Chapter 24
Ryoo arrived at Eirtaé's apartment. Amidala had sent her to Eirtaé as she wanted the two of them to infiltrate the Jedi Temple and access their archives to try and find this rumoured planet of cloners.
Eirtaé had decided to leave the assigned Senatorial apartment for a large one in the Uscru Entertainment District. She'd done so under the guise of it being safer following the series of multiple assassinations. There was nothing to stop her and as she had been much more cooperative Amidala hadn't argued against it, feeling that by giving Eirtaé a little freedom she would continue to cooperate.
Ryoo push the button for the buzzer and shortly thereafter Eirtaé answered the door.
"Oh my, that certainly won't do," Eirtaé said as she looked Ryoo up and down.
"What won't do?" Ryoo asked confused.
"Why that outfit," Eirtaé replied. "It won't work at all."
Ryoo looked down at the clothing she was wearing. It was a navy full length dress with crimson accents that her mother had sent her from Naboo which was one of her favourites; she found it rather comfortable.
"What's wrong with my dress?" Ryoo asked.
"You're going to be amongst a bunch of adolescent Jedi boys," Eirtaé replied. "You need to show a little more skin."
Ryoo looked at what Eirtaé was wearing. It was a pair of skin tight leather pants and a white top that only had a sleeve on the left arm and was cropped quite short exposing her toned abs. It was complement with a set of white pumps.
"How do you carry your lightsaber in that?" Ryoo asked.
Eirtaé laughed.
"I don't," Eirtaé replied still chuckling. "We're about to go to the Jedi Temple. If I had a lightsaber on me, especially a red one, that would be incredibly suspicious."
"I never considered that," Ryoo said.
"That's why your Aunt sent you to me, so I can teach you these things." Eirtaé said.
"I'm sure that Aunt Padmé could have taught me that herself," Ryoo retorted defending her aunt.
"Perhaps; but if there is one thing I am better than her at, it is the art of seduction," Eirtaé said.
"Is that why you dress like a Coruscanti Streetwalker?" Ryoo asked.
Eirtaé's eyes flashed with anger. She had to restrain herself from lashing out at the young Sith girl.
"I do not look like a streetwalker," Eirtaé said through gritted teeth. "This is the same fashion that all the big HoloVid stars are wearing."
"I wouldn't know I don't watch that trash," Ryoo said.
"Well trillions of people do, including the Jedi from time to time," Eirtaé said. "So perhaps you should give it some credit since it's popular with more than half the galaxy."
"It's just a way to keep the masses pacified," Ryoo said.
"And that's a problem why?" Eirtaé asked.
Ryoo didn't have an answer.
"It's not a problem," Eirtaé said. "Ruling the galaxy is far easier when the masses are pacified."
Ryoo stayed quiet. She'd gotten herself into an argument she couldn't win.
"Come on, let's go buy you something else to wear before we go to the Jedi Temple," Eirtaé said.
Ryoo felt uncomfortable and exposed in the new clothes she was wearing. Her outfit was similar to Eirtaé's except that it was black and the sleeve of the top was on the right arm. Eirtaé had tried to get Ryoo to wear heels as well but Ryoo flat out refused as she couldn't even walk properly in them, and she was still a few inches taller than Eirtaé was in her heels.
She sat in the speeder taxi with her arms folded across her waist trying to cover herself up. Eirtaé looked over at the young girl and smiled and shook her head.
"I don't know why you're so uncomfortable, you look fantastic," Eirtaé said. "Those young Jedi boys will be drooling all over you, maybe even some of the girls too."
The speeder came to a stop outside the Jedi temple and Ryoo and Eirtaé disembarked. The driver was a droid and Eirtaé paid him and the speeder took off. There were probably a dozen Jedi wandering about outside the temple.
"Now I'm feeling uncomfortable for a whole other reason," Ryoo said as she looked up at the vast structure that was the Jedi Temple.
Eirtaé patted her comfortingly on the shoulder.
"As long as you don't touch the Force you'll be fine," Eirtaé said.
Ryoo didn't find that comforting at all, however she nodded in agreement. The two of them made their way to the entrance and as they did a familiar Jedi came out to meet them.
"Obi-Wan, so good to see you," Eirtaé said with a smile.
The two of them hugged and Ryoo could help but notice Obi-Wan's hand wander down from Eirtaé's back and lightly grope her butt. She also noticed that Eirtaé didn't seem to mind at all.
"And I take it this is Ryoo Naberrie," Obi-Wan said finally releasing the hug as he looked at Ryoo.
"A pleasure to meet you Master Obi-Wan," Ryoo said smoothly as she held out her hand.
Obi-Wan took her hand as though to shake it but then kissed her hand which surprised Ryoo a little.
"The pleasure is mine Princess," Obi-Wan returned.
Ryoo had almost forgotten that she was indeed still a Princess. However none of the Sith ever called her princess and even working in the Chancellor's office with her aunt none of them called her a princess. In fact she was sure she hadn't been called princess since she had last been on Naboo about a year ago.
"Where is your apprentice?" Eirtaé asked Obi-Wan as they walked towards the Jedi Temple.
"He's on security detail today at the Senate buildings," Obi-Wan replied. "Republic Intelligence thinks that there is going to be an attack here on Coruscant. I'm surprised you don't have your own security."
"Well I was coming to the Jedi Temple, I can't think of a safer place to be," Eirtaé said.
Ryoo walked behind them as Eirtaé and Obi-Wan continued to shamelessly flirt. She looked up in awe at the huge statues of the Jedi that line the entrance to the temple. She didn't know who any of them were but she was certain that they were being immortalized for their role in stopping the Sith.
"They're pretty awe inspiring aren't they?" Obi-Wan asked.
"They're something," Ryoo replied.
She followed Obi-Wan and Eirtaé up the steps and into the Jedi Temple. Ryoo couldn't help but look around at her surroundings as they walked through the entrance into the mezzanine. The Jedi Temple was even larger than the palace of Theed where she had spent most of her life. The only place she had been that could compare in terms of size was the Senate Chamber.
Obi-Wan was leading the way out of the mezzanine when they were approached by the diminutive form of Master Yoda in a small hover chair. Ryoo felt rather uneasy as the ancient little creature looked over both she and Eirtaé.
"Greetings Obi-Wan," Yoda said. "Reason you have for inviting the senator?"
"Well Princess Ryoo here was interested in seeing the temple," Obi-Wan replied. "And since Senator Eirtaé and I are friends she's here doing a favour for the Chancellor on behalf of her niece."
"Well, your tour you should enjoy," Yoda said.
The three of them watched as Yoda floated away down the large hallway stopping to talk with a pair of Jedi. Obi-Wan led their little group down a hallway heading in the opposite direction.
"So what's the best place to find a little, privacy, here in the temple?" Eirtaé asked her tone not at all subtle about what she was hinting at.
Obi-Wan glanced back at Ryoo.
"Uh, what about her?" he asked.
"I already know," Ryoo said slightly disgusted. "I saw you groping Eirtaé's butt out in front of the temple."
"I told you that you weren't subtle enough," Eirtaé said with a chuckle.
"I uh…" Obi-Wan stammered.
"Don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone," Ryoo said. "I honestly don't care. Besides Eirtaé was really just using this as an excuse to visit you."
"So you told her about us?" Obi-Wan asked a bit angrily.
"I did not," Eirtaé said. "I just said I wanted to visit you. But she's a smart girl and I admittedly have a reputation here on Coruscant."
"But it is a good reputation," Obi-Wan said with a smirk.
Ryoo just rolled her eyes in disgust at their flirting.
"So where can we have a little, alone time?" Eirtaé asked.
"Hmm, I'm not sure I've rarely ever been alone here except in my room," Obi-Wan said.
"What about the archives?" Ryoo suggested. "I mean you see couples making out in the libraries all the time in teen HoloVid dramas."
"Yeah… yeah that could work," Obi-Wan agreed.
Obi-Wan led the way to the archives. When they reached the archives they were greeted by Master Jocasta Nu, the Chief Librarian. She was an old lady, with a wrinkled face and white hair tied in a bun. She wore tan coloured robes which had a series of patterns on the hems.
"Hello Obi-Wan, who are the guests you have brought to the archives today?" Master Nu asked.
"Well I'm sure you recognize Senator Eirtaé of Naboo," Obi-Wan said. "And this is Princess Ryoo Naberrie, the niece of our Chancellor."
Ryoo gave Master Nu a small smile which quickly vanished under the withering and judgemental stare of the librarian. She gave a similarly accusatory look to Eirtaé.
"That's not traditional Naboo Princess attire," Master Nu said. "And it most certainly is not appropriate for a girl your age."
"Excuse me but she is just a girl," Eirtaé interrupted Master Nu's tirade.
"Oh you can be quiet you hussy," Master Nu snapped. "I know all about you and how you like to flaunt yourself for the cameras."
"Okay, okay," Obi-Wan interjected. "There's no need to argue. Yes that's not traditional Nubian attire; but we're not on Naboo we're on Coruscant and this is a look that's currently quite popular with the social elite here on Coruscant a group that they both belong to."
Master Nu focused her death stare onto Obi-Wan and Ryoo noticed the Jedi Master wince slightly.
"I don't want them in my archives," Master Nu said.
"They're not your archives," Obi-Wan retorted. "And they are my guests, so anything that happens will be on me. Not that anything will happen."
Master Nu glared at Eirtaé and Ryoo one final time, before huffing and walking away.
"Well she's a piece of work," Ryoo commented as they entered the archives.
"Master Nu is a bit… conservative," Obi-Wan said.
The Archives were mostly empty. With the ongoing war many Jedi were stationed off world. The vast room was filled with dozens of rows of stacks filled with holobooks. Obi-Wan led the way through the stacks to a room at the back where one could read in private.
"Feel free to browse the stacks," Obi-Wan said as Eirtaé stepped into the room. "We'll come get you when we're finished."
Ryoo just stood there for a moment her hand on her forehead shaking her head. Moments later she could hear the sound of Eirtaé giggling and she felt she had to move.
As she wandered the stacks Ryoo had to admit that despite how much this made her uncomfortable it was actually a decent ruse. And it had worked as she was now in the stacks. Ryoo decided to do what it was she had come here for and began to search for the Jedi's star maps.
It didn't take long to find the row of stacks she wanted, but there were thousands of holobooks and she had absolutely no idea which book was which. Ryoo was fruitlessly going through each book one by one looking for what she wanted. In the distance she could pick up a faint thumping sound that she knew was from Eirtaé and Obi-Wan.
"Do you need any help?" she heard somebody ask.
Ryoo was crouching to browse through one of the bottom shelves and she turned her head to see a boy who was probably the same age as her with long wavy dark brown hair, although he was a fair bit shorter. He was wearing the typical Padawan robes that every student wore. The boy's face went wide with surprise as he stared at Ryoo as she stood up.
"What's wrong with you?" Ryoo asked annoyed at being interrupted one hand on her hip.
"I… uh… I… you looked like pretty, like you were pretty lost." The boy stammered.
For the first time in her life Ryoo understood why Eirtaé dressed the way she did. Without doing anything she had this boy completely ill at ease.
"I'm not lost," Ryoo said. "I'm just looking for something. Perhaps you can help me find it?"
"Oh, oh yeah sure," the young Padawan agreed as he hurried over to stand beside her.
"So I'm looking for some star maps of the less explored regions of the galaxy." Ryoo said.
"Ah which area, Wild Space, Deep Core or the Unknown Regions?" the Padawan asked.
"I'm not sure, I think Wild Space," Ryoo replied a bit hesitantly.
"Ah well you were close, those are up here," the Padawan said reaching up and pulling down four different holobooks and handing them to her.
"Thanks," Ryoo said turning to go read through them.
"So, uh, what's your name?" the Padawan asked following her.
"Ryoo," she replied briskly hoping that he would go away.
However he didn't go away instead he followed her to the tables that were available and sat down across from her.
"I'm Aidan, Aidan Bok," the boy said leaned across the table and stared at Ryoo.
"Well thanks for your help Aidan," Ryoo said as she started going through the book.
"So I take it you're not a Jedi," Aidan said.
Ryoo looked up from the book exasperated.
"No, I'm not a Jedi," Ryoo said. "What gave it away?"
"Well I haven't seen you around here before," he said. "None of the other girls here are half as pretty as you…"
"Worst pick up line ever," Ryoo interrupted him.
"I… no… I wasn't trying to…" Aidan protested.
"Look, I don't blame you for liking me," Ryoo said. "But I'm pretty sure your Jedi code has something against it."
"There are exceptions," Aidan said.
"Yeah? Well I'm not going to be one of them," Ryoo said. "No offense but I've got no interest in marrying a Jedi. And besides I'm already arranged to be married to somebody else."
"An arranged marriage? Are you nobility or something?" Aidan asked.
"Just a princess from Naboo," Ryoo replied.
Aidan's jaw just about hit the table. Ryoo reached across the table and gently pushed his jaw closed.
"You're a princess?" Aidan asked incredulously.
"Well last time I checked my mother was Queen Sola so… yeah." Ryoo replied.
"Wait… so you're Chancellor Naberrie's niece?" Aidan inquired.
"Yeah," Ryoo said with a sigh. "Now will you let me read this book and stop asking questions?"
"Sure, sure," Aidan replied. "Do you want me to help? What are you looking for?"
Ryoo saw that Master Nu had come back into the archive. She wasn't sure how long she would have until she had to leave, either from Eirtaé and Obi-Wan getting caught or Master Nu throwing her out. Besides her aunt would be impressed if she could get this Padawan to help her find what she was looking for.
"Well I was in the Senate chamber the other day I overheard these two senators talking about this world with advanced cloning technology and how it would be so useful to the effort if we had it," Ryoo lied. "But they mentioned that it belonged to a world not part of the Republic. And I know that the Separatists don't have cloning tech."
"That would be useful," Aidan agreed. "Pass me a holobook."
Ryoo slid one of the holobooks across the table to him and he opened it up and began reading. Ryoo enjoyed the silence as the two of them scanned through the books reading up on the various worlds in the region known as Wild Space.
"Oh, I think I found something," Aidan exclaimed.
He raced around the table to sit beside Ryoo and show her what he had found.
"So there's this planet called Kamino," Aidan said. "It's been known about by the Republic for over 4,000 years. They created their cloning technology after a system wide disaster caused the polar ice caps to melt."
Ryoo pulled the book away from him to read it herself.
"It says here that the Jedi hid several artifacts in the ruins of one of their cities with the agreement they wouldn't share the location of the planet with the galaxy for the benefit of both sides," Ryoo said.
"Wait so does that mean I shouldn't have helped you find this?" Aidan asked.
"I'm just a twelve year-old princess, what am I going to do with this information?" Ryoo retorted.
"You're still twelve?" Aidan asked in shock.
Ryoo snapped her fingers in his face causing him to jump back and blink.
"Focus," Ryoo barked. "Look I was just curious and you were helping me…"
Ryoo was cut off by an ear piercing scream from elsewhere in the archives.
"And on that high pitched note I believe I have to go," Ryoo said.
"What was that?" Aidan asked.
"Probably better than I don't tell you," Ryoo replied.
Moments later Ryoo saw Eirtaé rushing through the stacks towards her. Ryoo noticed how her top was on backwards and she was fussing to pull her pants all the way up as they were slipping down her hips.
"Come on Ryoo, I think our tour is over," Eirtaé said. "Oh did you make a friend?"
"Uh, sure," Ryoo replied.
"Nice to meet you whoever you are," Eirtaé said breathlessly. "Now come on Ryoo let's get going."
Eirtaé grabbed Ryoo by the wrist and led the way out of the archive.
"What exactly was that?" Ryoo asked.
"Let's just say that Obi-Wan surprised me with his performance," Eirtaé said.
"Well you're lucky because I managed to find what we came here for," Ryoo said. "No thanks to you."
"Uh, I got us in here in the first place," Eirtaé retorted. "Without me you wouldn't have even had a chance to look."
"Yeah and thanks to you I doubt we'll be able to get back in to look anything else up," Ryoo said.
They were all the way at the entrance when they heard a commotion behind them.
"I'm onto you Obi-Wan Kenobi! You have no hope!" Master Nu yelled as Obi-Wan ran in the opposite direction down the hallway.
"Do you think they'll kick him out of the Jedi?" Ryoo asked as she struggled to stifle her laughter.
"Probably not," Eirtaé replied. "I'm pretty sure that several of the masters have actually known about Obi-Wan's… infidelity for years now."
The left the temple down the steps to hail a speeder taxi.
"Well it didn't go quite as planned but I would say mission accomplished," Eirtaé said.
First chapter after the jump forward in time. This was a fun chapter to write but I ended up going back and doing a bit of self-censoring to keep the story rated T. Namely I cut out what happened in that little room with Obi-Wan and Eirtaé. If you guys really want that stuff I can always add it back in and change the rating, I'll leave that to the reviews I get though.
As always your reviews are appreciated and I'll respond to your questions and comments ASAP. Thank you all for reading.