=Younglings' Quarters, Theed Royal Palace=
Back in their quarters and left briefly alone while guards questioned Kloré, Shadowmoth Clan had a hurried, hushed discussion.
"Arin!" Naia kept her voice low as they grasped each other's forearms in a worried greeting. "What happened?"
"I think we only have a little bit of time," Arin answered. She explained their misadventures quickly.
Kel-Ani's jaw dropped. "We had no idea. We could sense something weird about Kloré, but…"
"We never would have guessed she was being controlled by a Sith acolyte," Moraye admitted. "That's really scary."
Zade butted in: "The Jedi are leaving; you know that, right?"
"Well, we've heard by now," Moraye said, crossing her arms. "Why can't we go?"
"Master Plo said we have to focus on our studies," said Arin.
"Studies, my foot," Halyon snorted. "The Jedi came here to investigate that Sith acolyte."
"But we're here for the conference," said Kel-Ani. "Master Yoda-"
"Well, what if we're not?" Halyon interrupted. "What if this is some kind of test? What if the Jedi are just leaving us because they want us to find out more about the acolyte?"
Everyone was silent.
"Plo Koon seems to know him already. And they said something about Master Kenobi and a rescue mission," Arin reminded him.
"But I think they knew we were listening," Zade said, looking to Halyon for support. "They might've just said that to make their absence more believable."
Arin was about to reply when the door opened and Kloré and the guards stepped back in. With them was another handmaiden, dressed in the same long blue dress as Kloré.
Kloré looked to the ground, not meeting the six pairs of eyes upon her. "Hello, younglings."
"Hello," said everyone.
"I assume that you three have been told my… situation," she said, addressing Arin, Zade, and Halyon, who nodded. "Everyone, this is Sairdé." She gestured weakly to the other woman beside her, who was considerably taller but had the same dark hair and complexion.
Sairdé curtsied. "The Jedi have asked that we escort you to Otoh Gunga, where they believe it will be harder for the Sith acolyte to infiltrate."
"Otoh Gunga is the capital city of the Gungans," explained Kloré, "the other sentient race inhabiting Naboo. It's an underwater city and it's very well-guarded."
Arin felt like a nerf being herded, but she followed the two handmaidens and the two guards along with everyone else from a palace back door to a waiting shuttle. It was barely an hour's ride (but the sky grew dimmer with every minute and Arin could watch the sink down to the horizon), and after they landed on a landing platform overgrown with vegetation, they were led down to a dock over a lake where an amphibious transport was waiting for them.
Arin stepped onto it warily. Nobody spoke. She wanted to appreciate the strange vehicle for the bubble that closed over it as it descended beneath the water's surface, its strange tentacle-like propellers, and the funny noise it made, but she found herself unable to. She felt as if they were going much too far away from the dark Jedi.
From the back of her head, a nagging voice ate at her. Could Halyon be right? Was this a Jedi test? What were they testing for? Obedience, or bravery, or maybe problem-solving style? Perhaps there was no threat at all and this was merely a very elaborate drill or scenario?
"Here we are," said Sairdé. Her voice was clear and strong, and it made Arin jump slightly when it broke the silence in the transport's cabin. She wondered if Kloré was in trouble, and if Sairdé was her boss who'd been sent to remedy the situation.
She didn't wonder for long, because the city of Otoh Gunga came into view before her. It was a brilliant, luminous underwater city. The buildings weren't like anything she'd seen before- instead of towering up from the ground they were suspended in the water. They were giant, warmly-colored bubbles supported by spindly curved spires, and joined together by narrow, arching tubes.
They approached one of the bubbles. Arin gaped. How would they get off? There was no landing platform; no hangar. Certainly they were about to get very wet.
But they didn't slow down; instead the transport pushed right through an opening in a wall and they were inside. Arin looked around, eyes wide, as the transport opened and everyone began to step out.
"Watch your step," cautioned the guards as they helped Kloré and Sairdé out, who were followed by Arin and her clan mates. To Arin's amazement, they were all completely dry.
Sairdé smoothed her skirts. "I believe there should be someone to meet us… ah, here he is."
Striding up to them was a tall Gungan dressed ornately in long robes. He had a loping gait, and extremely long… ears? Or were they fins? Arin tried not to stare rudely. This was the first Gungan she'd ever seen in person.
"Greetings, handmaidens; Royal Guard; young Jedi." His voice was deeper than Arin expected, and he then spoke with characteristic fragmented Gungan Basic. "Mesa Ko-Mal Roosin, and wesa the Gungans been tasked with watchen you. Wesa keepen you safe from the Sith acolyte on the loosie."
"What is an acolyte, anyway?" whispered Zade to Kel-Ani.
"Tell you later," Kel-Ani whispered back.
"Mesa be takin' yousa to yousa quarters," said Roosin. "Thissa way. Hup!" He turned, and his long finlike ears spun around behind him.
"Go ahead, younglings," said Kloré, gently herding them in front of her as Sairdé led them after Roosin.
Arin shuffled along, right in front of Kloré.
Roosin was explaining some Gungan customs, and for a moment it almost felt like they were on a simple field trip once more. Arin's attention wandered to the giant bubble dome around her head. It was translucent and warm-looking. Now she recalled what they were. They'd done some studying on Naboo architecture; these were hydrostatic domes that kept water out. If she pressed hard enough on a thin doorway section, she'd go right through it, and after coming back in, she knew the bubble would cling to most water on her clothes so she'd be fairly dry. She had no intention of going outside, however. The water around them looked cold and dark. Arin strained her eyes to look for any giant fish, or any transports who might have carried a Sith, but she saw nothing except schools of small, shadowy fish flitting about.
As they were led through the city, Arin caught up to Halyon. His dark hair obscured his face, and Arin could tell he was deep in thought. She touched his elbow gently. "Halyon. Do you really think this is a Jedi test?"
"Yeah. Maybe."
"Do you think the Jedi have left yet?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think so. We came on Republic transit so nobody has their own ship. They'll need to book a transport to wherever they're going. That takes some time."
"I bet that Sith acolyte is still there, too. What if they need our help? What do we do?"
"I don't know."
"Research," said a voice behind to their right. It was Kel-Ani. "We need to know more about this intruder you saw before we even think about chasing after him. If we learn more about him, we can find him."
Halyon considered. "That's a good point."
"How?" asked Arin.
"We'll find the archives. They might have one here. But Theed probably has the best one, at the university," said Kel-Ani. "Once we're finished with this tour I think we'll get a little more freedom." Arin and Halyon nodded, and they followed everyone else, quietly devising a plan and carefully staying out of earshot of the handmaidens and guards.
They were fed a supper of shellfish, small amphibians, and seaweed. Omnivorous Jedi didn't normally eat meat unless it was served to them, so Arin had never eaten an amphibian before, having never encountered edible ones on Coruscant. She found it slimy, and she cut the meat into tiny bits to make it look eaten and hid it under a large glistening leaf. Arin couldn't help noticing that everyone seemed distracted, but no one more so than Kloré, who merely pushed food around her plate blankly.
After supper, Arin hung back to tug on Kloré's sleeve. "Miss Kloré?"
Kloré looked around, startled. "Oh, hello. Arin, right?"
"Mhm." Arin nodded.
"Arin, you didn't eat much. Don't you like the food here?"
"Um…" Arin bit her lip. "Well…"
Kloré gave a small smile and lowered her voice. "Me neither. Can't say I really like the frogs."
They both made a face and laughed. Arin then quieted. "Miss Kloré, why is Miss Sairdé here?"
"What do you mean? What's the matter?"
"Is she here because you did something wrong?" Arin clapped her hand over her mouth. That had come out meaner than she'd meant to say it. "Sorry," she peeped between her fingers.
Kloré clucked her tongue. "Well. I suppose she is," she said dryly. Then she put her hand quickly on Arin's shoulder. "Don't get me wrong. Sairdé and I are friends. We get along quite well."
"Oh," said Arin, lowering her hand as her face heated with embarrassment.
She noticed Halyon falling back so he could listen in. This was part of their plan; they would ask Kloré to help them leave for the archives on the surface in Theed. There, they could help the Jedi and hold back the acolyte so they could leave to wherever they were going. It sounded like the Jedi had an important mission, staged or not, and Shadowmoth clan would not fail them. If this was a test, they aimed to pass with flying colors. Arin took a steadying breath and let the Force guide her. She couldn't blow this.
"Well… is Sairdé here to keep us under control?"
Kloré frowned. "She's here as my backup."
"Backup?" Arin asked, trying to get Kloré to admit guilt of failure. She felt very mean doing it, but she needed Kloré to say it so Halyon could jump in with his part.
"My… ugh, why am I telling you any of this?" Kloré withdrew and rolled her eyes towards the surface. "I'm sorry. None of this is your fault, Arin. I just… I let the Jedi down. I'm frustrated and I didn't mean to lash out at you. I apologize."
Arin held her breath, and then Halyon jumped in, falling into step next to them.
"I overheard," he said. "I think I know how you can regain the Jedi's trust."
Kloré shook her head. "They told me about you, Isaac. Everyone calls you Halyon, right? I know what you're going to try to ask me." She sighed. "You guys are very smart. I see what you're doing. No, I'm sorry, but I can't let you out of my sight again. Plo Koon is trusting me and I can't break that."
"Come with us," suggested Halyon. "You're not our babysitter."
"Kloré, hear us out," Arin pleaded. "We need to get to the archives in Theed so we can do research on this acolyte who tried to attack us."
"I don't think that's a good idea," said Kloré weakly.
"Don't you want to redeem your name? And stop that Jedi from trying to hurt anyone else?" Halyon eyed her seriously, staring her down with his piercing grey eyes.
Kloré fidgeted uncomfortably and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm not concerned about my own reputation," she said faintly. "Besides, that's a job for the Royal Guard."
"The Sith acolyte took advantage of you. You know what that feels like. What if he tricks another handmaiden? What if he tries to hurt the queen?" Halyon asked carefully.
Arin put her hand on his forearm to stop him. "Kloré," she said softly. "No one blames you. Master Plo, he trusts you to do the right thing."
Kloré looked down wearily. "All right. Perhaps my place is back in Theed."
"Ours too!" said Halyon helpfully. "We want to help."
"The Jedi won't be here to protect you," Kloré reminded them.
"They might still be here. We're going to help them," said Arin. "Besides, you can't go without us. We know what he looks like, and we remember what his presence felt like, so we have the advantage. But we can't leave without you. We need each other."
Kloré grumbled. "Ugh, you two sure are persuasive."
"All of us are going," said Arin. "We have to get to those archives." Arin crossed her arms to look more serious.
Kloré nodded tiredly. "I suppose we'll need to leave as soon as possible, huh? I'll have to ask around for some help."
"You know locals?" Arin asked. "Gungans?"
"Yes," said Kloré. "Tayla Gar lives here. We've been friends for years." She paused. "Man, I'm gonna get in so much trouble for this. Well, my career is on the line, anyway. Okay. So, Tayla knows the underground rivers and a low-profile way in and out of the city."
Kloré looked around to see that no one was listening in. The rest of Shadowmoth clan was ahead of them, listening to Ko-Mal Roosin and Sairdé discussing the city's history.
She continued in a low whisper. "I'll contact her and see if she can help us. In the meantime, keep a low profile. Spread the word. But… Don't act too suspicious." Halyon raised his eyebrows at her. He'd been an expert at sneaking around all his life. "You guys know what to do, I guess," Kloré said with a groan.