Dynasty: Chunk Thirty-Two
by Valerie Vancollie and Rebecca Thomson
Anjaleen looked back and forth across the large room, realizing she and Luke were the center of attention. Everyone was looking at her neck, and then whispering to each other. She smiled, and nodded at the people she normally spoke to. Elizabeth was there, standing beside Ra'chealla. Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in anticipation while looking at her companion, who was pale with suppressed rage. Anjaleen almost flinched, but looked to Luke instead.
Luke was looking across the room instead, eyes cold. Anjaleen followed his gaze, biting her lip when she saw Raphael Jerklin advancing toward the couple. He was wearing an almost gaudy outfit in green and orange. She almost shuddered, thinking how close she had come to marrying someone who would wear something like that.
"Skywalker." Jerklin said, strutting across the center of the room. His voice was pitched in such a way that it projected as far as Raphael could make it carry, without shouting. "What do you think you are doing with my lady, Anjaleen?"
Luke shook his head, clearly stunned that Jerklin would make such a claim. "She is not yours, Jerklin."
"What? Are you so confident that you have stolen her from me? As I recall, you have only gone on one date before your trip to Zessa." The man glanced at her necklace. "Don't you think that it is rather soon for you to be claiming that you have won her?"
Luke squared his shoulders, realizing that the pompous fool in front of him was not going to let this go. "I asked, she accepted. Apparently, she doesn't share your concerns." Luke would not speak of love, here, at court. It was an emotion alien to most of the marriages arranged in this place. And besides, while it would be acceptable for Anjaleen to love her husband, for Luke to be known to love Anjaleen would be a weakness for any assassin.
Anjaleen glanced around, noticing the walls were lined with people hanging on every word. She became nervous, she didn't trust Jerklin not to do something embarrassing. In fact, others from the adjoining rooms were casually trickling in, wanting to watch the confrontation. Even four red-clad Imperial Guards had shown up, silently standing in the nearest arched doorway.
"You mean that you waived baubles in front of her face, while Lord Vader used his power to intimidate her father." Jerklin spat, "Though, I must commend you, a marriage would cover your tracks well."
Skywalker snapped back, "It is well known that my past is not well known, but that does not interfere with my duties to the Empire."
"Yes, your unknown past." Jerklin mockingly replied, "I suppose you mean the fact that you actually come from some poor, downtrodden situation on the Rim. Oh, don't look so angry that I figured that out. Where else could you have come from? If you belonged to any family of standing, your past would have been discovered by now."
Luke gave Jerklin a little bow, sneering as he replied, "Your logic is simplistic, it matches your intelligence well."
Jerklin sneered back, "empty insults, Skywalker. I don't suppose you would care to explain the exact nature of your duties with the Empire? I've wondered if they didn't center on your relationship with Lord Vader. The Emperor must find you a convenient way to leash his pet Sith."
Luke's reply was very soft, and it made goose bumps rise on Anjaleen's arms. She could just feel how absolutely furious Skywalker was as he growled, "What are you implying, Jerklin?"
"Simply this, you are well known to spend an inordinate amount of time with the Dark Lord, alone, anytime you two are on a mission together. You arrived here and immediately took up residence in his castle. His servants hold you in high regard, knowing you have his ear more than a mere guest. He showers you with gifts. And while your record hunting Rebels is almost unmatched, Lord Vader has never taken anyone to 'train' before, no matter how gifted they were. So the question becomes, what exactly has he taught you? Or more precisely, where have your lessons been? In the strategy room or in his sleeping quarters?"
"Jerklin, you go too far." Skywalker hissed, as the room began to murmur in response. Anjaleen balled her hands into fists at her side, infuriated that Raphael Jerklin would say such a thing.
"At least I am not the one taking a wife to hide what's going on." The man flipped his cape behind one shoulder. "I have nothing to hide."
"You wish to know what I've been taught?" Skywalker growled, his face a mask of rage. "I'll show you."
Anjaleen's eyes widened, and she hurriedly began to back away. She got about three paces from Luke (*Click here to see Elisabeth's illustration*) when he raised one arm, pointing it at Jerklin. The air crackled, and bluish lightning suddenly leapt from Luke's arm, wrapping itself around Raphael. The man screamed in agony as the electricity continued to pour off the blond man, burying itself in the Intel officer, knocking the man to his knees (*Click here to see Sam_77's illustration*). Luke stopped, obviously enjoying the pain he was inflicting as Jerklin tried to get back to his feet.
"Skywalker," he gasped, "have you forgotten the guards?" He looked to the red-robed guards, waiting for them to come forward and stop Skywalker. The Emperor had forbidden any dueling within his Palace walls. He should be safe!!
"No. But they have orders to let me do what I want." Skywalker replied, as he lifted his arms again. "They have for some time." Lightning leapt from his arms, enveloping the screaming man again. Luke tensed, and a huge burst of ball lightning flew from his body and hit Jerklin square in the chest. The man flew back through the air, landing in a still heap.
The smell of charred flesh hung in the air as Skywalker held out a hand to Anjaleen, who fearlessly took it, her necklace sparkling pink and red with admiration, pride, and love. They walked from the hall straight between the four Imperial Sovereign Protectors, leaving the stunned courtiers to whisper among themselves about the slightly smoking body on the floor.
Somebody snickered and pointed, causing the people beside them to whisper and giggle excitedly. Some of the jewels on Raphael Jerklin's gaudy outfit had melted into puddles of plass.
No one noticed one of the servants disappearing from the room, nervously looking over his shoulder as he went.
"Your Majesty, he did kill that man here, in the Palace. I know he had been provoked, but you did make a law against killing anyone here." Buchanan said, concerned. A large group of the more powerful courtiers were walking with the Emperor through the gardens.
"Well, yes." The Emperor replied, clearly pleased about something. "And he did do it in a most spectacular way. I am quite happy with Lord Vader, he trained young Skywalker in the Dark arts well, don't you think?"
"Yes, your Majesty. But I was unaware that the law did not apply to Skywalker."
"It does not apply to either of my Sith." The Emperor stated. "The law does say that."
The courtier was clearly stunned about the Emperor's statement. "Skywalker is a full Sith?" The law did have an exception for the Dark Lord, and the courtiers were now racking their brains to remember the exact wording.
"Of course. What did you think Lord Vader was teaching him all these months? That fool was right in one thing, Lord Vader would never bother with just anyone." The Emperor gleefully answered, enjoying the dismay of all his courtiers gathered around.
Buchanan swallowed as he heard this. It was only a short while ago that he had practically insulted Skywalker by telling him that he wasn't good enough for his daughter and now he learned that Skywalker was a Sith! It was more than clear to him now, although he would never admit it, that he should have let Ra'chealla go after Skywalker. But how could he have known? The young man had kept it a complete secret. Surely he must have known the kind of treatment that would cause. But the major question that bothered him was whether or not Skywalker would exact revenge for the way he had treated him. It unnerved him that all he could do was wait and see how things played out. He was used to being in control of the situation around him. Now he wasn't.
"Ahh," the Emperor suddenly stated. "Here comes the young man now."
Buchanan turned and saw Skywalker approaching their group with young Anjaleen Winiterure next to him. The sparkling necklace around her neck was all the confirmation he needed to confirm the rumors that had been circulating the court. Perhaps it was for the better. He was no fool, he realized the splendid opportunity that had passed him by in pulling his daughter away from Vader's protégé. But if the young man had still been available then he would have to chose between gaining more power and influence, which would be rewarding Ra'chealla for her earlier insolence, or letting it all pass him by. Now that decision was made for him.
"My Emperor," Luke said as he bowed before his grandfather.
"Lord Skywalker," The Emperor replied, catching the smile that crossed Luke's face at the title and the murmur that went up among the men assembled around him. "Miss Winiterure."
"Your Majesty," Anjaleen replied as she too bowed, startled to be addressed directly by the Emperor.
"A fine young lady, my Lord," The Emperor stated as he turned his attention back to Luke.
"Thank you," Luke replied for Anja as her face turned red while the Kyrab jewels swirled between yellow, purple, and red.
As he looked at the courtiers assembled around them, all of whom were looking him over once more now that they knew what he was, Luke's eyes caught those of Buchanan who briefly held his gaze before looking away. Probing the man, he quickly found the astonishment and slight fear there. Smiling inwardly he decided to toy with the man for a bit, give him no hint of how he felt about their chat that day and leave him in suspense for a while. That would be the best way to teach him not to repeat his performance in the courtyard.
"There is no longer a need to hide your weapon," the Emperor stated, drawing Luke back.
"Very well," Luke replied as he pulled his lightsaber from its hiding place and hung it at his belt for all to see, smiling at the murmur his actions caused.
"That's one fine deal you've established," Vladimir stated as he approached Randolf Winiterure.
"What?" Randolf inquired, realization dawning as he saw the other. There was only one reason that a man of Vladimir's status would talk with him; it had to be about his daughter's engagement to Skywalker. The man probably wanted to know if he had gained any new information on the young man. "Yes, it is."
"Relating yourself to a Dark Lord of the Sith can never be bad," Vladimir continued as he came to a stop next to Randolf. "Just how great are Lord Skywalker's powers?"
"Lord Skywalker?" Randolf echoed, stunned.
Surely the man couldn't mean... Skywalker was a Sith?! Slowly, despite the fog of shock clouding his brain, Randolf saw the logic behind it. A man like Vladimir always chose his words carefully and wouldn't have used the words 'relating' and 'Skywalker's powers' if he had meant Vader.
"Yes," Vladimir confirmed. "What he did to Jerklin was amazing in itself, but how much more is there? How well can he handle that saber? Can he choke people the way Vader does?"
"I cannot discuss those things," Randolf stated, realizing that he was missing something important that he needed to know. "But why don't you ask Lord Skywalker yourself?"
"I'll think about it," Vladimir lied before he moved off, having no intention of showing his curiosity or lack of information to the young man himself. It was bad enough already that he had needed to approach Skywalker's future father-in-law.
Randolf watched the man go before looking around for his wife. He needed to learn what had happened to Jerklin and fast. That there had been some sort of confrontation was clear. The other man had probably seen Anjaleen's necklace and lost it. If Jerklin had acted in anyway similar to the way he had reacted to hearing that he couldn't go out with Anjaleen because of her leaving early with Skywalker, then things would have gotten extremely unpleasant to say the least. He wondered how Skywalker had reacted to it all, considering the fact that he was Vader's protégé, things didn't look good. Hopefully Jerklin had learned a lesson from whatever had happened.
"Sasha, I need to speak with you," Randolf said as he stopped next to his wife who was speaking with one of her friends.
"All right," Sasha replied before she looked at her friend. "I'll talk with you later."
"Do you know what happened between Jerklin and Skywalker?" Randolf demanded softly as soon as they were in a deserted corner of the room.
"Why yes," Sasha stated. "Haven't you heard? It was about time that someone put Jerklin in his place, after what he dared to say to Skywalker! And poor Anjaleen, having to stand by as that horrible man said all that! Terrible."
"What happened," Randolf repeated as he motioned for her to keep her voice down. Whenever his wife got excited she started rambling on and on and talked loudly. She had dropped her wine glass in shocked joy when he had returned from Vader's Castle and announced the news to her. Immediately upon their arrival here she had proudly walked among her friends and started babbling to them about it.
"Why, Jerklin confronted Skywalker about Anjaleen," Sasha explained. "From what I heard he said some pretty horrible things. The nerve of him!"
"What did Skywalker do then?"
"He showed Jerklin and everyone else that he's a Sith Lord," Sasha replied, obviously still stunned by the news herself. "People say he shot lightning from his finger tips and that the Imperial Sovereign Protectors didn't move a muscle to stop him. Luke said that they had orders to let him do as he pleased."
"Lightning?" Randolf questioned incredulously, not sure whether to believe his wife, but Vladimir's words replaying themselves in his mind. "How badly was Jerklin injured?"
"He's dead," Sasha stated matter of factly. "And I've heard that the lightning was hot enough to melt some of the fake jewels on his clothes. I'm glad that he won't be marrying our Anjaleen. Fake jewels indeed! The nerve. She'll be much better off with young Lord Skywalker, I think that he actually cares for her."
"Whatever," Randolf muttered, used to his wife's rambling by now, but still wondering why he had never noticed it when he was courting her.
"Mother, Father," Anja said as she moved over to them, still at Luke's side.
"Anjaleen, Lord Skywalker," Sasha instantly replied. "You both look lovely tonight."
"Thanks, Ma'am," Luke replied, having gotten somewhat used to Sasha by now.
"Quite a surprise you had for us tonight," Randolf commented as he looked at his future son-in-law, wishing he knew more about his history so that he wasn't surprised by events as he had been today. It would make him look very bad if he didn't know who his own daughter was marrying.
"Yes," Luke stated with a small smile as he saw the older man's eyes land on his lightsaber and widen with surprise. "Although I'm sure no one was more surprised than Jerklin himself. Even if it didn't last very long."
The aircar flew towards Vader's Castle, two passengers sitting in the back. "I am sorry for not asking you first Father, but I know that you wouldn't want to put up with those accusations. And Grandfather had said that he wanted me to reveal myself in a way that made the most impact."
The Dark Lord waved a hand. "I thought you did well. And after those rumors started by the Grand Moff's son in the Navy, you needed to act quickly anyway. Now it will seem like everyone found out at once. Not bad at all."
Ra'chealla entered her room and let out a small scream of rage. It was not possible! Anjaleen and Luke engaged!! Just what had that little twit done to him? No matter, she would be dead by morning and was probably dying already. Smiling to herself, she shook her head. The little brat would be able to join Jerklin in death. Funny how they ended up together just as she would end up with Skywalker. And what a catch he was turning out to be. A Sith Lord! She had known all along that he was more than he seemed. She couldn't wait till her father arrived home from the business he had needed to do. She had been right and he wrong!
Briefly an uncontrollable rage flashed through her veins as she thought back to Jerklin's accusations. How dare he speak to Luke like that? He had learned his lesson and she was sure that her father had learned the he couldn't mess with Luke either. After all, up till now only Vader was allowed to kill people in the Palace. To be given the same powers as Vader and to be a Sith Lord was status that not even her father had. He just had to see the significance of her bonding with him.
Hearing her com beep, Ra'chealla walked over to it and activated it, her smile growing as she saw Treen. "Ah yes," she began. "You'll be wanting the rest of your payment," she concluded as she reached into a drawer and pulled out a bag.
"No," Treen said before he swallowed. "I didn't do it."
"What?" Ra'chealla inquired, only half listening as she looked for the code she needed to transfer the credits to his account.
"I. Didn't. Do. It." Treen repeated, pronouncing each word clearly. "I didn't poison Miss Winiterure."
"What?!" Ra'chealla exclaimed in pure rage as she dropped the bag and looked furiously at the holo of the assassin. "Why not? Don't tell me you botched the job once more?"
"No," Treen stated indignantly. "I could have done it, but I chose not to. I will not kill her."
"Why not?" Ra'chealla demanded as she tried to compose herself even as she raged inside, seeing her plan fall apart.
"Because he's a Sith," Treen explained. "There's simply too much risk involved if the Sith can do all that they're rumored to do. Look at Vader!" He pressed, secretly thinking of how Skywalker had eyed him both times he had tried to carry out his job, the man clearly knew. "I'm not going to take the chance."
"I'll double the price," Ra'chealla tried.
"No," Treen stated, not even hesitating. "I value my life too highly. I'm not stupid and only an idiot would go after the lady of a Sith. Haven't you heard of what happened to the other guy who tried to get her from him? I have no intention of ending up like that."
Ra'chealla opened her mouth to reply but was cut off when the assassin broke the connection from the other end. Screaming in rage, Ra'chealla knocked a vase off the table. This was not happening to her! He was HERS! There had to be another way, she would get rid of that little brat. Skywalker belonged to her and nobody else.
"My Lord, Skywalker," Garret said as Luke and Vader entered the room he was waiting in.
"Make that Lords," Vader stated as he took off his helmet and mask. "Luke's abilities as a Sith have now been made public."
"Very well," Garret replied. "I have the complete background scan on my cousin," he continued as he held out a datapad to Vader. "It contains everything you requested as well as what the Academy has planned for him to do as soon as he graduates next week."
"We shall look it over and decide whether he is what Luke needs or not," Vader said as he scanned the photo of the brown haired and gray eyed young man. "That will be all for now."
"As you wish," Garret said as he turned to Luke. "My congratulations on your engagement, my Lord."
"Thank you, Garret," Luke replied, smiling as the man left.
"Here," Vader said as he held out the datapad to his son. "Look it over and tell me if you think him right for the job. If so I'll take a look at his record as well."
"I'll do that tomorrow then," Luke responded before he yawned. "Goodnight, Father."
"Goodnight, Son," Vader replied before he thought of something else. "Anjaleen's servants will have to come talk with Mark sometime before the wedding so that he knows what staff she'll be bringing and what changes it will bring about."
"Okay," Luke said as he nodded his head. He really wanted to talk about setting a wedding date, but he knew that now was not the time nor place to discuss it. That was a conversation he would need to hold with both his father and his grandfather.
Luke smiled to himself as he left the room and headed to his bedroom. Today had been a busy day, but a good one as well. His engagement with Anja was now set in stone, Raphael had been dealt with once and for all, and he had been revealed to the Empire for what he was. Now he would only need to deal with Ra'chealla and all the immediate issues would be out of the way.
Mr. Winiterure sighed, and sat in his favorite chair in the study. A blue and black guard walked in, looked around, and carefully placed a holo-camera on the top shelf of one of the bookcases. "Station three active." He said, walking out.
Mr. Winiterure sighed again. Not three minutes after he had come home from Lord Vader's Castle yesterday the guards had started to arrive. He had politely received them, asking what they needed. The leader had just pulled out a set of plans on his house, and asked where they were to set up their control room. Mr. Winiterure had been stunned that they had plans of his house, complete with security system layouts. He had just signaled to his security to take care of the issue, and watched.
Later, his security had told him that they were very impressed with Lord Vader's men. And that they recommended that he give his permission for every last one of their changes to his security. They were currently setting up a temporary system, but the more permanent one would be installed next week.
Another guard came in, and held up an instrument. "Secondary check on station three positive." He said.
Mr. Winiterure cleared his throat. "Excuse me. But weren't you wearing green yesterday?"
The guard turned and gave a small smile. "Lord Vader couldn't decide on house colors, so we change daily."
Mr. Winiterure nodded, and watched the man go. He shook his head. To have the wealth to afford multiple uniforms for every last one of your servants! His daughter had really picked a good husband.
Luke bowed to the holo-projection of his father. "I should be done here within the day, Lord Vader."
"Very well. Return home when you are done, Lord Skywalker." The masked Sith bowed back, and Luke nodded to the bridge communications officer to cut the transmission. He didn't speak on the holo-net to his father in public very often, but they had decided to reinforce his new status in front of Naval personnel a few times during this minor mission.
Luke nodded to the ship's Admiral, and returned to the discussion. He smiled to himself, imagining what Garret's cousin Sean would say when Garret spoke to him.
Ravenell walked down the Academy hallway, turning towards the upper dorm hall. The place was just as he remembered it: potted plants in each of the large windows to the right and well-worn study desks lining the left of the hall. He had spent many an hour pouring over Imperial history and procedure in this very corridor. Right now, however, the desks were empty. Only a few of the students still had tests before the semester finished classes, and most of the students had all ready gone home for break.
The major entered the lift at the end of the hall, smiling to himself. Most had gone home, except for the graduates. They had one day free, and then they were presented at the ceremonies tomorrow before going on to their respective assignments. Traditionally, tonight was spent enjoying the last night of freedom these young men would have before they began their service to the Empire in earnest. Garret could remember his pounding head the following morning even now. The instructors always looked the other way tonight.
The lift opened, and Ravenell stepped into the lobby for the senior's floor, and nearly tripped over the sprawled form lying across the floor. Loud music was coming from somewhere.
"Somebody ought to move Steffen." Someone called, the student clearly wobbly on his feet as he staggered towards a punch bowl sitting on the table in the center of the room.
"Nah, if he can't hold his drink, he can lay there. It's not even dark yet." A blond student yelled back, walking up to Ravenell, only a slight sway betraying his inebriation. "Can I help you, Sir?"
"Yes, I just came in. I'm looking for my cousin, Sean Trussell." Ravenell asked, amused at the antics of two students playing keep-away from a third with what looked to be a jacket.
"Hey, you got leave for graduation? That's great! My dad can't make it. Sean's back in his room, last I saw. It's down that hall, third door." The young man waved, and Garret walked away.
Garret sighed, hoping that Sean wasn't too far into his celebration yet. It had been pure luck on Ravenell's part to be able to visit his cousin when everyone else would be flooded with visitors as well. He was supposed to talk to his cousin without drawing much attention.
He came to the door and knocked.
"Come on in, it's open!"
Garret pushed the door control, and it opened to reveal a room crowded with four occupants playing cards. They looked up, and one of them stood up, walking over to Garret.
"Cousin! What are you doing here?"
"You're graduating, so I got leave." Ravenell shrugged, watching Sean look at his chest, noticing that his station-pin had been removed. Normally, the pin told anyone who looked that Garret was Lord Vader's adjunct. With it removed, Ravenell could travel almost incognito.
"He gave you leave for my graduation?" Sean asked, disbelieving. "L- your C.O.- never seemed the type."
Garret smiled at his cousin, knowing that the young man had been asked to not talk about Garret's post. With the three other students busy playing cards and ignoring Garret, it was obvious that Sean Trussell had not spoken to anyone about Garret's connection to Lord Vader. "Well, I have a ton of stuff to catch up on, cousin." Garret began, "do you want to go somewhere and talk before tonight?"
"Sure." He turned back to the three men. "I'm out guys. I'll be back before dark."
"Okay." They said, never looking up.
Garret waited until they had left the building, walked to the student center, and sat down for a meal in the officer's mess in a private room before thinking about talking about the real reason he had come. As soon as the waiter had left, Sean turned to him expectantly.
"So, do I get any first-hand accounts about what's been happening in Lord Vader's Castle?" He asked conspiratorially. "Nothing you can't tell me, of course, but it's all over that Skywalker's a Sith Lord. Everybody's talking about it. I know you can't tell me everything, but I want to know. And I won't tell a soul."
"I can't tell you anything that isn't public knowledge. Well, except that I knew that Lord Skywalker would be able to show himself eventually."
"You knew? I wondered about that when I heard what he had done to that courtier. If you had known or not." Sean took a sip of his drink, eyes widening when he realized that Garret had ordered a better wine. He twirled the glass in his hands. "That's the only thing I miss about going into the Navy. The food isn't as good as at home."
"Is your father still upset with you?" Garret asked, thinking about how to turn the topic of the conversation to what he wanted to ask.
Sean sighed. "Yes. He's not even coming tomorrow. And I knew he could if he wanted to. But 'my son doesn't need to be slaving away under some commoner, fighting barbarian Rebels.' It almost makes me sick. I've tried to tell him that it's everyone's responsibility to win this war, but being an Imperial Officer isn't good enough for me apparently."
Garret shook his head. "They didn't get that upset when I went into the Imperial Academy."
"Well," Sean shook his head, "you were going to work for Lord Vader, it was all arranged. A perfectly good occupation for a high-standing citizen. Our family may not be high enough to consider us allied with the Dark Lord, but directly serving him is different than just serving the Navy. Of course, there's only one Dark Lord, so I'm not going to get anything like that. At least that's what my father said when he lectured me- for what seemed like hours."
"Actually, there are two Dark Lords." Garret smiled at his cousin. "And one of them is without an adjunct."
Sean had froze, wine glass halfway to his lips. He put the glass down. "Lord Skywalker is without an adjunct?"
"Yes. And he's looking for one." Garret continued, watching his cousin think over the situation.
"Can you put in a word for me?" Sean asked, leaning forward. "I mean, if it is not too much trouble and- what's so funny?"
"I already have. And I'm not on leave, I've got orders to be here."
"Oh." Sean's eyes got wide. "Oh."
Garret waved a hand. "It's not set in stone. You'll still be assigned to the post you've already been given for the next six months. Lord Vader told Luke that it would be best if you got some real-world experience first, and he agreed. And I won't take your answer back to them quite yet. You can write me in a month and tell me what you want to do. Being an adjunct is a lot different than being a bridge officer. And Luke doesn't want anyone who does not want the position."
Sean nodded, looking at his plate. The waiter came in and served them the first course and departed. Sean looked at his cousin. "You called him Luke. Do you know him well?"
Garret smiled, thinking of the dirty farm boy in the Death Star detention center that had become a man. "Yes. And he won't be as hard to work with as Lord Vader, even if they are a lot alike in many ways. However, I will warn you Sean," Garret's voice getting very serious, "he does kill the people that fail him. And it doesn't matter how long he's known you either. Working for one of the Empire's Sith isn't always easy. I came within a hair's breath of dying once, because someone told me a secret that they were not supposed to share. I was lucky, and Lord Vader decided that I had been loyal enough in the past to keep my mouth shut, so he let me live. He did kill the one that told me, however."
"I take it you didn't write home with that story." Sean said, munching his food thoughtfully. It was well known in the family that Garret's holo letters were extremely brief because he was exposed to so much secret information.
"That's another thing. Everything you learn you cannot share with anyone. After awhile, you don't have much to talk about. I have few friends, most among Lord Vader's staff. And the other members of the Navy don't always respect your need to keep secrets, so they pester you for information. It gets tiring, so you avoid socializing with them. Think about what you want for your life."
"You sound like your trying to talk me out of it." Sean said. "Do you have any regrets?"
Garret laughed. "No. Never. Not anymore, anyway. At first I did. But now, with what I know." he shook his head, "its worth a few friends, and even my life. I've already given that, you understand. It's not like I could ask for reassignment."
Sean laughed.
Garret continued as the waiter came back in, "anyway, think about it. So, tell me, is your sister going to marry that Major-General in the Army?"
"Looks like it. His brother is head of a multi-system manufacturing corporation, so his lineage checks out, even if he's Army."
Ra'chealla wanted to scream in frustration and anger as she turned off the holo connection but couldn't, knowing her father was home and would question her on it. After Treen had quit she had slowly contacted several other court assassins but she had always been put down as soon as they realized that the intended target was Skywalker's fiancée.
With a glance the time on her jeweled chrono, Ra'chealla turned around and headed downstairs for lunch. Ever since that faithful evening she and her father had hardly spoken to each other and she decided to break the ice today. It was, after all, her father's fault that it was Anjaleen Winiterure at Luke's side and not her. If he had only let her do as she wanted it would be he becoming the father-in-law of one of the Empire's two Dark Lords of the Sith and creating an alliance with the other. For there was definitely an alliance between Mr. Winiterure and Lord Vader, that much was clear from the security guards Vader had assigned to the Winiterure household.
"Father," Ra'chealla said as she entered the dining room and sat down in the chair one of the servants pulled out for her.
"Ra'chealla," Buchanan acknowledged as he briefly looked up from the datapad he was reading.
By pulling some strings Buchanan had gotten hold of the medical report Doctor McLivro had written after doing the autopsy on Raphael Jerklin that his family had ordered. Although he had heard rumors of just how Jerklin had died, the report was still a shock for him. Doctor McLivro stated that the cause of death had been a painful mixture of severe bone calcification, electrocution, and heart failure, none of which would have killed him alone, but combined the effects had been more than any human could take.
Buchanan put the datapad aside and began his soup as his mind raced. The fact that he had gotten hold of the report with relative ease compared with other documents of importance meant that while Skywalker didn't want the information all over the holo-net, he didn't mind people like him, who had connections and were potential rivals, from seeing it. This proved to him that the newly promoted young Sith Lord knew what he was doing. For the people to know the details of what Skywalker could do could make him very unpopular with them while that same information could only be useful to Skywalker when given to the court as it caused people to both respect and fear him.
Briefly, Buchanan had thought of leaking the medical report to the press, but he had quickly realized that it would be only all too easy to trace it back to him. And since he still didn't know where he stood with Skywalker at the moment, it was better not to take that chance. Besides, he wasn't sure if he wanted to give the media another reason to talk about Skywalker, even if it was negative information. Ever since it had been confirmed that the young man was a Sith, he had been in the center of attention. The press had been digging up anything and everything they could find on him. They were re-showing shots of when he had first appeared at court, of the execution ceremony, of his first date with the Winiterure girl, his military career so far... just about everything. His abilities and engagement, however, were in the spotlight.
"Father," Ra'chealla began as the servants placed the main dish before them.
"Yes?" Buchanan questioned before he took a bite of the tongue they were having.
"About Luke," Ra'chealla began and then hastily corrected herself when she say the glare her father sent her at the first name. "I mean Skywalker. Am I still to stay away from him?"
"Yes," Buchanan stated. "Nothing has changed."
"But Father," Ra'chealla exclaimed. "Surely things have changed, he's a Sith Lord! You must realize how much we stand to gain here."
"I fail to see how we could gain anything at all," Buchanan replied.
"Status!" Ra'chealla explained, exasperated that her father couldn't see it, was she the only one who saw things as they truly were? Even Luke couldn't see the real motives behind Anjaleen's positive reply to his asking her to marry him! "A marriage to a Sith Lord brings status, an alliance with Vader, and so many other advantages."
"A marriage?" Buchanan repeated, an edge to his voice as he realized what his daughter was trying to do. "Skywalker is already engaged and its not to you so how can you speak of a marriage to our family?"
"I highly doubt he actually cares for Winiterure's brat," Ra'chealla snapped, her anger rising, if she had had her way it would be her with Luke now but her father had had to mess that up. "She was the only one who was really an option, Elizabeth showed no interest whatsoever, and you wouldn't let me near him."
"I doubt that, having seen what Skywalker actually is, my keeping you from him altered his decision," Buchanan stated, the anger appearing in his voice. Despite all that he had told her, his daughter was not listening to him, he would have to correct that. "Besides, he seems quite content with Anjaleen Winiterure."
"I'm sure it affected his decision," Ra'chealla stated confidently. "And Anjaleen can be taken care of."
"What exactly are you suggesting with that, young lady?" Buchanan demanded as he put down his utensils.
"Whatever is necessary," Ra'chealla explained. "Think of it father! The power, the status, and the alliance our marriage would bring. Not to mention the fact that we belong together, I've known that from pretty soon after I met him."
"That's enough!" Buchanan roared angrily as he got to his feet. "There will be no more such talk in this house, is that understood? You will keep away from both Skywalker and Winiterure and you will not use your com for two weeks."
"But--" Ra'chealla began, her own anger growing thicker at her father's stupidity. How could he not see the perfect opportunity he was letting slip through his fingers?
"No buts," Buchanan cut her off. "That's final and if I see you with either of those two, you will be not go to court for a month."
With this Buchanan stormed out of the room, leaving his unfinished dinner behind. Watching him go, Ra'chealla formed fists with her hands as she suppressed the urge to send her dinnerware flying across the room. If her father couldn't see things straight then she would take matters into her own hands once more. After all, once she had Luke there would be nothing her father could do against his powers.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Rebecca or me at valeriev84@hotmail.com
