CHAPTER 7

NABOO

"Why is he making us go?" Maya whined, as she and Rie walked up the ramp into the starship that would take them, Dorian, Jay, and Esore to a far off planet. "I mean, what did we ever do to him?"

"Well, we didn't take becoming Jedi very seriously," Rie pointed out.

"So this is a punishement?" Maya screeched.

"I don't know," Rie said. "Esore cares a lot about becoming a Jedi and so does Jay. I doubt it has anything to do with punishment."

"Maybe he doesn't like teens."

"Don't be silly," the Twi'lek girl chided her friend. "He's been around teens all his life."

"Then what is his problem and why is Master Kenobi, Master Indoly, and Master Skywalker letting him get away with it?"

"Maybe they think it will be good for us too," Rie suggested.

Maya laughed spitefully. "I doubt that! They just want to get rid of us!"

Rie didn't believe that for a second. She glanced over her shoulder at Esore who was still talking to Master Yoda. "Esore's talking to Master Yoda," she reported. "Maybe she's trying to talk him out of it."

"I hope so," Maya said. "She's his Padawan. Maybe she's telling him she might get hurt and he'll be so concerned about her safety he'll change his mind.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Esore was saying to Master Yoda. "What if something happens to you? What if someone tries to kill you again?"

"Fine I will be," he said reassuringly.

"But," she began.

"Padawan," he said sharply. "Take care of myself I can. Worry about me do not."

The girl didn't say anything. Her expression twisted into a hurtful look.

Yoda put his small hand on her pale one. "Sorry," he said. "Yelled at you I should not have." He smiled. "Fine you will be. Fine I will be. Do not worry."

She nodded. "Yes, you are right." She put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll return soon," she said. And when I do I won't let anything hurt you.

He nodded and stared at her with his wise hazel eyes. "Believe that I do."

Esore stood up and hugged Obi-Wan then Murak. "Be carefull out there kid," Murak said.

"And don't forget to keep your lightsaber in close reach," Obi-Wan added.

"I promise," she told both.

She would have hugged Luke too but she knew he didn't like her so she didn't. She just nodded and he nodded back.

"Take your time out there," was all he said.

When Esore was done saying her good byes she joined the others as they walked into the ship. When she reached the top of the ramp she looked back and stared at the four Master's one last time. She knew she wouldn't see them for awhile.

Three out of four were smiling at her. All well, she thought.

She smiled and waved at them. "I'll see you all again soon," she said, as the door closed.

As soon as the ship rose into the air and flew away Yoda took Obi-Wan aside. "Master Kenobi," he said in a hush. "Speak with you privately I must."

"Why?" Obi-Wan asked. "What about?"

"An important message I have for you."

"From who?"

Yoda looked around. He saw Murak and Luke talking to eachother. He lowered his voice even more. "From an Angel named Mary."

"Look at them, Murak," Luke said in discust, as he watched Master Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi head back into the Temple.

Murak Indoly turned around. He too saw the Masters head into the Temple. "What about them?" he asked.

"They are hiding things from us," Luke said.

Murak looked at Luke now. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"Like I said," Luke replied, glaring after the Masters. "They are hiding something."

"Huh?"

Luke gave no explainations. He just turned around and walked in the opposite direction, leaving Murak standing alone on the landing pad.

Esore stared out the ships' transperisteel windshield at the vast galaxy stretched out before her. She had no idea where she was going and didn't care. She was too worried about her Master to care. What if something happens to him while we're gone? she asked herself over ten times. What if someone tries to kill him again? Who will be there to protect him?

"Esore?"

The girl looked over her shoulder. Jay was standing behind her looking concerned. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes," she lied. "Everything is just fine."

He walked toward her until he was right in front of her. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Okay." She couldn tell he didn't believe her. "So where do you think we're going?"

"I don't know," she answered, glad for a change of subject. "It's set on auto-pilot. I guess we'll find out when we get there."

Dorian came into the control room at that instant and yawned rudely. "Ahh, this is a lot more like it," he said stretching his arms. "Finally those stuffy old Masters are letting us do real Jedi stuff!"

The upstart put an arm around Esore's shoulders. "And I get to do it with one of my biggest fans!"

The purple haired girl roughly jerked his arm away. "I am no fan of yours!" she growled. "Just leave me alone, Dorian. Why don't you bother Maye or Rie or someone?"

"Because," he said acting as if it were obvious. "Maya is whinny and Rie isn't my type."

"Neiither am I!" she countered.

Dorian shrugged. "Whatever you say."

"Leave her alone, Dorian," Jay spoke up. "She said she doesn't want you bothering her so you should respect her wishes and not bother her."

Dorian glowered at the blond haired boy. "Who invited you into this?" he snapped.

"Nobody," Jay said simply. "But I can tell Esore doesn't want you getting on her case all the time."

"Just look at those two," Maya said from the back of the room. "Men are so immature."

"Who?" Rie asked confused. "Jay and Dorian? Why is Jay being immature? He's sticking up for Esore. Wouldn't that be the mature thing to do?"

"Maybe," Maya conceded. "But I'm not sure about that. Esore isn't acting very adult either."

"Oh," Rie said. "Why do you say that?"

"She's been a baby ever since someone tried to kill Master Yoda."

"A baby? I don't know about that. She's probably just worried. I know I would if my Master was almost killed by someone."

Maya gave the Twi'lek a look. "You are totally clueless aren't you?"

Rie blinked. "Clueless about what?" she asked.

"Nevermind," Maya said, walking away from the other girl. "You're so clueless you don't even know it!"

Awhile later the ship touched down on a planet. From the light of the control room the five Padawans could see what looked like a jungle with tall trees and carpets of grass and moss on the ground.

"Where are we?" Maya asked.

"I don't know," Dorian said looking out the windshield. "But it looks creepy."

Suddenly the computer blared out. Destination Reached. Location: Jungles of Naboo.

The five stared.

"Naboo!" Jay exclaimed. "Isn't Naboo Murak's birthplace?"

"Yes, it is," Esore said. "He told me that Naboo elects a new Queen every few years. Or they used to anyway."

"Don't they do that anymore?" Rie asked.

Esore shrugged and shook her head. "I don't know."

"Hey!" Dorian spoke up. "I bet I know what Master Yoda wants us to do! He wants us the find the Capital City of Theed and protect the Queen!"

The others looked at him. "How would you know that?" Maya demanded.

"I'm guessing."

"Master Yoda told me he would send us a message when we were all ready," Esore spoke up. "That message would tell us what to do." She started for the door. "Which means we don't know what we have to do until we make camp."

"Does that mean he'll send the message tonight?" Rie asked.

Esore shook her head. "No tomarrow." the door opened. "Now," she said. "Let's move out."