What the Eye Doesn’t See…10

Neither of us spoke as normal space settled around us, the star-lines shifting in to ordinary, brilliant dots of light. My uncle watched as I worked the controls of the ship and smiled.

“What’s so funny?” I asked as his smile turned into a chuckle.

“You never seem happier than when you are flying. For as long as I have known you, it is in the cockpit or the engine room of a ship you seem the most at home. Why did you not take a job as a pilot?” he asked.

I shrugged. “Papa is the pilot, it was his domain. I wanted to be different at the time. We were fighting, a lot. I wanted to get away from home. I needed to get some distance between papa and me. Things were difficult. I got the chance to work at Jabba’s and I took it because it was as far away as I could get at the time without going off world.” I said, some of the old anger resurfacing. “And it’s not as if you were around to referee.”

My uncle nodded. “I’m sorry. I had my own problems to sort out and work kept me away for long periods of time.” He said with genuine sadness in his voice. “Your father felt as though his world had fallen in on itself, first Bedi left then your mother was killed. You turned into a difficult teenager with problems he did not understand and Jyrki, well he didn’t help matters at all. Bel filled me in on most of what happened.”

“They were so angry when I took the job as a dancer, but they didn’t get it. Dancing was my escape; I didn’t care where I danced just so long as I could.” I shrugged. “I loved flying but I gave that up in favour of getting away. Flying and ships was papa’s domain, so if I had gone into that world he would have always been there, judging me, pestering me. Sometimes I just never felt as though I was good enough.” I told him, holding up my hand before he could say what I knew he would say next. “I know better now. And we talked about a lot of this when I was home after …well you know... I’m not saying that our relationship is perfect now, but I understand my father a whole lot better now than I did six years ago and I think he understands me and some of what I was going through.”

“Are you sorry for the choice you made, then?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. I made good connections working at Jabba’s and I got to know some people who have helped me a lot. I also learned a lot about myself. And while it seemed I also made enemies there who thought that by sending in an application for an Imperial position my life would be over, in the end they did me a favour. When this job with the Empire came up it was almost a blessing in disguise.”

He looked at me. “Why did you not refuse it?”

I thought about it for a moment. “Would you have refused if you were me?” I asked. “I was younger, naïve, scared and told there was no choice.” I said. “Plus it got me off Tatooine and away from the Hutts.”

He nodded, and then asked. “Why did you stay?”

“Because I like my job a lot. I have made some good friends. I stay because I have a place here and… attachments. And,” I added, “I get to pilot these gorgeous shuttles, I was given a ship of my own, and I get to do and see things, people and places I would never have even dreamed of. I feel as though I belong here. I have a lot of freedom despite what everyone seems to think.” I said with a little shrug. It was so much more than that; it was more than I could ever explain so I looked him in the eyes hoping he would understand.

He nodded, I know he wanted to say more but he didn’t and once again we were silent. It was I who broke it.

“Zte’sa what does Tze’yusha’Jin mean?” I asked.

He glanced at me with an annoyed sigh. “It’s a title that translates into basic, more or less, as He who hunts.”

I frowned. “For such an innocuous title, why is it that when I say that word, people who know what it means turn white? Even people who kill for a living?”

“Would you wish to be hunted?” he asked carefully. He was skirting the question.

“Who are you really?” I asked.

He was about to say something when we were suddenly hailed by a ship that I couldn’t see. I grabbed the headset and slipped it on.

“Unidentified vessel, this is the Imperial Star Destroyer Admonitor, Identify yourself and state your business.”

“Admonitor this is the Imperial Transport shuttle Sigiri, we have a rendezvous in this area with …”

Whoever had the comm interrupted me. “Shuttle Sigiri switch to channel one-one-five and transmit appropriate clearance codes.”

“Copy that, Admonitor,” and I did as he asked, switching to one of the lesser used Imperial frequencies. “Sigiri to Admonitor, transmitting now.” For a few moments we waited in silence.

“Shuttle Sigiri, you will proceed to the co ordinates we are sending.”

“Copy that Admonitor. Proceeding to rendezvous point now.”

I set the computer and let the auto pilot take us to where ever it was the Admonitor was hiding. If I read them right the ISD was hiding behind the second moon of the small un-named planet.

“You never answered my question, Zte’sa I said, removing the head set and looking at my uncle.

“What answer do you want Lei’lei?”

“The truth?”

“There are many truths. Ask your father who I am and he will give you a very different story from say, Lord Vader. I am many different things to many different people. Right now I am your Dajdofa guardian and, I hope, your friend.”

I just shook my head. I wasn’t going to get much of an answer from him on this topic. I knew him well enough to know that he could and would circumnavigate this subject forever and never give me any answer that made sense.

“People are scared of you.” I said.

He nodded. “They should be.”

I made a “tch” sound and shot him a filthy look.

He was equally adept in the dirty look department. He told me bluntly. “Look, what I do is varied, who I am is complicated and my reputation is well earned.”

“Why won’t you tell me?” I was bordering on whining.

“Because I am selfish.” He said cryptically.

I frowned. “I don’t understand. You’re a hunter? A body guard? A finder? An assassin? People are terrified of you. And you won’t tell me who you really are, what it all means because you are selfish?”

He sighed. “Tze’yusha’Jin is a title achieved by only a very few. People are not so much terrified of me per say as they are the title. I am part of an elite group of men who you might lable as special operations but it’s so much more than that. It is very complicated to explain and I am sworn to secrecy so will you please stop asking for explanations I cannot and will not give you?” he said with a hint of crossness in his voice. I was starting to try his endless patience.

I scowled at him but nodded. I knew better than to push him too far.

“Oh and there is one more thing,” He said, turning to make sure that he had my fullest attention. “Lei’lei, I love you with all my heart, I have known you since you were a baby, watched you blossom into a beautiful, intelligent and talented young lady. I am more than amazed by your ability to survive working for one of the most powerful men in the galaxy and your combat skills impress me greatly.” He paused. “I have sworn on a blood oath to keep you from all possible harm but if you ever pull a stunt like you did earlier today with me again I won’t hesitate to put you over my knee. Am I making myself clear?”

“Crystal.” I mumbled feeling as though I were six again, getting caught doing something I knew I shouldn’t be. He’d do it too because that was one thing about my uncle that I knew for certain. He never made an idle threat.

He sat back with a satisfied nod. “It was a nice move you pulled though. You have been well taught.” He conceded with a hint of pride.

“You didn’t seem too concerned and you disarmed me pretty quickly.”

He gave me a knowing smile. “That is why I am Tze’yusha’Jin and you are not yet done with your Bunduki training. You still have much to learn. I’d like to see you live long enough to do so.” He said, and then added with a touch of ice in his voice. “You should learn to reign in your temper a little better. I expect that sort of behaviour from Vader not from you.”

I just sighed as the Admonitor came into view, he was right and I knew it but that didn’t meant I liked hearing it. “Imperial Star Destroyer Admonitor this is the shuttle Sigiri requesting clearance for docking.”

“Shuttle Sigiri, docking clearance will be given upon transmission of your verbal clearance codes.”

“Admonitor this is Shuttle Sigiri, twelve, Vader, Aurek, Aurek, Blue, Resh.”

There was another long pregnant pause, all the while my uncle watched me intently.

“Shuttle Sigiri, you are cleared to commence docking procedure. Admiral Thrawn welcomes you both on board the Admonitor and will meet you in the landing bay. Admonitor out.”.

I smiled, I couldn’t help it, and my heart fluttered, just a little, at the mention of Thrawn’s name. “Copy that, Admonitor. Please inform the Admiral we look forward to seeing him there.” I clicked off the comm and began the procedure to dock although it was more like being swallowed by a huge mouth.

“Do you know this Admiral Thrawn personally?” My uncle asked.

“Why do you ask?” I didn’t look at him because I was too busy watching the deck officer guide me in to the landing slot.

“Your smile when his name was mentioned was almost as rosy as the blush on your cheeks.” He said. He didn’t miss much, but then again I suspect I hadn’t hid my reaction all that well either.

“Do you remember the conversation we had about the pendant I wear?” I asked, absently touching the necklace I never took off.

He nodded.

“Well,” I said with a slight pause, “the Admiral is the man who gave it to me.”

He raised both eyebrows. “The man courting you is an Imperial Admiral?” he asked. I had managed to surprise him and the look that flashed across his face was worth it. When we had talked about my pendant and the person who had given it to me, I had not been very specific. As the thoughts progressed and played across his face I anticipated the next question cutting him off before he could finish asking. “Are you and he …?

“Now that is none of your business, Zte’sa.” I said smugly enough so that he knew the answer to his question was more than likely ‘yes’. “And the only reason I am telling you this is because you’re not stupid and you know me too well, you’ll read it on my face no matter how well I try to hide it. And,” I added, “Unlike Lord Vader, he knows who you are to me.”

“Well, little lei’lei, you are just full of surprises.” He said quietly. “Does your father know about this …?” he was searching for the right word and I wasn’t going top help him, instead I simply answered the question.

“Yes he does and actually, they have met.” I said without further explanation. As I set the ship gently down I added “There’s one more thing you might want to know.” I shut everything down and unbuckled my harness.

“What?” he asked.

“He’s not human.”

And before he could say any thing at all, I left the cockpit to get my stuff with a grin. This was going to be fun.