Home Sweet Home

[Subject 37]

Empress Teta​

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People had always thought that Empress Teta looked exactly like Coruscant. They were both ecumenopolis worlds, they both had towering skyscrapers, and they both had a history of being economic powerhouses. Rose couldn't really blame people who held those assumptions, she saw the similarities too, but there was always something different about Empress Teta.

Perhaps it was because the planet was her homeworld, perhaps it was because her sister was the Empress here, or maybe there really was something different about Empress Teta that could a select few could see. Rose didn't actually know, but she loved this place nonetheless. A smile spread across her face as a soft breeze cut across the air, the balcony she stood at shaking slightly as the gust of wind cut across. The public park was part of a high rise construction funded after the second invasion of Empress Teta. It had been built with funds donated by her father, and in part by the One Sith.

The layout of the Park was rather simple, sprawling only a few square kilometers and constructed on an artificial plateau within the Financial District of the planet. The park contained public gardens, sprawling grass fields, and a pond with a fountain in the center of it. It had been meant as a place for peace in a planet that had been ravaged by war, something that the residence had appreciated.

Until recently there had been a statue of one of the Voices of the Dark Lord within the center of the park, though it had been torn down a few weeks ago when The Alliance had taken Empress Teta, Rose didn't miss it.

Today there was an event at the park, a small celebration that commemorated several of Empress Teta's historical families. Many planets would find the celebration akin to a founders day, a small, if a bit self-centered, celebration of the planets history. Some argued against it of course, given Empress Teta's none-too pleasant past, but most chose to look on the more pleasing side of things, like the planets position as a economic anchor. Rose was one of those people, though in her teenage years she had often argued against her parents when they'd come to this celebration, now that she was older however...well she just enjoyed being home for now.

The party was of course open for all, hosted and paid for by the Families that were being celebrated, including her own.

It was a nice gift back to a community that had suffered through a long war, a tradition that needed to be seen through, and Rose was more than glad to be home for it. She turned away from the balcony, smiling and watching as the Festival commenced.

 

[Subject 37]

Rose wandered quietly through the park.

There were hundreds of people here now, rich, poor, middle-class, everyone was represented in equal parts. Empress Teta wasn't perfect, like every planet there were divides among it's people. Those that could afford to live just fine, and those that could not. Hundreds of other socioeconomic issues that were just as prevalent here as they were on Coruscant or Fondor or any other world. Empress Teta had it's own problems, but here, at this festival they were at the very least forgotten for a time.

It was nice, really, a place that people could come together and just for a time forget who or what they were. Rose had a tougher time than some of course, but if only because she very much resembled the current Empress of the planet. A few times as she wandered through the attractions she got odd looks, pointed fingers, even a few whispers. She played it off of course when asked who she was, giving one excuse or another and always pointing out her blue eyes. Of course those astute enough would remember that the Empress had a Twin Sister, but happily for her most people had forgotten all about her just a few days after Lily's coordination.

A good thing too, she didn't need the attention.

She wandered through the grounds of the festival, stopping at a few booths to play this game or to simply watch. It was all very interesting, different every year with only a few similarities. The attractions spread throughout the park of course, ancient throwing games mixed with newer virtual reality simulators.

Everything was free of course, paid for by the Families, and would go one for two weeks still. The whole thing cost quite a pretty penny, but then again it was worth it to keep the tradition going. Oddly enough it was one of the few expenditures that none of the great families ever really complained about. She supposed that was because it was so ingrained in everyone.

From early childhood even the sternest head of a House had attended this festival, always dragged by his or her parents, always eventually falling into the same nostalgic joy that Rose was now running around in. She smiled slightly as she stepped through one of the larger crowds. There was a stage at the center of the gathering, a band or something setting up. Rose tried to get closer, squeezing her tiny form between huddled masses as she attempted to get a closer look.