Cloak and Shadows 1

The last time I had officially dined with Thrawn on board of his ship it had very nearly been the death of me. I hoped, as I followed my young escort to the dinning room, this time it would not be so dramatic.

It was a small affair, with just me, my uncle, Thrawn, Captain Niriz and Commander Parck. My uncle had changed into less worn looking clothes and I was wearing a classic backless, semi formal, little black dress that had been easy to pack and travel with. After being caught out once I had asked Cati to make me something pretty to wear, easy to pack that required no ironing. As with all my requests she had worked miracles. With my hair done up in a flattering manner, ringlets framing the side of my face and just enough makeup to take the dark circles away I felt ready for what I was pretty sure would be a stiff and somewhat dull meal. The young man who escorted me to the Admiral’s private dining room left me at the door. When I entered the room my uncle was already there speaking with the Admiral. He stopped mid sentence when he saw me.

“Lei’lei, you look stunning.” He said and I realised he had never seen me so dressed up before. I smiled shyly.

Thrawn gave me a warm smile. “Yes, I must second that opinion. You look quite fetching, my dear. I don’t believe I have seen you in that particular dress before.”

The two men glanced at each other for a moment and I knew in that instant that I had been their topic of conversation before I had walked into the room. I frowned but before I could reply the door opened and the last two members of this dinner party arrived. Thrawn introduced Commander Voss Parck and indicated we take our seats. While appetizers and a light aperitif were served Thrawn began to make small talk and much to my surprised my uncle joined him. We had been seated so that Thrawn took the head of the table, my Uncle sat on his left hand side and I sat next to my uncle. At Thrawn’s right sat the captain and across from me was Voss Parck.

I listened quietly while Thrawn and my uncle began to discuss the current rebel situation with Captain Niriz joining in the conversation. It was an unusual move for Thrawn who had often told me that in his culture meal times were places for light conversation not heavy topics. At first I was surprised but then as I listened more carefully I noticed how Thrawn steered the conversation in certain directions, what was more interesting was how my uncle tacked against him, pulling the conversation in a different direction. It was a little like watching two Krayt Dragons of equal size and strength vie for territory, except in this case it was mostly friendly. My uncle was enjoying the chance to verbally fence with someone who was very good at what he did. Captain Niriz joined in the conversation making it a very interesting verbal threesome to listen to.

Over the main meal both Voss Parck and I spent more time listening than talking but when desert came he turned his attention to me.

“The Admiral tells me you are from Tatooine?” he said.

I nodded. “I was born and raised there. What about you?”

He smiled. “I am from Corulag.” He said. “On the Perlemian Trade Route. My family has lived there for generations. Have you ever been there?”

I shook my head. “No, I rarely got to any of the core planets before I started working for the Empire and since then I don’t get a lot of time to go sight seeing.”

“Well, I dearly hope that you can find some time to visit the planet, it’s quite extraordinary. Especially the great Bamboo forests.” He said with a smile.

“How long have you been in service to the Empire?” I asked.

He shrugged slightly. “I think it would be safe to say, all of my life really. I followed in my father’s footsteps as he did with his father before him. The military tradition is strong in my family. I knew more about it than anything else as a child.” He said with a smile.

“I heard you were one of the first people to ever meet the Admiral and it was you who introduced him to Imperial service.”

Parck glanced to the other end of the table and smiled at the memory. “Yes, I suppose you could say that. Although I am quite certain he knew what he was getting himself into far more than I did.”

I grinned. “Yes, he has a nasty habit of doing that.” I said.

“He has mentioned that you have a gift with languages.” He said. “He said that you have been learning Cheunh.”

I raised both eyebrows and nodded.

He chuckled. “Don’t worry, he only mentioned it to me because I got into a discussion with him about how impossible it is and my own inability to learn it. He used your talents as proof that it was possible for a human to learn and speak it very well.”

“You are trying to learn the Chiss language?”

He nodded. “Try is the operative word. It is incredibly difficult for me, but I was never much good with foreign languages even in school. What is your secret?”

I laughed quietly. “You’d never believe me if I told you.”

He nodded, not wanting to be impolite or push. “What other languages do you speak?”

I listed them off and Parck gave me that holy banthas look. “Wow. So what are you doing working as Lord Vader’s office girl? The Empire has need of humans with such skills, while translation and protocol droids are efficient they sometimes lack the edge that humans can have in negotiations and adaptation.”

It was my turn to laugh. “That is the question, isn’t it?”

“No, the real question is how you have managed to stay alive for so long.” He countered.

I grinned. “That’s not a question Commander that is a small miracle.”

He laughed loud enough that it stopped the conversation at the other end of the table.

“Something you’d care to share?” Thrawn asked, looking at Parck, then to me. Parck glanced at me and shrugged slightly. He was about to answer but I beat him to it.

“I was just giving the Commander here my job description.” This earned me raised eyebrows. “The staying alive bit was what amused him.”

My uncle smirked, Thrawn raised an eyebrow and Captain Niriz scowled.

I looked at the Captain. “You disapprove, Captain?”

“I fail to see the humour in making light of your superior officer.” He said tartly.

I shook my head. “I am not making light of Lord Vader at all. On the contrary, I have the greatest respect for him, Captain. He allows me much freedom and I have learned a great deal from him, but surely you must admit there is a certain element of danger involved working so closely with his Lordship.”

Thrawn had to work to contain the twitch of his lips and my uncle turned what sounded suspiciously like laughter into a cough. I glanced at Voss Parck who merely smiled.

The captain had to work to maintain his scowl. “I have heard he can be, ah… difficult.” He said relenting slightly. “So Miss Gabriel, what is your secret?”

“Ah, well if I knew that I could probably sell it for a great deal of credits and retire.” I said.

And for the first time since I had come onboard Captain Niriz allowed himself to smile. For the remainder of the meal the conversation was a more relaxed affair.

When the dinner had ended Captain Niriz and Commander Parck excused themselves, citing duty as the reason. With the two men who had been flanking me gone I moved up to sit next to Thrawn, across from my uncle.

“Well,” my uncle continued the conversation he and Thrawn were in the middle of, “I have noticed since the Empire’s formation that many of the underground criminal organizations have slowly been squeezed out by Black Sun, or perhaps better to say they have been absorbed. I am sometimes surprised at the tolerance shown for Black Sun but I suppose they do serve a purpose.”

Thrawn laughed. “Perhaps, but I don’t see it that way. Tolerating criminal activities only encourages more. Part of the issue is, of course, that in the more out of the way places it is hard to control not only the criminals but the weak minded people in power who can be bought off by these criminals.”

My uncle nodded. “Yes, well we see a great deal of that on Tatooine with the Hutts and now it is becoming a serious issue on Corellia as well.”

“Corellia?” Thrawn’s eyebrow rose. “Seems surprising given the strong Imperial presence there.”

Uncle Vahlek laughed. “The local governing body turns a blind eye for the most part, and CorSec doesn’t get much co operation from the local Imperial detachment. It is difficult; I think to fight corruption on all sides. The local Black Sun rep is quite a bastard. Xizor is using the planet to train his brood at the moment.” My uncle paused and looked at the Admiral fully, “But then again, you know that already anyway.”

Thrawn nodded, “Yes, I am aware of the Black Sun issues on Corellia.” Then he asked. “Have you had to deal with him personally?”

“Yes although, I try to stay away from people such as Thyne. While he’s fairly intelligent, he’s a very nasty piece of work. He hires local thugs to strong arm for him and they are just a real pain in the neck to deal with. Most of the time what I do doesn’t concern or touch on their business so our paths don’t cross that often.” My uncle told him. “Most people with any brains don’t want to get in my way. Sometimes it is good to have a dangerous reputation; it means for the most part, I am left alone to conduct my business in peace.”

Thrawn smiled. “Yes, that does have its advantages.” He glanced at me but I kept my expression neutral. “Black Sun is a blight in the Empire and they are getting quite bold, it seems, flaunting their ability to run around the rules.”

“Well, Zekka Thyne is not someone to be trifled with. People are scared of him and his thugs. He’s bought off many of the locals and terrified the rest into submission. It’s hard to know who is working for him and who isn’t. ” My uncle said.

Thrawn nodded. “Yes, it becomes a bigger issue when the local authorities are ineffectual. Good and loyal people who cannot be bought are hard to find these days.”

“Greed is a difficult vice to over come and the promise of easy credits will always be a strong lure to the weak minded.” My uncle said as he sat back in his chair and cradled his cup in his hands. “I have had run ins with Thyne and his thugs on numerous occasions. Mostly irritating, they are too cautious to interfere with my work, they fear bringing the Brotherhood down on them, but they have tried my patience on occasion.”

“Why not simply eliminate Thyne?” Thrawn asked.

My uncle allowed a small, almost nasty smile to play across his lips. “The thought had crossed my mind, the problem with that is it would solve nothing, another would spring up in Thyne’s place. Besides, I do not ‘eliminate’ anyone unless it is within my job parameters.” Uncle Vahlek said coolly, giving me a quick look which I returned. “I must say you seem well informed about the Tze’yusha’Jin, or is it just me that you are well informed about? I assume that the Empire keeps extensive dossiers on everyone who has done work for them.”

“I am aware of the reputation of the Tze’yusha’Jin but I cannot speak for the Empire on that. You are not the first of the Brotherhood that I have met. You will be pleased to know that as far as the Empire is concerned, you personally do not officially exist.” Thrawn replied.

I watched the back and forth silently. It was like being between two power couplings. The sparks were flying.

Uncle Vahlek nodded. “Well, I prefer my solitude and privacy as I am sure you do too.” He said. “I take it the Empire has its own issues with Black Sun?”

Thrawn nodded. “We do. Black Sun does seem to get their talons into everything.”

“I sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t be a good thing just to go in and wipe the entire organization out.”

“No, a head on confrontation with the organization would be futile.” Thrawn said thoughtfully. “It would lead to more hate for the Empire, which is already seen as strong arming the little man.”

My uncle nodded. “Perhaps you are right. Besides a full out attack on such a huge organization would take years. It’s hard to flush out the under-ground factions and splinter groups. And doing so would cause no end of headaches. Better a little subterfuge than a head on attack, I suppose. I must admit, I am grateful it isn’t my problem to deal with.” He said. He finished his drink and looked at me with a smile then turned to Thrawn. “I need to be on my way, Admiral. As much as I have enjoyed this evening I am afraid I have appointments to keep.”

“Yes, of course. I will arrange transport right away. I am certain that Miss Gabriel would be happy to escort you to the landing bay and have a chance to say goodbye?” he directed a slight smile towards me. “Now, if you will both excuse me, I must attend to some business.” He said getting up.

We left the dining room; Thrawn and uncle Vahlek shook hands and parted ways. I walked with my uncle to the quarters he had been given so that he could grab his things. I waited while he changed into travelling clothes and slung his satchel across his shoulder. What had been slowly burning away at me finally came to the surface and before it was too late I blurted out to him.

“Zte’sa, I’m sorry about what happened. I was wrong to do that to you.” My guilt was overwhelming. “I love you; I never wanted to hurt you. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

He regarded me for a moment then beckoned me to come to him. I did as he asked.

“Perhaps we are both to blame, lei’lei. I wonder now, if keeping such a secret from you was a good thing. You already carry so many secrets and burdens I didn’t want to add to it, but that was wrong, I think.” He said as he held my face in both of his hands. “I can understand your anger and your frustration but I just hope you learn to control it a little better. I am not your enemy.”

I nodded. “I do try, Zte’sa.”

He smiled, planted a little kiss on my forehead and let me go. “I suppose considering all you have been through, who you work for and are being trained by, you are doing a very good job at not turning into a spoiled little brat but my threat still stands.” He warned.

I made a face. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Come on then, I am quite certain that efficient Admiral of yours has transportation waiting already.”

I grinned and we began the walk to the landing bay.

“He is a very interesting, intelligent man.” My uncle said after a few moments. “I can see what draws you to him.”

“You two were talking about me.” I said crossly.

He chuckled. “What did you expect? It is my job to look out for you; this includes grilling your love interests on their intentions with you.” I scowled but before I could say anything he added thoughtfully, “He thinks very highly of you and when he speaks about you it is with a great deal of respect but he doesn’t give much away. You seem to be a part of his life he keeps very private, which tells me a great deal about him. I can’t say that the age difference between you two pleases me, although you were always attracted to older men, and choosing an Imperial Navy lifer, well that’s your heart ache , lei’lei, not mine, but if he makes you happy….”

“He does.” I said quietly. “And I owe him a lot. He helped me get through the aftermath of what Jyrki did, without his help I would probably still be a real mess.” I said with a shrug. “I don’t know how to put it into words, Zte’sa, he just gets me, you know?”

My uncle gave me a smile that reached his eyes. “Then I won’t have to hurt him.” He joked and the topic of conversation changed to chatter about home. As expected a shuttle was already prepped and waiting when we arrived at the landing bay. Not being fond of public displays of affection my uncle stopped with me a little ways from the shuttle, in the shadow of the gantry.

“Take care of yourself, lei’lei; if you need me you know how to reach me.” He said giving me a light kiss on my forehead. “Oh, and for goodness sake, try to stay out of trouble; you’re driving both me and your father to distraction!”

I nodded wordlessly and watched as he boarded the shuttle with a final wave of his hand. I watched the shuttle leave and then made my way back to my assigned quarters to change and hopefully get some rest.