2]

The Jedi Temple. It was, in a single word: Enormous! Kat thought the Theed Palace was big, but this place had so many rooms, there was a good chance she was going to get lost.

She had been lucky enough to arrive on a day the Temple was open to the public, and had quickly become distracted, taking the opportunity, like many other visitors, to look around.

Kat had already seen several training rooms filled with children who looked not much older than herself, as well as another room with older Jedi practicing with their laser swords. Lightsabers, she thought they were called. She had even seen much older Jedi, although they weren't practicing. They were just wandering around looking important.

There were members of the Senate there too. Some were talking with more distinguished-looking older Jedi, while others walked quickly through the building down the main hall. Kat took a moment to stop on the path and peer over the side of the balcony down into another level which was open and revealed a set of statues she assumed were monuments of great Jedi. After deciding she'd like to go down and take a closer look at them, she spun round and ran smack into a big man wearing a Jedi uniform, though this one was a bit different. She noticed the material was fancier, a different shade and more tightly woven.

"Are you visiting?" a friendly voice asked her, causing Kat to look far up to a face which did not quite match the voice. For some reason, the dark-skinned man didn't look very pleased.

"Yes," she replied quietly, suddenly nervous.

"Where is your escort? Are you on a field trip with a class? Or are you with your parents?"

So many questions! How could she lie to this man? He was a Jedi! And he looked like an important one. If she wasn't truthful with him, would he know? Couldn't Jedi tell if someone was lying to them? Wasn't that like one of their superpowers?

Another one of the handmaiden mottos had something to do with honesty, but she really didn't want to think about that right now.

"My Dad's here," she told the stern-faced gentleman, not lie really, although she wasn't sure where he was.

"Is that so? Is he a delegate perhaps? What's his name? I may know him and can assist you in locating him."

Kat swallowed hard. It was her luck that she would run into the apparent watchdog of the Jedi Temple!

"I don't think you do," she began, causing one dark brow on the man's face to lift high onto his bald head. The thought of running away occurred to Kat, although she doubted she'd get very far.

Thankfully, another Jedi walked up to get his attention, allowing Kat to make a hasty exit. She hurried into a crowd of uniformed students who were strolling along studying rather ornate pieces of artwork hanging on the walls. She did her best to blend in, though a few of them were starting to give her strange looks.

Unsure of what to do next, and worried she would run into the Temple Warden again, Kat thought it would be best to stop messing around and do what she came there for.

After consulting a directory, she followed a narrow hall and passed through two private doors to find the Duties and Assignments office. There were several beings working behind the sliding glass, but no one seemed to notice her, so she stepped inside. On one of the walls was a large interactive star map tagged with small colored lights. She stared at it for some time before someone actually took note of her presence.

"Hello there, may I be of some assistance?"

Kat turned around to face a representative of a race she had only seen in datapads and on the Holonet. It was a Dressellian and like the other Jedi, had no hair, but at least this one appeared as friendly as his voice. His appearance did take her by surprise however, with his thick, ridged skull and yellow eyes. But then she noticed his clothing, or more importantly, his lack of uniform.

"Are you a Jedi?" she asked him.

"Me? Oh no," he chuckled. "I just work in the Temple. How may I help you?"

"I'm…here with my Dad." Might as well get that out of the way Kat decided. "I was passing by and saw this map through the door. I like the lights. What do they mean?"

"They reveal the location of active Jedi on duty," the worker explained.

"Cool," Kat uttered, wondering if her Dad was one of those lights. She'd never thought of that! What if she'd come all this way and he wasn't even here!

"Who would that one be?" she asked, pointing to a green light which was placed somewhere along the Outer Rim.

"I'm sorry little one, but for security reasons, I'm not able to give out the location of our field operative Jedi. Have a nice day."

Disappointed, Kat stepped out the door and right into trouble. Why was this man following her?

"Hey, you!" The dark man with the angry face called out. "What are you doing here? Visitors aren't allowed down this corridor!"

What choice did she have?

Running away from a Jedi perhaps wasn't the best of ideas, but somehow, Kat had managed to lose him, ducking under stairwells and mingling into the crowd; although the group was beginning to thin out and were headed in the wrong direction. Apparently, visiting hours were over.

The next shout her direction came from not just the dark-skinned man, but another Jedi well; one with a tall, cone-shaped head.

Her chances of finding her father were rapidly diminishing, but she wasn't about to give up.

A Handmaiden is determined.

Kat ran the opposite way of the exiting crowd, up a set of steps, down another hallway, and through a door labeled Dormitory. She ran past room after room, until one opened abruptly and a young girl, much younger than Kat, poked her head through.

"Hey!" she said. "Is someone chasing you?"

"Yes!" Kat screeched. "Some big, dark, mean-looking Jedi man!"

"Master Windu?" the little girl guessed, shuddering. "Get in here!"

Kat didn't argue and quickly ducked inside just as the door down the hallway opened.

"Step away," her new friend suggested, making a quieting gesture with her finger held against her lips.

Both girls stood like statues as two sets of heavy feet stomped past. Kat held her breath until the sound faded away.

"Thanks! You saved my life!" she whispered. "My name's Katané. You can call me Kat."

The little dark-haired girl smiled and bowed. "Greetings Kat, my name is Mari Amithest of the Bear Clan. It's a pleasure to meet you."