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Chapter One
--Three years later—
Coruscant was busy and crowded, much she expected a city-planet to be. Jas piloted her Lambda-class shuttle, The Emerald, to the New Republic building. She was as beautiful now as she had been three years ago. Her dark red hair was pulled back in a braid down her back, she wore clinging black flight pants and a form fitting top that ended a few inches above her naval. A brown vest was over that, and belted around her waist with a blaster tucked safely in its holster. Over her clothing she also wore a brown flight jacket. Her brown eyes scanned the immediate area for an empty docking bay.
"See anything, Rei'Ka?" She asked the large Togorian male beside her. The seven-foot-tall cat person was covered head to toe with black and gray fur. He wore flight pants and an open vest, a blaster at his side as well. He was a handsome humanoid; at least he would be to other Tutorials. He was well built and muscular.
"There's a landing platform over there." He said.
"Then that's where we'll go." She replied and piloted the shuttle there. A small faction of Imperial supporters had taken her captive; she hijacked this shuttle and modified it for her liking. Hidden weapon systems, like two extra quad-laser cannons, one of each were mounted just beside the dorsal fin of the shuttle. She also had added shield deflectors and cargo space for getting through planetary customs without the officers detecting contraband.
"We'll still have to go through customs officers, Jas." Rei'Ka said.
"We don't have anything for them to find. Besides, the only thing they're going to be worried about is the ship." She replied.
It was also while she was captured that she met Rei'Ka. He was one of the Imperials' shock troops. They had decided to build an army consisting of the whole Togorian race. They modified their brain patterns so they understood orders and speech, making them more intelligent, yet completely loyal to the Empire. Jas befriended Rei'Ka while she was there and eventually got away, taking the Togorian with her. He had a life debt to her now, much like Chewbacca to Han.
"Setting the landing cycle." Rei'Ka said, as Jas took the ship down to the docking bay. It shook as it settled to the ground. Jas powered down and put her hand on Rei's shoulder.
"C'mon." She said. They disembarked the ship and were met by two customs officials…. armed customs officials. "Hello boys, how's the weather?" Jas asked.
"Passports." Said one. Jas gave him her passport and Rei'Ka handed over his own. "Whom are you affiliated with?" He asked.
"No one. Just your friendly neighborhood, freelance cargo pilot looking in on some old friends." She said as the guard handed her back her passport and looked over Rei's. "Where could we find Princess Leia?"
"Supreme Councilor Organa Solo is in a very important conference, you'll just have to wait." Said the second officer, holding his finger on the trigger of his blaster.
Jas leaned back against Rei's chest and crossed her arms, the Togorian stood behind her protectively. "Supreme Councilor Organa Solo, huh?" She said. She glanced at his finger. "Well take it easy, pal, we're not here to cause trouble."
"You arrive in an Imperial shuttle and you're 'not here to cause trouble'?" Said the first.
"Listen…friend," Rei'Ka started. "We are only here for a visit, not to start another war. Will you let us please pass?" The soldier's looked at each other in wonder; Togorian speech was never so well versed. The entire race was…primitive…to say the least. They usually spoke in third person rather than first and didn't articulate very well at all.
" Alright fine." Said the first after a few minutes. "The Senator is in the main conference room meeting with the representatives of the New Republic. I suggest you be respectful, there are some very important dignitaries here."
"Thank you kindly, sir. We'll see you around." Jas said as she stood up, the two guards stepped aside, Jas turned again. "Oh yeah. Don't scratch the paint on my ship, okay?" She winked and sauntered inside, Rei following closely next to her.
"Smugglers." The first soldier grumped.