Arbra
Surface: Haven BaseRydan Stratford slips out from under the covers in the early morning hours, leaving behind Republic Agent Trace Denton slumbering peacefully. There is a void left where Scott St. Claire's presence used to fill. Months had passed since he first heard through various nefarious sources that his beloved Imperial Agent had met his end at The Wheel. Their relationship had been surprisingly uncomplicated given so many alarming circumstances and now all Rydan wants is a little release. He creeps down the hall and stands outside her door, considering if he should even disturb her. There is a protective compulsion he cannot explain. Valerie had ordered him to keep Kimber away from Corellia, to keep her safe from all the things that could harm her and he did so because wanted to. Not because it is written. Rydan has never been one to place faith in prophecy's but this has all hit a little too close to home. He taps in the door code and steps inside as quietly as he can.
Kimber Patten sits on the edge of her bed, tenderly cradling a high heel, crying softly.
"You ok?"She holds up the heel, shaking her head.
"These are my favorite and I can't wear them. My feet are too swollen. My feet are...fat."She sobs.
"You are barely showing at three months."Kimber runs a hand across her belly.
"I can't believe Mod did this to me.""Miracle of life.""Oh, don't even start.""You mustn't worry."Her wide violet eyes are filled with tears.
"How can I not?"Rydan falls onto the bed beside her, wrapping a muscular arm around her. She leans into him. The heels and expanding waist line are just two in a long line of recent sacrifices. The Jedi had shown them the graphs of all those who have died in connection with their fabulous fates.
It's not a short list.
For a long time she wasn't sure her place in all of this - NCH graduate, a model, cheerleader, CorSec freshman, and an unwilling yet vital part of an Imperial plan that stretches so wide she can hardly grasp the scope and magnitude.
They had been manipulated and lied to.
A lot.
Kimber had let herself be used by the Empire and she hated herself for that. It began with a broken promise that claimed many lives including her father and half-sister. They said they would save Valerie from Phage if she would play counselor for a while. Karen was with Dementat and they needed a new pretty face to justify their treacherous ways. Just simple diplomacy, they said. No big. Yeah, right. Kimber had effectively reneged on prior negotiations that turned Contruum's populous over to the Empire. She took Hapan Admiral Rana Ohtar hostage on the assumption they would send Imperial fleets to Corellia if they just got what they wanted from the Consortium. Kimber had tried to spare the Admiral by deflecting torture and murder to experimentation which led to Ohtar's suicide and brought a steep price on her head.
Not her finest moment.
It's the worst thing she's ever done.
The guilt over her actions coupled with a full scale Federation invasion of Corellia led her to throw herself at the mercy of the Consortium. Instead of trading her life for the Admiral's, they wanted something else. Something bigger, better. A far worthier sacrifice - The Imperial Director of Intelligence who, as it turns out, was one of her best friends father's all along! Jerk. All that transpired had done so on his orders. He was solely responsible for their torment and the Consortium wanted him to pay.
Karen had been surprisingly reasonable with the arrangement. Her own outrage greased the wheels a bit. She allowed Kimber and Rydan to flee Hesperidium with Alexander Winton. Their time in the Hapes Cluster had been a beautiful grieving period. The loss of Scott, Mod and Valerie overshadowed all they did. Hapan Counselor Valina Erin's had been a sympathetic friend and created a new life for her.
They changed her name to Nulla Vanya, gussied her up and made her a famous model.
Again.
This time her heart just wasn't in it. She knew they couldn't stay there. Even with the new benevolent Queen Mother, their secret wouldn't stay hidden forever. The past, it seems, always comes around for another pass. It never stays gone. Nothing is ever forgotten.
And when a present arrived from Melanie Masterton, she knew this would always be true. The holocron contained a message that told her if Karen killed Alexia, she would be consumed by the same rage and turn on them. It also contained the Persephonea Prophecy, translated with notations by the Jedi Order Melanie now belonged to. A little light reading to make things worse.
That's also the same day she found out she was pregnant.
Desperate for answers, Counselor Erin's snuck Kimber into a maximum security prison to have a little chat with the Imperial Director. She needed to know why he had purposefully destroyed their lives on so many levels.
The conversation cut deeply.
"Monica's vision was the foundation. With a little help from the Empire's resources a new galactic future was being formed. It was life after Palpatine with a reach far greater and more secure than it had ever been in the past. Dementat on the throne with Karen at his side and a darkness so thick it chokes consumes all that lives. An Empire to end all Imperial dynasty's before it. In exchange for total security, an agreement was forged to introduce the Four into an environment in which they would be prone to seek each other out. It was no accident that you all ended up at North Coruscant. We debated how much direct involvement we should have but everything began to take shape, just as she had seen it. Some hedged their bets more than others."
"But it was Patten who truly understood. Father of both touchstones. You and Gellar were the wild cards, the non-sensitive's, who rounded out The Four. If there is anything your father knew for sure is that there would always be a sacrifice. The prophecy pointed to a murder and a betrayal. As any good strategist knows, it's all a gamble but you take it if you think you can win. So he made a deal."
"A business arrangement between Patten and the Trade Federation on behalf of Corellia allowed for the creation of the droid known to you as the Baron Phage. He sold Gellar's genetic material knowing full well the project could turn and the original compromised."This oppressive truth flattened her and she left Alexander Winton to die at the hands of the Consortium.
Kyri sold out Valerie to save Kimber. And with Valerie dead, Kimber was now the leverage between Karen and Melanie. To spare the Consortium any more harm, she decided to leave. If it was all true then she and Rydan would not be safe there. Karen knew where she was and would come for them. Rydan and Valina agreed and their escape was arranged. They followed Melanie's instructions to Arbra where they remain under Jedi protection.
The pretty picture of her present life.
Kimber sighs as Rydan puts her back to bed. He pulls the covers up to her chin and kisses her forehead.
"We will get through this. Together. I promise."She is still clutching the high heel.
"I want to believe you.""Good," he says, smiling.
"Then we actually might have a chance in hell."-TBC