A True Test

The space ship hummed softly as it traveled through the hyper lane. I sat on the floor of my spartan room aboard the ship, waiting, meditating on my purpose. Three days ago my master Malcador gave my my orders. An assignment after 13 years of training. A true test.

He came to me in the night, I was camping outside of a temple. How he found me I may never know, but he did, he always found me. "How would you like to prove yourself?" His voice echoed through his terrible mask. He never took off his bone white mask or black cloak, at least not around me. He was too tall to be a human, his hands too long, and his voice too inherently alien.

"What would you have me do?" I asked.

"There is a girl, now become a woman, a padawan of growing renown, she has a special power of which I am highly interested," Malcador said, "Fetch her or kill her."

"I thought you were interested," I said.

"I am," Malcador said, "but she is better dead than in the hands of the Jedi."

"You said she is a padawan," I said, "who is her master?"

"Old and broken, Fi Jerrick, Jedi Master through age rather than competence. He is taking her to explore some ruins in the territories at the edge of the Republic's control." Malcador said, "There next stop will be the moon of Segunda Valoran in four days time."

"How will I get there," I asked.

"I don't know," Malcador said, "How will you?"

Segunda Valoran was two systems away, my little hopper wouldn't be able to make the journey period much less in a few days. I would need transport. It was still Republic territory, if on the border so I couldn't just hitch a ride with an Imperial ship. They did have a trade agreement with a nearby planet on the Imperial side of the border.

"I'll stowaway on an Imperial ship to Palados then jump on civilian transport to Segunda Valoran," I said.

I could almost hear Malcador's awful grin behind his mask, "Daring plan to stowaway on Imperial transport for the entire way to Palados, especially since they have new procedures after a Republic spy was found aboard the Heaven's Hammer."

I hadn't heard of new procedures and while I was confident in my sneaking I wasn't sure I could manage to be invisible on a warship on high alert for what would be a three day trip. My discomfort must have shown on my face and my master said, "Perhaps not?"

His tone dripped with self-satisfaction.

I glared at him, "How do you recommend I go on this particular **** then."

"Perhaps with the ship I've hired for you," Malcador said.

"You've hired a ship," I questioned my master.

Again I could hear the self-satisfaction in his voice, "I have."

"Why?"

For a moment there was quiet between us, the fire we sat around crackled and the wind blew softly in my ears. A volkhind howled at the moon in the distance and was answered by his pack in turn. The firelight flickered on Malcador's mask and the hollow eye slits seemed to stare into my soul.

Then, finally, he spoke, "Tensions are rising after your last little test," I had been ordered to kill an Imperial aristocrat who was speaking out loudly against the Republic, I had framed the Republic for his ****, "It has become more difficult to position you for your tasks my young apprentice."

"So I get a ship?"

"And a crew," Malcador said, "And a new name."

"What name?"

"Your name is now Rune Electan," out of his robes Malcador produced a booklet, "You are offically an officer in the office of Imperial Naval Intelligence on special assignment under me."

"This will draw eyes on you," I said.

"Yes," Malcador said, "but soon I intend for you to cut out those prying eyes."

Malcador stood and the sand underneath him showed no sign of his passing, "Your new crew will await you at the nearest starport."

I caught the word of thanks before it left my mouth. He wasn't gifting me a ship and crew for my comfort or because he had some affection for me, it was so I could be useful. So he could properly position his weapon at the throats of his enemies. He left in the moment of silence and faded into darkness in a heartbeat.

A knock on the door of my cabin shook me from my remembrance.

"Sir," a woman's voice spoke on the other side of the door, "We are approaching Segunda Valoran now and the Republic is requesting to inspect our ship." It was the first mate of the ship, Valena Karan was her name. She was pretty, blonde, athletic build, and with that cute accent those born in the nicer parts of the Empire always seem to have. I stood and opened the door.

We stood face-to-face mere inches apart for a moment, her eyes went ever so wide, she hid her surprise well at my sudden appearance. But I caught her eyes briefly glance down at my bare chest and the small blush that spread over her cheeks. She was quick to snap to attention though and she said, "What would you like us to do."

I looked her up and down appreciating how she squirmed under my gaze, she was dressed in civilian attire as all of the crew had been ordered too. The ship was to be a civilian cargo vessel and the crew civilian transport specialists.

"Tell the Captain to prepare to be boarded," I said, "We have nothing to hide from our friends in the Republic."