Hello. I managed to finish it finally.

Without further ado... enjoy!

CHAPTER 7

Regina is standing over Sith's dead body, she can't understand why he did that, why kill himself? And his words... they won't find it? Find what? The artifact? If that's what he meant then his death is even more unwanted. She grits her teeth. And why did he want Emma? Alive.

She stares at the body, looking for signs of affiliation to some particular group of Sith when movement in peripheral vision catches her attention. She quickly turns head in that direction to notice Graham walking to her with her robe in one hand. The other one, he raises in air, as signal of his good intentions, her quick reaction to him approaching must've startled him.

He gives the robe to her, he doesn't seem to be injured in any way - "I've contacted Master Kai'tuku, every member of Royal Guard is on their positions and he is coming our way."

Regina nods and after fastening lightsaber to belt, covers Sith's body with robe - "Good. We need to mduuumure no one enters this street."

"There is Tipua's army post not too far." - he says while pointing in appropriate direction.

Looking past him, at Granny and Emma, they don't seem to be wounded either, she says - "Go." - and he does, then Regina once again looks at, now covered, Sith trying to understand him and his actions.

Not long after that Emma walks to her - "Granny went inside the Dinner to check the damage."

Regina nods, continuing to look at the body - "You should do the same, you'd be safer there."

"I- I'd rather stay here, with you." - second part is said quieter, but Regina is able to hear her. Emma's voice is slightly wavering, it's clear she tries to take control over it.

Regina says nothing, just looks at Emma, who is paler than usual, she concludes it must be caused by the situation they are in. Regina can feel her expression softening - "Are you alright?"

Emma forces a smile and pats her torso - "Yes, not even a scratch! You have done a good job."

"I'm not asking about that." - she doesn't agree with second part of statement. If she would've done a good job he would be alive and they would be able to interrogate him. But they can't because he is dead. She remains silent, not spreading this burden to Emma who exhales, longer than usually

"I might be a little shaken. No one before tried to kill me." - now Emma too looks at the Sith and hugs herself.

Regina swallows, not taking her eyes off Emma - "He didn't want to kill you, he wanted to kidnap you."

"What? Why?" - with brows furrowed and look of concentration on her face Regina has to admit that the Princess looks cute, then cringes at her way of thinking.

"I don't know. And it's not like he is going to tell us." - she looks behind her and sees Graham with dozen soldiers, she turns to them - "Secure the street, no one unauthorized can enter." - her next words are directed to Graham - "Granny went inside the Dinner, you should see if she's alright." - he nods and does that, then she turns back to Emma - "But we are going to figure it out somehow."

"Yeah..." - Emma looks at the Sith - "Do you think the Empire is behind this?" - she asks while crossing arms on chest

Regina says nothing, thinking that this is a good question, would they be so bold as to kidnap the heir? Usually yes, but location of the planet and it's participation in galactic trade forces everyone to act with finesse. Finally she sighs - "Honestly? No, I don't think so." - she notices Emma's surprised expression - "They wouldn't make their ambassadors work so hard otherwise."

"But the ambassador is leaving."

"Exactly, the Empire won't be able to do damage control until new ambassador's arrival."

Emma leans back a little bit, as if to have more space to take a closer look at her, then she closes eyes and rubs forehead - "Wait." - she opens eyes - "Are you saying that someone is framing the Empire?" - Emma licks her lips - "You are aware that the only groups that would gain anything from us sending Empire away are the Republic and Jedi?"

Regina thinks about artefact and that mysterious group that attacked them, it seems there is a third player, or Empire got much better at planning their operations, but she can't say it aloud - "Yes, I am, that's why this idea is ridiculous." - she looks ahead and notices approaching royal couple and Kai'tuku - "Finally." - she mutters.

Hearing her, Emma also looks in that direction - "Mom, dad!" - the family starts running to each other, and they share a hug.

"Are you alright Emma?" - asks Queen, while checking for any injuries. - "We were so worried." - they hug each other again while Kai'tuku walks to Regina.

"Yes, Graham and Regina protected me. Between two of them, the thugs haven't had a chance to lay a finger on me."

The King was in the process of squeezing Emma's soulders when she said that, after it he turned to Regina and Graham, who joined them, to say - "Thank you, I am very grateful, I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Emma."

"It is our job." - says Graham sheepishly while scratching back of his neck.

Regina in meantime focuses on Kai'tuku who approaches her - "Master."

"Regina." - he glances at the body behind her and then back at Regina - "What happened here?"

"We were sitting in the dinner when Regina went with Granny to the kitchen. Not long after that several men crashed the windows and they threw smoke grenades inside." - reports Emma from her position between her parents - "And came in. Graham hid us behind the table and was able to hold off the thugs until Regina came back. She threw them out of dinner and went outside. When three of us walked out too we saw her standing there with him." - she points at the Sith - "Not long after that he attacked her. They fought and Regina tried to get him to surrender, but after she cut his hand off he impaled himself on her lightsaber."

"You cut his hand off?" - Kai'tuku asks Regina while walking to the corpse, he has neutral facial expression, at least that is what most people think, but Regina knows he is amused. Once he stands next to the body, he crouches and looks under the robe - "Hmmm, cut off indeed." - he glances at Regina with raised eyebrow and small smirk for a short while, and she knows he is remembering their early talks, soon after he saved her. He was asking her what would be the easiest not deadly solution to various situation and more times than not she answered that cutting off hand would help. Then Kai'tuku looks at the body again.

"Yes Master." - she stands next to him - "I've tried to capture him, but.." - Regina looks at the place she knows there is the fatal wound - "well..." - she makes a move with her hand in general direction of the corpse.

He stands up - "I believe you." - he turns to the royal family - "We need to transport him to the palace. We also need to contact the Jedi Council." - he looks at her apologetically, Regina sighs, she already knows how Council is going to react to the message that someone used her lightsaber to kill himself, they still are nervous what repercussions may have her starting training later than anyone else - "And they will believe you too. Trust me." - Kai'tuku squeezes her shoulder while saying that.

There is only one way in which she can respond - "I do, Master."

He smiles at her, once more squeezing her shoulder before adding - "You are going to need a new robe too. Maybe Council will send you one." - she rolls her eyes and he looks at the others - "We will need time alone to think about this situation and inspect the corpse. Ones like him tend to have many tattoos, maybe one of them is going to be the key to determine what group he associates with." - he pauses and scratches his bearded chin while everyone are waiting for his next words. Regina was and still is in awe of how easily others listen to him. - "But now we should come back to the palace, you are safest there."

Everyone agreed with that and soon two Jedi and Royal family were ready to go back to the palace. Graham is staying behind to make sure no one tampers with the corpse and to bring it to palace. When they start walking, Kai'tuku in front, Regina behind family, someone grabs her hand. Regina turns her head to see Granny.

"Here, take this." - she says and gives Regina a thermos.

She blinks and looks at the item - "Thank you?" - it's more a question than a statement - "Are you coming too?"

"No, I need to make sure valuation of damage is done properly and I have to be here when Ruby comes back."

"Of course." - Regina once more looks at the thermos then back at Granny - "Thank you, again." - and not only for what's inside of it, but also the journal - "I have to go now." - Kai'tuku and family moved away from her

"Yes, yes, go child!" - with that Granny walks back to the dinner and Regina catches up to others.

ONE HOUR LATER

Regina sits in the room, the same as yesterday, with Killian and Royal family, they are waiting for Kai'tuku to come back and tell them what Council said. In meantime they are drinking the hot chocolate that was in thermos Granny gave her. She also learned that as soon as Mary Margaret, David, the ambassador and Kai'tuku heard about the attack, ambassador left the planet, promising to report this to Dark Council and offering any help necessary to catch the perpetrators. He also swore that the Empire hadn't had anything to do with it. Regina doesn't know why, but she believes him. As she told Emma earlier, this isn't something the Sith would do, not here. She swirls remains of hot chocolate in her mug then drinks it, wondering what the hell is happening in this place.

In this moment Kai'tuku walks into the room and Mary Margaret immediately starts asking him questions - "What did they say? Do they know who is behind this?"

David puts a hand on her shoulder - "Easy, Master Kai'tuku is going to tell us everything, but first you need to give him time to do so." - he tries to calm down his wife. They both are touched by the attack, but he tries to keep thinking rationally, while the Queen seems to be controlled by her feelings, Regina can't blame her, someone just tried to kidnap her daughter. Daughter who sits silently and stares at the almost full mug since they sat down.

"Ah, yes Your Majesty, but first I'd like to take Regina and look at that body brought by Graham minutes ago."

The Queen blinks, calmer - "He is back already?"

"Yes, he mentioned something about dinner's destruction report." - the door open again and Graham walks in the room - "But I'm sure he will explain everything to you." - he reaches his hand out to Regina - "Now, if you excuse us."

Regina doesn't wait for Queen's or King's agreement, she puts the mug on the table and gets up. Walking to the door she can feel Emma's eyes on her.

Once out of the room she turns to Kai'tuku, but he raises his hand to stop her and says - "Later, the only thing you need to know now is that Council is not going to send you new robe."

"You really asked them about this?" - she has no idea what her reaction is going to be if he says yes.

"Of course not." - Regina exhales with relief while Kai'tuku enters the code to open the door - "That's the main reason why they won't do it."

Door open and they enter into grey, sterile room with no windows. In the middle of it is metal table and Sith's body on it, fully covered by white material.

"Have they said something about... outcome of the fight?" - she asks him, watching as he walks to the other side of the table, to stand in front of her.

For a moment he looks at her seriously - "I explained to them what happened, described the fight as Princess Emma did. While we all know his death is... inconvenient, the whole Council understands it wasn't your fault. They all agreed there was nothing more you could've done." - he sighs and moves hand through his hair - "As always their opinions about how it is going to affect you and the best course of action vary."

Regina clenches her jaw - "As always."

"Regina, you must understand them, you-" - he quickly rushes to explain them to her, another as always since she joined Jedi Order, but she doesn't give him a chance to say more and interrupts him

"I do, the worst thing Kai'tuku, is that I do understand them." - she licks her lips, avoiding eye contact - "And I don't blame them."

"Well... the most important thing is you stay here."

She nods and motions to the body - "Shall we?"

TEN MINUTES LATER

"Regina?" - Kai'tuku's voice distracts her from examining multiple tatoos on Sith's back, they interwine and merge, and go out one of the another, covering his upper body in web of ink. Distinguishing one is almost impossible.

She looks up and sees Kai'tuku showing her the cut off hand, pointing at partially burned part of skin. There it is, the thing they were looking for. Part of the ring is visible, as are two and half triangle objects under the head of, what they know is, a bird.

The same group that attacked them on their way here, this cannot be coincidence. But what do they want? Are they looking for artifact too? Who are they working for? Is it Empire, or someone else?

Dum dum dum duuummm

It looks like we are getting closer and closer to main plot huh? Do you have any theories? Maybe about new Empire's ambassador? Or artifact?

Anyway, ignore my attempts at teasing you. Hope you liked and till the next time!