The Empress strode through the cavernous circular room where her throne stood. The walls were transparent, showing millions of stars, and curved upward from the black swirled marble floor in a graceful sweep to come to a point.
Her blue eyes scanned the star systems yet again, and her cybernetic right hand pushed back her silky brown hair. I was cut short in the front and constantly got in her face. Gritting her teeth, she touched the fine glove lightly to her forehead and assumed that it had done the job. She had been informed by her top officials, the Koshan brothers, that she had been injured in a battle. In an explosion involving fuel tanks the nerves of her left hand had been badly damaged and she had lost her right. There was a painful scar on the back of her skull a little above the neck. She had been informed that something had hit her, resulting in amnesia. They assured her that she had acted most bravely.
That was what bothered her; she would never know. She could remember only shadows of her life. Small, ghost-memories of battle. Faded images of laser fire, elusive feelings of chaos-no. That wasn't right at all. Chaos, noises, that seemed wrong. But yet they also seemed part of the memories. The frustrating, taunting shreds of important events that her subconscious would not yield to her-The intercom on the door behind her blared a guard's voice.
"Admiral Ranash Koshan to see you, your Majesty."
Admiral, for political sake. At her vulnerable state he and his brother had more power than this aid could know. She clasped her hands, what was left of them, behind her back without turning. "Send him in."
The Admiral strolled in, seeing first the great Empress in the center of the room. She stood there for a bit so he did also. She waited a moment before turning, her long black gown sweeping on the marble and her bare feet gliding noiselessly. Ranash bowed low.
"Your Highness, I have an issue I wish to address with you." He looked at her admiringly, thinking that she was as beautiful and regal as Palpatine was ugly and fierce. They both, however, had the same composure and powerful presence that was necessary for a monarch.
"Yes, Admiral?"
"It's, ah, just a minor problem."
"Get on with it."
"The Jedi, my Empress."
Pause.
"Yes? Admiral, I don't appreciate your hesitation. You make me impatient. Perhaps you don't like your position?"
She would do it, too. Nay, not a monarch for this Empire-a deity. "The Jedi will test your rule. They are formidable opponents."
She thought a moment. "Can we get these Jedi on our side?"
"Not a chance. They will destroy us."
"How many are there?"
The question he had hoped she would not ask. "As far as we know, one." He saw her eyes narrow. "But there may be more hiding, and one do a lot of damage," he added hastily. "We should rid this empire of them before it is too late."
"Are you absolutely certain we cannot beat them once they attack? If we can it would prove my worthiness to the throne and discourage rebellion." She looked piercingly at him.
"No, your majesty. It would be too big a risk."
A moment of thought, then she smiled.
"Understood, Admiral. I will not take the chance. You may kill them, for that is what you wish, is it not? However," she added, once again piercing him with her gaze, "If I find any of your information untrue or exaggerated…"
"You will not, Your Majesty."
"Good. Keep it so. You are free to go."
A smile spread across Ranash's tense face as he left. She was becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate with, but he had gotten what he came for. Now he could spread the word of Luke Skywalker's destruction and eliminate his young apprentice. An effective display of power. Excellent.
"We should wake her up, she needs to eat."
"You're right. Then maybe we can get the whole story." Leia gently brushed Jessi's face, then shook her shoulder just as gently. Getting no response she shook a little harder until finally Jessi awoke, blinking.
"Mmm…?"
"You need to eat something before you starve," said Leia severely, looking straight into the tired eyes. Jessi averted her gaze.
Leia got up and fetched some soup. Jessi looked at it dully for a moment then shifted her gaze to the utensil Leia held before her. With a little sleep the initial shock had begun to wear off, leaving only exhaustion and weakness so severe Jessi could not even lift her arm even if she had had the will to do so. Leia spooned the steaming liquid slowly into Jessi's mouth.
When she was finished she decided it was time to ask about what had happened. She told her doubtful mind that Jessi was okay now and could take the questions.
"Are-were-you really by brother's apprentice?"
Tears came to Jessi's eyes as she nodded.
So far so good. Leia took a breath and decided to plunge right in. "Can you tell me how you… were separated from him?" That was definitely the wrong question. Jessi put her hand to her face with an anguished gasp. Leia would get nothing more from her so she let the girl sleep.
Her blue eyes scanned the star systems yet again, and her cybernetic right hand pushed back her silky brown hair. I was cut short in the front and constantly got in her face. Gritting her teeth, she touched the fine glove lightly to her forehead and assumed that it had done the job. She had been informed by her top officials, the Koshan brothers, that she had been injured in a battle. In an explosion involving fuel tanks the nerves of her left hand had been badly damaged and she had lost her right. There was a painful scar on the back of her skull a little above the neck. She had been informed that something had hit her, resulting in amnesia. They assured her that she had acted most bravely.
That was what bothered her; she would never know. She could remember only shadows of her life. Small, ghost-memories of battle. Faded images of laser fire, elusive feelings of chaos-no. That wasn't right at all. Chaos, noises, that seemed wrong. But yet they also seemed part of the memories. The frustrating, taunting shreds of important events that her subconscious would not yield to her-The intercom on the door behind her blared a guard's voice.
"Admiral Ranash Koshan to see you, your Majesty."
Admiral, for political sake. At her vulnerable state he and his brother had more power than this aid could know. She clasped her hands, what was left of them, behind her back without turning. "Send him in."
The Admiral strolled in, seeing first the great Empress in the center of the room. She stood there for a bit so he did also. She waited a moment before turning, her long black gown sweeping on the marble and her bare feet gliding noiselessly. Ranash bowed low.
"Your Highness, I have an issue I wish to address with you." He looked at her admiringly, thinking that she was as beautiful and regal as Palpatine was ugly and fierce. They both, however, had the same composure and powerful presence that was necessary for a monarch.
"Yes, Admiral?"
"It's, ah, just a minor problem."
"Get on with it."
"The Jedi, my Empress."
Pause.
"Yes? Admiral, I don't appreciate your hesitation. You make me impatient. Perhaps you don't like your position?"
She would do it, too. Nay, not a monarch for this Empire-a deity. "The Jedi will test your rule. They are formidable opponents."
She thought a moment. "Can we get these Jedi on our side?"
"Not a chance. They will destroy us."
"How many are there?"
The question he had hoped she would not ask. "As far as we know, one." He saw her eyes narrow. "But there may be more hiding, and one do a lot of damage," he added hastily. "We should rid this empire of them before it is too late."
"Are you absolutely certain we cannot beat them once they attack? If we can it would prove my worthiness to the throne and discourage rebellion." She looked piercingly at him.
"No, your majesty. It would be too big a risk."
A moment of thought, then she smiled.
"Understood, Admiral. I will not take the chance. You may kill them, for that is what you wish, is it not? However," she added, once again piercing him with her gaze, "If I find any of your information untrue or exaggerated…"
"You will not, Your Majesty."
"Good. Keep it so. You are free to go."
A smile spread across Ranash's tense face as he left. She was becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate with, but he had gotten what he came for. Now he could spread the word of Luke Skywalker's destruction and eliminate his young apprentice. An effective display of power. Excellent.
"We should wake her up, she needs to eat."
"You're right. Then maybe we can get the whole story." Leia gently brushed Jessi's face, then shook her shoulder just as gently. Getting no response she shook a little harder until finally Jessi awoke, blinking.
"Mmm…?"
"You need to eat something before you starve," said Leia severely, looking straight into the tired eyes. Jessi averted her gaze.
Leia got up and fetched some soup. Jessi looked at it dully for a moment then shifted her gaze to the utensil Leia held before her. With a little sleep the initial shock had begun to wear off, leaving only exhaustion and weakness so severe Jessi could not even lift her arm even if she had had the will to do so. Leia spooned the steaming liquid slowly into Jessi's mouth.
When she was finished she decided it was time to ask about what had happened. She told her doubtful mind that Jessi was okay now and could take the questions.
"Are-were-you really by brother's apprentice?"
Tears came to Jessi's eyes as she nodded.
So far so good. Leia took a breath and decided to plunge right in. "Can you tell me how you… were separated from him?" That was definitely the wrong question. Jessi put her hand to her face with an anguished gasp. Leia would get nothing more from her so she let the girl sleep.