The ball room was a dazzling maze of flowing gowns and striking Hapan nobles, intermixed with the occasional rebel fortunate enough to snag an invitation to the new Queen Mother’s coronation. These auspicious few included Jacen and his entire family. As the son of the former galactic Chief of State, events like these weren’t anything new to Jacen. Yet it was vitally different in meaning, and anticipation left him with a vaguely sick feeling. So he loitered in a corner, nursing a goblet of a very strong local beverage that made him feel like he had been punched in the gut. Or, he mused darkly, maybe that was just how he felt anyway.