Chapter Two - Obi-Wan.
A small group of droids led the royal party down the palace steps and across the main plaza of Theed, which had been calm and peaceful several hours before. Now it was full of droids armed with blaster rifles and heavily armoured tanks. There was fire damage to several buildings, with gaping holes revealing the interiors. Shards of allacrete and transparisteel littered the streets. There was an eerie absence of people. Sabé's anger flared as she glanced around. It didn't take much to work out that the innocent residents of Theed had been moved to new lodgings in the camps.
The group turned off the main promenade, heading down a smaller side street. Sabé's eyes caught sight of a flicker of movement on the walkway above. She wondered what new terror it was this time. Perhaps their fate was not a stay in camp four, but assassination by a violent sniper. She doubted that Viceroy Gunray was brave enough to order the execution of a reigning monarch, but she wouldn't have challenged the assumption. She had seen the same turn of events in the HoloNet news before. A leader who refused to cooperate with an invasion army soon found themselves replaced by a new leader who would. The act of replacement was often rather permanent.
The potential violent sniper, however, suddenly turned into two men, who leapt down from the balcony in front of them. Their impressive entrance was hindered somewhat by a nervous looking Gungan, who hung swaying under the walkway before finally reaching the ground. The two men drew lightsabres from their robes, confirming Sabé's suspicions that they were Jedi Knights. They began to cut down the droids with skill that was astonishing to watch.
The elder of the two looked as if he could be anything between forty and sixty years old and was built powerfully. He moved with admirable speed and grace. But it was to the younger man that Sabé found her attention drawn. He was perhaps twenty-five with short, spiked hair and the symbolic braid of a Jedi Padawan learner. He did not move quite as gracefully as his Master, but he possessed the same aura of power.
Before Sabé could catch her breath, the battle was over and the older man approached her. "We should leave the streets, Your Highness."
Sio Bibble put a kindly hand on Sabé's lower back and led her through to a secluded alcove. She felt like an ingrate, but couldn't help hating the gesture. She was perfectly capable of walking on her own! She kept her face placid as they gathered around the Jedi, inwardly scolding herself for being irritated with Bibble when she should have been keeping her focus.
Once they were all out of sight, the Jedi Master gave them an explanation. "We are the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor."
Their saviours were the men whom the Viceroy had claimed did not arrive for the peace negotiations. Sabé found herself surprised at Supreme Chancellor Valorum's decision to send Jedi as ambassadors, but considering the dangerous situation it seemed to make sense. She also highly doubted that they would have failed to turn up, adding further proof, if any was needed, to Senator Palpatine's story. Obviously Viceroy Gunray grossly underestimated Queen Amidala's intelligence, which Sabé found quite insulting.
"Your negotiations seemed to have failed, Ambassador," Governor Bibble said bitterly.
"The negotiations never took place," the Jedi Master was quick to explain. "It's urgent that we make contact with the Republic."
Panaka stepped in. "They've knocked out all our communications."
"Do you have transport?" the Jedi Master asked.
Panaka nodded. "In the main hangar, this way."
Sabé allowed him to take the lead, gesturing him forward with a wave of her hand before he could move of his own accord. She tried not to smile at his frown. In his opinion, which he had made obvious more than once, Sabé should only exercise her power as Queen when absolutely necessary. In her opinion, taking advantage of ranking higher than him was considered an occasion of necessity. She moved forward, holding her skirt off the ground.
Behind her, Padmé moved her feet automatically, deep in thought. She had not anticipated the intervention of the Jedi and now was faced with an unpleasant choice. She could do as they would no doubt ask and leave Naboo. Or she could stay and see what she could do to help the situation in Theed. The decisions were difficult ones. Whatever choice she made she would be knowingly neglecting something that could help. If she left, she could address the Senate with a plea, but leave her people to the battle droids. If she remained on Naboo it would mean that she could face the problem head-on, but she would be without help from the Senate. These thoughts played over in her head, each one taking turns to seem more attractive, until they were disturbed by the abrupt halt of the rest of the party.
They all gathered in the alcove leading to the hangar. The blast doors were half open, allowing them a view of the unfolding chaos inside. Panaka and the Jedi peered around the door, observing the troop of battle droids.
"There are too many of them," Panaka said with a grimace.
The Jedi Master said briefly, "That won't be a problem," before turning to Sabé. "Your Highness, under the circumstances I suggest you come to Coruscant with us."
Sabé refused at once. "Thank you, Ambassador, but my place is with my people."
"They will kill you if you stay."
"They wouldn't dare!" Bibble said hotly.
"They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion of theirs legal," Panaka explained. "They can't afford to kill her."
"There is something else behind this, Your Highness," the Jedi Master said calmly. "There's no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you."
His words sobered the Naboo party, as they knew how Jedi Knights relied on their senses and feelings.
Bibble was the first to voice what they had all realised was the only sensible thing to do. "Our only hope is for the Senate to side with us. Senator Palpatine will need your help." He was addressing Sabé but talking to Padmé.
"Getting past the blockade is impossible, Your Highness," Panaka put in. "Any attempt to escape will be dangerous."
Sabé's face remained expressionless. Bibble tried again. "Your Highness, I will stay here and do what I can. They will have to retain the Council of Governors in order to maintain control. But you must leave."
Faced with a decision that only the true Queen could answer, Sabé turned to the handmaidens, locking eyes with Padmé. "Either choice presents great danger. To us all."
"We are brave, Your Highness," her cousin said quietly.
Sabé took that to mean yes and looked at the floor, pretending to consider her options.
"If we are to leave, Your Highness, it must be now," the Jedi Master prompted gently.
"Then I will plead our case to the Senate," Sabé said decidedly. "Be careful, Governor."
She selected Rabé, Eirtaé and, of course, Padmé to go with her. Saché and Yané stayed with Bibble looking distraught. Sabé regretted leaving Saché, as the younger girl was Sabé's particular friend after Padmé. But there was nothing to be done. The three were left behind and the rest of the group made their way across the hangar. The Jedi Master made it very clear that they were not to stop for anything.
"We need to free those pilots." Panaka gestured to a group of men who were sitting uncomfortably on the floor with the business end of the droids' blasters facing them.
"I'll deal with that," the young Jedi said calmly, striding towards the pilots.
It was the first time Sabé had heard him speak and she realised at once what a pleasant and commanding voice he had. It was easy to see how he might talk his way out of anything. Sabé admired that trait, as she herself found it rather difficult, even with her decoy training. The young Jedi would probably make it seem effortless. He spoke in an affable Coruscanti accent that she found very charming. She shook herself, concentrating on the task at hand. If Saché had known she was making observations like that, she would have teased her mercilessly.
The group continued to the large ship, a sleek Nubian craft, regularly used for the monarchy for short-distance trips. Sabé had never had the opportunity to travel in it and wished she was doing so under different circumstances.
At the ramp of the ship a droid guard stopped them with a sharp "Halt!"
"I'm the Ambassador for the Supreme Chancellor, I'm taking these people to Coruscant."
The Jedi Master's calm manner seemed to confuse the droid. "Where…are you taking them?"
"To Coruscant," the Jedi said with a hint of something that could have been sarcasm.
"Coruscant…uh…that doesn't compute…uh…wait…you're under arrest!"
At that moment both Jedi sprung into action at opposite ends of the room. Sabé just had time to see a dramatic lightsabre parry and thrust from the Master and a seemingly effortless double kick from his Padawan before she was hurried aboard to the Queen's chamber.
"How can you stand it in here?" Sabé asked Padmé when the handmaidens were left alone. "No windows, just artificial lights!"
Padmé wrinkled her nose. "I don't like it either, Sab. You'd better get settled before the Jedi come in here."
It was a long while before they did, during which the Queen and the handmaidens knew nothing of what was going on outside. There was the sound of gunfire and the occasional blast that rocked the ship. The young women shared worried glances.
"Why haven't they gone to lightspeed?" Rabé asked, concerned.
"I don't know," Padmé confessed. "I hope the ship isn't too badly damaged."
The three stood behind Sabé's throne like a hooded militia waiting to be called upon. When all seemed finally still, Captain Panaka and the Jedi entered the room followed by a blue astromech droid.
"Your Highness," the Jedi Master said pleasantly. "Forgive us for not introducing ourselves earlier. I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"There is nothing to forgive, Master Jinn. I wish to offer my thanks for your assistance in getting us past the blockade," Sabé told him, clasping her hands in her lap.
"We ran into some technical trouble and suffered damage to the shields and hyperdrive," Panaka said. "The damage would have been much worse if it wasn't for this droid." He gestured to the astromech droid, which was covered in oil and grime.
"Please explain, Captain."
"It managed to avoid the enemy fire and put the hyperdrive back online. An extremely well put-together little droid, Your Highness. Without a doubt it saved the ship, as well as our lives."
"It is to be commended," Sabé said, resisting a smile. "What is its number?"
Captain Panaka wiped a smudge of dirt from the droid's side. "R2-D2, Your Highness."
"Thank you, R2-D2." Sabé glanced at the handmaidens. "Padmé, clean this droid up as best you can. It deserves our gratitude."
Padmé looked genuinely pleased to have something to do. She had told Sabé to give her as many tasks as she gave the other handmaidens or it would look suspicious, but still Sabé felt awkward ordering her cousin to work when it should have been the other way around. Padmé moved to stand next to R2-D2 but made no signs of leaving the room until she heard the rest of what was going on.
"Continue, Captain," Sabé said quickly when she realised Padmé's intention.
Panaka exchanged a glance with the Jedi and Qui-Gon stepped forward.
"Your Highness, with your permission we are heading for a remote planet called Tatooine. It is a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation. There we will be able to make needed repairs, then travel on to Coruscant."
Sabé felt her heart sink. A delay? That would certainly lead to more lives being lost on Naboo and would put more pressure on Governor Bibble.
"I do not agree with the Jedi on this," Panaka said, sending a frown their way.
Qui-Gon shrugged. "You must trust my judgement, Your Highness." The Jedi Master suddenly turned to Padmé and the expression on his face clearly showed his puzzlement as to why she was still there.
Padmé bowed swiftly and left the room with R2-D2 trailing behind her. Sabé shifted a little on her throne, just enough to bring Qui-Gon's attention safely back to her.
"Very well, Master Jedi. I trust your experience and skill in this matter."
Qui-Gon bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."
The two Jedi departed with Panaka, leaving Sabé with the two remaining handmaidens.
"Well." Rabé's words interrupted her thoughts a long while later. "What do you think about that?"
"What, going to Tatooine?"
"Yes. Her Highness was not pleased, you could see it on her face."
Sabé shifted awkwardly to face her. The headdress had an annoying tendency to cut off her peripheral vision.
"Well I'm not surprised. Think about the consequences a delay might have."
"I know, I know. I'm trying not to think about it," Rabé slumped against the wall as the gravity of the situation hit her. She sighed. "Sometimes it's hard to be the bodyguard."
"At least you're not Queen," Sabé said in an attempt at light relief.
"With my accent? I wasn't ever supposed to be the decoy." Rabé came from a remote village in the south of Naboo, which her strong, lilting accent demonstrated.
Sabé smiled. "Well neither you nor Eirtaé would make a very good decoy, you with your accent and Eirtaé's hair being almost as pale as Chancellor Valorum's."
Eirtaé laughed softly and brushed a strand of her light blonde hair behind her hood.
"You know what that means then?" Rabé said.
Sabé and Eirtaé exchanged looks. "What?"
"We must be extremely good bodyguards as we haven't just been chosen for our resemblance to the Queen."
"Funny," Sabé growled, as Eirtaé agreed with her colleague.
The decoy Queen paused, listening to a faint sound coming from outside the door.
"Shh," she hissed hurriedly, "Listen."
The distinct sound of two pairs of footsteps could be heard clearly. The three handmaidens immediately straightened up and wiped any smiles off their faces. Practice had made them exceedingly good at it. Sabé smoothed her skirt and tried to sit regally, reminding herself to speak in the special court accent that she and Padmé had developed for when either one of them was being Queen. This was a security precaution suggested by Captain Panaka in case anyone recognised Padmé's voice while she was disguised as a handmaiden. Padmé hadn't thought it very likely, but she had gone along with it anyway, mostly to keep Panaka, who had a tendency towards bossiness, happy.
The door opened and Padmé and Panaka entered. Sabé relaxed at once. Padmé had changed out of her handmaiden disguise and was dressed in a rough blue peasant tunic.
"I'm going with Qui-Gon Jinn and the Gungan into town," she announced quickly.
"Padmé, is that a wise decision?"
The look on Panaka's face told Sabé that he was thinking the same thing.
"I don't trust that Jedi, I want to make sure he doesn't do anything imprudent. Saying 'Your Highness, with your permission' when he would clearly have just followed his own judgement no matter what."
Eirtaé spoke up, "Why don't you let Rabé or I go, Your Highness?"
"No," Padmé said firmly. "I'm going and that's that. Sabé, Panaka is going to tell the Jedi that you have commanded me to learn more about the planet." As she spoke there came the tell-tale jolt of the ship's landing gear coming into contact with the ground.
Sabé looked at her friend. "So that's the story if anyone should mention it?"
Padmé nodded. "Now remember, I'm trusting you to make the right decisions while I'm away, you won't be able to contact me. Obi-Wan Kenobi is staying here, so he'll advise you and offer extra security."
"All right."
"Panaka and the guards and pilots are still here. Under no circumstances leave this ship, do you understand?"
"Yes, of course."
Panaka's comlink made a buzzing sound and he reached for it.
"Panaka."
"Captain, the Jedi and the Gungan just left with that little droid."
The look on Padmé's face could have easily turned them all to stone.
"Captain, come with me," she snapped. "We have to catch up with them." She called, "Good luck, Sabé," over her shoulder as the two left the room.
"I'm not sure there's any such thing as luck," Sabé murmured to herself.