Chapter Ten

If Padme didn't talk soon, Dorme was going to scream. The only sounds for at least the past two hours had been the distant thumping of the band playing on the upper level of the palace, and the incessant drip of moisture down their cold stony cell wall.

"I'm going to try and contact Ric again."

Ric's voice soon came across the commlink, though not as jovial as before. "I regret to inform you that I have been unable to contact the Jedi. Apparently, they are out of range or the sandstorm in the distance is interfering with transmission. If you'd like, I could fly out of the atmosphere and attempt a transmission from there."

Padme spoke up then. "No. Tell him no."

"Are you sure Mi'Lady?"

"Give me the commlink, Dorme."

It was her senatorial tone of voice and Dorme would not dare argue with her.

"Ric. If you don't hear from us by tomorrow afternoon, you go ahead and fly out and try to get ahold of Master Kenobi. Until then, stay put. Senator Amidala, out."

Dorme looked questioningly at Padme through the dimnness of the cell.

When Padme spoke again, it was in low, hushed tones, and she could tell she was serious. "I am not going to just sit here and wait to be rescued. We got ourselves into this mess, we can get out of it. We have to try, for Shmi...and Anakin."

Dorme smiled, relieved to hear Padme use the word 'we.' "How are going to get of of here?"

"We're gonna try it the old fashioned way."

It was Dorme's turn to look worried as she attempted to guess at Padme's suggestion. "Doesn't sound too bad, I suppose."

"That all depends on who comes to the door."

Dorme winced at the possibilities.

"Excuse me!" Dorme waved her hand out of the barred window. She was pleased beyond her expectations as a somewhat human face appeared before her. Thank the Force it wasn't one of those porcine faced Gammoreans.

"Waddya want?"

"Yes, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to show me to the ladies' room?" Dorme used her sweetest voice and batted her eyes at the tall Klatooinian.

"You're standing in it."

Padme had approached the door from the side, the guard beyond not able to see her. Dorme could peripherally detect a slight movement of Padme's hand and thenshe spoke again.

"You will take us to Jabba now."

"I will take you to Jabba now." The eyes peering beyond the bars hazed over and Dorme was startled to hear the lock outside the door being opened.

Padme grabbed her friend and pulled her out of the cell, shoved the Klatooinian inside and bolted the door shut.

"Come on!" The two women scurried down the hall, not really sure where they were going.

"How did you do that?" Dorme stammered out of breath.

"Just a little something Obi-Wan taught me."

Dorme made a mental note that she would have to ask Anakin to do the same for her. That little trick could come in handy!