Chapter Three:
Undiscovered Secrets
Nikki stood frozen as Anakin did, watching the assassin as he took the rest of his mask off.
"T-T-a-m-i?" Nikki stuttered. Tami pulled the mask off and glared at her older sister.
"Tami?" Nikki shrieked.
"Oh don't be so surprised!" Tami spat.
"What are you doing?" Nikki asked ready to strangle her sister.
"What you couldn't!" Tami said.
"Tami, are you insane?" Nikki asked.
"Tami, you don't want to be the chancellor's apprentice, I was, I got out. You can too." Anakin said looking worried.
"What do you know? You gave up an extreme opportunity to stay a jedi, and stay with my whore sister?" Tami snapped. Nikki was still trying to get through the fact that her sister wanted to kill her.
"Leave her out of this! She's going through enough!" Anakin said defensively. Without a single warning, Nikki lunged and attacked Tami who blocked.
"How long?" Nikki barked as she tried for her ankles.
"For a few months now, but you wouldn't know that! You were to busy on your jedi missions!" Tami screamed blocking and pushing Nikki back, then slashing at her ribs. As the two had death glares, they seemed to be toying with each other. After they were tired out they both still carried their light sabers. Tami tried one more time to hurt her sister, all she did was manage to give her a deep gash in her left shoulder.
"Aaaaaggggghhhhh!" Nikki yelped backing away as her sister smirked evilly.
"Sorry sister, but I can't let you live, my master would be upset." Tami smiled as she hovered over her sister. In an instant, Nikki kicked Tami's stomach and rebounded as Tami fell.
"Finish me!" Tami barked as Nikki put her light saber to her sister's throat. Nikki didn't reply, just kept her light saber inches from killing her sister.
"Kill me! We both will have respect!" Tami barked. Nikki brought her light saber up, and brought it down just as quick.
Tami opened her eyes to see the glow of a pink light saber burning thru the metal an inch from her face, and a sister glaring down at her.
"Wrench, why didn't you finish me of-"
"Leave now!" Nikki growled narrowing her glare. Tami just stayed in her place.
"Leave now, tell your master, go! Or I'll change my mind!"
"No matter, we'll meet again, sister." Tami smirked.
"You are no sister of mine! As long as I'm concerned you are no longer related to me! No longer a daughter of Paqu Kundari, queen to the throne, and last of all, my sister!" Nikki growled as her sister slowly got up and ran deep inside the empire. Nikki huffed at her sister's disappearing figure, before falling to the ground, completely exhausted.
"Nikki." Anakin said as he walked over to and picked her up and carried her to the waiting ship.
As the ship took off Anakin handed Nikki over to Kagu who placed her on a medical tablet.
"She's suffered from minor injuries, except for the one on her shoulder!" Kagu called out into the hall.
"What took you two so long?" Obi-wan asked.
"We were stopped…by Tami!" Anakin said turning his head from Obi-wan.
"Tami? You mean Nikki's sister, queen in line for the throne?" Kagu popped his head out of the room.
"Yes, but I don't think Nikki will allow that." Anakin said.
"Why?" Obi-wan asked.
"Because, Tami has gone to the dark side." Anakin sighed. Shock twisted Kagu's face as he learned this all.
"Poor Nikki, how did she handle it?" Kagu asked.
"Well let's just say, she thinks their no longer related." Anakin shouted through the ship.
"Hum, well if my brother did that to me, then yes I wouldn't want to be associated with him either." Kagu said bandaging Nikki's shoulder. Kagu finished bandaging and left the room.
"So, Tami is now on the dark side? That will be the loss of a great ally." Obi-wan said rubbing his chin.
"Yes, it will and it will effect the city very much." Kagu answered. Silence.
"The chancellor can't do this again!" Anakin pounded his fist into the side of the ship.
"Anakin please, calm down. This isn't a good time to get frustrated!" Obi-wan ordered getting frustrated himself.
"Calm down, both of you, now. The ceremony has been changed to tomorrow, if we don't find a new queen by tomorrow, then Nikki will have to go to power!" Kagu said. Silence again.
"What if Shugo went to power?" Anakin asked.
"Is that out of curiosity?" Obi-wan asked arching his brow.
"Uh, yes master. "Anakin fell silent.
"No, wait. That's a good idea, but there hasn't been a king in over…Two thousand years!" Kagu exclaimed.
"There's always a time to change the past." Anakin mumbled.
"What did you say, Anakin" Obi-wan snapped.
"Oh, nothing master, just agreeing with master Kagu." Anakin fake smiled. Obi-wan just looked at him before averting his attention back to the conversation.
"Still, if Nikki won't take charge of the throne, then who will?" Kagu asked casting a glance down the short hall.
"Well, we all know we're going to have to look for a back up family, or a disguise family to take the throne." Obi-wan interjected.
"Are you insane, master? We cannot allow that!" Anakin shot up.
"And why not Anakin?" Obi-wan asked.
"Because-because…well…ok so I don't have an answer, but we can't!" Anakin yelled.
"Why? Is it because it used to be Padame's throne?" Kagu asked not trying not to make Anakin mad, just trying to get a point across.
"NO! I just don't think that is necessary!" Anakin shouted, half wanted to believe himself, and the other half wanted to believe himself.
"Well, we have to let Nikki come to that decision. And not us." Kagu said turning his attention to the sight before him. On the platform were numerous maids and servants that gathered around as the ship made contact with the ground.
"What do we tell him?" Obi-wan asked looking down at a wide-eyed Shugo as he waited with the family's most trusted maid, Aleeki.
"I'll take care of it." Kagu said turning and walking into the medical room picking up Nikki. They all walked out, instantly bombarded by shouts, screams and balloons as they walked over to the little five foot twelve year old prince.
"Nikki, what happened to Nikki? What happened to my sister?" Shugo shouted, Aleeki had to hold him back from pouncing on Kagu.
"Little youngling, please calm down." Kagu chuckled as he looked down at the youngling.
"What happened?" He asked again seeing Nikki wrapped in bandages, and Anakin's head covered in dry blood from his run-in with the droids.
"Don't worry, your sister is fine, we all are. Just a little shook up." Obi-wan walked up in front of Anakin.
"Oh, come in, come in. Please we must let you sleep!" Aleeki interjected as she bustled around trying to get everybody inside. Once it quieted after few minutes, Aleeki took everyone into separate rooms not including the apartments they had before which were nice, but they were nothing compared to the new rooms they were given. With nothing to speak, they all slept without another word to each other.
Anakin waited as the ceremony finished with Nikki and Shugo giving one big speech. As it ended everyone was starting to leave.
"Good job, your father would be proud" Kagu smiled hugging both of the two young Kundari's. Anakin smiled as Nikki looked in his direction. Nikki turned back around and froze as something whizzed past her ear.
"Get down"' Nikki shouted, everyone followed except for herself, Anakin, Obi-wan and Kagu. They all looked around frantically for the person that had thrown the pointy object.
"There!" Obi-wan shouted pointing at a person standing on top of a roof not far from the podium.
"Nikki, stay here!" Kagu shouted as him, Obi-wan and Anakin ignited their light sabers and chased after the person. Obi-wan and Kagu were too into chasing the person, that only Anakin saw another person dart closer to the podium, where Nikki held her brother like the older sister she was.
"Nikki!" Anakin shouted as he turned back to her.
"Anakin! Don't!" Nikki shouted as she saw him charging the person, not caring about his own safety. Only when the blade struck, did Anakin finally understand what was going on.
"Anakin!" Nikki shouted kneeling over him.
"Don't worry! Just a scratch!" Anakin stated defensively as he stood up, cradling his left side.
"Anakin, you can't fight this guy alone!" Nikki whispered fiercely as he stood to fight.
"How could I loose, when it's two against one?" Anakin asked holding a familiar looking sight. Nikki slowly reached for her light saber, but the person attacked before she could reach it.
"Oh, no"' Nikki shouted as she reached for her light saber again, but the person destroyed it with their own light saber.
"No"' Nikki screamed as she used the force to pick the person up telepathically and threw them against the walls of the building and then dropped it again. Anakin scarred the person away by cutting a deep gash in their side.
"Are you ok?" Anakin asked walking over to her.
"I'm fine, but my light saber!" Nikki picked up the remains of her light saber.
"Don't worry, we can get you a new one"
"No! You don't understand! This was mother's! She was in it"' Nikki screamed.
"Nikki, calm down!" Kagu said returning, his light saber delighted.
"Master, my light saber!" Nikki showed him the pieces.
"Nikki, calmdow-" Kagu stopped mid sentence as he fell forward. Stuck in his back was a simple throwing star!
"'No"' Nikki screamed staring horrified as the sight. Anakin looked around as another star was thrown, this time at Obi-wan, hitting him squarely in the stomach.
"Master"' Anakin shouted.
Anakin shot up, panting heavily.
"What..?" Anakin asked seeing he was in the dark comfort of his room. It took him a moment for him to realize that, and that he was in a cold sweat. He got up and stumbled his way to the bathroom, washing his face. As he toweled dried his face he noticed a door behind the towels. Curious, he opened it and followed the passage that was strangely lit. He could tell it hadn't been used for years, but yet the lights were working perfectly.
After a few moments of following he finally came up to a deadbolt door. He pushed on it with all his strength, but it wouldn't budge. Anakin sighed as he leaned against the wall. All this way for a wild goose chase. The door on the other side opened as he started to drowse again. Instantly, he got up and braced himself to push on the door. With a final budge he fell thru the doorway surprised by it's light weight. He stumbled up and closed the door cursing at it. He looked around and saw someone leaning on the guard on the balcony.
"Nikki?" Anakin asked seeing nothing but the shadow of the person.
"You know, the rooms we're in? Those were my parents when they were becoming wed. My father built that hallway himself so he could see her when he wasn't allowed. It's kind of funny, really." Nikki said massaging her shoulder as it irritated her.
"That is kind of funny, in a way." Anakin said coming up besides her.
"Yeah, but still, tomorrow will be a very glad day for my city. It's sad, I don't even know my city's name. My father took me to master Kagu, who lived in the Quinkarian Desert. There he trained me until he brought me back here to meet my brother and…her. Tomorrow I will give the city to my younger brother." Nikki said watching all the stars. "Are you sure that is a wise choice?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, I am." Nikki said looking to him.
"Well, then I back you a hundred percent!" Anakin smiled.
"Thank y-" Nikki and Anakin turned to see the door trying to be opened from the other side.
"Go back into the tunnel!" Nikki whispered shoving Anakin back the other way.
"What? Are you sure your well?" Anakin asked again.
"I'm fine, trust me ok?" Nikki smiled before closing the door shut and locking it.
"Yes? Who is it?" Nikki's muffled voice could be heard thru the door. Anakin noticed it was Kagu checking in on Nikki, and fled down the hallway into his own room, knowing that Obi-wan would probably check in on him too. Right before he sprang into the huge bed, Obi-wan walked in.
"Oh, sorry to wake you, Anakin. But I have something to ask of you." Obi-wan said closing the door and sitting in a chair next to the desk.
"Yes, master?" Anakin asked trying to keep his breathe labored.
"Well, it's come to my attention that you have become more fond of Nikki." Obi-wan said Looking formal, like he was talking about the weather.
"Uh…master?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, and I have seen what it is making you become." Obi-wan continued.
"You are becoming rude and disrespectful, I am sorry to say, but you and Nikki may need to separate for a while." Obi-wan said. "Master, why?" Anakin asked. "Because you aren't getting your training done, and neither is Nikki getting her duties of becoming queen. I'm sorry but I think it's best if you stay and help me here, at the temple, why Nikki goes to the far side of the world in the Ice caps to go and negotiate with the inhabitants." Obi-wan said.
"Master, no! This isn't fair!" Anakin said.
"I'm sorry Anakin, but it is already set, Nikki will leave a week after she gets crowned. Anakin was silent for a moment as Obi-wan let it sink in.
"I'll explain it more tomorrow, Anakin. Good night." Obi-wan said getting up and leaving.
"Yes…master…" Anakin whispered.
The next morning was a gloomy day as rain pelted to the ground.
"Looks like rain." Nikki smiled staring at the grey sky.
"Hum, what are you going to do when you become queen?" Shugo asked tilting his head.
"Oh, I really don't know. But I'll get posted on it." Nikki walked out of the bathroom in an elegant white gown.
"You look really pretty, Mistress!" Aleeki said as she fixed Shugo's shirt.
"Aleeki, your just as old as I am, you don't have to call me 'Mistress.'" Nikki laughed a little.
"Oh, sorry Madame." Aleeki apologized. Nikki just shook her head as she finished lacing the back of the dress.
"Ok, let's go." Nikki said as she placed her light saber in the bottom drawer of the desk next to her. They walked out of the room and thru the halls of the great building. As the people started arriving, Nikki became more and more nervous with her decision.
"Nikki, don't worry you'll be fine." Kagu said patting Nikki on the back. The ceremony had continued as everyone arrived.
"My people, today is a new day!" Nikki said as she reached the podium. A cheer arose.
"Now, we all mourn the loss of our former queen Padame, and I would be honored if I am to accept the throne." Nikki added.
" And so, as this day I am honored to be queen…" She waited for the applause to end.
"But I cannot accept this honor, for I am a jedi Padawan and it is my sole priority that I continue my path along the jedi." Nikki said.
"And so on and so forth, you will have a new ruler! My little brother, Shugo Kundari!" Nikki stepped aside for Shugo, who seemed to be asleep for half the time, arose from his chair and cautiously walked up to the podium. All fell silent.
"Um, t-thank you,"
"Sound definite!" Nikki whispered fiercely to Shugo.
"Thank you all for your support." Shugo spoke into the microphone.
"And now, instead of having a queen, you will have your first king in over 2000 years!" Shugo said as his people cheered.
"Thank you to all my people!" Shugo said as he walked off the podium never getting the hang of speeches.
"And I will speak for my brother when I say thank you for all your support to my brother as he begins his reign, and I will also lend my support as I will personally protect him." Nikki added as she finalized the ceremony. As Nikki followed Shugo thru the gap back into the palace, she noticed the people that were standing behind her, awe struck.
"What?" Nikki asked confused.
"Nikki, you just gave your younger brother the city." Kagu said his jaw nearly touching the floor.
"Master, I simply chose to follow my jedi path and give the throne to the new king." Nikki said hugging her little brother before letting him go, watching him play with the servant's children.
"Are you insane?" Kagu asked
"So what if I am!" Nikki asked.
"Well, you may have ended this race as we know it!" Kagu shouted on the brink of pulling his hair out.
"Master, relax. I know what my people need, and it isn't me, besides, Shugo will be an excellent king." Nikki smiled.
"I just hope you're right." Kagu mumbled followed by a silent nod from Obi-wan
"Well, I back Nikki's decision up one hundred percent!" Anakin smiled.
"Finally someone that understands me!" Nikki sighed.
Nikki turned away from the podium while smiling to the remaining crowd, feeling the pressure of something fly past her left ear. As she turned to see what it was, another just barely missed the top of her head.
"Get down, everbody!" Kagu shouted into the microphone, as everybody followed. Obi-wan ushered Nikki and Shugo down onto the floor as Anakin and Kagu looked around for the aimer. They finally found him on a roof top not far from the podium.
In an instant the person ran from them and to a waiting ship thatr was at the end of the city. All the jedi that were there, except for Nikki, charged for the assassin as he got further and further away. As everbody was following the first assassin, only Anakin noticed the shadow making their way to the podium. Racing back he ignited his lightsaber and caught up to the assassin, but he tried to attack, but they blocked with an aqua lightsaber. "You…!" Anakin growled as he recognized Tami's lightdaber. "Hum, long time no see." Tami said rather casually. Anakin lunged for the podium and reached it before Tami, but only to boldck one attack to the right leg, and a stab to his rib cage.
"Anakin, are you ok?" Nikki asked leaning over Anakin.
"I'm fine! Just a scratch!" Anakin mumbled as he got back up, cradling his side.
"But your hurt, so she has the advantage!" Nikki urged him to back down.
"How does she have the advantage when there are two jedi, and one sith?" Anakin asked holding out Nikki's lightsaber.
"..what?" Nikki asked reaching for it.
Then Tani jumped and stabbed it out of Nikki's reach.
"Oh, no!" Nikki hissed reaching for it, but Tami destroyed it with a single slice of her lightsaber.
"NO!" Nikki shrieked as she reached for the force nd picked up the assassin by telepathy and banged her against the wall, numerous times as she took her fury out on the poor body. "After that Nikki released her hold on the force and slumped to the ground.
To make his point, Anakin slashed at the assasssin's left leg casting a deep gash intot he flesh as they limped away.
"Nikki are you ok?" Anakin asked bending down to see Nikki's tear struck face. "Th-that was a special lightsaber!" Nikki mumbled picking up the remains.
"Nikki, are you ok?" Kagu asked as he and Obi-Wan raced back after sending the other assassin to their ship.
"Master, my lightsaber!" Nikki whimpered holding up the sliced lightsaber.
"Nikki, i-i'm sorry for this, but we can always get you a new one." Obi-Wan said.
"None of you get it! This was my mother's lightsaber!" Nikki weeped. "She left it for me before i left to go train with master Kagu!"
"Nikki, please." Kagu said as he helped Nikki up.
"Yes, master." Nikki mumbled as she calmed down. Kagu escorted her to her room, while Anakin and Obi-Wan waited back on the podium.
"What happened Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked turning to his own matters.
"Master, while you and Master Kagu were fighting off the assassin, Tami came and tried to assassin Shugo, but then i turned to help. i got Nikki's lightsaber, but before Nikki could take it from me, Tami destroyed it!" Anakin rushed thru everything that happened in two seconds.
"Anakin, calm down. As strange as it is, i understood that, and if what you said is true, then we need to check up on dhugo." Obi-Wan said walkig past Anakin and heading down the hall.
They met Kagu at Nikki's door and was lead to Shguo's room still not knowing where every imprtant room was. "Is Nikki well?" Obi-Wan asked.
"She's fine, she's asleep. The whole way to her bed room she kept mumbling something about getting revenge on her sister Do-do you two know anything about that?" Kagu asked squinting.
"Um, well Anakin told me something." Obi-Wan said turning to face Anakin.
Anakin sighed before repeating his story, this time making sure to take breathes and slowing down.
"So, Tami is reall on the dark side." Kagu indicated rubbing his chin.
"Appparently, but now we have to keep Shugo safe. I'm not that worried about Nikki." Obi-Wan said.
They soon reached Shugo's room, and knocked.
"Yes, come in." They could hear Aleeki's high pitched voice.
"Aleeki, is Shugo awake?" Kagu asked. "Oh, yes. He hasn't been able to sleep." Aleeki said leading them to the king sized bed.
"Oh, master Kagu, what happened, is everyone ok?" Dhugo burst with questions.
"Never quiet, are you, young king." Kagu chuckled.
"Nope, now tell me, i want answers. Who was that? Why were they here? And what is going on?" Shugo finished by jumping onto the floor.
"Since your the new king, i can't deny you any answers, well the attacker was from Emperor Palpatine, they were here to assassin you, and what is going on? I don't know." Kagu said.
"But we intend to find out." Obi-Wan said
"Good, that's what i want to hear, now what do you intend to do towards security?" Shugo asked.
"Well, we weren't thinking on that." Anakin rubbed the back of his head.
"Well my sister, Nikki has informed me that i am to go to the artic base, to nogotiate with the inhabitants. And she has agreed to come with me, for security reasons." Shugo said happy that his sister would come with him.
"Nikki's still going on that mission in the caps?" Anakin asked confused.
"Yes, why wouldn't she?" Shugo asked.
"Um, no reason!" Anakin shot before walking out of the room.
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan marched out of the room after him.
"Yes?" Anakin mumbled.
"Why are you so persistant with cancelling this mission to go to the caps?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'm not trying to break it, i just have a bad feeling about this mission!" anakin snapped.
"What makes you think that feeling your having is from the mission?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I-i don't know!" Anakin said. "I'm sorry, master." Anakin stormed off to his room and shut the door before before falling into a fotful sleep.
Nikki and anakin were looking at the speeders that were in front of the palace.
"Wow, these are brand new!" Nikki exclaimed.
"Yes, these are spectacular!" Anakin said acidently pushing Jarr Jarr out of his way.
" How Rude!" Jarr Jarr said in his funny tounge tied accent.
"Sorry, Jarr Jarr." anakin apologized as he turned back to face Jarr Jarr.
"Oh, it's alright!" Jarr Jarr smiled.
"Wait, who's that?" Nikki asked looking away from the speeders and looking over the horizon at a lone figure.
"I don't know, should we go meet them?" Anakin asked preparing to ignite his lightsaber.
"No, no lightsaber, what is it with men and trying to fight all the time?" Nikki asked rolling her eyes.
"Who?" Jarr Jarr asked looking around.
The two just looked at him with funny expressions.
"Oh, that person!" Jarr Jarr exclaimed poiting to the approaching shadow.
"Nothing gets by you, Jarr Jarr" Nikki laughed.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Anakin asked.
"Why not take these for a spin?" Nikki asked.
In an instant Anakin brightened up and seized one of the keys as he jumped into the closest speeder while Nikki and Jarr Jarr jumped into the other.
"Race ya there!" Nikki shouted into the intercom.
"You're on!" Anakin shouted back.
The electric engines shot and the engines started to life. They both pressed on the pedal and stabbed the controls forward as the speeders lurched forward, following their commands. They reved up the land as they neared the shadow.
"Ha,ha. i won!" Anakin shouted as he jumped out of the pod first.
"Yeah, whatever!" Nikki shot.
They each helped Jarr Jarr out of the speeder and made their way to the stranger.
"Hello, may i introduce myself?" The stranger asked in the calmset voice that Nikki recognized, but she couldn't place her finger on who.
"Yes, please do." Anakin said.
"I am Mari Kundari." The woman said as she lifted her hood over her face, but Nikki couldn't see the resemblance that this person was posing to be.