Merry laughter took over the library of the Jedi Temple. A few of the younglings were having quite time in which they were to read. Sad to say that reading was not on their little minds. Five bodies scurried away from Master Eerin's watchful eye.
Kioca giggled high when he saw Kala trip and fall. The Zabrack scrunched her nose. "It's not funny!"
"He's just a silly boy." Replied a new voice to the group. Flay and Azul were not content to stay with Serafina when there were other young ones to play with. Of course it was strange to scamper with future peace keepers but Flay was too busy being the loving mother. "Don't mind him!"
The blond haired boy rolled his eyes and leaned against a book shelf. "Girls are silly! Boys don't cry when we fall down or scrape our knees!"
"That's because your insides are made of stone!" flared Kala.
Azul was busy clinging to the yellow folds of Flay's dress. He didn't take to meeting new people. In fact, he was a little upset that his mother was not around.
"Shh…." Flay whispered. "Were in a library… don't get so loud."
The rather pudgy Twi'lek shrugged his shoulders. "No one would hear us if we made a big noise anyway! Master Bant is busy talking to your nanny! Plus Jocasta Nu is busy."
"She's not a nanny! Serafina is our caretaker! Who's Jocasta Nu?"
"The librarian, duh!" Kioca shook his head, clearly bored with all that was going on about him. He wanted to be off doing something fun. Possibly talking with Master Skywalker would make his day but for the past couple of days Anakin wasn't at the temple. He remembered him talking about the Chancellor, though he was not certain. Kioca pushed his way past the group. "I'm going to do something fun!"
Just as Kioca was going to leave, a rather older student sauntered up to the children. The boy was no older then twelve but he did have a Master. His salmon pink skin glowed in the rays of sun. "Little girl…" The Togruta held out a small disk to her. "I was told to give this to you."
Flay tilted her head. She was perplexed about what she was being given. "What is it?"
"I don't know. This man just gave it to me and said to give it to the little Senator's daughter who is staying here. I guess that's you."
Kioca stared in amazement at what was taking place. When the Togruta stood and waited, Kioca scampered over and snatched the disk. "Let's see what's on it!"
"No, I am going to give it to my mommy!"
Azul buried his face into his sister's skirts. His dark curls pressed against the yellow folds and hide a few of the hand stitched rosettes. "I want my mommy…"
The Twi'lek smacked his head. "Great now he's crying!"
"More like wailing!" Kioca added. "I want to know what's on it!"
"No!" Flay flung forward and grasped Kioca by his collar. Her little brother was thrown off balance. She would have caught Azul but getting the disk back was more important. "Give it back!"
"Mommy! I want my mommy!"
"Oh shut him up!" The Twi'lek moaned.
A stomp of boots could be heard coming toward the group. Bant knitted her brow at the scene. The younglings halted. "What is going on? Obviously you are not reading quietly!" Her eyes flew to the disk. "Fighting over a little piece of metal?"
Flay folded her hands in her skirt. "It's mine!"
"It's yours?"
Azul quieted down when Serafina scooped him up. The Master looked at each of them then back to Flay. The little girl tilted her head. "He gave it to me. He said it was for me…"
The Togruta stood firm while eyes traveled to him. "It is true."
"Who gave it to you?" Her fingers reached out to take the disk from Kioca, who shirked by Kala's side. She rubbed her fingers over the device. "Speak quickly now."
He mulled over the words yet there was not much to tell. "It was a man, that is all I know. He gave the disk to me and gave me orders to deliver it to the Senator's daughter."
Bant knitted her brow. No one knew that the Pumbbala family was staying at the temple except a select few. Well, word probably spread about people staying in one of the apartments. Still… what was going on that she could not figure out with the force? "Thank you. You are dismissed. Please escort the three back with the others. Also tell Master Llamoik that I have important matters to attend to."
The Togruta bowed his head. "Yes, Master Eerin."
She watched the three younglings follow the padawan saunter away from her sight. Whenever she took her eyes off of them, trouble started. Something was not sitting right about the disk. She turned to face Serafina.
Azul was cradled in the woman's arms and still weeping softly. Flay had the face of a child who had done wrong. Bant wanted to tell her she had nothing to worry about but why was she worried? "Go back to your quarters and stay there for a time. I will be there shortly."
Serafina grasped Flay's hand and made way for the exit. Now Bant was by herself with her thoughts. She needed to contact Klip.
--
The door of Bant's room opened. She turned her silver eyes to look with Klip and the Senator's wife. Klip looked anything but pleased. "You said you had urgent news?"
"I don't know how urgent it is… it just doesn't sit right." She took out the disk. "This was given to your daughter, Lady Pumbbala."
Yunda knitted her brow. "By whom?"
"I don't know. A padawan delivered it to her and said it was given to him."
Taking the disk from Bant, Klip took out a small device. He merged the disk with the device and placed it on the table. There was no need in wasting time talking about it. He wanted to get this whole mess done and over with.
Yunda sat on the ruby stained couch and watched. There was nothing for a long while. Soon a hologram appeared and flickered as a man came onto the scene. He was dressed in attire she had seen years ago. People from the Underlevels dressed so much differently.
There was rambling from him that could not be understood but Yunda nearly jumped out of her seat when seeing Gavja. "My God…"
"You want him back in one piece I take it? Well, then there is going to be a few rules." The man in the hologram continued. "Come to sector 21 and he will be waiting on the second floor of 'Paca's Galaxy'. One Jedi should be sufficient; Klip Judgin. We all know he is best for this job."
As the hologram flickered from sight, Yunda could feel her heart sink. She set her eyes toward Klip. He was not at all pleased with what he heard and everyone felt the same, she thought. "How would he know that you are working on this?"
"My guess is he doesn't." Bant closed her eyes then opened them. "I think this has something to do with a vendetta. Maybe there is more then just a kidnapping. Could this have been used to secure another plan?"
Yunda bit her lip. There was so much that she was discovering about Gavja's secret meetings and at the same time, she was becoming more lost. "I don't think we are reading between the lines."
"What do you mean?" Bant asked.
"She means that there is more to the equation as we are all thinking at this point. I will go as soon as possible."
Yunda jumped to her feet and grasped his arm. Her sudden movement surprised both her and the Jedi. She wanted Gavja to be safe and out of harms way but at the same time, she didn't want Klip to go and get himself killed. "No!" She paused. "He wanted you to go alone. Please, bring more then just yourself!"
Bant nodded her head in agreement. "I wont let you go alone Klip."
"You cannot come with me, Bant."
"I know it but take someone else with you. I smell a trap."
With a long sigh, Klip felt Yunda release her grip. He wasn't going to win with these two and he knew it. "Send for A'Sharad Hett. Will you feel safe about this whole thing if he comes?"
Bant tilted her head to the side. "I am not doing this to be a pest but to make sure you are safe. This whole thing is uneasy with the force. And yes, I would feel better if A'Sharad went with you. I heard good reports about him from when he went on a mission to Aargonar."
"The fact that he got stranded doesn't bother you?"
"Stop patronising me Klip Judgin and go. I will make the council aware of this and maybe it would be a good idea if you waited till they are made aware."
Klip shook his head. "No time."
"Klip!"
"Bant!"
The room fell silent for a long while until Yunda took a step forward. "Do what you have to but don't be stupid."
Klip gazed from Bant to Yunda. He didn't want to converse about his well being anymore. Ze was still in his mind and he wanted to end all connections with the boy's death. He didn't want this dribble.
Withtout another word, Klip left the room.
Bant shook her head an added a sigh. "That man is the most stubborn Jedi I have met since Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Obi-Wan…"
The Jedi gazed at the woman. She was a little taken back that Yunda recognized the name. Not that her voice let it out, but the force energy around the Senator's wife was that of her friends. How odd. "You know him?"
Yunda came back to reality. Did she just say that name as if she was longing for the presence? In an attempt to redeem herself from Bant's curious eye, she shrugged her shoulders. "His name is well known. A fine general for the Republic as my husband says. Please excuse me. I should go and wait in the main hall for when Master Judgin returns."