Saché sipped her drink and waited for those wearing the scarves to make their move. She had been given no trouble at the door. The bouncer had allowed her in with a nod.
Her apprehension was growing. In the last week she had been trained in as much Covert Ops and spy tactics as Sabé and Lieutenant Uzza could cram into such a short frame of time. Even so, something told her that they did not think the few days that had been alloted were nearly enough to prepare her for the job ahead.
Sabé had cautioned her. "Remember, all you are to do is to gather information. Don't confront anyone, or try to be a heroine. If you are suspected or your person is threatened, hit the panic button and our people will retrieve you."
At the time, Saché had dismissed such advice. She even snorted at Sabé. "You, your father and Panaka have trained me. I'm qualified to be a bodyguard of the Queen herself, not to mention that I did quite well on Naboo during the invasion. Don't you trust me?"
Sabé had sighed. "Of course I do. So does Panaka and the Queen. That's why you're on this mission. But this is different from anything you've done before. Just be mindful of the dangers involved."
Sitting here in the bar with no one to turn to, Saché began to understand what her friend and trainer had been trying to tell her. Even when the Queen and Panaka had left with three of her teammates, she still had Yané as a companion and cohort. The enemy had been out in the open and one simply avoided them. Now, she had to opearate alone and act as a friend and compatriot to people that she despised. This wasn't going to be easy.
Dunyan entered the club and a path seemed to open up for him. He spotted her across the room, and made his way over.
"Hello again, pretty lady! On your own tonight?"
She flashed her most charming smile. "On my own? Not here. All my friends are here."
The leader looked impressed. "That's the spirit! I can see that you and I will get along just fine." He offered his arm.
As Saché took it and walked with Dunyan to the meeting room, she noticed envious stares from some of the young women they passed. She pondered the irony-she would give anything not to be with this man. She caught sight of a couple of Panaka's agents that had made it to the bar and would be nearby in case of trouble and that gave her brief comfort as she entered the back chamber.
Dunyan grinned at her as they moved to the front of the room. "I want to get to know you better. Let me get you a drink after the meeting."
Saché nodded. "I'd like that."
"What's your name? I know your nickname, but it's too familar for us just yet. What shall I call you?" Dunyan purred.
Saché's cheeks warmed as she felt the blush coming on. "Call me Chélynne."
"How lovely! Sit here, and I'll be with you soon," the charming leader said, indicating the same front row seat she had been in before, near his podium. She hadn't noticed before, but it must be a seat of privilege. She glanced around before sitting and caught a few dark looks thrown her way.
She took a deep breath, and pushed her fears to the background. She had to focus on what she was here to do. She called upon her new skills to observe this event and recall it in exact detail later.
It was clear that Dunyan's charisma remained strong. He continued his condescending oration on the relationship between the Gungans and Amidala's administration. He reiterated his disapproval of the imminent treaty, scorned how it would take money away from the Naboo, and that the races would inevitably begin to mix, with Gungans living in Theed, and Naboo migrating to Otoh Gunga. He promised guidance from the Queen they should have had all along, and that she would be a ruler that would let the entire Republic know that their race was not to be underestimated. The audience cheered as they had before.
Many details of this meeting were similar to the last, but Saché sensed subtle differences. The room appeared to contain more occupants this time. She noticed a slight edge that had not been in Dunyan's voice before. He seemed a bit more threatening and less benevolent.
Saché began to wonder how far he could go and still rally the people in the way he was able to now. She considered for a moment what a shame it was for him and all of Naboo that he wasted his talent in an evil and racist pursuit. Realizing that it distracted her from her task, she pushed the notion away, and returned to her job.
Dunyan was wrapping up his presentation. "And next week, I'll have special guests. Our movement is growing, slowly, but surely. Our first representatives from outside of Theed will be present!"
The sick feeling returned to the pit of her stomach as Dunyan descended to meet with his followers. She kept her cool and waited patiently for him to finish mingling and rejoin her.
Her apprehension was growing. In the last week she had been trained in as much Covert Ops and spy tactics as Sabé and Lieutenant Uzza could cram into such a short frame of time. Even so, something told her that they did not think the few days that had been alloted were nearly enough to prepare her for the job ahead.
Sabé had cautioned her. "Remember, all you are to do is to gather information. Don't confront anyone, or try to be a heroine. If you are suspected or your person is threatened, hit the panic button and our people will retrieve you."
At the time, Saché had dismissed such advice. She even snorted at Sabé. "You, your father and Panaka have trained me. I'm qualified to be a bodyguard of the Queen herself, not to mention that I did quite well on Naboo during the invasion. Don't you trust me?"
Sabé had sighed. "Of course I do. So does Panaka and the Queen. That's why you're on this mission. But this is different from anything you've done before. Just be mindful of the dangers involved."
Sitting here in the bar with no one to turn to, Saché began to understand what her friend and trainer had been trying to tell her. Even when the Queen and Panaka had left with three of her teammates, she still had Yané as a companion and cohort. The enemy had been out in the open and one simply avoided them. Now, she had to opearate alone and act as a friend and compatriot to people that she despised. This wasn't going to be easy.
Dunyan entered the club and a path seemed to open up for him. He spotted her across the room, and made his way over.
"Hello again, pretty lady! On your own tonight?"
She flashed her most charming smile. "On my own? Not here. All my friends are here."
The leader looked impressed. "That's the spirit! I can see that you and I will get along just fine." He offered his arm.
As Saché took it and walked with Dunyan to the meeting room, she noticed envious stares from some of the young women they passed. She pondered the irony-she would give anything not to be with this man. She caught sight of a couple of Panaka's agents that had made it to the bar and would be nearby in case of trouble and that gave her brief comfort as she entered the back chamber.
Dunyan grinned at her as they moved to the front of the room. "I want to get to know you better. Let me get you a drink after the meeting."
Saché nodded. "I'd like that."
"What's your name? I know your nickname, but it's too familar for us just yet. What shall I call you?" Dunyan purred.
Saché's cheeks warmed as she felt the blush coming on. "Call me Chélynne."
"How lovely! Sit here, and I'll be with you soon," the charming leader said, indicating the same front row seat she had been in before, near his podium. She hadn't noticed before, but it must be a seat of privilege. She glanced around before sitting and caught a few dark looks thrown her way.
She took a deep breath, and pushed her fears to the background. She had to focus on what she was here to do. She called upon her new skills to observe this event and recall it in exact detail later.
It was clear that Dunyan's charisma remained strong. He continued his condescending oration on the relationship between the Gungans and Amidala's administration. He reiterated his disapproval of the imminent treaty, scorned how it would take money away from the Naboo, and that the races would inevitably begin to mix, with Gungans living in Theed, and Naboo migrating to Otoh Gunga. He promised guidance from the Queen they should have had all along, and that she would be a ruler that would let the entire Republic know that their race was not to be underestimated. The audience cheered as they had before.
Many details of this meeting were similar to the last, but Saché sensed subtle differences. The room appeared to contain more occupants this time. She noticed a slight edge that had not been in Dunyan's voice before. He seemed a bit more threatening and less benevolent.
Saché began to wonder how far he could go and still rally the people in the way he was able to now. She considered for a moment what a shame it was for him and all of Naboo that he wasted his talent in an evil and racist pursuit. Realizing that it distracted her from her task, she pushed the notion away, and returned to her job.
Dunyan was wrapping up his presentation. "And next week, I'll have special guests. Our movement is growing, slowly, but surely. Our first representatives from outside of Theed will be present!"
The sick feeling returned to the pit of her stomach as Dunyan descended to meet with his followers. She kept her cool and waited patiently for him to finish mingling and rejoin her.