It was a trick she had perfected so that she and Korkie could continue a face to face conversation while walking from class to class down the halls of the Academy. She could sense what was behind her so she never ran into or tripped over anything. And now she was enjoying watching Lux's slightly alarmed face as she took quick backward steps down the curved Senate hallway.

The halls were nearly empty now. They had waited after the recess was called for mid-day meal and though Lux may have thought she was listening at the door for the footsteps to die away Soniee had actually been sensing the beings hurrying to and fro to make their various appointments.

"Well you can't just tell the Chancellor that he's wrong." Lux reached out as if to stop her as she neatly avoided a large vase, coming within a few centimeters of it without looking.

"I'm not going to tell him he's wrong," She answered continuing her confident backward stride. "I'm going to tell him there's been a mistake and I'm going to respectfully decline the offer."

"A mistake that he just announced you as the new Representative of Mandalore."

"I never agreed to it so, yes. I couldn't have very well contradicted him in there, in front of all of those senators and everyone."

"You think it will be easier to contradict him in person?" Lux's eyes suddenly widened at something over her shoulder but she couldn't sense anything at all. She was sure he was just trying to get her to look, until she ran into something solid and a large pale blue hand descended on her shoulder.

"Miss Ordo," said a deep voice.

Soniee spun quickly to see that the hand and voice belonged to the Vice Chancellor, Mas Amedda. She reached out and took hold of Lux's hand. It wasn't just the Chagrian's horns and impressive stature. What bothered her was that she hadn't been able to sense him. It was as if he or someone else had cloaked him in the Force.

He smiled and gave her a slight bow. "Your presence is requested in the Chancellor's chambers. If you would please follow me."

"Y-yes of course." Soniee managed and squeezed Lux's hand a bit tighter to make sure he was coming along with her.

They followed a few steps behind their guide. Lux leaned toward her and whispered. "So I guess this is your chance to, what was it, respectfully decline the offer?"

She raised her chin defiantly, "So it is."

He smiled at her bravado. "And what was all that walking backwards like your some kind of Jedi?"

"I am not a Jedi."

"Oh that's right it's your mysterious, Onderonian father who's the Jedi."

Soniee rolled her eyes. She looked over at him, realized he was just trying to lighten the mood, and smiled.

Soon they reached a set of doors that the Chagrain opened and stood to the side to usher them in. The first thing Soniee noticed was that the Chancellor wasn't alone. There was a large luncheon board set up at one end of the room and several people were gathered around it, including Padme. She saw Soniee and raised her glass in greeting but she must have been in discussion with one of the other senators so she didn't immediately come over.

The second thing that both Soniee and Lux noticed at the same time was that they were still holding hands. Chancellor Palpatine seemed to have noticed this too and he was smiling at them. Soniee and Lux looked down at their joined hands and then at each other's faces and then let go quickly and took a step apart.

Just then Soniee wasn't afraid at all of what she needed to say. The chancellor looked so kind and grandfatherly as if all we wanted to do was grant her every request. She took a step toward him. "Please, Sir, I know what a great honor it is to have been named the representative of my people but I never really wanted any of this. I had hoped that since Sundari is now at peace and they can reopen the Academy that I could go back and finish my exams and graduate properly."

"My dear child." Palpatine held out a hand toward her, drawing her to where he was standing next to a holotable.

Before she went to him she glanced back at Lux and a look of understanding passed between them. He silently wished her luck as he crossed the room toward the other senators and the food. Then Soniee went to join the chancellor at the holotable.

"I know you didn't ask for this responsibility." His soft voice with soothing. "Though you have born up under the shock and the unexpected burden quite well." Then his eyes were so sad that Soniee felt the desire to comfort him even though she knew he was just sympathizing with her. "I am afraid that the Royal Academy of Government will not be reopening in the near future."

Palpatine drew her attention to the holotable and brought up an image from her nightmares. Smoke was rising from the building she had called home.

"No!" The word was muffled by her hands as tears filled her eyes. It wasn't just the building but because she knew...

"The Prime Minister's soldiers found a band of the insurgents who had taken refuge there after you and your friends were sent away." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and she felt a surprising strength from the old man. "They wouldn't come quietly so Almec resorted to..."

Soniee tensed. She didn't want to hear and yet she did.

"I'll spare you the details. I'm told it wasn't pretty." He sighed wearily. "But there you see the result, a great institution of higher learning, gone up in flames."

She couldn't help it. She had to know. Soniee closed her eyes and reached out into the Force. She gulped with relief when she found the pinprick of light that represented her only hope. He was alive. He may have been captured or gone into hiding but Korkie was surely alive.

And then, Good, good. Stretch out with your feelings. You are strong in the Force.

There was power in the voice that spoke to her in her mind and she let it wash over her. She answered it silently, But my home has been destroyed. There is no peace...

There is no peace, the voice repeated her words and went on. There is only passion.

There is only passion, Soniee breathed the words.

Through passion, I gain strength, the voice led her. Through strength, I gain power.

But Almec had the power. He had driven Korkie into hiding or ... or had captured him.

Through power, I gain victory, the voice continued.

"Victory," She whispered aloud.

Through victory, my chains are broken...

Her eyes snapped open as the last of the words came to her.

The Force shall free me.

She hadn't realized that she had raised her hand and she was actually, physically reaching forward toward the holoimage of the Academy. Her fingers broke the stream of the smoky blue glow and for a second she wasn't sure if it was the broken image or the sparks of electricity dancing between her fingertips.

"I can save him," she whispered.

"What was that you said, My dear?"

The voice from over her shoulder made her jump. The chancellor was still standing there.

"I." Soniee dropped her hand to her side. "Sir, I need to go back there. I need to make sure that my friends are okay."

"But don't you see that you can be a help to them here?"

She turned and looked at him. "How?"

"Prime Minister Almec has placed his trust in you." The chancellor smiled encouragingly but a spike of hatred flared within her. The man was evil. He had to be stopped.

Good, said the voice in her mind again. Use your hate!

"You can work with him from this end to find diplomatic solutions to the problems of your world," the chancellor went on.

Work with him or bring him down, Soniee thought and then she spoke, "I suppose I could stay for a while to ... help."

The chancellor patted her shoulder and smiled even as the voice laughed triumphantly in her mind.