... Hi there. For those of you that received the notification, yes, I finally updated. I most certainly did not intend to be gone for two years and I sincerely apologize for that. If you've missed Sabé and her antics, I hope that you will enjoy this new adventure ahead for her. Thank you for those who reached out to me over the past few years, it was very much appreciated. Also, thanks to my amazing beta, julesley, for encouraging me to pick up writing again. You're the absolute best. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.
From SVRHM RNSF to owkenobi templeint; askywalker templeint 0412 GST
Subject: Halp please…
"I'll have you know that Cook Kreft has accused me falsely of terrorizing her kitchen. This false accusation has left a stain upon my reputation and I suspect that I may never recover from it. At this rate, I may need to move to Nar Shaddaa if I continue to be so reviled.
Despite this harrowing sequence of events, I'm doing well. I sincerely hope that both of you are, too, wherever you might be in the galaxy. For the record, this is mostly directed towards Anakin. Obi-Wan, you are still on my list for claiming I utilize dramatics in your last message to me.
Sincerely,
Sabé
- Correspondence between Royal Handmaiden Sabé Vena and Jedi Knights and Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker
"It has come to our attention that the Queen is in danger."
I wonder how long it will take Captain Panaka to realize that saying this is not a positive way to begin a security briefing. Then again, his message has rarely changed over the past four years, so I have to award him points for consistency.
"Multiple individuals of interest have been sighted within the borders of the capital city of Alderaan. Due to these sightings, Queen Organa has suggested a rescheduling of the Trade Summit between our respective governments until these individuals have been apprehended."
Panaka waves a hand, scrolling through the holoscreen until five faces appear, "Each of these individuals have been involved in anti-planetary rhetoric and domestic terrorism since the beginning of Queen Amidala's reign."
My eyes narrow on one face in particular, "Bin-Ra Dack has reemerged? I thought he was hiding under a rock somewhere in the Outer Rim after his debacle in Marshvyn three years ago."
Éirtae sighs, shaking her head in resignation, "You are referring to the debacle that led to my uncle's arrest, correct?" I wince, having forgotten that particular incident in the midst of the problems that had arisen.
"Unfortunately… yes. I'm sorry, Éirtae."
"Don't be too concerned about it. I never liked him much anyway."
Captain Panaka clears his throat, diverting our attention towards him again, "If you two are quite finished, I would like to present my opinions on Queen Organa's proposition."
Padmé nods for him to continue, looking at ease despite the fact her life is in danger; once again. Perhaps she's become accustomed to it by this point, "Proceed, Captain."
"Queen Organa and her security forces are actively seeking out these criminals. Until they are found, I agree with her assessment that delaying the Summit would be the wisest course of action."
"Be that as it may," Saché and I share a glance. Whenever Padmé begins a statement with this particular phrase, it usually means an unusually difficult task will be ahead for us. I knew I should've taken Halleth up on a girls trip last month. "This Trade Summit is integral in securing trade routes between our systems and further loosening the grip of the Trade Federation on their exports. To reschedule now would be detrimental to the success of our goal."
"Queen Amidala, if I may," Rabé speaks up, gesturing towards the holoscreen. "I understand that we are all personally invested in interfering with the Trade Federation after the events of four years ago, but I do not think it is worth the risk to your safety if we were to place you within close boundaries of these individuals."
I study the names on the holoscreen once more:
Bin-Ra Dack, domestic terrorist and all around spiteful shabhead. It would give me great joy to see him imprisoned for the rest of his life after his attack on Marshvyn. He and others involved claimed that the end of Queen Amidala's reign would usher in a season of strength and prosperity for Naboo, when in reality, he wanted to rule himself. Éirtae cried for a week when the news about her uncle's involvement broke. Despite her dislike of him, I know it had to have hit her and the rest of her family hard.
Marlo Vin, weapons dealer. How he was born on Naboo of all places, I'll never know. Then again, so was Sheev Palpatine, so I digress.
Hestia Proffit, security officer turned murderer. If it weren't for Dané's actions four years ago, the woman would have succeeded in assassinating Padmé during the Relief Tour after the Invasion ended. Despite this, Dané quit to become a contract killer. It was quite the surprise to all of us and we haven't seen her since.
Kriff… do I still have Dané's contact information? I probably need to delete that.
Rona Syko, extortionist and renowned slicer. Despite his fame, I would still bet all of my credits on Yané's skills over him. I glance at her and notice her tapping her fingers against the surface of the table we are seated at. She hasn't been herself recently; I haven't even heard one conspiracy theory from her this past week.
Last, but not least… I narrow my eyes. Who the kriff is the last person on the list? She's not particularly remarkable, except for the abundance of curly brown hair growing from her scalp. Rabé would have a fit trying to tame it in high-humidity.
"Captain Panaka, who is Peivi Korraay supposed to be? I haven't seen her on the IOI list until now."
"Peivi Korraay is a prodigious nano-scientist who has been missing for three years. Not much is known about her, beyond her academic accolades in the University of Aldera. Due to the fact she has been spotted with these individuals, she has earned a spot on the list.
"Queen Organa will be sending a transmission shortly to discuss the rescheduling and further intelligence that she has gathered. Once again, I recommend that we commence with her original plan and reschedule, but the decision is ultimately up to you, Your Majesty."
Padmé is quiet for a long beat. I don't like it. I don't like it all. Whenever she is quiet like this, she is ultimately coming up with a plan that would likely get herself killed.
Saché kicks me lightly on the shin, which likely means she is thinking the same as I am.
"Captain Panaka, secure public transportation for two." All Handmaidens in the room sigh in unison.
It looks like we're going to Alderaan after all.
"Padmé, honestly, this is almost as bad as the time you decided you wanted to go with Master Jinn on Tatooine."
After the security briefing, we made the executive decision to drag Padmé to her quarters and try to talk some sense into her. Maybe this time we'll actually be successful.
"Éirtae, I know you have concerns-"
"I have more than simple concerns! Have you forgotten how dangerous that attack on Marshvyn was? Or how close Proffit came to you with that vibroblade? Yané, you're the best at assessing risk, can you elaborate further?"
Yané glances up from her datapad, blinking a few times, "I'm sorry Éirtae, what were you asking me?"
Again, I can sense a difference in her. She is normally one of the ones to speak up first, due to her vigilant nature. More often than not, Yané is able to predict worst-case scenarios down to the smallest of details.
Eirtaé repeats her question and Yané finally sets her datapad down. "We shouldn't bother to discuss it because Padmé has made up her mind and what is the point in fighting something we can't change?"
We all stare at her, shocked. She returns the look with a shrug, brushing off our reaction as if it doesn't matter at all. "Padmé, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but it is what it is. We will do our best to accomplish any plan you want to implement."
Padmé clears her throat before continuing, "The intelligence that Queen Organa provided us with indicates that our IOIs are actively recruiting others towards their cause, which is as of yet undetermined. If they are planning on attacking the Summit within a week, or any other nefarious scheme they might have concocted, we need someone on the inside."
"You want one of us to go undercover?" Rabé asks as she gathers brushes from Padmé's vanity to begin untangling her hair from the headdress she is currently wearing. "It wouldn't be wise for you to have less protection around you."
"Especially considering the nature of someone like Dack, who ranks up there with Gunray in my opinion." Saché interjects and receives nods in agreement.
"I actually want two of you to go undercover." Rabé drops a comb poised at the crown of Padmé's head and scrambles to retrieve it. Éirtae pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Padmé," I begin, teeth gritted. "That would leave you with only three Handmaidens who are trained to protect you."
"I have messaged Queen Organa and she has recommended some of her security force to stand in. This would not be the first time that I have had less than all five of you accompanying me."
"Yes, but those were in extreme circumstances," Yané speaks up, sounding more like the concerned worrywart I've known her to be.
"These are extreme circumstances as well. I've already decided who would be best to go undercover." Padmé steps forward and places a hand on Yané's shoulder. "You are one of them, if you will agree to it."
Yané nods and my stomach sinks. If Padmé looks at me next, so help me, I will- "Sabé, I want you to accompany her."
Well, kriff.
Later that evening, I lie in my bed as sleep eludes me. After Padmé revealed her plan in its entirety towards us, we immediately began brainstorming ideas about the upcoming trip to Alderaan. Yané and I will assume identities as drifters from Coruscant, considering that's one of the accents we are mutually capable of pulling off, looking for a quick payout.
This led to Rabé researching trends in lower Coruscant and a dyeing session that left both of us with bright blue hair. I glance at my holocube, watching the pictures change every so often. I've added more memories to it from over the past few years: like an unimpressed Saché holding Cabo the monkey-lizard, and Éirtae dancing around the training room to her favorite song, and Yané squealing in delight when we surprised her by flying in her Nana to see her on her birthday.
My datapad lights up beside me and my eyebrows rise when I read the name of who is attempting to contact me. I place my comm in my ear for privacy and dash towards the bathroom so no one can be disturbed.
"My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Surely I'm not talking to THE Anakin Skywalker." Anakin grins brightly, waving at the screen with his free hand.
"Hey Sabé, long time no talk. Caused any more food fights recently?" I shake my head and sit on the counter.
"That was a one-time event, thank you very much." Wherever Anakin is currently, it's still bright outside and the plants beside him are moving rapidly. Halleth would be in her own form of biologist heaven if she saw it. "I hope those plants aren't carnivorous."
"I don't think so, but Master Obi-Wan did lose a shoe to one of them."
An exasperated sigh follows before Obi-Wan joins Anakin on the screen. "I did not lose one. It was stolen from me by my mischievous Padawan. Hello, Sabé, how are you?"
"Hello there. Considering the fact all of my shoes are accounted for, I'm doing rather well by comparison."
"But you've been declared a menace to the palace kitchens, I take it?"
"Don't even get me started on Cook Kreft. That woman is on a mission to feed us only," I shudder. "Healthy food."
"How will you ever survive?" I wrinkle my nose at Obi-Wan as Anakin bursts into laughter. The latter has grown so much that his height is almost the same as the former. I jump off the counter as sudden inspiration strikes.
"Hold on for a moment, please. I'll be right back." I pause the screen and hurry as quietly as possible into Padmé's chambers. I gently shake her awake and turn on the light beside her bed.
"Sabé," Her voice slurs as I attempt to smooth down her messy hair. "What are you doing?"
"I'm truly sorry to wake you, Your Worshipfulness, but someone wants to talk to you." She blinks slowly and focuses on the datapad. As realization hits, she brightens.
"Oh, yes, I would enjoy speaking with them."
I quickly settle beside her on the bed and unpause the screen. Anakin beams the moment he sees her.
"Padmé!" For a moment he stutters over his words in excitement. "How are-what-Master Obi-Wan, it's Padmé!"
"Yes, I can see that, Anakin," Obi-Wan smiles politely. "Are you well, Your Highness?"
"Yes, I'm quite well, thank you. Ani, you've grown so much since I last saw you!"
Smiling brightly myself, I listen as the two of them converse as if no time had passed. As time has gone on, I question if there is anything I can change about our fates, but if the two of them can find more happiness in the midst of all the chaos… How could I not attempt to help in any way that I can?
Roughly ten minutes later, Padmé yawns into the back of her hand. Anakin stops mid-sentence. "I'm sorry to keep you awake, Padmé, I guess we better let you both go for now."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, Ani! It has been so good to talk to the both of you." Obi-Wan and I share a look. In reality, she and Anakin had only been talking to each other for the duration of the conversation.
"Before we let you go, I have a question for Sabé…" I blink in surprise, for a moment I thought Anakin had forgotten I was here. "What's up with the blue hair?"
Two days later, Yané and I board a public vessel preparing to travel the hyperspace lane to Alderaan. It was decided that the two of us should arrive in Aldera before the Queen and the rest of her security detail to further solidify our covers.
Fortunately for us, the vessel serves good food. I can eat biscuits to my heart's content - Take that, Cook Kreft! - and pretend that flying doesn't bother me as much as it actually does. Unfortunately, we're seated in the same section of a family with many young children that like to sing a song about a magic gooberfish.
After an hour of hearing the song on repeat, I feel a twitch developing.
"How can you stand it?" I whisper to Yané, who has remained effortlessly calm throughout the impromptu concert around us. She offers a small smile.
"Nana used to sing this song with me when I was little. It makes me think of happier memories." Her expression quickly changes and she turns to look out the window to watch the light streaking past us.
Even though I might be allergic to the Force, it seems to have mercy on me as the children around us begin to quiet down. I lightly tap Yané's arm to get her attention once more, "Hey."
"... Hey?"
"You know I love you like a sister, right?"
She blinks, "Of course I know that. You and the others are like family."
I consider my next words carefully, "And… you do know that you can always talk to me, if you want to, right?"
She blinks again and that is when I notice tears forming in her eyes. Oh Yané…
"I… I know that and I know I haven't been acting like myself, because I don't know what to do."
"What do you mean?" Yané sniffs and wipes at her eyes.
"Everything is about to change. Padmé's last term is almost done, even though there is plenty of evidence to support her being elected for a third term but she won't do it, and Captain Panaka has been talking about retiring - even Cook Nara left and we don't have good food anymore."
I knew I wasn't the only one upset about that particular change.
"But despite all of these other big changes that I should be focusing on, I'm worried about something that shouldn't be important to me at all." Yané's hands shake and I grasp them with mine. She takes a moment to breathe and collect herself, "My parents called Nana."
There has been an unspoken rule between all six of us that we don't bring up Yané's parents, simply because she has never mentioned them. The fact that this is the first time I've ever heard about them in four years is… concerning.
"I know, I know, it's stupid and why should I be worried about people who never bothered to care about me but… they're still my parents and now, after fourteen years of not being in my life whatsoever, they've suddenly decided that they want to talk to me."
"I'm sorry, Yané, I had no idea." She shrugs, pressing her lips together in a firm line.
"It's not your fault. Nana is and has always been my mom and Papa was my dad. They were the ones who actually raised me and I don't owe my parents anything. So why do I feel like this?"
"Feelings don't often make sense, Yané, but it's not wrong to be upset," she sniffs and slumps forward slightly, her hair covering her face.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to be-"
"Don't ever apologize about how you're feeling. No matter what you decide to do, we are all here for you. Rabé might seem sweet, but you know she can take out a full grown man with a hairpin." I see Yané's lip curve upwards, "And Éirtae is so freakishly strong that she scares me on any given day, and Saché… she's Saché. She can find dirt on anyone, even if they'd just taken a sonic shower."
Yané giggles, finally looking me in the eyes, "And Padmé can out-talk any individual and make them sound like an idiot."
"Exactly! And you know what I can do!"
"Yes, you'll eat all their food and make fun of them by impersonation."
My jaw drops in mock-offense, "Excuse you. I'm the crack-shot of the team, remember? I dare anyone to mess with you, because they're messing with all of us."
Yané's smile remains as she reaches forward to hug me, "Thanks, Sabé."
"You're welcome." The ship jolts slightly as we exit hyperspace and enter Alderaan's orbit. Considering I haven't been off-planet often, I marvel at the planetscape as we descend. The cities themselves look to be made of the natural mountainous formations, instead of being built onto them. It vaguely reminds me of my first time seeing Theed, if only because of its loveliness.
"Well, we made it. What could possibly go wrong now?"
"Sabé, have you even considered the difference in climate and what it could do to our immune systems? Let alone the possibilities of discovering an allergy to food whe are not accustomed to."
Despite her ranting, I know she has prepared for any of these incidents.
Some things don't have to change, after all.
From meangreenmachine averna to SVRHM RNSF 0539 GST
Subject: Rude
What's this I hear about you possibly going off planet? Is that why you didn't go on a girls trip with me last month? If so, can you bring me back one of the plants indigenous to Alderaan? I have a project due and it's time for me to beat Lyve Pahl once again. Otherwise, he'll get delusions of grandeur that he's the better biologist.
XOXO
Halleth, younger sister to rude older sisters who bail on girls trips
P.S. Be careful, okay?
From SVRHM RNSF 0701 GST
Subject: RE: [ENCODED 85408] Rude
Remind me again WHY you hate Lyve Pahl so much? You're worse than Saché with pilots. (Except for Bran, and I'm still going to win that bet about when they get married.)
I'll be careful. See you soon.
XOXO
SV, older sister to overly competitive younger sister who needs to give it a rest
P.S. How many times do I have to remind you to encode your messages?
From meangreenmachine averna to SVRHM RNSF 0843 GST
Subject: RE: RE: [ENCODED 85408] Rude
HoW mANy TImeS Do i HAVe tO ReMiND yoU To EnCoDE YOuR MesSaGEs?
XOXO
Halleth, younger sister who will always be the better biologist so stop judging
From SVRHM RNSF to meangreenmachine averna 0844 GST
Subject: RE: RE: RE: [ENCODED 85408] Rude
Shabhead.
XOXO
SV, older sister who is judging, so judging
- Correspondence between Royal Handmaiden Sabé Vena and civilian contact Halleth Averna
Any guesses on what might occur? Free virtual cookies will be given for correct answers. Thank you again for reading and please feel free to leave a review. I love hearing from all of you!