Chapter 2

During the trip to Corellia, Katiara tried her best to think of what exactly she was going to do once they arrived. Being a nanny wasn't her idea of fun but she would have to do something while the girl ways playing with her dolls and doing her studies. Sitting in the royal cruise ship, the Avalon was safely tucked away in the hanger, Katiara fingered her lightsaber. Though she had constructed it nearly three years prior, she had only used it once. She never had wanted to blow her cover by utilizing the weapon and having all of the Empire after her like so many other Jedi had.

The silver metal of the ancient weapon was clear like a mirror and the black grip on the handle by it easy to hold and control. The stabilizing ring on the top was made of a mysterious black metal and the same kind of metal was used on the end of the weapon. Hiding in the metal works of the lightsaber was an Adegan crystal, which was the saber's source of power. Katiara had mediated on the crystal for days in the Illum caves. When she finally finished, she was just in time to fight off the clone troopers who had come to 'exterminate' her. Minutes later she found that her parents had died. It was no wonder she had never used it again.

But now the tides were turning. She could sense that on Corellia, her job would indeed her harder than babysitting. Threats and deceit were no place for child's play and the time might very well come when a simple blaster wouldn't get the job down. She clicked the lightsaber on her belt, hidden in a leather case so it wouldn't be easily recognized. Perhaps those moments alone with only Lizabea in the Corellian capital would provide a time to practice with the Jedi tool.

She stood and walked over to the window, her arms crossed. She could see Corellia ahead of the ship. They would be landing soon and her mission would officially begin. Katiara checked herself to make sure she was ready. Her DH-17 blaster pistol was in its holster and extra ammo secured beside it. Her lightsaber in its case with the comlink clicked near it. For now that would be it. Though it the situation proved more dangerous than she assumed, she would probably carry a thermal detonator or two with her just in case.

The door to the sitting room slid open and Garm Bel Iblis stepped in. He joined her by the window and starred out. "We will be entering the atmosphere in just a few minutes," he told her, still looking towards his home planet. Katiara could tell there was a hint of fear in his voice. She watched that planet grew steadily closer. This was her mother's homeworld yet she had never visited. She had never wanted to.

The entrance ramp to the royal cruiser lowered in the capital-docking bay. Outside the ship a small welcoming committee wait for the Senator to disembark from the transport. As soon as Katiara exited the ship she counted seven people and prepared to be formally introduced. She was hardly formal though. With Senator Bel Iblis wearing a beautiful robe embodied with an authentic Corellian design, she must have looked like his servant…even lower than that. Her garments were that of a smuggler: a pair of pants smudged with oil tucked into heavily worn boots, a sleeveless top that was rumbled and fading and a messy bun of blonde hair that probably hadn't been brushed in days.

She noted the shock on their faces with amusement.

The senator went over to a lady with black hair, hugged and kissed her calling her 'darling'. His wife. Then he shook the hand of a younger woman wearing a very stiff looking dress. His senatorial aide. Next he slapped a rather elderly man on the back and estranged a few words. His adviser. Then he bent down and swooped up a little girl with long, curly, black hair and innocent green eyes. Her assignment.

Katiara stood at the end of the ramp, arms crossed, waiting to be introduced. The four guards that surrounded the welcoming committee eyed her suspiciously, wondering why in the world she was there. They didn't wait long to find out. Garm Bel Iblis motioned for her to come forward so she did without hesitation. She didn't try to impress them for she was certain they all expected her to be liked her mother. Refined, proper, charming, polite: all the qualities any responsible young woman should have. Katiara wasn't responsible and she definitely was not her mother.

"This is Jedi Knight Katiara Orrin," the senator announced to the small band. They all smiled and nodded like any polite person would, though Katiara knew they were still skeptical. "She has come to watch Lizabea personality until the threats are released so that the other guards can do their job more efficiently in more ways." He smiled confidently. Then he turned to Katiara to introduce her to those present.

"Katiara, this is my wife, Adeline, my aide, Jessina Var-Chai and this" - he grabbed the little girl in a playful side hug – "is my daughter Lizabea. She's a good girl, you won't have to worry much about her, just everyone else." Then he turned to his daughter and squatted down so he was on her level. "Katiara here is going to be protecting you from that bad guy who's been sending those mean letters. You just do what she says and be good, okay?"

The girl looked up a Katiara quite starry eyed like she was seeing a celebrity or had just gotten a new toy. The blonde Jedi hoped it was more like the former. She wasn't going to be playing dress-up anytime soon. Then Lizabea turned back to her father and kissed him on the cheek saying, "Yes, papa, I'll be good." She was like the perfect child. Katiara imagined her mother was very much like this girl when she was younger.

Garm Bel Iblis stood again, smiling proudly and turned to Katiara. "I'll have them unpack your stuff, though my wife has taken the liberty of buying you some nice things for the banquets and such. The servants will take them up to your room. Bea can show you where it is and then…" he began and Katiara knew he was going to start talking logistics.

"Senator, my ship. Where are they putting my ship?" That was what she wanted to know. She hoped he didn't think she was planning on making a quick get away, but the Avalon was her most prized possession and there was no way she was going to let it be just anywhere.

"Oh, yes. I will have it unloaded in the West Hanger. It will be safe enough there, I keep my own ships there in fact," he said as if it was really no big matter. Then he went back to his previous train of thought, explaining to Katiara about security and layout of the capital.

After Katiara finished talking with the senator, she found herself being lead through the elegantly designed capital building by an seven year old who was no taller than one and a third meters. As they walked down the halls, only the clicking of the Jedi's boots and the sat patter of the young girl's shoes was heard. Every once in a while, Bea would glance up at Katiara and smile widely, but she never said a word. Finally they reached her room and the senator's daughter opened the door.

"This is your room, Jedi Katiara. Mine is right next door," she said. It seemed she never said anything that didn't have a completely polite point to it.

"Uh, thanks," Katiara said, though she wasn't even sure if that was the right thing to say. Inside saw that her bags had not only been delivered but also put away in the closet. The room was rather simple, as Katiara preferred, featuring only a bed, closet, desk and small couch by what seemed to be a walkout balcony. But it had none of the fancier things she saw throughout the building. She assumed Lady Adeline had them moved when she was Katiara's disposition.

She felt a tugging at her hand and looked down to see Lizabea's soft, manicured hand in her own. "Come see my room," she said, Katiara smiled and nodded. The little sweetness the girl possessed was certainly growing on the Jedi. Bea led her over to the desk and pushed a small red button that seemed out of place on the wall. But the wall slid away to reveal a very bright, girly room. Bea's room.

They walked in and Katiara immediately surveyed for dangerous elements. The young girl had a balcony as well. That would have to be closed up. It was like a welcoming platform for anyone with ill means towards the senator's daughter. And though the room was neat and tidy, there were many play things on the floor, a perfect spot for deadly kouhuns worms to hide. Luckily, those were the only things she noticed that would have to be changed right away.

The young girl ran over to a chest and began to pull out several dolls, apparently wanting to show them to her new babysitter bodyguard. But something else caught Katiara's eye: a shadow was cast onto the floor through the curtain that separated the room from the balcony. Even though it was only a shadow, she could tell it was a man. She glanced over at Bea, who was obviously oblivious to the stranger. Katiara left her hand slid to her waist. For a moment her fingers hovered over her lightsaber, but then moved to her blaster. She drew it carefully. Lizabea stood and saw the gun.

She stood a bit shocked as Katiara quickly moved a finger over her lips, signaling for the girl to remain quiet. Bea nodded and bit her lip anxiously. Katiara walked gently over to the balcony entrance and up beside the curtain. She held the blaster up and took a deep breath. Maybe this would be the enemy, coming to kidnap Bea. If it were, it would sure make things a lot simpler. She glanced over at Lizabea, who was still, though fear was easily seen in her glistening green eyes.

Katiara moved quickly, grabbing the figured from behind the curtain and shoving him up against the wall. Hold him in place with her forearm, she held her gun up so the young man could see it clearly. He flew his arms up in defense as Katiara smirked with satisfaction. But then she heard the senator's daughter shriek from inside the room. "Logan!"