SouL PurPosE

Chapter Three

Nights passed slowly since I no longer required sleep. Even though it had actually only been a few hours, my mind was awhirl with thoughts of the past and the possible future. Thinking clearly wasn't exactly an option, though, since Dorme's snoring was so loud it was difficult to concentrate, but I had to be vigilant. I didn't want to miss the second she woke up. We had work to do.

Finally, when the sun began to rise, she stirred. I wasn't about to let her drift back to sleep and I began to eagerly share my plan of going to Alderaan. Having come to Naboo with a group of others, she was forced to hire a private pilot and ship. The cost was quite high and she didn't hesitate to complain about it.

"I'll repay you," I promised just to shut her up. "After we're done here, I'll simply give you my banking access codes."

"Yeah, that won't look suspicious at all," she quipped.

What choice did we have? I had a few credits stashed in my apartment, but it wasn't going to be enough to…wait. Did I even have an apartment?

"What happened to my apartment?" I asked as we took a seat.

"Right now it's being subleased. At least until they find a replacement for your position."

I don't know why that hadn't occurred to me. Of course, they had. The Galactic Senate owned that entire block!

"What about my clothes? All my belongings?" I asked her, suddenly overcome with slight panic.

Dorme's head slowly turned to the location of my voice and her expression turned skeptical. "Do you really think you're going to need those things now? I mean, in your present condition?"

Yet another detail I hadn't thought of. I wasn't sure I liked being dead. I missed my things and I certainly didn't like what I was wearing.

"I suppose you're right," I admitted, finding it rather difficult to do so. "I just never expected this to happen."

Her face took on an expression not just of sympathy but of great sadness, and I wished I could hug her. I could use a good, solid Dorme hug right about now.

"Don't worry," she expressed with a timid smile. "I've put most of your wardrobe into storage. I guess I was thinking maybe someday they could be placed on display for the general public to come and observe."*

Who would want to do such a thing? Was she serious? That seemed like a rather supercilious idea, although some of my gowns probably cost more than she could ever imagine. Besides that, the thought of having a few of my favorites in safekeeping gave me comfort.

"Thank you," I told her. "You did grab that dark purple one, right? The one with the corded trim and the diamond brooch?" I wasn't sure why it mattered.

"Yes," she informed me in a whisper. Apparently, her one-way conversation had drawn the attention of the pilot who had begun casting her a few suspicious glances already. "Can we talk about this later?"

I couldn't help but laugh. Her discomfort was somewhat comical and I couldn't resist taking advantage of that.

"Do you mind if I sing?"

Instead of answering me, her eyes flew wide. I was one of those people who never sang. As a matter of fact, I knew without a doubt I was tone-deaf.

"I'll take that as a no," I replied before launching into a series of the most annoying advertising jingles ever. After a few, Dorme placed her fingers into her ears, which again drew the attention of the pilot.

"Equalization issue," she told him as an excuse, although she removed her fingers immediately, I noticed.

I kept up my audible barrage, happy to discover that as a ghost, I didn't seem to experience fatigue. Dorme finally wisened up and got up out of her seat to find the evacuation closet. I didn't join her inside, but I did wait out in the hall and spoke with her through the door.

"Okay, I'm sorry," I told her honestly. "I won't harass you anymore, but you do realize you had that coming. I remember a certain evening not that long ago when you came home intoxicated and I had to help you to bed, though not before you vomited all over my shoes."

I heard running water cease and then the door slid open. "We're even," she insisted. "No more singing – or whatever that was," she demanded, sweeping by me, while actually passing through part of my arm, which caused a rather tingling sensation.

"Did you feel that?" I asked, causing her to stop walking.

"Feel what?"

"You went right through me. It felt like a mild shock."

"You mean the kind when you rub your feet across the carpet and then touch something? I always did enjoy doing that to you. But that's weird," she replied. "I didn't feel a thing, which makes me wonder: Do you think you could maybe take my place? This entire trip would go so much better if you did all the talking. Maybe then I wouldn't mess this up. You know I'm going to, right?"

"What?"

"Mess this up. I tend to do that when I get nervous. But if you're the one speaking in my place, all the blame would be on you!"

What was she talking about? Body possession? That sounded like one of those late-night horror holoflics she enjoyed watching so much. She would think of something like that. But I didn't know how I felt about it. Taking possession of Dorme's body? That would really be strange.

"Come on. Let's try," she insisted, standing perfectly straight and still. "It might be fun."

"Are you serious?" I could scarcely believe she was volunteering for this. "You do realize the Handmaiden Code doesn't include 'after' death, just 'until."

"We'll make an exception. Hurry up before I change my mind."

This was a bad idea, but whenever Dorme got one, she wouldn't let it go. What harm could come of it? If it worked, it would certainly work in our favor. Tentatively, I stepped forward and aligned my body with hers before side-stepping evenly into her form. Immediately, I was overcome with a sensation similar to what happens after your fingers warm up from being too cold. That soon passed, however, and all I could sense was darkness.

/This is so strange!/ I heard her say, although the comment was made inside her head.

/I heard that!/ I informed her excitedly. /Can you hear me?/

/I can! This is surreal! But how do I relinquish control?/

That was a good question. I really had no idea. /I guess we're going to have to figure it out on our own. Let's try something,/ I suggested. /Do you think you can go to sleep right now?/

/After you talked and sang half the night away? What do you think?/

/Right,/ I recalled. That was rather insensitive of me. /Maybe if you fall asleep and I don't, I'll be able to take over./

/I can't believe I'm going to do this…/ Dorme uttered as she walked toward a cushioned bench. /Don't walk so fast! It feels like I'm being jerked forward from the inside! Weird!/

/Okay, sorry,/ I told her before slowing down. This was going to take some getting used to.

It took a while, but eventually, Dorme did manage to doze off. At that point, I focused on moving my own legs, which seemed slightly heavier than usual. Eventually, I was able to see though struggled to stand. I was a little wobbly on my feet and it took a while before I could manage to make it to the cockpit where I tried out my voice.

"How far are we from Alderaan?" I asked the pilot, who answered without hesitation. I discovered it was the sound of Dorme's voice, but my words that were spoken.

"About three hundred klicks. Should be there in no time."

It had worked! Now, all I had to do was to keep Dorme asleep so I could speak with Senator Organa myself, which gave me an idea.

"Do you keep a medkit on board? Perhaps something with a sleep aid? I could use some rest."

"Sure. Check the galley. Left top shelf."

I found what I was looking for but paused with the hypospray pressed against my neck. Should I? Surely, Dorme wouldn't mind. I had kept her up most of the night and she could use the rest.

A/N: *Yes, I would do such a thing! And I did! :) It was awesome!