A/N: Here we go, battle part two, starting with Obi-Wan this time. Enjoy : )
Updated A/N: This chapter now includes an extended scene with Sabé and Saché in the power station, because I felt that the reappearance of the Sith wasn't properly considered by anyone.
Chapter Thirteen – Loss.
Obi-Wan stood impatiently trapped behind a wall of buzzing crimson. Further down the corridor of force fields, Qui-Gon knelt meditating while the demonic Sith Lord paced in front of him like a nexu in a cage. Obi-Wan could sense the waves of peace and healing radiating from his Master and could feel how little by little his strength was returning.
'Like a power cell being recharged,' he thought distractedly.
A tremor in the Force told him when the force fields were going to change and he switched his lightsabre back on. The second the force field snapped off he ran flat out down the corridor towards where the Sith Lord and the Jedi Master continued their battle.
Without the use of Jedi powers, he knew it was going to happen before it did; the last force field shot back into place before he could make it through, keeping him once more from his Master's aid. He nearly yelled in frustration. Qui-Gon couldn't hold up much longer. The Sith Lord had been trained extremely well. Too well.
Qui-Gon took a stunning blow to the chin, then suffered a run-through from the Sith's blade. Obi-Wan screamed, half in shock, half in pain and fought to control his anger before it surfaced.
Let it rise up, Obi-Wan. Let it go.
When the crimson barrier drew back, Obi-Wan did not. He felt the Force flow through him, quietening his anger. He would destroy the Sith for justice and the good of galaxy, not for personal grudge. He would do what Qui-Gon would have done.
Sabé, running down a passageway, unexpectedly felt a sharp pain to her heart. It was very brief and very piercing and left her confused as to where it had originated. But before she could debate the matter further, her comlink buzzed once. It was time. She stopped running and held her hand up for halt.
"We need to get to the throne room at once and quietly," she told her troops. "The Queen needs us."
They made their way there silently, coming up to one of the throne room's side entrances. Sabé could see Padmé talking heatedly to the Viceroy. Her team had been disarmed and were under surveillance from droids. No wonder she had called for them. She signalled to her troops to fill the doorway, blasters ready.
"When we run, for Gods' sakes run fast," she breathed.
"Fast? Fast she says," Rabé muttered from behind.
"Viceroy!" Sabé let her voice ring out across the throne room, causing all heads to turn. "Your occupation here has ended!" She shot down two droids and then bolted, her troops not far behind her, a squad of battle droids not far behind them.
"Split up!" she yelled, turning down the east corridor. Three droids followed her, shooting stun blasters. Luckily, she knew exactly where she was going. If only she could buy some time to get there. Her blaster had been lost in fleeing from the throne room.
Thinking quickly, she reached for her comlink. "Saché! I need you, code red 42!"
She turned a corner and tugged off her heavy headdress. Taking a minute to halt, she turned and threw it with all her might at the nearest droid. She didn't stop to see if it had had the desired effect.
Eventually she reached a hallway blocked by two figures dressed in flame-coloured robes. She leapt to the side. The droids continued running, only to be met with lethal blaster fire from Saché and Yané. Saché smiled as Sabé's eyes peered out from the strands of hair across her face as she picked herself off the floor.
"Thank the Gods for you," she panted. "What took you so long?"
"Oh, you know how it is. Go down the west corridor, battle droids. Go down the south corridor, battle droids."
Sabé sniggered. "Fair enough. Hang on, my comlink's going."
"Sabé," came Padmé's voice.
"Yes? Is everything all right?"
"The plan was successful. We have the Viceroy in custody." The handmaidens exchanged delighted grins. "Are you okay?" Padmé asked.
"I'm fine. I was rescued by Saché and Yané."
"Oh. Glad you found them. Listen, have you heard from the Jedi yet? They're the only ones who haven't reported in apart from the pilots, who are apparently on their way back."
Sabé frowned. "No."
"I'm worried. You're closest to the hangar, go and look for them, but be careful. Remember they're fighting a Sith Lord. Take Saché with you, send Yané up here."
Sabé nodded at the girl and she set off for the throne room at a jog.
"Yané's on her way to you now. I'll report back later."
"Okay, be careful, Sabé."
The two handmaidens made their way to the hangar, where Sabé picked up the discarded Jedi robes. "They started fighting here," she mused.
"Maybe they went to the streets," Saché offered.
Sabé shook her head, her hair flopping loose around her still painted face. "No, look. Scorch marks. They went this way."
Saché looked where she was pointing down the corridor that the tattooed Sith Lord had been standing in.
"I think you could be right, Sab."
"Let's hurry."
"I know what you mean," Saché muttered. "I don't feel right either."
They ran swiftly down the corridor, following the occasional scorch mark, ending up on one of the narrow walkways of Naboo's main power station.
"Surely they can't have come in here," Saché pondered, her voice echoing around the vast room.
"I think they must have. Where else could they have gone without being hassled by battle droids?"
"True."
Sabé took a moment to study her surroundings, her attention coming to rest on the corridor of force fields. "Over there," she decided.
"How do you know?" Saché asked with a frown.
"I don't. It's just an educated guess."
As they crossed the walkway a terrible feeling of dread settled over her heart and refused to leave. The power station was eerie and dark and the only source of light came from the power columns themselves. The two handmaidens proceeded across the walkway with caution, as it was very narrow and the drop down seemed endless.
"I don't like this," Saché whispered.
Sabé shook her head. "Me neither. It's too quiet."
"Shouldn't we hear lightsabres clashing or something?"
Sabé could not stop herself from imagining the worst. She had noticed how quickly everyone in the party had accepted that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's foe was a Sith Lord. Stories of the ancient and evil Sith had become known far across the galaxy over the years, and had included the fact that they were no longer in existence. But all of a sudden here was one on her own planet. Having seen him and the way he fought with her own eyes, Sabé could not imagine that he was anything less than a Sith.
It was with extreme trepidation that Sabé and Saché approached the corridor of force fields. Sabé knew well enough that if the worst had happened and the Sith had defeated the two Jedi, she and Saché wouldn't stand a chance. She glanced at her friend and saw her own determination reflected in her eyes. Saché knew it too. They still pressed on together.
They reached the force fields and pressed a succession of buttons on a control panel to deactivate them. They made their way down the corridor, only to see Obi-Wan kneeling over the fallen body of Qui-Gon.
Sabé gasped. "Go, fetch the medic, quickly!"
Saché sprinted back the way they had come and Sabé approached Obi-Wan.
"Too late," he muttered.
She knelt down next to him. "Obi-Wan."
He looked up at her with tearful eyes. "Sabé?"
"Yes, my friend. I'm here."
"It's too late for the medic."
He moved his hand and Sabé saw the ugly black wound. A direct stab through the stomach.
"I'll call my order off then."
He nodded and she reached for her comlink.
"Saché? It's Sabé. Cancel the medic, just meet me outside."
"Okay." Saché's tone was sombre. She knew very well what the order cancellation meant.
Sabé turned her attention back to the young Jedi. "Are you all right?"
"I will be."
She remembered the robes she was carrying. "I picked these up from the hangar."
Obi-Wan looked at her properly then, for the first time since she had found him. "Thank you."
He took Qui-Gon's robe and covered his Master's body. His hands trembled ever so slightly and Sabé took them in her own and gave them a squeeze. He locked eyes with her, relaying his gratitude without words, knowing she would understand.
"Come on," she said softly, rising to her feet and awkwardly pulling him with her. His robe was still hooked over her good arm and she took it and slipped it round his shoulders. He put his arms into the sleeves and looked down at Qui-Gon's body.
"We should get him out of here," Obi-Wan said quietly.
Sabé nodded. "Do you want me to help you?"
"No. I would prefer to carry him myself if you don't mind."
"Of course not. Whatever you wish, Obi-Wan."
He gave a half-hearted smile, but it did not reach his eyes. Slowly, he lifted the fallen Jedi Master, carrying him out of the power station, out of the hangar and into the main plaza in front of Theed Palace. Saché was waiting for them, sitting on the steps looking solemn in her handmaiden's robes. Her hoods had been pushed back revealing a cut on the forehead and an untidy brown ponytail.
The silent group walked up the steps and made it to the throne room where Padmé, Panaka, the Viceroy and his second in command stood, flanked by several guards. Nute Gunray looked up in surprise as the second Queen and the Jedi Knight entered the room, the latter carrying the body of Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan laid him on the floor with care and Padmé hurried over.
"Obi-Wan. I'm so sorry. Was it-?"
"Yes," he answered simply.
There came an arrogant grunt from the Viceroy and Sabé shot him a glare.
"He is more powerful now than you can possibly imagine," Obi-Wan said with the utmost calm, silencing Gunray.
"Is there anything I can do?" Padmé asked. "Do the Jedi have a particular custom?"
"Qui-Gon is one with the Force now, Your Highness. So it does not matter what happens to his body. He would wish for whatever Nabooian custom you deem appropriate."
"Very well." Padmé smiled sympathetically, then became Queen Amidala again, spinning on her heel and returning to her desk. "The Viceroy here was just about to sign a treaty. Were you not?"
Nute Gunray may have had the power to invade a planet when he had the assistance of an army of battle droids and a tattooed Sith Lord, but he was not strong. The group had no trouble persuading him to sign the new treaty. Captain Panaka and his troops took the Viceroy and Rune Haako into custody and Padmé turned to Obi-Wan.
"Jedi Kenobi, I will make contact with the Jedi Council as soon as our communications are back up. Until then, please make yourself comfortable here. I'm sure Yané or Saché would be happy to help you."
Obi-Wan was about to politely accept, but Sabé saw the subtle displeased expression on his face and spoke up. "I'll do it, Padmé. I'm sure Obi-Wan would prefer the company of a friend rather than someone new." She glanced over at Saché who nodded silently, showing that she understood.
Obi-Wan looked at her gratefully and bowed to Padmé. "Thank you, Your Highness."
"You're welcome, Jedi Kenobi. You and your Master have done invaluable service to Naboo. This is the least I could do." She turned to her handmaidens. "Sabé, I give you leave to clean up and change, then you will accompany Jedi Kenobi. Rabé, Eirtaé I want you to change out of your battle gear and report back here as quickly as possible. Saché and Yané will cover until then."
Sabé, Eirtaé and Rabé left the room quickly and hurried to their chambers. The handmaidens had a social room to themselves. It was pleasant, vaguely circular in shape with large west-facing windows and a balcony overlooking the waterfalls. There were several doors around the room leading through to separate bedrooms. Sabé was lucky enough to have windows in hers. Some of the others only had panels that imitated the outside light. Padmé's chambers could be easily reached via a connecting door, but she often took care of small tasks herself, allowing her handmaidens to have more time to themselves. King Veruna, it was said, had not been as considerate towards his attendants.
Sabé crossed the chamber hurriedly to her room, not wanting to keep Obi-Wan waiting. Eirtaé could be heard noisily rifling through her wardrobe, occasionally muttering fractious comments such as, "You would think that I would be able to find spare robes in my own bedroom."
Sabé smiled briefly to herself and headed into the refresher to wash her face.
A/N: Just for reader information, Sabé's pain in her chest does not hint to her having Force abilities. It will be explained properly in a later chapter.