Three years later
Aboard 'The Outcast'
Han Solo ducked out from under the ramp of the Millennium Falcon and spoke briefly to the crew member waiting to greet him, directing him towards his Wookiee co-pilot who had also just emerged from inside the ship.
"Han!" a voice called from over by the elevators and he looked over to see Leia Skywalker waving at him.
"Hey!" he called back. "Lemme just log the Falcon onto 'The Outcast' computers and I'm right with you sweetheart."
"Don't call me sweetheart!" Leia yelled as Han made his way over to a terminal, tapped at it a few times and then crossed back over to her.
"Absolutely Your Worship," Han said with a grin. Leia thumped his shoulder with a closed fist as they turned into the turbolift together.
"I told you never to-" Leia cut herself off at Han's self-satisfied grin. She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead until Han snickered under his breath next to her. The next moment his snickers were cut off by the elbow that she thrust into his ribs just as the turbolift doors slid open. Luke looked at the two of them and raised his eyebrows.
"Are the two of you three years old?" he asked dryly.
Leia and Han both cast glances at each other and decided simultaneously not to answer. Luke rolled his eyes and then turned on his heel. "Are you coming?" he tossed over his shoulder. "Mum and Dad want to see us."
Leia and Han both hurried after him, falling into step on either side.
"What about?" Leia asked.
"Did something happen?" Han chimed in.
"I know as much as you do," Luke replied, ducking through a door frame and crossing into another corridor. "I just got a comm from Dad saying they needed all three of us immediately."
Han and Leia exchanged glances behind his back and followed.
"What about Chewie?" Han asked as they entered the room where Anakin and Padme Skywalker were, conferring over a holotable.
"Ahsoka's gone to get him as soon as he's secured your cargo," Anakin replied distractedly. "It is of a rather delicate nature after all."
"Thank you for bringing that by the way Han," Padme said, looking up from her work and smiling warmly at the Corellian.
"No problem," Han answered. "Luke said that you needed to see us?"
"Yeah," Anakin replied. "We've got word from one of our contacts in the Outer Rim that people have been disappearing from small communities. This is in conjunction with reports that a few of the upper ranks of the Empire managed to escape the initial takeover, and the following sweeps, and are coalescing in the Outer Rim."
"A few New Republic shipments of resources have also been taken," Padme added, coming around the front of the holotable. "Ahsoka's been collating information for a few months now, she and Rex noticed a pattern. We've run an analysis of the data collected, and it points to the Imperials making a movement towards an attack on the New Republic. There has been some political instability in recent months, and we can't have the Imperials taking advantage of it. New Republic Intelligence hasn't noticed this, we have."
"So we're going to do something about it?" Leia asked. "How?"
"We've managed to acquire an invitation to a, well for lack of a better descriptor, a gala that is being thrown in the Mid-Rim on Eriadu by a family that was well connected among the Imperial ranks, they were one of the first to fall in line with the new government. This family has held high ranks on Eriadu for generations. But, they turned coat just as quickly when the Empire fell, and claimed that they only fell in line so that they could protect those under their patronage and employ. Complete rubbish of course," behind his wife Anakin rolled his eyes as she continued speaking, "But nothing that NRI could ever prove. We think that some of the main players will be there to meet with this family. There certainly won't be any high-ranking members of the New Republic there."
"Right," Luke said slowly. "And so…?"
"And so we infiltrate the gala," Leia chimed in. "We've got the training Luke, we know what to do when it comes to etiquette and appropriate behaviour, and Han can easily pass as security."
"Precisely," Padme replied, pointing a stylus at her daughter without looking up. "We'll send a couple of the clones with you as additional security, but they can wear full or partial face masks. Han will need to be there to act as head of security with his face uncovered."
"The Falcon is also the fastest ship associated with the company," Anakin added. "I've made some upgrades to our vessels sure, but they don't have quite the Falcon's… manoeuvrability and modifications that have been made."
"The Falcon is a parsec better than most ships," Han agreed, slightly boastfully.
"So if something happens at the gala we'll be able to make a quick escape as well," Luke put in.
"Provided, of course, that none of the Falcon's systems drop out on us mid-escape," Leia added, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly as she made the jab.
"Hey sweetheart," Han begun. "I'll have you know that the Falcon-"
"Yes thank you," Luke said, cutting across Han and Leia's argument. They would always have time for another one later. "When is the gala Mum, Dad?"
"Two weeks," Padme replied, pulling up the invitation on the screen. "We'll give you the false identities you'll be using, all the information we have on the gala, where it's being held and who's attending so you can be as informed as possible."
"There will probably be a number of very wealthy businessmen and politicians there, all trying to suck up to you as the representatives of Geworpena Ventures," Anakin mentioned. "So just, be careful and don't commit to anything. And if you see a Senator that your mother or I might have known, you avoid them."
"And if you see any Jedi you abort immediately," Padme said firmly, looking up from her datapad to fix her offspring and Han with a brown-eyed stare. "No debates, no hesitation, you get out. Understood?"
"Understood," Luke, Leia and Han agreed in unison.
"Good," Padme relaxed slightly, and she and Anakin exchanged a glance that spoke volumes. "You guys should go, head down to find appropriate attire for the gala, as well anything else you think you'll need."
The three young people left the room together, Leia already listing various things they would need, while Han and Luke flanked her. Padme sighed and moved her hand to her forehead as she picked up her datapad again.
"We've kept under the radar so far," Anakin murmured comfortingly, standing beside her and putting his back to the holotable. He tilted her chin up so they could look directly at each other. "The kids are good, they'll be alright."
Padme heaved another sigh and turned to face the same direction as her husband, lacing their fingers together and leaning against his shoulder. "I know," she replied, in the same low murmur that Anakin had employed. "But that doesn't stop me worrying you know. We don't want to risk this, all of this," her free hand waved in the air to encompass the ship, the company, all that they'd built.
"But neither of us would be able to live with ourselves if the Imperials were able to make a move on the New Republic, and the New Republic wasn't preparaed," Anakin reminded her. "Besides which, if we do find out this information and pass it onto the authorities we might be able to get what we discussed."
"Wouldn't that be nice."
Anakin hummed in agreement and then swung himself round to examine one of the datapads discarded on the table.
Two weeks later
Eriadu
An elegant Nabooian cruiser docked at a hanger bay in the wealthy sector of Eriadu. The greeting party straightened slightly. The ship's occupants represented the biggest, most profitable company in the galaxy. If interested parties could gain their favourable opinion then there was a great deal to be made in transactions.
The ramp lowered and a woman strode down it and into the hanger. She paused briefly and then strode towards them. She was dressed in the dark blues of the Geworpena Ventures uniform, a dark grey cloak billowing softly around her and a dark grey headscarf covering her hair. A holster sat comfortably on her hip, and black braces were strapped to her forearms.
She reached them and extended a hand, palm upwards in a welcoming gesture. "Colonel Lora Kabadi representing Geworpena Ventures," she introduced herself briskly.
"Colonel," the leader of the delegation replied, upturning their own palm in greeting. "You are most welcome here on Eriadu. If you would follow me, transport to the accomadations for you and your entourage during the gala has been provided."
The Colonel inclined her head and made a motion over her shoulder. A blond man waiting by the ramp in the at ease position, also dressed in the dark blues of Geworpena Ventures, nodded and turned slightly, barking an order up the ramp. A moment later two men dressed in uniforms with full face masks came down the ramp holding black cases. The three men came across the hanger and fell in behind the Colonel as she followed the delegation out and into the speeders that were waiting for them.
"The rest of our entourage will follow later," the Colonel said coolly as she ducked into the speeder. "Including the Captain who will be acting as head of security for this visit. We shall provide them with the location of our lodgings."
"Very well," was the deferent reply. This woman was worth far too much in potential earnings to risk annoying her at the very beginning. "There is a gathering this afternoon so that beings may be made known to each other before the opening ball this evening..."
The Colonel settled back against the comfortable seats of the speeder to listen as they sped through the streets to the lodgings that had been arranged for this most prestigious guest and their entourage.
Later that afternoon
Eriadu
There was a knock at the door of the apartment that they were staying in and Luke opened the door, Leia appearing from her room as Han and Chewie strode in, putting the last few pins in the neat coil of hair that she had formed on top of her head.
"Are we secure?" she asked.
Han grimaced. "As secure as we can be," he replied. "They don't have any interest in making us unsafe because they're trying to get stuff off us, but that doesn't mean this location is brilliant."
"Great," Luke sighed and threw himself down on a couch. "What time is this thing that you're going to Ley?"
"We need to leave in about half an hour," his sister replied, seating herself elegantly in an armchair. "Hence," she gestured at herself with one hand, indicating the loose-legged, dark blue jumpsuit with pale blue ornamentation on the top part that she was wearing over plain black boots. "I'll put on the cape before we go."
Luke sunk further into the couch and grumbled under his breath about ridiculous suits and having to play nice.
Half an hour later
Leia stood in front of the mirror and adjusted the fall of the pale grey cape around herself. She clasped the dark gold links that held the cape closed at her throat together.
"I hate these things," Han muttered, pulling at his collar. "Why do we have to go to this again?"
"They're not that bad," Leia said over her shoulder, tugging at the cape's heavy sleeves to make sure they fell correctly. "You just have to know how to act correctly."
"Just because you like this sort of thing," Luke grumbled under his breath. "Mum's taught you far too well."
"Oh hush," Leia said over her shoulder, sliding a vibroblade into the folds of the cape's sleeves. "Does everyone have at least a vibroblade on them?"
"Yeah," Luke replied. "And Chewie and I snuck in earlier and I levitated a few other weapons into various places around the room so we can access them if need be."
"Here we go then," Leia said, and turned and strode out the door of the apartment. Luke and Han fell into step behind her, Chewbacca half a step behind them again. The few clones they had with them for extra security sealed the door behind them.
Across the city
"Colonel Lora Kabadi, representative of Geworpena Ventures," a droid announced, it's voice stretching over the crowds with ease.
The room rippled as many beings in the room turned subtly towards the door to see this Colonel. Geworpena Ventures had very rarely sent a representative to the high society gatherings that were frequent across the galaxy. The most people had seen of them was the neutral-faced negotiators sent to deal with planetary governments, boards, committees and companies. This Colonel, although young, in recent years had been beginning to make a name for herself as a prominent negotiator for the company. To be sent as a representative to a gathering of this kind of high society, though, suggested that she was of higher status within Geworpena Ventures than previously thought. Regardless, unlike most of the players in this bustling room, Colonel Kabadi was an unknown quantity.
The young woman in the large doorway would have been dwarfed by its sheer size if she had not been giving off an aura of competence and confidence that practically dared any being there to state that she was not worthy of being in the room, of being a representative of the company that most beings in the room would attempt to make highly lucrative connections with, attempts that she would have to receive and filter.
She looked around the room, sweeping her gaze over the beings gathered there. Colonel Kabadi was elegantly dressed, a dark blue, wide-legged suit under a pale grey sweeping cape with long sleeves. It was clasped at the throat with dark gold links, before sweeping down into long sleeves that dipped almost to the floor. Dark hair was neatly coiled on the top of her head, a dark gold chain inset with dark blue sapphires woven in it. Behind her two men moved from the shadows of the doorway to flank her, dressed neatly in formal Geworpena Ventures uniform, and behind them a Wookiee towered over all three of them.
The Colonel glided into the room gracefully and within a few moments beings of various species were converging on her position to introduce and ingratiate themselves. Her bodyguards watched them all warily, eyes constantly scanning the room.
Late afternoon
Five days later
"We've managed five days and not had to bail," Luke said. The four of them were gathered in the Falcon's main cabin, going over the plan for that evening, and debriefing with Anakin and Padme over a comm-call. "It would look suspicious if we skipped the final night of the gala, it's the main event after all."
"More than suspicious," Leia agreed. "Particularly if we want to continue making expansions into the Core. It makes us look like we have something to hide."
"We do have something to hide," Han pointed out, gesturing at the holo images of their parents. Leia swatted him.
"Besides the fact that Anakin and I are still wanted across the galaxy," Padme said patiently. "And I agree with Leia. No-one's come that could potentially recognise either of you, Luke, Leia? Han? None of your former employers either?"
"None," Han replied. "And I've been keeping an eye out. There's been no double-takes or side glances at the kid or Her Worship either."
"I was more worried about people recognising Leia honestly," Luke added. "She's the more prominent one of the two of us here, and she's doing the politics, which could have caused people to link her to you. But nothing so far. We have to go tonight, but we have a rough extraction plan just in case."
"Preparation?" Padme arched an eyebrow. "Good to know that you haven't been following your father's ideas of how to prepare for a mission."
"Oi," Anakin protested half-heartedly. They all knew that he had no real grounds to defend himself.
"We'll be fine," Luke said cheerfully. "Mum, Dad, we have to go so we can finish getting ready, but we'll call you as soon as we're off planet."
"May the Force be with you," Anakin said formally and the holocall winked out.
Han straightened up from where where he had been sprawled over one of the chairs and stretched to his full height.
"Let's get this show on the road," he drawled. "Kid, you coming?"
Luke straightened from his own position leaning on the holotable and followed Han to the gun turrets where the two of them quickly checked them over. Leia and Chewie checked the rest of the ship's systems in the cockpit, and once the pilot and co-pilot were satisfied the four of them closed up the ship and returned to the lodgings that they had been assigned while on Eriadu.
Gala in Eriadu City
2100 hours
Senator Bana Breemu turned from where she was standing with the Senator for Eriadu, a few business leaders, society stars and various aides to see Colonel Kabadi of Geworpena Ventures announced at the door. She had arrived that afternoon, dispatched by the Chancellor after he received word of the confirmed presence of a representative of Geworpena Ventures, to try and gauge how willing Geworpena Ventures would be to work more closely with the New Republic. She examined the young woman entering with significant interest.
The Colonel stood framed in the doorway, her two human guards flanking her. Her Wookiee bodyguard was nowhere to be seen. The human guards wore the same formal uniforms as they had at every other event that week. The Colonel, however, wore a sleeveless pale grey dress with a mermaid cut, folds of fabric in pleats around her body, silver jewellry glimmering at her neck, ears and wrists, shoulder-length dark curls pulled slightly away from her face and coiling down to rest on her bare shoulders. She wore elbow-length pale grey gloves and a dark blue cape draped from her shoulders to fall on the floor behind her.
The Colonel came into the room and was immediately approached by half a dozen beings of various species. She greeted them with a polite, diplomat's smile and was immediately drawn into conversation. Senator Breemu excused herself from those surrounding her and approached the Colonel as well. One of Kabadi's bodyguards spotted her approach and leant forward, murmuring in the Colonel's ear. Kabadi glanced up, made brief eye contact and then dealt with those around her quickly, but without causing any offence.
"Senator Breemu," the Colonel greeted, extending her right hand, palm upwards. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Colonel Kabadi," Breemu returned, mirroring the other woman's gesture. "Likewise. Does your presence here mean that we can expect Geworpena Ventures to become more present in the Inner Core?"
"Perhaps," the Colonel replied, diplomatically, a small courteous smile on her face. "Such a presence would depend greatly on how our circumstances alter in the future. At the present moment Geworpena Ventures has no need of a presence in the Core Worlds, and more to the point, the Board feels that our company can be of greater benefit in the Mid-Rim and Outer Rim Territories."
"I am a representative of the Chancellor here, just as you are a representative of your Corporation," Breemu said. Kabadi arched an eyebrow. "Is there anything that the Chancellor could assist with in order for Geworpena Ventures to feel able to expand further into the Core?"
Kabadi's face smoothed over into a blank, political mask. "The Chancellor offers such assistance?"
"Chancellor Organa has noted the exemplary work of Geworpena Ventures in donation to charities, and adherence to galactic laws in terms of taxation and wage standards," Breemu answered. "He feels that if your company was given a greater presence in the Core, that other companies would feel obliged to follow suit."
"And that companies heavily affliated with the Imperial government would be prevented from embedding themselves further in the Core, and could possibly be driven out of business," Kabadi added. Senator Breemu glanced up and met the keen intelligence hidden adeptly behind dark brown eyes, a political mask and elegant clothing.
"If such an outcome were to occur, the Chancellor would not be entirely displeased," Breemu conceded. Kabadi inclined her head in acknowledgement.
"The Chancellor has our attention," Kabadi said. "However, you are aware that there are multiple employees of our organisation who were considered criminals under Imperial laws, laws that your New Republic Senate has yet to repeal."
"An exemption, or rather a pardon," Breemu corrected herself, seeing the blank look begin to smooth over on Kabadi's face at the mention of an exemption. "Could perhaps be negotiated and passed through the Senate."
"If such an exemption were to be passed Geworpena Ventures would consider trading to a greater degree with the Inner Core," Kabadi allowed.
"I will communicate this to Chancellor Organa," Breemu replied. Thinking the conversation at an end, she made to move over, but Colonel Kabadi took a step closer, cut her eyes to the side and dropped her voice.
"I imagine there will be factions within the Senate who will be eager to pass this as soon as they can," she murmured. "As likely as there are to be factions who wish to keep us out of the Core. Through some of our contacts in the Outer Rim Geworpena Ventures has," she paused delicately, "acquired some intelligence that the Chancellor and NRI may be interested in, regarding various parties in attendance at this gala. There is muttering and movement among those who fled as the Empire fell."
"I imagine NRI would be interested in this," Breemu agreed.
"I have the files," the Colonel said, stepping away slightly. "A portion of my entourage will depart directly from the spaceport after the gala this evening. Perhaps we could speak in a speeder on the way?"
"Of course."
Colonel Kabadi smiled, and moved away, her blond bodyguard following her. The other dark-haired bodyguard waited as Kabadi departed.
"One of our staff will communicate to one of your aides where our speeders will be departing from," he said, speaking, to Breemu's surprise, with a Corellian accent.
"Of course," Breemu replied.
The bodyguard nodded, bowed his head and turned on a heel, making his way through the crowd back to the Colonel's side.
2300 hours
Colonel Kabadi's speeder
The streets of Eriadu City en route to the Millennium Falcon's docking bay
"On this drive is all the information we have," the Colonel said, extending a slim rectangular stick. "Should any of the information become corrupted you can contact our offices and ask to speak to me, I will ensure anything you require is provided. We have copies of everything contained on there."
"Thank you," Senator Breemu took the stick and slipped it into a hidden pocket of her robe. "And should the Chancellor should wish to speak to you about what we discussed earlier?"
"I advise you to go through the same channels," Kabadi said. "To act as a representative is not my sole duty within Geworpena Ventures, I am not constantly available. As I said, we have offices for that purpose."
"Of course," Breemu agreed. "Thank you." She extended her hand and Kabadi looked at it for a half second and then clasped it with her own slim palm. "You know," she said casually. "You remind me of an old friend of mine, Padme Amidala."
"Oh?" Kabadi replied. She withdrew her hand from Breemu's grasp and picked up the black gloves tucked into her belt, tugging one and then the other on. "Well I would say that is quite a compliment. Whatever her later actions, I've always admired Senator Amidala for her refusal to accept the Trade Federation's attack on Naboo and then her actions during and after the Clone Wars. Her politics were admirable."
"Indeed they were," Breemu agreed. She thought of her friend for a moment. "Perhaps I am merely caught in nostalgia. Padme and I used to have such excellent discussions."
"You must regret the actions that she took," the Colonel said, her voice gentle. Then it hardened. "Although I cannot say that I entirely disagree. Holding a man without trial is more of an Imperial action than one that your vaunted New Republic should have taken."
"I believe it was the agreement of the Chancellor and the Jedi Order that they could not risk the potential consequences of a trial," Breemu answered, slightly taken aback.
"Be that as it may, hardly a good foundation to build on," Kabadi replied pointedly. "Neither is how long the New Republic has taken to review the cases of those wrongfully imprisoned under Palpatine's regime, or how long unjust laws passed by a despot have been allowed to stand." She softened slightly. "Be that as it may, I understand that a great deal of work had to be done, and we did not come here to debate this. I hope the information we have provided is useful."
"Yes, the New Republic thanks you for this," Breemu agreed, not taken aback by the rapid subject change. Her Senatorial colleagues had attempted to discomfort her with far more abrupt subject changes in her time. The speeder slowed to a halt "A pleasure Colonel."
"Likewise Senator." Kabadi flashed her a smile and then the door of the speeder was opening and she sprang out with a light grasp of the hand extended to assist her and a swish of her cloak as she drew the hood over her curls. A moment later her slim figure, flanked by one of her bodyguards had disappeared into the dim light of the spaceport.
Senator Breemu relaxed back into her seat and nodded for the driver to take her to her own ship. Behind her the noise of a ship's engines starting filled the night.
Half an hour later
The Millennium Falcon
In hyperspace
"She compared me to Mum," Leia said numbly. "I managed to deflect it I think, but she compared me to Mum. I had to tell her that I would be available to the Senate, the Chancellor and the Jedi Order in case there were problems with the intel and to negotiate the pardon we discussed." She glanced up at her brother with dark eyes. "Luke she said that I reminded her of Padme Amidala."
"We'll tell the parents as soon as we drop out of hyperspace," her twin replied, rubbing comforting circles on her back. "If she didn't explicitly mention that you looked like Leia Naberrie, just don't freak out yet."
"Luke didn't speak to her," Han chimed in. "If it had been both of you standing there talking to her then she might have jumped to the Naberrie twins. But the whole time you were talking to her Luke had his back to the two of you."
"It'll be alright Ley," Luke reiterated. "Even if Senator Breemu works it out eventually, well there's no firm proof that it was you. We cleaned everything you touched, the whole lodging has been sanitised. You made physical contact with as little as possible."
Leia's shoulders had been relaxing as Luke listed, the tension leeching out of them. She shook herself slightly and straightened from her position slumped at the table. "Right," she said firmly. "While we're in hyperspace then, let's get to work on the information that we managed to get, but haven't given to the NRI."
"There's my sister," Luke said with a grin.
"Yeah, always making us work," Han grumbled, but with a grin on his face that undercut the annoyance in his voice.
Leia thumped him as she moved over to the terminal that they had plugged the port into. The data flicked up on screen and her eyes ran over the data.
"Luke, Han," she called. The two of them looked up from where they had settled with their own datapads, legs propped up on the couch and table. "Have either of you ever heard of a planet called Byss?"
AN: I am so so sorry for how long this took to update, I've had really bad writer's block for months, hence why Hope of the Rebellion hasn't been updated either.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this. Please review!
The8thDalmuti