Chapter 3

“ Good morning, Mom, Dad.” Padme said, as she came into the kitchen. Looking around the room, she noticed that they were the only ones in the room.

“ Morning, sweetie. If you are looking for Master Qui-Gon and Anakin, they left early to held back to the ship.” Jobal smiled at her daughter, as she cracked an egg into the frying pan.

“ They left? But, I thought I was to go with them?” Padme cried out in total shock.

“ Don’t worry, Qui-Gon said that he will be back. He went to check on how the repairs are going, then be back for breakfast.” Ruwee looked up from the news holos he was reading.

“ Oh, ok. Well,, am going to get in the shower and get ready to leave after breakfast.” Padme turned and headed out of the kitchen and went back to her room, so she could get ready to leave for Coruscant.

Twenty minutes later, Padme came back into the kitchen. This time, she noticed that Qui-Gon was sitting at the table, with her father and they were talking about some of the news that was going on and also on Coruscant.

“ Good morning, Master Qui-Gon.” Padme said, coming over to the table and sitting down across from the Jedi Master.

“ Good morning, Padme. Are you ready for your long trip to Coruscant?” Qui-Gon asked the young girl, as she sat down.

“ Yes, sir. I have my bag packed and I’m ready to leave after breakfast. Um . . . Where is Anakin?” Padme saw that Qui-Gon was by himself.

“ Anakin’s sister wanted him to stay with her and have breakfast.” Qui-Gon saw the sad look come across the young girl’s face, when she noticed that it was only him here at the house.

“ Really? You think that I may get to meet her?” Padme asked, as Jobal came to the table with the food.

“ Yes, I believe you will get to meet her. This is very good, Mrs. Naberrie.” Qui-Gon gave Jobal a smile, when she put the plate of food down in front of him.

“ Why, thank you, Master Qui-Gon. I also asked you to please call me Jobal.” She gave him a laugh, as she sat down at her place at the table.

“ Yes, ma’am. I just forgot. Mmm . . . this tastes wonderful.” Qui-Gon ate his first bite of egg and meat mixture.

“ That is ok. I understand that you have a lot on your mind. Thank you. Believe it or not, it is Padme’s recipe. She is also a great cook.” Jobal smiled at her youngest daughter.

“ Really? Well, then, I will have to make sure to get the stuff that she needs to make meals, while we are on missions.” Qui-Gon gave Padme a smile.

Thirty minutes later, Padme said goodbye to her parents and followed the Jedi Master out of the house and headed for the ship that was just outside of the city. On their way through one of the less crowded streets, they hurried along, when Qui-Gon stopped, grabbed his lightsaber and cut through the shadows between the two buildings. There was a clashing momentarily, with something made of metal that shattered in the wake of the weapon’s passing. Padme watched Qui-Gon click off the lightsaber and kneel down, to inspect the cluster of metal parts still sparking and fizzing in the sand.

“ What is it?” Padme asked, peering over Qui-Gon’s shoulder.

“ Probe droid. Very unusual. Not anything I’ve seen before.” Qui-Gon rose and glanced about worriedly. His eyes sharp and bright, as he cast up and down the street.

“ I take it this isn’t good?” Padme asked, as she could feel Qui-Gon going into alert mode, as she watched him look up and down the street again.

“ Come on, Padme.” He ordered, and they began to move quickly away from the droid.

As they left the city, Padme could feel a shifting in the balance of things, that suggested an intrusion on the harmony that the Force required. It was warning her that something dangerous was about to happen. The ship came into view, and Qui-Gon and Padme quickened up their pace. Both of them looked over their shoulders and they caught sight of the speeder. A dark-cloaked rider was bearing down on them.

“ Drop, Padme!” Qui-Gon shouted, before he wheeled around to face the figure on the speeder.

Padme threw herself facedown on the sand, as the speeder whipped overhead, which barely missed her, as it bore down on Qui-Gon. The only thing that Padme could do at the moment, was to lay there and watch the fight. Padme got back on her feet, but just stood there, watching and was unable to decide what she should do. She saw that Qui-Gon was fighting to hold his ground.

“ Padme! Get out of here!” Qui-Gon yelled out.

The Jedi Master blocked the attacker’s moves again and again, but could not find an opening that would provide any chance of escape.

“ Padme! Get to the ship! Tell them to take off! Go, go!” Qui-Gon screamed, seeing the young girl immobilized.

Padme ran to the ship and boarded it. Just inside the hatchway, Padme found Anakin and a dark-skinned man in uniform, coming towards her. When Anakin caught sight of her, his eyes went wide in shock, as he noticed that she was covered in sand and she was very much out of breath, from running to the ship.

“ Qui-Gon is in trouble! And he said to take off! Now!” Padme said, gasping for breath.

“ Who are you?” the dark skinned man demanded, as he just stared, and his eyes were questioning and suspicious at the young girl, who was in front of him.

“ She is a friend. Hurry, Captain, we must help him.” Anakin came up to Padme, took her by the arm and led her towards the front of the ship.

While they rushed down the hallway to the cockpit, Padme told the teenager what had happened. Anakin nodded his understanding and telling Padme to hurry. Coming into the cockpit, Padme saw two people sitting inside it.

“ Obi-Wan! Qui-Gon is in trouble.” Padme said rather quickly.

“ He told Padme to tell us to take off.” Anakin said, as he added his support.

“ Where is he?” Obi-Wan demanded, wheeling his chair back to the viewport and began scanning the empty flats.

“ I don’t see anything.” The pilot said, peering over the Padawan’s shoulder.

“ Over there! Get us into the air and over there! Now! Fly low!” Obi-Wan caught sight of movement, just at the corner of the port.

The pilot threw himself into the seat, while Padme and Anakin scrambled to find seats.

“ There.” Obi-Wan pointed to where the fighters come to grips, and afraid to go higher, while Qui-Gon was exposed. The Jedi Master and the horned headed figure filled the viewscreen, commanding the rampway entrance of the space craft. After the horned creature dropped down to the desert floor, the hatch door was sealed and the ship began to accelerate. Qui-Gon laid on the cool metal floor. Obi-Wan and Padme rushed down the hallway to help him to his feet. It was hard to tell which of them looked more worried, and it made him smile in spite of himself. They all went into the lounge area. Padme found a seat on the couch, while the two Jedi made their way to the cockpit. Padme closed her eyes and began to doze off to sleep. Padme woke up to find the room dark and everyone was asleep. She sat there, realizing what woke her up, was a dream that she could not shake the images of.

A figure entered the room. Padme watched Anakin go to the viewscreen and watch some images on the screen.

“ Is everything ok?” Padme asked, as she saw sadness come across his face.

“ The people on my planet are suffering and dying. Because of this, the Queen is worried. She must convince the Senate to intervene, or else . . . Well, am not sure.” Anakin trailed off, unwilling to speak the words, but he did anyway. His voice seemed distant.

“ Here, I made this for you; so you will remember me. I carved it out of a Japor Snippet. Take it, and it will bring you good fortune.” Padme remembered the necklace that she made last night, took it out of her pocket and held it to Anakin.

“ It’s beautiful, but I don’t need this to remember you. How could I forget my future wife? You do know, many things will change, when we reach Coruscant, Padme. My caring for you, will not be one of them.” Anakin took the carved wooden pendant and studied it for a moment, before slipping it around his neck.

“ I know and I won’t stop caring for you either. I just miss . . .” Padme nodded, as tears started coming to her eyes.

“ You miss your parents.” Anakin finished quietly.

Padme nodded, wiping at her face, unable to speak a word, as Anakin Skywalker drew her against him and held her close.

The next afternoon, the small group of travelers exited the ship and was greeted by Senator Palpatine, who was the Queen’s emissary to the Republic Senate. Standing next to him was a tall, silver haired man, and the Senator introduced them to the Supreme Chancellor Valorum.

As Padme stood there, watching the introductions, she got this feeling of evil. As she looked around for the source of that feeling, she noticed the Senator was looking at her, but that feeling left, as quickly as it appeared. While Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan headed for one of the air shuttles, the Queen’s party was heading for the Senator’s air speeder. Padme just stood there, not knowing what to do, until Queen Amidala motioned for her to follow her. Padme looked over to Qui-Gon, who nodded for her to go with the Queen. Padme and Anakin, along with a couple handmaidens sat in the backseat. Then, they headed off to the Senate building. Padme waited until Obi-Wan came to the Senate building to get her, to go to the Temple.

“ Hey, Padme, am here to take you to the Jedi Temple, and to meet the Council.” Obi-Wan came over to where Padme and Anakin were sitting at, as they waited for the Queen’s meeting with the Senator to be over.

“ Hey, Obi-Wan,. Oh, ok. Well I hope to see you again, Anakin.” Padme got up from the couch and looked down at Anakin.

“ Oh ok. I hope to see you again too. I wish you good luck on the meeting and with your training. It was nice meeting you too, Obi-Wan." Anakin smiled at Padme and then, stood up to give Padme a hug. After letting her go, he bowed his head to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan bowed his head in return, to the young teenager, before putting an arm around Padme’s shoulder and led her to where the air speeder was waiting for them. The sun was setting, when Padme faced the Jedi Council. She stood in the same spot, where Qui-Gon stood earlier in the afternoon. Padme felt very vulnerable and exposed, as she looked around the room and saw that every member had their eyes on her. As stood there, she got that feeling again, that feeling of darkness and evil and she looked at each member of the Council. So far, she could not see who or what it was that was sending out that feeling, but before she came to the two members in the middle of the semi-circle, that feeling disappeared. Then, all of the Council members began asking her questions. The dark skinned human Jedi Master picked up a viewscreen and told Padme to tell them what was on them. Padme closed her eyes and the images appeared to her, in her mind.

“ A Bantha. A hyperdrive. A proton blaster. A Republic cruiser. A Rodian cup and A Hutt speeder.” Padme told them, as the images whizzed through her mind, as she named them off.

Mace Windu looked up from the screen, when it went blank and just stared at her, before looking over to the green Jedi Master, sitting next him and whispered something to him.

“ Very good, young one. How feel you?” Grand Master Yoda asked her.

“ Cold, sir.” was all Padme could say to him ,as she began to shiver.

“ Afraid, are you?” Master Yoda asked.

“ No, sir.” The young girl shook her head.

“ Afraid to give your life?” Mace Windu leaned forward slightly.

“ I don’t think so.” Padme hesitated answering, but there was something about the answer that didn’t feel right.

“ See through you, we can” Yoda said quietly, as he blinked and his long ears cocked forward.

“ Be mindful of your feelings.” Mace Windu said.

After one of the members mentioned her parents and that she was afraid of losing them, that’s when she felt a slight anger fill her mind.

“ What’s that got to do with anything, if I miss them?” she asked defensively.

“ Everything. To the dark side, fear leads. To anger, to hate, to suffering.” Yoda’s sleepy eyes were fixed on her.

“ I am not afraid!” Padme snapped irritable and anxious to leave this discussion and move on.

“ The deepest commitment, a Jedi must have. The most serious mind, much fear in you, I sense, young one.” Yoda said.

“ I am not afraid.” Padme took a deep breath and let it out slowly, before she answered the green Jedi Master.

“ Then, continue we will.” Yoda said softly, as he studied her for a moment and then, he motioned for the examination to resume..

Ten minutes later, the Council dismissed Padme and Qui-Gon took her to one of the guest quarters. He told her to get some sleep and he would come get her, when it was time for the Council to let her know about the outcome of their decision on her training. Two hours later, there was a tap on the door. Padme got up, answered the door and she saw Qui-Gon standing there in the hallway.

“ Sorry, to wake you up, but it is time. I also got word that the Queen is heading back to Naboo.” Qui-Gon said, as he motioned for Padme to follow him.

They got to the Council chamber and stood in the middle of the room again, with Obi-Wan. The members said that they were telling the group of three, that the examination was over and that Qui-Gon was right about the high midi-chlorians in her blood and that the Force was very strong in her too.

“ She is to be trained, then?” Qui-Gon declared in triumph.

Padme could feel the uncomfortable silence, as the Council members looked from one to the other.

“ No, she will not be trained.” Master Windu said quietly.

Padme’s face just crumbled and tears began to well in her eyes, as she looked over to Qui-Gon.

“ No.” Qui-Gon said in disbelief.

Padme looked over to Obi-Wan and saw “ I told you so” look on his face.

“ She is too old, and there is already too much anger in her.” Mace Windu nodded.

“ She is the Chosen One, you must see it.” Qui-Gon insisted.

“ Clouded, this girl’s future is. Masked by her youth.” Yoda cocked his head. Qui-Gon searched the faces of the members of the Jedi Council, but found no help from them.

“ Very well. I will train her then. I will take Padme Naberrie as my Padawan apprentice.” Qui-Gon straightened up and nodded his acceptance of their decision.

Padme glanced over to Obi-Wan and saw him in shock. Then, they began arguing over the time for Obi-Wan to take the trails. They were told that the Queen was heading home to Naboo, and they were to go back with her. The Council told Qui-Gon that Padme could be his ward, but he could not train her in the Force. They headed back to the Senate building, where they joined the Queen and her party at the ship. They boarded the ship and the two Jedi headed for the cockpit, while Padme went to the lounge and saw Anakin sitting on the couch, reading his data pad for one of his classes.

“ Hey, Anakin.” Padme came into the room and sat down in a chair.

“ Hey, Padme. Um . . . Are you ok?” Anakin noticed tears rolling down the young girl’s face.

“ No, the Council told me that I can’t be train as a Jedi, because am too old.” She wiping the tears away.

“ Am so sorry to hear that. So, what are you going to do now?” Anakin asked.

“ Well, am going to stay with Qui-Gon, but he was told not to train me. I get this feeling he will go against what they told him. What the . . .?” Padme was telling Anakin what the Council told Qui-Gon what not to do, when that evil and dark feeling came over her again. She looked up to see someone standing in the doorway.

“ Oh, hello. I just came to say goodbye to Master Anakin and wish him luck with his schooling. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Padme.” Senator Palpatine came into the room. Padme could tell that feeling was coming from the Senator.

“ Um, it was nice to meet you too, Senator.” Padme nodded to the man, before the Senator just nodded and left the room and ship.

“ Come on, you look tired. Let me show you to your sleeping quarters.” Anakin saw that Padme was yawning.

Padme got up and followed Anakin out of the lounge area and down the hallway to a door. Opening the door and walking into the room, Padme saw a bunk bed.

“ You can take the bottom bunk. My bunk is the top one.” Anakin motioned to the bed.

“ Ok ,thanks.” Padme said, going to the lower bed and sitting down.

“ Well, am going back to the lounge, so that way, you can get settled in to bed.” Anakin said, heading for the door.

“ Thank you.” Padme said quietly.

After Anakin left the room, Padme noticed that her bag was sitting on the bed. She got up, got undressed and put her night clothes on, before climbing into bed, and falling sound asleep.

The next afternoon, they landed the ship in the swamps of Naboo. The Queen managed to make peace with the Gungans. They promised to raise an army to help Naboo to fight the armies that were taking over their planet. The plan was for the Gungans to fight the droids, while the Queen and her party sneak back into the palace and capture the Viceroy, who had taken over the palace.

They got back to the palace, only to find that the horn headed figure from Tatooine, was blocking their way to the entrance. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan said they would take of the Sith, while the Queen and her handmaidens split up and head to the Throne room and capture the Viceroy, who was holded up there.

Padme found herself in one of the fighter ships, that she climbed into, as to stay safe from the gun fire. Qui-Gon told her to stay there, before him and Obi-Wan took off after the Sith Lord. After the pilots were free from their captives, they ran to their ships and took off. Before she knew it, the ship came to life, all thanks to R2-D2. The ship slowly began to levitate and wheeled out of its mooring space. Then, Padme began pushing buttons and hitting switches, so she could find the weapons. Finally after hitting a couple of wrong buttons, she found the weapons button. Instantly, the nose lasers fired, and three battle droids went down, in a charred and smoking scrap metal. She looked out of the cockpit, just in time to see rolling droids come into the hanger bay and begin firing on her. The next thing she knows, the ship flew out of the hanger bay and up into the deep space. Padme could hear the voices of the other pilots coming from the other ships, as they fought the droid ships. Before she could do anything, she was heading straight for the heart of the Trade Federation swarm. She began to wonder who was going to help her, and now, it was up to her to save herself. After avoiding the engagement with the enemy Starfighters, she flying all over the space.

“ Whoo, man this is tense” she tried switch after switch, trying to get the ship off the autopilot. She could see pieces of exploding ships fly past her, as it exploded not far from her. R2-D2 finally disconnected the autopilot and Padme took control of the ship. After flying after one of the droid ships, she realized that she heading for the main control ship. After flying from a few ships, a couple of them followed her ship and fired on her, the ship was hit. Somehow, she managed to fly into the hanger bay of the main control ship. The small craft struck the decking and bounced. Padme saw a bulkhead looming ahead, blocking the way. Padme brought the fighter down on the decking, with a bone-jarring thud, and held it there, as it skidded down the ramp way. The fighter slowed, did a half turn and came to an unsteady halt, before the power drive stalled and then it completely failed on Padme.

“ Darn, everything’s over heated.” Padme said to R2-D2.

R2-D2 beeped suddenly in warning. Padme popped her head over the edge of the cockpit and looked out into the hanger bay.

“ Oh, oh.” She muttered softly, when she a dozen battle droids approaching them. She could see that the only escape route was blocked.

“ This is not good.” Padme told herself.

Padme slid down in the seat, so that way, the droids could not see her. While the droids were asking R2-D2 some questions, she heard a beeping sound and looking up at the controls, she saw that the system lights went from red to green. She turned on the droids and began firing the lasers. Of course, she thought she missed everything, but to her very surprise, there was an explosion that sent everything flying all over the deck. She got the ship out of the hanger bay, and there was a deadly white fire that followed behind her. As she came closer to the battle, the control station was blowing up all around them. She heard the other pilots talking again and one of them sees her join them.

Back down on Naboo, Master Qui-Gon laid dying in Obi-Wan’s arms.

“ Master!” Obi-Wan breathed in a whisper.

“ It is to late, my young Padawan.” Qui-Gon’s eyes opened.

“ No!” Obi-Wan shook his head violently in denial.

“ Now, you must be read, whether the Council thinks you so or not. You must be the teacher, Obi-Wan. Promise, you will train the girl.” Qui-Gon’s face twisted in pain.

“ Yes, Master.” Obi-Wan nodded instantly, agreeing without thinking.

“ She is the Chosen One, Obi-Wan. She will bring balance to the Force. Train her well.” Qui-Gon’s breathing quickened. His eyes locked on Obi-Wan’s and lost focus. His breathing stopped. The strength and life went out of him.

“ Master? Master!” Obi-Wan repeated softly, still holding him, bringing him closer now; Hugging the lifeless body against his chest, he began crying softly.

Padme landed the ship and was surrounded by the pilots cheering her and congratulating her, on destroying the main control ship and ending the Battle of Naboo. They led her to where the Queen and Anakin was standing in the courtyard. Padme saw Anakin and from the look on his face, she could tell that something was wrong.

“ Anakin, what is wrong?” she asked the fourteen your old boy.

“ Um . . . Padme . . . I have bad news . . . .” he started to say.

“ Where is Master Qui-Gon and Padawan Obi-Wan?” Padme asked, realizing that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon wasn’t with the group.

“ Padme . . . Master Qui-Gon is dead.” Anakin held Padme’s hand.

“ What? . . . NO! . . . He can’t . . . What is going to happen to me now?” Padme began to cry.

Anakin pulled the young girl into his arms and held her, as she cried for the fallen Jedi Master.

“ Come on, let me take you to your room and wait for Obi-Wan. He can take you to see Master Jinn.” One of he handmaidens said, coming up to Anakin and Padme.

Padme nodded and let the young girl lead her to where she would be staying, until the celebration parade that was going to take place in a couple of days ended. Once in her room, Padme went to the bed, climbed onto it and then cried herself asleep.

*(pages are taken from the book Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks)