Chapter 7
***
Si Tingiri entered her room and collapsed on the bed. She was sound asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Ti’ie, Jun’ie and Da’ie undressed her carefully and put her in her long nightgown. They silently put her clothes away and shut her door. As soon as they reached their own small cots, they too were exhausted, but just then, there was a quiet knock on the door. Da’ie looked out the small peephole and saw three bellboys from the hotel. She opened the door and asked them suspiciously, “Yes? May I help you?”
The three boys were similar in appearance except for their hair. Each had hair a different shade of brown. They stood in a row, the middle one clutching the handle of a cart nervously. His hair was the darkest shade of brown, and his hair was cut, like the other two, close to his head. All three had goatees. He cleared his throat and said, “We were sent with some food for the three servants of the princess. Would that be you ladies?” Da’ie looked to find the other two had joined her at the door.
The three stood dumbfounded for a moment, then Jun’ie spoke up, “Yes, that’s us. Please bring it in.” She smiled at them and held the door open for the boys to pass. They wheeled the cart, covered with a large white cloth, to the middle of the room and quickly went about setting up a table and chairs. They worked quickly, arranging three places, complete with silverware and beautiful china.
The second boy had hair of a ruddy brown color, with flashes of red running through it. He pulled off the cloth with a flourish and the other two lifted the metal lids to the three large platters. Each dish had a bit of everything that had been at Si’s dinner, all arranged beautifully. The boys put the platters on the table, right next to one of the plates. Then serving spoons were placed on the trays. The third boy, whose hair was such a light brown it was almost a dirty blond, reached under the cart and pulled out three dessert glasses, filled with grubs.
When the boys were done setting everything up, the first boy said, "When you ladies are done, just summon us and we'll clean up for you. We'll be waiting in the hall. My name is Devin. This is Tuyen," he pointed to the third boy, who bowed dramatically, “and this is Jonah,” he said about the second boy, who nodded his head. They turned and left the room, dragging the silver cart with them.
***
Gage woke at about eleven a.m., groggy, disoriented, and majorly hung over. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was. He let out a chuckle, realizing he was in his own room. He tried to move his arm, but there was something on it. Correction: someone was on it. Stephanie was asleep beside him.
Oh great! I had way too many body shots. I must have slept with Stephanie again! he thought, starting to panic. He gently tried to push Steph off his arm to no avail. Then he tried nudging her awake, which also didn’t work. Finally, he stretched out his trapped arm as much as he could, anchored his foot squarely on Stephanie’s behind, and shoved as hard as he could, at the same time pulling his arm free. Stephanie fell off the bed, waking upon impact with the floor. She jumped up with a shriek of surprise.
“Sorry Steph, but you were lying on my arm,” he tried to explain.
“That’s okay. I’ll always forgive you, now that we’ve kissed and made up!”
“Listen, Steph, I don’t know what happened last night, but...”
“I’m so happy we’re back together again, and this time for good!” Stephanie squealed happily, ignoring Gage’s mumblings.
“For good? Hey look, I told you last night that we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend. You don’t think that just because we had a one night stand on Corellia, and then a drunken night of passion last night, that we’re actually going steady or anything, do you?”
“Well of course we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend!” Stephanie said cheerfully.
Gage sighed with relief.
Steph shoved her left hand in Gage’s face, showing him a gold band on her finger. “We’re married!”
***
When Si woke the next morning, awake and refreshed, the first thing she did was practice her fighting moves. Soon, she would be going home, and Si wanted to be sure her skills were still in top order.
She was in the middle of her lightsaber exercises when there was a knock at her door. Then another, and another. Si realized that her handmaidens weren’t in the suite.
“Ti’ie? Jun’ie? Da’ie, where are you?” she growled angrily and stomped to the door, forgetting she was still in her pajamas. She swung open the door and said quite loudly, “Yes?”
A nervous page nearly jumped back at her loud voice, then replied, “General Hundi requests your presence in the war conference room, Your Highness.”
“Okay,” she said. Then the page noticed the lightsaber she was holding. When she realized what he was staring at, she hid it behind her back as she closed the door.
“Ti’ie, Da’ie, Jun’ie? Get in here now! Who’s going to dress me?” Si demanded like a spoiled child. When the three servants didn’t show, Si stomped back to her room and grabbed a dress. She threw it on and hurriedly did her hair. It didn’t look very good, but it was better than showing up in her lingerie. Then she grabbed her white dictator’s cloak and walked out of the room, trying to put it on.
You three are certainly going to get it! Si thought angrily. Just as soon as I can find you......
***
Darth Maul sat on the floor in front of his couch, staring at the sabaac board in front of him. “Your move,” he said apathetically.
The droid moved its piece, which killed Maul’s last player.
Maul sighed. He had been wrong. Dressing up the droid in Si’s clothes just wasn’t the same.....
***
“Married? We can’t be married!” Gage said incredulously.
“Oh, but we are. Aren’t you just so happy?” Stephanie squealed, her arms around Gage’s neck.
“Wait, we can get it annulled! Yes!”
Eenine rolled up, emitting a series of beeps and whistles.
“What do you mean, annulments aren’t performed on M’haeli?”For disclaimer, see chapter 1.