I am posting this story on TheForce.Net, and have been asked, repeatedly,
if I was going to continue this beyond TPM, and incase anyone here is
wondering I am going to announce that yes there *will* be sequels to this
story. I have been planning them for about as long as I've had this idea.
~*~
"Your Honor, *I* am Queen Amidala."
Rae bit her lip and kept her eyes forward trying not to laugh. For Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan turned to look at each other and then turned to look at her simultaneously.
She composed herself then turned and looked at them innocently. Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow and Qui-Gon just shook his head in amusement.
Rae grinned and turned back and watched the famous peace treaty between the Gungans and the Naboo come into being.
~*~
Rae was listening to a story that Eirté was telling when she noticed Sabé standing off to the side and went over to her.
"Hi."
Sabé looked up and smiled. "Hi. You're Raechel Hennel, right?"
"Yes, and you're Sabé."
Sabé nodded. "Amidala told me that you knew and that you were a wonderful friend."
Rae blushed with pleasure. "I thank her for that compliment. I don't know yet if that will prove to be fully true, I haven't had a lot of chances to try making and keeping friends. So we will just have to see how good of a friend I am."
Sabé laughed. "Well you seem to be good friends with Anakin."
Rae shrugged. "I have known Ani for a while now and he was the one who really initiated the friendship."
Sabé nodded; then looked at her curiously. "What is it like, being a Jedi I mean?"
Rae shrugged. "I haven't had a very conventional Jedi upbringing. I was raised and trained by my mother who had been a Jedi. Normally that is done in the Jedi Temple. But as far as what it is like...well that is like me asking you what it is like being a non-Force-user."
Sabé nodded. "I suppose it is. What is Master Jinn like? I haven't really had much of a chance to get to know him. Jedi Obi-Wan and I were able to talk some but the only times I have spoken with Master Jinn are in official conversations."
Rae thought for a moment. "Qui-Gon is a good man and a great Jedi Master. He is thought to be one of the best sabremasters. He is wise and has been very kind to me. But he can be stubborn. He is very in tune with the Living Force but almost not at all with the Unifying Force." Rae's lips twitched. "But then again I am almost the same way."
Sabé looked down and asked as nonchalantly as she could, "And what do you think of Jedi Obi-Wan?"
Rae looked up at her, and her lips twitched. "Obi-Wan is as stubborn as his Master. He is a great friend, but he can be so thick headed. He and Qui-Gon clash quite a bit for he is more in tune to the Unifying Force and not so much so the Living Force. But he his is learning to listen more closely." She looked at Sabé teasingly. "He is also quite handsome."
Sabé blushed. "Please don't tell him."
Rae grinned. "My lips a sealed." The Rae looked at her curiously. "Why don't you go talk to him?"
Sabé looked down. "I couldn't, for I have lied to him and he probably will think badly of me."
Rae frowned. "No, you were just doing your duty. He will understand." Then she rolled up her sleeves and pounded her fist into her hand and said jokingly, "Or he will have *me* to answer to!"
Sabé laughed. Then she looked over at where Obi-Wan was standing. He finished speaking to Qui-Gon; then stood alone. Sabé took a deep breath and stood up. "Well here goes nothing."
Rae winked at her encouragingly. "May the Force be with you."
Sabé smiled back nervously then went over to the young Jedi.
Rae smiled. 'Somehow I don't think that Obi-Wan will spend his life alone.' Then she pursed her lips. 'Except for that pesky little rule about no marrying.' Rae sighed. "How annoying."
"What is?"
Rae looked up a little startled. "Master Qui-Gon, I didn't see you there."
Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow. "Obviously. What is annoying?"
Rae blushed. "Uhh.Nothing. Nothing."
Qui-Gon gave her a look that quite obviously said that he didn't believe her.
Rae grimaced. "Just a little griping about certain rules we Jedi have to follow." She didn't know why but she felt she had to tell him something, even though she was pretty sure he would have settled for her silence. Involuntarily her eyes wandered to where Obi-Wan and Sabé were talking quietly, both seeming to enjoy each other's company. Then they went to where Padmé was sitting with Ani and talking.
Qui-Gon followed her gaze in both cases. Then he looked back at her. "That particular rule I also have found to be annoying. For it does drive a wedge in many relationships that could become very strong, good ones."
Rae looked up at him. She could tell from the tone of his voice he was speaking from his own experience. She wanted to help him right then. She took his big hand in her own tiny one.
Qui-Gon looked down at her and smiled gratefully. He reached over and stroked her head gently. "Thank you, Bright One."
Rae suddenly stiffened. "That is what my mother used to call me."
Qui-Gon looked at her compassionately.
Rae looked down; then stood up. "Excuse me." She all but ran off. If she was going to break-down and cry she didn't want it to be in front of anyone. She went off to where she wasn't too far from the group, but far enough away not to be bothered. She took deep breaths a soon regained control. She straightened up and walked back to the others.
"Rae!"
She looked up.
Obi-Wan was motioning her to follow him. "It is time to leave for Theed."
Rae nodded. She stood taller, bracing herself for what she knew was to come. 'Well, this is sure to be the longest day of my life.'
~*~
Rae stood in the streets of Theed with the rest of the group next to Obi- Wan.
Qui-Gon turned to Ani. "When we reach the palace I want you to find a place to hide and stay there, understand?"
Ani nodded. "Yeah, sure."
Rae just barely bit back a laugh, but she couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. Obi-Wan looked at her strangely and she looked down. 'He'll stay in his hiding place alright. But his hiding place *won't* stay put.'
But she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing that the only way that the control ship was going to be destroyed was if Ani went, no matter how much she didn't like it and it made her worry.
Obi-Wan nudged her, bringing her out of her thoughts, and showed her his lightsabre. She nodded and pulled out her own sabre.
The distraction came and their group ran through the street, most of them shooting at the robots while Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Rae blocked and deflected the shots with their sabres; Ani did his best to keep up with them while keeping out of target range. They ran for the passage.
~*~
Once they entered the hanger everything began to become a blur to Rae, for everything was happening so fast and she just started reacting as she sensed things through the Force. Finally she was drawn out of that state.
Then the door opened before them; there stood a tall dark figure.
'He's even scarier than in the movie!' Rae stepped forward with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
"We'll handle this."
Obi-Wan looked over at her, to tell her to go with the queen, but she shook her head, a look on her face that told him she would *not* stay behind. She was determined to do everything she could to keep Qui-Gon from dying.
She, like Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, removed her outer robe, pulled out her sabre and lit it.
Darth Maul shed his outer robe and lit both of his blades.
The four of them began their deadly dance. Rae helped where she could, but she also stepped back when she knew that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan could handle it, not wanting to hinder them. Then, Maul knocked Obi-Wan off the walkway. Rae spared a glance down at him to make sure he was alright. He was hanging onto another walkway. He told her with his eyes that he was fine and to go with Qui-Gon so she nodded and quickly caught up with Qui-Gon. She fought along side him. They reached the infamous laser walls. The walls opened before them. Suddenly the laser wall closed between Qui-Gon and Maul. She sensed the wall coming toward her and she leapt back. She was separated from Qui-Gon by one wall. She watched at Qui-Gon knelt down and meditated; then looked back at Obi-Wan, who was many walls behind them. His eyes begged her to stay-up with his Master. She nodded and then looked back forward. She closed her eyes and went into a semi-meditation.
She felt some of her strength that she had used up in the fight so far return to her. She reached out to the walls and felt the timers of the laser walls counting down and began counting down with it. The instant before her wall turned off she relit her saber and ran forward at the wall opened. She and Qui-Gon continued to battle the Sith. The Sith knocked her away; she hit the wall. It hurt like none-other but she got back up. She saw Maul hit Qui-Gon with the hilt of his sabre. Rae's desperation gave her speed beyond that she had ever had in either life. She reached out with her sabre...and caught the sabre just before it his Qui-Gon. She fought with the Sith, getting him away from Qui-Gon so that the Jedi Master would be able to recover, but she knew that she could only hold him off for so long. Qui-Gon soon rejoined her efforts. Then the Sith knocked Qui-Gon away. And Rae was on her own again. She blocked and parried his aggressive attacks as best she could. But one of them soon got through. It stabbed through her leg. With the sudden pain she lost her concentration and the Sith was able to get another hit through; he stabbed her through her shoulder. It was then that Qui-Gon intervened. Rae was just barely able to switch off her lightsabre as she fell back against the wall, pain coursing through her. She watched, barely conscious as Qui-Gon continued to fight. The Sith took a slice out of Obi-Wan's arm, but he was able to continue to fight. Qui-Gon was thrown against the wall and blacked out temporarily. Things were quickly becoming fuzzy to Rae. The only thing she was able to understand from the fight after that was that Obi-Wan beat the Sith. Obi-Wan and Qui- Gon came to her side.
She looked up at Obi-Wan. "I don't care what the Council says; you are a Jedi Knight in my book." After saying that she felt the remainder of her energy drain away. She just vaguely heard Qui-Gon tell her that he was going to put her into a Healing Trance. She felt strong arms pick her up; then she knew no more.
~*~
~*~
Ani stood up in the cockpit of his ship. He was happy that he was able to help everyone, but he was worried. He had always been able to sense when he or people he cared about were in trouble and right now he sensed that Rae was. He looked around. The other pilots gathered around him and helped him out of the ship, congratulating him. He thanked them, but all the while he was looking for his friend. Then the doors that Rae, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had gone through opened. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon walked through them, Qui-Gon carrying a small form in his arms. Ani's heart nearly stopped. He ran over to them. "Rae?!"
Obi-Wan stepped forward and caught him. Qui-Gon nodded his thanks to this Padawan and hurriedly carried Rae to the med center.
"What's wrong with her?!" Ani looked after Rae; then turned to Obi-Wan, fear for his friend clear in his eyes.
Obi-Wan placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, trying to calm him. "Anakin, you *have* to calm down! Rae is injured; Qui-Gon is taking her to the med center. There she will be taken care of and most likely will be just fine."
Ani took deep breath, like Rae had taught him to do whenever he was troubled. He began to feel calmer.
Obi-Wan watched the small boy and felt shock as he watched the more or less untrained child used Jedi relaxation techniques to calm down. He was impressed with him. "Come; let's go to the med center. We should get you checked out."
Ani nodded, then he stopped and gently grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and looked up at him concerned. "You're hurt!"
Obi-Wan looked down at his arm. He had completely forgotten about his arm because of his concern for Rae.
Ani began to lead Obi-Wan in the direction of the Med Center. "Come on, you need medical attention more than I do."
Obi-Wan smiled in amusement and gratitude at how Ani was trying to help him. "Thank you Ani."
Ani smiled at him.
~*~
~*~
"Your Honor, *I* am Queen Amidala."
Rae bit her lip and kept her eyes forward trying not to laugh. For Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan turned to look at each other and then turned to look at her simultaneously.
She composed herself then turned and looked at them innocently. Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow and Qui-Gon just shook his head in amusement.
Rae grinned and turned back and watched the famous peace treaty between the Gungans and the Naboo come into being.
~*~
Rae was listening to a story that Eirté was telling when she noticed Sabé standing off to the side and went over to her.
"Hi."
Sabé looked up and smiled. "Hi. You're Raechel Hennel, right?"
"Yes, and you're Sabé."
Sabé nodded. "Amidala told me that you knew and that you were a wonderful friend."
Rae blushed with pleasure. "I thank her for that compliment. I don't know yet if that will prove to be fully true, I haven't had a lot of chances to try making and keeping friends. So we will just have to see how good of a friend I am."
Sabé laughed. "Well you seem to be good friends with Anakin."
Rae shrugged. "I have known Ani for a while now and he was the one who really initiated the friendship."
Sabé nodded; then looked at her curiously. "What is it like, being a Jedi I mean?"
Rae shrugged. "I haven't had a very conventional Jedi upbringing. I was raised and trained by my mother who had been a Jedi. Normally that is done in the Jedi Temple. But as far as what it is like...well that is like me asking you what it is like being a non-Force-user."
Sabé nodded. "I suppose it is. What is Master Jinn like? I haven't really had much of a chance to get to know him. Jedi Obi-Wan and I were able to talk some but the only times I have spoken with Master Jinn are in official conversations."
Rae thought for a moment. "Qui-Gon is a good man and a great Jedi Master. He is thought to be one of the best sabremasters. He is wise and has been very kind to me. But he can be stubborn. He is very in tune with the Living Force but almost not at all with the Unifying Force." Rae's lips twitched. "But then again I am almost the same way."
Sabé looked down and asked as nonchalantly as she could, "And what do you think of Jedi Obi-Wan?"
Rae looked up at her, and her lips twitched. "Obi-Wan is as stubborn as his Master. He is a great friend, but he can be so thick headed. He and Qui-Gon clash quite a bit for he is more in tune to the Unifying Force and not so much so the Living Force. But he his is learning to listen more closely." She looked at Sabé teasingly. "He is also quite handsome."
Sabé blushed. "Please don't tell him."
Rae grinned. "My lips a sealed." The Rae looked at her curiously. "Why don't you go talk to him?"
Sabé looked down. "I couldn't, for I have lied to him and he probably will think badly of me."
Rae frowned. "No, you were just doing your duty. He will understand." Then she rolled up her sleeves and pounded her fist into her hand and said jokingly, "Or he will have *me* to answer to!"
Sabé laughed. Then she looked over at where Obi-Wan was standing. He finished speaking to Qui-Gon; then stood alone. Sabé took a deep breath and stood up. "Well here goes nothing."
Rae winked at her encouragingly. "May the Force be with you."
Sabé smiled back nervously then went over to the young Jedi.
Rae smiled. 'Somehow I don't think that Obi-Wan will spend his life alone.' Then she pursed her lips. 'Except for that pesky little rule about no marrying.' Rae sighed. "How annoying."
"What is?"
Rae looked up a little startled. "Master Qui-Gon, I didn't see you there."
Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow. "Obviously. What is annoying?"
Rae blushed. "Uhh.Nothing. Nothing."
Qui-Gon gave her a look that quite obviously said that he didn't believe her.
Rae grimaced. "Just a little griping about certain rules we Jedi have to follow." She didn't know why but she felt she had to tell him something, even though she was pretty sure he would have settled for her silence. Involuntarily her eyes wandered to where Obi-Wan and Sabé were talking quietly, both seeming to enjoy each other's company. Then they went to where Padmé was sitting with Ani and talking.
Qui-Gon followed her gaze in both cases. Then he looked back at her. "That particular rule I also have found to be annoying. For it does drive a wedge in many relationships that could become very strong, good ones."
Rae looked up at him. She could tell from the tone of his voice he was speaking from his own experience. She wanted to help him right then. She took his big hand in her own tiny one.
Qui-Gon looked down at her and smiled gratefully. He reached over and stroked her head gently. "Thank you, Bright One."
Rae suddenly stiffened. "That is what my mother used to call me."
Qui-Gon looked at her compassionately.
Rae looked down; then stood up. "Excuse me." She all but ran off. If she was going to break-down and cry she didn't want it to be in front of anyone. She went off to where she wasn't too far from the group, but far enough away not to be bothered. She took deep breaths a soon regained control. She straightened up and walked back to the others.
"Rae!"
She looked up.
Obi-Wan was motioning her to follow him. "It is time to leave for Theed."
Rae nodded. She stood taller, bracing herself for what she knew was to come. 'Well, this is sure to be the longest day of my life.'
~*~
Rae stood in the streets of Theed with the rest of the group next to Obi- Wan.
Qui-Gon turned to Ani. "When we reach the palace I want you to find a place to hide and stay there, understand?"
Ani nodded. "Yeah, sure."
Rae just barely bit back a laugh, but she couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. Obi-Wan looked at her strangely and she looked down. 'He'll stay in his hiding place alright. But his hiding place *won't* stay put.'
But she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing that the only way that the control ship was going to be destroyed was if Ani went, no matter how much she didn't like it and it made her worry.
Obi-Wan nudged her, bringing her out of her thoughts, and showed her his lightsabre. She nodded and pulled out her own sabre.
The distraction came and their group ran through the street, most of them shooting at the robots while Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Rae blocked and deflected the shots with their sabres; Ani did his best to keep up with them while keeping out of target range. They ran for the passage.
~*~
Once they entered the hanger everything began to become a blur to Rae, for everything was happening so fast and she just started reacting as she sensed things through the Force. Finally she was drawn out of that state.
Then the door opened before them; there stood a tall dark figure.
'He's even scarier than in the movie!' Rae stepped forward with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
"We'll handle this."
Obi-Wan looked over at her, to tell her to go with the queen, but she shook her head, a look on her face that told him she would *not* stay behind. She was determined to do everything she could to keep Qui-Gon from dying.
She, like Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, removed her outer robe, pulled out her sabre and lit it.
Darth Maul shed his outer robe and lit both of his blades.
The four of them began their deadly dance. Rae helped where she could, but she also stepped back when she knew that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan could handle it, not wanting to hinder them. Then, Maul knocked Obi-Wan off the walkway. Rae spared a glance down at him to make sure he was alright. He was hanging onto another walkway. He told her with his eyes that he was fine and to go with Qui-Gon so she nodded and quickly caught up with Qui-Gon. She fought along side him. They reached the infamous laser walls. The walls opened before them. Suddenly the laser wall closed between Qui-Gon and Maul. She sensed the wall coming toward her and she leapt back. She was separated from Qui-Gon by one wall. She watched at Qui-Gon knelt down and meditated; then looked back at Obi-Wan, who was many walls behind them. His eyes begged her to stay-up with his Master. She nodded and then looked back forward. She closed her eyes and went into a semi-meditation.
She felt some of her strength that she had used up in the fight so far return to her. She reached out to the walls and felt the timers of the laser walls counting down and began counting down with it. The instant before her wall turned off she relit her saber and ran forward at the wall opened. She and Qui-Gon continued to battle the Sith. The Sith knocked her away; she hit the wall. It hurt like none-other but she got back up. She saw Maul hit Qui-Gon with the hilt of his sabre. Rae's desperation gave her speed beyond that she had ever had in either life. She reached out with her sabre...and caught the sabre just before it his Qui-Gon. She fought with the Sith, getting him away from Qui-Gon so that the Jedi Master would be able to recover, but she knew that she could only hold him off for so long. Qui-Gon soon rejoined her efforts. Then the Sith knocked Qui-Gon away. And Rae was on her own again. She blocked and parried his aggressive attacks as best she could. But one of them soon got through. It stabbed through her leg. With the sudden pain she lost her concentration and the Sith was able to get another hit through; he stabbed her through her shoulder. It was then that Qui-Gon intervened. Rae was just barely able to switch off her lightsabre as she fell back against the wall, pain coursing through her. She watched, barely conscious as Qui-Gon continued to fight. The Sith took a slice out of Obi-Wan's arm, but he was able to continue to fight. Qui-Gon was thrown against the wall and blacked out temporarily. Things were quickly becoming fuzzy to Rae. The only thing she was able to understand from the fight after that was that Obi-Wan beat the Sith. Obi-Wan and Qui- Gon came to her side.
She looked up at Obi-Wan. "I don't care what the Council says; you are a Jedi Knight in my book." After saying that she felt the remainder of her energy drain away. She just vaguely heard Qui-Gon tell her that he was going to put her into a Healing Trance. She felt strong arms pick her up; then she knew no more.
~*~
~*~
Ani stood up in the cockpit of his ship. He was happy that he was able to help everyone, but he was worried. He had always been able to sense when he or people he cared about were in trouble and right now he sensed that Rae was. He looked around. The other pilots gathered around him and helped him out of the ship, congratulating him. He thanked them, but all the while he was looking for his friend. Then the doors that Rae, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had gone through opened. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon walked through them, Qui-Gon carrying a small form in his arms. Ani's heart nearly stopped. He ran over to them. "Rae?!"
Obi-Wan stepped forward and caught him. Qui-Gon nodded his thanks to this Padawan and hurriedly carried Rae to the med center.
"What's wrong with her?!" Ani looked after Rae; then turned to Obi-Wan, fear for his friend clear in his eyes.
Obi-Wan placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, trying to calm him. "Anakin, you *have* to calm down! Rae is injured; Qui-Gon is taking her to the med center. There she will be taken care of and most likely will be just fine."
Ani took deep breath, like Rae had taught him to do whenever he was troubled. He began to feel calmer.
Obi-Wan watched the small boy and felt shock as he watched the more or less untrained child used Jedi relaxation techniques to calm down. He was impressed with him. "Come; let's go to the med center. We should get you checked out."
Ani nodded, then he stopped and gently grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and looked up at him concerned. "You're hurt!"
Obi-Wan looked down at his arm. He had completely forgotten about his arm because of his concern for Rae.
Ani began to lead Obi-Wan in the direction of the Med Center. "Come on, you need medical attention more than I do."
Obi-Wan smiled in amusement and gratitude at how Ani was trying to help him. "Thank you Ani."
Ani smiled at him.
~*~
