Star Wars is owned by George Lucas. I own nothing; this is my creative twist to the series
Chapter 13: Tatooine Escape & Flight to Naboo
Having entered the palace shortly after sending the droids in, Anakin and Obi Wan quickly hide in an off chamber from the main hallway after spotting two guards not too far down from the entrance. "Shall we go one after the other or one at a time?" Anakin asked his brother who was peering back around the corner, studying the path. "I'll go first, and attempt to reason with Jabba" Obi Wan replied as Anakin looked at him, a curious stunned look on his face. "And why can't I go first?" he asked him seeing Obi Wan laugh, "You're kidding right?" he laughed, "I'm going to let you go to speak with him, knowing Padme's probably chained to his side. You'll probably jump straight into aggressive negotiations" he pointed out while Anakin just glared at him, "I wouldn't do anything to harm Padme's life further" he snapped back but Obi Wan laughed more, "Oh come on, you're killing me" he laughed then straightened himself up, "Look, I'm going to let you go first and then if I don't come back here, then something's gone wrong" he explained as he got to his feet, "I'll keep touch on the comlink" he added as Anakin nodded, "May the force be with you" he only replied, "And you too Anakin" he nodded and with that, he was gone, back around the corner, leaving Anakin to silently wait, with his comlink, though no one of them saw the spying eyes watching them from across the way.
"You're not going to stop me from completing my mission, Jedi" Bane muttered to himself, observing the younger Jedi slumping back against the wall. He didn't seem like much of a threat so far so he wouldn't worry about him…yet. He decided to stop the older Jedi before he could reach the throne room. Having informed Aurra Sing of their new arrivals, he knew he had to stop her from killing the Jedi, just going as far enough as to sedate them for the time being. As Obi Wan succeeded into stealthily passing the two guards, Bane spotted Aurra not too far ahead. He nodded silently to her, mouthing the words "Here we go" before she nodded back, rising her sniper rifle slightly, that she had loaded with a powerful sleeping dart, ready to deliver the shot.
He could see the winding wide stairs leading down to the throne room before him, "Okay, let's hope this goes well" he spoke into his comlink hearing Anakin laugh, "Yes, let's hope so too. The hutts aren't normally famous for being so easy to work with" he heard Anakin comment. "Well, they haven't dealt with us yet and if dad and grandfather did it, to rescue mom and grandma all those years ago, we can too" he pointed out, hearing the music become louder, "Looks like he's been entertained" he noted as Anakin scoffed, "Like that's all he ever does" making Obi Wan laugh when he suddenly sensed that he wasn't alone, quickly spinning back around, he only saw darkness in the poorly lit hallway, "Who's there?" he asked right as he felt a small prick in his neck, he quickly pulled it out, to observe it when he felt his vision going blurry before falling down to the ground, asleep just as Bane and Aurra moved closer, standing right over him. "Good work, that's one Jedi down, for now" Bane told her as Anakin's voice once more came through over the comlink, "Obi Wan! Are you still there? Have you reached the throne room yet?" they heard him ask, "Come in, Obi Wan!" he went on but Bane simply picked up the comlink, throwing it into the nearby wall, hearing it smash into small pieces. "Take him to the cells" he instructed, "Once we have Skywalker, then we can bring them to Jabba" he told her seeing her nod in agreement before grabbing Obi Wan by his boots and dragging him unceremoniously along towards the lower levels where the cells were.
Unable to believe what he had just heard from the transmission, 3PO couldn't believe that Master Anakin had just given them over to Jabba as gifts and what was worst, was that, R2 had been willing to go along with the message! After their meeting with Jabba, R2 and 3Po were led deeper into the lower levels where the rest of the droids worked for their "re assignment" where 3PO discovered first hand what happens to droids if they are not up to Jabba's "standards". Brought before a taller bronze droid, 3Po recognised the droid as an EV model. "Ah, what do we have here? New droids to serve the mighty Jabba" they spoke when he replied, "I am C-3Po, a protocol fluent in over six million languages-" he started right before the droid cut in, "Ah, Jabba has been looking for a new protocol droid to serve him in the throne room. His last droid has not been up to current standards" they informed him. "Guard, it seems that we have a new protocol droid for Jabba. Have him fitted with a restraining bolt and brought back to Jabba" he ordered the guard. "R2, do you see what trouble you've caused now!" he snapped to him then pushed out of the room leaving R2 to his own new "assignment" whatever use he might be.
Back on Courscant, there was no word from Qui Gon, Ahsoka or even Senator Amidala's security team since Cloud City making Shmi and Sola both very concerned because now there were rumours that Naboo, Sola and Padme's home planet had been invaded and Queen Jamilla had request a request for help but so far has gone unheard of. "Where are you, Padme?" Sola muttered under her breath, pacing up and down once more just as her eldest daughter Ryoo looked at her, "Mommy, where is aunty Padme? Why hasn't she come back?" she asked curiously before Sola moved over to her daughter, "I don't know but I can promise you, nothing will happen to aunty Padme, not with the Jedi protecting her" she smiled just as Pooja moved over them, "Is that because Anakin's watching her?" she asked, with a giggle and Ryoo nodded, "He does like aunty Padme very much" she pointed out only making Sola smile, "Yes he does and so you know that nothing will happen to your aunty Padme because Anakin's with her" she informed them, "Now, off you girl and play with your toys" she added watching them run into the living room while she headed into the kitchen where Shmi was sitting quietly. "I'm sure they'll find them" she spoke as Shmi sighed "I know it's just that, I've always feared when Obi Wan and Anakin have had go out on missions and I won't put my fears aside until I see both my sons home again" she explained before she felt the tears once more, Sola was instantly by her side, comforting the older woman, hoping that Padme, Anakin, Obi Wan and Hannah would return home shortly along with Qui Gon and Ahsoka.
Lost contact with his brother, Anakin knew that meant one thing, that Obi Wan was now in trouble too, most likely captured meaning that it was up to him, to rescue everyone including the droids. He slowly and quietly pulled himself to his feet, drawing his hood over his face. "Well, it's now up to me" he muttered, re emerging back out, he stalked down the hallway towards the guards, only this time, he wasn't as stealthily as his brother and when they spotted Anakin, they attempted to block him but Anakin simply smirked, igniting his cyan blue blade, they were dead before they could even touch him. "Sorry, but I can't have you get in my way" he muttered, moving forward down the hallway. Reaching the stairs, he still could hear the music playing. "It ends now, Jabba" he thought to himself starting down the stairs as Jabba's aide Bib Fortuna rushed to stop him. "Koona t' chuta?" he asked him as Anakin smirked underneath his hood, "I must speak with Jabba" he told him, waving his hand before him. "You must speak with Jabba" he replied, obviously he was weak minded for the mind trick was working as he turned around and descended back down the stairs while Anakin just followed him straight into the throne room where he spotted many of Jabba's cronies, entertainers and finally slave girls including Padme and Hannah. He felt his blood boiling and he snapped at Jabba quite abruptly, "Padme!" he shouted, pushing back his hood to reveal his face. "You release her right now, you slimy hutt!" he spat making the music suddenly stop and all eyes turn on him.
"Skywalker, peedunky stoopa Jeedai!" he roared angrily, "Kee chai chai cun kuta!" he demanded, as Anakin stepped closer, ""You will release Senator Amidala and her friend to me or else" he warned him however Jabba only laughed once more, pulling back on Padme and Hannah's chains. "Keel-ee calleya ku kah, Jeedai" he roared causing some of his guests to snigger. "Bona nai kachu, Skywalker" he went on. "Oh dear" Anakin heard 3PO mutter, "The mighty Jabba wishes to inform you that you are in trouble now for coming here" he told him but Anakin only shrugged his shoulders, moving even closer. "No, you may tell Jabba that he is the one in trouble today. For I will be releasing Senator Amidala, her friend and my brother from him, and if he stands in my way, I'll kill him myself" he warned him however Jabba only laughed harder, this time more guests in the throne room joined in. "Cha skrunee da pat, Jeedai!" he laughed just as Anakin watched Padme stained forward further from Jabba, "Anakin!" she cried right before Jabba hit the button next to him causing Anakin to drop from sight into the pit below whilst from the back of the throne room, Cad Bane watched in amusement, "Hmm, maybe the hutt wasn't so worthless in this plan after all" he thought.
Having fallen right into the pit directly underneath the throne room, Anakin could hear the roars and cheers from the throne room above him. "Oh this isn't good" he thought to himself when the large metal door opened close by and Anakin heard a large roar before he came face to face to a large Krayt dragon. He slowly crept out on his four short legs that were complete with sharp nails and upon seeing Anakin, he beared his razor sharp teeth. Wasting no time, Anakin ignited his cyan blue lightsaber, throwing his cloak off and then dodged the first charge from the Krayt dragon, who roared angrily when he missed him. "This is going to be harder than I thought" he thought to himself, ignoring the screams from above. He flickered his forked tongue when he found Anakin once more, charging for him again, but Anakin was quickly and rolled underneath him, cutting off apart of his foot hearing him roar in pain. Jumping to his feet, Anakin then leapt into the air, right onto the back of the Krayt Dragon, who then shook furiously to shake him off, his tail moving quickly to knock Anakin off only managing to slice a small cut across his right cheek. He screamed in pain at his injury but didn't back down, raising his lightsaber, he plunged it straight through the Krayt Dragon's back who roared in pain before Anakin went further and sliced off his head directly from the dragon's body. Breathing heavily, he heard the cheers from above erupt into cries of anger just as he spotted something shining near the now dead Krayt dragon, moving to take it for himself and pocketing it into his belt just as the door to the pit opened with two burly weequay guards rushing over to him, knocking his lightsaber from his grasp then cuffing his hands behind his back and removing him from the pit, away from the Krayt dragon but did not see R2 roll straight back into the pit to retrieve Anakin's lightsaber.
Pulling on her chain, Padme then spotted the two guards re emerging with a restrained Anakin along. "Anakin!" she cried, "Padme!" he exclaimed when he then heard an unexpected voice calling to him, "Anakin!" it was Obi Wan who was being brought up from the cells, his hands cuffed behind his back as well. "Anakin, I thought I said to wait for me" he sighed but Anakin only rolled his eyes, "You never returned now, did you?" he asked now standing before Jabba, "Well, at least we found Padme and Hannah" he added when Hannah spoke up, "Not funny" she warned them, struggling with her chain. Jabba roared angrily, "Skywalker, Kenobi, bona nai kachu!" he cried out looking behind them to Cad Bane, who only nodded back to him, so he went on then 3PO translated. "The mighty Jabba has decided that because you didn't die at the hands of his Krayt Dragon and have trespassed into his private palace, that you are to be executed in the Great Pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the sarlacc" he explained, "Where you will be slowly digested over a thousand years" 3Po regrettably told them seeing Obi Wan and Anakin exchanged glances. "Jabba will carry out the sentence tomorrow morning" 3PO added. "Take them away!" Jabba ordered not before Anakin could laugh, "You have just signed your death warrant, Jabba!" he spat only to hear him laugh watching both Jedi being led away back to the cells then Cad Bane moved forward. "Well done Jabba. Once the Jedi have been killed, I shall relieve you of Senator Amidala" he explained. "You may keep her friend" he told him not seeing both Padme and Hannah quietly gasp but Jabba only seem to agree with that plan, knowing he would demand his payment from Prince Xizor himself.
Roughly pushed into their cold, dark cell, and their wrists freed of their cuffs, leaving Obi Wan to vent his frustration once they were well and truly alone. "So, Anakin answer me this" he started, "Is this part of your brilliant plan?" asked him, "How do you expect to rescue Padme and Hannah now?" he went on, "We're going to die and Padme and Hannah are going to remain slaves to the hutt forever" he informed him however Anakin only sighed, shaking his head. "Oh, Obi Wan, you should relax more. Dad's been right all along. You do worry too much" he laughed, "This is all going accordingly to my plan" he smirked but Obi Wan was confused, "Relax! With you Anakin, that's never a good thing" he pointed out but Anakin only walked around the cell, "Well, you just have to have more faith in me. Trust me, we're going to get out of this and you're forgetting, dad and Ahsoka could be on their way here right now. We did leave that message for them" he reminded him making Obi Wan go silent. "I hate to admit it Anakin, but you raise a good point there but you better hope this plan of yours works in the end" he warned him seeing Anakin smile. "Oh Obi Wan, of course it will work. Do you really think I would leave Padme in a place like this for that fat hutt?" he simply asked.
As Qui Gon flew the ship over the dusty yellow sands of Tatooine, Ahsoka stared out at the barren planet. Like she had told Qui Gon on Cloud City, this was one of her first ever missions outside of the Temple, and she was still a youngling but Anakin and Obi Wan were like older brothers to her and she was determined to help them. "Master Qui Gon, I sense that Anakin and Obi Wan have already entered the palace" Ahsoka started to say, "But are now prisoners along with Senator Amidala and Hannah" she added noticing Qui Gon nervously biting his top lip smirking, "I didn't expect Anakin nor Obi Wan to wait around for us, but it's still not a good sign" he replied, turning to look at her, "Jabba isn't known for leaving his prisoners alive for long, and it's usually death by his pet creature or at the sarlacc pit" he explained to the young Jedi. "Okay…so now what can we do?" she asked curiosity on her face. "We can't just go barging into Jabba's palace. Anakin and Obi Wan probably stealthily entered and ended up prisoners, so perhaps if we waited till he left the palace?" he suggested when the ship's scanners started to beep loudly. "Master Qui Gon, the scanners are picking up another ship nearby. It's a….Naboo ship?" she asked curiously however he just smiled, "That will be the ship they came in, with luck the Senator's security team is still inside the ship" he informed her. Taking the coordinates down, Qui Gon piloted the ship towards the ship, finding that it was close to the palace and landing the ship with ease then turning to Ahsoka. "Now, listen Ahsoka, we still do not know why Padme was brought here in the first place" he warned her, "And it still doesn't make any sense for the hutts to want her" he went on, "We need to be cautious, I believe that someone else is behind all this" he continued, looking out of the cockpit, "Someone greater" he concluded whilst Ahsoka nodded, "Understood Master. I'll follow your lead and do whatever you tell me to do" she assured him before they descended down the landing ramp at the same time, Captain Typho and one of Padme's handmaiden's Sabe meet them at their ship. "Master Jedi, it is good to see you. The Jedi have still not returned from the palace" he told them as he nodded. "Yes, we had a feeling that wouldn't have an easy mission before them" Qui Gon replied when Sabe spoke up. "And there's more Master Jedi. Shortly after they left, we received a transmission from the Queen of Naboo about an invasion happening on the planet" she informed them not seeing Ahsoka glance up at Qui Gon, he lifted a hand to stroke his beard, "It doesn't make sense. It's like it's all too coincidence and right as the Queen of Naboo sends a distress call to the Senator" he observed. "Master Jedi, are you saying what happened on Cloud City, what's happening on Naboo and what's happening now, could all be related?" Captain Typho asked curiously with Qui Gon shrugging, "I'm not sure but none of this was random. It's all been planned somehow" he replied, noticing the twin orange suns starting to set. "We'll have to discuss this inside the ship. It's almost nightfall and the temperature does drop on Tatooine around nightfall" he explained, remembering what Shmi had told him all those years ago then ascending the landing ramp.
While nightfall was setting over Tatooine, nightfall was also setting over Naboo however the planet was under the control of the Trade Federation who were under the watchful eye of Lord Maul and bounty hunter Jango Fett. Still no word, on the whereabouts of Queen Jamilla or Senator Amidala, it also appeared that Chancellor Palpatine was not taking their threats seriously. "You better not fail me, Viceroy" Lord Maul snarled, staring at him with his piercing yellow eyes. "I would hate to have Jango here to remove you from your post" he warned him noticing the Viceroy cower back even more. "My Lord, I have my battle droids looking everywhere for the Queen, having discovered another species living under the waters of Naboo" he informed him. "Have you destroyed them?" he asked as Nute nodded "We are sending our battle droids and ships to the location as we speak" he replied. "Excellent. Jango, see if you can find out where the Queen is hiding, check to see if she hasn't left the planet" he instructed as Jango silently nodded. "As you wish" he replied and exited the throne room leaving Lord Maul alone with the Viceroy to discuss the invasion further.
Roughly and rudely awaken early the next morning, Anakin and Obi Wan were cuffed once again and dragged from the cells towards the hanger where Jabba's sail barge and smaller skiffs were kept where Jabba was already waiting along with 3PO, Bib Fortuna, his guards and many of his favourable guests. Padme and Hannah were standing to either side, with their chains in Jabba's grubby hands. Jabba taunted them as they were brought forward to him, speaking in Huttese something 3PO was not wanting to translate. "Oh dear" he muttered stepping forward, "The mighty Jabba laughs at your failure here, saying that you came here to rescue your friends, but now you will die, Jedi" he informed them, "Jeedai poodoo" Jabba roared before Anakin only smirked, "Jabba, you've made a grave mistake in doing this, because it is you who will die!" he only replied. Did Jabba care? No, he just laughed waving them away to his weequay guards onto a nearby skiff, not before Anakin and Obi Wan shared a glance with Padme and Hannah, their eyes met and Padme realised that she saw something in Anakin's sweet blue eyes-they would escape today. Jabba had not yet won. Dragged along with Jabba to board the giant sail barge, the last to board was Cad Bane, Aurra Sing and Robonino. He looked at his two new team members. "The Jedi must die today, this mission cannot fail, understand?" he asked them with them nodding and Aurra Sing nodded, "I never usually kept Jedi alive anyway" she pointed out.
"I hate to say this but I think I prefer Tatooine at night, it's much cooler" Ahsoka smirked, stepping out of the ship with Qui Gon and Captain Typho. "I don't prefer Tatooine any time. I was forced to crash here two other times, once when Bira was pregnant with Obi Wan and the other during a mission with Obi Wan, both times led to danger" Qui Gon explained thinking back to the scene he protected Bria from a group of Tusken Raiders. She was terrified but he wouldn't surrender just when he heard Ahsoka's voice; "Master! Look!" she exclaimed over towards the palace just as the large door opened and they all saw Jabba's sail barge flying out of the palace followed by three skiffs. As they all passed, Ahsoka, Qui Gon and Captain Typho all saw Anakin and Obi Wan on one of the skiffs surrounded by guards. "They're leaving" Ahsoka noted as Qui Gon went on, "That's not good. Jabba's off to the sarlacc pit, where he'll permanently remove Anakin and Obi Wan, keeping Padme and Hannah as slaves for himself" he told them however Ahsoka was desperate to go after them now, "Master, we need to go after them now! They don't have much time!" she insisted but Qui Gon knew more, "Anakin and Obi Wan must have a plan to have lure Jabba out in the open if we go after them, it could ruin their plan" he replied, looking back in the direction that they had all gone, only hoping that he wasn't wrong.
As the sail barge and the three smaller skiffs, sailed over the yellow sands of the desert towards the sarlacc pit, Padme and Hannah stood over by the shuttered windows, looking out, as best their chains could let them, at Anakin and Obi Wan, who were surrounded by Jabba's guards and hands cuffed behind their backs not seeing 3Po moving freely around the barge, and R2, who was serving drinks to Jabba's guests. Jabba pulled once on the chains but both Padme and Hannah were attempting to remain where they were standing until he pulled even harder almost dragging them back over. Padme cringed as she felt Jabba's horrid breath in her face, "Pateesa, Senator" he spoke in Huttese but Padme only coldly stared up at him, "You're making a mistake here, hutt" she warned him only to have him laugh harder as nearby R2 was wheeling along when 3PO run into him, "Oh my, I'm so…." Seeing R2, he was relieved, "Well, R2, you are a sight for short circuits" he told him, hearing him whistle in reply, "Oh how can you be so confident. Master Anakin is going to be executed and we could be deactivated next!" he exclaimed, while R2 just whistled once more, "R2, this is not a time for jokes. We are all in danger!" he exclaimed just as the sail barge slowly came to a gentle stop.
Opposite the large sail barge, the three small skiffs all spread out around the sarlacc pit. The one with Anakin and Obi Wan on board, positioned itself a short distance away, before extending it's plank outwards then one of the weequay guards uncuffed Anakin, dragging him over to the plank. Anakin looked down into the pit, seeing a large oval shaped mouth straight in the middle with its tentacles waving around the sides, ready to grab anything that stumbles near it. The guards were awaiting Jabba's signal who had now moved over to the windows, along with his guests, Bib Fortuna, Padme, Hannah and 3Po, who was not looking forward to seeing his master about to be killed. "Victims of the almighty sarlacc, his excellency wishes you to die ominously" 3PO began to inform them, before going on, "However, the great Jabba will also listen to any pleads for mercy" he informed him. Anakin looked over at Obi Wan who remained silent, refusing to throw himself at the mercy of a hutt so Jabba then bellowed out in Huttese that was translated as "Move him into position" right as the guard did so, pushing Anakin along the plank, who slowly walked out. He looked up at the sail barge seeing R2 awaiting his command then a wink back at Obi Wan and finally up at Padme, who's brown eyes were already filling up with tears, mouthing the words "I love you" out to him. He nodded to her as Jabba call out once more in Huttese, "Put him in" and before the guard could push him, Anakin jumped, grabbing onto the plank as R2 sent his lightsaber shooting across to him. He caught it just as he landed back in the skiff, a ray of bright cyan blue ignited before him, as the guards angrily charged for him but in seconds they were all gone, either dead before him or tumbled in the pit. He then turned to Obi Wan, slicing through his cuffs as R2 also released another lightsaber for Obi Wan. He just smiled, "You really were expecting this, weren't you?" he asked him causing him to cheekily smirk, "Just all part of the plan" he replied when more bolts fired down on them. "You take that skiff, I'll take the one on the right, we'll meet on the sail barge" Anakin instructed and even before Obi Wan could reply, Anakin was gone like the speed of light.
Having seen Skywalker's little trick down on the skiff, Bane was quick to think of his plan. He turned around to Aurra and Robonino, "Go after Skywalker and his brother now! Do not let them reach this barge!" he ordered turning his attention back inside the barge.
"Come on, we have to help Anakin and Obi Wan!" Padme exclaimed as Hannah nodded, then smiling, "I got an idea!" she exclaimed, cutting out the power on the barge, the guests all scrambled to escape then Hannah grabbed her own chain, "Follow me!" she told Padme, who took her own chain. Both ran on opposite sides of Jabba, wrapping their chains around the hutt's neck. He roared in anger but Padme and Hannah remained strong, pulling hard on their chains, tightening on his neck more and more until he started to lose the fight, then minutes later, his eyes rolled back, his large tongue hung out of his mouth and his whole slimy body was silent. Breathing heavily, Padme and Hannah then jumped down, looking for R2 to help break their chains; however someone else was onto them. Cad Bane, who snuck up behind them, grabbing Padme's arm then slicing through her chain, dragging her along through the barge just as R2 was rolling back inside to help 3PO and Hannah.
The fight was louder outside, with screams erupting and guards tumbling into the pit or meeting their end at Anakin and Obi Wan's lightsabers. Just as Anakin had taken care of the guards on his skiff, a sudden scream of panic called out to him. "Anakin!" they cried causing him to look up at the barge seeing Padme in the grip of an unknown figure. "Padme!" he screamed, leaping off the skiff and onto the side of the barge whilst Obi Wan's attention was on the small purple skinned creature on the barge. Something was not right. "Anakin! Wait!" he tried to call out, leaping off the skiff and onto the side of the barge, hoping to reach Anakin before he reached the top.
Rolling over to Hannah, R2 cut through her chain, freeing her from the now dead hutt. "R2, go find 3PO then get out of here. I'll go find Anakin and Obi Wan" she instructed hearing him whistle in reply as she raced through the barge, and up on the top deck. She could hear Padme's cries, "Anakin!" she screamed as Anakin leapt onto the deck, "Hang on, Padme!" he called out to her, not seeing Aurra readily her sniper at him or Robonino sneaking up behind him but Obi Wan did, "Anakin! Look out!" he cried, force pushing the small creature out of the way and Anakin rolled out of the way of Aurra's shot and over towards Padme. "Release her now!" Anakin screamed angrily, but Bane simply kept his grip on Padme. "Not a chance, Skywalker" he spat, firing his blaster, he shot Anakin right in his right shoulder, causing him to scream in pain. "Let's go!" he called out to Aurra and Robonino however the barge was already started to fall apart around them, forcing them to attempt to hold their balance together. This gave Padme her last chance, shaking and pushing Bane's arm off her, she fell down to the ground to dodge his attempts to grab her once more before finding Anakin's cyan blue blade at his neck. "Don't even think about it" he warned him, ignoring the throbbing pain in his shoulder. The barge rocked once more and Bane knew it was time to go. "This isn't over Skywalker" he spat and was gone. "Anakin!" Padme happily cried, her arms around him just as he was allowed to smirk at her outfit. "Wow, Padme, that's a nice outfit" he started, as she only shook her head, "Don't even start with me, Anakin Skywalker" she warned him, "Can we just get out of here?" she asked whilst Obi Wan and Hannah ran over to them. "So, do you want the honours in blowing this barge up?" Obi Wan asked noting Anakin's smirk, "Of course" he smiled before watching his brother swing across back over to the skiff with Hannah then throwing the rope back to him. "You ready, angel?" he asked Padme who rolled her eyes, "Didn't I just say that?" she pointed out wrapping her arms around his neck seeing him kick the lever on the cannon then swinging across onto the skiff, "Alright, let's get out of here…with the droids" he reminded him. He kept his grip on Padme, even as Obi Wan piloted the skiff to where the droids had landed in the sand and minutes later, with the large sail barge launching into a series of explosions behind them, the small skiff flew back across the sands back to their ship.
Having escaped on another one of the small skiffs, Aurra looked over Bane, who had been observing the Jedi escape with the Senator. "So, how will you explain what has happened to the Prince now?" she asked, "He'll probably cut back his payment to you" she added but Bane only kept his stare out to where the skiff had headed. "I only failed because of the Jedi, next time, I'll ensure that the Jedi don't even know I'm there" he informed her just as Aurra spoke, "I'll handle the Jedi next time because I won't even leave them alive" she assured him.
When Obi Wan, Anakin, Padme, Hannah, 3Po and R2 all disembarked off the skiff when they arrived back at their ship, Anakin and Obi Wan weren't surprised to see their father standing there with Ahsoka. "So, you got our message huh?" Anakin only pointed out. "Yes and I see that you are still alive" Qui Gon told them. "Not a scratch" Anakin smirked before he grabbed his right shoulder, in pain. Padme was by his side, instantly, "No, you're not alright. He shot you on that barge right before me" she reminded him, lifting an arm around her shoulder. "Come on, let's get you fixed up" she told him, "Obi Wan, can you help me?" she asked before he nodded just as Captain Typho spoke up, "Senator, after you tend to Jedi Skywalker, there is something you need to see" he informed her as she halted on the landing ramp. "What do you mean, Captain?" she asked. "You'll have to see it to believe it" he went on as Anakin spoke up, "Captain, whatever it is, just tell us. I don't think it can wait" he noted. Sensing that his father and Ahsoka already knew, "Okay, Senator, while you were captive, there was a message sent to you from the Queen. A plea for help" he started, "Naboo has been invaded" he confessed right as Padme felt fear clutch her heart. "What? No, it can't be!" she cried, at the same time Anakin straightened himself up pulling her into his embrace ignoring the pain again. "It's going to be alright Padme. We'll handle this" he assured her. "No, Senator Amidala needs to go and bring this to the Senate" Captain Typho reminded him. Padme knew better, "No, the Senate won't help. They'll take too long. We're close to Naboo right now. We have to help my people ourselves" she explained before Anakin led her back up the landing ramp followed by Captain Typho and Sabe, leaving Obi Wan, Hannah, Qui Gon and Ahsoka. "I don't like this dad. It sounds like a trap. Like they want her to go to Naboo" Obi Wan admitted. "So, should we try and convince her not to go?" Ahsoka asked. "No, Padme's right. The Senate will take too long. My family's also there and I'm going to help them" Hannah informed them. "It seems that the plan is already set. Though we must be cautious, we don't know who is on Naboo and recently there has been an increase in the dark side around" Qui Gon warned them. "We'll be cautious, dad" Obi Wan promised, leading Hannah up the ramp followed by Ahsoka then Qui Gon, who sensed that their troubles had only just began.
Wincing once more as Padme dubbed more bacta onto his shoulder wound and cut on his cheek, Padme simply laughed. "Oh come on, stop being such a baby. It's just bacta and it will help you" she told him hearing him laugh, "Yeah but it's not really that gentle on the wounds now are they?" he asked, smirking, "Though, with you as my nurse, I don't have any complaints" he added. She was still wearing her slave girl outfit. "Oh Ani" she blushed, kissing him lightly on the lips right before more voices joined them. "So Skyguy, you live to fight another battle" Ahsoka smirked, "Oh I have a feeling we have cut in on something very important" Obi Wan pointed out. "Yes, you have. Now, go away and leave us" Anakin simply replied. "Oh no, we can't. We're here to inform you, we've entered hyperspace and should be close to Naboo in roughly about 3 hours" Hannah explained. "So, stop what you're thinking of doing and start getting ready" Obi Wan informed them noticing Anakin's glare at him, "Don't glare at me brother, just start getting ready" he instructed him before he left with Hannah. "Don't worry Senator, we'll help save your people" Ahsoka assured her, "Thanks Ahsoka. You're all very kind to help" Padme replied watching her go then she felt Anakin's strong arms around her waist, "They won't get away with this" he whispered to her, kissing her neck, "I know. I won't leave your side the whole time" she promised, sharing another passionate kiss with each other before moving to get change into her battle outfit, leaving Anakin still smirking after her.
When the sleek silver ship emerged from hyperspace, everyone saw the blue green marble planet before them, looking like it had been untouched. "That's Naboo?" Ahsoka asked, "It's beautiful even from space" she noted. "Yes, but once you are on the surface, it's even more beautiful" Hannah pointed out hearing the console beep louder before them. Qui Gon leaned over, "Uh oh, so much for coming in undetected" he muttered, "What do you mean dad?" Anakin asked upon entering the cockpit with Padme dressed in a cream white battle suit, with cloak and boots and hair down up in loops at the back of her head similar to the style she wore on Cloud City. "A droid control ship has been lurking in the atmosphere, probably spotted us by now" he informed them. "So it is a trap then?" Obi Wan asked not hearing Padme softly cry once more. "We don't know for sure if it is a trap but they probably know of our arrival now" he replied, piloting the ship towards the planet. "I'm going to land just outside of the city. If communications are still working on the planet, we can perhaps see where the Queen is" he informed them right as Padme remembered something, "I think I know where she could be hiding" turning to Captain Typho, "Captain Typho, your uncle is the Queen's top ranking security personnel. He would have taken her out of the city into the country. When we land, can you show us where they went?" she asked, "Of course m'lady" he agreed. Anakin was impressed, "That's settles it. Better than your plan, Obi Wan, just charge right in there" he teased but Obi Wan was quick to correct him, "No, Anakin, that was your plan" he sighed. "Stuck up elder" Anakin shot back, "Aggressive youngling" Obi Wan shot back as Qui Gon sighed, "Can you take act your age?" he asked them, "Right now, you two are acting like younglings and Ahsoka's the mature one" he informed them just as Ahsoka gave a smile and Hannah and Padme silently giggled between them, but only Anakin and Obi Wan glared at their father, "He's the stuck up, uptight elder, don't you think?" Anakin asked Obi Wan who only agreed.
Qui Gon had been right, the droid control ship had already picked up on their arrival into the system and relied the information back to the palace to the Viceroy. "And any word on the whereabouts of the Queen?" Nute Gunray asked the hologram who only shook his head. "No, Viceroy. We believe that she is hiding in the forests in the country awaiting help" he replied just as Lord Maul spoke up, "They will come to us. I can see the Jedi nearby, who are travelling with the Senator" he informed them. "Jedi…Jedi…Jedi, are here?" Nute asked in a stutter. Lord Maul glared at him, "Coward. You will await the arrival of the Queen and the Senator here. I'll deal with the Jedi when they arrive" he explained. He already knew who the Jedi were, the ones from Cloud City-Skywalker and Kenobi, sons of Qui Gon Jinn and this encounter will end with their deaths.
