Seek-and-Hide

[Geneviève Lasedri]

Commenor was not a place she had frequented. Only a few times had her feet graced the pavement of its merchant streets. This was where she had urged the Republic to plant its capital long ago, though few had listened. She had no interests in this world herself, but it was certainly a better location than Onderon. The capitol building could not be the only structure taller than two stories if one was to consider a planet as a proper center of government. The vulnerability of that wilderness world made her cringe at the thought every time.

But now she was simply riding along in a shiny landspeeder, fit for an empress. Did that make her royalty? Sometimes she felt like she received adoration on par with a king as Prime Minister of the Republic. The people's society could be a funny thing. It was always tempting to take advantage of it. And sometimes she had to admit that she did.

She absolutely hated the multitude of cameras, however. Despised them. She sucked in deep and balled her fists to hide the stress that was likely evident all over her face if one looked closely enough. Damn the cams. "This sort of parading is really unnecessary," Geneviève grumbled to the bodyguard on her right--one of four other men in the vehicle with the same designation. At least there was that. An escort vehicle sidled beside the speeder, and three other preceeded and succeeded in a processional line. No one could really mistake who was coming with this sort of posse.

She felt vulnerable. Vulnerable enough that she removed her trademarked sunhat to reduce target size. Call it instinct. Or maybe it was all that Force nonsense she was supposed to be in-tune with.

It was probably just paranoia, though. Whatever.

[member="Coryth Elaris"]

 

[Coryth Elaris]

Something was rather strange to the Firemane as she found herself too in a place she'd not frequented herself. A street on a strange planet, and furthermore there was a strange pull. The Force definitely was guiding her feet today as she moved seamlessly through the crowds.

Her eyes fell upon a shiny speeder as it moved by. A woman who Coryth instantly knew as the Prime Minister of the Galatic Republic. It was her duty to know such things these days, being an Exarch herself. Which also strange, for Coryth did not have her own usual guards with her. It was entirely possible that she'd just slipped her security detail as she'd been known to do from time to time. Perhaps this was just another of those times for the tiny redhead.

Further more, she stood in simple clothes, if anything a bit worn through use. Coryth never had been one for fancy clothing and while her office demanded she did wear such things, today she wasn't. Even now, she stood barefoot as she usually prefered. Her saber, a decoration really at her waist with it's special engaving. It had been a rarity that she ever drew it. If fact she could only count twice that she'd used it. And once, was simply a threat, one she had not needed to follow through on.

It was then the same itch in her mind, drew her attention back to that same speeder. Something about the the woman inside, this was the reason the Force had drawn her here today. Then came the sense of danger at the very edge of her perception. Something was coming. Not yet, but it was on the way. And the woman before her was in grave danger.

Glancing over her shoulder, Coryth was quick to cross the distance between the speeder and herself but didn't announce herself. The time was not now, but it was coming. Soon she would be needed. And for now, she would hold back and wait for that moment. There was no need to announce herself like a crazy person, screaming 'Danger! Danger!'. No, no that just seemed foolish to her.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

Something was most definitely out of place. There was a shadow of a sensation--internal and washing over her mind as it brushed past. Then it faded out, though the feeling did not outright disappear. It lingered in a corner, signaling that there was something or someone more to this scene than should be.

The crowds were but white noise to her ears now. She cared little about the adoration or derision they held for her anyway. Someone was here. Not just someone, but someone.

Crack.

She heard it coming before it was even fired. Yet mobility was not as free as her senses. She ducked. That was about all she could do.

The security officer situated next to her slumped over, the shooter obviously off-target--but only by the slightest of margins. He was close. And Gen could tell her unknown attacker was already training his sights again.

Crack. Crack.

Two more shots followed, and while the Prime Minister was able to roll towards the opposite side of the speeder, the sniper was yet on target. Leaning out of the speeder as she attempted to climb over and hide behind the vehicle's hull, one of the shots passed through her left shoulder. And she very much felt it. The politician dropped to the ground--out of gunsight, but not necessarily out of danger--and let loose a string of curses as she was known to do. Of course, no one could blame her in this instance. "Damn! Sithspit. Frakkin' frak sithspit damn frak! Frakkit!"

It was a solid round. She felt the blood seeping out as her right hand darted to press her shoulder. A solid round, just like she would have chosen for the job. "Frak, get me out of here..." she muttered, gingerly swaying as she crawled and shoved off into the dispersing crowds.

But she was alone. It was the first time in years, but now she was truly fending for herself. Her guards had all disappeared--likely slaughtered--and no one was left to lay down their lives to protect this particular woman. She was just like everyone else now.

[member="Coryth Elaris"]

 

[Coryth Elaris]

At the sound of the shots, Coryth was moving quickly. Her preception just slightly ahead of the shooter, thankfully able to press her precognition into something useful during battle. The first shot missed, but the tiny woman did not breathe a sigh of relief. It was not over yet.

But the third shot was the charm, striking it's target. Please don't be dead yet. Please ... As she made it closer she could see Gen still moving. Goodie, not dead. Just what I want. Now if she will only trust me, we can do this. And she might live to see another day. After all Coryth had not seen the wound yet, and didn't know if she could heal the woman and save her. But hell if she wasn't going to do all she could to try and do so.

Coming around the side of the speeder, her lightsaber in hand but unlit as she knelt down beside the Prime Minister. "I'm not here to hurt you, but to get you the feth out of here." She said quickly and urgently. "I can get us both out of here unseen but you have to let me, and you have to stay damn close. Do you trust me? No, you probably don't, but you haven't much option either." She whispered quickly. The Jedi trying to spread a sense of calmness, compassion and caring to the other woman, anything to get her out of there and fast! Time was of the essence and already she could feel the shooter moving. Whether he was running, or coming closer had yet to be seen.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

Did she trust her? Well, she was not dead yet, so that was a good enough sign for now. Then again, Gen had noticed the lightsaber hilt, and while she had no idea of knowing what sort of person she was being 'rescued' by, the possibility of a Sith assassin taking advantage of the perfect opportunity was all too relevant to Gen at this moment. "How much money do you want?" she choked, rolling over and crab-crawling behind the stranger in relation to where the shots had come from. It was selfish and probably disgustingly immoral for her to use the redhead like a human shield, but she was quite honestly not very concerned about morals right now. "I can arrange for a reward." Obviously.

A sense of placidity--so out-of-place--embraced Geneviève for a time, much to her confusion. She needed the urgency; the fear to propel her out of this situation and into the arms of safety. This was no time for calm! The frak? Damn hormones. Was she really experiencing this? Sometimes it was irksome to be a woman. Whatever was going on with her emotions, she needed to get a hold of herself and use her adrenaline. She could hear the sirens from emergency response speeders incoming, but they would not be here in time to save her should the gunman resume firing.

"Take me," Gen conceded, offering her right arm to grasp. "I will trust you."

[member="Coryth Elaris"]

 

[Coryth Elaris]

Coryth blinked. Money? No, she didn't want money. That wasn't why she was doing this. The redhead shook her head. "I don't want a reward. I'm just here to help." She spoke quickly, positioning herself between the Prime Minister and any possible assassin. This was just part of her, wanting to help those that needed it most. And right now, Gen certainly seemed to be needing it.

Sensing the disturbance, Coryth backed off on her Empathy letting emotions return to somewhat normal. The redhead gave a nod as the woman finally gave her permission. Reaching out, she took her arm and held her close. For a moment she closed her eyes as she drew upon the infinite strands of power within the force, and pulled them within herself. It took her a moment or two more before with great care she managed to wrap light itself around the pair of them. Soon enough the both of them would disappear from sight completely. A shimmering field would be visible to their eyes, but to any other they were just gone.

"Stay close, and don't pull away. The veil that covers us both, shielding us from sight ... It doesn't work if you move away from me. Too hard to manage." She said softly, as she pulled the woman closer to her and slowly got to her feet. "Easy now, let's both move together. We'll get out of sight and then I can tend to that wound." With some urging she would slowly take them from the site of the attempted assassination, doing her best to protect the pair of them.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

She practically hugged her rescuer, wrist somewhat loose but arms taut to keep as close as appropriate. She seemed to know exactly where she was going, which indicated that this person was most likely a native... or perhaps an operative. Thoughts of what people do to Prime Ministers after capture began to fill Geneviève's head, wondering if they would dispose of her quickly, or prolong the ordeal with torture and taunts broadcast to the Republic in order to decimate their morale.

Just hope that was not the case. Gen had little say. She had planted her trust in the woman, and as long as she actually did try to fix her wound instead of exploiting it, everything should be fine until they crossed the next figurative bridge.

She had heard of many strange things in her lifetime, and a cloaking device was not entirely impossible--yet she could find none on the form of the redhead. And so her doubts continued to expand, but there was an uncanny calm enveloping herself and her savior. "You're not normal..." Gen murmured.

[member="Coryth Elaris"]