The Greatest of These

Lily looked at Yoda with some amusement as they passed in the hallway of the Jedi Temple. It was sometimes hard to believe that the legendary Jedi Master she'd heard of in her history classes was so small!

"Four petals are there in your mother's locket," he said suddenly as he passed by. Lily spun around in surprise upon realizing his words were directed at her. They'd never before spoken. "Aiko comes when the fifth petal she finds. Before this, return to her time 'Lily' must."

"I know," Lily said.

"Your purpose have you fulfilled?"

"I don't know what it is!"

Yoda sighed loudly. "About your father carefully must you speak, or listen to you Chikako will not. As for him, patience he needs." At that, he began to walk slowly away.

"Is that all you're gonna tell me?" Lily called after him.

"No more do you need to know."

Cyrus finished his meditation and opened his eyes to the dull apartment he was living in. He thought of meeting Chikako months earlier; she was under his Force-induced spell, going wherever he led her. It had seemed so easy then; until, of course, she broke the spell. That shocked him, but Xanthus saved them that day with pretty words and a sweet smile.

That made the Sith necessary, or so he thought. But somehow she became Super Sailor Myrkr, and defeated the demon that was supposed to kill her within a minute.

Then, the elaborate plan that would end everything on Myrkr, where it had begun: The first try failed, so he took everything into his own hands. And if he'd had one extra second, everything would be done now. Why was Kalei going to such lengths to protect Chikako? Cyrus would be watching him - he knew that boy was someone important, but hopefully not who Cyrus feared he was. He'd start watching him today, just to be on the safe side.

There had been enough elaborate plans, and enough failed attempts. This time vengeance would be quick, with no triumphant speeches and no thought about consequences. Whatever the opportunity, he would take it; whatever the tools, he would use them.

"Xanthus."

The young man was alone in his room at the Jedi Temple, waiting for his master's voice. "I'm here," he answered through the Force.

"Kill her. However you want, wherever you want. Just do it soon."

"Master, I'll get caught!"

"I'll take care of all of that. Haven't I always taken care of you before?"

"Yes, Master."

"Don't think about consequences. Do what I said, and I'll make sure nothing happens to you." He paused. "I will know when she is dead," he said, "so don't try anything clever."

"Master."

"I will contact you when necessary. Remember, the quicker this is done, the better."

Lily hesitated at the door, taking a deep breath and reviewing the little bit Yoda had told her. Hopefully this would work. She slid the door open and walked confidently in. "Hey Chikako, did I tell you I was a prophetess?"

"What?" Chikako looked up from the letter to her father she was entering into her datapad.

"Oh yeah," Lily said, flipping a ponytail over her shoulder and flopping onto the bed. "I have all kinds of messages for you. Let's see..." She closed her eyes. "Yoshiko!" she said, opening them again. "You're going to miss her."

"Where's she going?"

"Hey!" Lily snapped playfully, pointing at Chikako. "No talking, only listening!"

"Sorry." Chikako looked back down at her datapad and continued her letter.

"Where was I?"

"I'm going to miss Yoshiko."

"That's right. You're going to miss her. But when you do, remember that you will see her again. Someone else will miss her even more, so make sure you tell him that she'll be back."

"Okay," she agreed disinterestedly.

"Peetie's going to be a war hero."

Chikako laughed.

"It's true!" Lily insisted. "And you better be nice to him now, because he's gonna be your roommate someday!"

"What?" Chikako groaned. "Roommate? These are the silliest prophecies I've ever heard."

"You're going to wear red at your wedding."

"No way."

"You're going to sprain your ankle someday because you'll trip over a saucepan."

Chikako rolled her eyes. "A saucepan, Lily?"

"Mikomi dragged out of the cupboard and left it in the hallway outside your bedroom when she was three."

"Who?!"

Lily blinked, suddenly realizing she may have said too much. "I guess it doesn't hurt to tell you this," she said after a minute of thought. "Mikomi and Shinnen are your future daughters."

Chikako looked a little dazed. "My daughters are going to be that cute?"

"And they're the ugliest ones." Lily laughed at the expression on Chikako's face. "Sorry. Okay, here's some serious stuff. Are you ready?"

Chikako finally set down her datapad and gave Lily her full attention. "Yes."

"Xanthus," Lily hesitated. "Be careful. And don't give your heart away just yet." She paused, seeing Chikako's eyes tear up. "Maiko," she quietly continued. "You're still all she has. But she's gonna mess up, and you need to show her more grace than anyone deserves, or she won't make it." Lily sighed. "At that point, you're not going to care much whether she makes it or not. But you will forgive her, if only because you can't forgive yourself."

"Forgive myself for what? I wouldn't ever hurt Maiko."

"It's not Maiko you'll hurt, though she will hurt you." Lily's voice was a whisper now, and she wondered if she was saying too much, but her reason for saying this was to get Chikako to listen - and it was working. The atmosphere in the room had changed drastically in just a few seconds, and Chikako stared intently into Lily's eyes, taking in every word, every inflection. "But your crime is going to be just as bad as hers... well, worse." There was a very thick pause. Lily broke it with a thin, hesitant whisper. "Her sin created life; yours is going to take it."

Chikako stared at Lily, frozen with horrified shock.

"But then, something you never dreamed is going to happen, and everything bad is going to be made better! But you'll never ever remember that then," Lily said, suddenly getting up and running over to the desk. She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a quick note, then folded and sealed it. "When you realize that everything I've said has come true, open this."

"Okay," she said, watching Lily place the note on her nightstand.

"One more thing," she said, trying to decide what would be the best thing to say about her father, the most important part of her "prophecies." "Kalei... keep your eye on him. He's important." She shrugged, unsatisfied, but unable to think of something else Chikako would listen to. "I guess that's all."

"So... Yoshiko: I'll miss her. Peetie: war hero and future roommate? Xanthus: be careful. Maiko: forgive. Kalei: watch him."

"Right. Have fun on Naboo."

"I'm going to Naboo?"

"Yep!"

"Okay, I'll have fun."

"Yeah, you will," Lily said, knowing exactly what would happen there. She laughed as she headed to the door. "Oh, you'll have more fun than you know what to do with!"

As soon as Lily left, Annika let herself in. "Hey Chikako. You want to come to Naboo with me?"

Lily went straight to Kalei's. She wasn't sure when they'd be leaving for Naboo, and she wanted to make sure she got to say goodbye. She also wanted to encourage him to have patience with Chikako, like Yoda had said.

"What's this?" she asked, seeing an envelope on Kalei's table as soon as he let her in. It was addressed to Chikako. She picked it up and started opening it.

"What are you doing?" Kalei exclaimed, trying to snatch it back, but she eluded him.

"Naboo, Kashyyyk, Yavin IV? You are not giving this to her."

"Do you even know what it's about?"

"Why don't you tell me?" she said, even though she did, in fact, realize what the list meant.

Kalei looked at Lily as if she were crazy. "Fine," he said. "You know those petals she's looking for? This is where they are."

"This is not going to make her like you."

Kalei looked like he'd been slapped. "I'm just trying to help her, Lily."

"No, you're being impatient, and you think that if you tell her where the petals are, she'll be grateful and maybe realize you're kinda cool. But she's supposed to find the petals when she's ready for them. It doesn't help her if you just tell her. She won't even be ready for all of that power."

"How do you know so much about this, Lily?"

She shrugged. "I'm sorry for being so blunt, but you just need to be patient. She'll come around."

"I hope so."

"I promise she will." She lightly punched his arm, laughing. "What do you mean, 'I hope so'? You know she will! Go to Theed, and you'll get a sign that you really are her destiny."

"What kind of sign?"

"A cute one."

Kalei raised an eyebrow. "All right..."

Lily surprised him with a sudden hug. "I have to go, Kalei. Next time you see me, all of this will be over."

"When will that be?"

"It'll be a while. Don't look for me, though. I'll surprise you." She smiled, remembering her father's expression when she came home from her first year at the University, and he realized that Lily was his daughter. "Goodbye!"

"Bye, Lily. And thanks."

As she left Kalei's apartment building, Lily had a sudden strange feeling that she'd done what she came for. "I guess I'll wait till after they leave for Naboo, and then I'll go home," she said to herself.

The moment she stepped out onto the street, an arm grabbed her and pulled her into a headlock, and she felt a blaster pressed to her temple. She'd always been conscious of the fact that Kalei didn't live in the best of neighborhoods, but never thought herself in any danger. Now, though, she seemed to have walked right out into a gang fight at the moment of Republic police intervention. One gang member, unable to escape when the police entered the scene, thought taking a hostage would be the next best thing. Lily proved to be the most convenient target.

"Or maybe I'll just go home now," she thought, and slipped her enchanted corusca gem - the magic jewel that would take her home - into its place on her henshin wand. "Neo-Myrkr Power Make-Up," she whispered and disappeared in a flash of pink light. Immediately, chaos broke out once more on the street and blaster bolts bounced off the buildings.

Cyrus was sitting calmly in a tiny hotel room across the street. His ambition to keep an eye on Kalei had made him witness to a million other things that happened on that street in a single afternoon. The riot of the moment proved to be most interesting, and he watched from the window, lightsaber drawn and ready to deflect any flyaway bullets.

The blonde, he concluded, was a Sailor Jedi. He'd assumed that, considering the company she kept, but her disappearing act confirmed it. He had never seen her when he was at the Temple, so perhaps she was new. More interesting than the girl, though, was the envelope she'd dropped when attacked. Cyrus used the Force to carry it up off the street, as if caught in a wind, and up to his window. He slid it open and pulled the envelope inside.

"Chikako," he said aloud, noting the addressee with interest. He also noted that it had already been opened. He unfolded the letter eagerly, and was somewhat disappointed to find something he didn't understand.

"Naboo, Kashyyyk, Yavin IV," he read slowly. He immediately committed the list to memory, then folded the envelope and slid it into his pocket. "This I will keep," he mumbled, and turned his attention back to the window, just in time to see Kalei leaving his building.

The young man walked out into the anarchy of the street without batting an eye. He pushed his wavy, dark blonde hair off his forehead as he squeezed through two policemen in bullet proof jumpsuits, and waved at a gang member he seemed know before slipping into a dingy ethnic grocery store two doors down.

Chikako smiled at her reflection as The Silver Swan came in for landing. "These dresses are great, Annika!" she exclaimed. "Thanks for lending them to us."

"No problem," the Bakuran Princess said, checking out her own reflection. "I need you guys to look like my royal attendants for all this diplomatic stuff."

"Do you think Queen Amidala would really care if you didn't have royal attendants?" Kirana wondered.

"It's pretty much just for ceremony," Annika said. "But I know my mother would prefer it, since I'm going in her place. Yuki, Chouko? Are you ready?"

"Mm-hmm," Yukiko answered serenely, smoothing Chouko's long locks with a small hairbrush, then turning the brush onto her own icy blue waves. Both girls had decided to wear their hair down for the event, making it a rare occasion indeed.

"I guess so," Chouko said, when all eyes had turned to her. She fidgeted nervously with a tiny butterfly barrette until Yukiko snatched it from her and slipped it into her dark hair.

"Okay," Annika said, pushing the button to open the ship's door. "Amidala's guards are waiting for us." She laughed as Chouko bounced nervously into rank. "Will you relax? The Queen of Naboo isn't that big of a deal!"

"Well you're not Earth-born!" Chouko countered, watching edgily as Amidala's guards - and one young handmaiden in a lilac gown - bowed while the girls descended from the ship's belly. Yukiko and Kirana led the way while Chouko and Chikako brought up the rear, all four in pale rose-colored gowns. Annika walked between, herself in a more ornate, iridescent pinkish white gown.

"Welcome, Your Highness," the captain of Amidala's guard said solemnly. "The Queen wishes me to show you and your guests to your suite. There you may rest to your pleasure, or join Her Majesty for tea this afternoon."

"Thank you," Annika said, going into full Princess mode. "We enjoyed a restful journey from Coruscant; so it pleases us to have tea with the Queen today."

"Very good. The Queen will send her emissary to your suite when she is ready. Until then, please enjoy our hospitality." He nodded at the handmaiden. "Arieyé will be posted outside your rooms if you need anything."

"Thank you," Annika said again. The captain nodded and started walking them to their quarters.

As they went, they passed a small ship that had landed in Theed just before theirs. A single member of the Royal Guard waited to meet whoever was inside. The girls watched with subdued curiosity as they went by, wondering who that royal guest might be. When the hatch opened, a young man stepped down and called the guard by first name before greeting him with a friendly hug.

"Kalei?!" Chikako mumbled, stopping in her tracks until Chouko poked her in the side to get her going again. Annika glanced over her shoulder with a surprised expression on her face. Chikako returned the look, confirming that she, too, had no idea why Kalei was on Naboo.

After a bit more cordiality when they got to their suite, they were free to discuss the first event of their stay. "Okay, who was the guy in the small ship?" Chouko asked as soon as the door closed.

"His name's Kalei," Annika informed her, Yukiko, and Kirana, who had never formally met him. "He's one of Chikako's many admirers."

Chikako laughed off the comment, but still blushed.

"I had no idea he had connections to the royal house of Naboo," Annika added.

"Me neither," Chikako said.

"What do you know about him?" Yukiko asked. Annika looked to Chikako.

"Not much," she said. "He's pretty mysterious... well, I guess I haven't made much of an effort to get to know him. We kind of argue a lot."

"But he's a nice guy," Annika added. "Oh, and Lily knows him pretty well. Maybe she knows why he's here."

Kirana immediately pulled out her long-range pocket communicator and called Chikako's room at the Jedi Temple, but no one answered. Yukiko suggested trying Miyuki.

"I haven't seen Lily since before you guys left," Miyuki's voice came through the small communicator. "Let me see if anyone else has. HEY!" Kirana covered the speaker as Miyuki yelled her question to whichever Senshi happened to be in the room.

"She hasn't been around," they heard Kairiku say.

"Nope, sorry," Miyuki said.

"Thanks," Kirana said and put her communicator away. "Well?"

"We could simply ask him why he's here," Yukiko suggested.

"How do we know where to find him?" Chouko asked.

"We'll just have him come to us," Annika said, opening the door. "Arieyé, come in please."

The handmaiden stepped in, bowing politely. "How may I help Your Majesty?"

"A young man named Kalei arrived from Coruscant about the same time we did. Please contact him and ask him to call on us this evening, if possible."

"Of course." Arieyé said, and left. She returned a moment later. "The Queen would like you to join her for tea now. May I escort you to her?"

Annika stepped out into the hallway, flanked by her four attendants. "Yes, please."

"I gotta get back to work." The young guard clapped Kalei on the arm. "It's good to see you again, man. I'll stop by in the morning, all right?"

"Yeah," Kalei said, walking his friend to the door of the modest guestroom. "Thanks for setting this up for me, Triel."

"No problem. Hey, I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Me too. Thanks," Kalei smiled as Triel left. As he went to shut the door behind him, he saw a young woman in a light purple gown approaching his room. Triel nodded to her as they crossed paths, and she continued towards Kalei's room. "Can I help you?" he asked when she arrived.

"Are you Mr. Kalei, sir?"

"Yes, I am."

"My name is Arieyé, a handmaiden of Queen Amidala. If it please you, sir, Her Majesty's Royal Guest the Princess of Bakura requests your presence in her suite this evening." Arieyé handed Kalei a small holo-map of the palace showing where the girls' suite was.

"Princess of Bakura... Annika Nesicha? Is she here?"

"Yes sir."

"May I ask who's with her?"

"Only her royal handmaidens."

"Handmaidens? You didn't catch their names, did you?"

"I'm sorry sir."

"It's nothing. Please tell them I'll stop by after dinner."

"Yes sir."

"Thank you Arieyé."

"Yes sir."

Kalei watched the girl as she started back to her mistress. When she had gone, he locked his chamber door and ventured out into Theed, hoping he'd be led to the sign Lily had spoken of.

Chikako gazed with wonder into one of the small display cases nestled into the wall of the Queen's parlor. There was a single large jewel within, and while most of the treasures on display were lit with soft spotlights, this one created its own warm glow. Behind her, Annika and her friends enjoyed pleasant conversation and tea with Amidala and a few of her handmaidens. After commenting on the beauty of the room, Chikako had received happy permission to explore the parlor.

A blonde girl in a gown like Arieyé's was posted by the door where Chikako had begun her tour. "It is a Sein Jewel," she said in a peculiar, lilting accent upon noticing Chikako's amazement. "It is a very rare gem; this one has been in the Royal Treasury for many years."

"Thank you," Chikako said. "It's very beautiful!" She continued about the parlor, examining each small display with interest, and inspecting each table, windowsill, and doorknob with equal interest. However, none of the ornamental beauty, worth, or rarity of the royal treasures at Theed prepared her for what she found in a tiny display in the back corner of the room.

"Excuse me," she said, rushing back to the handmaiden at the door. "Could you tell me about that treasure in the corner? The purple one?"

The girl followed Chikako's gaze to a small, teardrop-shaped jewel and nodded slightly. "That is the Jewel of Malka," she said. "We have never seen another. It is rumored there is a jewel like this one on Kashyyyk, but we know of no human that has seen it. The legend says a little girl named Lishe gave it to Naboo's first queen as a gift. When asked where she got it, Lishe said she found it by the river in the forest. When she picked it up, it was soft, like a flower; but after she took it home, it became like paper, then like leather. The longer she had it, the harder its surface got, till finally it was like the jewel we have now, which she gave to the queen. There is no evidence of it ever being chiseled or cut, like most stones."

"Imagine that," Princess Annika said when Chikako relayed the dialogue later that afternoon, back in their suite.

"It must be very valuable to the Royal Treasury, then," Yukiko said.

"About how much is a stone like that worth to Naboo?" Kirana wondered.

"The handmaiden said it would have to be appraised," Chikako said, "but she imagined at least several thousand Credits. Perhaps into the millions. But because of the legend, she didn't think Naboo would ever sell it."

"Of course not," Annika sighed.

Yukiko calmly pulled a stocking over her foot as she got ready to have dinner with the Queen, her other guests, and important Theed dignitaries. "Queen Amidala knows about the Sailor Senshi," she said. "She's the one who called us to this Galaxy in the first place! I'm sure if we show her Chikako's locket and explain the situation, she'll be able to work something out with the Treasury. After all, she is the Queen."

"Right," Annika said. "There won't be a chance to talk to her at dinner tonight, but we can request an audience with her later. Maybe even tonight."

"It sounds like a good idea," Chikako said, helping Kirana tie a red sash around her waist, completing her dinner gown. "I hope she understands."

"If not, we can just break in later and steal the petal," Chouko said, pulling her own gown off its hanger. Kirana blanched, shocked that anyone would even suggest such a thing. Chouko laughed. "I was kidding!"

"I know," Kirana said, pulling a comb through her long iridescent hair.

"So, we'll set up a meeting to talk to her alone," Annika said. "Maybe even tell her it's about the Sailor Jedi."

"And we'll transform when we get to the meeting, so she knows for sure it's us," Yukiko added. "Chikako can explain about her locket. She's already on our side; I'm so sure she'll help us!"

"Yay!" Chouko said. "Now who wants to braid my hair?"

Kalei pushed himself up onto a wide fence. From his seat, he could see children playing with a ball in the street, a stretch of residential buildings, the hazy domes of the palace on one horizon, and the waterfalls misting up in the other direction. His thoughts had turned to Annika and her "handmaidens." He was sure Chikako was among them; he could sense her in the city now that he thought about it. And he'd known she'd end up on Naboo sooner or later, but he hadn't expected them to already be there. Had Lily known she was going to Naboo now? Still, he had a feeling this wasn't one of her matchmaking attempts. He glanced up at a tall clock standing sentinel in a nearby park. It was nearly dinner time; only a few more hours and he could go see them.

"Hallo!" came a bright voice from behind him. He turned to see a little girl with hair the color of midnight and skin only a shade lighter. Her eyes, though, were a fair silvery gray. She climbed up to him with considerable effort, being as small as she was, but she obviously knew what she was doing. Kalei imagined she climbed this fence every day of her summer holiday.

"Hi," he answered, pulling her up the last few feet and setting her next to him. "What's your name?"

"Lyshe!" she announced.

"Like the girl in the fairy tale."

"Yep! 'Cept I don't have any purple diamonds to give Queen Alidala."

"That's all right," Kalei assured her. "I'm sure Queen Amidala would like you just the same."

"I never met her," Lyshe said. "But I always wave to her in parades! Hey, what's your name?"

"Kalei."

"Do you live here?"

"Nope. Do you?"

"Yeah, I live right over there with my mom and my dad and my sister and my baby brother but he's not born yet. What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for something."

"What?"

Kalei smiled. "I don't know."

Lyshe giggled loudly. "That's a silly thing! What's your name again?"

The Senshi left the Royal dining room happy. Queen Amidala had agreed to meet with them in her parlor as soon as dinner was over. "Can we go change out of these formal gowns before we go?" Chouko asked. "She did say she was going to."

"Yeah, I suppose we have time," Annika said.

"And we can see if Kalei has stopped by," Chikako said.

"That's right," Yukiko said. "I forgot he was coming. I hope we don't miss him when we meet with Queen Amidala."

"If you guys want, I'll stay in our suite and wait for him," Kirana suggested. "We don't all need to go to Amidala. And it would be a little rude to ask him to come over and then not be there!"

"Are you sure, Kirana?" Chikako asked.

"I don't mind at all. In fact, I'd love a few minutes to just relax."

"Great!" Annika said. They arrived at their apartment and she pulled open the wardrobe. "Okay, why don't you guys wear these -" She flung simple, midnight blue gowns at the girls. "- and I will wear... this one." She held up a pale blue dress with shimmering silver edging on the hems and waistline.

"That's beautiful," Yukiko sighed, imagining it on herself. She slipped into her own elegant garment and twirled in the silky skirt. "Though these are quite nice, too."

Chouko did an exaggerated curtsey and nearly tripped over her dress as she straightened. "Quite nice?" she exclaimed. "I'd say they're quite dangerous!"

Annika rolled her eyes. "All right, let's go before there are any fatalities!"

When the four arrived at Amidala's parlor, she was inside talking quietly with a pair of handmaidens. "Princess Annika," she said, getting to her feet when they entered. She nodded to her two handmaidens, and they left, bowing slightly to Annika and company as they went.

"Please sit down," Amidala said when the door had closed. "You said this has to do with the Sailor Jedi?"

Yukiko spoke first. "Your Majesty, I am Kirin Yukiko - Sailor Hoth - one of the five Sailor Jedi you called from Earth years ago."

Amidala smiled. "I thought you looked familiar."

"All five of us are Sailor Jedi," Annika said. "The reason we -"

"Queen Amidala?" A male voice over the Queen's communicator interrupted her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to Annika. "What is it, Captain?"

"There are intruders in the palace. They came over the West and East wall. They overcame the outdoor guard quickly; we are pursuing them inside."

"How many are there?"

"At least a hundred." He sighed. "This has taken us quite by surprise. It looks like the Sabré."

Amidala echoed his agonized sigh. "Organized crime syndicate turned extremist rebel political faction," she said in a low voice, filling in the Senshi. She spoke back into the communicator. "What are they after?"

"Some are heading straight to the throne room, while the rest seem to be infiltrating the rest of the palace. Some of those are no doubt looking for you; they may have assassins with them, but then again they could just want to capture you. Your Highness, it appears to be a classic coup d'état. Where are you?"

Amidala looked at the Senshi. "I'm quite protected, Captain. But send your guards to secure all residential corridors immediately. Allow the Sabré to take the throne room for now; we'll reclaim it when those inside the palace are safe. Where are you?"

"I'm in the North Corridor of the West Wing near the ballroom."

"I want you and a team of your soldiers to meet me in the Parlor as soon as you can get here."

"Yes Your Majesty!"

She looked at the Senshi. "I shall need you four, if you don't mind."

The girls, already twirling their henshin sticks impatiently, laughed at the request. "We don't mind at all," Chouko promised. "Dantooine Power Make-Up!"

Kalei, examining the holo-map Arieyé had given him, stopped in front of the door he believed belonged to Princess Annika Nesicha and her handmaidens. He knocked.

A girl with blue skin and iridescent hair opened it immediately. "Hi," she said. "Kalei?"

"Yes. Hi."

"I'm Kirana." She offered him her hand, which he took. "Annika, Yuki, Chouko and Chikako had a last-minute meeting with Queen Amidala. I'm not sure how long they'll be, but you're welcome to wait here for them."

"Okay. Thanks, Ki -"

"KIRANA!" Chouko's excited voice screeched over her communicator. Kirana yelped and started reaching through her robes to find it and turn down the volume. Chouko continued loudly before she could find it. "You need to transform right now -"

She looked up at Kalei, worried. "It's all right; I know," he said quickly, and mostly with his hands as Chouko kept explaining.

"- the palace is under attack by these nazi-mafia people. Meet us at the throne room, and if you see any of those people, get 'em! Okay? Bye!"

"Bye!" Kirana said, a little dazed. She looked at Kalei. "You need to get out of here."

"I'm not leaving!"

"Are you a Jedi?"

"No, but -"

"You could get killed." As if on cue, blaster fire started ringing out in their corridor when a team of Sabré showed up, shooting each door open in their search for the Queen. Kirana pulled Kalei inside. "Go out the window," she said, and transformed into Sailor Omwat. Kalei didn't budge.

"I'm coming with you," he said. "I do have some power. I'm not a Jedi, but..." He ran over to Chikako's bag and found her lightsaber. "I can pretend I am."

The sound of blaster fire was getting dangerously close now. "Whatever," Sailor Omwat said. "Let's go!"

"Okay," Sailor Chibi Dantooine said. "Sailor Omwat will take care of all the baddies in our wing on her way to the throne room. What about the rest of the palace?"

"The guards will need help protecting the residential corridors," Amidala said. "There's also the Armory; the East Wing; and the West Wing, where the ballroom and dining rooms are, but that should be empty right now, except perhaps the kitchens."

"Sailor Bakura, will you clean up the residential corridors?" Sailor Hoth asked.

"Yes!" Sailor Bakura said.

"Sailor Chibi Dantooine, if you'll get the East Wing, I'll do the Armory. Sailor Myrkr, stay with the Queen until her Royal Guard gets here. Go to the throne room with them, and we'll all meet you there." Sailor Hoth paused only a moment longer, making sure everyone understood. "Okay? Let's go!"

Sailor Omwat glanced back down the corridor at the now-incapacitated Sabré intruders. Her Super Slice attack had served its purpose, and she was ready to move on to any of her victims' associates who might still be marauding the palace. Kalei was also eagerly advancing, having come through the first battle completely unscathed. He used a lightsaber surprisingly well, and Sailor Omwat wondered if he didn't actually repel blaster bolts.

On the other end of the palace, Sailor Hoth was quickly cleaning up the Armory. Sailors Bakura and Chibi Dantooine were having similar experiences in each of their respective wings. While their number and their element of surprise may have given the Sabré a good chance against the Royal Guard, they hadn't counted on the powerful presence of several Jedi, much less the magical aspect Sailor Jedi brought to the battle. Those searching the palace for Queen Amidala were caught quite off-guard and the Senshi easily defeated them.

According to Amidala's orders, the Guard had removed themselves from the throne room, allowing the Sabré to take it easily. But now that the rest of the palace had been defended successfully, the Queen, the captain of the Guard and his team, and Sailor Myrkr carefully approached the throne room.

"I'll go in first and attack," Sailor Myrkr said. "Then you follow me and capture the Sabré. The other Senshi should be along soon to help."

"Right," the captain said. "Utaka and Riolli, stay with Her Highness. Your Majesty, are you sure you won't stay in your parlor for now?"

The argument had been going on for some time. "Positive, Captain," Amidala said again, readying her blaster.

"How about a compromise?" Sailor Myrkr suggested.

"A compromise?"

"Would you mind being invisible?"

"That would be great," the captain said. "Please, Your Highness."

"Fine, Captain. Thank you, Sailor Myrkr."

"No problem!" She kissed the Queen's hand. "Metallic Invisibility!"

"Still there?" the captain asked.

"Yes," Amidala's voice replied. "Let's go."

"A Thousand Flower Spiral!" Sailor Myrkr cried, running straight into the throne room, with the Royal Guard and the invisible queen right behind her. The sudden swirl of flower petals did very little aside from surprise the Sabré, but the appearance of a real live Sailor Jedi caused a good number of the rebels to surrender their weapons immediately. Those who put up a fight, though, were ready to put up a good one.

"Stop!" Queen Amidala's voice shouted over the shooting.

"Where are you?" the man who seemed to be leading the operation answered, motioning for his men to cease fire.

Sailor Bakura stepped cautiously into the suddenly still room. The Sabré's eyes and weapons turned expectantly to her until the Queen spoke again from the other side of the room.

"Tell me why you've come here," her voice demanded.

The man followed the sound of her voice with his narrow brown eyes. "Where are you?" he shouted.

"I will not show myself until you've told me your purpose."

The man exchanged looks with another invader. Without a word or a warning, they resumed their attack. Amidala's soldiers hadn't let their guard down for a second, and immediately continued protecting their elected queen and peaceful government. Sailor Myrkr, however, hadn't had time to power up another attack between the brief intermission and the sudden second burst of fighting, and a kick to the head the moment battle resumed disqualified her. When she opened her eyes through the splitting headache, she saw a circle of blaster barrels pointed at her.

Sailor Bakura suffered a similar fate: several Sabré were watching her so closely she didn't have a chance to say the "Peace" in Peace and Love Shock before they thrust her into the circle with Sailor Myrkr.

"I think it's obvious what we want!" the leader of the Sabré said, climbing up and standing on the throne, claiming it as his own. He spoke confidently now that the battle was underway and favoring them.

At that moment, Sailor Omwat and Kalei dashed into the throne room. "Bakura, Myrkr!" Omwat cried, seeing her friends captured. She immediately went to power up an attack to rescue them, but suddenly changed her mind. She hesitated a moment, which was just enough for the nearest Sabré to fling her into the circle with Myrkr and Bakura. "Perfect!" she said. "They did just what I hoped." She took Sailor Bakura's hand. "Ready?"

"Yes!" Bakura said, catching on. "SukuKieru!" they shouted in unison. A moment later, they reappeared on either side of Kalei, who was fighting persistently with Chikako's lightsaber. He and the two powerful sailor-suited warriors quickly turned the tide.

"Oh, duh," Sailor Myrkr said, putting a hand to her locket. "Metallic Invisibility!" As soon as she disappeared, she jumped out of the circle before the befuddled and disgruntled Sabré had a chance to shoot at where the three Senshi had just been.

Sailors Hoth and Chibi Dantooine arrived presently, and after a few Hoth Blizzard Blasts and Magic Star Explosions, the last of the Sabré surrendered.

"Post extra guards throughout and around the palace, in case any were missed," Amidala's voice said to the captain of the Guard as he rounded up the rebels.

"Yes Your Highness!" He looked at the Sabré prisoners. "Shall we question them tonight?"

"Yes, and again tomorrow with the governor and myself. Thank you Captain."

He nodded at his soldiers, and they led the Sabré out of the throne room, leaving only Kalei, five Senshi, and the Queen. As soon as the Guard left, Sailor Myrkr powered down, and she and Queen Amidala became visible again.

"I can't thank you enough for being here, Sailor Jedi," she said. "If it weren't for you, I don't know if we would have been successful tonight. We owe you everything." She smiled. "And thank you, too, Kalei."

"No problem," he said. He flipped the lightsaber into the air to Chikako. "What would Koumi say if she knew you weren't carrying this on you all the time?"

"I don't know, but if I carried it all the time you'd have to get your own," she said.

Kalei shook his head. The girls stared at him curiously until Queen Amidala reclaimed their attention.

"Is there anything I or the Naboo can do for you, as an expression of our gratitude?"

"We were only doing our duty, Your Highness," Sailor Hoth said.

"If you weren't Sailor Jedi, we could at least recognize you with a parade or a festival, but..."

"Please, Your Majesty," Sailor Bakura said. "We're happy just to have helped you; don't feel like you have to do something in return."

"Thank you," Amidala said. "But are you sure there's nothing you need?"

"We're sure."

"Actually," Chikako said shyly, "I do have a request."

"Go ahead," Amidala said.

"In your parlor there's a treasure on display called the Jewel of Malka. Do you know it?"

"This is what we were going to ask you about!" Sailor Bakura told the Queen, remembering.

"I'm sorry, Chikako," Sailor Hoth said. "I completely forgot."

"It's okay," Chikako said. "Your Majesty?"

"Yes, I know the jewel. You're talking about the violet one in the corner, right?"

"Yes." She pulled out her locket and flipped it open. "On my twentieth birthday, a strange boy appeared in my room and gave me this -"

"I didn't know that!" Sailor Chibi Dantooine interrupted.

"Me neither," Sailor Omwat said. "A strange boy! You have no idea who he was?"

"No," Chikako said.

"Go on," Queen Amidala said over Kalei's sudden coughing fit.

"See how there's room for seven of these purple flower petals? I already had one when I got the locket, and later that night, somebody gave me another one. When I put them in the locket, they gave me more power as a Sailor Senshi. I think I'm supposed to find all seven.

"The rest of the petals seem to be scattered around the Galaxy. I haven't really been looking for them, because it's too overwhelming; they've been finding me, though. Sailor Honoghr found this one buried in the forest floor on Myrkr, and my boyfriend found this one in a rain gutter on a Hyllyard City street. And... I think I found the fifth one in your parlor."

"The Jewel of Malka, a flower petal?" Amidala mused. "That does go along with the legend." She looked at Chikako. "Let's go to the parlor. If the Jewel is indeed part of your locket, it's yours to take."

Queen Amidala, Kalei, and the five Senshi stood in front of the Jewel of Malka exhibit, waiting for the palace security officer Amidala had called to open the display. With a soft beep, the faint glaze disappeared, enabling the Queen to reach in and pick up the Jewel. She held it in her gloved palm for a moment, watching the soft lighting play in the smooth shape. "Chikako?" She held it out to her.

"Thanks," Chikako said, taking the jewel. She glanced up at her friends and shrugged, opening the locket. The Jewel of Malka pressed into an empty petal-shaped notch, and a quick flash sealed it into the locket. She looked at the Queen. "I guess... it's mine!" she said.

"Ah!" Kalei yelped, cutting off what Queen Amidala was about to say.

Yukiko turned to look at Kalei. "Are you oka- Who's this?!" she exclaimed.

"Good question." He looked down at the little girl who had just attached herself to his leg, rather to his surprise. He was quite sure she hadn't been in the room thirty seconds earlier. The little girl laughed.

"I'm Aiko!" she announced. She pointed at Chikako. "And you're my mom!"

"What?!" Chikako's mouth dropped open. She offered her locket to Queen Amidala. "Are you sure you don't want this Jewel back?" she whispered.

"Positive," Amidala said, looking both puzzled and amused.

Chikako looked back at Aiko, sizing up the little girl's blonde ponytails and brown eyes with suspicion. "Are you sure I'm your mom?"

"Yes," Aiko said, rolling her eyes. "I'm here to get trained as a Sailor Jedi."

"WHY does everyone send their kids to the past to get trained?!" Chikako lamented. "What was I thinking? I mean, what will I be thinking? What am I supposed to do with a little girl?"

"Relax, Chikako," Kirana said. "We'll all help you with her."

"Yeah," Yukiko said. "She can play with Aisu and Hisako and the other little chibis!"

"Aiko," Annika said, "are you Sailor Chibi Myrkr?"

"Yeah, you wanna see?" She immediately detached herself from Kalei's leg and pulled out a small henshin stick. "Little Myrkr Heart Power!"

After a very cute transformation, Sailor Chibi Myrkr stood proudly in her pink and yellow fuku. "I am Sailor Chibi Myrkr!" she yelled, "Senshi of Hearts and Holidays! As the Guardian and Princess of Myrkr, I will do justice and make peace in the Galaxy!" She looked at Annika for approval. "And here's my attack - Pretty Explosion!"

Chikako shielded her eyes a little as her future daughter attacked her and the other Senshi. "Is that all?" she asked as the glitter subsided. "What's that supposed to do?"

"It's pretty," Sailor Chibi Myrkr retorted, then powered down.

"Pretty?" Chikako repeated disdainfully. "How helpful."

"Chikako!" Chouko cried, jabbing her in the arm. "Be nice!"

"I think it was a beautiful attack," Yukiko said.

Aiko blushed. "Thank you," she said, grinning up at Yukiko.

"I must go attend to the issues," Amidala said, turning to the Senshi. "Thank you again for what you've done for us. And, um -" She glanced at the small blonde now climbing up Kalei's leg until he pulled her into his arms. "Congratulations, Chikako."

Chikako nodded feebly.

"The lady with blue hair is pretty and nice," Aiko whispered while the others said goodnight to Queen Amidala.

"Your mom's kinda pretty too," Kalei whispered back.

"Yeah," Aiko said. "Not so nice, though."

Kalei laughed. "I think she's just surprised."

"Did you think my attack was pretty?"

"It was the prettiest attack I've ever seen."

Aiko nodded a little. "In the future you and Mommy both said I was really good at my Pretty Explosion, but here Mommy didn't seem like she liked it."

"Did you say me and Mommy in the future?" Kalei whispered cautiously.

"You and Mommy."

"So... I'm your dad?"

"Yes, but don't tell Mom!"

"Right!" Kalei said, trying to suppress a huge grin.

"Did you say you were a princess?" Chikako said suddenly as Annika walked Queen Amidala out of the parlor.

"Yep," Aiko said. "That's why everybody calls me Aiko-hime."

"Aiko-hime... so... what's your daddy like, Aiko-hime?"

Aiko smiled insolently at Chikako. "I'm not telling," she sang. Chikako frowned as Yukiko, Chouko, and Kirana laughed. Aiko turned and winked at Kalei. "Remember our secret!" she whispered.

The next evening, Kalei sat on the wide fence across town where he could see Theed Palace on the horizon. Chikako and Aiko-hime had returned to Coruscant earlier that day, along with Annika and the other girls. Kalei had wanted to spend some time with his friend Triel before he left, and do a few other things too.

"What's your name again?" the sparkling voice of a child named Lyshe called up the fence as she began the long climb to the top.

"Kalei," he said, smiling as he pulled her up.

"It's a lot easier that way," she said, situating herself on top. "What are you doing?"

"I wanted to give you something," he said.

"Me?"

"Yep."

"What?"

"You'll see. What's in your bag?"

Lyshe pulled her small sack off her shoulder and emptied it. "I have three pink rocks, one blue one, a cookie, a hair ribbon, and a key. I don't know what it opens."

"That's all?" Kalei asked, peeking into her empty bag.

"Yep."

"Look again."

Lyshe's silvery eyes got as round as planets as she peered into her sack a second time. She reached in and pulled out a star shaped jewel that she had to hold with both hands. "A purple diamond to give to Queen Alidala!" she gasped, speaking almost too quickly to be understood.

"You don't have to give it to her," Kalei said.

"I want to! For her birthday!"

"All right," Kalei laughed, doubting Lyshe had any idea when Amidala's birthday was.

"I'll do it tomorrow!"

"Good," Kalei said, squinting at Lyshe's tiny copper earrings. He blinked, and they became tiny copies of the star-shaped jewel in her hands. It would probably take her days to notice them.

"There's the first star!" Lyshe cried suddenly, glancing up from the big jewel in her arms to check the sky. "I have to go home now. I always have to go home when the first star comes out." She looked up at Kalei. "Thank you very very very much for the purple diamond. I'm gonna give it to Queen Alidala tomorrow, I promise!"

"All right. Good night, Lyshe."

"Night!" she called as she leapt off the fence and ran to her mother waiting at the back door. Kalei stared at the star Lyshe looked for every night. Somewhere up there, another beautiful little girl was heading to Coruscant with a mother who'd never imagined her. He'd leave tonight, and see them both soon.

More stars were blinking into place now as the sky faded to black. He watched them brighten until he was no longer sure which one was Lyshe's star. "I guess I found your sign, Lily," he whispered into space. "My Aiko-hime..."