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

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction- Before, Saga, and Beyond' started by AzureAngel2, Mar 24, 2018.

  1. AzureAngel2

    AzureAngel2 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 14, 2005
    Not sure whether I can update the main story this weekend or not, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha and @DarthUncle. Perhaps, @Kahara & @earlybird-obi-wan have time to read this little bit:


    (Still Chapter 14!)

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

    Of course I am soon losing against them, but sabacc is a fun game anyway. So many rules to grasp, so many steps to consider. Plus one must keep a straight face.

    Unfortunately, I fall asleep somewhere during the night.

    When I wake up again, it is pitch dark in the barn and I am not sitting at the table any longer. My head rests on a soft pillow and there is a warm blanket around me. I also feel the familiar weight of my father's arm, spooning behind me.

    “Did an insect crawl into your ear?” he asks softly, his chin leaned on my right shoulder.

    “No.”

    “Why are you awake then?” he probes.

    “And you?” I strike back. My eyelids are heavy, but I struggle to keep them open.

    “Too much on my mind, Cassie dear,” he confesses, playing idly with one of my pig tails. “But at least I can enjoy your company.”

    “Would another shot of Corellian whiskey help?”

    “A shot? Whiskey is to be enjoyed and not to be senselessly flushed down.” He laughs. But not for long. With a much more serious voice he adds, “And if I catch you drinking before your eighteenth birthday, you will be grounded forever. There will be various large cell blocks in my battle station.”

    “Battle station?” I turn around and look at the outlines of his face.

    “Forget it, it's only the alcohol speaking,” Daddy defends himself.

    “You barely touched your glass,” I remind him. “But you were busy to give Mister Veers one shot after the other. Because you wanted to win.”

    “My clever girl!” he praises me and kisses my neckline. “Sweet as!”

    I snuggle against him, my face nestled against his chest. There is no need to ask questions about his work, when he is not allowed to answer them. I decide to return to the starting point of our little debate. “Sabacc is a mix of show, prediction, observation and chance, right?”

    He chuckles and it makes me warm all over my body. “Oh Cassie!”

    That gives me an idea. “If I ever find out your weaknesses in Sabacc, I could learn to win from you right?”

    “Let's see about that. First survive the rest of tonight on this straw mattress I made for us.”

    Daddy truly is an inventive master architect. It worries me that he talked about building a battle station. But then again he is in the Imperial forces. I bet his superiors would not let him build fairytale castles or family homes. Which is a pity.

    “Sleep now, little soldier!” he addresses me sharply. “Or I put my weapon on stun.”

    “You would never aim at me.”

    “Oh yeah? Then watch this.”

    His fingers tickle me until I cannot breathe properly.

    “You've… won,” I moan, each word a pain.

    “That was not our safe word,” he chuckles. “But I will have mercy on you. For now! If you make an effort to sleep.”

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

    At dawn I am waken by a queer alarm. Then there is shouting outside. In an instant Daddy is on his feet, storming away with his DT-29 heavy blaster pistol raised. Even without his uniform on he looks like a deadly foe.

    “Stay down!” he bites out.

    I obey and press myself deep into the straw mattress like a little squall, Chandrila's native lagomorphs.

    Several minutes pass.

    When Daddy finally comes back, a smiley man with a blond-red beard and a weird hair cut is walking right beside him. He carries a huge wicker basket. “Oh hallo, there!” he greets me cheerfully. “I just wanted to drop something at Master Agrippa's front door. Did not mean to startle anybody on this property.”

    Daddy huffs like a little dragon trying to produce fire. “Onya!”

    “Are you the milkman?” I check.

    He shakes his head. “But I have other goodies to offer, Cassandra.”

    That he knows my name calms me down even further, though Daddy is more tense than ever. But that must be his protective instinct, for I can sense no danger in his companion.

    Now that they are coming closer to my straw bed, I can see that the stranger's complexion is very fair and that he has cute freckles like all natural gingers. He gives me such a warm and loving look that I feel like a melting ice cream cone.

    “I am so sorry that I woke you up, child!”

    With a shiver I remember the Mandalorian bounty hunter calling me exactly thus last night. But it did not stop him making empty threats concerning my family.

    Fair crack of the whip! You woke up freckin' everybody!” my father thunders.

    The ginger-haired man stays calm and friendly, his smile never leaving his bearded face or his baby blue eyes. “Last time I checked, Orry, your father had no motion alarm installed. His neighbours and friends were free to visit him at any time.”

    “Be glad Alex decided against frying unwanted visitors with high voltage! I wouldn't have.” Daddy gets more aggressive by the minute. I can see his carotid artery pumping like mad. “Anyway, what's with the beard?”

    “Came straight home from an undercover mission. Did not even have the time to change, Orry. You like it?”

    “You look like some hobo from Coruscant's lower levels.”

    The stranger rips off his beard in one clean go.

    “Cool, you are an ISB agent like Uncle Alex,” I cheer.

    “Indeed I am. But I work at a different department. Special Forces.”

    I frown. “But Mister Veers is no spy.”

    “Oh my!” The stranger laughs out loud. “Max is here?”

    “With his family.”

    As if on cue, I spot Zevulon running towards us. But there is no sign of Uncle Alex. I hope that my godfather is not taking cover outside the barn, holding his AB-75 bo-rifle in aiming position.

    “Alex is already in the kitchen, Cassandra,” the stranger addresses me gently, almost cooing. “We agreed it would be the best to prepare some tea and caf.”

    I watch him put down the basket and lifting the large dish towel. There are at least a dozen of eggs, three jam jars, an elegant milk churn and several slices of bacon, contained in a glass box. “That is a lot,” I wonder aloud.

    “See, my brothers gave me breakfast goodies for an entire stormtrooper squad.”

    I scan his face. “Who are your brothers?”

    “One of them refers to me as 'carrot', but that's okay because I name him 'bunny' in return.”

    I giggle, even though he has avoided to really answer my question.

    “But you can call me by my real name of course. It is Crix. Crix Madine.”

    I gasp for air.
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2019
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  2. Nehru_Amidala

    Nehru_Amidala Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Geez Fett! Way to go scaring the heck out of everyone. Glad to see Cassie is picking up on card games, you never know when those skills are going to come in handy. Look at James Bond!

    WHAT IS CRIXY THE PIXY DOING THERE?????
     
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  3. WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

    WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Host of Anagrams & Scattegories star 8 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Aug 31, 2004
    Sweet update with teasing and a nice meeting with a generous Crix, who comes with yummy breakfast.
     
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  4. DarthUncle

    DarthUncle Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 20, 2005
    That's the spirit Cassie, keep that in mind please! Search your feelings. Love you they might, but perfect and founds of the full truth they are not, your father figures.
    Aww. Must be heart wrenching in a way for Alex, given what he knows about her real bond with them.

    Slick director Krennic, very slick.

    Heh, sweeeet.
     
  5. earlybird-obi-wan

    earlybird-obi-wan Chosen One star 7

    Registered:
    Aug 21, 2006
    the GFFA game for all to play
     
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  6. Kahara

    Kahara Chosen One star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 3, 2001
    Huh, now that was an unexpected appearance -- sounds like Crix didn't get the memo from Boba re: totally avoiding that family. :p I'm very curious to see what he's up to. As usual, the contrasting sweetness and menace that underlie Cassie's life make for an entertaining read. She's branching out into a very complicated and in many ways very dark and dangerous world. But she has a hefty dose of Nagina's trust and curiosity towards others, both for better and worse. @};-

    Fantastic updates, glad that I had a chance to catch up to the current one this time! [face_love]
     
  7. AzureAngel2

    AzureAngel2 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 14, 2005
    @Nehru_Amidala: Fett cannot always be one of the good guys. This is why he is a bounty hunter.

    As for sabacc, very essential for the SW universe. So I wanted to bring that up.

    And you will see about "Crixy Pixy"...



    @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: There is always a lot of teasing when Krennic & Kallus are around. Plus food is an essential part of this story.


    @DarthUncle: I simply love your comments with all their depths & cleverness, husband.


    @earlybird-obi-wan: Well said, dear bird, well said!


    @Kahara: Being on secret missions non-stop Crix might not have gotten that particular memo from Boba. But then again, he is a curious red-head. Even anxious to meet the clone of his beloved foster sister.

    Thanks for spotting the fine edge that Cassie is walking on.

    As for her Nagina heritage: indeed. She has some DNA & characteristics from her both for better & worse.

    Thanks for talking the time to read & comment. I am honoured.

    And on we go:


    "And death shall have no dominion", Chapter 15:

    Throughout brekkie I keep an eye on our guest, just to be on the safe side. Even though he has a sunny nature and makes far better jokes than Zevulon, I feel that something is still wrong. It's like electrical charges filling the air. Not as bad what occurred between my dark prince and Daddy, but there still is tension. My chest hurts from it.

    Chewing thoughtfully on my 'Avo' smash on toast I cannot take my eyes off the ginger-haired man. “You are not a native Chandrilan,” I suggest into the open.

    “That's right, Cassandra.” He flashes me a grin. “I am originally from Corellia.”

    “The star system or the planet itself?”

    “Cassie dear, let the man eat!” urges Daddy. “He has been at too many interrogations in his life already. He doesn't need one right now. Not so early in the morning.”

    Crix Madine makes a mollifying gesture. “That's okay, Orry. I would like to indulge the girl.”

    “More caf instead?” Uncle Alex, who is still wearing one of Gran's old kitchen aprons, throws in. But that apron does not make him look any less dangerous.

    I place my cutlery on my plate. “Why is everybody so tense?”

    “I am not!” complains Zevulon.

    “Argh! Wasn't talking about you!” I roll my eyes at my friend and turn to the very person in this room who sucks all the light and happiness in like a black hole. “Mister Madine came here to apologize for his brother. Why can't I have a normal chat with him? Geez, Daddy!”

    In slow motion, my godfather sinks back into his chair again. “No caf then!” he considers darkly.

    Our visitor laughs out loud. A wonderful sound that comes straight from his soul, overflows, and bubbles all around the room. “Please forgive your father, Cassandra! Some of us are haunted by the past more than others.”

    With a sigh I hide my face in my right palm. “Then let the past die, Daddy! We all live in the here and now.” I lower my hand again, looking straight at him. “Talking about Corellia is not high treason or an offence against His Imperial Majesty. Or do you fear that I possibly could bring up the subject of yarn bombing?”

    “Yarn bombing?” Mister Veers throws in very excitedly.

    His wife, Cornelia, places her slender hand on top of his. “That's an art form, sweetie pie. Not a military action.”

    “Oh!” he blushes, clearly disappointed.

    Daddy and I stare at each other, until a smile lurks in a corner of his mouth.

    “Recently, I went to the Coruscant Intergalactic Art Gallery with Cassie. She was very impressed.”

    “That is an understatement, Daddy,” I pout. “It was fantastic.”

    Before I can mention that I have meet and befriended Mitth'raw'nuruodo, a legend on his own, Zevulon clears his throat. The tips of his ears are slightly pinkish. “If you like, Cass, we could visit the Skydome Botanical Gardens on Coruscant together. It's in the Fobosi district.”

    I gape at him.

    Instead of 'rainbow' my friend just called me Cass. I have a thousands of colourful butterflies in my tummy, flapping their wings. “If Daddy allows me...”

    “We'll see,.”

    Zevulon's mother straightens her back. “I could also take the children, Orson. You are pretty busy with your building project at present.”

    “Building project?” Crix Madine wrinkles his nose. “That sounds exciting. Would you like to tell us about it?”

    Daddy puts on his sabacc face. “Classified. Sorry!”

    “Fair enough.”

    With a grin Daddy slurs, “And were you not the one who once said, 'I've come to the conclusion that those people who truly do great deeds don't feel the need to talk about them all the time.'? According to this little agenda of yours, why should I?"

    “Caf?” stresses my godfather and rises with the thermos again.

    Crix Madine nods, looking even stiffer than Jay when he does that. Which is impressive for someone who is not a droid.

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

    (To be continued!)
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2019
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  8. WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

    WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Host of Anagrams & Scattegories star 8 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Aug 31, 2004
    Cassandra is superb at smoothing things over assertively. No insults ... shake hands and mean it. :) :)
     
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  9. DarthUncle

    DarthUncle Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 20, 2005
    Clever guy, Crix Maxine, getting Cassie on his side to make peace. And indeed she does it as only she (or kindergarten teacher, Nagina) could.
     
  10. AzureAngel2

    AzureAngel2 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 14, 2005
    @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: Thanks, Nyota! For always being there. As an editor and as a reader. @};-


    @DarthUncle: I am so grateful that you are around. Thanks for being so sweet & kind, even though I do not deserve it. Just caused you extreme worries the past days with the ... work situation.
     
  11. Nehru_Amidala

    Nehru_Amidala Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Crix, get your shaggy butt outta there! At least Cassie can charm everyone into getting along.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  12. earlybird-obi-wan

    earlybird-obi-wan Chosen One star 7

    Registered:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Cassie is nice and has a lot in common with Nagina
     
  13. AzureAngel2

    AzureAngel2 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 14, 2005
    @Nehru_Amidala & @earlybird-obi-wan: Thanks for reading & commenting! And sorry for being irregular with my updates, but I am not very well again. Another nasty infect has come up with a lot of trouble attached to it.

    @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @DarthUncle, @Kahara & @Cowgirl Jedi 1701: Here is an update, but I am not sure when I can do the next:


    (Still Chapter 15!)

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

    After breakfast, the neighbour's son takes his leave again, but not without reaching out for my head and patting it. “You are the best work of your father,” he says.

    With burning eyes Daddy sees Crix Madine out. Not only does he bring the man to the front-door. He walks him down all the way to the end of the property. Perhaps he is a good host after all.

    The rest of the day is almost uneventful. No big dramas, but no tranquillity either. Uncle Alex decides to take Zevulon and me to the shooting range, while Daddy announces to do some grocery shopping in town with the rest of the Veers family.

    The most unusual sandwiches wait for us in the kitchen, when we return hours later from our harsh outdoor experiences: Chandrilan 'fairy bread' as Jay refers to it.

    Gramps, sitting in his rocking chair, smiles at us kids, while we greedily eat the sliced white bread, that is spread with butter and covered with colourful sugar and starch balls.

    “Master Agrippa wants me to tell you that those balls are called 'hundreds and thousands' on this planet.”

    “Did you make the breads, Jay?” I inquire.

    “No, Mistress Cassandra. Your father did before flying off with the Veers. And he also asked me to give you a message, when the right moment has occurred.”

    I get nervous.

    “Master Orson wants you to be aware of the fact that you are sweeter than any sprinkle chips.”

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

    (To be continued!)
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2019
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  14. WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

    WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Host of Anagrams & Scattegories star 8 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Aug 31, 2004
    Wonderfully warm affectionate teasing. Compliments for Cassandra-well deserved. Her and Zev's friendship is blossoming.
     
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  15. earlybird-obi-wan

    earlybird-obi-wan Chosen One star 7

    Registered:
    Aug 21, 2006
    love her with Zevulon
     
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  16. AzureAngel2

    AzureAngel2 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 14, 2005
    @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @earlybird-obi-wan, @DarthUncle, @Cowgirl Jedi 1701 & @Kahara.

    Thanks for being out there! I managed to write a bit.


    (Still Chapter 15!)


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

    The hours crawl by like years, even though I try to count TIE fighters that I imagine to fly around my head like flies.

    Around midnight, not having slept a single moment, I have an idea.

    Laboriously, I get up and sneak into the ensuite bathroom.

    To get the bottle with Daddy's precious fragrance from the shelf is a bit tricky. It's very bulky and heavy. Finally, the object of desire is mine and I manage to get hold of it without breaking it.

    Back in bed, I greedily open the bottle.

    The dry scent, that greets me, has hints of amber and bergamot.

    I conjure up images of Daddy without any real effort. He seems to be right at my side. Smiley, happy, relaxed. The way that I like him best.

    Sighing with joy, I start to sprinkle drops of fragrance on the pillows. I hope that they leave no stains. And if they do, that they can be washed out easily.

    Perhaps Jay knows about such matters. Gramps might not leave stains on purpose, but being so old and immobile there must be a lot of accidents.

    Not much later I fall asleep with a big smile plastered on my face.

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

    The next day, still dizzy from the fragrance, I give my best to concentrate on our visitors, especially on my new playmate. Zevulon in return makes so many jokes that my belly starts to hurt with laughter.

    At dinner time I am told by Misses Veers that urgent business requires Daddy on Eadu. By the mentioning of that planet Uncle Alex looks grim, which tells me that there is something amiss with Mister Erso once more.

    “When Daddy is really there, he won't be able to talk to me on the HoloNet tonight, right?” I ask my godfather.

    “Most signals are blocked by the high-energy thermosphere,” he confirms. “Might be too difficult for your good old dad to get through. But he will be desperate enough to try.”

    “Until his fingers bleed?”

    “That sounds exactly like Orson.”

    I feel that something touches my knee and begins to stroke it.

    When I check I can see a small foot without a boot on.

    Zevulon looks as apologetic as he can. That makes me smile despite all.

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

    Some time later, Cornelia offers to do my hair for me. I must say that she excels even Uncle Alex by doing so.

    The same evening the grown-ups let Zevulon and me sleep in the tent again, while Uncle Alex takes camp in the barn with night vision devices and bugging devices. He calls it 'field exercise' but I know this is because of Dravits Draven and Boba Fett.

    On day two without Daddy, Conny hires a real sailing boat for all of us. We are to travel the Silver Sea for a day trip. We fish our own food and prepare it together in the galley.

    A visit in one of the Gladean State Parks is the next goodie on our holiday bucket list. My godfather put it down and he was right to do so. The nature on Chandrila is stunning. It makes me wish that I could stay on this planet forever. The street canyons of Coruscant are no match to all this beauty and majesty around me.

    On my forth day without Daddy it is Misses Veers who suggests the target destination. She wants us all to see the Hanna Institute of Antiquities, but in the end her husband decides to stay behind. He insists to help Jay with some necessary repairs on Gramps' property instead.

    Our ride in the old X-34 is a bit rough, but we arrive at our destination in one piece.

    Soon, I am enchanted by so much history all around me. It is so vibrant and exciting to gaze at ancient artefacts from our fore-bearers.

    After a while I ask to be left on a metal bench, from which I have the best view on an exhibit piece from the Tion Hegemony.

    Earlier on, my godfather had joked about this particular region. He had referred to it as being poorly administered backwater nowadays. But at its height, being an essential part of the Kingdom of Cron, the hegemony had been glorious.

    While I keep studying the former booty of the pirat Xer, two men pass me by. One of them wears a woollen coat. Actually, his entire garments are simple, but he moves like some kind of nobleman. There is an interesting chain around his neck. I cannot help to gaze at it. Our eyes meet and he gives me a smile. He lifts a hand and his companion ceases to speak to him.

    “I hope you are not lost,” the stranger says to me in a pleasant voice.

    “No, sir,” I reply in honest. “Just looking at all the riches Xer gathered to become a king much later in his life.”

    “Ah! A young lady with taste and knowledge.”

    But before the stranger can continue talking to me, Uncle Alex runs towards us. There is a wild fire in his eyes. “I was not aware you were in town, old friend,” he addresses the man a little sharper than necessary. “How come?”

    “Do you need to keep a tag on me, Alexsandr?” the other man asks mildly surprised.

    “After all you have pulled, you old scoundrel.”

    The bearded man grins. “You make me sound like a ladies man.”

    “If those ladies are ancient mummies...”

    They shake hands like old friends, but the tenseness never leaves Uncle Alex' shoulders.

    “I took some days off around The Festival of Stars,” he explains to the stranger. “Overtime that has piled up for quite some time now.”

    “Guarding us all must indeed make you a very busy person.” The bearded man turns towards his companion. “Raphael, this is my old friend, Alexsandr Kallus. A government agent.”

    My godfather furrows his brows. “You are not by any chance Raphael Drayson, the director of this institute?”

    “Well spotted, Agent Kallus,” the bald human smiles. “I can tell that my tax money is well invested in clever men like you.”

    “Raph wanted to show me some artefacts of interest,” the bearded man cuts in. “And later on, I wanted to pay Gita a visit. It has been a while since I last saw her. We have some catching up to do.”
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2019
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  17. WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

    WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Host of Anagrams & Scattegories star 8 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Aug 31, 2004
    The Veers keep Cassandra wonderfully entertained with lovely and interesting ventures and she meets a very intriguing acquaintance as well. :cool:
     
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  18. Cowgirl Jedi 1701

    Cowgirl Jedi 1701 Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    Dec 21, 2016
    Yes, I'm still out here, even if I do tend to lurk a bit.

    And hey, Lor San Tekka! I can guess why Alex wants him to move along ASAP. He's probably nervous that Lor might notice how Cassie looks like Nagaina.
     
  19. DarthUncle

    DarthUncle Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 20, 2005
    Heh, yep, Alex will have been worried there upon seeing San Tekka, I bet. Wonder how he thinks his niece will go over if Lor does visit Gita and talks to one of the boys...
    Na ja, Lady Veers gave them a nice time, so that's good The missing her dad was sweet. There was something about that shampoo though I wonder o_O
     
  20. earlybird-obi-wan

    earlybird-obi-wan Chosen One star 7

    Registered:
    Aug 21, 2006
    love the Veers. There are some good imperials
     
  21. AzureAngel2

    AzureAngel2 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 14, 2005
    @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @Cowgirl Jedi 1701, @earlybird-obi-wan, @Kahara & @Nehru_Amidala I will pause after this update until the middle of January, because my husband, @DarthUncle, is getting a new kidney soon. I am too excited to write. Which is also due to the work situation. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and its not a train. Cannot say more at present.

    Here the last update for a while, which might help @Vek Talis to catch up with some of my stories. :p;)


    "And death shall have no dominion", Chapter 16:

    “Well, give the old girl my regards.” Uncle Alex tries to sound light, but he cannot fool me. His emotions do not fit to his face. Nor do his shoulders, that are even tighter than before. “I am too busy babysitting my niece Morrígain these days.”

    I press my lips together, gnarling on my tongue.

    My godfather can lie without blushing. I suppose that this is a skill that any good secret service man has. He is forced to live in a bubble, like most of his fellow ISB agents. It must be tough not trusting anybody. There is the constant mystery of who said what to whom. A kind of shared paranoia really.

    I make a decision for myself. An essential one. I should not be cross with Uncle Alex for introducing me under my second name. If he wants this to be a covert affair, I can play along. I will make him proud.

    “Oh, this is your niece!” exclaims the stranger.

    “With three older sisters, I was destined to become an uncle. In one way or another.”

    When I feel his fingers on my shoulders, I start to squeeze them gently in reply and put on my brightest smile. “Uncle Alex is the best!” I exclaim cheerfully without even lying.

    “I know.” Now the bearded man turns a bit sad. “And I miss him very much at times, but we simply moved apart over the years.”

    I crook my head in question.

    “Your uncle is a field agent. I am more of a bookworm, Morrígain.”

    I can tell he wants to say more, but he chooses not to. Instead he puts out his hand once more and my godfather shakes it.

    When I take a closer look I notice something odd about their grip. They form it by placing the fingers in the form of a tokken's paw. That must be a secret sign language.

    “You know where I am if you need me,” Uncle Alex urges his old friend. “I owe you.”

    The stranger smiles and it is a very sweet smile, tugging at the strings of my heart.
    “You don't,” he stresses. “We have an agreement, you and I. One that I will honour until the end of days.”

    “There must be something that I can do for you,” my godfather presses on, somewhat grey in his face. “Please!”

    “Well, if you must.” There is a considerate pause. “I'd rather hope that I stay off the radar. So if any of your superiors asks, especially Veris Hydan, I was not here today.”

    “Will you ever learn?” Uncle Alex smirks.

    “This one was too good to miss. He could be my evil twin. Even our professors used to mix us up when addressing us at university seminars.”

    My godfather shakes his head in dismay. “Be gone before I make up my mind about a thorough investigation!”

    “May the Force be with you, Alexandr.”

    There is a mixture of shock and rage, and then, oddly guilt. “Hail the Empire!” Uncle Alex bites out.

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

    I wait until the bearded man and the museum director are gone. Only then I pipe up, “This man, is he a criminal?”

    “I fear that his latest actions have turned him into one.”

    Happiness looks different. I am fully aware of the dark clouds in Uncle Alex eyes.

    “He is one of the best historians of all times, but instead of publishing reasonable theses in his field of expertise, he managed to upset a few high ranking members of our government.”

    “How can a historian become Enemy Number One?” I muse.

    “By stealing from our beloved head of state, for example.”

    He turns his back on me and stares at the exhibition pieces without really seeing them.

    “Why is the Emperor so keen on historical items, Uncle Alex?”

    The answer does not come immediately. “He is a collector of some kind, sweetie.”

    “Any century he is most interested in?”

    “I am not a historian myself. It's therefore hard to tell.” Uncle Alex makes a face. “Your curiosity knows no boundaries today, does it?”

    “No?”

    My voice has a pleading tone that I cannot control. It does the trick.

    “Well, our beloved Palpatine has many castles, apartments and holiday resorts. I suppose he needs fancy stuff to fill all those thousands of rooms with.”

    I sigh. “If His Majesty would have children on his own, he would be a less material man.”

    My godfather gives me a queer look, but then he ruffles my hair. “We should go back to the others now. If your legs are too tired, I can carry you.”

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

    At the institute's cafeteria we all have so-called 'jelly slices'. This local dessert is made with fresh fruit topping that matches the colour of the jelly.

    While everybody else gets a slice with orange topping, I go for a purple one with white stripes.

    Zevulon smiles at me. “Still into Jogan fruits?”

    I shrug. “It's a taste that I know and happen to like.”

    “Wanna have a bite from my meiloorun fruit topping?” he offers.

    I shake my head. “Orange is so not my colour.”

    “Which is wrong.” He scoffs, but not for long. With a much more serious tone of voice he adds, “Because your hair looks nice this way.”

    His compliment makes me blush. And I cannot help but to giggle.

    “Wanna have a bite now?” Zevulon tries once more.

    “Hum, I suppose.”

    I must say my friend is very clever. Something to watch out for. Otherwise he always will win an argument.

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

    (To be continued!)
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2019
    Kahara, DarthUncle and Nehru_Amidala like this.
  22. Nehru_Amidala

    Nehru_Amidala Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Oct 3, 2016
    What did he steal? Is Lon pulling an Indiana Jones over on Palps?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  23. WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

    WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Host of Anagrams & Scattegories star 8 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Aug 31, 2004
    Great update and happy happy [:D] @};- for @AzureAngel2 & @DarthUncle -- I am very pleased to hear things are progressing as hoped on the health front.
     
    Kahara, AzureAngel2 and DarthUncle like this.
  24. DarthUncle

    DarthUncle Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 20, 2005
    oh, right wasn't he saving (his and Nagina's points of view) force relics from the Jedi Temple before the emperor could get to them, and temporarily storing them in Nagina's home?
    Heh, yeah, talking about taking from the emperor to safe it.
    Aww, that was nicely awkward [:D]
    LOL,very true. Important to know when you are being manipulated into eating something you like the taste of ;)

    On the health front, it seems that we have to still adapt to it now really going quite great in the new year. Yesterday, for example, the hospital called to say that now they did find a way to move my OP forward (day before call came definitely confirming end of January date), so I will stay in the Netherlands now, with the OP at the start of the second week of the year! Great, but also mentally an adjustment after we started planning to wait a month. :eek:[face_party][face_hypnotized][face_good_luck][face_alien]
    I hope @AzureAngel2 has a good trip to her mother, today and then on to the Netherlands for my birthday and Christmas [:D]
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2018
  25. earlybird-obi-wan

    earlybird-obi-wan Chosen One star 7

    Registered:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Great update with the good news for DarthUncle