Hidden Secrets

Prologue

A young woman carefully walks through the busy streets of Coruscant. Her dark gray cloak, hiding the Mandalorian armor, she wore underneath as she makes her way through the crowd.

A small whimper comes from the little girl that grasped the young woman's hand tightly. "Hush now, it will be alright young one." The woman said soothingly, while her view-plate scanned to crowd with caution. The little girl edged closer to the woman, until she was practically covered by the cloak. Her large, sharp, blue eyes darting around to the noise around them.

The Mandalorian crouched down beside the child and gently brushed a hand through the child's hair. "Don't worry, he'll be here," she said. "He is a kind person that will take good care of you."

"But...I want to stay with you," the little girl whimpers. Her lower lip starts to tremble. "This won't be forever," The woman says quickly. "I will come back to get you as soon as I can. It's just not safe for you to stay with me right now. These people will keep you safe until I can come back and get you."

"Bo-katan?"

Bo-katan jerks to her feet, stepping protectively in front of the child. A young man emerges from the crowd, his long cloak covering his noble clothing. "Senator Organa?" said Bo, her hand resting carefully on her pistol. The man raises his hands in caution. "It is I.  Alone."

Bo-katan relaxes a bit. Organa's eyes find the child, who was still hiding behind the young Mandalorian. "Is this the one you spoke to me about?" Bo nodded, letting out a heavy sigh that she didn't realize she'd been holding. Bail Organa nods in empathy. "I'm sorry that it came down to this..." Bo shook her head. "What matters is that she is safe and far away from....Him." Bo didn't dare say his name.

"She will be safe, and well taken care of."

Bo nods solemnly. Crouching down in front of the child, Bo-katan removes her helmet and gazes softly at the little girl before her. "Remember what I told you, okay?" Before Bo could even react, the little girl with her eyes full of tears, threw her arms around Bo's neck in an embrace. It took only Bo a moment before she returned it. Bo had told herself she would not cry in front of the child. If any tears were to be shed, it would be when the child is safe and away from her. "You must go with him now," Bo said, her throat beginning to tighten. "It's not safe with me right now. Senator Organa, will keep you safe until I can return."

"When?" the child mumbled into Bo's shoulder. Bo couldn't answer. Instead, she reluctantly pulled the child from their embrace and gently cupped the girl's face in her hands, wiping away any lingering tears. "I will come back for you. I promise. I don't know when, but I will. I will need you to be strong for me until then, okay?"

The little girl nodded before slowly breaking away from Bo and walking to Bail Organa, lifting her arms up to him. Gentilly the young senator scopes up the child.

Bo gets to her feet and quickly puts her helmet back on. Her throat had tightened to the point where she could not speak without the risk of tears being evident in her voice.

"Stay in touch," Bail Organa said gently.

Bo could only nod in return.

Suddenly before either of them could take the first step to leave, a small shop only a few meters way exploded into flames. The impact hit Bo like a wall. The last thing Bo saw was the terrified look on her little girl's face before everything went black.

Bo awakens to complete chaos around her as citizens are frantically trying to stop the flames, and rescue the injured from the ruble. Completely ignoring the sounds of screams, and sobs around her, Bo scrambles to her feet and looks for the Senator and child. Where is she? Is she alright? If anything happens to her.... Bo couldn't finish that last thought.

"Bail!" Bo hisses, not wanting to say his formal name in risk of drawing attention. "Bail! Ad'ika!"

"Bo." Came a faint voice.

Bo turned to the sound of the voice and saw Bail Organa struggling to sit up among the ruble around him. Bo rushed to his side. "Are you alright?" Bail nodded. "Only had the wind knocked out of me. What happened?"

"The nearby shop exploded."

The young senator's eyes widened. "The child-"

"Where is she?" Bo said, trying not to let her voice sound strained.

"She- She was here... I had her when the explosion happened..."

Bo couldn't bear it any longer. "Ad'ika!" Bo shouted, scanning the debris around them for any signs of her little girl. She HAS to be here. She MUST.

"Ad'ika!" Bo shouted again. Bo didn't care about drawing attention anymore she wasn't going to stop until the child was safe in her arms again. She had made a promise. Bo shouted until her throat felt raw.

It wasn't until Bo felt a gentle hand on her shoulder did, she stop shouting.

"Bo...."

Bo swallowed hard. She knew what the Senator was going to say but didn't have to say it. Bo was thankful for the covering of her helmet as the tears she had worked so hard to contain came pouring out.  The Child was nowhere to be seen, and Bo knew that neither the Senator nor her could risk being spotted here. They needed to leave. Her little girl was gone.