Tenel Ka made sure her appearance was acceptable in the mirror that the Solos' had in the cabin that she woke up in after her Healing Trance, a skill that she acquired too early and used too often. The clothing that she found, neatly folded on the chair in her cabin, were simple coveralls that was worn by thousands of spacers from one end of the galaxy to the other with the various clips, pockets and snaps to carry the tools to make their jobs easier and more productive. They were just slightly too large for her and not normally the kind of clothes that she has worn in the past 7 years as Queen Mother. Nevertheless, she did find them acceptable and in some ways better then the clothes she was normally forced to wear. These were they kinds of clothes one wore when they need to get dirty and get the job done with as little amount of fuss as needed. Her many gowns, while annoying, also served a purpose, to reinforce the idea that she was Queen.
However, for the time being I must stop being Queen Mother and again become the simple warrior until I can reclaim my crown. She thought as finished clasping her suit closed. It kind of surprised her that she wanted to get back something that she really never wanted in the first place. After some though, she had to be honest with herself, it will the need to serve and to complete her duty, not the desire to rule, that will drive her back on the throne. Until that day she will proudly wear uniforms such as this, until she could wear her crown again.
Tenel Ka did one final check to make sure she was acceptable, half wishing that she could get her hair in a braid, but she appeared acceptable as a warrior. Also, she was most appreciative that someone had modified the clothes enough to account for her left arm, which she lost part of it in a dueling practices with Jacen Solo so many years ago.
She let out a small, happy smile when she thought of Jacen Solo and remembered the great weight that seemed to lift from her spirit when he arrived on that second day of the rebellion. Jacen Solo just appeared in the courtyard of the main Council Building, where she was in a vain and fruitless attempt to rally support for her court. Her and her father, plus some loyal supports, were trapped in the outer courtyard by rebel forces. With no hope of retreating out the one and only gate, they dug in to wait for the their destiny. That is when the great doors at the gate swung open, reveling Jacen Solo. Jacen Solo, like his famous father, gave her a crooked smile and proceeded to save the day. Not by killing those who opposed her in great numbers, but by using the Force to misdirect and confuse them. By using their own strengths and weaknesses against them, Jacen Solo was able to give her and her followers an opening to escape.
"Yes," Tenel Ka asked when someone knocked on the cabin door, interrupting her train of thought.
"May I enter your Majesty," the soft and young voice of the woman they called 'Doc' said through the closed door.
"You may enter," Tenel Ka said, giving herself a mental snort. The woman who entered was about her age, but Tenel Ka still thought of her as younger. Most likely due to the way Tenel Ka felt, as if she had aged hundred years since she assumed the crown and thousand since the rebellion broke out. The woman had short straight red hair that she wore in a single tail, with green eyes that bore the pain that she has caused and has suffered. The woman was also about her height, beyond that she was unremarkable. Just the kind of person you would want in intelligence, Tenel Ka thought as the woman stood in front of her. People that were plain made it harder for others to remember once they were out of sight. "How may I help you Miss …" Tenel Ka asked with a pause, hoping to get her real name and not just a nickname.
"You may call me Doc, your Majesty," the woman said simply with a bow, "I have come to see if you needed anything and to check on your medical condition."
"I understand," Tenel Ka replied, yes she is in intelligence, "I am fit and fully recovered from my encounter from my former classmate, as well as from my other injuries."
"Very well your Majesty. Would you permit to do a short examination?"
"Very well," Tenel Ka said in a resign voice. She really expected nothing different, no one in the medical field, not even Master Calghal, would let anyone leave their care without one last examination. Not even after a Healing Trance that was more effective then Bacta in many cases, also a healing trance didn't leave a bad after taste like Bacta either. Tenel Ka was also convince that all doctors had a unwritten rule that the more work a person gave them the bigger hassle they received before discharge. "Shall I remove my clothing?"
"Not necessary, your Grace," Doc said pulling out a scanner from one of the many pockets her jumpsuit had, looking at the woman more closely Tenel Ka realized where her clothing had come from.
"I wish to thank you for allowing me the use of your wardrobe."
"You are welcome, Queen Mother, I do apologies for the plainness of it all as well as the bad fit. We were on another mission, when they pulled us off that assignment to get you, we didn't have time to stop and get anything really."
"No need to apologies, Doc. In many ways, it is superior to what I would have had to wear normally."
"I don't know about all that, your Grace," Doc said taking her eyes off the scanner and looking directly at her with a frown. "I've seen some of the things you wear, they are absolutely beautiful and elegant. When I was a little girl, I would dream of wearing clothes like that, I couldn't imagine what you feel like when you step out at some grand ball in some of those dresses."
"Uncomfortable," Tenel Ka said deadpan, after a moment of reflection.
"Well, I guess I could understand why you would say that," Doc said as she barked out a laugh. "I heard some of those dresses you have worn could take up to five hours to get into. Add in the hair, make up and other things you are talking about a lot of time."
"Fact."
"It just seems so …" Doc broke off as she switched scanners.
"Inefficient, wasteful expense of time and energy that could be spend on better and more productive projects?" Tenel Ka said in a frustrated tone, since becoming Queen Mother one of her more pointed complaints was the pomp and circumstance that she had to perform was time and money that could be better spent on the masses in her realm as well as in the galaxy as a whole. Everyone from her father to her most outspoken enemies were horrified at the very idea that her clothes and ceremonies would be eliminated. They repeatedly stated that the clothes made the woman (certainly not one of them had ever been forced to endure those torture devices) and the ceremonies gave her people something to take pride in, have hope in and anchored them in these times of continual upheavals.
"I was going to say, boring," Doc said making a face, "I can think of better ways to have fun then spending most of the day in a chair."
"Those who have great responsibilities rarely have the opportunity to enjoy time for pleasures."
"Uh, never though about it. I guess that is the price of all those beautiful clothes."
"Indeed," Tenel Ka said, she never really looked at it like that before as well. "It is a price I wish I did not have to pay. However, duty comes to one even when one does not wish it. Also, while I may not enjoy the price I must pay, I feel the good I can do for my people outweigh any personal discomfort."
"And duty is what it is all about," Doc said in a lighthearted tone, but there was more to her question then what was on the surface.
"Yes," Tenel Ka answered in a neutral tone, "and am I cleared to return to my duties?"
"Well, physically you are in great shape," Doc said closing her scanner and pulling out a data pad and sitting down on the chair filling out some kind of forms. "There doesn't seem to be anything that could cause long term problems. Although, you should have Master Calghal do a more detail exam when you get to Denon."
"This is good," Tenel Ka said, grateful that the doctor was able to see what she already knew. With the Force as her ally no wounds would slow her down or hinder her in her quest. "Is Jacen Solo well?"
"As far as I know, yes," the young doctor said with a smile, "Charm boy is with him right now doing a final check."
"That is good news, I do thank you for telling me, Doctor …"
"Sorry, I am not actually a doctor. I am just the medic, they call me Doc."
"I understand … Doc … may I also inquire as to the health of Tahiri Veila? Is she recovering as well?"
"Who," Doc said with a blank look on her face.
"Tahiri Veila, she was on board this vessel before we went into our trance," Tenel Ka stretched out with the Force to check on the crew of this ship. It was possible that during her trance, no matter how remote, they had moved her off the Falcon. She felt Princess Organa-Solo, as well as the other Jedi and the strange feelings she was getting through the Force on Jacen Solo. She could also, barely, feel another Jedi on the ship, it was more like a faint glow that was being covered and uncovered by the darkness that was Yuuzhan Vong. "I do believe that she is still on board the ship as we speak."
"Your Grace, Tahiri Veila is not on board this ship, in fact I can not confirm or deny the whereabouts of Tahiri Veila."
"Understood," Tenel Ka nodded holding down her frustrations with intelligent officers in general. She had dealt with enough spies, commandos and intelligent officers to see that was all she was going to get on the subject. In the shadowy world of spies, the rules are different and conversations more cryptic making one have to read between the lines and sometimes between the words to understand what they weren't saying. It was also a waste of time when she only needed to wait and get a moment alone with Jacen Solo or his parents. "Then let me ask a question that you can confirm or deny," Tenel Ka said in a dry voice. Doc seemed to take some perverse pleasure in her statement by the smile she gave Tenel Ka. "Am I cleared to resume my duties?"
"Like what," the woman said watching her closely.
"Marshalling support to return to Hapes and my rightful position as the Head of State," Tenel Ka said hoping that any pain or frustration she felt did not reflect in her tone.
"How," Doc asked, genuinely bewildered in both tone and facial expression. Before Tenel Ka could answer, and in great detail, Doc finished her question, "we still have four to four and half days till we get to Denon? What can you do in the next four days to prepare to carry the fight back home?"
"I am not sure," Tenel Ka answered honestly after a long pause. This time, as many times in the past, the truth was a bitter pill to swallow but a necessary pill. In truth, until she arrived at Denon she could not gather Intel on her enemies, rally support or even get updates by hypercomm since while in hyperspace it was inoperative. Oh she could lay some groundwork but that would take hours not days or weeks and after that … after that what would she do? When she asked Doc what she thought she should do for the next four days, the woman surprised her by having as answer.
"Relax and grieve, Queen Mother. In the past week you have lost your Father, grandmother and your kingdom. Any one of those three would be difficult to endure by its self; two would crush many and all three …" Doc paused to make her point. When Tenel Ka reluctantly nodded, Doc leaned back in her chair and finished her advice. "You need to be clear headed when you get to Denon. Personally, I would recommend you take a few months off and pull yourself together before trying to win back your planet." Before Tenel Ka could list the reasons that would be impractical the Doc went on in a resigned tone. "I know I know," she said shaking her head and looking up at the ceiling. "I would be better off betting on the Hutt to give up all their wealth and crime syndics and donate their credits to charity then to hope that a Jedi would listen to any medical recommendations. Especially if you are like another Jedi I know," Doc said with a weary grin and she looked back down towards Tenel Ka. "If you need to talk, just know I am available to you any time or day. Or, if it makes you more comfortable, talk to Mrs. Solo, I believe she could help you more in this area then anyone else around."
"Fact," Tenel Ka agreed almost instantly, Princess Leia Organa-Solo was once a head of state that had her own troubles she had to deal with as Chief of State. However, hard on that first thought came a second; no one else has suffered as much and continued to fight for what she believed in as Princess Leia Organa-Solo has. In that area, her insight and compassion may be a greater help to Tenel Ka in dealing with her own troubles. In a quieter tone Tenel Ka repeated, "Fact." As Doc nodded in agreement, another thought occurred to Tenel Ka, "so it is safe to assume that Mrs. Solo does exist?"
"Of course," Doc said with a glimmer of amusement in her green eyes, "as does her bodyguard, son, this ship and her husband, no matter how many times he annoys her. It would be hard to travel through hyperspace on a figment of your imagination."
"Fact," Tenel Ka said cocking an eyebrow at the absurd notion of traveling without a ship, "and anyone else whom I might see here?"
"I can not confirm or deny that there is anyone else on board this vessel."
"Including yourself?"
"I can not confirm or deny that I exist," Doc said with a laugh.
"For a person who doesn't exist you are most difficult," Tenel Ka said with a raised eyebrow.
"Fact," Doc said with a grin. "Queen Mother, you are a head of state. You know that there are times when information must be kept to 'need to know' level. That is all we are asking of you, that anything that you see, hear or observe be kept in the strictest confidentiality. Our names, our missions and our identities don't matter just that we are able to protect the G.F.F.A from attack from within or without. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Tenel Ka replied with no hesitation. "If I may ask another question?"
"Of course Queen Mother?"
"It is possible to acquire some food? Or is that too something you can not confirm or deny?"
"Of course, Queen Mother, in fact it may be better to go now before Peacekeeper wakes up. She may be small but you couldn't tell that by how much she eats."
"One more thing Doc," Tenel Ka said as the intelligent agent reached the cabin door, when she turned with a grin, Tenel Ka found it hard to say the next words. "Thank you."
"Anytime, Queen Mother, just next time could you get your bad guys to try harder, we really would like a challenge once in awhile."
"Not for that," Tenel Ka wanted to skip over that since she wasn't sure just how to take that comment anyways, "for calling me 'Queen Mother' even now since I am no longer the Queen of Hapes."
"Says who?" Doc said looking, sounding and projecting in the Force, a strong sense of confusion.
"The people of Hapes for one …" Tenel Ka started to say but Doc just waved that way as if it was not worth discussing.
"Big deal most people also think that Darth Vader was a hoax and they can tell your future by the bumps on your pet's head. What do they know?"
"Fact," Tenel Ka said as she headed towards the main hold. As she enters the main hold she could hear voices, happy and content voices, of strangers and friends. Near the Holo-game table the one called Socket was busy examining the game board while the one they called Piggy, was busy fixing several medical scanners. Socket, saying something to the effect 'got you now' and made a move on the board. Piggy, without looking up from his work, entered a counter move, which made Socket slump in disgust.
The others, who were introduced to her as Jedi girl, Explosion boy, Charm boy who was also working with some scanners, Hunter, and Snipe were sharing a meal with the Solos'. When Explosion boy saw her enter, he immediately stopped his story and stood respectfully.
"Please sit and enjoy yourselves," Tenel Ka said as Leia came over to hug her.
"Queen Mother, how are you feeling," Leia said after embracing her.
"Doc says I am well and that I do exist," which got a laugh from most of the occupants in the lounge. "Right now I am hungry."
"Of course, Queen Mother," Snipe said getting up and going into the galley. Leia led her over to the table to a spot next to Jacen Solo while she retook her seat next to Han Solo. Jacen Solo gave her a warm, friendly grin that spoke volumes to her, she didn't know how, as yet, to say 'thank you' to the man that saved her life again. She also knew, however, that he knew just how much she appreciated him. Snipe brought her out a large plate of food, which was not familiar but did smell good.
"Thank you, Snipe," she said with a nod, then turned back to Explosion boy, "please continue your story."
"Yea Explosion boy," Han said with a smug look, "what did she do then?"
"Well, she just walked off to her quarters, just yawning."
"And looking incredibly smug," Piggy said not looking up from his work while filling in holes and destroying Socket's game, if his face was any indication on how well he was doing. Tenel Ka was quiet amazed by Piggy; most of his kind couldn't work a scanner, let alone fix one while also playing a game and following their conversation.
"Isn't she always," Explosion Boy said with a grin, "so we give her a few seconds to get to her cabin. Then Poster Boy, Junk Pile, Piggy and I all go charging into the briefing room. And there is Prankster; hanging over the table all tied up in this all-purpose tape with bits of paper and notes attached to her. She got one of her sweet sticks jammed in her mouth and she is fighting to get lose. But she can't because this stuff is industrial strength. So Poster Boy and I ask her what was she up to, she said just getting caught up in her work. She then asked us to give her a hand, so we did," Explosion boy gave a dramatic pause and then finished with, "we gave her a 5 minute standing ovation."
"Those two must have been a handful," Mr. Solo said taking a bit of dinner.
"Why would you think that," Charm boy said with a grin as the older group laughed, while he still manipulated some kind of controls on his pad. "Prankster and Peacekeeper weren't around each other five minutes before they started pulling pranks. Prankster started it off by running around naked, driving the highly modest Peacekeeper to make Prankster believe that her food was alive."
"Lets not forget what Prankster and Dagger did to those two spies," Piggy said while destroying another one of Sockets, self proclaimed, brilliant defenses.
"They never quite prove it was them, sir," Hunter said. Tenel Ka happened to glance over at the passageway and saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back. She briefly wondered why C-3PO was hiding back there. "In fact, did anyone figure out how they did it?"
"Sir, could you at least look at the board while you are wiping up the table?" Socket said in a tone that said he had no hope in winning or even getting a draw.
"Sorry, Socket," Piggy said; he handed off the scanner to Charm boy and glanced for about three seconds before typing in a new command. Tenel Ka watched Socket's face crumble as he saw the new move, while Piggy leaned back and said, "checkmate."
"Aw man," Socket grounded out as the others gave him some cheerful insults and not so helpful advice. Tenel Ka found herself enjoying the friendly banter, finding it very refreshing from the consist bickering, backstabbing, and infighting that often plagued her court, no matter how much she attempted to halt it. She never realized how much she missed this simple aspect of life until she founded again.
"As smart as I am," Piggy said as the laughter died down, "I never figured out just how they did it as well."
"Changing three separate computer systems, changing official cam recordings, a serving droid at the bar," Explosion boy said with a shake of his head. "I don't know what worried Poster boy more, that they could do it or that they could do it so well."
"Look at what they did at Kidriff 5," Doc said with shutter. Tenel Ka observed that everyone in the hold had nodded sadly at that statement. Tenel Ka remembered something about an agent of GA on Kidriff 5 had discovered and stop the flow of a deadly drug, Bliss. Some of the reports said she had a large support staff to assist her, others said that she did it single handily but just about ever report said that she was killed in the end.
"Then it was the best thing to ever happened to Tahiri," Jacen Solo said, "now that Ratnena is dead she can get on with her real job."