CHAPTER 4

THE DAY HAD FINALLY COME! Queen Soruna and her handmaidens splashed and frolicked happily in the pleasant waters of the Queen's private estate. Aside from the official Royal Residence that could be enjoyed by the sovereign and the sovereign's family, attendants, and closest advisers, it was also an age-old custom of the Naboo that each monarch possess his or her own private estate in the lake district, but it could only be enjoyed throughout their lifetime. Thus, it had become an unofficial custom that the sovereign could designate one of their successors as the recipient of their private estate.

For Sosha, she had opted to choose her own estate in her favorite part of the district, which she preferred even over the Royal Residence. There, her favorite berry trees grew wild and in abundance, yielding their delectable bounty in the warm and pleasant spring and summer months. These oblong-shaped berries, ranging in lighter shades of pinks and reds to deeper shades of purple so that they almost looked black in color, were native to Naboo, and were unique only to the lake district itself, making them very high in demand and extraordinarily expensive in exported goods. As a result of this spot she had remembered so fondly in her childhood, the Queen ordered a grand residence built on the shoreline, though it was to be constructed around these precious trees. A born and bred conservationist, Sosha wouldn't dare dream of culling any of Naboo's precious and bountiful life, which she sought to preserve, especially after the ultimate devastation the Empire had nearly caused her beloved homeworld.

Indeed, the residence had only just neared completion when Operation: Cinder took place. At last complete, she could enjoy this spot in all its glory. Never before had she been so grateful for her homeworld until now; and, considering the horror the Princess of Alderaan faced when her own homeworld was obliterated, Sosha had established an entire department of government dedicated to the protection and cultivation of Naboo's wildlife.

"Governor Sallow!" the Queen called from the water. "What are you doing, moping around along the shore? Come and join us!"

For this particular day, the Queen and her handmaidens had chosen to go skinny dipping. The Governor blushed.

"It wouldn't be appropriate, my Queen," he called back.

"Don't be ridiculous!" she yelled. "I order you in these waters!"

Vacillating between going and staying, the secret royal consort had no choice once she had issued him a command. He looked around him nervously, just in case some official might pop up out of nowhere, then stripped and waded into the refreshing waters.

"Satisfied?" he whispered as he drew near to her.

Boldly, she grabbed him close to herself. Even though her handmaidens were well aware of her marriage, still they turned themselves away out of respect for their Queen.

"More than satisfied!" she exclaimed with delight, throwing her arms around his neck. "No prying eyes can interrupt our private time together."

"Well, within reason," he said, smiling, indicating her closest companions.

"The girls don't mind. They don't have a choice, anyway!"

He threw his head back in laughter, then proceeded to kiss his wife.

They were enjoying one of the few moments they were able to have together when one of her handmaidens screamed in horror off in the distance.

The rest had swum away from the Queen and her husband to give them more privacy, and it seemed as though the day couldn't have gone more perfectly for the group, when Sasha, the Queen's closest handmaiden not only in attendance, but even in name, began thrashing about wildly, dropping beneath the water for long intervals while doing so. The behavior was sudden and peculiar, and alarmed the other girls greatly.

Both Sosha and Ayken turned to the sounds of the screams, and there saw Sasha in the most bizarre throws. At first, they were persuaded she must have been caught by some creature, though the lakes were never known for danger of any kind.

Ayken didn't wait for his wife; an expert swimmer, he made towards the group rapidly, crying out, "Grab hold of her!" Yet for all their efforts, it seemed a vain and hopeless attempt, until at last Sasha ceased from thrashing around wildly, and was fully submerged under the water with no signs of coming back above the surface again.

Going underwater, Ayken grabbed a firm hold around Sasha, swimming and kicking up towards the surface until at last they both broke through. The other girls poised to come to his aid, but it was the Queen who helped him grab hold of the unconscious handmaiden, making as quickly to the shore as possible.

"Sorna, get hold of Dr. Patal as quickly as you can!"

The youngest handmaiden didn't hesitate. Wrapping herself, she ran off quickly.

Sosha was deathly afraid that her closest handmaiden and trained decoy had drowned. Ayken wasted no time in attempting to resuscitate her, and succeeded at last: Sasha began coughing up water from her lungs, moving to her side as she did so.

Within moments, the doctor appeared, and began assessing Sasha's condition. Though she had expelled the water from her lungs, she remained completely still, even though her eyes were open.

"I can't explain this, Your Majesty," he said. For the first time Sosha had ever known, the man actually had an expression of worry on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that she appears to be fully awake, but is in some form of trance. Her brain activity is very minimal, as though she were in a coma."

"Have you ever encountered such a thing before, Doctor?" The Governor asked.

"No," he said, his brow furrowing even more. "And that's what troubles me about this. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. I've seen plenty of patients who have been in a coma, but nothing at all similar to this."

The day had been shaping up to be so beautiful, too. Now it was totally ruined, and not in any trivial sort of way, either; one of her most cherished friends was in some sort of state, and there was absolutely no medical or scientific explanation for it.

"Is it possible the New Republic might have technology that could help us diagnose her condition, Doctor?" the Queen asked.

"It wouldn't hurt to have additional assessments," he replied. "I will keep her under my watch for the time being, and ensure she remains in perfect health until additional attention can be provided for her."

"You always have my thanks, Dr. Patal."

Sasha was carried away into a shuttle by the doctor's medical team, where she could be taken to a medical facility for observation and care. The Queen and her retinue remained in complete shock. Some of the girls were sobbing, holding each other. Ayken held onto his wife in comfort, but she got up.

"I can't stay here," she said.

The Governor didn't reply. He only nodded. When push came to shove, Sosha Soruna was never one to sit still. Wise beyond her years, she possessed the capacity to move and act quickly in the face of uncertainties. Operation: Cinder had shown the Naboo and the Gungans that much, which was why she was so highly praised and revered.

"Governor Sallow."

"Your Majesty?"

"I need for you to locate the whereabouts of Jedi Korun Toff, and bring him to my Court posthaste."