The night air of Naboo made everything smell sweet and light, fresh and new. The sun had just set and the city was cooling down. Yet, not slowing down.

No, no signs of slowing could be seen, for everyone was prepareing for the big ball that night; the big costume ball in the old Theed Palace. It had just been renovated, and some officials decided to show it off in a grand style. All the exterior lights were on, flooding the Grand Palace with a soft, yellow hue that could be seen for miles and miles. And the gardens were done up in little, white lights that outlined everything perfectly.

The interior was just as grand. The main chambers had been cleaned and polished. The floors had been waxed and buffed and buffed agian to a high, sparkleing shine. The walls held priceless tapestries and paintings, the ceilings displayed breath-takeing murals and faux sky-scenes. And the soft music from the big band on the terrace could be heard from blocks away.

Everyone was going to be there...

-------------------------------------------------------

A new, fancy speeder pulled up to the main staircase in front of Theed Palace. One of the many doormen came running up to the speeder's door and opened it.

"Welcome to The Palace, Madam. Enjoy your visit."

"Thank you, Sir. I plan to."

Out stepped Jaina Corellia Han Solo Darklighter. She was dressed for the occasion...formal, yet in a costume-ball fashion. She wore a form flattering dress: silky, sequined, adorned with a black and orange pattern that looked like a tigeress. In one hand she held a black handbag, in the other her masque; the feline looking ornament topped off the outfit. Her hair was up; tendrils of hair spilling down perfectly. She looked stunning. Elegent rather than smugglerish.

Jai tapped her masque agianst a well-toned thigh and looked up at the Grand Palace as a valet drove off to park her speeder. The doorman offered his arm.

"May I show you in, Mrs. Darklighter?"

Jai smiled at him, "You may."

She took his arm, and they paraded up the long flight of stairs to the gigantic doors that were swung open. They opened to reveal the inside of the Palace and the rooms within. The party hadn't even started.

Jai nodded a 'thank you' to the doorman as he retreated back down to steps, to attend to another guest, no doubt. She looked in on the party...the danceing hadn't begun yet, not everyone had arrived.

A man at the door asked for her name; she gave it and then heard her name announced over a the mingleing of voices...

"Mrs. Jaina Darklighter...Smuggler...Leader of The Solo Syndicate...Ruler of Delph. Now entering."

Jai felt her cheeks flush with slight embarrassment as everyone stopped for a moment and looked at her.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Whew!...Come on, Solo. Just gather yourself and walk on in....it's just a party.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

And Jai did so...with all the grace and beauty of a royal.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The night is young<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, she thought. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...and this party has just started...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Sith Empress Apprentice Jade walks in then and stops right in the middle of the doorway, looking around with soft yellow eyes, for once.

Tonight Jade is wearing a white outfit, which offsets her tanned skin and neon yellow hair flawlessly. She is wearing an early era dress (1908 style IRL time) that has low shoulders and a long skirt. When she takes a step, a flash of her tanned calf shows. On her feet are white high heeled shoes, and her hair is done up lavishly in curls piled on top of her head, leaving a few tendrils carressing her bare tanned neck.

Jade takes a few more steps when she hears a male voice speak to her.

"Sith Empress Mrs. Dark Emerald Jade Horodren, sister of Jaina Darklighter, Smuggler and Sith Apprentice. May I accompany you, please?"

Jade chuckles and nods.

"It seems my fame proceeds me. Yes, you may accompany me. Thank you."

Jade loops her arm through the offered males arm and prepares for a lovely evening.

Tec had been invited to the "party", which was very unusual, considering he didn't dance often. But he still went.

His speeder moved quickly through the dark night, and as he pulled up to the Theed Palace, he noticed Jai's speeder pulling away. He jumped out of the speeder and handed the keys to a valet.

Walking into the ball room, his black cloak swirled around his brght navy blue shirt, and his emerald green pants shone in the light. The embroidery on his shirt showed, but only a bit.

He put the cloak on the cloak stand, and walked to find Jai, her being the only one there so far that he could see that he knew. He walked up to her, slowly, and then tapped her on the shoulder and said, "You look nice, Jai. Any chance I might have a dance with you sometime tonight, as friends?"

Jai saw her older sister, EJ, stroll in...now with a man on each arm. She laughed and waved, catching EJ's eye. EJ smiled and waved back, walking off to one of the other ballrooms with the two men. Jai shook her head and smirked...

-------------------------------------------------

Jai turned and smiled brilliantly at him, "Tec, darling. Of course you can...I'll save one just for you."

She glanced around the room, "But for now, I think I'll try and locate my kid sister...probably off smooching with Owen Aiden somewhere."
Jai smirked, "I'll catch you later on, Tec. Bye."

With that, she strolled off into the mingleing crowds to find her young sister, Cairo...

A loud sound of laughter is heard as Jade told a joke all her own. She excuses herself to go get a drink from the bar in the other room, and bumps right into Jaina.

Jade giggles and walks around Jai.

"This is so great! Im glad I took your advice and joined the party tonight. I could use time away from everything.

Having fun yet, Sis?"

"Yes, Sis, much fun.
Listen EJ, have you seen Cairo around here?" Jai asks.

"Nope, havent seen her. She might arrive later, or she might be off somewhere private with Owen." Jade says with a wink.

"More power to her then." Jai replies.

Jade chuckles.

"Im sure shes here somewhere. Ill catch you later." she winks again and turns back to her male company that she arrived with.

"Later EJ!" Jaina hollers behind her.

Owen felt <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> awkward<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

He was a trained killer,assassin,hunter,warrior....and he was at a <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> party<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.

Ugh.

The best thing about it though was Cairo was with him.But she clung fiercely to his arm.He had noted this odd protective behavior from her lately.A side effect from his.....adventures on the remote planet Tran.

Oh well.

They made their way through the crowed toward Jai.A soon as he was withing range he tapped her on the shoulder.She turned around and a bright smile lit her face.Owen was dressed in dark pants,white-black shirt and a long dark overcoat.

He sliped his arm around Cairo's waist and smiled at Jai.

"Why hello Mrs Darklighter"

A few minutes after Jai had left him, Tec was walking around, looking for someone he might actually strike up a conversation with, but found none that he wanted to disturb.

He had spotted Jade, and Cairo, and Owein, but he had not disturbed them for fear of what they would just do instead, so he walked around and then, after about a half an hour of hopeless walking, he took a spot out front and helped with the coat takers and the receptionist.

Jade was on her way outside when she snagged Tec's arm and whips him around. They walk to another set of doors and go outside that way into the cool night air.

"Sorry Tec. I needed someone to talk to out here while I cooled off a bit.

You dont mind, do you?"

Tec chuckled, a deep, rich sound.

"Nah, I don't mind. I guess I just miss somebody special. How are you tonight? I noticed you were just ith a cute guy, and yet you left him to come speak with me?"

Tec eyed her curiously.

"Why?"

Jade chuckles softly.

"He is just my escort. I know nothing about him.

Besides, I want an <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> intellegent<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> conversation."