Deep Amongst the Stars Divided 3

Three days zipped by faster than I could dream of. My last night on planet was not overly restful. I had gotten no sleep and the thoughts that rattled through my head were bittersweet. Leaving was harder that I thought it would be and Thrawn had not made it any easier by pulling me back when I had wanted to get out of bed and check that I had everything I needed. As was the rule when I had to be some place I was always restless and on edge.

“Come back to bed, sj’iu tekari,” he said. “Do not squander our last two hours together.”

“I need to get ready.” I had told him, trying to wriggle away. This wasn’t exactly true but I couldn’t just lie there staring at the ceiling listening to the sound of Thrawn’s breathing. I thought he had finally fallen asleep but I was wrong about that.

He tugged me to his body. “You packed last night; you checked three times that you have everything you might need. I’ll make sure you are there on time, now stop fighting and remind me why I shall miss you when you are gone.” His voice was warm and beguiling in my ear

It was difficult to argue against his logic especially when he showed me how much better his idea of passing time was than mine. He had become my lover, best friend, and something I didn’t have words for. We had been given almost three months to physically be together and in that time I had gotten used to his fairly constant presence. Now time was no longer on my side. That tiny period of quiet and grace we had been granted to really get to know one another had come to an end and my last two hours on Coruscant were filled with a deep passion that bordered on desperate. I wondered if this was how all lovers, soon to be parted felt. I decided it was not a feeling I liked very much.

It was an awful sensation and it made me terribly aware of why the Jedi were so loath to become attached to anyone. Our time with one another had been incredibly intense and yet, oddly enough, while I was certain of my feelings, we had never spoken of love, never uttered those three little words to each other, the way characters in Bel’s trashy romance books repeatedly did. It was almost as if to say anything along those lines out loud was to doom ourselves so we never spoke of it. I suppose our actions spoke louder than any flowery speeches ever could anyway. His hands, his lips, his body told me what I needed to know and I hoped that it was the same for him. We were fierce and wild, gentle and tender and everything in between. For the first time in my life I was scared to let go.

True to his word he had gotten me to the shuttle on time. That last reckless, lingering kiss which had said so much and yet so little was as public as it could be but I didn’t care, there was no one around to notice anyway. We drew back and just stared at each other for a moment. I felt the words that wavered between us but silence reigned.

“I need to get to the shuttle.” I had said when I found my voice. I went to leave but he caught me by the arm.

“Stay alive, my dear, this galaxy is far more interesting with you in it.” He said. “I’ll write when I can and we will see each other soon enough, I imagine.”

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat and the prickle of tears. I wondered why this particular parting was so difficult. It was not the first time work and duty had separated us, so why was it now so hard? I didn’t have any answers for this and shoved my emotions down. I slipped out of the air-speeder with my bags and didn’t look back; it was bad luck to look back.

I had arrived at the landing pad before Lord Vader and the two men on guard at the shuttle’s ramp had stiffened when they had seen me. I found it odd that they looked so young because they were at least the same age or just a little older than me. I guessed working for Vader was starting to have an effect on how I viewed the world. I gave them a curt nod as I went on board. I dumped my baggage in the back, except for my satchel which held my most precious things, and then went up front to the cockpit of the shuttle and began my pre-flight check. Lord Vader arrived just as I was done with the systems check. I went to get out of the pilot’s seat but he waved me back down.

“You may stay there and pilot the shuttle.” He said.

His dark presence filled the cockpit. When he gave the okay to get on the go I slipped on the headset and began to talk to Coruscant Air Control. I began take off procedure with a heavy heart but the sadness of leaving was soon replaced by the sheer joy of flying. Once we were out of the atmosphere and well on our way past the planet’s gravity well, he gave me the co ordinates of the Executor and I set the nav computer to calculate the hyperspace jump.

It was not a long trip to where the Executor lay in space like a waiting Krayt dragon. I had forgotten how massive a ship she was and the sight of her as we approached took my breath away.

“Watch the dorsal wing on approach.” He admonished.

“You tell me that every time.” I said.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I have seen first hand what happens when a pilot forgets about the height of that wing.”

“Oh?” there was more to this story.

He sighed, well as near as a sigh that Lord Vader could make. “The Lambda Class shuttle’s Dorsal wing is larger than it predecessor. When they were first introduced to the Imperial Fleet it took the pilots some time to get used to the height difference. The cost of repairs was … annoying.”

“Did you…?” I never got to finish my sentence.

“I do not wish to talk about it.” He growled, cutting me off but I caught the memory flash of a pair of gloved hands gripping the consol as a shuttle skidded across the landing bay, smacking into several other ships. I don’t think it was he who was actually at the helm but it didn’t really matter. It was almost comic.

I had to stifle a giggle. “Oh!” I said.

“The shuttles are remarkably touchy, He said knowingly, “when you knock the dorsal wing.”

I just nodded. “Then I don’t mind you reminding me of this.” I said.

“That is wise.” He commented dryly.

Like the mouth of a hungry rancor the Executor’s landing bay was wide and open. The shuttle glided through the force field and we flew into its maw. I styled her portside as we landed and the touch down was gentle as the side wings folded up and locked into land position. I wondered to myself how much one of these shuttles would cost.

“You have learned to pilot these particular ships better than I had expected.” Lord Vader said as he left the cockpit, then because I just glanced up and stared at him, unsure if I had heard right or not, he snapped. “Hurry up girl; I gave you a compliment not permission to sit here all day.”

“Yes, my lord.” I said grabbing my satchel and hurrying to follow him out of the shuttle. I was surprised by the honour guard that waited. Lord Vader was used to seeing this and breezed down the shuttle’s ramp, his long cloak flowing like black water out behind him. I picked up my baggage and trotted after him.

“Lord Vader, welcome back to the Executor, it is so good to see you returned to us safe once again.” said an older man in a stuffy manner that told me he was anything but glad to see Lord Vader back.

“Yes, yes Ozzel. Is everything arranged as I requested?” Vader asked cutting Ozzel off with an impatient flap of his hand.

“Yes, my lord, we have done everything you requested but it was short notice and…”

Lord Vader stopped mid stride and turned on Ozzel. “Admiral, I do not wish excuses and nor should you utter them in my presence.”

The Admiral stuttered. “Yes…my lord.”

“See that you remember this.” Vader said. “Merlyn, keep up!” he barked.

“Yes, my lord.” I said with a cheerful smile aimed more at Admiral Ozzel who had given me a filthy look when he realised that I was standing behind lord Vader. The walking resumed with me in tow watching the ongoing exchange. Admiral Ozzel did not like having me onboard; the few glances at me as I followed behind lord Vader told me all I needed to know.

“Have my assistant’s quarters been made ready?” Lord Vader asked as he swept into the turbo life and me scurrying behind trying not to trip on his cloak.

“As you requested, Lord Vader, and how long will your… ah…uhm…office girl be on board?” Admiral Ozzel asked.

“For as long as I need her.” Vader replied sharply.

Admiral Ozzel gave me another scowl. I just wiggled my fingers at him. I could tell we were going to get along just fine, the way Jabba and dancers got along just fine. The Empire was full of men like him, pompous, self important and puffed up. I had to really fight the urge to stick my tongue out at him. This wasn’t very lady like and certainly not very Imperial like but it was very me like. Instead I just kept my mouth shut and was grateful when we finally arrived at our destination. The Executor was huge so getting anywhere at all took time and effort.

I dropped my bags on the floor of my new home. I had enough time to glance around at my quarters before lord Vader turned on his heel, growling at me to follow him to the space set aside for my office.

He handed me a data pad. “You will sort this out quickly with your usual annoying efficiency.”

“Yes, my lord.” I said, glancing at the contents, raising my eyebrows at what I read.

He stared at me for a moment, as though waiting for some comment, then turned and left. I looked around the new office space and was grateful to see that at least I have a view to the outside. My droid was already there sorting out stuff and I was glad for the company. I tossed the data pad onto my desk then sat down.

“Oh Mistress Merlyn, I am so glad to see you have arrived safely. I took the liberty of making you some tea when I heard you had come aboard. I do hope we will be staying in one place for a while, all this moving about is playing havoc with my memory circuits.” P2B4 said bringing a tray of tea things to my desk.

“Thanks, P-two. I am sure we will be here for a while. Lord Vader mentioned the word Months when I asked for a time frame.” I poured myself a cup of tea and held it in both hands.

“Months!? Oh my heavens! Well, I hope they have a decent droid center on board this ship, I am in desperate need of a tune up.” He grumbled.

I laughed. “I’m sure they do, but I can ask Lord Vader if you like.”

The droid shuddered and walked back over to the task of sorting out the office stuff shaking his head. “Dreadful man!” he muttered. “He keeps threatening to reprogram me!”

I just laughed. My office protocol droid annoyed Lord Vader to no end but I was never sure why exactly. It might have had something to do with the fact that P2B4 kept calling him, ‘Your Darthness.’

I picked up the data pad once again and looked at the tasks Lord Vader had given me. There was enough work to keep me occupied for many hours. I was grateful really; it kept my mind off other things.

I switched on my computer and sighed. Skimming down to the last addition to the list. Bounty Hunters, I though, what the heck does he want info on them for???