The Fett Dynasty, Episode One of a Trilogy
The Devil's Due, Part 2
He continued to watch her still form through the dark visor of his helm. After several minutes, he reached up to the side of his helm and flicked a tiny switch. Standing slowly as not to disturb her, he silently crossed the room and picked up the satchel, his blaster. Without turning toward her again, Boba Fett, in his silent predator manner, strode through the door.
* * *
With a long deep breath, I’Lai opened her eyes. Staring momentarily to the ceiling, she turned her resting head to the other side of the silk laden bed. It was empty.
She slowly raised herself to one elbow and drowsily scanned the chamber. As her eyes adjusted to the artificial light of natural morning, she noted her gown, shoes, and jewelry had been folded anacedaced neatly upon the seat of the large chair. But there were no signs of the Mandelorian armor or its owner anywhere.
She sat up, holding the sheets to her breast, listening to the cold silence of the room. She pulled her legs up and bowed her head, resting it on her knees, and her eyes attempted to squeezed back her tears. The thought echoed through her mind, over and over…
She would never see him again.
Her head snapped up when I’Lai heard the loud interruption of the entry buzzer. Pulling the sheet around her, she stepped he fhe floor and made her way to the door, pressing the entry button.
Admiral Piett and two stormtroopers stood in the entryway.
“My Lady. I have come to escort you back to your suite”, Piett announced. When Piett saw I’Lai wearing nothing but a sheet she held to her breast, she saw the red hue of his blush start from the stiff collar of his uniform spread up to his face. He abruptly turned and snapped his fingers at one of the troopers, who handed him a folded pile of fabrics. “His Excellency bade us to bring you fresh clothes for the morning, and stated that breakfast is waiting and he is eagerly awaiting your return.”
“I thank you humbly for your kindness, Admiral”, I’Lai replied in turn. She pausedore ore adding, “Admiral, may I speak to you for a moment? In private?” She turned and walked toward the wall of windows, the sheet dropped low upon her hips and her hair spilling down her back.
Admiral Piett tried to clear the discomfort from his throat as he stepped forward. He heard a low electronic chuckle behind him, and turned around. “Show some respect, you bastards!” he spat in a hoarse whisper. The stormtroopers fell silent.
I’Lai stood in front of the huge windows, framed by the passing stars streaking by. Piett stepped into the room and stood just in front of the doors, still holding the clothes he had brought for her.
After a long silent pause, I’Lai finally spoke. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”
Piett took in a long breath and let it out in a sigh. “Yes, madam. An hour ago. He left without clearance, injuring two of my technicians in the process.” He cleared his throat again, then added, “Lord Vader is not pleased.”
Piett heard a bitter laugh quietly erupt from I’Lai’s throat. She turned her head over her shoulder and said in a disgusted growl, “Ah, yes, Lord Vader…we don’t want to upset Lord Vader now, do we?” She turned completely around to see the stunned look on Piett’s face. She knew it would be wise to share Piett’s terror of Darth Vader, but I’Lai found she no longer feared the Lord of the Sith. Not anymore.
“Admiral…did you know about this arrangement when you brought me here last night?”
The Admiral straightened himself up and met I’Lai’s eyes. He now completely understood why the Lady I’Lai seemed irresistible to everyone she encountered. It was not just her beauty and manners—it was her innocence, her honesty, her courage that drew people to her. She seemed to be a magnet that pulled at a man’s very soul. He couldn’t bring himself to lie to her.
“Yes, Madam. I was commanded to secrecy by Lord Vader.”
I’Lai took a long breath. Still staring into Piett’s eyes, she asked, quietly and simply, “Why did he do this?”
“I…I do not know why, Madam.” There was a pause before Piett asked, “Madam, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course, Admiral.”
“Are you…all right?”
I’Lai’s mouth curved into a soft smile as she walked toward Admiral Piett. Still holding the sheet to her breasts with one hand, she gently laid her other on the Admiral’s arm. “I’m fine, Admiral. I’m…fine.”
* * *
Boba Fett had finished punching in the Tatooine coordinates into the navigational console. As he pulled his hand back, he noticed the stiffness that had developed in his shoulder. Annoyed, he rolled his shoulder back and forth within the socket, trying to loosen it. He had obviously pulled a tendon when he threw the dock technician who was trying to stop his departure off the roof of his ship by the hair…
The vastness of space spread out before him, silent and cold. It would be two days before he would reach the proper coordinates for his jump to hyperspace. He stared out into the void momentarily, then reached up and clicked the tiny switch on the side of his helmet again. Within the screen of his visor, a tiny three-dimensional holographic image flickered into clarity. Fett leaned back in his pilot’s seat and, once again, watched the Lady I’Ln drn dreamful slumber against a bed of stars…
Epilogue
“I’m FINE!” I’Lai snapped as the medi-droid pushed her once again into the pillows of her massive fur-strewn bed. She huffed and folded her arms over her breast. “My word, everyone is making a horrible fuss over a little dizzy spell.”
The medi-droid’s gears whirred quietly as it turned its head toward I’Lai. “Your Ladyship, it was a bit more than a dizzy spell. You lost consciousness atop your mount and fell off in the middle of the camp square. Three miners had to catch you.” The droid turned toward the small table next to the bed and grasped a glass of water with its gripping appendage. It handed the water to I’Lai, who, pouting, hastily took it and drank it down. “Maybe this will teach you to slow down a bit, madam. You take on too much, running the manor and mining operation in the Grand Moff’s absence AND overseeing the construction of the new hospital. You have associates to do this type of work. I suggest you use them. And I’ve heard around the manor that you haven’t been sleeping and seem distracted.”
I’Lai smiled a tight sarcastic smile and retorted, “You’re right, Ten-C-Four. I am a little tired, and hence I became a little dizzy. And now that I have had some rest here, I feel quite well and ready to prepare the household for Master Denivrian’s homecoming this evening…” She tried to bolt up from the bed only to have Ten-C-Four’s appendage push her down again and hold her there.
“Doctor’s orders, Madam. You must rest until the doctor comes back with his test results.” The droid noticed the fuming green slits I’Lai’s eyes had become and added, “And angry looks do not work on me, Madam.”
At that moment, Dr. Him’bron entered the bedchamber, carrying a small medi-console in his hand. I’Lai breathed a sign of relief. “Oh good, Doctor, you’re back. Will you kindly inform my mechanical nursemaid here that I am absolutely fine and ready to assume my duties?”
The doctor sat on the edge of the bed, waving the medi-droid away. A warm, fatherly smile spread across his face as he stated, “Oh, Lady I’Lai, I would say that you are more than fine. In fact, His Excellency may call for a month’s celebration when he sees the results of your tests.”
I’Lai furrowed her brow. “And why would he do that, Dr. Him’bron? I do not understand.”
Him’bron reached over and took her hand, beaming like a child about to open a long-awaited gift.
“You are pregnant, Lady I’Lai. With a son.”