance.
Leia sat at her dressing table and brushed her hair back. She glanced at the multiple screens that had been set up in her sitting room for the party. She almost sighed. She didn't even know if she wanted to watch the party, even if she did help plan it. She winced, thinking of how much work she had done for Luke. She had only done it because she was bored, but to help him at all...
Impulsively, she wandered over and shoving her thoughts aside, flipped the screens on. She flipped the views shown from one room to the next, seeing if Skywalker had finished dressing yet. She was curious to see what he was wearing, she was sure that it would be ridiculously expensive. Leia shook her head. Her brother and her argued almost every time they spoke to each other, especially since the family dinner. Why couldn't they see eye to eye on anything?
Leia stopped the camera on a pair of the Red Guard speaking to the house guard in one of the hallways. 'It's because Luke is an Imperial,' Leia thought to herself. 'He's sees everything with the Imperial viewpoint. He's been given everything he ever wanted if he'll just toe the line, so he's terrified of even thinking independently. I wonder what he would have been like if that pirate had not taken off from the Death Star, leaving him behind.'
She cocked her head, watching the two sets of guards talking to each other. She couldn't see the faces of the Red Guard, they had their armor on and their faces were hidden, but the house guard clearly didn't like having the Imperial Sovereign Protectors taking over their turf. The Red Guard were everywhere, Leia had noticed them arriving in droves since early this morning. Another thing she had noticed that she wasn't sure she was supposed to have figured out- the Red Guard had not been given orders just to protect the Emperor, but to prevent anyone from wandering around the castle. Leia could tell by the pattern of their deployment, she knew from her own training. Of course, the guests would never notice.
Lord Vader pulled on his mask, and set his shoulders. It would be a long night for him. He didn't really like the idea of having all these people running around his castle, but Luke seemed happy enough by the idea. Vader had come to think of this place as his sovereign territory, impenetrable and mysterious to the outside galaxy.
"My Lord," Mark said from the doorway, "we have received word that his Majesty is on his way."
"Thank you. I will greet him in the grand entrance. Please inform Luke as well."
"Yes my Lord." The man disappeared.
Vader set out to greet his father into his home. The Emperor had never bothered to come and visit before, but then, there had been no need. Vader walked into the grand entrance, seeing the wide marble columns decorated with wreaths of huge white flowers around their tops and trailing ribbons and pink flowering vines to the floor. Between each column stood either a Red Guard or a house guard. The house guard was wearing their red and black livery tonight, which had been slightly altered for the occasion with fire-eyes for the buttons.
Vader peered into the distance, noticing that the holo-press had set up shop outside his castle gates and was trying to get as many shots as possible with long range lenses. The professional rumor mill was having a hey-day with the event, bringing all the latest news to the adoring public.
"He's a little early." Lord Vader turned to look at Luke, his son. Luke was wearing a stunning red outfit that was fairly encrusted with jewels. The red fabric was nearly hidden from view with the fire-eyes and other gems worked into a pattern on the shirt. Every time Luke moved, the light danced over his clothing.
"Yes, he wanted to miss the rush." Vader answered. "And he probably wanted to talk to me about my mission before anyone else got here."
"Ah. Here he is." The stately Imperial ground speeder was pulling up, flanked by its escorting vehicles.
The land speeder slowly turned around the long drive to Lord Vader's Castle as Anjaleen watched the maid carefully replace the errant strand of hair. Her head had become a concoction of small braids, jewels, and curls mounded atop her head. Brilliant iridescent plumes of the rare Mehog bird fanned out from the back of her head, turning her hairstyle into a headdress. The feathers changed their hue every time she moved, picking up the colors in the room.
"There you go Mistress. If you need me, I'll be in the waiting rooms."
"Thank you." Anjaleen nodded to her mother, who smiled back.
"It's going to be a beautiful dance, my dear. I heard that Lord Vader has spared no expense, he even hired several symphonies to provide the music."
"You believe everything you hear." Her husband Randolf mockingly replied.
"No, not everything. But I do listen." Sasha answered. "Besides, I doubt Lord Vader would dare have less than a fantastic event for his first party."
"Even if it is for that boy."
"Yes husband." Sasha glanced out the window. "There sure is a line to the front door, everyone is going to be here tonight. But it appears that we are next."
Luke looked around the main hall, looking over the guests trickling in. Everyone was dressed fantastically, flowers and feathers and gems in the women's hair, the colors glittering and clashing from a hundred outfits. Skywalker looked back towards his father and the Emperor, they were deep in conversation about the upcoming mission and everyone else was afraid to
interrupt. The highest ranking courtiers were even standing just off to the side, impatiently waiting for Lord Vader to get done so they could verbally spar over the Emperor's attentions.
Skywalker glanced at the door again and saw Anjaleen walk in, her tiara and plumes setting off her face and dress. He smiled, and then frowned as Mr. Jerklin came forward to take her hand. Luke turned back to Lord Vader, glancing at the courtiers. He just caught the flash of pure hatred coming from Buchanan directed at him.
Luke wandered off, stopping to accept congratulations on his birthday from the various guests as he made his way to the knot of younger men and women off to one side. He could see most of the people he talked to at court grouped together, including one Ra'chealla who was trying to catch his eye.
"Skywalker! Congratulations!" Nastalia said as soon as he managed to get over to the younger set. "This is wonderful."
"I'm glad you approve," Luke teased. "And I hope your ready to dance, I was going to start soon."
"Oh good." Nastalia said, smiling at Admiral MacNelly.
Luke turned to Anjaleen, who gave him a small smile. Raphael Jerklin was standing next to her, and taking her hand, he gave Skywalker a cold smile. "Anjaleen, Mr. Jerklin. Good to see you tonight."
Anjaleen waited for a second before replying, "Thank you, Luke." Skywalker could feel that she was just a little embarrassed that Mr. Jerklin wasn't going to say anything.
Luke gave her an encouraging smile before turning back to Nastalia. "Nastalia, my dear. I need your advice. When should I start the dancing?"
She giggled. "Now would be fine."
Mr. Jerklin glanced at the towering Lord Vader across the dance floor, whom was still speaking with the Emperor. "Don't you need Lord Vader's permission?"
"Why?" asked Luke, "it's my party." He looked around as the others stood surprised at his words. His eyes landed on Ra'chealla, and he smiled.
"Ra'chealla, you look wonderful tonight. Would you like to dance with me?"
"Yes Luke, I would."
Luke held out his hand, and signaling to the symphony, led her to the dance floor. He smiled even wider as he felt Buchanan's fury at him dancing with his daughter.
Ra'chealla's head was spinning, she was dancing with Luke! And there was nothing her father could say about it, since he had asked her. It was his party, she couldn't have told him no. He was smiling at her, and he had told her that she was beautiful. Others were starting to pair off and join them on the dance floor, but that was expected.
She had been a little worried when he had started talking to Nastalia and Anjaleen first, but since each of them already had an escort for the evening, Luke had turned to her.
Ra'chealla briefly glanced around the room again, the decorations were extensive. Flowers and candles were everywhere, the soft glow making everyone's jewelry sparkle. Ra'chealla's hopes rose. If Lord Vader was willing to spend so much money on Luke, then surely her father would let her talk to him. Her father just had to realize that Luke was important!
Luke stopped and his eyes scanned the scene as he entered the dance room once more. After the first dance with Ra'chealla, she had hung around him for a little while as he talked with several of the guests. When it had become clear to her that he wouldn't immediately go onto the dance floor once more, she had finally left his side so that her father wouldn't get too mad at her. Luke smiled at the memory. After that he had briefly gone outside to see how things were going there before coming back.
"Having fun?" Vader questioned as he approached his son.
"Yes," Luke replied immediately as he turned to face his father. "It's great!"
"Good," Vader replied as he saw the twinkle in Luke's eye. It was a good thing that the boy liked it so much, it meant that it had been worth the sacrifice and that he would remember it for a long time. "You are, however, quickly making an enemy with Buchanan."
"I know," Luke admitted as he let his eyes scan the room once more. Seeing Anjaleen and Raphael dancing together, he felt a flash of emotion within himself, but it was too fast for him to identify. "Jerklin doesn't seem to like me anymore, either. Although I'm not sure why."
"Have you probed him?"
"No," Luke replied. "Not yet. But I will if it gets worse."
"Very well," Vader said. "Now go, enjoy your party. Your grandfather and I will see you after everyone has left. There is still the matter of birthday gifts."
Luke's head snapped up at the words. In all his life he had never been given anything for his birthday, although he knew that his friends had. Somehow, the thought that this year he would get something from his father and grandfather, had never entered his mind. It just hadn't occurred to him as he had been so used to not getting anything. His uncle had never cared whether it was his birthday or not.
"I do care," Vader stated, following his son's train of thought. "Now go."
Luke smiled at his father as his curiosity rose at what he could possibly be given as he had so much already. Unable to guess, he walked into the crowd of people. Slowly he made his way towards the refreshment table that had been set up on the other side of the room, stopping to talk with a few of the guests as he went.
"Luke," Elizabeth called out as he passed her. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you," Luke replied as he turned and studied her.
She was wearing a deep purple dress with yellow and turquoise jewels embedded into it. Gold and silver lace were also woven in at seemingly random patterns, and the cuffs were set off with fire-eyes that matched her hair color perfectly. Hanging from her neck was a single string of huge emeralds that were dancing in the candle light. Her hair was done up with more emeralds, along with pearls, and several maroon colored feathers.
"You look beautiful tonight," Luke commented.
"Thank you," Elizabeth replied. "It's a lovely party, much better than I had expected."
"Yes," Luke agreed as he started moving towards the refreshment table once more, Elizabeth walking next to him. "How are things with you?"
"Fine," Elizabeth said. "More or less normal though. Which was why I was looking forward to this party so, it would be a so different. Besides, people have always wondered what the inside of Lord Vader's Castle looked like."
Luke smiled in reply as they reached the table. "A drink?"
"I'll take a glass of wine."
Luke turned around and reached past one of the ice-sculptures on the table and took two of the glasses that stood prepared. Handing one to Elizabeth, he studied the ice-sculpture and noticed the fine details in the design. Looking over the room once more, he saw the knots of older people along the edge of the dance floor and out on the patio. Having just been in the gardens, he knew that most of the older people were out there while the younger ones stayed inside to dance. He had, however, caught sight of Nastalia and MacNelly heading into the gardens alone. Luke smiled at the thought as he saw one of the younger male courtiers eyeing Elizabeth.
"I think someone wants to dance with you," Luke said as he indicated the man to Elizabeth.
"Indeed," Elizabeth responded as she placed her glass on the table where it was instantly whisked away by one of the servants. "I'll see you later then."
Silently, Luke watched her go. Doing a quick probe of her mind he saw that she was slightly disappointed that he hadn't asked her to dance with him. It wasn't that she liked him the way Ra'chealla did, but just that it was looked upon to be a honor as he was the one hosting the party. True, technically it was Vader, but it was done in his honor and they couldn't see Vader dancing. Luke had to smile at the idea of his father dancing in his armor, it would be quite a sight indeed.
Up in her room, Leia saw the smile that crossed her brother's face and felt her anger rise. To see how much pleasure he was having at an event that she had helped organize irked her now more than it had before. When she had originally started working on the plans, she had convinced herself that she was helping him get stuck with an evening of nothing but boredom. Luke, however, seemed to enjoy these get-togethers more then she would have thought, especially considering that he had only danced once so far. She'd expected him to only truly like the dances and then be bored by the talk.
Clearly she'd been wrong. Her twin was having the time of his life and she had helped to give it to him. It was almost like her birthday gift to him. And, after all the hard work she'd put into making the party happen, Luke had repaid her by tricking her into choosing a member of her rescue team into dying slowly! Briefly she wondered if he truly believed that he had done her a favor, but then she shoved the thought aside, not wanting to thread down that path.
She had been correct about his clothes, however. She wouldn't be surprised if his outfit was worth enough to buy the Alliance a few decent X-wings, what with all the jewels it had. One thing that outfit did prove, was that all the rumors about Vader's wealth were true. Not only did he have enough credits not to be worried about the cost of the party, but he had enough of them to waste on ridiculous clothing that would only be worn once. From the moment Leia had seen Luke's outfit she had known that it was significant that it was in the same scarlet color as the Royal Guard's robes. What she didn't understand was why Palpatine allowed it. It made it look like that guards were there for Luke, the way the house guards wore the same color as Vader did.
Leia shook her head as she flipped through the different cameras and looked at the various guests. Then, flipping to the last camera, one that looked on the back hall, she noticed Ravenell walking through the hall. It didn't take long for him to be stopped by one of the Royal Guards, but Mark solved the matter quickly. It didn't take Leia long to figure out that he was probably here concerning the mission her father had to go on tomorrow. Although she knew that he was leaving she didn't know why and that annoyed her greatly.
Luke stopped scanning the room as his eyes fell on Anjaleen and Raphael. They were standing together at the other end of the room, talking. Watching them, Luke saw Raphael bring Anjaleen's hand to his mouth and kiss it before he stepped away from her and started heading in his direction. Before he realized what was happening, Luke found himself moving towards Anjaleen. At the moment she was the only girl free and he wanted to dance once more. Besides, it would teach Raphael to be rude to him.
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Luke knew, deep down, that there was more to it then simply wanting to get under the guy's skin, but he wasn't sure what it was. Making his way through the knots of people, Luke tried to figure out just what it was that he was feeling, but he couldn't. He did, however, feel the Force tingle once more in the exact same way it had when he had seen Anjaleen the first two times.
Luke looked over his shoulder and saw that Jerklin had been pulled into a conversation with another young man before he had reached the refreshment table. Hopefully he wouldn't look up until he had reached Anjaleen's side and had asked her to dance. Looking back in front of him, Luke was pleased to see that Anjaleen was still standing alone.
"Enjoying yourself?" Luke asked as he sensed her despair once more.
"Yes," Anjaleen lied smoothly as she turned around and her despair fled. "I hope you're having fun."
"I am," Luke said as he looked up and saw Raphael glaring at him as the man started back towards them, the drinks forgotten. "I was wondering though, could I have the honor of this dance?"
"I'd love to," Anjaleen said as she blushed, her eyes quickly darting to where Raphael was just hidden from view by some other people.
Luke took her hand and led her onto the dance floor as the next song started, smiling as he saw Raphael's outraged expression as he stood where they had been moments before. Turning his attention back to the young woman before him, Luke's smile grew as he sensed her genuine happiness and her bright smile. He took her left hand in his and placed his other hand on her hip as she picked up her dress with her right hand. They looked at each other as they began to dance and Luke suddenly lost himself in her vivid green eyes.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Rebecca or me at valeriev84@hotmail.com
