"You sound worried, Chief," Celia observed.
"This will not look good on my record, Lieutenant," Kaileel reminded
her.
"Chief, your record is impeccable!" she told him.
"You've got the best security team this side of the Rim!"
"With a dozen weapons missing?" he grimaced.
"Thank you for your vote of confidence, little Crimson."
Nodding, Celia watched him rise, his huge form towering far above
hers.
"I'll talk with you when you return from Mantooine." She started to
walk away, then turned back to face him. "I want my rematch!" she
called.
"You're not going to win again!"
The decks were crowded with passengers boarding the Kuari Princess in
Mantooine for the return trip through the Maelstrom Nebula to
Endoraan.
Celia nodded politely to a group of Ithorians and three Corellian
businessmen.
She smiled at a young couple, still dressed in their wedding finery.
Obviously on their honeymoon, they didn't seem to notice anything
around them, only each other.
"Ticket, please," hostess Kelsa Vilrein asked a very wealthy-looking
female passenger.
"Miss," the woman asked, "can you tell me where the observation deck
is? I don't want to miss our entry into the Maelstrom. I've heard so
much about it."
"That's on the Lido Deck," Kelsa told her. "The captain will announce
our approach. Of course, you realize we won't enter the Maelstrom for
15 hours."
"Yes, thank you, my dear."
Kelsa tipped her head toward Celia. "Good evening, Lieutenant."
"How are you, Kelsa?" Celia asked the dark-haired woman.
"Ticket, please," she replied, glancing down to check another
passenger's accommodations. "Hornthor Deck.
That's up two levels." She winked at Celia. "I'm fine, Lieutenant."
"Has Chief Kaileel come back on board?" Celia asked.
"He returned about a half hour ago. Ticket, please."
"Thanks, Kelsa."
"Celia?"
The voice was familiar, but one she hadn't heard in a long time.
Looking around, Celia stared wide-eyed. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Adion? How in the worlds--" "I'd recognize that red mane anywhere!"
he exclaimed, reaching out to take her hand. "Celia Durasha.
Good skies! What are you doing so far from Inkashiir?"
"I'm the Kuari Princess' navigator. And look at you--" "What do you
think?" he asked, tugging at his tunic to straighten any part of the
uniform that might dare to be out of place.
"Lieutenant . . . hm," she said, eyeing his tall muscular frame.
Adion Lang looked more handsome than she remembered. Maybe it's the
uniform, she thought. "I like it."
"Celia, you look absolutely ravishing," he told her.
"Shh!" she replied, turning her head as the heat rose in her cheeks.
"You're not allowed to embarrass the ship's navigator."
"All right, I'll try not to."
"I'm good friends with the Security Chief, Lieutenant Lang. Any
misbehavior and I'll have him throw you in the brig!"
"Yes, ma'am," he grinned. "You haven't changed at all, Celia."
"Not one little bit!" She laughed. "Now, c'mon. Let's get out of the
line of traffic." Leading him through the ship's corridors toward the
observation deck, Celia couldn't help but notice the two white-armored
shadows that followed them at a discreet distance.
"Friends of yours?" she asked.
Adion glanced back. "Oh, them? Don't worry about them. Just a couple
of guards who were lucky enough to accompany me," he replied
nonchalantly. "Tell me, Celia, how long has it been?"
She thought for a moment. "Seven years, I guess."
"A long time," he said. "Tell me about you, your family.
I'm afraid I've lost touch with your brothers."
"Well, Jak is still in the Navy, stationed on board the Relentless.
Bern is a lieutenant with an armored battalion in the Generis Sector,
and I just spoke with Raine last week. His unit was preparing to ship
out to Ralltiir--some kind of local trouble, I suppose. I miss them
all terribly, but especially Raine."
"I guess that's natural--he is your twin brother, after all," Adion
said. "But what happened to all your grand plans? I thought you would
attend the Academy like your brothers."
Celia frowned, unable to ignore the incoming tide of emotions that were
attached to that subject.
Adion stopped in the middle of the corridor, obviously aware that he'd
touched on a sore spot. "I'm sorry," he told her, taking her hand into
his. "I can tell something's wrong."
"It's okay," Celia said as old feelings of anger flooded her senses.
"My application was never forwarded past Sector."
"What! Who would do such a thing?"
Staring Past Adion, her voice trembled, full of bitterness.
"Commander Reise Durasha."
"Your father?"
Nodding, Celia walked away from Adion. She ran her hand along the gold
handrail that lined the ornately decorated corridor.
"But why?" Adion asked, taking two giant strides to catch up with
her.
She stopped, planting her arms across her chest, and looked him
straight in the eye. "I believe his words were, 'No daughter of mine
is going to attend the Academy. It's no place for women," or something
to that effect."
Adion lowered his eyes, shuffling his feet on the ship's polished
marble flooring. His silence stung louder than a thunderclap.
"You, too? You agree with him?" she asked, trying to temper her
anger and hurt.
"Celia, you would have been remarkable at the Academy.
But do you know where most women end up after graduation?"
She glared at him. She knew all right. Backwater worlds, crummy
assignments, with little chance to prove yourself, or to ever see a
promotion. But it never mattered to her. She had longed to wear the
uniform, to proudly serve as others in her family had done for
generations.
"Your father was only thinking of your well-being," Adion said.
"My well-being? Excuse me, why would he be so concerned about a
daughter he barely knew."
"And yet you wanted to follow in his footsteps! See your family every
three or four years, if it was convenient?
Celia," he admonished her gently, "how can you still be upset with him
after all these years?"
"He interfered with my life, Adion. He had no right to make that
decision for me."
"Perhaps you're right."
"Can we drop this subject?" she asked. "You haven't told me what
you're doing on the Kuari Princess."
Adion looped his arm through hers. "Show me your ship," he said, "and
I'll tell you about my assignment to Aris."
"Aris? Sector HO eh?" she smiled, leading him up the grand staircase
to the Lido observation deck. "I'm impressed.
A plush job, no doubt."
"You are looking at the new assistant of the Moff," he told her.
"Congratulations, Adion! That's wonderful." She stopped, turning to
look out one of the viewports.
Mantooine loomed ahead of them, the glare of sunlight illuminating t
he
horizon as the ship's orbit took them across the terminator into day.
"It's so beautiful up here," she sighed. "But just wait until we enter
the Maelstrom Nebula."
"I've heard about it," he said, his voice softening. "But it can't be
as spectacular as the lovely red hair I used to tug on from my seat in
physics classes." He pushed a loose curl away from her face then
touched her lightly on the cheek. "I've missed you, Celia."
Celia blushed and looked away from him. Adion reached out to turn her
face back toward his. Putting his arm around her waist, he pulled her
close. Slowly, his lips met hers. For a brief moment neither one
noticed the curious on-lookers who passed by.
Trembling, Celia pulled away from him. Old memories rushed in upon her
senses. There may have been a time, years ago, when she would have
followed him to the ends of the galaxy. But then he'd left their
homeworld to attend Raithal Academy and she hadn't seen or heard from
him in all these years. Did he expect to pick up right where they'd
left off?.
Her eyes fixed on his. There was something different about him,
something in those piercing blue eyes that she couldn't quite put her
finger on. "I've got to go, Adion.
We'll be leaving orbit soon and I'm supposed to be on duty now."
"May I see you later?" he asked.
"I--I'll check with you in the morning," she said, turning to leave.
Confused by emotions he'd stirred deep within her, emotions she thought
she'd left behind in the past, Celia hurried away. She needed time to
think. Some safe harbor.
And she knew exactly where to find it.
The door slid open into a modestly decorated office. A hologram on one
wall displayed a cross section of the Kuari Princess. A dozen monitors
occupied another wall to the right of a desk that was littered with a
half dozen datacards.
Chief Kaileel was hunched over his computer terminal.
He glanced up at Celia, a momentary look of annoyance vanished
quickly, replaced by a gentler expression.
"Good evening, dear Crimson. May I help you with something?"
"I, uh, thought I'd get a brief update on those missing blasters,
Chief," she said unconvincingly.
Kaileel's large dark eyes frowned at her over the top of the monitor.
"I have nothing new to report, Lieutenant," he replied, eyeing her
suspiciously. "Was there something else I might help you with?"
Celia's eyes wandered around the room. "I've got the bridge watch for
another hour, then I'll be ready for our rematch."
Kaileel drummed his long green fingers on the desk.
"It is rather late, you realize."
"You're not trying to get out of this game, are you?"
"Of course not, Lieutenant. I shall be off duty in two hours."
"Good," Celia replied, glad she'd have the game to keep her mind off a
certain handsome Imperial lieutenant.
"Then I'll expect you to meet me on the observation deck."
The edges of Kaileel's mouth curled upward behind his snout. "Oh, my
dear little crimson-haired friend, I would not miss the chance to beat
you again for all the spice on Kessel!"
"Beat me?" she smiled, her mood suddenly lighter.
"Don't count on it, Chief!"
"Get to your bridge, little one. Drive your ship! Steer us a straight
course!"
Leaning over the desk, Celia's face grew serious. "You look tired,
Chief," she said. "Is everything all right?"
Kaileel leaned back into his chair. "Yes--well, no," he admitted when
he saw the frown on her face. "I had some disturbing news on my visit
to Mantooine."
"Chief?" another voice called from the doorway.
"Sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant."
"What is it, Raban?" Kaileel asked the security officer as Celia
walked behind the desk to stare out the viewport.
"We've got a report of a fight between two passengers at the Galleria
Shop."
"Who's on it?"
"Brankton. And we've sent in a backup."
"Keep me posted," Kaileel told the man, then turned to smile at
Celia.
"This may turn out to be an exciting cruise."
"We haven't even left orbit yet!" Celia marvelled.
"And you thought your job was interesting."
"Chief, what were you about to tell me--the news you got on
Mantooine?"
"Later, my dear. I'll tell you later."
Celia eyed her old friend. There was something bothering him.
But before she could probe for more information the captain's voice
sounded over the intercom.
"Chief Kailecl, is Lieutenant Durasha with you?"
"Yes, Captain," Kailecl said.
"I was just on my way to the bridge, sir," Celia added.
"Lieutenant, I need to speak with you privately. Will you meet me in
my office right away?"
"Of course, sir. On my way. I wonder what that's all about," she said
as Kailccl clicked off the intercom. "I'll see you in a couple of
hours, Chief."
"Captain Glidrick, you wanted to see me?"
"Please, Lieutenant, sit down," he said. Stenn Glidrick was a
middle-aged man with brownish hair that was just beginning to streak
with gray. Like Celia, he was dressed in blue trousers with a gold
stripe down each leg. Medals decorated his white tunic--a reminder to
everyone of his service in the Imperial Navy.
"What is it, sir? What's happened?"
"I received a message from your father--" Celia stood up abruptly, her
face reddening. "My fa
ther sent you a message?" she asked, the anger in her voice unmistakable.
"Please, Lieutenant--" "I want nothing to do with him--" "Lieutenant
Durasha, sit down!" the captain ordered.
He took a deep breath. "Your father sent word through me, because he
knew what your reaction would be. It's about your brother--" Celia
paled. "What?" Her hands trembled as she grasped the edge of
Glidrick's desk and collapsed into the chair.
"He's been killed," the captain told her. "I'm sorry."
Closing her eyes, Celia chewed on the inside of her lip, trying to
force back the tears. "Captain, I have three brothers. Which one--"
Glidrick glanced down at the datapad. "It's Raine," he said. "Your
father said there are more details on this holo that accompanied the
message I received. Take all the time you need, Celia. I'm truly
sorry."
"Thank you, sir," Celia replied numbly, taking the holo from him.
She rose slowly from the chair and somehow managed to find her way to
her quarters. Alone, Celia listened to the message. When it ended,
she paused it, staring at her father's frozen holo image. The small
room seemed tO close in around her.
Unconsciously, Celia ran her hand back and forth across her holster,
then downward, brushing against her soft leather boot. She unsheathed
the knife hidden there.
It had been a special gift from Raine, one he had given to her the
night before he'd left for his last term of service.
Sitting beneath Lankashiir's star-filled skies, they had reminisced
about the good times they'd had exploring the forests of their
&n
bsp; homeworld.
She turned the knife over several times. Light from the holo image
touched the steel gray blade and cascaded across the desk. Her small
hand melded perfectly around its handle which was carved from rare
ebon. She studied
the flaming red jewel embedded just above the blade, watched it sparkle brilliantly even in the dimly lit cabin.
Good memories seemed no more than a distant echo now. Celia set the
knife down, rubbed her hand wearily across her brow and clicked on her
Tales From The Empire Page 21