Dynasty: Chunk Thirty-Eight
by Valerie Vancollie and Rebecca Thomson
"Anjaleen, you have been a very naughty girl, keeping secrets." Nastalia said, clasping her friend's hand. Anja giggled in reply.
Luke smiled, turning to the Admiral. "Feeling better?"
"Ha ha." The Admiral replied, then smiled. "So, do we get any hints on the next big surprise?"
Luke smiled back. "No. You should have all the information you need."
The Admiral rubbed his chin with exaggerated care. "Humm. I must think on this." The two walked down the line, shaking the Winiterures' hands before bowing to the Emperor and taking their seats.
"All this time they've simply been toying with us!" Buchanan stated, trying to be angry, but the fear he felt simply overclouded it.
"Indeed," Vladimir agreed as he swallowed. "But why? What has it gained them?"
"Knowledge on just where we stand and what we're willing to do, of course," Buchanan replied, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. His rival must have gone far further than he had thought for him to be so worried that he couldn't think straight and see the obvious anymore.
"I know that!" Vladimir snapped, realizing his mistake too late. "I mean other than that. After all, do you think they'd really allow the friction that resulted from their little secret for only that? Even the Navy was splitting between them!"
"But not the Bel-Zessa family," Elizabeth suddenly added.
"What?" Buchanan demanded as he turned to face his daughter's 'friend.'
"Didn't you see the Grand Moff's face?" Elizabeth questioned. "Or that of Admiral MacNelly? Neither of them was the least bit surprised at the confirmation of the rumor, indeed they both looked as if they knew it was coming and were amused that no one else knew."
"Are you sure about this?" Buchanan inquired, even as he pondered the news. If what Elizabeth was saying was true, then he'd have to recheck the Bel-Zessas and the MacNellys as it would mean that they were far more closely allied to the two Dark Lords than he had suspected. Not that it would do him any good at this point.
"Yes," Elizabeth stated before a smile spread across her face. "I'm sure that Ra'chealla noticed it too. Too bad she isn't here or you could have asked her about it."
"Isn't here?" Buchanan repeated before he looked around and couldn't find his daughter anywhere nearby. "Where is she?"
"She left as soon as she could," Elizabeth informed him before she looked at her father. She could detect the slight tremors running through him and wanted to get the other courtier to go away so that her father had time to compose himself before he did something to embarrass himself and thus her as well. "I think she returned home."
"Has everything been arranged as far as your inheritance goes?" Vader demanded as he looked at Randolf while the servants cleared the dishes from the table.
"Yes," Randolf responded, liking the soft music that was playing in the background. "It was officially announced the other day back at my system that Anjaleen's cousin Benoui, the one in the black outfit sitting next to Admiral MacNelly, will inherit my position."
"Good," Vader stated as he looked around the room at the various guests.
Vader had to admit that Anjaleen had been as careful with placing the guests next to people they could talk with as she had been careful in getting the seat arrangements for their table. She had placed him and Luke on either side of the Emperor, while seating her mother between herself and her father so that Sasha wouldn't be able to bother the others too much. But Vader could see that the little calming drug was working nicely. While Sasha Winiterure wasn't overly effected by the drug, she was reasonably quiet.
"Do your guards always remain right behind you, your Majesty?" Sasha suddenly inquired as she indicated the two scarlet clad warriors who stood directly behind the Emperor's chair and causing Vader to question whether he had made his last judgment too soon.
"Except when I'm in my private quarters, yes," Palpatine lied, not wishing to inform the woman of how he left them in the Palace when he came to his son's castle.
"Oh," Sasha replied as servants took away their used wine glasses and placed cups on the table.
'Very articulate, isn't she?' Vader demanded sarcastically as he observed the woman out of the corner of his eye.
'You haven't seen the worst of it yet,' Luke stated as he looked around the room and smiled at Nastalia who was just looking in their direction.
'How could it possibly get worse?' Vader questioned before he paused. 'Wait, on second thought, perhaps I don't want to know.'
'I do,' Palpatine said as he looked at his grandson.
'She's got this little pet, a chiwani, that she spoils silly,' Luke began. 'An ugly little ball of hair really, but she loves it and is always fusing over it.'
'Stop!' Vader ordered. 'I can already picture it.'
'Very well,' Luke as he suppressed a smile.
"So," Randolf began. "Where are you two going for your honeymoon?"
"That's a good question," Anjaleen declared as she sent Luke a mock glare. "But Luke here refuses to give me the answer."
"It's a surprise," Luke explained as he saw Randolf raise an eyebrow.
"How romantic," Sasha exclaimed just as the servants placed the cake before them. "Which makes me wonder, Lord Vader, where is my new son-in-law's mother?"
"She died a long time ago," Luke stated softly after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "So long ago that I have no memory of her," he added as he let sadness he didn't feel work its way into his voice.
"Oh!" Sasha exclaimed. "I'm sorry."
"Didn't you say that there was something special about the cake?" Randolf asked his daughter, hoping to shift the topic of conversation.
"Yes," Anja confirmed, knowing what her father was doing. "Luke and I decided to use one of the traditions of the T'Zessa System. In each piece of cake there is a charm which will tell you something about your future. In the T'Zessa System normally only the unmarried couples get a charm, but we figured that it would be nice for everyone to get one."
"How sweet," Sasha said as began looking of her charm. "Found it," she declared a moment later as she pulled the small golden figure from her cake. "What does it mean?"
"Let me see," Anja said as she looked at the charm. "Its a Rolik bird, which means that there will be a major surprise in your life in the next few years."
"How mysterious," Sasha said as she saw Luke find his. "What does yours mean, Lord Vader?"
"This shoe says I'll be traveling a lot," Luke explained. "No surprise there."
"And this one?" Randolf inquired as he handed his charm to his daughter.
"Well..." Anja began before she saw what she was holding. "Oh," she said before she began to blush. "Oh."
"What?" Randolf questioned. "Surely its not bad?"
"No," Luke replied as he laughed, taking the charm from his wife's hand. "It's a baby Kritzen cat. It means that your children," he looked at Anja as he said this causing her to blush even more. "Are destined for greatness."
Hearing this, Randolf's mind instantly went back to what he had figured out earlier in the day. If he was right, then this charm could be referring to the fact that Anja had a chance at becoming the Empire's first Empress. Looking to the Emperor he found that the older man was looking at him. Instantly Randolf lowered his eyes respectfully as he wondered if the man knew he knew.
"What of this one, Lady Vader?" Palpatine inquired as he held up the one he had found in his piece of cake.
"It means..." Anja began, hesitating slightly before answering. "It means that you will have a long line of descendants."
"Well," Vader said. "These charms are after all simply placed randomly into the pieces of cake for pleasure," he said, hoping to make it look like it was chance that his father had gotten that particular one. "There's no telling who will get what."
"Indeed," Anjaleen agreed as she pulled her charm from the cake and held it up for others to see. "This one means that I'll meet the man of my dreams soon."
"Hey!" Luke exclaimed, pretending to be hurt even as he sensed her lie. Whatever the charm meant, it didn't mean what she had just said it meant.
"It's a fun tradition," Anja replied even as she saw the Emperor give her a look that stated that he knew what she had just done. "Even if it's simply a game of chance."
"Have fun on your honeymoon," Nastalia said as she embraced her friend. "And tell me all about it when you come back."
"I will," Anjaleen promised and smiled as the last of her guests left.
"We'd better be going as well," Randolf stated. "I'd wait until you actually left on the shuttle, but you say we shouldn't."
"Yes," Luke confirmed. "We'll be doing something special to make sure the press doesn't follow us. After all, this is our time alone."
"Indeed," Sasha agreed. "Have fun dear."
"I will, Mother," Anja responded before she embraced both her parents.
"So what did your charm truly mean?" Luke demanded as soon as the Winiterures had said their good-byes and left him, Anja, his father, and grandfather alone.
"Something to do with the Force and our child," Anja stated. "I'm not exactly sure because, when I was going through the different charms there were, I decided not to have that one used as most of the courtiers wouldn't understand it. It must have slipped in somehow, though."
"Seems like too much of a coincidence," Vader declared. "I doubt it simply slipped through."
"Yes," Palpatine agreed. "But I don't think we have the time to discuss it now. The press is waiting for your departure."
"True," Luke said as he turned to Anja. "Time for us to get changed into something comfortable to travel in and to have a little fun."
Half a galaxy away, Maro Trussell had been watching the holo-screen with his family at the Ravenell's household. They had invited everyone, making a party of it. The two men sat side by side, right in front of the holo-projector watching the ceremony.
Maro had gotten up to get another drink when his wife Ulisa called out, "Dear! Garret and Sean are coming out of the Palace!"
"Are they still smiling?"
"Yes." Someone said, "seems like they are enjoying themselves immensely."
"Hey, looks like the reporters are asking them questions. Come on, answer them." One of the other guests said, turning up the volume.
"Major Ravenell, it looks like you've known all along about Luke S- Vader being Lord Vader's son. Is this true?"
The Major stopped on the Palace stairs and smiled at the holo-cameras. "It was a little hard to miss, considering young Lord Luke Vader has been calling Lord Darth Vader 'father' in private ever since I met the young man."
"Oh my." One of the guests answered, while someone else hissed "Shhh!"
The reporters were a flurry of questions then, but Garret just smiled and waved, saying, "I can't answer all your questions, but I will say this- ask my cousin about the honeymoon, he planned it." With that, the Major bounded down the steps and into his transport.
The reporters turned on the Lieutenant as Sean's father leaned forward. His son looked good in his dress uniform, standing at a parade rest. "Lieutenant Trussell, any comments?" Someone asked.
"I cannot tell you where they are going. Not even Lady Vader knows, Lord Luke Vader chose to make it a surprise. And if you'll excuse me, I have some last minute preparations. Such as telling the shuttle pilot his destination." He nodded to the reporters, turning to his transport.
The announcer began to inform their listeners that their channel would be covering the departure after the reception. Someone turned the volume down, the room breaking out in conversation.
Mon Mothma rubbed her forehead, wishing that this wedding had been as boring as she had hoped for. "We're doomed, my friend." She whispered as General Rieekan poured her a drink. She swallowed it, grimacing at the taste of the moonshine. They had retired to her quarters after the council had erupted into shouting after the Sith's adjuncts had left the Palace.
"I know. The Sith will gain the throne now. Darth Vader won't be stopped, not with the support of his son. By all accounts, the boy is a mastermind at political maneuverings. Did you notice the few courtiers that looked appalled when they learned the truth?" Rieekan asked, trying to focus on what he could work with.
"Yes. Perhaps some of them could be approached. Not all of them will look forward to being ruled by the Sith for the next thousand years." Mon Mothma said, deep in thought.
"We will have to be very careful with that. It would be a quick way into political favor to betray us."
"I know. We will just hide who we really are, perhaps just come off as a group interested in supporting one of the other courtiers aiming for the throne." Mon Mothma said, thinking back to her days as an Imperial Senator and the double life she led then.
"Yes, that could work." Rieekan replied, turning the idea over in his mind. "It is a shame we've lost most of our spy net, however. We will have to make our approaches almost blind."
"Yes. Well, perhaps we should go back into the council room and watch them leave for their honeymoon." Mon Mothma said, turning for the door.
"Yes, maybe we'll learn something."
"Perhaps we will find out what General Ragorsh was planning. He did say he wanted to run an attack during the wedding. Perfect distraction, he said." Mon Mothma wryly replied.
Rieekan frowned. "I didn't like that, it smacks too much of plain terrorism. And he is far too independent."
"I know. I hesitated to give him permission, but without it, he would have done it anyway, and we never would learn anything about his plans or their results." Mon Mothma sighed, "he's a loose cannon, and I'm afraid he'll bury us all."
Steffen stood in the back of the Judgment's landing bay, watching the shuttle dock. He couldn't believe that Lord Sky- Vader had actually decided to use a Star Destroyer as transportation out of the system for his honeymoon. Wasn't that breaking some sort of Naval regulation against using Imperial equipment for personal reasons? And what was with the masses of holo-news teams setting up cameras around the landing bay? Steffen thought this was supposed to be a private honeymoon. He sighed as the shuttle touched down, ramp lowering to the deck.
The Admiral was standing at attention, his higher officers and stormtrooper honor guard standing around him. Steffen could see the young Lord walk down the ramp, his gem-work glittering in the bright bay lights, new wife on his arm. The Admiral saluted, and the Sith gave him a little nod. He turned to the cameras, motioning for the Admiral to follow him. The young lord smiled as he whispered something to his wife. Their jewels glittered, her dress swaying daintily with every step.
He stopped, and gestured for the reporters to gather closer. Cameras on repulsor lifts hovered close, as the lord slyly smiled. He slipped his hand free from his wife's arm, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he pulled, and his hair seemed to come with it, and before Steffen could realize what was happening, the Sith had a blond wig in his hand. He dropped it, and tugging at his face, he pulled off a sheet of flesh-colored plass.
Steffen gasped with the rest of the crowd in the hangar. It was Sean, dressed as the Sith Lord. His 'wife' pulled on her face as well, revealing a plain woman wearing a fancy dress. Steffen leaned forward, trying to catch what Lieutenant Trussell was saying to the reporters.
"My Lord required absolute privacy for this trip, and he has already left the system in a private shuttle. You are invited to return to the planet's surface, as this ship will be receiving orders to go on a military mission."
The Admiral leaned against the turbolift wall, looking at Lieutenant Trussell. The reporters had just left, and the adjunct was going back to the castle. "That looks itchy." He said. The gems glittered as the man turned, facing him.
"It's not. In fact, I now know why Luke wears these outfits. It's much more comfortable than my uniform. Silk lined, perfect fit, it's amazing. I'm not taking it off till I have to."
The Admiral snorted, "Which will be ten seconds after you land." The man just smiled. "But I wanted to thank you for that heads-up on what was really going on, even if it was only minutes before you showed up."
"I didn't want to offend you Admiral."
"Thanks all the same."
"Worked like a charm," Luke stated as soon as the shuttle jumped into hyperspace.
"Indeed," Anjaleen agreed before she looked at her new husband. "You said you'd tell me on the shuttle where we're going."
"I did," Luke admitted as he laughed. "Okay, we're going to Klisd."
"That means nothing to me and you know it," Anja replied. "Where is that datapad you showed Rachel? Let me see what you got us or tell me of it."
"I'd tell you but I'm not good at that kind of thing," Luke said as he pulled a datapad from his pocket. "Here you go. This holds all the details and has pictures of the place."
Eagerly taking the datapad, Anja turned it on and gasped with surprise as she saw the pictures. "This looks wonderful!" she stated as she skimmed the descriptions.
"That's what I thought and it'll be a change from the city life you're used to," Luke responded. "Have you ever been to somewhere like that?"
"No," Anjaleen informed him as she smiled up at him. "You made the perfect choice."
"Actually Sean did the research and I chose," Luke admitted.
"Well he did a good job then," Anja said before her voice took on a teasing tone. "I see it says that the sea is safe to swim in. Will we be swimming or can'--"
"Don't you start too!" Luke exclaimed as he realized where she was going. "Father's already been after me with that one as well. Yes I can swim!"
"Okay," Anjaleen replied with a smile. "Just checking."
"Well, okay, I'll admit, the servant who taught me had a lot of fun watching my first few attempts at it," Luke told her. "Just don't tell anyone that."
"I won't," Anja assured him. "Well except maybe Nastalia and Nathaniel."
"No one," Luke reiterated as he leaned forward.
"Or else?"
"I don't know, but I'll think of something," Luke stated before he kissed her.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Rebecca or me at valeriev84@hotmail.com
