I'm so sorry, I almost forgot about this story. Cripes, I'm going to forget every story if I'm not careful! Please review.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine....you know that, right?
The mother of the young force-sensitive went back to her house, carefully shut and locked the door, and breathed in slowly. So far, so good, she thought, walking silently over to Luminara's crib to place the baby inside.
"Watch her closely," she told the nanny droid, who nodded acquiescingly.
"Yes, mistress," the droid replied in its monotone. She bit her lip, looked at her child once more, and went out of the room to prepare supper. Meanwhile, the baby girl gurgled happily in her crib, rocking back and forth in her small, black baby-shift. She seemed so happy, so innocent…Yet someone was watching the whole scene, who would soon change all that, and not for the better.
Mace Windu stretched as the meeting ended and checked the wall chrono. It was 17h35. He managed to refrain from yawning and went to join the other Jedi who were also heading out. Another little giggle filtered in through his shields, and he tried not to smile.
Ever since he had bonded with the young Mirialan baby, he could almost sense her with him at nearly ever single moment, and her signature never faded. She will grow up to be a great Jedi, he vowed silently. If the Force grants me the privilege to train her, then I will do so.
"Hey, Mace," Qui-Gon said, dropping back to join his friend. "You look like you're deep in thought. What's up?"
"Hey, Qui," Mace replied. "I'm thinking about the little one we met earlier this morning."
"Luminara?" He nodded.
"I can still feel her here, in my head." He thought for a while, unsure of how to explain it. "It's like, she's everywhere in my head, and she knows I'm there. She can even send signals to me through this bond. Not in words," he added hastily at his friend's narrowed look, "but rather in feelings and emotions. In fact," he said, grinning slightly, "I can sense her trying to turn off her nanny droid right now, and her feelings of frustration and concentration." Qui-Gon rolled his eyes.
"You are really enjoying this, aren't you?" he asked, almost accusingly, aiming a smirk at his friend. Mace blushed, the color blooming underneath the dark brown complexion of his cheeks.
"Maybe," he reluctantly admitted. "She is very interesting, Qui, and I do feel that we both share a bond. In fact, though she's almost a year-and-a-half-old, she can communicate quite well with me." Qui-Gon looked thoughtful.
"Perhaps you should tell this to the Masters," he suggested as they came out into Mirial's hot afternoon. Mace snorted, which was very uncommon for him to do.
"Why?" He looked straight at his friend, raising his eyebrow. "I actually like being connected with her, and I don't want anyone to interfere right now, especially you," he jabbed a finger at his friend's chest, "Qui-Gon." His friend started laughing out loud, and only after Mace glared at him did he sober up…somewhat.
"I always said, Macey-boy, that you needed a padawan to help you loosen up a bit," he said, smirking again. Mace tried not to smile as he whacked his friend's shoulder.
"Owww, Mace…" Qui-Gon Jinn tried to pout innocently. Mace looked at him, sternly.
"Then you, Qui-Gon, should take on another padawan, as it will sober you up," he mocked Qui-Gon's kind of squeaky voice. Qui-Gon was not impressed.
"Mace, you do a really bad impression of my voice, did you know that?" he asked, the grin quite not slipping off his face. Mace sighed.
"Quiggy," he said exasperated, "did you know you scream like a girl? Honestly, we Jedi are more mature than that." Avoiding Qui-Gon's shove, he smiled and said, "Come on, let's catch up to the others before they start wondering about us!" Quickly, the two shut their mouths, put their hoods over their heads, and started to jog down the trail to catch up to the others. As Mace led, he continually thought about young Luminara.
The girl needed training, no doubt about that, and she needed to get to the Temple before anything befell her. His brow crinkled in concern as he continually felt her presence, sometimes growing drowsy, then waking up to constant curiosity. He smiled again. He couldn't help it; her bright presence was enough to bring a smile to even the most hardened and stoic Jedi Master.
Suddenly, he gasped aloud. Luminara had disappeared; nothing left could tell him where she could have gone. He searched in his mind for her, and couldn't sense any of her thoughts. Either she's blacked out, he thought grimly, heading towards where he had last felt her presence, or she's been taken, her use of the Force blocked.
"Mace," Qui-Gon asked as his friend's face paled considerably, "what's wrong?"
"It's Luminara; I can't feel her anymore. I've got to go after her, Qui, to find out what happened to her, at least." Mace started to run. He looked at his friend over his shoulder. "Go back and tell the Masters what I'm doing, and what's happened. I need to find her." He turned back to look ahead, not knowing or caring if his friend joined him or did what he asked. I've got to go find her, he thought desperately, or at least try. She's so little and innocent, and full of hope. I've got to find her before she's gone and/or dead. Oh Force, help me find her, please. She means a lot to me. He heard a steady pounding besides him, and looked. There was Qui-Gon.
"I…I thought you were…going back to…tell the Jedi…what happened to me?" he asked, pausing to breath so as to avoid getting a stitch in his side.
"Are…you kidding?" Qui-Gon asked. "I'd rather go with you rather than face them. 'Sides, I don't know where you're going, so I might as well follow." A tight smile wound its way across his face. "Mace, you…need my…help," he said between breaths. Mace grinned at him.
"Thanks, Qui," he returned. "Sure glad…you're coming with." Qui-Gon laughed.
"That's what friends are for," he said, overtaking him with a grin. Mace grinned back in response to the challenge and ran faster. I'm glad he's my friend, and that he's here, because I think I'll need his help…again! He looked forward as he took back the lead. Hold on, Luminara; I'm coming for you!
Okay, Mace and Quiggy are on a race against time to get her. What will happen next? (hey, don't ask me. I'm the author, I know, but, sad to say, I don't know what's going to happen next, so give me a break please!) Review please! :D Thank you! ; )