Disclaimer: I don't own anything (except a few original characters) and I'm not making any money off of this.

Sorry it took so long to update. I really appreciate the reviews I've gotten and I'm glad everyone is still enjoying it. Don't forget to keep reviewing – it really inspires me to write a bit faster and stay focused! I'd also like to say now that I WILL finish this fic. There may be times when I'm really busy and don't get to update as much as I'd like to (like this time), so please be patient and hang in there cuz I WILL FINISH! And a little side note: Daílayana is pronounced Die-lay-na.

Ch. 6: The Mission

After the duel Airiana went back to her quarters for a nice long shower. Her mind felt clearer and she was more relaxed than she had been since her arrival. She stepped in and let the hot water run over her, washing away the outside world. She once again found herself thinking of all that had happened and all that she had found out since her arrival. She had so many questions that she had wanted answers to, but it seemed that the more answers she got, the more questions she had. She found herself wondering about her father more and more too. Now that she was with people who could have known her mother, she wondered if any would know her father also, assuming he was a Jedi, of course. For some reason she had always pictured him as one, but there was no basis for this belief.

Airiana sighed. Why did things have to be so difficult all the time? Oh well, she'd just have be patient. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Yeah, right. She didn't even know why she was here in the first place. Was it to stop Anakin from becoming Vader? Maybe it was to stop Palpatine from becoming Emperor. Was it both? What else was there? Stop Luke and Leia's mother from dying? Somehow she didn't think that was it, but if she could that would be nice. Maybe she wasn't supposed to do anything. But then why was she here?

She sighed again, louder this time. There was nothing she could do but wait; wait and trust in the force. With another sigh she ran her hands over her hair, smoothing it down; her hands were water-logged and the bathroom was full of steam. Airiana reluctantly turned the water off and stepped out.

When she returned to the living room she noticed that there was a message on her comm unit. It was Master Windu; the council had decided to send her on a mission with Obi-wan and Anakin. The mission statement and other information had been sent to her and she was told to be ready to leave by tomorrow afternoon. Airiana was also informed that this mission would be a trial of sorts. Since she had obviously been trained, but not at the Jedi Temple, no one knew who her master was, and she was so young to have been knighted, her actions and decisions would be monitored by Obi-wan. He would then report to the Council whether or not he felt that Airiana could be trusted to be a Jedi Knight. "Wonderful," she muttered.

As she began downloading the information she needed onto a data pad, her eyes came to rest on her sword. She would need a lightsaber if she was going on this mission. Either she would have to borrow one or go back and get her own. She liked her lightsaber and didn't relish the thought of using one that she wasn't used to. Her mind was made up. Hearing a soft bing from the comm unit, Airiana looked back down; the data pads were finished, so she set them aside then stepped back. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and concentrated on where she needed to go.

She felt it take her, slowly at first as though she was slipping out of time's hand. Then, without warning, she let go and was falling through time. A few seconds later she felt herself slowing down and then stop just as quickly as she had begun. Airiana opened her eyes; she was standing in the kitchen at her house back on Earth. She took a walk around the house to make sure everything was alright then, satisfied, she went upstairs to her bedroom to retrieve her lightsaber. While she was unlocking the case she kept it in, she looked around at her room and saw a few other things she wanted to take back with her; her computer, her cd's, a few books, and some clothing. She clipped her lightsaber to her belt and got the other things together. She took one last look around her room to make sure she had everything she wanted, then closed her eyes once more and was gone.

After putting her stuff away, Airiana decided to look over the information she had been given regarding her mission. She would be heading to a planet named Taroga, a temperate planet covered with forests. The inhabitants were mostly tree-dwellers, building their homes among the branches. They reminded Airiana of apes actually, being only four to five feet tall with long arms, feet that looked more like hands, a button nose, and big eyes. They didn't have a tail or lots of hair, though.

Moving on she saw that the ruling body was not comprised of a single person, but an entire family which was elected every one hundred years. This year had been an election year. There were only two candidates; the Takanya family and the Nacoma family. Both were very popular and the election had been heated. The Nacoma family had won by only a couple hundred votes.

Needless to say, the Takanya supporters weren't pleased by the results. Some of the supporters had organized protests, demanding a re-vote. Some of the protests had turned into riots; property was damaged and citizens were injured. In the last protest, a few people were even killed.

With the growing violence, the current reigning family, the Zamátee's, were worried something would happen at the official ceremony commemorating the passing of leadership to the Nacoma family. The Jedi's presence had been requested to deter Takanya supporters from causing any trouble.

Checking the clock, Airiana saw that it was later than she thought; she knew she shouldn't stay up much later, but she wasn't ready to go to bed just yet. Remembering she had brought some books back, she decided she'd read until she felt tired enough for sleeping.

As she was pulling out Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, three other books caught her eye – The Lord of the Rings. Airiana was probably one of the only people who knew they weren't fiction. She didn't know how they had survived almost perfectly intact through all those years, but she was never more glad they did than she was now. Maybe if Yoda read them, he'd see how much of a danger Saruman was and how important it was to act now. The only problem was she'd either have to translate it or Yoda would have to learn how to read 'Earthling'. She didn't really look forward to translating all three books, so Yoda would have to learn to read – if he was willing.

Oh well, that would have to wait until after her mission. She looked at the clock again; she really needed to get to bed, but she also had to read or she'd never fall asleep. She opened up Harry Potter and after only a chapter, her eyes were tired and she turned out the lights.

The next morning went by without any problems, as did the takeoff. A few hours later, they stepped off the ship. The landing pad was located in a clearing, with the actual landing platform raised off the ground so that it was in line with the houses of the natives. Across a wide wooden bridge, the members of the Zamátee family were waiting for them. There was Daílayna, the oldest member of the family, and therefore the head of the household, and then there was her son, his wife, and their two children. Daílayna stepped forward to welcome them.

Airiana examined Daílayna closely as she introduced herself and her family. She was just over four feet tall, but looked smaller. She used a cane to help walk, yet she stood straight and proud with her head held high. She studied each of the Jedi carefully. Airiana could tell that whatever this woman lacked in physical strength she made up for in mental strength; there was a flicker in her eyes that told of the fire in her mind.

When the introductions were over Doña Daílayna said, "My grandson will show you to your rooms. When you are settled he will show you to my study so that we may discuss the situation." She smiled warmly then turned away.

Everyone followed her except her grandson, who now stepped forward. He was young, probably in his early twenties. He smiled as he said, "My name is Tomálo, as my grandmother already told you. If you'll please follow me I'll show you to your rooms." After a few steps he said, "I'll be your guide while your here, so if you need anything at all, you need only to ask."

As she followed Tomálo, Airiana looked around her. The trees she was walking through were some of the tallest, windiest, heaviest, most alive looking trees she had ever seen. Every tree in the forest looked as though it had started off as a few saplings growing close together and that as they grew, they slowly entwined and hugged themselves into one large, twisted tree; even the branches seemed to snake along one another.

The leaves reminded Airiana of giant maple leaves, except these had rounder edges to them and seemed to be much thinner; instead of casting shadows where the sun hit them, they allowed the light to filter through, casting a green haze on everything below. When the bright sun did manage to fight through the layers of leaves, it fell down in long, thin streams and speckled the houses and walkways. As a calm, steady breeze played lazily with the giant leaves above them, it seemed as though the green haze and bright light were dancing to a slow, gentle serenade.

Nestled in between the branches and leaves were wooden houses. The color of the boards were not the usual woody color as they were on Earth, but the lightest shade of rose pink or blush champagne. Some trees held as many as five houses, starting near the lower branches and working their way up and around the trees. Most of the houses were quite plain, but some had ornate carvings on them picturing native animals, especially birds, nestled within vines of leaves and branches. Others seemed to have local legends or family histories depicted on them. All the houses and trees were connected by weaving wooden walkways and bridges. In larger areas where trees had fallen or there was a small clearing, great square platforms with carved railings had been built for gatherings.

After ascending three sets of steps, Tomálo opened a door, gave the key to Obi-wan, and left. The Jedi stepped in. The cabin smelled of fresh-cut wood, but wasn't overpowering; it was a softer, lighter smell that reminded Airiana more of the scent flowers than of trees.

Looking around, she saw they were in a small sitting room that contained a small table with four chairs, a desk, and two sofas. Everything was wooden and the same color as the outside of the cabins.

Straight ahead of the entrance door was a wall with two doors in the middle of it. Airiana walked over to right door and opened it. She was surprised to find herself facing another wall. Turning to her right she found that the room opened up after about three feet. She walked into the middle of the room and looked around. On the inside wall was another door. She opened it up and saw that it was the bathroom, which she guessed was shared between the room she was in now and the room on the left side of the house. Shutting the door, she turned around. A large bed was on the opposite wall in the corner and a chest was at the end of it. There was also a rocking chair in one of the other corners. Overall Airiana thought it was very comfortable looking. It even reminded her of a bedroom she would find in some small cabin by a lake somewhere.

Airiana threw her backpack on the bed and headed back out to the sitting room. Obi-wan and Anakin were waiting. A few moments later there was a knock on the door; Tomálo had arrived to take them down to Daílayna's study.

"Welcome. Please, please take a seat." Daílayna said motioning toward three chairs in front of her desk. "I hope you find your lodgings suitable?"

"Yes, quite suitable, thank-you," replied Obi-wan with a polite smile.

"Good, good…well then, why don't we get down to business? As your council has probably informed you, a new family is about to come to power and there has been some opposition. As the Staff Changing Ceremony draws nearer more and more violence has been breaking out," she gave a tired sigh then continued, "I wish your presence here was not needed, but we have no army on Taroga and there aren't enough royal guards to stop a riot if, Force forbid, such a thing should occur. In order to assist you in deterring any troublemakers, I am giving you complete control over the royal guard; they will follow your commands during the rest of your stay here. You also have free reign to travel anywhere you like. My grandson will escort you or give you directions to wherever it is you wish to go. I believe that covers everything, then. Are there any questions?"

Obi-wan glanced over at Anakin then Airiana then said, "No, I believe you explained everything for us. Thank-you for your time; we'll do everything in our power to insure the safety of your citizens at the ceremony."

"No, thank-you Master Jedi; my family and I will be glad to help you in any way we can. Tomálo," Daílayna called and moment later her grandson opened the door, "please introduce the Jedi to Captain Namana for me."

"Yes, Grandmother. If you'll follow me please?"

Obi-wan, Anakin, and Airiana bowed low to Doña Daílayna and followed Tomálo out of the room.