Chapter 2

"Trini! Trini! You won't believe what I found out in the garden!" Tawny squealed and jumped on her bed.

"Tawny! Keep it down will you? If the Master hears you've been out again he'll be livid!" Trini, a teal Twi'lek and Tawny's best friend, stumbled out of bed to sit by her. Now what did you find? Not more worthless vermin I hope. We're still trying to get rid of the last animal you brought home.

Tawny stopped suddenly. "Loppi isn't vermin! He's my pet!"

"Okay, okay whatever. Now tell me, what did you find?"

Tawny leaned in close. "Jedi." she whispered.

"What?!" Trini nearly jumped straight into the air. "S-sorry, sorry" she whispered. "But, how many?"

"Two of them. An elder and a younger. And- there was- something else."

Trini was completely captivated. "What? What else?"

"Well, there was- another. I- I don't know exactly what he was but he was like me. His name was Jar Jar Binks and he- "

"Wait, wait, wait. He?" Trini cocked and eyebrow.

"What? Oh Trini! No! I could never- he's a total stranger- I-"

"Sure, sure. Like it didn't even occur to you."

"Well it didn't."

"Yeah, yeah. So where are they now? Did they leave?"

Tawny looked around. "They're in the room at the end of the hall."

"You mean they're here?! In the palace?!"

"Trini hush! Please understand! They had no place else to go! They're only here to check around and no one ever goes into that room anyway so- " Tawny stopped and looked at the ground. Trini was giving her one of her looks again, the scolding kind that made her feel like a foolish little child. Sighing, she looked back up. No. It wouldn't work this time. She'd helped someone and there was no way that anyone was going to make her feel bad for that. "It's only for tonight. They just on patrol."

"Patrol? To expose the Master of some evil thing he's done, no doubt." Trini said grimly.

"And that would be so bad? If you ask me, he deserves it."

Trini was shocked. "Tawny! Quiet, someone might here you!" She watched the rebellious Gungan a minute longer before standing. "Well I hope this all turns out alright. Now get off my bed. I'm going back to sleep, and I think you should too. If you're late getting up again the Master will know."

Tawny nodded, but she knew she wouldn't be getting much sleep that night. She just couldn't help thinking about them- especially that strange Mr. Binks.

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Tawny shook her head and blinked her eyes. A bright light was shining in her eyes. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when they did, she saw a familiar figure hovering over her bed. It was a creature like her. When Tawny was younger she always liked to imagine that she was an angel. The warm glow of the being had always put her at ease. Sometimes she hummed a familiar tune forgotten long ago, and sometimes she just smiled a loving smile. Tawny had seen this vision every night since she was very young so it would certainly not alarm her now. What startled her this time was the look of distress on her face. It surprised her again by speaking.

"They can't leave." Her voice was soft but urgent.

Tawny sat up. "Who? Who can't leave?"

"The Jedi and the Gungan."

"Gungan? What's a Gungan?"

The being smiled, hurried but patient. "It is what we are, you and I." The stricken look returned. "The Jedi and the Gungan mustn't leave. They can't… Not yet. They will be back. They will ask you for shelter again. Give it to them. They must remain here. You will understand when the time is right." She began to fade.

"Wait! No, come back! What- what will I understand? What-"

"Tawny! Tawny! Wake up!" Trini was shaking her. "It's a dream, Tawny!"

Her eyes snapped open. She darted out of bed and ran to the door. Trini followed close behind. Tawny pulled the key out of her pocket from the night before and jiggled it in the lock of the door down the hall. She heard it click and burst into the room, her heart pounding. They were gone.

They will be back. The apparition's words echoed through her mind.

"Tawn?" Trini ventured cautiously. "What's going on? Was this their room?"

"They're gone!" Tawny ran to the window and looked out. There was no sign of them. "The Jedi and the Gungan! They're gone!"

"Wait, the Jedi and the what? Please calm down. They probably just left. It's better this way that no one will catch them. So they left early. So what?"

Tawny backed away from the window. "They'll be back. They have to come back."

"Why? Wait, Tawny!"

But she was already down the hall. She had to get ready. She had to talk to the Master. She had to find out if the vision had been real, and she would start by asking the Master exactly what she was.

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