~~~
I went up to the cockpit, and found it, thankfully, deserted. Ric had set it on autopilot, and no one else was in there. I pulled my hood off, let out a sigh, sprawled out in the pilot's seat, and looked outside, the stars flashed by as pin-pricks of light. It was very beautiful.
I felt terrible, people were bound to die on Naboo, and I sort of felt like we had abandoned them. I also felt like I had betrayed my friends by leaving, especially Yané. She had as much right to go as I did, and I did not even want to go. I didn't understand why all the handmaidens couldn't come, there was plenty of room, but it was too late for regrets now. It wasn't as if we could turn the ship around and go get them.
I dug deeper into myself and found anger. I made a small face. At what? The Neimoidians for sure, but that wasn't it. I thought about it for a moment. Sabé! I was angry at her and Eirtaé for fantasizing over Padawan Kenobi while our people where suffering at the hands of those ugly lizard-people! I slammed my fist against the arm of the chair and swore harshly in Ma'lacian, which is actually quite a musical language, so it didn't sound all that harsh.
The door slid open while I was swearing, and Padmé came in. "I thought I could find you here." She said calmly. "Although the swearing was a surprise." I swiveled my chair to face her, rubbing my fingers on my temple to relieve my sudden headache that Sabé and Eirtaé had given me.
"Do you realize, that at this very moment, Eirtaé and Sabé are gushing over Padawan Kenobi while our people are being rounded up and put into camps?" I asked her. Padmé nodded and rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I know. But what am I to do? It won't get us to Coruscant any faster, and it helps them relax."
"I know something that could help them relax." I growled.
"Stop that! The last thing we want is to be fighting among ourselves. The only way to get through this crisis is to stay strong together." Padmé commanded.
"I know, but they make me so angry."
Padmé then, wisely, changed the subject. "How close are we to Tatoonie?"
I checked the consul. "Approximately five days."
"Hmmmm." She said, it was quiet for a moment. "Let's go back to the others, okay?" I nodded and we went back to the Queen's room, where they were still talking about Kenobi.
ARRRRGGHhhh… I thought.
Five long days later, Ric Olié informed us that we where going to be landing on Tatoonie in about two hours. Padmé looked around hesitantly then spoke up.
"I'm going with Master Jinn when we land on Tatoonie."
We all stared.
"What?" Sabé sputtered.
"Do you think that is wise?" I asked dubiously. The Queen of Naboo running around on in an eight rate spaceport on a tenth rate planet...I did not want to know where that would lead.
She shrugged. "I want to know what is going on and there is no way Master Jinn will tell the Queen all that has happened on Tatoonie. Master Jinn won't object because having me come will make him look less threatening. Besides, it'll only be for a few hours."
I nodded. There was no use arguing with her. "Makes sense." I said instead of 'Have you completely lost your mind!?' A Queen, a Jedi, a Gungan and a Droid land on Tatoonie. Sounds like the start of a bad joke. I thought sardonically to myself. Padmé spoke with Eirtaé briefly, then spoke to us all again.
"I'll take a comlink with me, so we can stay in touch. I need you to do my hair." She said to me. "Something simple and we'll need to get the clothes from storage."
"Yes. Good thing you didn't unload the clothes you packed when you threatened to go to Coruscant."
She laughed. "Yes, good thing indeed." I pulled up my hood and Padmé and I walked out to the lift that took us down to the first level, leaving Sabé and Eirtaé to talk. Padawan Kenobi and Master Jinn were down there, conferring about the hyperdrive. Padmé and I curtsied to them, and they bowed back. Padmé then did something, handmaidens are not supposed to do at all. Engage in conversation.
"What is wrong with the hyperdrive?" She asked. I winced. Stop breaking the rules!
Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi stared at us in amazement. "When we got hit by the Federation ship, it rocked the hyperdrive and broke the coolant container. The coolant leaked out over the wires and short-circuited them." Master Jinn said respectfully.
"Oh." Padmé said thoughtfully. I grimaced. Don't ask any more questions. Just get the stuff and let's go! I thought at her impatiently. "Thank you for explaining it to me." Then we both turned and they then continued with their conversation. Padmé and I went over to one of the clothing boxes and I was about to engage the repulsors that float the luggage like a landspeeder when Padawan Kenobi came over to us.
"Do you need a hand? That looks pretty heavy." He said.
Oh, brother. I thought. Trying to do your macho deed of the day? Well, it's not going to be for me, thank you very much. I gave him a small smile and activated the repulsors. The luggage lifted a meter into the air, and Padmé easily pushed it to the lift with one hand.
"I think we can handle it, Padawan Kenobi." I said impertinently. "But thank-you for your kind offer." I gave him a short bow and walked to the lift. The door closed and my last look of him was with a disbelieving half-smile on his face. Padmé and I burst into giggles. The door opened and we easily pushed the heavy luggage to the Queen's bedchamber. Where, not to any surprise on my part, Sabé and Eirtaé were again talking about Padawan Kenobi.
Disgusting. I thought. Padmé pulled off the first couple of layers of the flame dress, and I undid the braids in her hair. I lectured her on talking to people, which is something handmaidens don't do and got her to promise to not do it again in the future. I did her hair, which took about a half hour, while she told me about her encounter with the Gungan, Jar-Jar Binks. Who, she claimed, was very innocent and charming. I teased her about finding a perfect husband so young, and it seemed to relieve some of the stress we were facing.
"There." I finally said. "Done."
"Perfect." She said crisply. "Eirtaé, is my outfit ready?"
"Yes Padmé." Eirtaé said. Panaka then knocked on the door and told us to buckle in for landing on Tatoonie. We buckled in and got jostled around as we bumpily landed on Tatoonie. Padmé quickly changed into a rough spun pants, shirt and tunic combo. Panaka knocked on the door again.
"Master Jinn just left." He announced.
"What?!" Padmé exclaimed. "Wait! You have to take me to him!"
"Here Padmé!" I said, picking up a comlink and tossing it to her.
"Thanks. See you in a couple hours." Then she hurriedly left with Captain Panaka. Leaving, no, deserting, me with Sabé, Eirtaé and their fantasies about Padawan Kenobi. Ugh. Needless to say, I couldn't wait for Padmé to come back later with the hyperdrive.
~~~