Star Wars: Tales from the Empire by Peter Schweighofer

Author:Peter Schweighofer
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Star Wars fiction, Space Opera, Interplanetary voyages, General, Science fiction, American, Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780553578768
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1997-11-03T08:00:00+00:00

"What is it, sir? What's happened?"

"I received a message from your father-" Celia stood up abruptly, her face reddening. "My fa ther sent you a message?" she asked, the anger in her voice unmistakable.

"Please, Lieutenant-"

"I want nothing to do with him-"

"Lieutenant Durasha, sit down!" the captain ordered.

He took a deep breath. "Your father sent word through me, because he knew what your reaction would be. It's about your brother-" Celia paled. "What?" Her hands trembled as she grasped the edge of Glidrick's desk and collapsed into the chair.

"He's been killed," the captain told her. "I'm sorry."

Closing her eyes, Celia chewed on the inside of her lip, trying to force back the tears. "Captain, I have three brothers. Which one-" Glidrick glanced down at the datapad. "It's Raine," he said. "Your father said there are more details on this holo that accompanied the message I received. Take all the time you need, Celia. I'm truly sorry."

"Thank you, sir," Celia replied numbly, taking the holo from him.

She rose slowly from the chair and somehow managed to find her way to her quarters. Alone, Celia listened to the message. When it ended, she paused it, staring at her father's frozen holo image. The small room seemed tO close in around her.

Unconsciously, Celia ran her hand back and forth across her holster, then downward, brushing against her soft leather boot. She unsheathed the knife hidden there.

It had been a special gift from Raine, one he had given to her the night before he'd left for his last term of service.

Sitting beneath Lankashiir's star-filled skies, they had reminisced about the good times they'd had exploring the forests of their homeworld.

She turned the knife over several times. Light from the holo image touched the steel gray blade and cascaded across the desk. Her small hand melded perfectly around its handle which was carved from rare ebon. She studied the flaming red jewel embedded just above the blade, watched it sparkle brilliantly even in the dimly lit cabin.

Good memories seemed no more than a distant echo now. Celia set the knife down, rubbed her hand wearily across her brow and clicked on her father's message again.

"Your brother Raine has been killed by Rebel forces on the planet Ralltiir," the figure in the holo said. Reise Durasha looked much older, and much thinner than when she'd seen him last. His gray-green Imperial Army uniform seemed to hang loosely on his bent frame. Dark shadows ringed his eyes. "I know how close you and Raine were..."

Celia buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.

Emotionally exhausted, numb with grief, sleep finally ended her pain.

When the cabin intercom buzzed more than an hour later, she awoke suddenly. Slowly, she reached over and clicked it on.

"Durasha here," she said wearily.

"Celia, I thought we had a game this evening."

She stared blankly at the comm panel.

"Celia?" the Chief called again, more insistently.

"Oh, Chief," she finally said, "I forgot."

"Is everything all right?" he asked. "We don't have to play tonight-"

"No, just give me a few minutes.

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