Chapter Two

Riyo likes her routine. It keeps her sane as she goes through the day. Lately getting through the day is hard. It's almost Empire day again; two years since three words changed the galaxy. As the emperor takes more power from the Senate, she knows her days on Coruscant are numbered. She knows its time to leave and she put in play her exit plan. She just has one task left to do before she can leave. She needs to convince him to admit who he is.

They meet when she first came to Coruscant. He showed her around the Senate in those first days. After that she made sure she crossed his path. It took her some time to convince him that she saw him as a man, one that she wanted to be with. They had to keep their relationship secret since there was regulations against a senator and a clone fraternizing. Late night dinners in her apartment, lunches in his office, and stolen kisses in camera blind spots. Behind closed curtains and doors. She had everything she needed or wanted. She had him and his love.

That changed when the order was issued. She had come back to the apartment after her doctors appointment to tell him her news but he never arrived. She looked for him at the Senate buildings, the guard offices, and even asked other clones. Fox or CC-1010 disappeared. Soon all the clone's painted armor and individuality was gone. It was a sea of clean shiny white armor and designations. They no longer used the their names. She has stayed on Coruscant and toed the line because she needed to know his fate. His death is not in the GAR or Empire's record so he must be out there somewhere.

A man wearing stormtrooper armor came to her a year and a half ago looking for a contact to help get young Jedi and clones that removed their chips off Coruscant. They met at least once a month when she could arrange transport off the planet disguised as a diplomat mission or a supply run. About six months ago she started to suspect it was him. The one she's been looking for, the man she loved.

The feeling she's being watched started around the same time. First it was in her Senate office; so she kept her movements professional and made sure nothing was out of place. Now she has that feeling of being watched at home. She doesn't want that. She needs to keep what's at home protected. If someone discovered what's there it could be her and another's downfall. She has a secret. Bigger than the one she kept during the war. She has kept this secret safe for over a year. Not even her family knows.

As she arrives home, that feeling returns. Someone is watching. There's a part of her that hopes it's him. In all her quiet searching, she has not found proof of his death.

Tonight she feels her watcher's eyes. It's time to put her plan in motion. She leaves the curtains open so he can see her. She cooks dinner and eats on the couch. After an hour she ventures out on the balcony. Looking towards the building across the way where she suspects he's watching from. She raises her glass to him in salute and says "I love you".

She will have to head up to the roof and meet with her contact for moving Jedi off planet. Hopefully she can convince him to reveal his identity.