Keep Calm...

[Marzena Vaas]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zprCVgMKXT0

Avalonia, Dosuun
Medical Center – Labor and Delivery Ward
Room #120
(Continued from here)

The room was quiet, save for the occasional beeping of monitors and medical equipment. Marzena Vaas sat in silent disbelief, still perched uncomfortably on the edge of the bed. Her lips had parted to speak, but she had been unable to even form a word, a few hushed, whispered sounds were all that escaped her. A numb sense of shock had settled over the singer, her dark eyes turned down towards the holocomm in her shaking hands. The words exchanged with her husband had been brief, and she had heard the unmistakable sounds of battle behind his deep voice. But now, there was only silence.

"I'm sorry, Marzena.I won't be coming back to Dosuun."

She could still hear his words – and they were just beginning to truly sink in.

He wasn’t coming back.

In her mind, [member="Ludolf Vaas"] would not have let anything stand between them today. Not while she was in labor, and the arrival of their child so close. With the onset of another contraction, she let out a small cry and cradled her stomach. She would have cursed her husband’s high ranking position in the First Order, but she didn’t know if she had the heart. It was a career that sent him away from home, a role that placed him in danger, and the reason that he would not be there to witness the birth of his child. There was a bitter feeling inside, and Marzena couldn’t stop the resentment that began to rise to the surface. His duty comes before me, and before our family. No, that was not true at all…

Deep down, she knew that his fight was not only for the Order, but for her and for their baby.

Still, the thought did little to bring her comfort, and only made his absence greater. Marzena pushed out a breath and looked up to see that Sebastian was still standing in the doorway, pretending that he had not overheard her brief exchange with Ludolf. There was a datapad in his hands, and it seemed that he was attempting to appear focused on the screen, but his eyes betrayed him. She remained quiet as her brother strolled into the room, and she felt him lift the comm device away, as it was just about to slip from her grasp.

“Are you okay?” Sebastian asked, and held out a small cup of water.

Marzena stuck her hand out and shoved it way, toppling the cup and spilling the contents on his shoes. Frowning, Sebastian was forced to step aside as a nurse entered the room. While the nurse checked Marzena’s vitals, and affixed a few monitors to her stomach, Sebastian slid out of the room to give her some privacy.

He also took the opportunity to send a quick message to [member="Ciana Teigra"] “Come quick, Marzena might lose it…”

Inside the room, Marzena held out her arm for the nurse to insert an IV port. Of course, the medical staff were well aware of her connection to the Supreme Commander, and they had been extra attentive. But still, here she was simply another patient. The nurse remained in the room, watching the various monitors, but paid extra attention to the one that displayed the duration and frequency of Marzena's contractions. While the nurse could see that her patient was distressed, she spoke in a clear and even tone that snapped Marzena back to the present.

"Mrs. Vaas, right now your contractions are fairly steady at five to six minutes apart. You are entering what we call active labor, the contractions will become closer together and more intense. For the time, it might help to take a walk to help speed things along."

She offered only a small nod to signal that she understood.

Yes, perhaps a walk would help…

 

[Marzena Vaas]

By the time Sebastian returned, Marzena was standing by the door. She had wrapped a silk robe around herself, covering the plain hospital garb that she had been given. There was a pair of comfortable slippers on her feet, and a mirrored compact in her hand. Much to his surprise, his sister was in the process of putting on lipstick. She bent forward slightly, likely the arrival of another contraction, and when she straightened back up, her shaking hand dabbed color onto her lips. Somehow, it made her feel a little bit better.

“Why are you putting on makeup?” He asked, clearly confused.

“It’s just… lipstick.” Marzena snapped back at him.

She slammed the small compact closed between her palms, and dropped it back into her bag, along with the tube of red lip color. Marzena flipped her hair over her shoulder, and pushed past Sebastian on her way out the door. With a hand on her hip, she began to waddle down the long hallway. The nurse had informed her that the maternity ward was a circle, so she could easily walk a couple of laps before returning to her room. There were many ways to supposedly induce or speed up labor, but walking seemed to be the easiest and most effective.

Sebastian knitted his brow together, a frown formed on his lips. He knew what was happening here. Worry, hurt feelings, labor pain, anxiety… it was the recipe for a perfect storm. He knew his sister well enough to see through her act. Marzena was scared, and she was trying to cope with the reality that her main source of support was not here. She was in a delicate state, but she did have one defense mechanism…

The diva had arrived.

Marzena’s slippers stopped, her eyes shifted over her shoulder. From her spot down the hall, she recalled the place inside her room where Sebastian had placed her communicator. The thought of leaving it there was troubling. What if the Supreme Commander attempted to call her? But at the same time, there was a stubborn will that wanted to charge off without it. If he wanted an update, well… he would just have to come to the hospital! Marzena reached for the railing that lined the hallway, she she leaned against the wall for a moment as another contraction took hold. When she opened her eyes, Sebastian was standing at her side, his hand on her shoulder.

“My… communicator.” She breathed out, “Please.”

As her brother ran back to her room, Marzena remained there by the railing. However, she stepped to the side as another expectant mother shuffled by. The two women exchanged small smiles, and empathetic nods. There was a man walking along with the other woman, his arm wrapped securely around her shoulders. Marzena’s dark eyes followed them for a moment or two longer, the smile slipped from her face as she turned her eyes straight ahead.

She forced her feet to move, small steps brought her forward slowly. In the background, she could already hear Sebastian’s footsteps approaching. Marzena pushed a breath out between gritted teeth. It was going to be a very long day.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Tired from walking a few laps around the maternity ward, Marzena had opted to try taking a nap to pass the time. With a bit of assistance from a nurse, she climbed back up onto the bed and wrapped herself in the cotton sheets. She held her hand out to Sebastian, silently demanding that he supply her with her communicator. Her brother set the device into her palm and went out into the waiting room to answer some messages of his own. Marzena watched as the door gently swung closed behind him, and heaved a sigh. Without her brother and the flurry of nurses, the room felt large, empty, and even little cold.

Her fingers closed around the comm again, and she clutched it to her chest. Based on what little she could make out during their last conversation, it seemed that the Supreme Commander was in danger. The rational part of her brain told her not to be angry, he had no choice in the matter, the First Order needed him. But Marzena was a woman driven by emotions, and right now she did feel angry-- for perhaps the first time in their relationship. A frown touched her lips, as she thought of [member="Ludolf Vaas"]. Was he curious about how she was doing? Was he excited to meet his baby daughter?

Was he… alive?

She turned her face into the soft surface of her pillow for a moment, desperately trying to push the last thought from her mind. Of course he was alive - he would not leave her so easily. Marzena was quick to cling to any positive thought that she could conjure, but it did not stop the rush of worry that shot through her. The contractions were definitely growing closer together now, and the pain that came with them made it difficult to concentrate on anything else. Squeezing her eyes shut, she focused on her breaths and tried her best to make them even.

The momentary distraction had given her the chance to relax slightly. Her fingers automatically began to dial in Ludolf’s frequency again. Marzena waited patiently, but there was no answer… only silence. A quiet sob shook her shoulders, and she pressed her fist against her mouth to silence any more that threatened to follow. Slowly, she curled onto her side, her arms still wrapped around the communicator.

He’s fine, he’s just… busy. Ok, now go to sleep. But what if he’s --

She couldn’t calm the storm of thoughts, so she gave in and let them overtake her. Marzena sank into the bedsheets, and let her gaze wander towards the window. The shades were drawn, so she didn’t have much of a view of the Avalonia skyline, but she could barely make out the shapes of the buildings in the distance. As her stomach grew tight once more, she placed her hands on her side. There was no way she was going to get any sleep. Groaning, she rolled over and reached for her datapad. Maybe a distraction would be good.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

A couple of hours later...

Marzena stared blankly datapad, attempting to watch an episode of her favorite Seoulian drama. Unfortunately, she was unable to stay focused enough to enjoy it. She felt scattered, torn between being excited to meet her baby, worried about her husband, and a bit frightened by the thought of delivering her daughter alone. Breathe, just breathe. At least the contractions were steadily coming every two minutes now; the pain was enough to momentarily break all thought and pull her back to the present.

Her eyes shot towards the door as it opened, hoping to somehow find her husband’s tall form framed there. Completely ignoring the drama playing out on her screen, she shoved the datapad away as she sat up in the hospital bed. Marzena’s hopeful expression faded upon seeing her nurse enter the room, and she sank back down against her pillow. She blinked back a couple of tears, managing to keep them trapped behind her dark lashes, just barely.

“How are you feeling?” The nurse asked in a pleasant tone.

Marzena felt her shoulders move up into a shrug, but she tried to throw on a small smile. Despite the lack of a real answer, the nurse stepped up to the bedside to address her patient.

“Your labor has progressed very well, Mrs. Vaas.” She offered a nod, and gave the monitors one last check. “I’ll return with the doctor in a few moments, and you’ll be all ready to start pushing. If you would like to opt for the nerve block, now is your last chance. Please think it over and let me know.”

It looked like things were about to get real.

Did she want the nerve block? She wasn’t even sure. Even though the contractions had been terribly uncomfortable, she’d held off until now to ensure that it would not slow down her labor. Of course, she understood that the chances of complications were quite low, but she had read all about the horror stories on the HoloNet. Marzena’s brow furrowed in thought, she needed the steady calm of [member="Ludolf Vaas"] in times like this. Closing her eyes, she imagined that he was at her bedside. She knew that he would not want to see her in tremendous pain, but she had a feeling that he would tell her that she was much stronger than she realized.

A smile appeared on her face as she opened her eyes, accompanied by a rush of warmth in her heart. In her mind, the image of her husband remained, silently giving her courage.The fear was dissolving away, and quickly replaced by a sense of quiet determination.

“Okay. I can do this.” She pushed out a breath, “I can do this…”

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

The Supreme Commander was alive.

His services were no longer required on Kaeshana, the battle was over. Ludolf had wasted no time in taking a shuttle directly from that war-torn hellhole of a planet to Dosuun. Finding a change of clothes was ancillary to his objectives; instead he let the medics patch up his arm after ripping the grey sleeve of his field shirt away, tending to the shots he'd received in the battle.

Things were happening too fast. Despite losing control of his own mind to the ever-present Sith Empire programming that remained in his brain, Ludolf remembered his last words to Marzena before the total relapse came. He still felt slightly delirious as his conditioning finally wore off, and he returned to a "normal" state of mind - or at least as normal as he would ever be. He had no idea what sorts of untold suffering Marzena had been going through on her end, between the pregnancy and whatever distress his situation had put her in. For all he knew, Ludolf's child could have been born while he was still on the battlefield. The hospital didn't allow communicators to be around intensive care patients, especially one of high esteem such as Marzena, so Ludolf would have to remain completely in the dark until he arrived.

Worse, he would have to find a way to break the news to Marzena that their lives were potentially in jeopardy. One thing was for sure: everything was going to change after this. Not least because Ludolf would now have a baby to look after, another lifeform completely and utterly dependent on him.

At this point, whether he lived or died, all that mattered to Ludolf was the safety of his family.

The Supreme Commander was the first one out of the transport when it arrived on the roof of the hospital. The Stormtroopers which flanked him had a hard time keeping up with him, as he had torn himself away from the medic immediately upon landing, the bacta bandages on his arm only barely fastened. Several medical staff were there to greet him and take him to Marzena's undisclosed location. Fearing what he would find behind those closed doors, Ludolf deliberately took steps to calm himself. The elevator ride seemed to take an eternity. And when the door to Marzena's room was finally in sight, Ludolf's heart skipped a beat. The room was already guarded by soldiers; Ludolf turned to his own guards.

"Leave me."

He stepped forward, and the hydraulic door opened for him with a hiss. When his visage filled the doorway, he looked over and saw [member="Marzena Vaas"] in bed, ready to give birth to their child.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

There was a small cluster of medical staff gathered at the foot of her bed, Marzena tried her best to listen to their instructions, but her mind was racing. She could feel her heart pumping hard within her chest, and she grabbed a handful of her bedsheets to squeeze in her palm. It wasn’t long before her doctor strode into the room; a cart full of medical equipment came in behind him. Sitting up to get a better look, she let her eyes search the tools for anything familiar, but she was at a complete loss. The scrub-clad doctor came over to her bedside and offered an encouraging smile before he covered his face with a mask.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Vaas.” He said knowingly, “Merely precautions. We do like to be prepared for any complications that may arise. Now, are you ready?”

Marzena nodded and drew in a deep breath.

Pushing herself up slightly, she tried to remember all of the advice she had received during birthing class. Remember the breathing exercises, don’t forget to breathe… In the background, she could hear the door opening once again. It was likely just more medical personnel, so she didn’t even look right away. But as she slowly turned towards the doorway, her chestnut eyes went wide upon seeing that it was [member="Ludolf Vaas"]. Her lips parted in shock to see him in such a state, and she felt hot tears clinging in her eyes, blurring the image of his injuries for a brief moment.

Before she could even speak, her hand instinctively reached out for her husband. She was simultaneously taken by a mix of relief and concern. Obviously he had come straight to the hospital, but she still had no idea where he had been and what had happened. Marzena took in his appearance, her dark eyes found the bandages that were barely clinging to his arm.

“Ludolf, how--” She looked up at him, still struggling to find words. Her lip trembled slightly and she finally let a tiny sob escape.

Before she could continue, Marzena felt her stomach growing tight, and she bent forward as the contraction took hold. A nurse came around to the other side of the hospital bed and urged her to begin pushing. She squeezed her eyes shut and her fingers closed tightly around Ludolf’s hand. As the pain and tightness faded, she took a moment to recover. She leaned back until her head hit the pillow, and turned slowly to face her husband.

“I didn’t think you were coming.” She said breathlessly, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Ludolf met Marzena's exasperated expression of surprise with a soft smile, the kind only she ever saw him make. He knelt down at her bedside and took her hand. It almost seemed as if steam was still rising off his body from the battle on Kaeshana; bits of dirt and dried blood also clung to his hand, his face, and his clothes.

"Don't worry, Marzena. I'm here," Was all he managed to say, before the doctor whisked him away to clean him up. He at least needed to be in scrubs during the birthing, for the baby's protection.

This being done, he immediately returned to his wife's side. His uniform and injuries were out of view now, covered over by a long white medical gown. The blood and caked dirt had been wiped from his hands as well as his face, and he leaned in to give Marzena's forehead a small kiss. Ludolf decided to say nothing for the time being, and simply enjoy the moment of warmth between he and his wife. One of the few moments of such he was permitted to experience in his life, so he would bask in it while he could. He wouldn't burden Marzena with news of what had happened until later. It was likely that their lives were at risk now, but Ludolf didn't care. He was determined to enjoy the birth of his child for at least a few moments in his life.

Ludolf offered his hand for [member="Marzena Vaas"] to squeeze while she pushed. Truth be told, he wasn't expecting so much strength from her diminuitive form - and he was close to asking for his hand back as she gripped it with white knuckles. But after what seemed like only a blur of a few minutes, the doctor sat up on the other end of the bedside cradling a small, messy little human.

"It's a girl," He announced to the couple.

"I know," Ludolf said, and he couldn't help but beam. It had been just like his dream.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena’s doe-eyed stare softened significantly, watching silently as [member="Ludolf Vaas"] knelt down next to the bed. Her husband’s cheek was smeared with blood, his uniform caked with dirt and debris; it looked a bit like he had literally fought his way to the hospital. Despite his battle-worn appearance, there was soft affection in his smile and warmth in his touch as he held her hand. As always, her husband’s words were few, but the sound of his deep voice was enough to put her mind at ease.

Her fingers reluctantly released Ludolf’s hand as the doctor returned to collect him. But it wasn’t long before he returned to her side, this time with white scrubs covering his form. Marzena closed her eyes and smiled as she felt his lips brush gently against her forehead. She let out a content sigh, enjoying this small moment of closeness and comfort.

As Ludolf’s hand found hers once more, the sudden and surreal realization struck her -- their family of two would soon become three…

Marzena settled into an almost trance-like state of focus and concentration, her mind locked on the task at hand. It was far more difficult than she had ever imagined, and her grip on Ludolf’s hand would easily make that known to him as well. But at the same time, she had never felt stronger or more determined. She didn’t even know how much time had passed, but the quiet room was suddenly filled with the healthy cries of a newborn. The sound instantly tugged at her heart, and Marzena sat up in time to see the doctor reveal that they had a daughter.

After giving the baby a quick wash, the nurses wrapped her snuggly in a blanket. Marzena held her arms out as they placed the small bundle in her arms, and for a moment she could only stare speechlessly at her daughter’s small face. She glanced up at Ludolf, a few happy tears escaped at the sight of the proud smile on his face.

“She’s… perfect.” Marzena finally spoke, and placed a kiss on the baby’s forehead.

A nurse stepped to her bedside, and smiled at the sight of the new mother and daughter. This was important time for bonding, and she encouraged Marzena to hold the baby close for a while longer, before giving her the go-ahead to let Ludolf hold her. “Do you have a name picked out?”

“Amalia,” Marzena said without even thinking, a name that Ludolf had suggested early on. Somehow, it just felt right.

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

It was a surreal feeling, being a soon-to-be-father and watching one's wife give birth. He had always imagined the scenario playing out in his mind in a thousand different ways, yet here he was in the moment, and it felt somehow different. Time seemed to be going by faster than ever; Ludolf wanted to grab each and every moment and pull them back, try and find something to hold onto to savor as a fond memory. Yet time pressed on, whether he was ready for it or not. It felt like mere minutes from the time he had entered the hospital room to the actual birth of his daughter. The new, little life was there before him, in the arms of [member="Marzena Vaas"]. He hadn't touched his daughter yet, and part of him still figured it could not be true. But Amalia Vaas was real, even taking moments to stare at him.

It made the actions he was about to take in the next 24 hours even more important. Now, not one, but two lives depended on it.

"Yes, she is," Ludolf echoed Marzena's sentiments, and reached out to touch his daughter for the first time. He brushed Amalia's forehead with his freshly-cleaned hand; there was already brown hair budding from her head. Smiling, he canted his head down to meet Marzena's. "Amalia, huh?" It was a name they had discussed before.

It was a shame that Amalia Vaas would never know a galaxy in stasis. She would never live to experience the First Order during peacetime, and see everything her father and others had built. As of today, Amalia Vaas had been born into a galaxy of war. The best Ludolf could do at this point was to ensure that the deluge would never find its way to their doorstep. Amalia and Marzena needed to be kept out of the bloodshed at all costs. That was his only goal now.

"We did it, Marz." He took his wife's hand and squeezed it, and then the nurse allowed him to hold his daughter for the first time. Cradling the infant in his arms, the Supreme Commander was nothing more than a happy father in that moment. "What do you think? Does she look like me?" Ludolf leaned in close to Amalia, beaming giddily while his daughter yawned and tried to grab his nose.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena continued to gaze fondly at the baby in her arms, almost like she could not take her eyes away from the precious sight. Their child’s eyes were a steely shade of blue, a color that would likely shift and change before her first year. But she was instantly reminded of the cool hue of her husband’s eyes. As [member="Ludolf Vaas"] spoke, she felt the baby begin to stir softly – almost like the sound of his deep voice was familiar. She recalled reading something in her pregnancy books about this; the baby would likely recognize the voices of her mother and father right away. As his hand gently swept across Amalia’s forehead, the newborn seemed to settle again.

“Amalia Vaas,” Marzena said aloud, just to see how it sounded. “I like it. I think it suits her, don’t you?”

She looked up at Ludolf as his hand closed around hers, and she nodded. Marzena still remembered breaking the news to him about the pregnancy, but that day seemed ages ago now. Since then, much had changed. There had been an engagement, a wedding, and hardly any time to experience life as newlyweds before becoming parents. But Marzena did not have a single regret. Her dark eyes grew misty again when Ludolf held the baby for the first time, her heart flooded with affection.

A soft smile formed on her lips, the baby looked so tiny in his arms.

“Yes,” Marzena nodded, “Amalia has that studious expression, just like you.”

The fatigue was finally catching up with her, and her eyes fluttered closed a couple of times. She might have even started to nod off, but the sound of the baby fussing made her gaze go wide. Marzena sat up and held her arms out.

“She might be hungry, let’s see…”

Once she was settled and the baby was happily nursing, Marzena turned her attention back to her husband. She hadn’t forgotten about his injuries, even though his bandages were obscured by the white hospital garb, her chestnut eyes lingered on his arm. Scooting over slightly, she gave the edge of the bed a pat, an invitation for him to sit down.

“Ludolf,” She started in a quiet tone, so as not to disturb the baby. “Are you alright? We can have a doctor come see to your wounds.”

Marzena’s hand reached out for his once more, and she looked at him with concern written on her face.

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

For a moment, the cares of the outside galaxy evaporated as Ludolf held Amalia in his arms and smiled back at Marzena. Once his daughter had finished exploring the angles of her father's face and chin with an outstretched hand, she settled. Amalia seemed to have the same stoic expression as her father when she was at rest. Already, the similarities between her and both of her parents were evident.

After handing her back to [member="Marzena Vaas"], Ludolf sat back against the bedside while his wife nursed. He was silent for a moment, but Marzena knew him too well for him to hide the anxiety that lingered inside him.

"Don't worry, my wounds are fine," He told her and placed a reassuring hand on her arm.

Should he tell her the rest? About how their family was now in imminent danger, even though the battle had been won? Marzena had just given birth; he didn't want to trouble his wife any further with unsettling thoughts. But just as she knew him, likewise Ludolf had come to understand how Marzena operated after living with her for some time. The more he didn't say, the more she would worry. It was best to just get things out in the open now... as carefully as possible.

"There's good news, and there's bad news, Marzena," Ludolf began tentatively, and leaned in closer to stroke her hair, meeting her gaze with his. "The good news is that the battle is won. Kaeshana belongs to the First Order."

His many wounds were a testament to the ferocity of the fighting.

He gave a long sigh before continuing, whispering lowly. "I don't mean to alarm you, Marzena, but the bad news is that we may be in danger. All of us. Me, you... and the baby."

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena cradled Amalia close, her hand occasional stroked her hair soothingly. Her eyes remained on [member="Ludolf Vaas"], carefully studying her husband as much as her tired eyes would allow. She stayed quiet when her question was initially met with silence; she knew that it wouldn’t help to bombard him with questions. There was patience in her dark gaze, and a gentle smile on her lips. When she finally heard his deep voice, she released the breath she had been holding, and took comfort in the warmth of his hand upon her arm.

She nodded once or twice upon hearing his response, but her lips pressed together slightly. Marzena knew that Ludolf always did his best to keep her from worrying, but sometimes his thoughtful silences told her even more than his words. Beneath the calm exterior, there was worry. Of course, it could easily have been a bit of nerves left over from witnessing his wife give birth and becoming a new parent… but she had a sinking feeling that it was something more.

Amalia stirred in her arms briefly, but quickly settled into a comfortable slumber. Marzena wrapped their child in a soft embrace, and looked up again as Ludolf continued. Her brows arched slightly, and her dark lashes fluttered.

“Kaeshana?” She repeated, it wasn’t a world she was familiar with. “Yes, very good…”

The whispered words that followed sent shiver down her spine. Instinctively, Marzena cradled Amalia just a little bit closer. She would do anything for the baby in her arms; she would give up her own life without question, and she knew that Ludolf would do the same. But they both needed to be there for their child, to see her grow and live a happy life. She was frightened, but she drew a deep breath and tried her best to stay calm.

“Ludolf, we can’t let anything happen to Amalia.” Her tearful gaze shifted back to meet her husband’s icy blue eyes, searching for answers. “What do we need to do to keep her safe?”

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Ludolf's response to [member="Marzena Vaas"] was short and swift, a hand coming down to squeeze her forearm powerfully and reassuringly.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to Amalia - or you," He affirmed. He didn't quite know how he would do that... yet.

If anyone was in the most danger at the moment, it was Ludolf himself. He was the liability in this situation that potentially needed to be dealt with. But Ludolf's death wouldn't occur in a vacuum - it would damage Marzena and Amalia as well. Marzena would be forced to raise a child without a husband, Amalia would grow up without a father. That wasn't what Ludolf wanted for his family.

"I'm going to figure out a way," Ludolf continued. But he needed to explain. "The programming that the Sith Empire put into my brain as an Agent... it's still there. It overtook me on the battlefield, and I lost control of my own mind. As Supreme Commander, I cannot have such an exploitable weakness. For the good of the Order, I must step down."

Rubbing Marzena's hand, he continued. "But it won't be that simple. Not only do I have an exploitable backdoor into my consciousness, but as Supreme Commander my knowledge of the First Order's inner workings is second to none. Our enemies may try to take me and use me for this. The Supreme Leader knows this. He may see it more fit to have me terminated rather than take that chance."

Ludolf leaned in close and planted a kiss on Marzena's lips. "All I can do is submit myself to the mercy of the Supreme Leader."

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena glanced at Amalia; the tiny newborn had fallen asleep in her arms, blissfully unaware of the danger that loomed. Very gently, she set the baby down in the bassinet attached to her bedside. Her dark eyes lingered on the little bundle for a few long moments, and then shifted back to [member="Ludolf Vaas"] as he began to explain. Marzena knew about the implants left behind from Ludolf’s time serving the Sith Empire, she had held out hope that they were no longer functioning, but it seemed that was not the case. It was a troubling thought.

She could feel a dull ache in her chest; it was painful to hear that he had made the decision to step down. Marzena could not imagine the First Order without his strong presence to lead the way. However, she understood that it was for the best – for the sake of the Order, for Ludolf, and their family. But of course, it wouldn’t be that simple.

She felt the warmth of Ludolf’s hand against her own, and she let her gaze fall to her lap.
The Supreme Leader was an enigmatic figure, one she had never even set eyes upon before. Marzena knew that Ludolf was loyal to him, and she would not question that. However, she could not deny that it was difficult to face the thought that husband’s life rested with him. Her hand found the side of Ludolf’s face as he leaned in for a kiss, and she let her palm linger against his cheek.

“You have devoted your life to the First Order. After all you have done… surely he wouldn’t–” She couldn’t even bring herself to finish. Marzena pushed out a shaking sigh, “I don’t have the relationship with the Supreme Leader that you do. I don’t know if I can place my trust in him so easily.”

Her eyes turned towards the ceiling, willing the tears to stay behind her dark lashes.

“But I trust you.” Marzena squeezed his hand.

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Ludolf took hold of his wife's hand and swallowed hard. "I know you do... and it won't be easy," He stammered, staring Marzena in the eyes. His eyes shifted around the room nervously for a moment; it was apparent that anxiousness had managed to get to even the normally indomitable Ludolf. That was because he felt responsible for three people now, not just one.

"I have to go now," He said reluctantly, and began to stand. He desired nothing more than to stay with Marzena and Amalia, but Ludolf knew the longer he lingered, the worse his chances would be. He needed an audience with the Supreme Leader - now. The best thing he could do was reach the Supreme Leader ahead of the Intelligence reports. Sieger Ren was a firm and often brutal man, but he was fair. There was still a chance he could save his family. Maybe even he would get out alive.

"Please don't worry about me, Marz. You need your rest. I'll fix everything, I promise."

Ludolf leaned down and kissed [member="Marzena Vaas"] on the forehead, followed by a second kiss for Amalia, before he turned heel to exit the room. Supreme Commander Vaas was determined for this not to be the last time he kissed his daughter.

--------------------------------------------------

Marzena would hear nothing from Ludolf for the rest of the day and into the night. The poor woman would have to endure hours of not knowing the future of herself or her family as she lay alone in hospital, even as Amalia was taken off to receive her necessary immunizations. But the reckoning did come... in the form of two pristine, white-clad Stormtroopers, in the early hours of the morning, when darkness still kept the hospital in its firm embrace, the only light coming from the monitors at Marzena's bedside.

The doors hissed open, and light from the hallway flooded into the room. The two Stormtroopers cast a silhouette that preceded them across the floor.

Walking into the room, they stood at Marzena's bedside at both flanks, and bent over her. One nudged her with his gloved hand; the other was carrying a hoverchair.

"Ms Vaas... wake up. Ms. Vaas, it's time for you to leave."

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena remained silent as [member="Ludolf Vaas"] stood to leave. The bond they shared was strong – she didn’t need to say a thing. Instead, she gazed fondly up at her husband, and offered him a weak smile, her best attempt at a brave face. As Ludolf leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead, she gave his hand an affectionate squeeze. Her eyes softened as she watched him say goodbye to Amalia, her heart swelled at the sight, so much that it hurt.

As the Supreme Commander turned towards the door, Marzena’s dark eyes lingered on his back, her eyes unblinking until his dark form had slipped from the room. And when the door slid closed behind him, Marzena finally fell to pieces. Very carefully, she lifted Amalia from the bassinet and held her close.

They would get through this difficult moment together.

-----------​

The nurses had done their best to assure Marzena that Amalia would be just fine, but nothing seemed to soothe the worry. Without her baby, her arms felt terribly empty. Amalia would be kept in the nursery for the night to give Marzena a chance to rest and recover. However, once she was left alone with her thoughts, she lay awake for hours before finally succumbing to sleep.

Marzena stirred at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, and her eyes snapped open when the trooper nudged her a few times. She gasped audibly and sat up, startled by the two Stormtroopers at her bedside. They helped her up out of bed, and Marzena slipped into the refresher to dress. Once she was ready, she emerged and packed up the rest of her belongings. Seated in the hoverchair, she was pushed out into the hallway, where a nurse was waiting with Amalia.

Instantly, Marzena held her arms out to receive the tiny bundle, and she smiled down at her child. There was a tiny cap fitted over Amalia’s brown hair, and she was already dressed in a warm one-piece and wrapped in a blanket. Her heart skipped a beat. Was Ludolf alive, was he unharmed? She desperately wanted to ask… but the stern-looking white helmets discouraged her. Even as they boarded the transport, she didn’t even have the heart to ask where they were being taken.

She would just have to wait…