Zyta

"Did anyone hear about the dinner and dance the Menarai is hosting for the heads of society in this part of the Rim?" asked Kirin, flying into the Room-Behind-the-Waterfall.

"No, should I have?" I replied, not looking away from the news on my data card.

"It's all over Coruscant. The Menarai is hosting it, and you know how good Xed is. Everyone who is everyone is going, and there's a rumor that the legendary Sailor Jedi are going to be there. I wonder who started that...."

A voice from behind Kirin startled us both.

"Well, then. We mustn't disappoint them," Kyoko spoke, smiling.

"YOU started the rumor?"

"No, Nom did at my request."

"Fine. But where would we get that kind of money for jewelry and clothing? And wouldn't we be recognized?" I interrupted.

"Hello. What's the subject we seem so interested in? Could it be the 'Menarai Ball'?" Hisui greeted us, walking in.

"Yup," we all replied in unison.

"What if we transformed and then changed from fukus into whatever clothing we wear? Wouldn't that work? Besides, it is masquerade." I wasn't really paying attention. I was already thinking of the ball. White vine silk, black Movetai moth fiber lace, floor length... A really handsome human male....

"Yoo-hoo! Coruscant to Zyta! Wake up, Zyta!" Kirin called, breaking my thoughts.

"Ooh!! Looks like she's dreaming of someone..." Chikako said, teasing me as she came out of her room.

"Am not! Besides, there is the question of money. I'm not sure, but I don't think that the Council is gonna lend us anymore money," I retaliated, blushing furiously.

I knew that the dress that I had dreamed of would cost as much as a really good landspeeder. Where would we get that much...CRASH!

"OW! Who put that chair right there?" A familiar voice from the floor came floating up.

I smiled. It was Mika. Had to be. Nobody but Usagi and Mika were that clumsy.

"Zyta does have a point. Where can we get that much money?" Kirin did get to the point quickly.

A golden brown head popped up from one of the bigger chairs, saying, "Mama has that much. Don't you?" Chakra had been listening in.

Another head, but black and in braids, popped up. "I most certainly do not. If I did, why would I still be wearing rancor hides?" Nom had been there as well.

"Because you like them."

"You do have a point. I might have enough, but why use it for clothing?"

I sank into my thoughts (and into the couch as protection) as Nom and Chakra started hurling pillows and cushions at each other with the Force.

Hmmm...... Both Nom and Chakra are using the Force for trivial things, and Nom says, as well as Xarae, that she knows how to disguise someone with the Force. I wonder if that would work... we do have some Force talent when in our Senshi state. Wouldn't that work?

I stood up and POW, I got a pillow in the stomach. I made a perfect pratfall, and all the pillows and cushions fell from air, hitting some people on the head.

"Good joke that is, Nom. Grand it is." Numako had heard the commotion and had come to see what it was about.

I staggered up. That pillow had hurt, but not much. I had just gotten the wind knocked out.

"I just had a thought before I got socked with a pillow. The Jedi use the Force for disguises, remember? So do the Sith. Why can't we? We have some Force talent in our Senshi form. We transform, and our fukus are disguised. Nom and Xarae have done something like that before. Ippin and Koumi have the skill help us keep up the disguise," I said, holding the pillow to my stomach. That had really startled me.

A group of confused voices met her idea.

"Huh?"

"Would that even be safe?"

"How..."

"Safety is important....."

"You know, it just might work." Ippin had been thinking about it while the rest ran around like Earth chickens with their heads cut off.

"It might, but do we have enough time and Force users?" Annika had just returned from her lessons.

"Sure. The ball isn't until tonight. But... Will the main Force users please stand up? Come on, stand up! Thank you. We have about five, not including Chakra, for twenty-two people. It will take a great deal of Force do this." Sutaru had popped her head up from her spot under one of the tables. She had been helping Kairiku dismantle a comlink and change the frequency. I looked closer.

"Hey, that's my comlink! You nerfherder! Give that back!" I yelled, stalking over.

Kairiku took one look at me and ran. I held out my hand. Sutaru gave it back. I looked at it and told her to fix it.

While Sutaru and I were have our confrontation, Nom, Chakra, Xarae, Numako, Koumi and Ippin had been talking. It looked like a powwow on an American football field. 43, 23 13..Hut Hut! ran though my mind.

The powwow broke up, and Ippin pointed at me. "Zyta, do you want to go first?"

Did I? Hmm.....What is mesa thinking?! "YES!" I cried.

There was a lot of muttering, but Nom broke though and told me to transform. "Tatooine Power Make UP!"

I transformed and came out posing.

Nom shook her head. She wasn't fond of poses. Although, I had noticed she posed a lot in her Senshi form, so I stuck my tongue out at her when she wasn't looking.

Xarae had noticed and was covering her mouth, stifling the laugh.

"OK, folks. Let's get this on the Space Lanes. We don't have eternity," Mika contributed her two decicreds.

"She's got a point. Let's get started. The deal starts in about two hours," Xarae had managed to stifle the laugh and got us started.

Nom started chanting.

Halfway though, I thought of something. "Hey wait! How's she gonna know what to change me like?" I could see it now. Knowing Nom, she'd probably put me in leather and studs.

Nom winked (!!) and shocked us all.

"Don't worry. This is what I did with my mother on Dathomir. I see the person's idea and they become it."

As we all digested what had just happened, (NOM using a contraction? INCONCEIVABLE!) she finished her spell.

"Koumi, please link this to her Force."

I was looking good. I was now wearing what looked like and felt like the dress of my dream - a floor length white vine silk, Movetai black moth fiber lace. I even had a lace fan and stole to match. I reached up and touched my hear. It was gelled and wild. I tried to walk, and noticed I had on black heels. "Oh wow! I can't believe it... This is just what I wished!" I walked over carefully and hugged them, Nom becoming stiff as I did. "Sorry Nom. But Thanks! Can you do it again?"

Chakra giggled. "If Mama can do it once, what makes you think she can't do it again?"

Nom shot what I had come to call the "Lasered-to-ashes-and buried-six-feet-down-look." It didn't have much effect on her daughter. Maybe Chakra got it a lot in the Future.