*****
I went up to the doors and keyed the control panel, which didn't work, of course.
I'm not sure what I would have done–blasted the doors down by hand using every single blaster I could get my hands on. Or pounded on them with my fists and shouted my head off until I drove someone crazy enough to open them.
Fortunately, we'll never know, because the doors opened anyway. And the sight before my eyes was perhaps the sweetest ever.
Padmé standing before her throne, a blaster leveled at the scum viceroy's head. She ran over to us, and managed to hug each of us in turn without lowering her blaster from the Neimoidian's head. I think personally that she was fighting the temptation to pull the trigger. I couldn't blame her.
She gave us the most beautiful smile I have ever seen and I knew then that Naboo was ours once again.
I turned to where Raden was, standing behind me and looking at Padmé with a starstruck look on his face (Well, she *is* the Queen and very beautiful, although when you see her everyday and help her dress and cover herself in makeup and stuff, I guess sometimes you actually tend to forget that.) and I realized that he really didn't look too good.
I was about to say something when his eyes glazed over–with something other than starstruck adoration for his lovely sovereign–and he slowly started to slide toward the floor. I darted toward him and managed to help Chak and Del catch him–sort of. He's a good bit taller and bigger than I am, and somehow most of his weight seemed to come down on me, so it was all I could do to just let him down slowly. But between us, we managed to ease him onto the floor. Panaka reached us then and opened his vest, removing the "bandage" he had improvised. From the look on his face, he wasn't too happy with what he saw.
"When did this happen?"
"Fifteen minutes ago," I guessed.
"It's a wonder he kept moving as long as he did."
"It's bad, then?"
"Of course it's bad! Look at it!"
I did and then wished I hadn't.
My heart twisted. I had taken his word for it that he could keep going. We've all been given some basic medical training, and when I looked at it now I could tell it was bad. But I had been so impressed at the way he had been willing to keep going without any complaints that I hadn't really taken his injury all that seriously. Too caught up in the battle, I guess. Saché had knelt down by his other side, and our eyes met. I could tell she felt as bad as I did. And there was something else in her eyes that was almost too painful to look at...(Hm, I guess there's more to writing down your thoughts than I thought. I had forgotten that look in her eyes until just now. I wonder what that was all about...) Back to the story though.
To make a long story short, we managed to get some temporary bacta patches on his wound and Panaka gave him a shot of pain-killer. I ended up going along with Raden and his friends to the field hospital that had been erected in the main Plaza and stuck with them while he was treated. Nothing like the word of a Queen's Handmaiden to get a guy the best treatment!
I ended up making some good friends, too. Lissé, Del, and Chak told me how they had each come to be involved in the resistance and they told me a bit about Raden's history, too–what they knew of it, anyway, since they hadn't known each other for very long.
Eventually, the medic let us in to see Raden, who was still unconscious, but finally starting to turn a normal color again. Then, they shooed the others out. They tried to shoo me, too, but I refused to be shooed and they finally gave up. I guess being a Handmaiden really does have its perks.
Of course, I could only stay until a message came that I was needed in the Queen's chambers, and since he still hadn't woken up, I'm not sure what good staying there really did. Especially when I could have been helping to hunt out the remaining TF presence in the City–mostly collapsed droids.
But oh, well. I guess I've got a little bit of a sentimental side after all. I felt pretty bad about not having realized how badly hurt Raden really was. And I will still have to find time to apologize to him for that.
But it will have to wait until after the celebration–which will be starting very soon. I'm actually looking forward to it. Not least of all because there will be several Jedi there–Jedi Masters from the Jedi Council, no less, and I still want a look at those lightsabers.
Rabé has already told me all about seeing the Jedi fight throughout their journey and I am *so* jealous. All I'm asking for is one little demonstration–is that too much to ask for? Probably.
Well, Eirtaé is calling me–we're about to leave. I'm excited about the celebration, but I know it won't compare to the excitement of the battle. For me, there's nothing like the feel of a blaster (or better yet, my blades which are once again in their proper place up my sleeves) in my hands and the challenge of a good fight.
But I guess peace is good, too.
At least for awhile.
*****
I went up to the doors and keyed the control panel, which didn't work, of course.
I'm not sure what I would have done–blasted the doors down by hand using every single blaster I could get my hands on. Or pounded on them with my fists and shouted my head off until I drove someone crazy enough to open them.
Fortunately, we'll never know, because the doors opened anyway. And the sight before my eyes was perhaps the sweetest ever.
Padmé standing before her throne, a blaster leveled at the scum viceroy's head. She ran over to us, and managed to hug each of us in turn without lowering her blaster from the Neimoidian's head. I think personally that she was fighting the temptation to pull the trigger. I couldn't blame her.
She gave us the most beautiful smile I have ever seen and I knew then that Naboo was ours once again.
I turned to where Raden was, standing behind me and looking at Padmé with a starstruck look on his face (Well, she *is* the Queen and very beautiful, although when you see her everyday and help her dress and cover herself in makeup and stuff, I guess sometimes you actually tend to forget that.) and I realized that he really didn't look too good.
I was about to say something when his eyes glazed over–with something other than starstruck adoration for his lovely sovereign–and he slowly started to slide toward the floor. I darted toward him and managed to help Chak and Del catch him–sort of. He's a good bit taller and bigger than I am, and somehow most of his weight seemed to come down on me, so it was all I could do to just let him down slowly. But between us, we managed to ease him onto the floor. Panaka reached us then and opened his vest, removing the "bandage" he had improvised. From the look on his face, he wasn't too happy with what he saw.
"When did this happen?"
"Fifteen minutes ago," I guessed.
"It's a wonder he kept moving as long as he did."
"It's bad, then?"
"Of course it's bad! Look at it!"
I did and then wished I hadn't.
My heart twisted. I had taken his word for it that he could keep going. We've all been given some basic medical training, and when I looked at it now I could tell it was bad. But I had been so impressed at the way he had been willing to keep going without any complaints that I hadn't really taken his injury all that seriously. Too caught up in the battle, I guess. Saché had knelt down by his other side, and our eyes met. I could tell she felt as bad as I did. And there was something else in her eyes that was almost too painful to look at...(Hm, I guess there's more to writing down your thoughts than I thought. I had forgotten that look in her eyes until just now. I wonder what that was all about...) Back to the story though.
To make a long story short, we managed to get some temporary bacta patches on his wound and Panaka gave him a shot of pain-killer. I ended up going along with Raden and his friends to the field hospital that had been erected in the main Plaza and stuck with them while he was treated. Nothing like the word of a Queen's Handmaiden to get a guy the best treatment!
I ended up making some good friends, too. Lissé, Del, and Chak told me how they had each come to be involved in the resistance and they told me a bit about Raden's history, too–what they knew of it, anyway, since they hadn't known each other for very long.
Eventually, the medic let us in to see Raden, who was still unconscious, but finally starting to turn a normal color again. Then, they shooed the others out. They tried to shoo me, too, but I refused to be shooed and they finally gave up. I guess being a Handmaiden really does have its perks.
Of course, I could only stay until a message came that I was needed in the Queen's chambers, and since he still hadn't woken up, I'm not sure what good staying there really did. Especially when I could have been helping to hunt out the remaining TF presence in the City–mostly collapsed droids.
But oh, well. I guess I've got a little bit of a sentimental side after all. I felt pretty bad about not having realized how badly hurt Raden really was. And I will still have to find time to apologize to him for that.
But it will have to wait until after the celebration–which will be starting very soon. I'm actually looking forward to it. Not least of all because there will be several Jedi there–Jedi Masters from the Jedi Council, no less, and I still want a look at those lightsabers.
Rabé has already told me all about seeing the Jedi fight throughout their journey and I am *so* jealous. All I'm asking for is one little demonstration–is that too much to ask for? Probably.
Well, Eirtaé is calling me–we're about to leave. I'm excited about the celebration, but I know it won't compare to the excitement of the battle. For me, there's nothing like the feel of a blaster (or better yet, my blades which are once again in their proper place up my sleeves) in my hands and the challenge of a good fight.
But I guess peace is good, too.
At least for awhile.
*****