Mother and Child Reunion

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

No I would not give you false hope
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reu-nion
Is only a motion away, oh, little darling of mine.
I cant for the life of me
Remember a sadder day
I know they say let it be
But it just dont work out that way
And the course of a lifetime runs
Over and over again

No I would not give you false hope
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reu-nion
Is only a motion away, oh, little darling of mine.

I just cant believe its so,
And though it seems strange to say
I never been laid so low
In such a mysterious way
And the course of a lifetime runs
Over and over again

But I would not give you false hope
On this strange and mournful day
When the mother and child reu-nion
Is only a motion away,
Oh, oh the mother and child reunion
Is only a motion away
Oh the mother and child reu-nion
Is only a moment away*

Coruscant customs. This was one of the most efficient agencies in the system. It would have to be. Millions of beings pass through here daily and any mishap would cause a backup delaying entrepreneurs and citizens for hours. The process was already time consuming. For individuals of importance, there was a special screening process that cut through a lot of the red tape.

The tall redhead briskly walked towards Imperial Customs and flashed her badge. Already the agents floundered to attention, wishing to avoid the wrath of COMPNOR. They were discretely informed that Adia was escorting a body double for Miranda Tarkin, along with her speech coach, Ridwan Vars. As luck would have it, her sister was gone on tour for close to six weeks. Any chances of running into her were non-existent. What really made this plan unfold to perfection was that information had yet to become public knowledge; Adia's clearance was high enough to retrieve that bit of news. Now Lianna could easily make her way to her mother's home without people second guessing her.

The agents took Ridwan’s ID and verified it without a second thought. They were too focused on Lianna and how uncanny her resemblance was to Miranda. It was spectacularly accurate. The Jedi wondered if she were to push them slightly if they would topple forward. Lianna looked disenchanted by their display, trying to remain true to character. She was dressed in a navy blue business suit tailored to Miranda's tastes.

“Thank you Ms Tarkin..” The agent said, all though knowing the truth. They had been briefed ahead of time that one of the doubles would be arriving today by escort, and at this point, Lianna was Miranda until the real one made her appearance on the holovids. Both Ridwan and Lianna were issued standard clearance badges that would allow them some freedom around Imperial Center. It was just enough to make them seem believable.

One of the agents produced a datapad to Adia, “Ms. Tarkin’s schedule.”

*Mother and Child Reunion - Paul Simon

[Adia Issoris]

Adia did not have to play her role at all, and, in fact, her casual demeanor made the Customs officials more nervous. She shot one of the junior officers a pleasant smile and he nearly leapt out of his skin. Coruscant could be fun.

She took the datapad and looked it over. She would promptly ignore nearly all of it. Even though they had cleared Customs, they still had to go through a final security checkpoint. Lightsabers had been left in the shuttle, expertly hidden by Adia near a series of similarly shaped power relays. A uniformed Army officer manned the scanner, and another did visual inspection. Adia drew her well worn heavy blaster pistol and ejected the tiabanna cartridge from the grip. Also on her person: a long vibroknife, thirty meters of nanoweave rope and a tiny grapple, a holdout blaster, and her ID. Ridwan and “Miranda” only carried IDs and security clearances, and scanned clean. Adia stepped through, now stripped of her conventional weaponry, and came up clean as well.

A standard issue black government speeder was available for her use during their stay on Coruscant. It was not the fastest, nor the most maneuverable, but it was tough and reliable and wasn’t awful. Further, the one-way nature of the windows was desirable, with the “Face of the New Order” onboard. Adia aimed them at one of the Diplomatic Communications Nexuses, as Miranda might request. It was the ideal way to contact Lise with only the most select evesdroppers.

[Ridwan Vars]

Over the changes and planning, Ridwan had carefully scrutinized the idea in his mind. All of it worked well, at least in his favor. The only objective for him was to keep his mouth shut, and talk only when necessary. Albeit a double stood next to him, he acted casually next to the desired celebrity.

Even as the trio cleared through security, he kept his eyes ahead and mouth locked close. Despite his overlooked presence, he concealed a whirl of thoughts. None developed into a negative. The situation was clear cut, and soon they would be in a safe haven soon enough.

It became all the more comfortable as the three entered the issued speeder. A sigh escaped the young Jedi's lips, his guise pressure slightly lifting as he pressed up against the seat. Glancing about through the interior, he waited calmly for someone else to break the silence. The pressure of his own disguise was enough for him to keep any unnecessary comments to himself.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Upon entering the private speeder, Lianna closed her eyes and take pause to relax her tense nerves. The pressure of having to pretend she was Miranda was no longer an issue, but she was moments away of meeting her mother, her real mother, for the first time. All of the training she had endured since birth did not prepare her for this, nor was it something she had been looking for. Lianna had been content with Drin as her father, and eventually the Mal Pannis' who took care of her after her Master's death. Did she often wonder who her parents were? Yes, sometimes but Lianna was a realist. The galaxy was enormous and without any information to go on it would be impossible to find her family.

But the Force was her guide and Adia had found her, and in turn, found her family.

Her eyes opened with less fear and looked out the one-way window. Coruscant; the entire planet was one gigantic city. Drin had spoken of this place with fondness. It was his home since birth when he was found to be Force Sensitive. With what he had spoken of, the planet really hadn't change all that drastically. There were hundreds of space lanes of traffic that buzzed around the grand buildings like uniformed insects and the Jedi could even spy the congestion down on the streets. When they reached Imperial Center proper, that would certainly change.

"Adia?" She tore herself away from the window. "Where are we going?"

Lianna knew that they were to contact Lise first and under false pretense. She was going to pretend to be Miranda on the call otherwise if she told the truth, Lise Tarkin might think Lianna mad and call the local enforcement agency. They had to meet face to face for this to work.

[Adia Issoris]

“Comm Nexus. One of the few buildings the Emperor didn’t thoroughly renovate during the transition to the New Order. Someone of your status and mine will have no issues using it to contact your mother.” Adia explained, easing the issued car through the immaculately kept corridor that was Imperial Center. It will arouse no suspicion to have a body double contact her mother as a test. If she even came remotely close to entertaining Lise, she would be a total success.

Lianna would be a total success. But would everything go smoothly? While her plan was sailing smoothly, there were many wrinkles, and if it was found out that there was a twin... Adia shook her head. Even twins had different fingerprints. If there was a problem, her clearance could handle it.

[Ridwan Vars]

The start of conversation eased Ridwan's conflicted mind. However, he knew better than to partake in the talk. All of it was far more complicated for the young man to comprehend. Emotions were attatched to it all, and the thought of meeting one's mother for the first time was nearly beyond Ridwan's capacity of imagination. Throughout his life he had his parents, but now they were gone.

Only in the idea that they would return one day, be with him, could he grasp the amount of emotion that overcame Lianna at the moment.

So, he sat in continued silence and listened as careful as he could. Hopefully he could gain something out of it all for a meanginful conversation later.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

The speeder pulled up outside CommNexus and it was exactly as Adia had described. It carried the same architectural design as the Old Republic. The only difference was the structural reinforcement and a coat of paint needed for upkeep.

When Adia unlocked the doors, Lianna hesitated and looked towards her companion who gave her the briefest smiles of confidence before exiting the vehicle. Lianna followed suit and looked around to get a feel for the place. It wasn't the hustle and bustle of the common citizen outside. This place had a more reserved quality to it, though at times Lianna could sense the urgency hovering around some dignitaries. Most of them did not pay her any heed for their lives were just as busy as hers. Some did offer polite greetings, which in turn she acknowledged with a short pleasantry, adding just a touch of hurriedness to know they weren't being simply brushed off. As long as no one came up to her requiring a long conversation, things would be fine.

Adia led her to an Imperial terminal for domestic dignitaries. She would have the most privacy here and it was a single booth. She took a deep breath and walked inside. A see through polymer door slid shut to allow privacy and protection for the dignitary inside. Lianna didn't flinch but looked over her shoulder briefly out of curiosity, though one could interpret the act as making sure she was indeed alone.

Lise's residence had not changed since Adia was last on Coruscant; a little snooping with her clearance had made sure of that. The Jedi had committed the address to memory during the shuttle’s decent. Now all she needed was a touch of bravery to put in the call.

A minute passed and Lianna was still staring at the screen. She closed her eyes. “Terminal?”

The screen flickered to life, glowing blue. Online.

The mechanical voice broke through her trepidation. She had to make this call. Adia and Ridwan had risked much in getting her here and to walk away would cause doubt to linger. She opened her eyes. “Initiate call to Lise Tarkin, Imperial Center, Military Block, Navy. Section 1D.”

Processing ... Connecting … Requesting verification … Acceptance.

The blue screen switched over and a middle aged woman appeared, startled by the call seemingly. Lianna narrowed her eyes slightly out of scrutiny. This had to be Lise and not some servant or maid. All though her hair was dishwater blonde, the Jedi had found herself staring into a face of similar bone structure and complexion with eyes as chocolate as her own. Lianna held in a breath as she heard her mother’s voice for the very first time, full of question and concern.

“Miranda? I was not expecting to hear from you for …” Lise looked around as if it was okay to speak.

“It’s all right. It’s safe for us to talk.” There was no stuttering or hesitation. Lianna was calm and trusting in her senses to see her through this unexpected detour.

Her mother relaxed with being able to speak freely. ” … I thought you had already left? Is everything all right?”

Lise knew of Miranda’s tour. It made sense. “We had a slight delay.” Less information the better until she could piece together what Miranda had said to Lise.

”Ah!” Her mother smiled, pleased by this. ”Then you haven’t yet left Coruscant?”

Lianna smiled softly. Things were working out quite well. “No. Not yet but I’ve been assured that we’ll arrive on time regardless of our set back.” Her intuition was guiding her words. “I was hoping to stop by to see you and have some lunch at home. Would that be all right, Mother?”

She wasn’t sure that Lise could be happier with that suggestion. ”A splendid idea. It’s been far too long that we’ve had a quiet meal at home. When should I be expecting you?”

“Hmm, with the usual traffic and checks, I would say close to one standard hour.”

”I will see you then. Love you.”

“Love you …” The screen blinked off and Lianna just stood there like a statue, hoping that Lise would magically reappear on the screen just as the privacy screen opened. “…too.”

[Adia Issoris]

“I take it that it went well?” Even though she could have, she had not monitored the line. In a way, Adia was jealous of her reunion. She had a son out there, somewhere. Lianna had a mother, right here, on Coruscant, not more than an hour away. But she was also proud of the young Jedi. Lianna had adapted well over the past six weeks. Her determination and drive made it happen, and she was nearly there.

Lianna almost smiled, her face full of suppressed mixed emotion.

“This way please, Miss Tarkin.” Lianna nodded, her composure quickly returned.

“When do we meet?” Adia asked.

“One hour.” Lianna said, her eyes beaming as everyone pulled on seatbelts. Ridwan was silent, but even he seemed to be infected by Lianna’s excitement.

“Remember who you are, and who you’re supposed to be, Lianna.” Adia said.

“It would be appropriate to remember that Lise Tarkin is your mother.” She added. The speeder started with a hum, and Adia gingerly maneuvered the craft into the heavy Coruscant traffic.

“Your job is very important for the Empire, and you should be proud. Very few make it this far.” She smiled at Lianna. “Ridwan, are you figuring out what you’ll need to do?”

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan eyed the floor in thought throughout the conversation. As a tag-along he rather keep silent the interject. Amidst the emotional roller coaster, he was only an observer. Nothing about the situation involved him directly, or indirectly.

When finally he was addressed in the comfort of the car, his face was shocked with surprise. Rather than showcase the sudden excitement on his face, he suppressed it to his depths and calmly responded to the intuitive query.

"Besides stay quiet?"

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lianna laughed lightly, "I believe Adia is referring to any preparations that you should make me aware of to ensure success with my visit. As a final test of sorts, I want to make sure this goes well."

Her head canted to the side with her eyes opening expectantly. She was trying to cue Ridwan for a proper response. Adia was merely playing her part and two Jedi had to follow suit. Appearances must be maintained at all times for it was impossible to know if the speeder was bugged.

[Adia Issoris]

“Your input is welcome when we are not visible to the public, Mr. Vars. Just keep it respectful and contextual.” Adia replied firmly. She was banking that the speeder was likely bugged, along with Lise’s home. It wouldn’t hurt to play it safe, and could be devastating if they did not.

Adia was determined to have no incidents while on Coruscant. After Lianna was able to meet Lise, they would stay the night or two and then leave for somewhere else. She wasn’t sure yet. Traffic kept a respectful distance from the government marked speeder, making Adia’s incident free goal easier.

[Ridwan Vars]

"Stay prepared and focus...I guess."

An uncertainity resonated from the young man's voice. Although Ridwan understood the objective, he was unsure how to react. Instincts were all he could rely on, and with the first words that came to his mind he spat them out.

A sullen sigh flew from his mouth after he relieved himself of the stress. Hopefully they would reach the household soon enough. The intensity of the whole situation was far too much for the Jedi to bare. His mind kept swimming about the unique buildings and traffic that bound them to the skyline. Skylanes were a foreign realm to the Padawan, but he had read and heard about it all before.

Still, it was a bit weird. Just like the prediciment.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Her smile was an encouraging one for Ridwan, but it was mostly for herself. Incessantly, Lianna watched the chronometer like a Dantronian Hawk. Another thirty standards minutes and they would be there. This was the first time she was ever impatient but she kept her mind at ease, rehearsing what she and Adia had talked about. 'Miranda' will have changed her mind. They day was too lovely to be sheltered inside and so a picnic would be suggested. From the simple exchange that she had with her mother on the comm, Lise would love the idea.

The speeder hovered to a stop and Lianna craned her neck to see what was happening. There was military all around them and it seemed that this was a checkpoint to make sure authorized individuals were allowed entrance. It made sense. They were heading into district of important military families. Such security precautions would be necessary.

As one soldier was questioning Adia, another approached the back and knocked on the window. Lianna rolled down the window and looked indifferent at the entire affair.

The young man nodded in respect, "Good afternoon Miss Tarkin. Just a visual check as usual."

"Of course." She replied coolly as if she had indeed done this many times before.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia allowed her ID to be inspected, along with Ridwans.

“Sorry for the trouble, agent.” One of the guards said.
“Just SOP.” She said with a shrug. Adia was extremely casual, as if escorting a VIP was an everyday thing that she was extremely confident about. Not an inaccurate statement given her history. The guard passed the IDs back, satisfied. Adia handed Ridwan his ID back.

“You all can go through.” He waved, and Adia eased the speeder forward into the complex, following road through the low density (by Coruscant standards) housing. Every “building” was separated by a tiny green space and a shade tree. They stopped in front of what seemed to be the same as any other building, but with one important difference: Lise lived here.

Adia got out, and opened the door for Lianna.

“Wait here.” She told Ridwan.

The pair walked to Lise’s door. Lianna nervously knocked. Adia looked relaxed, but she had swept over everything, looking for trouble.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

The Jedi was a ball of nerves after knocking. Lianna slipped her arms together in front of her chest and focused on breathing, in through the nose and out the mouth. Speaking to her mother over a comm system didn’t prove quite as difficult since there was distance between them. Now she was coming face to face with her mother. The thought terrified her because the charade was soon coming to an end.

Her thoughts were broken by the whoosh of the door opening. Lise stood there smiling cheerfully in a fashionable summer dress that only proved where Lianna had inherited her bone structure. Mother and daughter could be sisters. The Jedi tried to casually peek behind her to get a sense what the inside of the home looked like. It pained her to not be able to go inside and soon her attention was fixated on Lise.

“Miranda! You made good time in coming here.” Lise’s eyes looked at Adia and nodded respectfully.

“Yes I did. Thankfully traffic wasn’t the normal nightmare it has been.” She motioned to the redhead. “This is Agent Adia Issoris.”

“A pleasure to meet you Agent. Please come in …”

”Actually, I had a thought along the way.” It was hard to read Lise’s expression but Lianna easily sensed disappointment. “How about a picnic? The day is far too lovely to be cooped up.”

A flash of surprise shined in her mother’s eyes. “I’m not sure that is wise though.”

”Nonsense.” Lianna waved her hand as if batting away her mother’s worries. “Issoris is here to make certain no one bothers us along with her partner who is waiting inside the speeder.”

She smiled assuredly, which was quite hauntingly similar to Miranda. “It will be fun. You and I deserve it.”

Lise’s posture relaxed, instantly giving in. They were right. She was too happy to spend time with Miranda to care what it was they would be doing. “All right. I will only take a moment to pack up lunch into containers.”

Lianna watched her mother turn and walk off towards the kitchen. It took a nudge from Adia to get her moving inside. Foolishly, she was waiting for an invitation inside. Why would Miranda Tarkin need an invitation inside her mother’s home? She walked inside and marveled at how huge the place was. Towards her right, there were stairs leading upwards and straight ahead the long foyer opened up into the living room. She wandered down the hall until the pictures along the wall garnered her attention.

She saw her mother and father adorned in their wedding attire. Lise was so beautiful, and her father was ruggedly handsome in his Imperial Dress uniform. Further down, pictures of what she presumed to be her grandparents were lovingly placed alongside the family photo when Miranda had to be no more then three. Every six inches, Miranda grew in age and the photos were always a mixture of her and Lise, or with Andron, or with the two of them.

“That is one of my favorite pictures of the two of you.” Her mother’s voice turned heartsick and pointed to the picture that Lianna had just begun to look at. Miranda was sitting on her father’s lap with a mischievous grin as Andron’s Captain’s hat was titled off to the side on his daughter’s head.

Lianna stepped closer to her mother and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. Being so close to her was beginning to choke Lianna up. It worked well given the circumstances. “I miss him too.”

She spoke the truth. The war had taken her father and the chance of ever meeting him face to face in this lifetime. “If your father was alive right now he would be yelling at us for being so silly. Come now,” Lise pulled away and picked up one of the bags full of food, “We have a picnic to attend.”

[Adia Issoris]

It was not surprising that Lise did not recognize the tall redhead. After all, she looked markedly different from the curvy amazon in a black dress that Andron and Lise met years ago at one of the military balls. Instead, she likely viewed Adia as another of her daughters trained bodyguards. She busied herself by folding her arms and looking about the roomy apartment. She maintained an air of professionalism.

Lianna went to pick up one of the bags, and Adia shook her head, instead moving in to scoop the picnic’s contents from the Tarkin women. She shifted the bags to one hand, her body barley listed to one side. Lise headed to the door, and Adia gave Lianna a nod of reassurance that she was doing well.

Adia was not relaxed, not yet. Not until Lianna had resolved everything with her mother. Once at the car, Lianna introduced Ridwan as one of her speech assistants, and explained that this was the only way she could make it out today. Ridwan, she said, had been her sounding board for the next public speech. He smartly moved into the front seat so mother and daughter could chat unencumbered.

Adia glided the large speeder back out of the complex, and raised the privacy screen.

"You've done well. You look like someone who's nervous enough to have been in Miranda's company regularly and survived."

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan had done nothing more than nod his head and smile. A slight nerve twitched in the back of his mind as he carried his eyes onto the prized subject. Lise Tarkin was a woman of grand features, and she withdrew them for Lianna to carry. The two were more like siblings than mother and daughter. Altogether it was a worthwhile experience.

Every subtle movement could be noted, so when requested he readily headed to the front of the seat. Before he had already known of their need for privacy. Much had separated the two, and from what had been told Ridwan grasped the beauty of the secretive mission. So much pressure rested on Adia shoulder, it was a surprised that she had not snapped and attacked.

Instead she sparked a conversation.

"Thanks," he smiled. "But I was wondering..."

The Padawan's eyes drifted a moment, gathering information about the frontier of the speeder. Sounds of traffic flashed beside him, as his feet pressed against the base. A comfort rested in the mildly luxurious ride, but it did not ease his mind. Still he had many questions, and his observation was only served to begin his inquiry.

"How did you stir up this mission?" Ridwan finally asked. The smile that once sparked his face was reserved, and allowed his lips to be a neutral line of seriousness. A moderate curiosity resonated in his two orbs as he peered over. The young man's attuned senses stretched as he spoke.

Although he felt certain, he was not perfect. All he could do was hope that no one was listening in, because he felt nosy today.

[Adia Issoris]

“This?” Adia could tell a half truth and get away with it.

“I was originally pursuing a classified individual for classified reasons, and saw her on some security footage.” In other words, Lianna screwed up on Dantooine and Adia was going to end her life. It hadn’t worked out that way at all. Lianna had been the straw that broke Adia’s formerly unwavering devotion to the Empire.

Adia flashed him a look of warning that this line of questioning could not be continued.

[Ridwan Vars]

"Oh..."

The young Jedi struggled. All his discipline had added up to nothing. There was much to be asked, and in the so-called privacy of the speeder there was not room for it. The vehicle was over crowded with tense air, and instead of dwell on the subjects of his mind he drifted off outside.

Coruscant was a world of the Jedi once. A place of refuge from the immediate troubles of the vast galaxy. Time and time again his father mind occupied on the forbidden world, and now his son had returned.

Ridwan smiled at the thought as he gazed off into the distance, wondering exactly how the future would go. Clouds pestered his precognition, leaving his hopes futile. Nothing was for certain, and the awkward bump-in with the two detailed such truths.

"I wish I could stay forever," he mused, gazing about the Imperial Center. Despite the rather morbid lighting of the galaxy from the numerous shield generators riddled over the land by the late Emperor's orders, the world still carried a prestige. Ridwan simply wanted a daily dose.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia held back a laugh. Ridwan was being exposed to Coruscant’s shiny exterior, not the decay and rot that had festered worse since the New Order had come full swing. It caused fear on both sides, from those worried that the lower levels would swallow them up, and from the lower levels, whom were either worried about the authorities or bigger fish from above. Fear did keep the local system in line, but it was a curious balance that was gaining instability. Without the influence of the Emperor, both the enforcement and the outlaws had been growing brazen.

Instead, she shook her head.

“No, I don’t think you do.”

[Ridwan Vars]

Attachments were not the Jedi Way. Ridwan's father had commonly spoke to him about latching onto items, and learning to let go. Expertise in such a field could leave the word sorrow foreign to life. Not that pain and anguish were not apart of Ridwan's world, but he had been protected. Since his departure from Galantos on his faith journey he had realized an array of errors.

During flights and idle moments he meditated on the troubles. He hoped that his father would pop out to help him, as he had done many times before. The Jedi lore was no longer perfect, as it was when his father was alive. Attachments were necessary, feelings were required. The allure had faded and something in the young Padawan had died since his father's late demise.

All he could do was glance at Adia spoke, making sure to not revert his head from the lean toward the window. He craved something, but for a moment he could not put it into words. A lull carried through after she spoke as he shuffled with the many replies that came to mind.

"I'm 19 years old," He began, his eyes finally locked back on the abound. "I haven't lived a single year of it."

Training sessions seasoned his memory. Most of the images in his mind were from tutelage. Manuevers were more memorable than meals to him. For the most part he was a direct product of his father's teachings but when the galaxy beyond Galantos got a hold of him he had managed to change.

"I dunno...maybe Coruscant could give me the chance to just be, instead of..."

He couldn't think anymore. The words coming out of his mouth weren't that of a Jedi. So before he could get any further, he stopped himself on the track. A side of him hoped she could finish the sentence or understand. Meanwhile another pester him in regret. A battle raged on inside of him, his eyes moist as he stared off at the herald cityscape.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Mother and daughter sat side by side in the back seat of the speeder; Lianna was still fighting a balance between nervousness and excitement.

"Why was it your departure was delayed again?" Lise asked in hopes of beginning a lengthy conversation, only ending once they've reached the park.

"Oh. I didn't say." Lianna didn't want to delve into too many lies but now the issue was forced. "Supply problem delayed us."

"Well, I would certainly imagine. Six weeks on a Star Destroyer would require extra needs for you and your men."

So Miranda was on a Star Destroyer? Lianna wondered as to why. Her sister was civilian. Something was brewing. "Of course. My only concern is arriving on time." The Jedi was becoming the master of vagaries.

"I'm sure that the Captain of the Termagent will make sure you aren't late. The last thing on his mind is to delay the tour. Especially after all the work done to promote it." Lise laughed. "Well, to promote it once you've reached Raltirr."

Miranda shared in the laughter, though acted bemused. "Yes. Quite true mother."

"Do you think you'll be staying close to Coruscant once it's over?"

Lianna heard the loneliness in Lise's voice. She fought the urge to hug her mother. "It depends. I can never tell what I'll be doing from day to day, though I hope it will be possible so I can be closer to you."

The corners of Lise's mouth hinted a smile. "I would enjoy that, Miranda." She paused, fussing at her the beige leather handbag resting on her lap. Lianna noticed that her mother had looked away and felt much sadness coming from her. "I ... I just miss you. You're all that I have left."

Lianna felt her throat go dry and mentally cursed this facade. She wanted to scream, You aren't alone! I'm right here!!! Your long lost daughter Lian-. Her exuberance came crashing down. Lianna was the name that Drin had given her. She had no idea what her real name was. It was a truth to be revealed later.

She put a hand over her mother's shaky one and squeezed it. "I miss you too." It was hard to fight back tears, but the Jedi was successful. When Lise looked up, all she saw was the picture perfect of calm that Miranda was known for, but her voice was tender. "More then you realize."

[Adia Issoris]

“Not Coruscant. Coruscant is an easy place to fall down and disappear, no matter what strata of life you come from. I’d go somewhere nice and Mid-Rim with a steady economy and a progressive social outlook, if I were you. Like Tanaab.” Ridwan stared out the window, still soaking in the polish.

“You’re young, and things will change.” Adia said, although she herself didn’t look a day over 25.

They had finally arrived to one of Coruscant’s small nature preserves. Adia tapped on the screen gently to get the Tarkin pair’s attention, and lowered it.

“We’re here.”

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan knew better. Allowing such dismal thoughts to linger in his brain were a step in the wrong direction. Discretion devised a quick plan, and before he knew it he was outside. Turning carefully about, he softly stepped toward the back doors. He would help them out the car. It was the only justified maneuver to evade all those troubles invading his pure mind.

A quick motion, and the door was unlocked and open wide for the two to exit. An assured nod, gesture and they were lead toward the park. It was one of the only places on the planet that anything seemed comparable to natural. Although it certainly was artificial, it did carry all the details of a grassy plain.

Once more he kept his mouth shut. Best to keep away from any conversations. Despite his rather confident gaze, he was still too nervous about slipping up. A wrong step and Lise Tarkin might foil Lianna's whole plan.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

The park was bustling with activity. Children were playing vectorball or running around the playgrounds, kicking up sand in their wakes. Parents watch on with a cautious eye.

Lianna scanned the grounds for something suitable before they were recognized. She just wanted to avoid any hassles that Adia would need to deal with. "How about over there?"

Lise followed her daughter's line of sight and smiled approvingly. There was a gazebo far from the main road and trails, nestled between trees for excellent shade. The Jedi looked towards Adia and she also nodded in agreement.

The group made their way through the park with little hassle. For those citizens that realized who was walking by, a stern glance from the tall redhead was all it took to dismiss any curiosity. While Lise was busy setting down blankets, Lianna took the bundles of food from her friend. It was time.

"I would like some time alone with my mother." She tried to smile but it ended up as flutter as the right side of her face twitched with uncertainty. "Please watch the grounds so we aren't disturbed."

[Adia Issoris]

Adia nodded.

“Good luck.” She whispered.

She and Ridwan took up a spot ten meters from the gazebo’s only entrance. Adia seemed to relax some. She didn’t have to concern herself with Ridwan or Lianna saying something compromising in the speeder at the moment, and it was a great weight from her mind.

“Truthfully, to fully answer your earlier question, I was going to kill Lianna.” She told Ridwan.

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan's ideas had long taken flight. Since he had encounter the two, he wonder exactly how such a bizarre pair had come together. A Jedi and a huntress weren't typical fond of one another. It puzzled him so, but as soon as she spoke his flying thought caught turbulence.

A sigh trickled from his mouth as his eyes eased to a shut. Death came to mind as she spoke of killing the newly acquainted comrade. Such a thing did not even secure itself in his brain from the frailness of the subject. He could not imagine her hurt, she seemed so calm...so sturdy. However, he felt Adia could accomplish such a goal.

Somewhere in him, he was terrified. If she even thought she could handle Lianna, than he wouldn't even be worth wile competitor. Not once had he saw the Tarkin descendant fight, but an aura was set about her that deserved a definite respect. The two's prowess ascended beyond his grasp. It was simply mind-boggling.

All his life he had been trained in the skills of the Jedi, and their talents managed to exceed his own. A grimace thwarted his face at the thought for only a second before returning to a calm. A flutter of the eyes, and he returned to normal.

"From killing to friends. How ironic, right?"

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lise sat down, folding her long legs underneath her while smiling up at Lianna. "Issoris and Vars aren't going to join us?"

She unwrapped several containers and began setting up the food: bread, meats, cheeses and fruit along with a chilled bottle of red wine. "There's plenty to go around."

Lianna knelt down and took her mother's hands between hers. She failed at keeping eye contact. Her head was bowed, as if she was praying, and the words she had practiced for over a month were caught in her throat like a Gizka leg bone.

"Miranda?" Lise was worried about the sudden shift in her daughter's demeanor. She pried a hand away from Lianna's tight grip and gently lifted her daughter's head. What she saw was unexpected and shocked her. Lianna was on the verge of tears. One broke loose from the wetness hugging her eye and slid down her cheek. Lianna's chest quivered with her erratic breathing. Her mother's heart sank. "My dear, what's wrong?"

The Jedi could not withhold her emotions. The control she had over them had been fissuring like tiny cracks in a dam, leafing out until the structural integrity of control had been destroyed.

"Mother ..." The word was finally choked out, spoken as an emotional Lianna; the collective Miranda was gone.

"What is it?" Lise was soothing in both touch and voice. "What has made you so sad suddenly? Was it the picture?"

Lianna's eyes squinted, forcing more tears to fall, and shook her head. "No. It's ... It's me."

Lianna was making no sense at all to Lise. Confusion lined her features while thumbing a tear away. The Jedi sucked in a deep breath and took both of Lise's hand within hers once more. "No. You don't understand."

"Help me to understand," Lise said patiently.

Big brown eyes burrowed into the tender greens across from her and begged for that understanding. Her Outer Rim accent had returned "It's me, mother. Do you not see?"

Lise's features turned sharp in vexation and she fell silent. Her daughter’s behavior was extremely out of character. Even when she was upset to the point she was currently, Miranda always managed to explain her feelings fully. This uncertainty was out of place.

Unless ... Was it possible? Could it be? The possibility of survival was minute. It had been over twenty years! But Miranda had called her. Her shuttle was delayed. Or was that merely a ruse for ...

She looked at Lianna and played with her hair, stroking a long lock of it with new eyes and looked deeply into the Jedi's. There was a softness there that Lise had not seen since Miranda was a child. The years had slowly chipped away the innocence that Miranda once possessed because of the loss of her grandfather and Imperial politics. Yet the face across from her held a strength that wasn't forged from despair and hatred. What she saw was a young woman who had found her mother for the first time.

"My word!" Lise felt her whole body shaking with possibility and clasped Lianna by either cheek with such vigor. "Am I dreaming?! Is this possible? After all these years has my Navaria finally come home?"

[Adia Issoris]

“Yes.” Adia said. She was still nervous. They were pinning a big gamble that Lise was more loyal to her family than the Empire. She hoped that she had not misjudged her.

“I was one of the Emperor’s elite, picked for the task of killing the scant survivors of the initial purge. I was very good at it.” Adia folded her arms, but her voice had more than a hint of bitterness in it.

“I need you to understand that I’m on new ground, and while I may hold many of the Empire’s secrets, I’m not aware of every secret, especially here on Coruscant. Our position is very vulnerable. It’s all riding on Lise right now. If I’ve misjudged her you two are in very big trouble.”

[Ridwan Vars]

"Whats new?"

The Kiffar's eyebrow arched, as his eyes promoted an unseen smile. During the ride, his two orbs were at a lull shiver, but now they had lit with hope. Despite the rather dire topic, his mind drifted into different subjects. Lise held them in the balance, but what did it matter? She still could give them the benefit of the doubt, and recognize family for what it was.

"I've been in trouble since I've met you guys."

Ridwan's arms crossed over his chest as his mind followed. Traffic of his thoughts passed through the intersections, becoming one as his face eased from the meld. No longer did his mind tangle with the negative that paranoid him a long the drive to the park. There was much more to indulge in, better things.

Children could be seen afar playing about, enjoying their day. He simply observed, watching with a pleasant view. Kids were always amusing. Rarely could they steal a smile. It was as if they were birthed simply to support grins.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

"Navaria?" Lianna sounded out the name Lise had called her with perplexity.

"Yes," Lise couldn't hold back. Joyous tears fell as she pulled the Jedi into an embrace. "My Navaria. I'm so sorry. So terribly sorry for what we had to do!"

Lianna clung to her mother's shoulders, hot tears falling down her face. "I understand why. We would have been killed or taken away." The Empire was at its height of power when Miranda and Navaria were born. Palpatine would not have wanted the children to live unless they could serve him in some way. "I forgive you."

Lise cried out in relief, petting her daughter's hair in reverence. "Thank you... Oh!" She pulled away and wiped the wetness from her face. "We must tell Miranda when she comes back from tour."

A dark expression fell upon Lianna's face. "That might not be such a good idea."

"Miranda would love to know about you." Lise was smiling, overjoyed with emotion that she wasn't thinking quite so clearly. "With so much death in our lives, to find she has a sister would help to heal her."

"Or make the wounds that exist cut far more deeper." Lianna was beginning to regain her composure. Miranda was an unknown variable. Even Adia couldn't honestly predict a reaction if her twin found out about Lianna's existence. "It's not so simple, mother. The Trianii that you sent me to merely didn't just watch over me. He named me Lianna and trained me in the ways of the Force."

Lise blanched. "You ... You mean?"

"Yes," she admitted, "I'm a Jedi Knight."

"No ..." Her mother looked around the park anxiously. Lianna's eyes narrowed but felt no danger. "You risked so much coming here. Does anyone know?"

"No. They think I'm Miranda. Others believe me to be a double." She smiled at the irony. "I couldn't have come at all if not for Adia. She ... she has been a source of great strength for me."

"And the young man?" Lise asked, looking over in his general direction.

"Someone like me who we found along the way." Lianna followed her mother's gaze and frowned. "We have so little time."

"But what we have is enough." She encouraged, brushing Lianna's cheek with the back of her hand. "More then we ever had. I just wish ..."

"I know. I wish it to." To have more time together and to believe in Miranda. The Jedi sensed a disturbance around her twin when she thought about her. That usually meant a precursor to bad tidings but that wasn't necessarily the case. It could mean that there was much change coming for her sister, but the future was always in motion. It was difficult to ascertain. "Miranda has a right to know about me, but I don't want to harm either of you. Your safety would be in just as much jeopardy as mine."

She smiled. "But I trust you to do what you feel is right. Only you can know what is best in this situation, mother."

Lise was awestruck by the young woman that was before her. It was eerie to see how much she was like Miranda, and not just in physical appearance. So much strength lay within her and Lianna had a way of knowing what to say to have people believe in her, except there was a calm about her presence that made you trust her instead of fear her. The elder Tarkin sighed, not wanting to have this moment end. "Shall we get the others?"

"Yes," Lianna agree and looked towards the pair again, waving them over, "They're probably wondering if the Coruscant Police Force is coming after us."

Both women shared a chuckle. Adia was right. Lise would never do anything to harm her children. Miranda and Navaria were all she had left and would do anything to protect them.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia watched Lise and Lianna carefully for a little while. She had been right: they had nothing to fear from Lise. She would protect her family first.

“Lise will be putting her family first.” She told Ridwan with confidence, who seemed to be amused enough watching the children play. He still made Adia nervous, not because he himself would do anything too stupid, but because of the way he was. He simply wasn’t jaded enough to appear normal. Life had never been stripped of its shiny, innocent polish. There was a childish innocence to him that she never had. Adia was jealous.

She took a deep breath and resumed guarding the Tarkins. Anyone attempting to walk near the gazebo got the glare of someone who was all too familiar with shooting other beings. For now, Lise and Lianna could be mother and daughter.

[Ridwan Vars]

Family was an important label, and Ridwan knew this all too well. Adia did not have to tell him, he knew already. Despite the Tarkin's allegiance to the Empire, they were still held a legacy that could not be torn by it's government. The ways of the Empire could not tarnish true love, trust and care. Family always came first, even in the hearts of those that felt the Empire was best.

Beside trust herald in family, he did not trust the grouping of the Empire. Their family was group of sentients that could not be loved. All the stories that his father told him of their terrorizing and barrage on the Jedi Temple had not only frighten him as a child, but enraged him. Day in and out during his training he hoped for one day returning to the well detailed Temple and studying with other people like him.

The Empire stole that chance. It seemed he would never have an apprentice, never have a Council to look to. And with his father gone, there was no other Jedi of the Old Republic for him to claim. Although he smiled at the children of the future, the past gave his mind an ache.

"So, when are we leaving?" The future, that is where he wanted to be. Coruscant was a great place, but since the arrival he could do nothing but think of his father who once called this place home and the Jedi Temple that once was, How he hoped to return to those days he never had.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

"Hmm," Lianna frowned. "Doesn't seem they want to come over."

Lise took her daughter’s hand and placed a sandwich in it. "I think they realize everything is fine and allowing us some time to be together."

The Jedi took one more glance at Adia and nodded. "You're right. I just don't know where to begin ta-..."

"Start at the beginning." Lise bit into her sandwich. "I want to know everything."

She looked down at her sandwich and shook her head. "All right. Hmm. Well, my first vivid memory is of Drin." Lianna blushed. "I had thought myself Trianii for the longest time and ... I sorta bit his leg."

Lise blinked. "Bit his leg? But why?"

"Well, that's how cats play ... " Lianna winced and broke off a piece of her sandwich and stuffed her mouth. She felt terribly stupid but she said start at the beginning! That was the beginning! But surprisingly her mother laughed and not out of meanness.

"Oh dear that brings up an adorable image!" Lise regarded Lianna quite seriously. "You did grow out of that didn't you?"

"What, yes... of course I did!"

Her mother couldn't help but laugh. "I was joking."

Lianna didn't know what to do! So she balled up a napkin and threw it at her mother, which bounced off her nose in defense. The two laughed riotously! "Are you and Miranda like this?" The Jedi asked as they calmed down.

"Actually, yes." She smiled. "Miranda doesn't like other people to see how warm she can be. There are very few that she opens up to. Basically just me and Sorsha. But she has to be strong for others so they take her seriously. Such is the life of an Imperial."

The Jedi titled her head to the side. "Sorsha?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Sorsha Kasajian. She's Miranda's childhood friend. They were, still are, inseparable no matter how many systems are put between them. They are the best of friends."

"That's good to know." Lianna smiled. Maybe there was hope for her sister after all.

[Adia Issoris]

Standing out in the sun in her black uniform was getting to be a bit much. She moved closer to the gazebo. Out of habit, she quickly re-evaluated the cover spots needed in the event of a firefight. Adia loosed her well worn blaster from the holster, removed the cartridge, and put it back in, double-checking the charge. It still registered full.

Now close enough to hear the conversation easily (for her), she heard the mention of Sorsha Kasajian, who, aside from being Miranda’s best friend, vied for control of Black Sun against Sasseeri Reeouurra, the Cizerack.

Lise waved them over, and they complied.

“I brought enough food for everyone. Please, enjoy it with us.” Lise smiled. Adia smiled back, but kept her eyes open.

“Thank you, Mrs. Tarkin. It has been a while.” Adia said. Lise looked confused.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.” She added.

“At the Executor’s maiden flight.” Adia let her hair down, letting it frame her face.

“Oh my. You have not aged a day, Captain Issoris.” Adia chuckled.

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan complied, but he didn't talk. He hadn't since he met Lise Tarkin, nor would he start. All of it was a bit too much for him. She was a woman of class, while he was a lowly Jedi that had managed to survive through the tide of the purge. Nothing about him, beside the Kiffar features, stood out. He was like anyone else, and there was nothing to be said.

As had become usual recently, he simply watched. Just as he watched the children, he watched the adults. They moved, they motioned, they put smiles on his face. Even as the conversation began between the old acquaintance he smiled.

It was hard to figure that years had past and still Adia had not aged. To him, she was an elder. Not physically, just in her mannerism. In her Ridwan saw aged eyes, someone that had endured much with a new ideal on life. A lot like the old men at the shops on Galantos when they went into town. Life had taught them a lot about themselves, changed their views.

He loved listening to their stories. Hopefully he could do the same with Adia. She was definately an interesting critter.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

"You must simply tell me what your secret is, Captain," Lise continued, "It would be bad of you to not."

Lianna had to chuckle herself. Her mother was just as beautiful as Adia, except her body was more slender in frame, like her daughter's. For a woman just past forty, Lise Tarkin looked barely in her mid-thirties.

"Adia merely has good genes, mother." She smiled towards her friend and offered Ridwan something to eat.

[Ridwan Vars]

Mouth clenched and head ready, Ridwan gave a furious shake of denial. Food was the last thing on his mind in this gazebo. He was fascinated with the setting, it was irregular. And the conversation...he could do nothing but follow.

Interaction consisted of numerous questions down his trials and tribulations since his departure of Galantos. Even before, he only spoke in query to learn more. Everything seemed to be a question in his life. It was a bit troubling at the thought of retrospect.

Time did not allow him to think any longer, because before he knew it his mouth opened. Something told him to talk.

"And it seems like I have good luck. I'm surrounded by beautiful women."

You barve! Ridwan thought, his face turning to a flush of red. How embarassing.

[Adia Issoris]

Silence fell. Adia felt her jaw move, and the color drained from her face. Not only was he a risk, but he was a clod, too. She wanted to pop his shoulders out of their sockets and crack his kneecaps. The Assassin stared at him with a green-eyed gaze that should have made him combust, then and there. Leather creaked as her hands tightened to fists.

“What… what is wrong with you.” She hissed between clenched teeth. Adia managed to get her hands open to cover her face.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lise stifled a gasp, surprised by the young man's comments. Lianna was dumbfounded into silence. She wasn't expecting that sort of reaction from Ridwan either. He had been bursting with excitement with what was going on but never would she imagine such thoughts slipping verbally.

[Ridwan Vars]

Outward, Ridwan was calm. It could only be expected, despite the slip. He was still a Jedi. However, his mind fell into a depth that was hard to recover. A silence commanded him, and all he could do was look over at Lise Tarkin.

She was a stranger, but it was that fact that he looked with hope. Somehow she could possibly back him up. If she could jump in, maybe the statement wouldn't seem so raw.

'What is wrong with you,' was all he could think, as his eyes were filled with hope as he gazed over at Lise in the gazebo.

[Adia Issoris]

“Excuse us, please.” Ridwan found himself lifted up onto his feet and then dragged off. Thank goodness he found the sense not to resist, or she would have indulged her urge to disable his limbs.

“Listen.” She hissed into his ear. Her hands were around his biceps, and she was squeezing without thought. It probably hurt a great deal. “From here on out, in public, unless I say otherwise, you are to be silent.” Adia put her hair back up, and walked back to the gazebo.

“I apologize, Miss and Misses Tarkin.” She said as she replaced her hat onto her head. “We won’t trouble you any further this afternoon.”

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lise's lips were puckered in amusement at Adia's actions, but she honestly couldn't blame the Captain for being harsh. Their presence on Coruscant needed to remain discrete and Ridwan's behavior had pushed the wrong button on the already tense COMPNOR agent.

Mother and daughter watched Adia drag Ridwan back to their original spot before coming over, which made Lianna chuckle. "It could have gone far worse."

"Oh?" Lise asked quizzically.

"Mmhmm." She looked at her mother in all seriousness. "I've seen that look before and I didn't envy the position in which the man who angered Adia was left in ..."

And as promised, the rest of their picnic was uninterrupted to allow the time needed to catch up. Lianna shared tales of Drin teaching her the ways of the Force as they jumped from system to system in the Outer Rim. Lise quickly learned that she was no match for her daughter's vast knowledge of languages and alien customs. She spoke of Vader and his arrival on Dinati V, which marked the end of her relationship with Drin, but Lise got the distinct impression that Lianna had thought her old Master to be alive. A strange belief since Vader had killed hundreds of Jedi, but she didn't discourage the notion. As she had noticed before, Lianna had a way of making you believe in her ...

The conversation shifted and it was Lise's turn to explain what had happened.

" ... you figured it out mostly, Navaria." Lianna had showed no signs of disliking her birth name so Lise continued to use it. "You were tested at birth for Force sensitivity and came back positive. We feared what your grandfather would do when he learned of this, even more so if the Emperor found out. Your grandfather was a brillant man, but also ruthless. A mark against his family would shun him from the power he wanted. Thankfully, the doctor was a good friend of your father's and swore he would keep the birth of you two secret."

Lise remembered that night vividly and the horrible decision she had to make. "I didn't want to loose you," she said with tears welling. "But I had to choose. Andron couldn't bear to do it himself so I was left to do it. Though you were born second, I named you first."

She pet Lianna's cheek and broke down crying, but was quickly brought into an embrace by her daughter. It gave her strength to continue. "Dr. Suwgre falsified the birth but kept her Force knowledge on file. We wouldn't be able to fool anyone if we kept that secret."

Lise pulled back and took a deep breath as she started to calm down. "Andron had heard of a Jedi that was close to being captured, so we hired a mercenary to take you to him in exchange for his freedom. Once the deed was done, your father made sure that he was killed."

Lianna scowled at that. Someone dying so she could live was not a settling thought.

"I know. I'm sorry," Lise explained, seeing the disapproval, "But we had to make sure he wouldn't talk. Your safety was more important then someone whos allegiance could be bought with money."

The Jedi sighed. Her mother was right. For the right price, the mercenary might have divulged that information, but it didn't mean she had to like it. "I understand."

"Dr. Suwgre disappeared afterwards. I have no idea where he is now." For a moment, the talking stopped. Lise stared at her daughter as her mind raced at all the memories she had missed without being able to raise her.

"What is it?" Lianna asked.

"I know you go by another name, but to me you'll always be Navaria."

The Jedi's smile came quickly. "I know. It ... suits me. I think."

"Do you really feel that way?"

Lianna closed her eyes and searched inwardly. Her current name was given out of necessity, but she was fond of it because Drin had named her. Her last name was required because of being a human in this galaxy, but she remembered the Mal Pannis' fondly as well. But Navaria was all together different. It was her real name. It was her legacy. "Yes. I like it."

Lise's wrist chronometer began to beep and she muttered a curse. "I have a meeting with the gala event organizers in an hour." She seethed. "I wish I could cancel but I'm in charge of the entire thing."

"It was going to end eventually," the Jedi responded sadly.

"I know." Her mother shakily began to put the leftovers away. "I just wish it didn't have to end so soon."

Lianna stopped her mother's unnecessary distraction. "Or at all. But it must. I cannot stay here."

Lise could only nod and Lianna help cleaning up. As they made their way towards Ridwan and Adia, Lianna stopped her momentarily, speaking softly, "Please be mindful of your decision to tell Miranda."

Her mother began to protest but Lianna cut her off. "I do trust you. I just want our family to be safe."

Lise pat her on the arm reassuringly. "That wasn't what I was going to say."

The Jedi blinked confused. "I would take your secret to the grave if I knew I would see you again."

At that Lianna smiled brightly with confidence. "With the Force, anything is possible. I know we will see each other again."

[Ridwan Vars]

Mouth shut, and eyes straight ahead, he followed orders. Even as she spoke, he had already reverted to his old ways. Yet it was...different. A feeling of disdain clamor over his mind, and a distaste rested on his tongue.

He had done something wrong, horribly wrong. It was painful to cause so much angst, especially with the weight of a Jedi robe commonly on his back. The new attire had not taken the status away, and it hurt.

Not a shake of the head, flick of the finger or habit could mark him from a statue. Only a few occasional blinks tampered with his stone features as he stared off into the distance.

Ridwan wouldn't be talking anytime soon. Even if Adia asked. There were always alternatives, such as gestures. Not a single inkling of excitement rested in him anymore. Despite his rather emotionless features, he was depressed.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia held the door open for the Tarkins, and shut the door behind. Ridwan shuffled downtrodden to the passenger side, and Adia started the speeder. We should have left your stupid butt in that hangar bay. Her eyes narrowed at the traffic, and she had to restrain herself from driving flat out. It was obvious that she was no longer babying the accelerator pedal. Instead of seething at him, she seethed at the traffic. Somehow she managed to keep the ride smooth enough. They arrived back at Lise’s home far faster than it had taken them to get to the park.

“Stay in the seat.” She snapped, and flicked the door shut harder than she intended. Adia took a deep breath and straightened her hat.

Adia pulled Lise’s door open.

“Welcome back home, Mrs. Tarkin.” She said, politely. Lianna scooted out the door, and put an arm around her mother’s shoulders.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Mother and daughter held each other closely, knowing that these were the last few minutes they would share. They were silent for they did not want to say that horrid word which would finalize their time together. Yet, that reality was upon them.

Lise begrudgingly released Lianna, but the Jedi still held onto her mother's jacket tightly like the lost little girl she was over ten years ago when Drin had to go away.

The silence was unbearable but it had to be. It was impossible to tell if someone was listening in.

Lianna was forced to relinquish the hold on the jacket as Lise suddenly turned around. Such sadness mirrored the Jedi's but each of them found the strength needed to speak their goodbyes.

"I love you, my daughter." Lise got around their language constraints, which made the Jedi sigh happily.

"I love you too, mother." The two embraced warmly. It was Lianna that pulled away first. "Until after the tour."

"Yes," Lise replied, petting Lianna's hair. "Have a safe journey."

[Adia Issoris]

Lianna got in the back seat.

“Well done. What would you like to eat to celebrate?” Adia asked, but Lianna was looking out the back window over her shoulder as her mother disappeared into the distance.

“What?” Lianna asked, her tone emotional.

“You did well.” Adia repeated. Lianna grew introspective, and Ridwan did not say anything. It was just as well. Adia had contemplated breaking his jaw for the rest of their stay on Coruscant. She pulled up to an exotic speeder rental.

“Stay here, you two.” She said as she took off her jacket and hat, leaving her with a black t-shirt, black slacks, and black boots. Adia let her hair down again, and put on a pair of sunglasses. Five minutes later, she returned, twirling a set of keys around her finger.

“I got something more fun.” She grinned, and led the Jedi to a large dark red coupe. Adia got in and flicked a switch, and the top folded away in ten seconds.

“Hop in.” She revved it, the repulsors made a baritone and then alto whine as they sped off.

“So where do you want to eat?”

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan hopped in, but as far as possible from Adia. He rather not entagle himself in her doomed web. There was nothing about her postive, even the speeder carried a distinct smell that reminded him of her.

Pressed against the seat, his eyes peered off into the distance. Reserve and calm, he processed time on a scale all too slow. His mind was afar, listening to his inner self instead of the problematic world about him.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Adia was brilliant, as always. Renting a speeder allowed them the freedom to act and speak normally. It was refreshing and permitted the Jedi to relax and remember her time with Lise without having to act like her sister.

"Hmm, I'm not sure." She was too focused on the past. Not a very Jedi like state of mind, but it would pass given time and meditation.

Lianna turned to Ridwan. He did not have the best of luck at the picnic and the Jedi didn't hold anything against him. The Padawan was a fish out of water and was still acclimating to social settings.

"How about seafood?" It had been a long time since she was able to have that for a meal. She was quite fond of it too. "Does that sound good to the two of you as well?"

[Adia Issoris]

“It doesn’t really matter, it’s your day. Besides, I know just the place that’s got a few alternatives along with some of the best imported swimming cuisine on Coruscant.” Adia called over the rising wind noise.

“And Ridwan, you have moments of idiocy and are a social clod, but you’ll get over it.” She stated matter-of-factly. The irritation in her voice had lessened a great deal.

“But cheer up, at least you aren’t snapping salutes constantly to everyone who had a higher rank than you.” She looked over her shoulder, at him and a half smile formed beneath the mirrored wraparound sunglasses.

“You did good until your hormones got the better of you.” But not as dramatically as they got the better of me. She thought, looking back in time to dodge a speeder who decided cutting them off was a good idea. Adia easily wove around them and laughed.

[Ridwan Vars]

The young Jedi Padawan was definately a social clod alright. The silence continued, even as she spoke with a smile. A delight had left him since the arrival of doom emit her eyes far before at the park. Perish rampaged his soul without relent, and his mind was the only resort he could fall for. Relieved by the concept of mind over matter, he quickly took to his meditation.

Despite the rather dull exterior of his open eyes, emotionless face, he was quite busy within. Conversations did not concern him any longer, though he heard. Soon they would be off into a restaurant for him to void beings once more. People seemed to be deviants to his supreme knowledge.

All there was safe laid under the tough layers of his skin. The irony laid in how easily Adia had pierced it. A venomous infection raided his senses, and he didn't feel at home. Even in the solitude he created.

Adia kept on, and Ridwan did not release a single word. In his silence there wasn't even peace. Albeit meditation did separate his mind direction from the world, he still held on to her disturbing embarrassment. A shame rampaged his pride. Altogether he sat in profusion, hoping to drench himself in his own holy water. Seemed the internal voyage was made for failure.

They were on track to their destination, but he felt so lost.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Ridwan felt cast aside to the newness of everything happening around him. At the first chance he had to be part of Lianna's reunion, he floundered with his words but no harm was done. He didn't feel the same, however, and Lianna sensed that.

"You are troubled, Ridwan?" She asked gently. With the pressure of Coruscant, Lianna had little time to talk with Ridwan as Jedi. She was under the guise of Miranda for most of their trip here in preparation.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia did not mention that the resteraunt was over an hour away. The Jedi had plenty of time to sort each other out. Instead, she tried to relax and focused on carefully weaving through the loose traffic.

Right now, she would look to enjoy the rest of the day before worrying about what to do next. She was making a list.

One option including dragging the two Jedi around. Two including ditching them. Option two had some appeal. Option three meant finding away to dust Ridwan and keep Lianna around. Three would not end well, but it had some appeal. Four--keep Ridwan around and set Lianna free to do something else. She could look for her old master or something else.

She had options, but none seemed very solid. Why did she want to be rid of Ridwan? His insular nature seemed dangerous to his and everyone else's existence. It was possible she was judging too quickly and too harshly, but the facts, in her mind, were against him. And he was weird.

[Ridwan Vars]

Ridwan didn't want to talk. He didn't like these people. In moments time they had become adversary, enemy...foe. Adia had embarassed him, and Lianna sat without only shock during the ordeal. Although Coruscant was a wide, populated world, he felt alone.

Very alone.

The young Jedi simply gave her a reassuring shake of the head. Still his jaws were clenched, and the exterior told of no problems. He did not want to delve into his turmoil, at least with so much on his mind.

A sigh dwindle from his mouth, supplying the only sense of life on his stone face.

"I'll be fine, soon." He thought.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

"You and I know better. But be mindful of living in the past." Lianna said as her attention turned towards the landscape that was quickly passing them by. Adia was really cutting loose on the engines.

A moment passed. The Padawan's expression did not change. His loneliness was palatable. She felt the same but for different reasons. Her own advice needed to be heeded.

"Do you honestly blame my reaction with so much on my mind, Ridwan?" The Jedi felt that she was partly the cause for his silence though there was much dislike directed towards Adia as well.

[Ridwan Vars]

He listened, or at least it seemed so. Ridwan kept his eyes ahead, but ears open enough to seem her cared. The Padawan didn't. Instead, he simply proceed in his lull and awaited the end of her advice.

A distrust nestled deep in the depth of his seat as he pressed back, awaiting the end. Certainly the restaurant would supply all the atmosphere to ease, but with a confine space with the elements of embarrassment he could barley breath. However the struggle did not show in his face, he simply gazed off with utter emotionless.

Then, she spoke again. Lianna's voice perched in the rings of his ears, and without heed his eyelids were compressed to form slits. Annoyance resided in his young Kiffar features, distorting them ever so slightly as his eye shifted to the side to give her a stare.

Finally he could not restrain. He had to say something.

"I'm fine," Ridwan lied. All he wanted was quietness. Prying just made him uncomfortable. If she tried to go any deeper he wouldn't only be able to restrain his voice, but his emotions. Jedi shouldn't have such petty moods.

All of it troubled him.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Perhaps he would open up to her later after the Padawan had time to calm his mind. Right now he was a turmoil of emotions, no matter how he tried to portray differently on the outside. He knew better and Lianna could sense that but it was up to Ridwan to come to terms that situations don't always end up the way they wished it.

"Very well, but I'm sorry regardless." She was very sincere in her apology. The Jedi did not like knowing she had caused Ridwan distress.

[Ridwan Vars]

A sigh pushed him into recline. Although the burden of his emotions weighed hard on his shoulders, he felt light as a feather. One single blow would send him into oblivion. Ridwan's eyes drooped over to Lianna once more in thought, hoping to speak.

He stumbled.

Ridwan wasn't one to falter without a couple of tries, so without another breathe he pushed on. The words finally came, and he spoke.

"I'm sorry too.

I just wanted it to be casual."

The Jedi smiled, his eyes straight now. He wasn't exactly relaxed, but somehow he felt better.

"I didn't mean it--," he began, but fell to another fault. This time he had rehearse failure, and knew better than to allow the words drop without support. So, he continued. "I mean, not that I dont think your beautiful."

Once more he spoke with the wrong tongue. Nervous as ever, sweat trickled underneath his attire as he turned his head away to survey the landscape outside.

"Well, what I meant is that I didn't want to cause a ruckus is all."

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lianna turned toward Ridwan, but he was facing away from her now. She proud in the fact he let his thoughts known and that he was feeling better.

She rested a hand upon his shoulder gently, leaning forward just a tad to get a glimpse of his current expression. "Thank you."

She squeezed. "The compliment and your sincerity. And you needn't worry about causing a ruckus. My mother didn't mind. She told me herself on the ride back home."

The Jedi's hand returned to her lap and chuckled at the redhead driving the speeder. "Adia contributed to that more then you, Ridwan."

But she bowed her head in thanks. "I appreciate everything you have done for me. I never would have been able to get this far if not for you. Thank you."

Her sadness was long gone with only a small tinge of loneliness was left, but Lianna was whole once more. The past was now her present but the future was unclear. They still needed to remain on guard until the left the Core world. Her immediate concern was protecting Ridwan and Adia.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia would have considered that thought somewhat ironic. Then again, it could be the normal post-mission jitters. Everything had gone smoothly, really. The lack of complications made her nervous in some ways. The planning had gone well, and she hadn’t needed to spring any of her contingencies.

“Ridwan, I’m sorry. I’m just… on edge after this sort of thing. Sometimes during. Half of that was an act, and half of it wasn’t.” Adia sighed.

“I don’t trust people easily. It was a job requirement for several decades. I trust Lianna because she’s demonstrated certain judgments and capabilities”

‘You haven’t been around long enough for me to make that call, but I’m probably not giving you a fair shake considering how much preparation Lianna went through beforehand.”

Adia made a series of turns onto some back streets. The neighborhood they were in was interesting. It wasn’t run down, yet it was merely a quarter mile from a large warehousing district. It just seemed to be an odd place for a restaurant. She parked the convertible.

[Ridwan Vars]

Formalities had become another topic of mind. There was much to be expected of him. So, without heed he trickled out the door and opened it for Lianna to exit. Despite the rather pecuilar settings, there was no certanity that someone wasn't watching. Only within the confines of the speeder were they safe.

Just a step made the difference of the whole world. It was a bit weird.

"Here you go, ma'dam." Ridwan tried his best impression of a formal man. It worked for the most part, but his voice nearly cracked from all the thoughts that swimmed in his head. Nearly overwhelmed him into a splurg.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

And just like that, Lianna was the Face of the Empire once more. She exuded the characteristics of fame and power as she stepped out of the speeder. Adia led the way down the plush carpeted ground. The doorman quickly snapped to attention once they realized who was heading their way.

"Good evening Ms. Tarkin."

"A pleasure to have you here today Ms. Tarkin."

She barely regarded their existence and walked inside. The maitre d' straightened his tie and looked positively nervous. The Jedi felt so sorry for the man. His worries were really for nothing.

"Madam Tarkin. If you would have told us you were coming ahead of time we would have had a table already prepared for you."

Lianna pursed her lips and then thinly smiled. "And what's stopping you from seating us now?"

"Ri-right this way please." As they rounded his desk, he snapped his fingers and directed two bus boys to prepare the back table for them, who cleaned the area madly. Lianna figured the table was a good choice since it was near a window and away from the rest of the patrons. Once seated, the maitre d' placed a menu in their hands and offered them something to drink. Lianna ordered the house white wine but was focused on the menu. She was overwhelmed with choices and prices (but didn't bat an eye this time unlike on Umgal).

[Adia Issoris]

Adia popped the cork and poured everyone a glass of the wine. She had the wine before, and knew it was good.

“Pick anything.” She said with a smile. “It’s all excellent.” Adia sipped the wine while browsing over the menu.

“Miss Tarkin would you like a tour of the Aquarium before your meal?” The maitre d' offered.

“Pardon?” “Miranda” asked. The restaurant imported almost all of its seafood live. The warehouse attached to it was actually a very elaborate aquarium with nearly complete ecosystems from several planets. It was elaborate, but it also sold its share of tickets.

“Our food is as fresh as it can be. Most of it is kept swimming until ordered.” He explained. Adia shook her head subtly, indicating no.

“Thank you. I’m just here for a meal.” Lianna said. “Perhaps some other time.” The maitre d’ looked mildly relieved.

[Ridwan Vars]

An awkward look tatter Ridwan's face as he gazed into the wine. The liquid mixed before his eyes, falling into a disturbing blend that he suddenly became allergic too. Although he didn't let out a cough, his hand pushed it farther than any sneeze could.

He had no interest in drinks. Especially those that might intoxicate. Instead, he observed. Lianna certainly was playing her role well. There wasn't room to congratulate her in such an event, but he did provide her a smile.

[Byl Laprovik]

To operate on Coruscant, you had to be alert. Alert, but not terribly intent. If you spent more than a moment of your time looking in one direction, chances were you were wasting it.

You had to pay attention, but not enough to satisfy your curiosity. Tease it, hunger it, give cause for another look maybe down the road. Your life operated in the short term.

Above all, it paid to have friends. Friends won by your charming personality, your charming credit chit's personality, or your charming ability to scratch their back as hard as they'd scratch your own.

Byl had a network. Not on paper. Not even by name. Enough drug kingpins had gotten his stamp on a safe shipment to owe him a pinch of their own effort, and enough dissidents existed on the city planet to fill a Super Star Destroyer. He didn't know them all. He never wanted to. Half of them could up and die tomorrow and it wouldn't cause him to lose sleep.

But they all operated on Coruscant. They were all looking.

So it came as no suprise to Byl to be roused from a two hour catnap in his studio apartment by a comm from a Sulustan named Graada Narn. The name implied nothing. If he was stupid enough to talk to Byl directly, it was probably an alias in the first place.

"What?"

"My employers have told me to give you a message. Miranda Tarkin has returned to Coruscant."

A pause. Byl's jawline tightened, and the faintest beginnings of crows feet creeped into the sides of his eyes.

"Give your employer my regards. Follow her. Call me every five minutes. Don't use this frequency again."

In the time it took to kill the link, Byl was already moving, throwing his jacket over muscled shoulders, and concealing his blasters tucked discretely into low profile holsters inside his trousers.

Now, it was time to triangulate. To confirm.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lianna smiled ever so subtly over her menu at Ridwan before her eyes dipped downwards. Their waiter, a slender gent of thirty, brought out some fresh house bread and smiled pleasantly to the group. "Are we ready to order or shall I give you all more time?"

The Jedi could hear the fear in his voice, and when she looked up, Lianna noticed the tiniest of sweat beading around his forehead. He probably drew the short straw. She would have Adia tip him well later for the stress caused by all of this.

"I'm ready. I think I'll have the grilled Ithorian sword tail in citrus butter along with a side of scallops." She handed over her menu.

[Adia Issoris]

“I’ll have… the Aram Salmon with sesame seeds, and my salad with the vinegarette.” Adia smiled and handed back the menu. These poor deceived waiters would be receiving a big tip for their troubles.

“Also, the chocolate soufflé, for each of us.” If you didn’t order the soufflé early you weren’t likely to get it. Adia knew that they were going to receive it one way or another, but it would be ideal to reduce the blood pressure of the restaurant’s staff if it was one less thing to worry about down the road. She took another sip of wine while Ridwan made up his mind. After this they would get clear of Coruscant as quickly as possible. There was no need to tempt fate.

[Ridwan Vars]

For the most part everything deserved Ridwan intrigue. The young Jedi wasn't raised on a farm, but such food wasn't treated around the Clan Var's table. Just the basics kept them all happy. However, he was wary of his facial expression and kept at calm as his eyes surveyed the table.

Adia seemed to have control over the whole orders, so he kept silent. It was best to relax and take in the time. Ridwan knew that such lull in their travels wasn't secure, and borrowed.

Instead of staring at the weird food, he glanced at Lianna. Following her lead was the best bet, especially with her celebrated progress from Adia. Staying behind her trail would keep him in good grace with the head of the operation. He certainly didn't want another episode with her. Such a display would destroy their fate in a public place.

"Do you like the food here?"

[Brick Marquise]

"I'm tellin ya son, I saw the lady in the real, rollin up here four deep. I thought she'd catch fire walkin out with us normal people."

Brick looked at a reflection of himself in the comm booth window, spitting at the glass before wiping it with a sleeve.

The other voice on the phone muttered something, and Brick shrugged.

"Me & my man Fat Bob is co-runnin this. You got the address. We'll keep things copacetic. Reconnoiteering correctly, if you get me."

The other line talked low again.

"I'll be there in five minutes."

The connection went dead, and Brick left the channel open to static as he stepped out. In the speeder across the street, an overweight man in a newsboy cap sat at the wheel, looking serious. Brick strode over to the speeder, leaning as he propped his hands on the windows.

"Fat Bob, lets go get our grub on. I'm all about some shrimp, wine and some expensive chow."

He parted his jacket, revealing several blasters tucked into shoulder harnesses, with two more at his hip.

"That and we on the clock now. Got us a brunette dish to babysit."

[Adia Issoris]

Adia looked at Ridwan blankly for a moment. He ordered the same thing she had. It was possible he wasn’t familiar with seafood, or chocolate soufflé.

“Yes. If I didn’t we wouldn’t be here.” She said. The food would take some time to arrive, but in the meantime, fresh bread was served along with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and other fresh toppings. Adia took a slice of bread from underneath the dark red colored cloth and placed a slice of tomato and cheese on it. The bread’s crust was crispy and the inside was tender. Perfect. She sighed. This was the perfect note to leave Coruscant on.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lianna buttered her bread and noticed the expressions on her companions faces. Ridwan was still on guard, wanting to make the rest of their stay here quiet and without interruptions that could cause the wrong people to take notice of them. Still, he was trying to relax, to a degree, and allow himself the opportunity to express himself. The Jedi thought this a good sign. It was impossible for him to break out of his shell under these circumstances but the fact that he actually spoke was encouraging.

"It should be delicious then. Agent Issoris has exquisite tastes." Even Adia had allowed herself the chance to enjoy the setting.

As perfect as a day this had been, Lianna couldn't fully relax. Her mind was focused on being Miranda all day that perhaps she was tired. There also wasn't a chance for meditation to properly align herself with the Force considering the stress she was under. After dinner, when they were safely away from Coruscant, she would set aside time to renew balance and continue to come to terms with her family situation.

[Ridwan Vars]

For a moment Ridwan linger in thought. The butter did not entice him at all, but it would be necessary to eat something while he sat at the table. The thought was to wait until the meal came. Hopefully the order would be enough to fill him up for the lengthy voyage. It seemed like forever since the Padawan had a chance to eat anything.

Yet that did not bother him. The chance of slipping disturbed him more. All the variables of the setting perturbed the young Jedi. Also many other secretive thoughts danced about his brain as he began thinking of tomorrow.

So much seemed unplanned, so much left unfinished. The purpose of his conquest was to seek out another Jedi, but now that he finally met one he seemed at lost. Sitting there purposeless, he simply lingered. Awaiting cause to return to his motionless frame.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl walked into the restaurant, waiting nonchalantly to be seated. He made a quick visual scan of the establishment, designed to appear casual and disinterested. It was enough to give him basic information.

Tarkin and her three accomplices were seated back and to the left, barely visible through a walkway leading to a private area. At the far wall and further right toward the kitchen, he noted Brick Marquise with his back to the wall, and Fat Bob, with his back to Byl. Brick, who he'd worked with before, didn't make eye contact.

A hostess approached, and Byl informed her that he wanted a seat for two. Conveniently, there was one adjacent to the entrance to Tarkin's alcove. He informed the hostess that his girlfriend would be arriving shortly, and to keep an eye out for a blonde woman in a blue dress.

It was enough of a distraction, at least.

Byl sat, like Brick, with his back to the wall. Relaxing in his seat, he ordered a drink as he inspected the silverware.

[Adia Issoris]

Ridwan seemed hesitant to eat, which Adia found strange.

“You really should try the bread with the mozzarella. Or anything, for that matter.” She suggested. Ridwan was one of the oddest people she’d met. She wondered what made him tick.

She looked around the room. There was a blonde man, seated alone, probably waiting for company. Adia scanned the room more carefully. That was all she could see from where she was seated. Besides, Lianna was a decoy and not Miranda. There shouldn’t be anything to worry about it.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Lianna didn't say anything as the two spoke. She was seemingly more interested in drinking her wine and eating her bread, but that was further from the truth. The Jedi was going through to motions of eating and barely listening to the 'help'.

She noticed that Adia did a sweep of the restaurant, and Lianna followed suit with one of her own. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary but eyes can be deceived. Something felt out of place...

[Ridwan Vars]

A simple shake of the head, and he pushed the small plate aside. Ridwan was far more interested in getting out of the place alive. Already there had been trouble, and it still wasn't too far from his mind.

It wasn't far from his belly either.

Ridwan didn't have the appetite to enjoy a meal...or anything for that matter. He was too stressed about playing his niche.

[Brick Marquise]

Brick sat with one eye on the menu and one eye on Byl.

"Hey fat man I don't know about you but I could throw down some of this high class dish right here. Luminous prawns. You know what that is? Its shrimp that glow in the dark. Why the hell would people throw cred on glowin waterbugs? I'll tell you why Fat Bob. Cause they can."

He glanced at Fat Bob with a twinkle in his eye, as a waiter moved toward Byl's table.

"I can appreciate the ostentatiousness of the affair. You think about it lunchbox. You don't come here for the taste and you don't come for the portions. You look at that blue bitch over there. Whats that she's eatin? Who cares? It looks like a miniature straw hut. Maybe it is a miniature straw hut. Maybe these people be so frivolous that they can just eat a plate full of pygmy-sized alien households and not lose sleep over it."

Byl seemed to be having his order taken. Brick half smiled.

"It's that kind of acquired absence of restraint that people in our profession should aspire to. Some thugs with no class would covet the rich. You and I, we should take notes."

The waiter approached Brick's table, and he leaned forward.

"I want something ridiculous or expensive. I trust you either way."

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl ordered a simple margarita. A simple 100 credit margarita at least. He shrugged as the waiter headed for Brick's table. The hard hitter wasted little time with his order, and as the waiter turned to leave, Brick followed him with discrete distance. As the waiter passed toward the back, Brick discretely hustled him into the alcove that housed the refreshers. From there, it was a mystery. Brick would either shoot a stun bolt into the back of the man's ear, gag him with a spirit agent in a cloth, or simply kill him outright if he was having a bad day.

Byl wasn't overly concerned, as long as he went away.

Two minutes passed, and Brick returned to his seat. The waiter was no doubt in a locked stall or a closet, or worse. Now Byl, Brick, Fat Bob, and the party in the adjacent room were without their waiter.

[Adia Issoris]

Nearly 5 minutes had passed. It was an eternity in the high-end restaurant business. Adia had drained most of her water, and stared at her glass. Something was definitely amiss. Maybe there had been some sort of accident in the kitchen. Someone should be along soon.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

She tapped against the table impatiently and her face was showing the first signs of irritation while scanning the room for the waiter. Five minutes was bordering on ten and that sinking sensation that something was terribly off continued to grow. The Force was churning. Things were in motion but what?

There was no one in the immediate area to question. Lianna seriously doubted that Miranda would simply wait for a waiter to pass by and take care of this personally. So in a sign of utter disgust, Lianna threw her napkin on the plate and rose to stand in order to find someone and force an explanation as to why their table was receiving terrible service.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl rose from his seat, walking to the threshold leading to the other room, and took a quick look around, which would give pretenses that he was looking for the waiter as well.

"Excuse me."

He nodded to the group seated at the table.

"I was just looking for the waiter. I haven't seen him in a while. He was supposed to be bringing me salt."

[Adia Issoris]

Adia frowned, but kept closely to Lianna. After all, she was the body guard. If they were nervous before, they were going to be terrified now.

Still, where the hell was the waiter? Adia's fingers twitched.

[Ridwan Vars]

Indifference...indifference.

That was the word that defined Ridwan. Nonchalance was a cahracterstics that anyone about such a prestigious woman would have to carry. Experts grasped their fields, and not even the stance of hierachy could waiver precision. Adia had already taken to his position with a quickness, meanwhile Ridwan simply had to observe without care.

Such behaviour would be accustom for anyone about Miranda all day. Certainly the service was bad, but it didn't matter too much to Ridwan anyways.

He wasn't too interested in eating, especially since barley anything on the menu seemed tasty.

[Byl Laprovik]

The reception was colder than a Wampa's teat, so Byl recalibrated his plan.

"Sorry if I'm intruding." He held both hands up. "I don't suppose I could borrow your shaker. If I wait any longer my ice will melt."

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

"I'm so terribly sorry Ms. Tarkin! I'm unsure as to what is keeping your waiter but I'll get a new one to your table immediately. Please ..." The maitre d' held out his hand in hopes that he could lead his very important and very irate patron back to her seat. "... allow me to escort you back to your table and take the bottle of wine off your bill."

Lianna didn't want to push it. She felt bad enough as it was feigning such indignation. "Very well."

Her eyes narrowed at the sight waiting for her upon her return and cast a quick glance at Adia. She caught the tail end of the conversation as well.

"Vars?" The Jedi pulled out her chair as her attention was focused solely on the stranger. "Just let him have it. Seems we aren't the only ones dealing with poor service."

[Ridwan Vars]

The young Jedi's face lightened at Lianna's return. A smile tattered his compressed feelings, but quickly his eyes regarded the patron. Although the man had come without proper introduction, it was clear he had as many troubles as they were in. Never before was the youth described as impious, so without heed he allowed courtesy to run it's course.

One lift of the hand, and the shaker was in another man's hands.

"Here ya go," he said offering a polite smile. For a minute moment between his words he allowed his eyes to shift to Lianna.

What a pretty ga--

The thought didn't finish. Torment rampaged through his mind as he realized how wayward he had became. No Jedi would conceive such a horrible sentence, even to himself. If it didn't look absolutely inane he would slap himself on the rest, but instead he continued with his politeness to the fellow customer.

Hopefully someone day would be looking up on his part, because Ridwan's seemed to be going down the tubes at a rapid pace.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia sighed. This was pathetic. In her 20 years of patronage, her service had never been anything but exemplary. She would have words with the management after the meal. The salt shaker was returned with half the salt by the same man.

“I’m sorry, I’ve never experienced service this sub-par before.” She whispered to Lianna while Ridwan’s normally staunch face indicated some sort of internal crisis. Adia decided he needed to be in a lower pressure environment. It was fortunate they were leaving Coruscant tonight. Hopefully they could have an earnest discussion and perhaps help him be less high-strung.

Another few minutes passed by when a different waiter showed up.

“We are sorry, but Jonik seems to have disappeared. We realize that is no excuse for poor service and would like to apologize profusely. We have let you down. Please allow us to make it up to you. What would you like this evening?” Adia and Lianna reiterated the previous orders while Ridwan sat silent. She ordered him a vegetable platter anyway.

The food arrived, carried hurriedly by the waiter 15 minutes later. It was fantastic, but the potatoes needed a dash of salt. Lianna apparently agreed.

[Byl Laprovik]

The switch had been made. Byl sat back at his table, taking a sip of his margarita before nodding to Brick. The effects of loterax were an initial rush of euphoria, followed by motor response lag and docility. It had the reputation of being used by perverts and unsavory types to take advantage of unwilling lovers. It had other uses as well.

He took another drink. Tarkin and her entourage should begin to enjoy themselves very soon.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

Dinner was exquisite. The chef was probably held under the point of a blaster pistol to not only make their food under record time, but to make it the best damn dinner he ever created.

Then something peculiar happened. Lianna felt a rush of blood, which warmed her cheeks and grew to be lightheaded. For a moment, the room began to spin and she had to take hold of the table to right herself.

[Adia Issoris]

Adia stood to steady Lianna, and momentarily found herself fighting for balance. She felt funny, but swung around the table and helped the Jedi keep her feet. Adia felt warm and tingly. They stumbled through the bathroom door. Adia leaned them against the counter. She watched Lianna’s head wobble. It was affecting her more.

“We’ve been drugged.” She said with a smile. Lianna grabbed at her shoulder and laughed.

“Not sure what it is, but at least it makes you feel good.” She sighed, and made sure to keep the giggling Lianna upright.

[Ridwan Vars]

Calm to hysterical, it wasn't an expected change. Humor drenched his voice as he watched Lianna and Adia rush to the bathroom. The meal had been only taken in with a few nice chomps and his stomach was already rumbling with change. An alter emotion decomposed the lad, turning him into some laughing machine.

Thrown from his seat in follow, he decided to waltz over to the bathroom. Soon they would leave the refresher and he could do something about the giggles that merit a few insouciance ganders. Without Lianna or Adia at his side he was just another face amongst the crowd. People could care two pints about him without his government friendly handle.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl followed the group as they began to make a scene with their giddy behavior. Brick and Bob were at his flank as they headed for the refreshers.

Ridwan was the first. With a jerk of Byl's head, Bob draped an arm over the kid's shoulder and forcefully carried him along. They arrived at the refresher door, and both Byl and Brick entered.

"Who's got the keys to the speeder?"

Byl looks at both ladies, hoping the effects of the loterax will make them sufficiently compliant.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

The Jedi's giggling fit subsided when the unconscious form of Ridwan tossed over the stranger's shoulder registered. It was the surge of adrenaline that brought some clarity to the situation. The man in the middle was the one that had drugged them with the salt. It had to be the salt. Yet the drug was trying to overcome her once more and she had to fight from laughing again.

Lianna hoped that Adia could back her up. How long the Jedi could stay focus for was only the will of the Force now, but they weren't going to come quietly.

That was when a hard right came for Brick's face.

[Adia Issoris]

Brick may not have been the smartest person ever, but he did know how to dodge a punch. He sidestepped Lianna’s telegraphed blow and Byl caught her before she hit the ground. Adia growled and charged. She was not anywhere near as light as Lianna, with an extra twenty five kilos on the Jedi. She drove Brick shoulders first into the corner of one of the stalls. After untangled herself from the stunned thug Adia wobbled back to her feet.

[Ridwan Vars]

The floor was cold. A chill trickled down Ridwan's backside as his body pasted itself to the polished bathroom. Tile after tile sent a frigid touch through his muscles until they grew tense. Beyond his shivering nerves lay a puzzled Padawan, taken aback by the sudden change in atmosphere. Only moments before he dangled outside, and abruptly it all altered after a foreign touch.

Thrown into a battle, he could only wrestle with the theory of engange. Days had passed since he had taken a sleep. Slumber called at him as his prone body clasped the surface. The state of relaxation had become as exotic as any off-world breed, and he was enticed.

It would best to just fade.

Fade...

Fade...

Away...

Sleep, sleep, sleep.

"Zzzzzzzzzz"

[Brick Marquise]

Brick recovered himself slowly, but enough to deal with Adia, who was standing, but shaky. With all the subtlety of a bulldog, Brick shoulder-checked the red-head back, rocking the stall divider and causing the tile it was bolted in to crack, as he jerked his pistol free to jab it's barrel under her ribs as he took the offensive. Rather than shooting, he used the blaster as an asp, concentrating force to bludgeon her at the floating ribs and upper abdomen. He tightened his other hand at her throat as he did so. His pupils dialated slightly, tipping his hand that he was probably enjoying this more than any well-adjusted person should.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl reached across, catching Lianna around the throat with the crook of an arm as she withdrew from her lengthy attempted punch. Grabbing a handful of hair, Byl spun her around and pressed her left cheek against the tile wall. The cool metal of a blaster muzzle pressed into the nape of her neck.

Byl was a calmer creature than Brick was.

"I won't lose any sleep if I kill you, Miss Tarkin, so don't give me a reason to."

[Adia Issoris]

Adia, while normally resilient, was now mentally toasty and being choked. She gurgled and her eyes bugged a little. Adia relaxed. Brick was pulled off balance, surprised by the sudden weight. He let her body hit the floor. She gasped and coughed while Brick leveled his blaster at her. Adrenaline coupled with the drug made her disorientation extreme. She had no ability to focus, and her nerves felt out of sorts. They alternated between a light tingling and a pleasant warmth. Adia's cough dissapated into a contented sigh.

[Lianna Mal Pannis]

With a blaster pressed against the back of her head, there was nothing Lianna could do. At least, not under these circumstances. Her mind was clouded by the drug and her reflexes were totally shot. The only thing that she was certain of is if that she didn't comply, the man would kill her without hesitation.

She let her body grow limp and then felt extraordinarily lightheaded that caused her to groan. The wall was becoming quite hard to rest against. Lianna felt herself starting to slip down the wall as the groggy effects of the drug began to kick in.

[Byl Laprovik]

"Keys."

Byl glanced to Adia, who seemed to be the brawn of the trio, and Brick gave a quick pat-down, procuring them after a few seconds. He tossed them my way, as Bob poked his head through the restroom door.

"Take the kid out the back."

Byl tossed the keys to Bob, and he complied, holding groggy Ridwan close as he guided hiim along.

"We don't need her extra baggage." Byl gestured to the redhead. "Kill her."

[Brick Marquise]

"Bout time..."

Brick sighed, priming his weapon as he leveled it at Adia's head. Just then, the door opened up, and a waitress stammered in a panic.

BZAT!

The waitress fell dead from a kill-bolt in the forehead, and Brick cursed under his breath. They had to get out now. He leveled his pistol at Adia, and the powercell had a feedback, burning the emitter.

"Damn!"

Tucking the weapon away, Brick wrangled the redhead up, as Byl got hold of Tarkin.

"We gots to go, yesterday!"

[Ridwan Vars]

The shake of the steps shifted Ridwan's head back and forth, but ambition did not rise from his depths. Weight had evacuated the hold of his muscles, the tension too much for him to push and pull along. Silence isolated him in his own mind, leaving him to be alone.

A chill came over his body and mind as he thought in unconsciousness.

He had messed up again...again...and again.

Seem like nothing was going to be fine, even when he decided it was time to wake up from his needed sleep.