I can't thank you guys enough all around for your support. It has moved me to tears. I had no idea this would take off but I wanted to say I am grateful for each and every one of you. I only hope you'll continue this journey with me as we travel with Vader and Ayen on their adventures yet to come...

【Ｌｏｃａｔｉｏｎ：
Ｌｏｒｄ　Ｖａｄｅｒ＇ｓ　
Ｌａｍbｄａ－ｃｌａｓｓ　
ｓｈｕｔｔｌｅ

Ａｒｋａｎｉｓ　ｓｅｃｔｏｒ】

THE GLEAMING HULL OF THE LAMBDA-CLASS SHUTTLE ROARED THROUGH THE yawning, inked chasm. Ayen could feel the oscillations through the ships structure upon propelled acceleration. Vibrating beneath the soles of her boots, she took a breath as the subtle turn of gravity pushed her back against the seat. Her hands grasped unto the chromium handles of the co-pilot seat, her eyes fixed to the glowing azure screen of the navicomputer.

The holographic display had switched over from the ship's statistics to navigational star systems. Sensor readouts darted across the screen summarily to a large planet. Just as the weather conditions for planetary landing were displayed, a name darted across the screen.

Arkanis.

Were they... actually landing here?

Ayen felt her breath pitch as her head snapped to the imposing pilot beside her. "You're not... expecting me to land are you?"

He'd barely given her enough time to strap in before he'd tore out of the station. Since she hadn't dared usher another word lest she suffer the consequences. The Sith had been in a coarse mood that brokered no argument.

  Finally, he spoke in a deep, gruff voice, the sharp cut of his jaw barely shifting beneath his hood. "We are in the barricades so behind the Empire's stationed checkpoints. You'll do fine."

What?!

"Wha...what?" The words tumbled from her lips, hooded eyes from lack of sleep widening a fraction. The contents from last night threatened to surface and twisted her gut. She licked her lips, her breaths shallowing. "Please, V—I mean, my Lord, tell me this is just a test."

The words Vader nearly slipped from her lips, his head sharply pivoting in her direction. It grew grown colder than the abysmal void of space. Eyes burned a smoldered ochre as they locked on hers. "Remember who you're addressing, Lieutenant. I have zero patience for your insolence."

Well, she had zero patience for his attitude. It was beginning to grate on her nerves. She wished for just a moment he was a little more sympathetic to her plight. The week had already been hell. He wasn't making their situation any better being crammed together in a ship with this amount of tension.

She rubbed her eyes tiredly, flexing her jaw. "Forgive me, I haven't had any caf."

"You know your place, I don't need to reiterate that for you."

"Must you be so frustrating!" She unclipped herself and threw the straps against the seat with such vigor the sharp snap of the belt resounded.

  Vader's gloved hand instinctively shot to the hilt of his lightsaber by practiced reflex.

  The abrupt move had her throwing her back against the hull, palms clammy.

In seconds the Sith had switched on the stabilizers before he'd ripped himself from his chair. A leather sheathed hand slammed against the wall, barricading her in with the cybernetic of his opposite. Their breaths mirrored each other's rhythm, their chests rising in near synchrony.

  Ayen could practically taste the darkness emanating off of him, his sharp undulating breaths pitched across her lips.

From this angle, she could see a prominent muscle feather in his jaw, tongue against cheek. His eyes appeared drawn closed, as if he were using every ounce of his willpower to refrain from lashing out. The angle in which the ship was, outlined an angular cheekbone in the pale starlight, down to the curve of bowed lips.

In contrast to the cold beneath her fingertips—there was no question of the rage that pulsed hot and thick through his veins. All of which she'd perceive in the burn of his gaze the moment they flashed open.

  The colors of his eyes were both rich and yet vast; a multi-layered spectrum when his rage surfaced. However, in that second it seemed to disperse, the variegated hints of orange simmering to a tone of ochre.

His moods had just shifted and she couldn't bring herself to look away. Even when she felt the impression of a thumb graze the hollow of her neck. Saliva thickly coated the back of her throat while she swallowed, tongue pressed to the roof of her mouth.

Her own temper that had flared, receded. Newfound challenge, sparking to the forefront. The fear ebbed and her stance hardened, slowly craning her neck up to meet his gaze head on.

To the galaxy, he was nefarious in every conceivable way. Yet, not once had he unleashed such infamous wrath that buckled thousands across systems—on her. She had been exposed to various degrees of his temper, she just one out of the hundreds of technicians under him and easily disposable.

  Or was she?

  Was she more of an asset than he led on? Why else would he, a renowned Sith in the Empire train a subordinate far beneath his rank? She was no fool; there were higher-up officials for that.

  She was a Lieutenant for kriff sakes. In reality, that they lived in two worlds far apart.

Why?

  That inkling of curiosity propelled her actions as their eyes locked on each other, a sudden boldness tempered under authority taking hold, urging her just a sliver forward. "Going to punish me now, I just a lowly tech, Lord Vader?"

  His jaw clenched with a sharp inhale through flared nostrils. Azure lights off the ship flickered in his gaze. "Are you challenging me, Lieutenant?"

  There was a small whisp of breath that floated from her lips. Her fingers curled into fists with a slight bite in her words. "Haven't you already read it from my mind, my Lord?"

  "Tear down those thin walls in your mind like I do with others? Tsk, such tongue." He increased the pressure of his thumb against her throat by a degree, his chin tilted up rather than meeting her gaze in equal measure, "Is that what you want, Lieutenant, do you like pain?"

The corner of her eye twitched. The curve of her jaw was angled just a fraction while she stared up at him. "I think we both know I have a high tolerance given my background."

"Hm. Perhaps I should punish you then for untoward conduct."

  She wasn't sure whether it was due to the stressed schedule that had given her this vestige of courage, her hand atop his within the next second, now braced against her neck. The leather was pliable and warm beneath her curled fingers. He wasn't cold-blooded but he appeared to have abilities that manipulated the environment around them.

  She assumed it was through the Force. "Then why haven't you, my Lord?"

  He seemed to grit out his next words with a hint of mockery. "Perhaps I have been testing you."

  "I think that was proven when you had me fly your ship inexperienced with a concussion." Her eyes searched those molten eyes now with an arched brow.

  "And you more than handled it, or do you question my abilities to read you?" he responded in a lowered tone.

An unexpected shiver wracked down her spine at the level of intensity that practically crackled between them. It was like she'd been swallowed by nightfall—dark but not cold. There was a mystique about him that set him apart from the menacing, formidable figure on station. It was consuming, unnerving, and somehow just as captivating.

  She'd scraped at his— dare she say—cocky composure, but it wasn't enough to evoke his lethality. Suddenly, she found herself at a loss for words. Confused. Frustrated. She didn't wish to rattle him further, and her voice softened with a drop of her chin. "I... don't know what to say to that."

  Her hand fell away, her stance loosening in an act of subtle subservience.

  But it did not escape the perceptive Sith seemingly honed on her every move. Yet he mirrored her actions and slowly stepped back with a cleared throat. "Arkanis is a one klik away. I've been to the Academy there many times on surface. Scaparus Port is where we are landing; a fishing village just on the outskirts for a supply run."

  An exasperated sigh escaped her lips, rubbing a hand across her forehead. "You do realize I never went to a naval academy. I'm not a pilot, so I may very well kill us both."

  "I am willing to take the risk. Now, sit down, Lieutenant. We're both on borrowed time before I have to return."

  I think I'd rather take a punishment and decipher codes for a cycle straight.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and sat down, her posture rigid. Forcibly shoving back many tumultuous thoughts that itched beneath the skin she winced, setting her hands on the control panel. Instead of sitting beside her, Vader hovered behind her like a specter, his arms crossed while manning the helm.

  "Now, turn off the stabilizers and get ready to take hold of the control yoke." Even from behind, the baritone of his voice bellowed with overt authority.

  It seemingly whispered over her shaking hands that grasped the control yoke.

  "Turn off the stabilizers."

  Ayen felt the weight of his gaze and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her brows furrowed, and her eyes flashed open with newfound determination.

  I... can do this.

  She switched off the stabilizers, immediately feeling the questionable balance of the ship.

  "Yes," came Vader's voice with cool, unsettling calmness in stark contrast to earliers demeanor. It took her back to that week before when he'd guided her with such sharp precision. "It obeys your commands. You must learn to control it."

  She would not send this ship hurtling backward. She grasped the throttle, her knuckles bone white and lightly pushed forward.

  The ship rumbled with reluctant grace as it jolted forward.

  "Easy," Vader emphasized before placing a leather-clad hand upon hers. "You're veering off course. Between three o' clock and twelve. Like this." He exerted a subtle pressure, and the engine purred beneath them, the stars ahead blazing brilliantly.

  Now that she had a moment to take in the view, it truly enamored her. "Whoa..."

  "Focus, Lieutenant."

  Although Ayen struggled to grasp the rudiments of piloting, Vader's instruction remained unyielding and steady. Once the planet of Arkanis encompassed the viewport before them, his demeanor slightly hardened while the maneuvers became more complex. Yet his grip never relented, giving her the confidence to keep a firm hand on the throttle while starting their slow descent.

  "Prepare for planetary descent," he announced.

  Ayen glanced at him with a raised brow before fully taking in the mesmerizing array of verdant archipelagos spread across large bodies of water. Dense bands of swirling clouds of beige and earl- grey reflected the temperate climate, the spherical planet seemingly outlined in silver starlight. It swiftly encompassed their surroundings, Ayen taking a breath in preparation for the landing to come.

  "Stretch her legs, Lieutenant Ayen, and prepare for a swift landing."

I apologize this chapter was a little shorter than anticipated. I really wanted to take a break and write in the tension that isn't taken away on their next venture.

Empire Day is coming up soooooooon.

So what were your favorite scenes in this? Remember it's still a slow burn so there's no unrequited bouts of love yet.

ILY!