𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙇'𝙎 𝘼𝘿𝙑𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙀 • 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

TWENTY-ONE*

       
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:

Peace, Disturbed

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IT WAS EASY TO TRICK MYSELF.

I elected to ignore the pain I felt from Vader's emotional shutdown and convinced myself that my feelings weren't as potent as I thought. I was simply overwhelmed, and falling victim to the heat of the moment. That allowed me to calm down. I told myself I was only physically attached to him, and that the soft and tender moments with him were just a byproduct of our sexual relationship and nothing more.

Now that I was secure in my job and role upon the Death Star, I felt myself fall into an equally as secure routine. I was even beginning to enjoy myself most of the time.

Of course, that should have been the first sign that something was about to disturb the peace.

"Rebel activity has been reported on Fondor," Rivven announced to the table as he stood at the front, the projected screen behind him. "The Rebels are likely scouring for industrial supplies, which makes this a time-critical issue. We'll be sending out a team of Stormtroopers in just under an hour."

While the rest of us processed his words, he continued going through the logistics and strategy of the mission. I wasn't paying much attention, until Rivven directed his words to me.

"They'll be taking the Hard Shot with them, General Damri," He informed me, making me sit forward with a frown.

"What?" I was taken aback, and I couldn't hide my disapproval of his decision. "But all we have so far is the initial prototype."

I was more nervous than usual to speak so freely during a meeting. After the confusing night with Vader, I wanted nothing more than to understand just what he was thinking. How he was feeling about me. Did he really find it easy to compartmentalize his emotions and separate a sexual connection from a deeper one?

I replayed his words from the previous night. He said he'd never hurt me, and that he would let me get away with doing most anything, even betraying the Imperials. Were they the words of a man to a woman he felt nothing but physical attraction to? Were they the words of a trickster who knew all the ways to keep me hooked onto whatever drug he was giving me?

He sat at the head of the table, a few seats away from me, his presence alone enough to make my hands shake.

"And it's fully operable," Rivven bluntly countered with a raised brow, before doubling down. "They're taking it." His word was final, a fact I bitterly had to accept.

Admiral Sakodi leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "General Damri has no time to teach the troopers how to use her cannon. What use is an unknown weapon to our soldiers?"

My hand tightly wrapped around the cold, metal leg of my chair, and I took a deep breath before looking over at Rivven. Was this my chance to prove myself as a valuable asset? Could this have been what finally gained me Rivven's respect? "I'll go with them."

A few mutters resonated around the table, silenced by Sakodi's incredulous laughs. "General, with all due respect, you are simply not prepared for the field."

His lack of faith in me only pushed me to want it more. "I have a self-made suit of armor, built with the finest durasteel," I informed the table. "I'll keep a few guns strapped to me, too. I've been training with troopers for the past two months if it should come down to hand-to-hand combat, which I doubt it will. I can operate the cannon from afar, and never even come within 20 feet of a Rebel."