Bast Castle
As usual, I was awakened by Vader's mechanical breaths.
"You should stand up and take a shower."
Then he left my cell immediately. After I took the shower and dressed he came back accompanied by Barakhkha.
"It's time for you to eat."
Again I followed Vader obediently in the direction of the great hall, as always followed by the Noghri. But this time we weren't alone in the sparsely illuminated passageways. To my dismay, I noticed a whole Stormtrooper squadron. The chances of an escape sunk to zero. The table was laid in the usual way, but lacked today the crystal bottle with the blood-red medicine. I looked questioning at the Dark Lord.
"You don't need the medicine anymore, Nomi. You will have no more problems now. The time of morning sickness is over."
How could he know this? But he was right, finally, even without medicine, my stomach didn't rebel against food. After I had eaten, Vader explained to me what the Stormtrooper squad meant. And what I became to hear didn't sound good to me.
"You're probably wondering about the Stormtroopers. It's just a precaution. I am compelled to go on the Emperor's order to another star system to monitor an important project personally. The Emperor is extremely dissatisfied with the progress of the work. He thinks that my presence is beneficial. Since Barakhkha is insufficient as a guard for you, I have ordered a Stormtrooper squad. They have order to kill you when you attempt to escape or when there is an attempt to free you."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"But when they kill me my triplets, your desired Dark Jedi, will also die. What will become of your ambitious plans?"
Vader replied: "Better I take this loss, than to risk that you, even if it is unlikely escape and your children serve the Rebellion. If I can't get your children, then nobody should get them."
I was firmly convinced that Vader wouldn't do anything that endangers the triplets and now this. The Dark Lord was really unpredictable and full of surprises. That didn't look good. Would Wedge, Gavin and Tarik manage to stand up to the Stormtrooper squadron? And above all, would they be fast enough to free me before the Stormtroopers would execute Vader's order to kill me?
After the meal, I was taken back to my cell, where two Stormtrooper were standing guard now. When I was alone in my cell I thought about the possibilities I had to protect myself and my children. The result was disillusioning - there were none. Any attempt to reach me in time would be doomed to failure. The two Stormtroopers at my door would always be faster than my brother and my friends. As soon as they would hear the sound of battle, they would come in my cell and kill me.
Outside I heard a shuttle start. I thought to know where Vader went, because of the dream I had. He was on his way to Endor, the construction yard of the new Death Star.
I was about to fall asleep when Barakhkha appeared in my cell.
"Tell me about the Rebellion and why you fight against the Empire," he asked.
I gladly followed this request, hoping to win him for our cause.
When I had finished describing the atrocities committed by the Empire, a very thoughtful Noghri sat in front of me.
After a seemingly endless period of silence, he looked at me with his glowing eyes and said simply: "I want to join the Alliance. For too long, I and my people have served the Empire. The New Order of the Emperor is wrong, I've realized that through your tales. I see it in your eyes that you haven't lied to me. I'll leave you alone now because I have to think about what I've heard." Then he left me.
It seemed as if I had found a new ally for the Alliance.
Barakhkha intended to go to his home planet Honoghr after a successful escape. He wanted to enlighten his fellow tribesmen about the true interests of the Empire. If it would possible the Noghri to become our allies, we would have a large number of brave warriors in our ranks.
The rest of the day was very quiet. The silence was only interrupted by the Stormtroopers' heavy footfalls at the change of guard.
When Barakhkha brought me my lunch and later my dinner, he was very silent. Apparently he was still thinking about my tales.
Just before I went to sleep he came back in my cell.
"I will think of an escape plan. It's important to the entire galaxy that you and your children don't remain in the hands of the Empire."