The war was long and hard. It wasn't a full out war just yet, but the rebellion was gaining allies, gaining ground, winning battles. Sometimes after a hard hit, Senator Bail Organa wasn't quite sure it was worth it. Then he'd look at the face of his adopted daughter when he checked in on her at night, when she sat across from him at dinner, when she stands next to him in a boring Senate meeting.
Princess Leia's very being inspired hope, not just in him but in others. She was a born leader, Bail recognized that. She helped him indirectly whenever the fight got too hard or it seemed hopeless. She was everything he had always wanted to be. She's strong-willed, tenacious, and confident.
Her mother, her real mother, was a genius. She was once the very epitome of her title. Queen Amidala was royalty, not by blood, but a queen elected and loved by the people she served. As Senator Amidala, she worked hard to better the lives of not simply the people of Naboo, but also the people of the whole galaxy. Her name could be heard in the furthest reaches of the Galactic Republic. She understood her worth. That made her more powerful than most could wish for. Even normal Padmé Naberrie couldn't sit around and do nothing while others suffered.
Leia's father commanded respect. General Skywalker was a hero to the people of the Republic. He was the best pilot in the galaxy. Jedi Knight Skywalker saved countless lives on countless worlds, even lives he couldn't care less about on planets he absolutely despised. Anakin, the boy who was once a slave, rose above destruction and despair to achieve many great things. He made mistakes in the end, but the mistakes aren't the only thing that define someone.
Leia is bold and strong, just like her parents. Bail will always appreciate that; however, he also worried deeply for her safety. While incredibly intelligent and a quick-thinker, sometimes her decisions were reckless and not remotely fullproof. She needed help, no matter how much she thinks she can do everything on her own.
The only help Bail could think of was a bodyguard. Not a major change. Leia is used to servants, so a bodyguard wouldn't be too different.
Viceroy Bail Organa sat at his desk and typed up a letter on his datapad, detailing the criteria of the position. While committed to peace, even Alderaan had its fair share of fighters. Skilled fighters from across Alderaan would be tested against each other. Members of the security organization could also apply. The main requirement though was the warrior must be around Leia's age, within a few years. Bail would never intentionally make things too uncomfortable for his daughter. She needed a friend just as much as protection.
Once Bail finished reviewing and revising the letter, he sent it out across the planet. Each head of the Great Houses of Alderaan received the letter of request. House Ulgo was especially pleased considering their history of military prowess. The leaders of House Thul believed this could finally be their chance to potentially gain more power.
Deep within House Serrus was the young Asger. Even though he was set to inherit the title of Duke from his parents, that never stopped him from training to protect himself. As he read the letter, the face of ten-year-old Leia flashed through his memory. Asger had seen her a few times since, but never long enough to make conversation.
His jaw set and an eyebrow raised. To be the bodyguard of the princess would be a means to travel, to go on adventures, and to potentially make a difference in the world, everything Asger aspired to do. Spending time with a beautiful princess would be a small plus. With his mind made up, Asger set out to perfect his skills.
On the Serrus Estate was a gym almost exclusively Asger's. While Serrus did employ security, not many were in the room at any given time, if at all. Training weapons littered the racks. The blasters, Asger's forté, were well used, with the paint chipping off the grips. But if Asger was going to win the favor of Senator Organa, he would have to do well in hand-to-hand combat as well.
Asger gripped two plastic batons in his hands and went to one of the training dummies. He practiced combination after combination that he had been learning since he was fourteen. Batons, staffs, and blades made their way into his training sessions when he was younger, but blaster bolts always seemed to hit their mark in Asger's hands. He was also particularly skilled with a baton. Asger could hold his own with a staff, but it was awkwardly long for his taste. The opposite for knives, they were too short.
The next few days carried on in much the same fashion. Bail watched over Leia with worry clouding his thoughts. Tensions continued to rise between the Empire and the Rebellion. Asger trained harder than he had before with the security personnel, taking them by surprise.
Everyone was getting ready in some manner for the war.
Finally, on Zhellday the following week, it was time for the competition. Asger arrived at the Royal Palace of Alderaan, along with roughly twenty or so others, vying for the position of bodyguard.
Asger looked around at his opponents. Some were taller, others bigger. There were two women who seemed like they would happily string everyone up. Asger guessed at least one of them was from Ulgo.
Bail welcomed the candidates for his daughter's protection detail. He went over the rules and regulations as well as thanked them for attending. Bail appreciated the selective turnout. No one violated the restrictions he had set, at least not that he could tell from the naked eye. And he recognized a few of the nobles who showed.
A man from Antilles. A woman from Ulgo. Two men from Thul. A man and woman from Girard. A man from Serrus. One from Teral, one from Syrush, and one from Baliss. The remaining ten men were unknown to Bail, most likely from other parts of the planet, not members of the noble houses, or members of the security organization. Bail was definitely ready to get it over with.
Everyone stood idly by waiting for Bail to dismiss them. First was the shooting portion. These days it was highly uncommon for anyone to not know how to shoot a blaster, so most of the contestants were fairly confident in their abilities.
Let the games begin.