Author's Note: Wow! Thanks for staying with me all this time, my wonderful readers! Your reviews have truly kept me inspired and on track. Please, continue to let me know what you think!

00000

Grabbing Anakin with one hand and the clue with the other, Padme quickly headed for the exit while giving the Avoiders a wide berth. She had seen that look on her husband's face before - it was moments before he had executed a jaw-dropping Force shove. She had no wish to repeat the experience and knew the athletes would thank her if they only knew.

Standing between Anakin and the Arena entrance, Padme opened the clue and began to read, glad for the distraction:

"You have completed the Blockade! Well done! Teams must now travel by Pedal Ships to the Race's Seventh Destination! You must hurry! The last team may be eliminated."

"Pedal Ships? What are those?" she wondered. She turned to Anakin who didn't seem to be paying the least bit of attention. Her suspicions were confirmed when he began to speak.

"I can't believe what they did! Jumping on you like that - you could have been smothered!" he seethed. "I need to go in there and have a word with them-" With a huff, he immediately started past her and she winced as she imagined the forthcoming scene.

Moments later, she heard the sounds of a scuffle and she put a hand to her head, trying to massage away the looming headache. Her ears pricked up at the sound of a familiar voice and she sighed in relief as Obi-wan emerged from the dark hallway, gripping Anakin's upper arm tightly.

"Ah, young Kaide," he beamed. "It is so kind of you to come and check on our progress. Never fear, we have completed the task and are ready to race you to the finish. I believe our next order of business is to find some - Pedal Ships?"

"Yes, that is correct," Mace added, looking at Anakin sternly. Padme watched her husband slowly relax and quickly went to him, taking her hand in his.

Glancing around, the four pairs of eyes seemed to land on the speeder-like ships at the same instant. The tension broken, they began to sprint, straining to capture the lead as they called out good-natured taunts. Avoiding the dust they were kicking up, the camera droids hung back, filming from a distance.

As she drew closer, Padme instantly spotted the ship with "Liri and Kaide" emblazoned on the side. On one fluid motion, she jumped aboard and scooted to the side as Anakin slid in next to her. Instinctively, he studied the controls, shocked by the absence of any engines or power sources.

Grinning, Padme explained, "I think it is up to us to make it go." With that, she put her feet on the platforms and began to push her feet down, moving them in a circular motion. With a start, Anakin realized they were actually moving. He quickly mimicked her efforts and soon they were sailing across the ground, Mace and Obi-wan arguing loudly a few yards behind them.

Spotting the host droid in the distance, Padme doubled her efforts as Obi-wan and Mace drew even. The Jedi Masters were pouring every ounce of determination into their performance and she knew it was going to be another close finish. As the mat came into view, Padme engaged the brake and cringed at the shrieking noise the ship made as it shuddered to a stop. Leaping from her seat, she felt Anakin grab her hand and they raced to the mat, stepping on it seconds after Obi-wan and Mace.

"Welcome to the Seventh Destination of Racing Through the Stars, the Binkai Dormitories. Tarv and Dake, you are Team number two. Liri and Kaide, you are Team number three. Congratulations! I must say, these two teams have formed quite an alliance, haven't you?"

With a grin, Obi-wan replied, "You have no idea."

Padme and Anakin struggled to hold in their laughter as they simply nodded.

BINKAI DORMITORIES, ROOM E189 - TWO HOURS LATER

"The ships have already been brought around back," Mace explained. Padme inched forward in her seat, listening to every word intently. "Plauu's orbit will be closest to us in approximately one hour and its shields will drop to avoid interfering with the Binkain atmosphere."

"And that's when we will make our move," Anakin concluded, his face a mask of grim resolve.

"Yes. Remember, we only have a half-hour to get our ships through and on the ground," Obi-wan explained. "There can be no mistakes."

Padme nodded, her stomach jumping with nerves.

"Senator, if you'd like to finish getting ready, we have a few more things to discuss with Anakin," Mace prompted, sensing her uneasiness. Grateful for the opportunity to keep busy, she nodded and started for the bedroom suite.

She waited calmly for the door to slide shut behind her. Hearing it lock into place, she darted for the 'fresher and braced her hands against the counter, her breaths coming in nervous gasps. Suddenly haunted by the silence of the small room, she switched on the faucets, letting the roar of the rushing water fill her ears.

This is it.

The end of the nightmare is finally within reach.

Or is it only the beginning?

She ignored the sickening thought as her eyes came to rest on her reflection in the mirror. Absently, she adjusted a few hair pins, wanting to make sure her hair was secure and out of her way. Satisfied, she reached for her utility belt, snapping it around the waist of her dark green tunic. She had picked the color of her clothing carefully, intending to blend in amongst the leafy plants Plauu was known for.

Just in case…

She heard the bedroom door slide open and switched off the water, spotting Anakin lounging inside the door frame. He was clad in his usual Jedi clothing, a dark cloak tossed casually over his shoulder. His utility belt looked strangely empty without his light saber. By the way his hand rested near its mounting clip, she could tell its absence was bothering him.

"Don't worry - it will be waiting for you on the ship," she assured him teasingly.

He flushed slightly as he grinned, "Am I that obvious?"

"Only to me," she retorted, tilting her face to his for a kiss. After a long moment, she stepped away and slipped on her knee-high boots. They weren't her normal travel boots despite their similar appearance - no, these were meant for battle and had the rock hard tips to prove it. As she started to return to the main room, Anakin caught her wrist and pulled her to him once again.

"If anything happens out there, I expect to see those ships leaving Plauu's atmosphere. Promise me, Padme. Please," he whispered, low and urgent.

Her face was fierce and her voice strong as she said, "If it becomes necessary, those ships will leave Plauu. I promise."

But I won't be on either of them...

BEHIND BINKAI DORMITORIES - SHIP OF LIRI AND KAIDE - 45 MINUTES LATER

Artoo removed his sensor from the ship's computer and whistled cheerfully.

"Pre-flight check completed successfully," Anakin called as he settled into the pilot's seat. Padme quickly relayed the information to Obi-wan through her comlink.

"Very good. Follow our lead," came the quick response. She watched as their ship slowly left the ground before streaking to the sky. There was a quiet rumble as they left the ground.

"I only hope they don't go the wrong direction," Anakin smirked, recalling his Masters' penchant for wrong turns. Padme laughed as she watched the tall dormitory fade from view. She pressed a hand to the glass wistfully.

Manipulating the controls easily, Anakin glanced over at her. There was a moment of silence before he asked, "Are you ready?"

Without pause, she turned towards him and replied, "Yes."