The Ebon Hawk glided down to the planet below, Coruscant. The citywide planet glinted as she made her decent farther into the atmosphere. Great solar panels sucked up the suns warmth and thousands of vehicles clogged the airways. The Ebon Hawk swooped into the traffic and headed for the docking port where she set down. The crew of the Ebon Hawk walked out, dragging some gear. A Rodian greeted them and lead them off to their VIP courtiers.
Revan watched the traffic swoop by overhead as the Rodian lead them off. Lights glinted off the hundreds of buildings in the morning sun. Later that evening the official Ceremony would take place. Hundreds of people would be watching them, and many more watching it over broadcasts and com channels, Revan groaned. Thankfully very few people outside her group of friends, with the exception of the Jedi Council, knew who she really was. While she was out in public she would be going by her other name, Takera.
Arriving at the diplomatic hotel the manager jumped to greet them. He wore a dress suit and his green head-tails twitched with excitement.
"It is an honor to have you all here," he took a bow, "I do hope you will find your stay satisfactory. If you will allow me I will show you were all our services are."
Leading the unusual group off he showed them were the spa was. Mission eyed Zaalbar with an amused expression, as Zaalbar eyed the water distastefully. The Twi-lek manager also showed them where their top of the line restraunt was. And finally he led them off to their rooms. Gratefully the group split off into their individual rooms and got down to unpacking for the moment.
HK-47 had insisted on guarding the door of Revan's room and finally Revan agreed as long as he didn't shoot everyone that knocked on her door. Revan was grateful that she would be able to wear Jedi robes to the ceremony.
"Thank goodness I won't have to wear a dress," Revan thought.
She spread out her clothes and stood back, surveying them, "I think I'll wear those blue robes, the brown can be so dull."
She folded up the other clothes, and stuffed them in a container near her bed. She also packed a few other items away; a blaster, a data pad containing a novel, and she also set a communicator on the desk in her room.
Revan smiled, "hmmm they have a spa here, I think I will go relax for a while before that ceremony."
Apparently Mission, Juhani and Bastila all had the same idea as Revan. Revan smiled at the other three ladies, "We all seem to be running on the same wave length."
"It would appear so," Juhani commented.
"I think some relaxing will do us all some good, especially before tonight," Mission noted.
"I completely agree, I've heard a lot of reporters will be attending tonight," Grimaced Revan.
The four ladies headed toward the spa, smiling and chatting warmly. When they arrived at the spa a female Twi'lek lead them off to the changing rooms. Revan changed into a blue bathing suit and then got into a hot tub.
"Ahhh," Revan thought as she closed her eyes.
Revan abruptly opened her eyes when she was splashed with a wave of water. Mission had apparently leapt into the hot tub and was grinning at Revan impishly.
"Hey, mind your manners," Revan chuckled.
Mission laughed and splashed Revan again. Revan grinned back and with a wave of her hand Mission was sucked under the water.
"Hey, no fair," Mission commented when she surfaced.
Revan stuck her tongue out at Mission, who only laughed some more. Bastila eyed Revan and Mission like they were naughty children, "Takera, your not suppose to use the Force so frivolously." Revan only laughed some more.
"It is good to hear her laughing though," Bastila thought as she eased herself into the warm water. Juhani appeared and jumped into the water splashing Revan, Mission, and Bastila. Bastila shook her head and laughed.
******
Revan sighed as she watched herself in the mirror, "Well I guess it's time to leave then."
She tugged a spot on the blue Jedi robe she was wearing, and then fastened her twin light sabers on her belt, hiding them within her robe. She watched her expression, schooling herself into that blank, no-emotion look that would be expected of her. She sighed again and headed out of her room, but was stopped by HK-47.
"Commentary: Master you can't go to this meat bag feast without me… there might be other meat bags wishing to harm you."
Revan sighed as she watched the droid, "I know, but the council asked that you remain here. They are afraid you will go blasting everyone that gets too close."
"Objection: I would never disobey an order from you! It's not within my programming, however I feel the risk is too high for me not to accompany you."
T3-M4 chirped up at HK-47, Revan sighed, "Seems I'm outnumber, alright you can come but first put your blasters on stun, and second no shooting random people."
HK-47 sighed and agreed, "at least I'm coming," he mused.
Revan walked out into the hall with HK-47 right behind her. She met up with Bastila and Mission in the hallway. Bastila was also wearing her Jedi robes, and Mission was wearing a very pretty blue-gray dress.
Revan smiled, "Where's everyone else?"
"They are waiting for us in the front," Bastila answered, stopping she eyed HK-47, "I thought he was going to stay here?"
Revan tilted her head slightly, "He was but he insisted on coming, don't worry I'll make sure he behaves."
"The council won't be very happy… but maybe he can keep an eye out for unwanted guests," Bastila sighed.
"Very good, but we shouldn't keep the others waiting," Revan motioned to the front of the hotel.
They walked out to the front of the hotel were a speeder was waiting to take them to the diplomatic council chambers. Revan stared at the sight, Carth and Canderious were wearing full dress uniforms. Carth in his republic dress uniform, many medals planted on his chest. His boots were perfectly shinned and his white uniform pressed. Canderious was wearing the Mandalorian equivalent of a dress uniform, the insignia of his clan pressed into his collar. Juhani and Jolee were wearing clean, pressed, Jedi robes, and Zaalbar looked somewhat… brushed.
"Dang…" thought Revan wistfully, "The reports are going to go crazy when they see us."
"Can I drive," Revan winked.
Jolee laughed, "No way, I know how you youngsters go zipping around, and you're the worst of that lot."
"Besides we already have a driver," Commented Carth.
"Very well…" Revan commented as she made her way over to the covered speeder.
Everyone piled into the speeder and tried to make them selves comfortable as it took off. It zipped up into the air and merged with the traffic heading north. It was now late afternoon and the sun hung low in the sky. The traffic continued on a steady pace, high above the planet's surface. Revan watched out the window at the passing speeders, transports and other vehicles. The speeder gently veered off to the right and approached a large, important looking building.
Com-chatter buzzed over the speeders intercom as the pilot spoke into the communicator, "Yes, I'm bringing them to the Ceremony tonight."
Several armed escorts appeared to the right and left of the speeder as they approached the building. It high domed ceiling glinting in the sunlight as the speeder landed on the docking platform.
"This way," a dress up man called to the unusual crew, motioning with his hands.
He lead them off into a large chamber, several important people were already milling about the refreshments. The guild left the crew to go wondering about till the formalities started.
Revan cast her eyes about the chamber, she could spot several reporters hanging about, and who knows how many there were that couldn't be identified easily.
"Well, I guess we should go and chat before the real ceremony gets started," Carth commented, Canderious snorted.
Mission lead Zaalbar off to the refreshment stand, Revan chuckled as she watched several people almost choke on their drinks as the wookie walked by. Several reports noticed the new group and rushed forward, stuffing holo cams in their faces. Revan blinked several times, almost blinded by the cams lights.
A women walked over and brushed the reports off, "Please, no questions until after the ceremonies," She smiled at Carth and Revan; Canderious had somehow made himself scarce.
Carth stiffened and saluted the women, "Admiral Dodonna, what a pleasure."
"Please, at ease Carth," Dodonna waved a hand.
The admiral just then noticed the assassin droid hovering over Revan, "What is he doing here?" She asked
"He insisted on coming, stating that it was "too dangerous" for me to go with him."
"Objection: But it is master!! What if some meat bag assassin decided to take a shot at you!"
The good Admiral raised an eyebrow, "Meat bag?"
"It's a long story," Revan smiled.
The Admiral sighed, "Very well, but please find a secluded corner for him, I really don't want him scaring all the guests."
"Of course," Revan commented, dragging HK-47 off into a dark corner.
Carth and Dodonna exchanged a brief glance, "Interesting women," she commented.
"Very…" Carth smiled.
The Admiral noticed the slight inflection, the tenderness with which he said "very" and smiled to herself…"But she's Jedi… and Revan," she mused inwardly.
"Well, I should go check and see when we will starts," the Admiral smiled to Carth, Carth nodded.
After a few more formalities the official ceremony started.
"I wish to thank you all for being here to honor the Heroes of the republic; Jolee Bindo, Juhani, Zaalbar, Carth Onasi, Takera Jast, Mission Vao, Canderious Ordo, HK-47, and T3-M4. Your actions have saved the Republic and broken the spirit of the Sith." Admiral Dodonna's clear voice echoed throughout the chamber. Holo cams were everywhere and holo cameras flashed. "For your action's I wish to bestow the Cross of Glory on you all," The Admiral walked down the line and placed the medal upon each of the group, "The highest honor the Republic can give." Cheers rose up from the crowd on onlookers. "From Coruscant to the outer rim you all will be known as Heroes." The Admiral smiled at the motley group.
Master Vandar walked up to the group, and raised his hands; "The Jedi council would also like to honor you for your actions." There was more applause from the onlookers. Revan smiled as she watched Master Vandar, but she felt a slight twitch on the Force, a small itch. She carefully scanned the room, not letting her expression show her worked.
HK-47 was scanning the room; he was on full alert to any plot, and deception that would injure his Master. He looked over at Revan and noticed a tiny red dot dance on her chest… before anyone could react her jumped forward, startling a number of people and put himself in-between the crowd and Revan. He pointed his blasters at a small window at the top on the domed roof and fired. The onlookers screamed and dropped to the floor, there was the shatter of glass and a body fell heavily onto the hard floor. More people dived out of the way as guards rushed forward, half to the body and the other half at HK-47.
"What in the world," Revan gasped as she pushed past HK-47 who was blocking his way. She noticed that Juhani and Jolee had their light sabers in hand.
HK-47 moved forward again, placing himself between her and the guards that were rushing forward, "Threat: Touch the Master and I will blast you to smithereens!"
"Its ok HK-47," Revan placed a hand on the druids shoulder. She walked past the guard, who were giving her plenty of room now, and examined the body, "A Sith assassin…" she breathed, eyeing the black figure.
A special sniping blaster lay on the ground nearby. Reporters were crowding in, and the rest of the crew shoved past to get a good look at the would-be assassin. Some of the Jedi Masters also come forward, trying to restore order. Revan eyed the red droid who fidgeting nervously, obviously not happy with the crowding.
Revan caught Dodonna's arm, "I think its time we made a quick exit, and possible time to call off the ceremony."
The Admiral agreed, knowing Revan's reputation for quick, deceive and very intelligent decisions, one reason she was a military genius. Dodonna called to several guards and ordered them to start escorting guests to their respective vehicles. Revan rounded up her friends and they headed out to the docking bay.
Upon reaching the bay Revan stopped short, eyeing the Speeder, "I think it would be wise if we take a different one, and also have the guards examine this one," she pointed to the large speeder.
"Sounds like a wise choice," Canderious snorted, "Wouldn't surprise me if that assassin attached a bomb to this one."
"There could be more than one assassin," commented Carth, "why did that one choose Revan as a target…" Carth shuddered at that thought.
Juhani returned with several guards in tow, "They told me we should take this other speeder," Juhani commented, pointing to another room, "However our driver can't be found."
"Oh good," grinned Revan.
"Oh no," groaned Jolee, several others groaned also.
Revan folded her arms over her chest, "What is there something wrong with my driving skills."
Carth grimaced, "No… for a swoop racer."
Revan winked at Carth, "Good, that settles that, I get to drive."
Jolee shrugged, and followed Revan to the other Speeder. Revan was examining it closely, "It seems alright." She hoped in the drivers seat and smiled at her companions who filed into the large, covered back.
The speeder zoomed out of the docking bay at break neck speed, several people were protesting in the back.
"Revan! Slow down!" Carth yelled, Canderious starting laughing.
Revan slowed the speeder down and merged with the outgoing traffic. She skillfully handled the speeder, just as she had handled her swoop bike on so many tracks. She wasn't sector Swoop Bike champion for nothing. Off they flew, heading for the hotel.