CHAPTER 3
A LARGE GROUP OF ONLOOKERS gathered just outside of the palace. Not only was it their delight to welcome home their sovereign whenever she was away – and with Queen Soruna having risked her life to save her people from a horrific fate, her popularity was greater than ever – any time Naboo received a distinguished or notable guest, the people were always excited to see who it was that would be received in a formal audience. And the talk of a Jedi arriving from long decades of exile to Naboo stirred the populace that much more.
A robed and hooded figure ascended the long flight of stairs up to the palace, where awaited him Governor Sallow, Senator Pooja Naberrie, and other royal officials. He kept his face down, hiding much of his features, but from what the people were able to see of him, he was fit, tall, and appeared to be a man dedicated to discipline, as he walked with a very martial gait and tremendous confidence.
When at last he made his way to the group standing before the palace entrance, the Jedi lifted his head to his onlookers, revealing a very handsome, chiseled face, a dark blond chinstrap beard, delicate, arched eyebrows, and piercing hazel eyes. A scar ran down the left side of his face.
"I am Jedi Knight Karun Toff," the man said in a rich, low voice.
"Master Toff," the Governor declared, "we welcome you to the City of Theed."
The Jedi made a low bow in grateful acknowledgment.
"Queen Soruna of the Naboo has granted you an audience, and awaits you in the throne room. If you would be kind enough to follow me." The Governor motioned for Toff to follow him, and the group began to make their way into the palace.
Sosha was greatly intrigued at the sight of the man entering the throne room. All eyes were upon him. He wore the traditional beige and white robes of the defunct Jedi Order, though Sosha had been able to recognize them from her studies of the Order, and her own people's history with their Jedi rescuers.
Once he reached the midst of the throne room, Toff took a knee, and lowered his head, waiting for the Queen to speak to him.
His name was whispered to her. Keeping with a millennia-old tradition, Sosha altered her voice so that it was deeper and bore regal tones. "Jedi Karun Toff, I welcome you to Naboo, and would ask of you what request you would make of us."
"Your Royal Highness," he declared, raising his head to behold the Queen. "I have long evaded my hunters across the galaxy, and have been searching for a place to call my home. With your royal permission, I wish to make Naboo my home."
"I have no objection to that," Sosha said. "But why Naboo? Do you have a personal history here?"
"My Order has a personal history here," he replied instantly. "I seek such a place where I may remain in constant meditation of the Living Force, and connect with those whose presence is marked here."
This answer satisfied her, but there was still one thing left she sought to prove.
"You call yourself a Jedi Knight. Prove it."
Some glances from her counselors seated around her suggested a bit of shock.
Off the side of the room, a table was set with various dainties and delights, refreshments for those present, a gift from the Queen to her trusted advisers. Without even glancing at it, Toff shut his eyes in concentration, reached out his arm in the direction of the table, and immediately it began to levitate off the ground, perfectly still and motionless as if it were still standing on solid ground.
Sosha Soruna smiled. Now she was fully satisfied.
"Very well, Jedi Toff. I grant you my royal permission to remain on Naboo for as long as you desire, but only on a single condition."
The Jedi remained motionless and still, as if awaiting orders, while the levitating table gently made its way back to the ground. Not a single delicacy or cup had moved out of place, much to the astonishment of his onlookers.
"We will call on your aid in our time of need. Are you willing to be of help to us?"
Toff lowered his head, and placed his fist down upon the marble floor. "I pledge my service and loyalty to you, Your Highness, and to the Naboo."
The Queen arose, and her counselors followed suit.
"Welcome to Naboo."
From the bridge of the Peregrine, Moff Skeloska stood in perfect stance, staring out of the viewport. His huge armada had been stationed on the very fringes of the Outer Rim. He sought to extract resources from a nearby populace, who swiftly and boldly refused his demands. The armada had blasted the surface of their planet so that only rock and rubble remained.
"Such will be the fate of the Naboo," he declared, his eyes fixated on the glorious sight of devastation. Pleas and cries for mercy filled his ears, but he only cracked a wicked smile, watching with glee at the obliteration of his enemies.
"And such will be the fate of the Republic!" he declared triumphantly in a very loud voice, so that his officers looked up at him from their consoles.
"The time to strike will come, Skeloska, but not yet."
The Moff turned to the holocomm next to him, listening as the voice filled the bridge.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn," he replied.
"As you instill fear in the local star systems, word will inevitably reach our enemies in the Mid Rim. And when it does, they will know to fear your might and your power. But as much as you would slaughter every last Naboo from the face of the galaxy, we must make their resources our own."
Skeloska was a hotheaded man, this Thrawn knew only too well. Indeed, there was a reason why he had been appointed as Panaka's successor: Skeloska's complete devotion could be made useful as a weapon of terror against their enemies, and especially against star systems eager to join the upstart New Republic.
So it was that Thrawn had planned for Skeloska and his armada to make their way around the Outer Rim territories, demanding to acquire resources from local denizens. Those who submitted would have the pleasure of aiding their Empire, supplying resources and laborers; those who refused would be reduced to ash and distant memory. Already they had gained much in their efforts to maintain the Empire as an ever-present threat to Mon Mothma's New Republic, so that there could be no sense of ease while Thrawn was in command.
"Our Emperor carefully devised several contingency plans in the face of any possible threat," Thrawn spoke again. "You are one such plan for his glory, Skeloska. Show the galaxy what it means to oppose its Empire. We will reign over everything once more."