The Missions Between
Chapter 7: Becoming Senator
Lux decided to return to his home planet of Onderon. He looked around as he got off of the transport. "It looks so different." He said to himself. "What, droids here now?" He questioned. This was not how he and his mom left this planet.
There seemed to be a minor panic in the streets and in the market place. Lux was a bit bothered by this. He walked up to a person buying some fruit at a stand. "Hey, who's king of Onderon now?" he asked.
With a fearful voice, the person said, "it's King Rash! He has lost our planet to the separatists."
A worried look came over Lux's eyes. He had decided to follow in his mother's footsteps and become a senator of Onderon.
"Clear this space please!" A droid demanded.
Lux decided to go to the capital and talk to an old friend of his mother's.
"Senator Trall!"
"Well, if it isn't Lux Bonteri. you look just like your mother." She said with a bit of sadness.
"It's in the past now Senator. I must discuss some business with you if you don't mind."
"That would be just fine. I know of a fine restaurant we can go to." Senator Trall said.
The two were seated and their waitress came to the table. A darker skinned girl with her hair in puffy braids.
"Hello, I'm Steela and I'll be your server." She said smiling at Lux and then glanced over at the senator.
The two put their orders in and Steela went to start them up.
"So Lux, what is it you need?"
"I would very much like to become a senator of Onderon. Are there any open seats?" Lux asked.
"Well, as a matter of fact, we lost a senator not too long ago. We could use your insight due to what has happened to Mina."
"How do I take this empty seat?"
"Well, it's been empty for a while and we haven't had anyone go for it yet. All you really have to do is come to the senate building and state your case." Senator Trall informed him.
Soon after their conversation was underway, Steela brought their food to them.
"If you'll excuse me Lux, I must clean my hands before I eat. I shall be right back." Senator Trall said leaving Lux and Steela alone.
"So, never seen you around here before, new here?" Steela asked him.
"Well, sort of, I grew up here but left shortly after. Now I'm becoming a senator to help take back the planet." Lux said to her.
"Well, you know, I know of a little band of people who are plotting against the separatists now." Steela said to him quietly. "Perhaps you could give us a hand, you look strong enough."
"Hmm, sounds like something I could get behind." Lux agreed.
"Awesome! Meet us at these coordinates in three days. This is our current camp." Steela mentioned as she gave him a slight punch on the arm. "You'll fit in nicely." She said then winked at Lux as she walked away.
Senator Trall and Lux went to the commission to induct Lux into the senate. He was to give a speech as to why he would be an asset to the senate.
"My mother was killed by Count Dooku, and I live strongly by her moral compass. I plan to be a strong voice to those who have little to nothing, I am all about the safety for our people." Lux's words had most of the senators convinced.
The head of the senate of Onderon stood up. "We shall vote on whether or not to bring Mr. Bonteri into the senate." He said.
The voting took place on small handheld devices. The head of the senate looked around until all votes were locked in. After several minutes of scrolling through the votes, he finally spoke. "Lux Bonteri, you are now a member of the Senate of Onderon!" and the senators applauded this action.
Lux looked out at Senator Trall and smiled for he knew she had helped put in a good word for him, not that he wasn't good enough already.
After the induction was over, the senators dismissed from the hall. Lux went out into the lobby to talk to Senator Trall. "Thank you so much for your help Senator. I know what I must do to live up to my words. I must go meet with a group of people planning a small rebellion against the droid occupation."
"Lux, you be careful, I don't think your mother would approve of you entering in a fight that could be seen as terrorism." Senator Trall told him.
"Don't worry Senator, I will be careful, and this is a way for me to do exactly what I promised as a senator." Lux informed her.
Senator Trall smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder and sent him off.
He hailed a taxi that dropped him off at the outskirts of the city. "What kind of place is this for a senator to be dropped off?" The driver asked.
"Oh, umm, I'm not entirely sure yet." Lux said unsure of what he was about to do.
He walked a few clicks south and into the jungle. He finally stumbled upon a small camp site. There were still probably over 25 people moving about this camp.
"Well, I was wondering if you were gonna show up." Came a familiar voice.
Lux turned his head to his left. "Steela! Yes, I made a promise and I intend on keeping it."
"Good man!" Steela said. There was another man with her, a few years older than Lux.
He looked at Lux after Steela had walked away. "Don't get any ideas there Senator." The man said as he turned and walked in a different direction.
Lux ran after to follow Steela. "So, who was that guy? A boyfriend?"
Steela looked at Lux and let out a hefty chuckle. "Hah, no, that's Saw, my brother."
Lux felt foolish, but how was he to know, Steela hadn't introduced them. "Oh, umm, I'm sorry."
"Eh, don't worry bout it, you're cute enough to let it slide." Steela said as she put her hand on Lux's cheek. "Now follow me to your tent." Steela demanded.
The next morning, Lux was awaken by Steela blowing some type of horn into his tent. "Wake up sleepy head, it's time for some training." She stated.
Lux jumped up and yawned. "Oh, great." Lux got his gear on and walked out of his tent and there was the whole camp staring at him. Lux was a bit confused. "Umm, Steela…"
"Everyone, this is Senator Lux Bonteri. He has agreed to help us in our struggle against the separatist occupation. This is our planet and we are going to liberate it." She yelled to the rest of the camp. The camp started applauding. Steela then turned around to face Lux and winked at him.
"Alright everyone, let's get started on our trainings for the day." Said Saw, who was not really great at getting the group inspired.
Lux and Steela both walked off.
"Steela, how exactly am I supposed to be an asset here in the battlefield?" Lux asked.
"Oh, trust me, you just will be, we don't have a lot of strong willed men in our group, we need that." Steela said feeling his biceps. "But what I want you to do, is watch our group train, they really need some guidance that I nor Saw can give them. Perhaps there's something you can do?" Steela Questioned.
Lux scratched the back of his head. "Oh, I'll try I guess." Lux said with an embarrassed look on his face.
Steela laughed. "You're just too cute Bonteri." She said as she grabbed his chin and planted a small kiss on his lips.
Lux's eyes went wide. "Umm, what was that for?" Lux asked.
With her back to him she said, "oh, you'll figure it out." And then she walked off.
For Lux, this was very different from Ahsoka, the two of them lead such different lives, now Lux had a chance to have something that could last with someone involved with the same cause as he. This began to excite him, especially after seeing Steela's flirtations ways. He decided that, that night he would surprise her with his flirtations.
As the rebels settled in for the night, Lux saw Steela go into her tent and then Saw go in his. Lux slowly and quietly rushed over to Steela's tent. "Steela." He whispered.
Steela perked up, "who is it?" She joked playfully.
"It's me, Senator Bonteri."
Steela flung open the tent curtain, "why hello there Senator." She said flashing her eyes at him as she welcomed him in.
The next morning, Lux awoke and looked around, he was still in Steela's tent although she wasn't in it. Lux was confused by this. He popped his head out of the certain to see if anyone was around. Saw was standing a few feet from the doorway talking to another woman in the rebellion.
Saw turned his head when he heard the curtains shuffling and noticed Lux. His eyes suddenly became angry. "Hey! What are you doing in my sister's tent Bonteri." Saw stormed over to the tent dragging Lux out by his hair and throwing him to the ground. "Answer me Senator!" Saw was more than angry. When Lux didn't respond, Saw started kicking Lux.
Steela ran over to them and grabbed her brother by the collar. "Saw what are you doing?" She said angrily.
"I saw this pathetic excuse of a senator in your tent." Saw replied. "He has no respect at all, so I'm going to teach him a lesson." He said as he raised his fists.
"Saw stop!" Steela yelled pulling her brother away from the crowd. "I invited him in Saw, you have no business in telling me what I can and cannot do." She said abruptly. "Now leave the area Saw." Steela demanded as she bent down to help Lux up.
"Sorry about that Lux."
"It's alright Steela, no harm done." Lux said as he wiped a bit of blood from his upper lip.
"He'll get over it Lux, he just didn't realize what was going on. Please, come by again tonight, I enjoyed last night." She told him.
Lux nodded his head and smiled.
Lux spent the whole day watching Saw's every move and Saw watched Lux's every move.
During their training, they spent the whole time trying to one up each other. Steela became very annoyed by this. It was making the whole group sloppy with their training. Steela pulled the two boys aside.
"Listen, you two need to set aside your differences and work together. Now look at the rest of the group, they are doing even worse now Saw."
"Why are you blaming me?"
"Because you aren't inspiring them in the way you used to. Now we are gonna need help if we are to liberate our planet. I don't like it but we will need some assistance in training."
"I know who we can call." Lux added.