Please note that all standard disclaimers apply.
The Story of Idnarb de Oy:
Queen of the Pirates
by BAS
Part One
Every debutante in Imperial City would have died for an invitation but only a select few were there. There they would make their socialite debut and Elizabeth would doubtlessly be crowned Rose Princess. It wasn’t merely vanity either, Elizabeth knew she was gorgeous because she was. She was dying to stun the crowed with her entrance. Nothing less than gasps would do, and by her appearance in the mirror, she knew she would receive them. As the only child of a powerful Imperial Grand Admiral, Elizabeth was a spoiled girl who always got her way. Nothing however was as dear to her as daddy.
A strong, handsome Imperial Officer, he gave his child, his daddy’s little girl, everything she had wanted since the death of her mother. Her pain was filled with anything money and power could provide. And they provided a lot. Elizabeth was the most popular girl she knew, although she had no real girl friends to claim. She knew they wanted to be around, to fawn on her, to be “in”.
The dress she was wearing was a stunning example of her father’s undying devotion to her. The amber droplets were each precious in themselves. From an Outer Rim world, they were some alien nation’s national treasure. When daddy had gone to put down the feeble rebel attempts there, he saw them and at once knew she must have them. If the dress itself didn’t shock, her form in to would. Daddy had even been invited to introduce his daughter to the Emperor.
“Ouch, clumsy oaf, watch it.” A small pin prick from Kila, fixing the hem of her dress had brought Elizabeth out of her thoughts. She was compelled to slap the girl for her clumsiness, but her sheer excitement and joy overcame the urge.
“Psssst, pssst, over hear.” The strong masculine voice came from the window where Crai Finelew sat perched.
“Wow!!! You look incredible!” Elizabeth blushed slightly, not out of compliment but practice.
“Shooo! Shoo! You know you notta to be here!” Kila admonished the boy, and Elizabeth let her. He looked unusually handsome today with his deep brown eyes and strong body. He was by far the most desired youth around, and all hers. Since the two had laid eyes on each other they had been inseparable. He was her only true friend. Handsome, rich and an up and coming in the Imperial Academy he was a match perfect for her. He was to be her escort this evening. Each debutante walked down an isle, red carpet style, with throngs of people on each side viewing the beautiful girls. Crai was to be her escort. They had never really dated, it wouldn’t be permitted until after her coming out, but the two enjoyed their secret love life. Around him, she could be quiet and calm, she never felt as if she had to act for him. He loved her for her, not her money, or power or beauty, but her insides.. something Elizabeth only knew in her dear father.
“Come on, leave you before I call a guard...” Kila was insistent.
“Ok, ok, I’m leaving.... see you tonight my princess.”
“Oh Kila, be nice to him.” Elizabeth threw her head back and laughed.
“Well, my mistress you look like a dream, you will win the hearts of everyone there.”
“I know..... I know....”
Later that evening a gift arrived from daddy. Elizabeth hoped against hope he would be there tonight but this new project of his took all his time. He thought she knew nothing of it but she was well aware of more than she should have been aware of. It didn’t matter thought, death, moon, star, what ever, it wouldn’t be the same without her daddy.
The box was a small one, wrapped in pink ribbon. When she opened it she found an amber teardrop ring, perfectly matched to her dress. “Oh daddy, where ever you are, its’ beautiful.” She slipped it on her delicate finger.
**********
Later that hour several large military vehicles began to gather outside the pageant hall. Elizabeth wondered what on Coruscant their purpose was. She observed them as they talked and split up, surrounding the building. A frantic knocking came at the door.
“Kila...Kila.” The girl was nowhere to be found. Elizabeth grudgingly got up from her boudoir and answered the knock.
Crai Finelew burst in looking frantic and haggard.
“Crai, you know better, how did you get in here?”
Crai pushed past her frantically searching the room....
“Crai...... Crai........ CRAI! Just what are you doing? How did you get in here?”
“Quiet Liz..... did you get any messages this evening?”
“Why, no, Crai just what are you doing?”
Crai gripped her by the wrist and wrenched her out of her room and down the hall.
“Ouch, that hurts, Crai stop...”
He ignored her totally and led her to the back of the building and down into the basement.
“Crai, enough! What are you doing.....”
“Quiet!”
“Oh , I get it.... my dashing hero.... how ever can I, um... thank you...”
“Shut up Liz, this is no joke... we’ve got to get you out of here.”
“Crai, how dare you... I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Huh?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Why of course.....”
He cut her off abruptly, “Ten just do as I say....”
He again grabbed he wrist and led her down a dark hallway. The old buildings around the palace had endless secret passageways and tunnels. As they were travelling into one of them, Elizabeth’s dress caught onto an old piece of rusted metal, sending the amber drops spilling.....
“Ah! Oh my, my poor dress, I’ll never fix this... Crai, look what you’ve done.... I’ll never speak to you again, do you hear me never.....”
Before he could respond a loud crash reverberated though the walls sending the weak tunnel walls to crumble on top of them.
“Good,” Crai said, “now they can’t follow us, their own folly....”
“Good???!!!! My dress, my hair.. AHHH! I’m bleeding.... Crai Finelew I’m not moving another step till you tell me what’s going on.”
Elizabeth sat in a pile of debris, dirty and scuffed from the explosions above them.
Crai stepped forward and helped her up.
“Did you receive any messages?”
“I told you no.....”
“Anything.....?”
“Well, daddy sent me this,” she said holding out her hand. Crai ripped the jewel from her finger.
“Hey!”
“Yup, this would do it.....look Liz, I don’t know how to tell you this, just be glad your safe.”
“What.” Crai hesitated and then spurted out.....
“Your father is.....dead.”
“What!!!!”
“More than that, he’s a traitor.”
Elizabeth’s hand flew across his face leaving a muddy print. “Crai... how dare you....” her voice was faltering and tears where smearing her makeup.
“Look, that project he was working on.... he... he... he helped the dissidents get information on it. They caught him but not before he was able to get away. He’s been working for the rebels for a while.... and they found out.......”
Crai went on and on, but she heard nothing except the pounding of her head from the
fast and furious tears.... “Liar, liar,” she tried to scream but they only came out a faint whisper.” She felt as if a knife had torn out her heart.
“Liz, I’m sorry. I’m’ still here for you, I’ll get you out of this. Here look close, this ring...” He turned it on its side and split the jewel in two, like a peanut. Inside was a small microchip. It shattered any hope Liz had of exonerating her father. She understood, perhaps she’d known all along.....perhaps she’d been a fool, secure in her own little world.
The two raced along the passages in silence and out into space unnoticed. Crai had as many “connection” as she did. They were leaving the planets orbit, when they were spotted. Crai was an incredible pilot and manoeuvred around every TIE they had... it would only be a matter of minutes before they could reach hyperspace. Liz sat buckled in staring into space in a catatonic state, noticing nothing around her.
5....
4....
3....
2....
A blast rocked the ship sending Crai flying across the cockpit and hitting his head on one of the ships gizmos. Elizabeth knew nothing of mechanical ways.
1......
The space around them dissolved and all was quiet. Elizabeth unbuckled and went to help Crai up.
“That was amazing Crai, I never knew you.....”
“Crai......... Crai............... CRAI!!!!!”
A small pool of blood wet her satin shoes, staining them red.
“Oh, my God, what am I to do.. Crai, wake up.. can you hear me......”
He made no response.... The ship came out of hyperspace and set itself on autopilot. Alarms went off everywhere, red, blue green, lights blinking.... but all Elizabeth heard was the sound of her own voice, wailing and crying. All she saw was Crai’s dress shirt, slowly growing from white to red from the ever increasing pool of blood as she hung her head over his lifeless body that she held tightly and rocked........
**********
She was saved by a passing ship which found her passed out, still lying over Crai’s lifeless body. She was alone. She was angry. She hated the Imperial world that killed the only two people she ever loved. She hated the rebels for corrupting her perfect father. She hated the all mighty for everything. She could no longer be Elizabeth. She was no longer rich, or powerful or at home anyw here. She would have to somehow start anew, or, hopefully and mercifully die. Where her heart once beat was a cold spot. Full of hatred. Cold and bleak, reflecting all light, like her amulet..... Had “he” known all along.....no it was something else. She felt a cold shiver through her spine. She fingered the back pearl.... no, it was something else those empty eyes saw where they searched her soul that day.... something completely different.......
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