Damp walls and dark hallways echoing with raucous jeers haunted Adrina's dreams. She awoke to the sound of an explosion. She bolted upright, chest heaving, only to realize that the explosion, too, had only been in her dreams. There was no sleeping after that awakening. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and drew her brother closer.
Anakin awoke when Qui-Gon came to fetch the siblings for breakfast, which was taken in the main room. Anakin immediately flocked to Padmé and another handmaiden, leaving Adrina alone with Qui-Gon at the small table.
Adrina was the first to cautiously break the long silence between them. "May I speak?"
"Of course, young one," Qui-Gon said with a smile. "You need not ask permission."
Adrina nodded reflexively with downcast eyes. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Jedi Kenobi explained why you are going to Coruscant. I understand why you landed on Tatooine – no Trade Federation and badly needed supplies." She paused, considering her words carefully. She frowned. "But why are you doing this ? Why free Anakin? Why take us both with you? Don't misunderstand: I am incredibly grateful. We are both in your debt." She hated it, but that was the truth. "But, you must understand. No one on Tatooine would have done the same. We are just slaves." Adrina winced. " Were slaves."
"Slavery is an abomination," Qui-Gon stated quietly. "I could not stand by and watch two young souls diminish under its weight."
Adrina frowned.
Qui-Gon chuckled and shook his head. She crossed her arms and waited for him to continue. "I see great potential in you and your brother – potential for greatness."
Adrina pursed her lips to keep from snorting. Anakin could do great things and doubtless he would do great things as a free man. She, however, would hardly be something great. Good, perhaps, but not great. She was a simple slave girl with only the good sense her parents gave her.
Qui-Gon leaned forward, resting his forearms on the edge of the table and clasped his hands. "Adrina," his voice was low and grave. "I believe that your brother is the Chosen One."
Adrina arched her eyebrows and carefully leaned back in her chair. "The Chosen One," Adrina echoed. She had heard her fair share of cons and tall tales over the years, but this one promised to crown them all. What kind of lunatic had Shmi entrusted them to? It was a good thing she was there to protect Anakin.
As if sensing Adrina's skepticism and disappointment, Qui-Gon smiled patiently at her. "There are many who can attest to my sanity, I assure you. The Jedi have an ancient legend – prophecy, if you will – about the Chosen One, who will bring balance to the Force. It is said that he will destroy the Sith, the practitioners of the dark side of the Force." Qui-Gon's somber tone made it clear that he was in earnest. "He is said to be strong in the Force from birth. Your brother has the highest midi-chlorian count I have ever seen; higher even than Master Yoda, the most powerful Jedi in the Order. Midi-chlorians are tiny organisms that live within our bodies that allow Jedi to use the Force."
Adrina listened in silence.
"You do not believe me," Qui-Gon observed with a small, amused smile.
Adrina had expected eccentricity from Qui-Gon Jinn, but this pushed the bounds of sanity. Swallowing hard and leaning away from him, she said, "It is difficult to imagine my nine-year old brother, who does not understand the necessity of basic hygiene, as the savior of the Jedi Order because of parasites that live in his body."
"Not exactly."
Adrina pressed her lips together and kept her gaze averted.
"There is nothing in the prophecy that foretells when Anakin will bring balance to the Force, only that it will happen." Qui-Gon sighed. "Midi-chlorians are not parasites, but intelligent organisms. They have a symbiotic relationship with our cells. Without them, life would not exist. And by bringing balance to the Force he will, in a very real sense, save the galaxy, not just the Jedi."
Choosing her words carefully, Adrina risked a glance at Qui-Gon. "How does destroying these…. Sith bring balance to the Force?"
"The ideal state of the Force, the light side that we Jedi practice, is found in nature, everywhere you look. It is harmony and balance. The dark side, however, corrupts and destroys the balance that the Force creates."
"So, basically, you are trying to destroy the evil forces in the galaxy."
Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "In a way, yes."
Adrina's frown deepened, but decided commenting further would only risk punishment for her impertinence.
"You have a keen mind, Adrina Skywalker. But you will learn power of the Force. It is within you, as well," He said finally. Silence descended briefly before Qui-Gon changed the subject. "How do you like space?"
Adrina's eyes narrowed. "It's cold."
Qui-Gon laughed. "Yes, that it is. But don't worry. We will be on Coruscant soon. It will be warmer there."
Truthfully, she was a bundle of nerves at the prospect, but she could hardly share that. "Ani will be happy to know we're arriving soon. He wants to be with the pilot when we're approaching Coruscant." She smiled tightly.
He regarded her thoughtfully. "And how are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm fine." She met his eyes and forced a smile. "Please, excuse me. Ani is calling me."
He wasn't and they both knew it.
0
Adrina stood behind Anakin, amazed at the sight greeting them from the cockpit. She'd imagined what Coruscant would look like many times, but none of them were even close to the large amber planet. "Coruscant," Olie announced. "The capital of the Republic. The entire planet is one big city."
Anakin's mouth hung open. "It's so huge!"
Anakin and Adrina gaped at the skyline as the ship descended into the maze of towering buildings. She had never seen buildings so enormous before, even on her homeworld. On Tatooine, buildings rarely exceeded four stories. They were decidedly puny in comparison. The chaos of Coruscant was overwhelming. Adrina's breakfast threatened to make a hasty exit as her stomach roiled dangerously. The cockpit seemed to spin beneath her feet.
"There's Chancellor Valorum's shuttle," Olie announced. He pointed at a small figure on the landing pad. "And look over there; Senator Palpatine is waiting for us." Adrina gripped the back of the co-pilot's chair tightly as the ship was lowered onto the landing pad. Olie looked over his shoulder. "You two had best go find the Jedi."
Although Anakin overflowed with exuberance and curiosity about Coruscant, permacrete blocks seemed to encase Adrina's feet. She dreaded stepping out onto the floating platform, surrounded by noise and congestion and a thousand things she could never understand. She dreaded feeling so insignificant and surrounded. But leave the ship they must.
"Here," Qui-Gon said as they met in the hallway. "Stay with Obi-Wan and I." Anakin and Adrina glanced at each other before moving behind the Jedi, next to Jar Jar, whom Adrina still found quite odd. Captain Panaka stood directly behind them, in front of Queen Amidala, trailed by her three handmaidens and more security personnel.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed to the Chancellor and Senator. Anakin immediately followed suit, but Adrina lingered momentarily. Even Jar Jar managed to focus his scattered attention long enough to pay his respects. They stepped aside to allow the Queen to stand before the government officials. She stood proudly before them.
"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty." Senator Palpatine smiled broadly at Queen Amidala. Adrina frowned at the time. She wondered why he did not refer to her as 'Your Highness' as seemed everyone else's custom. "With the communications breakdown, we've been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation." He gestured to the gentleman beside him. "May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum."
The stiff, if polite, conversation that followed mirrored innumerable exchanges Adrina observed in Jabba's Palace and Adrina found this one no less irritating.
The Senator began leading the Queen and her retinue to the taxi, confessing that certain procedures still needed to be overcome.
Adrina looked over her shoulder, noticing that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were hanging back with the Chancellor, talking in low tones. Anakin had noticed as well. They stopped, looking to Qui-Gon for direction, utterly lost in the world of politics. Qui-Gon waved them forward. Adrina gripped Anakin's hand tightly and followed after the Queen's retinue.
Anakin, Adrina and Jar Jar were placed in the front of the air taxi next to the driver, finding it comfortable. "Da Queens a bein grossly nice, mesa tinks." Jar Jar told Anakin, looking around. "Pitty hot."
Adrina gripped the edge of the seat when the taxi lurched forward and into motion. Nausea threatened to overwhelm her. As she stared at the foreign world around her, all Adrina could think about was how very far she was from home.
She hoped she didn't vomit.
0
They had been taken to Senator Palpatine's apartment, although the name seemed to be a misnomer as his quarters encompassed almost an entire floor of the gargantuan building. Palpatine's entry way would have comfortably fit the Skywalker's entire hovel. Anakin, Jar Jar, and Adrina were just outside the glass door, but they couldn't hear what was going on within the walls. Adrina thought that even if they could listen in, they would be completely lost anyway.
Adrina had never felt more out of place. There she was, dressed in her plain, dusty, and dirty clothes in the midst of finery the like of which she had never seen before. She didn't even want to think about how she probably smelled. Anakin did not share in her concerns.
"I wonder where Master Qui-Gon and Jedi Obi-Wan are," Anakin mused.
Adrina sighed. "Probably at the Jedi Temple. They have a lot of explaining to do."
"Dissen all pitty odd to me." Jar Jar announced. Adrina smiled at that.
"Don't look at me!" Anakin said. "I don't know what's going on either."
Adrina laughed softly. "I think it's safe to say that none of us are in the loop." They looked up collectively when the other door opened. Captain Panaka strode through, briefly nodding at the group before joining the Queen and Senator.
"There is no civility, only politics. It's disgusting." Adrina heard Palpatine say. The door hissed closed.
"Yousa have never been to Naboo?" Jar Jar asked Adrina.
"No, never. I've hardly even been off of Tatooine."
"Yousa must come to Naboo, uh huh!" Jar Jar declared.
Adrina smiled. A clumsy oaf he may be, but Jar Jar had a heart of gold. "I would love to, some day, when there is peace."
"Yousa like it." Jar Jar nodded, punctuating his confidence.
Adrina settled on the floor, her legs tucked neatly beneath her. Anakin continued pacing. "What's Naboo like?" Adrina inquired. She listened wistfully as Jar Jar described the lush forests and deep crystal lakes of Naboo in great detail. He mentioned the Lake Country, but he couldn't describe it since he didn't remember ever seeing it.
Naboo sounded heavenly. She smiled at Anakin. Perhaps one day her whole family would visit Naboo. It was a comforting dream.
0
Obi-Wan stood silently next to his master in the Jedi Council Chamber. Qui-Gon was just about finished giving the Council his report. His conclusion that a Sith Lord was involved in the dispute on Naboo caused a great ripple amongst the Council members.
"A Sith Lord?" Mace Windu echoed, cautious.
"Impossible!" Ki-Adi-Mundi declared. "The Sith have been extinct for a millennium."
Windu hesitated. "I do not believe they could have returned without our knowing."
"Hard to see, the dark side is." Yoda stated. "Discover who this assassin is, we must."
"We will use all our resources here to unravel this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker." Windu assured. "May the Force be with you."
Obi-Wan bowed, knowing that their session had ended, and began to walk to the door. He stopped slowly when Qui-Gon remained in the middle of the room.
"Master Qui-Gon?" Yoda began. "More to say, have you?" Qui-Gon nodded. Obi-Wan sighed internally, knowing what was coming next.
"With your permission, Master." Qui-Gon said. "I have encountered a vergence in the Force." The Council air seemed to tense even more.
"A vergence, you say?" Yoda tilted his head.
"Located around a...person?" Windu asked.
Qui-Gon nodded. "A boy. His cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life form. It is possible he was conceived by the midi-chlorians." Obi-Wan moved his gaze from member to member, seeing that this meeting was going downhill, fast.
"You're referring to the prophesy of the one who will bring balance to the Force," Windu said, almost challenging. "You believe it's this...boy?"
"I don't presume..." Qui-Gon was cut off by Yoda.
"But you do! Revealed, your opinion is."
Qui-Gon moved on as if it had not happened. "I request the boy be tested."
"Trained as a Jedi, you request for him," Yoda corrected.
"Finding him was the will of the Force." There was a hard edge to Qui-Gon's voice. Obi-Wan sighed internally. "I have no doubt of that."
The Council members exchanged glances. Windu sighed. "Bring him before us, then," Windu instructed, resigned. Qui-Gon hesitated again.
"More to say?" Yoda asked again. Qui-Gon nodded.
"The boy has a sister." Qui-Gon began. "She is Force-sensitive and shows much promise."
Mace Windu made no attempt to hide his displeasure. The Council exchanged another glance.
"Before us, bring her." Yoda decided. Qui-Gon bowed, exiting with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan wondered if he should mention Adrina's age, but wisely decided to remain silent. There was no need to borrow trouble, for it would most certainly bring trouble. Of what magnitude and severity, Obi-Wan could not venture to guess, but he trusted his gut.
Trouble was coming, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.