=Republic transport shuttle, inbound to Naboo=
"Attention, passengers: we've just been cleared to land in the city of Theed and are now making our descent into Naboo's atmosphere. Please return to your seats and fasten your restraints."
Arin Falkner scurried back into her row, glad to grab a window seat before any of the other Jedi younglings in her clan. She pressed her nose against the transparisteel window. Swirling white clouds and glittering blue oceans made Naboo look like a gem, one she could have admired for hours. A bright atmosphere clung to the curvature of the planet, and Arin could hardly tell where the ocean ended and the sky began. Naboo was beautiful.
It was the first time she could remember being off-world. She'd been raised in the Jedi temple on Coruscant, along with her five clan mates, and in her twelve years had never remembered calling anywhere else home.
One of her clan mates, Zade Kype, flopped onto the empty seat next to Arin; his thickly tressed Nautolan head nudged hers aside slightly as he tried to look out the window, too. "Aren't you gonna put on your restraints?" asked Zade, pulling back his head.
Arin glanced away from the window for a moment at him. His huge black eyes blinked at her expectantly as he awaited her answer. "Right." She drew the restraint straps down from her shoulders to her hips, turning back to the window.
"You're not gonna see a giant fish from space, you know."
Arin scowled at him, tearing away from her view. Zade laughed and leaned back in his seat as they sank lower and lower to the surface.
It was the ten-year anniversary of peace on this planet, marking a treaty between its two resident nations and the overthrow of the Trade Federation's violent occupation. The Jedi Order, which had a hand in those events ten years ago, had been invited to attend a yearly conference followed by a big parade and celebration. Field trips were uncommon for younglings, but Master Yoda thought this would be an educational opportunity not to be missed.
Arin, however, was most excited about a trip to Naboo to see the giant fish that dwelled in the planet's oceans and deep-sea caverns. They were so huge they bordered on mythological.
"See any monster fish?" asked Kel-Ani Koori, a tall Cerean in her clan, after they had landed gently in Naboo's capital city of Theed.
Arin shook her head, following the others out of the shuttle. When she stepped outside, she was greeted by a gust of cool, salty air and warm sunlight. It was warm, and local time, she guessed by the sun's position, was late afternoon. Before her was a bustling city, a sea of green copper roofs and stone streets with thousands of people, but it was much, much smaller than Coruscant… She didn't have to crane her neck to look up and see it all. The buildings ended after just a few stories.
Arin was the last out of the shuttle, and along with her five clan mates (Zade and Kel-Ani; Moraye Had-Nihye, a Mirialan; and humans Isaac Halyon and Naia Storm Derry), there were four Jedi: Luminara Unduli and her padawan Barriss Offee, Plo Koon, and Agen Kolar. But with them was someone Arin didn't recognize.
It was a woman, and she was very petite. She had her dark hair tied in an intricate hairstyle and wore a long, elegant blue gown. Arin immediately liked her. Blue was her favorite color.
The stranger was standing on tiptoes to count everyone who had arrived, and nodded to Arin once she saw her. Then, she spoke. "Good morning, members of the Jedi Order, and welcome to Theed! My name is Kloré, and I'm one of Queen Jamillia's handmaidens. There's an escort waiting for you, and I've been sent to bring you there and show you to your quarters."
Arin perked up. The queen had sent her?
"Thank you, Kloré; we'll follow your lead," said Master Plo, falling behind her has she turned to walk up the street. Everyone picked up their suitcases and followed.
Naia, bright-eyed and wild-haired, scampered forward to address the petite handmaiden. "Excuse me, do we get to meet the queen?" she asked eagerly.
Arin poked her head around the Jedi she was behind to see Kloré smile as she answered, "Oh, yes. She'd like to introduce herself to you personally once you get settled in."
Naia practically clicked her heels, grinning widely. Arin fell too far behind to see any more of the fascinating handmaiden, but she didn't mind. She'd ask her about the giant fish later.
"Some city, huh?" asked Zade, who had settled into step beside her.
"Yeah," agreed Arin. From the ground, the buildings appeared much taller. The clear sky felt huge, and she couldn't stop looking up at it.
An airbus flanked by three security officers brought them to the palace. Arin gaped as it came into view; it was a truly magnificent structure with towers, domed roofs, and gigantic windows. They were staying here? Arin looked around the airbus to see that the rest of her clan shared her reaction.
Kloré laughed, and told them a little about the history of the palace as they filed off the bus and through security. She led them into the palace, along cavernous hallways bathed in shafts of light from towering windows, through perfectly-manicured verdant gardens, and up a wide, regal staircase that sent echoes with each footstep. Arin couldn't help a smile from spreading across her face.
Her eyes wandered about the hall. It had a very tall ceiling supported by thick, smooth-looking columns. When she looked back down, her gaze fell upon Isaac Halyon (no one called him Isaac; he'd been Halyon for as long as they all could remember) who was also sizing up the room. Halyon was a bit of a troublemaker, and Arin couldn't imagine what he was planning. He caught her eye and winked. Arin shook her head knowingly as she looked away, amused.
The six younglings were given their own suite to stay in while the Jedi were led further up the hall. After everyone had settled in, they met the Jedi outside near their quarters. Master Luminara presented a loose itinerary for the rest of their trip.
"Kloré, we'd love to see the castle, if the Queen ready to see us," said Plo Koon once everything was agreed upon.
Kloré nodded, and looked like she was about to speak, when all three Jedi masters' comlinks rang out at once.
Master Kolar looked down to his wrist at his comlink, which was flashing. His brow knotted as he looked to the other two Jedi masters.
"A private message?" Barriss Offee whispered to her master, who put a finger to her lips.
Master Plo remained impossible to read. Merely, he nodded in response. "Younglings," he said, stooping slightly to address them. His voice was deep and gentle. "We'll have to convene for a private meeting. Kloré, will you escort the younglings back to their chamber?"
Kloré bowed in reply.
"You are not to leave the chamber until one of us comes to get you. Please stay inside with Kloré," Plo Koon added. "Now, hurry along."
"What's going on?" asked Zade. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss a private message with you right now," said Plo Koon calmly. "Be on your way. We'll come to get you when we're finished."
"Come with me, younglings," said Kloré soothingly. "You heard your master."
With a huff, Arin followed the group back to their chambers. Just before leaving the Jedi, she had glanced over her shoulder to see Master Kolar and Master Plo debating silently, but when she rounded a corner she lost them from sight.
"It's not fair," Zade whispered to her. "Why don't they tell us what's going on?"
"It's Jedi business," said Halyon under his voice. "When are the Jedi going to take us seriously? We're twelve, about to be apprenticed in just one more year. Whatever's going on, I want to help."
"We can't," muttered Arin. "Master Plo said he can't tell us."
"Yeah, but why? What's so important that we can't know?" Halyon demanded. He glanced around to see that no one else was listening.
"We just got here, too," Zade whined. "I can't believe they're sending us back to our chambers."
"Well, they were very nice," offered Arin.
Halyon smirked. "Yes, they were very nice. But we did just get here… why not take a tour ourselves?"
"Disobey?" Arin asked incredulously.
Kloré looked around, and the three younglings fell silent. "Here we are," she said, opening the door for the younglings. They all shuffled inside, and Kloré locked the door behind them. They sat on the plushy rug, sulking slightly, and waited.