A bright sunny day on the city planet Coruscant. The sky rose
high and open, light glinting off the buildings in sharp rays. The
morning heat rolled lazily in slow folds from the buildings in attempts
to settle on the ground, only to be lifted again by the feint winds
and deposited amidst the ponderous shadows cast from nearby objects.
Smartly Darana Cairnfell made her way into the household,
pausing only briefly for the guards to verify her identity. She cast
her mind out over the house, locating all of her students and
operatives. Most of the newer and the younger ones were coming in
from the morning run, led this time by Rook. Eirc was in
the workout rooms. Talia seemed to be recovering from a late night of
decrypting messages. Darana could see the formulas swirling through
the other woman's mind. Morgen was already on her way down to the
breakfast table, the whole concept of teamwork being new to the thief
made Darana smile. So many came to her unaware of how to effect solid
teamwork.
Next her attention was drawn to Silver. Finally the young girl
was learning to stand on her own. She would be stable enough now to
endure the darker aspects of Sith training. Darana made a mental note
to speak with Anelis about enrolling the ex-slave in the Sith
academy.
Missing among the typical members was Sidra Roamstar, the
Mercenary now loyal to the house, kidnapped by Bobba Fett and Kylie
Renoran, now a Jedi Knight. Kylie had returned to the Jedi, at least
briefly. Avon was at her own house, tending to her own business set
down by the Emperor. Shade was off planet on assignment fomr Darana and
Takara was out checking on her own droid labs in the city.
Upon reaching her own rooms, Darana shrugged off the Heavy
Robes of her Red Guard Uniform and pulled on the less elaborate
jump suit most in the household wore. Just because she was no
longer on duty in the palace, did not mean she wasn't on duty here.
In fact in her house, everyone was always on duty. That was life.
Six AM. Time for breakfast. Easily she made her way upstairs to
the brightly lit dining area. She paused at the window, soaking up
the warmth, listening to the light chatter of the various members.
It was one of the rare days when most all the members were present.
Even Avon had decided to eat with them this day.
Finally Darana joined them at the table, her own breakfast in
hand. A sound from the hallway drew her attention. They all heard
it, and the chatter at the table died away quickly. Members
furtively glancing at each other as an unmistakable rhythmic sound,
grew closer. The sound of marching feet.
The confusion and anxiety around the table was palpable. Darana
was about to bring the house under control when events did it for
her.
A twin column of what were unmistakably Red Guardsmen stopped
at a full halt out side the main entrance to the dining room. At
an unspoken command they broke ranks. Half a dozen came into the
room, in full robes and armor while another half dozen or more
could be seen in the hall. A quick look at the other doors to the
room showed that there were now Guardsmen standing out side those
as well.
Ever so slightly Darana shifted in her chair, setting down the
fork and knife she had been using. All interest in breakfast now
lost. She was careful to project nothing to the rest of the house
as the Guard Captain, a man named Lamont, entered the room. The
heat from the new day still radiating from his uniform, and the
armor of his men.
Without hesitation Lamont withdrew a datapad and began reading,
he was stone faced, but he could not completely hide his
discomfort. His men, behind the face shields of their helmets were
unreadable. Lamont's tenor voice sliced though the silence of the
room.
"By Lawful Order of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Palpatine:
The entity known as The House of Darana also referred to as The
Household is hereby disbanded."
He paused for a breath, ignoring the unease of the room.
"The Lady Darana Surragar Cairnfell Arsein-Davis is ordered to
present herself to the throne Immediately."
"Those holding membership in The House of Darana will receive
a scheduled time to present themselves for reassignment."
The Captain finished reading the proclamation and looked up
from his datapad.
Darana betrayed no emotion outwardly, but those around the
table who knew her best could sense her disquiet. Without a word
she stood, and Lamont motioned for her to proceed him into the
hallway. The Guardsmen formed around here, and the group marched
away with the same rhythmic noise.
"Uh oh." Eric breathed into the silence.
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