Luke's thoughts evolved into an idea: since I was progressing too slowly to be given to Jaina as an apprentice (and Jun was deemed possibly too dangerous for such an assignment), Jun could whip me into shape. Jun's skills were on par with Luke's, and therefore he did not need (much) sparring training.
Jaina didn't seem disappointed by this arrangement. I think she preferred working solo (get it?! Solo…solo…yeah, yeah…keep my day job).
Under Jun's training, I was finally improving enough to impress Luke, but Ben began drawing away.
Jun and I would even spend most of our free time together and would invite Ben, but he would always refuse…so we quit asking.
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Once a padawan reached the age of 12, they were expected to go out into the community and contribute/aid/or resolve issues.
Jun reached 12 before I did.
On one of his nights, he came across a girl who was just a little older than we were. A Nautolan female with icy blue skin, black eyes, and rifling through a dumpster.
Jun talked her into letting him buy her a meal. She accepted.
He asked her question after question to fill in the gaps in the story she told him about her life.
After he convinced her that he could help and get her a friend, he brought her to the Palace where they walked in on me preparing an essay on the blue shadow virus.
"Asenath, this is Nanette. Nanette, this is Asenath," Jun says as he sits down at a desk behind Nanette and fiddled with his new data pad.
Nanette gave an awkward cough.
I cleared my throat and fiddled with my hair and said, "Hi."
Nanette switched position from one foot to the other and cocked her hip, clearly uncomfortable.
"This is awkward," she admitted.
Tucking my hair behind my ears absent-mindedly, my ear pieces and magnets could now be seen.
"Yeah…I'm uh…Asenath Moonglider," I said and offered my hand.
"I'm Nanette Rei. What in the Mustafar happened to you?"
Jun slapped the back of her head, and she turned and punched him. I doubt she did any real damage, as Jun had a six-pack even then.
I awkwardly chuckled before I answered.
"Double ear infection gone wrong. They weren't healed really, and then he to the Boonta Eve podraces which didn't help. As we were leaving, arena, were in a severe accident, and that sealed the deal. Once the ringing stopped, I couldn't hear at all."
Nanette looked down, obviously mortified for asking. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I was four."
We stood in silence for a few moments.
"So, how did you meet Jun?"
She laughed sardonically.
"He found me out on the street earlier, and after he fed me, I may have thought he wanted to use me for sex.
Having absolutely no clue what sex was (and didn't find out until it was too late), I just decided to answer honestly.
"Jedi have the habit of picking people up that need help. I helped rescue him."
She looked shocked. "Really?"
I smiled. "Yeah. We may only be twelve, but we get around."
"He's twelve?!"
"Yes. That is another story.
"Anytime you need Jedi assistance, come to us. Heck, if you need help from the senate come to us."
"I'm assuming he's set you up with lodgings and maybe an education and/or apprenticeship?"
"No, but I'm good. Tougher than I look. Been on my own for a while now."
"I insist you let us help you land on your feet. Luke helped me, I helped Jun, and it's his turn to pass it along."
"I don't know," Nanette mumbled as she played with her fingernails.
"Well, you can read, write, and do maths, yes?"
Nanette laughed nervously, "Well, I uh…can, but…" she sighed before she continued, "okay, look- I've been on my own since I was twelve. I don't know much."
"I would have said 'not fluently.' Well, we can set you up in a half and half, though it's a bit tricky. Usually, the people are looking for full time apprentices, but I know one or two that will be cave with convincing. Which appeals to you more? Fashion designer, a peace keeper, or mechanic?"
Nanette's head shot to attention.
"Did you say mechanic?"
"Yeah. He's a crotchety old thing, but he's on the look-out for talent. He never takes on apprentices, and when he does, it doesn't last. And he has never taken a female. He won't be happy about half your time being at school, but it would be better than sleeping on the streets, being hungry, and being surrounded by danger."
"That actually sounds okay. I'll take old and crotchety over perverted and horny any day."
"Jun ad I will handle the arrangements. For now, you can come with me. You can sleep in my room. Luke won't care."
Nanette reluctantly agreed.
"I mean, you don't have to. I just assumed you would. Sorry, I'm not good at this. You'll probably want to stay with Jun. Since he's on guard duty tonight, you'd have his room to yourself."
She looked at Jun then back to me.
"No…yeah, I'll go with you. I don't feel all that comfortable in a room on my own somewhere I have never been before.
"Yeah. The Imperial Palace is daunting."
Nanette gave a sarcastic laugh. "Ya think? I've been on this planet for three years, and every time I look at the Palace, I get shivers. Now that I'm inside…"
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the Emperor is long dead, as are his clones, and Mon Mothma is in charge."
I lead Nanette to my room. She looked over the two sleeping couches, the itty-bitty kitchen, and small washroom.
"It isn't much, but it suits my needs. I'll be getting my own set of rooms when I turn eighteen. I'll feed you and I've got access to extra clothes.
"It's nice. Thank you for this."
"No problem at all. I need a female friend. I spend most of my time with boys. And I'm not implying we are already friends, but if this…meeting were to blossom into a friendship, I would not be sad. At all.
"And don't worry. I'll do my best until Whango Elkhart opens up next week. And don't be scared. He's a Besalisk. Very gruff, but a good man."
Nanette yawned.
"You go ahead and get in the tub and take your time. I'll go ahead and try to find you some sleep clothes and day wear."
"Thank you!"
As I heard the tub filling, I found the closet of spare garments. I did my best and found a brown strapless night gown, a plain grey tunic and pants set, and a pair of black coveralls and boots.
Luke came into the hall.
"What are you doing with those? They are too big for you."
"I am helping Jun. Nanette is a homeless girl he picked up. We are helping her get on her feet."
"Jun is supposed to handle these cases on his own."
"Jun thought Nanette and I could be friends. I think we can, and I want to help. Luke, she's nice. I want her to be my friend."
Luke said he would let this one go, but he would talk to Jun about handling these alone in the future.
Nanette stayed in the bath for a long time. Nautolans needed lots of water, and this was probably her first private soak in ages.
Coruscant had public bath houses, but they were lacking in privacy, and most of them required some form of payment. Those that didn't were rarely clean enough to actually wash your body.
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When Nanette came out of the bathroom, she was wrapped in a towel. Her skin was clean, and her tentacles were dry.
I handed her the stack of clothing and realized that I had forgotten underthings. She said not to worry about it until morning.
Grateful, I excused myself to shower. Nanette had wiped down the tub. She didn't have to do that.
I showered as quickly as I could to make sure Nanette wasn't alone.
She looked beautiful in the night gown.
I told her so, and she blushed.
"Why a mechanic?" I asked.
"Why not a mechanic?"
"Because girls don't usually enjoy getting dirty. I don't even like it much…"
"A peacekeeper is dangerous and I don't want to have a squad. I like being on my own. They also have to be perfect.
"A fashion designer has to wait to see if what they created will be popular or not. I love fabrics, clothing, and the glamour, but I hate waiting.
"A mechanic gets instant results. I can hear the changes in what I'm doing to tell if an improvement has been made or if it's worse. Plus, I can work on my own, and I honestly like the grime. At least the grime in a shop I can wash off. The grime of life is harder."
"True," I said.
"Grime of life…sorry. That was a little too dramatic, even for a teenager."
"No, it's true. I was rescued six years ago, and I'm still working on the grime."
"What happened to you?" Nanette asked.
"That is a story for another time. What happened to you?"
She sighed. I could tell she was debating on how much she wanted to relate to a twelve year old.
"The gist of it, is my birthmother gave me up. I was adopted by Ron and Cynthia, a human couple that couldn't have children on their own. Their doctor said that. While I was with them, I was verbally abused. When she fell pregnant, I was pushed even further away. When I turned twelve, I was dropped off here by Ron. I've been on my own ever since…until tonight."
"Words hurt more than canes and fists," I agreed.
"Yeah, they can."
"Well, how about some noodles for tonight?"
"Sounds good!"
I poured some water in a pot and turned on the stove.
"How long have you been able to cook?"
"I've been able to make simple things since I was four. I usually eat with Luke, Mara, Ben, and Jun, but sometimes I just like to eat alone."
"I see."
"I didn't think you'd want to eat with an audience."
"Good call," she replied, impressed.
Once the water was boiling violently, I shook in a large amount of noodles.
I boiled them one minute longer than I should have, but one minute wouldn't hurt, and I was making the sauce for the noodles.
I had Nanette strain the noodles and put them back in the warm pot.
I poured in the sauce and spices before dividing the contents into two bowls.
I handed Nanette the fuller bowl and cut open a hard-boiled egg from the cooling unit. I dropped the larger half in hers.
"I can't eat this much more. You made it," Nanette tried to trade with me.
"No, I assure you you're fine, and you can eat it. You're hungry and in need. I am not. Besides, you're my friend."
"Thank you, Asenath."
"My pleasure," I responded with a smile.