Echoes of the Past
Estellio
Rating: Pg-13 (T)
Summary: Luke watches as an all too familiar pattern unfolds. Fear, love, anger, hate, death. Can he learn from his mistakes and stop what is happening or is the past doomed to be repeated and the republic plunged back into war?
IOIOIO
On board Amidala, Two days after the attack.
By the time Risha had finished pinning her hair up into the ornate Senatorial headdress, Ryan and Ariot had finished mapping out the finer details of the plan, having met three hours ago when Ariot tried to throttle Ryan to get her shoes back, he merely force pushed her away and held her in place until she had calmed down enough for them to talk business. If Ariot hadn't hated him before she really hated him now.
Risha, however, was blissfully unaware and was just finished straightening the pearl headdress her dark red hair was weaved through. When she looked in the mirror she smiled triumphantly. Without her handmaiden to do the back it had been a struggle that had taken an hour longer than usual but she had done it, and apart from a small wisp that curled in front of her ear, her hair looked damn good. Reaching for the makeup to one side she began to the task of applying her 'face'. Ryan had painstakingly had the ship prepared for her to give on her birthday which was only a week away. He had several Keryian gowns and headdresses in the closet and a full makeup table for her disposal. He had mentioned something about Ariot's uniform before leaving but she hadn't really been listening. She was applying the blue powder to her eyelids when the door whooshed open.
"We'll be arriving on Coruscant in the hour, Senator." Ariot reported and Risha nodded in the mirror.
"Very good, did you radio ahead to the Palace to inform them where we are?"
"I contacted Talen, yes." Risha put the eye shadow away and retrieved the lip brush and a pot of dark blue paint, she turned to speak to Ariot and her jaw dropped. Ariot's usually unruly and spiky hair was swept back from her pretty, elfin face and instead of the functional, red and blue grubby uniform she usually sported she was wearing a classic cut, black and gold trimmed tunic that cut off mid thigh to reveal black pants that led down to soft, thin black boot that reached to her knees and was trimmed with gold, the Keryian symbol stitched onto the front.
"Where did you get that?" She asked, regaining her composure.
"Ryan, it seems, ordered a bunch of guards tunics so that we wouldn't have to land on Coruscant until the ball."
"…He knew your size?"
"I know, creepy." Risha grinned.
"He probably used his Jedi powers to take your measurements or something." Ariot snorted.
"Maybe the Jedi would be more suited as Tailors then. He probably just hacked my file."
"They have your dress size there?" Ariot shrugged, picking up a small pot of rouge. "If you want I'll do your makeup." At these words Ariot threw the pot back down as if burnt.
"Trust me, I'm fine. I just came to tell you that we'll be arriving at Coruscant soon." Risha nodded.
"This is a fast little ship, considering her age….you said you contacted Talen. How is he?" Ariot paused, half way to the door.
"He was a little worried but he's fine."
"For me or you?"
"What?"
"Was he worried for me or you." Ariot threw her eyes skyward.
"I am his superior officer! There is nothing going on between us, despite what you may believe. Can't a man and a woman just be friends?" Risha chuckled to herself, picking up a thin chain and attaching it to each ear, letting it fall along the bridge of her nose and dropping tiny marine gems against her cheeks. With a shake of her head Ariot left muttering 'women'
"Ah yes, I forgot you don't drop into that category." Ryan said and she turned to face him, leaning against the bulkhead beside the door.
"Would you stop creeping up on me you creepy bastard." She muttered.
"May I draw your attention to the time I hit you in the groin area when I threw something at you and you exclaimed."
"LET IT GO RYAN!" She shouted, clearly displeased. "It was a slip of the bloody tongue."
"Not the only one and that wasn't what you said at all." He said, following her down the hall.
"Not that it's any of your business but yes, I am the female of my specie."
"…And they have nuts?"
"Why not?" She sighed exasperatedly, tossing her arms into the air.
"You really have to learn to lighten up. I wanted to talk to you about what happened in the hangar bay the night before last." She paused, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Yes, I wanted to know what happened when the Zabrak took a shot at you." Ariot shrugged.
"He didn't, a destroyer droid got to him first." She began to walk away again but Ryan caught her arm, spinning her around and causing her fist to connect solidly with his jaw, throwing him off balance. "Next time, think before you grab." She snarled and moved to walk away.
"Don't turn you back on me!" She flipped him off behind her back as she made her way to her cabin. Ryan reached out with the force to grab her but she turned to the corner that led to Engineering swiftly. He ran down after her and as he turned the corner her boot connected with his solar plexus, winding him. With a wheeze of breath he double over and took the opportunity to ram her in the stomach with his head, knocking both him and her to the floor. Immediately she grabbed a fistful of his hair and tried to slam his head into the bulkhead but he caught her wrist, slamming his palm into her chin to snap her head back and tossed her a few feet away.
She leapt to her feet and drew her blaster, levelling it at his chest. He lay on the floor, his arms wide and a smile on his face.
"Oh please." He began. "What are you going to do with that?" She shot and heard the hum of a lightsaber as, with seconds to spare, he deflected it back onto the bulkhead. "Are you crazy? That was a kill shot!"
"I should be so lucky." She grumbled, holstering the weapon and turning back the way she came.
"What are you hiding?" He asked, getting to his feet, lightsaber still ignited. A hand went to her vibroblade, just in case Ryan's rage got the best of him.
"I'm not hiding anything." She snapped. "Maybe you're the one who's hiding."
"What's that supposed to mean? Don't talk in riddles to me." Her eyes narrowed but she didn't speak. They stood that way for several minutes, staring at each other. "What happened? I want to know."
"I told you, a Destroyer Droid shot him."
"Bull! The destroyer droids were all knocked out by the blast and you know it."
"You must have missed one."
"I didn't, but I didn't miss the lightsaber on the floor either." Ariot tensed. "Did you use it?"
"I can't use a lightsaber, only Jedi can."
"…You're force sensitive, aren't you?" Ryan reached out with the force, probing Ariot to find some trace of the force. The sliver he found was not enough to proclaim her a Jedi though she was more sensitive than most. She wouldn't be able to use a lightsaber and definitely wouldn't be able to call it from the workbench. Perhaps it gave her that sixth sense she boasted but Ariot was no Jedi. "If you didn't use the lightsaber, who did?"
"No one, it was probably knocked off in the blast. Did you think of that? I'm telling you, Ryan, you see conspiracy theories everywhere. It was a droideka. That's my story and I'm sticking to it." He nodded.
"Alright." He paused a moment. "I'm sorry." She started on the spot, clearly shocked.
"What?"
"I'm not saying it again." He snapped.
"…Apology accepted, I suppose I owe you one too." He looked up, waiting for it. "I'll write down an IOU later." She walked away, her boots making no noise on the deck plating. Ryan rubbed his jaw ruefully.
"She mightn't be a Jedi but she sure packs one hell of a punch."
IOIOIO
The Senatorial gala, that night.
Senator Neka Rin nodded to the Elosian Senators who bowed deeply, their blue heads dipping down to several inches above his head. The nine foot, slender aliens continued on and he resumed his scan of the room. Ykar had promised Risha would be at the gala but an hour in she was still a no show.
"Presenting Senator P'fusalek of Andorla." He looked up to see the aqua skinned Senator crawl down the steps on his four, stilt like legs with his chief aide clicking madly at him as they walked together.
"Senator Rin." He turned to face Keghan, the Iridonian Senator and her bodyguard, a rather large, imposing Zabrak.
"Senator, a pleasure. Thank you for your support in the Senate on Friday, if it were not for the Iridonian influence I am sure the bill would not have been passed and an unnecessary drain would have been put on Republican Resources." The female Zabrak nodded.
"You are a man with much influence, we expect your support in upcoming debates, in fact…we're counting on it." Her voice dropped low and threatening towards the end and Neka swallowed fitfully.
A young, yellow skinned Twi'lek passed by with a tray of champagne flutes and he grabbed one, downing it immediately as the Zabraks moved on. The Twi'lek smiled at him and weaved her way through the crowds, into the back room.
Ryan sat up on the counter with her legs stretching across the narrow passage to rest on the opposite counter.
"That can't be hygienic." The Twi'lek said disapprovingly, slapping her legs down and placing the tray in their place.
"Hey, Fa'rel, did you give it to him?" Fa'rel nodded and put out her hand for payment. Ryan pulled out a roll of Credits and slapped it into her waiting palm. "I knew I could count on you, you never let me down." He patted the Twi'lek on the head and Fa'rel scowled at him, jerking her head away and running a hand over her lekku.
"What did he do to you, anyway?" She asked, straightening the golden lattice she had covering each lekku.
"Oh, not much, tried to kill a friend. Anyway, Risha is waiting to make her grand entry so I better get back. Oh! Are those éclairs?" He made a swipe for one of the creamy buns but Fa'rel slapped his hand away.
"You're fat enough as it is, you don't need an éclair."
"Hey! I'm not fat!" He protested, putting a hand on his stomach. "Now give me that damn cake!" He made a second swipe but a larger hand slapped down on his. The four armed chef glared at him.
"Are you meant to be in here?"
"…No?" Two of his large hands grabbed him and he thrashed in his grip. "Hey! You'll wrinkle the suit! Put me down!" Ryan complained as he was unceremoniously thrown out the back door. It was only divine intervention that he missed the large pile of garbage and he got to his feet, relatively clean and unwrinkled. The alley was empty apart from himself and a Gungan who was making his way towards him.
"Ryan!" Exclaimed the Gungan upon seeing him and throwing his arms around Ryan. "I'sa not seen you in ages, howsa you been doin'!"
"Fine, and how are you?" Ryan said, trying to extract himself from the Gungan's crushing grip.
"I am finishing a jobsa. Very good pay." Replied the Gungan who was also a bounty hunter.
"Really, what do you have to do maybe I can help an old friend?" Ryan offered as they made their way along the street.
"I wouldn't tell most people, but yousa I trust. I am killing a senator in de gala!" Boasted the Gungan, puffing up his chest. This caught Ryan's interest.
"Really who?"
"A woman named Risha Y'darb, do yousa know her?" Asked Wagga.
"You know what, I do. Come with me we need to talk." Ryan cracked his knuckles and pulled the Gungan a little further down the alley.
IOIOIO
Smoothing her tunic with her hands, Ariot finished her rounds. She had checked the balconies over looking the gala hall and found no trace of anyone who'd want to kill anyone. She would have Talen do the rounds while the gala was on, but right now she had report back to Risha so they could actually get into the Gala. Weaving her way through the dignitaries and security she saw Talen and Kolan standing outside the doors. Kolan let out a low wolf whistle, stroking his snout.
"Heta Morsa, Captain." She gave him a clip upside of the head, she was uncomfortable enough as it was in the damn flashy uniform with them adding to it.
"Watch your mouth." She warned, placing her I.D. against the scanner that allowed her entry. Talen winked at her as she stepped inside and she shook her head. Risha was inside with her two Senatorial Aides and a quick glance spotted Ryan in the corner looking uncomfortable. Ariot nodded to the two guards inside the doors, she didn't recognise either of them but stripes on their cuffs identified them as Ensigns.
"Senator, when you are ready." She said, straightening her sword belt. Ryan looked up at Ariot's voice.
"Finished?" He asked and at Ariot's affirmative nod he grinned, kicking off from where he was leaning against the wall and striding over to Risha. "Shall we?" He asked, proffering his elbow which she took, smiling. The sheer blue gown she wore was on the verge of being scandalous and wasn't one of her own. Ariot guessed Ryan had gotten it for her and wondered just how platonic their relationship was if he was buying her that sort of garment. He himself was dressed up to the nines, as they say on Keryian. He sported a crisp black shirt and pants and his long hair was swept back into a pony tail that hung low and barely reached his shoulders. Ariot trailed them as they made their way to the hall.
"Ryan, your knuckles, they're all bruised." Risha gasped, grabbing his hand and holding it up to examine it.
"I had a little…run in, with an old friend." Ariot snorted.
"If that's how you treat your friends, I'd hate to be your enemy."
"You are." She pulled a face at him as they came to stand at the top of the stairs.
"Senator Risha Y'darb of Kereys and High Kunan Ryan of Serebous." Risha said to the announcer as he finished announcing the presence of the Kamino.
"You're not a High Kunan." Ariot protested and Ryan grinned.
"I saved the Kings life and he pronounced me one, I've got the medallion and everything so chew it!" He said, smirking. As they were announced and made their way down the stairs, Ariot spotted Neka in a blue robe, leaning against a pillar off to one side and pointed him out to Ryan. Neka didn't seem too lucid, he smiled. Fa'rel was right on the job as usual, not that Ryan doubted her for a second anyway.
"Risha, we heard you had been kidnapped." A jolly, well fed man stepped forward, his moustache wiggling jovially as he spoke. Risha recognised him as the Dantooine Senator and smiled broadly.
"Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I was in fact attacked by three bounty hunters. If it wasn't for Ryan here I would have been doomed." Ariot cleared her throat loudly. "And of course the diligence of Captain Ariot." Senator Perry turned and gave Ryan the once over.
"You don't look like a Kunan." He said gruffly. "You ain't purple for one and ya ain't got no antennae."
"I'm not a Kunan, I was awarded an honorary position for saving the Kings like in a coup d'état." Perry nodded appreciatively.
"Ah yes, I heard about that. Messy businesses coups. Hmm…I've heard of you before. You're a Bounty Hunter, ain'cha?" Ryan shook his head.
"No, no. I'm an antique's dealer, specialising in Jedi and Old Republic Artefacts." Perry laughed, a rumbling laugh that emanated from his round stomach and caused his whole body to shake.
"Right, right. Must be off though, I have important business with the Korriban delegates. If you'll excuse me." Ryan watched him go with a scowl.
"I don't like him." He said, his eyes narrowing.
"I do, a jolly old fellow." Risha said, taking a flute of champagne. Her eyes scanned for Neka and Ariot indicated where he was with a nod of her head.
"Shall we go over and say hello?"
"Why don't you socialise. Crabapple and I will take care of Neka." Risha nodded and moved off to speak to the Kamino delegates.
"What did you just call me?" Ariot asked, scowling at him as they made their way over. Ryan ignored her, instead coming to stand directly in front of Neka and drawing himself up to look his most intimidating.
"Senator Rin, I have some things I wish to discuss with you, would you care to move to a more private venue?" Neka looked up, his eyes slightly gazed.
"Wha'?" Ariot took a firm hold of his elbow under the pretence of slipping her arm through it. Ryan chatted conversationally to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to steer him down one of the side corridors off the main hall. Before they ducked into the room two soldiers marched past with a rather beat up Gungan held between them who was babbling incoherently. A medic rushed forward.
"What happened?" The young medic asked.
"We found him outside, badly beat up." The guard reported and the Gungan turned to look their way.
"Uhoh." Ryan breathed, ducking his head as he passed.
"That's why your knuckles are bruised." Ariot hissed. "You should be ashamed! He's tiny!"
"I had my reasons." Ryan mumbled, pushing Neka into the boardroom ahead of him. The Senator stumbled a few steps before falling onto one of the chairs surrounding the large, clear glass table.
"What the hell warranted that beating?"
"Well…I was heading to the reception and I met him and…he was boasting that he was going to kill a Senator. I asked him who and he said Risha so I sorted him out."
"…You've got to be kidding me, what are the chances of that?" Ryan shrugged.
"Listen, we've more important things to be worrying about. Lets finish up with Neka quickly." Ryan said, turning to the Senator. Ariot shifted from foot to foot behind him.
"Ryan, if someone hired this Gungan guy, there could be other people hired. I don't think we should leave Risha alone. You go out and take care of her. I'll do this." Ryan shook his head.
"If you're so worried, you go out."
Unbeknownst to them, while they were arguing, a man up on the balcony was peering through his gun scope, the crosshairs aligned with Risha's head.
"Bye, bye Senator."
IOIOIO
Name: Wagga Tang
Age: 18
Home planet: Naboo
Occupation: Mercenary.
Hair: None
Eyes: Yellow
Height: 6 1"
Marital Status: Single.
Basic history: Wagga was born on Naboo but captured by slave traders at an early age. He was brought to the outer rim and set to work there for many years until the Republic seized his worlds and freed the slaves. With little else for him to do he decided to become a man for hire doing odd jobs which eventually led him to becoming a bounty hunter of sorts. Although not the most accomplished or skilled Wagga has an impressive record for getting the job done.
Personality: Wagga is blind in one eye so his aim is somewhat skewed and balance less than prefect but a lifetime of living like this has given him his own sort of clumsy grace and style. He comes across as a regular, easy going Gungan with a flair for the dramatic and an uncanny warrior sense but he is often slow in piecing together problems or taking action. Working on the outer rim for years made him strong, durable and an excellent judge of character. If he deems you worthy then he'll be your most loyal friend for life, if not then he'll probably kill you.