~MISSION TO LAVIGNE~

Chapter 1

by barriss aka,padami2002,aka chi

"Anakin!" Obi-wan Kenobi called from the ship's cockpit. "Yes,Master?" 13-year-old Anakin Skywalker emerged from the small hallway. "Take care of the controls. I must alert Lavigne Security that we have arrived," Obi-wan said,getting up. "Yes,Master!" Anakin had been meditating,as his Master had instructed. Now,face lit up with eagerness,he sat in the co-pilots seat and set the coordinates,while Obi-wan left to make the transmission call.

"Requesting permission to land," Obi-wan's voice was heard. "Asking who our guests are?" came the reply. "The Jedi the king requested to see," was Obi-wan's curt reply. After a pause, the landingbase was heard. "Permission granted." Obi-wan gave a satisfied nod and switched off the transmission. He walked over to anakin and sat in the pilot's seat. "begin landing sequence," he ordered. "Yesssir!!" Anakin punched a hand in the air. "Really,i haven't seen you this excited on a mission," Obi-wan raised an eyebrow. Anakin smiled,while pressing buttons to direct the ship toward a landing pad. "I heard the planet Lavigne has exotic life forms. The beasts roam freely,never being killed for dinner! What kind of people are these? vegetarians? That'd be a cool experience...And i haven't met royalty before, i'm really excited...except of course...when we were on Naboo..." "Ahem!" Obi-wan cleared his throat as a dreamy look came over Anakin's eyes. No doubt he was daydreaming about Padme. AGAIN. "Oh,uh,yes,Master," Anakin snapped out of his thoughts and joined Obi-wan in landing the ship.

As they stepped off the ramp, a commitee was there waiting for them. A man dressed in rich robes of blue and a glittery green stepped forward. He looked fairly old. "Welcome,Jedi. I am King Seth,ruler of Lavigne," he said, as both Anakin and Obi-wan bowed. he bowed back. "It is both a pleasure and a suprise that you have come to meet us personally, your highness," Obi-wan replied. "Ah,yes. I meet all my distinguished guests," the king smiled. They all stepped on a small ship waiting for them. "This will transport us to the palace, where my daughter is preparing our dinner," the king continued,as the ramp closed behind them. "He has a daughter?" anakin wondered. "...we shall discuss my planet's current distress over dinner," the king was saying. The trip took suprising ly short. As they stepped out, Anakin gasped. The palace was everything the Jedi Archives said it would be. It was the color of gold and silver,gems shining in the now fading sunlight. So lost was he in the beauty of the forests,the lakes,and the animals surrounding the palace, that he didn't notice a girl step forward. When he did stop looking,however,Obi-wan was giving him a stern look. "Sorry," Anakin sent a mental message to his master. "Don't let it happen again" was his master's firm response. "Welcome to the palace," the girl said. Anakin noticed her face was covered by a red veil,and her head by a hood. She was wearing long light red robes,that seemed to float around her. And her voice sounded like the stream of water...so peaceful. And her brown eyes, and very light brown skin were... anakin snapped out of his thoughts for the second time that day. "Here is my daughter,the Princess Aida. I believe she is of the same age as your apprentice,Master Jedi," the king said. Obi-wan smiled,and Anakin blushed. He didn't know if the princess was smiling or not, because of the veil covering her mouth, but her eyes had a twinkle in them. "Come. let us feast," her lovely voice said. Servants stepped out from the door she came from and led them all inside.

The interior of the palace was more exquisite than the outside. Obi-wan was in deep conversation with the king,which left Anakin with...Aida. "I am glad you have come," she started to say. Anakin almost jumped. "Huh? Oh,sorry..pardon me?" he asked. The princess chuckled. "As i was saying, i am glad you have come. Our world is in deep distress," she said. "What sort?" Anakin asked,curious. "There are gangsters of every kind roaming the city,who have the deepest desire to break into the royal palace. They have already abducted one of my father's councilmen," she said. "Why would they want to come into here?" Anakin questioned. The princess looked at him. "We hold a secret within these walls. A secret so strong, the royal family are the only ones who know," she replied. "A secret?" Anakin asked. "A certain power,really. The stone that keeps this planet living...the public never knew,before a nosy tourist sneaked into the secret chambers and....attempted to steal the precious stone," Aida replied. "I see," Anakin said. "Ah,we have arrived," Aida gestured towards the room they were entering. It was large,lavish,and full of comfort. As they were placed in their seats,Anakin began to wonder when the princess would reveal her face. Was she even allowed to? The king sat in the front,the princess on the right, and obi-wan and anakin on the left. "Now,my daughter,you may reveal your beautiful face," the king chuckled. The princess narrowed her eyes at her father. Anakin looked at her expectedly. Aida sighed and first took off her hood. Long curls of dark brown cascaded down her shoulders. she was also wearing a gold chain around her forehead. She removed the veil,and her whole face was seen. Anakin had to agree with the king. She was beautiful. even more when she smiled. Anakin smiled back. "It is tradition that the virgin princesses must veil themselves before our guests before a feast," the king said. "Now, let us have dinner," Aida clapped her hands twice, and servants came from behind them, placing delicious dishes in front of them. Anakin's mouth drooled just looking at it. It even tasted good.

"You see, the gangs here are horrible. Once you are their hostage,they torment you for information. That is why we must search out my abducted councilman. He is faithful to me,but i'm afraid...his tongue might slip," the king turned to Anakin. "Well, Anakin. I trust my daughter has given you a briefing of what this is all about?" he asked cheerfully. "yes, your highness," Anakin replied. "Good!" he turned back to his food. "The stone hidden in these walls not only supply the energy of the planet,but can also be used as a destruction device," the king continued. Obi-wan raised an eyebrow. "Meaning,it can provide energy,but can also be used as a bomb," Aida explained. "I see..." Obi-wan replied thoughtfully. The king cleared his throat. "Ahem. Master jedi,there is something of extreme importance i must discuss with you," he started. "Aida,dear. perhaps,you would like to show Anakin a tour of the palace grounds?" he asked, turning to his daughter. Aida nodded,and Obi-wan motioned for Anakin to follow her.

As Aida led him out yet another way,Anakin struggled to start a conversation. "The uses of this stone sounds quite complicated," he started. To his relief, Aida smiled and started explaining in her gentle voice. "Yes. There are so many uses, you could get confused," she replied. Anakin grinned, "Try me." Aida narrowed her eyes with a sly grin on her face. "Alright. As you know, it can be used both to supply energy for our city,and be used to destruct. But it can also be used to heal wounds. If u shredded the stone to peices, and mixed it with a sort of liquid, it would be perfect. The stone can also be used as an ingredient for some Lavignian dishes. It may also be used as a deadly weapon if carved into a dagger. If you had many quantities of this stone, you could build a ship without needing sheilds..." the list went forever. Anakin was starting to become confused,when Aida came to the last use. "..and it can also be used as sort of a thunder rod. If there's lightning or a storm,instead of hitting you,it would hit the stone," Aida stopped. "It is truly amazing how you put all of that into your head," Anakin said wonderingly. Aida smiled again. "It took me more than a month to memorize all that." anakin chuckled. and from then on, they both started speaking comfortably to each other. they hardly looked at the beautiful carvings on the walls,amazing flowers and fountains in the garden,or the statues and paintings made by the king's most skilled artisans.

"The life of the Jedi must be very lonely," Aida commented,after Anakin told her the Jedi Code. "Too much is forbidden," Anakin agreed. "but it must be for your own good?" she asked. Anakin nodded. she was smart. Of course,he should have known that by now. "Not knowing your mother? That must be very hard for jedi students," Aida commented,as they sat on a nearby stone bench. "Not for my fellow apprentices. I...didn't leave my mother till i was almost 10 years old," he said. Aida raised her eyebrows. "That must have been hard for you," she said. "Very. She's always been there for me,you know? And i was her only companion. And when i left..." Anakin's eyes became glassy and he stopped mid-sentence. Aida sighed and sympathetically squeezed his arm. Anakin was touched by her gesture. "You will be able to see her again. At least she's still living. Unlike mine," Aida said. Anakin looked up at her quickly. Where the smile was,was now a sorrowful face. "What happened?" he asked. "She died. Died when i was 5. it was some sort of disease. I never knew her that well. Just her voice,and images..." Aida stopped,as Anakin had. "i'm sorry," he whispered. Aida looked up. "It's all right. Thank you for your sympathy," she added,smiling. Anakin felt his face go red. "Thanks for yours," he replied. "You are welcome," she said. Just then, Obi-wan came striding to the place where they sat. "Hello, highness," he said,bowing before aida. "Master Jedi! I imagine you have finished your private discussion with my father?" she said. "yes. And the dinner was delicious. I'm afraid it it time for us to have our rest,padawan," he said,turning to regard Anakin. Anakin nodded. "Of course! The servants will show you to your quarters," Aida called a man standing near a doorway. "Please escort our guests to their sleeping quarters," she told the man. The man nodded and led them out. "It was nice speaking with you,Anakin," Aida said. "It has been a pleasure too,your highness," Anakin replied,bowing. "Please. Call me Aida," she gently corrected. Anakin nodded,and followed his master back inside.

"I see you had a fine time with the princess," Obi-wan noted before they entered their seperate rooms. "Aida," Anakin corrected. Obi-wan just smiled.