"By the way, there is something I need to tell you, Ful-, I mean Ahsoka. Don't tell Anakin about this, okay."
Ahsoka nods, and Leia continues, "We need to pretend to make a wrong turn while taking the scenic route to the Senate. We need to pick up the agent Black Swan at Dex's. Black Swan is actually former Imperial and Republic Senator Padme Amidala Skywalker. Padme lives!"
"Sounds great." They get in the speeder and drive over to the Jedi Temple. When there, Ahsoka sends a text on her comlink, saying, "We r here. Come over 2 main entrance plz." Anakin and Luke come out the main entrance of the Temple and get in the speeder. Leia turns on the music channel and sets it to some Shilian pop music and sets the destination to Dex's, then covers the location with her elbow.
Leia says, "Just so you know, the first and second dances are the medal recipients and whoever they chose to dance with. The first dance is traditionally a male figure in the Senator's life for female senators or, in very occasional cases, former senators. Some senators do it with their boyfriends or husbands instead. The second dance is traditionally with their Senate mentor. The third dance is all the Senators at the ball with medals with whoever they want to dance with. I'm saying this so you guys are aware of this tradition." Leia says nothing about her award tonight.
Leia realizes that she can't dance with Luke, or the press would think she's dating her brother. That's way too awkward, and Luke doesn't know how to dance with her. Han doesn't know how to dance very well, and in any case, she would be stuck announcing that she and Han were engaged, and the media interviews that followed would be enough of a nightmare without Vader, no, Anakin's return. General Rieekan was kinda like an uncle to her, so maybe…
Leia looks out one of the windows of the speeder, and sees Dex's.
She says, "Must have taken a wrong turn on accident. Sorry."
She stops the speeder, nods at Ahsoka, and gets out saying, "Ahsoka, come on." Anakin looks confused until Ahsoka gives him a look of 'all will be revealed in time'.
The two walk into Dex's and see a woman who looks like Padme at a table, wearing a fancy dress. They walk over and Leia says, "What do you think of the Senate ball tonight? 98715 Mirrorbright shines the moon." They carefully made their way through all the customers and other tables, back to the table that is way in the back where the woman is sitting.
The woman replies, "I'm so proud for you, Leia. 25438 The moon's glow is soft as an ember." Leia knows that they have found Padme.
Ahsoka replies, "I'm excited as well for the Ball tonight."
Ahsoka pulls a comlink out of her pocket and discreetly calls Anakin, saying, "Get out and come here!" Anakin gets out of the speeder and walks over.
Leia explains, "I just had to pick up an Intel agent and bring her to the Ball as well. This is Agent Black Swan. Her real name is Padme Amidala."
Padme looks visibly uncomfortable around Anakin, then says, "If my memories are correct, the Senate Ball starts soon.", as an attempt to make things less awkward. Anakin smiles at Padme and offers to hold her hand, but Padme declines.
Leia nods and says, "Let's go. I'm on the setup committee, and I need some help with the tables and chairs. Padme, you don't need to help with setup. The seating arrangements do split us up, as this is a very formal event and the seating is determined by many factors. Me and Mon sit at the head of the big table, Ahsoka, you sit with the royals that aren't in politics, near the head of the room, Luke, you and Anakin as commoners not in politics, sit somewhere in the back, and I'll check later for which table. Padme, you can sit with the former Senators, I guess, and Han and Chewbacca, who are coming in a bit are sitting with me, as me and Han have been unofficially dating since, oh before Hoth, and Chewbacca owes a life debt to Han, and indirectly me, so he acts as my and Han's bodyguard when I don't have my Royal Guards."
"Ahsoka, how have you been doing?", says Padme.
"I'm doing well. I just discovered that I'm the crown princess of Shili. I'm definitely not used to being addressed formally.", says Ahsoka.
"I understand. I know what that's like. I still remember that from when I became Queen at 14." Leia tries to get the group to mosey on out towards the speeder and finally gets everyone into the speeder and on the way to the Senate building.
After the group arrives at the Senate dome, Leia badges everyone through security saying, "This group is all with me." When the security officer asks to see Anakin's ID, he sent a message to Leia through the Force. To keep you the safest, I'll just mind-trick him, so this way you don't get mobbed with reporters asking about me. And I don't have to check all those reporters to see if they are trying to kill you. He's weak minded enough, that it's easy for me.
Leia sends a message back. Okay, fine. Try not to arouse too much suspicion. I've heard from Ahsoka that you don't do well undercover.
Anakin waves his hand, and says, "You don't need to see my identification card." Anakin sends back a message, to Leia, Don't listen to Ahsoka, she exaggerates too much!
The officer replies, "I guess I don't need to see your identification card. You can all pass." Leia sends back the image of a frown, with the caption of 'Ahsoka is one of my best agents. Why do you say that about her?'
Anakin replies back, I'm thinking it highly likely that she told you more stories of her saving me, or her being the target of a prank from me, then the other way round. Just ask me, if you think something seems a little exaggerated.
The group walks in and Leia says, "We take a left to get to the main dome, which is where we normally meet for Senate stuff, but, tonight we take a right to get to the main hall. That's where the party will be."
"Yes. I remember those parties.", says Padme. The group turns right, then runs into Mon Mothma, who is also trying to get the party running. Mon is looking at her datapad and nearly runs into Leia and Padme, who are at the front of the group.
"Hello, Mon. Long time no see.", says Padme.
"Hello, Your Highnesses, hello Senator. Thanks for your intel that you collected on Cophrin V, Padme, it really helped.", says Mon Mothma, with a big smile on her face.
Leia raises a finger to her lips and says, "Not everyone in this group has security clearance. The defector from earlier today is coming, as Ahsoka and Luke really wanted him to come, and you know what they say about family and the Senate Ball. The invite all the family part… So, just don't mention anything classified. "
Mon nods and Leia continues, "So, shield your mind as well. Remember what I showed you?"
"Yes."
"The next bit of info is not public, and I would appreciate it staying that way."
"I understand."
"I'm actually adopted. My biological parents… They're the classified part. My biological mother is Padme, and my biological father is Anakin Skywalker. Anakin ended up becoming Vader, for some reason I don't know. He ended up becoming Anakin again, on the Second Death Star, after Palpatine tried to kill Luke, at least from what Luke's report said. However, the report was a little light on details, to be honest, compared to my reports, that is. I didn't know this info about my biological family until Endor, just before Luke ran off to 'deal with' the two Sith Lords on the second Death Star. The Emperor ended up trying to use force lightning to try to kill Luke, and from what I heard, it was Vader, not Luke that offed the Emperor. I think you can figure out the reasons why we don't get along. I think this is why Vader was so busy hunting down Luke. Hoth… Bespin… Endor… "
Anakin interrupts, "Yes, that's why I was hunting down Luke. How come you weren't in Intel Analysis? You got promoted straight from Intelligence to High Command, at least from what my spies saw."
Leia's face has a concerned expression on it, and she says, "Tell you later. At least what I can tell you, that's not classified." Anakin nods.
"I understand. This is almost crazier then the soap operas that have been on the Holonet channel for that type of stuff. I see now, why you didn't want me to use Heroes at Scarif as the movie for the after party and instead recommended The Legend of Victoria, for its-", says Mon Mothma.
Anakin interrupts Mon, and says, "Huh, what's an after party?"
Leia explains, "Officially the party ends at 11pm. The after parties go on celebrating until the sun rises, sometimes even later. I don't sleep much, not since a certain mission, so I'm so going to be hosting a party at the Alderaanian Embassy. And, no, you're not invited, Anakin. I have enough nightmares without you going to this special party to celebrate the Senate Ball medal awardees, as well as I want to make it have a low threat of harm to my friends. Ahsoka, Luke, Padme, you can all come. Want to come?"
"Sure.", says Ahsoka with a smile on her face.
"I'd be honored to come to a party at the Alderaanian Embassy.", says Padme.
"I'd love to come to your party. Do you know who's getting medals tonight?", says Luke.
"I know at least one, and have my suspicions about some of the others. I can't tell you, though, as that's classified.", says Leia.
"Come on, Leia!", says Luke.
"Please," says Ahsoka, almost begging to find out.
"Can I please come? I can act as your security at the party, if you want.", says Anakin.
"No. Just, no.", says Leia.
"Fine. I understand, my daughter.", says Anakin. Leia works to move the whole group over towards the mostly set up banquet hall.
She points at a complete table and chair setup and says, "This is what a complete setup looks like. The tables go on the blue tape marks, and the chairs go in a ring around the tables, on the green tape, like at the already setup table over here. The extra tables and chairs are over in the closet that's down the hallway on the far right. It's take the fifth right, and then the first left to get to the tables, and second right, second left, and same hallway for chairs, tablecloths, silverware and napkins. The catering service is providing the dishes and they are over down that middle hallway, two doors down. I have the seating chart on my data pad, and have you guys marked, so you can all find your spot. I'm sure the Setup Committee would love some Jedi help. Basically, just use telekinesis to move all the chairs and stuff, to help set everything up quickly."
Anakin, Ahsoka, Luke, Leia and Padme all help set up the chairs, tables, tablecloths silverware and napkins.
Author's Note: This was going to go up yesterday (May the 4th), but ran out of time.