A/N:i first started writing fanfiction in the star wars universe, back when i had no clue what fanfiction was and didn't know that i was even writing it. the stories were bad, very, very bad, but that might be because i was also still learning to write fiction that had a plot and characters at the time. this is the first star wars fiction i have written down in years, and it's been kicking around in my head since i read the New Jedi Order Series, and muse finally decided that it had kicked around enough.
this story takes place after the last book in that series and before these Dark Nest books i've heard about but not read yet. if you like this beginning, then i will continue, if you don't i'll still continue, but with less confidence and on an even slower timetable. please read, enjoy, and review, and flames are not really appreciated, well written flames, however, will be used for dart practice.
Disclaimer: i don't own anything, well maybe my original character, but that's it! nothing else, so suing is pointless, i'm a university student all i have are student loans to repay one day and papers to write.
Destiny
Jacen shifted nervously, he usually didn't mind meeting ambassadors and other such creatures of the political realm, but lately with all that had happened with the war and on Coroscant, he was finding that even though he still preferred the diplomatic approach, he didn't much like politicians. Still, Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara had asked him to be there when they met the Ambassador-At-Large from Naboo, mainly he thought to help keep an eye on Ben and provide any insight into the young Ambassador.
That was all they knew of the Ambassador, really. Even though she had apparently been around for years, negotiating with thousands of planets both for Naboo and for the general peace and security of the galaxy. She was young, and had once been known as the "Child Ambassador" because of her extreme youthfulness, but that she was young and had been doing her job for a number of years told them very little about her.
In fact, none of them even knew much about Naboo. Mara remembered that it was the Emperor's homeworld, and that he had kept a palace there, but she had been there only a few times, the Emperor had seemed to ignore the small planet. Jacen knew from endless hours of study that the planet was reliant on trade and had a long history of democracy. The leader of the planet was elected, but took the title "King" or "Queen" respective to their gender. And even longer than the planets democratic ties were its ties to peace, oh the planet had faced its share of upheaval and war, but the people for the last several centuries were committed to peace in a way that reminded Jacen of his mother's stories of Alderaan.
Glancing at his wrist chrono, and discovering that the Ambassador's appointment was not for another 15 standard minutes, Jacen sat on the floor and played quite happily with his young nephew. He enjoyed spending time with the baby, somehow, the scars on his soul seemed less oppressive when he was playing with Ben. Either way, neither his aunt nor uncle had barred him in any way from spending time with their son, and any lessening of the burden he had been carrying for several years now, ever since his horrific vision on Duro, was a welcome one.
Turning his mind back to the Ambassador, he tried to remember why they were meeting her. There had been no rumors of unrest or anything that would cause a planet's government to ask the Council for assistance. Then he remembered. The Ambassador was negotiating a peace treaty between the Rothmaranans and the Clussana peoples. If he remembered correctly, she was going to ask the Council for Jedi assistance, and Cal Omas had suggested to her that she meet with the Skywalkers first, to see if such a request was even grantable at this time from the Jedi. With the Jedi's numbers already low and spread dangerously thin, it made since to check and see if it were even possible to grant the request before she formally submitted it to the Council.
He shook his head slightly; the sleep depravation from his constant nightmares was getting to him. Lightly tapping the Force, he allowed it refresh him and sharpen his mind, he would be of no use today if he couldn't pay attention. His innate sense of time told him that 14 standard minutes had passed, and standing gracefully, Jacen brushed an errant strand of brown hair out of his eyes, and turned toward the door. Some part of him half-expected the Ambassador to be late, a lifetime of experience had taught him that meetings nearly always run long, especially if you had to be somewhere else immediately afterwards. And he imagined the Ambassador had been in meetings all day, he knew the life of a career politician all too well.
He was surprised when the bell to the apartment rang at exactly the time the Ambassador was scheduled to be there, and apparently Luke and Mara were surprised as well. Still, that did not stop Luke from quickly crossing the living area, opening the door and greeting the Ambassador.
Luke's form had blocked her from Jacen's sight initially, but when his eyes met the sharp smiling, emerald eyes, he was captivated. The sheer intelligence and humor that those eyes held, as well as the haunted look that told of having seen too much and buried too many friends and loved ones seemed to pierce his soul in a way nothing had in a very long time.
Before he knew what his body was doing he was crossing the room and was smiling as he shook her small hand, "Jacen Solo," his strict training from his mother had taught him to call her "ma'am," but he found that the word stuck in his throat, it didn't seem appropriate for this brown haired, green eyed beauty.
"Padmé Naberrie Halcyon, it is a pleasure to meet to Jedi Solo," she had a soft lilting voice, one at odds with her dress, which was a radiant fire red, mixed with brilliant oranges and yellows. Her dress seemed to say for her, that she was stronger than she appeared.
Jacen's mind assembled all this information in a nanosecond, and caught up to him when he realized that he was still holding the beautiful Ambassador's hand and smiling at her. the only thing that made his sudden embarrassment, well bearable, was the fact that she was still smiling at him.
Mara and Luke, glancing knowingly at each other, broke the spell when Luke cleared his throat, "Ambassador Halcyon, it's a pleasure to have you here, I hope that we are able to be of some help."
Tearing her eyes away from Jacen's, Padmé turned to the Jedi Master an nodded sagely, "It is my hope as well Master Skywalker, both the Rothmaranans and the Clussana peoples have a long history of trust with the Jedi, and the advice of the Jedi is always appreciated," she smiled, and somehow that made her careful words seem less formal.
"Shall we sit? No sense wasting time, as I'm sure you have other appointments and things to do in your crusade for peace," Mara waved a hand to the couches and chairs set in a semicircle in the center of the room.
"We all have our part, Mara Jade-Skywalker. The governments and the peoples of this galaxy cannot simply pretend that the Galactic Alliance has healed all the wounds that the Yuuzhan Vong exploited. Everyone, Force-sensitive's and non-Force-sensitive's must do their part. This is my part, a "crusade for peace" as you call it should be the crusade of all sentient beings, especially after the horrors of this last war. The Naboo have long believed deeply in peace, but we understand when fighting is necessary, which is why we supported the Rebellion and why we sent what help we could to the Galactic Alliance. But the time for fighting is I believe over, and as a diplomat it is my duty to add peaceful relations where I can. As a Jedi, I am sure you can understand," Padmé sat down gracefully, eyes never leaving Mara's. All three Jedi noticed how her already animated face seemed to come alive even more and how her eyes shown brightly with pure belief in what she was saying.
Mara turned to Luke next to her and remarked in an off-hand flippant tone, "Well aside from being a reincarnation of your sister…."
Luke smiled back at his beloved wife, and understood her mental communication, if she understands that we can't fight a war for her and can't just make people get along, I say we help her. "Yes, Ambassador, let's get started," the Jedi Master smiled, settling back to hear the Ambassador's plans for the peace summit and the treaty she hoped to convince the Rothmaranans and the Clussana peoples into creating.