Late afternoon, the ship arrived at the shipyard on Coruscant. Still a bit fearful, Lyra didn't wait for an escort once the all-clear to disembark was broadcast. Lyra quickly moved to level 32 and joined the crowd moving down the off-ramp. After asking a couple of soldiers for directions, Lyra made her way to the front entrance. Along the way, she passed soldiers standing around or milling about in groups. No one was working; everyone seemed nervous. Who knew what would happen next, and who was in charge?
Lyra was able to quickly summon an air taxi. Thankfully, it was piloted by a droid, so it didn't balk at being directed to Number 2 Palace District. On the way, the taxi passed masses of people on the walkways celebrating. Fireworks were being set off all over. As the taxi approached Vader's palace, Lyra entered the access code on her com unit, and the protective force field lowered so the taxi could approach the landing pad. As it left the palace, Lyra entered the code to raise it. No other ship tried to approach while the field was down, which was a relief.
Lyra entered the landing bay. No one was around, and her speeder was still in its place. Lyra placed her luggage in it and move it closer to the turbo lift. Keeping her com unit with her in case the lift stopped working, Lyra took the lift to the kitchen and laundry areas. No one. All of the protocol droids including L-PO and V-8 had been shut down. Lyra moved to a security panel and keyed in the code for the camera system. Nothing on any floor that she could see. The emptiness of such a vast space was rather creepy and boosted her sense of urgency to get in and get out.
While she was here, should she try to contact the garrison below? Had they already been alerted to her presence? Let's see, newly vulnerable, very wealthy, empty building, and possibly soldiers with questionable command structure. Okay, forget contacting the garrison. Get in, get things, get out.
On her way to the turbo lift, Lyra paused by a window. Everything still seemed peaceful outside the building, but who knew what would happen soon. Lyra went back to the lift and entered the command before she lost her nerve.
The lift opened at the security blast door to Vader's personal quarters. Lyra keyed in the access code and entered. Nothing in the bacta tank chamber seemed disturbed, same with the meditation chamber. Lyra entered the code to Vader's bedroom. Again, nothing out of sorts. Lyra started looking quickly through the storage compartments, not quite sure what she was looking for. Standard underwear, a few pairs of boots, another cape, nothing of great interest. Several texts of various histories sat in a stack on the bedside table. Lyra looked through all of the drawers in the room and found nothing until her hand touched something in the very back of one. Lyra pulled out a polished wooden box about an inch thick and about six inches long. Inside the box were three photos. One was of a smiling woman and a small boy. "Anakin, 6 years," was written on the back. Anakin. Hmmm.
The next photo was of a couple, a beautiful, young woman and a handsome young man, laughing into the camera like they were sharing a joke.
"Oh my," Lyra thought. She recognized those eyes.
The next photo was a shock. It was Lyra herself, probably taken from a surveillance camera. She was in an evening gown with her hair pinned up, looking up and over her left shoulder. Lyra never really like her photos, but this one was rather good - and he had kept it.
Lyra closed the box and took it with her, locking the chamber on the way out. Lyra took the lift to her own quarters, wondering what she'd find. Were any of her things left, or had they been plundered?
Lyra opened the door to her quarters and cautiously looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Lyra turned on the broadcasts so she could keep up with the news. Nothing new, just the same information, but this time mixed with news of celebrations on various worlds.
Lyra opened the lift door and entered a command to keep it open. To protect her things from the floor, Lyra spread out the suit bags containing her evening gowns and court dresses on the floor of the lift. Next, she folded her bedspread and placed it and all four of her bed pillows in the lift. Next came the throw pillows and lamps wrapped in the cashmere throws. Using sheets and towels, Lyra wrapped her various crystal glasses, pitchers, and vases, careful to place the flowers in the garbage and dry the containers first. Who's going to empty that garbage?
Lyra packed a shopping bag with her underwear and several shirts and placed her crystal in the bag so each piece was cushioned. This too went into the lift along with another shopping bag filled with shoes. Next came a couple of stacks of clothes, more clothes on their hangers, and a bag of bathroom items. After that came the string lights off of the three potted trees. Lastly, Lyra rolled up the three rugs and gently placed them on top of everything.
Lyra looked around one last time. The refrigeration unit! Lyra gathered up the few remaining containers of yogurt and cheese and placed them in a basket in the lift. That was that. One more look outside where all still seemed quiet, and Lyra locked her door and carefully stepped into the lift.
"One thing that ran through my mind while packing my things is that at some point, someone is going to go through Vader's palace. I had visions of being mentioned in some article or show, 'This was Lady Vader's quarters. All that remains are a sofa, a chair, some yogurt, whatever. Does this give us a glimpse into her life?'"Lyra laughed. "No thanks! I left as little behind as I could."
Down in the landing bay, Lyra moved her things out by the speeder. There was only one other seat beside hers, but even with the roomy trunk, it was going to take more than one trip. Arranging her things into roughly four groups, Lyra was able to squeeze two of the piles into her speeder. Lyra programmed a location into her speeder and was off. Arriving about 10 minutes later at the private packaging and shipping store, Lyra bought a few large boxes, and using clothes, rugs, and pillows, Lyra cushioned her lamps in a couple of boxes and addressed them to her mother on Esfir. Lyra then made her way back to Vader's palace. Again, no one tried to enter when she did. Lyra moved the last of her things into the speeder and took off. This time Lyra drove the speeder herself, taking a loop around the building for one last look. Strange how there were no sentimental thoughts of her time there, just an emptiness along with the general urge to leave. Lyra then made her way back to the shipping store.
Like before, Lyra was lucky to be able to find a place for her speeder close to the entrance. Locking the speeder, Lyra headed towards the door when two figures suddenly blocked her path. The female Dathomirian and the human male Vader had been training.
"Well, well, look what we have here, and no Vader to defend you. We've been watching the palace and caught sight of you. Now, we can have the fun we promised you," the male said. Before Lyra could react even to scream for help, the two assailants suddenly froze. Staring at her, both developed looks of horror and fright. The female grabbed the male's arm, and they ran off at top speed, glancing back at her in terror.
Lyra, utterly dumbfounded, looked all around her but saw nothing. "What was that all about?" astore worker said, coming out to help.
Lyra shook her head. "I have absolutely no idea. Something scared them off, but it can't be me. I didn't do anything. I'm not even armed."
Heart pounding and still amazed, Lyra and the store worker assembled and loaded her last boxes bound for Esfir. Leaving the store, Lyra glanced around, but seeing no one, she darted into the speeder and quickly locked the doors. On the way to the hotel she chose, Lyra looked around, but no one seemed to follow.
Lyra had reservations for three days at the luxurious Hotel Manarai. She avoided The Imperial hotel, afraid to be around so many Imperial officials where she might be recognized.
At the Manarai, Lyra settled in her room and ordered tea. It was just a little over three hours since she had arrived home from the shipyard. Pushing aside her sudden fatigue, Lyra contacted Vanee and assured him that she was finally out of Vader's palace. She also noted the confrontation outside of the shipping store.
"This is quite concerning, my lady. The other two trainees are dead. I don't know why these two were hanging about unless they were trying to figure out how to break into the palace. Apparently they arrived too late to dart in while you had the force field down, so they settled on you instead. My lady, please be very careful."
"Believe me, I will. I'll also contact you when I'm safely on Esfir."
Wishing Vanee a good night, Lyra signed off. Not wishing to answer her mother's millions of questions just yet, Lyra sent her a text message that she was safely at the hotel and would arrive on Esfir in a couple of days.
With her tea cup in one hand, Lyra sat and stared. Everything that had happened over the past three years, what was the point?
Celebrations outside were still going on full force. Part of her wanted to be outside with everyone, yet it would feel too weird.
What did she feel? What was she supposed to feel? Vader had done things Lyra knew she wouldn't support. Should she be relieved, happy? The only feeling Lyra was certain about was that she was numb. For a long time, Lyra sat staring out the window drinking cup after cup of tea.
The next morning, Lyra stayed wrapped up in bed, a heavy weight bearing down on her. She stuck one hand out from under the covers and switched on the broadcasts. Nothing new, then...Lyra sat straight up.
"Tentative reports coming from the Rebel Alliance now say that it was the Emperor's own right-hand man, Lord Darth Vader himself, who killed the Emperor while aboard the military station. The Alliance has an eye witness who claims that during the battle for the station, Vader actually lifted the Emperor and threw him down the main shaft of the station, killing him. The witness notes that Vader himself was gravely injured during this and died shortly thereafter. At this point, we don't know exactly why Lord Vader killed the Emperor. The Alliance has said that the eye-witness is credible. Stay tuned as this story is still developing."
Huh.
Later that afternoon, still not dressed and her hair not brushed, Lyra completed her reservations on a luxury transport flight to Esfir. A hefty extra fee bought a space for her speeder in the cargo hold. Right then, her com unit chimed. Lyra glanced at the number. 001! Is it possible?
Lyra frantically grabbed the unit. "Hello! Hello!"
"Uh, hi, I'm calling for Lyra. I was told to speak to you."
"Who are you?" Lyra furiously demanded. "How did you get this number? How did you get that com unit?"
"My name's Luke Skywalker…"
Lyra gasped. "Luke?"
"It sounds like you've heard of me. I'm sorry I haven't contacted you before now; I thought it would save time in the long run if I let the Alliance do their debriefing with me so I could get out of there. I was told to contact you by someone who said that you could help. He said to remind you, and I know this sounds strange, but he said to remind you that such loveliness should not stay covered up. Yes, it was a shame to cover up such loveliness; that's what he said. Does that make any sense?"
Lyra fell back in her chair and stared at the screen with her mouth open.
"Uh, hello.."
"How is this possible?" she said at the same time.
"He said that he could put himself in stasis for a short time until we could get a hyperbaric chamber set up for him. He said you could help, and he also asked me to help you however you need it."
"HOW? I mean... What?...How? The station was destroyed!"
"Uh, is this line secure?"
"I don't know, probably not," Lyra said, coming back to herself, "Okay, how do I find you, what do you need? I'll get there as soon as I can."
"We need a hyperbaric chamber and any related equipment. Do you know what to get? I can order it if you'd like, but I don't know what to get or how to pay for it."
"I can get it and have it rushed to you. Oh, wait a minute, let me think." Lyra considered the news reports.
"This shouldn't be tied to me. I'll send you the contact information for the people who have what you need. I'll also send info on what you need to get. Call me back when you have a quote, and I'll transfer the money to you. Where is the equipment going to?"
"Tatooine."