DOOM!

Alright, so this part is a little longer. Still nothing too serious. This post and probably the next one or two are pretty much set up posts before I get to the stuff I actually enjoy writing like a mad man. XD TEEEHEE.



part I: THE ARRANGEMENT

"We have to get you out of here," Jacen Solo fumbled with an intricate Hapan puzzle cube that usually sat on the ornate desk in front of him. The puzzle cube that usually sat under stacks of flimsiplast and letters. "Who knows when they'll strike next."

Then Queen Mother seemed intent on finishing her work - she hadn't even looked up at him.

"Gadell says they're putting the Palace on quarantine. On lockdown. He thinks you should leave as well. I just came from his office."

She shook her head at something on her datapad and reworked the entry.

"Tenel Ka."

Finally she glanced up to him, her tired eyes boring into Jacen. "What good will me leaving bring? Who will run the Consortium while I am gone, Jacen?"

"With the Palace on lockdown, the Council can take care of things. The courts will be shut down, so they would only have to deal with civil business, internal problems and the like." Jacen paused, seeing that this was getting him nowhere. "At least leave with me till this whole threat blows over. Having a price on your head isn't an easy thing to deal with, I've heard that from my dad so many times that frankly, I'm sick of it. We wouldn't be gone too long. And look at you..."

Tenel Ka stared to Jacen, the gray, half-lidded eyes still locked on his wide chocolate browns.

"...you're paying so much attention to your work now that you aren't even giving any thought to these bounty hunters. You're leaving yourself wide open."

She grabbed the edge of the desk and pushed her chair back, standing up and stretching her legs a bit. "Well, that is why you are here, correct?"

"I'm here investigating who sent them after you, Tenel Ka. You know that."

She did know that, but she was sick of arguing. It was all she and Jacen seemed to be doing for the past couple of days, over extremely inane things which was even worse. They were both stressed, tired -- her head felt heavy, her body protested the late nights she had been putting in. She could see it in Jacen too. His hair was tangled, mussed; there were black circles under his eyes, his shoulders sagged.

With a sigh, she walked around the desk, resting the small of her back against it. "So then what good would me leaving with you do?"

"It would get you out of here." Jacen reached around her and set the cube down on her desk. "And Gadell and I have a lead. He's going to follow it while we're gone. It'll confuse them to say the least, if the person who is supposed to be inspecting the whole thing just leaves."

Tenel Ka seemed to think on this. It seemed to be sinking in, but Jacen knew she would want the last word, she would want to make sure everything would be perfect if she left.

"I have to speak to Gadell first."

"He's going to say the same thing I am, Your Majesty."

"What about my father?"

"Gadell already spoke to him as well."

"There is too much to pack, and I still have work to finish. I cannot --"

"Anhaje already took care of your packing."

Narrowing her eyes, Tenel Ka clicked her tongue, silently admiring Jacen's will and drive. "You are impossible," She added, still keeping her admiration quiet.

"I'm a Solo, sweetheart."

Tenel Ka inhaled deeply, turning her head back to look down at the desktop. Datapads everywhere, pieces of flimsiplast in crooked stacks, notes scribbled here and there. She debated on what to bring along, her right hand running along the edge of the desk. If she brought the econom---

"Oh no, and you're not bring any of that with you." Jacen grabbed her hand away from the desk and spun her around towards the door of the offices. "Now go throw your boots on, we're out of here within the next standard hour." He waved his hands at the door, motioning for her to leave.

Scowling, Tenel Ka let out her deep breath and stalked towards the door, barefeet smacking the stone on the way. "Impossible," she repeated under her breath.

Jacen waited until she was gone from the room before he let the Solo grin appear on his bright visage. He was hoping this would be a good time for her to relax as well as a good time for her to escape the bounty hunters who seemed to be plaguing Hapes at the moment. He glanced back at all of her work that sat atop the desk and frowned. She really needed some time to herself, some time to herself that didn't involve the politics of her everyday role.

Later that evening, Tenel Ka found herself walking beside her Commander - a man named Gadell Vessau. His bright blue eyes were locked on the corridor ahead of him as they moved, striding side-by-side.

"Everything will be fine, Tenna." A smile appeared on his face as he turned his head, shifting his gaze to her. "You have nothing to worry about. I think Jacen and I have this thing figured out and while you two are gone it'll be taken care of. And you'll return to your normal everyday routine when you both get back."

She nodded solemnly. She didn't like the way that sounded. Normal everyday routine. A shadow of a scowl passed over her face. Well, it was better than bounty hunters on the loose, she could admit that to herself. "Thank you, Gadell."

"Of course," he stopped at the entrance to the hangers, grabbing Tenel Ka's wrist and stopping her from entering. "One thing though."

The sudden halt brought all of her attention to him as she stared. "Yes?"

"Be careful, just in case."

"Of course." She replied with his usual line and squeezed his shoulder before turning and entering the hanger bay.

As she strode up into the ship they were going to be taking, Jacen passed her on the ramp, exiting the hatch. Gadell stood outside on the hanger floor, waiting for him to emerge. "Jacen," motioning him over, Gadell gave a glance around to make sure there wasn't anyone too close to them.

Solo also gave a quick look before stepping over to the Commander. "We'll contact you once we get where we're going. I have a couple options right now and I'm still trying to think of which one would be the best to go to."

Gadell nodded in response. "It would be better if none of us know where you're going anyways, not until you get there at least."

They continued their hushed conversation as Tenel Ka poked around the ship. It was a fair-sized cruiser, two bunks, a common area, storage units -- it was called the Spectre. A name Tenel Ka found interesting albeit a little bland. She found her luggage neatly placed at the foot of one of the bunks and with a sigh she sat down on the edge of it.

She feared that if she interacted with Jacen right now, the temper she seemed to have lately would flare up and they would snap at each other again. That lead her to the decision that it was time to take a short nap. Tenel Ka had no idea where they were off to, which meant she had no idea how long she would be cramped on this ship with Jacen, so she thought spending the least amount of time with him for now would prove the best course of action.

"Alright Gadell, take care."

"You too Jacen. And may the Force be with you."

Jacen smiled brightly, backing up the ramp and throwing a lazy salute to Gadell. Slamming the hatch shut he headed towards the cockpit to start up the ship.

"Tenel Ka?" He called out as his fingers ran over switches and buttons, his voice echoing throughout the chambers. "You didn't slip off the ship while I wasn't looking to go try and work, right?"

As he let the ship warm up, he meandered out into the common area, peeking into her bunk. "Tenel Ka?" He spoke at a lower tone, just in case she was already asleep. It suprised him that she already was. He figured he would leave her alone then since he was the one always bugging her to get rest.

Jacen wandered back into the common area, grimacing at the silence that surrounded him. If he strained, he could hear the hum of the ship warming up, he could hear his heartbeat, but besides that he found the lack of noise a bit unnerving.

Little did he know that in the days following that, he would learn that the beating of his heart could prove to be quite comforting. It would be the only thing that reminded him that he was still alive.

Guhhhh. So yeah, still the usual. Blah blah Palace this ship that. Let's go, blah blah. I promise it'll get more fun later. XD TEEHE.