Chapter 48
Star Destroyer Exactor
Piett sat at the console, staring at the message. Surely they think he's dead, don't they? Unless this was simply a clerical error…or perhaps a droid…But the fact that they'd sent a message to a supposed dead man was not nearly as significant as the as the implications of what its existence meant. The planet Gallinore…that's where Lord Vader and his wife are…that's where they're hiding….
Piett was a dutiful officer, one who had never questioned orders, at least not aloud. He knew that the emperor was counting on him to give him any and all information that would lead him to Vader, and this certainly would lead the emperor straight to him.
And yet, the image of Vader's wife, the thought that she and Vader were finally together again and happy, gave him pause. How can I allow that madman to destroy that? He thought. How can I allow that beautiful woman to be killed by his guards?
Rummaging around in the drawer under the computer, Piett found a datadisc. He downloaded the information and then deleted the message from the computer ensuring that there was no trace of it left in the computer's memory. He then stood up and left Vader's quarters, slipping the datadisc into a pocket in his tunic. Piett made his way to the bridge next, anxious to keep up with appearances.
"Ah, Piett," Palpatine said, turning around to see Piett enter the bridge. "Anything to report?"
"No sir," Piett replied at once. "I did a thorough search, but Lord Vader has clearly removed all traces of anything…"
"Enough about that," Palpatine interrupted testily. "Now that I know for certain that Vader's treachery is linked to his wife, who is in fact, Black Widow, I must assume that he too has become involved with the Rebel Alliance," he said. "That makes the Alliance more dangerous than ever."
"Yes indeed sir," Piett agreed with a nod of his head.
"That makes the completion of the Death Star of prime importance," Palpatine continued. "Set course for it at once," he said, turning to Piett.
Piett nodded in the direction of the navigator, who set course at once for the Death Star.
"Once the primary weapons are on line, the Rebel Alliance will be crushed once and for all," Palpatine continued with a smug smile.
Piett simply smiled in response, feeling more certain than ever that his decision was the right one.
Gallinore
"Are you sure that this is going to work?" one of the pilots asked. "I mean….two meters wide??"
Anakin sighed, and started to pace across the room. "It's not going to be easy, no," he admitted. "But it can be done. This is the only place the Death Star is vulnerable," he continued, looking back at the holocamera. "I promise you."
"How do you know this?" another pilot asked. "We're taking an awful risk over your theories," he commented.
"I've seen the schematics," Anakin replied. "How else do you think I was able to get them to Black Widow?"
The pilots looked at one another, realizing that Anakin had a point.
"Okay Phoenix," another pilot said. "You've made your point. So what's the next step? What do you need us to do?"
"Continue with your drills," Anakin said. "Run through the battle tactics I've just laid out. Be ready to go at a moment's notice."
"I'll make sure they do so," the leader of the pilot squadron said. "And I'll keep you apprised of our progress."
"Good," Anakin said. "Target practice, and lots of it," he added. "We'll only have one shot at this; we have to make it count."
The transmission ended and Anakin lowered his hood and turned to Padmé. "Well, they know now," he said. "Let's just hope they've got what it takes to make it work."
Padmé walked over to him and put her hands up on his shoulders. "Ani, I know what you're thinking," she said. "I know you wish you could be involved in this battle."
Anakin smiled. "I am involved, aren't I?" he asked.
"You know what I mean," she replied.
Anakin nodded. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm not going to put you through that again."
Padmé smiled. "I know you won't," she replied. She took his hand. "Come on," she said. "It's way past bed time," she told him with a smile.
Anakin laughed. "Is that so?"
Padmé nodded.
"Then by all means," he said, leading her out of the room. "Let's go to bed."
Star Destroyer Exactor in orbit at the Death Star
It was with a great sense of relief that the crew of the Exactor saw Palpatine's shuttle moving away from the ship and make its way to the giant space station. None were more relieved to see him leave than the ship's captain.
Piett had been pondering what he ought to ever since he'd made the decision to delete the message from the barristers on Gallinore. He knew that he risked execution should it somehow be learned that he had done so; and yet, somehow that didn't make him any less resolute in his decision. Firmus Piett had always been a man of conscience, of high moral standards; he had devoted his life to serving the Empire that he truly believed was a just and good institution. Having seen the leader and creator of this Empire up close and having witnessed his madness, his utter contempt for life, he had begun to see the Empire for what it truly was. It sickened him to think that he'd served the Empire for most of his adult life; it sickened him that he'd had a part in their mandate to destroy the Rebel Alliance. He knew now that the Alliance was the just and good institution, not the scourge of the galaxy that he had come to believe it was. It's not too late to make a difference, he told himself as he watched Palpatine's shuttle grow more and more distant. It's not too late to switch sides…
"Lieutenant, a word with you please," Piett said, calling over his second.
The young officer approached Piett. "Yes sir?"
"I'm over due for leave," he said. "I will be departing for home within the hour," he added.
The officer smiled. "I wish you a happy voyage, sir," he replied. "The baby is due soon, isn't he?"
Piett smiled. "Not for another two months," he said.
The man nodded. "Enjoy your break, sir."
"I shall, thank you," Piett replied.
Piett left the bridge for what would be the last time and headed to his quarters to pack a bag. He know that what he was about to do was treasonous, but the way he saw it, he didn't have a choice.
Leaving his quarters, haversack in hand, Piett made his way to the hangar bay. He had no second thoughts; but the thoughts that his actions would be discovered gave him some anxiety. Knowing the emperor as he did, Piett feared for his wife should his defection be discovered. He knew that the emperor was vicious enough to use a pregnant woman as a means of exacting revenge, and knew that he needed to alert his wife and get her to safety.
Piloting the shuttle out of the Exactor's hangar bay, Piett moved the craft away from the ship before setting a course. But it wasn't to his home planet of Axxila that he set the course; it was the planet Gallinore.
Gallinore
The overhead lights screamed mercilessly into his eyes, only adding to the torment he was going through. Nightmarish sounds surrounded him, and to his horror he realized that it was the sound of his own screams that he heard. Droids surrounded him, mercilessly probing the tortured remains of his limbs, the pain the inflicted with their cold machinery beyond imagination. He flailed his phantom arm, merely a stump now, as the relentless droids attempted to hold him still so that they could finish their task. The sound of the drill was not loud enough to drown out the sound of his screams as it bore into his exposed bone...
"Lord Vader? Can you hear me?"
"Yes, my master…where is Padmé? Is she safe? Is she alright?"
"It seems in your anger …you killed her."
"No…I couldn't have!! She was alive!! I felt her!! NO!!"
"Ani, wake up. Wake up!"
Anakin woke suddenly, his heart hammering in his chest. He opened his eyes, squinting in the light that Padmé had turned on. But seeing her face was just what he needed after the horrifying nightmare he'd just had.
"Padmé," he said, reaching up and touching her face.
She smiled at him, knowing without asking that he'd been haunted by the past yet again as he slept. "I'm here," she told him, putting her hand over his.
Anakin nodded, forcing the images from his mind. "Will the nightmares ever stop?" he asked.
Padmé knew what he wanted to hear; but did she believe that? Would he? "I…I don't know, Anakin," she said finally, reaching down and stroking his face softly. "Perhaps once all this is behind us."
Anakin frowned, sensing how uncertain she was.
"But even if they don't," she continued, "I'm here for you, Ani. I'll always be here for you."
"I know," he replied.
"And I am more than willing to help….distract you from the bad dreams," she told him with a hint of a smile.
Anakin smiled too. "Is that so?" he asked, running a hand down the side of her neck.
Padmé nodded. "Yes, most definitely," she replied.
"And how exactly would you do that?" he asked.
"By whatever means necessary," she told him.
"I see. That entails quite a bit."
Padmé's smile grew. "Yes it does," she agreed, running a finger down his bare chest.
Anakin said nothing in response, but pulled her down on top of him, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her.
Security tower -Gallinore
"Thanks," the sentry guard said as his security partner handed him a cup of hot caff.
"I hate this duty," the other one grumbled as he sat down again.
His companion smirked. "Yeah, everyone does pal," he replied, rubbing his stubbly chin. "But the emperor has spies everywhere. We can't be too careful."
"I know, I know," the other man replied. "But it doesn't make the night pass any quicker," he lamented.
"No," his partner agreed. The men sipped at their caff, grateful for the caffeine.
"Hungry?"
"Yeah, I could use a bite."
"What do you want?"
"I don't care. Surprise me."
The guard chuckled and stood up to replicate them each a snack. But before the replicator could finish the order, the comm signalled. Both guards looked over at the screen, shocked to have an incoming message.
"Base one," the seated guard said. "Go ahead."
"Base one this is remote base three," the voice reported.
The two men looked at one another in alarm. Anakin had security men stationed at each of the planet's main space ports with strict orders to apprehend anyone remotely connected to the Empire. Remote base three was located in the planet's capital city of Dimitor.
"Go ahead," the guard said as the second one came to watch the screen over his shoulder.
"A lambda class shuttle landed twenty minutes ago," the remote voice reported. "We've detained an imperial officer."
"Holy shit," one man muttered softly. He looked up at his companion. "We have to let him know," he said.
The second guard nodded. "I'll notify him," he said.
"We're going to get orders," the man at the comm said. "Stand by remote base three."
"Acknowledged."
Skywalker home
"Anakin, is that your comlink I hear?"
"I don't hear anything," Anakin replied, nuzzling her neck.
"Ani, I'm sure I heard it," she insisted, as it sounded once more.
"Ignore it."
Padmé smiled, and was only too happy to do so. But when it persisted, neither one of them could ignore it.
"Damn it," Anakin growled as he reached out his hand and brought the device to his grasp. "What?" he asked testily.
"Sir, remote base three has reported that they have an imperial officer in their custody," the guard reported.
Anakin looked over at Padmé, and she knew at once that something was wrong.
"Who is it? Did they say?" Anakin asked sitting up in the bed.
"No sir," the guard replied. "Do you want him brought here?"
Anakin considered this for a moment. "Yes," he decided. "Have him and his ship thoroughly searched first," he added. "I don't want any surprises."
"Yes sir."
"What is it?" Padmé asked, sitting up and running her hand across Anakin's broad back.
"Hopefully nothing," he said, leaning back and kissing her lightly. "Stay here," he told her, standing up. "I have to deal with this."
Padmé nodded, and frowned as Anakin went to get some clothes on. "Be careful," she said as he was about to leave.
He looked back at her and nodded, and then left the bedroom.
