Faction Emergence of Heinite | The High Republic

[Monaray Dod]

A New Chancellor and a New Threat

From the verdant domes of the Palace to the cascading silver waterfalls, the city gleamed under the Naboo sun, its streets thronged with citizens gathered to celebrate the impending inauguration of the Chancellor-elect Dominique Vexx of the High Republic.

Holographic banners shimmered with the Chancellor's serene face, and the soaring, hopeful notes of a symphononic orchestra wove through the chatter and laughter. It was a day designed to reaffirm the galaxy's faith in peace, progress, and the benevolent light of the Republic.

Senatorial Aide Joren Vael stood on a secondary balcony of the Royal Palace, datapad in hand, monitoring the crowd's energy for Senator Monaray Dod . He allowed himself a rare, unguarded moment, admiring the scene. Below, a kaleidoscope of species mingled, native Naboo in their elegant, flowing robes, off-world diplomats in formal attire, children perched on shoulders waving tiny Republic flags.

The first discordant note was subtle.

A Twi'lek merchant, her lekku twitching violently, suddenly overturned her cart of glow-pears, sending fruit rolling like luminous marbles into the ankles of the crowd. Her eyes, wide and unblinking, held a frantic, glassy sheen. A murmur of annoyance rippled through those nearby, mistaken for clumsiness.

Then, a shout, raw and ragged, tore through a stanza of the symphony.

A group of humans and Rodians, their clothes worn at the edges, pushed violently through the throng near the statue of King Aurelian Veruna . Their movements were jerky, aggressive, fueled by a terrifying, jittering energy. One, a young man with sweat-soaked hair, scrambled onto the statue's base, screaming not political slogans, but a guttural, nonsensical mantra: "The gears never stop! The gears grind inside!"

Panic, cold and immediate, began to replace confusion. Joren leaned over the balcony, his comlink buzzing with static-filled queries from security. This wasn't a protest; it was a full-scale riot. It happened with the speed of a shattering transparisteel viewport.

The screaming man on the statue produced a heavy wrench from his coat and hurled it with unnatural strength into the front of a parked Republic diplomatic speeder. The explosion of sound was the detonator.

From seemingly every side street and shadowed arcade, more of them poured forth, dozens, then hundreds. Their eyes shared that same terrifying vacancy, a hollow light that seemed to consume rather than reflect. Some wept black-tinged tears; others moved with a terrifying, coordinated frenzy, their limbs vibrating with excess, inhuman energy.

The first signs of the Heinite Serum was on full, horrific display.

The celebratory crowd became a sea of terror. The symphony cut off, replaced by the shrieks of the mob and the screams of the fleeing. Flags became torches. Offerings of flowers became projectiles.

The agitators, cold-eyed provocateurs with no trace of the Serum's physical marks, who had whispered the right words in the right ears for weeks blended into the chaos, directing the fury of the addicts. A kiosk selling commemorative holograms was engulfed in flame, orange tongues licking at the serene image of the new Chancellor.

Joren watched, frozen for a heartbeat, as a phalanx of High Republic Forces, resplendent in their armor, moved to form a line. They were met not with fear, but with a terrifying indifference. A Serum-fueled woman, slight of build, took a point-blank stun blast and kept stumbling forward, shoving a guard into the mob before three more bolts finally dropped her.

​

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

Kinley Pryse's patience runs out faster than her ammo. ​

Location: Theed Zoo

Whoever said blondes had more fun was a karking liar.

The cheap wig itched like a nest of fire-ants and trapped heat against her scalp, turning every step into a slow roast. Still, that discomfort beat the alternative, being recognized. She did have a hefty bounty on her head in this system, courtesy of a noble who hadn't appreciated her liberating a few family jewels. Fun times.

Besides, the wig bothered her less than the absence of her hat. That was the real crime. But precautions were precautions, and so Kinley paid the entrance fee without complaint as she and her goons filed into the zoo like law-abiding citizens.

The plan was simple.

A zookeeper owed Flint money and had apparently decided that hiding out in Republic space would magically erase his debt. Cute. With the zoo closing early for some fancy parade, today was the perfect window for a private conversation, one without witnesses or security patrols getting curious.

Being able to finally ditch the wig and settle her hat back where it belonged was a small, sacred joy. It was only slightly dampened by the whimpering mess of a man dangling in front of her.

She supposed she couldn't blame him. Anyone might panic when suspended over an alligator pit with raw bantha meat strapped to their sides.

"I told you!" the zookeeper sobbed, voice cracking. "I'm going to pay Flint! Please! I just need more time!"

"Flint's not a patient man," Kinley said mildly.

She nudged the rope with her boot. The zookeeper slid a few more inches toward the snapping jaws below, his scream going shrill.

A speeder's whine cut through the moment.

Kinley turned as another Black Sun thug jumped out, breathless and wide-eyed. "Something's wrong at the parade," he said. "People are losing it. I think it's some kind of drug. They…”

His words dissolved into slurred nonsense. Thick, black tears began leaking from his eyes.

Kinley barely had time to register it before he charged.

She sidestepped on instinct, and he sailed past her and straight into the alligator pit.

The beasts below surged, thrashing and snapping until there was nothing left of him but red foam and ripples. Then suddenly they stilled.

One by one, the alligators began to shudder.

A heartbeat later, they turned on each other, jaws slamming, bodies twisting in violent fury, black ichor streaming from their eyes as well.

Kinley slowly reached up and adjusted her hat.

"…well," she muttered. "That's new. They ever do that before?”

“No never.” The zookeeper sounded astonished as he looked at the animals.

“Change of plans boys. We’re going gator hunting “





((I obtained permission to be in a THR thread)).

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Aiden Porte]

Theed Square
Tags: Open​

Warm stone, bright music and a sky so clear it made peace look easy.

Lira walked at his side in a pale dress that caught the sun. She tried to look unimpressed, then forgot and stared, at waterfalls spilling silver, at holobanners reshaping above the street.

Shiraya's Hope flowed with them in a loose ring, familiar faces, some laughing a little too loudly. His captain stayed half a step back and right, already a shield.

Lira tugged his sleeve. "Do you think people actually feel that hopeful?"

"Some do," Aiden said. "Some are trying. That matters too."

He was about to say more when the first wrong note hit. Not the orchestra, something sharper. A shout that didn't belong. The Force shifted, subtle at first, then unmistakable, confusion souring into rot. There were crashes, carts tipping over and people stumbling, shoving and turning all at once.

A crash, carts tipping over and people stumbling, shoving, turning at once.

The orchestra faltered, then died. It was then Lira's hand gripped his a little tighter. Aiden looked across the street and felt it, individuals that didn't move normally. Like their mind were vacant, frayed and driven with pure rage.

"Captain."

"I see it," the captain said, already moving closer.

Lira's voice caught. "Aiden...."

Aiden dipped to meet her eyes. Around them, what was now laughter, turned to panic and fear, the air smelled of thin smoke.

"Lira. You're going with him. Now."

Her stubbornness flared, fear flickering around her in the Force. "I don't want to leave you."

"You're not leaving me," he said, steady. "You're doing what I'm asking."

He squeezed her hand once. "Trust me."

He straightened, voice clipped. "West side, not the main walkway. Take two. Assemble whoever you can and move."

"Understood."

The unit shifted into a protective wedge, pulling Lira away. She glanced back once like she was trying to memorize him. "You'll stay safe," Aiden called after her, and there was no debate in it.

Then he turned toward the plaza. The celebration had become a storm. Near the statue, bodies surged in patterns that weren't theirs, some chanting nonsense, some just screaming. High Republic guards formed a line, crisp discipline against raw chaos.

It didn't matter. A woman took a stun blast and kept coming. Another, and another. She dropped only when the fourth finally took her down.

And then Aiden felt the pressure change. He turned and saw a man barreling through the fleeing crowd, hurling people aside with unnatural strength. Empty eyes fixed on a family of five close to him.

The man charged, Aiden stepped forward, placing himself between the attacker and the civilians behind him. He didn't ignite his saber, not yet. In a crowd, a blade was the last line. Aiden called upon the force, placing the charging man into stasis, pushing with the force to throw him back into another charging individual.

For a time, the skies were peaceful, and then they were now marred with chaos once more.

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Theed Square
@Open
​

Elian had been sure this would be a good idea.

Lake day could wait. The plaza was alive, music, stalls, bright banners, and he'd wanted his friends to see it. Wanted them to feel it. They'd laughed at him, rolled their eyes, and followed anyway.

Then they'd scattered.

A stall with carved trinkets pulled one of them off. A food vendor grabbed another. Elian had turned his head for a second—just a second—and the familiar cluster was gone in the moving crowd. He was scanning, trying to spot a sleeve color, a face, anything, when he saw the man climbing the statue.

Elian's stomach dropped.

"Hey!" he shouted, pushing forward. "Get down from there, that's my friend's statue!"

The man's head snapped up, sweat-soaked hair plastered to his forehead. His eyes looked wrong. Not drunk. Not angry. Something else Elian had never, ever seen before in his life. And for all his bluster and witty comments, he felt fear truly for the first time.

He screamed something, nonsense. A mantra that made Elian's skin crawl.

"The gears never stop! The gears grind inside!"

Elian opened his mouth to yell again, to warn people, to, move, but it was too late.

Sound exploded.

The crowd surged like a wave breaking. Someone slammed into Elian's shoulder, hard enough to spin him. He tried to catch himself, but another body hit him from the side and the world tilted, stone rushing up.

His head cracked against the ground.

Stars burst behind his eyes. For a moment there was nothing but ringing and brightness and the distant sense of his own breath. When he came back to himself, the plaza was screaming. People were running. Shoving. Falling. Firelight flickered somewhere nearby, hot and orange. The air tasted like smoke and panic.

Elian blinked hard, trying to focus. His fingers fumbled to the back of his skull. Warmth, wet....he pulled his hand away and saw blood smeared across his palm.

"Chit" he breathed, and forced himself upright, swaying.

Elian glanced around and before he could say anything or even take anything that was going on, he was tackled back to the ground by someone. He scrambled about, using all of his strength to make sure that his crazed individuals hands didn't close around his neck.

 

[Anja Rydder]

Location: Theed Square
Objectives: Security patrol
Tags: Monaray Dod Elian Abrantes (direct)

Dominique Vexx as chancellor of a galactic spanning nation, sweet baby cheeses that woman was going to make a lot money, Anna smirked to herself. It wasnt her place to question politics, she was a law enforcement officer but it didnt stop her mild amusement of the idea of a Denon executive stretching their tendrils out beyond Denon itself. She supposed it meant The Mediator might get an early refit from the trickledown that self preservation often caused.

Her ship was in orbit of Theed at the moment, it didnt leave Denon space much, that was inefficient, but its use had been authorised to mark the occasion and it has even been escorted by a pair of picket frigates. Anja could see the cost sheet spiralling with every spin of the engines on her vertibird. Her agency were providing additional security support at it was possible that Denon malcontents might attempt to use this event to make a statement and she knew them better that any Theed security guards. She cracked her knuckles, still aching from an interrogation she had carried out not long ago on one such malconent.

There had been a few reports, it sounded like the usual sorts of things, a few people getting too drunk and too rowdy, but something felt odd about it, something new, was spice a problem on Naboo? Not that she was aware.

Her vertibird came down rapidly in response to some violence. Someone in Theed security has been shot and gone down, his compatriot was woefully outnumbered and holding out in a small building trying to keep people at bay with his stun blaster.

"Ok, by the numbers, pacify, no fatalities please the Republic is watching." she had a low casualty rate in general for her opps, but it always paid to remind people who might get a bit trigger happy in a high energy riot. She readied her stun gauntlet just in time to save someone. Elian Abrantes would feel a slight crackle himself as the man trying to strangle him was hit by a barrage of stun darts, convulsed and fell to the ground. He would be unharmed but might have words for the pretty uniformed zeltron who stood smiling at her handiwork.
​

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

​

"CUT." The sounds were there as Ayumi looked at the one directing it. With the news of the election it had been exciting. The finishing touches on Dominique Vexx Estate had been quite fun as the reforms and work that they had been doing continued to go through. A chance to better facilitate on the lowest levels as the reconstruction was still ongoing but they had started the next phases of it in places. Introduction of the hardlight pens and zoos. The means for Denon to support living creatures in its own way just like it was starting to get rivers and channels across hundreds of levels showing water to the people. Ayumi had been here longer then she wanted to admit but perception was powerful and Denon thanks to Dominique had a great look.

"That was great Lady Pallopides." He kept saying that as she stood there, the streets were not really a place to wear a slinky red dress... it just wasn't how you wanted to do things. Only real benefit she saw was the hair and makeup twins. A wink towards the two of them as they were approaching to touch up the features. The holoscreens around all of the districts and levels were primed showing Naboo and they were prepared to hear the speech from Dominique... hopefully not the twenty page one but a nice and concise version. She offered a look though as the two of them were there touching her make up and hair for the moment. THe screen showing Naboo though changed as the air on the planet shifted and Ayumi held her breath watching it. "What the."

She said it while reading it and moved as she was walking away, the director taking a moment to try and scold her but she looked at him as he stopped and held hands up. She was walking as Cato was right there with her and the twi'lek offered a small piece. her interface when she put it on entering the speeder. "Whatever is happening, I am sure the Chancellor is safe my lady." Cato said it looking at her and Ayumi raised an eyebrow as her eyes flicked across the screen. Bringing information up and around as well as setting the destination for a small squad in a yasmela. "Maybe, the High Republic has a lot and she has her nano armor hopefully but I'd rather not lose the one who shares Denon's interests." That got a nod while she and Cato were going towards upcities private ports.

"I'll have the ship.." Ayumi held a hand out. "No, the Uptown girl should be in range, there may be a need to help people. Use that and we can have ourselves on there. Its got plenty of space and most of them were going to be traveling to see the event as it is now." SHe said it and had them set to wait at the system edge she could meet them quickly with one of the afterimage fighters transporting her. "Do you want to take some aarmor?" Cato said it already knowing the answer but she figured she might as well when Ayumi arrived at the hanger and the Defense force was already prepped for her. "Cute, you should keep that up maybe find a guy or girl or wookiee." She said it while closing the door fast and walking to the fighter. The two pilots having a space for her when she climbed in and looked around.

"Alright, take off." A smile to them as the ship took off and there was a reason for the name with its speed as they were going towards the atmosphere and then shipyards. The Uptown Girl on their sensors as it overlayed the screen. THey were making good time as the pilot kicked on the engines and even with the compensators it could be felt. Ayumi's mind was more reaching out to feel into the force as she didn't often use it... well she didn't make a need of it. She was a politician who happened to be a force user more then a force user being a politician which was why she hadn't been part of any order for years. Helped that she didn't hide it when asked as her mind found Naboo and the feelings from there.... and then they were getting the information and docking within minutes.

The jump as they were in the hanger was the important part when she could feel and see the starlines for a moment. The Uptown girl only went around the galaxy for special events and people payed the flying casino a premium for it. She was searching Naboo for Dominique mentally to... what? SHe wasn't sure it wasn't reassuring and there was so much chaos she wasn't going to distract them. More so she knew where to zero in on and go. "Send a message to the Republic, we'll be able to offer aid and support, we have plenty of space in the vessel." She said it and the other pilot looked at her as she spoke. "Understood." Ayumi was and wasn't surprised at Zahira Pallopides being there... the biot was her bodyguard after all and likely predicted when the new came she had moved quickly though.

The trip with the biot assigned to protect her and who was for lack of a better term... family in ways wasn't the best. Her professional look though was enough when they were on approach and the fighter got out of the hanger to go towards the planet. The riots were going to be dangerous and their travel had been quick but still took time enough. Ayumi getting out as they touched down outside of the city near a zoo like aarea and she was moving as the first sounds came to her. Someone was... doing something and she moved looking at the sight of Kinley Pryse as she was preparing for a gator hunt afterr it looked like whatever had been driving the people mad was in the gators who were thrashing... Ayumi looked at it as she debated the best thing to do and backed up and went around. "Should have stayed on Denon."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

CELESTIA STATION

Judah sat at his desk in his expansive office in Celestia Station. He was near the top of the Tingel Arm, far away from the revelry and excitement of Naboo. Across his holovision was the bright and jubilant scene of inauguration of soon to be Chancellor Dominique Vexx . He didn't quite know what to make of the idea. The salvager had a...date?dinner? with the woman some time ago and didn't get the impression she would be a good Chancellor. Hustler and small time grifter, maybe.

Too focused on Denon. Too focused on lining her pockets - yet politician wasn't?

Judah donated heavily to Senator Monaray Dod and his campaign. Was Dod trustworthy? Not exactly but Judah didn't live in High Republic territory. Yet he did have business interests in the area. His youngest son, Balun Dashiell , lived in the terroritory. Donating hundreds of thousands of credits in attempt to get the Senator elected was an attempt to advance corporate standings. Dod seemed more logically corporate minded of the two, the better choice to ensure he could continue expanding branches of Dashiell Incorporated.

Perhaps next time. Reaching across his desk, Judah toggled the intercomm on his desk.

"Arrange a meeting with Senator Dod at his earliest convenience. Thank you."

Gaze flicked up to the screen, something was happening at the party. Chaos. A terrorist attack? It was unclear to him. He did know one thing ; it was going to the be the Chancellor's first test, whether she liked it or not.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

To say that Eamon Stuyveris was unhappy about the turn of events that led to this celebration of Dominique Vexx 's electoral victory was an understatement. Perhaps the understatement of the century, but there were still ninety-seven years to go, so it was too early to say for sure. Standing in a private communicator booth nearby to the VIP observation stands, listening to that unhappiness not so much pouring out of her commlink as exploding out of it, Verity Stuyveris wondered idly whether it was possible to have her eardrum perforated in this manner.

The main thrust of his argument seemed to be that as a result of Vexx's chancellorship, Denon's star would be ascendant, and by virtue of its existence as a civilized, modern, economic powerhouse, other civilized, modern, economic powerhouses -- like Druckenwell, in this instance -- would necessarily be diminished. There was some logic to that, Verity supposed, if you crooked your head exactly the right way and squinted just right. Not quite the unshakable logic, the kind of 'as night follows day' that Verity's Father seemed to be proposing, but a certain kind of histrionic logic that she found a little unlike him.

What it was, exactly, that a provisional Senator was supposed to do about such a conclusion was not yet made clear to Verity. This was not a pattern for Eamon Stuyveris, who typically avoided spleen-venting without solutions, but this rant had gone on for an uncommon duration at an uncommonly high volume without a solution in sight.

Eventually he had to take a breath, and Verity used the opportunity to delicately cut in. "I understand your concern, father, but frankly Senator Vexx was the only option. The only other competitor -- really -- was Senator Dod. If you think having a Chancellor from Denon will somehow put Druckenwell on the back foot -- and, frankly, you have not convinced me that this is the case -- you will be certain to understand that this situation is much preferrable to that one."

"Yes, but -- "

"And," Verity went on, as if he had not interrupted, "you will recall from my briefing to the parliament earlier in the week that the election was designed to be quick. My read is that the Magistrate sought to blitz the Senate into making a decision on short notice, with the short limit being intended to put him in the strongest position to be installed as Chancellor himself. Whatever you think that may have meant for the corporate interests on Druckenwell -- and again, you have not made that case -- I have a responsibility to all the citizens of Druckenwell and the High Republic to safeguard our representative democracy. If you expect anything different from Druckenwell's senator I suggest that you not vote to make my position permanent."

"Verity -- "

There was noise, now, from outside, despite the noise-suppressing of the call booth. "I -- sorry, father, I really must get on. If I am to make the best of this situation, I can't look like sour grapes by avoiding the festivities. Look for me on the news. Speak soon." Verity disconnected the line and looked down at the commlink, as if she was surprised at her own boldness. She might pay for that later. She tucked the commlink back into her handbag and checked her appearance in the glass of the booth door before she emerged and made her way back to the doors out onto the Senate stands just in time to see things in the plaza below comprehensively falling apart.

She was elevated enough away from street level that she couldn't see exactly what was going on in the plaza, but broad shapes of chaos were beginning to take shape. "What fresh hell can this be?" Verity Stuyveris asked, not intending it for anyone in particular.

Tags: OPEN​

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Theed Square
Anja Rydder Indirect: Monaray Dod
​

Elian dragged in a full, aching breath the instant the pressure vanished.

The crazed man on top of him jerked as stun rounds punched in, one, two, a rapid barrage, and then went rigid, convulsing before slumping off Elian's chest and collapsing onto the stone. The sudden absence of weight felt unreal, like waking from a bad dream with the echo still in his throat.

Elian lay there for a beat, coughing, eyes watering, fingers flexing as if to confirm he still had them. Then he forced himself up onto an elbow, swallowing hard as the plaza's chaos raged around them, shouting, running feet, the crackle of fire somewhere too close.

He looked up.

A Zeltron stood over him in uniform, composed in the middle of madness, pretty, bright, and smiling like she'd just done something routine. Elian blinked at her, still a little stunned by the contrast.

"Hey….thanks," he rasped, voice rough from where he'd been grabbed.

He pushed himself upright, wobbling for a second, then steadied. His eyes flicked to the twitching body on the ground and back to her.

"You wouldn't happen to have another one of those, would you?" he asked, with a small smirk.

Because the crowd beyond them didn't look calmer. It looked worse.

Elian's expression tightened as he scanned the faces, searching desperately for anything familiar,hair, a jacket, a laugh that didn't belong in this nightmare.

"I got separated from my friends," he said quickly, the words tumbling out with the urgency he couldn't swallow. "I have to find them."

 

[Cynan Obaith]

Location: Theed
Outfit: Suit
Tags: OPEN

"New chancellor, shall be interesting to see where things go from here." Cynan mentioned as his darted around the several datapads that were on his desk, there were mentions of potential bribing for votes, potential corruption within the senate and numerous other issues with the way that things were currently being run. However, the most important part of the data was that it was all rumours, nothing that he could bring before the senate and throw down as criminal action that needed to be addressed immediately.

However, it was giving him an insight on how things could be perceived by the public, how things might go in terms of protests and where the activism could be directed in order to attempt some changes from a public standpoint.

Information that he was needing to absorb and go over several times. There were other datapads that were looking over the business ventures that Cynan could invest the family money in but he was unsure about the opportunities for now. Holding back until he knew more about the companies that he was going to be investing into. Grabbing the cup of wine that he had while he had been working through most of the day, Cynan thought about the fact that he needed to make more introductions between himself and the other great houses in the High Republic. Something to organise in due time but for now, he focused on the potential changes closer to home.

That was when he could hear the clanging of metal as his guards rushed to his office, opening the door in a burst. "Milord! Civilians rioting! Details are still coming in but something has driven a crowd into a frenzy!"

Cynan settled his wine down and nodded his head, exiting the room with a calm demeanour, "right. Coordinate with the soldiers and police, organise triage, med-bay location and gathering information on how this riot happened with no chatter." Cynan usually had his toes in many areas of the holonet where riots were usually coordinated and discussed. This did not seem to be what was going on here.

"Also, I want to know how isolated this is and we need to reach out to the other great houses based on Naboo, as well as the King to ensure that everyone is on the same page about how we will be solving this issue if this not a one off issue. Rioting and inflicting harm upon others is not something that we want happening within the High Republic, especially our capital."

He paused then tapped at his watch, the timing. The same day as the announcement of a new chancellor in what seemed to be a very close and heated contest. Timing was too convenient but he would hold his judgement on that for now.

"I will head over to the rioting and begin the coordination. I expect you and the rest of my retinue to be there within ten minutes."

"Yes milord!"

 

[Monaray Dod]

In comes the horrors of the Mummers and their " Friends "

Amidsts the Heinite Serum rioters, a different kind of threat moved with a semblance of determination. They were the clear instigators of this little confrontation within the Capital of Theed, being none other than the Mummers...a criminal and terrorist organization which had emerged from the Galactic Underworld, embolden by the Black Sun's operations within the region.

One of them, a sharp-featured human man with a scar bisecting his eyebrow stood on the outskirts of the statue lined square. He raised his arm to speak into a wrist-comm, adopting a voice that was calm compared to the flaming streets behind him.

"Phase one is underway and the High Republic is taking notice. They are holding at the western arch, but they're reactive near the palace likely to protect that boyish king, Aurelian Veruna. Time to stretch them, force em to call the rest of the Armed Forces."

At his signal, a cluster of Mummers began herding a wave of frenzied citizens away from the main square, towards the Theed Royal Academy. They used noise, projectiles and cruel shoves to redirect the torrent of bodies towards the one area of Naboo where the most number of hostages would be at. Young Nobles training and studying.

Near the High Republic outpost, the line of guardsmen near the statue were reinforced.

A captain's voice, amplified, boomed over the din: "By order of the High Republic, disperse! This is a containment zone!" The line advanced, shields locked, using concussive pulse waves from their gauntlets to push back the front ranks.

But for every addict they subdued, two more seemed to take their place, their serum-enhanced endurance making them terrifyingly resilient to non-lethal force.

The High Republic faced additional concerns, as a BAF-120 Combat Automaton, cloaked in brown, ambushed Aiden Porte with the finesse of a lightsaber duelist. In its grasp was a Tagge Imitation Lightsaber, which it wielded by alternating between different lightsaber forms, striving to eliminate him while minimizing attention.

React to what you deem important | Cynan Obaith Elian Abrantes Anja Rydder Verity Stuyveris Ayumi Pallopides Kinley Pryse |

​

 

[Vade Taharin]

​

Indirect: Monaray Dod
Nearby: Aiden Porte

City Square, Theed

By all accounts, Vade Taharin's day had started off pleasantly. The Echani Jedi, like many of his fellow High Republic citizens, had decided to find himself near the City Square of Theed. How quickly things had changed in Naboo since he joined their ranks. The Royal Naboo Republic reorganized into the High Republic. And now the election of a new Chancellor to ring in the festivities. With all things considered, this Republic was beginning to show itself to be a shining beacon of light against the festering shadows in the Core.

BANG!

And yet, domestic shadows still tried to rip at that light with their claws. Vade saw a serene parade become a whirlwind of chaos and confusion. Terrorists of some ilk had made their move. In all instinct went to his saber, but he dared not activate it. Not yet. There was too much risk of the plasmatic blade of harming an innocent. Silvery eyes flicked back and forth for some sort of perpetrator. He saw some with blackened tears streaking from their eyes.

And then a....robotic Sith? Lightsaber droid? Whatever it was, it sprung out and began attacking someone. Amidst the chaos, it was likely to be unnoticed by the typical bystander. Yet, Vade knew that this was a threat. Yet, still too many innocent bodies nearby to draw his own saber in return. The Echani gritted his teeth.

"Karabast!" He snarled to himself in frustration, deciding to take a risky action.

Sharply but carefully nudging bystanders out of the way, he reached out with his hand in a claw-like formation. He focused on the droid's wrist, hoping to lock on it and briefly halt its slashing advances with the Force. But in all the raging havoc, his mind could only concentrate so much. Too many things to focus on. Force help them all, this was a bad situation....

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

The relative quiet of the zoo was a fading memory, replaced now by the rhythmic thrum of boots and the jagged roar of a city in upheaval. Naboo's pristine plazas were choked with smoke, but Ayumi moved through the chaotic streets like an eel. There was a cold, professional beauty to the High Republic's efficiency here; their proactive stance made her goal easier, even if her mind was already calculating the credits of future military contracts amidst the adrenaline. Herr senses were expanded outwards towards the finding of Dominique Vexx or others who she could help. THe soldiers were working as well as some of the jedi who were here.

As a rioter lunged with a guttural scream, Ayumi didn't just dodge she flew. She pushed off the air itself, the force lending her a momentary weightlessness as she vaulted over their maddened form. Landing in a low crouch, she didn't break her momentum. She became a whirlwind of fabric and focused intent; an arm snaked around the head of a charging aggressor, using his own weight to swing her body like a pendulum. With a dancer's poise, she pivoted, hurling him into a cluster of rioters with enough force to send them sprawling like pins. The senators form was rotating in the air for a brief moment as she went towards the ground.

The nearby High Republic soldiers didn't miss the opening. As they surged forward to capitalize on the gap she'd carved, Ayumi rolled across the dusty cobblestones. She felt the expensive silk of her dress snag and tear a casualty of the craft but she rose with a feline grace. Brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, she threw a sharp wink at a stunned sergeant. Every contortion was a choreographed step, every strike a non-lethal blow that she could deliver as she was weaving through the violence with a terrifying, fluid beauty. There was a moment as the soldiers were trying to get through, a soldiers helmet getting knocked off revealing her hair.

Ayumi didn't linger to watch the crowd disperse; she was already a blur of motion, drawn by the sound of shattering glass and a muffled cry from a nearby shop. A young High Republic soldier was pinned against a stone pillar by two heavy-set looters, her shield lost in the scuffle as she tried to protect a shopkeeper cowering behind her. Ayumi arrived not with a crash, but with a sudden, breathless presence as her form was incoming but she could feel the enjoyment of this. There was a subtle enjoyment when settling into the flow of the force... in letting it revitalize your mind and body to be sharper and more focused in a chaotic situation like this.

She bridged the gap in two long, rhythmic strides. As one looter raised a lead pipe, Ayumi's hand shot out, her fingers grazing his wrist with just enough force-augmented strength and pressure to turn his strike into a stumble. She didn't punch; she flowed. Catching his momentum, she spun him into his partner, using a leg sweep that looked more like a sweeping curtsy to take them both off their feet. Before they could find their breath, she tapped two pressure points on their necks with a precision from longer hours of training and practice then she would ever want to admit. They slumped into unconsciousness disarmed and defeated without a drop of blood spilled.

She turned her attention to the soldier first, offering a hand to pull her up. As their fingers met, Ayumi felt the surprising strength coiled in that grip, the subtle tremor of adrenaline still thrumming beneath warm, dust-streaked skin the rich color of polished mahogany. The soldier rose in one fluid motion, her powerful thighs flexing beneath battered armor plates that strained against generously sculpted form. Her dark hair was swept into a high, defiant bun, a few rebellious strands clinging to the elegant column of her neck and the sharp, proud line of her jaw. Those full lips parted in a breathless thanks, while her eyes dark, fierce, and unexpectedly vulnerable locked onto Ayumi's with an intensity that made the surrounding chaos feel trivial.

"You did well," Ayumi purred, voice steady despite the smoke and distant shouts. She let her gaze travel openly, appreciatively: over the proud woman and her armor hugging an impressively full figure, down the dramatic flare of hips that spoke of both battle-hardened power and undeniable femininity. "A bit of polish on that armor and you'd be the most captivating thing on this street handsome doesn't begin to cover it." She said it with a wink and knew this was a marathon to get to Dominique or helping many of the others. She could risk running into more of the riot controls or endanger a group who might get distracted with her showing up.

The soldier stammered something incoherent, cheeks warming beneath the grime, but Ayumi was already turning toward the shopkeeper with that same slow, predatory grace. The Naboo woman stood amid the wreckage like a flower that refused to wilt. Her long, glossy black hair cascaded freely now, released from its silver combs to frame a face of striking delicacy high cheekbones, plush lips parted in quiet shock and deep eyes that shimmered like dark amber under the drifting haze. She wore the remnants of elegant silk, the fabric clinging softly to her with breathtaking generosity. Her chest rising and falling with each careful breath, a slender waist flaring for a moment as she was there.

Even dusted with ash and backlit by the glow of a ruined stove behind her, she radiated an almost otherworldly allure, as though the domestic warmth of her shop had fused with her. Ayumi leaned against the shattered doorframe for a moment with a nod of her head though as she put her hands on her hips., ignoring the smoke curling past her shoulder. She reached out fingers brushing silk as she gently plucked a stray shard of glass from the woman's shawl, letting the touch linger just long enough to feel the heat of skin beneath. She gave a small nervous laugh though seeing the soldier standing at the ready and calling things in. Her next location something to go to while Ayumi spoke.

"I've heard tales of the beautiful flowers in Theed," Ayumi said, voice dropping to a silken, flirtatious murmur that pushed the riot worlds away. Her eyes wandered openly tracing the elegant arch of collarbone, the generous swell above the delicate tie of fabric, the inviting sweep of hip before returning to those captivating eyes. "But if this shop is what you're protecting beautiful, I can appreciate it but this is dangerous." She said it while standing in her ruined gown, the red silk dirtied and torn but still taking a moment to try and meet the people. "This soldier is going to get you to safety but we'll put something to block the front."

She said it with a small nod of her head and the soldier was lifting panels to prop them against the front. "It won't be much senator." She said it and got a small grin as Ayumi was leading the other woman around to go with the soldier. "Alright I am leaving you two beauties to get to safety, I need to see if there are others I can help or if I can get to the chancellor. Hopefully not die cause never seeing either of you again would be a real shame." She said it with a wink as she was backing away but navigated with the force in the back of her mind leading her away from the debris. She let a lingering glance remain before turning and took off running again towards the building to try and help Dominique.

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Indirect: Anja Rydder
​

"Thanks for the help," he said, his voice still raw from being choked. "But I have to find my friends."

He moved back into the crowd with careful urgency, turning his shoulders to slip through gaps and keeping his head on a swivel. He scanned every face for familiar features, and he repeated their names in his mind as if the rhythm could keep him from coming apart. He was looking for Ryn, Tressa, Jale, and Ellema, and the thought of any of them being alone in this chaos tightened his chest with dread.

As he pushed forward, he began to recognize the patterns of danger. Some people ran like any terrified civilian would, but others moved with a jerky, violent precision that reminded him of the man who had tried to strangle him. Elian did not allow himself to hesitate when he saw that vacancy in their eyes or the jittering energy in their limbs. He raised the stun rifle and fired shots to drop them before they could reach anyone else.

He fired at an individual who was trying to drag someone out of a doorway, and when the first shot did not stop him, Elian fired a second time until the attacker finally crumpled. He forced himself to keep his aim steady, because he understood that every missed shot could mean someone else getting hurt.

"Tressa!" he shouted, trying to cut through the roar of the plaza. "Ryn, where are you?"

An answering sound reached him, and it was so familiar that it made his stomach twist. He heard Tressa's voice, thin but unmistakably hers, and he followed it through a narrow service lane that was clogged with debris and overturned bins. The air smelled sharper here, like hot metal and burned plastoid, and Elian felt his pulse hammer in his throat as he ran.

He found them behind a trash compactor alcove, half-hidden by piled refuse and a toppled crate. Tressa was crouched low and shaking, and she was clutching Ryn's body with both arms as if refusing to accept the way it sagged against her. Elian froze for a moment because his mind rejected what his eyes were showing him, and then fear surged through him so violently that it left him breathless.

He stumbled forward and dropped to his knees beside them, the stun rifle slipping in his grasp before he caught it and set it aside. He stared at Ryn's face and tried to find any sign of life, any flicker of stubbornness, any hint that Ryn would open his eyes and make some sarcastic comment about Elian's terrible timing. There was nothing, and the absence was so complete that it felt like the world had shifted off its axis.

Elian's lower lip trembled as he reached out with a shaking hand and touched Ryn's shoulder. A tear spilled down his face, and he did not bother to wipe it away because he could not pretend he was fine. He swallowed hard, but it did not loosen the knot in his throat.

Tressa looked up at him, and her eyes were huge and glassy. Her voice came out broken and frightened. "He s-s-saved me," she whispered. "I....."

Elian closed his eyes for a second, and he forced himself to breathe in a way that did not turn into a sob. He opened them again and looked at Tressa with as much steadiness as he could manage. He tried to talk and the words sounded inadequate, as they appeared in his mind, and no words came out..

Tressa's hands tightened on Ryn's sleeve, and she shook her head. "We couldn't find Jalen," she said, panic rising in her voice. "Or Ellema either..."

The fear that hit Elian at those names was immediate and sharp. He pictured Jalen's easy confidence, and he pictured Ellema's quiet focus and the way she always seemed to hover near the edges when crowds got too loud. He could not accept the idea that they were out there alone while the plaza tore itself apart.

Elian wiped at his face with the heel of his hand, smearing smoke and tears together. He forced himself to stand, even though his legs felt heavy and unsteady. He picked up the launcher again, and he checked the charge once more because he needed something concrete to hold on to.

"Just wait here." he told Tressa, and his voice shook despite his effort to keep it firm. "I'll try to find them."

Tressa nodded, but she looked like she might shatter. Elian leaned in quickly and gave her and Ryn a desperate hug. A sob escaping him, before he tried to disguise it, frustration, pain, guilt. Elian cleared his throat and stood up, checking the weapon once more.

He turned away before he could lose the fragile control he had managed to gather. He stepped back into the chaos with his weapon held ready, scanning the smoke-filled streets and the surging bodies. Yet their attention seemed to divert, being called away like cattle almost, by another group of individuals.

Why.....

"Jalen," he shouted. "Ellema, answer me."

 

[Aiden Porte]

Naboo
Theed Square
Vade Taharin Indirect: Monaray Dod​

The droid surged again, the imitation blade angled low to keep the duel hidden in the riot's shadows. Its footwork was too clean for a machine that was meant to be obvious. It wanted him dead, and it wanted the crowd to think it was just more chaos.

Aiden shifted, keeping civilians at his back out of the line, and felt the next strike coming before it arrived, an efficient thrust for the seam beneath his arm.

Then the Force tightened, not Aiden's doing. A pressure like an invisible hand clamped down on the automaton's momentum. Its leading foot skidded half a centimeter, its shoulder hitching as if its joints had suddenly learned hesitation.

Aiden's gaze snapped sideways, another Jedi had arrived to assist. Aiden nodded quickly towards him. His blue blade ignited with a clean snap-hiss, bright enough to cut through the smoke, but held close to his body, tight and disciplined. He stepped in immediately, meeting the droid's trapped saber arm with a short, decisive bind. The imitation blade trembled under Vade's hold; the machine fought its own arrested momentum, servos whining.

Aiden pressed forward, the droid had solid defenses, the Jedi Knight would break through them.

 

[Anja Rydder]

Location: Theed Square
Objectives: Security patrol
Tags: Elian Abrantes

"You wouldn't happen to have another one of those, would you?" he asked, with a small smirk.

She laughed and raised the back of her hand to show him. "Goverment issue sorry." from a holster on the other side of her she pulled out a blaster pistol and it whistled as it charged, she quickly checked it was on stun setting before turning back to him.

She shook her head. "I suggest you proceed to safe zone. Authorities are setting up a cordon to contain the... oh shit" there was a blast from nearby as someone took a shot at them with a heavy blaster knocking chunks of concrete out of the wall. She spun around in a practiced reaction to place her back against the wall. "Get your head down unless you want them to have at it." she grabbed his shoulder and pulled him in (unless he resisted).

Her biochip connected with the city CCTV and she watched there location and that of a small group of assailants. "The hell did they get repeater cannon?" she said to herself as she mapped out her defence, her squad were out of visual and couldnt help. "Ok, we have three targets, one elevated on the gantry, two behind that wall. Number 2 is setting up a repeater."

​

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Indirect Anja Rydder
​

Elian kept moving, but the plaza no longer felt real. It felt like a machine that had decided to grind him down piece by piece, and every step he took was measured against the image he could not get out of his head.

Ryn's face, slack and wrong, flashed behind his eyes every time he blinked. Tressa's hands on Ryn's sleeve, her shaking shoulders, her frightened voice, followed him like a shadow he could not outrun. Elian's throat tightened whenever he tried to swallow, and he forced his breathing to stay steady because he could not afford to break down in the street.

He pushed through smoke and bodies, scanning for familiar features, for a flash of Jalen's confident grin or the quiet, intent focus in Ellema's eyes. He shouted their names whenever the noise dipped enough to be heard, and he listened hard for any response that was not just screaming.

"Jalen," he called again, voice strained. "Ellema, where are you?"

No answer came, and the silence was worse than the chaos.

Elian tightened his grip on the stun rifle and kept his shots controlled as he moved. He dropped anyone who lunged with that same vacant aggression, and he forced himself not to look at their faces after they fell. He did not want to see anything else that would stay with him.

He turned down another service corridor, then another, checking doorways and alcoves, looking behind overturned carts and burned-out stalls. Each time he found only strangers, he felt the panic rise higher, and he shoved it back down with sheer will.

All he could think about was the simplest truth, repeated like a sentence he could not escape.

He made them come here.

He had dragged them from the lake, from safety, from a normal day that should have ended with laughter and sun on the water. He had wanted them to see the celebration, and now he was searching through smoke for the friends he might never bring back.

Elian swallowed hard and kept moving, because stopping would mean admitting what that might mean.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Events echoed the assault on the Senate far too much for Dominique's liking. She recalled crouching behind makeshift barricades withstanding the frontal assault by the Black Sun with only a handful of guards. It had been a ridiculous situation. One she'd blundered into in search of Sibylla amidst the chaos. It had only cemented in her mind the need to have an emergency squad on stand-by, but that day communications had been cut to deny her signalling them. And today's events... she found the idea of calling in those forces distasteful. For the moment.

As the guards assembled, they shifted and rolled their shoulders in an effort to stay in the moment. Dominique stood among them with her eyes moving between the individuals and then to the small crowd cresting the stairs inside the hall. The eyes of the guards jerked and their fingers unwrapped and wrapped about the grip of their blasters.

Lips pressed together, she snatched one of the pistols out of the hand of the nearest guard and strode to the fore of the group. The pistol dropped in line with the mob. A ping filled the air. Bodies dropped. Unconscious.

Dominique turned to look back at the stunned group. Like they'd never seen a politician fire a gun before. Perhaps they hadn't. "Stun, cryo, and sonic grenades. Stun bolts. Bolas and nets. I expect them to be taken alive, gentlemen, until we know what we're dealing with. Captain," her golden eyes turned to one in particular, "I need a man MOPP 4. Retrieve one of the affected and have them analyzed. We need to know if this is chemical, biological, or other. They may still be saved."

"Make no mistake, this is an attack, and when this is through I will know from where it was launched; and a reprisal issued. Positions!"

"Chancellor, we could have a ship come around back." The Captain had an eye on getting her out of there swiftly, and an exit charted to do it. Provided there wasn't an inside threat that directed the crazed people to swarm even that, of course.

After she handed the pistol back to the guard from whom she'd taken it, Dominique looked over at the Captain. "I'm not running from cowards lurking in the shadow, Captain. Contact Planetary Control; stop all traffic from entering or leaving orbit. Establish a no-fly zone except for validated emergency personnel over Theed until the situation is contained -- that goes twice in keeping camera drones clear. Have personnel assist citizens to shelters or out of the city, if they show no symptoms."

"See if you can contact Aiden Porte , if he's on planet. If this is in any way related to a Force ailment he will be needed. And establish a command center. I want to respond the second we know the source."

In the meantime, Dominique would send a message to the strike team for them to reposition for when the time came. Someone was out there watching. Someone close.

​

 

[Kael Vayra]

​

Location: Theed Square
Tags: Aiden Porte Vade Taharin

"Is it magic?"

Kael smiled as the stones continued their gentle dance. To the young girl, they appeared to hover, bobbing and circling as if suspended by invisible strings. Of course, it was not magic. It never was.

"Not magic, no. It's everything," Kael replied. He lifted his free hand and gestured outward, indicating what appeared to be nothing at all. The empty air. The open space. The unseen currents that filled the world. The girl frowned at that, clearly unconvinced, her eyes flicking back to the floating stones with renewed curiosity.

Kael stood at the heart of Theed Square, surrounded by color, movement, and the low murmur of celebration. His assignment was simple. Observe. Stand watch. Make sure nothing went wrong. It was the sort of duty that sounded important but usually amounted to long hours of quiet vigilance. For Kael, it bordered on dull. Standing guard was rarely where legends were made.

The Force shifted.

It was subtle at first, just a wrongness at the edge of his awareness. Then it was too late.

An explosion thundered through the square, the shockwave ripping his focus away in an instant. Kael moved on instinct. He lunged forward and pulled the girl tight against him, turning his body to shield her as debris and panic rippled outward. The blast was farther back than he had feared, and relief washed through him even as his heart hammered.

The square dissolved into chaos.

Screams cut through the air. People ran in every direction. Kael felt the girl's small hands clutch desperately at his robes, her grip tightening as fear took hold.

He knelt in front of her, lowering himself to her level despite the turmoil around them. He forced his breathing to slow, knowing she would feel his calm even if she did not understand why.

"Go inside and take cover," he said gently. "I promise nothing bad will happen."

He smiled, bright and reassuring, even though it felt painfully out of place amid the shouting and alarms. Resting a hand on her shoulder, he guided her toward the nearest building. She hesitated only a moment before running, disappearing through the doorway as Kael watched until she was safely inside.

Then his expression hardened.

As smoothly as he could manage, Kael pushed into the crowd. Civilians fled past him in a blur of fear, while he moved in the opposite direction, drawn toward the epicenter of the disturbance. The Force painted the scene clearly now. The attackers were not thinking clearly. Their movements were wild and violent, their emotions twisted and amplified by something external.

He focused on that realization for half a second too long.

The impact hit his side like a battering ram. Kael was sent stumbling, boots scraping against the stone as he fought to keep his footing. He barely managed to stay upright, breath knocked from his lungs. When he looked up, a large man loomed over him, eyes glassy and filled with raw, unfocused murder.

"Easy now," Kael said calmly.

The words did nothing.

The man charged. Kael moved faster. He sidestepped, seized the attacker by the shoulder and neck, and used his own momentum against him. The ground cracked beneath the man's weight as Kael slammed him down hard, pinning him just long enough to ensure he would not rise again immediately.

The sound of igniting lightsabers cut through the din.

Kael glanced up and spotted two familiar figures. Aiden and Vade. Relief surged through him at the sight of fellow Jedi already engaged, locked in combat with a hostile droid cutting through the square. This was no random riot. This was coordinated.

Never one to ignore a chance to make an impression, Kael broke into a sprint.

He leapt into the fray beside Aiden, his green lightsaber snapping to life in his hand. He struck confidently, blade arcing toward the droid in a clean, practiced motion. The machine reacted faster than he expected. It blocked the attack and countered in the same breath, forcing Kael back on his heels.

"Pesky things," Kael said, his voice carrying a mix of confidence and genuine surprise as he glanced toward Aiden.

He adjusted quickly, matching his movements to Aiden's rhythm, attacking in tandem as he searched for an opening. Together, they pressed the droid, hoping to overwhelm it through speed and coordination.

"Got any plans to put these people down?" Kael shouted as he stepped back just in time to avoid a sweeping strike, his blade raised defensively as the chaos of Theed Square raged on around them.

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Dominique Vexx

The movements toward the chambers she could sense Dominique in were easier now if anything in a collapsing city could be called easy. The High Republic soldiers and security teams had carved narrow corridors of relative safety through the chaos, and Ayumi slipped through them with the fluid precision of someone who had long ago learned to move faster than fear. Her red gown, once a symbol of diplomacy and elegance, now fluttered around her in torn ribbons, catching on broken stone and drifting smoke. Barefoot, she ran with a lightness that belied the violence around her, each step cushioned by the force, each breath sharp with urgency.

Theed's beauty had not vanished it had simply been wounded. Marble colonnades stood cracked but proud, fountains spilled water tinged with ash, and the golden afternoon light filtered through drifting smoke in fractured beams. The city's elegance clung stubbornly to life even as rioters tore through its plazas. Ayumi felt a pang of grief at the sight. Naboo was a world defined by grace, and its people especially its women carried that grace in every gesture, every soft line of posture. Even now, amid terror, they moved with a kind of fragile dignity that stirred something warm and protective in her chest.

A roar rose from the street ahead. Dozens of drugged rioters surged like a tide, their movements jerky, their eyes unfocused. Ayumi didn't slow. She sprinted toward the roof's edge and leapt. The drop was three stories, but she angled her body like a falling beam, striking the backs of three rioters and driving them to the ground. She rolled off them, landing in a crouch as the force softened the impact. The crowd turned toward her, snarling. She exhaled once, steady and controlled. Her foot swept across the stone in a wide arc. A ripple of force energy burst outward, stunning the nearest cluster. They collapsed instantly.

She didn't wait to see how many remained conscious. She darted through the gap, weaving between toppled market stalls and shattered pottery. Theed's architecture blurred past her arched windows, carved pillars, balconies draped with smoke instead of flowers. A scream cut through the air. Ayumi stopped mid‑stride, turning toward a narrow side street. A young Naboo woman barefoot, dress torn, hair tangled was being dragged by three rioters toward a crashed transport. The woman fought, but her strength was no match for their chemically fueled aggression. Even in her fear, she carried that unmistakable Nabooian softness: expressive eyes, delicate features, a dancer's poise buried beneath panic.

Ayumi moved. She sprinted down the alley, the force gathering around her like a coiled spring. One rioter turned just as she leapt, twisting into a spinning kick that struck him square in the jaw. He flew backward, hitting the wall with a dull thud. The second lunged at her with a guttural snarl. She sidestepped, caught his wrist, and redirected his momentum. Her palm pressed lightly to his chest. A pulse of force energy surged from her hand. He collapsed instantly. The third rioter tightened his grip on the woman and tried to drag her away. Ayumi's eyes narrowed. She sprinted forward, vaulted off a fallen crate, and flipped over him.

As she descended, she hooked her arm around his neck, using her momentum to pull him backward. They hit the ground together, but Ayumi rolled free while he lay stunned. The rescued woman stumbled back, trembling. Her breath came in sharp bursts, her dress torn at the shoulder, revealing a glimpse of soft skin smudged with dust. Even shaken, she carried that Nabooian elegance something Ayumi had always admired, something that made her fight harder. Ayumi softened her voice. "You're safe. Can you run?" The woman nodded, though her legs wobbled. "Head toward the palace gardens," Ayumi said. "The stun teams are sweeping that direction."

The woman hesitated. "Senator… thank you." Ayumi offered a brief, reassuring nod before turning away. The amusement lingered, but she pushed it aside. Dominique needed her maybe. She resumed her sprint, weaving through a courtyard where a toppled statue of Queen Amidala lay cracked across the tiles. Water from a shattered fountain pooled around the stone figure, reflecting the flames licking at nearby banners. Ayumi vaulted over the statue's broken hand and landed lightly on the other side. Ahead, a larger group of rioters blocked the main avenue leading toward the government chambers. They clustered around a burning speeder, their movements erratic. Ayumi could go around but that would cost precious minutes.

She chose the direct path. Drawing a deep breath, she centered herself. The force surged through her limbs, humming beneath her skin. She sprinted forward, leaping onto the burning speeder's hood. Heat licked her ankles, but she didn't falter. She flipped over the rioters, twisting midair. As she descended, she extended both hands. A controlled wave of force energy blasted outward. The rioters dropped instantly, stunned but alive. Ayumi landed in a crouch, her hair falling across her face. She brushed it back, rising to her feet. Her gown was nearly ruined now slashed, soot‑stained, clinging to her legs in tatters. Her feet were scraped and bruised, but she barely felt it. The force carried her forward.

The government chambers were close. She could feel Dominique's presence more clearly now focused, defensive, surrounded by barricades and loyal guards. Ayumi pushed herself harder, sprinting up the final set of marble steps two at a time. Blaster fire echoed from inside. Ayumi's pulse quickened. She reached the entrance, sliding behind a pillar as a bolt scorched past her. The guards recognized her instantly. "Senator! This way!" She dashed through the opening they created, breath sharp, body aching, gown in tatters but her resolve unbroken. Dominique was close. And Ayumi had made it in time. She was straightening her hair though with a smile.

"Chancellor, please tell me you are safe."