The next several weeks were dedicated fully to helping the Naboo and the City of Theed recover from the occupation. Many of the families mourned loved ones who where lost. Many had been injured in some way or another and I had visited many of them with Anakin and Shmi. She helping with her motherly touch and the both of us helping to speed up healing of those who were wounded. He was even helping to heal by himself or with his mother after the last five day. His power is insane. I sometimes feel like a normal with how strong he is.
Getting him to meditate in the mornings is impossible though he does fine if I put a broken thing in his hands or have him go over the basic katas I have been teaching him. It is barely enough to center him. In the evening he is very easy to get into meditation. Though anything longer than an hour he falls asleep which is not a bad thing. Shmi is meditating deeply, but still can not touch the Force by herself. However, she did manage to open Meetra's holocron by herself. It is so strange that someone with so much power potential came from a woman that was nearly blind to the Force. Though it might be her belief is just not there.
Though her allowing Anakin to help her heal has done wonders for her. She looked way older than she should have. Between the desert and slavery it had aged her. Now she looked closer to thirty than fifty for her nearly forty years. Obi Wan was a fast learner as well as Qui Gon and Kit in healing. Some of the harder cases all five of us would get together. I so much want to try to see if we could help someone regenerate, but the Force was telling me yes at the same time as telling me it would be dangerous. I only got the impression that a person would need a lot of consumed energy. More so than someone had. The constant healing was affecting Qui Gon just as much and maybe more so since I taught him introspection meditation healing.
He knew a version of it just not using it fully. Which was a waste of time to not do it right. Anakin has gained weight with the unlimited food. Though the portions he is allowed is just slightly more than a boy his age should be eating as active as he is. I have gained a bit of trust with the three Jedi, but they nearly broke it as I saw that Anakin had a cut on his arm and Qui Gon called him closer before I stopped him. The argument was not nice or pretty, but Anakin knows to heal all cuts as soon as they happen and clean up any blood he could have left behind. Qui Gon insists he did not have a tester in his hand, but I know he had one on his person. The fact that he felt amused as I threatened him with bodily dismemberment made it even that more infuriating.
Dromund Kaas had it own feel in the Force. Mostly the dark side mixed in with the light that it dominated. Tatooine and several other worlds felt neither light or dark from calm to desperate. Naboo felt only of the light other than the generator room where Maul died was the only spot that contained any impression of the dark side. It was always whispering in the background, but since I had left Dromund Kaas it barely was felt unless I was completely immersed in the Force. I breathed in and out and reached around me. Shmi with her natural shields was a multilayered ball of love and hope. Anakin with his gigantic dust storm that not only prevented you from finding his mind, but threatened to grind the very flesh from your bones from the strength of the wind. Both their shields contrasted starkly to the rolling gray clouds and lightning that shielded my mind.
It was then that another presence came closer. Not the trained layered calm walls of Jinn, Kenobi, or Fisto. It was a natural shield of water, light, and trees. A shield that was more deflection than a hindrance. You could roam around and enjoy the barest of thoughts or wander into the building and feel someone thinking but the words slipping from your ears or you could look out to the island far to the middle of the lake seeing the only boat being attached to the dock on that same isle. Strange how hers and Padme's shield and Anakin's was that of the planet we grew up on. This being in contrast to the walls of the Jedi having no link with any place or would this be a reflection of Coruscant? Her voice brings me out of my meditation.
"Sorry to disturb you Jenica." I inhale and then exhale slowly as my eyes open to see the smokey Force tendrils fade. A look of awe still showed on her face even as this was not the first time she had seen it.
"I was finished."
"Oh then the Chancellor and the Jedi Council just came out of hyperspace. They will be landing soon."
"You didn't have to come out here to tell me. Any messenger would have sufficed."
"True, but getting away from the crowd was needed for a few seconds and you are in the way of the ship that is going to land."
"I am safe here, but thank you for your concern. Plus I can feel Qui Gon's ire from here. Such disapproval from a maverick." I flipped up onto my feet as I pulled my cloak to me. It flew around and then dropped over my shoulders and head. I giggled as I thought I should just vanish and see if I could get a Jedi to startle.
"What brought on that giggle?"
"Do you think I could ever scare a Jedi?" Padme thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Don't you always see what is around you?"
"We could still get distracted."
"Perhaps." Padme and I made it back to their spots as a ship seemed to float into view and come to rest inside the hanger. I could feel them as they had entered the system and now they felt even stronger as the ship lowered its ramp and the guards came out first. My eyes locked onto the Chancellor as he came down the ramp as Obi Wan and Qui Gon talked briefly with the man. I did not like him and the Force was warning me to be very wary of this being.
I felt his presence in the Force and it was barely there. He felt like a leader, a powerful man, and his confidence and authority was not fake, but nothing else. His shield was a blank globe with only a few random tendrils of thought any normal probing would reveal, but I could feel this was nothing natural. I was glad Anakin was with his mother and not near this man. Several Jedi Masters came down behind him. I did not know them yet, but later I learned their names. Ki Adi Mundi, Plo Koon, Eath Koth, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia, Mace Windu, Even Piell, and I felt others, but they had yet to disembark. Their shields were the same as the other three Jedi with varying strengths.
"Congratulations on your election Chancellor. It is good to see you again." Her words were honest and sincere.
"It's good to be home. Your boldness has saved our people, Your Majesty. It is you who should be congratulated. Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to the Republic." Honest, but then disapproval overlapped with respect. The last part felt true, but I could swear he said Empire. Why did I feel this way about this man? He felt like any other being, but it felt like a veil.
"I look forward to it."
"And who do we have here? A new handmaiden."
"Chancellor this is Jenica Lour she helped in freeing our people and one of her crew was critical in destroying the control ship."
"Ah yes I remember from the reports. I was so hoping to see the boy who did the impossible."
"A political venue is not the place for a child. He is with his mother." I made very sure I did nothing that would signify a bow to this man. Even if it would be considered a slight.
"Yet he was taken into the middle of a war zone?" His mock concern was not reflected in the Force. As far as Jenica could tell he was a blank as a wall.
"Fate and the Force can not be denied. Better at my side then left in false safety." He did not change in the Force, but there was a slight interest showing on his face before he was interrupted.
"I am sure Chancellor you will have a chance to discuss this later. Surely your trip was not that relaxing and the palace is cooler this time of day." Bibble interrupted.
"Governor I am glad that you have survived and yes we do have many things to discuss." I thought to remain near Padme, but I did not force myself to remain near her. It was not long before I found myself at the back of the procession of guards and could feel the Jedi masters behind me. I could feel all their minds suddenly focused on me and I let them feel the edges of my storm then I switched my shields into a fog before removing my presence from the Force blending it perfectly with the feelings around the plaza as we walked to the the Palace.
"Did she just vanish from the Force?"
"Still here she is, masking her presence remarkable it is. Leave her be you all will." The searching suddenly stopped and I spun as I went to the next step with a click of a button I vanished in front of them.
"What?!" Several masters gasped.
"She has a stealth generator with Force camouflage. I doubt anyone of you would know she is there until she attacks." Obi Wan stated with a hint of amusement.
"Find the most unusual beings you do Qui Gon. That ability has been lost for centuries. I hope you told her a stealth generator is illegal."
"I have but on her side is that it is an antique relic, she is not a citizen, and the Queen would not take kindly to having a savior of her people arrested."
"Cause a political scene we should not." I giggled right next to Master Yoda as his little hover disc carried him. His gimer stick moved to strike but I was already on the other side of him. I liked how he felt. He felt mischievous, but held back by the weight of his responsibility. Mace felt like a sour lemon with no sugar or salt in sight to sweeten the taste. The rest varied but most were calm. Plo Koon was the most unusual as he radiated a happy contentment that clashed with Mundi's arrogance.
"I say if she does not like to be examined casually she should stop doing the same to us." Master Even Piell accented his complaint as he spit on the ground.
"She is testing us. I feel no ill intent, Piell." Master Billaba stated.
"I feel that too, but I don't like she will not face us on equal ground, Depa." Gallia countered.
"Twelve masters searching your mind at the same time can be unnerving the first time you feel it. Her vanishing is putting her on equal ground."
"Qui Gon, you do not do anything normally do you?" Master Windu's scowl deepened.
"I follow the will of the Force, Master Tiin. That is normal."
I turned the generator off and walked silently behind all of them. I still was invisible to their senses and they didn't notice me until they moved to their seats as they were directed. Obi Wan knew only because I was walking right next to him. I quickly learned that politics was not to my liking. No one seemed to talk directly or mean exactly what they said. Even their greetings carried meanings that was lost on me. It was an hour or more before the formal meeting was over and they broke into separate groups.
Most of the Jedi kept together though a few were pulled away by different individuals. Obi Wan and Qui Gon vanished not long after Jenica found a bit of food to be tasty and the punch was sweet and refreshing. Anakin would be stuffing his face if her could be she was sure they were eating just as well in the more private dining area of their small suite that happened to be larger then the ship and many times larger than their former hovel. The air turned cold and I lost what appetite that I had barely able to force the sip of punch down.
"Captain Jenica Lour if I am not mistaken." I turned slowly as I put down the plate I carried. I found the Chancellor standing a bit too close to me and he smiled as I was forced to step back. Stupid politics, as he was correct in who I was and his positioning forced me to retreat before the conversation even started. I pulled my presence in Force in tight as well. His smile seemed to grow with my reaction as I was forced to smile back. One that turned the tables as my smile was quite feral.
"Chancellor Palps something or other?" He forced out a mild chuckle before correcting me.
"Palpatine, I found it most curious that you claim Dromund Kaas as your home world. Such an infamous planet in the Republic's history." I looked him over wondering what interest he could have with me. Did he have access to the reports the Jedi made or did the Queen's report mention her home world? However, he found out was not the reason he mentioned the planet as she could feel the air between them cooling. Somehow he was testing her in some way she could not detect. Now she wished that the politics she did know would help her figure him out. Though it was the Force that was warning caution, but not why. Then again she did not like him from her first glance, and trusting her gut was natural to her.
"Why do you want to know? Why would it even matter to ask me such a question or is my birth world used to rank my social status? Are you making sure that I am on a lower level then you?" Palpatine looked horrified as it was his turn to back up, but she knew that this was only the proper reaction to such a reply. Bah politics. I back up I look weaker he backs up and it only reinforces his standing.
"Curiosity M'lady is all. I find ancient history to be fascinating and Dromund Kaas has been labeled a destroyed world for centuries. Quiet impossible to reach the surface let alone leave it. Though you have abilities like the Jedi do you not?" He looked so smug that he was going to get his way. I frowned as I made to look as if I was thinking of a proper response as a couple walked between us. It was enough to tap my belt and vanish, concealing myself with the stealth field and the Force. His look of shock was genuine for just a moment before he sneered. I should have not stuck around for this social function. With careful foot work I was soon far away from him and the rest of them.
Palpatine caught himself and removed his sneer from his face. She was wary of him and her shields evasive as they were solid. He would have nice challenge to getting under her guard and for her to trust him. Once she gave him a way in he knew that he could twist her to his side. She was even more impressive in person as she radiated the Force unlike the Jedi only radiating calm. Perhaps he would appeal to her greed if she is a small freighter captain as she claims. Funds could be hard to come by for such as her lot. Then again she was more than just a captain. One he would gladly enjoy finding alone and hopefully soon. He sipped his wine as he moved to an old colleague he had not talked to in forever. Then again it did not matter if he had never talked to them before.
He would find her weakness and how she ticked. Just like he found what made Master Dooku tick. He just needed another trigger for Dooku and it was not too late for Qui Gon to die.
Now once he was away from the pleasantries he needed to find this boy. His contacts had informed him he was very gifted in the Force. Not just any nine year old boy to be able to take down a Lucrehulk by himself. That was a near impossibility, but to add winning one of the most demanding of races in a pod that he built himself was over the top and only one with the Force could be so skill at such an age. That he was presented with two possible candidates was more than he ever expected. All he had to do was keep them out of the hands of the Jedi. The boy would be a lot harder to acquire so long as he is on Naboo. The girl with her own ship was going to be a problem and he knew just the person to contact.
Qui Gon walked out onto a very large balcony. For planets Naboo was one of the better maintained systems. As he opened himself to the Force and felt the surprising amount of life. The sun was soon to set and the colors were stunning a view that was always one of a kind no matter what planet he was on. This planet hurt as he would have loved to have Tahl next to him. Even after all these years sights like these brought her back to him no matter how hard he tried to give his feelings to the Force. He drew in the cool air and let it out slowly feeling his hand raise to his cheek. The tear nearly always surprised him as he wiped it away. This time he expected it. This time he came out here on purpose. The last few days had been trying and the Force had been strange around him as if it was talking in another language
He took in a bigger breath and with it as much of the Force as he could. Then he took even more in. He closed his eyes and then opened himself how Tahl taught him to see like she did. Then he saw the Force around him as she did. All the colors that the only the Force could supply. The tears came and he let them for all the things he could hear from the Force it was her voice telling him to be calm. The only time she would say that to him was when he was feeling a storm of emotions. This feeling this warning was more external. A storm was coming but he had no idea what it was and there was the other thing that was bothering him the most as he had been having these chilling moments and thoughts that he should have died when fighting that Sith. For Jenica to be there and to use a power that had not been seen in thousands of years.
"Sadness alright to feel sometimes it is." Oh all the beings to interrupt him Master Yoda was one that he did not want to confront. He had this uncanny ability to reach right down into your core and pluck out your concern without even you realizing it had anything to do with your current situation. Then Qui Gon nearly jumped as he felt so much pain. It was as if the years were piling up. More and more pain in subtle differences that counted off the years and decades that turned into centuries. It was then that Qui Gon realized this was Master Yoda's pain, his sorrow. So much pain that he could barely stand as he turned to sit on the nearest bench. As he felt that he could barely take any more he felt it being all released at once until there was one pain remaining one that shocked him more than feeling what Yoda had experienced over his near millennium of life.
"Died you did, saw it in a vision. Pained me it has, Pain I still feel, yet alive you still are."
"Then the Force is telling us something and we better listen." They looked out over the cliff to the setting sun and let the Force speak to them.