Obi-Wan opened his eyes and blew out a breath, summoning the Force and using it to strengthen the muscles in his forearms. Once they were at the proper level, he flicked both wrists just so…
He was rewarded with a satisfying pop! when the binders opened.
Grinning, he massaged his wrists a little, using the Force to release some of the soreness that settled in them from the action. Now that he was free, he was able to turn and examine the binders. He'd been hoping to take them with him, so that he could teach the rest of the Jedi the trick to opening them in case they ever ran into something similar. After studying them carefully, he sighed a little; it was going be more difficult than he wanted.
Undaunted and determined, he pressed his lips together and summoned the Force, using it to weaken the duracrete surrounding the hook that the binders were linked to. As he did so, he wiggled the hook back and forth, blowing at the dust the action created so that he could clearly see what he was doing. It didn't take long until the extensive hook came free of the wall entirely, and Obi-Wan allowed himself a small smile as he brushed away the little bits of duracrete. That hadn't been so bad, after all.
After hooking the freed binders to his belt, he reached out with the Force again, searching for the controls that made the wall move. He gasped a little when chills danced across his skin, signaling the arrival of a Dark Sider, and bit back a curse when he sensed a very familiar presence.
I was too slow, he thought, trying to decide the best way to hide himself. After throwing up a set of Kinas-shields, he leapt upwards, pressing his back against the ceiling and bracing his feet above where the door would appear. He molded the Force into a kind of rod that spanned the walls, forming a gymnastic bar of sorts, and he gripped it tightly, tensing in preparation.
It wasn't a moment too soon as the wall slid back, and once it opened just enough to let one person pass through, the Sith apprentice stormed in underneath him, anger rolling off the Zabrak in gigantic waves. Obi-Wan steadied himself, waiting only a few seconds before swinging downwards, and his feet caught Maul square in the back. With the help of a Force-push, Obi-Wan sent him flying into the opposite wall.
Landing and throwing himself out into the hall, he summoned his lightsaber from where it was clipped on the Sith's belt and slammed his palm against the button to close the wall.
He heard Maul pick himself up and growl just as the wall slid shut, and Obi-Wan didn't waste any more time. He ignited his lightsaber and destroyed the controls before taking off down the hall towards Anakin's cell. He knew it wouldn't hold the Sith for long, since he had been unable to wrench Maul's own lightsaber away. He hadn't been able to see it and didn't have the time to really stretch out and find it.
It'll have to do, he thought as he slid to a halt before Anakin's cell and palmed the door open. The boy was waiting for him eagerly, looking much better than he had previously, though the bruise still marred the side of his face, and he grinned broadly when he saw Obi-Wan.
"Finally!" he exclaimed before throwing himself at the Jedi, who caught him in a relieved hug. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me, or something terrible had happened!"
"I couldn't possibly forget about you, Ani," he replied as he gave the boy's hair an affectionate ruffle. "Especially when you're able to pester me through the bond we share."
Anakin opened his mouth to make some kind of retort when a horrible hissing sound filled the air. Both turned in alarm to see the red blade of a lightsaber steadily slicing through the wall of Obi-Wan's old cell.
"Uh oh," Anakin whispered, his eyes going wide.
"Come on, we don't have much time," Obi-Wan said. "Let's get out of here."
Palpatine snatched up his communicator when it buzzed loudly. "Yes?" he snapped into it, irritation flashing through him."They've escaped," came the furious rasp of his apprentice. "Somehow that padawan was able to get the binders off."
What?! Palpatine thought with a rush of anger. Such a feat was supposed to be impossible!
"What's happening now, then?" he asked, once he was calm enough to form a reply.
"The little Jedi kung was waiting for me. He hid his presence until the last minute and escaped when my back was turned," his apprentice continued, and there was the distinctive hiss of a lightsaber being ignited.
"Are you locked in his cell?" Palpatine asked, part of him wondering how such a thing could've occurred. No standard apprentice should've been able to hide himself from a Sith; normally their love of the Light shone out like some awful flare.
There's more to Kenobi after all.
"For the moment. I'll be pursuing them very soon," Maul replied.
"See that you do," he growled. "I do not tolerate failure."
"Yes, my master."
The comm went dead.
Qui-Gon practically leapt from the air taxi when it pulled up in front of the Senate building, his head whipping around as he surveyed his surroundings. Mace had been in contact on the way over with Supreme Chancellor Valorum, asking his assistance in this matter to keep the other senators calm and out of the way. Closer search parties had already arrived on scene, several of which were combing the building for any sign of Palpatine, and the rest were stationed at every entrance. Building security chased off the media, and air speeders formed a solid perimeter around the entire area, watching for anything that tried to escape."Master Jinn," a familiarly grave voice spoke, and he glanced up to see Padmé, dressed in her Queen Amidala regalia, come marching forward. She approached despite the two Jedi Masters and the fleet of handmaidens hot on her heels, their expressions a mixture of worry and exasperation.
"Your highness," he greeted, bowing respectfully and suppressing the flash of irritation. Was everything determined to delay him?
He threw a questioning glance at the two other Masters, and Sherizyl gave him a small, apologetic shrug, one he fully understood. Queen Amidala was young, and horribly stubborn. "I didn't expect to see you here; I'd been told all the senators were being moved to a safer location."
"I refused to go until I had spoken with a member of the Jedi Council," she said, her eyes flashing as she glanced at Mace and Yoda, who stepped up beside him. "Do you understand the sort of charges leveled against my own senator?"
"They are grave indeed," Mace said, his voice calm in the face of the queen's ire.
"And what kind of proof do you have?" she asked. "These sorts of accusations can only bring trouble to my people, whose plight will be gravely diminished in the eyes of the Senate. They will have little sympathy for those who willingly elected a Sith, if he indeed is so, into office."
"Made lightly, these accusations are not," Yoda spoke up, and the queen's gaze flicked to him. "Understand their seriousness, this Council does."
"But better to have him tried by the courts than to let him go free," Qui-Gon added, and he watched Queen Amidala's gaze narrow in thought.
"Such a trial would be difficult," she said. "The courts do not accept Force-based evidence lightly, and-"
"If he is a Sith, your highness, he will fall under our jurisdiction," Mace said, motioning for the other Council Masters to join them. "He will be tried by the Jedi. Now, if you'll excuse us, your highness, we have a padawan in need of a rescue."
"I will be going with you," she said, earning stunned stares from everyone except for Yoda, who uttered a soft murmur. "Do any of you know the quickest way to the Senate basements?"
How did she find out where we were heading? Qui-Gon thought, his gaze lighting upon Sherizyl, who shifted from one foot to the other, her expression carefully schooled to hide the wisps of guilt Qui-Gon could sense.
I suppose there's a reason she's only fourteen and Queen of the Naboo, he thought with a small quirk of his lips. Queen Amidala was nothing if not clever.
"It doesn't matter," Mace was saying. "We will be facing a Sith Lord, your highness, and such a place is not safe for you."
Her gaze narrowed. "Surely I would be no more of a burden than a small boy," she said, and Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows a little at the deep-rooted concern he sensed. "I don't propose to stay," she added. "Master Ithara and Master Sherizyl may keep protecting me, and we can take the child and Padawan Kenobi to safety while the remainder of the Masters face the Sith."
"Hm," Master Yoda said softly. "An intelligent idea this is, especially if injured young Skywalker or Kenobi are."
Qui-Gon sensed the hope that flared in the queen as Mace looked down at Yoda in shock, and Qui-Gon smiled. "It seems you've convinced us, your highness," he said, watching her return his smile slightly. "Lead on, if you please."
"I can walk, Obi-Wan! We got rid of all that drug!"Obi-Wan heard Anakin protest, though he wrapped his arms around Obi-Wan's neck, clinging to him as they hurried. Obi-Wan had scooped up Anakin and raced towards the stairwell the moment it became clear that Maul was rapidly escaping.
"I'm all right, really!"
"I know you are, Ani, and I'll put you down if you really don't like me carrying you," he said, climbing the stairs two at a time, his gaze narrowing on the raised platform before him. Maul apparently had been in a hurry when he'd come down, as he hadn't bothered with the lift. "But you have to admit it's faster this way, and I'd rather get out of here before that koochoo apprentice, as you said, gets free."
He felt more than saw Anakin's smile. "It's so weird to hear you swear," the boy said, his amusement evident in his voice, and Obi-Wan tightened his grip a little, calling on the Force as he jumped up. Anakin let out a surprised squeal, his fingers digging into Obi-Wan's back as they flew upwards and landed on the platform gracefully. When the gate opened for them, Anakin pulled away enough to give Obi-Wan a rather pointed glare.
"Warn me next time you do something like that!"
Obi-Wan grinned apologetically. "Sorry, Ani," he said. "Would you like to run on your own now, or should I keep carrying you?"
"I'll stay where I am, thanks," Anakin replied, clinging to Obi-Wan as they started moving again, up the second flight of stairs. He felt his heart pounding in time with his feet, his Force-sense shrieking in warning as Maul began the pursuit. They had to get up into the corridors and beyond the shield so Obi-Wan could figure out where they needed to go next; hopefully Palpatine was running away to hide instead of heading down to face them-
They reached the large room with the window and were almost to the spiral stairs when the door hissed open behind them.
No!
Obi-Wan spun to see Darth Maul glowering at him, the Dark Side whipping around the Zabrak in response to his anger. The Sith held his deactivated lightsaber in his right hand, his lips pulling back in a snarl that was burned into Obi-Wan's memory ever since he watched the apprentice murder his Master.
-Ani, when I say so, I want you to run for the door at the end of the platform. It'll lead you out of here,- he sent to the boy, letting him slide to the ground as Obi-Wan kept his gaze locked with Maul's.
-What?! Obi-Wan, I'm not leaving you!- Anakin replied, staring up at him in shock. –I might be able to help somehow!-
-One of us has to get to the other Jedi, Ani,- he reasoned, watching the boy scowl from the corner of his eye. Maul stalked closer, twirling the lightsaber hilt, and Obi-Wan moved in front of Anakin protectively. –I can beat him, but I don't want you to be caught up in any battle. Not until you're able to fight back.-
Anakin simmered with frustration, but Obi-Wan sensed he understood what was being asked of him, no matter how much he disliked it. –All right,- he grumbled as Obi-Wan unhooked his lightsaber, watching as Maul's snarl became more of a satisfied smirk.
"Go!" Obi-Wan yelled as the Sith ignited one side of the double-bladed lightsaber and flew at them. As Obi-Wan caught the attack with his own weapon, he felt Anakin running as fast as he could towards the door in the distance.
"He won't get far, Jedi," Maul hissed though their crossed blades. "I can kill you easily."
"Then let's see you try," he replied, blowing out a breath and releasing some of the blocks over his abilities, as well as the Kinas-shields. Maul stepped back and spun, striking out at him several times. Obi-Wan countered quickly and easily, letting his focus narrow on his opponent, and the Force curled around him as he knocked the Sith back.
He watched as Maul's yellow eyes widened fractionally as they faced off, but they narrowed soon thereafter, and the two circled each other warily.
"Wasn't what you were expecting?" Obi-Wan asked, smirking a little, and earned a nasty snarl from Maul. The Sith then launched himself into several furious attacks, his blade falling swiftly as the two danced back towards the window. Obi-Wan parried each blow as they moved, part of him quietly assessing Maul's strength and skill. He was indeed powerful and well trained, but he was still an apprentice.
Obi-Wan was not.
I have defeated stronger opponents than him, Obi-Wan thought. Anakin was far better with a lightsaber than he is.
Though, he told himself, that was probably because Maul was only using a single blade; he was most likely accustomed to using two.
Or I remember him being that much stronger because I was that much weaker, he thought, lashing out with his blade rapidly, attacking the Sith with carefully controlled blows. He aimed one at Maul's neck, another at his torso, a third at his knees, and then ducked when the Sith countered with a strike at his head.
He kicked Maul in the shin with the heel of his foot, enhancing it with the Force, and succeeded in knocking the Sith on his back.
Obi-Wan straightened quickly, bringing his lightsaber down, but Maul rolled away, leaping to his feet and spinning. His black tunics swirled as he sliced at Obi-Wan, who merely took a step to the side, letting his opponent stumble forward with the excess momentum. He smacked the Sith soundly on the shoulder with the end of the lightsaber hilt and spun away, hearing Maul hiss in pain.
There was a cry of surprise through the bond then, which made him start a little. As though sensing his distraction, Maul leapt at him, bringing his lightsaber down in a heavy overhead strike. The Force blared in warning and Obi-Wan dodged, jerking back as the blade sizzled by him, singeing the sleeve of his tunic. He brought his lightsaber up to block the next attack, catching the blow and shoving Maul backwards with a powerful Force-push.
-Anakin!- he called into the bond, sensing the boy struggle against something, and irritation flashed through him when Maul leapt at him again.
I don't have time for this, he thought, blocking the blade and spinning, and he used another Force-push to send Maul flying. The apprentice caught himself, but not before Obi-Wan was up on the platform, sprinting towards the door.
Obi-Wan blinked when the door slid open.
"So," came the familiar voice, and Obi-Wan froze, skidding to a halt as Palpatine stepped into the room. The man dragged a struggling Anakin by the wrist, unchecked rage pouring from him, and Obi-Wan shivered in response, his fingers tightening on his lightsaber.
"It appears that you are much more than you seem, Kenobi," the Sith Master said, yellow bleeding into his irises, and he ignored Anakin as the boy tried to pry off the restraining hand. "But this ends now."
"We'll certainly see about that," Obi-Wan replied, tensing himself in preparation.
-Ani, are you all right?- he sent, and received an annoyed affirmative. –When I say so, stomp on his foot as hard as you can, and then leap off the platform.-
-But!-
-Now!- he sent and Anakin obeyed instantly, smashing Palpatine's toes with his heel. The Sith let out a cry of surprise, his grip loosening just enough for the boy to squirm away.
Anakin did just as Obi-Wan instructed, throwing himself off the walkway, and Obi-Wan dove after him, speeding himself up with the Force. His arms closed around Anakin just when the Force shrieked in warning, and his gaze whipped up to see Force-lightning racing towards him.
Down!
Obi-Wan sped their descent just enough to avoid the deadly bolts, watching in shock as they hit Maul instead, who'd leapt upwards to tackle them. The apprentice cried out as the energy played across his body, and he fell to the ground with a painful thud. Obi-Wan then slowed them enough to prevent horrible injury, turning the rest of the excess energy into a roll once they landed.
He straightened when they came to a stop, and before the Sith apprentice could rise, he set Anakin down and lunged forward, lightsaber in hand. He smacked Maul soundly on the back of his head, the apprentice hissing as he was knocked senseless, and before he could fully recover, Obi-Wan dragged him towards the support beams for the platform overhead. Unclipping the binders from his belt, he slapped them on Maul's forearms and locked the Sith around a durasteel pillar.
"Resourceful to the last, I see," Palpatine's voice drifted down to Obi-Wan as he took Maul's lightsaber and handed it to Anakin, who hovered at his side. The boy's eyes widened at the sight of the weapon and he took it cautiously.
-Be utterly careful with this, Ani. It's powerful and deadly, and I wouldn't want you to escape but wind up in the Healer's wing because you've cut off your hand,- he said, his tone stern, and he made a few adjustments to the weapon, making sure Anakin couldn't accidentally turn on both blades. –I'm giving it to you so you can cut your way through any barriers you might face. This button here shortens the beam, and this one here turns it on.-
-You want me to run again?- Anakin asked, sounding both worried and afraid. –But Palpatine is a Master, isn't he? Can you beat a Master? And what if the other guy gets free? Obi-Wan, you can't beat both of them!-
"I know," he whispered, kneeling and crushing the boy to him for a moment. "That's why I need you to get to the others. I'll need all the help I can get."
Anakin nodded, his small arms hugging Obi-Wan as best he could. –I will, and I'll hurry.-
-I know,- he sent back, releasing the boy and standing, letting determination replace his mounting apprehension as he stepped from beneath the platform. Palpatine stood in the exact center of the room, dark power swirling about him, and part of Obi-Wan gulped.
Stars, he was strong…
"You won't succeed, Palpatine," he said, taking a few steps towards the man and drawing himself up. He let the Force wash over him, bringing with it welcome waves of calm. "The other Jedi will be here soon and you won't be able to escape."
"Such confidence," Palpatine replied, smirking and shaking his head, and Obi-Wan sensed Anakin slinking through the shadows below the platform as he headed for the stairs. "You may be more than a mere apprentice, Kenobi, but you are nothing compared to me. You won't last long enough for your rescuers to save you."
"I will," he said, adjusting his grip on his lightsaber, blowing out a breath and loosening the last of the blocks over his Force-presence. He would need every scrap of power and skill if he hoped to defeat Palpatine.
"I have no choice."
"Young fool," the Sith hissed, lifting his hands. Another blast of Force-lightning crackled towards Obi-Wan, who was more than ready.
He brought up his lightsaber, just has he had done when faced with Dooku, and the lightning diffused across the blade harmlessly. He felt a stab of satisfaction when Palpatine blinked, drawing his hands back, and Obi-Wan lifted his chin a little.
"I'm afraid that won't work, Senator," he said, and Palpatine drew himself up in response, his gaze darkening in cool anger. Obi-Wan took a few more steps forward, slowly letting his mind connect deeply with the Force, its soothing calm pulsing through his veins.
"Then I suppose there is only one way to resolve this," the Sith snarled, snapping his wrist, and a lightsaber appeared in his hand. Obi-Wan set himself, his feet a short distance apart. His other hand joined the first around his own lightsaber, bringing up the blade into a ready position.
"I suppose so."
Obi-Wan threw off the last of his blocks, the Force flooding him with quiet strength. Blue and red blades locked before both opponents spun away, slicing at each other rapidly as they moved.
Their battle began.
Anakin wasted no time in getting up the stairs once he saw Obi-Wan and Palpatine start hacking at each other with their lightsabers, climbing the spiral steps as fast as he could and sprinting down the walkway towards the door. He slid to a halt, though, when he went to slam his palm on the controls, part of him sinking terribly.The controls were completely destroyed.
Now what? he asked himself, sparing a glance at the ensuing battle. Obi-Wan and the Sith were a couple of blurs, bashing each other back and forth across the room. Palpatine was surprisingly nimble, even with all those heavy-looking robes he wore, and Anakin shivered as the energy around him seemed to coil and explode. He didn't dare ask Obi-Wan what to do, for fear of fatally distracting him, and then his gaze landed on the weapon in his hand.
I wonder if this'll cut through the door, he thought, holding the hilt parallel to the floor and as far away from him as he possibly could before pressing the on-switch. There was a now familiar snap-hiss! and a red blade shot from one end of the lightsaber. Righting it carefully, Anakin turned to the door and plunged the blade through the durasteel, feeling a rush of relief when it sliced through easily.
Biting his lower lip and focusing intently, he began to cut, dragging the blade through the metal and making a relatively straight line across the door. Once complete, he shut the weapon down and kicked at the lower half of the door, which groaned before falling over. Anakin felt a burst of pride, but his attention snapped to the fighters when he heard Obi-Wan cry out.
The Jedi had been tossed into a wall, and Anakin noticed that his tunic was singed in several new places, sweat beading on his forehead. Uncontrollable fear rose in Anakin as he watched Palpatine advance, the man's horrible cackle filling the air, but Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open and the energy around them pulsed powerfully. The Sith went flying backwards and Obi-Wan pushed himself away from the wall. Drawing a deep breath, he lunged after Palpatine.
I can't stay and watch this, Anakin thought reluctantly, trying to fight every shred of him that wanted to help against the Sith Master. The only good I can do right now is to bring the Jedi back here, and every second I waste shortens Obi-Wan's chances of living.
He had to get moving, so after sending his promise to hurry along the bond, he fled the room, sprinting down the dark hall. His eyes adjusted quickly, letting him avoid tripping over the occasional step that appeared, and eventually he reached the place Palpatine had caught him before. It was a dimly lit landing, with three branching halls, and he'd been forced to stop so he could figure out which way to go.
This time he didn't stop; he remembered which one Palpatine came from and raced down that one. The hallway became progressively brighter as the artificial lighting grew stronger, and suddenly Anakin slid to a halt, feeling like he'd just run through an unseen curtain of ice water.
Wha…? he thought, shivering, and then gasped.
He couldn't feel Obi-Wan through their link.
"No!" he exclaimed, turning around without thought and racing back the way he'd come. He plunged through that invisible curtain, chills dancing across his skin, and then began frowning; Obi-Wan's presence reappeared. What was going on?
It's the thing we had to break through, he realized with a start. It's a shield of some sort, keeping us hidden. Obi-Wan said it was blocking his bond with Qui-Gon, so when I pass through it, it must happen with us.
He really didn't like the thought of passing through the shield again, if it meant being unable to sense Obi-Wan. Even though they'd only been linked for a short amount of time, he'd grown used to having the Jedi's presence constantly within reach, and purposely doing something that would block it off made him extremely uneasy.
He had no choice though, did he? If he wanted to get out of this maze of hallways, he had to go through.
Muttering to himself in Huttese, trying to bolster his courage and force his reluctant feet to move, he took a few tentative steps forward, and then a few more. Once he cleared the shield, he shivered violently and ran, heading towards the light that appeared at the end of the hallway.
Anakin found himself coming out in a decent sized hanger, several well-maintained air speeders lined up along the far wall. Looking around, he could find no way to get them out, part of him wondering how they'd gotten in here then. But before he could do any more exploring, a door on the opposite side of the room slid open. He grinned when he recognized the people rushing into the hanger, and he ran towards them, waving.
"Ani!" Qui-Gon exclaimed as he threw himself at the Jedi Master, who caught him in a relieved hug. "What are you doing here? Are you hurt? And why do you have a lightsaber?"
"It's the Sith's lightsaber," he explained as Qui-Gon set him down, and he handed the weapon over, slightly glad to be rid of it. "Obi-Wan gave it to me so I could cut through doors if I needed to."
"And where is he?" Qui-Gon demanded, looking up sharply at the mentioning of his apprentice. "Is he all right?"
"Last time I saw him, yeah," Anakin replied, jerking his head in the direction of the hall he'd come from. "He's that way, fighting Palpatine."
"What?!" came the chorus of voices, and Anakin blinked a little, startled. He watched the other Jedi Masters, only two of which he recognized, share several quick glances, and when Qui-Gon started for the hall, Anakin followed, hot on his heels.
"Ani, stay with Queen Amidala," Qui-Gon ordered, and Anakin blinked again, glancing over his shoulder to see the stately Naboo queen following until two Jedi and her handmaidens stopped her.
"No," he said, setting his jaw stubbornly. "There're several forks that you don't know how to navigate, so I'm going with you."
Qui-Gon looked at him for a moment before sighing. "We're wasting time, Ani, by arguing. You can come until the final fork, but then you are staying behind. This is no place for you. I want you and Obi-Wan moved to safety as soon as possible."
Anakin huffed a little, but nodded in agreement, and Qui-Gon let him take the lead as they hurried back down the darkened hall. He plunged through the shield yet again, breathing a sigh of relief when Obi-Wan's presence reappeared, and heard several Masters gasp when they too passed the barrier.
"Come on!" he called when he realized Qui-Gon had stopped in shock. His words startled the Jedi Master, who shook himself before following, and when they reached the landing, Anakin pointed the way they had to go.
"I had to cut half the door off to get through, so you'll probably want to do something about the rest of it so you can by," he said, and Qui-Gon smiled down at him. "Be careful. I'm no Jedi, but even I could sense how strong Palpatine is."
"We will, Ani, thank you," Qui-Gon said, squeezing his shoulder before vanishing down the hall, the other Masters nodding at him before following.
Anakin stood in the landing, watching them disappear into the darkness, and felt his stomach sink. Wasn't there anything remotely useful he could do?
"Come child," a gentle yet grave voice said, and he turned to see Queen Amidala standing before him. Two Jedi Masters flanked her, the shorter, female one, looking rather irritated. "Let us return to the hanger. Perhaps we can discover a way to open the doors that allow the speeders in and out; we may need a rapid way out of the basement."
He nodded, letting her touch his shoulder to guide him back the way they came, and he was unable to stop his heart from quailing when they passed through the shield. Once again, he couldn't sense Obi-Wan; he had no way to know if something bad happened until it was too late.
"Do not fear for them," the queen said, and Anakin stopped when her hand tugged on his shoulder. He found that she gazed down at him warmly, her painted face softening in a gentle smile. The sight was strangely familiar and part of him brightened.
"They're Jedi, Ani," she whispered, and Anakin started a little at the friendly tone of her voice. Why was the queenusing his nickname? Only Padmé and the Jedi used it, and that was because they knew him well. Unless Padmé talked about him with the queen, which somehow didn't feel right, he couldn't think of any other-
He gasped a little, something dawning on him. "Padmé?" he whispered, jerking back when she winked at him. "But you… you're the queen? How…?" He trailed off, not sure of what to say.
"I usually hide among my handmaidens for protection," she whispered back, kneeling before him carefully so she could look him in the eye. "But yes, I am Queen Amidala. Now what do you say to helping plan an escape?"
He grinned. "Let's go!"