The march towards the hangar bay was furtive and silent. Every alley or intersection a chance to be spotted and the air around the group could be cut with a lightsaber. Captain Panaka's chosen watcher of Callera was a professional for which she was grateful; steady in his watching of her and the surroundings not lingering on her lack of attire.

"Hold here." The Captain's firm bark bringing everyone to a halt. Pointing to a small stand of trees against a long stone wall. "The passage is back there."

Qui-Gon nods. "Obi Wan, go with the Captain and make sure the passage can be opened." Motioning towards the closest house with an open door. "The rest of us, shall take shelter inside to avoid being noticed." The handmaidens and guards hustling fast inside, Callera's slow measured prowl contrasting the rest of the group. Once inside Qui-takes a position at the window with the best view of the wall and entrance.

With the moments respite one of flame clothed maidens takes the time to look Callera up and down, eyes more curious than accusatory. "How are you so calm?"

Biting back a chuckle before answering softly, "You mean 'How am I so calm, walking through a potential warzone in basically my underwear?" The young woman nods with a slight blush. "Two reasons; First I was bred to be naked nearly every day of my life," the eyebrows of everyone seem to creep into their hairlines at that declaration, "and secondly I've spent time around culture's that wear very little clothing at times, including in battle. Give me a set of pants with pockets and sturdy boots any day. Spikes and roots through bare feet hurt." Looking towards the master Jedi, she sees the wheels turning in his mind.

"You are an Offshoot, are you not Callera."

"Correct Master Jedi."

"Offshoot?" The same handmaiden tilts her head as she tries to remember something.

"Arkanians, masters of science and their own genetic codes; the more 'pure' the better." Bitterness seeping into Callera's words. "But there are also 'Offshoots' those genetically tweaked and bred to fulfill certain roles."

The guard watching speaks up with a tired voice. "And your role was the bedroom."

"Give the man his prize!" shaking her head softly as she tries to push memories down, but here and now the cork refused to plug the hole, and let them flow. "One family had a tradition of designing the 'perfect mistress' for their male heirs, so they knew that the only cheating on their partner would be with the one built for them. While growing up I wanted for nothing, with the only expectation that when the time came; I would be the only one my chosen would stray with. But I was spared that path in the end. The Force it seems, has a sense of humor; and I'd trade a Master for a Mistress."

Before anyone can follow up, Qui-Gon stands with measured purpose. "The way is open, we must hurry." The sudden rush to the door gives Callera a chance to breathe, her shoulders squaring as she moves with the group back down the street, behind the trees, and into the darkness.

The shuffle through the tunnel was thankfully quiet, giving her more time to settle herself. Entering the well lit hangar she sees the open air path and silver ship that can take them away, as well as six droids surrounding what look to be the flight crew. Qui-Gon strides slightly ahead of the group, his apprentice stepping slightly out of line, an attack vector.

"HALT! Where are you taking them?" The red striped droid nearest Qui-Gon, moved up to intercept, and challenge.

"To Courscant." His words firm.

"To Courscant…ugh..that doesn't compute…um..you're under arrest." Those were the last words the droid ever spoke.

Between the two Jedi, the few droids fell like leaf petals, no verbal communication. The ease with which they cover each other and work together is clear.

As the pilots and the entourage rush for the ship, Callera's voice echoes through the hangar. "How long do you need for a cold start?"

"Five minutes!" Echoes out the ship as she and the Jedi start up the ramp. Looking back to the main entrance of the hangar, before looking at the Jedi.

"May I borrow your Padawan, Master Qui-Gon? I don't think my minder will move fast enough."

As Qui-Gon looks to the door, he gleans her intent.

"Obi Wan, go with her to secure the door." The young man nods and starts sprinting for the door. Callera's Force imbued sprint bringing her in line with his pace to the door. Droids already starting to come around the corner.

"No you don't!" Waving her hand at the droid that had crossed the threshold, throwing him into his compatriots, as the Force wielders reach the controls. As one hand slams on the emergency close, Callera touches the wall with the other, running along the tile surface till..

"Lightsaber here!" Her finger pointing at a particular spot, without pausing to think Obi wan's blue blade snaps to life, piercing through the wall. Withdrawing the blade with a steady pull before shutting it down, his eyes curious and puzzled before it connects.

"The hydraulics?"

"Yeah, they'll have to blow the door now or repair the system," Turning to start jogging back to the ship, "they get in either way…" she trails off

"then we've been here far longer than five minutes." Obi Wan finishes as the reach the ships ramp, it slowly closing as they march up. Qui-Gon nods in approval, "Good call Callera, too much going on for them to show you to a room, but the maintenance bay is out of the way. Keep Jar Jar company until we are out of the system, he means well but he is the clumsiest sentient I have ever encountered."

"As you wish Master Jedi."

When she arrives in the bay, Callera witnesses Jar Jar trying to talk with the various astromechs, but she tunes out the words, all her focus on the blue, white, and silver R2 unit….

"R2-D2?" A warbling affirmative beep meets her ears, and her vision turns to a pinprick, only the container next to her keeps her upright as the thrum of the engines tells her they are moving.

"Yoousa okays?" The Gungan's accent heavy with worry.

"I don't know Jar Jar, I really don't know." Staggering to an out of the way corner, and sliding down the bulkhead to sit, Callera motions for Jar Jar to sit next to her. "This will keep us out of the way. And if we lose gravity, none of the heavy stuff should squish us here."

"Weesa gonna splat?!" His voice rising as he starts to move away.

"We aren't going to splat, because if we lose gravity like that, the whole ship will go boom!"

"Is that's supposed to make mes feels better?" Binks settling back down next to her.

"More of an honest assessment."

Jar Jar nods. "Yousa be knownin the droid?"

Callera shrugs, "I've seen the droid before, but I don't know it." Yet.

The Intercom blares

"We're about to hit the blockade! Hold On!"

Tense silence, before the alarms start to ring. One shudder, two; impacts on shields. The explosion and sparks from a conduit. Klaxon's sounding in the repair bay, followed by several thuwmps of the astromechs being deployed….. explosions…and then silience.

"We're clear."