Towards the future I see

Chapter 40 Part 3

I hated this but I had to do it. It has been some time since we got back from Batuu and Mokivj and Ascension week was close. Meaning if I wanted to get away from this it had to be done now or it would end tragically. I had to meet Senator Bistebo from Naboo but he was clearly one of those who disliked me. Just because he was from Naboo like Emperor Palpatine, he thought highly of himself.

He said that we would meet at the Opera House of Coruscant, right before the show. It was one of those events hosted by the Savit. A prominent family who had a high cultural position in Coruscant. I had met before the Grand Admiral Savit, who got to his position due to his accomplishments and his family background. The whole family is known to host some if not all kinds of music performances.

Naturally, for such occasion, I had dressed in something more formal than my usual clothes. But the color black was always present. I had also my hair and makeup done by the salon, the very little perks of this event. But none of it helped me to cover the annoyance I was feeling.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked in a calm voice trying not to sound as angry as I was about to be.

"I'm sorry, didn't you hear?" Senator Bistepo asked. "Did you not know how big deal this concert was?" He is doing it on purpose to humiliate me. Some of his companions were chuckling behind him.

"You informed me about this meeting today," I argued failing to keep my voice calm. "Of course, I haven't got an entrance pass to this show. It was sold out weeks ago."

"Oh, dear. I thought that as a Vader's Charge you would at least have an interest in the cultural events." He said mockingly.

"I don't. Lord Vader has a busy schedule to have meetings with the Emperor. Some music shows aren't that significant to waste time on them." I said coldly, causing him to frown a little. Just mentioning the Emperor was enough to rain on his parade.

I should have known that this sort of thing would happen. There was still some elite of Coruscant trying to make me look bad without getting in trouble themselves. At least they knew not to make any bigger scene like that spice incident a long time ago. That ended pretty badly for one of them and it got others talking. ISB had also been very rough about it. Vader also heard about it how the goal was to humiliate me and cause a scandal, and he paid a visit to that poor fellow and his family. I only heard about it long after the incident. Since they were supporting Senators, Vader didn't do much damage but he did get his message delivered. Now they are reduced to these kinds of petty tricks. Not enough to tell Vader but annoying still. I had a very important discussion to go through with Bistepo and he had been unavailable for some time now. I had tried to get to talk to him since I got back from the mission of Atollon but then I had to go again to Batuu. And soon I would be sent away from Coruscant again. If I didn't get this done then some heads would roll.

"Well, too bad. I always come to these events and I thought that we could discuss after the show." He said bringing back some glee to his voice. "I guess you just have to wait till the show ends."

I could hear the snickering behind him from his companions. Wait till the show ends? I bet that was his goal all along. That meant staying here for hours. But if I left he could use it as an excuse that I had no interest in the very thing I had to discuss with him. Sitting here at the entrance lobby for hours and hours was not ideal either. If only this matter wouldn't be so dam important I would leave him to go to his stupid concert and go back to do something else. Maybe I could go once they left to the main hall. But I had no idea when to come back.

"Lady Mira?"

I heard a familiar voice calling for my name and turned to see who it was. I did recognize the voice but he couldn't be here, could he? Thrawn stood there, without his imperial uniform but still in some official-looking outfit, wearing a dark grey tunic and black pants with boots. I was confused wasn't he supposed to be after the Phoenix rebels? Or did he come back for the Ascension week?