Last time: The Zeb's paid a visit to a memorial on Theed. Kyr and Op blew up trees for... firewood.

Now: It's time for a nice relaxing day.

Chapter 10- The Lake

The sun was high in the sky as Viran and Sasha laid on a blanket under an umbrella on the shore of one of the many lakes of Naboo with Lana resting between them. There were many people out today to enjoy the warm weather and some lake activities. Viran had gotten a license to do some fishing which he did for most of the morning after they had arrived before the crowd showed up. They also rented out a boat and took it out on the lake with Lana where Viran continued to do some fishing, but also so they could do some swimming out in the middle of the lake. They even built some sand castles and played in the shallow part of the water with Lana. Now the afternoon was drawing closer to evening and yet there still was a large number of people hanging around the lake.

"How much longer do you want to stay?" Viran asked as he awoke from his light mediation. "She's passed out and if I'm out here any longer I'm likely to be fried."

Sasha looked up from her datapad as she had brought a couple of the medical journals Kelce had given her to read through in her down time.

"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "I think I still want to do one last swim before we go."

"Then go right ahead," Viran said as he stretched out on the blanket. "I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon."

Sasha chuckled at him before glancing around at the crowd then up at the sky. "Yeah, alright," she said before setting down her datapad and standing up. "I'll be back in a bit. If I'm not back by the time the sun is at the horizon, I might either be at a Gungan city below or I've drowned."

Viran smirked. "I'll sense if you drown, but I'll take your word for it. Have fun."

Sasha smiled at him before heading for the shore line. She waded into the water that was still so warm despite the cooling air around them. She waded until the water was at her waist then she popped a rebreather into her mouth and dove under the water. Sasha swam along the bottom of the lake until it tittered off into the deep abyss that led down to the Gungan cities below. She wasn't the only one swimming along down here. There were several other people swimming around this area too. Most were kids around the ages of ten to fifteen years old. Sasha mentally smirked at them as she swam by.

She swam for a while until she spotted the Gungan city come into view. Its giant dommed bubbles gleamed in the dark waters. She floated there for a moment, just staring at it in awe before deciding it was time to go back. As she swam away, something in the Force pulsed at her. Something dangerous. Looking around, now alert, Sasha tried to see where the disturbance was coming from. She spotted those same kids from before. Except this time, the majority of them were swimming away as one was stuck. She noticed as she swam closer that the boy's leg was wrapped up in some seaweed and the kid was panicking. But he wasn't panicking because he was stuck. No, he was panicking because a large fish with sharp teeth was swimming towards him at a menacing pace.

Sasha's eyes widened at that. She then used the Force to launch herself forward and put herself between the boy and the fish. As soon as she was between them, the fish's mouth opened wide to chomp down on the boy, not even realizing she was there. Sasha brought her hands up and stopped the fish with the Force, holding its mouth open. The fish struggled in her grip until she finally Force pushed it away. It flew back pretty far, but she knew that once it reoriented itself it would come back. She then turned around to face the boy who looked to be no older than ten, staring at her with wide eyes. She reached down and started tearing at the seaweed. It took a couple of tugs, but she managed to get the boy free. However, she could sense the fish coming back.

Wrapping an arm around the boy, Sasha used the Force to push away from the fish and towards the shallower ends of the lake. The fish tried to keep up the whole way until it was too shallow for it to swim in. Then it stopped and swam away realizing its prey had gotten away. Now safely away from the fish and in shallower water, Sasha and boy broke the surface of the water. The boy pulled out his rebreather with a gasp and looked to Sasha in shock.

"You're a Jedi?" The kid asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Sasha responded as she pulled out her own rebreather. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good," The kid said. "Thanks, Ms. Jedi."

"Of course, just be careful from now on," Sasha said with a smile.

He nodded then swam away from her towards the shore where the group of kids that he had been with were talking with the adult they must have come with in a panic. The boy ran up to them and they all were so happy to see him alright. Sasha made her way back to shore as the group moved off, grateful their missing family member had been returned to them. She walked back over to the umbrella where Viran was reading his own datapad with Lana leaning against him, asleep.

"How was your swim?" Viran asked her as she grabbed a towel to dry off.

"Oh you know, just saw some fish, checked out the Gungan City, and saved a kid from a hungry fish," she said simply as she toweled off her hair.

"So that is what the crowd of worried people was over there," he said, concerned. "Were they the family of the kid? And are they okay?"

"Yeah, I think that was his family and he is fine," Sasha said as she sat down next to Viran. "Not even spooked by the fact he almost became fish food."

"Well I wouldn't be scared either if a beautiful Jedi saved my life," Viran said wistfully.

Sasha lightly smacked him on the knee, chuckling. "Let's get going. I'm done for the day."

It was the late afternoon, and Cien relaxed surrounded by a cloud of bubbles in the gigantic tub. The bath was heavenly, and she was enjoying the candle lit scene as she luxuriated in the warm water. A smile came to her face as she relaxed. She would be quite happy to stay here for a while. She reached over and grabbed the glass of juice, and listened to some quiet music as it soothed the spa like space around her. She had never taken the time to have a bath before, certainly not like this. She had always just showered, efficiently, so that she could get clean after a hard mission or a tough day, nothing more. But to be able to relax, and sit here in this space, she could understand why it was such a wonderful pastime.

Whoever this room had been originally intended for, they had apparently insisted upon, or been gifted, a wonderful spa. One day she had been curious, months after she had arrived originally, and she had been nosey, taking a look through all the rooms that had been unoccupied for years. There was a huge mix through the grand estate, enough beds to sleep fifty people comfortably, one way or the other. Single rooms with smaller beds, like her original room. Rooms meant perhaps for a couple, that were a bit bigger and had a larger bed, like Kyr's pigsty 'office'. Some of the rooms were rows of bunks like a luxurious barracks, some with private bathrooms or shared bathrooms with other rooms. Some were large and unique master suites like what she had, or Sasha and Viran or Kitsu and Illara had in the other wing.

When they had returned, and the question had come up as to what room she and Kyr should move into, she had remembered this suite in particular. The bed was large and comfortable in a room that was luxurious. Perhaps not as palatial as the room she had had when she had been an empress, but it was comfortably appointed with warm woods, rich carpet and comfortable furniture. It was equally as nice as her imperial suite in its own way. And equal to all the other master suites, even though they were appointed a little differently.

But the bathroom. Whoever had designed this estate had, for some reason, designed this master suite with something akin to its own small spa. Nicer than the other suites she had been able to visit. She was vaguely curious what Sasha and Viran's room might be like, or Kitsu and Illara's. What might have made them pick their rooms like she had picked this one.

It was a wonderful secret, though, that had apparently gone unnoticed when the others were picking their rooms before she had ever set foot in this house. And she was so grateful for that. A space of rich, warm stone, glowing lights, and fixtures that bespoke a sense of comfort. There had even been a set of gloriously soft towels hidden in one of the beautiful wooden cabinets. There was a sauna to the side, which she was looking forward to trying when the weather turned colder.

And the tub. Oh the tub, a beautiful centerpiece to this whole miniature spa. She had been waiting weeks since they had returned to try it. And it was a wonderful pool of heaven that made her smile even more contently as-

Another explosion reverberated through the house and she startled a little bit. They were out there again today, apparently they needed a lot of firewood, or it was just entertaining blowing things up. She rolled her eyes and sunk deeper into the bubbles, immersing herself under the water. And decided that she would not invite Kyr to join her in here this evening after all.

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