Ahsoka's POV
As Master Jula tells the escorts to seat the children into her pram, I can't help but hold onto Shmi's jumper a little tighter. In the past, it has seemed whenever we leave each other, things go wrong. Horribly wrong. I think Master Jula believes all jedi younglings to be the same fussy, giggly, self-minded children the galaxy has come to know. Shmi is nothing like that. In fact, she is more than that.
I massage Shmi's montrails as the other children are loaded in the carriage. I know I am not invisible, but I can at least try. Until Master Jula's hand stretches out to us. I kiss Shmi's forehead and hold her out to the woman, whose fingers seem as cold as her heart. The carriage of children leave seconds later, now leaving the five escorts to walk to the dining hall. We are instructed by one of the service droids to wait there until the final stage of the session finishes.
I can't say I am very happy to go have a meal. The time change on this planet has gotten to me, and I feel like I ate an hour ago, rather before we left Coruscant. Master Aayla and Master Sinube exchange banter, while Obi-Wan and Master Vos catch up since they last met. Obi-Wan mentioned they worked together to look for Ziro, but he never really went into detail.
Instead of walking with the others, I stay behind. Far behind. I am the only left in the meditation room when I decide to follow, very slow. Maybe I can take advantage of this. I stop in my tracks, listening for any sign of the pram that left moments ago. I hear a squeak of wheels and tip-toe down the hall to the left, opposite the group.
I turn the corner on my heels and spot the children down the hall, Master Jula pushing the cart into another room, similar to the one we had just left. My eyes meet with Shmi for a split second before the sliding doors slam behind them. Well, I have had my chance to make sure Shmi is alright, so I'd better catch up to the others.
"Halt, patron!"
A medical droid stops me in my tracks. I sigh, waiting for a useless speech on respect of barriers within areas.
"I suggest you make your way to the dining hall, where the other jedi are currently." He says, with a subtle scratchiness in his voice. Gee, I sure lucked out on that speech. I nod and detour back down the hall to the others.
Large wooden doors creak open into the dining hall, where the other escorts sit around a large oval table. I quickly take my seat between Obi-Wan and Master Vos. All of the other escorts are here, all though there is another man and woman seated at the front of the table. I assume them to be the Senator and his wife, as two senate commandos in sapphire blue armour stand idle behind them. Why are they here? I never knew an initiate session was so important on this planet. No matter, I guess.
Obi-Wan leans over and whispers in my ear. I feel a little guilty for leaving the group, but I just realize that now. "Where were you?"
"Sorry, I, um, got held up."
Obi-Wan nods, though I know he suspects something. I decide not to say much more. Maybe there is food to block my mouth from saying much more below me. Nope. So much for going to the dining hall, when there is no dining taking place. Then again, I'm not peckish at all.
But sure enough, several finely dressed waiters prance into the room, holding out sparkling silver trays. They dress out plates with a juicy meat (a breast of some sort), a bristle of greens and fruits and a small dinner roll. They also set down a chrome glass of a red juice, before leaving in a rush. Usually, kitchen staff are not permitted to stay very long while dignitaries are dining. But wait; is this not a jedi coliseum? Why is there a kitchen staff? Well, Kamur is not a very large planet; they have to take advantage of nice buildings. This is probably a senate hall as well as a jedi reserve.
The Senator stands up with his glass in one hand, his wife following suit. He clears his throat and proposes a toast.
"Invited guests of the jedi order, my wife and I would like to welcome you to Kamur. To the bright young jedi who will soon bring peace to the galaxy and beyond! Cheers!"
Everyone stands up with their glasses and repeats the Senator's fine words. I too stand, taking my glass from the table. I bring it to my lips, getting a whiff of the red mixture I assumed to be juice. Wine. I stutter and look over to Obi-Wan. He nods to me stiffly, taking a sip of his juice. The mixture tastes odd, the after taste lingering on the back of my tongue. I actually am glad I'm not permitted by law to have this drink for another few years. Not exactly a negative factor if you ask me.
The conversations begin again after the toast ends. I take this time to ask my unanswered questions to Obi-Wan.
"Master, how long is this dinner supposed to take? I feel Shmi's getting restless and impatient." I whisper beside me. "You know how she gets sometimes."
Obi-Wan chews his meat before answering. "Patience, young one. Shmi is just fine. Kamur might not be the most adaptable place to relax, but I believe Shmi to be in good hands." He gulps down some more wine and continues. "It isn't that often that the Senator gets jedi as guests, so feel honoured, if you can."
I nod, feeling about the same even after that statement.
"But Master, aren't only jedi permitted beyond the coliseum walls? And if not, why weren't the clones allowed in?" I take another sip of the wine, only to seem normal like the other guests. Though, I know no one really notices my awkward grasp on the glass, my long, slim sips which make irritating noises. I nearly slam down the cup, feeling even more out of place.
"Some, three thousand years ago, Kamur was allied with the Sith Empire, during the old Republic. Republic troopers ravaged the already barren lands of the planet, destroying the little pockets of technology and power all over," Obi-Wan explains. I've heard about the war from Master Yoda, and Anakin, but not in explicate detail. "Just recently, Kamur turned over with the Republic, but remains with its old law; no troopers, soldiers, any mindless drone as they called it their treaty signing. Only nessacary security is permitted."
Obi-Wan jerks his head in the direction of the two commandos, standing idle in the curved corners of the dining hall.
"As for the waiters:" Obi-Wan laughs to himself, smiling at the flamboyant Twi'lek waiters. "They came with the property." I hold back giggling, not wanting to make a scene.
The dinner continues for another hour or so, and I finally begin to enjoy myself, forgetting less and less about what Shmi is doing. Deep down I am happy she is becoming more independent, earning her own name. I eventually have a conversation with the Senator and his wife, who seem more inviting with their words rather than their appearances. They both have identical grey, dust colored skin, with a breathing nostril on either side of their necks. Very small, but noticeable from up close. The somewhat resemble underwater plants, but I dare not say.
They ask me about Shmi, and how shocked they were to find out that a jedi was pregnant. The Senator's wife, who I found out to be named Ronaina, or Ro for short. She explains that she can compare to my past situation: when she was maybe sixteen, she had given birth to a son, Ramato.
"-and the public definatley did not agree with a young woman, courting another young senator, and then proceeding to give birth at a young age. We were a subject of a humour all across the galaxy. However, today Ramato is a well pronounced young man. You should meet him sometime." Ro fixates her pale brown on my hesitant mouth. I should say "of course, that'd be great", but considering how often the people I meet, turn out to be people I don't want to meet, I mutter under my breathe,
"Meh."
As the dinner winds down, the Senator states another toast, clutching his wife at his hip. I stand with Obi-Wan beside me, happy we can go get Shmi and avoid any other awkward conversations.
"-the fine example lead by the jedi has been one I would like our people to one day follow. I hope what we did here today will show the planet that trust can be earned, with time and-" The Senator stops his words in a thick gargle, clutching his chest. He falls to a slump on the floor, the Senate commandos charging to help him. He's been shot.
Shards of wood shoot through the cries and screams, as several droids break through the doors. I push over Obi-Wan to the floor; a bullet nearly misses his neck. I collapse onto his chest as the table is tipped over to the wall, allowing the droids to fully charge across the room. Master Secura and Vos start slicing through droids, as Master Sinube pushes them back into the hallway. Obi-Wan crawls with me across the floor, until we are hidden behind the askew table. He starts to deflect from behind the table, as I see Ro crying over her husband's dying test. He still clutches his bloody hand to hers; clinging to the desperate piece of life he has left. As he drops his grip and lays motionless, I assume the worst. The commandos lift her to her feet, smashing open the wide bay window and slinging down on a grappling hook to the ground. The other clone grasps the dead Senator and follows the other two down. I cannot fathom how selfish that move was, but I decide not to worry right now.
Over the raging fire, I turn my priorities over to helping Obi-Wan, who seems to be getting tired as he fruitlessly deflects bullets, as more droids pile in to the shrinking space.
"Master, what now?" I yell, joining him behind the table. "We can't just keep doing this."
Obi-Wan, getting annoyed with the limited damage made by his saber, throws several chairs at the droids and door, starting an eminent pile up of metal. After another few minutes the battle stops, and the room returns to its original state, plus broken wine glasses, a toppled table and several chair legs lying askew.
The five of us jedi slowly parade out of the dining hall, like predators lurking on their prey. Except we feel more like the prey in this situation.
"What now? The droids are certainly not leaving without a few dead jedi." Master Secura says, wiping blood from her cool blue skin.
"I say we hit em' back, just as hard." Master Vos pounds his fist to his palm, gritting his teeth together, eagerly waiting another try at the droids.
Obi-Wan and Master Sinube shake their heads. "First, we must secure the children. They are the most important, rather than frivolous fighting. Once we get the children in our possession, then we can figure a way off the planet." They say. I nod shortly, wondering if my opinion would matter as much as I hope it would.
We detour around the hallways of the building before facing the steel door, where the children traveled an hour ago. Obi-Wan knocks on the door. No answer. The room is completely silent. That cannot be good.
We pry open the doors, which had been locked for protection. The room is completely dark, and silent. We ignite our sabers once more, shedding light on a tiny, circular space. Oddly enough, it seems that nothing has been moved out of place or touched. However, Master Secura inches towards a closet door, looking like she hears something. My heart beats out of my chest in relief. Within the closet, Shmi and the other three children sit quietly in the same pram, almost asleep.
I gingerly pull out the pram, picking Shmi up into my arms. She starts sucking on my sleeve immediately: something she always does when she is tired.
"Where is Master Jula?" Master Sinube asks, picking up the Quarren baby in his arms.
Obi-Wan looks a little closer at the electric panel across the room. Numerous cords and wires had been cut, preventing light or heat into the room. "She knew the droids were here. She set up the room to look deserted, protecting the children in a way."
Why would she leave a group of infants in a cold, dark room? Not very motherly or protective if you ask me. "Well, where is she now? Or did she abandon us?"
"No matter, Ahsoka. I'm sure Master Jula can handle herself in the meantime. But since we now have the children, would should focus on finding her" Obi-Wan says, leading the way out of the room.
I reluctantly follow; almost certain Master Jula just complicated our way off this lump of coal.