A pair of small feet scampered down the flight of stone steps leading to the security stations below the main level of the Theed palace. Most of the rooms Padmé passed were vacant due to the Federation's abrupt invasion, but toward the end of the long hallway stood a lone palace official, roughly twice Padmé's size, brandishing a polished black blaster rifle.
Without hesitation, Padmé skidded to a stop just in front of the rather large gentleman.
"I need to see Jedi Kenobi." She requested, slightly out of breath. The reaction from the guard, however, was not what she had expected. He merely quirked one eyebrow up and chose to blatantly ignore her request, staring once again over her head.
Padmé stood a little taller and spoke a little louder. "I said, I need to see Jedi Kenobi."
With a slightly exasperated tone, the young man glanced down toward the slight female. "I'm afraid access is prohibited, mi'lady, especially to you."
Just great, muttered Padmé to herself. Already, word of what happened had gone throughout the entire palace. What was she going to do now?
She eyed the man speculatively and stood just a little bit higher.
"Well, I'm afraid, you don't understand." She added emphasis with her hands firmly planted on her hips, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "The King has requested the Jedi's presence. It's a matter of life and death!"
A sly smirk appeared on the guard's face, which infuriated Padmé all the more.
"Yeah, mine!" He replied with a chuckle. "The King will have my head if I allow you anywhere near that Jedi. Sorry. Strict orders."
Once again, the palace security officer stood at attention, his weapon held dutifully in front of him, which was why he never saw the flat palm that came up aggressively against his nose or the subsequent sweep of a leg that took his own out from under him.
Wheeling in pain, the young man dropped his weapon, shocked to discover that he was lying with his back against the hard floor. Right before being knocked unconscious, the young security guard cringed, not from pain, but with the knowledge that he would never live down the fact that he had just been beaten by a girl.
After releasing Obi-Wan and describing what she had seen in Qui-Gon's office, Padmé had difficulty keeping up with the knight. He ran up the stairs and through the hallways at top speed.
Upon entering the room, Padmé looked upon a horrifying scene. The tatooed warrior had backed Qui-Gon into a corner, and even though it appeared the older man was putting up a good fight with Obi-Wan's 'saber, Padmé had a feeling that his hideous opponent was toying with him.
The horned being twirled his lightsaber around behind his back to show off his skills, as Qui-Gon took the opportunity to glance toward the doorway. He saw Obi-Wan and Padmé standing there, and his face suddenly changed. What had appeared to be vengeful fury was replaced with remorse and resignment. Padmé recognized the look for what it was and screamed out his name just as the dark lord's red blade lunged forward into the King's chest.
Obi-Wan immediately called his lightsaber to his hand and leapt across the room toward the warrior, his sword a blur of blue light lashing out against his attacker. The Jedi had swiftly moved the creature across the room and backed him out onto the balcony, while Padmé rushed over to the Qui-Gon's side.
The wound in his chest was a charred and gaping hole. Qui-Gon's breaths were coming out in pants and the color had already drained from his face.
Tears fell from Padmé's eyes as she realized she was losing him. "Hurry Obi-Wan." She whispered as she held Qui-Gon's head in her lap. Perhaps the knight's powers could heal him, she thought, but the battle out on the balcony raged on as Qui-Gon's life slipped away.