Hikari-No's Promise
Chapter Twelve
Sailor Coruscant sat in the gardens of the Palace, where she had been spending much of her time in the two weeks since Catherine's death. Amid the brightly-coloured flowers and plants she sometimes felt that she could hear the sound of Catherine's friendly laughter here, and it gave her a quiet place to sit and meditate, trying to find answers to her questions.
The setting sun filled the sky with orange light, and above it Unmei began her stately descent to the horizon. The silver moon seemed red also from the reflected sunlight, pulsing angrily. Sailor Coruscant wondered if it could be some sort of sign. The election had been held the day previously and the results would be announced this night. She had been watching over them, but aside from ensuring that the Grand Admiral did not interfere at all, she had little real interest in what the outcome would be. She had promised Catherine that she would make sure it was fair, but in reality she had not even bothered to find out who the nominees were.
After the funeral, Jester had arranged a room for her to stay in at the Palace, and had managed to find her some other clothes to wear so that she did not have to remain in her Senshi uniform always and she was thankful of that. He was so kind to her, and although he did not recognise her as Hikari-No, he seemed to genuinely want to be friends with her, and she needed friends at this time. But the part of her heart that was dead would not allow her to become to close to him, knowing that he would only end up leaving her too, and that it would be her fault.
She spoke to people rarely, and made use of the secret passages whenever possible to move about the Palace unseen, growing more familiar with the multitude of hidden rooms and walkways. It was always silent and dark in the passages, and that suited her mood. Sailor Coruscant had very little desire to be social, especially as word of what she had done spread. She was not comfortable with the attention directed at her, she had only done what she must, and she had never been as terrified as in her fight against Darth Blade.
Although she had seen them destroy the body of Darth Blade, Sailor Coruscant still had a terrible feeling that she had not seen the last of him, that the Sith were not yet done with Domus Prime. She knew that there would have to be more than one Sith, and she seemed to remember hearing a story about there being two at any given time, but her thoughts were shadowed by fears that Darth Blade had left a legacy that would not be easily dismissed from her world.
She still had no evidence of the Grand Admiral's collusion with Darth Blade, and although the members of the council of Advisers had not been impressed with being imprisoned, there they would remain for at least the next three years, longer if Sailor Coruscant had any say in the matter.
Not that she really did, but the threat of dragging the council before the Courts had made them only to willing to submit. Especially after Darth Blade had been unable to succeed and free them. The removal of the council from power would most likely only last for as long as Sailor Coruscant remained on Domus Prime.
Which brought Sailor Coruscant back to her dilemma. What was she going to do now? She would not return to Coruscant and the Jedi, but she had no where else to go. She wished that she could speak with her Master again, he would tell her what choice to make. But she could not, she would never see him again. She had left that part of her life behind her, and only the future remained.
She had supervised a number of official messages sent back to Coruscant by the military and other officials on Domus Prime, making sure that the correct truth was told. The Jedi were warned about the Sith, but they took little notice, refusing to believe in the re-emergence of an ancient enemy who had been extinct for as long as anyone could remember. She had added an extra note to one of these messages, detailing that the Padawan Hikari-No Miko had died in the revolution, killed at the hands of the Sith. She was not certain whether her Master would accept this, but the rest of the Council would most likely be glad to know that she wanted no further association with the Order. They would make sure that her Master remained on Coruscant and did what was right for the Jedi. He would soon forget about her, it was for the best. If she had nothing more to do with him, then there would be no way for her to harm him as she hurt everyone whom she loved.
Sailor Coruscant looked out over the city below, all the people who knew what their lives meant and what they wanted. She envied them in many ways, and wished that she could be just like them. As she looked out at the setting sun, Sailor Coruscant found herself longing for a sense of purpose and direction, that she could know what she wanted and how to keep her promise to Catherine that she would make things right.
A chill breeze brushed her hair against her face, and she drew her cloak tighter around her. Along the horizon across the face of the setting sun the faeries took flight, and a voice from memory spoke to her filled with happy laughter.
'If you see them in flight like that and make a wish, it will come true.'
Sailor Coruscant stood, as the breeze turned into a wind, her eyes never leaving the faeries. She threw her arms outward as her hood fell backwards and her hair flew around her head. From her heart she found herself whispering to the sky, to the faeries, to herself.
"I wish that someone else will make my choice for me."
The wind suddenly died down, bringing with it a silence so deep that Sailor Coruscant did not move for fear of destroying it. Afterwards, she had no idea how long she had stood there, gazing at the horizon in wonder, the still air frightening her, as though something really had heard her wish. But the sun was almost completely below the horizon when she realised just how cold she was, and brought the cloak back around her, sitting down again to watch the last of the sunset and the stars emerge.
"Sailor Coruscant." She started at the sound of Jester's voice, so deep had been he reverie. She unfolded her arms from around her knees and turned to him, a little surprised to see with him three of the Princess' old handmaidens, dressed in their formal blue gowns. Since her arrival on Domus Prime, Sailor Coruscant had not seen any of the handmaidens, and she was confused by their presence here in the gardens with Jester.
On Jester's right stood the Grand Admiral of the Royal Forces, a deep scowl on his heavy set features. He was dressed in his full uniform, the black reminding her of Darth Blade for a moment. Sailor Coruscant realised that it was the emptiness in his eyes that frightened her so much, as though he cared for nothing or no one.
Jester was grinning at her, his eyes sparkling. As Sailor Coruscant stood, he bowed to her, the handmaidens following his lead, each of them smiling.
"What is going on?" A vague feeling of unease crept over Sailor Coruscant, and again she heard in her memory Catherine telling her of wishes coming true. She shivered, for Catherine's voice in her mind no longer sounded happy and laughing, but somehow sinister, as though she was prophesying a terrible fate rather than telling of a childhood game.
"The results of the election have been announced", Jester was still smiling, and the Grand Admiral turned to him, if anything frowning harder. "I asked that they would let me be the one to inform you of the decision of the people of Domus Prime."
Sailor Coruscant suddenly knew. Her face drained of colour and she took a step backwards, away from them. "Jester, what have you done?" Her voice was little more than a whisper.
The Grand Admiral snorted loudly, looking down at her, still angry. "Just tell her, fool", he sneered, and she found herself standing taller, determined not to let him see her upset. She hid her emotions deep, putting in place a mask of calm. The Grand Admiral smiled at her, having watched as she fought for control over her feelings and won.
Jester refused to be fazed by the Grand Admiral, bowing again to Sailor Coruscant, who waited for the official announcement from him, thinking that she would give her refusal afterwards. A faint blush had stained his cheeks as she confronted him, but it was gone when he rose to meet her gaze.
"Sailor Coruscant", he began, speaking slowly and clearly, "I have the distinct pleasure of being the one to inform you that the people of Domus Prime have today elected you to be the new Queen of this world. Do you accept?"
She looked at the five of them, seeing the admiration in the eyes of the handmaidens, the amusement in Jester's and the hatred in the Grand Admiral's. Though this time she tried to keep it hidden, panic again swept over her. This was not right, this was not what she had intended. Everything was going wrong, she could not cope with this now. She was not meant for this task.
She did not stop to think, she did not pause. Sailor Coruscant ran through them, heading back towards the Palace, trying to think of a place to hide from them, from everyone. There was no one guarding the entrance to the Palace, and she was glad of that, as she ran for the secret passages.
In the comforting darkness of the hidden hallways, Sailor Coruscant was at last able to sit down and cry, pulling her cloak around her. As her tears fell down her face and were caught by her hair, which hung loosely around her, she tried to force herself to forget, both Jester's offer and the smirk on the Grand Admiral's face.
Out in the garden, Jester paused for a moment to look out at the setting moon in the twilight that existed now that the sun had set. With Unmei's silver light shining down on him, he turned to look at the handmaidens who stood with him, a little unnerved by Sailor Coruscant's flight. But Jester had hoped for a reaction like that, it showed that she was human behind her icy facade.
He walked slowly into the Palace, telling the others to split up and look for Sailor Coruscant, though he suspected he already knew where she was.
Sailor Coruscant sat on the balcony of the Princess' old rooms, looking out over the city, no longer crying but certainly not calm. There was something comforting about these rooms, as though Catherine was here, talking to her and telling her that everything would be alright. But it would never be alright again, Catherine was dead, and now the Court Jester was trying to convince her that she should take on the title of Domus Prime.
She looked up at the stars, trying to see the sun of Coruscant, achingly wishing to be home once more, curled up in her bed in the Temple. But she supposed it would not be her bed any more, it probably belonged to someone else already. They had most likely forgotten about her, her past was as lost to her as Catherine was.
This time she was aware of him behind her before he had a chance to get to close. "I know you are there, Jester", Sailor Coruscant said in a whisper, "what do you want?"
"I want you to accept the throne."
"Why? I am not the right person to be Queen. That was always going to be Catherine's life, not mine." She sighed, tears again threatening to overcome her. He sat down next to her, holding something out to her that she could not see in the darkness.
She turned the object over in her hands, remembering the first time he had given her Harold to hold. It took her a moment to recall that she was supposed to have never met Jester before she arrived on Domus Prime. "Who is this?"
"This is Harold, my rubber chicken. I thought he might help make you feel a bit better about all of this. He always makes it easier for me to see things in perspective."
Her voice was cold. "And what perspective would you recommend?"
"I would like for you to consider this." He sounded more serious than ever she had heard him, and at seeing the intensity in his eyes she found that she had to look away.
"How did this happen?"
For a moment Jester was not certain that she had spoken at all, but he felt compelled to tell her, to explain his part in this. "I nominated you for the election. After what you did, it seemed like a really good idea. I'm not entirely sure why I thought it, but there was no harm in trying, so I gave them your name. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought you'd do a good job."
"But how is it possible that a majority of the people on this planet know of me? Enough for this happen to me? I only just arrived on the planet two weeks ago."
Sailor Coruscant had the feeling that he was smiling at her "Domus Prime is a small world, and word travels fast. A lot of people heard about what you did, and how you got rid of the 'corrupt politicians' to restore Domus Prime to what it once was, and that you never had any thought of reward. They seem to think you'd make a good Queen, so they voted for you. It is not the first time someone who isn't a local was given the job."
"But I do not know anything about how to be a Queen." She could not do this, no matter what he told you. It was not her destiny. Then again, she had no idea what her future held anymore. Just an emptiness stretching before her, without direction.
"You know how to do what's right, and that is more important than all the training a person could receive." Sailor Coruscant could tell that he was thinking about Darth Blade again, how she had fought him and won. Still, Darth Blade had been a Sith, there had been no choice for her to make, she had to fight him or die. Saving Domus Prime had been an after effect.
"I can not accept this", Sailor Coruscant's voice was still a whisper, but there was a hint of uncertainty to it that was not there before. Jester smiled to himself.
"Who else would you recommend, knowing the type of people who would volunteer for such a job?" Thinking of the Grand Admiral, Sailor Coruscant shuddered involuntarily. Jester caught sight of the movement, even in the darkness, and nodded to her. He held out a hand to her and she took it, trying not to notice it's comforting warmth.
Sailor Coruscant bowed her head in silence, not wanting to make a choice just yet. She sat and looked out at the city for a long time, trying to find the calm she needed to think things through properly.
"Jester", she asked finally in a small voice, "can I give you my answer tomorrow?"
"Of course", Jester's voice was also quiet in the late-night stillness, "I understand." She held out Harold to him, but he shook his head. "You can keep him for tonight. He might make it easier for you to make your choice."
Jester stood, giving the sky a final glance. Sailor Coruscant did not move again, nor did she speak. Accepting her silence as a kind of farewell, he walked from the balcony, to seek out his room and try to sleep the rest of the night.
Throughout the long night Sailor Coruscant sat in vigil, meditating for most of the time, but at others just sitting and listening to the sounds around her. She sent her thoughts flying across the planet, discovering the people who were asking her to lead them and the dreams and hopes they possessed. She learned much about them, having put aside her grief to do as Jester suggested, and consider the choice he had given her.
She held Harold to her at all times, for some reason finding comfort in having the rubber chicken with her. More than anything else, Harold reminded her of why she was being asked to take on this burden. There was something innocent about Jester's possession of the toy despite his age and proven maturity that cheered Sailor Coruscant and gave her hope for a happy future.
But her thoughts seemed to dwell in the past, on happy memories of her and Catherine spending time together, and one sentence seemed to remain in her mind, echoing over and over until she thought she would go mad:
'One day, I'm going to be Queen of it all.'
That was what Catherine had always wanted, had always looked forward to. She had been training all her life for the chance to stand in the election and take her place as Queen, and everyone who had known her knew that she was the perfect choice. Catherine had cared about everyone and thing on Domus Prime, she saw it all as a part of herself and had taken care of it as such. Sailor Coruscant doubted that she would ever be able to be that committed to Domus Prime, she had never wanted to care about anything ever again.
And yet, she could understand Jester's point. Who else could rule Domus Prime? She was surely not the best candidate, but as she listened to the sleeping thoughts of the people on the same side of the planet as her, and the waking ones of the people on the other, she could sense no single person who seemed to suit what she thought a ruler would be. Not that she did either, she realised, searching her heart.
As dawn grew nearer, Sailor Coruscant realised that perhaps what she was looking for was not someone who would be perfect to rule, but someone who could replace Catherine. Sailor Coruscant would never be able to live up to how she saw her friend, perfect in every way, but neither would anyone else in this Galaxy. Perhaps Jester was right, perhaps she could fulfil the role he had placed before her.
He arrived just as the sun was cresting the horizon, lacking an escort this time, looking somewhat sombre, but his eyes seemed to show that he already knew what answer she was going to give. As far as he could tell, Sailor Coruscant had not moved since he left her the night before, still seated on the balcony with her chin resting on her knees and her hands clasping Harold tightly.
She stood at Jester's approach, turning around in one fluid movement, and holding out the rubber chicken. He accepted Harold gravely, but did not move, looking in her eyes and waiting for confirmation.
Sailor Coruscant's voice was a whispered promise to the voices of the past and the Court Entertainer whom she had forgiven.
"I accept."
It had been two days since the coronation ceremony, and the new Queen of Domus Prime was near to breaking point already. Despite having to entertain the many guests and visiting dignitaries in the Palace at the moment, she was already meant to be holding court and making decisions for the entire planet. It seemed as if her signature had to be on every document that passed through the Palace, and everyone wanted a piece of her attention to lodge their complaint about some matter that was absolutely important.
She had yet to address the matter of finding new handmaidens, since five of the old Princess' eight had 'disappeared' during the chaos before her arrival. All that were left were Gemma, the aging Priestess from the Temple of Light who was thinking of retiring anyway; Chelya, who was just new to the job and very uncertain of herself; and Opal, a scholarship student at the Domus Prime foundation for higher learning who despite her young age of sixteen had been a close friend to the Princess before her death. Sailor Coruscant was much closer to the two girls who were her age than Gemma, and they had been her constant companions since word had reached them that she was going to become Queen of Domus Prime.
Tomorrow she intended to take a short trip to the Temple of Light in the City, to speak with Rei and ask her to replace Gemma. After that, she would seek out 'Shandra, the woman who had helped her during her attack on the council, and to inquire as to whether the member of the Royal Forces would also be willing to take on a position as Queen's handmaiden. With an extra set of hands about, it might be easier for her to manage Domus Prime and its Court.
She had barely had a chance to speak with Jester since she had told him her decision, but in a quiet moment she had been able to tell him that she was no longer angry at him. He had nodded as if he already knew, and smiled at her. He had performed in front of her a number of times since then, but she had yet to see the lightsaber-juggling trick that he had promised her so long ago, but maybe he did not as yet have the confidence to try such a feat in front of the entire Court. It would be an amazing feat.
Sailor Coruscant sighed deeply, looking out over the city from the balcony in what was now her rooms. In a few minutes they would probably be back here, trying to make her return to the Throne Room that she had just left. She would not be able to cope with that at this time.
Opening the passage on the far side of her room, the Queen slipped inside, closing it behind her so that no one would know that she had been in her rooms this afternoon. For time she wandered in darkness, having forgotten to pick up a light, not really caring where she ended up. Her thoughts kept circling around her problems, and most importantly the Grand Admiral. He had told her that she could not touch him, that he was safe in his position, not even the Queen could remove his power over the Royal Forces. She hoped that this was not the case.
Looking up, Sailor Coruscant realised that she was standing outside a hidden entrance to the Library. While she was here, she could actually see if what the Grand Admiral had said was true. She needed to be rid of him any way she could, and the Library held information on every aspect of life on Domus Prime. From past experience Sailor Coruscant knew that there were many books here on the laws of this planet, she just had to find the right one.
After a quick check to ensure that no one would see her, the Queen stepped from the secret passage into the Library. She was standing between two shelves of books, which at first glance appeared to be a collection of stories and folklore. She walked out from where she was, to glance around her at the massive Library, and try to see exactly where to look.
Seated at a table at the end of the room was a Jedi, staring into a large book. The Queen knew that the Council had sent a representative to the coronation, but she had intended to avoid her, in case it was someone she had known. But the woman was unfamiliar, with shoulder-length brown hair that was tied back from her face, and sad- looking brown eyes.
The Queen walked over to her, good manners prevailing over her desire to hide. "Is everything all right?"
The Jedi looked up, startled. Her eyes widened as she recognised the Queen and she moved to get to her feet. "I am fine, Your Majesty. I was not expecting you to be here."
Before the Jedi could stand, the Queen pulled a seat over from the next table and sat. "Please", she whispered, tears filling her eyes, "do not do this to me."
The Jedi looked perplexed. "Do what?"
"Call me 'Your Majesty', and act differently. Everyone does now, and just once I would like it if someone treated me as if I was a normal person."
"Sure", the Jedi smiled warmly, holding out a hand, "I'm Nay."
The Queen wiped away a single tear with the back of her hand, taking Jedi Nay's hand gratefully after a moment. "My name is Sailor Coruscant."
"It's an honour to meet you." The Jedi's eyes no longer seemed quite so sad.
"I am glad to have met you. So, what brings you to this lonely place?"
"I am trying to find my family." Sailor Coruscant understood. Most Jedi were taken from their families at around the age of six months, and they never knew who their family was, or where they had come from. She was surprised that the Council had allowed Jedi Nay to search for her former life, and said as much.
Jedi Nay gave her a wry grin. "Oh, they don't like it, and keep trying to stop me, but they can't really do anything when they're all back on Coruscant, and I'm out here."
Sailor Coruscant's eyes widened as she heard of Jedi Nay's disobedience. Maybe she was not the only Jedi who had become disillusioned about the Council's behaviour. "How long are you staying on Domus Prime?"
"Until they tell me to come home, I guess."
"That could be a while. If you need anything while you stay here in the Palace, come and ask me. I would be glad of the excuse to get away from all of them."
"Is being Queen that hard?"
"It is difficult. I always have to be on show, everyone watching what I do, a number of them always waiting for that fatal mistake they are sure is coming soon." The Queen sighed. "Have you met the Grand Admiral?"
Jedi Nay's nose wrinkled up, and the Queen nodded. "I came here to try and find a way to remove him, since the Royal Forces are under his command and he refuses to listen to what I say. I was hoping that somewhere in this library I would find a rule or law that would help, but I am not entirely sure where to look." The Queen bit her lip, looking around the room again.
Jedi Nay stood up, grabbing the Queen's hands, suddenly looking enthusiastic. "That is a task worthy of a Jedi's skills. I was looking at the law books the other day before the coronation, we will find something, and get rid of that slime."
The Queen was pulled to her feet and towards a corner of the library. "I thought a Jedi was never supposed to give in to desires for revenge or anger", she muttered, but Jedi Nay heard her and turned around.
"He deserves everything he is going to get, there is nothing in the Code that forbids justice, just some of the ways of obtaining it." Sailor Coruscant wondered what the Grand Admiral had done to Jedi Nay, but had no time to ask as they started sorting through the law books, to find the one they wanted.
"You must be joking", the Queen sounded astonished.
"Nope. It's that simple." Jedi Nay was smug, tossing her head, her fingers reaching towards her lightsaber.
"Why did no one tell me?"
"Probably because they knew what you would do if you understood."
Sailor Coruscant understood Nay's reasoning, but it still seemed too easy. It could not be that simple to remove the Grand Admiral, or was she being naive again? Maybe she was looking for complications to save her pride, since the Queen should have thought of this alternative a lot sooner. Well, she had been busy lately.
Realising that she was making excuses for her behaviour, the Queen stood, brushing down her dress and glancing at the timepiece. For three hours she and the Jedi had sat, pouring over the books, trying to find an answer that had not been recorded since it was common knowledge. There was supposed to be a banquet starting in about half an hour, but she had no idea if it was still to take place considering that she had been hiding from the officials and her handmaidens all afternoon.
"So, when are you going to tell him?" Jedi Nay seemed more than just curious.
"Are you coming to the banquet tonight? As the official representative of the Jedi Council here on Domus Prime, you should most likely be sitting at the head table near me. After all, every Queen needs to have a Jedi around to protect her." Sailor Coruscant grinned.
"I would be honoured to join you tonight, Your Majesty", Jedi Nay attempted to curtsy, but was laughing too hard.
The Great Hall of Fuhenteki Na Shiro was filled with people, all seemingly happy and enjoying themselves. The Queen had been forced to meet a great number of people from Domus Prime and the nearby world of Ishta Three, but the only one whose name she intended to remember was that of the Countess of Chikara, who still looked startlingly like the Queen herself. Tamira had matured in the years since the Queen had last met her, growing into a graceful lady with amazing manners. And yet, despite her sweet demeanour, there was a fire in Tamira's eyes that warned the Queen that the Countess was not a person to be trifled with.
Jedi Nay had arrived early, dressed in her full robes, with her lightsaber in plain view. She looked completely calm and at peace, although the Queen could sense that her nerves were strung very tight. It was obvious that despite her joking behaviour earlier, the Jedi expected trouble.
Sailor Coruscant was almost too nervous to eat, picking at the food set before her, only half-listening to the conversation at her table. The Grand Admiral had arrived only a few moments ago, but she had not yet spoken to him, knowing that the time was not yet right.
Jester came up to the head table, jugging a large number of coloured balls for the entertainment of the Court. Many were laughing and joking, but as she looked at the Jester's face, she saw there that he too seemed to be waiting for something. He moved on again, and she had to force herself to breathe.
Time passed, and after a while it occurred to Sailor Coruscant that the Grand Admiral once again seemed to be avoiding her, but this time there was something malicious to his silence. She was not in the best of moods to begin with, and this new slight just gave her one more reason to be glad that she would be done with him after this night.
After the last course had been cleared away, Jester came back, this time juggling three lightsabers to the gasps and cheers of the crowd. Sailor Coruscant reached out with her mind, and was amazed to realise that they were real weapons, not just dummy ones as she had half expected. Suddenly she was very worried for Jester. What if he dropped one? Something terrible could happen. She caught herself watching with her senses extended, ready to interfere if she had to, and forced herself to calm down. He would not be performing in front of everyone if he doubted his ability to do it safely.
The Queen stood, running a nervous hand through her hair. Further down the table, Jedi Nay followed suit. She walked over to where the Grand Admiral was seated, and touched his shoulder. "May I have a word with you?" Sailor Coruscant asked politely.
He was about to refuse, when something in her eyes made him change his mind. He nodded to his dinner companions, standing and walking some distance away before turning to face her. "What exactly do you want, Your Majesty?" He made the title an insult.
"I wished to discuss the status of Domus Prime's military with you." Her voice was level, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Jedi Nay watching them both.
"This is hardly the time or the place, and such matters are not your concern."
She smiled politely. "Actually, they are."
"No, Your Majesty, you have no control over the military. That is my domain, not yours, and I would appreciate it if you went back to your happy little party now." He started to walk back to the table, anger clouding his face.
"Do not turn your back on me." The Queen's voice was regal and commanding, her blue eyes flashing. He turned back, still not realising what she was about to do. "You are no longer in command of the Domus Prime Royal Forces, and I remove your rank as Grand Admiral. In case you have forgotten, dear", she patted his cheek sneeringly, and knocked down the hand that he was about to strike her with, "the Monarch of Domus Prime has absolute control over the Royal Forces, they belong to me, as do you. Now, the only question remains, which path do you want to follow? I wanted to banish you from Domus Prime, but I would much rather prefer it if you simply left, simply because I do not really want to publicly humiliate and disgrace you."
He laughed at her. "What makes you think that you could ever succeed with this lame ploy? The military will not simply shrug off my disappearance."
Jedi Nay started walking towards the two of them. "You see", the Queen began, making a gesture towards her, "I have the support of the Jedi in this matter. If you do not comply with my wishes, she can enforce the laws of Domus Prime, and have you imprisoned. Now, I took the liberty of booking you passage to Ishta Three, which leaves later tonight, and a small detachment of my Forces plan on escorting you to your ship. Someone with your military experience should be able to do well there, and if not than the money you embezzled from the Royal Treasury should last you a long while."
His face had drained of colour as he realised just what she was saying, and that she was serious about the charges she was placing before him. How she had found out about the money he had been taking, he did not know, but he was suddenly very worried. He raised a hand and struck the Queen, drawing his blaster. Jedi Nay was there in a second, and from the other side of the room, Jester threw one of his juggling lightsabers with deadly accuracy.
The Queen raised her right hand, holding her left one to her cheek in shock. The lightsaber stopped several centimetres from the former Grand Admiral's face, held in place by her will. All conversation in the Great Hall had stopped.
The blaster fell to the ground.
Sailor Coruscant took the lightsaber from the air, holding it pointed at him. "It would be easier on us all if you comply." Her voice was like ice, and there was a long moment of silence before he nodded. "Jedi Nay, would you please take this man from my presence, and make sure that he does follow my instructions? I would so hate it if he tried to misbehave again."
Jedi Nay smiled at the reasonable tone the Queen was employing. "Of course, Your Majesty. If this one tries again to escape, I will not hesitate to do all I must to protect you." Fingering her lightsaber, the Jedi took the former Grand Admiral by the shoulder, to walk him from the room.
The Queen turned off the lightsaber, turning to the population of the Great Hall who were watching with interest. "I am terribly sorry for the interruption", she said lightly, "please, continue with the festivities. We have much to celebrate tonight."
She walked over to Jester, handing him back the lightsaber. "Thank you", she whispered, suddenly feeling very tired.
"Nice catch, Your Majesty", he said jokingly. "Pity though. He might have made a nice wall ornament. So," Jester continued, looking over towards the door by which Jedi Nay had left, "have we seen the last of our delightful Grand Admiral?"
The Queen smiled. "I think so. Are you going to continue with your juggling now? You are really very good, especially that lightsaber trick."
"It's an old family tradition, but I think I've done enough for tonight."
She nodded, placing a hand on his arm. "Thank you again, my friend."
"No worries."
The Queen moved back to the head table, but did not remain there long, for she did not wish to sit and answer the questions of everyone in the Great Hall just yet. There would be time for explanations tomorrow, all she wanted to do tonight was sleep and recover.
The newly elected Queen of Domus Prime looked over the lists of possibilities for the position of Grand Admiral of the fleet. She knew that although many of the names on the list of the Royal Forces High Command were extremely qualified, none of them were the right person for the position. She still needed a new Grand Admiral though, after her dismembering of the Royal Forces when she first arrived on Domus Prime. She wanted someone in the position that she could get along with, who would respect her thoughts and opinions. She needed someone she could tolerate as a person as well.
Sitting on the uncomfortable throne, she was glad that they had left her alone for a while. Every time she turned around it seemed that someone wanted her authorisation for something, and then there was that matter about having to choose herself a full set of handmaidens. A tradition that, apparently, was very important to the people of Domus Prime. Her people now, she supposed, still trying to get used to the idea.
A muffled curse at the back of the room caused her to look up in surprise, as the Court Jester struggled with his latest attempt to juggle five dummy lightsabers. One of them had just slipped from his control, and fallen on his head, effectively killing him.
She smiled slightly, and walked over to him, trying to ignore her hair flowing loose around her knees. It felt so strange having it unbound, she was beginning to realise that there were a lot more unusual customs in this place than she had expected.
"You really should relax more", she told him as he hastily stood up. "Calm down, and do not try so hard. When you are at peace, then you will be able to manage every task you set yourself."
He looked up, taking note of her own ruffled appearance, and wondering what was so distressing the new Queen. He already knew that she had forgiven him, understanding that his previous actions had been for the good of Domus Prime.
Greatly daring, he grinned up at her, putting down the lightsabers and grabbing his rubber chicken from the floor. "So, why are you looking so depressed? Is being Queen too much for you?"
She considered hitting him over the head with her staff, before remembering that she was a Jedi, and supposed to have better manners than that. Instead she decided to confide in her strange little accomplice. "I need to find a new Grand Admiral for the Royal Forces", she told him, thinking again about any possible candidates for the job. She then remembered something about the Jester, "Do you know anyone who could so serve Domus Prime?"
He knew instantly, one thought flashing through his mind as if the Force had placed it there itself.
Although she was not consciously trying to eavesdrop, the Queen suddenly saw a face in the Jester's mind. 'Could it be?' she whispered softly in her own mind.
"I do know of someone", he said to her, "though I am not sure he will accept such a post. His name is The Riddler."
She smiled at Jester, running an idle hand through her hair. "Is he suited to the task?"
"I know of no one better. He is my best friend." There was a mischievous glint to Jester's eyes that made her suddenly wary but it faded as quickly as it appeared. He sighed loudly. "We served together for a time, and faced a number of battles. I can think of no one better for the Royal Forces."
Remembering when she first met the Riddler, Sailor Coruscant was more than a little worried about his past. Would someone who had been trained as a Dark Jedi be appropriate as the leader of the military? Or would his dark nature make him too unstable to be who she needed?
She sighed aloud, not voicing her worries, deciding to wait until after she spoke with him. She would not offend Jester by speaking her thoughts yet. She would be patient, and perhaps all her fears would be for nothing. She hoped so anyway.
"Your Majesty", Jester said in a cheerful voice, coming up behind her as she discussed a few minor details of the upcoming celebrations, "This is my friend, The Riddler, about whom we had been speaking a few days ago."
She turned around slowly, and immediately recognised the man who stood before her as the same one she had met six years earlier as he pulled back the hood of his cloak, which up until then had been hiding his face. His eyes were the same warm brown, and despite his military bearing she got the feeling that underneath he was still kind. His strong features had not aged at all, and she was she was glad that he would not recognise her.
He stood very tall, and though he wore no uniform, she knew immediately that he would be the perfect man to lead the Royal Forces. He carried a blaster at his side, and she realised then how lax the Royal Forces really were, that someone armed could come into the throne room. Then again, he looked like the type who would be admired by all in the Royal Forces, a natural leader. None would notice that he was armed, the weapon seemed to be a part of him. She wondered again why he had left the Temple, and if he still followed the Code.
"I am honoured to meet you", she said warmly, still looking at his eyes. As she glanced at them, she thought she saw a flash of sadness behind them, as ageless as the pain she herself always seemed to feel. The Queen realised that she was staring, and it was only her firm self-control that stopped her from blushing deeply.
He dropped to one knee before her, and lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing it softly. "It is I who am honoured, Your Majesty. Jester told me much about you, yet he never mentioned that you are the most stunning creature the Force ever revealed to mortal eyes."
She tried to keep her emotions from showing, to stop her thoughts, and yet she found herself smiling at his outrageous display. Realising what she was doing, she immediately smoothed her expression, making sure that it was as cold as the silence in her heart.
Sailor Coruscant looked over in the mirror, a little startled by what she saw. The face looking back was unfamiliar, and she wondered if this was who she really was inside. From the other side of the room Tamira smiled at her, and nodded encouragingly.
"Don't worry", she said with a toss of her hair, "I can take care of things this afternoon. Enjoy yourself."
How had she ever let them talk her into this? She was the Queen, not some handmaiden. It was her task to sit through the tedious political manoeuvring that took place within Fuhenteki Na Shiro, not Tamira's. Still, it would be good practice, just in case something happened. The books had said that this form of protection for the ruler of Domus Prime had been employed frequently in the past, although no one knew when it had last occurred.
Then again, she was not suited to the role of Queen either. She was a Jedi, and Jedi did not crave power. Still, she had managed to bring peace to Domus Prime, and that was what she had set out to do in leaving Coruscant. She felt a pang of longing at the thought of her home, and wished that she could at least contact her Master and talk with him. He would be able to tell her what she was to do to make things right again.
Tamira whisked from the room, Rei following behind. They were met outside by the other handmaidens, and she found herself alone for the first time since she had been crowned Queen. The silence was so refreshing that she decided to sit down and meditate, enjoying the calm. But she could not find her focus, her thoughts kept drifting off towards the problems that she was going to have to face as Queen.
She was so lonely here in the Palace, and she did not even know who she was anymore. She stood, deciding to go for a walk to clear her mind. She strapped her lightsaber to her belt, glad that in her current costume no one would question her right to carry the weapon, everyone knew that the handmaidens were the Queen's bodyguards and protectors.
The Palace seemed so sterile and cold as she walked the empty hallways. She remembered it being a lot more friendly when she had visited as a child. She wondered if Rei had asked one of the others to watch over her, but could detect no one following her as she wandered aimlessly.
She looked up suddenly, hearing the sounds of construction around her. She realised that she must be close to what The Riddler had decided to use as his rooms. She decided to see if he was about, she had wanted to talk with him since he had arrived. And it would be a good chance to test her disguise.
It was strange, she had recognised him as the same person she had met that afternoon so many years ago, but he had not seen her. She knew he probably did not remember that day, and even if he did there was no way he could recognise her as the young girl he had met. She could not have been more than ten years old at the time, and she wondered why that chance meeting had so affected her mind that she would still remember him.
She knocked politely on the door, and stood back, biting her lip nervously and trying to decide what she would say to him. From inside came a large crashing sound and a string of curses that made her cringe. Then the heavy door swung open, and she found herself staring down at her feet, not knowing what to do.
"Is something the matter, handmaiden?" he asked politely, and she looked up, taking in his clothing. Even in his own rooms he still wore the hooded cloak, keeping his face hidden. Once again she found herself wishing that she knew why he was so reluctant to show himself to them. Probably the same reason as why she wore the handmaiden's robes. People could not hurt you if they did not know who you really were. Maybe with time he would become more open.
She became aware that she was staring up at him, and blushed, taking a step backward. She searched for the right words to say, and stumbled when she did speak. "The Queen asked me to come and see how you were settling in to the Palace. If you are busy I will leave."
She looked down at her feet again, and he took a step towards her, placing one hand on her shoulder. He smiled at her, and she found herself smiling back nervously. "Do not look so worried, handmaiden. I will not harm you." Looking up at his tall form, she found herself doubting this.
There was another crashing sound and he looked back in annoyance, shaking his head at the droids that were fixing up the room. His eyes flashed with anger, and he walked from the room, shutting the door behind him. "Perhaps we can go somewhere a little more quiet and talk. My name is The Riddler."
She suddenly realised what she had forgotten. She could not call herself Hikari-No, he might remember that name and who she had been before, and she certainly would not identify herself as the Queen. That would mean that she never had any freedom. She panicked for a moment, and yet when the answer came to her, she found herself smiling.
"I am Catherine", she said, knowing that her friend would have approved.
The Riddler grinned at her, "That's a pretty name."
Catherine smiled in sudden happiness and release, as though the shadows which haunted her had left for a time, and she was truly at peace here in the company of the new Grand Admiral. And as she listened to the sound of the Force in her heart, she realised what she could hear was ice starting to crack.