Crossroads

Padawan

Rayya's POV

I awoke to the unknown and foreign feeling of air-conditioning. Of a soft, smooth, warm surface below me.  There was something fuzzy and warm wrapped around me.  I hadn't felt a blanket, a bed, shelter in years.  I had almost forgotten what it felt like. 

Despite the brutal events of yesterday, I had managed to sink into a deep slumber very quickly.  The weight of the exhuastion, of the torture that had taken much of my energy, had pulled me down into sleep almost immediately.

I was surpised I wasn't plagued by nightmares.  For the past few years, I would have frequent nightmares about before... my life before, my past, everything.  But I slept soundly, only dreaming of golden, amber eyes that bore into my soul, unyielding and unwavering. 

I was so curious to what that mean looked like.  Was he older, younger? Why did he keep his hood up so often? It was like he intentionally hid beneath that thing, and didn't just use it a fashion piece like the Jedi once had. 

I threw back the covers, stretching as I watched the depths of space.  StarDestroyers filled some of the blackness, with TIEs flying around. It seemed like this, whatever this was, was the home base for the Empire.  What it was, I didn't exactly know.  I couldn't exactly look down from window, it just curved and dissapeared below. 

A knock at the door made me slightly jump out of my skin. Not even thinking about what I was currently wearing, I lept out of bed and opened it, fearful of what would happen if I didn't open it right away. 

Vader stood in my doorway, his body almost filling it with the stark blackness and sheer and size. His amber eyes glowed brightly from beneath the hood, and eyed me up and down. 

I glanced down, realizing that I had not chosen to put on the pajamas provided to me.  Instead, I had elected to sleep in my bra and underwear, both black and both ragged as hell. It wasn't like I had a bountiful amount of money to spend on clothes the past few years.  The money I did make went toward food, and sometimes clothes, but it was nothing fancy.  Nothing like the fancy gowns or suits that citizens wore on Alderran or Courascant. It wasn't much, but it was well-made clothing that got me through the hot days and cold nights. 

Sadly, this pair of panties and bra was particuarly ragged and worn.  It was not something I would show to anyone, especially Vader.  Vader, who was eyeing me up and down with those amber eyes that burned into me.  There was something in his eyes, something I couldn't quite read.  Annoyance? Definetly.  But something else..

"Can you be decent the next time you come to the door?" He snapped.  I shrunk a little, hiding my exposed body behind the door. 

 I wasn't exactly ashamed of my body, but it wasn't like I wanted or needed to show it off. I had joined the Order young, so it wasn't like sexual needs or wants was ever a priority.  Sure, it was something I thought about from time to time, especially when I had been alone without human contact for the most part. 

"Yes, I-I'm sorry.  I stuttered slightly.  I could feel my face reddening, embarrassed.  Having Vader see my frail, tiny body wasn't exactly something that was on my bucket list for the day.  I had lost a lot of weight since going into hiding, so I wasn't as built and strong as I was at my peak.  Oh, those were the days.  When I could easily swing a saber and take down a battilion of droids within seconds. When I could fly through the air, jumping like a spider monkey.  When I was strong. 

Now, I was a fraction of the person I used to be.  Drawn and fragile and pale. 

"Don't worry, we will fix that." Vader's voice sliced through the air.  I really should be careful about what I think-- he could easily read me, likely because I was so out of practice and weak.  I shut my mind off, closing the door to keep him out.