Chapter 1

Qui-Gon Jinn tried to repress the urge to roll his eyes as he exited the Queen's throne room. The current Queen of Naboo, Queen Malika, was a bit older than usual for the ruler of the Naboo and had developed a sense of paranoia at the coming close of her second term of office. She had requested that a Jedi preside over the final round of elections with the belief that some anarchist group or other would attempt to disturb it. He had spoken to her upon his arrival, but she refused to cooperate with the security forces to prevent the problem.

Qui-Gon had no doubt that something would happen on this mission – he had encountered a disturbance in the Force as soon as he had stepped off his ship. He couldn't tell at this point whether its intent was good or bad, but he knew to let the feeling run its course.

As he walked across the stone floors, Qui-Gon picked up a nearly imperceptible change in the flow of energy around him. He had a sudden impression to follow the changes to its source. Qui-Gon wove through the empty halls, searching for the source in the change of energy. Finally he came to a closed door that reverberated with the squeals of young children.

Of course, Qui-Gon thought, I had to find a youngling on this mission. He sighed, but followed his urge to knock on the door. A pregnant woman answered the door, revealing a group of about fifteen children under the age of ten running around the room.

"Whose children are these?" he asked softly, stepping into the room. Most of the children paid no attention to his entrance with the exception of a little girl that looked to be about eight.

"Children of the diplomats working in the elections, Master Jedi," the pregnant woman answered. Qui-Gon nodded and gestured inquiringly to a small chair in a corner of the large room.

"May I sit and observe for a few moments?" he asked. The woman hesitated, but finally nodded her assent. Qui-Gon sat down in the chair and watched the children play, certain that one of them was the source of the ripple in the Force. The woman soon left the room, informing the Jedi that she would be back shortly. As soon as she was gone the little girl that had watched him enter sat down at his feet, spreading her fine dress around her before she sat down.

Qui-Gon could feel her curiosity seep into the Force as she stared at him with her head cocked slightly to one side. She looked a little small for her age, but her green eyes betrayed her intelligence. Her long brown hair had been elaborately coiffed in the style of the Naboo, painstakingly braided and pinned to mimic the style of the current Queen. A beautiful white dress – masterfully made – indicated her as a daughter of one of the fairly wealthy royal-appointed diplomats or aides that were required to prepare for the upcoming elections.

"You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" the little girl asked with perfect clarity.

"Yes," he answered, then leaned in conspiratorially, "I'm on a very important mission for the Queen – top secret, you know." She raised an eye in disbelief and shook her head.

"No it's not," she retorted, "I know why you're here! To watch the elections!"

Qui-Gon tried his best to look stern at her, "And how would you know that?"

She shrugged her shoulders and looked at the floor, "I listened, I guess…"

Qui-Gon was surprised at her simple answer. He had by now deduced that she had some connections to the Force and routinely used her mind to check on the conditions of the various children running around the room. Qui-Gon did think it strange that he couldn't sense her through the Force, but she could have figured out how to use the Force to conceal her energy signature.

"What did you listen to?" he asked, "There are not many that know of my presence here."

"I just knew you were coming," she said matter-of-factly.

The pregnant woman came back into the room just then – both the Qui-Gon and the girl were aware of her coming presence long before she entered through the door. The girl hurriedly scurried away from the Jedi and back to the pack of children where she resumed playing dolls with a younger girl in a nearly identical dress. Qui-Gon stood up and walked over to the woman who had taken a seat in a chair by the door.

"That little one there," Qui-Gon said, gesturing to the little girl he had been talking to, "Who are her parents?" The woman didn't answer for a moment, and seemed visibly nervous.

"She's my daughter," she said finally, staring at him as if daring him to talk to her daughter.

"How old is she?"

"Nearly eight."

Qui-Gon frowned slightly at her answer – usually children were brought to the Temple as infants or toddlers. If he brought this girl to the Temple now she would always remember her family, and her family would remember her as well.

"What is her name?" he asked.

"Rhys Talik Naberrie," came the reply. The Jedi Master thought for a moment; he would definitely have to contact the Council about the girl. He made up his mind, then stood up and walked to the door.

"May I contact you after the elections?" he inquired. The mother hesitated, but gave her information. Qui-Gon saw that little Rhys saw and heard everything that had transpired between him and her mother. The Jedi thanked the mother, then left to his chambers to contact the Council.

"A vergence in the Force?"

Qui-Gon stood in front of his communicator that displayed him in front of the Jedi Council. His friend, Mace Windu, had seemed apprehensive at first, but had gradually warmed to the idea of accepting Rhys as a youngling in the Temple.

"Yes," Qui-Gon answered, folding his hands in front of him, "She is strong with the Force already, and I do not believe that I was led to her for any other purpose. She is meant to be a Jedi, I know it."

Master Yoda, who until this point had said nothing, suddenly spoke, "About the girl's abilities, how feel the parents?"

Qui-Gon sighed, "They don't whole-heartedly support the idea that their daughter could be a Jedi. They seemed to be very family-oriented." Master Yoda nodded sagely, then closed his eyes in thought.

"Go to Naboo, I must," the ancient Jedi said. The rest of the Council stared at him in shock – the oldest Master hardly ever left the Temple for such matters, "Important to the future, this youngling is. Need her, we will, to battle against the growing disturbance in the Force. Teach her myself, I will. After the elections, arrive I will."

Qui-Gon tried not to stare in disbelief – Yoda was offering to be her teacher before even meeting the girl. Then again, the old Master was known for his power of foresight and visions of the future. He bowed, then disconnected the transmission as a summons from the Queen came over his communicator. This is going to be a long mission, he thought as he accepted the summons.

Just as Qui-Gon had thought, the elections ran smoothly and soon a new Queen was on the throne – nineteen-year-old Queen Berendala. After giving his respects to the new Queen, Qui-Gon headed out to the main palace hanger where Yoda was due to arrive any moment. Soon enough, the transport carrying the little green Master touched down. Qui-Gon bowed as Yoda exited the ship.

"The elections, successful they were?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, Master. Everything went smoothly."

"Good, good," the ancient master said, "To the Naberrie home, guide me."

Both Jedi entered a shuttle to take them to the Naberrie's home outside of the capitol city, Theed in the nearby Lake Country. Most of the planet was out celebrating the new elections, but Qui-Gon had made sure that the Naberrie's would be at home. He had contacted them alerting them to Master Yoda's interest in their daughter. The father, Ruwee, had been far more receptive to his contact than the mother, Jobal. She was wary of the Jedi, but had allowed Qui-Gon to interact with Rhys in order to determine the depth of her Force connection.

As Qui-Gon had come to know the girl, he had discovered the she was very connected to the world around her. Rhys seemed to have an empathetic connection through the Living Force, feeling the emotions of those that surrounded her. The little girl had actually found her way to where he was sitting during the elections, and was quite content to talk with him about his adventures and life at the Jedi Temple for the course of several hours.

The two Jedi finally arrived at the Naberrie's home in the Naboo Lake Country. Qui-Gon couldn't help but marvel at the crystal waters, serene mountains, and the beautiful harmony of the nature around him. This place was teeming with the Living Force that created an air of peace and tranquility. When they reached the door, Yoda rapped gently on the wood with his gimer stick. Ruwee, dressed in his ceremonial robes from earlier in the morning, opened the door and welcomed the two Jedi into his home.

Jobal and Rhys were waiting for them in a small sitting room. As they entered, Ruwee explained that their younger daughter Sola was taking a nap. Jobal still eyed the Jedi warily, but seemed to accept their presence for the time being. Rhys quietly regarded Yoda with curiosity and amazement – she had never seen anyone so old and so small.

"Strong in the Force, your daughter is," the ancient master said, placing his gnarled hands on top of one another, "Willing to take her as my padawan learner, I am. Take this offer lightly, you should not."

Both of the Naberrie's looked at Yoda in shock – Qui-Gon hadn't told them about the old master's offer on his request to tell them himself. They had never dreamed that the legendary Jedi Council member would even consider taking their daughter as his student, and knew that his offer was something rarely – if ever – given.

"If she goes to the Jedi Temple, will we ever see her again?" Jobal asked, fear and sadness evident in her voice. Yoda closed his eyes in thought.

"Unorthodox, this event is. For her and your safety, keep your name she cannot," The mother's face fell at his words, "However," Yoda added, "Foresee I do a time when needed by her kin, she will be. Willing to allow contact with her family, I am, if interfere they do not."

Both parents let out a sigh of relief at his words. Qui-Gon was genuinely surprised at the grizzled master's words – very few exceptions were made when considering younglings to be brought to the Temple. Qui-Gon didn't always agree with the Council's methods and rules, but now he could feel that this was the right course for the girl's future.

"Do I get to live in the Temple with you?" Rhys asked, stepping away from her parents.

"Yes," Qui-Gon answered her, "But you'll be able to contact your parents through message and holos." Yoda stood up and addressed Rhys and her parents.

"Settled, it is. A Jedi Knight, she will be."