We're on the landing bay, all around chaos as we're preparing to leave so suddenly, and another ship lands. The moment the ramp lowers a relieved smile comes to my face.

"Obi-Wan," I say running over to them, then stop at the mixed looks they wear. "What's happened?"

"Well, the good news is we've been given permission to come with you to Naboo to deal with the Sith," Obi-Wan tells me, and looks past me to where Qui-Gon and Anakin approach Padme. "Qui-Gon has declared he will train Anakin with or without the councils approval."

While I'm proud he does not seem pleased. "And what is wrong with this?"

He sighs and lowers his voice "You two may be more than happy to disobey the council, but I am not."

"I know," I say quietly, knowing the indoctrination, all of it. "And if he does, what will come of you?"

It's then I realise why he is hurt, his master deciding in front of him he'll take a new apprentice whilst he is still sworn to Obi-Wan.

"I am to face the trials," he tells me and I wear a proud smile, knowing he's more than ready.

"You're to become a Jedi Knight," I say, forcing a smile as I try to be happy for him despite the uncertainty. "That's wonderful!"

He nods, but is not happy and reaches forward to take my hands in his, his body shielding us from the others. "I'm afraid of what it will mean, for Master Qui-Gon, for myself... for us."

It's then the illusion begins to shatter. "Obi..."

He squeezes my hands and promises me "We will get the council to see reason, once we have defeated the sith lord they won't be able to refuse to allow you to return to the order."

I'm hesitant, he may have suggested it in passing but after that council meeting it's out of the question. "Obi-Wan-"

"Come," he says, pulling me along to the ship before I can get a word in. "We're about to leave."

We make it in just as the door closes, he gives me a hopeful smile but that hope I feel has diminished. Even if Qui-Gon leaves the order to train Anakin, Obi-Wan would remain and not just that, he wants me to join him...

The same order that just put me on trial for crimes I committed at fourteen, crimes I saw as justice. An order I just berated in a way they have not been in living memory.

We made our promises under moonlight, but now in the daylight I can finally see clearly.

He has hope, but I know I'll never be allowed to return to the order while he cannot imagine leaving.

And so this is where our tragedy begins.

~

Padme and Sabe are beginning to change their roles as I leave them, heading to a lone corner of the ship to gather my senses, to make sense of what's transpired.

I've never- never had anyone hold me through the night, never had anyone kiss me and take my hand and tell me all will be well. It terrifies me. Loneliness was an agony but safe, this- this is anything but safe. I am part of the lost, the Jedi who lost their way and abandoned the code, but he isn't. He is the best of them, he is what the Jedi should be, and in trying to allow him to see how I do I've corrupted him.

I never expected to feel bad, to feel guilt, but I do. Yet it pales in comparison to the light in my heart that he's put there. Never have I been faced with love, never did I expect it to find me like this, so sudden and intense, so beautiful and yet forbidden.

But I've never found such happiness in another person, never.

It terrifies me.

And he finds me like that, deep in contemplation in a lone corner of the ship, but the smile in his eyes brings me back to him.

"Obi-Wan."

He gives me a careful smile as he comes towards me, neither of us knowing quite what comes now, but there is a certainty in his eyes that gives me hope.

"Rhea," Obi-Wan says to me, almost giddy. "I have something for you."

I blink at him in surprise. "For me?"

I watch breathless as he presents a parcel to me wrapped in cloth, and before I even touch it I know. A silent tear slips down my cheek as I pull back the cloth to reveal my saber.

"We'll be facing a Sith Lord," he tells me while I'm beyond stunned. "I can't let you walk in there unarmed." 

"I-" I stammer at a loss. "How did you get this, it was taken by the council?"

He gives me a small smile "I had a word with master Qui-Gon."

I look at him and give the most authentic smile I've ever felt of pure gratitude, almost crying as I reach for him and we search each other's eyes for only a moment before our lips meet. We both know this is the most forbidden thing we could ever do, but somewhere on the journey from Naboo to Coruscant we both lost our senses.

When we pull apart he's nervous, stammering  "I don't know what will happen-"

"It doesn't matter," I breathe, not wanting to think of what comes after this, his very touch breathing life back into me and suddenly I'm not fighting it anymore, not when we have another battle to fight. "I just want to survive what's ahead of us."

"So do I," he says and I smile against his lips, both of us laughing like the kids we never got to be as we both give into it, even if only for a moment. "You know this is madness."

"The best kind," I answer, taking the time to memorise his face, his eyes, his nose, his mouth. He truly is beautiful, his face younger than he is. "Has anyone told you that you have a beautiful face." He flushes and I laugh. "You might be old Ben Kenobi but you have a beautiful baby face."

He laughs, the most genuine I've ever heard him laugh. "You shouldn't be this happy considering we're on our way to a battle."

"Ah, I disagree darling," I tease, the idea of facing combat only making me fearless when it comes to him, the thought of not having to face the consequences of this. "If I'm about to die, I'm sure as hell going to die happy."

With my lightsaber in hand and him beside me it would be hard not to.

"I wish I had your optimism," he remarks and I just shake my head.

"I thought we'd established you were the optimist?"

"Well as long as one of us is we have a fighting chance."

We hear a slight chuckle and we look startled to see Qui-Gon standing in the door way, watching amused at the sight of us and I swear at this point we need to put a bell or something on him.

"I can't bring you anywhere without young women fawning over you, can I Obi-Wan?" Obi-Wan's embarrassed, and I struggle to meet Qui-Gon's eye. "Although I dare say it is my young apprentice who's fallen."

Obi-Wan's half mortified and I clear my throat. "Thank you  Master Qui-Gon,for my saber, you will never know what it means to me."

"Don't thank me, thank Ben," he says, proud of his apprentice. "It was his idea."

"Of course it was," I say, enamoured with the young Jedi who is unlike any man I've known. Genuinely kind, thoughtful, grateful, there is no lack of words to describe his heart and mind, but it's the force within him that pulls me to him so strongly that I cannot resist.

And clearly neither can he.

"Now, you two, you've spent enough time hiding away in dark corners, it's time to finish this mission," he says and we share an anxious glance before following his master.

~

We plan our return to Naboo, all of us gathered about the table on board, Obi-Wan and I standing side by side as Padme considers our options, whilst we prepare dressed as Queen Amidala but will swap with Sabe before we land.

"As soon as you land the Federation will arrest you and force you to sign the treaty."

"They can't do that if they can't get their hands on her," I point out.

"I'm not sure what you wish to accomplish by this," Qui-Gon says to both Padme and I.

"I will take back what is ours," she says and looks to me, finally letting me loose. "Sister, what will our first move be?"

"We have a Jedi Master and soon to be Jedi Knight at our disposal but no army," I say to her and the rest of the room, feeling a smile come to Obi-Wan's lips at that. "The Trade Federation's army is made of droids which works in our favour. They lack sentience and motivation, something we have. Now our people are in camps, but not all of them." I look to Jar Jar Binks. "Jar Jar, will the Gungans fight for their home?"

"Weesa warriors," he answers proudly and that's enough for me.

"When we land our first move will be to get the Gungans onside," I tell them. "If all goes to plan they will occupy the army while our pilots move in on the Trade Federations ships."

"But the Trade Federation has possession of our fleet in the capital," Panaka says and I nod.

"Exactly," I say and look to Padme. "We cannot count on Palpatine achieving anything in the senate in time we need, so we take matters into our own hands and handle the damage afterwards. It will be the hardest fight any of our men and women have faced, there will be fatalities but there will be far more if we do not act." This is what I was appointed to do, and I will not let us fail. "Failure is not an option, and we will drive the Trade Federation out of our planet but it will not be easy. Even if we can get the Gungans outside I dare say we will be outnumbered a hundred to one."

"Rhea," Qui-Gon says carefully. "Many lives will be lost."

"No more than what will be lost if we do nothing," I reply, compartmentalization the one Jedi quality I have retained. "Upon landing we will meet with the Gungans and if we are successful in getting them to our side they will face the droid army in the field whilst we turn out attention to the palace." I bring up the map of palace and point to the hanger. "Our pilots are being held hostage here along with our fleet, we will free them whilst the army is occupied and they will launch an attack on the Trade Federation ships. They control the droids remotely, we take down the ships we take down the droids. We will capture the Vice Roy and hold him as a hostage as collateral in the event our fleet is not successful in bringing down their control ships." 

"How can we be assured they will surrender once we have the Vice Roy?" Padme asks and they all look to me.

"Because I'll kill him if they don't," I say, willing to commit war crimes to end this invasion and she knows it. It's why despite all her values of pacifism and diplomacy she is giving me the reigns now. Because she knows I'll do whatever it takes. "Now Jar Jar, send word to the Gungans, we will not accept no for an answer."

"Yes Lady Amidala," he says, the weight on my shoulders grounding me and I feel Obi-Wans eyes on me knowing very well I am escalating this invasion into full scale battle but unlike the others standing around the table I can feel the fear, the anguish. People are suffering, my family is suffering and they will continue to suffer until Padme signs the treaty or until the Federation is defeated.

Only one is an option. 

~

Obi-Wan finds me in the generator room with my saber ignited, moving it as if to ensure I still know how to. Five years of relentless martial arts training to keep my mind sane and now is the time for it to prove itself with a sith after us.

"I hope you aren't planning to have us land on Tatooine again to get another generator," he says, eyeing the distance between my saber and the generator. "How does it feel?"

"Like I'm home again," I answer, knowing I won't ever give it up again. "How far away are we?"

"We're almost there," he tells me. "I already know you're ready for a fight."

"Always am," I answer and find myself saying words I never thought I would. "I don't know what will happen on Naboo or afterwards, but I'm glad to have met you Obi-Wan."

"I'm glad to have met you too," he says and reaches for my hand. "I- I can't explain it, but whenever I reach out into the force, it draws me to you, feelings aside it- I know you feel it too."

I nod, indeed feeling the same. "If the force is drawing us together, what does it mean?"

"I don't know," he says and we're once again interrupted by Qui-Gon and I swear at this point he's doing it for his own amusement.

"It means the force brought you two together for a reason," he says matter of factly. "I don't know what but when it comes to pass you won't be able to mistake it."

We look at each other, almost in disbelief, but we can't deny it when we know it to be true.

"But Master, the code-" Obi-Wan begins and I look away.

"The force and the code can contradict one another," he tells us. "But it is always the force you must trust in above anything else. There is something strange in the works, between finding Anakin and this bond between the two of you, there's been a shift in the force. I don't know yet what it means but we will solve this mystery."

Obi-Wan squeezes my hand, bringing me back to him, only for us to be interrupted by Panaka.

"You're needed in the cockpit."

We all jump to our feet, following him into the cockpit to find Naboo in the distance.

"I have one battleship on my scope."

Obi-Wan looks at the radar "It's a droid control ship."

"They've probably spotted us."

"We haven't much time," he says and looks to me.

"Stay on course to meet with the Gungans," I instruct, Padme and I set on our course of action. I'm looking at the radar when I feel Obi-Wans hand on my shoulder. "We take out that ship and victory is ours."

He's cautious. "Can your fleet take out a ship that size?"

"We have to," I decide, knowing there is no alternative. "Failure isn't an option."

"Then we will," he says and I reach back to hold his hand as we enter the atmosphere and he  brings my hand to his lips, a strange weight on our shoulders at what Qui-Gon's confirmed. But it's no use dwelling on it until we know we'll live to dawn.

~

I stand by Padme's side in the marshes of Naboo as we wait for Jar Jar to give us word from the Gungan cities, and overhear Obi-Wan talking with Qui-Gon.

"Do you think their plan to bring the Gungans onside will work?"

Padme and I look at each other, I feel her grow defensive at the thought of them doubting us now but I have a little more faith in them than she does. Either way we remain quiet and listen in, them clearly thinking we're out of earshot.

"The Gungans will not easily be swayed," Qui-Gon warns him. "And we cannot use our powers to help them."

"I'm-I'm sorry for my behaviour master," Obi-Wan tells him and I'm confused until he elaborates. "It's not my place to disagree with you about the boy." Anakin, Obi-Wan doesn't think he should be trained. "And I am grateful you think I'm ready to take the trials."

"You've been a good apprentice Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon tells him. "And you're a much wiser man than I am. I foresee you will become a great Jedi knight."

As do I, but Obi-Wan says "Master, about Rhea-"

"Trust your feelings, don't deny them," Qui-Gon advises. "The force has brought you together, which is a far greater force than the council. They may not like it but there is a purpose for the two of you being in each others lives, whatever that may be to one another."

Padme looks at me with wide eyes and I press my lips together guiltily knowing I've been caught and despite being about to go to war she raises a teasing eyebrow.

"Don't," I mouth and she shakes her head at me. 

"It just- when I'm with her all I feel is hope," Obi-Wan continues. "I feel things I shouldn't, even though I know it is wrong."

"It is only as wrong as you believe it to be Obi-Wan," he tells him and I dare to walk to them, needing Qui-Gon's insight and not having the patience to wait for it.

"The force clearly has some purpose for us, but how can we act on it if the council forbids it?" I ask Qui-Gon. "They'll never let me return to the order let alone enter the Jedi Temple without being thrown out."

His face is serious, contemplative. "I will do what I can, rest assured you and Obi-Wan are both under my protection when it comes to the council." He and I look at one another, and Qui Gon continues. "You both deserve happiness, and the council will not stand in the way of that." 

Standing here now I wish I Qui-Gon had been my master, Depa treated me well but she did not quite know how to handle me, how to understand me. If Qui-Gon had been then perhaps I never would have ended up leaving the order. I was expelled yes, but I would not have put myself in the position to be if I wasn't already prepared to leave.

He looks at us, a sudden weight on his shoulders. "Now both of you, draw your sabers snd show me your forms." 

We draw them and he uses the stance of form III whilst I was taught in it I use the form that was always the most natural to me, form VII. This surprises Qui-Gon.

"So it is true, Master Windu did allow it to be taught to you."

"Master Billaba taught me form III and V but Master Windu was curious to see how I would handle Vaapad," I tell Master Qui-Gon. "It's been a long time."

"It has been, which is why I am not letting you use your saber in combat unless I know you can still handle it," he says, ever the master. "Now, Obi-Wan, seeing as you shall soon be knighted take her through the drills. I expect this sith lord will use a form of lightsaber combat closest to form seven. It will do you well Rhea to remember it and Obi-Wan, you to defend against it." 

"While Juyo is officially forbidden Master Windu spent two years teaching me Vaapad," I begin, telling myself as much as Obi-Wan. "Vaapad is the defensive, and Juyo the offensive. Naturally I was most encouraged to use the defensive but before I left the order I had begun to integrate some of form V's techniques into it."

"Good," Master Qui-Gon says. "I suspect you will need it if we face this sith. If I remember correctly before you left the order Master Windu praised you as the greatest swordsman of your class." He looks between Obi-Wan and I before ordering. "Now, begin."

I sense Obi-Wan's hesitance to strike first and so I do, testing the waters with slow thought out attacks, gentle sparing, testing the typical strikes and defences before speeding up our movements. Utilising Vaapad techniques I redirect my uppercut attack to a lower cut, having to slow it so he has time to react to the unusual attack which is often deemed dishonourable due to it being misleading. I do it again but in reverse, leaving his stomach exposed for me to kick him back and swap blade hands to counteract his saber whilst backhanding him across the face, stunning him for long enough I can grab the hilt of his blade, twisting it downwards and bending his arm unnaturally until I can disarm him, with his blade by my side and mine by his neck.

From the look of utter shock on his face I can tell it is one form he has not been taught to defend himself against with only a handful of Jedi knowing it and from the complementary look on Qui-Gons face I see he's also now just realised this fatal flaw. He has more experience with it than Obi-Wan, but Mace Windu is the only Jedi that has true mastery of it, and why would the order teach its Jedi to defend themselves against a form used by an order of sith they thought extinct and a few Jedi.

Qui-Gon almost seems shaken, as if he's had a rumination.

"You are certainly more than capable to use your saber now," he says, clearing his throat. "Keep training."

He dismisses himself and I turn back to Obi-Wan and apologise. "Sorry for hitting you."

"Well, it's certainly effective," he admits as I pass him back his saber. "I wasn't wrong when I knew you'd be deadly in a fight."

"What can I say? There's a reason Master Windu thought I needed to channel my inherit anger into something productive."

"It makes me wonder if we should request Master Windu come in case this Sith does show."

The same thought crosses my mind, and it's no doubt what Master Qui-Gon is contemplating. 

"You're trained in form III, it's the best defence you could have against it," I say, trying to provide some encouragement. "Now come on, again. I know you were holding back so you didn't hurt me, but if we fall into a duel with the sith you cannot hesitate."

"I won't," he promises me and we ready ourselves again.

"And don't hesitate with me," I tell him and launch my attack, finally now seeing the strength of his skill as he no longer takes it easy on me and I surprise myself that after all these years I am holding my own against a Jedi with a decades training on me, but Master Windu was right, I was the best of my class and of the others above me. 

I feel the eyes of Padme and her detail watching, feeling the shock rippling through her, having never seen me with a saber in hand. It feels as natural as breathing as I duel with Obi-Wan, his form complimenting mine perfectly, I push and he pulls, I attack and he reflects, we move in sync as if it we were always meant to, two halves of a whole.

We're only interrupted by Jar Jar appearing. 

"There isa nobody there," he says to us. "The Gungan city is deserted. Soma kinda fight meesa thinks."

"Do you think they've been taken to the camps?" Obi-Wan and I both ask, out of breath from the duel.

"More likely they were wiped out," Panaka says and catches the glare I give him and for the first time he yields after seeing just what I can do.

"Meesa no think so."

"Then where could they be?" I ask Jar Jar. "We cannot win this without them."

"When in trouble, Gungans go to sacred place. Mesa show you." He starts walking, beckoning us to follow. "Come on. Meesa show you."

~

After a long walk we indeed come to the Gungan's sacred place where they look to be in fighting shape, hopefully they'll be willing.

"Your honour," one announces. "Queen Amidala of the Naboo."

Sabe steps forward and the leader of the Gungan's asks who she is.

"I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo," she says, Padme standing behind her. "I come before you in peace."

My hand moves towards Obi-Wans in some physiological need for reassurement, my hand brushes his and his pinkie locks with mine, us standing together.

"We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance-"

"Your honour." Padme unexpectedly steps forward. "I am Queen Amidala."

There's surprised sounds from the crowd and I watch on proudly.

She looks back to Sabe. "This is my decoy, my protection, my loyal bodyguard. I am sorry for my deception but it was necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree your honour, our two great societies have always lived in peace. The Trade Federation has destroyed all we worked so hard to build. If we do not act quickly all will be lost forever. I ask you to help us." She gets on her knees. "No, I beg you to help us."

Proudly I kneel, and the others follow.

"We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands."

The Gungan leader begins laughing and Obi-Wan and I share a nervous glance.

"Yousa no thinken yousa no greater than the Gungans?"

I look to Padme who is just as anxiously confused as the rest of us.

"Meesa like this."

Obi-Wan gives me a smile I can't help but return.

"Maybe weesa being friends."

I grip his hand tight, raising it up in celebration as the cheering begins and hug him tight, the most relieved I've ever been. "It worked."

"It was your plan after all."

I look at Padme. "Our plan, she's the best of us sisters."

"Well, she had to learn from somebody," he tells me. "We all have our mentors."

He looks to Qui-Gon as Padme looks back at me smiling and I open my arms as she runs into them. "We did it."

"You did it," I tell her proudly. "And now we're going to save our people."

~

We help organise the Gungan's in the field although I leave the strategy to their commanders and we turn our attention to our own. 

"What's the situation?" Padme asks now our security has scouted the planet.

"Almost everyone is in camps," Panaka tells us and I think of our parents and Sola who must be there as well. It is this very reason why Padme changed her name, so if anything ever happened they would be safe. "A few hundred police and guards have formed an underground resistance movement. I brought back as many of the leaders as I could."

Obi-Wan leans in, voice quiet as if he can feel my thoughts. "You said you have an older sister?"

"She'd be in the camps along with our parents," I tell him quietly and he squeezes my hand tight in reassurance. 

Panaka looks at Padme. "The Federation army's also much larger than we thought, and much stronger. Your Highness, this is a battle I don't think we can win."

"Except they're droids," I say and look at the atmosphere. "If we take out the droid control ship and take the Vice Roy captive, we will win."

"The battle is a diversion," Padme continues to the resistance members that have joined us. "The Gungan's must draw the droid army away from the cities. Rhea, R2."

R2 projects the map and I explain. "We'll enter the city using the secret passageways on the waterfall side, once we get to the main entrance Captain Panaka will create a diversion. Then we'll enter the palace and capture the Viceroy. If our pilots are able they will take out the droid control ship to reduce on ground Gungan casualties."

"Without the viceroy they'll be lost and confused," Padme explains. "What do you think Master Jedi?"

"The Vice-roy will be well guarded," Qui-Gon warns. "But something tells me your sister will take care of that."

"The difficulty is getting into the throneroom," Panaka says. "But once we're inside we shouldn't have a problem."

Qui-Gon once again raises his concerns to us "There's a possibility with the diversion many Gungans will be killed."

"Which is why Rhea came up with the plan to immobilise the droid army," Padme says but Obi-Wan also has concerns.

"Rhea," he says to me. "If the Viceroy escapes he may return with an even bigger droid army."

"Then we won't let him escape," I answer simply. "The Viceroy will be my first priority."

He nods and quietly says to me "Please be careful."

"No promises," I reply and notice Padme tilting her head at us since we've been caught out but we can deal with that later.

 ~

After sharing rations with the Gungans we find our way into the city, Obi-Wan and I lead Padme and the security detail while Qui-Gon minds Anakin who's followed along. Panaka goes ahead to make sure we are clear to enter and the weight of both my blaster and my saber on my hip reassures me.

Obi-Wan's voice is quiet. "If the Sith appears?"

Panaka and the rest can handle the Vice Roy in my absence, but a sith is work for a Jedi.

"Then we'll take him, three to one." I look back at him, neither of us having faced this sort of enemy before. "We will make it out of this." 

Panaka sends the signal that it's clear and Qui-Gon bends down to tell Anakin "Once we get inside you find a safe place to hide and stay there."

"Sure," Anakin chirps but Qui-Gon raises a finger.

"Stay there."

We move out as Panaka begins his diversion, igniting our sabers and taking out the droids who notice us before entering the palace where the real fight begins.

We cut down the droids defending the entrance to the hanger before breaking in, shielding Padme from the blasts with my saber as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan move forward, their sabers along with our blasters enough to take out the crew of droids guarding the fleet. 

"Now go and focus all your firepower on taking out the droid control ship," I order the pilots. "It is our only hope."

Qui-Gon orders Anakin to take cover as our pilots get to their ships and we watch as the federations anti-aircraft defence takes out several of the ships upon departure but the rest make it out, I just pray it will be enough.

Now for the Viceroy.

"Obi-Wan, Master Qui-Gon," I call out and they run over to me. "We'll take the lead in attacking the Viceroys guards, once we have him we will search the palace to ensure there are no threats waiting to entrap us."

We go to leave and Anakin calls out  "Wait for me!" from the starfighter he hides in, but Qui-Gon orders him to stay put.

I walk with him and Obi-Wan through the hanger, confidently ready to seize the Viceroy until the main exit doors open and there stands the Sith Lord.

Shit.

"Padme, go," I order and she nods, not questioning me and guides everyone towards the side entrance to the palace while the three of us face the Sith.

"You should follow your sister," Qui-Gon advises but I shake my head, there'll be no protecting her unless the three of us can kill the Sith.

"No," I say reigniting my saber followed by Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon knows there's no dissuading me and all those years of training I know it has led to this.

The Sith pulls his hood back, silent as he draws his saber, igniting one blade, and then two. Both burning red.

Obi-Wan makes the first attack, followed by Qui-Gon and that's when the shooting starts, I look back to see Padme and the rest seeking cover from the attack droids that have emerged and reluctantly look between the Sith and her, before running to her to make way for her to escape.

With instincts I didn't know I still possessed, I acrobatically leap in front of the attack droids, deflecting the fire to make way for them to get out.

"Go!" I yell back at her, only for the droids to be blasted apart by one of the ships and I make sure the doors shut behind her before I turn back to find Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon gone along with the sith. She is safe with Panaka, but they aren't, and so I run in the direction where the Sith appeared from, the main entrance to the palace.

I meet them on the bridges inside the palace, knowing one thing, that I need to get to the Vice Roy in case Padme doesn't make it in time with the diversion and to do that I need to get through the Sith.

I watch from above as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon fight him, preparing to jump only to let out a yell as Obi-Wan is kicked over the edge of one of the bridges and I jump without thought onto the one below, to come face to face with the Sith. My saber connects with his and I rely purely on instinct and muscle memory as Qui-Gon and I take him, finding his form indeed almost the same as mine. We back him into one of the hallways fitted with forceshields that disengage as we enter and just as I leap over the Sith to attack him from behind the forceshields reengage. Caging Qui-Gon, with Obi-Wan behind him, while I am forced to face the sith alone.

I hear Obi-Wan screaming out my name as I raise my saber in the seventh form, the one they called sith and find my grounding before attacking. The moment my saber strikes his I see his eyes widen in recognition of my form, one a sith would never expect a Jedi to use and strike again as he's caught off guard, knowing it is mental as much as physical. The seventh form, quick, brutal, and impossible to predict. His own form.

My eyes hold his as our blades connect, tapping into his own energy, struggling against his strength as he tries to overpower me and I take the risk of burning my hand off as I reach under to grab the hilt of his double saber driving the other side down into the bridge, forcing him to twist his grip and I break the attack, striking at his neck only for him to duck and I throw myself into the air over him to dodge the blade he attempts to cut my in half with, striking down hard from above in quick succession, forcing him into the defence as I scream out between gritted teeth as I harness it, the anger, the fear, and strike him across the face with the hilt of my saber before kicking him back to Qui-Gon whose freed from the forcefield.

Obi-Wan watches on in horror, still trapped, as Qui-Gon attacks from behind, defending against the siths strikes as I go on the offensive, attacking in quick succession, the sith blocking each strike before kicking me back off the platform and I grip the edge, pulling myself up but before I can strike he brings the hilt of his saber up hard, knocking Qui-Gon's head back and stunning him for a single second, and that single second is all it takes for the sith to thrust his saber through his chest. 

I can hear Obi-Wan screaming and the sith doesn't waste a moment before unleashing on me, going for my neck as Obi-Wan screams out my name and I duck, stumbling back and hitting the ground hard, bringing my saber up to block as he strikes down hard, and I'm disarmed as he grabs the hilt of my saber and rips it from my hand, throwing it as I kicking his legs out from beneath him and hear his body hit the platform.

 Disarmed I turn to melee instincts, my knee on his back as I pull my belt free, wrapping it around his neck, screaming out as I try to gather the strength to strangle him, Qui-Gon's body hitting the ground in front of me, the tears in my eyes turning to anger as I get a foot onto his neck, trying to break it only to be overpowered as he uses my weight as leverage against me as he slams me into the platform, and I kick the saber from his hand only to find his hands wrapped around my own throat, foot pinning my wrist down as I strain for my saber, choking out as he crushes my wrist and my blurred vision catches a flash of blue. 

Obi-Wan in rage goes to strike the sith and a gasp leaves my throat as it's released and red meets blue, through blurred vision I watch it as he leads the sith away from me. I watch the skill in Obi-Wan's swift reflexes, the anger in them along with pure unbridled determination and cry out in pain as I reach for my saber, the crushed tendons in my wrist rendering my right hand unusable, but I have another and so as I look up to find Obi-Wan facing him alone I force myself to my feet.

The moment my saber comes to my hand Obi-Wan's cut through Mauls, breaking it in two and knocking him back, Obi-Wan leaps over him as Maul jumps to his feet and runs away only to be unexpectantly met with me and I back hand him across the face with my saber, stunning him for just a second but it's enough for Obi-Wan to strike down from above and yet still a second too short as Maul blocks the attack and as I strike from behind he's blasted Obi-Wan back with the force down into the plasma reactor and met my attack, turning his attention back to me with a sick grin.

With my saber hand all but broken and my other unpractised I'm careful as I step backwards, deciding to go on the defensive only to be raised into the air, strangled by the force and thrown to the ground. He strikes down hard but I block it, in a battle of strength with the sith and I'm screaming out as I bring my broken hand to try to grasp the hilt of his saber to break his attack only for him to reach beneath to grab me by my throat and with that he finally disarms me. 

"Who sent you to kill my sister?' I choke as his fist wraps tight around my throat but he reveals nothing as I feel a burning pressure in my lungs and claw at the siths face with the only hand I have left as he chokes the life from me, blood beneath my nails as I bring my knee up hard between his legs and he jerks forward over me, giving me the room to bring my legs to his chest up to kick him back over my head in a bout of strength I didn't know I had left in me before collapsing on my side gasping for air.

In my state of half consciousness I reach out blindly for Obi-Wan, the sith standing over me as he uses the force to return his lightsaber to his hand and ignites it with a wicked gleam in his eye, deciding to take his time with me, bringing the red blade down to my face so I can feel its heat and finally the sith speaks. 

"You will feel every cut, Jedi."

But as I feel Obi-Wan through the force I dare to smile at the sith as Obi-Wan strikes from nowhere, cutting him through the middle and I relish in the shock on the siths face as he realises he has lost. His blade extinguishes and I collapse into the floor as the sith falls through from the platform, dead.

"Rhea? Rhea!"

Obi-Wan gathers me up in his arms, trembling fingers brushing over my neck but I look to Qui-Gon, pointing weakly and Obi-Wan sets me down to attend to his master. I manage to drag myself across the floor to them, grasping the master Jedi's hand and finding it cold. Obi-Wan tries to support his master, but he knows it as well as I do.

"It's too late," Qui-Gon breathes. 

"No," Obi-Wan cries and hot tears slip down my cheeks as I fall down beside Qui-Gon.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon struggles. "Promise-promise me you will train the boy."

"Yes master," Obi-Wan promises as I reach for his hand, grasping it tight, giving him what strength I have as his master dies in his arms.

"He is the chosen one," Qui-Gon says breathes out. "He will bring balance. Train him." He looks to me as he speaks his last words. "Trust in the force."

His body falls limp and Obi-Wan cradles him in his arms, forehead pressed against his as the lifeforce leaves him, and he's gone, I feel my own eyes slipping closed as I try to focus on Obi-Wan's hand gripping mine tight, as if that alone could keep me here.

"No, no-" I feel him gathering me up in his arms again as my consciousness starts to slip. "No- not you too."

"I'm alive," I promise him, my head on his shoulder as pulls me upright. "I'm alive."

We both are. But at what cost?

My arms manage to wrap around his neck as he pulls me up into his lap, holding me, his forehead falling against mine with hot tears wetting both our cheeks, both of us clinging to each other with what strength we have left. It could have been forever or mere moments we stayed like that until we heard the echoing of feet and my sister calling my name.

"Rhea!"

I feel her hands grabbing me, calling my name.

"She needs a medic," Obi-Wan tells her but I refuse to let go of his hand. "Get a medic!"

And we hold one another as if our life force depends on it as we watch Padme's guards wrap Qui-Gon in drapes and lift him, Obi-Wan struggling against me as they carry him away before collapsing in my arms, my fingers buried in his hair as I hold his face to my chest, shielding him from the sight and my tearful eyes meet Padme's who looks upon me horrified by the bruises that must already be forming around my neck.

"Did we win?" I manage to choke out, and can't even recognise my own voice.

She nods, but it doesn't feel like a victory.

She wraps a cloak around the pair of us and leaves us to grieve.

I press my lips to his forehead, clammy from shock and hold him until he can breathe again and when he can finally bear to look at me his fingers brush the bruises at my throat, slipping over the purple discolouration and sliding down to my crushed wrist, no words needing to be spoken as we help each other stand and hobble to help.

He lifts me up in his arms as I almost collapse and carries me to the hospital as my vision blackens, every strangled breath I breathe agony with burning lungs, he brings me through the wards filled with injured gungans and some of the resistance that fought, words are exchanged and he brings me to a private room, no doubt organised at Padme's behest. He lays me down upon the bed and never lets go of my uninjured hand as the medical droids work on my crushed wrist while I lie there in the hospital bed still struggling to breathe as an oxygen mask is fitted and he sits beside me in shock.

I'm slipping off to sleep with the drugs they give me for the pain, Obi-Wan too, when he suddenly jumps and gasps out "Anakin, where's Anakin!"

"With the queen," Panaka says limping in, nursing wound's himself, and Padme follows behind him with Anakin clutching her hand.

"Rhea," she breathes out, distraught at the sight of me and even Anakin stares wide eyed.

"Is it true?" he asks Obi-Wan. "That Master Qui-Gon died."

Obi-Wan flinches and Padme hushes Anakin, knowing neither of us are ready to deal with the aftermath just yet. She looks at Obi-Wan and I's joint hands.

"I'm okay," I promise her, pulling the oxygen mask down only for him to interrupt.

"The Sith Lord almost killed her," he grits out, an anger to his voice I've never heard before and it pains me so. "Your sister would not have survived if she wasn't as great a warrior as she is. She held her own against him, something not even my own master could do."

"Shh, Obi-Wan," I hush, knowing how much strength I owe to him. "The sith is dead now."

"They both are," he says, as if all the anger I've ever held in my heart he now carries. "And there was nothing I could do to stop it."

I bring his hand to my lips, trying to give him what strength I can only for him to let go as people rush into the room.

"Rhea!" my mother cries out, followed by my father and Sola and immediately I'm grimacing at the sudden noise. 

"Mom I told you not to come in!" Padme argues, knowing the state I'm in.

"Sola?" I murmur, reaching for my sister and she comes to my side, checking me over in horror.

"By the maker," she gasps out and I'm just relieved to see she's alright.

"We didn't know if she was even alive!" my father argues back and sees Obi-Wan. "Who's this?"

"The Jedi who saved my life," I answer, my voice still hoarse, and with them all fussing over me he steps back, wanting to leave the room but I shake my head, silently pleading for him to stay and he does. 

"How did this happen!" my mother exclaims and that's when he speaks up.

"She fought off a Sith Lord and survived," Obi-Wan says and they all fall silent. "We killed him. You should be very proud of your daughter. She is a great Jedi."

He knows I am the great shame of my family after being expelled from the order, and now here he tells them this. Tears slip down my cheeks as they all continue to launch questions at me while Padme attempts to rangle them, but my eyes are only on him. Eventually Padme is able to force them out of the room to give me peace after a word with Sola to ensure her I'm in good hands and Anakin goes with her.

"Look after each other," she tells us, closing the door and making sure it locks from the outside, leaving Obi-Wan and I alone together.

"Thank you Obi-Wan," I breathe, reaching out for him and he sits on the edge of the bed by my side, hand feeling my forehead.

"I meant every word," he says, trying to find light in all of this. "I don't think I could have survived on my own for that long."

"When you're fighting for your life you do things you had no idea you could," I answer, that being my truth. "I- I think I was able to tap into Maul's energy with my form, it messed with his discipline, gave me an advantage over him."

"Until you ended up having to strangle him with a belt," he says, having seen it all from where he was trapped. "I- I couldn't do anything but watch."

"Until you saved my life," I tell him, squeezing his hand tight. "You might not have been able to save Qui-Gon, but you saved me, and that counts for something."

"Is this what he meant when he told us to trust in the force?" he asks me. "That when it came to pass we would know why the force brought us together."

"Even now," I breathe, knowing it to be true. "I'm afraid that moment might be still to pass."

He's trembling as his lips touch mine, a butterfly kiss, before they come to my forehead, both of us utterly exhausted at the core and I guide him into the bed with me, finding my head resting on his chest as he cradles me in his arms, both of us hardly conscious as he fits the oxygen mask back over my mouth, the lights dimming as night finally comes and we face it together.