Bonadan


Leantre Vio watched with fascination as the media was following the assassination attempt of Seth Vinda.

Why would someone want Seth Vinda dead?


Still, the past few weeks were weeks of transition as the old power foundations of separate governments were surrendered and forsaken for the new formations and government centers of the emerging Commonwealth.

The annoucement of Mr. Vinda before the game opening was to be the first in a series that would help acclimate the people to the new government that would be based on the fundamentally new responsibility granted them.

The type of government they would have whether that government was self serving or self sacrificing for the people would depend literally on the choice of the poeple.

City and Territory representation grouped together within a Disctrict. District representation grouped into Regions, each Region sending a representative to the World Council. World Councilors sending representatives to the InterSystem Congress that was the authority of the Commonwealth at peace. Select Congressmen, women or beings chosen to represent the Executive Council as Executors during a crisis, with the ISC providing the logistical support to carry out the orders of the Executive Council.

It was the ISC first directive to ensure that the EC never was called upon by ensuring the peace and tranquility of the many citizens of the Commonwealth, of which the Corporate Sector and Caprician System were a part of.

With the seat of power within the Corporate Sector, Leantre could see that most of the priorities would be to establish themselves within that Sector of space before branching off to the farflung areas.

The Elrood Educational Center was on the other side of the galaxy and some were starting to question the wisdom of having the exploratory expeditions in that part of the galaxy continue.

What was keeping that issue of the ISC agenda was the private funding the expeditions were receiving through various Caprician interests, one of which was Leantre's own private funds.

He could not help but feel that keeping the Elrood Corridor open would eventually pay off. It was a test of Caprician mettle. How they merged with nonCapricians. The changing nature of the military, the scientific community as well as the diplomatic arm of the fledgling Commonwealth.

When the Commonwealth began to interact with other galactic factions, he wanted the CW to be ready. They would need top notch diplomats, a military not only ready to go at a moment's notice but one that could keep their edge during peacetime. An idle army was not something desirable for complacency would soon set in. It was inevitable. It was a lesson they were learning from the example of the Coalition.

It was probably why there was war brooding as there was definitely no love lost between the Galactic Coalition and the Black Dragon Empire nor the Galactic Empire.

Already, the EEC (Elrood Educational Center) forwarded a recommendation for the ISC's review: A proposal to maintain a constant rotation of military units from planet to planet. Not only would such movement create the need for constant logistical support between worlds and keep such activities fluid and error-free for emergency situations but it would shift the various branches of military service between different activity levels.

From outright combat on the frontier edges to reserve status inside the borders.

So he was naturally interested to know who was taking power within the infrastructure of the Commonwealth.

Various representatives had been campaigning from the city level to region level as the government skeleton was assembling on all worlds simultaneously.

From the World Councils all over the Commowealth would be chosen several ISC representatives.

He was pleased to see that Tyscio Korban was campaigning for a World Council position. He had several regions wanting him to become a Regional Representative, so he handpicked and promoted other men and women he knew would do well in that position and in turn, used their support to promote him to represent not just a region, but the entire planet of Capricia.

World Councils depended upon the population size of a planet to determine its exact membership. Post Reconstruction Capricia was growing and so would it's World Council.

Leantre figured Tyscio would get it. But as to whether he would get a chance to sit on the ISC was an altogether different story. While the people still chose, it was from the pool of World Council Members that they did.

As he scanned the news from his homeworld there was the impression that something was happening. The statistics showed massive amounts of money and a campaign program designed around a person with no name nor appearance as of yet.

It was the type of grandstanding that added a dramaticism to the election process but what citizen would vote for an unknown person revealed at the last possible minute?

And that was the kicker. It was either good money thrown away at an unrealistic campaign or there was something else at work.

What if the person was known?

From the campaign slogans it seemed that he should know who would be running. And the amount of money being thrown around, as reported by the Campaign Finance Directorate, the candidate was looking for nothing less than ISC membership.

Who are you? He thought.

Capricia



If there was one constant about Capricia it was it's secrets. As gregarious and open its newfound association with this Commonwealth was, there were still the secrets of ages past hidden behind layers of antiquity.

In stone, within the bedrock foundations of civilizations risen and fallen throughout the interims of Caprician history...

And resting on a plot of land, a centuries old, nay, a several millenia old mansion stood in all the glory of Caprician classical style architecture. A mixture of grace and simplicity of the old to the untrained eye. But to the more detail oriented, set within the simple layout, intricate patterns of unparalleled design and quality could be found.

But this noble house was by no means the most elaborate nor was it the most oppulent. But behind it's facade of modesty lay one hidden fact.

That it was the Noble House.

A young man and his older host sat together in the atrium overlooking the expansive grounds comprised of various plants, vegetation and fountains.

A rather detailed holographic display stationed overhead so as to not interfere with the view had just finished displaying the most recent polling results of the race for World Council. Most of the regional positions had finished campaigning and were either won or lost the month before.

"So how many races did Noble House bankroll?" the younger man asked.

Lord Stettin, his host and leader of the Noble House, turned to the younger in amusement. "Enough." he replied cryptically before wryly adding, "and we didn't win them all."

"What?" the younger man responded with mock gravity. "The mighty, omniscient Noble House did not win on all fronts? Did not acheive all of it's goals?"

Stettin chuckled.

He sighed, "The young always see goals as the things in front of their eyes." The old man settled in his chair. "Experience has taught that in a democratic system, you play the odds. Total dominant control is not always a good thing. A good finger on the other's pulse can be an effective protection as well."

"Is that what you are trying to do with the Commonwealth? Keep your finger on it's pulse?"

Stettin smiled at the other's growing grasp. "The Noble House has not concerned itself with the galaxy at large for hundreds of thousands of years. Our data was outdated six ages ago. Even the fractured Jedi Order knows more about the state of the galaxy than we do."

The young man narrowed his eyes in reflection. "You don't seem too worried?"

"The rest of the galaxy is not our concern. Only Capricia. And now that Capricia is a part of this larger organism called Commonwealth, we too must concern ourselves with it."

"Because of the greater exposure to outside threats?"

Stettin exhaled loudly, "That is a possibility but not an overwhelmingly alarming one. Of course this Admiral Wilkar could blow up a Hapan Battle Dragon and this Commonwealth would be at war with the Hapan Consortium tomorrow. Obviously, the threat to Capricia would increase exponentially and all because of a blunder by someone non-Caprician."

The younger man turned to the older, his eyes frowning, "Is that what you are worried about? The influx of non-Capricians?"

Stettin nodded, "In a word: Yes. Not in the strict racial sense implied but you must realize, for eons Capricians have been isolated from everyone else in the galaxy. Now her doors have been thrown wide open to new ideas, new and exciting ways of thinking, new potentials, and..." Stettin smiled sadly, "...new influences."

The old man's smile vanished as his eyes searched those of the young man's, "Sure you've seen the influence first hand? During the Exodus of the Clans you found your way near a station orbiting Onderon. Where you made the Caprician Embassy?"

"Tenloss..." the younger man muttered to himself as if remembering.

"Civilization has a darker side to it. You do not need True History to see that. Greasing the palms may be joked about but it is usually the herald of a greater corruption. A corruption of people's minds, their intentions, the actions, and ultimately their dreams and goals. The greater criminal element grows.

Capricia has grown on the foundations of family and, for the past thousand years, the foundations of the Clans.

Now, big business, golden opportunities and limitless potential tease us from the horizon."

"There is nothing wrong with..." the younger man started.

"No. Not in themselves. But in our journey to the horizon we must not lose sight of that which makes us.... 'us'. That which makes us Caprician."

The old man's eyes narrowed. "In all the ages and eons that we've seen, how little it seems that man changes. Our finger on the pulse of civilizations that make up Capricia or that Capricia is a part of not only helps us measure it's life but helps us ensure that while man may not change, he may not degrade or degenerate into selfish, self-satisfying creatures."

Stettin leaned forward waving a hand at the holographic display, "We may not have the details other factions do about the state of the galaxy but what we do see, disturbs us.

The brilliance of the many minds that set themselves to the task of creating the many technological acheivements that have not been seen in the galaxy since it's birth is on the rise. The fires within that spur a mind to question the rules of the physical, quasi-physical and quantum universe are setting and we do see the evidence in the technology in all its forms.

But whether technology is a tool of civilization, the foundation of civilization or the standard a civilization measures itself by, what is important to us is what lay behind the technology. If it's a tool, what is the state of the mind using the tool? If it is the foundation, what principles, what ideologies does the civilization base itself on? If it is the standard, what actions are prompted, or are the defined prerequisites within the civilization?

Will a nation faced with defending the liberty and freedom of it's people take a proactive or reactive policy? Do the actions of a nation betray it's intent despite what it says or in support of what it says?"


"You are thinking of the Coalition?"


"I am thinking of us. I am thinking of all galactic powers. I am thinking: Just what sort of Commonwealth is being built here? Will it stand out or will it simply be a carbon copy of actions betraying intent masked by propaganda over a secret ideology of self destruction? Or will our actions, instead of betraying our intent as malevelent, show us as benevolent? Will we mask our intentions and actions with propaganda? Will we dance to the tune of another's accusation or will we lead with results from the ramparts above? Will we end up being self destructive or will we be self sustaining and self transcending?


These are the new concerns of Noble House.


What is this Commonwealth?"


The young man sat quietly for a long time. "And if this Commonwealth remains undefined?"


Lord Stettin cleared his throat and took a sip of a chilled drink sitting off to the side as he gazed out at the paradisaic grounds. "Then we will begin to write the dictionary."

His hand patted the young man's arm.

"And that is why you are very important to Noble House and to Capricia."


The young man raised his eyebrow. "Well, we might lose some or win some."


Stettin, shaken out of his reverie by the flippant comment, turned to look at the young man. Upon seeing the tease in the other's eyes, he relaxed. "And sometimes victory is certain. Not even Tyscio Korban's campaign will touch you."


The old man stood up. "In a world of memories... your unveiling will sweep aside the competition and assure you a place in it."

He picked up his drink and took another sip.


"It is time."

Bonadan



Natalya was in trouble.

The young woman cursed to herself loudly as she tried to grapple with the controls to the speeder. As Deed had fired at her she had not reacted quick enough to move out of the way and now as a result her speeder was veering dangerously out of control.

…steering mechanisms jammed…

…controls not responding…

Then, without warning what felt like three Gees of pressure sent her sinking back into her seat as the speeder veered upwards hard. Natalya gritted her teeth in reaction barely able to do anything else as the craft shot skywards.

With no small amount of effort Natalya managed to lift her head to see what was ahead and her eyes widened in grim realisation. A tall office building, one of Bonadan’s many super-sky-scrapers that made up its skyline was now looming ominously closer and closer with every passing second.

The young woman looked below her, now several hundred feet up in the air Lux was now nothing but a tiny speck rapidly diminishing from her.

With the controls still not responding the speeder was on a collision course and as the massive solid structure of the office building grew in size before her Natalya now knew she had no choice but to abandon the stricken craft.

Steeling herself, Natalya gingerly and slowly stood up, the view below made her heart jump and her pulse race even more than it already was.

She stole another glance downwards and instantly regretted doing so, closing her eyes briefly to overcome the sense of vertigo, Natalya realised she had little time to act. The air rushed all around her, the noise of which seemed to block out any other sound except for her own heartbeat.

A few feet below her there was a ledge, a small outcrop from the office building used for landing small private shuttles for the corporate patrons, it was a long shot but right now it was her only option.

Her pulse raced as she tensed waiting for the right moment. Natalya felt the suffocating feeling of fear grip her stomach tight like a vice, and her mouth grow dry.

After taking one final look towards the office block she was now directly heading for, out of pure desperation…



...she jumped.

House Scipio - Bonadan



The incredibly large gantries rotated slowly over the half erected walls of the new Scipio Mansion being constructed in the rural Dubonari Combine. It was an area that the Patriarch of the Scipio family researched and found that at one time housed a highly successful gemstone works facility situated on the Dubonari River. The various families of the time banded together and discovered a certain natural element within the river allowed gemstones to be worked on with greater accuracy and detail. It was said that stones entered Dubonari only to come out works of art.

But as with all things, mechanical knowhow and cookie cutter companies spitting out gemstones of inferior quality but at cheaper prices undercut the families of Dubonari. After centuries of dwindling sales, the Combine found itself running a debt as high as the Vinda Tower.

Pollution into the Dubonari River soon began to take its toll on the natural properties found and soon sales stopped altogether.

The rather huge but largely decripit plantations on the Dubonari at first viewed the intruding Scipio Clan with natural suspicion.

The first thing the Scipio's did however was work at restoring the River back to it's original quality. It took tons of credits and many permits, especially since the red tape was changing it's letterhead from Vinda Corp to Commonwealth.

Still, as the Scipio Clan tried to negotiate a suitable piece of land for their family house, they also began to become interested in restoring the defunct Combine.

Old men and women of the Combine families, remembering a time when their skill and artistry was sought after felt a stirring and soon the Scipio Clan and the Combine agreed to a plan of restoration of not only the land but the trade that expressed the natural beauty of the simple things.


Scipio Arien was in awe of the plans her father and mother were promoting with the locals and was impressed by the skill that before simply laid hidden.

What other potentials are out there that this Commonwealth will soon unearth?

The thought left a warm glow within her of actual accomplishment even as she was distracted by an incoming transmission.

"Ambassador Arien!" came the growing familiar voice of Tyscio Korban.

"Tyscio, or Councillor Elect should I say?" Scipio responded pouring herself a new blend of Caff that she picked up in the city.

"Tyscio, please!" Korban begged. "I've shaken so many hands it's a wonder I haven't caught a cold." he joked.

"Campaigning is a hard job." Scipio agreed. "Good thing Ambassadors are not elected." she quipped, taking a sip of her drink and clearly enjoying it.

"There has been talk of making it so," Tyscio commented absently, then grinned at Scipio's horrified expression, "But that's just a campaign tactic." he relented. "At this point, getting elected officials into the new government is top priority. There are so many ideas coming and going.. it's really exciting!"

"Leia has you bitten with the politics bug, eh?"

"Sometimes I wonder if she shouldn't run for some sort of office herself. Her experience could be invaluable."

"Maybe her hesitation should also tell you something?"

"Point." Tyscio nodded. "Have you heard of this new candidate on the scene?"

"The lowprofile high visibility one? It is an interesting campaign strategy but one that will ulitmately prove disasterous. How can people vote for someone they don't know?

Perhaps if things were bad...," Scipio was remembering the political situation on Capricia before the Conquest, ".. I remember Minister Jorrum Gerrard was trying to undermine the Clan's power within the government. A shift from the noble houses to the minor houses."

"Was it a bad move?"

"Well, you have to remember we were barely out of the reconstruction of the First Invasion and the Exodus of the Clans had ended. The Clans left after the First Invasion because of troublemakers trying to divide Capricia and shift the power to those who thought they could do better. A Civil War of sorts took place and when their economy crumbled and the planet verged on a depression, the we returned from the Exodus and retook the reigns. But because the situation had been bad for so long, people just wanted something different. So anything that sounded good was supported. That is why people like Gerrard grew popular."

Tyscio began to understand, "So because things are actually doing well for the everyone, no last minute shock or drama on a campaign to even warrant a curiosity vote eh?"

"If the candidate is unknown to the people, I don't see them being a threat. But if they are known, then it depends how well. Couple that with these campaign endorsements of their mystery candidate, if he or she is as popular as they are hoping, they may just win a seat in the World Council."

Scipio frowned, "In any event, you aren't running against him so why are you worried?"

"Well, this mystery candidate is generating alot of buzz. I just wanted to know if it was some government plot to engage the people in taking part in their future government. Besides, the more World Council seats taken, I may end up running against him."

Scipio laughed. "Ha ... I would be the last one to know such things. You forget, the people may elect a fool to the Council, but I am the one that has to make that fool look good to the rest of the galaxy when I represent him."

"You are assuming the fool is a male?"

Scipio smirked, "Of course."

"If you find anything out, l'd appreciate a call. If nothing more than to satisfy my curiousity."

"Will do. But I have a feeling we will all be finding out at the same time. Election Day is not far off."


After Tyscio Korban signed off, Scipio walked over to where her father was going over a set of plans for the landscaping that would surround House Scipio.

She never noticed the slow moving boat upon the Dubonari nor the person watching her.

Capricia


Leia Organa Solo...


Princess. Senator. Freedom Fighter. Ambassador. Chief of Staff. Jedi Master. Friend. Lover?


Leia stared down at her fingers and saw for the first time how rough they were. Saw how much she had rejected the comforts of rich living for the bare existence of getting things done. All her life she'd been a doer. Where other politicians talked and had others make it happen, she rolled up her sleeves and had gotten her hand dirty with.. work.

But to what end?

Who have I helped?


Life had taken a turn she never expected. Sometimes in her dreams she saw herself running with her brother through the Death Star coming up on Han Solo and Chewbacca looking longingly at the Millenium Falcon.

And for a brief moment she felt a moment of pain. It was as if she did not know how to live in peace but relished the 'good old days' when they were fighting for their lives. When she felt truly alive and felt in her heart the solid core of purpose.

Where did it all go?


She remembered Endor, when the Emperor and her father had died and a major part of the galaxy had shaken off the chains of tyranny.


Actually, that wasn't right.


They had unlocked the chains of tyranny but it seemed out of the crags of planets came warlords and tyrants alike only all to eager to pick up where Palpatine left off.


Thrawn. Isard. Hyfe. Poreon. Zeta. Snack. Klain. Zell. Raktus...


Kaine.



No matter how many they depose, more emerged to take their place. And the enemies were not relegated to outsiders but there were those who tore their dreams apart from the inside. Misguide they may be... Drayson! ... they were sometimes the most harmful.


She remembered her and Han splitting over what she thought was her greater good to lead the galaxy back onto the road to recovery. It was later she realized that the more she tried to heal, the more people seemed to rip the bandages off exposing themselves to all the hurt the galaxy had to offer.


And still the Force compelled her to keep going. To keep trying....no! There was no try! Compelled her to succeed but as each success occurred, something even more brutal pushed those successes into the far recesses of her mind.


Their New Republic had taken Coruscant from Isard only to lose it to the Eternal Rogue Order. The risen Sith!!

She personally led the forces back to Coruscant and had retaken the world but the politics on Corellia kept her from the former Capital World. The stamping out of brush fires all around the New Republic.. the staving off of those that would hunt the Republic like wolves seeking out the week drivng her, Xylon, Gash, Amalia and the Jedi into exhaustion.

The attack on the Temple of Naboo driving them to the point of desperation and at the end, their victorious celebration cut short to find out that Kaine had retaken Coruscant and had drawn a blockade around the Corellian system under the Line Captain Telan Desaria.

And in one moment, the galaxy changed and not for the better.

Exhausted and depressed she took a leave of absence and travelled to Endor with Tyscio, a most unlikely companion.

A smile formed despite the melancholy thoughts surrounding her. She remembered being on Naboo and a Jedi Padawan was trying to express his undying love for her at a restaurant and in walks Tyscio to order breakfast and the chaos that ensued since the man was a clutz.

The Republic fell and all her comrades scattered to the proverbial galactic winds. She was not quite sure where her brother was. Han and Chewie were rumored to be in the Outer Regions and presumably had the droids. What would have happened if she and Han had stayed together? What would have happened if the Republic had stayed together? What if..

A waitress came by and refilled her drink upon seeing it empty and she took another sip.

Why did the Jedi drink? She thought wondering how many situations she had gotten herself into by simply being at a bar and seeing a Sith walk in. How many padawan duels started in a bar?

Were the Jedi really that unhappy with life? The dull service to the galaxy driving their minds mad? A thankless job with no upsides?


With the fall of the Republic, she tried to keep the Order on the right path but the wounds were still raw. The hurt still felt. That evil was winning despite all their best efforts. Hope just could not exist where the scars remained and many became dissillusioned.

The Rogue Jedi pulled at the padawan's conscious and she really couldn't blame them. Even Amalia was tortured with her own demons. Marrying a man that had turned out to be a Sith was a horror she could not even contemplate.

Both Jedi Masters. Both close and yet lightyears apart. It was difficult to understand where each was coming from. Her tireless effort to stave off a government that seemed doomed from the start pushed her away from the very real personal problems her friend was facing.

Is that were I went wrong?

Capricians believed in family. They were centering their government around that simple basic unit. Strong families made for strong governments.


But what happens when your family is dead? When half of it was blown away by war, pillage, disease, desolation and distress?


So many families had undergone so much that there was nothing left to give.

She knew that Amalia had had several children. How did she do it? How had she raised a family despite her very unique personal circumstances?

How did she endure day after day?


Leia suddenly felt a surge of amazed pride upon reflecting the inner strength her friend must have had. Amalia was alot stronger than I in some ways!


But Amalia was no longer with them. A darkness had crept into her soul and had drawn her away. A final victim that seemed to make the Order feel like an empty shell.


So many of us...


Gash Jiren was dead.


The man seemed as if he would be a permanent fixture in the galaxy but even a person as mighty as he ended up being mortal.


So, in the end, what was it all for?


And so here she was, at a nondescript restaurant drinking, on a nondescript world that had no place in the galaxy... almost hidden away.


And all because she felt some inner emotion, some inner feeling that she should be here!


AND FOR WHAT?


hope?


Her mind turned bitter.


She had come to this world thinking she would die. Compelled. A world faced with an immense alien invasion. An overwhelming conquest. Against odds she'd not faced sinced the Galactic Civil War.

And they had prevailed!

She had lived again!

Sharing the pain of their losses and the exultation when they were victorious!



On the cusp of greatest and, like the freedom fighters of the old Rebellion after triumph, they moved on to greater things.


Only this time she hadn't.


She wasn't Caprician.


Tyscio had taken her advice and was campaigning for a World Council position. There were two slots left and once taken, the World Council would vote for a representative to sit on the InterSystem Congress and from there, perhaps obtain a seat on the Executive Council as an Executor!

He had a simple charm that never lost it's positive outlook on life despite the trials faced during the Conquest and it resonated with the populace.



And so he was gone... moving on. As she had once done with Han Solo.


She wondered if it hurt him as much as it had hurt her; even while she was happy for him.


She felt tears form in her eyes and lost as she was in her thoughts, she never heard the commotion that entered the restaurant.


Someone approached and it was not until they settled into the chair opposite her did she realize her Jedi senses had flared into being! She looked up into the familiar eyes of Tyscio Korban and felt an intense aura about him.


Something big was going to happen, she thought as her eyes turned to her left and right noting the camera people, holo-recorders and reporters standing around interrupting the service and atmosphere of the restaurant.


"Tyscio.." she began cautiously, trying to clear her throat and her mind.


"My nomination came in. I am on the ticket for World Council up for votes next week by the masses." Tyscio interrupted, clearing his own throat but not forgetting to raise his finger ordering himself a drink from a nearby droid.


"Credit chit." the droid asked but Tsycio pointed to Leia, "Put it on her tab, she's my girl."


Leia raised an eyebrow at Tyscio's audacity. She was about to raise her voice and complain but for two things. One: The reporters and camerapoeple milling about and Two: Tyscio's voice was quivering.


The aura intensified and Leia shifted in her seat uneasily.


"What are all these people doing here?" she asked. She had too.


"Well, they asked me a question and basically, they are here to get the answer." Tyscio responded cryptically.


His hands are shaking!


The droid moved over placing the drink on the table and as Tyscio moved to grab it plainly intent on taking his first sips (or gulps) hastily.


"What question?" she demanded causing him to jump slightly dropping the glass. Tyscio shouted in dismay as the drink spashed over the serving droid, no bigger than an astromech, and glided across the table soaking up in Leia's robe.

"What's going on?" her voice hardened. She felt a little fear within herself as well. The Force was telling her something but WHAT? We've faced a charging hordes of Yuuzhan Vong...


Tyscio looked up from the spilled drink and into the angry, frustrated and yet curious eyes of the Jedi Master before him. A Jedi Master with robes wet from his sticky drink.

"They," he gestured towards the other people milling around, "asked if I would take the World Council seat if I was voted in?"


"That's a stupid question," the former New Republic Chief of Staff blurted out but upon quick reflection, maybe not. Some politicians did bow out after winning an election. Would Tyscio?

"Would you?" she asked.

"I told them I would take it on one condition." Tyscio said, clearly meaning it. He gestured to the droid for another drink and the droid began to run Leia's credit account again.

Ignoring the annoyance, containing herself no longer, "Well?" she asked impatiently. The aura began to spin around Tyscio and she grew more agitated.


Tysico suddenly stood up and reached into his coat when the hairs on her neck picked up and she suddenly stood up kicking the table over to the right. Her saber ignited in her hand as she stood poised to defend herself, a mixture of confusion and betrayal evident on her face.


"Woah.." Tyscio dumbly blurted out taking a step back, realizing that the drink that had been before Leia was not her first.


"I am not going to harm you..I am no theat to you.." Tyscio whispered gently going to his knees. He slowly reached into his coat and pulled an object out, "I just wanted to show you this...." he held it out.


Leia's eyes showed confusion for a split second and as she switched off her saber, she felt an intense pressure.

Something big was happening.

She moved closer to reach out and take what Tyscio was holding.


"Leia.




Would you marry me?"





*



She felt an intense wave of emotion overcome her and as she opened her palm she saw a simple, elegant engagement ring.


To what end have I lived my life?


Strong families made for strong governments. Families that loved each other made for good governments!

Amalia, were you happy with your family?


How can I help others if I cannot help myself first?


She looked up from the ring at Tyscio, remembering their adventure on Endor. Remembering their time on Naboo.... Remember their fighting together during the Conquest... through thick and thin.... through life and death..



I love him.


The conclusion came simply and from the heart. When her mind was not thinking about some other task to complete, her heart was allowed to express itself.


I love him!


Tears began to stream down her face as this realization began to find that it was a reality that had taken root.


"Yes..." she whispered.



A look of profound relief crossed his face and as Leia slipped the ring on she quipped, "Afraid, you wouldn't be a World Council member?"


Tyscio's eyes widened, taking a drink off of a passing droid ignoring it's squeeks of indignation for the drink was for someone else. A squawk somewhere in the background was heard as well. Leia saw another charge to her credit taking place in the droid's brain.

"Actually," Tyscio said after downing nearly half the glass and gasping for air, "I was wondering how I'd get the ring back without getting skewered with a lightsaber if you said 'No'."


Leia grinned, walked over and hugged him. "I love you, nerfherder."


Tyscio grinned back as his arms held her, "I love you too, Princess."


The reporters, camerapeople and restaurant patrons all clapped and cheered.



Amalia, you had the right of it after all..



Suddenly, the aura calmed and the intense emotion that had been surrounding them had calmed. A decision had been made.


And the galaxy was not the same again...









But it would be a few years before anyone knew this...

Natalya could almost hear her own pulse her heart was beating so fast.

The young woman had just barely succeeded to catch the very edge of the landing pad, a supporting strut, and now she hung there clinging desperately for dear life.

She wasn’t even sure how she managed to grab onto what she had. Natalya had been surprised at just how far she had been able to jump, somehow clearing the distance which seemed to defy the laws of gravity. There was that feeling again, the energy that was always there in times of need, coursing through her.

Natalya had no doubt , it had aided her again.

Long before all of this, as a little girl, Natalya had attributed this seemingly random strange power or force to some kind of protective influence engineered, created or directly applied by some watchful entity, a guardian angel perhaps.

Sometimes Natalya felt it was her Mother guiding her, in fact sometimes she swore she could even hear her Mothers voice.

It was absurd of course, she had never even heard her Mother speak, in fact she had never even seen her in real-life, she had been murdered by Aramaya…long ago…

No. More likely it was simply her imagination, perhaps how she thought her Mother might sound if she were to speak to her…

She had of course heard about the force, but she not been taught anything about it, and did not know of its origins or why she in particular seemed to have it.

It only seemed to happen in times of need, though, to this day Natalya had not been able to call upon it at her request, but then, the thought had not even crossed her mind that it could be…



Guardian angels don’t come when you call them after all.



Natalya threw a cursory glance at the distance below her, and grimaced…

Stretched to her fullest, and clinging on by what felt like her fingertips she couldn’t help but feel , as she felt her grip beginning to slip against the smooth polished metal …that now would be a good time for any angels to interject.

Any at all , guardian or not at this point she wasn’t fussy.

As the pain shot down her arm, already tired, Natalya gasped aloud both in pain and horror as she felt her grasp slip away from the metal railing and realised she was falling back…

The building fell away from her with startling pace…

She hadn’t fulfilled her promise…Deed was still out there and getting away…


Thoughts of all the things she had left unfinished flashed through her mind…


Deed...


Her father…



Natalya closed her eyes and prepared herself for the end.




Now would be a good time for any angels.


Any at all.

Vinda was beside himself.

He could only look on in horror as he watched his only daughter fall hundreds of stories to her death…

The control room was silent, it was almost like a collective rapture had transfixed everybodies gaze upon the huge viewscreen which dominated the control room.

The various newshuttles and media services filming the event with a morbid compulsion…

The whole planet was watching, if not the galaxy…

The daughter of one of the most famous businessman, if not the, in the entire galaxy was falling to her death.

It was an event which seemed to play it self out in a kind of surreal slow-motion…

It was only seconds, but it felt like an eternity.

…and despite his money, his reputation, his wealth, his influence…

There was nothing he could do about it apart from watch in complete heartwrenching horror…


He found he could not watch, and he closed his eyes…

Achinta had already seen Natalya fall...


An Android’s life was based on the equation.

Numbers were how he thought, how he lived.



Achinta was the probably one of the most advanced artificial intelligences in the known galaxy.

Whether those numbers measured probablilty , odds, time or distance was irrelevant.

All that counted was the numbers, the equation.


He was in effect a vastly complicated calculator...

...and as far as numbers were concerned, he was never wrong.




…so by the time Natalya’s grasp had faltered and she had begun to fall backwards…he had already seen the equation.

After scanning and calculating her weight, her speed of descent versus his rate of speed…


It was quite simple really.


It was now just a matter of timing.


With a sudden hard burn of acceleration he sped towards the hapless woman, and after the most precise of touches to both his speed and his elevation, Achinta kept one hand on the Swoop and with the other simply reached out and grabbed the woman, at the exactly timed moment, seconds before her impact with the ground.

Snatching her away from the beckoning duracrete.

The young woman gasped in pain, as the impact of his arm grabbing her winded her side…

…and before she could react, or even comprehend what had just happened, in one quick smooth movement he had tossed her into a passing heap of garbage bags .

A soft landing, (of sorts)…


Accelerating once more he altered his course to go back after Deed…


This was still not over…

Suddenly, without warning there was a tremendous uproar, and Vinda opened his eyes in surprised reaction.

The whole control room had erupted. The corporate man felt his heart jump at the sound, and a surge of hope…

“What happened?..” He asked anxiously, sensing the inevitable by some miracle had not actually occurred.

His eyes scanned the monitor nervously but the camera crew’s view was being blocked by a tall building and inwardly he cursed…

“will someone tell me what happened by Vader!” He shouted cutting through the noise, his face like thunder as he gained everyone’s attention…

A relieved looking Officer Stamm’s reply was simple, and only one word…


“Achinta”


Vinda’s face softened instantly…


“He ….caught her…” Stamm continued, scarcely believing what he had just witnessed himself…

Vinda turned back to the viewing monitor and at once felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders, there now visible on the screen was a bedraggled looking Natalya stumbling out from what appeared to be a heap of trash…

The image was shaky , but it was unmistakably her.

Vinda turned back to face Stamm…

“Would someone kindly fetch and detain my daughter , and by the black bones of Palpatine NOT LET HER OUT OF THEIR SIGHT!” He ordered, exasperated…

Then , with his eyes firmly planted on the young woman still visible on the screen, a weary Vinda breathed a huge sigh of relief, and collapsed into a chair behind him…

Feeling a wave of tiredness wash over him he gave himself to it, and the Vinda-Corp figurehead slipped into unconsciousness…

Meanwhile...



Deed could see the tunnel ahead of him now, and of course the Police presence waiting for him, as they fired at him , Lux fired back, injuring several Policemen in the process, and as they ducked for cover he flew right over the tops of their heads…

So much for that… Lux thought to himself as the Swoop he was riding on entered the tunnel.

The strange sound of the engines reverberating around the huge traffic tunnel filled his ears, he was about to consider himself almost safe until a series of bright flashes lit up both the tunnel and the Swoop he was riding, followed immediately by a shower of sparks..

The Swoop lurched violently, frowning in reaction it took Deed a few seconds to realise he was actually being shot at…

He glanced behind him angrily to see the source…

There, behind him and gaining fast was another Swoop, being ridden by white haired man, someone he had not seen before…

Lux , whilst being careful to control the Swoop returned fire , unleashing a volley of laser-fire directed towards his persuer…

Deed gritted his teeth as the man dodged and veered to avoid his shots, it appeared he had one more obstacle to deal with.

Lux had come this far and he wasn’t going to let some white-haired freak stop him now, and with a quick burst of acceleration he crossed into the next lane designated for oncoming traffic...(Much to the surprise of those travelling in it)...