RISE AGAIN ─ star wars

IV. A Lost Soul

Chapter Four
Aylin

"It was nearly two years ago," I begin, resting my elbows on my knees. Leera and I are in the back of our ship talking while Raymen and Bo fly us all back to Taris. She asked about how I got caught up in this 'rebel scheme', as she called it, so I'm telling her. "I was given a mission by the guild to assassinate Queen Iris Amidala of Naboo. The patron was a rival political figure, they offered to pay twice my wage for the job, so I took it."

"Sounds like a decent offer." Leera comments. She's leaning back against the chair opposite mine, one ankle crossed over the other, her hands preoccupied cleaning her blaster as she listens. The child is next to her, drinking some blue milk we had on board.

"I did a few days of surveillance in preparation. I didn't want to do the job and not be able to get out of there, I thought waiting would be safer. But as I was watching the queen...something changed. Every waking moment of her life she spent trying to make her planet better. She would hold meetings with her advisors, and with her people. She would go visit the poor, give away the clothes off her back and the food in her home to people who needed it. I had never seen a more selfless person in my entire life. And when the day came for me to kill her, I couldn't do it. I couldn't. Instead, I went to her and told her why I was there and about the bounty on her head. I then promised her I would protect her and make sure the bounty was dropped."

Leera's mouth gapes open in shock. "You didn't."

I smile to myself, remembering that day as if it happened yesterday. Iris looked so beautiful, she had been wearing a pale blue dress with layered ruffles, with her hair pulled back with matching flowers, and a sapphire tiara on her head. I had been so awestruck by her beauty and grace I stumbled over my words like an idiot. And once I told her my story, I worried how she would think of me, despite the fact that I didn't even know her. I don't even think I gave her time to react to what I said before I left her to go take care of the bounty on her. Part of me wanted to ensure her safety before another bounty hunter was sent after her, but a larger part of me was just running away from her out of cowardice.

I didn't think Iris could ever look at me as anything other than a killer. I'm so glad I was wrong. "I did," I continue with a smile. "I went to the guild and told them to name their price for dropping the bounty on her."

"How much did you pay them?"

"Every credit I had."

Leera let's out a disbelieving laugh, shaking her head, probably thinking I'm an idiot. In her shoes I would probably think the same. "All that for a queen you didn't know?"

"As soon as I got back to Naboo," I ignore her comment, not really knowing how to explain my thinking back then. I just knew that saving Iris was worth everything, including my savings, even my life. "I expected the queen to have me arrested, but she didn't. Her father, Aiden Parr, had just left his position as her captain of the royal guard to be the leader of the Rebel Alliance along with his wife. She offered me the position, and I took it."

Her disbelief has now turned into shock. "You're the captain of the Naboo royal guard?"

"I was for over a year, but after her father died, the queen joined the Rebel Alliance and I came with her. Her term as queen has now ended, so I have no reason to resume that role. She plans on becoming Taris's senator once the New Republic is in order."