##Standard Disclaimer, Star Wars isn't mine##
##Reviews are always welcome and appreciated##
Ying realised rather quickly that the Twi'lek senator was fluent in Basic but preferred for some reason not to speak it. She translated carefully, noting that he seemed suspicious of Senator Mon Mothma but quite comfortable with Senator Organa and Senator Amidala. The Chandrillian senator seemed equally uneasy and she was the first to leave. Ying noted the Twi'lek relaxed visibly after that. The conversation puzzled her. Ryloth was an Outer Rim world, and wanted Republic help, so why not ask in the Senate?
She wasn't able to think on things too much. She did notice that unlike many politicians, Senator Organa actually looked at her when she spoke, kept eye contact with her, and she appreciated it. Once the Twi'lek left, she expected to be excused, but instead Senator Amidala turned to her and spoke.
She smoothed her deep green skirt out, her lips curving in a smile. "I assume from your command of the language, you've been to Ryloth?"
"I have, my lady."
"Please, tell us about it." There was genuine curiosity and concern in her expression as she turned her entire focus on Ying, her hands folded in her lap. Senator Organa shifted slightly, leaning forward as he prepared to listen to her.
She hadn't expected to have the attention of two senators, two powerful senators that apparently wanted to hear what she had to say. "It was a few years ago, when I was still in the youth program. I went as part of a charity, a help for the young women and girls of Ryloth who had been kidnapped and sold and then returned to their families. Rather than use a translator droid, I applied myself to learning the language. I'm well aware of the Republic's anti-slavery laws and find it very disturbing that such things exist, even within the Republic, especially when it is the exploitation of women by men." She looked at Senator Organa. "No offense meant to you, Senator."
He held up his right hand, a grim smile on his lips as he shook his head, returning his hand to rest on his thigh. "None taken. I find it equally disturbing. I've seen too many of my fellow Senators in office who speak against such things in public while participating in private. It's revolting to say the least."
Senator Amidala nodded her agreement. "We'd like to support Ryloth. I'd like to ask the Queen to allow you to work with me while you're here, if you'd like. I could use someone with more personal experience and interest."
She was speechless for a moment. She'd never expected to be asked such a thing. Finding her voice, she spoke. "I'd be honoured, Senator."
"Good, thank you. We'll begin with a series of meetings. Hopefully, if things go well, we'll be able to make a trip to Ryloth to see the situation for ourselves."
##
Alexsandr stepped out of the lift and into the reception area. Ying was waiting, dressed in lavender tunic and skirt that flowed around her ankles. She smiled and took his hand. He was in casual clothes, a black pair of pants with a deep green shirt. He'd called her a few days before, he had some down time from his studies available. She knew this was a date with a fellow cadet of his and his girlfriend, but she was uncertain of the place. An indoor, artificial garden didn't seem right. But Alexsandr had assured her it was a perfect place for a picnic. Being from a planet filled with a variety of plants and wildlife, it was hard to imagine anything indoors comparing to the vast array of life on her homeworld.
He walked her out to the speeder, where she could see two others already there. Alexsandr came to a stop. "Ying, this is my friend and classmate, Daniel Antilles, and his girlfriend, Iulia Terrik. Daniel, Iulia, this is Ying Chen."
Ying greeted them, and let Alex help her into the speeder. They arrived a few minutes later, the tower overlooked the Jedi Temple. They walked into the garden area, the top level of the tower. It was pretty, but it was still artificial, although the grass and trees were real, it just felt so strange and unnatural to her. After they'd eaten, she walked away with Alexsandr. They held hands as they walked through the carefully maintained trees and flowers. Choices from several worlds, some she knew from Naboo.
He stopped beside a large, flowering tree with purple blossoms. "Do you like it?"
"It's pretty, but…I still prefer a natural setting, like Naboo." They were standing close, he still had her hand in his. She could feel his warmth.
He put his free hand on her waist and bent down, pressing his lips to hers. She felt warm all over and slipped her arms around his neck. He pulled back a moment later, his hands on her waist. She didn't move. Alexsandr moved one of his hands from her waist, reaching up to touch her face. Her eyes were wide, dark, trusting. Trust. He realised immediately he didn't want to lose that. He had been taught to respect women, he'd been taught by his father in a way that some might find archaic, but he was not going to back down from.
"We should go back." He spoke, quietly, moving to take one of her hands in his.
Ying nodded and walked beside him, enjoying the feel of his hand around hers. "Have you visited off world much?"
He shook his head. "Not really. My father was a Republic Naval officer so he was gone, mother was involved with charity work, and I had school. On school breaks sometimes dad would take me places, but I guess I never really got to see places like Naboo, it was always the city."
"I hope you'll get the chance to visit sometime, this is lovely, but there's something different about true nature." She glanced up at him.
"I'm sure. I'd like to do that someday."
"I hope you do."
##
When he saw her to the residence later that afternoon, they shared another kiss. He pulled back from it, keeping one hand on the back of her head. "I hope I don't get you in trouble."
She frowned up at him. "For what?"
"Kissing."
She laughed and shook her head. "I won't get in trouble for kissing, I promise. The Queen does expect high moral standards, but kissing is ok."
"Oh, good, so one more then?" He raised his eyebrows in question, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
She nodded, reaching up to put her arms around his neck again. She felt the warm pressure of his lips against hers, the warmth seemed to spread through her body as he kissed her. When he stepped back, he looked down at her.
"I have exams for the next two standard weeks, but after that I will have some free time again."
"I'd like that. I'm helping the Senator with a special project for the next couple of weeks so it's probably a good thing, I'll be busy." She smiled as she answered, his slight shyness surprising her. He smiled and nodded.
"May I ask what the project is?"
"I'm not sure of the details right now, but I was chosen because I speak Twi'lek. I worked with a charity there for a while, working with women."
His amber eyes widened, understanding without her giving more detail. "Noble work. I'd like to hear more about it sometime."
Once again she felt warm, his attention was clearly sincere. She nodded. "I look forward to it." She watched as he left. Her parents had always hoped for some great political alliance to come from her service to the queen, but she didn't care about that. He made her feel warm, happy, and alive. That is what she cared about.
