After breakfast together, Solaria and Ahsoka decided to go into town while Vader went to train in the courtyard. He was shirtless wielding his saber, the sweat on his bronzed skin glinted in the sun. His muscles coiled and rippled as he lunged sinuously. Vader shone with strength and vitality. Briefly watching him go through the drills with his light saber, Solaria and Ahsoka left him to it.
They spent most of the day in the open air markets in town. Wandering leisurely about, they frequently stopped to talk to the natives. The Naboo were incredibly hospitable, giving them many suggestions from foods to eat to locations to visit. Everything was clean with neat streets and evenly spaced booths. Colorful pennants snapped briskly in the balmy wind, flowers grew in cheerful bunches at the entrances of stores and restaurants.
At a fabric booth, Solaria perused the selection with Naarva. Running her hand along the buttery soft silks, Ahsoka stared at the brilliant colors. The Jedi weren't allowed to wear anything beyond cream, black, and brown. Vader only required her to wear dark clothing on missions but otherwise, she was free to wear whatever she desired. The color selection was overwhelming-blues, pinks, reds, violets, greens all vied for her attention. It looked like the inside of Solaria's closet. How could Naarva choose Solaria's clothing every day? Ahsoka held up a length of turquoise fabric up to examine the play of light on the finely woven threads. "Get that one," Solaria suggested. "Rex, don't you think turquoise would suit Ahsoka well?" Rex clasped their bags a little tighter, "I think she'll look great in whatever color," he said quietly. Ahsoka flushed as Solaria made the purchase, giving her a knowing wink.
At sunset, sauntering along the beach, Ahsoka and Solaria chatted casually while slowly making their way back to the summer palace.
"I don't know why Master is making us training on vacation but at least today he gave me a break!" Ahsoka skipped forwards. "A full month of leave is a lot of time, we all need to practice a little. We will get deconditioned otherwise." Solaria nudged her affectionately. "Besides, there's no stopping him when he gets an idea in his head. You just have to nudge it in the direction you want." Ahsoka snorted and bounded towards the water. She splashed into the surf and bent down to pick up a shell. She inspected the graceful whorls and the delicate translucent pink of the inside. She flipped it over to see the ugly, rough outside. It was something like Master. Rough and hard on the outside but something surprising inside.
Ahsoka cocked back her arm to throw it but halted in surprise. "Isn't that Master with Senator Amidala?" she turned back to Solaria.
Solaria glided up to her and brought her outstretched hand down. "Yes, don't point Ahsoka, it's rude. That is why we are here, besides my performance for the festival. Lord Vader is trying to get information out of her."
Ahsoka frowned, "Why didn't he tell me?"
Solara put a slim hand on her shoulder, "He probably didn't want to involve you due to your former ties with…you know," she glanced around but they were alone. "You might switch sides and I think he's attached to you now."
Ahsoka dug her toes into the soft white sand. All the missions she went on with Master, she knew that she was helping the Empire but she didn't process that all the 'enemies' that opposed them were the Rebels and she just shut that box and hid it deep in her mind. Thoughtfully, she palmed the shell around and around.
"Are you alright?" Solaria's beautiful face came into view. "Yeah, just thinking. So how is Master going to get information out of Amidala?" Ahsoka turned her attention back onto the distant figure. Tonight, training was going to exceptionally brutal. The Senator frustrated him and Master always worked out his frustrations physically. He will push himself and Ahsoka to the breaking point. Ahsoka let out a gusty sigh and tossed the shell back into its home.
Solaria moved her hand to her mouth to bite on a knuckle. "I think he's going to try and seduce it out of her."
Ahsoka let out a laugh so loud it scared the birds out of the trees near her. "Master is going to try? Oh no this is going to go so badly."
Solaria laughed, "Seduction is one of the best ways to get information."
Ahsoka studied her friend. "Did you ever have to?" Solaria's smile faded, "Sometimes, you have to do what is needed."
Returning to the summer palace, Solaria was summoned by Master via Cody. "That was a quick date," Ahsoka raised her brows. "Stay out of trouble," Solaria smiled and left with him. Left alone to her own devices, Ahsoka wandered around the grounds, bored.
"You there, you are an Imperial aren't you?" a haughty, supercilious voice demanded seemingly from the sky. "And what if I am?" Ahsoka placed her hands onto her hips defiantly, looking for the source of the voice. Ahsoka walked over to the edge of the grounds and a young man with skin the color of Ahsoka's favorite café au lait and arrogant hazel eyes stared down at her from his seat on the wall. "Aren't you afraid of trespassing?" she continued, surveying her opponent boldly.
"Not if this was my family's ancestral home before you Imperials ousted us!" he tossed his dark hair out of his eyes disdainfully.
"Us? Who are you?" Ahsoka asked, more curious than annoyed now.
"I am Lux Bonteri, son and heir to Princess Mina Bonteri and you are in my home!" Lux jumped down to glare at her.
Ahsoka put up her hands in surrender, "Well we didn't know this was your home and we don't even own it. This is the Emperor's summer palace, take it up with him; we're just borrowing it. Besides, we aren't going to stay here long."
Lux's nose wrinkled with disgust. "Commoners in my ancestor's home."
"Oh please, you should be honored, your home is hosting Solaria Tarréga," she retorted, gesturing with a hand.
"Really, the ballerina?" Lux's hostility faded.
"I don't know any other Solaria Tarréga." Ahsoka sniped back. Lux stood up straighter and uncrossed his arms. "So you get to see her perform up close? She is incredible! Is she going to perform here on Naboo?"
Ahsoka bit her lip. She knew she needed to watch what she told him but telling him news that would be public knowledge a bit ahead of time should be harmless.
"Yes she is. She'll be performing for the Festival of Light," she said proudly.
Lux brightened, "That's amazing. I can't wait to see her performance. Is she really as tall as she seems from the holonet? Are her eyes actually golden or are they artificial?"
His sudden change of attitude made her uncomfortable. "Whoa, that's too much at once. Look why don't I introduce you to her?" Ahsoka backed up. "I'll ask her when she's free but just know, she's never alone." She didn't know how to break the news that Solaria was never alone since Master Vader was always with her.
"Sure!" Lux nodded eagerly. "Let me make up for my previous behaviour. Let me get you dinner," he offered, immediately reining in his excitement and composing himself. Ahsoka smiled at him. "Yeah, it's a date!"