Coruscant's skies fade from blue to ember, as a vast parade travels throughout the cities. Droids and a handful of jedis kept audience members away from the confetti-ridden streets, with some of their Force-Sensitive peers were in league with the Galactic Opera House's performers; partaking in the vibrant songs and acrobatic dances. In the proceeding floats, our Rebel veterans were presented, happily waving to the crowd under black, lapis-blue, golden and ivory confetti.
Under the moon, the parade would lead back to Mothma Hall within the Uscru District. There, a magnificent ball was held with dozens of Skyriver's leaders in attendance. As the Galactic troupe, their Jedi companions, Ubbla Mollbro, the Max Rebo Band, Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes along with other acts performed their numbers, the partygoers partook in various activities. Some discussed matters among one another. Others danced or sang along with the music. And the rest, like C3PO, just stood by the stage to simply observe the intriguing entertainment. With R2D2 accompanying him as always, the golden droid could not resist admiring.
"Oh, hasn't this been wonderful, R2?", he started, "The parade was absolutely marvelous and now this celebration! I cannot wait for the rest of the week-so much to come, my friend! So much more!"
R2 beeped out his minor concern regarding the more restless humans, Twi'Leks, Rodians, or additional species.
"No doubt about that.", laughed C3PO, "With so much excitement, they'd all be sleeping until next year. Or the following at this rate. Especially those performers there-the poor things must be so exhausted already-what, with rehearsals and all."
"I should say so.", agreed an approaching, middle-aged woman. She was none other than Madame Seufzen, the head of the Galactic Opera House.
"Oh! I beg your pardon, madam!", cried a remorseful Threepio, "I didn't mean it like that! I was-R2 and I were-"
The smaller robot had to vocalize his jest towards his colleague's mannerisms. In R2's view, C3PO was prone to overdosing on politeness.
"Hush, you!", C3PO snapped back, "At least I'm being a gentleman."
"No, no,", the happy Seufzen soothed the tension, "it's alright, darlings, I was agreeing with you. My students have worked hard to please these good people."
Upon hearing the impressive prima donna, Jattir Plage, C3PO went on to comment, "Especially her."
"Yes.", Seufzen agreed with hinted weariness.
During this time, Leia was discussing matters with Han and Luke. From their little circle, none of the three could resist having small, quick peeks at a busy Mon Mothma. Even as they made their way to one of the hall's many balconies. Since their news regarding the upcoming visitors, the main trio struggled to find a way to inform the leader privately for she had to go from one meeting on Naboo, to another on Chandrila. By the time she had returned from the latter planet, the festivities were already beginning. With such vital information, Luke and the Solo's knew privacy was a must. But, being Force-Sensitives, Luke or Leia could fight that foreboding feeling. They just knew the other masters and padawans were sensing it too.
"Are we going to tell her?", asked Luke regarding Mon Mothma.
"We don't even know when it'll happen.", said Leia.
"It could happen at any moment.", retorted Luke, "Can't you feel it?"
"Of course I do.", Leia replied, "But…this is gonna be hard to explain."
"Well, we better pick a quieter time.", added Han, "There's been enough hysteria as it is."
Luke had to agree with the both of them. However, he still pointed out, "She should-at the very least-be clued in."
"We know.", said Leia, taking notice of her brother's growing agitation.
"That illness…", she thought to herself, "It's getting to him…"
With a sympathetic sigh, Leia went on, "Don't worry too much about this, Luke. Remember, Mon has gotten security prepared earlier-"
"Not as quickly as we need to be!", snapped Luke. With his changing demeanor, the damage to his visage was getting easier to see. With the exception of light white rashes and black-and-blue bruises, his skin looked as white as Hoth's fallen snow.
What also did not help was that the last bit of desperate tension Luke blurted out caused a shock among the small circle. Not too shocked; they knew the real reason. It was a painful symptom popping up again and Charal, Cilghal and Rima would have to conjure up the medicine in the morning. Such painful reminders for the four friends for the inevitable was faster approaching.
That did not mean it didn't cause curiosity from outsiders. Including Mothma and Malaman. Even though the five are on one of the hall's balconies.
"I'm-I'm sorry…", stammered a remorseful Luke, "I didn't mean-"
"Luke, it's alright.", said Leia tenderly, "We know you're not feeling well."
"Is everything alright?", inquired Mothma as she arrived.
"Yes.", started Han, "Just a-a story Luke was recounting."
"That's right, Han. It was when I was on Dagobah.", fibbed Luke, "Happened over a decade ago."
Reassured of solace, Mothma allowed Leia to change the subject; asking if she could inform her of any vital matters. A proposition the Galactic leader agreed.
"Now's our chance.", Leia said to Han and Luke.
"Finally….", muttered Han with a slight smile as he and his wife left Mothma away.
With remorse and awkwardness remaining, Luke felt relieved when his two nephews, Ben and little Bailey, approached the group, asking their blonde uncle if he can tell their friends of his Battle with Emperor Palpatine. Luke happily agreed.
Before he knew it, Luke was recounting with engaged children surrounding him. On stage, it was Max Rebo's turn to perform. With Uubla's operatic Solo coming up next, the Galactic troupe and the performing jedis enjoyed a break backstage.
"Carpal tunnels gonna kill me in the morning.", said Tionne.
"I'm already sore.", said Amilyn Holdo, one of the volunteers.
"I keep telling you to stretch.", Nima, a Nautolan dancer, pointed out.
"I've been meaning to.", said Amilyn.
"What can I do for my feet?", asked a Mirialan volunteer, Bibi, "It wouldn't be so bad if those stupid composers hadn't put in so much percussion!"
"The percussion's part of the fun.", said Cindel Towani as she was being helped by Xenia with her costume.
"I'll say.", agreed Xenia, "Makes the music more exciting."
"I'll remember that when you wake up whining tomorrow.", joked Ryu, "Betcha, you'll-"
He and the rest turned silent once noticing the demanding presence of Galactic's prima donna, Jattir Plage. With her nose up in the air and half-opened eyes looking through the quiet mob, she was less than impressed at such a chaotic display.
"I see we're done fooling around.", she said with a slight smirk, "That band could be done any minute and half of you aren't even dressed for our next act."
"Would you relax, Jattir?", scoffed Nima, "There's still time with Uubla and the Solos' court muses."
"Then,", started Plage, "I expect more from you, Miss. Moss. You were nothing but a robot out there."
"What are you getting at? I was smiling and hyped like everybody else."
"Not from my glances you weren't.", Jattir back, "And to think Madame made you a lead?"
"Come on, Jattir,", sighed a weary Xenia, "lighten up, will you? This is a holiday-live a little."
"I will when I won't be embarrassed by a bunch of talentless idiots.", Jattir took her glare to Xenia, "Side note, Aram: you're only in the chorus line-you don't need to try so hard."
"I get sucked in-", started a blushing Xenia regarding the music but Jattir stopped her. Saying, "Fade into darkness then while you're at it. No one would care."
"I would.", defended Ryu.
"Hmph!", scoffed Jattir, "Course you would…You'd jump into fire when-if roles were reversed-she'd just stay there like a welp. Correct, am I not?"
Ryu was just about to speak up but Xenia cautioned him. Ultimately, both were silenced by Jattir.
"If you don't want to answer to the madame,", she started, "then you two ought to remember your place.", she turns to the crowd, "Same for all of you."
Plage walks off with her entourage proceeding her. This leaves the outsiders alone.
"Good riddance…", mumbled Cindel.
"Thought she'd never leave…", Bibi sighed with relief.
"How can she get away with that?", asked Amilyn.
"Didn't you hear?", asked Nima, "She's been with that Malaman guy for a long while now. Why else do you think Suefzen keeps her?"
"That explains a few things…", said Ryu as he turns to his spouse, "Don't listen to her; she's just…she's such a-"
"It's no big deal.", Xenia said solemnly, "Jattir always likes this under pressure. I'm sure she means well."
"Does she?"
Xenia couldn't answer for they both knew the real answer. Wanting to de-escalate the tension, Ryu gave her a warm, gentle embrace.
"I'm sorry.", he apologized.
"Like I said,", she smiled a little, "'No big deal'. Hey, there's still time for us; how about I get us some drinks?"
With shared grins they went out backstage and to the bar bench.
The Max Rebo departed from the stage, making Ubbla Mollbro's turn to conduct the show. By that time Luke, with C3PO's assistance, was recounting the Battle of Hoth to the younglings. All was good and well. Not perfect, but good and well.
With beverages in hand, Ryu and Xenia went up the stairs to the large window. From there, they admired the Coruscant night skies. Then a strange feeling came upon Ryu; it was not nausea, pains or anything from his drink. Just a dizzying feeling of electric surges in his brain. Then there was another feeling-one that was out of place.
"You alright?", asked Xenia, "You look troubled."
"Yeah.", Ryu quickly said as he started down the steps, "I'll be right back."
"Want me to come with you?"
"No. I'll be back, don't worry."
With increasing weakness, he first planned on going to Luke, but seeing how entertained the children were, Ryu thought it best to seek a less busy, but knowledgeable figure. He then looked for Leia yet she was still conversing with Mothma. So, he went to Charal the Nightsister who was leaning against the wall alone, observing with a glass in hand.
"Such fun chaos is it…", she mumbled when she took a better look at her son, "Too much to drink, I see?", she laughed, "I always knew she'd be a bad influence-that wife of yours…I didn't know they were even serving hot chocolate."
"I'm not drunk, mother.", said Ryu, "Electricity…It's in my head…I…"
Charal dropped her glass once Ryu collapsed in her arms. From the sudden sound of glass shattering, heads turn to the odd scene. Including Luek and the Solos who rushed to the scene.
"If it's not Luke, it's someone else!", sighed Han as he and Charal helped the youth to a seat.
"Are you alright?", Luke inquired and requested a cup of water from one of the servants.
"What happened?", asked Leia. Unfortunately, the drowsy Ryu could not answer. Entranced, hypnotized, he failed to answer back to any pleas from his higher ups. Instead, he spoke in a low, intrigued, scared voice.
"A box…", he started, "A giant blue box…its energy….it ingrained itself inside a disk-looking starship. The box produced lightning through it-it all disappeared with it. The people inside…they disappeared."
"Easy, Ry.", said Luke as he gave him the water, "Sit back and take it easy. You'll be alright."
As things began to settle, Luke turned to Han who went to ask,
"Do you think it's with those nightmares folks have been having?"
"It has to be.", said Luke, "It's too coincidental. And with him awake and like this-it could be the Force at play."
Xenia was completely unaware of the happenings downstairs. She remained upstairs, escaping her worries to the giant, cloudless moon that rested upon the horizon. It was there and then she saw it. Appearing in the middle of the great moon, a smooth, flat, circular ship showed out of nowhere. It was like seeing a snowflake melt in reverse.
Upon the odd sight, a perplexed Xenia blinked, rubbed her eyes and thought her imagination or her eyes were playing dirty tricks. Yet, upon another look and there it still was orbiting without care.
To ensure herself, Xenia got the attention of two guests, Roon Baobab and Jett Joben, who were at another part of the hallway.
"Hey, Roon.", started Xenia as she guided her to the window, "Do you see what I see?"
Roon took a look and shrugged, "It's just a ship.
"Looks old fashioned too.", added Jett who specialized in mechanics, "Reminds me of the one before the Clone Wars."
"But what are you fretting about?", Roon turned to Xenia.
"It came out of nowhere.", said Xenia, "There's no cloud in sight and it didn't fly here. It just came up like a ghost."
"Someone had a bit too much skee..", joked Jett.
"I'm serious!", retorted Xenia, "It just-"
"It's alright, Xen.", said Roon, "It could just be a hologram."
"Or a float for the Sky Parade.", suggested Jett.
Nonetheless, Xenia was adamant about what she witnessed. Rushing through the halls and down the stairs, she was for her aunt and uncle who were with Luke, Solos, Charal and Ryu. Not only them, but Tionne, Terez, Liv and Ken who were asking Luke about their own feelings.
"It's so weird, master.", said Liv, "Like the Force became a boulder."
"A boulder that multiplied by 100!", said Ken.
"I know, kids.", said Leia, "We've been sensing it too."
"Uncle Lando,", cried Xenia approaching them, "have you checked outside? There's this ship in-", she notices the state her husband was in, "What happened to Ryu?"
"He'll be fine.", said Luke in a kind but concerned manner, "Now, what ship?"
Seeing the urgency, Xenia told him what she had seen.
"This weird starship outside-I literally saw it fade into existence."
"What?", Leia's eyes lit up as the younger girl ushered all involved outside. By the time they got there, Mothma, along with an already forming crowd, observed the very same sky-bound object.
"So,", Giselle said to herself as felt what the Force had been telling her, "these are the ones we've waited for…"
"What a ship…", mumbled Lando, "Just what technology do they have?"
"What are they capable of?", inquired Akbar.
"Get to the observatory.", commanded Mothma, "Gather the leaders and bring them to the Convocation Chamber. We need a call to action. As for the civilians, send them to their homes until further notice."
Leia and the others did what they were told. While the jedis knew they had nothing to fear, the wonder of who exactly these strangers and what to truly expect from them unnerved them. And there was no other way to resolve such feelings.