• Duchess Missing •

"My lady, is everything alright?" Rex asked as the furious woman excited the senate. She hobbled with her walking stick, desperate to get back to her room. "They wouldn't listen." Isma snapped as she kept walking, blind green eyes looking beyond him. "Here let me help you," Rex offered as he reached out to help the woman walk back to her room. "No." She snapped. "I don't need help. I need to think of a way to convince the senate that I am not a helpless royal from Statera. I need time." She added. The captain was taken back by her demonstration of an attitude he didn't even know she could possess. "Should I get senator Amidala? Perhaps she-" "No." the woman snapped once more. "You will leave me to my business, captain Rex. If I require your help any further I will call for you." "But, my lady-" "Good day to you captain." She added sharply before continuing the walk to her room on her own.

"Count Dooku," Isma spoke to the shining image of the man who contacted her earlier. "Grand Duchess," his words were slimy and double sided, Isma could tell, but she was also blinded by rage. His deceitfulness didn't matter to her in this moment, all that did was vengeance. "I have had more time to consider your offer." She spoke, her pale green eyes looked right past him. "And some unintentional persuasion on the senate's behalf." She added, her expression twisting into one of distaste as she mentioned the senate and the people who had condemned her as weak. They had been the final straw to break the camel's back and now Isma was like a viper, ready to strike. She was a wolf in sheep's clothing but now she was ready to shed her wool coat and bear her teeth. "I will join you." She replied. "Tell me what I need to do."

"The senate wants me to speak for Statera?" Solin asked as Padme Amidala and General Skywalker entered his quarters. "Why? I'm a general of our army, not a man of politics." He stated. "The senate wants to hear from a true elemental, not just a politician." Padme replied and Solin's eyes narrowed at her. "How did Isma feel about this?" He asked and there was an unpleasant silence amongst the group. "I didn't get the chance to speak with her after the meeting." Padme replied hesitantly, "but from what I understand, not well." Solin winced. "Yeah.. She's never been one to take too kindly to people disregarding her opinion." Solin replied. Being both blind and a non elemental on the planet that was home to elementals and a family full of elementals, Isma was tossed aside a lot and branded as the one who's voice didn't matter for she wasn't like the rest. Solin knew this, and he knew how much it upset her. "Let me speak with her first, see if I can reason with her." Solin said as he stood but not long after the words left his mouth Captain Rex burst into the room. "Erm General, sir," he addressed Anakin before turning to Solin and Padme, "I regret to inform you that Isma is missing."

"Missing?!" Solin shouted, panic was now evident in his voice. "How could you loose a whole woman?" He demanded and the captain seemed just as frantic and worried as Solin himself if not worse. "I don't know! She requested time alone after the meeting and when I went to check in on her she was gone!" He replied. Solin sprung into action, pushing past everyone and running to his sister's room. Rex followed and so did Anakin and Padme. And sure enough, her room as empty. "I don't understand how you could let a crippled and blind woman just disappear." Solin seethed. "We'll" Anakin began as he sensed the obvious tension. "She couldn't have gotten far. Rex, my legion, and I will lead a search for her." He informed Solin before turning to Padme. "I suggest you return to your office until we have this figured out, my lady." The pair exchanged a look that conveyed several emotions before finally splitting apart and Padme returned to her quarters.