Note:

I do not own StarWars, all belongs to George Lucas!

I am just using his brilliance to further my own imagination.

I am writing for my own enjoyment, but I hope you might find some as well.


As they waited for their scouts return, Sabé sought out the young Jedi. Free from her responsibility of decoy for the moment, she hoped she could now properly thank him. She found him several feet away from their main camp, hidden behind several large trees. Of course, there was no sneaking up on the Jedi and he turned to face her as she breeched the privacy of the foliage.

"Milady." He greeted.

"I had hoped to thank you Jedi Kenobi and to apologize for my deception. It is my duty to protect the Queen by any means necessary."

He smiled a small smile back at her. "You're apologies are not necessary milady. But do tell me, is the Queen also a distinguished Sabacc player?" At this his smile grew into a full grin.

"I am afraid you would be disappointed. While a gifted negotiator and a talented speaker, Queen Amidala finds herself not at full enjoyment while playing such a game."

"I understand milady, I do hope to face such a challenge with you again. It was as enjoyable as it can be to be continuously defeated."

"Sabé." She said, causing him to look up at her questionably.

"My name is Sabé. You need not call me with such formality as I am merely a loyal bodyguard, Jedi Kenobi." He smiled back at her words.

"Then I must impress my insistence that you call me Obi-Wan, I do not wish to be beyond my years before they have even started." Her impassive face had slowly spread to a smile.

"I look forward to any chance at another go, seeing as you are such a humble loser." She teased. "In all regards Jedi Ke- Obi-Wan, again, thank you. My job would have been much harder to perform without your aide, I don't think I have ever slept so well in my life."

He simply nodded to her again as they heard the sound of several speeders came closer. "Let us hope you are as good at fighting as your are Sabacc." He responded to her and together they walked towards the queen and company. Sabé joined Padmé by her side. She listened intently to Captain Panaka's report.

"Your highness, this is a battle I do not think we can win." He lamented to her.

"The battle is a diversion." Padmé began and turned to Sabé.

Sabé stepped forward and began to elaborate upon their premeditated plans.

"The Gungans must draw the droid army away from the cities. R2." R2 displayed a map of the city for her. "We can enter the city using the secret passages on the waterfall side. Once we get to the main entrance, Captain Panaka will create a diversion. Then we can enter the palace and capture the viceroy. Without the viceroy, they will be lost and confused." As she finished her explanation, Padmé turned to the Jedi.

"What do you think, Master Jedi?"

"The viceroy will be well-guarded." He lamented.

Surprisingly, Captain Panaka spoke next. "The difficulty is getting into the throne room. Once we're inside, we shouldn't have a problem."

The Jedi continued to voice his concerns for the Gungans, silenced by Boss Nass' assurance they were ready.

"We have a plan to immobilize the droid army." Sabé continued. "We will take what pilots we have and send them to take out the droid control ship."

"A well-conceived plan. However, there's great risk. Your weapons may not be able to penetrate their shields." The Jedi Master countered.

"There's an even bigger danger. If the viceroy escapes, he will return with another droid army." Obi-Wan's gaze was on Sabé, true concern evident.

"Well, that is why we must not fail to get the viceroy. Everything depends on it" Sabé countered, sheer determination in her voice. She would not fail Padmé and their home. She had devised this plan, and had thought through all possible outcomes. She just hoped she was able to deploy whatever counter attack would be necessary. No one else spoke after that, the definitive air in her voice replicating that of her queen. Obi-wan's gaze had not broken from hers. She had been afraid at one point, but a fire had started burning now. A fire deep inside filled with loyalty and determination to see this until the end. She met his concerned look with one of deep ferocity and willpower and one side of his lips turned upwards. It was still hard for him to believe the two women in front of him were only fourteen, too young to be entering a possible battlefield. Their presence spoke otherwise, strategists and determined, fearless leaders stood before him. A final nod from Padmé released them from their formations, and they began their trek to the secret passageway of the city. Sabé knew these passageways like the back of her hand. Padmé and herself use to use them to play or to sneak away unnoticed from unwanted lessons. It was bitter sweet to be using them now as a means to gain freedom once again, but for more deadly reasons. She met with Padmé's group at the main entrance as planned, blasting their way through. It felt good to stretch her muscles again and to use ones she had not in awhile. She had always enjoyed her security training, wishing she had more use for it. She found herself back to back with Obi-Wan as he blocked oncoming blaster fire from striking her square in the back. She had no time to give thanks and continued to blast her way to the other end of the hanger, freeing as many pilots as she could. Obi-Wan himself was a skilled fighter, but he admired Sabé's own skill. It was evident she had been trained, but she seemed full of her own natural talent and raw energy. She glided just as gracefully as if she had been a Jedi herself. They were able to clear the hangar of droids for the moment, allowing the pilots to fly to apprehend the droid ship. Phase two was coming to a completion. As Padmé and Captain Panaka led the way to the throne room, the doors opened to reveal a dark robed figure. Sabé could feel the darkness radiating off of him. His presence filled the air with death and the air became thick and hard to breath. His yellow eyes screamed of hatred. She heard one of the Jedi mentioning they would 'take care of this' from behind her, as if it were a minor inconvenience. She hoped it would only be just as simple.

"We will take the long way." Padmé announced, eyes meeting hers. She nodded in response and their group split in two different directions. She sent a silent prayer as they went their separate ways. Captain Panaka and the other handmaidens better hold to their promise to keep Padmé safe, or she would never forgive herself for separating from her. Her squad had begun its slow ascent of the lower levels of the palace. Despite their hope of drawing the enemy droids from the palace, there were still quite a few left, and it was slowing them down immensely. She hoped the pilots were successful, or she feared they might not be. Sabé ignored the burning of her muscles as she blasted droid after droid and climbed level after level. They were on their last flight before the throne room, the end finally in sight. Her thoughts went to Padmé once more, another silent prayer for her safety. At their final arrival, she could hear the viceroy speaking, and quickly hid herself and her squad behind the pillars in the hall. Only a few droids surrounded Padmé and her squad. She knew if she simply went in and fired it might mean a capture for them both. A new plan formulated in Sabé's mind and she confidently moved from the pillar, leaving half her squad behind.

"Viceroy!" She called loudly. Defiantly. "Your occupation here has ended." With her final words she shot the two droids closest to Padmé. She heard the Viceroy exclaim for them to go after her, claiming Padmé a decoy. She ran back towards the rest of her squad, leading the droids into an ambushed attack.


Just as they were becoming overwhelmed, with droidekas heading her direction, they suddenly stopped. Sabé sighed in relief; the command ship must have been destroyed. She hurried back to the throne room hopeful Padmé had been successful. She reached to find the doors jammed. She could distinctly hear Padmé speaking of a new treaty. They had captured the Viceroy. Her thoughts turned to the young boy Anakin left in the hangar. Padmé would be pleased to know he was all right and if she could not make it through the doors she would go search for him. She had just reached the hangar floor when she heard a strangled cry 'no'. She cautiously turned in the direction of the cry, realizing this is the way the Jedi had gone. She was unsure if the enemy would still be there, and raised her blaster to her chest, aimed and ready. She slowly crept along, hearing the sound of lightsabers clashing. Suddenly, it was quiet. She stilled. There was no certain way for her to know who waited for her in the silence. She debated turning around, but feared the Jedi might need assistance. As much assistance as she would be able to give a Jedi anyway. She heard another cry and the final sweep of a blade. It was the soft murmuring of Obi-Wan's voice that freed her from her spot. She ran in his direction and sucked in a sharp breath when she found him. He was hunched over his masters still form, rocking slightly back and forth. His words had ceased and she could hear his ragged breathing. He must have sensed her beginning to turn around for help, for he softly spoke.

"Its too late." She paused mid step. Uncertain now. Sabé had never been very good with emotions. Definitely not with her own, let alone the emotions of others. She remembered a long time ago, when she was much younger, her mother would put her arm across her back, never saying a word. She hoped this was the right choice as she slowly knelt down beside him. She tentatively raised her hand and wrapped her small arm around him. Suddenly, he clutched at her arm and pulled her down to him, placing himself between both of her arms and pressing his face into her shoulder. His ragged breathing turned into uncontrollable sobs. She had been taken aback by his sudden movements at first, but now held him close to her, running one hand through his buzzed hair, having no words to say to him. They stayed that way for quite some time. She knew she should have finished looking for Anakin and gone to report to the Queen, but she could not leave him like this. The Jedi who's emotions were always sealed and in check, suddenly belting out every instinct of despair and rage. Eventually, his sobs ran out and he returned to his ragged breathing. He looked up with her with red swollen eyes.

"I am sorry, milady." He croaked out, his eyes drifted to her tear soaked tunic. She could only shake her head, hoping her eyes conveyed no apologies were needed. She brought him back to her shoulder and held him tight into a fully embraced hug. She feared she may never have the words for him. She felt him release her and she slowly stood, hand stretched down to help him.

"Do you wish for me to call someone, or would you like to bring him." She hoped she did not sound insensitive. She was really trying to keep someone from taking him from him to quickly, if he was not quite ready to let go.

"I will carry him." He resolved in broken voice. Sabé could only nod and follow him as they made their way back to the Queen. She bid him a solemn farewell, promising to return after her briefing.