Hey guys! I'm so sorry it's been so long between posts! I have no excuse other than I'm a terrible author. :o( I've made a vow now not to post a story until I have it all ready completed so you all won't have to wait this long anymore! You may or may not be happy to learn that one of the uses of my time recently has been writing several other Obi fics… at least one of which is another Obidala! Yay! So keep your eyes peeled!

OMG, Mina Aino- yes! I did get this idea from the game! LOL! That's so cool that we had similar ideas, LOL! I hope you like this part… more soon! Love ya babe! ;o)

Thanks again for all the support guys, I love ya! :oD

Padmè Amidala grinned. She had the neimoidians right where she wanted them.

She continued her slow circle around them like a vulture eyeing her prey as she waited for Gunray to finish his communications transmission. The guards of Naboo kept their blasters aimed at the two conspirators. She moved in front of their amphibian faces once more. "Well?"

"I cannot reach them, your Majesty." She had ordered the neimoidian to contact the control ship to shut down the droid army that at the moment was killing hundreds of gungans.

"Try again," her voice didn't contain even a trace of sympathy.

"Yes, your Majesty," Nute raised the communications device to his face once more. "This is Nute Gunray, do you copy?"

Static.

"I repeat, this is Nu-"

"Your majesty!" Captain Panaka clipped his communicator to his side. "Reports are flooding in from all over. The droid control ship has been destroyed," he paused as he registered the small, triumphant and yet regal smile of Amidala. "We are free."

"We have always been free, Captain. " She turned from her head of security to the two shocked neimoidians. "Freedom is not something that can be taken away forcefully," she turned to the other security guards. "Freedom is something that one gives up." She looked from one to another, "And we never gave up." She looked Nute Gunray squarely in the eyes. "Never."

Qui-Gon was amazed at Obi-Wan's manipulation of the Force. He had never felt his padawan draw upon it so powerfully and masterfully before. He was using it to give him the strength that had been so cruelly pulled from his body. Despite the many blows he was blocking, Qui-Gon smiled. His padawan nearly surpassed him in his skill. He would easily pass the trials. He would be a great Jedi Knight.

Qui-Gon was grateful for his padawan's help but he feared for Obi-Wan's weakened state. He could hardly defend himself against this creature, much less defend his wounded padawan also if need be. "Padawan," Qui-Gon had to hiss over the sizzle of tangling weapons. He sent Obi-Wan a look that was clearly asking for Obi-Wan to abandon his efforts and to save himself.

Obi-Wan's response was a determined, defiant stare and a more aggressive attack on his Sith tormentor.

Darth Maul grinned, easily understanding the exchange. He shot Qui-Gon a knowing look as he continued to deflect and deliver blows. You want your precious padawan out of the fight? Maul looked back to the sweat and blood stained form of the Jedi apprentice. Fine. He gave Qui-Gon a small smile. I'll take him out of the fight.

Qui-Gon realized the Sith's plan too late and could send no warning to his padawan who was kicked and all too easily thrown off the narrow catwalk upon which they were fighting. The Jedi master's breath caught in his chest as he stared, wide-eyed, at the place where his apprentice had once stood. He quickly threw his gaze back to the attacking Maul, knowing that there was nothing he could do to help his padawan.

Obi-Wan landed on his shoulder with a loud thump and barely had the reflexes to reach out and latch on to the edge of the catwalk he had fallen on to. Pain suddenly washed over him and nearly caused him to let go of his death grip. The padawan accepted the pain with all his might before pulling on the Force for strength once more. He ignored the exhaustion that he began to taste and knew was right around the corner.

In a tremendous effort he pulled himself up over the ledge. Seeing his master struggling to defend himself against the Sith by himself fueled him with a strength he'd thought he'd lost. Pulling on the Force he jumped high, landing on the same catwalk as his master and the Sith. With the same pulse as the throbbing pain that racked his body he raced down the catwalk, glad that his lightsaber had landed so nearby.

His master had the Sith on the defensive and was battling towards the laser-enclosed portion of the generator room. It won't be long now. Obi-Wan pushed his body to the limits as he pounded towards the fight, only to be forced to skid to a stop by the sporadic activation of the red laser wall.

Sabè saw Padmè and grinned uncontrollably, racing forward. The two of them nearly fell over as they hugged each other joyfully. Tears slid down Sabè's painted cheeks. "It's finally over."

Padmè smiled warmly and wiped away one of her best friend's tears with her thumb, the peach of the girl's skin showing through underneath.

"Your Highness!" Captain Panaka jogged forward to the two who were part of the small group that had formed in the courtyard outside the palace. Freed Nubians were slowly streaming in from everywhere, all laughing, hugging, crying with joy. A small boy hurried to keep up with the pilots around him as the followed Panaka.

"The heroes of Naboo," Panaka bowed then waved his arm to welcome the pilots to the queen.

"We are forever indebted to you," Amidala bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, it is he you should be thanking," a middle-aged pilot placed his hand on the shoulder of the small boy.

"It was he who blew up the ship," a female pilot piped up.

"Then I do not know how to express my gratitude for such selfless heroics, Anakin," she had met the boy before the battle. Sabè had explained how he had helped them on Tatooine. Anakin gave her a lopsided grin. Padmè couldn't help but give him a broad grin back.

A security officer stepping over to Panaka and whispering something in his ear caught her attention momentarily. Panaka's face fell from joyous to grave. He turned to her inquisitive expression. "It's the Jedi, your Majesty."

Padmè could feel her blood freeze in her heart and body.

"There was a battle. Only one survived. The other is in the infirmary."

"Who?" she was all ready gathering the hysterical strength to charge off.

"I'm sorry your Highness, I do not know."

Without another word she turned on her heels and coolly strode into the palace. Fear, regret and guilt were all balled up into one emotion that controlled her very steps. She could faintly hear Panaka behind her, protesting.

As she quickly strode through the Throne Room the light from a nearby window glinted off something on the ground off to the side. She paused for a second and as her brain registered what it was she burst into a run toward the infirmary.

Blood. Drying blood.

Obi-Wan slowly sat down on the white bed that was directed to him. He no longer felt any pain. His body, heart, mind and soul were too shocked to feel anything.

Qui-Gon was dead.

Obi-Wan had watched as he had slipped away. He had watched helplessly as his beloved master and mentor was impaled by the glowing red saber of the Sith. He had watched as the body of that very Sith disappeared into a black abyss as he slowly recovered from a few moments when the Force had controlled his body. He watched as the light of life in Qui-Gon's eyes had slowly dimmed and faded, a thin film covering them as his breath gave out for one last time. "Train the boy."

He could feel something now. Something warm and gently caressing his tear-stained cheek. He slowly turned his head toward the source of the warmth. It was the soft afternoon sunlight that comes before sunset. He was right next to the large window that faced West, his bed out of the way of the commotion that was ensuing the release of thousands of starving and wounded Nubians.

He gazed out the window, letting his mind take in the soothing sights of green. The fields stretched on into the distance before him, meeting the forest. A flock of birds took flight, the sunlight gently reflecting off of their well-premed feathers. It was so calm. So peaceful.

He had been in those forests once. He had protected and guided a beautiful handmaiden. Padmè. His light. His angel. He had been in pain then, too, but he had been happy. It had been only physical pain. Pain that would disappear as he gazed into her soft brown eyes.

Then, like a blow, he remembered how she had treated him earlier while making the battle arrangements and his weak suggestion of a smile faded. He was in love with a girl who didn't exist. He was in love with Padmè and Padmè had been left somewhere in the forest. Amidala was here now, and Amidala had made it very clear that she did not have feelings for him.

As he swallowed he felt a slight ache in his throat. He was quickly becoming too exhausted to keep his senses dead. The presence of his metal collar blossomed all too quickly as he squinted harshly as it suddenly felt as though it would coke him. He opened his eyes once more as the wave of pain subsided and he gasped for air. As he filled his lungs his vision began to swim and his stomach churned violently. Just let me die…the young padawan didn't notice himself falling over onto the bed as dizziness and agony swept over him. He futilely clawed at the cruel collar around his neck as another wave of breath-stopping pain washed over him.

The sounds of the rushing infirmary had long since fallen quiet to his dumb ears and his world was slowly shrouded in bright spots, then blackness as he fell into unconsciousness.