Chapter Two- New and Old Faces
Senator Padme Amidala was startled by the sudden crash. Her esteemed guest, Duchess Satine Kryze even more so. Both of them stared at the flames from the window of the lounge room as several security guards came rushing in. Neither had been prepared for their quiet negotiations to be interrupted by such a scene.
"Senator Amidala, Duchess Satine." One of the officers walked up to them and bowed. "I hope neither of you was hurt."
"We are alright." Padme smiled politely. "What happened?"
"An older style Nadoo Cruiser crashed about twelve miles from here in the woods. The hailing code was an older one but life signs were detected." She replied. "I will be heading out with a party to inspect for survivors."
"Thank you. And may I ask for your name?"
"Captain Rika Axhon."
"Thank you Captain Axhon. Please report back your findings."
The captain nodded before heading off.
"It seems that Naboo is more prepared than the Republic assumes." Satine chuckled.
"After the incident with the Trade Federation, we cannot take risks." Padme nodded, taking a seat. "Had it not been for Master Qui-Gon Jin, and his Padawan Obi-wan Kenobi and their ward Anakin all hope would have been lost."
"... Qui-gon and Obi-wan were involved?" Satine blinked in surprise.
"Yes, are you familiar with them!"
Satine nodded, taking a glance out to the smoke. "Very. I spent a year with them on the run."
"Oh goodness."
"It was 15 years ago." Satine shrugged. Her eyes glanced at the crash site. "I suppose we should wait for a status report."
"Or…" Padme smiled mischievously. "we can go with the search party."
"We can." Satine hummed in agreement.
Jaina sighed as she watched her brothers scramble to put out the fires they could and scramble out anything they could salvage. After the initial shocks and explosions, it was safe to say they'd be late for dinner. R2 beeped next to her, seeming to try and comfort her. For what, she had no clue.
"They've got it." She laughed though she wondered if her parents were beginning to get concerned. She wasn't sure how long they'd actually been gone for and at this point, she'd be willing to bet that Ben and Ani would use her as a shield against their parents.
"Are you two done yet?" She called.
"We should be!" Obi-wan called, pulling out one of the few extinguishers that had managed to survive.
"Almost!" Anakin yelled practically squeezing the life out of the one he had currently in hand.
Jaina rolled her eyes and sat down on the nearest rock with the two droids waddling behind her.
"Mistress Jaina I do fear you have a cut that requires medical attention," 3P-O said. "It seems we are on Naboo and are not far from a city in which we may find proper care for it as our care has unfortunately combusted."
"3P-O… how will we pay for that? If this is a system within the Republic we are shit out of luck." She laughed looking at her arms and legs before seeing the large hash on her thigh. "Bantha Brains! We have an issue!"
Both Anakin and Obi-wan looked back.
Jaina sighed deeper, giving the signature Jin look of annoyance. "I got a cut!"
It was Obi-wan who was at her side first. Always the mother hen.
"Where- the Force be damned, Jaina that needs stitches! How are you not crying in pain?"
"Adrenaline rush. No worse than when Ani got the scar on his head Pod Racing.".
Anakin huffed coming over to inspect. "This is far worse than when I split my head. We need to find medical assistance."
"With what money?" Jaina asked before wincing. "Oh okay, the adrenaline wore off!"
"We should have—" another minor pop of fire broke out, causing Anakin to purse his lips and go grab the extinguisher that Obi-wan had pulled out.
"3P-O says we're on Naboo. Maybe Queen Amidala can help us?" Jaina offered, wincing in pain as the reality of the cut set in.
"If she is still Queen," Obi-wan said, carefully lifting Jaina. "Naboo is an electoral System for their Royalty. I do not believe they go more than one—"
"Halt in the Name of Queen Jamillia!"
Jaina groaned from both pain and annoyance. The day had gone from bad to worse in a matter of seconds as various soldiers surrounded them.
It had taken very little convincing to allow the senator and the duchess to come along. Really Padme only had to announce they were going in her "no nonsense no argument" voice. She had not been sure what to expect. Padme pushed forward to look at the damage, blinking in confusion while looking at the strangers. They seemed familiar yet not at the same time.
It was Satine who broke her thoughts.
"Obi-wan Kenobi?" She asked, sounding very surprised and affectionate at the same time.
"Duchess Kryze!" He squeaked, holding a young girl with blood coming out of her thigh and hand closer.
"Ben that hurt!" The girl whined before she looked over and made eye contact with Padme.
The girl tilted her head, glancing at the other young man behind them before glancing up at the now confirmed Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and then at the Duchess. Whatever pain that girl had been feeling had been replaced by a malicious glee.
"Is that Padme?" The girl asked loudly, startling Padme with the familiarity that she used her name.
"Jaina-"
"You always talk about her Ani! I'm just asking since this iiiiiis her home planet."
"How do you know my name?" Padme smiled diplomatically trying to get her thoughts together.
"Oh, my big brother Anakin told me." The girl replied, a little too amused for Padme's liking.
Padme blinked. Big brother. Anakin? She blinked once more looking at the young man behind them. She stepped closer looking at him in mild shock. "Anakin… Anakin Skywalker?" She asked almost breathlessly. There was no way that handsome man was the soft-faced little boy.
"It's been a while, your highness." He nodded awkwardly.
"Little Ani… oh my goodness you're not little anymore!" She gasped before looking at Obi-wan. "My goodness, it's been—"
"13 years, 7 months, and 6 days." The girl announced.
Padme looked at her confused.
"My little sister. She's a bit… annoying. We often told her of the events on Naboo all those years ago." Anakin laughed nervously.
"Oh yeah, he had a lot to say about you!" The girl nodded.
"Jaina aren't you supposed to be in pain?" Anakin asked with an exasperated laugh.
"Being in pain won't ever stop me from my duties as your little sister," Jaina said before wincing in pain.
"Well now that introductions have been made," Duchess Satine interrupted. "May we know why you've graciously blessed us with your presence?"
"Ah." Obi-wan cleared his throat. "A happy accident that unfortunately has this Banshee needing medical assistance."
"Ah!" Padme nodded. "Captain Axhon, please have your guard put this fire out. We will take our guests back to my lake house and tend to them."
"Understood!"
Jaina was in excruciating pain. Yes, she could practically feel her skin opening even more as they made their way to one of the transports; yet, she could not help but grin in sheer joy from her brothers' awkwardness. She knew what idiots in love looked like and even worse what they sounded like. She didn't need the force to hear how loud Anakin's heart was pounding.
"How have you been?" Padme asked Anakin, eyes still trying to take in the reality of the now older Skywalker.
"I've been good. I have a sister as you can see." Anakin ruffled Jaina's hair.
"... I… what happened with the Jedi."
Jaina flinched involuntarily, knowing her family's stance. As her father had kindly put it, the Jedi had become too blinded and were too far gone from the force to be of any use.
"They refused me and I went back to Tatooine with Obi-wan and Father," Anakin replied with a shrug.
"Father?" Both Padme and Satine looked confused.
"Qui-gon," Obi-wan explained simply. "We left the order."
"Why?" Padme pressed on, confused. She knew that they had gone missing but never the whole story.
"I think that's a story for another time," Jaina said simply, worry replacing any thought of bullying her brothers.
"I see."
"You left the order?" Satine hummed, eyes gazing directly at Obi-Wan. For a brief moment, a flash of pain and hurt passed, before going back to the neutral expression she always kept.
Jaina left out a breath feeling overwhelmed by everything all at once. She could practically hear every thought whirling—every unasked question.
"Deep breaths," Obi-wan instructed her, before giving Satine an apologetic look and turning back to Jaina, and with that their trip became dead silent.
Everything felt like a blur for Satine. A million emotions filled her mind at once. It had been hours since their return and she feels on edge. Part of her wants to yell and scream and cry at Obi-wan. The other part wants to slap him. Both responses she feels are unjustified.
It has been 15 years since she last saw him. And fourteen years of them she spent actively avoiding any information about him. And hiding.
She paces in the lounge room for a moment deep in her thoughts.
"Satine?" She stops, taking a deep breath.
"Obi-wan." She replies before turning to face him. "Is your sister well?"
"Jaina is well, thankfully. She'll be up and spilling more secrets soon enough." He gives a half-hearted laugh.
"She seems to be quite a character."
"She's normally not this chatty unless she knows she'll get the reactions she wants. Qui-Gon insists that it is the will of the force. I think he takes a great deal of entertainment from watching a child torment two grown men."
"So she's vicious?"
"Vicious no. Annoying and quick-witted yes. Reminds me of another blonde I know."
"You simply cannot fathom not having the last word."
"Oh quite the contrary, madam."
Satine laughs before taking a seat.
"Normally you'd have a little quip for me about this time." Obi-wan sighed.
"You could have come to Mandalore, you know." She said.
"We hadn't thought of that at the time… many things have become complicated in the last 13 years."
"Like…?"
"Like Anakin being turned away from the temple. A sith Lord. Take your pick."
"Why did you leave the order for him?"
"He's my brother and Qui-gon is a father to me. I left for my family."
Satine felt everything in her flare up. She wanted to yell at him.
"Would you have left for me?" She asked carefully. Years of questions, fears, and pain had built up to a simple question she had dreaded to know the answer to.
"In a heartbeat." He replied.
The door creaked open, Jaina running in and practically jumping on Obi-wan.
"How do I look in this dress?" She asked pulling away to twirl in the blue sundress.
"Lovely." He smiled at her.
"You're Duchess Satine Kryze right?" Jaina smiled excitedly at Satine.
Satine felt her breath hitch in terror. "I am." She confirmed.
Jaina smiled sweetly at her, reminding her for a moment of her sweet Korkie. "Ben used to tell me such amazing stories about his time in Mandalore! It's been an honor to meet you and Senator Amidala!" She said.
"He did?" Satine smiled, surprised by the easing presence of the girl. "Did he tell you about the week he got sick?"
"Dad did. You took care of him right?"
"I did."
"Jaina… where's Anakin?" Obi-wan chuckled.
"Him and the senator were talking and their heartbeats were annoying." She replied.
"Ah, you need to meditate." Obi-wan nodded.
Satine looked confused.
"I can hear everything through the force," Jaina explained, before adding quickly. "But I can tune it out so I mostly just hear heartbeats and regular sounds."
"And meditation helps?"
"To refocus the sounds." Jaina nodded.
"I see…" Satine said.
"I'd absolutely love to hear more about Mandalore. Especially if you have any embarrassing stories about Obi-wan!" Jaina said, grinning excitedly.
Satine chuckled. "Oh, I've quite a few.."
"I can't believe it's been so long!" Padme said as she and Anakin walked through her Villa. "You've grown."
"And you have only gotten more beautiful," he replied breathlessly looking at her in slight awe.
Padme blushed, surprised to find his gaze intense but not at all unpleasant. She had had admirers and boyfriends but none had ever gazed at her like that.
"You flatter me, Ani." She replied. "Naboo clothing fits you… and Jaina and Obi-wan of course. I do have to ask, how did you wind up… crashing here?"
"Its a fairly simple story. Obi-wan and I had been fixing a cruiser for a while and we thought it was ready for a test run. Some of the wirings got haywire and sent us into a jump." He replied with a laugh. "We're definitely going to have a few words when we get back to Tattooine."
"Did you go back to being a slave?" Padme blurted out, looking both terrified and concerned.
Anakin laughs and shakes his head. "No. Moisture Farmer now with a few odd jobs here and there for Watto and professionally Pod Racing."
She lets out a breath of relief, putting both hands on his shoulders. "Thank the gods and goddesses. When you said you were rejected from the temple I had been terrified of your fate."
He gently put his hands over hers. "I am okay. I am here and you've got nothing to worry about. Thank you for worrying." he laughs lightly. "Qui-gon didn't let anything bad happen to me and he makes my mother happy. Jaina is proof of everything being okay."
"I'm really really glad." she let out a breath before pulling away and coughing awkwardly. "We should absolutely get to the main lounge for dinner."
He nodded, motioning quietly for her to lead the way, his gaze never once leaving her as they walked.
Reuploaded this chapter. goodness, I have no idea what happened. this chapter was super fun to write. I do have the next chapter already started and probably won't post it until I have at least half of chapter 4 done. reviews are super appreciated!