The moment the Royal Naboo Starfighter was safety in hyperspace, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Iris, and Captain Panaka were summoned to the Queen's chamber to explain the situation. The Jedi remained silent and stood behind Captain Panaka and the remaining R2 unit as the Naboo Captain gave his report to Queen Amidala about the events surrounding their escape through the Trade Federation blockade. Amidala's face remained expressionless as she sat surrounded by her four handmaidens that came with them on the starship, the Queen's white face was still framed by the black headdress, dark brown eyes staying steady, listening to Panaka's words.
"An extremely well-put-together little droid, Your Highness." Panaka had described the whole space battle and the droids' heroism. Once his report reached its end, the security captain presented the astromech droid to the Queen. "Without a doubt," he explained to Amidala. "This droid saved the ship. As well as our lives."
The Queen gave a kind smile to the little droid. "It is to be commended. What is its number?"
Iris allowed smile to form on her face the moment the little blue droid, lights blinking on and off as it processed the conversations, gave a series of small beeps and tweets. It had explained his number to the Queen. Only to soon realize the Queen didn't understand him.
The Captain leaned over toward the droid, brushing off a large smudge of dirt off from the droid's metal shell, then the male straightened before moving forward and began to speak about what he read out loud, "Artoo-Detoo, Your Highness."
Queen Amidala kept her brown eyes on the droid and said, "Thank you, Artoo-Detoo."
The R2-D2 droid gave a happy chirping noise toward the Queen. Its light was flashing red and white with each beep.
This was the reason why many across the galaxy every called droid; cute. But Iris always called them adorable because some droids were created to be like pet.
"Padmé," the Queen spoke in an ordering voice. The handmaiden on the far left side of the ruler of Naboo began to move forward. Iris watched the female that stood beside the droid. "Clean this droid up as best you can," The Queen spoke to the young girl, giving a small smile. "It deserves our gratitude."
R2-D2 gave a small beep toward the Queen in a small form of a whistle.
Queen Amidala turned her attention back to Captain Panaka. "Continue, Captain."
Panaka glance at the Queen before shifting uncomfortably at the Jedi Knights. Qui-Gon Jinn, who had been listening to the exchanged with half an ear as he considered the problems that lay ahead on Tatooine, barely took notice of what was going on within the room until now. The older Jedi Knight took notice of Panaka's glance as he moved forward to speak to the Queen, arms folded underneath his brown Jedi robes.
"Your Highness," Qui-Gon spoke as he gave a small bow and stepped into the gap smoothly, "with your permission we're heading for a remote planet called Tatooine." The Queen or anyone within the room seemed to say anything about the matter as the Jedi Knight continued, "It's in a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation."
Panaka's brown eyes looked down. Iris could feel the anger running off the male from this chose. "I do not agree with the Jedi on this," he said with a small side-eyed toward the Jedi.
Seems like the captain still disagreed with the Jedi's judgment, Iris thought, a grim looking on her face for a moment. The Captain was supposed to protect the Queen and not lead her toward danger, but Iris believed her Master would agree with the Jedi on the subject.
Iris' brown eyes wondered toward Padmé and saw the female was looking at Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon with a strange look.
"You must trust my judgment, Your Highness," the Jedi explained, not even wavering.
Padmé looked at iris and both their brown eyes met in that moment. The female Jedi gave the other a small nod.
"Must I?" The Queen asked, brown eyes shift toward Padmé. The girl stayed by the droid's side and seemed to remember the task given to her. The young handmaiden gave a brief to the Queen, and moved to take R2-D2 out of the room. Amidala turned her attention back to the Jedi. "We are in your hands," she advised, and the matter was settled.
It would seem the Queen agreed with the Jedi's judgment for the time being, but Iris wondered for how long. Only for her brown eyes to wander after Padmé.
I wonder how she's holding up. The young female padawan wondered because she doubted Padmé would agree with the Jedi for much longer.
"Young one," Qui-Gon spoke.
Iris looked toward the Jedi Master once she realized he was talking to her and not the Queen. "Yes, Master Jinn?" What did the Jedi Master wish to speak to her about? The girl couldn't think much of a reason.
Only for the reason to hit the girl like laser blaster.
Qui-Gon had once wanted to speak about her Master.
"My I speak with you in private?" The Jedi master asked, being patient.
"Of course," Iris answered in a small nod.
The two Jedi both headed toward the silver door, which opened by slide across the floor as the two headed outside into the white hallways which seemed to shine. The Queen of Naboo's ship was spotless without any dirt on the floor.
Iris wondered if Naboo would be spotless after the Trade Federation invasion. She knew the planet has already suffered from death and blood spilling from Battle Droids. Her own Jedi Master Zeref's blood at been spilled onto the Royal Palace floors. A baster bolt from droids had killed him and his force presents faded away into the Force.
Innocents had already died. Which made the cleanness of the ship made Iris feeling like it was mocking them. For peace and innocent was lost for the planet of Naboo until the matter with the Trade Federation could be solved by the Senate.
Would there be peace once more in the galaxy? Or would everything lead to war?
Iris didn't have the answer. The only thing the female did know was that her Master never wanted war to happen across the galaxy. Being a Jedi meant protecting the peace and justice within the galaxy. Now that peace and justice was being threatened.
Peace within the galaxy can only last so long before conflict hits like a laser blaster that could destroy a planet. That's how quickly peace can end. Iris witnessed the sight on Naboo and watched as Battle Droids marched across the planet.
Maybe she was naive to have been born in a time of peace and never understood the feeling of war, but now she understood the horror of one. Iris could feel within the Force that Zeref wouldn't be the only one to die within the conflict. Her Master was just the first of many.
"You spoke of a Master," Qui-Gon Jinn began to speak as they moved down the hallway.
Iris gave a brief nod. "Yes. Master Zeref."
Qui-Gon Jinn seemed to understand what had happened to Master Zeref for a Padawan is not found off without a Master unless the Jedi is deceased. Or the Padawan left the Jedi Order, but Qui-Gon believed it was the first option. "I see…" he spoke after a moment only to pause, eyes being thoughtful. "Master Zeref was a great Jedi. I've only met him a few times."
"I see," Iris found herself saying. It was nice to know that even an older Jedi Knight like Qui-Gon had been able to hear about Zeref. Even meet him a few times in the past.
"I know. His passing must be difficult for you," Qui-Gon understood the feeling of losing someone in battle over his years as a Jedi. But he didn't know the feeling of a Padawan losing a teacher for he never experienced it himself.
She gave a simple nod of her head. "Yes." But she understood the Jedi way and her Master's death. How he died was meant to be honored. "Master Zeref died during the invasion Master Jinn. He had been very brave and faced death." He didn't even coward from it. Her Master accepted the possibly of death from the very beginning. "He was died fighting the Battle Droids. Giving us time." Time to make the switch between the handmaiden and Padmé. "We had to leave his body behind." There had not been time to gather the dead. Hopefully they'll be able to give Zeref a Jedi funeral when the conflict between the Trade Federation and Naboo was over.
Now Iris needed to complete her Master's mission. Protect the Queen at all cost. She might end up dying as well. Living day to day was the hardest thing in war.
"I am sorry," Jinn spoke, voice full of sadness.
"It is alright Master Jinn," Iris answered with a mournful look in her brown eyes. She would have time to grieve Zeref, but she didn't know about her own fate. If she survives, then how would she finish her training to be a Jedi? "I just don't know how I will be able to become a Jedi Knight." Without a Jedi Master it was impossible.
How was Iris supposed to protect the Queen? She was not a skilled Jedi Knight. Not like Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. Queen Amidala needed a protector of higher skill like them. Not a Padawan learn whose training was only half-way complete.
The Queen of Naboo deserved better. Zeref should be here to finish the mission.
He was stronger and a Jedi longer than Iris had been a Padawan learner.
She was not ready for this mission. Not without him.
"Perhaps when we get to Coruscant Master Yoda will assign you a new Master," Qui-Gon suggested to Iris. "Unless you're ready for the trails."
"I still have much to learn," Iris admits to the Jedi Knight. She might be half-Lorridian. Thanks to that nature she was able to mimic movements and motions easily. "But the council will decide my fate when we reach Coruscant. I just don't feel ready for this Mission. Not without Zeref."
"My dear Iris," Jinn spoke, smiling. "Your Master trusted the Queen and this mission to you. Because of that I do believe you are ready. Zeref believed so as well."
Iris felt a smile form on her lips. "Then I hope my Master was correct."
"Trust the Force and yourself."
Iris bowed her head in respect toward the Jedi Knight. "Yes, Master Jinn."
Trust in the Force. Trust in herself. Trust in Master Zeref's choice.
She leaves this mission to the fate of the Force.
Third chapter is done.
Zeref looks is Portrayed by Tom Hiddleston
I named Iris' Jedi Master after Zeref from the anime; Fairy Tail.
Next chapter will be Tatooine and Iris will meet Anakin.