TWO WEEKS LATER - PLANET RUSHWOKIAH
"...Teams must follow the Survivor's Trail to its conclusion! Hurry! The Finish Line is waiting!" Padme called, her voice growing more excited with every word.
Grinning at her enthusiasm, Anakin grabbed her hand and they raced to the large competition field, just as Obi-wan and Mace came over the ridge, arguing loudly.
"Once again, I find myself quite disappointed in your map reading skills!" Mace sniffed, his deep voice carrying on the soft breeze.
"I never got a chance to study the map - you took it before I could-" Obi-wan insisted.
"Dake, this is not the time for excuses!"
Padme stifled a giggle as she carted a heavy load of straw from one bin to another, which was located several yards away. Anakin's eyes met hers as she drew even with him and he raised his eyesbrows, his thoughts echoing in her mind.
Are you having a laugh at the Jedi Masters' expense?
Hiding her face behind her heavy burden, she replied innocently: Me? Never!
Her legs burning from the strain, she happily deposited the itchy substance into the metal container and brushed her hands off eagerly. She took a deep breath and hurried towards the next obstacle - literally, a stone wall. The hovering camera droid took a lingering shot of the imposing partition.
Her husband, of course, was already scampering halfway up the structure and she frowned at his effortless agility. Determined not to be the reason Obi-wan and Mace got ahead, she gritted her teeth and grabbed onto a handhold. The still-healing scars on her back groaned mildly in protest.
Pushing off with her foot, she ran a hand across the surface until she found a protruding stone. Grasping it, she pulled herself up a bit further as she watched Anakin swing himself up and over the top. Well, that's a little bit humbling, she thought, realizing she was still only a few yards off the ground.
Searching for a foothold, she dug her toes in and continued her upward progress. Finally, she felt her fingers curl over the top of the wall and a pair of warm hands grasped her tightly. Looking up, she saw Anakin's beaming face.
"It's about time, Liri," he teased. Swatting him lightly, she eased a leg over the wall and sat on the ledge to catch her breath. Twisting in her seat, she saw Obi-wan and Mace running towards them and felt a renewed surge of energy rush through her body.
"Time to go!" she called. Scooting forward, she and Anakin fell through the air side-by-side, their hands clasped tightly in between their bodies. They landed on their feet hard and grinned at each other proudly. Hearing the sounds of Obi-wan and Mace beginning their ascent, they immediately began to run.
"Kaide! Over there!" Padme cried, tugging on his hand gently. Hardly stopping as they reached the next task, she flung herself to the ground and used her elbows to pull herself forward under the electrified bands. Anakin was impressed - she was moving as quickly as any Jedi.
Well done, my love...
Hearing his thoughts, she turned towards him and smiled, a flush creeping over her cheeks from the physical exertion. For a split second, he simply took her in, noticing the way her braid spilled over her shoulder, the smudge of dirt on her forehead, the sparkle of mischief in her eyes. Despite her disheveled appearance, he realized he had never seen her more beautiful.
This is how I will always picture her, he promised himself. He was startled as he heard Padme's reply.
We'll see about that!
Winking saucily, she went back to her crawling and he followed, coming up by her side. The electricity hissed and crackled above them, so close to their bodies they could feel the heat it was radiating. Just as they came out safely on the other side, they heard Obi-wan and Mace.
"You must get lower, Tarv!" Obi-wan warned. "If you don't, you're going to-"
"Ouch!" Mace yelped. The scent of a singed cloak filled the air.
"You really should listen to me. I am very wise," Obi-wan said gravely.
Anakin disguised his laugh with a suspicious bout of coughing. Before he could get himself into further trouble, Padme pulled him along, her eyes searching for the next task. Leaving the Jedi Masters behind, they jogged onward until they came upon a wide rope ladder, hanging from a large canopy of trees.
"This doesn't look too difficult," Padme noted happily.
Several long minutes later, she was regretting her optimistic statement. The ladder was only secured at the top, so the slightest movement sent it swinging wildly. She had resorted to climbing and then clinging, a very slow method but one that was at least granting her progress. She spared a quick glance at Anakin who was on the far side of the contraption, muttering to himself. She could only catch bits and pieces of his complaints, but it appeared to be something about Force jumps being much more practical.
Shrugging, she put her foot into the next rung and pushed up, grasping the ropes tightly as the entire structure bucked and rolled. She gasped as one of Anakin's hands slipped, but relaxed when he quickly regained his hold. Shooting her a bemused look, he shimmied up a few more feet and she followed as soon as the ropes stilled.
The top platform was almost in reach and Padme stretched for it, her fingers grazing the wooden surface. Suddenly, Obi-wan and Mace rounded the corner and prepared to dive onto the ropes. Realizing she would be unseated from her precarious position, Padme jumped with all her might, her upper torso landing on the brightly colored plank. Her arm shaking from the effort, she managed to pull herself onto the surface entirely just as Obi-wan and Mace sent the entire ladder swinging.
Standing up, she scanned the area for Anakin, finally finding him standing on a platform opposite her.
"What now?" she asked.
"Do you have a soar bar?" he called back, pointing to the metal pole that rested horizontally inches above his head. Glancing up, she spotted one hidden slightly behind some leaves and she grasped it in her hands, nodding.
"Race you to the bottom!" he challenged, clutching the bar and jumping off the top platform. Immediately, his cable lowered and the wheels on the bar clamped into place, sending him into a rapid, but controlled descent.
Behind her, she could hear Mace yell, "Dake, this is not efficient!"
Without another moment's hesitation, Padme ran forward and leapt into nothingness, hearing the click as the wheels on the bar gripped the cable. Her feet dangled aimlessly in mid-air as the wind rushed over her face, pulling tendrils of hair free from her braid. She laughed out loud, enjoying a moment of complete freedom as the world carried on beneath her.
Finally, the track leveled out and she dragged the toes of her boots on the ground, trying to slow her speed. Satisfied she could disembark safely, she let go, the momentum causing her to stumble forward. Anakin was there to catch her, barely rocking back on his heels when she collided with him.
Pressing a gentle kiss to her temple, he stepped to the side, revealing the glimmering Racing Through the Stars Finish Line hologram in the distance. The profound moment was interrupted as Obi-wan and Mace came careening down their zip-lines, moving too fast to stop properly. Realizing their predicament, they executed a simultaneous back-flip, landing on their feet and sending their soar bars bouncing off the track...
...and right into the Dake and Tarv hovering camera droid, which exploded in a dazzling display of fire and pyrotechnics.
Glancing around at each other, they all smiled politely before starting a mad dash for the finish line. Padme pumped her legs as fast as she could, pleased to see she was keeping up quite well with Anakin and Mace. Obi-wan was on her heels, having gotten a delayed start when his cloak snagged on the smoldering wreckage of the camera droid.
When the mat got within 'diving' distance, they all did just that, causing the host droid to squeal in dismay at their undignified arrival. After the commotion subsided, there was a long stretch of silence before they began to untangle themselves. Slowly, they all stood and looked at the host droid expectantly.
"Racers, please pardon me for a moment," he intoned. Wheeling a good distance away, he ran an internal check and confirmed that his sensors were on overload. He quickly performed a system reset and cued his playback monitors, beeping in satisfaction as the outcome became clear. Returning to the mat, he faced the anxious teams.
"Welcome to Rushwokiah, the final destination of Racing Through the Stars. Teams have been through a lot to get here-" At that, four pairs of eyes met, laughing silently at the understatement. Not comprehending their amusement, the droid continued, "Liri and Kaide... You are team number two."
"Yes!" Mace cried, thumping Obi-wan on the back hard and knocking him slightly off-balance.
"Congratulations, Tarv. And you too, Dake," Anakin said, bowing politely. Padme stepped forward and embraced the Jedi Masters, praising them for a race well run. Linking her hand with Anakin's, they stepped off the mat, leaving Obi-wan and Mace front and center.
The droid looked confused for a minute and then brightened as he turned towards the Jedi.
"Dake and Tarv," he began, pausing to let the camera droid capture the moment. The two Jedi straightened proudly, looking enormously pleased.
"You are team number three."
"WHAT?" Mace cried. Obi-wan merely looked stunned.
"You are team number three," the droid repeated, a bit slower.
"But, they were team number two-" Mace continued, pointing to Anakin and Padme.
"Yes," the droid agreed. "And Holad and Duley were team number one. So, unless my programming is malfunctioning, that makes you team number three."
Mace stared at the droid for a moment, a myriad of emotions running across his face. Turning away abruptly, he strode off the mat and entered the hotel.
Neither of the Jedi nor the Senator seemed too surprised when the host droid suddenly staggered backwards as if shoved by an invisible hand.
RUSHWOKIAH INN - TWO HOURS LATER
Padme held the spoon in her hand gently, trying to suppress the yawn that threatened to swallow her whole. Anakin caught her drowsy expression and smiled, sensing her weariness but also her contentment through their Bond. Taking a sip of the tea she offered, he curled up next to her in the overstuffed chair, not bothering to rise when their visitor's chime sounded.
"We should get that," she mumbled, her head tucked lazily under his chin.
"I know," he replied quietly, his eyes closing involuntarily.
"You know it's Masters Kenobi and Windu," she added.
"They can use the Force, let them open it," he grumbled, reluctant to move a muscle.
"Ani..." she warned.
"All right, all right," he relented. Raising a hand, he reached into the Force and unlatched the door, watching it slide open with a muted hiss.
Obi-wan and Mace stood on the other side looking slightly disgruntled at the delayed welcome. Trying to smooth things over, Padme left her comfortable spot and summoned Threepio. Immediately, the golden droid hurried into the room, carrying a tray laden with cakes, fruits and beverages.
"Masters, won't you please join us for dessert?" she asked, gesturing to the food that was being placed on the table. Anakin quickly rose, coming to stand behind Padme.
"Yes, please join us," he added, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. "We have much to celebrate."
Mace glared at him darkly, the third place finish obviously continuing to cause him aggravation. Hurriedly, Anakin moved to clarify his statement:
"I was speaking of the destruction of the weapon, of course."
"Well then," Mace responded, entering the suite steps behind Obi-wan. "We would be honored."
Moments later, they were all seated around the large dining table, drinks in hand. Their plates were heaped with fruits, but the cakes lay untouched, the recent eating challenge still lingering in their minds.
"It was truly an exciting adventure," Mace said solemnly.
"Too exciting at some points," Padme interjected. A round of laughter followed her comment.
"You always speak the truth, Milady," Mace acknowledged ruefully.
"Unfortunately, the mystery isn't over yet. And it won't be until we can find Jarrick," Obi-wan mused. "There is a good chance the Council may find it necessary to call on us again." Mace nodded, agreeing with Obi-wan's assessment.
"You have our promise, Master," Anakin replied, squeezing Padme's hand. "We will help any way we can."
"I know," Obi-wan responded warmly. There was a quiet moment while the foursome studied each other, contemplating the many twists their journey had taken and the dark realization that it wasn't over yet.
Raising her glass, Padme proposed a toast: "To family, friendship and unbreakable bonds. May love always triumph over evil."
The words reverberated throughout the room, keeping the mist at bay.
At least for now.
-FIN-
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Author's Note: See Chapter 11 for a brief mention of Holad and Duley.
Most Important Author's Note: A huge thank you to all my faithful readers, most especially:
Zan189, Hellish Red Devil, meandmysharpie - you three kept me laughing with your witty comments and sincere compliments. I love it!
Hopeless4life, Eriks leadinglady - you two are always so quick to review and your pleas for quick updates keep me hustling - thanks for the nudges!
Anakin's Girl, Rachel 791, Niraha Skywalker - you offer such insightful praise and encouragement and I always look forward to your takes on the chapter.
And jumpforjoy, you get your wish - I am planning a sequel to this story!
Again, I want you all to know how much I appreciate your kind words and for taking the time out of your very busy lives to read my writing. I am extremely honored and hope you'll join me for the third installment of our ongoing saga - COMING SOON! In the meantime, I welcome your comments / ideas, as always! Thanks again!
