CHAPTER 9

WHAT THEY MUST DO

Even though Esore had been the last person to fall asleep she was the first to wake up. When she opened her eyes she found herself in a bright world in different shades of green. As she stared at the jungle in awe she saw the communicator fizzling as a message from Coruscant came through.

She quickly got up and walked up to it. She picked the comunicator up and turned it on.

An image of Master Yoda appeared. His ghostly blue, black, and white image made him look even older than he really was. For a moment she thought something might be wrong.

Then he spoke and her worries faded away. "Padawan Esore," he began. "Arrived on Naboo safely did you?"

She nodded. "Yes, we did, Master."

"Good," he said nodding as well.

"So can you please tell me what our mission is?" she asked.

"Awakened have to others?" he asked.

Esore glanced at the other four Padawans. They were all still sound alseep. She looked back at her Master and shook her head. "No, they haven't," she replied.

Yoda nodded, as if he knew that would be the case. "Fine," he said. "Tell you alone I will."

"So what will you have us do?"

"Find your way to Theed you must. Careful you must be. Many dangerous creatures there are. Proceed with caution."

"Where is Theed located?" she asked.

"West."

"Now what about those dangerous creatures?"

"Scattered they are. Run into them anywhere you could. Careful you must be. Gungans you may find. Help you they might."

"Gungans?" Esore asked, cocking her head. "Will they attack us if we get too close to their territory?"

"Know that I do not, he replied. "May or may not . Up to them it is."

"Okay," she said. "Um... how are you doing?"

The hologram wavered a bit and even across space Esore could tell her Master didn't like that question. "Fine I am," he said guardedly. "Tried to kill me no one has."

The girl's face showed relief. "Thank goodness," she said.

Esore saw Yoda look at someone that wasn't in the holograms range of sight. When he looked back at her after a few seconds he said. "Have to go I must. Something important I need to discuss now. Talk to you again soon I will."

Esore didn't really want to end the conversation but she had no choice. "Okay," she said, nodding slowly. "See you later then."

He nodded and the hologram winked out.

Esore stared at the communicator a long time after the holoegram of her Master was gone. She hadn't wanted him to cut the link so soon but he had and that ment it was time for her to wake the others.

I shouldn't be so worried about him, she thought. He sent us the message himself so that means he's fine.

She glanced at the four sleeping Padawans. I think I'd better wake them up now. The sooner we get going the sooner we can get back to Coruscant.

She got up and started to wake the others, shaking them all in turn. When they were all awake and she had their attention she said. "Okay, you guys, I just recieved a message from Master Yoda...
"You did?" Dorian interrupted. "What does he want us to do?"

"He wants us to find our way out of the jungle and to the Capital City of Theed. He wants us to work together which means we have to stay together."

"Why?" Dorian questioned. "If we split up we would be able to find Theed a whole lot faster."

"Yoda told me where Theed is located. It's west of here," Esore replied. "Which means we don't have to split up. I know which direction is west even though the trees are blocking the sun. I can sense which way it is. All we have to do is get there."

"Did he tell you anything else?" Dorian asked, giving her an annoyed look.

The purple haired girl nodded. "Yes, he told me we have to be careful."

"Why?' Maya asked.

"Because there are monsters in this jungle. He told me to be careful if we go into the Gungan territory. If we don't pose a threat they should leave us alone."

"Should?" Rie said. 'I don't like should."

"Don't worry. If we pose no threat they probably won't."

"So that means if we run into them we don't attack them," Jay added. "This should be easy as long as Dorian doesn't get over excited."

"Hey!" Dorian shouted.

"Let's go," Rie cut in, standing up before a fight broke out. "We have a long was to go before we get to Theed so I suggest we start moving as soon as possible."

The others were just as ready. They headed into the jungle without anymore words.

Master Murak Indoly of Naboo paused outside in the Temple garden and breathed in the fresh sent of roses. The plants for some reason made him think of Esore.

I hope she and the others are okay, he thought, staring into the sky. I hope nothing happens to them.

Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned his head to get a better look at what it was. He thought he caught a glimps of Luke Skywalker slinking off into the city.

Now why is he acting like that? Murak thought puzzled. Why is he trying to be so sneaky about leaving the Temple? Doesn't he want anyone to know he left? Hmm... I wonder what he's up to..

It was lucky for the Nabooian that he didn't know or try to follow. He would find out soon anyway.

"I hate swamps!" Maya wailed, as her boots sunk into the mud. "I thought Naboo was only forest and fields."

"It does have swamps too you know," Jay told her. "Murak and I researched the planet a few years ago. If we are getting close to the swamp that means we'll reach the lake that leads to Gungan City."

"I think we should avoid getting too close to that," Esore said.

"Why?" Dorian asked.

"Because if we get too close the Gungans might think we're a threat anyway and shoot at us," the girl answered calmly.

"Good point," Rie agreed.

They altered their course a little.

As they walked it began to get darker.

"I don't like this," Rie said, gripping the handle of her lightsaber. "Why is it getting dark so early? Is a storm coming?"

"I don't think so," Jay said, looking up at the tree hidden sky. "If there was we would have felt it coming wouldn't we?"

"Maybe not," Esore said from the front. "The Force can't warn us about everything you know."

"I wish it would," Maya whined.

By then it had gotten so dark they could barely see eachother as well as ahead.

All five lightsabers came to life.

"Okay," Esore said. "Everyone stay close to the one in front of you. That way we won't get lost."

Rie grabbed Jay by the back of his cloak and held onto it.

"This is lame," Dorian said loudly. "Why are you guys being overly cautious? It's just the dark. There's no need to afraid of the-"

A rustling sound ahead silenced him as they all tensed.

Esore felt in the Force a sinister presence ahead. In a low whisper, they could all hear, Esore adressed Dorian. "You were saying?"