Tales From The Empire

by Peter Schweighofer

  "You sound worried, Chief," Celia observed.

  "This will not look good on my record, Lieutenant," Kaileel reminded

  her.

  "Chief, your record is impeccable!" she told him.

  "You've got the best security team this side of the Rim!"

  "With a dozen weapons missing?" he grimaced.

  "Thank you for your vote of confidence, little Crimson."

  Nodding, Celia watched him rise, his huge form towering far above

  hers.

  "I'll talk with you when you return from Mantooine." She started to

  walk away, then turned back to face him. "I want my rematch!" she

  called.

  "You're not going to win again!"

  The decks were crowded with passengers boarding the Kuari Princess in

  Mantooine for the return trip through the Maelstrom Nebula to

  Endoraan.

  Celia nodded politely to a group of Ithorians and three Corellian

  businessmen.

  She smiled at a young couple, still dressed in their wedding finery.

  Obviously on their honeymoon, they didn't seem to notice anything

  around them, only each other.

  "Ticket, please," hostess Kelsa Vilrein asked a very wealthy-looking

  female passenger.

  "Miss," the woman asked, "can you tell me where the observation deck

  is? I don't want to miss our entry into the Maelstrom. I've heard so

  much about it."

  "That's on the Lido Deck," Kelsa told her. "The captain will announce

  our approach. Of course, you realize we won't enter the Maelstrom for

  15 hours."

  "Yes, thank you, my dear."

  Kelsa tipped her head toward Celia. "Good evening, Lieutenant."

  "How are you, Kelsa?" Celia asked the dark-haired woman.

  "Ticket, please," she replied, glancing down to check another

  passenger's accommodations. "Hornthor Deck.

  That's up two levels." She winked at Celia. "I'm fine, Lieutenant."

  "Has Chief Kaileel come back on board?" Celia asked.

  "He returned about a half hour ago. Ticket, please."

  "Thanks, Kelsa."

  "Celia?"

  The voice was familiar, but one she hadn't heard in a long time.

  Looking around, Celia stared wide-eyed. Her heart skipped a beat.

  "Adion? How in the worlds--" "I'd recognize that red mane anywhere!"

  he exclaimed, reaching out to take her hand. "Celia Durasha.

  Good skies! What are you doing so far from Inkashiir?"

  "I'm the Kuari Princess' navigator. And look at you--" "What do you

  think?" he asked, tugging at his tunic to straighten any part of the

  uniform that might dare to be out of place.

  "Lieutenant . . . hm," she said, eyeing his tall muscular frame.

  Adion Lang looked more handsome than she remembered. Maybe it's the

  uniform, she thought. "I like it."

  "Celia, you look absolutely ravishing," he told her.

  "Shh!" she replied, turning her head as the heat rose in her cheeks.

  "You're not allowed to embarrass the ship's navigator."

  "All right, I'll try not to."

  "I'm good friends with the Security Chief, Lieutenant Lang. Any

  misbehavior and I'll have him throw you in the brig!"

  "Yes, ma'am," he grinned. "You haven't changed at all, Celia."

  "Not one little bit!" She laughed. "Now, c'mon. Let's get out of the

  line of traffic." Leading him through the ship's corridors toward the

  observation deck, Celia couldn't help but notice the two white-armored

  shadows that followed them at a discreet distance.

  "Friends of yours?" she asked.

  Adion glanced back. "Oh, them? Don't worry about them. Just a couple

  of guards who were lucky enough to accompany me," he replied

  nonchalantly. "Tell me, Celia, how long has it been?"

  She thought for a moment. "Seven years, I guess."

  "A long time," he said. "Tell me about you, your family.

  I'm afraid I've lost touch with your brothers."

  "Well, Jak is still in the Navy, stationed on board the Relentless.

  Bern is a lieutenant with an armored battalion in the Generis Sector,

  and I just spoke with Raine last week. His unit was preparing to ship

  out to Ralltiir--some kind of local trouble, I suppose. I miss them

  all terribly, but especially Raine."

  "I guess that's natural--he is your twin brother, after all," Adion

  said. "But what happened to all your grand plans? I thought you would

  attend the Academy like your brothers."

  Celia frowned, unable to ignore the incoming tide of emotions that were

  attached to that subject.

  Adion stopped in the middle of the corridor, obviously aware that he'd

  touched on a sore spot. "I'm sorry," he told her, taking her hand into

  his. "I can tell something's wrong."

  "It's okay," Celia said as old feelings of anger flooded her senses.

  "My application was never forwarded past Sector."

  "What! Who would do such a thing?"

  Staring Past Adion, her voice trembled, full of bitterness.

  "Commander Reise Durasha."

  "Your father?"

  Nodding, Celia walked away from Adion. She ran her hand along the gold

  handrail that lined the ornately decorated corridor.

  "But why?" Adion asked, taking two giant strides to catch up with

  her.

  She stopped, planting her arms across her chest, and looked him

  straight in the eye. "I believe his words were, 'No daughter of mine

  is going to attend the Academy. It's no place for women," or something

  to that effect."

  Adion lowered his eyes, shuffling his feet on the ship's polished

  marble flooring. His silence stung louder than a thunderclap.

  "You, too? You agree with him?" she asked, trying to temper her

  anger and hurt.

  "Celia, you would have been remarkable at the Academy.

  But do you know where most women end up after graduation?"

  She glared at him. She knew all right. Backwater worlds, crummy

  assignments, with little chance to prove yourself, or to ever see a

  promotion. But it never mattered to her. She had longed to wear the

  uniform, to proudly serve as others in her family had done for

  generations.

  "Your father was only thinking of your well-being," Adion said.

  "My well-being? Excuse me, why would he be so concerned about a

  daughter he barely knew."

  "And yet you wanted to follow in his footsteps! See your family every

  three or four years, if it was convenient?

  Celia," he admonished her gently, "how can you still be upset with him

  after all these years?"

  "He interfered with my life, Adion. He had no right to make that

  decision for me."

  "Perhaps you're right."

  "Can we drop this subject?" she asked. "You haven't told me what

  you're doing on the Kuari Princess."

  Adion looped his arm through hers. "Show me your ship," he said, "and

  I'll tell you about my assignment to Aris."

  "Aris? Sector HO eh?" she smiled, leading him up the grand staircase

  to the Lido observation deck. "I'm impressed.

  A plush job, no doubt."

  "You are looking at the new assistant of the Moff," he told her.

  "Congratulations, Adion! That's wonderful." She stopped, turning to

  look out one of the viewports.

  Mantooine loomed ahead of them, the glare of sunlight illuminating t
he

  horizon as the ship's orbit took them across the terminator into day.

  "It's so beautiful up here," she sighed. "But just wait until we enter

  the Maelstrom Nebula."

  "I've heard about it," he said, his voice softening. "But it can't be

  as spectacular as the lovely red hair I used to tug on from my seat in

  physics classes." He pushed a loose curl away from her face then

  touched her lightly on the cheek. "I've missed you, Celia."

  Celia blushed and looked away from him. Adion reached out to turn her

  face back toward his. Putting his arm around her waist, he pulled her

  close. Slowly, his lips met hers. For a brief moment neither one

  noticed the curious on-lookers who passed by.

  Trembling, Celia pulled away from him. Old memories rushed in upon her

  senses. There may have been a time, years ago, when she would have

  followed him to the ends of the galaxy. But then he'd left their

  homeworld to attend Raithal Academy and she hadn't seen or heard from

  him in all these years. Did he expect to pick up right where they'd

  left off?.

  Her eyes fixed on his. There was something different about him,

  something in those piercing blue eyes that she couldn't quite put her

  finger on. "I've got to go, Adion.

  We'll be leaving orbit soon and I'm supposed to be on duty now."

  "May I see you later?" he asked.

  "I--I'll check with you in the morning," she said, turning to leave.

  Confused by emotions he'd stirred deep within her, emotions she thought

  she'd left behind in the past, Celia hurried away. She needed time to

  think. Some safe harbor.

  And she knew exactly where to find it.

  The door slid open into a modestly decorated office. A hologram on one

  wall displayed a cross section of the Kuari Princess. A dozen monitors

  occupied another wall to the right of a desk that was littered with a

  half dozen datacards.

  Chief Kaileel was hunched over his computer terminal.

  He glanced up at Celia, a momentary look of annoyance vanished

  quickly, replaced by a gentler expression.

  "Good evening, dear Crimson. May I help you with something?"

  "I, uh, thought I'd get a brief update on those missing blasters,

  Chief," she said unconvincingly.

  Kaileel's large dark eyes frowned at her over the top of the monitor.

  "I have nothing new to report, Lieutenant," he replied, eyeing her

  suspiciously. "Was there something else I might help you with?"

  Celia's eyes wandered around the room. "I've got the bridge watch for

  another hour, then I'll be ready for our rematch."

  Kaileel drummed his long green fingers on the desk.

  "It is rather late, you realize."

  "You're not trying to get out of this game, are you?"

  "Of course not, Lieutenant. I shall be off duty in two hours."

  "Good," Celia replied, glad she'd have the game to keep her mind off a

  certain handsome Imperial lieutenant.

  "Then I'll expect you to meet me on the observation deck."

  The edges of Kaileel's mouth curled upward behind his snout. "Oh, my

  dear little crimson-haired friend, I would not miss the chance to beat

  you again for all the spice on Kessel!"

  "Beat me?" she smiled, her mood suddenly lighter.

  "Don't count on it, Chief!"

  "Get to your bridge, little one. Drive your ship! Steer us a straight

  course!"

  Leaning over the desk, Celia's face grew serious. "You look tired,

  Chief," she said. "Is everything all right?"

  Kaileel leaned back into his chair. "Yes--well, no," he admitted when

  he saw the frown on her face. "I had some disturbing news on my visit

  to Mantooine."

  "Chief?" another voice called from the doorway.

  "Sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant."

  "What is it, Raban?" Kaileel asked the security officer as Celia

  walked behind the desk to stare out the viewport.

  "We've got a report of a fight between two passengers at the Galleria

  Shop."

  "Who's on it?"

  "Brankton. And we've sent in a backup."

  "Keep me posted," Kaileel told the man, then turned to smile at

  Celia.

  "This may turn out to be an exciting cruise."

  "We haven't even left orbit yet!" Celia marvelled.

  "And you thought your job was interesting."

  "Chief, what were you about to tell me--the news you got on

  Mantooine?"

  "Later, my dear. I'll tell you later."

  Celia eyed her old friend. There was something bothering him.

  But before she could probe for more information the captain's voice

  sounded over the intercom.

  "Chief Kailecl, is Lieutenant Durasha with you?"

  "Yes, Captain," Kailecl said.

  "I was just on my way to the bridge, sir," Celia added.

  "Lieutenant, I need to speak with you privately. Will you meet me in

  my office right away?"

  "Of course, sir. On my way. I wonder what that's all about," she said

  as Kailccl clicked off the intercom. "I'll see you in a couple of

  hours, Chief."

  "Captain Glidrick, you wanted to see me?"

  "Please, Lieutenant, sit down," he said. Stenn Glidrick was a

  middle-aged man with brownish hair that was just beginning to streak

  with gray. Like Celia, he was dressed in blue trousers with a gold

  stripe down each leg. Medals decorated his white tunic--a reminder to

  everyone of his service in the Imperial Navy.

  "What is it, sir? What's happened?"

  "I received a message from your father--" Celia stood up abruptly, her

  face reddening. "My fa

  ther sent you a message?" she asked, the anger in her voice unmistakable.

  "Please, Lieutenant--" "I want nothing to do with him--" "Lieutenant

  Durasha, sit down!" the captain ordered.

  He took a deep breath. "Your father sent word through me, because he

  knew what your reaction would be. It's about your brother--" Celia

  paled. "What?" Her hands trembled as she grasped the edge of

  Glidrick's desk and collapsed into the chair.

  "He's been killed," the captain told her. "I'm sorry."

  Closing her eyes, Celia chewed on the inside of her lip, trying to

  force back the tears. "Captain, I have three brothers. Which one--"

  Glidrick glanced down at the datapad. "It's Raine," he said. "Your

  father said there are more details on this holo that accompanied the

  message I received. Take all the time you need, Celia. I'm truly

  sorry."

  "Thank you, sir," Celia replied numbly, taking the holo from him.

  She rose slowly from the chair and somehow managed to find her way to

  her quarters. Alone, Celia listened to the message. When it ended,

  she paused it, staring at her father's frozen holo image. The small

  room seemed tO close in around her.

  Unconsciously, Celia ran her hand back and forth across her holster,

  then downward, brushing against her soft leather boot. She unsheathed

  the knife hidden there.

  It had been a special gift from Raine, one he had given to her the

  night before he'd left for his last term of service.

  Sitting beneath Lankashiir's star-filled skies, they had reminisced

  about the good times they'd had exploring the forests of their

&n
bsp; homeworld.

  She turned the knife over several times. Light from the holo image

  touched the steel gray blade and cascaded across the desk. Her small

  hand melded perfectly around its handle which was carved from rare

  ebon. She studied

  the flaming red jewel embedded just above the blade, watched it sparkle brilliantly even in the dimly lit cabin.

  Good memories seemed no more than a distant echo now. Celia set the

  knife down, rubbed her hand wearily across her brow and clicked on her