A Victory-class Star Destroyer materialized from Hyperspace. The massive wedge-shaped war vessel dispersed the cloud of freighter craft orbiting Alderaan as a shark would drive away trout. The Star Destroyer settled into a graceful geo-synchronous orbit above the capital city of Aldera.

"It looks so peaceful, like a sunrise just after a rain storm," mused Captain Salvatore, his handsome face smiling beatifically upon the revolving green world below.

"It is a hotbed of rebellion, young Salvatore," corrected Admiral Dray, his gray, creased face frowning darkly. "Do not fall victim to Alderaan's false tranquility."

"I never underestimate an opponent, the Emperor himself briefed me before dispatching me here," replied the slender, raven-haired captain.

"You had an audience with His Majesty? A mere captain?"

"Captain of Imperial Intelligence, my section is in high regard with the Emperor's court," smiled Salvatore smugly.

The grizzled admiral's posture became slightly more diffident. "Shall I have a shuttle prepared for your landing?"

"Yes, please, Admiral," nodded Salvatore, his attention focused upon the spinning orb before him.

Dray nodded briskly and spun on one polished heel. Salvatore held his gloved hands behind his back, imagining that he could see Aldera far, far below. The young man smiled widely, the shark was about to go hunting.

***

Captain Salvatore took his time climbing down the shuttle's lowered ramp. The air was fresh and crisp, a far cry from Imperial City's polluted atmosphere. Salvatore regarded the small delegation approaching him, Alderaanian civic officials led by Jenna Antares, Senator Organa's senior aide. Salvatore admitted to himself that Jenna looked striking in a pure white robe with sky blue trim, the sides slit open to display slim legs sheathed in white hose. The breeze was quite strong as Jenna halted at the foot of the ramp and bowed formally, her midnight black hair flowing across her left shoulder. Salvatore nodded politely, an Imperial officer did not bow to anyone outside the Imperial court.

"We welcome you to Alderaan, Captain Salvatore," smiled Jenna.

Salvatore covertly studied Jenna's face and posture, she was courteous yet guarded, she knew the game and maintained her mask well.

"On behalf of the Emperor I accept your welcome, when will Senator Organa be able to speak with me?"

"There will be a formal dinner and gala this evening to welcome the Emperor's representative, the Senator will speak with you there."

"I had hoped for a more..discreet venue to conduct our discussion," said the captain while he followed Jenna across the landing pad.

"We are an open society, Captain, the Senator keeps no secrets from his people."

"But he does keep secrets from his Emperor, doesn't he?" retorted Salvatore, his gaze intent upon the young woman.

The captain complimented Jenna mentally again when she smoothly replied, "The Senator is a loyal subject of the Emperor, as is the planet Alderaan."

"The Emperor will be pleased to know that," nodded Salvatore.

The captain and the Alderaanian delegation filed into a waiting lift. The ivory doors slipped shut soundlessly, Jenna offered no conversation during the long descent.

***

Leia Organa blinked her heavy eyes open. She yawned widely and sat up, looking around the interior of the domed canvas tent. The professor was gone already, but he had left a pot of hot jala on the tiny portable heater. Leia scratched the top of her head before rising to pour herself a mug of the hot drink. The jala jolted the young woman into full alertness, she sipped from her mug while she slipped through the tent door.

The golden sun was still rising, turning the prairie into a vast canvas of waving green. The wind was scented with lilac and the rich, cloy aroma of the hissing grass. White flowers encircled a nearby pond, the blue water glittered like polished glass, reflecting the warm, morning light. Leia looked to her right, the Castle Lands stretched across the horizon, a long line of earth mounds, some almost a hundred feet high, smooth from the weathering of wind and rain. Professor Dyne said that these were the remains of an ancient Alderaanian civilization that had existed from the days of the Sith Wars. Strands of dark brown hair fluttered across Leia's young face, she brushed them away and swiftly finished her jala, the professor would be cross if she stayed in camp too long.

***

"Did you sleep well, Miss Organa?" inquired Professor Dyne as he made sketches of symbols that were chiseled across every wall of the domed, stone chamber, the man's voice coarse with age.

"Yes, Professor," grunted Leia, struggling with a heavy satchel of tools and notebooks.

"Excellent, we have much work today, young Leia," declared Professor Dyne, crossing the chamber to retrieve a lamp from Leia's satchel.

Leia and Dyne spent all morning recording the glyphs of the Castle. Leia was about to suggest a lunch break when a strong wind gushed into the central chamber.

"Who could that be?" glowered the silver-haired old man.

Leia hopped lightly from the rock shelf she had been crouching on and ran across the stone floor, "I'll go and see!"

The young woman stopped short at the Castle's arched entrance, her wide, brown eyes tracking the repulsor-lift as it settled onto the shifting grass. Leia walked up to the craft, Jenna slipped to the ground and nodded a terse greeting to the princess.

"Your father needs you back in Aldera, now."

"What's happened?"

"The Emperor has sent a hound from Imperial Intelligence to sniff around, your father wants you at the gala we're holding for the officer tonight."

"Of course," agreed Leia. "I better tell the Professor I'm leaving."

"I heard most of that," replied the old man from behind Leia. "Go on, Miss Organa."

Leia faced Dyne and reached out to take his gnarled hands. "Thank you, Professor, I learned a lot from you."

"May the Force be with you, young Leia," smiled Dyne affectionately.

***

Captain Salvatore tugged at the tight collar of his black dress uniform. The Senator's gala was a massive event, at least two hundred of the planet's dignitaries and social elite were in attendance, talking and dancing in an enormous gold-gilded audience hall of the Organa palace. The Senator had yet to arrive, Salvatore stood near a tall, arched window of clear crystal, nursing a slender flute of spring wine. Several of the ladies attending the gala eyed the Imperial captain speculatively, Salvatore flashed his most charming smile at the women who took his fancy.

A stunning redhead in a sheer emerald gown with a low-cut bodice and slitted sides swayed to Salvatore. The gorgeous, young woman took a flute of wine from a passing waitress and swallowed a mouthful before speaking.

"Report," murmured the captain, his eyes never leaving the guests.

"The rumors are true, Alderaan is re-arming and supporting the Rebellion. Patrols of the Tenth Fleet intercepted four unregistered convoys originating from this system loaded with food and supplies for the rebels," whispered the green-eyed woman as she entwined one of her arms around Salvatore's, her right hip brushing against the captain's body.

"A good start, but we need more before I make my report to the Emperor. Alderaan is a loud voice in the Senate, we can't move against it unless we have overwhelming evidence of treason."

"It's here, sir. Shall I move to phase three and infiltrate Bail Organa's staff?"

"I have another way to get the information we need," smiled Salvatore savagely. "Return to your post, you will be relieved shortly."

"Sir," breathed the young woman, planting a soft, seductive kiss on the captain's left cheek before she slid away from the black-garbed officer.

***

"What's taking you so long?" exclaimed Winter from the doorway of Princess Leia's bedchamber.

The 17-year old girl stood before her open closets dressed only in a pair of white lace panties, her hair already done up and veiled in a mantle of ivory pearls and diamonds.

Leia's young handmaiden marched from the door to the closet, her face stormy with frustration. "Your father's going to be very angry if you're late!"

"Nothing looks right!" protested Leia, her slim arms crossed beneath her small breasts.

"Here, put this on!" snapped Winter, snatching a sparkling white gown from the closet.

"Oh, very well!" sighed Leia dramatically, accepting the dress from her handmaiden.

Winter helped the young princess slip into the tight gown. She zipped the dress up and smoothed the fabric over Leia's little ass, Leia giggled.

"Be serious, this gala is important!" rebuked Winter, even though she wore a mischievous smile as well.

The two girls went to the vanity table so Winter could apply Leia's eye liner and lipstick. Leia pursed her violet-painted lips while looking at her friend, Winter grinned and kissed Leia on the mouth, a gentle touching of the lips that smoothed the moist lipstick. Leia reached for Winter's long skirt, hiking the garment up.

"Not now, you're going to be late, remember?" giggled Winter.

Leia kissed the handmaiden quickly before she rushed out of the bedchamber. Winter watched her princess leave, a fingertip caressing her violet-stained lips.

***

Leia was surprised to find Professor Dyne waiting for her in the foyer of her apartments.

"Professor! I thought you would stay in the Castle!" smiled the princess, taking the old man's hands and squeezing them.

"I have important information to share with you, young Leia," replied Dyne sternly.

"What is it?" frowned Leia, guiding the professor to a couch.

"Imperial Intelligence has traced the Rebellion to Alderaan, our allies in court have discovered one undercover agent, there will be more that we don't know about."

"Does Father know?"

"I've just spoken with him. He wanted me to warn you before you attend the gala. Be wary, young Leia, never underestimate the Empire."

"I won't," promised Leia, her eyes wide with trepidation.

"We won't be able to finish our field trip, I have to help find the other Imperial agents infiltrating the palace. You've been an excellent pupil, young Leia, you're bright and clever. I'm proud of you, my dear, never forget that."

"Dyne," murmured Leia, her eyes brimming with tears. She hugged the old man tightly, Dyne patted her back.

Professor Dyne rose from the couch, he bowed low to the princess before leaving the room. Leia stood and wiped at her eyes. The young woman pressed a palm to her stomach, fear twisted it, she was afraid of making a mistake and dooming her people to a life of servitude beneath the Empire's heavy heel.

***

Captain Salvatore tossed back the rest of his drink when Princess Leia entered the audience hall. The young woman was fetching, seducing her would not be an onerous task. The lean captain slipped through the milling guests and met Leia at the foot of the entrance stairs.

"Captain Salvatore of the Imperial Fleet, a pleasure to meet your Highness," smiled the officer, taking Leia's right hand and brushing her knuckles with his lips.

"Captain," blushed the young woman. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"

"I am merely a humble messenger, your Highness," shrugged Salvatore, placing his hand over Leia's and guiding her through the dense crowd. "I serve at the Emperor's pleasure."

The captain collected two flutes of wine and handed one to Leia. They walked through one of the towering gallery windows and stood near the carved stone railing of one of the outside balconies, the stars gleaming like bright jewels in the velvet night sky.

Leia allowed the cool night breeze to soothe her flushed, white skin. She dared brief glances at the silent Imperial captain while she sampled her glass of spring wine.

"If I am not too bold, what is it like to be a princess? I was not born into a noble family, I had to work hard to achieve my rank within the military, what does it mean to have royal blood?"

"In some ways I'm like you, Captain. Duty has been the guiding force of my life, I must always think of my people whenever I speak with dignitaries like yourself. I've had to work hard too, I have to be the perfect daughter, I must never embarrass my House or my world."

"It's not all galas and dresses, is it?" smiled Salvatore softly.

"No, it isn't," grinned Leia, daring to meet the Imperial officer's sharp eyes. He could be a spy, or an assassin, but for some reason she liked the captain, he understood her.

"Are those the royal gardens?" inquired Salvatore, indicating the wide, arranged lawns below the balcony.

"Yes, would you like to see them?" smiled the princess.

"Very much," nodded the captain, offering Leia his gloved hand. Leia tentatively took it and walked with Salvatore back into the noisy gala.

***

"We have a security breach in the palace data core," announced Jenna as she burst into Dyne's cluttered office.

"Did you warn the Guard?" demanded the old man, rising from his leather chair.

"Yes, but they haven't reported in yet."

"Report to Bail, I'll go check it out," said Dyne, retrieving a slender blaster pistol from his desk and thrusting it into one of the wide pockets of his long coat.

"Be careful, Dyne!" warned Jenna before she swept out of the office.

***

"The royal gardens were planted ten generations ago during the palace's second renovation. The Organas imported flowers and trees from across the galaxy, there isn't another garden like it in the entire star cluster," explained Leia, her right hand resting in one of Salvatore's.

"This is a nice pond," remarked the captain, admiring the school of glitterfish that swam lazily in the crystal clear water.

"Would you like to sit?" invited Leia, pointing at a nearby marble bench.

"Yes," smiled Salvatore, waiting for the princess to sit before he took his place beside her.

"Is it exciting to be in the Imperial Fleet?" asked the young girl breathlessly.

"It's very dangerous. I've had to fight smugglers, pirates, and spice traders, most of them become very desperate when I corner them. I've been in some very violent engagements, many friends lost their lives maintaining the peace."

"Were you frightened?" murmured Leia, her brown eyes wide.

"A little, but the Empire trains us well, I do my duty even when I'm afraid," smiled Salvatore.

Leia lowered her eyes, her skin flushed beneath the Imperial captain's scrutiny. Salvatore placed his hand on the girl's left thigh, when she didn't object he began to rub.

"We shouldn't, not here," whispered Leia.

"Do you know a place?"

"Winter and I, back behind that small garden terrace," murmured the girl, her cheeks bright pink.

Salvatore rose and gently pulled Leia to her feet. He led her to the terrace and walked behind it, the mound was covered in soft, trimmed grass. Out of sight of the palace, Salvatore took Leia's small shoulders and kissed her. Leia had to tilt her head back, she moaned softly as the officer embraced her, his hands slipping from her shoulders to her small buttocks. The princess rested her palms on the captain's firm chest, she trembled when she felt the man pull up her gown, baring her slim legs to the cool night breeze.

The captain lowered Leia onto the grassy slope, he pulled the white gown up over the girl's knees, then past her quivering thighs to her waist. Salvatore gently spread Leia's legs apart, she watched him with wide eyes, her breasts heaving. Isaac leaned forward between Leia's thighs, he licked them slowly, tugging down the panting girl's lace underwear. Leia lay on the blanket of grass while Salvatore pressed down on top of her, kissing her again, harder, more roughly. The Imperial officer pressed his mouth over Leia's throat, she buried her fingers in his black hair while he deftly caressed her pussy, touching it in ways Winter never had, his strong fingers pushing into her vagina, making her wet and feverish with lust.

Salvatore knelt up to unbuckle his slacks. Leia watched the man drop his trousers, his cock a huge, strange shaft that pulsed and shivered between her open legs. The captain grabbed Leia's thighs, he shoved himself inside the girl. Leia moaned, pain crossing her face as Salvatore broke her hymen. Isaac didn't look at Leia as he rammed his cock into her cunt, he stared above her, grunting while he thrust harder and harder, pinning the small princess to the earth. Leia pushed on Salvatore's chest with her hands, her pussy hurt from the constant stabs of the man's thick prick. Salvatore bucked faster against Leia, she bit her lip as his crotch smashed into hers, his member swelling inside her pussy, throbbing, ready to burst.

Leia moaned and threw back her head when Salvatore orgasmed inside her belly, cum flooding her vagina, then spilling down her outspread thighs. The princess was perspiring, her face gleamed, her hair had become unbound, damp with sweat from the writhing she had done.

***

The loud crack of blaster bolts reverberated through the dark passageway. Dyne never saw the killing blow, he only heard the sharp hiss of a bright blade, then there was nothing.

***

The soft tapping of a fingernail on glass jolted Captain Salvatore awake. First, he made sure that Leia was still sleeping, nestled in the crook of his right arm, her nude body warm against his. Second, the wiry captain gently eased out of the large bed and pulled on his uniform trousers. Buttoning up his tunic, Salvatore went to the tall balcony windows that faced the royal gardens, he joined the woman outside, the lawns beginning to glow with the arrival of dawn.

Salvatore frowned at the woman's dress, a black latex bodysuit and a lightsaber that hung from a snug silver belt.

"What did you do last night?" demanded the captain.

"The Emperor ordered me to break into Organa's private files, we don't have time to play around," admonished the woman, glancing meaningfully at the sleeping princess.

"Playing the paramour of the little princess would have gotten me into the files much more deftly than your little excursion last night," snapped Salvatore. "Any bodies?"

"The Guard, and one of Organa's staff, a known rebel contact."

"You have a reputation for subtlety, I see that reputation is misplaced," snarled the captain angrily.

The fiery-maned woman frowned, "You took your pleasure of the young princess, I suggest you return to your ship and leave before Organa does something rash. You'll be at the top of his interrogation list."

Salvatore smoldered as the woman hopped onto the balcony railing, then dropped into empty air. Not bothering to see what happened to The Emperor's Hand, the captain returned to Leia's bedroom. He regarded the sleeping princess, perhaps he could still use her: take her with him as a bargaining chip, order the interrogators to break her for information. Salvatore stood close to the bed that still reeked of sex from their many couplings during the night, Leia's hair was fanned across her pillow, damp with sweat, a silky veil that framed her beautiful face.

The captain walked quietly out of the bedchamber, he never looked back as he gently closed the door behind him.

***

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" shouted Winter, pounding on the bedroom door.

Leia moaned and rose, she started to call for the girl to enter, then realized she was naked and sticky from sex. She yanked up a sheet to cover her bare breasts. "What is it?"

Winter burst in and curtsied quickly. "Mistress! Professor Dyne is dead! Someone invaded your father's data files!"

"Master Dyne!" gasped Leia, tossing away the sheet and jumping out of bed. "Get me some clothes, quickly!"

Jenna was in the palace infirmary, whispering quietly with one of the royal guard. She turned when Leia exploded into the room.

"Master Dyne! Where is he?"

"The doctors laid him out, it's best that you don't see."

"How...how did he die?" wept Leia.

Jenna dismissed the soldier and sealed the infirmary door before answering.

"A lightsaber killed him."

"A lightsaber? Only the Jedi used lightsabers and they're all gone!"

"There is someone called the Emperor's Hand, his elite assassin and spy, that person is rumored to use a lightsaber."

"The Emperor's Hand? How could a person like that get into the palace?"

Jenna took a moment to collect her thoughts, and to steel herself for the question that was coming, "Do you know Captain Salvatore? The gala was for him last night. He was conspicuously absent, the guards say he went off with you to the gardens."

"It's true, I showed him the gardens," blushed Leia. She swallowed before saying, "He spent the night with me."

"He used you to get into the secured sections of the palace. He left Alderaan early this morning, his Star Destroyer was heading back to Coruscant."

"He..used me?" sniffled Leia, grief fading away, turning into anger, white hot anger. She felt so stupid, Dyne had warned her, but she had let lust control her actions when she should have used common sense. She had failed her teacher, her father, her world.

Leia roughly wiped the tears from her face. Glancing at the closed door that led to her dead mentor, Leia spun and marched out of the infirmary, grim resolve hardening her heart. The Imperial captain had used her, used her naivete to get into the inner chambers of the palace. She would never be that naive again, no man would claim her heart as Salvatore had done. Leia's young face became bitter as she walked down the passageway, men were the enemy, and the Empire would pay for the death of her friend, and her lost innocence.

The End