A/N:Hey everyone! Before we get to the story, i just wanted to clarify some things. First of all, this is my sisters story, i'm just posting it for her. Second of all, this story is in place of the second movie. We didn't like everything that happened throughout the second and third episodes, so we (actually her)changed it a little. Hope you like it. Now, on with the story!
"Happy life day!" Dane, Sache, and Rabe stood around Eirtae's bed while Sabe, Padme and Yane held the presents. Eirtae's blue eyes struggled open, then a smile darted across her face.
"What did you do? What is this?" she exclaimed.
"Up!" Rabe ordered. "Sit up or you don't get your presents!" As Eirtae complied, the three women lined up to hand over the presents. And there were a lot of them. The handmaidens and Eirtae's family had been planning this surprise party for a while. Keeping anything hidden for long among the group was a feat of tremendous proportions and they enjoyed their victory.
The surprise party lasted an hour and was filled with laughter and smiles, ad a few tears. As a final gift, Dane pulled a plain, oddly-shaped package from behind the chair and handed it to Eirtae. When Eirtae saw what it was, her eyes got very wide and her jaw dropped. The other handmaidens just smiled.
"Where did you get this?" Eirtae gasped.
"I called my parents." Dane said smugly.
"I don't believe it! This must have cost a fortune!"
"So?" Dane asked. They all looked at her. "I'm kidding! No faith in the art of negotiation, that's the problem here."
The bottle was a very expensive and very rare juice from Tynna. It was also very difficult to find. Dane had had her parents working on this for months.
"Eirtae." Padme said," today is you day off. Go anywhere, do anything, but no work. That is a royal command." This pronouncement caused more laughter, then the others left to help Amidala get ready for the day and Eirtae went back to sleep, still smiling.
The day was uneventful, and rather boring. The seven women went to bed exhausted and slept soundly.
Two Weeks Later…
They were young for full knighthood, but they'd achieved it anyway. They'd broken more rules since their knighthood than most Jedi teams in the order, but they were the most effective team in the. They were rather unorthodox and unpredictable. The Council wasn't sure what to do with them.
When the council called them, Anakin Skywalker and Jayden Darklighter knew something was up. Rarely did assignment briefings require all of the council members to be present.
The two young men, both human, stood silently within the circle of Masters.
"Go to Naboo, you must. Protect the Queen you will. Enemies she has." Yoda said, pointing his finger at them like they were still Padawans. The men looked at each other, wondering what the Council was doing.
"It is not the enemy but the target that dictates the response," answered Master Adi Gallia.
"What enemy warrants two Jedi bodyguards?" Jayden Darklighter asked.
"Queen Amidala is an outspoken ruler. She has given critical support to the Jedi and others on several occasions. Many wish her gone." Mace Windu said. Everyone was silent again. Anakin Skywalker was staring straight at Yoda, wanting to know what wasn't being told. Yoda looked calmly back but seemed slightly uncomfortable at the same time. Jayden and Anakin exchanged another apprehensive look.
"Did Queen Amidala request any help?" Anakin questioned.
'No." Windu answered.
"Does she expect us?"
"No." This time it was Master Ki-Adi-Mundi that answered, shifting in his
seat as he spoke.
"It isn't just the Queen that's in danger, is it?" Jayden asked after a moment. The two younger Jedi's insights were starting to make the council nervous.
"The Queen," Adi Gallid said firmly, "is the first of many in a chain. Knock her down before the next in line can be moved and a chain reaction will start that may not be stoppable. This must not happen, no matter the cost required to stop it." Her words seemed to catch the two men off guard.
"Who?" Jayden asked. Yoda sighed.
"Unsure, we are. Hard to read, the future is," he said.
"This goes far and wide, through the Republic. If Naboo falls, we may not be able to stop it. You must be there, to save the Queen." Windu said, his dark face troubled.
They nodded slowly. "We'll leave as soon as possible." Anakin said. The two Jedi bowed and turned to leave.
"Darklighter, Skywalker," Even Piell said suddenly, "May the Force be with you." They nodded and left.
"I always wanted to go to Naboo." Jayden commented once they were clear of the council chambers.
"Some vacation." Anakin retorted. "Why didn't they choose Obi-Wan? He's actually faced the Sith. And you know they'll show up sometime."
"Kenobi's on some top-secret mission. You haven't checked your messages, have you?" Jayden asked.
Anakin snorted. "Why would I do that?"
The large doors shut behind the young Jedi. The Council members stared after them, wondering again if their plan could work.
"Can they succeed?" Adi Gallia asked.
"Yes." Windu assured her.
"The galaxies best chance." The words rang in the quiet room, echoing in their minds.
"They will succeed." Depa Billaba said. "They have to."
Several hours later, Anakin and Jayden sat in the cockpit of the small freighter they'd been assigned. Jayden sat in the navigation seat sleeping deeply, his head resting against the cockpit wall. Anakin sat in the pilot seat staring out the view port at the swirling colors of hyperspace.
Despite the beauty of the view, Anakin wasn't really looking at it. In his mind he sat through many of his visions and nightmares from the past few years. Old ghost taunted him, unknowns tormented him. His fears of the future refused to let him sleep.
So he watched the explosion of mathematical physics throwing colors all over the view port and waited for the next part of his path to appear. Waited for his next potentially devastating choice to attack him.
A/N: Well how was it? Please review! It will really mean a lot to my sis. Oh, and ifthere are horribly misspelled things, please let me know. Thanx for reading. See ya!