Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 05_ Darkest Knight - Kevin J. Anderson [24]
Brakiss swallowed a large lump in his throat. He transmitted to Qorl.
"Reactivate the cloaking shield, please-we don't want to expose ourselves any longer than necessary."
"It is done, sir," Qorl said.
The stormtroopers shouldered their weapons and stood in perfect ranks.
Brakiss stepped forward to offer greeting, but paused when nothing happened. The Emperor's transport remained silent except for a few hissing and ticking sounds as the ship settled. He saw no movement inside. The hatch remained stubbornly shut. Brakiss waited for any sign.
Finally, a voice boomed from loudspeakers mounted outside the Emperor's shuttle. "Attention, all Shadow Academy personnel! The Emperor has arrived. As a security precaution, we insist that everyone depart the docking bay immediately. The Emperor has a private escort of Imperial guards and wishes no further contact at this time."
The announcement took Brakiss completely by surprise. When he noticed that his mouth was hanging open in foolish astonishment, he closed it so quickly that his teeth clicked together. The Emperor had come to the Shadow Academy - and now Palpatine refused Brakiss's honor escort. The Great Leader wanted to be left alone?
Brakiss realized that he had hesitated in following Palpatine's instructions. Aghast and trying to make up for lost time, he turned and clapped his hands smartly. "You heard the orders! Everyone, about-face.
Clear the docking bay. The Emperor wishes his privacy."
The storrntroopers turned and, with a booming clatter on the metal deck, marched out of the docking bay and into the curved corridors.
"Sir," one of the stormtroopers said, breaking ranks to stop in front of Brakiss, "I had requested to be part of the Emperor's personal escort squad. I'll stay here to greet him as he disembarks."
Brakiss blinked in shock, noting the stormtrooper's service number. He recognized Qorl's trainee, Norys. Qorl had said the burly young man was ambitious and ill-tempered, but Brakiss was nonetheless stunned at the i-inpertinence.
"You will follow my orders, trooper," Brakiss snapped. "The Second Impeiium has no room for those who don't understand discipline." He drew in a cold breath. "If I see any further instance of your failure to obey commands, you will be ejected from the airlock into space. Is that understood?"
As Norys clomped off without acknowledging Brakiss's rebuff, the master of the Shadow Academy turned to look back at the silent Imperial shuttle.
He himself was unable to comprehend why the Emperor had come here if he had no intention of interacting with the Shadow Academy, or at least meeting with Brakiss personally.
However, the Emperor was the ultimate master, and Brakiss would not dare question Palpatine's orders.
The last one to leave the docking bay, he turned with a swirl of his silvery robes and stepped outside before transmitting the signal that closed and sealed the doors to the docking bay.
As he stood in the outer corridor, though, Brakiss made a decision of his own. He was master of this station-and was required to know what happened aboard it, wasn't he?
He had followed the Emperor's wishes to the letter, but now he needed to see what was going on. Brakiss went to a videomonitor designed for observation of docking and loading procedures.
With the docking bay emptied of stormtroopers and Shadow Academy representatives, the hatches finally opened on the Emperor's shuttle. On the monitor Brakiss was impressed to see four Imperial guards stride out, shrouded in scarlet robes. The intimidating red guards had been the most feared elite corps of Palpatine's forces, and now four - of them had accompanied the Emperor here.
Smooth red armor covered their heads and shoulders like cowls, reminding him of historical images he had seen of ancient Mandalorian uniforms.
The red Imperial guards moved