But I guess that just goes to show how desperate I was. I needed Vader to trust me again. I needed to show him that I’d sacrifice anything—

and that I’d do it without flinching.

And I’m still proud to say this: When the Ark Angel exploded around me, all of its beautiful pieces crumbling to dust…I only flinched a little.

I swallowed hard, shoving down the tears bubbling up, and listened to Vader’s final exchange with Karbin over the comm.

DARTH VADER (on comm):

You are not the only one capable of deception, Karbin. You will delay me from the boy no longer.

KARBIN (on comm):

This…this isn’t just revenge for the Death Star, is it? This is something else…

DARTH VADER (on comm):

You will never know.

Vader kills Karbin with a mighty swoop of his lightsaber.

APHRA:

Great show, boss—you just cost me my ship. Am I back in your good graces?

DARTH VADER (on comm):

All rests upon the boy.

APHRA:

Great. Can you give me a little more than that?

DARTH VADER (on comm):

Find him. That is your task.

APHRA:

Okay, but…help me out here, your lordliness. Give me a…a clue on how to proceed. I mean, haven’t I done pretty well by you? Finding you a droid factory, building you an army, robbing the Empire, getting you all this info on the Skywalker kid, destroying my beloved ship…not to mention almost getting killed multiple times—

DARTH VADER (on comm):

There is no need to boast, Aphra—

APHRA:

Maybe I could get just a little bit more… insight from you about the kid —

DARTH VADER (on comm):

I have nothing to offer.

APHRA:

[getting frustrated]

I think you do.

DARTH VADER (on comm):

What does that mean?

APHRA:

Just…look, you obviously have a bigger connection to this kid than you’re letting on. If you’d just tell me what it is, it would help me accomplish…whatever it is you need to accomplish.

I won’t let you down, I promise! I…I’m the best at this. Whatever this weird attaché/associate/right-hand-woman job is. And I’ve proved I’m the best.

You can trust me. You really, really can.

So tell me. Who is Skywalker?

A weighted beat of Vader’s breathing. Then…

DARTH VADER (on comm):

[barely suppressed rage]

I am Darth Vader. I have commanded legions. Annihilated entire systems. Reduced the most powerful to husks. And I will not be spoken to like this by an upstart mechanic with delusions of grandeur.

APHRA:

M-mechanic? Is that all you think I am…after all this…after…

DARTH VADER (on comm):

Silence. Find the boy, Aphra. And do not even think of breathing near me until you do.

SCENE 38

EXT. VROGAS VAS. LATER.

APHRA (narration):

[deflated]

Yeah, so. Totally didn’t play that one right.