Chapter Ten: Together Again
The group ran down the corridor toward the Throne Room. The troops opened fire at the stunned droids who didn't know whether to surrender or fire back.
Anakin and Ahsoka ignited their lightsabres and started deflecting the incoming blasts. Padmé helped Rex and Cody fight off the circle of droids around them.
"Fire!" screeched a droid. Before it could say anything further, Padmé shot.
"Aw!" screeched the droid just before it hit the floor.
Within seconds, all the droids were destroyed.
"Nice shot on that droid, milady." Ahsoka said as she and Anakin joined Rex, Cody and Padmé in the middle of room.
Anakin nodded in agreement before smiling at Padmé. Rex and Cody exchanged looks but knew better than to disrespect their commanding officers.
"Let's get into the Throne room." Said Padmé as she lead the group in the direction of the Throne room.
Ventress had gone to contact to Dooku and Darth Sidious to update them on her progress which gave Anakin and the others time to get into the room.
Each member of the group want over to a captive and attempted to free them.
Padmé rushed over to her sister.
"Padmé!" Sola exclaimed.
"Shh! Keep your mouth shut and let me untie you." Padmé hissed as she untied her sister and headed over to untie the Queen.
When everyone was untied, no one moved.
"Well well. If it isn't Master Skywalker and his pet," came the snarly voice of Asajj Ventress. Behind her was what was left of her squadron of Battle droids.
"Ventress!" hissed Anakin and Ahsoka in unison. Padmé, Rex, Cody and their troopers brought their blasters out.
Ahsoka ignited her lightsabre.
"Easy Ahsoka," breathed Anakin.
Ahsoka ignored him.
Ahsoka lunged forward with her lightsabre ready. Ventress pushed her away using the Force. Ahsoka hit the wall and slid down it.
Anakin jumped in before Ventress could get to Ahsoka. Padmé got the Queen and her staff of the room and into the corridor outside while Anakin, Ahsoka and the troops kept Ventress and her droids busy.
Sola grabbed her sister's arm. "Padmé what are you doing here?"
Padmé looked at her sister and then listened to sound of the gunfire coming from the Throne Room. The sound she heard most was the sound of gun fire being defected off the two lightsabres.
"Padmé!" said Sola more sternly.
"No time to explain. Come on!" She ran down the corridor with the hostages running at her heels. Suddenly Ahsoka appeared at Padmé's flank.
"Ahsoka! Where did you come from? Where's Anakin?" She asked frantically.
'I'm here!" Anakin said from her other side.
Padmé turned her head to see her husband running beside her on her right. She smiled before running out the doors of the palace and out into the sunlit courtyard where the remains of battle droids still remained from the earlier attack.
The group stopped in the middle of the courtyard. Sola turned to Anakin with the same smug grin what she was famous for intimidating Padmé with.
"Well, well, well. Anakin Skywalker. Long time no see."
Padmé and Ahsoka exchanged worried looks. Padmé knew that Sola was destined to find out about her marriage to Anakin.
Ahsoka patted her on the shoulder in sympathy.
"Good to see you too, Lady Naberrie. We have to get you out of here." Said Anakin clearly amused by Sola's attempt to taunt him.
"No wait!" said the Queen, causing everyone to look at her.
"Your Highness? What are you thinking?"asked Sola.
"I am needed to address the Senate on this matter." Said the Queen. She may have been only young but she knew what was at stake for her Planet.
Anakin and Ahsoka exchanged looks.
"Your Highness, we can't let you go to Coruscant by yourself. We need to get you an escort." Said Padmé, looking around at the troops and the two Jedi.
Before anyone could respond, a familiar voice sounded.
"Anyone need assistance?" came the voice of Kit Fisto.
Anakin and Ahsoka turned to see their fellow Jedi coming toward them.
"Master Fisto. What are you doing here?" asked Ahsoka, astonished to see him.
She had always been admired by Kit's teaching methods of his late former Padawan Vebb. He was commanding but caring and was willing to do everything by the book. Ahsoka still admired Anakin's teaching methods though. That would never change.
"I had some business here with the Queen. That was before she got captured by Ventress," Ahsoka looked at Anakin while trying not to break into laughter.
"Hey, speaking of Ventress what did happen to Ventress?" asked Padmé.
Anakin and Ahsoka exchanged smiles.
Padmé knew her husband's expressions too well but she didn't know his shared expressions with his Padawan.
"We knocked her out. She'll awaken in a couple of hours." Ahsoka said simply.
Kit and Padmé laughed.
"You have learnt a lot from Ana- Master Skywalker." She said, shooting a proud smile at Anakin.
He smiled proudly back at his wife before smiling at his Padawan who gratefully returned the smile.
"What are we going to do with the Queen?" asked Ahsoka.
"Yes. What will happen with me?"
"I'll take her back to Coruscant. I'm on my way back to Coruscant to report to the council." Anakin, Padmé and Ahsoka exchanged looks of approval.
"Thank you Master Fisto." Said the Queen.
"Yes, thanks Master." Said Ahsoka, Anakin and Padmé to look at her.
"Don't mention it, Ahsoka!" said Kit as he winked at the Padawan. Ahsoka wasn't one to giggle. "You both owe me one, though." Ahsoka rolled her eyes.
"We will, Master. Don't worry!" Said Anakin.
Kit laughed.
The Queen hurried after him.
"What about the rest us?" One of the Ambassadors asked.
The trio looked at each other.
"You can come with me. I will need some backup in the Senate.
Without hesitation, the Ambassadors; all expect Sola followed the Queen aboard the Republic cruiser.
"May the Force be with you all." Kit said
"May the Force be with you, Master Fisto," Said the trio in unison.
"Thank you Master Skywalker. Young Ahsoka. Senator Amidala." Said the Queen as she waved goodbye to the four still on the ground as the Cruiser took off.
The trio and Sola bowed to the Queen and the ship took off headed toward Coruscant.
Sola turned to her sister. "Together again huh?"
Padmé smiled at her sister. "Yeah. Together again. Just like old times."
Anakin and Ahsoka smiled.
"Now what?" Ahsoka asked.
Sola looked at the young girl standing in-between Padmé and Anakin.
"Who are you?" she asked.
Before Ahsoka could open her mouth to reply, Padmé spoke, "I'll explain when we get to a hiding place."
Sola raised her eyebrows at her younger sister but lowered them knowing that they needed a hiding place.
"I know just the place."