Author's note: Hello, hello, hello! Thank you all so much who has voted for me to write this plot. It's great to see so many of you excited for something I have written. And for those who are reading my stories for the first time, I hope you like them :) Don't forget to review :)
Coruscant
"Another hundred credits goes to Prince Xixor!"
The crowd cheered as the dealer swept the credit chips to the Prince of Falleen. Many gamblers gathered around the table, either rooting for Xixor's wins or loosing money to him. Women were also drawn to the table as Xixor released his pheromones, priding himself in his winnings. Xixor eyed one of the scandily clad twileks and grinned.
"I believe I am done for the night, Bardy," Xixor told the dealer, "I have other...businesses to attend to."
The dealer followed his line of sight and smirked.
"Of course your grace. I will package your winnings for tonight," the dealer said. As the crowd around the table dissipated, Xixor walked over to the dealer and took the case of credit chips. Xixor slyly leaned closer and pressed some credits into the dealers opened hand.
"Make sure I win the next round tomorrow night," Xixor whispered. The dealer smirked and greedily stuffed the credits into his pocket.
"Have a good night, Prince Xixor," the dealer. Xixor grinned and and sauntered over to the twilek.
"Hello, pretty lady. Would you like to join me as I celebrate tonight's wins?" Xixor offered. The twilek smiled seductively as she was drowned in his pheromones. She accepted his arm and they walked towards his speeder. Xixor's guards flew the speeder towards his apartment at 500 Republica, unaware of the presence lurking closely behind in the shadows.
"De'rux, you may retire for the night. I have a guest to entertain," Xixor told his guard. The large, burly Falleen bowed and walked out of the living room. The prince turned his attention back to his twilek companion. Without wasting time, he wrapped his arms around her waist and was about to pull her closer when the lights immediately turned off, consuming the entire apartment in darkness.
"What the kriff?!" Xixor swore. The twilek wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling very uneasy.
"I should go," she said but yelped as Xixor grabbed her arm.
"Do not worry. I'll get the lights back on," Xixor said, agitated. He roughly pulled her along as he went to the comm stationed at the wall.
"De'rux! De'rux!" Xixor called but the he got static as a response. He growled and tried to open the door but it was locked. Snarling, he pulled a blaster from the table as the twilek whimpered in fear.
"Will you quiet down!" Xixor snapped as he heard a scuffling from the ceiling. Suddenly a loud bang came from outside. The twilek screamed in fright as Xixor swivelled around, his hands trembling as he aimed at the window. Slowly, he looked out of the window and sighed in relief when he saw nothing unusual. He turned and suddenly a fist slammed into his face. He cried out and fell to the ground. Xixor scrambled to prop himself on his elbows. His eyes scanned the room but he could only make out the twilek's form in the darkness.
"What game are you playing?!" Xixor yelled at the twilek. She cowered in fear.
"It's not me! I swear!" she cried. Xixor pointed his gun at her.
"You little, lying-"
The Falleen prince was cut off as a powerful kick was embedded in gut. He cried out as another fist showed itself from the shadows and roughly punched his face. Crawling away, Xixor looked up, blood dripping down his face, and finally spotted the outline of his attacker. Tall and obviously well built, the intimidating figure remained in the cover of the shadows as he stared at Falleen.
"Sir! Sir!" the guard called as he pounded against the locked door, "Sir, are you alright?"
Xixor risked a glance at the door but when he turned back, the mysterious figure was gone. Breathing hard through his broken nose, Xixor felt the presence behind. Before he could scream, a strong hand wrapped around his neck. Xixor choked for air as his assailant pushed him against the wall. His eyes widened as the face of his attacker finally revealed himself in the moonlight. His assailant wore a mask Xixor recognised had a Mandalorian influnce with a glowing T-shaped visor. The masked man looked at the utterly frightened twilek girl.
"Get out of here," the man ordered with a mechanically garbled voice and turned back to his victim.
Then lights flickered.
Twilek gasped as both the masked man and Xixor was gone. De'rux and other Falleen guards barged in, the door miraculously unlocked.
"Miss, where is the prince?" De'rux asked her. The twilek paused. She suddenly let out a frightened scream and ran out of the door. As the guards began to investigate the scene, it became clear that both Xixor and the case of credits chips would not be found that night.
The next morning, citizens crowded outside Coruscant's most popular casino, gasping and pointing as the unconscious body of Xixor, wrapped in a cacoon of cables, hung from the building. The case of credit chips was not found but little did the authorities know that the most run down orphanages on Coruscant just became a thousand credits richer.
Murmurs and whispers echoed through the Senate's vast chambers as news of Xixor's assault quickly spread that morning.
"Order, we shall have order," Mas Amedda called yet the whispers did not reside.
"Senators, please calm down," Chancellor Palpatine coaxed, "I assure you this incident will not go unpunished. For now let's be thankful Prince Xixor is making a slow but steady recovery."
"We are not safe even on Coruscant! Those seperatists must be making there move now!" A senator yelled in outrage. More murmurs filled the chamber.
"The seperatists have not proclaimed any acts of violence of war and there is no evidence that they were involved. I'm afraid this could have just been a robbery gone wrong," Palpatine said.
"How wrong you are, Chancellor," a voice echoed through the chamber.
The room fell silent as a large hologram of a masked man appeared. The man sat comfortably in a chair, laid slightly back with his feet crossed over a table. Mandalorian mask, chest plate, utility belt, blasters holsters, black trench coat and equally black pants tucked in combat boots - this man was not to be trifled with.
"Greetings senator. By now you must be aware of the unfortunate incident with Prince Xixor of Falleen," the man said.
"Shut it off," Palpatine told Mas Amedda.
"I can't," Mas replied as he fumbled with the controls on the platform. The rest of the room listened as the masked continued.
"Do not bother trying to cut off this transmission, Chancellor. Prince Xixor. Falleen's great representative: dirty, corrupt, a cheater and a fiend. You let people like him bring voice into the senate. You let people like him influence the decisions that affect hundreds of worlds and billions of lives. You let people like him wallow in his decadent riches and wealth while others suffer under your noses. For those of you who believe he is not what I have just portrayed, take a look at what he really is."
Suddenly, dozens of holos of Xixor popped up for the entire senator to see.
"Look carefully at the person who has a seat in your senate," the man said disdainfully as a holo of Xixor lewdly holding a scandily clad women was zoomed in. Behind the couple appeared the be the buildings of the lower levels on Coruscant.
"This the Xixor who claims, at the start of the month, of settling down with his fiance. Look closely Senators, this holo was taken yesterday night. That women does not have the same face as his fiance."
Another holo appeared.
"And another women in his arms, this time from last night. Tell me is that his fiance?" the masked man asked sarcastically.
And another holo appeared.
"What about this one?" the masked asked again.
And another.
"Or this one?"
And another.
"Well, look at that! Xixor with the ever lovely Senator Tina. I don't believe you are his fiance, milady," the man said as he turned towards the senator. Heat rose to her cheeks as many faces turned to her. Utterly humiliated, she looked down and palmed her face.
And even more holos appeared.
"What about all of these women? None bare a resemblance to his said fiance. These photos are from every night for everyday of the year."
"Outrageous!" Palpatine yelled at the man, "you could have fabricated all of those holos."
"Believe what you may, Chancellor. Bring it towards your specialists if you must, but you will find none of them are fake," the man said, "let's continue shall we."
"For months countless of casinos have sheltered the fact that the prince of Falleen has cheated in every gamble he's been in!"
Gasps of horror and disbelief rang throughout the chamber
The man in the hologram stood up.
"Your precious senator is an example of the corrupt scum you can be. He has paid off the dealers in the casinos and rigged the Sabaac games; taking the money that should be put to better use. But what else can be expected from you inferior scum. Now do you see, senators? Womaniser and cheater - Prince Xixor is one of the many corrupt officials among you. For those who see through his cloak of deception, congratulations! But for those who commits the vile acts as he does...be warned. I will be coming for you next and I might not show the same restraint as I did with Xixor."
And the hologram of the mysterious masked man dissapeared.
Padme Amidala finally let out the breath she had been holding and collapsed onto her seat. From the corner of her eye she saw Bail Organa do the exact same thing. The man's sudden appearance sparked everyone; there was no question he means business. The disdain and sarcasm in his voice, despite the mechanical discombobulating, was evident. It was obvious the actions of the senate infuriated the man but for what reason, Padme was completely oblivious.
At the back of her mind, Padme praised the man for finally revealing Xixor's true nature. Of course she had no idea the extent of Xixor's lies and scandals. It was no doubt his reputation would be ruined. 'But who would he go after next?' Padme fretted, 'will it be me?'
But she was sure of only one thing.
It was only just the beginning.
Padme walked along side her best friend and handmaiden, Dorme, as she browsed through the fruit stalls. Normally she wouldn't spend her days shopping but she needed a distraction from the horror that plagued the senate earlier.
"Dorme, what do you think of these Jogan?" Padme asked as she passed her the fruit.
"They look fresh, milady. You should get a few," Dorme replied. Padme smiled.
"Excuse me, how much for four Jogan?" Padme kindly asked the clerk. The clerk smiled and placed down the holopad he was reading. Padme's eyes immediately went to the holopad as a picture of the masked assailant covered the entire page.
'TERRIBLE TRUTH: Does he deserve our thanks?' the headline said. Padme eyes continued to scroll the page.
"Maam?"
'Arrested! Five casino dealers proven to have rigged Sabaac tables!'
"Maam?
Her eyes went further down.
'Who is more trustworthy? Our leaders or a stranger.'
'REPUTATION RUINED! Prince of Falleen helpless to defend his career in hospital bed.'
"MAAM?!"
Snapping out of her daze, Padme looked up at the clerk who held a bag of Jogan in front of her.
"That will be eight credits, maam," the clerk said.
"Oh, thank you," Padme said, handing him the money.
"Milady, are you okay?" Dorme asked, concerned.
"Ya, I'm fine," Padme said, glancing at the holopad as the clerk continued to read it. Dorme followed her gaze.
"I don't think you have worry about the masked man, milady. If he is sincere he won't even think about going after you; you are cleanest senator on Coruscant. Personally I thank him, milady. I never liked Xixor anyway," Dorme said and smirked, "plus I think he's kinda handsome."
"Dorme!" Padme gasped, "the man was wearing a mask. How could you possibly say he's handsome?!"
Dorme giggled.
"C'mon, milady. That hologram did nothing to hide his obviously well built figure. He must be a total hunk under that mask," Dorme said. Padme rolled her eyes, she knew Dorme was a helpless romantic at heart.
"He's a vigilante," Padme reminded her. Dorme shrugged her shoulders.
"What can I say? I have a thing for mysterious bad boys," Dorme replied proudly. Padme looked down and shook her head. Suddenly, she bumped into a hard mass. Strong arms steadied her as she stumbled.
"Oof! I'm sorry I didn't see where I was going," Padme immediately apologized as the figure let go of her. She looked up at the cloaked figure, his piercing blue eyes was the only thing she could see under the darkness of the hood.
"It's alright," the tall figure said. His voice was deep and smooth, almost sensual.
"Sorry I bumped into you," he said and walked away. Padme eyes pierced into his back as he retreated in the opposite direction.
"Who was that, milady?" Dorme asked, intrigued.
"Just a stranger," Padme replied as she continued to watch him.
"Are you sure? It didn't seem like it," Dorme teased playfully but Padme ignored her.
"I don't know, he just seems familiar," Padme said and shook her head, "it's nothing. Let's head back."
As the ladies walked off, they didn't notice the figure looking over his shoulder at them, his eyes focused on the senator of Naboo.
A young boy, dressed in dirty garbs climbed out a cockpit that seemed too big for him. He smiled as other pilots crowded around, clapping and cheering. He climbed down and was immediately engulfed in warm, slender arms.
"Oh, I couldn't believe it. Thank you so much. You saved us all," the women said joyfully, as she hugged the boy tightly, "you saved us!"
The boy grinned from ear to ear as he continued to listen to the woman's soothing voice and wrapped his arms equally tight around her. The people continued to cheer and clap for him as the woman gently rocked him, as she laughed in celebration.
"Thank you so much!"
The man snapped out of his daze as he continued to watch the senator as she climbed into her speeder while talking and laughing with her handmaiden.
"Padme," the man whispered and walked away.