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Author	Topic: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 9/12/04 3:46pm Subject: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	Thanks for clicking. Title: I Have Passed By the Watchman Summary: An Imperial defects to New Republic Intelligence. A/N: Unbeta'ed. Inspired by Robert Frost's Acquainted with the Night, and the title was taken from a line of that. I have passed by the watchman on his beat And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain. --- Acquainted with the Night, by Robert Frost. Feedback is, as always and ever, appreciated and adored. ~~~ I stare at the building, stilled by own damned indecision. I somehow suspected the NRI to look more intimidating, more like the powerful organization of a real government than it was. Of course, this was only the official headquarters on Coruscant, and I could understand why they would choose something so – nondescript. It was the intelligence community's way, regardless that the opponent always knew that, at least. It's amazing how little prejudices and private judgments can be carried through life despite experiences clearly shattering those illusions. I should know. I watch people enter and leave; they are aware of my presence by now, the unusual fact of it. They are no doubt running my face through their files, expecting to find nothing. They might find something; I can't be sure. That uncertainty means I really should act, before they choose to act. This indecision on my part is really very foolish on more than one level. Entering that building immediately gives me the upper hand. I become valuable, a guest. If I enter the other way – well, I definitely won't be a guest. The New Republic insists it doesn't sanction torture, but the information I possess may be valuable enough for that. I take a deep breath and stand up. Then I walk over to the entrance; my hesitation is barely noticeable to myself. The clear doors open for me, and I step in. The front office is clear, white, clean, presenting a pure front. I feel positively filthy stepping in, so I guess the intended psychological effect is working. I walk to the front office, where a pleasant Mon Calamari waits. I'm somewhat surprised, not that she's not human, but Mon Calamari aren't known for their intelligence work. I smile at her, and she says, "How may I help you?" "I wish to defect," I tell her. "I work – worked – in Imperial Intelligence as a case supervisor." I've surprised her; I doubt they get many walk-ins. "Please wait one moment," she says, no doubt checking to see if I'm playing a prank, and turns away to look at a screen. It literally is a moment before she gets up and leads me to a lift, giving me assurances of my safety the whole way. I nod, but otherwise don't bother responding. I'm fairly certain I'm safe here, at least for the moment. When the Empire discovers my defection, that will be another matter, but for now they still believe in my loyalty – and the excuse for my absence. She settles me in a comfortable room. Again, white and clean. Nice psychological effect, I want to mutter, knowing they'll pick that up, but it's a useless bit of a spite to do that, so I don't. The couch is very comfortable, and I lean my elbows on the table. She leaves, and I know I won't see her again. The NRI will probably place me somewhere out of the way where the Empire won't think to look for me. A woman enters after less than a minute; quick, these people. Also unwilling to give up the advantage they have. At the moment, fears and the harsh reality of what I was doing hadn't had time to settle in, and they knew that. They wanted me in deep before I started getting second thoughts. I had to admire their professionalism. The Rebellion hadn't skimped on intelligence training. I knew that well enough as their enemy, but it was interesting to see it beyond reports, half decrypted conversations and years old data that may or may not still be relevant. She's young. Human. Another calculated decision, though a slightly risky one. Female equals non-threatening to most Imperials. Human means on your level. Of course, I could be a misogynist. Her brown eyes are calm as she regards me. She waits to speak, sitting opposite me in the other couch, across the table. I'm surprised at her silence. I wait, my body language as calm as I can make it. I don't look that great, wearing worn, ill-fitting clothing and that slight filthiness that spoke of a long day at work. "Why did you decide to defect?" she asks. Surprised again; am I this incompetent? Shouldn't she be asking what I have to offer? "That's not important," I say. She cocks her head. "Yes, it is. Very important." Silly girl. "I can offer –" "Not interested," she interrupted. I raised an eyebrow, and made to rise. She didn't stop me, but she did speak. "The information you give us is significantly decreased unless we know the reason for your defection," she says calmly. "We know who you are, Myls Delba. Your file does not indicate you would defect." "And your file is that complete, is it?" I ask, sitting down again, amused now. She just smiles. "Humor us." Us. We. Presenting a powerful front, are we? "The Empire is not going to win this war," I tell her matter-of-factly. "I'm in a position to see beyond the propaganda. I'm not a stupid man. It calculates that I should defect, should I wish to save my life." She nods. "I see." She pauses, then says, "My name is Glena." I memorize that out of habit; code names of the same person are often similar for obvious reasons of keeping track. She pulls a datapad out of nowhere, and sets it in front of me. "Write down everything you can think of in your life, beginning with your recruitment, or anything else if relevant. That will be the beginning of your debriefing." I take the empty datapad, feeling suddenly daunted. I stare at it for a moment. "I can get you some water, if you wish," she offers gently. I almost shake my head, then abort the motion and nod. I see her rise of the out corner of my eye, my focus still mostly on the datapad. She disappears out of line of vision, but I can still hear her; then she returns and places a glass of water on the small table between the couches. I touch it, but don't take any. After a moment, Glena sits beside me on the couch. Startled, I look at her, and feel suspicion rise. What is going on? "Besides my Intelligence station," Glena begins, "I also work as counselor. I got into that first, then I started treating Intelligence officers. The rest, I suppose, happened pretty naturally. I have a talent for this, in an odd way, and I've always read people well." She pauses. "You're safe here. The Empire believes us to be a group of idealists, and in many ways, that is what we are. I do not think that a bad thing. Tell me, Myls, why you defected," she finishes quietly. Her words feel unmistakably honest, but that means nothing. But they will find out anyway, won't they? In the life I have lived they will find Imperial secrets, and every secret of mine will be unearthed regardless. "Myls," she says gently, "Imperials do not often defect because they feel the Empire is losing this war; indoctrination is usually too strong for that. You know that." "I fell in love with a non-human," I say bluntly, and I'm not sure who I'm saying it to. And the words sting me as I say them, because I say non-human. I shake my head at myself, and Glena says nothing. "That's all," I tell her, meeting those calm brown eyes. "That's enough." "Is she well?" Glena asks. "She's dead," I reply. "I'm sorry," Glena says, and I see pain in her eyes – not sympathy. Like she's feeling what I'm feeling, too. I look away, and I suddenly know my answer isn't enough. Damn it, it never was. "I always passed by them. The aliens. I didn't need to explain myself, what I did, what the Empire did and why I supported it. I was loyal, the cause was right, the work was good. But . . . I didn't want to explain, either," I admit. "And you know, they never really asked. They saw enough, when we wouldn't meet their eyes." Glena gently touches my shoulder, which I shrug off. I glare at her, and she seems to back off from being overly sympathetic. I don't look away. "She was pretty, I was drunk, and it was supposed to end there. But it didn't, as I'm sure you've guessed. She died in some damn fool riot on Ied VI. I doubt she was a protestor; not the type." "And you defected because . . . ?" Glena says, leading me on. An obvious thing to get me to explain myself more, my reasons for defection, which would influence the trustworthiness of my information. It's all fake. But I might as well get this over with. It's better than the Empire. "Because it was all a lie," I burst out, and damn appearances. "About them being lesser than us. All those opportunities I had to stop it, to lessen it, and I never did. Not once. I didn't have a strormtrooper's devotion, I never did. And then – what? What? I couldn't say. I couldn't leave and do nothing. I saw what was right to do. How could I pass by again?" I feel tears in my eyes, painful and stinging. "Damn it all," I finish. "Damn it." "You're doing the right thing," Glena says. I hope so. I snatch the datapad. I'm not passing by. There's that much, at least. I'm a bit of cynic about how much good the NRI does, or how much good the New Republic as a whole will do, but it's better than nothing. Better than unrepentant evil. Better than me. I start to write, beginning with my recruiter's name, ignoring Glena. I guess I’m a defector now. I know what the Republic will do with me; immunity, a simple life. I don't have to ask Glena, and that's why she didn't offer. Some defectors – they really join the Republic. Like that Celchu, and others. Han Solo, even, to some degree. My information and knowledge of Imperial tactics will be priceless to them. They'll probably spend decades unraveling it all, able to put together pieces I never could, with other defectors, other spies, unencrypted transmissions. It's better than nothing. But less than what Althena deserved. [fin] -----signature----- MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty my recent Atton (KOTOR2) fic: http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/30335989
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Mike-Sunrider Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 9/12/04 4:15pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	I like it. I dont see anything wrong with it. Good job -----signature----- ~~My Fics~~ Check bio for more. Order of the Alliance (Ben Skywalker) : http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/20169930/ Disposable Heroes (Clone Vignette) : http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/19345408/
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TheCrazyRodian Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 9/12/04 4:46pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	Hm. I'm glad someone wrote a piece like this, and I'm glad it was you, Oba. I suppose, though, that if I had one small complaint about this vignette, it would be that it's too short. I want more! But that's not a real problem, just my own desire. I'd like to read more stories from the perspective of Imperials. Great work, though. -----signature----- My body wears a green scent, as on the verge Between green laughter and green sorrow I have walked all day Until my legs have gone lame, and still the spring seems spirited away. --Yi Sanghwa
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Calandria Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 9/12/04 5:53pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	ooo nice. I love the perspective. There's not nearly enough "imperial" fics out there... and a defector is always a nice psycological case. -----signature----- Empress of Coruscant Story Links in Bio
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1Yodimus_Prime Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 9/12/04 7:22pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	Neato "I wish to defect," I tell her. "I work – worked – in Imperial Intelligence as a case supervisor." I've surprised her; I doubt they get many walk-ins. - best line in the story. it's off-handed and sincere, but completely absurd at the same time. You had me laughing there. -----signature----- Rule 12: A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head. --- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26481069 - The Wise http://boards.theforce.net/B/b1/21283317 - Planet Hopping
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obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 9/13/04 1:50am Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	Mike-Sunrider: Thank you. No typos? Good. TheCrazyRodian: Thanks! I think it may have been shorter than I intended, actually - because I was getting tired of sitting and wanted to finish it while I still had it in my head. But it still would have been a vignette. Glad you enjoyed. Calandria: No, I suppose they're aren't. I don't see them often. I thought it would be interesting to see why an Imperial would defect, and what they would do about it. I don't think all Imperials would end up like Celchu, or Han, actually working for the Rebellion, and that's how I ended up writing this. Myls isn't that great of a guy. He still thinks 'non-human', very cynical, etc. Thank you. 1Yodimus_Prime: Good! I thought that was kind of funny myself, it sounds so silly - walk-in. And yet, people do. Thank you! -----signature----- MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty my recent Atton (KOTOR2) fic: http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/30335989
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VaderLVR64 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 9/13/04 7:09am Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	Really touching! I loved Myls, you did a great job of portraying his pain. My information and knowledge of Imperial tactics will be priceless to them. They'll probably spend decades unraveling it all, able to put together pieces I never could, with other defectors, other spies, unencrypted transmissions. It's better than nothing. But less than what Althena deserved. Sad ending, but he has some hope now. Great work! -----signature----- R.I.P John, Alex, Jason, and Christian Never forgotten Soldiers' Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ 2114 soldiers waiting for someone to care
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StarFighter5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 9/13/04 3:36pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	That was so cool. I think it's wonderful. You don't get much insight into the "regular" Imperials and NR/Rebels. -----signature----- "I hope I slept with you to get the job. if not, then who the hell was that guy?" - Carrie Fisher "Now that I'm a pez and a lego, I shall want for nothing else." -Jeremy Bulloch "Thank you for going to the movies. Especially mine." - George Lucas
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obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 9/13/04 9:39pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	VaderLVR64: Thanks! It's always hard to establish an OC in a vignette, I'm glad you liked it. He does have some hope now, but I don't think he realizes it yet - he's very cynical. Who knows? Maybe Myls joins the NRI at some point. StarFighter5: Thanks. I thought it'd be an interesting thing to tackle for that very reason. -----signature----- MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty my recent Atton (KOTOR2) fic: http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/30335989
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RK_Striker_JK_5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 9/14/04 2:13pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	Everyone else has already said everything else, but I'll chime in as well. It was quite nice, obaona, and an interesting peek into the mind of some of the Imperials...well, the smart ones at least. -----signature----- E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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Lonewolf89 Registered: Sep '01	Date Posted: 9/14/04 8:55pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	This is great, obaona! I loved the plot, very unique. The writing was very good, too. I can imagine a spy thinking just like that: analyzing everything that goes on around him. "Because it was all a lie," I burst out, and damn appearances. "About them being lesser than us. All those opportunities I had to stop it, to lessen it, and I never did. Not once. I didn't have a strormtrooper's devotion, I never did. And then – what? What? I couldn't say. I couldn't leave and do nothing. I saw what was right to do. How could I pass by again?" I loved the feeling there. The emotions that came from his realizations about the Empire were perfect! It's better than nothing. But less than what Althena deserved. Very good ending. Bittersweet. Good job! -----signature----- Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo. Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me! Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive. Member of the FADA & ATF
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obaona Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 9/16/04 2:26pm Subject: RE: I Have Passed By the Watchman (OC, an Imperial defects; vignette)
	RK_Striker_JK_5: Thanks! And thanks for chiming in anyway! I'm glad you liked it. Lonewolf89: Thanks. It just came to me and I don't know why. I think a spy would analyze everything - I went on a ridealong with a sheriff's deputy some time back, and he was constantly looking around, slowing down and looking into alleyways, randomly checking license plate numbers. How much more would a spy be paranoid - by necessity? Thanks again. -----signature----- MS Word is designed by sadists with masochists in mind. - teh atty my recent Atton (KOTOR2) fic: http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/30335989
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