Deep Amongst the Stars Divided 1

“What, no argument from you?” Lord Vader asked, surprised.

“What is there to argue, my lord?” I asked him. “You gave me an order, I obey it.”

“You always argue with me.” He retorted and this was true, “You have reasons for wanting to remain on Coruscant. I am surprised that you do not wish to do so. I was expecting more resistance.” It was not a question but rather a statement. He swung around with full power and I did my best to defend.

“Well, that last little reminder from Jyrki that he’s still about and still on the hunt has me convinced that space is safer than ground. Besides, what do you know about what I want?” I asked as we stepped back from each other and re-established ground. It was a good job we were alone in the quiet of the training room with the door closed because I am certain had anyone else heard me speak this way to Lord Vader they would have died of shock right then and there but after over three years of working together I knew how far I could push and so did he.

“So you are telling me that your fear outweighs your desire.” He asked.

“No, but it was inevitable that sooner or later one of us would be called to duty off this sarlacc forsaken hell-hole so it might as well be me.” I told him. In fact I was grateful it was me being called off world first. I didn’t like being the one left behind.

Lord Vader nodded and moved back into position, swinging his lightsaber at me in a really elegant move. “And have you told him yet?”

The lightsabers thrummed through the air. I shook my head as I spun around to block his blow. “Not yet.” I said, sweat trickling down my back as I counter attacked. It was almost like dancing except far more deadly. “He has been away for the past three days so I haven’t had the chance. I will tell him when I see him but I am certain he won’t be surprised.”

Vader nodded. “No, Thrawn rarely ever is.” He conceded.

Lightsaber blades crashed together making that awful gritty, crackling sound which always set my teeth on edge. We could stand like that for a few moments but Lord Vader was stronger than I was so in the end it was always me who gave way, backing off.

“You admire him.” I said as I caught my breath.

“I admire anyone who does their job so well.” He replied. “He has served the Empire with unwavering loyalty. He puts his job, his duty above all other concerns, even his personal ones.”

That last remark was directed at my relationship with Thrawn but I didn’t mind. It hadn’t taken Lord Vader long to figure that things between Admiral Thrawn and I had become interesting. It didn’t appear to bother him but rather it seemed to amuse him in some strange way. I was well aware of my place in Thrawn’s life so lord Vader’s barb didn’t bother me.

“He does what he must to get the job done. It is what it is.” I said as we began to circle again. I was learning to like this weapon and I enjoyed spending time with the man teaching me how to use it.

“How is it that you are so pragmatic for one so young?” he asked.

I laughed. “Considering my life in the last three or so years it’s funny you even ask that. I am lucky to be alive so I say again, it is what it is.”

It was Vader’s turn to chuckle. “You do seem to have a talent for avoiding death.”

“Talent, is that what they call it?” I asked, the blades swung around humming, sending off that weird scent of scorched air. I never could place the smell but it was unmistakable. I often thought that in the days of the Old Republic the training rooms at the Jedi Temple must have reeked with the stink of it.

“If you loosen your death grip on the handle just a little you will find it a lot easier to execute that last move.” He said as we stood back from each other.

I nodded, he was right but it was hard not to hold onto the lightsaber as tightly as possible.

“I have told you before, girl, I promise not to sever your limbs so do as you are told, ease up on your hold or you will never get beyond the point where you are now. You are too tense to complete these moves properly. If you do not listen to me then you are wasting my time!”

I sighed and tried to relax but the lightsaber scared me. I had seen the damage it was capable of and I feared it enough that it interfered with my ability to wield it to Lord Vader’s satisfaction. We had been at this for nearly three hours now and I was starting to tire.

“Once more, do as I say and complete that sequence.” He said. Impatience edged into his voice.

So I did as he bid, swinging the blade as he had shown me. Hs own crashed down and I blocked the blow. It was, as he had said, easier with a loose wrist and grip. Attack defend, blow block step, step, step. It was a dance with tricky, deadly choreography. I knew the lesson was over when he shut off his lightsaber. Some days he would push me until I almost dropped from exhaustion but others, like today were more subtle lessons about technique rather than endurance.

“Have there been any leads on the bomb?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, as usual your friend escaped all notice. He moves like a Mistryl shadow.”

“I’ve told you he’s not my friend so stop calling him that and he uses the force. Plus he has inside help. I just didn’t think he’d ever plant a bomb.” I said crossly.

“It wasn’t a real bomb, it was just a flash-grenade, designed to scare, temporarily disorient and blind.” Vader commented.

“I would rather not take my chances. If you hadn’t been in front of me when it went off…” I shrugged, shuddering a little at the memory of the incredibly loud bang and the blinding light. I had literally been right behind Lord Vader when the bomb had gone off. Even with his protective armour, the mask and cloak he had still been knocked back and very surprised. I had dropped to the floor instantly and it had taken every ounce of training not to panic. Once the smoke had cleared and the ringing in my ears had calmed down I had stepped into the office foyer to survey the damage. To my surprise it had been minimal. Lord Vader had been correct, it was just a flash bomb designed not to do damage or hurt but to stun one’s enemies temporarily in order to distract them. The bomb fragments had littered the expensive carpet, burning holes into it where they had fallen. When I had touched one it had told me all I needed to know. Lord Vader’s anger had been palpable when I had passed the information along to him and I was pretty certain that in the security department, someone’s head rolled. Jyrki was seemingly invincible and invisible. I did not mind at all that I was being sent off planet to work on board the Executor. I was pretty certain that this latest stunt of Jyrki’s had pushed Lord Vader to make that decision. It was bad enough when his stupid tricks were aimed at me but when suddenly Lord Vader found himself in the middle of Jyrki’s little war, well that upped the ante somewhat and changed the rules of the game.

“He still scares you with his tactics?” Lord Vader asked.

“No, I am beyond scared, I am just angry.” I said and it was almost the truth.

“Good, anger is usable, useful, Fear is not.”

“Whatever.” I grumbled. I’d heard that speech too many times now.

Vader laughed and set up the powerful droids he used to spar against. This too, was part of my training, watching him practice. I enjoyed it and I learned much from just observing. I would stretch out slowly while he really began to move.

Lord Vader had been trained in the Jedi art of lightsaber combat by some of the best Jedi in the galaxy, at least that is what he told me. He would use his own practice to show me the various techniques that one could use, although he had his preferred what he had told was known as Form V, Shien/Djem So or the Way of the Krayt Dragon.

I watched in tired delight as Vader effortlessly blocked the attacks from the powerful droids that were specially designed for exactly this purpose. For a man of his stature and size he moved with an elegance that belied the fact his limbs were artificial. On my second lesson he had begun to explain the five main forms of lightsaber technique as had been taught by the Jedi.

Form V was a very powerful form that had combined the defensive style of form II and the more aggressive tactics and manner of Form III. Form V allowed for the ability to not only deflect laser bolts but taught the practitioner how to redirect them back towards the enemy. Lord Vader enjoyed giving me these history lessons, stating that Form V was often frowned upon by many in the Jedi Order because they felt this form of lightsaber use led to aggressive behaviour. This form emphasised offence over defence, strength over diplomacy. Vader excelled at this. I really enjoyed my lightsaber lessons. They were challenging and they were fun, well fun was perhaps not the best word to use to describe training with Lord Vader but they were.

“So when do I fly out?” I asked.

“In three days, you will be alerted to the proper time.” He said as he took out the second droid. “You will be onboard my shuttle.”

“I’m not taking my ship?” I asked.

“You need practice flying Lambda class shuttles and this will be official Imperial work.” He said as another droid crumbled to the floor. “Your ship is for unofficial work and you will not be needing it this time around. If you are worried about leaving it behind you can store it at my castle or perhaps Admiral Thrawn will allow you to store it at his home as you seem to spend a great deal of time there. Either way I am certain the Ahnkeli Su’udelma will be safe from sabotage. ” He understood my love for my ship.

“How long will I be off world for?” I asked.

“As long as I need you for.” He retorted.

With a sigh, I rolled my eyes. “Ok, let me rephrase the question, how many weeks should I pack clothing for?”

He paused for a moment, stopping the droids with the force. “Several months, but no doubt there will be times when we will be required to return to Coruscant.” He paused then added, “You will probably be required to sit at the Captain’s table from time to time so pack what ever passes for appropriate dinner dress.”

I nodded. “What about the office stuff?”

“It will be dealt with. There is space onboard Executor for you in a secure area.” He said as he destroyed the last droid.

“Same place I was before?”

He nodded as he kicked at the destroyed droid with his foot. “But it has been re arranged and set up specifically for you to do your job in the most efficient manner.” he said. “Everything you will require to begin your day in a productive way has been arranged.”

I glanced up from stretching to look at him and grinned. I had once argued with him about the need to have the ability to make spice coffee in my office. I had told him that I was unproductive without my coffee.

“So, I don’t need to bring along a camp stove?” I asked with a grin.

“No. You have made your needs quite known.” He said tartly but I knew that he took some perverse pleasure in arranging certain things for me, even surprising me as he had when he had given me this beautiful training room. I had learned from my Bunduki master that Lord Vader had had a hand in designing it. I was reasonably certain that the space made for me on board his floating fortress would be a second home of sorts. I looked forward to it, I liked being in space and perverse as it sounded, even to me, I was happy to be Lord Vader’s presence. How could I ever explain this bond? I did not understand it. He was one of the most reviled men in the entire galaxy but there was more to him than the mask and the menace. I had seen him through other eyes. I had seen him as a young man full of love and passion. I had begun to get to know him through the words of my birth mother, a small boy full of wonder and worry touched by a sorrow no one seemed to really understand. He had been called the chosen one, but he was not treated as such. He was a paradox. Almost everyone thought of him as pure evil but to me he was more tragic than anything else.

“Making my needs known and you actually listening to me and knowing them are two different things.” I told him.

He stood with his hands on his hips. “Do you think girl, that after three years I do not know what you require in order to do your job efficiently?”

“I didn’t realise you were paying attention.” I said, half joking.

“Most people don’t. Most people would like to think that I am stupid as well as bad tempered and brutal.” he said with a touch of annoyance. “And you can be quite difficult to ignore.”

“Well, you are often bad tempered and you can be quite brutal.” I said. “And you ignore me just fine when it suits your purpose but I don’t understand why anyone would think you are stupid.”

“I have no patience for incompetence.” He corrected, not bothering to respond to my last barb or answer my question.

“You strangle people with the force!” I countered.

“It’s tidy and efficient.” He said.

I just looked up at him and shook my head. “It’s a waste of man power and it creates unnecessary paperwork.”

“It’s weeding out the weak and ineffectual!” he replied.

I wasn’t going to win this argument but then again, I never did. “You’re the boss.” I said with a shrug, always my way of saying ‘you win.’

“Yes, I am.” He said with a laugh that sounded more like a bark. “Get someone to clean this mess up, place an order for a hundred more of these droids and two hundred of the upgraded combat training remotes. I want them delivered by the end of this week. Then you may leave for the day.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He gave me a curt nod and went to leave then paused. “Will you be meeting with Thrawn tonight?” he asked.

He already knew the answer to this so lying to him was out of the question. “He was due back planet side early today, so chances are good I will see him later on this evening.”

“Then pass along this message.” He said. “Tell him that everything is in place. The equipment he needs has been secured and will be delivered to him at the appropriate time.”

I repeated the message and nodded. With that Lord Vader swept out of the training room leaving me to puzzle over his statement, cryptic messages were his specialty. I looked at the clutter of droid bits that littered the room and then went to find a clean up crew.