Mistaken Identity Chapter 65 - The Gala Part 1 (20k) (Patreon)

(AN: Once again I’ve made things too long 🗿 which is kind of annoying since I hoped I’d be done, but I don’t wanna rush the next part or not have a good amount of words dedicated to it. So I’m just gonna post this now since you guys have waited too long, which I appreciate btw. I’m feeling better now so I’m gonna keep working on this and finish the gala. Expect lots of action next chapter.)

A new day dawned on Coruscant, the sky a haze of smog and starship trails, marking the start of the gala aboard the Eternal Horizon. The massive vessel loomed in its private dock, a sleek behemoth of the finest and toughest materials from across the galaxy, its hull gleaming under floodlights, stretching as long as a Venator-class capital ship. Thousands of guests—senators, diplomats, corporate moguls, and their entourages—swarmed the boarding ramps, their robes and suits a dhowing of wealth, droids hauling luggage, security scanners humming as they processed the crowd. Shuttles and speeders clogged the airspace, ferrying more attendees, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation. Due to the issues with security the eternal horizon was raking things very seriously so that no one who wasn't invited was allowed to get on.

Padmè stood at the edge of the dock, flanked by Aubrie, Vaylin, her handmaiden Sabe, Anakin, and a squad of Naboo guards in their crimson uniforms. R2-D2 rolled nearby, flowing Anakin. Vaylin, clutching a datapad, briefed Padmé on the gala's schedule. "Each day starts with a diplomatic breakfast in the grand atrium, followed by optional trade and policy discussions. Afternoons have cultural exhibits—Naboo water sculptures, Corellian holo-art—and private meetings in the VIP lounges. Evenings feature banquets with live orchestras, then dancing and sabacc games. A few night's from now is a masquerade ball. I spoke with the crew, and they've arranged adjoining suites for you, Aubrie, Anakin, and Sabe, all on the executive deck."

Padmé nodded, her expression warm. "Thank you, Vaylin. That's excellent work. Are you sure you're comfortable in the workers' quarters? I can speak to someone to get you moved with us."

Vaylin shook her head rapidly, her hands waving. "No, no, no, I'm fine! It's more efficient this way. I'll be closer to the staff areas, it'll be much easier to coordinate with the others from there."

Aubrie, with her droid SD8 strapped to her back under her robe, glanced at the ship, its towering silhouette dominating the dock. "Efficient? Moving around a ship this size sounds like a nightmare. It's as big as a Venator, maybe bigger." She craned her neck, taking in the rows of viewports and the sleek curves of its design.

Anakin, arms crossed, pointed at the ship. "The Chancellor told me the elevators move up, down, sideways, and diagonally, that every elevator is connected."

Sabe raised an eyebrow, adjusting her hood. "How does that even work?"

Anakin shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "No idea. But it's impressive."

Padmé looked up at the Eternal Horizon, her hands clasped in front of her. "That it is..." Her gaze lingered, her mind turning inward. She thought of the trillions suffering across the galaxy—on Coruscant's lower levels, in war-torn systems, scraping by while this ship, a monument to excess, hosted the elite. It embodied everything wrong with the Republic: wealth hoarded by a few, flaunted in the face of poverty. She considered not boarding, walking away—she wasn't even a senator anymore, her role now advisory, her presence more symbolic than necessary. But refusing would stir political fallout, alienate allies, and weaken her influence. She hated these games, the endless dance of social politics, smiling for people she distrusted. Her chest tightened, but she kept her face composed, hiding the weight of her thoughts.

Aubrie touched her arm, her voice soft. "Padmé, you okay? You look... off."

Padmé forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Aubrie. Just taking it all in."

Aubrie studied her, unconvinced, but nodded. "Alright. If you say so."

Anakin, less restrained, scowled at the crowd. "This whole thing's stupid. There's a war going on—planets are burning, people are dying, and we're spending a week with politicians kissing up to each other how amazing they all are. Why are we even here?"

Sabe pinched his arm discreetly, shooting him a sharp look. She leaned in, whispering, "Anakin, this is the honeymoon we never got. Stop complaining, or you're sleeping with R2 tonight."

R2-D2 let out a low, indignant beep, swiveling his dome.

Anakin chuckled nervously, rubbing his arm. "Sorry, sorry. I'll behave."

Padmé glanced at them, raising an eyebrow. "Is everything  well?"

Anakin and Sabe spoke at once: "Yes!" They exchanged a quick look, and Padmé smiled softly, shaking her head before turning back to the ship.

The group moved closer to the boarding ramp, joined by Chancellor Palpatine and his aides, their red-robed figures cutting through the crowd. Palpatine approached, his smile warm, his voice smooth. "Lady Amidala, Vaylin, a pleasure to see you both." He nodded to Vaylin, who beamed, barely containing her excitement.

"Chancellor! It's wonderful to see you again!" Vaylin caught herself, straightening. "I mean I'm glad to see you well."

Palpatine's eyes twinkled. "How are you settling in as Padmé's assistant, Vaylin? It's a demanding role."

Padmé spoke first, her tone kind. "She's doing very well, Chancellor. Vaylin's been indispensable, especially with the trial and recent events."

Vaylin shook her head, her voice earnest. "I haven't been as good as Lady Amidala says. I've made mistakes, struggled to keep up. I'm trying, but it's... a lot."

Padmé touched her shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You've done wonderfully, considering everything I've asked of you."

Palpatine nodded, his smile gentle but probing. "Indeed. But if it becomes too much, Vaylin, we can arrange a less stressful assignment. Or perhaps you'd prefer to return home?"

Vaylin shook her head rapidly, her hands fidgeting. "No, I'm fine! I'll work harder, I promise. I want to stay."

Palpatine's smile widened. "Very good. Your dedication is admirable." He turned to Anakin, his tone warmer. "Anakin, my boy, I'm glad you accepted my invitation. It's fitting to have a Jedi representative at this event, don't you think?"

Anakin shifted, rubbing his neck. "You're kind to invite me, Chancellor, but I'm just a Padawan. I'm no representative. Maybe someone from the Council should've come."

Palpatine waved a hand, dismissing the thought. "Nonsense. You're too humble, Anakin. You're the Chosen One, a hero of Jabiim. You should take pride in that."

Anakin's face darkened, his jaw tightening. "You're mistaken, sir. I wasn't a hero on Jabiim."

Palpatine leaned closer, his voice soothing. "Come now, Anakin. Your actions turned the tide. The reports are clear you showed remarkable courage."

Aubrie stepped forward, her voice firm. "He means the real heroes of Jabiim are the one who didn't make it back, chancellor."

Palpatine's eyes flicked to her, pausing. "I don't believe we've been introduced."

Anakin gestured to her. "This is Aubrie Wyn, Chancellor, someone I fought with on Jabiim."

Palpatine's smile returned, but his gaze sharpened. "Ah, yes, I recall your name from the Jabiim reports. I'd very much like to discuss your experience with the superweapon, Aubrie. It must have been extraordinary."

Aubrie shifted, uncomfortable under his stare. "That weapon's better forgotten. It was a monster just creation, something that should never have existed."

Palpatine nodded slowly. "Indeed. A tragedy." He turned back to Anakin. "We'll speak more aboard, Anakin. Enjoy the gala." He inclined his head to the group. "I must board first, as protocol demands. Farewell for now."

They nodded, murmuring goodbyes as Palpatine and his aides swept toward the ramp. Padmé watched him go, a strange unease settling in her chest at his exchange with Vaylin, the way he'd pressed her, his smile too... strange. She opened her mouth to say something, but the crowd's movement pulled her attention, and she let it go. "We should continue," she said, leading the group toward the ramp.

The Eternal Horizon's scale hit them as they approached, its hull towering like a an entire city district, docking tubes and ramps bustling with activity. Droids scanned luggage, security officers checked IDs, and guests chattered. The group joined the queue, Naboo guards clearing a path. Padmé handed her credentials to a droid, which beeped approval, and they stepped onto a moving platform, whisked into the ship's main atrium—a cavernous space with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and a central fountain spraying water in intricate patterns. Elevators lined the walls, their transparisteel pods zipping up, down, and sideways.

As they moved through the atrium, a man approached, his sharp suit and slicked-back hair. Collan Eislo's smile was too wide, his eyes lingering on Padmé in a way that made her skin crawl, his gaze sweeping over her form with blatant interest. "Lady Amidala," he said, his voice smooth, stepping too close. "A pleasure to have you aboard. I trust the accommodations will... satisfy you." He leaned in, his hand brushing her arm. "If you need anything, I'm at your service."

Padmé stepped back, her expression tightening. "Thank you, Mr. Eislo. I'm sure everything's in order."

Aubrie moved between them, her voice sharp. "She's fine."

Anakin joined her, his hand resting on his lightsaber hilt, his glare fixed on Collan. "You heard her. Move along."

Collan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes hardened. "Of course, though I do hope to speak with you later, regarding the trial of course. Enjoy the gala." He turned, disappearing into the crowd, his presence leaving a sour note.

Padmé exhaled, nodding to Aubrie and Anakin. "Thank you. Let's go."

A protocol droid greeted them, its silver frame gleaming. "Lady Amidala, your party's suites are on the executive deck. Follow me." It led them to an elevator, which hummed as it shot upward, then sideways, the ship's interior blurring past. They stepped out into a plush corridor, lined with gold-trimmed doors. The droid opened four adjoining suites, each with wide viewports, silk bedding, and private refreshers. "Your luggage will arrive shortly. Enjoy your stay."

Padmé thanked the droid, turning to her group. "Get settled. We'll meet for the welcome banquet tonight."

___________________________

Jaden crouched near the worker entrance of the Eternal Horizon, adjusting the holographic disguise device clipped to his belt. Its soft hum activated, projecting Taren Vok's face and voice, transforming him into the waiter. Beside him, Zule smoothed her server uniform, her device casting Lira Senn's features, her posture rigid as she tugged at the tight skirt. Their slicing comms, disguised as crew earpieces, linked them to Scout, positioned nearby, and Velea, monitoring from the Chiss stealth ship, cloaked and waiting for Scout to join her before latching onto the ship during the pre-liftoff diagnostic window. The gala was hours away, and they needed to board now to execute the plan.

Zule pulled at her collar, her voice low and tinged with annoyance. "This garment is intolerable. It restricts movement and draws undue attention. I cannot fathom how Lira functions in such attire."

Jaden straightened his tie, offering a lopsided grin. "You look good, Zule. Though Taren's boots aren't exactly a joyride either—feel like they're destroying my toes."

She fixed him with a stern loo. "Your discomfort is irrelevant. My uniform compromises mobility. Why did we acquire these identities? They seem ill-suited."

Jaden checked his datapad, shrugging. "Bad draws I suppose, we needed workers with the same race and height and enough dirt on them to blackmail or bribe them. Though Taren was a handful to pin down. I'm guessing Lira didn't make it easy for you either?"

Zule's jaw tightened, her voice formal. "She was uncooperative. I resolved the matter. And you? Did Taren prove difficult?"

He rubbed his neck, smirking. "Difficult? That's an understatement."

*Flashback*

Jaden knocked on Taren Vok's door, a rundown flat in a lower-level slum, credits stashed in his jacket for the bribe. The door cracked open, and Taren, a wiry man with twitchy eyes, peered out. "What's this about?"

Jaden held up a credit chip, his tone smooth. "Taren, I need your uniform and badge for the *Eternal Horizon*. Take these, stay low for a week, and we're square."

Taren's eyes flicked to the credits, but he shoved Jaden aside and sprinted down the corridor, knocking over a trash bin. Jaden cursed, giving chase, weaving through vendors and droids, shouting, "Taren, don't make me work for this!" Taren darted into an alley, vaulting a crate, and Jaden followed, dodging a street cart, his chest heaving.

Taren reached a speeder bike outside a cantina, firing the engine. Jaden spotted another bike, ripped open its panel, and hot-wired it, roaring after Taren through Coruscant's undercity, neon lights streaking past. Taren swerved into a tunnel, Jaden close behind, dodging pipes and hovertrucks. Taren misjudged a curve, clipping a wall, and his bike spun out, crashing into barrels. He stumbled up, pulling a vibro-knife, slashing wildly. "Back off!"

Jaden leapt off his bike, ducking a swing, and tackled Taren, pinning his arm and twisting the knife free. He slammed Taren against a barrel, panting. "Enough running. Take the credits, give me your gear, or you're done."

Taren slumped, nodding. Jaden tossed him the credits, and Taren handed over his uniform, badge, and datapad with his schedule, muttering, "You're nuts." Jaden watched him limp away, then headed back, sweat-soaked but victorious.

*Present*

Jaden sighed as he told the story, even speaking of how he nearly got outmanoeuvred by a waiter angered and embarrassed him in equal measure. "What about you?" He asked.

"How did it go with Lira?"

*Flashback*

Zule stood outside Lira Senn's apartment on Level 1313, a grimy tower block buzzing with holo-signs and street noise. She knocked, blaster holstered but ready, her voice even. "Lira, I require a discussion regarding employment." The door slid open, revealing Lira, a Zeltron with sharp eyes and a form-fitting outfit, leaning against the frame, arms crossed. "Who're you? I don't take walk-in jobs."

Zule stepped inside, maintaining distance. "I am aware you sell confidential information to tabloids. I require your uniform, badge, and access codes for the *Eternal Horizon*. Comply, or I expose your activities to your employer."

Lira laughed, cold and cutting. "Blackmail? That's your move? Leave, or I'm calling security." She reached for a comm on a nearby table, but Zule seized her wrist, twisting it and pinning her against the wall.

"That is not an option," Zule said, her tone icy. Lira broke free, landing a fist on Zule's cheek, and the two grappled, toppling a chair and a stack of datapads. Lira aimed a kick at Zule's knee, but Zule sidestepped, tackling her to the floor, driving a fist into Lira's stomach. Lira gasped, clawing at Zule's arm, but Zule slammed her head against the duracrete, dazing her, then delivered a final blow, knocking Lira unconscious, blood seeping from her lip.

Zule checked Lira's pulse, confirming she was alive, and dragged her to a storage cupboard. She bound Lira's wrists and ankles with zip-ties, gagged her with a cloth, and shoved her inside, tossing in a week's supply of protein bars and water pouches. "Remain silent," Zule said, locking the cupboard. She collected Lira's uniform, badge, and datapad with access codes, slipping out as a neighbor's door creaked, her breath steady despite the brawl.

*Present*

Zule exhaled, her tone dry. "I can't believe you allowed a waiter to lead you across the undercity?"

Jaden grinned, adjusting his jacket. "Yeah, well, you turned Lira's place into a combat zone. Locking her in a cupboard?"

Her expression stiffened, her voice formal. "It was effective. She's contained, provisioned, and neutralized. Your target likely speaks of his encounter to anyone who will listen."

Jaden chuckled, shaking his head. "Taren's too busy spending my credits to talk. I got his kit, same as you."

Zule's lips twitched, a trace of playfulness breaking through. "My approach was precise. Yours was... chaotic."

"You should try it sometime. Loosen up that Jedi discipline." Jaden said, winking.

She fixed him with a stern look, though her eyes softened. "Focus, Jaden. This operation requires precision, not your theatrics or improvisation."

He nodded, tapping his comm, his tone shifting to business. "Right. Scout, you in position?"

Scout's voice crackled, muffled by her stealth suit. "Yeah, behind a crate by the scanner. Slicing kit's ready. You two at the ramp?"

"Moving now," Jaden said, peering around the corner. He and Zule stepped out, joining a stream of workers hauling crates and other more delicate luxuries toward the worker entrance, a narrow ramp leading to a security checkpoint. Two droids and a human overseer scanned IDs, with a biometric scanner—retinal and fingerprint—beyond. Scout's task was to hack it, feeding Taren's and Lira's biometric data to clear them. Velea, waiting in the Chiss ship for Scout's arrival, would latch onto the maintenance hatch once the diagnostic window opened.

"Velea, you copy?" Jaden asked.

Velea's voice came through, tense. "Copy. Chiss ship's cloaked, holding position. Scout needs to get here fast so we can hit the window. I'm picking up some sensor noise—could be nothing, but it's making me twitchy."

Jaden frowned, catching the strain in her words. "Sensor noise? That's not ideal. Can you pin it down?"

"Not yet," Velea said. "Might just be dock traffic. Get onboard, and I'll sort it."

Zule glanced at Jaden, her voice low. "If they miss the window, our extraction's compromised. We'll be stranded."

"One step at a time," Jaden said, keeping his stride steady. "Scanner first, then we worry about Velea."

They blended into the crowd, Jaden adopting Taren's slouch, his waiter's jacket crisp, while Zule walked beside him, her steps stiff in Lira's uniform. "This attire is a liability," she muttered, smoothing the skirt. "If combat arises, I'm hindered."

Jaden's lips twitched. "You'll adapt. Just don't scowl at everyone. Lira's supposed to have a bit of charm."

Zule's eyes narrowed, her tone crisp. "Charm is for those to weak too unintelligent to speak logically."

He grinned, keeping his voice low. "Yeah... let me handle the smooth talk. You just keep looking like you're part of the crew."

They reached the checkpoint, where the overseer, a stocky man with a datapad, waved workers through. Jaden handed over Taren's badge, secured after the chase, while Zule passed Lira's, her hands steady, her smile thin. The overseer glanced at the badges, nodding. "Move along."

They stepped to the biometric scanner, joining a short line. Jaden tapped his comm. "Scout, we're up. Data ready?"

"Working on it," Scout said, her voice tight. "Got Taren's and Lira's biometrics from the database hack, but the scanner's got a new encryption layer. It's rejecting my feed."

Zule's jaw clenched, her whisper sharp. "Rejecting it? We're next in line. What's the delay?"

Jaden nodded to a worker ahead, keeping his face neutral. "Scout, how long?"

"Two minutes, maybe three," Scout said. "This encryption's a beast."

Zule's voice dropped, urgent. "Three minutes? The worker ahead is finishing. We're exposed."

Jaden glanced at the scanner, then at the overseer, who was arguing with a droid over a crate. "Scout, can you stall it? Trigger a system error, buy us time?"

Scout paused. "I can overload the input buffer, make it look like a glitch. It might draw attention. You sure?"

"Do it," Jaden said, his tone firm.

The scanner beeped loudly, its screen flashing red: "Processing Failure. Reboot Required." The worker at the console swore, slapping the machine, while the droid beside it ran diagnostics. The line halted, workers muttering. The overseer stormed over, datapad in hand. "What's the holdup? We're behind schedule!"

Jaden whispered to Zule, "Follow my lead." He stepped forward, holding up Taren's datapad. "Sir, could be a power fluctuation. I heard a tech mention grid issues earlier."

Zule nodded, her voice mimicking Lira's calm tone. "I observed similar disruptions on the service deck. The gala preparations may be overloading the systems."

The overseer scowled, tapping his datapad. "No one reported that. Stay here. I'm fetching a tech." He marched off, shouting at a droid.

Jaden exhaled, tapping his comm. "Solid work, Zule. Scout, status?"

"Almost there," Scout said, her voice strained. "Bypassing the encryption now. Twenty seconds."

Zule glanced at the line, spotting a worker with a scarred cheek staring at them. "That man's observing us too closely. He suspects something."

Jaden followed her gaze, keeping his posture relaxed. "Unlikely, just relax. Check your datapad, look busy."

Zule pulled out Lira's datapad, scrolling through schedules. "I detest this subterfuge. His scrutiny is unnerving."

"He's just curious," Jaden said, nodding to a passing droid. "Hold steady."

Scout's voice crackled. "Done! Data's loaded. Step up, you're clear."

The scanner beeped green, the error gone. The worker ahead scanned and moved through. Jaden stepped to the console, leaned into the retinal lens, and pressed his thumb to the pad. The scanner hummed, then beeped green, showing Taren Vok's ID. He stepped back, nodding to Zule. "Your turn."

Zule moved up, her movements precise, and scanned, her eyes locked on the lens. The scanner beeped green, displaying Lira Senn's ID. She joined Jaden, exhaling. "That was precarious."

Jaden tapped his comm. "Scout, you're a miracle. Get to the Chiss ship and prep with Velea."

"I know, I'm the best ," Scout said with a grin. "I'm moving, now will be with Velea in five."

Velea chimed in. "Good work. I'm tracking you on the feeds. Scout's en route. We'll latch when the window opens, but these sensor pings are still bugging me. Might be tight."

Jaden led Zule through the checkpoint into a service corridor, workers pushing carts, droids rolling past with linens. He kept his pace steady, nodding to a worker, while Zule walked beside him, her steps controlled. "You held it together," Jaden said, glancing at her. "Not bad for your first undercover stint."

Zule's lips pressed thin. "I prefer direct action. That scanner issue nearly derailed us."

Jaden nodded, his tone serious. "Yeah, but we're in. You nailed the cover story back there."

She exhaled, adjusting her skirt. "It was necessary. Do not expect such improvisation regularly."

They reached a service lift, and Jaden tapped his datapad, checking Taren's map. "This takes us to deck 27. Padmé's suite is pretty far but it's the most direct route that's not suspicious. When the reception starts, then I mwke contact with her."

Zule stepped into the lift, standing rigid. "Ensure you do not falter. We cannot afford further complications."

Jaden pressed the turbolift button and said, "We're on the Eternal Horizon, Zule. The entry's done, and we're in."

Zule crossed her arms and said, "The entry was the least complex phase, Jaden. The tasks ahead will demand far greater precision and discipline. What do we do until the reception?"

Jaden adjusted his waiter's jacket and said, "Check your schedule on the datapad. We don't need to be perfect workers, but we should show up for our shifts to avoid drawing attention from security or crew."

Zule pulled out Lira's datapad, swiped through the schedule, and stopped. Her tasks included serving drinks in the VIP lounge, ensuring guests' comfort, engaging in flirtation, sitting with them if requested, and remaining available for personal requests. The schedule detailed expectations: smile warmly, maintain eye contact, offer light touches on arms or shoulders, sit on guests' laps if invited, kiss cheeks as a greeting, feed them delicacies by hand if desired, and be open to private conversations in secluded areas. She looked at Jaden and said, "Jaden, explain this immediately."

Jaden grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty service corridor with plain metal walls, overhead pipes leaking faint steam, and a floor scuffed from droid treads. A stack of crates sat in one corner, and a flickering light panel buzzed above. He said, "Zule, let's discuss this calmly."

Zule pulled her arm free and said, "I will not perform these duties, Jaden. Sitting on their laps? Kissing their cheeks? Touching them? Feeding them? This is degrading and unacceptable. You said I'd serve drinks, nothing more."

Jaden leaned against the wall, watching Zule reread her schedule, her fingers hovering over each task, "I know it's a lot, Zule, but you can dodge most of it. The lounge is gonna bechaotic, there will be hundreds of guests, staff running everywhere. Stick to the bar, keep the drinks moving, and most people won't notice you're not flirting or sitting with them."

Zule looked up and said, "You expect me to navigate this without clear guidance? These expectations are not mere suggestions, Jaden. They're explicit instructions to act as a whore, not a server. How am I to maintain my integrity when the role demands I behave like a hired escort?"

Jaden stepped closer and said, "You're not an escort. You're a Jedi. Use that. Stand tall, serve drinks, and if some senator gets too close, give him that look you're giving me now. They'll back off."

Zule said, "And if they persist? You've placed me in a position where I must either comply or risk exposing our operation."

Jaden said, "You won't have to. You're too smart for that. If it gets bad, signal me on the comm. I'll pull you out—say you're needed in the kitchen or on another shift. We're a team, Zule. I've got your back."

Zule exhaled, her voice softening. "You should have informed me from the start. I deserve transparency, Jaden."

Jaden nodded and said, "You're right. I kriffed up. From now on, I'll lay it all out, no surprises. Can we move forward?"

Zule exhaled and said, "Very well. I will fulfill my role, but I will not compromise my principles or dignity. Do not expect me to."

Three workers passed by, pushing a cart loaded with crates, one muttering, "Hurry up, we're late for the kitchen drop." Jaden and Zule stepped closer to the wall, waiting until the corridor was clear. Jaden said, "I wouldn't ask you to. I agreed to this job because I trust you to handle yourself, Zule. You're stronger than anyone I know." He rubbed her arm and said, "You've got this."

Zule said, "I will endure. But there must be no further oversights."

Jaden nodded and said, "Deal. Full transparency from now on. You have my word."

Zule studied him and said, "I will hold you to that. What now? I assume you have preparations to make."

Jaden said, "Yeah, I need to set up for the next step. You head to the lounge, start your shift. Keep your comm open in case I need to pull you out."

Zule said, "Understood. I will maintain contact. Do not deviate from the plan without informing me."

Velea's voice crackled through their comms and said, "Zule don't worry. You'll be the star of the lounge. Those senators will be tripping over themselves for you."

Zule said, "Velea, your commentary is unhelpful. Focus on your responsibilities."

Scout's voice came through and said, "I saw your schedule, Zule. What's a 'Corellian star-kiss'? Is it some fancy cocktail?"

Velea said, "I'll explain when you're older, Scout. Don't worry about it."

Jaden said, "Enough, both of you. Stay on task. Guests are still boarding, so we have time. Velea, you set for the diagnostic window?"

Velea said, "I'll be ready. Scout's almost here. Got some sensor interference, though—might make things tricky."

Jaden said, "Tricky how?"

Velea said, "Not sure yet. Could be dock noise, but it's persistent. I'll figure it out."

Jaden switched channels and said, "Scout, ETA?"

Scout said, "One minute from the ship."

Jaden turned to Zule and said, "I'm heading out. Be careful in the lounge." He leaned forward, kissed her lips briefly, and said, "Don't let those senators get under your skin."

Zule froze, blinked, and said, "I won't." She stood still as Jaden pulled back and turned away. He then left the little corrridor they were in and moved down the main corridor, nodding to crew members. He said to a server carrying a tray, "First gala? Pace yourself, it's a long week." The server nodded and said, "Thanks, it's overwhelming." Jaden bumped shoulders with a technician and said, "Don't let those circuits fry." He slipped the technician's Level 3 keycard from his belt and tucked it into his sleeve. He clapped a cook's shoulder and said, "Heard the kitchen's a madhouse. Good luck." She said, "Tell me about it—already out of Coruscanti eel." Living in the undercity he'd found that people are much less suspicious of those who purposely place themselves in the spotlight. People were naturally drawn to that light and those under it, be nice to people and they'll find it difficult to accuse you of things should something go wrong.

Jaden reached a terminal showing a schematic of the Eternal Horizon. Each crew ID had a security clearance: Level 1 for basic access—what guests had—Level 2 for service areas like kitchens, storage, and lounges, Level 3 for engineering and maintenance, Level 4 for bridge crew, and Level 5 for the Captain, Collan Eislo, and a few senior officers. Jaden's Level 2 ID accessed worker zones, but the kyber crystal was in a Level 5 gallery—at least when it wasn't open to the guests—and Eislo's evidence was in his Level 5 suite. The ship's servers tracked every ID, monitoring their number and location through a real-time registry linked to the mainframe. Adding or altering an ID would trigger a discrepancy, alerting security and freezing the ID until investigated. The stolen Level 3 keycard gave Jaden ten minutes before it was reported missing, a common issue during boarding, providing a brief window to act.

Jaden walked through corridors lined with metal panels and floors marked with droid tracks. Crew members hustled past, some carrying datapads, others pushing carts. He entered a turbolift, swiped the keycard, and pressed the button for main engineering. The panel beeped, flashed green, and the lift descended. Jaden looked around and saw no cameras, matching the blueprints he'd studied. He said, "Finally, a break." Cameras would have been a huge problem if they'd been put int he turbo lifts, would've made sneaking around a ship this big a huge hassle.

Jaden stepped out of the turbolift into main engineering, a vast chamber filled with towering reactors that hummed with energy, their vibrations pulsing through the durasteel floor as conduits snaked across the ceiling and control consoles lined the walls. Technicians in jumpsuits monitored screens, adjusted valves, and shouted orders, one calling out, "Check the plasma flow on reactor three, it's spiking!" Jaden slipped behind a coolant tank to avoid a camera mounted above a console, then moved to a locker room where metal lockers stood in rows alongside a bench and a pile of dirty uniforms in a corner. He grabbed an engineer's jumpsuit from an open locker, changed quickly, and stuffed Taren's waiter jacket into a bag. He glanced at his wrist terminal, which showed eight minutes remained before the stolen Level 3 keycard was likely reported missing.

Jaden blended with the technicians as he moved through engineering, keeping his head down as one worker glanced at him and said, "New guy? Don't touch the relays unless you're cleared." Jaden nodded and replied, "Understood, just heading to maintenance." His target was the server room adjacent to engineering, a high-security area restricted to Level 4 clearance or Level 3 with direct supervision, housing the ship's central servers that managed security systems, including ID tracking, camera feeds, and biometric locks, making it a prime spot for sabotage. And he couldn't just steal a level 4 ID, Bridge crew IDs were equipped with proximity alarms that triggered if separated from their user. Thankfully Jaden's plan hinged on a ship oversight: main engineering sat directly below the server room, and Level 3 IDs granted access to service ducts used for repairs, one of which led to the server room.

He reached a service shaft, swiped his keycard to unlock the hatch, and climbed inside, crawling through a narrow duct with smooth metal walls and dim emergency lights spaced every few meters. He checked his wrist terminal's blueprints, confirming his path, and moved to a grate overlooking the server room. Below, a technician typed at a console, surrounded by server racks with blinking lights, cooling fans whirring, and cables bundled along the floor. Jaden eased the grate open, dropped silently behind a rack, and crept closer, channeling the Force to overwhelm the technician's mind, as he lacked the skill for a precise mind trick. He pushed a wave of raw Force energy, flooding the technician's thoughts with pressure, and the man slumped, unconscious, his datapad clattering onto the console. Jaden caught it, set it down, and dragged the body behind a rack, propping it against a wall, checking the pulse to ensure the technician was still breathing.

Jaden sat at the console, plugged in his slicing kit, and accessed the server's core code, navigating a Coruscanti-grade neural network that integrated security, navigation, and crew management functions. He opened the ID registry, a database tracking every active ID by clearance level, location, and usage, and coded four Level 5 IDs, embedding them in a shadow administrator partition, a virtual sub-server running on a dedicated memory core parallel to the main system. He secured the partition with a fractal cipher, generating randomized data signatures to evade the server's integrity checks, and rerouted access logs through a dummy maintenance script, backdating entries to blend with routine updates, masking his session with a spoofed admin credential. He downloaded a complete ship map to his wrist terminal, revealing hidden maintenance routes, secure storage vaults, and Collan Eislo's private suite, filling gaps in his incomplete blueprint.

He stood, reset the console to its original state, and glanced at the technician, channeling the Force to project a mental suggestion, You're tired, planting the subconscious idea while the man was unconscious to make him attribute the blackout to fatigue. Jaden turned to leave but noticed a blinking alert on the terminal, tapped it, and pulled up a security protocol detailing a gravitic sensor net designed to detect mass distortions from cloaked ships by measuring micro-gravitational anomalies, paired with an ionic pulse that scanned for unregistered objects by emitting a low-frequency electromagnetic wave to map the ship's interior. Both systems remained active during engine diagnostics, triggered by the power-up sequence, explaining Velea's earlier concerns about sensor noise—this would detect the Chiss ship's mass and uncloak it instantly.

Jaden muttered, "Kriff," and tapped his comm, saying, "Velea, abort! There's a—" Static cut him off, the server room's durasteel walls and electromagnetic shielding blocking the signal. He cursed again, scrambled into the duct, and crawled quickly, the engines' hum growing louder as the diagnostic window opened. His wrist terminal showed four minutes left before the keycard was likely reported. He emerged in engineering, sprinted through corridors, dodged a technician who shouted, "Slow down, you'll break something!" and reached the turbolift, slamming the button. Inside, he tried his comm again, his voice urgent, "Velea, abort! Gravitic sensor net and ionic pulse—it'll spot you, even cloaked!"

No response came, but he exited the lift into a service corridor with exposed pipes and a flickering light panel, tapping his comm repeatedly, saying, "Velea, do you copy? Abort now!" Static persisted, and he ran faster, weaving past a droid carrying a crate that beeped, "Watch your path!" He reached a junction with a viewport showing the dock, the Eternal Horizon's hull filling the view, and tried the comm again, his voice sharp, "Velea, answer! You can't latch—the security will catch you!"

...

Velea sat at the controls of the cloaked Chiss stealth ship, hovering above the dock where the Eternal Horizon was. She adjusted the sensor array, her fingers dancing over the console, when the hatch hissed open and Scout climbed aboard, her stealth suit flickering as it recalibrated to the ship's dim interior. Velea glanced over, her voice sharp but laced with relief, "You took your sweet time, Scout. Strap in and get on the sensors. I need to know the second that diagnostic window opens so we can latch onto the maintenance hatch."

Scout slid into the co-pilot's seat, her hands already moving across the console as she activated the sensor suite, "Got it, Velea. Sensors are live, scanning for engine activity." She paused, looking at Velea with a frown, "Have you heard from Jaden? I tried his comm earlier, but he's not responding. Is he okay?"

Velea tapped her comm, her expression tightening as she tried Jaden's channel, only to hear static, "No luck. His signal's either blocked or jammed, probably by the ship's shielding." She switched channels, her voice crisp, "Zule, you copy? Where's Jaden? We need him on the line."

Zule's voice came through, stern and precise, "He is engaged in a critical task, Velea. He did not provide details, but I trust his discretion."

Velea leaned back in her seat, exhaling sharply, her voice dropping to a mutter, "Of course he's off playing mystery man. Why do I always get tangled up with the ones who love their secrets?"

Scout's head snapped up, her tone curious but teasing, "Wait, what was that? You mumbling about Jaden again?"

Velea waved a hand, her cheeks warming slightly as she avoided Scout's gaze, "Nothing, kid. Keep your eyes glued to those sensors and stop eavesdropping."

Scout grinned but refocused, tapping the console as data scrolled across the screen, her voice steady, "Engines are starting to spool up, Velea. Diagnostic window's opening now—looks like we've got a few minutes."

Velea gripped the controls as she piloted the Chiss ship downward, maneuvering through the crowded airspace toward the maintenance hatch on the Eternal Horizon's lower hull, a small, unassuming port surrounded by docking clamps and sensor arrays. She said, "Alright, here we go. Keep me posted on those sensors, Scout." The ship's hull filled the viewport, its riveted durasteel surface gleaming under the dock's floodlights, and Velea adjusted the thrusters, aligning the ship's docking ring with the hatch, her focus absolute.

Scout leaned forward, her voice tight, "We're at fifty meters, Velea. Closing fast. Engine diagnostics are in full swing—window's wide open."

Velea nodded, her voice calm but tense, "Good. Let's make this quick and clean." She fine-tuned the approach, the ship's cloaking field shimmering faintly as it compensated for the dock's ambient radiation, her hands on the controls as she prepared to latch onto the hatch.

The comm crackled, and Jaden's voice burst through, frantic and breathless, "Velea, abort! it'll catch you, even cloaked!"

Velea's eyes widened, and she yanked the controls hard, pulling the ship up at the last second and twisting it into a steep dive, threading between towering dock structures of duracrete and steel that supported landing platforms, her voice sharp, "Jaden, what the kriff was that? That was our window! What's going on?"

Jaden's voice came through, still rushed but clearer, "I found a new security layer in the server room—gravitic sensors calibrated to detect mass distortions from stealth craft by measuring micro-gravitational anomalies, paired with an ionic pulse that scans for foreign objects using a low-frequency electromagnetic wave to map the ship's interior. Both are active during diagnostics. You'd have been lit up like a Life Day parade."

Velea slammed a fist on the console, her voice tight with frustration, "Kriff it all, Jaden. That was our shot! What do we do now?"

Jaden paused, his voice steadying as he caught his breath, "We'll find another way, Velea. Stay cloaked and hold position in the dock's shadow. I'll work out a new plan to get you onboard."

Velea glanced at Scout, who stared at the sensor readouts with wide eyes, her hands frozen on the console, and said, "You'd better move fast, Jaden." She adjusted the ship's position, keeping it hidden among the dock's structural supports, the Eternal Horizon's engines roaring in the distance as the diagnostic window closed, leaving them stranded outside.

...

Jaden stormed down the service corridor of the Eternal Horizon, the stolen Level 3 keycard clenched in his fist. His plan—carefully orchestrated over weeks—had unraveled in under an hour. He hurled the keycard against the wall with a sharp clank, the badge ricocheting behind a crate. "Kriffing hells!" he spat, his voice bouncing off the metal. The diagnostic window had slammed shut, and with it, their chance to get Velea and Scout aboard. The next window wouldn't open until midweek, leaving them just days to pull off a heist that required all four of them. Jaden and Zule alone couldn't do it—Velea's tech expertise and Scout's slicing skills were non-negotiable, he couldn't be everywhere at once.

He paced the corridor, boots thudding, one hand rubbing the back of his head, the other slapping his temple as if he could jolt a solution loose. "Think, Jaden, think," he muttered, his breath ragged. The gravitic sensor net and ionic pulse were a nightmare—Military-grade security designed to sniff out cloaked ships like theirs, it was primitive in the way it worked but rather effective, cloaks hid from sensors but it still existed its mass was still real, and the grid would ping off anything that wasn't already there. Bypassing it meant either disabling the sensors from the server room, risking a full security lockdown, or finding a way to mask the Chiss ship's mass signature, which was borderline impossible without specialized equipment they didn't have. He stopped, leaning against a coolant pipe, its faint hum vibrating through his palm. "Come on, there's gotta be a way," he growled, but his mind churned with dead ends.

Footsteps echoed from around the corner—two workers, talking about a shipment of Alderaanian wine that they had a surplus of. Jaden straightened himself, he couldn't afford to look unhinged, not with security droids patrolling and crew members everywhere. He tapped his comm, keeping his voice quiet. "Velea, Scout, head back to base. We're grounded until the next window. Stay hidden until then."

Velea's voice crackled through. "Copy that, Jaden. Be careful out there."

Scout chimed in, her tone laced with worry. "You okay? Sound like you're about to punch a bulkhead."

Jaden forced a chuckle, though it came out strained. "I'm fine. Just get to safety." He cut the comm and started down the corridor, blending into the flow of workers hauling crates and droids trundling with spare parts. The Eternal Horizon's service levels were a maze of pipes, vents, and holo-signs, but Jaden navigated them with the ease, he'd made sure all four of them had memorised the ships layout long before they went on the ship. He needed to find Zule, fill her in, and figure out where to move from here.

He took a service lift to deck 27, the music of the turbolift doing little to calm his nerves. The doors slid open, revealing a bustling prep area where servers in crisp uniforms adjusted trays of crystal flutes and cooks shouted over sizzling pans, everything on this shop was cooked fresh, nothing was synthesised. Jaden spotted Zule near a stack of crates, her server uniform still tight on her frame, a datapad in her hands. Her posture was rigid, her expression a mix of focus and barely concealed disgust as she scanned her schedule. He approached, dodging a droid rolling past with a cart of pastries, and leaned in close, keeping his voice low. "Zule, we've got a problem."

Her eyes flicked up. "What happened?"

Jaden exhaled, rubbing his neck. "The Chiss ship didn't latch. There's a gravitic sensor net and an ionic pulse—new security I didn't account for. It would've decloaked them the second they got near the hatch. I told Velea and Scout to fall back to base. We're stuck until the midweek window."

Zule's jaw tightened, her fingers pausing on the datapad. "That leaves us three days to complete the operation, and that's if they are able to board during the next window?"

Jaden leaned against a crate, his voice grim. "We stick to our part of the plan. I make contact with Padmé at the reception tonight, get her on board with the kyber crystal situation. Meanwhile, we need to figure out how to get Velea and Scout past those sensors."

Zule's eyes narrowed. "How? You said yourself the security is formidable. What's your solution?"

Jaden shook his head, his frustration spilling over. "I don't know yet, Zule. Right now... it's not looking good. Disabling the sensors could trigger an alert, and masking the ship's signature is a long shot without tech we don't have."

Zule studied him, her voice calm but firm. "You'll find a way, Jaden. You always do. Don't panic, you still have time."

He sighed, her words grounding him despite the knot in his chest. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks for the vote of confidence." He straightened, forcing a half-smile. "Let's both head to our departments and get ready for the reception. We can't afford to slip up now."

Zule nodded, slipping the datapad into her pocket. "Agreed. Stay focused."

They parted ways, Jaden weaving through the prep area toward the crew quarters. His waiter's jacket was back on, the engineer's jumpsuit stashed in a a corner. The corridors grew quieter as he neared the workers' apartments, a series of cramped, utilitarian rooms with thin walls and shared refreshers. He was halfway down a dimly lit hallway when a rough voice cut drawing his attention. "Thought you could duck me, Taren?"

Jaden froze, his instincts kicking in. A burly man stepped from a side passage, his face scarred from cheek to jaw, his eyes hard and glittering with malice. His worker's jumpsuit was stained with grease, and his meaty hands flexed as if itching for a fight. Jaden's mind raced—this was the same man that had been staring at him and Zule outside the ship, he had thought it was nothing but the man was clearly looked at him—or Taren. He kept his expression neutral, adopting Taren's slouch and a lazy grin. "Hey, whoa, didn't see you there. Been a crazy day, you know how it is."

The scarred man's lip curled, his voice low and menacing. "Don't play dumb with me, Vok. You owe me credits—two thousand, plus interest. You've been dodging me for weeks, and now you think you can hide on this ship?" He stepped closer, his bulk filling the hallway, the smell of sweat and machine oil wafting off him.

Jaden raised his hands, keeping his tone light. "Look, I get it, things got messy. I'm working on it, alright? Gala's got me running ragged, but I'll square up soon."

The man's eyes narrowed, his voice rising. "Soon? You said that last month, you slimy little bantha! I want my money, Taren, or I swear I'll drag you to the nearest airlock!" He grabbed Jaden's collar, yanking him forward, his knuckles grazing Jaden's chin. "You think you can screw me over? I'll throw you into the reactor core myself!"

Jaden's pulse spiked, but he kept his cool, channeling a faint touch of the Force to calm the man's rage, just enough to take the edge off. "Hey, easy, I hear you," he said, his voice smooth. "I'm good for it. Just need a little time to sort things out. You'll get your credits, I promise."

The man glared, his grip tightening for a moment before he shoved Jaden back, hard enough to make him stumble against the wall. "You'd better, Vok. I see you again without my money, you're done." He spat on the floor, turned, and stormed off, his boots clanging against the deck.

Jaden exhaled, rubbing his chest where the man's fist had pressed. "Kriff, Taren, you had a pretty shit life," he muttered, shaking his head. The real Taren was probably blowing his credits in some undercity cantina, oblivious to the trouble he'd left behind. Jaden adjusted his jacket and continued down the hallway, his mind already shifting back to the heist. He couldn't afford distractions, not with the clock ticking.

He reached his assigned apartment, a narrow room with a single bunk, a metal desk, and a viewport showing the dock's receding lights as the Eternal Horizon flew over the city. He locked the door, pulled out his wrist terminal, and opened the ship's updated schematic, his eyes scanning the server room's location and the sensor net's control nodes. There had to be a way to bypass the security—maybe a power surge to mask the ship's signature, or a maintenance override to disable the sensors temporarily. He leaned back, rubbing his temples, the weight of the failed plan pressing down. "One step at a time," he told himself. "Get through the reception, make contact with Padmé, and figure out the rest."

He tapped his comm, checking in with Zule. "You in the lounge yet?"

Her voice came through, clipped. "Yes. It's as intolerable as expected. I'm serving drinks and avoiding... advances. Have you devised a plan?"

"Not yet," Jaden admitted. "But I will. Just keep your head down and stick to the script."

Zule paused, then said, "Understood."

___________________________

Collan Eislo barreled through the Eternal Horizon's atrium, his boots scraping the marble, his suit jacket bunching as he shoved past a Twi'lek senator clutching a glass of Corellian brandy. His run-in with Padmé gnawed at him—her sidestepping his advance, her dismissal, and that pulse, that fucking pulse when his hand brushed her arm. It was the Holocron, had to be. He snarled under his breath, "She's got it, the bitch." His voice was a rasp, drowned by the chatter of diplomats and clinking crystal. A protocol droid tilted its head as he stormed past, but he didn't see it, his legs pumping, hands clenched so hard his knuckles cracked.

He hit a private turbolift behind a curtain, slammed his Level 5 keycard on the reader, and stumbled in as the doors slid open. He smashed the button for the executive deck, muttering, "She's trying ti humiliate me, hiding it right in front of me." The lift surged up, then sideways, but he didn't notice, pacing the cramped space, shoes squeaking. "Thinks she can play me, the cunt?" His voice broke, spit flying. He slammed his fist into the wall, pain shooting through his hand, but he didn't care. The lift stopped, and he lurched out, charging down a corridor with gold-trimmed doors, ignoring a droid polishing a viewport.

Collan reached his suite, fumbled his keycard, and kicked the door when it didn't open fast enough. He burst in and wove past a table littered with empty bottles and a holo-projector. He stopped at a hidden panel, slapped his palm on the scanner, and the panel clicked open. He stumbled down a narrow staircase, nearly falling, into a small room crammed with monitors. Screens lined the walls, cycling feeds from the ship's ballrooms, corridors, engine rooms, and crew quarters. He'd paid a slicer a fortune to build this system, wired to the security grid, locked to his clearance alone. He collapsed into a chair, the frame creaking, and hunched over the console, eyes wild, scanning the feeds.

He tapped a key, zooming one screen on Padmé, standing in the atrium with Anakin, Aubrie and her handmaiden Save. She was talking a smile on her face, her hands clasped in front of her like she hadn't just humiliated him. Collan leaned in, breath fogging the screen. "You've got it," he growled. "I felt it, you whore." He rewound the feed to when he'd touched her arm, replaying the moment he felt the pulse—a throb, like the Holocron itself was clawing at him. "It's on you," he said, voice shaking, hands ripping through his hair, tearing strands out. "I felt it screaming for me, you fucking slut!" He shot up, pacing, slamming into a server rack, knocking a cable loose. "You think you can steal it? I've killed for that Holocron, you prissy bitch!" He screamed, kicking the chair, sending it crashing into the wall. "It's mine!" He spun to the screens, searching her for a sign—a bulge in her dress, a nervous glance, anything.

He froze, panting, sweat soaking his collar, and raked his hair back, hands trembling. His reflection in a blank screen showed a man unhinged—eyes bloodshot, tie loose, face slick. He sucked in a breath, collapsing into the chair, his mind groping for clarity. Padmé didn't find the Holocron herself. Someone gave it to her, someone who knew what it was. His thoughts snagged on Jaden, that bastard who'd fucked him over. Collan had no clue where Jaden was, somewhere in the undercity, Darren had seen him in the black market area but the boy wasn't stupid enough to stay there. "Jaden," he spat, fingers drumming the console, erratic and fast. "You're in this, you fucker."

He pulled up an old video, buried in his server's encrypted files. The footage showed a warehouse on Level 1313, crates stacked high, a safe on the floor. Jaden, crawled through a ventilation shaft, a blue-and-black droid strapped to his back. "How far away are we, SD8?" Jaden's voice crackled, annoyed. The droid beeped, and Jaden groaned, "That far? I've been crawling for hours!" SD8 beeped again, sharper, and Jaden muttered, "I'm not slow... stupid droid." A faint zap sounded, Jaden yelping, "Okay, I get it." He dragged himself forward, SD8 signaling after thirty minutes. Jaden grabbed a makeshift fusion cutter, slapped it when it flickered, and cut a circle in the vent, the metal glowing red. He pushed it up, squeezed out, and smirked, whispering, "Good job, SD. Right where we planned." SD8 climbed onto his back, and they dropped into a lavish room—exotic rugs, high-tech furniture, a painting on the wall.

Jaden plugged a wire from his wrist into the owner's computer, running a descrambler. He spun in a chair, telling SD8 to scan for valuables. The droid's beam locked on something behind the painting. Jaden tossed the artwork aside, revealing a VX-4700 safe. "Cheapskate," he said, knocking on it, then placing a sparking device to melt the lock. The safe swung open, and he stuffed credits into his pack, stopping when he saw a blue glow. He pulled out a polyhedral Holocron, grinning. "A Holocron! Bet these sell like crazy!" SD8 beeped excitedly. An alarm blared, and Jaden cursed, typing fast at the console. "Personal overseer," he muttered, hands blurring as he outmaneuvered the droid's security layers.

Banging shook the door, and Jaden smirked when his decryption finished, yanking the wire. A thermal detonator blew the door open, and six Raptor gang members stormed in—three humans, two Trandoshans, and a 2.2-meter Houk. The Houk barked in his language, and the others searched the room. Jaden, behind a chair, rolled a device into the open, covering his ears. It flashed, blinding the gang. He sprinted for the door, but the Houk grabbed his neck, snarling, and threw him into a wall. Jaden gasped, vision blurring, and dodged as the Houk charged, tossing a shock device that did nothing. He fired his blaster, staggering the Houk, but an energy shield blocked the rest. The Houk slammed him with the shield, sending him through a window. Jaden shot a grapple hook, piercing the Houk's arm, but the Houk ripped it out and dropped him, smiling.

Collan's hands shook, his teeth grinding. "You stole it," he whispered, staring at Jaden's smirk. "Took my future, and now she's got it?" He smashed the console, the screen shattering, glass cutting his hand, the video frying. "You fucker!" He grabbed a datapad, threw it at the wall, and it exploded, shards scattering. Blood dripped from his hand, but he didn't notice. He hit his comm and screamed, "Tech droid to my suite, now! Screen's broken, move!"

A voice stammered, "Yes, sir, on it."

Collan slumped back, fingers tapping, mind spiraling. Jaden was behind this, even if he wasn't here. Padmé was his tool, carrying the Holocron, maybe clueless about its power. He'd get it back. He'd tear her suite apart tonight, while she was at the banquet, charming the elite. He'd rip through her bags, shred her dresses, scan every corner. "You're fucked, Amidala," he muttered, watching her on the feed, stepping into an elevator. "I'll gut your room while you play senator." He'd use his Level 5 access to bypass her lock, and bring a scanner for the Holocron's signature. If it wasn't there, he'd wait for the midweek banquet, when his Mandalorian contact would attack the ship—blasters, chaos, perfect cover. He'd corner Padmé, pin her down, and rip the Holocron off her. "Think you can hide it, you stuck-up cunt?" he sneered. "I'll strip you bare if I have to, you prissy whore."

He lurched to a safe behind a holo-painting of Coruscant's skyline, punched in the code, and yanked it open. He grabbed a smaller Holocron, its runes worn, and clutched it, nails digging in. He'd bought it in the Outer Rim, but it was weak, a tease compared to the one Jaden stole. He whispered, "Soon, I'll have all three. I'll be Stronger than any Jedi or Sith." He shoved it back, slammed the safe, and turned to the monitors, eyes locked on Padmé's feed. She stood in the elevator, unaware. Collan grinned, unhinged. "Smile now, but I'm coming."

___________________________

Padmé stood naked in her suite on the Eternal Horizon, the plush carpet soft under her feet, her curvy figure and soft skin catching the glow of the overhead lights. Her large breasts swayed slightly as she turned, her smooth-shaven skin glistening from a recent shower, her generous hips and round backside accentuating her hourglass shape. Beside her, Aubrie, slender and lithe, shifted awkwardly, her small breasts barely moving, a faint patch of pubic fuzz visible as she crossed her arms, trying to cover herself. Sabe, standing between them, had a balanced figure—neither as curvy as Padmé nor as slight as Aubrie, her toned limbs and modest curves moving with purpose as she sorted through a rack of dresses. The air was warm, filled with the scent of jasmine from a nearby diffuser, and the three women spoke, their laughter echoing in the spacious room.

Sabe held up a shimmering silver gown, its fabric catching the light like liquid metal, and approached Padmé. "This one's perfect for you," she said, kneeling to help Padmé step into it. The dress slid up Padmé's legs, hugging her thighs and accentuating her curves as Sabe pulled it over her hips. Padmé sighed, adjusting her stance as Sabe tugged the bodice into place, the fabric straining slightly over her breasts. "I wish I could skip this gala," Padmé said, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "Just once, I'd love to relax, not parade around at every banquet and party, smiling for people I hate."

Sabe stood, smoothing the dress's seams. "You know why you can't," she said. "You're not just a guest here, Padmé. Your presence keeps the Naboo delegation's influence strong, and with the war dragging on, every conversation at these events is a chance to push for peace or sway a senator. You're playing the long game."

Aubrie, still naked, struggled to step into a deep emerald dress, the fabric catching on her hips. "I don't know how you do it, Padmé," she said, her voice muffled as she wrestled with the gown. "Just getting into one of these dresses feels like a battle. They're so tight, I can barely breathe!"

Padmé chuckled, the silver gown now clinging to her like a second skin, highlighting every curve. "You get used to it," she said, turning to admire herself in a full-length mirror. "Besides, I do like some of these dresses. This one's not bad." She ran her hands over her hips, the fabric shimmering under her touch.

Sabe grinned, stepping back to appraise her. "Not bad? You look like you could stop a starship in its tracks, Padmé. That dress is doing you favors." She turned to Aubrie, who was still tangled in her gown, the fabric bunched around her waist. "Hold still, Aubrie, you're making this harder than it needs to be." Sabe knelt, gently pulling the dress up, her fingers working to adjust the straps over Aubrie's narrow shoulders.

As Sabe worked, Padmé leaned against the mirror, her tone casual. "So, Sabe, how are you and Anakin doing? Things going well?"

Sabe froze, her hands pausing on Aubrie's dress, her eyes widening. "Padmé!" she hissed, glancing at Aubrie, who looked up, startled. "You can't just say that!"

Padmé waved a hand, unperturbed. "Relax, Sabe. Aubrie already knows."

Sabe's jaw dropped, her gaze darting to Aubrie. "How?"

Aubrie blushed, her cheeks flushing pink against her pale skin, still half-trapped in the dress. "I... caught you two a few weeks ago," she said, her voice soft. "At Padmé's apartment. Anakin was there, and, well, it was obvious, especially when he kissed you."

Sabe's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Aubrie shrugged, her blush deepening. "It wasn't my place. You both looked happy, and I didn't want to mess that up for either of you."

Sabe's expression softened, her eyes glistening. She stood, still naked, and pulled Aubrie into a tight hug, their bare skin pressing together. "Oh, Aubrie," she said, her voice thick. Aubrie stiffened, her face turning crimson, her arms pinned awkwardly at her sides. Padmé giggled, covering her mouth. "Sabe, let the poor girl go! You're embarrassing her."

Sabe laughed, releasing Aubrie but keeping a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, sorry! I'm just... I'm glad I have another friend I can talk to about this." She wiped her eyes, smiling. "It means a lot."

Aubrie, still flushed, adjusted her half-on dress. "Is Padmé the only one who knows?"

Sabe nodded, her expression turning serious. "Yeah. It's too risky otherwise. Anakin's in the Jedi Order, and if they found out he's married, they could force us apart, maybe even kick him out. We can't take that chance."

Aubrie frowned she didn't think that was true at all, a flicker of anger crossing her face. She remembered Jabiim, how Anakin had been pulled out just before the final battle, deemed too important to lose, while she and others were left to face the slaughter. The memory stung, but she took a breath, calming herself. It wasn't Anakin's fault—she was angry because of everyone they lost, not him. "I don't think they'd kick him out," she said, her voice steady. "He's too valuable to the Jedi and the Republic. But I get why you're careful."

Sabe hugged her again, gentler this time, her excitement bubbling over. "Having another friend to talk to about this is amazing, Aubrie. I've been so paranoid, and now I feel like I can breathe a little."

Padmé raised a hand, smiling. "Easy, Sabe, don't overwhelm her. She's already fighting that dress."

Aubrie laughed, the emerald gown still stuck around her waist, her slender frame twisting as she tried to pull it up. "I'll be your friend, Sabe, but only if you help me with this thing. It's winning."

Sabe giggled, kneeling to tug the dress into place, carefully adjusting the fabric over Aubrie's slim hips and small breasts. "Hold still, you're almost there." She worked quickly, smoothing the gown until it hugged Aubrie's frame, the emerald color striking against her pale skin. Sabe stepped back, grabbing her own dress—a sapphire blue number with a plunging neckline—and slipped into it, the fabric gliding over her toned body. She turned to the mirror, then looked at Padmé and Aubrie. "You two look stunning. Absolutely beautiful."

Aubrie glanced at herself in the mirror, the tight dress accentuating her slender form. "I feel... weird," she said, tugging at the hem. "Like I'm someone else."

Sabe shook her head, grinning. "You look amazing, Aubrie. Doesn't she, SD8?" She nodded at the small droid on a nearby table, its blue-and-black frame gleaming. SD8 swiveled its body, beeping affirmatively, its lenses scanning them.

A chime sounded at the door, and Sabe, now fully dressed, crossed the room to answer it. Anakin stepped inside, his Jedi robes slightly rumpled, his eyes lighting up as he saw Sabe. "You look beautiful," he said, then froze as he noticed Aubrie and Padmé, his face flushing. "I mean, uh, all of you! You all look great!" He rubbed his neck, trying to play it off.

Sabe giggled, pressed the panel to shut the door, and kissed him, her hands cupping his face. Anakin kissed her back, then pulled away, his eyes wide, darting to Aubrie. "Wait, what—Sabe, she's right there!"

Sabe smirked. "She knows, Anakin."

He blinked. "How?"

Aubrie smiled, her blush returning. "I saw you two at Padmé's apartment a few weeks ago. It was pretty obvious."

Anakin's jaw tightened. "You won't tell, will you?"

Aubrie shook her head. "No do not fear. I'm not exactly on great terms with the Jedi Council myself." She grinned, and Anakin snorted, relaxing slightly.

Padmé stepped forward, her silver gown shimmering. "Anakin, you ready for the reception?"

He nodded, tugging at his robes. "Yeah, but I couldn't stomach the fancy stuff they sent. Those tunics looked like they'd choke me."

Padmé smiled at Sabe. "If you want a moment with Anakin, I can handle the rest of our dressing. Go on."

Sabe hesitated. "You sure?"

"Go!" Padmé said, laughing.

Sabe beamed, grabbing Anakin's hand. "Thanks, Padmé." They slipped out, the door hissing shut.

Aubrie smiled, adjusting her dress. "It's nice to see them so happy."

Padmé nodded, sitting at a vanity to apply her makeup. "It is." She dabbed foundation on her cheeks, then glanced at Aubrie. "So, now that you're free from the Jedi Temple's rules, any plans to explore romance?"

Aubrie sat beside SD8, who beeped softly, making her smile. "No, I don't think so."

Padmé raised an eyebrow, blending eyeshadow. "Really? You might fool others, but not me."

Aubrie's smile faltered, her brow furrowing cutely. "What do you mean?"

Padmé finished her makeup, turned, and leaned forward. "I thought you'd make a move with Jaden after leaving the Jedi. You both stayed at my apartment, had the perfect chance, but nothing happened."

Aubrie's eyes widened, and she laughed nervously. "Jaden? No, no, we're just friends. I mean... not even friends, he's my Master and that's really all there is..."

Padmé smirked. "Aubrie, I spend my days in the Senate. I'd be a terrible senator if I couldn't spot a lie. And that? That sounded like it was your first ever attempt at one."

Aubrie sighed, slumping in the chair. "I'm not good at it, am I?" She paused, then said, "Okay, fine. I do feel something for Jaden. Strongly. But I don't know where to start, and now he's gone, vanished into the undercity. Even if I wanted to, I can't do anything."

Padmé softened, setting down her makeup brush. "He'll come back, Aubrie. Jaden's alive, and wherever he is, there's a reason. He's too stubborn to disappear for good."

Aubrie smiled, nodding. "You're right. He'll be back."

"And when he is," Padmé said, standing and ushering Aubrie to the vanity, "we'll work on getting you two together. First, we need to fix your hair. Men notice hair first, then your face, and you've got a gorgeous face to work with." She began brushing Aubrie's hair, pinning it into an elegant updo, then applied subtle makeup—soft eyeliner, a touch of blush, and glossy lipstick. The transformation was striking, Aubrie's delicate features now radiant.

Aubrie stared in the mirror, eyes wide. "I don't recognize myself."

Padmé grinned. "I hope that's a good thing."

Aubrie hesitated. "Padmé, do you... have experience with this? Like, what should I say to Jaden when I see him?"

Padmé blushed faintly but covered it with a quick smile. "Oh, plenty. When you see him, lean in close, bat your eyes, and say something bold like, Jaden, I've been dreaming of you since Jabiim."

Aubrie blinked, then burst out laughing. "That's... awful advice!"

Padmé laughed too, waving a hand. "Alright, enough of that. We need to go, or we'll miss the reception." She adjusted her gown, checking her reflection one last time.

Aubrie nodded, standing, her emerald dress now perfect. They left the suite, joining Anakin and Sabe in the corridor, where Sabe was whispering something to Anakin, making him grin. The four headed toward the reception.

...

Padmé, Aubrie, Sabe, and Anakin stepped out of the turbolift into the Eternal Horizon's grand atrium, the heart of the welcome reception. The huge space was almost unbearably loud with hundreds of guests—senators, corporate tycoons, and diplomats—mingling under Illumi crystal chandeliers that cast fractured light across Rodakan marble floors. A central fountain sprayed water in hypnotic patterns, and servers weaved through the crowd, balancing trays of sparkling drinks and tons of food. Live music from a Bith orchestra filled the air, blending with laughter and murmured deals. Padmé's silver gown clung to her curves, drawing eyes as she moved. Aubrie, in her emerald dress, looked equally as radiant, the fabric accentuating her slender frame, her updo and subtle makeup making her delicate features striking. She clung close to Padmé, her eyes widening as she noticed numerous men staring in their direction, unaccustomed to the attention.

Barely a few seconds after they entered, a Corellian senator, his tunic adorned with gold braiding, approached Padmé, his smile wide, though it didn’t make him look flattering. "Lady Amidala," he said, bowing slightly, his eyes lingering on her neckline. "You look exquisite tonight. Might I steal a moment to discuss the trade embargo on Ryloth? Your insight would be... invaluable." His tone was smooth, his gaze too warm, hinting at a want beyong his words.

Padmé smiled tightly, her diplomatic mask in place. "Senator Varn, how kind. I'd be happy to discuss it later, perhaps during tomorrow's trade session?" She sidestepped his advance, gesturing to Aubrie. "Have you met Aubrie Wyn? She's joining us from Coruscant and was until recently a member of the Jedi Order."

Varn's eyes flicked to Aubrie, and his smile widened. "A pleasure, Miss Wyn. That dress is stunning—you must tell me where yougot it." He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Perhaps over a drink? I'd love to hear about what you do."

Aubrie flushed, her hands twisting the fabric of her gown. "Oh, um, it's just a dress," she said, her voice faltering. "I'm not really... I don't know much about fashion." She glanced at Padmé, desperate for rescue.

Before Padmé could intervene, a Mon Calamari executive, his webbed hands clutching a glass, joined them. "Miss Wyn, you're a vision," he said, his bulbous eyes fixed on her. "I'm with Kuat Drive Yards. We're hosting a private tour of our shipyards next week—would you care to join me? I'd ensure you're well taken care of." His tone was professional, but his stare lingered, making Aubrie shift uncomfortably.

"I, uh, I'm not sure," Aubrie stammered, her cheeks burning. "I have... plans." She stepped closer to Padmé, her body tensing as more eyes turned her way. A young Alderaanian aide approached, offering a glass and a too-familiar smile. "You must be new to these events," he said, leaning in. "I'd be happy to show you around the ship later. The observation deck is... intimate at night."

Aubrie's smile froze, her voice barely a whisper. "That's kind, but I'm fine, really." The men circled closer, their compliments piling up, each laced with subtle intent—offers of private meetings, exclusive tours, or vague promises of influence. Aubrie's hands shook, her inexperience with such attention leaving her overwhelmed, her emerald dress suddenly feeling like a spotlight.

Padmé, sensing her distress, slipped an arm through Aubrie's and turned to the group. "Gentlemen, thank you for your warm welcomes, but we're expected elsewhere. Enjoy the reception." Her tone was firm, and she guided Aubrie away, weaving through the crowd toward a quieter corner near a bar. The men dispersed, though their eyes followed, drawn to Padmé's incredible body and Aubrie's delicate beauty.

At the bar, Padmé exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Aubrie leaned against the counter, her face flushed. "This is the worst thing I've ever been to," she said, her voice low. "They're like... vultures. I don't know how you handle it."

Padmé chuckled, her eyes scanning the room. "This one's tame compared to some I've attended. At least no one's proposed a marriage alliance yet." She caught the eye of a server—a wiry man with a waiter's jacket, he looked at her like he recognised her, something she found strange. He approached “Drinks, ladies?” He said, offering two glasses of luminous blue wine. Padmé took them, nodding thanks, and handed one to Aubrie. "Drink this. It'll help."

Aubrie sipped the wine, her face scrunching up cutely, her nose wrinkling. "Ugh, it's like drinking a battery," she said, setting the glass down.

Padmé laughed, sipping her own. "You'll survive. I'm going to mingle some more—duty calls. Stay here, and don't let them swarm you again. Just think of them like battle droids." She squeezed Aubrie's arm and glided back into the crowd, her silver gown catching the light as senators and aides vied for her attention, their flattery a mix of political maneuvering and barely veiled desire.

Aubrie stayed by the bar, clutching her glass, her eyes darting nervously. She felt a rustle against her leg and glanced down, whispering, "SD8, stop moving so much. Stay still." A soft beep came from under her dress, where the small droid was hidden beneath the fabric. She adjusted her stance, trying to keep it discreet. Men continued to approach—a Rodian banker offering a "private financial consultation," a human lobbyist suggesting a late-night sabacc game. Aubrie deflected each with polite excuses, her voice strained, her body tensing under the relentless attention. She sipped the wine again, grimacing, and muttered, "Never again."

The music paused, and a spotlight hit the stage at the atrium's center. Collan Eislo appeared, his suit crisp, his smile too wide, accompanied by an older man with graying hair. The crowd hushed, and the older man stepped to a holo-mic, his voice booming. "I'm Rolan Eislo, founder of Aratech Industries. Welcome aboard the Eternal Horizon."

Aubrie tilted her head, thinking, Is that Collan's father? The resemblance was clear—same sharp jaw, same colour eyes.

Rolan continued, his tone warm. "This ship is more than a vessel; it's a vision of progress, a bridge to a brighter future. In a galaxy fractured by war and division, you—leaders, visionaries, decision-makers—shape what lies ahead. The Eternal Horizon is your sanctuary, a place to forge unity, to build alliances, to dream of a stronger Republic. Let this gala be a step toward that hope." The crowd erupted in applause, glasses raised in agreement.

Rolan smiled, raising a hand. "After this reception, every service aboard—spas, casinos, cultural exhibits, private lounges—will be open for your enjoyment. Indulge, connect, and make this journey unforgettable." The crowd clapped louder, cheers mixing with the music as it resumed.

He stepped back, saying, "Enjoy yourselves," and left the stage with Collan. Aubrie's eyes followed them, catching Collan's gaze lingering on Padmé, who was deep in conversation with a group of senators. His stare was intense, almost predatory, and Aubrie shivered, her instincts prickling. She glanced at SD8's faint outline under her dress, whispering, "Stay quiet, okay?" Another soft beep answered, and she straightened, steeling herself against the next wave of admirers, her emerald gown still drawing every eye in the room.

...

Jaden moved through the Eternal Horizons grand atrium earlier, holding a tray of glowing blue wine glasses. The reception was packed with senators, tycoons, and diplomats, their laughter annoying as they stuffed themselves with fancy food—shiny rare Coruscanti eel, spicy nerf skewers, and fruit carved into weird shapes. Jaden's gut twisted. 'These people pig out while planets are dying,' he thought, slipping past a Rodian banker who grabbed a glass without looking. 'War's ripping everything apart, and they're here, licking grease off their chins.' He forced a blank smile, nodding at a guest, but his eyes searched the crowd for Padmé.

He dodged a Twi'lek aide snatching a pile of pastries, even throwing one at a serving droid that she had bumped into. 'Coruscant's starving, and they're tossing food at droids for kicks,' he thought, gripping the tray tighter. A senator bumped him, spilling wine, and grumbled, "Watch yourself, server." Jaden swallowed a comeback, his jaw tight. 'Focus. Find her.' He weaved through a group of corporate suits babbling about profits, then spotted Padmé across the atrium, her silver dress hugging her full curves, even from here he could tell she was exhausted. Next to her was Aubrie, her emerald dress fitting her slim body perfectly, her face glowing under the chandeliers.

Jaden stopped, his breath stuck. Padmé looked incredible, her curves popping in that dress, but Aubrie—her soft face, the way the dress showed off her thin frame, the nervous way she fiddled with her hair—made his heart race. 'Damn, they're gorgeous,' he thought, his pulse hammering. He stood there, tray forgotten, until a rough voice cut in. "Keep dreaming, kid," a fat senator next to him said, his tunic tight over his belly. "They're way out of your league." The guy smirked, sipping his drink, eyeing Padmé and Aubrie like they were like the meat he licked off his fingers.

Jaden's fist balled, wanting to smash the senator's smug face. 'Cool it,' he told himself, ignoring the jerk and pushing through the crowd toward Padmé and Aubrie. His chest hurt as he got closer, Aubrie's shy smile hitting him hard. 'Didn't know I missed her this much,' he thought. He reached them, holding out the tray, his voice steady despite his pounding heart. "Drinks, ladies?" Padmé took two glasses, nodding thanks, and Aubrie's eyes flicked to him, not knowing it was him. He hung back, melting into the crowd, waiting for Padmé to be alone.

The music cut off, and a spotlight hit the stage. Rolan Eislo, gray-haired and in charge, stepped up with Collan beside him. Jaden leaned against a pillar, tray down, watching as Rolan spoke into a holo-mic. "I'm Rolan Eislo, founder of Aratech Industries," he said, his voice filling the quiet room. "The Eternal Horizon isn't just a ship. It's a step forward, a place where you—leaders—can build a better tomorrow. War and chaos are breaking the galaxy, but here, we make connections, form alliances, and work for a stronger Republic. Let this trip spark the unity we need." The crowd clapped, eating up his smooth speech, and Jaden's mouth twitched. 'Nice words, but it's all about credits and power.'

Rolan raised a hand, smiling. "After this reception, every service—spas, casinos, lounges, exhibits—is open for you. Make this journey one to remember." Louder claps followed, and he stepped back, saying, "Enjoy your evening," before leaving with Collan. Jaden's eyes found Padmé, now alone by a fountain, her group scattered. 'Time to move,' he thought, ditching his tray on a droid's cart and heading her way.

He walked up, playing the waiter. "Lady Amidala, you look amazing tonight," he said, keeping his voice polite. He took her hand, kissed it softly, and slipped a folded note into her palm, his fingers brushing hers. "Have a great evening," he said, then turned, moving fast to a storage room he'd cleared earlier, its lock busted and cameras looped. The note said: *I know where Jaden is. Meet me in storage room 17-C, deck 12. Burn this.* He knew Padmé might blow it off, but her loyalty to her friends made it likely she'd show.

Jaden reached the storage room, a dim space full of crates and stacked linens, and checked his wrist terminal. 'Ten minutes, tops,' he thought, pacing. His bet paid off when the door slid open, and Padmé walked in, her silver dress catching the faint light, her face annoyed. "Seriously?" she said, arms crossed. "Saying you know where Jaden is? That's a cheap trick, even for a waiter trying to—"

Jaden hit his belt, switching off the holographic disguise. Taren's face vanished, showing his own. Padmé gasped, hand to her mouth, and ran to him, hugging him tight, her arms around his neck. "Jaden!" she said, stepping back, eyes blazing. "You vanished after the temple attack! We were terrified—me, Aubrie, all of us! What happened? Where'd you go?"

Jaden smiled, scratching his neck. "Sorry, Padmé. Long story, but to cut it short the void brand's gone, and I'm good now. Took some time, but I'm here."

Padmé's face lit up, her shoulders relaxing. "I'm so happy you're okay." She frowned. "But why are you sneaking around as a waiter? I could've gotten you an invite if you'd come back."

He laughed, leaning on a crate. "Would've been simpler. I'm here because I think Collan Eislo's behind it all—the attack outside the temple when I got to Coruscant, the temple raid, even the attack on you during the pre-trial. He's the one calling the shots."

Padmé's eyes went wide, and she shook her head. "Collan? Jaden, no way. He's a slimy businessman, a total politician, but pulling off attacks like that? I don't buy it."

Jaden's voice got sharp. "I ran into a mercenary in the undercity, hired to take me out. He was pissed and accidentally spilled that Collan was his boss. It's him, Padmé."

She stared, hands falling to her sides. "I can't believe he'd do that," she said softly. "But I trust you, Jaden. You wouldn't lie about this." She took a breath, steadying herself. "What's your plan here?"

Jaden crossed his arms. "I'm digging up proof of Collan's crimes—hard evidence to bury him. And I'm here to steal something. A big kyber crystal. Velea and I have been working on a new space travel system for months, and it's the last piece."

Padmé gave him a look. "Stealing, Jaden? Come on." She sighed, a small smile creeping in. "But if it's Collan's, I guess I can let it slide."

He grinned. "Appreciate it. I need your help, though."

"Whatever you need," she said, stepping closer.

"I need your suite as a base," he said. "It's in a good spot, and the workers' quarters get checked daily by supervisors."

Padmé nodded. "Of course."

Jaden hugged her, and she leaned into him, her head against his chest for a moment. When she pulled back, she looked serious. "You have to talk to Aubrie, Jaden. She deserves to know you're here more than anyone."

He swallowed, nodding. "I will. And it's not just me—Zule, Scout, and Velea are in on this. Scout and Velea aren't on the ship yet, but they're close."

Padmé smacked his shoulder. "You let us worry about them too? Scout and Zule just dropped off the map, Jaden! You could've had them send a holo to say they're okay."

"Sorry," he said, flinching. "My bad."

She sighed, pulling her keycard from a pocket in her dress. "Take this for the suite."

Jaden shook his head. "Don't need it. My keycard can get in."

Padmé tucked it away, nodding. "Alright. Head to the suite. I'll bring the others, and you can lay out your plan."

Jaden smiled. "Thanks, Padmé." She grabbed his arm as he turned, her voice soft. "Good to see you."

He flicked on his disguise, Taren's face snapping back, and slipped out, the door closing behind him.

___________________________

While Padmè and Jaden were in the atrium ‘enjoying’ the reception, Vaylin trudged down a service corridor with an unhappy expression on her face, her datapad clutched in one hand, a clenched fist in the other. She sighed, loud and exasperated, her voice echoing off the metal walls. "This staff is a complete disaster," she muttered, shaking her head. "No organization, no communication—how do they even keep this ship running?" She'd spent hours wrangling the crew to ensure Padmé, Aubrie, Anakin, and Sabe's suites met her exacting standards—silk bedding pressed, refreshers stocked with Naboo jasmine soap, and climate controls set to Padmé's preferred 22 degrees. She'd hounded the kitchen staff to stock Padmé's favorite foods—spiced shaak roast, Alderaanian nectarfruit, and those delicate Chandrilan pastries she loved—only to find the head chef didn't even know what a nectarfruit was. "I had to send a droid to the market on Coruscant myself," she grumbled, swiping through her datapad, checking off tasks. "And don't get me started on the luggage delays. If I ran this ship, things would actually work."

She turned a corner, dodging a maintenance droid hauling a crate, and headed for Padmé's suite on the executive deck. The luggage should've arrived by now, and Vaylin needed to unpack it, organize Padmé's gowns by event—banquets, trade talks, the masquerade ball—and ensure everything was perfect. "If I don't do it, they'll probably shove her dresses in a closet like laundry," she said, rolling her eyes. She reached the suite's gold-trimmed door, swiped her keycard, and stepped inside, expecting a pile of travel cases. Instead, she froze, her datapad slipping from her hand, clattering to the floor.

Three men in dark masks and tactical gear were tearing through the suite. One rifled through a dresser, tossing silk scarves aside; another pried open a wall panel with a vibro-tool; the third scanned a shelf with a handheld device, its screen glowing red. Drawers hung open, Padmé's belongings scattered—gowns crumpled on the bed, a jewelry case upended, pearls rolling across the carpet. Vaylin's mouth dropped. "What the hell are you doing?" she shouted.

The men spun around, their masked faces blank, the one with the scanner pointed at her. "Neutralize her." The other two raised blasters and immediately pointed them at her. Vaylin's eyes widened, her heart lurching, and she dove out of the room crawling behind the door as a blaster bolt seared past, scorching the wall where her head had been. "Kriff!" she yelped, scrambling to her feet and bolting fown the corridor, her shoes slipping on the carpet.

She panted as she rushed down the corridor screaming, "Help! Someone, help!" Her voice bounced off the empty walls, unanswered. Sadly for Vaylin the reception had drawn every guest and most workers to the atrium, leaving the executive deck deserted, and what she didn’t know was that the executive deck had purposely been emptied. She sprinted, her breath ragged, hearing boots pounding behind her. A blaster bolt zipped past, sparking against a pipe, and she ducked, her shoulder slamming into a wall as she rounded a corner. "Where is everyone!!?" she gasped, her legs burning as she ran, her datapad left behind, her mind racing. She needed to find security, a droid, anyone.

The corridor stretched on, lined with closed doors. Another bolt grazed her sleeve, singeing the fabric, and she stumbled, catching herself on a railing. She spotted a turbolift ahead, but the indicator showed it was ten decks away. "No time," she panted, veering into a side passage that led to a massive warehouse where executive passengers' luggage was stored. The doors slid open, and she slipped inside, the large space looming with stacks of crates, travel cases, and hover-carts parked haphazardly. The air smelled of plasteel and polish, and dim overhead lights cast long shadows.

Vaylin ducked behind a crate, her chest heaving, her hands trembling as she crouched low. The doors hissed again, and the three men entered, their boots clanging on the floor. “Spread out and find her, the boss won’t be happy if she escapes,” one of the men said. Vaylin wrapped her hand around her mouth as she hid behind one of the crates, trying her best to be silent a men walked past her position; she felt herself start to shake as they walked only a few paces away from her.

As the men tried to find her they spoke to rah other one of them speaking about the very person whose room they invaded. "When we're done with Amidala, think the boss'll let us have a go? She's got that body—bet she's a screamer." Another laughed. "He'll want first taste, but yeah, we'll get ours."

Vaylin's stomach churned, her hands clenching into fists. 'Padmé's in danger,' she thought, her fear sharpening into resolve. 'I have to warn her.' She peered around the crate, spotting the men spreading out, their scanners sweeping the room. She crept along the crate's edge, staying low, aiming for a side exit. Her foot brushed a loose tool, sending it skittering across the floor with a metallic clank. The men froze, then turned, one shouting, "There!"

Vaylin bolted, weaving through crates as blaster bolts cracked behind her, one hitting a case and spilling clothes everywhere. A bolt grazed her shoulder, searing through her jacket, and she screamed, pain exploding down her arm. She stumbled, crashing into a crate, and ducked behind it, clutching her shoulder as if singed with burned flesh. "Kriff, kriff," she gasped, tears stinging her eyes as more bolts slammed into the crate.

She spotted an open vent nearby, its cover ajar, just wide enough to crawl through. She crawled toward it, her injured shoulder throbbing, but a hand grabbed her ankle, yanking her back. A masked man loomed over her, his grip iron-tight. "Got you," he growled. Vaylin kicked, her heel glancing off his shin, and swung her fist, but he dodged, slamming his knuckles into her jaw. Pain burst across her face, and he grabbed her hair, smashing her head against the crate's edge. Her vision blurred, stars dancing, and he lifted her by the throat, her feet dangling, her hands clawing at his wrist. She choked, gasping, her nails digging into his glove, but his grip tightened, cutting off her air.

Desperate, Vaylin jabbed her thumbs into his eyes, pressing hard. He roared, dropping her, and she hit the floor, coughing, her throat raw. She scrambled back, stumbling toward the vent, and dove inside, expecting a crawlspace. Instead, the floor dropped out—a chute, not a vent. She screamed, tumbling down a steep, smooth tunnel, her body bouncing off the walls, her injured shoulder slamming against metal. Darkness swallowed her, her cries echoing as she fell, the chute twisting deeper into the ship's bowels.

One of the men looked down the chute only to see darkness and no Vaylin. “Should we go after her sir?” He asked.

“No, she won’t have survived the fall, get back to the room and start putting things back in place, the boss doesn’t want Amidala to know we were in there.”

___________________________

The fresh air hit Padmé's face as she led Aubrie, Anakin, and Sabe out of the Eternal Horizon's grand atrium, leaving the reception behind as well as the heat of thousands of bodies—a lot unwashed and even more covered in strong smelling perfumes. The corridor felt quieter, the hum of the ship's systems softer than the clinking glasses and fake laughter they'd just escaped.

Anakin caught up, his Jedi robes flapping as he matched her quick pace. "Padmé, what's the deal? We're bailing before the dancing even starts. That's the only part of these things that doesn't make me want to punch a wall."

Sabe, walking beside him, crossed her arms and shot him a look. "Yeah, I was counting on dragging you out for a spin, Skywalker. I put up with three hours of boring chitchat for nothing?"

Padmé kept her eyes straight ahead. "This is more important. You'll see why soon. Just come with me."

Aubrie trailed a few steps behind, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, the emerald dress still feeling too tight. "I'm good with leaving," she said. "That reception was awful. All those guys crowding me, trying to get me to drink with them or take some creepy private tour—I never want to do that again." The reception had been overwhelming, her beauty drawing every sleazy senator and aide like moths to a flame. Aubrie, Order, was used to sparring and meditation, not dodging flirty creeps, and the whole thing left her rattled.

Anakin glanced back, grinning. "I hear you, Aubrie. I'm with you on skipping these snob-fests. The food's not even that good."

Sabe nudged him, smirking. "Don't think you're off the hook. You still owe me a dance, and I'm collecting."

He raised his hands, chuckling. "Fine, fine. You'll get your dance."

Aubrie sped up to walk beside Padmé, her voice quieting. "Is something wrong? We're moving like we're running from a bounty hunter."

Padmé gave her a quick look, her face softening. "Everything's okay, Aubrie. Just hang on a bit. You'll understand when we get there."

Aubrie bit her lip but nodded, falling silent.

They reached Padmé's suite on the executive deck, and she swiped her keycard, pushing the door open. The lights were already on, casting a warm glow over the silk bedding and scattered furniture. Padmé stepped inside, and the others followed, stopping short when they saw who was waiting. Jaden stood in the middle of the room, no disguise though he was still wearing his waitering outfit. Zule leaned against a wall nearby and her eyes softening when she saw them though she looked a little hesitant, like she was happy to see them but felt a little nervous as well.

Jaden spoke first. "Hey."

That one word hit like a shockwave, freezing everyone in place.

Anakin stood rooted just inside the door. Sabe stopped behind him, her eyes darting from Jaden to Padmé, confusion written all over her face.

Aubrie, though, looked like she'd been punched. Her hands shook at her sides, and her eyes locked on Jaden, wide and glassy, like she was seeing a ghost. For a second, it seemed like she might cry, but she just stood there, staring, as if moving might make him vanish again.

Zule stepped forward, breaking the silence. "Good to see you all," she said. "It’s veen a while."

Anakin snapped out of it, crossing the room to Jaden and sticking out his hand. "Good to have you back, Jaden," he said, his tone quieter than usual. He shook Jaden's hand, holding his gaze. "And... I owe you an apology. Back on Jabiim, I bought into some lies about you. Thought you were someone you're not. I was wrong."

Jaden gripped his hand, nodding. "It's all good. Let's move past it."

Zule turned to Padmé, her expression serious. "I'm sorry that I left without saying much, I just felt like I was suffocating up above… and I just had to get out, I hope you understand." Padmé smiled gave a small nod, but her attention was elsewhere, fixed on Jaden and Aubrie. The air between them felt heavy, like it was holding its breath.

Padmé cleared her throat. "Let's give them a minute." She tilted her head toward a side room, signaling the others. Anakin caught her meaning and grabbed Sabe's arm. "Come on," he muttered, steering her away. Sabe hesitated, glancing back at Aubrie, then followed. Zule shot Jaden a quick look—half warning, half trust—before slipping out with them.

The door clicked shut, leaving Jaden and Aubrie alone.

Silence stretched between them, a very thick and uncomfortable silence one that seemed to go on for eternity. Jaden shifted his weight, staring at the floor, his mind racing for the right words. Everything he'd thought to say to her felt wrong now, too small for the months of absence, the worry he'd caused. Aubrie stood still, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her eyes searching his face like she was trying to make sure he was real.

Finally, Aubrie took a shaky breath and stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why?"

Jaden looked up, meeting her gaze, and felt his chest tighten. "What do you mean, why?"

Her eyes narrowed, her voice sharper now, carrying months of hurt. "Why did you leave? Why didn't you take me with you? Why didn't you come back sooner? Why didn't you send a message, anything?" Her voice cracked on the last word, and she stepped closer, her hands trembling. "Why?"

He closed his eyes for a second, trying to pull himself together. When he opened them, she was right there, her face so close he could see the faint freckles across her nose, the way her lips pressed tight to keep from shaking. He swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I didn't want to drag you into my mess. After Jabiim, I’d hoped that all of you would find some peace, and when it looked like people wouldn’t leave me alone. I thought... if I stayed away, you'd be safer. You'd find something better, something normal."

Aubrie stared at him, her eyes wet but fierce. She shook her head and stepped even closer. "I never wanted normal. I want you."

The words hit him like a blaster shot, and before he could think, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. Her head rested against his shoulder, her arms wrapping around him, and for a moment, the world felt right again. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his cheek pressed against her hair. "I screwed up."

She didn't pull away, her voice muffled against his jacket. "Promise me you won't leave again. No matter what."

"I promise," he said, his arms tightening around her.

They stayed like that for a long time, the quiet wrapping around them like a bubble. When Aubrie finally stepped back, her eyes were still shiny, but she managed a small smile. "I missed you so much," she said. "I thought about you every night... dreamed about you." Her cheeks flushed as she realized what she'd said, and she looked down, embarrassed.

Jaden's heart skipped, and he reached out, gently lifting her chin so she'd meet his eyes. "I thought about you all the time as well," he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. Her emerald dress hugged her slim frame, and the way her hair framed her face made her look like she belonged in a holo-vid, not a war-torn galaxy.

Aubrie's blush deepened, but she didn't look away. Her eyes held his, warm and open, and something in her gaze made his chest ache. He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull back, but she didn't. Their lips met, soft and tentative at first, then deeper, like they were making up for lost time. Her hands rested on his shoulders, and she leaned into him, her breath quickening. The kiss was slow, like they'd both been waiting for it forever.

When they parted, Aubrie's face was glowing, her hand touching her lips like she could still feel him there. "That... felt amazing," she said, her voice shaky but happy.

Jaden looked away, guilt creeping in despite the warmth. "We'll talk more about it later," he said.

Aubrie nodded, her smile small but sure. "Okay."

Jaden called out to the others. "You can come back now."

The side door opened, and Padmé, Anakin, Sabe, and Zule filed in. Jaden stood in the center of the room, looking at each of them, his expression serious. "It's time you all knew why we're here," he said. "No more secrets." He stood still for a moment after speaking, letting his words sink in before he started explaining. His eyes moved across Padmé, Anakin, Sabe, Aubrie, and Zule, checking they were all paying attention.

"This started months ago," he said. "Velea, and I have been working on a project—a new way to travel through space, one that doesn't need hyperspace lanes or nav beacons. It's a prototype, but it works. The last piece we need is a Kyber Crystal, big enough to handle the system. Collan Eislo has one, stored right here on the Eternal Horizon."

He paced slowly, hands at his sides, speaking plainly. "But that's not the only reason we're here. Eislo isn't just a crooked businessman. He's dangerous. I believe he is responsible for the attack outside the Jedi Temple when I first got to Coruscant, and the full-on assault on the Temple later, and I'm sure he was behind the attempt on Padmé's life before the pre-trial hearing. I don't have solid proof yet, but I'm going to get it. That's the other half of this job—take him down for good, in front of everyone."

Padmé's face tightened, but she stayed quiet.

Jaden kept going. "The plan was straightforward. Velea and Scout were supposed to board during a diagnostic window, slip past the main security of the ship, and join us. But the Eternal Horizon's new gravimetric security system threw us off. It detects mass shifts making any kind of cloaking tech useless—by reading tiny gravitational changes. Add in an ionic pulse that scans for unregistered objects, and it would’ve caught their approach. They couldn't get through. They're back at our base in Coruscant's undercity, waiting for the next window. That's not until midweek."

He stopped pacing, crossed his arms, and looked around. "We've got three days to figure out how to bypass the gravimetric sensors and ionic pulse without setting off an alarm. If we pull it off, Velea and Scout get onboard. Then we finish the job."

Anakin leaned forward from where he'd been resting against a console. "What's the setup on this security system?"

Jaden walked to a table and flicked on a holo-emitter. A blue projection of the ship's systems appeared, showing security nodes, diagnostic stations, and patrol routes. "This isn't standard Republic gear," he said. "Eislo hired private contractors. The gravimetric sensors are tied to a central diagnostic core that runs constant checks. If anything's off—a power spike, an unauthorized entry, or even a ship's mass disturbing the field—it triggers a lockdown. Blast doors slam shut, air vents purge, external hatches magnetize, and the ship's defense grid starts targeting anything outside."

He zoomed in on a glowing central node. "This core controls everything. It updates security across all decks, scanning for trouble every minute. If one sensor pings something weird, the whole ship clamps down. And it's linked to the external turbolasers. Mess up, and they're space dust."

Anakin crossed his arms, studying the holo-map. "That's no ordinary security system. That's a military-grade defense grid crammed into a luxury cruiser. Who puts that on a party ship?"

"Someone hiding something," Jaden said.

Anakin nodded, thinking. "It's going to have backups on backups. Even if we cut power, it'll probably switch to secondary circuits."

"Right," Jaden said. "We need a way to disable it without tripping any alarms."

Everyone went quiet, the scale of the problem sinking in.

"Let's break it down," Anakin said. "How do we open a gap in the system just long enough for Velea and Scout to get through?"

Jaden started pacing again, pulling the holo-map apart, highlighting power lines and control nodes. They spent the next hour tossing out ideas. Anakin suggested overloading a power relay in the external diagnostics to create a blind spot, but Jaden said the gravimetric sensors would catch the fluctuation and lock everything down. Zule proposed slicing into a secondary control panel to spoof the ionic pulse, but the core's encryption would flag the hack in seconds. Aubrie asked if they could feed the system false data to make it think everything was normal, but Jaden explained the core ran full scans every sixty seconds, too fast to fool.

Every idea hit a wall.

Finally, Jaden activated a secure comm line to Velea and Scout. Their faces popped up on the holo-display, the signal fuzzy but clear enough, showing them in a cluttered undercity base, surrounded by tools, holo-screens, and half-empty caf cups.

"We're still stuck," Velea said, her voice tense. "The gravimetric sensors will spot our ship's mass the second we get close and it’s constant no gaps. The ionic pulse however is sweeping every ten minutes now, and patrol droids are on tighter routes. We've got a six-minute gap between sweeps, max."

Anakin leaned in. "We're trying to find a way to open a window for you. Got any ideas?"

Scout, spinning a spanner in her hand, spoke up. "There's a secondary diagnostic node on the outer hull. If we can send a fake signal through it, the system might think it's running a routine check. That could give us a short opening before it notices something's off."

Jaden adjusted the holo-map, zooming in on the node. "Can you do it without spiking the power?"

"Not directly," Scout said. "But I can mimic a maintenance pulse through the external lines. It'll look like a calibration signal. The system should buy it for a bit before it runs a full scan."

"How long?" Anakin asked.

Scout paused. "Twenty seconds. That's it."

Anakin shook his head. "Not enough time to dock a ship and board."

The room went silent, the challenge feeling bigger than ever. Then Aubrie, who'd been quiet near the back, spoke up. "Why do Velea and Scout need the ship at all?"

Her question hung there, and Jaden's eyes lit up. "She's right," he said, stepping back from the holo-emitter. "They don't."

He turned to the group, talking faster, his mind piecing it together. "They don't dock. They don't waste time landing. We trigger the fake signal, open an external hatch, and Velea and Scout jump. The ship's artificial gravity will catch them, slow them down, and pull them into the docking corridor. No ship, no mass for the gravimetric sensors to detect."

Anakin grinned, his first real smile of the night. "That's nuts, but it could work."

Padmé crossed her arms, not convinced. "That sounds risky, Jaden. You're talking about them leaping into space and hoping the gravity field catches them."

Jaden nodded. "It's not perfect, but it fits the twenty-second window. If they stay outside longer, the ionic pulse or sensors will spot them. This gets them in before the system resets, plus it’s not space it’s only the stratosphere."

Anakin studied the holo-map again. "If they time the jump right, the gravity will ease the fall. Worst case, they hit the corridor wall a bit hard, but it beats getting blasted by turbolasers."

Padmé sighed, giving a small nod. "If this is the only way, fine. But be careful.”

"We'll make sure of it," Jaden said. "The next diagnostic window is in three days. That's when Velea and Scout make the jump. Until then, we prep—timing, positioning, backup plans. This has to be perfect."

Velea's voice came through the comm. "We'll work on the signal from here. Scout's tweaking the pulse generator now. If we can stretch that window to twenty-five seconds, we will."

Scout chimed in. "Yeah, and I'm not thrilled about jumping into a ship's gravity field, but I'd rather that than sit in this base another week."

Jaden cracked a small smile. "Good. Keep us posted."

The call ended, and the group dove into planning. They listed supplies—magnetic boots, breath masks, slicing tools—and mapped escape routes if things went south. Padmé and Sabe offered to scout the ship for security patterns, while Anakin and Zule focused on the docking corridor's layout as well as slicing open a hatch without the main system knowing.

Jaden felt a little better that they had a plan. In three days, Velea and Scout would either pull it off or crash hard. There was no in-between.

Back at the undercity base, Velea and Scout hunched over a workbench littered with circuits and holo-screens. The air smelled of burnt wiring and old caf, the room a mess of tools and half-finished gear. Velea tapped at a terminal, her eyes scanning code, while Scout fiddled with a small pulse generator, her stealth suit unzipped to her waist.

"This gravimetric security is a nightmare," Velea said, rubbing her temple. "It's reading micro-shifts in the ship's gravity itseld. Our cloaked ship's mass sets it off every time. And that ionic pulse? It's scanning for anything that doesn't belong—ships, droids, even debris. While it’s rather simplistic it is impressive in its application."

Scout set the generator down, frowning. "So we're stuck here while Jaden and Zule play waiter? Ughhh we need to get up there."

Velea leaned back, thinking. "We could try masking the ship's mass with a gravitic dampener, but building one that works against this system would take weeks. Or we could disrupt the ionic pulse with a low-frequency jam, but that risks tripping the alarms if the core notices."

Scout pointed at a holo-screen showing the ship's outer hull. "What about that diagnostic node? If we hit it with a fake signal, could we sneak through a maintenance hatch instead of the main port?"

Velea shook her head. "Hatches are covered by the same sensors. The gravimetric net doesn't miss anything bigger than a mynock. But Jaden's jump idea... that might be our only shot. No ship, no mass, just us. We'd need perfect timing, though."

Scout grinned, picking up the generator again. "Then let's make those twenty seconds count. I'm not missing this party."

___________________________

After talking about the plan for hours and after everyone knowing their roles thing finally began to wind down. Padmé, Anakin, and Sabe had gone to their rooms. Jaden, Zule, and Aubrie, however, gathered in Aubrie's suite, a cozy space with a plush bed, dim lighting, and a viewport framing Coruscant's twinkling skyline below. They had spent hours talking, Jaden recounting his months in the undercity, what he did after the temple attack and when he’d met up woth both Velea and Zule.

Eventually though the day began to wear on them and Zule stood from the couch, her posture rigid, her face etched with a tired expression. "I am finished for the night," she said, with a small yawn. "We have a long few days we should get as much sleep as we can."

Aubrie, sitting cross-legged on the floor, her emerald gala dress replaced by a loose tunic and pants, looked up with a sweet smile. "You can stay here, Zule," she said, her voice gentle and earnest. "There's plenty of room, and the bed's really comfortable."

Zule's lips twitched, but her tone remained firm. "No. This place is far too soft. I prefer a hard bunk over all this... luxury." She fixed Jaden with a piercing stare. "Jaden, I need a word."

He followed her to the corner of the room, away from Aubrie, who busied herself stacking datapads, her movements delicate and precise. Zule crossed her arms, her eyes drilling into him. "You and Aubrie have feelings for each other. It's clear to anyone with eyes, even ones that aren’t experienced in such matters. Do not worry about what Velea or I think—we are fine with it. But you must tell her about us before you pursue anything serious. Be honest, Jaden. She deserves nothing less." Her voice carried a strict edge, but a trace of softness lingered, as she trusted him to make the right choice.

Jaden nodded, his throat tight. "I will, Zule. I promise."

Her expression softened further, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Good night, Jaden. Do not ruin this." He pulled her into a brief hug, her arms tightening around him for a moment before she stepped back. She gave him a final nod and left, the door hissing shut behind her.

Jaden turned back to Aubrie, who sat on the couch, her knees tucked up, her green eyes watching him with a nervous expression. He sat beside her, the cushions sinking under his weight, and noticed her hands fidgeting, twisting the hem of her tunic. "You okay?" he asked gently.

Aubrie scooted closer, her smile faltering, her voice soft as a whisper. "I don't want you to go. I know im being foolish but I’m scared something will happen to you again, that should I lose sight of you that you’ll be taken away again. I can't bear the thought of losing you." Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down.

Jaden smiled, his heart warming at her sincerity. "Nothing's going to happen to me, Aubrie. I'm not leaving you. But if it makes you feel better, I can stay here tonight. If you want."

"Yes," she said a little too quickly, her face turning pinker. She giggled, a soft, embarrassed sound, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I mean, that would be really nice."

Aubrie slid closer, her hand brushing his leg, her touch light but deliberate. She leaned in, her breath warm against his cheek, her lips hovering near his, trying to initiate another kiss. Jaden's pulse raced, but he pulled back gently, his hand resting on her shoulder. Her face fell, a flicker of hurt in her big green eyes.

"We need to talk first," he said. He paused, meeting her gaze, those wide, trusting eyes staring back. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm with Zule and Velea. They both know, and they're happy with it… I have strong feelings for you too, Aubrie, but I can't do anything without telling you the truth."

Aubrie bit her lip, her expression soft, her eyes steady despite the surprise. She spoke quietly. "All I want is for you to be happy, Jaden. After everything you did—saving us on Jabiim, saving the whole planet, risking your life for us—you deserve that more than anyone. If Zule and Velea make you happy, I'm with you. I just want to be part of your life, in any way I can. I feel much for you, and I want to see where that takes us, but above everything, I'm here for you."

Jaden watched her, her words hitting him like a blaster bolt. The moment she finished, he leaned in, kissing her deeply, his hands cupping her face. She kissed him back, her lips eager, her slender body pressing closer. The kiss ignited into a blaze of desire, their breaths intertwining as their hands roamed with urgent need. Jaden gently lifted her tunic over her head, revealing her delicate frame—small, firm breasts crowned with pink nipples that hardened under his gaze, a smooth, flat stomach, and a faint patch of dark fuzz nestled between her slender thighs, her pale skin shimmering in the dim light. Aubrie's fingers trembled as she tugged off his jacket, her hands exploring the hard planes of his chest, peeling away his shirt to expose his taut muscles, her touch sending electric jolts through his body.

She whispered, her voice quivering with arousal as he kissed her cheek, trailing slow, sensual kisses down the soft curve of her neck, his lips lingering on her delicate collarbone. "It feels so strange... so wonderful," she murmured, her breath hitching as he grazed her skin with his teeth her body arching toward him with every touch.

They moved toward the bed, Jaden guiding her down with care, his body hovering over hers, drinking in the sight of her. Her slender legs parted invitingly, her small breasts rising and falling with each ragged breath, her pink nipples taut, her green eyes locked on his, blazing with raw desire. His heart thundered in his chest, his body consumed by an overwhelming hunger for her, each touch intensifying the fire coursing through him, making it nearly impossible to hold back. He kissed her again, his tongue exploring her mouth, Aubrie's fingers traced the contours of his back, her nails grazing his skin with a teasing lightness, and she wrapped her long, slender legs around his hips, pulling him closer. His cock, thick and pulsing with desire, brushed against her vagina, already slick with her arousal, eliciting a soft, adorable "Ohh!" from her lips, her voice trembling with delight.

Jaden's breath caught at the exquisite sensation, his body screaming to plunge deeper, but he summoned the strength to pull back, his voice rough with restraint. "We can stop, Aubrie, before this goes too far."

She lay beneath him, her chest heaving, her face flushed with a radiant pink glow that made her look ethereal, her small breasts quivering with each breath, her pussy glistening with wetness, her slender thighs trembling with anticipation. "Everything I am belongs to you," she whispered, her voice shaky but resolute, her eyes burning with devotion.

Jaden leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce, hungry kiss, his hands roaming her body, caressing the soft curves of her hips and the delicate swell of her breasts. He reached between them, his fingers fumbling to guide his cock, the swollen head slipping against her drenched folds, teasing her entrance. Aubrie's hand found him, her slender fingers wrapping around his shaft—thick, veiny, and throbbing with heat, the pulsing weight in her grip making her gasp with awe. She guided it to her pussy, pressing it against her tight, slick opening, and Jaden pushed forward slowly, savoring the moment. The head stretched her, parting her lips with a delicious resistance, and they both moaned in unison, a sweet "Mmm!" escaping Aubrie as her tight walls clenched around him, her warmth enveloping him like a velvet glove. Her pussy was so tight, the pressure almost unbearable, each inch he sank deeper sending waves of pleasure through his body, her hips rising to meet him in a slow, sensual rhythm.

"Oh, it's so much," she whimpered, her body trembling as he filled her completely, her pussy stretching to accommodate his girth. "It feels so good... so full." Her moans were soft, punctuated by cute "Ahh!" and "Ohh!" sounds, her inexperience making every thrust a revelation of pleasure, her slender frame quaking beneath him. Jaden's cock throbbed inside her, the tightness driving him to the edge, but he kept his movements slow and gentle, his lips trailing kisses along her neck, her collarbone, and the soft mounds of her breasts, sucking gently on her pink nipples.

Padmé stood frozen at the adjoining door between their suites, her hand gripping the handle. She had come to say goodnight, but found them already entangled, their clothes strewn across the floor like discarded armor. Her breath hitched, her eyes unable to tear away from the scene—Jaden's muscled back flexing with each movement, Aubrie's slender body writhing beneath him, her small breasts bouncing with each thrust. A searing heat bloomed between Padmé's thighs, her body responding with an aching need as she watched, captivated by Jaden's raw intensity. She knew she should leave, but her feet refused to move, her heart pounding as she fought the urge to step closer.

Jaden thrust deeper, his cock sliding in and out of Aubrie's tight, dripping pussy, her wetness coating him, making each stroke slick and smooth. She dug her nails into his back, her moans growing louder, a sweet "Ohhh!" echoing as he moved faster, the bed creaking rhythmically. Her small breasts jiggled with each thrust, her nipples hard and sensitive, her face glowing with ecstasy. "Something's happening... it's so intense," she gasped, her long legs wrapping tighter around him, her heels digging into his back, urging him deeper. Jaden felt the pressure building, his cock pulsing with urgency, his body teetering on the edge despite the brief time. Aubrie's moans turned frantic, her "Ahh! Ahh!" filling the room as her pussy clenched, her first orgasm crashing through her like a tidal wave, her body shuddering with a high-pitched "Ohhh!"

Jaden groaned, his own climax surging, his cock throbbing as he spilled inside her, the sensation overwhelming, her tight pussy milking every drop. They trembled together, her cute "Oh... wow!" blending with his low moan. He collapsed on top of her, their sweaty bodies pressed together, then rolled to the side, panting heavily. Aubrie lay there, breathless, her slender body glowing with a post-orgasmic flush, her small breasts heaving, her pussy still slick and flushed from their union. "That was... incredible," she said, her voice airy and awestruck. She climbed back on top of him, straddling his hips, her lithe frame winding him. "I want to do it again."

Jaden laughed, catching his breath. "Give the poor guy a niniute."

She giggled, collapsing onto his chest, her warm skin pressed against his. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, her slender frame fitting perfectly against him. "It's hard to believe a year ago I thought you were just some strange Jedi showing up to join the war effort on Jabiim," she said. "I never imagined you'd become the most important person in my life."

Jaden smiled, rubbing her back gently. "Even with all the hardships ive been through, I'm glad it led here. And when this gala's done and the ship's ready, will you come with us?"

Aubrie looked up, her green eyes shining with devotion. "Yes."

He grinned. "I haven't even said where we're going."

"You'll never need to," she said, resting her head against his chest.

(AN: I think this is a good place to end, for now you guys have waited long enough. I hope you liked the lemon, I mean it was always going to be Aubrie she had been with our boy since the beginning. Anyway I’m gonna continue this for the next few days and get the Gala done. Hope you enjoyed it).