The news of Anakin's podrace win spread throughout the ship's crew and company quickly, following Qui-Gon's announcement, lightening the mood quite a bit. The passengers, especially the handmaidens, were delighted to be leaving Tatooine. Padmé was glad as well, but was slightly worried about what she would do once she got to Coruscant. She would much rather be going back to Naboo and get her hands on Nute Gunray's throat.
Maybe when she got to Coruscant, Senator Palpatine would help her out of this mess.
No matter what, she was glad to be leaving Tatooine, and leaving behind some very painful memories.
Padmé strolled through the ship while they awaited the return of Qui-Gon and Anakin. Suddenly, the strange little boy himself came barging on board, ran right by her and straight to the cockpit. Soon, Obi-Wan followed suit, brushing by her and heading the same way.
Padmé moved out of the way, unsure of what was going on, but she sensed something amiss. Right before she made it back to her personal cabin, she felt the ship buck as it took off.
After informing her staff that she had no idea of what was happening, Padmé moved to one of the cabin portals to notice that they were indeed exiting the Tatooine atmosphere. She just hoped that Qui-Gon had somehow made it on board and whatever the danger was had passed.
"They haven't even had enough time to install the hyperdrive." Rabé noted as she too stared out at the retreating tan and brown planet.
Padmé wondered about the same thing. Why were they leaving so quickly? She had a right to know. After all, this was her ship.
"I don't know." She told Rabé. "But I'm going to go find out."
She left her cabin and headed toward the engine room, where she knew Obi-Wan would be. She had seen him earlier carrying the new hyperdrive in that direction. If anyone knew what was going on, she figured Obi-Wan would. And it wasn't like she could go ask Qui-Gon. In fact, she couldn't bring herself to look at him, much less speak to him.
But it was Qui-Gon's voice that she heard coming from the engine room as she entered it, and Padmé quickly hid herself in an alcove between two columns just inside the door.
"I should have the hyperdrive repaired in no time, Master." The young apprentice was saying.
"Very good, Obi-Wan. Let me know when we can go to hyperspeed. We need to get to Coruscant as quickly as possible."
"Yes, Master."
Padmé stay hidden as she watched the tall Jedi Master sweep by and move down the hall. She then crept out of her hiding place and approached Obi-Wan, who was diligently working on the lightspeed engines.
"Hello, your highness." He stated without even looking up.
"Hello. Can you work and talk at the same time? Or will I be disturbing you?"
Blue-gray eyes quickly glanced up as his hands deftly removed the bolts securing the defective part.
"You want to talk?"
"Yes." Padmé smiled with relief. At least he hadn't said no. She sat down on the floor facing him as he continued working.
"Okay." Obi-Wan smiled in return. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I'd like to know why we took off so quickly. Were we in some sort of danger?"
"You could say that."
Padmé glared at the young man in frustration. This was getting her nowhere. And there was that smirk again, she noticed, but this time, she recognized it as the teasing grin it was meant to be, and she returned the same.
"I don't suppose you're used to people withholding information from you." He teased further as he fit the new part into place.
"Not exactly." Padmé reached down and picked up the needed tool, handing it to him.
"Thanks." Obi-Wan began to bolt on the new hyperdrive. "It seems to me that I'm not the only one withholding information."
Padmé's brows arched in surprise. "Why, Jedi Kenobi. What could you possibly mean?" She teased herself, displaying her most innocent face.
"Why did you run away from Qui-Gon last night, and why are you avoiding him now?
Padmé stared at the side of Obi-Wan's face as he worked. She really didn't wish to go into this, but what choice did she have? She wanted some answers, and apparently, he wanted some as well.
"I'm afraid I embarrassed myself."
"How so?" Obi-Wan continued tinkering with the engine. Padmé couldn't believe she was actually going to give him details about what happened!
"It was childish really. You see, I developed quite a crush on Qui-Gon back on Naboo.
"Hot masters dot net?" Obi-Wan asked as he slid the hyperdrive panel back into place and secured the latches.
"Why yes. How did you know?" Padmé tried not to sound as surprised as she was.
"He hates that site. You wouldn't believe the amount of messages he gets because of it."
Actually, I can, she thought with a smile. "Maybe I should have sent him a message instead of doing what I did." Padmé murmured, not realizing what she had said until it was too late.
"What did you do?" Obi-Wan asked as he stood and pressed the switches that activated the hyperdrive assembly.
Should she tell him? Would he hate her if she admitted that this entire situation was her fault? Probably, she decided. Or at least he would think she was the most immature and selfish being in the galaxy.
She should just tell him what happened. Compared to the mess she had made with the Trade Federation, admitting to kissing Qui-Gon Jinn was no big deal.
"I kissed him." She stated flatly.
"Hmm." The Jedi apprentice replied as he ran a diagnostic on the new hyperdrive. "Let me guess. He didn't quite appreciate it, and then he explained about the love he lost and probably told you that you were much too young for him, that he didn't have time for a relationship, etcetera."
"How did you know?" Padmé asked as she stood.
"It's what he tells all of the Hotmaster fans. Don't take it personal, Padmé. He's too devoted to the Jedi Order anyway."
"And what about you, Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Padmé teased with a grin.
"What about me?" Obi-Wan replied innocently as he moved toward the corridor leading out of the engine room with Padmé following closely behind.
As he walked, he reached down to retrieve the comlink from his belt. "Hyperdrive assembly is complete, Master."
"Thank you Obi-Wan," Came the quick reply.
The apprentice then turned back to face the young queen, standing close behind him. "Being a Jedi is my life, but it's not all I think about."
Padmé felt the color once more rise to her cheeks as the blue-gray eyes moved from hers to settle on her mouth. If she didn't know any better, she would think the man was flirting with her!
Surely not, Padmé decided. Before last night, he hadn't given her the time of day.
But something was definitely going on. At least with her. Her heart rate had nearly doubled in the last few seconds.
"It's your turn." She said in a low and sultry tone.
"For?"
"To tell me what's going on."
Just then, the pilot obviously engaged the lightspeed engines as Padmé felt the floor lurch beneath her feet. The euphoria of hyperspeed unsettled her stomach as well as her balance and she felt herself falling forward, but was caught by two strong hands that held her upright.
His face was close now. Close enough that she could see the flecks of white amongst the brilliant blue, as well as feel the warmth of his breath against her face.
Padmé felt her knees weaken, but doubted it was from the effects of hyperspeed. Before she realized what was happening, Obi-Wan had pinned her to the wall and was kissing her.
Stunned at first, Padmé quickly recovered and responded to the somewhat demanding mouth moving against her, the slightest amount of tongue toying with hers. But just as she began to gain the courage to do some explorations of her own, the kiss ended, and the apprentice had backed away.
"I'm sorry." He stated quietly.
"I'm not." Padmé replied breathily, taking deep breaths in order to still her racing heart.
"It was a sith." He said as he abruptly began walking once more into the corridor.
"A what?" Padmé replied, hurrying to his side.
"A sith warrior attacked Qui-Gon just outside of Mos Espa."
"But that would mean…." Her words faded with the haunting revelation.
"The Trade Federation is obviously consorting with the Sith." He stated simply, stopping and turning to face her. "You're in more danger than you realize, Padmé Amidala."
A gentle caress of a finger down her cheek left Padmé speechless as she watched Obi-Wan stroll down the corridor, but the words that he had spoken struck fear in her heart.