Lady Obscura: Vader's Shadow [Star Wars | Luke Skywalker]

Chapter 20

It had been the longest six months of Athara's life, but she was finally free from the Alliance's investigators.

Day in and day out she was questioned about anything and everything to do with the Empire. Its command structures, supply networks, codes, encryptions, underworld dealings and contacts, agents and officers who might be susceptible to defection, tactics, security protocols, potential informants, Fleet weaknesses and movements—the list went on and on. Moreover it was also an interrogation of how she thought. How Athara herself would respond in any given situation. At first she figured that it was a potential precautionary measure, in case she were to ever rejoin the Imperial forces or possibly an additional means to harness her experience.

But after a while, and a particular slip up by the officer questioning her, she realized what it was really about.

They had figured out she often thought like Vader. At least, thought like him in a strategic sense...sometimes. The Rebellion's leaders seemed to be convinced that if they could figure out how she thought, planned and reacted, they might be able to figure him out, and learn how to beat him.

After that, she stopped co-operating. If they couldn't keep to their side of the bargain, neither would she. And she told them so; right after she shocked the interrogator by telling him off and was brought before the leadership of the Alliance...again.

They had not been pleased.

"You realize that our agreement included you providing us with information in exchange for your eventual release," General Madine almost sounded incredulous, but Athara could see through that. He wasn't all that surprised at her refusal. He had known that she knew what they had been trying to do. He also didn't seem terribly happy about the situation.

"And I have complied with the terms of our arrangement. The Alliance has not." Athara had managed to keep her responses calm, and had succeeded, for the most part; one thing her extended imprisonment had allowed for was a great deal of free time that she could devote to her meditation and work on slowly disentangling herself from the influence of the Dark Side. It meant that her patience was improving. Mon Mothma had not been present at that meeting, nor had the Coruscanti General or the Support Services Officer, both of whom had ultimately seemed to be sympathetic to her situation. She was also, admittedly, relieved that Leia was absent, as was the Mon Calamari member, who was emphatically not sympathetic. However, there was an additional Twi'lek member who had insisted on fixing Athara with a decidedly unfriendly look for the entire session.

"The Alliance is devoted to defeating Palpatine and his Empire. You agreed to provide any information that could be of use. In refusing to comply, you are the one who has broken the arrangement." General Draven, whom she'd never managed to like, was the one who argued back. His words had been heated, and even angry in tone. Athara wasn't fazed, though. She had prepared herself to handle anything they decided to throw at her. His irritation was nothing.

"I agreed to share my knowledge of everything save that which pertained to my former Master. Your interrogators broke the agreement." Draven went red in the face.

"By protecting Vader you are sabotaging our efforts to bring down the Empire; precisely what you claim to be interested in helping us accomplish!" But Athara stood firm, not saying another word even when he ordered her back to her cell indefinitely. He totally ignored Madine's protestations and the furtive concerned looks from the other present members, and proclaimed her agreement with the Alliance was henceforth suspended until she resumed co-operating. Athara couldn't say she was surprised. She had been anticipating such backpedaling. She knew there were too many members in both High Command and the Advisory Council that didn't want to risk her betraying them once free of their custody. She knew they saw her as a wild card. She really wasn't surprised that they'd managed to find a way to suspend her release as long as possible. So she had already begun formulating an escape. It was several weeks, though, before the opportunity had presented itself.