A Tale of One Togruta

A flash of brilliant white between two beautiful and perfect golden lips. His eyes iridescent, gleam in similar golden hues. The strapping Togruta moves toward the Alderaanian courtesan Minmora through the sea of the people enjoying the party. As she watches, the sea of bodies seems to part before him, unable to hold his charms back. He wears a formal suit, blue to highlight the vibrant hue of his skin with ivory accents.

In the Courtesan’s chest, she feels her heart race. Is the beautiful Togruta moving in slow motion or is she simply smitten? She’s staring but can’t help herself. Biting her lip in anticipation, she suddenly realizes the man is upon her and covers her face with her decorative fan. It helps to shield the obvious flush in her cheeks.

“You certainly are the loveliest creature I’ve seen in this parsec,” he muses as he approaches. Minmora swears his right eye twinkles as the golden Togruta speaks. His hand extends to accept hers. Still fanning with her right hand, Minmora of house Alde offers her left hand to the suitor. Her knuckles are kissed without a break in eye-contact. “I am Vetiti, emissary from the Deep Stellar Coalition. It is a pleasure to be in your presence.”

Eyebrows risen and hand extended, Minmora struggles to formulate a dignified reply. Her thoughts are a fog. Her reply comes as, “Oh?”

“Absolutely,” he grins, removing a glass of sparkling wine from a tray as the server passes. “These parties can be so dull and redundant. Small talk as each lord, earl, count, and viscount is introduced with his mistress. The same finger-food and mid-tier wines being served. The repetition of diplomatic discourse on current events. I’m sure the next five men who engage me will share their opinions on the war between Empire and Republic.”

Minmora giggles at his honesty. Vetiti is different from the men walking into the ballroom with monocles, mutton chops, and greying beards. He’s clean-shaven and exotic. His tunic is form fit and suggests muscular definition rather than the round hairy bellies of the older men smoking cigars and opining about their vast wealth. “Then why do you come?”

“Duty and opportunity,” he quips back quickly. He sips his sparkling wine and leans closer. “Formals and balls like this are ripe with intrigue and scandal. Affairs. Rival vying for authority or power. The back room deals between the ultra-wealthy. And let us not forget, beautiful young women caged away because their fathers plan to wed them off to further aspirations of power.”

Vetiti winks and Minmora feels her chest flush and throat pulse with her heartbeat. The golden Togruta hands the young courtesan his glass of sparkling wine to share. Without hesitation, she sips, breaking unspoken rules of the family regarding conduct at the ball. “Are you seeking to wed such a caged person?”

“The night is young and so are we,” Vetiti whispers. “It could be fun to go for a walk in the hedge maze in the moonlight. I could bring a blanket in case you caught a chill.”

Luckily the fan before her face covers the nervousness and ever deepening blush. The sound of blaster fire spattering the ornately decorated fresco ceiling also serves to distract from her shaking knees. Like those around her, Minmora takes to the ground instinctively. Her new golden acquaintance, however, lets slip as sigh of annoyance.

“Alright you pompous movers and shakers.” Shouts a man in a mask standing in front of two more would-be criminals with big, scary guns. “We’re just here for your jewelry and a few canopies.” The trio of bandits snicker and begin to collect the bracelets, necklaces, and rings from the women in their fine dresses and loose credit chips and ornate time pieces from the tuxedoed men.

Vetiti looks down at Minmora. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Minmora watches the Togruta remove the timepiece from his own wrist and move toward the lead bandit who is busy hurrying Count Dremora Ulgo’s mistress to begrudgingly remove the massive malachite stone given to her that very night. The date for an evening seems to be upset at losing a trinket that could be hocked for a year’s rent.

“Oh dear. Oh my. Please sirs. This insanity must be put to rest. Take your trinkets and go.”
Minmora stares, shocked the same suave and composed Togruta seems to be on the verge of tears as he begs the bandits to leave. The uncouth display seems to make the brigands laugh once more. Their leader besets Vetiti poking the beautiful Togruta with the barrel of his rifle. Vetiti looks down, clearly as ashamed of the display as Minmora is disappointed.

“Shut up, pretty boy, and empty your p-” But the lead thief can’t finish his demand. His jaw cracks and blaster fires into the air, once more besmudging the priceless mural on the ceiling with further holes, as Vetiti’s fist adorned with his now crusted timepiece sends the robber to the ground with a thud.

Both criminal companions turn at the sound of the shots, raising their own big scary rifles in threatening gesture. Yet, those weapons seem to leap from the hands of the bandits. One even topples to the floor, chasing the weapon as it skids across the marble floor. It takes but a moment for them to realize, the golden Togruta is the only one left with a weapon, their lead bandit’s gun in Vetiti’s hands. “I hope you tried the canopies on the way in,” he says with a smile.

There was clapping and a scurry of several of the more agile regal men present to pick up the dropped blasters of their former accosters, each wanting to seem a tad heroic as they hold the bandits hostage until law enforcement arrives. The party largely resumes moments later, the bandits being taken away by Lords Balmor and Incar of house Ulgo to guestroom to wait for the authorities. Minmora listens as several men detail how they were about to spring into action, including her own father who she thinks she can recall hiding under a table without concern for his wife of daughter. It makes Minmora giggle, but she’s unsure why.

The handsome Togruta appears once more from the crowd, returning to her. He holds out a hand once more. “So,” he says. “About that walk?”