Saga - Legends “And death shall have no dominion", story about Krennic's daughter (canon & legends mix), 27 Ch. FIN

love the connections you write into this story

 

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: Perhaps, it´s always difficult to say with the dark lord.

@gizkaspice: Well, mostly he refers to her true self, Nagina, here without saying so. But at the same time towards her upbringing as Orson Krennic´s adopted daughter.

@earlybird-obi-wan: I am astonished with myself at times about this story, too. But Disney gives me constantly new food to chew on.

As you may remember Nagina´s story mentions the original "Rapunzel" fairytale of the Brothers Grimm. Her mom, Mandré Antigone Vané Dorje, tries to devour Black Rampion (aka the Rapunzel plant) in the Palpatine herb garden. Along comes her half-brother, Sheev Aurelius Cosinga Palpatine.

Well, Cassie´s story starts somehow with "The Sleeping Beauty" theme, but the sun and moon connection of Nagina is not finished yet.

So I intend to do something with the Healing Incantation of the "Tangled" movie (2010) & Hurt Incantation of the TV series, which started in 2017. The sun drop and the moon drop keep my mind busy at present.

Plus this prayer here, which is SW canon due to Disney:

“Choono slalem denni tay'lori olee-ay.
Lucheno vadem klavlane.
Blenay vedi nalem koreem.
Blenay vedi nalem koreem.
Villos susko kono lamal!
Vlemon tagoo!”

Very, very recently, I rewrote my old fic "Magic always comes with a price" to fit this special Nightsister prayer in nicely.

Actually, I am slowly working towards a climax here, as unstructured as my Cassie tale may seem at times.

 

Well, it’s a terrific read!


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Thanks, for saying so, @Nehru_Amidala.

I was very unreasonable and did write until now. It is unchecked by @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, yet.


(Still Chapter 26!!!)

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Soon, I get absorbed in Qui-Gon's lessons again. He speaks in a soft cadence. While he tells me about his galaxy-wide journeys, I keep hanging on every syllable.

One story is about five Force priestesses, who crossed his path some time ago. Those have funny names: Serenity, Joy, Anger, Confusion, and Sadness. Once they had been one person that had died a long time ago.

Doctor Robotham, our family shrink on Coruscant, would call this a 'Multiple personality disorder'. This is a neurosis in which the personality of a being becomes dissociated into two or more distinct parts. One part becomes dominant and controls behaviour from time to time to the exclusion of the other parts.

I am glad that I am simply myself. Otherwise my head would be like the sky during Coruscant's rush hour. Too cramped to be healthy.

“But this is why you got ill in the first place,” the Force ghost explains. “Why the question of Lumbar puncture came up on Eadu. You are an old soul, not able to fully forget your experiences from another life time.”

That sounds reasonable and acceptable as an explanation for recent events.

My lips quirk, even though he has been spying on my thoughts. “Were you responsible for Daddy's decision to bring me to Naboo?”

He shakes his head, his smile is like sunshine and his laughter even brighter. It takes him some time to compose himself again. “Orson is more clever than others give him credit for. Especially when it is about matters of the Force and the human soul. Even though he complains about his childhood among Force hippies a lot, he gained a lot of experience on both Chandrilla and Lexrul.”

The mentioning of Daddy makes my smile freeze. It is charming to exchange philosophical thoughts with Qui-Gon, but this cannot go on forever. I shoot him a sideways look, too nervous to meet his full glance. “Can we call it a day?”

“So eager to spread your wings and fly?”

I sigh. “Well, does Bathseba live on carrion? And the Loth-wolves?”

“They are to protect Orson, not to feast on his flesh.”

“Can you be sure?”

He dares to answer with a counter question. “And you repeat the song for me?” His grin is smug, deepening his laugh lines around his eyes. “Just in case?”

Dignified, I nod. I am good at memorizing things.

“Wither and decay
End this destiny
Break these earthly chains
And set the spirit free
The spirit free”

Even though the lyrics make me slightly uncomfortable, they have a stunning beauty to them.

“And the other one?” inquires Qui-Gon, his face serene and his eyes shut tight.

I do not want to let him wait and prompt,

“Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine

Heal what has been hurt
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine

What once was mine”

His iris shines bright in the twilight of the meditation room. “The Force works in mysterious ways, Cassandra. Never forget that and keep believing.”

I smirk. “I'd rather become a librarian instead of a Force healer or a Shaman of the Whills.”

His nose comes so close to mine that they almost touch.

“You can be both and so much more. If you dare that is.”

Recently, I had been called 'spunky' by Zevulon Veers, my best friend. It made me feel very daring and special. Still does.

“Various ancient blood lines are combined in you. The Tjiehennet sun drop and the Ankoù moon stone.” His smile widens. “Plus you have talent. A particular set of skills.”

His praise makes me happy and uncomfortable at the same time. “Heroes have short lives.” I need to say that aloud, just for the record. “All the evil seems to live forever.”

Qui-Gon chuckles. “There is a season for everything. Times are changing and so is the current of the Force.”

********************************************************************

We are about to leave when the Jedi master, who claims to be my biological father, points out a small door to me.

“You never asked me where it leads to, Cassandra.”

I shrug. “Why should I? We are here, on this side of the door. That is enough for me.”

A wrinkle creases the tip of his nose. “Are you not at least curious?”

“Again. We are on this side of the door. That is fine with me.”

His face drops slightly. Then he smiles again. “You prefer to be anchored in the present.”

I blink, but then I find a fitting answer for my teacher. “A Force ghost travels a lot, I suppose. Forth and back through the ages. But I like my roots in the ground.”

Qui-Gon grasps my hands, offering me another smile of his. “And I like you the way that you are.”

That gives me an idea. My next question to him comes out quiet, barely more than a whisper. “So there will be future meetings?”

“Not like this, I am afraid.” His lips flatten. “But I can be the voice of reason in your head, if you would like me to.”

I narrow my eyes. “Wouldn't that put me on a list of a lumbar puncture again?”

“There is no need to tell Doctor Robotham about me.”

I look away. “Boy, I hate secrets.”

“Well, some secrets have the nice habit of keeping themselves,” he offers, friendly. “That makes it much easier for you.”

I run through my inner list. “Daddy would take a freak. Uncle Alex would order for another MRI for me. Bathseba would simply listen and so would Gramps. Perhaps even my dark...” Before I say the word 'prince' I correct myself instantly. “Cousin.”

“You want to tell...” Qui-Gon pauses and lets go of my hands. “I mean, you...”

“Lord Vader can be very reasonable.” I hug myself. “There are times when his rage is like a calm sea.”

“Lava is never truly calm.”

I arch a brow. “Perhaps he disappointed you as a student a long time ago. But I think he is more than adaptive for fresh ideas and new ways of thinking.”

The expression on his face is priceless. But he brings his features back in place again. “You are an unstoppable force. But perhaps your way is the only way to get through to him.”

********************************************************************

“What happened?” Daddy gurgles, while the Loth-wolves steal away silently from the crime scene.

“A rock hit you. You slipped, fell to the ground and bumped your head,” I offer.

Daddy sits up, slightly pale. “The storm gets worse,” he remarks.

I nod.

The sky above us has not only turned dark. It has actually gotten an unhealthy green colour.

But what bothers me more is the strong odour of fresh-cut grass.

“You have won, old feather bone.” He shakes his left fist towards the convor. “We will seek refuge in Johtal.”

“Refuge from what?”

“A tornado is on its way, Cassie dear.”

Bathseba hoots innocently.

“Everywhere you go, you always seem to take the weather with you,” Daddy accuses her, but there is tenderness in his voice.

I help him to get on his feet.

We walk over to the Aratech 74-Z.

“Would you mind to take the controls?” Daddy asks, a boyish blush on his features.

“Erm, you really must have hit the ground very hard,” I protest, panic rising in me.

“This is why I want you, little soldier, to bring us into safety.” And then he adds very, very quietly, “The Force was always against me, but I am damned sure, it is with you.”

Not only does he admit that I am Force-sensitive full scale, but that he still trusts me with all his heart.

********************************************************************

(To be continued!)

 

Qui-Gon is quite the story teller and love how Cassandra seems like the only person that can reason with Vader...awaiting to witness that confrontation

 

Sneaky reference to “Inside Out” there.


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Cassie and Vader; can she reveal the light hidden inside him

 

@gizkaspice: There have been several confrontations with the Dark Lord up to now.

Chapter 3 at the Coruscant Intergalactic Art Gallery inside the Jedha Chamber.

Chapter 5 at the Tatooine Chamber.

Chapter 10 via a subspace transceiver.

And there are descriptions from Vader´s point of view: all events building up before the first eye to eye meeting at the Jedha Chamber. Plus the reason why Orson was eager to take his (adopted) daughter to Chandrila, which he thought very far away from a certain Sith.

Plus two more for much later in my fanfic. A bit of a spoiler really. First a meeting at Cassandra´s paediatrician and next Vader´s musing after a call to Mustafar.

Thanks for reading and commenting, by the way. Not even my husband @DarthUncle had time for this the past weeks.

@Nehru_Amidala: Well, Disney & Lucas Film aka the Dave Filoni team did that. Not my doing. Just a brilliant coincidence. The Force w(h)ills it...

@earlybird-obi-wan: We are not there yet. So hang on!


Okay, everybody who is still interested (such as perhaps @Kahara & @Cowgirl Jedi 1701):


(Still Chapter 26)

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“What happened?” Daddy gurgles, while the Loth-wolves steal away silently from the crime scene.

“A rock hit you. You slipped, fell to the ground and bumped your head,” I offer.

Daddy sits up, slightly pale. “The storm gets worse,” he remarks.

I nod.

The sky above us has not only turned dark. It has actually gotten an unhealthy green colour.

But what bothers me more is the strong odour of fresh-cut grass.

“You have won, old feather bone.” He shakes his left fist towards the convor. “We will seek refuge in Jhohtal.”

“Refuge from what?”

“A tornado is on its way, Cassie dear.”

Bathseba hoots innocently.

“Everywhere you go, you always seem to take the weather with you,” Daddy accuses her, but there is tenderness in his voice.

I help him to get on his feet.

We walk over to the Aratech 74-Z.

“Would you mind to take the controls?” Daddy asks, a boyish blush on his features.

“Erm, you really must have hit the ground very hard,” I protest, panic rising in me.

“This is why I want you, little soldier, to bring us into safety.” And then he adds very, very quietly, “The Force was always against me, but I am damned sure it is with you.”

Not only does he admit that I am Force-sensitive full scale, but that he still trusts me with all his heart.

********************************************************************

The moment we enter Jhothal, I begin to understand what the description 'old frontier spirit' means. The buildings of the settlement are a clutter of match box like houses and corrugated-iron shacks. Their paint is bright and cheerful nevertheless, giving the entire settlement something homely. The front gardens are well cared for.

My mouth drops.

The tornado still might take another path. I hope as much for the inhabitants of Jhotal.

Daddy bellows some instructions through his mic hand; taking them to heart, I steer our speeder bike through the narrow streets.

A lot of dust whirls up, showing that this area is desperate for rain.

“Here we are!” Daddy informs me, his voice filling my helmet.

Astonished, I take our final destination in and quickly depress the brake pedal.

Our machine comes to an abrupt halt.

The nose of a 'Crumb Bomber', a Clone Wars ship, is mounted above the entrance. And featured on its wings is very peculiar writing. I get the Aurebesh part immediately, but the other language is a mystery to me. It must be Outer Rim Basic.

“Old Jho's Pit Stop,” Daddy helps out, his voice sounding a bit flat and shaky. “Here we are!”

I gaze at the parked vehicles whose power converters get charged.

Daddy tears off his helmet and, with no warning whatsoever, throws up badly. I am glad that no pedestrian is around to witness that. He hates face-losing acts.

“Concussion?” I suggest, even though I know for sure that Bathseba healed that matter already.

“Must be,” he lies.

I bet that Daddy would rather bite of his own tongue than admit that I am no good at riding a speeder bike. Right now he is relieved that I did. He does not trust himself after his injury. There is still blood on his rain poncho, inside his green cap and around the area of his collar.

Suddenly, his gaze is laser sharp. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Why shouldn't I?”

“Responsibility is always tough.” His gaze wanders from me towards the sky. “Speaking of tough poodoo, I hope that Child Protective Services can forgive me that I am taking an under-age person into a cantina.”

The wind that has accompanied us the entire time suddenly dies down. The air becomes eerily silent.

“Well, once that tornado has finished toying with Jhothal, there might be no evidence left that we were ever inside the establishment.”

“Have you been here before?” I consider carefully.

Daddy decides for a few heart beats. “Many times.” A heart-wrenching smile appears on his lips. “There was once this,… this witness protection programme that I was helping out with.”

I cannot ponder on that for long because a loud, persistent roar fills the atmosphere.

“Time to take action!” Daddy yells and tears out his walkie talkie. “Agent Kallus. Tornado about to hit Jhothal. Get me and the parcel. Over and out.”

Not waiting for Uncle Alex to answer that, he storms forward, drags me along and pushes the door open.

Like an arrow, Bathseba follows us.

********************************************************************

The huge telescope eyes of a brown skinned Ithorian immediately fall on Daddy. “Krennic?” the tall alien asks uncertain.

“Storm shelter!” Daddy roars. “Like now!”

Hard objects hit the metal roof.

There are no other customers present and so it's just us running towards the shelter.

“Argh!” Daddy complaints and fishes Bathseba out of the air with his left hand. “Come here you suicidal maniac! Stay put!”

I have to giggle while he presses the protesting convor against his chest.

“Blah, blah, blah!” he slurs. “No need for acceptance speeches, storm bride!”

She lets out a long, forlorn sound.

“Do not tell me that you mourn for the pretty flowers outside!”

Bathseba chirps in confirmation.

“Those flowers are about to blow up in our faces, missy!”

 

Whew, a tornado! Bathseba is full of snark Convor-style Enjoyed the rustic frontierish details

 

All we need is US Marshall Matt Dillon to show up and tell Krennic to calm down...

Matt Dillon was the lead on an old radio drama western called “Gunsmoke”. The local public radio station has a block of programming on Sunday evenings dedicated to old time radio dramas, and Gunsmoke is one of my faves. That and Dragnet.


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I just love Bathseba Wonderful details, as always!

 

love the frontier

 

Great stuff, like the Qui-gon/Cassie interaction a lot, he's wise in the force, a bit like Vader, but without the danger (I guess it helps that he's gone and knows it, no need to cling to life) of dark side anger and temper (though Vader seems good with the kid too, should have kept his temper with Padme then he'd be able to show it to his kids and wife, oh well) - and nice insights about Krennic and knowing when to let the Force move in to do its thing, even though he goes along kicking and screaming.

Aww, for a girl of her age, that's quite a profound insight, isn't it. An old soul indeed.

Had to laugh at that, a secret optimist

Awww, he missed her, I am sure!

Great descriptions of the lothal environment too, interesting insights, and a good dose of fun and humor!

 

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: Well, it was a question of time until Germany would be hit by a severe storm again. This time her name was "Sabine" (but "Ciara" elsewhere in Europe). Somehow I have foreseen it, but well the weather has been unstable in my country for a while now. I still want winter to come back for my upcoming holidays in the mountains, but most of my family & friends are horrified that spring did not make its full entry yet.

I also might have watched the mini-series "Tin man" again and this made me think of using a tornado in my story.

@Nehru_Amidala: Thanks for this fun comment. After my recent trials of bad luck and illness I needed a good laugh.

@gizkaspice: A lot of intense research as always. Plus, simply love that bird.

@earlybird-obi-wan: And I the Dutch mountains.

@DarthUncle: Great feedback as usual. Plus wonderful chicken soup and ginger tea, that you support me with the past days. Yes, I am going to be a good girl and inhale with thyme once more, take my medicine and have a nap. Just wanted to provide my readers with a wee update.


"And death shall have no dominion", Chapter 27:

The tornado sirens of Jhothal are a bit unnerving, and, now that the actual threat is here, pointless really. They simply add to the deafening noises outside our shelter. There is still this continuous roar, hurting my eardrums.

I think of how loud the airflow back on Chandrila sounded when we were riding Gramps' ancient X-34 down to Hanna City. Or how the engines of the BT310 quarda-Podracer can roar, when my friend Ben Quadrinarios starts it. Except that I have to merge those two sounds and multiply them by several hundred times.

My eyebrows knit just a fraction, while I regard Daddy's uniform through squinted eyes.

There is also snapping of wood. The unstoppable force must eat through the few spine trees of the settlement, mowing down the surrounding grassland as well. And I am pretty sure that debris is blown about. Perhaps there are even hailstones as big as human fists.

While my palms are trying to protect my ears, Daddy has covered the rest of me with his cape. He also has tugged Bathseba in, who does not disagree with his choice. Chirping peacefully, she nibbles at his left ear lobe. He simply leaves her be, a small grin on his lips. I must say they are really cute together. Not like a love couple, no. More like comrades that have been through a lot together.

I wish we could take the convor with us to Coruscant, but I can tell that she would rather remain here on Lothal. Hunting down the local wildlife might suit her better than feasting on garbage. The air traffic would not be to her liking either. I am sure of it. She needs free skies to spread her wings.

A rumble goes through the shelter.

Then the building comes apart on us. Its owner, the Ithorian gentlemen, lets out a wailing sound that echoes through the small chamber.

I remain strangely calm. There is a familiar Force mantra in my head. Constantly repeating itself, the words give me clarity and peace.

“I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.”

There is nothing to worry about. We will survive this. I am sure about it.

Qui-Gon is not a man who does something in vain. My training was no waste of time or resources for him. I am meant to live through all of this. There is a destiny I have to fulfil.

It is amazing how the deceased Jedi master was able to become a part of my daily life in such a short time.

I do not doubt his claim on my fatherhood. His feelings are also honest. He truly cares for me, as much as a knight of his order is allowed to do so. Love, he has claimed earlier on, is the answer to the darkness.

Though I have to ask myself which darkness exactly. Only the one inside my cousin, Lord Vader? Or was he trying to imply that the Emperor, our beloved leader, reigns over an Empire of darkness?

The latter cannot be the case. Daddy taught me over and over again that Sheev Palpatine is a wise and honest man whose vision has saved us from a corrupt senate and the Seperatists.

Daddy cannot be wrong. Nor can history.

Men like Lor San Tekka, the nice archaeologist whom I bumped into on Chandrila, usually write down the facts and figures. And, I think I am allowed to say, he seems a pretty neat and precise person. Always telling the truth.

I feel my cheeks growing splotchy, my freckles disappearing under the pink. Due to the poor emergency lighting nobody seems to notice.

My hands bunch into fists.

To remain truthful becomes more and more difficult. I want to protect Daddy from all the things he has trouble dealing with since being a child. The Force is like a festering wound for him, an illness that is very unpleasant and comes with many side effects.

********************************************************************

The world has turned upside down, when we finally leave the shelter. In the tornado's wake no stone has been left standing in Jhothal. Walls have been ripped apart like the paper sheets I like to draw on. All the lovely gardens, that I saw earlier on, have vanished for good.

As the time goes by, more shelter doors swing open, its inhabitants crawling to the surface like disoriented beetles. Only a few of them are injured as far as I can tell.

Some folk are crying openly, others have dry eyes, but look grim.

Daddy reaches into a side pocket of his cape and presses something into the left hand of our host. Its a large stack of Imperial credits, because a few tumble to the ground through the thin, brownish fingers. “Jho, please, you better take that. Don't you embarrass me!”

“Master Orson!” The alien is at the brink of panic. Even the vocorder in his neck, which translates his mother language into Galactic basic, cannot hide it. “I simply can't!”

Daddy folds his arms together, giving a little sigh. “I insist. And there will be more soon. Just to ensure that you will be back in business in no time.”

The Ithorian scratches his bald skull. “What I did in the past...”

“Will never be forgotten, Jho.” Daddy frowns somewhat angrily. There is a quiet defiance in his wording. “Nothing is ever forgotten.”

Something slithers in my belly.

The bar owner stiffens visibly, the muscles on his elegant neck taunt. “That's what she used to say, isn't it?”

Daddy gives a small tilt of his head, the ghost of a smile on his lips. “You have been a good neighbour and friend to her. Plus you took care of her garden ever after.”

There can only be one person they both refer to so reverently.

I roll my eyes.

Mistress Nagina. Obviously the patron saint of good causes, pretty flowers and neglected children.

Now I begin to understand why Daddy did not want to go here. This must have been the place where she faced her untimely death. But who would seriously come to the middle of nowhere to commit a murder? Perhaps that kindergarten teacher had a lot of mighty enemies.

“Please, take the money back!”

“No way.” Daddy raises a dismissive hand. “And you know it. Once I have decided on something, I go for it.”

Before they both can argue on, I spot a T-5 Deliverance flying towards the place that was once Jhothal. Its a variant of the commonly known Lambda-class T-4a shuttle. Our beloved Empire uses this converted craft as ambulance ships, dispatching medical and repair payloads directly to the front lines.

Looking around, this place looks exactly like a battlefield. Luckily, nobody is dead. But I can spot injuries here and there. Cut wounds, distorted limbs.

“Ah, the cavalry!” Daddy beams and raises an arm in greeting.

********************************************************************

(To be continued!)

 

Great update... as we see that Orson isn't as cold towards Bathseba as he'd like everyone to think

 

Ciara hit us with force 10 and now Dennis is coming

As in Nits
great update again

 

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: He can be a softie at times. But let us never forget that he is also a vicious villain.

@earlybird-obi-wan: Hou je taai! Niet dat je word weg geblazen, hoor! There were rather heavy winds when I left the Harz Mountains last Sunday. But I reached Germany´s capital on time and @DarthUncle fetched me from the bus stop. (Which was good, because I was very sick by then.)
But I am stable enough for another tiny update. But I have to go to bed soon. My husband is already tapping his foot. I am to take things sloooow.

Anyway, thanks for liking my update. I hope this one fares well with you, too:


(Still Chapter 27!!!)

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Uncle Alex is not alone. In his wake is a man in a snow-white ISB uniform. Unfortunately, it's not Mitth'raw'nuruodo, but an elderly human. His brown hair shows a lot of silver threads. And so does his somewhat prominent moustache. My pulse skitters when his piercing blue eyes meet mine, but I keep my expression sober. This one can be a danger for me.

“Krennic, what occurred here?” the stranger asks sharply. “Have you been testing any of your toys?”

Before I can answer, Daddy replies, “Hardly, my dear Yularen. Not my field of operation. But perhaps you ask your youngest star pupil. It looks more like usual Wren's art work.”

“Nonsense.” The man shakes his head. “The girl is exactly where she is meant to be. At the campus of the Imperial Academy on Mandalore.”

Mockingly, Daddy's hands make the ancient sky gods salute. “Then the Empire will prevail for another day.”

“Her toys and gadgets usually work, Krennic.”

His words pull a rough laugh from Daddy's throat. “Sure. Otherwise she would not be your protégée.” He winks. “And to be honest, I might be slightly too old to get pampered and groomed by you.”

“Sir,” my godfather cuts in, granting Daddy a destructive side glance. “Our orders concerning this settlement are still pending.”

“Are they?” The higher-ranking ISB officer takes a good look around. “Well, let us show Mister Jho how merciful the Empire can be with loyal citizens.”

The Ithorian looks mighty uncomfortable, his telescope eyes wide with fear. A notion that I do not understand. Unless he did something wrong. Something that neither our benevolent Emperor nor his loyal soldiers would not approve of.

“Jhothal has suffered a lot since the infamous Samye incident.”

Something hot sparks in my chest. That name!

An image flares up inside of my head. That of a bearded man with bushy eyebrows, curly brown hair and a broad nose. His eyes are like twin set of brownies, sweet and promising.

The men speak on, but I do not catch all what they say.

Invisible hands are at my throat, making it tight.

Who is that man and why does it hurt so bad thinking of him?

Tears dwell in my eyes, but Daddy dries them with his cotton handkerchief before I can. “Anyway,” he says slowly and begins to steer me away. “My daughter here had a rough day. If you don't mind, I have a medic check her.”

The high-ranking ISB officer steps straight into our way. “Ah, the famous Mistress Cassandra.”

I salute as I was taught, my back straight. Every inch of me demonstrating servitude for the Empire and its representatives. “Sir, an honour to meet you, sir!”

Surprise mixes with amusement. “This is one for the books! A project of yours violently executed at the peak of perfection.”

I jut my chin. “Permission to speak, Sir.”

“Of course,” the elderly human muses, while Daddy and my godfather give their utmost to keep their naked fear at bay.

“There are a countless building projects my father finished to the Emperor's satisfaction. Of course, I am not supposed to know what he is building right now, because it is classified and I understand that. But if there is any delay, he is certainly not to blame.”

He bends his knee elegantly, a hand on my shoulder. “A conspiracy theory by someone so young? Interesting. Tell me more, by all means.”

Amused or not, he is listening. Then I should make my case known.

“I am just a mere observer of the pecking order,” I suggest. “If I may say so, more female officers would do our beloved Empire good. Then the gentlemen in the higher ranks would start acting according to their station again and not like Corellian street dogs.”

On cue, I hear an excited “woff!” coming out of the shuttle, but before my pet can reach me and misbehave, I call out. “Stay, Boomer!”

Soft whining sounds from the cargo bay area.

“Settle down, Boomer!”

A bumping noise is heard.

“And now I would like to have a long silence,” I add carefully and the winning stops. There is even no panting. Just the very silence that I have wished for. “Good boy!”

The calculating blue eyes narrow in consideration. “I have met squadron leaders who had less authority over their pilots.”

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(To be continued!)

 

Intriguing conversation with Yularen who does not miss a thing

 

Thanks @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, for having been the only person reading it & reacting to it. After you already acted as my beta editor. This means a lot to me.

I actually will wrap up the story with this chapter. Perhaps I will bring back Cassie in another fanfic. Dunno yet.

Of late I got pretty hurt by people not communicating with me.

One of them is a younger college who treats me like a ghost most of the time. If she happens to looks me in the eye and talks to me directly, she either has bad news for me or snaps at me.

Then there was the behavior of my mom, who would not tell me about her heart attack for weeks. I know she wanted to protect me from sorrow. Her WW2 trauma, that comes more and more to the surface, makes things worse.

It honours me to have gotten some nominations at the current fanfic festival, but the more rejection or miscommunication I have to face at work or in private, the less I believe in the things that I write.

But once more, thanks for the support of this story in so far.

A German pro-word says "Man sollte gehen, wenn es am Schönsten ist. " which means for Cassie she should leave her own party now that is at its best.

Perhaps she will return. When I am up to it. Believe in it again.

Right now I enjoy the return of winter here in the Harz Mountains. Despite the rapid climate change I was able to witness snow around this time of year for the last 44 years. That makes me very grateful.

 

You're a great storyteller @AzureAngel2 ! I hope you will continue writing and bring back Cassie again one day! Hope also that things improve for you.

 

A lot of turning points and surprises here! I've always liked Qui-Gon, and his dynamic with Cassie here is so very fascinating. He was a bit of a renegade for a Jedi, but he still struggles with the concept of being a father and the ideology he was raised with still lingers. No wonder that Cassie is quite firm on Orson being her dad, given that he's the one raising her and this Jedi (however nice he is) is next to a perfect stranger to her. Though I do have to give him some credit for trying, and Cassie could certainly use some kind of guidance not from her Daddy's Empire. Sadly, I think I know who she regards as the more reliable source.

The storm was a sudden shock, and it must be especially scary for such a young kid to see the destruction that nature caused in just a matter of minutes! It's lucky that the casualties were minimal considering the scale of the disaster, but what a thing to witness.

And now we have Yularen sniffing around, which seems like a portent of trouble for her and Orson. He sees potential in Cassie (though probably not her Force potential) and that is worrying. Yularen seems like the kind to just acquire people he finds interesting by one means or another. Wouldn't trust that guy!

 

@gizkaspice & @Kahara, as the latter of you knows very well via countless e-mails with photo attachments, I am still on holidays in the Harz Mountains. I was not really on-line otherwise.

There was so much to do: skiing, writing postcards, building several snowmen, solving crossword puzzles, walking through the winter wonderland, reading, trying out exit games that were a birthday present from a dear RL friend, keeping the ski club house clean & neat, having gorgeous food (= such as self-made sushi, chicken soup, risotto rice, Mexican wraps and more), enjoying the hot spring & sauna in Altenau, shopping in both Braunlage & Bad Harzburg, and so on...

In between @DarthUncle was in the Netherlands for his regular hospital tests. He got there by train, but his twin brought him back to me by car.

Here in the mountains the hype about Corvid-19 seems very far away, but I dread a bit returning to Berlin where friends & acquaintances of mine are on the brink of panic.

Therefore I better wrap this chapter nicely up and try to write an epilogue that @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha can beta-edit once I like it.

@earlybird-obi-wan, @Cowgirl Jedi 1701, @gizkaspice & @Nehru_Amidala this story is going to end soon. But I might pick it up from a different perspective...


(Still Chapter 27!!!)

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To be invited for dinner at an officer's mess is like a dream come true. Everybody looks as elegant as Daddy and Uncle Alex, but I must confess not as gorgeous as them.

Commandant Aresko is a gaunt person with dark shadows around the eyes and pale skin. His companion, Taskmaster Grint, is the complete opposite. He has the broad shoulders of a nerf bull and a sunburned tint. They are both charged with the training of the local Imperial cadets. Their academy is brand-new.

And then there is Yularen, of course. 'The old Silverback' as Daddy refers to him in secret. He is a majestic leader of his pack. A man one can look up to. I begin to understand why my godfather admires him that much.

I am wearing my favourite moos-green dress and a ponytail, tied together with a pretty pink ribbon.

There was no need to fill me in on my duties. I know what is expected of me. To look cute and harmless. Plus acting well-mannered. Right now I am the figurehead of the Krennic Family. Its flagship, basically the poster child.

For starters, we have carrot and ginger soup, which is okay. The colour flatters my current hair colour. To be a redhead is nicer than being a brunette. I feel daring this way. Plus, my best friend in the universe, Zevulon Veers, likes me very much this way.

The main dish for the evening is something that is called 'Bangers and mash'. Actually, it is juicy nerf sausages and mashed potatoes. I am informed that it is tradition to serve them with an onion gravey. The latter is slightly disgusting, but I neatly finish my board without complaining.

To grow up with military personnel has taught me that drama and insubordination is pointless. At least most of the time. A soirée is also not the place for pigheaded actions.

Not that Daddy would make me feel his belt if I dared to act out of place. He is more a believer in loving strictness. This is why he had this sharp argument with Zev's father recently. Somehow he is under the impression that our government goes to extreme efforts to erode family ties. But this is nonsense. Our Emperor would never want that.

There are whispers Sheev Palpatine lost his own family when he was but a teenager. That he had two younger brothers and also two younger sisters. That everybody vanished with the family yacht on the journey to Chandrila.

Such stories make me unbelievably sad.

No wonder that our beloved Emperor constantly tries to make the universe a much better and safer place for its inhabitants.

By now we have reached the dessert.

The sticky toffee pudding melts right from the spoon into my mouth.

So far, I have stayed out of the on-going conversations, just as I was instructed to do. But I cannot help it that Yularen addresses me, when I am about to have my last bite.

“Are you not interested in joining the armed forces, young lady?”

I place my spoon at the edge of the dessert bowl. “There is not much that I can offer our beloved Empire,” I pause for the effect. “Yet!”

He smiles benevolently. “How old are you?”

“According to the records of the Child Protective Services almost six.”

“Oh, yes. The adoption.” His voice turns softer. “Sabine Wren, a pion of the famous Mandalorian House Wren, got enlisted with just seven years of age. Brilliant talent needs support, don't you think?”

I nod to that eagerly. “But I must confess I am not a genius like Daddy. Mathematics is a mystery to me, as are most scientific disciplines.”

He comes closer. “I am sure that a daughter of the famous Orson Krennic must have some talents.”

I scratch my chin. “I love Mother Nature, art and historical records.”

That takes Yularen aback. “Oh really?”

“The Old Republic era interests me the most,” I chatter. “Especially the Hundred-Year Darkness and the Corsair Wars.”

The high-ranking ISB officer exchanges a look with Uncle Alex.

“Beats me, Wulff. My god-daughter is full of time lines, show-places and persons I have never heard of before. Like… erm, the Kilik.”

“Really?” Yularen's gaze wanders back to me. For a couple of seconds he presses his lips together. Then he smiles again. “Veris should offer you an internship once you are of legal age.”

“That creep?” Daddy gurgles, pressing a fist against his chest.

“Minister Hydan serves as an adviser to the Emperor, Orson,” my godfather rebukes him.

“Nice for him, but I do not want any member of the Inner Circle to get acquainted with my one and only child. I'd rather throw her in a sarlac pit.”

“Time will tell,” Yularen suggests.

“Yeah, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Daddy mutters darkly. “Let us pray it does not lead us over the Solleu River.”

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Later on that night, Daddy leaves our bed and tiptoes out of the room. He has been tossing around sleeplessly and had stared at me a lot. Like I am some kind of enigma he is wrecking his brain about. There is no doubt about it that he is going to seek out Uncle Alex.

When it's up to me, they have an educational partnership. Which means they might engage in a civil conversation before they bash each other's head in. Must be one of those men-related things. I honestly would not know. The only female role model, that I ever had is Cornelia Veers and that only for a couple of days.

I wonder if I will be able to meet Zevulon and his parents again. Things have been very complicated when they left Gramps' property.

Bathseba makes hooting sounds from the cupboard she is sitting on, her long tail swishing back and forth.

“My computer pad says that your kind usually lives in a jungle habitat,” I address her. “I wonder what made you choose an ice cube like Ando Prime.”

The convor shifts her head in a tilted position, her eyes bright as twin moons.

“Daddy told me you were born on Jedha.” I carefully put my next question. “Would you rather stay here on Lothal or join us on Coruscant?”

There is no way she can answer this. So I rephrase my words.

“Do you want to stay here on Lothal?”

No answer.

“Would you prefer Coruscant then?”

Still silence.

Frustrated, I start gnawing on my underlip. “What about Chandrilla?”

Cheerful twitter sounds from the cupboard.

“I am not sure when we can visit my grandfather again, but I will guarantee that Daddy will give you a lift.”

With that I close my eyes and drift off into sweet dreams about whispering prairies. I am not sure though which planet the grass grows on.

********************************************************************

“Home, sweet home!” Daddy muses with an impish grin when we are finally approaching Coruscant. “Civilisation has us back.”

Clinging to his headrest, Bathseba makes some low tunes.

“We are not there yet, and milady already has demands.”

They exchange a heated gaze.

“But I would be worried, if there was nothing to criticize from your point of view.” He ruffles her head feathers. “There is a park close to our flat. You could hang out there, most of the time.”

Her feathery tail slowly moves towards his neck, but he is quicker and ties a knot into it.

“You must do what you think is right, of course. But strangling me would end up in you being the one who brings Cassie to all her appointments.” He chuckles. “Not sure if being an escort would suit you.”

While I undo the tie carefully, I ask, “What is my next appointment?”

“Doctor Damodaran. You have two hours to unpack, have a shower and get there with me.”

I like the young paediatrician from Naboo a lot.

********************************************************************

To meet my cousin by chance, sitting at the desk of my doctor, is to good to be true. “Are you my new doctor, my liege?”

“Hopefully not,” Lord Vader offers and quickly adds. “Are you ill?”

It is very cute of him to be worried for me, but I detect something else. “But you are still not well,” I probe.

“It comes and goes,” he says through his voice modulator , which is the vaguest answer possible.

“I am not talking about that black cloud above your head. You are in constant pain due to your suit.”

Like a little boy, he blows up his chest and hides behind his crossed arms. “That pain gives me meaning and purpose in life.”

I sink down in the seat opposite to him, placing my hand above his. “That might well be. But the suit also gives you a hard time and little sleep. Just looking at you causes me a headache.”

He is still in defence modus. “You could look elsewhere.”

“No use there. I still would feel your pain.” I pause, gathering my thoughts. “Okay, so you wanted to talk and lured Daddy away. I get that. You even scared poor Doctor Damodaran, just to be in this seat right now.”

“Did I scare you, doctor?” my cousin asks my paediatrician direct and bluntly.

“No, you made a generous payment,” the Naboo man replies from the background, pale and nervous. “Now I will be able to upgrade the bacta tank for all of my patients.”

Doctor Damodaran should not be so afraid. Where I am present death shall have no dominion. This is how much Lord Vader respects me. I ask myself if he is a cousin from my true father's side or more from the unfortunate woman who gave birth to me. But such questions need to wait.

I promise myself to deepen our contact carefully. Day for day. Week for week. Month for month. Year for year. We both will gain a lot from it.

 

Exquisite details about the dinner and dessert. Great exchange/conversation with Bathseba and Vader. Cassie has a talent for candor and warmth with everyone she encounters.

 

Ah, formal dinners- the bane of any upper class child’s existence. Cassie was absolutely perfect, of course she would answer like that. Loved the inclusion of bangers and mash- one of my favorites.

Loving the inclusion of Sabine Wren, especially as a student of Krennic’s. Does he have her designing Daleks yet? When I get to the Darksaber arc in my story, guess who has their own army of Cybermem?


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Oh, Cassie! The irony is so thick you could use it to shield two Death Stars. If she only knew the truth of that whole incident. But it doesn't surprise me that she has (in some way) a very Nagina-ish protectiveness of the Sheevster -- just not with her predecessor's knowledge of his crimes.

Orson is such an interesting character as a parent; he's feeding Cassie all this Imperial propaganda while really being aware that the Empire doesn't have her best interests at heart. Fine if someone else's kids get scooped up into Imperial training super young, but not his. (Which is infuriating, but at the same time it sure does add depth to his character here.) It's definitely chilling to see how Yularen thinks she's well over age to be sent off to learn to be a proper Imperial somewhere, and the mention of Sabine being so young and already in training. (I haven't gotten that far in Rebels yet, so don't tell me -- but it would hardly surprise me either. That kind of recruitment and/or conscription of kids being a custom that we see with Mara in Legends and even carried into the Sequel Trilogy era.)