As always, thanks for reading and please be sure to review. - CG
Blinding sunlight filtered into the room, where Olee laid, half awake, with a snoring Vader at her side. In fact, the snoring was worse than the breathing from the mask he wore. Imagine both sounds together.
It was almost noon. And Olee was an early riser. But she sensed, Vader didn't sleep often, and when he did, it wasn't for long.
So she let him rest.
Olee sat up, her knees folded beneath her, her body turned toward his. He looked so vulnerable. She could kill him now, if she wished. In fact, she would be doing the galaxy a favor.
But she didn't want to.
She moved and Vader, in his sleep grabbed her arm. Olee realized he was fully awake.
"I couldn't sleep. I'm early riser."
"I know this," Vader replied. He sat up, back pushed against the headboard.
"So..." she muttered. "Where do we go from here?"
"That is for you to decide."
Olee rubbed her arms as though a chill had blown over her. "Then I guess, I go home."
Vader sighed. He wanted this to be her home. "If that is your wish," he replied.
"It is."
Olee drew herself from the bed and walked across the room where her handbag and other items had been left on a chair. She never unpacked, he noted.
Olee turned. "I won't tell anyone..." she said, that there is still some good left in you, she wanted to wanted to finish.
"Leave. Before I change my mind." His voice was flat.
Olee, wearing only her cloud-like white gown, slung the bag over her shoulder and walked toward the sliding door. Instictively, she turned and looked at him then pushed the "open door" button.
The door slid aside. Olee stuck her head out and looked both ways. No guards. Hmp.
She walked down the stark white hall in her barefeet. A lump in her throat, chills down her side. She looked for guards, anyone who might jump out to reveal that Vader was only testing her. By the time she was on the elevator and no one came, she wondered if it might explode with her in it.
There had to be a catch. She bit her lip. The doors to the elevator opened and Olee walked the narrow hall to freedom.
Alas, yes sweet freedom and beautiful sunshine on the city planet. But how would she get home without a ship?
Olee opened her bag. Inside a hidden compartment, was a comlink. She pressed a button, ringing Filli's line.
He answered.
"I'm ready."
"Did it work? Is he dead?"
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "I couldn't get close to him. Please, take me home."
"I'm coming, baby. For a while, I thought I might have to come and rescue you."
"I know. I'm sorry. I almost expected you to show up. We can't talk here. I don't know how secure the airwaves are on this force-forsaken planet. I'm North on Vixin 9, use the transmission to detect my coordinates."
"Will do. I will see you soon."
"And I, you, my love."
The comlink went dead. Olee rubbed her arms.
Vader pushed himself from out of the bed, the room strangely empty now. He sighed heavily. Looked around.
Suddenly, in one sweeping motion he tore the wood from the canopy of the bed and smashed it into a mirror. An anguished cry tore from his throat and shattered the quiet, and in his fury, the room came apart in all directions. He trashed it. Wall to wall, then slumped against the mattress. Lonely again. Inhuman once more.
Composing himself, he stood to full height then left the room as though nothing had ever happened and walked the stark white halls that Olee had passed through only minutes prior. He went to the control room and sat with his men.
"Find Starstone," he said.
"We detected a transmission which was recorded outside of our facility shortly after she left. We believe it to be her. I can play it for you, my lord."
"What frequency?"
"Eleven, sir."
"Leave me."
The men scattered.
Vader played the message back, leaning toward the control panel with great interest. "So..." he muttered. "This was Olee's plan..." He wasn't angry, only surprised.
And it was just the excuse he needed, not that he really needed any, to rid the Empire of that scum known as Filli, save, to clear a path for himself.