Disclaimer: George Lucas owns Star Wars
A Shift in the Force: Royal Ball of Aldera
AN: I guess that death was a bit surprising, but Siri's death is rather important in a few chapters. And there was a lot of disappointment about Sabé and Obi-Wan's moment, but don't worry, their relationship is a 'slow burn' for a reason.
Sabé's next mission, unfortunately, would be putting her in close proximity to Obi-Wan. Normally that wasn't much of an issue, given how in control of her feelings towards him she was, but she'd slipped. There had been a moment of weakness when they'd both been in the apartment at 500 Republica and Sabé had almost kissed him.
Kissing hadn't embarrassed Sabé in years; she'd kissed more than her fair share of beings, and Silon was rather fond of receiving her kisses. But the near miss had embarrassed her more than she'd care to admit, especially since she doubted that he felt the same way.
Their next mission would take them and their padawans to Alderaan to attend the Royal Ball of Aldera under the aliases of the King and Queen of Cortella, Sol and Kyra, with Anakin and Talik acting the part of their adopted children, Ras and Rika, in order to ascertain if the rumors of an assassination attempt against the Alderaan Royal Family was fact or falsehood.
It wasn't the idea of playing the part of Obi-Wan that made her the most nervous, it was the dancing, after all, it was a ball, and Sabé's skill was abysmal.
"Just step with me."
"I'm trying, I'm trying."
Kit was rather bemused with a hand resting at her hip, the other clasping hers. Both he and Aayla were far better dancers than Sabé, a fact that amused them, but Aayla's kind were known for being exceptional dancers, and it didn't take much for anyone to be better than Sabé in that area.
"How is it that you can handle deep cover without any exit strategy but completely flake on dancing?" he asked lightly as the soft music hummed around them and Sabé tried to keep her eyes on her feet, making sure they were going where they were supposed to.
"It's a singular talent, I'm sure," Sabé muttered through gritted teeth before stepping back, releasing his hand as she did so. "You know what, maybe I'm just not cut out to be a dancer."
"I find that hard to believe," Aayla drawled from the wall, sitting cross-legged on the floor, several datapads around her. Her next mission was another week away and would lead her to her home planet Ryloth undercover in the Twi'lek clan Fenn.
Aayla looked up from her datapads, arching an eyebrow. "Jar'Kai is a lot like dancing, and you're an expert at Jar'Kai."
Sabé opened her mouth to counter that assessment, but the words were strangled from her lips. "That's different," she said finally, "that's a lightsaber form, this is dancing!"
She gave a full-body shudder and Kit couldn't help but be amused. "Your problem is that you're treating them like they're separate."
"That's because they are," Sabé said with a vein of annoyance running through her voice.
"You're way too stiff," Aayla said in exasperation, standing up to make her towards Kit and Sabé, "here, watch me for a moment."
And Sabé frowned as she watched her friend take the hand that Kit had extended towards her, a laugh escaping her lips as he gave a sharp tug, spinning her into his arms with a wide grin.
There was something almost effortless about how Kit and Aayla moved together, all fluid and grace and a little too close to be considered anything but intimate.
Sabé had noticed a change in them over the past few months, there was a closeness now that couldn't be denied. She was almost bitter with forlorn at the pair of them, but, whatever they decided, she'd be happy for them; Aayla and Kit deserved to be happy, regardless of what the Code thought.
The way they moved was like watching art being created, it was as though they were moving as a single entity, and when their legs stopped moving they were both breathless.
"It takes skill to be that good at dancing," Sabé countered and Aayla had to step away from Kit, her heart beating rapidly in her chest and her skin tingling where his touch had lingered.
"You're too stubborn," Kit decided with a soft chuckle. "You and Aayla had a similar body type, and she manages dancing just fine."
"Twi'leks are known for being rather good dancers, so that doesn't prove anything," Sabé had to point out, jerking her thumb towards Aayla who gave a mocking curtsey in response.
"All right, come here!" Aayla darted forward to grab Sabé's hands, pulling her into the center of the room. "Now, dance with me like you're practicing your lightsaber form."
Sabé's expression soured. "That doesn't make any sense," she complained as she settled one hand on Aayla's shoulder and the other in her open hand.
"Yes, it does," Aayla laughed. "Now, step with me –don't look at the floor, that's only going to throw you off."
Sabé chewed on her lip and sighed, following Aayla's steps carefully, keeping her eyes fixed on Aayla's eyes. She could never quite place the color, even in her youth. The color wasn't dark enough to be Sabé's brown, nor with enough colors to be Obi-Wan's hazel, the closest color was probably amber.
Before she knew it, she was actually moving easily, step by step with Aayla, with as much ease as a Jedi practicing Jar'Kai or even Soresu.
"See?" A smile graced Aayla's lips and Sabé couldn't help but think that her friend was unfailingly pretty and Kit was very lucky.
"I'm following not leading, so that probably helps," Sabé mentioned and Kit snorted off to the side while Aayla rolled her eyes.
"You're trying to be impossible on purpose," she accused Sabé and the brown-haired Jedi gave a tremulous gasp.
"I would never!"
Aayla huffed in annoyance. The things she put up with for Sabé Amidala.
"All right, tell me what's going on."
Talik had gone to bed early after thoroughly exhausting herself during her healing training with Vokara Che, begging off a massive headache that had almost resulted in her walking into the wall next to the metallic sliding door that led to her room, leaving Sabé and Aayla alone in the main room of the apartment.
"I'm fine," Sabé said, giving her a faint smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"You've been saying that since the funeral," Aayla said and Sabé flinched, her lips twisting into a scowl. "Siri's death really messed you up."
Siri and Sabé had never been particularly close, but they were friendly, and her death still hurt as much as Korinth'Kel's had.
Sabé leaned forward to brace her elbows on her knees, burying her face in her hands for a moment.
"I'm tired of watching my friends die, Aayla," Sabé murmured and Aayla's eyes softened as she reached out a hand to brush along the braid that held Sabé's rose bead from Padmé what felt so long ago.
"You haven't been sleeping either," she mentioned and Sabé's face rose from her hands.
"I've been doing a lot of research," Sabé sighed, "trying to find a way to crack Siri's code but it's not exactly the easiest thing." Far from, in fact.
Siri had been quite clever in life and her last moments had proved that; Sabé had made absolutely no progress.
"No luck?" Aayla asked sympathetically, crossing one leg over the other as she canted her head.
"It would've been easier if she'd given someone the encryption key, but oh well," Sabé sighed.
Since Siri's death, her young padawan Ferus Olin had had fallen under the tutelage of Adi Gallia, who had felt it was her duty as Siri's master to teach her student in her stead. Aayla had been in a similar position, only her old master Quinlan Vos had simply given her up. As far as she knew he was alive and well far from the Jedi Order.
"You'll get it eventually," Aayla said with certainty, "I believe in you…now tell me what's really going on."
Sabé shifted uncomfortably in her seat, tugging on one of her braids, but then she sighed, looking to her friend; Aayla was one of the few people that could properly interrogate her about anything and actually come out with information.
"Anakin stayed over the night of the funeral," Sabé said finally, "Obi-Wan came looking for him and…" She faltered, making Aayla's eyes widened. "I almost…"
"You almost kissed him?" Aayla didn't think she'd ever been quite so stunned.
Sabé was so careful, keeping her feelings deep down inside her, it wasn't like her to slip up.
"Something like that," Sabé muttered. "Stars, it's embarrassing."
"You're in love," Aayla smiled softly, "it happens."
"Shut up," Sabé grumbled and Aayla laughed.
"And now you're going on a mission with him, talk about bad luck!"
"I hate you," Sabé decided with a scowl.
Sabé didn't often receive gifts from Padmé, after all, her sister always respected that Sabé's needs were rather minimal, being a Jedi, so Sabé was a bit surprised to find a package for her at 500 Republica's desk with the Naboo monarchy seal stamped across it.
"What is it?" Talik asked curiously as she and Anakin practiced one of the Alderaan dances that they might be required to do while on the planet. Anakin was terrible and Talik good, so they balanced out.
"No idea," Sabé said, carrying the box to the counter, "it's from Padmé, though, so it can't be anything really dangerous."
Anakin snorted and Sabé broke the seals on the box keeping it from being opened before it reached its destination, pulling the lid off and blinking.
Evidently her sister had been paying attention when she'd mentioned her assignment to Alderaan, because within was what Sabé suspected was a pair of very expensive wear fitting for a king and queen.
"What is it?" Talik repeated as Sabé shut the lid quickly, pursing her lips.
"Clothes," Sabé said shortly before gathering the box up in her arms, heading towards her room. "Keep practicing, you two, we wouldn't want you tripping over your feet."
"You're one to talk," Anakin muffled his words but Sabé still heard it, and she smirked.
"I heard that," she called back, making the boy jolt where he stood.
Once Sabé was behind closed doors, she pulled out her imagecaster, transmitting the code for Padmé's personal imagecaster and a moment later her younger sister's holographic image appeared above it as she held it level in her hand, garbed in an elaborate outfit that told Sabé that she was evidently in the middle of some matters as Naboo's queen.
"Padmé, the dress is a bit much," Sabé said dryly.
"I thought it was rather lovely," Padmé responded in amusement.
"For you, maybe," Sabé arched an eyebrow, "but the Temple doesn't exactly have a shortage of royal wear. Jedi have gone undercover as royalty before, it's not like I wouldn't have something to wear."
"I know, but you have to admit it, you'd look amazing in those colors," Padmé said, her smile clear.
"It's more your style," Sabé was certain, with how the colors faded into each other from the bodice down to the hem.
"Just because you look fine in dark colors doesn't mean they should be the only colors you wear," Padmé was unimpressed with her fashion sense, evidently.
"I swear everyone I've talked to for the past two days is trying to make my life difficult," Sabé growled under her breath, and Padmé laughed, the words picking up on the imagecaster.
"Make sure to take some holo-pics!" Padmé laughed as Sabé cut off the connection, tossing the imagecaster on her bed carelessly.
The dress wasn't terrible, in fact, it was rather stunning, but Sabé preferred to sink into the background; she had never played the part of a queen before.
"Well, this'll be fun," Sabé muttered.
Obi-Wan thought the mission had come at the most inopportune time. He was still trying to sort out his own feelings about Sabé and throwing them together for a mission wasn't going to help matters.
"This must be easier for you," he said to her as they sat side by side on the transport with Anakin and Talik fast asleep leaning against each other in the seat opposite them. The Force fluttered around them but Sabé didn't seem to notice. "Playing the part of someone else."
Sabé arched an eyebrow. "I'm not usually playing the part of royalty, besides those missions are deep cover; I usually separate myself on those missions."
Obi-Wan had never really asked all that many questions about Sabé's undeniable skill in espionage, but even he couldn't make heads or tails of that comment.
His expression must have given that away, because Sabé smiled. "Think of it like this, as Sabé Amidala I'm a Jedi, but in order to become someone else I would kind of lock away that information deep down inside me, keeping a code to unlock those memories, but virtually forgetting who I was."
"That's…impressive." Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot to his hairline and Sabé's lips curled, looking impossibly pleased.
"What can I say? I put a lot into my aliases, but the places I go are far more dangerous than Alderaan; sometimes it's the only way to stay alive." Sabé shrugged.
Light shone through the viewport and her eyes turned almost amber and Obi-Wan's words caught in his throat.
It made him think about that time on Tatooine when Sabé had spoken about the kind of person she could fall in love with: "I do not think that I would fall in love with a simple man. They would have to have complexity and understand my devotion to the Order."
He still wasn't quite sure of what she had meant. Was she in love with someone, someone who could understand being a Jedi? Obi-Wan tried to imagine her being with someone, regardless of the Code, and for some reason it made something inside him churn unpleasantly.
But Sabé had also believed that a Jedi could maintain attachments and still be a capable Jedi, though he very much doubted she'd ever been that open about her theory, lest she would have fallen under suspicion by the High Council for romantic entanglements. Though, Obi-Wan supposed, that would only be an issue if she actually did have such feelings, which Obi-Wan wasn't certain of.
Sabé had always been a complicated sort, impossible to read and difficult to understand.
"What is it?"
She was looking at him curiously and it was only then that Obi-Wan realized that he must have been staring.
He cleared his throat in an effort to hide that fact. "I'm just getting used to the idea of your hair being out of its braids," he said, reaching out before he could stop himself to tuck a stray curl behind her ear and a flush spread across Sabé's cheeks.
"Are you teasing me, King Sol?" Sabé's eyes glittered.
"Why, Queen Kyra, I'd be much too frightened to tease a queen," Obi-Wan responded easily, using a similar phrase to one that Sabé had used several years back, and it caused a laugh to bubble from her lips.
He memorized the sound.
"I look ridiculous."
"I feel ridiculous!"
Obi-Wan straightened the majestic robes that were almost the exact color of the sunset before kneeling in order to straighten Anakin's.
The room they'd been given was stately, but it was mostly untouched as they wouldn't be remaining on the planet very long, but it had the most beautiful view, with sloping mountains and curving ravines. Alderaan was rather famous for its mountains and had long since been regarded as the 'planet of beauty'.
"You both look fine," he sighed. "Talik, don't mess with that!"
Talik, who had been playing with the loose sleeve of her dress dropped her hand and scowled.
Obi-Wan stood, moving towards the door that led to the bathroom, into which Sabé had disappeared earlier. "Sabé? Are you all right?"
"Um, I might have a problem," Sabé's muffled voice filtered through the door and Obi-Wan blinked.
"Do you need some help?" he asked.
"Possibly."
Obi-Wan tried not to give a put-upon sigh before slipping in through the door and drawing up short, his mind blanking as he looked on Sabé.
"Oh," he said, his mouth going dry.
Her dress was a melding of colors, starting with pale yellow at her throat before fading into pink, orange, before ending with lilac at the hem. It left her shoulders exposed, draped over her arms, held up by metal pieces shaped like shells at her throat and similar metal at her upper arms, with her curly mass of hair held at bay by several bands.
"You look absolutely stunning," he said when he could manage to speak and Sabé smiled as she fixed an earring in place.
"Thanks," she said, "but the problem's my back," and she turned around giving him full view of her bare back. For a moment he didn't see the problem, but then he actually looked.
Sabé had a burn that looked like it had been caused by a lightsaber vertically close to her spine, and there was a circular electrical burn on her shoulder blade.
"Ah," he said in understanding when Sabé twisted around again, this time holding a small compact.
"I've got some holo-static veils that will hide my scars, but they're kind of in a difficult place for me…so would you mind?"
"Not at all," Obi-Wan assured her, taking the compact and peeling one of the flimsy veils from within, pasting them gently against her skin which was warm under his hands, the scars disappearing in a matter of moments beneath them, looking as though her skin was unblemished. "All done."
"Good," Sabé said, "one less thing to worry about."
Obi-Wan had no idea that the particular style of her hair was to hide the smallest possible blaster pistol, or that one of her 'sabers was held in place by a thin holster high on her leg, tucked out of sight.
The ball was rather grand and Sabé wasn't sure if she'd even seen quite so many well-dressed people in one room at one time, though most of them were dancing and the rest were talking amicably.
Obi-Wan's hand rested on the small of her back –they were playing the part of married monarchs, after all– as Talik and Anakin darted towards the food area to keep their ears to the ground for any hints of an assassin.
"Ras, Rika, stay together!" Sabé called after them, playing her part effortlessly as she rested her weight on the leg closest to him.
"They'll be all right," Obi-Wan smiled.
"So long as they don't trip into anything," Sabé fretted.
Obi-Wan admired how she could stay in character despite the music thrumming around them, obscuring their voices slightly. His hand slipped from the small of her back to cradle her hip. Her breath caught and Obi-Wan was impressed by his own daring.
"The music is divine," Obi-Wan mentioned, "perhaps Her Majesty would do me the honor of a dance?"
Sabé laughed, but she took the hand he'd offered her, letting her sweep her towards the dance floor.
You seem to be doing quite well, Sabé's voice echoed in his head as they sun around, I'm impressed, it's very convincing.
High praise, coming from you, Obi-Wan returned, hooking his arm under her waist as he dipped her low enough to make her laugh before swinging her upright once more.
But neither could afford to be distracted, not with the current delicate situation.
I sense something is afoot, Obi-Wan murmured.
I sense it too, Sabé's brow furrowed slightly. But they keep moving around, it's impossible to tell their exact location.
The king and queen, where are they? Obi-Wan inquired.
There was a mass of people in the hall, all varying species and races that it made it rather hard to tell just where the king, Senator Bail Organa and his wife, Queen Breha were located.
They'll try something soon, Obi-Wan said, referencing the assassin who had been a mere rumor until recently.
They will fail, Sabé said shrewdly and with so much certainty that Obi-Wan couldn't help but admire it.
A bit overconfident, are we?
Sabé's lips curled. "Darling," she hummed, her eyes positively gleaming, "I think I see our hosts. Perhaps we should go and thank them for their hospitality."
"Of course," Obi-Wan said agreeably, extending his arm to her and Sabé took it with a smile.
The assassin looked through the scope of his blaster rifle, keeping it fixed on the king and queen. The payout for this job would give him enough credits to retire earlier than most assassins.
The king and queen were speaking with a young couple.
"Queen Kyra, forgive me," Queen Breha said, "but you look uncommonly like Queen Amidala of Naboo."
The other queen laughed and her husband smiled. "Yes, I noticed that as well. We've only met once but I have to admit the likeness is uncanny. She joked about being each other's decoys."
"Ah, but then one of you would always be in danger," her husband jested and she swatted his arm.
"The price we pay to maintain peace on our respective worlds, don't you agree, King Bail?" Queen Kyra inquired of the Alderaan royal and the man lifted his champagne flute in agreement, leaving his chest exposed.
Excellent.
His finger inched of the trigger and then he fired. It should have been a clean shot, a clean kill, but then something happened that he did not expect.
The Queen Kyra moved swiftly, too swiftly be a queen, blocking his shot bringing something up swiftly to glance his blaster bolt of it. A violet lightsaber buzzed to life in her hands and the assassin almost swore.
A Jedi!
Sabé had blocked the shot, but it had caused pandemonium to erupt in the ballroom, with guests screaming at the near assassination, the king and queen of Alderaan were for the most part shell-shocked when Talik and Anakin rushed over to assist.
"Talik, Anakin, get the king and queen somewhere safe!" Obi-Wan barked and the pair nodded seriously, before spurring the royals into moving.
"I'm going after the assassin," Sabé said, digging the miniscule blaster out of her hair, yanking her curls down in the process.
"I'm coming with you—" Obi-Wan started to say before she'd shoved the blaster into his hand.
"You need to protect the king and queen," Sabé said shortly, "let me handle this."
"It would be better—" Obi-Wan tried to say despite the chaotic bodies rushing around them, but then Sabé did something that stunned him into silence.
She cupped his cheeks, leaning up on her tip-toes to press her lips firmly to his, kissing him so soundly that Obi-Wan's eyes widened, his cheeks growing warm under her hands.
And then it was over and she pushed him away.
"Go!" she snapped before rushing after the assassin, disappearing into the throng of people, her lightsaber alight in the chaos.
AN: Ooh, damn! The kiss finally happened! And really, Sabé wouldn't have done anything less, let's be real. Aayla and Kit were so cute and we'll get more about their developing relationship a bit later.
As always: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!
