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Chapter Ten: Chaos

Aliana closed her eyes, fuming silently at the latest turn of events. Word had gotten out somehow that she'd hired a bounty hunter for some task, and now Deneva was screaming for her head. The New Republic delegation was due to arrive at any moment, and she had to face the High Council for her actions in a few days. The fates are cursing me, she fumed, just before a strange feeling washed over her: a sense of completion, a sense of ending. It is nearly time, Aliana, some inner voice murmured.

Time for what? Her mind reeled in confusion at the voice's words. What is going to happen?

The voice echoed back to her. You have seen the future, you have seen the potential consequences of your past acts. It is nearly time for them to come about.

Then there is no hope? Must I die to save my people? She saw the rivers of blood again, saw her funeral bier.

The future is not always set, Aliana, this you know. Yet to try and change it purposefully risks too much. You know what may be, now the choice is yours. Will you accept it or fight it?

"I will accept, if it will save my people," she whispered. A knock at her door brought reality back to her mind, and she opened it to reveal an uneasy Shadow.

"Lady Aliana, the delegation from the New Republic has arrived, and is requesting to see you."

"Welcome back, Shadow," Aliana smiled, pushing aside her own concerns for the moment. "Give me a few moments and I'll be there."

Admiral Ackbar was examining the layout of the formal room while Noran Murandos paced uneasily.

"I don't understand why she wasn't there to greet us. Lady Aliana always preferred to make her guests feel at home."

"Captain, relax. No doubt she will arrive and explain herself," Leia Organa of Alderaan replied. She picked up a crystal statue of a small bird. "I remember a previous visit here, when I was younger. King Torinos Calion and his family always tried to make their guests feel welcome."

"While I cannot provide that same level of hospitality at the moment, I've done my best to at least ensure comfort," a clear voice replied from the doorway. A young woman stood there, clad in a gown of flowing blue fabric. Dark blue eyes smiled, but behind the friendly gaze lurked sorrow and unease.

"Lady Aliana," Noran shot up awkwardly, nearly falling over in his haste; Aliana crossed the room smoothly and steadied the youth.

"Noran, you know I never liked standing on ceremony, especially among friends. How many times must I remind you?" A smile spread across her face, and Aliana grasped his hand in both of hers. "It's good to see you again, my friend."

"When Deneva calls, I will return," he smiled. The girl inclined her dark head towards him before turning to the others.

"Admiral Ackbar, Madame Organa, welcome to Deneva. I only wish the circumstances were better suited. Things have…not been easy of late." The girl looked down, almost shamefacedly. "As much as I hate to admit it, we need your help."

"Lady Aliana, your ambassador Odarno Tiriun hinted at troubles, but whether or not this was so we would have come," Leia Organa replied. "I remember hearing of your service to the Alliance, however brief it was. Anyone who has served deserves at least our recognition."

"My thanks, Madame." Aliana said softly, an uneasy expression on her face. "Perhaps I had better elaborate on what Shadow hinted at."

"Shadow?" Ackbar asked.

"I've always called him by that name, and it seems easier somehow." Aliana smiled briefly, before launching into her tale.

"We ousted the Imperial garrisons here several months ago, but there are still Remnant soldiers here. They've been spreading rumors that I cannot refute, and my people are torn between the Calion rule and Remnant whispers. We do not have the resources to stop the Remnant, and without proof that their accusations are false I cannot refute their statements." She sighed heavily, then continued.

"When I sent Shadow to you, I did not accompany him because I had to go off-world—to Tatooine."

"Tatooine?" Noran asked in shock. "What in the fates drove you there?"

"I had reason to believe that my brother escaped Deneva alive, and I needed someone skilled to find him. I hired a bounty hunter to find Pareus, and somehow Deneva learned of it. Now they are demanding my removal from the throne, but the Council wants to wait until they hear my reasons. I stand before them in a few days, to…explain my recent actions."

"A bounty hunter? Are you mad?"

"Noran, mad or not I needed to do something. If Pareus is alive he is the only one who can clear my name, and the only one who is capable of ruling Deneva. I cannot govern the people the way they deserve, Noran, and if finding Pareus and saving my people means hiring a bounty hunter to do it, so be it." Aliana was nearly shouting now. "What more can you ask of me?"

Admiral Ackbar studied the young woman closely: she was drawn and far too pale for a human, and her blue eyes were weary. She was clearly overtaxed with her responsibility, and it was taking both a mental and a physical toll.

"Lady Aliana, you are weary. Perhaps you should rest." The Mon Calamari's gravelly tones were softer than she remembered, almost as if her were trying to ease her mind. Aliana was about to reply when an aide burst into the room, closely followed by Shadow.

"My lady, we've just received a communiqué from the Remnant forces," the aide said, his voice rushed and panicked.

"What is it?" Aliana asked softly, fearing the worst.

"Aliana," Shadow murmured, trying to soften the bad news, "they've taken hostages, and they're demanding you step down."

Aliana felt her balance giving way: the stress of these past few months had taken their toll. "How did it come to this?" she whispered; Shadow barely caught her as she fell in a faint.

"Aliana?" Shadow's voice, soft and worried, brought her back to consciousness.

"I'm all right, old friend, just tired," she murmured, moving to a sitting position.

"You need to rest, my lady. Deneva can do without you for a few days."

"No, Shadow, there is no rest for the weary yet," Aliana responded. "I need to be strong, for my people."

"Your people have deserted you!" Shadow burst out. "After everything you've done for them, they turn their backs on you when you need them most! Why should you not do the same?"

"Shadow, I cannot betray my own people! Why would you even suggest this?" she shouted, her sharp voice jarring him back to his senses.

"Forgive me, my lady," he said softly. "I spoke without thinking. It grieves me to think of how you suffer at the hands of those who should be helping you."

"What will be will be, old friend," Aliana murmured, setting a hand on his shoulder. "For now, we must focus on the hostages. We must free them, and maybe that will bring more aid than we think." She did not tell Shadow of her vision, or her sense of foreboding that, one way or the other, something would be irrevocably changed.