Chapter Six
Sometimes when Padmé put off her regeneration cycle for too long, thoughts began to creep in upon her consciousness. Unwelcome thoughts that she could not give meaning to nor quite assign a time or place to. They were vague and sometimes seemed like a dream, but were definitely an occurrence that happened long ago or maybe in someone else's life.
Her comrades had cycled down several hours earlier, but she wanted just a few moments more to study the young Jedi who was finishing up his work on the large domed structure he had been rebuilding for the past several days. With bionetic eyesight as well as audio enhancement, she could not only view his actions closely, but could hear his speech as well.
However, at this moment, he was not attempting to communicate with his fellow workers. His voice was melodic, rising in pitch and lowering occasionally. It took several moments for the queen to access the memory for the word that described what the young man was doing with such fervor. He was singing. And although she had intentionally cut off that part of herself that would find pleasure in his actions, it sparked a memory in the Ruwee leader, a vision of someone's childhood that filled her head and swept her away from the current scene.
Fields of lilac blossoms rushed past her outstretched hands as her small legs carried her through them, laughing as a companion rushed behind her, trying to catch up. She turned her head to smile at her friend, and recognized the child as Dormé, her current First Assistant.
They threw themselves down upon the grassy earth, the sunlit skies filled with the sounds of their giggling.
Then suddenly her hands were filled with the colorful flowers. She could almost smell them.
"Let's pick a bouquet for our mothers." A distant voice echoed through her mind. It's tone was bright and child-like, filled with joy and promise.
But the illusion was shattered with the sound of rockets spiraling overhead, and her friend's face turned from one of happiness to one of terror. All about her were the sounds of screaming -- parents looking for their children, people rushing underground. A ball of purple and green fire erupted in front of her and then all was silent.
Padmé's lone humanoid eye drifted open, unaware of the single tear that slowly crept down her face.
It was past time for her regeneration schedule. She needed rest. But afterward, they would no longer just be bystanders -- observers of the Jedi's efforts -- if only to hasten their departure time.
A clap on the back from several furred paws was congratulations enough as Obi-Wan stood on the dried mud bank in front of the reconstructed council dome. It had taken a couple of more days than he had thought it would to finish the task, and it had put him slightly behind schedule, but their visitors would just have to understand.
Obi-Wan glanced up the slight incline to where their ship still stood, aware that he was being watched, but wondering about their motivation. The queen had made it obvious they were curious, but ever since the night when she approached him during his trance in the Mobian Temple, not one of them had made another appearance. And that was three nights ago.
He supposed they planned on staying confined to the scout vessel until he informed them he was ready to leave. It was their choice, and there was nothing he could do about it, but the young man had hoped to spend some more time with them. He still had many questions that needed answers.
Obi-Wan leaned over and picked up the rough-hewn tools of the clan, rolled them in the animal hide and secured them with the tie as he had seen his co-workers do, and then moved to join the others. He knew the council house would take the longest to reconstruct, which was why he had talked them into building it first. The other dwellings would not take as long, but still he was going to need more time on-planet. At least another half a tenday. He supposed that at the day's end he would have to venture up to the Ruwean's vessel and tell them so, but at the sound of mechanical whirs and clicks behind him, he realized he wouldn't have to.
Surprisingly, the three women had come out of their shelter -- the first time he had seen them in the light of day, and stood just a short distance away from him.
"We will help you with your work, Obi-Wan Ken…Obi-Wan." The queen stated in a succint manner.
He knew that his brows had arched in surprise, but as usual, no response shown on any of their faces. It was kind of them to offer, although he really couldn't think of what they could do to help.
"We are fully regenerated and offer you our assistance, if you will accept it." The taller Sabé spoke next, and Obi-Wan had to mentally kick his stunned speech processes into motion.
"That's great. Perhaps you can help carry some of the lumber we need. We're building the individual shelters next. It should go much faster than the council dome. According to the chief's sketches, they're about half the size."
"That is acceptable." It was the one called Dormé who responded. Her voice was higher pitched, but still devoid of any feeling.
"Then follow me." Obi-Wan told them with a hint of a smile. This should prove to be an interesting day, he thought.
Within several hours, the midday's sun beat down upon him and Obi-Wan had shed his clothing down to his inner tunics. He didn't know how the Mobians could tolerate the heat with all their fur, but they seemed to be okay, although they occasionally would stop to rest and retrieve some refreshment.
The Ruweans on the other hand were not struggling in the least, and from their appearance, had not even broken a sweat, whereas he was drenched.
Perched upon the wall of the home they were near to completing, Obi-Wan glanced down to receive the truss that had been built to support the roof structure, when he noticed that the Mobian workers had taken another break. Content to just relax for a while, he knew that one of them would bring him back a drink, as they always did, when his leg was nudged with an object.
Looking down, Obi-Wan was surprised to see the Queen of Ruwee lifting the entire truss by herself in order for him to secure it into place with the leather straps and wooden pegs the Mobians supplied him with.
Slightly amazed at the feat, it usually took at least three Mobian males to lift the truss, but here was this petite young woman standing there, holding it up exactly where he needed it to be, seemingly unencumbered by its size or weight.
Obi-Wan smiled and shook his head as he helped slide the corner into place before he began securing it down. The cybernetic devices were obviously designed to assist them by providing them extraordinary strength, but for what purpose? Why did they need them in the first place? And why would the need to possess the power of three grown men?
It was just series of questions to add to his growing list.
