Chapter 18

Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi: Thanks and I read the latest chapter of your story it was good!

"Well one things for sure Naboo is much more prettier than Coruscant." Faith told her mum and sister as they got off the ship.

"Stay close to me Faith and you too Selena I don't want you two getting into any danger." Tahl told them.

They were disguised as Peasants but underneath their clothes they had their lightsabers.

"So what are we gonna do once we get to the palace?" Selena asked her mum.

"The droids and Viceroy know that there are 3 handmaidens arriving." Tahl replied as they made their way through the deserted streets.

"Where are all the people?" Faith asked aloud.

"They are all in camps Faith, they got captured as the Queen refused to sign a treaty." Tahl replied sadly and Faith groaned when she saw droids waiting for them with blasters.

"What a lovely nice warm welcome." Faith sneered as they approached the droids who aimed the blasters at them.

"Forgive my sister she is very young and doesn't use her brain before she speaks." Selena apologized.

"What is your business here?" The droid asked.

Tahl opened her bag and showed the droid the papers.

"We are the new handmaidens who were told by her majesty before she left that we were picked to come to the Palace after our training." Tahl lied.

"Ok follow us." The droid commanded and they followed them into the Palace,

Faith was reaching slowly for her lightsaber but Tahl grabbed her arm.

Mum can't we kill them?

No we'll blow our cover besides this place is surrounded by droids even if we did kill them we would be seriously outnumbered.

Faith just walked on and sighed as they reached Sio Bibble, Viceroy and the two Handmaidens who got left behind.

"Ah here they are, thank you Captain you may leave us now." Viceroy chuckled and the Captain and the other droids left.

"Now ladies you will join those other two and will serve me and stay in camp 8 with them until your precious Queen uses her brain and signs this treaty." Viceroy told them and Sache growled at him and Yane held the younger girl back. When he left Yane instructed the 3 women to follow her.

They went into the handmaidens room and Sache shut the door.

"Master Jedi were are pleased you are here." Yane bowed and Tahl smiled.

"Thank you young handmaiden I am Tahl Jinn and these are my two daughters Selena Kenobi and Faith Jinn." Tahl pointed to each of her daughters who smiled.

"I'm Yane and this is Sache and we've been here for a month." Yane told her tiredly.

"Do you know if the Queen is safe? Viceroy used Sio Bibble as bait to capture their whereabouts but there was no reply." Sache asked Tahl worriedly.

"They are safe for the time being but don't worry I can assure you all will be well." Tahl told them and Selena looked at her mother.

"Well we can't use your real names around the Chancellor." Yane began but Faith interrupted her,

"The Chancellor is here?"

"Well he visits occasionally but the rest of the time he is away on some business." Yane told her and Sache who pulled the blonde hair out of her eyes replied sadly.

"In Korriban."

"How did you know that!" Faith asked astonished.

"I overheard him talking to Viceroy when I was coming back from the Laundry room, he was telling Viceroy about his new apprentice Darth Maul and that he would use him to get to the Queen." Sache admitted.

Selena walked over to the younger girl and put her hand on her shoulder in a comforting way.

"Don't worry Sache everything will be ok I promise."

Sache looked at the older woman who was probably no more than 12 years older than her she was only 13 and Yane was 32 and was practically her mother since Sache's own parents died 10 years ago.

Meanwhile back in Tatooine Qui Gon and the small group were heading back defeated to the ship. They stopped in a small alcove and Qui Gon turned on his com link and asked Obi Wan.

"Obi Wan are you sure there isn't anything valuable left on the ship?"

"No Master only a few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe maybe. Not enough for you to barter with though." Obi Wan replied grimly.

"All right I sense another solution will present itself I'll check back later." Qui Gon told him as he shut off his com link.

"Dad what do we do now?" Ben asked as the stood out in the sun.

"We should head out of town, if we leave now we should reach the ship by nightfall." Qui Gon said as they began to walk slowly.

"Master Jedi couldn't we do something? I mean we can't wait until someone is able to reach us and give us a ride back to Naboo." Padme asked him.

Ben looked at his dad and smiled slightly.

"Dad, Padme does have a point we can't go back." Ben told him.

"Ok we'll have one last walk around the town if we can't find anything then we head back to the ship. Agreed?" Qui Gon asked them.

They all nodded apart from Artoo who beeped in agreement.

Obi Wan was back at the ship he was outside standing with Captain Panaka.

"This storm will hold them down." Obi Wan said to the dark skinned man.

"It looks pretty bad; We should seal the ship off." Panaka replied seriously and Obi Wan nodded he hoped Selena was alright he missed her so much.

Just then Captain Panaka's com link went off.

"Yes?"

He listened into it then replied.

"We'll be right there."

Obi Wan followed him back inside.

Padme grinned as she watched the young Jedi walk beside Anakin they were talking about pod racing.

They reached a small stand and an elderly woman called Jira was sitting watching them smiling as Anakin approached her.

"Hi Jira!" Anakin greeted.

"Hello Annie." She greeted warmly.

"How are you feeling today Jira?" Anakin asked.

"Oh you know the heat has never been kind to me!" Jira smiled and Anakin told her with a small smile.

"Don't worry I found that cooling unit you were looking for."

"You're a fine boy Annie." Jira chuckled.

"I'll take four pallies today." Anakin said then turned to Padme and Ben.

"You'll like these."

Anakin reached into his pocket and dropped a coin. Qui Gon picked it up and revealed his lightsaber.

"Whoops! I thought I had more, better make it three I'm not that hungry." Anakin apologized with a grin.

Jira handed him the pallies and then she noticed other stall holders packing up.

"Oh my bones are aching Annie you better get home quick, there's a storm comin' on." Jira exclaimed and Anakin turned to face Qui Gon.

"Do you have shelter?"

"Yes our ship, we'll head to the outskirts." Qui Gon replied.

"You'll never reach there on time, sandstorms are very dangerous. Come with me hurry!" Anakin told them as they walked towards his home in the slave quarters.

A/N- Please R&R and like it says on my profile,the update will be up on Sunday.

Arwen xxx