IV

As night falls I find my way to a garden behind the palace by way of a noisy Gungan bodyguard-in-training. When he leaves me alone but for Lorti Rall sitting on a bench with his long head bowed, the stars and the river-water give scant natural light. More illumination puddles out from the palace, but all these statues, seats and plants cast long, dark shadows.

When I approach Lorti he stands up and bobs his head. His nervousness beats between us, though I can't read any exceptional expression in his eyes on their short stalks. I say, "Good evening."

"Good evening. You trust we are alone, unfollowed, unallthat..."

"Tell me what you've seen."

"Ah, terrible things. Visions come like mirrors, like reflections in water. Weesa, my people, are thinkin some dark greatness... is coming."

"Enough with the theatrics." There is a prickle in the Force like someone approaches, but they are hiding and just brush along our area of influence.

Lorti goes on after a moment, covering up slight surprise and irritation. "I seen ghosts in these humans' hallways, always fighting. Then someone gets in between them--this bein the part I see most often. Another man brings his sword between them. One, the more absolutely monstrous, though they both scare me a little, turn to the newcomer and its like he realizes he's a ghost fighting a ghost, and here comes along something living to latch on to. Sorry this sounds--I gettin' only impressions. I know the one, he's mean like a sando aqua monster. I can't quite describe...the other's kinda protective-mean, like a...nesting duck...the last is you."

I ask, "What's a duck?"

"Did you see the birds on the water on the way in? That's them."

"Ah." I fold my hands into my cloak and glance up at the foreign stars. Never could get out of the habit of daydreaming, though now with discipline and all it is just formless..."And the vision gave you no clue of its result."

Lorti shakes his head no.

"Well we can't fight physically...you may now be my greatest aid."

"Meesa, Jedi Skywalker?"

"Yes. Please try to do as much research as you can, history and war here, perhaps, or anything about the Jedi or Sith, and be ready for more visions!"

"Sith?"

"Dark Jedi--no, so completely dark that they've joined the dark side of the Force. They use their powers to manipulate and kill. That's about all we know. Once their numbers were massive like those of the Jedi in the Old Republic but..."

I test Lorti for Jedi potential, by touching the point of his mind that I discovered in Leia, that old instinct. I take a step backwards as dizziness overwhelms me, but the physical impact sensation is much less than with Leia--perhaps this means Lorti is mildly Force-sensitive, or that his only skill lies in having these visions? But I don't know. I thank him and leave. As I do Leia emerges from a nearby pathway, dressed dark.

"I haven't been spying on you." She says immediately.

"I know."

"But I was going to."

I nod, understanding. "We're just trying to make sense of this. I'm pretty sure Lorti Rall, the Gungan warrior, has Jedi potential!" I sigh then and look down. "But no explanation has come yet." Then, "You wanted to make sure I didn't hurt him, didn't you?"

She nods. "I am doing both of my jobs. "

"Thank you."

"Gungans are holding a rally at the palace tomorrow, and sending a delegation up. Our speaking with the Queen for that day will be delayed. Min Fsaid and I were wanting to go to the seaside here, just to fit something in. You want to come?

To be with normal people, civilian people? That'll be different. "Sure." We walk back together.

A/N: This chapter is apparently dedicated to Alan Dean Foster and George Lucas, the combination of which penned this lovely little piece in the original novelization of A New Hope: ( Luke is in Ben's house) "I understand you're quite the pilot yourself. Piloting and navigation aren't hereditary, but a number of the things that can combine to make a good pilot are. Those you may have inherited. Still, even a duck needs to be taught how to swim."

"What's a duck?" Luke asked curiously.

"Never mind..."