{Chapter 4: The City Planet
Coruscant
Claire automatically tensed up at the sight of the three men. She began calculating every possible exit, every move she could do to hurt them, and she felt her hand slowly reach up to her light saber that was tucked into her belt. The two men, who were flanking the middle man, were large and potentially dangerous. The middle man however, didn't look at harmful. But Claire had the distinct feeling that he could be potentially deadly as well.
"Claire Pelatiah," the middle man spoke, looking at Claire with a peculiar look, "you are to come with us." Claire narrowed her eyes, his hand still inching up toward her light saber. She wanted to asked how they knew who she was, but instead what came out was:
"Take me where?"
To her surprise, and almost warm smile appeared on the man's dark face.
"To the Jedi Temple," he said simply. Suddenly Claire felt as though a bucket of ice cold water was dumped on her head. Jedi Temple? She thought, her mind racing. She examined the man in front of her, only to realize that this man wasn't dangerous to her at all. He was wearing cream-coloured Jedi garb.
"Jedi Master," Claire said, and abruptly she bowed humbly in respect.
"Forgive me, I didn't know I would be escorted," she added when she straightened.
"No matter," the Jedi Master said, "I am Master Windu. Now if you would please follow me, Miss Pelatiah." Master Windu waved his hand behind him, and then he turned away. Claire nodded at R7, and she followed after the Jedi and the other two men, R7 trailing behind her. When they got into the building, it was then that Claire realized that she had in fact landed her flier at the Jedi temple itself. They must've planned it, knowing I was coming… Claire thought to herself as she walked into the building. It was brightly lit, and very large. Claire couldn't help but stare around in awe. She was in the Jedi Temple of Coruscant. Wait 'till Mercado hears about this, Claire smirked.
Claire followed the Jedi Master down the corridors, keeping her eyes peeled yet again.
"Master Windu," Claire asked after a few minutes of trailing behind the Jedi, "why exactly are we here, if I may ask?"
"The Council wishes to inquire of you on behalf of your being here," Master Windu replied. Claire frowned. She didn't question further out of respect. It was true though, that she didn't have a clue what her assignment was anyway.
Pretty soon, the four of them and the droid reached a large glass door. Windu waved away the two men, who bowed themselves away. Master Windu then turned to Claire.
"Meet me inside please," he ordered, and then he walked through the glass doors. Claire let out a breath of nervousness. It was like it was the previous night on Jo'ron. Suddenly Claire felt a pang of sadness. Jo'ron. She was only there… well, she really didn't know how long. It was evening on Coruscant… Did time even have meaning in hyper speed? Or did hours really fly by during her few minutes of traveling? Claire shook herself back to reality. She couldn't let her mind wander. She had to go in and see the Jedi counsel. The Jedi Council… the big one. They weren't going to be her regular Council on Jo'ron. These were the top guns. The big guys. Claire shuddered. She looked down at herself, and she straightened her light-coloured Jedi garb. Dropping her hands to her side, Claire closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and took a deep breath while shaking her hands furiously in order to release herself of her nerves. She stopped, letting a sense of calmness fill her. She took in one more deep breath, and then she opened her eyes.
"Let's do this…" Claire muttered. She looked back at R7.
"Stay here R7," she said quietly. And then she pushed open the doors to the Jedi Council's room.
It looked very much similar to the Jedi Hall on Jo'ron. In fact, if she didn't know any better, she could've swore that it was Jo'ron, except for the pink-coloured sky outside, and the thousands of vehicle swarming the air of Coruscant. The room was round like the one in Jo'ron, and brightly lit. More than seven chairs lined the perimeter of the walls though, and Claire didn't look at any of the Jedi for fear of intimidation. She walked to the centre of the room, to the darkened circle on the floor. She bowed in respect as always, but kept her head slightly down, careful not to look at any of them.
"Claire Pelatiah," Windu said, and Claire allowed herself to look up at him.
"You were sent here, by our request, by Jedi Master Malek, am I correct?" he asked.
"Yes Master," Claire replied.
"Are you ready to take on your first mission assigned by the head of the Jedi Council?" he questioned again. Claire bowed her head slightly.
"Yes I am Master," she said.
"And you will complete this assignment, if possible?"
"Yes Master, to the best of my abilities I will," Claire said, fear beginning to rise. If she failed them… would embarrass Master Malek. She would embarrass the whole Council of Jo'ron. She would embarrass Mercado.
"Much fear I sense in you, Young Pelatiah," a small voice suddenly spoke. Claire felt a cold rush of fear, and she looked up at the source of the voice. A little green creature was seated cross-legged on a chair next to Master Windu.
"Master Yoda," Claire said, not bothering to hide the awe and embarrassment in her voice. She hadn't even noticed the powerful Jedi Master.
"Young you are, Pelatiah," Yoda continued, "much to learn you have."
"I know sir…" Claire said, her face falling.
"This case good for you it will be," Yoda said, and a small smile crept to the corner of his mouth. Claire blinked in surprise.
"I will do my best to please the Council," Claire said, feeling her confidence beginning to come back to her.
"That you will," Windu said with a bit of a smile. Claire smiled slightly back. The rest of the Council was silent, though they watched with quite a bit of interest.
"What is your assignment for me?" Claire asked the Council.
"As the Council on Jo'ron might have informed you, there is quite a bit of civilian trouble here in the Kadur district," said the Jedi Master on the other side of Yoda, whom Claire recognized as Master Ki-Adi Mundi. "It might seem like a minute job for some, but we already have a few Jedi on the case, and they have requested a bit of help." Claire nodded in response. She would take civilian trouble any day over the already-minute things she had to do on Jo'ron. Maybe the Council of Jo'ron would finally take notice of Claire's ability to do something useful for once.
"Your day come it will, Young Pelatiah," Master Yoda said softly, and Claire couldn't help but blink in surprise. Yoda was reading her mind. But she said nothing in response. She simply bowed in respect toward him.
"I will take the case, Jedi Masters," she announced, looking at them all firmly to assure them that she was fully capable of doing whatever they asked. If she could impress them, then surely Master Malek and the rest of the Jedi Council of Jo'ron could promote her somehow. Or at least recognize her.
"Good," Master Windu said, and he allowed himself a small smile again. Obviously he had great expectations for Claire. Claire nodded.
"Where shall I begin my case?" she asked them.
"Well, most of the activity seems to be coming from the Kadur district, so I suggest starting there. You should find your fellow Jedi's there," Master Ki-Adi Mundi replied. Claire nodded in response.
"Look for Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn," Master Windu instructed.
"Qui-Gon Jinn…" Claire repeated, imbedding the name in her mind so she wouldn't forget it.
"Thank you, Jedi Masters of the Council," Claire finally spoke, looking up, feeling a new wave of confidence wash over her. She looked the Council in the eye, firm in her belief that she would complete this mission.
"Thank you, Young Pelatiah," Master Ki-Adi Mundi replied, nodding toward Claire. Claire bowed once more before the Council of the Jedi's.
"I shall not fail you," Claire said. And with that, she turned on her heel and walked confidently out of the Council room. As the glass door closed behind her, Claire looked at R7 who was waiting patiently (at least Claire liked to think so) for her.
"I got it R7," she said quietly, and then she grinned. "I finally got an assignment." R7 beeped softly in response.
"C'mon, let's go," Claire said, and she waved R7 to follow her out of the Jedi Temple.
Back inside the Council's room, Master Windu looked inquisitively over at Master Yoda.
"Much distress I sense in Young Pelatiah…" he said softly, his words trailing.
"Do you think she's ready for something like this?" Master Windu asked the ancient Jedi. Yoda was silent a moment.
"Ready she is for this assignment," he finally said, sounding as though he was deep in thought. "Darkness her future clouds…" he continued. "Difficult it is to tell." And then Yoda fell silent. Master Windu glanced at the rest of the Council, before turning his gaze to the glass door that Claire had just left out of.
Reaching the outside of the Jedi temple, Claire was met with a burst of cold night air, mixed with the smells of the city planet. Claire successfully resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose in response. She'd have to get used to it. As Claire stepped onto the platform and started out toward her flier, she stopped, looking up at the sky. It was now dark out, except for a small pink strip of light at the base of the sky line. The thousands of vehicles were still flying through the air without a care in the world, or so it seemed. All the lights of the buildings and the businesses were turned on and shining brightly, displaying their products and advertising random things. The sight was actually fairly awesome. Claire sighed. With one final look at the horizon, she strolled toward her flier. R7 had already made it there, and it was twitching anxiously.
"We're going to have to find a normal vehicle R7," Claire said, putting her hands on her hips and looking at the flier, then out across the vast numbers of cars and flying things. Claire nodded toward the flier.
"In," she ordered, and as R7 rolled toward the left wing, Claire leapt gracefully into the cockpit. With one last look at the Jedi Temple, Claire closed the cockpit and fired up the engine.
