Deep Amongst the Stars Divided 2

I showered and cleaned up in my flat in the palace. I was still using it as a base, and it was convenient. When I was done I took a look around for anything that I would need to take with me when I left for the Executor but aside from some clothing and some books almost everything I used on a daily basis was at Thrawn’s. I smiled when I realised this because I wasn’t sure exactly when that had happened, when I had effectively moved out of this flat and into his. Still, it was something very few knew about. I had left enough of the trappings of daily life in this place so that most people visiting would think I still lived here. Sometimes I slept here when I worked really late and then, because Lord Vader never kept any sort of regular schedule, had an early meeting. I knew that many people suspected but only a very few knew for sure, not even my family and I was hoping to keep it that way. Secrets, my life was full of them. By the time I got home Thrawn was already there. Reunions, I loved them and all their glorious gifts.

It was late when we settled back from the passion of welcome back to chatter of catching up and the interesting things that made our daily routine worth talking about. In the quiet of the night we moved to the living room. It was quiet, the candles I had lit creating a flickering dancing light. Curled against his chest, his arm curled around my shoulder, we sat with each other on the couch drinking wine. When I told him about my orders to ship out with Vader, Thrawn was not surprised.

“Well, it is easier for me this way; at least I will not have to be worried about you doing something crazy.” He had joked, but underneath his words was a hint of truth. His concern pleased me. His hand caressed my face.

“Lord Vader feels I shall be of more use in closer proximity than stuck down here on Coruscant.” I told him.

Thrawn grinned. “Vader doesn’t want you being blown up or anything else while he is away. These attacks by Mr. Andando are an embarrassment to him, you know. It would reflect very badly on Vader if he cannot even keep one young woman from being harassed by one lone rebel.”

I nodded. “Yes, well I can’t be an embarrassment to the Dark Lord of the Sith, now can I?”

“In his own way, surprisingly enough, he seems to care whether or not you live.” Thrawn chided.

I gave him a look as he topped up my glass of wine. “You think I don’t know that?”

“I was just reminding you that you appear to have a charmed life when it comes to Lord Vader’s good graces.”

I laughed. “I doubt good or grace have much to do with it. I am pretty sure he just doesn’t wish to go through the hassle of breaking in another person to do this job. He is used to me and I amuse him.” I said.

Thrawn raised his chin slightly but didn’t comment. He didn’t have to.

I made a face and then remembering the last task I had been given for the day repeated Lord Vader’s cryptic message.

Thrawn smiled and suddenly had the look of a jax that has just been given a saucer of high end blue milk. “Excellent.” He said.

I watched him for a moment. “You are not going to tell me what all this secret stuff is about are you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

I scowled and that made him laugh.

“My dear, you are entirely too nosey for your own good. It’s quite a wonder that your curiosity hasn’t killed you yet.” And then he relented slightly. “I dare say you’ll discover what we are up to in time.” And from his tone of voice I knew that was all I’d get out of him on this particular topic.

I changed the subject then. “So what’s this I hear about you and Tigellinus having it out in court?”

Thrawn snorted. “I suppose Siavaan told you this?”

“No actually, I heard it from one of the security guards who is stationed near my old flat. Word is you had a shouting match. It was quite the topic of conversation.”

“He had a shouting match.” Thrawn replied archly. “I do not raise my voice especially in situations such as that and this annoyed Tigellinus even more.”

“Why?” I asked. “I thought you two were all buddy-buddy since you were inducted into the Order of the Canted Circle.”

Thrawn nodded. “It would appear that way from the outside. Tigellinus is trying new tactics. He figured that if I was to be on fairly equal footing with him politically speaking then it would be better to have me as a friend not an enemy. He has tried to show the Imperial world that we get along and can play nice, however underneath this lovely little façade lies a much nastier version of the game we were previously playing.” He paused to sip his wine. “We had an interesting discussion about certain policies currently in place. I politely disagreed with him, which I suppose I should not have done, friends it seems do not disagree on anything. The conversations went from civil to uncivil fairly quickly. I find it very interesting to see how quickly the true self comes out when the right buttons are pushed.”

“You should be careful.” I told him, poking him gently in the ribs. “The Emperor doesn’t always like political bickering and I think that Tigellinus knows about you and me. He’ll throw that into the fray if he has to, he’s not above using every dirty bit of laundry he can find to get rid of an opponent he feels is in his way. It wouldn't be the first time, you know.”

Thrawn smiled. “I am well aware of that my dear, in fact I count on this characteristic behaviour.”

“Count on it for what? What game are you really playing, Za’ar?”

“You’ll see when and if it happens.” He told me lightly. “It is not something you need to concern yourself with right now.”

“It does if I get dragged into the forefront of your games because I am sleeping with you.” I told him.

He arched his eyebrow at me. “My dear, do not give our affair more importance than it has. While it means something to you and me, it is unimportant to the over all scheme of things, especially in the political arena. You do not have to worry about that.” He said thoughtfully. “I am quite certain that if the Emperor had objections to our coupling he would have stepped in by now and done something about it.”

I sighed and gave him a look. I wondered if he really knew just how cruel and how devious the Emperor could really be.

“A’myshk’a,” he said getting up and regarding me carefully. “You need to place some faith in me. I know what I am doing and I have things well in hand.”

“So you keep saying.” I retorted.

That earned me his trademark eyebrow look.

I stared up at him, meeting his gaze but unable to read anything in his eyes. “I do have faith in you, but I don’t like being kept in the dark.” I told him.

He smirked. “Yes, you are as nosey as you are talented and beautiful.” He held out his hand for me to take. “Come to bed so that I might take advantage of your talent and pleasure in your beauty.”

“And my curiosity?” I asked, getting up.

“Will be satisfied.” He purred, his fingers playing on my skin as he stroked my face, his caress igniting fire.

I rolled my eyes at his words but took the hand that was offered. Time for us to be together was running short, spending what remained talking about politics was not my idea of fun.

“Trust me, my dear,” He murmured in my ear. “I’ll make it worth your while.” He smiled when I shivered.

It was hard to argue with a proposition like that but in the back of my mind the little voice that nagged me, that whispered warnings and made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end had woken up and was yelling at me.

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.

The Mirror within the Mask 10

He topped off the wine glasses and motioned for me to settle back against his body. I watched as he pulled up the sleeve of his robe and there, on the wrist of his left hand was something that made me look up at him, horrified. Now I understood what he had meant by overreact. I had to fight to calm down.

“Is that a brand?” I asked, looking at the raw looking symbol which had been burned into his flesh. I resisted the temptation to trace the serpentine line that bisected the circle.

“Yes. One of the various trials to go through is being branded with the mark of the order.”

“Are you in pain? Did it hurt? Does it hurt now?” I was sitting up now, facing him.

“No, yes and no. The bacta salve does good work; it will heal well soon enough.” He said casually, pulling the sleeve back down over the brand.

“That seems like an awful lot to go through just to be in a silly club.” I scowled.

“It’s more than just the silly socialite club many think it is. The Canted Circle is a very powerful organization and as a member I have access to much more information, more useful connections than before with which to work and I now have a certain status which makes me difficult to ignore.” He explained a little tersely.

“You weren’t exactly a shy-flower in the corner before, you know!” I snorted.

He tilted his head. He didn’t understand my reaction even though he had anticipated it.

I looked into his eyes. “They branded you.” I said flatly. I was angry but I didn’t know why.

“You disapprove?”

“It just seems strange to me that you have to have your membership burned into your skin. That sounds less like an elite club and more like part of an exclusive nerf herd!”

He frowned. “You worry too much about the oddest things.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged, and then said. “I think it’s barbaric.”

He looked at me. “I wouldn’t have thought that something like this would bother you so much.”

“Liar.” I retorted. “If you had thought that you would not have warned me about over reacting.” I snapped. “Why would you even say something like that anyway? Because I worked at Jabba’s, because I work for Vader, you think I am immune to brutality?” I asked, anger creeping into my voice. I had hit the nail on the head though and I saw it in his face and in the fact that he didn’t answer right away.

“Sj’iu tekari, I apologise.” He said after a moment of silence. “It does surprise me that it upsets you as much as it appears to, though. Every member bears this mark. It is a source of great pride for most of the members of the Order. It is just a small thing, a small price to pay.”

“For most members? Are you not proud to be in this club?” I asked, consciously calming down, reminding myself it wasn’t him I was angry at.

He gave me a grim smile. “Pride is a foolish waste of time. This is a means to an end, nothing more and nothing less.”

“What is the end?” I asked with a scowl.

“Order out of chaos.” He said. He didn’t elaborate.

“That’s not much of an answer.” I told him, pulling the sleeve back from his wrist to look once again at the canted circle branded into his flesh.

“It is the only answer. I am doing what is necessary to protect those that depend on me.” He chided. “It is a long road, be patient.” He withdrew his wrist from my hand and stroked my face. “Don’t be petulant, it doesn’t become you.”

Those were fighting words and sometimes I wondered if he wanted to dig at me, just a little, to see how far he could push. But he was right this time. I was being petulant and I had overreacted. It was not the first time I marvelled at how well he knew me and just how easily he was able to sometimes read me. I sighed and settled back against him, taking the wine glass he handed me with a mumbled thanks.

“So do you wish to hear more about my evening or shall I resume my wicked and iniquitous ways with you?” He asked. I could hear the smile in his voice.

I gave him a look. “And you say I have been reading too many Holloway books?”

He laughed. “It is entirely your own fault that you brought your set over here and conveniently left them where I could find them to read. You are changing the subject and not answering the question.”

“Tell me more about your evening.” I said.

He smiled. “Understand that much of what goes on in the underground chamber is a sworn secret and I will not betray that. This society is filled with many odd traditions and what I would call superstitions but that is to be expected from an organization that has been around for longer than most can recall.” He said and then he proceeded to tell me as much as he was allowed to about his induction into the most elite circle of beings in the Imperial world. It was fascinating to hear but not all of it made sense.

“So the robes you wear at the public ceremony are different from the ones they make you wear at the private one?” I asked interrupting him for the umpteenth time while he described, at my request, what everyone was wearing.

He nodded. “There are symbols embroidered around the hem and the cuffs of the sleeves. They all have meanings and they mirror the symbols that are inlaid onto the floor. While much of the symbolism tells the history of the Canted Circle, some of the symbols are steeped in old beliefs based on a time before the Republic and some have meanings that have been long lost. This is an old organization, some of its ceremony has no meanings but tradition dictates that the old ways continue.”

I nodded. “So, why do the other members hide their faces with hoods? You saw them all at the public ceremony.” I asked.

“There are a set of trials one must go through as inductee, given at the hand of an elder member. Some of these trials are, shall we say unpleasant, meant to test the candidate’s faith, courage and physical endurance. The members prefer not to be seen when they inflict their particular tests. ”

“Faith in what?” I interrupted.

He shrugged with one shoulder. “Faith in the Order itself. The Canted Circle has been around for a very, very long time, much longer than the Emperor and this empire. It has adapted and changed over the centuries to what ever faiths and governing bodies were in power at the time. While the ceremony reflects many of these changes and eras, it is a ritual nothing more. The Canted Circle has survived and that is what its members cling to. Working behind the scenes, this society has more power than most people would ever believe.” He sighed. “All societies have them and the most successful of them learn to adapt.”

“Like the Dantassi?”

He nodded. “Yes, every species, all groups or organizations have their rituals; some are more barbaric than others. Some are eloquently masked behind silk robes and pretty words. Some are physical in nature demanding feats of strength or endurance. The Dantassi rituals are, to my mind, very elegant. Not the brutal hazing that serves little real purpose. They have rites of passage for many other things, the first hunt, coming of age, bonding of mates or adopting new clan members and so on. Just as every single other culture has. But within these societies there are smaller, more elite groups that also have their own rituals, such as the Canted Circle. One inside the other and so on, much like a Mandalorian kyshe doll puzzle.”

“So once you pass these trials, they what, pin you down and burn their mark into you like a prized eopie?”

“It is a little more subtle than your analogy but you are more or less right. Once the trials are done, the candidate is asked three questions, to which the answers are faith, hidden in the dark and above all, loyalty. You may not know the questions, so don’t ask. Once the correct answers are given the High elder of the Circle asks one final question to which there is only one answer and then the initiate holds out his arm and is branded.” He said. “At this point the rest of the circle remove their hoods and welcome the inductee into the brotherhood. After this, there is some manly bonding over fine brandy and conversation then everyone goes home until the next meeting is called. Much of the work the Circle does is not accomplished in it’s meetings but quietly, day to day and very few ever know or see what is being done. ”

“Sounds utterly delightful.” I told him snarkily.

“Why does it bother you so much?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

I drew a deep breath. “They brand you if you work at Jabba’s Palace, if you are a slave.”

“You bear no such mark, at least none that I have seen… have I missed a spot?” He made to lift up my robe but I smacked his hand away.

I shook my head. “No, I wasn’t there long enough for one thing and secondly I am not now, nor was I ever, a slave but I had to watch a few times as a new girl was dragged screaming to be branded. It wasn’t pleasant. Being branded is a sign to everyone that one is not free.”

He sighed, stroking my face with the backs of his fingers. “I am not a slave and I was not dragged against my will. This is not Jabba’s palace and those memories are old, leave them behind you.”

“Easier said than done.” I muttered.

He just nodded. I sipped my wine and the silence between us was weighty until I broke it.

“Is the Emperor a member?”

He arched an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

“You won’t tell me the answer will you?”

“No, and do not ask me this again. It is forbidden to specify who is a member and who is not, but the members are marked, you might want to bear that in mind.” he said. “So, sj’iu tekari, now that I have satisfied your curiosity are you ready to satisfy mine?”

“What do you have to be curious about? I thought you knew the answers to everything!” I asked.

He smiled turned predatory. “Well… I am quite curious as to how what I started earlier will end.” He took my wine glass and set it on the table.

“Oh.” I said and was saved from making any further comments as he pulled me to him, lifting me with a practiced ease to bestride his lap. Any complaint or comment I might have wanted to make was silenced by his mouth on mine and as he kissed me, making up for time lost. His passion and arousal were both evident and infectious. It was easy to give in to his touch as he mapped my body with his fingertips the way he had mapped the uncharted region of space, with delicate care and infinite patience. I reciprocated, learning from his examples, deriving a sense of deep satisfaction as he shuddered and gasped under my touch. This, too, was a sort of ritual and every time he drew me into the circle of his arms, joined his body with mine; I discovered new answers to new questions. This exclusive club of two was riddled with its own secrets and rites. Each time we engaged in this dance I fell a little deeper into a pit I wasn’t certain I could or even wanted to ever climb back out of. My heart and my body had long since surrendered but my mind kept whispering of all the tragic endings this little game of ours could have. I was quite adept at ignoring that little whisper.

What usually began in the living room more often than not ended in the bedroom. Sweet and sensual, he took his time, teaching me the rewards of patience despite my attempts to thwart him. Sometimes when we coupled I wondered, why me? There were so many women to choose from at the palace who were, perhaps, far more suitable than I felt I was but I never asked this question out loud. I did not really want to know the answer. This affair was as dangerous as it was delightful but that didn’t seem to matter to either of us. I wondered, sometimes, why he, who had so much to lose, would risk so much to be with me. It never occurred to me that perhaps I should be asking myself the same question. I, too, had a lot to lose.

Occasionally, drowsy in the aftermath of the fiery tempest we had stirred up in each other, I caught a fleeting sense from him, despite my silent worries and secret fears, that I was more than just a torrid palace affair or planet side fling. Somewhere deep within himself he also needed something from me that he received from no one else. Utter acceptance of not only who he was but also of what he was as well. These tiny glimpses past the mask he wore daily were rare and precious. Thrawn was not a man to bear his soul or share his deepest needs and vulnerabilities easily. More often than not as quickly as I had sensed these thoughts and emotions so they vanished as he closed back up, shutting me and the world around him back out. Perhaps another woman would have complained or brought this up in conversation but not me. I understood his need to protect himself. I did the same thing.

When my thoughts turned to such melancholy topics I would cuddle into his body, seeking warmth and comfort. I would ask him to talk to me, to tell me stories of his home, his youth, and his travels. The sound of his voice was soothing as well as grounding and I tried to burn it into my memory to keep for those times when he would no longer be there to ward off my own demons and inexplicable night terrors. Time was my enemy and I knew it. The deeper I fell into what ever it was we were creating between us the more I sensed a wormy cold wriggle of fear. My thoughts would sometimes turn to something I had once been told.

“Tell me what you regard as your greatest strength, so I will know how best to undermine you; tell me of your greatest fear, so I will know which I must force you to face; tell me what you cherish most, so I will know what to take from you; and tell me what you crave, so that I might deny you.”

Late one night before I had been sent to Tatooine by Lord Vader, the Emperor had found me as he sometimes did, in the library reading about the Great Sith Wars. He had smiled to himself as he had taken the book from my hands. When he had handed it back to me he had spoken these words. I had asked him about them and he had told me a legend about Darth Plagueis the Wise. The story had made me shiver and left me feeling cold and alone. I had spoken with Lord Vader about it the next day and he had nodded.

“I have heard this tale before.” He had said. The bitterness in his voice was a physical thing.

“What does it mean?” I had asked him.

“Trust no one.” He had replied angrily and the conversation had ended as abruptly as it had begun.

Now, as I lay in the dark next to the only man who had seen me stripped bare in every way possible, I wondered about the meaning behind the words of Darth Plagueis. It seemed to me that these words the Emperor had spoken to me, the way a father will sometimes speak to a child to whom he is trying to teach a subtle lesson, were a warning of some sort, a veiled threat hidden behind the mask of avuncular concern. I had remembered then, the terrible sense of sorrow, fear and betrayal I had felt from Lord Vader as I had repeated the Emperor’s tale and I realised why it had hit so close to the bone. His emotions echoed mine. I had stared into Lord Vader’s face only to have the reflection of my own mirrored back to me. Sometimes I wondered if we were really so different. Lord Vader had become a tool for the Emperor, taken in by the soft spoken advice and kindly manner. The Emperor had beguiled him with kindness and trust when the people he had admired the most had let him down, viewed him with suspicion. Lord Vader had not always been this way, he had not always been angry and dark. I had stared at him for a long time. I did not want to end up the same way.

Attachments… the word was beginning to take on new significance and with that came some small measure of understanding why the Jedi had tried to avoid it. But in this place and at this time I was willing to take what comfort I could. I would never be sure on nights such as these if it was just the fact that I was restless, tossing and turning by his side awake or if he just sensed my own inner turmoil but more often than not, Thrawn would entwine himself around me, protective and fierce. He would nuzzle his face in my hair and the warmth of my neck and whisper in my ear.

“Stop thinking so loud, sj’iu tekari and go to sleep. What ever it is you are conjuring up has not happened yet so stop tempting fate.”

Most of the time this worked but every now and then his words failed to lull me to sleep, of course then he had other contingency plans in place for such moments as these and usually they worked just fine.

The Mirror within the Mask 9

I came back home and was glad to shed the trappings of glamour. For over an hour I soaked in a bath filled with hot bubbly water, drinking a glass of Thrawn’s very good wine. Candles and the lights from the city illuminated the gorgeous bathroom, dancing on the pale peach marble walls. When the water cooled I got out and dried off with a big fluffy towel. I dressed for bed, and wrapped myself in one of Thrawn’s robes, the warm one. Then I made my way to the living room to curl up in the big chair that had effectively become mine, with a second glass of wine and a book. After realising that I had read the same lines over for the tenth or so time I gave up on the book. I turned off the main lights, lit candles and stared out of the floor to ceiling window that also doubled as a door to the balcony and watched the city at night. It danced and sparkled like a courtesan at the Grand ball. I had been working for the Empire for just over three years and only now was I beginning to see some of the beauty in this place.

I wondered if it should worry me that I was starting to think of this flat as home. That I was getting used to being here, having a place to belong here, and sharing a bed here. Thrawn made it easy for me to live in his place, made no demands on me and allowed me my freedom to come and go as I pleased. Yet we shared meals together when ever possible and when time allowed we shared each other. He was a man of many talents and many passions most of which he kept well hidden. We would talk for hours about any and everything. I loved the sound of his voice, deep and velvety, it was a caress as he described the things he was interested in but the wistfulness that crept into it when he spoke about the work he had been doing in the Unknown Regions, or when he spoke about his home world was ever present. I had asked him one night as we lay side by side in the quite dark why he had bought a Coruscant flat if his heart was truly in space.

“I needed a permanent mailing address.” He’d said simply.

“Seriously?” I had turned to look at him, leaning on my elbow, resting my head on my hand.

He’d nodded. “The bureaucracy in the Empire knows no bounds. HR does not consider living on board an ISD a permanent residence.” He had said. “I refused to live in the Palace accommodations, too close to work and prying eyes. I did not want to rent, you have no control ultimately when you rent so I bought this place. I looked at many apartments and several penthouses but this one had the best view. It is far enough away from the palace that I do not feel as though I am constantly under the Emperor’s radar. It has two secure entrances that can only be reached by vehicle and a view of the city on all sides. I suppose my line of thinking was, if I had to have a permanent address it might as well be a good one.”

“But this is not really your home.” I had placed the flat of my hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

He had smiled, covered my hand with his. “My home is thousands of light years away, sj’iu tekari. This is a port in the storm, a place where I can be myself, where I can think and where the rest of Palpatine’s court has no say in what I do when I am not on board a ship. This place is, in a word, sanctuary.”

“Yet you gave me a key.”

He had just looked at me then, brushed away the lock hair that always fell in my face. “Yes,” he’d said. “I did.”

It wasn’t just a key and a safe refuge, he had also given me my own room to do with as I wanted and free reign of his home, making it in effect also mine. The only room I rarely went into was the library mostly because it was his room, his space. When he wanted to think, or meditate he retired to the library. I left him alone.

I smiled when I heard the back entrance door open and then close but I didn’t get up. I heard him vanish into the bedroom and fifteen minutes later he re-emerged, showered and dressed, like me, ready for bed. I glanced at the chrono, it was later than I had realised but earlier than I thought he would return. I got up and went to the kitchen, brought the open bottle of wine and an extra glass and joined him on the couch. I thought we would talk about his day but he had other plans.

Without words he pulled me to him and nuzzled my neck. I shivered. With fingers splayed he ran his hand under my still damp hair, warm upon the back of my neck, guiding my face upwards. His kiss was demanding and not open to negotiation. I didn’t debate him. His desire raced through him and showered over us both. I felt his need as keenly as I felt his touch on my skin. He had come home physically aching for me. His want was infectious and I was caught up in his scent, his touch, his voice before I could even think. Like a glitterstim addict, he was a drug I could never quite get enough of and when laid before me I could never refuse.

“You smell like wild berries and tabjio flowers.” He whispered in my ear, causing goose bumps to ripple up and down my arms.

“New bubble bath.” I gasped as his hands began to explore under the robe, under the pyjama top I was wearing as a night shirt. Sense and sensibility were rapidly being replaced by an intensely powerful desire and a longing which only he could answer. I welcomed the flush of heat that shot through me. His ability to send me reeling never ceased to astound me but suddenly Shiv’s cautionary speech about unwanted pregnancy reared its ugly face intruding in the middle of a spine shivering kiss. I opened my eyes, glanced up at him and pulled back.

He studied me carefully for a moment then sat back, catching his breath, then after a few moments said. “You have that look on your face.”

“Which one?” I asked.

“The one that says some particularly unpleasant thought just utterly interrupted my nefarious plans for the evening.” He said.

“Nefarious?”

He smiled. “What is on your mind?”

“Babies.” I said before I could censure myself.

This earned me a raised eyebrow. “Is this a new method of defence against my advances or is there something else going on that perhaps I should know about?” he asked.

I shook my head. He cocked his own slightly to one side, waiting for me to explain so I did. When I finished he reached for his wine glass and sipped at it to stop himself from smiling.

“I see I shall have to have words with Siavaan.” He said lightly.

“Well, he’s seen first hand the results when it happens to a courtesan.” I said. “He worries, is all.”

“Yes, and you do give us all reason to worry but not this time.” He said. “You won’t get pregnant, at least not from me.”

“How do you know that?”

“My dear, do you think I would enter into this delightful dance with you and not do some homework first? The chances of you and I creating a child are very slim. There are enough differences to our species’ physiology to make that particular biological wonder very difficult to achieve.” He said, caressing my face. “And I have taken precautions to ensure that even with that slender chance it does not have the opportunity to happen.”

“You have?” he kept surprising me at every turn.

“Females are not the only ones with such options available to them, you know. It would have been irresponsible to place both you as well as myself in a situation that could be compromising.” He said. “You seem surprised.”

“The whole baby talk thing surprises me, to be honest. It truly never occurred to me.” I shook my head at my own stupidity. “Tell me something, are you prepared for every and any eventuality that life has to throw at you?” I asked.

He was quiet for a moment. “I’d like to think so.” He said, and then added. “If I think of all the possible situations and outcomes through to their obvious and not so obvious conclusions then I am better able to solve the problems at hand. I enjoy the challenge of mentally walking through all the possibilities, even the very worst case scenarios. So, yes, I am fairly certain that I am ready for almost everything, within reason of course. There are always surprises which one has not or cannot account for, that one percent of chaos or chance.” He smiled. “Even I cannot foresee everything, but I try to be as prepared as possible. Unlike you, who are the most chaotic, least predictable person I know.

I stared at him trying to decipher that and he laughed.

“Do you ever want children?” I asked after a moment.

He smiled slightly, ran his fingers through his hair and sipped his wine thoughtfully. “Do you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe, I don’t know, I never actually thought about it before.” I looked at him. “You haven’t answered my question.”

“Perhaps one day I would like to father a child, when circumstances are a little different, but not at the moment.” He said thoughtfully, carefully.

I nodded. “So I can tell Shiv not to worry on this particular subject then.”

“You can.” He leaned over and kissed me gently on the forehead.

I smiled “So now that I have effectively foiled your grand and, how did you put it, nefarious plans for the night perhaps you can reveal all the secrets of your new club? I believe the word brutal was brought up earlier…?”

“Sj’iu tekari, the night is not over yet.” He purred in my ear.

I gave him a stern look. “Secrets first, seduction later.”

“You drive a hard bargain.” He said, mocking me ever so slightly.

“I’m nosey, I grew on Tatooine and I work for Lord Vader. Hard bargains and aggressive negotiations are my specialty, so spill!” I poked him not so lightly on the chest.

“As you wish.” He said with a slight smile, catching my hand in his before I could poke at him again. “But you need to promise you won’t overreact.”

“Overreact to what?”

“To this…”

The Mirror within the Mask 8

Lord Vader’s cloak rippled out behind him as he walked down the long corridor to the beautiful botanical gardens. I trotted behind him trying to keep up and not trip on the cloak at the same time.

“Keep up, girl!” he barked.

“You try running in heels!” I hissed under my breath. I had my long dress gathered in my hands and I did my best to keep up. When we entered the Skydome Botanical Gardens the lively buzz of conversation that had filled the air stopped dead and everyone shut right up and stared at Lord Vader, then they glanced at me and then went back to their conversation. This was standard behaviour wherever and whenever there was a crowd. Lord Vader entering a room had a tendency be a conversation killer, fortunately the effect wasn’t lasting.

As we walked through the crowd I was amazed by the numbers of people attending Thrawn’s ceremonial acceptance into the Order of the Canted Circle. I guessed that the induction of the Emperor’s favoured alien was a great attraction for the curious. I looked around to see who I recognised. I saw Prince Xizor with his latest girlfriend; the council of Twelve Grand Admirals were also present, easy to spot by their brilliant white uniforms. There were many members of the Imperial navy present from many ranks and at least two thirds of the Imperial Court and palace staff were also present. Everyone dressed in their designer finest and I was no exception.

I had asked Cati for something special for this event and she had just given me a grin.

“I hear this event is quite a big thing for your gentleman.” She had said as she wielded pins.

“Shiv has a big mouth!” I’d replied.

She had laughed. “I think the entire planet has heard about this event.” She’d said. “They just don’t know about the two of you.” She had added. “Yet….”

The dress she had designed for me was stunning. Made from a crepe silk and dyed in colours that echoed the ripples of colour in the milky Ma’arilite pendant I was wearing, it was deeply backless and delicate. Tiny sparkly gems lined the neck line and the slender straps that held it in place. I felt as though I were dressed in sky fire. As always, I wore shoes to match, with high enough heels that I needed to watch how I walked. I wore my hair up, pinned in place with the beautiful Zenji sticks that Thrawn had given. I felt about as elegant as I was able to so when Lianna came up to stand beside me I didn’t feel as I usually did, like an Outer Rim desert rat.

“Quite the turn out.” she said.

I nodded and glanced at her. As always, she was dressed beautifully wearing a pale lavender, off the shoulder dress. Her red-gold hair was elaborately coifed and curled and the necklace she wore was a very expensive Miastique design.

“I see Lord Vader is in fine form. I didn’t think he would be here.” She smiled but it never reached her eyes. She didn’t like Vader very much. He was competition for the Emperor’s attention and affections, such as they were, but somewhere along the line she had decided that I was no longer a big threat and the tension between us had eased a little.

“A case of see to be seen.” I told her but in truth Lord Vader had actually wanted to attend this event and had insisted I accompany him. I wasn’t complaining.

“No one in their right minds would miss this event. No one expected the Emperor to personally push for a non human to be inducted.” She said. “Look, even Tigellinus showed up.”

I stifled a laugh. The whole palace was abuzz about how vocal Rufaan Tigellinus had been against Thrawn’s induction. “He’s not shy, that’s for sure.”

Lianna shook her head. “He angered the Emperor though.”

“Really, I thought that The Emperor encouraged that sort of rivalry between his ‘sons of the Empire.’” I said using the most recent catch phrase that had been flying around, describing the lucky men who found favour in the eye of the most powerful man in the Empire.

“He does but Tigellinus pushed the limit. Palpatine doesn’t exactly like having his decisions questioned especially not openly.” She said. “I heard that he punished Tigellinus by stripping him of his recently acquired lands on Corellia, giving him just one more reason to hate Thrawn.”

I nodded. “Well there are not many who seem to think much of Thrawn, though to be honest I don’t really understand it. From what I’ve heard he’s done a lot of good for the Empire.”

Lianna looked at me as we idled our way through the crowds, following in Lord Vader’s wake, to take our places and watch the ceremony. “Jealousy.” She said simply. “The Emperor is curious about Thrawn and Thrawn is unafraid of the Emperor. Most of the people in Palpatine’s inner circle and high command don’t know what to think of Thrawn and they never get close enough to him to even begin to know him. He’s aloof, more intelligent than most of them put together and he’s not human. They hate him. And now he’s being awarded the highest non military honour that can be given at the Emperor’s insistence and no one can touch him.”

“Things are going to get interesting, then.” I said.

She made a face. “As if they weren’t already.”

Any further conversation on the subject was stopped when the ceremony began.

I watched with a mixture of pride and detachment as the members of the Order of the Canted Circle gathered with Thrawn kneeling on one knee before them. They were all dressed the same in floor length black velvet robes but the man who officiated the ceremony wore a robe that was more ornate and was finished with a large ornate collar and hood.

The speeches were long and spoke about the history of the Order, the goals and work that the Order was known for and lastly about Thrawn and his work. When the speeches were over the ceremony began and it was ornate and elaborate ending with a pendant that had the symbol of the Order, a canted circle, being placed over Thrawn’s head. He was then told to rise and presented to the watching crowd as the newest member of the Order. The applause was polite and a little guarded.

For the next hour there was an elaborate reception, time allowed for the populace to congratulate the newest inductee. I mingled making mindless chit chat with the various people who stopped to talk to me. I made sure to avoid the Emperor and stay as far away from him as was possible and when I got my chance, I gave my congratulations to Thrawn.

“You should wear long black dresses more often, they suit you.” I said. “You look quite fetching.”

He gave me a small smirk. “I suppose I should thank you for the gift, Miss Gabriel and also apologise for not wearing it. The slippers you sent, while they certainly match the outfit, they were not approved dress code.”

I just smiled. “So now you are a part of Coruscant’s elite.”

“Yes.” He replied, casually looking around the gardens at the people milling around.

“When is the real ceremony?”

“In about an hour from now we will retire from this delightful party and slip away to the secret underground facility in the Imperial Palace and there I will be inducted in a more, how would you say, brutal manner.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Brutal?”

“I’ll show you the result later when I am able to escape this nonsense.” He said.

I just smiled, raised an eyebrow and resisted the temptation to flirt. We were being observed. I sipped at my drink and watched as an Admiral I didn’t know made his way over to Thrawn. I was about to wander away but Thrawn touched my arm lightly.

“Stay,” He said softly, “you should meet him.”

“Admiral Thrawn, congratulations!”

“Admiral Larsen, thank you.” Thrawn said, shaking the offered hand. “Have you met Miss Merlyn Gabriel?”

“No, I have not yet had the pleasure.” He said turning to face me. I extended my hand for him to shake it and instead he took it in that strange gentlemanly fashion and kissed the back of it.

Thrawn’s lip twitched in a slight smile as he introduced me to Ged Larsen, one of the hottest young minds to come out of the Academy in a while. As he began to explain who I was and who I worked for Ged cut him off with a grin.

“I am well aware of who Miss Gabriel works for.” He said. “Your reputation for staying alive is almost legend amongst us.”

“Really, I suppose you also have a life expectancy pool going on like the internal palace departments?” I asked.

Thrawn raised an eyebrow but Ged just smiled. “You have long since surpassed anyone’s bets.” He said.

I laughed. “Yes, that’s what Siavaan Rimanata told me as well. Glad I could beat the odds. I’m surprised we haven’t met before.”

Ged nodded. “I spend as much time as possible in space, primarily in the Fondor system.” He smiled. “I don’t get to the Core worlds that often. Fortunately for me I happened to be called back for some debriefings and it coincided with this event.”

“The Fondor system, in the Tapani sector, yes? The great shipyards are out there as well as the Academy of Engineering if I remember correctly.”

Ged smiled. “You do indeed, I had no idea that Lord Vader had such exquisite tastes in choosing his personal assistants, you are as smart as you are lovely.”

He was very charming with twinkling hazel eyes and sandy coloured hair which he wore slightly longer than regulation. He was very good looking so I didn’t mind the mild flirtation; it was distraction from the serious temptation standing at my side.

I returned his smile. “You are quite generous with your flattery Admiral. I hope that you do not expect it to win you any credit with Lord Vader I assure you he is quite immune.”

Ged laughed. “Not at all although I was hoping it might allow me to ask you out for a drink after this shindig, if you are free.”

It took every ounce of self control I had not to look at Thrawn.

“That’s very kind of you Admiral but I have a prior engagement this evening.” I said with a smile and sipped at my drink as demurely as I possibly could. I was flattered and a little surprised. He was very charming in a cocky, self assured sort of way.

“Perhaps another time then?” he asked.

I smiled and nodded. “Perhaps.” I said vaguely. “If you’ll both excuse me… Lord Vader insists I mingle. It’s good PR for his office.” Both men chuckled politely and I slipped away into the crowds. As I made my way over to the buffet table I spotted Shiv.

“Hey Rim-Girl, you look stunning. I see Cati did another amazing job!” he said giving me a kiss on each cheek and a twirl around motion with his finger.

I obliged and he grinned.

“Where’s your crew?” I asked.

“Ynyth and Tygs are on Corellia at the moment. Bobby couldn’t be bothered to drag his sorry self out of his flat. I was going to call you and see if you needed a date but then I remembered who was being inducted…”

“Shiv hush! I am here with my boss; apparently I make him less menacing and more approachable.” I said.

Shiv laughed. “Now I know why you were hired… the softer side of Vader! Does it really work?”

I shrugged. “I have no idea. But I did just get invited out for drinks by some Admiral I have never met before.”

“Oh? Who?”

“A Ged Larsen. You know him?”

Shiv nodded and stuffed a canapé in his mouth. “The Emperor’s boy wonder.” He mumbled with a mouth full of food.

“Boy wonder?”

“Yep, he’s youngest person to ever make Admiral in the Imperial Navy. It’s in his blood though, his father was a big shot in the navy till he was killed. Admiral Degan Larsen, was one of the Emperor’s favourites on that fast track then his ship was destroyed by rebels and the son watched the whole thing. Apparently Ged went a little nuts and somehow managed to finish off the enemy with next to no ships or help. He’s got that magic touch, if you know what I mean.”

“He’s force sensitive?” I asked.

Shiv nodded. “That’s the rumour.” He said reaching for another canapé. “Anyway word got around that he was quite good when he was backed up against the wall and eventually the Emperor heard about it and fast tracked the kid. He was like late twenties, early thirties when he was made admiral. It caused a big stir I can tell you. Then Larsen vanished and the rumour mill said he’d ticked the Emperor off and was sent away in disgrace but I think he was actually sent out on some top secret mission. He shows up periodically, stirs the waters up a bit, flirts with the girls then vanishes again. He’s got quite the reputation amongst the courtesans.”

“Glad I turned him down then.” I said.

Shiv grinned. “Your loss kiddo, I hear he’s really good…”

“La la la la…! Not listening!” I cut him off.

He laughed. “You’re no fun.”

“I prefer it that way.” I told him airily. Then watched as the members of the Canted Circle left the great Botanical Gardens to go off to their secret underground space and do their secret rituals. The event would now wind down and when the free champagne and catered food ran out everyone would leave for other things.

“So now what?” Shiv asked.

I pulled his arm over and looked at his chrono. “I go home.”

“I’d offer to escort you to your door but you’re not talking about the flat in the palace are you?” he said sipping at his drink.

I just gave him a look.

“I’ve stopped by a couple of evenings wondering if I could drag you out to come and party with us but no one was home.” He said quietly. “You get a secret place off palace or are you staying where I think you’re staying?”

I shrugged. “I’m safe.” I told him, giving him a look that said do not push it.

Shiv regarded me carefully. “Safe and happy?” he asked.

My smile told him everything he needed to know. “Keep this to yourself, okay?”

He made an ‘I’m innocent gesture’. “I know nothing.”

“I’m tired. It’s been a long day. Lord Vader was in a fine fettle today. Xizor is driving him, and consequently me, mad. It would be funny if I wasn’t the one having to deal with all the flying bantha poodoo.”

“The prince has become a fairly permanent part of the décor, lately.” Shiv agreed. We both looked over to where the Prince stood, his arm wrapped around the waist of his latest conquest.

“Who’s the redhead?” I asked.

“Tandy Seline, some hotshot reporter for holonet news. We give this one about two weeks.” Shiv told me.

“I’m in for two and a half, then. He goes through women the way Vader goes through droids.” I shook my head.

“Well I am just glad I don’t have to deal with him.”

“He’s an arrogant ….”

“Don’t say it!” Shiv hissed in my ear. “The walls have ears you know…”

I drowned the words that wanted to trip off my lips with the last of my drink. “Why don’t you walk me out to my air-speeder?” I said.

We left the reception and I was glad of the quiet in the large elegant hallways. When we were well out of earshot and alone Shiv stopped and looked at me.

“What?” I asked giving him a look.

“How long have you been sleeping with him, Merly?” He asked out of the blue.

“Shiv!” I hissed. “You don’t ask that sort of question!”

“Yeah I do actually, all the time.” He said with a touch of resignation in his voice. “You forget what I do and who I have to take care of on a daily basis.” He said.

“I am not one of your courtesans.” I told him.

“Just answer the question.”

I sighed. I knew that tone of voice and he wouldn’t let up till he had an answer. “It started the night of the break in.” I said, starting to head towards the entrance. “But it is something that has been brewing a long time.” Hoping he understood.

He nodded. I had just confirmed what he already knew. “You taking precautions?”

“Precautions?” I asked looking at him blankly.

“Against getting pregnant.” He said.

“Uhm…” I made a face. That had not even occurred to me.

“Merly! The last thing you need is this…” and he mimed a large belly. “I am certain that would not go over well with Vader or anyone else.”

“I don’t think it’s possible, to be honest. In case you hadn’t noticed, he’s not human. Our chances of producing viable offspring are biologically not very good.”

Shiv looked at me. “True but I want you to talk to one of the Doc’s about it. Just as a precaution.” He said. “And you should talk to Thr… your gentleman about this or have you already talked about it and I am just being paranoid?”

I shook my head. “This particular topic has never come up.” There had been so many other things to think about that pregnancy was the very last thing on my mind.

We reached my little air-speeder. Shiv turned to face me and put both hands on my shoulders. “You need to deal with this. I can tell you right now that while an affair will be tolerated as long as you keep it quiet, a pregnancy will not, especially with a non human even if it is Thrawn. Not even Lord Vader will be able to protect you if that happens. So for my sake think about this, will you?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“Promise me?” he pressed.

“I promise. I’ll bring the topic up tonight.” I said. “Buggery sandrats, you’re worse than my father!”

Shiv shook his head and gave me a hug. “Someone’s got to keep an eye on you; you land yourself in the craziest situations.”

“No kidding.” I said and got in the speeder to go home. I waved to Shiv as I left the landing pad and entered crazy Coruscant traffic. Babies and how not to make them… this was going to be an interesting topic to bring up with Thrawn.

The Mirror within the Mask 7

We arrived at the Nona Shyr Art Gallery shortly after eight and were in plenty time to hear the Emperor’s opening words and the organiser’s thank you speech as the exhibition was opened.

Thrawn, dressed in his uniform, gracefully retrieved two glasses of some pale pink drink in oversized champagne glasses. He handed one to me and I sipped it quietly while listening to the speech being given by the artist’s daughter. I glanced around and was amazed at how full the large gallery room was. Many of the faces I recognized and some I did not. I was glad I had chosen to wear one of Cati’s more exotic dresses because everyone was dressed up in their finest, or like Thrawn, they wore a uniform. Even gallery openings doubled as a Coruscant fashion show. Every clapped politely as the speeches ended and the exhibition was opened up for all to view. Smartly dressed wait staff manoeuvred deftly through the crowds serving strangely coloured drinks and gorgeous canapés.

Ermall Bernau had been a brilliant sculptor and painter who had been born on Bakura, where he had lived until the age of forty seven. He had moved to Alderaan when he had met his wife and spent the rest of his life there. He, along with all of his family except his daughter, had been killed when the planet had been destroyed. His works were strange yet elegant abstract representations of humans and aliens. He elongated the figure and exaggerated the limbs as well as the more prominent features physical features. He had primarily used Galanium as his favourite medium, a beautiful mix of neutronium and gold favoured by many artists.

His paintings were more about colour and motion than any particular concrete form. In a book about his work that my mother had owned he had said that he couldn’t be bothered with the finicky art of using a brush so he used his fingers and his paint buckets and slopped paint on the canvas, using his hands to play with the colours. I had often discussed with Bel about whether or not this could be considered art, after all, I often said playing devil’s advocate, a small child could do the same thing. These discussions had often gone on all night.

Now in the very beautiful setting of the Nona Shyr Gallery I looked at his paintings in a new light. I left Thrawn’s side to explore on my own, looking at each work, each painting and sculpture carefully, taking in the details of each piece. I was astonished at the vibrancy of his colours in the paintings and the tiny details of his sculptures that one never saw in books. I came to one painting called The Fractured Force and I was stopped in my tracks by it. I wasn’t sure if it was the colours he had used or the way in which they had been blended and shaped but what ever it was, the painting took my breath away. I stared at it, mentally tracing the paths his fingers had taken through the paint that had been dripped and poured onto the canvas. I had never seen a painting before that literally cried out to me. A painting that physically made me ache with a sorrow that I never even knew possible. I had to swallow down the sudden desire I had to cry.

“This was my father’s favourite, of all his paintings.” Said a soft, heavily accented voice to my side. I turned to look into the face of Bernau’s daughter.

“Why?” I asked, curious.

She sighed for a moment and thought about her answer carefully. “He said that when he painted it, it was as if the whole galaxy was a storm which poured into his being. He painted it close to the end of the Clone wars, just as the Jedi were declared outlaws to the state. When the madness really began, he used to say. I think it was that which broke his heart. He said he knew at that moment, when the Jedi were being slaughtered, that the soul of the universe was fractured in two.” She stared at the painting for along time and then looked back at me. “I’m sorry. You must think me very rude. I am Anallya Bernau.” She said offering me her hand. I shook it and introduced myself.

“Ahhh yes,” she nodded slowly. “The Emperor has mentioned your name to me, he said you were very interested in art. It was he who suggested that I speak with you.” She smiled.

“The Emperor is most kind with his words.” I said glancing around to see him talking with Thrawn and Grand Admiral Zaarin. Lord Vader was not present. I had mentioned the show to him and his reply had been rude. I turned back to look at Anallya. “Why would your father think that way about the Jedi Purge?”

She shrugged slightly. “I do not know, he would never say exactly. He once told me that the Jedi had overseen peace in the galaxy for thousands of years and their destruction was a terrible blow for everyone.” She told me softly. “When the Empire was created he stopped painting. After that he concentrated only on his sculptures. I was only five at the time. This painting was his gift to me when I left Alderaan to go to school here. He said it was to remind me of what could happen when chaos and greed clouded good judgement. I never understood what he meant and he died before I could think to ask.” She said, looking at me with an expression I didn’t understand. “You are the first person I have ever seen look at it exactly the same way he used to.”

I nodded. “It’s very powerful.” I said softly. “I had no idea your father’s paintings were so vivid. This is the first time I have ever seen any for real. Was it you who organized this showing?” I asked wanting to steer the conversation in a different direction.

“Actually it was the Emperor who requested a collection of his works. I am here as a token, I think. I must be very honest with you Miss Gabriel; I do not like art all that much. I am far more interested in mathematics and physics.” She smiled. “But as the only surviving member of the family I felt it was my duty to come and see my father’s work so honoured. It is a shame the show is private and just for this one evening, but it is for a good cause.”

I nodded. Unlike me most of the patrons had purchased their ‘invitations’ at a huge price. All proceeds were to go to the preservation of Alderaanian flora and fauna. The exhibition was a veritable who’s who of the Coruscant rich and famous.

I nodded. When Thrawn appeared, I introduced him to Anallya and the rest of the evening passed in a haze of interesting art discussion, polite, banal banter and subtly underhanded political back stabbing. I suppressed the desire to run when the Emperor came over to join us. Once the polite formalities of bowing and curtsying were done he began to converse with us.

“I see you two young ladies have met.” He said casually to both Anallya and me. We nodded. She was in awe of him, me, I was just terrified.

“Well, Miss Gabriel how are you enjoying the show?” he enquired politely, with that slight smile that reminded me of dead things.

“It’s very impressive, your Excellency.” I said, trying to avoid eye contact.

“And you, Admiral, what do you think? Do you share young Miss Gabriel’s sweepingly general opinion?”

I frowned at his barb and his smile widened just a hair’s breadth.

Thrawn cocked that single eyebrow and looked around the room. “I find the juxtaposition of the three dimensional works with his earlier paintings quite jarring.” He said coolly.

“Why?” demanded Palpatine, leaning a little closer towards his only Chiss officer as he asked.

Thrawn drew a slow deep breath. “His earlier works stem from a time when he was more content and happy. His art is more free in its expressive nature; he explores the universe through his rather unconventional use of paint. One can see the sudden shift from this freedom of spirit and artistry when one looks carefully at the piece he called The Fractured Force, the last piece he ever painted, if I am not mistaken?” he looked at Anallya who nodded. “After he stopped painting he began to explore the world through three dimensional medium but this medium lacked the freedom his earlier works show. His sculptures are exaggerated images of beings that, when one understand how the Empire works, are the forgotten races, the alien races who now find themselves on the fringe of society. These sculptures are tight and constricted, bound by some law he did not feel when he painted. He found a way to enslave his talent and prison it in his sculptures, the same way the Empire enslaves alien races and binds them to work in the ship yards. This tells me he felt constrained to produce more conventional looking works, but instead he produced art which spoke of sadness and bitterness. To place the two styles together in one room is jarring. They are so diametrically opposed to each other. Freedom verses restriction. Light verses dark. He was not pleased with the fall of the Old Republic and it shows in his art. Were he alive today I cannot help but think he would be siding with the Rebel Alliance and not with the Empire.”

Palpatine stared at Thrawn for what seemed an eternity. The air was suddenly thick and oppressive with the power of the force which Palpatine wielded. It was almost as if Thrawn had laid down some invisible challenge and the Emperor was deciding what to do about it. I stared at the Emperor for a second, waiting for his response. Then without warning the world around me seemed to shimmer and fall away. I found myself staring at Thrawn seated in a command chair dressed completely in white clutching his hands to his chest. It was not this strange scene that caused my heart to skip a beat but the look of surprise on his face and the red of the blood that ran from underneath his fingers. As swiftly as it had come so the vision vanished, leaving me shaking in its wake. It had been so quick, so brief and yet so real that for the barest of moments I had no idea where I was. I knew a sort of fear then, not for myself but for the man whose bed I shared, whose affections I held onto and did not want to lose. It was a sudden sharp ache and the sheer power of it made me clutch my pendant and gasp.

Palpatine turned to look at me. “My dear young lady, you are as white as an Alderaan lily, are you feeling quite well?”

I glanced at Thrawn who showed no emotion at all and nodded. “Yes, I am fine. Just a little tired.” I said, trying not to show my trembling fingers.

Palpatine took my hand in his and patted it in the most avuncular manner. His skin was cool and dry. “Perhaps it is time the good Admiral here took you back home. You look as though you have seen some terrible spectre. I am quite sure Lord Vader would be most displeased should his favourite employee take ill.”

I had to fight the urge to pull my hand away from his and nodded slightly, lowering my eyes so he would not see the emotion that boiled there. “I’m fine, really it’s nothing. Too long a day and I didn’t eat enough.”

“Of course.” Palpatine said in that caress of a voice which slithered down my back making me shudder. This time Thrawn glanced at me in a ‘do you wish to leave?’ sort of look and I shook my head slightly all the while being observed by Anallya and the Emperor. With a deep steadying breath I found my center and put a lid on the fear that never seemed to go away when ever the Emperor was near.

“Well then, I must attend to my paying guests, I shall let you young ladies enjoy the evening.” He said to Anallya and me. He turned then to Thrawn, “Perhaps you should look to Miss Gabriel’s well being, Admiral. She does seem to blossom under your care.” His words had a strange touch of threat to them which I didn’t understand. “Perhaps at another time we shall discuss further your ideas about Bernau’s works.” He added and as we bowed and curtsied he moved off, his shadowy entourage moving with him. I stared at his back until Thrawn handed me another drink and Anallya began to ask Thrawn more about his own feelings on the show and art in general. Slowly I found myself able to think straight again and after a few sips of the incredibly cold drink I felt almost normal. The strange vision receded but the irrational fear it had instilled remained. As much as I enjoyed the event, I was grateful when it was time to leave. My face ached from having to smile so much.

***

A few days after the exhibition I was curled up on the couch with Thrawn watching a report from the Colonial News Nets about the recent activity by the Imperial forces. They had just taken the planet Lirra away from the Hutts in a dramatic show of force. The footage shown was quite astonishing. The reporter who had been embedded with the battalion detached to deal with this situation was currently shouting into his recorder about the bloody battle currently going on to free the Human slaves. He was elated about the freeing of the humans and I wondered as I watched this if the rest of the galaxy’s non human population felt the same way. The Empire used slaves without apology, especially from planets such as Kashyyyk. Thrawn just shook his head at the report and was about to change the feed when the doorbell sounded. It was late enough that someone coming to call raised eyebrows. He made a stay here hand gesture and went to answer it. When he came back he had a large, flat rectangular box in his arms.

“It’s for you.” He said.

With his help I opened it. Inside the box, under the protective wrapping was the Bernau painting; The Fractured Force.

“I wasn’t aware this piece was for sale.” Thrawn said as he cleared away the paper and the packaging, setting the painting against the table so that when we both sat on the couch we could look at it.

“It isn’t, wasn’t.” I told him. “It belongs to his daughter.” I stared at the painting, feeling that strange emptiness in my gut and the sudden prickle of tears. I didn’t stop them as they trickled down my cheek. I didn’t understand my reaction to this piece of art at all.

“This was tucked in the back of the canvas.” He said handing me an envelope. I took it from his hand and slipped the letter out but my hand shook as I went to read it. I was grateful when he took it from my hand and gave me a puzzled glance. I ignored it, wiping the tears off my face angrily.

He looked at me for a moment but didn’t comment on my visibly visceral reaction to the painting. Instead he read the letter to me, his voice soothing the bizarre storm of emotions that made me ache.

Dear Miss Gabriel,

I know this is quite forward of me and I hope that you will forgive any breech of etiquette. I told you that my father had given me this painting when I had left home to go and study here at the Coruscant Institute for technology to remind me of what could happen when chaos and greed clouded good judgement. What I did not tell you is that I really disliked this painting and he knew that as well. It frightened me although I never knew or understood why. I suspect that on some level he was aware of this and was hoping I would learn some lesson from it. My father and I never communicated all that well.

I had not wanted to keep the painting, I often discussed it with him because I was well aware of its market value and felt it was wasted hanging on the wall of a room I rarely used because I couldn’t stand to look at it. He made me promise to keep it safe until I found a person who felt about it the same way he did. I asked him how I would ever know that and he said ‘you will see it in their eyes, their body language and their face’. I never believed him until I saw your reaction to it at the showing and then I understood.

The conversation I had with my father about this painting, the one were me extracted this promise from me was the last one I had with him. Two days later he, along with everyone else who was on the planet at the time, was killed with the destruction of Alderaan. Every time I look at the painting I remember this conversation and it makes me sad.

As it was his wish and because I can no longer bear to have this painting in my possession I would very much like you to have it. I hope that you will enjoy and treasure it. I think you will, I saw your expression and I believe that this piece speaks to you in a way I am unable to comprehend.

I hope you do not mind that I was able to obtain the address of where you currently reside from the Emperor himself. The Human Resources office was a bit vague about how to reach you and I did not want to leave the painting just anywhere.

If you have any questions or would perhaps like to meet for non art conversation I would be delighted.

Sincerely yours,
Anallya Bernau

I sat back on the couch hard, watching as he folded the letter up and slipped it back in its envelope. His touch was incredibly gentle as he stroked my face.

“You seem to have made quite an impression; this painting is worth a small fortune.” He said softly.

I shook my head. “It’s priceless and she hated it.” I told him. “And since when did this place become my mailing address? As far as HR and everyone else are concerned, my place of residence is still the flat at the palace.” Anger leeched into my voice taking the place of the inexplicable sorrow I had just felt.

Thrawn shrugged. “I have not advertised the fact that you often spend more nights here than there, but the Emperor does seem to keep a close eye on your whereabouts. I would not worry about it too much. He was probably concerned that such a valuable piece of art made it to where it was supposed to without incident. The loss of such a work of art would not look too good on the palace couriers.”

I nodded but was unconvinced. In little, insignificant ways the Emperor made it known that he was a part of my life, a gentle guiding hand, a subtle suggestion whispered. I loathed his interference almost as much as I feared it. That he knew I tended to spend more time here than at the flat in the palace bothered me. It made me wonder, if he knew then who else also knew and if that was the case just how safe was I really? I sighed and stared at the painting. It made me sad, touching something deep in my being that made me ache without knowing why.

“Can I hang this is the spare room?” I asked after a long silence. The spare room had become my room by default. It was where I kept my things that I didn’t want at the flat in the palace, my study and place to go when I wanted to be by myself but to actually call it mine seemed to cross a line I wasn’t quite ready for yet.

Thrawn nodded. “Of course. I have told you, that room is yours to do with as you wish.” He said as if he could read my thoughts. He had stopped being subtle about his feelings towards me sharing his home. I was a part of his world and he did not regret his choices in this matter, but I was still uncertain. I made a face and got up, taking the painting and the letter into the room. I didn’t want to look at it any more and I certainly didn’t want to think about all the implications that came along with it.

When I came back Thrawn had poured two brandies and was watching me intently.

“You have that look on your face again.” He said as I sat back down beside him.

“What look is that?”

“The haunted one.” He said.

I shook my head. “Well that would be because there are too many damn ghosts in my life, Za’ar.” I said.

He stared at me steadily for a moment and then said. “There are no such things as ghosts, my dear.”

I didn’t answer him; I just sipped the brandy and settled back against his warmth. I knew he was wrong but there were just some things one could not argue with Thrawn about no matter what.

We also never spoke of what I had seen and experienced in the Jedi Temple. Thrawn did not bring the subject up and neither did I but I thought about it a great deal. Many nights I woke up crying from a nightmare where I watched the slaughter of those younglings over and over again. Each time the dream ended the same way, with the Emperor laughing, his hand upon Anakin’s shoulder whispering the words, “Well done, my young apprentice, well done.” But Anakin had not felt that way. I remembered how he had felt, and he had not been proud, he had been scared and confused as well as angry.

On these nights where I would wake, unable to return to sleep, I would get up, wrap a blanket around my shoulders and sit out on the balcony, watching the city move around me, oblivious to the dark currents that ran underneath everything. I found it odd that I did not hate Lord Vader for what he had done, what he had become but rather a part of me pitied him. He had admired the Emperor; I knew this from my birth mother’s journal. Anakin Skywalker had been a lonely often sad young boy and it was then Chancellor Palpatine who had befriended him in many ways becoming the surrogate father Anakin had never had.

But Palpatine had used and manipulated Anakin so subtly that Anakin had not seen it coming until it was too late, until there was no turning back. Now, no longer Anakin Skywalker, Lord Vader hated the Emperor and it was something the Emperor counted on but I didn’t understand this. Everything about their relationship was wrapped up in lies and deceit and I knew that somewhere deep in what ever was left of his soul, Lord Vader was biding his time. I also knew that at the very heart of the matter was his love for the woman called Padmé and his mother but these were topics I could never talk with him about. He either got violently angry or silent and moody to the point of shutting himself away for days. I had learned very quickly which topics were off limits. That had been a matter of pure survival.

Not for the first time, during these episodes, did I wonder if Jyrki had not been right about everything all along and I was the one in the wrong. Working for men who murdered younglings, oppressed rights and freedoms of non humans, whose only real goal seemed to be the accumulation of power, but somehow I could not justify what Jyrki had done to me either. Two wrongs did not make a right, as my father used to tell me, and I felt as though I were trapped in the middle. It seemed to me, sitting alone in the cool of the dark that the galaxy was slowly going mad, spiralling inward on itself and the only thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want to get caught in the implosion.

Thrawn left me alone on nights such as these. He would watch me, the questions on his lips, in his eyes and mind never spoken aloud, as I left the warmth of the bed we shared. He had tried, at first, to draw out my thoughts and discuss the situation but I would close up and, much like Lord Vader, become moody and peevish. He had learned that there were some things in my life that required space and time not discussion and classification. What was there to discuss? These memories were never mine but now they were a part of me and only I could deal with them. The one person who could have helped and given me clarity was the one person I could never talk with about them and so it was either sink or swim. My experience with the aftermath of a trauma had taught me that pure denial was useless and often ended in me doing something dramatic and stupid. So I would sit on the balcony of Thrawn’s beautiful Coruscant apartment and allow the thoughts to work themselves through.

More often than not it was there Thrawn would find me, curled up under the thickly woven Dantassi blanket which had become my favourite, staring out at the slowly lightening, pre dawn sky. He wouldn’t say much but usually brought me a cup of sweet tea and together we would sit in silence as night gave way to day. Somewhere along the line he had come to understand that his silence was as much a gift as his ability to analyse and unravel a situation through strategy and tactical thought.

It was times such as these where I knew that my downfall, as far as he was concerned, was complete. He had become such an integral, important part of my life that were he to suddenly vanish I would be utterly devastated. This was something I never told him, never spoke of and kept well hidden. I knew in my heart that while, for the time being, he was content to stay on Coruscant and play the political games, dance that elegant dance of court intrigue, it would not last. I would catch him sometimes staring up at the sky and the sensation of longing I felt from him was so intense it made me catch my breath. So I treasured what time we had together, knowing it would change. Everything changed, it was inevitable. Even the stars in the sky did not last forever.

The Mirror within the Mask 6

Fete Week began with its usual bang. Galaxy News Service broad waved the opening ceremonies from Coruscant and I watched it from the comfort of my couch. I wasn’t feeling very celebratory and the last place I wanted to be was in the middle of happy, cheering crowds that had been plied with too much liquor, egged on by fireworks and news nets.

It had been a particularly stressful week. Lord Vader had been alerted to the fact that the Rebels he was searching for may very well have been on Coruscant and had then escaped to a base thought to have been established on Cheeyoom Matee. Needless to say this news didn’t make him happy. I had been surprised that any of these people who were wanted criminals would actually dare to even venture onto Coruscant but Lord Vader had merely shrugged when I had mentioned this during one of our lessons.

“Sometimes,” he had said, “The best place to hide was in plain sight.”

“Will you go after them yourself?” I had asked.

“Only if incompetence dictates I must.” He said tartly. “Now, if you have finished wasting time with your idle chatter, perhaps we can continue?”

And we did. He had been using small combat training remotes and I had been forced to wear a blind fold. The little remotes had a nasty little charge which they shot out at me and if I wasn’t quick enough with the lightsaber to block it I was stung painfully enough to remind me I didn’t want to get stung again. The lessons learned were slow and frustrating. But even I had to admit I saw improvement when, as a reward, at the end of my lessons I was allowed to remove the blindfold and spar with Lord Vader. I some times thought, watching him, that using a lightsaber was a little akin to dancing with light.

For all his temper and tantrums, he was a surprisingly good teacher when it came to this weapon and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with him. Using a lightsaber was not like a combat staff, for one it was a lot shorter and secondly, I only had to worry about one end, not two. He talked about the various styles of lightsaber techniques there were and explained to me in great detail about the styles he was teaching me. I think he almost enjoyed these lessons, although he would never admit it. Usually by the time we were done I was exhausted and he was just getting started. I would often sit and watch him practice against specially designed droids and far more advanced combat remotes. Sometimes my master would join us. I was surprised that he too was able to use a lightsaber and delighted when he asked to borrow mine. It was an amazing sight to watch them practice against each other.

Fete Week meant that many of the non essential departments were closed for the duration of the holiday. I was not so lucky. Stuck in my office wading through the lists of things that Lord Vader needed done and the never ending sea of internal memos was not my idea of fun, it was made even more unpleasant when unexpected visitors barged their way in.

“Grand Admiral Tigellinus, what can I do for you?” I asked as he stormed into the office looking, for all the galaxy, like an enraged Rancor in a glass shop.

“Where is he?” he asked leaning with both hands on my desk so that his face was just centimetres away from mine.

I looked up into his eyes and smiled sweetly. “Could you be a tad more specific?” I asked.

“Vader! Where the devil is he? I have been trying to reach him all morning!” he snapped.

“I’m sorry Lord Vader is not in his office at the moment, perhaps if you’d care to leave a message with his secretary droid and make an appointment?”

“Pah!” he spat and spun away from the desk to start pacing about the room. “I know he’s here! I demand to speak with him now!”

I folded my hands on my desk and stared at him evenly. “Lord Vader is not in his office.” I repeated. “Perhaps if you would care to elaborate on the nature of your ….problem, I could pass the message along?”

“Elaborate!!! You of all people should know what the issue is!” He shouted.

I sighed. “Grand Admiral Tigellinus, I may be many things but a mind reader isn’t one of them. Unless you let me know what the problem is I cannot help you. Lord Vader gave strict instructions that he was not to be disturbed.” Which was the truth and usually meant he was in serious meetings with the Emperor. There was no way in the galaxy I was going to even consider bothering him of that was truly the case.

“That alien, Thrawn, is the problem!” Tigellinus finally spat. “Have you really not heard?”

I raised an eyebrow in response and waited.

“He is to be inducted into the Order of the Canted Circle and this is unacceptable! He is not nearly suitable and he is not even human! I want to speak with Lord Vader and ask him to talk to the Emperor about this!”

I nodded. I was quite certain I could tell Tigellinus lord Vader’s reply pretty much word for word, but I rather liked my job and didn’t want to push it by being needlessly rude although it would have been fun. So instead I said. “I shall inform his Lordship of your problem and try to arrange a meeting for you with him as soon as is possible, but I have to warn you Lord Vader is extremely busy at the moment.”

Tigellinus grimaced. “You had better tell him, young lady.”

“Are you accusing me of not doing my job?” I asked.

He sneered. “Everyone knows that you have an interest in Thrawn, if he becomes a member of the Canted Circle then he becomes even more powerful. That would be most beneficial for you would it not?”

I smiled at him and he didn’t like what he saw in my smile. “Grand Admiral Tigellinus, my personal life is just that personal and my interests wherever they lie are also my own. If you have an issue with how I do my job then I suggest you take it up with Lord Vader himself. I will do the best I can to arrange a meeting for you with him at his earliest convenience but make no mistake; he will not appreciate you wasting his time with trivial matters such as these. If I am to understand how the system for induction into the circle works, it is the Emperor who has the last say and makes the choices. If this is the case then I doubt very much Lord Vader would wish to interfere with this process.” The little tilt of my head said ‘Do I make myself clear?’

He regarded me for a moment then in a swift motion he rounded on my desk and once again leaned into my face. “Zaarin was right about you, you are nothing more than alien loving Outer-Rim trash. It is people like you who will cause the downfall of the Empire!” he hissed.

I blinked at him, my own anger boiling away in my gut. Then I just smiled again. “What century did you say you wished to see Lord Vader?”

Tigellinus made a noise of disgust and stormed out of the office. I counted to ten and when nothing else happened I got up to make spiced coffee. Just as I was pouring a cup for myself Thrawn walked in.

“I don’t suppose there is enough in there for two?” he asked. He sat down in the chair near my desk and accepted the cup I offered gratefully. He looked tired.

“Welcome back.” I said with a smile. “You just missed Tigellinus.” I added rolling my eyes.

“Thank the stars for small mercies. I suppose he gave you an earful?” Thrawn said, stretching his long legs out, crossing one ankle over the other.

I smiled. “Well, he wasn’t happy.” And I repeated the Grand Admiral’s last words to me.

Thrawn just shook his head. “He’s furious about this development. He sees it as an affront to his own induction. He hates me with a passion which would be funny if it weren’t for the problems it creates. I only found out about the news last night when I returned. I would have told you but you were not home when I got there.” He said. I searched for recrimination in his voice but found none.

I nodded. “I had a very long work day and then a very long training session and then Shiv dragged me out to a late supper because he’s convinced I am going to starve to death. I stayed at the flat here, less distance to get into work this morning. Lord Vader scheduled a five am meeting.” I said. “I guess congratulations are in order?”

Thrawn shrugged. “We shall see. The Emperor has pushed my name through and many people are very unhappy about it. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, to say the least.” He ran a hand through his hair. “The ceremony is in six days. Will you be there?”

“Probably.” I grinned. “How long are you planet-side for?”

“At least the next couple of weeks.” He said. “I can accompany you to the art exhibit if that’s what you are asking.” He smiled as he looked up at me.

“The Emperor spoke of it again yesterday, you know, in passing.” I said repressing the desire to shudder at the memory of that meeting. “Asked if I had mentioned it to you.”

Thrawn shook his head. “Of course he did.” He muttered.

“More fuel for the rumour mill, people will start to assume something is going on between us.” I said with a little smile.

“And they would be right.” He replied tartly. “The social-political dance of this place never ends.”

“Tigellinus is going to fight your appointment tooth and nail you know.” I said.

Thrawn nodded as he stood up. “Yes,” he said, “I am counting on this.”

I just looked at him. “Okay.” I wasn’t going to ask; asking why would lead to a lecture and a lesson which would mean me spending the rest of the morning trying to figure out Thrawn’s motives for this statement. I couldn’t be bothered to play this game so early on in the day. I changed the subject. “So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“I wanted to know if I should arrange food for two or just one tonight.” He said.

“Gosh I don’t know…eating my terrible attempts at cooking in my unsecured flat all alone with only the holonet for company or a decent dinner I did not have to cook with you in your lovely home, followed by some interesting indoor activities.… tough choice.” I said giving him a look.

“And you have no lessons this evening?” he asked dryly, ignoring my bad attempt at humour.

“No. Lord Vader is busy and Master Kjestyll is away for the next two days. I think my lightsaber techniques scare them.” I said miming a swishy poke motion with a pen.

Thrawn laughed. “I can only imagine. I should be done by six, if all goes well. I will pick you up then.” He said. “We can talk more tonight.”

“Talk? Is that what they call what we do nowadays?” I asked cheekily. I was glad to see him back. I’d missed him.

He just cocked an eyebrow at me and shook his head. “Be careful, Miss Gabriel, one day that tongue of yours is going to get you into trouble.”

“Ooh, something to look forward to.” I said.

He shook his head. “Hopeless.” He sighed, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. “I shall see you later, my dear.”

“Not unless I see you first.”

He gave me the ‘okay okay you win’ gesture and escaped my office before I could say anything else, smart assed or silly.

I sighed and went back to work, hoping that was it for visitors for the day, looking forward to the evening.