Not long after we were away from Naboo, Captain Panaka entered the throne room with the two Jedi and a grumy astromech droid.
"An extremely well put together little droid, your highness," Captain Panaka praises. "Without a doubt, it saved the ship as well as our lives."
"It is to be commended," Sabé notes. "What is it's number?"
Captain Panaka reads the number aloud, "R2-D2, your highness." I smile as the droid beeps and whistles a few times.
"Thank you, R2-D2. Padmé, clean up this droid as best you can. It deserves our gratitude," Sabé says. Padmé walks over to the droid and stands by it. "Continue, Captain." The Captain looks to the Jedi.
"Your highness," Qui-Gon Jinn, as I've come to learn, begins, stepping forward. "With your permission we are heading for a remote planet called Tatooine. It's in a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation."
Captain Panaka didn't look happy. "I do not agree with the Jedi on this," he informs her.
"You must trust my judgement, your highness."
They are then excused to bring us there. I go with Padmé and the droid and help her clean it. Both of us crouch down and scrub the dirt and grime off of him.
"Cattleya, you don't have to help me with this," Padmé says quietly seeing as two pilots were twenty feet away.
"This is the job of a servant," I reply.
"Which I currently am," Padmé reminds me.
"You will never be a servant, Padmé," I tell her. "You are the Queen of Naboo, as you will always be in the eyes of the people and those closest to you. You will always be considered Naboo royalty."
"Thank you for your kind words, but for now I am Padmé Naberrie, handmaiden and protector of Queen Amidala."
"You're lucky most don't know the first name of the Queen." Padmé chuckles a little at my statement before swatting my hands away from the R2 unit.
"Go explore the ship, Cattleya. That is an order."
"I thought you said you are a humble handmaiden?" I joke. She rolls her eyes at me, but has a smile on her face. I abide by milady's order and rise from the ground. "If you need anything-"
"I'll call," she finishes. I nod my head and exit the room just as the Gungan, Jar Jar Binks, enters the room. I bow my head as I walk past, but don't stop.
After wandering the ship for a little bit, I eventually reach the cockpit where the pilot, Captain Panaka, and the two Jedi are located. The other pilots that escaped with us were serving as mechanics, checking out parts of the ship, seeing if they can make it last longer.
The Captain sees me walk in and immediately stands and walks toward me. Once he stands in front of me he asks, "Does the Queen need something?"
"No," I reassure him. "She told me to explore the ship, undoubtedly so I would stop fussing over her wellbeing."
He grins at my statement, and says, "Sounds like her highness."
"That's it, Tatoonie," pilot Ric Olié announces, and I gaze out the window at the yellowish planet ahead of us.
"There's a settlement," the Padawan said. His master looks over his shoulder at the screen he was looking at.
"Land near the outskirts," Qui-Gon instructs the pilot. "We don't want to attract attention."
"I don't like this," Panaka utters under his breath.
"I don't believe any of us do, Captain," I tell him. Qui-Gon Jinn leaves the cockpit to change into more suitable clothing for not only the desert, but also for blending in with the locals.