Towards the future I see

Chapter 60 Part 3

The news of the Chimaera was shocking. No, that would be saying it mildly. When Vader told me through the hologram what happened, I fainted due to the shock. The medical droids found no health problems but reported an increase in stress, malnutrition, and lack of sleep. I was bedridden for several days. Vader wasn’t present most of the time since, as his last recommendation, Thrawn, had suggested Vader to supervise the  project Stardust. Vader didn’t even know I was bedridden the whole time he was away.

I cried many days for what happened to Thrawn. I know I had wished him to f, il but not that he would be lost. I had now lost the only friend I had in this wretched Empire. But maybe it was for the best. If Thrawn had any information of the Deathstar and of my hidden intent regarding it, he would have stopped me from fulfilling my last will. I knew what was coming. And I knew that if Vader would be present at the space station, so would I. And once what I saw will happen, I will be there when the fate of this whole galaxy comes to be. But it will no longer be in my control. The people who set in motion the coming event aren’t anywhere near me. It was as if I was waiting for the rising sun of dawn that would burn me alive. It was imminently coming, but the only question was, where would I be when it happened?

If Thrawn had been here, he would have taken me away. I would be alive, and perhaps if I had let hope settle in my heart, he would have later taken me away from the Empire to his people. But that was not happening now. Thrawn was gone, and he was taking me nowhere. That left only one option for me and one outcome for my visions. I was going to die.

Vader came back to Coruscant after three weeks. My condition had improved enough for me to serve him, but not enough to hide the fact I wasn’t well. He noticed it very soon. It angered him, but to my surprise, he didn’t take his anger on me. Instead, he kept me constantly with him regardless of where he had to go. Now that Thrawn was gone, the only one who willingly took me aboard his ship. And Savit was declared as traitor. Vader had no other choice but to keep me close. He kept sensing immense sadness from me, but he never asked about it, and according to our agreement, he never probed about it. He took me to Eadu to visit the facility that was in charge of the weaponry of the Deathstar. He wanted to make sure that now, after the cargo transfer was settled, there would be no other way to hinder the building of Emperor’s prized plan.

While Vader was shown to the security systems and the features of the facility, I remained at one of the observation decks, watching as one huge cyber crystal was modified and installed to perhaps the biggest laser gun ever build. All this building to end lives in an instant, both the rebels and imperials. They just didn’t know it yet. I couldn’t help but recall Thrawn’s opinion about the Deathstar as we had dinner together when we were showing off as a couple. He saw it as a risk and a huge waste of resources. He said that if not careful, it would end even imperial lives. We had roasted meat and wapored vegetables with creamy sauce, and for desert sweet and sour tart complimented with good wine. After dinner he invited me to dance. Since I was still guarded against his intention he saw it best to simply dance with me, since he saw me enjoy it time to time, and he made the effort to dance some more Carf dances with me. Some more intimate than others, but he never crossed the line or tried anything improper. Back then, he would just kiss my cheek, my hand, and tips of my hair.

The memories brought tears to my eyes. I began to wipe them so Vader wouldn’t see them. It was difficult since the outfit I had now had very tight sleeves. I was about to use some corner of my robe when, in my field of vision, appeared a hand holding a neatly folded handkerchief.

“It looked like you needed one,” A friendly male voice said. I turned to look and found a middle-aged man who was offering his handkerchief. By the uniform, he was a scientist, a leading scientist. I wasn’t sure why he wanted to be nice to me, but I didn’t want Vader to find out that I have been crying so I took the  piece of cloth and tapped it to my face.