Chapter 5

It didn't take long for us to get down to the heart of the matter, which was figuring out the best way to protect Saré. First thing we did after talking with her was to check security, talking with Captain Typho.

"I can take it from here," Obi-Wan said. "Why don't you go and talk with your sister, and I'll finish checking the security detail?"

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Absolutely," he replied. "Remember what we talked about in the lift?"

I nodded. He was probably right, so I went to my sister's room where she was taking a nap.

I took a moment to gaze at her while she slept. Normally, she would probably look peaceful, but the problems she was dealing with were even interfering with her rest. Her wavy blonde hair was spread all over the pillow like a halo; her lips were turned down like she was having a bad dream; and her eyelids kept fluttering. I crept over to the bed and placed my hand on her forehead. Almost immediately, I could see her memories…

The star cruiser landed on the platform reserved for the Naboo Senatorial Ambassador, flanked by two Naboo starfighters. The two pilots, one of them Captain Typho and the other being my sister in disguise, climbed out and walked over to the cruiser where Cordé and the entourage were exiting.

"We made it," Typho said with a grin. "I guess I was wrong. There was no danger at all."

At that moment, there was a tremendous explosion throwing the two pilots to the ground. They got up and my sister threw her pilot's helmet off and ran toward the fallen woman on the ground.

"Cordé!" she gasped as she turned her friend over onto her back, wanting to check her for injuries. However, it was obvious that she was dying.

"Milady," Cordé rasped out. "I'm so sorry. I failed you, Senator…"

Saré shook her head. "No!" she cried, but Cordé was already beyond hearing.

"Milady, you're still in danger here," Captain Typho was saying, trying to snap Saré out of her grief.

"I shouldn't have come back," she whimpered.

"Milady, this vote is very important," he countered. "You did your duty; Cordé did hers. Now come."

She didn't move, still trapped in her grief.

"Senator Eriana, please," he pleaded, taking her arm gently and leading her away from the horrendous scene…

When I came out of my sister's memories, tears were rolling down my cheeks. Gently touching her forehead, I felt no shame in placing a little shield around her mind to keep her from reliving that horrible moment so she could get some rest.

I went back out to the parlor where Obi-Wan was just coming back from checking the security detail.

"There are guards posted downstairs, no assassin will try that way," he said softly. "Any activity up here?"

I shook my head no. "Quiet as a tomb," I replied. "Saré's taking a nap." I paused for a moment, thinking. "I sense whoever's doing this is going to be more subtle the next time."

"We should be prepared for that possibility." He looked over at me. "Did you two have a chance to talk?"

"No, but she's been plagued by her memories of what happened today," I told him. "I used the Force to get a look, and then I placed a shield around her mind so she would get some decent rest." I was unapologetic. If using the Force for a personal gain like that would help my sister, then I was willing to accept the consequences, more than willing, even if the Jedi Council would frown upon it.

"I hardly think you could get in trouble with the Jedi Council for using a Force tool to help your sister get some rest that she sorely needs!" He looked positively livid, having read my thoughts.

"Master Qui-Gon wouldn't have cared," I told him. "He would've understood, probably because he saw me do something similar to Brianna, my best friend."

I explained how Brianna had been plagued by nightmares after her difficult mission to New Apsolon. It had been soon after her trials and it was her only solo mission. There had been some difficulties and she'd nearly suffered the same fate as the late Jedi Master Tahl, Qui-Gon's lost love, having been kidnapped and almost drugged by one of the Absolutes. Qui-Gon had been sent in to retrieve her. Soon after returning to Coruscant and giving her report, she began being plagued by the nightmares depicting her being kidnapped by the rebel Balog, who'd kidnapped and lethally drugged Tahl back when Brie and I were kids. After several days of these recurring dreams, I finally took matter into my own hands and placed a gentle shield around Brianna's mind to protect her from them.

I was sternly reprimanded by Master Windu, but Master Yoda backed me up, saying that I had done what I needed to do to help my friend and that he would've done the same thing had he been in my place.

Obi-Wan simply listened to my explanations. "It's as we've suspected for some time," he mused.

"What's that?" I asked. But I immediately regretted asking when I heard his response.

"The Jedi Order is slowly coming apart at the seams."