Author's Note: Never fear, this isn't the last chapter, but it is close to it. I think we might only have one left, two at most. But the good news is that I'm leaving on vacation this Saturday for 10 days so at least I will have this wrapped up before I go - I actually had good timing for a change! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for the reviews – you know by now how happy they make me! You are the best!

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Padme broke the surface of the T'olp Reservoir and drew in a gasping breath, putting a fist to her mouth to stifle the sudden outburst of coughing. Treading water, she watched Anakin, Obi-wan and Mace pop up a few yards away and grinned widely in relief.

Together, they moved towards the shoreline and stumbled onto the grassy surface, temporarily giving in to their exhaustion. Padme reached out and sought Anakin's hand, relaxing slightly as it curled into hers. From a distance, she could hear the sounds of Jarrick's fortress crumbling and her eyes flickered towards the commotion. A large plume of smoke could be seen spiraling through the tree tops.

She sat up slowly, wiping her face and crinkling her nose at the dark green ooze that came away on her fingertips. How lovely! Gingerly, she rolled her shoulders, wincing as she felt the jagged scrapes on her back. Without even looking, she knew Anakin's eyes were darkening as he took in her injuries. Through their Bond, she could feel a rush of anger spread through his body and she hurried to reassure him.

"I'm okay, Ani," she whispered. "Truly." Her voice grew louder as she directed her next comments to the Jedi Masters, "I just hope I don't have to slide down any drainage pipes in the near future. At least, not while wearing an evening gown. I'm beginning to believe you Jedi don't know how to repay a kind gesture."

Anakin began to smile as the last of his anger drained away. Getting to his feet, he extended a hand to her and she accepted it gratefully, standing just as Obi-wan and Mace walked over.

"Senator, you do raise a good point. Why did you feel the need to dress so formally for your rescue mission?" Obi-wan teased.

"Well, public figures must strive to look their best, no matter what the occasion," she retorted. Affectionately, she wiped a trail of slime from the front of Obi-wan's cloak. "This just brings back such fond memories of the babops, right?" Her sarcasm was rewarded by a burst of laughter from the two Jedi Masters.

His manner once again turning serious, Mace bowed and said, "We are so relieved you are safe, Milady."

"Thank you, Master Windu. The feeling is mutual," she assured him. "I only wish we could have detained our captor. I fear it is only a matter of time before Jarrick strikes again."

"He is dangerous indeed," Obi-wan agreed, his tone somber. "He seems to have an easy control over the Dark side - a talent that even the most knowledgeable Force-user couldn't begin to master on his own."

"So someone has been teaching him?" Anakin asked, his brows furrowed in thought. Unconsciously, he moved closer to Padme as if to shield her from the grave turn their line of thinking was taking them.

"Yes, it appears he has received extensive training," Mace mused, his hand absently stroking his now-familiar goatee. "I will have to discuss this new development with Master Yoda and the rest of the Council. It certainly makes me uneasy. Only a Sith Lord would have such an understanding of the nature of the Dark side."

"We should contact the Council right away. Our ship has been outfitted with an encrypted communicator. Padme, are the ships accessible?" Obi-wan wondered. Anakin looked at her plainly, obviously remembering her 'promise' to leave in the ships if trouble arose.

Padme tried to hide her guilty look as her sneaky plan came to light. Chagrined, she admitted, "Threepio is piloting them discreetly several sectors away. Artoo has the remote we need to signal him."

Anakin fumbled for the sodden com-link and frowned as he tried to activate it. It took a few tries, but he was finally rewarded with a burst of static and a steady hum that indicated it was ready.

"Come in, Artoo," he called. He waited expectantly and felt his heart sink when the line remained silent.

"Artoo?" he tried again. "Come in."

Padme's leaned into Anakin as she realized the faithful droid was missing. Suddenly, it all became clear:the list of possible exits, the schedule of the trash disposal cycle, the miraculous release of the second hatch. Artoo would have only been able to get that information if he had accessed the main computer-

"He saved us," she gasped. "Oh no, Artoo! He must have gone into the building! He was probably still in there when it collapsed-" She started towards the smoke that was rising on the horizon but was quickly stopped by Obi-wan.

"There's nothing you can do," he said gently. "We must wait."

Padme opened her mouth to argue but was stopped by the strange noise that was coming from the com-link still held loosely in Anakin's hand. A blast of hope sent her heart racing as she waited for the sounds to be become more distinct. Sure enough, the small droid's beeps and whistles increased in volume as he recounted his trying adventure.

"Well done, Artoo!" Anakin congratulated after a long moment. "Are you picking us up on your scanners? Can you come to us?" After an affirmative reply, the com-link fell silent.

Padme felt a grin split her cheeks in relief. That little droid had been with her through so much, it truly would have been lonely without him.

And not nearly as exciting.

SHIP OF LIRI AND KAIDE - NINETY MINUTES LATER

Padme sank into the soft cushions, happy to be clean and clothed in her own garments once more. She grimaced as she remembered how she had tossed the bloody gown into the ship's main engine reactor, watching it evaporate instantly.

If only her memories of the past twelve hours could suffer the same fate.

She shivered as she realized how close she had come to being lost, trapped in an endless nightmare for all eternity. But even that was preferable to the mental images of Anakin, Obi-wan and Mace lying motionless on the ground. She shook her head, reminding herself that the Jedi were free and safe.

But that monster was still out there somewhere, wielding an unnatural and sinister power.

The Jedi Council will put an end to him, she reassured herself. But a nagging voice pointed out that Jarrick had been using this power for years, the Jedi none the wiser.

But they know now, she said firmly. Determined to put the worrisome thoughts from her mind, she called Artoo to her side and patted his domed head affectionately. Her reunion with the compact droid had been joyous but paled in comparison to the scene Threepio made when he returned with the two ships. Padme smiled as the golden droid's voice swirled through her memory:

"Bless my circuits! R2D2, you could have been terminated!"

Artoo beeped indignantly as if offended by the thought.

"My little friend, you must be more careful! Oh, it was quite lonesome without you!"

Artoo whistled appreciatively as TX-306 watched in amazement at their near-human interaction. Finally, Threepio calmed enough to notice the housekeeping droid standing off to the side.

"Goodness gracious me. Hello there, I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations."

"I am TX-306, Chief Housekeeping Droid to Master Jarrick."

They had all stood a little straighter and widened their eyes as they realized the implications. Perhaps Jarrick hadn't managed to completely slip away after all...

"TX-306, how long have you worked for Master Jarrick?" Obi-wan asked politely. Artoo and Threepio quickly backed away, aware that they were not to interfere with 'Jedi business.'

"I entered into his service eight standard months ago," came the monotone reply.

"In that time, did he ever have any other 'important' guests?" Mace inquired casually.

"Yes, sir-" As soon as the words left the droid's vocabulator, sparks began to shoot out of the main faceplate and its entire body began to quake.

"It has been programmed to destruct before revealing too much information!" Anakin blurted, rushing towards the droid. "We need to take her to the Jedi Temple; perhaps I can find a way around the protocol."

Nodding, Obi-wan and Mace quieted and the droid immediately returned to its subservient state. Reaching around, Anakin cut the main power supply and settled the deactivated droid into the rear storage closet. Threepio continued to look horrified as he muttered something about, "Self destruct? How uncivilized."

"We should contact the Council immediately," Obi-wan suggested. Mace nodded his agreement and removed his cloak from the hanging rack where it was drying.

"Padme, will you be okay by yourself for a little while?" Anakin asked. Nodding quickly, she watched the three men exit the ship and head for the Dake and Tarv. Threepio obediently followed, calling "Wait for me!" Smiling at their retreating figures, Padme set the security code and practically sprinted for the onboard 'fresher.

The sound of booted footsteps brought her back to the present and she frowned at the puzzled looks on the faces of the three Jedi. She felt her adrenaline begin to spike as she waited for them to speak.

"Please, tell me. What is it?" she finally asked when they continued to stand there, dumbfounded.

"The Council," Mace sputtered. "They are deeply impressed with the success of our undercover personalities."

Padme nodded slowly, trying to understand the source of his bewilderment. Surely he should be pleased that the other Jedi Masters thought they had done a good job?

But then it all became clear as Obi-wan finished his line of thought.

"They think it has gone so well that they want us to continue the act, in case we have need of these aliases again...

Our instructions are to return to Binkai and finish the Race."