Chapter 4

Kyn had been asleep a matter of minutes when he felt severe turbulence wake him and his entire family up. The ship was shaking and it brought back terrible memories of the quake on Ennth that so many had lost their lives to while trying to board the ship. A voice came over the ships intercom speakers, addressing every portion of the ship.

"This is Captain Tangoh, speaking. There is nothing to worry about. Our computer systems had us about a tenth of a degree off of where we should have been entering the atmosphere. We'll steady it out and we will be landing just outside the capital city of Naboo, Theed in about ten standard minutes."

Kyn watched as Kyra made her way through the cramped space of their quarters and cuddle with their mother. The turbulence began to dissipate slowly until there was nothing to be felt but the smooth ride down to the planet's surface.

"You're going to like this place," Rayna told her daughter. "This is one of the more beautiful planets in the entire galaxy. Not what one might expect from a planet so close to the Outer Rim."

Kyra looked up at her mother excitedly and then to Kyn as if she expected him to add something. He did not. Instead Rayna continued to tell Kyra about all of the green grass and pastures, the waterfalls, and forests dabbled with lakes.

"I wondered," Kyra said oddly.

"Wondered?" Rayna repeated a tone of question in her voice.

Kyra shrugged, "I thought Naboo must be a pretty place. That girl Jedi was born here."

Rayna squinted in suspicion at her daughter, "How do you know all that?"

"She told me," Kyra said proudly, as if a famous person had confided some secret in only her.

Kyn huffed and looked away.

"Have something to add, Kyn?" Tyon spoke, his voice wary and sleepy.

"She only told you because you were nosing and bothering her so much." Kyn said, a bit irritated.

"She nosed first," Kyra said defensively.

"I wonder why that would be?"

Rayna stepped over both of their arguing voices, "Enough, children."

This only irritated Kyn that much more. How often did he have to tell people, especially his own parents that he did not like to be referred to as a kid anymore?

Cole could see the fury starting to boil in Kyn's eyes and he chuckled aloud, "Mother, you know Kynnie doesn't like to be called a kid. He prefers young adult, or something like that."

"Shut it," Kyn sniped back.

Before their parents could interject there was a buzzing noise coming from the steel door of their cabin. Then a voice came through the small intercom device on the right side of the door where there were also a number pad and a locking mechanism.

"Officials of The Naboo are asking that all passengers please exit the ship so they may address everyone on board at once." The voice informed them. "Hello?"

Cole jumped up and hit a button on their side of the door, "Yeah, we'll be out there in a few minutes."

Rayna stood up, her daughter still attached to her side. "Alright everyone, let's get presentable."

When the Fuller family exited the large transport ship, they could see thousands of their fellow refugee's standing in a large grassy area. They were spread out and there seemed to be no order to it all. People were socializing and trying to adjust to sunlight.

It was a gorgeous day on Naboo. There were mountains in the far distance and immediately Kyra had noticed one of the beautiful waterfalls her mother had told her about.

A makeshift stage and podium had been setup to the North of the crowd and behind that they could see the gates and buildings of Theed, the capital of Naboo. There were already several men dressed in maroon uniforms on the stage and they seemed to be acting as security.

"What is this all about?" Cole asked no one in particular.

"Got me," Kyn said, trying to look between and over people.

"Doubt she's out here in the masses," Cole smirked.

"Whatever," Kyn retorted.

An older man in royal blue robes could be seen walking up the steps of the stage, a datapad in hand. He walked in front of the podium and straightened himself to his full height.

There was no microphone but his voice was magnified, apparently by some device he was wearing on his person. It carried over the crowd, bringing them to a hush.

"Greetings, I am Sio Bibble, Governor of the Naboo and head of the Royal Advisory Council. I am here today to welcome you to our wonderful home. Some of you will only be staying a short time, others will begin their new life here." The man explained.

Everyone seemed to be giving him their undivided attention. Everyone except Kyn that is. He was still futilely looking for Zafii.

"Queen Amidala is very sensitive of everyone's situation. Before she became queen, she traveled to distant planets to help refugees just like you. That being said, many of you might be aware of our situation. In an [i]unthinkable[/i] attack by the Trade Federation, many of our fellows were killed and even more buildings and homes destroyed. That is why Queen Amidala personally wrote a piece of legislation which was passed just before your arrival. This bill will allocate funds to help rebuild the wrecked parts of his great planet. This is where those of you who wish to stay and make a life on Naboo, will come in. You will be given temporary housing that will meet the needs of any size family. What we ask for in return is your services to rebuild homes, businesses, and government buildings. In effect, at some point you will be helping to build your very own home that you and your family will live in. You will own it free and clear and then be able to pursue the career of your choice." Bibble read from the datapad.

There was a tiny uproar from part of the crowd; the term indentured servitude was tossed around.

"I understand your concerns," Bibble spoke up. "But the Bill clearly states that this is an option of anyone wishing to stay on Naboo. You are welcome to try to find your own way on our great planet. We also understand that many people do not possess the skills or physical aptitude to undergo the physical labor of construction. There are many of jobs that will need to be filled. For instance, will need people to make food around the clock."

This seemed to stop most of the bickering.

"Those of you, whom are interested, please see one of our many uniformed guards. They will be passing out information sheets to more fully explain the process. If after that you choose to stay, there will be paperwork to fill out. Those of you who need fresh supplies, just inside the city walls you will find fresh fruit as well as anything else you desire. Thank you for your time." Bibble ended his speech.

Hundreds in the crowd began to look for uniformed guards to get information.

"May as well go back to the ship," Cole sighed. "Can't wait till we get to Coruscant."

Zafii had several datapads spread out on a table in front of her. She was in a private room in the Theed courthouse. She had been given access to private chambers and droids had been in and out, dropping off more datapads.

She was looking at record after record for public notices of birth on the planet of Naboo, roughly sixteen years ago. Finally she came across the last name Pel.

[i][center]Zenni and Josia Pel welcomed a baby girl (Zafii Pel) into the galaxy on the 34th day of the ninth month at 21:42 , Galactic Standard Time.[/i][/center]

Immediately after finding this, she disregarded the datapad and had the droids begin to bring in any datapads that had any information on Zenni Pel or Josia Pel. Only two datapads were retrieved. The first one talked of the Separatist invasion just about a standard year prior. Josia Pel and Zenni Pel's named were mentioned in passing as two casualties of the invasion. Zafii did not seem to be affected by this. She simply moved it to the side and picked up the other datapad. It was a full length article by a local journalist from Naboo, written nearly 16 years ago.

[i] Today I sat down with a middle aged couple who live on a small farm about 100 kilometers South of Theed. Their names Josia and Zenni Pel. The couple makes a modest living growing various exotic berries and fruit on their quaint farm.

Fifteen years ago they were married in a small ceremony on the land of Zenni's parents. After the wedding they soon invested in the small farm they still live on. They also began to try to start a family.

"I told Josia on our wedding night," Zenni recalls. "I want to have ten children."

"I was a little worried at that point," Josia smiles.

Ten children certainly would have been a handful for this couple, obviously if Zenni's wishes were to come true they would have had to upgrade their housing.

But it was not to be. Zenni experienced let down after let down in the first five years of their marriage.

"We were still young," Josia explains to me. "I didn't see the need to go see a specialist. I just thought it would happen when it happened."

Zenni was not so optimistic about her prognosis. She was an only child herself and had often wondered why she didn't have a brother or sister to play with as a child. Eventually after their fifth wedding anniversary Josia agreed to go into Theed and see someone about their situation.

"I had planned a very romantic get-away for us," Josia remembers the occasion of their 5th anniversary. "But by that time, Zenni was just not in the mood to celebrate."

They clasp each other's hand as they remember the painful evening.

"I regret acting the way I did," Zenni begins to tear up. "I just wanted it to have already happened. It just all came to a boiling point that night."

And so to Theed they went. With credits at a premium, Josia was doubtful for what anyone could do for them. The doctor told them there was hope after all as it turns out. He put Zenni on a non-expensive medication and told them he'd like to see them again in five months.

"Things just were changing," Zenni explains. "They tested both of us, ran the same tests twice in some situations."

And then it happened. Days before their 7th wedding anniversary Zenni had discovered she was nine weeks pregnant. The families of both joined for celebration and everyone was elated.

"As quickly as it had come, it was gone." Josia tells me, as now I see tears in his eyes.

Miscarriage. Miscarriage after Miscarriage for the next seven years. It was obvious that the doctors were on the right track. They had medicated Zenni to the point where she could receive, but to carry to full term was just impossible.

"I told her I couldn't do it anymore," Josia grips his wife's hand tightly, remembering. "The heartache was too much to withstand. Every time it felt like another child had died. I guess in a way that is true."

"I begged, I pleaded. Just one more try." Zenni recalls sorrowfully.

And so Josia agreed. Nearing their 15th anniversary Zenni once again discovered she was pregnant. This time and like so many of the times before it, she did not tell anyone else except her husband.

"When we got to 30 weeks, we were very hopeful. We had never been that far." Josia admits.

They had reason to be hopeful. Zafii Pel was delivered by their doctor at their home, late in the evening several weeks later.

"She was perfectly healthy," Josia smiles.

"And beautiful," Zenni adds.

At this point in the interview, after all of the difficult questions I had asked them on this day, I found myself asking the hardest one of all.

"Why, after so many fruitless years of trying… did you give up your one and only child to the Jedi Knights?"

Silence rang throughout the room. I looked into their eyes, the pain still very new for them.

"They told us she was very powerful, very sensitive." Josia attempts to explain. "They said her potential was rare."

"Things randomly fell off the shelves," Zenni remembers. "She was only days old."

"We knew she was special," Josia added.

After an hour on the topic of giving up their daughter, they had no better explanation for coming to the decision that they did.

The Jedi do not offer visitation to parents who give up their young to be trained. In the eyes of the Jedi Code it could cause attachment for the trainee, which is strictly frowned upon.

I asked them if they planned on trying to have another child.

"No," Zenni says. "I will not get to raise her or see her grow up. But I know she will lead an amazing life and be happy. I guess that's all a parent can really ask for. She'll always be my miracle."

Part of me believed Zenni, another part did not. Could the Jedi have used one of their infamous mind tricks on the Pel family? I hate to use the word kidnap, but what is the word for falling just short of that?

I find it hard to believe, seeing the love that these two could have provided a child… after all of the heartache they had endured, that they would so willingly give up their miracle baby.

Another question was brought to my attention by a colleague just before this article was sent to my editor. With no knowledge of family history of Force sensitive people, could it be that the reason why Zafii was a miracle child wasn't a miracle at all? Perhaps her strong gift with the Force is indeed what kept her alive in the womb? I'm not a Jedi historian and would never want to be, but I guess for some out there, it is a question worth asking.[/i]

Zafii sat the datapad aside and stood up from the wooden chair she was sitting in. She showed no emotion as she put the hood of her cloak over her head and walked towards the door. The droids who had been assisting her were waiting outside.

"Would you be so kind as to clean up the mess I left in there?" Zafii asked politely.

"Yes, of course." One droid responded in its robotic voice.

Master Tine sat across from his Padawan in a private chamber aboard the transport.

"I don't know why," Zafii said with self-loathing entrenched in her voice. "Why would I try to find out any information about them? Even if they were alive I could not have tried to meet them."

"It is only natural to want to know where one comes from," Master Tine explained. "I once tried to find my parents and had every intention on meeting them if I could."

Zafii looked into the large blue eyes of her Master with disbelief. She had always known Master Tine to be very rigid with his following of the Jedi Code.

"What stopped you?" She asked, discerning from the way he had phrased it that he had never found them.

Master Tine smiled, he truly adored his apprentice. "The same thing that stopped you I suppose."

Zafii was confused about this. Even if her parents were alive, she told herself that under no circumstances could she try to track them down. Yet, Master Tine had just told her he would have followed through.

"They died just months before I discovered their identity." Tine explained.

"Great, another thing we have in common." Zafii sighed, as if she was tired of having so many similarities to her Master.

"Although it was not war, but illness. They both contracted a rare, but highly contagious disease. My guess would be that one came down with it and gave it to the other. Luckily they were living on a planet that had a minimal Twi'Lek population and the disease only affects our kind." Master Tine said.

Zafii shook her head, "I promise I wouldn't have tried to track them down Master. I know what kind of complications could have arose."

"Very well, but you do not have to convince me. As long as you are being truthful with yourself; that is enough for me."

"I am," Zafii said, standing.

Master Tine nodded, but remained seated.

"I promised someone I would council them this evening." Zafii said, turning towards the durasteel door.

"This late?" Master Tine inquired.

"Yes," Zafii hesitated. "They desire a certain level of privacy."

"I see," Master Tine nodded.

Zafii knew she was excused and took a right down the corridor to return to the empty cafeteria.

Kyn made his way to the cafeteria, hoping to see Zafii. They were on their way to Ruan, a brief stop. He had no intention of hanging around the agricultural planet. He was itching to see the lights of Coruscant. He had heard that the twinkling lights of Coruscant were indescribable. Naboo was nice; Corellia wasn't bad, but he was ready to see something different.

"Looking for that Jedi?" Cole asked as he approached him.

"What are you doing here?" Kyn asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Princess Kyra is hungry," Cole responded with an eyeroll. "Dad doesn't want her roaming around so he sent me."

Kyn nodded. He could see Zafii sitting at a table on the far wall. He slipped away from his brother, knowing he would hear an earful about it later and made his way to her table. He sat down across from her.

"Hello."

"Hi," she stated, "What did you want to talk about?"

Kyn shrugged, "I don't know. Did you like Naboo?"

Zafii shrugged, "It's fine. I've been there before."

"When?"

"Master Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral," she responded.

Kyn nodded, acting as if he knew whom she was talking about.

"Are you looking forward to Coruscant?" Zafii asked.

"Yes," he said with a nod, "Mom says we've got temporary quarters set up. I'm anxious to see everything. Have you been all over the planet?"

Zafii shrugged, "Yes, with my Master."

"You've never gone out alone?"

Zafii looked annoyed. "No, I'm not that Skywalker boy."

"Skywalker? You mean the kid that won the Boonta Eve?" Kyn asked excitedly.

"You know who won some podrace yet you have no idea who the Jedi was who died protecting Queen Amidala and the Naboo?" Zafii asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh, Cole likes that kind of thing. He told me," Kyn mumbled, mentally cursing himself.

"Uh-huh," she responded, "but to answer your question, yes the same Anakin Skywalker."

"Does he sneak out or something?"

"Frequently. Attends races, I hear. I'm sure you and Cole would enjoy them," she said with a smirk, "His Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi frequently complains about him to my Master."

"That must be frustrating," Kyn responded, determine to make himself sound more impressive.

Zafii waved her hand dismissively, "It makes little difference to me. "

They sat in silence for a few moments. Kyn glanced to his right and saw Cole standing by a girl, clearly flirting. Kyn snorted as she walked off in a huff.

"You'd think he'd learn," Kyn mumbled.

"Your brother has little luck in the romance department?" Zafii asked.

"He can't keep his big mouth shut," Kyn responded.

Zafii chuckled, "Most can't."

"You don't have that problem," Kyn said, "I mean, the whole love stuff isn't what you do."

"Jedi do not fall in love or have crushes," Zafii stated firmly, "Attachments are forbidden. I prefer it that way, especially after seeing what men my age would do to get my attention."

Kyn had to chuckle at her comment. He tried to ignore the rest of her statement. After all, she was just interesting because she was a Jedi. He didn't think she was cute or anything like that.

It could be any Jedi sitting there, he told himself. They were just interesting.