Chapter 9
That determination and stubbornness I noticed in Saré didn't get us very far once we landed on Geonosis and infiltrated the droid foundries. In fact, it didn't take us long to be captured and brought before the dark Jedi, Xanatos Omega, Master Qui-Gon's former student.
While I wasn't too terribly surprised when we were held for trial on the charge of espionage I was afraid for Saré, for Nute Gunray, the Viceroy of the Trade Federation would be observing the trial and it was no secret that he wanted my sister dead.
I was initially concerned for my sister, but a small part of me couldn't help but admire her courage as she demanded Brianna's release into her custody, even as Xanatos scoffed at her. And when the verdict of guilty was passed down, she didn't even flinch.
"You are committing an act of war against the Republic," she declared, looking into the eyes of Archduke Poggle the Lesser, the governor of Geonosis.
"We build weapons, Senator Eriana," he retorted. "War is our business."
Nute Gunray looked down at us with undisguised disdain and triumph and leveled a glare at Saré. "Get on with the executions!" he demanded. "I want to see her suffer."
The archduke nodded. "Take the prisoners to the arena where they will be reunited with their Jedi comrade."
The three of us were shackled to a chariot that would take us to the arena. No words were exchanged as the hover vehicle made its way into the arena, being pulled by what looked like a nexu, a tamed nexu that was used for this sort of menial task. We were then escorted to the pillars where I knew we'd be chained for the creatures to tear us to pieces. Saré was chained to a pillar next to Brianna, and Obi-Wan and I were chained together to the pillar on the other side of her.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw my sister put a hairpin in her mouth. I instinctively knew what she was going to do; she was going to pick the lock to her shackles with her hairpin so she'd have a chance against the creatures that were going to rip us to pieces in the arena. I smiled, not too surprised. Saré was very resourceful.
"I was wondering if you geniuses even got my message," Brianna said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Testy, aren't we?" I shot back. "Down, girl. We re-transmitted it like you asked."
"And then we decided to come rescue you," Obi-Wan added.
She gave us a funny look, but shook it off a moment later. "Good job." She rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, this was Saré's idea. Geez Paddy, you're supposed to be the older sister here. Act like it."
I rolled my eyes back at my long time best friend. "Easy for you to say, Brie. Haven't you ever seen her in action? She's no pushover, and I've given up trying to argue with her."
At that moment, I heard the archduke speak from his vantage point in the arena. "Settle down, settle down," he told the insect-like creatures who were in the stands, ready to see us executed. "Let the executions begin!"
I had noticed that Obi-Wan had gone silent during our mild argument and that he was concentrating on the creatures that had been released into the arena, a reek, a fighting nexu, and the acklay. I braced myself for battle.
"Relax, Padmé," Obi-Wan said softly. "You must concentrate."
"What about Saré?" I asked just as softly.
He looked over at her and smirked. "She seems to be on top of things."
I followed his gaze. Sure enough, my sister was certainly on top of one thing: the pillar that she'd been chained to. She'd managed to climb up and was resting on top and using her hairpin to pick the locks of her shackles. She'd freed one hand and was working on the other when the nexu began climbing up her pillar to get her. I watched as she used the chains to slap the creature. Unfortunately, this only angered it and it slashed through the back of Saré's jumpsuit and scratched her back, causing her to cry out in pain.
At that moment, the acklay had finally decided to come after Obi-Wan and me. However, we used it to our advantage, with its attack freeing our chains from the pillar. From there, we were able to dodge the creature's dangerous claws.
Shaking my head to clear it I released my anxieties into the Force, knowing that the best way to help both Brie and my sister was to survive this ordeal.
And I knew I could do it, with Obi-Wan at my side.
AN: I hope you guys like Padmé as a Jedi Knight. I think I know where I want to take this. Please review.