Dynasty: Chunk Sixteen
by Valerie Vancollie and Rebecca Thomson
"But you can't quit now!" Master Van Kallen wailed. "Skywalker's party is coming up, and we're swamped!" He thumped his desk in emphasis.
"I am sorry, Sir, but I'm not sure it's healthy for me to keep working here. The pressures against non-humans are becoming worse. I think that it is best for me to return to my homeworld. Besides, my mother is ill." Fl'ann said, fur rippling. This was going worse than he expected. He stared at the floor of his boss's office hoping the man wouldn't remember that Fl'ann hadn't spoken of his mother before, ever.
"Oh Fl'ann, to think that politics is tearing you away from us." Vincent Van Kallen sunk back into his chair. "I had always hoped that we could stay above that here." The master tailor let out a huge sigh. "But you're right. And I won't ask you to risk yourself. But perhaps we can work something else out. We always need field operatives to go out into the galaxy to procure our rarer fabrics and materials. Perhaps we could transfer you to a different department?"
Fl'ann sighed. If he had really been leaving for his own safety, that would have been an ideal solution. But he had been ordered to disappear, not just move. "I don't know, Master Van Kallen. I've never been a trader. And my mother is not well, I need to return to take care of her."
"Family obligations, I understand. Well, give us a call when you're settled. Maybe we can work something out."
"Thank you, Sir." Fl'ann bowed and turned to go.
Anjaleen twirled in her white gown, the multi-colored stones catching the light coming through her wide bedroom windows. Her mother glanced up from petting Fifi, she was sitting in a carved wooden chair with many embroidered cushions.
"I don't know dear, you've worn it to court before. Maybe we should order a new one for the party." Her mother sounded doubtful.
"Mother, we would never be able to get a new dress made this soon before the dance. Nastalia told me that she'll be lucky to get hers delivered that morning, and she ordered hers the day she received the invitation. The tailors are swamped, everyone is ordering new clothes for the event. Besides, I've only wore this dress once before."
"Yes, the dance has managed to turn itself into the event of the year, what with it being Lord Vader's first party and the Emperor's attendance." Sasha Winiterure mussed. "But maybe we can spruce that dress up a little with some of my jewels. I have a tiara in the same stones that we can work into your hair, along with some other little things." Sasha motioned to a servant to bring out the holo-record of her jewels.
Anjaleen walked over, trying to ignore why she felt compelled to wear her white gown. She knew that she had told Skywalker she would wear it, but she could just wear whatever she wanted, he probably wouldn't even remember that he had asked her. It was silly to even want to impress him, she had no future with him.
She hid a grimace, thinking of the conversation she had overheard between her father and Jerklin. It was all about her future. Nothing was said or implied about Jerklin's part in that future, but Anjaleen knew that it was only the beginning of many such conversations.
Sadi Merson sighed as he looked around his underground apartment. He had lived here, alone, for fifteen years silently collecting information for the Alliance. And now, he was supposed to throw all his security, and maybe even his life, away for a bunch of Alliance operatives that he had never met before. Trust strangers, when he hadn't even been able to trust friends for fifteen years. Sadi sighed again, and turned to the door, jingling the credits in his pocket. He had to go and buy some power packs.
The worst part, he mussed as he locked the door behind him, was knowing what the Rebels were after. The party, the dance, it just had to be. The holonet gossip shows were awash with the news that Lord Vader was throwing a huge birthday bash for someone named Skywalker, the mysterious young man that had been so recently tied to Imperial victories.
Merson couldn't blame them for wanting to plan a strike against Vader's Castle during the party. It was a great opportunity for the Alliance. The Emperor was to be there, along with most of the court and higher military personnel. He just hoped that the operatives had insider information. Vader's Lair was reputed to have better security than the Imperial Palace, if only because it didn't have as many visitors.
He glanced at his chrono, gauging the time. He had to get the power cells, talk to Fizzi about borrowing her second apartment for the 'family' he had coming to visit, and buy food for the week. He would have to go to several stores to not raise suspicions on why he was buying so many power packs and food with cash, plus Fizzi might take some time.
She was an absolutely loyal Imperial citizen who naturally believed that everyone saw the rightness in Imperial thought. The perfect friend for a deep plant spy. The perfect friend to lend you her weekend apartment for your loyal Imperial relatives who are here on a pilgrimage to visit the Imperial Palace (it had a walking tour open to the public for 150 credits) and other historic sites.
As Sadi hit the lift button at the end of the hall to go even further into the depths of Coruscant's streets, he wryly smiled as he patted his blaster. As a mid-level data pusher in the Imperial government, many of his co-workers were stunned that he would chose to live so far underground. He would claim that the rent was cheaper, but the real truth was that living so close to the underground made it easier for him to carry a weapon without suspicion. No one would live this far down unarmed. It also made it easier for him to maintain the other contacts he needed as a spy.
"Nastalia," Grand Moff Bel-Zessa called out as he entered his Coruscant home. "Where is she?" he asked a servant when he got no response from his daughter.
"I believe she is on the patio," the servant replied.
The Grand Moff nodded his head in thanks and headed for the patio. Reaching it, he found Nastalia talking with her maid, Enrouina.
"Yes, Father?" Nastalia asked as she looked up from the cocktail she was drinking.
"We have just received a message from a ship we thought lost," the Grand Moff stated as he took a seat and watched Enrouina leave. "It's from the Conqueror," he continued when he saw his daughter's indifferent expression.
"The Conqueror?" Nastalia questioned as the face of a young man with copper colored hair and gray eyes flashed before her own eyes.
Several years ago, before her father had been promoted to Grand Moff, she had met a young Major. They had seen each other on a regular basis at the parties they had both attended, and slowly they had started to like one another. However, just as they started getting close, he had been assigned to the Conqueror which had been one of four Star Destroyers to be sent on an exploratory mission into the Unknown Territories. It had originally been planned to be a two year mission, however the two years had come and gone without a word being heard from the task force and it had quickly become apparent that something had gone wrong when a third year had rolled on by. Now it was approximately five years since the task force had left.
"Yes," Bel-Zessa confirmed. "The message stated that the Conqueror was the only remaining Destroyer. The message was sent by Admiral MacNelly."
"Admiral?" Nastalia repeated, stunned. "Nathaniel is an Admiral?"
"Yes," her father stated. "A bit young, but then so is Skywalker and he's handling things extremely well. The promotion was definitely not because of a lack of men as the Conqueror has more men on board than normal as it carries the survivors of the other three Star Destroyers as well as its own crew."
"What happened?" Nastalia inquired as she sat up a little straighter.
"We're not sure. Somewhere along the line they sustained damage to their transmitters and can't send for too long. The Conqueror will be met by another task force in the Outer Rim Territories and MacNelly should be brought back to Coruscant along with the other leading officers."
Nastalia absorbed this information as she leaned back in her chair to think. She couldn't help but wonder if Nathaniel would still like her. She also wondered how much he had changed and what he had experienced since his departure. It was ironic that he would be picked up in the Outer Rim Territories as that was where Skywalker had come from if that despicable General could be believed.
"Are you all right?" Bel-Zessa asked as he looked at his daughter.
"Yes," Nastalia replied as she got to her feet. "I just need a little time alone."
With this she walked off the patio and headed to her rooms. She could hardly wait to see Nathaniel again, but she was also a little fearful of the encounter. She had, after all, long since given him up for dead and pushed any memories of him aside. But now...
"Coming," Fizzi said as she rushed towards the front door of her home as she heard the insistent ringing of her bell. Turning on the holocamera that hung above her door she smiled when she saw who it was. "Sadi," she said warmly as she opened the door. "Come in."
"Hello, Fizzi," Sadi replied as he entered. "How are you today?"
"Fine," Fizzi responded. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?"
"Well, to be perfectly honest, I've come to ask something of you," Sadi said, knowing that he had little time to waste. After all, the Alliance operatives could be arriving as soon as tomorrow. "A big favor."
"Anything for you, Sadi," Fizzi stated as she turned to her house droid. "Get us two glasses of flongar juice."
"You know me too well," Sadi remarked as she led him to her sitting room. "Anyway. You know how expensive rents are here."
"Indeed," Fizzi agreed. "However this is the capital and it is a great privilege to live so close to the Emperor."
Sadi simply nodded his head at this as he took the glass the droid offered him. What Fizzi didn't consider was the fact that there were hundreds and hundreds of aliens and scum of all sorts wandering the abandoned and forlorn underworld of the city-planet. No one knew exactly what type of beings roamed the lowest levels where the light never penetrated and had not for as long as anyone could remember. People who went down there never returned and only the most desperate, the most wanted men, went down there anymore as there lay a fate worse than death.
"I received a message just the other day saying that some of my relatives have decided to come visit the glorious heart of the Empire," Sadi continued, knowing that the show of supposed loyalty would help convince the woman before him. "However they asked me to seek them some accommodations and I have been unable to find anything that is suitable. Now, I was hoping, that you would be so kind as to let them stay at your second apartment. They will naturally pay all the bills while they stay there."
"How long are they planning to stay?" Fizzi inquired as she leaned back in the sofa.
"A few weeks," Sadi stated. "They want enough time to visit the Palace and see all the other sites of Imperial glory. My youngest cousin has never been to Coruscant before and is literally dying to see it, the others are also very excited to be able to return once more. I can assure you that they won't cause any damage, besides they'll be out of the apartment for the majority of the time that they'll be staying here anyway. There's just so much to do and see here."
"That there is," Fizzi replied as she smiled.
There was a brief moment of silence as she thought things over and Sadi held his breath. If she refused then he'd have to find another place, and quickly. Fizzi's second apartment was located in a less busy section of the city where the comings and goings of the Alliance operatives wouldn't be noticed. It was also far away from any of the stormtrooper stations, at least as far away from them as one could get on Coruscant.
"Okay," Fizzi finally said and Sadi tried hard not too look too relieved. "I normally wouldn't do this, but since they're your family I know that I can trust them."
"Thank you so much, Fizzi," Sadi replied as he suppressed a smile. "You're a life saver."
"Luke," Vader said as he entered his son's room the following morning.
"Yes, Father?" Luke asked as he looked up.
"I want you to read this information as soon as possible," Vader stated as he handed a datapad to his son. "It is the details of a mission that Palpatine ordered five years ago."
Luke took the datapad and scanned the beginning of the information before he looked up. "An exploratory mission? What's so important about it?"
"It vanished without a trace," Vader explained. "At least it did until yesterday. The remaining leaders will be brought to Coruscant in two days and I want you to know what they were meant to do when we debrief them on what happened. Only one of the four Star Destroyers has returned."
"Very well," Luke replied as his curiosity rose. "Who else will be at the debriefing?"
"All the Grand Moffs presently on planet," Vader stated. "And you and me. Palpatine wants full details as soon as possible so we'll begin as soon as they arrive."
"This is not happening to us!" Nate exclaimed as he pulled at the collar of his civilian clothing.
Everything had just seemed to be running smoothly, they had left the Alliance base a few days ago and had traveled uneventfully to Coruscant. It had just seemed like they had gotten past the traffic control when they had been ordered to stop and wait to be boarded.
"We'll be fine," Lantash stated as he turned off the engines. "Everything's well hidden."
"Still," Frasl muttered. "What with Skywalker's party coming up they might be extra careful with the ships they search."
"Or more careless than usual," Lantash replied. "They've probably upped the number of ships to be searched and stormies tend to get bored pretty quickly when doing the same thing over and over without getting any results."
"Lets hope for the best," Nate cut in. "You know your covers. Just act calm and be polite, remember we're here on a pilgrimage to show how much we admire the Empire."
Frasl pretended to choke as Nate walked out of the room.
"What's up Clay?" Jon asked as Nate entered the main room on the ship.
"The Imps are coming aboard to check us out," Nate explained even as he smiled. While everyone in the Alliance was respectful of their superiors, there weren't as tight rules about always addressing them by their rank or constantly saying 'Yes, Sir' or 'As you wish, Sir.' The Alliance was much more relaxed in that area and Nate liked it. "Just pretend everything is normal and continue your game."
Jon nodded his head, turned back to the others, and grimaced as they heard the ship's hatch open. Doing as he was told, Jon pretended to turn his attention back to the sabacc game they had been playing. Making his way to the ship hatch, Nate sighed before schooling his expression to be pleasant, if slightly annoyed.
"Hello, Lieutenant," Nate said as the man walked onto their ship as if he owned it. "How are you today?"
The Lieutenant simply grunted as he looked Nate over. He had enough to do without starting up a chit chat with the owner of every single ship he boarded. Stepping aside, he allowed the stormtroopers to board before he indicated for them to start their search.
"What's your name?" the Lieutenant barked. "And the purpose of your visit to the capital?"
"Henry Drake, Sir," Nate lied as he let the stormtroopers pass. "I'm here along with several of my friends to see the sites of Coruscant. We haven't been here in a while, what with the Rebels making it so unsafe to travel and all, but we finally decided to return."
The Lieutenant nodded his head as he took this in before moving past Nate to see the rest of the ship. Looking in the rooms he passed he saw the stormtroopers spread out, searching. Entering the main room he saw several men sitting around a table, their cards lying before them, forgotten as they watched the stormtroopers.
"This is everyone?" the Lieutenant demanded as he turned back to Nate.
"No, Sir," Nate replied and saw Jon smirk out of the corner of his eye. "Two of my friends are still in the cockpit."
"Show me."
Nate did as he was told and led the man to the cockpit where Lantash and Frasl were waiting. Entering the cockpit, the Lieutenant spared the two men a glance before starting his own search. Several minutes later he stepped back, pleased. Just as he did so one of the stormtroopers entered the cockpit.
"There is nothing here, Sir," he reported.
"Good," the Lieutenant replied as he dismissed the man. "Do you have your ID with you, Mr. Drake?"
"Right here, Sir," Nate said as he pulled the necessary datachip from his pocket.
The Lieutenant took the chip and placed it into the datapad he carried with him and scanned the information. Giving it back to Nate he did the same for Lantash's and Frasl's ID.
"Can we help you with anything else, Sir?" Nate questioned politely as the Lieutenant handed Frasl his ID back.
"No, that will be all," the Lieutenant stated before he left the cockpit and headed back to the ship hatch, the stormtroopers falling in behind him as he passed the main room.
"That went well," Jon commented as soon as they were detached from the Imperial ship.
"Yes," Nate agreed. "But then it was the easiest part of our mission."
Major Clay walked into the apartment's main living room, shouldering his heavy bag. "Nice place." He looked around, glancing at the many inspirational posters lauding the virtues of the Empire.
"Uh, yes, I'm borrowing it from a friend." The nervous little bureaucrat that was their local connection explained. He turned around, and gasped. "Don't touch that!" Jon had taken down one of the framed posters, and was about to stuff it behind a couch.
Jon glanced at Clay as the nervous man stalked over to the operative and carefully hung the poster back up. "You don't understand, Fizzi will be horribly suspicious if she stops by and you've taken them down." The local suddenly turned around and glared at the Major. "You're not on a Rebel base here- you're on Coruscant, the Imperial Center. Seat of the Empire and home of the Emperor, not to mention all the high officials and even the Empire's Sith Lord. I wouldn't even think a rebellious thought when you don't have to."
"I understand."
"Do you? Even I have several of these in my apartment," the man indicated the posters, "if I didn't, I'd get reported. Loyalty to the Empire runs a little strong here." The man sighed. "So when do you want to see the sights?"
"What?" Clay asked.
"You know, tour the Palace, attend the Royal Symphony, things like that. You're loyal Imperial Citizens, taking a pilgrimage to see the capital." Someone groaned. The man whirled around, "Don't even tell me that you aren't planning on maintaining your cover." He accused.
"Yes, we are." The Major glared at each man in turn. "We just aren't looking forward to it. Do you have any brochures, or should we look up some sights to see on the local holo-net?"
"Try the net, they have all the schedules. Now, I have to go to work. Please try not to get arrested before I get back. I don't want to spend the next five years in an Imperial torture chamber." The man stalked out, shutting the door behind him.
"Pleasant man," said Lantash.
"Don't blame him, Lantash." The Major said. "We are walking on thin ice here, and he's right about what will happen to us if we get caught. Well, we better set up. I want the stuff back in the bedrooms, we don't need it in the living room if this 'Fizzy' stops by. Lantash, contact our Bothan spy, set up that appointment. And Frasl, link up to the net, see where we should go. We better act the part of over-awed Imperial loyalists for an afternoon or so."
"Yes, Sir," Frasl sighed.
"Clay!" Frasl happily called. "Come here, you have to see this!"
The Major wandered over, peering over Frasl's shoulder at the holo-net screen. Frasl smirked, "Made to order, don't you think?" he asked.
"Why, I do believe so." Clay clapped Frasl on the shoulder. "Good work."
"What is it?" asked Lantash, walking into the room.
"The holo-news for the loyal citizens of Coruscant is talking about how a single long-lost Star Destroyer has come back, years late, from an exploratory mission into the Outer Regions. The Emperor wishes to know what happened to the rest of the task force, so he has ordered all the local Grand Moffs to debrief the officers as soon as they arrive. He has also included both Darth Vader and Skywalker on the committee." Frasl said. He turned to Lantash, "those two won't be home during the debrief, only the normal house security."
"And it takes hours to get from the Palace to Vader's Castle, even in an emergency." Clay said. "We now have our time to strike, we only need the information on the Castle."
"We can meet the Bothan tonight." Lantash said, "I just received word."
"Good."
"Am I being silly?" Nastalia asked Anjaleen, hands nervously smoothing her green skirt. "I haven't seen him in forever, and so much has happened since then. But I can't help but wonder." She trailed off, looking over the court gardens. It was afternoon, and they were walking together before they left for dinner.
"No, actually, you're not." Anjaleen said. "An Admiral, especially a young one that has been promoted early may advance even further up the chain of command. And a lot of the men around here are rather stuffy and full of themselves, even if they have never done anything worth mentioning. But, he may have changed. You'll want to talk with him, see what kind of a man he is now." Anjaleen took on a teasing tone, "However, there is one good thing."
"What?" Nastalia asked, annoyed.
"He hasn't gotten married in the last five years. We know that." Anjaleen smiled. "In fact, he probably hasn't met anyone either."
"Oh, I hadn't even thought of that!" She replied, dismayed.
"Well," Anjaleen softly replied, "count yourself lucky that your father will even let you chose."
Nastalia looked at her friend in pity. "How's it going? Any word?"
"No, but they talk a lot. I have no idea what about. But I keep getting this feeling they talk about me." Anjaleen replied. "At least he's always polite to me."
"True enough." Nastalia looked up. "Oh, here comes Elizabeth and that Ra'chealla." The two women smiled at the approaching ladies. "Good afternoon, Elizabeth, Ra'chealla."
"Good afternoon. It is a wonderful day, isn't it?" Elizabeth replied.
"Yes." Nastalia answered. "So, did the tailor say if they were going to get you that new gown for the dance, Elizabeth?"
The woman sighed, "He's making promises, but I don't really trust him. And you?"
"He claims it will be there that morning." Nastalia sniffed. "So, what are you doing, Ra'chealla?"
"I have a gown I hadn't worn yet. I figured it would be perfect." Ra'chealla shrugged. She glanced at the silent Anjaleen and asked, "and what are you going to wear, Anjaleen?"
Anjaleen smiled, "Oh, I have a white gown I'm going to wear."
"Oh." Ra'chealla replied, dismissing Anjaleen as she looked over the women's shoulder. "Hello, father, Mr. Skywalker."
"Hello, Ra'chealla, ladies." They turned, and Buchanan and Luke Skywalker were standing there. Skywalker was wearing an emerald green outfit. The shirt and pants were piped with purple and black, and the buttons were made of emeralds. Buchanan was wearing crimson red. "Ra'chealla, have you seen your mother?"
"Not lately. She was saying something about having a headache and going home earlier."
"Ah. Well," the two men had walked up to the small circle of women, and somehow Skywalker had ended up between Buchanan and his daughter. Ra'chealla had taken a small step closer to Luke, and her father was frowning. "Well, it is time for dinner. Come along dear, let's go home." Buchanan turned to Skywalker and gave a very small nod. "It has been a pleasure
speaking to you, Mr. Skywalker."
"Likewise, Mr. Buchanan." Skywalker barely nodded back.
"Oh, let me come walk with you. I need to go home as well," Elizabeth said, walking abreast of a suddenly glum Ra'chealla. The three walked off.
Luke turned to the two ladies that were left. "Sometimes it is fun to needle that man." He smiled.
Anjaleen smiled back, eyes sparkling. "Why, whatever could you mean, Luke?" The three smothered giggles.
"What are you reading?" Leia questioned as she walked onto the patio to watch the sunset and saw her brother sitting there.
"The Conqueror has returned," Luke stated, not answering her question and not looking up from the datapad he had before him.
"The Conqueror?" Leia repeated curiously, even as she racked her brain for anything concerning that particular ship. The name was familiar to her, she'd heard of it somewhere before. "The Unknown Territory mission!" she exclaimed as she remembered.
"Exactly," Luke confirmed as he reached the last of the information he needed to read.
"What of the other Star Destroyers? Where are they?" Leia inquired as she took the seat opposite her twin, eager to have something to fill her time instead of boredom. "And what took the Conqueror so long?"
"Those are good questions," Luke said as he reached the end of the info, put the datapad down on the table between them, and finally looked up at his sister. "Unfortunately I don't have any answers yet. The command crew of the Conqueror has still to be questioned. This will happen the day after tomorrow."
"Oh," Leia replied, disappointed.
"Tell me," Luke continued. "Why the interest? I see Viceroy Organa was against the whole mission," he said as he tapped the datapad.
"He was, as was I," Leia stated. "We both knew that if there was anything, or anyone, out there that Palpatine would only want to conquer it. The name of the leading Star Destroyer proves this."
"This is one of the reason the Senate was disbanded," Luke declared. "The Senators could never see things correctly. It was for security reasons that the mission was first organized. In order to protect the Empire we need to know if there is are any other races out there that might attack."
"That's not the way I heard it," Leia stated stubbornly.
"From what I know, you weren't even a Senator at the time," Luke replied. "Which means your information must have come through Organa. He's lied and misled you so often before, purposefully turning you against everything your father stands for, why not with this?"
Leia opened her mouth to reply when she heard a hissing behind her. Twisting in her seat she saw Vader step out onto the patio. Saying something to Mark who was next to him, Vader approached them as Mark hurried off.
"Have you finished reading the data?" Vader asked as he too sat down, indicating the datapad on the table.
"Yes, Father," Luke replied.
"Good," Vader stated as he looked at Leia before turning back to his son. "The current Admiral of the Conqueror is Nathaniel MacNelly."
"MacNelly?" Luke repeated as he took hold of the datapad and called up the crew names and ranks. "But he was only a Major when the task force left."
"Indeed," Vader said. "Which means that whatever took the other three Destroyers also took a lot of officers."
"How's everything?" Nate whispered, knowing that the microphone worked into the button of his shirt would pick it up.
"Looks clear," Jon's voice said in Nate's ear through the receiver he had there. "No more Imp activity than usual."
"Good," Nate stated as he looked at the building Jon was hiding in, before turning in a slow circle to make sure that the others hidden in the other buildings weren't visible. "Any sign of our Bothan friend?"
"No," Delvin said from his post overlooking the mouth of the alley.
"You sure he said noon?" Nate demanded of Lantash, the only other operative who was with him at the meeting place.
"Yes," Lantash replied as his eyes darted around nervously. "You don't suppose he's not going to show up, do you?"
"He'll show," Nate responded with conviction. "Sooner or later. Bothans have a tight code of honor to their clan. If the clan tells him to work with us, he will, and Mon Mothma insisted on splitting the payment in two. Half before and half after we've gotten what we need. Which is why we have to contact our cell on Mantooine tonight, so they know that the Bothans held their end of the deal."
"Here comes a Bothan," Delvin said at which both Nate and Lantash stiffened, before pulling out empty juice cans, the signal by which the Bothan was to recognize them.
"Hello," Fl'ann said after watching the two humans for a little. "Clay?"
"That's me," Nate confirmed. "This is Lantash."
"Where are the others?" Fl'ann demanded as he looked around. "The Alliance wouldn't send just two men to rescue Organa."
"They're around," Lantash explained with a little gesture of his hand. "We want to make sure we aren't surprised by any Imps."
"Lets make this as quick as possible," Nate stated. "None of us can afford to hang around here in the open for too long."
"That's interesting," Luke said. "I hadn't heard."
"I only know it from Anjaleen," Raphael Jerklin replied. "She and Nastalia were discussing it the other day."
"Must have been hard for her, Nastalia I mean," Luke stated as he looked through the crowd of the court to where Nastalia was standing near the orchestra.
"From what Anjaleen says, she's all excited," Raphael continued. "I only hope the guy still likes her."
"Indeed," Luke agreed. "Although MacNelly must be talented to be promoted so quickly, no matter what the circumstances are. If he was put in command on such an unpredictable mission then it means he showed some true leadership skills. I look forward to the debriefing."
"If I've understood Nastalia's behavior correctly, from what Anjaleen has told me, then you can expect to find her waiting outside the doors to the debriefing room," Raphael said.
"Could well be a long wait," Luke replied. "By the time a mission takes three years longer than expected, something major must have taken place."
"Indeed," Raphael replied then stiffened when one of the Emperor's aides walked up to them.
"The Emperor wishes to speak with you, Mr. Skywalker," Jamison reported.
"Thank you," Luke said before the aide walked away. "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Jerklin."
"Certainly," Raphael replied. "Besides, I've got to go see Anjaleen."
Luke sighed as he saw the smile on his face as he walked off. Although Raphael was nice, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Anjaleen. The man was acting like only his feelings mattered. Luke was sure that he had never once stopped to question whether Anjaleen liked him enough to spend the rest of her life with him. Shaking his head, Luke turned around and made his way through the crowd to his grandfather.
"Your Majesty," Luke greeted as he bowed before Palpatine.
"Skywalker," Palpatine replied as he looked at the courtiers huddled close enough to overhear anything said, but just far away enough not to look suspicious. At least that was what they thought. "Are you ready for the debriefing?"
"Yes, your Majesty," Luke responded, knowing that his grandfather already knew that but was just acting it out for the others.
"Yes, we got the information," Nate said over the secured line to the cell leader on Mantooine. "Although it wasn't as much as I'd hoped."
Lantash rolled his eyes as he overheard this. The Bothan had known nothing useful about the security measures around the castle. It was a good thing that the party was going on otherwise they wouldn't be able to get past the house shield the castle had. The spy had, however, been able to provide a pretty good plan for the inside of the castle.
"Yes," Nate replied to a question Lantash couldn't hear. "We will move in tomorrow while both Lord Vader and Skywalker are at the Palace for this debriefing."
Lantash tuned his commander out and turned back to his work. After talking with the Bothan spy, they had agreed to enter the castle by pretending to be part of a delivery. There would be so many people helping out with the party preparations that eight more wouldn't be noticed. Then, once inside, they would kill some of the house guards and take their uniforms. Once they had those, they'd be able to move around freely. With the Bothan's info they'd make their way around and see where Princess Leia was held.
It was a risky plan at best, Lantash knew, but there was nothing better for them to do. The party was in a week and then Vader's Castle would become as impenetrable as it had been before, and they'd lose their chance of getting Princess Leia out and back to the Alliance. Besides, there was always the possibility that Palpatine and Vader would decide that she was of no more use to them and have her killed. Lantash shivered at the thought of the execution ceremony that had been held when the Empire had gotten rid of Darklighter and Antilles.
"How are things?" Nate inquired as he terminated the connection.
"We're just about ready," Lantash replied as he put down the blaster he had been working on and picked up the pieces of another one. "Shouldn't be long before we've got them all assembled again."
"Good job," Nate stated. Although some of the blasters had been reassembled upon arrival, they hadn't had enough time to get them all ready before their meeting with the Bothan. "I'm going to see if Delvin and Jon have gotten together our outfits for tomorrow."
Lantash watched him go before concentrating on the pieces of the blaster.
Lantash checked his leg holster, slapping the blaster back into position. He checked the other leg, thumbing the vibroblade's edge to test its sharpness before replacing it. He carefully straightened the legs on his pants, checking that no outline of the weapons showed through the florist's uniform. He turned to Frasl, and their eyes locked as he pulled on the long coat to cover the uniform. Lantash sighed.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
Frasl snorted. "Same here. But what else are we going to do? We owe it to her to try."
"Yes." Lantash turned to glance at Clay, who was reviewing their plans of the castle. "We all owe Princess Leia Organa our lives."
Jon came up behind them. "Some people say it was her fault." He whispered. Lantash glared at him. "Not me, but some of my cousins told me I was nuts for coming."
"It's the right thing to do." The three men glanced at their commanding officer. He had turned to face them, eyes hard. "It is the right thing. Don't listen to them, not now. Just do your job, and this will work. Got that?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Now, everyone ready? Let's go make that call."
They spread out, walking the hallways and corridors and streets of the city in small groups, each taking a different route. Their first destination was to "get some flowers for the party" as Clay had put it.
"Down on the ground!" Lantash snapped, as Jon quietly closed the door to the shop and turned the sign to read closed. "Don't move, or I'll shoot." Lantash ordered, as he waved the blaster so they could see it.
"The money's in the register." The shop owner whimpered.
"Jon, stun the others." Lantash snarled, and Jon complied. The two employees slumped unconscious as two muffled blasts hit them. "Now, get up." The owner crawled to his feet.
"The register will open automatically if..."
"We're not after money. You are going to make a call." Lantash was doing all the talking, as Jon shoved him towards the holo unit. "You are going to call Vader's Castle and tell him that you are sending over some employees to take some measurements for the arrangements."
"But-"
"These blasters can be set to kill, not stun." Lantash growled. "They won't blame you, after all, you have a blaster in your back. Either make that call, or die now."
The florist gulped, but gave in. The call was quick, and the house staff agreed surprisingly easily.
"Good. Now, I'm stunning you, but you'll wake up in the morning." Lantash hit them with his stun blast, and the man slumped down. "Jon, take out the garbage." Jon stepped forward again and quickly stabbed all three of the florists with a thin blade, right into the heart as Lantash signaled the all-clear on his comlink. Jon did a quick search of the owner's body, pulling out the ring of keys he flashed a smile to Lantash.
They stepped out behind the shop, and quickly opened the delivery van's doors. Silently, men dressed like the florist stepped from the shadows and loaded into the van.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Rebecca or me at valeriev84@hotmail.com
