Note Bene: Hi! Hello. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. Thanks for checking out this story. I worked very hard on it, and I hope you enjoy it. If you like it, please leave feedback (either kudos and comments, or reviews, depending on which website you're on). Let me know what you liked, and what you didn't like. Also let me know of any typos you find. There was no beta, or proofreader, for this story; it was just me working on it until 3 in the morning for many mornings, and I might have missed something while editing it.
Anything else I missed? OH! Disclaimer (it's tradition after all). I don't make any money off this story. Please just let me write these space lesbians/bisexuals in peace.
I think that's it. Hold your device close and get comfy, gentle readers, so that I can tell you a story.
Edit: This story is currently being translated into Russian here: /readfic/6575673/16807806
Ahsoka takes a deep breath and refrains from Force-flipping the nearest table. She's lost in the Senate Office building. Aides, Senators, and other important people roam the halls, looking either very busy, or very smug. Outside of almost every door are guards. Some are dressed in the traditional purple armor, and others wear the military uniforms of their native systems. Ahsoka and her red Astromech droid, R7-A7, are out of place with how casual they look. R7 beeps, and Ahsoka looks down at him.
"I'm not afraid," she says. R7 beeps again. "Fine!" Ahsoka raises a hand in order to get the attention of the nearest aide, who walks by while balancing two trays laden with coffees.
"Excuse me?"
But the aide rushes by without stopping or slowing down, leaving Ahsoka behind. Ahsoka hums and tries again with another aide, but they're on a comlink call and they hold up a finger at Ahsoka to shush her as they pass by.
Rude, R7 beeps. Ahsoka rolls her eyes.
"You said it, R7. Come on." Ahsoka leads the way down the hall until she's blocked by a hover-dolly that's parked before an open door. A Pantoran girl a little older than her steps into the hallway and picks up one of the boxes form the dolly. She's pretty, and her light purple hair is pulled back away from her face in a ponytail.
"Hello," she says. Her voice is a nice alto. "Can I help you?"
"I'm kind of lost," Ahsoka says. "Where's the nearest exit?"
"You're close," the girl says. She puts the box back down and points down the hallway where Ahsoka came form. "This building's like a circle, you know how all the hallways curve? There are exits at every quarter. If you go out one door and find yourself in another hallway, then you just keep going out the door in front. You'll get outside eventually."
"Thanks!" Ahsoka says. When she steps back, she bumps into someone. "Oops, sorry."
A tall, middle-aged, Pantoran man with a scar across his chin looks down at Ahsoka intently.
"Oh! I'm really sorry, Senator! I'll just…."
The Pantoran man sets his large hands down on Ahsoka's shoulders, freezing her in place.
"Senator Chuchi?" He asks. His deep, gravelly voice is a lot more gentle than Ahsoka expected as he addresses the Pantoran girl.
"It's alright, Captain, thank you," the girl says, and the man lets go of Ahsoka. When Ahsoka looks at the girl again, she smiles apologetically. "He's not the Senator. I'm the Senator, Riyo Chuchi. Captain Magnus Sterno is in charge of my security detail."
Ahsoka would like the floor to swallow her up. Right now. Please. R7 beeps and rocks a little like he's dancing with glee, the little sadist.
"I'm sorry," Ahsoka says. She can feel the stripes of her lekku darkening in embarrassment.
The Pantoran girl, Riyo, just smiles. She steps out of the way so that Magnus can pick up and carry both of the boxes into the office.
"It's alright! A lot of people think the same way when they first meet me." Riyo beckons Ahsoka and R7 into the office. The ceiling-to-floor windows let in copious amounts of light, and give a fantastic view of the Coruscant skyline.
Another Pantoran guard in his early-twenties walks along the walls and holds a device to any outlets and light fixtures in order to scan for bugs. When he sees Ahsoka, he pauses his sweep and gives Ahsoka a reassuring grin.
"Don't worry about it," he says. "You're the third person today who's mistaken Senator Chuchi for an aide."
"Titon," Magnus says in warning. The smile drops from the young guard's face and he returns to his sweep. Satisfied, Magnus opens the box and unpacks various electronic devices into the drawers of the desk.
"Did you just get elected?" Ahsoka asks. Riyo nods.
"First day today. I was a litigator back home."
"Corporate law?"
"Family law," Riyo says. She looks closer at Ahsoka, as if just noticing her. Ahsoka feels like she's just been put under a microscope and tries not the fidget. "I wasn't aware the Jedi occupied themselves with different fields of law."
"Well, really just Military Law." Ahsoka straightens up. "My master says that the Jedi are allied with the Republic, so we should know how the Republic works."
"Your master is very wise."
"Yes, although I think he uses it as an excuse to spend more time with his close friend, who happens to be a senator."
Riyo covers her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle. At sound of her laugh, the corners of Magnus's mouth twitch and Titon looks over his shoulder at them, incredulous. Ahsoka can't help but smile back.
"I must repay you for your generosity, Senator," Ahsoka says. "Will you have lunch with me?"
"Master Jedi, are you asking me out on a date?"
"Ah uh," Ahsoka says intelligently. "I walked into that one, didn't I?"
"Indeed. You…oh."
Two people, a human and a light green Rodian, stand in Riyo's open doorway.
"My aides have arrived," Riyo says, disappointed. "I'm sorry, Master Jedi. Perhaps another time?"
"Ahsoka Tano," Ahsoka says. "My name is Ahsoka Tano." She steps outside the office with R7 and once the door slides shut behind them, she sighs.
R7 beeps and whistles. How can you still be hungry after eating your foot?
"Can you not?" Ahsoka asks, the stripes on her lekku darken again from a fresh wave of humiliation. She closes her eyes and breathes in deep to center herself.
"Padawan Tano?" Magnus joins them in the hallway and closes the door behind him. "If you get food for yourself and Senator Chuchi and come back, she won't turn you away again."
"Huh?"
"Will this be enough?" Magnus presses a few credits into Ahsoka's hands. "You see, I've worked for the Senator while she was still on Pantora, and she has a bad habit of skipping lunch."
Ahsoka gasps. "She doesn't eat?"
"She forgets sometimes. Perhaps good company would be a better incentive for her to remember."
Ahsoka looks down at the shiny credits in her hand. She looks back up at Magnus, who stares back expectantly.
"Okay," Ahsoka says, and she goes out to get them some take-out. R7 rolls along at her side, beeping.
Maybe you're hungry for something else?
"Shut up, it's not like that."
The Senate District is filled with places to eat. Some eateries are built into the main office buildings, while others are packed together into one dedicated building for convenience. Twice a week, food speeders land in one of the parks en masse and sell street food. Enough people crowd into the space between the rows of speeders that it gets hectic. It gets loud.
The street vendors that sell trinkets and other oddities set up in the other half of the park and take full advantage of the crowds. Many of them only only bother showing up when the food speeders are here.
It's easy to spot an intern or a junior aide running errands; their clothes are smart and pressed, but they're not as flashy as the clothes that actual politicians wear. It's also easy to spot Jedi, and a lot of Jedi spend their time in the Federal District. Ahsoka doesn't stick out as much out here.
"What do Pantorans eat?" Ahsoka asks. "They don't have a set diet like Togruta do, right?"
R7 tells her that he's a mechanic, not a protocol droid. Ahsoka rolls her eyes and gets Riyo a box of fish and chips, and gets a couple foil-wrapped Gamorrean pork sausages for herself.
Riyo puts three data pads on her desk so that her aides can see. The human is a little younger than her and is still in the Coruscant Republic Academy, so Riyo will have to replace her when summer is over and school starts again. The Rodian is in their early twenties. They're gaining experience before they get a job in a law firm.
"This is the Pantoran data pad," Riyo puts a hand on the blue data pad. "Any information that has to do with Pantora is on this pad, including any messages I get from Pantoran officials. This is the Senate data pad." Here, Riyo puts a hand on the black data pad. "Any information that has to do with the Senate is on this pad. This is my personal data pad." Riyo gestures to the last pad, which is white and palm-sized. "Neither of you have password access to any of these pads, but you must know what they look like and what they do, so that you know how important they are.
"When I'm not in my office, and you see these out, please lock them in my desk. I'll do my best to lock them up myself when I leave, but in the event that I cannot, please do it for me."
The door slides open, revealing Magnus. "Senator Chuchi," he says, "Padawan Tano is back for her appointment."
"I don't remember an appointment," Riyo murmurs to herself.
"She brought food for the both of you."
"Oh!" Who is Riyo to turn down such a generous offer? "Please send her in. Thank you, Bivi, Vigo. I'll give you your own data pads when you come back."
The two aides pick up their bags and take their leave. Riyo sighs, takes off her suit coat, and hangs it over the armrest of her chair. She considers rolling up the sleeves of her button-up shirt, but decides not to. Ahsoka peeps in, and when Riyo beckons to her, she comes in and pulls up a chair.
"Did you finish unpacking?" Ahsoka asks as she hands Riyo her box of fish and chips.
"Thanks and yes," Riyo says. Unfortunately, her office is still very spartan. "Most senators divide the space into two offices: one for them and the other for a secretary. Although I've seen an office that used the extra space as a sitting area. I might do that."
"As long as you don't use it for a cot," Magnus says. "Senator Chuchi, I'll be taking my break."
"Yes, Captain. I'll see you later."
"Did you sleep in your old office too?" Ahsoka asks. Riyo blushes indigo.
"No! Maybe once or twice, when I was working on difficult cases."
"So, yes?" Ahsoka asks. "It's not that bad. I'm pretty used to sleeping in all sorts of places."
"Huh? Oh, of course. The Jedi command the clone armies. You get sleep wherever you can?"
"Pretty much. I haven't slept in the same place for a week since I became a padawan."
Riyo hesitates. "And that's alright with you?"
"Yeah. I'm a Jedi." Ahsoka puffs out her chest in pride. "I've dedicated my life to serving others and upholding peace and justice. Right now, the best way to do that is by fighting in this war for the Republic."
The two of them launch onto a discussion about the Clone Wars. Riyo, who has only followed the War thus far through the HoloNet News and through her connections in the Pantoran Assembly, is surprisingly well-informed, but within ten minutes of talking to Ahsoka, who has actually fought in some of the campaigns, she's noticed a few discrepancies. The two of them rig up a small, dusty holoprojector, connect it to Riyo's data pad, and bring up a hologram globe of the planet Christophsis.
"Christophsis mines are under the strict control of their guilds," Riyo says. "Either that or they're owned by private companies based on Christophsis. I can understand the Separatists opening illegal mines, but the Republic?"
Ahsoka shrugs. "When we won the battle against the Separatists, the Christophsis Senator just gave the Separatist mines to the Republic."
"No doubt making the minerals incredibly cheap for the Republic," Riyo says. She falls silent, staring at the hologram.
"What are you thinking?" Ahsoka asks.
"I would like to say many things, but none of them are fit for polite company." Riyo says. "The Christophsis Senator is my coworker now, after all."
Ahsoka smiles. "That wouldn't stop me from saying anything."
"Alas, Padawan Tano, not all of us have lightsabers to resort to when diplomacy fails."
"That's okay. A blaster does the job too."
Riyo's jaw drops. "Padawan Tano!"
"Do you not have one?" Ahsoka teases. "I could get one for you. Something small maybe?"
"You're incorrigible!" Riyo turns away to hide her smile. "Thank you, but no. I have enough blasters."
"What?" Ahsoka asks. "You have blasters?"
"This is Coruscant, of course everyone has blasters," Riyo says. She's cut off when the data pad connected to the holoprojector goes on screensaver. The holoprojector cycles through family pictures of Pantorans. Some of them sit in their homes, others are in the Pantoran wilderness and most of their faces are covered in frosty goggles.
"Your family?" Ahsoka asks.
"Of a sort," Riyo says. "Past clients still send me thank you notes and pictures. I keep them on my data pad to remind me why I'm here."
Someone knocks on Riyo's door, and it slides open, revealing Magnus.
"Senator Chuchi," Magnus says, "your aides are back."
"Already? But they just left." Riyo looks at the clock. She and Ahsoka have been talking for over an hour. She turns back to Ahsoka, who looks just as disappointed as Riyo feels.
"Thank you, Padawan Tano," Riyo says. "You didn't have to get me lunch. I appreciate it very much."
"It's no problem, Senator." Ahsoka stands up and dumps the empty foil wrapping in the trash bin. "Thanks for having lunch with me."
"Padawan Tano," Riyo says, her eyes are a little unsure. "I'd like very much to do this again sometime. My door is always open to you."
"Thank you, Senator." Ahsoka says. "I'll see you later."
Ahsoka meets R7 out in the hall. Titon and the aides walk into the office and door slides shut after them. Magnus turns to Ahsoka.
"Thank you for your time," he says. "I've not heard Senator Chuchi laugh like that in quite a while. Please come back soon."
Over the next few weeks, Riyo's office quickly fills up with small boxes of single-use data pads that senators use to look over sensitive information that can't be transmitted over a signal, and boxes of data cards. Three holoscreens are set up in the empty space away from Riyo's desk at a height so that she can see them while standing comfortably.
Every bill that crosses Riyo's desk has a context that she isn't familiar with. She knows exactly how it would effect Pantora and while she could just vote depending on that information, she must know why they've created a bill for the subject in the first place.
It also wouldn't hurt to be a little more familiar with Coruscant and Republic laws.
The office door whooshes open and Bivi comes in. Her shirt-tail is untucked from her skirt, and her sleeves are rolled up to her elbows.
"Senator," she says, "Padawan Tano's here to see you."
Ahsoka waves at Riyo from the doorway. In her other hand, she carries a small grocery bag. "Is this a good time?"
"Hello, Ahsoka," Riyo says. "Come in."
"Senator," Bivi gestures to the stacks of boxes. "Which one?"
"The stack on the right, Bivi. Yes, that one. The data pads go to the clerk's office, and the data cards go back to the archives."
"Okay."
"Thank you, Bivi."
Bivi's able to carry both boxes, but she's barely able to see over the top. She leans back so that the boxes don't fall forward and out of her arms, and walks out of the office. The door shuts after her.
Ahsoka looks to where Bivi last disappeared. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"She'll be fine." Riyo sets the holoscreens on sleep and joins Ahsoka at her desk, which is surprisingly clear of any electronics save the clock and the lamp. Riyo sinks into her chair with a sigh. Bivi might have been disheveled from running around, but Riyo's just as rumpled.
"Are you okay?" Ahsoka asks. Riyo sighs again and shakes her head.
"I met Senator Amidala today."
"Oh yeah? How was that?"
"Terrifying. I haven't felt so stupid since my first day of law school."
"Oh." Ahsoka winces. "I'm sorry."
"Don't get me wrong, Senator Amidala is a gracious woman; she just wanted to test me. And I must have passed, because she's asked me to write an article for the HoloNet News against the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Bill."
"What's that?" Ahsoka hands Riyo a sealed, large cup of hot soup.
"If passed, it would give the Chancellor the power to approve search and seizures without a search warrant. It would also give him the power to tap into private comlink transmissions." Riyo pops the top off the cup and takes a sip. "Those who support it want to catch any Separatists and Separatist sympathizers who are living among us. They think that they're spies or they're going to carry out attacks against us."
"So why go against the bill?"
"There's no guarantee that it would actually help discern who's a Separatist and who's not. It would also definitely take away the rights of Republic citizens. Yes, these are dangerous times, but times will always be dangerous. We shouldn't have to sacrifice our rights for the illusion of safety."
Ahsoka pauses in eating her kebob. "You must've been a fantastic lawyer."
"Ah, well." Riyo's ears turn indigo. "I helped a lot of people. I miss it, actually. On Pantora I knew what I was about. But here on Coruscant, the laws are different, the government is different, the culture is different. I'm very unprepared."
"You didn't want to be a senator?"
"Chairman Cho insisted I become the senator as soon as the post opened up, and no one says 'no' to Chairman Cho." Riyo drinks more of her soup and her expression turns thoughtful. "I think he did it so that I would be too busy to publish essays about his policies in the Pantoran news."
"Publish—wait a minute!" Ahsoka gasps in mock outrage. "You gave me so much grief about starting drama and here you are and you start drama too!"
"I…okay yes, you caught me!" Riyo laughs when Ahsoka crosses her arms and pouts. "Forgive me?"
"Maybe," Ahsoka says, breaking into a smirk. "So you're used to starting fires?"
"Yes, and Senator Amidala found out. I don't know how she found out; that woman must know everything that goes on in the Senate. But she came to me and told me that I was the best choice to write the argument against the bill. So here I am."
"You'll do great!"
Riyo shakes her head. "Writing for Pantora was alright; my readers were only Pantorans and the Pantoran diaspora. And yes, those essays may have put me on lists, but I expected that. This is the first time I'll be writing something that the entire Republic will read. That's thousands of systems."
Ahsoka's gaze softens. "You'll still do great, Riyo. Have faith."
"Thank you, Ahsoka. If I do this right, public opinion will sway against the bill."
"What will happen then?"
"Senators are influenced by constituents and constituents are influenced by public opinion. Worst case scenario, the bill will be postponed. Best case scenario, the Senate will vote against it." Riyo frowns. "Worst-worst case scenario, my work is wasted and the Senate approves the bill."
"That won't happen."
"You're very confident."
Ahsoka smiles and shrugs.
Later that week, Riyo's essay is published in the HoloNet News. Within half a day, it's all that's being talked about over all the news networks and even over radio talkshows.
Riyo hasn't watched, or listened, to any of them. She doesn't want to know what's being said about it. In order to further isolate herself from possible scathing commentary, she's shut herself in her office to tackle more work.
She's making considerable headway when her comlink beeps with an incoming call. She answers it with the push of a button.
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Lyrax Pentigure of HNN. May I please speak with Senator Riyo Chuchi?"
"Speaking. What can I do for you, Mr. Pentigure?"
"Your article is making quite a stir, Senator. I'm putting together a panel for my debate show tonight and I'd hoped to give you a spot."
"Oh!" Riyo's head spins and she sits down. A spot on one of the most popular news network debate shows? "I'm very flattered, but I'm afraid I must decline."
"Won't you reconsider? The debate is timed for only ten minutes."
"My apologies, but my answer stands. Everything I'd say about the issue is already included in my essay. I'd only be repeating myself. Perhaps another time?"
"Then I'll be in touch. Thank you for your time, Senator."
"Goodbye, Mr. Pentigure." Riyo ends the call and puts the comlink back on her desk.
Writing is one thing, but a broadcast? No. Maybe one day, when she isn't still mistaken for an academy student.
The next day, Riyo's office door whooshes open to reveal Padmé Amidala and another senator.
"Senator Amidala!" Riyo sets her holoscreens to sleep and meets Padmé with a handshake. She's seen Padmé before, but still hasn't reconciled all that with the fact that they're co-workers now.
"It's nice to see you!" Riyo says.
"It's nice to see you too, Senator Chuchi." Padmé gestures to the other senator. "This is my good friend, Senator Bail Organa."
Another heavy hitter. Is Riyo to meet all of the star movers and shakers today? She numbly shakes his hand.
"Congratulations on writing such a moving piece, Senator Chuchi." Bail says. "Thanks to you, the bill has been put on the list for today's order of business."
"You're very kind, Senator." Riyo hopes her voice keeps steady. "I'm glad to be of service."
"Shall we go to the Senate Building?"
"Yes."
As they make their way to the Senate Chamber, the three of them speculate on what might happen with the bill and what they could do should the worst happen, but the bill ends up getting postponed, and Riyo stands a little bit straighter at the helm of her pod. After the Senate business is concluded, and after Riyo is finished shaking hands with other senators, she and Magnus leave and meet Ahsoka and R7 outside.
"Riyo!" Ahsoka rushes forward to envelop the older girl in a hug.
"Ahsoka?" Riyo takes a step back to keep from falling over, but returns the hug.
"I came as soon as I heard! You did it."
"The bill is only postponed, but yes, I'll take whatever victories I can get."
"We should celebrate!" Ahsoka pulls back to take Riyo's hands. "Come on!"
"Senator Chuchi," Magnus says. "I shall take my leave."
"What?" Ahsoka asks. "But what about guarding Riyo?"
"A Jedi will be more than enough protection for the Senator," Magnus says.
"He's got a good point," Ahsoka says.
"He does," Riyo says. "Please take the rest of the day off, Captain. Have fun!"
"Thank you, Senator. Good day, ladies." Magnus gives them both a curt nod before leaving.
"So what did you have in mind, Ahsoka?"
"Watching the sunset." Ahsoka jerks a thumb at one of the taller buildings in the Coruscant skyline. "From up there, with this." She holds up a grocery bag. "You in?"
"Yes, except not even my security clearance will get us up there," Riyo says.
"Who needs clearance when you have R7?" Ahsoka asks. R7 bleeps and whistles with glee.
When they step out of the elevator at the top the building, they find themselves in an observation deck that's encased with glass to protect those inside against the wind. The Galactic City sprawls below them in all directions, gleaming in the setting sun like an ocean of metal. R7 rolls right to the windows and coos before falling silent, and Riyo leans against the safety railing.
"Beautiful."
"Yeah," Ahsoka says. She takes out a dark bottle that's sealed with wax. "Ta da!"
"How do you have that?" Riyo asks. Ahsoka grins and hands her the bottle. Riyo traces the label with her fingertips.
"Ambrostine," Riyo reads. "I didn't know the Jedi had such expensive taste."
"Some people donate the strangest things to the Jedi Order," Ahsoka says. "Whenever we get things like this, we just sell it back for the credits."
"And they won't notice a missing bottle?"
"You act like it's the only bottle missing from the crate." Ahsoka takes the bottle back and opens it with a pop. "It's not."
BEEP BEEP. Riyo's comlink sounds from her pocket. She takes it out and answers it.
"Cousin Riyo!" A chipper, tenor voice comes through. "I read your article in the news!"
"Cousin Kaito," Riyo says. Her voice and expression are schooled into a neutral monotone.
"I swear to the Gods, your cheek will get our entire family killed," the voice drawls. "Must you keep provoking powerful men?"
"I'm only getting started. Why have you called?"
"Is this Riyo? I thought I was talking to the Blizzard God for a moment there. I'm trying to look out for you."
"You keep telling yourself that," Riyo says through clenched teeth. "And you'll power through it, as you usually do."
"Indeed. As a result of your article, people are sending tokens of their thanks and admiration for you to the house. I'm forwarding them to you, so expect a substantial care package. Unless you'd rather I throw it all out?"
"…Thank you." Riyo looks like she would rather spit than say those words to him.
"That's more like it." The comlink practically oozes with smugness. "Was that so hard?"
"…Yes."
"Ugh, you'll do best to let go of all that anger, cousin, lest you get a stroke."
"Goodbye, Kaito."
"Goodbye!"
Riyo ends the com and sinks bonelessly onto the nearest bench.
"What was that?" Ahsoka asks. "I've never heard you talk that way to anyone before."
"That was my distant cousin, Kaito Chuchi." Riyo accepts a cup from Ahsoka and downs the shot of Ambrostine. It burns sweet and citrusy, and Riyo exhales the heated fumes that crawl back up her throat. "The man has no sense of propriety."
"That bad, huh?" Ahsoka sits down on the bench next to her, her own cup in hand.
"It's…ugh, it's complicated." Riyo turns her cup around in her hands. "Sorry, I started without you."
"Hah! It sounded like you needed it." Ahsoka pours her another shot.
Riyo and Ahsoka watch the sky sour from reddish orange into soft pinks and purples. Because of the Coruscanti smog, not many of the stars come out, but they can pretend that the satellites and high-flying speeders winking in the sky are stars instead. Soon enough, the two of them lose track of the number of shots they've had. Riyo develops an indigo blush that reaches up to her hairline and dips down her neck. It makes her yellow facial marks stand out more. The both of them have moved to the walkway beyond the glass, and they sit at the safety railing and let their legs dangle off the edge.
"What's it like to have a family?" Ahsoka asks. She leans her head against the metal railing. "Jedi take younglings from their parents when they're young, so we don't form attachments."
Riyo gives Ahsoka another searching look, but it's gone a heartbeat later.
"Infuriating," Riyo says. "But also wonderful. My cousin might not be a shining example, but my mother…my mother believed that I could do anything. Be anything. She would move heaven and hell to help me if I were in trouble. From what you've told me, Ahsoka, my mother sounds similar to what your master is for you. And also that clone trooper captain."
Ahsoka mulls it over. Could it really be that simple? It's true that Anakin would never give up on her, and neither would Rex. She'd do everything she could to protect them too. Ahsoka smiles.
"Yeah. I think you're right."
The mess in Riyo's office eventually clears, then builds up again. Riyo and her aide, Vigo, are knee-deep in Pantoran data cards when Ahsoka comes into the office again.
"Thank you!" Vigo throws down their data pad and hugs Ahsoka before they practically run out of the office.
"You're welcome?" Ahsoka takes a tentative step into the office. "What did I do?"
"Vigo's a little overwhelmed." Riyo steps over to her desk to pick up her jacket. "We've been researching Pantoran laws all week."
"What for?"
"Chairman Cho is…a demanding man," Riyo says as she shrugs on her jacket. "And the Pantoran people are just as demanding. Pantora is a prosperous moon, but it's still just a moon. It's running out of space and resources and the Chairman has proposed a bill that would allow Pantora to colonize Orto Plutonia." Riyo waves a hand over the boxes of data chips. "The bill is quite dense, and I've been assigned to a team of lawyers who're combing through it for any irregularities."
"No wonder Vigo wanted out."
"I admit I can be a little intense, but Vigo wants to be a paralegal someday, and this is a part of what paralegals do. Come on, I could use a change of scenery too."
The two girls end up eating lunch in the plaza not far from where the food speeders park. A few other sentients are already there, hanging around an extravagant fountain depicting the ancient Coruscanti gods of justice and sitting on the benches while they eat and talk. A couple of them smoke. A few teenagers, playing hooky from school, practice hoverboard tricks against the planters.
"What have you been up to lately?" Riyo asks as they unwrap Bantha burritos. "Anything you can tell me?"
"I fought General Grievous last week, and I lost."
"You lost?" Riyo repeats, incredulous. "We are talking about the General Grievous that leads most of the Separatist armies? The Grievous whose hobbies include killing Jedi and taking their lightsabers?"
"Yeah."
"And you think you lost? Ahsoka, you're alive."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're only what? Fifteen? You're a padawan and you fought Grievous, and he didn't kill you."
"I should've been able to fight him," Ahsoka says. "He isn't even Force-sensitive."
"Someone's ambitious," Riyo mutters to herself. "You're too hard on yourself. How long are padawans padawans?"
"Years, usually."
"So you just started. Think of it this way: Grievous has killed many Jedi. Not just padawans, but legitimate Jedi knights and masters, yes?"
"…Yeah."
"But you fought him and you didn't die. If you do that well against him now, think about how well you'll do against him when you get better."
Ahsoka is silent for a moment. "You're a blaster, you know that?"
Riyo smiles and takes a bite out of her burrito.
Note Bene: Whoa, you're still here? I must be doing something right. If you want to see more, then you'll be ecstatic to know that at the posting of this chapter, I'm working on chapter 17/19. I wanted to hold off on posting until I was completely finished with this story, but this fandom's having a bad time right now, so screw it. I'm just gonna start. (Context: this chapter was first posted right after the Star Wars fandom lost Carrie Fisher.) Barring any situation that keeps me from posting, I'm going to release a new chapter every Friday until all of it's out here. Thus said, the tags may be updated in the future to accommodate any new information that comes up in later chapters, because I don't want to spoil anything for any readers.
Yes, the title of this story is a pun. No, I don't regret it.
Please leave feedback. Let me know what you liked, or what you didn't like. I'll see you readers next week.