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Chapter 11
The girls don't go back to bed.
Saché threatens a few businessmen to give them transport back to Coruscant within an hour of Padmé's transmission.
"Should we tell Typho?" Sabé wonders, pacing in the grimy floor of the freighter.
"She'll kill us," Saché reminds her, before grimacing and adding, "If she doesn't get herself killed first."
Deciding Padmé being furious with them is preferable to her being dead, or worse, the resolve to tell Typho as soon as they land.
Only he's nowhere to be found.
"Of all the times for him to get a life," Saché grumbles.
"He and Dormé will return this evening," the droid tells them. "They're sequestered at the Senate."
That's all the droid will tell them though, and when they try to comm both him and Dormé they're met with the irritating noise indicating the comms are off.
"This is ridiculous."
Sabé nods, staring out the window of their room.
In the distance, she spots the spires of the Jedi Temple.
Anakin...
Spinning on her spot on the bed, Sabé yelps, "The Jedi!"
Saché makes a face. "Ew."
"No listen, we tell them. They can go get them, and Padmé will be safe," Sabé explains. "Anakin will get in trouble…and stars know this probably isn't entirely his fault...but they'll be safe."
It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing.
Saché huffs. "Yeah, well, he should have thought about that before he went gallivanting across the galaxy with our Senator." Saché snaps her fingers. "Oh! And the best part is, she can't say we told them. For all she knows, those sneaky bastards have a tracking device implanted in that ugly braid they've got Anakin wearing."
Sabé doubts Padmé will accept that explanation, but doesn't argue. They need to move fast.
"So we should tell them?"
Looking disgusted at the very thought, Saché nods. "Yes."
Digging through Padmé's closet, they find desert appropriate outfits and boots and start for the door, only to be stopped by one of the guards.
"Senator Amidala is wishing to speak with you."
They exchange worried glances.
"You don't think she used her super-senator-senses and knew we were about to go rat her out, do you?" Saché asks, panic coloring her features.
"I don't think so, Sach," Sabé whispers, though she isn't confident in that answer.
They take a few more steps.
"Maybe she just knows we raided her closet," Saché offers. "She did threaten to put a monitor on it after we ruined those custom shimmer silk evening gowns."
Sabé shakes her head. "No."
Padmé had been threatening that since they were handmaidens, and she'd never followed through.
It would be so much simpler if she were just calling to scold them for stealing clothing.
The guard leaves them as they enter the main room and see the familiar image of Padmé flickering from the projector. Her face is grim.
Not the dresses then.
Saché shoots the image a withering look. "Oh Padmé. What now?"
"Please tell us you're leaving Tatooine."
"I'm leaving Tatooine," Padmé says.
The sisters stare silently at their friend's image. She's hardly done at that.
"And...?" Saché prompts her, waving an impatient hand.
"We're going to Geonosis," Padmé adds.
They're silent for a moment, digesting just how stupid what she's said is, before groaning.
"Geonosis?" Sabé asks. "What-why Geonosis? Do you know how dangerous that place is?"
It's worse than Tatooine.
"Why?" Saché mutters, pulling at her hair before glaring up at the holo image. "What are you doing? Going on a Jedi sponsored tour of depressing desert planets?"
Padmé's lips actually quirk up before she sighs.
"If I tell you this, you are forbidden from telling anyone."
It's not a promising sign.
Saché presses her fingers to her temples. "Oh-just tell us already."
Padmé glances around, then takes a breath.
"We received a transmission from Geonosis. It was from Obi-wan. He's followed the bounty hunter there. There's been an army or some such being," her nose wrinkles in disgust, "created, according to him. When he got to Geonosis he found the Separatists, but now they've captured him."
Silence settles over them again, broken by Saché's sigh.
"You're going after him," she states bleakly.
Padmé nods.
While Sabé appreciates that Anakin is probably the driving force behind this expedition, she isn't happy Padmé is being dragged along. No matter how willing she undoubtedly wa.
Sabé cuts Saché a look. They're both thinking the same thing. There's no way Padmé is going to that nasty planet without them.
"No!" Padmé suddenly shouts, apparently sensing their plotting.
Saché manages an innocent expression. "What?"
"I know that look, and no! You are to stay on Coruscant, which, by the way is not where you are supposed to be in the first place, and you are not to say a word to anyone about this."
Her voice is firm, final. She won't debate this.
"Padmé, please!" Sabé begs.
"We've relayed the message to the Council and I have no doubt that they'll be coming," Padmé reassured them. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Saché looks dubious. "Padmé, I've never felt less reassured about anything. That's including when Rabe told me my hair looked just wonderful blonde."
Padmé frowns, the image wanes. "We're almost out of range. Stay put."
With that she flickers off, leaving the girls fuming.
"We aren't going to listen to her are we?" Sabé asks, already knowing the answer.
Saché crosses her arms, still glaring at the place Padmé image had been.
"Not a chance."
#######
The girls nearly knock over several people in their hurry to get to the Jedi Temple.
They commandeer a speeder from a very confused guard, then zoom off, shouting thank you's as afterthoughts to him.
Sabé pushes the speeder to its limit, zipping in and out of traffic, running traffic signals, and probably causing a few accidents as she worries out loud.
"What if we're too late? What if they've already headed for Geonosis?"
"Then we beg, borrow, and steal until we get ourselves there!"
By the time they reach the Temple they've come up with an elaborate contingency plan involving kidnapping a Jedi, stealing the fastest ship they can find, and using said Jedi to fly the stolen ship.
Saché makes a face after repeating the plan. "Ugh. No wonder they told me I wasn't allowed to make plans. This makes Padmé's plans sound reasonable and well thought out."
"Let's hope it stays a secondary option," Sabé agrees.
They abandon their speeder at the bottom of the steps up to the Temple, jumping out and rushing up, barreling over anyone that gets in their way.
"Move!"
"Out of the way!"
Bursting through the doors, they skidded to a stop when a pair of boy jump in front of them, blocking their path.
She doesn't blame him. They probably look mad, running through his home dressed in desert wear.
"Stop," the taller of the two commands them, holding up a hand, his face screwed up in concentration. "Tell us where you're going?"
Something warm prickles at Sabé's conscious, like the heat that had radiated off Anakin, but much more fragile. It rolls past her in a breath, nothing but a breeze.
Saché grabs the boy by the front of his robes, shakes her head.
"That only works on the weak minded, sweetness."
Sabé frowns as she realizes what she's said.
She doesn't have enough time to process it though as the boy struggles against her sister. It only causes her to hold him tighter.
"Where's the council? We need a word with them."
Eyes widening, panicking, he shouts for the smaller boy to do something.
Sabé watches the little one, no more than ten, look around frantically then she hears something ignite behind her.
Turning, she finds a girl, definitely older than the boys, rushing toward then, lightsaber alight.
Heart pounding, Sabé grabs Saché and dives down, planning on dodging the glowing blade.
The girl is too fast though, adjusts her path when she sees them rolling away. It does her no good though. Her lightsaber flickers out before it can even singe either girls' hair.
For a moment the girl stares at the hilt of her weapon, shakes it, clicks it multiple times, before tossing it aside and lunging at the sisters.
She's strong, but she seems to have trouble getting a grip on either one of them as they roll around ridiculously on the Temple floor.
"Let go!" Saché snarls, finally getting the upper hand, squishing the girl's face to the ground as Sabé grapples with her flailing legs. "What is wrong with all of you?"
Sabé starts to remind her they'd behaved a bit suspiciously, but doesn't get to.
More heat swells up, hitting them from the sides, and just as Sabé is about to look for the source, someone shouts
"Stop!"
The girl stops struggling and both Sabé and Saché look up.
Hobbling toward them, cane clicking between each grunt as he walks, is the little green Jedi. Yoda.
He stops just short of them, his wrinkled face squinting.
"Attacking a padawan, I see. Why, I must ask?" He asks, creaky voice somehow commanding respect.
Getting up, Saché pointedly steps on the girl as she walks toward him. "Ah, Yoga, just who we were looking for."
Sabé nods, getting up and offering a hand to the girl who only glares in response.
Ignoring the rebuff, she had just wrestled her down after all, Sabé turns back to Yoda. "This really isn't the place to discuss anything."
"Especially after you've made such a commotion," another Jedi growls, eyeing them angrily.
"They were attacking Cree," the girl tells Yoda, picking up her discarded lightsaber. "And they broke my lightsaber."
"You broke it on your own," Saché snaps. "And that brat tried to mess with our minds. He's lucky I didn't knock him into next Centaxday."
Taking the hilt from the girl, Yoda turns it over in his gnarled hands before trying to activate it. Nothing happens.
Frowning, he looks at the girl.
"The use of a weapon is never to be taken lightly," he tells her. "Discuss this, we will, when I return. As well as the improper use of your powers on other's minds, mmm."
Both the boy and girl pale, but neither argues.
"Go. To your studies." He waves them off.
Then he turns to the sisters.
He studies them for a moment, his expression guarded.
Looking at the useless lightsaber in his hand, he frowns.
"Tell me why you've come her, you will."
It's not a command, more a request, and he seems almost wary to make it.
"We need your help," Sabé begins, dropping to her knees in front of him. "Pad-Senator Amidala- she's left Naboo. She's gone to Geonosis with Anakin to rescue Obi-wan!"
He nods. "Know this, already I do. To retrieve young Skywalker, Obi-wan, and your Senator, we shall go."
"Good," Saché tells him. "We'll be coming to oversee the rescue."
He shakes his head. "No. Return to the Senator's apartment, you shall."
"Padmé and Anakin went to Geonosis to help Obi-wan. They're in danger! We aren't going to just sit here on Coruscant when we could be helping! We aren't as useless or as helpless as you seem to think we are!" Sabé half sobs.
They hadn't come all this way and fought their way through the Temple just to be turned back.
Saché stares for a moment, grinding her teeth, then crosses her arms, her expression relaxing.
"You have to take us. According to the Senatorial Order of Conduct, section 66, that if a guard is found in dereliction of duty it is the responsibility of the guard's commanding officer to provide means and assistance to the wronged party's council." She pointed first to herself, then to Sabé. "We would be the wronged party's council. And if you refuse to take us you'll be held in contempt, and if you think I'm bluffing, you're wrong."
Sabé barely manages to keep her jaw from dropping.
Saché isn't lying about holding him in contempt. She's lying about the Order. She completely fabricated the entire thing, and betting on Master Yoda not knowing any better.
It's hardly the biggest lie she's ever concocted, but still…
It's a gamble, and Sabé is sure it's going to get them in more trouble than they've ever been.
Lying to a Jedi and beating up a child, even if the child started it, is going to be the final straw with the oversight committee.
Eyes narrowed, Master Yoda inspects her closely for a moment, but Saché doesn't flinch. She's committed to her lie.
Harrumphing, Master Yoda taps his cane on the ground in front of him.
"Nearing nine hundred years old, I am," he finally says. "Lying to me, hard it is."
"Well, maybe you just don't know everything," Saché counters, standing her ground.
He eyes her warily, then turns his gaze on Sabé, nods to himself.
"Right, perhaps you are."
Turning, he hobbles a few feet before looking over his shoulder.
"Come, come, go we must."
Saché makes a confused noise. "Wait. You-your letting us come? Even though I lied?"
He chuckles, starts hobbling along again.
"Mmm, much to teach me, you and your sister have, Miss Lindzee."
Nose wrinkled, Saché shoots Sabé a baffled look.
Don't look a gift Wookie in the mouth, Sabé wordlessly tells her before hurrying after the tiny Master.
They ride the lift up in silence, Master Yoda humming the entire time.
When they step off, the bald Jedi from their meeting greets them, his expression stormy.
"What are these two doing here?"
"We're educating," Saché answers coolly.
"Coming with me, Senator Amidala's aides are," Master Yoda explains. "Help me, they will."
Saché shoots him a triumphant look, while Sabé watches him warily.
"This is not a day trip," he tells them.
Saché clicks her tongue in disappointment. "Oh really? And here I was thinking we were going to a Zeltron rave."
"He already said we could go," Sabé tells him, gesturing to Master Yoda. "We're wasting time."
Padmé is in danger. This isn't up for debate. They're going, whether he likes it or not.
After a tense few seconds, he shoots Master Yoda a dark look before turning to walk away.
"It's going to be dangerous," he calls over his shoulder.
Saché grins.
"I'm dangerous, sweetness."
#######
They're sequestered in a small room away from the Jedi in the port.
"Much to discuss, Master Windu and I have," Master Yoda had told them. "Problems, we have."
Saché sits on the small bench along the wall. Her limbs are all crossed, knotted painfully tight as she glares a hole in the door, waiting for someone to come tell them what's going on.
Sabé twists her fingers anxiously as she paces, worried that they won't make it in time, that Padmé, Obi-wan, and Anakin will be hurt or worse…
Finally, the door swishes open and a familiar green face greets them.
"Ladies," the green tentacles on Kit's head sway in a friendly way.
"Kit, what a lovely surprise," Sabé greets him, happy to see at least one Jedi that genuinely seems to like them.
Saché flashes him a cheeky grin. "Come to spring us?"
"Only if you promise to behave," he teases.
"Unrealistic," Saché snorts.
He chuckles, a deep, warm rumble.
"Oh? Perhaps-"
"Master Fisto," Master a Windu interrupts him, stepping through the door with Master Yoda. "Perhaps you can catch up with your friends later."
His tentacles swaying, clearly unbothered by his fellow Jedi's tone, Kit gestures for them to go on.
"Know of Kamino, you do?" Master Yoda asks.
Sabé frowns.
She'd heard of it a few times. Her Nammy had complained about them occasionally, how they'd come to the brothel to recruit beings for their experiments.
"They run off business," she'd grumble, taking a long draw of her cigarette. "They're creepy. Those long necks..."
Thankfully, they also rarely went off planet. They were secretive and selective about who they interacted with, which made them rare enough that Nam didn't kick them out of the bar as long as they bought something. There credits spent as well as anyone else's and they spent plenty for the pleasure of using her business to hunt down participants.
"Kamino?" She looks at Saché, who appears just as baffled as she is. "The cloners?"
"What do they have to do with anything?" Saché asks.
Master Yoda ignores her question.
"Hm. Good. To Kamino with me, you will go."
Sabé instantly shakes her head and Saché makes a harsh noise.
"What?" She snaps.
"To Kamin-"
"No I heard you," Saché cuts him off. "What I mean is: No. No we will not be going to Kamino with you, or anyone for that matter."
"Yes you will," Master a Windu firmly tells them.
Sabé fixes him in her sternest glare. "No. We're not Jedi and we don't take orders from anyone but Padmé."
"And even then it's a gamble," Saché adds.
"You are not coming to Geonosis. We can't take civilians into what may very well turn into a fight," he tells them, crossing his arms in an attempt to intimidate them.
It doesn't work.
"We're not kriffing going to Kamino," Saché repeats.
"Why go to Kamino anyway? What's the point? The trouble is on Geonosis," a Sabé reminds them.
Kit walk steps in, smiling, his unblinking eyes on the girls. "Ladies, if I may explain."
"Don't try to charm us Kit," Saché warns him.
"I wouldn't dream of it," he chuckles. "I would simply like to see if we can't come to an understanding of sorts."
Sabé sighs. They're wasting time. "We're listening."
"We need to investigate what's been occurring on Kamino. Master Yoda may need assistance when he gets there, the planet is missing from our archives, you see? You girls are quite gifted in getting what you want." His tentacles twitch in amusement at that. "Your particular abilities may be needed. You are not warriors, your talents lay elsewhere, please, simply consider this."
Glancing at Saché, Sabé silently asks her what she thinks
This is ridiculous, Saché tells her wordlessly.
If it gets them closer to Padmé though...
They can always steal Master Yoda's ship, if nothing else.
Saché's stony expression doesn't change, but Sabé knows she likes that plan.
"We'll go to Kamino," Sabé finally tells them.
Exchanging uncertain looks, the Jedi nod.
"Good." Master Yoda croaks, waving his cane. "Come. To Kamino, we go."
Brushing past Kit and Master Windu, the girls follow Master Yoda.
Saché turns, waves a hand.
"Bye, Kit." Her nose wrinkles. "Later, Window."