Dakkon smiled ruefully.

"Its a necessary evil i'm afraid. In my case its as advisory capacity, but i've always been a Royal. As has Jasmine. Vessana, she wasn't, but she should have been. She had the spirit of a Corellian and the virtues of a true Queen Mother.

Jasmine is still new to this level of royalty though, and she needs reassurance. I on the other hand have a slightly more practical retinue, of bodyguards, slicers and advisors in all capacities. Should anything happen to Hapes, i will always be ready to respond.

And i believe you would be a worthy addition to that team in all matters smuggling. I have ex-privateers and Slicers in my group, you'd probably fit in better with them!"

Zedarr walking around the ballroom foudn his cousin, Dakkon, talking to Miss Solo. Walking over near the two of them Zedarr cleared his throat and called Dakkon over.

Once Dakkon had arrived Zedarr spoke low enough so that no one around could here and pointed off towards the side of the ballroom to throw off any guessers. Zedarr turned to let Dakkon pass as he headed off in the direction Zedarr pointed.

Turning back to Miss Solo, Zedarr spoke "Quite sorry about taking Dak away from you Miss, but he was needed for a few last minute arrangements." Zedarr tilted his head to the side as if thinking and then his eyebrows shot up. "You are Miss Solo aren't you? Sorry for not introducing myself I am Colonel Zedarr Darksword."

Zedarr extended his hand to shake that of Jaina's.

Jander sighed, a habit picked up from years of human contact, as he walked from the cockpit of his ship to the captain's quarters. Here he was, a Gand, the Kaalif no less, on his way to Hapes. He'd never thought he'd see it happen due to a few unfortunate incidents between Hapes and Gand in the early days of his reign. Sunstar shook his head and shrugged as he approached the room's doors, which opened to admit him.

His ship was a heavily modified Royal Starship, which he'd bought a few months after Endor. He rarely used it, prefering to remain aboard other ships he owned, but took it along for "official business". Jander's ship was painted black, a color he much prefered to the annoyingly obvious silver color that had been common in the late days of the Old Republic. He'd also converted it to be more of a smuggling vessel, increasing it's speed, shielding, maneuverability, and of course weapons along with other systems. It had served well throughout the years.

Inside his cabin, the most luxurious of the four aboard, each better than it originally had been when the ship could hold ten passengers in suites, was Sunstar's wife Tatyana. For the past month they had been travelling together, having tired of thier duties keeping them away from one another. They had begun doing this after Jander's one-hundredth birthday celebration, and would continue doing so indefinately.

"We just cleared outer customs, now we have a three-hour jump to inner customs, once we get through the Trans-Mist Corridor," he informed his wife. Though a noble by birth, he was anything but in personality, thus his use of the slang term for the Transitory Mists that surrounded the Hapes Cluster, restricting entry into a small area.

"Excellent," she replied, winking at him. "I guess I have you all to myself then."

---The next day---

Softly the starship set down on the duracrete platform, guided there by the Kaalif's own hand. From there he returned to quarters, where he begrudgingly pulled on clothing more suitable for his title, though still with signs of the utilty of his normal wear. He also grumbled, leaving behind a host of weapons and only keeping the more ceremonial ones on his person. Finally, they walked down the boarding ramp together and got into the airspeeder that had already been unloaded for transport to the palace.

Ten minutes later they arrived, sending the speeder away on remote, and walked up the steps side-by-side, looking over those who had already arrived.

Ren sauntered, arms folded, around the great grandiose ballroom of the palace admiring the paintings and decorations that adorned the walls.

This was a happy place, filled with contented thoughts and laughter, another reason why Hapes was so important to him.


He probed the room for Dak, hoping to find his friend in the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

Jai looked sadly at Dak go. She had wanted to ask him if her was serious...did he really offer her a job, or was he just playing around?

Well, she'd bother with it later, she decided.

"Yes, it is, and quite nice to meet you, Colonel Darksword. It's a pleasure", she smiled as she shook his hand firmly, she forgotten to tone down her handshake. She was suppose to be a lady tonight, not a smuggler, and ladies didn't shake hands like mechanics.

The New Hapan Queen Mother Jasmine Darksword finally decides it is time to make her presense known.

Entering the party fashionably late, she walks down the Grand Staircase of the palace, dressed in a flowing white silk gown. Her long blonde hair was piled on top of her head in soft curls, allowing a few tendrels (sp?) to escape and carress her neck softly.

Jasmine steps into the room of the party and glances around slowly with her icy blue eyes. She was not born of the Force, so she does not know if any of these people here are Jedi or Sith.

Jasmine spots her husband and smiles softly, joining him finally after taking so long getting ready.

"Hello, Dakkon dear. Forgive my lateness. I wanted to look just right for my first formal party.

Have I missed anything important yet?"

...a gem or a world...

...and a gem of a lady...

...how appropriate...

He stepped forward, with all the grace required of a man of his stature, and bowed low to the Queen Mother of Hapes.

"Madame, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard much about you from my good friend, Dakkon."

Dakkon stood mesmerised as he watched Jasmine descend the staircase. A smile unlike any other grew on his face as she looked at him nervously before approaching. As she spoke, he just looked deeply into her eyes.

"Jasmine, my dear you look... Ravishing, truly a testament to the beauty of Hapes.

And you have missed nothing, the conversation is flowing and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves."

As the LFX CEO appeared Dakkon smiled again, glad that Jasmine would be able to easily make her way through a crowd of faces, all wanting to meet her.

"May i present to you Seti Ashar, CEO of LFX Industrial."

Dakkon looked up to see Ren, and waved him over.

"Both of you should also meet this man, Ren Janggar, CEO of Sienar and a close friend of mine."

Jai, as well as everyone else, stopped short to gaze at the dazzleing beauty of the new Queen. She was a credit to Hapes, no doubt, and Jai was almost jealous.

She hung back from the throng that had begun to form and waiting patiently for her turn to meet the Queen Mother.

Ren turned from the paintings on the wall to see Dak motioning him over.

A smile grew across his face.


"Ren! Ren Janggar, it's been far too long."

The two shared a firm friendly embrace, before Dak began to introduce his wife.

"Ren, may I present to you with the crown Jewel of Hapes, my Wife and ruler of the Cluster, Jasmine."


<font color=lime>"Your majesty, I must say your far more beutiful than Dakkon built you up to be."

<font color=white>Ren shot a little smirk at Dak, while Dak shot a nervous grin at his wife.

<font color=lime>"I promise that in my time under your leadership I will serve you to my the best of my ability."

<font color=white>The LFX ceo caught his eye, after he'd finished talking to the Queen.

<font color=lime>"Mr Asher is it, hmm, I thought I recognised your face from all those holonet commercials.

So tell me, how's the buiness these days?