The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 26

Vader gazed out the window of Nabarrie Palace. The current palace had been built in the 1770's, after most of the original complex burnt to the ground. The only part of the original palace left was the West Wing, his personal residence in town, and the below-ground dungeon and jail levels. He had a sweeping view of the magnificent gardens and tinkling fountain in the path that lead to the main entrance. Soon, he, his son, and his master would rule this palace. They would get what they deserved.

He felt, rather than saw, his master's entrance. “I thought I told you to stay on the Death Star until the night of the ball.”

Vader let out a soft hiss. “A detachment of rebels entered Endor, my master. They managed to block the entrance of the khyber crystal mines and release the workers. Hux and his men were found in the empty camp below the cliffs, bound, gagged, and stripped of their uniforms.” He paused before adding “My son was with them.”

Palpatine narrowed his eyes. “I had heard about the disaster in Endor, but not that young Skywalker was among the rebels.”

His pupil nodded slightly. “I have felt it, my master.”

“Strange that I haven't.” He settled down heavily in the velvet-covered chair behind his simple dark wood desk. “Your son will come to the ball, along with the Crimson Hawk and his people. You are to bring him directly aboard the Death Star II, where I'll prepare him to become my newest apprentice.” His oily smile spread from ear to ear and looked more like a death's head. “As for the Crimson Hawk, my men will see to it that he's in front of a firing squad before the night of the ball is out.”

“Master,” Vader hissed softly, steam escaping from the tubes on his mask, “I was hoping...I wished to teach the boy myself.”

“You are not ready to teach. He'll benefit more from my wisdom.” He arched an eyebrow. “Have I made my feelings on this clear, Baron?”

The hulking black monolith nodded slightly. “They are clear, Master.”

“Good.” Palpatine turned to his paperwork. Vader returned to his gazing. He was beginning to wonder if he'd made a mistake with his revealing the boy's existence to the Prime Minister. He'd trusted him for years, ever since he'd rescued him from the fires of the Mufasar Smelting Factory. He would never forgive Kenton for the destruction of his limbs...but he was wondering if, in saving him, Palpatine had done something far worse. He would have to give up his family, his wife, his humanity, the people who cared about him...for what? For an old man's obsession with dominating the world?

He no longer knew who to trust. Kenton and the Jedi Order had betrayed him, but his master may have done something worse. He thought Palpatine had saved his life. What he'd done was make him into as much of a slave as he was as child in the wilds of the Tatoonie Islands. He knew something would have to be done. Even as his master worked, he began to form a plan of his own.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Do I HAVE to go dressed like this?” Jyn whined for the sixth time that afternoon. She, Ahsoka, and Leia were in a small costume shop in the bad part of Lothal, being fitted for their Diamond Jubilee Ball gowns. “I don't look nothin' like a fairy!”Her green and pink rose-trimmed gown with its flowing sleeves rustled as she tried to tug at the gossamer fabric wings.

“I think you look lovely.” Sabine finished the last seam. “There. That'll do it.”

“I agree.” Ahsoka's gown was even more elaborate. “You look like a beautiful fairy godmother.” She sported a long, lacy gown of blue and white lace and tulle, giving it a wider, more flowing skirt under the soft silk bustle. A crystal tiara sparkled in her black and blue braids.

“Are you ready? Is almost time to...” Cassian's concerned look became a flirtatious grin. “My senorita, you have only been fairy for five minutes, but you have already bewitched me.” He kissed her hand, looking up at her with adoring eyes.

“Better watch the slobbering, mate, or I'll have to turn you into a butterfly.” But she was grinning rather stupidly.

“You look pretty good yourself.” Ahsoka looked over his striking blue uniform, with its golden braid, shiny black boots, and wide red sash. “We're honored to be in the presence of the handsomest man in the Spanish Army.”

“Oh, this old thing.” Cassian dusted off one of the yellow cuffs. “Is from when I was officer. They don't know I keep it, but what they don't know won't hurt me.”

“Is everyone ready?” A rustle of feathers drew the group's attention. Ahsoka's eyes widened. The white feathered cape...the long white gown, trimmed with feathers and sprinkled with glistening crystals...the silver tiara with the pale blue crystals...the long hair twisted into a braid crown and intricate buns...

“You look...so much like your mother.” There was a catch in Ahsoka's voice when she went to tuck a strand of Leia's hair behind her ear. “It's almost like having her alive again.”

“Thank you.” She gave Ahsoka a hug. “You look amazing yourself. They're not going to know what hit them at Nabarrie Palace.”

“Am I interrupting anything?” Henry popped his head in. His eyes widened the second they went to Leia. “Your Worship, you look...really, really beautiful. I mean, I've seen you in dresses before, but this...” He kissed her gloved hand. “You're not a duchess. You're a swan queen.”

Leia raised an eyebrow at his costume. “I thought you were dressing up?”

Henry tugged at the red paisley bandanna around his neck and pulled his white Stetson hat low over his eyes. He sported a red blouse and black vest with a heavy leather belt. Leia couldn't help admiring his shapely rear in tight navy trousers with red stripes. “I thought I could hide better this way. No one's expecting a rich friend of Hux's to dress as a cowboy. Besides,” he whipped a pair of pearl-handled pistols out of his belt, “I had to sneak these in somehow. They're laser guns in normal gun casings.”

“Is everyone ready?” Luke peered in next. Unlike Henry, he was dressed to the nines as a courier of the previous century, complete with knee-length black coat with rococo gold trim, a gold blouse with a black vest and a white cravat, black breeches, black shoes with gem-studded buckles, and the fluffiest white wig he could find at Lothal's wig shop.

Henry snorted. “Kid, you look like a sheep in a fancy jacket.”

Luke smirked. “Considering you're dressed as a man who pokes cows for a living, I'll take that as a compliment. The jacket's big enough to hide my saber. Leia, do you have your sword?”

“I had to borrow it from Kanan before he and Ezra went with to help the Rogues, but yes, I do have one.” Leia patted the dress' wide skirt. “I also have two guns and a knife under here.”

Charles came in next, followed by Rusty. Both were dressed in the uniform of the Coruscant Army...but the uniform was too tight on Charles' hulking form, and too long for the short Rusty. Rusty was still rolling up his pant legs when they marched in. “Presenting, in person, the pride of Arkansis in northern Naboo, General Brendol Hux!”

No one walked in. All they heard was a muffled “I am not doing this!”

“Get in here, you skinny coward!” Rusty shoved his best friend through the door. Leia had to admit that, despite his trepidation, Cedric did cut a rather dashing figure in Hux's white dress uniform, complete with cape. Sabine and Hera had even found him a passable gingery wig.

Jyn wrinkled her nose. “You look like a red-headed Director Krennic. He was in charge of building the Death Stars at the Erso Shipyards, until he got blown up with the rest of the area. He was a real pain in the arse.”

“Don't mind her, senor.” Cassian patted his shoulder. “You are so good-looking, I think you were Hux for second.”

“Really? You really think I look like him?” Cedric stood a little straighter. “Well, perhaps I do have his military bearing. I was once on the front lines of the Alliance Wars, you know.”

Rusty nearly fell over laughing. “For ten whole minutes, Goldie. And only because one of the Separatist soldiers thought you were on their side and shoved a gun in your hand.”

Cedric sniffed. “I did shoot it, didn't I?”

“Yeah, you did.” Rusty managed to right himself, but he was still snickering. “I think you hit a few birds. We had stuffed quail for dinner that night.”

Henry separated them. “All right, you two. Enough with the music hall comedy routine.” He looked over his shoulder at Leia. “Yeah, I think we're ready. Everyone know what they have to do?”

“We meet you at Palace.” Cassian pulled a tall, shining brass helmet over his straight dark hair. “We will be taking carriage. We're covering Ball for Mr. Rex at Evening Star paper.”

“That's right.” Jyn patted her tripod in a corner. “Vader doesn't suspect us of anything other than writing unflattering newspaper stories. We can go as ourselves.”

“We'll see you there.” Ahsoka hugged Luke. “Skyguy would be so proud of you. Both of you. I wish you could have known him like I knew him. He used to be so funny and full of life! We must have driven Ben Kenton crazy with our antics. Maybe after all this is over, I can tell you more about them at the parlor in Nabarrie Palace.”

“I'd love that.” He took Ahsoka's hand. “When Leia and I are king and queen, I want to make you and Henry advisers. You've both been such a great help to us.”

“I don't know about Solo, but I'm fine where I am. I'm a reporter, Luke. It's what I do.” She took his arm. “I know your young man is busy with the Death Star II and all, so would a king-to-be mind it if a humble reporter was his escort for the ball?”

“I don't see a humble reporter.” Luke bowed and took her arm. “I see Cinderella.” They followed the others to the carriages that would take them to the Lothal docks, Ahsoka regaling them with stories of hers and Anakin's adventures all the way there.