Those Crimson Drops
By: Camigwen
CHAPTER ONE
It didn't take Luke Skywalker long to track down the object in question. He tracked it to one of the moons of Talz, where the grave robbers were attempting to auction it off as memorabilia from the Clone Wars. Luke posed as a buyer, offering up the highest and winning bid for the item. When he went to the back to pay and pick it up, he then presented himself as the Jedi Knight he was and took the group into custody, as well as pocketing the object. He escorted the group to a detention center when he'd returned to Coruscant, leaving them to be dealt with by Naboo's judicial system.
Now, he sat within one of the many rooms of the Jedi Temple, turning the object over in his hands as he stared at it. It was odd, for he almost immediately recognized the material the necklace's charm was made out of - Japor. Why a former Queen and Senator would value something that was so worthless, even on Tatooine, the planet where both he and the ore originated from, puzzled him. It must have sentimental value, not wealth.
Someone must've been fooled by one of the traders on his home planet, actually believing that the ore was of real worth, and handing over something of actual value in exchange for it. It was the only logical explanation the Jedi could come up with to explain how someone of high society could end up with something that was so...meaningless.
Biting the inside of his cheek as he shook his head, Luke pocketed the necklace and stood from his former position on the floor. Now, came the part he'd been dreading from the moment Queen Kalrondra had contacted him.
Sola Naberrie.
It was common knowledge among the Jedi that the Naboo native was not a big fan of their Order, or of them. Queen Kalrondra explained Sola's reasoning - the Jedi being the cause of her sister's death - but for some reason, Luke didn't believe that. Not entirely.
According to record, Padmé Amidala died at the end of the Clone Wars, the beginning of the Empire. The Empire lied without question, so the reasoning behind her death could very well be false as well. But, it was none of Luke's business. He was assigned to retrieve her necklace, not solve the mystery surrounding her death.
Exiting the room, Luke made his way to a communications port, only to halt in his tracks as he felt a familiar presence drawing near. He turned towards her before she opened her mouth and called out to him.
"Luke."
"Good to see you, too, Leia." She looked serious and determined. He couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing. "Something on your mind?"
Leia Organa sighed, placing both hands on her hips and fixing her twin brother with a stern gaze. "Not necessarily mine, but the Senate's. The Senators that served during the days of the Old Republic are in an uproar. Apparently this Amidala was a key member of the loyalist party and led many of the political movements against the Clone Wars. And word has it, that you know something as to why her grave was robbed."
He eyed her, wondering how she knew of his most recent mission. "What makes you say that?"
"You were seen exiting the detention center where the men who robbed her grave are being held. Did you question them?"
"No," he answered truthfully. "That wasn't my purpose there."
Leia sighed in frustration. Clearly the Old Republic Senators were driving her up the wall. "Then what was?"
"I can't tell you. It's Jedi business."
"Oh, 'Jedi business,'" Leia repeated, pulling the white cloak that hung loosely over her body back to reveal the lightsaber that hung at her waist. "I believe I'm somewhat entitled to that information, if not by blood alone."
Instead of telling her no, Luke inquired, "Why are you so curious all of a sudden?"
"Because," Leia answered, dropping her grip on the cloak that concealed her lightsaber, "prior to this former Senator's grave being robbed, I was appointed to go to Naboo to try and convince the Queen to discontinue their relations with the Trade Federation."
"The Trade Federation...they were one of the Separatists, correct?"
"Yes, and the Senate would like nothing more than for Naboo to have nothing to do with them. This Amidala apparently prevented that for a long time, something about a siege, and that's what's got the Senate worked up - they think that this grave robbing might have something--"
"--To do with you going to Naboo to speak with the Queen."
Leia shot him a half-annoyed glance for cutting her off. "Yes, exactly. Thus, I'm curious."
Luke sighed, debating on whether or not to tell her the nature of the mission he had been given. After all, if the Queen were to find out that he'd blabbed, surely Sola would--
He grinned unwillingly as an idea formed in his mind.
"Luke?"
"Hmm? Oh, right - you're curious." He reached into his pocket and drew out the necklace, with its charm carved of Japor. He held it out to her. "The Queen sent me to retrieve this."
Leia reached out to touch it, but Luke drew it away. "What is it?"
"I'm not sure, exactly. It was something that belonged to Padmé Amidala - it was buried with her, then taken when her grave was robbed."
"Ohh, I see." She stared at the necklace for a few moments, then made a face. "The Queen sent a Jedi after a necklace made of some invaluable ore?"
"Not the Queen...well, not exactly." It was his turn to make a face. "Sola Naberrie."
Leia's eyes widened in surprise. "You're kidding? But, Sola Naberrie hates the Jedi."
Luke nodded. "Which is exactly why I want you to take the necklace to Miss Naberrie when you go to Naboo."
She looked a bit taken aback. "B-but, I'm a Jedi, too."
He could've laughed at her - that response seemed more like something that would come out of an Apprentice's mouth, not someone like his sister. "Yes, but that's not exactly common knowledge. I'm more likely to be fried by her than you are. To them, you are just a Senator, not a Senator who also happens to be a Jedi."
Ignoring the look she gave him, Luke moved to a cabinet on one of the walls and drew out a small box. He opened it, placed the necklace inside, and held it out to Leia once it was sealed.
Leia scoffed and shook her head at him, snatching the box rather forcefully from his grasp. She shook it at him, the necklace rattling within. "You owe me, Luke."
He grinned, "Only if you remember that I owe you."
"Oh, after having to deal with someone like Sola Naberrie, I'll be remembering for a long time!" She glared at him as he laughed at her, and leveled him with her intense gaze. "I suppose you want me to play dumb? Not know what's in this little box?"
"Umm-hmm."
"You so owe me, Skywalker."
Theed, the capital city of Naboo, shone brightly in the morning light. Leia stared at the extravagant buildings in awe when she stepped off the entry ramp of the Millennium Falcon, ignoring the looks of disapproval the Queen's handmaidens gave the ship. The Falcon was one of the few ships she trusted...that and Han had insisted on giving her a lift.
Queen Kalrondra stepped forward to greet her as Han and Chewbacca came stumbling down the ramp with Leia's things.
"Are you sure you need all this stuff, your worship?"
Leia eyed him.
"Right, Leia - I mean, Senator Organa." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, not liking being under that particular gaze of hers. "Um...where do you want this?"
"My handmaidens will take those from you," Queen Kalrondra answered as the fire-clad handmaidens swarmed forward and took Leia's things from Han and Chewbacca.
"Busy bodies, aren't they?" Han commented to Chewie, receiving another one of Leia's ice-cold stares. He grinned at her this time, pushing his Wookie companion towards the ship. "I believe this is our cue to leave you to your duties, Senator. Contact me if you need another ride!"
Leia silenced herself with a promise of yelling at him later and settled for glaring at his retreating form. Shaking her head she turned the Queen. "I'm sorry about that, they--"
"Oh, it's quite alright," Kalrondra answered, laughing lightly. "It's a pleasure to welcome you to Naboo, Senator Organa. Your father, Bail, was a great ally and good friend to our planet - as I'm sure you will be."
"I hope to be as well," was the only response Leia could come up with. She was still getting used to the fact that Bail Organa wasn't really her father, Anakin Skywalker was. Yes, Bail was the man who raised her, the man who she called 'Daddy,' but he did not father her. Yet, he was her father, in her heart, he still was and forever will be. It was just hard to forget or ignore the fact that Anakin Skywalker was her real father, as much as she still denied that fact.
She glanced up at the sky as the Falcon faded into the atmosphere, then turned and followed the Queen and her handmaidens to the Palace.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Star Wars is © George Lucas, Lucasfilm, etc.
06.30.05