Part Three: Finding Out the News

I was quick to get a starfighter and disappeared into the night sky of Coruscant undetected. I ascended into the reaches of space and launched into hyperspace.

The stars elongated as I went into hyperspace and time seemed to come to a halt. Traveling from place to place in space could take months without hyperspace and this was one time there was no need for the long travel.

Hours passed.

Days passed.

Again, I felt a faint cry. I wasn't sure what it was, but it was in pain.

The luscious green planet of Naboo came onto the scanners. It seemed so much more peaceful from the view of the starfighter. But again, the nightmare played in my head.

.....I watched with fear as the shadows threw Sabé around like a
rag doll. It was like she was nothing more than some piece in their
sick game of pleasure and torment. I felt frozen in my tracks, not
even a muscle moved, nor my eyes blinked. But I could feel rage in my
throat. My eyes fell with defeat.

"Ben!" she cried out to me.

My eyes shot up in alarm and attention. "Sabé, no!"

Then her cry seemed to have dominated mine as she was silenced. Her motionless body hit the ground slowly.

"Noooooo!" I cried.......

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I shot back into reality by R4's beeps and whistles. I pulled quickly up hard on the controls to avoid colliding with the valley several feet below me. The nature was preserved well on this planet. It was a beauty to see. Waterfalls. Valleys. Jungles. Swamps.

It felt like days since I was on the planet, but it was weeks.

I landed in the hangar, hoping to avoid attention, but it didn't seem to work. I had arrived when the guards were changing shifts. Pilots were around checking maintenance on the grounded ships.

"Hey, it's Obi-Wan!"

"Obi-Wan!"

"What's a Jedi doing here?"

"Now the Jedi are involved? Why weren't we informed?"

I was met with other comments, that included congratulating me on my appointed ranks to Jedi Knight, mourning the death of Qui-Gon, and just asking what I was doing there. I answered them all slowly, waiting for my chance to ask questions.

"Where's Sabé?" I asked simply.

They grew quiet, turning their eyes in other directions. It was as if the name was unfamiliar to them or of a language they couldn't understand.

"Where is she?" I asked again. I was losing my patience. I had to know. And had to know now.

One guard broke free from behind all the others and addressed me. "... It happened about two weeks ago. Four handmaidens were out for their normal walk around the outer perimeter of the palace. They were gone for quite some time and the Queen was getting worried. She was about to send a few of us out to search for them when one came back. Only one. She told us what happened and quickly after that with no hesitation, the Queen sent out guards in search of the others."

"Who was it?"

"It was Rabé. Before the search began she told us that Sabé was the only other survivor, but was taken by, as she described it,....shadows of evil and hate. The other two were killed and thrown into the river. We've found their bodies, but we are still searching for Sabé. And we have been out day and night, but haven't found a thing. No clues. Nothing. It's like they disappeared without a trace," his voice shook.

I nodded slowly. I wasn't going to accept defeat so easily. I knew she was still out there. Weak. But still alive. Sabé, I'm coming. I'll find you and they will pay for the harm they did to you. Please, hang in there. I could feel something through the Force, hoping it was her..

"I wish to speak with the Queen." Authority was in my voice.

The guards grew silent again.

"Is there a problem?" I grew impatient.

"No, sir," they said in unison.

"Then, may I speak with the Queen?"

After a slight hesitation two guards stepped forward. What was wrong with these guards? Did they fear me? Do they fear the Queen for some strange reason?

I followed the two guards into the palace. The halls were quiet and empty as our footsteps echoed throughout it. We reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the main throne room, when a cloaked figure appeared before us. I was about to reach for my lightsaber, when the figure motioned the guards away. The figure walked off and I followed close behind, slightly confused. Yet, not quite worried. We entered a room, the figure closing the door behind me.

"I knew you'd come back," a female voice said from behind.

I peered over my shoulder to look at the cloaked figure. It lowered the hood and met my gaze.

"Your Highness. Um.. my apologizes... for imposing a threat," I bowed.

She smiled that royal smile of hers and looked down. "It's understandable." She paused to met me eye to eye. "I wasn't surprised to see you come back, Obi-Wan. The guards reported a stray Jedi starfighter entering the hangar not too long ago."

"I'm sorry--" I tried to say.

"No apologizes, Obi-Wan," she held up a hand. "I know why you came back. After word had gotten out about Sabé's disappearance, I figured you'd sense something through the Force. And that's what brought you back. I can tell."

I nodded and looked down. I could feel my eyes grow puffy, but I fought them back. I kept my composure and peered up at the Queen. I could see concern in her eyes, but noted the look was more then 'The-Force-Brought- You-Back-Here' look. "Where is she?"

"The guards have found nothing for days. No clues. Nothing. They're beginning to call it quits. But I know she's alive. I'm sure of it."

"But of course," I nodded. "And the Gungans? Have they been any help?"

"Even they are beginning to fall back."

I looked at her, observing her from head to toe. It was hard to face the fact that she looked so much like Sabé. The only difference was I always felt warm when Sabé was near. It was like nothing I ever felt. I was given permission to direct her that way. The Queen gave me passage to direct her as Padmé, but I still gave her the respect as a queen. We had grown close acquaintances, if not like a brother-sister relationship. But now, this was serious. Padmé was dressed in something similar with what she wore on Tatooine when she went out to explore with Qui-Gon.

"Is that why you're going out there yourself?" I asked intently.

"What gave you that impression?" she said simply.

"The clothes." I answered.

She looked down and spoke quietly. "I can't sit here and do nothing. She's more than just a handmaiden to me. She's my best friend. She's like a sister."

"I know how that is." my voice inaudible. "I can't fail again." Sabé, where are you?

She fought back her tears. " You couldn't. You love her too much to give up. To fail. That's why you came back." Her voice was barely above mine.

I looked at her in disbelief, but somewhere deep within me I knew she already knew. I did make the mistake in thinking Sabé was the Queen, but it just drew me to show her how much more I cared and loved her when I found out the truth. It wasn't the status, but the beauty and personality behind that masked disguise that drew me to her.

Then the cry again.

....."Ben!"

"Sabé, no!"

Her body dropped to the ground, motionless.

"Noooooo!" .....

I caught my breath and my footing. I called on the Force for extra support and turned my attention to the Queen. Our feelings mixed as our eyes met. My face dropped to show sympathy and concern. I couldn't control my legs and they came under me. I dropped to the floor, bawling like a baby.

I caught my breath, wiping the tears, quickly. "I'm sorry, Your Highness." I said, quietly.

She knelt down to met me eye to eye. "Don't be. We both know why you came back. But I'm asking you to be strong about this. You are a Jedi and I know a Jedi should never show his true feelings. Or shed tears. No matter what the situation is. You have to be strong. For Sabé."

I got to my feet. "You're right." I hesitated. "Thank you."

A smile passed the young Queen's face, making me do the same.

To be continued....