Old Friends Homecoming

Chapter 4 - Together Again

The next morning Emi rose early and went to the temple's main courtyard to do her meditation.

It was a peaceful sunny morning and she wanted this day to go like it was a new beginning. Her talk with Plo Koon last night gave her a strive to move on at last, even if the Council wanted her grounded for a bit.

When she had finished, a trio of Younglings entered the courtyard. One of them she recognized as the boy who she gave lightsaber tips to earlier before Plo Koon came to practice her. She stood up and decided to leave when the human boy pointed her out to his friends.

"Hey, that's Emi Takori over there!"

One of the other Younglings was a Twi'lek, "She's the one that showed you those cool lightsaber moves?"

"Yeah, until Master Plo came in to train with her,"

"Maybe she can teach me something too!" the third Youngling said, a Zabrak.

Emi approached the three children, "I would love to do that, but I have to head to breakfast now. Maybe I can show you later, but before that just be warned, don't take my skills for granted. You have to learn to use your own form of lightsaber wielding. Do what suits you best, not what I do because you think it's cool," she said as professionally as she could,

That had been something Luminara had taught her as she walked past the children in silence back into the temple. The rest of her morning so far had been a relaxing one where she broke her fast in the dining hall sitting with Aayla Secura where they talked about where the war was going on. Aayla had been giving her regular stories about the situation on her home, Ryloth. It was still occupied by the CIS and the Republic still had not been able to reclaim it. It was hard for Aayla not to lose her cool over the casualty reports that were delivered to her on almost a daily basis.

Whenever Emi asked her how she coped, she would answer.

"I meditate more than I should and I try not to read those reports when they arrive. One of the Clone Commanders asked if I was interested last time, and this time I refused to look at it,"

Emi wondered how she could do the same for her home planet Naboo.

After that was when she decided it was time for a visit to the Archives. At first she hesitated, remembering this was the first place she and Plo Koon became acquainted, was it a good time to go back in there now that they had feelings for each other? Would it bring back the memories of how much she missed him? She recalled the day they parted ways after their meeting, when their hands touched, she felt what attraction was like for the first time.

Emi shook her head in resistance, remembering her promise and started towards the Archives. She made her way down the brightly lit corridors surrounded by the pillars when she heard the sound of a ship outside. It was very close as if going to land in the temple's hangar. Emi knew that no ships ever came towards the temple unless a Jedi was returning from a mission. Was it Plo? He could not be back already. Nevertheless, her curiosity got the better her and she turned for the hangar.

The hangar was empty at first, and Emi sat on a nearby bench fiddling with her lightsaber on her belt wondering who was arriving. It was not like her to wait for someone to return unless it was someone she cared about. The ship came into view and she recognized it as Senator Organa's. Suddenly, she remembered that her friend Kit Fisto had gone with the senator to Naboo for a diplomatic mission in which the latter required protection.

It was like she almost forgot about missing Plo and got up anxiously to await her childhood friend. The ship docked: it was a simple square-shaped vessel, too large to be a fighter and too small to be a frigate. But it had that sleek design to it with silver linings and elegant wings which made Emi know for sure it was of Naboo origin. Many ships from Naboo, especially ones belonging to politicians looked like that. Even though Organa was from Alderaan, perhaps he had met with Senator Amidala on his mission who agreed to lend them a ship back to Couruscant.

The senator stepped off the ship first as soon as the ramp lowered being escorted by two body guards in front of him. Emi knew Organa as a proud man with his stubble for a beard. She had never spoken to him and often kept to herself around the politicians and preferred to let others deal with them, except for Chuchi and Amidala who she liked. Then her heart gave a leap when Kit Fisto emerged from the ship as bright as ever. The Nautolan was the same as he always was, laid-back but still professional to a degree. He shook hands with Organa and it did not take long for him to turn and notice her. A big smile formed on his lips and Emi had always loved to see it; it was something he always showed whenever he was successful at something or saw her.

Without hesitation she cheerfully ran across the hangar to her old friend and clasped her arms around him.

"Oh Kit, it's great to see you again! I was wondering when you might return,"

He chuckled while hugging her back, "Oh Emi, I knew you'd worry about me, like you always do! But I'm back in one piece! Nothing I can't handle,"

They moved apart, "I have so much to tell you Kit, I don't know where to begin but it's been so difficult since you left," Emi said,

Kit seemed surprised, "Difficult? You've been missing me haven't you? Can't go a day without me around?"

"Well, yes.....I mean no! Yes and no! Of course I have missed you, but a lot has happened with the Council and Plo...and...." she lost her words, and anxiety came across her face,

"You and Plo hm? What's going on with you two anyway?"

Emi blushed. Even though she trusted Kit, she could not bear to share with him her secret, even he possessed the audacity to tell the Council,

"Nothing, he's just been really nice to me and he's the only other Jedi I can confide in besides you when my master is not around, look can we just not talk about it right now? I would rather just talk about myself, and you," She said, bottling up her secret,

"Alright whatever you say, well, what is it you did want to share with me then?"

Emi knew this was going to take a lot of explaining, "Let's take a walk,"