Rating: PG, Q/O, some nasty Sith stuff and some lustful
thoughts.
Date: 1 August 1999
Archive: M_A_, SWAL and my home page:
http://members.tripod.com/~AiR_WSW/Athea.html
Category: AU, Qui-Gon is not dead.
Warnings: The last scene from TPM
Summary: Senator Palpatine comes to congratulate Queen Amidala
on her victory and to check out young Skywalker.
His ship had sent word ahead so we could be there to greet him.
I didn't hear what he said to Anakin but I could feel the
//yuck// from the young man when he patted his shoulder.
Senator Palpatine's news was unexpected and at first all I
could think was how wonderful that our representative
had ascended to that prestigious position. Now, we really had a
helpful hand for our cause.
But while the speeches were going on, I suddenly realized that
he'd intended this all along. He'd worked behind the scenes
just for this moment when he could gather the reins of power
into his own hands while deprecating the whole thing. And he'd
used me to do it. Me. I could feel white hot anger
tighten by neck muscles already stressed by the still too heavy
head-dress.
//Dala. Easy.// Qui-Gon's voice soothed away part of the
tension and shielded my mind with his warmth. //Obi-Wan is on
his way. Think only of what Naboo needs. Fill your mind with
how many tons of grain are needed, what the architects will
need to rebuild the towns destroyed. All the details your
advisors keep heaping upon you.//
//Do not let me betray you, Qui-Gon.// I thought frantically
while dredging up the driest, most mundane minutia of the
kingdom to cover my fear.
//Do not worry, Dala. I think you will find your shields are
invisible to any but the five of us.// For some reason, the
Jedi master was amused at his statement. //The only thing he
will see of me are your memories from before my . . . death.//
Gulping, I acknowledged his thoughts and rolled my eyes at
General Panaka. I wanted a strong buffer to the overpowering
Senator. Just having the warrior nearby made me feel safer. I
found myself studying the man I now suspected of being more
concerned with gathering power than helping heal the wounds of
the Republic.
Mother had always found him handsome but I remember that Father
had snorted out loud when she'd appointed him to represent us
in the Senate. Then, I hadn't understood his statement that
Palpatine would always land on his feet but now, I thought I
knew exactly what he meant. Remembering something she told me
just before she died, I smiled sweetly at him.
//Handsome is, as handsome does.//
Just a little something to think about while I was trying to
fill my mind with what Naboo needed from him. Grain, equipment
for mining, new ships to replace those lost in battle. If he
thought me a mercenary little bitch, that was all to the good.
//Dala!// Obi-Wan's shocked mind whisper came to me, the same
moment he came into view.
I had the strongest urge to stick out my tongue at him. He
really could be such a . . . a . . . prig. I heard Qui-Gon's
chuckle in the back of my mind and felt the warm presence of
General Panaka at my shoulder. Really, I hadn't felt so
protected in a long time. Which was a good thing since the new
Chancellor was turning to me with an appraising look.
"Your Highness, I'm sure we have much to discuss. Now that
you've had time to gather together all the data from the
invasion. Perhaps, we could go in and converse about what's
needed to help you rebuild."
I nodded and turned to lead the way. Interesting how he'd said
you, not we. He'd already begun to distance himself from
us. Just then he reacted to Obi-Wan's presence with a serious
smile. "Jedi Kenobi. I don't know if I had a chance to tell you
how very sorry I was at the loss of your mentor."
Obi-Wan bowed his head and looked bleakly at the Senator. "He
will be greatly missed, Chancellor Palpatine."
"But you passed your trials and now have a Padawan of your own,
I am told." His tone lightened and he looked benignly at the
young Jedi.
"Yes. Young Anakin will be trained as a Jedi as my master
wished. The Council has granted us some time to create our bond
here on Naboo. He is very young and there have been so many
changes in his life." Obi-Wan smiled shyly and looked over at
the young boy who had run across the courtyard to hug his
mother. "But now that Queen Amidala has freed his mother to be
with him, I think he'll be able to settle down and begin his
lessons."
"What a wonderful thing to do, Your Highness." The smile was
for me this time and I managed a modest shrug. "With all that
is on your mind, to think of freeing one slave from a planet so
far away is most commendable."
"Well, we had all those battle droids just laying around
cluttering up the landscape." I smiled up at him. We walked on
while I concentrated on all the lists that my advisors had been
inundating me with over the last week. But deep inside, I
wondered how he knew about Tatooine. I didn't like the way his
eyes kept returning to the boy and his mother. So, it wasn't
long before I high handedly dismissed Obi-Wan and his
apprentice to their lessons while I welcomed the new Chancellor
to the inner chamber behind the throne room.
The next two hours were spent in laying out our needs to the
new head of the Senate and consulting him on who should replace
him as our representative to Coruscant. I favored Governor
Bibble with a mere trace of vindictive fervor. He'd given
Panaka a very hard time even before we came under attack and
persisted in his belief that I was too young to understand how
to govern. I'd like to see how he fared as a very little fish
in the big pond of the Senate after being the biggest predator
in Naboo.
//Pride, Dala.// Qui-Gon chided me gently and I mentally sighed
at the reminder that sometimes I didn't know how to
proceed so I should be open to learning from what ever source
came my way.
//I know. Pride comes before a pratfall. But I need Bahrens
here to deal with all the details. He'd be really lost on
Coruscant. I don't think he's been off Naboo in his entire
life.// I sent back a frustrated thought.
//Agreed, but perhaps your general has some ideas? Are you
close enough to touch him?// The measured thought brought my
head slowly around to find Pan a few feet away. Sabe stood next
to me and I beckoned her closer, remembering at the last moment
to call her Padme. Qui-Gon had suggested that 'Padme' needed to
exist beyond when I needed to go out without all the ceremony.
Sabe had volunteered to change her name.
"Padme, I fear I need some of that headache remedy you found
for me earlier." I pitched my voice just loud enough to reach
the general who immediately moved closer.
"Perhaps it is time to take a break, Your Highness. The noon
meal is almost ready and we have yet to speak of the ceremony
this afternoon." He leaned forward a bit and kept his voice
low.
"What a good idea, General." I turned towards Chancellor
Palpatine with my most regal smile. "We are having a
celebration ceremony this afternoon to honor the Gungans who
fought so valiently in the battle that finally destroyed the
droid army. We would be honored to have you present,
Chancellor."
"The honor is all mine, Your Highness. If I might be excused to
freshen up before the noon meal?" He rose, bowing to me and I
graciously nodded my permission for him to go to his palace
apartments.
Suddenly, I felt the headache I'd used for an excuse blossom
into hideous life. It was all I could do to stay upright while
I battled the pain and tried not to let it show. Luckily, he
seemed not to notice and soon it was just my handmaidens and
General Panaka.
//Dala?// Qui-Gon's voice was a sharp pain in my mind and I
cringed.
"Your Highness, is there something wrong?" Panaka came close
and I reached out blindly for him, swaying under the pulsating
pressure. Gripping his padded vest, I felt my senses go
hypersensative. The smell of leather filled my nostrils. When
my head fell against his chest, his heartbeat pounded in my
ear. A metallic tang filled my mouth and I knew I'd bitten my
tongue. I tried to focus my thoughts and tell him what was
wrong but I could feel the black edges around my sight
expanding until there was nothing . . .
//He used the Force to pinch a blood vessel within her brain.
Had he continued to apply pressure, she'd have bled to death
internally and none of your healers would have known why she
died.//
//So, it was a warning. Not an attempt to kill her outright?//
I finally figured out that I was tucked into my own bed with
Obi-Wan on one side and Panaka on the other. Odd. Normally, no
man was allowed in my bedroom. This was probably setting all
the tongues to wagging. At least from what I could feel, I was
still fully clothed.
//More along the lines of seeing what our relationship is.
Would I heal her in time? How good are my healing abilities?//
Obi-Wan's mind voice was grim.
//An experiment?// Panaka could have frozen the pond behind the
palace with the ice in his outraged thought.
//Essentially . . . yes.//
//I really hate it when people talk about me as if I'm not
there.// I decided to jump into this interesting conversation
and opened my eyes.
They were squared off over my green Cyrene silk comforter,
glaring at each other. Men!
"Dala! How are you feeling?" Pan leaned just a little closer,
his hand reaching for mine before he pulled it back and clasped
it behind him.
Obi-Wan didn't bother to ask, he just leaned over and touched
my forehead, nodding at what he found there. "You are better?"
"Yes, I'm fine." I struggled to sit up, feeling oddly limp.
Pan's arm was there even before the young Jedi could offer.
Obi-Wan stuffed some pillows behind me and looked a little
worried.
"We need to talk about these headaches, Your Highness. I've
been told by Padme that your mother the late Queen suffered for
some years before her death. Was she ever seen by a Jedi
healer?" Obi-Wan's eyes rolled slightly towards the door to my
room where my hand maidens clustered.
Well, I can take a hint as well as the next person. For some
reason, they didn't want to voice their concerns aloud. "No,
she never did. We're out here on the outskirts of the galaxy,
Obi-Wan. I don't think we ever had a Jedi here before. Do you
think this is something I inherited from my mother?"
He smiled at me and winked the eye hidden from the doorway.
"It's possible. I have a diagnostic unit at the island. When
you're feeling better, perhaps you and General Panaka could
come out for some tests?"
"After the ceremony, Your Highness? Do you feel up to
continuing this afternoon?" Pan was angry and worried but not
showing it except in his eyes.
"Good heavens, we can't cancel now." I forced myself to sit up
straight. "That would gravely insult Boss Nass. Besides push
back our talks with the Chancellor. They are both too important
to Naboo and our future. But perhaps I could forego come of my
customary trappings since they seem to aggravate the headache."
//Dala, remember the feeling of the pain.// Qui-Gon's thought
slid gently into my mind. //You may need it later to confuse
him.//
//Understood. If I replay it, will I feel it again?// I hated
the slightly panicky tone to my thought but the pain really had
been agonizing.
//No need, Dala. I will enhance the feelings for projection
purposes. He will not be able to tell the difference and that
is the goal we seek.//
I came back to the conversation between Pan and my handmaidens
while Obi-Wan read my pulse from my wrist. Another wink and I
knew he'd 'overheard' my conversation with Qui-Gon. I sat up
straight and frowned at him. "I am fine, Jedi Kenobi. Thank you
for coming so quickly. But now, I need to change clothes so I
will ask you and General Panaka to leave us."
"Of course, Your Highness." He bowed and tucked his hands into
his voluminous sleeves. Passing my handmaidens, he bowed his
head to them and like a row of red birds, they curtsied back.
General Panaka sent me a worried look but also bowed and left
us alone. As soon as the door closed behind them, the girls
erupted into giggles. I rolled my eyes at their silliness and
threw back the covers to get up.
"I think I'll go with the soft white dress to symbolize the
peace that the Gungans helped us achieve." I had to hold on to
the bed post for a moment to dispel the dizziness. Rabe crossed
to my side and unobtrusively gave me some support to my
dressing table.
"Then, you'll want something more simple for your hairdo." She
decided for me and I just nodded while the others began to lay
out the silken garmets that went underneath my white Cyrene
silk dress. Eirtae held up two different capes and without
hesitation, I chose the pale pink and ivory petaled one.
Smiling to myself at the memory of the lovely pink water lilies
which had modeled for those particular flowers, I painstakingly
made up my face with a minimum of cosmetics. No dead white face
paint today. The Gungans favored plain speaking and no masks so
I would honor them with my own face and only the scar of
remembrance on my lower lip. Oh, and the beauty marks on each
side symbolizing balance in the realm.
Rabe draped the royal diadem on my forehead and fastened it
securely under my hair. Looking at her handiwork, I smiled my
thanks at the five petaled look she'd achieved. Just like the
five lobed lilies on the parade cape. Sometimes I think she can
read my mind.
All too soon, we were dressed in white with my handmaidens
cowled in soft gray to preserve their anonymity. General Panaka
was waiting at my door when the time for the parade drew near.
He provided our escort down to the Great Plaza where we met up
with Chancellor Palpatine and his retinue.
I allowed a faint tremor of pain to surge forth to the front of
my mind just before we came up to the stately looking
politician. All else fell away while I concentrated on
maintaining a regal facade for the distinguished man in black
and silver.
"I hope you are well, Your Highness?" He asked politely while
we arranged ourselves at the top of the steep steps.
"Yes, thank you, Chancellor Palpatine." I looked up at him and
fluttered my eyelashes as I'd seen several of the handmaidens
do when talking with some of the guards. "I hope your dinner
was all right?"
He preened and patted my shoulder. "Of course, my dear. I had a
very nice chat with Governor Bibble and Councillor Bahrens. If
you would accept some advice from an old hand at the politics
of the Senate?"
"Of course, Chancellor Palpatine." I tried out that little
breathy sigh that Eirtae used to such good effect on one of the
starfighter pilots. Well, that and the wide eyed hopeful look
with which Mother had always had such luck.
"Governor Bibble has much more experience with dealing with all
kinds of people. He may be the better choice for your
representative to the Senate now that I must assume my new
duties." He looked down judiciously.
"Really? You don't think he's too . . . too provincial for
Coruscant? I know that I was quite overwhelmed by all the
people and buildings and . . . everything." I finished on a not
entirely assumed note of chagrin. Confusing and frightening was
what I really had in mind.
He patted my shoulder again and smiled paternally. "It can be
quite confusing at first, Your Highness. But you handled
yourself beautifully during your presentation to the Senate.
And Bibble can come and ask my advice at any time. I will
always carry Naboo's best interests in my heart."
"Thank you." I bit the inside of my mouth to keep from
grimacing and hoped he'd think it was an excess of gratitude
instead. Deep inside my mind, I felt a gentle touch that
soothed away the distaste and left me feeling calm just as the
Gungans appeared at the gateway to the Plaza.
The next two hours were spent in speeches and all the rituals
of peacemaking that Pan and I had been able to come up with to
smooth the way for a real and lasting peace between our two
peoples. It would take work on both our parts but I was already
fond of Boss Nass and his councillors. And they seemed ready to
deal with the ground dwellers, as they liked to call us.
The banquet would be an interesting combination of both our
cuisines and I was really looking forward to it. But it wasn't
until fashionably later so I sent Panaka off to watch the next
round of talks while I told my council that I was going to
rest. Several of them had heard of my collapse earlier and they
just nodded in agreement. I knew I could trust Panaka and
Bahrens to watch out for us and I had an itch in my mind that
needed scratching.
Shmi was waiting near the lower level door to the gardens after
I ran up and changed into something much more casual and fell
in beside me for our journey to the island. She was still
unsure of herself in this strange new world she found herself
in but above all else, she was a survivor. Getting her freedom
was wonderful but getting her son back was everything.
We walked companionably through the fragrant gardens and I
named the flowers that we passed. Her eyes took it all in with
wide eyed amazement. I remembered the muted tan colors of
Tattoine and the complete absence of anything green with a
shudder. Never could I live in such a place without part of my
soul dying a little each day.
She dropped back a pace behind me when we approached the bridge
guards, just as my handmaidens would, sticking her hands into
her voluminous sleeves. We crossed the wooden planks in
silence, remembering how sound carries over water. My steps
hastened up the well worn path through the towering trees. Shmi
caught up with me and sighed.
"Nervous?" I asked quietly.
"A little." She glanced at me with her dark soft eyes,
crinkling up in good humor. "I'm not sure how to greet a dead
man."
I chuckled and decided we'd been right to let her in on the
secret. We needed someone that we could trust to bring food
back and forth, clean the cottage and to be Anakin's companion
when it appeared he was alone while Obi-Wan was travelling.
Shmi was perfect for the role. And she'd listened to the news
with the same stoic reserve that she had shown at Anakin's
freedom.
We traversed the ninety degree bend in the path and found the
three of them sitting in a wide spread triangle on the grass. I
paused and drank in the sight of a half naked Qui-Gon floating
cross-legged with his hands on his outflung knees about three
feet off the ground. His eyes were closed, the mane of brown
and gray hair cascaded over his broad shoulders and the
sunlight glinted off the sparse hair that dusted his bare chest
all the way down to the waistband of his white leggings.
"Oh my!" Shmi said a bit breathlessly and I had to agree.
Finally, I knew what the term 'sun-kissed' really meant.
The sunlight seemed attracted to his own golden aura,
highlighting a muscle here, a thin white scar there. His skin
glowed with life and I had the insane urge to run my hands all
over that golden flesh. Blushing, I looked away and tried to
control my runaway pulse. My gaze met Shmi's and the look in
her eyes told me that I wasn't the only one with this reaction.
Suddenly it was too funny for words and I started giggling,
which started her off, until we were both laughing so hard that
we had to hold each other up. When we finally got control of
ourselves and turned back to the Jedi, they were all standing
and looking at us quizzically. Obi-Wan's upraised eyebrow
almost set me off again but I got a firm grip on my sense of
humor and bit my tongue.
"Mama, what was so funny?" Anakin approached us as if unsure of
what we'd do next.
"I'm just happy to see Master Qui-Gon alive and looking so . .
. so well." She bent down and hugged him, her voice trembling
for just a moment and I had to think of something ugly quickly.
Governor Bibble naked. Yech!
I think Obi-Wan suspected something because he was helping his
master on with a white linen tunic and making sure it was fully
closed. It did help. A bit. Somehow, I knew that I would be
replaying that picture in my day dreams for a while. Lucky,
lucky Obi-Wan.
Anakin led us both over to his masters and Shmi took the elder
Jedi's hands in her workworn grasp. "Thank you, Master Qui-Gon,
for helping my son achieve his dream."
"He has . . . a destiny we have yet . . . to fully understand."
He spoke haltingly, his vocal cords still not fully functioning
from their death paralysis. He looked over at me with a rather
pleading look and I nodded, touching Shmi's shoulder to get her
attention.
"Shmi, would you mind if Master Qui-Gon spoke directly to your
mind? He won't read it, just send the words right to you." I
caught her eyes and watched hers widen before she nodded
hesitantly.
//Thank you, Shmi. My voice is coming back slowly. Do you have
questions for me or for Obi-Wan?// He broadcast the thought so
we all heard it.
I don't think her eyes could have gotten any wider but she
simply blinked once and took a moment to think. "There are so
many questions that we'd be here all day but for now, I think
we'd better concentrate on why the Queen is having these
headaches."
//Shields. And what it will take to maintain them so the Dark
Side can not penetrate your minds.// Qui-Gon raised one finger
than another. //And to make it more difficult, you all four
need shields that are invisible to the Dark Side.//
"Is that possible?" Obi-Wan said somberly.
"I'll bet Master Qui-Gon can." Anakin said with a sturdy nod of
his close shorn head, the new braid still just a stub.
The tall man laughed silently, his blue eyes crinkling in the
sun. //I might have one or two ideas. But for now, I could use
a nice cup of tea and some of those biscuits that Dala's
kitchen made for us.//
So we moved inside to the round table and the mismatched chairs
while Obi-Wan showed Shmi where everything in the small cooking
area was and Anakin chattered to me about his latest lesson in
the control of the Force. Qui-Gon listened to us silently from
the other side of his little apprentice.
The water must have been at a slow boil because in only a few
moments, the tea was steeping in the big brown earthenware
teapot and we each had a cinnamon and sugar biscuit to dunk in
the wide mouthed cups.
//Now, about your shields. Unlike many of my compatriots who
believe the Sith are extinct, we know they are not. Yoda sent
some of the ancient texts with Obi-Wan but I've not yet had a
chance to go over them.// A rather wicked glance at Obi-Wan had
him blushing bright red. //Nevertheless, I believe when Anakin
used the Force and your energies to bring me back to life, a
natural shield was created. One consisting of some parts Living
Force and some parts of each of your own energy field.//
"So, it's a part of us and always will be?" Anakin had such a
concentrated look on his face.
//Yes. But it will not defend against what the Chancellor did
to Amidala.//
"He hurt you?" Ani looked at me and put his small hand over
mine.
"He tried, Ani, but Obi-Wan fixed it and took away the pain." I
reassured him as best I could, the memory of the sick ache
still vivid in my mind.
"The headache." Shmi nodded and poured more tea. "I felt such
coldness from him when we met but I thought it was just a bad
reaction to all the changes in my life."
//If we are correct, he is the Sith Lord who sent Darth Maul to
kill us. He will be looking for another apprentice so we must
be alert and keep each other safe.// Qui-Gon and Shmi exchanged
a long glance that told me they both knew who Palpatine would
be looking at.
A fierce need arose in me to protect the little boy who sat so
happily by my side, munching on his sweet biscuit and slurping
his tea. We were not so far apart in age and my need to protect
him came from the feeling of kinship. I'd always wanted a
little brother and now it seems that the Force had sent me one.
Looking at Obi-Wan, I decided that it had decided to send me an
older brother as well. Now, that I could have done
without. Sighing internally, I glanced up to catch a smile from
Qui-Gon that told me he knew exactly what I was thinking. //Are
all brothers so officious?//
//Only the ones who care very deeply and are still somewhat in
shock from rather abrupt changes in their lives. We could all
use some quiet time to rebuild our strength.// He sent me the
private thought with which I heartily agreed.
"First we need to be sure that the Chancellor will not pick up
anything about our suspicions of him or about Qui-Gon's
continued existence." I wanted to be very sure that I was not
the one to let this secret out and by the looks around the
table, we were in complete agreement.
//Luckily enough, I did some practicing with your general
earlier today. It seems to be working well during the
negotiations. Palpatine tried at least twice to pick up
information about the fight with the Sith and each time Panaka
filled in the gaps with pictures of the fight in the throne
room, the smell of the returning ships, the sounds of the
blasters echoing in the halls. Very nicely done.//Qui-Gon
nodded in appreciation.
The next hour was spent in recognizing when someone was probing
us until our normal shields could slide right over what we
didn't want known yet still appear to be hiding nothing. After
repeated intrusions, I no longer had to think about it. My
energy field simply took over and filled the space with
crackling sparks of static interspersed with random thoughts
about the weather or my hunger or an itch that just wouldn't go
away.
When we took a break while Anakin showed his mother about the
cottage, the rest of us wandered back outside to sit in the
shade of the leafy green kolla trees. Qui-Gon and I shared the
wooden bench while Obi-Wan stretched and moved restlessly
beside us. I really hadn't taken the time to appreciate the
lithe body that flowed so gracefully through a series of
intricate movements which were obviously part of a ritualized .
. . //dance?//
//Kata. It is a limbering up exercise that is taught to all
trainees. Anakin is not yet in control of his body so he won't
be learning this one for a while.// Qui-Gon's eyes followed
each move with the eyes of a teacher. And of a lover.
Hiding a smile, I realized it was as much a mating ritual as it
was an exercise for these two. I really needed to get Palpatine
off Naboo and send these two off on a honeymoon. Someplace
quiet and secluded where they could be as unihibited and noisy
as they wished.
//Very perceptive, Dala. But we need to be very sure that
Anakin is safe and protected. The Sith Lord may have only had
one apprectice but he has minions everywhere, I'm quite sure.//
I shuddered at the thought of that cold old man darkening the
bright light which glowed in Anakin's eyes. //Perhaps the two
of you could stay here while I take Ani and Shmi with me on the
tour of the southern continent. The cooks could still try and
tempt poor, grieving Obi-Wan's appetite. And I'd leave the
guard on the bridge to keep any unwanted visitors out.//
Obi-Wan must have been eavesdropping because he suddenly joined
in the plan making. Coming to rest on one knee before his
former master, he looked up appealingly. "Could we, Qui-Gon?
Take just a little time for us before we start Ani's training
in earnest?"
"Imp." The graveled tones did something severely shocking to my
insides and by the looks of the shiver that passed over
Obi-Wan's flushed skin, he was just as affected. They were
speaking to each other, I could tell by the expressions that
flew over Obi-Wan's expressive face.
//Very well, Dala. We shall take you up on your kind offer.//
He looked at me serenely but with a twinkle in those blue eyes
that made me want to giggle. //Thank you.//
Taking a chance, I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "You are
very welcome, Qui-Gon. Someday, I hope that we won't have to
sneak around anymore and you and Obi-Wan will be able to walk
freely among the stars together."
He touched my shoulder gently. //Someday, Dala. Someday.//
That touch and the look in his and Obi-Wan's eyes carried me
through the banquet that evening, the talks the next day and
Chancellor Palpatine's departure the day after that. He'd
offered to take my council and I with him, joking about all the
shopping I didn't get to do on my last visit.
Filling my mind with excited thoughts of Cyrene silk fabrics in
a myriad of colors, floating chersilk veils and bright jewels
for trim, I brought myself back to a sense of duty and the
memory of those less fortunate than myself. Fluttering my
eyelashes at him again, I spoke of the traveling needed to
bring comfort to those cities devastated by the Federation.
He patted my hand and wished me luck before leaving with all
the pomp and ceremony we could muster up for a farewell.
Obi-Wan was there like a rock at my side, someone I could lean
on when I faltered. At least three times that I was aware of, a
cold touch created static in my mind. But after some of the
detailed discussions when my brain threatened to shut down due
to overload of minutia, I could no longer be certain if three
times were all.
Watching the cruiser depart, all I could feel was relief and a
strong desire to get on with what we needed to do next. Panaka
stood at my left and Obi-Wan at my right with little Anakin to
his right. Suddenly, I realized that I was a very lucky woman.
Even with all the heart ache and stress of the last few months,
I felt vividly alive.
And capable of taking on the galaxy. Especially with these
allies to help. Hiding a grin, I turned to go back inside and
plan our trip. Someone was depending on me for a honeymoon and
I was determined that nothing would stand in their way.
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