Missing Scenes
Post Revenge of the Sith: With Wings Dipped in Blood
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“The worse disasters in history have been motivated by emotion. The most revolting torrent of blood has been shed by idealist followers of an idol, regardless of common sense.” ~ Wolf Heckmann
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The hour is late when the small but lithe form entered the command and control room. Dormé cannot say why she was summoned at such a late hour but she did not question it either. Bowing deeply in respectful greeting to the man once known as Anakin Skywalker the former handmaiden of Padmé remained silent waiting to learn of the reason why she is here.
Though many knew of the rumors that surrounded the masked towering form before her very few knew of the
truth. Dormé was one of those few and it was something that made her more than a little proud. Even more rare was the fact she had seen Lord Vader without his mask. This too was a moment she would never forget.
While in reality his scarred appearance was meant to intimidate the former handmaiden to his surprise the normally shy Dormé didn’t cower or react as expected. She was shocked to be certain; not at his visage however, rather to the fact it was none other than his former Master who did this to him. Her heart went out to Anakin, at the betrayal and the great loss he had suffered in his quest to save his beloved Padmé. It was then that Dormé swore to herself and to the Sith Lord that she would do everything and anything in her power to aid him in his revenge. ‘It was the very least I can do’ she said after Anakin had explained to her that Obi-Wan had turned Padmé against him before leaving him to die on Mustafar.
He didn’t respond at the time to her words but neither did he refuse the small gesture of comfort given when she reached up to touch his healed but scarred cheek. Dormé didn’t mind for she knew that he was still in mourning and recovering from the shock of having lost his family; nevermind being betrayed by his best friend and brother. She only hoped that somehow he would understand and know that he would always have her support, that unlike some of her
sisters she knew the meaning of loyalty and would not turn on her mistresses family.
From this moment an unspoken understanding began to form between them; one that neither would openly acknowledge. It was like a silent secret they both shared and it would remain this way till the end of her days.
“Have there been further exchanges between the renegade Jedi and their latest contact?”
The masked form asked not bothering with small talk. Dormé used to this, nodded slightly in reply.
“Yes Milord. I have intercepted two more
messages, although a
third was sent to a different channel later today that I haven’t been able to decipher at the moment. However I am currently working to break through the security defenses.”
She replied politely as she couldn’t help but find herself relaxing slightly to the almost calming hiss hush sound of Darth Vader’s respirator. While most feared the ominous hiss hush, Dormé found it to be soothing. It reminded her of the calm before the storm; a silent warning to their enemies that justice had no need to hide, that in the end it would find them and then true discord would be unleashed.
The Sith Lord seemed to consider her words for a moment longer before rewarding her with a stiff nod.
“Continue.”
He stated simply as Dormé instinctively bowed her head slightly in respect before continuing.
“It would see Lord Vader that the remnant Jedi’s original contact was already captured and terminated for smuggling. However they now have a new contact one whose call sign I have not heard before; Ysalamiri. The contact in question claims to be a member of the Alliance but I have reason to doubt this. The call sign doesn’t follow the usual patterns used by the Rebels who prefer numbers and colors over animal avatars. Also the third message sent to the unknown comm frequency reveals signs of security overrides.”
“In other words our mystery messenger is trying to send a distress call to the rebels for assistance.”
Dormé nodded her head slightly in agreement.
“However I did manage to trace the source of the message and it has been traced to a major city on Rattatak. I know it sounds absurd but I cross-checked it and there is no question that it came from this outer rim planet.”
She fell silent after her explanation and studied the fallen Jedi before her as he folded his arms obviously going over her words and their implications. Dormé was used to this as well and just waited patiently as she let her hands rest on the back of a plush chair that was lined like the others of its kind around the table.
“Lady Dormé have you told anyone else what you have just told me?”
The Sith Lord stated finally as the former handmaiden shook her head.
“No Milord.”
“Good. Is there anything else I should know?”
Dormé remained silent for a moment longer as she mentally replayed the messages she had intercepted and remembering the last of the details exchanged between the contacts she returned her attentions to Darth Vader.
“The tail end of the last message revealed that they were planning to meet at a rendezvous point on Rattatak’s moon. I have the coordinates recorded from it and have faith that they will return there before departing to their destination. Given the desperate situation the Jedi have now found themselves in I do not imagine they will wait long. If the Alliance is going to aid them I imagine they will do so very soon.”
She concluded as the Sith Lord approached slowly closing the space between them. Normally shy by nature Dormé’s natural reaction would be to step back, but ironically she wasn’t shy with Anakin and as such remained in place although looking more poised and respectful than usual.
“Continue to decipher this frequency and do so quickly. I want you to intercept all messages exchanged and locate the source of this illegal comm channel.
Once you have intercepted the message I want you to follow the Jedi and their contact to their destination. Do not interfere with their journey or their exchanges. Instead report all you see and hear to me.”
Dormé didn’t need to ask the reason for this course of action as she knew what he had in mind already. Why destroy just the last of the Jedi when one can take down the Rebel Alliance as well?
“I will be your eyes and ears Lord Vader.”
She said simply while a slight smile crept into her features, as the dark lord’s gloved hand gently touched her cheek for a brief moment, before his fingers slipped to her chin.
“If something should go wrong and you are discovered; do not engage battle with them. Leave that to me.”
Dormé nodded slightly in reply as the towering figure let his hand linger for a moment longer against her chin before letting go. Then without another word the former handmaiden bowed deeply to Darth Vader before quietly departing to begin her mission.
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scene list
