Notes: Saturn T. Riddle, the Mistress of Obi-Wan, wrote this chappy's first half. Go read her other stuff, especially "Obi-Wan's Choice" and "To Meet Again". Those are must-reads for Kenobi addicts. Thank's Saturn, for writin' this! You rule! (cheers)
Malarow quietly crept throughout the small hut he was sharing with Aquel, Kal'Take and Aleena. He was trying to get out before they awoke so that he wouldn't be interrogated to death by Aleena. He took in a deep breath as he opened the door and snuck out, then shut it again. Letting out a sigh of relief, he looked up and watched as Tatooine's twin suns rose over the horizon.
Just as he turned to head for the center of Mos Espa, he heard two voices conversing behind him.
"I know you're worried Ben, but I'm sure he'll take care of everything," the female voice exclaimed.
"But he's being sidetracked again!" the other, a male, replied. "There's some boy that he thinks is the bloody Chosen One waltzing around. He's putting everything on the line just because he thinks that this-"
"I know, I know. He thinks this is the only chance you all have to get off this hellhole and- hi Malarow!"
Aleena stopped walking, shut off her comlink, shoved it in her pocket and shrugged innocently. "What are you doing up this early?" she asked.
"Apparently not the same thing as you." Malarow replied sarcastically. "I was trying to get an early start without waking anyone."
"Oh! You wouldn't be looking for Anakin Skywalker by any chance, would you?" she asked, suddenly interested.
"Maybe." he replied dryly.
"Good! Then I shall come with!"
Malarow rolled his eyes. "Great... let's go then."
"Okay!" she replied, starting off. She suddenly stopped and turned. "Hold on a second." She ran off for a moment then returned. "I had to take care of something."
Malarow raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Ben, right?"
"Let's go." She said, completely ignoring him.
Blade and Obsessive silently strolled through the endless sea of sand, whispering excitedly to each other. The two incredibly excited Padawans were about as full of energy as a rancor was when being fed a live meal.
Though bursting with energy, the two made sure to keep themselves hidden from any Force-sensitives in the area. Specifically, a certain Sith lord that they were sneaking out to spy on and study.
"Where are we even going?" Obsessive complained, kicking some sand around.
"Relax," Blade replied. "We'll be there soon. I have it all under control."
Obsessive groaned. "Oh that makes me feel so much better," she replied cynically. "Let me guess. You have no idea where we are, where we're going or when we'll get there?"
"I know what I'm doing!" Blade shot back defensively.
Obsessive glared at her. "We're lost, aren't we?"
Blade turned and shrugged. "We're not lost! We're just directionally challenged."
Obsessive groaned again. "Oh my God!!"
Blade stopped walking suddenly. Obsessive, who hadn't, kept walking and ran into Blade, knocking both of them to the ground.
"Ow!" Obsessive cried.
"Shh!" Blade whispered. "Look!"
Obsessive looked up and gasped. Blade grinned.
"I told you we weren't lost."
They looked at each other and back ahead.
Ahead of them was a Sith Infiltrator Ship, parked in the middle of the sand. A figure in dark clothing was standing outside the craft peering through a pair of binoculars.
(A/N: And this is where my crappy writing beings ^^)
"That's him!" Blade hissed.
"Oh, thanks," Obsessive snorted. "I really couldn't tell."
"D'you think he knows we're here?"
"He'd better not, or we're screwed." Obsessive glanced at Blade. "How long do you need to look at him?"
"Just let me get his mental signature, and we can go," Blade muttered back, peeking over the top of the sand dune they were huddled behind. Suddenly the black figure turned, fixing the dune with a malevolent glare. Blade gasped and held her body motionless, all mental defensive shields at the full. Obsessive heard her sharp intake of breath and stiffened as well, heart pounding like a trapped animal's. The Sith took a step forward, sure to see them, and when he did he would surely kill them…
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a blur of gray and brown leaped over the dune, twin sabers flashing in the dim light. Blade instantly recognized Aquel's Padawan, Kal'Take, and allowed herself a tight sigh of relief. She watched in awe as the young Knight-in-training engaged the Sith Lord in a fierce saber duel, red and white and black mingling as the glowing blades clashed and sparked against one another.
"Go! Run!" Kal shouted, throwing a desperate look at Blade and Obsessive. The two Padawans needed no further bidding. They took off like a pair of started womp rats, leaving the fierce contest behind them.
Fae could hear her own heart beating, and for a moment worried that it might alert the Droid sentries to her precarious position. She was huddled on the narrow ledge of the kitchen chimney, fingers clutching at the smoke-dusted stones. She had climbed through the sewer system until she found the kitchen deep in the bowels of the palace. Intuitively she realized that the oven's chimney had to lead somewhere, and so she climbed up. Luckily for her, it had both ledges and a handy exit into the palace. Only hours later another Jedi would climb up that same rout, but he would face much more opposition…
Droids clattered by noisily on patrol, and Fae waited for the footsteps to die away. Once the silence returned she leaped up out of the airshaft, pulling up with her fingers and springing as agilely as a feline up onto the intricately tiled fireplace. She found herself standing in a deserted circular room, presumably a dining hall. The door to her left was open, and she dashed towards it before it could close and trap her in the room. Using the Force skill of hiding she made herself invisible to her opponents, and she swiftly covered the few floors up to the Queen's chamber. Guilty at destroying such lovely ironwork, she carved a hole in the chamber doors, ignoring the frightened gasps coming from it. Once she had melted a space large enough to fit through, she climbed in and stood up, brushing herself off.
"I'm terribly sorry for the abrupt entrance, m'lady," she said, bowing low to the started Queen of the Naboo. "I am Jedi Knight Fae, and I'm here on a mission to defend you."
"Who sent you?" the Queen asked, eyeing the other woman with suspicion.
"No one, actually," Fae shrugged. "It's a long story, one best saved for safer times. As it is, I'm going to need one of your handmaiden's extra robes." She quirked a smile. "Hopefully the Nemoidians weren't too careful in counting your attendants."
A/N: Well, there ya have it, there it is, the newest chappy. If any of the authors involved would like to take a turn writing up a bit of the chapter, feel free! E-mail me if you're interested. Remember, praise Saturn! She wrote the first half ^^