Note: I have this story pre-written up to the next chapter, where evil
writer's block has set in.plus lately I am having restrains on time. But
Thanksgiving break starts promptly tomorrow at 2:40 so maybe I'll have time
then. : ) Thank you so much for reading and please enjoy.
***
Step - Step - Stop. Step - Step - Stop.
I had no idea how long we had been through this unstopping pattern of walking through the quiet alley ways of Naboo. I could feel the anxiety of my fellow Nubians around me - especially the Queen, heavy with worry about the safety of her people. On beautiful days like this, the grand city of Theed was full of life; musicians playing light measures of notes while mothers and children smiled, merchants selling exotic fruits by the basket.
Now all that the wind carried was the low hum of tanks and the hollow sound STAP fighters of the Federation patrolling over head. I couldn't help but glare at the soul-less droids surrounding me. How could such evil be invested in lifeless bodies of steel?
Ever since I was a little girl sent to aid the Queen as a handmaiden, my grandmother would tell me stories of evil monsters that lurked hidden in distant lands - threatening heroes and the conquests they were meant to fulfill. Of course they were exactly that - stories - although I couldn't help but think of myself as a hero, and the droids surrounding me, monsters that stood in the way of my mission.
Of course I couldn't even negotiate with the idiot Gunray properly to save the Queen. What kind hero was I? What right did I have to imagine such titles as hero?
There was nothing I could do now but walk, stop, and begin walking again. My feet and body ached from the elaborate costume of the Queen; obviously these shoes were not meant for any form of transportation. I longed for my simple dress made from soft fabric and beautiful colors - and shoes that I could actually walk in.
My heart missed a beat as two beings fell from nowhere in front of us. My hand tried to reach for the blaster that I usually carried everywhere in case of threats for the Queen - only to find out that the Queen never carried a blaster; therefore neither did I.
The strangers pulled out silver weapons, which emitted blades of light as the droids around us began firing. Paying no mind the two quickly dispensed of the skeletal droids around us; cutting them in half like a knife through soft fruit.
They are here to help, Sabé, and you wanted to shoot them!
Mentally I reminded myself to think before shooting. My training seemed worthless now; as did I.
"Get their weapons!" Captain Panaka ordered as Sio Bibble escorted me through the graveyard of littered droid parts. Now I had a good glimpse of the saviors who rescued the Queen - not to mention myself.
"We're ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor." The eldest of the two calmly stood in front of us. So these were the Jedi that were meant to end this trivial dispute; obviously they hadn't gotten far.
"Your negotiations seem to have failed," Bibble pointed out. I couldn't help but begin to feel annoyed. I had no say in this. No matter how much I wanted to throw off this dress and makeup and join the fight I couldn't - it was not my place to try to solve problems. Only to keep the Queen alive.
"The negotiations never took place," the Jedi stated. "It's urgent that we make contact with the Republic."
"They've knocked out all our communications," Panaka said, distressed. We were stuck on a planet controlled by machines, with two Jedi Knights and no communications. And so far we had managed not to get ourselves killed - at least we had that.
"Do you have transports?"
"In the hanger, this way."
In toe behind the elder Jedi a strange frog-like creature walked silently, bobbing its head now and then nervously.
Well who can blame him for being nervous?
He seemed familiar in a way; like a mythical creature to a young child. Was he a Jedi, also? He didn't exactly carry the essence of strength and knowledge as the men did.
The hanger was filled to the high stone ceiling with ships of every kind - from sleek Naboo fighters to stubby cargo ships meant to carry exports to neighboring star systems. Battle droids also filled the hanger, protecting each ship and pilot with measurable firepower.
"They're too many of them," Panaka said to the long-haired Jedi. I held great respect for Captain Panaka. He was well educated and rational - something that I at times failed to achieve.
"That won't be a problem." The Jedi replied, as Panka looked at him with certain disbelief.
"You're Highness." He now turned to me. "Under the circumstances I suggest you come to Coruscant with us."
Come with him! What good would that do? For the Queen or for Naboo? Leaving Naboo would mean open grounds for the Federation and their army. Then again, if we stayed here it would mean the Queen would be in even more danger.
My job was to not protect Naboo - but the Queen. Could I substitute one for the other? Could I leave my birthplace and loved ones in utter chaos to grant safety for the Queen? My mind reeled and the heavy black headdress weighing heavily on my body did not help.
"I'm sorry Ambassador, but my place is with my people." My voice stayed amazing calm despite my uncertain decision.
"They will kill you if you stay." He reasoned as his words struck my mind like a fresh slap. Either way Naboo would be in danger; with the dead Queen on its surface or not.
"They wouldn't dare!" Governor Bibble exclaimed.
"They need her to sign the treaty to make this invasion of theirs' legal. They can't afford to kill her." Another reason to respect Panaka and his training in military strategy.
"There's something else behind this.there's no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me that it is true." This Jedi had a sense of unshakable determination and logic to him - either that or he was crazy. Sio Bibble insisted that I should go and plead my case to the senate, while mind
strong Captain Panaka repeated that it was too dangerous.
I felt light-headed and the world around me spun with confusion. I was not prepared for this. I was Sabé - a handmaiden taught to aim and protect; not impersonate and make decisions while lives hung in the balance.
"Either choice presents great danger.for us all." I heard myself say as I turned to the Queen for reassurance. I may not like it, but I needed help.
"We are brave, your highness," was her only response. Swallowing hard I realized that this choice was up to me now - Sabé.
"If you are to leave, it must be now," the Jedi prompted. All eyes were on me now - if only I could close mine and think.
"Then I will plead my case to the Senate." The decision was cast to be counted by Fate. I pray that was the right thing for Naboo and for the Queen. I was never a rational person - trained only to think quickly when a blaster was pointed. This was not my job, but the Queen's.
Glancing at Eirtaé and Rabé, I signaled for them to join the Queen and I on Coruscant. Saché and young Yané are to stay behind on Naboo with the Governor. I am confident of their abilities yet I still hold fear for their safety. They are like sisters and mothers to me - if anything happened to them I have no idea where I would go; or where my path would lead me.
Walking with certain doom in each of our steps, we entered the heavily armored hanger.
"We'll need to free those pilots," Panaka pointed out to the younger of the two Jedi. Through all the mass confusion I had failed to notice him. He was slightly shorter than his fellow companion and held a stern and concentrated face framed by a small thin braid hanging from his left ear. Ironically I thought that he was quite handsome for a boy.
"I'll deal with that," he said simply.
Brave, too - or suicidal.
The young Jedi walked off to the captured pilots, as we approached a battle droid stranding guard at the hanger's wide entrance.
"Halt!"
"I'm an Ambassador for the Supreme Chancellor and we're taking these people to Coruscant," he said simply - From the corner of my eye I saw his hand slowly reach for his weapon.
The droid took a minute to compute his answer before the Jedi lost patience and withdrew his ignited weapon.
Blasters surrounded me in every direction as the Jedi began their acrobatic fight. The brainless droids never stood a chance as I glanced over at the young man, who was disabling droid after droid in mere minutes as the pilots were freed and fled toward the Queen's silver ship.
Suddenly Captain Panaka yanked me toward the ship's open ramp. I was not used to running but fighting. Running away when I could do something was failing as a handmaiden and as a person. Yet there wasn't much that I could do now but hope that the Jedi could hold their own, and that we could make it off the planet alive.
***
Step - Step - Stop. Step - Step - Stop.
I had no idea how long we had been through this unstopping pattern of walking through the quiet alley ways of Naboo. I could feel the anxiety of my fellow Nubians around me - especially the Queen, heavy with worry about the safety of her people. On beautiful days like this, the grand city of Theed was full of life; musicians playing light measures of notes while mothers and children smiled, merchants selling exotic fruits by the basket.
Now all that the wind carried was the low hum of tanks and the hollow sound STAP fighters of the Federation patrolling over head. I couldn't help but glare at the soul-less droids surrounding me. How could such evil be invested in lifeless bodies of steel?
Ever since I was a little girl sent to aid the Queen as a handmaiden, my grandmother would tell me stories of evil monsters that lurked hidden in distant lands - threatening heroes and the conquests they were meant to fulfill. Of course they were exactly that - stories - although I couldn't help but think of myself as a hero, and the droids surrounding me, monsters that stood in the way of my mission.
Of course I couldn't even negotiate with the idiot Gunray properly to save the Queen. What kind hero was I? What right did I have to imagine such titles as hero?
There was nothing I could do now but walk, stop, and begin walking again. My feet and body ached from the elaborate costume of the Queen; obviously these shoes were not meant for any form of transportation. I longed for my simple dress made from soft fabric and beautiful colors - and shoes that I could actually walk in.
My heart missed a beat as two beings fell from nowhere in front of us. My hand tried to reach for the blaster that I usually carried everywhere in case of threats for the Queen - only to find out that the Queen never carried a blaster; therefore neither did I.
The strangers pulled out silver weapons, which emitted blades of light as the droids around us began firing. Paying no mind the two quickly dispensed of the skeletal droids around us; cutting them in half like a knife through soft fruit.
They are here to help, Sabé, and you wanted to shoot them!
Mentally I reminded myself to think before shooting. My training seemed worthless now; as did I.
"Get their weapons!" Captain Panaka ordered as Sio Bibble escorted me through the graveyard of littered droid parts. Now I had a good glimpse of the saviors who rescued the Queen - not to mention myself.
"We're ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor." The eldest of the two calmly stood in front of us. So these were the Jedi that were meant to end this trivial dispute; obviously they hadn't gotten far.
"Your negotiations seem to have failed," Bibble pointed out. I couldn't help but begin to feel annoyed. I had no say in this. No matter how much I wanted to throw off this dress and makeup and join the fight I couldn't - it was not my place to try to solve problems. Only to keep the Queen alive.
"The negotiations never took place," the Jedi stated. "It's urgent that we make contact with the Republic."
"They've knocked out all our communications," Panaka said, distressed. We were stuck on a planet controlled by machines, with two Jedi Knights and no communications. And so far we had managed not to get ourselves killed - at least we had that.
"Do you have transports?"
"In the hanger, this way."
In toe behind the elder Jedi a strange frog-like creature walked silently, bobbing its head now and then nervously.
Well who can blame him for being nervous?
He seemed familiar in a way; like a mythical creature to a young child. Was he a Jedi, also? He didn't exactly carry the essence of strength and knowledge as the men did.
The hanger was filled to the high stone ceiling with ships of every kind - from sleek Naboo fighters to stubby cargo ships meant to carry exports to neighboring star systems. Battle droids also filled the hanger, protecting each ship and pilot with measurable firepower.
"They're too many of them," Panaka said to the long-haired Jedi. I held great respect for Captain Panaka. He was well educated and rational - something that I at times failed to achieve.
"That won't be a problem." The Jedi replied, as Panka looked at him with certain disbelief.
"You're Highness." He now turned to me. "Under the circumstances I suggest you come to Coruscant with us."
Come with him! What good would that do? For the Queen or for Naboo? Leaving Naboo would mean open grounds for the Federation and their army. Then again, if we stayed here it would mean the Queen would be in even more danger.
My job was to not protect Naboo - but the Queen. Could I substitute one for the other? Could I leave my birthplace and loved ones in utter chaos to grant safety for the Queen? My mind reeled and the heavy black headdress weighing heavily on my body did not help.
"I'm sorry Ambassador, but my place is with my people." My voice stayed amazing calm despite my uncertain decision.
"They will kill you if you stay." He reasoned as his words struck my mind like a fresh slap. Either way Naboo would be in danger; with the dead Queen on its surface or not.
"They wouldn't dare!" Governor Bibble exclaimed.
"They need her to sign the treaty to make this invasion of theirs' legal. They can't afford to kill her." Another reason to respect Panaka and his training in military strategy.
"There's something else behind this.there's no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me that it is true." This Jedi had a sense of unshakable determination and logic to him - either that or he was crazy. Sio Bibble insisted that I should go and plead my case to the senate, while mind
strong Captain Panaka repeated that it was too dangerous.
I felt light-headed and the world around me spun with confusion. I was not prepared for this. I was Sabé - a handmaiden taught to aim and protect; not impersonate and make decisions while lives hung in the balance.
"Either choice presents great danger.for us all." I heard myself say as I turned to the Queen for reassurance. I may not like it, but I needed help.
"We are brave, your highness," was her only response. Swallowing hard I realized that this choice was up to me now - Sabé.
"If you are to leave, it must be now," the Jedi prompted. All eyes were on me now - if only I could close mine and think.
"Then I will plead my case to the Senate." The decision was cast to be counted by Fate. I pray that was the right thing for Naboo and for the Queen. I was never a rational person - trained only to think quickly when a blaster was pointed. This was not my job, but the Queen's.
Glancing at Eirtaé and Rabé, I signaled for them to join the Queen and I on Coruscant. Saché and young Yané are to stay behind on Naboo with the Governor. I am confident of their abilities yet I still hold fear for their safety. They are like sisters and mothers to me - if anything happened to them I have no idea where I would go; or where my path would lead me.
Walking with certain doom in each of our steps, we entered the heavily armored hanger.
"We'll need to free those pilots," Panaka pointed out to the younger of the two Jedi. Through all the mass confusion I had failed to notice him. He was slightly shorter than his fellow companion and held a stern and concentrated face framed by a small thin braid hanging from his left ear. Ironically I thought that he was quite handsome for a boy.
"I'll deal with that," he said simply.
Brave, too - or suicidal.
The young Jedi walked off to the captured pilots, as we approached a battle droid stranding guard at the hanger's wide entrance.
"Halt!"
"I'm an Ambassador for the Supreme Chancellor and we're taking these people to Coruscant," he said simply - From the corner of my eye I saw his hand slowly reach for his weapon.
The droid took a minute to compute his answer before the Jedi lost patience and withdrew his ignited weapon.
Blasters surrounded me in every direction as the Jedi began their acrobatic fight. The brainless droids never stood a chance as I glanced over at the young man, who was disabling droid after droid in mere minutes as the pilots were freed and fled toward the Queen's silver ship.
Suddenly Captain Panaka yanked me toward the ship's open ramp. I was not used to running but fighting. Running away when I could do something was failing as a handmaiden and as a person. Yet there wasn't much that I could do now but hope that the Jedi could hold their own, and that we could make it off the planet alive.