"I have to say I'm surprised, Your Highness. I didn't think you of all people would be looking for my services. I thought you looked down on my kind of people," a white-blonde haired young woman inquired blandly, almost bored with the conversation.
Not many things grabbed the attention of the young woman much anymore, not since her awakening on Belsavis four years ago. At one time, her name caused her enemies to tremble in fear of her wrath. She was a stalker of shadows, and no one outside of a select few knew her real identity. Well known for being an expert tactician and interrogator, Kalei Syrus, known as Lord Immitis or the Empire's Shadow, was a prominent Sith Lord of the Sith Empire during the Cold War and the beginning of the Galactic War. She gained the respect of many of her peers, including Darth Marr, unofficial leader of the Dark Council, and surprisingly, the attention of the Emperor. She had no idea why the Emperor took an interest in her, and still didn't to this day, but she used that advantage to gain more power and knowledge into the dark side of the force.
She soon came across a ritual that would manipulate midi-chlorians to stop the aging of an individual. It wasn't exactly an immortality ritual; since you could still die, but it would allow someone to live pass their time without any physical changes. It was a lengthy ritual, requiring months of preparation before it could be performed and powerful artifacts of the dark side to power it. It was all worth it in the end though, as she felt the power reshape her into something glorious. Her power increased as a result of the ritual, thus making her a bigger threat against the Jedi and the Republic.
However, she wouldn't get to experience the advantages of her power for long. On a mission to Belsavis at the beginning of the Great Galactic War, she was ambushed by Jedi and Republic Special Forces and forced into a carbonite chamber when they couldn't incapacitate her long enough to kill her. Rather than risk her going free, they chose carbon-freezing to trap her until she dies. However, they didn't know of the ritual she performed, thus making this point moot as she stayed alive far past her time. Erased from Republic records, the Sith were not able to find her for the duration of Galactic War and the Eternal Empire's conquest, eventually giving up hope that she was alive.
For three millennium she slept, watching events in the galaxy through the Force. She grew increasingly frustrated at the state of the galaxy, especially after the fall of her beloved Sith Empire, first at the hands of the Eternal Empire and later by the Republic. With the extinction of the Sith species, and the dwindling numbers of Sith, she knew that the likelihood of creating an empire like before had diminished. She grew disgusted at the the newest dogma of the 'False Sith,' as she calls them, and their 'Rule of Two.' How dare they try to rewrite millennium of Sith teachings and call themselves 'Sith,' when they haven't earned the right and honor to hold the title.
3604 years after being trapped in carbonite, the power cells of the carbonite block malfunctioned, causing it to release her into a dark chamber deep within Belsavis' prisons. It took her a few hours for her to gather her bearings from the hibernation sickness, but she eventually made it back to her ship, which was surprisingly intact after three millennium. On board, she found HK-51, an assassin droid she found on Belsavis back when she was an apprentice so long ago, and her closest companion throughout her career as a Sith. As of this moment, her favorite droid was busy hunting targets of a list she compiled to keep him at peak efficiency. It always made him happy when he exterminated targets that she gave him, as there was always an air of smugness that seemed to radiate off him after he completed an assignment. She had no problem with it though, she was proud to have an efficient assassin droid that enjoyed what he was programmed for.
"Unfortunately," the cool regal voice of the Queen of Naboo interrupted her thoughts, bringing her back to the present, "I don't have the luxury of turning away possible help. With the Trade Federation's blockade around the planet, I worry about the safety of myself and my handmaidens. I have the highest confidence in my security, but they don't have the training or the numbers to deal with a possible invasion."
"And what do you suggest I do? Ask them nicely to please go away?" Kalei replied mockingly as she smirked at the young queen, who was barely a girl herself at fourteen.
Only a small twitch in her demeanor showed the Queen's displeasure at being disrespected by the bounty hunter in front of her, knowing she was mocking her pacifist ways. Since replacing her predecessor, former King Ars Veruna, she felt like she had a lot to prove since she was younger than many of the people she does business with. However having this shoved in her face, by an outsider no less, made her stiffen her back and give the older woman a withering glare.
Deciding to ignore the mocking, acknowledging it would just give the woman more ammunition against her, Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo decided to get back to business. "I would like to hire you as a bodyguard, in disguise of course, and act as Head handmaiden. You will be in charge of protecting the others, but especially my decoy, Sabé and myself, in the case that the Trade Federation decide to attack us. You'll be well compensated, and all I ask is that you at least undergo basic handmaiden training so you'll be able to pass as one and change your appearance so you'll look similar."
Kalei tilted her head slightly as she narrowed her eyes in thought. It wasn't a bad job, and it seemed like easy money for doing nothing more than being a glorified bodyguard. And honestly, bounty hunting hadn't been the same since she left Jango Fett a year earlier when he was offered a job on Kamino, a water planet she wasn't familiar with. The two of them were lovers for a time, but knew that each were far too cynical for the romanticized love you see in holovids. They became close friends, always able to rely on each other when they needed help. She still visits him from time to time, rekindling their unlikely relationship, but she hasn't seen him in months. She had a feeling that she wouldn't see him for a while longer if she accepted this job, which caused some hesitation, but her curiosity proved stronger.
Making her decision, she focused her eyes back on the Queen, who waited patiently for her answer. "I'll do it." Who knows, she may get some excitement, or at least some amusement out of this experience. It's not every day you get to impersonate a Royal Handmaiden.
Thinking back over the years, she sometimes questioned whether or not she should have accepted the job; if her life wouldn't have been easier if she had stayed out of it. If she had never met them. However, she remembered gazing down at the baby bundled up in her arms, staring at her with their bright blue eyes, which hardened her resolve. It was worth it, because she wouldn't have met him.
So there's the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it and please leave a comment telling me what you think. I know I can't satisfy everyone, but knowing that people like what I'm writing helps stay more confident in the direction I plan on taking this series.
