ALIVE
By Serena Kenobi
A/N: Yes, I haven't updated in AGES! Apologies, apologies! I hope you guys like this chapter, though. We'll be getting to Han and Luke in a few chapters. ENJOY!
Anakin! Anakin! NO!
Stop! Come back! I love you!
You turned her against me!
You were my brother, Anakin!
I bolted upright, my chest heaving. My body was covered in sweat, and the sheets were tangled around me. The starlight only lighted the room, and as my breathing became normal, I rolled over and pulled myself to the edge of the bed and leaned over. What had happened? What did I see? Who was talking? Was it just a dream? Was it memories of my past? And who was Anakin?
I shook my head, sighed, and rubbed my eyes as I stood up slowly, shakily, only to fall back with a cry onto the bed. "Shavit!" I cursed. I paused. Where did I learn that word?
This was driving me insane. I needed to think about something else. I glanced to the nightstand and realized that I had forgotten to name myself. I shuddered and took the datapad up in my hand. I didn't know my own name. That was terrifying. I sucked in a breath and flicked on the datapad and began scrolling down the list of names. Eventually, I came up with a few particular ones that had caught my eye. But I wasn't sure which one to choose. I'd ask Vader.
But first, I needed a shower. I looked around for a 'fresher and decided that the open doorway to the right of the bed on the other side of the room must be the 'fresher. I knew that I couldn't walk on my own, so I knelt down, holding in another cry of pain, and dragged myself into the 'fresher. Once inside, I pulled myself up to the sink, flicked on the lights, and, still looking down at the sink, mentally prepared myself. I would be looking into my face for the first time since I had lost my memories. Maybe I would remember something when I saw myself. Would I be disappointed? Was I pretty? My eyes climbed their way up to the mirror, and I stared at myself.
Kriff, I looked terrible. My face was pale – too pale, I think – and bruised around the upper cheekbones. To accentuate this fine make-up, dark patches of skin that revealed how exhausted I was encircled my confused, plain brown eyes. I leaned forward and touched my face. I had brown eyes. Plain brown hair, too. I reached up and felt my hair that was currently a disaster in a messy braided bun. I made a disgusted face, then a smile, then I raised my eyebrows to see how I looked in the different positions. I reached up and pulled my hair, which to my surprise was extremely long, down and out from the ruined braid. It fell to my waist and was thick. I didn't like it that long.
After I took a long shower that made me feel warm and so much better, I fished around the cabinet for scissors or something along those lines to cut my hair. I found a pair and then thought about how long I wanted to keep it. Deciding that I'd make it touch my shoulders, I cut it off.
Afterwards, I managed to crawl back into the bedroom, where I searched for clothing. I could only find dark grey pants that were too big and a plain grey tunic, but it was better than the shift I'd been wearing.
"Are you feeling better?"
I turned to see Vader standing in the doorway. I smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, thank you." I began to pull myself back onto the bed, and I was grateful when he came up behind me and helped to do so.
"You should not strain yourself," he said.
"I know," I said shamelessly, "but I needed a shower." I ran a hand over my wet hair.
He stared at me for a minute. "You cut your hair?" He sounded incredulous.
I nodded uncertainly. "Yeah. It was too long. I don't know why I let it grow like this, but I like it a lot better now that it's shorter." Tired from the crawl to and from the 'fresher, I rubbed my sore, aching legs. "I have some names," I said rather shyly. "Do you want to hear them?"
"Very well."
"Okay," I said. "My choices are…" I grabbed the datapad. "Aisha… Sabe… and Leia and Padmé." I looked up at him and was astonished to find that he had frozen, and his breathing had stopped. "Vader? Are you all right?"
His breathing began again slowly. "What is your… your final choice?" He eventually asked, although it seemed hard for him to speak.
I shrugged, blushing. "I don't know. I'm leaning towards Leia, but…" Without a second's notice, I found a sudden rush of emotions burst into me: love, hate, rage, grief – but just as soon as it had come, it flashed by. I put a hand to my head. "What… what was that?" I whispered.
Vader came closer. "What is it?"
"I… I don't know."
He stood by me for a moment until I shook my head.
"I've chosen," I told him suddenly. He tensed.
"Aisha," I said. "My name is Aisha."
Vader looked at me through his visors for an extended pause. "Do you know what that name means?"
I shook my head. "No. What?"
"It means… alive."
THIRD PERSON POV
Admiral Piett was a loyal servant of the Empire. He always had been. He served Lord Vader primarily, and then the Empire and Emperor second. He knew that was most likely treasonous, but he felt that it was his obligation, his moral code to serve his commander and crew before anyone else. He would support Lord Vader's decisions, whatever they were, and follow the Dark Lord dutifully.
"Admiral." A young lieutenant handed him a datapad. "The smugglers on Ord Mandell have left the area, but we've managed to acquire some additional data on the Rebels."
"Good, Lieutenant. Dismissed."
The lieutenant bowed shortly and left the bridge.
Piett turned back to gazing at the stars. This was more of Vader's forte, but he found that he enjoyed it. It gave him a chance to think. Normally, he would think about how he could perform his duty in a more impressive and well-timed manner, but today he was thinking of the Rebel Princess. His crew had found her ship battered, her crew all dead and mortally injured, all except for her. She herself had been on the brink of death, and despite her still living, she still suffered severe leg injuries. She would not walk well for at least another week. But that was not what had his mind running with questions. The girl, despite being a Rebel leader, was a brave one. She had courage and loyalty to her beliefs, and he respected that. But now… she had lost her memories. She must've been injured badly in the attack on her ship, most likely from pirates, and now she suffered from amnesia. Ordinarily, it wouldn't have captured his thoughts in this way, but something about the Princess's situation he pitied. The girl was, after all, only a little over twenty years old, and she had been through so much.
Well, enough musing. It was time to return to duty. He turned and went to one of the command stations and demanded an update of the searches his crew was running.
"Ensign, I want an update of the Baji sector. How are we faring with the pirating control there?" Piett didn't even listen for an answer as he straightened and paled, staring at the two figures that had just entered the bridge.
Lord Vader was coming towards him, decked in all the intimidating black armor that never left his body unless in a special chamber. But Vader's gait was not that of his normal one. He was not striding purposefully towards Piett; he was going slowly, carefully.
Piett barely looked at him. A very small, slouched female figure was clinging for dear life to the Dark Lord's right arm. It appeared she was using Vader for support, and her body was trembling. Her eyes, which were darting around curiously, had dark circles around them and were so lifeless and dull that they astounded Piett. This girl was very different from the strong, proud Rebel Princess from before.
He couldn't help but become more concerned and shocked when Vader came up to him and said in his normal booming voice, "Admiral Piett. This is Aisha."
Piett took one long look at the worn, broken form of the former Rebel Princess, and knew that what they were doing was horribly wrong.
Piett's got a heart! I've always liked Piett, and I think you can tell that if you've read my "I Am Me" series. I just don't like to portray him in a bad light, and I never will. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
MtFbwy,
- Serena