THE NABOO SLOOP

Qui-Gon Jinn stood before Baroness Amidala, the queen of Naboo, in the lounge of the luxuary yacht, handmaidens and officers in their own chairs both left and right.

"I sympathize, master jedi" the queen said. "I would gladly pay for the boys freedom, but if it is as you say that the owner refuses to sell, then what is there we can do?"

"Follow the plan, my lady" Qui-Gon stated.

Panaka shook his head. "Hope that a teenager wins a swoop-race? We are more likely to come across a wookie and a hutt marrying than this boy winning a bloody swoop-race."

Qui-Gon did not let the remark get to him. "The Force showed me the boy celebrating a great victory and then leaving Tatooine. I can only come to the conclusion that he will fly, and win, a race that can also earn him his freedom. As it happens, if he wins the Boonta Eve race he will be free to leave this planet. It is his destiny."

"Even so" Amidala said, "this race is to be held in five days you say? But Major Olié assures me that the ship will be flight-ready in two. Surely, master jedi, we must move on to Coruscant as soon as possible. The longer we remain here the greater our peril, correct?"

Panaka had yet to calm down. "Naboo is under attack and thousands of civilians are dying because of the attrocities of the Trade Federation. The longer it takes for us to reach Coruscant and senator Palpatine, we doom thousands of our people to die needlessly. And for what? A boy?! A sixteen year old slave?"

"I am merely exercising the rights of the Jedi Order under the Old Republic" Qui-Gon pointed out to the nabooans. "I have found a prospect and intend to bring him before the Jedi High Council."

"At the expense of my people?" Amidala asked. "I do not mind that you spend my jewels without consulting me, master jedi. I see the need for it. But when you jeapordize the safety of my people, then I will object and must refuse to cooperate. I can not wait for this boy to fly a race when my people are dying, master jedi."

"I tell you, your highness, that if we leave this boy behind, we do it at the expense of the Republic" Qui-Gon countered. "A Jedi mediates disputes, captures pirates, solves murders, protect dignitaries and shipping, escort refugees and offer advice and guidance to the senate and its chancellor. You are alive right now, your highness, simply because a jedi once took her time to collect me from my parents. Without that act, you would have been killed and your planet would have been annexed by the Trade Federation. Are you now denying this boy to perform similar acts for others in need?"

Panaka could not find words. "That is... I can't... You can not expect her majesty to listen to such ill concieved madness?"

"Never the less," Qui-Gon said and was showing signs of irritaion towards the bodyguard captain, "such is the way of the Jedi Order and the Old Republic."

Panaka got up on his feet, "Then I have a thing or two to tell both the Jedi and the Republic!"

"Gentlemen!" Amidala rushed to cut in to calm the situation before it escalated further between her loyal bodyguard and the jedi. "Please, captain, I plead of you."

Reluctantly, Panaka found his seat again and Qui-Gons features were stern and rigid.

"Master Jedi" Amidala continued once the situation had settled somewhat. "I have no wish to offend the traditions of the Jedi, or disrupt common praxis of the Republic. But you must understand my reluctance, surely?"

Qui-Gon nodded patiently. "Of course, your majesty. But as horrible the situation on Naboo may be, there are still greater forces at work in the galaxy. Naboo can not contend with fate or destiny, but must trust the Force as the guide of us all. And it is by the will of the Force that I have found this boy; the tragedy on Naboo was merely the catalyst for this discovery."

Queen Amidala sat in silence. It was only for a few seconds, yet it seemed as an eternity to all her subjects. The two jedi could easily sense the rage building up inside of her, as was so common with sentients not indoctrinated into the clear way of thought of the Jedi doctrine.

"Allow me to consult with Senator Palpatine" Amidala then said and broke the silence.

"My queen?!" Panaka could not believe his ears.

Amidala raised her hand and stayed her bodyguards outburst before she turned to the jedi knight once more. "If Senator Palpatine agrees to this request of yours, then we shall wait for you to retrieve this... prospect, as you call the boy."

"A transmission could be intercepted" Qui-Gon reminded the young queen.

Amidala did not seem to care. "Humour me, master jedi."

"Very well" Qui-Gon said and did not need to think about it for any length, "We have a deal, your majesty."

Panaka immediately turned to the last remaining astromech-droid in service on the ship. "R2, reactive the holocom transponder."

The astromech-droid voiced its reply with a prolonged angry whistle. The silver-plated protocol-droid was appalled be the response.

"Such language does not befit the queens presence!"

C-3PO turned to his silvery counter-part. "He does appear to have quite a temper, doesn't he" he remarked on the astromech-droids personality.

XXX XXX

Outside the sloop, Qui-Gon was strapping some tools and parts to a dewback, aided by the two jawas that had helped them transport the hyperdrive from Mos Espa, with intent to offer it to the boys working on their swoop. Obi-Wan stood to the side and merely watched. That he was troubled and mired in thought was clear to anyone.

"What ailes you, young padawan?" Qui-Gon asked as he tightened a leather strap.

"This boy" Obi-Wan confessed. "We ignore the plight of these people over a boy that will never be allowed to join our Order. Forgive me, but I do not see the wisdom in it, master."

"You do not agree with the way we claim our prospects?" Qui-Gon wondered as he moved to the opposite side of the dewback to secure the straps on that end.

"No, it's not that, master" Obi-Wan said. "But this boy is far too old. His mind is in turmoil and his emotions obscure his ability to focus. I admit that his presence affects the Force, I sense it beyond any doubt, but he has no place in the Jedi Order. And certainly not at the expense of Naboo."

Qui-Gon smiled and nodded. "As always, you are headstrong, opinionated and find strength in your convictions. It does you credit, padawan."

"But?" Obi-Wan knew his master too well.

"You are a Sentinel." Qui-Gon pulled on some spare parts and was satisfied that they were securely fastened to the dewback. "You rarely truly listen to the will of the Force. You trust in it, you let it in, you act on it. But rarely do you listen to it."

"And you are a Consular, master. Not a Ranger that is defined by his solitude and defiance of Jedi doctrine."

"This is true" Qui-Gon admitted as he climbed into the saddle. "And as a Consular, I place my trust in the Force as my guide and my ally. We were destined to find this boy, Obi-Wan, at this very point in time. Why I can not say for certain, but it was the will of the Force. And I will listen to its benevolant guidance. I suggest you do the same, my padawan."

Qui-Gon rode off towards Mos Espa, leaving Obi-Wan behind by the ramp leading up to the naboo vessel. Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed, shook his head and then returned to the interior of the ship.

XXX XXX

"Your highness, I can't express my relief over seeing you alive and well!" Senator Palpatines holographic image was presented in full size in the sloops lounge. "May the Force be with you, your majesty."

"And it is most welcome to hear your voice again, senator" Amidala said with an honest smile.

"We were so worried" Palpatine said. "Reports from Naboo are sketchy and the Trade Federation are doing everything they can to stall any form of investigation into the entire crisis. Tell me, where are you? I will arrange for the chancellor to send ships to pick you up immediately."

Panaka felt the need to cut in. "Forgive me, your highness, but if the chancellor sends ships here, it might tip of the Federation of our whereabouts. Not to mention the hutts. And the closest ship flying Republic colours is days away, not hours like our enemies are."

"Captain Panaka is correct, of course" Palpatine nodded. "But atleast tell me that you are safe and unharmed?"

"We are safe, senator" the queen reassured Palpatine. "Our ship is in need of repairs however. I fear we took some damage during our escape from the Federation. But we will be ready to depart for Coruscant in just a few days time."

"I am relieved to hear it" Palpatine sighed with relief. "Most welcome news indeed. The situation here on Coruscant is a mess I fear. The Federation has frightened every smaller system with this horrid occupation, and all major powers in the Republic are now trying to profit from the unsure situation in terms of both politics and economy. You majesty, the sooner you can adress the senate and speak on our behalf the better."

Amidala sighed. "I need your council, senator. The two jedi, that secured our escape, seem to have found a young boy that they wish to take with them to Coruscant."

Palpatine nodded. "I see. It is not always easy to come to terms with Jedi doctrine, and at times even I find it disturbing. But accepting their traditions is the price we pay for enjoying their protection."

Amidala nodded in agreement. "The issue is that my ship will be fully repaired in two days, but the Jedi require five days to secure the release of this slave they have found. And even then there are no assurances that the boy will be freed. Meanwhile, our people are dying under the occupation with each day that passes."

"I see" the experienced senator of Naboo said and fiddled with the tip of his cane as he considered their options. "This is an opportunity, your majesty" he then nodded, "I have enough friends in the senate to give us a possibility of turning the Republic against the Trade Federation. But, if you could earn the trust and friendship of the Jedi Order, my queen, then we would gain even more supporters from all the systems that respect the Jedi and their recommendations. Securing Jedi public support is key in liberating Naboo."

"So you advice me to wait here while the jedi retrieve this boy?" Amidala asked, not all too fond of the prospect and her tone of voice a clear indication of her feelings.

"Indeed, your majesty" Senator Palpatine nodded. "I fear that all that matters now is securing support for our cause. And befriending the Jedi Order will achieve this."

Amidala did not know that Obi-Wan Kenobi was standing outside of her chambers and was listening in on the conversation.

"I trust your judgment and your council, senator" the queen said with a sigh of reluctance. "I will do what I can to strengthen our relations with the jedi."

CORUSCANT

"I believe it will serve our purpose far greater than to see you arriving without Jedi support, your highness" Palpatine said, adressing the holographic image of Queen Amidala.

"Thank you for your council, senator" Amidala said. "Naboo is in your debt."

"May the Force be with you, my queen" Palpatine said with a bow and the transmission ended. Palpatine leaned back into his chair, his fingers fiddling with the top of his cane. "So she is alive after all" he then said.

"We must inform the chancellor" the senator of Malastere said, the gran turning its three eyes to the others present in Palpatines office. "We must make sure she is safe."

Prince Xizor, the senator of Falleen, was not so sure. "If the Republic sends a ship, or even if the jedi send one of their own, there is great risk that the Trade Federation will find out. And if they do, they will try and reach her first. As it is at the moment, only we in this room are aware that she is alive. And possibly even the Jedi Order, whom have yet shown any signs of searching for the queen or her jedi protectors."

"So we do nothing?" Senator Taa of Ryloth wondered, the obese twi'lek being a bit sceptical.

"By doing nothing" Xizor said, "we keep the queen alive."

Palpatine sighed and took a moment to clear his troubled mind. "We do nothing" he then said as he came to a decision. "We do nothing and trust the jedi to keep her majesty safe. It is her best chance for reaching Coruscant unharmed and without the Federation interfering."

XXX XXX

Prince Xizor walked through the ill lit corridors of the Falleen embassy, only the odd droid on the move performing menial tasks. He reached his personal study and sealed the chamber and activated jamming frequencys to hinder anyone from listening in on what was going on in the room. He sat down and pushed a series of keys on a console and waited. Patiently he waited in his chair, drinking casually from a glas holding strong liqour. Eventually, a holographic image came to life in the room and filled it with a pale blue hue.

"Prince Xizor" the holographic image said. "What an unexpected pleasure."

Xizor raised his glas in a toast. "Lord Dooku... I bring you news concerning Queen Amidala of Naboo."

It was clear that Dooku found it quite interesting. "Oh? Has she arrived at Coruscant?"

Xizor shook his head gently. "No, not yet. But her ship is damaged and she is in hiding, that much is certain. But we don't know where. I suggest that the Trade Federation make use of what bounty-hunters they regulary employ and trust, and have them search the planets where the queen might be hiding. The best lead we have involve the hutts. The queen appears to be stranded for another five days, at least."

The former jedi, now a Sith lord, nodded at the information given. "We will look into it."