Hopes

Chapter 26.

Solus's POV

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I sneaked into the throne room, hoping to slip past Asajj unnoticed. But there was no such hope.

"Good morning, Vader!" Her sweet greeting carried across the room, chasing me as I took my position behind her throne.

Two weeks had passed, and I still flinched when she used that name. Each day had been exactly the same and yet entirely different. Asajj treated me like a person, Maul treated me like nothing had changed, and I didn't know what to treat myself as. Asajj had nearly been falling over herself to provide anything and everything I desired, and I had been unable to accept her kindness willingly. I was convinced that Maul would disapprove, but he had not so much as lifted a finger against me. He only observed. He still told me to do tasks and assumed that I would complete them without hesitation, which of course I did, but he seemed either oblivious to Asajj's knowledge of my identity or uncaring that she knew.

We hadn't left the Death Star since arriving a fortnight ago, and I sensed a storm was brewing. Maul's pacing became more frequent, Asajj's attempts at friendliness more intense, and the no-nonsense atmosphere more strict. The generals and their clones followed each order with meticulous prudence, and every being on the massive space station seemed to be working at twice their normal speed. 

But I had been given no major jobs, no specific instructions, and no important requests, and I was feeling listless. Minutes morphed into hours, and hours dragged into days, each one filled with confusion surrounding Maul and overwhelming attention from Asajj. Each morning brought ideas of adventure and purpose, and each night laid to rest any such thoughts. Frustration and loneliness moved in, awakening formerly dormant emotions and ushering in much more than just themselves. Confusion and sadness joined the party, but joy and excitement also paraded the room, offering a light that I hadn't seen in well over a month. The day that my friend thought was the end of our friendship was something much more. Instead of slavery and perplexity, there was confidence and the most important of all: hope. That which I had believed was lost to me forever had only been sleeping. And now she was awake.

I kept a low profile, outwardly playing to Asajj's and Maul's every whim and accepting, as best I could, whatever treatment they delivered. But I watched. And I waited. I knew something was happening, and this time I had no intentions of letting it blindside me. I wouldn't allow Asajj to come alongside me and walk with me as I strayed, nor would I stand for Maul's poisonous words that trapped me in my own mind. This time, I would be ready.

But to do so and to have them unaware, I had to be patient.

I dipped my head as I stopped just behind Asajj, acknowledging her greeting and attempting to reinforce my position as being less than hers.

She smiled warmly at me but looked away when Maul entered the room. "What do you want?"

He surveyed her coolly. "Is everything in place?"

"It isn't yet," she snapped, her blue eyes hardening from inviting to harsh.

"I'm ready," he responded, unperturbed by the snarling lioness in front of him. "When will you be?"

"I need more time. Give me until tonight; everything should be in its place by then."

His yellow eyes glinted as they narrowed. "Good – it would be a shame if our deal was called off. You know I can take just as easily as I can provide."

She glowered at him. "Get out." She glared daggers into his back as he turned and left, then turned to me again, any traces of aggression washed away by a tender smile. "I want you to come with me. Will you? Please speak." She watched me imploringly, but I only dipped my head once more. Her sigh preceded her grabbing my hand and towing me from the room.