Blinded By Love
By Serena Kenobi
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I had mixed emotions about Taronel's death - I, for one, was glad to kill him off. Yes, I admit it. He was bugging the heck outta me. But don't worry, there'll be some other guys coming along... but of course, we have to stay focused - ANAKIN! Well, Vader, actually. Anyhoo, hope you enjoy this chapter!
The next morning, I carefully got up, smoothed out my rebelliously curly hair, and fumbled for the button that would open the door. After a few frustrated minutes, I located it and stepped out into the hallway. I heard voices and laughter and made my way, carefully, towards the central hold area. Feeling my way against the wall, I eventually entered the hold.
"Hey, the little lady's awake!"
"Hi there, beautiful!"
"Morning, sweetheart."
"Hey, handmaiden."
I smiled gratefully at all the welcoming voices, and I felt a two hands gently take mine and lead me over to the bench. I found myself right next to a lying down Moin, and I turned my face towards him. "How are you feeling this morning?" I asked.
"Better, beautiful, especially after your careful watching-over." I heard a grin in his voice.
"Obviously you haven't felt the effects of the poisoned bandages I used yet," I said playfully.
The others roared with laughter.
"I see you can handle yourself, little lady," Raler said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You hungry? We got some gourmet ration bars."
"That's fine," I nodded. "I'm so hungry I could eat this table right here." I placed my hands on the table for emphasis.
"Been there, done that," Tyros sniggered. "Can't you feel the teeth-marks?"
"Very funny," Dash spoke dryly. "I don't know about you laserbrains, but I eat thunderstorms for breakfast."
"By the Force, I'm not going anywhere near you in the future," I teased.
More laughter from the men. "Man, you're a little spitfire!" Tyros exclaimed.
"It's just the way I was born," I returned, smiling. It was so easy to feel happy and content with these men. I felt myself forgetting my troubles for a moment, and it was refreshing.
A ration bar was placed into my hand, and Raler said, "Here. It's not much. We'll have to stock up on more food once we reach a well-populated planet."
"Oh, really, it's perfectly fine," I assured him, biting into the bar. "I've had much worse before."
I heard Raler sit down, his chair squeaking, and the four men became silent. Two were involved in a game, what game I didn't know; Raler, I believe, was watching; and Moin was lying there, also watching the game. It was a comfortable silence, broken only by "Good move!" or "Ah, stang!" followed by the sound of a slap and then "There's a lady present, idiot!" Although I couldn't see their faces or what moves they were making, I couldn't help but smile all the same. These comical men took my mind off my darker thoughts, for which I was glad.
"Now, Mrs. Taronel," Raler said suddenly, "I think we should discuss your future."
I nodded uncertainly. "Indeed. I have money – I just need to access my account."
"We can drop you off wherever your home was," Raler continued gently, "And may I say that I'm sorry for your loss. In all the confusion yesterday I'm afraid we weren't very thoughtful towards you."
"Oh, no!" I interjected. "You were! I can't thank you enough for saving my life and letting me come aboard your ship – but I'm afraid to tell you that I don't have a home. I lived on a base – Polis Massa. Taronel was a doctor and a scientist there. But now that he's dead, I don't think they would want me living there. There's nothing for me there anymore."
"So what then are your plans?"
I set my jaw. "With your consent, Captain, I would like to stay with you and your crew."
There was silence that followed.
"Stay with us?" Raler finally said, incredulous. "But we're smugglers – you're a scientist, and not to be rude, a blind one at that. What would you do?"
"I have some medical training. I know how to shoot. I have diplomatic expertise – I can help you get out of sticky situations through negotiations if necessary. I know how to cook. Please, I'll do anything."
"Are you sure?" He asked skeptically.
"Quite sure."
Raler paused before saying, "Well, men? Whaddya say?"
"Let her join!"
"Absolutely!"
Dash said, "I'm not part of the crew, but I'll vote for her anyway."
"Then that's settled," Raler said firmly. "Mrs. Taronel-"
"No," I interrupted.
"Excuse me?" He said, puzzled.
"I'm not Mrs. Taronel anymore. And my name isn't Corde, either. It's Padme… Skywalker. Corde was a friend of mine. Just Padme will do."
"Why change your first name?"
I shrugged. "I wasn't sure how much I could trust you, but now I see there's no reason why I shouldn't give you my real name."
"Padme… Skywalker, did you say?"
I nodded. "It was my first husband's name."
"Padme Skywalker it is then. Somehow it suits you better," Raler said.
"Welcome to the crew, beautiful," Moin said, laughing.
I smiled, but it was a half-hearted smile. Although I liked all these scoundrels, I missed myscoundrel. I missed Anakin.
A week passed. During that week, I got to know the crew a little better. Since I couldn't see them, I asked for descriptions and approximate ages.
Raler, the captain, was a human male, as they all were, and told me he had brown hair that was fairly long, he was 6'2", and had hazel eyes. When I asked him his age, he laughed and said, "I'm no young buck, but I'm not an old timer, either." I decided to guess his age around thirty-five or thirty-six.
Tyros told me he had black hair, short, and green eyes. He told me his age: thirty-two, and he also said his height was 6'. I liked him already, and I felt that he was one of the gentler men. I felt I could trust him most. He always found the time to help me read or write something, and we spent many hours talking.
Moin was the real character in the group. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and, he told me, a killer smile. He told me his age was twenty-five, but I was disinclined to believe him. I finally resolved on making his age around thirty. He was the youngest in the group, and the most inexperienced. I didn't tell him how old I was – any of them – but if I did, I was sure they wouldn't believe me. It would take a little while longer before I could trust them fully, but I was already inclined to do so. Dash was the loner, but he wasn't staying with us for too much longer. He told me that he had red hair and green eyes. They were all Corellian.
We finally docked for supplies and to exchange goods at a shipyard on Corellia, and I could tell the men were excited to see their home planet. I was ashamed to say that I had never been to Corellia before, and when I told the men this, they simultaneously began talking about what I should see and which restaurants (or bars, rather) were the best, and I laughed and said, "I didn't know you were tour guides, too."
"We're multi-talented, beautiful," Moin said.
"I'm sure," I replied dryly.
Raler said, "We're gonna need someone to show the little lady around while we do our thing."
"I'll do it!" Moin instantly volunteered himself.
Tyros – I knew it was Tyros – snorted.
"No, Moin, I need you. Ty, if you wouldn't mind taking care of the little lady for a while," Raler said.
"Not at all," Ty said, "It'll be my pleasure."
"Why him?" Moin squawked.
"Why you?" Ty returned.
"Lucky sithspawn," Moins muttered.
"Do you ever shut up?" Dash said, his voice sounding half bored, half annoyed as usual. I couldn't seem to figure him out.
Moin wasn't fazed. "Nope."
There's that. Reviews are more than welcome!
MtFbwy,
- Serena K.
