Chapter 20

The Red Racer entered the atmosphere on Geonosis three hours after receiving the summons from Mace Windu. To their surprise, they saw a Naboo starship perched on one of the smokestack columns.

"I don't think Master Windu knew someone else beat us to it," Jessamyn said. "Should we go ahead?"

"Yeah," Jaden replied. "We were ordered by the council to rescue Rina, so that's what we're gonna do. But we should find the pilot of this ship and attach ourselves to him. We can do this mission together." He pointed to the column. "Land right there." Suddenly, he saw insect-like creatures converge on the starship. "Wait. Go behind the column."

She flew behind the column and idled the engines as they heard the creatures talking in the Geonosian dialect.

Lara had tried to stop R2-D2 from going after Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme, but the astro droid was stubborn. C-3PO offered to go after him instead and she stayed with R4-P17. She heard voices in Geonosian coming closer to the ship. R4 whimpered in fear.

"Yeah, okay," she gasped, heading for the refresher, the small astro droid trailing behind her. Once they were safely inside, she entered the code to lock the door, and then she climbed into the shower, barricading herself. "We'll be safe here, R4. We just have to be really quiet, okay?" R4 chirped softly in response and the two of them settled in for a long siege.

Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme made their way into the foundry, and Obi-Wan stopped short.

"What is it, Master?" he asked.

"Geonosians have invaded the ship," he replied. "Our ship."

At first, Anakin was alarmed. Lara's onboard alone, he thought. And then, he remembered the conversation about the refresher and the code lock on the door. Obi-Wan went on, "She's in the refresher shower with R4."

Anakin couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry, Master," he whispered. "The evidence of your fun with Senator Amidala has probably washed away by now."

The Jedi knight turned on his Padawan. "Shut up, Anakin."

Their banter was cut short when they were ambushed by Geonosian guards. "Run, Padme!" Anakin yelled as he and Obi-Wan made short work of the insect-like guards, and ran after her through the doorway into what looked like a factory. Before any of them could react, the floor slid out from under them and they all fell on different conveyors.

Jessamyn and Jaden managed to make short work of the Geonosian guards invading the Naboo starship, taking turns blasting the insect-like creatures until they were no longer standing.

"Now that," Jaden quipped, "is what I call pest control. Come on, Jess. We gotta see if anyone was on board."

Meanwhile, Lara sat up in the tub, hearing two voices, neither one in the Geonosian dialect. "I wonder who's here?" she asked aloud. R4 chirped fearfully. "Don't worry, R4. I'll be right back." She got up out of the tub, heading for the door. Quickly entering the security code, she cracked the door open, just enough for her to squeeze through. She crept through the cabin, her eyes darting everywhere for intruders.

Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and screamed.

Jaden clamped his hand over the girl's mouth to stifle her screams. He understood that she was frightened, but the last thing he and Jessamyn needed was for her to alert anymore Geonosians to come along to investigate.

"Relax, kid," he said sternly. "We ain't gonna hurt ya. We're space pirates allied to the Jedi and the Republic." He paused as the girl stopped screaming and struggling. "Jaden Solo at your service and this is my associate, Jessamyn Lars."

"Solo?" the girl asked. "As in…?"

"Yeah, kid. Rina's my daughter. Mace Windu gave me the head's up that she bit off more than she could chew this time. So, Jessie and I came out to help her out, only I guess someone else beat us to it."

She blushed. "Yeah, that would be my cousin."

"Your cousin's a Jedi?" he asked confused.

"No, she's a senator, and sometimes too headstrong for her own good." She held out her hand to the two pirates. "I'm Lara Naberrie, and my cousin is Senator Amidala."