Towards the future I see

Chapter 18 Part 3

It was bustling at the grand hall of one of the famed hotels of Coruscant. It was ascendance week, so it was bound to be packed with important people or people who wished to be important.

“Commander Vanto, what can you tell me about that person over there?” Asked a person wearing an Admiral’s plaque.

“Well, she is nice to look at. But that isn’t what you were referring to, is it sir?” The man answered.

“No. But you are not wrong either about her appealing appearance. What do you notice of her?” Admiral asked again.

“She is standing in a straight line like a soldier on duty. Alone. Might be an aide to someone.” Vanto said.

“She also scans the whole hall, yet tries to not make eye contact with anyone. She also refuses every drink that is offered to her by the waiters. See? That is the third one.” Admiral added.

“How long have you watched her?” Vanto asked.

“Five to ten minutes. I concluded the same as you that she might be an aide to someone and simply waited to see who is she waiting for. But the longer I observed I noticed how she looks around and avoids contact, it occurred to me that she isn’t waiting for someone. That someone is already here and in the room behind that curtain. She is guarding the entrance to give them privacy.” Admiral explained.

“And the not drinking part? At a party like this, it’s normal to have at least one glass on hand, even if one is an aide. Is that the fourth now?” Vanto asked.

“It is. But do you notice something else?” He asked.

“Different drink. Someone is sending her drinks but she refuses them.” Vanto said.

“Greetings, Admiral Thrawn, Commander Vanto.” An older man greeted them.

“Colonel Yularen. Greetings to you too.” Vanto answered the colonel's greeting.

“Colonel.” Thrawn greeted the man inclining his head.

“It has been a while since I saw each of you. Yet I keep hearing of your accomplishments.” Yularen said.

“In a bad way?” Vanto asked.

“Never mind what they say, you get results and that is the point. May I ask you to assist on a certain matter at… It cannot be.” Yularen let out.

“Sir?” Vanto asked.

“I’m sorry, I think my eyes play tricks but I could swear that I have seen her somewhere,” Yularen said.

“The lady standing near the room separated by the curtain? Where do you recall seeing her?” Thrawn asked.

“It has been some time… at the Clone Wars.  There was a mission of helping refugees away from Separatist territories. I recall a young woman who was the last of her people. General Skywalker and Kenobi brought her to Coruscant for a short time from the war. But she later left sometime before the end of the war, no one really knows where.” Yularen tried to recall.

“Interesting,” Thrawn murmured.

“You think she is the same woman?” Vanto asked.

“Maybe… I don’t think so. She looks young and it happened a long time ago.” Yularen hesitated.

“Then, let’s go and ask. We won’t know the truth unless we do that.” Thrawn said and began walking first. The two men followed at first, but Yularen took quickly the lead.

I was sure that I disliked these events as much as Darth Vader did. The problem was that I had to endure it. Vader always had an excuse to pass this kind of event but not me. I had to be his representative. Meaning whoever Vader crossed came at me since they never had the gut to face him directly. But his aide. Oh, they had no problem with that. I learned quickly their ways. And using the force did help to learn their motives before they could do anything. Unfortunately, they learn too. So their new tactic was to send me an anonymous drink through the bribed waiter. It didn’t need a genius to guess that the drinks were spiked with something. If it was someone who wanted to make a scandal, it was probably a sedative, to attack me later when it took effect. Or if they wanted to tarnish my name, it was probably some very expensive and illegal spice. Either way, the solution was simple, refuse every drink and don’t drink anything till Vader finishes his meeting with the officer. Once he is done, he most certainly wants to leave this place. And as his aide, I’ll go with him. Hopefully, no one else wishes to speak with him before that. My hopes seem to go down as I see three men coming my way. I thought of ignoring them but once they approached me it seemed impossible and if I did it I would be very rude. So, I put on the diplomatic smile I have learned to wear.