RES03
Chapter 3: Flight
Understanding the officer's concerns with simply letting two imperial operatives take a prisoner to an unspecified location with blanket orders was not just unsafe but improper; Ayla sighs and controls her building anger.
"Commnder Niason, I hear you. I understand your apprehension to follow what could appear as an illegal order, but Lord Vader's orders are not ones which one simply can choose to obey or not. He has given us a mission, which if we do not follow them explicitly, it will literally mean our heads. I will sign whatever document you want me to cover you, but I am obeying his order with or without your help. No one is allowed to come near my prisoner, and no one is allowed to ask questions. Those are my orders, commander."
The physically overbearing man growls from his desk, knowing he has little choice but to obey. Lord Vader's temper for crossing him was galactically recognized, and if he somehow survived the ordeal, his career was effectively ended. With every fiber of his being telling him simply obey and ignore Lord Vader's agents, his training and discipline simply couldn't look the other way. Running out of options, he sees the futility of his endeavors and processes the space vehicle authorization order. The loss of a long range shuttle with a hyper-drive was of little consequence, as he had sixteen in service at any time, and he rarely needed more than eight up at once to execute his missions. In the grand scheme of things, it was all imperial property, and by all rights they were authorized to use the equipment. Tossing the signed authorization at the woman, he dismisses her and drops the subject.
Showing Delphi the authorization letter, she lets her start the pre-flight on the ship while she clears their departure with dock master. With so many levels bureaucracy on top of the other, she couldn't imagine how anything got accomplished in the military. Being on assignment for over nine years was still taking a considerable amount of getting used to. After depositing the letter in dock master's hands at his office, the cycle of red-tape was complete. A few taps on his computer granted them departure authorization at their convenience, and nothing else was needed. She feels him engrossed in her exquisite lines and shape as she walks out of his office. Not needing the force to feel his eyes all over her, it merely verified what she already knew. For a woman in her mid-thirties, she never let her physical strength or prowess diminish from her assignment. She constantly battled her body's desire to accumulate a pound a year, and managed to remain at the same weight since she was nineteen. Grinning, she rushes back to the hanger to assist Delphi and ensure their restraint system will hold the princess until they reach the secret base. After two hours, they are satisfied, and Ayla receives the cart of thirty prepared meals. Loading them into the refrigerator, they see nothing else remaining except to collect their prisoner. Delphi has the ship on standby mode, and lowers the back ramp to wait with two blaster rifles leveled at the ramp. If someone were to try and take back the princess, this would be their last opportunity.
Ayla grabs eight randomly selected Stormtroopers and orders them to escort her with the prisoner. Though she sensed nothing unusual, she didn't want to get this far along in their plan, just to fail now. Checking the cell, she's satisfied with her status, and orders the troops to wait until she comes out with her. Making the princess stand, she turns her around with her back to the guards, before she tentatively raises the hood. The tear-streaked visage of the young princess greets her and she lowers it back down before anyone can recognize her. Even with their security clearances, she didn't trust anyone. Placing the princess in the middle of the troops with their weapons at the ready, they march out to the hanger. It takes less than ten minutes to arrive, and Ayla keeps her weapons trained on the troopers. Stopping them at the ramp, she escorts the princess up the ramp, and dismisses the troopers. Ayla keeps her weapon trained on them until its closed and latched shut. Securing her in the prisoner transfer chair, Delphi takes the pilot's seat while Ayla keeps an eye on their prisoner. After a short flight to break atmosphere and orbit, they get the order to leave Malacor's control space and initiate hyperspace. With a bright surge of light, they jet away and breathe a sigh of relief knowing the hard part of their mission was finally over.
Leaving the cockpit, Delphi motions for Ayla to put her mask on as she dons her own. With the hood the princess wore, the amazing piece of imperial gear obscured and garbled all the voices and noises she heard and rendered them unrecognizable. The red masks they wore effectively disguised their voices allowing them to finally let the Princess to breathe easier and let her jaw relax. After attaching a shock collar to Leia, they lock her into her seat and finally release her restraints Ensuring she can lift a plastic spoon to her mouth to feed herself, they pull off the hood. Leia instinctively closes her eyes as the dim cargo lights still hurt her. As she struggles to acclimate to the light, Ayla reaches over and removes the gag. With her voice garbled by the mask, she tries to soothe the distraught girl. The Princes coughs and groans from finally being liberated from the horrible restraint.
"We won't be putting that back in if you behave from now on. All you've had are liquid meals. Think you are up to some real food? Well…real is not a good description. How about we just call it solid food and leave it there?"
Terrified beyond reason, Leia nods dumbly at the joke and accepts the reheated food tray. Too exhausted to complain, she realizes she's on an imperial transport but cannot place the uniforms of the two women. Though they have imperial insignia and rank, the style was one she was not familiar with. Unimaginable pain radiates from her mouth having worn the gag far too long, and she struggles to chew mushy overcooked vegetables. Taking an hour to eat, she finally downs the last of the processed meat, and submissively lowers her head until the tray is taken away.
Satisfied, Ayla unlatches her restraints and allows her to use the latrine before returning her to her seat. Affixing the hood back over her head, Ayla puts two trays into the oven and waits a minute until they are ready. Using gloves, she takes them forward to the flight deck and hands Delphi hers. Facing the princess, Ayla eats alongside her old friend, while never taking her eyes off her charge. A sympathetic nerve wanted to soothe and comfort the young princes, especially after years of nurturing when her parents were off fulfilling countless roles and duties in their royal position. She was the girl's confidant, best friend, disciplinarian, nanny, protector, and often bed nurse. There was no role she played in the girl's life except maybe lover, and many times Ayla toyed with the young girl's heart in that role as well. It only verified she had the child wrapped around her finger in every possible way; yet in many ways, so did the princess. This assignment was perhaps her most difficult beyond any infiltration and assassination missions in the past. Knowing the feelings will eventually pass, especially after she begins her training, she couldn't wait for the rigorous training by Lord Vader to begin.
Finding her thoughts straying to many directions, she quickly wolfs down the vegetables and picks absently at the semi-meat product on the tray. Delphi reaches out and affectionately rubs Ayla's tight leather-clad leg sensing the turmoil radiating from her elder leader. They had been strongly affectionate in their youth, but time and distance had finally taken their toll. Darth Vader had always looked the other direction when it came to their affection towards the other, and would often use their love for the other as a means to get them to willingly follow his orders. Even as the empire began to put themselves into day to day operations around the galaxy, Darth Vader resisted the chancellor's social laws by excusing his elite troops from the numerous orders. Though Ayla and Delphi were but two of twenty known operatives, they were proud that he called them his elite, and not just his guards. The High Chancellor surrounded himself with a dozen elite guards at any one time, and had at least three times as many in the woodworks like Vader.
Unsure if they could rebuild the love from what they'd lost from time, Delphi stands and takes the used trays to the kitchenette. After rinsing them off, she slides them into the bottom of the cart to return to the flight kitchen whenever they returned to an imperial station. Stopping in front of Ayla, Delphi leans down and passionately kisses her. The electric jolt of forgotten love resuscitates her spirit, bringing her out of her depressive slump. Smiling, she immediately seizes the younger woman and returns the kiss with a fire brighter than a star going nova. Bringing her into a tight hug, she thanks her for reminding her what it was like to love once again. Promising to show her more than an appreciative kiss when the get to a private room, they accept their closeness as a fair temporary trade. Ayla glances at the countdown timer until they leave hyperspace. With twenty-six more hours ahead of them, she remembers why she hated intergalactic travel: they never have comfortable staterooms in shuttles.
Caring for Leia was tedious at best. Ayla mentally referred to the girl as just her name, as the girl's royal family was effectively wiped away, and as was her identity. The galaxy had been informed she was executed for illegally trafficking classified data and aiding the resistance, and the furor it created was managed well by the Chancellor. After a few dozen apologies, and mentioning that his battle station was capable of addressing any world which had a problem with his decisions, he summarily dismissed the senators and dissolved the last traces of the republic. By declaring himself Emperor, he effectively ended the discussions and rhetoric of the aged government. Delphi mentioned that Vader predicted this day, and that their purpose will be in picking up the pieces when the empire fell. Vader never saw the Emperor holding onto the galaxy under his rule.
The galaxy functioned as long as the illusion of individual control existed. People, no matter the species, were content as long as they believed they had control over their pathetic lives. The Emperor sought to removed that illusion and wake everyone up to his power over them, and Vader only now understood this fact. In his youth, he too felt the need to lift the veil from their eyes; but after his exposure to the people of the galaxy while pursuing Jedi, Vader slowly altered his comprehension of the psychological variables of the galaxy. While he would pale in comparison as a political figure managing the galaxy compared to Palpatine, he knew he shouldn't behave like his master either.
Delphi filled the void which her lover Ayla filled when she was sent away on assignment. Earning Darth Vader's respect was verified when he used her as his bouncing board for his thoughts. As his avatar in the outside world, Delphi walked amongst the general public because Vader never could. She was his courier, spy, eyes and ears for the inhabited galaxy around them. Without her, he knew he was out of touch with what was needed to manage the galactic affairs demanding his attention. Too many politicians inhabited the galaxy, and they had powers which even Darth Vader recognized were both tangible and important as the force was to him.
As the timer counts down to zero, they take turns managing Leia, and show no hostility or anger towards the tired and scared girl. Leia's confusion was without measure, as the imperial agents never mistreated or abused her. She genuinely senses their compassion albeit distant. As much as they wanted to handle and care for her with a comfortable level of detachment, Leia knew they didn't enjoy the level of disconnect; and both had a negligible amount of fondness towards her. Their humanity was their strength and the reason for their lack of cruelty. Sensing the evil within them, a well of training and experience, she felt their control and mastery of that hidden and restrained beast.
Amena had always told her how to sense her surroundings and the people around her, and now that training was essential in maintaining her wits about her. Launching herself into a meditative trance, she leaves her body and begins looking around the shuttle. As she drifts around, she turns to the cockpit and sees the pilot with her mask off. A beautiful blonde woman only a few years older than her, checks the hyperspace controls and manages the smooth flight in hyperspace. As she spins around to see the second agent, she jumps backwards as the face of the woman is obscured by a vast black hole, where no feature can be brought forward. The woman turns towards her and raises her hand. With a vicious and cold demeanor, she backhands Leia sending her tumbling back into her body and out of the trance. Despite the ferocity of the blow, she felt no anger or hatred towards her, just an incredible level of power and control.
The seat restraints allowed Leia more freedom than she'd experienced since her capture. Rubbing her chest in pain, she felt the pain not in her face, but her heart which pounded mercilessly in her chest. As she groans quietly, the hood is cruelly torn off her head and the masked agent stares down at her in a mocking posture.
"Your connection to the force is notable child, but hardly impressive."
With a strong vehemence in her tone, Leia fires back. "My name is Princess Leia Organa, of Alderaan."
Laughing mock cruelty, she replies. "No longer. Your world is gone. Your royal status was destroyed with your planet, and the galaxy has accepted your mock execution as fact. There is nothing left of the family Organa, and you are both penniless and powerless. Your designation was prisoner 128BK549-20C157, so your new name is Fifty-seven. You will answer to that name from now on, and your old name will pass into infinity without merit or concern."
Memorizing her words, Leia immediately interrogates her. "The force? You mean like the Jedi of old?"
Nodding, Ayla continues. "The force is neither good nor evil, child. It ties all beings together and unites us, like it or not. The Jedi abused their authority and sought to unbalance the universe, while Lord Vader brought balance to the force by balancing the scales. Now there are only a handful Jedi, as there are only a handful of Sith, as the balance should be. Neither has unchecked power or authority in the galaxy, as the universe intended."
Leia senses only truth in her garbled words. "What makes you think I can tap into the force? I'm no Jedi, I'm just a diplomat!"
Laughing, the woman shakes her head. "You are an adept, but in need of great tutelage."
Leia sinks backwards into her chair sensing the familiar body and voice tone from the woman. As she searches her feelings, the woman interrupts her chain of thought. "The wise and powerful Lord Vader has defied the Emperor just to get you out of the line of fire! He signed your termination order, and our master sent us to steal you from the executioner at great personal risk. The Emperor is insane, and becoming careless in his leadership of the galaxy. Even he has foreseen Master Vader's turning against him, but he believes he is too weak and fearful to act against him. We are to be trained in the force so we can bring order to the galaxy, once more. The Emperor's idea of order is living under his boot, and that's not how people want to live. Master Vader wants to let people live free of tyranny and oppression, but recognizes we need a strong military force to keep nefarious forces in check, just like we need to keep both the Jedi and Sith in check. If we let either side go unfettered, the scales topple and collapse. The Emperor is surrounded by sensitives like us, and we will be needed if we hope to remove him from power."
Shaking her head, Leia refuses to accept the truth flowing out of the woman. Seeing little choice, Ayla tears off her mask and lets Leia stare into the face of her protector. Tears explode out of her eyes, confirming what she already knew, and Ayla goes to her knees to talk to her charge.
"I'm sorry little one, but I couldn't let them kill you, and Master Vader's plan was the only one which allowed you to live. I refuse to let the Emperor kill such a wonderful being, a true gem in the galaxy. Please consider his plan. He says he senses great strength and power emanating from you, and if I hadn't of seen it with my own eyes, I would be skeptical too. You are indeed our only hope to save the galaxy from tyranny, and Master Vader has foreseen your greatness. He's managed to keep you a secret from his master; and as a trained warrior of the force, we will rid the galaxy of the current unbalancing forces of the Emperor. Please consider the truth of what I speak."
Trembling in fear, Leia sits in silence, confounded by the tangled lies and facts laid before her. As the shuttle leaves hyperspace, Leia is no closer to discerning the truth from the lies.
