AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just realized that I haven't put a disclaimer!

DISCLAIMER: Star Wars is George Lucas' and in no way, shape, or form has any affiliation with this story. The ideas in this story are mine though!

Thanks for the reviews and the title recommendations! Here's the next chapter for you all to enjoy!

Qui-Gon looked as if he was going to be sick as he heard the Toydarian and his companions looked over the ship in delight. He could see the Queen, her two handmaidens, her crew, and his apprentice getting everything that was needed off of it. A pang of regret shot through him once more - it was obvious that it would be a little bit before he got over his critical mistake. The handmaiden Padmé pulled ahead of him on her eopie and, upon her arrival, went to go get some of her things. He arrived and got off of the eopie which he was riding. "Is everything off of the ship which we need?" "Yes, Master, it is. Do we have quarters where we can hide the Queen until we can find a way to get out of here?" "Some of us can stay with Anakin and his mom, which I'd recommend the Queen and her handmaidens do so along with us. The crew will be staying with one of Anakin's friends, Kitster. His parents live nearby and have graciously volunteered to board everyone else." The younger man nodded and went to gather up some things which were already off ship.

"Have you gotten everything, Jedi?" Obi-Wan looked and saw the handmaiden Padmé approach him, slinging a bag over her shoulder. "Yes . . ." Both were quiet for a minute or so before the man told her to not be angry at his master. "I don't know what to think right now, Jedi Kenobi. A part of me is angry at him for relying on the boy to save us when we should be saving Anakin." "Just trust in the Force, young handmaiden. A solution will present itself sooner or later . . ." She smiled at him - she felt that he was the only of the Jedi duo who she could really understand. "Handmaiden! Obi-Wan! Come on, we've got to get to the city before nightfall!" They turned and saw Qui-Gon waving them over. Even with her anger at the Jedi Master, however, she managed to allow a smile to peek through. She turned back to her companion and asked if he had a hold of everything. "Yes." They began to join the Queen (who had gotten onto Qui-Gon's eopie) and her entourage.

~*~*~

"I know I haven't asked you for anything in the past few years, but this is a matter of safety to a Queen and to a world. Please, just try and put your differences aside with you and my master. We really need your help . . . we're stranded in a spaceport on the planet of Tatooine. I've heard around the ship that the city is referred to as 'Mos Espa.' I know that you can find us from there." The woman shut off the vidscreen and got out a map of her current location. *I'm pretty close to Tatooine right now.* She debated her decision and, a few minutes later turned on her engines and set a destination for the desert planet.

~*~*~

All was quiet around Mos Espa when night came. Padmé, Sabé, Rabé and Eirtaé could hear the murmur of voices right down the street from them - the guards and pilots were still awake. "The Jedi seems to think it would be best if you stay inside while we're here, Sabé." The woman in royal clothing nodded, knowing that Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Anakin and his mother were down in the main room on the first floor. "I thought so. This city seems to not accept those people who are dressed in fine clothing." "If you need something either ask one of us or Shmi, Anakin's mother. You might be able to ask Ani himself if you want . . ." "I'll keep that in mind . . ." There was an awkward silence between the four women before Eirtaé stood up. She knew what they all were thinking - their minds had drifted back to their other two comrades, Saché and Yané, who were both stuck on Naboo. They didn't know if they were still in the castle, in the concentration camps, or even . . . "Let's go inside - its getting kind of cold out here." The other three stood and nodded in agreement.

They joined Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Shmi, and Anakin, who were sitting across from each other. "Tatooine isn't really that bad," the woman was saying. "You just have to know how to watch your back and keep a cool head." She stood up as she noticed that the Queen had entered the room. "Your Highness . . . ladies . . ." Sabé sat off to the side of the two parties. The two handmaidens and Queen-in-disguise flanked her and all three groups engaged in a conversation.

~*~*~

A ship quietly landed on the edge of the Dune Sea, just a little farther out from where the Nubian Royal Entourage had been located. It was a nice transport vessel which seemed like it could hold a small group of about 10 or so comfortably, about the size of the Queen's Transport. The boarding/disembarking ramp opened up and out came a woman of about 25 or so. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and was wearing what seemed to be an entirely black bodysuit. She could hear the calls of the banthas and wamprats out in the Dune Sea; it was that quiet out. As she felt a slight wind, she pulled her cloak around her tighter and got out a sort of miniature tracking device which she had programmed on the way there. Flipping it on, she saw a stationary light flashing. It was coming from the direction of several lights. She began to walk towards it, keeping it on as a positional reference.

She followed it to an "apartmentish" area of housing. When she came upon one specific door, she found that it was locked. She could hear voices inside and tensed when a male voice said, "Come on, Anakin. Time for bed." She tried several different lock combinations before she got out something to use in an attempt to break it. She was successful, and quietly slid the door open enough to where she could get through it. It shut behind her and locked. She put the device back on her belt and walked towards the voices.

Appearing in the doorway, she got an instant gasp from the woman sitting facing her. The man who was sitting with his back to the door turned around to see what the matter was and he smiled. "Its okay," Obi-Wan said to the others in the group. "She's one of my friends." He got up and quickly went over, hugging her. "Thanks for coming," he said into her ear. "What are friends for?" she said. "True . . ." He was interrupted by Qui-Gon's voice from the other room. He appeared in the only other doorway in that room, but stopped when he saw the newcomer. His hand went instantly to his lightsaber, but when his padawan stepped in front of her he stopped. There was an unmistakable air of tension in the room as the Jedi Master nodded towards her. "Melisandra . . ." "Qui-Gon . . ." she said returning the uptight greeting. She set her hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder and stared at the older man intently, waiting for his next move.

Up next: what Obi-Wan was supposed to do 'a long time ago!' And, as always, please R & R!!!