Chapter 6 – Under the Twin Tuskan Suns
"Hey, you got a moment?"
The tall, rust skinned Deveronian looked up from the tracking device he'd been studying in his palm. In the doorway to his small ships quarters was a female Twi-Lek with yellow and orange skin.
She was smirking softly as she gently led a much smaller figure out from where it crouched frightened behind her legs. It was a little girl with thick wavy dark hair and bright amber eyes. While her body was still malnourished, she had at least been cleaned and was no longer wearing those dirty rags. Instead, she was wearing a small tunic of dark red over a small pair of black pants that were rolled up several times around the ankles so that she could walk in them.
"Well, well. Looks like you clean up nice little lady" the Deveronian smiled warmly down at the little girl who blushed scarlet and shrank back into the Twi-Lek's legs.
The Deveronian sighed.
"Still shy, huh?"
"Not even a peep out of her." The Twi-Lek snorted "Scraps put all this together for her from our old clothes, so it should last her till we get to the next port."
"Well, I suppose that will have to do for now." The Deveronian pursed his lips thoughtfully. "In the meanwhile, I guess we should at least find out this little one's name."
"Tried that already" the Twi-Lek sighed as the girl, sensing all attention on her once more, began to shrink away still further behind her legs shaking her head.
"What's that? You won't give us your name?" the Deveronian quirked a brow as she shook her head. She looked if possible even more nervous as she stared down at her toes.
Then it hit him.
"Are you not telling us your name because you don't want to?"
Again another shake of the head, and this time he saw the amber eyes brighten with unshed tears of shame.
"Is it because you can't remember your name?" He murmured, his voice now gentler and more measured as he knelt in front of her.
The little girl nodded meekly, not meeting his eyes.
The Deveronian looked up at the Twi-Lek whose eyes were full of pity, as she petted the top of the child's head as she began to sniffle and sniff down tears.
"It's alright little one; we're not angry. We only want to know more about you since you're going to be staying with us."
But the little girl just continued to sniff and cry where she stood. She couldn't help it. She couldn't recall the last time someone ever asked her for something so kindly. And it was her name, a name she couldn't even remember because no one had used it in so long.
She felt a pair of large warm arms encircle her comfortingly as the Deveronian gave her a brief but bracing hug.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. You don't have to be scared." He pulled away, and as he did so, pulled off his red leather jacket and put it around her tiny shoulders.
It was so large that it fell over her more like a cape. However, there was something about the feel of the leather and the smell that made her feel at ease even as the Deveronian reached out to wipe her streaming eyes with his shirt sleeve.
"Don't worry kid we'll figure something out. Nothing's going to happen to you while you're in this ship, not as long as I'm around. I promise."
Shmi Skywalker watched closely at the scene around her. Qui-Gon was quietly meditating in a corner while the sweet girl Padme and that clumsy Gungan Jar-Jar helped wash the dishes from that day's afternoon meal.
Meanwhile, in a corner, the Astro-droid Artoo beeped happily as he stood next to Anakin who was sitting on the floor alongside a young woman with dark hair streaked with grey and fiddling with pieces of C3P0's circuitry.
When her son had told her that a bounty hunter would be visiting along with his new friends, she had been nervous. Hunters were commonplace in Mos Espa, but very few were civil to civilians, let alone slaves.
But the girl, Una, to the older woman's surprise, had been just as polite and courteous as Padme if a bit rougher and gruffer in her speech. Indeed, she treated the older woman and her son as equals and had offered to help Anakin repair his pod-racer with spare parts taken from Scuds shop.
Her eyes softened on her son and the young bounty hunter sitting on the floor, the former laughing at the latter's rather funny recount about one of her adventures as a youth.
Even Padme and Jar-Jar were smiling at the story from their spot in the kitchen.
Shmi, however, could not help but notice that every so often Una's hand would reach up to unconsciously rub a thin but prominent scar on her lower neck.
It was a very simple habit Shmi had seen many times before in slaves that were owned by the Hutts.
Most slave owners usually put slavers chips in their slave's arms, legs or torsos. However, the Hutt Cartel was infamous for always put theirs around the neck and or head. This was to prevent their slaves from cutting off a limb to free themselves.
Shmi herself had one in a similar spot, but on the opposite side of the neck from the time Gardulla, the Hutt first enslaved her. There was one in her son's neck as well, but Shmi never told him its location. She was too afraid that he would accidentally trigger its self-destruct mechanism if he were to try to scan or remove it.
She wondered how Una had been freed, and at such a young age too for she could tell the scar was old. She was good looking enough to serve in a pleasure house. Or with her tough mentality and fighting skills, she could've made a decent bodyguard.
It gave the older woman hope and relief to see that a person just like her son might have a chance to live a free life no matter what their circumstances at birth. However, she wasn't quite sure that Qui-Gon and the others had fully understood the magnitude of the situation.
Freed slaves were often very sensitive about their pasts and were not above cutting all ties to their origins. Shmi couldn't blame them. She and Anakin were lucky for Watto was considered one of the more benevolent and meeker slave owners. He didn't punish them often even if he did curse uncouthly. Other slaves weren't as lucky, and it wasn't uncommon to see them limping and dragging themselves along the alleyways at night, bloody and bruised after a horrific thrashing, or worse.
Wherever this girl was enslaved, it must have been quite horrific if she tries so hard to run away from it.
Shmi sighed as she glanced up and saw Qui-Gon eyeing both Anakin and Una from the corner of his eye.
While she was sure the Jedi did not mean any harm, Shmi could feel that if he continued to push the young woman any further with his prying, he'd do a lot more damage than good. Perhaps she should tell him about what she suspected-
Her thoughts were interrupted as Una stood to her feet with a grunt and dusted herself off.
"Alright, I guess I better be off now. Thank you for dinner, Mam, it was lovely" she bobbed her head politely at Shmi as she stretched out her arms out above her head, and Anakin frowned.
"You're going to leave now? But it'll get dark soon."
"I'm afraid Anakin is right; you may be armed; however, it does get perilous outside at night once both suns are down." Shmi's brows furrowed in concern but Una just smiled.
"Don't worry; I'll be careful. Besides we're closer to the ship from here than we were coming from the main roads. It'll only get dark by the time I reach the ship."
"The ship?" Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed upon her, all pretence of his meditation gone now. "You wish to go into the desert at this time?"
"Of course," Una replied, sparing a stiff glance to a suspicious Padme. "Don't you think it would look rather suspicious if two of the queen's stronger protectors are out here in town with one of her handmaidens instead of being at the ship with her? Or at the very least returning to give a report?"
Padme frowned; she hadn't thought about it like that. Still, if what Shmi and Anakin had told them about Tattooine's inhabitants were true then it would be incredibly dangerous to trek into the desert alone at this time. Padme may not have liked Una that much, yet she still valued the fellow woman's life, if only because she carried information that could help secure her planet's safety.
Una, however, seemed determined to get a move on, and it wasn't long before she bid them all a good evening and left the small unit.
"I'll see you all at the track tomorrow before the races!"
Qui-Gon tried to go after her, but had only reached the threshold when he was stopped by a gentle hand on his sleeve.
"Mister Jinn, I don't think that's a good idea" Shmi Skywalker's voice was soft but firm as she pulled him back from the door.
"I take it you know something about her that I do not" Qui-Gon quirked a brow as he felt the slave woman's apprehension through the force. Yet she was quick to steady herself as she nodded quietly.
"No…at least I don't think I know…all I have is a hunch."
"Yet you think your hunch is correct?" Qui-Gon folded his arms in front of him as Shmi nodded quietly.
"I think so, yes. But now's not the time. She'll need her wits out there if she wants to make it back alive, and you all need your rest soon."
"Of course, forgive me. Let us head inside" Qui-Gon bobbed his head courteously to his host, though his mind was racing as he mulled over the emotions, he felt from her.
She certainly knew more than she was letting on about the girl, even though it was clear that neither of them had ever met before in their lives.
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud clang, and he turned around quickly, only to sigh as he caught sight of Jar-Jar trying to pick up something he had clumsily swatted to the ground by accident.
Qui-Gon sighed heavily. Perhaps he should have kept the Gungan on the ship after all.
And this is why I hate dust balls like this.
Una groaned softly as she reached the crest of the tall dune. She was just outside the small town of Mos Espa, having left via the Slaves quarters. After a short stretch of flat yellow stone, the desert sands began to loom up, their yellow colour morphing to reds, pinks and blues as both twin suns began to descend toward the horizon.
Una turned to look back at the town, eyes scanning her surroundings like two amber lasers. No one seemed to be following her, and already the chill wind was wiping away any bootprints she had left behind her.
Despite her isolation, she still could not help but feel an uncomfortable prickle on the nape of her neck and without pausing to hesitate, she pulled out her rifle from its holster on her back. If her instincts were right, then now was certainly not the time for half measures.
She whipped her head around as she heard something whoosh overhead, just in time to see a rather small, sleek, jet black ship zoom over the city.
She shivered as what felt like a cold breeze, brush over her skin for a moment, however even she could tell that it wasn't from the cold night air. No…that ship was more sinister than it looked and that could only mean one thing…
The Trade Federation, they've found us…but then why is it heading away from us?
She frowned as she followed the dark ship's path through the air as it zoomed over Mos Espa towards the desert on the other side.
So they've traced us to the planet…just not to our exact location. I wonder how long it will take them to find us? Will they do a physical search or send probes? Either way, we're running out of time.
Una chewed her lip as the craft flew out of sight and into the gathering night.
I need to get back to the ship.
She turned back to her path, her finger now hovering over her rifle's trigger as she observed the surrounding sands. Was it just her imagination, or had a dune shifted and resettled itself not too far off?
"Shit" she cursed as she took in the darkening skies. Damn it, she should have spent more time walking and less time sightseeing. Now she was stuck in the desert with what appeared to be a Tuskan ambush lying in wait.
Some ambush. I spotted that raider easily. Perhaps a little too easily-And I was right.
Una rolled her eyes to herself as suddenly she caught sight of a pair of shadows leaping out of the sand beside her.
She aimed her rifle at the figure in front which crumpled as soon as the red beam of light hit it in the chest. However, her next shot to the humanoid that had appeared beside it was halted by something thin and heavy whacking her ribs from the side.
Half-blind in the ever-growing darkness Una thrashed and caught the long vibro-spear in her hand using it to throw her shadowy attacker into one of his fellows. But it wasn't enough, and it was only by a hairs breath that she managed to duck just in time to avoid the circle of blaster shots aimed for her by all her attackers.
All their weapons were aiming at her head ready to fire.
Shit! Shit-Shit-Shit-Shit-Shit!
Una gritted her teeth as she turned her rifle around in a circle, trying and failing to find an opening or weak link in the circle around her. But it was no use. There were seven Tuskans and only one of her. She was surrounded.
That was when she felt it, for the second time that day, the feeling of everything slowing down to a snails crawl. She heard the shifting of sand as it was disturbed by rushing feet on a dune, felt the change in breath as all the Tuskans whipped their heads around to look at the new arrival.
She could see, even in the almost complete dark of night, the details of each of their ragged robes and desert shawls as they turned their bodies, exposing their ribs and backs to her.
She sucked in a deep breath, that lasted only a second, though it felt more like a lifetime as within the blink of an eye she aimed three shots at the three Tuskans in front of her.
With distorted squeals of pain, each raider fell to the ground, a smoking hole in the back of each of their heads.
Their three remaining Raiders all roared with fury as they saw their brothers in arms crumple into the sands, and rounded on Una with malicious guttural growls.
They were too close in reach for her rifle, so instead, she swung it's blunt end at the nearest one, smashing it over the face with the butt of her gun. It stumbled back but was quick to rally back with its vibro-staff which Una caught as it came swinging down, along with the staff of another Raider.
"Oh, come on!" she grunted as her feet began to sink into the sand beneath her feet. This handicap, combined with the two Tuskans bearing down upon her, made it very difficult to focus on the final third Tuskan who had raised his blaster in his hands and was aiming it at her side.
Then suddenly, a bright blue light flashed down upon the third raider, who screamed and hollered in agony. The source of his pain soon became apparent as, illuminated in the light of the thin blue beam of purest light, a severed arm still clutching a blaster fell into the sand.
Una and the two remaining Tuskans both stared in shock at the holder of the beam of light which was getting up to his feet. As he stood up from his crouch, Una couldn't help but marvel a little at the impressive sight of the padawan braid and robes fluttering in the cold night breeze. Now she could sort of understand why everyone was so in awe of these jedi...almost.
"Looks like you could use some help" Obi-Wan Kenobi smirked at the two attackers and the bounty hunter, who scowled angrily back.
Just look at him, smirking away at me like that? Just because he had to leap in for the rescue as if I'm some damsel in distress?! Asshole.
However, to her credit, she decided against retorting and instead used her enemies distraction to push them away. They stumbled back, tripping over in the sand however before they could regain their footing she had already dropped her rifle and sliced each of them around the throat with a thin but sharp knife she had stowed in her boot.
Blood splattered across the sand, some of it spurting out onto Una's hands, face and feet, though she was quick to step away from the bodies before it got all over her beloved jacket.
Obi-Wan took a step back, grimacing with a mixture of disgust and pity at the brutality of the kills while behind him the last remaining Tuskan Raider was whimpering and cradling his smouldering stump of an arm.
The Jedi turned to face him, opening his mouth to ask a question, only to jump in surprise as a blaster shot flew by his elbow and hit the injured humanoid dead in the centre of his forehead. With a grunt, the Tuskan's body hit the ground with a thud.
"Was that necessary?" Obi-Wan sighed in exasperation as he turned around. Una was standing behind him, her rifle now back in her hands as she lowered it to point at the ground.
"He wasn't going to talk" Una grunted as she knelt to one of the Tuskans and tore off a "clean" scrap of his worn-out shawl. With it, she wiped the blood speckled over her face, only to find more of it coating her hand as she pushed her hand down to tuck the cloth into a pocket.
"You're bleeding" Obi-Wan strode forward quickly, keeping his lightsabre ignited, so it illuminated their spot amongst the dunes.
Damn…must have got it when that first bastard hit me with his staff.
"Tis but a scratch" Una rolled her eyes as she reached out to swat him away half-heartedly.
"A scratch? He sliced your side."
"No, he didn't-"
"Well, what's that then?" Obi-Wan scowled, and Una shrugged.
"I've had worse. Now come on, Junior. Let's get back to that ship-oops!"
Now it was Obi-Wan's turn to roll his eyes as she tried to step away, only to stumble headfirst into a dune. Whatever adrenaline rush she had that had kept her going through the fight seemed to have quickly worn off.
"Agh! Dammit, now I've got sand in my hair" she growled before snarling up at the now blue-black sky as she tried and failed to stand up "This is why I hate these dustballs! Now it's going to take me forever to wash it all out."
"You're unbelievable you are" Obi-Wan groaned as he strode forward, lightsabre still ignited in one hand, and help pull Una back onto her feet. "You've just been attacked and wounded, and the only thing you can think about is a little bit of sand in your hai-Ah!"
He cried out, his lightsabre flickering off as he and Una both overbalanced and fell into the dune together.
Despite her pain, Una couldn't help but laugh as she heard a stream of sand tumble down the side of the dune and straight onto the Jedi padawan's short auburn locks.
"Mm-hmm yes, because this is hilarious" he grumbled, thanking the force that the dark covered up the dark flush of embarrassment that flooded over his cheeks.
"Oh Junior, lighten up. Of course, it's hilarious. So hilarious that my sides are quite literally splitting apart-whoa!" Una cried out as she felt her injured side throb.
"I don't think its deep, but I'm going to need a big-ass bacta patch when we get back to the ship" she muttered, wincing as Obi-Wan reignited his lightsabre and held it out in front of them like a torch as he helped her gingerly to her feet. Once he was sure she could stand on her own, he picked up her rifle and helped her put it back in its holster on her back before slinging one of her arms around his neck and shoulders.
"Don't worry; we're not too far. It shouldn't take us too long."
"I'll take your word for it" Una grunted as they carefully took the first step up the dunes.
Their going was slow and steady, even with the light of the lightsabre illuminating their path. It didn't help that Una could not move too fast in one go and occasionally stumbled on the shifting sands.
She refused point blank, Obi-Wan's gallant offer to carry her.
"We are better off keeping our hands free to use in case we get attacked again." She had said, clutching at her aching, bleeding side as she did her best to apply pressure. Despite the logic in her words, Obi-Wan couldn't help but suspect that she was refusing more out of embarrassment than pragmatism.
However, between the two of them, they finally managed to reach the ship in a good solid hour, by which time they were both tired, shivering from the cold night air and covered head to foot in rough, course golden grains.
"I think you were right about that sand" Obi-Wan grimaced, using all his willpower to resist scratching and clawing at his itching scalp, as they both hobbled exhausted towards the ship which had opened its ramp to admit them.
"I told you. It gets everywhere" Una mumbled clutching at her side. She had been keeping the pressure on it for most of the journey, but even she for all her endurance had her limits.
She was just grateful that Captain Panaka and his men were quick to usher both her and Obi-Wan to the small medical room down in the ships hold. There one of the queen's handmaids was waiting for them, medical kits at the ready on a medical slab.
"I am only trained in first aid, but I will do what I can" the young woman nodded at Obi-Wan who was helping Una onto the slab.
"Alright, I'm going to need to get your jacket and suit down to clean the wound and put the bacta patch on. Master Jedi if you wouldn't mind helping me." The handmaid instructed, and though she was quite young, her voice was quite motherly and stern.
Though he looked a little uncomfortable Obi-Wan quickly helped Una shrug off her jacket and moved around to unzip her blue-black skin-tight jumpsuit.
"Well, well. Someone's nervous" Una smirked through gritted teeth as another pulse of pain travelled through her. "What's the matter junior, never undressed a woman before?"
Obi-Wan ignored her, though she couldn't help but notice the way his cheeks and ears had gone slightly pink as she turned her head to glance back at him through the corner of her eye.
He was conscientious about how he pulled the suit from the top half of her body, doing his best not to touch her skin, or even look at her as it peeled away from her body.
As he pulled the material away from the back, the handmaid-turned-medic helped Una tug it off from the front, being careful not to pull her wound too hard.
"Ah! That's better" Una groaned with relief as fresh air hit her sweaty skin.
Obi-Wan, however, was staring at her from behind with shock.
She was wearing a short, structured tank top, cropped just under the bust so that it only covered her chest. However, all over her back and sides, was a vast tapestry of scars. Big, small, old and new, nearly every inch of her skin had some mark.
The largest and oldest of these were three long slender claw marks.
"Nexu cat. Nal Hutta fighting pit."
Obi-Wan looked up. Una was still sitting on the medical slab and holding up her arm as the handmaid cleaned her fresh wound and applied the medical pack. It thankfully wasn't too big, or too deep. But she would have to keep the bacta pack on for at least a day.
"Pardon?" Obi-Wan shook his head out to clear it, and she rolled her eyes.
"The scars you're looking at, I got them from a Nexu cat on Nal Hutta. And the ones above that, the blaster scars on my left shoulder. Got those from a rather nasty Mon Calamari spice smuggler I was chasing six years ago."
"It sounds like you've led a rather hectic life" Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows, while the handmaid's eyes widened in horror.
"Six years ago? But-but you couldn't have been older than-"
"Fourteen. Yeah," Una shrugged casually, as she began to pull up her jumpsuit once more. "But that's just part of the job. You don't dodge in time you get shot. Ain't that right junior?"
"Only too true" Obi-Wan nodded gravely, remembering his first injuries he had obtained early in his apprenticeship. He wouldn't be surprised if his own back were covered in nasty wounds.
A thoughtful silence seemed to fall over the room, one which seemed to make the young handmaid uncomfortable as she quietly excused herself, taking her kit with her.
Once she was out Obi-Wan turned back to Una, arms folded. "I take it you've been in hunting bounty's most of your life. Were your parent's hunters?"
"To hell if I know." a now fully clothed Una winced as she accidentally pulled on her injured side.
"You were a foundling?"
"Pretty much yeah. But I wasn't alone for too long. Got taken in by a bounty hunting crew when I was little, and well, the rest is history." Una grunted as she rolled her head and neck around, sighing a little in relief as her bones cracked nicely.
"Ah, that's good. God, I'm starving, I could eat a whole Rancor."
"There's some food in the galley, I think." Obi-Wan sighed as they both made their way over to the door.
Yet even as she reached the threshold, Una felt herself stumble.
"I'm okay" she mumbled as Obi-Wan helped her straighten up against the doorframe. "Thanks"
"Uh…you're welcome" Obi-Wan blinked in surprise, and she scowled.
"What? You think just because I'm a hunter I won't have manners?"
When Obi-Wan just stared at her unable to find an answer she sighed:
"Listen, I may not be too fond of you or your Old Man, but you did me a real solid by helping me out there on the dunes. So… I guess what I'm trying to say is since you did…I will uh…listen the gist of it is you helped me so now I'll do what I can to help you, got it? Good. Glad we got that sorted out." And with that she turned swiftly on her heels and marched away down a corridor, cursing herself as her cheeks began to burn as hot as the twin Tattooine suns.
Meanwhile, behind her, Obi-Wan's stunned face slowly morphed into a small amused smirk as he folded his arms and shook his head.
Perhaps his master had been right about Una Crest after all.
A tall figure garbed all in black stepped out from the small, sleek dark space craft, raising a high-tech pair of binocular scanners to its eyes.
From his vantage point on this mesa, there were three settlements close to the rough co-ordinates he had traced. But to which one should he search first?
He couldn't hunt down his prey in person. It would arouse too much suspicion and also these weren't his usual kind of victim. These were Jedi. If he revealed himself even one second before he killed them then his whole mission-no- his master's entire life's work would be ruined.
He couldn't have that. His master was counting on him to help him bring the sith back out of the shadows and into power. He would be no use to the cause if he were to die because of one mistake.
I shall send the probes to each settlement first.
He clicked a few buttons on one of his black arm bracers, and at once, three black spheres with antennae zoomed out from his space craft and out into the vast expanse of desert.
The dark figure watched them go with narrowed flame-yellow eyes.
Soon, very soon, the Jedi, the bounty hunter and the queen would be in his grasp.
Qui-Gon stared down at the readings his apprentice had just sent him via their communicators.
He could not believe it. It was almost impossible that it should have happened.
A force-sensitive child, with the highest midi-chlorian count ever recorded, had been conceived purely through the will of the Force itself.
The prophecy…this must be the chosen one. The one that will bring balance to the force.
He looked down from where he stood on the roof of the building Shmi and her son lived in with the other slaves from their sector of the town.
To think he would find the chosen one here of all places-then again some Jedi had been born into worse circumstances and still become incredible knights for the order.
But those knights had been few and far between. The Jedi Order rarely ever came out to these remote Outer Rim planets to search for Force Sensitive younglings. There were so many to be found in the mid and upper rim in comparison, that no one truly ever bothered to expand the search.
After all, the galaxy was prospering, and all seemed peaceful. Or so they had thought.
In our complacency, we have grown arrogant and ignorant of those outside the Republic's reach. And one day we shall pay the price. How soon that will be, that is the question.
Qui-Gon frowned darkly, as images of both Anakin Skywalker and Una Crest floated over his minds eye.
From the scan Obi-Wan had taken from a blood sample, she too seemed to have a high enough midi-cholorian count to be a strong Jedi. She certainly had the reflexes of one. Reflexes that had been trained well by someone who knew the force.
Qui-Gon's eyes hardened as his mind wandered back to the Deveronian he had glimpsed in the marketplace. It had only been for a split second, but Qui-Gon was sure he had been there watching them. Not only that but his face had been unnervingly familiar…
But no…it couldn't be could it? If so then why would he turn up again after all these years?
The old Jedi sighed. This mission was turning out to be more confusing by the minute.
He could only hope everything went well tomorrow at the races. If not, then he had a strong feeling that there would be more than just the Trade Federation on his tail.
Una stood on the ramp of the ship, her hands on her hips as she stared out at the twin suns peeking out over the top of the horizon.
Daybreak at last. She had rested all night and had changed the bacta pad when she had woken up. Her wound in her side had stopped bleeding; however, she wasn't out of the woods yet. The skin on her side had only just started healing over and was still very tender. One wrong struggle and it would open again, possibly worse than before.
Her ears pricked as she heard a pair of footsteps approach from behind. But it was only Obi-Wan. He had been a lot less hostile with her since last night. Indeed, his entire posture was relaxed as he made to stand beside her, looking out over the vast desert.
"Are you still sure you want to leave?" He asked quietly, eyes on the dunes.
"Normally I wouldn't. But I told the Old Man I'd meet him at the races. Don't worry." She added smirking "Boonta Eve is one of the few holidays here where even the Galaxy's worst scum hang up their blasters for at least a couple of drinks. As long as I keep my head down and don't ruffle anyone's feathers or scales, I should be fine."
"I suppose even crime needs a break sometimes" Obi-Wan rolled his eyes sardonically and Una chuckled.
"And that is where you're wrong. As my crew used to say, criminals may take breaks, but crime does not"
"I suppose that is true" Obi-Wan nodded, but she could still see the concern in his eyes.
She sighed heavily.
"Listen, Junior, it's sweet of you to worry about little ole' me, but I've been in this business a very long time. If I couldn't walk off a scratch like this, then I would have been one of Jabba's table scraps a long time ago."
"I understand. But it's not just your injury that worries me." Obi-Wan looked to the sky "Something else is here, cold and elusive. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I am certain I felt it pass over us last night. I couldn't say for certain, but I think-"
"The Trade Federation has found us and have sent someone to track us planet-side. Yeah I know" Una grimaced grimly, and Obi-Wan turned sharply towards her eyes narrowed.
"You know? But how?"
"I know because I saw a stealth craft fly over my head last night as I left the town. One that was way too expensive and sleek to belong to any Bounty Hunter" Una explained, calm as a cucumber even as Obi-Wan stared at her aghast "given what I have seen I'd have it a guess the Trade Feds may have sent an assassin of some kind. But they don't seem to know where we are; otherwise they'd have landed closer or in the spaceport at least and not on the mesa on the other side."
"If you saw this last night, why didn't you say anything?" Obi-Wan asked warily and was rewarded with a scathing glower from the woman beside him.
"First off I was ambushed and injured by those Tuskans, so I didn't have much time to think about possible assassins. Secondly, I talked to the other handmaidens last night before I went to sleep and I discovered that they had foolishly accepted a transmission from Naboo that was a trap to flush us out."
"And that prevented you from telling us because?" Obi-Wan quirked an eyebrow and was not disappointed when she rolled her eyes.
"Because genius, if these pacifist buffoons were naive enough to fall for an obvious trap while we are safe and calm, what do you think they'd do if they felt like they were backed into a corner? These people are not like you or me; they don't know what to do with themselves when danger is pursuing them. One or two might have brains, but as a collective, they'll be more prone to make stupid decisions when desperate. And those stupid decisions could cost all of us our lives, or worse."
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak, only to shut it hastily. He almost hated to admit it, but she had a point. While some of the pilots and guards were savvy enough to keep their heads low in a crisis, the handmaids and other civilians aboard this ship would certainly panic if they felt they were no longer safe and secure.
"I suppose you are right" The young Jedi padawan conceded with a slow nod, glancing at Una out of the corner of his eye. She met his gaze, and her amber eyes narrowed warily.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just admiring the view" Obi-Wan smirked as he turned back to look at the dunes.
He didn't even need to look at Una to know that she was rolling her eyes once more as she began to walk out into the heat, shading her eyes with her hand.
"Alright, I best be getting off before the suns rise too high." She muttered before glancing back at Obi-Wan over her shoulder "You and the boys don't need anything, do you? Only there won't be many shops open to get any supplies till after the races."
"I think we'll be fine. I'll message you if we need anything" Obi-Wan folded his arms in his robes as he watched her go. "May the Force be with you."
"And with you, Junior" Una gave a two-fingered salute as she carefully armed herself with her blaster rifle and set out into the desert.
Obi-Wan watched her go and had to admit that despite her size and build, she struck a surprisingly impressive figure with her red leather jacket, powerful blaster rifle and long cornrow ponytail.
He could only hope he didn't need to rush out there and rescue her again before she got to the town.
The tall Deveronian male watched curiously from his spot in the large racetrack hangar. All around him, pod-racers were applying last-minute adjustments and fixes to their vehicles. Some were even applying the finishing coats of paint and fuel.
But it was the sight of three figures that held the Deveronian's attention. A tall gangly and clumsy Gungan stood behind a tall middle-aged human man, who was facing a blue rugged Toydaryan male who was rattling a pair of dice in front of his nose.
"We'll let Fate decide hmm. I just so happen to have a chance cube here. Blue is the boy. Red…his mother" the blue buzzing alien sneered.
The human looked unphased, but the Deveronian could see his grey eyes harden ever so slightly on the crude dice as it was rolled on the floor, his hand oh-so-casually flicking at the hem of his poncho.
Look at you; you haven't changed a bit. Always trying to be so clever. Hmm…let's see if you've still got it.
One of the Deveronian's fingers twitched as he too watched the dice which had almost rolled to a stop on one of its edges, stuck between red and blue.
The Toydaryian was chewing his gums anxiously, quite literally hovering between cheering with victory or cursing with loss as the dice teetered back and forth tantalisingly between red and blue.
The human man frowned ever so slightly as his gaze hardened on the dice and the Deveronain smirked. This was just too much fun.
Then suddenly, the human man's fingers twitched, and the dice fell onto the blue side.
Well darn, he's still got it.
The Deveronian smirked with amusement as he glanced at the Toydaryian who was all but spitting with rage.
"You've won this small toss outlander, but you won't winna the race, so it makes little difference."
And with that, the small Toydaryian zoomed off in the air, snarling and seering at those who passed.
Once the Toydaryian had gone, the Human man looked around the hangar with a wary scowl. When his eyes found the Deveronian, they widened ever so slightly.
The Deveronian just smirked and put a finger to his lips in a shushing movement. Yet even as the human man took one step forward the grunting of two tall four-legged mounts diverted his attention.
The Deveronian sauntered after the Human's path, keeping his distance as he watched the human man approach another group of humans, two women and two boys, who had just dismounted from the creatures.
Behind them, two droids pulled along a racing pod slowly into the hangar. One of them was a silver and blue astromech, the other, an unfinished protocol droid with no protective plating.
"oh my space travel sounds rather perilous," the protocol droid said in a slightly effeminate male voice as the little astromech beside him beeped happily along "I assure you they won't drag me onto one of those dreadful starships."
"Never say never" the Deveronian muttered, stopping to a halt by a few crates just a few feet away from the strange group of humans and machines.
"Excuse me for one second" the human man murmured to the older of the two human women before turning his face to the Deveronian, a brow quirking.
"You know you could've just walked up and said hello. Nothing was stopping you." The human said softly folding his arms.
"But that wouldn't nearly have been so much fun." The Deveronian smirked, looking the human up and down. "Your hairs greyer."
"Your horns are duller" the Human countered, but his posture was swift to relax as both he and the Deveronian chuckled and stepped towards one another and grasped each other's arms in friendly comradery.
"It's good to see you Qui-Gon." The Deveronian, Slyde, grinned.
"You as well Slyde" Qui-Gon muttered as he pulled away to inspect his friend at arm's length. "The life of a bounty hunter suits you."
"Well, it pays to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly so I can't complain. How long has it been? Twenty years?"
"Twenty-five" Qui-Gon corrected quietly. "You're here for the races I take it?"
"Only for the big one. I was hoping to find someone here, but they don't seem to have arrived yet." Slyde glanced over the rest of the hangar.
"I suppose it won't be easy chasing a bounty in the crowd" Qui-Gon nodded, and Slyde snorted with laughter.
"Bounty? Nah. I'm not looking for a bounty. Well not yet anyway. No, one of my informants told me my old protégé was down here on a job. I wanted to check in with her. See how she's going on her mission and figure out how she ended up helping you of all people."
"She" Qui-Gon's whole body stiffened as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. Then he sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his hair. "By Force, you have got to be kidding me."
"You're telling me" a new voice spoke up from behind their backs.
Both men turned to see Una Crest standing right behind them arms folded and a deadly scowl spread across her entire face.
"Hey, there, kiddo." Slyde's smirk softened as he met the young woman's eyes.
"Hey yourself. I see the two of you are already acquainted" she looked suspiciously between Qui-Gon and Slyde. "Old friends?"
"you could say that. Though it's been a while" Slyde admitted quietly, sharing a knowing glance with Qui-Gon who nodded once with understanding before taking a step back.
"Indeed. Forgive me, but I need to check in with Anakin at his pod, then we'll be headed to one of the platforms to watch the race. You're both welcome to join us if you'd like." He offered courteously.
"We'll join you in a bit, thanks Qui-Gon" Slyde nodded turning back to Una.
"I thought you were chasing down Jabba's runaway accountant" She narrowed her eyes up at him.
"And so I was. I'm going to meet the great slug after the race to collect the reward." Slyde's smirk dropped ever so slightly as his eyes wandered over her sides.
"You look like you've been put through the wringer? Tough night?"
"Ran into some Tuskans in the desert. Nothing I couldn't handle." Una muttered as her hand hovered over her injured side.
"Oh Una, Una, Una. Always getting into trouble. First the Trade Feds now the Tuskan Raiders. Whatever are we going to do with you" Slyde sighed with a grin?
"It wasn't my fault. The Trade Feds didn't want to pay me; and the Tuskans, well you know how they are with strangers on their land" she grumbled mulishly, her ears burning with embarrassment, even as Slyde folded his arms and quirked a brow.
"I see… And what's this I hear about you picking Fights with Zotar Sil-"
"Pick fights? What am I a five year old?" Una growled "I didn't pick a fight with Zotar, he tried pouncing onto me like a creep, so I kicked his ass to the curb."
"I suppose that checks out." Slyde folded his arms. "Still, that Torgrutan is a nasty piece of work, and you've already got a few people on your tail without him adding to the mess."
"Zotar Sil is nothing but a pathetic whimpering sleemo Slyde. You and I both know that. I could take him down blindfolded with both hands behind my back." Una scoffed, but Slyde just sighed and leaned in close to murmur.
"Yes, he is a pathetic sleemo. But he's a pathetic sleemo with a big mouth and an ear for gossip. Which is, unfortunately, he is putting to good use amongst Jabba's men. If he hears about what happened with your last job, you could be in big trouble. You need to be careful."
"And I am careful" Una hissed angrily "Seriously, the way you're going on, one would think I'm still a youngling. Honestly Old Geezer, I love you but how the hell am I going to make a name for myself if you keep poking your nose into my jobs?"
"It's a good thing I do, considering all the trouble you keep getting into." Slyde snorted, his pointed face now looking stern. "Look things are getting heated in the underworld, especially now this Naboo blockade is in place. The Trade Federation seems to have reached out to a lot of illegal arms dealers and droid manufacturers to help them build their invasion force, and anyone who dares speak out or tries to leave are all getting eliminated one by one."
"Eliminated? Oh, I knew it! I knew they had an assassin on the payroll." Una groaned slapping her forehead, only for her brow to furrow. "Wait if they had an assassin on board then why did they hire me to find that drone that stole that data-chip?"
"I don't know" Slyde muttered "I guess that the assassin was already on another assignment and they wanted someone to bring him in alive. But that doesn't matter anymore. Now that you've defected they'll be coming after you, and you'll need all the allies you can get if you are going to make it out of this alive. If what I've heard about all those assassinations is true, you're dealing with a real cold-blooded killer, one you are not prepared to face. And I'm not saying that because you're my kid. I'm saying that because I've seen the results of what he's done. Una, this guy…he's a monster. And the farther you are away from him, the better you will be."
Una stared at her old mentor, completely dumbfounded. She'd never heard him speak like this before. Oh, of course, Slyde could be severe on the job when he wasn't too busy trying to look cool or impress the ladies, but this was different. She had never heard him sound so…afraid. Whoever this assassin was, he must have been quite a nasty piece of work to have earned Slyde Crest's fear.
"Look Slyde" Una reached up to her mentor's hand on her shoulder, her touch surprisingly gentle like her voice "I know you're worried. And if what your telling me is true, then you have every right to be frightened. But I've got a job to do monster or no monster. I helped play a part in making this mess, so it's only right I try my best to help them fix it. Now you can come with me if you want or leave me be, that's your choice. Either way, I'm not running and neither should you unless you want to spend your whole life running rather than living?"
Despite himself, Slyde chuckled under his breath.
"Since when did you get so wise and all-knowing?"
"I don't know. Maybe the damn Jedi are rubbing off on me" Una coughed as a voice announced something in huttese over a loud-speaker.
"We should get moving. They're getting ready for the race." She grunted, straightening up her shoulders.
Slyde likewise forced his pleasant smile back onto his face as he said:
"Yes, I do believe they are. Have you placed any bets on anyone yet."
"No. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't." Una pouted angrily "the Trade Feds confiscated all my money when they took me captive."
"So they didn't pay you, and they took your money?" Slyde raised an eyebrow. "Yikes, no wonder you're so dedicated to this mission."
"You bet your wrinkled ass I am" Una snorted as they made their way to a doorway where Padme was waiting for them with Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar Binks lurking in the back trying not to touch or drop anything. The young teenaged queen's eyes were suspicious as she took in Slyde for the first time.
First that Trandoshan, now this Deveronian? Just who are these people? And can they be trusted?
But before Padme could say a word, Slyde flashed a charming at her.
"My, my Little Una, I see you've picked up quite a charming new friend."
"Little Una? Little Una?" Jar-Jar stared at Una, who rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Slyde, this is Padme and Jar-Jar, Padme is a handmaid to my current employer and Jar-Jar is a Gungan we met on Naboo. Padme, Jar-Jar this is Slyde Crest my old captain, and legally, my old man as well."
"Your old man? You mean, he's your father?" Padme's big brown eyes widened as she looked between Una and Slyde, who's smirk widened as he gave her a mock bow.
"Adopted but yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady. I do hope Little Una is looking after you well. Forgive me if my appearance startled you. It's not often we hunters get to work with those in the higher social classes. I'm afraid we often come across as rather rough and uncouth rascals, even when we endeavour to behave our best."
Padme blinked as she took in the humanoid's words. Where Una had the definite rough and blunt tones of a local of the outer rim, this Deveronian's accent was nearly just as refined as some of the core world government officials Padme had met during her rule in office.
She wondered whether he was faking it, yet as she looked into his yellow eyes, she knew at once that this was not a man pretending to have high-class. This was someone who had received proper education and upbringing, just as good as hers. Yet he had chosen to become a Bounty Hunter in one of the most abysmal quadrants of the galaxy?
"It is a pleasure to meet you too, sir." Padme gulped, blushing slightly as the Deveronian took her hand and politely bobbed his head down to it in a gentlemanly fashion. "And yes, Una has been of great service to my quee-I-I mean my employer. I, that is to say, I and the rest of our crew, are grateful for her assistance during these, especially troubling times."
"That's what I like to hear" Slyde glanced sidelong at Una. Una however only had eyes for the ceiling as if she wanted nothing more than to vanish into the woodwork from embarrassment.
Well, this was just perfect. She'd built up this excellent image for herself, and now here she was being treated like a kid right in front of her employers…again.
Gods I hope Anakin and Junior have better days than me.
She pouted to herself as they all made their way outside into the blistering heat. Slyde was quick to give another charming introduction to Shmi Skywalker, who smiled and bobbed her head politely though her attention was quickly pulled away by the sight of all the racers prepping themselves at the start line. She was quick to go and wish her son good luck, kissing his forehead for good measure much to his embarrassment.
"Mom" he grumbled as Una, Jar-Jar and Padme all grinned in amusement at him.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Slyde sidled across to Qui-Gon his charming smile faltering as he took in his old friend's solemn expression.
"Something is worrying you old friend?" he murmured so that only Qui-Gon could hear.
"I'm not sure" Qui-Gon muttered softly. "There's just something about this boy."
"Ah yes, your Force Sensitive pint-sized pod-racer?" Slyde smirked, and when Qui-Gon gave him a sharp look, he shrugged.
"Look there's no way a little boy like him could ever race in a pod unless he had Jedi reflexes. It's just impossible for humans at that age, or any age to be that good without some help from the Force."
"I suppose you're right." Qui-Gon glanced back at Slyde, then quickly at Una, who was still distracted by a procession of the racers down on the track.
"You adopted a force-sensitive youngling" he muttered, and Slyde nodded quietly.
"Yeah…though before you ask it's not like I had much choice at that point. When I found Una, she was already nearly seven years old. The Order would never have taken her in."
"So instead, you trained her secretly in our ways without telling her anything about what she is and what she is capable of?" Qui-Gon folded his arms into his poncho. "I take it she is also unaware of your past occupation?"
"Yes, and I'd rather it remains that way until the time is right."
"Unfortunately, you may not have that luxury." Qui-Gon pursed his lips, though his eyes were wells of sympathy for his old friend. "She has already agreed to divulge information on the Trade Federation to both the Jedi Council and the Republic. If you do plan on joining us, you will have to face the Council alongside her, and if the council questions you then you will have no choice but to tell them everything."
"I know, and I will. Only…" Slyde sighed and ran a hand over his bald copper-skinned head.
His revelation, however, was interrupted by the loud booming voice of the twin-headed alien commentator who had started his announcements
"-That's right. And a big turnout here from all corners of the outer rim territories. I see the contestants are making their way out onto the starting grid."
At this, the other twin head began to speak Huttese to the crowd, which started to cheer harder.
"Alright, this is it — time to get going. Good luck kiddo" Una muttered, ruffling Anakin's hair affectionately as Padme reached out to give him a bracing hug.
"Good luck Ani" she whispered, and Una smirked as the young boy flushed pink, mumbling his thanks before rushing off to help his friends pull his pod-racer onto the track.
"I think it's time for us to find our seats. Ladies?" Slyde offered his arm to Padme who accepted it gracefully. He tried to offer his arm to Una too but lowered it quickly as she scowled and marched off ahead.
"Don't worry your highness" Slyde smirked as he led Padme up to the base of their elevating platform. "My little Una acts tough, but she means well."
"Highness?" Padme blinked in alarm and Slyde chuckled.
"Young one, you might dress like a handmaid, but you still walk like a queen. You stick out like a flower blossoming in a desert."
"Am I so obvious?" Padme pouted, her queenly grace briefly giving way to reveal an exasperated adolescent.
"Only to those with a trained eye." Slyde smiled kindly "Don't worry. You have plenty of years ahead to refine your skills. I hear those in politics are wonderful actors."
Wonderful actors? There he goes putting on the charm again.
Una snorted, arms folded grumpily as she tried to position herself in a spot of shade. God, this heat was infuriating as was the prospect of having her old man hovering over her shoulder once again.
She loved the Deveronian dearly, but hadn't she proved time and time again that she was a good enough hunter to work a job alone?
She vaguely wondered if Obi-Wan had to deal with similar issues, being an apprentice Jedi. Then she remembered how relaxed Qui-Gon was with letting his padawan hold the fort with the ship. Granted Obi-Wan couldn't leave the ship, but at least he was trusted to keep it safe on his own.
Had the duty been split between Slyde and Una, the older bounty hunter would probably be checking in on Una constantly. As it stood, the Deveronian was always antsy whenever she went to go hunting alone.
She winced as something metallic flashed and twinkled in the sunlight someway in the distance.
What the?
She squinted as she caught sight of Anakin's pod, beside which a rather ugly, motley skinned dug in racing gear, sneered wickedly as one of his limbs reached out to flick against the side of the pod.
What the hell-
But she was interrupted as Qui-Gon, and Shmi Skywalker both walked onto the platform, blocking her view of the saboteur.
"How's the kid? Is he okay?" Slyde asked Qui-Gon who shrugged.
"He's nervous, but I have a feeling he'll be just fine. Shall we?"
He gestured, and once all of them were secure on the platform, it began to rise so that they stood overlooking the sandy start line.
Yet as they rose, Una only had eyes for a grand balcony set into the sand-coloured stands set on the other side of the track. Upon it, what looked like she could see with her sharp eyes, two giant dark-skinned slugs. The bigger of the two was now speaking to the crowd in deep guttural Huttese, welcoming them all to the race as was custom.
"Easy there Wildcat" Slyde murmured in her ear as he saw her gaze on the two Hutts harden and darken like daggers.
The look was not missed by Qui-Gon who could not ignore the flash of anger he felt coming from the woman through the force. She didn't just dislike the Hutts. She loathed them with all her being.
Though he could not blame her, Qui-Gon couldn't help but wonder what had those gangsters done to this young woman to warrant such hatred?
There was a hard slam of a gong, and all eyes turned to the start line where many racing pods had taken off. All save three.
Two of them were sputtering hunks of junk piloted by grubby aliens, the third one piloted by a tiny nine-year-old boy with sandy hair.
"Aw Kriffing hell" Una cursed.
"Looks like your little friend has trouble reaching the controls." Slyde glanced at Qui-Gon, but all could see his heart was not in the joke. Indeed his yellow eyes were just as worried as the Jedi's, who said:
"Something must have gone wrong with the pod before we got on the track-"
"But that can't be" Shmi Skywalker's eyes were wide with fear as she looked down at her child on the track. "Ani always checks everything in his pod at least three times before racing, and he's never had a problem before."
"Only because someone made a problem for him." Una growled, her nostrils flaring. That slimy Dug, dammit! She should have known better-
"You mean someone sabotaged him but isn't that against the... rules…" Padme trailed off as everyone; even Jar-Jar, raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh…right"
"Come on, Ani" Jar-Jar hissed down at the boy, who seemed to be pressing nearly all the buttons in his cockpit.
Una stared down at the boy's pod, her eyes skimming over the metallic orange and silver surface. That Dug had been close to the portside engine, somewhere along the middle-the middle.
An external fuel tank capacitor-he broke off the capacitor, and that's why it's stalling.
She thought wildly, her eyes fixed now upon the boy's head, which stiffened for a moment, before leaning forwards in his seat.
Then, there was the roar from the crowd as the two slim engines of the podracer began to glow red hot as they fired up ready for action.
"Well, looks like he's back on his feet now" Slyde grinned, though Una could see his body wasn't relaxed as Shmi pulled out an old holo-pad on which feed on the race's various tracking probes could be seen following the racers from above.
Many racers weren't faring well. Many of them fell behind the top five quickly, either because of poor driving or badly designed machines. However, amidst most of the crappy rabble, Una spotted soon that one or two of the more decent racers were struggling with their devices, which after one jostle from a competitor began to smoke and spark off violently.
So Anakin's hadn't been the only one that had been tampered with?
Una's lips pursed as she saw one of the sabotaged machines engines blow up and fly ten feet into the air, carrying their poor driver with them, before crashing down hard into the sand.
That unbearable hot sand…over which a dark shadow had flown over her head last night.
That spacecraft…I wonder what became of it?
She tilted her head as she watched the screen in Shmi's hands. As she did, her eyes glazed over as the yellow and silver pod, watching it morph into a different much larger shape. She shook her head out to clear it, however when she looked up from the screen, she found herself, not at the racetrack, but on top of a barren rocky mesa.
Behind her over the edge of the Mesa's cliff, was a barren sandy landscape, scattered with small patches of paler stone. A closer look at these told her that these were the towns and settlements much like Mos Espa, for she could see the gleam of metal as individual ships flew in and out of the spaceports.
It would have been a beautiful sight, had it not been for a dark but small and sleek space craft gleaming in the hot afternoon sunlight in front of her. Before it, pacing up and down like a panther stalking in a cage was a man, or at least it was masculine and humanoid in shape. They wore all black, but she could see streaks of crimson, peeking out from under the hood of the dark robes.
He was impatient; he was hungry for action. But he needed to wait. He needed to be patient…let his prey make its way to him.
As a bounty hunter, Una understood the figure's frustration only too well. She had often been forced to keep quiet as she staked out planets and towns while searching for her own bounty's. Yet there was something about the way this figure walked that made her uneasy.
It was the way he prowled; hooded head bowed slightly, almost deferentially in prayer to some silent entity she could not see.
"Soon, my master. You shall have them soon."
She shivered as she heard the voice. It was cold, menacing-a purr of a beast waiting to strike.
Oh, he was a hunter all right, but he did not seek out his prey for credits. He was in a whole league of his own.
But who was he? She wondered, body stiffening as she watched him finger something metal and cylindrical on his belt. Something that looked oddly like the hilt of a lightsabre.
Then suddenly he paused mid-step, his spine stiffening and his muscles all tense.
Una felt all the hair on the back of her neck stand on end as a deep, bone-numbing cold seeped into every fibre of her being. It was almost as if she were drowning in icy seas; even her breath was catching in her chest as the figure turned its head around.
"Una?" but Una didn't hear the voice at all. All she could see was a pair of fiery yellow eyes with red rings in the centre staring out at her hungrily across the golden sands, as a black and crimson streaked face sneered with victory.
Found you!
The figure hissed inside her mind, and she saw a lip curl with a feral sort of pleasure.
"UNA! UNA LOOK! LOOK! We're Winning! Anakin's winning!"
Una blinked and just like that the cold figure was gone. She was still standing on the elevated platform at the racetrack. The platform itself was descending to the ground as the crowd all cheered ecstatically as someone crossed over the finish line — a little human boy in an orange podracer.
"Wait what-"
"We won!" Padme was beaming and squealing unabashedly with pride like the teenager she was. Behind her Jar-Jar Binks was bouncing up and down with glee. Shmi Skywalker was almost weeping with prideful joy as Slyde and Qui-Gon both ran off the platform to check on the pint-sized winner who was grinning in the cockpit, his whole helmeted head covered head to foot in desert dust.
He was cheering as a small crowd of locals reached out to swarm around him and Qui-Gon, who had helped pull him out of the speeder while Slyde did his best to keep the new crowd in a controllable group.
"This is amazing! I can't believe we won!" Padme's smile was radiant and brilliant as she shared a happy hug with Shmi beside her.
Una meanwhile was staring out into the distant desert, her heart hammering in her chest.
It's this heat and that injury. It's all too much for me and now I'm hallucinating. I just need to splash my face, drink some water and sleep and I'll be right as rain…
Yet even as the thought crossed her mind, Una knew it was a crap excuse. But what else could explain what she saw? She had never seen this deadly pursuer till that moment.
It's Slyde, he's told me about that assassin, and now my imagination is running amok thinking about it. Bloody bastard.
However, even that felt like a feeble argument. No, what she saw had been so real-but how could it have been? She couldn't have seen someone so far away and yet also be so close that she could almost have touched them.
She was aware of her body following Shmi, Jar-Jar and Padme back onto the track to congratulate Anakin, but while she forced herself to smile and cheer along with everyone else, her heart was hammering in her chest like a wild trapped bird.
She didn't have a clue what was going on, but there was one thing she did know. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong, and if they didn't get up and leave this planet soon, they'd all be dead…or worse.