Private Lost in Translation

[Eloise Dinn]

Eloise made a face. "Probably."

Before they could say anything more, the door to their room opened. It was Mylak. He remained on the threshold, bowing respectfully to Liana. "Ambassador Ungoliant and the other Pylantian representatives offer their sincere apologies for how the meeting went. We did not intend for it to become so chaotic. The things you said were shocking, but we thank you for telling the truth.

"Our representatives need more time to deliberate. A recess has been called until tomorrow morning." He inclined his head. "I hope that you find these lodgings to your liking. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to let me know."

"Why are you the one telling us that?" Eloise asked without thinking, annoyed that they were being asked to wait. She realized after that it sounded rude and nitpicky, but decided to double down rather than walk it back. "You're the ambassador's aide, right? You've got more important things to do. Shouldn't the hotel staff be the ones handling how comfortable we are?"

Mylak took her question in stride. "We don't impose the same kinds of social limitations you Humans do. It doesn't matter what one's job is. You do as you are asked out of courtesy."

"Uh huh," Eloise muttered, crossing her arms. "I call that getting taken advantage of."

"You are skeptical. Yet you have already seen how different our ways are from yours." Mylak was getting annoyed with her too. He paused and sighed, recovering his composure. "I have nothing more to report. Is there anything you want me to tell the ambassadors?" he asked Liana.

Liana Organa​

 

[Liana Organa]

Normally Liana would have been more prissy about being made to wait herself, but she was too caught up in her own performance-- and the apparent society-wide fallout it may have caused-- to care. Eloise seemed on the verge of butting heads with this aide who was just trying to do his not-job, but the focus was turned to the Princess before Eloise could instigate further.

"I have nothing more to report. Is there anything you want me to tell the ambassadors?"

Liana struggled internally over what to say. Should she just fess up and admit they can't promise anything yet? Probably so, but Liana was too prideful to let things wrap up so unceremoniously, "I... I would like to tell the ambassadors myself, when we reconvene. But tell them what I have to say is key to the proceedings of our negotiation, if you will." She bit her lower lip anxiously. Hopefully this would not turn out to be a waste of time for all involved

Eloise Dinn​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Mylak bowed. "I will relay your message to them at once. Good night, Your Highness."

After he left, Eloise heaved a sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. "I guess we're bunking here for the night."

The Alderaanian delegation was staying in the Ambassadors' Hotel, which had been designed to mimic offworlder accommodations. It accomplished its goal, in a broad sort of way; the furniture, appliances, and even the plumbing were all adjustable to some degree, able to fit the needs of a variety of species. Some things did have a Pylantian flair to them, most notably the bathtub and sink. If you didn't pay attention to which knob you twisted, you might end up with noxious ooze spewing out of the faucet instead of water. Eloise found this out the hard way when she tried to take a shower.

After that fun bit of cultural enrichment, she decided it was best to stay indoors until the morning. Hopefully Liana would be disinclined to go anywhere tonight. Yet for all the excitement she had experienced today, Eloise wasn't nearly tired enough to sleep. Laying on the bed she had claimed inside the princess' vast two-story suite, she turned on the holo. Nearly everything was in Pylantian, or whatever their language(s) was called, but luckily there were subtitles. She ended up getting fairly invested in a show about a Human who crash-landed on Pylos as a baby and was raised by Pylantian parents. He also apparently had superpowers for reasons that weren't clear in the one random episode she was watching. But hey, it was decent entertainment. The fact that the actor playing the hero was smoking hot made it all the more appealing.

A sudden twinge in the Force drew her attention away from peak holovision. She stared at the door to Liana's room, her brow furrowing. Something was up. Focusing, she spread her awareness to encompass the entire suite, listening without her ears, seeing without her eyes...

Liana Organa​

 

[Liana Organa]

Liana found the pecularities of Pylantian hospitality quite entertaining, especially in their attempts to imitate offworld tastes. She was actually enjoying the same show Eloise was, but turned it off much sooner, as she found the excitement of the day quite exhausting. Already tucked away in bed, the Princess began to dream. The visions were hazy at first, barely even perceptible. But then there was a sudden rush of noise. A slamming door, and panicked cry, and…

The snap-hiss of a lightsaber...

...Eloise, standing over Liana with her weapon drawn, ready to strike!

Eloise Dinn​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

So, what happened?

As the twinge became a full-on danger sense, Eloise flung the door to Liana's bedroom open and lunged inside, lightsaber in hand.

There were two of them that she could sense. Tiny creatures of appetite and little else, they slithered among the sheets, undetectable by sensors. She could feel their life force. Their hunger. Her lightsaber flared to life as she swung her green blade down toward the princess' slumbering form.

Her aim was precise and lethal. The little bastards squealed as they died, their charred bodies falling limply to the floor. They were kouhun, a species of arthropods often employed by assassins.

Liana by now was startled awake. "Looks like someone just tried to kill you," Eloise said, searching the room. Whoever released the creatures might still be around...

Liana Organa​

 

[Liana Organa]

Liana awoke to see the same sight that had appeared in her dream. The Princess reacted with surprising coherence for someone who just roused from sleep. She reached for the lamp at her bedside, apparently preparing to huck the object at Eloise above her. But she pointed out the chopped up bits of bug smoking on the carpet. "Oh," Liana mumbled. That made a lot more sense in context. She set the lamp back down, and looked closer at her would-be assassins, "Oh!" The implications only now seemed to set in, "Kill me? Why? What did I do?!"

Eloise Dinn​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

“Beats me,” Eloise replied dryly. "Get up. This place isn't safe." She yanked back the bedsheets and flung pillows aside, looking for answers.

By then the commotion had gotten the attention of the rest of Liana’s security team, who ushered the princess out of the apartment under heavy guard. Unable to sense anything, Eloise followed them out. From there word spread to the Pylantians. In a matter of minutes, the hotel was on complete lockdown and the local authorities were called in.

“Appreciate the help,” Eloise remarked to a Pylantian policeman, standing with her arms crossed. They had been brought to a secure bunker in the hotel basement while security scanned Liana’s starship. “I assume assassination attempts aren’t especially common around here?”

“We don’t know for sure yet if it was an assassination attempt,” the cop said.

“Bullshit! Those worms aren’t some native species that broke in. They’re a bounty hunter’s favorite toy!”

The door opened and in slithered Master Kassogtha Cthylla. “Your Highness, I am sorry this has happened,” she said sorrowfully. “Your vessel has been declared clean. We are working with the authorities to find the one responsible for putting the kouhun in your room. But until then, Ambassador Ungoliant and I are in agreement that it would be safest for you to return to Alderaan.”

Just like that? Eloise blinked, her gaze shifting to Liana.

Liana Organa​

 

[Liana Organa]

Pretty soon an investigation was underway from all parties. Liana was sitting down with her head bobbing intermittently, now feeling the drowsiness of having been abruptly awoken from deep sleep.

“We don’t know for sure yet if it was an assassination attempt,”

Quite the assessment by the Pylantians. For a moment, Liana wonder if she would have to explain to them what an 'assassination attempt' was too. Master Cthylla came in soon after, and suggested it was high time for the Alderaanian delegation to take their leave. "I won't argue with you," Liana replied quickly, happy for the excuse to get back to her own bed and away from any murderous worms ASAP. She stood up and stretched, "I uh… We'll keep in touch, I suppose?"

Eloise Dinn​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

That really was just it. They were on Pylos Satnik for less than twenty four hours, just long enough to teach them about slavery and genocide, and now they were leaving. Liana didn't argue with Master Cthylla. Eloise opened her mouth, ready to say something... but for once, she shut it. Liana hadn't been sure what to do about helping the Pylantians. The assassination attempt had ironically given her a way out.

This is messed up.

"I hope you're able to find the assassin," she muttered. But something told her they wouldn't.

"Thank you, Padawan Dinn," Kass said. "The ambassador will contact you. I hope that Alderaan fares well in the coming days. Safe travels, princess."

Liana Organa​