Reverse of the Thaw (Book 3)

Chapter Sixteen: There's Danger in Numbers

Chapter Sixteen: There's Danger in Numbers

Elsa rushed to her sisters side, only to find her already sitting up, holding a red haired baby in her arms.

"Oh Anna." Elsa said, quietly, coming over to sit on the edge of her bed.

"Hey Elsa." Anna said, her eyes dreamy as she looked down at the little baby.

"Its your hair Anna." Elsa commented, looking over at the little infant.

"We've named him Lucas, do you want to hold him?" Anna asked, looking to her older sister for the first time. Elsa smiled gently and reached out to take the small bundle, she remembered back to when Aaron was born, then on Coruscant, when her love for Rex was still growing. They weren't even married yet.

The infant yawned, his little fists rubbing aimlessly against his wrinkled little face. Elsa held him for another moment before handing the baby back to his mother.

"He's perfect Anna." She said, leaning over to kiss her sister's temple. Anna giggled, leaning back to hold the baby to her chest.

"Force help the kingdom if he's like me." Anna commented, holding the infant just a little closer to her. Before Elsa could say anything Kristoff walked in, leading Aaron by his hand, and carrying Cora in his arms.

"I'll leave you guys be." Elsa whispered into her sisters ear, earning a smile from the red-haired woman. Quietly Elsa slipped out as the family gathered around the bed...

Later that day Elsa recived a vist, this one not a pleasent as her last meetings.

"Represenative Fey'lya." She said, holding her hand out to shake the overdressed Bothan's hand.

"A pleasure, a pleasure Queen Elsa." The Bothan said heartily, though to Elsa it looked like he didn't mean a word of it.

"I understand you've been sent by the Bothan government to speak of certain alliance terms?" Elsa asked, looking the young, and from what she'd heard, ambitious, overly dressed alien.

"Yes, yes, we wish to discuss the terms of a possible partnership. Since the start of the Empire there have been numerous groups involved in skirmishes. Now they are all random, and in the fact they have no common factor, save one."

"And that is?" Elsa asked, arching her eyebrows at the other.

"Arendelle, or to put a more fine a point on it, you. That is why the Bothan's are now offering their assistence in controling the Rebellion resources.

"Controlling? Represenative Fey'lya I have no control in what the various groups do." Elsa answered with what could count as an annoyed frown.

"That's were we wish to offer our help... If you would only exercise your influence..." The Bothan started again, his tone wheedling.

"No! Represenative Fey'lya I do not care what your government wants. But I will not, will not use any influence which you think I have to try and create a political coup for the benifit of random systems!" Elsa cut him off, her tone sharp, her eyes flashing.

He made a move to speak again but Elsa held up her hand in warning.

"I will hear no more of this. Good day Represenative Fey'lya. I have many things to attend to." She said, turning her attention to her desk, leaving the stuttering alien no choice but to leave, slamming the door as he did so.

Elsa sighed, and but her hands on her head, this wasn't the first time some seedy government had come crawling to her with a similar offer. But it irked her nonetheless...

Several hours later Fey'lya stood conversing just outside the palace with a shadowy figure.

"I need her convinced! She must realize she needs to take my offer! The superiors will have my head if I give them the report ending in this way! I am authorizing you to take great measures to make sure she sees our point of view." He growled handing over a sack of credits.

"Any particulars on how I do it?" I want it to bring her down, and see who has the power." Fey'lya answered, only to recive a brief nod as an answer. A moment later he disapperared into the darkness leaving a rather disgruntled Bothan to stand alone....

"Elsa! what are you doing brooding out here?" Elsa turned her head to see her sister walking towards her, her teal eyes bright as she stood out on the balcony.

"I'm sorry Anna, its just been a long day." She answered, putting on a smile for her benefit.

"When is it not?" Anna scoffed, coming over and leaning against the railing.

"Where's Lucas?" Elsa asked next, changing to a pleasent topic.

"With his Pappa, I needed a little break." Her sister replied, giving her a small smile. Elsa returned the smile and began to open her mouth to speak when Anna suddenly gasped, falling to her knees and reaching to the back of her neck in search of something.

"Anna!" Elsa cried out, falling next to her.

"Ow..." Was all Anna said, attempting to smile Elsa carefully moved her sisters hand away to reveal a dart, and her heart stopped.

"Anna, don't move." She warned, letting her hand touch the base, freezing the device, and hopefully any liquid that was still inside.

"Elsa, it stings." Anna said, her tone breathless.

"Shh, its alright, I'm going to get help." Elsa soothed, with that she stood up and practically ran through her office and out the door. She only took a few steps before she crashed into someone.

"You're majesty, what's the matter?" Two thin hands came to her shoulds, and Elsa looked into the serious face of Bo-Katan.

"Its my sister! She's been hit with a dart!" Before Elsa could finish explaning, Bo-Katan's face hardened, and she bolted off in the same direction Elsa had just come, speaking into her communicator at the same time.

Elsa has just caught up with her when she heard the words 'Seal off the exit points, and bring anything that's off to the ground!'

Bo-Katan slid to a stop next to Anna, turning the other so she was laying on her stomach while she examined the weapon.

"Its not Kamonian, and it doesn't have any barbs, this is a straight, point and shoot device.... Princess Anna, I'm going to pull this out alright?" The other nodded, her eyes already heavy with whatever sedative was inside.

"Are you sure that's safe?" Elsa asked, putting her hand on the Mandalorian's shoulder.

"Its fine. I promise." She answered, her eyes narrowing as she gave the dart a quick tug, breaking the thin ice, and pulling it free. Anna cried out, but a moment later Bo-Katan held the dart between her fingers, and footsteps sounded out in the hallway.

Rex, Kristoff, and three other clones raced onto the balcony, weapons drawn.

"Anna!" Her husband shouted, kneeling at her side.

"She was hit by a posion dart, take her to the medical station and have them preform a detox procedure. Here's the dart." Bo-Katan said, taking charge as two of the clones knelt down to lift Anna and carry her away, Kristoff following.

Elsa stood in shock, barely feeling as Rex's arms came around her waist, pulling her close and whispering things into her ear.

Bo-Katan stood coversing with the last of the clones, when a shout and the sounds of a scuffle below alerted their attention.

"I think they got something!" The Mandalorian said, running out of the room the clone on her heels. Elsa pulled away from Rex, her eyes hard, a dangerous glint in them, as she took after them. Ignoring Rex's calls to wait, she had one mind set, and that was revenge.