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Reviews are back, yay! And you rewarded me by leaving a new record of 6(!) reviews on the previous chapter.

Lord Darth Yoda - I'm honestly bemused that everyone suspected Ralla of being a deceiver. I guess I'm making everyone paranoid now (muhahaha). You are right that this is just the tip of the iceberg for Sascha - things keep getting crazier and no one seems to know who is actually attacking the Senator!

thejoker122 - I was actually going to comment that it didn't seem too well planned...then I realized that without Itoma having a Jedi right behind her, things would have went much worse - so you are right that the plan was pretty solid.

Rampageblast - Thank you! I have to say that your review came in right when I was having a crummy time at work and it cheered me up immensely. So thank you for that, you made my day.

Censored69 - Thanks for the lengthy review, it is appreciated! You are right that I should probably take more time to edit and proofread this story. I actually did give it to a close friend to proofread, and when I got it back from she said that she had enjoyed the story so much that she forgot to edit it...which is a compliment, but not, you know...helpful. I will redouble my efforts though. It's also nice to know that the flaws in my writing at the start were (mostly) corrected, because it lets me know that I'm getting better at this writing thing.

As for your positives - I really chalk it up to taking the time to plot out the story. I was two and 3/4 books in to this series when I posted the first chapter to the site so instead of making things up on the fly, I know exactly where the story is going in both the long and the short term. As you've pointed out my prose is, simple but (reasonably) effective - I'm always amazed at what our minds will conjure when given so few descriptive details so I try to rely on that. There are many 'better' writers on this site, but the truth is you don't have to be a great writer to write a good story.

As for Sascha he is such a fun character because he starts as this boy that has almost given up on himself, it takes Tyra slapping him to get him to discover that he does actually want to be a Jedi. It's also nice to be able to write a Jedi that's not really powerful - I always felt that was a missed opportunity with Ahsoka, she comes into a war at 14 and starts kicking butt IMMEDIATELY. I understand why the creators did it, but for me it felt kind of hollow. I didn't read lots of fanfiction previously, but before the clone wars TV show started I bet if someone wrote a story that gave Anakin an apprentice that was immediately this fairly powerful Jedi - that character would definitely be considered a Mary Sue. But now I'm way off topic. Thanks again for the review.

Sirion Lannor - It's funny that multiple people saw Ralla as a sort of femme fatale character. I was totally going for a 'pretty girl that Sascha gawks at,' and basically nothing more than that. She's just a very normal person that was at the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong time). And if you enjoyed that climax, I can't wait to the reaction to a few chapters from now - I'm extremely proud of the climactic chapters, they are really some of my best work.

Canven - I am honored that I stirred your out of your review lethargy. I do encourage to write reviews on people's stories - It's nice to see viewer numbers on your chapters, but it's sort of abstract. Just a short review can mean a lot to an author.

Again with Sascha, I think the key to his character is that he is human first and Jedi second, if that makes a sort of sense. He's a very human character, in the way that he succeeds and fails - books are boring if the main character goes from success to success. I'm not afraid to write Sascha falling flat on his face, because...that would actually happen! The supporting characters are important too, I really like Aurine and I think while her evolution is smaller than what Sascha is going through, its a fun change to see happen (mostly in the upcoming books). Other characters will grow in importance with the series and while I like Sascha...I like these characters more than him - thats a good thing though, having a vibrant set of characters is good!

As for the quotations not indicating who is speaking - that is a bad habit that I'm trying to purge myself of, so thanks for noting it. I think I critiqued another story for something similar just last week, so it's amusing that I can't even keep it straight in my own story! As for the updates, they'll be every Wednesday and Sunday and roughly the same time - I think it's nice to have a set schedule when chapters are published, as it encourages returning readers.

A/N -

I think I wrote a short novel responding to reviews so no author's notes!

Anyway, please enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 36: In the Aftermath

Legs burning from the burden of carrying two women on his back, Sascha entered the first empty room he found, and gently put Ralla and Itoma down, before sitting for a second on the cold ground, trying to collect himself. He shook out his legs for a quick second, trying to get some of the tightness in them to dissipate. It helped. A little.

Sascha didn't really have a clue what to do now. He had no way of contacting Luminara, and no way of knowing what was going on outside the door. He knew that there was supposedly a KSF command center in this area, but Itoma didn't really look like she was capable of travelling even a short distance.

Still, at least Itoma had people around her – there had been a few Kuati aristocrats who had either been brave or smart enough to follow him through the chaos of the Tevanteer banquet. Those aristocrats were at least taking care of Itoma for the moment. Thus Sascha turned his attention to Ralla.

Ralla was clearly trying to process the events of the past few moments, her face was blank, and she stared pointlessly at her injured leg. Sascha moved to her side, touching her softly on the arm, just to get her attention. Ralla's eyes quickly darted to his, "Can I look at your leg?" he asked.

The young Kuati women nodded and he went into examination mode. He cautiously ripped her dress so that he could get a full view of her injury. "Such a shame," commented Ralla in a dull tone, "Senator Kuat was going to let me keep that dress."

"Sorry."

Ralla waved a hand flippantly, "It's just a dress." She was silent a moment before she spoke again, "I can't believe you rescued me, even after I said all those terrible things about the Jedi. I mean, I didn't know you were a Jedi, but you saved me!" She exhaled loudly, "I should have known you weren't some Coruscanti wunderkid, you don't even have a Coruscanti accent" she remarked to herself ruefully.

He bowed his head slightly, "You helped me when I needed you, and I wasn't going to forget that." His hands probed her leg cautiously, "Can you lay still for me, I can't quite tell how bad the injury is if you keep moving around."

"Yes, of course," the young woman said, and she complied, lying flat on her back. "Ugh, those stupid kriffing heels made me fall. I should never have worn them, sometimes I'm just a dumb, stupid…" Ralla continued with a string of profanity that made him blush slightly, as he checked her leg. The leg was broken, but the break itself was not too bad. Judging by Ralla's current state, she didn't seem to be in too much pain. He spent a quick moment searching in the Force for any injuries he could not see before turning his attention to how he was going to make a splint for her. He searched the room, it was obviously an office of some sort, but he needed something wooden or metallic that he could carve into the correct shape…

Then he felt a familiar presence approach and heard someone banging on the locked door. The voice of Tyra Harker wafted through the door, "Open up, Sascha, I know you are in there."

"Tyra!?" Sascha exclaimed in complete surprise. He opened the door and sure enough, his friend was on the other side, looking stern and intense as usual. This was no time for a friendly reunion though, and Tyra was clearly intent on it not being one, "Master Nal'ma sent me to see if you needed assistance," she said.

Sascha took stock of his situation for the moment, figuring how best to use Tyra, "Take the tall one, she's got a broken leg, make sure she gets medical attention. Then find out where the kriff I'm supposed to be, and where the Senator need to go. I'll stay here with Itoma for the moment and protect her."

Tyra nodded, her intense demeanour softening for a slight second to give him a reassuring smile, then she was quickly on her way, helping Ralla to her feet and helping the Kuati limp along beside her.

One crisis out of the way, Sascha looked over at Itoma Kuat. There was still a phalanx of aristocrats around the Senator, but Itoma still looked like she was in shock. The Senator was pale and looked unsteady, even sitting down on the floor of the room. Her hair, previously immaculate, had fallen into disrepair and her make-up that had been so cleverly and intricately prepared mere hours ago had been smeared in such a way that it made Itoma look ghoulish. As Sascha went over and knelt beside her, Itoma was muttering something to herself, her unfocused eyes staring past all the people in the room.

When she seemed to notice him, she spoke louder, "I killed all those people." The other Kuatis around the Senator tried to placate her, to no effect. Tearfully, she continued, "I ignored the warnings that I was given, yet I stupidly went ahead with it just to placate my own ego! I should resign from the Senate immediately; I'm a disgrace to Kuat! To the name Kuat!" She buried her head in her hands, her chest heaving with sobs.

Sascha was at a loss for words. Years of training in the Jedi Temple, and exactly zero classes or instruction on how to deal with a Senator from a powerful family having a mental breakdown after repeated assassination attempts. The worst part was that he didn't necessarily disagree with anything that she had said. Itoma had been warned repeatedly by Luminara about the risks of appearing at the Tevanteer Banquet, and now she was reaping the whirlwind that she had sown. However, he didn't think reminding her of that would help the situation.

He racked his mind for what he should do. Jedi were supposed to practice honesty, and while they were allowed to bend the truth should the situation dictate, they were not supposed to outright lie. So if bending the truth was going to be unhelpful, and he wasn't really allowed to lie…he needed a different way to approach this situation.

"Senator…" as Sascha began, the Senator's brown eyes suddenly focused on his, they were unnervingly dull and lifeless, so much unlike the person he had known for the past few days.

"And I suppose you are happy, Jedi?" said Itoma bitterly. "I've proved you right, haven't I? You never liked me, and now you had to save me from myself. Are you going to hold that over me now?"

"That's not the Jedi way, Senator and you know it," he said. Itoma Kuat once again stared off distantly, but he continued, "Jedi do not dwell on the past, but focus on the future. I suggest you do the same. What happened tonight was a tragedy, but let us leave the assignment of blame to the historians and the media. What Kuat needs now is their Senator, the strong presence that has galvanized the support of many across the planet. They need you now tonight more than ever before. So are you going to sit there and mope, and let your people down again? Or are you going to be the force for good that I know you can be?"

"Good speech, young one," Itoma shook her head sadly, "Except that you forget I already let each and every one of them down tonight."

"So? That's your excuse to let them down again?"

"People died! Because of me!" Itoma yelled, pointing a finger at herself.

The Senator's eyes were fiery again, staring daggers into his, but he met her gaze unflinchingly. "Maybe because of you, maybe because of the KSF, maybe because of myself, maybe because of deep rooted sociological issues, maybe because of something else. Maybe, maybe, maybe. We can play the 'maybe' game forever, Itoma."

If looks could have killed, Sascha would have been a dead Jedi, courtesy of Itoma Kuat's gaze, "I am still the Senator from Kuat and you will address me as such."

"Sorry, I thought you resigned," shrugged Sascha laconically.

"I said I should resign from the Senate, not that I was actually resigning."

Sascha smiled inwardly, his plan to draw the Senator out of her inward focused trance had been a success, but he really wasn't sure where to take the conversation from here. "Sorry, Senator, I guess I misunderstood." Then he heard an insistent knock on the door, which spared him from having to think of what else to say.

He opened the door, and unsurprisingly saw Tyra on the other side. Tyra walked in confidently, quietly whispered to him, "Master Nal'ma wants us to meet him in the communications room." Then she spoke loudly and authoritatively to the rest of the people in the room, "Form a line, we are moving you to another room. You will be safe there."

As everyone in the room compliantly formed an orderly line, Senator Kuat rose unsteadily to her feet, her complexion returning to her face. "Another Jedi, Padawan Whitestar? How many of you are on Kuat?"

Tyra Harker met the Senator's gaze, shrugged fractionally and started to lead the small procession through the winding hallways of Tevanteer house. Sascha allowed himself a small internal smile, if there was anyone that couldn't be intimidated by a Senator that was several times her age it was Tyra Harker. Itoma Kuat still seemed slightly unsteady on her feet and he offered himself as support, letting her wrap an arm around his shoulder to steady her as they walked the short distance to their destination.

Tyra turned smartly into a standard looking communications room with KSF personnel bustling around. At the centre of the storm was Teff Nal'ma, Jedi Knight and Tyra's Master. Teff was a middle aged, green-skinned Twi'lek, his lekku, the twin tentacles that grew from the base of a Twi'lek's skull, were draped artfully around his shoulders. Upon seeing the procession entering the room, Teff turned calmly and addressed the Senator, "ah, Senator Kuat, it is good to see you alive. I trust Padawan Whitestar saw to your protection adequately?"

"He did, and I continue to be in his debt," said Itoma respectfully.

The Twi'lek nodded, "Good." Teff turned and gestured to a KSF soldier who directed the other aristocrats into another room. The Twi'lek Jedi Knight ambled slowly around the room, "Senator you might be interested to know that you are a dead woman."

"Excuse me?" Itoma replied, an incredulous look on her face.

Teff smiled without humor, "The media has done a good job of jumping the gun as usual, all across Kuat they've been reporting that you have been seriously injured and at least reporter one reporter quoting 'sources' has claimed that you have died. Many Kuati citizens have taken to the streets in anger as a result of this report. You need to make a statement, confirming you are alive and calming this situation down before it gets out of hand."

Itoma looked taken aback, "Statement? But I don't even know what I would say. I don't know how many have died or are injured or who attacked me. I'm not ready to make any sort of statement. As the Senator for Kuat, I have a responsibility to be truthful in my statements, let the rumor mongers do as they will."

Teff looked sternly at Itoma Kuat, "I'm not asking you, Senator Kuat. I'm telling you that you need to make a statement before more people get hurt tonight."

The Itoma Kuat of four hours ago would have blustered right back at the Jedi Knight, but the current version of Itoma Kuat did not have the same sort fire in her. Instead of bluster, Itoma looked away vacantly, and started to slump over, forcing Sascha to hold her steady.

"Padawan Whitestar, is the Senator hurt?" commented Teff sharply.

Sascha steeled himself to reply, Tyra's Master intimidated him more than a little, "She is physically unhurt, Master Nal'ma. However this past week and the past hour has been quite trying for her, I think she may need a few minutes to recover."

Teff gave Sascha and the Senator a baleful look "You have five minutes, Senator, otherwise I'm giving an interview on your behalf."

Dismissed for the moment, Sascha led the Senator to a chair off to the side and away from the chaos in the room. Itoma slid gratefully into it. "Can you find Colonel Zarbo for me, Padawan? I know you aren't a fan of his, but we've worked together for a few years and I would like to hear his advice. I left Coruscant without many of my aides, and now I find myself without supporters."

Itoma looked so despondent at that moment he almost felt like embracing her in a hug. Instead, he nodded politely, "I'll inquire as to his whereabouts, Senator." He was about to turn and leave when he paused and pivoted on his foot, facing Itoma again. "I don't believe that Master Nal'ma is bluffing when he says that he'll give an interview on your behalf in a few minutes. I'm not sure that will be great for your reputation."

Senator Kuat sneered weakly, "And why do you care whether or not my reputation is ruined, Sascha?"

"I don't," he said honestly, "but Master Nal'ma is correct in saying that a statement coming from you is likely to be a lot more impactful than one coming from an unknown Jedi Knight. I don't know about you, but I've seen enough blood being shed today." He shivered for a moment, realizing that he had felt beings die back in the ballroom of Tevanteer House. He had become acquainted with death on this mission, though he was hoping it would not become a familiar companion.

"Being lectured by a youngling, how far I've fallen," Itoma muttered to herself. "Very well, give me a minute to collect my thoughts."

Sascha took that as the dismissal that it was and went to track down the whereabouts of Colonel Zarbo. The young Jedi flagged down a KSF officer that looked like he wasn't all that busy, "Excuse me, sir. Do you know where Colonel Zarbo is? Senator Kuat was looking for him."

The KSF man's expression turned sorrowful, "Son, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Colonel Zarbo passed away in the fighting, we believe he was the man who threw himself on the grenade in the ballroom."

Sascha thanked the KSF man, and stared blankly into the distance for a moment, trying to compile his thoughts. It was hard to think of Colonel Zarbo, a man he had clashed with repeatedly, being that selfless and sacrificing himself for the greater good of his fellow Kuatis. Perhaps, decided Sascha Whitestar, he had been too hard on the Colonel. Perhaps he had let his emotions get the best of him. He knew that in death, Colonel Zarbo had taught him a lesson about judging people. He would honor his memory by remembering it.

Tyra noticed his distress and quietly moved to his side, "what's wrong Sascha?"

He brushed a hand against his Padawan braid with a quick motion, "It's…it's nothing, I have to tell the Senator some bad news now though."

Tyra frowned, "Can't it wait? She's about to be on the Holonet."

Sascha shook his head, "I think she wants to know now."

His best friend knew better than to argue with him, "Well you know her better than I do."

Despite what he told Tyra, he's not sure he is doing the right thing. He could easily hold the news about Colonel Zarbo until afterward. However, he knows the Senator well enough to make his decision. He returned to Itoma Kuat, who seemed to be mentally preparing herself to give a statement. "Senator Kuat…"

Itoma looked up, "Yes, Padawan?"

He braced himself, "I'm sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news…but we have received word that…Colonel Roy Zarbo passed away tonight, and we believe that he was the person who threw himself on top of the grenade that was loosed on the floor of the banquet hall."

Itoma Kuat closed her eyes, appearing not to even breathe for a long few moments. He was almost at the point where he was going to ask if she was all right, when she rose with renewed commitment and focus. She made her way towards the Holonet transmitter, striding right past him, ignoring him as if he didn't exist.

Sascha observed as Itoma nodded at the technician at the desk, and she turned towards the small camera that would record her message, which would be seen and heard across Kuat. Even though her hair was in disarray and her makeup was hardly pristine, it made her seem more formidable, as if she had walked through fire and remained unscathed.

Adopting a confident pose, Itoma began her speech, her second of the night, "Gentlebeings of Kuat. As I am sure you are aware, a tragedy has occurred tonight at the Tevanteer banquet. I am sure there has been much speculation as to whom is behind these attacks and what their goals are. In my opinion, it does not matter who they were or what they wished to accomplish. The focus tonight and the rest of the week should be on those that lost their lives tonight. I myself saw many selfless acts tonight. Heroic acts. I myself was carried to safety partially by a young woman I hired only a few days ago. The fact that she went above and beyond for me…it humbles me, it makes me wonder if I would have had the same courage in her shoes. I hope that I would, but now I know that Ralla Darst does. She represents the best that Kuat has to offer, and I am privileged to call her an employee of mine."

The Senator paused for a long, respectful moment, almost swaying on her feet. "I have also just received word that my chief of security, Colonel Roy Zarbo of the Kuati Security Force perished tonight, and we believe that he was the person who selflessly threw himself onto a grenade that had been tossed into the mass of beings attending the banquet. It was an act that likely saved tens or hundreds of lives."

Itoma Kuat's brown eyes showed deep compassion, but her voice never wavered, "Colonel Zarbo served the KSF with distinction for seventeen years, where he received numerous commendations. For the last two years he served as my chief of security…he will be…dearly missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to meet him. I ask that we spend this upcoming week, not mourning, but celebrating the lives of those we lost. Good people were lost tonight; I would like each of their stories to be told, to be understood, to be cherished. I would like us to be an example to the galaxy on how to react to such a heinous act. Not with anger, but with compassion. Show the galaxy how strong Kuat can be, even at times when it seems darkest. I ask all of you to be strong, to be with your loved ones. Stay at home. Let the facts be determined before resorting to acts of passion."

Itoma bowed her head briefly, "I hope to speak to you all again later this week. Thank you, and goodnight."

After the Senator's transmission ended, the KSF personnel that had listened to the whole speech began clapping in appreciation of Itoma's words and Sascha almost felt inclined to join them.