Re: After The Fall

<i>“Landon, this is one of my dearest friends, Sirannon Dodonna,” Lanah said while gesturing to a blonde woman with brilliant blue eyes and a warm smile.  Landon smiled and bowed his head over her proffered hand.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Dodonna.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”  He recognized the sparkle in her eyes of a woman in love, and a woman with a precious secret in her womb… </i>

“Sira!”  Landon scrambled up from where he had thrown Lanah and Traven out of safety, not hearing Lanah’s weeping and Traven’s cries as he hurried over to where the other woman lay with blue eyes staring vacant at the sky above.  “Sira, wake up!  Wake up!”  He frantically felt for her neck for a pulse, any sign of life…

But there was none there.

He slumped to the side of her body, rubbing his eyes and wondering why he had chosen to push Lanah and Traven away when they were clearly the safe ones in the situation.  In his head he could still feel the remnants of Sira’s last scream before her death, and the cry of her unborn child.  And now all he could sense was utter quiet, a deathly silence.

Lanah… He should check on her.  Landon pushed himself to his feet and managed to walk over to where Lanah was being comforted by a man Landon knew was Tyrell Dunn.  He crouched next to her.

“Sira…”  Lanah looked up with tear-stained cheeks, and Landon’s throat constricted.

“There was nothing we could have done,” he rumbled out somehow despite his airflow not coming easily.

Tyrell looked up and met Landon’s eyes.  “You… You pushed my wife and son out of the way.”  Landon nodded but couldn’t meet Tyrell’s eyes.  “Thank you.  I owe you a great debt, sir.”

“Don’t mention it.”  <i>Please.</i>

“We’ll need your statement for the police,” Tyrell said as the sharp sound of Imperial Center emergency services approached.  “How in the galaxy did you move that quickly to save Lanah and Traven?”

“Instinct.  Adrenaline.”  Landon fought the urge to choke out bitterness at the gift he had been given through his mother’s blood, the knowledge of the Force that flowed through all of them no matter what they wanted to believe.  For the first time in his life he cursed his abilities.

No power in the Galaxy could have saved Sirannon Dodonna, and now he would live with that knowledge of her last plea for help for the rest of his life.

Re: After The Fall

<B>On the planet Terrick</b>

The news arrived a day later. The message was transmitted by Tyrell Dunn himself, as he explained the painful last moments of the day Maximillian Dodonna's wife had deceased. The captain of the <I>Eradicator</i> remembered it well as he reminisced. It had ripped his heart to shreds. He pressed his furrowed brow against the bedroom door inside the president's palace, while cold tears streamed down his face. Sobs shook his thin and wiry form.

For years, he had never regretted serving with the Imperial Navy. Had never regretted that decision to be away from his departed wife while he served his Empire.

Until today.

He sagged against the sturdy wood, covering his ears to drown out Tyrell's message that kept repeating inside his head. The pain of his loss would never leave him, but perhaps, in time, it would lessen during the course of history. Worse, the loss of his unborn child was like a stake to the heart. <I>First, my wife,</i> he lamented, <I>and now my precious child</I>. He was bereft of family and affection.

Now all he had was vengeance– against the Jedi and all their misbegotten followers! But first, he realized he could no longer stay here and complete his mission. He needed to speak to Lord Vader himself and explain the events that had fallen on him. He hoped he would understand.

+++

"Captain Dodonna," a deep voice called.

Maximillian Dodonna stiffened as the image of the Dark Lord appeared in front of him. He gave a quick salute. Vader's black armor gleamed like polished ebony, although the projection seemed that rather than reflect light, it took it all in to some secret place, like a black hole. The only sound besides the rain coming from the palace balcony was his mechanical breathing. Strangely, Dodonna didn't feel afraid; he just felt numb. Since Dodonna had given his request to Vader for a transfer back to Imperial Center, he suspected he knew what was about to happen.

"Yes, Lord Vader?" he asked respectfully.

"Your mission here remains incomplete, Captain," Darth Vader began without preamble.

Dodonna lowered his head. "I understand, my lord. I failed in my task to the Emperor."

"Yes," Vader agreed heavily.

"I welcome any reprimand you deem fit," Dodonna said, raising his head to stare into the breath mask that forever hid the Sith Lord's face from view. He did not turn away from Vader's unblinking stare. The only sound remained the heavy intake and exhalation of Vader's breathing.

"While it remains incomplete," Vader eventually continued, the image flickering, "I understand your reason." He paused and waited for Dodonna to react. "So, in conclusion, I will complete it myself," Vader continued.

"What will you do?" Dodonna asked.

"Several different agents will be dispatched soon enough to remove the Jedi threat from Terrick's midst," the Dark Lord explained. "Since you will leave Terrick, it will leave them to conclude we have finished our purge. It is then we will act."

"What of the Jedi Tyrell Dunn took back with him?" Dodonna inquired, not out of any real interest but because he felt it was required.

"It is of no concern. And of no great loss," the Dark Lord finished without any emotion.

"I understand, my lord."

"Unlike the loss of your wife," Vader breathed. "Unfortunate the Jedi was not captured."

"Yes," Dodonna said, almost tripping over the words. "I did not expect this to happen. I don't understand why she was targeted."

Captain Dodonna paused in silence. Eventually, Vader answered. "The Jedi most likely did this to send a message to the royal families involved closely with the Emperor. She was merely an example. Justice will be served, I promise you."

Dodonna nodded. "Very well," he said after a brief pause.

"We are done for now, Captain. You are cleared to return to Imperial Center. After attending your wife's funeral and services, I will have new orders for you."

"Yes, my lord." Dodonna saluted and was about to turn off the projector, but his curiousity had gotten the better of him. Thinking he had nothing to lose, he cleared his throat. "My lord?" he asked.

"What is it, Captain?" Even though he spoke through a breath mask, there was no mistaking the chill in his tone.

"I would like to ask about conducting an investigation into this matter. If the Jedi are involved, the royal families should be advised of this threat."

Vader stared down at him. "You have always been a faithful servant to us," he began, "but this incident is being handled internally. There is no reason for you to be involved in this matter. I will advise strongly that you let it be. I will be handling the investigation myself. Is this understood?"

Dodonna hesitated. Frustration settled in his voice. "Yes, my lord."

"Good. I expect you back on Imperial Center in due time." And with that, the holoprojection vanished.

Dodonna didn't know what to make of the Sith Lord's pronouncement. He wandered aimlessly and found himself back on the balcony, watching the clouded sky darken over the cityscape of Terrick's capital. He leaned his hands against the cold stone railing and stared at the lights. He squeezed his eyes shut, but all he could see behind his lids was Sirannon's face. She haunted his every waking moment.

He placed a callused hand against his heart, and the single tear he shed became meaningless and insignificant in the rain…