3 Contingencies & Reminders (1/2)
Peace was settled for the time being, but they wanted to know more about something else. He said he would protect and remain in the Naboo system for three months. The question was, where was he going to go afterward?
Leia began to believe that he had a set of contingencies of his own, much like Palpatine. Contingencies which he had set up beforehand since he had the unfaltering power of precognition or farsight.
”From what I've seen, you have things planned out. Care to let us in on where you are going after three months is up?” She asked curiously as she held a bent index finger against her lower lip. Her eyes squinted at him, as if awaiting details to be freely given.
He simply looked at her with a dull expression before smiling lightly, which made the Queen and Leia's wingman raise brows. Taking a holographic projector out of his desk, he placed it on the alabaster grey desktop and switched it on.
Suddenly a blue light encompassed the room, a map of the galaxy appeared with at least sixteen individual sectors highlighted in the Galactic North within the Outer Rim. Situated on the edge of Wild Space and the Unknown Regions and even leading into it until it met with the edge of the Chiss Ascendancy Territory.
The territory which was marked on that hologram matched that of the astrological charts of the Imperial Remnant and the Pentastar Alignment from the Legends version of the Star Wars Timeline.
”What... Is this?” She asked as she stared over the details on the map. There were several planets here which had been liberated by the Empire, but they were indeed highlighted within it.
”Two years prior to the destruction of the Second Death Star, I began setting up my own contingencies. I made secret agreements and concordats with local governments and corporations, that they'd align with me, should the Emperor perish during the Battle of Endor.” Tobias would inform her, as he had already known that the Emperor would perish and hadn't done anything about it.
”...So you were looking forward to the death of the Emperor,” Leia laughed out loud, shaking her head in response to this. Imperials seemed to step over one another all the time, but she hardly came across an Imperial who looked forward to the death of their supreme ruler. ”You also knew he was going to die before he did.”
Of course, there would be ones who would grab at the opportunity to gain control.
However from knowledge found within his Wookiepedia System, Tobias knew that even in legends there had been several coup attempts against the Emperor's rule. In this reality however, it seemed to have happened much less than usual.
Her accusation that he knew, wasn't wrong. He just began to give her a big smug smile in return. There was a little light in his eyes at that time, but it eerily faded away.
”And you didn't threaten these systems?” Lando asked as he looked through the astrological chart of the galaxy which was displayed before them.
”I said concordant, which means mutually beneficial,” The Grand Moff let out a huff hearing the former smuggler's skeptic tone, only to hear it again, but this time in a sarcastic retort.
”Isn't it mutually beneficial when the other end of the deal isn't dead?” Lando tried digging into the man, but only got a stoic response instead. He matched the Moff's gaze and placed his hands on his hips. ”Ya ain't lying, huh?”
Shaking his head slightly, this wasn't in the least bit a formal occasion. At least it didn't feel formal.
The Moff stared at him for a few seconds before leaning back in his seat. ”Still cheating at cards?” He asked without answering the rhetorical question. In this case, he was accusing Lando of dishonesty, or at least implying.
”Right,” Lando Calrissian gave him a look-over. ”Did I play cards with you?”
”No, but I know how you lost the Millenium Falcon. How Han stole your little wrist tricket,” He looked towards the wrist which once housed his cheating deck of cards.
Lando covered his wrist with the cape and made a stern expression, ”What were you, nine?”
”Eight,” Rune corrected as he scratched the side of his head. ”Intelligence didn't know that?” He asked teasingly, his fingers walking across his desk and turning off the projector.
They stared at each other in silence for a good few seconds before they both burst out into laughter. ”This guy's good.” Lando pointed at Tobias as he held his stomach with the other hand.
This little bit of bickering, reminded Tobias of his past life with his family. His brothers and him were always bickering. His sister was always picking his thoughts apart, piece by piece. He personally thought he had a good life prior to this.
Before he could get lost in nostalgia however, a voice took hold of his attention.
”So why are you so... set on marrying me?” Sosha suddenly spoke up, she drummed her finger on her arms as she kept them crossed over her chest.
His eyes flickered on over to the Queen of Naboo, she wasn't fidgeting anymore and seemed rather serious. She was rather interested in a reason. ”Because I like you, I have interest in you and would prefer to have your company.”