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The Sith Lord and the Scientist Section B - Part 7

DAY 13

It’s long after midnight now and a careful touch reveals that the Sith Lord’s mind is quiet. He’s busy meditating so I had better take advantage of that. A glance at the chronometer again and I freeze. Today. There’s something important about today. I carefully convert the date into Earth’s calendar.

Michael’s birthday.

I had almost forgotten about that.

I reach out with my senses and ask, Michael where are you? Brother dear, how I wish you were here. I need your shoulder to cry on, your advice to help me get through this, your clear mind to see what I should do.

No response from the Force; no answer is given to my plea.

A few more tears of grief and self-pity escape so I shut my eyes and try to make them stop. There will be no help for me except what I can do for myself.

Feeling miserable again, I start plotting out how I might escape. There is no way I can get out of the castle, not without setting off all kinds of alarms. I will have to make my getaway when we are elsewhere. The Museum, perhaps? Maybe if I duck into a ‘fresher I can slip away before anyone notices.

And then what? With our bond he can track me anywhere I might go, I sadly admit to myself. Even if I do elude him at first, it will only be a matter of time before I am found and dragged back again. And punished. He will most certainly lock me up and take my son from me if he catches me.

There is no way I will ever be free of him, I finally realize. I am trapped by the Sith Lord as surely as Anakin is.

A dark thought runs through my mind. I get up and retrieve my lightsaber, then resume my spot by the window and stare at the weapon in my hand. There is only one way to escape and I will take him with me, too.

I brush a hand over my son.

I am so sorry, my beloved child, I tell him as I hold the weapon over my heart, shut my eyes and hit the power switch.

Nothing happens.

No.

I open my eyes and look at the ‘saber. It appears to be fine from the outside. A twist on the base and I discover that the powercell has been removed. I let out a frustrated and stricken cry. The Sith Lord must have found and disabled it while I was knocked out. Not fair, I fume, that’s just not fair.

With a growl, I toss the weapon aside. It makes a loud, satisfying crash against the wall. Oops. Someone will have heard that, but maybe I can use that to my own advantage.

I get up quickly and dress in my tunic and trousers. My cloak is set aside on the floor, out of sight of anyone who comes in. Fully clothed now, I crawl into bed and wait.

The door eventually opens. Good. Someone did come up to check on the noise. You have only one shot at this, I remind myself, don’t screw it up. I wait patiently until they are beside the bed, then quickly pounce. A muffled cry comes from my victim, but I refuse to remove my hand from their mouth and do my best to hold them immobile with the Force. Now what? Knock them out like the Sith Lord always does to you, I decide. A quick rap on their mind and they go limp. Perfect.

I bring the lights up a little to identify who I just attacked. Adi? Oh well, she’s about my size so I can bundle her into the bed as a decoy. My eyes light up when I see her blaster. Good. I can steal the powercell from that for my ‘saber. A few minutes of scurrying about and I have Adi in the bed, a new powercell in my lightsaber, and myself ready to make my getaway.

What next?

I have to move quickly now. Adi’s absence will be noted soon and someone else will come to see what has happened to her.

The door controls have been keyed to not respond to me and are alarmed. Damaging them will only alert the Sith Lord to what I am up to. Ditto for cutting through the wall. Motion detectors in the hallway will set off alarms in the castle’s command center. I turn about and look at the window. He would never expect me to do that.

With a smug grin, I ignite my saber and chop a hole through the transparisteel. The clear material falls away from the window and heads towards the ledge several floors below where it bounces, then shatters. My stomach lurches when I peer out and look down. I won’t go far, I decide, just over a few rooms and cut my way back in again. Once I am safely back inside, I can figure out what to do next.

I carefully, warily climb out. The ledge is wide and there are plenty of places to grab on to. It should be a quick and easy trip. A strong updraft forces me close to the outer wall as I inch my way along.

***

I stir as something unexpected disturbs my meditations.

Something is wrong - terribly, horribly wrong.

My eyes snap open as an alarm sounds. The external proximity sensors have been tripped. A glance at the screen in front of me, and I see Maia, to my horror, clinging to the side of the north tower.

What does she think she is doing?

Maia? I question her.

No response as she inches along the ledge.

The area around my castle is notorious for downdrafts and I know she isn’t strong enough to fight one of those for very long. I reach for my helmet, hoping beyond hope that I might somehow get it on and myself to where I can help her before something happens.

***

Maia? I hear the Sith Lord call, but I refuse to answer him.

When I am four windows away from the room I escaped from, I turn on my ‘saber and cut my way in, shoving the slice of window ahead of me, onto the floor. Back onto my belt it goes as I prepare to climb through the hole I just made.

Then the downdraft hits.

I cling desperately to my hand holds. No, I think, horrified.

***

The view from the camera shows her cutting through a transparisteel window. Good. She is wisely going inside where she will be safe.

Then her cloak is caught by a downdraft as she desperately tries to hang on to the wall.

No, no, no, I think, as her grip falters, then fails, and the wind tears her away.

MAIA! I scream at her as I see her fall.

Silence.

Answer me, Maia, please, I ask of her in desperation as my pod finally opens.

I can tell her how to slow and control her descent if she will only reply.

***

Another strong blast of wind and my hands are torn away from the building. Then I am falling.

Brilliant, Maia, just brilliant, I scold as I drop, now what? There is no way I am going to ask the Sith Lord for help and he’s in his private chambers anyway. I will just have to deal with this myself.

MAIA! he frantically screams into my mind.

Not many options for me here and I had better think fast. Use the Force to control my plunge, I decide. Go about it calmly, don’t panic. I tap into the Force and do my best to slow down. At least you have lots of time before you hit the ground, I wryly note to myself. I make myself open my eyes. Curious. Death doesn’t seem so bad at the moment and flying like this is rather cool.

The Sith Lord is completely panic stricken I calmly note, but I remain silent in response to his increasingly desperate pleas.

***

Please, Maia, say something, anything to me, please, I try pleading with her while I race through the corridors.

Nothing.

Then my sense of her is abruptly cut off.

The shock of it sends me careening into the wall and down onto my knees.

Thirsk finds me there a few minutes later.

‘My Lord?’ he questions.

‘She’s gone, Thirsk,’ I tell him in a daze. ‘Fallen from the tower.’

***

I see an airspeeder break away and match my descent. Someone’s decided to rescue me, how amusing. A glance at my benefactor reveals a well-dressed woman in ‘droid driven vehicle. Their timing is not quite perfect, and my head makes a rather resounding thud when I land beside her in the passenger compartment.

‘Who are you?’ she asks.

‘A rather stupid Jedi,’ I admit just before I pass out.

***

‘She fell right into someone’s airspeeder,’ Thirsk reveals. ‘The cameras picked it up, but the recording wasn’t clear enough to identify who her rescuer is.’

‘The spaceports need to be closed immediately,’ I decide, pulling myself back onto my feet. ‘If they find out who she is, they might demand a ransom and attempt to get her off planet where it will be harder for me to track them…’

My mind clears and rational thought reasserts itself.

‘We need to find her quickly, Thirsk,’ I realize. ‘I can’t risk anything happening to her.’

‘I have already commed the Devastator and asked for my best men to be sent here immediately,’ he volunteers.

It’s just like my old friend to anticipate what I would want.

‘Good,’ I praise as I head at a rapid pace down the hall, Thirsk in tow, ‘Now I need to get to the command center…’

***

‘She has quite a nasty concussion according to the med-scanner,’ I hear someone say.

I stay motionless and give no indication I am conscious. Best to figure out where I am and who is here with me, first.

‘Are you sure about this?’ I hear a man’s voice ask.

‘Look, she’s a Jedi,’ I hear my rescuer state, ‘and my contacts have told me his Lordship is searching for her personally. All of the space ports have been closed and no one is being allowed to leave Imperial Center.’

‘Then she’s valuable, no doubt, but Shas, is it worth the risk?’ her companion presses.

‘If she is what she claims to be, then yes,’ Shas replies. ‘The Rebellion will need her.’

I hear the man sigh.

‘Very well, then, I will get her to them somehow,’ he reluctantly agrees.

I hear them leave the room and decide that maybe I should have a look about. With a great deal of wariness, I open my eyes. Not much to see, but the furnishings are simple and elegant, the bed comfortable. Time to get up then. I carefully try to push myself up, only to fall back on the pillows again. That was a mistake. My head is now spinning and pounding. Control, I remind myself, sort yourself out.

It takes quite a while to wrestle my headache into submission, and a feel around my skull with my fingers reveals two large bumps on the side. Ouch. That must have hurt. Now what?

A second try at sitting up is more productive.

I feel terrible, and I have no idea where I am or who these people are.

Maia? I hear a voice in my head say.

No, I moan to myself, please don’t tell me I am hearing voices. The bang on my head was bad enough.

Maia? it asks again.

Go away, I think at it, you are just a figment of my imagination.

Silence in response. Good. My mind must have been playing tricks on me then.

Tell me what happened, the voice prompts.

I am not going to talk to some weird voice in my head, I stubbornly answer.

Too late, it wryly notes, you already are.

Great. I am hearing something with a sense of humor. Fine, then, since I have nothing better to do, I’ll talk to it.

I fell and hit my head, that’s all, I tell it.

Silence again for a few minutes. It’s thinking about that, I quickly realize.

Where are you? the voice asks next.

I have no idea, I reluctantly admit, but I think I am about to be shipped off to join something called the Rebellion.

That prompts an interesting curse or two from whoever it is I am talking to.

What have you told them? it prods, sounding a bit worried now.

Nothing. I just woke up. All I can remember is trying to get away from someone and falling off a building in the process. Some Jedi I am, I tell it, feeling rather stupid as I do.

There is a short, quiet pause.

You don’t remember me, do you? the voice asks.

No, I admit.

A wave of sadness and regret breaks over me from whoever this is.

Who are you? my curiosity finally gets the better of me.

Your husband, the voice sadly tells me.

Memories snap back into place. A tall man with blondish-brown hair and bright blue eyes. Warm arms wrapped around me. His laughter at my silliness. Curling up to him after a session of love making. Our son.

Ani? I wonder.

You remembered, he answers, relieved.

Other recollections cloud my mind. Oh, no, he’s trapped, imprisoned, and I have to do something about it.

I have to get you away from him, I insist, maybe these Rebels can help.

Get me away from who? Ani asks, puzzled now.

Him, the Sith Lord, I tell him.

The door to the room starts to open.

Maia, there’s something you need to know, my love starts, but I hush him up.

They’re back, Ani, I can’t talk to you now. Maybe later, I reassure him, once I know what I need to do. Don’t worry love, we’ll rescue you.

‘Good, you are awake at last,’ the woman called Shas notes, sounding relieved. ‘We were starting to get worried about you.’

I give her a measuring look. She’s covered her face, but from her clothes, I know she must be wealthy. From her body language, she is a bit nervous. No wonder she has decided to hide her identity. Shas has no idea who I am. The man hasn’t bothered to disguise himself and is wearing a simple workman’s clothes. He’s medium in build, in his forties, with short brown hair and eyes and a rather intimidating look on his face. This could get nasty from the look of things.

Tell them your name is Eritae Halcyon, Ani prompts.

What? I ask, startled. That’s not my name

Protection, he tells me. You don’t know who these people really are and you must not give them your real name. Or mine.

Tell me what to say, then, I suggest.

He’s relieved I want him to do that. How odd.

‘Who are you really, little Jedi?’ the man asks, sounding a touch hostile.

‘Eritae Halycon,’ I promptly answer. Now what?

Shas and the man look at one another.

‘One of the Corellian Jedi who was assumed lost in the Unknown Regions,’ Shas murmurs, sympathetically. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’

I watch her go. They are doing the good cop-bad cop routine. If I wasn’t at their mercy, this would almost be funny. When Shas comes back, she hurls a metal ball at me.

Ani! I call in a panic.

Don’t deflect it with the Force, he orders. Catch it with your hand.

I grab the ball out of the air as instructed. Shas looks over at her companion and nods. What was that all about?

She was testing you. Halcyon Jedi have one handicap - they can’t use telekinesis, Ani reveals. I just gave you an advantage over them.

My mind clicks. He’s told me in the past I have a gift in that area. Clever. If I do have to get away from them, they won’t expect me to be able to do certain things.

Thank you, Ani, I tell him, setting the metal ball beside me on the bed.

Now here’s what you need to tell them ...., he starts dictating my cover story which I repeat word for word to my two listeners.

When I am finished, Shas and Ira, the man working with her, are a bit more sympathetic, and I am brought a tray of food which I eagerly dig into. I am starving.

‘You eat like you haven’t seen food in a week,’ Ira comments.

I look at him and blush a bit.

‘It’s almost as if...’ Shas stops her observation and steps closer to me.

She tips my face up with her hand and looks intently at me, then glances down at the medscanner she had left on the table.

‘We have an even more pressing reason to get her away from here,’ she quietly tells Ira. ‘A Jedi child. No wonder Vader is so intent on getting his hands on her once again.’

I choke a little. Ani told me to keep that bit a secret if I could manage it.

Ani, I need your help, I call to him.

No response. He must be unable to answer. I will just have to improvise then.

Shas sits beside me on the bed. All I can feel from her is concern.

‘What has happened to your child’s father?’ she asks.

I bite my lip and look away from her. Tears threaten, so I let a few escape and run down my face. The truth, I decide, or something close to it will do here.

‘I was sick, very sick, with my pregnancy,’ I quietly tell her, ‘and we had to stay in one place longer than was safe. He caught us then. I was trying to get to my husband, to free him, when I fell. My love is still there, in the castle, imprisoned by the Sith Lord.’

I feel Shas pull me into her arms and let her hold me while I cry a bit.

‘I’m so sorry, Eri,’ she tries to comfort me. ‘We would help you rescue him if we could, but it is far too dangerous to make an attempt at that now. It will be all we can do just to get you to safety.’

She looks over at Ira who shakes his head. There will be no help for Ani from these two.

‘I understand,’ I concede in defeat.

Ira touches his ear, and I realize he’s been listening to something all along.

‘We have to move, now,’ Ira abruptly orders. ‘Somehow Vader has managed to track her to this district, and if we don’t leave in the next few minutes, we will be trapped here.’

I follow Shas and Ira out of the room, keeping pace with them as they rush to a landing platform a few floors up.

‘Get in,’ Shas tells me as she jumps into the airspeeder she used to rescue me last night.

Ira pushes the pilot ‘droid out of the way and takes the controls himself. He flies like a lunatic, I decide, as he weaves in and out of traffic. We stop briefly at a private apartment, and Shas gets out.

‘This is goodbye, Eri,’ she says. ‘Ira will look after you and see you to safety.’

‘Thank you,’ I tell her, ‘for everything.’

Ira doesn’t wait for her to go inside before he takes off again. I hang on for dear life as he has the ‘speeder plunge hundreds of meters down to the lower levels. He’s either completely nuts or has a death wish.

Maia? I hear Ani call. Where are you?

This is a really, really bad time, my love, I warn him.

I am starting to get sick and dizzy from Ira’s crazy maneuvers.

Where are you? he persists in asking.

What part of a really, really bad time don’t you understand? I snap back.

Control, I scold, concentrate on keeping your stomach settled.

Maia, I need to know, he stubbornly prods again.

With that distraction, I finally do start to get sick. Ira notices my distress, slows down a bit and levels off. He opens a compartment and hands me something I can throw up in.

‘Sorry ‘bout that,’ Ira apologizes, ‘but I had to lose anyone who might have been tailing us.’

Maia? Ani butts in again.

Thank you so very much, I sarcastically reply, I was doing fine at not being sick until you just had to start bugging me.

Silence from him. Good.

I’m sorry, my little wife. Are you alright now? he asks, concerned.

Alright? Alright? I tell him, close to having hysterics. Ani, I’m in an airspeeder piloted by a lunatic Rebel with an equally crazy Sith Lord chasing after me. I am definitely not alright. Barely surviving is a more accurate description of the situation.

There is no response to that.

Ira stops the ‘speeder in a rather seedy looking area. Now what? He gets out and indicates I am to follow him. We go into a run-down building next, then enter a rickety looking turbolift.

‘There’s not much time,’ he warns me. ‘I am getting reports that the search for you has shifted focus again. They are heading in this direction.’

I bite my lip and nod at him. Maybe I won’t escape from the Sith Lord after all.

The lift stops and Ira hurries down the corridor. He throws open a set of doors at the end, and I find that we are on the roof of the building. Ira looks up at the sky, then at his chrono’ and frowns.

‘When Shas first rescued you, I contacted an old smuggler buddy of mine,’ he reveals. ‘I figured we would need to get you off-planet. He’s had to divert from another job to come and get you. I just hope he’s on time for a change.’

I hear the blare of sirens coming nearer. This could be close.

‘Ira,’ I tell him, ‘you should get out of here. Vader won’t harm me, but you are a different story.’

He hesitates, then firmly, stubbornly answers, ‘I gave Shas my word I would get you to safety.’

‘Just go,’ I order.

Why do men always think they have to act noble and self-sacrificing?

Ira shakes his head.

At that instant, ‘troopers burst through the doors onto the roof and Ira’s smuggler friend arrives. I instinctively drop flat on the roof as a fire-fight between the troops and the beat-up freighter erupts above my head.

This is just perfect, I think as I follow Ira’s lead and crawl out of the way behind a metal roof vent.

For some reason the laser bolts abruptly stop. Curious, I poke my head carefully around the vent. Oh, damn. I quickly hide again.

‘I think Vader’s in the area,’ I whisper to Ira, ‘and the ‘troopers are waiting until he gets here before they do anything else. They won’t risk hurting me.’

I stick my nose around the vent again. Sure enough, the troops are digging in and the freighter has set down at the edge of the roof. Standoff. As long as the ship isn’t fired on, the smuggler will leave them alone.

I hear Ira whispering quietly into a comlink. He must be talking to his buddy.

‘Eri,’ Ira tells me, ‘you will need to make a break for it. My friend will drop the ramp when I tell him to and take off the second you are on board.’

‘What about you?’ I ask.

‘Don’t worry about me. I plan on disappearing down the airshaft as soon as I see you are away,’ he reveals with a grin.

I let out a sigh.

‘Fine then,’ I agree, ‘just tell me when to start running.’

He nods, says something into the comlink, and gives me a shove.

‘Go, quickly,’ he orders.

I run for the freighter. A laser bolt explodes in front of me, so I stop in my tracks for a second before picking up my pace again. Another bolt blocks my path. Clever. They are trying to slow me down without hitting me. After the fourth near miss, I have had enough of that. With a growl, I turn on my lightsaber and deliberately deflect the next shot, being sure to aim it a few inches in front of the ‘troopers’ position. They ignore it and fire again. Fine, then. I can keep this game up for a while. For the next couple minutes, I happily send blaster bolts back at the troops, being careful not to hit any of them as I do so.

A glance over at Ira reveals he is frantically motioning me towards the freighter. Okay, I get the hint, but why is he so insistent? I look in the other direction he is pointing and see that the Sith Lord has finally arrived. Time to get out of here.

Now I charge for the freighter. Two meters from the ramp, my clumsiness decides to intervene. No, I think in disbelief as I trip and end up sprawled across the roof and on my face. The ‘troopers stop firing and I hear heavy, even footsteps approach me. Brilliant, Maia, just brilliant. I start to quietly laugh, letting it get louder as the steps get closer.

‘My grandfather always told me my clumsiness would do me in some day,’ I wryly admit. ‘Guess he was right after all.’

‘I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you,’ I hear a man say.

The footsteps stop.

I roll onto my side and prop myself up so I can see what is going on. Vader has stopped a few steps from me and Ira’s smuggler buddy and a Wookiee have come down their ship’s ramp to stand next to me. Both have their weapons leveled at the Sith Lord.

‘This is none of your concern, Captain Solo,’ Vader warns.

‘Well, excuse me, your Lordship, if I decide otherwise,’ Solo baits him.

‘You would be wise to get on your ship and leave while you still can,’ the Sith Lord threatens.

‘I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands or threats,’ Solo smugly observes.

I look back and forth between the two men. There’s definitely bad blood between these two. They stare at one another for a few long minutes and I see the Sith Lord look down at me. If Solo or the Wookiee fire at him, the ‘troopers will shoot back and I will be right in the middle of it all. It’s another standoff.

Vader stays silent, considering what to do, I guess. I sense him carefully touch the Force, but he gives no outward hint that he is going to try something. Another nudge to the Force from him, and heat burns in each of my armbands. I bite my lip in response, but make no sound, not wanting to provoke him or Solo into doing something stupid.

‘Very well, Solo,’ Vader finally concedes, ‘leave, then, and take her with you.’

‘Luke,’ Solo calls, ‘come and help our passenger on board. Chewie, if his Lordship moves, you know what to do.’

A youngster hurries down the ramp, blaster drawn. Luke offers me a hand, and when I look in his face, I freeze. He has Ani’s blue eyes.

‘It’s alright,’ Luke reassures me, as he pulls me to my feet, ‘we’re here to rescue you.’

I let him guide me up the ramp, and see Ira disappear down the airshaft from the corner of my eye. Good. He’ll get himself to safety.

Maia, don’t go with them, I hear Ani call and I feel his anguish as he does.

I pull my hand away from Luke, turn, and look back towards the Sith Lord. Why is Ani’s presence so strong? I tip my head, concentrating, trying to figure out what I feel.

Ani? I question, confused. Where are you? How can you be so close to me?

I’m right here in front of you, he answers.

I give my head a frustrated shake. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Luke grabs me by the arm and tugs me along after him. I turn about as best I can and stare at Vader until I am in the ship and he is out of sight.

There is something wrong about what just happened, but I don’t understand what it is. I try puzzling it out, working away at my fractured memory while Luke pushes me into a padded lounge seat and straps me in.

A few seconds later, I hear Solo and Chewie running through the ship to the cockpit. I just stay where I am and wait. My mind is occupied with other things. The freighter lifts off with a jerk and I feel myself slam into the padding as the throttle is pushed up to full power.

No, not another lunatic pilot, I think miserably to myself.

***

I stare at the ship as it pulls away from the building.

She didn’t know who I am. Didn’t know I am her husband, her Anakin.

Thirsk moves to my side, follows my line of sight.

‘They still have to get past the planetary patrols, my Lord,’ he reminds me.

I spin about and head for the transport that has just arrived. If I am quick, I might catch them before Solo can make his escape.

***

‘Chewie,’ I hear Solo shout, ‘you will have to fly the Falcon. Come on, Luke. We’ll handle those Imperial slugs.’

The two men are running from the cockpit and heading to the gunnery stations from the sound of things. There’s nothing I can do to help them, so I continue brooding.

Ani was right there. I could feel him, but I couldn’t see him despite what he told me. Could the Sith Lord have dragged my husband along as a bargaining chip? My face goes white. I had better make sure my love is okay.

Ani, are you alright? I ask.

A burst of reassurance across our bond is his answer. Ani must be too preoccupied to tell me what has happened to him. I let out the breath I had been holding. He’s safe for the moment, but for how long?

I feel the ship lurch and buck. We must be exiting Coruscant’s atmosphere. There are patrol ships to evade next, and I know that the Devastator is lurking in orbit somewhere.

‘Star Destroyer,’ I hear Luke shout.

The Devastator. Vader’s ship.

I reach out carefully with my senses, looking for some sign that the Sith Lord is on his flagship. No hint of his presence, but I do know that Ani is on board. Weird. How did he get from the top of the building to Vader’s flagship so quickly? And why is there no trace of the Sith Lord? Surely I should be able to detect his aura. I give my head another shake, trying once again to grasp at wisps of my memory. There’s an explanation for what I feel but it is completely eluding me at the moment.

The Falcon spins in a gut-wrenching maneuver, then levels out and is yanked hard to the left before diving downwards. Solo’s co-pilot must be trying to avoid being hit by the Devastator’s turbo-laser batteries or that ship’s tractor beam. I shut my eyes and tell my stomach to behave itself.

‘Why haven’t they sent any TIEs after us?’ I hear Luke ask, surprised.

‘I don’t know, kid,’ Solo replies, ‘but I don’t intend to stick around and find out.’

I somehow know the answer to that, but I won’t say anything to them about it. The only ones the Sith Lord would trust to come after this ship are his two wingmen. He will not send anyone else. Not when I am aboard. Not when some trigger-happy or less experienced pilot might make a mistake.

‘Chewie,’ I hear Solo shout, ‘head towards one of the moons. We’ll use it for cover before we jump.’

For the next few minutes, I concentrate on keeping my stomach settled. Are all Rebel pilots this crazy? Even the Wookiee flies like he’s a bit nuts. To steady myself, I rest my head on my arms on top of the round hologram board. That’s much better, I decide, as the ship levels off.

I stretch out my senses again and feel that odd sensation as the Falcon jumps to hyperspace. We’re safely away, I guess.

Maia, Ani calls, are you safe?

For the moment, I reply, We’ve jumped now.

Do you know where they are taking you? he asks me next.

Nope, I admit. No one has said a word about that.

When you find out, tell me, so I can come and get you, he orders.

Ani, I warn, you had better not be planning something stupid.

I hear the equivalent of a mental chuckle. He is busy plotting something.

Ani, I scold, you will only get yourself into worse trouble than you are in now. Stay put and I’ll do my best to persuade them to rescue you.

More laughter, so I give up on trying to make him see reason.

Stubborn, I tell him.

So are you, he teases.

Contrary, I call him.

And so are you, he promptly replies.

I fall silent. This conversation is taking a familiar path.

Ani? I wonder, we’ve done this before, haven’t we?

No response and I know his attention is elsewhere. I can bug him about this later, I decide, as I hear three sets of footsteps approach me. When one of them drops into the lounge seat next to me, I open my eyes and sit up.

‘Not a bad bit of rescuing, if I do say so myself,’ Solo drawls.

I glance over at him. He’s sprawled across two of the seats, lounging against the acceleration padding and looking rather pleased with himself.

‘We have to go back,’ I promptly state.

Three surprised expressions appear.

‘What?’ is Solo’s startled reply.

‘My husband is still back there,’ I tell them.

Solo instantly sits up and points a finger at me.

‘No way,’ he says. ‘It’s too hot now that Vader is all stirred up. Besides I am only getting paid for you, and not as much as I should be, at that.’

I give Luke and the Wookiee my best pleading look. Maybe they can work on him. When I see the lightsaber at Luke’s waist, I know what tactic will work.

‘He’s a Jedi Master,’ I reveal, ‘and Vader has him. We have to get him back.’

‘We?’ Solo asks, incredulous, jumping to his feet, ‘What’s this ‘we’ bit?’

‘Han...’ Luke starts.

‘Forget it, Luke,’ Solo interrupts. ‘Don’t you remember what happened the last time you heard about some Jedi needing help? This is nothing but trouble.’

I give Luke another pleading look.

‘But Han, he’s a Jedi Master and her husband,’ Luke tries again. ‘We have to do something.’

‘I said forget it!’ Han insists, heading back to the cockpit. ‘I am not going back there and that’s final!’

Luke watches him go, then whispers to me, ‘Don’t worry. Chewie and I will get him to see reason.’

The Wookiee softly growls something in response to that and Luke starts to grin. Good. I used the right approach here. They will get their friend talked around and then we will go and get Ani.

‘Do you want something to eat?’ Luke offers. ‘There’s not much on board, but I should be able to find something for you.’

The Wookiee barks a happy assent, but I give my head a shake and answer, ‘No Luke, but thanks for offering.’

He gives me a closer look, then observes, ‘You don’t look very good.’

‘I don’t feel very good, either,’ I wryly admit.

‘Maybe you should lie down for a while...’ he trails off and I can tell he is curious what my name is.

‘Eritae Halycon,’ I supply, ‘but most people just call me Eri.’

‘Eri, you can share Leia’s room,’ he tells me. ‘We have to pick her and the ‘droids up from a meeting before going back to Yavin.’

Luke heads around the corner, to the galley, I assume, so I undo the acceleration straps and stand up. A dizzy spell hits, and I feel two large powerful arms catch me, then lift me up. When I am fully aware again, the Wookiee is busy covering me with a blanket. He must have caught me when I started to fall over and carried me to the bunk.

‘Thank you,’ I tell him as I pull the cover up and settle in on my side.

He lets out a soft growl and brushes my hair away from my face.

‘I would like to know your name and what I am allowed to call you,’ I try next.

The Wookiee looks pleased that I asked that and gives his name in Shyriiwook a few times. I do my best to copy what he says, but the guttural components defeat my vocal cords. My last attempt sounds the closest, yet he still laughs a little at it. He gives his head an amused shake and uses a short version of his name that is close to how I heard Solo address him.

‘Chewie, then. You will let me use this name?’ I politely ask.

A nod from him. Good. This is one being I do not want to offend. He reaches over to muss my hair, then looks carefully at me. A low growled comment emerges from him before he fetches and tosses another blanket over me, and gives me a pillow to curl up with.

‘Thank you, Chewie,’ I say again.

Chewie leaves the small room near the galley, and I hear him growl at Luke for the amount of noise he is making over there. The loud crashes and bangs instantly stop. Time to have a nap while things are quiet. Maybe Ani is able to talk for a few minutes.

Ani? I venture.

A surge of affection makes its way to me. He’s busy, but I want him to know I am fine and what my new friends might do.

Ani, I think we will be coming back to get you, and soon, my love, I tell him.

A wave of amusement at that. Why does he find the idea of me rescuing him so funny?

I need to rest, now, love, I add, making sure he understands why I won’t be able to answer for a while.

Then be sure you rest enough, my little wife, Ani finally replies, and make sure you watch for me.

Ani’s decided to escape on his own. Stubborn, obstinate man, I fume a bit. He will just get himself hurt doing that. No point in scolding him about it though. My husband will only do as he wants to anyway.

Be careful, my love, I think at him.

Don’t worry, I will be, he orders.

***

I return to the room she escaped from hours ago and survey its contents.

Something happened in here last night which changed everything between us.

The wind blows through the ruined window, catching my cloak and ruffling the fabric of her nightdress lying carelessly discarded on the floor.

She was waiting quietly, silently by the window when I came in.

Her silence was so uncharacteristic of her. Not one word did she say to me at all. Not a spoken word, not a silent thought. Not even a single emotion did she allow to slip out. She even refused to share in the pleasure she gave me. I should have known something was wrong from her reticence alone.

I move to where she sat and look out, run a gloved hand along the smooth cut made in the transparisteel by her lightsaber.

Adi was hysterical when I found her and yanked her mind back to awareness after my wife’s escape. Stupid woman. If only she had obeyed Thirsk’s orders and come unarmed. Maia should never have had the opportunity to replace the power cell I removed from her hidden weapon. At least I will never have to worry about Adi’s carelessness and stupidity again.

My hand drops as I turn and consider the situation.

Maia fled from me, from the one person she truly loves. Why? What happened to her after I left?

I reach down and pick up her nightgown, hold the rich fabric in my hands and look at it. The front is marked with teardrops. My love spent the night weeping, yet I felt none of her distress, heard no call asking for comfort. What could have driven her to conceal her pain from me? I stare at the salt-stained mothsilk, brush my senses over it, searching for an answer.

I soon have it.

Pain. Despair. Shame. Heartbreak.

And grief. Overwhelming, overpowering grief.

The garment slips from my fingers and falls to the floor.

No.

Oh, no.

What a fool I have been.

I should have told her what I planned to do.

She believed the clever trick I used to deceive my master and it has completely destroyed her.

I spin about and hurry towards my quarters. There are plans to be made and things I must do quickly. As soon as I know where she is, I will leave.

Reena suspects that the second blow to Maia’s head has affected her memory and perceptions. She’s right. To Maia, I am now two different men.

Anakin, her husband, who she loves.

Darth Vader, his captor, who she fears.

She will run to the one and flee from the other not knowing that I am one and the same.

And the longer my poor love remains this way, the harder it will be to heal her injured mind.

There is no time to be wasted now and only one choice.

Anakin will have to escape and go find her.

***

The Millennium Falcon, hyperspace, en route to Garqi

DAY 14

My sound sleep is interrupted by a loud voice in the corridor outside the room.

‘Chewie, where’s my pillow and blanket?’ I hear Solo ask, annoyed.

His co-pilot says something to him in response.

‘You gave them to the Jedi? Chewie...’ Han starts to scold.

The Wookiee interrupts him with a growl.

‘Well, I don’t care if she needs them. I want my pillow back,’ he peevishly states.

Another low growl, this time a bit threatening, comes from Chewie.

‘Alright, alright, then. She can keep them,’ Solo concedes. ‘I just don’t understand why you gave them to her in the first place.’

A bark of amusement from his friend, then a longer explanation obviously follows.

‘A cub?’ Solo asks, confused. ‘What do you mean she’s going to have a cub?’

Silence for a minute as Solo’s brain sorts this out. I hide my face in his pillow and do my best not to laugh. This is pretty funny. He might be a crack pilot, but Solo is not that swift sometimes.

‘Oh, oh, she’s that way,’ I hear him say as realization kicks in.

That’s even funnier, so I laugh a bit louder, hoping they don’t hear me.

‘Well next time, steal Luke’s pillow instead,’ Han suggests.

‘Han,’ I hear Luke’s sleepy voice, ‘you are making enough noise to wake the Emperor in his palace.’

Chewie growls in agreement.

‘Good, you’re awake so I can get some sleep. Give me your pillow and blankets, kid. Chewie gave mine to our passenger,’ Han tells Luke, dropping his volume a bit.

‘Her name’s Eri Halcyon and you can sleep in my bunk if you want to,’ Luke helpfully supplies, finishing up with a yawn.

‘Halcyon? Halcyon?’ Han repeats. ‘Great, just great.’

‘Is there a problem?’ Luke asks, curious.

‘She’s a Corellian. And from a family who have a reputation for getting themselves killed in the most spectacularly messy ways possible,’ Han explains, before grumbling, ‘I just knew agreeing to go rescue her husband was a mistake.’

We will be going back for Ani after all, I happily think.

Ani, I call, you don’t need to try and escape. We’re coming back for you.

Maia? he replies and he sounds pretty distracted, too.

Go back to what you were doing, I tell him.

I must have interrupted something. Well, my news can wait. There will be time later to work out how he can help us with his rescue.

I return my attention to where I am and listen carefully to see what else the Falcon’s crew might say, but Han has fallen silent and is probably asleep. Luke and Chewie are just out of earshot. They must have gone to the cockpit. Rats. Oh well, I will just stay put and try to think of how we can rescue Ani.

There is an agonizing, burning pain across my chest.

‘ANI!’ I scream before I realize what I am doing.

That brings Luke and Chewie from somewhere at a dead run and wakes Han from his nap.

‘What is going on?’ I hear Solo yell.

By the time a rumpled looking Han appears in the doorway, his two friends have already crowded into the small sleeping quarters and Chewie is busy rocking me in his arms while I weep hysterically.

‘Luke, what’s going on?’ Han tries again to get an answer.

‘I have no idea, Han, but she’s been hurt, and hurt badly somehow,’ Luke tells him.

Chewie growls something at Han who quickly disappears. I stay where I am, trying to figure out what just happened to me. A minute later, his friend is back with the medkit.

‘We have to look at you, Eri, and see what the problem is,’ Han says.

I stare at him. Let Han Solo play doctor? I don’t think so and give my head a shake. He looks over at Luke.

‘What about letting Luke...’ he suggests, but falls silent when I shake my head again.

‘Maybe you should do it, Chewie,’ Han tries their last option.

I reluctantly nod my agreement and the two men make a quick retreat from the room. Chewie politely turns his back while I take off my tunic. There is a bright red, painful slash running across the top of my chest. I let out a hiss when I touch it and that sound prompts the Wookiee to turn and look at me. He lets out a mournful cry and reaches over to muss my hair, trying to comfort me, I guess.

‘Chewie?’ I hear Han call.

Han and Luke appear a few seconds later and peer through the door at me. I modestly hold my tunic over my front so they can see the injury but nothing below it. Both men flinch visibly.

‘Lightsaber burn,’ Luke identifies, ‘but that’s impossible. How did....?’

‘Ani,’ I whisper, horrified. ‘He must have tried to escape on his own.’

‘Wait a minute,’ Han says, obviously not happy with how things are going, ‘how do you know he tried to getaway and how did you get that burn if he’s the one who got hurt?’

I bite my lip and drop my eyes to the floor. No way am I telling them about our life-bond.

‘I think she’s hiding something, Luke,’ Solo decides, turning to face his friend, ‘and I don’t like that very much.’ He takes a menacing step towards me and threatens, ‘Our escape was far too easy, kid. I think we have an Imperial spy on board and she had better come clean about it before I decide to space her.’

I shrink away from him. Is he crazy?

Chewie steps between us and snarls at Han who stops in his tracks and blinks in surprise.

‘Life-bond?’ he questions. ‘Chewie, those are nothing but stories.’

A bark of confirmation comes from the Wookiee and Han just shakes his head in disbelief.

‘You should listen to Chewie, Han. She’s not a spy,’ Luke tells him. ‘I would know if she intended us any harm.’

‘More Force stuff, kid?’ Solo questions, not convinced.

Luke simply nods in response.

‘Well, Jedi or not, I don’t trust her,’ Han flatly states, ‘and if she tries anything, out the airlock she goes.’

I watch him stalk from the room and look pleadingly at Luke who stares at Solo’s retreating back.

‘After Aridus, he’s extremely suspicious of anyone who claims to be a Jedi,’ Luke reveals. ‘Vader nearly caught me in a trap there using an actor to play Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Stay put, and I’ll bring you something to eat. We are almost at Garqi and should be dropping out of hyperspace soon.’

I watch him go and while he is gone, Chewie helps me look after my wound. The Wookiee leaves with the medkit after that, so I sit on the bunk, stare into nothing, and twist one of my plain gold bracelets around my wrist.

Ani’s been hurt, and quite badly from what I felt across our bond and had appear on my chest, but I feel nothing from him now. At least I know where we are going. Garqi. I wonder what sort of place that is.

Luke interrupts my musings with breakfast. It’s simple, plain fare and the milk is blue in color. I pick up the glass and give him a puzzled look, but his back is to me as he heads off to prepare for our arrival. Too hungry to really care what anything tastes or looks like, I eat everything on the plate and down the odd-colored milk. Time to see if I can find out what has happened to my husband.

Ani? I call to him.

No immediate response, so I try again every few minutes or so.

Finally, he answers me with only my name, Maia.

I know you’ve been badly hurt, love, so don’t answer, just listen to me, I suggest. We are almost at a place called Garqi. They are going to pick someone up there then go to Yavin.

He’s thinking about that.

Give them the slip and stay on Garqi, if you can, he orders. It will be easier for me to find you there than to run the blockade at Yavin.

Ani pauses for a few minutes, so I wait patiently for more instructions.

They will probably land at Pesktda, the capital, Ani tells me. Go to the Governor, Luthus Tadrin, and use the name I gave you to identify yourself but tell him no more than that. I know Luthus from years ago and he will give you shelter until I arrive. I should be there within two days.

You got away? I ask, surprised that he managed it on his own.

My husband gives an amused chuckle at that.

Of course. And I stole a sweet little ship on the way out, he reveals.

Ani, I scold, that’s not all you got, was it?

He hesitates, so I prod, with a warning tone, Ani, tell me the truth.

A few bruises and scrapes, and one bad cut across the chest, he finally owns up. You must have been marked by the last. I am sorry for that, my little wife. I was careless.

How I miss my reckless, stubborn husband. I shut my eyes and just send my love to him. He responds in kind and for a brief few minutes our minds are in perfect harmony with one another.

You should try to rest, Ani suggests. I will tell you everything I know about the world you are going to.

I lean back in the bunk, pull the blankets back over me and listen to Ani tell me about the agricultural world which is the Falcon’s destination.

***

She is finally relaxed, so I pull my mind away and let her be. The stress she is under is not healthy for her or our child.

I activate the Holonet terminal and contact Garqi’s governor. As usual, he is lazing about on the beaches of Spira rather than in the Governor’s residence on his homeworld. Tadrin will do as I order him to, ask no questions, and look after my ‘agent’ who will be coming to him for aid.

My next task is to get to Maia as fast as I can. But which ship to take? I survey my choices in the hangar. Speed and stealth are needed here.

The Scimitar then. My predecessor’s ship.

I smile behind my mask as I touch the controls. It has been far too long since I have flown solo for any length of time. My castle falls far behind as I easily evade the slow planetary patrol ships and the Devastator. They will report this and it will help with my cover story. Hyperspace beckons and Imperial Center is soon in the distance.

I leave the pilot’s station, toss my cloak and robes aside. My chest aches as my movements pull on the lightsaber burn. It was a mistake to let the dueling ‘droid do that, despite the fact that it acted as proof of my ‘escape’ from ‘Lord Vader’. No matter. It will heal well enough in the next two days. I replace my clothes with a Jedi Master’s attire, covering most of my armor and life support control panel. The less I need to conceal with the Force, the easier this will be.

Time to prepare myself with meditation. The illusion must be perfect. I cannot make any mistakes.

***

The Millennium Falcon, Pesktda spaceport, Garqi

DAY 15

‘No, Eri, I told you no earlier, and I am not going to change my mind,’ Solo yells at me. ‘You are staying with the ship and that’s final.’

I glare at him, furious.

‘I just want to see the botanical gardens,’ I try again.

He waves a finger at me like Ani often does and orders, ‘I don’t care. You are not going out by yourself again. Chewie, keep her here and lock her in the hold if you have to.’

My mouth drops open and I start to protest, but Han has disappeared down the landing ramp to join Luke, Leia, and the ‘droids on their errand - a task they won’t let me go along on. Guess I am still considered a security risk to them.

I drop into the pilot’s chair and start fuming. How dare he order me about. I am not a child who needs minding and babysitting.

At least I had a bit of fun shopping in the nearby market yesterday before Solo spoiled it. I was fine buying some clothes and supplies until he came along and butted in on my haggling with that shopkeeper.

With a sigh, I shut my eyes and lean back in the chair. Solo plans to leave tonight and Ani will arrive at about the same time. If Han has his way, I will have no chance to slip away today. And even though he likes me and stood up to Han for me, Chewie will do exactly as his friend asked him to and keep me on the ship.

I hear the Wookiee head down the landing ramp. What’s he up to, I wonder. Curious, now, I follow the Falcon’s co-pilot outside and watch him start working on one of the ship’s outer components. He’s busy, but maybe I can persuade him to let me stay outside the ship for a while.

Chewie sees me and lets out a warning growl. There will be no sneaking past this observant Wookiee.

‘I just want to practice with my ‘saber for a while,’ I tell him, ‘and there’s no room inside to do that.’

He looks a bit suspicious, so I add, ‘I won’t leave the docking bay, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

I receive a nod of assent in response to that so I set about running through ‘saber forms. By the time Chewie is finished whatever he was busy with, I am starting to get a little tired and hungry. It’s time for lunch, so I hurry to the galley, make a meal for both of us and curl up for a nap once the mess from my experiments with the Falcon’s ancient and temperamental autochef is cleaned up.

Sleep refuses to come. My mind is too busy brooding and trying to figure out how to slip past my guard. I turn over onto my stomach, shove the pillow under my chest and consider my options. Ani won’t let me tell the rebels that he escaped, so using that as an excuse to stay behind or delay their departure is out. I work away at my options and finally come up with something which might work. Now if Luke will only co-operate.

Satisfied with my plans, I settle in to wait for Han and the others to return.

A gentle touch on my shoulder draws my attention.

‘Eri,’ I hear Leia say, ‘it’s time for something to eat if you are feeling well enough.’

I look up and blink at her.

‘Han’s found a little café nearby that should be safe,’ the princess offers.

I am completely alert when I hear that. This is better than I expected.

‘I’ll try to eat something,’ I promise her.

‘Good. You need to hurry,’ she tells me. ‘Han’s concerned we have already stayed here longer than we should have.’

Leia leaves me to prepare for our walk after that so I quickly put on my boots and cloak, making sure my ‘saber is hidden from the view of any casual observers. No need to invite trouble. Once I am ready, I join my soon to be ex-companions and walk with them to the small restaurant two blocks away.

The decor is homey and ancient from the look of things, but the food is good and not overly expensive. I am careful to eat slowly, and everyone else is finished long before I am.

‘Will you hurry up,’ Han finally nags.

I give him an irritated look and snap, ‘If I eat fast, I’ll get sick. Do you really want me throwing up all over your ship?’

His mouth drops at that, but he doesn’t try to make me eat faster again. After another few minutes, I hear him make a few exasperated noises.

At that, I set down my fork and suggest, ‘Why don’t you go back to the ship and get ready to leave? I can find my own way back.’

‘No way,’ Han insists, ‘you’ll get lost again or have something worse happen to you.’

‘You sound like my mother,’ I tease him.

‘Look, if I had you for a wife, I would never let you out of my sight,’ he comes right back. ‘Trouble follows you everywhere you go.’

Want to play at banter, do you? I grin evilly to myself. Bad move, Solo.

‘Now you really do sound like my husband,’ I bait him.

Our server comes by and looks back and forth between the two of us.

‘Oh, excuse, me,’ he politely apologizes, before beating a hasty retreat, ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt a spousal disagreement.’

Solo starts sputtering at that, Luke is desperately trying to hide a grin and Chewie is openly laughing at his friend. Leia diplomatically says nothing.

‘Go ahead, laugh it up, fuzz-ball,’ Solo growls at the Wookiee. ‘Some day I’ll spill a few stories about you.’

‘It could have been worse,’ I suggest, ‘he could have thought you were married to Leia.’

That gets me a dirty look from the princess.

‘Or to Luke,’ I can’t help adding.

Now Solo jumps to his feet, points a finger at me and snaps, ‘I am not that type!’

Teasing Han is great entertainment, but he’s getting too riled up for it to be funny much longer. I let my grin get wider. Time to bug someone else for a while. I look over at Luke who has gone quite red at my suggestion. A blusher, I think wickedly.

‘Why not?’ I ask Solo. ‘He’s cute enough, don’t you think?’

Luke says nothing, just goes a deeper shade of scarlet.

‘No reward is worth this,’ Han quietly growls. ‘I would almost pay the Alliance to take her.’

I snicker a bit at that. Solo would be willing to give up some credits to be rid of me?

‘Maybe Ani knows a cute young Jedi who might be interested in Luke,’ I suggest next.

Now Luke’s mouth drops open.

‘I don’t need a matchmaker,’ he mumbles to himself.

‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ Han slyly states. ‘You could use a good kiss or two.’

Solo likes to tease Luke. I look over at Leia. Time to include her.

‘Or maybe he can find someone for Leia, too,’ I add.

‘Now wait just a minute,’ Han scolds.

Interesting. There is something going on between the smuggler and the princess.

‘Why is it that those who are married always want to pair up all the singles around them?’ Leia joins in.

‘Entertainment,’ I cheerfully volunteer, digging into my meal again.

‘I’m going back to the Falcon,’ Han decides, ‘before she has us all married off and starts naming our kids.’

A minute later Luke and I are the only ones left at the table. Good. I know just how to give him the slip, too. To delay things a bit longer, I continue to linger over my meal. When I figure enough time has gone by, I shove my plate aside. Time to set my plan into motion.

‘Luke,’ I ask, ‘do you think there is enough time for me to pick up a few clothes at the shop across the street?’

‘If you are quicker at shopping than you are at eating, Eri,’ he teases me.

Perfect.

‘I’ll be quick,’ I promise.

Luke pays the bill for the meal and we hurry to the shop I selected when we first arrived at the restaurant. I head inside immediately, but Luke stops at the door, obviously not at all willing to follow me in. Even better. Ditching him will be a cinch. Finally he takes a few steps after me, keeping his eyes on the floor. Good. Just to be certain, I’ll embarrass him a bit more.

‘What do you think of this?’ I ask, grabbing a rather skimpy black lace number off one of the racks. ‘Do you think Ani will like it?’

That does it. Luke gives the negligee one quick look, goes bright red again and heads towards the front door.

‘I’ll wait for you outside,’ he decides.

I stay quiet until he is out of earshot then start laughing. That was too precious. A quick look about and I have spotted the exit at the back of the shop. This is far too easy, I decide. I pretend to look at things until the clerk is busy with another customer then duck out the back door and scurry down the alley and back towards the thoroughfare the shop is situated on. Peering around the corner, I can see Luke still standing there, patiently waiting me to finish my shopping.

With a grin I head away from him, towards the Governor’s Residence three blocks away. Partway there, I spot an Imperial patrol. Damn. Ducking into a booth in a gourmet tapcaf, I watch them go by, heading right for where Luke is probably still waiting for me.

I shut my eyes and concentrate. Luke needs to be warned quickly or he will get caught.

Luke, I call to him, Luke, you need to get back to the Falcon right now.

No response, so I push harder with the Force, slamming my mind against his rudimentary shields.

Run, Luke, run, I yell at him.

That produces an immediate startled reaction.

Eri, where are you? I hear him ask.

Is he stupid? He should be trying to get away not wasting time trying to locate me.

I’m safe, Luke, I tell him, but you aren’t. Run!

He must have got the hint because the patrol starts to run in his direction. I hope he makes it to safety in one piece. As Luke’s presence moves away from me, I feel Ani’s enter the system. His ship must have just dropped out of hyperspace. Blast. Now I have to head back to the spaceport which is where Luke will have led the patrol, and also where Han and company will be waiting for both of us.

I dart around the serving ‘droid which has finally noticed me and race out the door. Taking what I hope is an alternate route back to where I need to be, I run along the avenue dodging the occasional bimiza tree. When I spot the entrance to the spaceport, I slow down and let out a sigh of relief. I can tell that Ani is almost here already - I just have to ask him which docking bay to go to once he is on the ground.

Looking up, I see a dagger-shaped ship coming in to land. Ani, I think happily to myself. Unfortunately my gawking upwards means I don’t see the well-dressed, tanned and bleached blonde man I walk solidly into. We both end up on the ground, staring at one another in surprise.

‘Haven’t you heard of watching where you are going?’ he asks, sounding exceptionally put out.

Another man who is obviously his aide helps him up. I stay where I am, not quite sure what to do next.

When I stay silent, he looks down his nose at me and rather rudely questions, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’

‘No,’ I admit, getting to my feet, ‘should I?’

He looks a bit taken aback at that. Must be some petty noble or a bureaucrat with an inflated ego.

Movement from out of the corner of my eye gets my attention. Great, just great. Solo has chosen to put in an appearance and brought Chewie along.

‘You really have no idea who I am,’ the man says, now seeming a bit disappointed.

‘Let me take a guess,’ I snidely venture, ‘a village somewhere is missing its idiot.’

Luke chooses that instant to bolt across the street to where Han and the Wookiee are standing.

‘I’m the sector governor, Luthus Tadrin,’ the man snaps, ‘and you need to learn some manners.’

Oops. This is who Ani told me to contact. I look over the Governor’s shoulder to see a tall figure in black with a familiar silhouette approaching in the distance. This is getting better every second. Now, where is that patrol which was chasing Luke? Surely they will want to join in the fun.

‘Apologies, Governor Tadrin,’ I hear Han say, as he grabs my arm and drags me back a few steps, ‘we don’t let her out much for obvious reasons.’

‘Get her out of my sight, then, before I decide to do something about it,’ Tadrin orders.

‘Come on, Eri,’ Han tells me, pulling me towards the docking bay where the Falcon is parked, ‘it’s back to the ship with you.’

‘Eri?’ I hear the Governor ask, ‘As in Eritae Halcyon?’

Han pretends not to hear him and keeps going.

‘Commander, go and bring those people back here immediately,’ Tadrin orders next.

I glance back over my shoulder and see that the patrol has finally arrived.

‘Luke, we’re in trouble!’ Solo shouts, shoving me into an alcove and whipping out his blaster.

This is just great. A quick survey of the situation reveals that Luke and Chewie are holed up in the alcove right across from this one, the patrol is busy taking up positions, the man in black is still heading in our direction, one of the Governor’s aides has hauled Tadrin aside for a chat, and I have no idea where Ani is. Things couldn’t get much worse.

‘I have just been told that Lord Vader will be here shortly to take charge of you,’ the Governor tells us in a raised voice.

Things just got worse.

I lean against the wall and close my eyes.

Ani, I call, hoping that he is nearby and has some idea how to help me out of this mess.

Tadrin continues, ‘And if you surrender to me without a fight, he might be lenient with you.’

‘If you think we are falling for that one, Governor,’ Han yells back, ‘then you really are the village idiot!’

Chewie starts to laugh at that volley. Tadrin just growls and waves a hand at the troops.

Blaster bolts start to fly. Han and Luke busily return fire while I do my best to watch what is happening. The dark-robed and hooded stranger has reached the edge of the fire-fight, I note, and is watching the goings-on, hands on hips, head slightly tipped to one side.

I know that pose.

Ani? I ask.

The head swivels about to look directly towards where I am hiding.

You, my wife, seem to have a talent for getting yourself into more trouble than you can handle, he teases me.

It’s not my fault, I start to protest.

Stay where you are, he orders, I will look after this.

I watch Ani surreptitiously pull his lightsaber out from under his robes. A second one quickly joins the first. What is he up to? A glance back in my direction and I know exactly what he has planned.

‘Han,’ I whisper, ‘you need to stop firing, and tell Luke and Chewie to stop, too.’

‘What?’ Solo asks.

‘Trust me,’ I suggest.

Han stares at me a second or two then nods. Easing his blaster back, he motions to Luke and Chewie to do the same.

‘You had better be right about this,’ Han warns.

‘Just watch,’ I tell him.

The instant my three friends stop shooting, Ani ignites both ‘sabers and moves. He’s even faster than I remember, as the bolts aimed at him are effortlessly returned to their sources. In less than a minute, not a single ‘trooper is in any shape to do anything other than moan a bit. The Governor and his aides have fled the scene, too. I guess Tadrin has a few brain cells after all.

Knowing it is safe now, I dart from the alcove. Han makes a grab for me, but misses.

‘Eri,’ he yells at me, ‘are you crazy?’

I ignore him and hurl myself at Ani. He shuts off the green lightsaber and uses the hand holding it to pull me in close. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I bury my face in his shoulder and happily hold on.

Safe, I decide, I am safe now.

Open your mind to me, Ani orders, and let your feelings for me flood over our bond.

Why? I wonder, but hastily comply.

‘Luke, are you alright?’ I hear Han ask.

I turn a bit in my love’s arms to see what the problem is. Luke is staring at the two of us with a peculiar expression on his face. After a few seconds, he gives his head a shake.

‘I’m fine, Han,’ Luke decides, ‘I just had a weird feeling about Eri’s husband for a moment, that’s all.’

‘That’s her husband?’ Han asks, finally allowing himself to emerge from behind what little cover he had.

‘Unless you know of another Jedi Master in the area,’ Luke tells him.

‘We can’t remain here much longer,’ Ani warns them.

Chewie lets out a growl.

‘You’re right Chewie, I know that voice, too,’ Han growls, leveling his blaster at Ani, ‘and it doesn’t belong to any Jedi, either.’

‘Stop that,’ I snap at him.

Why is he being so stupid? I look up at Ani. There’s one sure fire way to convince my friends whose arms I am in. Before my husband can stop me, I reach up, shove the hood hiding his face back, pull his head down a touch and kiss him. He responds by putting on a bit of a show - deepening our kiss and holding me close. That ought to satisfy any doubts Solo and Chewie might have, I think as I finish kissing my love.

‘Well, Han, I guess you are wrong for once,’ Luke teases his friend.

I rest my head on Ani’s shoulder again and watch Solo holster his blaster. Good. My love shuts off his blue ‘saber in reaction. Maybe it’s time to leave now.

‘We need to leave,’ Ani suggests, ‘before anyone else shows up.’

‘Get the ship ready to go,’ Han tells Chewie who promptly disappears into the docking bay.

‘You could come with us on the Falcon,’ Luke offers. ‘The Alliance would be more than happy to see you two.’

He looks so eager at the prospect of having a couple of Jedi around. I turn my face to look into Ani’s again. My love simply shakes his head.

‘I have a ship of my own, Luke,’ Ani says, ‘and we can’t go with you.’

‘But why not?’ Luke starts protesting. ‘I need someone to teach me.’

My husband sighs at that.

‘Can you protect Eri if something happens to me?’ he asks. ‘Are you strong enough to hide her and our son from the Emperor? If Palpatine decides he wants my wife and child, there is nothing you or the Alliance can do to stop him.’

Luke and Han stand there, staring at us.

‘Luke, I want you to listen carefully to me,’ Ani says. ‘I will be taking Eri somewhere safe and remote, a place where I can hide and protect her. In a few years, if it is safe to do so, I will come back for you.’

‘If you can’t stay, then take me with you instead,’ Luke suggests.

I feel Ani hesitate. He wants to train Luke, but something is stopping him.

‘I can’t,’ my love admits, ‘Keeping Eri’s and my son’s Force presence hidden is all I can manage. I won’t risk them just to take you with us.’

‘But,...’ Luke continues to try and convince my husband who just shakes his head at every argument Luke comes up with.

Finally, Luke gives up.

Is he always this persistent? Ani asks me.

Unfortunately, yes, I answer.

I hear the whine of engines starting on the Falcon. Han exchanges looks with Luke.

‘Better say goodbye, Luke,’ Han suggests. ‘From sounds of things it will be quite a while before you see these two again.’

He heads to his ship while Luke considers what to say.

‘I wish I could go with you,’ he finally states, ‘but I understand why you won’t take me.’

‘Go with your friends, Luke,’ Ani tells him as he slides his arm behind my back and starts to walk back to where his own ship is waiting.

‘May the Force be with you,’ I hear Luke call after us.

I smile up at Ani. All should be well now.

‘We need to hurry,’ Ani warns me, shifting into a slow run and pulling me along by the hand. ‘Tadrin will have contacted the local garrison and nearest Star Destroyer by now.’

I do my best to keep up, and stop in surprise when we enter the docking bay with Ani’s ship. What a different looking craft. He tugs on my hand and guides me up the ramp and inside the stolen vessel.

‘You can look at it later,’ he scolds.

Ani drops into the pilot’s chair and I take the one nearest to him. Seconds later the ship is airborne, following the Falcon into orbit. That was quick.

‘I left the engines cycling,’ Ani tells me, ‘so there would be no delay in leaving.’

‘Nice ship,’ I hear Solo compliment over the comm. ‘Modified Star Courier, I think.’

Ani chuckles at that, and replies, ‘She has a few surprises in her.’

‘Given who you stole her from, I am not surprised,’ Han admits.

My love starts to smile at that comment.

‘Time to part company, Captain Solo,’ Ani tells him, shutting off the comm and activating another set of controls.

‘Why did you do that?’

‘Cloaking device. I don’t want him to be able to track us,’ he reveals.

I stay silent after that, thinking. Ani is acting a bit odd. And that story he told Luke and Han about having to hide me. Strange.

Ani ignores me and works away at the controls. When he sits back and looks over at me, a glance through the viewports shows that we have shifted into hyperspace.

‘Ani,’ I ask, ‘where are we going?’

‘Somewhere safe, Maia,’ he answers. ‘You have been quite ill and I need to look after you.’

‘Just a bit of motion sickness, that’s all,’ I admit.

He reaches over and brushes gloved fingers down my cheek in a familiar gesture. I watch him get up and retrieve a glass of something which he promptly hands to me once he is back at my side.

‘You must be thirsty,’ Ani suggests. ‘This will help.’

I take the glass and look up at him, puzzled. My love is standing there, patiently waiting for me to finish what he has brought me. He won’t have something himself until he sees that I have been looked after. With a sigh, I sip on the sweet fruit drink. It has an odd aftertaste, so I drain it quickly and hand the empty container back to him. Ani sets it aside and watches me closely. Something must be wrong, I think as the room starts to slant on a crazy angle.

‘I don’t feel very good,’ I tell him.

‘It’s alright, my love,’ Ani soothes.

I give him a strange look and shake my head. Why do his features keep shifting? Shutting my eyes, I try and clear the cobwebs from my increasingly fuzzy brain. When I open them, Ani is gone, and the Sith Lord is standing beside me. With a stricken cry, I try to get up and back away from him, only to have my knees give way underneath me. I am now sprawled across the deck.

You are going to hurt yourself and our son if you don’t calm down, I hear Ani in my mind.

Where are you? I can’t see you, only him, I tell him, frantically trying to reconcile what I see with what I feel through the Force.

I am right here, my little goddess, Ani answers.

I shut my eyes and moan quietly. My head is spinning and nothing makes sense to me anymore. I hear fabric rustle next and a step or two before someone kneels down beside me and pulls me up and into their arms. It feels like Ani’s Force presence, but from the armor against my cheek and the regulated breathing I know it isn’t him.

Hush, my love, he comforts me, it’s alright.

I don’t understand, I admit, in anguish and completely confused. Please help me understand.

Gentle hands hold me close, but he says nothing in response to my plea. I sense his tentative touches on the bond we share and then I know what my addled mind has spent days trying to puzzle out.

Ani? You’re him, too? I ask.

Quiet reassurance and confirmation flows back to me.

What happened to me? I try next.

‘You fell twice within a few hours. And struck your head hard both times,’ the Sith Lord’s baritone voice reveals. ‘The first blow put you into a state of shock and the second ....’ He pauses a moment. ‘The best explanation I have for what happened is that you split me into two personalities.’

I stay quiet in his arms, thinking, and trying to sort out the events of the last few days.

‘Don’t try to work things out right now,’ he suggests, ‘you are tired and the sedative I gave you should be hitting you full force in a few more minutes.’

He drugged me? The sneak. I hear a low rumbling chuckle in response to that thought.

‘Maintaining an illusion at the level I needed to is exhausting, so I thought it best to push you into resolving my identity immediately rather than wait,’ Ani tells me. ‘I also had to make sure you wouldn’t over-react and hurt yourself in the process.’

He pulls me in closer, then sets a hand over our child.

‘He’s fine, Ani,’ I reassure him, ‘The rebels treated me well and the Wookiee, Chewie, made sure no one touched or hurt me.’

‘Wookiees are known for their loyalty,’ Ani confirms. ‘One he decided to take care of you, he would treat you as one of his own. I let them go because you were unharmed.’

I sense Ani’s smile behind his mask.

‘I need to work some more on your manners. Calling Governor Tadrin the village idiot was rather unwise, don’t you think?’ he teases.

‘Someone once called the Prime Minister at home that,’ I admit.

‘Don’t tell me who, let me guess,’ he suggests.

I snuggle in close and let myself relax. He’ll never figure out who made that particular remark. Gloved fingers pull my hair away from my face and I feel him shift me about in his arms. A few minutes later I have been carried into another room, tucked into a bunk and covered with a warm blanket. His weight is next to me on the bed, and I know he is sitting there, watching over me, when I finally fall asleep.

The Executor, Fondor, Fondor System

DAY 17

I feel a kiss against my forehead and open my eyes a crack. Ani’s up early to deal with today’s slate of meetings and tests on his just completed ship. It will be many hours before he is back again.

Ani, I love you, I tell him through the fog of sleep.

Go back to sleep, my little wife, he scolds. You need to rest.

I grumble to myself, but shut my eyes. He kept me sedated during most of the journey from Garqi and insisted I go straight to bed when we arrived back at Fondor last night.

If I sleep too much more, I grumble at him, I will need a Prince’s kiss to wake me up.

So a Sith Lord isn’t good enough for you anymore? he teases.

Doesn’t matter what you are, I would still love you, I reassure him.

That earns me another kiss. I hear him go over to the table and pour out his breakfast. He will be gone in another few minutes.

Go to sleep, Maia, he insists, this time giving my mind a firm nudge.

I don’t resist and let myself dream a bit.

***

I watch her carefully as she sleeps. There are no signs she has discovered my tampering as yet. Hopefully she will never find what I have done.

How many more mistakes will I make with her? How many more times will I have to heal emotional wounds foolishly and unthinkingly inflicted?

I nearly lost her this time.

I nearly lost her.

My dream warned me, but I stupidly ignored it and shoved her away once again. If only I had kept her close to me. She would never have slipped into the state that she did.

Spinning the glass in my hand, I finally set it down, the drink untouched.

Palpatine was right. She is a fragile child who must be handled with the greatest of care.

I move to her side and sit next to her on the bed. She stirs in response to my closeness, but does not wake.

My little love, my gentle wife. I selfishly tore you away from everything you knew. Every time you reached to me to regain some security and stability in your life, I ruthlessly, callously rejected you. And this last time...

I turn my face away from her. I have not felt this much guilt in years, but I am truly ashamed of what I did to her. Ashamed of what I saw in her memories.

I hurt her in the worst way I possibly could. No wonder she fled from me.

Be grateful, I remind myself, that you were able to hide that from her. She will never remember that sordid incident now.

I brush aside a few stray hairs and kiss her cheek.

Returning to the table, I finish the drink I set aside earlier. She will sleep while I work and when I return, I will keep her close to me.

I have learned a very costly lesson.

I will never push her away from me again.

***

I sense Ani close to me and know he is back from whatever he had to do this morning.

‘Sleeping beauty is finally awake,’ Ani teases.

I snuggle into my pillow and smile. Comparing children’s stories helped occupy some of our time in hyperspace. Almost every fairytale from Earth has some sort of analog here.

‘I have an afternoon’s worth of reports to go through. You may keep me company if you like,’ he offers next.

My ears perk up at that.

‘May I raid your bookshelf and find something interesting to have a look at?’ I ask.

He has a few neat books on ‘saber forms I haven’t read yet.

I hear an answering chuckle to that.

‘Yes, now hurry up and have your lunch,’ he tells me next.

I open my eyes. Ani’s settled in his chair, waiting for me to get mobile.

‘You made me lunch?’ I ask.

‘Yes, and filled the bath for you,’ he volunteers.

Oh. I toss aside the covers and hurry into the ‘fresher. The water is warm, but not hot.

‘The water’s cold,’ I decide after sticking my hand in it. ‘You must have been waiting quite a while for me to wake up.’

‘Not really. Hot baths are not good for our son. There will be no more long, hot soaks for you,’ Ani reveals.

‘That’s not fair,’ I protest. Hot soaks are the one luxury I regularly indulge in.

‘Life’s... ‘ he starts, so I finish for him, ‘... not fair. I know that, Ani.’

I step into the water and refrain from complaining some more. He will just get annoyed if I argue with him.

‘It’s too cold. I want to add some hot water,’ I tell him after I sit down. Maybe I can do that if he leaves before my bath is done.

‘No, you won’t,’ he orders, ‘and if you persist in trying to get around my wishes, I will set the water temperature even colder than what’s in there now.’

‘That means cold showers for you!’ I tease him, wickedly. With the prospect of enduring a few months of that, he will probably relent and let me have the odd hot bath.

‘You really are a stubborn little concubine, aren’t you?’ Ani teases.

I look up. He’s watching me from the doorway. Blushing a bit, I wait for him to go back to his lunch. No such luck. Ani just waits patiently for me to finish with my hair, then steps into the ‘fresher and assists me out of the water.

‘Your center of gravity is shifting,’ he notes as I lean a bit on his arm, ‘and I don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself. I intend to help you in and out of your baths from now on.’

I go a little redder at that offer, but don’t object. When he steps back and runs his eyes up and down my body, I grab for a towel which he promptly takes from me. This is getting embarrassing.

‘Let me look at you,’ Ani insists.

Chastised now, I quietly wait for him to finish. Once he is satisfied with what he sees, he wraps a warm towel around me and pulls me in close. One of his hands gently brushes across my stomach.

‘You have become noticeably bigger this last week,’ he observes. ‘If you continue gaining weight at this rate, it will become impossible to hide your condition in another month or so, and I will have to seriously consider keeping you confined here, perhaps even restricted to my quarters.’

Another standard Imperial month. I will be at almost five Earth months then. That means four months of being locked up.

‘That’s ....’

‘... not fair,’ Ani finishes for me. ‘Not fair, my love, but necessary. You will be far too tempting a target for my enemies.’

‘But, ...’ I start a protest.

‘But what?’ Ani asks, sliding an arm around my waist and guiding me back into the bedroom.

I bite my lip.

‘That means four months of staring at the walls in the same rooms. Four months of being bored out of my mind,’ I complain. ‘No fun, no seeing new things, no adventures...’

‘I would think that you had enough of an adventure this last week to satisfy your curiosity for quite some time,’ my love scolds.

He goes to my storage compartments and pulls out a gown for me to wear. Underclothes, my flat leather slippers and a belt quickly join his selection on the bed.

While I watch him, my mind wanders back to what happened. Falling from his castle was quite frightening. Nor did I care much for being shot at, running around with a crazy bunch of rebels, or having to be rescued by the Sith Lord.

‘Alright, Ani, having adventures is not that much fun after all,’ I concede. ‘But maybe if you were along...’

I hear a chuckle from him at that idea.

‘Somehow I doubt that you would find what I do exciting or entertaining,’ he warns. ‘I get shot at far more often than I care to remember and the middle of a battle is no place for you.’

Ani returns to his chair and pours himself another glass. Quickly getting dressed, I note that he picked one of my new gowns with a high waist and full, flowing skirt. I chose it to hide my growing middle and obviously the Sith Lord intends to do the same thing.

I head over to the table, then hesitate. Part of me wants to go to him and sit on his lap, but the last time I did that he lost his temper and locked me away. My internal debate lasts only a few seconds. Heading to my chair, I see Ani’s puzzled look before I drop my eyes to the lunch he has made me. I will behave like an adult from now on. There will be no more childish foolishness from me.

Before I can sit down, he motions me over. I shake my head in response. I intend to be a well-behaved concubine. Ani’s hand falls and swiftly hidden concern from him flashes across our bond. Resolve appears on his face next and he repeats the beckoning gesture. His warnings about defying him echo in my mind, so I reluctantly obey this time and go to his side.

An arm wraps around me and pulls me firmly onto his lap. Two hands cup my face and his lips are set hard against my own. I yield to him immediately, opening my mouth and drawing him closer to me.

Better, he decides. I expect you to obey me the first time.

I shiver against him. That was a warning to behave myself. My reaction prompts him to break off our kiss and look closely at me.

‘You are afraid,’ Ani observes.

I bite my lip and give the smallest of nods. He knows so there is no point in denying it.

‘What are you afraid of Maia?’ he asks next.

I set my head on his shoulder and stay silent while I think of what to do and say. Fractured memories, odd images and impressions of emotions from the night I ran away flash in my mind. Fear. An unspoken terror that pushed me into turning my ‘saber on myself. Grief. Unfinished mourning for my lost brother. Shame and humiliation at experiencing something I no longer have any recollection of. Little of it makes any sense to me now, though at the time it drove me to break my promise to stay with Ani no matter what he did.

Earlier events come back to me. The opera. That surreal scene with the Emperor and the composer. And something else. Something else happened that evening. I push away at my foggy memory. What did Ani and Palpatine say to one another between the time the opera’s author left and I hit my head?

I start trembling and the Sith Lord holds me closer. He says nothing, just waits while I try to sort out what I know. No, I think, horrified, oh, no. I start struggling against his grip, trying to escape from him, but Ani is far too strong for me.

My head falls back against his shoulder, to be held firmly against it by his hand in my hair. I was almost free of him. If only I had stayed with the rebels. If only I had known Ani and the Sith Lord were one and the same. I would never have helped him find me, never willingly returned to him then.

A tear and a sob escape from me. How am I going to survive living with him now that I know the truth? He feels only lust for me, nothing more. His caring attitude has far more to do with ensuring his heir comes to no harm than it does with his feelings for me. An old memory replays. Ani told me that passion and possession were all he was allowed - he warned me from the start that he could never truly love me - and I stupidly let myself believe otherwise. Wanted so desperately to believe the careful lie he constructed, needed to accept that he loved me...

I feel a gentle, comforting touch on our bond. That won’t work, Sith Lord, not anymore, not when I know the truth of how things are. He backs off immediately and his hand brushes against my cheek. And you can forget about using that tactic, too. The hand is withdrawn and I know he is trying to figure out what to do next.

I sense his mental defenses drop. All of them. He has left himself completely exposed, even more vulnerable than when our bond pushes our two minds together. That won’t work either, I decide, knowing he expects me to have a look at what he has revealed to me. He can show me whatever lies he likes. I will never trust anything I feel from him again.

I stay in my own mind, refusing to touch his.

Eventually he puts his shields back in place. Now what will he try next?

‘Nothing,’ Ani admits, ‘since you will not accept the truth from me anyway.’

He sets me back on my feet and silently replaces his helmet. I retreat as far away from him as I can, backing up into a corner of the room, warily watching his every move. When he opens the bedroom door, he pauses, turns his head to look at me, and for an instant, I feel intense pain, regret, hurt and guilt from him. Then his emotions are gone and I sense nothing at all.

‘I will be on the command deck,’ he informs me as he leaves me standing there, wondering what I should do about the situation.

I go to the door and shut it again, then curl up on the bed and let out the tears I had held back. How I wish Rick was here to talk to. Or Bill, or my old flatmate, Liz. But there is no one for me to turn to. No one at all. And no escape.

My eyes close tight. Maybe this is all just a horrid nightmare and if I concentrate hard enough I will wake up and find myself back in my own bed, in my own apartment at the observatory.

‘That won’t work,’ a familiar voice tells me.

Go away, I think at it, you are just another one of his tricks.

An amused chuckle I had never thought I would hear again echoes around the room.

I open my eyes. And stare.

‘You look like you just saw a ghost,’ Michael teases.

I launch myself at him, only to step right through his glowing blue form. A second try at hugging him is just as unsuccessful. Rats. I settle myself back on the bed and look at him some more. Where did he get those robes? Michael was no Jedi despite Ani’s story to the contrary. My brother raises an eyebrow at my scrutiny and joins me on the edge of the bed.

‘Michael, why didn’t you come to me earlier?’ I ask him.

‘Couldn’t,’ he admits. ‘I had to figure out how to do this first and when that husband of yours was near, I was afraid to try contacting you. Somehow I don’t think he would be too happy if he knew I was lurking about.’

‘You can lurk around me all you like,’ I happily offer.

A smile appears on his face. Michael’s back, I think, I have my brother once again. I have someone I can talk to at last. At that thought, his expression becomes more serious.

‘He loves you, you know,’ Michael tells me.

I let out a snort. Wherever my brother has been, he is obviously out of touch.

‘If he loves me,’ I snap back, ‘he has one hell of a warped way of showing it.’

‘It’s true,’ he insists, ‘he loves you, and the guilt and pain he feels for what he has done is ripping him apart inside.’

That evaluation of the situation matches the flash of emotions I caught from Ani earlier. Maybe I have been far too hasty in my assumptions.

‘I don’t have much time. Anakin will be back soon since he has finally sensed my presence here,’ my brother admits, ‘so listen to me, Maia.’

I look into my brother’s eyes and nod.

‘You will have to decide what you feel for him,’ he informs me in that tone he always used to lecture me when I was a child. ‘Don’t let your anger and hurt cloud your heart. He needs you more than you know.’

I bite my lip and turn my face away from him. The Sith Lord is the only person I have ever truly loved, but I am tired of being lied to and hurt.

‘I love him, Michael, but I have been hurt one too many times,’ I admit.

‘Then you will have to forgive him and let it go,’ he advises me.

Forgive and let it go, I think to myself.

‘How many more times will I have to do that?’

‘Lots,’ my brother teases. ‘It goes with loving someone.’

I reach my hand to him and he tries to catch it in his own. For some reason he feels a bit more solid now.

‘Years ago he made a choice. The wrong choice. And it cost him everyone and everything he loved,’ Michael reveals. ‘He will be offered that choice again and his love for you will probably tip the balance. Don’t push him away when he needs you the most.’

Michael glances towards the door and stands up, pulling me to my feet as he does. Ani is getting near and will be here shortly. Knowing it might be the last time I see him, I try to give my brother another hug. This time he feels solid against me.

‘I love you, brother dear,’ I tell him, ‘and I want to say goodbye in case I don’t have another chance to.’

He holds me tight for a moment, then kisses my forehead. I feel him become insubstantial again, and when I open my eyes, he is gone. My arms drop as I stare at the spot he was just standing in. Was my brother real or not? Was he only a product of my agitated mind?

I hear the door open and Ani’s regulated breathing so I shift my attention over to him. He looks about the room and I can sense his annoyance and puzzlement.

‘Where is he?’ the Sith Lord finally asks. ‘Where has your brother taken himself off to this time?’

I stare at him. Michael was real then. He was really here.

‘I don’t know where he’s gone,’ I admit. ‘He could only stay a few minutes.’

Ani stalks closer to me, then circles around me before stopping in front of me once again.

‘He had better stay away if he knows what is good for him,’ he threatens, talking more to the air than to me. ‘I don’t want that Jedi brother of yours putting any foolish ideas into your head.’

‘Michael wanted to let me say goodbye,’ I tell him.

‘That’s not all, I suspect,’ Ani prods.

I hesitate. Bad move.

‘Out with it, Maia,’ he coldly orders.

‘He scolded me for being stupid,’ I admit, dropping my eyes to the floor. ‘Michael always did that when I deserved it.’

‘Nothing else?’ he prompts again.

I shake my head ‘no.’

‘Good. As long as he behaves, I won’t remove his presence since having him around seems to comfort you,’ the Sith Lord concedes.

‘What?’ I wonder.

Ani lifts my chin with one hand and brushes my cheek with his other one.

‘He has stood watch over you several times when you have been upset, obviously thinking I didn’t know he was there,’ Ani reveals. ‘I assume this is the first time he has let you know he is near?’

‘Yes,’ I reply.

His hands drop away from my face and he turns about, heading back to work, I guess.

‘I will be in my office,’ he tells me.

I consider what to do and Michael’s advice. The longer I wait, the harder this will be.

‘Stay,’ I quietly ask, ‘please don’t go.’

The Sith Lord stops in his tracks. I take a few short steps to where he is standing and slide my arms around his waist from behind. Resting my cheek between his shoulder blades, I let my forgiveness and love for him emanate out and resonate across our bond.

There is no response for quite a long time. He’s trying to sort out what he feels and what to say to me, so I stay where I am and wait.

‘I lied repeatedly to you, hurt you in the worst way I could, forced you to do something you find repulsive, and yet you still are willing to forgive me all this?’ Ani finally asks, sounding a bit disbelieving.

I nod my head against his back.

Silence from him. The Sith Lord doesn’t know what to say. Now there’s a first. I hold him tighter against me and let him work through things. There is no reason to rush this and he needs to forgive himself as much as I needed to forgive him.

‘Maia?’ he quietly ventures at last.

‘Yes, dear?’ I tease, hoping to ease some of the tension between us.

‘I have been quite a fool, haven’t I?’ he admits.

‘No more than I have,’ I reassure him. ‘You didn’t abandon common sense, let yourself completely lose control, and end up falling off a building as a result.’

‘No, but I did drive you into that,’ he tells me, turning in my arms to face me now, ‘and that is something I will forever regret.’

His arms are about me, holding me close, so I let myself relax and lean against his solid frame. After a few minutes, I sense his defenses drop once again. Puzzled, I simply stay quiet, not at all sure what I should do.

I need to show you something, Ani offers.

I take the proffered mental ‘hand’ and let him pull me in. He drags me deep into his mind, well past the surface thoughts and all of his memories.

Look, he orders next. Feel. Tell me what you see.

I survey my surroundings, the peculiar mental landscape. It’s black here, cold. The dark side of the Force is everywhere I look.

All I see is the dark side, Ani, I tell him.

Look closer, he suggests, shoving me right into the blackest part of his mind.

Cold permeates my senses. Nauseating darkness hits me. How can he stand having this in his mind, in his soul?

I do as he told me to and look about. What is that? Curious, now, I move closer in. Not everything in here is completely subsumed by the dark side - there are patches of grey and light, and one brilliant bright spot he has carefully set strong barriers around.

Ani? Is that our bond? I ask.

Our bond, and more, he admits. I had to anchor part of your presence here. The blocks are necessary to keep any of my darkness from reaching and harming you.

More than our bond? What does he mean by that? I let my senses reach through our bond into this place and pull myself completely out of his mind once I understand what I find.

He keeps his love for me hidden there. Hidden away with my permanent presence in his mind. Shielded from the Emperor’s prying by the darkness within the Sith Lord’s own soul. I can only feel his love for me when he deliberately lets it out.

‘Do you understand, now?’ Ani quietly asks.

I nod an affirmative and snuggle in closer. He wanted me to see this earlier, but I was too distressed and upset to act reasonably about it.

‘I was reckless that night at the opera,’ he discloses. ‘I knew I should have concealed my feelings for you, but I didn’t want to. When my master looked at you, my love, he knew instantly what you felt and the depth of it. There was no way you could hide that from him. Then he turned his attention on me.’

I shiver a bit at that. Palpatine had tried to get at my mind and failed. But what had he done to the Sith Lord?

‘He tried to force his way in, so I let him see just enough to get a glimpse of what I felt, Maia,’ Ani admits. ‘I could not resist him too much or he would have become suspicious and done something about it. Fortunately I was prepared for this. When we were at Carida, and you showed me how you felt, I knew that someday this might happen. So I planned out what I would do if it did.’

His hand brushes down my cheek.

‘I hid my real emotions mere seconds before showing my master what I wanted him to see,’ he continues his tale. ‘I hoped I could convince him that what I felt was a clever act designed to control you. It worked all too well as you know.’

I close my eyes and remember my own horrified reaction to Ani’s ruse. Yes, his trick had me thoroughly convinced.

‘It convinced the Emperor as well. He will assume anything he feels from me when you are present is just part of my plans to keep you compliant and manageable,’ the Sith Lord reveals, adding with a touch of amusement, ‘but don’t expect me to start professing my love for you in public.’

I let out a bit of a giggle. That would be funny to see.

‘Feeling better, are we?’ he teases.

I feel his head swivel above mine to look over at the table.

‘You still haven’t eaten,’ he scolds, ‘so I will stay while you do so to make sure you don’t leave anything on the plate.’

‘Fussbudget,’ I tease.

‘Am I really?’ he asks. ‘You need someone to look after you, my Favorite, and if you won’t look after yourself, then maybe I should.’

My mouth drops open. That’s almost exactly what I had said to him weeks ago. Ani guides me over to the table next and watches every bite I take. When I try to avoid eating the vegetables I don’t care much for, he crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me, not saying a word. I reluctantly polish them off after that, knowing that if I don’t, I will get a scolding for it.

I finally set my fork aside and push the empty plate to the center of the table. Now what? A glance at the Sith Lord and I decide to take a chance. Getting to my feet, I step in close and wrap myself around him. I want to be held for a while. He responds by drawing me in closer. Good. I can stay then.

After a few minutes, an unexpected pain in my side prompts a sharp intake of breath from me. That hurt, you busy little one, I think at my son.

‘Maia?’ Ani asks, concerned.

‘Here,’ I tell him, grabbing his hand and setting it on my middle.

Another kick lands on the same spot. The Sith Lord stares down at his hand, surprised, no doubt by the strength of what he just felt.

‘He’s been busy moving about the last couple days,’ I admit, ‘and the kicks are getting strong enough to hurt if he aims them at the right spot.’

‘Let me try something, then,’ Ani suggests.

I feel Ani reach out to our son, brush gently around him, soothing him with the Force. For a few seconds it works, then another good hard foot hits me from inside.

‘It doesn’t work when you do it,’ I admit with a laugh. ‘All you have done is wake him up more. He ran races in there that night on Imperial Center when you were experimenting with the Force.’

A wave of disappointment comes across our bond, so I reassure him, ‘I am sure you will have lots of opportunities to try keeping him quiet after he is born.’

I spend a minute soothing our son into a restful state and settle myself into Ani’s arms again. It’s taken most of the last week to figure out how to keep my son quiet. Maybe I can teach my love what will work so he can have another try at it.

‘Try this instead, Ani,’ I suggest, carefully soothing our son as I do so.

Ani returns his hand to my stomach and I feel him touch our son with the Force again. Sure enough, it produces another bout of restless squirming. He tries something else, adjusting what he does and the movements slow down a bit before finally stopping.

‘I think I understand what works now,’ my love admits, returning his hand to behind my back and pulling me in close once again.

I set my cheek against his chest. It’s warm in his arms and I feel safe here. Time to put my hurts solidly behind me. Forgive and forget. I let out a contented sigh as Ani lifts me up and carries me to the bed.

‘Our son is not the only one who needs soothing,’ the Sith Lord observes.

What does he have in mind? Ani sets me down and quickly joins me. He wraps his arms around me, pulls his cloak over both of us, and shuts off the lights with a wave of his hand. I snuggle in close. Reena won’t allow any fun yet, but being held like this is almost as good.

I gradually drift off and wake a while later, still secure in Ani’s arms. He stayed with me, but why did he remain here? Shouldn’t he be off somewhere working on something?

I feel his hand brush down my face, along my chest, finally coming to rest on my stomach. His regulated breaths are close by my ear as he shifts a little bit before sitting up beside me. The lights are still out so I use touch to locate where he has gone to. My fingers bump against his leg, trace a path up his thigh, across his belt to the control panel on his chest. I let my hand fall back down, intending to move so I can snuggle up to him again, but when I do it ends up resting on his codpiece.

Oops, I think as I pull my hand back. An amused chuckle escapes from Ani. My shyness is always entertaining to him. He takes my hand and helps me sit up next to him. I am starting to find it awkward to move about at times so his aid is welcome here. The Sith Lord holds me close to his chest, strokes my hair and sends me calming thoughts which I return in kind. Right now my love needs that from me as much as I want to feel the same from him.

‘I’ll be back in a few minutes,’ he tells me, so I release my hold on his waist and wait.

He brings the lights up a touch and eventually returns with a stack of reports and a datapad. Ani resumes his spot beside me so I set my head on his thigh, using it as a pillow, and let myself relax. The rustle of flimsies being sifted through breaks the silence as he reads through the results of this morning’s drills and tests. Every so often I feel his hand touch my hair or face, almost as if he needs to reassure himself I am still there. I send him a few quiet thoughts and let myself daydream about our son.

I hear Ani drop the reports out of the way on the floor. He must be finished with them at last. The odd key tap on the datapad is the only sound other than his breathing that I hear now.

‘I am rearranging schedules,’ Ani reveals. ‘I want the ship ready to go in three or four days. Piett would like the final tests to be finished a day earlier, but he can’t push the crew at their limit for too much longer. Exhausted men make mistakes and they need a short break before the shake-down cruise. I will let them think the respite is a reward from me for working as hard as they have.’

I smile a bit at that.

‘You sound like Sam that time he was in charge during the international war games and I was allowed into the command center to watch,’ I tell him. ‘My uncle had a knack for knowing just how much he could push his troops before it would become a problem.’

Ani lets out a low chuckle.

‘All good commanders know exactly what they can ask their men to do,’ he responds, with a touch of amusement. ‘The trick is not to push too hard or for too long. With the Devastator, I know what to expect, but the crew on this ship is new and even with the time they have spent in drills, it will take a while for them to fully integrate and work at peak efficiency as a team when under fire. I will be lenient until I know what they are capable of. Then I will start to demand more of them.’

‘That brings back memories of family gatherings when Sam and my cousins would spend hours talking management and strategy,’ I reveal.

I hear Ani set the datapad aside at last.

‘Just how deeply involved in your homeworld’s military is your family?’ he asks me.

‘Depends,’ I admit, ‘on my mother’s side you tend to either go into the military or medicine, on my father’s, engineering or science instead of medicine.’

‘And?’

He’s genuinely curious about this.

‘How much of a history lesson do you want?’ I tease him.

‘Let me get the modified schedules to Piett, first,’ Ani suggests.

He retrieves the datapad and disappears. I shift myself about on the bed while I wait for him to come back. When the Sith Lord is still gone after ten minutes or so, I steal his pillow and hug it to my chest. Something must have come up. Eventually, I give up on staying awake and fall asleep again.

***

She’s asleep again. How unfortunate Piett and that blasted new Admiral had to be so thorough in discussing what I wanted them to do. I debate waking her, then decide to let her be. My little wife needs the rest after the stresses of this afternoon.

Perhaps I should have kept her sedated a while longer. It would have been much easier to deal with her reaction to what she remembered then. But that is done with now. Forgive and forget as she so concisely put it.

I step to her side and look down at her. There is only peaceful relaxation in her face and body - no signs of her earlier distress. Her long hair has fanned out on the pillow and will need to be worked through when she wakes. Perhaps I will offer to do that simple task for her.

My eyes roam about her body. The sweet curves of her pregnancy are clearly visible now and she glows with health and vitality. So much life and beauty, and it is all mine and mine alone. After her brother’s words to her today, she will never leave me.

I resist the strong urge to reach out and touch her, caress her cheek. My love needs to sleep so I stand guard at her side, silently watching the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes.

Old memories return of my first love, my first wife. I once did the same with her - watched for hours while she quietly slept, her own body heavily pregnant with our child. I shut my eyes and ruthlessly suppress that image. Padmé is gone. Forever out of my reach. All that remains of her is our son.

Letting my senses sweep over my second wife, I see our son’s Force presence shining brilliantly within her, a beacon of light. And temptation. Too much temptation. It is fortunate she shielded him when she did. My master would never have so willingly let me keep him if he had any inkling just how strong my son will be.

I slip back into the kitchen, retrieve what I need for later, then return to the bedroom and shut the door. The next set of drills, tests and inspections will concentrate on the third shift and I will rest for a few hours before I spend the evening and night doing that. Despite rumors among the crew to the contrary I do need to sleep once in a while.

I strip off my armor, wrap a robe around myself and return to Maia’s side. She has stolen my pillow. Again. I let myself smile at that. My silly little mate. I know my scent soothes you. But this is an easily remedied dilemma. An extra pillow and blanket from one of the storage compartments will suffice. A few minutes of careful maneuvering and she is safely asleep in my arms.

Sleep, my love, I tell her when she stirs a bit. Sleep safely in my arms for a while.

***

DAY 20

I wake up in Ani’s arms this morning for the first time in a couple of days. He’s been busy dealing with inspections at odd times of the day and night, but that is done with now. The ship is finished, the crew ready to go, and within hours we will be off on its first voyage.

I shift about a bit and stretch my legs out. Sometimes it is hard to get comfortable enough to sleep soundly and the sharp cramps in my calves which woke me are refusing to go away.

‘Restless today, aren’t you?’ Ani comments in a sleepy voice as he wakes up.

‘Muscle spasms,’ I admit, making another attempt to get them to stop.

‘Calcium deficiency,’ he decides. ‘Our son is busy pulling that from your system. There are supplements in the kitchen for you to take.’

‘How did you figure that out?’

‘It’s a common problem in pregnancy, and you really should finish ...’ he starts.

‘.... reading that pregnancy manual I down loaded onto your datapad,’ I complete for him with a smile.

I feel a kiss on the back of my neck. He won’t stay in bed with me for much longer today. There are too many last minute tasks to be done. Time to make use of the few minutes he will allow me, so I turn over and kiss him.

‘I love you, Anakin,’ I whisper in his ear.

‘And I love you, too,’ he tells me, kissing my forehead before adding, ‘my beautiful,’ a kiss to my nose now, ‘stubborn,’ one lands on my ear, ‘little,’ one to the other ear, ‘wife,’ the last one settles on my lips as he pins me to the bed.

I lock my arms around his back. Today, I don’t want him to leave me too quickly. When he tries to pull back from our kiss, I hold him tightly to me, but I know he is strong enough get away if he wants to.

‘Stubborn today?’ the Sith Lord teases.

I give a small nod.

‘I think I can afford to indulge you for a few minutes,’ he decides before giving me another kiss.

After the third one, I slide my arms down his back to his waist and pull him in closer.

‘I want some fun,’ I tell him.

Reena has forbidden that for a few more days, but maybe I can persuade him to ignore her orders. Ani shifts a bit in response to my touch, props himself up on an elbow and looks down at me.

‘Reena is concerned that you will be a bleeder,’ he reminds me, ‘and I would prefer her to be cautious about this rather than risk you or our son.’

He drops another quick kiss on my lips at that then is off to have his shower.

I refrain from giving him my opinion of the doctor’s prohibition. This is one area I have spent some time researching. I know I won’t bleed like I did before. Not without some sort of trauma occurring and fooling around with Ani doesn’t qualify. No, Reena is being belligerent about this for some other reason and I have strong suspicions I know exactly what it is. I narrow my eyes a little at that thought and fume a bit. No one messes with my private life. If she thinks she can drag this out much longer, she has another thing coming.

Tossing the blankets aside, I get up and head into the ‘fresher. The shower has stopped running and Ani should be finished with his daily medical tasks by now. I want to spend what time with him I can today. He looks up from the compartment he is digging in when I step through the door. That’s odd, I think, he still hasn’t looked after himself.

‘Can I help?’ I offer.

He hesitates. Normally I leave him alone to deal with what his condition requires him to do, and he was quite embarrassed when I had to do some of those procedures for him after the Emperor punished him that time. Maybe he would rather I go, so I start to do so.

‘I can’t find the sterile pads and new bottle of disinfectant I know you put in here,’ he admits.

‘You are looking in the wrong spot, love,’ I tell him, reaching over to open the compartment next to the one he was busy with. ‘I store all of your stuff in this one, not the other.’

Ani sheepishly closes the bin he had been looking in and pulls out the various things that he needs. I give him a closer perusal. The late nights, odd hours he has been keeping, and lack of sleep have left him exhausted, with tell-tale dark smudges under his eyes, and I didn’t notice that earlier. He’s driving himself far harder than is sensible just to get the ship underway when he wants. No wonder he is acting a bit dazed.

‘Come here,’ I order, taking what he just selected from his hands, grabbing one of them and dragging him, unresisting, back into the bedroom. ‘Sit down,’ I add, pushing him backwards onto the edge of the bed.

A quick trip back into the ‘fresher and I have what I need set out on the table.

‘Put yourself into a healing trance for half an hour or so,’ I demand next.

‘What?’ he finally says.

‘You are in no shape to go anywhere, Anakin, and if you insist on leaving without doing something about it, you will probably make a fool of yourself by collapsing somewhere,’ I rather ruthlessly inform him, ‘and it will most likely happen up on the command deck right when you are about to tell that annoying Admiral where to go and how to get there.’

He stares at me. Did he get my joke or not? Must have missed it. My poor love really is exhausted.

‘Even commanders need someone to keep them in line sometimes,’ I tease, ‘and you did tell me that was my job.’

Now his mouth drops open. Surprised are you? I suppress a snicker. The tactics he uses with me work quite nicely on him. Well, at least when he is too tired to put up any fight.

He shuts his mouth and closes his eyes.

‘Not going to protest any longer?’ I ask.

No, he concedes as he slips into a meditative, healing trance.

I wait a few minutes for his mind to quiet and settle, then start to do the various medical tasks that I can for him. The most personal ones, he can see to once he is aware again. Keeping my touch light, I slip his robe down from his shoulders. Chest first, I decide. I take a gauze pad soaked with disinfectant and gently wipe the skin around the cable emerging from it. Other simple tasks follow until I have only one thing left to do - areas that tend to get chafed.

Pouring the lotion onto my hands, I massage it into his skin anywhere his armor has been rubbing. Ani’s worn it almost constantly the last four days and it shows. His flesh is almost raw in a few places. I study the pattern of redness. He’s been getting dressed in the dark so he doesn’t disturb my sleep and as a result, he’s ended up with wrinkles in his bodysuit. Those are the spots that look the worst. Today I will make sure that it goes on properly and lies smoothly against his body.

I look into my love’s face. He’s still far away, letting himself relax and rest as I ordered him to. A healing trance isn’t the same as sleep, but it will help keep him on his feet and coherent. I quietly dispose of the gauze pads and return the various bottles to the ‘fresher, then reconsider and fetch something from the first compartment Ani had been busy with.

Settling myself behind him on the bed, I dump some of what is in the bottle on my hands. The Sith Lord should enjoy this. I start up at his shoulders, using my thumbs and fingers to knead the tension out of the tight muscles, then work my way down his back. His body relaxes under my hands. Good.

‘You can do that whenever you like,’ Ani tells me, sounding a bit sleepy and lazy, ‘but I can’t say that the smell of that stuff is conducive to inspiring respect and fear in the crew.’

I slide my hands around his waist and rest my cheek against his back. The scent of millaflowers is quite strong on his skin.

‘It’s the stuff I use on my itchy stomach,’ I admit, ‘It’s good for your skin and I like the smell. No one will be able to get a whiff of it once you have your armor on, so don’t worry about it.’

‘You have forgotten that I will have to put up with it until I can wash it off tonight,’ he wryly reminds me.

From the sound of his voice, he’s in much better shape than he was earlier.

‘Cranky Sith Lord,’ I tease him.

‘My stubborn little Favorite,’ he answers back.

He pulls out of my arms as he gets up and returns to the ‘fresher to finish looking after himself. I take the five minutes he is in there to check on our son who is being nice and quiet at the moment. Good. I don’t like being kicked at all.

I glance at Ani when he comes back to me. He definitely looks better than he did half an hour ago.

‘Bath time for you,’ he suggests, holding out a hand.

‘After you put on your bodysuit,’ I insist, accepting the hand he has offered.

There is no argument from him on that front, so I smooth out the fabric once he is dressed and pull any wrinkles out of it. Then I step back and give him the once over. He looks good in that. All those nice muscles and cute rear end are emphasized by the tight fitting material. A questioning eyebrow goes up on his face. My handsome and gorgeous Sith Lord, I think to myself. Too bad you will have to run off so fast this morning.

Ani hides a smile. He knows exactly what I am thinking, but I won’t delay and annoy him if I can help it.

‘Bath, now,’ he insists.

I behave myself despite the temptation to be a brat.

Minutes later he is completely armored up and helping me out of the water. Then he is gone, off to the command deck to supervise any last minute preparations.

After getting dressed, I settle in my chair to eat breakfast and let my mind wander a bit. Ani’s been very doting the last few days, to the point where it is beginning to drive me nuts. Being fussed over is not something I am used to at all, and if he comes out with some other reason for me to stay quiet and in bed, or suggests another remedy for whatever new annoyance my pregnancy throws at me, I think I will start to scream.

‘He’s just trying to be protective and helpful in the only way he knows how,’ Michael suggests.

I look across at the other chair where he is sitting. My brother has chosen to make an appearance.

‘Don’t even think of starting in on me,’ I growl at him. ‘One fussbudget and nag in the family is more than enough.’

‘Cranky today?’ he teases.

I wad up and throw my napkin at him. It passes right through his ghostly form, bounces off the back of the chair and lands on the floor. Rats. Michael just sits there and grins at me.

‘You are enjoying this, aren’t you?’ I ask him, starting back in on my food.

‘Maybe,’ he teases. ‘It always was easy to get a reaction out of you.’

‘You had better behave yourself,’ I warn him. ‘Brother or not, Ani won’t put up with an interfering Jedi ghost for very long.’

My brother just snickers at that threat.

‘I have no intentions of annoying that stiff-necked husband of yours,’ Michael admits. ‘He has no sense of humor and you are much more fun to tease.’

I give Michael a dirty look at the prospect of him popping in whenever he wants to just to tease me. He simply smiles back at me and keeps laughing, and I can’t maintain a straight face any longer. My fun loving older brother hasn’t changed at all, I think as I start giggling along with him.

‘He hates practical jokes, too,’ I reveal with a sigh.

‘You should tell him about our best prank,’ Michael suggests.

‘No way,’ I decide. ‘He would class me as a galactic menace and never let me out of this room after hearing that. Besides, I already pulled something like that on him back home.’

‘Tell him anyway,’ he insists. ‘He might surprise you.’

I let out a snort at that and turn my attention back to my meal. When I look up again, Michael has vanished. That was a sneaky trick. Now I can’t ask him why he is hanging about dressed as a Jedi.

Hours later I am lounging on the couch in Ani’s office with his second volume on ‘saber forms. This one is on the fencing techniques I am already thoroughly familiar with so I have been making my way through it quite quickly. My reading is interrupted by the comm. Who could that be? Everyone should be busy running about getting things up to the Sith Lord’s exacting standards. I wave my hand at the comm panel and answer whoever it is.

‘Thirsk here,’ the commando promptly replies.

‘Is something wrong?’ I ask, concerned.

‘I have orders to take you to his Lordship,’ Thirsk tells me. He pauses a second, then adds for emphasis, ‘Immediately.’

I snap the book shut and get to my feet. This must be serious. Ani has never sent for me like this before. Good thing I am already appropriately dressed, I think as I smooth the material of my gown and hurry to the door where the Commander is waiting.

Thirsk steps in and closes the door after himself once I open it.

‘Commander?’ I ask, puzzled.

‘Here,’ he says holding one of those veils I hate out to me.

I give the fabric a disgusted look and refuse to take it.

‘You have got to be joking,’ I tell him.

‘No joke, my lady. All of the recording systems are now operational. Unless Lord Vader says otherwise, you will have to cover up outside your quarters from now on,’ Thirsk explains.

‘But surely his Lordship wouldn’t...’ I start to protest.

‘Orders directly from him. If you refuse to wear it, he won’t allow you out of your quarters,’ the Commander adds for good measure.

I stare at him, mouth open as Ani comes into the room.

‘That’s not fair,’ I fume, ‘really not fair. Most of the higher ranked officers know what I look like already so why bother hiding my face from them?’

It’s an ancient Sith tradition, Ani answers.

‘Commander,’ the Sith Lord acknowledges, taking the veil from Thirsk before waving him out into the corridor.

‘I should have known you would be stubborn about this,’ he states, pinning the veil in my hair.

‘But ...’ I start to argue.

‘Don’t argue with me, Maia. You won’t win, and I will lock you up if you persist in it,’ he warns as I am steered along the hall down to the nearest turbolift.

‘Explain to me why then,’ I insist.

‘I won’t put up with any more nonsense from you on this topic,’ Ani growls. ‘You should have just done what Thirsk told you to do so I wouldn’t have to waste my time fetching you myself.’

I instantly shut up and walk docilely at his side. If I keep pushing the issue, he will only get mad at me. My silence prompts a few glances over at me. Eventually, he lets out a sigh.

Now that you are visibly pregnant, and until my master formally, publicly acknowledges you as my consort and our son as my heir, tradition requires both of you to be hidden from the view of anyone but me. If I were to completely adhere to the old practices, you would be locked away in Bast Castle, not here, the Sith Lord finally explains.

That’s barbaric, I reply.

Is it? Ani asks. Have you forgotten everything I told you of Sith history?

Stung by his rebuke, I say nothing in response to that. I remember every word of what he told me.

But you obviously haven’t thought much about it, he scolds.

I mull that over for a while, but don’t give him any answer.

Sometimes, I wonder how you ever managed to survive on your own without someone to look out for you, he starts to pick at me again. I think your naiveté would try even the patience of...

At that I bite my lip and use control to hold back the tears. Why is he being cruel about this? Ani stops abruptly, opens a door and pulls me into the small meeting room. He looks up into a corner, waves his hand and I hear something shatter.

‘Come here,’ he orders, opening his arms and drawing me in close when I step into them.

I set my cheek against his chest and let him soothe my distress with his touch.

‘I sometimes forget that you were not raised here, that you do not understand how things really are for us,’ he admits, ‘So I will explain it to you as best I can in the few minutes I have to spare.’

He pauses at that, thinking of what he needs to say.

‘Do you remember what I told you of how Naga Sadow came to power?’ Ani asks.

I nod my head against his chest in answer.

‘Good. Think about that and what some of his successors and predecessors did for a moment,’ he instructs, ‘then tell me your opinion of it.’

‘They were ruthless,’ I decide, ‘and would do anything to stay in power and get what they wanted. Like some of my homeworld’s Roman Emperors two thousand years ago.’

‘And if we were living back then, what do you think they might do to you if I were attempting to be the ruling Dark Lord?’ he prompts.

I shiver in his arms. Oh. That’s why he is so intent on keeping me safely hidden away.

‘But the Emperor has made no move to harm me, just threatened to take me away from you the odd time.’

‘No, our bond has ensured that he will never hurt you, not as long as he still needs me. That’s why he won’t take our son either. If you are emotionally unstable it will directly affect me as well,’ the Sith Lord reveals. ‘But you have still missed something.’

Missed what? I think a bit. He’s not concerned about the Emperor, so who then? An idea pops into my mind.

‘Are there other Sith Lords out there I don’t know about?’

‘No,’ he comments, amused, ‘try again.’

Fine. I’ll work at this a bit.

‘Okay, no other rival Sith Lords to worry about, but other competitors, perhaps?’

Ani brushes a hand against my cheek in reaction to my query, so I must be right about that. Mia ...

‘Someone has already made an attempt to get at you through me,’ I tell him my thoughts. ‘But who?’

‘I still don’t know the answer to that, but there are quite a few who would be more than pleased to engineer my demise or disgrace, and all too happy to secure my position for themselves,’ Ani admits. ‘And they would not pause to think twice about using you to do so.’

I consider that tidbit of information. Then I understand exactly what he is doing and why.

‘You are using Sith traditions to protect me, and as an excuse to keep anyone from getting too close,’ I tell him.

‘You understand, then?’ he asks. ‘And will comply?’

I don’t like the situation at all, but see no way to avoid what he regards as necessary precautions.

‘Completely,’ I answer, conceding to his wishes.

‘Good. I hope there will be no more arguing about anything else I tell you to do,’ he hints around.

‘Don’t push your luck, Sith Lord,’ I tease him.

‘Come along then. I thought you might like to watch the launch of my new flagship from the command deck,’ Ani offers, releasing me from his embrace.

‘So that’s where we are going. Cool,’ I decide.

‘Someday you will have to explain all of your odd expressions to me,’ he teases.

I act on an impulse and wrap my arms around him. Ani doesn’t push my away, just holds me close a moment, and lets out the low rumbling purr I associate with him being quite pleased and content. When he pulls my arms from around his waist and leads me up to the command deck, I don’t complain.

I look about the bridge. It’s not that different from the Devastator’s. Two crew pits are surrounded and separated by a walkway, and triangle shaped transparisteel windows line three of the four walls. The ones directly ahead give a good view of the shipyards, and I suspect that in the future they will prove to be a favorite vantage point for the Sith Lord.

Ani walks me to the forward window and leaves me standing there by myself while he speaks with the Admiral. The crew pointedly ignore me. Piett glances briefly at me, then averts his eyes. Obviously being veiled means my status has changed somewhat. I bite my lip, glad that my expressions are hidden.

My senses tell me that Ani has looked over at me, but he quickly returns his attention to the officers he is speaking with. I decide the best thing to do is watch what is going on outside. Only essential equipment and a few positioning tugs still remain near the ship. Everything else has been moved well out of the way.

As I watch, I hear the orders to the shipyard to pull back all of what has been left in place and see the vessels and barges promptly comply. The Executor’s sublight engines are at full power now and the ship is free to move on its own. A listen to the conversation behind me reveals that some of the officers have already broken open a bottle to celebrate. The Sith Lord doesn’t think much of that, I note with a smile as he orders the ship to the nearest Rebel outpost. He’s decided to make an example of some place called Laakteen Depot.

An example and practice for the crew. I need to see how they will react under pressure, Ani admits as he moves to stand close behind me. And if there are going to be any technical problems, I would rather they happen before I go to Yavin.

He stays there as the ship moves away from where it was built and farther out in the system. Everything seems to be working fine so far. I feel an arm slide around my waist and Ani brace me against his side. Now what?

‘Take the ship into hyperspace, Admiral,’ he orders.

I shut my eyes as the familiar kaleidoscope appears in front of me. At least all the engines seem to be working properly.

‘Estimated travel time?’ the Sith Lord asks.

‘Ten hours, my Lord,’ a male voice from down in the crew pit promptly replies.

Ani doesn’t answer, just steers me off of the bridge and back towards his quarters.

‘I need to meditate for a while,’ he tells me once we are there.

I watch him retreat into his pod and close it over himself. Slipping back into our bedroom, I pull off the veil, dropping it onto the table. A feeling of isolation and wave of loneliness hits me. Having the crew and Piett act the way they did hurts. I give the fine mothsilk I blame for that a nasty look. It doesn’t matter what Ani wants, I decide. Despite my promise to him to comply, I will never willingly wear that blasted thing.

Time for a nap then. When the ship emerges from hyperspace, I will have to do as I am told and behave while the battle rages. It will be easier to deal with any problems if I am rested and alert. I toss my dress on a chair, dig out a nightgown and crawl under the covers. My son chooses to start his usual mad exercises, so I settle him down before I fall asleep.

***

It’s rather strange that I so often find myself simply watching her sleep. Perhaps it is the innocence of that state I find so appealing.

And she is so very innocent.

She has been sheltered all her life. By family, by her friends, by her own self-imposed isolation. The idea that someone might harm her to get at me is a completely foreign concept to my little wife.

I know she hates the restrictions I have imposed on her. And I will have to confine her even more in the coming months. It is for her own safety that I will do this. I will insist and she will stubbornly resist until I make her yield using common sense and a bit of Force enhanced persuasion. It is becoming an oft repeated dance between us.

I sense Reena’s presence drawing near. Time to wake my love. The doctor will be here soon and I want to ensure that there will be no more interference from her.

***

‘Maia,’ I hear Ani call, ‘wake up, love.’

I open an eye a crack. He just had to interrupt that neat dream I was having.

‘Stubborn concubine,’ he teases when I promptly shut my eye again and ignore him.

The Sith Lord sits beside me next and I feel gentle caresses on my face. He’s not going to let me fall asleep again. Rats. Well, if he insists, he will have to pay a price for it. I shove myself upright and wrap my arms around him. Ani’s nice and warm so he must have left his pod only a few minutes ago.

‘Happy are you?’ he teases.

I nod and snuggle in closer. He responds by running a hand through my hair.

‘That’s good. I want you to be content,’ he admits.

At that I let out a sigh. He’s projecting his love for me quite strongly across our bond, but I don’t have any desire to try ripping his clothes and armor off. Just knowing he loves me and being held is good enough for me at the moment.

A hand brushes against my cheek again and I hear footsteps which abruptly stop.

‘You’re early, doctor,’ Ani calmly notes, not sounding the least bit surprised or upset at the interruption.

That’s odd. He has never let anyone see us like this. I shift in his arms to take a peek over his shoulder at Reena. She has a rather pleased look on her face. So I was right that she was playing marriage counselor and deliberately keeping us apart. And for exactly the reason I suspected.

‘Don’t bother getting up, my Lord,’ Reena says, ‘I just came by to tell you that the only restrictions I want your Favorite to follow are to rest when she feels like it and be sure to get an hour or so of light exercise each day. Walking or simple, non-stressful exercise with you in the salle should be fine.’

Ani loosens his hold on me and turns to look at her. Does he know what she has been up to?

‘That’s all?’ he asks her. ‘Nothing else?’

‘No, no other instructions for now,’ Reena answers.

She’s having a hard time keeping a smile off her face. I somehow stop myself from snickering. Reena figures Ani and I will rip one another’s clothes off the instant she is gone.

Later, tonight, after the Rebels have been dealt with, the ship is in hyperspace again, and any problems seen to. Then I can spend my time relaxing with you, Ani promises.

I begin blushing and hide my face in his robes. Reena has caught a look at me, no doubt, and I can easily sense her amusement at the situation.

‘Then we will see you again in a few days,’ Ani suggests.

The doctor gets the hint and disappears. I listen for the main door opening and closing and know we are safely alone once again.

‘I don’t like having my private affairs interfered with,’ the Sith Lord confesses, ‘but I was not about to question her medical opinion unless there was no other option.’

‘You did know what she was up to, then,’ I prompt.

‘Not at first. I knew then you needed the time to heal and that there was a real danger of triggering more bleeding. After a week, though, once I could sense that you were fine, I suspected she had ulterior motives. When she still insisted I not touch you after your adventure, I knew what Reena was up to,’ he reveals. ‘And I also knew exactly what I had to do to get her to back off, too.’

That little scene he staged for her to walk in on. Sneaky Sith Lord. It would not have occurred to me to do that, nor would I have had the nerve to try it without Ani’s co-operation.

‘The doctor seems satisfied we have settled our past differences and won’t kill one another, so I doubt she will try another tactic like that again,’ he tells me. ‘Not that it was necessary in the first place.’

I think about that while he holds me close again. No, all Reena’s prohibition did was irritate Ani and I. Sooner or later we have always been able to work out our disagreements and neither of us has ever used sex as a bargaining chip. Arguments between us and what happens in bed are separate, I decide.

‘Hold me, Ani, please,’ I ask him.

He answers me by pulling me in tight to his body and producing the same low rumbling purr he used to soothe me earlier in the day. Too bad he’s in his armor - we could have a bit of fun if he wasn’t.

Not until later, he insists. It’s time for you to eat now.

Stay, please, I suggest. I want to be held. Food can wait.

Very well, my stubborn little wife, he concedes.

I snuggle in close. He’s warm and it’s safe here. My contented state eventually affects Ani as well, and I sense him start to relax. Good. The Sith Lord needs some down time before dealing with the Rebel outpost in a few hours.

A sharp kick lands near my belly button. Someone is getting restless again. I feel Ani’s hand slide in between us, settling above our son. With a careful touch, his father soothes him and the movements inside me slow, then finally stop.

‘He’s hungry,’ Ani teases, ‘and you need to eat.’

I don’t argue this time or attempt to keep the Sith Lord in my arms any longer. Following him into the kitchen, I take a plate from the cooling unit with leftovers from the previous day and hand Ani the container of supplement drink. No need to wait on the autochef and I would rather spend my time with my love than messing about with that contraption anyway. A second round trip from the bedroom to the kitchen and I have my own drink on the table, and we are waiting for the room to pressurize.

Ani watches me pour out his drink and suggests, ‘You’ve covered some of your family’s more ancient history, so why not tell me about your brothers?’

I guess he is finally bored with hearing about various famous battles and my illustrious and not-so ancestors. Well, he did ask and was rather insistent about knowing every detail I could give him of the Hundred Years War.

‘Michael was trained as a doctor before he went into the military,’ I start out with my older brother first. ‘He was often away on UN peace keeping missions.’

I can tell that last bit is puzzling him.

‘The UN, United Nations, is, I guess, sort of the equivalent to a world government, but without the ability to force its members to comply with its rulings.’ I give a simple explanation. ‘They could call on their member countries to supply troops to help keep conflicts from getting too far out of hand or go in after a war to help with reconstruction. If necessary, they would sometimes intervene and force the fighting parties to back down, but that was always an option they tried to avoid. My home country was famous for its peace keepers. They were very good at getting people to act reasonably about things.’

He’s thinking about that.

‘Ani?’ I ask, curious what his opinion is.

‘On your homeworld, your brother was a Jedi without the Force. Interesting,’ he finally comments.

‘That’s a strange way to put it,’ I decide.

‘Not really. Your peace keepers did everything the Jedi were intended to. Sounds like they were more successful at it, too,’ he adds.

‘That’s not true at all,’ I quietly reply. Images of Rwanda flash in my mind. ‘There were spectacular failures as well as successes.’

‘Did their failures cost the lives of billions?’ Ani questions. ‘Were worlds devastated because of their arrogance and stupidity?’

I give my head a shake.

‘Mistakes made by the Jedi Order did,’ he flatly states.

He’s starting to get worked up about this. I think I will file ‘Jedi’ under the heading “touchy topics to avoid in the future.” Maybe I should change the subject of the conversation.

‘Ani, why is Michael lurking about?’ I abruptly swap topics.

The Sith Lord chuckles at that and sets his glass down to refill it.

‘What’s so funny?’ I prod.

‘The word “lurking” produces images of your brother hiding in closets, behind doors, or under the bed,’ he teases.

I start giggling.

‘Should I start checking under the bed?’

‘Unnecessary. When he isn’t manifesting his presence somewhere, he’s attached to, but not completely one with the Force,’ the Sith Lord reveals. ‘If he is near, you should feel him.’

‘But why is he here?’ I try asking my original question again.

Another amused look appears on his face, but no response is forthcoming. Ani isn’t going to answer me.

‘Anakin,’ I growl.

‘Why don’t you ask him yourself?’ the Sith Lord suggests, pointing behind me.

I turn around to have a look. Michael is standing there with a slightly offended expression on his face.

‘I have never hidden under a bed,’ he flatly states.

That prompts a giggle from me. I know better.

‘Fine. Once. And only because you scared me half to death with that prank you pulled,’ Michael finally owns up. ‘You always were a brat, Maia.’

‘It wasn’t my idea,’ I admit. ‘Jamie was the one who put me up to it in the first place.’

Ani is finding this whole exchange quite entertaining, I note. Maybe I should embarrass my brother a bit more.

‘I also seem to remember someone hiding out in some bushes, too,’ I prod my brother once again.

His jaw drops. This is just too much fun.

‘And I remember someone else running like mad to join me there,’ he retorts back.

Oops.

‘This sounds interesting,’ Ani prompts, looking to hear an embarrassing story no doubt.

Michael starts to grin. He set me up. My bratty brother set me up. I glare at him, but he only starts to laugh and promptly disappears. So much for asking him why he is hanging about.

‘Is there something I should know?’ the Sith Lord prods.

I shake my head. No way am I ever telling him about that particular escapade.

‘Maia,’ he warns me next.

‘It’s stupid and childish and you really don’t want to hear it,’ I blurt out, trying to convince him to let it be.

I receive one of his looks. Defeated now, I let out a sigh.

‘Jamie came up with this really good idea for a prank and he blackmailed Michael and I into helping him with it,’ I quietly start.

‘Blackmail? How did he manage that? I thought you never got into trouble,’ Ani digs for more details.

‘We snuck out one night, after we were supposed to be in bed, borrowed dad’s car and went to see the latest adventure film,’ I explain. ‘Jamie saw us and like all little brothers decided it would be a good thing to hold over our heads.’

The Sith Lord hides a smile by taking a drink from his glass.

‘I warned you it was silly,’ I remind him.

‘Sounds more like typical juvenile behavior,’ he observes.

‘And you never did something like that?’ I tease. ‘I bet you were quite a terror when you were a kid. Sneaking out at night to get into mischief was probably something you did on a regular basis.’

His smile gets wider. I must be right about that then.

‘And your brother’s prank?’ he prods.

I let out another sigh. He won’t let the subject drop until he hears the whole story. Rats.

‘Jamie started asking people who raised ostriches and emus, large flightless birds, to save eggshells for him. We just thought it was some weird phase he was going through, like the time he decided to scare our mother by putting realistic plastic spiders in her shoes every morning. He only stopped doing that when she finally gave up on scolding him for it and put fake worms in one of the sandwiches he took to school with him.’

I snicker a bit at that memory. Jamie’s reaction to what he bit into had been hilarious to say the least. It was years before he worked up the nerve to try pulling another practical joke on our mother.

‘Eventually he had enough eggshells stashed away and that’s when he blackmailed Michael and I into helping him. We were supposed to be staying overnight at a friend’s house. Instead, Michael ended up driving us down to one of the more secluded beaches along the lake. My job was to keep watch while my brothers dug nests into the sand and scattered the shells about.’

I look carefully at the Sith Lord who appears a bit puzzled. He hasn’t figured out what the prank was about yet.

‘Then Jamie put on the dragon feet he had from an old costume and stomped about the beach leaving footprints everywhere. When he was finished, he hid in the nearby bushes while Michael and I erased any of our own tracks. Unfortunately an early morning jogger came by and that’s when we had to run to where Jamie was hiding. The woman couldn’t believe what she saw on the beach. Somehow we kept quiet, and stayed there watching the fun until the place was crowded with local people and the media. Then we snuck back home and laughed ourselves silly.’

Ani still doesn’t get it. Maybe I should enlighten him.

‘Over the next few days our little joke became quite the news story. They even brought in a couple of experts to comment on it. That’s when someone finally realized the eggshells were avian, not reptilian.’

Swift realization flashes across my love’s face.

‘You didn’t,’ he says.

I answer with a nod and tell him, ‘We faked ‘Lake monster’ nests.’

‘And no one ever figured out who was responsible?’ Ani asks.

‘Nope,’ I happily admit, ‘and you’re the only person outside of the perpetrators who knows.’

He is silent at that.

‘Just be glad Jamie isn’t around,’ I tease. ‘Michael’s jokes were always clever and subtle, but when something goes wrong with my younger brother’s pranks it can be quite destructive.’

I get another one of Ani’s looks.

‘Jamie attempted to make fireworks once and blew up our father’s workshop,’ I volunteer. ‘Dad was furious, but he couldn’t say too much because he tried to make gunpowder when he was a kid and destroyed part of my grandfather’s greenhouse in the process.’

‘Menaces,’ he growls, ‘I have married into a family of public menaces.’

‘Just you wait,’ I tease him. ‘If the family genes run true, I can just imagine what our son will be like. You had better lock your workshop and put anything explosive away once he’s old enough to have an interest in that sort of thing.’

At the dumbfounded look on his face, I start laughing. Poor Ani.

‘You have no clue what you might be in for as a father, do you?’ I ask him.

‘No, I don’t,’ he admits, ‘and I am beginning to wonder why I ever thought it was a good idea in the first place.’

I reach across the table, grab his hand, and send reassurance to him through our bond.

‘You’ll be fine and learn on the job like everyone else does,’ I tell him.

‘Just promise me you won’t tell our son about any of your brothers’ pranks,’ Ani insists. ‘Not until he is well past that phase. He will find ways of his own to get into trouble without that sort of example to try and top.’

I give his hand a squeeze and he draws me over to his side with it. He needs to leave soon and head back up to the command deck. With a light touch, I brush the fingertips of my free hand over his face. The Sith Lord shuts his eyes and relaxes. Good. I want him to be as stress-free as possible today. After a few minutes, he opens his eyes and pulls me in for a kiss.

‘I have to go,’ he reluctantly tells me as he gets to his feet.

‘I know,’ I reply.

‘I will warn you a few minutes before the ship drops out of hyperspace. You know what I expect you to do, don’t you?’ he asks, checking that I will do as ordered.

‘Don’t worry,’ I reassure him. ‘I will do exactly as you have told me to with no arguments.’

He pulls me in tight again and the passion in his kiss this time leaves me a little shaky. Wow.

‘A preview of tonight,’ he whispers in my ear before I am released.

I watch as his mask and helmet are replaced, then sink back into my chair once he is gone. Running my finger over my lips reveals that he bruised them a little. A smile creeps across my face. Tonight should be most enjoyable.

I start laughing at myself. Despite old promises to never do so, I have turned into a hopeless romantic. With a contented sigh, I finish off my meal and return the used dishes to the kitchen. Puttering about the room tidying things eats up some of the two hours before Ani has to...

That thought halts me mid-step. I go back to the bedroom, sit down on the bed, grab Ani’s pillow and hug it to me.

I have always avoided thinking about what he does, what his position requires him to do. Experiencing how he deals with prisoners was enough to stop me from ever wanting to know anymore about any of it. But in less than an hour he will be directing the complete destruction of a Rebel outpost. People will die. There will be no escape for them. He has no intentions of allowing anyone to survive. An example he had called it. A test for this ship and its crew. Nothing more, nothing less.

Harix was nothing compared to this. All he did there was follow orders he found distasteful and make a few threats. At Arda 2, it was the Rebels who attacked first, and only a few pilots were killed. But this. This will be different. Hundreds, perhaps thousands will die. I start shivering a bit. Think of it from his point of view, I scold. These are rebels, the equivalent of terrorists he has to deal with. There will be no sympathy for them in the Empire.

I start to think about the rebels I had met. Shas, Ira, Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie. They weren’t bad people and they didn’t harm me. In other circumstances I might call them friends. Stop that, Maia, I warn myself. They didn’t know who you really were. What do you think they would have done to you if they knew who Ani really was? Used me to get at him, no doubt, perhaps they might have even killed me just to eliminate him. That thought produces another shiver from me and a few stirrings inside as my son reacts to my distress.

‘Hush, little one,’ I murmur, brushing a hand over my middle as I soothe him with the Force. ‘Mother’s just fussing about things she shouldn’t.’

I feel a pair of arms slide under my back and knees, and lift me up.

‘Ani?’ I wonder, opening my eyes.

‘Our son isn’t the only one who felt your distress,’ he tells me as I am carried out of the bedroom and into his meditation pod.

He sets me down in his chair and reaches for the acceleration straps. As he tightens them around me, he continues to speak. ‘It is only natural that you are upset about the imminent attack. Given your gentle personality, I would be surprised if you were not.’

My face is tipped up to look into his mask.

‘Your empathy is going to be a problem,’ he warns. ‘I want you to shield yourself as best you can to block out as much as possible.’

He hesitates, considering something.

‘Perhaps I have a better solution to that,’ he decides.

I feel him slip into my mind. A few seconds later he has left again.

‘That won’t work,’ he quietly admits to himself. ‘How unfortunate. One other choice then. You can’t react if you aren’t aware.’

The Sith Lord leaves my side for a moment. When he returns, he drops a blanket on one of the consoles and slaps a patch on my neck. Not again, I think as I black out.

My eyes snap open sometime later. I am still in Ani’s closed meditation pod and he’s leaned the chair back and bundled me up a little. As I shove myself upright, the blanket slides down to my waist. I look carefully at my surroundings while my brain throws off a few cobwebs. He has consoles that allow him to access anything on the ship he might need to and a data terminal if he wants to work in here as well.

To my surprise, the screen snaps on in front of me and I have a good view of the bridge. The Sith Lord is standing by the forward windows, hands clasped behind his back, back to the camera, looking out at the remains of what must have been Laakteen Depot. There’s not much left on the small planetoid except rubble from what I can see. While I watch, the Admiral approaches him.

‘The Executor’s shields repelled anything they tried to use. Sensors show no signs of survivors, but several transmissions did get through just after their defense shield went down,’ the officer reports.

Ani ignores him for a few minutes.

Finally he orders, ‘See that what little remains is destroyed completely, Admiral. Then take us to Garos. My sources have discovered it is a common transfer point for Rebels traveling to Yavin.’

The Admiral takes a wary step backwards then hurries off to do as he was told.

I thought I felt you wake up, Ani notes, not moving from his spot.

Only a few minutes ago, I admit.

Good. I am finished here and will be there shortly, he tells me.

I watch him turn from his vantage point and make his way down the walkway. Before he leaves the bridge, he glances up to where the camera must be and the screen in front of me goes black.

Ten minutes later the pod is opening, so I turn about and look over at the Sith Lord. I give the straps a tug but they refuse to release me.

‘That won’t work,’ he teases as he steps inside and frees me. ‘Just in case you decided to get into some mischief, I made sure you couldn’t sneak out of here on your own.’

Ani’s bent over in just the right position, so I wrap my arms around his neck and let him pull me up and onto my feet when he straightens up again. I am promptly swept into his arms and carried back to the bedroom. The door shuts after us. He sets me down on the bed and starts stripping off his armor.

‘It will be just under three days before we drop out of hyperspace again,’ Ani tells me. ‘I intend to catch a few Rebel ships on our way to Yavin.’

I consider his words and what I overheard the Admiral say.

‘You aren’t concerned they will have been warned and will try to stop you?’ I ask.

‘Doesn’t matter,’ he decides. ‘They can’t harm the Executor and I want them to make a few tries at it.’

‘You’re using the name I have always called the ship?’

A low chuckle as he pulls off his boots is his answer to that.

‘It was easier to adopt your name than come up with something else since I have been calling it that myself ever since I first heard you use it,’ he admits.

‘Oh. Cool. You let me name your new flagship.’

I catch a puzzled look from him before he drops his boots into the compartment with the rest of his armor.

‘Explain ‘cool’ to me,’ he requests, ‘since I find no connection between temperature and your naming my ship.’

‘Earth slang. I suppose a short definition would be ‘alright’ or ‘excellent.’ Depends on the context, I guess,’ I tell him. ‘It’s quite an old expression now. Kids today might use ‘wicked’ or ‘sick’ instead.’ I think a moment, then add, ‘Wicked is a bit dated, too. Slang changes quickly and no one wants to sound like their parents so each generation comes up with something new. My brothers and I had our own set of code words we used just to drive our mother nuts trying to figure out what we were up to.’

‘More to look forward to as a parent,’ he wryly states.

The look on his face as he says that is quite funny, so I snicker a bit.

‘You haven’t spent much time around little kids and teenagers, have you?’ I ask, letting my curiosity get the better of me.

‘In the Jedi Temple, yes. Everyone was expected to help with the younglings,’ Ani admits. ‘Older children were usually off with their Master somewhere.’

‘But not since then?’ I try and get some more information from him.

‘No. I have never been in a situation where I had to be. Why?’ he questions.

I start laughing again, letting myself fall over on the bed. He really has no idea what he is in for.

‘Well-behaved Jedi children and more typical kids are two different things,’ I warn him.

‘Then we will make sure ours are the former, not the latter,’ he promises, sitting beside me on the bed.

That makes me laugh even louder. With him for a father I just know ours will probably be the latter, not the former. I know what bratty little kids are like and teenage terrors, too. My youngest brother was both, in spades, to the n^th degree.

‘You are enjoying this,’ the Sith Lord notes.

I just nod at him. Teasing Ani about the perils of parenthood is great fun.

‘It’s a good thing then, o wise one, that you will be the one in charge most of the time,’ he teases.

‘What?’

‘You have conveniently forgotten I will be leaving you on Vjun while I am with the fleet,’ he reminds me.

‘We will just see about that,’ I decide. ‘There is no way am I going to put up with being separated from you for months at a time.’

That’s in the future, he suggests, easing himself to lie down next me and setting his lips hard against mine. For now, the evening is ours. We will just live in the moment and forget that anything outside this room exists.

I let him feel my unspoken agreement as I slide his robe off of his shoulders. Both our garments quickly end up on the floor.

Do you want me already, he teases, or do you want to relax for a while, first?

Relax a bit, please, I decide. My body is not yet ready for him.

The Sith Lord answers by rolling onto his back and pulling me in close next to him. My fingers trace the almost healed lightsaber burn across his chest. Ani deliberately let himself be hurt because of me. He catches my hand, holding it in his right one, so I look at it closely. Metal and cybernetic components. With his armor, he has never felt the need to have it covered with synthflesh. His other hand entwines in mine, so I compare them. Both are large enough to completely cover mine. On the parts of his arms which are his own, I trace the pattern of burns with my eyes. I know just how much that would have hurt when it happened and was healing.

He has always been gentle to me with his hands, despite the fact that he can effortlessly break someone’s neck with either of them. Only once has he ever hit me, and even then, in his rage, he was careful how he struck me. Nor did he use as much force as he could have, I admit to myself. I am sure he could easily knock me out if he wanted to.

‘Stop thinking about unpleasant things,’ he scolds, releasing my hands from his. His fingers brush down my face while he adds, ‘I promise I will never, ever, hit you again.’

‘I know you won’t,’ I tell him, completely certain of this fact. He will never physically harm me again.

A kiss is pressed against my forehead and I am eased over onto my back. I shiver in anticipation. It’s been weeks since we have indulged ourselves in this way. Ani’s hands run down my body, stopping over our son for a moment to quiet him before resuming their paths. That feels good, so I decide to return the favor and let my fingers roam across the Sith Lord’s chest. Slipping my hands behind his back, I try to pull him closer.

Not yet, he decides.

Why not? I ask.

Just relax and let me touch you, he insists.

Alright, I’ll behave a while longer, but I know what I want. If you take too long, I know exactly what to do.

Do you now? Ani teases.

Don’t tempt me, Sith Lord, I teasingly threaten right back.

He starts kissing me next. Slow, gentle nibbles trace paths along my neck and chest. When his lips reach my stomach, I start giggling then squirm a bit as he runs them down my side. This is the worst sort of torture.

Shall I try it out on the next prisoner who won’t co-operate? Ani asks.

Not a chance, I warn. The only person you are allowed to give this treatment to is me.

Perhaps I should torture you another way then? he suggests.

Go right ahead, I challenge him. Do your worst. This should be fun.

Very well, he concedes.

Oh. I wonder what he has in mind.

He shifts my knees apart then buries his face between my legs. I feel his mouth work away on the most sensitive part of my anatomy. With a gasp, I try to pull away a little, but he pins me to the bed by laying his right arm across my stomach. My body tenses against him, anticipating what will come next, but he backs off, letting me relax a touch before repeating the process once again. If being tickled with kisses was torture, then this is divine torment.

‘Ani, no, please don’t do that to me again,’ I plead the next time he leaves me waiting for him to finish what he started.

‘Surrender to me then,’ he teases, ‘tell me you are mine entirely.’

‘I am yours, Anakin,’ I readily concede, ‘I always have been and always will be yours, and only yours.’

He shifts about and I feel him slide into me.

‘Mine,’ I hear him call me as he quickly thrusts in and out of me. ‘You are mine, Maia.’

Ani pushes me to the brink, so I dig my fingers into his back, urging him on. Finally, he lets me have what I pleaded with him for. Arching myself against him, I run my hands down to his rear and shove him hard into me. I want all of him in me, right now. Pressure, I feel a strange pressure as if I am surrounded by firm flesh, then throbbing and pleasurable spasms as his experience completely overwhelms my own perceptions.

That was truly bizarre, even weirder than when he shared his memories with me. I give my head a shake when I open my eyes, and discover that the Sith Lord is looking down at me with a bit of concern on his face.

‘I let you feel too much of what I did,’ Ani admits.

‘I’m alright,’ I reassure him. ‘It was just strange to experience that with you, that’s all.’

‘Shall we try something else then?’ he suggests.

‘Like what?’ I ask, curious now.

‘Soon you will be big enough that this position might be uncomfortable for you. Let’s try a few other ones out and see what you like best,’ the Sith Lord offers.

I let him move me about however he wants for the next couple of hours. Some of the ways we make love are awkward and I definitely do not like it when he is behind me where I can’t touch him. A few might be okay, but in the end, I decide I prefer the old tried and true method best of all.

‘For being such a little hedonist, you have no sense of adventure,’ he scolds when I finally tell him what my preference is.

‘I like being able to see and touch you,’ I admit, ‘and with most of what we tried, I can’t really do that.’

Ani shifts us about once more, this time settling me on my back while he props himself up on his side next to me. His fingers run down my cheek, eventually coming to rest on my hip. I look up at his face and into his bright blue eyes, the eyes I love staring into.

Mine, I happily think, you’re all mine, and you’re my handsome, gorgeous Sith Lord and no one else’s.

Flatterer, he teases.

Only when it’s you, I concede, and it’s not so much flattery as the truth.

As you see it, he quietly accepts.

Stop that, I warn him, not liking where his thoughts are going with this. What you think and I think are all that’s important. To hell with anyone else’s opinion.

To reinforce my words, I shove him over and pin him to the bed with a kiss. He tastes odd, but I ignore that and do my best to give him the most passionate kiss that I can. Ani needs some reassurance from me. When he lets me go, I rest my head on his chest and purr contentedly at him.

‘Happy, are you?’ Ani asks.

‘Perfectly so,’ I answer.

‘Time for a shower then,’ he decides.

He shifts me off his chest and pulls me from the bed with a tug on my hand. With our experiments the pillows have been tossed everywhere and the sheets are twisted and askew. We need to get cleaned up, I admit. Both of us are rather sweaty and Ani spent several hours working out in the salle earlier today.

I allow myself to be led into the ‘fresher, hoping that this will not be a repeat of the last time we shared a shower. Ani is careful to adjust the temperature first before helping me into the shower with him. The warm water feels good against my skin.

‘Here,’ Ani tells me, handing me the soap, ‘you can wash off that sweet smelling stuff you inflicted on me this morning.’

He’s teasing me about that, I decide as I prepare to comply with his request. When he turns his back to me, I see a set of bright red scratches across it. Oops.

‘I will have to be more careful next time not to do that to you,’ I decide.

While I wash his back, I hear the Sith Lord chuckle at that.

‘Claw me all you like,’ he offers. ‘Those are the sort of battle wounds I prefer.’

I start blushing and promise myself not to do that to him again.

‘Your turn,’ he decides next.

‘What?’

His arms pivot me about and I feel his hands soaping up my back. He rinses it off, then starts washing my hair. I tremble a little despite myself. Does he know how erotic his touch is when he does that?

‘Like that, do you?’ he whispers in my ear.

I shiver in response. The husky quality in his voice tells me that he is quite prepared for a bit more fun if I am willing.

‘I can see that you do,’ he observes. ‘Shall I do something else for you, my little wife?’

Yes, I think to myself as I lean back into his chest, oh yes. The shower abruptly shuts off as I am grabbed and carried back to the bed.

An hour later the sheets are not only pulled out from the bed, but are now soaked with water from our shower. That felt good, I decide, as I stretch like a cat beside Ani. He managed to somehow make love to me five times tonight.

I wonder, ‘How many more times could you ...’

‘Until we are both exhausted, if you really insist,’ his slightly sleepy voice tells me, ‘but the sheets are too wet to sleep in and I want to get cleaned up again.’

‘Back to the shower?’ I tease.

‘Of course,’ he decides.

Our shower is much briefer this time and we are soon back in bed, under a dry set of sheets and blankets. I reach over and mischievously run a finger down his nose. Tonight was absolutely perfect. He won’t easily be able to top the last few hours we have spent together.

I watch Ani’s face closely for a moment. He’s thinking about something.

***

She’s completely content and relaxed.

As am I.

Little hedonist. I know you would quite willingly let me make love to you all night, but I have work to do tomorrow and need to sleep at least a few hours.

For a moment I look at her, watch her expressions as her fingertips trace my features. She doesn’t bother practicing control when we are alone, so I can see every emotion, every thought written on her face.

How she loves me. Loves my son.

And she is mine.

She won’t ever leave me. Not willingly anyway. Not until...

Sithspit.

There is something I need to do and have been putting off.

And tonight is as good a time as any to do it.

‘You need to get up, my love,’ I tell her, tossing the sheets aside as I get out of bed and retrieve my black robe from the floor.

I see her get up and the curious looks she is giving me.

‘Take a seat on the floor,’ I order next, pointing to where I need her to be.

Maia settles herself where I indicated and waits for further instructions. She’s puzzled judging from the flickers I am feeling from her over our bond.

‘Your nightgown is suitable,’ I decide, ‘but you need to be kneeling, not sitting the way you are.’

A white robe would be better, but since no one will see this, it doesn’t matter that much.

I open the compartment where I keep the odds and ends required for various Sith rituals. Everything I need is in here since I prepared for this ceremony months ago.

My son can’t be a part of this, so I select a gold goblet and pour some of the drink I concocted to cut her off from the Force into it. It will have the same effect on him, and ensure that Maia can’t change her mind at the last second or fight anything I will do to her. Her armbands need to be replaced, so I take three of the appropriate set from their small silver chest and put them on a tray with the goblet, keeping tray and contents out of her sight. A small wooden box contains the last two things I need - a strip of mothsilk with Sith hieroglyphics written on it, and the two bottles holding the chemicals I need to activate and neutralize the ink.

A quick check and I am ready, so I cover the tray with a cloth, pick it up and close the compartment.

***

I shift myself about and stay alert while he finishes digging out whatever he was looking for. I hear a bottle being opened and liquid splashing into a glass. The sound of other metal objects banging against one another follows. Somehow I stay quiet and keep my curiosity under wraps. Finally, the Sith Lord is done with his preparations. He turns, sets a tray with stuff hidden under a cloth on it on the floor, and kneels down in front of me and beside it.

His robe falls in graceful folds around him and his hair has grown out again to the same length he let it before removing it the last time, completely covering the scar on his scalp. In the low light his other scars are barely noticeable. There is nothing to detract from his handsome features. My eyes wander to the bare chest his slightly open robe has revealed. No excess weight there, only nice firm muscles just like on the rest of him. I bring my eyes up to his again and see his two bright blue ones calmly watching me look at him. He’s perfect, absolutely gorgeous, I think happily to myself, and he’s mine.

***

I smile a little as she surveys my body. Only my little goddess thinks of me as handsome, only she admires me this way. Her scrutiny amuses me, so I return it.

With a light touch, I reach over and brush a few stray hairs from her forehead, then rest my hands on my thighs and simply look at her, giving her the same evaluation she did me. Maia is no classically featured model yet there is a simple beauty to her face, a quiet gentleness in her spirit - a sweetness and innocence she will never lose. My eyes drift lower. My Favorite has filled out with her pregnancy and is no longer too thin. I rather enjoy her new curves, the feel of her body under my hands, under me. She’s my perfect mate, I think, and she’s mine.

The silent seconds stretch into minutes while we wait for the other to say or do something.

‘I should have done this a while ago,’ I finally admit, ‘but your Sith has only become fluent enough in the last few days to properly manage the ceremony.’

I sit back on my heels and watch her closely, measuring what to say. It’s important for her to make the decision I want, but according to tradition, I am forbidden to coerce or really influence her in this. My words must be carefully chosen, then, if she is to come to the conclusion I need her to.

‘You are in the unique position of having to make a choice that no one else has ever had to,’ I finally reveal.

She stares at me and I know she is wondering what I mean.

‘I am a selfish man,’ I tell her. ‘I know what I would want you to do, but this is your decision to make, not mine and it can only be freely given, never coerced.’

Making it clear it is her choice alone will be the easiest way to have her make the one I want.

Ani? I hear her ask.

‘Only speak aloud, Maia,’ I chastise her.

‘I don’t understand what you mean. What choice?’ she voices her silent thoughts.

I reach over and brush her cheek, then let my hand fall away again. Now to tell her the entire truth.

‘The oath you swore to me is only part of a longer ceremony,’ I reveal. ‘A ceremony which binds the two involved not only in life, but afterwards as well. But you are not a Sith. Nor will you ever be one.’

Maia gives me a rather perplexed look. She still doesn’t understand. I refrain from letting out a sigh. More information is needed, then.

‘The spirits of dead Sith Lords are bound to their bodies which are returned to Korriban, to exist there forever,’ I explain.

‘You will have to hang about with a bunch of old boring dead guys for eternity?’ she blurts out. ‘That doesn’t sound like much fun at all.’

I very quickly hide the smile which is threatening to appear. How typical of her. I am trying to be serious and she only sees the humor in the situation. Perhaps I need to take a different approach since she can’t seem to make the connections on her own.

‘Listen carefully, Maia,’ I start her short lesson. ‘I am a Sith Lord. You are a Jedi. If we were both the same, it wouldn’t matter, but our soul-bond changes everything and allows you this choice. When you die your essence will become one with the Force unless you choose to be bound to my fate and stay with me instead. I can’t make this decision for you nor am I allowed to influence it. It must be your choice alone.’

I then wait, patiently, for her to sort out the implications of what I have just told her.

***

I spend several minutes silently considering what he has said. If I do nothing and let things stay as they are, he will be alone, stuck by himself forever, and I will never see him again after he dies. And if our bond survives our deaths - we would probably still feel one another but know that the other was eternally out of reach. That’s horrible.

‘You aren’t allowed to go with me, are you?’ I quietly ask.

‘No,’ he just as softly answers.

‘Then I will have to stay with you instead,’ I decide. ‘I won’t lose you just because of some stupid rule.’

I shut my eyes at the wave of emotions I feel from him across our bond. Relief. Happiness. Love. And a deep sense of joy. How could he not know I would choose to stay with him?

‘Since there are no witnesses to worry about, and you only know the key part anyway, I will use the shortest version of the ceremony,’ I hear him decide.

When I open my eyes again he has retrieved a small gold goblet from under the cloth. He takes a sip from it then offers it to me.

>Drink,< he orders in Sith.

I take it from him and set it to my lips. The pungent smell makes me wrinkle my nose but I force myself to swallow a mouthful of the bitter tasting fluid. Talk about a nasty aftertaste, I think as I hand the goblet back to him. He sets it aside and takes my hands in his.

>I would be bound to thee, my Lady, thou who art my soul-mate, the mother of my heir,< Ani tells me.

I blink at him. Okay, what am I supposed to say to that? That oath, I guess.

Pulling my words to him from memory, I repeat them to him for the third time, saying, >I offer to you, and you alone, my heart, seat of all my emotions; my body, source of all my strength; my life, my soul, essence of my being; let me be bound to you, Lord Vader.<

>You are offering yourself freely, willingly, and without any conditions?< he asks.

That sounds familiar, but he didn’t say it in Sith the first time.

>Yes, my Lord, my soul-mate, I am,< I confirm.

>Then I accept your oath to me, Maìá, knowing that you are sworn to me and me alone. Your life is mine. You are mine. Now and forevermore,< he says and the ferocity and possessiveness in his voice is matched in the searing kiss he sets on my lips immediately after.

He lets me go again and quietly watches me for a minute or two.

Now what am I supposed to say or do?

Resolve appears on his face as he picks up the gold goblet.

>Drink,< he orders, once more taking a sip himself before handing it to me.

More of that nasty stuff? I manage to swallow another mouthful of it.

>Finish it,< he adds, pushing it back towards me when I try to return it to him.

He can’t be serious. I stare at him, pleading with my eyes, but he looks at the drink, then back at my face. Guess I can’t get out of this. I down what’s left in the goblet as fast as I can, then feel it slip from my hand and watch it fall in slow motion when the effect of the mixture hits me.

‘Ani?’ I call to him, swaying where I am sitting.

The Sith Lord catches me when I pitch forward and I feel him turn me onto my back and pull my shoulders and head onto his lap. I look up at him. My head feels funny, like it is stuffed full of cotton wool. I hear him toss aside the cloth covering the tray. He removes my armbands next and replaces them with another set. I try to sit up and look at one of them, but he pulls me back in place against his legs. Rats.

He sets his hands around my face, slides into my mind, traveling deeply within, then touches our bond and does something to it, replacing the barriers he had put in place before. Ani moves to another part of my mind now and I feel him rip one connection away. I go rigid at the shock of having part of my Force sense severed, but another link is quickly substituted. This one is strange to me, dark rather than light, and it feels just like the Sith Lord. It’s his Force presence, I quickly realize. He’s bound me to himself in yet another way. While I ponder the situation, he sets barriers around what he just did and pulls out of my mind.

Ani next wraps a strip of fabric with something written in raised Sith script on it around the upper part of my left arm. I feel him hesitate a moment, then caress my face. A bottle of some dark colored liquid is opened next and he soaks the fabric on my arm with the contents. It feels warm at first, then starts to burn. I try to move, to pull away, to do something to get it to stop, but the Sith Lord holds me securely in place. Control is impossible and as the pain increases, I lie there, whimpering and feeling quite embarrassed about it. Finally he peels back part of the cloth, then removes it once he is satisfied with whatever it is that he just did to me. My tender skin is washed with something cool and the pain stops. He tosses everything he used back on the tray, and sends it over to rest on the table with a wave of his hand.

I feel myself being shifted about again and when he lifts me up and bundles me under the sheets, pressure is accidentally exerted on my sore arm.

‘Hush, my little wife,’ he soothes, when I start whimpering again. ‘You have been very brave tonight.’

‘I don’t feel very brave,’ I moan, sounding just as pathetic as I feel.

He settles in beside me and carefully wraps me in his arms. I feel a kiss on the back of my neck, just like he always does before we go to sleep.

‘You made a difficult choice and weathered the binding ceremony quite well, my love. Go to sleep now. There is no need to wake early,’ he decides. ‘Tomorrow I will stay with you until you have recovered.’

I set a hand over our son. He’s been extremely quiet throughout it all.

‘The drink was to dull his senses as much as it was to sedate you,’ Ani admits. ‘I didn’t want to accidentally draw him into our bond. It won’t harm him if that’s what you are worried about.’

***

I look again at the ancient Sith hieroglyphics burned into her skin. An unavoidable and necessary, yet painful, step. My peers at Korriban will not recognize my Jedi wife as a Sith without that brand and our new Force-bond marking her as undeniably, irrevocably, mine. The pain from both will hopefully fade by morning.

With a light touch, I caress her face, check on my son. Maia, still heavily drugged, doesn’t stir.

She made her choice and is mine forever, I think triumphantly. No Jedi, no Sith, not even my master, can sever the bonds between us now.

I kiss her neck again. No matter what happens, for the rest of my life, past it into death, Maia will always be with me.

Neither of us will ever be alone.

***

Part 8

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