Those long lashes of hers fluttered against her cheek as her gaze fell upon his right shoulder, her face contorting into an expression of revolt and anger as her eyes focused on the long braid. "Pirate scum. How dare you." She sneered at him.
Spirit as well as beauty, Kenobi noted to himself as he rose and motioned to his first officer who had watched the entire scene with a distracted amusement.
"Take her to my quarters and keep her there."
Padmé jerked her arm away from Jarell's grip, glaring at the pirate captain. "He'll come for you and when he does, he'll kill you."
"We shall see." Kenobi glared back and smiled coyly as Jarell once more grasped her arm and ushered her through the doorway.
Kenobi touched his communicator. "Kenobi here. Strip the ship of every resource and set her to float." After a slight pause, he added. "Put a homing beacon on her so the crew can be rescued. Kenobi, out."
Padmé's heart sank as they exited her transport cruiser and entered the pirate vessel of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yes, she knew his name well. He was considered one of the most ruthless and notorious pirates in the galaxy. His image had been displayed on the Imperial Holonet for months, along with a sizable reward for his capture. To her knowledge, no one had even come close to seeing him, much less catching him, at least until today. And those who had seen him, were never heard from or seen themselves again. Kenobi was a cunning, brave, and intelligent captain with a loyal and experienced crew. But then he had never been the personal target of Prince Maul.
Padmé winced as the hand that held her arm squeezed tighter, released its grasp suddenly and shoved her into what was apparently the captain's private quarters. She turned in protest as the door slid shut behind her, but her words were muffled by the sound of an outer locking mechanism being activated.
Maul would not stand for this outrage! Not because of personal feelings of course. The monster had no feelings. This was an arrangement of political diplomacy, in order to attain security and protection for her home planet of Naboo. It had been quite a shock when the Emperor himself had suggested the union, but what choice did she have? In these days and times, if you weren't an ally of the Empire, you were an enemy, and Padmé knew that Naboo could not afford to become an enemy of the Empire.
She had already resolved in her heart to accept her fate in order to save her people, though the fear of her destiny loomed over her like a dark cloud. Now however, finding herself a prisoner aboard the ship of one of the most notorious criminals in the galaxy, she was unsure of what she was most afraid of -- being married to Prince Maul, or her very existence being in the hands of Captain Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Sitting on a plush velvet chair on one side of the room, Padmé anxiously awaited his appearance, the tick-tock of the antique chronometer on the opposite wall her only distraction, until the boom of the hyperdrive engines sounded. Her heart sank into her stomach in reaction to that sound. She was being taken away, and she had no idea where, but knew it wouldn't be long until Maul pursued her if only to soothe his injured pride.
The room was actually quite comfortable. Odd, but comfortable. Her eyes took in various objects and noted that many of them were antique and of several world origins. A beautiful glass lamp stood on the corner of an ornate yarla wood desk, reminiscent of Yavin artists. A Mygeetian crystal chandelier swayed above the desk, illuminating a plush rug below of reds and purples. Her glance beyond revealed a large bed covered in red velvet, with matching draperies hanging from the ceiling surrounding it. Padmé blushed at the realization that she could indeed be lying on that bed, and very soon. A blush swept across her, but not one of anticipation, but anger. She would not allow him to use her like that. She would die first. She almost laughed at the thought. He probably intended on killing her anyway. But to give herself to this rogue? Not without a fight, she wouldn't.
The anger welling inside drove up her and out of the chair. She moved about the room and in furious agitation pounded her hand on top of the swirled wooden desk. Moving to the back of the desk, she placed her fingers on a drawer handle, surprised that it pulled open. She was even more surprised at what she found inside -- a small daggar with an ivory and gold handle. She quickly snatched it up and tucked it within the bodice of her gown. If Captain Kenobi thought he was going to have his way her this evening, he had another thing coming.
...TBC...