=Younglings' Quarters, Theed Royal Palace=
Arin tried to catch Halyon's eye, but he was looking another way.
"Why so glum, guys?" Kloré asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Hey, I know how we can pass the time. I'll teach you a fun game we like to play here on Naboo while we're waiting for something." Naia and Kel-Ani perked up. Moraye looked bored. "I'll be right back," said Kloré, and she strode to the other side of the room.
Was she far enough out of earshot? "Halyon!" hissed Arin. "What are you doing?"
He looked over to her. "Nothing, yet." He nodded to Zade, who stood.
"Zade!" Zade held up a finger to Arin as he walked over to Kloré.
"Hi," she said warmly. Arin stared.
Zade waved his hand in a slow arc. "You will let us leave the room."
Arin watched Kloré blink. Zade was trying a Jedi mind trick? There was no way he'd be able to do that. No class at the temple had taught them how. Kloré wouldn't buy it.
But … her eyes glazed over. "I will… let you leave the room." She ambled to the door and unlocked it, pushing it open.
Everyone's jaws dropped.
Halyon sprang to his feet and punched Zade playfully. "Dude, you did it! Come on, let's go." The two of them jogged to the open door, pausing for a moment to turn back. "Well?" asked Halyon. "Who's coming?"
No one moved. Naia shifted uncomfortably.
"No way. You guys are acting like idiots. Master Plo told us to stay here," Moraye said reproachfully.
"I don't want to get in trouble…" said Kel-Ani.
"We're not gonna get in trouble," Halyon said. "Nobody's going to know. We're just going to eavesdrop."
"They'll know you're there," insisted Moraye. "They might be testing how well we follow orders, you know."
"Or, maybe they just think we're too young to help and they're treating us like babies. Which is wrong," Zade retorted. "Well, if you guys are just going to stay here, that's fine-"
"I'm coming," said Arin, scrambling to her feet before she could realize what she was doing. Oh, she'd probably regret this. But she had to know.
"Ha! Good on yourself, Arin," said Zade.
"Wait! Arin." Naia stood as well. She waved Arin hurriedly over with one frantic hand. "Let me show you something really quick." Naia grabbed her by the wrist, tugging her to the girls' beds. Under her breath, she muttered, "I'm staying here. Something's wrong." She glanced at Kloré furtively. "I want to find what's up, too, but we're staying here. Take this." She pressed a comlink into Arin's palm, and Arin clasped her fingers around it.
"Okay." Arin nodded briefly and hurried to the door where Zade and Halyon were waiting.
Zade turned to Kloré, who was blankly holding the door for them. "Thanks. And, uh," he waved his green hand again, "you won't tell anyone we're gone."
"I won't tell anyone you're gone," she repeated.
"Uh, good," said Zade. "See ya." He pulled the door shut, and the three younglings stared at each other. Now what?
"I didn't think that would work!" said Halyon. "That was incredible."
"Thanks," Zade replied sheepishly. "Arin, what did Naia want?"
Arin opened her tightly-clenched fist to show them the tiny comlink. "She needed to give me this."
"What's that for?" asked Zade.
"It's a comlink, duh. It lets us communicate with her."
"I know what it is," said Zade exasperatedly. "That was really smart. So she wants us to tell her what we find?"
"Yes, but she said they're staying with Kloré. I think Naia thinks there's something weird about her."
Halyon's eyebrows lowered. "Come to think of it… I think she's right. I can't tell what it is, though."
"Me neither," answered Zade.
"Well, there's definitely something going on," said Arin.
"Yeah. Let's go find the masters," Halyon said, nodding decisively.
They took off on a light jog back to the hall where they'd met before. No one was there.
"Is there a meeting room or something?" Zade asked.
Arin paused. "We could ask someone. But we also might not want anyone to see us."
Halyon raised a finger. "Hold on. I think… I think they're this way." He pointed left down a long corridor. "Come on."
"How come you're so sure about that?" complained Zade.
"Just a hunch," Halyon explained with a shrug.
Arin felt a strong presence suddenly. "I think I sense it as well," she piped up. This one felt strange. There was a certain unease she'd never felt before. Something was terribly wrong, but at least they were on the right path to find out what.
Zade made a face. "Whoa, yeah, I just got it too." Zade was always better at sensing things that were close to him, not far away, much to his chagrin and everyone else's amusement usually.
"Stop." Arin skidded to a halt, putting out her arms to catch the other two. They proceeded on the balls of their feet. They knew that they weren't too far away from the Jedi's secret meeting.
"They might sense us if we get too close," Halyon warned.
"Right," said Zade. "Do you think… do you think we could tune back into their comlink channel?"
"I don't know… maybe. Let me see that," he replied, tapping Arin with an outstretched hand. "We could but only if they're receiving some sort of external transmission for us to jump onto…"
They settled into a nook beneath a twin set of wide staircases, puzzling.
"How do we know if they are?" asked Arin.
"No clue," muttered Zade. "We should've brought Kel-Ani. He'd know how to do this."
"If I could just isolate the audio feed… Oh! I- I think I got it," said Halyon softly, fiddling with the little comlink. "Ssh."
They huddled around the comlink intently. Arin steadied her breath and held it, barely breathing for fear of making too much noise. She had no idea if tuning into their channel was two-way and the Jedi could hear them as well. She strained her ears to hear for Master Plo, Master Kolar, Master Luminara…
There. Bits and pieces came at first, then became more clear as Halyon found a stronger signal. "Terrorist attacks on Coruscant…Obi-Wan…" Master Kenobi, oh, she knew of him. This was Master Kolar's voice. "… taken captive? If the Jedi Council is planning to mount a rescue mission..."
"Mace, you need how many?" Mace, as in… Master Windu? Arin knew that name too.
"As many as we can get." This was a tinny reply, like it was being patched through over a holotransmitter.
"Luminara, what are you going to do?"
"I will go, of course, as will my padawan. She is capable," Luminara said in her melodic accent.
"Thank you, Master." That must've been Barriss.
"We may not be able to secure a transport until tonight," said Master Luminara.
"It can't be helped. Come as quickly as you can," replied the tinny voice.
"And we have younglings with us," Master Kolar interjected.
"I know where we can send them for the time being." That was Plo Koon. "It seems we don't have many options before us."
Another voice, much closer to them and not on the comlink, spoke lazily. "Didn't your masters ever teach you not to eavesdrop?"
Arin's eyes widened as she whirled to see an unfamiliar tall, cloaked Jedi with a red lightsaber drawn and held boldly at his side. Halyon scrambled to turn off the comlink. Arin paled. Was this the dark side? Was this what they'd been feeling today that they couldn't put their fingers on? The Jedi let his hood fall and shook choppy brown hair out of his abnormal yellow eyes.
"It's quite rude, you know," he added with a smirk. He stood between the staircases, blocking their exit.
Zade and Arin locked eyes immediately and Arin knew they were all thinking the same thing. Could they make the jump onto the stairs or the ledge above? Could they lead him from the Jedi? Arin felt Halyon's forearm against her stomach as he slowly pushed her and Zade behind him, nearly against the cool marble wall. He was buying them time, observing before making any moves.
The dark Jedi cocked his head at Arin. "If one of you tries to run for it, I'll slice you to pieces." Arin's heart raced; she felt like electricity was jumping up and down her arms as she reached for her own lightsaber…
"Stand down, please." A deep, clear voice echoed through the huge gallery.
Master Plo!
The dark Jedi looked around. "Ha! Good to see you, Plo Koon."
"The pleasure is mine."
Halyon shifted, darting out to the side, but the dark Jedi threw out a hand and clenched; Halyon froze in his tracks, caught by the Force. "Ah-ah," the dark Jedi chided. "You're not going anywhere, youngling." With a flick of the wrist he slammed Halyon against the side of the stairs, and the disgruntled youngling slid down to the floor, glaring back at the red lightsaber blade pointed squarely at his face.
"Let them go, please," said Plo Koon calmly.
Arin and Zade both drew their lightsabers while the dark Jedi was distracted, and – zuuum. The blades of light extended in unison, held low at their sides but ready to defend.
"There is no need for violence," the Jedi master insisted.
"No need for violence? Is that so?" The dark Jedi jabbed his lightsaber, stopping mere inches from Halyon's throat. Arin's grip on her lightsaber's hilt tightened and Halyon flinched, reaching to draw his own saber from his utility belt. Before he could reach, the dark Jedi threw it aside using the Force. "What did I tell you, youngling? Don't. Move."
Arin and Zade exchanged glances. Could they take this creep? Two twelve-year-olds against someone twice their size?
Their decision was made as Luminara Unduli, Bariss Offee, and Agen Kolar leapt from the staircases above to stand between them and the dark Jedi. From behind Master Plo, Arin could see the Naboo Royal Guard running up the corridor, brandishing blasters.
"Give up. You're outnumbered," said Plo.
"Very well. You caught me," the dark Jedi said patronizingly. He withdrew his blade and clipped it into a utility belt, then raised his hands in surrender.
Two guards advanced cautiously to apprehend him, but with his raised hands he made a large, forceful yank and tore a huge window inwards. Shards rained down into the gallery, and for a moment the splintering of glass was deafening. When Arin pulled her shielding arm away from her face, she saw that the dark Jedi had already jumped from the gaping hole. Guards rushed to the jagged window frame.
"Gone!" one confirmed.
"Well, track him down! Alert the queen's bodyguards immediately," commanded Master Plo.
"Yes, sir!" The guards left in formation.
Arin pushed past the three Jedi in front of her and scrambled to Halyon; she and Zade helped him to his feet. A thick line of blood ran down his face.
"Halyon! Are you all right?" Arin asked breathlessly.
"I'm okay," he said, plucking a shard of glass from where it was embedded above his eyebrow. Arin shuddered. She looked around. Everyone else looked unharmed. A ring of glass lay around Master Plo. He must've used the Force to shield himself. And the guards had their helmets to save them, Arin hoped.
"Is everyone all right?" Plo asked gravely.
"We're all okay," answered Zade. "Who was that?"
Agen Kolar crossed his arms and answered darkly, "It was a Sith acolyte. He was probably here for some sort of terrorist operation, just like the ones on Coruscant."
"Terrorist operation?" Halyon repeated.
"That's enough," said Plo. "Younglings: Agen, Luminara, and I need to leave Naboo right now. Where we're going, you can't come with us."
"Why not?" Zade demanded.
"It's a dangerous mission. I trust that you're all brave enough to come with us, but it's important that you focus on your studies," Plo replied gently.
"Who's going to watch us?" asked Arin timidly.
Plo sighed. "It appears that Kloré was influenced by that acolyte if she let you out."
"Oh… actually…" began Zade bashfully. "It was me. I did the trick."
The Kel Dor master chuckled. "If only it were you, young one. Thank you for your honesty. No, I'm certain the acolyte was behind that one. He must have followed you three for some reason. We didn't just come here for the conference. We were also following a lead suggesting a Sith presence here, but we have no more time to investigate, regrettably. I'll speak to the Jedi from the enclave on Bespin. They should be able to arrive no later than tomorrow to retrieve you. Until then… I want you to return to your quarters."
"Aww," Zade groaned.
"How did you get to us so fast?" Halyon asked, pressing a hand to his bloodied brow.
Master Luminara reached into a satchel before replying. "Use this," she said, handing him a bacta patch and adding smoothly, "we noticed you tap into our comlink feed. We took the liberty of stationing members of the Guard nearby to answer any calls we made if we feared we were being overheard."
By who, us? Arin wondered. Or did they know the Sith acolyte was here, too?
Plo straightened, and Arin knew that if she asked, she wouldn't receive a good answer. He said, "I'll request guards to stand at your door. I assure you, you will be quite safe."
"What about Kloré? Is she all right?" Arin asked.
"Kloré should be fine," answered Plo Koon. "I have met her before and I trust her wholeheartedly. Overpowered by a dark Jedi, she may have been, but I doubt that she will allow that to happen again. I trust her to lay her life down for you all if need be."
"Oh," said Arin, taken aback. She frowned, uneasy.
"I'll escort you back to your quarters," said Master Kolar. "Come along, young ones."