-A Tiresome Arrival and A Hearty Meal (POV Tokrin)-
After some time had passed, Master Otarri and Master Skywalker left Ahsoka and I in the loading bay and returned to the cockpit. I was surprised that Ahsoka decided to stay, but I figured she would rather have my company than her Master for the time being. I sometimes needed to get away from Master Otarri too.
The small ship dropped out of hyperspace and flew us towards the planet Naboo. Once I felt the deceleration, I gently dropped the floating scraps and pieces to the floor. I looked around and noticed that Ahsoka had nodded off. I smiled and walked over to her, shaking her shoulder to wake her. She opened her eyes and looked up at me. I held out my hand to help her up and she grabbed it. I hauled her up and followed her into the cockpit to take our seats.
No one said much during our descent, but gasps and sighs of wonder could be heard from me as the city of Theed came into view. We flew to the left of Theed Palace, which was perched precariously on the edge of a cliff leading to an gaping hole. Water spewed over the edge from under the palace and the city itself. The water fell an immeasurable distance, creating a thick mist that clouded the view of the massive hole in the ground. The palace had multiple towers surrounding a humongous dome, on which another large dome sat, overlooking the city. However, the most notable feature of Theed, was the green copper roofs to the domes scattering the city. From what we could see, the city streets were teeming with people.
"It's going to be hard to find changeling in that," I said, vocalizing my thoughts.
"At least this is a smaller city. It'd be really hard to find her in a place like Coruscant," Master Otarri said, looking my way over his seat.
Anakin steered the T-6 to Theed's hanger and set down. After unbuckling ourselves from our seats, we gathered in the loading bay as the ramp lowered slowly. Master Skywalker and Master Otarri walked down the ramp first and were greeted by a captain of Naboo security. Ahsoka and I followed them down as they began to speak.
"Senator Amidala is expecting you Master Skywalker," he said bowing. He turned to Otarri, "Master Jedi, I'm afraid we haven't met. I am Captain Typho, Senator Amidala's head of security."
"Master Otarri. It has been a long while since I have seen Theed. Your city is as beautiful as I remember it to be."
I don't remember him ever telling me about going to Theed once. I'll have to ask about it later, I thought.
"Thank you Master Otarri. She has only become even more wonderful to experience as she passes through time," Typho replied.
"Quite right, Captain," my Master said, motioning to me and Ahsoka. "I believe you have already met Master Skywalker's Padawan, Ahsoka Tano before-"
"Ms. Tano," Typhos said, bowing slightly.
"-but you haven't met my Padawan, Tokrin Helturus."
"Padawan Helturus, your reputation precedes you," the Captain said, bowing again.
"It does?" I asked, not knowing where he could've possibly heard about me before.
"News of a Jedi Padawan with a double-bladed lightsaber and two other single-bladed, tearing up the droid ranks has traveled all across the galaxy," he explained to me.
"Well it's apparent that not all of that news traveled soundly; I only carry one lightsaber," I told him reaching behind me to grab my lightsaber. "I do carry a double-bladed, but I can switch to two lightsabers if I choose," I said, demonstrating the transformation quickly, then putting it back together.
"I can't say I've ever seen something like that before."
"It's the first!" I said, proud of my invention.
Anakin cleared his throat impatiently, "Typho can you take us to meet with the Senator?"
Blood rushed to my face as I realized that I was showing off a bit. Captain Typho seemed to snap out of any informality that he used with me and replied to Anakin like a typical soldier, "Of course Master Skywalker. Follow me."
He turned and led us out of the hanger and into the streets. Everything I had seen so far had been extravagant, from the granite and marble floors to the stone-carved buildings. Typho led us to the entrance of the Palace. The word "extravagant" didn't give this building justice. The hanger was to the left of Theed Palace so we had to walk along a curved passageway that ran along the palace's courtyard in either direction. We followed Typho to two massive doors which eased open as we approached. Inside was a large elegant lobby with glossy marble and granite floors, and more elegantly carved stone pylons and columns all around. Senator Padmé Amidala was walking towards us with the rest of her personal guard. Their footsteps echoing across the great room. She wore a sleek silver dress that flowed like a river from her shoulders to the floor. Her eyes lit up when she saw us. I frowned, feeling a strange, hateful presence in the Force. I noticed that the others felt it too as their faces look likewise troubled. Our groups met in the middle of the large floor and the Senator's security guards broke off and departed down the hall. The presence slowly dissipated and then vanished. Captain Typho was the first to speak.
"Milady, Masters Otarri and Skywalker have arrived with their Padawans."
"Thank you Captain," she dismissed him quickly to speak to us. "It's good to see you again Master Skywalker, and you too Ahsoka. Master Otarri, it is an honor to meet you and your Padawan..." Senator Amidala trailed off, clearing searching for my name.
"Padawan Tokrin Helturus, Senator. Pleased to meet you," I piped in.
"And you as well," she said, turning to Master Otarri. "I trust you had an uneventful trip here."
"Yes Senator, we ran into no trouble," he replied Padmé.
"What do you two think about the threat of a changeling posing as me?" Amidala asked Skywalker and Otarri.
"I think that we need to be keeping close watch on you to be sure that the changeling does not swap places with you," Anakin said.
"Yes, Anakin and Ahsoka will stay with you, as they have known you for longer and will notice an obvious change in personality or speech, while Tokrin and I will be in the city asking around for who might know of a changeling," explained Master Otarri.
My stomach growled. I put a hand to my gut and looked down in embarrassment as I felt everyone's eyes on me. We hadn't eaten for hours and my urge for uj cake, which was possibly right around the corner, was quickly becoming an unstoppable force.
"Forgive me, my thoughts of the changeling got the better of me. I realize that you must be hungry from your journey." Amidala said sympathetically. "Let us convene to the dining hall for dinner, where we can discuss these troubling events."
Anakin gave me a look that I couldn't decode. He was either embarrassed by me or angry at me; I was hoping it was nothing more than embarrassment. Master Otarri rolled his eyes, put a hand to his forehead, and shook his head. Ahsoka bumped my on the arm as we all headed towards the dining hall.
"Nice job," she said sarcastically. "I guess that's one way to say, 'Dinner time!'"
I smiled and shook my head in silence as we approached the grand table. It was at least 12 meters long and covered with food! Something caught my eye. I motioned Ahsoka in closer so she could hear me.
"Is that..." I asked her, trailing off for her to fill in the blank.
Her eyes widened, "Uj cake!"
Padmé smiled and glanced back at us, "Your masters commend me during your flight and asked me to get some. It is a delicacy of Naboo and must be had by anyone arriving here for their first time."
I looked to Master Otarri and he smiled, nodding his head. Ahsoka and I struggled not to sprint to the table and dive in. Somehow we restrained ourselves and took ours seats; I sat across from her, our masters sat next to us, and Padmé sat at the head of the table next to them. We all waited for the senator to get her food until we got ours. After she cut into her food and began to eat, we followed suit.