An Unfortunate Engagement

"Mother, must we go to that drab base? I hear it's awful there," Maela whined as she packed her bags.

"Whether or not it is as awful as people say, we are going," her mother said in a stern tone, "We are going to visit your brother and cousin and that is my final say." Maela knew better than to bicker with her mother, but she had very mixed feelings about the trip. Her mother had been trying to marry her off ever since she had turned 18 and with the passing of ten years, her mother was becoming more and more frantic to find her daughter a husband. There was no doubt that Maela's mother was insisting on this visit to Star Killer Base to find a nice officer to marry Maela.

"Then you may want to think again about what you are packing, Mother. It is supposed to be very cold on the base; I hear it is constantly covered in snow," She informed the woman who had pulled a sleeveless gown from the wardrobe in Maela's room.

"You hear many things," the elder woman chided as she returned the gown. After some perusing, Maela's mother chose another gown from the wardrobe. This one had long, slender, lace sleeves, not much warmer but visually more appropriate. It was a deep red trumpet style with a Queen Anne neckline made of matte satin. This was the dress Maela's mother had Maela wear when she wanted her to impress possible suitors. Maela had to agree that the dress did look very nice on her. The cut and neckline were very flattering to her figure and the color contrasted well against her pale skin, but no matter how much Maela liked the look of the dress on herself, she hated putting it on. It took time for her mother to lace up the corset styled back and to pull and prim the sleeves until they were on just right. Not to mention the undergarments required to smooth Maela's stomach and plump her breasts and buttocks.

Maela's mother hung the dress in a large, wardrobe trunk along with the undergarments. She picked a black and silver sash to tie around Maela's waist and put it with the rest. While Maela's mother attended to the finer garments, Maela turned her attention to packing more casual attire- blouses, trousers, and lounge wear. She also snuck in loose-fitting, athletic attire for whenever she could sneak off to a training room to spare with her cousin Phasma. Maela's mother was very against Maela's learning to fight and other such "unlady-like" pursuits and so Phasma had been teaching Maela the arts of combat in secret for years. Maela did a great many things behind her mother's back such as drink, gamble, and support the resistance. Yes, that was Maela's biggest secret. She could not confide that information to anyone in her family or any of her friends. Maela was very careful to lead everyone to believe that she was like-minded to them, though she prayed every night that the First Order would be overthrown and the next generation of Jedi would appear and lead the cosmos into the prosperity of the Light.

Though she did complain of the trip, Maela was glad to be seeing her brother and cousin. It had been too long since she had been able to spar and she was desperate to reestablish her skills. Cousin Phasma had said that Star Killer Base's training rooms were the best out of any outpost of the First Order and Maela was anxious to see them for herself.

"Johime has recently been promoted to Head Engineer for his work in the conception of the very base we are going to be staying on," her mother's comment brought her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, he must be very proud, I know I am," I lied. I loved my family but it broke my heart to see how involved with and blinded by the darkness they were. They did not believe that their views were wrong and saw the resistance as the evil in the galaxy.

"He brings so much dignity and honor to our family, I always knew he would go far, but this out strides all expectations," Maela's mother said with pride. Her older brother was very accomplished and one of the most intelligent people she knew, she just wished he used his genius in other ways. Maela decided a change in subject was best.

"Pack the dark blue dress, please; it is my favorite," she asked her mother. It was also the most comfortable evening gown she owned.

"Of course, dear. I already have."

They finished packing in silence and soon their luggage was being carried to their ship. As they took off, something in the pit of Maela's stomach dropped and she was suddenly very terrified of where they were headed.