Episode 1.5: The
Handmaid's Tale, or Men are from Iridonia, Women are from Naboo
Chapter 1
Saché, handmaiden to Queen Amidala, walked hurriedly through the corridors of
the Queen's palace on Naboo. She passed
through the reception hall and out into the garden.
At the far end of the garden she could see a group of young Jedi and Padawan practicing
with their lightsabers. As she neared
the group, Saché put her head down and accelerated her pace. Obi-Wan was in the middle of the group,
demonstrating the proper defensive posture, she noted with a quick glance. If she knew Obi-Wan, and oh, by the Force
she did, it would be only a matter of moments before he began a
reenactment of his fatal battle with the Sith Lord Darth Maul. Already a legend in his own mind, Saché
thought scornfully.
Without realizing, Saché had paused to watch the young men
and women at their training. Obi-Wan
lifted his head and caught sight of her.
He flicked off his lightsaber and walked to where she stood.
"Come to watch us?"
"No, Obi-Wan.
I'm on an errand for the Queen."
"Isn't she in Coruscant for Senator Palpatine's
inauguration as Chancellor?"
"She is, but I received an urgent holo-comm from her
this morning."
"Is there trouble?"
Saché stared at Obi-Wan for a moment before replying. She would not divulge the contents of the
message to a nosy probationary Jedi.
"It is not your concern Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes at Saché. Attempting to use the Force on me, she thought
irritably. She dismissed him with a
flick of her hand. "Go back to
your training, Jedi. I'm on the
Queen's business."
Obi-Wan brought his face close to Saché's. His blue eyes glinted. "I am a Jedi sworn to protect the
Queen. Her business is mine."
Saché jerked back.
"Stop playing Jedi Master, Obi-Wan! Your posturing bores me."
Obi-Wan grinned suddenly.
"Bores you! That's not what
I hear from Sabé. She tells me you find
me quite interesting, indeed."
Saché gritted her teeth.
"You are arrogant as only a Jedi can be, Obi-Wan! Sabé is mistaken. I have no interest in you.
Perhaps it is she who finds you interesting. An untested Jedi is not to my
taste."
Obi-Wan rocked back on his heels and looked over his
shoulder at the small group of Jedi and Padawan who continued their
exercises. "Untested?" He shot a glance at Saché. "Darth Maul would not call me untested,
would he Saché?" Saché snorted.
Obi-Wan grinned again. "And I
think you would not call me untested, either." He turned and sauntered back toward the
group, flicking on his lightsaber once more.
Saché made a noise of disgust and quickly resumed her
errand. Obi-Wan! As arrogant as they come, she
thought. I will gut Sabé when she
returns from Coruscant with Queen Amidala.
Saché reentered the Palace, and moved down the long corridor leading to
the Queen's audience chamber. Once
inside, she gave a quick glance around and moved to the throne. She popped the hidden latch on the armrest,
revealing a small compartment. Saché
moved aside the Queen's blaster, which had proven so useful during Amidala's
battle with the Federation droids.
"Where is it?" she
muttered aloud, while rummaging blindly in the compartment. Her hand touched a familiar shape, and with
a sigh of relief she pulled out the Queen's Club Theed 'Ruby Riot'
lipstick. If she hurried, it could be
on the afternoon shuttle to Coruscant.
