The journey through hyperspace was mostly silent. Tanuk remained in the cockpit, tinkering away at a console to occupy his time, Slick worked on calibrating the freighters main gun, it took a beating during their escape from that cursed desert planet. He needed something to distract himself, his mind was a mixed bag of emotions. Seeing his brothers become mindless slaves sickened him to his core, he wasn't sure who was controlling them or how they were doing it, but he owed it to his brothers to find out and if he can, save them.
Distracting himself failed as his thoughts rested on his squad, well, what's left of them anyway. He had been in his cell whenever news reached him of one of his old squad mates was killed in battle. Now, only Chopper and Sketch remained. He wondered about them and where they are now. Last he heard, they were being promoted to ARC troopers after the battle of Umbara.
Word had gotten to the clones working Coruscant's maximum detention facility. A Jedi general deliberately leading the 501st to their deaths, then setting them against the 212th. Slick felt ill thinking about it. It was his worst fear incarnate, a Jedi abusing his soldiers, killing them without a second thought. He wouldn't admit it, but the Sargent had actually reflected on his actions while serving his time, the Umbara incident only reinforced his conclusion that General Skywalker wasn't as he feared, he served alongside his men like an honorable warrior.
The clone looked over at Barriss, she was in a deep meditation. He figured to collect her thoughts regarding Brytt and Cayde. He knew Jedi weren't allowed attachments, but even friends? Granted, the friendship he had with the padawan and the Gungan wasn't formed the typical way the rest of the galaxy is accustomed to. No, this friendship started out of necessity for survival, but even over the course of a few days, they have come to rely on each other and have been forced to trust each other. Slick wondered how it would have been to serve alongside the fallen Jedi during the war. Perhaps if he had witnessed a skilled healer such as herself in action, his views on the Jedi treatment of clones might have been different. Who knows? There was no point contemplating the 'What pizzaif's' of the universe, so he went back to working on his calibrations.
Barriss awoke from her meditation, finally calm in thought, she made her way to the cockpit to discuss her vision of Binks with Tanuk.
"What makes youssa think heesa be on de moon?" Tanuk asked
"I believe that the force is calling me to him. What he has to offer, I do not know, but I can feel that he's on Ohma-D'un. Plus, I figured you'd be more at home there, I mean a Gungan exclusive colony sounds like it'd suit you" She mused
"Hmm… weesa see. Meesa may not be so welcome." Tanuk thought aloud as they finally reached their destination.
In orbit over the ocean moon, the trio looked out the starboard window to see Naboo in the distance, it was occupied by a massive blockade of cruisers. "Meesa don't be believin it" Tanuk dreaded.
"We shouldn't stay out here much longer. So far we're lucky they haven't spotted us, take us down" Slick interrupted with a small sense of authority.
A singular landing pad rose from the waters upon entry into the atmosphere, Tanuk gracefully spun the ship around and landed gentle onto the submerged pad before a plasma bubble enveloped the ship. The platform then descended and what the group saw was absolutely stunning. Beautiful golden orbs contrasting against the bright teal water, colossal electric eels illuminating the depths below the city.
As Barriss and Tanuk hopped out of the cockpit and entered the cargo hold, Slick was gearing up and putting a cloak on over his armour. The padawan placed a hand on his shoulder "Slick, I need you to stay with the ship in case we need to getaway. I don't think we'll need to, but I'd rather be safe than sorry"
"General, ple-" He stopped himself, his programming had gotten the better of him. "I mean Barriss. Please. I can be of more use out there than in here. Besides, this place will likely have an up to date news terminal, I need to find out what's happening to the clones" He begged.
Barriss contemplated what he said before replanting her hand on his shoulder, this time with a firm grip. "I promise, I'll download data from a terminal for you. We can't help your brothers if we can't get out of here. Please stay"
With a defeated sigh, the sergeant nodded and sat down on a cargo crate and began scrubbing the rifle Cayde had given him.
Tanuk and Barriss exited the ship, only to be met with spears pointed in their direction. Four Gungan guards met them with caution before one of them spoke. "Tanuk B'Carr. Youssa no welcome here. The Naboo would go to war if they found Youssa hiding here"
The cyclops raised his hands in surrender "Meesa understand, but Youssa gotta listen to meesa. Weesa need representative Binks' help. Thissa here is a Jedi"
Barriss hissed with widened eyes "Why would you tell them that?"
He turned back to her "Gungans proud warriors. Always respected the Jedi, even now. Youssa don't have to worry"
The four guards turned to each other before one of them demanded proof. "Show Meesa" he instructed.
Barriss closed her eyes and reached out with the force, attempting to lift the plasma staff out of one of the guards hands, only to be met with silence. She tried and tried again but nothing was happening. The guard raised his weapon to her face in frustration "Youssa no Jedi"
She panicked and reached for her baton, only to discover that it was not on her person.
'Balst!' She thought to herself, she must have lost it back in Mos Eisley.
As all four guards edged closer to the pair, Barriss was sure they were in trouble.
"Stop! Hold everything! Meesa know who dis is" The man himself, Jar Jar Binks exclaimed as he rushed down to stop the guards. They lowered their weapons in response, then stepped back. "Thissa here is meesa bombad pallo" He reassured his guards as he planted his hand on Tanuk's shoulder.
The two followed the representative through a series of tunnels and domes until they reached an office. Jar Jar sat down in his chair that overlooked a coral reef. "Youssa should not be here" He said almost too quiet to here. "De Jedi are being hunted for treason. How did Youssa survive?"
"What? Treason? That's impossible, the Jedi are blindly loyal to the Republic" Barriss interjected.
"Itsa not de republic anymore. Chancellor Palpatine has made it into hissa big bombad empire" Jar Jar gestured with his hands in the air.
"Why were they accused of treason? What did they do?"
"Master n' Mace led a Jedi stike team to kill de chancellor… that'sa what weesa were told." Jar Jar paused. He looked Barriss dead in the eyes, deciding to trust her with the next little nugget of information. "But Meesa have it on bombad good authorities, that itsa all a lie".
"So the Jedi are innocent?"
"Itsa be too late to be stopping it now. De best I can do for youssa is give you a place to hide and meditates for the force. Weesa need to be going to Bardotta, the Queen Julia will keep youssa safe"
"Why?" Barriss asked.
"Hmm?" The representative replied, genuinely puzzled at the question.
"Surely you know who I am, you must have seen my trial. Why would you help me after what I've done?"
Jar Jar smiled and said "Meesa not big with de force. But Meesa know gut feeling when Meesa has one. What does the force tell youssa?"
The girl closed her eyes and listened.
'Bardotta' it whispered.
"You're right. I can see now why the force lead me to you, you know where I'm supposed to be and how to get there." She smiled back.
The representative turned to Tanuk. "Sorry pallo. Meesa just had to speak with the girl first."
"Did youssa mean it? That weesa palloes?" Tanuk asked as he looked off into the ocean.
"Yes. What happened to youssa, what youssa became... Meesa know youssa is still youssa. Weesa can do more talkings on de way to Bardotta" Binks assured him.
A sudden hug began between the two Gungans before Barriss suddenly remembered "Oh! Jar Jar? Do you have a news terminal? My friend wants to catch up on what he's missed over the past four days"
"I still don't understand. Brothers like Rex and Cody adored the Jedi. I can't believe they'd hunt them down like that" Slick said in a mixture of amazement and shock.
"Meesa wonder why youssa no try to kill the Jedi" Jar Jar wondered aloud, keeping his distance from the clone all the same. He then paused before continuing. "Maybe the Degoyan masters can help youssa! Theyssa bombad spiritual healers, maybe theyssa can help youssa head thoughts"
"Right… head thoughts" Slick humoured the Gungan leader. He decided to change the subject. "So how do you know Tanuk?"
Jar Jar set up a crate opposite the clone, preparing for their long ride through hyperspace. "Weesa no talk much anymore but Weesa be cousins. After Meesa become representative, heesa no talk to me because of what had been happening to him."
Slick was surprised that the Gungan representative of his people was related to a terrorist. "And you still have his back. That's admirable. That's what a family does, there isn't anything I won't do for my brothers. And I'm gonna find a way to save them"
For the second time within the last two days, Barriss had guards pointing spears at her face. First by the Gungan guards, now by the Bardottans, she was getting quite tired of it, but continued on as Jar Jar managed to stop the situation from escalating. All four offworlders were brought before the Degoyan masters as well as the elegant Bardottan Queen Julia.
"Jar Jar, it seems you are trying to make a habit of bringing Jedi to our world uninvited" She eyed Barriss up and down before turning to the Gungan diplomat.
'What did she mean by that?' Barriss wondered.
"Meesa sorry me lady. But sheesa is being the one weesa supposed to be bringing to them, no?" he opened his arms and pleaded. Barriss could see the way he looked at the queen, so much emotion in his eyes that any Sith would be eager to feed on for raw power. She looked again to see the Queen match his emotion in her expression and she quickly concluded: they were lovers. How or why she didn't know, she supposed it didn't matter. What did make sense was Jar Jar's connection to this place, why the force led her to him so he could guide her to this planet.
The conversation between the two star crossed lovers seemed to muffle into nothingness in Barriss' mind, she could hear something. The vibrations of force energy surround this planet, she knew that when they landed, she could feel the pure potential energy embodied in the flora and fauna of the world. It was peaceful upon first glance, but through the gentle hums of Bardotta, her mind began to focus on a light drumbeat. The drums, the now never-ending drums, getting louder and louder, echoing throughout her mind, one after the other.
One, two. One, two. One, two.
It was a heartbeat.
Whoever this heartbeat belonged to, they were in this palace, the 'them' that Jar Jar was referring to.
"Who else?" Barriss interrupted.
The Degoyan masters turning their heads to her in a mixture of shock and disgust, as if a humanoid embodiment of a god extended its hand in friendship to her, and she spat in it's face.
"No one dares interrupt the queen!" One of the council members stood. The other masters rising with him, only to see the queen's hand raised to stop them.
"Be still, my fair council" The masters returned to their seats. She then looked at the fallen Jedi. "I see my planet has been communing with you, the great world of Bardotta doesn't speak to just anyone, you must be strong with the force, child."
Barriss didn't flinch, she only clarified her question. "Who else is here? I can hear them within this temple"
The great Queen Julia smiled. "Then it appears that you have passed the test. Jar Jar, thank you for bringing the girl to me, she is the one they spoke of. Come! You shall accompany me to our healing Chambers" She announced as she gracefully descended down the spiral staircase to meet the group. Jar Jar raised his hand to intertwine with hers.
"Weesa all have a part to play, me lady. Meesa has one more favour to ask" He turned to the clone trooper.
The Queen copied his head movement and as if she could read his mind "I understand, my love. Guards! Take this man to the halls of clarity" She reassured Slick "These men will help you on your journey, clone."
After planting a kiss on the representative's cheek, the mighty queen led Jar Jar, Tanuk and Barriss to the chamber while Slick was escorted elsewhere.
The heartbeat was getting louder and louder with every step they took towards the healing chambers, to the point where the green skinned girl had to stop and rest her hands on her head to collect her thoughts amongst the powerful drums.
Tanuk planted a hand on her shoulder "Youssa okiday?"
She proceeded to get back up "I'm fine, Tanuk. The sooner we get to whoever we need to see, the sooner this noise in my head will silence. At least I think so."
"Whoosa you think it is?" the cyclops pondered.
"I don't know, there are too many questions unanswered. Who we're seeing, why we're here, why the Queen won't simply tell us who is in the healing chamber, why isn't Jar Jar saying anything either?" These were not so much questions as they were a rant. Barriss had tired of the cryptic nature of the Jedi council in her youth and this situation only succeeded in reminding her of why she hates secrets.
Tanuk agreed. "Meesa know. Meesa can tell when Jar Jar is lying. There's something Heesa no be wanting us to know just yet"
As they approached the door, Barriss turned to her fellow former prisoner. "Then I hope this is where they'll tell us now."
The Queen turned to the duo. "Jar Jar, you and your kin must not disturb us while we continue our business."
"Meesa understand, me lady" Binks bowed before turning to his cousin. "Weesa should go on a walk"
The door opened to reveal a small circular room, a plain sheet of glass surrounding it, giving view to the beautiful wildlife of the world around them. In the center of the room, however, was a single bacta tank. But Barriss could not see who was inside.
"Why is the glass black?" She turned to the Queen.
Julia simply replied "Bardottan healers believe that cutting off a patients senses to the universe allows the body to focus solely on itself to heal"
Barriss looked confused at this. "Then how does this room help? I can see the world out there"
The Queen felt happy to teach the girl a thing or two. "Yes, you are correct. The room is clear to see the planet for what it is, pure potential of life. Do you see the beauty of it all, child? While in the tank, the patient's senses are cut off, but once they heal, we want their first impressions of the galaxy to be that of creation and beauty. Like a rebirth."
"Who is it?" Barriss now asked, happy with the clarity the Queen gave her.
"A friend of the Bardottan people, beyond that, cannot tell you. The Bardottan are naturally strong with the force and many of the Degoyan masters can sense that the information you seek cannot be revealed to you at this time… Not until you help heal them" The Queen said as she walked to look out of the window.
"Heal them? Why me? Surely your people are the most suitable for that" the young girl protested.
"It is not a matter of our ability, but our connection to the patient. The force simply wouldn't allow us to heal them, when we tried, we only induced more pain. Before passing out, they asked for you. I looked you up on the holonet, while your crimes are unforgivable to many, you were still a skilled healer within your Jedi order."
Barriss looked at the carbon Black bacta tank, trying to reach out with the force to see who was inside, but there was nothing but an aura as dark as the tank itself. The Queen was right, the force didn't want her to see. Not yet.
"There's more" Julia continued. "When the patient was brought to us less than a week ago, Myself and the Degoyan masters received a vision. One of many possible future events, but at the center of the vision, we saw you. You have a huge role to play in the galaxy, Barriss Offee. This is all the force allows me to tell you. I want to say more but when I try, it's as if there is something blocking my airway, I cannot breathe until I relent. When you heal this patient, I believe the vision will appear to you as well."
Barriss dropped to her knees for a brief moment. "This is unbelievably overwhelming. I know the force works in mysterious ways, even I cannot understand what is happening within myself, let alone the galaxy. Whenever I try to use my abilities, it feels like I'm reaching out to grab something but find only air. I've had a few moments where my abilities come back to me for a time, but they're brief and it seems almost random when I get them"
The Queen walked over and held out her hands for the girl to grab, she hoisted her back to her feet before following up "You and I both know there is nothing random about the force. In the grand scheme, it has a will, a goal to keep life in the galaxy going. Sometimes the evils we face in the universe are necessary to prepare us to defend against something far worse."
"You believe that's what's happening with the empire? A necessary evil?"
"I wish I could tell you more child, but it will all be made clear when you begin to heal. I shall lend you my strength where I can. Now, place your hand on the glass and close your eyes"
Barriss reached out, her instincts telling her to prepare for an attack of some sort, but her willpower led her on to place her right hand on the bacta tank.
Cold. It was so cold, she was almost certain that she was touching a coffin rather than a healing device. She took a deep breath before letting out a slow exhale, relaxing her entire body, letting the energy from within the tank find its way to her fingertips.
The warmth of the Bardottan Queen's palm on her forehead made her feel more at ease "Relax" "She whispered before continuing. "Feel the force around you as it is in all living things. From the burning molten core of the world to the ice in the space above. Feel the electricity of the storms, the breeze in the wind, the love of a mother for her child, the anger if something were to happen to that child. Emotions don't lead to the dark side, young Jedi, they are a fuel for all life forms, force sensitive or not. Breathe with me, and feel the energy of Bardotta flow through you and into the one we must save"
Barriss thought on all that she had said while leaving her body open. As she felt a sense of weightlessness come up from the ground beneath her flow up through her legs, she could see images, silhouettes. Faces she recognised, faces she did not, she saw Tanuk, Slick, clones she couldn't name. She saw a grand city surrounded by even grander walls, she saw weapons unlike any she had seen before, blasters with electric blue lighting and covered in a black and maroon paint. She saw a pair of red blades, spinning unnaturally heading towards her before being blocked by a green blade.
She saw explosions of every colour imaginable, a desert planet, not Tatooine, somewhere she hadn't been. A small army of armoured warriors flying in a V formation, sentinels on the ground, a colossal droid landing a fist onto a formation of rocks in the shape of a man as an oval moon orbited above, tentacles emerging from every crevasse. She saw creatures, humanoid in apprearence but their faces appeared skull like, covered in armour so natural in appearance that it seemed unnatural, as if made from flesh and bone. They wielded spears that melted into snakes that lunged for her, only to disappear into dust.
She saw chancellor Palpatine, the way he killed four Jedi masters, how his office became further and further away as her body fell into the depths of Coruscant.
Then darkness. A sense of loss. Barriss was terrified, she felt helpless, unable to move until more reassuring words from the queen met her ears. "In the darkest of times is when even the smallest of kindnesses gives the greatest hope."
The energy began flowing up through Barriss' body once again as she felt a spike of electricity in her chest, her mind opened to see a vision of herself crawling in immense pain to an apartment, bashing on the door with one hand. She looked to her right to see her arm missing, burning from where a blade sliced it clean off. The door in front of her opened, as she collapsed to the ground, attempting to look up to see who's home she fell before. Her vision was blurred until it cleared only for a second.
"Jar Jar" She said, her voice mixed with one she thought she recognised before the voice continued "Bardotta. Please!" until she saw only darkness once again.
Then her vision was of the very room where she stood. The Queen and several Dayogan surrounding her, hands on the glass. Suddenly a surge of pain spiked in her right arm and legs, she clasped her free hand over her forearm where the pain was most intense before the voice screamed "BARRISS!"
For a third time, there was darkness. She could feel something new within the tank, in her mind, she looked over at her arm, it is still gone, but she could feel something growing within it. She spoke the oldest Jedi teaching "I am one with the force and the force is with me"
With the pain from her legs also beginning to fade, she repeated "I am one with the force and the force is with me"
She repeated.
And repeated.
And repeated.
Until the energy in her chest flowed to her arm planted on the glass. Barriss could feel the entire planet reaching out through her body. She looked to her arm to see it growing, her forearm extending ever so slowly until her hand started forming at the end of her wrist. As her fingers grew followed by her nails, her skin began to change. Her light green mirialan pigments darkened to a solid brown colour.
Then the tank opened.
Barriss was cut off from her vision as the bacta fluid unleashed onto the floor beneath her feet. As the steam cleared, she saw the figure of a man as he rose to his feet. Her jaw dropped as she couldn't believe her eyes. Of everyone in the galaxy she could have saved, the force had left her with the one man who followed the Jedi code with his life while constantly battling between the light and the dark.
"Master Windu…"