Part 2 (2/2)
”All the more reason for proper supervision,” the nanny droid said.
”Under my charge, children behave with the utmost decorum. An outdated protocol model like the one you have guarding the children obviously cannot control them. You need experience-”
”Yes, you do.” Winter crossed her arms over her chest. ”Have you ever reared Force-sensitive children before?”
”Children are children,” the nanny droid said. ”No matter what their special talents. In my experience, oversensitivity can be related to a lack of discipline-”
”I thought you hadn't,” Winter said. ”3PO has done well with the singular challenges these children have presented him. All in all, I believe a nanny droid would be a disaster, both for the children, and for the adults.”
”Are you dismissing me?” the nanny droid asked.
”You were ordered here by a child,” Winter said.
”That was someone else!” Anakin yelled from inside the room.
Jaina put her hands over her mouth. Jacen went back into the nursery.
”Anakin, no sense lying about it. The code gave you away. And now we can't use it anymore.”
”I should say not,” 3PO said. ”Imagine children with access to the shopping nets. What will they think of next?”
”Something equally outrageous,” Winter said, her gaze still on the nanny droid. The droid hadn't moved. ”TD-L3.5, you have no place here. I am dismissing you.”
”Forgive me, Mistress,” the nanny droid said. ”I do believe you're making a mistake.”
”How exceptionally rude,” 3PO said. ”Mistress Winter has charge of these children-”
”I'll handle it, 3PO.” Winter was smiling now. ”I will make note of your complaint,” she said to the nanny droid. ”It will go into the file.” The nanny droid made a soft sound of disgust. Then her body swiveled, and she rolled out of the anteroom, the door sliding shut behind her.
”File?” 3PO asked. ”I didn't know you kept files.”
”I don't,” Winter said.
”What were you thinking?” Jacen asked, his voice carrying through the open door.
”The holo was pretty,” Anakin said.
Winter smiled at 3PO, then started for the nursery to settle the building dispute. ”Anakin's life was once saved by a nanny droid, you know. He might have been simply wis.h.i.+ng for the security of his babyhood.”
”I am not-” Anakin started and then stopped as if his voice caught in his throat. 3PO hurried into the nursery. Anakin's face had gone white.
”What is it?” Winter asked.
Jacen and Jaina had frozen in place. Their eyes widened, and then, in unison, all three children began to scream.
FOUR.
Kueller strode across the hangar, his boots clanging on the metal.
Technicians prostrated themselves before him, their gloved hands extended on the webbing. He walked so close to the group on the left that the hem of his cape brushed their skulls. The death's-head mask adhered to his skin, giving him comfort, giving him power.
”I need a s.h.i.+p,” he said, his Force-strengthened voice echoing in the large room. It was empty except for three TIE fighters in various states of repair.
”Prepared, milord.” His faithful a.s.sistant, Femon, rose to her feet. Her long black hair hid her unnaturally pale face. With a flick of her head, she flipped the hair aside, revealing kohl-blackened eyes and blood-red lips. She had made her own face into a death mask that looked less realistic than his.
Kueller nodded. No one else moved. ”Brakiss?”
”Gone, milord.”
”He wasted no time.”
”He said he had your permission.”
”You didn't check?” Femon smiled. ”I always check.”
”Good.” Kueller caressed the word. Femon straightened beneath his praise, as she always did. If she weren't so capable, he would...
He let the thought fade. No distractions, not even of the pleasant sort.
”Any reports from Pydyr?”
”One thousand people are imprisoned in their homes, as per your command,”
she said.
”Destruction?”
”None.” The word hung between them.
He allowed himself to smile, knowing that the expression chilled even his hardest followers. ”Excellent. Loss of life?” She clasped her hands behind her back, taming her silver cape and outlining her willowy form.
”One million, six hundred and fifty-one thousand, three hundred and five, milord.”
”Exactly as planned,” he said.
”To a person. You'll be investigating?”
”I always check,” he said, throwing her words back at her.
She smiled. The expression softened her face despite her attempts otherwise. ”Permission to accompany you?” For a moment, he hesitated. She had been with him from the beginning. This part of the plan had been as much hers as his. ”Not yet,” he said. ”I have need of you here.”
”I thought we would wait for Phase 2.”
”Oh, no,” he said, purposely gentling his tone. ”The wheels are rolling.
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