A/N: Lucas owns the world Scarlett and I just tweak it to fit our version of reality.
Chapter 6
My new toys happily in my hands, Kelson and I made our way back to my quarters in order to finish our preparations.
"Oh good, he's not home," I observed looking around the empty parlor.
"Well, don't you need to talk to the guy?" Kelson asked perplexed.
"Yes of course," I agreed shrugging. "It's just that since he's not here right now, it gives me a chance to change."
"Change?"
"Yes, change," I told him. "As in: 'you really should get home and let me take care of this my way' change."
To this, Kelson only chuckled shaking his head.
"In other words, you're going to use your feminine wiles," He remarked.
"Don't be ridiculous, Kelson," I shook my head lying sincerely. "This isn't the Empire where sleeping with the instructor gets you perks- in point of fact, Luke is harder on me then on any of the others. They don't get lectures instead of pillow talk in the middle of the night.
"No, I just want to break our request to him gently, that's all, and since it's such a personal subject, I think that I should fly this one solo."
"Right," He agreed obviously unconvinced. "So are you going to give the man a good time before or after you tell him you want to ransack daddy dearest's old haunt?"
Unable to believe my ears, I looked over at him.
"Kelson, you are more crude then most imperialites I've met," I told him primly.
Kelson however, just beamed.
"Enough idle banter," I declared pointing to the door. "Now, go."
Kelson laughed but relented and left.
Which was fine by me as I had absolutely no idea as to how much time I had to get ready.
The first thing I did was call up a decent caterer and put in an order. It would be there in two hours, I was told. Then, I went through the motions of preparing myself and the room. The food arrived, the table was set and everything was ready by the time Luke came home.
Two seconds.
That was precisely the time it took for my paramour to look around at the candles glowing romantically on the table, the glittering dishes, chilled wine and, delicious gourmet foods under their warmers.
Two seconds before he looked over at me.
"Alright," He declared. "What've you done?"
"Me?" I asked straightening a hand on my chest. "Nothing," I shook my head. "I just thought a nice romantic dinner-"
"-Would make up for whatever trouble you've managed to get into," He finished for me as he crossed the room and sat down at the table ignoring the food. "I know you Dallayna Vokan," He informed me his tone pointed. "And guilt is an extremely powerful motivator so, what was it this time?" He asked levelly. "A building? Maybe a wing of the medcenter?" He prompted. "Whatever it is that got blown up, wrecked or otherwise demolished due to your Talent, had to be pretty big to warrant this kind of display," He observed.
"Alright," I declared leaning back. "So much for the subtle approach," I sighed. "We found out the Final Contingency was a part of something called the Omega Project," I explained. "And, both of our fathers were involved so," I took a deep breath. "We need to go in and find out if your father might have left something on his old database about it."
That stopped him, just as I knew it would.
Luke paused for a moment as he looked at me.
"I don't understand," He finally confessed shaking his head. "What does that have to do with me?"
"Kelson's in the NRS, Luke," I reminded him. "Which means that we have to go about this investigation by the book-tape and that means, we can't go in without either a warrant or the permission of the property's owner," I shrugged. "As one of his surviving children, by law, the place belongs to you," I told him carefully. "That means that we have to have your explicit written permission and have you there when we search the place.
"Beyond that," I commented. "If there is anyone who is powerful enough to get past those almost legendary security systems that place has to possess, love- that would be you."
Luke took this in for a moment as he considered my words.
His mind was closed to me as he thought. Private.
Ever since the first time we had been together intimately there was usually a small murmur that existed between us- a sort of "com channel" filled with chatter that was just a too low to make out but once in a while he would shut it down without seeming to even notice it. It was almost as if he would just set up a mental Auto-Away response to our connection and sign off so easily that it was hard to tell whether it was on purpose or not.
I never liked it when it happened but the truth was that there really were just some parts of the man I loved that I would never be in on- things I would just never know and, I accepted it because the reverse was equally true: there were, sadly some things I would never tell him either. And, it wasn't because I didn't think he would understand it was because I didn't want him to.
Sad though it was- sometimes, once in a while it seemed almost as if we inhabited different galaxies from one another. And, I liked his galaxy.
Yes, there were parts of that galaxy I could never and would never understand- never touch but there was also no way that I would ever allow mine to harm it. So, I did the only thing I could do: I waited.
Finally, at long last, he sighed.
"Actually, I have been there before," He admitted more to himself then to me. "But there's nothing there Dallayna," Luke told me rousing at last as his eyes met mine and the com-channel reopened. "And even if there were, I don't think that even you could slice his system."
I paused for a moment and took a sip of my wine in order to clear my mouth.
"We have to try Luke," I shook my head. "It's the only lead we have right now.
"Whoever's behind this, whoever they got to enact whatever plan it is that's in motion," I took a deep breath. "They're covering their tracks way too well," I told him.
"And," I admitted further. "The use of that term 'Final' has me worried, Luke, I have to admit that the idea of our fathers using that term 'Final Contingency' has me worried."
"He was a master of the contingency plan," Luke admitted himself frowning slightly. "Alright Dallayna, we'll go," He sighed relenting. "But only us," He told me. "I don't really like the idea of anyone else going through that place but us."
"Okay," I nodded my agreement. "So, you want to go in the morning?"
"No," He shook his head as he stood. "Let's get this over with. It's unpleasant enough that I really don't want to forestall it any more then I have to."
Suddenly realizing something I blinked looking around.
"Hey," I remarked. "Where's Artoo?"
"Arguing with Threepio," Luke told me. "Go get dressed," He stated. "I'll make the arrangements."
While I dressed, Luke acquired a flitter for us and packed up the supplies that we would need- including my new equipment.
Which brought a slight smile to me when I recognized those different galaxies yet again: the last remaining Jedi Master and sole member of the Master's Council- defender of truth, justice and the law had no idea that the slicing equipment he was loading up- like all slicing equipment could net the person caught with it about 25 to life.
Tactfully, I refrained from informing him and just shook the thought away as a distraction and then, we were off.
We flew for a while in silence Luke handling the controls as we left the lights of Imperial City far behind.
He was silent. Morose. The chatter was still there but it was not happy and, there wasn't a single, solitary thing I could say or do that could help him.
Finally however, I had to do something so, reaching out I squeezed his shoulder.
Startled for a moment, he cast a glance over at me in surprise.
"Look, Luke, we don't have to do this," I told him at last.
"No," He shook his head with a sigh. "No, you were right Dallayna," He stated. "The only place the complete entirety of the plan would be is on my father's personal computer."
"Well then, you don't have to go in with me," I pressed gently.
The fact was that it was hard for him and I could tell.
Startled again, he looked over at me a second time.
"No," He shook his head smiling slightly. "It isn't that," He corrected my thoughts gently as his attention returning to flying the flitter.
"I- I really don't mind going there, or taking you there either for that matter," Luke sighed. "I'm just not sure I enjoy being in the background over this."
At this confession, I felt my brow arch as I smiled almost chuckling despite the seriousness of the situation.
"Do you mean to tell me that there's a streak of sexism beneath all that talk about equality?" I asked torn between amused and baffled.
Luke looked over at me again for a brief moment, smiling a bit before he returned his attention back to flying.
"Not really," He shrugged. "It's only that," And here he frowned. "Just tell me you are going to be careful, Dallayna," He said finally. "At any other time, I would be perfectly secure with you saving the day and, myself as well to be honest but…"
"Your gut's telling you something," I finished for him.
"No, not really," Luke shook his head. "But," He added. "Don't forget that the first time we met, you were dealing with another one of my father's plans and, it nearly managed to destroy you once before," He reminded me.
I pondered this reminder for a moment before I looked over at him with a reminder of my own.
"Ah," I declared finally leaning back in my confidence. "Well," I commented further. "This time I've got something I didn't have back then though," I pointed out.
Like I knew he would, Luke frowned.
"Oh?" He asked. "What?"
"You."
He smiled at that and as my reminder meant to, he seemed to feel better.
And thus we arrived.
Top floor of course, the palace itself didn't sit atop a building but rather floated serenely over the last remaining ocean. Or, rather, it more like loomed in all of its Dark glory.
Tall spires reached out with thin fingers towards the nighttime sky and the center arched majestically. Windows were almost non-existent but, here and there one could just catch a glimpse of one as a small square of pitch black against the polished black marbled surface of the building itself.
No trees, no bushes, no decorations of any kind, the palace stood silently aloof and completely alone far away from the city and the tremor surrounding it was indeed as Dark as its one-time occupant had been.
"Nice place," I commented after I had taken all of this in.
Luke looked over at me.
Aware of his scrutiny, I looked back.
"What?" I asked shrugging. "I'm not saying I'd want to live here, but the architecture's actually quite well done."
He didn't say a word just continued to look at me.
Finally tired of his scrutiny I rolled my eyes.
"Look," I said at long last. "Some girls like cooking, or flying, or skeet shooting, I liked art, alright?
"Architecture and interior design is an obvious off-shoot of that," I shrugged. "And, well," I continued on defensively. "I have to admit that this is a very good example of classical formalism, alright?" I declared unfolding my arms long enough to gesture with a hand to the building before us.
"The clean lines, the use of minimal accents to ease the form of it…" I remarked uncomfortably my voice leaving me for a moment. "It… well, it's a good design."
During none of this did he move or even speak. After several more moments, he merely turned and began walking towards the large doors.
Lacking any recourse, I followed.
We came to the doors and, Luke reached out and pushed it open.
Puzzled by the ease of the action, I found myself frowning.
"Waitanano," I commented. "I don't understand," I confessed. "How could it be so easy?" I asked him. "What happened to the security systems?"
"I told you Dallayna," Luke shrugged. "I've been here before."
"And," I frowned again. "You- you just left it standing open?"
Luke smiled a sad, grim smile that was more of a ghost across his lips then one of actual enjoyment.
"Who would come here?" He asked.
I looked over at him at this unable to answer.
Then, I found myself doing the only thing I could.
Smiling slightly myself with the same sadness I reached out and hugged him against me for a brief moment in understanding.
"So," I stated stepping back. "What's its effect?" I asked. "What should I expect?"
"You'll see," He told me before, activating his glowrod, he stepped in.
Activating my own, I followed after.
By sight at least, the foyer we found ourselves within possessed the same austere beauty as the outside.
Still a prime example of classical formalism, here at least, it was broken away from just enough to give it a near sense of almost warmth.
More dark marble of course, but, instead of the cold steps however, the sweeping stairwell had a runner of such a dark green that it was nearly black that broke the cool lines slightly and made one's eye flow up its curving spiral as it wound around the room up to the landing at the top with a typical formalistic flourish. It was a landing meant for posing at as well. The curve of the banister had been carved with simple clean lines but still possessed a few subtle flourishes at the landing and at the base.
The inlaid pattern of the floor was exquisite, being by far the most decorative part of the room, a classic starburst of varying shades of the deepest greens. A subtle combination.
Looking up, I spied the crystal intricacy of the chandelier, no doubt the room's centerpiece and worthy of the spot.
All of this was difficult to take in however because of the tremor of the place.
I was tired. Fatigued enough that it was making it difficult to think and, when I looked up to look at the chandelier I felt a wash of dizziness forcing me to step back to catch my balance.
Luke's arm was around me in an instant and even though it wasn't entirely needed, I was distinctly grateful for it anyway.
"Wow," I stated after a moment as I attempted to push the feeling aside.
Luke just waited for me to regain my lost equilibrium with all of the patience of a true master before speaking.
"Are you alright?" He asked finally as I straightened.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Sneaks right up on you, doesn't it?" I observed my tone bland.
Despite the grimness of our surroundings, Luke flashed me a slight smile.
"Yes it does," He agreed.
"Looks like someone's been here," I assessed looking down to see recent footprints in the dust of years.
"I wonder who," Luke remarked beside me.
"Well," I stated. "There's no way to know that right now," I shrugged.
"Right," Luke agreed, straightening. "Let's get going," He told us both. "The main parlor is this way," He stated stepping through the archway to the right.
I followed after him and was honestly surprised to find that the classical formalism was still prevalent. Classical yes, but formalism? But classical formalism- almost textbook in fact was what we stepped into nonetheless.
A large fireplace dominated the room to the right and in the center a simple, deep gray wooden clawed chaise faced it. A few wooden tables of the same rich shade had been set here and there against the walls in the corners and simple, elegant lamps sat atop them.
It was so hard to think here!
Curious, I went up to the fireplace only to discover that, despite what its builder had originally designed it for, it had never been used for a fire. In fact, manacles, empty now hung from the back wall.
Upon seeing it, Luke looked away.
"It's how they survive," He told me. "You were right about that, Dallayna, I couldn't tell you before of course, but, yes, eventually the Dark Side starts to destroy the one who uses it," He explained grimly. "So, they take the life-force of others in order to fuel their powers," He continued his voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever. "This is where he kept them."
Speechless, I stood regarding the manacles as I realized what had happened to all of the young women my own father had sent to that awful place.
In my youth, upon occasion, I would come across orders on my father's desk requesting another young woman be taken from the reeducation or the work camps and sent to Vader's palace and, no one would ever see them again.
As I stood regarding those manacles however, I understood that it wasn't for the reason that I had always thought. The only thing that puzzled me however was why only young women?
Something puzzled me greatly I had to admit as I stood there. Something was tickling at the edges of my awareness. Something that neither of us were getting.
"What were you up to?" I heard myself ask softly.
Puzzled by this, Luke looked over at me.
"Dallayna?"
"No," I shook my head. "This isn't the whole holo," I declared stepping forward to the fireplace. "Come on Darthy-boy, what were you hiding here, huh?" I asked softly to myself.
"Dallayna," He frowned stepping forward. "What-"
"-If there was one thing your father was, Luke it was subtle," I told him stepping into the fireplace and, held up my glowrod to look around at the walls. "And, this is not subtle," I told him further as I turned to look at him and gestured to the fireplace I was standing in with my free hand.
"I don't understand, what do you mean?" Luke asked perplexed.
"Well," I commented turning back to look at the walls around me. "If there is one thing my father got off of yours is that, if you really want to hide something, show them something else and, make it obvious."
"Misdirection," Luke commented gaining the idea.
"Precisely," I stated tugging on one of the chains. "So," I remarked thoughtfully tugging on the other. "If this is right out here saying 'look at me- look at how horrible I am,'" I commented pushing at bricks randomly. "Then, ten'll get you one that there's somethi- ah-ha!"
The last came from me of course as, pushing on one of the bricks, it slid partially into the wall and a soft click emanated from it. A regular rectangle opened and, smiling, I turned back to look at my beloved.
"What did I tell you?" I asked. "He might have been on the Dark Side but, the man was ingenious."
Frowning thoughtfully, Luke stepped forward and placing a hand on the hidden doorway pushed it open. I stepped through not a moment later and what we discovered there was absolutely amazing.
Thick carpeting- beautiful even covered by the dust of years lined the gorgeously painted walls. A large bed filled with soft pillows sat in the near-right corner. Up in the far right, just under the ceiling, a deadened camera overlooked it all. A couch faced a holotable to the left and, the far wall was lined with shelves and cabinets.
Searching through them, we discovered clothing of various sizes, book-tapes, solitary games, makeup and jewelry of exquisite taste- anything and everything a girl could ask for.
As Luke looked around perplexed I couldn't help but shake my head because I wasn't perplexed at all.
"You devious malbonulo," I observed to his spirit. "Smart, Darthy-boy, real smart," I breathed.
Catching onto this, Luke frowned and, turned to look at me.
"I don't understand," He admitted.
"I always wondered how a guy who had an obvious soft spot for young women could brutally kill one every few months," I admitted after a moment looking around.
"Well," I commented gesturing to the room around us. "Here's the answer.
"First cover up your weakness by letting it be known that a young woman is taken out of the work camps and reeducation centers and sent into a black-hole.
"No one ever saw them again so, let the Dark imaginations of a corrupt court come up with whatever story they want to," I continued looking around. "Meanwhile, in reality, you're taking them out of a horrible situation and giving them the lap of luxury," I explained. "What do you want to bet that they just went to sleep one night and that was that? In fact, I'm also willing to bet that they never even felt a thing."
Startled by this revelation, Luke looked around silently for a moment while he considered this.
"I don't think I want to think about that," He admitted after a while. "Can I ask one question, Dallayna?"
"Sure," I shrugged.
"How do you seem to know him so well?" He asked looking over at me. "You even have a nickname for him, how?"
Unable to do anything else, I shrugged.
"He was my dad's boss, Luke," I told him honestly. "And, they actually got along," I explained. "The man attended a few of my birthday parties for the love of the Force," I pointed out as delicately as I could. "You don't spend years listening in on someone's conversations without learning a few things about them."
At this, he had to smile slightly and shake his head. I was right and, of course, we both knew it.
"Is this it?" I asked straightening and changing the subject.
"No," Luke sighed straightening also. "This way," He told me stepping out into the parlor again.
I followed along after and, passing through the main arch we walked along the corridor. As we did so, I looked around once again something tickling at the edges of my awareness.
"Most of the rest of this place is pretty empty," Luke admitted as we walked. "The parlor and the room up ahead seem to be the only places he really used."
"Hermetically sealed and sterile, right?"
Luke nodded.
And, of course, we came to it.
A large slab for sleeping sat on the far-left corner and a computer terminal dominated one wall. There was a chair with a book-tape beside it and, idly I picked it up.
"'Book of Anger?'" I read the title aloud puzzled because even as an Archivist I had never heard of it before. "Interesting title. What is it a novel-"
"-Ah, no," Luke declared taking it from me. "Not a novel and not very interesting," He told me before placing it down again he looked around. "The systems are over there," He continued with a gesture towards them. "Do you think you can slice into the terminal?"
Biting my lip in thought I stepped up to it and regarded its blank screen my eyes traveling the standard controls.
It was so hard to think!
Standard controls… So tired… Standard?...
Then the Knowledge hit me like a douse of cold water.
"No," I stated honestly shaking my head. "No," I said again. "Because it's a trap.
"This terminal, this-this whole room is one gigantic contingency for anyone clever enough to make their way in here. You could probably even use the terminal as normal- Great Sithian Skies you could probably even spend years in this place and never even suspect anything but I'm willing to bet that trying to slice that terminal or poke around in just the wrong spot is going to set off a very nasty surprise."
Luke straightened at this.
"What?" He asked.
"'Misdirection,'" I shook my head again. "All right here, out in the open? I don't think so," I declared. "And-and look at the keypad controls Luke, the standard sized keypad controls. No self-respecting slicer would ever touch a keypad that wasn't comfortable to them and he was just as good at databases and computer systems as any of us. This is definitely not his system."
"Then," Luke commented thoughtful now. "Where?"
"I- I don't know but it wouldn't be surrounded by classical formalism that's for damned sure," I declared further shaking my head as the thoughts finally broke through the haze. "Formalism is all warm woods and deep colors like my dad likes. It's all ancient fireplaces and glowing mantels.
"But Vader was more- more conmod," My words tumbled over one another coming out of me in a rush, unbidden and unstoppable almost before they were even thoughts. "You know, black zeckron leather, shining chrome and glittering transperasteele. I mean classical's classical- cool marble and stone, clean lines and dramatic flairs all- but-but there are differences- nuances to the different types.
"And-and this whole place… It's like, it's like he copied it because he liked the overall feel but didn't think to change the details to suit him because he wasn't actually using it."
Luke took this in thoughtfully for a moment frowning.
"You're right," He declared that sapphire gaze met mine in realization. "I-I can't believe I never noticed it before," He shook his head.
"You-you wouldn't, you couldn't," I admitted shaking my own. "Luke, I only know the difference because I grew up in it. And- and this place feels like my father not yours.
"No, there- there has to be a hidden access somewhere to the real thing," I commented looking around. "Some place that he could be fairly certain that no one would ever find but he could locate easily."
Suddenly, Luke snapped his fingers.
"I know where it is," He declared. "Come on."
As he led me though the various corridors Luke, shook his head.
"I still can't believe I never thought about this before," He remarked more to himself then to me.
"Well, Luke," I commented choosing to answer anyway. "The few times you ever met the man it was when he was trying to kill you," I reminded him gently grasping his hand complete with the glowrod he was holding and stopping us both, I turned to face him. "And honestly love? That's a good thing.
"Listening to them plot, scheme and gossip are not exactly fond childhood memories to be proud of."
His gaze met mine as at this truth he sighed. His other hand came up to cup my cheek with soft gentility a saddened, near smile just tugging at his lips.
"I suppose that if I had that to look back on, I would be a little outrageous too," He admitted.
With a deep breath, he straightened.
"And, the room is this way."
After a while of walking, we came upon the promised room and I could instantly see why Luke would think it would be the place.
It too was almost barren like the others but, for some reason, whereas all of the other rooms were perfectly square with columns or rectangular with bare walls, this one was a long rectangular shape and was furthermore surrounded by regular columns. It was the only room thus far that had both.
"This is the only room that's shaped like this and has the columns," Luke explained echoing my very thoughts aloud. "It's a subtle difference and, we both agree, my father was, in fact, subtle."
I smiled slightly as I stepped into it.
"So you know how Darthy-boy thought after all," I observed.
Unable to resist, despite the seriousness of our grim mission, Luke smiled slightly at my outrageous nickname.
"Why do you call him that?" He asked frowning as I knew he would.
"Honestly?" I asked back with a sigh as I straightened. "I think it's a Fighter thing," I stated finally. "I guess I've always been talking to my opponents whenever I find myself going against them and, as you yourself point out, love, Vader? Not the same guy as your father or why the name change? So, while I would never joke about your father? Darthy-boy on the other hand more than deserves a little prodding," I confessed with a slight shrug filled with apology.
Luke looked over at me with that almost pained- almost humored expression that always seems to crop up once in a while whenever people look at me as that look passed over his face: I am just never going to understand you.
I was used to it though so I just straightened again and looked around.
"Well, let's get to work."
"By all means."
The initial thrill of discovery had managed to push back the inherent tremors of the palace, but as we began tapping around on the room's walls attempting to find the secret opening to Vader's private lair, I found myself fighting all manner of yawns and heavy fatigue.
Unfortunately there was no other way to do it.
Not only would Vader have hidden his entrance against just about any kind of spectrum imaginable but he had apparently even managed to do something that would prevent any Jedi from utilizing their Senses in order to sniff out its location (yes, he tried to no success).
So, even though it was low-tech- it was still a tried and true method that we were forced to fall back on: tapping and listening for any change in timber to alert us to the location of a hidden door. Well, at least it was a first step.
The worst part was though that the repetitive nature of our first attempts at a search only made the exhausting tremor all the more obvious.
It was a weary sort of feeling that pulled at brain and bone that came about me and, all too soon we fell into an almost hypnotic rhythm. Tap… Tap… Tap…
Tap… Tap… Tap…
In fact the only break as we continued was when Luke talked to me to keep my mind awake and occupied.
"It's an old Sithian trick," Luke explained at one point.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"I encountered it before in Joruus Ca'Both," He admitted. "And, it nearly got me too," He added his tone meaningful.
"Hmm," I remarked stifling a yawn as I leaned against the wall for a much needed break.
It felt like it had been days since we had arrived at the palace and I had felt anything but tired.
"What purpose does it serve though?" I found myself asking between yawns.
Luke looked over at me smiling just a bit as if the answer was self-evident. He looked tired too but nowhere near as bad off as I was.
Of course, this only gave me an occasion to remember all over again that, yes, I could accept that my beloved was more knowledgeable then I in some things. And that, yes, this is no more or less true then it would be for any other person in the galaxy as everyone knows both more and less then everyone else on various subjects.
There are times however, when it was distinctly annoying to be a mere Padawan dating a Master nonetheless. Most usually this was whenever it was easily apparent and he didn't even notice that it was.
Yes, it never ceased to annoy me, I remembered all over again.
After all, during classes it was acceptable, understandable- that was, point blank, what my beloved did. But it always annoyed me however. I always got annoyed whenever I found myself being so casually hit with the reminder.
In fact, I think anyone would be annoyed to be reminded that the same man who they tousled playfully with in the mornings- the precise, same man who watches those ridiculous Jekk Starsailor holos and laughed at all of the outrageous lines and unbelievable action scenes, was indeed also capable of walking casually into the core of a fusion power plant and… Stroll right back out again without being even so much as singed.
Needless to say that realizing that the same person one gets into tickle-fights with is also capable of moving entire ships with one's mind is a little disconcerting and I do not like to be disconcerted.
"I have a barrel with twenty kilos of water in it," Luke informed me after a moment.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"What do I have to add to make it fifteen kilos of water?" He asked.
Blinking, I looked over at him.
"Huh?"
Luke smiled slightly.
"It's a riddle," He said.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"I have a barrel with twenty kilos of water in it, what do I have to add to make it fifteen kilos of water?"
I blinked over at my paramour in order to make certain that he still had the normal number of heads.
Nope, just the one, I realized making me furrow my brow in annoyance.
"How, in the Sith, should I know?" I asked wearily.
Luke smiled and nodded.
"And that, Dallayna, is why they do it," He declared turning back to the wall. "You normally love riddles and are extremely good at them, better than I am in fact."
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"I'm feeling a little slow on the uptake here," I admitted holding up my hand with a sigh. "Could you run that by me using smaller words?" I asked stifling another yawn.
Luke chuckled at that and turning from his search again, looked over at me.
Leaning against the wall facing me, he regarded me for a long, silent moment.
Completely unaffected by what surrounded us.
Definitely annoying.
"You're tired aren't you?" He asked instead of answering my question.
"Well," I shrugged. "I believe that was the subject of the discussion."
"You're finding it hard to concentrate," He continued as if I hadn't spoken. "You aren't interested in anything that would normally interest you and, your reasoning is being affected by it.
"Something that you would have put together in a matter of moments, you just instantly give up on as being too difficult," Luke assessed levelly his gaze meeting mine filled with meaning. "And that, Dallayna, is why they do it.
"They do it to weaken your will long enough for you to become so far lost into the Dark Side that there is no way out. As you are so fond of saying Dallayna, they do it to make sure that 'The. First One. Is Free.'"
I stood for a moment taking this in before slowly, I nodded.
"Oh," I heard my meek voice state.
"Right," He nodded before straightening. "Let's get back to work, it shouldn't be too much longer before we find the place and you can slice into the system," Luke told me going back to work himself.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"I'm sorry you have to go through this right now but I'm trying to conserve my energy so I can help you with the fatigue when you need it," He stated honestly. "So, you'll feel better when you get to work on the system."
Mutely, I nodded and straightening myself, got back to work as well.
Although not overtly onerous, the task of looking for the opening was tedious and combined with the exhaustion, managed to make time seem to stand still. Tap… Tap… Tap…
Tap… Tap… Tap…
In some moments I even found myself almost convinced that Luke and I had never been anywhere else- had never done anything else- had never been anywhere else but forever tapping away at the walls. Tap… tap… Tap…
Tap… Tap…THUNK!
We both froze and looked over at one another.
Luke's eyes turned to regard the column before me that I had been tapping on.
I didn't bother. He had better senses then I did.
"I do see a thin line," Luke admitted as my hands searched around for a release. "Looks to be about three meters high and two wide," He told me.
"I-I think I feel something," I commented saddling around the column into the shadows of it. "In the recess…. Right about-"
"-Wait," He advised but, it was already too late for as soon as my hand encountered the smoothness there was a brief hum and then a click!
Before us the door swung open.
"Dallayna get-"
But again, he was too late as instantly we were both bathed in a deep scarlet light that began at our feet and raced up to the top of the doorway before disappearing.
I was no longer tired in the least as I stood there regarding the empty doorway.
"Honey?" I asked as lightly as I could. "I think we're in trouble."
"Duck," Was all he said but that was plenty for me.
For once and only that once I was actually physically faster than him as diving aside it was a split moment before he was upon the ground beside me, his arm protectively over me while he shielded me with his body. Not only gallant but helpful as well since he had far better use of his abilities in the Force to protect us then I did.
Nothing moved.
Luke still held me down and I still lay there patient.
It was a classic gambit and would have been all-too typical of him to set in a delayed response time. Let the interlopers think upon their eminent death, perhaps even try to escape it- all to no avail. It would have given him a chuckle when he returned and found the bodies.
No, I had absolutely no doubts that whatever nasty mechanical surprises that were about to descend upon us were going to be decidedly deadly in nature.
"Luke?" I whispered after a moment.
"Shh," He hushed me softly.
I waited for a while.
Not that I minded all that much. Due to our close proximity I could barely Feel the tremors of the palace buried as it was by the warmth of my love's mind. And then of course was the fact that I always liked being close to him no matter what the circumstances.
Then, realization slowly sank in.
"Ah," I commented at long last. "Nothing's happening."
Puzzled also by this lack of reaction, Luke looked up briefly his arm still protectively covering my head with an almost inappropriate gentleness.
"That scanner had a purpose," He whispered back.
"Maybe something's gone wrong in the system?" I offered. "How many years has it been running straight?"
Luke considered this for a moment.
"Well over a decade."
"Well, there you go," I observed. "I think love, that you can get off me now."
"Hmm?" He looked down at me and then, "Oh."
Smiling a bit at himself, he sat up and helped me to do so also with a gentle hand on my arm. His other came out to cup my cheek.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Fine," I answered already suspecting what was coming next.
And, of course, he didn't disappoint.
In some ways, my love is indeed completely predictable which, considering the fact that in this particular case it meant that we were kissing, this was not always a bad thing.
"Mmm," I commented my contentment after we had come up for air before, opening my eyes I met his sapphired gaze. "Let's go get some bad guys," I remarked.
Chuckling, he rose to his feet and holding out his hand, helped me to mine.
"By all means," He waved to indicate the door.
We went in through it together and as we did so the lights slowly came to life one by one.
Quite considerately as well considering the fact that we found ourselves in a large, shallow stairwell that went for so long that it looked for all the galaxy like it went on forever. There were no other footprints in the dust this time though.
As we looked around I found myself whistling my appreciation.
"Boy, he really took that phrase 'descending to the Dark Side' seriously, didn't he?" I observed trying to pierce through the shadows in the distance.
At Luke's scrutiny, I looked over.
Finally exasperated by his looks, I held my hands up.
"What?" I demanded.
He didn't answer.
"Look, I'm sorry," I told him honestly with an exasperated sigh. "But when you spend as many years as I have whistling in the Dark it gets to be a habit- annoying though it may be, it's just a habit, alright?" I finally asked my frustration coming to the fore. "So it's just not going to change Luke.
"Believe me, I spent a year and a half on Yavin trying to change it and," I added meaningfully. "Look where that got me."
Sighing a sigh filled with the resignation of centuries, Luke just turned away and began to walk down the stairs leaving me to trail after him.
We walked for several minutes before looking over at me, he smiled and, reaching out took my hand before squeezing it warmly.
In the silence, I vowed that my overtly large mouth would not be voicing any more tactless observations.
And so we made our way.
Most of my problems were stemming from the fatigue to be honest. Weariness always had a habit of removing any amount of filtering between thought and voice in me and my thoughts could never be considered appropriate.
My thoughts are just not as mild-mannered as they should be due to my Talent and background. In fact, quite the opposite, if Luke tended to brood- I tended to make light of a topic.
Yes, my beloved was a died in the wool, hardcore idealist who tended towards the naive but I was- and would always be a died in the wool, hardcore cynic who tended towards knowing far more then she should about all of the wrong things.
There was however, nothing humorous about that stairwell or our purpose.
Someone, somewhere in some book-tape I could never remember once made the observation that it is the nature of tunnels to seem endless and I had to admit as we made our way that endless is precisely what it felt like.
We paused many times for brief breaks that I spent sitting down on the steps and leaning against the wall with Luke beside me holding my hand.
Grimly however, we pressed on and eventually, at long last, we came upon the end of the stairwell and to a thick, heavy door.
We paused before it while we considered what to do.
"It looks like it's mechanized," Luke observed.
"Good thing it's only a contact plate," I commented reaching forward and placing my hand against it.
"Dale, wait-"
Once again however, Luke was just a little too slow as the contact plate warmed at my touch and within the door- clicks and whirrs answered my action.
Slowly, the door opened.
Puzzled, Luke looked over at me but I was already stepping through forcing him to come up behind me as the door was beginning to swing back closed.
The small airlock beyond sprang into illumination immediately and the air moved a mechanized wind and mist buffeting us from both above and below.
"Sterilization," I told Luke over it and he nodded his agreement.
Then, the cycle was complete and the far door was opening.
Slowly, we stepped into the secret lair of a Sithian Lord.
If I had even for a moment ever actually considered what I would find in the parlor of Lord Vader as I looked around, I had to admit that it would have been pretty much what we found.
Another fireplace this time smaller and fake was faced by a black zechkron leather couch. Like the one in the parlor above this one also was obviously never really put to use. In fact, the room seemed more like an answer to a foyer than anything else- something to pass through on the way in.
Similarly, there were also small and simple tables- this time in black and silvered chrome and transperasteele were dotted along the wall and in the corners with small lamps but oddly enough this time, the room's decorations didn't end there.
Along the walls placed with a good eye for detail were several paintings of various styles that hung almost as if to defy the overall effect of the room.
Catching sight of the nearest one, I found myself gasping as I stepped up to it.
"By the Force," I breathed in amazement drawing Luke's attention.
"What is it?" Luke asked looking from the painting to me and back again.
I regarded the painting before me wordlessly for a moment before I could finally find words the constant fatigue and exhaustion lost behind wonder and amazement.
"Exquisite."
Despite our surroundings, Luke smiled in bafflement as he looked over at the painting.
"What?"
But I was lost in the perfectly created wonder before me.
It had no frame- none of them did, but what I regarded was an oil painting on a simple tarplin canvass in the Eridanian style of a beautiful young woman at the edges of a forest looking back at the bright paradise of a meadow behind her. Somehow, the artist had managed to capture her beauty in that precise moment so that one could only just catch the merest glimpses of a beginning smile as if she had just caught the eye of a much beloved first romance.
It was a portrait of innocence and beauty- love and youthful idealism forever protected from the cold cruelty of the galaxy. It was in fact, one of the most delicately rendered artworks I had ever seen and here, in this place of Darkness it sat collecting dust without even so much as a frame.
"Oh Luke," I breathed as I regarded it. "This-" I stammered trying to convey my thoughts into words. "This… It's… It's a masterpiece," I finally managed to get out.
"Look- Look at the way the artist utilized contrasting lighting and shadow to convey protectiveness. The way he used form and color to make her a part of both the meadow and the forest," I continued my words stumbling along with my thoughts. "And the brushstrokes- so bold elsewhere and yet so… delicately done around the subject," I pointed out to him with wonder.
"It's- it's beautiful," I fell to stating unable to think of any more words.
Pulling myself up straight I shook my head.
"We- we have to save it," I told him. "Some-Something like this should not be rotting away in some forgotten place of darkness.
"It- it has to be rescued, shown, returned to the galaxy where it belongs- Luke," I stated looking over at him. "We have to save this."
Luke smiled putting his arm around my shoulders his tremor filled with warmth and tenderness.
"Alright," He nodded. "We'll save it," He assured me before his blue eyes looked down to mine. "You really do like art, don't you?"
"Well," I shrugged. "Something like this before them, who wouldn't?" I countered slightly uncomfortable before looking back at the painting I had to shake my head.
"You know, I've- I've never seen this style before," I commented stepping up to it.
"So meticulous," I stated thoughtfully as my eyes fell to the bottom looking for the artist's signature. "It's almost like Gryker's work but-" And here my words left me as I found it.
I blinked for a moment but the signature refused to change. It was indeed what I had read.
Puzzled by my silence, Luke stepped forward.
"Dallayna?" He asked worriedly.
"Well," I heard myself remark not entirely aware of my own thoughts. "It looks like they were right after all," I said further.
"Who were?"
An answer for a moment I just looked over at Luke before my attention returned to the painting and I pointed to the signature.
"The people who say: 'Everyone has to have a hobby.'"
Frowning for a moment, Luke looked over at me and then, spying what I was pointing to read it himself. Slowly, ever so slowly his features softened into surprise and then, blinking in shock he looked back at me and our eyes met.
I looked back at the painting.
"You know," I commented finally. "On second thought," I continued into the silence. "Let's just leave that there for now," I decided. "Shall we?"
Regarding the painting himself, Luke nodded for a moment in silence.
"I'd say we keep this to ourselves as well," He added his voice level. "Let's," He remarked thoughtfully. "Let's not mention this to Lea, either."
Nodding also, my eyes still on the painting, I too was finding the precise words to fill in the silence a bit elusive as well.
"That, ah," I managed to get out. "That might not be a bad idea," I agreed.
We both stood for a moment not entirely certain how to crest the moment of shock as we regarded the painting before us before at long last, Luke spoke.
"Let's," He stated. "Let's go find the computer system."
My eyes still on the painting before me I didn't answer at first.
"Right," I nodded grateful for the rescue from my thoughts before turning, we left it behind.
Neither one of us said it aloud of course and as soon as it was behind us, we didn't mention it again.
Nor did we ever comment upon the artist's signature for there it had been in a small scrawl of yellow paint upon the bottom right-hand corner, the two letters filled with scandal: DV.
But that was not the most shocking thing we found for, as we wandered from the room, we came upon another, the painting's birthplace.
An easel stood in the far right-hand corner and along the near right were small stacks of paintings and dozens upon dozens of sketchpads. Most of the paintings were unfinished and, not all of those that were could be considered great artwork but there were a few pieces that were very well done- very well done in point of fact.
Against the far wall there was a large desk and a music player with a crystal still in it. While Luke looked through the paintings with wonder, unable to help myself I crossed the room to the desk and reaching out activated the player.
Immediately the air filled with pounding drums, howling trisers and human guitars. The lyrics were being screamed more than sung and, I was not surprised to recognize them as I instantly recognized the style of Thermal Shock.
"Black, red, gray and white-
"The fools're coming out tonight.
"White, black, red and green-
"Just another cog in the murder machine!"
Smiling slightly, I turned off the player and looked over at Luke's startled expression.
"Another mystery solved," I commented.
Luke looked over at me.
"What?"
Unable to answer for a moment, I found myself shaking my head.
"I always wondered why BIW never got censored," I admitted instead unable to prevent a slight smile as I looked over at him. "Guess now we know."
His lips nearly twitched for a moment before his expression turned disapproving.
"I wasn't aware that you listened to Thermal Shock," He stated instead.
"Well, Luke," I commented. "Turn about's fair play I guess because I wasn't aware that he did too- much less the same bands. Of course," I pondered further unable to prevent myself. "It makes sense now that I think about it- he probably thought it was funny as Sith."
Once again, Luke's lips almost twitched for a moment before he scowled.
"This is neither amusing nor appropriate, Dallayna," He informed me centuries of Jedi dignity filling his manner.
Getting my humor under control I nodded.
"Right," I agreed before turning, I sat down at the large desk and, in order to occupy myself began to go through the drawers while Luke's attention returned to the paintings.
Opening the second one, I froze before with deliberation, I closed it.
Sitting at the desk, I looked at the wall before me for a moment before I realized that I really had to say something about my discovery even as Luke continued to go through the paintings and sketches.
Unfortunately however, having recognized the drawer's contents I wasn't entirely certain how to do so with any amount of delicacy.
"Ah Luke?" I called trying to keep my tone careful.
"Yes Dallayna?" He answered coming forward. "Did you find something?"
"You could say that," I nodded not looking over.
He was beside me now, facing me.
"What?" He asked further.
Taking a deep breath, I decided that there was simply no way that I could say it aloud and so, instead, leaning over, I opened the drawer.
Reaching in, I pulled out the only object therein and straightening, I held it out sitting upon the large desk's surface facing Luke unable to look over at him.
Absolute silence came from my beloved as he regarded what I held. I carefully kept my eyes on the wall.
After a few moments of this, I could no longer bear the silence.
And so, deciding upon the most delicate thing I could do in that moment, I leaned over to where I held the object. Spying the small tag that had been stitched into the inside of its vest- just like every other one I had ever seen before, I read what was written on it.
I still couldn't quite meet my beloved's gaze however as I straightened my eyes once again resolutely upon the wall before me.
"It says," I stated my tone careful. "Its name," I continued my words halted by my attempts to be delicate. "Is: Bobo."
More silence.
I understood its existence and so, waited with patience.
Slowly, eventually however, someone had to say something and so, I found myself clearing my throat.
"We- ah," I remarked haltingly. "We won't say anything to Lea, right?"
Still nothing.
Finally though, at long last he spoke.
"She wouldn't believe it," Luke informed me his voice perfectly even and measured his eyes never leaving what I held.
Then, as if almost as an afterthought he commented further his brow furrowed.
"I don't believe it."
I said nothing for a moment unable to trust my answer before once more in control as much as I could hope to be given the circumstances, I straightened.
"Luke?"
"Yes, Dallayna."
I paused for a moment collecting my thoughts before finally, I took a deep breath.
"Take the bear please," I stated at long last.
Then, unable to hold it back any longer, I shivered while at the same moment trying to bite back a smile.
"It's giving me the creeps," I admitted my emotional response tearing me in twenty different directions all at once.
Not meeting my gaze in any way whatsoever, he stepped forward and, reaching out with deliberation- as if taking from me something that no one wanted to admit the existence of (which neither one of us obviously did), he took it.
Turning, our eyes still never meeting, he stepped away and, I waited for a moment before I trusted myself to finally stand and turn to face him.
Thankfully, it was nowhere to be seen when I had done so.
"Let's get to the computer room," He stated at last.
Nodding without a word, I followed him.
We eventually located the computer room. And, looking around I felt the fatigue that pervaded the very Force lift once again as I whistled in appreciation.
"Can you slice it?" Luke asked as I stepped forward.
It was quite simply like nothing I had ever seen before but it was very much what I had expected.
There didn't appear to be a normal touch- or keycode- entry method nor did it look like there were any outward indications of an interface of any kind.
A large chair, more of a throne than anything else faced the large screen and, though there were a few controls before it, nothing immediately recognizable seemed to catch my eye. This system was designed and built custom from the ground up, I couldn't help but assess.
"I'm not sure," I admitted standing before the control panel.
Actually, as the entire set up had been built by him for his proportions and, given my tiny 1.42 meter stature in comparison to his 2.5, I found myself more standing up on my tiptoes and craning my neck trying to see all of it.
"Why do I suddenly feel like Jack?" I asked smiling slightly at myself as I looked over at Luke.
"Jack?" He repeated arching a brow.
"Old child's tale, I can't remember which system it's from," I shrugged. "'Jack and the Beanstalk,'" I told him. "It's about this boy that climbs up this huge beanstalk and finds himself in the land of the giants."
"'Size matters not,'" Luke just declared obviously quoting someone else.
Unable to resist, I looked over at him.
"Actually dearest, speaking as a woman," I commented. "No matter what we say, there are some things where size does indeed matter."
"Dallayna!" Came his instant admonishment as he caught my meaning in an instant.
Unable to resist, I laughed.
"Oh don't worry love," I assured him as I reached up to scramble into the large chair. "You have absolutely no concerns in that department," I assured him over the back.
That Look answered me. The look he always gave me as a small baffled smile colored his features and he shook his head as if to say: I am just never going to understand you.
"In any case," I sighed turning my attention to the armrests trying not to feel like I was five. "We should probably get the stuff out of the flit-"
The rest of my words fell away as suddenly, the control panel bleeped pulling our instant attention as lights sprang to life across it blinking rapidly.
Luke was up beside me ready to pull me from the large chair should the defensive systems prove to be deadly but as the lights dimmed around us- we were made aware of the fact that it wasn't needed.
In fact, as the large screen sprang to life, a few forgotten leftover gizmos were the least of our worries for, we found ourselves regarding the image of the shadowed form of the Dread Lord of the Sith himself.
He was sitting in shadows in the very chair I was in, no doubt from where he had recorded the message as the breathing-rattling hiss of his battle armor filled the air for a moment in silence.
"Excellent," His image declared as he sat back with what could only be described as satisfaction.
"So, you have located my lair at last my little one, haven't you?" He asked his dark voice even and measured. "I realize that when you are viewing this, if you are indeed viewing it, then I have been," He remarked. "Defeated," He stated the word coming out bitterly.
"So," Vader continued. "It is up to you to avenge my death," He declared. "Whether it is against Sidious or against the Jedi does not matter- both shall fall by your hand my apprentice, for, if you indeed remember your lessons, so too do you remember that you are my final contingency against those who would seek to destroy me," He announced his voice filling with pleasure at the thought.
And, I somehow became aware of the fact that I had found my feet as I stood in shocked horror facing this monstrosity while the meaning of his words began to sink in.
"I have prepared you well," Vader's image assessed. "For not even our ancient enemy, the Jedi could suspect your existence until you underwent the emerging and you came forward.
"No, I have no doubts that you are already positioned to strike from their very heart and thereby at long last see the revenge of our Order fall upon them. If they are not already, through you my little one," He declared his voice a thunderous hiss of delight. "The Jedi, shall be, destroyed."
At this, two formerly unseen doors slid aside in the control panel and something rose up from each of them: the deactivated blade of a lightsaber and a credit stick.
"If the lair is still undiscovered by any but yourself, then you may utilize it as a base from which to plan your strike. But, in case its security has been compromised I have provided credits with which you may further our goals and also, a blade with which to destroy your enemies," He explained. "Know this, my little one, you are the last of us.
"Though Dallayna when I found you. You are the Omega. The only holder of our ways, the last hope of our Order, the final Sithian.
"Do not fail me little one," He announced. "For you are the last to know the true power of the Dark Side of the Force," He declared. "Darth Nemesie."
The silence that filled the room was more deep and more frozen then even space itself as the screen slowly went dark and the lights came up.
As I stood there taking all of this in unmoving and unblinking I did the only possibly sane thing I could in the wake of such horrors. Without the least amount of embarrassment then, now or ever, for the first, the last and the only time in the entirety of my life, I had the only response that was normal.
I feinted.