A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates! I'll try to be better.

REVIEW RESPONSES: To SWaddict1986: yes, poor Jaina. It's so weird to write that – usually I'm writing "yes, poor Jag" because of something Jaina did. To Ishbugirl: thanks. Here's the update.

Chapter 8: Seductive Edge

"Notebook thing,

"Just who does she think she is? Is a political puppet all she actually sees in me? Argh! I just want to scream and throw something! She's supposed to be my mother, but all she is, is a stuck-up politician, dear President Organa-Solo, beloved Princess of the former constitutional monarchy of Alderaan, and of course great and powerful Sovereign Ruler of New Alderaan – a blessed position I will hold someday – bleck, I'd rather die a slow painful death than be a politician. I would never put my kids through what that wench that calls herself a mother put me and Jace and Ani through.

"She's trying to use me to look good while she holds a press conference on the stupid territory treaty between the Republic and the Imperial Remnant. What kind of mother does that? The worst part though – I can't do anything about it because no matter what I say and how much I bitch about it, I'll be there tomorrow at ten AM and I'll say exactly what she wants me to, and I don't even know why. Why, after all this time, do I still want my mom to say I did a good job and that she's proud of me and actually mean it?

"All right, I think I'm definitely entering the "mushy" zone and it's way too early for that. So, I'll write later.

"Solo out."

Jaina slammed her notebook shut and shoved it into her shoulder bag. After slinging the black sack that worked as her purse across her shoulder, she left her bedroom and made her way to the garage. She picked her roughest looking speeder to go out in. The press rarely was able to recognize Jaina out of her school uniform or the latest styles in dresses, without make-up, and with her hair in a messy bun, as she was that morning, but everyone on Coruscant could easily pick out Jaina's normal speed boat that she had commissioned an artist to paint running wolves on the sides.

She hopped into the boat and pulled it out of the garage, away from the house for the first time since she arrived on Coruscant.

The Coruscant Naval Marina was not far from the Presidential Palace; which was a very good thing, Jaina was not fond of long waits. It took only a few minutes of travel through the canals – Jaina knowing all the back ways – to arrive at the docks.

The first security officer she encountered recognized her and saluted immediately. She chuckled; everyone had a different reaction to her arrival at the Marina. Most knew her by sight, as she visited so much. There were a few she actually talked to as she went through the paces (which were cut extremely short for her), and they never found it necessary to salute anymore, but those who only saw her for a short period of time always saluted or bent at the waist.

"Halt," the commanding tone in the voice was so unfamiliar that it took Jaina a moment to realize it was directed at her. She lifted her sunglasses. A private stood at the security gate she normally passed through without a second thought. 'A private…' Jaina smirked to herself, 'I love messing with privates.'

"Oh, officer," she said in her most demure voice. "I was just hoping to get in to see a friend."

"No one is allowed through these gates without a security code clearance."

"Oh," she took part of her bottom lip into her teeth and subtly let her voice taken on a more seductive edge. "Couldn't you make an exception…" She walked up closer to the tall young man. "For me?"

"I'm sorry, Miss, but I cannot let you pass."

"Just this once?" she, once again, let more seduction subtly enter her breathy voice and closed most of the gap between her and the private, letting her fingertips graze his chest. He audibly gulped.

"I can't," he said, this time his voice not quite as sure.

"Sure you can; I promise to repay you," she whispered, standing on her toes so she could be a breath away from his mouth. He was distracted enough, Jaina decided. She gently reached to where she knew the key card would be. Unfortunately, she misjudged the distance and stumbled onto the unsuspecting guard, whose reflects were able to catch her instantly. He held her now, which was certainly not hindering her current plan.

"Private!" she heard a very familiar voice scream out from across the docks.

When she turned to look, she could see why the private's face had gone blanch white. Tycho Celchu's face was blood red as he stormed over to them. Her godfather's best friend and former nanny's husband was like most of the older men in her life – severely overprotective.

"What. Are. You. Doing?" he asked, punctuating every word.

"Sir, I was simply helping her, sir."

"Helping her to what, private?" Instead of allowing the guard to respond, Tycho called over the nearest officer. "Inform General Antilles that there is a situation here that needs his immediate attention."

"Sir, yes, sir."

"Sir, if I may-"

"You most certainly may not."

"She tripped, sir."

"Tripped? Tripped? And she just happened to be standing close enough to you that you'd be able to catch her so well?"

"Colonel, what's going on here?" Tycho offered Jaina's godfather a quick salute.

"I saw this private groping Jaina."

"You dare touch my goddaughter?"

The private began to shake. His lips moved silently, and Jaina guessed it was in prayer until she heard the quiet studdering of "goddaughter… Jaina Solo… painful death…"

She really did feel sorry for the poor guy. "He wasn't groping me, Wedge, really, I –"

"Jaina, I understand that you don't wish to cause trouble, but if this private was touching you in any way, he has a lot to answer for."

"But you see –"

Wedge didn't let her continue. "Private, when is your guard shift over?"

"Th-th-thirteen hundred hours, Sir."

"You will report immediately to my office at that time so we may discuss how an officer and a gentleman is meant to treat innocent young women, understood?" Had the situation not been serious, Jaina would have snorted at Wedge's comment about her being innocent, but she couldn't hold back the laughter that followed when she thought of playboy Wedge from the womanizing Rogues lecturing the poor boy who did nothing wrong. The private, who looked very close to pissing his pants, did not seem to share in the comedy of the image conjured up.

"Y-y-yes, Sir." Jaina had a feeling he would faint any moment.

"Colonel Celchu, thank you for immediately taking action on this issue."

"Sir," he saluted again, forcing Jaina to roll her eyes. Tycho was so rarely this formal that it was almost funny to see him salute his best friend as a foot soldier would an officer. They'd probably have a laugh about it later in Wedge's office. Meaning, of course, that Jaina would mock him for it, but hey, same difference.

"Back to your duties, Colonel." Tycho saluted, turned heel, and left. "Jaina, shall we?" He offered his arm for her to take.

Jaina threw a glance over her shoulder at the puddle of a man trembling there. "Sorry," she mouthed. Then, she took the proffered arm and smiled sweetly up at her godfather.

He led them away towards his office in the infrastructure that overlooked the ocean.