Another boring trip to Coruscant...another boring Senate meeting...and another boring trip back to Bormea. Woohoo.

Princess Katrina Cairo Solo melted back into her plush throne aboard her lavish royal transport. She left out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes. This day couldn't be any more uneventful. She looked around her 'portable throne room', as she called it. It was identical to her throne room back on Bormea, even down to the last beaded jewel on her crown.

It was an oval shaped room, with her throne at one end and a gilded entrance way at the other. The walls were black marble, as well as the pillars that went around the walls of the room. The floor and rise that her throne was upon were black marble as well. Her throne was made of rare Dragoon Diamonds, blood red Rubies, sea-green Emeralds, deep blue Sapphires, plus a number of native Bormean jewels who's names and colors were unutterable in any other language. Cairo's crown was just as unspeakably beautiful as her throne. At least, her official crown was...her everyday crown was made up of blue sapphires in long tendril-like spikes.

Cairo herself was quite beautiful as well. Her hair was long and dark, her skin was pale and soft, and her eyes were alluring, reflective silver. Her voice was rich and seductive and her mannerisms were befitting of her royal stature. She was the picture of perfection, as far as Bormeans were concerned. But when it came to how Cairo felt about it all, she was miserable; like a wild bird in a gilded cage.

"Your Majesty? We're approaching Coruscant airspace now. I'd advise you to put your restraining device on. It can be a bumpy entrance into the atmosphere."

Cairo looked from the spot on the floor that she'd been staring at up at her transport's captain, Lontu Borenka. "Thank you, Mr. Borenka.", she said flatly as she picked up the safety netting that was fastened to her throne. As soon as the officer had exited, she dropped the safety device and scoffed.

"Bumpy entrance indeed! We've made this trip a million times and each trip is identical. I'd die of a heart attack if we encountered any turbulence....at least that would be a change from the normal routine."

*Ahem*

Startled from the noise Darq sat up quickly...or at least tried, the Com Scan console he was working underneath wasn't high enough to allow him to sit up. And the conduit above his head reminded him of that *Clang*

Rubbing his battered head vigorously Darq eased himself out from under the console making sure not to repeat his earlier mistake. He had been repairing damage done to the Com Scan by a surge from its power couplings. Serves them right, he thought, what do you expect when you purchase your couplings from a Ranat. Darq considered this job as a technician for the Coruscant Flight Control System demeaning and far below his skill level. But it paid decently, and thats all that really mattered in the galaxy anymore, getting money, right? It still amazed him that he was wasting his prodigious talents here, fixing objects for people who had no real idea why things worked only that when you press a button on your console it does somethin---

"KAZNOR!! ARE YOU LISTENING TO A SINGLE THING I'M TELLING YOU!?"

Darq was ripped from his self pitying reverie by the always unpleasant and typically screaming voice of his supervisor........never could remember the guys name.
The supervisor was clad in the same jumpsuit as Darq, dark blue with a cheap applique denoting they worked for the CFCS.

"Now then, pay attention, we're going to have a real bigwig arriving shortly, the Something or another of Bormea, princess I think. Now I want you to make sure that everything's in pristine shape, any foul ups and its your hide, GOT IT!?"

Oh joy, another princess who thought she was master of all she surveyed, that everyone around served only to serve her whims. Darq nodded in understanding to the Supervisor, who, having successfully bullied yet another worked into doing what should be his work, exited the room with a smug smile on his lips.

After making several rude gestures to his Supervisors back, Darq ran a hand through his sandy colored hair sighing slightly, before forcing his lanky frame back under the console. Oh well, another day another cred, Darq told himself as he got back to work, but there has to be something out there better than this...

The landing, as previously boring as a million before it, went smoothly as ever. The captain had come back to her throne room and told her so, as if she couldn't figure it out for herself. Her handmaidens, all seemingly brainwashed devotees to their esteemed queen-to-be, got Cairo's things and took them outside to be taken to the hotel where she was going to be staying. Then they helped Cairo undress from her traveling gown into her more queen-like garb.

Cairo always hated that the most, having a group of tittering, brainless, spineless dumb blondes strip her down and dress up back up like she was a living doll. When she had first taken up her long-lost crown, she'd fought the handmaidens as they dressed and undressed her...but she'd learned that they were relentless in their assigned duties and she'd forced herself to stand there while they turned and tossed and fussed over her hair and clothes.

After about thirty minutes of changing clothes and shoes and hairstyles, the handmaidens went about their duties on the ship and left Cairo with her three bodyguards, who were equally as brainwashed and equally was dim-witted as the handmaidens.

"You look lovely, My Majesty.", one of them remarked flatly.

"Thank you.", she retorted back, just as flatly, if not mockingly at him.

He said that all the time, and didn't really mean it. It was just his job. Although, she did think she looked somewhat alright in this particular gown.

It was Alderaanian satin, a blueish silver. It was strapless, in the Bormean fashion, for Bormeans were prideful of their ample chests, well-formed shoulders, and graceful necks. Cairo didn't think highly of that area of her body, but it was the fashion of her world, so she humored her public. The dress was fitted to her exact measurements, and was tight in all the right places. Her hair was up, because it looked best with her official crown, which she was wearing since she'd be seen in public. Little wild tendrils of her dark hair cascaded down and framed her pretty face making her eyes radiate in their reflective splendor.

"Your majesty? If I could have your attention for a moment."

"I'd rather not, Querrols, but if you must...what silly number chart do you have for me to stare blankly at today?"

"Well! I never! Miss Solo, you really have gotten quite an attitude lately, and it's not befitting of a lady."

Cairo pouted slightly at her head advisor, Jon Querrols. He was the nerve center of Bormea, the man behind it all and Cairo's only confidant. "I'm sorry, Jon. It's just...I'm so bored! Everything is so....routine!!! I never do anything exciting. Being a princess is so dull."

Jon sighed heavily and put a hand on Cairo's shoulder softly. "Miss Solo...I know you've been bored with all this pagentry lately. So...I made an appointment to have a tour."

"A tour?! Oh, Jon...not another factory!"

"No. No, this is a little different. And I think you'll like it."

"I doubt that."

"Cairo....trust me?"



Cairo did trust Jon and she went along with this 'surprise'. It was the least she could do, for Jon's sake. He was a sweet old man who only wanted to make his Princess happy, and Cairo thought the world of him. He was like the father she'd never had, and she was like a daughter to him.

He knew things about Cairo that the general public did not...like the fact that she loved technology, engineering, and things of that nature. Therefore Jon's 'surprise' was a trip to Coruscant Flight Control System's Head Quarters. For once, Cairo was actually excited about something...and she got to leave her handmaidens and brutish bodyguards behind at the hotel. It was just her, Jon, and his assistant/son Kevin. Kevin drove her and Jon to CFCS and dropped them off at the door where some bigwig of the place lead them inside.

In her high heels, expensive dress, and jeweled crown, Cairo looked out of place...but she didn't feel it. Every time their bigwig tourguide showed them a new section of the building, Cairo would stop and introduce herself (even though it was Jon's job and she wasn't suppose to talk to the workers). She'd asked them what they were doing, even give tips sometimes and tinker a moment, before Jon pulled her away. This was her kind of people: engineers, blue collars, and R&D specialists. Their work was fascinating to her, and much more interesting than that of a princess.

"And that's our CFCS, Your Majesty."

"...that's it?"

"Um..."

Jon broke in, "I...uh...think what's my Princess means to say it that, we have had a lovely time and...we appreciate your tour, My Good Man."

"No, Jon, I meant to say that this can't be the whole building. I saw three more stories above this one when I came in. And I'd really like to see those."

"But, Ma'am, those are quite boring."

"Oh, come now...doesn’t everyone find this whole place boring. I bet I'm the first girl who's come through here and not sighed in boredum once. Be a sport and show me the rest, please?"

The tourguide was taken aback. Princess' didn't talk like that! "Um....well....uh...ok, Your Majesty."

Jon turned red and rolled his eyes while Cairo almost squealed with delight as she followed the guide up a flight of steps to the upper level. He showed them around and Cairo peered in each door. There wasn't any workers up here, and Cairo decided that interacting with the workers was the best part. The guide has been right, the upper levels were boring....but then...

"And this is the...ahem...Mr. Kaznor?"

Cairo peered around the guide into a room with a lot of machines and panels and controls...and a man. When their guide said his name, the man jumped and hit his head on the console he'd been wedged under. Cairo winced as the man groaned and climbed out from under the console. He was still turned with his back to her and she therefore turned her attention back to the guide as he spoke, "This is the Com Scan room. It's currently being attended to by one of our technicians, Darq K--"

Cairo pushed past the guide and slipped into the room, "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kaznor. My name's Cairo."

At the sound of his name being called Darq again tried to sit up quickly and was again met with the same result. Slamming his hydrospanner down in utter frustration, He eased his way out from the electronics. Still facing the consoles and gripping their edges with vicelike pressure he speaks, with a voice modulating between mere annoyance and utter contempt.

"What's the meaning of these constant interruptions!! if you don't give me some quiet you'll never get your com scan array back up to optimum efficiency!"

For added emphasis Darq strips off his headlamp throwing it to the ground as he finally turns around..and stops in his tracks. Before his stands perhaps the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, a few glances with an appraising eye confirmed that fact.

But as quickly as this desire manifested Darq banished it, shoving it deep within himself. Who did this girl think she was!? prancing into HIS work area, dressed like she was about to attend a Imperial Grand Ball. The unmitigated gall of her.

The womans next act startled Darq, but once again his composure and contempt quickly reasserted themselves, as she pushed past her guide enter the room and introducing herself. He glanced down at his hands greasy and blackened from countless lubricants, with a smirk on his lips he extends a filthy hand towards the woman.

"Kaznor, Darq Kaznor, now you mind me asking you who the hell you are and why you're up here, last time I checked this wasn't part of the tour"

"She is the BirthRight Queen to the Bormean System, and you will address her as 'Princess Cairo', if you must be so informal. I'd advise you watch your tongue, Young Sir, when in the presence of royalty." Jon had broken in between Cairo and Darq, rather flustered at the younger man having used colorful language in the presence of his Princess.

"Oh, Jon, calm down. He didn't know!" Cairo stepped up beside Jon and smiled at Darq, "You'll have to excuse my Head Advisor. He gets a little touchy at the silliest things."

Well, by this time, the tourguide/supervisor was furious and making all kinds of You-are-so-fired looks at Darq behind Cairo and Jon's backs. Cairo continued however, not knowing that she was only getting Darq into more and more trouble. She peered behind him as Jon started back at scolding him. "And another thing, Young Man, you do not shake hands with a Princess. You kneel and lightly kiss the back of her ha--"

Once again, she cut off Jon and met Darq's gaze with those reflective silver-blue eyes of hers, "What's this that your working on? You bellowed something about a com scan array..." She started walking about the room, messing with (but not messing up), the machines scattered about. "It's really quite interesting. I've only seen one or two of these. Quite outdated, you know...well, I’m sure you do. You look like an intelligent man."

"Your Majesty...", Jon tried to get Cairo's attention and when he could not, he threw his arms up and turned on his heels walking out of the room.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sir...I didn't know he was still in here, Sir." The tourguide/supervisor walked after Jon as he paced outside the door, apologizing again and again for Darq's presence and behavior.

Cairo peered out after them and smirked, then turned back to Darq, "Well....how can stand him? Your supervisor, I mean...that is who he is, isn't he? He's worse than Jon..."

After hearing Cairo's complements towards him, some of Darq's outright malice faded to a cool dislike. He had a high self image of himself and his abilities and one of the surest ways to gain his favor was to comment on that fact.

"That old fool? he's a bully first and a moron second, doesn't know a flux capacitor from a trash compactor, in fact he's not all that different from you Ms. Princess, Darq said practically spitting out the words, These are MicroThrust Com Scan's HARDLY outdated. But how should you know any better? bet you don't have many of them in your fancy palace."

Circling around Cairo, Darq first looked into the hall at the receeding forms of Jon and his asinine supervisor, before turning his sharp green eyes to more important things, namely Cairo's amazing form.

"So tell me Princess what brings you down to the common laborers level? wanting to make yourself feel even more superior?"

As handsome and as charming as those green eyes were, Cairo had no troubles in giving them a harsh look.

"My Good Man, do you mean to infer that I am only here to bid my time? To pass away to the hours till I go get my next manicure? You are sorely mistaken. And I take back what I said about you being intelligent. You are quite a fool for speaking to me like that! How dare you!? I'll have you know that I keep up with things of the engineerical nature, and excuse me for being behind the times a tad. Bormea is a little far out to receive 'Nerds Weekly'."

By this time a flush had risen in Cairo's cheeks and her hands had found their way to her hips, where they were placed indignantly. Her lips were ever so slightly pursed and her silvery eyes reflected and shone, a common habit when a Bormean's temper became aroused.

This sudden flare of temper stunned Darq for a moment, but he quickly recovered. Perhaps there was more to this girl than just her ravishing looks, he thought. The Twi'leks he'd occasionally bring back to his small flat were beautiful and skilled at what they did, but they lacked the intelligence to merit becomming more than just a fling. But this girl was different firey, beautiful, and intelligent, very desirable but far out of his reach.

""Er..sorry la--princess....I forget that not everyone does this for a living, heh,

He flashes Cairo a sheepish grin,

...so ah...What brings you to Coruscant m'lady? surely not only to watch me repair this damned thing" ::Kicking the console, wincing slightly as its more solid than he'd thought::

..."M'lady"?...Well now, that's more like it...

Cairo's temper receded a little when Darq didn't come back with any snide comments. She even smiled a little at his grin, and who couldn't? He looked so boyishly coy when he did it.

"I'm here on business actually. A senate meeting...I don't trust anyone to handle mine or my people's affairs but myself. My last senator tried to seel half of the Bormean system for an SSD. I decided, after that, that I ought to attend senate meetings for myself..."

Cairo was becoming a little more uncomfortable being alone with this man for so long. This was the longest amount of time she'd ever been left alone with a man, besides Jon, since she'd became Princess. Cairo bit her lip, a nervous habit, and averted her eyes to the door. She could hear Jon and that ghastly man arguing over something down the hall. She looked back at Darq a moment and then pretended to be looking around at the devices in the room, just so she wouldn't stare at him and start blushing.