Dark Angel
By Serena Kenobi
Author's Note: Once again, I thank you for the reviews!! It's what keeps this story alive. Appreciate it, mates!
I have a forum, in case you didn't know, for Star Wars AU Roleplay and also to discuss this and my other Star Wars stories. So, if you have a question about Jix or Elena or anything else, feel free to look up my forums, go to Star Wars AU Roleplay, and click on the topic "My AU Stories." Posts and questions welcome!!
Disclaimer: Me? Own Star Wars? (laughs) I wish. I also wish I owned the Force Unleashed, but it's not out yet. APRIL!!!
As he paced furiously down the empty, dark hallways of the castle, Jix swore loudly and repeatedly, getting the sudden urge to break something. With a menacing scowl on his handsome face, he abruptly turned and hurled a large fist into the wall, its impact managing to cause a small dent and a few spider-like cracks in the wall. Jix didn't even look back but moved on, growling under his breath.
You kriffin' nerf-herder! Jix's mind screamed. You just KISSED LORD DARTH VADER'S DAUGHTER!!! This is it for you, man. You're done for. What in Vader's name possessed you to do something so incredibly stupid?
Jix couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty about leaving Elena all by herself, but after that little fiasco, he wanted to stay as far away from her as possible. For as long as possible. And it wasn't because of her. Well, actually, it was; but it was mostly because of him. He would want to kiss her again if he saw her – Force; he even enjoyed kissing her, a lot – but who knew how that would've turned out if he hadn't stopped? Would they have decided to be in a… relationship?
Sithspawn, she was driving him insane!
He had to stay away from her. He didn't even want to be in the same room anymore now that he knew what he would feel. Even if he saw her, just so much as looked at her, he would want to kiss her again. Now that he had had a taste, he wanted more.
He wanted to get her out of his head.
But he couldn't.
They couldn't have a romantic relationship. Now it looked as if they couldn't even have just a friendship.
Blast. This was not good. What in world's name had persuaded her to kiss him like that? Torture him like that? His scowl deepened, and he balled his hands into fists, wanting very much to bring down a few stormtroopers to cool himself down.
Sith, he had completely messed up everything.
He was in over his head now. Way over his head. And there was nothing he could do about it. And for the first time in his life, Jix was at a loss for what to do. And he hated it.
Oh, Force. The trembling was returning, full swing. And Elena was all out of calcium supplements and stuck lying on her bed. She couldn't even contact anyone because she could hardly move, and Jix was nowhere to be seen. He had disappeared completely after the incident.
Elena lifted up a hand and stared at it as it began to tremble more violently, and she shuddered, inwardly groaning as a familiar horrid tremble passed through her weakened body.
Perfect. Just perfect.
She thought about calling Jenson, but how would she explain herself? Would he take her to the doctor's, and though the doctors couldn't explain her condition, would they run tests on her? And Force knew how that would turn out...
Elena couldn't remember the last time she had ended up in such a predicament. Well, except for the time when Mara had died. But that was Mara's predicament. This was hers.
Her father would be home shortly, but not soon enough. She couldn't trust anyone else in the castle, and she couldn't leave her room.
She would have to ask Jix for help again. And maybe if she did, she could mend their frayed relationship. Or maybe not.
Closing her eyes, she sighed and concentrated to the best of her abilities. Jix, she called. Jix, I know you're getting this message, so please listen.
There was silence on the other end.
Jix, please.
Still no reply.
Elena sighed, dropped her head on her pillow. He wasn't going to answer her. She had ruined everything. What a mess.
She slowly reached over to her beside table and picked up her comlink. Dialing a number, she waited.
"What?" Jix's voice snarled on the other end of the frequency.
"Look, if you don't want to talk to me, that's your choice. I just need more calcium before my voice starts to shake again."
A pause. "How much do ya need?" He asked grudgingly, a hint of resignation in his tone.
"As many bottles as you can get."
He sighed shortly. "I'll be back within the hour. Jix out." The communication ended abruptly, and Elena frowned. She wondered how long she could stand the Corellian agent's indifferent attitude.
Jix returned as he had promised, but merely entered her room, placed the bottles on the nightstand, barely looking at her, and left. His blue eyes were disinterested, and his countenance cold. He obviously didn't want to talk to her, and she felt rather rejected by his behavior. He had told her father that he would take care of her, but now he didn't even acknowledge her presence.
Maybe that was her fault. Elena felt sick, and not just because of her mutant problem. Once this was all over, she wanted to leave this entire thing behind. Running away from her problems wasn't the best solution, but at the moment, it was the only one she had.
When she got better, she resolved to contact her sister and ask to spend a few weeks, maybe a month, at Alderaan with her and the Royal Organa Family.
Elena rolled over on her side, tears threatening to fall down her face. She gazed out of her huge window, which was actually a wall of large transparisteel windows, at the Coruscanti traffic passing by.
Force knew she needed a vacation.
LATER THAT WEEK
Vader returned to find the castle suspiciously quiet. No mishaps with mutant powers, no arguments between Elena and Jenson or Elena and Jixton – it bothered him greatly, but for two different reasons: one, because he had grown used to having Elena and her quirky humorous self around, and two, because he shouldn't have been so bothered by the quiet. Was he going soft?
No. He just… had gotten strangely content to return home – it seemed really like a home, but that was because his daughter was there.
Speaking of Elena, where was she? He searched for her presence as he strode down the dark, large corridors of the castle, and finally located her familiar Force-signature –
He nearly stumbled back, surprised by how oddly weak and frail it was. Helpless and… alone.
Vader frowned darkly. What was going on? And where was Jixton, anyways? He had ordered him to look after her. If he had deserted her…
But, no. Jixton would never do that to Elena. Vader knew that he cared deeply for his daughter. Too deeply to leave her alone in a time like this.
Vader reached Elena's quarters, reached out for permission to enter. He got a small response, and opened the door, stepping inside the large, open room. He first noticed that Elena was lying, still, on a bed. The second thing he noticed was that Jixton was nowhere to be found.
He strode over to her bedside, reached up, took off his helmet and neckpiece so he could have full freedom to move his head, and sat down, touching Elena's arm.
Her eyes, her dark eyes, opened slowly, and they blinked, then focused on him. Deep brown, almost raven hair fell in wisps in front of her pale, worn face, and she managed a smile.
"Hello, Father. How was the mission?"
Anakin stared at her, wondering how much information he should divulge. "Fine."
Her eyes searched his. "You're lying," she said softly. "You're not telling me everything."
Anakin glanced at her beside table and back to her. Right now was not the time to be discussing the almost finished construction of the Death Star. "I see you've got calcium," he said, changing the subject, "I seem to recall something almost exactly like this happening last year."
She nodded. "It did. My body can't keep up with the increase of my powers, so it decides to… revamp every year. Like molting, in a way. I'll be fine. I just need to sleep."
"Where's Jixton?" Anakin demanded. "He should be here, watching you…" he trailed off when he saw his daughter's face fall. " What is it? Elena?"
"Jix is probably gone," Elena said sadly. "I don't know when, or if he'll be back anytime soon."
"He was supposed to be watching you," Anakin replied, irritated at the Corellian's behavior.
Elena blushed. "He was, but I sort of… well. We sort of argued. I'd rather not talk about it."
His blue eyes studied her, but he decided not to press the issue. "Very well." Leaning over, he brushed some hair out of her face and rested his gloved hand on her cheek. "Get some rest." He stood and turned to leave the room.
"Father."
Anakin looked back. "Yes?"
Elena said, "I'd like to visit Leia when this is over."
Her father gazed at her. Finally, after a pause, he said, "This wouldn't be because of Jixton, now would it?"
Elena looked down.
"Elena, you can't run from your problems forever. Believe me, I've tried," he said flatly.
"I know." Elena's voice was small. "I just… want to get away from everything. The Emperor. Coruscant. I want to see Leia. She's one of my best friends, and I…" she trailed off.
He nodded. "Very well. I will arrange it."
"No!" Her tone caused him to look at her, surprised. "I'd rather just contact her myself."
"Very well," he repeated, and strode out of the room, deeply immersed in his own darker train of thoughts.
Unbeknownst to his daughter, the Emperor had been recently upping the pressure for him to turn Elena to the dark side. Unimpressed with his progress so far, the Emperor had told him that if he didn't seem some results soon, Vader would have to deal with the consequences.
But Vader still wasn't sure if he wanted to turn his only daughter onto the path he had chosen. So far, it hadn't worked out as Palpatine had promised. His wife had died, he had been separated from his child, and he cared nothing for wealth – but the extreme power was luring – what was he to do?
Vader sank down onto his bed, sighing deeply. He knew, someday, that it would come to this. He had hoped, though, that it wouldn't be as soon as this. But what if he did turn Elena to the dark side? What if they overthrew the Emperor and ruled as father and daughter?
Overcome with exhaustion and stress, Vader passed out.
Vader stood in the grand throne room of the recently redecorated Imperial palace, his dark blonde hair catching the artificial light from the setting Coruscanti sun.
"Father!"
Vader turned at the familiar, angry voice of his daughter as she came storming up to him.
"Father," the girl growled, her icy blue eyes flashing dangerously, "I thought we had decided to wipe out the rest of the Falleen population last week. But there's still been no action yet! What's going on?" Her blonde hair had been dyed a near black, and her eyes were cold.
Vader shivered under his daughter's menacing stare. "Elena," he started, placing a hand on her shoulder –
"My name is Phoenix." Her eyes suddenly darkened, and her voice grew into a guttural hiss, a voice not her own. A nearby vase abruptly burst apart, vaporized by Elena's Phoenix unstoppable powers.
"You need to calm down," Vader ordered, gathering up his strength. "I will not have you vaporizing every single object that you come close to."
Elena's eyes returned to their icy color. "Don't tell me what to do, Father dearest," she hissed. "I thought we had agreed to rule the galaxy together - you will treat me as your equal."
Vader stiffened. "Whether you like it or not, I am your father," he said firmly. "And I think we should investigate that new medicine those doctors were creating – they might be able to fix your Phoenix personality."
Elena's eyes instantly flashed back into their all-dark state. "I don't want to fix it," she snarled, the windows behind Vader simultaneously bursting into microscopic shards.
Vader covered his face with his hands, horrified as he watched his daughter be consumed by her dark side personality and begin vaporizing everything in sight. "Elena! Elena, stop!" He cried. "This isn't you!"
She paid no attention, her face growing darker.
As the wind swirled around him, Vader cried out one last time in a last effort: "ELENA!"
Vader's eyes shot open. He bolted upright, his breathing doubled, and he gasped for breath, drops of sweat running off his forehead and down his chest. He shook his head, threw off the covers, and stormed towards his large window. Frustration and deep pain filling him, he turned, grabbed a light tunic, and walked out of his room and onto his private balcony. He leaned against one of the dark couches and gazed, his face now emotionless, out into Imperial Center, the traffic still going, even though it was past midnight.
He had a lot to think about.
"Luke? Luuuke!" Owen shouted, eyeing the inside of the homestead.
Silence.
"Luke Skywalker, don't make me come and find you, boy!"
Still, nothing.
Owen growled. "That blasted son-of-a-Sith!"
"Owen!" Beru gasped in horror as she set a pitcher of blue milk down on the table. "Don't you dare talk about your nephew like that!"
Owen muttered under his breath. "That kid is nothing but trouble," he stated irritably. "He's been running off for no good reason. What if he's gotten into death sticks or something worse? You must've noticed how strangely he's been acting."
Beru nodded reluctantly. "Yes, but that's probably a normal thing for a boy his age. He's almost a man, Owen. He's already eighteen years old."
"I know. But he's a naïve boy with crazy dreams of racing off into the galaxy. He needs some sense driven into him. I hope to leave this farm in capable hands."
His wife sighed. "Owen, Luke's not a farmer. He never has been; never will be." She paused. "He has too much of his father in him."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Owen gazed solemnly at his wife. "If he's not back here in fifteen minutes, he'll get a good licking. I'll ground him here if I have to."
Beru shook her head. "Luke's a sweet, innocent boy. I can't imagine him running off if he didn't have a good reason. I'm sure he's just talking with his friends at the Tosche station."
But Beru Lars couldn't have been more wrong.
"You are cheating, Surfer!""No, I'm not."
"You can't use two powers at the same time, Skywalker!" Sylina shouted, desperately trying to keep up with the young man racing beside her. She was, at the moment, zooming across the Junland Wastes towards one of Luke's favorite spots – Beggar's Canyon – on her swoop bike.
The sleek, metallic body covering shined off the Silver Surfer as he smirked, flying at an incredible speed beside her swoop. This new power, this new, amazing ability had to be one of the most mind-blowing things Luke Skywalker had ever experienced. As he soared on his gleaming surfboard, which happened to respond to his every thought, he was completely and utterly at peace. Calm. Serene. In control.
The fact that he had the Force as his ally didn't hurt, either.
The Silver Surfer was, without a doubt, one of Luke's favorite comic book characters. And now, he got to be him.
Wow.
"Looks who's talking!" Luke shouted back, his voice that deep purring of the Surfer's. "You're enhancing your speed creating a sandstorm to push you along!"
The beautiful Lethan Twi'lek mutant only grinned a dazzling smile. "Not the same!" She returned. "The swoop is not a power!"
Luke laughed and swerved back and forth as if he were actually surfing the waves of one of the oceans on Mon Calamari. He could go to any height in this state, any length without tiring – the whole experience was like nothing he'd ever encountered before.
His sisters would have to try this.
Luke returned his attention to the upcoming canyon, and with an amazing speed burst forth, phasing through a few large rock formations and coming around to make a loop around Sylina's bike.
Suddenly, the Force and his ultimate senses screamed a warning, and he ducked down low to avoid two oncoming rocks that were hurling at him from out of nowhere. Regaining his altitude, he glared at Sylina, whose eyes were a murky brown as she used her power to telekinetically break off large sections of the canyon and throw them at him.
"Enough of that," Luke purred, and raced for her swoop, his shining blue eyes filled with determination and playful joy.
Sylina's eyes widened as the Surfer thundered towards her, and she tried to duck down low –
But found herself airborne and in the arms of Luke Skywalker himself.
"Skywalker, my bike, if you please."
Luke's eyes locked on the swoop; and in the next few seconds, it stalled and slowed to a stop.
Sylina looked at him. "Showoff." Even with that humorous statement, the Twi'lek could make it sound stately. Luke mused that she could make even the worst curse in the galaxy sound distinguished.
"I do my best," He replied smoothly. He lowered himself to the ground and gently set her down next to her bike. "Sylina, I'd love to spend more time with you, but I have to get home before my uncle becomes suspicious. Also, it's dangerous for the both of us to be together, seeing as how we're both mutants." He morphed into his normal body, the light breeze running through his sandy blonde hair.
The Twi'lek nodded solemnly. "I agree. I will leave Tatooine and go to the safest planet possible. However, I am unsure of which planet would be most suitable for my… needs."
"Alderaan," Luke spoke. "Go to Alderaan. I have a… friend there who will make sure you're safe and unnoticed."
Sylina eyed him. "Would this friend happen to know of your mutation?"
"Yes."
She nodded. "Very well. Alderaan it is."
Luke stared out into the canyon, feeling somewhat saddened. Although he had barely known the Lethan Twi'lek, he already knew that they would be good friends. Comrades, maybe, in the future.
"But how will I find this friend?" Sylina's voice said, breaking him out of his self-pitying.
Luke internally debated with himself for a moment before saying, "Go to the Alderaan Royal House. Ask for…" he paused, "Princess Leia."
The female mutant raised an eyebrow gracefully, if that was possible. "Princess Leia… you know her? How?"
"That's a story for another time," Luke said, sighing. "Maybe she'll tell you herself. She'll help you, I'm sure. Tell her that Luke sent you."
"I will. And I will begin searching for others like us. There must be more in hiding." As he nodded, she looked at him and held out a delicate, red hand. "Luke Skywalker, I hope that we will meet again."
Luke's face relaxed into a smile, and he firmly shook it. "It's been a pleasure, Sylina. May the Force be with you."
"And with you as well, my friend." Nodding once more, she seated herself on the swoop bike, waved, and raced off into the desert towards Mos Eisely spaceport.
Luke's smile fell into a frown as he thought of his uncle waiting for him. Sighing, he turned and teleported back near his home. As he ran down the steps into the pit of the house, he looked around for any sign of his uncle or aunt. Reaching into the Force to try and sense their presences, he turned and –
"LUKE SKYWALKER, where have you been?"
Luke cringed and turned to face his fuming uncle. "Uncle Owen! I was just checking the outer evaporators on the east side." He didn't like lying, but he didn't have a choice. It was for their own protection.
Owen didn't buy it, unfortunately. "Don't try lying to me, you little runt," he growled angrily.
Luke stiffened. He hated it when someone called him that. If his uncle only knew…
"I know that you've been sneaking out, and I want to know what you've been up to!"
Luke's stormy blue eyes flashed in anger, and his uncle swallowed, immediately remembering the way Anakin's had done that.
"I don't have to tell you anything, Uncle." Luke's voice wasn't cold, but it was impassive and yet firm and soft.
That only made Owen more furious. "You live under my roof, boy, and as long as you do, then you answer to me!"
"Well, maybe I won't live here anymore!" Luke said, his voice growing angry. "I'm frelling eighteen years old, Uncle Owen, and I have a right to live my own life now. I'm not a kid anymore, and you won't treat me as one, either."
Owen was livid. "You're staying for as long as I need you, boy!" He thundered.
Luke's expression became emotionless, and he straightened. "We'll see." He stormed past him and into the doorway that led to his room.
Owen stared after him, concerned and still seething. "Too much like that blasted father of his," he muttered.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Leia Organa stormed away from her overbearing aunts, her hands balled into fists. "Sometimes, I wish I could be a freelance smuggler or something like that," she muttered to herself. "I absolutely hate being dolled up like this!" Pausing by a small fountain, she stared at her reflection. Extremely displeased at what she was seeing, she reached up and wiped off as much of the makeup as she could with her sleeve.
"Mother," she whispered down to the fountain suddenly, "I will become a Jedi. This I swear. And I'll help bring Father back from the dark side. I will. I promise." She brought up a hand and curled it into a fist, her adamantium bones cracking with the movement of her fingers.
"Leia?"
Leia whisked around, startled, to see her father, well, adoptive father staring at her. "Hello, Father," she said, and quickly brought her hands behind her back.
Bail Organa's eyes narrowed. "What was that you were saying?"
"Saying? I didn't say anything," Leia lied.
Her father took a few steps closer. "You were talking to yourself."
"Really? Hmm, so I was. Well, I have to go… uh, redo my hair. I'll see you later!" Leia plastered a smile on her face and started to hurry off, but her father's arm shot out and grabbed hers, and he pulled her gently back to face him.
"Leia, you've been acting very strangely. First, you suddenly become violently ill and then ask for calcium pills – calcium pills, of all things. And now, a week later, you are exhibiting odd behavior and are scaring your mother and aunts."
Leia cringed, remembering the recent unpleasant incidents. "Look, Father, I'm sorry for snarling at them; I really don't know what came over me–"
"Leia, honey, you sounded just like a raging panther!" Her father exclaimed. "It was extremely unnatural, and you've been exhibiting this same odd behavior ever since you got better. You're inhaling your food in a most undignified manner, you're jumping around the palace and sneaking around, and your attitude keeps shifting most oddly. I don't know what to do with you!" Her father sighed.
Leia swallowed. He, of course, was referring to her growth in powers. Because they were developing, she was exhibiting traits of those powers; and it seemed, the personalities of the mutants who carried said powers. One, the powers of Feral, was making her act like a vicious feline. She would snarl, unexpectedly, for no reason and had been eating primarily fish and meat. That was for the first day. Another problem, caused by Elektra's powers, caused her to completely dominate her self-defense practice, overpowering her opponents in a matter of seconds. Leia had suddenly unleashed some shocking martial arts moves, much to the concern and astonishment of her teacher. She was also being unpredictable at times, and completely not herself.
From her nightly conversations with Luke and Elena over the past couple weeks, they had experienced the exact same problem.
She wondered what kind of disturbance this had created in the Force. But thank the Force that it was over.
But there was also some interesting news. The young Jedi-in-training that Elena had dealt with a few weeks ago had beena mutant.
It comforted Leia, in a way, to know that she and her siblings were not the only mutants in the galaxy. Yes, they might be the only mutants who could copy other mutant's powers, but not the only mutants.
That cheered her up, but it also got her thinking. Could there be more mutants spread throughout the galaxy?
"Leia!" Her father's angry voice brought her out of her thinking.
"I'm sorry, Father, I wasn't paying attention. What were you saying?" Leia blinked up at her father with doe brown eyes.
Bail scowled. "Leia, I think we should take you to see a doctor. Something might be wrong with you."
Leia's famous Skywalker temper instantly flared up. "There's nothing wrong with me!" She snapped, jerking her arm away in fury. "I'm perfectly fine!"
Bail stared at his daughter, disturbed and growing angry. "Leia Organa, how dare you talk to me that way!"
Leia's temper, fueled by the fact that he thought something was actually wrong with her, only grew when he said 'Organa' at the end of her name. "How dare you say that something's wrong with me!" Leia shouted back. "Because there isn't!"
She couldn't help but feel like one of the X-Men, mutants who were not accepted because of what they were. This must've been what it felt like to be so incredibly different and misunderstood.
"That's enough!" Bail roared. "You, young lady, will be grounded for the next week for speaking to me like that! No friends, no speeder-bikes, and no contacts with Elena Skywalker! I think that girl is having a bad influence on you."
Leia's eyes narrowed. "Fine," she hissed in a voice that didn't seem to be her own, and stormed off down the hall.
Bail stared after her, confused, upset, and suspicious. What was his daughter hiding?
Leia strode into her room, seething, and slammed the door shut behind her, throwing a fist into the door and denting it considerably. "Blasted humans!" She growled. "They don't understand! And how dare he talk about my sister like that!"
A beeping from her comm system caused her to turn. She moved over to it and smiled when she saw the ID number. Waving her hand at it, she waited a few seconds before she heard the familiar voice of her sister.
"Leia, what's up?"
Leia sighed. "Well, other than the fact that I just completely blew up at my father and nearly gave away my powers… not too good. This whole new ability growth thing is not working out well for me. Do you even know what kind of danger we could be in?"
"Believe me, I know. I'm having the same issue, and it's hard for me to control them. I've shut myself up in my room until this stage blows over. Which, I hope, will only be a few more days."
"Me, too," Leia said. "My father just grounded me because I lost my temper; and I'm actually not supposed to be talking to you."
Elena laughed. "Sounds just like you, sis."
"Yeah, well, he said that he doesn't want you to talk to me anymore, period. He thinks you're a bad influence on me."
There was a pause. "Actually, I think you're the bad influence on me."
Leia grinned. "Yes, well, I don't think he'll see it that way." She quickly sobered up and continued, "But I don't like the fact that he doesn't trust you."
"I don't either. Maybe he's afraid I'll tell Dad that you're my sister, but he's known that I know for four years now. But I wouldn't risk Dad finding out about you."
"I know that, Elena. We all know the risks. Maybe he thinks you're turning to the dark side from living with… Dad for so long." Leia had finally said it.
Elena was silent for a moment. "First, I don't know what in Palpatine's name would give him that impression; and second, you just called Dad 'Dad.'"
"Must be your bad influence on me," Leia joked weakly, inwardly debating with herself. "But he's getting suspicious. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this secret. Luke's having the same problem, too. You're lucky; Dad already knows of your powers, and you have an entire castle to subject those powers to. You don't have a family to hide from."
Elena made a noncommittal noise. "I see your point. Well, you could always come live with us, here at the Dark Lord's estate. There's plenty of room," she quipped.
"If only," Leia said, saddened by the fact that she couldn't live with her real family. Even if her father, well, was still a Sith lord. "Well, at least you and Luke live with real family. It's not that I don't love my father and mother," she added hastily, "but they don't understand. And they're always trying to make me become something I'm not."
"Which is?"
"A lady. I mean, I'm glad I'm in politics, but they're grooming me to be a fine lady. I don't want to be."
"You're a tomboy, Leia, through and through. I do see you becoming a dignified politician like Mom, but she was one tough woman. She wasn't a prim and proper lady all the time. She kicked serious butt," Elena said.
"I know. I don't know what to do."
"Don't worry," Elena said. "I'm sure we'll figure something out. Oh, yeah, I was wondering… would it be all right if I came and visited you for a while? I need to… get away."
Leia rubbed her temples. "I don't know, Elena, my father… he, I don't know if he'll let you see me anymore."
"I could talk to him, see if he'll loosen up."
"And if he doesn't, what then? I use the Professor's powers and just control his mind?" Leia snorted. "Yeah, like I'd ever do that."
"Then you, uh, run away?"
Leia pondered that for a moment. "That's actually not a bad idea," she said thoughtfully.
"I wasn't being serious, Leigh!"
"Oh."
After a momentary pause, Leia continued, "Wait, I have an idea."
"Uh-oh. That's not good. Excuse me while I run and hide under my covers."
Leia ignored her sister's teasing and said, "Seriously, listen. What if you were sent here, by your father, just on a temporary leave of absence?"
"What're you getting at? Why would I do that?" Elena asked.
Leia grinned. "Oh, I don't know. You need a change of scenery from those drab Coruscant high-rise buildings."
"Oh, now I see what you're thinking." Leia detected a grin in her sister's voice. "And you're absolutely right," Elena continued, her tone quickly changing to a more sober one, "I do need a vacation. Badly."
Leia frowned. "What's wrong?"
A sigh. "It's Jix."
"Jix? You mean that extremely handsome, roguish agent you were showing me holo photos of the other week? The one who had a big crush on you, and you on him? "
Elena sounded embarrassed. "Yeah, him. Things have gotten kinda… awkward between us."
"Oh, I see," Leia grinned conspiratorially. "Did he ask you out?"
"…Not exactly. I kinda…sorta…" she coughed, "it's, well, complicated. I'll tell you more when I see you."
"I'm sure you will. But I–" Leia was interrupted by a rap on her door and a female voice saying, "Leia! Leia, honey, are you all right?"
Leia groaned. "It's one of the terrible trio, my aunt Rouge! Sorry, I have to go."
"Understood. Elena out."
Leia quickly shut off her private comm system and said loudly as her aunt tapped on the door, "I'm coming, Aunt Rouge!" She pressed the button for the door to open and plastered a smile on her face.
Her aunt looked at her expectantly. "Leia Organa, what have I told you about raising your voice in the palace?"
"Don't do it?"
"Exactly!" Her aunt beamed, and stepped inside. "Leia, your father, myself, and your mother and your aunts are worried about you. Are you feeling well, dear?"
Leia glared. "Why is everyone treating me like an invalid? I'm perfectly well, thank you." She gracefully seated herself by her desk.
Aunt Rouge followed her and stood in front of her. "We're just concerned, darling, that you're not acting like a proper princess."
"What if I don't want to be a fine lady princess?" Leia demanded. "It seems like Father dearest, Mother, and you only want me to be what you want me to be. What if I want to be something else?"
Aunt Rouge was puzzled. "Something else like what, darling? A fine lady is what you need to become if you want to have a place in politics."
Leia sighed in frustration. "You don't have to be a fine lady and dress up all the time to be a politician, Auntie. You have to know what you're doing."
"I know, dear, but we only want what's best for you."
"That's debatable," Leia muttered.
Aunt Rouge frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but then Leia's door buzzer rang.
"Who is it?" Leia called, ignoring her aunt's scowl of displeasure.
A male voice came from the other side. "Princess, I wish to speak with you." It was a guard, Leia sensed.
"Honestly, bothering the Princess like this," her aunt sniffed. "Ignore him. We must continue our discussion."
Leia stood up quickly and opened the door. "Yes, what is it?" She asked.
The guard bowed. "There's someone here to see you. She says she needs to speak with Princess Leia about an important matter."
Leia frowned. "Who in world's name…" she trailed off. "Did she say who she was or what the matter was?"
"No, she wished to speak with you privately."
"Has she been scanned for weapons?"
"Yes, Milady. She has nothing on her. She is a Twi'lek female."
Leia was now interested. "Tell her I will be there at once."
The guard nodded, bowed, and left.
Aunt Rouge instantly protested against it. "Leia, my dear, don't go! It could be an assassin!"
Leia smirked. "Even if she were, I'm certain I could take her on." She stepped out and walked down the hall, inwardly laughing at her aunt's horrified gasp. She went down into the main waiting hall, where she saw a beautiful, regal looking Lethan Twi'lek female.
The Twi'lek saw her and rose gracefully to her feet, bowing. "Your Highness." Her voice was a smooth, deep tenor.
"Yes, I am she. You said you wished to speak with me?"
"Not here. We must talk in private. This is a very delicate matter." Everything about the Twi'lek reeked of dignity and poise. If she were an assassin, she would have to be an excellent acrobat.
Leia, intrigued, nodded and waved her guards away. "I'll be all right." At a look from them, she frowned. "You may go now!"
The guards shook their heads.
"Fine," Leia said, irritated, "Please, follow me." She led the Twi'lek into another room and shut the door, locking it behind the two of them. Then, turning around, she said, "What is it that is so urgent? And who are you?"
The Twi'lek gazed at her steadily. "My name is Element. And I am a mutant."
Argh, I wanted to get more in but not make it too long a chapter. Oh, well. Nice ending, though. Anyhoo, more exciting stuff coming up next chapter... introducing a new Sith apprentice!! Mwa ha ha ha... can't wait. Don't forget!! All questions can be submitted to my forum!!
Don't forget to review!! Just no flaming. Flamers will be ignored. Or flamed by other nice reviewers who get mad.
MtFbwy,
- Serena Kenobi
