Chapter Five

The negotiations with the Trade Federation were going well, but were going long, the queen having excused herself early, leaving Master Jinn in a heated discussion with the Viceroy and his assistant.

They were cowards, the lot of them and could not hide their nervousness in the presence of the Jedi Master, nor of the fact that representation from the Galactic Senate would be arriving soon.

Padmé left the meeting with confidence that the blockade would end quickly, and Naboo could return to its normal routine.

There was only one concern on her mind now and it was currently being held in the lower levels of the palace.

Stopping by the kitchens on her way to her rooms, the young woman presented herself first in the monitoring station of the holding area and smiled generously at the guard on duty there.

"How's he doing?" She asked, placing the covered try against her hip.

The guard, obviously flustered at her unexpected arrival, rose quickly, bowed, and then seated himself again slowly. "He paced for quite a while, seemed quite agitated, and then he flung himself into the corner. He's been there ever since."

Padmé viewed the live image herself and saw the dark, huddled form of Obi-Wan in the corner of the cell. He appeared to be sleeping.

"I've brought him something to eat."

"Just leave it here, your highness and I'll take it to him later."

"That's all right. I'd prefer to give it to him myself."

"Mi'Lady, I have orders not to let anyone in there. I'm sorry, I can't allow you to do that."

Padmé stood up to her full height and looked the young man square in the eye. "And just who do you take your orders from? A visiting Jedi or your Queen?"

"But, Mi'Lady, you could…"

"He's asleep. Nothing's going to happen and if it does, you're right here watching, correct?"

"Yes." The guard muttered in nervous hesitation.

"I'll just be a moment. I'll go in, set the tray down, and then leave."

Padmé approached the force field and waited as the guard watching her through the overhead monitor deactivated the system. She then approached the young man carefully, aware of any movement he was making. But he sat there quite still, the only sound detected being his deep breaths of slumber.

Padmé activated a switch which caused a smaller platform to emerge from the wall and set the food tray upon it, but before she could turn around to get one last look at the huddled form, she found herself pressed firmly against the wall, hot breath gasping against her neck.

"What are you doing in here?"

"I brought you something to eat." She explained quickly, hoping that he hadn't recognized her.

"I don't need your charity, your highness. What I need is to get out of here and you're my ticket. My master was right. You're young and naïve, but he didn't mention how beautiful you were."

To Padmé's horror, the young woman felt a hand slide up underneath her skirts and begin to tear away at her undergarments.

"Get your hands off her!"

From behind her, the guard emerged, weapon drawn, but he was no match for the speed of the Sith, even without the assistance of the Force. One swipe of a leg and a well-aimed elbow to the head, and the palace personnel was lying motionless on the floor. It happened so fast, that Padmé had barely taken a step when she was once again pressed against the wall.

"Now, where were we? Oh yes."

Padmé squirmed as one hand pressed firmly against her breast while the other moved between her thighs, the weight of his body keeping her from escaping.

"Obi-Wan." She pleaded in an attempt to reach the good that she knew resided somewhere beneath all the hatred and anger he displayed. "Obi-Wan, I know who you really are. You were a Jedi once. You were trained to follow the Light."

"Shut-up bitch! You don't know me! You don't know anything about me." Once again his hot breath was flowing against her neck, followed by a warm, wet tongue that slithered against her ear lobe, causing Padmé to shiver.

"I knew you were a whore. You want this. Of course you do. I guess you're going to get to know me after all. Most intimately as a matter of fact."

The grasp on her breast turned painful as his other hand obviously fumbled with his trousers, while the pressure against her body increased until it suddenly vanished completely.

Padmé spun to find Obi-Wan on the opposite side of the room, a most formidable-appearing Jedi Master standing in the doorway of the cell, his hand stretched up and out, opened flat, keeping Obi-Wan in a Force-enhanced hold halfway up the opposite wall.

His concentration focused on keeping the young man subdued, Qui-Gon glanced but a second toward Padmé, but his command to her was loud and clear.

"Get out of here!"