Chapter Six

Myr watched as Sual stirred the contents of the morning meal. His hands deftly worked the spatula through the thick liquefied contents of the bowl. She had finished her milk and returned upstairs after her troubling dream only to get two hours of sleep. She finally gave up and got dressed for the day. Lord Vader was already in the study with the entry way closed when she came downstairs. She did not disturb him. Haunted by her dreams and tired from lack of sleep, she stared grumpily into the cup of caf that she twirled in her hands.

"How long do you think he'll be here?" Sual asked finally. "Can't say as I ever saw 'im stay around this long."

"I'm sure that Lord Vader has plans to return to the capital soon," she said. "He hasn't really been around, just up in his chambers."

"Well, there's no telling what devilry he's doing up there," Sual said under his breath.

"You'd better be concentrating on that food, you hear?" she said quickly. "You don't want him to be overhearing you." Or reading your mind, she added silently. "And besides, he's never been anything but civil to any of the lot of us here," she added pointedly. "So you be glad you got a job in his Lordship's castle."

Sual colored slightly and returned to his attention to his work. "Well, you certainly seem to have a way with him," he added. "Can't say as I've ever seen 'im say more than three words to you, but he seems satisfied with your work."

The console intercom buzzed and Myr raised her eyebrows; Lord Vader rarely called her. She usually had to check to see if he needed anything. The intercom buzzed again and Sual looked up at her with uneasiness.

"Well, go on then," he said. "We don't need 'im to be coming down here looking for you."

Myr stood and walked over to the console and pushed the button. "Yes, my Lord?" she asked hesitantly. She felt the need to curtsey, then remembered she was on the comm.

"I have need of you in the study…Myr," he said the last word as if the sound of her name didn't roll off his tongue easily. She didn't think she had ever heard Lord Vader use her name before.

"Right away, my Lord."

Sual gave her a brief apprehensive glance and as she left the kitchen.

"Oh, Good Storms," she said under her breath, shaking her head. "It's not as if he brings the carcasses of Jedi back here." It occurred to her that she was saying this as much for her benefit, as for Sual's.

The entryway to the study was still closed. Her heart thumped in her chest as she hesitantly palmed the entry pad.

Had he found out about her invasion of his privacy? Could he tell that she had found the snow globe?

The entryway opened and Myr stepped inside. She looked to the desk and saw the leather case that held the snow globe and she felt a knot form in her stomach.

"Good morning, my Lord," she said with a bow.

Vader waved impatiently for her to straighten up. "Sit down."

Myr's heart lept to her throat. No matter how much she defended him to the other servants, the fact remained no one really knew him. Not here, anyway. She got the feeling that anyone that did, they had long since passed away.

"I would like for you to take care of something for me," he said.

"Yes, my Lord. Anything you wish."

Would she really do anything he may wish? That could entail quite a lot. The man was certainly no saint. She shook herself mentally to get her bearings. Being this close to him was strange. She was sitting closer in proximity than her usual habit of standing to receive his orders. He had a weird aura about him that hummed. That was the only description Myr could come up with for the feeling of energy that surrounded him. I bet you wouldn't want to be around that energy when he is in one of his infamous tempers, she thought ruefully. She shook herself again. For the stars sake, the man can read minds, she reminded herself.

He looked at her passively, as if he were reading her mind and was waiting for her to pay attention.

"Are you listening to me?" he asked her, his voice deepening even more. He waited for the answer the way one would wait for a child's retort upon being told to go to bed.

Myr jumped. "Yes. I mean. Yes, sir," she stuttered. "Yes, my Lord"

Gathering the sides his cape with each hand, he rose and walked to the viewport. He stood motionless for a moment then clasped his gloved hands behind his back. "There are documents here that I wish to remain…ambiguous," he said carefully. "I will be leaving later today for another assignment."

He walked the length of the long wall behind the desk that held the viewports and turned back. Myr had the distinct feeling he was having trouble expressing himself to someone of non-military bearing. She got the feeling he was trying to not scare her. She took a deep breath and did a small calming exercise she had always used when she was nervous or scared. She relaxed immediately.

Vader turned from the window to regard her. She could feel his curiosity through the helmet. "You are Force sensitive?"

Myr's heart stopped beating. She knew what it was to be regarded as Force-sensitive in Lord Vader's presence. She closed her eyes and swallowed. "I think so – most people here are."

"There is no need for apprehension. You are hardly strong enough in the Force to be a beacon, but this will serve my purpose." He turned back to regard the view outside, seemingly pleased with the turn events had taken. "This will serve my purpose, indeed," he said.

"I have placed some very important items in this case," he said quickly, turning back to Myr. "It is vital that they are delivered in the event of my death."

Myr blinked. His death? Could Darth Vader die? Of course he can, Myr chastised herself. Haven't you been telling any droid or servant that would listen in this household that he was only a man?

"My next assignment could prove very difficult. If the circumstance should arise that I am unable to return, I do not know what will become of this fortress," his deep voice rumbled matter-of-factly. He lifted the leather snow globe case and held it out by the sides to a baffled Myr.

Myr took the case, checked the lock and placed it under her arm. She looked back to him in curiosity. Her mind worked furiously to hide the fact that she had ever seen the case before.

"Treat it with the utmost care. I do not wish for it to be broken or destroyed before it is delivered to its intended recipient. Do you understand?"

Myr nodded mutely.

"Good," he replied. "The password for the data inside… 'japor'."

He said the word "japor" haltingly, his voice faltering in a way Myr had never heard before. For a moment she thought there might have been a hitch in the breathing equipment.

He hooked his hands into his belt and stood for a moment, as if contemplating if there was anything he had forgotten. "You will find more detailed instructions on the datapad inside. Do not open the case unless you hear that something has happened and I will not be returning. Is that clear?"

Again, Myr could only nod, as she swallowed the sadness and dread that seemed to be snaking itself inside of her, settling in the pit of her stomach. She knew this sensation and she had a feeling that Lord Vader knew it as well. It wasn't just an idea or hunch; it was the Force. She shivered and waited for Lord Vader to finish.

His hands still hooked in his belt, he turned to the viewport again and said, "Do not fail me."

Myr knew she was being excused. She walked toward the entryway.

"And Myr…" he rumbled, "…Thank you."

She stood for a second and turned back to him. She studied the back of his profile for just a moment before answering, "May the Force be with you…my Lord." She left before he could see that she was fighting tears that threatened to spill on her cheeks.

To be continued...