Chapter Eight: Spectrum

Coruscant Orbit

20:34 CT

"The moment we land the Federation will arrest you, and force you to sign the treaty," Captain Panaka said.

They were back in the blank neutrality of the receiving chamber. And a battle of wills was raging.

"I agree," Qui-Gon said. "I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish by this."

"I'm going to take back what's ours," Amidala said stoically.

Captain Panaka seemed to be on the edge of his tolerance. "There are only twelve of us, your majesty." Sabe could only admire his nerve when he brought up what had been a bone of contention between him and Amidala since the beginning of her reign. "We have no army."

"And I cannot fight a war for you, Your Highness," Qui-Gon added. "Only protect you."

I? So far, Sabe had succeeded in completely avoiding looking at Obi-Wan. But now, with his attention focused elsewhere, she had time to notice that he and Qui-Gon stood farther apart than usual, a silent tension simmering between them. Then his eyes drifted back to her and remained there, and she jerked her focus back to the Queen.

"Jar Jar Binks," Amidala said imperiously to the Gungun who she'd specially requested to attend the briefing.

He had been slouching behind the Jedi with a dreamy, distracted look on his face, but now he straightened and looked around as if there was some one else by that name aboard. "Mesa, Your Highness?"

Amidala's lips curved. "Yes. I need your help."

The Gungun might not have been more shocked if gold began raining from the roof of the chamber. "Why for?"

"I need to request an audience with your ruler, Boss Nass. I must ask you to deliver this request on my behalf."

"My no tinkin'.." Jar Jar began doubtfully, but received a sharp elbow in the side from Obi-Wan. "Owwie!"

"If we are to survive this invasion, we will have to stand together," Amidala said. "I must address him."

"Boss Nass take no stockin in Naboo," Jar Jar warned. He scratched one of his long ears. "And makin' big ouchie for me, my tinkin'."

"Then we must do our best to convince him otherwise. Captain, how long will it take us to reach the northern banks of Lake Paonga?" Amidala asked.

"About two days, Your Highness," He said reluctantly. "But if you really cannot be dissuaded I would advise landing on the southern banks, where we won't be so quickly detected."

"And Jar Jar can still readily access the Gungun city, even from that side," Obi-Wan said, giving Jar Jar a dire look. The tall Gungun wilted.

"Very well," Amidala said. "Then we will adjourn. There is much to prepare for."

Captain Panaka made for the door, shaking his head slightly. The Jedi bowed and turned to follow him. Jar Jar lingered with an expression of extreme consternation, but Obi-Wan reached out and guided him with a firmer hand than was strictly necessary. It appeared that if the Gungan continued to be hesitant about complying with the Queen's wishes, he would be subject to some strong persuasion.

The Queen remained seated, and Sabe stayed in her own place on her left, her hands in fists beneath the sleeves of her robe. Rabe looked sidelong at the two of them nervously.

"Go on, Rabe, and update Eirtae. We will be along," Amidala said.

Rabe lifted a shoulder and turned to go. The two of them heard the door hiss shut.

"You can't be serious, Padme," Sabe murmured.

The Queen would not look at her. Her posture in the throne was as straight and sharp as the blade of Sabe's dagger. "Amidala."

"No!" Sabe jerked back her hood and came around to the front of the throne. "Forget for a moment that you are Queen and I am subject. Look on your friend. I cannot—"

"Don't push me now, Sabe," Padme said warningly.

"—Sit here while you try your damndest to get yourself killed and abandon our only recourse!" Sabe finished.

"Recourse? You heard Senator Palpatine!" Padme retorted.

"Yes, Senator Palpatine," Sabe said sarcastically. "He plucks at your heart strings and gets exactly what he wants, doesn't he?"

Padme's hands gripped the arms of her throne until her knuckles blanched.

"The Gunguns have not cooperated with us for over a century."

Padme spoke slowly, as if she was talking to a small and dim-witted child. "They will be made to see that our survival depends on cooperation."

"Well, Boss Nass was not made their ruler on the strength of his logic," Sabe returned. "And even if they did agree, their weapons are primitive next to the Federation's."

Padme looked away, and Sabe saw that this at least had occurred to her. She pressed the point. "It would be a bloodbath, Padme. You've too calculating a mind not to see it."

"We must at least make an attempt," Padme said, her voice rising. "We cannot give up and hide in 500 Republica. This is duty…" She directed steely eyes back at Sabe. "…this is sacrifice. Why can't you of all people understand that?"

"Why can't you understand that reality is how it is, not how you would like it to be?" Sabe cried desperately.

Padme sprang to her feet. "If you are so uncertain in your duty, perhaps you should not act as decoy at all."

Sabe's breath left in her in a rush. Padme might as well have struck her. She found her voice with some difficulty. "I…I am not uncertain in my duty. Are we here to protect you or are we not?"

"Yes, to protect me. And not to question my authority at every opportunity," Padme snapped, striding past her. Sabe remained frozen in front of the empty throne.

The two-day journey was the longest of Sabe's life. She had thought the trip from Tatooine to Coruscant was trying, but at least then the only thing dogging her steps was fear of being caught in the disguise, and boredom. It would have been enough that they were fast heading toward what seemed to her like a suicide mission. But to make it worse, there were few safe places on the Royal Starship left for her to go. Padme only addressed her with as many words as were absolutely necessary, and in the corridors of the ship there was always the possibility that she would run into Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon.

Honestly, Sabe was unsure if Obi-Wan had shared his discovery with his Master. That Qui-Gon treated her with the same deference as the other handmaidens made her suspect he had not. If Obi-Wan had kept his knowledge to himself it would be very strange, and strange that Qui-Gon should be so distracted. She wondered if the Queen's quarters was not the only one thick with tension.

But oddly enough, Eirtae was not openly hostile for once. Sabe couldn't help wondering why not. She thought Eirtae could easily surmise from Padme's mood that she had finally overstepped herself completely. Rabe was as pleasant as ever, and Anakin was at his most charming. Open and innocent and on a great adventure, the boy seemed to believe that everyone aboard were his new best friends. In the force he was like a small supernova, and Sabe imagined it was all Qui-Gon could do to keep him in check. And it seemed that Obi-Wan's conservative nature brought his worst streak of mischief into the light.

Sabe bent over the sink in the refresher attached to the Queen's Quarters as Rabe rubbed temporary dye into her hair. It was a necessity for the Queen's more revealing battle dress, and Sabe would have made it permanent if Rabe had let her. She watched in the mirror with relief as her hair was turned from red to brown.

Despite their argument, an hour previously Padme had given her rather abrupt instructions on how she was to proceed as decoy the following day. Of course, it was never too late for Padme to decide she couldn't handle the responsibility of negotiating with Boss Nass.

"I guess tomorrow is the turning point," Eirtae said from where she watched, sitting on a stool against the wall.

"If there is to be one," Sabe muttered into the sink. She squeezed her eyes shut as Rabe turned on the water and the freezing rivulets poured down, feeling even colder on her burning cheeks. A slight fever had overtaken her shortly after they left Coruscant. She could only hope Rabe wouldn't notice, since she didn't particularly feel like explaining how she'd aggravated her wound.

"You don't think the Gunguns will help us?" Rabe asked.

Sabe straightened, wrapping her hair in a towel. "Forget I said anything. My feelings shouldn't come into it."

"That's a pretty strong admission coming from you," Eirtae observed wryly.

Sabe rolled her eyes at her, and Eirtae shrugged rather sheepishly.

Rabe began pulling a comb through Sabe's wet, tangled hair. "You know, it's a shame you have to cover this up so much. You have such a lovely natural color."

"I hate it," Sabe said.

"Why?" Rabe asked in surprise.

"It just makes the job more complicated," Sabe answered, adding in a low voice, "And I don't know if you've noticed, but there aren't many redheads in Theed."

"So?"

"So when I was in the Academy, people could take one look at me and know I was from somewhere else," Sabe said.

"There's no shame in being from Coruscant," Eirtae said. "Most people would brag about it. It's the cultural center of the Galaxy."

"Not my neighborhood," Sabe murmured, looking into the mirror. She frowned at her pale, damp reflection. All it told her was that she was becoming less and less like Padme as she aged. Her face was thinner, her nose longer, her lips not as full, her eyes deeper set. Padme was often praised as being the comeliest girl in Theed. Sabe felt like a poor approximation.

Rabe's fingers brushed her forehead as she reached to pull the comb through the front strands of her hair. "My goodness Sabe, you're burning up! Do you feel alright?"

"Your hands are just cold," Sabe said with forced lightness, pulling away.

"You know, you look a little flushed too. You shouldn't be marching into battle if you are sick," Rabe said.

"I'm fine," Sabe said more forcefully. "Really, Rabe. You can take the girl out of the healing school, but you can't take the healing school out of the girl, can you?"

Rabe chuckled and finished combing her hair. She stepped back. "There. You are the perfect doppelganger again."

Sabe snorted. Now there was a good word for it.

She walked into the kitchen with her hair still damp beneath her hood to discover Anakin standing on a stool at the sink, his face alight with devilish glee. "Anakin?"

He whirled around, nearly falling. "Oh, it's just you, Sabe," he breathed.

"What in the Republic are you doing?" Sabe asked suspiciously, peering into the sink. All she could see was a tangle of pink cloth.

His bright blue eyes sparkled, and he leaned in, whispering in her ear. He gestured toward the bottle on the counter. "Nebula pink!" he finished, dissolving into giggles.

Sabe's hand flew to her mouth as she blushed more deeply than she thought she ever had. "Anakin…!" She choked.

He chortled, again nearly falling from his stool. "The whole trip! I got every one, so there's no choice! He'll have to…" He gasped, tears running down his cheeks. "…fight in them!"

Sabe closed her eyes, steadying herself and avoiding the picture that Anakin was painting so vividly. "Anakin," she began, quite reasonably given her state of mind. "You are going to get into a lot of trouble."

"Nah," Anakin said nonchalantly. "Obi-Wan won't tell. He and Qui-Gon haven't been talking much."

Sabe opened her eyes. "Why not?"

Anakin squirmed, tossing the bottle of dye into the disposal chute. "I think…because of me. Obi-Wan doesn't like me."

"I see," Sabe looked back at the full sink. "Is that why you are dying his—" she swallowed. "--undergarments?"

Anakin looked at his shoes.

"Ani…" Sabe sighed, squatting in front of him and taking his hands. If only she could tell him how well she understood. "You must know that you are a special case. I gather that Qui-Gon is breaking many rules by bringing you with him."

"I know," Anakin said, his face darkening. "The Council…they didn't like me either."

"No, it isn't that," Sabe said, remembering the circle of dispassionate faces in the low light of the chambers in Coruscant. "Being a Jedi is very demanding, and a great responsibility. They can't allow just anyone to undertake it." Her voice dropped. "Some couldn't handle it, even if they wanted to."

"I can do it," Anakin protested. "Why doesn't anyone believe that I can do it?"

Sabe smiled. "I believe you. But I also believe that in his own way…Obi-Wan is trying to protect you and Qui-Gon."

Anakin looked at her doubtfully. "Do you really think so?"

Sabe nodded. "Perhaps you should go easy on him."

Anakin looked guiltily at the pile of soaking pink cloth. "Too late," he observed.

Sabe bit her lip, but a giggle escaped. "Ah…perhaps if you admitted your wrong and apologized nicely?"

Anakin snorted.

"I think even Obi-Wan would have to admit that it would be a very Jedi-like thing to do," Sabe persuaded.

He considered her words, and his face brightened. His shoulders straightened, and he seemed ready to march off and make his brave admission. But just then a heated voice rose from somewhere outside the kitchen.

"Anakin!"

Anakin's face crumpled into a comical grimace. Before Sabe could stop him he had already scampered out of the kitchen through the hold-side door. And before she herself could beat a hasty departure, the corridor-side door opened. Obi-Wan's tall frame filled the doorway, leaving no room for escape.

His eyes rested instantly on the sink full of cloth. Then they moved to Sabe. Her heart sinking into her shoe tops, Sabe trumped all of her previous efforts with the blush to end all blushes. "Umm…I…" She could not think of any explanation that would make this look better. Her courage failing, she pointed shakily toward the door Anakin had used. "He went that way."

Obi-Wan's mouth set into a thin line as he turned to follow. She heard him mutter several shocking oaths as he passed, followed by, "When I lay hands on him, Force forgive me, I'll—"

But he was gone before she could hear what fate awaited the errant boy.

"Sorry Anakin," Sabe mumbled, slipping into the corridor.

Space was always cold, dark, and hostile. There was a reason people sought the fastest routes through it. But the darkness outside the hold windows was not absolute. Sabe stood in the aft hold, her fingers pressed to the chilled transparisteel of the window. Stars and planets streaked by, their shapes contorted by light speed. Though there was no way to distinguish it, Sabe imagined Naboo changing from a dim, red dot to a large, blue sphere.

What would they find there? Would anyone be left alive? No one could say for certain. They had not had word from Naboo since they'd left Tatooine, though Padme had attempted to make contact numerous times. The Trade Federation had control of all transmissions entering and leaving Naboo airspace. It appeared that the only reason Governor Bibble had been able to get through was that they had allowed him to, to find a signal and give chase with that dark creature. Sabe shivered. She had avoided meditation since the incident in Tatooine. Nothing she'd ever perceived had brought her closer to the inner, monstrous part of herself, the part she'd thought she'd left in the under levels a decade ago.

"There are six hours left."

Sabe gasped and whirled around. Qui-Gon stood behind her with a benign smile on his face. "I thought you might be wondering."

She had not had many occasions to exchange more than one or two words with Qui-Gon. Her heart pounding, she tried to think of a reply.

"Is your Queen prepared for what's to come?" He asked.

"I hardly know," Sabe murmured. "She would not tell me, either way."

"Are you?"

Sabe could do nothing more than shrug.

He joined her at the window, turning his ancient gaze to the outside. She had never been able to guess how old Qui-Gon was, but she had heard that he looked far younger than his years. He was not exactly a handsome man, but his face was a noble one with its pronounced brow, Roman nose, and firm jaw. He radiated quiet dynamism and some said, defiance. But anyone who looked into his grey eyes could clearly see the vast intelligence and experience there.

"I am not certain I am prepared," He admitted. "I think of those I am responsible for, and I sometimes falter. I think of my padawan and my ward, and I loathe the idea of leading them into battle."

Sabe wondered why he felt the need to confess this to a simple handmaiden. Then she began to become aware of an outside consciousness infringing upon hers, not forcing or pushing in any way, but merely hovering just on the edge of her perception. It was him, examining whatever she was unwillingly projecting. Stiffening, she focused her thoughts on nothingness, on the space outside, on smoke, on reflections in mirrors, and on everything insubstantial. She had been doing it since childhood, once to confuse the people she stole from, and later to make people's minds more receptive to her impersonation of the Queen. But she soon realized she had neither the skill nor the true desire to shield herself against Qui-Gon. His intentions were entirely free of malice or self-interest. His was the watchful attitude of a guardian.

"Jedi are not truly taught to be fearless," he said. "Only to relinquish the hold of fear over their actions."

"I'm not afraid of fighting, Master Jinn," Sabe muttered.

"I know."

Sabe turned, steeling herself for the questions bound to follow his simple admission. It was impossible now that he had not recognized her.

She found herself alone in the hold again.

A/ N : You know, at first I had a real moral dilemma with the scene with Anakin and Obi-Wan in the kitchen. I thought to myself, "Obi-Wan is a very dignified and almost iconic figure. It's in really poor taste to allow his underwear to be dyed." And then I wondered, "Do Jedi even wear underwear?" But I decided that in my world, they do. And in my world, when you see him doing all those acrobatics toward the end, just think; lavender skivvies.