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| - Sadvo stopped the vehicle on top of a hill just outside Aldera, and cut the engine. “So, you were with Princess Leia then were you? What happened, she beat on you too? Getting beat by girls now boy?” Sadvo asked as he stared straight ahead. “No sir. She helped me by scaring away Arod and his friends.” Epin explained. “I wanted to thank her by walking her to the Palace.” “I see. And what of Leia? You like her? Think she’s pretty?” Sadvo asked as he opened his door and stepped out. He motioned for Epin to do the same. Epin complied with his father’s request and stepped out of the vehicle. “Well? You like her, don’t you?” Sadvo repeated as the two faced each other in front of the hauler. “Yeah! She’s really pretty and she’s nice to me dad! I like being around her!” Epin exclaimed. Sadvo placed his hand on Epin’s head. “Ha ha ha, I remember feeling the same way about your mother. . .” As he trailed off, he abruptly smacked Epin’s face into the front of the hauler. Epin let out a scream as he grabbed his face and fell backward. Holding his face, Epin screamed in pain as his father lifted him up by the neck. Sadvo continued his sentence, “. . .And look what happened to me. I ended up getting her pregnant, and she gave birth to twin daughters!” Sadvo smacked Epin’s hands aside and spit into his son’s face. “You disgust me son. Do you know that I hate you? I always tried to teach you how to be a man, but you wouldn’t listen! Instead, you preferred to go on little errands to the Palace with your mother. Playing dress up, or doing each other’s hair, or whatever it is you girls like to do together.” Sadvo threw Epin down and kicked him hard in the ribs. Epin began to cry as Sadvo then took his knee and drove it into Epin’s back. “Dad! Please, stop!” Epin pleaded. Sadvo didn’t respond, instead he took his hand and grinded Epin’s face into the dirt. “Come on boy. You can’t even protect yourself! How are you supposed to protect the Princess!?” Sadvo growled. "Why do you hate me dad? I didn't ask to be born. You. . .You were the one that. . ." Epin began. Standing, he kicked Epin once more, causing him to cough up some blood. "Shut up. Do not speak unless I ask you a question. You haven't even learned the simplest of rules. Children are to be seen, not heard boy." Epin didn't respond, instead he curled himself up and sobbed. “Look at you, you're truly pathetic. Crying like an infant, if only your beloved Leia could see you now. Get up.” Sadvo snarled, staring down at Epin, as he lay in the dirt. “I. . .I think something’s broken.” Epin stated. “You think? Oh dear.” Sadvo said, faking concern. “Here, let me help you up.” Sadvo said, helping his son to his feet. Sadvo patted Epin on his back. "See! It's not bad. You can still stand. Ha, we'll make a man out of you yet son!" Sadvo exclaimed as he swiftly delivered a hard left to Epin’s chest, which caused him to immediately collapse. He laughed as he kicked Epin hard, sending him rolling down the hill. “There, now it’s broken for certain!” Sadvo remarked as he got into the hauler and started it up. Bail Organa sat at a desk in his and Breha’s personal quarters inside Aldera Palace. He was hunched over a pile of papers, with a small holo-projector situated in the corner, and a small cup of tea next to it. The projector displayed an image of a middle-aged man dressed in robes typically worn by members of the Jedi order. “Yes, she’s doing fine. In fact, she seems to have made a new friend in one of the farm boys.” Bail said to the projector as he shuffled the papers neatly into a pile. He then pulled one of the drawers out slightly and slid the documents inside. “In fact, that slight depression that Leia has been in recently, seems to have passed as quickly as it came. The boy did nothing more than compliment her, and suddenly she’s bouncing off the walls and running around like she’s just done giggledust.” he said as he locked the drawer. “Oh? That can only be good then. For her to only interact with nobility would cause her to stagnate quickly.” The man said. Bail chuckled to himself and responded. “Yes, because knowing how to diffuse situations without resorting to so-called aggressive negotiations would be sinful, wouldn’t it?” The man laughed with him, “Now you know that’s not what I meant by. . .” The two shared a brief laugh and continued their talk. “But, I have a strange feeling about them. Something, odd.” Bail said as he shifted in his chair and reached for his drink. “Them? You mean, this boy and Leia?” the man asked. Bail took a sip of his tea, paused for a moment and then sat the cup down. “Well, not so much about the boy himself, more of his family. His father specifically.” “And why is that?” The man said. “Well, I knew his father when he was a boy, on Coruscant.” Bail answered. “Oh?”, the holo man said, in a tone that urged Bail to continue. “Yes, more specifically, from my visits to the Jedi Temple.” Bail continued as he intertwined his fingers and leaned in. “So, his father is a Jedi? Is that what you’re saying?” The man asked. “Well. . .” Bail began to say. “Pay it no mind my friend. It really doesn't matter now that I think of it, she has been kept safe thus far.” The man said as the image shifted to one of him sitting. “. . .Anyway, what is this man's name?” He asked. “Lanmaw. Sadvo Lanmaw.” Bail answered quickly. The man exhaled a bit, and the image shifted to show that he was standing and looking out a window. “Then there is no real threat to her safety. I knew a Padawan by that name, and he was exiled from the Jedi order at a young age, around fifteen, along with another Padawan. I believe they were studying the Dark Side, though, don’t quote me on that. I’d have to access the Jedi archives to find out for sure, and by now, they probably don’t exist anymore. And even if they did, trying to get into the temple would be suicide, he’d sense . . ." The man stopped himself from going further, cleared his throat, and continued. “Leia is safe, there is no threat to her Bail, we need not worry any further about that. And I’m sure he wouldn’t have taught his son of the Force, so there is no threat of the boy mistakenly using it in front of Leia.” “Right, so we are safe in that respect as well.” Bail said letting out a breath and reaching for another sip of tea. “Well, keep me updated on the matter nonetheless. We don’t need the girl learning to use it, at least not yet anyway.” The man said. “Right, I’ll keep you posted.” Bail said as he finished off his tea and set the cup down. “Until next time then Senator Organa.” The man said bowing slightly. “Yes, until next time Ben.” He said nodding his head and switching off the projector. Bail sat back in his chair and looked out the window as a crack of lightning lit up the otherwise dark horizon. A downpour soon began shortly after. “These storms are becoming quite frequent.” He said to himself as he pressed a button on his chair, shutting the window. Epin lay on his side at the bottom of the hill staring at the dirt and stones on the ground with him. He didn’t know what time it was or how long he had been laying there, but it was starting to get dark. He didn’t bother moving, as every time he had previously attempted it, pain would shoot throughout his body and he’d simply fall limp. He figured it best that he just remain there as he closed his eyes and tried to get some type of rest. A figure wearing a robe similar to those he wore approached, and stood at his feet. Epin looked toward the person, trying to get a look at their face, but it was concealed underneath a hood. A thick fog blanketed the area, making it even more difficult for him to see any sort of real details. “Mom?” Epin asked. The figure did nothing but simply stand there, staring off into the distance. Epin attempted to stand up, and to his surprise was able to, without any hint of pain. He asked who the person was again, but received no response. He stepped closer to them and noticed it was a woman with long white hair. Epin backed away from her a bit, but was halted when she extended her arm, as if inviting him to come closer. Epin wanted to turn and run, but something in the back of his mind told him he should comply. He stepped closer to the woman and she placed her arm around his shoulders. Together, they walked up the hill and back onto the main road. Still looking straight ahead, the woman stood directly in the middle of the road and pointed to something in the distance. Epin stared into the night, squinting his eyes in an attempt to see through the fog. However, combined with the fact that there were no lights on this stretch of road, it was near impossible to even see your own hand in front of your face, let alone whatever this woman was pointing at. “I can’t. . .” Epin started. With a wave of her hand, the woman caused the fog to dissipate, giving a slightly better view of what she was pointing at. Epin could see it now, she was pointing toward the mountain range directly behind Aldera Palace. Epin wasn’t sure what to make of it, but he assumed the woman wanted him to go to the Ophuchi Mountains. He looked at her, hoping to get an answer, any answer, out of her. The woman turned toward him and removed her hood. Epin cringed slightly when he saw that she solid white eyes. As he attempted to back away, the woman took hold of him with both hands and his body became as cold as if he had broken through ice and fell into the freezing water underneath. Epin opened his eyes, and scanned the area for the mystery woman. Nothing. A dream he thought, just a dream. To his surprise, he noticed he was standing on top of the hill, and facing toward Aldera Palace. "It was a dream. . ." He took a few steps forward and felt no pain in doing so. Strange he thought, just a few minutes ago, I could barely move. Epin wasn't sure what to make of it, but he figured he'd investigate the mountains the woman directed him to anyway. It was still dark out though, and he thought it best to get home. As Epin arrived home, he found all the lights were turned off. "Good, at least I won't have to deal with dad." He said to himself as he made his way to his bedroom window. He knocked on it to get his sisters attention. She awoke after a few taps and let him in. "Epin?" She asked rubbing her eyes with one hand and using the other to shut the window. "Sorry Rena, you can go back to sleep if you want." Epin told her. "Nah, it's alright. Did you and dad have fun?" She asked as she sat down on her bed. "At the Palace?" Epin asked, puzzled. "Mom said that dad called her and said you and him were going to get something to eat before coming home. You guys were gone all day!", she explained. Epin thought it best not to go against anything his father had said. "Oh, right, yeah we had a great time. We completely lost track of time.", Epin laughed. "What did you guys do all day?", Rena asked. Epin faked a yawn and jumped into bed. "I'm kinda beat Rena, ask dad." He said pulling the covers over his head. Epin made his way up the mountain, moving at a steady pace. He was climbing close to the waterfall, as it flowed directly from inside the mountain itself. He thought he might catch a break by resting inside, before continuing his journey. Even though he was more than halfway up, he still didn't know what he was looking for. He was instructed to go to the mountains, nothing else. He didn't even know if he was supposed to climb them. As he placed his foot onto a small rock for leverage it gave way and he fell into the river that flowed into Lake Antilles. The pull of the river proved to be too strong however, and instead of the lake itself, he was pulled off towards Organa Falls. Organa Falls was a group of waterfalls that fed directly into a large canyon that held caves and tunnels which were never fully explored. He caught a glimpse of the mystery woman standing at the edge of the small lake that the falls fed, just before hitting the bottom. Darkness surrounded him, though he was unsure what had happened. He couldn't feel the water anymore, but he still felt strangely cold. He looked around, nothing but darkness. "Am I dead?" He said, hoping for an answer. Almost instantly, Epin was able to see clearly. "You're not dead dummy," Rena said standing next to his bed. "You had the covers over your head, but you're probably going to wish that you were if you don't do your chores. Come on, mom has breakfast ready." Epin made sure to grab his Listen Anytime, or LAT, a small device that played music, before he went downstairs. Epin ate his food and went outside with his sister to do their chores. It had been relatively easy the past few days, due to the large nerf order the Organa's placed for their matching ceremony. Epin made his usual rounds of checking the Nerf pens for holes and loose posts. He immersed himself in his music, and began to dance slightly. He closed his eyes and let himself be taken into another place as he danced about. When he opened his eyes, he found Leia standing in front of him. He fell to the ground from being off balance at the same moment he opened his eyes, startling himself. He removed the earpieces of the LAT, and heard Leia was laughing. "Sorry." She giggled, covering her mouth as she laughed. Epin sat up and laughed as well. "Yeah, I'm fine." "Hi Epin. . ." Leia said, letting her voice trail off. Epin stuttered, "Heh. . .Hey Lay, Leia. . ." "Is it okay if I sit down?" She asked. Epin cleared his throat. "Sure." She smiled and sat next to him. "I'm glad to see you Princess, I haven't seen you since, well. . .", Epin said. "Hey, forget about it" Leia interrupted. ". . .Anyway, Arod's a bully, he picks on everyone." "Yeah, I don't like him at all. If I ever get the chance to, I'll. . ." Epin stopped himself, remembering that his mother always told him not to have vengeful thoughts. He then shifted subjects. "Well, I don't like him is what I mean to say. Anyway, what brings you to the farmlands Princess?" Leia pointed to the homestead, "My dad's talking to your dad. He wants more Nerf for that dumb match thing I have to go to." "Dumb? But you get to meet all kinds of different people!" Epin said. Leia leaned back and looked into the sky. "Yeah, lucky me. Just a bunch of stupid boys that aren't interested in anything more than my name. That's what a matching is. It's when people of royalty get together and try to set their children up for marriage with other nobility." "Yeah, it's like they're saying, this is the person you are going to love for the rest of your life. Instead of just letting them pick who they want." Epin said standing up and offering his hand to her. She accepted and he pulled her to a standing position. "Leia!" A voice called from the homestead. The two looked to see that Leia's father was calling to her. "I guess my dad's ready." Leia said. Epin quickly turned and started looking around the ground by the fence. Leia questioned what he was doing but Epin only shushed her. "Found one." Epin declared as he stood up. "Wha. . ." Leia started. "A Cardiff, here, you can wear it on your dress when you are at that matching thing.", Epin said as he handed Leia a pink Cardiff flower. Cardiff's came in a variety of colors and were native to Alderaan. They also had a distinctly sweet smell. "For me? Thanks, it's very pretty." Leia said as she took the flower and put it into her hair. "Leia! Come on, we're ready to go!" Bail called again. Leia and Epin stood in silence for a moment, smiling at each other. "Well, bye Epin. . ." Leia said. "Bye princess. . ." "My name is Leia." She said before leaning in quickly and kissing Epin on the cheek. She then turned and hurried toward her father. Alderaan Affair Part V - Part VII
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