Shock had settled over Deidra in a thin veil, making it impossible to stay tethered to reality. Too much had happened too fast, too many things had gone wrong. Now she was summoned to the imperial court to appear before the Emperor? She felt as if she had gone to sleep and woken up in someone else's life. Though no matter how many times she had insisted they must be mistaken, the troops that rescued her insisted she was indeed summoned.
She wanted to kick and scream, to dig her heels in the dirt and make them drag her away as she mourned over her grandmothers unseemly grave. But instead the elite soldiers gave her as much distance and time to grieve as they could allow. She hardly had the fight left in her to resist their direction when they said they had run out of time. She couldn't speak for the rest of the squad as they were near silent the entire time, but the Commander in charge had seemed kind enough. At the very least he had been sympathetic to her plight. Though she couldn't decide if that made her more or less angry.
It had been a silent walk back to the modest grouping of speeder bikes that were parked a few kilometers out from where they had emerged from the mining tunnel. She mounted one bike, grabbing onto the soldier who piloted as they kicked off. The wind felt odd against her face as they accelerated, since she was still completely numb from the shock of everything. It was just as empty feeling as her hollow core, the one her gut wrenched around as it felt the gaping void in the person she once was become dark and fester.
But she couldn't feel it, not like she knew she would once the shock faded. But for now it was okay that she couldn't really connect with any of it. It was better that way. If it weren't for the distance between herself and the unfolding events, she might never have let them take her away from that pile of rubble. She would want to stay there and die with the last of her bloodline, rather than be forced to live without meaning.
If only she had been a few moments quicker, or if she would have thought to shield Thea from the possible incoming blaster bolts. It was too late for any of that now, of course. But it didn't stop her from having the thoughts play on an endless loop inside the merciless theater of her mind.
But as they squadron had reached the landing craft, the triangular shaped shuttle that was meant to carry them out of orbit, Deidra's heart began to race. Tears of fear began to well in her eyes as she became frantic. This was it, she was leaving. She was leaving Thea here, alone at the bottom of a pile of rubble for her poor crushed body to rot and decay. It was wrong, it was all wrong.
At the foot of the boarding ramp, Deidra hesitated while the rest of the squad continued on past her. The Commander turned to face her, a sorry look on his face. It was even more disorienting and nightmarish to see the same face look back at her in the other members of the squad as they waited for her onboard, significantly less empathetic and perhaps even a shade resentful. They probably hated her for some of their own being killed during the rescue op. It was no well kept secret that clones held a close knit brotherhood within their ranks. The thought only added to her anxiety and growing panic.
"It's time for us to go, Miss Hardell," the Commander said in a gruff yet understanding tone.
"I-I can't," Deidra said, beginning to hyperventilate.
"You've been through a lot," he said kindly, walking out towards her with a hand held pensively, as if he were walking towards a wild animal. "Why don't we get you some medical attention, okay?"
Deidra's head began to spin. She felt like she was standing on a ledge, about to fall. She could feel in her bones the permanence of what was about to happen. That once she left Onderon, she was never coming back.
Suddenly she regretted all of those sleepless nights she dared to dream about what might await her among the stars, away from Onderon. She could feel the promise of it, and she would hope with her whole heart that one day she would be taken away, far away. But after the death of nearly all of her family, she stopped dreaming those things. She accepted her place, her role in taking care of her grandmother. But now that even Thea was gone, she felt like her whole life was in free fall. Like this was all her fault, for wishing and hoping too much. The universe had listened to her, she was finally leaving this place. If only the price had been less steep.
"I'm never going to get to come back here, am I?" Deidra asked through a teary gaze.
"To be honest miss, I don't know. But I would say it's a little soon to be assuming anything." The man said gently.
"I know i'm not. I can feel it." Deidra said emptily, her eyes going vacant.
Something about her remark made the commander grow wary and even more timid, as if she might lash out at him in an instant. Deidra thought it curious that a soldier bred and trained from birth to kill and intimidate would be so easily put off. Especially when she wasn't even trying to be menacing. It wasn't as if she could actually hurt anyone even if she tried to. She had neither strength nor weight on her side in that regard.
"Please Miss, trust me when I say I don't want to have to bring you aboard forcibly. But I will, if I have to. Come on, let's get you some proper medical attention. It looks like those rebels roughed you up pretty bad." The Commander said, on the edge of what might have been a plea dressed up to be more stern and persuasive.
Without another word Deidra walked aboard and followed the commander to the small med room that seemed much more like a broom closet. The attending medic was another one of the clones. His eyes studied her intensely as the Commander guided her to sit on the small med table.
"Fox, this here's Deidra Hardell, our charge per orders from up top. Be sure to tend to all her injuries, she's had a rough day." The Commander said in an authoritative voice.
"Sure thing, Appo." Fox responded with a short nod as the Commander walked away.
A few tests and bacta patches later, Fox had patched her up to the best of his ability. By that time the shuttle had landed in the hangar of the Dreadnought that would take them back to Coruscant.
Appo rounded the corner of the small med bay, seeming to be in approval of Fox's handiwork. "Perfect, just in time. If you'll follow me, I'll take you to the handling officer. She'll be taking care of you from here on out."
"Handling officer?" Deidra echoed, still feeling a strange lag between her words and the sound that reached her ears.
"Yes, Officer Faro will be taking care of you on our way to Coruscant. It should be a relatively short trip over, only an hour or two. But it will give you some time to get cleaned up." Appo said reassuringly as he led her out of the med closet and down the ramp into the larger hangar bay.
Immediately outside the shuttle waited an officer who was smartly dressed with dark brown hair pulled tightly under her cap. She didn't wait for an introduction as she stepped forward, smiling and reaching out to shake Deidra's hand.
Hesitantly, Deidra reciprocated the gesture. "You must be Deidra Hardell. I'm Officer Faro i'll be showing you to your quarters and helping get you oriented." The woman said brightly as the troops filed out of the transport and into the recesses of the dreadnaught.
Deidra looked at her in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't understand. What is this all about?" She said quietly, taking breaths to try and keep herself calm.
"You've been summoned to the Imperial court, my dear," Faro said with a touch of gentle concern to her words.
"For what? All this time and no one's told me what this is all about. I have a right to know what's going on here, don't I?" Deidra said, wavering on the edge of tears again.
"Oh dear, you've been through a lot in the last few days I've heard. You must be so exhausted." Faro said overly sweet. Her tone began to rake on Deidra's nerves insufferably.
"Stop talking to me like that!" She shouted, tears spilling over her red rimmed eyes.
Faro took on a look of startled concern in response. She cleared her throat before she spoke again. "I'm sorry Miss, how about you just come with me now, okay?" Faro said, her voice a bit less sticky sweet though still irritatingly calm.
But there it was again, the unmistakable look of fear that glinted only slightly in the woman's eye. Deidra found it even more infuriating, though she also felt bad for making such a scene in front of a woman who was only trying to do her job. The imperials had rescued her and done nothing but take care of her ever since, and all she was doing in return was being difficult to deal with.
Deidra took a deep shaky breath, wiping at her eyes tiredly. "I-I'm sorry, it's just so much has happened so fast. I'm afraid I haven't slept very well over the last few days." She confessed, suddenly aware of her eroding physical and mental state.
"No need to apologize my dear," Faro said with kind eyes. "Those cursed rebels have put you through hell. No one should have to endure what you've gone through."
Deidra began to crumble, unable to stop the tears that made it impossible to speak without sobbing. She held her hand over her mouth in an attempt to keep herself silent, to push away all the awful things that were pulling at her heart and mind.
"Come now, enough talk. Follow me my dear," Faro said sweetly again. This time Deidra didn't mind.
She followed the woman up into what appeared to be the executive wing of the vessel. Faro took her into a room that was quite large for a ships dwelling. Deidra immediately got the impression that this was not like most quarters aboard a dreadnaught. The trimmings of the room were far too lavish and the space itself far too big for practicality.
"Well here we are," she said, her arms sweeping over the room. "On the sleeper you'll find a fresh change of clothes that have been chosen with presentation in mind. Straight after this you'll be meeting with the Emperor himself." She stated with importance.
"The fresher is past that door overthere. I hope you find everything to your liking. If you need anything, don't hesitate to give me a call." Faro said, handing a small personal communicator over to her. "We'll be making orbit in about two hours. Be sure to be ready in time, alright? I'll be back to get you when we are ready to go planetside."
Deidra looked around her then back to Faro with an astonished expression. The officer lingered a moment, waiting for any remark or question. Once Faro was satisfied she had none, Deidra was left alone.
As much as she was indeed still feeling shock, the promise of a shower and a fresh set of clothes outweighed her need to collapse and go catatonic. Deidra wandered over to the door to the fresher which immediately gave way once she was close enough. Inside was a sizable fresher. Even if it hadn't been aboard a vessel it would have been impressive.
There was a massive walk in shower comprised of smooth black obsidian tiles with a soaking tub right beside it. She came close and inspected it, seeing that the entire tub appeared to be carved out of one hunk of rock, grinded down and polished. Natural granite lines carved through it's black stone surface delicately and seamlessly to attest to its overwhelmingly expensive price.
Then across from that was a large mirror that spanned the whole of the sunken wall. As she laid eyes on herself for the first time in several days, she was immediately horrified by her appearance. The visibly soiled dress hung on her loosely, the red ribbon sullied with crusted blood and filth. The bruises and cuts on her face and neck and legs looked stark in contrast to her pale white skin that seemed even paler than usual.
She looked like she had been chewed up and spit out of a sarlacc pit. Suddenly feeling a wave of panic towards her reflection, she kicked off her shoes and tore off her clothes in a hurry, stripping down to nothing as she stepped in the shower, turning the knob to a nearly scalding hot setting.
The water stung as it hit her lacerated body but the heat felt wonderful. For a moment, all she thought about was the warmth that fed her soul, giving comfort to the hole that had formed in her chest. She let her tears fall silently, mixing with the hot water as she soaped up, scrubbing obsessively over every scratch and bit of dried blood that clung to her skin.
Her fingers and toes began to prune as she started to wonder just how long she had been in the shower. Although she wanted to stay in forever, she turned off the water and reached out for a delightfully plush and warm towel from the rack aside the shower. It was another welcome comfort in her turbulent circumstances.
Walking over leaving wet footprints behind her, Deidra strode over to the mirror again and studied herself. Although still battered and bruised, she no longer wore the film of dirt and grime she had accumulated during her stay with the rebels. The dried blood that had crusted to her skin no longer adorned her with its painful reminders.
She took a measure of relief in being clean, though couldn't help but feel guilty for letting herself have any burden removed from her at all. Not when her grandmother was dead and gone. Pained by the thought, Deidra averted her eyes from her reflection and walked over to the sleeper where a set of clothes had been placed for her. What lie there made the dress she had taken off look like commoner clothing.
She toweled off and put on the undergarments that had been left for her. Surprisingly they had fit perfectly, though the lack of substance to the garments made her feel embarrassed to even look at herself in a mirror with them on. They were frustratingly transparent, made of finely woven lace. She didn't want to guess at how much they must have cost. Suddenly she began to wonder just what warranted her to be treated in such a way. She tried not to think about it too much as she stepped into her dress.
It was made from matching lace, thankfully atop a fully opaque slip that ran the length of her torso down to her upper thigh to conceal what lie beneath. The sleeves fell off her shoulder and the bodice hugged her tightly, though not uncomfortably. The train in the back fell to floor length and the front was cropped just above knee level. Usually she would never wear such revealing clothes but she could hardly protest the items that had been left for her.
Though she didn't know how she was supposed to step out of the room when even fully clothed she was still embarrassed to look at her reflection. She was an odd sight, so perfectly dressed and groomed yet so battered and bruised. She felt slightly better when she found a black cloak in the closet with modest looking black flats. It was an ounce of comfort that she could at least try to hide her overly ornate appearance.
More comfortably covered and ready, she laid back on the sleeper. For the first time since her abduction she was able to close her eyes without an acute sense of dread or fear. The sleeper was so soft, the blankets warm and plush. Only seconds after she hit the pillow, she was sound asleep.
Then all of a sudden a hand shook her shoulder, pulling her from her much needed rest. Still on edge from everything that had transpired over the last few days, Deidra startled awake with a gasp, heart pounding in her chest with a shot of adrenaline to her veins.
"I'm so sorry Miss Hardell, I didn't mean to frighten you," Faro said apologetically. "We've entered Coruscant upper orbit. It's time to board the transport down to the palace, now."
Deidra took a second before she was freshly embarrassed by her appearance again. Still shaky from being scared into consciousness, she pulled herself out of bed and up on her feet. Obediently she followed the officer down the industrial looking halls of the dreadnaught into the hangar bay where they boarded another transport that would take them to the surface of the city world.
She could feel the silent eyes of the clone squad and support staff of the vessel stare at her as she went. It only made her feel even more anxious and uneasy. After everything that had happened she felt herself running low on energy that might have helped her cope with more added stress. And the nap she had only made her even feel more fatigued. Her body demanded more rest that she couldn't give for the time being.
As they approached the transport, she could see this one was significantly smaller than the one that had taken her away from Onderon. It was primarily a short distance jumper, with several viewports in the passenger hold. Walking onboard the transport she placed herself in the back, as far as she could get from Faro and the guard soldiers that sat up front.
With a silent look of curiosity Faro gave her a slight smile and nod as the hangar bay opened and the craft took flight over Coruscant. What Deidra saw next took her breath away. She found herself temporarily free of all the heavy darkness that had been weighing her down from the recent traumas she had suffered as she gazed out over the majestic sight of the endless urban sprawl that took over the entire globe.
Lights, trails of traffic and spires reaching out into the skies. All of it beautiful and bigger than she could have ever imagined. Onderon was a core world, and therefore an old settled world. It had been transformed over the years again and again. But nothing there was quite like this.
The sight of the cityscape that unfolded before her spoke to the part of her that still dared to dream, that still believed in miracles and good things. It was a part of herself she feared she had lost forever. Maybe it was mostly gone, but in this moment she allowed herself the whimsy of her childish illusions.
As the shuttle came in closer, she looked down into the alleys between buildings, deep dark cravases lit by smaller points of light and lines of traffic. Though all of it paled in comparison as they approached what she could only assume to be the Imperial palace. It was a huge dam like structure with spires rising up from it all over the place, the Imperial insignia hung on a large banner on the face of the building, declaring to all who might not have known to whom the palace, the world, the entire galaxy belonged to.
Deidra had never considered herself a very patriotic citizen of the empire but she couldn't help but marvel at the sights of everything around her. This was the center of the entire galaxy, the seat of power for thousands of lightyears in all directions. And she was going to go before the Emperor. It still seemed ludicrous to her now as she was led off the transport and down the long walkway that led to the palace reception hall.
She still couldn't fathom what they could possibly want with her. The best she had come up with so far was that perhaps they wanted to make her part of some propaganda campaign, with all of her experience with the rebels and the havoc they caused. She hadn't thought of any other reason, so by the time she was being led through the doors into the throne room, she had convinced herself it was the truth.
Deidra walked, thoroughly entranced by every inch of the throne room, and perhaps even more so by the simplicity of it all. The unremarkable angular black throne the Emperor sat on, even the plain black robes he wore. Nothing of it spoke of excess, but in a way it did.
It was the contrast of the red robed guard that stood about him and how they created a tension in the air. They were combat ready, she could feel it like static on her skin. As she came closer to the throne, to the man that sat on it, she began to feel something else. It was dark, cold, vague yet tangible if only she could place a finger as to what it was. She wrote it off as nerves, but even that nagged at her as her instincts told her that wasn't it.
It felt like cold hands on her skin, in her mind, then it vanished leaving only a pervasive foreboding that sank into her bones. Just like she had felt before Yaron had died, before she had been tortured for hours on end.
The thought of it spurred a chain of metabolic reactions that caused her to go into a panic again, her body feeling as if she were still back in that place. Her animal instincts told her to run, that there was danger, an imminent threat right next to her. Instead she willed herself to remain calm.
It did little to help anything other than just barely allowing her to stay composed. Under her still exterior her palms began to sweat. Her heart raced and her body trembled against her desperate attempts to calm herself.
Finally they came to a halt just shy of the steps that led to the Emperor's throne. "Your Majesty, may I present to you, Deidra Hardell of Onderon," Faro said in a soldier's voice as she took a knee.
The man chuckled in a way that denoted he found amusement in the circumstance. Then he spoke from under his all enveloping hood, only the lower edge of his face showing beneath it.
"Deidra Hardell, i'm pleased to meet your acquaintance," the man said in a gentle yet weathered voice. Struggling to keep up with the pace of the moment, Deidra fumbled down to her knees as well in attempt to show proper respect.
Though the man was not anything like she might have imagined, somehow he inspired even more fear than someone more regal in appearance or stature might have. She glanced up at him, then back down at the floor. The Emperor was a small man, not too tall or substantial at all. But she could feel the raw power roll off of him loudly.
"I-I'm honored to be in your presence your Majesty," Deidra said quickly, her fear showing through into her words.
The man chuckled again as he took to standing. "Please, no need for formalities. Rise, Miss Deidra," he spoke, his words calm yet commanding, though definitely much more than a mere suggestion.
Deidra fumbled back up to her feet, nearly falling face first as she did. As she stood the Emperor removed his hood. Deidra all but gasped.
His eyes were an acrid yellow, blood red at the center. She had never seen such a thing, but her fascination didn't end there. The skin of his face was deformed, wrinkled and folded unnaturally around his features. His color was sickly and pale. It took every bit of self respect and preservation to not ask about the state of his condition.
She had heard tales of what the Jedi had done to him at the end of the Clone Wars as they had tried to seize control over the republic. They had tried to kill him, perhaps this was the result. She wondered what strange terrible magic could do such a thing to a person though she didn't truly want to know.
"I'm glad you have been retrieved in one piece, however battered you may be," the man said kindly as he glanced over her injuries.
"Th-thank you, your Majesty." Deidra said, bowing her head politely while Faro still knelt.
"Officer Faro, you're dismissed." He said in a different tone, more formal and strict.
"Yes, your Majesty." Faro acquiesced bowing again before turning and leaving with her detail of guards.
Palpatine turned his attention to Deidra again, studying her carefully. "You have my sincerest apologies and condolences for your late grandmother. It's a terrible thing, what happened to her."
"Thank you, your Majesty," she said again, feeling more and more like a droid, so limited in what she felt she could and could not say.
"My dear, you have permission to speak freely. Please don't be so contrite." He said casually.
"Yes, of course, sorry," she said, wincing at her apology.
"I imagine you wonder why you've been brought here." He said in statement as a corner of his mouth turned up in what might have been a smirk.
"Yes, I do. I've been trying to figure it out ever since I was told I was summoned." She confessed, feeling slightly better though still mostly uneasy.
"You've been brought here because you're in a unique position, Deidra. You have the ability to help our Empire in ways no one else can. You will be handsomely rewarded for your willing compliance." He started, treading carefully around things that had yet to be spoken.
Though from the sound of it, Deidra felt her suspicions confirmed. So she had been brought here to do a propaganda campaign. She would gladly assist. She would tell her story, the tragedy of her entire family, over and over a hundred times if he asked her to. If it would help bring an end to terrorism such as she had been a victim of, she would be willing to do nearly anything.
"Whatever it is consider it done." Deidra said firmly, looking up into his scarred eyes with fealty.
The man looked back at her with an odd expression, one of surprise mixed with doubt. "My dear, you don't even know what task has been set out for you."
Deidra grew slightly confused. "It doesn't matter. Anything to help get rid of the rebel plague, you can count me in." She said with finality, the sting of her fallen grandmother fresh on her heart, bolstering her words.
The man smiled a shade darker than before. "Deidra, your DNA is unique. It's special. That's the reason you've been summoned."
Deidra became completely disoriented by his statement. Clearly she had been completely wrong in her assumption, and now began to second guess her adamance in assisting with the cause at hand.
"I don't understand," she said, searching his face for an answer.
"Your genetic makeup is a prime match to that of the prince of the Empire. My right hand, Darth Vader." He said plainly, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Deidra felt as if she had been hit over the side of her head hard as the wind was knocked from her lungs and the words from her tongue. Her eyes went wide with dread as the feel of imminent danger returned.
"I'm sorry?" She asked breathlessly, feeling faint.
"You're to mother his children. It's a great honor. Your offspring will go on to rule the Empire. You will make an unmistakable mark on the galaxy forever. Help wipe out the rebel traitors and terrorists once and for all. All through you." He said as if it were the most wonderful thing in the universe.
She stood silent, reeling for a moment. "What? I-I don't understand." She said, demanding the truth be something else, anything else. "Surely there must be some mistake, they should check again. There's nothing special about me." She said, shaking her head frantically, her eyes emploring.
"The Empire doesn't make mistakes, my dear. I'm afraid it's all quite certain." He said with a tone of apology.
"You mean mother children, as in, carry them myself? Can't I just donate-"
"No. It's too risky. The science isn't good enough, not yet. It just won't do." He ground out, seemingly low on patience.
"You're not asking me, are you?" Deidra said, feeling far away from herself once again.
The man smiled darkly again, his voice turning kind and gentle. "My dear, you are a precious resource. While I am unequivocally in need of your… services so to speak… That doesn't mean I want to make life difficult for you in the slightest. Quite the opposite, actually. When you cooperate with us, you'll never want for a single thing. You'll be royalty of the Empire."
"I don't know how I feel about all this," she said warily, feeling dizzy and nauseous all at the same time.
"I think you'll find things much easier when you do as you are told, it's never pleasant for anyone involved when people are forced into compliance." He said threateningly, sending a cold chill down her spine.
A beat later, his voice turned kind again. "My dear," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder as he guided her down the hall to the doors of the throne room. "You've had a very long and rough couple of days. I think you'll find you can think much more clearly with a full night's rest. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Y-yes, your Majesty." Deidra stuttered, numb and terror stricken.
The man smiled. "Good, good." He turned towards one of the guards at the doors. "Escort Miss Deidra to processing before she arrives at Vader's tower."
"Processing?" Deidra asked, feeling more and more lost with each passing second.
"It will be done, my Emperor." The guard said, curtly bowing and holding the door open for Deidra as she wandered through in a daze.
"Have a good evening Miss Deidra. We'll be seeing eachother soon."