The Jedi ships were equipped with the best hyperdrives, and they arrived at the system in only a few hours. From above, the world of Lakara was a deep, dark green, exhibitive of the huge, untamed rainforest that spread across the whole planet. Colonisation efforts had only begun a few years ago, and so the vast majority of the surface had not even a trace of civilisation, with only one medium-sized city where the original colony had been set up and a few scattered farms. Nevertheless, even among the small population of hardy colonists that lived on the world, Force-sensitivity had appeared. Laeus got most of this information from Dhoril, who filled her in on the journey. She was secretly pleased to be going to a world with such untouched wilderness. On worlds like these the Living Force flowed unfettered and freely amongst all things, and she preferred it to worlds of concrete like Coruscant where the life force of others never mingled like it did in nature, in spite of having more people. Still, nature did not produce Jedi, and that was what she was here for.
They touched down at the planet's single spaceport. As the two Jedi departed the ship, they were greeted by a small entourage. They approached from under the archway exit and the woman at the head of the group held her arms out to the Jedi as they got close.
"Welcome, welcome master Jedi! It is a great honour to have you here on our small colony." The group met the Jedi and the woman eagerly shook Laeus' hand. "My name is Mina Kiurat, I'm the governor here." Laeus smiled warmly at the governor. She enjoyed moments like these. It wasn't the feeling of being admired that was so nice, it was seeing the excitement of people who were getting to meet the Jedi of legend. And the tinier the corner of the galaxy, the greater their elation.
"Thank you, governor. I wasn't expecting such an esteemed welcome, I must admit." Laeus replied, gesturing at the various officials surrounding the governor. You might have guessed the colony's whole administration had turned up.
"Oh, call me Mina, please." The governor replied back. Even with the Force, Laeus could sense it was taking all her composure to not get flustered in front of the Jedi. "And yes, well, since this is such a special occasion, we'd thought we'd make an event out of it. It isn't often anybody of such importance comes to visit us. Why, the last time was when… well, when a Jedi first came round to identify a girl as Force-sensitive. Oh, and that's why you're here, isn't it?"
"Correct," confirmed Laeus, "we are here to pick up the girl. Is her family available?"
"Of course, of course. We notified them as soon as we got your message. They're waiting for you outside the city. Follow me, please."
"Lead the way, Mina." Laeus saw the governor try to hide a smile at the Jedi addressing her personally. Glancing behind her, Laeus also saw a bunch of the governor's entourage staring in awe at Dhoril. It was no surprise they'd never seen an alien like him before, and Dhoril was simply staring back at them, as if there was some invisible glass between them and each thought the other was a museum piece. Laeus chuckled at the sight.
The Jedi followed the governor through the city, while the rest of the group departed back to their regular jobs. As they walked through the streets, the signs of a colony in-development were everywhere. Professionally fabricated constructions mixed with temporary arrangements, newly imported devices with their cables unconnected, fresh and soft concrete from only recently finished construction jobs. Laeus noted that the further they got away from the city centre, the further up the pipeline of city development they found themselves in. Buildings became less and less complete, with more and more stacks of materials scattered around. Occasionally though there would be a fully finished and polished building standing amidst the deposits. Mina noticed Laeus' observations and spoke up.
"Targets for a colony like ours are to build ten times faster than any normal city would grow. Coruscant likes to have these things up and productive as soon as possible so they just assign as many construction companies as can fit on the planet."
"And that leads to progress like this, I take it?" Dhoril observed. Mina sighed.
"Yes. Coruscant just wants it done quickly, but they're not the ones having to manage a dozen different contractors and hundreds of eager colonists in a place where the map changes every week."
They continued their trek, and found themselves leaving the city limits very suddenly, as the asphalt laid down under them stopped abruptly and bare earth took its place.
"Some of the colonists were so eager in fact that they didn't even want to wait for the residential districts so just built their homes outside the city. The Huss family were one of them. They shouldn't be much further."
Sure enough, a bit further on was a group of prefab homes, short stacks of flats really, set down in no particular pattern. Mina led them to the house which was their destination. It was on the outer edge of the hamlet, which itself was on the outer edge of the capital. Beyond it was the beginning of the planet's rainforest. Going any further would have required a flying transport.
Mina stepped forward to the door on the ground floor and knocked. After a few seconds, a human man answered it.
"Hello governor," he said, his voice tense, before looking at the sentients behind her, "are these the Jedi?"
"Yes they are Mr. Huss. May we come in?"
"Of course." The man opened the door further and gestured for them to enter. Mina went in first, and Laeus after. The entrance was unfortunately too small for Dhoril. As Laeus passed the man, she took note of the way he looked at her. It wasn't quite the eager awe that the governor had, there was some reverence in it for sure, but there was also a degree of fear mixed in. It was no problem, Laeus thought, she was an expert at calming any nerves the parents had.
Inside, the house was very basic, reflecting the colonist life they had chosen. It had only what was needed to live, work and raise a family, with minimal luxuries and basic utilities typical of a new frontier. The man led them over to a bedroom, where his wife stood next to a cot. Laeus could sense her apprehension and started thinking of what words to say if needed.
"Buyani," the man called out, breaking the woman out of her thoughts, "the Jedi are here." The woman, Buyani, said nothing, she simply looked at the Jedi while her body remained stiff. Her husband continued. "Is Khylla ready?" Now she just looked at the ground and let out a quiet 'yes'. Seeing her state, Mina interjected with some words of reassurance.
"I know this is hard Buyani, but you must remember what this means. Your child has a chance to become a Jedi, one of the chosen few who protect the galaxy. I mean come on, how many people get to say 'my child is a Jedi'?"
"You don't have children Mina, you wouldn't understand." Buyani replied.
"She's right darling," the husband joined in, "this is an opportunity for greatness the likes of which very few people in the galaxy ever get."
"And what do I get to say about it, Doran?"
While they were talking, Laeus had moved over to the cot where the youngling lay. It was a human girl, with tufts of dark hair resting on her head. She was asleep, blissfully unaware of the conflict currently within the house. Laeus reached her hand down her and stroked the wispy black hair. 'Khylla', she whispered.
"My dear, we've been over this. You get to have your say, but this is the best path for everyone. Khylla will be given the chance of a lifetime, and think of the legacy she will leave behind, for us, and our family, and the whole colony."
"I… I know…"
Laeus could tell that Buyani wasn't going to prevent them taking the girl, but that didn't mean she was going to leave without trying to make things easier for her.
"If I may," she began, putting on her softest voice and speaking slowly when Buyani turned towards her, "forget what anyone tells you about the possibility of greatness or glory for your child. The Jedi are not about that. What your child is being given the opportunity to become is no less than a guardian of life. I know how you must feel with your child being taken away, but as colonists I also know you understand the concept of a greater purpose." As Laeus spoke, she moved slowly closer to the mother, looking directly into her eyes. The other two in the room were silent as they watched the Jedi speak.
"For the truth is that there are many like you in the galaxy; many mothers caring for their children, many parents wishing to protect them, many families trying to create a better life for them. Your struggle and theirs are one, but there is a difference in that you can help them. You can help all the other mothers, parents, and families of the galaxy to protect their own children. And you can help them through your daughter. Your daughter can be one who protects life, protects the innocents of this galaxy. She can be one who protects people like you. And I know you feel pain in giving her up, but think of all that pain that she can prevent if you do this for her. Your one sacrifice can mean so much more to the galaxy." By now, Laeus was standing very close to the woman, who was transfixed by Laeus's gaze. For the last part, Laeus took Buyani's hand in her own and stared deep into her eyes, her soothing voice putting to rest all that was shaken in the house. "Can you do that for me? For your daughter?"
The woman stood still for several seconds, wordless, as her hand remained in Laeus' and her eyes were still trapped in her gaze, that gaze from the Jedi's soft brown eyes that radiated the most captivating sensation of warmth and comfort. The room was silent as a crypt as the others waited for the mother to respond. Finally, Buyani looked away and slowly down at the ground, her hand slipping out of the Jedi's.
"I… I suppose… I suppose you're right. I just… it's so hard to-"
"I know it's hard, believe me I sympathise. But she will be loved and cared for in the Jedi temple. You need not worry about her." Buyani was even quieter now.
"…ok." Was all she meekly replied. Eventually, her husband spoke up again.
"Well then… shall we?" Everyone quietly nodded in agreement, so he went over to the cot where Khylla lay and gently lifted her out. Holding her carefully, he went to give her to Laeus, but Buyani stopped him.
"Wait Doran," she said quickly, "just let me hold her once more." Doran obliged and handed Khylla over to her mother. Buyani held her close to her chest, staring into her sleeping face with a look that was trying its best to hold back her emotions. Eventually though, she relented, and turned to give her daughter to the Jedi. Laeus reached out her hands, and Buyani passed the girl to her, the soft fabric the baby was wrapped in sliding over their fingers before being clutched in the Jedi's hands. Now it was Laeus' turn to stare into the child's face. She could sense that the baby felt some distress being passed out of the arms of her mother and into a stranger's, but she used the Force to gently calm her so that she did not wake up. Finally, Laeus looked back up at the parents, and especially at poor Buyani, who was struggling to hold herself together.
"Thank you," she said sincerely, "your sacrifice will not be forgotten." Then, knowing it was best to not drag out the emotional pain for the parents, she turned and left the room without another word. Behind her, the governor stepped forward to give some last words to the parents.
"I know it may not mean much to hear from me, but you've done a great thing for the galaxy," she insisted. "This will be well-known among the colony; people will know what a great thing you've done." Despite her insistence though, Buyani was beginning to break down. Doran spoke instead.
"Maybe you could just leave us alone for a bit Mina." The governor did not protest.
"Yes, uh… of course." And Mina left as well, following Laeus out of the house.
Laeus stepped out the door with the youngling in her arms. As she came out into the open, Dhoril looked over from where he had been standing the whole time. His beady eyes examined the child, then spoke to Laeus.
"This is the youngling, I presume?"
"Indeed it is." Laeus replied.
"And there were no complications?"
"None, although I think we should leave now, the mother is clearly distressed."
"Unfortunate, but very well."
And so, the two Jedi set off back to their ship, with Mina leading the way back again. When they returned, they wasted no time in thanking the governor for her help before embarking the ship. Laeus carried Khylla to an area of the ship where a special compartment folded out to allow a small child to be placed in. She laid her down and made sure she was comfortable before telling the pilots to lift off. The youngling wriggled again at being placed down, but Laeus used the Force once more to soothe her back to sleep. The ship took off and flew back into space. Leaving the dark green vista of Lakara behind, the ship entered hyperspace to begin the trip back to Coruscant.
Arriving back at the temple they had long since missed the dawn. Trips to the mid rim and beyond took longer, so now it was nearly mid-day. Touching down in the hangar, the temple was much more alive, with Jedi coming and going through the corridors and halls. Khylla had woken up once during the flight and cried about being in such an unknown space, but Laeus had expertly hushed her back to sleep. Now, leaving Dhoril at the ship, she carried her through the corridors back to the nursery, and did so in a hurry, worried that too much activity would wake her again. She only gave a small farewell to Dhoril before she rushed out, but she would see him again tonight when they started the next excursion anyway.
Arriving back to the nursery where she had started from, she entered the main lobby. The décor of the Jedi nursery was mostly similar to that of the rest of the temple, except for being a bit brighter. It still held the monastic feel of stone pillars and open plan rooms with few furnishings but was a lot softer. Instead of patterned stone the floor was patterned carpet, and the furniture natural wood. The walls too were made not of stone but mundane plaster, with patterns and paintings hung along them, and the rooms and corridors were not the spacious volumes of the rest of the temple but were as huddled together as a standard apartment in the towers of Coruscant's surface. Sunlight streamed in from the outside windows during the day, but at night all the rooms could switch to soft orange lights that were the better for sleeping.
As Laeus headed to one of the corridors leading further in, one of the other Jedi fosterers passing through the room, a young human woman, stopped and greeted her eagerly. She offered to take Khylla from her, but Laeus wanted to lay the youngling down herself. So politely declining she headed through the nursery's cosy corridors, known to her like the back of her hand, until she arrived at a room specially set aside for this mission, where eight cribs sat empty and two carer droids sat idle, waiting for Laeus to deliver the children to them. The room was deigned like the rest of the nursery, cream carpets with stone pillars in the corner, though also with a strip of stone floor down the middle upon which winding lines of blue and gold formed circle patterns heading up the room.
Laeus moved over to the first crib on her left and gently lowered Khylla into it. One of the droids moved over and started doing initial scans to determine the physical health of the child. Laeus stepped back to allow the droid to do its work and noticed the other fosterer had followed her and was standing at the door, also looking at the child. When she saw Laeus looking at her she smiled nervously, mouthing 'sorry'. Laeus gave a friendly smile to the girl and gestured to allow her to take over. The young Jedi smiled a bit more confidently and moved over to help examine the child while Laeus departed the room, letting the droid and the other fosterer handle the next steps of settling the new youngling in.
Just before she left, though, a thought crossed her mind. She looked back at the eight cribs in the room and noted their size and shape were all the same. She then thought back to the list of younglings on the holocron. She would need to check the list again, but if she was right then a couple of them would need to be changed. With that in mind, she left proper and made her way back to her room in the temple. Doing all seven excursions in series would be too much, so the standard procedure was to rest between the collections and begin again at night, giving them another chance to bring the child back during the dawn if they timed it right. Sleeping during the day and working at night didn't do wonders for circadian rhythm but it was a temporary price for the tradition, which Laeus liked enough to pay.
Waking up at midnight, she got ready for the next outing and made her way back to the hangar. She wasn't very surprised to find Dhoril was already there, by the look of him you might have guessed he'd waited there the whole time. They gave each other a nod, neither of them finding the need to comment on anything, and walked back onto the ship, which lifted off again and flew back into orbit. Up there, Laeus opened the holocron again. She decided what system to head to next and instructed the pilots to set a course. She also checked the details of the other younglings, and two in particular confirmed her thought in the temple. As the ship entered hyperspace for the third time, she made a mental note to tell the other fosterers when they got back that adjustments to the beds would need to be made.