Last time: Sasha and Viran arrived to Naboo. Kyr and Op pulled a prank on Cien.

Now: The Zeb's tour Theed. Cien is in for a shock.

Chapter 9- Firewood

The city of Theed was truly a sight to behold. Sasha, Viran and Lana spent the next day running around doing various tours of different locations across the city. They toured the Academy that offered courses in political science, fine arts, and more. They managed to tour a local vineyard that made things from wine to other spirituous drinks. However, they do not partake in the drinking as they were with Lana, but they still enjoyed learning about how it was made and bought a bottle to enjoy at a later date. Maybe their next wedding anniversary. And they also checked a couple more art exhibits and museums.

But to finish off their day, they decided to check out the memorial that was built in dedication to all the people who fought for Naboo whether it was during the crisis with the Trade Federation or during the Clone Wars or even during the Empire. They walked along the wall of names that were listed of those who fought and died during the crisis on Naboo when Viran came to a halt. Sasha had kept walking along the path another couple meters before she realized he had stopped. Turning to look at him, she noticed he was staring at a name on the wall. Sasha turned the stroller around and walked back over to join him.

"What name did you find, Vir?" Sasha asked as she came back over to him.

"Master Jinn's," Viran said as he pointed at the name on the wall.

Sasha looked to where he was pointing, and sure enough the name Qui-Gon Jinn was listed. She felt her eyebrows raise at that in surprise. All of the names up to this point had been men, women, and Gungans of Naboo who had fought against the Trade Federation. The fact a Jedi's name was listed here was surprising as Master Jinn was not from Naboo according to the Jedi archives.

"I'm surprised it's listed here," Viran pondered.

"Well he did die during that battle," Sasha stated. "The archives database had listed that he had died here protecting Queen Amidala and while facing down a Sith Lord."

"Maul," Viran said as he glanced at her. He grimaced slightly at the name.

"That's what it said," Sasha said with a nod.

"I'm still surprised he had survived," Viran said with a grunt as he folded his arms. "According to Master Kenobi's report, it said that Maul was cut in half and fell down a huge hole. He should have died."

"I agree, but who knows if he's even still around," Sasha mused. "He most likely died long ago."

She then bowed slightly to the name as she paid her respects before she started moving on. Viran did the same before following her. They walked along until they finally reached the memorial that was for the Clone Wars. This time they noticed not only the names of Naboo citizens and Gungans, but they also noticed there was an entire section dedicated to the Clones who fought on Naboo. Actually to be more accurate, fought for Naboo, but died in the line of duty while trying to stop an outbreak of the Blue Shadow Virus. They were surprised by the number of names listed, but felt a sense of pride as they were happy to see those clones being honored for their selfless act before 66 happened. But as they rounded the corner of the memorial, the two of them came to a halt when they spotted a statue carved of marble of the late Senator Padme Amidala.

There was an entire statue dedicated to her in this place and it made sense as she fought just as hard as any of the Jedi to protect the Republic even though she fought in the Senate. Sasha and Viran approached the statue and looked at the inscription.

"I didn't know she had died during the war," Sasha said with a frown. "Imperial records had suggested she had died after, but of course how often were those a hundred percent accurate."

"Like… never," Viran agreed as he looked up at the statue. "I wonder how she died."

"I don't know," Sasha shrugged. "But it says here that this statue was built in the last couple years by order of Leia Organa."

"Why would Leia Organa commission a statue of a Senator from a different planet?" Viran asked incredulously.

"Maybe because she looked up to her?" Sasha guessed. "I mean, Senator Amidala was quite an icon and role model for young girls back in the day. Plus General Organa is the adoptive daughter of the late Senator Bail Organa and he was friends with Senator Amidala. So maybe she ordered it in honor of him."

"That's a possibility," Viran said in agreement. "But I don't know. I feel like there is more to it. I mean remember that holonet article that went out that General Organa was the daughter of Darth Vader and twin sister to Luke Skywalker. And by Vader, I mean Anakin Skywalker."

"Yeah, I do remember that," Sasha said with a nod. "That was quite a shock to us all, but it never mentioned who her mother was."

"But wasn't there a rumor that Master Skywalker was good friends with the Senator?" Viran asked.

"Are you suggesting that Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala were a couple?" Sasha asked him incredulously.

"Why else would General Organa commission this statue?"

Sasha went silent at that as it made complete sense. "By the Force," she breathed out as she stared up at the statue.

They stood there in silence for a little bit longer before Viran glanced at the chrono on his wrist.

"We should get going," he said simply. "It's getting late and we still need to get dinner."

"Right," Sasha said with a nod as she continued to stare up at the statue.

Viran grabbed the stroller and started walking away. Sasha lingered a moment longer before turning and following him. She had always admired the late Senator, but now knowing about this secret part of her past made Sasha admire her more.

Cien looked up, startled and wide eyed as the explosion reverberated through the house. At the second one she sprang to her feet and ran to the window to see what was happening. She called her saber to her hand, and went out the door. Kyr had said he was going out to chop firewood earlier, and she had stayed in the house, reading the translated Sith cookbook and working up the courage to try one of the items since it was just Oppie and Kyr here to try them.

She saw dust and smoke off in the distance into the forest, and she ran down, in the back of her mind she felt for Kyr's presence. Her first thought was that someone had finally found Haven, and attacked them, and Kyr was trying to hold them off in the woods. Without his buy'ce he didn't have a comlink on him, and he wouldn't have had a way to warn the house.

She panicked as she ran, worried what she might find. The woods and the undergrowth were dense, and she had to pick her way through them. Just as she came into a clearing where the smoke and dust was, she had to dodge out of the way as a tree fell in her path.

"Cyar'ika watch out!" Kyr's voice yelled from the cover of the undergrowth.

Out of reflex she threw her arm up and the fallen tree followed her hand as it rolled to her side. She ignited her saber, looking for danger. She heard Op's lightsaber already activated where she had heard Kyr's voice call out. She ran over to them.

"What…" She started, and then saw Op standing there, the burned trunk of the fallen tree next to him, and Kyr placidly standing there with a bandolier of breaching charges. "What the hell are you doing?" She almost yelled at them.

"Firewood." Kyr said, surprised. "Op cuts them down, and I plant breaching charges to break it up into kindling and logs." He said, pointing to the two piles of wood that were stacked near other, similar burnt trunks. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"I thought we were under attack!" She said, exasperated.

"No, sorry." Kyr said.

"We just thought this was more efficient than using the saw." Oppie added sheepishly

She stared between them. Then she extinguished her saber and turned around without another word, stalking up towards the house.

Review!