Part 13

Vonn: High School student and Sienar security guard.

Valles: Lianna noblewoman Odi: Henry's adopted Rodian daughter

Hebrey: Human female security End: Clone security guard Blem: Human security guard

Odi: Henry's adopted Rodian daughter Byran: A young nobleman

Millie: A young noblewoman Marsala: Noemie's 12 year old son

"I can't believe you're taking her side!"

Vonn looks irritably at his communicator, "You have no evidence and you tried to get her expelled on a feeling. That's a blatant act of harassment and abuse of power."

"Don't spout legal terms at me! I know she did it!"

"You started this Valles and pursued it even when she refused to rise to your baiting."

"I can't believe you're acting this way," she declares as Vonn enters the Sienar Tower. "Vulles and Byran invited her to the meeting."

Henry freezes, "Tell me you're not going."

"Of course I'm going; it's going to be the best party this year."

"This isn't a joke Valles!" He snaps and can sense her flinch. He looks around quickly and lowers his voice, "This is serious. The Empire will not put up with this. I've seen court cases where the whole body of evidence is rumors of insurrection. They don't care if it's true or not. There are a dozen cases pending based solely on one person's word, without any corroborating evidence. The witness in question often benefits financially from the conviction."

"So?" Valles scoffs. "I'm the heir to Lianna's greatest house."

"What's wrong with you guys? They'll throw you in prison and raise another house without batting an eye. It might cause some short term problems but they'll make an example to the rest Lianna. If you lose your position, half the houses on Lianna will find theirs risen."

"If they're so ruthless then how come they haven't moved on Port Hardin?"

"I don't know," he replies quietly. "Look, I'm at work, promise me you're not going."

"Really?"

"Yes really, promise me."

"Fine, I promise."

"Love you, bye," Vonn turns off his communicator as he reaches the front desk of security. His team waits for him, already having relieved the prior security officers. "You will not believe what happened to me today."

"You mean how you forgot about work and your test tonight? You're late Vonn," A young woman states with a smirk. A chunky Clone laughs along with her.

Vonn shakes his head, "I just came out of medical. A sanitation engineer was seriously injured in the Deep Tunnels. They had to pump me full of anti-venom after him."

"You went!" The Clone exclaims.

"Of course I went End. It was me or Blem. You know none of the other shifts would take it and the other guard called in sick, along with the Engineering department head."

The three of them turn to Blem, a Human biting his lower lip uncertainly. With only a glance there is something blatantly simple about him. His sloppy uniform, the dullness of his eyes, or his silly grin says much about his intelligence. Blem cringes under their attention.

The woman changes the subject, "I've set up your room for you."

"Thank you Hebrey," Vonn smiles at her. "Ok Blem has the desk, End patrol, Hebrey I want you to take the rear entrance. Switch up every hour or two, End is in charge."

"Ok," they say and then he heads for the administration room. Once inside he logs onto the computer and then uses the holonet to begin his test. The typical rules and acceptance buttons appear and he skims through them before beginning the test. Vonn pauses on the first question, realizing he forgot to lock the door, and clicks the button.

Odi glances at the clock, inching closer to seven-thirty. Tension fills her and frustration sends her into a panic. Finally she decides, "Oh blast it!"

She grabs her communicator and leaves her room. She walks across the hall and knocks on the door, "Marsala, are you awake? Can I come in?"

"Yeah?" The boy replies uncertainly as she opens his door. He studies her a moment before he asks suspiciously. "What is it?"

"I'm going out and you can't tell mom or dad. If they ask you need to cover for me."

"Is that right?" Marsala leans back in his chair, "Where are you going?"

She winces, "I can't say."

"Why should I cover for you?" He asks with a smirk.

"If you don't, I'll make you pay you little womprat!"

"Ah-ah-ah," he shakes a finger at her. "It would be unfortunate if Dad found out."

Odi tenses, "Fine, I'll clean the bathroom this week."

"This week and next week sounds appropriate."

"You little-! Uhhh! Fine, I'll clean it this week and next week."

Marsala spins away from her back to his desk, "Have fun at the party Odi."

"How do you know I'm going to a party?"

"Why else would you'd be willing to clean the bathroom twice without negotiating?"

Odi rolls her eyes, "See you Mar-Mar."

"Don't call me that!"

Odi slips out her window to avoid the camera Henry placed on the front door. Then she heads across the street and down another before she gets a message from Millie. A minute later Byran pulls up in his shiny red convertible speeder. Valles huffs petulantly and folds her arms over her breasts. Perhaps just to irritate her, Millie hugs Odi as she climbs in. Byran and Valles sit in the front, Millie, Vulles, and Odi in the back. Millie leans over Vulles in the back, "I'm so happy you came!"

"I told you she would," Byran gloats as he pulls away. "Odi cares about Lianna just as much as we do. She's affected by the Empire's rule as much if not more so than us."

"Whatever," Vulles complains. "You're going to make us late."

"We'll be fine," Byran rolls his eyes. "It won't really start until after eight anyway."

Sitting in the back, Odi gets a good look at Vulles and notes the same sullen expression on his face as his sister. They soar through the air into a line of speeders racing to their destinations. Not long after he descends and they fly over a park brimming with lights and music. The voices of the crowd boom; hundreds mix into a public celebration youthful abandon.

"Please tell me that's not it," Odi whispers breathlessly.

"It's even better than I thought it would be!" Millie exclaims.

"See?" Byran waves. "What could the Empire do against so many people? There's no way they could arrest them all."

Vulles grumbles, "Will you land? I'm tired of being stuck back here."

"No!" Odi yells. "Don't park close! If something happens you'll be trapped."

"Really!? You're paranoid."

"Where would we park anyway?" Valles backs her brother.

"If it'll make you feel better Odi," Byran tilts the speeder. "There's a bar nearby I sneaked into with my fake ID. It's a dive but we can park there and walk."

"Walk?" Vulles groans. "It's like, a kilometer away!"

"If you don't like it, take a taxi!" Byran snaps causing Vulles to sulk and Valles to jump. As he climbs out of the car he pulls his chair forward for Millie to get out. He takes her hand to assist her. "I don't mean to be rude but you two are going to ascend to leadership in the most powerful house on Lianna. Is this the image you want to present to the galaxy, of your house, of Lianna? Petty children consumed with their own trivial whims? Do you even care for Lianna?"

Valles has the sense to appear ashamed but Vulles turns red with fury. Instead of waiting to get out, he steps on the trunk of the convertible and stamps his way off the back. "Screw you Byran! I will take a taxi and you can walk like a commoner. See if I care!"

He takes out his communicator and storms off, for a moment Valles seems torn between the two before she offers a shrug to Byran and follows her brother. Byran sighs watching them and then suddenly he smiles. He beams when he turns to them, "I'd rather spend my time with you two anyway. My ladies, if I may have the pleasure of escorting you?"

"The pleasure is all ours dear sir," Millie curtsies gracefully before taking his arm.

Odi bites her lower lip; she can feel that something is wrong. It's too open, too obvious for the Empire to ignore. Then her resistance melts with a look at her friends, watching her expectantly. She slips her arm through Byran's, opposite Millie, "I wish Vonn was here."

"I bet you do," Millie teases her and Byran chuckles.

"No!" Odi flushes emerald. "I don't mean it that way!"

"Are you saying I can't properly defend my lady?" Byran asks with exaggerated shock. Odi huffs and Byran smiles but misreads her concern. "I realize you don't need a guard Odi."

"Of course not," Millie declares. "I'll protect her!"

Even from a block away they can hear the party. With her friends nearby Odi begins to relax, doubting herself, and her fears. Then suddenly she gasps, "Guards. There are no guards."

"So?" Byran and Millie give her a blank look.

"No, there's no security, there's no law enforcement. There must be a thousand people in the park and there's not a single officer. There is no way they wouldn't have at least a few officers watching in case a fight broke out. We didn't see a single vehicle parked outside of it. They'd obligated to monitor an event this large."

"Oh come on Odi," Millie groans.

Byran's eyes narrow and for the first time takes her seriously, "Odi is right. Remember Valles' sixteenth birthday? Law enforcement went nuts that he'd have a party with over two hundred people without informing them. Of course once the lawyers became involved it was settled but Odi's right."

Coming to a stop over a hundred steps away, they watch the celebration with suspicion for the first time. Finally Byran announces, "I helped organize this with Vulles, I have to go in but I hope you're wrong Odi. I really do…but I won't blame you for not coming with me."

Odi bites her lip and then an idea hits her, "I'll wait out here and keep watch."

"That's a good idea and I'll feel better with someone watching my back."

"Keep an eye on your communicators. If something happens, it'll happen fast."

Millie's cheerfulness weakens when she looks at the crowd but she puts on a brave smile for her friend. Then she decides, "I'll stay out here too."

"What?" Surprised, they both look at Millie.

"If you're watching Byran's back," Millie smiles brightly. "You'll need someone to watch yours."