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Title: Corulag
Author: Maia (maia@bastcastle.org)
Rating: PG
Characters: Vader, OFC, a few other OC’s, and familiar faces.
Category: AU, Adventure, Romance, some Angst.
Disclaimer: I am not making any money from this, and he doesn’t belong to me. Darn.

Summary: A holiday on Corulag turns into an encounter with the media, and a banquet has a different ending than planned.

Corulag, Corulus System, Year 0, Month 9

DAY 15

***

I dismiss the last of the engineers, finally satisfied with the modifications to the latest TIE Advanced prototype. Soon it will be at the stage where I will be able to test it in battle. As I leave the propulsion testing facility, the director of Sienar’s Research Division falls into step beside me.

 ‘All of your suggestions will be seen to immediately, my Lord,’ he says.

‘Any further business will have to wait until next week,’ I dismiss him. ‘As of now, I am officially on leave.’

When he opens his mouth to make another comment, I shut him up with a wave of my hand. Listening to his endless chatter the last two days has taxed my patience to its limits.

‘I would prefer to not start the first holiday I’ve had in two decades by having to permanently silence you,’ I threaten.

He stops dead and lets me leave Sienar’s installation unescorted. It’s time to collect my wife and relax for a few days.

***

‘Ready to go?’ Ani asks from the doorway.

Startled by his early return, I try to hide the cards in my hand. Thirsk and Rik have already tucked theirs away, I ironically note. Obviously they have had more practice at that than I have. Unfortunately, several piles of credit chips, mine being the biggest, are still on the desk in front of us.

‘Gambling, Commanders?’ the Sith Lord notes with amusement. ‘You’ve been teaching my Favorite sabacc, I assume.’

Rik can’t help looking a bit guilty at that.

‘Just make sure you are careful how much you wager against those two, my Favorite,’ he warns me. ‘They are notorious cheats.’

‘Not that it does much good with her,’ Rik grumbles. ‘Once she knew the rules, that was it. I haven’t won a hand since.’

Thirsk grins at him.

‘You should have figured it out by now, wingman,’ he tells his fellow officer. ‘My lady counts cards and calculates probabilities. Any reputable casino would ban her in less than an hour.’

I give Rik my most sweet and innocent smile. It’s been fun using my mathematical gift to swipe credits from him. I know Thirsk realized what I was up to long ago and made his bets accordingly, but Rik’s reactions to every hand I had won have been quite entertaining.

‘Here’s your credits back,’ I offer, pushing half of my winnings over to him and half of what remains at Thirsk. ‘I only wanted to learn how to play, not bankrupt you.’

I look at Ani and reach my hands over to him. He pulls me to my feet as the two Commanders scramble to theirs. My love waves them from his office and closes its door.

‘Perhaps I should let you go gambling,’ Ani suggests. ‘You could easily double my fortune with a few well placed games.’

‘I don’t think so,’ I decide. ‘I would rather not become known as a card shark, and it wouldn’t take very long for word to spread that playing against me is a losing proposition.’

‘True,’ the Sith Lord admits, ‘but the thought of you winning a few credits to pay for your upkeep is more than a bit tempting.’

‘I am that expensive to maintain, am I?’ I tease him.

Ani chuckles at that and rests a fingertip against my nose.

‘Impossibly expensive,’ he teases right back.

‘Want to try a game with me?’ I entice him by waving the deck in front of his mask. ‘We could play the equivalent of strip poker.’

‘Which is?’ he asks, curious.

‘If I win, you take your armor off and we have some fun in the bedroom, and if you win,…’ I explain, but don’t bother completing the second circumstance.

‘…I have some fun with you in here,’ Ani finishes.

Oops. Maybe I should have given him my own suggestion for what we could do, but it’s too late for that now.

I retake my chair by his desk and hand him the cards.

‘You are stuck with what you are dealt,’ I warn him, ‘and no cheating with the Force or changing their values.’

Ani quickly shuffles and cuts the deck. After he returns it to me, I deal each of us four cards. I quickly discard one, but he keeps all of his. He puts his first card on the desk, face up. Three, I count. Okay, I’ll match that. I set the three in my hand beside it. Ani’s next card is a ten, mine a two.

‘Worried yet?’ I tease.

‘No,’ he says, putting down a six and four. Ani has a Perfect Sabacc, all cards of the same suit, with a total of twenty-three.

‘You could always give up,’ I hint, trying to bluff him.

‘You can’t win, Maia,’ Ani reminds me. ‘Only one hand beats that and I doubt very much that you are holding it.’

‘Last chance,’ I warn, slowing turning my card over to add it to the rest.

There is silence from the Sith Lord when I show him the null card. My Idiot’s Array trumps his natural twenty-three.

‘I win!’ I happily chirp.

He stares at the cards on the desk.

‘I win!’ I gleefully repeat before ordering. ‘Into the bedroom and out of your armor!’

Ani doesn’t move. He is still staring at the cards.

‘So you did,’ he finally admits. ‘You won and I lost. The next time I will be more careful what I wager.’

I get out of my chair and start tugging on his hand. Time for some fun with Ani. He lets me pull him along after me into the bedroom.

‘You don’t need to rush,’ he scolds as I unhook his cloak and let it fall in a heap on the floor. ‘I am taking a week of leave. We can do nothing but fool around for the next five days if you really want to.’

By the time he finishes saying that, the door is closed. I impatiently count the seconds until the room’s control panel signals that the atmosphere has been adjusted to meet his needs. Then I reach up to lift his helmet off.

‘Shall I let you take my armour off so you can have your way with me?’ he teases as I set aside his mask. ‘Or do you want to go down to Corulag instead? There is still time to do some sightseeing today if you want.’

My ears perk up instantly. He is willing to take me planetside? This will be only the fourth time he has taken me off-ship. I grab his hand and give it an affirming squeeze.

‘Let’s go,’ I decide with a laugh. ‘A trip to go sightseeing with you is something I will never turn down.’

Ani’s fingers tighten over mine in return. I suspect he knew which option I would choose.

***

I retrieve my cloak from the floor and take a moment to look at her. Maia’s stomach curves outward in a way which will be difficult to disguise, but I won’t deny her this little holiday with me. My wife needs some time off-ship and Corulag is secure enough that I can safely give her a day or two.

She smiles at me so I pull her close, let my hands slide across her middle, measuring how much it has grown in the last month. I will have to confine her to the ship soon.

‘He’s busy,’ I note as I feel my son stir inside her, his strong kick landing against my hand.

Did Luke kick this hard the first time I felt him within Padmé? Folk tales say girls kick harder and are more active than boys. That’s why I told my angel I thought our child would be a girl. For a moment, I let myself be buried in memories, then banish them once again.

‘Ani?’ I hear Maia ask.

She finds my reminiscing amusing, but I have never told her about my first wife or eldest son.

It is too dangerous for her to know anything about them or the life I renounced so very long ago.

‘Wear one of your new gowns,’ I suggest. ‘You looked good in the one with the nice embroidery on it. And be sure to pack three or four days worth of clothes. We will be staying in the Governor’s summer palace.’

***

He was lost in one of his memories again, I note as I comply with his suggestions, pack my trunk, and put on the dress in question. The quiet, reflective look he gets at times tells me that whatever he is reliving, it must be rather sad. One day, I hope he will tell me about his past. Sharing his sorrows would bring us closer together and allow him to let his old hurts go.

I glance over at Ani and go help him replace his cloak. He bestows a kiss as my reward before giving me the once over.

‘It disguises most of your middle,’ Ani decides, ‘but there is a chance anyone looking at you closely will know, even so.’

I look down at the fabric belted just under my breasts. The swirling black-on-black embroidery produces an illusion of deep folds from a distance, but Ani is right that it won’t fool someone standing right next to me.

‘I could put on something else,’ I offer.

‘No point,’ he decides. ‘If this one doesn’t work, none of the others will either.’

***

I pin her veil in place and gently take her hand in mine before sliding my arm around her waist. The crew are used to seeing me guide her around the ship this way. After she stumbled a few times and I caught her, no one even comments on it anymore. They know how protective of her I am.

And the public’s opinion? I smile behind my mask. Palpatine wanted us to be affectionate, to be his ideal couple. In staged public appearances, I have been careful to obey his wishes, but even so, the reaction is one he could not have expected.

Maia has become the woman every young girl dreams of growing up to be - smart, reasonably pleasant looking, with a position giving her wealth and power few will ever attain. Devoted solely to her mate, yet admired by many, but loved and possessed by only one.

Myself? Perhaps my reputation has softened a little, for who can deny seeing how I care for her? I give my head a shake. Having a Favorite hasn’t discouraged those trying to ensnare me with marriage. If anything, it has made that worse, now that I can treat Maia appropriately in public.

The media? Several journalists have become relentless in their pursuit, despite repeated warnings to back off, determined to catch us in a compromising position. Whatever my master’s plans are, I dislike being seen as the love-struck fool some of the press would have me be. I am a Sith Lord, still, despite my feelings for her.

And everyone would be wise to never forget that.

***

I eagerly take my place beside Ani in the shuttle and look out the cockpit window. While he busies himself with last minute checks, I listen in on the conversation the members of my staff are having behind us.

‘What are we going to see first?’ Daini asks.

‘Imperial Academy campus outside the capital of Curamelle,’ Thirsk reveals.

‘How boring,’ Cyran comments. ‘Seen one, seen them all.’

‘Well, I haven’t seen it,’ Daini volunteers, ‘and there ought to be plenty worth looking at.’

I roll my eyes at that. She intends to pursue any suitable male in uniform she can find. It’s the primary reason she enlisted in the first place.

Ani, is there a rule that will let me marry her off to someone? She really likes Rik and Captain Piett, I hint, hoping he will say yes.

Unfortunately, no, he admits, and I am not punishing either one of my officers by inflicting Daini on him. You can only hope she finds a reasonable candidate who is interested in her and can settle her down a bit.

Rats.

‘Ladies,’ Thirsk growls, and I suspect he has indicated the open cockpit door to them because the topic changes instantly.

‘What about security for the next two days?’ Cyran questions. ‘I know what is on the schedule, but it seems that the three of us won’t be sufficient.’

‘The Aviary will be cleared,’ the Commander tells her. ‘And his Lordship has made additional arrangements that you don’t need to concern yourself with.’

‘Aviary?’ I wonder, turning to look at Ani. ‘What aviary?’

‘Corulag is famous for the collection of exotic birds in the Abersaith Aviary,’ he replies.

‘Oh. Well, I won’t spoil it by asking for more details,’ I decide.

The Sith Lord closes the cockpit door, ending any further eavesdropping on my three bodyguards.

‘We will be touring the Imperial Academy tonight, visiting the Aviary tomorrow morning, attending a small banquet with Governor Zafiel Snopps tomorrow night, and going to one of the more remote nature preserves on the coast the following morning,’ Ani details our itinerary. ‘The tour of the campus and dinner at the Governor’s could not be avoided for political reasons, but I thought you would like to see the birds and the coastline.’

‘Thank you, my Lord,’ I tell him, reverting to formal mode in anticipation of being in public with him.

‘You’re welcome, my lady,’ he teases a little.

***

I guide her to our suite, her hand resting on my arm. It’s been a long day and she looks tired. The tour of the Academy must have bored her, but Maia never once voiced her personal opinions or let her fatigue show. On the contrary, she was careful to ask intelligent questions of the students and instructors. In the last month, my little goddess has learned how to act like my wife in public. I will never have to worry about her conduct again.

The door closes behind us. I search our assigned rooms with the Force, destroying any recording devices I find. My privacy, our privacy is one thing I won’t compromise.

‘It’s safe now,’ I reassure her.

She pulls off her veil, tosses it aside, and sags in my arms, resting her head against my shoulder while I hold her close.

‘The Aviary can wait until tomorrow afternoon,’ I decide. ‘You should sleep and rest as much as you want.’

‘Thank you,’ Maia gratefully replies.

***

DAY 16

I take a bite out of the sweet pastry and watch Ani run through another ‘saber form. It must be a new one, I think, since I don’t recall seeing him do that sequence of moves before. He finishes with a flourish of cuts, ending with his blade extended and impaling his invisible foe. Impressed, I start clapping, then take his hand when he walks back to my side.

‘That was impressive,’ I tell him.

‘Fifth form velocity sequence,’ he admits. ‘I don’t use that style very often, but I still practice it once in a while.’

I toss a few crumbs from my lunch at the small birds which have landed on the stone railing along the veranda. They quickly flit about, each trying to get more than the others. I stare past them, at the gardens beyond. The Governor’s gardens are too structured, too regimented for my tastes. Every plant seems to be a clone of its neighbors, and all of them are in strict formations. My imagination transforms the various plants into little soldiers waiting for orders in neat ranks. Orders. Order. Even nature bears the brunt of Imperial rule on this planet.

‘I like the conservatory at your castle better than what is here,’ I confess. ‘There’s no feeling of freedom in this place.’

Ani follows my gaze, looks out at the trees and flowers I am talking about.

‘It’s the style now popular on Imperial Center,’ he reveals, ‘and Corulag always copies that.’

I make a face. Curamelle was full of tall buildings inspired by those on Coruscant.

‘Is originality a sin to be avoided here?’ I muse aloud.

‘No,’ the Sith Lord answers, amused, ‘but many of the first colonists were Coruscanti, and their descendants like to think of this world as a second Imperial Center. They are fiercely loyal as well, so be careful what you say tonight.’

‘I am always careful what I say in public, my Lord,’ I remind him.

He looks down at me, so I smile at him and give my stomach a surreptitious rub.

He’s busy again, I note as another kick hits my side.

Come inside with me and I will quiet him for you, Ani offers.

I squeeze his hand, let him help me up and return to our bedroom with my husband.

***

Maia doesn’t know about my Noghri yet, so I slip out of our bedroom while she dresses and meet the four bodyguards I selected for her in the garden.

‘The Aviary has supposedly been cleared,’ I advise them, ‘but I suspect that several reporters have hidden themselves among the exhibits and been missed.’

Kohvrekhar and his clan-brother Ghazhak nod and give their people’s equivalent of a smile. On Naboo they proved most efficient at finding and removing unwanted company. Only Jix was able to get past them, a testament to just how good an agent he is.

‘You will see to it that they are not a problem,’ I order. ‘Do whatever you must, but make sure that you are not observed.’ After a moment’s thought, I add, ‘That includes being noticed by my Favorite. I do not want her to see anything which might upset her. Tonight, at the Governor’s banquet, you will do the same.’

‘We will obey, Lord Vader,’ Kohvrekhar replies. ‘No harm will come to the Lady Vader and your heir.’

I don’t bother correcting him as he and his companions fade into the shadows. To the Noghri, any mate of mine is ‘Lady Vader’, and any child, my heir.

Now for the other secret guard I need to arrange for tonight.

‘Hello, Uncle Dee,’ I hear his typical, cheerful call.

‘Jixton,’ I growl as I turn, only to see him sauntering across the garden in plain sight.

***

I happily walk at Ani’s side, my head turning back and forth to stare at the colorful birds all around us. This place is really cool. And huge. Abersaith canyon is two kilometers long and wider than that in spots. Each display is roofed over with transparisteel and separated from the others with repulsor fields to keep its occupants from escaping or mingling. There are aerial walkways, but we are on the ground, slowly wandering through the exhibits with only Cyran, Daini, and Thirsk accompanying us at a respectful distance.

Right now, we are in the Naboo ecosystem. I instantly recognize the peko peko bird, but the dumpy, dark brown one is new to me. I pull Ani over to where the creature in question is standing, looking at us with a rather quizzical expression from the tip of its head.

‘It’s a turkey from my homeworld!’ I burst out, laughing at the silly, stunned bird.

‘No,’ Ani corrects, ‘it’s a flightless brown nuna from Naboo.’

‘Nope,’ I disagree as the nuna starts making typical turkey noises, ‘it’s a turkey.’

‘Nuna,’ he fires back.

‘Turkey,’ I repeat, adding when I remember my dinner at the Emperor’s retreat, ‘it even tastes like a turkey.’

‘Nuna,’ Ani firmly states, squeezing my hand in an attempt to shut me up about it.

‘I don’t care what you call it,’ I stubbornly say, determined to have the last word, ‘to me it will always be a turkey.’

I can see Daini rolling her eyes at our argument. She has said very little today. Maybe Thirsk’s warning to her about flirting with that Captain we were introduced to last night has subdued her a bit.

‘Shall we go to the next exhibit, my lady?’ Ani offers.

‘Yes, my Lord,’ I reply with a grin. I know he’s trying to get me away from that bird.

Turkey, I tease him in thought, but he has given up and doesn’t answer.

***

I guide her to the next stop on our tour, smiling behind my mask as I do. What a stubborn little creature she can be, and over the most insignificant of things, too.

A sharp cry pierces the air as the great avril bird circles, stoops, then falls through the air towards its target. For a moment I catch a brief sense of it through the Force. Such raw power. What a pity one can’t really tap into that.

Maia stands beside me, transfixed, as the giant purella spider is torn from the tree branch, swept into the air and dropped onto the rocks below. She shivers as predator retrieves prey and perches near the unfortunate spider’s now empty lair. Loud tearing sounds as eight legs are removed and the avril begins devouring its dinner.

‘That was rather nasty,’ I hear Cyran comment.

Maia’s aide obviously did not appreciate the avril’s display.

Nor does my wife. She has gone pale beneath her veil and shut her eyes. As the bird begins crunching through the spider’s hard abdomen, she puts a hand to her mouth and runs into the next exhibit. Thirsk steps to my side, before following after her.

‘Considering how she went after that poor garden spider with her shoe this morning,’ I tell the Commander, ‘I would have thought seeing a larger specimen so efficiently disposed of wouldn’t bother her too much.’

I get one of his rare smiles.

‘Women, my Lord,’ he notes over his shoulder, ‘there’s no accounting for taste with them.’

I stare after him, then start laughing, surprising Daini and Cyran who haven’t moved from their spots yet.

He must have taken the time to read this exhibit’s description.

Only Yavin 8’s female avril, not the male, is large enough to successfully hunt a giant purella.

***

Thirsk comes up behind me, but I ignore him. I am too busy trying not to throw up. That was awful, and Ani wasn’t at all bothered by it.

‘My lady?’ Thirsk asks.

I guess the swallowing and gasping noises I am making have him concerned.

‘I’ll be fine, Thirsk,’ I tell him, ‘just give me a few minutes to recover.’

I do my best to ignore the sound of the avril bird finishing off the spider, and wander into the next section. Curious about what is in it, I go over to the written description for the exhibit I am in.

‘Ibbots from Drall,’ is the heading.

When Ani and the two Lieutenants join Thirsk and I, I read it aloud, ‘This ecosystem is representative of the shoreline of the Boiling Sea of Drall which is the second planet in the Corellian system.’

I look out over the observation area’s railing. There is a body of water with a rocky shoreline. Slimy looking algal mats fill the bubbling water and multi-colored algae is growing on some of the rocks.

‘There are sixty-eight varieties of ibbots, but only fifty-six of the herbivorous ones are housed here,’ I continue. ‘Good. I don’t want to see another carnivorous bird having lunch.’

Ani is amused at that, but doesn’t comment.

‘Ibbot wingspans range from 7cm for the small blue-breasted hover ibbot to 10m for the great ibbot which is used as a flying steed by Drall’s Wingriders. That’s one very big bird,’ I add my own observation. ‘Domestic common brown ibbots are raised for the table and are mildly salty in flavor.’

‘Must be from their diet,’ Cyran quietly adds.

‘Ibbots eat algae off the rocks along the shoreline of the Boiling Sea, and both the flame ibbot and great ibbot are able to squirt a jet of scalding water at predators,’ I read to her, then tease. ‘I think that gives new meaning to bad breath.’

‘Other varieties of ibbot use their teeth and claws for defense,’ I finish the brief description.

‘If you want more information, my lady,’ Cyran offers, ‘you can download it onto your datapad using the dataport in the display.’

I give my head a shake.

‘No, thanks,’ I decide. ‘I think that gave us all the important stuff.’

Turning away from the text, I walk over to the best vantage point and start counting all the different ibbots I can find. Ani and Thirsk join me. Within minutes it has become a game to see who can spot the most ibbots.

‘Thirty-two,’ I count as I see one with a bright yellow crest and point at it.

Ani chuckles and waves his hand towards the rocks.

‘There are a number of ibbots hiding among the rocks,’ he tells us. ‘I could use the Force to flush them from their cover if you like.’

‘No,’ I decide, ‘they are shy and afraid of us, so let them be.’

Movement from behind one large boulder catches my eye. I stare the rock, hoping another ibbot or two might emerge, but none does.

‘Well, rats,’ I comment. ‘I guess thirty-two is all I will see today.’

‘Time for the next display,’ Ani warns. ‘We won’t get to all the ones you wanted to see if you stay here much longer.’

I take his arm and let him lead me onward.

***

Maia found that silly nuna, those ibbots, and a number of the birds we have seen since quite entertaining. Maybe I will add a few harmless, tame birds to my castle’s conservatory.

I hang back a moment while Thirsk accompanies Maia along the path leading to the next exhibit. Someone has been following us, slipping from section to section using the landscape in the different environments for cover, and I am sure it isn’t one of my Noghri.

While I watch, I see the repulsor field drop for a moment, then reestablish itself. I was right. Someone is trailing us.

Ghazhak enters the paved area I am standing in. There is quite a distance between Maia and the two of us, so I know she won’t hear what we say to one another or see that I now have company.

‘Someone’s hiding in the exhibits, my Lord,’ Ghazhak confirms. ‘I was going to dispose of him, like I did the two I found earlier, but he managed to get into the next section before I could.’

‘Leave him to me,’ I decide. ‘The Garqi exhibit should provide a suitable way to make an example of him and ensure that anyone thinks twice, in the future, before trying to spy on us again.’

***

I wonder for a minute what delayed Ani, but here he comes, quickly striding up the path to join me.

‘I wanted to take another look at the Ralltiirian Casting Hawk,’ he admits when he reaches me.

I make a face at him. Ani has spent more time looking at the predatory birds than any of the others.

‘You’ve been to Garqi, but didn’t have a chance to see their famous Vlassy Nature Preserve,’ he tells me as we continue along the path, climbing upwards as we go. ‘They are having problems maintaining a viable population of Rdava birds. Soon the ones here may be all that are left.’

I freeze once we reach the top. The next observation deck is made of colorless transparisteel and extends over the canyon.

‘My Lord,’ I quietly say, ‘I can’t go out there.’

No way am I willingly going out on that glasslike floor. Not when it will feel like I am standing on nothing, looking down into empty space. My stomach is doing somersaults just thinking about it.

‘I know how you feel about heights, my lady,’ Ani firmly states, ‘but you must do it.’

Please, Ani, I plead with him.

You must, he refuses to budge an inch on the matter.

I swallow hard and hold my hand out to him. He obviously won’t let me avoid this, so I will make him help me instead. Gloved fingers entwine in my own as Ani leads me to the edge of that intimidating floor. With my eyes tightly shut, I let him steer me out into the center of the deck. Forget about looking at birds, I decide, I am not opening my eyes until I am back on solid ground again.

For a few minutes I stand there, doing my best not to panic, listening to the others talk about the Rdava birds.

‘Rdava birds from Garqi,’ I hear Thirsk reading the description. ‘A rare species of bird known for its iridescent plumage. Colors range from solid blues, greens and purples, to mixed and variegated. Red specimens are rarest of all. Rdavas nest on ledges in high ravines and mate for life. They are insectivores who spend much of their time using air currents to fly and glide.’

‘They’re beautiful!’ Daini cries.

I open my eyes the narrowest crack and look up, not down, at the brilliantly colored birds flying overhead.

Oh. Wow. They really are beautiful.

Ani notices that I am watching the Rdavas and slides an arm around me. I let myself lean against him and lower my gaze a little. Looking down is out of the question, but if I keep my eyes up a bit, I can stare straight ahead.

***

I hold her steady and wait. It was cruel to force Maia to face her fear of heights, but to make an effective example of our uninvited guest, I need to draw him out into the open. Getting a good holo of the two of us together should prove to be irresistible.

When there is no immediate reaction, I up the stakes. Moving nearer, I slide both arms around her waist and pull her against me. She hesitates, surprised at my actions, then relaxes, sets her head on my chest and nestles in close. Let her think I am trying to help her deal with her fear. It will do no harm.

There is a flicker of movement, a flash of sunlight reflected from a polished surface.

I have you now, I think triumphantly.

Reaching out to the canyon wall with the Force, I yank the journalist from his hiding spot and hold him suspended in mid-air above the valley floor. As I expected, he is from TriNebulon news, and the reporter who has been most persistent in his pursuit of a story.

Loud protests and curses spurt out from him while I debate how to dispatch him.

‘What’s wrong?’ Maia questions, trying to turn around to see what is going on.

‘Don’t look,’ I warn her as I prevent her from moving and shift my left hand to block her vision. ‘I want you to stay quiet and still, and keep your eyes shut.’

‘You are on a live-feed,’ the reporter gloats, ‘whatever you do to me, everyone will see it.’

I ignore his threat. He’s a fool if he thinks that will deter me. Let the public see how I treat those who intrude on my private life. It will serve as a useful warning.

‘This is a private outing,’ I calmly explain. ‘You, specifically, have been repeatedly ordered to stay away. Since you have decided to so rudely invade my privacy, I see no reason to show you any courtesy in return.’

With that I release him, letting him fall towards the ground. His scream of terror stops abruptly and quickly. Looking down through the transparent floor I am standing on, I can see that one of the Aviary’s repulsor fields has caught him immediately below us.

‘Kreth,’ I quietly curse, ‘I should have known there would be something to catch any jumpers.’ Much louder, I add, mostly to cover my mistake, ‘The next time, I will make sure the repulsor field is disabled.’

He merely spits out a few more choice descriptions of my parentage.

‘Commander Thirsk,’ I order, ‘one more word from our “guest” and you and the Lieutenants may use him for target practice.’

The three in question draw their blasters and take aim. There is instant silence in response to that. Good. I have had my fill of reporters and the public has seen enough as well. With a casual gesture, I crush his hidden holocamera and toss its remains on top of him. A few cries of pain sound as the debris rains down on him, but there are no further rude remarks or threats.

‘Time to go,’ I decide.

As I told her to, Maia has been quiet while I dealt with our “guest”, so I reassure her with a gentle touch on our bond and guide her off the observation deck.

***

I shiver against the Sith Lord as he casually drops the reporter to his death. Expecting the worst, I prepare to block out the scream and sound of impact with the ground, but instead of a splat or crunch, I hear more curses and threats.

What?

‘Kreth,’ Ani growls in frustration, ‘I should have known there would be something to catch any jumpers.’ Much louder, he says, ‘The next time, I will make sure the repulsor field is disabled.’

Next time? Somehow I suspect that this reporter will diligently avoid being found on the same planet as us. From Ani’s tone, he will quite happily kill this particular journalist if he is.

Unfortunately, our unwanted guest has still not learned his lesson, but Ani shuts him up with another threat.

‘Time to go,’ Ani finally decides.

I feel his assurance and let him lead me away from the Rdava birds to the safety of solid ground.

‘Was he telling the truth about a live broadcast?’ I ask, concerned, when we are a short distance from the Aviary’s exit and his shuttle.

Ani looks over at me and hesitates. He knows the reporter was telling the truth, but has no idea where the holo was sent.

‘Comm the Executor, Cyran,’ he orders, ‘and have Major Fervis check all transmissions which were beamed out in the last hour.’

As we continue along the path, I listen to my aide speaking to the intelligence officer. When she is finished, I know what the answer is, and that my love will not be very happy about it, either.

‘He said you should see it for yourself, my Lord,’ Cyran tells him, ‘and that he will send a copy to your shuttle.’

It must be much worse than I thought, I decide.

The Sith Lord activates the comm as soon as he sits in the pilot’s seat.

‘I have a really bad feeling about this,’ I admit.

Ani plays the message and we both view it in silence. I see him lead me onto the observation deck, stand beside me while I look about. My pregnancy is obvious in the close-ups and the commentary from the news anchor during the rebroadcast of the edited footage makes it plain to anyone who is watching that I am expecting. When the image shows the Sith Lord holding me in his arms, the narrator makes a few speculative remarks about our private life. The journalist’s encounter with my angry husband has been cut, but there is an acknowledgment that the holo was obtained ‘at great cost and risk.’

A holo of Major Fervis appears when the recording finishes playing.

‘The raw footage was sent out of the system to Imperial Center, my Lord,’ he reveals. ‘What you just saw is an edited version which has been picked up by all of the less reputable networks. Obviously arrangements were made well ahead of time to ensure it got out.’

‘Obviously,’ Ani sarcastically repeats.

‘Can’t you do something?’ I blurt out.

The officer shakes his head.

‘It has been sent through thousands of channels and exists in millions of copies by now, my lady,’ he admits, ‘Even if I managed to stop any further broadcasts, anything I do would only be damage control.’

I sigh in frustration. If life was difficult before, it is going to be double that now.

‘Do what you can, Fervis,’ Ani wearily orders. ‘I knew this was going to happen, sooner or later, but I would have preferred later.’

He shuts off the comm after saying that and looks over at me.

‘We will go to the banquet at the Governor’s, as scheduled,’ he decides, ‘and return to the Executor tonight. Now that news of your pregnancy is out, it is far too risky for you to be on planet or anywhere I can’t protect you completely. My enemies might make a try for you and I don’t want you exposed to any situation where you could be injured, killed, or kidnaped.’

‘That’s not fair!’ I protest.

‘Fair or not,’ he warns, shaking a finger at me, ‘that is how it must be from now on.’

***

She opens her mouth to argue some more, but stops when I activate the shuttle’s engines.

I know it isn’t fair, I want to tell her. I know you should be free to go where you want to, see what you wish, but I can’t risk losing you, can’t risk anyone ever hurting you because of me. Because of who I am, what I am. Because of what you are to me.

Maia looks away, looks out the cockpit window, and I know she is fighting tears.

Little goddess, I understand your need for freedom. You are like a caged bird, beating your wings against the bars I have set around you.

But this is how it must be.

***

I let Ani lead me from the speeder and up the wide stone staircase to the door of Governor Snopp’s official residence in Curamelle. All around us, held back by ‘troopers, are members of the press corps and public. Somehow I stop myself from shrinking up against the Sith Lord. That broadcast has brought everyone out in force, and turned this small banquet into a major event.

Everybody wants to see us, see me. See Lord Vader’s pregnant concubine.

The close examination I am receiving and comments I can overhear make me want to bolt back to the ‘speeder, to safety, and away from prying eyes.

We finally reach the entrance, but Ani doesn’t take us inside immediately. Instead, he turns around and regally surveys all who are in attendance. Silence descends on the crowd when the Sith Lord stares specifically at the news crew from TriNebulon. At his infuriated hiss, they exchange glances with one another, then quietly put their holocameras down and slink away, letting others take their place at the front.

At least the reporter he taught a lesson to this afternoon isn’t here, I think, relieved. I am sure Ani would do something to him if he were.

The Governor is standing behind us, waiting patiently for Ani to take me through the door. While the Sith Lord spends another minute quietly intimidating others in the media with the sheer force of his presence and personality, I smile at the two little girls who are with the official greeting party. They’re cute and quite bored, judging from how they are fidgeting and tugging on the sleeves and skirts of their party dresses.

I step away from Ani, closer to the children, and whisper to them, ‘This grown-up stuff is boring, isn’t it?’

Ani hears me and shifts his attention from the journalists to me, and I can feel everyone’s eyes watching my every move. I take a careful breath to steady myself. Just pretend you’re Princess Diana, I decide, and do what she would have.

The children stop pulling at their clothes, smile shyly at me, and the older one starts giggling. Governor Snopps looks amused, but the two next to him, who must be their parents, freeze in place. I ignore them and concentrate on the girls. The younger one stares at me, then pulls the wreath of flowers off her head and holds it out, offering it to me. Her mother doesn’t look very happy about that, I decide.

‘For me?’ I ask the little one.

She nods, but doesn’t say anything.

‘I will need your help with it,’ I suggest to her.

I bend down a bit, making sure the little girl can reach the top of my head. She promptly shoves the crown of flowers over my veil, pushing it into place with both hands. Ouch, I think as several stems dig into my scalp.

‘Thank you,’ I tell her.

Her response is to go behind her father and peer at me from her hiding spot.

She’s sweet, I tell Ani as I straighten up and join my husband. Maybe our future daughter will someday be the same.

She will be just like her mother, he teases. Sweet tempered, stubborn, and determined to make my life interesting.

‘Lord Vader, my lady,’ the Governor says, trying to get the formal introductions out of the way and motioning us inside. ‘If you would be so kind?’

We follow him through the ornate doors, down a corridor to a large banquet hall. As we walk, he gives a brief description of his planet’s history, which is more for my benefit, I am sure, than Ani’s.

***

I ignore the Governor’s history lesson and watch those around us.

Snopps is more interested in commerce and Corulag’s economy than anything else. Nothing has changed, in that respect. It was no different when he was a senator, before the Emperor dissolved that useless body.

A glance to my left side and I can see Commandant Gibbs nodding at the appropriate moments during the Governor’s monologue. I know the head of Corulag’s military academy has no time for Snopps, but Gibbs has come to the gathering tonight, nonetheless.

The Sector Moff, Jamson Caglio, is also in attendance, accompanied by his wife, son Vastin, and the young woman his son is courting. I will have to remember to convey my condolences to Rivoche. Her uncle died on the Death Star and I know Wilhuff was her guardian. Jamson notes my attention and gives a knowing tip of his head, indicating he wants to have a word or two with me in private, later.

No one, it seems, is willing to miss the opportunity to curry favor from me.

I curl my lip at that. Political games. How tiring. I have better things to do with my time than play them. The only reason I am here tonight is because my master insisted I attend.

I smile as Maia finally gets up the courage to break in and ask Snopps a few questions. Her performance with the children was perfect. The networks will play that up, no doubt. Palpatine should be most pleased. He wanted her to be his model mother, and my wife is more than living up to that image.

***

The Governor finally finishes telling me about his homeworld’s first settlers. To be polite, I tried to act interested, but after the fourth time he emphasized how loyal Corulag’s citizens were to the Emperor, I was bored. At least we are in the dining area now. He will have to move onto a more practical topic.

Ani slides his arm around me and guides me away from the group who walked in with us. He’s decided to extract us both from the crowd of guests before someone else has a chance to start a conversation.

‘My Favorite needs to rest for a moment in private,’ he tells them, cutting off the Moff’s suggestion that we take our seats at the head table.

I don’t protest when he settles me in a chair in one of the alcoves off the banquet hall. Thirsk, Daini and Cyran quickly join us. The Commander looks good in a dress uniform, I decide.

I wanted to give you a few quiet minutes to familiarize yourself with the layout, Ani says to me in thought. Make sure you know where the exits are, and be sure to keep track of Thirsk. He will be staying close to you any time we are separated.

Aloud, he states, ‘The Lieutenants will accompany my Favorite when and where it would be inappropriate for you to do so, Commander.’

He’s trying to cover up our private, silent conversation just in case someone is listening, so I do as I am told and look about the room. There are six exits, unequally spaced around the room, in addition to the one we came in. Two are near the head table, and one looks out into a garden area. The other three appear to lead deeper into the building.

Cyran and Daini seem a bit surprised that the Sith Lord just gave them an order which makes perfect sense and that they already know they are to do. Thirsk gives both of them a warning look.

‘Yes, my Lord,’ Cyran answers.

She knows what is going on.

If you have to make a break for it and can manage it, Ani adds, head outside into the gardens.

I wonder why he wants me to do that, but don’t ask. Instead I make sure I know where the large double doors are and plan the routes I might use to get to them.

‘There are a number of social climbers and opportunists present,’ Ani notes. ‘I expect that the ones you have been briefed about will be kept well away from my lady. Anyone who makes themselves unwelcome, you will discourage immediately. You know the hand signals my Favorite will use if she wants you to remove someone.’

Don’t try to be polite. If someone is bothering you, tell me or use the hand signals Thirsk taught you to get help from him, or Daini and Cyran, he reminds me. This isn’t your homeworld, Maia, where I could let your colleague’s harassment go. I won’t put up that sort of behavior from anyone here.

After the demonstration in the aviary, I know he won’t hesitate to make another example of someone.

‘Be watchful and mindful of everyone here,’ Ani instructs. ‘Enough time has elapsed since the broadcast that one of my enemies’ agents could have been sent here. If anyone seems suspicious, don’t risk my Favorite. Bring her to me immediately.’

Trust no one, Maia, Ani warns. Only the members of your staff and mine can be relied on - I don’t want to be rescuing you from your own folly. And if you do get into trouble, don’t do anything foolish. Go along with what they want until I can get to you.

I give him an exasperated look. We were over all of this earlier, but if it makes him feel better, then I’ll sit through his security lecture once again.

***

I take my place beside Maia at the table. She was a bit annoyed that I insisted on reminding her of everything we had discussed with Thirsk earlier, but I want her to have my warnings fresh in her mind. Hopefully she will be suitably cautious tonight.

My Favorite is too trusting for her own good.

Rivoche Tarkin is seated next to Snopps, then Maia, and myself. Moff Caglio is across the table from us as are his wife and son. Gibbs is several places away. Obviously the Governor and Commandant are not speaking to one another, and I suspect Jamson had some input into the arrangements, too.

The Moff tries to make conversation and interest me in the various issues he is dealing with, none of which I consider important enough to comment on.

It could be a very long evening.

***

While I wait for something to happen, I spend my time looking at the people around us. The young woman beside me is quite polished in her manners, but quiet and subdued. Like me, she has a distinctive nose and chin that probably run in her family just like mine do. The blue velvet gown she is wearing goes nicely with her pale complexion, light brown eyes and hair. She has good taste, I decide.

‘I like your dress,’ I tell her, trying to make small talk.

‘It’s from Eriadu, my homeworld, my lady,’ she politely answers.

Our conversation ends there when the Sith Lord starts speaking.

‘My Favorite,’ Ani says after everyone is seated, ‘I don’t believe you have been introduced to our tablemates. To your left is Rivoche Tarkin. I worked with her uncle, the late Grand Moff Tarkin, many times over the past twenty years. He was a brilliant leader and will be missed. I know he was your guardian, Rivoche. Please accept my condolences at his loss.’

Rivoche smiles sadly at Ani’s words of sympathy.

‘Thank you, my Lord,’ she replies.

‘Across from you are Moff Caglio, his wife, and their son Vastin,’ Ani continues. ‘To my right is ….’

I tune out the names of the rest of the people he lists. They are too far away from me to talk to anyway. When he is finished, the Governor stands up and says a few words in greeting to the more than two hundred people in the hall. So much for this being a ‘small’ banquet, I think.

I let my eyes roam around the room. Everyone in attendance is human. There is not a single alien here. Well, that shouldn’t surprise me, I guess. Turning my head around a little, I spot Thirsk and Cyran standing guard behind me. Daini must be somewhere else at the moment. My bodyguards had their meals earlier so they would be able to concentrate on my security and not on eating.

The first course is served. Nothing is set in front of the Sith Lord, of course, but as I stare at the selection of breads and other ‘finger-foods’ before me, I wonder what I am going to do.

I look over at Ani. He’s forgotten something important.

Ani, I prod, how am I supposed to eat with this veil on?

You don’t, he admits.

But I’m hungry, I complain. I haven’t had my dinner yet.

He hesitates, considering what to do about that.

You could eat in private, he suggests. One of the alcoves can be curtained off.

I have an internal debate with myself about that. It would be one way to hide from all the stares, but only until the meal is finished with. And I will have to get used to being the center of attention anyway. May as well start dealing with that now.

No, I think I will stay here with you and not create a fuss, I decide.

You still need to eat, he reminds me.

‘Governor Snopps,’ Ani calls past me, intending to make whatever arrangements are needed.

I kick him in the shin to get his attention and shut him up. That hurt, I think to myself when the soft leather in my shoe provides inadequate padding against his hard armor.

Don’t make a scene, I growl at him. I can wait until we are back on the Executor.

Five minutes later, I am sitting, by myself, at a small table in a curtained alcove. With a disgusted growl, I pull off the floral wreath and toss aside my veil. I am going to miss one of my rare chances to talk to a few new people. Trust Ani to insist on this.

‘Cyran,’ I call through the heavy fabric separating me from everyone else, ‘would you please come in here and keep me company?’

My aide has a hurried conversation with Thirsk before joining me. I shove one of the trays of bread at her and select a piece for myself from the other one.

‘Eat something,’ I order when she hesitates, ‘and tell me all the amusing shipboard gossip.’

Cyran is my window on the microcosm of life on the Executor. She always seems to know everything that is going on.

‘Daini pulled a good one on Rik in the Officers’ mess a few days ago,’ she offers.

This ought to be entertaining. I nod to let her know she should keep talking.

‘He was busy with his lunch and didn’t notice that she was standing behind him until it was too late,’ Cyran continues. ‘Somehow she managed to pinch him and take off before he could stop her. Apparently the surprised look on his face was pretty funny, but Torin didn’t appreciate getting hit with the caff that Rik spewed everywhere. They are now both demanding hazard pay - Rik for putting up with Daini and Torin for being covered with ‘toxic waste.’’

I start giggling. Poor Rik. Daini has been chasing him for weeks and he is at his wit’s ends keeping her at arm’s length. He even suggested changing shifts to try avoiding her, but as the Sith Lord’s wingman, his daily cycle has to match Ani’s so he couldn’t. And I don’t blame Torin for complaining about the caff. When the autochefs in the main galley produced black sludge for a few days, someone dubbed it ‘toxic waste.’ The name stuck even after the problem was fixed.

While I nibble away at a few other bits of bread, Cyran keeps me entertained.

‘Stop a moment,’ I tell her when the next course arrives.

I give the soup a cautious appraisal. Is it safe to eat? Curious, I hold my hand over it and check the contents with my Force-enhanced senses. There’s nothing harmful, so I give it a stir, then taste it. The nuna soup I had for lunch on Naboo was much better, I decide.

Most of the soup stays in the bowl. Hopefully the next dish will be better.

Cyran resumes the story she was telling once I set my spoon down. I ignore her for a moment and try to listen in on what is happening on the other side of the curtain. Too many people are talking so I can’t make out any specific conversations. Rats.

The third remove appears. I repeat my check on the flank of rycrit and vegetables. Thirsk hates rycrit, and Ani once told me he didn’t care for it either. This will be the first time I try it, so I am curious what it tastes like.

I soon have my answer.

I wrinkle my nose at the smell and taste. Maybe some see this strongly flavored meat as a delicacy, but I don’t. The vegetables look better, so I pick away at them, leaving the rycrit untouched except for the small bit I sampled.

‘I don’t like rycrit either,’ Cyran admits.

‘Neither does his Lordship,’ I whisper to her.

We both smile conspiratorially, as if we are sharing a state secret, and begin giggling like two teenagers discussing their boyfriends.

‘And I hate it, too,’ Thirsk dryly adds from the other side of the curtain. ‘If you had to eat stringy old rycrits for months, like I did, you wouldn’t like it very much either.’

At that, Cyran and I start laughing.

Amusing yourself, wife? Ani asks.

Oops. Our laughter was obviously loud enough to draw his notice.

We’re comparing tastes in food. So far rycrit has earned four negative votes - yours, mine, Cyran’s, and Thirsk’s, I tell him. Hopefully the rest of the meal will be better.

***

Maia is enjoying herself, I note as a few giggles sound from behind the curtain separating her from everyone else.

I see Thirsk say something and hear more laughter. Trust my wife to find something to amuse herself with. Maybe I should have kept her with me. Her company would have diverted some of the political chit-chat I have had to endure for the last hour.

Amusing yourself, wife? I question her.

We’re comparing tastes in food, she promptly answers. So far rycrit has earned four negative votes - yours, mine, Cyran’s, and Thirsk’s. Hopefully the rest of the meal will be better.

The polite comments praising the food have been just that then. It seems I will have to feed her a second meal once we are back on the Executor.

Caglio’s wife asks Rivoche another inane question about wedding customs on Eriadu. I almost feel sorry for the girl. The Moff is determined to ally his family with hers, but this relentless pursuit will probably have the exact opposite effect to what they intend.

Since I have had to sit here and listen to their political maneuvering, I decide to throw a hydrospanner into their plans for her as a form of revenge.

It should prove to be amusing, if nothing else.

‘Your uncle often spoke kindly of you, Rivoche,’ I venture.

She looks surprised to hear that sort of praise. I know she was a wild child. After several teenage escapades, Wilhuff had her sent away to a finishing school on Claer to bring her in line.

‘My Favorite is often lonely. My work takes up so much of my time, you see,’ I offer up next. ‘I think she would appreciate having a female companion of comparable rank on board for company.’

Jamson and his son exchange looks. They are wondering what I am up to. I start to smile as I watch the expressions crossing Rivoche’s face. Unlike the men, she has figured out exactly what I am implying and has grown a touch pale.

‘My Lord,’ she quietly says, ‘I am flattered and it would be an honor, but I must decline.’

Vastin stares at me. He’s finally realized what I was hinting at, but knows he dare not say a word in protest.

‘Are you sure?’ I ask. ‘You do know who and what you are turning down.’

‘Yes, my Lord,’ she firmly states.

The Moff has clued in at last, and from the glare he is barely hiding, he’s furious that I am proposing to his son’s potential wife right in front of them both.

‘My offer will be open for a while, if you decide to reconsider,’ I casually tell Rivoche, giving no hint I am offended or amused by her refusal.

I have nothing to worry about. She will never give her consent, but the discomfort all three Caglio’s are feeling at the moment was well worth risking her acceptance.

***

None of the other dishes really stand out. After having a lunch and dinner on Naboo, which were prepared in the Emperor’s kitchen, it is hard to evaluate any of what is served here. This must be more typical of what one can expect, I decide as I finish off the fruit dessert.

Cyran replaces my veil for me and draws back the curtain so I can rejoin Ani and the rest of the guests. Most are on their feet, now, as the tables are cleared and removed. Stations with drinks and trays of more food have been set up against the walls.

Is it time to mingle? I ask the Sith Lord.

No. Not really, he admits, Governor Snopps has arranged something else.

He doesn’t want to tell me what it is, I decide, as I go to his side. His dinner companions, I see, are headed to the opposite side of the room from us. Judging from their wary glances back at us, I guess having a meal with Darth Vader was too much for them.

There are a few squeaks and other odd sounds, so I look up, to the balcony above, and see a group of musicians tuning up. Dancing, I shrewdly determine. That’s what is next, and Ani didn’t want to tell me.

I want to dance a waltz with you, I prod at him.

Not in public, Maia, and not here, he refuses.

I grumble a bit to myself. Not fair. He knows how to dance and is actually quite good at it. The Sith Lord is just being stubborn.

Please, Ani, I try again, I’ll be good for the rest of the evening.

No response, and now the Governor is talking to him. Rats. I decide to occupy myself by looking at the other guests until he is finished discussing security at the Aviary with Snopps.

I don’t know very many of the room’s occupants. There is the Caglio family and Rivoche over in the far corner, and the Academy’s Commandant appears to be chatting up a tall blonde woman close by. She reminds me of someone - it’s like I’ve seen her before, but I don’t remember where or what the circumstances were. Several others are also vaguely familiar, like the foppishly dressed noble lurking at the nearest drink’s table. I try not to laugh at his poor taste. Yellow and bright pink definitely do not go together or with his dark beard, and the long lirepipe on his hat is spending more time in his face and in his drink than not. Maybe the people I think I recognize were at the opera Ani and I attended, I decide.

‘...and I would suggest that the next time a request is made for the Aviary to be cleared, your security forces use a bioscanner to ensure no one is hiding in the exhibits,’ I hear Ani tell Snopps. ‘Simply emptying the public sections is not sufficient or acceptable.’

The Sith Lord sounds a bit irked at how lax our security was. It’s fortunate that it was only a journalist who escaped their scrutiny. I am sure an assassin or two could have been hiding in there, too.

The first few bars of a waltz echo through the room. While the music and combination of instruments are new to me, I am sure we could dance to it. I slip my hand into Ani’s and give it a tug. He refuses to budge.

‘Don’t stay here on my account, my Lord,’ the Governor suggests. ‘Someone needs to lead off the evening’s dancing.’

That’s a hint, if I’ve ever heard one. I give another pull. Still no movement. Then I see that ridiculously dressed noble heading in our direction. So does Ani. I hear his hiss of annoyance as he quickly walks me to the center of the floor. Obviously the Sith Lord wants to avoid dealing with whoever that is, and has taken the simplest escape route.

Thank you, I tell him as I am swept into his arms and around the room.

Other couples soon join us, but no one dares to get too close.

***

I use dancing with Maia as a means to avoid another conversation I don’t care to engage in.

As I spin my wife about, I make note of those in attendance who are paying just a bit too much attention to us. It’s as I suspected, then. There are at least two here I need to watch.

Time to draw them out, then, and send a very clear message to their employers.

The music finishes, so I guide my wife back to where Thirsk and Daini are waiting. Cyran has probably gone to secure a private ‘fresher for Maia’s use.

‘See to your needs, my lady,’ I suggest, ‘then go get some fresh air in the garden.’

She looks a bit puzzled by my orders, but lets Daini lead her away.

I dislike using Maia as bait, but she will be completely safe. I will be near and the reception committee I have arranged will ensure that nothing goes wrong.

***

I follow after Daini, thinking about Ani’s orders as I walk along. He’s being considerate, I finally conclude. The Sith Lord knows just how long I can put off a trip to the ‘fresher these days and must have sent Cyran to secure the facilities for me.

Fortunately the ‘fresher is only a short distance away. While Thirsk and Daini guard the door, Cyran accompanies me inside. It’s embarrassing to have company for this, but far too risky for me to be completely alone and vulnerable. My aide politely turns her back to let me have some semblance of privacy.

When that is done with, I settle myself on a chair in front of the mirror and let Cyran fix my hair and veil again. Dancing with Ani sent the fabric swirling everywhere and it needs to be straightened out.

‘Cyran,’ I ask, ‘don’t you think his Lordship is being a bit over protective?’

‘No, my lady,’ she firmly replies. ‘He knows how dangerous it is for you to be away from his side.’

I roll my eyes at that. Ani’s fussing is driving me crazy, but even though it might satisfy my need to whine a bit, there is no point in complaining to my aide. He’s right, I suppose. I am far too big and awkward to really defend myself with my lightsaber, and I am not yet adept enough at any of the Force skills he has taught me to ward someone off with those.

‘Let’s go for a walk in the gardens, like he suggested,’ I tell her. ‘It will be good to get away from all those stares for a few minutes.’

We quickly return to the hallway and a bit of a scene.

Thirsk and Daini are arguing with the tall blonde, who, it seems, was demanding immediate access to the ‘fresher.

‘It’s available now,’ I tell her. ‘I am finished with it.’

I get an icy stare as she swings the door open and lets it slam shut behind her.

‘How rude,’ Daini observes before telling me. ‘We were polite, my lady, and told her you would be only a minute or two.’

‘There’s no accounting for manners,’ I dryly comment, ‘or lack of them.’

As we go back into the banquet hall, I silently note that the badly dressed noble had overheard our conversation and is following us. When the blonde passes him, he stops her to ask a question I can’t hear but which she quickly brushes off. She’s rude to everyone, I decide.

Thirsk opens the glass doors for me to go through, but I am curious what has happened to Ani. Surveying the room reveals that he is in one of the alcoves, apparently trapped by Commandant Gibbs. My poor husband, I think. You will have to listen to an evening of military shop-talk, no doubt, if you don’t escape. He senses my eyes on him, looks in my direction, and sends a burst of reassurance to me. The Sith Lord knows where I will be at and can come find me if he wants to.

The gardens are similar to those at Snopp’s summer residence. I wander around in them, looking at the patterns and plants. My three faithful bodyguards are never far away. Eventually I tire a little and sit down on one of the benches. I can watch a large area around me from here.

I spot the blonde talking to that noble. She seems to be apologizing and leads him away from the doors, in my direction. Someone is up to a bit of romance and has found a candidate more to her liking than Commandant Gibbs, I shrewdly guess when she lets him hold her for a kiss. They don’t stay there for very long, but head deeper into the gardens, out of my sight. They are intending to do more than just kiss, I decide with a giggle.

The arguing voices of Thirsk and another man distract me from the romantic pair. There is a brief scuffle, the sound of a blaster discharging, and a number of interesting curses. With that Cyran is instantly at my side, pulling me off the bench and hustling me away from the ruckus and towards the distant doors. I turn my head to look at what is going on, but can’t see much in the shadows. Daini is doing her best to play rear guard. Thirsk is nowhere in sight. He must be dealing with whoever was yelling at him.

Sounds of another fight reach us. The blonde is accusing the noble of taking advantage of her. There is a resounding slap, then her running footsteps as she heads right for us.

Tonight is providing quite a bit of entertainment, I decide.

The blonde runs straight into Daini and knocks her off her feet. She doesn’t pause or miss a stride as she keeps coming towards Cyran and I.

‘Help me, my lady,’ she calls to me.

I hesitate a moment, stopping to look at her and resisting Cyran’s pull on my arm. Daini is holding her left arm as she struggles to her feet, and I can see Thirsk, blaster drawn, charging up the path behind her.

‘Go,’ Cyran orders, breaking my indecision by shoving me onwards and putting herself between me and the blonde.

I am only a few meters away when my aide is struck and sent flying.

Sithspit.

ANI! I call for help.

There is the sound of several bodies impacting on one another behind me. For once I don’t stop to look. I’ve learned my lesson about that. As I try to keep running, the noble appears, grabs me around the waist, and swings me off the path into darkness.

Completely panicked, I do my best to break his hold. When that fails, I claw at him for a moment, leaving a few scratches on his face. If only I could get at my lightsaber.

‘Stop that, Aunt Em,’ he hisses at me as his hat falls off with my flailing about.

I freeze instantly.

‘Jix?’ I ask in a whisper. ‘What are you doing here? And why are you wearing that ridiculous outfit?’

‘Following Uncle Dee’s orders and keeping an eye on you,’ he wryly admits. ‘The costume is his idea of revenge for my teasing, I suppose.’

‘Well his Lordship has either really bad taste or really good taste, depending on how you look at it,’ I tease him.

We can both hear the sounds of what must be quite a battle in the garden behind us.

‘I need to get you to safety,’ Jix tells me. ‘I should have known that woman was trouble when she slapped me. My kisses aren’t that bad.’

He pulls me farther away from the path, putting a considerable distance between us and where the blonde is still fighting with my bodyguards.

Ani meets us partway back to the banquet room.

Propriety be damned, I decide as I throw myself at him. He catches and holds me while I try to calm down.

‘Two agents,’ Jixton summarizes events. ‘The male picked a fight with Thirsk to get him out of the way and give his female partner an opening. Daini went down immediately. Cyran bought enough time for me to get to Aunt Em. I would guess that Thirsk and Cyran caught up with her right after that from the fight we heard.’

Cyran. Thirsk.

‘They must be hurt!’ I blurt out.

I try to extract myself from Ani’s embrace. He refuses to let go.

‘Let me go!’ I insist.

‘No,’ the Sith Lord replies.

‘But,’ I start.

‘No ‘buts’, Maia,’ he growls. ‘They knew the risks and did their job.’

‘But,’ I repeat.

‘Jix, escort her to my shuttle. I’ve commed my pilot, so it is waiting at the main entrance to take her back to the Executor immediately. Make sure there are no further incidents,’ he orders. ‘I’ll see to whatever clean-up needs to be done here.’

There is no point in arguing, so I let Jix guide me back into the banquet hall, past the Governor’s now silent and curious guests. Word must have spread already.

***

I watch Maia go, Jix beside her. My shuttle is waiting outside. She will be safe with him.

Now to find out exactly what happened.

Kohvrekhar meets me as I approach the spot where the battle must have taken place.

‘Give me the details quickly,’ I direct.

It won’t be long before the security forces Snopps has sent for arrive.

‘My two clan brothers fought well, Lord Vader,’ he quietly notes.

He used the past tense. I must be down by two Noghri then. Damn. It will not be easy to replace them.

‘Continue,’ I order.

‘The humans were injured trying to stop her, but should recover,’ he adds.

As I step into the courtyard, I spot the two Lieutenants, one still unconscious on the ground, the other propped up against a tree nursing a broken arm. Thirsk, barely able to stand, is talking to Ghazhak. He falls silent when he sees me.

‘Commander,’ I greet him.

‘My Lord, is my lady safe?’ he asks, ignoring the pain he is in.

‘Yes,’ I assure him. ‘You did well, Thirsk. Now sit down before you fall down and tell me what happened.’

He looks a bit uncomfortable, but takes a spot on a nearby bench.

‘I let myself be drawn into a petty squabble,’ he admits, ‘gave her an opportunity.’

I wave aside his self-criticism. His lapse in judgement I will deal with later.

‘Daini met her head on and was tossed aside. Her arm broke when she fell.’

Thirsk nods at the woman who is firmly holding her hand over where the break is.

‘My lady made the mistake of turning to look and let herself be misled for a moment. I tried to catch up to her, but couldn’t reach Cyran before she too was thrown aside. We both went after her while my lady ran on ahead,’ Thirsk continues. ‘Cyran didn’t have a chance. Whoever she was, that woman was well-trained, extremely fast, and much, much stronger than she looked. She had both of us down within minutes.’

I smile as Thirsk fidgets a bit. He has a reputation to maintain and it is hard for him to admit he was bested.

‘Two of the Noghri showed up at that point. I watched her casually kill both of them. Time must have been running out or maybe she knew there was no point in continuing her pursuit because she vanished after that.’

Sithspit.

‘And the man who was her partner?’ I ask.

‘Gone, too, my Lord,’ he reveals. ‘She must have taken his body with her.’

Kreth.

Another job for Jixton. Hopefully he will be more successful with this one than the others.

Footsteps approach. Corulag’s security force has arrived. Fortunately Kohvrekhar and Ghazhak have already slipped away, taking their dead comrades with them. I don’t want to answer any questions so I will simply take charge of the situation and have Maia’s staff sent up to the Executor.

***

I pace back and forth through Ani’s quarters. What is taking him so long? He sent me back here hours ago and I want to know what happened to my staff. No, I correct myself, to my friends.

The door opens. Ani steps through. I instantly wrap myself around him.

‘They will be fine,’ he reassures me, answering my question before I can ask it. ‘All three of them are in medlab and should be released in a few days. You can go visit them in the morning.’

Relieved, I snuggle in close. His hand brushes through my hair, soothing me.

‘Unless you are with me, little goddess, I will have to restrict you to my quarters,’ he tells me. ‘I can’t be sure that even Thirsk can protect you. Whoever that woman was, she escaped, and I won’t risk giving her or anyone else the opportunity to harm you.’

I don’t say anything in answer. After everything which has happened today, this is something I had expected.

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