Chapter 3
Master woke me up in the very early morning. The sun hadn't even risen yet. I was already in my Jedi apprentice attire so I just grabbed my bag and followed Master Ch'uik down the stairs. He called upon the R6 unit and it trailed behind us. We left the building and saw a silver/green Y-Wing ready for take-off. I put my gear in the cargo bay of the star fighter and got into the cockpit. Then it dawned on me. I made sure I had my lightsaber and my lucky Sabacc deck. I loved Sabacc, master said it wasn't the Jedi way, and that gambling is for smugglers and fools. I didn't care, I loved the game. I used to sneak out and go to the clubs where Sabacc was played and watch people bet everything from mass amounts of credits to ships, and rarely, their own lives. It was the rush of the game that I loved the most, when everything is on the line and you're counting on a set of cards to save your skin, literally!
The R6 unit docked itself in the ship as Master Ch'uik got in the cockpit. He was in the piloting position while I was in the gunning position. "Remember Sodim," my master said to me, "Whenever in a dogfight you need to be on your toes and have your focused honed to perfection. Got it?" I cockily grabbed the triggers with a sly grin on my face, "Got it, master!" He grabbed the controls and flew us out of the atmosphere of Coruscant and off we went to Endor.
We stopped at some planet in the Middle Rim, Naboo, I think it was. We stopped there to find some spare parts if there were ever a breakdown, on the ship or on R6. They greeted us as if they knew we were coming. When we landed we were greeted by a royal guard, Panaka was his name, Captain Panaka. He shook my master's hand and spoke, "Master Jedi, we've been expecting you. The Queen is anxious to meet your acquaintance." My master and I were then led to Theed Palace to meet Queen Jafan. While being taken there I spoke to Master Ch'uik in a hushed tone, "How did they know we were coming?"
"I don't know, padawan, maybe the council told them we'd be stopping by." I thought about this for a moment, "But Master, there are hundreds of planets in the galaxy, how did they know we'd come to this one?" My master didn't say anything after that, he just kept walking, eyes forward. I let out a sigh and followed suit.
We finally arrived in a room with few windows and no furniture. I looked at Master as he looked at me and Captain Panaka turned around and said, "We really do appreciate your being here but," he stopped short and revealed himself really be a leader of underground Theed rebels fed up with the Republic. His company shed their Palace guard garbs and revealed their shabby and filthy clothes. They held us hostage for reasons we hadn't yet known.