Amidala felt like she was about to fall asleep. She'd been rubbing her bonds against the pipe for almost three hours. Her wrists were raw and
a little bit bloody. Panaka and Ric were asleep. So was the Bactian
who was supposed to be guarding them. Amidala felt herself nodding off,
and jolted herself awake, rubbing a little harder. Suddenly, she felt another strand of the rope snap apart. Was it enough? She glanced over at the snoring Bactian. He was definitely asleep. Bracing her feet against
the floor, she pulled forward with all her might. The loosened rope
groaned, then snapped into two pieces. Amidala clawed at her gag, and gulped down deep breaths of clean air. She rubbed her wrists tenderly. Now to get the others free. She couldn't very well rub Panaka's ropes against the pipe for three hours... there had to be a better way. She glanced around the workshop. There had to be something in here that cut. Cautiously, she stepped over to the one of the work benches.

Hydrospanners... old droid parts... a vibroblade! Perfect.

She crept over to where Ric was tied and touched him on the shoulder carefully. His eyes opened blearily, then widened. She put a finger to her lips, then turned on the vibroblade, hoping the soft buzzing wouldn't wake the guard. In a few seconds, Olie was free. He pulled off his own gag.

"I'll take care of the Bactian. You free Panaka."

Amidala nodded. She knelt and began to free the Guardsman, when suddenly, something crashed somewhere else in the base. The Bactian leapt to its feet.

"What the--?" he glanced around the room. "Don't try anything!"

But before he could grab for his blaster, Ric slugged him across the jaw, and grabbed the weapon. "You do what we say, now."

Amidala finished with Panaka's bonds, and he rose stiffly.

"We have to get out of here, your Highness."

"What do you think we're doin'?" Olie remarked, knocking the Bactian into unconsciousness with the butt of the blaster.

"What was that noise?" the Queen said softly.

"Doesn't matter, let's get outta here."

Then, the door slid open to reveal the Rodian, his blaster trained on Amidala. "Weapons down. You three aren't going anywhere."



Obi-Wan twirled his lightsaber expertly, blocking the blaster shots.

He advanced on his opponant, and slashed off the tip of his blaster. The
Silari dropped his weapon immediately, and thrust his arms into the air.

"We want the prisoners, now," Obi-Wan commanded. The Silari nodded vehemently. "Come along, Anakin," Obi-Wan called.

Anakin stepped through the hole Obi-Wan had cut in the wall. He'd been commanded to watch outside in case someone else showed up.

Anakin wasn't quite sure he bought that, but now was not the time for
complaints.

The possum-like creature led them through the hallways of the bunker to a large door. "They're in there," he mumbled. The two Jedi gripped their lightsabers, as Obi-Wan opened the door.

Queen Amidala stood, frowning, as a Rodian held a blaster to her forehead. They, along with Ric Olie, Captain Panaka, and another of the
kidnappers, this one human, stood ringed by a contingent of Destroyer
Droids.

Obi-Wan grimaced. He hadn't counted on droids.

"You can put your little laser swords down, now," the human said.

"You will let them go--"

"I wouldn't try the little mind tricks, Jedi. These droids are programmed to kill the hostages if I order them let go."

Obi-Wan slowly set his lightsaber on the ground, and motioned for Anakin to do the same. The boy made a face, but obeyed.

Holding his hands up, Obi-Wan made a cautious step forward. The Destroyers changed position slightly, following his every movement.

"Surely, some negotiations can be made..."

"No. We have the hostages, you will die. There are no negotiations to be made."

"The Jedi Council will avenge us. You do not want the Jedi Council on your trail." Never mind that Obi-Wan and Anakin weren't exactly the Council's two favorite people right now...

"We'll just worry about that ourselves." As the man raised his blaster, Obi-Wan's lightsaber flew to his hand, and a green beam of light hissed into the air.

The Destroyers began firing, and Obi-Wan concentrated on deflecting the blasts. He only hoped that Anakin could manage the same.

He waded through the carnage, hacking away at the droids as best he could. Suddenly, his next opponant wasn't a droid.

"Die, Jedi," the green-skinned alien hissed in Rodian. Obi-Wan was too close to deflect a blast. Suddenly, a vibroblade bit through the Rodian's shoulder. As he screamed, Obi-Wan slashed down with his lightsaber, effectively removing the creature's hand from the rest of his body. He screamed, and fell to the floor, clutching his wrist and trying to find his severed hand.

"Some Jedi," Amidala sniffed, still brandishing her vibroblade.

"With all due respect, your Highness," Obi-Wan said through clenched teeth. "Let's get out of here." He grabbed her wrist, and pulling her behind him, backed out of the room, deflecting blaster shots.

"Anakin!

Come on!"

"Gimme a minute!" Anakin called, busy with his own droids.

Several of the Destroyers assumed their rolling forms, and began to follow Obi-Wan. "We have to get out of here," he said, tugging on Amidala's hand.

"What about Anakin and my men?"

"I'll be back for them. I need to get you to safety."

"I can--"

Obi-Wan slung the protesting monarch over his shoulder and broke into a run, the Destroyers on his heels. He jumped through the hole in the compound and unceremoniously dumped the Queen on the ground.

Whipping out his lightsaber, he made quick work of the last two Destroyers.

"We have to go back for them," Amidala insisted.

"No. We get you to safety first, then I go back. Anakin can take care of himself." I hope, he added mentally.

"I am the Queen of Naboo, and--"

"And I don't care. Don't make me carry you again, your Highness."

Amidala scowled, but she followed him into the woods. "I hope you have a plan."

"Of course I have a plan."

"I hope it's a better plan than your last one."

"It's not my fault! I didn't know they had droids!"

"Bah! We were doing just fine-- if you hadn't come to 'rescue' us, we'd be free right now."

"I could see that. Elaborate plan, there, letting the Rodian hold the gun to your head. You definitely had him where you wanted him."

"I-- oh... my..."

"What?" Obi-Wan demanded, then turned to where she was looking. A huge, shaggy beast stared at them curiously. Suddenly, it tilted its head back, and gave off a noise that sounded like a cross between a yawn and a roar. "Oh, my, indeed."



"You'd better let us go!"

"Oh, shut up, kid."

The leader of the pirates was not happy. The older Jedi had managed to pulverize about half his Destroyers, maim the Rodian, and rescue the Queen. And leave him stuck with his annoying sidekick.

"You'd better hope your friend comes back for you," he warned, as Pakka tied the kid's hands. "Unlike the Queen, I don't need you in one piece."

Anakin scowled, and spit on the man's shoe.

"Damn kid. You're going to regret that. Pakka, keep an eye on them. And do a better job than Heimak did." The little armored pirate nodded curtly.

"Some Royal Guard we are, eh, Panaka?" Ric grinned.

Panaka made an irritated noise, deep in his throat.

"Hey, at least Amidala's free."

"Obi-Wan'll come and save us," Anakin informed them. "I bet he's out there plannin', right now."

Suddenly, the human stuck his head back in the room, and tossed a few strips of greyish cloth to the other pirate. "Almost forgot. Gag 'em."




"Er, hello."

"Rrrrwwwll..."

"He wants to know what we are doing here," Amidala said coolly.

Obi-Wan stared at her. "You speak Wookiee?"

"I understand it," she sniffed. "I cannot speak it, though. The human throat isn't meant for that sort of manipulation."

"Great." He turned back to the Wookiee. "Do... you... understand... Basic?"

The Wookiee gave off several short barks.

"What did he say?"

"He's laughing at you. Honestly, Jedi, as though speaking slowly and loudly could make him somehow understand a language he doesn't speak..."

Obi-Wan scowled. "I take it he understands Basic, then."

The Wookiee growled something at Amidala, and she smiled.

"Thank you, sir, we'd be most appreciative."

"What did he say?"

"He said we looked as though we could use food and water, and offered to take us to his home."

This time, Obi-Wan smirked.

"What's so funny?"

"Wookiees live in trees." He pointed upward. "High in trees."

"You think I didn't know that?"

Obi-Wan began rummaging around in his pack. "I've got climbing spikes. You?"

Amidala gritted her teeth. Qui-Gon's Padawan was nothing like his Master. The word "infuriating" came to mind. Of course, so did the word
"jackass."

The Wookiee growled something else unintelligable. Before Amidala had time to translate, he scooped her up, and began to claw his way up the massive tree.

"The only way to travel," Amidala called down to Obi-Wan, who was still strapping on his spikes.

Obi-Wan grimaced, and started up the tree. He was beginning to
wish he'd left her to the space pirates.



"Thank you," Amidala said gratefully, as the Wookiee handed her a
pitcher of water, and disappeared into some other part of the bungalow.

"Nice place," Obi-Wan mumbled.

"He's offered to help," Amidala scolded. "You could be a little more polite."

"Sorry-- I'm a little concerned about my Padawan right now."

"I thought you said he could take care of himself."

"That doesn't mean I don't care about him."

Amidala looked a little taken aback. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I guess we're both a little short today. So what's the plan, Jedi Master?"

"I have a name, you know."

"I'm sorry-- Obi-Wan."

"And there is no plan. I sneak back in, free Anakin and your guards, and we sneak out of here. You stay with the Wookiee-- I'm sure he can take care of you."

"No. You are not counting me out of this."

"Watch me."

She scowled, and started to protest again.

Obi-Wan briefly entertained the idea of using a mind trick on her, but shoved it aside. Mind tricks were for enemies and for speeding up
inconveniences-- not for changing your friends' minds for them.

"Amidala, please listen to me. You are the person they want. The only
bargaining chip we have is that they want you. If I take you back in there, I
cannot guarantee your safety. Naboo needs you. You cannot sacrifice yourself for something this... this stupid."

"Look, Obi-Wan. I don't know you, but I knew your Master, and he trusted me to take care of myself. I am not a lamb, baaing to be led to slaughter. I intend to rescue my men, whether you help me or not."

Suddenly, she twisted around, and the next thing Obi-Wan knew, she had
a blaster leveled under his chin. "Got it?"

"Where did you get that?"

"I took it off the Rodian. I thought it might come in handy."

Obi-Wan gently pushed the blaster away from him. She didn't resist. "Point taken. But your Highness, may I make one last plea?"

She raised one eyebrow.

He glanced down at her once-elegant gown. "You aren't rescuing anyone dressed like that."



"I cannot believe you were carrying around an extra pair of pants."

"I was on my way to visit the Queen of Naboo. I thought you might appreciate if I changed once in a while."

"But the fact that you were carrying them with you?"

"I didn't have time to rearrange the things in my pack. Look, just be thankful I had them, okay?"

"Thank you. Thank you for the twine, as well."

"May I turn around, yet?"

"No, not yet."

There was a slight humming. What was she doing with that vibroblade? Obi-Wan wondered.

"Okay, you can turn around. But don't laugh."

Obi-Wan looked back at the young Queen. The full skirt of her ceremonial gown lay in a blue puddle on the floor of the bungalow, raggedly cut away with the blade. The sparkling bodice of her dress clashed horribly with Obi-Wan's coarse, dark brown trousers. She'd had to tie them around her slender waist, and she'd used the rest of the twine to bind her full sleeves closer to her arms. Most surprising, though, was her face. She'd scrubbed off all the white facepaint to reveal a rather pretty young lady.

Obi-Wan was sure he'd seen her without the make-up before, but he'd had more pressing issues on his mind at the time.

"You look... different."

"It's the best I could do, okay?" she said, nervously tugging at the pants. "And you need to buy smaller pants."

"Why? How often are you planning on borrowing them?"

She smirked at him playfully. "Come on. Let's get Nuuchawa and go rescue the boys."

"Nuuchawa?"

"The Wookiee."

"His name's Nuuchawa?"

"It's a... Wookiee name."

"Okay..."

"I'm sure he thinks Obi-Wan is a pretty stupid name, too."

"I didn't say it was stupid..."



Anakin Skywalker was sure he could get out of this stupid place.  He was a Jedi Knight-to-be. He could beat that little armored guy with both hands tied behind his back. Well, he could if he had his lightsaber.

And if it weren't for the Destroyer Droids lurking in the corners, guns trained directly on him. And he wasn't sure if he wanted to risk anything
with Mister Olie and Captain Panaka around, where they might get hurt.
Okay, so if it were a fair fight, he'd win hands down. Why weren't the fights ever fair? Or at the very least, why couldn't they ever be unfair in his favor?



"Do you actually have a plan?"

"Of course I have a plan."

Silence.

"And that plan would be...?"

"We storm the base, fight the droids, rescue Anakin and the others."

"Rrraaauggh!"

"He's right, Obi-Wan. That's not a plan. It's... I don't know what it is, but it's not a plan."

"It was my plan for rescuing you the first time."

"And where are we now? In the jungle, going back to rescue everyone, because you didn't bother to make a plan the first time."

"Rwwah, augghl."

Amidala smiled.

"What did he say?"

"You really shouldn't travel to a foreign planet without knowing the language..."

"What did he say?"

"Never mind..."

Obi-Wan set his jaw. He was a full-fledged Jedi Knight. He did not need to be tramping about the forest, being ridiculed by a walking carpet and that... that... insufferable little... little... He couldn't even think of anything to finish the thought. Nothing seemed adequate.

Nuuchawa roared something for a few minutes.

"I'm glad someone here has a head for strategy," Amidala said coolly. "He says we should wait until nightfall. Many of the creatures of Kashyyyk are nocturnal, and we will be less likely to be noticed. Then he suggests sneaking into the base, rather than a full-frontal assault, and rescuing the boys."

"Fine, if you want to be subtle," Obi-Wan griped.

"Why wouldn't we want to be subtle?" She gazed at him innocently.

"Fine, fine. You are right and I am wrong. Oh, woe, what shall I do? I have been put in my place by the wise Queen Amidala and her loyal Wookiee. Happy now?"

"Yes."

Obi-Wan was sure he was going to start ripping his hair out in large chunks any minute now.



"Hmm..." Amidala gazed over her cards. "I bet you your belt."

"Er..." Obi-Wan looked at her. He was trying very hard not to use the Force to cheat, but she already had his boots, his cloak, and his socks.

"I raise you your..." he thought for a moment. "hairband... thing."

Amidala blinked. "It's strip poker, Obi-Wan. I'm beginning to think you're finding me hideously unattractive. I see my... hairband thing, and raise you..." she grinned evilly. "Your pants."

Obi-Wan stared at her. "My pants?"

"Your pants."

He set his jaw. "Fine. Then I raise you... my pants."

Her eyes widened, but she smiled. "The pot's getting rich. I call."

Obi-Wan laid down his cards. "Two pair."

"Two pair? You bet your pants for a lousy two pair?" She slammed down her cards. "Full house."

Obi-Wan sighed. Whose idea had this game been, anyway? Ah, well, no one liked a sore loser. He stood up, and reached for his waistband.

Amidala laughed softly. "Obi-Wan, keep your pants on. I mean it.  You want to just say I won?"

Obi-Wan sat back down. "Thank you. The game was a little one-sided, anyway. How did you get so good?"

"Don't let those handmaidens fool you. They look like girls in big orange robes, but they're ruthless when it comes to cards."

Obi-Wan looked over at Nuuchawa, dozing against a tree. "I bet I could've beaten him."

"I don't think he would have understood the game. He's naked."

Obi-Wan shrugged. "True."

"Obi-Wan, can I ask you something?"

"You let me keep my pants. You can ask me anything."

"Did you mean what you said about Anakin? About how you really care for him?"

"Of course I care for him. He is my Padawan."

"Well, I admit I don't really know much about Jedi and Padawans, but... I don't think he thinks you like him."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Not in so many words. But he tells me a lot in his letters. He tries so hard to make you like him."

"He is a fine boy. He is a hard worker. He is friendly. He will make a fine Jedi."

"And?"

"And he is so much like Qui-Gon that it makes my heart ache. My old Master would have loved him so, and trained him so well..."

Amidala scooted closer and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You're doing your best."

"My best may not be enough."

"Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon asked you to train Ani, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you think he would have trusted you with that sort of responsibility if he didn't think you could do the job?"

"But I am so bad at it, Amidala. I try to guide him, and he gets angry. I try to help him, and he gives up."

"Then don't try to be his Master. Try to be his friend."

Obi-Wan looked at her skeptically. "I don't even remember being ten."

She shrugged. "Then try and be his... slightly older, stodgy friend."

"I am not stodgy!"

"Sure, you are. Don't worry, it's kind of cute-- it works for you."

"Wonderful. Now I'm stodgy."

"Well..." she drew out. "Maybe not exactly stodgy. If you were stodgy, you never would have bet your pants."

"Stodgy..." Obi-Wan repeated disdainfully. "If I'm so stodgy, would I do this?" And then he grabbed her around the waist and kissed her.

Amidala's eyes widened. She was on the verge of making some comment about "touching the royal lips" then realized it wasn't half bad. It
was almost half good. But before she could fully process the thought, they
parted.

Obi-Wan looked at Amidala.

Amidala looked at Obi-Wan.

"Never happened," the said together.

There were a few awkward moments of silence. Amidala smoothed her hair, then looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Now I'm almost
sorry I let you keep your pants."

"You have no idea what you're missing."


"Are the droids still patrolling?" Obi-Wan asked, trying to peer through the darkness.

"Two," Amidala said, squinting through the macrobinoculars. "And it looks like there's some kind of grate near the door. Ventilation, maybe?"

"Large enough to fit through?" Obi-Wan ventured.

"Oh, definitely," Amidala replied. "Now, we need to time this well.

Nuuchawa, you're pulling the diversion, right?"

"Rwarrrl."

"Good. Obi-Wan and I will sneak in, and get the prisoners while you distract the guards."

With that, the massive Wookiee lumbered forward towards the two Destroyers, just as they crossed paths. They chittered to each other, then
unrolled to examine the newcomer.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Amidala dashed for the grate. With a hiss of his lightsaber, Obi-Wan removed the bolts, and the grating fell to the ground. He looked into the darkened shaft. "What happened to 'definitely large enough to fit through'?"

"Maybe you just need to lose some weight," Amidala sniffed, crawling up through the ductwork easily.

Obi-Wan looked at the small grate critically. It would be tight... A larger man definitely wouldn't make it. Nuuchawa couldn't distract those guards with his Wookiee antics for long. Obi-Wan held his breath and dove into the shaft.

"Can you see where you're going?" he hissed.

"Shh!"

He took that as a definite no.

"I can't even see you," he persisted.

"What do you want me to do about it?"

"I don't know!"

"Use the Force or something. You're supposed to be good at that."

"It might work if I were in front."

"You were busy complaining about fitting your fat--"

"Look, we're running out of time."

"Can you... I dunno... hold onto the bottom of my--your-- pants or something?"

"Got it."

They managed to get about twenty feet down the shaft when Amidala paused. "Um... Obi-Wan, the shaft forks. Which way do I go?"

"I don't know. Pick a way."

"What do you mean you don't know? You're a Jedi! You're supposed to know!"

"I'll... try and feel for Anakin, okay?" Obi-Wan closed his eyes and extended mental tendrils out through the Force. His awareness shot out
from the shaft, all over the compound. Amidala was closest, of course. He
could recognize the touch of her mind, now, smooth and a little cool. He
felt out further. Several people he didn't know, probably the pirates.

Suddenly, his mind felt the fiery touch of Anakin's.

*Obi-Wan!* the boy called mentally.

*I'm coming, Ani. Sit tight.*

"To the right," he told Amidala.

She crept forward slowly. Obi-Wan kept the mental rapport with Anakin, but it was hard to translate the distance into the labyrinthine path of ventilation shaft. After several twists and turns, he tugged on Amidala's
pant leg. "We're close. I think this is as close as we're going to get."

"There's a grate up ahead," she whispered. "I'm gonna check it
out."

She scooted forward, and Obi-Wan could see a few faint streaks of light. He crawled closer so he could see, as well.

Anakin and Amidala's guards were tied hand and foot. Anakin's sharp, blue eyes remained glued on the grate. He nodded slightly to the side. By twisting around, Obi-Wan could see the pirate guard sitting in the corner, a blaster rifle sitting in his lap. He gestured to Amidala.

She pulled out her own blaster.

Suddenly, the guard barked something to Anakin in a language Obi-Wan didn't understand, and gestured towards where the boy was looking.
Anakin mumbled something equally comprehensible against the gag. The little armored mercenary stood up, and walked over the grate.

"Good move, Anakin," Obi-Wan mumbled sarcastically. As the guard neared, Amidala pulled the trigger of her blaster. The shot blasted out of the shaft and slammed into the pirate. "I'm sure they didn't hear that," Obi-Wan said, using the Force to remove the grate. "Stay here."

He jumped down into the room.

"Offfhm-whhn!" Anakin exclaimed gleefully.

Obi-Wan slashed at his bonds with his lightsaber, then freed the other two. "Get going, Ani!" he barked.

After grabbing his confiscated lightsaber off a nearby tabe, Anakin sprung up into the shaft with a Force-assisted leap.

"Kids these days," Ric said scratching his head. "Hey, I hope you don't expect me to do that."

Obi-Wan interlaced his fingers, so Ric could use him as a stepping stone into the shaft. Panaka was next.

"Er... I'm not sure I'm gonna fit in there..." Panaka said slowly.

Obi-Wan winced. He'd had similar qualms himself, and he was slimmer than the Guardsman. "Hold your breath." He gave the Captain a boost.

Panaka made it up to his chest, and stopped. "I'm stuck."

Obi-Wan rubbed his head. Could this get any worse? Suddenly, there was a clattering further down the hall.

"Obi-Wan!" Anakin called. "Destroyers!"

Obi-Wan used the Force to give Panaka a hefty shove in the rear, and the man popped into the shaft. Obi-Wan leapt in behind him, just as the droids burst into the room.

A blaster shot ricocheted into the shaft behind him. "Move!" he called.

"I'm going!" Amidala called from somewhere further down the shaft.


Amidala crawled through the shafts blindly, trying to fervently to remember which was she'd come. The shots still echoed further back in the shaft. Suddenly, the shaft sloped sharply downward. Amidala lost her balance and went sliding. Which a thump, she rolled out the end of the shaft into sunlight. There was a smaller thump as Anakin landed behind her, and then a larger one as Ric landed, too.

Two Destroyers stood, guns pointed at them. Amidala cringed.

How was she going to get out of this one?

There was a furious howl, and a furry arm brought a huge metal pipe down on the head of one Destroyer, which exploded in a spray of sparks.

With a speed that defied belief, Anakin was on his feet, and had cut down the other droid with his lightsaber.

Amidala blinked. Surely the boy hadn't been able to do that the last time she'd seen him. The lightsaber seemed almost too big for him, but he wielded it proficiently.

"Get moving!" a voice echoed from up the shaft. There was a loud clang and Panaka slid out into daylight, grumbling and cursing. 

Obi-Wan followed a moment later. He surveyed the destroyed droids. "I told you to put your toys away when you're done with them, didn't I, Ani?"

"I knew you'd come back for us!" Anakin announced gleefully.

Nuuchawa roared happily, and wrapped his hairy arms around Obi-Wan.

"Get off me!"

"Your Highness, we need to get out of here," Panaka said sternly.

"He's right," Obi-Wan said, wrestling the overjoyed Wookiee off of him. "And when did you get so attached to me?"

"I assume you boys have some sort of transport off this rock?" Ric asked.

"Yup," Anakin replied. "This way!" He dashed off into the forest, the adults following.

Behind them, the leader of the pirates emerged from the bunker, flanked by two Destroyers. "They won't make it out of this system alive," he swore.


"When you Jedi pull a rescue, you really do it in style," Ric commented upon arriving at their ship.

"Can you fly it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Can fly anything with wings."

"Hey--" Anakin began to protest.

Obi-Wan held up one finger. "I let you fly here. Let the professional do his job."

"Okay, okay."

They piled onto the little ship, Amidala waving and shouting something to Nuuchawa. He roared something back. Ric took the pilot's seat, and Panaka settled down in the co-pilot's, leaving the remaining three in the rear passenger area.

"You okay, Pad-- ahem, your Highness?" Anakin asked.

"I'm just fine, Ani. Are you all right?"

"Yup!" Anakin looked pensive for a moment. "Why are you wearing Obi-Wan's pants?"

"I won them in a poker game."

"Oh." Anakin still looked confused. "What's poker?"

"It's an evil game, played only by the scum and villainy of the galaxy," Obi-Wan said solemnly.

Amidala nodded earnestly. "My handmaidens taught me."

Suddenly, the ship rocked with the sound of blaster fire.

"Hold on, back there!" Ric yelled. "Pirates on our tail, and it may get rough!"

"Get out of the atmosphere, Ric!" Amidala ordered.

"Won't do us any good..."

"Just do it!" she commanded.

Ric nosed the ship up, and it shot into space. Another blast sounded against the hull, then a huge explosion rocked the ship.

"What happened?" Anakin yelled.

"The other ship just... exploded," Ric said perplexedly. He turned around in his seat. "Your Highness, please tell me you had nothing to do with that."

"I don't know a thing about it," Amidala said smoothly.

"You're lying," Obi-Wan accused.

"Jedi senses at work?"

"No. You're just really obviously lying," he replied, good-naturedly.

"Well, Nuuchawa just... happened to mention that earlier he just... happened to come across the pirate's ship in the jungle, and just...
happened to accidentally damage their airlock..."

"When was that?"

"Remember when we were waiting for dark to fall, and he wandered off for a while?"

"I thought he had to use the bathroom, or whatever Wookiees use."

"Never underestimate a Wookiee, Obi-Wan."

"Or a snippy little monarch. So I've learned."

"Really? I've learned something about Jedi, today, too."

"And what would that be?"

"You wear very comfortable pants."

Anakin just stared at the two, completely confused.

"Are you two done bickering back there, or can we just go home?" Ric griped.

"Let's go home!" Amidala, Anakin and Obi-Wan chorused together.


Obi-Wan brushed a bit of lint off his spotless Jedi robes. The last few days had been rather frantic. Upon returning to Naboo, Amidala had been ushered off by a flock of cooing handmaidens. Governor Bibble had
solemnly shaken his hand, thanked him, and made it quite clear that his
presence was no longer necessary. Though he had spent the evening with Olie and Panaka, getting thoroughly drunk, he hadn't heard from Amidala since. Obi-Wan felt a little embarrassed. She was a Queen and, though he was a Jedi, he was still a commoner. Nevertheless, he was beginning to miss the fledgling friendship he'd struck up with the girl in the
jungles of Kashyyyk. Until she'd requested an audience with him this afternoon.

"The Queen will see you now." He looked up. A serious-looking handmaiden stared at him disapprovingly. She obviously didn't think he
was good enough to be communing with her monarch. Obi-Wan idly
wondered if it was the one on whom he'd used the mind tricks a few days
ago.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

She frowned. Yup. Same handmaiden.

He walked into the room, expecting to see Amidala costumed in another elaborate court gown, complete with facepaint. Instead, she sat on a little couch, clothed in simple brown garments, similar to the ones she'd worn on Tatooine in her Padme guise.

"Jedi Knight Kenobi," the handmaiden introduced stiffly.

"Your Highness?" he greeted awkwardly.

"Greetings, Jedi Knight. Rabe, you may leave us now."

"Yes, m'lady," the handmaiden said, stalking out in a swish of orange robes.

"I would like to formally thank you for rescuing my men and I," she said regally. "The entire planet of Naboo is grateful to you. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine sends his regards as well."

"It was my duty," he said formally. "Your Highness has suffered no ill effects, I hope?"

"None, thank you." It was odd hearing her regal accent coming from the visage of a pretty, albeit common young woman.

"Your Highness, if I may ask... why are you dressed like that?"

"Anakin and I thought we'd have a little fun out in the Theed marketplace today," she said, accent suddenly gone. "It's hard to run around in those big dresses."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "And Panaka agreed to this? I'm surprised he's letting you out of his sight for an instant, in light of recent
events."

"Oh, I told him I'd be fine. After all, I've got a Jedi Knight at my side."

"Um... Anakin is not exactly--"

"I wasn't talking about Anakin," she grinned.

"-- a completely-- hmm?"

"Are you coming along, or not, Obi-Wan?"

"Er... gladly, your Highness."

"I have a name, you know," she teased.

"Sorry, Amidala. Or can I call you Ami?"

"Only if I can call you Obi."

"Er, Amidala it is."

"Padme while we're in town."

"Got it."

"C'mon, let's go find Anakin. And after we get back, I promised to teach him to play poker."

"Well, you're just going to break that promise."

"Why? Afraid I'll win his pants, too?"

"Afraid he'll win mine, that's what."

And at the risk of sounding cliched, that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.