Track Twenty

Plans and Brotherhood

After resolving to giving his brother a proper noogie for being a smart mouth, Peter lead the group on helping some of them settle in and then stashing the money in a safe place. It seemed the Queen was being sensible with her wardrobe being a reasonable size for someone of royalty. He was quite frankly expecting a whole crates full of clothing but no she'd just had one briefcase.

The guards looked unnerved with traveling with someone known to indulge in criminal activities. Understandable, Peter couldn't fault them for their vigilance or worry.

"This, is an interesting ship," Panaka said clearly trying to be civil. "I take it was acquired?"

"Nah my former boss gave it to me," Peter smiled not bothering to mention that he'd been ten at the time. "It's been ferrying me and my bro ever since."

"Yousa have a bombad ship mesa thinks," Jar Jar commented as he looked around.

"Thanks dude," Peter said in reply.

"We're in hyperspace now," Ben announced coming from the cockpit.

"Good," Queen Amidala said appearing from the room that he'd shown her to. "Now is there someplace we can convene?"

"The galley," Ben answered gesturing behind him. "Follow me."

"Thank you." She bowed graciously and proceeded to follow them with the entourage. Good thing they'd cleaned the area before the company came. Save for a few dishes but no one was going to pay that any mind.

Once they'd gotten there the Queen settled into Ben's chair which sat at the front she cleared her throat.

"I have no doubt your are all wondering what this is all about."

"That would be a nice start," Qui-Gon said. "I can only protect you. I can't fight a war for you."

"Ditto," Peter pipped in. "We ain't mercenaries...well I ain't and Ben's an ex-mercenary but he's only one dude unless y'all have an army that I don't know about."

"The Naboo don't have an army," Panaka shook his head.

"He's correct we don't but the Gungans do," Amidala said. "Jar Jar."

"Mesa your highness?" The said Gungan pointed at himself. "Whaten yousa need mesa for?"

"I need you to go to the hidden city of the Gungans and ask them for help."

"My no know," Jar Jar shook his head doubtfully. "Theysa no liking the Naboo...but mesa try."

"That's all I can ask for," Amidala bowed her head. "Once we secure the Gungans help we shall use them as a distraction. Artoo?"

The astromech rolled forward and soon a hologram of what looked like an elaborate palace appeared.

"We can sneak using the hidden corridors and make our way to the throne room where the Viceroy is located. While we have the Viceroy's attention with the distraction we'll send what remaining pilots we have to knock out any control ships they have without the control ship and the Viceroy the droid army will be lost and confused..."

"So they're all remotely controlled?" Ben interrupted. "Can't you just jam the signal? Peter can provide a full spectrum jamming."

"The signal they send out to the troops loops and covers a wide spectrum," Qui-Gon replied shaking his head. "That makes its frequency hard to pin down. Otherwise someone would've done it by now."

"The Jedi is correct," Panaka agreed. "They had trouble with jamming and hacking at the beginning of their droid army but now they've got it down a science. Even if you could do it the time to execute would be impractical."

"Alright. Can I see a map of the city?" Ben asked. "I can look for an entrance point that won't get you spotted."

"Ah being spotted is the point of the endeavor," Amidala countered with a sly smile. "Viceroy Gunray isn't know for his calm collected thinking. I'm counting on him making a mistake due to underestimating me because of my age. Panicking perhaps."

"Okay but that doesn't explain why you hired us since you've seemed to have figured this out," Ben said.

"We need experienced fighters," Amidala said. "You can think in combat. You two can think of ways that wouldn't occur to us due to experience."

"And being a mercenary even if you're retired that's helpful to us," Panaka added grudgingly. "We could use your help in the fight."

"Well I'm certainly going to get my monies worthy with this," Peter said. "How about you rocket up the side till you get to the throne room?"

"You'd be shot down," Ben countered. "They'd see you coming."

"Alright sneaking around it is," Peter conceded.

"Once we get to Naboo we'll set the first part of the plan in motion then hopefully the rest will fall into place, now let us retire. I have a feeling we'll be quite busy once we reach to Naboo," Amidala said standing up indicating the meeting was over. Everyone bowed to her as she walked to the room that Peter had set aside for her. Peter walked over to Qui-Gon now was a good time as any to ask his questions. Ben fortunately was looking at Anakin who for some reason looked a little spooked and frustrated. Ah well Ben would tell him later. For now he needed to put he stupid fears to rest. Because that's what they were. Stupid.

Qui-Gon wasn't expecting to see the two of them again. Like at all. But when Queen Amidala announced that they were going on the Milano now named Galatica possibly due to them being cagey about ferrying a royal he had to admit that he raised an eyebrow. He had to admit their idea was rather inspired. Using their unmarked ship would take away the heat from them. Also it inadvertently provided an opportunity to see them in their own environment. The Force did indeed work in mysterious ways.

"Hey, Jinn," Peter whispered as he approached him. His brother had managed to snag Anakin as the group had dispersed. "Can I talk to you for a sec in the cockpit?"

"Certainly," Qui-Gon answered as he turned to follow Peter. The young man looked nervous for some reason and Qui-Gon couldn't guess why. He had a hunch but given that he himself wasn't sure it was best to hold off in judgment.

"Okay okay," Peter muttered to himself before turning back to the Jedi. "I was wondering about your apprentice...what was he like? And don't sugarcoat it. I'm asking for a reason."

So, Qui-Gon thought. He either suspects that Ben is Obi-Wan or knows. He could refrain for saying anything but Qui-Gon wasn't a petty sort of man. Besides nothing can be gained by torturing a young man who's merely worried about his brother whom he's established his own life with. Obi-Wan no Ben has made his choice in a way. If he wishes to confront the past I can help with that but the time of regaining my old Padawan has moved on and unlike Rael I'll move on. I've got to care for Anakin now and he's caring for both Peter and Ahsoka now. He's found his own way.

Even if I wasn't there to help him through his trials. He thought somewhat bitterly. No he wasn't angry at Quell just remorseful of what happened and how he felt however illogically that he should've found him and slightly resentful that Peter got to see him grow and he didn't. But despite these feelings he didn't blame the boy but like all living beings even Jedi he still felt those emotions. Qui-Gon breathed in and out in that time he confronted his feelings on the matter and then with a breath out he let them go. There was no use in keeping the emotions. It happened and now he as well they would have move forward. Perhaps he could forge something new but living the past would do no one any good. Sighing he answered the question.

"He was a dedicated young man, stubborn at times and had a temper at first. He was studious, inteligent and very much a rule follower which is ironic because he used to be a troublemaker but..." he trailed and then looked at Peter. "He was loyal to those that earned his trust and that I can safely say is that it's a very small group of individuals. He was very slow to trust but once you have it he'll go to the ends of the universe for you."

"Oh," Peter breathed looking relieved and intrigued at the same time. "And if hypothetically he was say with me and..."

"If that his conscious choice then there's nothing I or the Jedi can do. He's chosen his path...and I'd say aside from the dubious legality of the jobs he engages in he's turned out a good man."

"Ah," Peter sighed looking happy. "So the Order wouldn't take him?"

"It's not our way no."

"Well good," Peter leaned back relieved. "I was kinda scared of that."

"We're talking about Ben aren't we?" Qui-Gon prodded.

"Yeah we are," Peter confirmed. "He ain't sure but he thinks he's your former Padawan. I'm guessing you know right?"

"I suspected as much," Qui-Gon confirmed. "I wasn't going to outright say it."

"Why?" Peter looked profoundly confused. "I mean I'd kill for knowing my family was okay or was he like a friend? Well in either case I'd kill to know he's okay."

"Jedi technically are not supposed to have a family and it wouldn't have done anyone any good by bring it up."

"Yeah that's load of crap and you know it," Peter scoffed. "People that don't care wouldn't grieve like that. Also I saw how you worried about those kids so deny it all you like your Order is family."

"You misunderstand," Qui-Gon said. "I said "technically." But you are correct in practice the Order is a family and one could argue that Obi-Wan was more or less..." He trailed off as he noticed Ben approaching them. "My son." He finished with a whisper that he knew Peter couldn't hear.

"Hey little brother you okay?" Ben looked at Peter concerned.

"I'll take my leave from you for now," Qui-Gon said. "If you need me I'll be with Anakin in the galley."

" 'Kay sure thanks Jinn," Peter said turning to his brother as Qui-Gon left to give the two privacy. He had a feeling no more like a prompting from the Force that Ben would seek him out later tonight. Best if he was in a public place and he would wait. Ben would come and when he did he would be ready.

"Peter," Ben said getting his little brother's attention away from the departing Jedi. "Are you okay?"

"What'd you mean?"

"I mean you're talking to Qui-Gon like that..."

"I'll tell but promise you won't laugh."

"Sure," Ben promised. His gut instincts had told him that Peter was worried about something. He'd felt it before which was why he'd tried to distract him with Princess Bride. It must have been serious if he was still in the dumps after that. In fact after the meeting he'd gone to his room and dug into his bunk and pulled out a package he'd been saving for Peter's upcoming birthday.

"IthoughtyoudleavebecauseyouwereJinn'sPadawan," Peter said in rush crashing words together and making no sense whatsoever.

"Come again?"

"I thought you'd leave or the Jedi would take you because we think you're Jinn's Padawan."

"Peter I've already told you I'm not leaving," Ben soothed a bit hurt that his brother still doubted him. "You know me-"

"Yeah I do but I don't know this Obi-Wan dude," Peter interrupted. "I was asking what he was like and he sounds exactly like you. A nerdy dork that likes following the rules when it suits him and loyal to a fault. And a troublemaker it would seem which is so ironic now that think about it."

"What you thought I was a some kind of massive jerk before meeting you?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Hey I wanted to be sure okay," Peter said defensively. "And if you wanted to leave to be back...I wasn't gonna stop ya. You deserved to be a Jedi man. Sure it'd hurt but I'd let ya."

"Peter, I wouldn't go," Ben insisted. "Besides, even I wanted to be a Jedi I can't go back."

"Sure you could."

"Not with Jinn taking Anakin as an apprentice," Ben countered. "Taking two is against the Code and besides I'm too old to train. So I'd be out of luck. Besides I don't remember my past kind of hard to continue training if you don't remember it."

"Oh right."

"And if you want proof that I'm not leaving you then well," Ben pulled out the package. "Open it," he commanded. Peter a little stunned nodded and tore at the packaging. After a brief second he got in and saw a tape namely a mixtape with a paper taped to it.

"Is that a mixtape?"

"It's a mixtape I made indicating how I feel around you. If your Mom could do it then so could I," Ben confirmed. "Check out the track list. That should give you clue on how I feel about being your brother."

"Horse with No Name by America," Peter read as he picked up the sheet of paper that came with the tape. "Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglass, Age of Aquarius by Fifth Dimension, Oh What A Night by The Four Seasons, Come On Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller Band, Making Our Dreams Come True by Cyndi Grecco, Stayin' Alive by the BeeGees, You're My Best Friend by Queen," he choked a little at the title but still continued on. "We Are Family by Sledge Sisters, Stoned Love by Supremes, Star Man by David Bowie and Still the One by Orleans."

"You went out and got new tracks for me?" He whispered misty eyed and ready to cry. "Where'd you-?"

"You remember the Earthian collector trader from Baraduj?"

"The dude who got that sweet Optimus Prime Transformer?"

"Yeah I got clips of music from him and I sorted out the appropriate ones," Ben said. "It wasn't easy but I narrowed it down to the more pertinent ones so there you go-humph!" He exhailed as Peter crashed into him and gave him a fierce bear hug. Ben a second later returned the hug and the two held each other for what seemed to be a long time. Ben didn't mind because if it put Peter's worries to rest then it was all good.

"Man I cannot wait to listen to this," Peter said when he finally released Ben rubbing his eyes and sniffling. "Let's do that," he said. "Like right now."

"Sure," Ben agreed. "Let's jam brother."