32 BBY | The Phantom Menace

Every last instinct I have screams at me that something is terribly amiss, even if it's fallen on the deaf ears of my sisters council. She has the title and the ornaments that force them to listen, she is young and wise, in their eyes I am merely a failed Jedi whose council is void, and so I'm left to anxiously watch as she gives her address to the Trade Federation.

"Again you come before us, your highness."

"You will not be so pleased when you hear what I have to say, Viceroy. Your trade boycott of our planet has ended."

Her voice is deep and strong, it is still strange to me seeing her like this, a queen. She is far too grown up to be fourteen, but then again so was I at her age.

"I was not aware of such a failure."

"I have word that the chancellors ambassadors are with you now, and that you have been commanded to reach a settlement."

"I know nothing of any ambassadors," the Viceroy denies, a clear lie. "You must be mistaken."

"Beware viceroy," she warns. "The Federation has gone too far this time."

One thing I truly admire about my younger sister is her clear headedness. Her firm resolve without becoming emotional, something I lack despite my years of trying to master it.

"We would never do anything without the approval of the senate," he says and I could laugh, knowing what a mess all that has become. "You assume too much."

"We will see."

The address cuts off and she gives me a look, allowing me and only me to see her frustration. One of her first acts upon becoming queen was to name me as both her protector and her military advisor considering my involvement in intergalactic affairs whilst with the order, a new role for a new era of uncertainty, and the second was to change her name to protect our family. I had already changed mine long ago from Rhea Naberrie to Rhea Amidala, but while hers was to protect our family, mine was out of shame.

The great failure of our great family.

Oh how my mother looked at me in horror when Padme decided to change her name to the one I had chosen years before. The family pride and the family disgrace. The Amidala Sisters.

The great Queen, and the great scandal.

I sit by her side as we receive a hologram from Senator Palpatine, and further admire her brilliant patience, it's a shame the roles weren't reversed as she would have made an excellent Jedi. But I was the one with the midichlorian count much to the disappointment of our family.

"Negotiations haven't started because the ambassadors aren't there? How could that be true?" Palpatine asks us. "I have assurances from the chancellor his ambassadors did arrive."

"It's because it isn't true," I answer for my sister, having accompanied my own master on many such missions to know how they work. "The viceroy is conducting dirty business, he-" I stop as the connection becomes disrupted, the hologram distorting before disappearing.

"Senator Palpatine?" Padme asks and we share a confused look. "What's happening?"

"Check the transmission generator," Captain Panaka orders. "A communications disruption can only mean one thing, invasion."

"Dirty bastards," I curse under my breath at the Trade Federation, getting to my feet whilst Padme sits in denial. "We need to intervene, now."

"The Trade Federation would not dare go that far."

"Well, they have," I say frankly, the only one Padme allows to speak so bluntly in her presence. Whilst she took on a new name to protect our families identity it's known by all that I'm her sister and sworn protector as well as advisor. 

"The senate would revoke their trade franchises," Panaka argues. "They'd be finished."

"Unless the senate is well, the senate," I reply, unlike Padme having little hope in their running of things. "We cannot sit and argue consequence when they are clearly not thinking of any."

"We must continue to rely on negotiations."

"Negotiations?" One of the ministers questions. "We've lost all communications, and where are the chancellors ambassadors?"

"He's right," I say to Padme, feeling it in my gut. "We must act quickly."

"This is a dangerous situation your highness," Panaka agrees. "Our security volunteers will be no match against a battle hardened federation army."

Her eyes immediately go to me, fourteen and yet still my little sister. "My sister will keep me safe, I trust her instincts, but I will not condone an action that will lead us to war."

I lean in towards her, trying to get her to see that this will not end how she wishes. "We may not have a choice."

She looks at me with the brown eyes we both share and I know she will let this go to war over her dead body.

~

Alone Padme and I watch as the Trade Federation's army comes, and I plead with her to reconsider her strategy.

"Padme, I know you do not want war but when they bring it to our doorstep we cannot just silently resist," I tell her as she stares out the window. "We must fight back."

She shakes her head. "No, fighting will only lead to death."

"So will this," I tell her, remembering what I was taught. "There is a reason the Republic for all its pacifism has the Jedi as its army, they are peaceful but know when to fight to protect it."

She looks at me, knowing I would not dare defend them unless I was desperate. "The Republic would refute the idea the Jedi are its personal army."

"But it is the truth," I tell her, knowing it better than she ever could. "You were not raised for battle, I was, so believe me when I say we are facing one."

She looks forward again, at the army closing in on the palace. "We only have our security force, we have no army. If I send them to fight they will be slaughtered."

"Then send me," I say and she stills. "If I'm all that stands between the Trade Federation and this planet then so be it, I will not sit by and watch it fall."

She looks at me, her emotions disguised behind the heavy makeup she wears, her handmaidens preparing Sabe to take her place as she reluctantly agrees. "Then you will fight."

~

I hide in the shadows as she gives herself over in surrender, her security detail disarmed, but someone on Naboo has to be still armed. Someone has to be waiting for the right moment to get her off this planet. I didn't spend my childhood training for a moment like this to fail, not again.

It's been five years since I came home from Coruscant expecting my family to welcome me with open arms only to find them horrified that I had failed what they saw as the ultimate honour. I left the order after watching in horror as they ripped children screaming from their parents arms, after countless fights with my own master and the council over the Jedi's ideology. Because I believed love was more important than what they preached to me, believing I would find it home on Naboo, only to be sorely wrong. 

The greatest irony was leaving Depa Billaba, the closest thing to a mother I ever knew for one I hardly remembered. It was only my sisters who welcomed me home with open arms. One who I grew up alongside and another who did not know me, but nonetheless accepted me as her own.

And so in shame I became Rhea Amidala, the lost Jedi who shamed a proud family

Padme is the only purpose I have now, and while she chooses to surrender peacefully the Trade Federation's intentions are nowhere near as peaceful as hers. If I can't get her off this planet then I have to escape alone, I have to call to our allies in the Republic for help since the communications have been lost and the Chancellors ambassadors are nowhere to be found.

Naboo cannot resist an army of battle droids, not alone, and I have no qualms about walking into a room of politicians on Coruscant and demanding action. 

From the upstairs balcony I watch our people being herded and rounded up until a movement in the river catches my eye and see a submarine surface that does not belong to the Trade Federation, and my eyes narrow in disbelief at the man who emerges from it.

Qui-Gon Jinn?

It seems we have not been abandon afterall.

Quickly I move from the balcony to follow their movements and catch voices from the stairwell where the Viceryoy is arresting Padme.

"How will you explain this invasion to the senate?"

"The queen and I will sign a treaty that will legitimise our occupation here."

Now that she certainly won't do.

I feel for the blaster at my belt and debate opening fire, but I have no saber to deflect the battle droids fire and no clear path of escape for Padme and her handmaidens, not yet at least, and so I sneak along the open corridors above the courtyard, following them until I catch movement just nearby, two Jedi and a Gungan.

Taking a risk I poke my head up and they spot me, the younger man a few years older than myself sees me first, not a Jedi that I recognise, but he taps his master on the arm to bring his attention to me with wide eyes, clearly not having expected anyone to still be walking free, and point for them to follow me. 

They meet me along the overhead pass where Padme and the others are about to pass below surrounded by battle droids. The younger one raises his saber, as if in question, and I nod raising my blaster. Not a moment later we jump down onto the street below, the sound of sabers so strange to me after so long as I take out the remaining droids with my silenced blaster.

"Your highness," I say, checking Sabe over to not give anything away before I check on Padme and she gives me a nod to assure me she's alright. 

"We should leave the street, your highness," Qui-Gon says and I keep my head low, knowing he is one of the few masters who could still recognise me, Jedi like ourselves who cause as much trouble for the council as we do, or rather did, tend to become acquainted.

"Get their weapons," I order what's left of Padme's security, Sabe disguised as Queen Amidala is ushered forward and I check on Padme again as I hand her a blaster, knowing I taught her how to use one and to use it well. 

"Jedi?" she asks and I nod, briefly meeting the eyes of the padawan as we keep moving forward until we are out of sight. "Do you know them?"

Quietly I hush her despite the looks we get and Master Qui-Gon tells us as we reach cover "We're ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor," Qui-Gon tells us.

"And I am the queen's protector," I reply and search his eyes for any sense of recognition, if he remembers me he doesn't give it away. "I take it negotiations didn't go as planned?"

"The negotations were short," the padawan remarks and I meet his eye again, still not recognising him but he looks to have been a few years above my class.

"In fact they never took place," Qui-Gon tells us. "It's urgent that we make contact with the Republic."

"They've knocked out communications," I tell him, right now wishing her damn council had listened to me when I warned them something wasn't right. "They have no plans to allow us to contact the Republic until the queen has signed a document legalising the invasion."

"Do you have transports?"

"In the main hanger," Panaka answers and points. "This way."

I walk beside the padawan as Panaka guides Padme and her detail into the hanger where others have already been gathered to talk strategy.

"There seems to be no actual fighters on the Federations side," I tell the two Jedi. "Just battle droids."

"There's still too many of them," Panaka says but he doesn't know what Jedi are capable of.

"That won't be a problem," Qui Gon says and turns to Sabe. "Your highness under the circumstances I suggest you come to Coruscant with us."

"Thank you ambassador," she replies while I shake my head at both of them in warning. "But my place is with my people."

"Queen Amidala, I must protest," I say, looking both of them in the eye. "You won't be much good to your people dead, you need to address the senate."

"They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion legal," Panaka reminds us. "They can't afford to kill her."

My voice is harsh. "No but they can torture her into signing it."

I feel a coldness wash over Padme

"There's something else behind all this," Qui-Gon says to Sabe. "Your Highness there's no logic in the Federations move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you."

"I agree," I say jumping in before anyone else can. "I feel it too although none of you were willing to listen when this blockade began."

"Now is not the time for hysterics Lady Amidala," Panaka chastises. 

"And now is not the time for the queen to become a martyr," I retort. "The queen trusts my feelings even if you may not and I can assure you now is the time to act and survive."

None of the handmaidens react, each of them knowing my past, but I get a strange look from the padawan, Qui-Gon simply looks amused.

"Our only hope is for the senate to side with us," Padme's advisor says. "Senator Palpatine will need your help."

"Either choice presents grave danger to us all," Sabe says and looks to Padme for guidance.

"We are brave, your highness," Padme replies.

"If you are to leave your highness, it must be now," Qui-Gon says and Sabe looks to me, knowing Padme looks to me as well, and I nod in agreement.

"Then I will plead our case to the senate."

"Thank the maker," I murmur under my breath. "Now let's leave."

I follow the Jedi into the hanger, walking in front of Sabe with my blaster in hand as Panaka instructs "We will need to free those pilots."

"I'll deal with that," the padawan says and I follow him, firing as he ignites his saber, freeing the pilots and directing them to the ship as he finishes off the droids. "That should be it."

"No, it's not," I say grabbing him by the wrist as another squadron of battle droids emerge and order him "Cover me until we get the pilots on board."

He gives a quick nod and does as I ask, using his saber to deflect the blaster fire, covering me for long enough I can take out most of the droids by blaster until everyone is safely on board the ship.

"Come on!" I say and we finally jump onboard as more droids come, electing for escape rather than fighting and Qui-Gon who's been protecting the others follows us onboard, the last to get on before the ramp raises.

I put my blaster back in its holster as it shuts and we take off, meeting the padawan's eyes as we let out a breath of relief and everyone collects themselves, thankfully Qui-Gon doesn't stop to ask questions as he heads to speak to the pilot, leaving his apprentice with me.

He's handsome, certainly on the brink of becoming a Jedi Knight judging by his age and I clear my throat before I say "I don't believe we've been introduced."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," he answers shaking my hand, the name still not familiar. "Jedi Padawan."

"Rhea Amidala," I reply. "The Queen's sister."

"Ah," he says, it now making sense to him why I'd be the one trying to order her about. "I take it you didn't agree with the surrender?"

"Someone had to be armed," I reply at how he found me but know it's a miracle no one but I spotted them arriving. "Nice submarine by the way, stealthy."

"You saw that?" he exclaims, now slightly embarrassed as he picks up the sarcasm in my voice, and I just laugh.

"Not as sly as you thought huh?" I tease with a raised eyebrow and immediately know by how he stiffens up at being jested with that he truly is one of those who's painfully devoted to the code, surprising considering who his master is. "Come on, they'll need us in the cockpit."

He follows me into it and I come to Panaka's side as he shows us the blockade, only to find myself hanging on to the back of a chair as an alarm starts blaring and the Federation launches their attack. 

"Shield generators been hit!"

I try to stay calm as the droids are dispatched to the roof, but it's not a pretty sight as they continue to be shot off and I find myself looking at Master Qui-Gon, he doesn't seem awfully worried and I have to trust his judgement more than my own.

"We're losing droids fast," Obi-Wan says and we share a brief look of concern at the dire situation we've quickly found ourselves in.

"If we can't get the shield generator fixed we'll be sitting ducks."

I jump as another droid is blown off and they announce. "The shields are gone."

Immediately I turn to security. "Get the queen and her handmaidens towards the escape pod, and don't tell them why otherwise she'll fight with you, go!"

But before they can go to Padme we hear "Power's back! That little droid did it, he bypassed the main power drive."

"Never underestimate a droid," Qui Gon tells the captain, ironic considering its battle droids we're facing.

"Now get us out of here," I say but before we're in the clear there's another problem.

"There's not enough power to get us to coruscant, the hyperdrive's leaking."

I just shake my head as Qui Gon says "We'll have to land somewhere to refuel and repair the ship."

"Here master," Obi-Wan calls out. "Tatooine." I walk over to look at his screen. "It's small, out of the way, poor. The Trade Federation have no presence here."

"How can you be sure?"

"It's controlled by the Hutts."

"Do it," I agree and tell the captain. "Tatooine, we have no time to waste."

"You can't take the royal highness there!" Panaka argues. "The Tutts are gangsters."

"They still bleed like the rest of us don't they?" I argue, knowing the Federation will be scouring the sector for us and I'd take my luck with them over battle droids. "What would you rather? Hutts or her being captured by the Federation?"

"Lady Amidala, you might be her protector but I am her chief of security-"

"I am her sister!" I snap back, having been sent to negotiate in enough diplomatic messes to know what awaits her if captured. "Her safety is my only priority and you are taking your orders from me, we are landing on Tatooine."

Qui-Gon puts a hand on my shoulder, his voice calm as he speaks to Panaka. "It would be no different than if we landed on a system controlled by the Federation. Except that the Hutt's aren't looking for her, which gives us the advantage."

And with that it's settled, no one would argue with a true Jedi and feel Qui-Gons eyes on me,  knowing from the careful look he gives that he does indeed remember me.

"I'm sure the queen's sister was not questioning your authority Captain Panaka," he says, even now sticking up for me as he often did then. "But merely acting out of love."

"And what is more important than love?" I find myself saying.

"Balance."

Obi-Wan looks between us confused but I find relief in Qui-Gon being here, of all the Jedi that could have come I have faith in him.

"Exactly, which is why love is just as important as apathy," I say, remembering the words I spoke five years ago. "For balance." I look between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and clear my throat. "Thank you for coming to my sister's aid."

"I dare say you had it half-handled by the time we got there," Qui-Gon says. "You are a talented combatant."

"Well, I'm not much else but that," I say almost bitterly and look at the radar. "Come, we better get the R2 droid who saved our lives before he's blown off like the others."

~

I stand back with Obi-Wan as Panaka presents the droid to Sabe, despite Qui-Gon recognising me instantly his padawan is still oblivious to the fact he's standing beside one of his own.

"Without a doubt it saved the ship as well as our lives."

"It is to be commended," Sabe says. "What is its number?"

"R2-D2, your highness."

I can't help but smile. "Thank you, R2-D2."

I can feel Obi-Wan's eyes lingering on me, confused by my exchange with Qui-Gon but it's hardly as if he'd assume I was once a Jedi. It's something I've tried to forget myself despite just how integral it is to my very core.

"Padme clean this droid up as best you can, it deserves our gratitude."

Padme takes the R2 unit while Sabe gives permission for Qui-Gon to come forth and speak.

"Your highness, your sister Rhea has already given her approval and with your permission we're heading for a remote planet called Tatooine. It's in a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation."

"I do not agree with the Jedi on this," Panaka argues and I speak up.

"I do. I trust Master Qui-Gon's judgement."

Panaka knows well my past, as to the most important members of padme's security, and whilst he's hesitant to listen to my judgement Padme trusts it completely and with that it is settled but I still feel the Padawan's inquisitive eyes on me and so I meet them, holding his gaze as I leave the room.

~

I sit alone with Padme, helping her clean up R2.

"Do you know the Jedi?" she asks me now we're alone.

"Master Qui-Gon is a Jedi I respect greatly, he has views different to the council, similar to mine," I tell her, remembering him well. "He was not my master but he took it upon himself to mentor me at times, and so he no doubt recognises me although he has not said anything. As for his Padawan I can't say I do, although there we many of us and he seems to be older than I."

She nods and asks "Do you still regret leaving?"

The question surprises me, it's always been a forbidden topic amongst our family, but it's just us now. She was just a baby when I was taken by the order, whilst Sola and I reconnected with tears I was a stranger to her, but thankfully five years have remedied that. 

"Sometimes," I admit to her. "I miss having a purpose, in some ways I miss the family the Jedi are at its core, but its ideology... it was my master who in fact encouraged me to leave. She said how I viewed things was not wrong, and that I had the potential to be a great Jedi but that my mind and heart were too strong for the council." I reach across and squeeze her hand. "That is one thing we have in common, our headstrong minds and hearts, it's like arguing with a stone wall. Even at fourteen they knew I'd be too much trouble. Just like you are now."

She smiles. "I wouldn't call myself trouble."

"Oh but you are," I smile fondly. "Be proud of it."

She looks behind me and I follow her eyes to find Qui-Gon. "Rhea, may I have a word?"

"Of course master," I say and Padme leaves us.

He's unsure of what to say at first, still surprised to have come across me. "Sister of the queen, is this what you're doing now? Causing trouble for yet another poor unfortunate council?"

"I don't intend to but somehow I always seem to, much like yourself," I say, smiling to myself. "It is a relief to see you Master, it truly is."

"I'm surprised you were so welcoming, considering how you left," he tells me and my smile fades. "You were five or so when they found you weren't you? Many argued you were too old to be trained."

"To be indoctrinated," I correct. "I was six with two loving parents and two sisters. My parents gave me up seeing it as an honour but I was taken from everything I'd ever known and loved only to be told I was not allowed to love anymore, that my very emotions were poison."

He nods in understanding. "Yes, that is the great irony isn't it? We are meant to love all, have unlimited compassion and yet not for anyone in particular."

"You see," I breathe out in relief. "It's madness."

"It's order," he quickly corrects, but does admit. "Too much order. Even Obi-Wan my own padawan pleads with me not to go against the council. Do you remember him?"

"No," I answer, shaking my head. "At least I don't think so."

"That's fair, he is older than you," he says and tells me "I'm afraid he does not have much left to learn from me, and I know your Master Billaba still feels the loss of her own padawan."

I let out a humourless laugh, trying to push back those feelings of regret. "I left to find my parents and yet they didn't want me back, I loved them and they loved me but viewed me leaving the most prestigious order in the galaxy as a great shame whilst grooming my sister to be queen."

"You love her greatly," he states. "But you feel no purpose."

His words cut deep because they are true. "Are my emotions so obvious?"

"Very," he says. "But you always did feel greatly, you had a great passion for justice that I remember well, a instinctual need to protect."

I look away, knowing it was that very thing that caused me to be expelled from the order, even if I said I left, even if that's what I told my parents and everyone else, I know the truth and so does he.

"We must be getting close to Tatooine," I say clearing my throat and he follows me into the cockpit where Obi-Wan sits with the pilot as they prepare to land.

"That's it, Tatooine."

"There's a settlement."

"Land near the outskirts. We don't want to attract attention."

Qui-Gon takes over and I follow his padawan to the see the state of the shield generator for myself, not liking any of this but knowing she is safe enough here until we can get it working.

"I'm afraid I'm not one for mechanics," I tell him as we examine it. "But it's not good is it?"

"The hyperdrive generator is gone, we'll need a new one," he tells me and I sigh knowing in the outer rims very little is done for the Jedi out of the kindness of peoples hearts.

"Ilooks like we might be doing business with the Tutt's after all," I remark as Qui-Gon walks in.

"Well that will complicate things," he says and warns "Be wary, I sense a disturbance in the force."

Obi-Wan nods. "I feel it also master."

I look away, surprised despite my years disconnected to also feel that something isn't quite right. The one thing I've retained from my training is my gut instinct and talent for combat, a warrior on a pacifist planet.

"Don't let them send any transmissions," Qui-Gon instructs and says to me "Rhea, I recommend you stay with the ship, if any troubles come this way two Jedi are better than one."

Obi-Wan's head whips around to me "What?"

Qui-Gon leaves as quickly as he came giving me a look that can only be described as a very intentional oops, leaving it for me to explain.

"I'm sorry did I hear that right?" Obi-Wan asks me. "Jedi?"

I hang my head, finding it difficult to confess after so long. "I was."

His eyebrows narrow together, his voice softening. "Was?"

"Rhea Naberrie," I tell him, the name I was called then. "I- Qui-Gon was just pulling your leg, I was a padawan but I was never a real Jedi."

Many younglings and padawans do not make it to the rank of Jedi, many are sent to the service corps if the council does not believe they have the aptitude despite having the force so it's not unusual for there to be failed Jedi, but he's intune enough to know it's not that type of situation. 

"But you know him," he says and presses "And he knows you."

"Yes, you're correct," I stiffly acknowledge but thankfully we're interrupted by Rabe before I have to explain anything. "Yes Rabe?"

"Lady Amidala," she anxiously begins. "Padme has gone with Master Qui-Gon."

"What?" I blurt out and she stammers.

"She insisted upon going with him."

"Of course she has," I sigh, knowing she wouldn't just sit on board, that she has to be out there doing something to help remedy this situation and bite back my frustration. "Thank you."

She leaves and I bring a hand to my forehead, wishing she at least told me first so I could go with her, but Qui-Gon is right in needing us to protect the ship.

"Rhea?" Obi-Wan asks, concerned.

"Sorry she-" I laugh at the irony. "I was just telling Padme she's just as much trouble as I was at her age and to be proud of it, but oh it's not as fun being the one dealing with trouble."

"Do you want to go after her?" he asks me and I shake my head.

"No, Master Qui-Gon is right, we need to stay with the ship," I decide, for once in my life following orders considering all her handmaidens are on board and Padme would be devastated if any were to be harmed. "She will be safe with them, and it's best I'm here in case there's any trouble. I trust Qui-Gon's judgement."

"So you do know him," he says and notices how I tense. "You were a Jedi."

"A padawan," I correct and realise we are indeed having this conversation and so I spit it out. "I left the order."

He's absolutely bewildered and can't hide the judgement in his voice. "Why?"

I let out a dangerous laugh, knowing not to get into this. "Oh no, today is not the day for an ideological argument."

"Ideology? You sound like my master."

"Good, because he's the one who mentored me," I reply much to his surprise. "Oh come on, a troublesome young padawan with a big mouth and tough head, someone had to."

He sighs, indeed matching what Qui-Gon told me. "Of course he did, but- but why didn't he train you then?"

"He had you it seems and I already had a master, Master Billaba," I tell him and lean against the broken generator. "She was like a mother to me, wise and strict but fair, she wasn't as wrapped up in the ideology as much as some of the others."

"Like who?"

"Yoda," I answer, almost scoffing at how obvious it should be.

"You can't insult Master Yoda," he scoffs back at me.

"I can insult anyone I like, and Yoda might be old and supposedly wise but he's too caught up in the nonsense to allow any sort of reform," I argue, having indeed stumbled into an ideological argument with this padawan. "The Jedi Order needs to grow and evolve instead of being stuck in its archaic ways, being Qui-Gons padawan I know you know what I mean."

He lets out a frustrated sigh. "Of course I know what you mean and I don't disagree, but to leave the order over it-"

"I didn't have a choice," I grit out, reliving the argument I had with my mother years ago and back track. "I was taken older than most and from the moment I was taken there all I heard from the council was to cease attachment, 'oh the girl is dangerous because she misses her mother.'"

"But attachment is dangerous-"

"I was a kid!" I end up snapping at him.

"We all were," he argues back. "We all had family but it was our duty-"

"Duty? What duty did we have as children? We were kidnapped and indoctrinated, I was old enough when I was taken to remember it. If it was up to them they'd have us no more sentient than those damned battle droids!"

He scoffs. "Battle droids? You mean what the Jedi have just saved you from?"

"I was doing perfectly fine before you came," I refute.

"Is that why everyone had been rounded up by the Trade Federation?"

I laugh dangerously. "Classic Jedi, thinking you know everything, so frustratingly arrogant, and wasn't it your job as the Chancellors ambassadors to prevent that from happening in the first place?"

"I'm sorry, but as a military advisor isn't it your job to prevent us from having to get involved?"

"It's a little hard when my planet won't allow a military to be built!"

"And that's my problem?"

"Yes!" I exclaim. "It is the Republic's job to protect the planets within it and it's your job as their army to enforce that!"

"We aren't the Republics-"

"Then why are you here?" I retort, gesturing about to our surroundings. "If it isn't your problem, and you aren't doing the Republics bidding then why are you here?"

"Because it is the job of a Jedi to protect the innocent," he finishes and I clamp my mouth shut. "Only someone consumed by their hatred would think otherwise."

"Hatred?" I repeat, truly astounded that he sees everything so black and white to interpret justified anger as hatred. "My home has just been invaded and my sister's life is in danger and we are stranded on a planet in the outer rims hoping we'll come across what we need to fix the engine to get off here before the Trade Federation begins killing people." Now he's the one who clamps his jaw shut. "And I would rather not be standing here being interrogated by a padawan who should be doing his job instead of criticising me for leaving a corrupt organisation I don't agree with."

He sighs, realising fighting with me will only lead to more fighting rather than a victory and says "My master sees its flaws but he doesn't leave it, he works with them to help people."

"Then I applaud him, he is a good man," I say, our respect for Qui-Gon being the only common ground between us. "But I help my people in other ways, which is what I'm trying to do now."

I turn my back on him and he reluctantly follows as I march back through the ship to the cockpit for an update. "Have you heard from Master Qui-Gon?"

"Not yet my lady," they answer and I'm tempted to go after them but remember why I must stay.

"So we sit and wait," I find myself muttering. 

"Yes," Obi-Wan says and his sarcasm is enough to make me want to leave this ship regardless. "Perhaps you could meditate, maker knows you need to."

"Or perhaps you could keep your nose where it belongs."

"Gladly," he says but before either of us can leave the cockpit a transmission comes through from Qui-Gon and we reluctantly share the same air as we listen to their dilemma, realising we lack the currency to negotiate with the Tatooine.

"Are you sure there's nothing left on board?"

"A few containers of supplies," Obi-Wan says, calmer than I am. "The queens wardrobe maybe but not enough to barter with, not in the amount you're talking about."

"There's little on board, everything of worth remains on Naboo," I say, frustrated. "Can you force their hand?"

"I'm afraid I cannot," he answers as Obi-Wan shakes his head at me for suggesting methods that are not the Jedi way. "But it's alright, I'm sure another solution will present itself. I'll check back later."

It goes silent and Obi-Wan and I sit there together, the tension between us thick as I wish I'd just gone with Qui-Gon, knowing I'd be better use there than arguing with his padawan.

Obi-Wan's the first to break the tension "Are you sure there is nothing we can barter with?"

"Not enough to buy a shield generator with," I mutter as the direness of the situation truly hits me. "We need to get the queen to the senate."

"I know," he assures me, his voice becoming lighter when he feels the pure anxiety that begins to fill me. "And we will and in the meantime, like you said, she's safer here than on Naboo."

"Well, I'm not wrong," I say but still shake my head. "I don't like sitting here and waiting for a solution to present itself."

"You said you trust Master Qui-Gon's judgement," he says and implores "I myself question it at times but we must both trust it now."

"It's not your master's judgement I question," I assure him, my anger forgotten. "It's the senates will to act on this invasion."

I expect him to blindly defend the senate but he surprises me "Politicians will be politicians, I don't trust him and you're smart enough not to either, but you must have faith that we will find a solution to the Trade Federations attack."

"My sister's only been queen for a few months, she's fourteen and facing the worst catastrophe in living memory," I lament, knowing this is not what she should be dealing with and yet she has taken it upon herself with nothing but grace. "She's brilliant and I have full faith in her, but I worry others will not listen to a fourteen year old girls demands for action."

He doesn't dismiss my concerns and instead says "Well with you advocating for her I dare say they'll be forced to listen or else be brutally rebuked until they have no choice but to agree to your demands." 

I smile to myself and see a glimpse of one on his own face as I admit "Well, you aren't wrong."

Our eyes meet and this time it's different, there's no distrust or hostility and he's the bigger person in saying "I'm sorry for arguing, I should have listened when you warned me against it."

"Don't apologise, you didn't know what you were getting into," I admit and force myself to follow his example. "Although I am sorry as well, you have not faulted in your duty to help us."

I reserve my temperament for those who refuse to listen, I thought he was one of those until now but he's proven me wrong in my own misgivings. 

"Let's start over," he says and I wonder if he's thinking the same about me as he extends his hand. "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

I look at it still slightly hesitant but trust my instincts when they tell me to trust him. "Rhea Amidala."

He offers me a gentle smile, and as I take his hand I can feel the force, can feel a good old soul in him, a light that's so rare even amongst the Jedi that it stuns me. A light I'd convinced myself wasn't real, but here it is in front of me.

And perhaps for the first time I care what someone else thinks of me as I hope he sees the same in me.