Fandom Star Wars: Demesne [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Adlai gave a light shrug at Skye’s disbelief, before a smile broke out at her ‘hope’ that Bail was worse. Yes, one could hope, for her sake. Ideally, the ways in which he was worse than most wouldn’t be known to the Empire for quite a while. So far, they had all done a good job at hiding it, but now, with Thrawn…and Death Troopers ransacking the old place…well, Adlai wasn’t completely filled with confidence in regard to that.

These things wouldn’t be mentioned, as he nodded when he was given command over the comm system, signaling ahead.

It wasn’t long before his call was picked up, and he introduced himself. He was quickly given clearance to land near Alderaan’s palace, with the hangar indicated by blue flashing lights. There were other ships present that did not belong to Alderaan, one he recognized as Mon Mothma’s shuttle.

There was also a shuttle belonging to the Mon Calamari.

‘Interesting.’

He wouldn’t comment on it.

This was, in theory, something of a small party.

~***~

R.D. Shay had insisted on certain questions not being asked when Eira was interviewed. One of those was about Eira’s family. Some journalists slipped and did it anyways, and Eira answered –but never spoke with that journalist or worked with their company again.

Mitth’raw’nuruodo could not be faulted for his curiosity. Adlai knew the situation. Lin, as well. It was natural to wonder at family ties, and for the two who knew who she was, all the more intriguing.

The situation was…strained.

And Eira couldn’t mask it, as she couldn’t quite in interviews, no matter how cordial or polite the answer she offered was. Her gaze broke from the Grand Admiral to that same pond, “I prefer Coruscant, and my career.” That was true, of course. As were the next words, “I do not miss Mygeeto anymore than I miss worlds I have visited…an occasional pang, a nostalgic desire to return. I love my family, but we are not close.”

Not that they ever had been.

“They have disagreed with the decisions I made which brought me here,” also quite true, though the decision they disagreed with was her leaving the Jedi. She didn’t honestly know if they still did, after Order 66. She knew they had been confused. “It’s always hard to go against family.” Only she wasn’t thinking of her parents, but the Jedi, and she chuckled a bit, shook her head, “I certainly hope you haven’t had to know that in your life,” she lifted her gaze up to him, “I’d assume they would be proud of you, but….”

Well, most would assume her parents were proud of her, too.

~***~

For the moment, Eli disregarded Cora’s words to him as he addressed the Officer instead, “Could you please see us to the exit of the facility? We wouldn’t want to wander anywhere and cause any problems,” Eli added.

“Of course,” she addressed a Stormtrooper nearby, and the Trooper gestured for them to follow along.

It was then that Eli turned his attention back to Cora as they were led into the facility, “Isn’t there a village right outside?” Not a proper Cartao village, but a living space of sorts for the Imperials. There ought to be a cantina, a few stores, and other places to move about and question those here.

If they all spoke of just a pirate, this village might be a lost cause, but certainly someone was going to know a little more – and here, the name Grand Admiral Thrawn might persuade some of the rank-and-file to speak on more that they knew.

 

[cleopat]

Her eyes lingered on Adlai’s face when his lips stretched into a smile, and Skye eventually broke her gaze to look out the viewport, ignoring the way her face felt heated.

Communication was established between them and Alderaan, and so Skye sat back and stayed quiet as Adlai communicated with the planet. Once given the clearance, she steered the ship to the directed hangar.

As their ship settled, she, too, noticed the other shuttles. Noticed how they didn’t belong to Alderaan. Skye couldn’t quite pinpoint which planet they were from at the moment, though she did feel like she had seen the designs before. Allies?

Skye shot Adlai a glance as she rose to her feet. “I figured it would’ve just been you and the Organas here. Were you expecting others?” While she wouldn’t worry just yet about the unknown company, since she didn’t feel anything of the sort from Adlai, she would remain on her guard. Would they be someone she knew?

Come on Skye, what are the odds of that.

The ramp lowered, and Skye waved her arms in a dramatic fashion in a silent way to say after you.

~~

Even before Eira answered his question, Thrawn knew the topic of her family was a sensitive one. She refuses to make eye contact. Her posture suggests a feeling of awkwardness.

Thrawn felt as if there may have been a definitive event that led to the broken relationship between her, her family, and her planet, certainly more than what she had provided. “I apologize, if I had known it was a sensitive topic, I would not have asked,” he admitted.

It seemed she had been the family’s little rebel, and they did keep close as Thrawn knew most humans did. Eli certainly did with his family.

The question was directed back at Thrawn. He shifted slightly, crossing his arms over his chest in contemplation (and small part from the feeling of awkwardness as Eira delved more into his personal life). “I suppose that depends on your definition of family.” His parents were long gone, and died soon after he joined the Ascendancy, which was when the Mitth Family took him and his brother in.

Mitth’raw’nuruodo and Mitth’ras’safis contrasted in many ways. While his brother held complete respect and admiration for him, and the same of Thrawn to him, Mitth’ras’safis disagreed heavily with the path Thrawn took in life, going into the Empire for the Chiss Ascendancy. “I am not certain of which word to use in order to describe our relationship or how they felt towards me, but I know I have done things to have impressed them greatly, and things that they strongly disagreed with.”

~~

Cora’s eyes shifted from the Stormtrooper, as he led them through the facility, back onto Eli when he addressed her earlier question. “Not one of the villages I had talked about earlier,” she started, her mind flipping through all of the information she knew of the Imperial area.

“But there is an Imperial-created village for the Imperials and others who work in or around the facility.” Not everyone in the village would be an Imperial. Certainly, she couldn’t imagine an officer serving up ale in a cantina, or cooking up food at any restaurant.

This village would’ve had to have hired some Cartao natives to help run the essentials of the village, while the Imperials worked on the facility.

“If we question anyone there, we may have to be careful of what we say.” Anyone could know this Proserpina and warn them, if they were allies.

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai nodded, apologetic that he hadn’t thought to mention it. The Organas had become fairly known for their parties, so this wasn’t much of a surprise to him, “Yes. Queen Breha has become quite the hostess of late,” he answered as he stepped down the ramp with Skye’s over-the-top gesture. “It is often among senators and other politicians, but occasionally she hosts others of renown.”

Including, occasionally, Imperials, so it wouldn’t seem terribly strange.

Mostly, the galaxy viewed Queen Breha as a bit of a socialite now because of it, but her reputation as generous and loving of her people hadn’t changed much. Adlai was greeted by a protocol droid that came walking over, silver in hue. “Count Malvern, and—oh, this isn't Eira.”

Adlai smiled, “Eira was unable to make it,” he said, “This is Skye Vind, my bodyguard,” he introduced.

~***~

Eira shook her head a bit as Mitth’raw’nuruodo apologized. He couldn’t have known; the apology was unnecessary. His own posture shifted as he considered his family – which, it seemed, may be different from what he knew of human standards.

It seemed his own relationship was a bit uncertain. Precarious. He hadn’t done enough to be certain of either dislike, or like, or else he was fearful of stating either.

Her arms folded in her lap as she leaned forward, still peering up at him, as if that angle might help in some ways. The angle itself didn’t, and she resisted the urge to try and reach out with the Force to get a sense of his emotions. That was cheating.

“How do you define a family, Mitth’raw’nuruodo?” Her own definition was certainly abnormal, but she knew enough to speak of the common sort, of parents and siblings, of blood-ties, but her own family, the Jedi, were a found family more than anything.

And then she lost them. By choice, and by external actions.

“Did they agree with you coming here?”

~***~

Eli wasn’t that concerned with the line of questioning here. “It will be the same anywhere we go,” he indicated. Imperials were just as potentially suspicious as those who weren’t, in this situation. Questioning anyone could lead to Proserpina being tipped off, but at least in some respects, Eli was more familiar with Imperial protocol and activity.

He’d recognize someone behaving suspiciously in this culture, easier than in another. “We start here,” he indicated. “For now, we listen for rumors. Ortell, Tobias, I want you two to check in with others about what we may need or want to consider in traveling into the wilderness. Only questions in that thread. If they need to know, indicate a survey corp interest.”

Which could be held believable, given Eli and Cora’s presence.

“We’ll rest at a cantina for now,” he told Cora. Often, they were hubs of current gossip and information, and it seemed, well, fitting, that the officers might laze about.

 

[cleopat]

Skye hadn’t imagined Queen Breha to be of the party sort, but instead more of how she saw her at the gallery. Formal events, soirees with ambassadors and politicians, that sort. But she didn’t know the woman, and the gallery had been the first time she had seen the Queen, that she could recall.

She followed him off the ramp, where a protocol droid greeted them. Before she could give the droid her name, Adlai stepped in for her, which may have been all for the better. Skye was his bodyguard, someone who should remain quiet and observant, prepared at any moment for an attack.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Vind,” the droid said with a nod of its head.

Skye smiled. “Likewise.”

The droid turned back to Adlai. “If you would follow me please.”

~~

Thrawn watched as Eira leaned forward, and he resisted the urge to do the same. To bring their bodies closer. There was absolutely no reason to do that. Nope.

“I suppose in general,my definition of a family would line up with yours.” His words were slow at the start as he carefully considered how to answer her question. There was one aspect of Chiss society and families in relation to their hierarchical structures in government and military, but he decided to not divulge that information to her.

Despite how easy it was to talk to her, or how much he grew to like her, there were still aspects of Chiss society that needed to be kept secret for now.

Thrawn turned to her next question. The corners of his lips turned down. Some agreed and encouraged his mission to the Empire. Others did not. “There were some who were accepting of my leave, and others, like my brother, did not agree at all.”

~~

Cora trusted that Eli knew exactly what they were doing, and what they should do. He had trained under the best, with intelligence to show. Plus, he had more experience concerning questioning and blending in. She had to trust him.

Ortell and Tobias nodded, with Tobias raising a hand to lazily salute. “Got it, Commander.” To the both of them, it seemed like a simple enough task.

A cantina? Cora knew their options of where to temporarily stake out were limited, but she hadn’t been to a cantina before. She had always assumed they were all the same: grimy, raucous, and a cesspool of the shady characters. Well, she will learn whether or not those assumptions were true.

“I suppose drinking on the job won’t be allowed?” she joked, a small way help ease any building anxiety within her.

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai would follow the droid into the palace, away from the sights of the snow-capped mountains for the moment. Music moved through the halls, louder as they grew closer to the Banquet Hall – which was lit not by electronics, but actual candles, fire casting shadow about the area, the pale rock walls angled to reflect the shadows in interesting ways.

Mon Mothma was indeed there, among others, plenty of who Adlai himself did not recognize. Jan Dodonna, Raddus, Nower Jebel, Vasp Vaspar, Tynnra Pamlo, and others mingled in the hall, laughing and enjoying themselves, with blue toniray easily accessible.

“Adlai!” Bail exclaimed with some exuberance – entirely falsified, although Adlai didn’t pick up on that, confused with the thought that Bail may be drunk already as the Senator made his way over, “It’s so good you could join us, I’ve been wanting to get you introduced to the others!”

Adlai only looked significantly more confused as Bail draped an arm over his shoulders, and smiled towards the bodyguard, “And who would you be, Miss…?”

Bail didn’t recognize her, there was no tinge of familiarity.

~***~

Eira knew the information was somewhat sensitive, only by the slow way that Mitth’raw’nuruodo answered. It was calculated. She hadn’t been wrong to suspect too much information about his home, or his people, were classified, and she would not probe too far with that thought in mind.

Still, she wondered at his family. If his brother, were a blood-brother, or something forged by other means. Wondered why his brother disagreed, too – who agreed, who disagreed, and why the Chiss wanted Mitth’raw’nuruodo here.

It hadn’t occurred to her, until then, to truly consider the vested interest of the Chiss, and how that could complicate any attempt for Mitth’raw’nuruodo to see beyond the Empire.

He had gone against the wishes of his brother. “You have my condolences for the situation with your brother, Mitth’raw’nuruodo. I hope that the disagreement will remain amicable enough, but if you ever need to vent, even vaguely, I will certainly listen with a sympathetic ear. Do you get to speak with him much? Or others of your family?” Whatever he considered them as.

~***~

Eli arched a brow at Cora’s question, “That depends on whether or not you think you’re capable of holding your liquor,” he answered. He intended to drink, mostly for the image of it, but he’d definitely be adding ice to every beverage to help water it down, and he wouldn’t drink much. He’d drink slow. He’d eat.

This was still a job, but they weren’t going to get far with it if they looked suspicious.

If they looked like lazy officers who didn’t want to be there, all the better. People weren’t concerned with those sorts.

Ortell and Tobias would look like helplessly lost soldiers who needed assistance, and information might come spilling out of merchants who wanted an extra credit or two and thought they could swindle it out of the ensigns.

They reached the exit of the facility, and the Stormtrooper left them. “Follow us to the cantina so you know where to meet us, then you two can go on your way to get supplies,” Eli directed, as they moved into the haphazardly organized ‘village’.

 

[cleopat]

The amount of guests at the Organa’s palace was much more than Skye had anticipated. Before arriving, she thought Adlai and Bail were simply meeting. Then to discover this gathering?

She held her breath as they entered the Banquet Hall. Many were there she did not know, and some she had heard of. No one that could pose a threat to her.

Her eyes caught the gaze of someone else, and a spark of recognition flickered through them. She took in the rest of the figure, Jan Dodonna. She remembered him from the Clone Wars, and apparently, he remembered her as well. But instead of coming over to her, or doing anything to jeopardize her identity, he turned back to the person he had been talking to. Thank you.

Right at that moment Bail, who appeared quite...relaxed, sauntered up to them. Skye stifled her laughter when his arm draped across Adlai’s shoulders, who was looking more and more confused. She did wonder about his behavior, and that he didn’t recognize her.

Maybe he truly does not remember me, or maybe there’s something else here. Something just didn't sit quite right with Skye. She would ignore that for now, play along with whatever was going on, and try to think on that later.

She offered Bail a smile. “Skye Vind, Count Malvern’s bodyguard.”

~~

Thrawn could imagine the questions that ran through Eira’s mind, the questions she wanted to ask him. He didn’t blame her; it was natural to be curious about something one didn’t know, and given that the Chiss remained largely unknown to most of the galaxy, he could imagine the questions she wanted to throw at him.

But there was only so much he was willing to reveal, even to her.

His gaze remained neutral. “Thank you, but no condolences are needed. MY brother and I still communicate, and we remain quite amicable, though we don’t have the opportunity to talk much due to both of our careers.” And their distance played a significant role. “And yes, I still speak to the other members of my family, but the length of time between calls can be quite long.”

And most of the time, the calls were to update the Ascendency on his mission, and what the Empire was doing. Information he deemed necessary for the Chiss to know.

Thrawn let a moment pass by, and he felt like he just had to answer some unasked questions Eira may have thought. “He’s my older brother,” he began, looking down at Eira. “His name is Mitth’ras’safis, and he has built a reputable career in politics on our planet.”

~~

Cora shrugged. She could handle one or two drinks before her judgement starts to become impaired. If they needed to order something to better blend in, then she would, but slowly nurse it. She wouldn’t want either of them explaining to the Grand Admiral of how they failed their mission because she couldn’t hold her liquor.

Stars, she already felt like a fool enough in front of him.

As directed, Tobias and Ortell followed Eli and Cora to the cantina. The village was small enough, from what they gathered, that it wouldn’t be too hard to find the cantina again.

“We’ll be sure to keep you updated,” Ortell told Cora, and the two ensigns headed off in their own direction.

Cora nodded at them as they left, and then turned back to Eli. “Well, shall we?” Her hand motioned to the cantina, making her way to its entrance.

 

[Lucyfer]

“Skye Vind!” Bail declared the name, “A pleasure, a pleasure, we always need more bodyguards,” he laughed a bit, “I hope you’re as skilled as our Wedge Antilles.” He walked on a bit to the refreshments. “It must have been a tiring trip from Coruscant, you should all have a bit of something.”

His arm slipped off Adlai’s shoulders, “Two toniray, please,” he said. He had a way of signaling to the staff who was to be drunk, and who wasn’t. If he said ‘blue’, it would have been particularly potent.

This would be watered down, significantly. One could almost call it grape juice, really. “You met my wife and daughter at the gallery, didn’t you?”

“I did, yes,” Adlai confirmed, “Your daughter is a bit of a spitfire, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Bail agreed, as the drinks were brought, “We’re proud of her. We think she’ll have more than enough strength to lead Alderaan, many, many years from now.”

Adlai took his drink, and was momentarily startled by the taste. When his gaze lifted to Bail, about to state that he thought this was wrong, he received a wink. ‘Ah.’ Pieces fell into place.

~***~

A relieved smile broke across Eira’s face as Mitth’raw’nuruodo indicated he was amicable with his brother. She was very glad for that; broken families were not any fun at all, from multiple experiences. It seemed his brother was also the ambitious sort, in some career of his own.

Was he with his people?

Was he elsewhere?

“Mitth’ras’safis,” Eira repeated, feeling again it might take a while to be able to say it. Nonetheless, it would be added to her list. “Is Mitth a family name, then?” She at least did not mistake, or blend, Mitthra, together, although they shared that. She could hear the slight difference, the break, in speaking it. It was interesting that they put it first, if so.

It was something nobility did, just going by Queen Organa or Count Malvern, but they still had a so-called ‘first’ name.

She wouldn’t make any comments on the politics part, even if she’d heard enough rumor since Shay started looking into Mitth’raw’nuruodo, to be aware that he wasn’t exactly good at politics.

Perhaps he was back home – or perhaps his brother had taken all the political brains for the family.

~***~

Eli let the ensigns head off with a nod, before he walked into the cantina. It was what he expected at this hour, not terribly full, mostly empty seats and booths, with just a few workers there. The ones off-duty were obvious; they were the ones with alcohol, while the others were catching quick meals off-base.

Eli went to the bar itself and took a stool, as the human worker approached, though they offered a strange look.

These were people they hadn’t seen before; that didn’t happen often. “What can I get ya?”

“Just a lager to start,” Eli said, “I’ll probably want something to munch on,” he said, skimming the holoboard as it flickered through offerings behind the bar.

“Any preference on the lager?”

“Something dark. If you have any from Corellia, that’s fine, otherwise I don’t care much.”

The human nodded, and glanced to Cora to see what she might want.

 

[cleopat]

The exchange did not go unnoticed by Skye. The subtle wink. It only served to confuse her more. Was there something with the drinks?

Skye took her drink and sipped it. That was not toniray. At least, not the toniray she tasted at the gallery.

Okay, there is definitely something more going on here.

Did she dare confront them about it? No, maybe there was a good reason for the secret codes. Skye would wait, and see what happened.

“I do not doubt that, given who her parents are.” Bail Organa, a courageous senator, and Queen Breha, who held her own quite well at the gallery. “Queen Breha showed no fear when confronted by those mercenaries.”

~~

Thrawn almost wanted to laugh at the way Eira butchered his brother’s name. He found it amusing and nearly endearing, but he could only imagine how Thrass would react to that pronunciation.

But he had noticed how much better she was in saying his name.

“It is indeed. That is the nature of our names. Our family names come first, and are always part of our entire names.” He could recall some exceptions, such as some giving up their family names when joining the Defense Force. “It wasn’t one I was born with though, the family name. It was one I was given.”

Thrawn had realized he shared more than he intended. He wouldn’t go beyond that, for she didn’t need to know too much of his past, or too much of Chiss society.

It was unnecessary and borderline dangerous.

~~

The cantina hadn’t been what Cora expected. It was a bit quieter than what she had assumed, and it looked...well, not clean, but not dirty. The hour of the day and the population of the village played a role in the cantina’s current atmosphere.

Cora took a stool next to Eli. She paused a moment when the bartender turned to her for her order. What did she want? A gut instinct told her that they wouldn’t have what she would normally drink, and she didn’t want to embarrass herself by asking.

“I’ll have what he’s drinking.” She pointed a thumb in Eli’s direction. The bartender nodded and gave them one last look before going to fulfill their orders.

“Something tells me they don’t get strangers all that often,” she told Eli.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘If only you knew….’ Though Bail and Breha were strong proponents of nurture over nature, both of them knew where Leia came from – Padme and Anakin, now Vader. Both of them wanted to protect her from that. She had a lot of both in her, they could see it every day, although so far they hadn’t seen any displays of the Force.

They often wondered if Obi-Wan saw anything in Luke.

“So I’ve been told – well, when you’re queen of a planet, you deal with these kinds of things, and you learn to do it with grace. Still, we were both immensely grateful for the help of both of you—I remember your name from her story.” Bail added, “Good to see the Count has such a good guard.”

Malvern nodded. “This isn’t quite what I expected,” he couldn’t help but say aloud.

Bail just kept that twinkle in his eyes. “Don’t worry about it, you’ll get used to it. Drink, mingle, enjoy. We’ll catch up again later,” he patted Adlai’s back, before carrying on, leaving Adlai still quite confused with all of this.

It was Leia who sauntered up to his side, her own cup in hand, and looked up at him.

Amilyn had shared a bit more with her, than she had shared with either of her parents, about Adlai, Eira, and all the others. Leia didn’t know about Skye, but she’d seen her in combat – and she knew how it was to be left out a loop. “The toniray others are drinking is more potent than usual. My father is just waiting for it to take effect. Don’t worry – he’s serious. This is how they go unnoticed.”

~***~

Mitth’raw’nuruodo had been adopted in some form or another. Did that mean Mitth’ras’safis was an adopted brother, or blood? ‘Does it matter?’ No, not in Eira’s experience.

The give, made her want to ask more, but as she opened her mouth, there was an interruption.

“There you are.”

Eira straightened up and looked across the way to see that R.D. had stepped into the garden. Before she could even ask, she added, “Amita told me where to find you when I went to visit her first,” she added. “So this is your new friend.”

Eira rose, gestured, “Yes, this is Mitth’raw’nuruodo – this is Shay, my manager,” she gestured back over to the sephi. ‘And much else.’ What the hell was she doing? Amita would have told her that she was off with Mitth’raw’nuruodo.

“A pleasure, Grand Admiral,” Shay responded, “I do apologize, but I need to take Eira from you for now. I am sure you two can catch up about family matters another day,” a small way to indicate he could absolutely not claim this was business any longer. She’d heard enough, as well.

Enough to realize he had either lied to the Empire, or he was lying to Eira. His story with the Empire was an exile, after all – not that Eira, or most, were likely to know that. Either way, Shay didn’t like this game.

Though that wasn’t the reason for the interruption. No, the togruta who somehow found her base was the reason for the interruption, and Shay was not pleased with it.

~***~

The bartender went away for the moment to fetch their drinks, and Eli chuckled at Cora’s statement, “Yeah, I guess not,” he shrugged.

He expected that.

He wanted that.

They were going to be the suspicious ones, which meant they were likely going to get questions thrown their way about why they were there. Someone might slip an implication of why they should be there, which was what Eli was hoping for.

Likely, the bartender. The others would have to have reason, or courage – or fear – enough to approach. Odds of that seemed slim at this hour.

Soon enough, their drinks were returned to them, in bottles, and Eli offered up his credits. Given this was a mission, he didn’t think to take Cora up on this. It’d all be charged to the larger Chimaera account, after all. “Thank you,” Eli said.

“You two new to the facility here?” The bartender asked.

Eli shook his head as he took a long swig from the drink. Nope, not to the facility.

 

[cleopat]

This isn’t quite what I expected. So was the entire situation also confusing to Adlai? Skye smiled at Bail, and her eyes followed him as he left.

But they didn’t remain alone for long. The planet’s princess, Bail’s daughter, walked up to them. Leia’s words only served to confuse Skye even further. “Wait, what?” Her brows furrowed, and her gaze shifted from Leia, to Adlai, then back at Leia.

“Why would some toniray be more potent than others?” Her voice was lowered, not quite a whisper, but low enough so no wondering ears could overhear. “Who’s ‘they?’”

Oh, how she wanted to reach out with the Force and see if that would tell her anything. But she didn’t. That would be wrong, and a violation of their trust. She would have to wait and see what they would tell her. “Please, I would really like to know what’s going on here.”

~~

A twinge of annoyance crossed Thrawn’s sharp features as their pleasant conversation was interrupted. His head turned towards the newcomer, and apparently, a friend of Eira’s. A Sephi.

A Sephi. How intriguing. He made note of the name for later. It may entirely be a coincidence, but Thrawn also knew very little ever turned out to be a mere coincidence.

“And same to you,” he greeted with a polite nod. The subtle threat did not escape Thrawn’s notice, but his expression showed no change. He did not like Shay.

“Of course. I do hope it is nothing serious.” He rose from the garden bench, his head turning towards Eira. “We must continue our conversation another time.” The time he had spent with her, however short, had been pleasant. But, stars, he neglected the questions he wanted to ask. Again.

~~

Cora noticed that Eli paid for the drinks, but she wouldn’t speak up about it. They were on a mission. It was a trivial matter. She doubted it would be his credits used, anyways.

The bartender returned with their drinks. Cora grabbed hers, but didn’t immediately take a swig like Eli. Following his example, she verbally answered, “No, we’re not.”

Simple, and it answered the question. Gaze flickering between the two, the bartender frowned at the answers that gave away nothing. “You two must not visit this place very often then, cause I ain’t seen ya around here.”

Cora took a swig from her bottle, her eyes shifting to Eli.

 

[Lucyfer]

The look that Leia offered Skye was somewhat scathing. Adlai understood immediately why some would be more potent. He’d gathered there was a difference from the moment he saw Bail’s wink, and really, this only confirmed his suspicions.

He wasn’t sure how to tell Skye.

Nor how to tell Leia that Skye wasn’t involved. “You really don’t know?” Leia asked Skye, but a look to Adlai more or less confirmed that. “Sounds like you have some things to figure out, then.”

She wouldn’t stick around for that, “Enjoy the party,” she sounded almost disgusted with it. A part of her was. She didn’t enjoy the reputation it was creating for Breha, or others – but she understood it.

Adlai sighed, took another long draught from his toniray to keep himself quiet, before he mumbled, “I told you before, I can’t say much.”

~***~

Shay remained attuned to the little flickers of annoyance that the Grand Admiral expressed. It didn’t surprise her. She was interrupting, after all, and he was aware she had heard more than he wanted her to hear. She gave a smile as he indicated his hopes for it to be nothing serious, but said nothing to the matter, allowing him to bid farewell to Eira.

Who smiled all too sincerely.

Of course, it was sincere. “We will,” Eira promised easily enough, “I will see you at another time, Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” she said, before she would move to where Shay waited, and let Shay take the lead in their directions through the garden, and eventually, out of it.

Words weren’t exchanged about the situation. Not at first – Shay spoke of Eira’s pending legal movements.

Shay, at least, had some idea about public spaces, and eavesdropping – it was one of the reasons she hadn’t sent Eira a message. There was no decent way to disguise that someone had dropped in.

~***~

“First time here,” Eli agreed as he set his bottle down, “The lager’s good, though. Thank you,” he said, dismissing, for now, the potential to follow that up immediately. Let it stew a bit, let him consider how to approach it, “Could I get some of the terrine – it’s going to be a long day.”

The only hint that they were, indeed, there for a reason.

The bartender didn’t seem any more pleased with the explanation, but all the same, he took the order, “Yeah, I’ll get you a bowl of it,” he said, and went off.

As he went into the back, Eli leaned a bit towards Cora. Into Cora, actually, to say, “Bartenders on places like this, are usually noisier than elsewhere.” They knew they could get credits for their knowledge, so they liked to know what was going on.

They’d have to give up something, sooner or later, but Eli was still hoping he could drag out some implications from the bartender first.

 

[cleopat]

Her jaw tensed, and her anger steadily rose. No one was going to offer her answers, only more questions. And Adlai’s words didn’t help any.

They only created more frustration for Skye.

“Then what can you tell me?” She snapped, with more vitriol than intended. Realizing how she reacted, Skye took a pause. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing away the anger. More needed to be known, or to be understood. Don’t let your anger cloud your mind.

“I’m sorry, but...I’m sure you can imagine my frustration.” Her voice was calmer. She sighed, and her gaze swept over the ballroom at the other guests. “I am working for you and living with you. I think I deserve to know something.”

Another pause. Skye looked down at the diluted toniray in her cup, suddenly unable to take another sip. “I’m gathering it's something of questionable legality?”

~~

“I will see you later, Eira.” Red eyes followed the two women until they were out of sight. Once he could no longer see them, Thrawn pulled out his datapad to direct a quick message to Faro.

I am returning to the ship. See if you can find any information on Eira Nevan’s manager, who goes by the name Shay.​

After that, Thrawn would return to his ship, stewing over his unanswered questions along the way. Stars, he always managed to somehow get off track while he was with Eira. Maybe she was manipulating him with her feminine wiles, and those bright eyes.

No, you were leading into the questions, but you were interrupted. You just needed more time. That’s what Thrawn told himself, and that’s what he will continue to tell himself.

And once he was back on the Chimaera, he would see if Faro managed to find anything more about Shay.

Stars, he hoped Governor Tarkin never finds out about that day.

~~

Cora ignored how close Eli leaned in, or how her heart skipped a beat. But she caught on to what he was saying. One eyebrow rose, somewhat bemused. “And I thought normal bartenders gossiped too much.”

The amount of knowledge about other people that bartenders held, due to a loose tongue from too much alcohol, was great. And with a few credits involved? Cora could imagine the rumors that could be spread.

The bartender returned and placed the bowl in front of Eli. Eyeing how close they were, he asked, “Are you two sharing? Or are you going to get something else?”

Cora tried to ignore the implications of those words. “Oh, nothing for me right now. Thanks.” She took a large swig of her drink.

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai knew that Skye was angry. He expected that. ‘No, I don’t owe you answers.’

He waited. He let her calm, that patience still in tact, but now a harder steel revealed with it as she tried to ask if it was of questionable legality. It absolutely was. He wasn’t going to say that, however. The less she knew, the better. “Survive this night in ignorance,” he said, “talk to Eira when we return.”

His role only went so far, and he knew that. He knew what he should and shouldn’t do as a Knight. Recruitment wasn’t his role. Revealing what they were, wasn’t his role. Breha and Bail already had some ideas, it was why he could represent them, here. But to Skye?

No, it didn’t extend so far. “I do not think she’ll hide it from you, stars know she’s aware of the position you’re both in simply for…,” simply for living. He sighed, brought a hand up to his temple, “I told you what I could, in the ship.”

~***~

Faro found Thrawn’s query to be a strange one, but nonetheless she was quick to organize the Bridge crew so she could begin the research. ‘Is Shay a first name? A last name?’ Thankfully, the HoloNet didn’t seem that confused when she put the two names together.

R.D. Shay – Eira’s manager of a few years, a sephi woman. ‘Didn’t Eli and Cora go looking for a sephi?’ Nevermind that – it seemed she had a history as a journalist before becoming Eira’s manager.

Tidbits of information were scattered in interviews, and Karyn was able to find a few of her pieces as a journalist. Every single one of them was against the Empire, scathing interviews, or revelations of things that the Empire had withheld from the public. ‘Thrawn won’t like this.’ Then again, this was probably why Thrawn wanted to know.

Faro did notice how many of her earlier work was on the racism in the Empire, as she went to the hangar where Thrawn was soon to arrive.

~***~

They went further down, in Coruscant, deeper and deeper into the underworld. Deeper than before. Eira wouldn’t question that, and she called on the Force to help obfuscate herself and Shay from onlookers.

Shay eventually spoke. “We have a guest.”

Eira allowed both eyebrows to raise. “She said she was working with other friends.”

“Why isn’t she dead?” Eira only asked because it was strange. Shay usually shot first and asked questions later.

Shay lifted her gaze to Eira, “She deflected the bolt, with a lightsaber.” Eira managed not to pause or stumble over her own feet. She had an urge both to turn and run, and to rush forward.

Her desire to see another Jedi ran counter with her desire for Shay to know what she was. “Who is she?”

“She wouldn’t give me a name. Not until both Imperators were there.”

“She’s done her homework.”

“She’s had help. Someone’s a mole. And I think you know who I mean.”

Eira sighed, but wouldn’t comment on that. Yes, she had an idea it was Amilyn who fed Bail and his crew the information on their own.

“Well, let’s see who this is, then. We’ll deal with that, later.” She indicated as they came to the new warehouse where Shay was set-up in.

~***~

Eli could only offer a short laugh at her statement. It was true, in some other locales, they would gossip overmuch as a way to get information, but Eli had figured this one out by a look, and by its patrons. Imperial cantina wouldn’t gossip so much, particularly in an area with crime.

Information paid.

“Thanks,” Eli said as the bowl was laid in front of him, ignoring the implications as he straightened up, and began to eat the meal set before him.

“So,” the bartender couldn’t quite help himself, “If you two aren’t with the facility, and you’re new here, are you here to deal with some of the…activity around here?”

Eli just arched a brow. “Activity?”

 

[cleopat]

Skye’s heart pounded in her chest as she fought down another wave of frustration. “You told me nothing on the ship.” A harsh whisper that belied her true emotions. All she knew was that it related to political business of the galaxy, which had been a given with the guests in attendance.

She had half a mind to call up Eira right then and there to demand answers, but she knew how dangerous that may be. “I hope you realize how much trust I have already put in you.” Eyes looked up at Adlai, anger not as apparent on her features anymore, but she did show the slightest bit of doubt. Of fear.

“Why am I here if I’m to be kept in the dark while sober?” Aside from her first sip, the toniray remained untouched. Stars, maybe I should go ask for a more potent drink. She knew why, though. She was his bodyguard, and the job of the bodyguard was to remain nearby, ready to protect at any given notice.

Still, it remained frustrating to be kept in the dark about something right in front of her. Maybe one of the Organas will cave and tell me what is going on.

~~

Thrawn held hope that Faro didn’t send for any follow-up questions about his command. It meant she could find some information on this Sephi. Granted, that was likely if she truly was the manager of Eira, but there would be no reason to lie about that. Not when it was so easily disproved.

Still, there was something off about her.

When Thrawn arrived in the hangar, he wasn’t surprised to already see Faro there, waiting for his arrival. “Commander Faro,” he greeted. He closed the distance between them, but did not stop. Instead, he motioned for her to follow him.

“What did you manage to find about this Shay?” His head angled slightly in her direction as he awaited an answer.

~~

It had been some time since Ahsoka ventured so far down into Coruscant. Even then, she wasn’t sure if she had been so far down.

Certainly a level where one could hide if they needed to.

She remained bored in the warehouse, following through her promise to the Sephi that she wouldn’t touch anything while she was away. She was perched up on a table, fingers drumming against the surface.

The Sephi had not been pleased to see Ahsoka there, unannounced. But they all had common allies and common goals.

They all needed one another.

Ahsoka heard the soft voices and the light footsteps before she saw them. Her posture straightened, but she didn’t move off the table just yet. Something felt off, but she couldn’t quite figure out why. It wasn’t anything bad, anything she should have her sabers ready for.

But her mind would remain on alert for anything, even if Bail Organa said she could trust them.

~~

Cora spared a glance down at the fungi-filled bowl Eli ordered, internally grimacing at the slimy-textured food that composed the dish. I know what I won’t be ordering if I do get anything.

There was mention of activity. She looked back up at the bartender, who didn’t seem impressed with Eli’s one-word question.

“Ah, then maybe you’re not here for that then.” The bartender shrugged and turned to walk off.

“Or maybe we are,” Cora interjected. “A place like this has activity at multiple levels. Which one were you referencing?” She hoped to play the game as well as Eli could. She had no experience in the field with that sort of thing, not like Eli did.

Not from the stories she heard.

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai could see the fear easily enough. The frustration was easily heard. There’d be no comforting her. “You know why you have diluted toniray, Skye. You’re a bodyguard here. Which puts you in much less danger.” Far less than she realized, if she could keep that she had the Force hidden in any skirmishes, which she had showed, she could.

“I know it’s frustrating.” On that, he empathized, “And I know it will remain frustrating, but I ask again, please, wait until you can speak to Eira. If you hate everything then, you can walk out – but I hope then you’ll understand why nothing was said.” And why he still said nothing. “We all have our secrets, and I know you’ve entrusted me with one, but this isn’t mine to share.”

Would she understand that? Certainly it made sense if he was directing to the same person. Certainly she knew, that Eira held plenty of secrets, as well.

Could she not guess enough based on what he wasn’t saying, and who he was directing towards?

Or did she truly think Eira was only an actress in the middle of Coruscant because she liked to act? "We'll go right to her, after this, if you like."

~***~

“Grand Admiral,” Karyn greeted, and easily fell in step with Thrawn as he kept walking. That was somehow more expected than for him to stop. “Obviously, I’ve just got surface information on her – if this is R.D. Shay, anyways. I couldn’t find out what R.D. stands for,” which was odd, but some people really did go by initials.

She didn’t know Sephi customs well, either.

“She’s been Eira’s manager for a few years, but before that, she was a journalist,” Faro answered, “And not exactly a fan of the Empire. A lot of her articles were about the xenophobia and racism of the Empire. It doesn’t look like she’s doing any more writing, though.” Or at least, not as much of it.

Nothing recent came up under that name, anyways. “I’m not sure why she shifted gears to managing the activities of a celebrity,” or how she was even qualified for it, for that matter. It wasn’t clear how she and Eira met.

Eira didn’t speak about that, and of course, Shay never spoke of it.

Shay’s voice seemed silenced after meeting Eira, which was another oddity for one so full of vitriol.

~***~

Eira and Shay stepped into the warehouse together, Eira noting the lights had been left on. Her obfuscation fell with the safety of the closed doors, and her eyes looked around, tense as well.

The tension broke in sudden recognition, an almost immediate relaxation following when she saw the togruta that Shay was so annoyed with. ‘Ahsoka!’ How could she not recognize her? Even before she had walked out, Eira was familiar with the odd way she became Anakin Skywalker’s padawan, and her – not to mention speaking of Anakin earlier had pushed some memories to the forefront.

However, she closed down on speaking the name, recalling herself, and where she was. There was the chance Ahsoka wouldn’t recognize her. A chance to speak with her after Shay had left, or without Shay.

The tension flickered back, as if it had been merely surprise that startled her out of it. Shay was none the wiser, eying the togruta on the table. “Well…it doesn’t look like you touched anything,” Shay said, “Do you mind introducing yourself now?”

‘Please, if you recognize me, please don’t say it, Ahsoka.’ Eira wished she could just throw the message into Ahsoka’s head.

~***~

The bartender eyed them after Cora answered, “Well, why don’t you just let me know what you’re here for instead of playing around it?”

‘Game’s up.’ Eli thought. At least, the game of withholding. They had to give something now, by suggesting they were there for any sort of activity. “You already know the Empire’s invested in this world. We’re just here to make sure that investment remains a good one.” That could mean so many things, even surveying the wilds would fall under that.

Who knew what they could find that would be profitable or desirable to the Empire, after all?

But it also, obviously, implied halting anything that wasn’t helping the Empire out.

“And how are you going about that?”

“How do you think we should?” Eli hoped he appeared earnest, wide-eyed. He knew he was still young and could pull it off, sometimes.

 

[cleopat]

Skye turned her focus back up at Adlai as he continued, as he assured her that only Eira could tell her what was going on. The fear and frustration abated, and she had reached acceptance. She wasn’t happy about it, but she accepted that there wasn’t more she could do right then.

She nodded. “Alright.” Her voice came out as a whisper, her eyes moving from his dark ones back to observe the people there. Her mind tried to think of what she knew about the guests there she did recognize. If they all had something in common.

“But I do want to talk to her right after this.” Skye lifted the toniray to her lips and took a sip. I already have it, might as well finish the drink. The only thing she knew about the few whom she recognized, was that they had been vocal in opposing some of the Emperor’s policies.

Were the others the same way? She scrunched her brows as she mused over the thought.

~~

Thrawn didn’t consider that Shay’s first name was only defined by the initials. Many didn’t reveal their full names to the public, and he understood a desire to shorten the name for convenience. Still, he filed that information for later.

He would also need to delve more into the culture of the Sephis.

Not a fan of the Empire. Of course, he knew many weren’t, but for her to be so public about it in her articles? That was worth noting. And then to give up the work to change careers.

“Or maybe she is still speaking out against the Empire, but under an alias,” Thrawn offered as a suggestion. Indeed, it was strange that such an opinionated Sephi would all of the sudden quit to become the manager for an actress. Either she wanted a change in career, or it was to hide something greater.

“I think I need to have a chat with this R.D. Shay.” See where her current thoughts lay. “Did you get the chance to read any articles written by her?”

~~

Ahsoka’s head turned to where the two women entered. A strange look flickered across her eyes, and her brows furrowed ever so slightly, but the expression was quickly gone.

The Togruta hopped off the table, but didn’t take a step closer to the two women. “I am Ahsoka,” she answered, gaze now fully focused on Shay. “Ahsoka Tano.”

Holdo had already told her of Eira, and so for the moment, her eyes remained on Shay. “Am I allowed to have the name of the one who attempted to kill first and ask questions later?” Her arms crossed over her chest, and one brow lifted, as if to say you owe me that much as well.

And though she already knew Eira's name, and if her gut feeling was correct in knowing her from the past, she wanted the actress to introduce herself as well.

~~

The bartender appeared slightly skeptical. Eyes shifted between the two as he considered Eli’s question, and how he wanted to answer. He sighed.

“Well, if you really want to know, there’s been some strange things going on in the next town over.” The young and innocent act worked well enough on the bartender, who now thought that the two officers were fresh from the Academy and knew nothing about the dangers of the galaxy.

Cora mentally drew the map of the area in her head. The town in question would be one she had mentioned during their briefing back on the ship. “What kind of strange things?” She leaned forward slightly in her chair, as if expecting a great secret.

The bartender gave her a look. “Why don’t you go check it out for yourself. I’m in here all the time. I don’t know much.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai knew it was a small miracle for Skye to agree to this much. He knew how much trust she was putting in him. Likely, that he was friends with Eira, and here with Bail, helped his credentials a bit, but he still knew this was not a pleasant situation for her. That she had to know there was more, but not know what? He could imagine it was a special sort of hell.

“Of course,” he wouldn’t deny her a talk afterwards.

How much he could talk, of course, would depend on what the contents of that conversation were, but he would talk with her. He wouldn’t back down from it, just as even now he spoke to her without just throwing up his hands or insulting her desire to know more.

He tipped some of his own toniray back, “I do need to mingle a bit,” he said. Standing around like this, speaking as they were, had its own suspicions, “You are free to mingle as well. To glean what you will.”

He had no control of what others said, after all.

~***~

Karyn wouldn’t dismiss the thought that Shay wrote under a pseudonym. Plenty of authors did, but usually people traced it back and figured it out. From what Faro read, at least, there were no pseudonyms tied to R.D. Shay.

Still, she frowned a bit.

Why did Thrawn need to speak to her? “I skimmed them, mostly, I wanted to try to gather more information. I can forward you the ones I’ve found so you can look them over,” she wondered if he would find patterns in the written word, the same way he did in art, “Why are we concerned with Eira Nevan’s manager, though?”

Perhaps this wasn’t a ‘we’ thing, but Thrawn had asked her to look into it.

She assumed that meant it was something related to business.

~***~

If Shay was supposed to feel guilty at Ahsoka’s accusation, she didn’t. Her gaze held Ahsoka’s easily enough, and she answered, “Raelyn Dawn Shay, though most call me Shay,” rather than her initials, or her actual name, which fewer knew. For one, it was tediously long. Second, Shay was not an uncommon Sephi surname. It was terribly common, which was useful.

“I am Eira Nevan,” Eira introduced, again hoping not to be called on the false name.

Ahsoka was…brave…to still be using her actual name. Eira already knew they didn’t care if one rejected the Jedi or not.

“You’re here from Bail,” Shay cut to the point, “So tell me, is it Holdo who filled him in on this little detail of our organization, or did you find that out from other sources, Miss Tano?” That she was there to get a better understanding of their organization, and potential as allies, was obvious enough.

Shay couldn’t fault Bail for being cautious about who he let in, and wanting to get right to the leadership, rather than simply to Adlai. It didn’t mean she was happy for it. She preferred things on her terms.

~***~

‘No but you hear things.’ Eli wanted to say, but didn’t. That would be too on the nose, too revelatory that they were there for information.

So, instead, he smiled, “We’ll just have to do that, then.” He agreed, “Once the rest of our crew gets back from shopping. We were going to take a look into the wilderness a bit.”

Some light revelation.

The bartender scoffed, “Ain’t gonna find much in there,” he said, “There’s a reason not much is advancing here.”

“If that’s the case, then we’ll just have to do away with the wilderness.” Simple, efficient. The standard Imperial answer. If something was in the way, get rid of it.

 

[cleopat]

Of course Adlai had to go off to talk and mingle with the guests there. He couldn’t be seen talking with his bodyguard the entire time, even if Skye didn’t particularly want to mingle with the other guests here. Politicians.

She nodded. “Try not to need me in the meantime.” Skye shot him a sly smile, her previous mood having returned. “It will be a shame having to look for a new job so soon.” But of course, they both knew that if someone were to attack, she would know about it right before it happened.

After he left, Skye would remain in her spot for a few moments longer, as her eyes sought out anyone she could talk to. Anyone who looked approachable. That was the trouble of knowing next to no one at the banquet, and gauging who would be willing to chat with Adlai’s bodyguard.

~~

Thrawn nodded. “Please, do send me those articles.” Much like sculptures and paintings, the written word could hold so many clues and answers through patterns and other rhetorical devices. Just like art, writing can easily be identifiable to one particular author, if one knew what to look for.

“Aside from the fact that we are currently looking for a Sephi,” a piece of information that Thrawn knew bordered on xenophobic ideals prevalent in the Empire (but he couldn’t overlook the fact that they had just started a mission to look for this Proserpina, and one made herself known to Thrawn), “it is believed Miss Eira Nevan may be working against the Empire.”

And Tarkin’s words echoed in his mind again. Words that always somehow failed to come forth when Thrawn was actually with Eira.

“While all of this may be entirely coincidental, it is worth carefully looking over every detail, in case it turns out to be more than a coincidence.”

~~

Ahsoka was pleased that they revealed their names without further argument, especially from Shay, who did not have the best first impression. Though, Ahsoka may have responded similarly if she found some stranger in a secret location.

Though Eira’s name still felt off for Ahsoka. She swore she had seen the woman before, and not because she’s some holostar. But if she was someone else, and giving a false name, then Ahsoka wouldn’t say anything about that right then. Maybe later, if the two had an opportunity to be alone.

Ahsoka lifted her chin, not to intimidate Shay, but to show that she wouldn’t be intimidated by anything Shay said to her. “Is that really so important right now?” Her head tilted to the side, silently observing Shay.

“What I think is more important is to see if we share a common enemy and a similar goal.” And to gauge how this group truly worked. If they were anything like what she had heard of the radicalist Saw Gerrara, then Ahsoka would end her little investigation into their group.

~~

Do away with the wilderness? Cora wanted to argue that, before she understood that it was a part of Eli’s continued act to get more information.

Which seemed to work on the bartender to some extent.

He hesitated with Eli’s response. “That may not be a good idea.”

“Why?” Cora asked. She had some idea of what his answer would be, but she needed to see if it lined up with the information she had about Cartao.

“Because there’s a reason that there’s not much in there. Everything in that wilderness will try to kill ya, including the plants.” The bartender shook his head. “Besides, the villagers won’t be too happy if their jungle is gone.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai himself went to Mon Mothma, the senator of Chandrila, ever in white – even here. She greeted him warmly enough, and brought him into her circle of other Senators, introducing him as the not-yet Senator of Serenno, which he just laughed at. Count seemed more than enough, but still, he engaged them.

Looked at the drinks to see if he could note any visible difference.

Nothing – although he suspected one was sipping on something significantly stronger based on their behavior, as the conversation shifted to droids, of all things.

Skye herself would not be left long to herself, though. Even before she picked someone, Queen Breha approached.

“Excuse me,” calm as ever, and a smile would light her face once she had a better look at her, “I thought you were the same from the gallery. I do not believe I ever got to properly thank you for your actions that day.”

~***~

Faro was aware of how strangely xenophobic it sounded to suggest that Shay could be tied to Proserpina just by virtue of being a sephi. It was like saying any human could be tied to any other human, though no one ever, actually, said that. Perhaps it was just the articles she’d skimmed, though, which she would start to forward to Thrawn, already taking out her datapad to do so.

However she jolted, coming to a complete stop when he said Eira was being looked into by the Empire. ‘So does that mean you’re not interested…?’ Faro would not ask that, tempting as it suddenly was. She shouldn’t be interested in a potential enemy of the Empire!

She shook it off, and started walking again, catching up quickly, “So that’s the real reason you’ve been spending so much time with her,” she said. She did hope there was nothing to be found, but already she felt the sorrow of it, as if it were true.

As if Eira were already guilty.

It wasn’t confirmed, but she did have an awful lot of friends who spoke out against the Empire, didn’t she?

~***~

Eira could feel Shay bristling besides her. She gently placed a hand on her shoulder, and stepped forward.

It was time to drop the Outcast act.

“Ahsoka.”

The Counsellor Voice came easily. It had many variations, different inflections. This one held warmth, understanding, and disappointment. It was always the disappointment that had people reconsidering their actions, more than anger ever could.

“We want to discuss that, as well, which is why we’ve begun our own outreach to Bail Organa,” she acknowledged, “I know the matter of our personal security may seem trivial to you, but this discussion will not go far if we do not have peace of mind regarding how you know about Us,” meaning only her and Shay, “as well as our location, which only changed days ago, and just before our previous one was found by Death Troopers.”

It was a way to drive home why this information mattered to them. They were very much at risk if Ahsoka found this out on her own, or through a source that wasn’t internal. “We intend no harm if it is one of our own, but we do need to make them aware of the importance of being careful in who we speak to, and where we speak of certain matters.”

~***~

“That just seems like more reason to try and get rid of it, like Kashyyyyk.” Eli muttered.

He completely disagreed with how Kashyyyk was handled, but wilderness with plants that attacked? That was not a fun thought, and the Empire tended to think that way. Best to just get rid of it, immediately, instead of deal with it at all.

The wookies definitely weren’t happy about that decision.

“Do the people here really like their jungle that much?” He opted to ask, just to see if there was some special significance to the locals.

If so, that was definitely useful information. A criminal would definitely make use of any reverence.

 

[cleopat]

Skye didn’t have to wait long until she was approached - by the Queen of all people, looking as regal as she did at the gallery. She smiled, and extended an inclination of her head in formal greeting. “Your Majesty.”

She was pleasantly surprised that Breha had remembered her; Skye assumed that the threat of the mercenaries would’ve all that she’d been able to remember, but that wasn’t the case.

“Oh, no need to thank me,” she assured. “I was only doing what was right.” And to stand by and watch the public kidnapping happen, knowing she had the skills to stop it? No, Skye couldn’t do that, and she didn’t know how long it would’ve been for help to arrive.

“How have you been?” Breha looked well enough, and Skye doubted that the Queen would allow something like mercenaries to shake her up.

~~

Thrawn raised an eyebrow at Faro’s reaction to the information given about Eira. He had already guessed at some infatuation Faro held for the woman, and the obvious jolt further proved his theory.

For now, he would let it remain. They will both learn soon enough.

“Of course,” Thrawn answered far too quickly. Even he knew that was a lie to himself, and he hoped Faro wouldn’t catch it. “There may be reason to suspect her of treasonous activity, and so I had to investigate her myself. Unfortunately, this investigation remains inconclusive so far.”

But maybe insight into R.D. Shay will help him figure things out. An odd sensation twisted in his gut at the thought of Eira being guilty, as he imagined those blue eyes staring at him full of fear as she is arrested in front of them. Don’t be so ridiculous.

~~

Eira’s change in tone did not go unnoticed by the Togruta. Ahsoka relaxed her shoulders and shifted her body in the other woman’s direction. The tone had nearly reminded her of a younger, reckless Padawan version of herself being offered advice by one of the many Jedi who were once part of her life.

The tone had made Ahsoka reconsider. She patiently listened to Eira’s side and reconsidered what to say to them. They all need to build trust if they were to consider one another, and although Ahsoka still thought Eira seemed familiar, Shay seemed less than enthusiastic with the entire situation.

After Eira finished, Ahsoka didn’t speak for a few seconds, letting the silence hang between the three of them. “She goes by the name Amilyn Holdo,” she conceded. “A bit of a strange one, but full of intelligence.” And Ahsoka liked her from the moment they met.

“We met through Bail Organa,” she added, hoping the name would further calm their nerves. “I promise you, I come as a friend, not as a foe.”

~~

The bartender took a moment to answer his question, as if thinking carefully about the answer. Cora had the impression that he was just thinking if he wanted to tell them more.

But he gave them an answer. “I guess so, yeah. I think it has something to do with traditions passed down, I dunno. But they both revere and fear that jungle.”

Cora frowned. She wasn’t in the same prevalent opinion that the dangerous wilderness that couldn’t be tamed should just be gotten rid of, but it did pose a problem for them.

“Do people still try and go in the jungle that often?” Maybe some imperials from the makeshift village did so, not realizing the dangers. Or maybe some other native villagers knew how to better navigate some of the jungles.

 

[Lucyfer]

Breha couldn’t help the light, scoffing laugh as Skye declared she did not need thanks, “You would be surprised at how many people would stand by and do nothing.” She said, gesturing a little so they would walk further from the refreshments. “Nonetheless, those who do good should be recognized for it.”

Kindness and compassion, gratitude, were all good things. And Breha was certainly grateful to Skye. And, in a way, she would be grateful to the Empire if they did uncover who was behind it. To individuals in the Empire, anyways. She understood Thrawn was looking into it, currently.

She had her own people trying to follow a few leads, as well. As expected – that didn’t need to be hidden. “I am well,” she answered, “I was more concerned for you,” she admitted, “I couldn’t help but notice you seemed distraught not long before you and the Count parted ways.”

She understood that Skye was there as a bodyguard.

She understood, from her conversation with Adlai before, that Skye wasn’t quite a part of things.

She knew little else than that, but she was still generally concerned about Skye and what rift could have occurred so quickly in the midst of the event.

"Are you all right?"

~***~

Karyn did not, in fact, disregard Thrawn’s own hasty answer. Being around Eli and Cora, she was starting to become attuned to it. ‘Uh huh.’ So it wasn’t just that. He liked her company, too. Damn him. Not that it mattered much, Eira was in a relationship…but based on her history she was still more inclined to like Thrawn than, well, herself.

Faro wouldn’t make any comment to that, putting her datapad away after the articles were sent. “Well, I hope nothing comes of it. The backlash would be a nightmare to deal with.” For everyone. They did not need that kind of headache.

“Maybe just her manager is up to something shady,” Faro offered, somewhat hopefully, “that could put Eira into those kinds of situations, and she might be unaware.” That was probably too hopeful.

Eira didn’t seem air-headed.

~***~

Ahsoka responded in a familiar way, even the pause to think about her response. Eira held her stance, patient, as Ahsoka began to reveal what otherwise she might have kept. A kind smile pulled onto her lips, and she exchanged a look with Shay.

It was who they suspected, and they would handle that. “Thank you, Ahsoka,” Eira responded. “We know her well, and we will address that later with her. There isn’t need to worry. She will not be harmed nor removed from our circle.”

Shay nodded her concession to that. No matter how hard she appeared, she wouldn’t have harmed Amilyn for this.

It was all internal slips – far better than the alternative, that they hadn’t hidden well enough, or that it came from someone outside their organization. “Let’s sit,” Shay was the one to offer, gesturing towards the meeting space that held spots for their usual number, and she began to walk towards it, towards her own chair.

Eira nodded, encouraging Ahsoka to join them, as she went to the circle. She began to speak, “If your enemy, and Bail’s enemy, is the Empire, then we do have a common enemy,” Eira indicated as she took her seat, “However, I am not certain of our methods. I know little about what Bail is actually doing, which, ironically, I consider to be a good thing.”

Shay added, “We prefer to keep undercover ourselves, unlike the Lothal group, and the Partisans.” Although she preferred the Lothal group to others, “Not that we have been without our troubles, our names have yet to be blasted across the HoloNet.” Death Troopers was rather significant trouble, but their identities remained unknown.

Their activities, to some degree, as well. “However, we understand that things need to change in our own operations.” Shay added.

They could only do so much.

It was time to start pulling together.

~***~

The bartender shook their head, “Not around here, no,” it wasn’t that common so close to the Imperial facility, of course. Imperials didn’t care that much to go gallivanting off into the jungle. It was too dangerous, of course, but there was still some local backlash to it, as well.

They’d torn down some spaces already to make their presence on the world.

“Well, maybe we’ll have some luck anyways,” Eli shrugged. Or they could ask some locals for help. Eli had a feeling they might know their way around, at least better. Just like the wookiees.

It was a start, anyways. And they had a town to look into after Ortell and Tobias got back. Eli had nearly finished his food, all but ignoring his lager to focus on eating rather than drinking. “We’ll have to give that town a look, too. If we’re here to make this place work, we have to look into all angles, I guess.”

 

[cleopat]

To Skye, it didn’t feel right to receive recognition for doing good. It’s something one should just do, but that was her Jedi training speaking. She knew many would stand by and do nothing. She knew many would want that recognition when they did do something good.

She easily followed Breha away from the refreshments table. A light frown tugged on her lips as the Queen expressed concern for Skye. She hadn’t expected anyone to have been paying attention to them, and now she felt some embarrassment, not only for herself but for Adlai.

But this could be her chance to find out what was going on. Would Breha allow herself to give Skye the answers she desired?

“I’m worried,” she admitted. “It’s just...there’s obviously something going on, but all I am getting are more questions than answers.”

~~
“Indeed it would,” he mused, hearing the ping of his datapad from Faro sending over the messages, but electing to ignore them for the time being. It would be something to go through later, when he returned to his quarters.

But nevermind the fact that he wanted Eira innocent for his own selfish reasons.

“That is a possibility. The idea that Shay is using Miss Nevan’s own position and status for her gain did cross my mind.” But it still hadn’t felt right to him. Like there was still a piece of this puzzle missing, maybe one that was staring him right in the face.

“But this would also need the question of exactly how much of her role as Eira Nevan’s manager is she utilizing for this purpose, if at all. After a certain point, Miss Nevan would be aware of what Shay is doing, unless of course she was in on these plans as well.”

~~

Ahsoka shook her head. “Oh no, she doesn’t deserve any punishment at all.” They had already assured nothing will happen to Holdo, but she wanted to emphasize that. It hadn’t been the younger woman’s fault.

At the suggestion, Ahsoka followed the two over to their circle and took up an empty chair, sitting with legs tucked under her body. She hadn’t been told of how big their group was, but the size of their area indicated that there weren’t too many others, which was expected.

Rebel cells were still small, with others, like Bail, trying some attempt at unity.

She had nodded along with their observations. They did share a common enemy, and while they were unlike other groups in that they remained hidden, times were indeed changing. Tactics would need to change as well. “I believe the time has come for some unity between the groups, or rather, some better communication and strategizing among us to help us.”

The Empire was a formidable foe, and once they caught wind of more rebel cells, their efforts would ramp up. But Ahsoka would make certain that they prepared themselves for whatever the Empire threw at them.

“But first, I would like to know more about your group.”

~~

Cora frowned and took another swig of the lager. The taste wasn’t quite something she was used to, and she withheld the urge to wince. Not while next to Eli.

“Good luck to you two if you do decide to do that,” the bartender scoffed before heading off to his next customer.

“What a pleasant fellow,” Cora muttered. Her head turned to glance over her shoulder, in the direction of the entrance, but there was no sign of Ortell or Tobias yet with information they gleaned from the village.

She had leaned in closer to Eli, mindful of any curious listeners. “So, depending on what information Ortell and Tobias bring us, we check out that village next, and then see what we can find in the jungle?” At that moment, Cora wouldn’t admit that the prospect of spending even just an hour inside the jungle excited her.

 

[Lucyfer]

Skye was fishing. Breha was familiar enough with the tactics, running in these circles as often as she did. Hosting these parties. Quelling worries, or seeing those with them, who shouldn’t know anything, drunker. The latter she could not do to a bodyguard, of course. Partially because she suspected that Skye was already aware of some things.

She wouldn’t be worried if she wasn’t aware.

“I’m sorry this is unable to put you at ease, Skye,” as parties should, though her sympathy wasn’t false. “What questions do you have? What things do you already suspect?”

Breha knew she would not be able to answer much, but what Skye figured out in speaking to her was another matter. What she might string together by even voicing it, was another matter, as well, and Breha would make sure to steer them well away from anyone who might overhear their conversation.

She wouldn’t give anything away…but she could help Skye along.

~***~

Faro could only agree with that, of course. There remained a question, though, “What is Eira suspected of doing?” she asked, elaborating a bit, “Do we have a case of action against the Empire we think she’s involved in, or do we just have…a hunch?”

The only thing she could think of was Kashyyyk, but if that was the case, Eira didn’t seem to be doing a good job of covering things up. It happened right after she was there, and security was still lax due to an order Thrawn himself gave – as everyone knew, and wouldn’t mention ever again. That article had been scathing.

‘Wait….’

Faro paused, blinking a moment, “Not to get off track, but who wrote that article about your, um, involvement in Kashyyyk? The first one?” That spread like wildfire.

It wasn’t under the name Shay, of course – it was under the name Hel Martez.

~***~

Eira and Shay could find nothing wrong with the assessment that Ashoka made, although Shay clearly wanted Ahsoka to give more than she was, about her own group, and how they were handling things. That unspoken demand was passed to Eira in a glance, but Eira just calmly shook her head.

Ahsoka had already given them Holdo’s name, and a name of one of her own leaders. They knew it, of course, but they hadn’t been certain that Ahsoka was with him, and not some other rebel cell.

They weren’t the only one.

That was both good, and part of a problem of disorganization. If they all came together…it’d be much better. “We consist of a few individuals, of various means and roles,” Eira said, “My main role is both functional distraction, organization and outreach, and finances. Most of us have some experience with war, but not all of us,” a suggestion that not all of them had been children during the Clone Wars, like Amilyn, and that some may have tactical or battle experience, even if they weren’t using it as much as others.

“Shay is the one who gathers intelligence that the Empire would rather we didn’t have, and turns it against them. We have others in related roles, in law or in bounty hunting.” Odd that it would be related, and yet it was, for the bounty hunter saved lives as often as he didn’t, before it became wide-spread that they were wanted dead. “For the most part, we have undertaken small sabotages, and larger scale assistance. We have worked with other rebel cells as well, to my current regret, with the Partisan attack on Kashyyyk,” which had her stuck here on Coruscant. “Had I known their full plans, I would not have supported it, but it is an example of how we can operate on a planet within Imperial ranks, and aid others in getting through.”

She didn’t think Ahsoka would be unfamiliar with the Kashyyyk situation, given how new it was, or that the Partisans had made it into the jungle, survived to meet the Chief, and returned to take an Imperial base.

They just acted with too much haste. And too much brutality.

~***~

Eli arched an eyebrow at Cora’s assessment of him, “I think so,” he said, but there was no derision in his tone. No dislike, no bitterness. Given the front Eli had worn, the man responded as he should – and went a step further to show his sympathies for the locals, and the forest. His expression of their own stupidity and overconfidence about the jungle and what they could do?

It was almost nice that he was concerned.

They’d played him, after all. If they had come in as their typical selves, he might have been friendlier, but he wouldn’t have given them much of anything to work on, unless they offered more in return, credits or information.

He wouldn’t linger on it, but he would nod, “Yup. We’ll go there next, and determine what’s to be done from there.” He’d rather not set out to the forest that day if it could be avoided, due to the hour. Many predator sorts hunted at twilight. He’d prefer to venture just in daylight if they could.

 

[cleopat]

Breha wasn’t going to give Skye any direct answers. She should’ve known, but the fact that no one was being direct with her was frustrating.

Now she just wanted to know out of sheer stubbornness.

What things do you already suspect? Skye glanced down at her toniray, then out towards the mingling guests, some obviously more intoxicated than others. “I know that there’s a cover-up for something.” Her gaze returned to Breha. “Some have been given a more potent toniray, while others, like myself, are basically drinking juice, so it seems that you don’t want some to realize or remember what’s going on.”

She kept her voice calm and level, and face neutral as to not alert anyone of what they may be discussing. “But then, why invite those people to the banquet at all? Unless there was something going on that the Empire would not be happy to learn about, so the mix of politicians of varying beliefs is to help throw the scent off as something more happens.”

Skye hoped that would be enough for the Queen to give her better answers.

~~

Thrawn hesitated with an answer. In truth, he didn’t know what was the cause of suspicion against Eira, although he was starting to see how she associated with those who were vocally against the Empire. But, also, she had friends within the Empire.

Was one of the sides an act? But if so, which one?

He readied to answer Faro before she interrupted, with an entirely different question that he easily saw the connection to. Thrawn frowned. “I don’t recall, but we shouldn’t trust whatever name it was published under. Instead, we will have to compare writing styles in order to see if we can find the culprit.”

It was a no-brainer that Shay would immediately be on the top of the list of suspects for that article. “Thanks to your research, we already have some articles we can look at for analysis.” No, he didn’t think Eira would be the one to write the article, but it would be easy to see how someone who was closely involved in her life could do so.

Thrawn backtracked on Faro's first question. “Governor Tarkin holds suspicions towards Eira Nevan, and has tasked me with research into her character. If there’s no evidence of any attempted treason towards the Empire, or involvement with any rebels? Then she will have nothing to worry about.”

~~

Ahsoka listened intently to the information Eira provided her. In some ways, their group was like others she had encountered and spoken with. Everyone had a role, and they stuck with that role for the better of the group. But if what Eira said was true, then their roles were slightly different.

She didn’t know of many other rebel cells, with few exceptions, who had a member who was so public as Eira.

Sabotages and assistance was another commonality. She recalled hearing of the Phoenix cell on Lothal doing much of the same thing.

Ahsoka shook her head. “It’s okay, I have heard of the Partisans and did not know of their more extreme ideologies until recent.” Other rebels were becoming aware of what the Partisans were doing, and she suspected with the further spread of the Kashyyyk incident, more will be less inclined to work with them, even if she didn’t full know the exact details of what had happened.

“Can you please tell me what happened on Kashyyyk? I’m afraid I have only heard bits and pieces of what happened, but it’s hard to tell what is truth and what is exaggeration.”

~~

Cora nodded in her satisfaction at their next steps. This case had to be assessed step by step, as there were too many unknown variables that affected every little outcome, and whatever Ortell and Tobias brought them may change plans as well.

And, as Cora finished up the last of her lager, the two ensigns entered the cantina and immediately spotted her and Eli sitting at the bar. “Officer Vanto, Suvan!” They had both greeted, both taking a seat on either side of Cora and Eli.

“Did you two find anything of use?” she asked. The bartender came back over to ask the newest guests if they wanted anything, but the two just shook their heads. The bartender shrugged and headed to a customer with a hand waving to catch their attention.

Ortell scoff. “Yeah, that this jungle isn’t to be taken lightly.”

“Fun fact,” Tobias started, “there are many legends of people wandering the jungle for eternity, because of how many never return home after going inside it.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Skye was indeed wise to the toniray situation. She understood what that meant, which was good. As she continued to speak, she formed hypothesizes that were fairly close to what was going on. Yes, they had to hide under the Empire’s radar, and that meant mixing with some of them, and carefully controlling the environment in which they mixed with them.

This was how Breha could do it.

“Why indeed,” Breha echoed, allowing a small smile to curve onto her lips, “There’s always a reason for cover-ups and many ways to do it. Perhaps we’re merely planning a surprise party for Emperor Palpatine’s birthday, to show our gratitude to him, even in spite of our complaints about how things are being managed.”

Her statement was obviously false.

The suggestion, so obviously fake.

But it was a way to not directly answer if Skye was right, but through the heavy use of sarcasm, to suggest she was, indeed, on the right path. This was not something Sheev would like.

~***~

Faro knew it wouldn’t be hard to find that original article. Everyone on the ship knew about it, and some recalled direct quotes. A search of the HoloNet would bring it up swiftly enough and then they could compare its language, to that in Shay’s writing. And see if it was all that way, too.

Apparently, it was Tarkin who held suspicion, but he hadn’t given Thrawn a reason. Faro allowed a hum of curiosity.

That was significant, though.

Tarkin likely wasn’t setting Thrawn up for failure, but she wondered what he saw that made Eira a threat. “Maybe you should ask him why. That may help to narrow things down further, if we know what made him suspicious.”

Assuming he wasn’t too busy, of course. Faro could also imagine Thrawn didn’t want to talk to Tarkin. Tarkin was intimidating. Perhaps more intimidating than the Emperor. Faro didn’t know, Faro didn’t want to know.

~***~

Eira nodded, “Of course,” though Shay did not seem pleased in the least with this, “I met with a partisan some nights before to arrange it. Shay and another worked to get clearance for my leave to Kashyyyk, so it would all be above board – a simple, morale boosting concert,” Eira explained, “That includes my crew, my pilot, my set-up staff, and anyone else I might need. In this case, it was myself, and three others. Two of the three were charged with seeing a certain perfume to the outskirts of the Imperial base, within the jungle itself, where the Partisans could find it. The perfume keeps the plants deeper in the forest from attacking.”

She wasn’t yet giving up the identities of the others, merely their roles. “The Partisans were able to lose any pursuit that way, as I understand it, and connect with Chief Tarfful…and then launch a full-scale attack on the Imperial base. It was not what I discussed with the Partisan. For one, it was supposed to be more delayed than that, to lessen my connection to it.”

That didn’t happen, and now for better or worse, she was under suspicion. “It was also not meant to be a takeover strike. They’re only going to lose the base again and worsen the situation for the wookiees,” Eira muttered, shaking her head.

“However,” Shay interjected, “we were able to use it to defame Grand Admiral Thrawn. He, apparently, decided to help clear Eira’s way by reaching out to the Kashyyyk facility and telling them to tighten security around her, not the base. They didn’t get back to normal function as quick as they should have. It left them more open to the Partisan’s arrival and movements.”

‘Which was not part of the plan.’ But Eira didn’t say that.

She had to let Shay play her role, too, in upsetting Imperial leadership.

~***~

Both ensigns seemed almost too chipper with the situation. Eli arched an eyebrow at their greetings, but nodded his own. They came up to join them, and spoke of the jungle being dangerous. Nothing they didn’t already know. “That’s why one of you will be staying behind, and the rest of us will have comms.” And a deadline. If they weren’t heard from after a certain period, panic.

“So were you two able to find any actual gear for the jungle?” Eli asked, looking them over.

He didn’t see anything, and they didn’t express anything, either.

That probably meant a longer shopping trip in the next town, which would just annoy Eli, though of course, he’d do it. The next town might know a bit more about what they needed to go into the jungle, anyways.