Empire's End

The Cell

Peace. After every battle, there comes a moment of peace. Whether the battle was lost or won, peace will manage to weave itself into the moment in the end. However, today Course didn't have the luxury of peace. How could he? His own son was now on a planet that was being torn apart as he pondered.

He remembered his son's eager face as a child when he first enlisted in the Empire. He remembered his son's soft cherry red cheeks and his innocent eyes all too well. Long ago, when his son was of age, he asked for permission to join the army, just as his father did. Now, after nearly a decade, his response had finally come around to betray him.

He looked around the cell. It was dimly lit by a single source of light on the wall. He could see specks of dust flying in front of his face even  when he moved very slightly. He wasn't sure if it was from his uniform or his seat. It had been a while since these cells have been used. It's last user was about a year ago. When the Empire was still the main government of the galaxy. When this Star Destroyer was being used as more of a patrol ship to police random rebellious systems. Those were the days he thought. Life was simple. His job was simple. Before he was lost in his thoughts the metal door of the cell slid open with a clank.

Course nearly jumped to the sound of the opening door. He looked intently at the door before seeing Sorfe striding into the room. His face still recovering from the punch. His chin was slightly displaced, though Course didn't know if it was from the punch or from his old age. The look on Sorfe's face was something that seemed rare for a man of his type. He looked disappointed. Maybe even a tinge of anger, that however was definitely his type.

"Well?" He asked, trying to suppress his rage.  "What to do have to say for yourself?" Course just looked up to meet Sorfe's face before looking back down. Really, he was lost for words and didn't know what to say. He figured saying nothing was the best course of action at the moment. "You just committed a high level of treason! Not to mention embarrassing me in front of the crew, punching your senior officer and resisting arrest." Continued Sorfe expecting an answer. Course on the other hand was thinking of ways to calm the situation, like he always had.

"How's you face?" He asked Sorfe, meeting his eyes once more. To his surprise Sorfe didn't get the sincerity of Course question but instead took it as a feeble excuse of a joke.

"You still think this is a joke! I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation right now. We are at war. Our supplies are running low, our ship's morale is depressing and not to mention, we just lost our final battle to the New Republic. The one that was supposed to restore peace to the galaxy once more! The one we had been preparing for the whole of last year." To that, Course was ticked off. He stood up from his seat seeing eye to eye with Sorfe. That sudden move managed to flinched Sorfe a little though he manages to hold his ground.

"You don't think I know that? You don't I know that?" He repeated. "I'm the one who's been working my ass off year after year, to make sure that this ship, is still flying with you at the helm! Who do you think fixes up all your mistakes every single time? Who do you think faces the consequences in Imperial Court? Me. Me Sorfe."he stopped and took a breath whilst looking at Sorfe's stunned expression. "Do you know why I had to do all that? Cause you were just a farm boy from some backwater world who was too ambitious for his own good."he stopped when he realised he was holding Sorfe's collar. He proceeded to back off from Sorfe and murmured something that Sorfe could barely hear.

"I lost my son today, do you have any idea how it feels?"he asked Sorfe. His eyes were beginning to water. He sat back down and rested his head on his hand. Trying his best not to start sobbing there and then.

Sorfe, speechless looked at Course in awe. Never had he seen him so emotional. Never had he seen him so angry. His feelings of anger and betrayal were beginning to fade away. He wanted to place his hand on Course's shoulder but instead found himself heading backwards towards the door. He walked in between the doorway and stopped before murmuring something.

"Yes I do."heard Course, not daring to look up. Then Sorfe proceeded to leave the room and shut the door. Just like that, the cell was quite once again.

Outside, Sorfe was still trying to process what had just happened before he realised that he too had watery eyes. He blinked a few times to stop himself from tearing up but found himself once again on Naboo. This time he was standing at the front of his mansion. The sky was blue with clouds lining it. Birds can be heard accompanied by the rustling of leaves. He gazed upon the magnificent building. Closing his eyes as a fresh breeze hit his face.

However when he opened his eyes, he was met with a blaze. The mansion was now on fire. The sky had turned black with smoke, and the building was collapsing. He was shocked to hear someone screaming for help in the building. He tried to help but couldn't move. He was powerless to save them, just as he had been.

He returned back to the brig. Now sobbing whilst kneeling down on the floor. He had sacrificed everything for this Empire but at what cost? Now all that he sacrificed would go down in vain with the Empire. To that he empathised with Course.

It wasn't long before he was called upon the bridge. He stood up, recomposed himself and walked to the lift. He entered it and pressed on the bridge level. He took one last look at the cell door Course was in before the door shut itself.

Today, after the battle, there was no peace. Not for Course nor Sorfe, as they had sacrificed almost everything they had on a sinking ship. Now all they had left was themselves, their reputation and their honour. Sorfe was not willing to lose that too.