14 The Epic: THE TEST

Note: This chapter contains violence.

Cescily and Luke both lay on their backs in the snow, gazing up in wonder at the charged atmospheric display that lit Hoth's horizon and made it briefly possible to ride a Tauntaun at night.

"Our circumstances are alike," Luke added. "I mean, we're the same age. One day we were doing our thing in the backwater. The next day we were pulled into something important and so much bigger than ourselves."

"But there's something about you Luke. I mean I don't believe in fate, but you're training to be a Jedi. Once you got on this path, I don't think there was a falling off. I was just in the wrong place.…I don't belong here."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"It's incredible though, that we get to see this?" She loved the moment, the still, soundless night occasional broken by a comforting bleat from the tauntauns.

Luke added wistfully, "Sometimes this path I'm on scares the daylight's out of me. But when it comes right down to it, somehow I'm able to do what needs to be done. That is, I have before and just know I can. My Uncle would have just called it recklessness."

Cescily thought of the way it was similar for her. The trepidation Vader tried to coax out of her, had indeed been lost. But she understood she had not gained nerve. She had lost the will to exist.

For all his meditation, Palpatine could only sense that it did not matter what Cescily felt for Vader, only what he thought of her. He would proceed. Not ideal, but she was the best material available.

Cescily departed the throne room turbolift with a hover tray set with the requested tea service. She solemnly approached half way to the dais steps and sunk to a deep bow. Palpatine was midway through a holographic transmission, standing by the oversized screen on the dais. Remotely, Imperial Advisor Kren Blista-Vanee watched on as the Emperor slowly turned his head away. He could not see what had caught Palpatine's attention, but patiently waited for his response.

The Emperor was absorbed in the profound significance of the moment. Cescily was there, on time, presenting herself with the utmost trust. Believing she had conceded today to place her fate in his palm, when in fact her fate was always in his hands. Her dread was not lost on him. This would be a small act in his opera, but one poignant for the intimacy of the actors. His plans rarely went awry. If they did, the obstacle was as fleeting as his displeasure. For he always found a way to turn anything, everything, ultimately to his advantage. Where others failed to adapt, panicked, or surrendered or in the face of adversity, he conquered one way or another.

Vader sensed something was off. Eva stood next to a hover tray with tea, her purple gloved fingers intertwined in a pose as formal as the four crimson Royal Guards statues. Her breath was too hurried for a position of rest, but the discussion had taken a dark tone. She must have been wondering why she was still present.

"On Bespin, did you confront young Skywalker?"

Vader brought his eyes back to Palpatine, who was slouched on his throne. His face was buried in its shadow but for a faint glint of gold. The black, blank slate of space filled the window behind him. The stars were frozen, as the Eclipse was unmoving.

"No, Master."

"My operatives with the Rebel Alliance…tell me otherwise," the Emperor stated matter-of-fact.

Eva's couldn't tell if Vader was looking in her direction. His helmet remained still. She slowly shook her head. No- she wasn't with the rebels by then. He knew.

Vader considered if Palpatine was attempting to flush him out. He would not acknowledge the inherent accusation. Palpatine hoarded his secrets as well- of tantalizing mystic Sith abilities which he fed fleeting glimpses. They kept Vader in thrall and uncertain of their relative strengths. Long ago promises had yet to come to pass. Palpatine dangled offerings of immortality, powers of infinite magnitude, and made cryptic references to the parthenogenesis mystery behind Vader's very existence.

Palpatine continued with measured words. The next part was tantamount. "If Skywalker was turned to the dark side, would you not try to sway his allegiance to you, instead of me? Since he is your son."

Vader did not answer. There was no response possible that would placate.

"Skywalker would rather attempt suicide, than walk with you. What a personal affront, that must have been."

Palpatine wasn't fishing. Somehow he knew.

Distressed, Eva watched Vader. He hadn't told her Luke was his son. While she had been wallowing in self-pity aboard the Executor in the days after Luke's escape, taking spice and drinking, Vader had been coping with that.

"Neither would Padmė …so I'm afraid you're stuck with me," the Emperor's raspy voice broke the silence and he had leaned forward. "…Which brings in the question of your unfaltering obeisance. Should we have a second chance at Skywalker, could I trust father and son together?"

If things couldn't possibly get worse, Palpatine looked directly to her with a ghost of a smile. "Then there is also, Eva's failure on Hoth, which has never been accounted for. Without the ill-prepared attack her hot headedness initiated, the Rebel Alliance would have been annihilated, then…and there."

The color drained from Eva's face, and she swayed slightly. Nothing could be read from Vader's mask, but his breathing became erratic, and almost subsided completely.

"Her allegiance has never fully been with us," Palpatine added. "…Or perhaps it's simply incompetence. Either way…"

Fate hung in the air, and Palpatine looked back to Vader. "Which brings me to this. A demonstration of your acquiesce. Many have fallen at our feet, for far less a disappointment.…A sacrifice is in order."

He barked at his master, "That is not justified!"

"Am I not to try your willingness to turn that saber on me?" he answered hauntingly. "I won't ask a second time." In the stillness that followed, Palpatine's anger was simmering, his mouth slightly open as he ground his teeth in anticipation.

Vader looked to her then again to the Emperor. His breathing had quickened.

So that's it. Eva turned numb. She reached over to the corner of the hover tray for stability and tipped its contents to the floor where they shattered.

Then after a deafening silence, there was the hum of a light saber. Vader was motioning her to join him, but she backed away.

"I'm sorry, but it must be done." His broken voice was barely audible.

Her face was drawn in unbearable anguish, as he stepped forward to clasp her arm. Her headdress tumbled off when she collapsed, leaving her weight suspended by his grip. "Vader…you can't, can't!…" He tried to pull her up to standing position.

The Emperor looked on, fascinated.

"Please don't resist. Stand still." Vader slowly let go of her arm. The saber now in both his hands, he raised it above her. She could scarcely stand. Her tears streamed now. Eyes pleading, chin quivering.

"Don't cut her down the middle," Palpatine spat. "This place will be a mess."

"She could still be conscious, for a time after decapitation."

An adamant frown and the Emperor shook his head.

Vader again gently took her arm and pulled her near him. He lowered himself to one knee, and placed her seated on his other thigh. With his left arm draped across her shoulder, he held her tight and still to his body. The last time she had been in his embrace, he was saving her.

"This is not my wish. Eva…no one will ever take your place. Forgive me." The saber was raised to the height of her head behind her, the hilt practically at her neck. She could feel its heat on the back of her head. And then came the sound, the stomach churning realization the saber was in motion, as he swung away, then back again…

"Cease."

Vader threw the saber across the room and stood angrily.

"It's not necessary," Palpatine added.

Eva dropped to the floor, spent and hardly able to breathe. She placed a hand on the back of her neck and felt it burned. If her hair had not been worn up, it would have been cut too.

Vader's deep voice rumbled, "Dare you put me on trial? My strength has always served you!" Vader spun around, to turn his back to the Emperor.

"Yes…yes. I see that now. I was wrong to test you, my devout, invaluable friend." He leaned back into the throne.

The hilt of his saber flew back to his fist as Vader descended the steps to the turbolift. "Eva, come with me."

"Cescily stays here. Her shift isn't over." The growl emanated from the nearly obscured face.

Eva was pulling herself to her feet, glaring at the Emperor.

The turbolift doors parted and Vader swiftly entered and turned, catching last sight of the Emperor's dark frown to her insolence, as she was approaching him bitterly.

Vader was gone.

Eva's barely functioning legs gave out, and she fell to her knees in a full bow.

"Bravo! I haven't seen better acting at the Galaxies Opera."

Eva gathered her breath. She was still shaking too much to speak clearly, "I must say the same to you as well, your Eminence."

"With this rehearsal, it appears my concerns have been resolved. Though …I'm not quite sure you have what you wanted to hear. But do not be too unforgiving of him, for following orders." Vader will always be a slave. He extended his hand, letting his cold fingers graze her cheek.

She detested that he asked her to deceive Vader that way, on top of the unfathomable number of ways it could have gone wrong. It was unnecessary, cruel, and surely anything gleaned by the act would be outweighed by Vader's increased resentment. Your pet is going to bite you, and it doesn't take a clairvoyant to see that.

Palpatine had silenced her objections with a raised hand and asked, "Don't you trust me, Cescily?" He had orchestrated control of the galaxy, after all.

She hadn't told Vader of the scheme beforehand, as perhaps that too was a test of her obedience. She wouldn't tell Vader now, because she was ashamed. Curious though, that Palpatine had let her in on the ploy beforehand, when it wasn't necessary. He would have not needed to rely on her 'acting' ( which beyond a point became genuine, as she had not been shown the script). But for whatever reason, Palpatine did not care to ruin her impression of him (further).

When was a vacation more deserved? Eva served herself tea, at the little table just beyond the glass reception room doors. This was now her beautiful garden, at her exquisite residence in the Theed city center on Naboo. It took her breath away, that The Emperor had given her his childhood home- purchased from his cousin some months before. But even as Eva thanked Palpatine, she had the impertinence to ask for another concession as well.

First the Neimoidian baby grubs. Now retraction of sentient classifications back to the Republic era guidelines. Wookies would no longer be treated as slaves.