The News that Shook an Empire. And spoiled brunch.

[Dakota Gue]

Dakota pressed the button again repeatedly in exasperation.

The only thing stopping her foot from tapping in frustrated impatience was the fact that her four inch heels were precarious under the most stable circumstances with both feet firmly planted on the ground. To balance on one spiked heel, while beating out a rapid staccato on the other was perilous, and should only be attempted in extremes and ideally in the presence of a handsome male in whom such behaviour was directed.

She settled for pressing the button again, and again, instead.

Finally! The turbo lift arrow light glowed green in the upward position and the accompanying "ding" announced its arrival. Twin doors opened and Dakota glared at each passenger as they exited, blaming them for the delay.

It was not their fault, however, that she was late. And Denali would be certain to point that out to Dakota when she finally joined her for brunch on the 114th floor. Sure, Ko could try and explain away the fact that she had delayed much too long in "Suba's" - the greatest accessory store in the galaxy - Ali would understand the temptation power of such surroundings, But an hour? That was unforgivable and Dakota was duly guilt-ridden over it.

Stepping inside the lift, the Gue twin pressed 114 and smiled reassuringly to her small dog "Matilda" who peeped up to her from within the confines of Ko's designer purse. "Its ok, Mattie. Ali wont be mad. Much."

The durasteel doors swooshed shut and the lift engaged its powerful pullies, jetting its occupants upward.

[Denali Gue]

Perfectly manicured and highly polished fingernails tapped impatiently on the stemmed crystalware sitting before her. Tiny droplets of condensation edged slowly together and gained momentum as they took their sweet time in rolling lazily down the side of the glass.

Out of boredom, Ali lifted her stemware and took a small sip of the imported water before sitting the glass back down and daintily drying her hands on the napkin. Denali glanced again at her jewel-encrusted watch. What was keeping her? It wasnt like her twin to be late; well fashionably late of course, but this went beyond being fashionable and Denali was becoming anxious at Dakota's absence.

Scenarios began to fill her head, each more worrisome than the previous one had been. What if Ko had twisted her ankle and couldnt get help? She had left the penthouse in those outrageous but positively scrumptious heels. Or, what if her twin had been - heavens forbid! - mugged? Even worse than that, what if Dakota had come across an absolute to-die-for sale and hadnt called her to share the joyful news?? Ali paused and drew and almost trembling hand across her brow; no, Ko wouldnt do that to her, not that!

Reassuring herself, Denali took another sip from the goblet and glanced yet again at her watch.

[Dakota Gue]

Exiting the lift, Dakota stepped from the polished floor of the elevator onto the plush carpeting of the restaurant and did a quick survey.

It was a beautifully decorated affair and took up the whole floorspace of that level. Huge floor to ceiling windows encircled the main dining area in a halfmoon, the seating spacious enough to allow a light and airy atmosphere. Each table was classically set with white linen and fine crystal and boasted a single white rose as its center piece.

It was the twins favorite place for brunch. Located in the busy comercial core of Imperial Center, it was a short limo ride from here to any of the fabulous clothing and jewellery stores frequented by the Gues, and others like them. Though some would argue, there were none quite like them.

There she was. Dakota saw her sister check her chrono and read easily the worry so evident in her fidgeting hands and her stiff back. Oh boy.

Sighing resignedly, Ko rubbed Mattie's head reassuringly and walked quickly over to her sister's table.

As she sat, a glass of imported water was placed before her by a silent server before she even had settled in her seat. Big blue eyes looked candidly across at her and Dakota smiled weakly.

"Sorry Im late, Ali"

[Denali Gue]

How could she stay angry, even for just a little while, at those puppy dog eyes? Smiling, Ali reached over and lightly rubbed Mattie's head, which had poked out at the smell of food, in greeting.

"You wouldnt have kept me waiting if you could help it, would you, Mattie?" A sidelong glance at her sister's crestfallen face was enough to make Ali stop her teasing. A quick one-armed hug and a warm smile let Dakota know that her twin wasnt angry.

I only wish that you had called me, Ko. Youve never been an hour late before. What happened?"

Nodding her thanks to the waiter who sat a fresh glass of water before her, Ali turned her attention back to her sister. Do you want to go ahead and order or catch your breath, first?

[Dakota Gue]

Dakota lowered her water glass to allow Matilda a drink, then placed her purse on the floor. The little dog disappeared inside the bag completely, settling in for a nap.

Then she gave her full attention to her sister and explained in one all-encompassing word the reason for her tardiness.

"Suba's"

Denali understood immediately. Once one entered the famed accessory store, one did not easily exit. There was just too much there to browse through.

She patted a commiserating hand across the table, then in unison, both girls lifted the menus in order to read them. The excercise was not necessary, however. The twins new the menu word for word being familiar fixtures of the establishment.

A few moments of companionable silence passed, which was broken by Dakota.

"Gee, service is kind of slow today, dont you think, Ali?"

She stretched her neck around, searching for a server who proved difficult to find. As she surveyed the room, Ko noticed alot of dour faces and unusually subdued conversation amongst the other patrons as they sat at table. And remarked on it.

"Bit of a kill-joy in here." She quipped with a smile, intending to be cute, "Wonder who died?"

But the sharp look Denali suddenly flashed her froze the humor dead.

".... What?"

[Denali Gue]

Leaning toward her twin, Ali's blue eyes slid conspiratorily to those seated closest by the pair. Dropping her voice to the lowest whisper possible, Denali filled Dakota's ear with the newest gossip in town.

"I know theres no way that it could ever be true, but Ko, Ive been hearing things today, terrible things. People are saying that the Emperor is dead and theres a chance that Lord Vader was killed as well!"

Sitting back, Ali watched her sister's expression grow in shock and disbelief, the same emotions that had mirrored her face hours earlier when she had first heard the garbled news. Taking another sip of water, Ali offered her thoughts on the situation.

"I dont know what to believe. Ive been hearing so many stories and versions that its next to impossible to sirt it all out. We could call Father, I suppose, but if theres any truth at all to this then hes up to his neck in making calls. What do you think?"

[Dakota Gue]

Ko didnt know what to think..It couldn't be true. Could it?

How was it even possible?

She blinked in almost comical bewilderment.

"How? When? Who's been telling you this?"

She looked from side to side, not sure why, but felt it was prudent to keep her voice low.

[Denali Gue]

"Noone just told me; Ive been hearing bits and pieces of it everywhere. The first I heard was while I was in Tanni's shop - oh!, youve got to see the cocktail dress she has in there! - and when I left there I decided to walk here and thats when I passed by Yaanko's bar and all the holovids had it on and then I couldnt pass anyone on the walkway without hearing about it."

Her twin's face was still in a state of confusion, wondering why she herself hadnt heard a singled word breathed on the subject. Denali nodded knowingly and offered Ko a sympathetic smile.

"You came in the limo, didnt you? Thats why you didnt know." Regardless of where they were or what they were doing, the Gue girls always had their favorite music and tunes playing while being chauffered to their many hangouts and hotspots around the city.

[Dakota Gue]

Denali's reasoning was sound. The limo was great insulation to all things that went on out in the world around them as they traversed the city - the plush leather interior their own small sanctuary in the mayhem that was Imperial Center.

The news, if true, was disturbing on many levels. What would it mean to the stability of the Empire? Could the old adage "Cut off the snakes head and the body dies", be true? Who was now in charge? Would violence and rebellion break out as news of this spread? What of their safety? What of the economy? Would malls still have their Emporer Day sales?

Dakota was clearly dismayed at the prospects.

"Well, we have to find out for sure" she declared with finality, trying to reign in the gut reaction to panic.

"You're right, Daddy is the best person to ask. We should go see him."

[Denali Gue]

As one person, they stood, their chairs gliding back soundlessly on the thick, plush carpeting and with a mission other than shopping, the twins marched out of the restaurant without looking back, or paying their bill. The cost of the expensive, imported water would simply be added to their ongoing tab and settled at a later date.

As the lift carried them downwards to the waiting limo, the Gues continued their hushed discussion, even though they were the only ones in the elevator. Some things were better off being whispered than boldly stated out loud.

At the twin's appearance on the street, the chauffer exited the limo and quickly moved to open a door for them. Gunnar was a large man of indeterminate age but was superb at his job which included everything from cooking and cleaning to mechanics and driving, not to mention that he was also the girl's personal bodyguard.

Settling the ladies smoothly into the back seat, the limo roared off, merging effortlessly into the constant streaming traffic of the city. A glance in the rearview mirror told him that his charges were all a-tither about something and that soon he would be hearing all about it.

"Where to, ladies?"

Ko and Ali glanced at one another then met his gaze in the mirror, both women answering in unison.

"To see Daddy!"

[Dakota Gue]

The drive across the city was spent in much speculation by the twins as to the hows,whys and what-now's of what they thought to be the unimaginable scenario of the Emporer and Lord Vader's death.

Did that mean a rebel victory at Endor? And if so, to what scale? How great a defeat had the Imperials suffered? And who was running things now? They did not know a great deal about the Imperial hierarchy, but from gleanings from their father and his very highly placed friends, there were more than a few that walked closely in the shadow of Palpatines ambitious malevolence.

The girls' concern was heightened by the increasing awareness of a more than usual visible military presence as they passed through the labrynth of Imperial Center. Wanting to dismiss it as over-anxiouness on their part was soon ruled out upon the limosine's arrival at the private parking area of their tycoon father's office tower. Streaming in and out of the building were officious looking men in white shirts carrying out large boxes, sidearms conspicous at their sides. None of them were smiling.

Identical blonde heads turned in alarm to each other.

What they were seeing looked very much like the confiscation of office files, harddrives and electronic communication equipment.

The hovercar's side doors slid open similtaneously and the two blondes unfolded themselves out of the vehicle. Walking as fast as their highheels allowed, Denali and Dakota sidestepped the outcoming men and entered grimfaced between the prestigous office tower doors.