Chapter 8 - A Queen's Plan

"Your Highness, I'd like you to meet Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"It is an honour, Queen Amidala." The new Jedi bowed low to the Queen of Naboo. She looked at him, assessing. He was shorter than Master Jinn and less broad in the shoulders. He had long auburn hair that had been pulled back into a tight plat. He was dressed as a Jedi and she could see his lightsabre clipped to his belt. His face was young and some how ageless. He appeared youthful although it was impossible to tell his real age. He was handsome, however it was his eyes that were captivating. They were green and at moments seemed both grey and blue.

Amidala found she was smiling despite herself. This knight was not like the other Jedi she had met. She was no Force sensitive, regardless even she could feel that.

"I am honoured the Council have agreed to help me in my plight with the aid of two of its order."

"Pardon, your Highness, but it was not the Council who has sent me, nor am I here to assist you."

The Queen looked puzzled and may have felt affronted if not for her curiosity.

"Then why are you here?" Panaka demanded on her behalf.

"You did not tell them?" Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon.

"No, it was not my place."

"Your Highness, I am afraid that you have stepped into a delicate situation for the Jedi and for that reason I shall tell you my secret even though no one outside the order knows it and even then those within sit either upon the Council or stand beside me now." Obi-Wan smiled at his Master.

"Panaka stay, everyone else could you please leave us." The Queen ordered. The handmaidens and guards filed out of the room, leaving the two Naboo, Anakin and the two Jedi. Amidala rose from her seat and came forward.

"Please, sit." She indicated chairs and sofas facing each other. "And call me Dala, if we are to know each others secrets."

They sat together, less formal than would ordinarily be permitted, and the Jedi began to speak.

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"The Jedi order has many prophecies, myths and legends. Some concern the Chosen One who will bring balance, others of the Sith and finally those of the Jedi Warrior. It seems that this is the time when all three will come forward and be revealed.

"That creature on Tatooine, he was a Sith?"

Obi-Wan nodded.

"And Anakin?"

"I'm the chosen one." The boy spoke with confidence.

"So, that would make you the Jedi Warrior?" waiting for their confirmation the Queen continued. "What does that mean?"

Obi-Wan looked to Qui-Gon to talk of the rest, unwilling to voice the part that concerned him so closely.

"The Jedi are the protectors of peace in the galaxy," Qui-Gon told Amidala. "Have been for millennia, but who protects us from the galaxy? When necessary, when the Jedi are struggling to survive and do their duty, a Jedi is born who's sense of the Force is different. He can do what any other Jedi can, accept sooner or later he will notice his own, unique gifts.

"The Jedi Warrior is in tune with battle, he stands in the line between the Light and the Dark fighting. When one is among us, the two sides of the Force compete to sway him or her to one side. Obi-Wan is of the Light; he fights for the Jedi."

"For five years I have roamed the galaxy, following my sense of the Force to Jedi who have been in need of me. For five years I have been a shadow; hiding where no one will see me. For five years I have been dead. And now the Sith have arisen and the Force called me to my old Master.

"Qui-Gon will aid you in any way he can, however my priority is to protect Qui-Gon and Anakin." Obi-Wan finished.

"Me? But I'm not a Jedi."

"Yet."

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon admonished, his voice stern.

"What?" the Knight asked, his face a picture of innocence.

"And you admonish me for going against the Council."

"Ah, but you forget, Master Jinn, I do not answer to the Council."

"Then whom do you answer to?" Panaka wanted to know.

"The Force. I do as it commands, as any Jedi should. Except I have more leeway because I can sense what others cannot."

"So, you are coming to Naboo because of the Sith?"

"I am going to Naboo because the danger to Qui-Gon has not yet passed. I have been with him since his last mission, regardless the threat did not manifest itself until Tatooine and it will end on your world."

"Now that you tell me this, Master Jedi, Knight Kenobi, I feel compelled to tell you my secret because I have deceived you."

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Qui-Gon held us his hand to forestall her confession.

"There is no need, Highness. Your secret is known to me."

"Us." Obi-Wan corrected.

Only Anakin looked confused and did not understand what was not being said. The Queen was smiling to her protector. Although Anakin knew he was being left out of something important he still felt part of the growing companionship between the group of people.

"I should have known that I could not fool a Jedi Master."

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The Queen's plan was a relatively simple one even if it did depend upon one thing; the help of the Gungans. Jar Jar had been adamant that Boss Nasa would help them, that he would see both peoples of Naboo would need to join forces to retake their own planet.

The only setback had come when they could not find the Gungans, the underwater city had been abandoned. Following Jar Jar's advice they went to the sacred place and there found the Gungan people gathered.

The meeting was an interesting one, Qui-Gon mussed after, especially when Padme revealed she was Queen Amidala. Showing her trust by showing Boss Nasa her security secret earned her respect from the leader and her plea earned her his help.

Of the Naboo part only Anakin was surprised. Qui-Gon felt a momentary flash of anger and betrayal from the boy. It was swiftly replaced by excitement as the alliance was finalised. If not for the coming battle the Jedi Master may have wondered at the meaning of what he had felt from the boy.

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Creeping into the city had not been difficult, getting into the palace proved more troublesome.

Amidala signalled to Panaka. Then together the divided infiltrators attacked the droids that stood guard. Blaster fire bounced back and forth and amongst it two lightsabres danced, protecting their owners and the Queen.

The Naboo made it into the hanger where even more droids waited for them.

"Get to your ships." The Queen ordered.

The pilots ran for their fighters as the palace guard and the Jedi covered them. Anakin, following the orders of the Jedi found a place to hide. The fighters took off and headed out into space to engage the trade federation's fleet. With all the pilots in their ships and heading out, the guards turned their attention to finishing off the droids that still remained. Once the hanger was clear they knew that it would not be long before reinforcements arrived.

The group passed Anakin, who had managed to get into one of the remaining fighters' cockpits, and as they did so Qui-Gon ordered him to stay there. The Queen led them to the bay doors, but before they could reach them they opened to reveal the tattooed creature that they had seen on Tatooine.

"We'll handle this." Qui-Gon told her.

"We'll go the long way around." Amidala turned to her left and led her people to one of the hanger's other exits.