Enter JACEN and VERGERE
Jacen
What fair world, friend, is this?
Vergere
This is Hapes, my boy.
Jacen
And what should I do in Hapes?
My sister she is now one with the Force.
Perchance she is not dead: what think you, traitor?
Vergere
It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
Jacen
O my poor sister! and so perchance may she be.
Vergere
True, Solo: and to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after I knocked you out,
When you were taken far from Myrkr-land,
I saw your sister slaughtering the Vong,
Most provident in peril, strike them all
With Force lightning like a Sith Lord of old,
She retreated with others to shelter;
Where, like one possessed of an awful wrath,
I saw her hold acquaintance with the night
So long as I could see.
Jacen
For saying so, there's gold:
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
The like of her. Know'st thou this planet?
Vergere
Ay, my boy, well; I have visited here once,
Not three hours' travel from this very spot.
Jacen
Who governs here?
Vergere
A noble Queen, in nature as in name.
Jacen
What is her name?
Vergere
Tenel Ka.
Jacen
Tenel Ka! I have heard my mother name her:
She was a warrior then.
Vergere
And so is now, or was so very late;
For but a month ago I heard of news,
And then 't was fresh in murmur,--as you know,
What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
That she did seek the love of Jagged Fel.
Jacen
What's he?
Vergere
A rigid Colonel, the son of a baron
That deserted years back; he now remains
To plot the defeat of those nasty Vong,
An audacious goal; and for that reason,
They say he hath abjured the company
And sight of women.
Jacen
O that I served that colonel,
And might not be delivered to the world,
Till I chose to tell my name and my story,
At the proper time!
Vergere
That were hard to encompass;
Because he will admit no kind of suit,
No, not the Queen's.
Jacen
Forsooth, you speaketh sense, my wise teacher;
And though advice may be valid or naught
Oft you abetted me well in the past;
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy honest, outward countenance.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this Queen:
Thou shalt present me as a maid to her:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can act,
More feminine than others of my sex,
And thus none will suspect of my true self.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
Vergere
Be you her maid; your familiar I'll be:
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
Jacen
I thank thee: lead me on.
Exeunt