Chapter 21
Hello people! Many thanks to the new reviews and followers that have come in the past week – it means the world to know that your brainchildren are loved! Small docket, mostly to answer questions and comments in reviews.
.D: Thanks for your support and reviews! I hope you continue to follow!
dreamerdreamer: Yes, I am an extreme Star Wars nerd…. I'm pretty sure that I don't go a single day without listening to the soundtrack or watching part of the movies! My family thinks that I'm insane, but you should really see the lengths they go to for soccer. When my mother asks me to participate in sports, my only answer is that this is my sport!
StormSkye: Yay indeed…. Fortunately, your question is answered in the chapter, so keep reading!
Robinbird79: In a way, I guess that the Council could be concerned about both. They do tend to be overly concerned about a Jedi's attachments in life… As a bit of personal preaching, it's one of the few things that I disagree with the Jedi about, so that sentiment will probably make itself known later.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Star Wars…. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Those of us that wish are only slaves to the great and powerful Disney…
As soon as she met the recently elected King of Naboo, Rhys knew she didn't like him. Ars Veruna was far older than the usual age of the Naboo royalty, and had all the styled cordiality of a practiced politician. Rhys suppressed a smirk as she felt Obi-Wan's feelings of distaste and annoyance flit through the Force. Her friend had a great dislike of most politicians.
"Your Majesty," Rhys greeted with a small bow, "We are honored by your presence." The King had unexpectedly allowed them to land in his private hangar and greeted the two padawans as soon as they disembarked the StarRover. He was accompanied by several guards, stewards, and his head of security, Captain Maris Magneta.
"We thank you for your swiftness, Master Jedi's," Veruna said, allowing the two padawans to fall into step beside him, "I believe that the situation has become more serious than when we first requested your… investigative services."
Obi-Wan and Rhys glanced at each other. "How so, Your Majesty, if I may ask?" Obi-Wan inquired, folding his hands in front of him.
"There was an attack on my aide, Ruwee Naberrie, and his family earlier today. No one was hurt, thank goodness, but we feel as if the family may need more protection," Veruna said as the entourage moved through the ornate palace halls, "Ruwee and his family have been good friends to me – I would hate to see them come to any harm."
"We will do our best to find the culprit, Your Majesty," Rhys promised, inclining her head slightly.
"Wonderful," Veruna replied, "I shall have a shuttle take you to the Naberrie home in the Lake Country. Since the attack this morning, the family and their estate have kept themselves there."
The King moved on, ordering a young guard to escort the two Jedi to the Naberrie home and provide them with an easy link to the palace, should they wish it. Rhys understood the underlying message: Ars Veruna trusted them no more than any other politician did. The guard, a young man named Kit Barra, was rather naïve when it came to the world of politics and fiercely loyal to the crown.
Once Veruna had left, Kit escorted them to a poshly furnished shuttle, talking the entire way about his experience as a guard in the palace. Rhys gleaned several bit of information from his good-natured rambles: One, the King had greatly expanded the planet's military; Two, Veruna was rumored to have ties to Hego Damask and the Trade Federation, the former head of several companies supposedly supplied Veruna with credits and favors; and Three, Ruwee Naberrie was Veruna's main aide that accompanied him to events, business deals, and even military meetings. Rhys could see how her father could be the target of several groups, but she didn't yet understand why.
As Kit rambled on, Rhys took the opportunity to send a quick data-message to her Master, notifying him and the Council that they had landed on Naboo and spoke with the King. She also added that communications might be difficult due to the presence of Veruna's security force.
When they finally arrived at the Naberrie home, Rhys was hesitant to knock on the elegantly carved door. Obi-Wan noticed her discomfort and sent a wave of reassurance through the Force.
What if they don't recognize me? Rhys sent mentally, not wanting to alert Kit to her relation to the Naberrie's. Obi-Wan couldn't repress his eye roll entirely.
Don't center on your anxieties, Rhys, he replied, then kinder, I'm sure they do – you said that your mother still holos you on your birthday. I'm willing to bet that they'll know straight off.
You're probably right, she admitted, What are we going to do about Kit?
Leave that to me, Obi-Wan answered.
"Mr. Barra, we'd appreciate if you would perform a sweep of the shuttle and entrance for any sort of listening or monitoring device that looks out of place. We'll contact you when we finish talking to the family," Obi-Wan said, gesturing to the large gate we had just come through. Kit looked a little put-out, but hurried off to the shuttle.
"Apparently some of Qui-Gon's manipulation had rubbed off on you," Rhys teased. Obi-Wan merely scoffed and rapped his knuckles on the wood.
Several moments later, Rhys' heart stopped as a middle-aged woman opened the door hesitantly. She shared many of her daughter's features: thick, curly brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, and a confident gaze. Jobal Naberrie was rendered speechless as she realized who stood at her door.
"Mrs. Naberrie?" Obi-Wan questioned, "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, and this is my fellow padawan, Rhys Talik."
"I know who you are," Jobal replied, voice shaking slightly, "Come in, quickly!" The two padawans hastened to obey. As soon as they were inside the house, Jobal let out a cry of happiness and engulfed her daughter in a huge embrace.
"Ruwee!" she cried, tears streaming down her face, "Sola, Padmé! Your sister is home!"
A thunder of footsteps echoed throughout the house. A man Obi-Wan assumed to be Ruwee appeared first, standing dumbstruck in the doorway as soon as he caught sight of his wife and eldest daughter. He joined the embrace, running across the room to meet them. A little girl bearing a remarkable resemblance to Rhys that was no more than six was next to appear, darting over to hug her family. Another girl stuck her face in the doorway, but stormed off angrily and disappeared upstairs.
"You didn't tell me you were coming!" Jobal exclaimed, breaking up the hug.
"There wasn't time," Rhys said, glowing with happiness. Her face fell when she realized that a family member was missing, "Where's Sola?" Jobal's face grew pained at the mention of her second daughter.
"It doesn't matter now, what matters is that you're home for now," Jobal said, placing her hands on her daughter's face, "For the first time in six years, we are all going to eat together – as a family."
Rhys cocked an eyebrow mischievously, "Obi-Wan too?"
Darth Sidious stood beside his Master as the two Sith Lords gazed out over the planet of Naboo from space. His home planet looked peaceful from above, peaceful before the coming storm.
"The Jedi were not meant to come in to play so soon," Darth Plagueis snarled. Sidious didn't even bat an eye at his Master's words. Plagueis' intricate Plan was well thought out, but his apprentice knew it far better. It was Sidious who understood every convoluted detail, every backup plan, and every contingency. It was also Sidious who placed the idea into the fool Veruna's head about calling in the Jedi about the mysterious assassin. Plagueis didn't know it, but the Plan was sure to end in his inevitable death.
The involvement of the Jedi would only bring about his Master's death faster, Sidious reasoned. Everyone knew that Hego Damask was corrupt and conniving, but few knew that Damask was a lie. A carefully constructed lie, but a lie nevertheless to hide Plagueis behind a mask. Sidious was still unsuspected as Ambassador Sheev Palpatine, and would never be with his determination to leave no witnesses.
"Is the Plan ruined then, Master?" Sidious asked, reveling in the fact that this newest wrinkle in his Master's plan was caused by him.
"Hardly," Plagueis scoffed, turning away from the window, "It is merely a setback. The invasion will have to wait until after Veruna is dead and the Jedi are unsuspecting once again."
Sidious smiled inwardly – yes, the plan would be set back for a few years, but that gave him more time to kill his Master, Veruna, and mold his public image into the trustworthy public servant. It also gave him more time to observe the Talik girl and possibly befriend her. If Maul didn't survive the training process, she could serve as a suitable replacement. True, she had been damaged in the past, but her rage and pain could easily be used to sway her. How great could Sidious be with her raw power at his side?
The prophecy of the Chosen One came to mind – one conceived through the will of the Force that would have the power to balance the Light and Dark sides of the Force. It had taken time, but Sidious let nothing stand in his way to gather the necessary information he desired.
He had found that Jobal Naberrie, due to a childhood illness, would not likely be able to conceive any children. Yet after five years of marriage, Rhys Talik Naberrie was born to the couple with an extremely high Force-sensitivity. The second and third daughters were marginally gifted with the Force, but not enough that they could possibly be trained as Jedi. Sidious would often like to muse to himself that he had found the Chosen One outside of his Master's "all-seeing" gaze. The thought gave him much pleasure as he dreamed of overthrowing Darth Plagueis.